Episode 10: A Riddle In Time

"'After Br'aad plays a game, the party takes a test.'"

Episode Events
Br'aad approaches the table in front of Ob'nockshai. Br'aad offers to pitch a game to Ob'nockshai, where he rewinds time in exchange for whatever Ob'nockshai may want. Ob'nockshai accepts, asking Br'aad how important Velrisa was to him. Br'aad offers his own eye in exchange for time rewind, but Ob'nockshai declines, saying it is not enough. Ob'nockshai shows Br'aad a small boy, sitting in a home, kicking his legs as he draws. Ob'nockshai introduces this boy as Alexander, and tells Br'aad that for Alexander's life he will rewind time. Br'aad, troubled by this dilemma, asks if it would hurt the boy, to which he learns it would, as Ob'nockshai shows him three hooded figures cornering Alexander, holding swords. Br'aad attempts to offer something in exchange, but Ob'nockshai demands a life for a life.

Br'aad declines, knowing he cannot kill a child. Br'aad sets his head in his hands, upset and troubled. He begins to feel a tearing feeling, not painful but strange, as if the area around him is changing. Looking up, he notices that Ob'nockshai is also looking around with concern and confusion as the area begins to shake. The cobblestone wall rips open into a doorway, and a white light flashes into the whole room. Br'aad pains through the feeling, regaining his vision to find himself somewhere different. On the floor in front of him is Ob'nockshai in a white aetherial rope restraint being held down by a strange man. The man tells Br'aad that he is correct, and that it is not Velrisa's time to die yet, and that Ob'nockshai has been messing with his timeline. He tells Br'aad to head out the door, and that Velrisa is fine.

As Br'aad walks through the door, the voice of the man rings out again. The man informs Br'aad that he is being brought back to the proper timeline, and Br'aad finds himself back fighting the beholder, right before the beholder dies the first time. Combat ensues. Hilltree runs forward to stab the beholder, Br'aad notices him slow down slightly, then regain normal speed as he misses the beholder. Mountain strikes at the animated armor, hitting. Velrisa also hits the armor. Br'aad calls out to Velrisa to run as far as she can as he runs up to the beholder, using Eldritch Blast on him, ending him. Liveclock shoots his eye beams at the beholder, pushing him up the staircase. Sylnan strikes the armor, causing the helmet to fly off and the armor to crumple to the ground. The beholder gets off the ground, pointing an eyestock at Br'aad. Br'aad stands in front of it, arms out, but his smile turns to fear as he dodges out of the way of the void-like energy beam. The beholder tries to bite Br'aad, but Br'aad holds the mouth open. Ander runs up, stabbing it through the open mouth, ending the life of the beholder once more. Taxi commands Ug the elephant to hit the beholder, and his trunk smashes down onto it, breaking a few of the remaining bones of the beholder. Combat ends.

Br'aad continues to attack the dead beholder, stomping on its eyes. Velrisa puts her arm around Br'aad, asking if he is okay. The voice of the man rings out in his head, assuring him that things are as they should be. Taxi questions if they should continue to attack the very dead beholder as Velrisa assures Br'aad she is fine. The man's voice rings out once more in Br'aad's head, telling him that he can tell no one about the timeline fix. The party celebrates the win of the fight, as Ander tells Br'aad to follow him into the woods to investigate.

Ander and Br'aad travel a small ways into the woods, and then stop, Ander transforming into the small man Br'aad saw with Ob'nockshai. This man tells Br'aad that Ob'nockshai is not a diety of time, but a deity of trickery, and has been lying to Br'aad the entire time. The man also tells Br'aad that Sylnan was not meant to die when he did, and that Ob'nockshai changed the course of time so that it happened. Br'aad asks how to kill Ob'nockshai, and the man says he does not know, but that Br'aad is no longer attached to Ob'nockshai, but it may not last forever. The man explains that to beat Ob'nockshai, they would have to fight in his own plane. Finally, the man introduces himself as The Storyteller, a god who does not age or change as he observes and continues the flow of time. The Storyteller says that in exchange for keeping his powers, Br'aad must become a storyteller of some sort. With that, Br'aad becomes a Bard, his tattoos changing from purple to gold.

Taxi and Velrisa investigate the stone platform. There are runic carvings in a circle around the dark stone platform of which they do not recognize. Br'aad and Ander return to the party, Ander immediately beginning to investigate the carvings, explaining to the party that while he cannot read them. However he does know that 158 years ago, humanity was at war against a different being from another plane. Creatures reside far down below, a hive mind of Feasters that consume the minds to gain information, which are transferred to a single mind. Eventually, these Feasters breached to the surface, and the Humans and Drows banded together to defeat the hivemind. However, 50 years previously, these Feasters were resurrected in a zombie form by an unknown force. The sheer force of the Feasters reviving the ultimate brain of the hivemind caused the Barren.

He suggests they begin moving again, as it is unsafe to remain in one area. The party leaves the platform, and begin to notice that something is different with Br'aad, however none of the party notices. Taxi and Sylnan try to guess what has changed, continuing to fail. Taxi beckons over Ug the elephant, and asks him what is different with Br'aad. Ug does not see a difference, as elephants are colorblind. Sylnan finally notices the change in tattoo color, and out of boredom Mountain begins to get the party moving further into the Barren.

Ander in front, the party moves further in, heading towards a set of ruins. As they approach a large stone building, moving with caution, the party approaches. Velrisa casts Eye of the Dead, noticing something standing directly in front of the doors to the ruins. In front of them appear the remains of a human body, the skin grayed and decayed with time. The figure is holding a staff made of the same stone as the building, and wears purple robing. The creature says that if the party wishes to passes, they must answer three questions.

The first riddle is asked to the party, and Taxi immediately blurts out the answer of 'love'. Taxi feels a cold, punching feeling hit him, but he shakes it off. Br'aad blurts out "poison", also getting the punching feeling. The creature booms out that they have one more chance, and so the party brainstorms. Ultimately they decide to answer "disease", solving the riddle.

The second riddle is presented to them, Mountain shouts out "Gold", feeling the punching feeling as well but shaking it off. Br'aad convinces the creature to give them more time. Watching the party struggle, the creature gives them a hint, explaining that they've already done the solution while in the Barren. Br'aad answers "time", and feels that punching feeling once more, but this time his right leg turns to stone. They answer "steps", getting it correct.

The final question is answered by Br'aad instantly, his leg turning back to normal. The creature allows them passage into the ruins, however he offers them a chance at a bonus riddle for 100 gold, but if the party answers incorrectly, the creature will take something precious from them. They accept, huddling together to try and figure it out. Br'aad answers "echo" correctly, earning the gold.

The doors open to the descending staircase. The party argue amongst themselves as to how to split the gold, finally deciding that Br'aad, Sylnan, and Taxi will split it three ways. They finally enter into the ruins.