The Medusa's Cascade – Details, episodes & analysis

We pick back up with the party as they begin planning for the day. Zechs and Galahad go shopping, and Zechs gets the party an item for communication called “The Spies Murmur.” After returning and giving the items to the group, he informs Galahad and Shanks about his current condition in fighting Malar. He asks for their help in training him to be more efficient in what he excels at and not trying to fit the parts of the group where he feels need covering. Afterward, Shanks informs Arguile that he knows what’s happening with his mom and that while he’s in no place to force him to disclose the information with the rest of the team, he ensures Arguile that he has his back. Arguile confirms the information and lets Shanks know that he has things in motion already and will present them to the group when that is all ready.
The latter half of our story involves Shanks, Greyleaf, Arguile, and Galahad in the courtyard, discussing the methods of extracting the purple worm poison and what they intend to do with it afterward. It’s decided that Galahad, who likely has the most suitable muscle memory for the job, will be tasked with extracting the poison into vials. It is a slow start, as he is a bit more delicate than he knows he needs to be. During this time, Arguile reminds the guys that these are worth a lot in gold and they would be set on selling off most of it, to which Shanks says that he will decide once they’re all extracted what he will do with them. They retrieve 18 vials between the two poison sacs. After this, they notice that quite a crowd has gathered to check out what they are up to. Shanks takes ten vials for himself and splits the other eight into two groups to distribute among the group. As we end, Galahad addresses the group and asks if it would be okay for them to stop off at the Range to visit the Goliath tribe. The group says yes, and they begin to form a plan for the next few legs of their journey. At this point, Arguile informs the group of his need to go to Iwi and his timeline for this to happen. This starts to change their plan, and they spend the rest of the evening making a new plan, which includes the timeline for the rescue of Arguile’s mother in Iwi and stopping Galahad’s father from taking revenge on the Ridge. It seems like the plan is relatively simple: goliaths in the Barrier Range, extract Malar from Zechs in Nymora, head to Iwi to help Arguile rescue his mom, and then go straight over to stop Galahad’s father and the titan he’s currently in possession of. Easy right? There's so much happening, and that's where we pick up… Find out what happens next in this episode of the Medusa’s Cascade: Blood and Booze! Theme Music is written and performed by The Floating Lighthouse Mixed by Thomas Lapierre III Check out the show at themedusascascade.com

Shanks returns triumphant and looks like hell from his battle with the giant purple worm. He and Jrehg share that the tunnels left behind were used in the attempted siege of Drose. After that, they reveal the poison, which they confirm is just as valuable as deadly. After the group begins to disperse, Greyleaf is approached by Arguile regarding helping him with a huge favor. Through a sending stone, Greyleaf sets up a meeting with Arguile and his contact, who is revealed to be Rig. Before they get down to business, Rig and Greyleaf share a warm hug and show a side of both of them; Arguile nor the group indeed had seen while they all traveled together. The conversation picks up with Rig asking if Arguile was one of the ones who defended her, wished her dead, or remained neutral in the skirmish at the Cascade, which seems like a lifetime ago but is entirely unfamiliar to THIS Rig as she is not the same one as the party or Shanks knew. Greyleaf informs her that Arguile was and, from what he knows of him, tends to remain a neutral party in many matters. Knowing this, she proceeds, and Arguile discusses his predicament. He asks if, with or without the party, he can get passage to Iwi to rescue his mother. She agrees and tells him to contact her, and she will appear. They also make notes to say if the party tries anything, they will handle it in their own way. After she leaves, Arguile gives a heartfelt thank you to Greyleaf and hugs him, and he allows himself to break down and cry momentarily. Greyleaf and Shanks discuss toxins, poisons, and the like after breakfast when Greyleaf shares with Shanks a vial that unnerves him. They discuss the implementations and intentions behind what they use these for, which the group has skewed but mixed opinions on. As things settle, a goliath woman embarrassingly asks, “Which of you is from the Gothakanaki clan?” Quickly, she realizes that Galahad is the one she is looking for. After introductions, she tells them she is curious and wants to meet him as she is also a Gothakanaki but has never met him. He explains the history of the goliaths that accidentally found themselves on Granzia from Sloane. After their chat, she invites Galahad to the Barrier Range to meet the rest of his distant family. After a quick discussion, the group decided that that was their next destination. There's so much happening, and that's where we pick up… Find out what happens next in this episode of the Medusa’s Cascade: Blood and Booze! Theme Music is written and performed by The Floating Lighthouse Mixed by Thomas Lapierre III Check out the show at themedusascascade.com

In the northern reaches of Granzia sits a region that is often left to its own devices. Rugged mountains, tundra, and a slumbering ancient white dragon are all features of the Coldbring region.

In the ninth episode of Across the Planes, Tom, Tone (Galahad), and Floki (Redacted) discuss and come up with the lore surrounding the region of Coldbring. Over the course of the conversation, they discuss the culture, religion, industry, and overall vibe of the northern reaches of Granzia.

VO: Antonio Perez, Floki the DM Edited and Mixed by Thomas Lapierre III Check out the show at themedusascascade.com

So with a less than stellar start to their adventure, the party has lost its charge to the enemy they were sent there to defeat. They have managed to get Strahd’s personal journal, the first tarot card. They welcomed a new party member and fought another battle that could have gone better. They have found new weapons, new enemies, and for some, visions and promises of gifts beyond compare. Zechs is elected leader of this rag-tag group and not even a few hours later almost half the party is caught in an explosion. That will remind them to check for traps and not mess with things that aren’t theirs in the future. Right? They have been off to a rough start, to say the least. They arrive at Krezyk where they are told that they can find aid (lodging and information) in exchange for tracking down their wine delivery that has not yet arrived. So, back from where they came, still licking their wounds from that morning, the party travels back to go track down some wine. What could go wrong? Stay tuned for the next part of our Arc Recaps… “The Constable”. Enjoy!

Read by Antonio Perez, Eric Hutchison, and Thomas Lapierre III

Theme Music is written and performed by The Floating Lighthouse

Mixed by Thomas Lapierre III

Check out the show at themedusascascade.com

If you expect the typical band of adventurers turned heroes, you're looking in the wrong place. This group is rough around the edges, each with a motivation that would send most into solitude. The party makes their way out of the Death House, which almost claims the lives of some. They face some complex decisions but show signs of being very skilled. However, they have a long way to go to be a cohesive team. Only time will tell with this party. 

Stay tuned for the next part of our Arc Recaps… “Try, Try Again”

Theme Music is written and performed by The Floating Lighthouse

Mixed by Thomas Lapierre III

Check out the show at themedusascascade.com

9 strangers meet in a mysterious tavern called: The Medusa's Cascade. There, they meet The Journeyman who offers them a job in exchange for gold and helps with some of their personal quests. What's the job? Free a demi-plane of its curse, seems easy enough, right? One would think. The group has a hard time coming together and it nearly costs them… on many occasions. The first major location in this journey reveals just how out of their depth this group may be. Haunted manors, a woman being visited by a powerful dark force, and the internal demons they have to fight as well. 

Welcome to the arc recaps for Collateral Damage. This is not your typical adventure and certainly not your typical group of adventurers. Enjoy the tale.

Theme Music is written and performed by The Floating Lighthouse

Mixed by Thomas Lapierre III

Read by Antonio Perez, Eric Hutchison, and Thomas Lapierre III

Check out the show at themedusascascade.com

We come back to the story still in the bowels of the speakeasy “Twisted Antler”. Sage and Thai are putting more cards on the table with their current “situation”. It seems, however, that their information has some interest to more than the people in that room. Sage finds and dispels the orb that seems to hover closely around Thai. On the other side of the room, Bosco informs The Connusier of his current travels, and while the story seems intriguing there is a desire for more than what the rogue is currently sharing. On both sides of these conversations, they speak about the idea to take down Olmoz and the Infinity Bazaar. Oh, and more importantly Thai is on the lamb and Bosco is to be presumed “dead”. While Chava offers a place of refuge for the group as they are now certain that Olmoz has sent assassins after them. In fact, Olmoz pays Thai a visit in his dream, taunting the always confident Tabaxi. Thai wakes up in a cold sweat and informs Bosco and Sage of what transpired. A messenger delivers to the group a box with five gold coins bearing the mark of the Infinity Bazaar, further driving home the message that they are on Olmoz’s radar. They gather their things, use a psionic link to communicate, and put forth a plan in motion to lure out their would-be killers. Are they in over their heads? Is their plan doomed to fail? There's so much happening and that's where we pick up…

Find out what happens next in this episode of the Medusa’s Cascade: Collateral Damage!

Theme Music is written and performed by The Floating Lighthouse

Mixed by Thomas Lapierre III

Check out the show at themedusascascade.com

We return to the Iwi with Thai, Bosco, and their new ally Sage Sapien. The group makes their way toward MechFall with Sage as their means of transportation. While on this journey Sage gives them what he knows of the Daughters of Creation and the changes that have happened since last he gazed upon these lands. Thai informs Bosco of their time away, the group that he ran with, the man who took him, and his nefarious plan to pull the planes into each other. It’s a city of a more modern age as they find horseless carriages and buildings as tall as the eye can see. They have their sights set on the “Twisted Antler” where the drinks are plenty if you have the currency to pay for them. It’s a speakeasy, not a place you’d find on a map. What is the price for these drinks you may ask? Information of course. You just need to ask about the Elvish Rum. Chava gives Thai a hard time for leaving without so much as a goodbye. After pleasantries are exchanged Thai and Sage let them in on what they’ve been up to and ask them for the utmost discretion. On the other side of the room, Bosco catches up with his old pal The Connoisseur who introduces Bosco to a fiery new blend he acquired. There’s a lot of information floating around as are the drinks. Let’s hope for their sake, the booze is worth the price. 

There's so much happening and that's where we pick up…

Find out what happens next in this episode of the Medusa’s Cascade: Collateral Damage!

Theme Music is written and performed by The Floating Lighthouse

Mixed by Thomas Lapierre III

Check out the show at themedusascascade.com

Last time, we found ourselves with the team giving the Stone of Revival to Amina. In this exchange, she reminds them that she also asked them to help aid Quon and his people in the Glasmeda Isles. It’s also determined that Hoshino is not cursed, well not in the sense that can be removed via the Remove Curse spell. While this brings a sense of relief to the party it also results in them having more questions for their new ally. Salix is told that their hut is still intact and the party agrees to stop and visit it on their way up north. Amina lets Zechs know that Nymora is safe and they are sent back to see just that. The wreckage of the machines that Arguile and Shanks saw is nowhere to be found.

Meanwhile, we return to the gem heist job with Thai, Bosco, Morz… and an EMERALD DRAGON! It looked like quite a grim situation as the team tries their best to escape from the dragon's fury. Eventually, the dragon’s breath weapon deals a massive hit of psychic damage to Bosco and Thai and the dragon eventually gets a hold of Morz who is torn into. Thai and Bosco attempt to free Morz with force but the dragon doesn’t seem to want to relinquish their quarry. Reading the situation Thai makes an effort to plead with the dragon for their lives. A badly injured Morz is put down but kept close as Bosco and Thai begin their negotiations. Eventually, they make allies with the dragon who they name Sage. They agree to go after Olmoz and the Inifinity Bazaar.

Find out what happens next in this episode of the Medusa’s Cascade: Collateral Damage!

Theme Music is written and performed by The Floating Lighthouse

Mixed by Thomas Lapierre III

Check out the show at themedusascascade.com

After the defeat of the Web of Fate, Salix brings Duo back from Granzia where he was banished. The stone had taken hold of Duo and he was not willing to give up the stone. He even went so far as to tell Zechs that if the party planned on taking it from him, he would leave the group, forever. An attempt was made to command Duo to drop the stone, but the spell Galahad cast was not strong enough to separate the magic of the stone from Duo. Shanks took a calculated shot, managing to release the stone from Duo as Galahad quickly grabbed it and placed it into the haversack. Just as things seemed to settle down, a mysterious figure emerges from underneath the Shrine of Fate. A man named Hoshino, a victim of the Web, is met by the party and is thousands of years removed from when he came. There are spoils, revelry, some discussion about the city’s future, and conversation about what the party has been feeling. The party lets Hoshino know that he can join them on their journey and help connect any missing pieces from his memories. Voyas departs from the party in the morning leaving with her ally from the monastery where she studied. It’s the dawn of a new day and the party is preparing to head back to the Heartwood to deliver the stone to Amina.

There's so much happening and that's where we pick up…

Find out what happens next in this episode of the Medusa’s Cascade: Collateral Damage!

Theme Music is written and performed by The Floating Lighthouse

Mixed by Thomas Lapierre III

Check out the show at themedusascascade.com