D8 Night: an actual play D&D Podcast where our heroes save Volyanaya, one bad decision at a time. Explore a world in turmoil, on the cusp of a new age, and with only our heroes to save it — after completing other important side quests concerning pie espionage, Japanese style game shows, and out of body journeys into one crucial goat's inner space!
Episodes
Sunday Apr 07, 2024
Aftermath 5 – Finale: Sweet Farewell
Sunday Apr 07, 2024
Sunday Apr 07, 2024
Aftermath – Lumosh may have survived the Mistress’ assault during season 2, but the island is still a place full of threats, displaced refugees, and people struggling to survive the decimation wrought by months of blight and unrest. A certain Graycastle was left stranded here in the wake of the events of the Clean-Up Crew arc. In “Aftermath,” he must be pretty desperate, because he seeks help from two newcomers: Blargh and Aaroog. Our new crew faces the island’s dangers as well as other pursuers that attempt to use the chaos of the island for their own benefit. Can they survive the aftermath? Find out in this short, premium arc that takes place in the world of our main campaign!
GM – Mike
Blargh the Orc Paladin – Aimee
Aaroog the Battlemooster Multiclass - Will
This Episode: “Sweet Farewell”
Our group settles their deadly encounter in the burned clearing, and mark the end of their perilous journey together.
Tuesday Mar 26, 2024
Aftermath 4 – Friends with Advantages
Tuesday Mar 26, 2024
Tuesday Mar 26, 2024
Aftermath – Lumosh may have survived the Mistress’ assault during season 2, but the island is still a place full of threats, displaced refugees, and people struggling to survive the decimation wrought by months of blight and unrest. A certain Graycastle was left stranded here in the wake of the events of the Clean-Up Crew arc. In “Aftermath,” he must be pretty desperate, because he seeks help from two newcomers: Blargh and Aaroog. Our new crew faces the island’s dangers as well as other pursuers that attempt to use the chaos of the island for their own benefit. Can they survive the aftermath? Find out in this short, premium arc that takes place in the world of our main campaign!
GM – Mike
Blargh the Orc Paladin – Aimee
Aaroog the Battlemooster Multiclass - Will
This Episode: “Friends with Advantages”
Blargh, Aaroog, and Malach settle the score with the Rhino and some of the other powerful allies of Malach’s sister.
Sunday Mar 10, 2024
Aftermath 3 – Violence and Knowledge
Sunday Mar 10, 2024
Sunday Mar 10, 2024
Blargh, Aaroog, and Malach discuss the economics of bread before heading back on the perilous road to Slaver’s Bay.
Sunday Mar 03, 2024
Aftermath 2 – Be a Man
Sunday Mar 03, 2024
Sunday Mar 03, 2024
Blargh, Aaroog, and Malach begin their harrowing journey along the road to Slaver’s Bay, but significant threats lay between them and their destination. In this case, not the least of which, some mysterious … dirt?
Sunday Feb 25, 2024
Aftermath 1 – Cold Eyes
Sunday Feb 25, 2024
Sunday Feb 25, 2024
Saturday Feb 17, 2024
Aftermath Session 0 - Moose and Girl
Saturday Feb 17, 2024
Saturday Feb 17, 2024
Originally a Bonus Episode, Now available on the main feed!
Aftermath – Lumosh may have survived the Mistress’ assault during season 2, but the island is still a place full of threats, displaced refugees, and people struggling to survive the decimation wrought by months of blight and unrest. A certain Graycastle was left stranded here in the wake of the events of the Clean-Up Crew arc. In “Aftermath,” he must be pretty desperate, because he seeks help from two newcomers: Blargh and Aaroog. Our new crew faces the island’s dangers as well as other pursuers that attempt to use the chaos of the island for their own benefit. Can they survive the aftermath? Find out in this short, premium arc that takes place in the world of our main campaign!
- GM – Mike
- Blargh the Orc Paladin – Aimee
- Aaroog the Battlemooster Multiclass - Will
Sunday Jan 21, 2024
Arcas 13 Finale: The Shadow Road
Sunday Jan 21, 2024
Sunday Jan 21, 2024
Our party of young monks continues their desperate battle with the Harbinger of Shadow and Flame along the switchback path that ascends the nearby mountain. Who will survive? Who will be inexorably changed by this encounter? What is next for Arcas and the rest of Volyanaya? Find out in the finale of Arcas!
Sunday Jan 07, 2024
Arcas 12: The Safety Dash
Sunday Jan 07, 2024
Sunday Jan 07, 2024
We can dash if we want to
But we won’t leave our friends behind
Cause our Friends can dash and if they don’t dash
Well, they’re no friends of mine
Say, we can climb if we want to
To place where we’re all blind
Where there’s something dark and out of this world
That we’d rather no one ever finds
And we can Dash!
Dash!
We can fight when we have to
The Day is dark and so are we
And we can climb and claw with our hands and feet
And reach high for victory
Say, we can die if we want to
If we do, nobody else will
And we can come out of the cave, act real brave
As we go running up that hill
And say, we can dash, we can dash
Everything’s out of control
We can dash, we can dash
But darkness takes a toll
We can dash, we can dash
Everybody open your eyes
We can dash, we can dash
Hope it’s not our demise
Safey Dash
Oh well, the safety dash
Ah yes, the safety dash
We can dash if we want to
But Don’t Leave Our Friends Behind
Cause Our Friends Can Dash and if they don’t Dash
Well, they’re no friends of mine
I say we can dash, we can dash
Everything’s out of control
We can dash, we can dash
But darkness takes a toll
We can dash, we can dash
Everybody open your eyes
We can dash, we can dash
Hope it’s not our demise
Oh well, the safety dash
Ah yes, the safety dash
Oh well, the safety dash
Oh well, the safety dash
Oh yes, the safety dash
Oh, the safety dash, yeah
Well, it's the safety dash
It's the safety dash
Well, it's the safety dash
Oh, it's the safety dash
Oh, it's the safety dash
Oh, it's the safety dash
Tuesday Dec 19, 2023
Arcas 11: Granax Nor’ikian, The Green Plague
Tuesday Dec 19, 2023
Tuesday Dec 19, 2023
We’re back from our terribly long hiatus with a one shot!
Our players take on the role of their monk’s Masters Callion, Aesri, Aerik, Kai, and Nightflower as they prepare themselves to do battle with the Ancient Green Dragon that Shea warned them was on its way to the Monastery of Arcas!
Stay tuned for our next episode to see what unfolds for the Tomato Crew!
Thursday Feb 23, 2023
Arcas 10: Scream at the Rocks
Thursday Feb 23, 2023
Thursday Feb 23, 2023
The monks finally reach the prison beneath the labyrinthine kobold dungeon, but will they find the true heir alive? More importantly, when a new threat appears, will they make it out intact themselves?
Also, stayed tuned at the end of the episode, for a little off-topic Easter Egg as well as some hints about things to come as we near wrapping this arc and prepare for the next.
Saturday Feb 04, 2023
Arcas 9: Chains in the Dark
Saturday Feb 04, 2023
Saturday Feb 04, 2023
Our monks find ominous ancient remnants of a ritual chamber among the twisting, labyrinthine dungeon. Darkness creeps over their hope of finding the true heir that can save their monastery as they continue to be assailed by kobold traps and other, much older dangers, pushing their resourcefulness to its limits.
Sunday Jan 22, 2023
Arcas 8: Double-Crit Gum
Sunday Jan 22, 2023
Sunday Jan 22, 2023
The party continues its descent into what has become a grueling, unforgiving first test for our fledgling party of monks. Will they discover what the Kobolds have done with Danvers or why the little critters are fighting tooth and nail to defend when they are usually so keen to strike and run away? Or will their first sanctioned mission be their last?
Tuesday Jan 10, 2023
Arcas 7: Death of a Thousand Pats
Tuesday Jan 10, 2023
Tuesday Jan 10, 2023
Our monk party delves into Wysdom’s dig site, which they quickly discover is overtaken by aggressive kobolds and other more dangerous foes.
Sunday Dec 18, 2022
Arcas 6: Old as Grudge
Sunday Dec 18, 2022
Sunday Dec 18, 2022
On their way to covertly supply Guillfore's rebellion, Fable, Shae, Whik, Tobias, and Silhouette are waylaid by uncharacteristically active kobolds along the road to the Stonemark. More than just a harrowing attack, the desperation of the little lizard creatures points to something bigger brewing beneath the surface of Arcas.
Friday Dec 02, 2022
Arcas 5: Tomato Baby
Friday Dec 02, 2022
Friday Dec 02, 2022
A few months after the events of the previous episode, we revisit with Fable, Shea, Whik, and Silhouette as they are tasked with their first mission as graduates of the school of Arcas and Members of the Row. And of course, you can’t have a tomato baby without Tobias … who is … also there!
Game-Mom’s Note: Our previous 4 episodes were from a one-shot on the Island of Arcas. We later went back and expanded the story because we had so much fun with the characters, so there may be some small incongruencies in continuity with names of NPCs and the like. We also bring them up to level 5 for this part of the adventure!
Behind the Screens Fun-Fact: Oddly enough, we recorded the “Tomato Crew” arc around the same time we recorded the “Potato Crew arc” based on our scheduling. We also recorded the Specter One-Shot (coming soon) during this same time period.
Monday Nov 28, 2022
Arcas 4: The Ordered Row
Monday Nov 28, 2022
Monday Nov 28, 2022
Fable, Shea, Whik, Tobias, and Silhouette finish their exploration of the manor house and bring back their findings to their masters.
Sunday Oct 23, 2022
The Pumpkin Man – D8 Night’s Family-Friendly Halloween D&D Special!
Sunday Oct 23, 2022
Sunday Oct 23, 2022
Join Will and his three kids (Zay, Ali, and Emmie) on adventure to discover what’s really going behind the scenes at Auntie Marlaine’s Spooky Automaton Theater!
This special episode is family friendly and does take place in Volyanaya, the world of the main campaign, and helps explore a bit of the lore relevant to season 1 of D8 Night. Mostly, however, it’s just a fun adventure Will put together for his kids to have a good time playing a somewhat spooky D&D session together!
We recorded this special last Halloween, but wanted to share it with all our listeners this year! If you like it, consider checking out all of our premium episodes that take place outside of the main the campaign arc: https://www.d8nightpodcast.com/premium-behind-the-screens.html
Monday Oct 10, 2022
Arcas 3: Be Our Guest
Monday Oct 10, 2022
Monday Oct 10, 2022
Fable, Shea, Whik, Tobias, and Silhouette continue their investigation of the local lord’s abandoned manor in their search for evidence to save the monastery. But, the group discovers that just because the manor is abandoned, it doesn’t mean they have the place to all to themselves!
See https://www.d8nightpodcast.com/ for a few of Ive’s table sketches from this arc as well as for links to the homebrew races and feats that it features!
Sunday Sep 25, 2022
Arcas 2: Aggressive Gardening
Sunday Sep 25, 2022
Sunday Sep 25, 2022
Fable, Shea, Whik, and Silhouette stow away in Tobias’ gardening wagon in hopes of exploring the local lord’s manor estate in an attempt to find clues to help save their monastery.
See https://www.d8nightpodcast.com/ for a few of Ive’s table sketches from this arc as well as for links to the homebrew races and feats that it features!
Sunday Sep 11, 2022
Arcas 1: Leaves on the Wind
Sunday Sep 11, 2022
Sunday Sep 11, 2022
Join us at the Monastery of Arcadia about 2 years before the main campaign, as we learn the backstory of some new PCs as they undertake their monk training and embark on their first adventure together. (This was supposed to be a one shot to introduce Ive's character for season 3, but everyone loved their characters so much that we expanded it into a short arc after we completed the one-shot).
Fable, Shea, Whik, Tobias, and Silhouette celebrate Whik’s recent advancement to full member of the Ordered Row. Celebrations are cut short however, as they stumble across dire news that threatens the serenity of the monastery they call home.
See https://www.d8nightpodcast.com/ for a few of Ive’s table sketches from this arc as well as for links to the homebrew races and feats that are featured!
Monday Sep 05, 2022
Special Announcement - What to Expect from our Upcoming Campaigns!
Monday Sep 05, 2022
Monday Sep 05, 2022
Just a quick announcement to let you know what is coming next in our future campaigns!
We'll see you this coming Sunday for our next full-episode!
Sunday Aug 28, 2022
Potato Crew Prequel: Behind the Screens: Q&A with the GM!
Sunday Aug 28, 2022
Sunday Aug 28, 2022
In this special, free bonus episode, Mike and the Potato Crew Players answer questions about the prequel campaign! There are also a couple of spoiler free teases/hints about the next Arcas mini-arc and the long-awaited Season 3 of D8 Night!
Sunday Aug 21, 2022
Potato Crew Prequel: Episode 26 – Defenders of the Realm
Sunday Aug 21, 2022
Sunday Aug 21, 2022
In this special, double-length finale episode, Wellby, Maryna, Thüt, and newly commissioned Lieutenant Uriel face Prince Hedran to decide the fate of Caerunn. Unbeknownst to them, similar battles are being fought beyond the Divine Bridges in the Outer Realms. How will things unfold? What effects will they have on the future of Volyanaya and the upcoming seasons of D8 Night? Well, since we don’t have a Wiki for the show, there’s only one way to find out!
Sunday Jul 31, 2022
Potato Crew Prequel: Episode 25 – Purple Rain
Sunday Jul 31, 2022
Sunday Jul 31, 2022
It was never meant to be in this city
Never meant to return to this plane
They only wanted to lock it away
But now it can see you
Laughing in the purple rain
Purple rain, purple rain
Purple rain, purple rain
Purple rain, purple rain
It only wants to see you
Underneath the purple rain
They never wanted it to break the seal
But its banishment is at an end
The spokes are turning, time to kneel
Purple rain, the city’s last portend
Purple rain, purple rain
Purple rain, purple rain
Purple rain, purple rain
It only wants to see you
Drowning in the purple rain
Sunday Jul 17, 2022
Potato Crew Prequel: Episode 24 – The Memory Remains
Sunday Jul 17, 2022
Sunday Jul 17, 2022
Flicker, Flames
Dreaming Pain
Gone Insane
But the Memory Remains
Heavy smoke and heavy hearts
Another flame does its part
See the manic crowd, in exaltation as they choke
The burning brimstone grows
Hides and swallows Caerrun whole
Singeing blaze of an eldritch god already woke
Flicker, Flames
Dreaming Pain
Gone Insane
Flicker, Flames
Dreaming Pain
Gone Insane
But the Memory Remains
Heavy smoke holds many ghosts
In streets of Caerrun’s spokes
While the Jester’s song makes you remember
And the pain goes on and on
As the Jester sings her song
Ash to ash
Dust to Dust
Flame to Ember
Flicker, Flames
Dreaming Pain
Gone Insane
Flicker, Flames
Dreaming Pain
Thüt’s Insane
Dance Little Potatoes
Sunday Jul 03, 2022
Potato Crew Prequel: Episode 23 – Human
Sunday Jul 03, 2022
Sunday Jul 03, 2022
We did our best to run
When the horde came through the gate
Around the walls of no surrender
They came, on and on
Don’t blame us if we get nervous
When Thüt Opens a Door
Sanctuary, Disengage
Cut the Cord
Are they Human?
Or are they Ichor?
The ick is slick
The goo is black
And we’re in the thick
And it’s getting thicker
Are they Human
Or are they ichor?
Sunday Jun 19, 2022
Potato Crew Prequel: Episode 22 – Other Side of the Gray
Sunday Jun 19, 2022
Sunday Jun 19, 2022
Wellby, Maryna, and Callum have serious conversations during the dusk before waking Thüt and making their final trek to Caerrun. But, when they arrive they discover a desperate scene that makes them fear they may be too late.
Sunday Jun 05, 2022
Potato Crew Prequel: Episode 21 – The Butler Did It
Sunday Jun 05, 2022
Sunday Jun 05, 2022
Wellby, Maryna, and Thüt make their escape from the inferno that is the estate of Lord Montross. However, when they do get outside, they are met with much more resistance than they expected.
Sunday May 22, 2022
Potato Crew Prequel: Episode 20 – Carriages and Kings
Sunday May 22, 2022
Sunday May 22, 2022
The goliath and the carriage horse
Were walking cross the land
The road was wide from side to side
And the horse was in his hands
“Mr. Wizard,” said the carriage horse
“My back begins to ache
I appreciate the brief respite
That you’ve allowed for me to take.”
“The time has come” the goliath said
“To talk of other things
Of gnolls and babes and potato sacks
And carriages and kings
And while the king is boiling hot
And my dreams full of eldritch things
But Kaloo, Kalay, we walk today
Beside carriages and kings!
Monday May 09, 2022
Potato Crew Prequel: Episode 19 – Moons Out, Cannoons Out
Monday May 09, 2022
Monday May 09, 2022
Thüt teaches a master class in laying low.
Sunday Apr 24, 2022
Potato Crew Prequel: Episode 18 – Suggestions
Sunday Apr 24, 2022
Sunday Apr 24, 2022
Wellby, Maryna, and Thüt and lay low after their interesting masquerade in the posh part of town.
Monday Apr 11, 2022
Potato Crew Prequel: Episode 17 – Hungover
Monday Apr 11, 2022
Monday Apr 11, 2022
Now the sun is rising
And we’re far away home
There's just so many faces
Not the ones we’re looking for
In the dark, try to fight it
To forget what we’ve done
But in the bright light
We remember everyone that’s gone
Now the party's over
And everything’s a mess
We’re left here with ourselves and we
Wonder what we have left
Does a heart break forever?
Like a bottle on the floor
Is there hope to be unbroken
Or are we just hungover?
Sunday Mar 27, 2022
Potato Crew Prequel: Episode 16 – Ballroom Blitz
Sunday Mar 27, 2022
Sunday Mar 27, 2022
Are you ready, Wellby? Uh-ha.
Maryna? Yeah!
Thüt? Okay.
All right, folks, let’s go!
Oh, it’s been an adventure
Livin’ with the things we’ve seen
Our dreams are getting so strange
We’d like to know what they mean
Oh, we found a man on the floor
His skin as hot as the sun
And a girl in the curtains, putting on a hurting
Cause she thinks we’re all caught in her web
Oh yeah, it was like lightning
Everybody was frightening
Things started crashing
And Thüt started smashing
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Someone’s stabbed in the back: "Everyone attack!"
And it turned into a ballroom blitz
And the girl in the corner said: "girl, I should warn ya"
It'll turn into a ballroom blitz
Ballroom blitz
Ballroom blitz
Ballroom blitz
Ballroom blitz
Sunday Mar 13, 2022
Potato Crew Prequel: Episode 15 – The Best Laid Plans of Wolves and Rabbits
Sunday Mar 13, 2022
Sunday Mar 13, 2022
It’s masquerade night for Wellby, Maryna, Thüt, and Brüx. While the nobles dance, the Potato Crew has a job to do, though a dance-floor encounter may throw a wrench in and gum up the whole works.
Sunday Feb 27, 2022
Potato Crew Prequel: Episode 14 – The Ladle and the Lock
Sunday Feb 27, 2022
Sunday Feb 27, 2022
Wellby, Maryna, and Thüt try to navigate the Death Labyrinth they wandered into last episode. The labyrinth, of course, has other plans.
Sunday Feb 13, 2022
Potato Crew Prequel: Episode 13 – The Potato Baby Diamond Heist
Sunday Feb 13, 2022
Sunday Feb 13, 2022
It’s a plan that’s never failed before. Let’s see how it works out for Wellby, Maryna, and Thüt this time though.
Sunday Jan 23, 2022
Potato Crew Prequel: Episode 12 – If You Could Read My Mind
Sunday Jan 23, 2022
Sunday Jan 23, 2022
If I could read your mind, Maryna
What a tale your thoughts could touch
Just like a sad old story
‘Bout losing something that meant so much
In a manor dark or a hidden room
With a dagger in its heart
But you know the ghost is you
And you will never be set free
As long as you’re that ghost, we can't see
If I could read your mind, Thüt
What a tale your thoughts could tell
Just like an eldritch story
The kind that Lovecraft told so well
When you reach the part where the tentacles are
The hero won’t be me
Because heroes often fail
And we won't read that book again
Because the ending's just too hard to take
I never thought you could act this way
And I've got to say that I just don't get it
Yelling at old men at the docks
But the crew is gone and we just can’t get it back
If you could read my mind, Thüt
What a tale my thoughts could preach
Just like an old time story
'Bout a phantom walking on the beach
In an ocean dark or the waters deep
With chains upon my feet
Our stories always end
And if you read between the lines
You'll know that I'm just trying to understand
Why everybody dies
I never thought things would be this way
And I've got to say that I just don't get it
I don't know where I went wrong
But she is gone
And I just can't get her back
Sunday Jan 09, 2022
Potato Crew Prequel: Episode 11 – The Cotton-Eye Joe Proverb
Sunday Jan 09, 2022
Sunday Jan 09, 2022
If it hadn’t been for the Kraken-Eye Joe
They’d have gone back and then they’d know
Where they had come from and where they should go
But where will they wash up, Kraken-Eye Joe?
Monday Dec 27, 2021
Potato Crew Prequel: Episode 10 – Calamari Maru
Monday Dec 27, 2021
Monday Dec 27, 2021
In this episode ten-TACTULAR spectacular, the crew of the trashfire may be outmatched as they face an incredible threat summoned from the ocean depths.
Sunday Dec 12, 2021
Potato Crew Prequel: Episode 9 – Waking a Sleeping Giant
Sunday Dec 12, 2021
Sunday Dec 12, 2021
Thüt returns and joins Wellby and Maryna in a grisly discovery and a high stakes nautical chase.
Sunday Nov 28, 2021
Potato Crew Prequel: Episode 8 – Black Scale
Sunday Nov 28, 2021
Sunday Nov 28, 2021
Maryna and Wellby find something worse than the desert— what they were looking for.
Friday Nov 19, 2021
Potato Crew Prequel: Episode 7 – A Firm Lesson, in Death
Friday Nov 19, 2021
Friday Nov 19, 2021
When the Trashfire makes anchor in Torbarhon, Maryna, Wellby, and a few crew members take the opportunity to get off their sea legs for a bit. However, mysterious disappearances in the little fishing town prompt the party to begin a dangerous trek.
Sunday Oct 17, 2021
Potato Crew Prequel: Episode 6 – Big Sleeps
Sunday Oct 17, 2021
Sunday Oct 17, 2021
Aboard the Trashfire, Thüt finds himself in the midst of one big sleep, but he’s not the only new crew member facing nightmares.
Wednesday Oct 06, 2021
Potato Crew Prequel: Episode 5 – Nestea® Plunge
Wednesday Oct 06, 2021
Wednesday Oct 06, 2021
Thüt, Maryna, Wellby, and Talia confront Malach’s kidnappers in a knockdown, drag-out fight aboard the Redemption.
Monday Sep 20, 2021
Potato Crew Prequel: Episode 4 – So Long, Pirate Town
Monday Sep 20, 2021
Monday Sep 20, 2021
Thüt, Maryna, Wellby, and Talia make their way aboard The Redemption and learn that the mission is a little more personal for one of the group members than the others first realized.
Sunday Sep 05, 2021
Potato Crew Prequel: Episode 3 – Step One: Look the Part
Sunday Sep 05, 2021
Sunday Sep 05, 2021
Thüt, Maryna, and Wellby set off on their way to the pirate city of Drohst in order to rescue Duke Graycastle’s young boy from the clutches of Orc raiders operating under the banner of Akagi the Destroyer.
Sunday Aug 22, 2021
Potato Crew Prequel: Episode 2 – Not Heroes
Sunday Aug 22, 2021
Sunday Aug 22, 2021
In this episode, newly introduced Thüt (played by new guest player Josh Gilliland) joins Wellby and Maryna in the mines beneath Iknir.
When the trio is introduced to Jurgen Graycastle, the Duke makes them an offer they can’t refuse.
Sunday Aug 08, 2021
Potato Crew Prequel: Episode 1 – Dark Places
Sunday Aug 08, 2021
Sunday Aug 08, 2021
In a prequel that takes place 15 years before the main campaign, 3 unlikely adventurers begin their own story in the 10,000 Cities.
In this episode, we meet Marina Zamfirescu and Wellby Goodfortune as they fall afoul of the law in the city of Iknir.
Sunday Jul 25, 2021
S2E076: Heroes of Raventree
Sunday Jul 25, 2021
Sunday Jul 25, 2021
In the month following the assault on Raventree, the village and those around it deal with the aftermath of their near destruction. Yet, while it heals its wounds, it never fails to remember its heroes — even as they choose where their journeys will take them next.
Thanks for listening to D8 Night Season 2!
Various characters from our campaign will return in future seasons soon beside all-new PCs!
Sunday Jul 11, 2021
S2E075: The Mistress
Sunday Jul 11, 2021
Sunday Jul 11, 2021
Two seasons of searching finally comes to fruition, as our exhausted party and the Mistress square off in a climactic battle.