The Adventure Zone Royale: Episode 17

Summary of The Adventure Zone Royale: Episode 17

by The McElroys

1h 8m•February 5, 2026
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Overview of The Adventure Zone Royale: Episode 17

This episode follows the contestants between trials in the TAZ Royale arc. The Octave announces the next challenge — the Trial of Conjuration, a one-on-one duel where winners get a golden award and losers die — and the party uses the downtime to lock in opponents, negotiate terms, level up to 5 (unlocking access to 3rd‑level spells), and shop at the atelier/Orb of Conjuration. The episode mixes tense personal conversations (alliances, promises, and bargaining) with the mechanical play of spell/item selection and a few comic beats.

Key plot beats

  • The Octave reveals the Trial of Conjuration: a duel by choice (opponent must consent), arena is random, duels are no‑holds‑barred, loser dies, winner receives a golden award.
  • The characters are between trials and have a day to prepare. The GM tells the players to level up to 5 (3rd‑level spells now possible).
  • Hellgrammon seeks out Dr. Legume (shirtless, giant, meditating under the falls). Dr. Legume is receptive — he wants out of the floating island and agrees to a duel staged near an edge so Hellgrammon can Feather Fall him off and leave the island. They clasp grimoire gauntlets to lock in the opponent.
  • Loravith meets Grakon on the crags. Loravith asks Grakon to promise to raise Duber (Duber) Sweetleaf if Loravith dies. Grakon agrees (with some ambiguity and emotional posturing). They test each other with a strength check and lock in the duel.
  • Rictus confronts the Gentleman from Whizberry about accepting a duel. The Gentleman initially declines, but after negotiation (and a mutual handshake) he agrees to duel under conditional promises (e.g., limiting certain powers). Rictus’s grimoire assistant (“Chris”) privately warns Rictus not to trust the Gentleman.
  • The group goes to the atelier / Orb of Conjuration: prize tiers (copper/silver/gold) affect draws (copper = disadvantage on item draw, silver = regular draw).
  • Spell drafting: players draw from a pool that now includes 3rd‑level spells. Several spells are chosen across the party (see spells section).
  • Magical loot drawn from the Orb: Shadowseer’s Lantern, the Truth Brush, and Sneaky Sardines (one‑use key/sardine tin) among others.
  • Episode closes with the group equipment/spell‑prep finished, opponents locked in, wills and final preparations made leading into the duels.

Characters & motivations

  • Loravith: accepting the duel with Grakon; emotionally invested in protecting Duber Sweetleaf and willing to secure a promise for the boy’s future.
  • Grakon: Loravith’s rival; proud and physically dominant, but agrees to the stewardship promise if he wins. Competitive and focused on victory.
  • Hellgrammon (Hellgramit / Hellgrammit — transcript varies): hunting Dr. Legume to secure an easy way off the island; negotiates a plan to be Feather Fell off the edge during their duel so Dr. Legume can leave the floating island.
  • Dr. Legume: surprisingly ripped and unusually candid; agrees to Hellgrammon’s plan and bonds via gauntlet handshake to lock the duel.
  • Rictus: doggedly pursues the Gentleman for a duel. Has a grimoire assistant (“Chris”) who warns him the Gentleman is not fully trustworthy.
  • The Gentleman (from Whizberry): pragmatic, initially refuses to duel Rictus, then agrees to terms (but likely lying about some conditions).
  • Randolph (deceased, referenced): his memory stone / prestidigitation crystal gave a particularly rich memory set to whoever claimed it, hinting at deeper transference/memory mechanics in the spell crystals.
  • John Arbuckle (atelier merchant/NPC): runs the Orb/atelier and narrates item draws.

Spells, items, and mechanical notes

Leveling / rules highlights

  • Players were advanced to level 5: they now have 3rd‑level spell slots available.
  • Trial/dueled rules: you must choose a single opponent and they must agree; duels are in randomly assigned arenas; consent and handshakes via grimoire gauntlets lock the match.
  • Prize tiers from previous challenge: copper (disadvantage on Orb draws), silver (normal), gold (better prizes).

Notable spells taken (selected during drafting)

  • Gaseous Form (3rd level) — chosen by a player during the draft.
  • Message (cantrip/utility) — chosen for narrative possibilities.
  • Prestidigitation (cantrip) — claimed, with strong memories tied to Randolph.
  • Blur (2nd level) — picked up by Hellgrammon.
  • Magnify Gravity (a gravity-manipulation spell) — Hellgrammon also takes this.
  • Counterspell (3rd level) — chosen by at least one player (useful reaction).
  • Thunder Step (3rd level) — picked by Rictus (short teleport + thunder damage effect).
  • Ray of Frost, Mirror Image — Rictus also selected these cantrips/defensive spells.

(Several other spells appeared in the draft pool: Jump, Create Bonfire, Agonazar’s Scorcher, Distort Value, Cause Fear, Flaming Sphere, Witch Bolt, Phantom Steed, Slow/Magnify‑style effects, Silvery Barbs, Lightning Bolt, etc.)

Items pulled from the Orb of Conjuration (listener submissions)

  • Shadowseer’s Lantern: once per day casts Darkness centered on the lantern; wielder can see through that darkness unimpaired.
  • The Truth Brush: toothbrush that, when used on someone, curses them to speak the truth (Zone of Truth effect) for 10 minutes.
  • Sneaky Sardines: a one‑use tin that forms the exact key to a locked door when opened; grants advantage for stealthy entry and can also be eaten for temporary HP.

Mechanics/permission

  • The Octave/organizers will not put extra constraints on duels beyond observing results; promises are interpersonal and can be lied about.
  • Grimoire handshake: when characters clasp gauntlet/grimoire patterns, their opponent choice becomes locked (magical/ritual signifier of agreement).

Notable quotes & beats

  • Dr. Legume (on wanting off the island): “I have to get off this whole world… I have no business being in this competition.”
  • Loravith to Grakon (motivation speech): “You know why you can’t beat me anymore… Because I care about something smaller than myself.”
  • Grimoire assistant “Chris” (private warning): “I wouldn’t… take anything that guy says at face value.”

What to expect next / cliffhangers

  • The Trial of Conjuration duels are set to occur at dawn; the episode ends with everyone returning to quarters to rest and finalize wills and strategies.
  • Confirmed upcoming duels: Hellgrammon vs. Dr. Legume (edge + feather‑fall plan), Loravith vs. Grakon, Rictus vs. the Gentleman from Whizberry.
  • The episode seeds two ongoing plot threads to watch: (1) the deeper import of Randolph’s memory stones (they may store more than just spell study), and (2) whether the Gentleman will honor the limits he agreed to (Chris and insight checks suggest he may not).

This episode blends tense negotiation and emotional stakes with the mechanical fun of spell/item drafting — setting up life-or-death duels that will resolve in the next installment.