The Toad and the Tower | Altheya: The Dragon Empire #8 

A lot of good moments in this episode. Chat was pointing out how the party was unknowingly breaking every single rule about dealing with Fae (giving their names, accepting food and hospitality). A lot of PRAISE THE CLEVER TOAD. One of my favorite lines was from the donation messages: "If Toms character creation habits keep escalating like this, his next Campaign 4 character will start the game dead."

Gruff: Why are you all asking me for permission? Cus you're the parties Dad, that's why xD

ALL PRAISE THE CLEVER TOAD

I can just picture in like thirty episodes time, Tom going full Zenigata when Zim Zam makes an appearance, screaming his name at full volume

I wonder if the toad is clever enough to know what school of magic you'd need to make a fridge?

Spoilers . . . . . . The shift in Mark's tone, the hold person DC23, followed by Xan being called "an anathema of light, freedom, and life" was one of the most metal things I've heard from Mark. And that's SAYING something given the number of years I've been following this man's DMing prowess. Bravo to the performance, did a fantastic job selling how scary it is, and TOM WHAT DID YOU DO TO YOUR POOR BOI (loving this mystery so much Tom ❤ can't wait to see more)

Still can't believe how this has grown since lightfall. My absolute favourite DM and cast. Mark is an absolute inspiration and he's blessed with such amazing players too. Can't wait to see how the show continues to grow ❤️

0:35 No Rhiannon :( 1:03 Tom's birthday ❤ 1:38 a great Tom noise 3:17 recap 4:40 Kobold lore 5:40 They don't know which Kobolds have name 6:00 CD rolls (Crucible Dice) 7:00 3-2 (No Rhi, No dice) 7:25 Clever Toad Description 8:45 They're staying at the Toad! 9:10 Rowan approaches the Toad and the teenagers 10:50 Rowan uses the Toad 13:13 Rowan gets some change !13:39 "I believe in happiness" 14:12 This universe has BRONZE coins 14:26 Rowan activates the Toad 15:15 Xantheus tries to talk some sense. He does it himself. 17:25 Xan wants to go to the Ravenstar spire 18:41 One last fortune! 20:35 Mark excuses Ophelia for this session 21:05 Cut to Gruff and Daisy 22:25 Daisy people watches the plaza - 23:26 Azar Step has dinosaur caravans 24:44 Gruff visits the high-end armory (Dante's) 26:40 Gruff has heard of Dante! 27:58 Cutback to Rowan + Xan evaluating the Clever Toad 29:06 Ravenstar Spire outside Description 32:30 Rowan looks for the "Maiden of the Spire" 33:48 Perception checks on the Tower (Birthday luck!) 34:26 Rowan hears a mystical song in the tower stone 36:37 Xan is being watched. Tower unlocked! 37:55 Xan and Rowan consolidate info about the tower 39:00 Door description 39:27 Xan/Tom is beginning to believe in the Toad !40:23 Tower has no shadow. Rowan and Xan become believers in the Toad 41:26 They excitedly say everything to Gruff and Daisy -41:57 Unintelligible -42:21 The Clever Toad Inn -43:00 The Toad's prophecies -43:55 The Ravenspire Tower 45:01 Daisy & Gruff's response !45:24 The Toad is blasphemous? 46:21 Gruff's prophecy !46:57 Ophelia is getting day drunk (repenting) 48:09 Tom disgusted by the Toad retrospectively 49:20 Gruff is staying at the Grumpy Hog 50:05 Discussing which of the Inns they will stay in 52:10 Nim knows what's up with the tower (Also comments on the toad) 54:21 Daisy likes the Toad 54:45 Rowan tells Ophelia everything (she stays in the Grumpy Hog) 55:47 Episode title: The Tower and the Toad" 56:10 They head to the Clever Toad 57:19 Rowan shows Daisy the Toad 58:00 Clever Toad Rates !58:46 Tom Mark and Trott cheekily remark about the housing market 59:18 They buy the room 59:56 Xan asks the kobold (later revealed as TarikTarik) about the toad !1:00:52 Noise IRL = Noise in game 1:01:12 Kobold talks rumors about the Ravenstar Spire !1:02:40 TarikTarik's son monkaS 1:03:29 TOAD SQUAD TOADING IT UP !!!1:03:53 Mark sighs LMAO (Prophecy 1) 1:04:37 Prophecy 2 1:05:28 Gruff is a disappointed dad (but lets his kids have fun) 1:06:00 Gruff cannot be convinced by the blasphemous toad 1:06:59 Gruff does it to appease Rowan 1:08:09 Daisy and Gruff roll to understand the Toad !1:09:56 The box is made by Z.Z.Z BABYYY 1:12:20 They will leave the Toad 1:12:46 They learn about the Oracle (Imperial Flame) from Jenny 1:16:54 Gruff discusses the Dragon Empress with Jenny 1:18:42 Gruff warns of the Imperial Flame !1:19:45 Rowan still believes in the Toad 1:20:30 Gruff tries to impart some fatherly wisdom 1:21:08 The Ravenstar Spire 1:22:35 Wisdom saving throw (INSANE difficulty check). Party dismisses the door 1:24:36 Xan touches the door. monkaS 1:25:04 Part 1 recap 1:26:12 Inside the tower description 1:28:55 Xan meets and talks with the mysterious Elf(?) of the spire 1:31:37 Xan is very cautious 1:33:05 Where are we?? !1:33:45 *Blackwing* and his true name 1:34:56 Why is Xan here? 1:36:54 What does Blackwing know about Altheya? 1:37:51 Trust.. 1:38:54 Blackwing's true form explained 1:42:28 Who does Xan trust? 1:42:44 Blackwing wants to see Xantheus' secret 1:43:58 Blackwing's door and their reason to hide 1:45:04 Tom is part "Elvari" 1:45:50 The Elves' escape & the fae wild lore 1:47:16 The stone is from the Fae Wild, Blackwing is *OLD* 1:48:14 No return for the elves 1:48:33 Tom makes a deal with Blackwing 1:49:56 The other members will be let in 1:50:40 Xan wants to show his problem first 1:52:05 Blackwing looks at Xantheus... !! 1:53:15 What. The. Fuck..! (CD used, 2-3) (funnily enough, DC is 23) 1:54:11 Blackwing's reaction 1:54:42 Xan's response 1:55:25 Blackwing pities. They wish to help 1:57:45 Blackwing's threat. A promise. (ft. ANATHEMA OF LIGHT line) 1:58:53 Tom tries to understand 1:59:55 Door is given back 2:00:52 Xan and Blackwing's closing remarks 2:01:55 Xantheus gives his name to Blackwing 2:02:25 Xan leaves. Party reacts to his disappearance 2:03:25 Gruff tries to climb this tower !2:04:02 Rowan and Daisy try to decipher the Clever Toad's prophecy 2:05:12 Xantheus reappears, everyone is relieved 2:06:03 The door appears for the rest, Xan explains 2:07:14 Xan reacts to his party's concern 2:07:55 Gruff sees a raven from the tower 2:08:57 Is Rowan sus? 2:10:30 Gruff points out the Raven !2:11:07. Gruff could've climbed that 👍 2:11:45 Gruff has teleport sickness !2:12:10 Xantheus reacts to what it looked like (PRAISE THE TOAD) 2:12:27 All of the party enters the tower 2:14:01 Nim reacts to Blackwing. Trustworthy, but tricky. 2:15:10 Blackwing notices something about Daisy 2:15:34 Blackwing introduces himself to everyone 2:15:50 Rowan introduces the party 2:16:11 Blackwing asks Daisy something 2:17:19 Blackwing talks to... Daisy..? 2:18:08 Blackwing provides food 2:19:12 Blackwing explains their services and payments 2:20:10 Rowan asks about Xan 2:20:53 Blackwing reacts.. sadly to Rowan and his lute 2:21:41 Blackwing talks to Sostenuto 2:22:05 Blackwing plays a lament 2:24:41 Blackwing talks with Gruff about birds 2:27:07 a gift to Gruff 2:28:21 Blackwing talks about his relationship with the Duke 2:29:46 Blackwing recommends a home - !2:30:22 Trott wants a taller tower 2:30:48 Blackwing talks to *Daisy* this time !2:31:19 Nim gives his thoughts on Blackwing again, and a lovely message to daisy

I’m just waiting for the Zim Zam Zimbalor cameo and the bird man who’s hunting him down.

I couldn’t imagine beeing dragged so deep into a world and a group of characters before watching this campaign. It’s wholesome. Thanks for this

2:45:54 Love how Mark almost tripped himself up on the "healing slav" and then made the mental decision a few seconds later to just say "Heck with it" and commit to the bit :D

Mark was worried about annoying experts by mixing frog and toad. I think Fan-phibians is the best term for these kind of people

The way Mark creates a world that is so intrinsically magical is so inspiring! Can't wait to see what this mysterous fey patron has in mind for our heroes going forward.

Was totally expecting someone to say "there are four lights!" When they were working with the tower door

53:40 : Looking forward to the party running into a Slaad or Hezrou and going "ah, magic toad!" :D

57:42 When the DM regrets putting something in the game? 😆love it!

Mark's world building never ceases to amaze me

Awesome episode! Mark's narration of Blackwing's scenes was captivating, felt very much like a Lord of the Rings moment. I wonder if he is immediately regretting putting the Clever Toad in there, you know the PCs are just going to pull the lever to get a prophecy out of the DM all the time XD. Mark clearly put some incredible planning into this city setting; feels like a hub location where the PCs are going to have many things to explore and follow up on for the next several sessions (or not, since that's how D&D goes, lol).

I am very impressed (and surprised, which I welcome!) by Mark's portrayal/ worldbuilding of Elven culture.

Ok. I can't resist any longer. Praise the Toad!

What a great episode! Freaking sidebar with Mark and Tom was phenomenal. Like a freakin movie scene. Love you all!❤

Xantheus has what seems almost like the Dark Urge, in Larian's BG3, just as Z.Z.Z is like ZimZamZalabin from their Original Sin game.

Holy cow, an actually impressive elf 😮 👏👏

Yo if Tom just straight up has a baby Hadar growing inside him reborn anew haha

love yall 💜 thanks for keeping me company during a really hectic work week

Zim Zam is hiding out as a Cookie Maker that goes by the name of Tim Tam.

what a fluffin episode!!!! great work all!

Oh man Mark your old woman voice took me back to Trellimar granny. Good times 😂

AMAZING episode funny and serious moments i enjoyed it a lot

Zim Zam secret quest unlocked.

Zim Zam! The scam, the myth, the legend.

PRAISE THE TOAD 🙏

Ree take care. I know how hard new baby is, but its a fun time too.

Hulmes delivered: Z.Z.Z. !!!!!

First time watching and not just podcasting in quite some time. Mr Trott, are you the being responsible for the lighting? And do you save the lighting for the scene so you can come back to it? Either way, the tower scene, amazing.

Zim Zam is the Hoid of Highrollers lol

2:48:13 master braider hehehe

"I'll sleep when I fuckin want!" it's me, I'm in campaign three it's me. Folks: brilliant episode, holy shit.

Seems like the spire has a perception filter, like the T.A.R.D.I.S.

Good job 👍

DC 23 "this is beyond my power"

Thank you

i love this all so much

Fabulous fun frog,

I was definitely getting Howl's Moving Castle vibes from the whole spire interaction

1:08:58 - Zim Zam Zambalor? Would not be surprised... 1:10:16 - and THERE it is...

At this point we need z.z.z. To be put into idle champions. Maybe as a patron but those are usually forgotten realms characters. Witch is exactly where he is from.

Is this a reupload or did I have a prophetic vision of a future upload of a past recording?

Spoilers for events at pretty much the end of the episode: Blackwing is fucking awesome, I'm not sure I've ever seen a powerful Fey played so well. I loved every bit, the glimpse through the illusion, the effortless menace simply by letting Xan in and then removing the door, saying nothing threatening but so clearly placing him in their power. Offering boons and food freely, asking formless favours in return, speaking of names and monikers, life and death and the unseelie - so incredibly Fey. And holy shit, when they noticed Nim and Nim was like "I don't know if they can hear me, I don't think they should be able to!?", and then went and addressed Nim directly, and Nim was dead silent, all that freaked me out in the best way and Katie's reaction was amazing too. So excited to see more of that, and such a shame Rhi missed it, she'd have lost her mind

I pictured Rowan stuck at the machine like William Shatner in the old Twilight Zone.

When the raven in the tower was 1st mentioned my thought was: "Why is a raven like a writing desk?"

I love Gruff becoming group leader/dad

I swear to god if Tom leaves in the middle of this the way that Matt did.... 😡😭 (No Matt hate here, just would've LOVED to see how Trell played out in game ❤️)

Just jumping back into HR do they not have a merch shop anymore?

Are vitality potions energy drinks?

Tommy u like dragon's dogma cool😊

Totally love this intro. I have to say, way better than the dunduns.

Wait what are in standard money exchange rate so shouldn't have been nine silver and 10th bronzes

The Toad Knows ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Does anyone know how to where he made his city map?

That elvish pronunciation though, and also basically freakin howl is in the wizard tower!

What happens if you see an elf in this world without ever having seen one?

It certainty sound like a fool and his money has been parted describe half the episode.

cool

How has no one done an insight check on Xan?

New to HR!! Is Tom a new player? Or is it more just a funny shtick he does?. Cheers

HADDAR!????

SPOILERS The Zim Zam Zimbalor reveal was fucking insane :0

One does not simply …

WHAT?!! NO REE?!?!! GOOD DAY TO YOU GOOD SIR!!😋