High Rollers DnD - Altheya: The Dragon Empire #1 | A World of Stories (Part 1)

Episode Date: November 7, 2023

Welcome to Altheya: The Dragon Empire, a brand new D&D 5e campaign with new characters and a whole new world of stories! A custom, deep, homebrewed world run by veteran Dungeon Master Mark Hulmes, explored by... Ophelia D'larosa - Rhiannon Frost Rowan - Chris Trott Gruffudd of Tremorrew - Kim Richards Xantheus Auregan - Tom Hazell Daisy Thistleheart - Katie Morrison 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) 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

Pickaxe Hello everybody and welcome to campaign three of high rollers. It's here I am your dungeon master mark Sherlock Humes. I am the dungeon master here on high rollers We've been doing it for a while now and you're about to join us for a fresh new story, new world, new setting, new characters. We want to jump straight into it and show off something very special. If you could please run our brand new intro. Thank you. Althea, a world reborn from ash and dust. A world surrounded by an eternity of war waged between the planar realms. A world of many people, places, cultures, and nations. A world of secrets. A world of stories. And in the Dragon Empire, stories can have great power. The ballad of a knight can stir the soul to courage. The tragedy of a tyrant

can damn an entire nation. Some stories begin in grand places, upon a throne of obsidian carved by hands older than God's, or among the stars where the divine saints dwell. But this story, this story begins in the humble village of Burnell. Nestled between the obsidian mountains and the blades of the Empress, the north vale of Caldra is a bountiful land of sloping forested hills and ripe vineyards nursed from the volcanic soil of the Red Dragon's province. Burnell sits at the edge of a swift winding river and the lush hilly forests of the valley. It is a trader's stop that has grown and swollen over the years as merchants and travelers long for a place to rest as they journey along the imperial highway

today is the eighth day of storm falls mid-moon it is a market day and as the fortress of pyrus the great golden sun that brings warmth and light to all fair rises to begin her vigil over the world, before most others are even awake, some life stirs in this quiet village still. We see a small pond, steaming ever so slightly in the morning mist, a water feature cascading down, carved from beautiful stone and painted in bright colors and intricate designs. With a long bench sitting along it

allowing travelers and locals to soak their feet in the warm geothermal springs. There's no pair of boots sat beside the bench this time because a pair of black bird paws dangle close by. Kim, could you please tell us who you are playing and describe them for us, please? No pressure. No pressure. No pressure. Just why did I have to go first?

Okay. So I am playing Grafath, or Grafashort, and he is a leonin. Well, he's a leonin, but in this world they're called wild hearts. So you see before you a large black-furred, but also speckled with white, lion-like creature. He's got beautiful white mane and facial hair that's incredibly curly.

If you imagine like Chinese guardian lions, that kind of curls everywhere. He's dressed quite simply, you know, very simple black and blue robes and wraps around him. But he does have a short cape of overlapping furs, um, uh, hide and furs, kind of protect his shoulders. Um, he's sat on this bench and he's got a little pipe that he's kind of puffing in the early morning air and he's kind of humming tunelessly to himself. And next to him as well is a kind of crooked, gnarled staff, quite natural. And on the top of it is a green, flickering, illusory bird. You know, quite, it looks green, but it's quite long and sleek, a long beak. And he's just, every now and again, he's just staring at it,

and there's a very far-off look in his eyes. Like, he's physically here on this bench by this pond, but in his head, he's back thinking somewhere else. Gruff has been here for a while, kind of watching the sun, the fortress of Pyrrhus rising and cascading the light down upon the world. And looking out, you are just outside the wooden walls of Burnell, just down the hill. And you're kind of at this lovely kind of like little natural geothermal spring. It looks like a little hotspot that maybe locals come to to sort of like rest there, soak their feet and enjoy the warm water. It's very shallow. It's like more of a pond really. And you look out and just in front of you, a little bit ways beyond the pond, you see a

stone church, a little temple, something that a local village would have. Nothing grand, stone effigies of some of the saints and of the great scions, Melia and Pyrrhus carved in the top with a little bell tower that still hasn't sounded yet as the sun begins to rise. There's patches of wild flowers dotted here and there. And behind the church, you see forests beginning to spread out, rising up into the hills, and then the backdrop of these sleek, black, jagged mountains all forming the back view that you can see behind you uh

beyond this church and you're lost in thoughts thinking of home thinking about your birds thinking about what the village may be up to what your family may be up to, and just lost in this daze-like state. Something draws you out of it though, as you begin to hear footsteps. You hear a kind of wooden thunk and a clunk and a kind of scattering of feet, and then a sort of, oh, as a summary, almost in surprise, as you see that beside the church,

there is this tiny little stone cottage kind of attached to it. And you look up and see a little halfling wearing black and white robes, a little symbol of a crescent moon with a star sort of attached to it. And he kind of looks up. He's got short, curly brown hair, very kind of traditional hobbit halfling. You kind of look to him, little mutton chops down the sides. He's maybe middle-aged, and he looks over to you and says,

oh, oh, I'm so sorry. It's a bit early to see you, I thought. I'm the earliest one up in the village. Hello there. Hello. And he looks over to you and sort of calls out to you. Good morning, father.

A fine morning, yes? Oh, yes, you. Good morning, Father. A fine morning, yes? Oh, yes, a very fine morning, yes. I suppose we've seen the last of the rain and hopefully we're going to see brighter weather. I don't recognize you, my good fellow. Are you a visitor here to the village? Aye, I arrived last night with a few friends. Oh, oh, wonderful. Oh, yes, I did hear night with a few friends. Oh, oh, wonderful.

Oh, yes, I did hear about something about some visitors. Well, he kind of like walks his way up to you and he offers his little hand to you. Oh, Reverend Arthur T. Thistle, lovely to meet you. And he kind of offers his hand up to you. Like a firm handshake, like there's a big pull. Oh, my. Firm handshake.

Yes, oh, my, quite. Home crushing. Oh, quite the grip you've got there. Hello, well, let me, if you've not had the warm welcome of Burnell, let me be the first to welcome you to our little humble community that we have here. Are you staying long? What is your business?

Are you visiting the village or just on your way? I personally am hoping to go on my way. I only stayed here last night, you know, needing a place, because it's very dangerous to travel at night around here. Oh, yes, yes. I mean, I've lived in the village my whole life. I've maybe travelled off to Ashen Rest to the south once or twice for a little bit of business and to meet the priest, the high priest there, but nothing much. I'm sort of born and raised here.

The roads and things like that are a bit too scary for me, I'm afraid. Just a humble little priest. But no, me and my wife, and he kind of gestures back, no, we've been here for a long time. Oh, wonderful. Well, you've just been sort of sat here this morning enjoying the lovely sun, it seems. Aye, sun... Well, the warmth is a little bit new to me.

Experiencing waters that are warm and not freezing cold is quite the novelty. And he kind of looks at you for a moment. As you're saying this, he's just like, are you from Iceheart? Aye. Oh, my goodness, what a journey that you've made to be here. What a long way you've come.

Oh, well, and he says, well, do you wish to keep sitting here? I'm popping up into the village. I believe market's just about to begin. I could show you around a little bit if you like. There's a delightful place. They do wonderful little, like, dried fruits with a little bit of sugar. It's a lovely way to start your morning. The wife tells me I shouldn't,

but I always sneak one in as I'm heading up into the village. Would you care to join me? That sounds delightful. I'll join you. Oh, yes, come on in, in, in. He's all sort of like, oh, come along. And he starts leading you up. You know, Burnell's had a rather interesting history. We've got a little bit of things,

but the Duke is very proud of this place. He thinks it's going to be the next big town. We think we can really, he's leading you up, up the hill, back up into the village where you can see the wooden gates have been opened. There's a few surly, maybe a little hungover or tired guards kind of cast in there. But as soon as they see the Reverend,

they just, you know, no issues, you walk straight in. And you begin to make your way in, seeing that there is this large market square dozens of these little stands and stalls with brightly colored canvases and and things like that being set up and we watch as gruff and the reverend make their way and he leads you to this little thing and begins buying you this little sweet treat um but as we do almost imagining like a like a cinematic we see the camera passing over. And as you make your way back up and the market's being set up, we see one of these little market stalls, really just a brightly colored, very warm looking blanket rolled out on the ground with a little wooden chair, like a stool. and an elderly dwarven woman, very old.

And you can see that one of her legs is almost entirely turned to this, the skin underneath from her skirt below. You can see that the flesh has become this silvery metal. And you can see that there are all these kind of growths of metal coming out of her neck. They've been worked into spikes and chains and things like that, but she looks very elderly.

And she's laying out these little stone carvings. And we see a large, slightly gray, with a touch of purple hand, holding one of these little statues as the dwarven woman seems to be speaking to them. And Chris Trott, I would like you to tell us who you're playing and describe them to us, please. I am playing Rowan, which is a great name. Doesn't need a surname.

And I am a Yotnir, which means half giant. So I'm a very big boy. Very big indeed. He's got unusual skin color for a half giant. Not usually seen having like this pale gray tone to him. And also the most interesting feature are his arms. So his hands kind of gradient to a darker color with some interesting intricate blue patterns

that spiral up from his hands. Other than that, he wears quite plain clothing. He's got a nice big scarf with a lovely green pattern on it and he also has a leather jerkin of some kind. Seems like he's relatively athletic looking. He does like to travel quite a lot and he's wearing sandals because he loves comfort. And we would see on his back as well this beautiful engraved instrument you want to talk a little bit about that as well yes the lute is extremely exquisite looking almost like a masterpiece

um it's just beautiful uh it doesn't match rowan's aesthetic in any way because he's quite simple looking so um it looks a little out of place, but either way, it draws attention. That's for sure. Great. Rowan, you've been traveling around and you woke up earlier this morning in the marketplace, began to explore something that you do quite frequently,

kind of wandering around, looking, listening. And as you did, you began to hear it. You began to hear that harmony, those vibrations, that resonance that so often draws your attention. And as you make your way and you pick up this little carved statue, there's a slight element of a feminine figure, a kind of warrior-like figure, sword, maybe one wing,

but it's all kind of very subtle, keeping the natural shape of the stone and just delicately carving with these little details and carvings and runes. And as you hold it, you hear it like the song of a mother to a child, the song of growth, the song of molding and shaping and learning and teaching all kind of merges together in this. And as you hold it, it just fills you. And the elderly Dwarven goes, Oh, do you like that one? A single tear builds up in the corner of Rowan's eyes

and spills down his grey cheek. Oh, I all... It's beautiful. Oh, thank you so much. It's telling... Sorry, one second. It's just telling me a story. Oh!

Oh? Thank you. How much? Well, she looks at you curiously and sort of like, oh, I normally sell them for a silver piece. A silver piece?

Yes, yes. For this masterpiece? Oh, no. sell them for a silver piece. A silver piece? Yes, yes. For this masterpiece? Oh, no. Thank you so much. Oh, my masterpiece stays along behind me, kind young man. It's very sweet of you to say, but no. My hands, and you see as she hands up, three of her fingers have turned to that same silvery metal,

and it's almost growing down her hand. And you can see there are almost patches on her neck which have the same thing. And she said, My hands don't work the way they used to, so I do what I can. I disagree. The work you have here, you've chosen so well. It's very sweet of you, thank you.

It really is beautiful. Thank you so much for introducing me to this. Oh, yes, it's a silver piece. A silver piece. You are not from here. Are you traveling? No. I've made my way.

I'm on a journey of my own, you see. Much like this rock. Oh. Yes, this rock has gone on a long journey, it seems. Well, it's a day to the mines, I suppose. Yes, yes. It must come with me. And she kind of holds out her hand.

I wish to go on a long journey. I have much more to discover. Oh, yes, will you? The Bernal seems exquisite. Oh, thank you, yes. It's a quiet little town. She's still holding a handout for her silver piece.

Please excuse me. Oh, thank you. One silver. She'll take it from you. Mark that silver piece. And she starts, she just says, oh, you say you're travelling.

Are you heading somewhere in particular? To the south, perhaps? Wherever the wind takes me. Oh, I see. You're a sort of wanderer. I imagine you've been to many places and have many tales to tell. I have many tales to tell. Hence the lute.

Oh, forgive me. You are a musician. Yes, I'm more of a vessel. Oh, I consider myself a vessel for the stones as well. I know. Can I have a look at this one? Of course you can. You know, I build many of the buildings around here. I cut the flagstones.

You did. Oh, yes, I've lived a long time. Just in absorbed awe and awe and wonder yeah and you look around outside the market square the the buildings that kind of circle the market square here in bernell are the richer and for a village they're very ornate and they look very well built and larger than you'd expect and they have these solid stone ground levels and foundations cut from these perfectly carved, beautiful flags to main cornerstones and things like that

with little details. And you can see that it's almost like little chiseled and engraved flowers and vines. And you can see little dragons and knights are carved into the stones themselves. Very subtle here and there, but beautiful work. Oh, my. And she...

Just a lot to take in. Oh, would you like to hear more about... Oh, yes. And she... Just a lot to take in. Oh, would you like to hear more about... Oh, yes. I go and find a stool. Yeah, yeah, yeah. As you wander, and in fact, you see that outside one of these beautiful buildings, an inn, you see that outside they've got a couple of, like,

probably, like, for horses or for, like, you know, stable boys and things like that to sit on whilst the drakes are being brought in and mounted. There is a little stool, and you're just like are like oh i can just go borrow one of those and uh you walk over you pick up the stool and as you do our camera is going to pass from you as you begin making your way back to the old lady and the camera now as the door of the inn opens and we see um the one of the maybe an innkeeper or a member of staff that works there a halfling woman with sort of um pink dyed hair that's all tied up in a bun. She opens the door and is sweeping some dirt out onto the street. But as it does, we kind of move in and we follow her as she closes the door. She sets the broom to the side and she begins

making her way upstairs, picking up a few things here and there, ready to do some cleaning. She makes her way up this beautiful coiled staircase, which is engraved to look like roses and thorns and things like that. And as she does, she begins making her way down a long, beautiful, very lavish, very rich, dark wood corridor with these red, dark drapes. And as she does, we pass one of these doors and we phase through it. What we see is a robed figure, and we phase through it. What we see is a robed figure, like a friar or a monk, holding back his hands or their hands, maybe,

still obscured by these thick robes, but holding back this long black hair. And then behind that, you know, the person with the hair is knelt down in front of an altar, a beautiful altar with maybe white stone or ivory or bone engraved figures of a very regal looking man sat on a throne and the throne is made of bones and there are these red gemstones built into it. And Rhi, could you please tell us who you're playing and describe your character? Rhi, could you please tell us who you're playing and describe your character?

I am playing Ophelia de la Rosa, sister Ophelia de la Rosa of the House of Blood. And Ophelia is knelt on the floor in front of this altar in her crimson red ceremonial dress with dark, sort of dark metal armor intricately put together on the top she has these really like intense spiked like boots that come up to her beyond her knees chest plate which has got bones and sort of wings and scales sort of chiseled into the surface and uh she has a very sort of and she has very sort of pale greyish skin with pointy ears and she's knelt down, very straight, very well postured and she's looking intently ahead at this altar as she dips a little horsehair brush in the table in front of her into a little pot of red crimson face paint

and she has her eyes closed and she is just slathering this paint across her eyes, across her forehead, just below her eyes. And she does it with such precision. Like she knows she's done this hundreds of thousands of times, she can do it with her eyes closed. She knows exactly the motions, exactly how to do it. And she's just humming to herself in a monotonous tone.

And she does it. And then these words come out for the house we pray in their name we surrender our bodies our binds our devotion our deliverance there will be done by hands unfaltering their mission shared by hearts united flesh for the mortal blood for the the eternal, in his grace. And she puts the brush down in the pot. When you put the- Excuse me? Um. We didn't hear that.

When the brush returns to the pot, you feel the robed hands finish their work, braiding, finishing your hair in the traditional style, as is always done perfectly um percival's hands never faltering even once as they have never done since they have been in your service silently they step back giving you plenty of space to stand their head bowed waiting for your next command and you find that yes it is you know the morning sun is now rising. You can hear the sounds of the village, this market coming to life. And you hear the sounds of people. You hear

the chatter of village life. You hear distant conversation. You can hear the clattering of people within the inn maybe being served their breakfast and things like that. Thank you, Percival I suppose today we should venture down into the village Maybe try and learn some more about what these people do here Ever silent, Percival just stands in adoration and reverence There comes a knock at the door Hello, come in You hear the door open And standing there is a man, a human man.

He has like a very kind of thick kind of Ned Flanders moustache almost, but he has this kind of very sleek, slicked back dark hair. He's quite handsome, but he's a little bit older, and you can see that he stands awkwardly, and he has a cane uh in his hand as well um but as he opens the door uh you would recognize this man he's the innkeeper of the inn that you're staying the lord the lordly reigns um and this is raoul tovis and you actually met him last night uh he served you your room and made sure you had everything you need uh and he

is just like i'm so sorry to disturb you it's's Sister Ophelia, wasn't it? That's correct, yes. Thank you. I wanted to see if you needed anything, but also, as I understand, you're visiting here in the village, in Burnell? Yes, yes, we are. Well, I thought I have some rounds to do at the market. We have to pick up some supplies. I thought I would offer to take you around and introduce you to people or tell you a bit about the village, if that is something it that interests you that's very kind thank you very much which is

the least i can do your your story is was very interesting uh what you told me about where you're from i i'm just very curious to learn more about you and i thought that this would be a good opportunity to show you more about uh caldra and our village oh and i you to learn more about Kaldra and our village. Oh, and I you. I want to learn more about what you do here, and obviously you're slaving away behind that desk. There must be more to this than meets the eye, I'm sure. Oh, well, I mean, I very much, and he kind of taps his leg,

I'm afraid I don't do much of the manual labour these days. We have staff that we employ here, but no, I mainly speak with guests such as yourself, make sure they have everything they need. I make deals with people in the town and the city, make sure we have our supplies. My job is very uninteresting, I'm afraid, but it is a quiet life, which is very different to my old one, which is nice. That's okay. Jobs are very unusual things where I'm from.

But really, I'm curious to learn more. Is your friend a companion? And he gestures to Percival. Black friar robes just stood. No face visible, no hands visible, just this dark shape. And he just is... Is everything all right? This is Percival.

He is my most trusted assistant. I see. I hope you enjoyed your stay is Percival. He is my most trusted assistant. I see. I hope you enjoyed your stay, Percival. Silence. But Raoul will say, well, come with me. And then he'll say, I'll just run around. The market's market day, so it's quite busy.

But you often meet locals. They come in from the farms and various places. And we trade goods and things like that. Just things that the village needs. We have a few traders that come by, but it should be a fairly quiet one. But I can introduce you to a few people and show you around if that's something that interests you. Oh, it sounds wonderful. Thank you very much. Yes, of course, of course.

She has a smile and flashes a little pointy tooth just. I'm going to rolls. He almost, that has no effect. Like, there's just no reaction to that. He just sort of, like, nods his head. He turns and, yeah, walking with a very clear limp, you can see he kind of leads you down. He heads down the stairs.

And, yeah, if you follow, you and Percival make your way out of the inn. Come, Percival. He follows him behind you. You make your way out of the inn with him. Come, Percival. He follows him behind you. You make your way around. Raoul will sort of engage you in a little light conversation, the kind of, you know, typical stuff that you might do. He points out various things. He gestures to a couple of places around the town,

points out, you do see some of the figures that you maybe saw last night uh when you arrived you see the he points out the reverend the local priest of uh the faith here um speaking to what appears to be the uh the wild heart the large lion like wild heart that you saw briefly but you it's very passing um as you guys make your way around um and yeah just idle chit chat as you go about the business and he begins showing you around the marketplace. As you do, you pass a little stone cottage tucked right at the side of the city's wooden walls. And it has like an elaborate garden attached to this little stone cottage.

It's maybe big enough for like three or four people, the house, but the garden's quite expansive. You know, flower beds and little vegetable patches and even a couple of trees including an orange tree which is just beginning to like properly blossom and you can see the little oranges beginning to grow and this beautiful citrus scent fills the air and as you pass raul takes you on but the camera is going to stay with that garden as it begins to pan around and we see this lovely little orange tree and as the sun is rising and casting shadows, we see the shadow, the silhouette of a little figure. And we begin to hear a voice, almost as if talking to herself. And as we kind of round the tree,

now seeing the market square framed behind it, we see all the flowers in the bushes. And Katie, would you like to tell us who you're playing and describe your character? Yes, so I'm playing Daisy Thistleheart. She is probably about five foot two. She's sitting under a tree with a little notebook and she's sort of dressed,

think like cottagecore, hobbitcore vibes. Hobbitcore Halloween is what we kind of called it. She's got a black bodice, like a corseted bodice with some orange ribbons tying it on the shoulders and floral embroidery all over it. And then sort of a burnt orange long skirt and some little brown boots and frilly socks. She's got big, beautiful, bouncy ringlet curls, blonde blonde that goes down to about mid-back level for her and yeah she's just sitting there with a little notebook and appears to be sort of doodling in it

she's drawing and as you are doodling the sketch kind of come into life and your nostrils full of the scent of that little citrus as the orange tree's growing, the wildflowers around you, you can hear the sounds of the bustling market beginning to come to life as people are waking up and joining in, but you also hear another voice,

a voice you're very familiar with, as you hear a little one. Wasn't that music last night wonderful? It was. It was really unusual, actually. I don't think I've heard anyone make a song about, what was it, pebbles. He said it was about pebbles. He did seem a rather strange sort. Yes, but I think he's quite friendly, though.

He seemed nice. Many of the people here do seem that way, yes. I do wish that there had been some lyrics for us to learn, but perhaps we can think of some. Maybe I could give him some advice. Maybe we could write something and give it to him and see if he likes it, and then next time he performs it,

maybe he can put the lyrics into it. Well, you might need to take care of that. I've never thought of lyrics myself before. We were always taught them. Songs about pebbles. I'll have a think. What rhymes with pebble? I'll think on it.

I'll get back to you. It will happen. I know, I know. And you just hear a kind of like little, you sense delight and mirth and this kind of amusement within you. And as you do, but then you do hear you do hear your friend kind of say like oh i think someone is approaching um and you hear

the door of the cottage of which the garden you have just sort of let yourself into and sat behind the tree because it was a lovely little spot um and you hear the door of the cottage open you hear a woman's voice uh all right okay mom yes i know i know just look after dad like you'll be fine i'll be back soon all right i just need to go and check on things um and she shuts the door and then she you hear some footsteps like almost like kind of making their way and then just dead stop and you look over and stood outside the cottage kind of looking into the garden is a broad shoulders, quite strong athletic physique, human woman. She's got brown hair. She's probably in like her middle, like kind of early 40s.

There's maybe a little touch of gray, just a streak in it. It's all tied up into like a tight bun. And you can see that she's got a big, heavy, like burlap cloth sack over her shoulders. burlap cloth sack over her shoulders. And she looks over and she's like, that's my garden, you know. I don't mind you sitting it. You've not stood on anything, have you? You just see Daisy in her book.

Sorry. It was such a pretty garden, so I thought I'd do my little morning doodle here. I promise I didn't step on any flowers. I didn't. I would never do that. Alright, that's fine. Hey, as long as you didn't ruin anything, that's fine. I drew one, look. And she'll show the doodle. So you move up and

she kind of looks at me and is like, you're really good. Did you have a friend here? I heard you talking to somebody. They left. Yeah. Sure. Sure. Okay. You're not from here, are you? And she kind of looks at you. I. Sure, sure. Okay. You're not from here, are you? And she kind of looks at you. I've never seen you around before.

Nearby. Goodvine? Oh, oh. I've been walking about, though. Oh, yeah, I know Goodvine. Yeah, okay, okay. Oh, you're just visiting? Is it like you're here for anything? Just passing through. Just stayed for a night. Okay. What's your name, kid? Daisy.

I'm Marion. Well, enjoy Burnell. There's not a lot going on, but enjoy it where you can. Thanks for the treat. Yeah, of course. Yeah, no worries. Help yourself. I don't think any of them are ripe yet, but if you want to take an orange, take an orange.

And she kind of makes her way down. Daisy's probably already got an orange. A sack full of oranges. She's like had behind her back the whole time like yeah well now i have permission uh and yeah you just uh watch her she this woman just sort of like yeah like gives you like a little sort of wave um and just begins making her way out of the village uh as if going on some chores or something like that um you do hear some movement still in the house um you kind of hear like an older woman's voice like oh yes no

it'll be fine kind of like mutterings and things like that as if people are still inside um and yeah you you just you know uh return to maybe sketching or you can see the markets filling up um and you begin to sweat like smell fresh bread and you begin to see like the bustling thing and it's quite a few people you know moving around see a few jingling pouches here and there. And, you know, you just kind of see the town coming to life. And you do see that musician that you saw last night, the tall, very, very tall man with the grey skin. It seems to be sitting talking to an older dwarven-looking woman.

And you remember, like, sort of, you know, your friend sort of talking about the music and you see the you remember like sort of you know your friend sort of talking about the music and you see the market square in front of you kind of thing but as you do we kind of follow that woman that had come out and was speaking to marion um we follow her for a little bit as she begins making her way out of the village and we pass by the village's second inn much more down to earth a bit more quaint. Little flower boxes outside each window filled with these pink peony flowers. Peony? Peony flowers.

Peony. And you see a very rustic little approach. And you can see it's already busy. Downstairs appears to have like a tavern. There are tables. People are getting breakfast. Staff are rushing around. And we move up, upstairs, into a set of bedrooms.

And we fall upon the form of somebody sleeping in one of these rooms. But it is clear that it is not a restful sleep. Their eyes flick and flutter beneath their eyelids. Sweat pours down their face. Their body twitches. Tom, can you tell us who you're playing and describe your character for us, please? I am so nervous.

I think looking upon this character for the first time, you would be excused for thinking he is an elf, but as he moves in his sleep state, you see the light glistening upon golden scales up and down his arms, around his eyes, almost a crown of horns, I suppose, at the top of his head. I suppose you would see...

Is he wearing his usual uniform now? Sure. He's got quite simple grey-brown sort of clothing, but accented slightly with golden sashes, some golden sigils across tabards and things like that. And he also has a big gold tail, too. Should have mentioned that one. That's a big giveaway.

But that's under the cover right now. You can't see it. Maybe as he twitches and the cover twists, we see a glimpse of the tail snaking out very briefly. And do I wake up? What's happening to me? You're already surprising me. When Xanthius came to bed, you collapsed. Not even so tired and exhausted, not even undressing,

just falling into this bed, a moment of safety, a moment of rest and recuperation from your hasty and exhausting flight from the city. You are in a room surrounded by a dark void. You can see no walls, but it feels claustrophobic and tight. There is a wooden pedestal, well-made and decorated with engravings and gold inlays, and it stands in the centre of this room, lit by an unseen source of light,

the only light in this place. Atop the pedestal is something covered in a velvet cloth, and the darkness, almost like walls closing in, is whispering, laughing. You begin to see faces and teeth and eyes in that darkness. Oh, no. It has, you don't remember exactly, you know that you're meant to be here, you're meant to get something or help someone,

you can't quite remember, but you feel almost pressed in, like something's pushing you towards that light and that thing and the pedestal. I think I might have messed up my boy too hard, guys. He is on his face, that sweat's still there. He is terrified and he's turning and recoiling away from these whispers and these smiles. But when he locks eyes on this pedestal,

he shouts out, what is it you want from me? What do you want me to do? When you speak, you see that a figure emerges on the opposite side to this pedestal from the darkness a figure they're shrouded in a cloak but there is something about them familiar and you think they're a friend and they step into the light and they take the thing on the pedestal and as they touch it the faces and the eyes and the thing on the pedestal, and as they touch it,

the faces and the eyes and the mouths of the darkness, yes, and they press in, and as they rush towards the pedestal, you are pushed forward with it. What does Antheus do? I don't know, dude. All another character? Is this brand new to Xanthius?

There is a familiarity about all of this. This feels like you should know what this is. You feel like you should know what it is, but you can't remember. It messed up my boy, guys. Oh, God. I mean, if I'm pulled towards it, I want to resist. Like something's pushing you from behind, like that darkness, the mouth, it's rushing you towards it.

I want to turn and run. You turn to run, and as you do, the mouth's almost like sink and bite and push you around, and then suddenly you're at that pedestal, and the darkness is crawling over you, and you can see this figure, there's friends, you know they're a friend,

and are they the one you came here to help? Is this the thing you're meant to find? And they're holding it and you see that the darkness in their mouths are doing the same thing to them and they're shrieking in pain and they're holding out this object. I think Xantius, just like me, would just be locked in. He's tried to resist.

So in your panic, in that moment of not knowing what to do, as the darkness pushes you, you kind of twist in your body and your hands reach out and they fall upon the object. And as they do, the other figure, they're your friend, but now they're angry, they're hissing too. Nah, man! And as your hands touch it, the both of, they're your friend, but now they're angry, they're hissing too. Nah, man! And as your hands touch it, the both of you gripping it all at once, something snaps.

And there is an explosion of light and fire and you feel pain and as you do, you scream and as your mouth opens, the darkness pours in, crawling inside you. I need you to roll a d4 for me. A d4? Oh my god! What is going on?

What is your character? What happened? Okay, I should clarify, I know the cause of this. This is all Mark. He's already used something to backstab me. A d4. First roll. I thought you were the dark one.

It's a four! A four, I don't know if four's good, four. You rolled a four, yeah? Yeah. All right, can you make a constitution saving throw for me I don't know if four's good, four. You rolled a four, yeah? Yeah. All right, can you make a constitution saving throw for me, please? That doesn't sound good. I'll use my last campaign's primed dice.

Constitution saving throw, okay. Yes, please. They betrayed you. I got, I won't tell you the modifier, I got an 11. That's probably not good. First roll of the campaign. It's above 10. It's above 10. High rollers.

Average rollers. Average rollers. Mid rollers. Mid rollers, yeah. We've got to change the name of everything. High mark. As that darkness reaches into your throat and that pain in your chest and your body begins to swell, suddenly you wake up. What does Xanthius do? He is, he almost jumps out of bed, like he can still feel these remnants of this dream, this reality as far as he's concerned right now. Like whatever he still sees in his mind,

he's almost trying to bat away from him still. And it will probably take him a couple of seconds to realize where he is, to sort of land back on out there. And he will be gasping and shaky breath and

really like trying to regain just well his breath again like clutching his chest yeah when you clutch your chest

you feel that that pain from the dream is still lingering still there and you feel your body as you know it to be. You feel grounded in reality. The smell of the inn, the wood, the straw mattress, the sheets,

bringing you back to, it was a dream. It was a dream. It was a dream. It was a nightmare, but it was a dream. You're here. You're safe. And as that settles in, you do hear a voice outside the door like, Is everything all right in there? Yes, yes, everything is okay. Just waking up. A little bit of a bad dream, I'm afraid. Well, nothing kills a bad dream like some breakfast. I was bringing you some. Can I come in?

I will look around for a second. Is there like a mirror or something? Not in this kind of... This is quite a kind of comfortable country, and they probably wouldn't have like a mirror in here. That would be quite a lavish thing. You could maybe go up to like, you know, the window or something like that,

and you're trying to glance at your reflection, but it's hazy because the light's already coming in. Like, you can't quite get a good reflection. I mean, I'll, like, try and sort of stroke my hair back and comb it back with my hand, and I'd probably feel the matted sweaty sort of... Yeah, I mean, you're definitely, like, drenched in sweat. But you do feel recovered.

You feel your energy's come back, like, that long sleep, the food that you had last night has done wonders to recover your stamina um and things like that but yeah dripping in sweat and just heart going but i'm still beating fast um i would i probably think i look fine like i just said i've had a bad dream it's fine um i will go over to the door, put my hand, my clawed hand on the door handle, sort of catch myself with a shaky breath, breathe in deeply, and then conjure a smile as I turn the door handle and greet this person. And the person stood in the doorway is Adri adriana uh peony the uh innkeeper

that you met last night um that uh you know fed you and gave you the room and that you arrived with uh the the wild heart the lion wild heart who helped you arrive here that like found you on the road um and uh and she looks at you and she's carrying like a plate and she has like a very simple kind of like porridge uh with a little bit of honey and syrup, maybe a glass of a kind of almost frothy-looking milk or something like that, and she's like, I just brought you something simple. Is that all right?

More than enough, thank you so much. Of course, of course. You're just, I heard a bit of a commotion in there. Is everything okay? Oh, no, totally fine. Long, long journey, traveling from the city. It was just a very restful, deep, deep sleep. You were very tired when you and your friend arrived.

I could see that. Almost passed out at the table with the rest. I'm glad that you're feeling better. You see this woman, Adriana, she is another wild heart, but she has more like a deer kind of quality to her. She has like the little freckles, kind of like the speckling, almost like a deer motif. That brown sort of brown and creamy kind of like coloring to her like face and skin there is like a little pair of like antlers

like little kind of stubby uh deer kind of horns and antlers um and uh you can see like a little bushy tail she's more humanoid though like uh unlike the lion man that you encountered last night some wild hearts very much like dragonborn like yourself some appear more humanoid some appear more animalistic in the same way that dragonborn can yourself some appear more humanoid some appear more animalistic in the same way that dragonborn can either appear draconic or they can appear more humanoid um she has that more humanoid look and she's like well when you finish this um your friend who came with you there they went out into the village i think they're probably out in the market by now or nearby um but it's market day there's many people here you can if you need supplies and things like that, I think that you should maybe head in there.

But no rush, no pressure. I would be more than happy to meet up with Krafth again and start a new day. Yes, well, enjoy your breakfast. Thank you very much. Of course, of course. We'll be downstairs if you need anything. And as we do, you know, you probably probably sit down imagine you kind of have something to eat again still quite hungry like it's it's been a while since you've managed to have this much food

and you don't know if you're gonna get more when the door closes some of that visage drops a little bit and just slowly tries to stomach this meal uh before deciding to yeah uh to leave and i would try to seek out Gruff. Yeah, in fact, we stay with Xanthius, and we follow Xanthius as you make your way into town, and this is about the point where, because you'd gotten up so early, Gruff, and the Reverend kind of brought you up here, you were sat out there for a long time.

This is the point where all of you are now within this market space, and you begin to kind of catch each other you catch glimpses of each other daisy you see the the large yacht near that was playing the beautiful music last night in the town and seemed very friendly you actually catch sight of the the big lion man that you encountered and and and you think you recognize the the dragonborn that was in the inn as well people that you briefly just you know in passing saw and you begin to see each other as the market of bernell comes to life um there are people selling local goods uh traders food produce all of this kind of stuff in this lovely little haphazard scattered labyrinthian market in the middle of this big village you can see the larger

taller buildings the lordly reign in, the peony post, kind of like these central buildings, like really seem to draw like the town around them, as if the town almost sprung up around them almost. You can see the wooden walls on the outer skirts. There are a few cottages, maybe a few more sort of brick and mortar stores that have kind of like been built around it as well well with like thatched roofs or tiled roofs painted in bright colors and everywhere you look hanging from the buildings or attached on flags to the wooden walls you see uh the colors the heraldry of this region um now for most of you you most of you would be familiar that a region of a province each uh the empire divided into these provinces but each province has these different regions

where the different dragon hosts and families kind of rule. And they all have these different colors and symbols. And this one is a gray and orange, and it seems to have the symbol of a mountain peak that is on fire, like a kind of fiery symbol around a mountain peak, and split into gray and orange, divided in halves, basically. And you see those kind of fluttering everywhere and it's very common for a region to display their their local nobles their

duke or duchesses heraldry and colors not that any of you except for maybe daisy would know exactly who that is for this region would that be something daisy would know and care about I think she would know about it she wouldn't necessarily be like she's not she doesn't super care she cares about like enough to be like I respect the person in charge but I'm not like overly I don't need to look up their life story their history and things you would so you would know the name of the current kind of life. Yeah, so in that case, you know that Burnell sits in Northvale, which is the region, and that Northvale is basically the Duke, is Duke Ignarius, a red dragon,

a red dragon who is the Duke here, and his family, his host. Yeah, you begin to kind of see each other from across the marketplace, and you will have your places, Graf, you're still with the Reverend, he's probably kind of like going around from across the marketplace. And you all have your places. Gruff, you're still with the Reverend. He's probably kind of like going around. He's meeting locals.

He's doing what the local priest would do. He's coming up. Oh, how are you, my dear? Are you well? Do you need anything? Oh, yes. Oh, yes. But scions and saints bless you.

And he's kind of going around. This is my new friend, Gruff. He's lovely, isn't he? Very tall, very strong. I mean, he's kind of introducing you as you kind of go around. I think as that's happening, Ruff is very, he doesn't say a lot. He's polite and he's enjoying it and he's receptive,

but he's just a very much firm nod, firm handshake, very few words as he's being paraded around and getting to know everyone. I think as well he would be trying to disentangle himself. The closer they get to the peony post, which is the inn we've been staying at, the closer we get to it, the more he's trying to untangle himself from the Reverend because he's got Xanthius in his mind and he's, like, trying to go back and, like, check on Xanthius. How obvious is Gruff being in this attempt? Not very. He's very awkward about it.

He's trying to be very polite, especially because you have reverence for the Reverend. So he's trying to be like, you know, I don't want to be a bother. I don't want to take up all your time. No, you're not being a bother at all, Gruff. Oh, look, it's Sarah. Hello, Sarah. Good morning.

Good morning. Hello, Reverend. Who's this tall, handsome fellow? And he's just like, oh, this is my new friend, Gruff. Oh, look, it's Sarah. Hello, Sarah. Good morning. Good morning. Hello, my friend. Who's this tall, handsome fellow? And it's just like, oh, this is my new friend Gruff. Can you give me a, it's going to sound weird, but can you make an intimidation check? Not because you're trying to be scary, but this is intimidation. I like the idea that it's also

like being confident and like kind of taking a strong, you know, imposing like something that you want to say to somebody in a more sort of forceful manner. Or you can make a persuasion check if you want to be if you think that you're being a bit more sort of like oh no i don't want to be about you know you're almost trying to like being pleading so it's up to you which way you want to do i think knowing graph it will be more intimidation not in an aggressive way but just in a very no please i need to be going and trying to be like yeah that is a 16 16 i'm gonna roll an insight check to see if the reverend picks up on the fact

that you kind of want to have other things that you want to do. Okay. So, like, as you do it, and he introduces this last lady, Sarah, she appears to be a, let's see here, she would probably be another halfling, we'll say. She's like a little halfling, old sort of granny, sort of like, you know, she's got a little carrot, you know, vegetable stand that she's selling to locals from. And as you're kind of granny and sort of like, you know, she's got a little carrot, you know, vegetable stand that she's selling to locals from.

And as you're kind of talking and as you introduce, but you kind of make that like, no, Reverend, please. And he's like, oh, I'm so sorry. I get carried away, chattered away. No, no, you go about your business, my good man. It's lovely to meet you. Scions on saints, bless your day.

Very wonderful, wonderful. And if you ever need anything, please come down to the church. We are always open for prayer, advice, whatever you need, my good man. Whatever you need. Thank you, Reverend. Thank you for your warm welcome, but I have a ward I need to go and check on. Oh, yes.

I don't want to keep you from such important duties. No, no, no. No, indeed. Well, saints and saints. Saints and scions be with you. Saints and scions be with you. Saints and scions be with you. That's very good. And, yeah, you begin making your way,

and as you do, you do see Xanthias probably at that point coming out, but we're going to... Oh, I'm so good. No, no, no, I just want to kind of make sure everyone gets... You want to get everyone else in. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So, yeah, Ophelia, you are out with Raoul, and he's taking you around.

He's kind of pointing out various places. He points out the other ends. He points out some of the local traders, but he'll turn around to you as you're walking and say, so, Sister Ophelia, if I can, what exactly, why did you come here to this village? Why are you here in Caldra? It's my great calling. I've been summoned here by those in higher stead than myself

to complete a task on their behalf. Oh, that almost sounds like a knightly duty. What we would have here, our superiors, I suppose, our nobles, the dragons, sometimes people request tests to become knights or reeves or marshals and things like that, authorities to go and do service. It sounds quite similar to that.

It's quite an important duty. You could say so. Mine would be more diplomatic, I suppose. Ah, I see, I see. Are you a pious man? I, as any good citizen of the Empire, yes. I pray to the Scions and the saints when I need to. And, you know, they are our saviors.

They protected us and they have empowered many of our leaders and given us guidance and things like that. But I must admit, I don't always go down to the church for prayers on the new moons. And, you know, I offer it in a nice small way but it's it's not a big part of my life at least not uh not for now i've um and he kind of gets this a little bit of a far away look in his eyes you want to roll me an insight check oh yeah oh oh dear it's not very good can i just say it was really weird that I rolled actually quite well on that. Yeah. Long to continue, but it won't.

With an 11, yeah, you see he gets this far away look in his eyes, he's just like, I don't... Sometimes I do wonder how much the Scions and the Saints look down upon us. There's this kind of hint, but it's hard to glance exactly what that that might mean. There could be another path if you wish to take it. That's sort of like Narrow's eyes. I've heard of a few things. I know that there are those that believe in spirits and the land having powers. And he kind of like leans in, not conspiratorially,

but almost like he doesn't want to be overheard. And I've heard that there are some who claim to receive divine gifts from the dragon empress now that she's gone, and he does make an imperial gesture, like he puts his hand over his heart and nods his head. But I know that the church and the faith, the priests of the scions don't like us talking about that too much, but do you have a faith?

Are you a faithful person, a person of belief? Oh, yes, I pray to the Gravefather. Gravefather? Some deity in your lands? I've never heard of this entity or this figure. He blessed the mortals with magic long, long, long ago. And those that believe in his teachings, they are welcomed into his immortal kingdom. of magic long, long, long ago. And those that believe in his teachings,

they are welcomed into his immortal kingdom with gifts, gifts of power, wealth, happiness. You, you, please forgive me. This is, you, you are taken somewhere else when you, when you die, when you pass? Well, we can be. Some, some are, some are reborn, shall reborn shall we say well when you say that he's like oh that is the i mean that is that is our belief that when we we pass we are if we are not worthy we are reborn to to live a new life but you in your case people who are mainly reborn have

physical re-manifestation of the physical form. Your lands are strange. I'm fascinated, but this is quite a lot. I mean, how very interesting. And he sort of like leans in, but he does, it starts getting nervous, even with like, you don't need to roll an Insights check, that like, this is a topic that like,

he's willing to learn more about, but like he's glancing around. He's like looking like, who's listening? And he looks and he sees where the reverend is and he's like oh and he kind of diverts you maybe in a slightly different path taking you away from the reverend almost um but he does sort of he seems to be interested in a way but is is curious well what does this uh from the nature of the name grave, there sounds like there is some element of death, and you say that as you pass, like, what about soldiers and war?

How is that...? Well, war and soldiers, they are mere tools, I suppose, in our faith, and those tools are created by those who have passed before us so that those that come afterwards can live a more peaceful and prosperous life. He frowns, especially when you said soldiers are tools. It's definitely almost, not angry, but he kind of frowns his head. But then as you keep going, he's like, what do you mean?

Do you not have soldiers in your life? You said they are tools. Do you create them with magic or some such? Well, they are repurposed, shall we say. Oh, no. So, as I was saying previously, so we live a peaceful and prosperous life so the ones that come after us may live the same.

It just, it's... Living a life of toil does not come to the mortal being. Do people not work? They do not work? People that breathe and live do not work. That's not our fate. Very intrigued. As you continue having this conversation with Raoul,

as you make your way around the market, is there any way you want to go to, as you're having this conversation, is there anything that takes your interest, or are you looking for anything in particular? I think I feel he would just be glancing around at the market stall, looking at all the... Just getting a feel for, like like all the vibrancy the

life getting a feel for like the type of people that live in this village yeah and i think when you as you're doing that you definitely notice here especially as you have this conversation about toil and life and strife and things like that everywhere you look there you see you begin to see people not in the marketplace but they're like saying goodbye and heading off somewhere um and you see that they carry picks living people carrying picks is a very strange sight for you dressed in like ragged clothing there's that word again you see people selling fruits and vegetables and crops and and uh you know things of of you know the land um but they look tired and weary and dirty. And again, that's not something you're very used to at all. But then something that you are used to catches your eye

and you see that there is this kind of very beautiful tent in rich purples and golds and silvers. And it's kind of got this lovely little frame to it and a little beautiful table set out in front of it. And there is this elven woman uh kind of rare uh to see but not so rare as to that you would not know that they are an elf um they look quite young for an elf and they're smiling and they have this beautiful array of clothing like it looks like the handmade clothing but it is beautifully done from these lovely rich fabrics

and things um and uh she's sort of looking around and occasionally people come up and they buy like a cloak or a hat or things like that but you can see just behind inside the tent racks of dresses and tail and tunics and tabards and and things like that and she definitely seems to be not as busy as everybody else but it definitely that beautiful and you can see almost like little not gemstones but maybe like little sparkling stones and things like that nothing nothing truly valuable but like little elements of that woven in and things like that guys widen and she sort of glides across to have a quick look sure gl Yeah. You're on word choice today. Somewhere clear. You're not literally gliding.

No, no. She's heavily armoured, but she walks surprisingly lightly. Like every step is pre-planned immaculately. So graceful. Like a cat retracing its paw prints. Behind Ophelia and trailing behind Raoul as well is Percival,

who does almost look like they're gliding him because their robes just fall straight to the ground. They're picking up dirt and things like that. But they're like a shadow. A shadow has come to life and it's just moving around. You just figured something out? He just saw something in your head. Yeah, he got there.

As you begin making your way, Ophelia, you move over to the beautiful clothing stand. Oh, it just clicked in his head. We'll come back to everybody in a minute. Rowan. What the fuck? No, no, no. Listen.

I just stabbed my hand on two D4s. Oh, Kel drops. Rowan. I mean, it's up to you. You could still be talking to the lovely older dwarven woman. You would have learned that her name, this older dwarven stonesmith, is Gabrilla. Gabrilla Tintos. Good name.

That's a really good name. Gabrilla Tintos. Gabrila Tintos. Gabrila Tintos. You could still be talking to Gabrila if you'd like to, but also you could have gone up and wandered around. She probably, it depends on how conversational she is, but I am pressing for every detail of every rock. Like a lot of old people,

she is very happy to have somebody to talk to and is just waffling away to you. She tells you, like, I used to build a little hinge. Would Rowan be curious about the strange metal fingers and the metal leg that she seems to have, these metal growths and things? I think he would respectfully ask about these sort of things. Forgive me. Your accessories.

Oh, yes, my condition. It is a thing that affects all dwarves. Condition, I'm so sorry. Yes, no, I... Normally, I'm sure in your travels, you've encountered many dwarves. And there you may see piercings and decorations and things. I thought they were accessories. They are grown from us.

And in the young, we shape them to be beautiful accessories. I once, and she gestures my feet, I would decorate them to almost be like beautiful spirals and ringlets and anklets all growing out of my legs. Wonderful. And I was, you know, in a time of youth, I would hike up my skirts and dance a little jig and show them off and they would glitter in the sun. I can picture that. Very sweet.

But as we grow older, they begin to appear in other places. And then as we reach our final years, as I have come to be, our bodies become taken over by the substance that is within us. In my case, it's tin, as my name suggests. Rowan's welling up. And eventually my body will become the whole matter and I will pass. You become

the rock. A metal rock. In some dwarves for those that we believe have a great destiny they can be almost made of rubies or diamonds or gold, adamantine, mithril. Our greatest heroes, our greatest knights, they have had great destinies and they will

eventually become matters of this material. What glorious purpose. Yes, yes, indeed. I see no finer way to end. Oh, that is so sweet. I want to be. Can I do that? Oh, well, I've never heard of a non-dwarf with the condition,

with some call it a curse and others a gift. Oh, no. It depends, I suppose. Yes, it can be. I am just common tin, nothing suppose. It can be. I am just common tin. Nothing special. Tin is important. Oh, that's very sweet of you to say.

I know it is. You are a very kind man. I don't know what tin is. There it is. It is a metal, a common metal. Right. Found in many places. And so I...

It looks wonderful. Oh, thank you. I've always found it very pretty. It captures the light very nice. But yes, one day, not too long now, I think perhaps a few more years or months, I don't know, but my condition spreads rapidly. And you will live forever?

Oh, well, yes, I will be reborn as the scions and saints have told us. My body will be used to help my family. They will, perhaps I will be sold to be crafted into things or if I, if they have enough they will make a statue of me to remember me. As she says statue, Rowan's eyes look concerned and then he starts looking at the statue that he bought for a silver and he starts pointing at it. Was this a person? No, no.

Okay. Oh, no. That would be... No, this rock is much like the stone that makes the foundations here. It is from the mine, Blackrock Mine, just up in the mountains. Okay. Good.

Well, you have been very sweet to talk to me for so long, but you have adventures. The stool is buckling. You can hear the stool. I've taken up too much. The youth should not be wasted sitting with you. Go, go, explore. I could sit here for days.

I think you could, but you shouldn't. Go, go. I have things to sell. Send customers to speak with. Yes, I'm in the way of customers. My apologies. Go, enjoy yourself. Please.

She's like, it's been. Oh, oh, cool. You're very big. Thank you so much. She ran a short time. Yeah, and you just, you get that, you know, you hug someone and they're very frail and they're very delicate and you can just tell.

Do you feel the tin at all? Yeah, you would, yeah. Because there's parts of it growing out of her shoulders and her necks. You can see what probably when she was younger would have been worked into something. She's just let grow and it's kind of jagged. Yeah, yeah. And you can see her hand is beginning to spread all down her arm and there's patches of her neck. And probably internally, if what she said and that they do eventually all become an entire thing,

like it's probably their internal organs, like she's, based on what she said, you don't think she's probably got long. I like tin. She's just sort of like, and I like goo. Happens to your face. What would, She's precious.

Would Rowan fancy going anywhere? Or like, you know, as he kind of stands up or like, you do catch sight of people. So you see Daisy, you see some of the other people wandering around. You see pretty much everybody you saw in the inn last night. If he catches sight of anyone, he's doing a big wave. Sure. Very happy. Sure.

And he's showing the rock statue that he's got, pointing at it. Can I go over? Absolutely. I would probably go over with my book, having just had my thoughts about lyrics and things, and go over and go, oh, oh, is that the pebble? The pebble? The one you're saying about.

This is Gabriela's statue. Do you have the pebble? What's the pebble. The one you sang about. No, this is Gabriela's statue. Oh. Do you have the pebble? What pebble? The pebbles you sang about last night. No, the pebbles wished to remain. Oh. I carry their story with me, but they do not come with me. Sometimes they wish to come with me, like this.

But the pebbles wish to stay in Azar. Did you talk to the pebble? The pebbles speak to me. What do they sound like? They sound like this when I get my lute out. And I pluck the lowest note on the strings, and it starts to resonate with a certain tone that takes a life of its own.

And it just sounds very peaceful, like an ambient tone. Daisy is going to grab him by the arm and pull him off to the side and sit down cross-legged and pull him to sit down and just sit down and look at him and go, so I think we could write some lyrics to your music about the pebble,

but I need to know more about the pebble and how the pebble feels to be able to write the lyrics for the pebble. The pebble was very sad. Oh! Yes. Why was it sad? Other pebble friends were around it for many centuries.

As we know, pebbles like to lay by lakes. They're often placed there by the lake itself. But his pebble friend got washed away. And he's been alone for many decades. I can see why you wrote a song about it. I'm the first person that's listened to his story. Well then we should make some lyrics. We should tell the pebble's story. Yes. Does the pebble have a name? I didn't ask its name. I must go back. We can we could make one up for now. Seems like it's quite hard. Then we seek approval.

one up for now. Seems like it's quite hard. And then we seek approval. We'll ask the pebble next time we see it. I don't want to pick a name that would be unsuitable. Of course. Did you get a vibe for it? Oh yes. We can workshop something. Yes. Quite a cheeky little pebble, actually. Once you get to know it.

Okay, I'm gonna write this down. Pebble Cheeky. Nice pictures you have in your book. Oh, thank you. I found a really nice orange tree. Do you want an orange? Yes. I'll give him an orange

because I've collected a few by this point. Yeah. I grip it in my massive hand. Thank you. I'm gonna go and buy some bread and then I'm going to have a think about the pebble. Bread. Yes, I'm hungry.

Okay. Maybe we should eat. Probably. We should find the others, our other best friends. The shiny, scapey boy. The shiny one, the big fluffy one, the strange one. I don't know about that one. I think she's lovely.

Scares me though. We talked about blood. As you talk about these other friends, we do see, yeah, Gruff and Xandis, we see you guys kind of, like, catching up once again. I thought I'd do this just as Kim took a drink as well. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah.

Sorry. It's all right. When you... When we spoke, this is Tom talking to Kim, did you introduce yourself as Gruffeth or as Gruff to me? I would have said Gruffeth, but you can call me Gruff. Wait, you would have said Gruffeth, but you can call me Gruff, okay. I would have said my iconic phrase, Hello, my name is Gruff.

In order to get the accent. Hello, my name is Gruffeth, but you can call me Gruff. Little Lordling, good morrow to you. Xanthius is, as I mentioned, Xanthius is fine. I'm worried about you. Did you sleep well? Oh, I slept, um... very well. There was a pause there.

There was a, ah, well, for a second there, I thought I could reminisce a dream there, but, no, gone. You know how it is. When was a, ah, well, for a second there, I thought I could reminisce a dream there, but, No. Gone, you know how it is. When you wake up and, um, vanishes. Uh, I mean, you can, yeah, give me a deception check, I guess, Xanthius,

and an insight check from Gruff. Hell yeah, baby, deception. Xanthius is very is very good at speaking. 21. 21. So status quo, so you definitely, Gruff has a suspicion that the truth isn't there, but it could just be that something's playing on you

and maybe you're just imagining it. We just stood there staring at each other. You're just basically not sure. But really, really, good dream, it's gone. That's a very convincing song. Where'd it go? You know how dreams be. They do be that way.

Just narrowing of the eyes. But enough about me. How did you sleep? Lightly, as always. And then I've been up since the dawn broke. Dawn? Yes. Okay. Well, normally I'm out fishing since the dawn broke. Dawn? Yes. Okay.

Well, normally I'm out fishing at this time. Fishing? Yes. Really? Well, I mean... When the stars are still overhead. Far too early for me. I figured you were a bit of a city boy, maybe?

No, no, no, no. Definitely not a city boy. Not a scholar. No? No. Some kind of light work where you don't have to be up at the crack of dawn. Well, just not stars in the sky early. But then how would you know where to go? Because they guide you.

The roads tend to guide me more than anything else. But anyway, um... I brought you some food. Did you pay for that? Technically, the Reverend paid for it. Do I need to pay the Reverend back? I suppose I do. I'm trying to think about the logistics of this. Now, am I still under your care?

Not that I don't appreciate it. Please, I very much appreciate it. It's just, as I stand now, I don't feel... What was it you said? Are you still meek, infirm, or vulnerable? I don't feel meek. I'm not infirm. Let me feel your forehead.

Okay. Anything? Warm. Warm? Yeah, warm, but... Clammy. But also, looking at the scales, you know that gold dragons tend to have an element of heat and flame and things like that.

That could just be a dragonborn thing, the heat. He's warmer than you would expect, but... I'll be honest, I've never taken the temperature of a dragonborn. Is this normal? This is... No, that's normal. That's normal. I do have something to admit.

I was so tired last night that I did sleep in my clothes. So... A change of clothes would be wonderful. I do have something to admit. I was so tired last night that I did sleep in my clothes. Ah. So a change of clothes would be wonderful. But again, I can't be bothering you with this. This is, I very much appreciate the help. I do. And I've given you, I mean, do you want more gold? I don't understand this arrangement.

I found you by the side of the road. Yes. When you were infirm. Yes. And vulnerable. So it is my duty to protect you and write this. And what happens when we reach the end of our obligation, our contract? Is it a contract?

I suppose it's a verbal contract or a moral contract. You did say you'd be a character reference for me, and that's good for a dragonborn. Did I? Yes. I'm going to be honest. You were quite delirious last night. It was a haze. So tired. But if you want me to say nice

things about you? That would be good. You're a nice person. Not to me. To, well... Anyone who asks. Right, okay. Speaking of anyone who asks, there were others, weren't there?

Yes, there was a tall one, a short one, and a pointy one. As you describe them in such eloquent means... She's very pointy. Yeah. It worked really well.

You do see... You clearly can see the others like looking around you're kind of at the entrance to the peony post kind of having just met xanthius as he comes outside you can see the others you see rowan and daisy almost looking in your direction like pointing towards you as you guys have spotted them as well and ophelia whilst you've been traveling with rao he's uh turned and he's doing some business you've been sort of examining these beautiful dresses but you do kind of catch this conversation. Maybe even Pursle would probably tug you on the sleeve and with a kind of drooping thing,

point in a direction towards the companions that you witnessed at the gate last night. But as you do this, a voice calls out. Marshall! Marshall! Soldiers are coming up the road! Quick! And you hear a commotion. As you hear some kind of, like... You hear the rustling sounds.

You begin to hear kind of, like, armoured boots. And you hear a loud kind of... Beep, beep, beep, beep! In the name of the Duke, open the gates! And the guards on the gates sort of panic. They look down at their companion who's come running in this uh this uh human man a dwarf up on the thing he like looks down like shrugs his shoulders the man like shrugs back and it's like marshal marshal quick i don't know what to do um and the dwarf and you hear another voice like open the gates now please please, on behalf of the Duke. And the dwarf panics and just opens the gates.

And you see entering into Burnell and into basically the opening front of the market square, you see not that a large number enter into the village, but you glance outside the gates and you can see maybe 20 or so soldiers, all dressed as like man-at-arms and women-at-arms, basically gray and orange tabards with kind of leather, you know,

simple scale mail and chain mail and stuff like that. The figure that enters, there's a number of them, two which catch your eye specifically with a handful of better equipped looking soldiers, men and women, in slightly better armor, like kind of more polished chain mail, maybe little bits of plate mail here and there. Some of them look quite lightly armored though as well, like they have like leathers and bows, almost looking more like woodsmen or like trackers and things like that. The two that draw your eye, however, the first is a very well-dressed human man in plate armor or breastplate, sorry.

So not full plate armor, but like breastplate with leather and little bits of chain here and there, tall leather boots with a resplendent orange cape. He has a helmet that he's taken off and is carrying one hand, long dark hair, probably down to like his shoulders. Very handsome features. And he's kind of stood there and he

seems to be the one calling out. Next to him is a much more sinister looking figure. They are quite tall, very lithe, but athletic, kind of almost like a gymnast or a dancer's kind of build. And they appear to be an orc. You can see that they have this almost glowing scar that runs down their neck and down into their leather, black leather jerkin. You can see that they have like a black coat, black leather jerkin, black trousers, black boots, dressed all in black with a hood. And they seem to have a badge of some sort of office on their lapel. You can see like blades and weapons and things like that all around them. As they do, as these people come in, the whole village is just turned and is in stunned silence of what is happening.

As these men kind of come in, you see the captain like whisper something. He gestures. A couple more of the soldiers come in, he looks up at the gate, the guard on the gate, and he looks to the other guard, bring me the marshal and the reeve of the village, please. And they sort of like look around, and then very quickly coming from several of the buildings, you see a number of other figures approaching. You see a dwarven woman, shaved heads on the side, and then the rest of it braided into this thick black braid that spills down her hair, heavily scarred,

looks very rough and dangerous, wearing armor that's been like cobbled together and she's still just putting it, finishing putting it on, like one hand's coming out of a sleeve. You can see like a big hand axe in her belt loop and she's got a short sword in the other hand and she looks furious she's just like stomping over um and beside her is this rather meek looking maybe in her middle ages she looks like a librarian or an accountant she's like round spectacles little neat bodice uh dark crimson red bodice

with little gold buttons big pencil kind of hoop skirt, grey hair, and she's kind of like hurrying alongside them, carrying a book, basically. And as they approach, you hear the captain kind of address them and turn around and will say, Are you the mayor? Are you the reeve of the town? It's one of you, the reeve. And the spectacled looking woman is like,

that would be me, Captain. And he looks, yes, and he kind of nods. And he has like a whispered conversation with these two. As you guys are looking around, what's everyone's reaction to all of this? What's the state of the rest of the village? Like, are they all sort of... They're just in stunts, like shocked, like what is going...

But there's almost like a gossipy nature. Like, they're not afraid, but they're just in stuns, like, shocked, like, what is going... But there's almost, like, a gossipy nature. Like, they're not afraid, but they're just like, what's going on? Like, everyone's, like, leaning out windows. People have, like, hustled around. You see that the villagers are all just watching in stun signs. The soldiers that came in with these figures have very rapidly moved to the other gate, and they have stood in front of that gate

almost as if blocking anyone from leaving. Oh. Are we all grouped up at this point? You can all see each other, yeah. We can see each other, but we're not grouped. You could be. You could easily like kind of like, you know how like when crowds happen

because an event is taking place and you kind of merge together. You can absolutely do that. Daisy's got a mouthful of way too much bread right now and she's just holding the rest of it and she just sidesteps behind Rowan. I think, yeah, like Gruff as well would have subconsciously kind of stepped

in front of Daisy and Xanthias. Like, just, yeah. Sure. Say hello. Oh, uh... What's happening? I'm not entirely sure. Maybe we should sit in the tavern for a bit while this all blows over?

I want to hear what... Okay. Yeah, you kind of wait for a moment. What's Ophelia doing, actually, as well? Yeah, Ophelia will take Percival, and she'll see the group and just sidle up to them, almost kind of, like, silently, like they don't know she's there.

She'll just be like, Oh, believe me dry. Good afternoon or morning. Hello. Hello. Do you see what's happening over there? Finally some action. Bleed me dry.

Action? I don't want action. Daisy's going to be waving her hand in front of Percival. Can you make a perception check for me, Daisy? You're the first person to actually get close. Well, we would front of Percival. Can you make a perception check for me, Daisy? You're the first person to actually get close. Well, we would have met Percival because when we were in the inn, you came over.

Daisy did because Daisy met... I didn't. It was in the dark, though, so I didn't look at her. But you see, the rest of you see behind, next to Ophelia, this black friar's robe,

cowl completely covering the face, hands it's just a black shape, it's like a cloak has just animated and is following this woman by, and it's big and drapey. 14. Because Daisy, she knew that he wasn't talking at the gate, like they couldn't get him to take his hood off, they couldn't get him to talk

so she's like. Yeah, you're a little curious thing. And you go right up to her and you're like peering into his cow right hello how how would percival react i think percival would probably step back what does training be he would he would probably try and step back i'll make a stealth check for percival in fact you can make a stealth check for personal i don't think it's a bonus so just use his dex. I'll be in extras. This is Percival's little ditty. So, Daisy, you try and get a good look at this fella, but he kind of very gracefully expertly pulls back and like twists it so you can't see under the hood and just avoids you getting too close.

However. Ooh, a note, a secret note. Do you tell your friend about the figure? They can sense them, but you know that your friend's senses aren't as good. You kind of have to relay information to them. Potentially, I feel like between, so this morning when I was sitting doodling, I feel like between so this morning when I was sitting

doodling I feel like she would have probably explained everyone she met last night to them anyway just as a morning

catch up kind of thing you know okay good to know okay you don't get a good look at Percival

and there is a kind of like there is a curiosity within you you know your friend's quite curious as well but yeah Percival kind of steps back moves next to you and just kind of like, there is a curiosity within you. You know, your friend's quite curious as well. But yeah, Percival kind of steps back, moves next to you, and just kind of turns to him.

I wouldn't get too close to him, darling. Why? I just wouldn't advise it. You might not like it. That's terrifying. Why? As this conversation happens, as you ask why,

I'll be like, shh, shh. They're speaking. Well, you see the well-dressed captain, you heard that might be what they're called, is finished talking. You hear the dwarven woman kind of like... You would overhear the last bit of their conversation would be... Well, at least my people haven't failed in their job, Captain.

We, nothing has happened. Like, you're the ones who have failed in this. Of course, I'm bound by the Duke to assist you, and I will render that aid, but I can assure you they didn't come here. Uh, and the Captain just almost silences her with a hand. And then he looks around. And you can see that the other soldiers,

there was quite a few of them outside. A few more of them have filtered into the village. And they've basically been like asking people to come out into the market square. They're like going up to doors and be like, could you please come out into the market square for us? Please come in here. And you can see that the village of Burnell,

as many people as they can, are being gathered here. Nobody's being dragged out of their homes. Nobody's being forced to come, but they're encouraging people to come and listen, saying that there is important information that needs to be shared. I'm not concerned. Yeah? Is there anything I recognise here?

What are you looking for? I'm looking for... I'm looking for any dragonborn, which I believe... I think you described that there wasn't any, but I'll have a quick look around to see if there are any. Mm-hm. And is there anything I recognise from my time in the city?

Okay. Can you make a perception check, please, Tom? Oh, God. Your perception, where's it gone? It's under 30. New character. It's minus one. Two.

Is that your worst ever perception roll? It might be. Minus one. Ooh! Ooh! Ooh! Ooh! Two. Is that your worst ever perception roll? I think it is. It might be. Did you feel a little bit sick? Oh, yeah. Let's go to break. Xanthius. Did I?

As you are desperately looking around, that panic kind of rising in you in uncertainty, it's daytime, but your mind, the shadows in between the buildings, the mouths, the faces, from that dream, you're almost imagining them there. But also like your vision's like, is it blurry? Like something, it's like something's wrong with your eyes

and you rub your eyes and like, it's almost like you can see little boats of gold just passing over your vision and it's almost like you can see little motes of gold just passing over your vision and it's so distracting. I mean, yeah, a perception so bad that I start to see things. The man in the plate armor, the captain with the helm and the coat and the cloak steps forward. The citizens of Brunel, citizens of the Empire,

please, there's no reason to be afraid. If you are law-abiding citizens, there's nothing to worry about. I am Captain Lucas Vecaro. I serve Duke Ignarius as the commander of his second talon. We have come here searching for a group of dangerous criminals wanted for murder and suspected heresy. They escaped from Ashen Rest and fled north. Our scouts believe that they passed...

And he glances at the dwarven woman that was shouting at him earlier when he says, Our scouts believe that they passed through and may have entered Burnell in the night. These are dangerous people and they have committed a great crime. Until these criminals are found or our investigation is concluded, travel south to Ashen Rest is prohibited. I mean that's an audible gasp, at least, from most of us, I imagine.

In a few days, a force arriving from Kelskaris, that includes one of the Ecliptic Order, a sister Inquisitor, will be making their way here to assist us in this investigation. I'm sure that by the time they arrive, we will have this matter firmly in hand. Those of you who are not residents of Burnell, the Duke's purse will make sure that your rooms are covered for this stay. We do not wish to inconvenience you. We ask for your cooperation. Myself and Authorita Zarontekis, and he gestures at the orc next to him. All of you, except Ophelia, as you are not a citizen of the empire,

all of you know what an authorita is. An authorita is a mixture of detective, judge, and jury. They enforce imperial law, especially out in the villages and the towns away from the big cities, but even in the big cities, in the big cities, they're almost like lawyers and detectives. Out in the villages, they are more like the judge and jury and kind of almost have a judge dread element to them, where they are basically the enforcers of imperial law. They have the unique status where they, because Imperial law treats everybody the same, whether you are a dragon or a citizen, they are one of the few people that can actually accuse draconic nobles of crimes and, and, and, you know, pursue the law against them. Um, they are basically, uh, given this, this responsibility, you know, think of them as like these very elite,

uh, kind of, uh, inquisitors and investigators and judges and things like that. And out in the villages, they are often like sent out to deal with crimes because they won't normally have one locally. So they travel around a lot. They tend to be skilled in combat and magic and things like that. They're not necessarily something you would fear. They could almost be, for some people they might be if you're a criminal, but they are also this kind of, yeah, they are the law of, of they enforce imperial law but you would all know that you like anybody who's a citizen of the empire would absolutely know what they are um and you see this like figure kind of like very sternly looking around um he gestures myself and the authorita was out on takis uh we

will be asking questions my soldiers may ask you to come and speak with us or to stay here. We hope that you will cooperate in this. These criminals must be found. They have committed a grave crime. We suspect them to be heretics. And they will bring doom upon Burnell and the Empire and my Duke. So we ask for your help. And he, like, looks around.

And you can see most of the people in Burnell are like oh my goodness criminals and they're sort of whispering to each other oh i've not seen anybody oh oh this is this is terrible and they're sort of whispering in that kind of gossipy way to each other as they do uh you see the duke kind of scanning around and both the duke and authorities xex uh te Tekas see this group of strangers that do not look like they belong here and they begin to walk in your direction and that's where we're going to take our first break. Oh no! I don't want to go down for Moira.

Heresy. That is going to be it for part one. Thank you so much for joining us we will see you in part two after a short break take care see you then bye