High Rollers DnD - Altheya: Side Quest! | The Volant Vault: Live at The Adelphi (Part 1)

Episode Date: October 8, 2024

High Rollers LIVE at the Adelphi Theatre in London! Our first ever High Rollers live show features an Altheya Side Quest that takes the heroes up into the Volant Vault, a protomagi vault filled with d...angerous traps and deadly encounters! A HUGE thank you to AEG, the Adelphi and, of course, everyone who made the journey to see us at our first ever High Rollers Live Show! Love the podcast? Give us a glittering 5 star review! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/high-rollers-dnd/id1401508198?see-all=reviews Support the High Rollers on Patreon and get early access to Podcast episodes, vods and more: www.patreon.com/HighRollers Music courtesy of Epidemic Sound, TCT Adventures (Solasta: Crown of the Magisters), Monument Studios and Jolene Khor! Check out Jolene Khor and all her wonderful work on High Rollers on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1WX3ICiTmf4GpHwImnQMs6 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Starting point is 00:00:00 Pickaxe. Greetings mortal beings! How would you like to be the hero of the afterlife? From the creators of Manuel Samuel and Helheim Hassel comes the Holy Goshtan, a new time travelling adventure. Play as Cassio, an angel racing to save heaven from blowing up in, let me check my watch here, six hours! Jump between the past, present and future to uncover the secrets of the Holy Goshdarn,
Starting point is 00:00:29 a mysterious artifact created by God himself, and stop the phantoms from overrunning heaven with four different worlds to explore, 23 heavenly elders to roast to your heart's content, and precisely 4,250 dogs that you definitely can't pet. Get ready to lose yourself in this puzzle-packed narrative adventure! Yes, it's out now. We're very proud of it. The team have made the third one in the series. They're all very, very funny.
Starting point is 00:00:54 If you love classic adventure games with comedy, as I know you do, it's on Steam, also on Xbox, PS4 and 5, and Nintendo Switch. Don't miss out on a variety of discounts and bundles across all platforms for the launch period and for Pickaxe listeners you can grab a heavenly discount thanks to our friends over at Fanatical. You go to fanatical.com slash pickaxe you can grab a copy at a reduced launch price. There you go, holy gosh darn. It's funny, classic, you will enjoy it, I enjoyed it, and thank you very much for sponsoring this. On with the show. Hello, Adelphi Theatre!
Starting point is 00:01:50 Welcome to High Rollers Live! Introducing your cast for tonight, Tom Hazel, Katie Morrison, Rhiannon Frost, Chris Trott, Oh My god But yeah Oh Your dungeon master for the evening Oh My god, the splendid beautiful So well first of all sorry going thank you all so much for being here. It's already happening. Thank you for being here at the very first proper High Rollers Live.
Starting point is 00:03:20 We're so honored to have you all here. We're so honored to have you all here. I hope you have a wonderful evening. Now, is everyone ready to play some D&D? Oh, yeah, boy! I'm so excited! It's nuts, isn't it? I'm hitting myself.
Starting point is 00:03:42 Who are you? Who are you guys then? It is a bit much, isn't it? You guys OK? You're nice and cool. I'm not. I'm wearing a scarf. There's a lot of sheepskin here. It's hot.
Starting point is 00:03:57 My face ID is not working. Got it. Your face ID isn't working. Weird. We only have a short time with you tonight, so we are going to jump right into it. Hmm, weird. Your face ID isn't working. Weird. We only have a short time with you tonight, so we are going to jump right into it. If everybody is ready, yes.
Starting point is 00:04:13 Yes! Yes. Yes. He brought the grabby sticks. I didn't know that was a thing. No, I didn't know that was a thing either, Tom. Wait, are you guys ready? Yeah!
Starting point is 00:04:26 Then they're ready. The Draconic Empire of Ilmera. A land ruled by the dragons themselves, divided into seven provinces, each headed by one of the archdragons of the Draconic hosts. Ilmera is a land of vibrant beauty and power, where the elements themselves are bound by the archdragons' magic. A place of frozen mountains, verdant forests, sun-dappled coasts, and storm-ridden plains. We see this
Starting point is 00:05:03 land from above, as though we fly amongst the clouds as the dragons do and draw in on this majestic landscape descending into an area of great valleys and hills flanked by jagged black rock mountains where volcanoes that are kept in check by the archdragons' magic reside. This fertile soil nurtured by these powers, yields rich vineyards and fields of crops that dot the landscape, and its many rivers glitter with gold and gemstones, pulled from the earth.
Starting point is 00:05:37 This is Kaldra, province of the red dragon host. We swoop and soar, over the lands of Kul'dra until we see a bustling town surrounded by great stone walls like tall towers poking up as reeds and many red tiled roofs lay out in complex patterns between them. Ashen Rest, the largest and most prosperous town in North Vale.
Starting point is 00:06:03 This is where our story begins, as a group of local heroes are called to the Dominus Ignarum. That's us. The grand ducal palace and lair of the local draconic noble, Duke Ignarius and his draconic family. I would like each of you in turn to introduce your character, describe them, and tell me what they are doing
Starting point is 00:06:29 as you make your way up to the gates of the Dominus Ignorum itself. And I'm going to pick Chris Trott to begin with. Oh, okay. Hello. I am... Alright, easy. I am Rowan. I am a Yosnir, which means I'm a half-giant.
Starting point is 00:06:47 Obviously, I picked that because in real life I'm a huge man. I have some light grey skin that seems to gradient to black, and I have these strange geometric patterns all over my arms, which you'll get to in a later episode as to why they're there. Oh yeah. I'm a bard, so I like to play, and you'll notice a lute that's beautiful on my back. I don't have it right now, sorry.
Starting point is 00:07:13 And I'm a lovely man. That's it, and I'm just walking proudly with my best friends. Boulder, wonderful. Boulder, Barrick, who's a Boulder boy? Boulder's one with my best friends. Boulder. Wonderful. What? Boulder? Barrick? Who's a Boulder boy?
Starting point is 00:07:29 Boulder's one of my best friends. He's not here right now. Oh. Well, as we see Rowan making his way, his tall, yacht-near, stride, kind of leading him ahead of the group a little bit, who else do we see? Let's go with Tom. Hello. a little bit. Who else do we see? Let's go with Tom. Hello, my name is Zanthius Aurigan and I am a... Woo!
Starting point is 00:07:49 Woo-hoo! Thank you. Oh, Ashens Rest really loves me today. Oh, it's really stoking my pride. And I am a dragonborn who appears mostly humanoid, half-elven, with golden scales across his arms and face. And I look fabulous. Slay. As a true cauldron-ish. And there's nothing wrong with me. You've got a lot to get off your chest.
Starting point is 00:08:19 I've got a lot to get off my chest. Those who don't know high rollers, that joke will be lost on you. Trust me, it lands. And what is Xanthius doing? Oh, I'm straight up jokin' it and biting it. Well, let's just say... Don't give him boo to you.
Starting point is 00:08:40 Don't give him that. What? Sorry, that's all I wanted to say. I've got nothing else. Moving very swiftly on. That's canonical now. Somebody far more reliable. Katie.
Starting point is 00:08:52 Oh, hi. Hi. Reliable. One of my good children. I am playing Daisy Thistleheart. Yeah. Thank you. I am playing Daisy Thistleheart. Woo! Woo! Yeah!
Starting point is 00:09:06 Thank you. Daisy is a human. She was born in Caldre, so she fits in very well with her surroundings here. She is dressed in sort of traditional Caldren gear. She's got a corset and some burnt orange sort of skirts, very cauldron colours, and she's got long, beautiful blonde ringlets. And she's probably wandering with a snack in hand for breakfast because it do be early. It do be early.
Starting point is 00:09:41 And she's just not really talking to anyone, just really drowsily eating their little snacks. Lovely. I'm quite overwhelmed being on this stage, so did you mention you were a rogue? I'm a rogue. I genuinely couldn't remember if you said that or not. I didn't, but I'm a rogue. I'm a sorcerer, by the way. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:10:01 Thank you. Professionals. Very cast spells. That's it. You channel, so as a sorcerer, you channel internal magic. by the way. Yeah. Thank you. Professionals. Very professional. Very cast spells. That's it. You channel, so as a sorcerer you channel internal magic. Yeah, but from where?
Starting point is 00:10:10 Rather than learned magic. Ain't nothing wrong with me. Yeah. All right. So we see Daisy, you know, enjoying her lovely snack, probably bought from the local bakery, a latte fun that is new in... And beside Daisy, we will see, let's go with Gruffd Kim. Hang on, give me a minute.
Starting point is 00:10:31 Don't pressure me. Better get into it. I'm very aware that there's actual Welsh people in the audience. Mm-hmm. Just please forgive me for my sins I'm about to commit. Hello, my name is Gruffd. commitment. Hello, my name is Graf. I'm from a little village called Tremoro, which is up in Isart. And he's basically a big lion man with black fur mottled with white, perhaps denoting a slightly older age. He's got a bit of a dad bod. So yeah, I think as he's walking along,
Starting point is 00:11:05 he's fussing with his clothing because he's been told multiple times by the local cauldrons that you need to look good. Appearances, everything. Whereas normally he just wears furs, hide, things that he's owned for many, many years and has gone through the wash multiple times. So he's probably fussing a little bit with his clothing. He is a druid. And yes, he's also probably going to cuff Xanthius on the back of the head for something silly that he said. Like, you know... Hey, I'm joc'ing it here.
Starting point is 00:11:36 Cut. Whack. Fairy hat. Watch your language in front of the Drahavaric Majesty. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. And then lastly in our little cadre of heroes, Rhee. Hello. Hello, I am Sister Ophelia de la Rosa of the House of Blood. Woo!
Starting point is 00:11:54 Woo! Yeah, get it. Yeah, get it girl, get her. Get her. Go get her. Yeah, you get it. Yeah. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:12:02 Get that snack. She's recruiting followers. Yeah, they're recruiting followers. Get him, get him, go get him, yeah, you get him. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Get that snack. She's recruiting followers. Yeah, this one's for all the goths in the audience. Want to check who's following?
Starting point is 00:12:13 Hands up. Yeah. Oh, there's a lot of you. There's a lot of you, okay. Lovely, lovely. I would encourage it. And Ophelia is standing very tall and proud walking behind the rest of the group.
Starting point is 00:12:23 She is a barbarian with a level in warlock and she has these very fine blood red robes with beautiful ornate silver armour decked out with bat illustrations and all these lovely fine gothic details on her pauldrons and she has these wicked pointed gauntlets on her feet and these blood red gauntlet on her hand. And she's just proudly chin up, just observing Ashen's rest very proudly with her sunglasses just over her eyes. Oh, of course.
Starting point is 00:12:57 It's a little bright this morning. It's a little bright, but she's happy to be here. She's excited. Wonderful. Percy! As... Percy! As... Percy!
Starting point is 00:13:06 And there's the skeleton. Is Percy your servant with you? Percy is always tagging behind. Yeah. So behind Ophelia we see... To most passersby, they would simply see a heavily robed figure, their hood covering their face, their sleeves long enough to hide their hands, just like a shuffling sack of black cloth. But to those who perhaps glimpse a little under the hood, they would see a skull, an
Starting point is 00:13:30 actual skeleton wearing said robes following you behind, your loyal retainer, Percival. My good boy. You make your way up the street towards the grand and extravagant, dominus ignorum. You see members of the Duke's Guard in their orange and red livery standing to attention. At this point, you are all known heroes here in Ashen's Rest. And so they salute you or nod to you curtly
Starting point is 00:14:03 with a sort of smile on their face as you approach. And you see that waiting at the entrance, at the gates, is a dwarven man. He's dressed almost like a butler. He has a fine buttoned tailcoat. And you can actually see that there are studs of metal growing out of his skin that have been shaped and filed into beautiful decorations, chains or little studs engraved to be like gemstones, little details like this. Very well kept beard and slicked back hair.
Starting point is 00:14:33 And you know this to be a considerate, orgrim Eddarth. When he sees you there's a bit of a look of disdain. Hmm, what? You lot again, sort of that kind of mentality. Yeah, he doesn't like this. Oh yes, probably just saving the world again. But he does bow his head. Ah, heroes, you are awaited by the Duke and his children up in the audience chamber. I'm to lead you there immediately in a matter of some urgency.
Starting point is 00:15:00 Morning, considerate. Yes, good morning, Miss Daisy. Yes, I want to- See, you have to say the considerate thing. Oh, uh, considerate? Mr. Xanthius, yes, sir, pleasure. If we are done with the pleasantries, I am to escort you, as I said. It is a matter of somewhat urgency. Thank you, yes, it is urgent, then. Of course, yes.
Starting point is 00:15:10 And he leads you inside and into the Grand Duke's audience chamber. Waiting within this grand chamber is an immense red dragon. His body is covered in scars and burns, and one of his mighty horns is actually broken. His red scales are of a deep crimson, and dark spikes run along his spine to a thick powerful tail.
Starting point is 00:15:48 Two other dragons sit beside him, though they are much smaller and more live. One is a brighter red colour, her shape is more serpent-like, and her majestic body is adorned with golden jewellery, silks and gemstones, whilst the other is a curious mixture of red and black scales with glowing orange eyes. In a flash, these three mighty dragons seem to shrink down and take on humanoid forms, though they still stand near nine feet tall with horns and draconic eyes and tails
Starting point is 00:16:23 and patterns of scales across their flesh, but now they are well dressed in fine clothing and pieces of armor as well. You know these dragons to be the mighty Duke Ignarius and his children, Embarissa, and Obsidious. Ooh. Ooh. Ooh. As you enter, Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. As you enter,
Starting point is 00:16:49 the duke spreads his arms wide. Ah, my friends, it is so good to see you once more. Thank you for answering my summons so fast and swift. Rowan gets to his knees. Oh, please, my boy, stand. There is no need for such formalities today. Your Majesty, you're so kind and welcoming.
Starting point is 00:17:09 Ha ha ha ha ha! Well, after all you have done for Ash and Rest, how could I do anything less? And in fact, I am sorry to cut straight to business and avoid the pleasantries, but it is on that nature that I have asked you to come again today. What seems to be the problem? Emberissa sort of steps forward now. It is less of a problem, Xanthius, and more an opportunity,
Starting point is 00:17:32 one that my father and I and my brother wish to capitalize on before other interested parties may take the opportunity for themselves. Woo! God, they're hot. But no, you... Stifle.
Starting point is 00:17:48 They are hot. I will make that very clear. No, you see these three and Emberista sort of smiles curtly at you all and looks in your direction and it is Obsidius who sort of steps forward. Yes, there is something of an opportunity. Tell me, how much heroes do you know of the proto-magi? Rowan recoils at that. Noticeably?
Starting point is 00:18:14 If anyone is burgeoning with perception, which I know Xantheus is not. How's that minus one? Oh. Just a D&D joke. Well, if I were to make a perception check, I got a three. Wow. Yes, it's just more of a... His body language just shrinks a little.
Starting point is 00:18:36 And he'll be nervous. Why? Oh, if I have a future episode. Sure. Not much, actually. That is right. Not many do. They are mysteries even within Elmira.
Starting point is 00:18:51 These strange vaults, the Proton Magi were once a race of powerful magic users that warred against the gods long, long ago. They were wiped out, but they left behind a legacy. Various magical vaults, sometimes secured in other dimensions entirely, that contain a wealth of magical relics, knowledge of spells, and other curiosities.
Starting point is 00:19:18 They are scattered around Il Mera and Ulthaea, but we have learned that a very rare opportunity is passing over Ashenrest. Like, way up? Way over? Yes. Obsidius will kind of smirk, and Duke Ignarius will resume the kind of story.
Starting point is 00:19:36 Yes! Quite, quite the endeavour. Many, many centuries ago, an explorer called Jahan witnessed a strange object in the sky, a celestial comet passing over Althea. It dropped so low that it soared across the very land itself, within reaching distance for those who had flight, dragons and mages alike, to fly up to the comet and inspect it.
Starting point is 00:20:05 This comet hosts a proto-magi vault within it. In the sky? Yes. It soars across Ulthaea only for a briefest moment, a few hours. It passes over the entire world before it soars back up into the void beyond. But every hundred years or so, it descends once more and passes over the landscape anew. And whilst people have gone up there to explore it, it always seems to be in a new configuration,
Starting point is 00:20:35 new opportunities, new relics, new magic spells to be uncovered. And tomorrow, Jahan's Comet will pass over Ashenrest. Well, Duke, that is the coolest shit I've ever heard in my entire life. It is quite cool. Yes, it is, it really is. No one else agree?
Starting point is 00:20:52 No, it is very cool. What about you, Obsidian? Yes, young Xanthes. You've got a history, if you don't. Yeah. I find it particularly interesting. But there is a danger. As my father said, there may be other interested parties
Starting point is 00:21:10 who reach Jahan's Comet, and they may plunder it before, well, anyone else. And we do not know exactly whom may get to it. They may be nefarious in some way. Yes, young miss. Sorry, so you're a dragon, so you can fly there. Yes, Embarissa. We can't. A very astute point, my darling.
Starting point is 00:21:36 So how are we gonna help? Yeah, sorry. See ya. There are... the nature of the Proto-Majai. they were once great enemies of our mother, the dragon empress, and when we get too close to their vaults, it interferes with our magical nature, it causes us to become weak and confused. We cannot enter vaults ourselves, but we could fly a group of brave heroes close enough you to the comet ourselves So I'm going to be riding obsidious is that what you're saying if you find my brother's company Distasteful young Xanthius. Well, you could always rise when this quest side quest is set
Starting point is 00:22:47 You could always you could always ride me. Yeah. Welcome to High Rollers. Charge with sexual innuende. Wait what? In all seriousness, my sister and I could carry two or three of you each. You may decide amongst yourself whom rides with whom, but you should know that the proto-Majai vaults, they are not defenseless. When others have tried to reach Jahan's comet before, it has launched defenses.
Starting point is 00:23:19 Blasts of magical energy, chunks of rock, even small construct-like devices swarm out of it to assail anyone who gets too close. And inside you will find that there are many guardians, traps, devices of alien nature. It seems that every time one enters the comet, its configuration changes. There have been no reports of repeated rooms or chambers, but we do know that there is a central core, something that houses perhaps the greatest treasure or some chamber of importance to the Protomachai.
Starting point is 00:23:56 Changing every time, I think a rogue would like that. Roguelike. It's a work in progress. Yeah. We'll cook that one a little bit more. It'll come back. It'll come back and it'll be, oh man. A zinger. Now, we will have some time.
Starting point is 00:24:17 It will arrive early tomorrow, but if you have any questions, we can try and answer them now. Yes. Hello, Rowan. Do we have to go in? Well, I suppose individually you may choose, but it seems that your companions are quite keen on it. I suppose you could leave them behind.
Starting point is 00:24:40 You do not have to travel with them. You could leave them to their own devicesices I don't want to do that It's something bothering you my dear Yeah Yeah, I'm pretty bothered What seems to be the matter warrior? I think it's fine Have no fear after your efforts defeating the demons of the lamplighters I do not think you will face anything
Starting point is 00:25:05 that will be beyond your abilities. You are mighty heroes of Ash and Rest. I have utmost faith in you all. Look, you just have to smack a few bandits around and then there's treasure at the end. I see nothing wrong with that. I see. Pretty easy.
Starting point is 00:25:18 Little snack on the way. Okay. Okay, there it is. I'm in. No, no. Okay, don't worry. You want one of my snacks? No, no. Nope.
Starting point is 00:25:29 You see a very bloodied water skin hanging off of Ophelia's belt, I feel, at that point. And a human corpse. Corpse. Freshest corpse. Good morning. But yeah, this is an opportunity, if you have any questions, otherwise we will jump ahead, or if there are any preparations you wish to make, anything you wish to do before you head,
Starting point is 00:25:50 conversations amongst yourselves. But otherwise, for the sake of the live show, we will jump straight to the fun bit. This is a side quest, right? So it could be at any point in time in our theatre history. This is when we're millionaires, can we buy a load of potions? Yeah. Well, you... Sadly, the Alchemical Shop has only two,
Starting point is 00:26:10 and as you know, healing potions in Althea are much more powerful, but much more rare. We run a potion factory just outside the city. I will say, whatever items you have from our recent campaign, you may have now, and if you use them here, I won't count them as being used in the main campaign. So your Vitality Potions and things like that you may use as you wish. Maybe before that episode. That episode.
Starting point is 00:26:37 Where we lost the potion. Oh yeah, this big potion. Yeah, can we have that potion? No, you can't. I have no questions. You're not going to need it. You're not going to need it. You're not going to need it. Yeah, I mean, my only prep if we're flying on a dragon
Starting point is 00:26:49 into a proto-Magi vault is to wear my brown pants. Which I believe you wear all the time. I wear all the time. Oh, yeah. Yeah, fine. Yeah. All right, I will mention one thing. As in terms of mechanics, you will
Starting point is 00:27:03 need to choose who is riding Obsidius and who is riding Emberissa. Should we roll for it? Well, I'm gonna mention, I'm gonna say something here. Emberissa is much more agile and dexterous. Obsidius can use his magic to be more destructive. Whoa, whoa, because there might be. Why, how do you? There might be.
Starting point is 00:27:22 So you wanna go fast, you wanna go hard is what you're saying. Yeah. Yeah. I get it. One has the reach, one has the flexibility. Okay. I'm interested. But there will be, as I said, there will be...
Starting point is 00:27:38 Once again, finishing far too early, Tom. As I said, there will be defenses as you approach the Comet. So it's something to keep in mind who is riding with whom and which dragon you are riding. Yes. Hello, Rowan. Alright, okay, this is in character, okay. Hello. I appreciate you are probably the strongest things in all of Althea. I'm kind of big. Am I going
Starting point is 00:28:05 to slow you down a little bit? My darling, not at all. We are quite powerful. I knew that. It is more simply a case of my brother and I, we are not the eldest of dragons and our size would only accompany about three of you to ride on us properly. Could I ride Ebrisa, please? Thank you. Of course. Of course. Of course.
Starting point is 00:28:26 Yes. Yes. Get in. Well, I suppose it would make sense because Rowan's, you know, a giant. Half. Pretty, yeah, but you're pretty giant. I'm a big boy. Maybe that one should have two people because... Yeah. Who was're pretty giant. I'm a big boy. Maybe that one should have two people, because... Yeah.
Starting point is 00:28:48 Half giant. Who wants to ride with old Rowan? Huh? Huh? LAUGHTER I'll ride with you. Yeah. You, me and Barissa.
Starting point is 00:28:59 Yeah. Nice and fast. LAUGHTER I bet to go with Xanthias to make sure he behaves himself. What do you mean? That's true. Behaves myself. I've been all like...
Starting point is 00:29:09 So, I just want to clarify, Xanthias is going with Obsidius. Yes. Yeah. Behave. For those of you who have not watched any High Rollers before, that's a very interesting development. Oh, good. Oh, good. I love this game. Don't you? All right. So, unless there is anything,
Starting point is 00:29:34 and obviously you are free to talk amongst yourselves, or if you have any questions about their knowledge of this thing, you are more than welcome to ask, but otherwise I will move us on. How bad can it be? I have a question. Yes, my dear. So, but otherwise I will move us on. Now, how bad can it be? I have a question. Yes, my dear. Um, so you were saying about these magical defences. Do you know who put them there?
Starting point is 00:29:52 Obsidius will step forward. Well, I imagine the proto-magi themselves, these vaults, they seemed to be a very independent people. They did not like sharing their knowledge or power, even with each other. So many of these defences and wards were to prevent outsiders who trespassed in them. So I imagine it will be of their nature. So magical, most likely, but we have seen reports of constructs, living metals, crystals, traps also, but also great riches. I would suggest that you will only have a limited amount of time within Jahan's comet, perhaps a couple of hours.
Starting point is 00:30:34 Oh, okay. As such, do your best to gather whatever you can find, be that relics or knowledge of spells. The proto-magi often recorded magical information upon stones and crystals, perhaps search for those, and if you can, try and reach the center of Jahan's Comet to learn what is there. I have one gift for you all, and Obsidius will hold out his hand and in a spark and flare of magic, a metal disc bearing the duke's emblem and arcane sigils on it will appear. And he will hand it to you, Ophelia. This is a token of translocation. Once you are done, or once you are fearing that your time in the vault is coming to an end, I would suggest that you find the nearest exit, and then use that once you are free of the vault's sphere of influence.
Starting point is 00:31:32 The nearest exit? What if we are not near an exit and we activate it? There will be a risk that the Proto Magi Magic will interfere with it. It may work, but if you can, I would get clear of the vault itself. That may mean jumping from the comet and free falling. But the Token of Translocation will bring you back here safely, I give you my word. How exciting. Unless she forgets she has it in her inventory. We don't forget coins here in High Rollers. No, no, no, no. Alright, well if there's no other questions or anything else, we will jump ahead to tomorrow morning.
Starting point is 00:32:11 Yeah, let's do it. Let's get flying. Alright, Gruff, just to check in, Kim, anything from Gruff? Gruff all good? I think Gruff is just like a bit over his head because he comes from a tiny icy corner of the world. He's never heard of Proton Magi Vaults and now he's flying on a dragon into one and it's gonna explode and there's things gonna shoot at him. Explode, but pretty nightly. Is it plundering, looting? No, no. Riding a dragon, stopping bad guys, getting, you know, nefarious treasures from a vault, maybe defeating some sort of powerful vaults born within okay
Starting point is 00:32:46 I've convinced there anyone meek vulnerable or infirm in there. Yeah Hey, what up right meek vulnerable infer. Oh, I'm very firm Sister Ophelia Oh, Sister Raphelia. In reality, Gruffydd, the Protomanshite did sometimes experiment on creatures. There may be prisoners within such things as well. They were known for creating monstrosities. I believe that if you've encountered some of the voltspawn before, gnolls and the like. Oh, yes.
Starting point is 00:33:24 Gusty things. Yes. They burn when you bite them. But there may also be innocent creatures. The dragon empress herself was once a prisoner of the Proto-Major. Oh, really? I didn't know that. Well, if I spot anyone, I'll break them out quick smart. But do be wary.
Starting point is 00:33:39 Rival adventurers and such may also try and reach the comet and plunder it as well. You may need to perhaps fight them, or perhaps at least race against them to claim whatever treasures you can find. They don't have dragons. There may be other means for them to fly up to the comet as well. We kill them. Whatever you see fit to do, young Xanthius. Yeah? With that then, the next morning, you meet back up with Obsidius and Emberissa and the
Starting point is 00:34:12 Duke at the Ducal Palace. The great dome of the Dominus Ignarum is opened and inside the audience chamber, Emberissa and Obsidius take upon their majestic dragon forms and that several retainers, human retainers, bring out saddles, armoured saddles, usually used for elite knights riding into battle alongside their draconic lord and lady. How fancy. These are fitted to the lord Obsidius and lady Emberissa and you mount up onto the saddles
Starting point is 00:34:45 as they begin to fly up into the air. You see it first. Ah! Thank you. I had too much for a stew. This is a bad idea. Oh, not again. I'm not even there.
Starting point is 00:34:58 You see it first as a building point of light in the far distance, a ball of light blue and purple fire, glittering and distorting the air around it. Obsidius and Emberissa launch themselves into the air and begin to fly towards an interception point. Soon, the immense comet roars across the sky, leaving a twisting pattern of energy in its wake.
Starting point is 00:35:26 Within the huge rocky surface, you can see strange metallic growths of stacked cubes sticking out of it. As you draw closer, however, pieces of the comet itself begin to detach and open. Swarms of flying metal insects surge out along with blasts of magical enemies and enormous chunks of rock and ice of the comet itself and I'm gonna say those very magic words oh that we love to hear yeah yeah I would like everyone in it to roll initiative. Woo! What did you do? No, no. Alright, let's start with Kim.
Starting point is 00:36:16 Three. Three. Wow! Uh, Rowan. 13. 13 for Rowan. Lucky. Ophelia.
Starting point is 00:36:24 16. 16 for Ophelia. 16. 16 for Ophelia. Daisy. 18. 18 for Daisy. Pretty. And then Xanthias. 2.
Starting point is 00:36:39 Excellent. I rolled a 1. Alright. Jeez. Did you just bring one dice set and they're punishing you? Yeah, but watch this, though. Eight. It's going to be one of those games.
Starting point is 00:36:50 When it counts. Right, so, first things first, I'm going to let you guys in on a little bit of mechanical knowledge here. The two dragons you are riding on, they are going to spend their entire turn just trying to move. They're going to dash, you know, action dash, movement, everything they can do. However, any of you, you can use a bonus action to have the dragon you are riding use one of three special maneuvers. They can only
Starting point is 00:37:14 do one per turn, so if one of you uses it, they can't do anything else for the rest of that turn, alright? So the things they can do, there's three things they can do. They can take evasive maneuvers. They will attempt to dodge out of the way of an incoming attack. They can use their breath weapon, which will destroy a group of enemies or maybe one of the projectiles being thrown at. Or they can attack with their physical claws and tails and things like that, hoping to try and destroy something as well. They're very powerful, but like I said, they can only do one of these each per turn.
Starting point is 00:37:44 Alright, so with that, the very first thing to go is the vault itself. As we see, thrown towards Emberissa is an enormous blast of magical energy. It begins shooting through the sky, and at the end of the round, it may hit her. You may try and do something in between if you wanna try and stop that happening. For Obsidius, huge chunks of ice and stone are flung out from the vault itself, hurtling their way towards Obsidius. And again, at the end of the round, that is gonna impact if,
Starting point is 00:38:19 unless something else changes that. Okay, all right, sure, yeah. Okay. Daisy. Hello. Hello. Why said always me first. Rogue's got that high initiative. Okay, I will try and gauge if Gruff has this or Zanthius has this. Yeah, yeah, yeah, don't worry about it. OK, what I'm going to do is try and take out some of the chunks with my own weapon.
Starting point is 00:38:51 So I'm going to summon a golden radiant blade out of thin air. And I'm going to throw that. And then I'm going to summon another one. It's a smaller one, it's a dagger, and I'm gonna throw that. So two golden blades strike it. All right, make those attack rolls for me. Let's see if you can destroy some of these enormous chunks
Starting point is 00:39:13 of ice and stone heading towards you. And for those of you who are new to D&D, we make a D20 roll, we add a modifier, and we're trying to beat a number. That's the 26th. 26th, the first blade impacts against the stone and ice. And this is radiant damage, isn't it? It is radiant damage.
Starting point is 00:39:29 All right, full damage then. Just roll up that damage for me. Do I get to make the tag off the action? There are not allies within five feet of the enormous chunks of meteor that are being thrown at the dragon. But I surprised it. I surprised the meteor.
Starting point is 00:39:43 That is eight. Eight points of damage. So you watch as several of these chunks are blown apart, but a large mass of them are still incoming. But yeah, the first attack manages to take out some of the chunks, breaking some of the larger ones up. Fifteen to hit? Fifteen. Duh! Does not.
Starting point is 00:40:02 So the chunks of ice and stone are just a bit too sturdy, and that smaller blade doesn't manage to find a crack and exploit a weakness, shattering it, unfortunately. But you've caused a great big damage, and it caused a great big crack into one of them. She's also looking at it and is terrified, and is just going to sit and go, oh my God, oh my God, no, no, no, no, no, no!
Starting point is 00:40:22 Perfect. That's a free action. That's a free action. That's a free action. Oh, panic is a free action. All right, we then go to Ophelia. Ophelia will raise a nailed hand towards this incoming meteor and she will come. So coming towards you and Rowan is a blast of magical energy. It's not a physical thing.
Starting point is 00:40:43 Blast of magical energy. Then I will... Okay. There are also swarms of these, like, little construct drones flying towards you as well. And can I cast Chill Touch on the little constructs? Absolutely, you can. Yep, absolutely. So that is a 17 to hit.
Starting point is 00:40:58 17 will hit. What does this look like, by the way? It's like a skeletal, bony hand that just materializes out of nothing and rises into the sky and clutches towards these constructs. Love it. And that is... 11... 11 Necrotic Damage. 11 Necrotic Damage.
Starting point is 00:41:19 Out of this swarm, they're kind of attacking clusters of three, and you watch as two of these clusters just break apart instantly. The bony hand just rips them out of the sky shredding them as they fall apart into pieces. Wonderful, great job. Anything else you would like to do on your turn? I'd like to do bonus action command Embarissa to take an evasive maneuver. Wonderful, what do you call out to her as you do that? The Emberissa look out incoming. Very good, my dear. And she begins to spin and turn, trying
Starting point is 00:41:50 to get out of the way of that massive blast. I would like you to roll a d20, and then you're going to add plus five because Emberissa is agile. Cool. That is a 14. 14 is just enough actually. Yes! So we've come to that at the end of the turn because something's going to happen with that
Starting point is 00:42:11 but she's going to be successful in dodging out of the way of that blast. Alright fantastic. Unfortunately Rowan before you, those swarms of drones zoom in and they're going to start like firing these little blasts of magical energy out of these little insectoid mouths and eyes. They buzz and hum like a swarm of angry metal hornets. And I'm gonna have them... There is a total of four of these swarms. One of them is very badly damaged. The very badly damaged one is gonna go for you, Ophelia.
Starting point is 00:42:40 The healthy one next to it is gonna go for Rowan. And then I think on the other side, one's going to go for Daisy, and one is going to go for Gruffuth, I think. Alright? So, against... Yes! Against Ophelia, that is a 3, that's going to miss. That's a hit. So, against Rowan, we've got a 18 to hit you, Rowan.
Starting point is 00:43:01 Yeah, just a little bit. Six points of Force damage. Against Gruffuth, ooh, that's a 21 against you, Rowan. Yeah, just a little bit. Six points of Force damage against Gruffith. Ooh, that's a 21 against you, Gruffith. No, that doesn't hit. Okay, maybe just a little bit. That's another six points of Force damage to you. And then Daisy, ooh, that's only gonna be a 10. No.
Starting point is 00:43:19 So you manage to kind of dodge the side or maybe scramble down Obsidius' back or deflect them with your own blade. She's just clinging on for dear life. and the duck at the last minute of going, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Oh. You missed me. No.
Starting point is 00:43:32 I knew this was going to happen. Would you mind, my dear, just fetching my horn? The horn. I made them with magnets because I knew I would do this. You hold them, my lady. Those constructs! Yep, it will go on somewhere. There we go. Right, so yeah, you managed to dodge out of the way.
Starting point is 00:43:53 That is the drones done. They kind of fire these little blasts at you, but that is it. Then we go to Rowan. Rowan will get out his loot. Strum a big one. Just can't be normal, can you? You really like that joke, don't you? And a resonant note will come out of his loot.
Starting point is 00:44:13 With energy. And it will bestow upon Embarissa a bardic inspiration. Oh, lovely! And that is a D8 that I get to add to a dice roll, right? Excellent. Well, we'll keep that in the chamber then. Fantastic. It feels this flowing positive energy.
Starting point is 00:44:31 Yeah, this beautiful kind of music. It resonates through her entire body. Ooh, I love it. From Rowan, with love. Wonderful. Now, with these insect swarms, are any of them going to get within five feet of me? Absolutely, they will.
Starting point is 00:44:44 Hell yeah. I'm going to tw within five feet of me? Absolutely they will. Hell yeah. Yep. I'm going to twerk and thunderclap. As a ready action. Okay. So when they fly in, we'll just make the attack now because they're going to be doing like, you know, drive by, flying past you and swarming around you.
Starting point is 00:45:03 So just make that attack now. Okay. Rather than as a ready action. Sure thing. Well, it's a con save, so... Con saving throw? Will do. Yeah, 15. That is going to be a fail. Yeah, boy. Two ones, so that is two.
Starting point is 00:45:16 It is a week. Now, luckily the swarms are made of minions, which die in a single hit, so at least one part of the swarm breaks apart. So one is... I halt the range with one arm. I get up on both of my feet and I clap like hell. A thunderous clap.
Starting point is 00:45:35 A thunderous clap of the cheeks. One minion gets disintegrated. One of them gets hit. Focus fire. You'll see the reverberation. Wonderful. I'm sorry The reverberation. Wonderful. I'm sorry. You should be.
Starting point is 00:45:48 Ophelia is traumatized. You're behind me, right? Yeah. Just slow motion. Giant round booty just... Oh dear. Trauma. Raph, bring us some sensibility back, please.
Starting point is 00:46:04 You say that. Oh, benevoluff, bring us some sensibility back, please. You say that. Oh, benevolent DM, wonderful DM. Yes. Got a bit of a weird idea. I love it. Let's go for it. I love weird ideas. I'd kind of love to do a combo with Obsidius,
Starting point is 00:46:17 where I cast Entangle with the idea of kind of like, almost catching the fragments of ice, and then if he dodges, sort of kind of trying to shift them to the side, like so. I like that. Go past. Yeah. I love that idea. So what I'm going to say there is Markov use of Entangle.
Starting point is 00:46:35 You're going to make, and then you'll use your bonus action to have Obsidius use evasive maneuvers. And you're going to add your wisdom bonus to the roll. Because Obsidius normally makes a dodge roll with a flat d20, but I'm gonna let you add your plus four from your wisdom. So that's gonna represent the entangle, catching all the rocks, pulling them to the side, your knowledge of magic, doing that, and then he's gonna try and dodge to the side. I feel like it's almost like, you know, because he's a fisherman.
Starting point is 00:46:58 I forgot that he's a fisherman. You know, it's kind of like when he uses his net, so he's timing it, timing it, timing it, and then he throws this entangle out. And then, phew, I love it. Yeah, so let's make that D20 roll with a plus four, because your wisdom's plus four, right? Five.
Starting point is 00:47:14 It's a five, total? Nine. Well, plus nine. A nine. Plus nine. A nine is sadly not gonna be enough to do it. So whilst you do manage to entangle some of the rocks, the strands and vines and things like that, that you shoot out of your hands or whatever it happens to be enough to do it. So whilst you do manage to entangle some of the rocks, the strands and vines and things like that,
Starting point is 00:47:26 that you shoot out of your hands or whatever it happens to be, they throw Obsidius off and he does try and dodge, but as he does the magic kind of pulls some of them into his direction and he's going to tumble and spin. And unfortunately that is going to be an unsuccessful evasive maneuver. Look cool though, at least at the beginning.
Starting point is 00:47:43 Ah! Sadly not with a nine. That's the bit that hurts the most. That though, at least at the beginning. Sadly not with a 9. That's the bit that hurts the most. That's the bit that hurts the most. Anything, so that was your main action and bonus action gruff, so I think that's going to be pretty much it, right? Sraldo Natural 20. Oh, while I was being frivolous.
Starting point is 00:47:56 Wasted. There it is, lost like tears in rain. That is all I can do. That's all you can do. Xanthius then, you are the last initiative, so at the end of this round. Okay, I'm gonna try to stand up while mounting Obsidius. Rule of cool, you absolutely can stand up.
Starting point is 00:48:13 I'm like, surfing. So I'm surfing. You can hear like a guitar in the background. I look. It's me. Rad. Yeah? Spooning, leo, leo, leo.
Starting point is 00:48:21 You've got your own drum beat as well. Yeah. And I am going to shoot three Scorching Rays at the ice coming towards us. The ice and stone heading towards you. I love it. Yeah, so give me those attack rolls for Scorching Ray. Three separate attack rolls. How bad could this go? Stop it. Okay. First one.
Starting point is 00:48:40 Stop it. 14? 14 is not enough against the ice and stone, I'm afraid they are very tough. It's made of thick, heavy stone. Try another one. No, it can't hurt me more than once, or twice, or three times. Watch this. That's a two.
Starting point is 00:48:54 No, no. Yeah, yeah, that is. Eight? No. Okay, but... Wow. Oh dear. Does an eight hit again?
Starting point is 00:49:04 It does not. Okay, but... Wow. Oh dear. Does an eight hit again? It does not. So we watch Xanthius, so cool, stood up, one hand on some reins. Don't worry, Obsidius, watch this. Watch this. Winds pulling his hair, like his cheeks are flapping.
Starting point is 00:49:25 I love that Obsidius had to witness that as well. Absolutely. Wind's pulling his hair, like his cheeks are flapping. Ooh! Right? You too? I love that Obsidius had to witness that as well. Absolutely. Unfortunately, none of those scorching rays hit. It hit someone. It hit someone in some distant land. It's struck by a falling scorching ray. Good morning, honey.
Starting point is 00:49:41 What a blessed day! Amazing. Well, I sadly don't think there's anything else you can do in your turn, is there? Good morning, Ray. Good morning, honey. What a blessed day! Amazing. Well, I sadly don't think there's anything else you can do in your turn, is there? Yeah, they're dead as hell as well. No, that's all I wrote. Alrighty. So a couple of things are going to happen here at the end of the turn. I just rolled a bad 20 on that dice. Hey! I'm telling you, man.
Starting point is 00:50:05 It doesn't matter which one you roll. So, at the end of the round, a couple of things are going to happen. Rowan and Ophelia, because Ember Rissa took evasive maneuvers, she completely dodges out of the way of this huge laser beam blast of magic. But, as she does that, she spins spins and I need both of you to make an athletics or acrobatics check to hold on. This adventure could end very quickly. Live Q&A anyone?
Starting point is 00:50:34 Natural 20! First one. Yeah! I still clap. That one? No! Ah! Yeah! I still clap. Nat 1. No! I saw Rhiannon's dice as Trot was celebrating his Nat 20. Um...
Starting point is 00:50:54 No! So, as Emberissa dodged the side, Rowan, you gripping the reins, as you well described, however Ophelia, as you were casting the spell, the sudden turn just throws you off balance and you fall off of Emberis' back. Now, the dragon herself is gonna notice, and she's gonna swoop around and try and grab you, unless there's something Rowan would like to do.
Starting point is 00:51:16 I've already cast the spell, haven't I? Well, this is your reaction. This isn't on your turn. Is it a reaction to Featherfall? I believe it is. It is? Oh, ding a reaction to Feather Fall? I believe it is. Someone in the audience let me know. It is? Oh, ding dong. Feather Fall.
Starting point is 00:51:28 Perfect. So with the combination of Feather Fall, Rowan, you see Ophelia fall. What does it look like when you cast Feather Fall? It looks like tiny little Rowan cherubs. Just burst out of my loot and just grip on Ophelia at different points. Like a Looney Tunes, like they're gripping the little bits, flapping their little wings. The wings are so small compared to the tiny Rose. But there's so many of them.
Starting point is 00:51:53 There's so many. And they pick you up and it slows your fall enough that Embarissa, as she completes the roll, she loop-de-loops and ducks under and manages to grab you once more because of the featherfall. Well thank you, thank you Rowan, thank you Embarissa. But that is going to cost you a little bit of time getting to the vault because she manages to grab you once more because of the feather fall. Well thank you, thank you Rowan, thank you Marissa. But that is going to cost you a little bit of time getting to the vault because she has to recover you and it's going to cost you time in the vault. Ha ha, we're beating them. We're winning. Well...
Starting point is 00:52:16 Speaking of, Obsidius is one. Unfortunately, unable to dodge out of the way of these numerous, like, huge, boulder-sized chunks of ice and rock desperately trying to fly out of the way while these, you know, numerous like huge boulder-sized chunks of ice and rock, desperately trying to fly out of the way while still trying to reach the comet. I need, in fact nope, this is on me, I'm going to make an attack against all three of you riding Obsidius. Okay. That is a 13 to hit Gruff. Does not hit. Daisy, 22. Xanthius, 21. Yeah. Alright. So, you guys are going to take...
Starting point is 00:52:48 So, Gruff, you're fine, you managed to raise your shield, or take some defensive thing, deflecting the stone and ice away from you. Daisy and Xanthius, you're going to take five bludgeoning damage and six cold damage. As you're pelted. You know, Obsidius manages to kind of smash through the debris that hits him, continuing on with the journey towards the Comet,
Starting point is 00:53:09 but you are struck by Debris as you make your way towards it, unfortunately. I also need the two of you to make... I use Uncanny Dodge. Ooh, you absolutely can. And in fact, if you use Uncanny Dodge, I'm going to say you don't have to worry about making the next roll I was going to have you make. That's why I want to use it. But Xanthius, I'm gonna say you don't have to worry about making the next roll I was gonna have you make. That's why I wanna use it. But Xanthius, I would like an acrobatics or an athletics check from you to see if you can stay on.
Starting point is 00:53:32 Yeah? Yep. Oh, that's not right. Aye. Unless three succeeds. Maybe. It does not, unfortunately. Farewell.
Starting point is 00:53:49 You do see the same thing. I'm flying through the skies like Bim. It's a reference. It's a reference. Xanthius, you do fall off, and Obsidius, next turn, you are not going to be able to take any actions, as Obsidius is going to have to try and grab you as well. But you are basically stunned for the next round. Okay. As you know, you're a mage.
Starting point is 00:54:08 I'd say you can still cast spells while you're falling. He's so good at that. My accuracy. All right. But that brings us... So, in one more round, you will reach the vault. Those of you who are getting there, you're just going to lose some time in the vault itself.
Starting point is 00:54:24 But we start at the top of a round. This time a blast of magical force goes towards Obsidius, and huge chunks of ice and stone head towards Emberissa. There are also still many of these swarms remaining, but you are drawing close to your destination. All right? So we start at the top of the round with Daisy. Hello. So, are the little swarms still all around us? Yes, they are, yeah. You guys still have them. So, I have an ally right next to me. You do?
Starting point is 00:54:54 Who, me? Oh, no. Barely. No, Gruff's still here, it's fine. Hello. I'd say Gruff, I'd say because the swarms are doing these dive bomb passes, they get close enough that you could wait until they're close enough to gruff and then use your opportunity.
Starting point is 00:55:09 So that's what I want to do. Great, I love it. So I will attack for my main action. I will summon but still hold a golden Radiant Blade, and I'll just take a swipe as they come close to me. So make the attack roll, and if you hit, you'll get your sneak attack. 19. Hits.
Starting point is 00:55:27 Nice. Woo! Nice. Awesome. How does that feel? Hit real good. Now, because these are minions, if you do enough damage to destroy one entirely with their hit points, you'll actually overspill damage into the next one.
Starting point is 00:55:39 So you could in theory wipe out a swarm here if you roll good damage. Hmm, that's a face. You could in theory wipe out a Swarm here, if you roll good damage. That's a face. 13... That's enough to kill two of the... Half of the Swarm. I'll take it. Two-thirds of the Swarm. For my bonus action,
Starting point is 00:56:02 can I ask Obsidius to take evasive actions? You sure? Okay, yep, absolutely. Can you roll a D20 for me, please? But no modifier to this. Obsidius is not as quick as his sister. Nine. Ooh, unfortunately that Blast of Magical Force is going to impact against Obsidius again at the end of the round. Eight. Nine. Alright, Daisy, everything on your turn done?
Starting point is 00:56:23 Just cries a little bit as a free action. Free action. Ophelia? Ophelia would like to unsheathe veracity, the insatiable blade. And can I use veracity to kind of parry these ice chunks as they come through? Yeah, yeah, you can. So are you trying to deflect them away? Or rather than attack them? Yeah, deflect them and pew pew pew! So I'd say to do that, you would have to move up trying to deflect them away, or rather than attack them? You're going to try and deflect them and pew pew pew. So I'd say to do that, you would have to move up to like
Starting point is 00:56:48 Embarrass's head, so you're like on her holding her horn, and you're going to wait for the nearest one and then just try and bat it away. I'm going to say to do that is going to be, it's pretty tricky, but I'll let you choose whether you use strength or dexterity, because you can almost use the momentum momentum and Emberis's grace As a way of like just putting the right pressure on enough point to like knock it aside. So it would just be a straight
Starting point is 00:57:14 Dexterity or strength roll. Let's go Dex. Okay, it needs to be quite high Well You can't get higher than that. So you watch as holding onto Emborissa's horn, and as one of these huge chunks, you strike forward your magical rapier, and some innate, deep magical strength resonates within you. And we watch as the rock splits apart going on either side of Emberissa all of these other chunks around I'm gonna say
Starting point is 00:57:49 we're gonna negate the damage against Emberissa this turn because of that natural 20 you just almost cleaving your way through it damn and you hear her like my dear how impressive almost impressive as you, my dear. Stop. Go on. No, go on. Really sad wheeling here. So, Ophelia, that's going to be your full turn though, to try and do that. You're spending your whole turn knocking these rocks aside. So, the swarm, what is left of the swarm.
Starting point is 00:58:20 That is going to basically be an attack against everyone except Xantheus, who is falling through the air currently. Knife! So Gruff, that is going to be a 19 to hit you this time. Yeah, that is a little bit. Alright, so that's 6 points of Force damage. Rowan, that's only a 7 to hit you. Doesn't hit. Ophelia, that would be a 12. No, don't hit. Doesn't hit, so you guys are dodging to the side. And then Daisy, that's a four.
Starting point is 00:58:47 No, don't hit. Miss, miss, miss. You can see that as these drones are being weakened, as their numbers are being diminished, they seem to get less effective, and they don't have quite as much punch or accuracy as they once did. Yeah, tell me about it. As you fall through the air.
Starting point is 00:59:00 But yeah, completely ineffectual, apart from a few stray hits against Gruff, but you're tough, you kind of deflect them off your shield and things like that. Tears nothing. Tears nothing. Rowan. I think Rowan is going to do a very simple turn. Okay. He's going to whip out his longsword. I didn't mean it. Genuinely didn't mean it like that. Yeah, nice. Sure. Penis. And he's just going to essentially mop up any remaining insectoids. Oh, you want to go for the swarm?
Starting point is 00:59:31 Absolutely. Give me an attack roll. Ah, that is a 19 plus 4, 23. Hits. Pleave through them with your sword. I'm two-handing it, by the way. Wonderful. Well, yeah.
Starting point is 00:59:44 Oh, 10, eleven! Eleven points of damage. You finish off one of these swarms as it swings by cleaving through the ones that Ophelia nearly destroyed last time. You just finish it off completely. Leaving only one sort of damaged, scattered drone swarm remaining.
Starting point is 01:00:00 Fantastic stuff. Good move. Anything else, Rowan? Nothing else on your turn? I pat Embarissa. Don't forget Bardic Inspiration. What do you want me to do, Rowan? I know, just feeling inspired by me. Well, you have a bonus action left. You could have Emborissa. Attack! Yes, or do you want to use a breath weapon, or she could physically attack?
Starting point is 01:00:20 Ooh, breath weapon, yeah. Yeah, she could use a breath weapon. Um, is there still ice shards going towards anybody. We're very in trouble over here. So there's a magical blast of force heading towards them. Doesn't look like an attack is going to stop that thing. But if you can think of a cool idea, maybe, or you could go for the swarms that are swarming around their dragon.
Starting point is 01:00:40 Around the Presidians. Alright, cool. Alright, so for the breath weapon, I would like you to roll 6d8 for me, Christoph. I don't have that many dice. Oh, you're gonna have to borrow some. One. 6d8.
Starting point is 01:00:53 6d8. That's a lot. Two. Four. You're getting makeup on me. In fact, actually make it 7d8. I know normally we can't do this, but I'm gonna use the bardic inspiration to end the damage. That's a lot of math.
Starting point is 01:01:05 10, 17, 20, 26, 27, 28. 35. 35. You watch as... Don't make me do that again. That's a lot of math. You watch Rowan as you kind of command out, like, you know, attack. Emberissa spins around and her long serpentine draconic neck
Starting point is 01:01:24 catches all three of these remaining drone swarms in the air. She opens her mouth and this cacophony of flame just erupts outwards and incinerates any of the remaining drones in the air. They are now wiped out. All of the drones are destroyed. Wait, all the things in the air? Yeah. You are falling, you're safe. See ya! But yeah, that's perfect. And yeah, you annihilate the remest of these drone swarms. But unfortunately nothing is going to be able to stop that.
Starting point is 01:01:54 Well, nothing that you can think of is going to stop this blast of energy from hitting Obsidius. Unless you can think of something. All right, after Rowan, it is Gruff. We need to save Xanthias. I would say Obsidius is going to try and catch him and then fly back, but it's just going to take time. If you can think of a cool way, you will lessen the amount of time it spends. Just ignore him, he's fine.
Starting point is 01:02:15 I was thinking actually of doing something probably a bit stupid, but let's go. Let's go. Well, we love our crazy ideas. So being, I think having recently become a knight errant and with his vows in mind. Yes. Stop. Carry on. Gruff is going to make his way to Obsidius' head.
Starting point is 01:02:42 I imagine the attack is coming head on. Yep, absolutely. As he does, you see these, like this oak and thorn, these branches sprouting across his chest and his body as the armor of oak and thorn appears. And I'm actually gonna have him kind of stand, if he can, on Asidius' head and try and catch the attack on his new shield, but also activate it
Starting point is 01:03:06 so it does give a little bit of, I know he's a dragon, but just, you know, a little bit of cover to his vulnerable brain. Yeah, I mean. It will also help me maybe. And you, baby. Yeah, absolutely. And I will little.
Starting point is 01:03:16 Sure, I will. So I'm very much of the opinion that he's probably gonna get a big blast. But this is what I'm gonna say. So you can, what I will say is, cause this is gonna be a saving throw for everybody riding on Obsidius. Yep. That's going to be you and Daisy currently.
Starting point is 01:03:29 Okay. And I might... Well, no, Xantheus is falling. Yeah. So you and Daisy, what I'll say is, you can basically protect Obsidius and Daisy. They will take half damage automatically, as if they succeeded. You will take full damage. You will basically fail the saving throw. I'm sure this will be fine. I'm sure this will be fine. I'm sure it will be fine. But very heroic, very knightly.
Starting point is 01:03:48 Very Gruff. I love to see it. You hear sort of Obsidius kind of call out, I will do what I can to protect you with my magic, but get ready! As you surge towards the blast. Anything else on your turn Gruff? That's my action and bonus action so I am done. I love it. Xanthus, you are free falling. Ay.
Starting point is 01:04:06 Wee. I have two options. One, which will work. Kind of dull, though. The other, which is cool and might not work, but would be rad as hell. OK. Well, you know what one option I like?
Starting point is 01:04:22 Oh, DMO, blessed DM, would you bless me so with your... DM-ness. Could I cast Burning Hands, enhance it. Oh. Do you want to rocket? Enhance it with my stuff. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah?
Starting point is 01:04:40 Yeah, that's what I would do. You want to rocket back onto Obsidius. I'm shooting enhanced in some way. Yeah. Burning Obsidius. You want to become a rocket. I'm shooting. Enhanced in some way. Burning hands. We'll talk about that in a minute. Are you iron manning? In front of Obsidius.
Starting point is 01:04:52 Not iron manning as much as... Yeah, no, I'm iron manning. You're iron manning, yeah. DM, I would like to iron man. Yes. I'm going to give you a choice, Xantheus. Because you are nearing the comet itself, and in a moment, the dragons are gonna reach the comet,
Starting point is 01:05:07 and you guys are gonna have to make a decision on how you get onto the comet itself. Oh. Xantheus, you can make an effort. You can try and get on Obsidius, or you can just blast yourself directly onto the comet right now. Now, what if... If you fail to get on the comet, you're going to take some damage. I'll die. Okay.
Starting point is 01:05:27 What if I blast myself into Obsidius and use that as a means to have him dodge the thing coming towards him? Ooh, I like that, like, shunt him out of the way of the blast. Ooh. Which would be the bonus action to make him evade. Alright, I will say... Well, that's already been used. But I like it. What I'm going to say is, you are going to roll a D20 plus your Charisma Modifier. Mark off the Burning Hands as well. Yep. D20 plus your Charisma Mod.
Starting point is 01:05:53 You will land on Obsidius no matter what. If you roll high, you will also shunt Obsidius out of the way and protect him from the blast. Okay. Alright. And then you're going to suffer the consequences for enhancing. Oh. Into him.
Starting point is 01:06:09 It's a side question. Watch. Technically can be canon, Tom. Oh yeah. Baby, baby, baby. Baby, baby, baby. Baby boy. Baby, that's me.
Starting point is 01:06:20 That's you. That's me. What did you roll? I'm good. I rolled high. Well done. 22. proud of you. 22! 22! 22!
Starting point is 01:06:28 You're awesome! Very good, boy. You watch. Now, for those of you who are watching, we see something underneath Xanthias' tunic in his chest. No, no, no, no. Glows with red and gold, also black energy and we see that energy coarser his hands and a glove that he's wearing on his hand bursts apart in flames as a twisted dark scaled talon like hand remains but the blast of fire that
Starting point is 01:07:02 erupts from your hand is enough not only to propel you back towards Obsidius's grasp But to actually shunt the adult dragon out of the way of this magic blast She's ready to take the full blast as suddenly you lurch to the side as you hear make a take Xanthias slams in Obsidius. You fool! Oh, sorry for being so rough with you, Obsidius. Oh, no. Cease! Cease!
Starting point is 01:07:44 But you... Xanthius, exactly as you want. Now, you do need to roll a d6 for me and take psychic damage. Oh yeah, of course, yeah. As you channel that corrupted power, you feel something in your body strain against it. Yeah, I take three hurty damage. Alrighty. You slam into Obsidius, he wraps his claws around you as you're thrown to the side as you manage to avoid the blast.
Starting point is 01:08:04 Now you are all close enough to the comet, you can see it below you. You see various cracks and openings, shimmering metal and crystal-like cubes in structures below, and you think you can see sections of it that almost form like platforms or tunnels with strange square and hexagonal-shaped doorways. Now, the dragons call out, embarrassed and offended, we cannot get any closer, heroes. You will need to jump. If we get too closer, it will affect our minds and weaken us. You need to jump or use magic or something to descend down to the vault itself. Remember Obsidius's token when you need to flee.
Starting point is 01:08:45 What do the five of you do? Hello. I'm Rowan. And what I'd like to do is... throw my hands up in the air and do this kind of gesture. What is...? And that is up for your interpretation. What I'm going to do is use performance of creation to create a flume.
Starting point is 01:09:08 Okay. Okay. What is the flume made of? Rowan stuff. Witches. Translucent, opaque. Energy. Energy. This is kind of Green Lantern or Iceman, Which is... Translucent, opaque... Energy! This is kind of Green Lantern or Iceman, you know, in X-Men, making the little slide. Okay, okay. So you use your Creation of Magic and then you're going to jump down and slide off this thing down onto the thing?
Starting point is 01:09:38 Yes, kind of like an emergency escape inflatable on an airplane. Give me an Acrobatics check with advantage. Very well. Because of your Flume. Anybody who uses the Flume, you make an Acrobatics check with advantage. Follow me, everybody. Can we ask that Obsidius gets close enough
Starting point is 01:09:54 that we can use the Flume? Yeah, yeah, absolutely. Okay. Yep. 19. 19 is a success. Rowan, you're gonna land on your feet, no damage. Ophelia will follow Rowan down the flume. You just wee!
Starting point is 01:10:09 Wee! It's delightful. It's weirdly slick. Why is it so slick? At least it's not sticky. Oh, stop. He started it. This whole show is just...
Starting point is 01:10:23 Filth. Right, Ophelia, let's get those acrobatics rolls. With advantage. Five for the first one. And... 11... 16. It's enough. You slide out your graceful nature that you learned in Osseus, your homeland of Osseus, all the dances and balls. You slide and land gracefully on your feet. This is very fun. You don't have to use the Flume.
Starting point is 01:10:47 I mean, I'll just try and jump. I'll give the Flume a go. Worst case, I can fly now. Natural 20. So stylish. Fair enough. Yeah. You get to choose how cool you look.
Starting point is 01:11:03 Fucking extremely. Are you kidding? I got an unnatural 20. Unnatural 20, Daisy, you slip and slide, easy, no problem, landing on your feet. Weird liquids like splashing into your face. No! Stop. Stop!
Starting point is 01:11:17 Kim. 19. 19, so Gruff as well, you know, does Gruff like hesitate a little bit? You know, he's a bit older, this is like... Yeah, he's probably a bit like, oh, what is this made of? Ugh! And then I think probably get a jolt from Obsidius. Like a dad going on a slide, you know, it's like, ugh!
Starting point is 01:11:34 Yeah, and he ends on his belly, going down on his belly. Yeah, okay, and those... The mane is just, ugh! With the magical translucent energy flume, you manage to make your way. And as you get close to the comet surface, you feel the pull of gravity. And although the platform and the door
Starting point is 01:11:53 would have been almost straight down like a tunnel, you stand on it as if it is the ground itself. And before you is a large metal door with a purple crystal inlaid in its very center. Strange geometric patterns are engraved all along the metal's surface. Now before anything else happens,
Starting point is 01:12:17 before, and also we're gonna be shortly going on a small break, but before we do, audience, I would like your help with something. Oh no. Oh no. Oh no. So. What? The proto-magia vaults are strange places
Starting point is 01:12:31 and they have a strange sort of noise and ambience to them when certain things happen. I'd like to divide, so we're gonna have the right side, the left side and the middle divided. You can figure out roughly where you want that to be. This is complex. It is quite complex, yes, you're right. Left side, so sort of the side facing closest
Starting point is 01:12:51 to Tom and Katie's table. The best side. Hey, what up? Stage left. Stage left. I would like all of you, when I say, to try and do a sort of ah, noise altogether, all right? We're gonna practice in a minute,
Starting point is 01:13:04 but you're gonna be ah, nice and high as you can get, a nice ah. Right side, right side, so the sides sort of align from Reincome's table. I want you to try and go very low and give me a good... Right? Okay. And then in the middle, facing me, we're going to do a sort of... We're going to do a sort of vibrating... Like a hum, okay? And I'm going to point at each of you. And when I point at that section, that's the noise you're going to make.
Starting point is 01:13:40 So we're going to do a quick practice right now. Okay? So we're're gonna go left Middle right Maybe the song of storms, sir When you approach the door Oh, Tom! Oh, yeah? Don't get too ahead of yourself. Is this like Zelda? Maybe? The Song of Storms. So, when you approach the door, the crystal in its middle glows, and almost like an eye, a pinpoint of light seems to appear and look towards each of you. Ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch No, a corridor! Shit! Damn it! Beyond the door, not stairs too, you see a large rectangular room that extends onwards
Starting point is 01:14:52 from the door. The room is made of an odd, pearlescent stone that seems to shift and waver when you don't look at it directly. A small platform is set just inside the door with four large colored crystals glowing with some sort of arcane power source. Beyond this platform about 40 feet of wall floor and ceiling pulses with electricity and the air hums with powerful vibrations. comes with powerful vibrations. Oh, cool. Cool.
Starting point is 01:15:31 All right. At the far end of the room is another platform, untouched by the lightning, just in front of another large square door. It has four matching crystals, though they lack the glow of power coming from the ones closest to you. In the air throughout the chamber are four large metal rings. And that is where we are going to take a 20-minute interval. I'm so confused. What? What?
Starting point is 01:16:00 We'll come back to it. We'll come back to it. Everybody, we are... We're gonna take a 20-minute interval now. Please go get yourself some refreshments, use the toilet. Also, please go and buy merch. If you didn't, I know there was a bit of a queue. Try and get some if you didn't.
Starting point is 01:16:18 And we'll be back in 20 minutes to continue our adventure, the Volant Vault. Volant Vault? Interesting. Take care and we'll see you after the interval, everybody. All right. Woo. Woo.

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