Episode 1: Failure is Tree

Step 1. Go! Fight! Win!

Step 2. Mad dash it and expect the bite that follows

Step 3. Make it to Camp Half Blood?

Come meet three new demigods living in a Percy Jackson Retirement, I mean College Era. Hopefully all of his and the rest of his friends’ hard work means for a peaceful time at Camp.

Content warning: Strong language

Hosted and Co-produced by Echo Linn
Also Co-Produced by Leigh Buchholz
Cover Art is by S. Linn
Intro Music is Summer Whistle by Top-Flow-Production
Outro Music is Summer Trip with a Guitar by sweet_kr

You can find us on Instagram: @heroicsnhijinks

Transcript

[Intro music - Pixababy (Sunshine Whistle)]

Echo

The quest is on! Welcome to Half Blood Heroics & Hijinks: A Percy Jackson TTRPG Podcast where three young demigods meet up for a brand new adventure. Will they make it to Camp Half Blood in one piece? 

Will they be able to overcome their differences? Keep listening to find out.

This is our very first podcast and episode. So please bear with us as we all learn this medium. If you listened to the Introductory episode, then you'll know that this is an actual play podcast where we will be using the City of Mist system. 

Let's get to know the cast. I'll start. I'm Echo Linn. My pronouns are she/her. Should they be she/they? Probably, but the former still fits most of the time. I will be playing Lyra Phoebe Bayani Langnit - a Half Blood from the Pacific Northwest. Now I'm from the Midwest, so don't at me for using - for not using PNW colloquialisms. But narratively it made the most sense to place her in that part of the country. Anyways, Lyra is 13 years old, an Aries, and a foster kid runaway. Lyra uses she/her pronouns. She currently is an unclaimed demigod but is just grateful to have found others like her. This episode’s demikid fact about Lyra is the fact that she does not have dyslexia.

Alex

My name is Alex. Um, I’m a he/him, I uh and I will be playing Connor. He is a 14 year old Roman demigod. He’s 5’ 9,” got black hair, blue eyes. Kind of has a punk aesthetic, usually wearing black pants with his purple camp shirt. 

Echo

I was going to save the physical description for when we first meet your character, but this works too. 

Alex

Oh.

Echo

But what is your demigod fact for this particular episode?

Alex

My demigod fact is I love to play strategy games. And I really love rock music.

Demi

Hi! I’m Demi. My pronouns are she/her. And I play Arella Schwartz. She is a 12 year old Greek demigod and she grew up in St. Louis, which is where we’re from. And she witnessed Percy Jackson fly from the Arch, which is her demigod fact (that she witnessed that). And she has an innate ability to see through the Mist, which is how she was able to see Percy fly from the Arch. Where a normal person or even young demigod may not.

Rexy

I’m Rexy. I am the DM of this campaign. My pronouns are they/them. And I don’t have a character to introduce, so I don’t have a demigod fact. 

Alex

Lame!

Echo

Just do one about yourself.

Alex

*laughs*

Rexy

That’d be worse.

Echo

Okay, an uncool fact?

Demi

*laughing*

Alex

“I play D & D.”

Rexy

We open to a dark screen, and you hear a voice.

Percy

Look, I didn’t want to be a half-blood. Being a half-blood is dangerous. Most of the time it gets you killed in painful, nasty ways. I’ve seen enough death for several lifetimes. I’ve fought in two wars for the gods and now I’m going to college with my amazing girlfriend, Annabeth, and trying to live a normal life. No more going on dangerous quests just ‘cause some god was careless. Besides, we defeated both Kronos and Gaia. I’m sure the new batch of demigods’ time at camp will be a breeze compared to mine.

Rexy

As he says this, we see a pair of eyes open and we pan down from a starless night sky to see three young teens fighting a cyclops. 

Percy

They got this.

Echo

Okay, so we’re fighting a cyclops.

Rexy

Hm-mm.

Alex

Lovely.

Echo

Okay, alright, just jump us right in.

[Ahh!

Connor

Eyes up. Stay on the balls of your feet. Look out!

Arella

Hup!]

Alex

I stab at the cyclops

Demi

Going Toe-to-Toe.

Alex

I describe my actions. They decide what I’m rolling.

Demi

Oh, okay. My brain is just like,  “Ooh, I know that one. That’s going Toe-to-Toe.”

Rexy

*chuckles* Yes, good job. Alright.

Alex

Tags would be: Shield and Spear, Knack for Battle. Superior Tactics, and Enhanced Conditioning?

Rexy

Enhanced Conditioning is more a defensive one.

Alex

A little bit, yeah. Alright.

Rexy

I’ll give you three.

Alex

Ayyy! 

Demi

I have 2, prepared for Camp Struggles.

Alex

That’s a 15.

Rexy

Alright. That’s a full success.

Demi

Oh, I didn’t even roll for you.

Alex

*laughs*

Rexy

I suppose I should have had you state your specific goal first. But-

Alex

 I will stab him in the leg.

Rexy

Yeah, alright so you will choose 2 of Achieve Your Goal, Get Them Good (which is a status…which is your goal) -

Alex

Get them good

Rexy

And then lockdown their counter so they don’t get you instead.

Alex

I will block their next attempt with my shield.

Rexy

It’s not their next attempt

Alex
Well -

Rexy

So you had 3 power, right?

Alex

Yeah

Rexy

Alright, so I’ll give him - puncture wound - 3.

Alex

Yeah!

Rexy

Or well puncture wound - 2, ‘cause you got two things, right?

Alex

Yeah.

Rexy

Oh, yeah, you got him-

Alex

I got him good. Then I-

Rexy

Get him good means you gave him the status. Still figuring out these rules. You give him, would give him a 3 power or a 3 status but he does have a tag-

Alex

How dare he.

Rexy

Big, Mean, and Scary, which reduces physical harm by 1.

Alex

I end my turn. *laughs*

Echo

Okay, Lyra wants to give Connor even er- better advantage. He’s the most trained out of all of us.

Alex

Is there an initiative to fights?

Rexy

Nope

Echo

No, just kind of jump in. And so, she has her sword in one hand but then also has a small flashlight going on in her other hand.

Rexy

Alright.

Echo

So, she yells up to the cyclops and says

Lyra

Look over here, you big ugly.

Echo

*soft giggles* And when he looks at her, she focuses all of her concentration on the little flashlight and turns to the other two. 

Lyra

Close your eyes just for a brief moment here.

Echo

And then turns the flashlight into a flashbang.

Rexy

Alright.

Connor

Ah, yes, close your eyes during combat.

Lyra

Well, I-

Connor

What a great idea!

Lyra

I just need you two to briefly do it. That’s all. Trust me! Just close your eyes. Just for a moment. 

Echo

And then so then for distractions, I was going to create a distraction. She was going to try for she…the tag Fast Adapter (she is adapting quickly to…thinking quickly on your feet situation). Um, then of course Shine Bright - and her…since it’s part of her dad’s kind of thing - Immortal’s Legacy was the third kind of potential. *interpreting Rexy’s facial expression* I will let you know. Yes? No?

Rexy

I’m gonna say no.

Echo

Okay, so two. Two it is. Um, that would be a 7, so mixed success. Hey, it’s our first mixed success, guys.

Demi

It’s our second roll.

Everyone

*muted laughter*

Alex

They’re not wrong.

Demi

Well, yes, but-

Rexy

But our first

Rexy/Echo

Mixed success

Rexy

Usually it’s [unintelligible.]

Echo

*joking* Well, at this rate, you need to be our first failure.

Alex/Echo

*laughing*

Alex

RIP. 

Rexy

You got 2 juice.

Echo

Yes. Oh, you’re giving it to me.

Rexy

I’m assuming you’re wanting to give a status.

Echo

So yeah, I was hoping either dazed or temporary blindness?

Rexy

Hm, well, I doubt this fight will take all that long…

Alex

We are in the middle of it.

Rexy

Well, it depends on how badly y’all roll. Alright, this cyclops has puncture wound and dazed.

Demi

Oh, I think I’m going to try or Arella is going to try and trip him. 

Alex

Do the old get behind him and-.

Demi

I’m gonna use the power tags: Aware of Monsters because she kind of knows its weaknesses. So knows its weaknesses, uses Super Speed and Prepared for Camp Struggles.

Rexy

Everything seems to fit. So roll, power is three.

Demi

So I add 3 to my roll?

Rexy

Hm-mm.

Demi

So 8. So I’m not a failure. I’m a mixed success.

Everyone

*laughing*

Alex

It was close.

Rexy

Alright, so what were you saying you were trying to do? Trip him up?

Demi

Yeah, trip him up.

Rexy

Okay, yeah, I’d say that would be Change the Game

Alex

Get under his legs and shield bash him over you?

Demi

Yeah, something like that.

Rexy

This would count as a subdue, which Big, Mean, and Scary reduces by 2 levels. So you give him off-balance - 1.

Demi

Okay. Do you mark that or?

Rexy

Yeah. I mark it.

Alex

Big, mean, scary guy?

Rexy

He technically doesn’t get a turn.

Alex

So how does he hurt us?

Rexy

Well, during any of your turns, I can make a soft move, which is mostly just changing the game. Or when you fail, I can make a hard move.

Alex

Okay, so when we fail, we get hurt.

Rexy

Yeah.

Alex

Got it.

Demi

So if we’re just doing good, we don’t get hurt.

Rexy

Correct. Well, as long as you’re doing good enough. I’m gonna go ahead and put on their turn reducing dazed by 1.

Alex

Okay, so I’m…can I use his tags? Like dazed and off-balanced.

Rexy

Yes.

Echo

We can invoke-

Demi

Do we know he’s dazed and off-balanced? Or do we know he just stays dazed and off-balanced?

Alex

Would that be a plus one?

Rexy

Yeah. Whatever the highest status that gives you a benefit will be added to your power. The highest status that gives you a deficit will be reduced from your power.

Demi

So that would be his Big, Mean, and Scary or other thing, which he used against me.

Alex

I-

Rexy

Well, technically it’s a Custom Move but effectively.

Alex

I’m gonna do a cool jump up and stab down at him.

Rexy

Alright.

Alex

Invoking previous 3 plus off-balanced and dazed.

Rexy

Uh, you’ll only be able to…you only use one possible status.

Alex

So it will be plus 4 minus -

Rexy

You will roll with plus 4 power.

Alex

Okay. Ayyy! It’s really high.

Rexy

I’m gonna say Hit Him With All You Got.

Alex

So that’s a 15.

Rexy

That’s a full success. So you choose 2 of the following: 

Alex

I would like superior positions and land on top of him.

Rexy

Alright.

Alex

And Get Him Good…er, Get Him Good to get him on the ground and superior positions to get on top of him.

Rexy

Alright, so you had power 4.

Alex

Yep.

Rexy

Plus 1 from Get Him Good minus 1. With that…that’s gonna get him…yeah, that’d be 6. He falls.

Alex

Yeah! And I have my spear aimed at his eyeball.

Rexy

A nice quick combat to give y'all a bit of experience with it.

Alright. As the cyclops roars its death rattle, you are on the edge of the woods. Camp Half Blood should be about half a day’s journey from where you are. 

Demi

So we’re in like New York.

Rexy

Yeah. Anything you want to do before -

Alex

I wipe the blood off my spear.

Connor

Alright, let’s get going.

Lyra

Sounds good to me.

Arella

Okay.

Alex

We head towards the direction of camp.

Rexy

Alright.

Demi

Arella uses her internal compass to make sure we actually go in the right direction.

Alex

*laughs*

Rexy

Yes.

Demi

I use my Power Tag.

Alex

Good job. I’m proud of you.

Demi

I [unintelligible]

Rexy

A couple of hours into the hike you all start to hear howling.

Alex

Is it familiar howling?

Rexy

Uh…

Alex

Investigation?

Rexy

Yeah, you’re using your senses

Alex

Roman Heritage, Cohort Two?

Demi

Can I also roll?

Alex

Do you know the Roman wolves?

Demi

I wasn’t asking if they were those. I was trying to figure out what kind of monster. Assuming they are not the Roman wolves, since we are nowhere near California.

Rexy

*to Alex* I’ll give you plus one.

Alex

*looking at his roll* Absolutely not. That’s double ones.

Demi

Well, I’ll be using Aware of Monsters, Observant-

Connor

Holy Shit! That’s spooky!

Rexy

Sorry, what was that?

Demi

Aware of Monsters, Observant, and Prepared for Camp Struggles.

Rexy

I’ll give you power 2. I don’t think Prepared for Camp Struggles will help with this. ‘Cause you’re trying to pick out a monster just from a sound.

Alex

That’s the first failure of the campaign!

Rexy

I don’t think that prepares you for that.

Demi

So I can use Observant or Aware of Monsters.

Rexy

Observant and Aware of Monsters.

Demi

Oooh!

Alex

Natty!

Demi

I rolled 2 sixes.

Rexy

Alright.

Echo

Dynamite!

Rexy

You get to recognize that those are the sounds of hellhounds.

Echo

*nervous laughter*

Demi

How many? Can I gather that much? I did get a dynamite roll.

Rexy

I guess I technically shouldn't have told you that ‘cause technically you get 2 power to ask-

Alex

Questions?

Demi

What are they? How many are there? That is the question we’re asking.

Rexy

Yeah, you can discern at least 3 distinct sounds.

Connor

We should hurry up.

Lyra

Agreed.

Rexy

Since you had a failure…

Echo

Uh-oh.

Rexy

I get to make a hard move.

Echo

Oh, that’s true.

Rexy

As they burst through the trees!

Demi

Oooh, gosh.

Rexy

And you now have three hellhounds on your tail.

Demi

At least it’s just three.

Connor

Behind me!

Alex

I ready my shield.

Arella

Just in case you don’t know, those are hellhounds. They’re very dangerous.

Connor

You don’t say!

Arella

Just making sure!

Demi

Can you use a weakness more than once per like round or.day?

Rexy

Yes.

Demi

Okay. Do you-

Rexy

Yes, but it’s once per-

Demi

Character?

Rexy

Action.

Demi

Action?

Rexy

Action

Demi

Okay, if you invoke it more than once, does that give you extra attention. Or you just like invoke it and-

Alex

You invoke it once per

Rexy

I think you only get Mark Attention once per session.

Alex

Okay.

Rexy

I will have to double check that.

Alex

I’m ready with my reaction whenever.

Rexy

So they burst through the trees.

Alex

I’m going to shout 

Connor

Get behind me!

Alex

Ready my shield. I’m going to use the tags Shield and Spear, Teamwork, I Will Be a Centurion (for…to like command presence), Knack for Battle, Superior Tactics? Form a defensive formation first to see what they will do.

Rexy

What are you trying to do with this? Change the Game? Sounds like it. 

Alex

Something like-

Rexy

You’re not trying to strike at them.

Alex

Right.

Rexy

Yeah.

Alex

Something like giving bonuses against getting everyone hurt.

Rexy

Yeah, yeah. I’ll allow it then.

Alex

Enhanced conditioning, Provides Cover, and a weakness tag - Can’t Protect Them All.

Rexy

Alright. Roll with Power 6.

Alex

I’m very good at protect.

Rexy

That you are.

Alex

It’s what I was going for. Six plus 7, thirteen.

Rexy

So success, you get 6 juice.

Alex

Oh. Let’s go!

Rexy

You can use this juice to create a tag. There’s of course no story tags for you to burn. Give or reduce a status, one juice per tier. On a ten plus, you can scale up the effect, prolong the effect. So what exactly are you trying to do?

Alex

Um

Rexy

With 6 power, you can do a few things.

Alex

I will try intimidating them to not attack immediately, ‘cause they can’t find an opening.

Rexy

Alright.

Alex

Hesitation?

Rexy

At what level? One juice per level.

Alex

Let’s do three.

Echo

Well, it would have to be…

Alex

Would it split between?

Echo

It does get split per each one. It would probably be 2 if you use all six.

Alex

Okay

Echo

You would have to.. It gets divided among…up to the max. The max to spend is six

Alex

Let’s hit all three

Echo

It’s one per then per person per target.

Alex

Make it so they can’t find an opening to attack.

Rexy

They will have no opening - 2.

Alex

Very weird that they don’t get a turn.

Rexy

Yeah, it is.

Demi/Echo

Okay, I

Demi

Oh.

Echo

I mean I had something I could do, but maybe-

Demi

I was thinking I would try to look for an opening for us to escape, using…

Echo

Oh, okay.

Demi

But go ahead and say your thing in case it’s the same…

Echo

Oh my thing was 

Rexy

Soft move: they start to move, circle around you.

Echo/Demi

Okay

Echo

I was, Lyra was going to turn to Connor and say

Lyra

If I…I think I can hold them. If I hold them down, do you think you can dispatch them?

Connor

Probably. That sounds like a terrible idea.

Arella

You’re saying you’re going to distract them?

Lyra

Well, uh, it doesn’t always work out quite the way I want it to. I mean, uh…

Echo

Okay, she kind of reaches out towards them and I’m invoking Stronger at Night, of course Shadow Bind to try to hold them in place. That’s my thing, thinking.

Alex

Are you fucking Shikamaru?

Rexy

So, Change the Game to give it to them?

Echo

That.

Rexy

A bound status?

Echo

Yeah. 

Rexy

Okay, go ahead and give me power 2.

Echo

*test roll while Rexy was talking* Oh, okay, that ain’t good. *actual roll* Well, that works - 13?

Rexy

Thirteen, alright. You get 2 power and you’re trying to immobilize them?

Echo

Yeah. I think with only a juice of 2 I really can only get two of them but…effectively or one.

Rexy

Yeah,

Echo

Probably

Rexy

You can either give 1 an immobilize - 2 or 2 immobilize - 1.

Echo

Yeah, I think it’s better to hold-

Alex

I’d say one.

Echo

You’d rather have one?

Alex

Yeah, make it easier to kill.

Echo

Okay, so the way this kind of looks is that…she says this and basically you just - they’re circling and one gets caught back. We did say it was like a starless night, right? So it’s a little harder to see.

Rexy

Hmm.

Echo

Right, okay. So then if they had seen but they didn’t see, there’s more to it. There’s literally tendrils of darkness wrapped around this one wolf, holding it down to the ground.

Connor

And you haven’t done this before?

Lyra

It- It only worked on this one.

Arella

That’s pretty terrifying.

Alex

Do either of you have shields? What weapons, what weapons do we have?

Echo

Whatever Camp Jupiter sent me off with.

Rexy

It would have-

Alex

Whatever you want.

Rexy

I think it would have been a shield, sword, and spear.

Echo

Ah, she’s not too good with spears. Sword, she has a certain innate ability for so.

Alex

And you?

Demi

Arella would probably have a dagger. Like she was gonna get weapons at Camp. She was planning on going to Camp this summer.

Alex

Would you like a sword or a spear from either of us?

Demi

Do you have extra swords and spears?

Echo

I have a-

Alex

We have one of each.

Echo

I have a spear I don’t use.

Alex

And I have a sword I do not use.

Demi

Okay, if you don’t use a sword, then she would probably take a sword from you. She does know how to, just doesn’t have one.

Alex

It’s better than not having one. 

Demi

I definitely see Nat giving her a dagger. I feel like he would have an extra dagger lying around, but I don’t see him having an extra sword around. Especially since he was planning on her going to Camp at 13.

Rexy

And having a spare dagger just in case.

Demi

Yeah.

Rexy

But you shouldn’t have needed a sword.

Demi

Okay, let’s say I have a sword, your sword and a dagger from him.

Alex

Okay. 

Demi

I just don’t have any Power Tags.

Alex

What’s your character name again?

Echo

Lyra.

Rexy

Lyra. Soft Move, you hear more howls in the distance.

Echo

*short laugh*

Alex

Fuck!

Demi

In that case, Arella’s move is going to be looking for that out. Where can we dash off to if we need to? Then I would say Internal Compass - just kind of getting a “Okay, still need to go in the right direction.” Enhanced Eyesight, Prepared for Camp Struggles, and Observant.

Rexy

Yep. That’s 4. Roll Investigate.

Demi

Okay, I rolled a 6 plus 4, so 10.

Rexy

Alright, so you got four whole questions.

Echo

Hmm.

Demi

Okay, is there shelter?

Alex

We don’t really want to be at this place for shelter.

Demi

Okay. Is there any clear paths?

Rexy

Yeah, you’re able to spot a-.

Demi

Is there an opening in the wolves to get to that clear path?

Rexy

As of now, yes.

Demi

Okay.

Alex

[Do you suppose there could be a bigger one?]

Demi

Need 2 more questions. Can I see any kind of like…are we just like flat out in the woods? That’s not one of these investigation questions.

Rexy

That would [be known]…yeah.

Echo

Do we know which direction the howl is coming from?

Demi

Oh, okay, yeah. Is the wolves in the direction of where the path is?

Rexy

No.

Demi

Okay. Is there anything in that path that would be able to become an obstacle for them if we moved quickly?

Rexy

Not that you would know

Demi

Okay, that’s my four questions. Then Arella’s gonna say,

Arella

Okay, guys, there’s a path over that way. If there are more than 3 wolves, we should probably go that way. Quick.

Lyra

No argument there about getting out of here quickly. It’s just creating that opening.

Arella

There’s an opening now.

Connor

Lyra, shield up now!

Lyra

Okay.

Alex

I charge the shadow grasped one now, using Shield and Spear, Teamwork, Knack for Battle…Superior Tactics (‘cause we trapped it first).

Rexy

I’ll allow it. I should start introducing grit mode

Alex

What?

Rexy

There’s an optional rule that basically makes stacking harder to do. So it encourages to be more versatile..

Echo

Hm.

Demi

Interesting.

Rexy

So the first power would just be one. The second power would be 2 more, well it be still one. But to get your third power, you would need 2 additional tags. To get your fourth power, you would need 3 tags.

Demi

Because we have too many tags that would be applicable?

Alex

I got 9.

Rexy

Alright. That’s a mixed success - Going Toe-to-Toe. Choose one of achieving your goal, giving them a status, or not taking a status yourself.

Alex

I’m going to give them the status - stabbed.

Echo

*quietly laughing*

Demi

I would say achieve our goal. Especially since that’s not really a status.

Alex

Anything is a status.

Demi

I suppose.

Rexy

Basically.

Echo

Yeah.

Rexy

To be fair, I’d probably write it down a bit differently.

Alex

*laughs loudly*

Rexy

Alright.You stab it with power 4. It has Tough Fur which will reduce physical damage by 2.

Alex

Damn.

Rexy

So you deal, give it -

Alex

Stabbed - 2?

Rexy

As you give it stabbed - 2.

Alex

*laughs*

Rexy

Two seems like reasonable stab positive.

Echo

*chuckles*

Rexy

Now it’s bound -2, stabbed - 2. Actually, wait, hang on.

Alex

That should have been plus 2 for bound, wouldn’t it?

Rexy

Yeah.

Alex

That would have been 10.

Rexy

You get to choose another one.

Alex

Awesome.

Demi

Achieve goal.

Alex

Sure.

Demi

Which is to book it.

Echo

Well, it’s to create an opening.

Alex

Make sure the opening stay open, so they can get out.

Connor

Move it!

Lyra

Okay.

Rexy

It does…able to stab it and to keep the opening. But it does bite you. I will let you Face Danger.

Alex

Face Danger?

Rexy 

To try to reduce it.That’s going to give you vicious bite - 4.

Alex

Okay. Enhanced Conditioning, Provides Cover.

Echo

For yourself.

Alex

Yep. Quick Regeneration? Not yet?

Demi

I feel like that would help after the bite but not for getting the bite.

Alex

Yeah. Knack for Battle, Teamwork (since it’s still down).

Rexy

I’ll allow it.

Alex

Shield and Spear.

Demi

‘Cause of your shield.

Alex

Yep.

Rexy

Alright, power of 5.

Alex

Seven plus five, 12.

Rexy

Alright, you’re able to fully block it.

Alex

Fuck yeah. Shield bash it in the nose.

Echo

*short laugh*

Rexy

Alright.

Echo

‘Kay.

Rexy

Spotlight opens to the two of you.

Echo

I think Lyra tells Arella to move first, since she is the one without a shield. It’s better for her, if we keep the shield line a bit longer. Once Arella manages to move past our defensive line, then Lyra will move.

Alex

Yeah.

Demi

So is there like an action I need to do to like run?

Rexy

Not really.

Echo

I mean no.

Demi

Okay, so I can’t use Power Tags to get out of here?

Echo

I mean you still can…yeah you can.

Rexy

You can just-

Alex

Run.

Rexy

Say that you’re running.

Echo/Alex

Yeah.

Rexy

And that will change the nature this

Demi

Okay, cool. Then I am running towards the path that I saw.

Alex

I mean if you want an option to fail while running, you can roll.

Echo

*laughs*

Alex

I would just-

Demi

I have lots of Power Tags.

Alex

*laughs* We all have the same number of power tags.

Echo

Yeah.

Demi

I know but I have good getting out of a bad situation.

Echo

That’s true. Mine is more dodge.

Rexy

There’re still useful. The scene is going to continue, it’s going to just change nature.

Echo

Yeah.

Rexy

When you start to run.

Demi

Okay.

Echo

Okay, so…

Connor

Lyra, flashbang again.

Lyra

*chuckles* I mean I can. 

Echo

Okay, yeah, that’s a pretty good idea. We, well…yeah, okay. Let’s go ahead and do another flashbang. ‘Cause I’m assuming they’re all looking at us? Okay, still same tags…

Alex

Weakness…attention is it only once per? Never did finish looking at that.

Echo

Not that one. I’ll use the same tags as last time. Oops, except that time we failed.

Rexy

Oof.

Echo

That was a 4.

Rexy

Oooh.

Alex

Nooo. Shit.

Echo

I tried. Okay.

Demi

Wait, what happened?

Echo

We were gonna try

Alex

Flashbang.

Echo

Yeah, but this time…

Demi

Oh, shoot.

Rexy

Um.

Echo

See this is where things get fun.

What’s your hard move?

Rexy

Yeah, I’m gonna say as you try to flashbang, one of the ones circling around 

Echo

On the side, yeah.

Rexy

It is able to jump in between you and the escape path, blocking you off from -

Demi

Arella.

Rexy

Arella.

Echo

Okay.

Rexy

Directly blocking your escape path.

Connor

Damnit, what was that?

Lyra

I told you I’m not the greatest at using my powers!

Connor

Shields up!

Lyra

Okay.

Echo

‘Kay. She’s like

Lyra

I panicked.

Rexy

With that you hear the other howls getting closer.

Echo

Okay. Cool. Fantastic.

Alex

I use my shield to block off the one I’m currently engaged with.

Rexy

Hm-mm.

Alex

Then I point my spear at the other one and trigger the mechanism to shoot out a bolt between me and…

Demi

Lyra?

Alex

No.

Echo/Demi

Arella/Mine?

Alex

Yeah.

Rexy

Alright. Go ahead and go Toe-to-Toe.

Alex

Basically, a cross-bow spear.

Echo

Nice.

Alex

That will be Shield and Spear, Knack for Battle, Superior Tactics (for surprise element).

Rexy

No, because it’s surrounding you.

Alex

Okay. Military Strategy for surprise element?

Rexy

No.

Alex

Alright. ‘Cause you love me? It’s fine. It’s ten anyways.

Rexy

Alright.

Alex

I’m going to use one to block any damage coming in from the one I’m engaged with and will use the other one to do piercing damage on the other one.

Rexy

Actually you can keep invoking weakness tags.

What was that?

Alex

One to block the one I’m engaged with and one to do piercing damage to the one I shot at.

Rexy

Alright. Damage 2 which gets reduced to zero by its Thick Fur.

Alex

For a distraction element.

Rexy

No.

Alex

Okay. It- it doesn’t turn to look at me, ‘cause I shot it?

Rexy

I mean it looks at you, but it was already looking in your direction.

Alex

I thought it was going after-

Rexy

It was going after Lyra but you’re in the same direction. Alright. Did that to block it. Alright, I pass the Spotlight back to you.

Demi

Arella?

Rexy

To Arella. You are cut off from the two now.

Demi

Sure she definitely wouldn't’ have just run. She would have made sure that they followed. So now, I think…

Alex

Stab it!

Demi

I think she is going to use her Lyche’s Coin for extra luck, Prepared for Camp Struggles, Aware of Monsters and Super Speed to try and get in, stab the one most blocking the exit.

Alex

The one I just shot.

Demi

I didn’t count what I was using.

Rexy

I believe it was four?

Alex

I think so.

Demi

Prepared for Camp Struggles, Tyche’s Coin, Aware of Monsters, Super Speed, yep. So that’s four. I should have stated what I was doing before so you’d know whether my tags were good. But they’re good?

Rexy

Yeah.

Demi

So four tags. That’s a six. Is there any tags on the one that’s blocking the path that I could use towards it? But I guess it doesn’t matter.

Alex

I don’t think so.

Rexy

No.

Alex

 I think that one’s fresh

Demi

But it’s ten, so it doesn’t matter.

Rexy

Yeah. Alright.

Alex

That will hit.

Rexy

Go ahead and choose two of…

Alex

May I suggest block and hit?

Rexy

I suppose you’re really hitting with all you got. So choose two of: Taking Cover (so that you don’t get a status), Get ‘Em Good (for plus 1 tier), control the collateral damage (aren’t really a thing), Hold the Target’s Attention, or Gain the Upper Hand (to gain juice). 

Demi

I would say probably get it’s attention and get ‘em good?

Rexy

Alright.That’s gonna be 5 but it gets reduced by their Thick Fur to 3. So that’s damaged - 3. Now it’s gonna focus its attention on you and give you vicious bite - 4. Face Danger to try to reduce that.

Demi

Okay. I’m going to get, gonna use Super Speed, Aware of Monsters-

Rexy

You can’t use the same tags you used to attack it, since it’s the same action.

Alex

Oh.

Demi

Well, shoot. Then do People Reader (as a gathering of how…expecting what it’s going to do)...

Alex

It’s a hellhound.

Demi

It’s- It’s a…she- it’s- it’s observing. It’s basically knows how…

Rexy

I’ll allow it.

Demi

I don’t think I used Observant in my first one, so I’m gonna use that.

Alex

I believe so.

Demi

Knowledgeable is like how to duck and how to best avoid.

Alex

Were you trained on that?

Demi

She was semi-trained by her friend. Well, she trained herself to be ready for that. So I got…I think that’s the best I got. So I’m gonna do three, four or whatever I got.

Rexy

Face Danger power 3.

Demi

Plus seven, so ten.

Rexy

Alright, so you manage to fully block it.

Echo

Nice.

Demi

Those are all of my good ones.

Alex/Demi

*laughs*

Alex

You gotta be careful.

Rexy

Pass the spotlight to Lyra.

Demi

I guess that would be the best reason to not just use every power tag. Like if Alex got stuck, that would be difficult.

Echo

Okay. 

Demi

I just realized that I need to refer to you as Echo. And you need to refer to me as Demi, as that’s how we introduced ourselves.

Echo

*laughs* Yes.

Okay, so I think hearing Arella’s commotion behind us. Lyra is probably gonna turn her attention to that wolf. Swivel-

Rexy

Yes but that’s the one blocking-

Echo

But that wasn’t the one I was trying to flashbang. The one I was trying to flashbang was the other way. My attention-

Rexy

Oh, that’s true.

Echo

Yeah. The result of me failing to try to flashbang was the one behind where Arella is. So -

Alex

But that one should now be looking at me.

Rexy

That one is now looking at 

Echo

Arella.

Alex

Right, because it tried to bite the shit out of her.

Echo

Right. Since, so since the attention is on Arella, hoping I can give myself a little boost. But…okay, we’re going to try to stab it using Deftness of Feet (to quickly position myself in that way), Immortal’s Legacy (for adept- for my ability of use of sword), Fast Adapter (because things have changed quickly). I’m physically Stronger at Night, so I don’t know if you want to give me that one.

Rexy

Yep.

Echo

Okay, and then since we’ve kind of been battling for quite a bit, our stamina is starting to go down, I was going to invoke I Can Do This All Day which is my increased stamina.

Rexy

Not going to let you use that until a few more rounds.

Echo

Fair enough. Okay, twelve

Rexy

What were you doing?

Echo

I was trying to stab it.

Rexy

Just stab it. Okay, yeah, power of 4, same options.

Echo

Okay. Remind me of them again?

Rexy

Take Cover, Secure Positions (so you don’t get bit), Get ‘em Good (to increase the tier), Hold the Target’s Attention, or get juice.

Echo

I’m gonna say increase the current status. Right? That’s what you said?

Rexy

Yep.

Echo

That one. And then in the process, also taking the defensive stance to better position myself for potential retaliation or another - the third wolf or dog…well, hellhound.

Rexy

So that gashed - 3, gained because that brings that to a gashed - 4. Say you’ve…you hear the howls are very close, you need to get out now or you’ll be run over.

Demi

Is it my spotlight?

Rexy

What?

Demi

Is it my spotlight?

Alex

It’s open to everyone.

Demi

How are they looking again?

Rexy

The one blocking is pretty wounded. You can certainly try to get past it. It’s not dead but it’s taken some pretty decent hits.

Demi

Can I use…I’m trying to pull them out kind of. Like “we gotta go” just kind of call or just pull them and using Tyche’s Coin (for luck), Super Speed, and Prepared for Camp Struggles. Change the Game is what I’m trying to do.

Rexy

I think it’d be Take the Risk.

Demi

Okay.

Rexy

To…

Alex

That’s pretty risky, as we’re both in combat.

Rexy

Go into the circle to try and pull them out.

Demi

I’m-

Rexy

It’s possible physically but-

Demi

I don’t know Take the Risk terrifies me but part of me would rather attack the wolf that’s in their way.

Alex

I would.

Demi

I’ll probably do that instead unless-

Alex

I will do that. I will invoke Shield and Spear, Teamwork (since we have multiple people on it), Knack for Battle, Superior Tactics (for outnumbering it).

Rexy

Okay, this one is surrounded. I’ll allow it.

Alex

Plus five. Any bonuses on it?

Demi

Slashed.

Rexy

No.

Alex

Isn’t that one blinded?

Demi

Gashed?

Rexy

No, that failed. Uh, gashed is contributing to its defeat, so it does not affect rolls.

Demi

Okay.

Alex

It’s a twelve.

Rexy

Alright.

Alex

I’m gonna stab it with the spear. And then-

Demi

Isn’t that dynamite? When you roll 2 6’s? Like a nat 20?

Echo

Dynamite is when you get 12 or higher technically.

Rexy

But is only applicable after a moment of evolution.

Demi

Oh, okay. Sorry.

Echo

[Nice/It’s cool]

Alex

Okay, so I will kill this hellhound.

Rexy

You have power of 4, I believe?

Alex

Well, yeah.

Rexy

You’ve got: take cover, increase the status, hold the target’s attention, or gain juice. You choose 2 of them.

Alex

Well, get ‘em good. That will kill him right?

Rexy

It will increase his status to 5.

Alex

Really?

Echo

We’re almost there.

Rexy

4 Power.

Alex

I thought they already were-

Rexy

The status you’ll be giving is 5 but you also know it’ll be reduced by 2 because of thick fur.

Alex

Okay, I’m gonna get ‘em good plus one.

Demi

With a juice.

Alex

Well, get ‘em good get more of them.

Rexy

You can get ‘em good to change your 4 to a 5.

Echo

And it was a 4 because we did the same tier. And when it’s at the same tier, it increases the tier by one.

Alex/Demi

Okay.

Alex

I’m gonna to gore more of them with my spear-crossbow, as I stab one and shoot the other.

Rexy

I’ll allow it.

Demi

That’s Rexy’s catchphrase for this game. “I’ll allow it.”

Alex

*chuckles*

Rexy

I’ll give…

Echo

Kind of their usual.

Demi

True, but a little more prevalent in this game.

Echo

It’s a little more freeform.

Demi

Hm-mm

Rexy

Then I will let you apply a level 3 to one of them. It’s gonna give you a vicious bite.

Alex

Okay.

Rexy

Of 4. Face Danger.

Alex

I will do Enhanced Conditioning, Provides Cover, used you.

Rexy

Okay, power of 2

Alex

Ewgh…8.

Rexy

Eight, alright you reduce the tier by 1. So you get vicious bite - 3.

Alex

Ow!

Demi

Ouch.

Rexy

You are able to stab it but it gets a solid bite on your hand.

Echo

And which one was that again?

[1:06:05 - remove phone vibration]

Rexy

That was the one that was between you and

Echo

The one that was blocking the way?

Rexy

Yes.

Demi

I don’t like that there’s more hellhounds almost on us. Like I feel like they’re almost on us.

Alex

Probably.

Echo

Probably.

Demi

Okay.

Rexy

What just because every time one of the three of you have taken an action, I said they were getting closer?

Echo

Well, you know, normal progression of time.

Demi

Hm-mm. It’s just unfortunate, since we can’t get out of the freakin’ circle.

Echo

*laughs* ‘Kay. 

Rexy

If you play this wrong, you all will die before reaching Thalia’s tree.

Alex

Yay!

Echo

It’s great. That’s beautiful.

Demi

What a lovely podcast.

Echo

*giggles* So short.

Demi

Short and sweet.

Echo

Very short, okay.

Demi

Also sweet. Short and bitter.

Echo

*nervous laugh*

Rexy

Start episode 2 with “Well, those three died.”

Echo

*More nervous laughter*

Rexy

Now you’re new characters.

Echo

*short hysterical giggle*

Alex

But I like my character.

Demi

Well, you better get out of here.

Echo

Or we just scrap this episode and start over again.

Demi

Fair.

Echo

Okay, I tried…How bad off did we say this one was?

Alex

Very.

Echo

We said very? We said very.

Rexy

You know it has gashed - 4.

Echo

Right, right, right.

Rexy

Three pips.

Echo

Okay. 

Alex

Three what?

Echo

Pips.

Rexy

Yeah, three pips towards upgrading it to-

Echo

It needs one more? I think?

Rexy

Yeah.

Echo

Okay, I’m going to do the same stab move I did last time. I think.

Rexy

It’s been working out real well for y’all to keep stabbing.

Echo

Well, we’re trying. Um, okay.

Demi

Why-

Echo

Eventually! Eventually, it’s going to get to six stab or

Alex

We’re gonna get both bit.

Demi

No, you need-

Echo

No, no, no.

Demi

Need to get out of the circle.

Echo

No, that’s right. Okay.

Demi

I feel like we’re to mad dash it and expect the bite that’s coming.

Echo

Well, there’s that too. Okay.

Alex

‘Cept there’s a lot running at us that are much faster than us.

Echo

Okay, I’m going to try to create an opening and just try to hold this one in place.

Rexy

Alright.

Echo

To give enough of a head’s start. So I think we had 2 last time.

Rexy

Sounds right to me.

Echo

Um, ten.

Rexy

Alright.

Alex

There we go. Now we got two of them down.

Echo

Okay.

Rexy

Go ahead and give it bind - 2?

Echo

Yeah.

Rexy

Alright.

Echo

And with that, Lyra says,

Lyra

Run!

Echo

To the other two. And we’re-

Demi

I haven’t done my spotlight yet right?

Rexy

Correct.

Demi

Okay. Can I do Change the Game and invoke my Always Have a Ride plus others to try and find some like abandoned-

Alex

It’s not just a boulder. It’s rock.

Demi

Some kind of thing that help us retreat like a lost park ranger car or four wheeler kind of thing?

Rexy

Yeah.

Demi

Okay, then I’m gonna use Always Have a Ride, Observant, Enhanced Eyesight, and Prepared for Camp Struggles to try to find us some kind of better way of getting out of here. Since we have a path, a clear path to get out of her. If I had-

Rexy

Probably shouldn’t count that last one, but I will.

Demi

It’s more than just Camp Struggles.

Rexy

Yeah.

Demi

It was just how I worded it. That was an eight plus four.

Rexy

Alright, well, you can create story tag of a -

Alex

Nice looking four-wheeler.

Demi

Something that can hold all three of us.

Rexy

Part of me wants it to - wants to make it what year it was Camaro.

Echo

Oh. *laughs*

Rexy

It magically re-constructed itself and has been sitting for these past what seven years now-

Demi

Are we talking about…

Echo

Smelly Gabe’s? Yeah.

Demi

Yeah.

Echo

Yeah, we are.

Rexy

But yeah, you’re able to find a beat up old pickup truck.

Arella

Okay, does anyone know how to drive?

Alex

Sure!

Echo

No. *nervous giggle* 

Rexy

Can’t be that hard.

Alex

It can’t be that hard. Can I use that as a tag?

Rexy

No.

Echo

The next question is the key in the glove compartment, up under the visor? Or do we have to hot wire this thing?

Demi

It was specifically placed here to give us an advantage, not just a place to hide. It is- She has the power. Like-

Echo

Okay.

Demi

Her Hermes thing

Echo

Uh-huh.

Demi

Is she gets a ride. It is going to be good.

Rexy

There keys are there.

Echo

Well. I can’t think of any tags I can invoke this.

Alex

Stab the current one and run towards the car.

Echo

Okay, well, okay. I guess I can try.

Demi

Arella is gonna point it out. 

Arella

Hey, guys, I found this truck. We gotta get out of here. Does anyone know how to drive?

Echo

Okay, Fast Adapter, Great Reflexes (potentially to like try to work our way out of here).

Rexy

That works.

Echo

Okay.

Rexy

This is

Echo

Two…

Rexy

…definitely Taking the Risk.

Echo

Oh, I know. But we kind of, we need to regardless. Ah, that’s a seven. So we got it but…

Rexy

A twist - a ugly bargain or a hard choice.

Echo

*nervous giggles* It’s me and therefore, I get that face. Oh, no. 

Rexy

You feel a pull at the back of your mind.

Echo

Yeah. A very familiar pull at the back of my mind, yes.

Rexy

Very familiar.

Echo

Hm-mm.

Rexy

You can tell if you let go…

Echo

Hm-mm.

Rexy

You will receive guidance.

Echo

Of course, the first frickin’ episode. That’s…

Rexy

Another three…

Echo

Appear.

Rexy

Now…

Echo

I can see them in the rearview mirror? Okay, this life or death. Lyra’s like “Fine.” I think you know she’s definitely having an internal struggle. But at the same time like what’s even the point if she doesn’t make it out alive anyways so. Why?!

Rexy

It’s the perfect opportunity.

Echo

Rexy!? Why?! Agh! Okay, okay. She thinks back to the voice in her head,

Lyra

Know that I’m not making a habit of this. I have no other choice. So lend me your strength.

Echo

So there you go.

Rexy

With that, the car turns on and-

Demi

Is Connor at the car?

Rexy

Yeah.

Alex

I stabbed at one and ran.

Demi

So we’re all at the car.

Echo

Hm-mm.

Rexy

You-

Connor

Drive, drive, drive!

Rexy

You floor it.

Echo

Uh-huh.

Rexy

And you have…

Echo

Is it-

Rexy

The two of you….

Echo

Is it a limited thing on the one thing we talked about? Or like the full thing?

Rexy

It’s limited.

Echo

Okay, alright, then I’ll describe it, whichever, depending on how much they see.

Rexy

Go ahead and roll Investigate, applying relative tags.

Demi

Relative to what?!

Alex

Relative to what!

Rexy

Well, hang on.

Demi

I started with a mixed success.

Rexy

Well, what do you think might be relevant?

Echo

*quietly laughing* I know, but I’m not going to tell you.

Demi

I don’t know?!

Echo

*trying to hold back laughter*

Demi

People Reader?

Rexy

People Reader.

Demi

Prepared to Camp -

Rexy

Nope

Demi

Str-nope. Aware of Monsters.

Rexy

Nope.

Demi

Knowledgeable.

Rexy

No.

Demi

Observant.

Rexy

Observant.

Alex

Roman Networking.

Demi

I want to grab out Tyche’s Coin. I’m freaking out. I’m going to say Observant and People Reader then.

Rexy

*to Alex* No.

Demi

I can only get up to nine, because I cannot think of anything else.

Alex

I’ve got zero!

Demi

That could possible help with this.

Alex

I don’t know shit.

Rexy

Alright, I’ll leave it up to Lyra to describe.

Echo

Okay, I’m kind of picturing…It’s a pickup truck right?

Demi

Yeah.

Echo

On the bench, we have Lyra in the driver’s seat, Arella’s in the middle, and Connor is on the other side.

Rexy

I don’t know. I kind of like the idea of Connor not even in the cab.

Alex

Oh, yeah, I’m definitely not.

Echo

Okay, he’s in the back.

Rexy

So you - 

Rexy/Echo

See nothing.

Echo

Yeah. Okay, you’re in the cab with me.

Alex

I’m just in the back *miming picking off hellhounds* Doo, doo.

Echo

Lyra has very striking eyes to begin with.

Demi

Are you a silver-eyed warrior or something?

Echo

No. 

Alex

Are you not?

Echo

So thing about Lyra is her hair is purple, because she dyes her hair. It’s a thing with her mom. But she keeps her hair in such a way that usually she hides the color of her eyes because she’s kind of self-conscious of them. And for our dear listeners, just go look up a picture of the star, Rigel, and that’s the color of her eyes. *holds up a picture of said star to Alex and Demi*

Alex

Pretty.

Echo

You notice that they glow, similar to how a star should glow. And up in the hairline, she has a scar that’s covering, but it didn’t blot out a birthmark that is in the middle of her forehead. And this birthmark is glowing. It is a four pointed star like it literally curves. Think a diamond but instead of the straight lines, it curves in a bit.

Demi

Okay.

Echo

And that’s the kind of thing, but it’s also kind of out, glowing in front of her face. Like it’s not apart -

Alex

Like it’s projected?

Echo

Yes. This is, she is clearly under control of something else, but this is what you notice.

Alex

Just a little something..

Demi

I got a mixed success. Is there, is that the info I would get from a mixed success. Or should I as a player-

Echo

That would be just what you notice. Like it’s very… What it means? You wouldn’t understand. You just know-

Demi

So you would say that description is a good mixed success?

Rexy

Yeah.

Demi

Just making sure I don’t need to like filter. Cool, cool.

Arella

Lyra? You doing okay?

Demi

Can she respond?

Rexy

Yeah.

Echo

Yeah, I don’t think her voice changes. I think it’s still her voice. We just said it was guidance more than anything else. 

Rexy

It feels like you just have muscle memory.

Echo

You have the knowledge of…yeah.

Lyra

Uh, yeah.

Arella

You’re a little glowy?

Lyra

*nervous laugh* Yeah…now’s not the time to talk about that.

Echo

She says as she sees the more and more glowing red eyes popping up in the rearview mirror. And then there’s Connor banging on the top of the cab.

Connor

Go, go, go. Back, agh!

Arella

Okay.

Lyra

Talk later. I’m focusing on getting us out of here.

Arella

Okay.

Alex

We do that.

Echo

Lyra is just kind of like… There’s that like normal level of internal panic that usually happens but not to the same degree. Unfortunately, I think that I might be taking a slight hurt on Arella, because I would say the natural creepy aura is probably wafting off of her.

Demi

Oh, I don’t know about that, but I could see it.

Echo

No, but there is a thing that-

Rexy

I think that that is going to give you a hurt, which is up to you-

Echo

To use it.

Demi

Do I mark it?

Echo

No, I mark hurt on her? Basically.

Rexy

Well, its…

Demi

I feel-

Rexy

Are you saying you would mark it for-

Echo

Her for me. Oh, that’s true. So because this is kind of major part of me being under control. It’s like-

Rexy

Yeah.

Echo

A sense of like…feeling if you were facing the abyss directly. That is kind of-

Demi

So do I sense?

Rexy

Not quite.

Echo

Not quite or a waft of something very old.

Demi

Okay, so I’m getting kind of a like-

Rexy

You’re getting-

Echo

Unsettling vibes.

Rexy

Very unsettling vibes.

Demi

So I mark that on my hurt from you?

Echo

Yeah. It’s similar feeling you’d get from dealing with a monster.

Demi

Okay.

Echo

Yeah.

Demi

So do we get out of these woods?

Echo

Well, we’re trying.

Rexy

Yes.

Echo

How fast are we going? Or do I need to keep rolling to see if we keep making progress of things? Or?

Rexy

Yeah, now we get into a chase scene.

Echo

Hoo, boy. Okay.

Alex

I stab at anything that tries to jump at us.

Rexy

Alright, so, we’re now in the truck, traveling along.

Alex

Nice and smooth, country roads, take me to camp.

Rexy

Absolutely, except the opposite.

Alex

Oh, shit. Well, we’re going back to Camp Jupiter!

Echo

Arella’s like “Back? I’ve never been!”

Demi

Camp Jupiter? Well, I guess she would know about that. We just don’t talk about it.

Alex

I am wearing a shirt that says Camp Jupiter on it.

Rexy/Echo

Yeah.

Demi

We would have talked about it. I wouldn’t have talked about it with Matt. But we would have talked about it.

Rexy

He might have mentioned it off-handedly.

Demi

Oh, I guess that’s true. It is his past Gaia war. It would probably have been something brought up. Goodness, I was like creating the character and didn’t even think about all of the wars he would have been through.

Rexy

Yep.

Alex

Mm-hm.

Echo

Mm-hm.

Alex

I’ve been through two.

Demi

Prepared for Camp Struggles is for lots of things because of this.

Echo

*giggles*

Rexy

Yep, in fact many were involved in those two wars. Granted, less of them are still alive.

Echo

Unfortunate. So how do you-

Rexy

So you’re being pursued.

Echo

Um.

Demi

Can I use some of my things to help Leigh but like “Oh, watch out for” or “Oh, take this left here” ‘cause I’m-

Alex

Watch out for that TREE!

Demi

Enhanced Eyesight, Observant, Internal Compass, and continue with Always Has a Ride (just kind of like it has like that like she is good with vehicle stuff)?

Rexy

I’m gonna say no this time, because Lyra’s not so much the one driving.

Demi

So three?

Rexy

Yeah.

Demi

So that’s 6, so nine.

Rexy

Alright.

Demi

I needed that one.

Alex

Is 10 to 12?

Demi

Ten plus.

Alex

Ten plus

Demi

It’s d6’s. If it was just the die, it would be 12. But since we have all the pluses.

Rexy

Probably closest would be

Demi

Can’t it just be Changing the Game and give it the status effect of-?

Rexy

I’ll give you a-

Alex

Helpful

Rexy

Tier three status of-

Demi

Aware of obstacles?

Rexy

Co-pilot.

Demi

Oh, Co-pilot. Okay.

Echo

Unfortunately, I put Shadow Puppet under weakness, so we’ll see how that works out for her. But I’m also getting guidance…so…don’t know how we’re gonna do that. Still Fast Adapter and Great Reflexes are still in play while driving. But what bonus am I getting from…

Rexy

So that’s tier three for status of co-pilot. And we’ll have Shadow Puppet function as a power tag.

Echo

This time, because I willing took it? Then

Rexy

So power 6?

Echo

Okay. Fourteen.

Alex

Okay. That’s pretty good I guess.

Rexy

That would be-

Echo

Hey, one of them was a six on the dice.

Rexy

Okay, so Achieving your goal is going to be not just getting away but creating distance. 

Echo

That’s probably what I’m going for, yeah.

Rexy

You’ll choose that one. Then either give your opponent (the chasing hellhound) a status or not take a negative status.

Alex

Let’s do that one.

Echo

We…eh…

Alex

We don’t like negatives.

Echo

We don’t like negative statuses.

Echo

Um.

Rexy

The negative status: I will allow Connor to Face the Danger, since you’re in the back of the pickup truck.

Echo

Yeah.

Alex

I still don’t want to do it.

Rexy

I’m not saying you should.

Echo

Yeah.

Rexy

Let this happen. Just saying that’s how I’d rule it so you get to decide.

Alex

I mean camp camp.

Rexy

As- as a warning, if you take too many negative statuses, this car will be unusable.

Echo

That’s true. Okay, yeah, okay. I will give an advantage to our defender in the back to- to-

Alex

Which is to not have to roll.

Echo

Not have to roll. Yeah.

Rexy

What an advantage - automatic win.

Echo

Yeah, okay. 

Rexy

Give you one outrunning tag.

Alex

Do the same thing again.

Rexy

Hang on.

Echo

I think we’re gonna have to keep rolling.

Rexy

Will require a- You can all keep repeating this. It seems to probably be the best.

Alex

Probably the best idea.

Echo

Yeah.

Demi

I’m down for that I can roll my thing again.

Rexy
Yes.

Echo

Okay.

Demi

I’m doing all the same things again. So four again.

Rexy/Echo

Yep/Yes.

Demi

Wait, three?

Alex

Four.

Demi

I thought I had four. But I could be wrong. Observant, Advanced Eyesight, and Internal Compass.

Echo

Well, the good news is I got a-

Demi

I think it was 3.

Alex

Was it?

Rexy

You had listed a 4th.

Demi

But I didn’t use it.

Rexy

Yeah.

Alex

Ah.

Echo

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Alex

I thought she said four.

Demi

I did but that is correct. That is what I had. I got the exact same thing. Wait, no.

Alex

Nine.

Demi

I got nine plus three, so-

Alex

No, it’s a six plus th-

Demi

Six plus three. Sorry, sorry, sorry. Nine - mixed success.

Echo

Well, the good news is I rolled a dirty 10.

Alex

Ayy.

Echo

For my driving.

Alex

Failure is TREE!

Echo

Or cliff. Or it could be a cliff.

Alex

I’d rather it not be a cliff in the middle of New York.

Rexy

*laughing*

Demi

I- I think- Are you saying?

Rexy

What are you talking about? The famous cliff off of Long Island Sound.

Alex

Oh, right. Yeah. Like the St. Louis mountain.

Rexy

Yeah.

Alex/Rexy/Echo

*chuckling*

Demi

Are you talking about the failure of my mixed success? It probably was like there was a tree root or something in the road and we took a little bump.

Echo

Bumble?

Demi

With you in the back without a seat belt.

Connor (in another version of the world)

*soft* Ah….Wait. Come back! 

Alex

*loud laugh*

Rexy

Fortunately Change the Game doesn’t actually have a negative for a mixed success.

Echo

Hmm.

Alex

Cool.

Rexy

It just has a better positive for full success.

Demi

Coolio. That’s good for me! And for Connor.

Rexy

Let’s say 5 pips.

Echo

Fair enough.

Connor

Again! Keep going!

Alex

I’m flipping off the hellhounds.

Connor

Keep driving!

Alex/Echo

*laughing*

Demi

You should probably hold on.

Rexy

I mean if you want to give the hellhounds extra encouragement.

Demi

Alright, are we just like-

Alex

Well, I do have Overconfidence.

Demi

Okay, that time I rolled a seven plus three.

Echo

Okay.

Rexy

Ayy. That means you can prolong the effects to make it ongoing. And you don’t have to keep rolling.

Demi

Love that. Let’s keep going with a plus three backseat driver.

Rexy

Co-pilot.

Demi

Co-pilot. Okay.

Echo

Okay. How many bonuses did we say I had again?

Rexy

Um.

Echo

Was it six? Did we say six?

Demi

Six.

Echo

Okay.

Alex

We love six.

Echo

We do because that was a low roll. That’s eleven.

Alex

That’s a pretty good-

Rexy

Solid roll. That’s a get-away safely.

Echo

That’s why I was “Ahhh.”

Demi

Are we having to get to six?

Alex

Five.

Echo

Five. We need 1 more, right? Or two more? Okay.

Demi

We’re trying to get to status…Wait, what are we doing?

Alex

We need to get to five pips of getting away.

Echo/Demi

Okay.

Echo

Thirteen.

Rexy

Alright. You pull ahead safely.

Alex

And?

Echo

Fifteen.

Alex

Heyyy!

Rexy

You are- You no longer manage to see the hellhounds as you pull away from them enough. You are in the clear.

Demi

Can we see the camp? Since we were a half day’s walk and we’re driving.

Echo

Can we- Can we make out Half Blood Hill?

Rexy

You see a lonely pine tree at the top of a hill.

Demi

Is that still there?

Echo

Yes.

Connor

There it is!

Echo/Rexy

Yes.

Echo

And we know-

Connor

We made it!

Rexy

And actually, I suppose before that. You see the 40 foot tall Athena Parthenos.

Players

*laughing*

Echo

Oh, yes.

Rexy

That’s also there.

Echo

That is also there.

Connor

Holy Shit! That thing is big!

Lyra

Strange that Percy and Annabeth decided to leave that particular detail out.

Alex/Rexy

*chuckling*

Arella

Wait, what? Did y’all talk to Percy and Annabeth?

Lyra

Yeah, I did.

Connor

I didn’t.

Echo

Well, technically Connor was there.

Rexy

Well, Connor might have.

Lyra

Well, no, Connor, you introduced me to them, under Praetor Reyna’s orders. So you can always blame her.

Arella

Percy and Annabeth?

Echo

We started in New Rome.

Alex

Oh, yeah. I guess they were in Rome, doing school or whatever.

Lyra

It’s fine. I promised I would Iris Message him when we got to Camp Half Blood. 

Echo

But Ly-

Arella

*gasp* Iris Message? I want to meet Percy!

Echo

Lyra thinks it's an app, but it’s fine. Don’t worry about it.

Alex

*laughs* It’s an app!? It’s actually an app now.

Demi

What?

Echo

No, she installed an app. But it’s fine.

Demi

Demigods can’t use phones I thought.

Alex

No.

Echo

I installed for app for someone but-

Alex

It’s a useless app. Demigods don’t get to use it but -

Echo

It’s fine.

Rexy

It’s for the gods. So…

Echo

Yeah.

Alex

They just make a rainbow on their phone..

Echo

Yeah. Anyways, so Lyra’s like

Lyra

Yeah, I downloaded that app for a goddess. It’s fine.

Echo

Okay, yeah.

Arella

You were talking to a goddess?

Lyra

Yeah, don’t worry about it. *laughs* She did give me a gift. They gave me a gift. Eh…

Rexy

Make a Face Danger roll.

Echo

Thank you. That sounds great. Anything I can add to this? Or like-

Rexy

I don’t think so.

Echo

Okay. Just a straight Face Danger.

Alex

The Athena Parthenos falls on you.

Echo

That’s an eight.

Alex

Good. Solid.

Demi

For no bonuses, yeah.

Rexy

Yeah, I think as long as you didn’t fail.

Echo

Okay.

Rexy

So you get to the hill.

Echo

Mm, mm-hm, mm-hm.

Rexy

You feel a wave of energy pass by. All of you feel this wave of energy.

Demi

Is this going through the shield? As we approach- Sorry, continue.

Rexy

Not like a physical wave of energy. Or, yes, essentially…

Alex

Is it-

Echo

Ah, yes.

Rexy

It’s the Athena Parthenos. I will let you all know it’s the aura you feel - her aura.

Echo

Protective aura, yes.

Connor

Ugh. I’ve always hated the feeling.

Rexy

You feel fully in control of your body.

Echo

Okay, the light fades from both the forehead and eyes.

Alex

Meanwhile, you’re driving now.

Echo

I was always driving. It’s just now-

Rexy

Now it’s a clear hill.

Echo

Okay.

Demi

She’s already got the muscle memory. So now she’s…

Arella

Okay…so…that’s Camp Half Blood.

Lyra

Yes.

Alex

Zoom over the hill into Camp Half Blood.

Echo

How late at night- ‘Cause you said it was night time.

Rexy

Yeah, it’s- it’s like middle of the night. Like 3 am.

Echo

Three am? Okay.

Alex

HONK!

Demi

No.

Rexy

Fortunately Connor isn’t in the cab to make this decision.

Echo

Okay. So I guess we keep going.

Alex

You’re still driving?

Echo

Well…

Rexy

That is up to Arella.

Echo

Lyra keeps driving ‘til she sees the Big House.

Alex

Just driving through camp?!

Echo

Well, I don’t know maybe to the first building. The first building we come to.

Rexy

The Big House is quite visible.

Echo

Yeah.

Rexy

From Half Blood Hill.

Echo

But it’s like too- It’s like the natural- She would pull the truck to the house. Like that seems - her- She’s still thinking in mortal terms like most of the time here. So she’s like “That’s where you park the car, right? Like you park the car next to the house. Like to grandma’s house we go.”

Demi

*giggles*

Rexy

You pull up next to the Big House. You see coming out of the Big House one elderly man in a wheelchair and another portly man beside him.

Echo

Lyra sticks her head out the window and is like

Lyra

Ah, you must be Di-ah-

Echo

Starts to say but then remembers Percy’s words and Annabeth.

Then says, 

Lyra

Mr. D and Chiron?

Rexy

And that’s where we’re gonna end episode one.

[Outro - Pixababy (Summer trip with a guitar)]

Thank you for listening to Episode 1 of Half-Blood Heroics and Hijinks!

Our next episode will be released on June 13th.

Please help us grow a listener base by sharing with your friends, roommates, family members, or just random strangers. I know this gets said a lot on podcasts, But word of mouth really does go a long way.

For now, you can follow us on Instagram @heroicsnhijinks. I’ll be posting there from time to time.

There will be behind the scenes shots, Release updates, and who knows? Maybe the occasional teaser.

Once we have an expanded listener base, I would like to set up a Discord for us too.

This has been Rexy as our Demigod Wrangler, Demi as Arella, Alex as Connor, and Echo Linn as Lyra.

Our intro music is Summer Whistle by Top-Flow-Production

Our outro music is Summer Trip with a Guitar by sweet_kr

And the cover art is by S. Linn

Heroics & Hijikinks is co-produced by me and Leigh Buchholz

And so, for now, we part ways!