Episode 2 - Dungeons & Randy

Recap
The team were on the sparrow on their way to Liik's Garden to find Randy Domino, one of the first Greeders and the one who may be able to translate the journal they found in the first grand treasure. While flying, they saw the jungle on fire and they worked together to extinguish it. They fought two ant people one of which had a blue flower tattoo. After defeating them, they were helped by small forest spirits called chwingas who lead them to Randy's cave.

Episode Summary
Randy looks at the very non-menacing team at the entrance way and is particularly spooked by Zippy who he refers to as Coco. Norman asks Zippy if he knows why he is afraid of him. Zippy speculates it's because he is worried he will cook Zippy on accident. After some speculations of how a lapine tastes and cannibalism by the team, Randy throws his oven mitt across the room. Norman and Dariun see it and dive out of the way while it socks Zippy in the gut and he goes bouncing out the cave. Norman raises his hands and steps forwards and calls out to Randy, telling him Gilbert, a mutual acquaintance, sent them here.

Randy is still very hesitant to hear them and is very suspicious of Zippy. Dariun and Norman both try to explain that he is not Coco and they were sent by Gilbert. Randy asks which Gilbert and after forgetting for a moment, they recall his last name as Bernstein. When Randy asks how they know Gilbert Dariun describes him as a friend and a mentor. Norman continues and say they are hunting for treasures and lets him know Gilbert passed away. Randy is sad but knows is the way of humans and doesn't dwell on it.

Norman speaks about Randy being a bard and the wealth of knowledge he must have so asks if Randy can translate the journal. Dariun asks if they can first check on Zippy who did not reply when he called out. Zippy rallies as many animals and creatures to follow him. Some lizards, a vine wolf, tiny ostrich like birds, some small dinosaurs and some fish that Zippy are holding. They all follow Zippy into the cave on his command. When they all come in, Zippy tells Randy he has all these meal choices other than him. Some of them start slowly backing out and run away.

Randy again calls Zippy Coco and asks why he is back. When Zippy finally catches on he is calling him Coco and not referring to him as a spice, he ushers the animals away and tells them to guard the entrance. Norman pulls out a pen and writes coco with a question mark on his arm under his tomato soup recipe. Randy hears Zippy speak and can tell he does not have the same voice as Coco. Randy apologizes for calling Zippy Coco saying he looks exactly like him. He gets on all fours and looks at Zippy real close. Zippy grabs his nose.

Randy tells them he doesn't know if Coco is dead or alive but he did say that Coco would kill him is he ever saw him again. Randy stands up and Zippy remains holding onto his nose. Zippy asks to be put on Randy's head and he obliges. Randy tells the team he will hear them out and he puts his hand out for them to climb on. Dariun asks what he did to piss off Coco but Randy tells them nothing, Coco had said that to all the Greeders when he left. Dariun and Norman on the hand then are placed on the table.

Randy asks for some clarification about Gilbert. Dariun explains they partnered with Gilbert to hunt for grand treasures and he told them of Randy who could translate the old language in the book. When Dariun asks his age, Randy can't really remember and says he has been time travelling and time is strange. Dariun latches onto the time travel and Randy explains it's only forwards. Randy tells them that he has seen a few Greeders come to him and all the ones he sees he tells them to give it up.

Dariun says he would take this into consideration but would still like help with the journal. Randy goes on about how the Greeders are all the same and don't ever give anything in return for the help he gives after he had found a grand treasure. Norman jumps in and asks what one he found. Randy is taken aback, asking if they know who he even is. Norman breaks the news that through the passage of time, no one really knows the story of Randy Domino and they only heard about him through Gilbert. Dariun continues and says people know about the team but not really about him specifically. Zippy tells them it's all about Felix now. Randy is pretty bummed saying he is the one who even came up with the Greeders name.

Norman goes on and says they only heard about Coco through Kendula and Odin. Zippy asks how he came up with the Greeders name and he explains it all just came together. Zippy tells him with how lame Randy's group was, he has hope for them. Randy looks sad and puts Zippy on the table. He gets up, saying he is just a hasbeen now. Randy is pretty upset, saying they probably haven't seen the world like he has and have no idea about the grand treasures. Norman guarantees that he does not know everything and can bet that he hasn't been to places they have. Randy is starting to get mad and says he won't work with people who don't know anything and Norman steps forwards offering a wager. If they know something he doesn't Randy will help them. Randy gets to his level and they have a bardic battle.

Randy admits he knew everything Norman said but was pretty happy with the song. Norman asks again if Randy would translate the book. Randy comes around and sits on a chair. Dariun explains they went into the first grand treasure and Randy asks how far forwards did they skip. The team explain they went forwards a couple months and made a companion of a hawkfox they named Pepper. Randy tells them they killed the basalisk and Dariun tells them there was another body of a monk. Randy tells them Nigh Gambera, the monk from their squad. He tells them Nigh went back to the first grand treasure as he wanted to die there. Dariun explains this is where they found the book.

Randy grabs the book, placing it in between his giant fingers. Randy reaches into is large backpack that shouts backpack when opened and pulls out a small scroll. He unfurls it and puts the book on it and says grow as enlarge is cast on the book making it large enough to read. Randy tells them Nigh must have kept a journal of their adventures. When Dariun asks what language the journal is in, Randy tells them he doesn't know but the pictures are nice. Randy explains its Nigh's own secret language but Nigh has just written down chronicles of their adventures judging by the images. He recalls the time he rode into Aurum on a donkey backwards blindfolded which is illegal in Aurum.

Dariun asks fs Randy has always been this size but he informs them he was once a normal sized dragon born. Randy tells them he grew up in Midway and all the members of the first Greeders didn't know what they were searching for with clues and remanences of the grand treasures but eventually all of their goals aligned. Dariun asks how they all knew about the grand treasures and if it was Salem who made a declaration but it was the first Greeders who went around and told people. That put everyone in the know and after that people started looking. Dariun asks how the story of Salem was learnt if no one knew of these grand treasures before the first Greeders.

Randy explains he grew up in Midway which is between planes and built in the carcass of the beast of creation Primera who was the first ever dragon. The town built in within the bones of the beast and as a descendent of Primera, being a dragon born, he wanted to become a real dragon. Randy kept looking for a way to become one which lead him to the symbols of Salem. He found others who also found symbols so they all put the info together and cracked the code. The team learnt about Salem through the warlock on the first Greeders, Cav Shedary. She was a centaur but turned her back on the team. Cav was connected to Turi and Turi told them all about Salem and the grand treasures. Randy continues and tells them that the grand treasures are connected to the gods.

The twelve of them on the team including a sorcerer, cleric, fighter, bard, monk, barbarian, paladin, warlock, wizard, druid, rogue and ranger who all came together and cracked the code to the cube. Dariun jumps back and asks is Cav was a tether or was Turi her patron. Randy says they were a tether, saying most warlocks have sort of tethers but are not real ones. He goes on to say lots of tethers are basically warlocks. Randy says that she is long gone and back stabbed the team.

When they were dividing up the treasure, Coco, the rogue, noticed Baby Beak Nelson, the rogue kenku and Cav were trying to sneak away. When they were confronted, they tried to escape and lock the others in the cube. Cav died when she tried to use the real grand treasure but Nelson got away with it. They spent two days in the cube but when they came out, years had passed. Dariun asks about the real treasure and Randy reminds them of Felix who he heard had it last. Norman recalls that grand treasures seem to have one true treasure that is masked underneath others.

Dariun asks what the coin does and Randy explains it is dangerous and powerful. Before it is flipped, you call heads what you want to happen and tails is the payment for it. When Cav flipped it, she wanted to kill Fen Rise, the sorcerer, but the tails was her own life. Randy is unsure how Felix got it from Baby Beak Nelson or Coco as last Randy saw Coco 300 years ago, he was hunting it down. After they found the first grand treasure they all went their separate ways.

Randy tells them he always thought he was close to Coco but he was distant and once said he felt he was being drawn to somewhere out of reach. Randy goes on and says Coco was mad and felt cheated. Dariun asks if all of his team are gone and Randy tells him that Hank and Yuri, barbarian and paladin respectively. are likely dead but the only one who may be kicking still is prince Verulious Arozar House of Dumas. The team recall the name Dumas, the mercenary Alexandre Dumas who was from Jadu. Randy tells them he always wanted his own magic city and found a way to make a flying one. He also speculates Plenty, the tortle druid, may also be alive.

Norman asks if he has seen anything like this and he pulls out the piano key. Randy is impressed, saying they must be the real deal. Randy explains he has seen many different keys to grand treasures of different shapes and sizes around the place. Norman tells them all he has a piano key waiting for him in the Deep. He says they would talk about this later but asks Randy where they may find another. Randy isn't so sure he can help seen as they are already on the way nut Norman says they would like his help.

Randy tells them finding the first part of the treasure is the hardest but after that it’s easy. However, the place you have to go to figure out the rest is difficult to get to. Randy tells them they need to go up there. He grabs some gloves from his backpack and he molds the earth above his head and opens the cave up and points to the moon.

They learn from Randy that the way to find where the other clues are is on the moon. Norman asks about the moon island which an ant person said was their home today. Randy tells them no one lives on the moon island but conveniently, that's where they need to go to get to the moon. Zippy asks about if they can even survive on the moon and Randy tells them there are bubbles on the moon and last time they were there they used bubble bugs to breath.

Norman asks about the meeting with the top ten Greeders which will be on the night of the second moon and Randy isn't too sure if it is on this plane and could be on one of those eggshells up there. Randy tells them they are getting a little ahead of themselves and that he will be joining their team. They are all a little confused as to why and he tells them it's out of sincerity and kindness of his own heart but he does need a favor from them in exchange for all this information. Zippy tells him to tell them the favor before they accept as people like to use their group.

Randy says he was withholding some information which is how to get there but for him to help them, they need to help him. He explains he can't leave the cave due to shame as he has no fire. Randy got his fire sucked out of him in Tikul, the city down the river. He tells them his dream of being a dragon and that he needs the fire to be one. Randy needs them to get the fire that was taken from him. If they can, he will be able to take them to the moon himself.

Team 8 have a huddle and Norman feels they don't have much choice. Zippy feels they could do it themselves and wonders why Coco wanted to kill him and if it is for more reasons he is letting on. Dariun suggests they ask him more questions to help them trust him more. Norman speaks about the elephant in the room which is the size of Randy which is going to be too big for the airship. Randy overhears this and tells them he can be a remote member. Dariun asks why Coco wanted to kill Randy. Randy admits that the accidentally broke his bow. Zippy remembers the bow and how people in the Bramble Patch talk about to this day. Dariun thanks Randy for his honestly and goes back to the huddle as Randy packs his bag.

They keep discussing and Norman thinks they should do what Randy is asking and Dariun feels having someone around who knows a lot about the grand treasures would be a benefit. They all end up agreeing to help Randy get his fire from Tikul. Randy tells them to take the river down and he will wait in the cave. Randy explains they should go to the coliseum and compete in the tournament. If they can win, they will meet the king and can find the tether to Genala. The fire is either with king Veal who took the it or with the tether to Genala.

Dariun asks if he has a small boat they can use and surprisingly he does. Randy goes to his backpack and pull out a raft which is a few logs tied together with a small sail. Randy explains they need to follow the river and down the waterfall is the large city. They all leave the cave and Randy places the boat on the river. They all jump on and say goodbye to Randy as they ride the raft. Dariun radios to James and instructs him to bring the ship closer to Tikul in case something happens.

They ride down the fast moving river and it starts turning into rapids. As the river gets more wild, Zippy lays down flat to spread his body weight, Norman balances and Dariun tries to guide the boat down but, the rapids are too intense and some ropes start to snap. The logs start to separate and Zippys can look through to the water. They start to hear some rustling in the jungle and a giant centipede comes flying out and jumps over them, across the river. They see a cicada person riding the centipede with a wide brimmed hat covered in vines that hides it's face. They also see on their hand is a blue flower. The pair of attackers veer towards them, ready to attack the boat.

Norman uses his shadow of the ant person and becomes them, yelling out to the cicada person that these guys are with him. Dariun grabs his wand of webs and throws it out to make a trap between two trees for the centipede to run into. Zippy mends the boat below him and it comes back together. The centipede turns and the cicada veers away when they see Norman and get hit with the webs. They fall to the side and fall behind the team as they continue down the river. The centipede keeps running trying to catch up.

Dariun pulls out the wind fan to give the boat a boost down the river and Norman casts phantasmal killer on the centipede. Zippy pushes Dariun out of the way and raises his hand up. He casts control water and uses flood to allow for them to move forwards on the wave and separate them from the centipede. The centipede sees the water in front of them morph into a giant snake from Norman's spell and they run away frightened as the boat goes flying forwards with great speed.

They come into a very viney part of the river which has calmed down. It's a very dense area and there is a curtain of vines which they part with their ores. They enter a large lake space that is pretty much enclosed in a giants tent of vines. The area is filled with hanging vines and tree roots that make bridges going in and out of the water. They hear some noise and when they look up, they see some of the hanging vines have bulges in them resembling humanoid shaped cocoons. In the top are blue like tendrils monsters coming down with the vines.

The tendrils notice the waves as the group comes in and some of them come shooting down at the team. Norman dodges out of the way as Dariun pulls out his dancing blade and throws it up a tendril to deflect it out of the way. Zippy keeps controlling the water to keep them moving. The tendril screams and just misses the raft. The other tendrils hear this and start trying to attack the noise and a storm of these blue vine tentacles come flying down.

Dariun casts pass without a trace and Norman becomes completely silent and still. Zippy casts giant insect on a spider he sees and tells it to go nuts. They try to be quiet as they see the giant spider fall into the water and flail as the blue tendrils attack it. They see the spider becomes entangled and is being dragged into the tree tops and into the vines. The tendrils are still coming towards them and pierce into the boat.

They start to hear rustling and barrelling in through the vines is the giant centipede with the cicada rider. The wisps start attacking the duo. The centipede gets dragged up into the roots and the cicada person tries to remain silent. The wisps stop moving after taking the centipede. The cicada looks at them and they look at the cicada. The cicada pulls out a dagger throws it to the team to make noise.

Norman casts darkness around the raft, Dariun pulls out his sword to reflect the dagger and Zippy summons a regular eagle in front of Dariun's face. The eagle takes the dagger to the heart and squawks. Two of the blue wisps come at the boat and break it apart even more. The cicada runs down the side and jumps on the raft with them. They look at the ropes holding together the raft then back at the team.

Dariun casts Zephyr's strike and slashes at the cicada. Zippy uses mend on the raft and Norman uses minor illusion to create the sound of coughing at the cicada. Dariun's blade clashes with the cicada and the wisps start flying towards them but Norman's cough noise pin points the noise on the cicada and it gets obliterated by the wisps. The hat they wore goes flying off and Dariun catches it as they float out of the other end of the lake.

The float on down and the dense jungle opens up and comes to a waterfall. Norman and Dariun row towards the side to get to land before going over the waterfall and Zippy sits and watches. They get to land and they look out over the waterfall and sees the large city of Tikul.

Quotations

 * Zippy "I knew it, I'm the tastiest of them all."


 * Zippy "I don't lie! I just trick people!"


 * Norman "Sounds like were about to have a bardic battle…"


 * Norman (You'll never really know) "There's a tale that I recently heard, I learned it in a place it burns. Before there were treasures to find, someone threw a feast for the gods one time."


 * Jacob "Why don’t we just like produce songs instead of rolling, it's way more effective!"


 * Randy "I've learned, never cross a lapine."
 * Dariun "I think we've all learnt that…"
 * Zippy "Exactly."


 * Zippy "Tell us the favour and then we'll do a team huddle cause people like to use us and I don't like that."


 * Zippy "I don't know Dariun, knowledge can be a curse sometimes."


 * Randy "What's a bard without their fire, without their soul!"

Main Cast

 * Norman D
 * Dariun Branch
 * Zippy Westborrough

Returning Characters

 * Randy Domino
 * James

New Characters

 * Nigh Gambera (mentioned - monk in the first grand treasure Greeders group)
 * Primera (mentioned - beast of creation, first dragon)
 * Cav Shedary (mentioned - warlock in the first grand treasure Greeders group)
 * Baby Beak Nelson (mentioned - rogue in the first grand treasure Greeders group)
 * Prince Verulious Arozar House of Dumas (mentioned - wizard in the first grand treasure Greeders group)
 * Hank (mentioned - barbarian in the first grand treasure Greeders group)
 * Yuri (mentioned - paladin in the first grand treasure Greeders group)
 * Plenty (mentioned - druid in the first grand treasure Greeders group)

Locations

 * Randy's Cave
 * Liik's Garden

Music

 * You'll never really know played at 31:49

Episode Tidbits

 * It is illegal in Aurum to ride on a donkey backwards while blindfolded