The Cold Road Pt 1 (D&D Story)

Wades In Shadows: / diceandbrews
Sweet William: / stabbyquest
And of course, sweet simple Daveh: / raisins
MORE Info & LINKS COMING SOON but for now:
MUSIC CREDITS:
Covert Affair - Film Noire by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (creativecommon...)
Source: incompetech.com...
Artist: incompetech.com/
Ghost Processional (Alternate) by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (creativecommon...)
Source: incompetech.com...
Artist: incompetech.com/
Tiptoe out the back - Dan Lebowitz
9th Symphony, Finale - Beethoven
Amalfi - The Barr Brothers
Seahorse - Rondo Brothers
Northern lights - Chris Haugen
Day of recon (sting) - Max Surla/Media Right Productions
Bonito - Rondo Brothers
See your soon - Otis Mcdonald
animated spellbook d&d unanimated campaign diary dungeons and dragons

[@zeebashew]

The resolution of that fight: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iXuxfYqGfsaahaM

[@AllorNothingLA]

Love this story and glad you share them with us, awesome adventure.

[@kjadfhgioaudbfvilaeu]

NOICE! TY!

[@Hello_Sun_]

PLs moar of this story! pls this long story styles awesome

[@federicosaccavino1866]

I love all your videos, but can you please slow down a litle for all of us non native english speakers? Btw you are the main reason that got me back to dnd! Thanks for everything

[@morganb6717]

as an avid climber ( *cough* bullshit. climbing out of bed is occasionally a challenge. ) i can, with no mistake, tell you that the word you mean to use, "piton", is commonly pronounced _pee/tahn,_ (haha, yes. snicker snicker) not _pie/ten._ it's French in origin, if that helps to understand why. yes, this is far too late to make a difference to this story, which i found very entertaining, but it's just something you can take with you should you have need to refer to them in future.

[@Capt.Thunder]

If this is what you mean by "unanimated" then Jesus, I could do with a few more "unanimated longerform content".

[@seppusesu2608]

This is more of a storyboard rather than "Animated". Animated suggests that there is in between frames and at least semi smooth movements. A storyboard is simply still pictures that can be moved around (a pan or a rotation) to show the main information of the story! Source- I'm an animator

[@RikThunder33]

I'd say it passes as animatic. - animator

[@ehkesoyo]

"I'm not going to animate this one" still does some kickass illustration.

[@heathenpride7931]

That final “you’ve got a lot to answer for when we get up there” was absolutely chilling. Good job, GM.

[@boybee9859]

4:01 "That wasn't flying; that was falling with style!"

[@youtubeuniversity3638]

Animated enough I'd say.

[@Blase52]

Getting saved by the DM is usually a buzzkill. Unless they come up with something brilliant themselves you could let them be defeated and have them taken prisoner. The tables have turned where Wick has them captured and they have to devise the slippery escape. An unwelcome detour to the quest but it's just one more on the pile of many they already had.

[@BSE1320]

"In one brutal attempt, Wick hacked off all of their legs to escape." I don't know about you, but after that incident, I'd walk on home. Walk. On. Home. :D

[@oz_jones]

Get out

[@archieburbank4938]

I see two options, as far as I can tell the Kenku is a theif but not a murderer. Hes only tried to evade the party. The three of them were knocked out and he could have easily killed them. On top of that the party saved him from the winter wolf pack and freezing to death. Have the Kenku come to their rescue. Fighting on the side of the party. This will create a conflict for your players. Their goal is to catch the theif but he just saved them. Should they betray him? Should they let him go and cut their losses? Or Full on Joker V Batman. Wick enjoys their game of cat and mouse and if the party is killed here he will be left without his batman. In his head the party is source of entertainment or evem a reason to live/improve.

[@jesterxreverie152]

The description of that arrow flying felt epic

[@Froggy711]

When Wick said "you've got a lot to answer for when we get up there" it gave me chills.

[@golgarisoul]

Oooooh, magical cigars, I got to use that.

[@jeremypalmer5695]

Ya blink arrows sound like a recipe for mayhem too.

[@ImNotAnAthlete]

This campaign sounds amazing! Also I would be into more of these long form diaries. I love your animated spell books but this was really good.

[@stevenn1940]

4 golds worth of limes? Jesus, did they buy out the tavern's entire stock of them? No more mojitos. Limes are 86d.

[@CmikeDnD]

it's amazing how much the camera and large object motion does to making the "lack of animation" not as noticeable. Shows how powerful moving camera shots, editing, and rack focusing shots are. Edit: also, the storyteller helps A LOT! I really enjoy the longer story (10-15) is a great sweet spot. I personally would like more pauses or rhythm changes through out the story to give beats strength or weakness. If there were any, i didn't notice. Because it was longer, i more so listened to the video than watched it (the unanimated helped with that choice too) but ya. those are my notes if they help. Good adventure!

[@chancealbright6906]

"And honestly give my hand a bit of a break" The Cold Road Parts 2-4: Oh buddy

[@kevingriffith6011]

Shifty Wick is probably one of the best D&D villains I've heard recounted in a long time. Rather than being some ridiculous monster that is devastatingly powerful and a real threat to the party in combat... Wick is actually weak enough to be non-threatening... if only the party could get their hands on him long enough to work with. It's helped that their job wants him alive, so they've got this whole dynamic of catch him, he escapes, save him, etc etc. I guarantee your party hates him so much more than the standard powerful wizard or warlord boss, because he's made fools of them so many times and dammit the party isn't going to get consistently one-upped by an NPC!

[@adamwelch4336]

He's my favorite D&D villain!

[@ZombieChimpanzee]

he relies on his cunning and resourcefulness, and it makes him frustrating because on paper he should be manageable by the party, but he keeps playing to his strengths and its great.

[@Lucky-eo2dt]

The little bastard was planning to swap his health pool with wades utterly devious

[@perrycarters3113]

I was today year's old when I noticed Wick, the gobbos, the entombed priestess from Episode 3, and Father Grigor all have necklaces/symbols that reference Tharizdun.

[@33nihilus]

YES MORE OF THESE! Dont get me wrong, I love your animations. But I like your stories more. And this animation is still great for what it is.

[@Ryanin2D]

Goddamn you are a great storyteller

[@edwardpurcell82]

This is amazing!! Your storytelling style is so engaging, and the music is an amazing touch. The pictures really complement the narrative, I didn't expect so many for a "non animated" episode. More of this format please!

[@MrKogarou]

Honestly I prefer this over the (awesome) animated spellbook episodes. Makes sense if these form of episode comes out less often. But you run a great campaign, and I really wanna hear more presented like this!!

[@brbenji]

Reminds me of the lightly animated storybook cartoons I watched as a kid. But way better. I like seeing how a skilled animator would cut corners in an effective way. Thank you.

[@maltt8715]

“You have a lot to answer for up there” oh shit

[@NotoriusBEN1]

What slippery little bastard Wik is. Imma steal him for my games, hes too good.

[@Blade40688]

Honestly would love to have some more of these longerforms with art.

[@Poppydagoblin]

as much as I love the animated spellbook, I absolutely love these diaries even more.

[@javierpatag3609]

I sadly have no solution, but I must say: Wick is one of the most interesting antagonists in fantasy I've ever encountered. He's not powerful or particularly dangerous, but he's clever, cunning, and so annoying (I mean that as praise). He's different! He's not the usual mastermind or supervillain type in need of stopping who'd stomp a player 1v1 or even 1vGroup. He's down-to-earth and vulnerable and yet... ...You've got your players so personally invested in getting him (it's become more than a job for them). And he carries the story along well. You've hit gold in your campaign antagonist, sir. You've hit gold. :-)

[@FizzleFX]

They can count up to 3000 gold but not as much horses? They must have lost 3000+ horses! That must be ALL horses in the land Oo

[@ThunderhunterFTW]

I know it’s satire, but horses are lost one at a time, gold is lost in bunches. Losing 3000 gold was probably more like losing hundreds at a time, and I’m sure I’d keep track of gold more than I’d keep track of horses.

[@sananaryon4061]

I wouldn't mind more of this

[@NorthernWind0]

It just dawned on me that Shifty Wick... Is a Kenku who is very imaginative in his usage of items, language and manipulation.

[@Eddie42023]

True dat.

[@keltonreynolds5464]

I'm making a kenku like this

[@Penkitten82]

Honestly just an entire game as told by you would be wonderful. The prose and voice is wonderful

[@amichiganboiwhosereallazy1544]

*sips in knowing that based on the description of the hit. A normal arrow was used rather then a non lethal one. Goodbye wick*

[@catlover7204]

I would love more of this type of video, even if there wasn't art or animation your storytelling is amazing

[@maestroboy]

Your voice is insanely good.. Its sort of scary but soothing. I could fall asleep to this. And still have a nightmare with you voicing the evil.. I love it. I would looove to hear more of this tale. The setting is really cool and gritty. And the way you tell it pulls me inn!

[@sharkoconnor]

I m here to tell the algorithm to put this on more people s recomended list so they start the journy and maybe we can all complete it

[@Katurodrake]

They're BOTH dragonborn? Wicked designs.

[@magnusthemythic8814]

The goblins take them hostage to test magical artifacts on. They all walk away with magical scars or curses and the players while pissy aren't wiped out

[@mawofcharybdis4871]

I love the black dragonborn's voice

[@BlueDavrial]

"And 4 Golds worth of limes" My math books prepared me for this day

[@jr3nton]

That's A lot of limes

[@indigodragon78]

Jim's a veteran of the Oregon Trail.

[@JD-qq8fz]

HAHA, "Tabax in the Cradle". Your whole channel is really clever, your group must be such a delight to play with.

[@LobsterSpecial]

I'd be up for more of these longer-form campaign diary recaps even if they aren't animated.

[@JazzJackrabbit]

How to avoid party wipe? Have the goblins knock the party unconscious and take them hostage. Have them use the party as slaves, make them work in the mines. Then party could try and escape later?

[@oldmandan5047]

i like this new unanimated style. mainly because of a longer story.

[@sirhipolito1462]

I have always loved to listen to campaign diaries. Even if you don't draw at all, I'd listen to these

[@radiocts5179]

i think these long form videos are GREAT! would be happy if you made these even if it means longer periods between your animated videos

[@9usuck0]

I come to your videos for a few reasons. Love your stories, I like your animation, and you're very informational. Love these and the animated spells.

[@9usuck0]

Also, your voice. You have a good narrator voice.

[@fivesss3710]

the kenku has angered the dragon and it comes crashing and thrashing through the cavern killing most bearly missing them

[@Rahviel80]

What do you mean its not animated? Its the same premium frame rate animation ass in hammer and bolter productions.

[@MrSelothi]

This is a really enjoyable video format dude. I'd happily watch more of these!

[@BigMac8000]

This is really great, I'd watch this longform just as much as any other. As for what to do... they're largely screwed. Without any healing to get their allies up, this is probably time to run. I'm not sure what class their leader is but... he used an arrow earlier with sneak attack so he must be a rogue. If he has any healing left at all, or that one that cast Silent Image can get back up, they can hide against the wall stacked up with a silent image spell. It'll be hard, and the thief might see through it, but the goblin's won't. Setting fire to the javelin pile could stall or create enough confusion, if he's a rogue he'll be fast enough with a cunning action dash, and may simultaneously grant him cover from flanking, as the pyre would cover his back. This would allow too many goblins to chase him, but it may lead them off the ones who are currently stabilizing. He may be able to drag one of them out with a dash, or at least get him to a defensive position near the front door where he might be able to create a barrier somehow, fire or avalanche scenario's possible. In that arena, if he's a rogue and he's specced into any Cha skill that might allow him to "draw" them off, he might be able to get them to chase him out the door and completely forget to KO the other two, leaving them to their rolls. This is the most likely to succeed but only if he sells it well enough - that'll come down to a persuasion roll, most likely a deception check. If he screams, "They're dead, oh god, I'm getting out of here with my loot!" and then stays just ahead of them enough to bait them, they might completely forget to KO the other two. The thief however, he won't, but it depends on how far away he is. The boiling pots (are those what they are?) and fire could be used to block a hallway for a turn potentially, if the Frost Goblins are not into stepping into boiling water. This might give him enough time to drag a compatriot outside, but he'd have to choose and his size is really gonna matter there. A very dangerous but potentially useful attack would be to coral both groups of goblins into a crossfire scenario. If they miss him, their javelins would very likely hit their allies, which with some luck could do a significant amount of damage to a large group not paying attention. This would likely be most useful if cornered but... a dodge action mixed with the right placement could cause this scenario to kill a large number of the goblins. With uncanny dodge he might even survive a hit from a javelin despite his low hp. It's curious the goblins went for javelins at all. If they have no other weapons, burning them could cause significant demoralization. Burning one pyre of javelins then chasing them into another group of goblins could cause them to rout. It really also depends on where Wick is, if he's coming in through the front door, that presents a significant opportunity. Leaving behind the javelin guys near the door, letting Wick handle them will buy him sometime to burn the javelins further in the cave. The goblins, defenseless, may run at this point, especially if he surprises them with some serious fire. Returning to drag them will tell Wick they aren't doing well, but Wick will be dealing with four goblins at once. He needs at least 4 turns to kill them if he doesn't have multiattack, and even if he does, most likely 4 to finish them. That's enough time for them to get back up, silent image, and use it to ambush. A single round with a group of 3 might be enough to cripple Wick. If Wick is in charge of the group, and is further in the cave, it's over. Making the assumption he's not, and has tailed them there, any number of these strategies could work.... but they are all grasping at straws. They better bring the good dice. Oh, one last notion... The dead warlock was their leader, and he could make a bid for a truce with the goblins to defend against Wick. This would rely on a good cha check, and would largely be a pass-or-die scenario. It's not a bad attempt but... seems like grasping at straws again. A more likely and better use of that body.... Might be attempting to negotiate with the patron of that Warlock via his corpse. Staring into his dead eyes and accepting a pact with a Warlock patron for their lives might grant them something like a darkness spell, or allow him to detonate all the nearby corpses on command. Those are stretches, but a decent religion check right then might work. Warlock patron's don't advertise because there's somebody always willing to be a sucker. If he's willing to dip into Warlock and accept a patron's deal, he might get IMMEDIATE help. This would potentially be the most useful check to me, as a DM might be inclined to let this fly just for "cool" factor of negotiating via a corpse. Honestly as a DM, I'd let that fly if they accepted a pact and sacrificed a level into warlock as a rogue. If it's a "Fiend" patron I suspect he would detonate all the nearby fires blocking the corridors, giving them time to get back up... and honestly.... A pact with a demon because of that damn wick is pretty flavor tastic. YOU MADE ME TAKE A DEMON DEAL YOU MONSTER.

[@Zanator1]

More of these please holy heck! These are great and I love your art style.

[@Jibanizer]

Man I love the music in your videos. And storytime was amazing. I want to know about the other times they managed to catch him and how he got away!

[@wyhiobcarlile4879]

I can ONLY think of 5 ways out of this without breaking character. All right then...

[@brycevo]

The Dragonborns are my favorite. I love them

[@rnormgeek]

you got me so hooked into finding out what's gonna happen next :)

[@Prpdod]

Man, I watched "Healing Word" animation before this and now knowing what happened before is cool as shit.

[@servernomad8111]

i wish to see more of these this is so much fun for me

[@samham4461]

Make more of these please this is by far my favorite episode from all your videos. I got your videos in my recommended and I started binging them. You got me into DnD with your spell lessons, but I was interested in the stories that used them. I love the cold road series and I hope you make more. You wouldn’t even be animated I would just love to hear the scripts you led for these adventures.

[@dietmargotsch592]

awesome, how about you do this once a month?

[@radical9169]

maybe the conjuration cigar will summon their savior

[@lokiholmes8115]

TABAX IN THE CRADLE Oh bless you

[@watermelonhead8054]

KWAN

[@thecondescendinggoomba5552]

Came here from puffin forest, please more of these longer stories! Subbed btw

[@adamlaspata7001]

No, thank *you*, Zee. You're an inspiration to all us DMs who do not kick as much ass as you do.

[@coreyhood7238]

This is absolutely awesome! I'd love to see more like this

[@Phytobiogenes]

Well, I don’t know what you can do but as a player I would steal the flashy dice from before and stamp out the cooking flames and shutter the lanterns while the goblins go back for more javelins. Then I would try to hide in a crook along the cave walls. If I fail the hiding then I use the flash dice to distract and disorient them and make a run for it. As DM i might have the goblins knock out the remaining two party members and then keep them hostage so they can be roasted ala Ewoks from return of the Jedi. Let the party figure out how to escape instead of fight.

[@crazypamela]

I love the music you use for these clips :) I wish I could D&D with a group similar to this one. It sounds like so much fun

[@leaf1469]

Did they survive?

[@zeebashew]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/iXuxfYqGfsaahaM

[@yoennythegamer9389]

Holy shit sry

[@joeyuzwa891]

yoenny the gamer yeah, delete the comment. You just fuckin spoiled it for everyone who is looking at the responses

[@jerryrmaes1]

Can you do more of these please

[@GrandleJams]

@@yoennythegamer9389 you can delete a comment. Please do so.

[@tanaecutforth5676]

you're story telling style is amazing, looking forward to more of these in the future!

[@randomoneanonymos2613]

This was really awesome. I watched holding my breath. Really anticipate next part.

[@michaelschwiebert3636]

Simple: Wick feels conflicted because the party 1) saved him from the wolves, 2) used non-lethal damage to down him. He owes the party a life. Wick convinces the goblins to let at least one live. It isn't contrived, the heroes don't win, they have to slink off, Wickless, again.

[@emielpeper9248]

A Kenku with an original thought? Non-lethal on a ranged attack? Surely this is homebrew

[@tomasfischer3659]

Burning the cigars! The healing one first that the kenku said the spearhead was hidden, then the rest if the scenario doesnt improve.

[@MarkStevensSage]

Tomas Fischer as much as I enjoy your idea, I reckon he was asking for solutions from a DM's perspective. One that might give the party a fighting chance. They should totally burn the cigars though

[@tomasfischer3659]

Mark Stevens ah fair enough.

[@rollforapples6625]

Could one argue that the cigars are already burning since they were on Wade's person when he stood in the fire?

[@tomasfischer3659]

Roll for apples Wed assume if that were the case, the burning of the cigar wouldve triggered the spell on the cigars to activate, resulting in 4 spells being cast without warning. So i dont believe they were burned.

[@patchlasses5649]

I would love a link to where I can get a Proto-Behir stat block. The idea is just too amazing to let go.

[@rundinj]

I really like the longer form videos even with less animation quality D&D stories are always welcome

[@dddmemaybe]

I actually really prefer these longer videos when there is an interesting chunk of storytelling backing it up like this one.

[@Deadcupcake-ql3qc]

I like this please make longer story’s

[@HeyYourPartOfIt]

1. Illusion of a dragon entering the cave. Bring out the Behr. Everything and everyone dies? It's not a solution but boy it might be fun! 2. Goblins using a cursed item they dug up. There are so many crowd control curse effects. 3. I'm not sure you mentioned what levels and classes they all are, but Sweet William might have a spell that can collapse one of the tunnels? That would cut off the goblins. 4. You mentioned cookfires, are there any meats there? Do you play as food restoring hp? Or just using it as flavor? Also I love the campaign diary. You'll have to let us know if they make it out alive!

[@sg1755]

Dude, how much to run a one shot with you as DM? You have great one shots and stories.

[@lilorange9300]

Will you do more of these unanimated longer videos with nice short stories. It was a nice change of pace.

[@jameshenwood5681]

Make the Frost Goblins take them alive, hang them upside down with their feet frozen to the ceiling, and Wick waiting for his answers.....where he first has to get them to give him the words he needs to ask the questions he wants answered. Forcing them to cooperate via assistance from the Frost Goblins, eager to torture the "monsters" that slayed so many of their numbers. Might be a bit late now though XD

[@MrLuckyemo]

More of this!!!!

[@dsoul1305]

When players are acting stupid sometimes I do rolls of Intelligence and Wisdow just to remember that seasoned fighter that when you are attacked by both sides you should concentrate in the less dangerous one to try to flee and other stuff. You know, some dodge/disengage/dash can be the best option sometimes.

[@mom3207]

They build a lime defence

[@andrewbardier2368]

I can credit this campaign diary as being my most powerful draw to start playing d&d at the age of 33 the possibilities...thank you for inspiring my imagination

[@BakilAskamrim]

Prestidigitation: A Spellcaster's best prank trick- can use it to make a guard or enemy think he crapped himself (and smell as such).

[@RandallSavage]

"save you" "time to celebrate" The black cigar gives a heal. The yellow cigar gives nondetection or pass without trace. The blue cigar gives greater invisibility. and best of all Blowing a smoke ring from the green cigar creates an arcane gate to a random unobstructed 10 foot circle location as close to 500 metres away as possible, each further puff rotating both portals 180 degrees

[@KidMarshemellow]

Big fan of these longerform entries!

[@SeethLord]

The driver comes to the rescue! Turns out he's a retired adventurer and singlehandedly trashes a good chunk of the goblins, before healing the party and charging deeper into the cave

[@miketuttle8032]

I like this format

[@jessicascalf7333]

Well, one idea is what someone else implied in the comments already. Have some random npc's come and help rescue them. Another idea, is to have that little thief aid them long enough, just to pull another trick and escape again. Last, my favorite idea, have another bigger monster attack the goblins long enough for the players to escape. Well, hope that helps. Great videos, keep up the great work.

[@chillycroissant5926]

Make the goblins knock them out and loot them. They keep the 3 bois alive because they want to try out their new poisons. The goblins leave them. While they have 3 hours to try to get the hell out.

[@Shadowdun]

I love it! Please more of these videos!

[@Alexa-ck7mq]

I am not animated this week, same, man, same

[@silvertheelf]

Lol

[@fallengord3993]

You recive an Oscar, on a perception of 19, you notice the faint lettering of "lemony snickets, 2004" has been hastely scratched out.

[@jordanbarber6376]

I gotta be honest Zee, I love your animation videos, but there's just something to this one. I've probably watched it somewhere between 5-10 times now.

[@871335]

Perhaps drop hints to the players that if they could set the javelin piles alight, the smoke, heat and light would give them a fair shot at escaping? Could have a cave in from the fight from the behir block one fork, giving them less to deal with but not outright saving your players. Or a player doing anything that might cause a cave in could serve. Other than that, I'm not sure what Wic's true motives are but whatever he's got planned could cause enough chaos to allow the PCs a shot at escaping. Although from the story I think it seems like Wic might turn into an ally at some point so him deliberately causing a distraction to let the party to flee in return for not letting him freeze to death. Then there's also the cigars, let the PC light one up before the goblins execute him. Then it just depends what cigar the player picks that determines if they could survive. Awesome video by the way!

[@dreadful_hero]

Wick should save em, if only to torture them with his shenanigans further.

[@Pixel42003]

Don't underestimate the players' ability either fuck up insanely or succeed when its impossible like how my group managed to absolutely obliterate an entire castle of goblins hobgoblins and even an owlbear (about lvl3) the rouge ( me) did his best to make sure none escaped but failed due to goblins ability to use disenage as a bonus action, the bard destroying a group of a shaymin, grick, and hobgoblin in one shatter spell and our paladin killing most of the other hob goblins, while our sorcer was running support basically killing all that he needed to. no one got downed once there was like 15 goblins 5 hobgoblins 1 grick 1 warlock goblin 1 doppleganger 1 bugbear and 1 owlbear no one died. So either they will win miraculously or fail terribly

[@PersonalCoach]

Loved your story, a great adventure in this format!

[@DHMyers1994]

Perhaps the Kenku managed to get his hands on a particularly handy cursed item from the dig the frost goblins had been obsessing over, being such a slippery thief I reckon he could have nabbed something from the goblins. Since you mention the items from the dig are cursed that curse could come into play later, either slowly causing some sort of maladies or madness to Wick that the party would need to help remedy if they end up working together after this rescue, or the curse would make him more wild and dangerous in any future run ins with the party. Also if your players didn’t check to see that they still had the cigars, wick could have retrieved them while they were unconscious and use those to help save your players. Love this video, hope to see/hear more soon!