Baldur's Gate 3 - Part 45 - The Real Shadow Curse Is Inappropriately Timed Horniness

0:00 Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.

0:01 I'm John, this is Mania, True Nerd, and welcome back to Baldur's Gate 3.

0:06 Well, last time we learned the secret to exploring the Shadow Cursed Lands.

0:11 You just need a moon lantern.

0:13 There's just um one small problem with that revelation.

0:17 My moon lantern is broken and useless.

0:20 And the one that was protecting us up to this point has been

0:23 taken up by the Harpers who immediately naffed off several miles to the north,

0:28 leaving me behind while I was looting, so.

0:32 Okay, things might be about to get a bit um dangerous around here.

0:37 So, I reckon today a good starting point would be follow

0:40 the Harpers because it's possible if I do some work with them,

0:44 they'll give me the moon lantern so that yes,

0:46 I can then use it exploring the rest of this region down here.

0:50 The only problem being yeah, the territory between me and there is what's that?

0:58 It's just a plant, but I'm still modestly suspicious of it.

1:01 Yeah, the territory between me and that has

1:04 definitely got signs of zombies floating around.

1:09 So, yeah, we're just going to head in that direction,

1:11 keep lanterns over our heads, have a good poke around,

1:15 and try not to get ambushed because the last

1:17 time we got ambushed by shadow creatures, Astarion died.

1:21 It wasn't the only time she died in the previous episode,

1:23 so yeah, we need to take better care of Astarion.

1:26 So, under the circumstances, everybody just get down so that yes,

1:31 if we're lucky, we'll see the monsters before they see us.

1:35 And yeah, have an explore around this village.

1:38 We've already found a one book in here previously

1:40 that told us something about what's going on around here.

1:44 So, yeah, keep exploring, keep looting,

1:48 look for anything that might be able to fill

1:50 us in on precisely what this shadow curse is.

1:55 And I'm also going to suggest that yes, it'd be a good idea to light every fire

2:00 and whatnot that we see while we're moseying around.

2:03 Just, you know, that strikes me as a a good idea.

2:07 Just hop up here, do a little bit of uh lock picking,

2:10 and make sure we loot everything from this village, including right,

2:14 a new amulet to giving us a spell, fog cloud,

2:17 which I think we could do without for the most part,

2:20 but yeah, keep that for the time being, that's fine.

2:23 So, yeah.

2:25 Where precisely are we ultimately trying to get

2:28 because I do not like this village?

2:31 All right.

2:32 There are dead zombies here.

2:34 And if the zombies that have been defeated are floating around,

2:37 there's a good chance there's zombies that haven't been defeated.

2:41 Speaking of which, there's a lot of blood over there.

2:45 Is that the right direction, by the way?

2:47 Hang on.

2:48 Yeah, that looks like that's going straight to the inn we're heading towards.

2:52 So, right.

2:54 That's where we want to go ultimately, yeah.

2:57 For the time being, yeah, just move slow and careful.

3:02 And look out for perception checks cuz the first time we got ambushed,

3:06 it was because we failed to spot, you know, an ambush.

3:10 If they are waiting to ambush us in the shadows,

3:13 yeah, Astarion should hopefully be able to spot it.

3:18 He is good at perception, that's why.

3:21 Uh we've got a waypoint, good.

3:24 Good, good, good.

3:25 That's very positive.

3:26 I like you're building a bit of a waypoint network.

3:29 So, yeah, I think we saw one more building up here.

3:33 Keep on keeping on, and yeah,

3:34 keep an eye on where we are on the map because whoa, hang on.

3:39 If we're moving in this direction, yeah, I saw Game, why did you just auto save?

3:46 Oh, we're about to die horribly to something, aren't we?

3:49 Yeah, when I was over here,

3:50 I saw something uh very lit up on the other side of a chasm.

3:55 This might be going in that direction.

3:58 So, all right.

3:59 Now we've got that tanked.

4:02 Maybe just mosey in this Oh.

4:06 Dead githyanki.

4:08 That is true.

4:10 Astarion was recently given a githyanki detector

4:14 because apparently the githyanki are coming for us.

4:17 But if they came for us and then died,

4:20 possibly cocky zombie githyanki are now coming for us.

4:26 Okay, you know what?

4:27 If we're walking into trouble right now,

4:30 Shadowheart's kind of out of Yeah, her good spell slots.

4:35 Right, back to camp for a second here.

4:37 We're tagging in Gale and right, that should work a little bit better.

4:41 So, okay.

4:43 Have a look see at you and She was no fun.

4:46 All I wanted was to play.

4:49 Why is there a creepy child's voice coming out

4:52 of the cursed territory full of corpses and necrotic magic?

4:59 Oh, that's never a cocky good sign.

5:02 So, right.

5:02 Nothing on you.

5:04 Astarion.

5:06 You take the lead.

5:08 What the[ __] am I walking into precisely?

5:12 Because I'm seeing more dead gith up ahead.

5:18 Okay, I feel like I'm walking into something really, really cocking bad.

5:23 So.

5:25 I think the voice was coming from over here.

5:29 Hello.

5:33 No, seriously, I swear the voice was coming from over here.

5:36 What is going on?

5:37 Right, just stand up and Oh.

5:41 I think I've been spotted by something.

5:47 Boo!

5:46 I scared you.

5:47 I saw it.

5:48 Nobody beats me at hide and seek.

5:51 Will you play with me?

5:55 Okay.

5:55 So, there's a tiefling child here with weird eyes.

6:01 And I can't judge it cuz I'm a tiefling with weird eyes.

6:04 Like I started with weird eyes.

6:05 They got even weirder when I did a really stupid deal with a hag.

6:09 But, yeah.

6:11 As a sorcerer, I kind of figure out precisely what you are.

6:16 Which strikes me as a good idea.

6:18 So, right.

6:20 Do that.

6:21 Lovely.

6:21 Nice and easy.

6:22 So, yeah.

6:23 Let's make sure we understand what's going on up here before

6:26 I say yes or no to playing a hide and seek.

6:30 Not an ordinary child, but not a specter either.

6:34 One part of a greater whole.

6:36 Something ancient and oddly sad.

6:42 Okay.

6:42 So, we don't really know what you are.

6:46 You're not really immediately identified as evil or devious or whatnot.

6:51 You might be benevolent.

6:54 So, okay.

6:55 Let's just chat to him and see what we can learn.

6:59 I'm Oliver.

7:00 I'm seven.

7:01 Will you play with me?

7:04 Right.

7:05 What happened to like Oh, I don't know.

7:07 Say the gift who might have been playing with you previously.

7:11 I have a mommy, a daddy, and a doggy.

7:14 They'll be back in a while.

7:15 But, you're here now.

7:16 And I want to play.

7:18 Okay.

7:19 Let's ask a follow-up questions cuz I'm guessing

7:21 this story's not going to stand up to scrutiny.

7:24 They don't need names.

7:26 They just need to be mommy and daddy and do what I want.

7:30 Now, play with me or they'll be angry with you.

7:35 [snorts] So, oh dear.

7:37 That insight check might have been useful potentially.

7:40 I'm going to play along for now because

7:44 even if you are like a demon or whatever,

7:46 if I play with you, maybe I get something nice.

7:50 All right.

7:51 I'll hide and you seek.

7:53 Find me and you win.

7:56 So okay, that seems reasonable.

7:58 If I don't find you, well then in that case I haven't found you, I guess.

8:01 Then you lose.

8:04 Oh, that came across as a bit more ominous.

8:07 Does that mean if I leave this immediate area without finding him,

8:11 I'm deemed to lose and then something bad happens?

8:15 Screw it.

8:15 Let's give it a go.

8:17 Get ready and no cheating.

8:22 So right, you're now invisible.

8:29 How do I detect invisible things?

8:32 Who can do that?

8:34 I'll tell you what.

8:36 I'm going to be flipping it here just to crack open this chest because why not?

8:42 And no, lock pick before opening, thank you.

8:46 See, that should be nice and easy to do.

8:48 Beautiful.

8:51 Yeah.

8:52 There might be something around here.

8:54 Now, let's just know what's going on.

8:55 Well, magic ring but nothing to do with detecting invisibility, unfortunately.

9:00 So right, when a foe fails a saving a throw against you,

9:03 they gain mental fatigue.

9:05 So right, then they get even more likely to fail future saving throws.

9:12 That's pretty good.

9:14 And even better, if I could stack it for long enough,

9:17 they start taking psychic damage.

9:19 Though not much, to be honest.

9:22 Oh, and hello Singsing.

9:24 This dead to give Yankee warrior has got dad's axe in it.

9:31 So right, this is what's going to happen to me if I don't play.

9:36 There's going to be some sort of attack.

9:39 Let's take that.

9:41 Okay, just to gather it.

9:42 It might be useful.

9:44 I'm taking the stuffed out bear toy as well because maybe like, you know,

9:48 the child's toys might be useful in like

9:51 bringing him back to himself or something.

9:55 But yeah, the problem with invisibility is

9:57 it makes you undetectable until they break invisibility.

10:02 Like I don't know if a perception

10:03 check even can detect something that's invisible.

10:06 So okay, just to have a looky round,

10:09 see what we can find, look for anything suspicious or of note.

10:14 I'll tell you what.

10:16 If we want to find someone, lighting a lamp strikes me as a good idea.

10:20 Let's make this area as light as possible.

10:24 You weren't supposed to find me.

10:27 You weren't supposed to win.

10:29 Oh, and hello there.

10:30 I think we just literally, yeah, passed a perception check and found him.

10:33 So you know what, Oliver?

10:36 I'm going to give you another chance.

10:38 Let's play again.

10:40 So you know, you don't immediately send your ghost mom and ghost dad on me.

10:44 Good idea.

10:45 You're smarter than some playmates I've had.

10:47 They always try to leave before I was done with them.

10:50 Try to find me again, but my family will be looking for you at the same time.

10:54 So don't get caught.

10:56 Okay, this is where things might get a bit more uh-oh.

11:03 Okay, so there's daddy, who's the strongest daddy ever.

11:11 So in a perfect world, we want to not get caught by his parents.

11:18 Problem is they're actually holding still or not.

11:23 And what can they do?

11:24 Oh, they can just turn off lights.

11:29 That's a problem because if lights do go out, I'm like dead within a five turns.

11:35 And again, can they turn off a yacht?

11:37 The mace.

11:38 The mace might be the solution.

11:40 Right, and then there's a mummy.

11:42 There's the mummy after.

11:43 Same basic deal.

11:46 And yeah, you've got a lot of resistances, too.

11:49 Like it's going to be a harder than it looks to fight you.

11:53 And clearly the answer is not to fight you.

11:55 We need to just to work around you.

11:58 Yeah, it looked like he was going in this direction.

12:02 It's possible that yeah, he like went somewhere over here.

12:06 We just need to work around you guys to get to him.

12:10 The issue being Well, actually, you know what?

12:13 Astarion, you might be the right candidate here.

12:17 Because you can dash as a bonus action, dash again as a bonus action,

12:22 and gain a free jump on top of that, together with yeah,

12:25 just being able to dash as a regular action.

12:28 So, you've got a functionally infinite movement.

12:32 If Oliver is anywhere around here, yeah,

12:36 you can find him before these guys even get their first turn.

12:42 So, right.

12:43 Just sneak this way.

12:46 Get around the back of these two and get the torch out.

12:53 You know get the Okay, he's currently taking damage from the shadow curse.

13:00 But that's kind of okay because yeah,

13:04 this is all going to take place inside one turn.

13:08 So okay, step one, use step of the wind.

13:12 So okay.

13:13 There we go.

13:14 You've now got your movement back.

13:16 Excellent.

13:19 It looked like he was going in this direction.

13:23 So, move around here.

13:27 Maybe around here.

13:29 And oh.

13:35 I feel like I may have just been Oh, hang on.

13:37 Hang on.

13:37 Hang on.

13:38 Hang on.

13:38 Hang on.

13:39 Hang on.

13:39 Hang on.

13:42 Okay, so.

13:44 Slight slight issue.

13:46 Slight issue.

13:50 I have been spotted by Yes, Mommy and Daddy and also John Doggy.

13:58 There was cooking Doggy.

14:01 Doggy was around.

14:02 Doggy will be the one that detected you presumably.

14:05 Well, we may have slightly fluffed this up unfortunately, but yeah,

14:08 what we can do is sneak I was really hoping we

14:12 could just sneak in with the rest of the team right there,

14:15 but no, looks like we can't.

14:18 But okay, let's just get into Arya

14:19 and Gail around the back over in this direction.

14:24 Because right, the light has been extinguished,

14:27 so Oh, this fight's going to be tricky potentially.

14:31 Yeah, I was about to say what we want to do really is just start knackering you

14:35 with everything we can with a particular focus

14:38 on a radiant damage if we could get away with it.

14:41 That's you are well, not weak to, but you're not resistant at least.

14:45 So yeah, open up with a ranged ranged shot at you.

14:49 Lovely.

14:51 Meaning it's now Astarion's turn to just walk in and start yeah, punching you.

14:57 So I feel like yeah, just with overwhelming force,

15:01 Astarion should be able to do this.

15:02 So get him over here.

15:05 One main attack, which is fine I guess, but whatever.

15:10 And then yeah, two bonus actions.

15:12 So if we can knock you down,

15:15 though it's not doing him much cuz you are a bit resistant to it, but screw it.

15:19 Just keep it doing what we can.

15:21 Mommy is yeah looking like she is in a trouble.

15:25 I was starting to be a bit on the winter side too.

15:27 There's doggy who has to waste a turn dashing, so that's not too bad.

15:32 But now we're taking a cocking it yeah

15:34 damage from the ghost, which is not ideal.

15:37 So right right right right.

15:39 You get over here.

15:41 Lafander's light is Okay, Lafander's light has just a blinded you.

15:47 You can't put out Lafander's light as it turns out.

15:50 That's very good news.

15:51 So yeah.

15:53 We could do double branding smite right now.

15:58 And hang on, I don't even need to use that against you anymore.

16:01 I've got advantage from you being blinded.

16:04 So okay, I can use my bonus action of all something else.

16:08 Like say bonus radiant damage, that'll do.

16:12 So right, use that and now I commence a fire the smiting.

16:18 So in you go, that's a lot of cocking damage.

16:22 Then more smiting.

16:24 Now that's some good hardcore paladin work right there.

16:28 And right, we've also got more shadow curse

16:31 coming in, which is a bit of a problem.

16:33 You need to go down as soon as possible.

16:36 Because I just need you to be dead so everyone can get their lights back on.

16:40 So Yeah, 8 to 48, but you're resistant to that, aren't you?

16:47 You're resistant to like everything.

16:49 Yeah, I'm not sure we could kill you this turn.

16:53 Which is a bit of an issue, but Screw it.

16:57 Up chance it's level three at least.

16:59 Apparently we've got disadvantage cuz it's too cocky dark, but give it a go.

17:04 So two hits with low damage rolls, two misses.

17:08 Not great.

17:09 Not great at all.

17:10 So right, you're also using uh-oh.

17:13 I've been put to sleep.

17:16 And then a daddy's lecture misses.

17:19 Are you a no, you can't be put to sleep because you're an elf.

17:23 You've got resistance to that nonsense.

17:25 So right.

17:27 We need to yeah, take you out right now.

17:30 80% So gosh darn it, we've missed.

17:35 But that's fine because yeah, we can just try and topple you.

17:38 I'm a hoping yeah, that should be fine.

17:41 Two more hits, you should go down.

17:44 Right, that gets the light back on.

17:47 You guys now see from me yes, you're no longer shadow cursed.

17:50 Okay.

17:51 That's fine.

17:52 I'm really sorry I'm beating up your mommy and daddy by the way.

17:56 Like I didn't mean to.

17:57 I really meant to just sneak in and do this all sneaky like,

18:00 but it hasn't turned out well.

18:02 So right, there's not really much more you can do.

18:06 You're asleep.

18:07 The dog still The dog just appears and bites you then disappears.

18:12 That's cooking irritating.

18:14 But daddy is about to go down and yeah,

18:16 Will is doing amazingly well in this scenario.

18:18 Like she is made for this.

18:20 But he's also kind of out of spell slots for the most part, which is not ideal.

18:27 So okay.

18:28 I'm going to say yeah, use my last spell slot on you.

18:33 So Okay, use my extra last level two spell slot on you.

18:42 That's you dad.

18:43 I've just radiating all to this guy.

18:46 I don't want to fight you though.

18:48 Whatever you are, I do not want to fight you.

18:50 I want to fight your dog admittedly and I

18:52 appreciate you probably don't like that, but Okay, now where's the cooking dog?

18:58 We just need to track the dog down.

19:01 So yeah.

19:04 We've got Arya and Gail kind of but not entirely asleep.

19:09 Can I just yeah, wake Gail up?

19:11 That's probably not a bad idea.

19:13 So, there we go.

19:14 Just awake you up, though.

19:17 When you say the shadow curse, hang up.

19:20 Get out your I don't have enough resources.

19:22 Right, that's a proper action.

19:24 Auria, could you get out your torch?

19:28 There we go.

19:29 That's better.

19:32 So, right.

19:33 That is fine.

19:34 Just move back towards yeah, the light.

19:37 Possibly the dog can't come into the light.

19:39 I don't know.

19:40 And yeah, you drop some of healing on Astarion.

19:44 Cuz he's a tiny bit worn.

19:46 Amazing.

19:47 Well done.

19:49 Okay.

19:50 End your turn there.

19:52 Astarion, same basic deal.

19:53 Just stay nearby to everybody else.

19:57 Where's the cocky dog?

20:00 He's somewhere over there, but I think we need to like find and detect him.

20:05 Actually, you know what?

20:07 If he's somewhere over there, let's hypnotize this entire region.

20:12 We'll presumably hit him because he's going to be in here somewhere.

20:18 And the dog failed a saving throw,

20:23 which logically means it's hypnotized, but it's not been revealed anyway.

20:29 So, what do we do now in that case?

20:33 Not 100% sure.

20:36 I mean, I swear I saw a purple flicker around here.

20:39 So, there we go.

20:42 I think we found him.

20:43 So, right.

20:44 You are now hypnotized.

20:47 Can I just blast you off a cliff?

20:50 No, not from this angle, but possibly from this one.

20:54 No.

20:55 It'll knock you a little bit of distance, but not too much.

20:59 You know what?

21:00 Screw it.

21:01 Give it a go.

21:02 That's going to do something.

21:03 You've been revealed at bare minimum, which is a positive.

21:09 And yeah.

21:10 Now we've got everyone around here.

21:14 Now if you would dash as one of your actions,

21:18 you could get over to the light that's being generated by Yea flipping well.

21:25 So, you should now be safe, right?

21:27 Cuz you're inside the light of well.

21:30 You should be, I think.

21:31 So, right.

21:33 Go for one of basic attack.

21:36 There we go.

21:37 That's pretty good, actually.

21:38 Well done.

21:40 And then, oh.

21:42 I'm out of a key.

21:45 But I should be able to do a Hang on.

21:46 How do I just do a regular?

21:48 There we go.

21:48 It's over here.

21:49 One and arm strike.

21:51 That's for free.

21:52 So, right.

21:53 Try again.

21:55 And that's all done, though.

21:59 Okay, Gale.

22:01 What do you want precisely?

22:03 It's quite thrilling to fight off such

22:06 grim creatures as this region throws at us.

22:09 Especially being at your side.

22:12 I um once read a book that explained in some detail the effect

22:16 a brush with danger has on one's desire for uh other forms of stimulation.

22:23 Have you ever read anything on that subject?

22:27 Right.

22:27 He's got a bit of um yes, horny adrenaline going on right now.

22:32 So, going to be honest, Gale.

22:37 Me and Karlach have a kind of got a thing going on at the minute.

22:41 And you're lovely.

22:43 Seriously, you are lovely.

22:45 But you're also blatantly still 100% one, not over your ex,

22:50 and two, even beyond that, still into her.

22:53 Like so, so into her.

22:55 Like if mistress said to jump, you would say,

22:58 "How high, mistress?" So, you know what?

23:02 I'm going to make you spell this out, Gale.

23:05 Only that I find you quite irresistible.

23:07 Even illuminated by such rotten light as this place produces.

23:11 Perhaps it's just a thrill of our near undead experience talking.

23:16 Standing at your side through such darkness and disrepair.

23:20 It only makes me want you more.

23:24 Unfortunately, this is neither the time nor the place to indulge such feelings.

23:27 So, we must be patient and push all such thoughts aside.

23:33 For now.

23:34 That was just a really, really[ __] weird time to bring this up, Gale.

23:39 Because we just kind of like murdered the mom,

23:42 dad, and dog of a mysterious demon child.

23:45 And we've not solved that mystery yet.

23:47 Like, we might have just done a really terrible thing.

23:50 Like, messed up completely and ruined a child's life.

23:54 This is such a weird time to raise how

23:56 horny you are just after murdering a mommy and daddy.

24:00 Right, everybody back inside.

24:02 Get your torches out.

24:04 There's Oliver.

24:06 Now, are you okay about the fact I just killed mommy, daddy,

24:09 and doggy and also hit you with a radiating orb at one point?

24:14 I win.

24:15 I always win in the end.

24:17 You did better than most though, so I'll let you go.

24:20 Here.

24:21 Second prize.

24:23 You'll need it.

24:25 Okay.

24:26 So, I get second prize because yes, I was caught by mommy, daddy, and doggy.

24:32 So, as a result of that, I get the ring of shadows.

24:35 That's Oh.

24:37 That's pretty good cuz yeah, pass without trace.

24:41 That's a spell which is, yeah, concentration.

24:44 But once you use it, you get Oh, hang on.

24:47 That's not the spell I thought it was.

24:49 I think I was thinking of What is it?

24:51 Mirror something something.

24:53 The one that massively boosts your AC.

24:55 This instead massively boosts yeah your sneakiness levels.

25:00 Then again, the fact that yeah this applies to everybody nearby not just you.

25:06 That's pretty good.

25:08 And yeah despite all of the rework to Astarion,

25:10 he is still the most sneaky character we've got.

25:14 And right now he's got nothing to like concentrate on.

25:16 So But then again, uh hang on if I give that to him,

25:20 can he even use that because he doesn't have any spell slots?

25:22 So can he cast spells?

25:24 Oh he 100% can.

25:28 So you know what?

25:29 I'm going to say we may as well just have that on like

25:33 all the time cuz he's got nothing else to flipping concentrate on.

25:37 And speaking of which, we should definitely uh have a rest,

25:40 restore our health, get our key back etc.

25:42 etc.

25:43 And yeah given we are currently trying

25:44 to sneak through this area without being detected.

25:49 That's amazing.

25:50 He's now doing a dumb monk poses while casting spells.

25:55 Oh Astarion, I do like the new monk you.

25:58 Ever since I've heard that in Baldur's Gate wizard is also

26:01 a term used for one who ensues their more carnal desires.

26:07 Is that true?

26:10 Where are we going with this Gale?

26:14 Oh nowhere.

26:16 Just think it's a rather cruel misnomer.

26:19 Not at all reflective of the glamour wizarding life affords.

26:23 Okay seriously Gale, why are you so horny today?

26:26 Let's just tone it down a bit.

26:29 So right, back down to the village and keep on keeping on uh towards the inn.

26:34 And yeah once again, let us Astarion lead it though these days

26:37 yeah he's even better at not being detected.

26:41 Like him and the entire team should now be amazing at not being spotted.

26:47 So right.

26:49 Keep on keeping on.

26:50 What's the best way to go next?

26:54 Cuz yeah, it looks like there's a high road going up here towards something.

27:00 There's a low road that goes, yeah,

27:02 by the looks of it, pretty much in the same direction.

27:04 But the high road would bring us onto the high ground above the blood stains.

27:09 Whatever caused those blood stains, I'm guessing, it might still be there.

27:14 So right, before we do that, get up here.

27:18 Always check obvious corpses just in case they've got something good on them.

27:24 But yeah, so far, no sign of an ambush in the village.

27:27 That's positive, at least.

27:30 So, oh.

27:32 Survival.

27:33 Right, so somewhere around here, there's some sort of a chest to be dug up.

27:39 On top of that, we've got ourselves a gray scout's journal.

27:44 And right, you worked for Neia.

27:47 So that's fine, and we know what this refers to.

27:49 You're some of the Dweorgar who we met down below back in the day.

27:53 And unfortunately, yeah, this guy kind of lost it in the end.

27:56 The way to get through the shadow curse is to let the curse go through you.

28:01 And it turns out that wasn't the answer,

28:03 because then he turned into a zombie, and someone flipping killed him.

28:07 And nothing too dramatic in the chest, either.

28:09 Still, like we were just saying here, guys, guys, guys, guys,

28:13 get near enough by to Astarion that you're

28:15 gaining the benefit from pass without trace.

28:19 Yeah.

28:20 Get over to here.

28:22 Hop in this direction.

28:25 Check, nothing over there.

28:27 Just some Hang on.

28:31 Nightstalker.

28:34 Is that important?

28:35 I feel like that's been mentioned before, but I can't remember where precisely.

28:40 Well, keep on keeping on.

28:42 Nozy upwards.

28:44 But yeah, of particular note, eyes open up for this area over here.

28:52 There's something going on.

28:54 Like that much blood means trouble.

28:58 So, okay, just get to the high ground.

29:01 Corpses.

29:03 Tiefling corpses are over there.

29:05 Do I know you guys?

29:06 And Icorna rings a bell.

29:11 I feel like I may have met that person back in the day.

29:15 I swear Icorna is someone I have met before.

29:20 So, I was still somewhere away from the inn here.

29:23 We could go off in this direction and towards, yeah, the high grounds.

29:29 Let's not worry about that just for the time being.

29:32 I feel like these corpses are more interesting.

29:37 Just to be ready.

29:38 Yeah, small steps here.

29:41 I feel like oh.

29:43 For all the good it did them.

29:44 Okay, now this investigation reveals that there was a struggle.

29:48 You know what?

29:49 Let's just light up that torch.

29:54 And check the signpost.

29:56 North, Last Light Inn.

29:58 South, Wyrmswind Town.

30:01 So, right, Wyrmswind is where we just were.

30:04 Get back down again.

30:06 Bare minimum, yeah.

30:07 Check the corpses.

30:09 But I feel like I'm walking into a trap here though.

30:13 Oh.

30:15 Okay.

30:16 Okay.

30:18 Send that to Arya.

30:19 Bare minimum, that's pretty good.

30:22 Yeah, fair few arrows and what not.

30:24 Not insignificant.

30:27 Ah, but this is positive.

30:29 One of you was one of the cultists.

30:30 This feels like, yeah, a fight between the absolute cultists and the tieflings.

30:36 Which the tieflings lost for the most part.

30:39 Like they took way more casualties,

30:41 but they took down Yeah, that guy eventually.

30:45 Possibly he was a necromancer.

30:47 Like the reason there's only one of him is he summoned lots of stuff to help,

30:51 but when he eventually went down, they all like despawned.

30:54 And I knew you seemed familiar.

30:57 I say I knew you seemed familiar.

30:59 I still don't know who you are,

31:00 but prison key and storage key it makes me think that you, sir,

31:06 you were the person who once upon a time we ran

31:08 into in the prison with with Sazza

31:11 trying to talk down what's-her-face from shooting Sazza.

31:15 And we rescued you and then you just died anyway, so Well, that's bloody sad.

31:21 Well, you know, not everyone's dead.

31:22 Like at least some people made it to the inn, right?

31:25 Well, if this was an ambush, it's not been sprung yet.

31:28 So, yeah, we could mostly in this direction and Oh.

31:33 Okay.

31:34 A magical torch with a continual flame.

31:38 This to me looks like Yeah,

31:41 camp that someone has set up at some point or another.

31:46 This isn't Yeah, anywhere nearby to Oh,

31:49 this is just looping back around to the town.

31:51 Okay.

31:54 Let's have a look see over in this direction at least.

31:56 Just calm and careful.

31:59 Watch out for perception checks, etc., etc.

32:03 If we're lucky Yeah, this time we can ambush them as opposed to being ambushed.

32:10 So, all right.

32:11 The question is why is it this area

32:15 been set up with magical continual flame torches?

32:19 What was so special about you?

32:22 We've got Oh.

32:25 A true soul.

32:27 Any chance it goes on it.

32:28 I was hoping it for maybe Yeah,

32:30 it's another parasite mcjiggle for my elephant powers.

32:33 But no, not on this occasion.

32:35 Although, then again, Waiting.

32:38 Aria, would you mind a Oh, I see.

32:44 I can't speak with dead for the simple reason that yes, unfortunately, I died.

32:50 So therefore, I lose my recast speak with dead.

32:54 But now I can't like cast again cuz it's one per long rest.

32:57 So you know what?

32:59 Some of our spell slots are starting to get a bit worn down,

33:02 especially poor old Will and Gale use you know what?

33:05 A couple of spells.

33:07 Let's just a Mosey back to camp cuz I feel like

33:09 a true soul would be a good person to speak to.

33:12 Ah, hang on though.

33:13 We don't actually need to long rest because yeah,

33:15 this isn't the speak with dead that I get from the necklace.

33:20 I don't wear that necklace anymore for the simple

33:23 reason that yeah, I don't need it.

33:25 This is the version that came out of the cursed book.

33:28 So in which case yeah, who's got that necklace these days?

33:32 There we go.

33:33 It's just a floating around in the chest of back at camp.

33:35 So right.

33:37 How about we toss that over to yeah,

33:39 Will say cuz yeah, honestly Will's pendant is not particularly exciting.

33:45 So yeah, just to swap those round and now my friend,

33:49 we can speak to that corpse.

33:52 So body, let's talk about yes,

33:55 how you ended up here in this mysterious protected fields.

34:01 We're trapped.

34:02 Shadow mastiffs.

34:05 Repel them with flame.

34:08 Those beasts still prowl the eternal night.

34:12 At least they're afraid of the fire.

34:17 Okay.

34:16 So if we run into shadow mastiffs,

34:20 fire might scare them off or be effective against them.

34:25 And yeah, what's going on with these magic eternal torches?

34:31 Spell, continual [clears throat] flame.

34:35 Continual flame.

34:37 An unquenchable light.

34:39 Woah.

34:39 Cost a queen's crown worth of ruby dust to summon.

34:42 So, okay.

34:44 In theory, is it possible to like turn them off if I wanted to?

34:49 If, for example, I found some more absolute cultists in a similar camp,

34:53 but yeah, I want to let the shadow creatures get at them.

34:57 Destroy torches.

35:00 So, okay.

35:00 As simple as destroy the torches.

35:03 And yeah, if you were protected here, how did you die?

35:08 Unslaked hunger.

35:09 Unquenched thirst.

35:13 Right.

35:14 Safer from the monsters, but you ran out of food.

35:19 And yeah, who were you, my friends?

35:21 True soul of the absolute.

35:25 Cultist by name.

35:27 The spell's power wanes.

35:30 You can ask no more questions.

35:33 Okay.

35:33 Not the most useful bit of advice, but still nice to know.

35:37 So, okay.

35:39 In which case, yeah, we've already checked you, right?

35:42 Yes, we checked you already.

35:44 Can I actually take these torches uh with me?

35:48 Particularly yeah, Astarion, who's now very strong and thus has you know,

35:53 flipping No, we could use her attack.

35:56 Astarion's got yes, a surprisingly large amount of a carry capacity these days.

36:02 If I interfere with them, yeah, you can't turn them off.

36:05 The whole point is the flame never dies.

36:09 So, okay.

36:10 That is useful to know about.

36:13 I also do enjoy, by the way, how yes,

36:15 there was actually food in the nearby boxes,

36:17 but it's all rotten, so I mean, personally,

36:22 I'd probably try eating a rotten carrot before starving to death.

36:26 Like, maybe it would help, maybe it wouldn't, but I'd at least give it a go.

36:30 And this also gives a jar a good view onto something.

36:35 If it's here.

36:37 Now, hang on.

36:37 Where am I right now?

36:39 I'm facing Yeah, southwest.

36:42 So, that oak lining.

36:45 That's not Moonrise Towers.

36:47 There's just something else very large and ominous and castle-y roundabout here.

36:54 Good.

36:55 Good.

36:55 Good.

36:55 Good.

36:55 It turns out this area is absolutely massive.

36:58 And yeah, that's how we get over to it, but don't go there just this second.

37:04 Okay?

37:05 I feel like yeah, as we start slowly piecing together what's where in this area,

37:11 we should go to the inn first.

37:14 All right.

37:14 Speak to the survivors.

37:16 Figure out what we can learn about this area.

37:19 But yeah, this point that we just go back

37:21 the way we came and then go uphill from that ambush.

37:25 We should be about there.

37:28 So, yeah, just a motion in this direction and hello, sexy.

37:32 Right.

37:34 There's a giant bubble here.

37:37 Possibly created by that moon lamp that they took from the dryder.

37:41 So, right.

37:42 We've definitely found the lovely safe zone we wanted to track down.

37:47 So, yeah, before we just a motion in there, yeah, just check this area.

37:51 There might be maybe just a one or two things up here.

37:55 It could be worth looting before we head on over.

38:01 I'll tell you what.

38:02 That is oh.

38:04 Right.

38:05 There's a level nine shambling mound up there.

38:09 I feel like I don't want to take him on just yet because

38:14 external digestion can devour any creature

38:18 that's restrained and steeping in its juices.

38:22 So, it like vomits on you and then eats you.

38:26 Just out of interest, what happens if you're devoured?

38:29 So, right, instant death, got it.

38:33 Okay, so basically, yeah, this area over here,

38:37 this is where there is a giant monster,

38:40 the king over the Shadow Mount creatures.

38:43 I feel like there's going to be more leading in that direction

38:45 because this is the sort of foliage we saw in fact Oh.

38:50 I don't think that's actually foliage.

38:53 I think that's a creature in disguise.

38:56 So, okay, we now know what's up there and I

38:59 feel like we don't necessarily want to like fight it immediately.

39:04 Bare minimum, yeah, we want to be going in having just had a long rest,

39:09 so we are nice and strong, etc., etc.

39:12 Okay, let's just get back down the hill and yeah,

39:16 into the nice safe area and remember the story.

39:20 Officially, we're going to be Well, actually, hang on.

39:23 I was about to say officially,

39:25 we were supposed to be captive and then we escaped when the harper showed up.

39:31 But, if there are people inside this inn who know us from the Emerald Grove,

39:36 they'll vouch for us.

39:37 So, right, everybody stand up,

39:40 we're just going to walk in bold as brass and another harper.

39:45 Okay, you should be expecting me.

39:46 We helped you take down the Drow dar.

39:48 A little shimmering shield of light.

39:52 It should be a reprieve from the shadows, if nothing else.

39:56 So, all right, nice little safe area according to Astarion.

40:00 Astarion, you're now back in the lead.

40:03 Let's see what they've got to say.

40:05 You there.

40:07 Step forward and keep your hands off your weapons.

40:13 Easy.

40:12 She helped us out in the shadows.

40:17 Come.

40:21 Jaheira.

40:48 [groaning] Okay.

40:54 It's possible that she knows about the tadpoles.

40:59 I like your outfit, by the way.

41:01 Can I have your outfit if we're about to kill each other or something?

41:04 So, we're right, though.

41:07 Oh, apparently I know this person.

41:09 Okay, you're supposed to be the noble Jaheira.

41:13 You're like a big deal.

41:15 Cuz as a bard, I've heard of you.

41:17 So, right, let's start there.

41:18 Bit of flattery, see how that goes.

41:20 It seems tales of my clemency have been greatly exaggerated.

41:25 Right.

41:26 So, if you let me go,

41:28 I'll amend the tales and add a hate strangers as a footnote.

41:33 That's a cute thing to say.

41:34 I'm going for that.

41:35 You have not experienced my hatred, stranger.

41:39 Not yet, at least.

41:45 This is why we're here, you see.

41:49 It is a curious creature that hides all manner of secrets.

41:53 But if there's one thing that we know, it's that it knows its own kind.

42:04 Oh, that's clever.

42:06 Right, they've got a true soul detector.

42:09 You should never have come here, true soul.

42:16 Okay.

42:15 So, no, don't force your way out.

42:18 We need to let you know sort this out here.

42:22 Look at the Harpers who I saved.

42:24 All right, I've got friends here.

42:27 Hopefully.

42:30 Stop.

42:30 What you doing?

42:32 She's the one who saved us.

42:34 She's the one who protected the Emerald Grove.

42:41 Yep.

42:40 Didn't leave a goblin standing.

42:42 Not so bad to hang around with either.

42:44 Saved two of my friends.

42:46 One from a harpy and one from a mad druid with a snake.

42:50 Didn't make a fuss about our tiefling either.

42:52 But pretty much trust her with my life.

42:55 A true soul with a mind of her own?

42:58 How's that possible?

43:09 Okay.

43:09 So, me and you, Mol, we are now best friends, okay?

43:13 Whatever you want doing in Baldur's Gate, I will do it.

43:17 Like the next time you tell me to do something stupid,

43:19 like steal a sacred artifact from a cult while they're actually,

43:23 you know, worshipping it and doing a magic

43:25 right with it or whatever, I will do it.

43:27 You now get one free quest done by me, no questions asked.

43:32 Oh, Mol, great.

43:33 I love Mol.

43:35 So, right, I'm going to work under the assumption

43:37 that had I turned against the Emerald Grove, yeah,

43:41 this situation is here would not have ended well, potentially,

43:45 cuz I'd have had no one to vouch for me.

43:49 And okay.

43:51 Do I want to show you the artifact?

43:54 You know what?

43:55 I feel like, you know, pretending we don't know about the artifact,

43:57 the time for that is gone.

43:59 Now at this point, the Githyanki, no, I've got the artifact.

44:03 They tried to kill me to get it.

44:05 At this point, we could just do with all the help and advice we could get.

44:09 So yes, this is like an astral prism.

44:12 It's important for some reason.

44:14 I think it's something to do with Orpheus,

44:16 who you may or may not be familiar with.

44:35 What in the hells is that thing?

44:37 We don't actually 100% sure, but here's all the information we've got.

44:43 Hopefully, you'll be useful in like adding to it.

44:48 Congratulations.

44:48 You've earned yourself the benefit of the doubt.

44:52 Hear me Harpers, all clear, at ease.

44:55 I'll not pretend to understand what that artifact is,

45:01 but I'm old and wise enough to recognize a sliver

45:04 of hope when it crawls out of the dark.

45:07 Tell me, why have you come here?

45:11 So right, ultimately, yeah.

45:15 The Absolute and Moonrise Towers, specifically, yeah.

45:19 All the leads we've got suggest it's the best

45:21 bet for sorting out the whole parasite situation.

45:24 Then our interests align.

45:27 We must all cure ourselves of the entire cult of the Absolute.

45:33 There's food in the inn over there.

45:35 Beds, too, if you require rest.

45:37 Aloe oil in the cupboard, in case the vines gave you a rash.

45:41 Settle in.

45:43 Then come join me for a drink.

45:45 You may just be the godsend we've been praying for.

45:49 So there we go.

45:50 Situation resolved.

45:51 Everybody's nice and a flipping chill with us.

45:55 And oh, Mol, Mol, Mol, Mol, you come back here.

45:58 Would you like some money?

45:59 I am a happy to give you some money right about now.

46:03 Look, you're welcome and all, but I got to chat with bigger fish.

46:09 Later.

46:10 I love Moala so much.

46:12 Moala is the best.

46:14 Having saved our lives, she's now just a wandering off because we're not

46:17 really worth her time when it comes to business.

46:21 Moala's amazing.

46:23 So, right.

46:25 We are now inside this safe little compound.

46:30 The question is, oh.

46:32 Are there maybe secrets around the outskirts of this place here?

46:37 It's a kind of a notice, yeah.

46:40 There's little side areas, still within the bubble,

46:44 but very much out of the way, though.

46:47 Okay, when you see the Helion's heart, oh, apparently Daman's here.

46:51 Oh, that's good news.

46:52 Right, at least some people have made it.

46:55 Right, keep on keeping on in this direction and oh.

47:01 Right, that leads us back outside to Okay, just north of where I just was.

47:08 So, okay, John, maybe don't go wandering back into the night just yet.

47:13 We should just do looting, not immediately leave.

47:17 And yeah, they've got this area trapped up potentially.

47:20 So, watch out for traps.

47:22 Though speaking of which, hello there, Bex.

47:26 What are you doing out here all by yourself?

47:28 And also, do I know a Bex?

47:29 I'm not sure I know a Bex.

47:31 Please, I just want to be alone.

47:33 And oh dear, though oh.

47:37 Bex, apparently I do know you.

47:41 Were you what's-her-face, the girl who I saved from the snakes, Mom?

47:47 And also, apparently you had a husband back in the day.

47:50 Though oh, hang on, no.

47:53 Was Bex the person upstairs down

47:55 in the marketplace who was having these really cute

47:58 conversations about how she was going to get

48:00 to Baldur's Gate and have a cat etc.

48:03 etc.

48:05 Because I suspect possibly that might have been your husband

48:09 who I saw on the road like when we first entered.

48:15 Gone?

48:15 Cultists?

48:19 It was so dark.

48:21 I didn't realize until the children started screaming.

48:25 They rounded us up.

48:28 Cut us up.

48:30 Said they were taking whoever could still walk to Moonrise Towers.

48:35 I managed to get away.

48:38 But my love Dennis Martindale Roshan

48:48 As a tiefling I should probably understand that, but I actually don't.

48:52 So Right.

48:55 We need to do another rescue mission.

48:58 It sounds like there's a lot of people that need getting out of Moonrise Towers.

49:03 It's hard to imagine him making it after everything that happened.

49:06 But if you find him it would mean the world to me.

49:12 Okay.

49:13 Get her husband back and that's fine.

49:17 And right.

49:18 Beyond that yeah, potentially there might be a few more people just

49:21 hanging out around here on the beach that's just within the magical bubble.

49:27 I will say that one.

49:28 It's rather nice that yeah, this location has got some big docks.

49:33 Potentially if we could get a boat,

49:36 that might help us move around a little bit more easily.

49:40 And if ultimately we need to evacuate this in again,

49:44 that's going to be the easiest way to do it.

49:46 So right, keep that in mind.

49:48 Oh, and speaking of such people who've lost someone He was joking this morning.

49:55 Jonas, I mean.

49:57 Right.

49:57 Don't interrupt.

49:58 Just let us speak.

50:01 He was always joking.

50:03 He said it was good for morale, but he just liked seeing people laugh.

50:07 He was a good Harper.

50:12 A good friend.

50:14 So, yes.

50:15 By the sounds of it,

50:15 the Harpers are not having an easy time of it out here in the Shadowcurse lands.

50:20 We were comrades in arms.

50:23 I thought we could have been something more one day, but too late now.

50:31 Okay.

50:32 And I'm guessing, yeah, he's gone as opposed to just kidnapped.

50:35 So, uh You know what?

50:37 I can actually help with that a little bit.

50:38 Like, you know what?

50:39 If you want to say goodbye to him, bring me the corpse.

50:42 I can make him speak.

50:44 Like, very briefly.

50:45 Five questions.

50:46 That's generally the rule.

50:47 Right.

50:47 And I think with that, we've now, yeah, looped back round to the top here.

50:52 So, yeah.

50:53 It's basically just a very large building

50:56 with a few paths and docks round the rear.

50:59 Still, I think I know what we want to do first here,

51:01 which is, let's just, yeah, make a quick change to the team.

51:06 Oh, and this is cute, by the way.

51:08 There's actually, yes, a dedicated Last Light Inn camp as well.

51:12 So, yeah, presumably we're like camping on the beach.

51:15 That's We can't be camping on the beach that's

51:18 round the back because I've already explored the entire area,

51:20 but somehow, we're like camping on a beach that's sort of nearby.

51:25 But yes, as I was saying, Karlach, sounds like we've got some, yeah,

51:29 some immediate urgent business with a you over at the Last

51:32 Light Inn because a Karlach is sitting on, yeah,

51:36 two bits of infernal iron and also what one infernal alloy.

51:42 So, yeah, you are swimming in good sexy bits of pieces.

51:46 So, the more you cool down, the more your love life heats up.

51:53 [music] Seems that way.

51:54 But I'm a bit out of practice, to be honest.

51:57 I'm sure it'll all come back to you.

52:00 You'll be as depraved as the rest of us in no time.

52:03 Okay, everyone is just being so horny today.

52:05 So, Astarion, stop encouraging everyone else, please.

52:09 And right, understandably, a Karlach wants to have a chat, possibly about a yes,

52:14 her whole heart situation, given that Damons just over there somewhere.

52:19 Oh my god, soldier.

52:21 That's Jaheira.

52:22 The Jaheira.

52:24 Never mind.

52:25 You want to talk about Jaheira instead.

52:27 So, yeah, by the sounds of it, you know her better than I do.

52:32 Not personally.

52:33 I mean, I wish.

52:35 She's an absolute legend.

52:37 Years ago, over a century,

52:39 Jaheira was part of a group that saved Baldur's Gate from Sarevok,

52:43 a Bhaal spawn trying to plunge the city into war.

52:47 My mom used to tell us stories about them.

52:50 The legends who protected the city from evil.

52:53 She said Jaheira was a powerful druid.

52:56 Adamant.

52:58 Tough.

52:59 I've told myself those stories a thousand times since.

53:03 I never thought I'd meet Jaheira.

53:06 She's a hero, and I was always some out-of-city kid.

53:12 Can't believe she wants to talk to us about working together.

53:15 What a day.

53:17 Okay, you definitely get to stay in the party,

53:20 while we're like, you know, dealing with all this business, though.

53:22 I don't Okay, I'm going to be honest,

53:24 I also did just to forget something, which is Yes,

53:26 the second reason I want Karlach around is Yes,

53:30 we're a tiny bit low on money right now.

53:33 But what we're not low on is a giant of piles of a cooking a weaponry.

53:39 I've been basically just gathering everything and just sending it

53:41 go straight back to camp because this sells for good money.

53:45 Right, she's now carrying enough to be a heavily encumbered,

53:48 but that's fine because in a matter of seconds

53:52 I've always felt flames to be a rather perfect expression of love, Karlach.

53:56 Passionate.

53:57 Primal.

53:58 Capable of bestowing the most life-affirming

54:00 comfort or inflicting the profoundest damage.

54:06 That's pretty nice.

54:08 Never thought about it like that.

54:11 But now I will.

54:13 Okay, seriously, is there just something

54:14 in the water here in the Shadow-Cursed Lands?

54:16 Cuz you are just all catastrophically horny right now.

54:20 Right, as I was saying, we've got ourselves a new shop here.

54:25 Stock up while you can.

54:26 I only hope I've brought enough to see us through.

54:29 And hilariously, we can offer to take some stuff off

54:32 our hands at no cost for a bit of persuasion.

54:35 So I'm not sure why she would agree to this, but sure, why not?

54:41 That should definitely be fine.

54:43 Yeah, no trouble there whatsoever.

54:47 Cheeky.

54:47 What?

54:48 Since you're asking.

54:52 All right, that got me a basic supply pack and not bad for a long rest.

54:56 Lovely.

54:56 But yes, let's dive into your inventory proper cuz yeah,

55:00 right now I've only got like 300 gold.

55:03 However, if we just start selling all the stuff that Karlach brought with her.

55:10 There we go, straight up to 1,200.

55:13 So hopefully that's going to be enough for two yeah,

55:16 pick up anything good you've got.

55:18 Though maybe don't spend too money too happily, John,

55:21 because Dammon is also a shop just over the road.

55:25 He might have new stuff since the last time we were here.

55:28 So right, let's have a look and see as to what you've got, including a blimey.

55:35 Very expensive scrolls.

55:37 But I'm guessing given a year, 88,

55:39 That's probably like a level five or six spell.

55:42 So, there's no point buying that because Gale can't learn it anyway.

55:46 Okay, we got a staff here.

55:48 But yeah, we'll give you a firebolt and fireball,

55:52 and also resistance to fire damage.

55:54 Potentially useful against the right opponent,

55:56 but I don't want to jump straight into that.

55:59 But yeah, plenty of other stuff is just pretty basic plus one weaponry.

56:03 Nothing too exciting yet.

56:05 Now, this is more interesting.

56:08 A hat related to unarmed attacks.

56:10 So, yeah, deal damage with unarmed,

56:14 and you gain a plus one to spell save DC to the end of that turn, though.

56:20 Can I stack that?

56:22 Like plus one for every punch?

56:25 Cuz if so, Astarion could gain a plus four basically every single round.

56:31 Which would be cooking hilarious, but you know what?

56:36 Keep that in mind.

56:37 Don't buy just yet, cuz yeah, that costs like 500 gold.

56:41 Check the other things at first.

56:43 There might be some more interesting bits and pieces floating around.

56:46 And I was about to say, this is kind of cool.

56:48 A robe that gives you yeah,

56:50 fire damage against an enemy when you actually save against them.

56:55 But yeah, it's only spells,

56:57 and it costs a ridiculous amount of money, so never mind.

57:01 Oh, hello sexy.

57:03 Armor that increases strength by two up to a maximum of 20.

57:10 That would be really good for Karlach or for Astarion.

57:16 Because yeah, both of them would just gain

57:17 direct benefits to throwing damage or unarmed damage.

57:23 Oh, that's going to be hard to beat actually.

57:25 Yeah, that's currently top of my shopping list.

57:28 And there is more next to you as well.

57:30 The Yuan-ti Scale Mail.

57:33 So, yeah, 15 medium armor.

57:35 Add your full dexterity.

57:37 Okay, cuz yeah, normally medium armor you could only

57:40 add a plus two to AC from your dexterity.

57:43 This just lets you add everything.

57:47 Okay, that's It's much of that's potentially nice,

57:51 but is anyone in my team even wear medium armor?

57:53 Like, I'm not sure anyone does.

57:55 It's either robes or heavy armor, actually.

57:57 Oh, but on the other hand, that's a cocky cloak.

58:01 Like, you know, we've not seen any cloaks the entire game.

58:04 This is literally the first cloak I've seen in like

58:06 a hundred hours into this game and in act two,

58:09 and this is the first cocky cloak there's ever been.

58:11 So, oh, that's That's too good to turn down, surely.

58:15 John, don't buy it.

58:17 Okay, check everything else first.

58:20 So, yeah, good shield.

58:22 Plus two, why is every shield plus two?

58:24 Like, the good shield surely should have been plus three.

58:27 Why is it never more than plus two?

58:29 For some reason, yes,

58:30 magical ultimate mega shields give you the same AC bonus as like

58:34 a table with some nails in it the goblins stuck a handle to.

58:38 It's very weird.

58:39 Oh, and these are potentially nice for dual-wielding characters.

58:43 Off-hand attacks, you get to add your ability

58:45 modifier to the damage of the attack,

58:47 which normally you can't unless you've got like a feat, I think.

58:51 Though again, is anyone in my team actually using dual weapons at all?

58:56 Cuz I don't think they are.

58:58 It's either like, you know,

58:59 two-handed weapons or weapon and shield or spells or an aunt.

59:04 Yeah, I'm not sure that's actually as relevant to my team right now.

59:07 Oh, but hang on.

59:09 Amulet of the Harpers letting you have the shield spell only once per long rest,

59:15 but also advantage on a wisdom saving throw checks.

59:20 I mean, honestly, I don't care about that.

59:21 Like, just having access to shield is incredible.

59:25 You know what?

59:26 That only cost 275.

59:28 I'm buying that right now.

59:31 But yeah, beyond that, I think the next thing

59:33 I'd like to save up towards would be mighty cloth.

59:36 I like that sounds good.

59:38 Yeah, I'm going to give her that to Astarion

59:40 because right now he's on the front line,

59:43 but he's a very vulnerable with AC of only 13.

59:46 So the ability to just say, "Hey, you know what?

59:49 Screw it.

59:49 Actually, it's 18 this round." That's useful.

59:53 Meaning yeah, I think I just saw over on the other side of the courtyard here.

59:59 There he is.

1:00:00 Damon is not dead.

1:00:02 That is very bloody useful actually.

1:00:05 So right, Damon.

1:00:08 Me and you need to have a chat about our friend Karlach.

1:00:13 Good sense for horned freaks, and that ox is one of them.

1:00:17 Also, hang on.

1:00:18 When you say, "Oh, it's the strange ox again.

1:00:20 You're back." So Okay, we'll deal with you later, mysterious strange ox.

1:00:28 Karlach?

1:00:28 I thought you'd be in the city by now.

1:00:30 We were ambushed by cultists.

1:00:32 Half of us were captured.

1:00:34 The other half ran here.

1:00:35 Off the Anvil into the forge.

1:00:38 We'll find them.

1:00:39 Hopefully.

1:00:40 Before you run off into the belly of the beast,

1:00:44 there's something I need to tell you.

1:00:46 Well, two things.

1:00:48 Good news and bad news.

1:00:52 Right.

1:00:53 Leave this to Karlach.

1:00:54 She gets to choose how to deal with this.

1:00:56 The good news, obviously.

1:00:59 I only need one more piece of infernal iron to craft

1:01:03 an insulating chamber that can make it possible for Karlach to touch people.

1:01:10 Exactly.

1:01:10 Oh my gods.

1:01:13 It's really happening.

1:01:15 It's been so long.

1:01:19 We've got the iron.

1:01:20 Let's do this thing.

1:01:21 Hang on.

1:01:23 I think you'll want to hear the bad news, too.

1:01:27 Yeah, sure.

1:01:28 But first, fix me.

1:01:32 Please.

1:01:33 Okay, seriously, we should figure out what the price is going to be first.

1:01:38 I get it.

1:01:39 Everyone is really horny today.

1:01:42 But yeah, we need to understand what's going on here.

1:01:47 Fine.

1:01:47 Well, go on then.

1:01:48 I don't enjoy saying this, Karlach, but there's no two ways about it.

1:01:54 Your engine is going to blow, and I can't fix it.

1:01:58 I'm not sure anyone can.

1:02:00 It's simply too hot to exist here in the material plane.

1:02:04 Unless you return to Avernus for good,

1:02:07 this thing is going to blow sooner rather than later.

1:02:13 But But still, you you can give me

1:02:14 something that will let me touch again, right?

1:02:18 Safely.

1:02:19 Yes, but That's all I need to know.

1:02:23 Do it.

1:02:24 Please.

1:02:28 Right.

1:02:28 So, why are so many people in my team about to explode?

1:02:32 Jaheira, about to explode.

1:02:34 Karlach, about to explode.

1:02:36 If anyone else is about to explode, please raise your hands now.

1:02:40 I do not want to be surprised later.

1:02:43 But yeah, bare minimum, let's get Karlach the heart upgrade because

1:02:48 we could deal with the bad stuff later.

1:02:50 For now, yeah, let's just make it happen.

1:02:55 Well, all right.

1:02:57 This shouldn't take long.

1:03:16 Same as last time.

1:03:18 You'll need to install it yourself.

1:03:21 This should do the trick.

1:03:34 There.

1:03:36 [sighs] So, did it work?

1:03:39 Only one way to find out.

1:03:41 Okay, well, I'm standing all right here, Karlach.

1:04:02 You were right.

1:04:05 No burns.

1:04:07 Can we go to bed now?

1:04:11 [laughter] Hold on, Karlach.

1:04:14 There's something I need to tell you.

1:04:16 That engine of yours is contained for the moment,

1:04:22 but it's just too hot to exist here in the material plane indefinitely.

1:04:26 I know you know that, but the thing is, there's a cure.

1:04:31 I wasn't making any headway with the mechanics, none at all.

1:04:35 The environment here is just too cold

1:04:38 to sustain metals like the ones inside you.

1:04:41 You have to return to Avernus for good.

1:04:46 Or this thing is going to burn you up from the inside out,

1:04:50 and sooner than you think.

1:04:52 The minute I set foot back in Avernus, Zariel will force me back into service.

1:04:58 I'm not doing her bidding again.

1:05:01 I'd rather die.

1:05:03 I get that, but don't rule it out.

1:05:06 The world's just might be better with you in it, even in Avernus.

1:05:11 I won't stop trying to figure out a cure,

1:05:13 but at this point I think we all have to face the inevitable.

1:05:21 So, what?

1:05:21 Right.

1:05:23 We need to find a solution to that because

1:05:27 Karlach does not want to go back to Avernus.

1:05:31 But yes, first things first, thank you cuz you have done a lot of work

1:05:35 here and you've made a lot of good progress.

1:05:39 Yeah.

1:05:39 But for the doom and gloom,

1:05:41 you've given me more than I could ever hope to repay.

1:05:45 It's been my pleasure.

1:05:47 Good luck.

1:05:48 Both of you.

1:05:50 Look after yourself, all right?

1:05:53 All right.

1:05:54 There we go.

1:05:55 We've now officially completed the Hellion's Heart though.

1:05:58 Uh-oh.

1:06:00 It's kind of bad that we've officially completed the Hellion's

1:06:03 Heart because that's just we can't just like, you know,

1:06:07 pick this up in the third act and then

1:06:09 find your way to a magical heart that does work.

1:06:12 So, oh, Karlach, I really hope we're not going towards a sad ending with you.

1:06:17 Okay, the Hellion's Heart is complete.

1:06:20 Our fiery friend is not marked as complete.

1:06:23 There's probably going to be a second quest that we can use to fix up Karlach.

1:06:28 Don't worry, it's fine.

1:06:29 We're going to fix this.

1:06:31 This is the best day.

1:06:34 The best day.

1:06:36 So, yes, let's just focus on the good stuff for now.

1:06:39 And I'm guessing very soon, the next time we go for a long rest.

1:06:43 Okay, basically prepare the hedgehogs.

1:06:48 Me, too.

1:06:50 Whenever you want to turn in, I'd love

1:06:53 to take this whole touch thing for a test drive.

1:06:57 I know we have important things to do, but we deserve a little sweetness, too.

1:07:02 So, don't you worry, Karlach.

1:07:04 We most definitely will though.

1:07:07 Okay, let's not bring up the whole engine thing right now.

1:07:10 Let's just focus on the positives.

1:07:12 We could deal with the sad stuff later.

1:07:15 Oh man.

1:07:17 I can't wait.

1:07:18 So, all right.

1:07:19 Karlach's having a very good day.

1:07:21 We've just got that sorted out and do not forget, of course,

1:07:25 we've got Jaheira just inside and apparently Karlach is going

1:07:28 to have a really nice time meeting her as well.

1:07:33 I hesitated to mention this back in the Druid's Grove for obvious reasons,

1:07:37 but no one has earned my trust if not you.

1:07:40 When Elturel was dragged into Avernus, I was drafted into a devil's smithy.

1:07:47 It should have been awful.

1:07:50 Infernal metal is like a wild horse.

1:07:54 Powerful, exuberant.

1:07:56 It'll kill you if you lack technique.

1:08:00 I can sense some, smell it almost.

1:08:03 Somewhere in the area.

1:08:05 Underground, maybe.

1:08:07 Out there in the shadows.

1:08:09 If you find it, bring it to me.

1:08:12 I'll make something incredible.

1:08:15 Okay.

1:08:15 I just have a flipping nip back to Dammon,

1:08:18 so you know, do a bit of buying and selling.

1:08:20 But there might be more we can get from him yet.

1:08:24 In particular, yeah,

1:08:27 we've got not just the infernal metal that we've used to forge Karlach.

1:08:31 We had an infernal alloy as well.

1:08:34 Rare to get your hands on this stuff.

1:08:37 Well done keeping it to hand.

1:08:39 All right, so that's like the mega special

1:08:42 ultimate alloy I think we've just given him.

1:08:46 So, what precisely, good sir, can you make from that?

1:08:51 There you are.

1:08:52 And be careful who you show that to.

1:08:55 It might draw the wrong kind of attention.

1:08:57 Okay, hang on.

1:08:57 We've got ourselves Oh.

1:09:01 Flawed Helldusk armor, you say?

1:09:04 Oh, I sexy.

1:09:06 So this is a heavy armor AC 18.

1:09:10 When you're hit by a foe that's within 2 m, they might take damage.

1:09:13 Presumably there's like a deck save or something.

1:09:17 On top of that, superior plate one less piercing damage.

1:09:22 That's fine if maybe a tiny bit on the underwhelming side.

1:09:27 Meanwhile, if I give you yeah, like the regular material,

1:09:31 presumably this is the infernal iron that was

1:09:33 spare after we already sorted out Karlach's hearts.

1:09:36 Right, that gets me another item from the same set by the Lucius offense.

1:09:42 On this occasion, medium armor plus two bonus two saving throws.

1:09:47 That's not bad, you know.

1:09:50 Right, I'll set that over to Shadowheart because yeah,

1:09:52 no one in this party actually wears armor.

1:09:54 Hilariously, we have got four cooking robe wearers with us right now.

1:09:58 And finally, yeah, those masks we found,

1:10:02 the ones that were like the hang on, what were they called?

1:10:04 Merigons or something?

1:10:06 I cannot recall.

1:10:07 Apparently yeah, you could do a something with those.

1:10:10 You can wear them to increase strength if there's like more than one.

1:10:15 But yeah, we had like four.

1:10:16 We're never going to need an entire party of those.

1:10:18 So yeah, I'm going to give you one of those at least.

1:10:21 You see, something that's already fabricated is tough.

1:10:23 But I can try.

1:10:25 How many do you have?

1:10:26 You can only have a one of them now.

1:10:28 But yeah, if you make something really impressive,

1:10:31 I might be willing to hand over the rest.

1:10:33 And hello sexy.

1:10:35 That gets me an explosive.

1:10:38 So right, basically a flaming grenade.

1:10:41 Honestly, not that exciting.

1:10:42 I'll probably keep the other masks on me.

1:10:45 But yeah, I do still have a one last piece of infernal iron, too.

1:10:49 And there we go, another set of matching armor.

1:10:52 Oh, but I'll tell you what, these are potentially pretty good.

1:10:56 Weapon attacks deal an additional 1d4 of fire damage

1:11:01 and unarmed attacks deal a 1 to 4 necrotic.

1:11:06 You know what?

1:11:07 That's sort of interesting.

1:11:10 These are yeah, not medium armor.

1:11:11 Anyone could wear these.

1:11:13 So, uh that could be good for Lae'zel.

1:11:17 Or alternatively, yeah, would I rather Astarion had those?

1:11:23 Would I rather yeah, gather up the old the lightning charges and stats?

1:11:27 And does Lae'zel have something on her wrists already?

1:11:31 You know what?

1:11:31 I'm going to send those to Lae'zel.

1:11:33 We'll figure out those later.

1:11:34 And while I probably can't afford any

1:11:36 of this, Dammon's got some other bits and pieces,

1:11:38 too, including yeah, new stuff I've not seen before,

1:11:43 like a bow that gives you flipping haste.

1:11:47 I mean, only once per long rest, but still,

1:11:50 everyone having access to haste for free, that's ridiculously good.

1:11:56 Though, it does cost a grand.

1:11:57 I literally can't afford that right now.

1:11:59 And then, we've got a weapon giving a bonus to strength.

1:12:04 So, yeah, giving that to Karlach, say,

1:12:07 would just be very good for her throwing damage.

1:12:10 So, uh Oh, that's tempting as well.

1:12:12 Right, there's a lot of stuff I'd like to buy in this town.

1:12:14 Gotcha.

1:12:16 Including a very cute short sword that would be amazing if for an assassin,

1:12:20 given yeah, they could guarantee crits at the start of a fight.

1:12:23 But no, that doesn't really work for me anymore.

1:12:25 And finally, gloves that give you plus one to any melee attack roll.

1:12:32 Oh, that's good, too.

1:12:34 Right, leave that for now, but yeah, we're going to need to make a lot

1:12:40 of cocking money before we're done with this place,

1:12:42 cuz there's a lot I want to buy.

1:12:45 Still, I would say we made it to the last

1:12:47 light in uh how about we call it a putt down?

1:12:51 But next time right,

1:12:53 we should probably be focusing on you know catching up with all our friends

1:12:57 from the Emerald Grove learning what we can about the absolute torches etc.

1:13:01 etc.

1:13:01 But Okay, let's be completely blunt here.

1:13:05 I think the highlight's going to be the next time we take a long

1:13:07 rest me and Karlach going to be having a bit of a nice time together.

1:13:11 So right, coming up in the next episode

1:13:14 we've got some of flipping hedgehogs to deploy.

1:13:17 So hopefully you'll join me for that.

1:13:20 But in the meantime I've been Jonas,

1:13:22 has been many a true nerd and this has been the wonderful Baldur's Gate 3.

1:13:28 Thank you very much and goodbye.

1:13:31 So okay, um I've been outwitted by a butterfly and beaten up by a fish.

1:13:37 Stop right there criminal scum.

1:13:39 I didn't steal anything.

1:13:41 I'm sorry I TOUCHED THE SHOES WHILE I WAS SHOE SHOPPING.

1:13:44 OKAY, I feel like I may have just um walked in on something.

1:13:48 What about this person?

1:13:49 Should we talk to this person?