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4: Love and Betrayal

🎧 Podcast Link • August 24, 2024

Date & Setting​

  • Time: Early morning (post-midnight, ~2 AM)
  • Place: High Forge, transitioning between garages and the local Arby’s bed & breakfast
  • Context: The party reconvenes after learning of sabotage threats against Elspeth’s race car and takes on a Twilight Company job to sabotage rival racers.

Party Members Present​

Key Events​

1. Briefing at the Diner​

  • Silas fills the team in on sabotage plans targeting Elspeth’s car.
  • Twilight Company wants them to sabotage rival cars in Bay 10 and Bay 12.
  • After paying for a meal and some banter with a chameleon-accented waitress, the group heads to the garage.

2. Surprise in the Van​

  • Upon checking the garage and Elspeth’s bay, the party hears noises in their van.
  • They discover three gnomes inside assembling a bomb.
  • Combat breaks out: two gnomes are killed (via Eldritch Blast and melee), one is stabilized and captured.

3. Interrogating Philbin​

  • Philbin reveals they were hired anonymously at "Arby’s" to sabotage the party’s car.
  • He claims ignorance of the benefactor's identity, describing them only as hooded and threatening.

4. Resurrecting the Gnomes​

  • Red escorts the injured gnomes to a Temple of Tyr.
  • An old cleric revives them.
  • The party coerces the gnomes to finish the bomb and repurpose it to sabotage Bay 10’s car.

5. Sabotage Missions​

  • Bay 10: Silas plants the finished bomb under a racecar while Helisanna distracts guards with a dramatic act.
  • Bay 12: Silas and Bru sneak in. Bru welds the exhaust closed using artificer tools and spells. Silas stalls a suspicious dwarf with flirtation and misdirection.

6. Aftermath and Arby’s Recon​

  • The group reconvenes.
  • Bru is stationed to guard Elspeth’s car.
  • The rest investigate Arby’s for leads on the mysterious saboteur.
  • Interrogation of the front desk and Dirk yields no concrete info.
  • Plan to use Minor Illusion to bait a reaction from suspects is discussed but not executed.

Memorable Moments​

  • “Castle Doctrine” humorously invoked to justify murder in their own garage.
  • Philbin’s whining becomes a running gag.
  • Silas’ seduction attempt of a dwarf is absurdly effective.
  • Bru’s sabotage using artificer ingenuity.
  • Arby’s as a hub for underground dealings—ironic given its mundane facade.

Ongoing Threads​

  • Mystery of the benefactor behind the gnome saboteurs.
  • Who is trying to sabotage Elspeth? Is it connected to the Twilight Company?
  • The Briefcase: Mentioned to be with Olivia; possibly a future plot thread.
  • Arby’s stakeout: The group may continue to investigate there.

Closing​

  • Episode ends with a successful dual sabotage and a vague lead at Arby’s.
  • The crew is exhausted, suspicious, and mildly traumatized but victorious.