Queen of Shadows - Episode 33

Queen of Shadows - Episode 33

Previously: In our previous episode, Eilwen and Valeri continue their talk around the campfire. With only Eilwen and the silent forest trees for spectators, Valeri opens up about her purpose in coming to these lands. She seeks an ancient treasure to buy the freedom of her husband, Edyard, and her eldest son, Gethyd, who are both thralls  to Yormid, leader of Redhall circle, working in his mines,  seeking for black iron. In starlight and firelight, Valeri shares an old treasure map her husband had found months ago. In the starlight, along one edge of the vellum sheet, Eilwen picks out some blocky runes she can read and manages to memorize the characters before Valeri puts the sheet  away. The map also features the Greenhome. The ruined palace of queens that Valeri had just left, a region no doubt now crawling with the varou that have ever dogged their heels these last several days. It is there that Valeri seeks to find her liberating treasure. Eilwen, bearing the only treasure she had found in those ruins, the amulet of queens upon her breast, attempts to convince Valeri that it’s too dangerous, that it would be suicide to attempt entering those lands. When Valeri is near sinking into despair, having lost one son to death, and another son and her very husband nearly lost to permanent slavery, Eilwen offers to help Valeri free her family. Valeri is grateful for her aid and tells Eilwen she is not like Arwed, her mother. When the others are asleep, Eilwen ponders the runes she memorized by the fire and finds out they are in verse form and contain a clue that urges her to seek the lost crown in a low region upon the earth in some brackish swamp or fen. Eilwen also ponders about Valeri’s affirmation that Eilwen is not like Eilwen’s mother and wonders if need had turned mother from innocence into the cruel woman Valeri had known. Eilwen also justifies her use of the shadow magic and decides she is queen--queen of the living and queen of the shadows and what harm is there for a queen to use the tools she has been given to regain and protect her kingdom? Websites: * https://rollponderandplay.podbean.com/ [https://rollponderandplay.podbean.com/] * https://patreon.com/rollponderandplay [https://patreon.com/rollponderandplay] * www.youtube.com/@RollPonderAndPlay [http://www.youtube.com/@RollPonderAndPlay] * https://discord.com/invite/dfKTkJHKem [https://discord.com/invite/dfKTkJHKem] Attributions: - 'The Long Dark' by Scott Buckley (www.scottbuckley.com.au [https://www.scottbuckley.com.au/]) released under CC-BY 4.0. - 'Emergent' by Scott Buckley (www.scottbuckley.com.au [https://www.scottbuckley.com.au/]) released under CC-BY 4.0. - Various tracks by Tabletop Audio ( https://tabletopaudio.com [https://tabletopaudio.com/]) - released under CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0. Minor modifications (fading/splitting) made to support this podcast format with written permission from the creator. - Jaques [https://pixabay.com/music/beats-jaques-10807/] - Andreas-Woll-Music [https://pixabay.com/users/andreas-woll-music-16828012/] (Pixabay.com [https://pixabay.com/]) - Sound Effects from Pixabay (Pixabay.com [https://pixabay.com/]).   Check out soloroleplayersnetwork.com [https://soloroleplayersnetwork.com/] for other great shows!

Queen of Shadows - Episode 32

Previously: In our previous episode, Eilwen discovers Valeri watching her by the fire. As they engage in conversation, she finds that Valeri had, long ago, actually met her mother, Arwed, a lovely blond woman whom Valeri referred to as ‘The Witch’. This was many years ago at the circle of Redhall when Valeri was but a young girl and when Arwed was a beautiful woman in her prime.  Valeri tells Eilwen that The Witch had been unkind and cruel and refused to help Valeri’s ailing mother. Instead, The Witch had the villagers scouring the hills searching of black iron. Valeri relates that when her mother died, she went to The Witch’s home to bring about some act of vengeance, but as she hid outside the witch’s cottage in the woods, she instead witnessed a what she believed to be some dark ritual which filled her with terror. She saw The Witch pour what Valeri terms were the ‘shades of the dead’ into a miniature raven formed from the molten black-iron. The blond witch subsequently used the device to summon a cloud of ravens and disappear amidst the flapping of wings. Valeri recognizes the witch’s features in Eilwen’s face and learns of the familial connection between mother and daughter. Eliwen tries to defend her mother, as much as she’s comfortable doing,  and shares some good memories of her mother and also admits to learning some shadow magic from her mother as well.  Valeri admits she never Eilwen’s mother well, that The Witch was there in Redhall only a few weeks. but that she counted it a good day when the witch finally left Redhall for good. Eilwen mourns that her mother kept too many secrets, which prompts Valeri into sharing a secret of her own, as she opens the leather tube that she had previously been so protective about. As we begin this episode, Eilwen's stats are Edge 2, Heart 1, Iron 1, Shadow 3, Wits 2 Current Assets: Archer (initial box), Cutthroat (initial box), Shadow-walk (initial box)] Current Statuses: Supply 4/5, Spirit 2/5, Health 5/5, Momentum 1/10 Current Debilities: None Failure Track: 7/24 Current Unspent XP: 3 Websites: * https://rollponderandplay.podbean.com/ [https://rollponderandplay.podbean.com/] * https://patreon.com/rollponderandplay [https://patreon.com/rollponderandplay] * www.youtube.com/@RollPonderAndPlay [http://www.youtube.com/@RollPonderAndPlay] * https://discord.com/invite/dfKTkJHKem [https://discord.com/invite/dfKTkJHKem] Attributions: - 'The Long Dark' by Scott Buckley (www.scottbuckley.com.au [https://www.scottbuckley.com.au/]) released under CC-BY 4.0. - 'Emergent' by Scott Buckley (www.scottbuckley.com.au [https://www.scottbuckley.com.au/]) released under CC-BY 4.0. - Various tracks by Tabletop Audio ( https://tabletopaudio.com [https://tabletopaudio.com/]) - released under CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0. Minor modifications (fading/splitting) made to support this podcast format with written permission from the creator. - Jaques [https://pixabay.com/music/beats-jaques-10807/] - Andreas-Woll-Music [https://pixabay.com/users/andreas-woll-music-16828012/] (Pixabay.com [https://pixabay.com/]) - Sound Effects from Pixabay (Pixabay.com [https://pixabay.com/]).

Queen of Shadows - Episode 31

Previously: In our previous episode, the companions awaken and continue their travels from the iron pillar, following the river south through the tempest hills. About midday, the road takes them to a rotten wooden bridge that spans a large and deep ravine through which the heedless river courses with rapidity. A covered wagon perches precariously near a ragged hole where a tangle of horses and reins and tackle have fallen through the bridge, and, spiraling in mid air above the ravine, threaten to drag the wagon and its occupants down to certain destruction. A boy, named Fen,  leans forward and tries to reach the saddlebags at his mother’s urging. Before Eilwen can do anything, the lad slips and falls, and plunges into the depths. Eilwen leaps into action and saves the rest of the family: three girls from the back of the wagon, Valeri, their mother, and she also rescues the saddlebags, cutting them free, just as the entire wagon collapses through the rotting bridge and smashes onto the rocks near Fen’s body far below . Eilwen confronts Valeri over sending Fen recover the contents of the saddlebags and wonders what could be of such great value to risk the cost of a beloved child’s life. Valeri remains tight-lipped when Eilwen opens the saddlebags and holds a small tube made of hardened leather. But Eilwen doesn’t open the leather tube, and sensing the mother’s trauma and heartache and the need for allies of her own, she returns the mysterious item with no strings attached. Eilwen and Aron with Seith’s then help descend into the ravine to recover Fen’s ruined body. They return the body to Valeri who, upon recovering her young boy’s frail corpse, falls to her knees and weeps into Eilwen’s arms. As we begin this episode, Eilwen's stats are Edge 2, Heart 1, Iron 1, Shadow 3, Wits 2 Current Assets: Archer (initial box), Cutthroat (initial box), Shadow-walk (initial box)] Current Statuses: Supply 4/5, Spirit 2/5, Health 5/5, Momentum 1/10 Current Debilities: None Failure Track: 7/24 Current Unspent XP: 3 Websites: * https://rollponderandplay.podbean.com/ [https://rollponderandplay.podbean.com/] * https://patreon.com/rollponderandplay [https://patreon.com/rollponderandplay] * www.youtube.com/@RollPonderAndPlay [http://www.youtube.com/@RollPonderAndPlay] * https://discord.com/invite/dfKTkJHKem [https://discord.com/invite/dfKTkJHKem] Attributions: - 'The Long Dark' by Scott Buckley (www.scottbuckley.com.au [https://www.scottbuckley.com.au/]) released under CC-BY 4.0. - 'Emergent' by Scott Buckley (www.scottbuckley.com.au [https://www.scottbuckley.com.au/]) released under CC-BY 4.0. - Various tracks by Tabletop Audio ( https://tabletopaudio.com [https://tabletopaudio.com/]) - released under CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0. Minor modifications (fading/splitting) made to support this podcast format with written permission from the creator. - Deeply Emotional Orchestral Violin - L'Unico Che Amo [https://pixabay.com/music/nostalgia-deeply-emotional-orchestral-violin-lx27unico-che-amo-270824/] (Pixabay.com [https://pixabay.com/]) - Jaques [https://pixabay.com/music/beats-jaques-10807/] - Andreas-Woll-Music [https://pixabay.com/users/andreas-woll-music-16828012/] (Pixabay.com [https://pixabay.com/]) - Sound Effects from Pixabay (Pixabay.com [https://pixabay.com/]).

Queen of Shadows - Episode 30

Previously: In our previous episode, as the companions make camp around the peaceful iron pillar infused with golden mystical ight, Eilwen, during her watch activates her magic and calls the shadows to try to unlock the secrets of the pillar. One of the two-dimensional beings made of shadow stuff tries to lead her astray through a shadowy twisting door. But she resists and binds the shadows to her will. She then uses the sapphire amulet to interact with the iron pillar. She sees a vision of the past. Her mother, Arwed, a beautiful young woman, with blue eyes and blond hair, with the sunset for a backdrop is only a few years older than Eilwen, and stands at the pillar as she is engaged by three trained warriors in dark leather armor and gray cloaks who bear the heraldry of three arrow shafts on a black field upon their brooches. They demand that Arwed give them the crown.  She says nothing. Merely gives a grim smile. They attack her with bows and arrows and Arwed defends herself by drawing power from the iron pillar in the form of an energy shield that consumes their projectiles upon contact. The men try to flee, but Arwed uses the shadow magic to drown them in the dark pitch-like pools that surround and overcome the terrified men as they flee. The shadows take their lives without mercy, without remorse, and without leaving any wounds. After the battle, Eilwen feels sickened and disturbed to see that her mother stands over the bodies with a self-satisfied smile as she strips off everything of value. Eilwen returns to the present and yields her watch to Aron as she slips into a disturbed sleep. Promotions: I invite you to check out The Alchemists’ Monster [https://fullboongames.itch.io/the-alchemists-monster] a Dragonbane Foundry VTT module written by one of our fans, available at fullboongames.itch.io [https://fullboongames.itch.io/]. I had a chance to playtest it earlier this year, and I enjoyed it. It's well written and the VTT module is visually pleasing as well! Websites: * https://rollponderandplay.podbean.com/ [https://rollponderandplay.podbean.com/] * https://patreon.com/rollponderandplay [https://patreon.com/rollponderandplay] * www.youtube.com/@RollPonderAndPlay [http://www.youtube.com/@RollPonderAndPlay] Attributions: - 'The Long Dark' by Scott Buckley (www.scottbuckley.com.au [https://www.scottbuckley.com.au/]) released under CC-BY 4.0. - 'Emergent' by Scott Buckley (www.scottbuckley.com.au [https://www.scottbuckley.com.au/]) released under CC-BY 4.0. -'Ice Cream' by Scott Buckley (www.scottbuckley.com.au [https://www.scottbuckley.com.au/]) released under CC-BY-4.0. - Various tracks by Tabletop Audio ( https://tabletopaudio.com [https://tabletopaudio.com/]) - released under CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0. Minor modifications (fading/splitting) made to support this podcast format with written permission from the creator. - Deeply Emotional Orchestral Violin - L'Unico Che Amo [https://pixabay.com/music/nostalgia-deeply-emotional-orchestral-violin-lx27unico-che-amo-270824/] (Pixabay.com [https://pixabay.com/]) - Sound Effects from Pixabay (Pixabay.com [https://pixabay.com/]).

Queen of Shadows - Episode 29

Roll, Ponder, and Play is now on YouTube! Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/@RollPonderAndPlay [https://www.youtube.com/@RollPonderAndPlay] Websites: * https://rollponderandplay.podbean.com/ [https://rollponderandplay.podbean.com/] * https://patreon.com/rollponderandplay [https://patreon.com/rollponderandplay] Ways to Show Support: * Join my patreon for free at https://patreon.com/rollponderandplay [https://patreon.com/rollponderandplay] or as a paid subscriber and get additional content * Give the show a positive review * Share the show with others * Reach out to me and say hello Previously:  View Previous Episode [https://www.patreon.com/posts/144179526] In our previous episode, Eilwen, Aron, Seith and their small wyvern companion, Scratch, leave Greenhome, the ruined palace where Eilwen found a connection to her family's past in the form of a mystical and ornately decorated sapphire pendant. They travel south along the road moving most of the day without incident. In the late afternoon, under the beauty of a scintillating waterfall, as they rest and refill waterskins, they hear the piercing howls of a pack of varou that had caught their scent. Thinking quickly, Eilwen throws bits of meat down the road and then the party gather their things and hide behind the waterfall. The deception fools the varou who continue their chase, racing down the road, and the companions decide to move cross country parallel to the road to avoid running into the varou. Hours later, lower in elevation amidst whispering warm grasses, they find another iron pillar on a low hill, the sun bathing it in golden light. Drawing near to the pillar, Eilwen hears music in her head, a clear piercing note that reminds her of a lullaby. She feels drawn to the pillar and upon touching its warm surface someone seems to whisper the word 'Daughter'. The sun sets, but even so, the runes on the pillar glow a golden color. In its peaceful light, they make camp by the pillar. Eilwen feels certain that her mother, Arwed, must've been here and touched this very pillar at some time. She also notices one of the runes of power, the familiar skaed rune on the pillar, the very one that lets your control the shadows and activate the pendant. That night Eilwen and Aron talk about Arwed. Aron reveals how he believes that Eilwen was favored by their mother, and Eilwen detects an undercurrent of resentment from him. As we begin this episode, Eilwen's stats are Edge 2, Heart 1, Iron 1, Shadow 3, Wits 2 Current Assets: Archer (initial box), Cutthroat (initial box), Shadow-walk (initial box)] Current Statuses: Supply 3/5, Spirit 3/5, Health 5/5, Momentum 9/10 Current Debilities: None Failure Track: 5/24 Current Unspent XP: 3 Attributions: - 'The Long Dark' by Scott Buckley (www.scottbuckley.com.au [https://www.scottbuckley.com.au]) released under CC-BY 4.0. - 'Emergent' by Scott Buckley (www.scottbuckley.com.au [https://www.scottbuckley.com.au]) released under CC-BY 4.0. - Various tracks by Tabletop Audio ( https://tabletopaudio.com [https://tabletopaudio.com]) - released under CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0. Minor modifications (fading/splitting) made to support this podcast format with written permission from the creator. - Sound Effects from Pixabay (Pixabay.com [https://Pixabay.com]).