Part 5: Dread in the Deep | Starter Kit: Phoenix Dawn Command

Last time on Starter Kit. We have to get down there now. They're going to go down there. We better go with them. Let's keep hitting magic orbs with axes and see what happens. I knew I liked you, chapter. Suddenly the ground shakes even harder, and a huge chunk of the ceiling starts falling down towards the three of you. Welcome back to your Starter Kit. I'm Keith Baker, the creator of Phoenix Dawn Command. In war, our phoenixes must not only battle the dread, they must protect the lives of those the dread seeks to destroy. Sometimes the second job significantly complicates the first. The tunnel is coming down on top of you. When we left off, you were down the tunnel away. You're safe, but the rest of you, the tunnel is collapsing on top of you. There's an enormous piece of roof coming down. One of you, someone with enormous strength, is gonna have to try and catch this and shield the people who are there. I'm just saying one of you might be all about defending people. I'll do it. All right. For the wing. As it comes crashing down to you, ice smashing against the floor, Adria cringing next to you. Since she helps me with defense, Can I like call out to her to like brace my back or something? I'll give you a plus two for that. Because she is actually, since you inspire her, get in there, she'll give you a plus two. You are athletic, that's five base, you have a seven base. And again, because this is a specialty, you can play any three cards, plus any traits. And what do I need to get to succeed? Really high. This is, if you manage to completely hold this thing off, it's gonna be very impressive. The better you do, the less it's gonna hurt people. I believe in you, Kronis. Okay. You can do that. Could I use my strength to help as well? Certainly, if you have a trait that applies to this, you could spend that. I don't know if I do. I see too big to fail down there. That certainly seems like an applicable trait. Since you're assisting, I'm gonna give you three points. Because again, as you're trying to catch it, he leaps in to help, so you're up to a base of 10 without having played any cards. Okay, so I've got 10, and this would be based on grace since it's athletics? Or it would be based on strength? It's strength, but you can play grace because it's a specialty of yours. You can use either suit. So any three cards. Oh I got it, yeah, okay. So we're gonna go four, and then I've got a four strength, then four grace. I'm gonna save this grace three, so I'm gonna do a grace two to make it an even twunt. All right, discard those and draw back up. The ceiling is collapsing, little chunks are falling all around, you can't possibly catch them all. You do manage to catch this enormous slab of stone and earth that should have just crushed both you and Adria flat and you don't just catch it, you know, if you had some superhuman strength or something, you know that. Listen, man, it's so weird. But just the fact that you caught this and shoved it aside was very impressive. However, between all the lesser pieces and even the strain of catching it yourself, you take one wound from just the force of it. Now, do you want to take the wound or do you want to burn two sparks to not take the wound? I'm okay, well, actually, yeah, okay, wait, yeah, I'm gonna spin it. Don't forget, you could just use this instead. This gives you two sparks if you wanna just use this from the Devoted Bond. Draw strength from Pyre. But does that hurt? It actually helps Pyre. It gives him his spark. Oh, yeah, okay. All right, so you just keep what you've got. We burned this to give you two and you spent those two immediately and you get it back. And I can use my bitter bond to draw two more cards, right? Yes, you can because when other people are hurt, you feel their pain and it makes you mad. All right, draw two cards. Do some cards! Between the three of you, you have to share out two more wounds. Now, I'm just saying one of these wounds could go to one of your buddies if you were a horrible person. I hope you're not that horrible person. I mean, you could just take him. I mean, is he gonna buy you dinner? I hope so. You promised. Two wounds. I'll take one for sure. Okay. Yeah. So each of you takes a wound. Adria is shaken up, but she's like, but this isn't just a tremor. At this point, we come back with you and Tibben. Tibben says, I think I know what's going on, but I'm not entirely sure. And I would like you to give me a arcane spread. Okay. You and him, you know, it's like you think putting your heads together, you might be able to figure this out. You hit a plus three from Tibin, so that's eight as your base. Okay. And you can play up to three cards, any three cards. Okay. You'd like to hit 20 if you could. 15 would be okay. Let's do four intellect, four grace, and what am I at now? 16. And again, you can burn a spark to boost things. So if you got to 19, you could burn a spark to make it 20. OK. So if I add another card and then burn a spark, I should be at 20, yeah? That's right. OK. All right. Wait. So you realize a few things here. It isn't so much an earthquake. As Tibin had said before, this is some sort of bridge to the dusk, the same world you go to with the Crucible. It's sort of turning in on itself. It's like they've sort of turned on, if you will, sort of really powerful gravity that's trying to pull it between worlds. That's some sort of system that is essentially, you know, an enchantment that has been activated in a way it's not supposed to function. As a person who's dabbled with warlocks and such, you would guess that there is a spirit that should be governing or controlling these things that for some reason isn't. So it is definitely going to get worse. But it's not just a matter of, again, physical earthquakes. it is going to potentially just drop this whole thing out of this world in a violent and unpleasant way. You would guess that's a matter of hours at most. So being fast is a good idea. So discard the cards that you used, draw three new cards to replace them. And if anyone else, everyone else is back to what they were at. Now, here's the other problem. The tunnel behind you has now collapsed. Okay. So you could probably shift it, maybe. You are incredibly strong, both of you. That itself would probably take a couple of hours. I think we gotta keep moving. If there's a way in, there's a way out. It was that way, behind you? Yeah. I was like, okay. Where there's an in, there's an out. There's an in and out. Yes. All right. Trade mark. Do you venture forward then? Because you very quickly come to chapter. You have definitely been able to ascertain as you move forward it becomes sharply colder. I'm just going to hold and wait for my friends. As they approach I'm gonna try to be as quiet still as possible. Do you reveal yourself or are you just staying hidden? I'm gonna stay hidden. You don't even notice her. It's dark, there's falling stuff. But what you notice is again, temperature sharply dropping. It immediately chills even you. and both Adria and Tibby just start shaking. I think we might need your fire again. Yeah, I was thinking about it. So this is certainly something where fire would help. Do you want to extend your heat? Because you can just warm it up around you. It means people are gonna have to stick quite close to you. Right? Yeah, I was thinking of being able to kind of, well I guess steam doesn't work, but yeah, being able to maybe make my body on fire, but very low. You can just radiate heat out, certainly. That's gonna cost for now two sparks. Oh. Remember that you can burn one of your health levels to get three more sparks. You can also get two from over here. So you can get more sparks if you're about to run out. Yeah, because I only have one left. Oh, you only have one left? Yeah, you have five. Oh, I have five, sorry. You have six left. I thought so. I really had one point. Yeah, I forgot about this guy. Can she just take those now? Sure, she wants. Yeah, and then just trade this one. Okay, so there's two and it doesn't go very far. It only extends about 15 feet from her so you have to stay close as you move forward. This is where you sort of have that sense of it's really the same thing that you're doing in reverse of what's going on here. It is definitely a concentrated someone with very similar magic to your own is making it cold here. All right, you venture forward. If you have to venture more than 15 feet away from her, it's gonna hurt. Okay. So, continuing on, you've gone very deep below. You continue another 200 feet, sort of curving around. The ice is getting deeper, but you can still see now a few people scattered, trapped within it. But definitely fewer than you were finding before. The voice is getting louder and you do feel that it is saying escape, get away, time is limited, or restore. There is now that sort of an element that you sort of pick up that it is saying restore things or flee. Okay. I telecommunicate, restore things or flee. Just say ow ow ow. But we needed it. And then hearing that could I I gonna take the damage and I gonna pull ahead Okay And try to figure out where the sound coming from You take one wound And you gain a card. That's right. And you feel that pain. I mean, that's what happens, is that you suddenly sense, you know, sort of the chill overtaking her. I will say that Tibbin, with you as well, even though he's shivering, he's afraid, what you came up with before, when you looked at it, He's definitely saying, but that's the thing, is if this somehow draws forces from the dusk, if we could harness that, if we could use it, who knows what we could create? So he's excited about this, even though he is freezing and worried about dying. You venture forward, and one thing that happens is you stub your foot and you find a mask embedded in the ground. made out of some sort of enamel or metal. Just a relatively smooth mask to hold for eyes. Okay, I wanna quickly try to do one of my skill sets on this, I'm assuming. Like, would it be observation or lore? Maybe lore? Lore is what's relevant here. Observation, you can find it, you can pick it up. It is a mask. This is actually relevant, so go ahead and give me three cards, it can be any three cards. Plus five. So five on that. You wanna hit 15. Okay, I can use this. Yep. And then I can flip around and use this one, which puts me at 12. 12. And then I could use, so I have to hit 15. But you can use any of your cards for this because it's your specialty. Okay. I'm going to use intellect. And then I'm going to try, I think I should try to use my grace and then burn one spark and add four. so I'm gonna try to get 20. All right, go ahead and do that. Okay. So, this is. Why are you masked for this? I think they were right, I think she is crazy. So here's the thing, is that what you've seen is the bodies of people fighting, but nothing that they were fighting. You don't know what happened here. The people of the North used to deal with spirits called the Fallen Folk. People aren't really sure what they are. They aren't sure if they're sort of remnants of a previous age, if they're essentially demons. But you recognize this one thing that really does define all the fallen is they have masks. And this is definitely a mask that belonged to a fallen spirit. That might be what people were fighting. That would go along with the idea that this is a spike into the dusk. That it may have been populated by spirits. and that the humans who were in here were fighting the spirits, which dissolved when they were defeated. You're not sure exactly if this is connected to things, but it seems like it's good to keep around. Like if you were to try and do some sort of ritual, it might connect you to the systems of the tower. I said before, the purple energy didn't feel like it belonged here. This does. This does feel like it's tied to the voices. like the voice that is speaking is some sort of spirit similar to this. Okay, I tuck that away. Meanwhile, are you going to venture further down? Yes. Yes, I am. And I get to pull because that was a check, right? Yes, you pull back up to six. Now, something bad is about to happen. Do you have any traits? Supernatural senses. That is exactly what I'm looking for. I just pulled it. That is good timing. Something bad is about to happen. As you creep forward, suddenly you realize again, you're just very attuned to magic. And it's even the voices, your old voices, just something just tingles and warns you. Discard supernatural senses. You draw a new card to replace it. And you realize that it's actually the ice ahead of you. and it's the whole surface surrounding the thing is just charged with powerful energy. If you had taken a step further, it would have flowed through you and caused you a lot of damage. Okay, I delicately step back, and I quickly tiptoe and rush back to them as quickly as possible. Do I take any more damage from the ice? If you stand out any longer, you would. If you go right back to them right now, you'll be all right. And in fact, you don't have to go back to them because you're hidden, and your shrouded bond lets you just return to them instantly if you want. Oh, but I would have to burn a spark, right? To use that? You may burn one spark and you shouldn't appear next to them. So I'm gonna save my spark. You can make it back, they're not that far back. Exactly, I run back and then I just appear like before you guys, like startling a little bit. I punch her. You can't just jump out of nowhere, you can't just do that. Listen, I found this and then also, Up ahead of us is supercharged ice. Be ready. This is a very dangerous place. You think that mask is some sort of... Ah, the Regency era. You might know it as the time when Bridgerton takes place. Or it's the time when Jane Austen wrote her books. The Regency era was also an explosive time of social change, sex scandals, and maybe the worst king in British history. Volker History's new season is all about the Regency era. The balls, the gowns, and all the scandal. Listen to Vulgar History Regency Era wherever you get podcasts. This high-flying, action-packed adventure will take them across the world, fighting for every clue they can find. It's one heck of a tale. Which is good, because this story might be the only thing that can save their lives. Well, if that's all, I can just dispose of you. Wait, what? All will be revealed in... Sonic the Hedgehog presents The Chaotix Case Files. Listen now, wherever you get your podcasts. The chaotix are on the case. Weapon or something? I don't know if it's a weapon, but I do feel that if we hold on to it, it can only do good things right now, considering the fact that we're fighting against something that I think it wants to get rid of. Let's worry about the mask later. Well, what if it's a tool? Does one of us need to put it on? Yeah. I don't think that's a good idea. Not yet. Okay. Tremor shakes the building again. More ice falls around you. Nearly misses crushing Adria. Oh, I thought you said that. It crushes her. Oh god! You just squashed her when you weren't looking. Good job, Curlys. On the other hand, again, you do feel the way this is going. You stay much longer, you get another major fall like that last one and it could be even worse. What are you doing? We gotta keep moving. So I'm no longer hidden as well, right? No longer hidden. Okay. All right, she knows, you know, you can remember the exact spot that she can point to, and you can definitely feel that energy as well. Now that she's called it out, it is something that has just imbued this with raw, aggressive power. You're not 100% sure what would happen if you touched it. But I kinda wanna touch it. Or if you interacted with it in a magical way. Wait, before you do that, before you do that, can I use psychometry on the mask? Yes, you absolutely can. before this happens. It's okay, it's okay. Okay, that's two sparks though. You were thinking of that? We got some here, remember. I was like, where were you taking them there? Use one of these. I'll use, I just wanna save it for battle, just in case, I'm gonna use my own. Because you can also burn these to draw two cards. I'm just, I'm gonna use that for now and just try to understand as I'm touching this mask the history and purpose of it. I've got way too many cards. Just before we kill this thing. Can I have some? Yep. We have some strengths cards over here. What you realize is that this mask is tied to the builders of this place. that it was bound to a spirit that did fall defending the base from invaders, but that it is tied, it is connected to the entire spire itself. In again, a vague mystical way. It's not like you can just put it on and automatically control everything, but you definitely feel like it is tied to the core systems. Okay, there's some purpose behind it. There is some purpose. Well, it basically was tied to a lesser spirit, but it is nonetheless connected to the broader spirit of the place. Now, meanwhile, again, the tunnel is sort of collapsing behind you, and in fact, somebody has to take a wound. A big chunk of stone comes rolling down, and it's Pele. If I have the untouchable trait for that, would I be able to use that or not? I would let you use that. Again, it's the same way that she used her supernatural senses. So yes, it rolls down, and it should have crushed you, but again, you dodge perfectly out of the way, And so well done. Yeah, thank you. You shoved Tibben on the ground. It crushes Tibben. He's like paced, but he's not untouchable. You still obey dinner. All right. So when it does roll past you, it rolls down into the stretch above you, and the whole thing lights up, flares purple, and vaporizes the boulder. It just turns into powder and dust. But hey that nothing to worry about Wait what is the object emanating this power It just imbued into you not sure if it the walls or the ice around the walls but it just the stretch of tunnel in front of you What the hell? Let us all write your book. While wearing the mask. Hold on, and I hand the mask over to you. Okay. And I'm gonna say you have two minutes to come up with a plan before there's another tremor. I hand the mask over to you, and I say, listen, I think they were going out fighting. You put that on and go fight whatever's down here and let us know. All right. I foolheartedly just slap the mask on. Mm-hmm. And I start walking towards the aura, weapon drawn. You walk in and immediately it lights up and crackles around you. Tendrils of energy are sparking into you. The mask does seem to be sort of resisting this. You can see it's not quite hitting him. as hard as it should, you still do take a wound. Okay. He can't make a defense for that? And worse than that, there is no defense. I mean, he is walking through a field of fire. But also, it is trying to dig its way into you, so add that to your discard pile. We were doing so well. You realize it's about 15 feet. You get to the other side. Ooh, you're cold. That is an issue. You are, in fact, cold. If you want to burn a spark, you could extend it another 10 feet. I will totally do that. Burn that spark. So you're on the other side of it. What are you doing? Is it still actively? So it's those, as I said, it's sort of flared up. You crossed it. It was extremely painful. And now it's flared down again. But there's still sort of tingles of it flowing through your system. Could I throw the mask back to them? And then they each come through? I'm a klutz. You look a little sick on the other side there. Yeah, I don't feel great, but I made it through. Better than nothing. Can I try? I'll have to go last. How low is the ceiling? The ceiling is actually about 15 feet. How tall am I? 10? How? With a five foot arm span? I'm going to put on the mask. I'm going to make a run. And like, it's 15 feet, right? Yeah, I'm like running the arms outstretched towards you to grab my hand and pull me through as quickly as possible. I'm getting a warning. No. There's no time. There's no time. So you're gonna take one wound. There's no way to get across without that. But because you're going so fast, I'm gonna give you a chance to avoid that affliction. Okay. And that is, pick a hand. If you get the one, the empty. 50-50? If you get the empty hand. No ammies, no ammies, no ammies. You're okay. All right. Okay. So you don't pick up the affliction. Okay, thanks. I misinterpreted that. Again, definitely. So I run through the cross enough, he kinda catches me. Yep. Thank you. Two across. Okay. Take that mask, I throw it through again. I'm sad you didn't snowboard on your book, but. It's a special occasion. Yes, that's true. You don't want to overuse your book. There's still two on the other side. Could I, if there's a large rock nearby, could I try to use my superhuman strength to throw it into the ceiling to bring down some rubble that we could walk across? That sounds like an excellent idea. Now this is a good example of something that normally I would probably say, eh, probably not. But you have superhuman strength. This is a feat of amazing Phoenixness that a normal person could not pull off. And in fact, because you have superhuman strength, go ahead and discard it, and draw a new card to replace it. I am going to just go ahead and say yes, that works. Sweet. But it does cause more of the ceiling to collapse. You know, you can't entirely avoid that. And so again, between the two of you or your buddies, one of you is gonna have to take a wound. I can take it. I can take a hit, yeah. And it's up to you. You can burn two sparks and not take a hit. Um, yeah, I'll do that. Okay, so the good thing about that is very well done because the thing is you could have all done the mask's trick, but that was not gonna work for your buddies. No, not for the humans. So they certainly would have died along the way. So congratulations, well done. So you've made your way across, But you did just perform this amazing feat of strength, you know, basically collapsing part of the ceiling. How old are you again? You look like you're- I'm 18. 18, so this was a pretty amazing thing to happen. And as soon as you get across, you're wanting to press forward, but Adria just stops and just, how did you do that? What was that? We're all phoenixes. All of us can do crazy shit like that. But how? I mean, why you? Well, I went through the crucible and I came out the other side. Why are you here? Why are you doing this? All of us are here because we died and we faced things no one should have to face and we went through trials no one should have to endure and we did it because the rest of the world needs us. That's why all of us are here. You guys might think we're crazy, but we're here to make every place on this map a better place. She seems moved by that. Does anyone else have anything they want to add to that? That is the kind of thing where normally I'd say, make a grace spread to impress someone, but that was just good. I kind of look to her and Tibin, right? And I say, hey, if you believe us at least, with the way that you brought us down here, maybe even you guys, if your intent is clear, would also one day become phoenixes. We're not threatening you to be clear. We're not saying that. You might become a phoenix sooner than you think. Frankly, that is a good point. You have to say, these are people who are willing to risk death to try and help people. That's the kind of thing that could make a phoenix. You might not be wrong on that, which means now I need to kill them. Oh no. Dang it. But she, as I said, seems truly moved and says, I've heard the stories, I didn't really believe them. If we get out of this, I will make sure everyone at the Imperial Library knows that this is real. Wait, you work at the Imperial Library? In Farman's, that's why we're here. You didn't say you worked at a library. What? I'm a huge fan, which city? So in Formance, but you know Formance is the grand. You work at the grand library. I have to say, you probably, you worked in a small library. You, Formance was the dream. Oh my gosh, I am just enamored right now. We probably lose a few minutes here to some just absolute library nerdy. I like pull out the mask. So you work on a numerically based system as well. Exactly. It's quite zero. Well, you know, I mean the numerical system, Actually, that was about 100 years ago where we replaced it. Oh wow, I am so- We could bring it to death at any moment. I am so cold right now, but I'm so warm in my house. I'm just gonna take my flames back in. Deal with it. I just can talk about the- I died yesterday, did you know that? Anybody see that? I died and came back to life. That actually is a point that Tibin said, but wait a second, weren't you on fire? Yeah, well, I'm not on fire anymore. Things happen when you go through the Crucible again. Tibin does try and pull everyone together. This is fascinating. I myself love a decimal system as much as the next person. But I just have to say, we are looking, this entire thing could collapse into the dusk at any moment. What do you know about this mask, Tibbins? I mean, obviously, I mean, you were able to pass over that path. Were you hurt? So this is fascinating, actually, and this is a thing that actually, as he's talking about it, it makes sense to you too, because you are a warlock. The warlock tradition is dealing with the fallen, and it's one of these things where you know the fallen have masks, but you've never really, no one knows why, it's just what they do. They wear masks. It's just a garb. I have no idea what it does. What you feel now that you're really looking at this, taking the information she's given you, is that the mask is in some way, like the basic nature of the spirit is somehow imprinted on the mask. Like it is the mask, and it's just that it's pulled into it somehow and been sort of not stored there. You don't know if you could pull it out, but it's fundamentally connected to it. And if you guys can figure that out, go for it. Did you tell us that? Yeah, I was like, I'm relaying all the information, but if you guys wanna tinker with it, you can, but that's all I know. Wait, so there's a human soul trapped in that mask? You don't think it's human. I don't think it's human, I think it's just something. Oh, great, perfect. I didn't bring it up in the first place. This could be any creature's soul. This is a point, though. I mean, these are all just things you're sort of thinking of right now, but if you could get this back to Dawn Command, it is something that could actually be, again, we're all just looking for any information we can or any ideas on the desk. I don't think that's a good idea. I heard it's calling out to me to be restored, so I think that as much of a lure as it might be as an artifact to bring back to Elders, I just don't, I think the natural landscape of this land needs this back. If something has a home, it should get to stay there. And as you come to that touching conclusion that even alien demon masks need a home, once again, there is a massive tremor, worse than before. You hear more of the tunnel starting to collapse You feel more waves of little rubble coming towards you And it might be a good idea if you start moving down that tunnel pretty quickly Let's do it. All right. Also, even alien demon masks need a home. That should actually be on the outside of the box. Yeah. It's gonna be my t-shirt. Next metal band. All right. Trouble ahead, ready to move? Let's do it. Let's keep pressing down. We're pressing down, it gets even colder. Now I'm gonna say one more spark to maintain the field. Okay, yeah, I was gonna grab from that. Okay, so in that case you get one back. Yay! Cool. Do I draw another card? Did that count as like an action? Yes, as I say, anytime you are down, unless you're in combat, you always draw right back up. You press forward as quickly as you can. You can hear behind you, again, more rubble falling from the sky, stones are tumbling down, falling beyond you, But you finally enter a vast chamber. It's leveled out. This must be the base of the Cloud Spire. Looking forward where the Cloud Spire was descending, you see that it's now focused inward, and there's actually a core of brilliant red energy surrounded by floating sigils carved in the air. Ahead of you, there's altars arranged in a circle around the edges of the room. There's smaller spires just sort of coming out of the ground. Some that seem like they might have objects placed on top of them, but you can't make them out as they're covered in ice. There's a few basins that might be filled with liquid if they weren't frozen. The cold is absolutely chilling. If it were not for the energy that you are pouring out to the people around you, it would freeze. Certainly the mortals would freeze solid instantly. But there is a figure floating in the air by the heart of this. She's got her back to you. She's tracing symbols around the core of the cloud spire. It is a woman wearing unfamiliar clothing. She is completely surrounded by a nimbus of purple energy. Hi, I'm Brian Lucci, a former Chicago cop. Now I'm a producer on Chicago PD. and I'd like to introduce you to the official One Chicago podcast. The first ever behind-the-scenes look at the iconic TV shows. We're talking Chicago Fire, Chicago PD, and Chicago Med. Join me each week for an exclusive conversation with the writers, the crew members, and the stars. Void's doing the right thing for Void. Check out the One Chicago podcast from Wolf Entertainment and USG Audio. Available now wherever you get your podcasts. Oh, please. Not that music. That music gives me nightmares from my childhood. Could we get something a little bit lighter, some lighter music here? Are you a fan of true crime TV shows? And what about Unsolved Mysteries, the show that jumpstarted all of our love of true crime? I'm Ellen Marsh. And I'm Joey Taranto. And we host I Think Not, a true crime comedy podcast covering some of the wildest stories from your favorite true crime campy TV shows all the way to Unsolved Mysteries. Baby, you will laugh, you will cry, you'll think about true crime in a whole new way, and you'll also ask yourself, who gave these people mics? New episodes of I Think Not are released every Wednesday with bonus episodes out every Thursday on Patreon. And every Monday, you can listen to our True Crime Rundown, where we go over the top true crime headlines of the week. So come and join us wherever you listen to your podcasts. Give me the mask. I don't put it on yet. All right, you've got the mask. I've got it at the ready. What are you doing? Um. And as she does this trace, again, the tremors shake the building, and I would like you to go ahead and give me a arcane spread. Okay. Do you have Warlock, by any chance? No. I also think you only have four cards. Oh, cool. Ooh, Killer Instincts is what I got. All right. So go ahead and give me an arcane spread. Tibin is shivering and shaking next to you, but he's like, what is she doing? So he's trying to help you. Okay. So you have a base of eight. Okay. And you can use three cards. Definitely want to use Killer Instinct for sure. What's the number I'm trying to get to? Higher than 15, preferably 20. So what was that? Three, Grace, one, intellect, two. And Killer Instincts. Now, Killer Instincts, is there a thing that makes it relevant here, or are you just throwing it in as a one? I wanted to use it because I was going to use my killer instincts to keep Tibben alive, but also see if there is a way for me to throw my Naginata at her. Okay. And see if it will either kill her or if at least try to get her attention so she can stop doing this. So you're evaluating her with an eye to how could I neutralize this threat. I'll give you three points for that, and that is a bonus card, so you can still play another card on top of that. So you're currently sitting at, yeah, that will help. I can help her too. I'll help you with this. Oh, cool. I'll give you three more. So commander, okay. You hold onto it, so keep it with him, but it's plus three. Okay. And are you just, how are you conveying this? Are you just like, you can do this? Yeah, exactly. I'm like, I'm giving her. Focus. Thank you for your support. So again, we're at two, five, eight, 11, plus eight from Tibben and your own score, You're 19 and you can play one more. So there you go, 21. I'll play two grace, yeah. All right, here's what you realize. You realize that what she is doing is destabilizing this. That her actions, she is basically, this is a center of powerful enchantment and she's trying to unravel it. But there's a couple other things you realize. You could throw the Naginata at her, but you're quite sure that that aura around her would act as a defense. That's not to say it couldn't be done. But you are again certain that it's not as simple as that. There's something else. You feel a connection to her that you can't quite explain. And you realize that she is an elemental phoenix. I knew it. And you realize at that moment that she is aware of you. And she turns to look at you. And that's where we're gonna stop. Ah! We'll find out how you deal with all of this in the next episode of Starter Kit. I need to know. Next time on Starter Kit. I wanna hit her with everything I got. You're coming with me! You're bursting with power. You are scary all over. Don't die. Yeah, I'm going to try. It seems like everything is good, and then... The war is over and both sides lost. Kingdoms were reduced to cinders and armies scattered like bones in the dust. Now the survivors claw to what's left of a broken world, praying the darkness chooses someone else tonight. But in the shadow dark, the darkness always wins. This is old school adventuring at its most cruel. Your torch ticks down in real time. and when that flame dies, something else rises to finish the job. This is a brutal rules-light nightmare with a story that emerges organically based on the decisions that the characters make. This is what it felt like to play RPGs in the 80s and man, it is so good to be back. Join the Glass Cannon podcast as we plunge into the shadow dark every Thursday night at 8 p.m. Eastern on youtube.com slash the glass cannon with the podcast version dropping the next day. See what everybody's talking about and join us in the dark. and crew that made the show along for the ride. 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