Title: Cloudward, Ho!
GM: Brennan Lee Mulligan
Players: Emily Axford (she/her) as Marya Junková (she/her). Zac Oyama (he/him) as Daisuke Bucklesby (he/him). Siobhan Thompson (she/her) as Vanellope Chapman (she/her). Lou Wilson (he/him) as Montgomery LaMontgommery (he/him). Ally Beardsley (they/them) as Olethra MacLeod (she/her). Brian Murphy (he/him) as Maxwell Gotch (he/him).
Streaming Service: Dropout
Dimension 20 takes to the skies this season, introducing a new world as our Intrepid Heroes take a swing at steampunk. In the world of Gath, we enjoy the hopeful origins of the Zephyr’s crew led by Professor Comfrey MacLeod only to have it shattered as we skip decades later where the Gotch family’s investments in adventure and exploration have led to their ruin. Furthermore, Professor McLeod is missing and presumed dead.
An admirer of MacLeod, Maxwell Gotch ached for adventure despite his family’s discouragement. As a young boy, he watched her take to the sky, and even as his family lay in ruin, Maxwell rebels against the repossession and sale of MacLeod’s research and equipment.
Taking his brother Wealwell with him, Maxwell heads to the MacLeod farm, instructed to take the land; instead, they acquire the Zephyr, planning to set off on the grand adventure which his grandfather had insisted was beyond any member of the Gotch family.
Meanwhile, Olethra MacLeod has her grandmother’s spirit but has spent her life restrained by her parents who were all about almost survivalist safety. She spends her time in a mech she received from her grandmother, reading dime novels written by LaMontgommery about the adventures of the Zephyr’s original crew.
Maxwell arrives, persuading his way into the farm with Olethra’s help. When he reveals a hidden code, Olethra excitedly shares the mech suit, and upon entry of it, they discover a message from Professor MacLeod, revealing that the continent of Zood was real and MacLeod had discovered it.
Taking the mech, the pair head back to the Zephyr, but while Maxwell handles finances to refuel the ship and the mech, a group comes up, trying to attack Olethra. To her luck, Daisuke shows up just in time to intercede.
Olethra excitedly fangirls over him, and Daisuke reveals he had protected her all her life. Maxwell also fanboys a bit, though he’s more stunned and subdued as he invites Daisuke on their mission. Emotional, Daisuke joins them. Unfortunately, none of them can read the MacLeod’s log. They head to find Marya Junková.
Now the owner a toy store, Marya has become a haunted woman. Maxwell invites her to join them. Marya shuts them down, expressing doubt in Zood. However, Daisuke notices pictures of a giant crow covering Marya’s desk. The crow appears to be some sort of robotic nightmare. Though she refused to go, Marya agrees to review the log. In there, she sees a mathematical equation to predict the location of the Biangle. A phenomenon associated with disappearances and missing cities, including Zood. All this changes Marya’s mind. She offers to go; however, Marya demands that if any sign of the beastly crow appears, they must aid her in her avenge.
Seeing the crew, Marya demands they recruit Vanellope ‘Van’ Chapman. Van retired from the sky. She married and took over her mother’s pub.
The last member of our crew, Montgomery LaMontgommery, has gained fame and renown since their adventures. As Montgomery works the crowd, the crew makes their way to him. Olethra fangirls again. Maxwell feigns being cool, getting him sent to serve them drinks. Though reluctant at first, news of Zood convinces him to leave everything behind for one last adventure, and with our crew complete, the adventure begins.
Highlights
It’s hard to pick just one, but watching Maxwell play it cool while Olethra embraced her inner fangirl with each new introduction had me cackling every single time.
Final Score (5 out of 5 Stars)
Cloudward, Ho! is everything silly and brilliant about Dimension 20. Strong rolls and dynamic character choices ensured a jaunty pace, setting up a number of fun interactions and laying a groundwork of intrigue. Though it shares the adventurous spirit of A Starstruck Odyssey, the rotation of characters and the catalyst are significantly different, but it carries the same soul to it.
Am I slightly concerned that we already have two NPCs dragged along and overly beloved that Brennan can slaughter whenever it suits him? Yes, yes, I am. This is too much ammo to put in a DM’s hand.
Putting together the crew took the bulk of the episode; however, with half of the cast playing aged heroes returning to a game they long left behind, it’s hard to predict what will come next.
Let us know what you think in the comments below or go over to our Discord channel to join the conversation.
Featured Image: Dimension 20
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The Boss Rush Podcast – The Boss Rush Podcast is the flagship podcast of Boss Rush Media and the Boss Rush Network. Each week, Corey, Stephanie, LeRon, and their friends from around the internet come together with other creators, developers, and industry veterans to talk about games they’ve been playing, discuss video game and entertainment based topics, and answer questions solicited on social media and the community Discord.
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