SideQuests Live - TTRPG podcast - Dungeons and Dragons & Shadowrun and more · Todd Caryl

SideQuestsLive RPG - Episode 10 - Tree of Wands - "Maw" - Homebrew system with GM Brendan

·1 hr 58 min·5 clips

A vampire bat steals Kava's power mid-bite, forcing the heroes to leap into the primordial's mouth.

This episode features the SideQuests Live crew playing their custom "Rediscovered World" TTRPG system, with Brendan as the Dungeon Master and players Todd, Devin, Bo, and Jackie. The party, including characters like the vampire La Habria and the Tanooki Elroy, faces the catastrophic return of the primordial being Kava. Kava has emerged from a volcanic eruption, causing widespread panic and threatening the continent. The group seeks guidance from the mummy Khufu in the undead town of Dreadville, who reveals stolen prophecy tablets about Kava's weakness. Khufu theorizes Kava could be contained in a powerful canopic jar phylactery, a plan once researched by his missing vampire apprentice. The party must interpret the cryptic prophecies, which mention a "tree of wands," a "vessel" to be devoured, and a "wand without a spell." They debate whether to flee the continent or attempt a dangerous plan to stop Kava directly. The group arms themselves with potions from Khufu and rallies their skeleton crew aboard their pirate airship. They sail toward Kava, now a massive, scaly pillar with a zigzag mouth, as the environment warps with red lightning and creeping mist. The ship is attacked by "Sturges," dog-sized flying creatures with razor-sharp beaks that Kava exhales. A ship combat ensues where the cannon requires two players to operate, dealing massive damage, and the ship itself has a durability stat. Elroy scores a critical hit with his blunderbuss, obliterating a Sturge in a splintering explosion. John Normalman and La Habria fire the ship's cannon at Kava's face, dealing significant damage and drawing its full attention. Kava responds by sprouting grasping, tentacle-like limbs from its body that begin reaching for the airship. La Habria attempts to use a Vex spell on Kava, successfully causing its emerging limbs to hesitate momentarily. The episode balances intense, high-stakes combat with the group's characteristic humorous banter about plans, prophecies, and in-game mishaps. The tone is a mix of collaborative storytelling, tactical RPG gameplay, and lighthearted camaraderie among friends. Listeners who enjoy actual-play podcasts with homebrew systems, character-driven humor, and creative problem-solving during epic boss battles will love this episode. Those who prefer strictly rules-heavy play or narrative-focused sessions without combat interruptions might find less to enjoy.

As heard by us

A scrappy actual-play with brisk combat, rough edges, and a table that leans into the chaos.

SideQuest Live starts in motion, with a wrong-button stumble, quick intros, and a custom Rediscovered World table that drops into a chaotic aerial fight.

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Why you'd press play

Play this if you want live-table chaos that still tracks the fight.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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