Shadows of Drakkenheim Episode 26: The Battle of Aschaffen Part 2

MONSTERS OF DRAKKENHEIM is 300+ pages of eldritch horror inspired monsters for 5e by the Dungeon Dudes! Coming to Kickstarter March 26th, 2024: www.kickstarte... The Dusk Wardens and the Silver Order have sprung their trap for the Duchess!
DUNGEONS OF DRAKKENHEIM is coming to Kickstarter in 2021! We’re partnering with Ghostfire Games to publish the complete adventure for Fifth Edition.
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[@RicardoMoralesMassin]

Every player has a special strongpoint. Kelly has great dramatic moments, Jill is the absolute crit queen and Joe is the MASTER of one-liners. "A perfect trifecta, a group of three; something I've never been a part of before" OMG hahaha

[@Xecryo]

Dungeons of Drakkenheim: No don't destroy Drakkenheim, this is our home! Shadows of Drakkenheim: Yeah screw Drakkenheim it's too dangerous. It truly is a testament to how well you guys roleplay and I love it.

[@xaviercarmona4439]

I truly appreciate how alien elves are treated in this campaign! I feel like their longevity and genesis within (literally) a different world altogether factor greatly into their cultural personality and, Monty, you portray that beautifully, while still making it simultaneously immersive for the audience AND gradually comprehensible by the players/characters. Masterful work my guy! And shoutout to rest of you guys, your roleplay and humor are always a welcome addition to my week, so thank you so much :)

[@UndeadFleshgod]

19:28 "Otherwise you would have simply been too big to fit inside her mouth" That reaction from Jill hahaha

[@Synetik]

LOL

[@Aleksandrus12]

1:33:19 It just came to me: The Dusk Wardens don't realize it yet but they're in possession of The Legend of Zelda game's Triforce: Rudi is might, Wilhelm is courage and Wrath is wisdom. ;) Although The Three Crows/Veo's Pussycats/Jackson's Three/The Drakenforce had the same composition ;)

[@mikecarson7769]

EPIC battle, plus negotiating the aftermath - - admiring how Monty managed the numerous friends and foes throughout the battle, while giving the dice into the hands of the 3 heroes for the key moments

[@Sp4rt4nSl4ya]

I love how Joe barely maintains the Steven Hodges ruse and regularly falls back into his normal way of speaking, but maintained his ratling disguise perfectly with no character breaks

[@illoney5663]

Everyone loves to play ratlings.

[@cdwarrior6582]

If he’s infiltrating he’s perfect in performance if he’s trying to play himself reskinned it gets hard not to use his own name I guess.

[@cdwarrior6582]

@@illoney5663 Yes Yes Yes

[@neerGdyahS]

Wilhelm was right, he goes deep into the rat persona. In all honesty though, it's hard to drop character when you're surrounded by ratlings. You have the constant reminder of "ahh, yes(yesyes). This is how we're talking"

[@ericbishop8046]

After watching Joe impersonate a ratling I've really wanted to see him DM a one-shot and/or campaign.

[@euchiron]

Epic moments! Rudi: Jamming the Immovable Rod down the Duchess' throat. Wilhelm: Sneak attack with a siege weapon. Wrath: Hex on the Duchess' strength! Houdini and Bruce: All the aid they provided! Also Bruce: Chowing down on the Duchess nuggets

[@Aleksandrus12]

Also: "Stand up to bullies"!

[@Aleksandrus12]

Oh, and of course taking down mind control with suggestion!

[@ericbishop8046]

And Wrath, Trying to get the Duchess's nuggets away from bruce.

[@trialoldguard9262]

Am I the only one who thought it would’ve been AWESOME to see wrath multiclass into aberrant mind sorcerer from the aboleth?? Brilliant job by Monty of throwing that in as a probable legitimate option.

[@MageLeaderInc]

I have an aberrant mind sorcerer twilight cleric whose deity is an aboleth.

[@crownlexicon5225]

Theory: They were escaping the delirium invasion of their planet. Basically phason from metroid, like how in prime 3 it was being launched to different planets

[@HiopX]

"you just sneak-attacked with a siege weapon"

[@superj1010]

Every DM's nightmare.

[@jakewarman7277]

Technically sneak attack is restricted to not having the heavy property but the rule of cool is still a thing

[@devin5201]

Do... do siege weapons have that property? I mean they ARE heavy so I guess it makes sense.

[@siroreo]

@@devin5201 typically bus is also a magical weapon so it may not 🤷🏽‍♂️

[@jacktom3799]

@@siroreo confusing times

[@brunofranchini]

"You just sneak attacked with a siege weapon" Oh I really hope that's an INTENTIONAL "The Gamers" Nimble reference. "You want to sneak attack with a balestra?" " *Psychopathically* hmmrrmm" "With a f***ing siege weapon?" " *murderhobbo intensifies* HMMMRRMMM" I'm loving it!

[@euansmith3699]

"You can just call me, Steven." Joe is always a good laugh.

[@Vararx]

Duchess: Spare me, i'll tell you secrets! Rudi: Alright then, keep your secrets.

[@ericbishop8046]

Duchess: "Wait, do you want to know where it comes from?" Wrath: "I'm listen-" Rudi: "No!" *Splat*

[@Restributordevill]

This is the first time I actually want to buy an expensive dnd book... I’ve watched everything, I’ve never DMed before, and yet that show makes me want to try!

[@donalddouds6033]

It’s been a year. Have you taken the plunge yet?

[@Restributordevill]

@@donalddouds6033 it’s been a wonderful and rich year, unfortunately dnd wasn’t a part of it :( like at all. Perhaps I’ll pick it up later 😁 there’s never a bad time for TTGs

[@jakubguziur7522]

"Adventurers, jeez..." So perfect!

[@xSilentStrangerx]

1:12:00 This is so beautiful. Thank you for not only making something so amazing, but trying to share it with everyone and make it 'theirs'. That's so incredible! Spoilers below! Besides that, OH MY GOSHNESS THIS WAS SUCH A GOOOOOD EPISODE!!!!! The lore reveals have me tingling, and I am so impressed by your excellent DM skills Monty. The world is so rich, the mystery so interesting and deep, and the chilling terror of something powerful enough to make these elves flee? Good. Lord. SO GOOD. And also massive props to Kelly, Jill, and Joe! This is perfect gameplay to show how important and effective Warlock casting can be, and the dice have truly favored the players today. There were SO many things that could have ended SO BADLY. The Phantasmal Force Anchor would've been destructive, a Ballista being destroyed would've been huge, like there were SO MANY THINGS that could have gone wrong. You guys played amazingly well. Good job. This was just as good as the Battle of Temple Gate. Just amazing everyone! You guys are the reason I love D&D so much! Massive love to everyone!

[@elinamauno8833]

Congrats on Jill for the baby and glad to see her return! Also LOVE the Immovable Rod strategy XD In a oneshot I suggested it and the rogue implemented it, that he jammed a Beholder's jaws open. The rogue was the last PC alive and survived pretty much thanks to hanging out in the mouth with the rod. (I know it wouldn't work probably with RAW but it was awesome) XD

[@TehBuggy]

Gotta shout out how much I love the communication between DM and players with all the improvisation in that Duchess fight. Especially with Jill hoping into the mouth, and Monty explaining how he was adjusting mechanics so it made sense with the scenario, it felt fair and balanced and fun for everyone. Amazing example of rewarding player creativity and still keeping the fight a fun challenge.

[@zackcrow1776]

Duchess: WAIT, DONT YOU WANT TO KNOW WHERE IT COMES FROM!?! Rudi: No. This is my new favorite moment in the entire campaign lol

[@firelordsinger9666]

I love when Rudy yells "...boys!"

[@Axiom_Link]

The Duskwardens should open a chain with all the filet o fish they carved up: DrakkDonalds

[@Axiom_Link]

Omg now that I’m listening with headphones I am recognizing so many of the tabletopaudio loops in the background that I use at my home games! Outpost 31 is so good for adding a nice creepy ambience to this amazing campaign. Man everything you guys and gals do to put this masterpiece together is just top notch. The balance between putting something together that is fun to play and entertaining to watch is so hard. That’s why a lot of D&D streams are boring. The players have fun but it’s not entertaining, or it’s entertaining but the players get burned out because they’re not having fun. You all are killing it. 😍

[@OlegGorelkin]

Rudy really was like a Schrödinger's (wolf?) in that first battle =)

[@christiankougher3285]

I love that you guys are making a book for drakkenheim, I ran it on my own as my first campaign a long time ago and it was difficult but fun nonetheless. It'd be interesting to go back and use all the rules correctly now being 2-3 years more equipped.

[@jameskaib6407]

Here we see Rudy doing her best impression of a speed-metal drummer on Mr. Crab.

[@pw3829]

The elves made a deal with a demon for the power to transport from their home world. The price they paid to the demon was the history of the elves. This included the knowledge, memories, everything. That’s my theory

[@manuelmatos9100]

Maybe the massive amount of energy required is linked to the Drakkenheim meteor. Phil Swift would say "Thats a lot of damage" (and energy) haha.

[@Axiom_Link]

I have a slinking suspicion that with the event of an Aboleth, and the illithid cavern earlier in the campaign that we might see some Gith later in this campaign. Monty loves Mordenkainen’s tome of foes for the cool obscure monsters, as seen in Season 1. I wouldn’t be surprised if the history of the elves is somehow linked to the Gith. Might be a stretch but man that would make for some good drama.

[@pw3829]

Well Banemoon specifically said the loss of his memory and history was the price or cost of passage somehow

[@YMasterS]

I think it's more likely that the Delirium was allowing demons to cross in to Arcadia and they had no way to stop it. They traveled to a place without delirium and the loss of their knowledge was to prevent them causing the same issue to happen there. My theory; the delirium meteor was an outside force not covered in D&D's traditional lore trying to spread it through yet another realm to create passage for it to enter into the realms at all from another place.

[@KaineVillante]

Also Monty we need more Bruce/Wrath interactions lol those conversations are the best!!!

[@akhistotle]

You four are amazing! The creativity, the energy, the immersion, I love watching this! A group of friends just playing DND as a passion project and honoring us by sharing the process! Thank you all so much! Cannot wait to support the channel with my own copy of Drakkenheim!

[@bautistapappolla2726]

when you reach level 10 fishing in stardew valley

[@CallenExile]

I would have thought Llenith Eventide would have been important given the newfound importance of the Eventides we learned about a few episodes ago.

[@TeslaandDragons]

And her yet to be revealed litchification?

[@NisansaDdS]

23:14 Toothy Maw. Heh heh

[@vladimirserpov6773]

I am surprised that Silver Order isn't trying to burn the sea and air itself - love those pious zealots :)

[@MrBiloxifireman]

2nd... Such a great cliff hanger last week! Don't let the Silver Order get hold of the scrying orb for Delirium. They could use it to destroy it ALL

[@Trancheclipse]

Hi from France!!! Finally caught up with both series after a month!!! Thanks a lot for all that content!

[@thetowndrunk988]

Going back through these old videos- I love how Monty used the players’ decision here to haunt them now (not having the Duchess burned to ash). Consequences of actions are real and long term in this setting.

[@Aleksandrus12]

I just finished watching this episode but the bargain about setting the base and talk about the main narrative topics gave me vibe that this isn't the end of chapter of campaign but that was just the prologue and dreams of next 200 episode to conclude this arc. But the other part of me says that Monty won't finish the narrative with the Dusk Wardens but like in the season 1 at some point we change group and point of view, timetravel back in time and then progress narrative. And it could be really good and refreshing. But the point is, @DungeonDudes you took us to the point of "don't dare to finish Drakkenheim show without giving us satisfying answers and tying up the story". Also I'm wondering if we'll see War with the Silver Order arc with this group of characters or another. It's tempting me to think maybe we go back to the season 1 team but I think it's really unlikely. On the other hand, it would be perfect opportunity to come up with story of new group, since the Dusk Wardens maybe going into space (SPAAAACEEEEEE!!! ;) ) or at least going into more scientific research about origins of the meteor. Dusk Wardens are already lv 10, aren't they? Last season ended with the party at level 11 or 12 I think. And I think Monty was suggesting that's the capstone of normal human being in his campaign. So it concludes that we are getting to leave the Dusk Wardens rather sooner than later. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

[@DungeonDudes]

Currently the Dusk Wardens are level 8. We still have quite a bit of story to go. We have a plan for the future of the show, but a lot of it will be determined by the character choices. Lots of exciting things to come, and both season one and season two are part of the same story, so expect to hear more about all the characters you know and love.

[@Aleksandrus12]

@@DungeonDudes I've probably never been so glad to be wrong! Thanks for answering! Love your work, and you inspired me to try play D&D myself and try get into it my friends who never heard of ttrpg. Dungeons of Drakkenheim is the best "TV show" I ever watched. And I'm waiting for the book to implement some things into my actual campaign. I would wish you to grow community bigger than Critical Role (I watched a lot of their episodes and they're great at roleplaying but for personal reasons I really don't like them and I think you're much better), but I won't because sometimes going too big is really bad for a person, so instead I wish you satisfaction and happiness for giving thousands of people enjoyment on really high level of quality

[@achimsinn7782]

You can take statblocks of other monsters and apply the drakkenheim modification to them... My first thought: DELIRIUM THIAMAT

[@CrazyKungfuGirl]

I wanted to hear what Monty was going to say about bouncy castles

[@burgandy57]

Great petrification impression Kelly. Scary good.

[@PMSPolarBear666]

I just want to say thank you. You all have cured my boredom over 12 hour shifts fot the last 6 months.

[@johnfellingham6111]

Loving every episode! Can't wait to get my hands on your kickstarter.

[@michaelcook2290]

In the future AI will be used by ordinary people to easily make high quality movies. The sagas of Drakkenheim will be brilliant. Such an awesome adventure.

[@RefugeeOfReality]

Monty: I AM THE DUNGEON DUDE! (Insert BBEG-laughter here)

[@CPA1535]

Drinking wine on a Friday and listening to your great show. Cannot ask for much more than that that.

[@jamesmullen3068]

I should have predicted the identity of the duchess a while back. They first encountered it in the subterranean lake like 10 episodes ago right?

[@Sp4rt4nSl4ya]

My guess is whatever being the elves bartered with provided them with the delerium to make their journey, but as twisted dealers are often to do it had a trick behind the curtain and that same source of energy has been hurtling towards their destination since they left, so for the last 10,000 years the meteor was coming here, and it's the same one they used to power the portal

[@PartialDemon]

Imagining the Duchess trying to remove the immovable rod fills my mind with images of a fishcat coughing up a hairball...

[@joeschmoe6356]

Rudy pulled a jack sparrow *staring down the beasts gullet* "Hello, beastie."

[@bigwig8657]

Rudi "I am not a Snack!" Whittaker, new title for the Bards to announce.

[@RoachwareStreams]

Bingeing the series. Wrath's comments "It's ours now" made me wonder: what if the Delerium is sent by some future invader to make the military and society dependant on it to function - with the ability to turn the Delerium off at will to cripple the people and their defense?

[@martiansoon9092]

Delirium meteor could be a rip in the spaces between the planes. This could also mean there is a rip in the spacetime between places that allows there creatures to push through more effortlessy. It was mentioned before that the space between planes might be made of delirium (as everything else is). It might be a huge effort to fix this gap and block the collision of two planes. It could even mean that it has to be done to prevent destruction of both planes, not just one. And even in lesser case, it would be wise to block the hole and have no otherworldly creatures in our world. Most likely doing this would mean sending huge portion of the delirium to fix the gap. River and academy should seek into it. You have to have enough knowledge to do this, so giddy up to other elven ruins!

[@FedericoVetencourt]

Did the duschess just pulled a "the cure for cancer is..." before being executed? XD

[@alexmoran8662]

Great sess! I had an idea of a mastermind hobgoblin of feywild using the help race trait combined with the masterminds bonus action help with a 30 range seems pretty awesome!

[@redcapetimetraveler7688]

1:03:00 will Chud be a playable character ? in my opinion , the most badass warrior in the setting ;=)

[@illoney5663]

So, Monty. When you prepared the fight with the Duchess, were you expecting them to use the immovable rod like they did?

[@michaelrnahas4425]

Rudy knows exactly how Agent K felt when he when he went to get his gun back

[@ronzaebarron2195]

I start in a drakenheim campaign tomorrow, I’m super hyped

[@phillipblindenbach6978]

Mission Debrief = Wrath as the mere ‘Meat puppet’ - the conduit for the Eldritch power of Bruce!!!

[@Tristan_Shuler]

Way to kill the *spoiler*! Fantastic planning, set up, and execution. I love this show.

[@superj1010]

I cannot wait for the Dungeons of Drakkenheim book!

[@aidandunne5978]

"Crazy things like this have a way of not staying dead". I feel like that's gonna come up at some point....

[@Brannen666]

Where can one find this Dune RPG session with the dudes? I am intrigued, might add it to the RPGs I will learn but never play ☹

[@GeorgeSmith-x7j]

When Rudi flexes I imaging that she shows off her braded arm pits with a bow entwined.

[@andrewoutcalt7625]

Loved the Jonah moment!

[@MachJacob343]

I'm surprised River doesn't know (maybe Monty just doesn't want to say himself yet) but I'm pretty sure "Banemoon" is a Simulacrum. He doesn't have any memory of recording the messages (after the elves passed through and the Simulacrum was made) and he can't recover his spellcasting (spell slots).

[@theomegapotato370]

Doubt it since Wrath cast Identify on him in an earlier episode and it did not tell him he was a Similacrum. Also the Similacrum of Lenith in Season 1 had obvious signs of being a Similacrum which Banemoon doesn't show

[@thomasharvey2980]

In the recordings he made he mentioned that the loss of memory was the price his race paid to "he who laughs last" to escape Arcadia which I'm pretty sure is the twilight forest that Wrath lost his fingers to in the swamp episode.

[@wanderingartist7424]

Is it just me or did Monty diverted them away plane jump madness without explicitly telling them no? Brilliant game both players and GM.

[@esgeir9499]

Love you guys, enough said. Thanks guys

[@Pixaley]

When this story goes to film, please have Jane Lynch as Gloria.

[@jeffreycrowder2866]

Another quality episode Way to go Joe that he was on point

[@joeschmoe6356]

Thing: happens Kelly: let's make it into a lab!!!

[@bautistapappolla2726]

bouncy castles in drakkenheim seems to be a thing

[@LyleZulueta]

Lmao you can call me Steven 😂🤣😂

[@harrywhiteley89]

Crackpot Theory A huge amount of energy, Delerium is created with a large energy input, in theory could it take some time for the delrium to get though that huge teleport distance, perhaps the teleportation of the elves was done at a single time and then a large amount of delerium was either needed or created and it passed through the teleport with the elves, where do we know where there is a huge amount of Delerium... also maybe obviously but did the elves use delerium to run, run from delerium or both? that was a bit of a mess but they're the thoughts I'm left with :) Some questions answered but more are seeming to crop up which is always good :)

[@rcschmidt668]

The Friday episode!! Yes! Yes! Yes!

[@texastaterbug5395]

Jill: I love that sound 42:08 It's the best sound!

[@AliAlderete]

Gil is the most creative player on the internet!!

[@BlackShadow1991]

That was a fantastic battle and a great episode :D You are doing good job, Dudes!

[@westonhudiburgh5786]

Looking back at this episode, they should’ve just let the Silver Order burn the body of Duchess, then what happens in episode 50 of the Fate of Drakkenheim may not have happened. It has proven that the Academy doesn’t have as tight of control of the situation as they should, if other episodes haven’t been clear.

[@walth5409]

Wilhelm has no cool or ability to keep quiet in front of authority. "our job is to look for trouble, isnt that right wrath"? Great roleplay

[@1hirek]

Have you considered letting contamination wear off with time, like 1 Con test/month to get rid of 1 contamination level, but you need to only rest during this period? It would still be expensive for low-level characters to pay for accommodation outside the Haze for longer time, but it wouldn't let new characters from being practically useless after they're unfortunately critted with Delirium attacks during their 1st adventure.

[@sephfcuoctasphere1978]

I’m playing a game right now and I brought a character in that has ties to Drakkenheim, and my intention is that when the current campain I’m playing in ends, those who survive will be going to Drakkenheim, but I want to enter our characters into the story of Drakkenheim with Sebastian, Veo, and Pluto’s story in progress. How do I put those characters that have been removed back in?

[@CM-qh3xz]

ADVENTURERS.... Jeeezz

[@abracadabruh7420]

After the last episodes of fate of drakkenheim (SPOILERS ALERT), I must say.... A lesson learnt the hard way: That is not dead which can eternal lie, and with strange aeons, even death may die

[@allanmenard1651]

Demons? Plague of Rats? Mind Flayers and thus an Elder Brain, and now an Aboleth? What's next? Asmodeus? Evil Greater Gods?

[@primordial-chaos00]

The dice gods wants the party to win and Monty to lose

[@Gegi1992]

Did Jill properly track her spell slots? It feels like every time she gets hit she just says shield.

[@dirmusloner7963]

A question, Beynmoon at one of his message mentioned at someone as "He who laugh last" it catches my attention and get me think, if Beynmoon Hearst hat phrase again, could he remember something?

[@willkerr7395]

Monty is a G

[@roarkegriffon5657]

Can you cast Heat Metal on the immovable rod in the Duchess?

[@Aleksandrus12]

I would rule that of course!

[@misticsword7561]

Yes, it works on magic items. Still, you would need to see when casting.

[@Aleksandrus12]

I just realized, it would be the greater form of "cook & book" strategy!

[@legendarydigitize2523]

@@Aleksandrus12 fantasy fry cook anyone?

[@Aleksandrus12]

@@legendarydigitize2523 less fantasy, more exploit rules of Heat Metal. Casting range 60 ft, but it guarantees damage every turn for 1 minute (10 turns) and you can be whatever you want as long you maintain concentration. So you cast heat metal and run away and you have 20d8 damage over 1 minute with 2nd lv spell and 10d8 with 1 lv of upcasting. Perfect strategy on low tiers play. To doff heavy armor is 5 minutes so even with help you can't escape taking full damage. Now you can stick Immovable Rod inside the monster which haven't got anything metallic on it, and cast heat metal on the rod

[@KaineVillante]

Ah delirium is essentially nuclear fusion power sources lol.

[@Dragonkindred]

Another great show, but please, can you go and use the tracking device to pinpoint the Dutchess' undersea delirium! Then go finished the job!!!

[@superj1010]

I'm in the middle of Return to Ash Bay right now. Allllllmost caught up!

[@superj1010]

Well whaddya know, I'm caught up now.

[@Sivanot]

Literally just caught up witht he last episode! yeet

[@generalrendar7290]

You have pulled off a sneak attack with a siege weapon!

[@MrNhoj509]

I like rolling to see if a magic item gets used up. Very Numenera.

[@VuvuzelaTM]

You revealed a monster that is not Big Linda? 😭😭😭

[@lulospawn]

Rudi pulls all the clutch moves

[@bertbergers9171]

Great show tonight again!!! Jill was great. Kelly throwing all those dice sneak-attacking the fishfolk was a bit overkill and made me chukle ;P The harpooning and realing in of the duchess was played on the knife-edge by Marty and duskwardens, loved it.

[@ShadowsOfEssence]

If the rod is in the creatures mouth. And the creature is in the water... how can it not just open its mouth and move backwards?