Arc 7 Ep. 2: When in Pompapumpa PART 2
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the Rotating Heroes animated. First ever one. See the link right now. It's going to be amazing. Take it away, Pastor Zach. Before you go, since I've got everybody here, can I just spitball something with you guys? You want to run a little idea by me? Yeah, I've just been cooking on this little idea. And I just, I don't know, it's just been this, on my journey, it's just been this thing in my head and I haven't really talked about it out loud. I was wondering if I could hear what everybody, what everybody thinks of it.

of it. So you know how like we have conversation, right? Like you talk with a person. I know of it. Yeah. Or like you have a group of people hanging out and you have a conversation. Of course. Now what if there was a way to listen to other people's conversation? Like a show? I don't know. It's like a wire? Like you like food. Yeah. Like...

Uh, no, yeah. I like food as much as the next guy. What were you going to say? Nothing. Okay. Nothing. Like, what if you and I were able to have a discussion and then other people who wanted the room were able to also hear the discussion? Uh-huh. It just feels like I would be frustrated not getting to chime in on the discussion. What if they were experts in their field or if they're interesting? Well, I'm not an expert on food. I just want to say that. What if they were just very curious? Yeah.

And they talk to experts. Yeah, it could be that exactly. Because my thing is I'm kind of a curious guy. And so you want to know things.

You were asking questions. I don't want to bring much to the table, but I want people to come in who know stuff. And would there be structure? Would it sort of be crazy and maybe really long? I think it would be a thing where two people might come together with a really strong idea, but when they sat down to have the discussion, all those things sort of lose thread very quickly. I mean, I think that's interesting that you thought of that. How in our world would you...

Like, would people put their heads against the door and listen to it? I guess you'd have to talk to some sort of, I don't know, a telepathic sort of link for an auditory experience. Or you could put it down on a circle graph. We have a sort of a sect of magical people here. There's not many of them, but they're casters. They're these podcasters. Oh! Oh!

Oh, interesting. Yes, it would have to be able to harness magic. They would have to be a caster. Yes. This is what I love about the spas. You can just bounce around ideas with the crew and just everybody's fresh and thinking. Like, I'm new to this town. This is the cast.

Like, this could be, like what I'm talking about, this could be it. This could just be it. Pals hanging around, shooting the shit. Elephant Tail kind of rubs his chin and goes, sounds pretty self-indulgent to me. But that's the thing, is you sell the personality. These personalities? And he kind of like is hearing, it's a little judgmental, it's a little bit of a no, and he's probably a stupid idea, is what he says.

No, I don't mean to judge it. People said the Tuscan tail was a stupid idea at one point. And here we are, sipping elephant, I mean, sorry, pumpkin wine. I meant pumpkin. That's fine. Hey, watch it. Sorry. Personally, I just feel like

It's hard enough just in this new town to say anything without people coming down on me. Now everybody's hearing just my thoughts. Uh,

On a whim, without me censoring them, I'd be concerned to do that. That's very good criticism, yes. Because obviously all you loxodons seem pretty sensitive about stuff I'm saying that's not that offensive. Sorry, sorry. All you pumpkins seem pretty pumpkin. Thank you. I love this guy. Oh, the nods. I'm loxo-ing.

Some people seem to only want you to say what they want you to say, and anything that differs from it makes them freak out. Well, Alvin comes back and he pops in and he's like, listen, I don't want to get caught too much into this sort of crossfire of this, but yeah, you might want to check up on one of the higher tiers to see if, you know. What did you say the podcasters were?

What part of town are they in? Oh, I think there might be some on the second left. But also, we could also forget about them entirely. Sounds good to me. Are the Nine Umberit podcasters? No, no, no. Not in this. No, I don't think they are. Does one need to be wary entering that tier tree? Well, the territory of the Nine Umberit is the third tier. It's the highest tier here. It's where that glen is, where the...

The trees are within the city. And if you look closely, you'll see that the architecture there actually features these ruins that actually protect it with this anti-magic field. So it's not exactly easy to get in there. You actually have to be invited. Drats. But maybe more answers could be gleaned on the second level of the city. Of course, yes. You have been incredibly helpful, Elephant Tail. Thanks.

You know, you're growing on me. Wow, it's so crazy to meet someone like that and he's apolitical. Honestly, pretty chill guy. He's pretty cool. Is there like, from here, I could use someone kind of digging into the muscles a little bit, a little massage, lose a little tension, or do we want to

eat i'm starving i don't know just throw it out some stuff because there are massage rooms here if we if we want to hop over there oh it's crazy i'll say you guys just do the rest of the massage package yeah you get the whole massage you get like um fresh pumpkins room temperature

When I say full massage, I just mean a massage. That look was just for you. Probably just getting to edit that part. Yeah, yeah. That's fine.

You get a massage. You get these fresh pumpkins. You get a little more pumpkin wine. You get pumpkin slices over your eyes. You get a little sauna steam action. And you guys leave the Tuscan Tail feeling absolutely refreshed. Almost as if you had a full night's sleep, you might say. Oh, right. That was a scrumptious experience. I'm so glad. If you want to go on the app and rate...

You fired me. Yeah, yeah. Wow. I'm just a buddy now.

I mean, I'm not opposed to helpful facts or anything like that, but yeah, you don't have to feel the pressure. No, no, I read you loud and clear. No more facts from me. I'm just your dumb friend now. Yeah, you don't have to be dumb even. Just be yourself. Yeah, just a rootin' tootin' piece of shit friend. Hey, he puts his trunk on her shoulder. Stop talking about my friend like that. She almost has a heart attack.

Yeah, roll a constitution. Okay. Seven. And I just add a five, so 12. You do not have a heart attack. Good. What was the number that I would have? I think like under a 10 would have been. Five.

Just a little tiny heart attack. Yeah, you're out of there. You know that the second level, like going up, there's sort of these like wide city-wide steps going up, like almost like one of those fountains, you know, like fountain areas in Italy, like going up to this second level. Can I ask, since that was sort of like a rest, do I get any of my spells back? Yeah, that will count as a short rest. Okay. What do you get back for a short rest? Do you have to roll a key? It depends on...

You can roll hit dice. I would say that you were just so lightly hurt, you'll just be up to full. I mostly use two spell slots. I don't know if bards get those back. I think only warlocks get them back. But you would get your bardic inspiration if you used it. So you all get to the second level of Pompapompo.

You look out here and there's this sort of large mausoleum structure that's open air, but it's sort of like this cover. It kind of reminds me of where you would put... It's like a general purpose event space almost, it seems like. You notice that in this sort of clearing, there's a variety of...

activities happening at once like people are milling about watching people do different things and all of those activities that they're watching it's almost like carnival-esque but it's like a lot of people like reciting poetry uh someone just sort of like you know talking about their ideas in one area there's there's uh like sort of feats of strength happening it's almost like um

Just sort of like a collection of people who are just trying to showcase their skills. You see all these people doing these sort of impressive tasks, and you're going around. You... So much talent in my hometown. So much diversity. Yeah, you're looking at like...

honestly these truly impressive displays in some I mean some of them are not impressive but in some cases there's like one Loxodon who's like I will be chosen I will be chosen like lifting this like huge like weight in front of him has people I mean you thought your pecs popped and you thought your arms were glistening this is something else um uh oh

As we're up here, I think you would know that in this area, like, a lot of these people are trying to get patrons to fund their activities. You see, like, there are these sort of rich, upper-crest feeling, Loxodon people, like, walking around, just, like, kind of looking at the, you know, the different things happening around, like...

Clearly scoping talent of some kind. Patronage is still a huge part of Loxodon culture. The rich patrons will find art that they deem worthy and those people will rise to the top and the rest of these people won't get anywhere. Do the rich people... Are the rich people... Do they live on the second level? Do they live on the third? Are they coming down to...

First of all, let me decide which voice I want to speak in. Wait, yeah, so are these people... Does it get the vibe that they come down from the level to... Are they living in the second level? I think it's sort of a mix of that. This is the tier that has the richer people living on it who do this kind of thing. But then also...

I think you would know that sometimes the actual council comes down here to scope talent for just like different things for the city itself. You see a couple of these Loxodons actually have these sort of wreaths on their head.

This is where we can find some Loxodon idols that get chosen every year. You know, you get a top dancer, top singer, those sort of things. So this is a place to get noticed in town. If you'd like to get noticed, if you have a skill, do you... Grib rips his shirt off. Oh my god. What? Tap? My guys! Step right up! Step right up and see the magnificent Grib, the rock jungle!

Grib, yeah, make what roll do you think reflects this? So I will, I'll say this right now. Like if your goal is to get noticed to be put on this third level, you can definitely do this, but let me know what kind of roll you're going to make. Well, what if I, okay. Cause it has to be some sort of role or use some sort of magic to. I'm happy to use some, some magic. Yeah.

Do I notice a lot of magic going on? You see some magic going on. It's not uncommon for people to be using magic. You do see other spore-like creatures up here. It is not uncommon for there to be druids out here. Okay. So I think he knows he's got to be a little...

flashy. I guess I should say it's not uncommon, right? It's not unheard of. Yeah, yeah. It's not like, whoa. Yeah. Cool. So, I think Grib is going to start like, step right up, step right up, and he'll mold earth and make a chair.

Cool. And then, like, produce flame. And he's gonna, like... And I guess Zwom will come out as well. Um... I guess, like, yeah, how much can I do? Like, I don't want to overdo too many actions. I'll... I guess first I'll do Mold Earth and then I'll call Zwom. Okay. So you mold Earth into a chair and Zwom just sits in it and goes, I'm...

by me and looks around it and you do make a persuasion check with advantage. Okay. How is your persuasion? Because if your nature is better, I'll let you. My nature is better. Okay. Okay. So I'll do a nature.

21. That's well, let me do my advantage roll. Dude, two 17s. So 21 both times. Okay, cool. You see some people begin to, you know, there's like a lot of a lot going on up here. It's like pretty chaotic. It feels like a convention room floor. Yeah. But as you mold earth and create Zwom out of nowhere, people start to gather. Cool. You see one of these people with or

sort of a wreath on their head approaches you and starts looking like what else do you want to see more power make a couch yeah let's let's see a couch

Yeah, I'll cast Mold Earth again and make a sort of larger piece of furniture. As you do this, another druid approaches. He's like, I can make an even bigger couch. And comes over to try to best you. This will be a couch off. It's a couch off! She takes out an air horn. This druid comes over and looks at you and says...

Well met, brother. But I will defeat you in this. And tries to... So be it so, if it's so. Sorry, what? So be it so, if it's so. So be it so... Well met. I whispered as mom, this is the only time that I've ever asked you to not fuck this up. What are you... Is there a specific job for me? Flex. Flex.

Be a little muscle man. I'm a little muscle man. And, um, uh-oh is trying to go around and tell people, this couch is actually one of the most comfortable couches made of dirt that you can find. Like, little tour guide. Yeah, that's great. Enjoy the couch, uh-oh. No! We're trying to help!

Help. I'm like really torn because in my heart, I think I'm the most entertaining person wherever I go. And I'm like, this should be me performing to get us to the third tier. But I really don't want to be known. So I instead look at Grib. I say, from the moment I fell on you.

I knew that you were one of the most special people I'd ever come across. And I'll be damned if you lose a couch off because you are the king, my man. Look at these muscles. And I give him bardic inspiration. Cool. All right. Cool. So this is going to be an opposed nature check. This person, I'll tell you right now, is going to have a plus four. Okay. So that's what they got. Okay. Fifteen.

Yeah. This person got a 13. You see this couch being created in front of them, molding earth. Their nose is almost starting to bleed, and they're like... You see Zwan flexes near you as you create this couch. Theirs is more of a futon, whereas yours has a little more stability to it. It's a little more... Yeah, this is straight up...

showroom floor at Ashley Furniture. Whoa. Fuck yeah. As your couch is created, this wreath locks it on and looks at you and is like, impressive. Do your friends do anything? Oh, the wreath locks it on. That's a new one. Uh...

Well, we can you and I can take you up to see the council. There's sort of a show and tell thing happening today that I can take you, sir. There's not like a plus one or a plus two situation there. I'd be kind of hard to swing it. I don't think we can we can do that usually. Do you have any sort of skills that I should have said this, but I used to be a dancer. You used to be a dancer.

What is that supposed to mean? Well, you're just so still. But maybe that is the sign of a good dancer. Yeah, she's going to try to do an elaborate dance. Okay, make an acrobatics check, I guess. That's a seven. Can I cast guidance on her? Yeah, can I cast guidance?

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Yeah, danced many, many a moon ago. So she's trying to get her dancing hopes off. I will say it's not impossible to persuade this person into bringing everyone else. Oh, great. Good to know. Oh, I have an idea, but we'll see it through and I'll... Yeah. Okay. Wait, what do I get from you? A D4. So roll that on top of what you roll. They're kind of looking at you like...

So you haven't done it in a while. Well, not such a long while, but a little while, sure. And I look at her like, uh-oh, I've seen you dance through town with your words to show it off for everybody around here. And I knew that you could dance with more than just your words, but your body. Keep dancing. And I give her a bit of inspiration also. Everyone looks around like, keep.

I guess I just roll another d20. No, you roll a d8? d6? d8, yeah, you're right. 14? He looks at you and he's like, it just somehow started working. It's because I added this move and I do a split. Wow, that can't do that. Well, let's go, you two. And he starts walking away. This is my councilman.

He must come with me. I can assure you I've got enough power for the both of us. I'll cast Entangle and wrap the couch in vines. That's right. I assure you I've got enough power for the both of us. Using a spell probably helps, but yeah, you can make a persuasion check. Great. And a reminder, you have Bardic Inspiration as well. So 14 persuasion. He's looking at him, he's like, I think, look, I...

You can wait outside the area, maybe. But, historically, couches need sitters, right? Listen, I'm trying to go with you on this. Yeah. I'm one of the council. I actually have to get up there pretty soon. Can I tell if these feelings would be hurt? Like,

Can I check in with my boy? Yeah, check in. Yeah. Hey, you're not really pulling your weight around here. If you've got an idea or a moment. Yeah, let me try something here. Okay, look around. Is there, like, any food around me? Yeah, there are people eating pumpkin grapes. What's the most pumpkin grapes you've ever seen anyone eat? I don't know, maybe...

100? What's the most you'd ever like to see anyone eat? More than that. I'll eat 101 pumpkin grapes right here.

Yeah. You see these vines with these little, like basically a bushel of grapes, but, uh, they're pumpkins. Um, there's someone laying down on sort of a lounge, just eating them. Uh, like people keep tapping out around like 30 or 40. So I will say this to eat a hundred. Oh,

give me three constitution saving throws. DC is will be 12, then 13, and then 14. 12, 13, and 14. Yeah. In that order. Okay. First big bite is a nine. That's with your modifier? Yeah, my con is only one. Oh, really? Wow. Okay. Uh,

Do you have any spells or anything you'd use to bolster this? I mean, I could caskite. I take the first bite and I'm like, I'm too hungover. I can't do this. So I just look at the guy and I go, hey, listen, man. I'd love to go up there with my friends. We just met. We're on quite a journey. I'm fascinated with your pumpkin stuff.

And the whole pumpkin thing going on here is very pumpkin. And I charm him. I cast charm person. Yeah.

So that he regards... Oh, this is just a friendly acquaintance. So that's not what I'm casting. I'm casting the one I just cast earlier. Suggestion? Suggestion. Okay, cool. And the suggestion I make to him is, this guy deserves to be in the third tier. I don't remember exactly how many of these you ate, but the way you took that first bite really soon and sort of spit it out on the ground...

There's something to behold. It was very pumpkin. You three, come with me. And he starts walking on to the next level of the city. I look back as we walk. I look back at the guy that was competing with me. Beach. What? Beach. You see him get really pissed off. That muscle guy was like, I will be chosen, is holding him back. And he's like, I was not chosen. Yeah.

You get up to this third tier of the city. It's really quick in the shit talk zone. I also run back down and sit on that guy's couch and go, oh, my back and my ass. And then I run up. It turns into a mattress. Great. You appear... You find yourself on this third tier of it. There's...

Way less going on here. You see that there are these two sort of gladiator loxodons guarding the entrance of these gates, and they let you through because you're with this wreath. How ripped are they?

You think you're ripped. Yeah, I'm a joke compared to these guys. You're a fucking joke. Yeah, that sucks. You're not a has-been, you're a never-was, you know? Damn, Mighty Ducks. It's humbling for me, though. It's not downtrodden. It's not I'll never be that. It's like, this is what I can be. It's like when I look at Damien Lillard's body. You tell me. I'm an NBA fan, too.

You could be that. No, I never could. I'm like, that's just unachievable. Unattainable. Yeah, they're unattainably cut. Do we catch the guy's name that's taking us in? This is Loche. He turns around and he's like, hello, I'm Loche, I should say. I'm one of the 900. And you are here today for a very special day. We are having a sort of a show and tell of different talents.

And he gets the gladiators to open the gate. You all enter this sort of glade up here. I mean, there are a few houses you notice in the side that it's almost like the equivalent of a White House or something. It's like more palatial feeling estates that are for this sort of governing body. You enter this sort of glade. It's very strange that these trees are up.

here as you enter this area. Like it doesn't feel like it could be possible without the powers of a druid. Got it.

Um, and you enter this area surrounded by these nine red wood trees with these red pine needles on them. You see that there are nine seats around. You come in to see like several people already kind of doing like feats of strength and things like that. As you enter the area, you look around, make a, I would say like an insight check with advantage. Grab. Yeah.

And you notice that at the center of this room, these nine trees specifically, you know, perfectly equidistant from each other, making this circle. From the center of this, there's one kind of like

Almost like pier that comes out of it, stretching out over the city. And you see that there are runes carved throughout it all the way out to the end. So it's almost this like kind of pride rock looking out. Do I recognize the runes at all? Yeah. Make this insight. I got a 20 and a 22. On a 22 insight. Something, something about this definitely feels familiar. These trees, trees,

I feel very familiar. Is my seed doing anything? Is the jewel on my head? Am I getting any sense from the seed or the jewel or anything? The seed in your pocket feels like it's pulsing.

As you look around in this area. As you enter this area, you see that there is one kind of wreath man, a wreath loxodon guy who has like those red pine needles in his wreath as well. He is addressing the crowd and he says, once again, for those who don't know, we are the nine numbers. We govern Pampa Pampa in a fair and just way. These guys look so cool.

We must debate all ideas that come to the table, and when we are not doing this, we like to see a show like this. We like to see what the people of our city are about, as people are doing these feats of strength and things. And he motions you all forward. On a 22 insight grid, looking around, you notice that there's only eight of these guys. Hmm.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight. Empty seat. And it's like we're being addressed directly. Yeah, they have brought you into the center. A 22 inside is what it took for him to count eight. To count eight. You're just smart enough to know. Yeah. Greetings. My name is Gribb, and I have traveled very far.

to get here. As you begin speaking, you see that there's this sort of like shocked eye, kind of like everyone is sort of looking at each other, kind of looking at you in a way, like there is some sort of recognition going on. And I clock that? Yeah, I will say on your 22 insight, you carry over a clock. He kind of recognizes that, but kind of keeps going forward with his spiel of like, I've traveled far to get here and it is an honor to be amongst my own.

Thank you, Otto, for a warm welcome. No problem. But now we're friends, so... I'm happy to show... I'm happy to continue with the show if need be, but I'm mostly looking for answers of why I had to be born so far away. There's just kind of hush whispering going on. Yeah. It's confusing to me. I'm wondering if I should do the show. I'm like, Zwom's flexing.

Like, unsure if the show's about to start or what. This was sort of supposed to be a break from our normal work as the sort of council of this town, but seeing you and hearing your voice, you sound so much like someone we all know. The ninth member of the Nine Umberts. The one that's missing? Yes. I don't know if you noticed this, but there's only eight of you. They all look around. Yes, we've noticed. We...

I don't know what happened or where you went or why, but you do sound a lot like our ninth member, Jib. But my name's Grip. You don't... I don't...

To be fair, there's a ton of name similarities amongst Oxodons. Excuse me? Whoa. I haven't heard one name that sounds like any other name. Sorry, what did you guys hear me say? I said, to be fair, there's a ton of pumpkins. There's a ton of pumpkins and they all are pumpkin. How long has this ninth member been missing? Probably like a week. And

I'm sorry if I'm confused. Are you saying that I'm a lot like him or that I am him? You sound a lot like him. This is crazy, guys. This is so crazy. This is crazy, guys. Isn't this crazy? Like, five days ago, I've never seen it, and then all of a sudden there's a guy who looks just like me, sounds just like me. Listen, I...

We're here to... I'll tell you a little bit about how things work around here. We sit here, the nine of us, and we debate all of the ideas on the table and decide what to do or what the best course of action is for the town. There's not really a conservative or a liberal kind of thing going on here. There's nine of us, and we naturally always kind of come...

to uh five and four four and five unfortunately with the disappearance of our ninth member feels like we are at a crossroads as to what to do in this moment in time um he look he looks up at the just you know smoldering like volcano uh like hanging above the city and he's like well it seems like we are at a sort of a standstill about what to do in the wake of the volcano uh

One guy raises his hand and he's like, "Ah, I think we should forge a bronze spear and drive it into the heart of Pulphoros when he appears so that we may quell his spirit and that we will live as a town." That sounds good. And then another guy raises his hand and he goes, "But I think we should just wait it out." Not that guy.

And it's sort of just kind of a, it's basically four and four between those two ideas right now. Wait, this isn't an invitation to make a decision. You need to find your ninth member. Well, we can't find the ninth member and he also disappeared with the bronze spear. Wait, so the bronze spear has been created? We've had one. I mean, you can forge one yourself in, you know, in the temple within the volcano itself, but we don't,

currently have one because the original was forged there and our ninth member disappeared with it. I guess Grib looks around and is like, then I'll find him. Do you? Grib, you feel your seed now bouncing in your pocket, pulling you in a direction. The direction of that empty chair. Oh, interesting. I guess Grib's happy to follow that.

Yeah. And I could find him or I could be him. Yeah.

and then he goes and sits towards the chair. I always have a heart attack. People... Everyone there is like... He doesn't know if that's offensive or not, so he's just going to go for it and hope that it's like... He's unaware if that's a big deal or not. I don't know. In the past, you've been able to sort of kind of trust the seed in your pocket and trust this gut instinct. You follow it, and you sit down in this chair, and something about it feels right to you in some way, and...

they all look at it and gasp there there's this sort of energy of like we we weren't like that is so unheard of that someone would just sit in it and then also like they're like the the first uh first of the nine ember is who addressed you i was like wow to be honest if someone were to sit in that chair that i don't know the chair didn't like and you see that the chair has sort of roots connecting to a tree behind it it would absolutely reject them it would be

flung right into the town from out here. Yeah, right. Here, get out of the way. No, please, please drive. I felt like I was kind of drawn to the chair, too. Wait, so me? Hey, sit in the chair if you'd like. We'd love to see it. They're nice, Greg. They're nice. I briefly looked around for Carl just out of instinct. Roll a luck check.

Don't say a car. It's not worth risking it. I've still got a little rumbly tummy. I don't want to... I think Grib is like so... This is all happening so fast. It's so confused. It's mostly like been an instinctual drive up to this point. Like...

walking there, he didn't really understand what he was doing. Kind of just looking around like, if this is where I've been called, then so be it. So be it, so be. Then what does this mean? You know, we still have to find the bronze spear. That guy who suggested earlier was like, it means that we have nine. We can actually make a decision now. We're not going to be split four and four. And like I said, I would suggest...

that we send a crew into the temple in the volcano itself and forge a new spear if we don't know where the spear is right now because we cannot find it. I'm looking at this like schlubby cat man who like required a drink and I'm like thinking about him as a partner and then I kind of think about Rufus and Freya and like how they had like shiny weapons and great builds and I'm doubtful that we could pull off some sort of thing like that but this is the people that I have with me and it's like

I hate to ruin the moment, but is there a tenth throne, if you know what I mean? I got a bit of a grumbling going on downtown. Oh, dear God. It's either here or on the toilet, you know, so. We've got a, there's the centurions were like kind of pointing to an outhouse into it. I run. This may be a decision that a lot of people don't agree with, and I'm sorry if I'm making it hastily, but I've just discovered this new home.

And I would hate to lose it to anything. So I will do what is necessary to save it. And if you think plunging a bronze spear into the heart of this mountain will save the town that I've come so fond of so quickly, then I shall do it. And I shall do it with my friend. He looks at the bumbling cat. I'm going to pour the potter in it.

Yeah, he goes to look at him and there's nobody. And of course, if anybody else looking at Otto would like to join in this quest. She, um, absolute full smile, psychotic look on her face, nodding the most anyone's nodded. The centurion looks at you, Saga, and goes, loud pee. It was just a pee. It was just a pee. It was just a pee.

The only way I can honor this seat is by giving my life for it. Ladies and gentlemen, on your right, you have the new gift box.

Can I say that? I still want to be Grifna. His name was Jib. Can I say that? Yeah, I still want to be me and maybe we could get a little more information about him later or whatever. But yeah, I'm up for the... Let's put it to a vote! They're all nodding. You once again have four and four. Four for Jenga new bronze spear. Four for just hanging out and waiting to see what happens. I...

I vote to create a new spirit. All the council looks at each other, nods in agreement. It's like, it is settled. The new jib will head into the mountain itself to forge a new spear and bring it back here to use the magical runes to fling it into the heart.

of the god pull for us. And uh-oh takes a picture. They all kind of like turn in. Some people have really bad posture for this angle. Can you take another one? No? Okay. You just shook your head? Now, can I ask...

What is the risk we're taking on if we're going into the heart of this mountain? We're creating a spear or we're trying to find the missing spear? I missed some stuff while I was peeing. You taking that loud pee back there? Listen, this sort of younger member of the council who was of the idea of doing something about what's going on says, well, the volcano is an ancient gateway itself to the

The plane of elemental fire. The god Pulveros is sort of desperate to enter our world. And in doing so, he will lose his mind and a devastating volcanic eruption will occur. So the risk of not doing anything is extremely great. But legend has it that within the temple and the volcano itself, you can forge a bronze spear and

to throw into the heart of this monstrosity when he appears and it will quell him. And he will, am I familiar with this God or it's a complete foreign thing? Something about it like feels like, you know, innately familiar to you, but like you've never read about my tattoo. You realize that your Ragnaros tattoo from world of warcraft that you had is actually all for us. Whoa.

Yeah, I just show this fiery demon. It is like you remember the gateway that you saw into that hellish escape before. That is different from this. That was more like spectral and demonic in nature. This what they're talking about seems to be specifically like elemental fire. They're like, well, the but the but the popped up in my head. You just thought of that? I just thought of it.

You are the one who must go in. All of these roads have led to this one moment. He says, like, to fully answer your question, there is a reason no one has gone in there because it is most certainly a deadly. And they all kind of like hang their heads. And you can feel this sort of like level of shame in some ways of people who don't want to like risk themselves in that way. So the choice is yours. My worry is this.

Uh-oh. Uh-huh.

And you've got an incredible design you're working on. Okay. Uh-huh. These are the concepts you know, I assume? Yes, yeah, I'm a graphic designer. But an error 325 comes out. Yes. You can risk losing the entire project, sure. Or you can try to diagnose the problem. It might take a long time. You might wear yourself out.

Isn't it better than losing that awesome design? And now Saga is like so confused.

That is just like almost convinced just because it's easier than trying to give up the lie. Wow. Uh-oh. That made really, that's, yes. I agree with uh-oh. Per uh-oh's example, I don't want an error P4POO. And so, yeah, that's the thing. P4POO is a Reddit channel. Which I know that, I know what that is. Actually, the town is pronounced Pum-pa-pum-pa.

Pumpkin. Perfect. He's right. He's right. Is the town just named after a pumpkin twice in a row? Pumpkin, pumpkin. Pum-pum-pum-pum. Pizza. Tell me, let me answer this question. If you had never heard the word pum-pum and you saw a pumpkin, would you call it a pumpkin or would you call it a pum-pum-pum-pum? I'd call it a pum-pum-pum-pum. And such is the origin of the name of this town. Oh, wow. It's like I'm still getting the tour from my friend. Yeah.

Okay, I'm in just because I love this guy already. And I want to see him. I want to kind of try to live my real self, my truest self. I'm trying to discover that. And I want to see that for this new man. Wow. So that means you're in? I'm in for what you've said is a death sentence. Challenging how long it took you to get on board, but I'm happy to have you. Thank you.

This sort of younger member, this is Losh, the guy that you were talking to earlier. He's like, well, if you can actually forge the spear and bring it back here, and he points to this sort of runes in the center, it's like, this area has great magic.

that will basically just make a spell or ability, like any sort of magic or strength that someone has, like many times greater than it was initially. So you can bring it back here to throw it into the heart of the god. Using the power of the rune.

using the power of the runes. And you look at the runes and you see how these chairs connect to this one spot of the runes with this one projection. And I will say from that 22 insight you had earlier, it feels like the time someone spoke to you in your dream, they maybe used this spot. Yeah.

And I can't remember who spoke. You remember a voice telling you to come home, but you didn't, you don't know, like, and maybe that wasn't even their voice. Like it was like, it was like kind of mysterious way that someone spoke to you. And they're like, it can only be, it's so powerful that like, we can't use it daily. Like it,

to use it basically if you were to use it then use it again right after it would kill you understood understood so basically we can only use it each person can only use it it is something with great power which requires great responsibility they all look like yes wow

Never heard such an idea before. And do I recognize those runes because they're the things that talked to me? Or is there like another pull? Like, I guess I'll ask, like, why do I recognize these? I've never been here. They feel like I've seen them. In fact, I feel that way about many things here. Well, you must be from here. We don't know where you've been. We don't, I don't think I, any of these. Figure it out. We specifically don't have the answers.

I hope we can find them together. It is good to see another lost Loxodon son return. They look at you and they're like, that's unfortunately all we have, but, you know, I hope the answers are out there for you. Maybe some pressure really quick, but I'm going to do it. Do what? I'm going to handle this whole thing. I'm going to try my best. But I want you to know it's a lot, really fast. It is a lot. Really quick. It's the most. I've been here like freaking six hours, man. No, probably more than that.

Did you have time for anything else? I relaxed. Oh, sure, I relaxed. Had a lot of pumpkin. I mean, what else did they have to do, really? I mean, we do a lot of relaxing here. Listen, Losh takes you three aside and he's like, I'll guide you up to the temple itself if you're ready. And we can bid you farewell there and you can hopefully get this settled. The congregation sort of

disperses you gather from this that a lot of them aren't really like very serious about thops you know it's like kind of a cush position it's a cush position they're pretty checked out in some ways like it it doesn't feel like people are taking their responsibilities that seriously here got it and so this is like the only like young person who is around that is like kind of at all trying and he's like listen i um i appreciate you taking this on i feel like

Someone did use those runes to contact you. I think that must have been... I feel that way, too. I don't know who, though. I'm sorry. It's okay. Coincidentally, his ship is gone. Who knows? I can't put that together. Two separate ideas. Yeah. He shakes his trunk and he just says...

I'm happy to be home. We're happy to have you. You all separate from this sort of larger crowd and find yourself walking closer and closer to the mountain itself, to the volcano itself. There's this sort of poorly marked trail all the way up to some sort of entrance. You see it kind of curving around the mountain as Lois stops with you there, and he's like, I'm going to leave you here, and I just...

I just hope that someone does something good for us. Because it's been a while. Don't try my bag. Jesus Christ. A ton of pressure. An incredible amount of pressure. Can I ask this? Go ahead. Is Loche short for lotion? It is, yes. You go. Well, it's similar to my question. I was going to ask you if Loche was short for me-loche. But now I know it's true. It's short for me-lotion, yeah. Follow-up question.

Is lotion for me lotion or lotion? It's for me lotion lotion. Got it. This is kind of a new question, actually, though. Okay. Really. We are so undermatched. We don't know each other. We don't have a rapport. We're getting there. You've said this is almost a death sentence. Do you have any, like, potions? Anything, like... Make a persuasion check. Persuasion. Plus nine. Nineteen. Ooh.

He gives you, he thinks about it and he pulls out a small vial. It's got this sort of like lava lamp looking like swirling stuff in it. And he hands it to you and he's like, could be helpful in the temple ahead. And he looks at you all and he's like, I've been me lotion lotion. And this is where I have to leave you. And he like, he like, let's, walks away from you. Uh-oh gives him like a tip because he gave a nice tour. Oh, thank you. Awesome.

And I'm your tour guide for life. And as we hear, as we're walking away, we hear him humming, I bid me lotion, lotion. I bid me lotion, lotion. Jesus Christ.

And then we go, "What?" - "Lotion!" - As you all begin to sing, "Me lotion, lotion, lotion. Me lotion, lotion, lotion." You go along this trail all the way up. And as you see the crackling lightning over this volcano,

in the entrance of this temple ahead of you we're gonna end the episode hell yeah damn dude cool meaty second episode fun I mean it started at a spa ended at a temple yeah that was cool y'all this was such a fun second ep uh let's go around for a quick round of plugs and uh at danlippertcool on social media I started talking cause Zach pointed at me with his eyeballs with my eyes yeah you laughing

And yeah, the man dog pod. If you want to listen to our improv podcast or big grande website.com for my other groups, improv podcasts and whatnot. Beautiful. Bellissimo. Bellissimo. Bellissimo. Hi, Jacob. I sake. You follow me on all the socials at Jacob. I sake. We're having fun online over there. Right.

We're having fun online. Still. It hasn't changed. I'm Rekha Shankar. You can follow me on Twitter at Rekha L. Shankar or on Instagram at Rekha underscore us. Yas, they're different. And check out Grand Crew on Hulu. Hell yeah. I've been Zach Oyama and this was the second episode of the seventh arc. Stick around next week for the arc park. Thanks. Bye. Yahoo. Here we go.

Woohoo! Thank you, PastZack. And thank you for listening to this Arc 7 of the Rotating Heroes podcast. And if you're ever curious as to why at the end of every episode, Zack says, we'll be back next week with the Arc Bark, and then there isn't an Arc Bark, it's just like the next episode, that's because...

These were, well, previously recorded old episodes. And actually, these are episodes that we put out on the Patreon in their full and glorious form. And then the week after they come out, we release the Arc Box. So if you want to hear those Arc Box, the only place to get those is on the Patreon.

So head over to there. There's a link in the description below. But until then, I want to say thank you so much for listening to Arc 7 with your rotas of this arc, which are Jacob Wysocki, Dan Lippert, and Rekha Shankar with your DM, Zakoyama. And this episode has been edited and produced by Zakoyama and me, Jasper William Cartwright. Until then, we'll catch you next week. Bye. Bye.