High Rollers DnD - Altheya: The Dragon Empire #10 | Fortunes Foretold (Part 2)

Episode Date: February 8, 2024

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Pickaxe. Hello, welcome back to part two of Hyrolers, Althea, the Dragon Empire. Just previously, our party are still exploring the town of Ashenrest. There's a lot to do and see. They have made their way to the forge, a garrison, where they have picked up a couple of potential bounty notices or little quests that they might be able to go on and secure some funds or meet some new allies. And whilst they were in the area, they've also made their way to the Coil of the Empress,

head of the Stonemasons Guild here in the town, but also a place where followers of the Imperial Flame, a religion that worships the Dragon Empressress after her death ascending to godhood. There they've made their way up to the top floor where a mysterious dwarven oracle named Kiva has said that they have been expecting the party and would like to provide them with a reading each. Held in private, each reading is for them and them alone. And Rowan has stepped inside. So I'll describe her again just to kind of bring you back up to it. But yeah, we see a young, beautiful dwarven woman. She wears this ceremonial outfit that includes a veil

that hides like her lower face, like jaw and mouth. And it also covers her shoulders and upper arms. She has sun-kissed skin, ash blonde hair that's worn long with occasional braids and decorated with quartz crystal. And when she speaks, Rowan, you pick up that when she's talking to you in this very melodic, magical voice, there is something off about the way the voice reverberates around the room,

and you realize that it is not although it is trying to convey the illusion that she is speaking to you out loud you are actually hearing her voice in your mind um but she says hello i am told that you You came here to seek me, but I was expecting you. I have had a dream of you coming to see me. You and your allies and your friends. A dream? Yes. Dreams are sometimes abstract,

but when you and your companions were described to me, I knew that you were the ones that That she wanted me to speak to Rowan is saying the words Not face value. Don't do it at face value over and over again in his head But he is taken away by this whole presentation of things. Hmm You see this beautiful table that was once like this 3D image of Kelskaris, but has now sunk down to like a flat stone table.

Still has the outline of the, like a flat map, but you know, from this 3D very Game of Thrones intro kind of thing. She's laid out this deck of cards and she says, My readings, they are very much about you as a person. I normally, when people come to me, I ask them what they want to know about. Is it a particular event they have coming that they are worried about? Is it something in their past that they would like to understand better? Is there something about the future that they are worried about? Is it something in their past that they would like to understand better?

Is there something about the future that you are concerned about? Is that... Is there anything that you want to know of? Well, recent events have shifted my goals

slightly. Not that that goal has been changed. More so that my current goal is to stay with my friends. And I want to know what comes of that. She looks at you, and with her hands, she brings out this deck of cards and she kind of lays it into a spread. She picks it back up and shuffles it and as she shuffles she begins to talk to you. Did you know that Kalskares was built by dwarves early on, but it was the Empress herself who designed the first diagram of the city. She said that it came to her in a dream. For a city is the path of an empire. An empire's future can be seen in where its foundations are laid. It can be seen in the streets that are placed, where people will go and they will wander.

A city tells us much. You speak of goals and journeys. You wish to go from... And she gestures down at the map towards the great gates to Kelskaris. From here, and she gestures to where the Imperial Palace would have once been at its center, to here. And sometimes we believe that life is a straight single path.

Sometimes, and with her finger, she begins to trace a line, moving through side streets and off alleyways and things like that. Sometimes we must take a detour It is always good to know where you wish to go but the journey itself can be different matter Is it the journey that you would like to know the destination It is always the journey for me. Mm. You are a traveler.

Mm. You have wandered far. Mm. Your feet have stretched across many strides. Mm. She knows everything. She finishes shuffling. She draws the first card.

Three cards to represent your past, your present and your future. Ah. She holds up the first. The Weaver. Rediscovery. Transition. To change. To flow the threads, to make ourselves new, sometimes to find things about ourselves that we did not know.

Something in your past changed you. What was it? Something in your past changed you. What was it? Rowan glances to his forearms and his hands. My wandering. My keenness to discover. To follow the rhythms of the earth and the stones, led me to a place. And that place changed me. This place, though it changed you, it is a matter of taking what was

and reinventing it, rediscovering it. A weaver does not change what thread is, merely its shape and its form. You are who you are, but this encounter has set you on a new path. Just draw us the next card. The founder. Foundations and community.

These are important to you. My friends. Foundations do not need to be stones in the ground. They are the pillars that support us. These are core tenets of who we are, what we stand for. And for you, a sense of community. You have found these things now. But what will they mean to you?

Why are these foundations, why is community so important to you? Pillow friends. She draws the final card. The captain, but reversed. Taking command. the captain, but reversed, taking command, teamwork. In this position, it indicates a reluctance. You are somebody upon whom the foundations you can stand,

that you can hold up. But a sense of responsibility weighs ill on your shoulders. To help your friends, your community, you will need to accept your role as the captain. As she lays these three cards before you, Rowan, the weaver, the foundation, or the founder, and the captain, you have a choice. She lays each one face up, facing towards you.

Which of these do you feel drawn towards? Rowan snatches the foundation. Founder. This one, this one's mine. When you touch it and you pull it towards yourself, you feel energy as a blessing is placed upon you. So I'm going to give you that. Oh!

When it is needed, this revelation, your friends, your foundation, your community, whether that is the people you travel with now or the people from back home, perhaps even your foundations, foundations of who you are, this place that you went, that changed you, it will be connected to where you come from when that time comes you will find you have the strength to stand until you use it this

blessing can be used to grant yourself a temporary increase to your strength score. Oh! It will, for the purposes of an encounter or an action, basically, whether that is an attack roll or an ability check or something like that, you can return that card to me, and you will temporarily have a strength of 26. Whoa! Whoa! 26?

As you are the founder for that action. For that action, I see, yeah. We use that as a narrative thing, it doesn't have to be a mechanical action. It might be to hold up a stone doorway, and you will be strong enough until you need to lower that doorway down. That kind of thing.

A scene, if you wanna think about it that way. You know, it won't be for a whole combat, but it would be for like maybe a whole turn. You would have that strength if you needed it. You best start by leaving, Gruffudd. Stronger than a sailor. As you become the foundation, the founder, the first to lay the stone.

Holy shit, I am so good at this. Rowan is taken by the words. This is how they get you. Of Lady Kiva, so much so that he is sobbing, like he's weeping from the eyes, like hearing all about the foundation and how you will need the strength and the connection to home as well, with the place that I found. Thank you. Thank you for this. It is, I was meant to speak with you today. That is all I know. I dreamt of you. Thank you for this. It is, I was meant to speak with you today.

That is all I know. I dreamt of you. I was meant to be here. The clever toad said so. It all makes sense now. There's a kind of look of utter confusion on her face for a brief moment, and then sort of the facade comes back over. And obviously, you know, wearing this veil, you never really see her expression. You can only ever see her eyes.

Like, you never see her smile or, like, her mouth. Like, her veil completely blocks, like, her lower part of her face. If I may... Speak, please. Can you hear my thoughts? The eyes kind of glint for a moment. What makes you ask that? Oh, my apologies. It's just that your voice is within my mind. lint for a moment. What makes you ask that?

Oh, my apologies. It's just that your voice is within my mind. And there is this kind of sense of, how did you know? I have spoken to many and none have understood that. They all believe i speak to them naturally oh it's just something that i i can pick up on i can sense sound and resonance around me and how it's feeling and you get a sense like listening to our voice that harmonious presence that you felt in this tower there's an element of that here but there's's almost, it's not harmony, it's clarity. It's crystal clear, like a spring that is so fresh that you can see right through the water. It's kind of got that tone, that clear clarity to it. And she smiles and she says,

I believe you to be a man who can keep a secret. She pulls the veil down from her face. And you see that her entire jaw has turned completely to quartz crystal and her mouth is permanently sealed, as it's been, like quartz. Rowan's eyes widen. Beautiful.

That is glorious. Very kind of you to say. I am, I am something of an anomaly amongst my kind. This is all in your head now. Like, you see that the lips never move it's just this complete core oh so it does have like the shape has the shape of lips like these beautiful young lips and she's way too young for this to be affecting her in this way like you've met dwarves like the dwarves that you've seen that normally are being taken over in such

a way are like ancient you know old old dwarves she's young and like still has all of her face and you even see she probably would show that most of her neck and upper arms is all crystal quartz as well. Hence the veil. Hence the outfit hiding those as well. There are a rare few dwarves who display certain materials as their earth skin. and materials as their earth skin. Those who do are born with unusual powers.

We are sometimes seen as anomalies, and many fear us. Some try to abuse these gifts. Mine is the power of thought. I have the power to use a type of magic that many others cannot, because I am caught. But in using this gift, it accelerates my eventual death. My lifespan is cut short and I turn as I do now. And it is through this that I found, it is, I found the Empress's voice, listening for her.

But yes, I hope that you can keep this a secret between us. It will remain a secret for eternity, if it must. Thank you. Beautiful. She just nods. And like, there's a, you see tears, like, in her eyes, like this, like, seeing this visage and calling her beautiful,

like, definitely touches her in this way. But she pulls the veil back up and hides it and adjusts the ceremonial robes. It's truly been an honor to meet you, Lady Kiefer. She just nods her head. If you would, send in It's truly been an honor to meet you, Lady Kiefer. She just nods her head. If you would, send in... one of your friends.

She is young. She's led by... an older figure who guides her. Uh-huh. She is full of life and energy, but it is chaotic. It is spread everywhere all at once. It is unfocused. You mean Daisy.

That is her name. Please send her in to see me. I know the one. Thank you. I'll get her right away. Rowan bows as gracefully as he can and then scuttles away. You make your way back out the same way. As you do you hear the rumbling of stone as that the city rises back up as this kind of like display piece as you make your way out.

And yeah, you feel that, still feeling that sense of strength in you lingering. Like I said, you keep that, so keep that by you. All right, so Rowan comes down. Well, I think before, sorry, I know you're excited to get into it. I think while Rowan is in the room, I'd like to sort of talk to the others as well. Sure. While we're waiting,

I suppose. Yeah. I really am sorry, Gruff. It's okay. No, you're right, I shouldn't have spoken for you. You have your honor, your pride, and I just want you to understand, maybe this is a cauldron in me, maybe the Dragonborn. First impressions mean a lot to me.

Have the correct approach once we enter a building and meet people for the first time. Not that yours was incorrect. The way you see someone for the very first time is the image I wish to linger forever. And that person may go through changes and see different things and become a different person entirely, but the way you see them for the very first time is important to me. So again I apologize once again for speaking for you. I just want you to understand my position. I appreciate the apology and I appreciate you explaining it to me.

I assure you that anything that I say is purely a representation of me. And perhaps because I am older in my years, I've come to a point where I don't really care for how other people see me. I know my principles, and I know what I believe in. But I will take what you said on board. Daisy's just drawing in her book. She's like, no, but. Both women.

Is this when? Yeah, I mean, it's a short chat. Everything she says is true. It's incredible. I have been given a blessing and it's phenomenal. She wants you now. Oh. She knows all about you. phenomenal. She wants you now. Oh. She knows all about you.

Oh. In a good way. She's very lovely. You just hear a sort of like, we'll see about that. I mean, this excitement that you've got, it's like even beyond the point of the clever toad, right? This was very specific. Yeah, but I just mean like,

have we seen this excitement before? On a scale of the Clever Toad. I mean Rowan is always kind of peeking. Yeah, yeah. And he's very easily excitable. This is 11. This is probably a little dialed up from Clever Toad. Sure, yeah.

Not to diminish the Clever Toad. Oh. That was phenomenal too. Anyway, yes. Suggest your Daisy to enter. Sure. Do you go in? Yep.

You see the same thing, I'm not gonna describe it every time. She lowers the thing and will greet you. Unlike Rowan, it appears like the way that, when she speaks to you, it sounds like she's talking to you out loud. Like, you don't ever see her lips moving, but the sound you're hearing almost sounds like it's talking to you out loud. Like, you don't ever see her lips moving, but the sound you're hearing

almost sounds like it's out loud. Nim does not hear. Oh, oh. And so, and Nim is quiet at first, but after, and I'll get into the conversation in a minute, but after a minute, Nim will speak to you and just be like, I can't hear her. Is she talking to you?

Like, she'll say things like that to you. But it becomes very rapidly clear that Nim cannot hear this woman. And she will say, Hello there. Come, please, take a seat. And you see the big map descend down and leave this map of the stone table.

She's like, please, you don't need to be afraid. Just come and sit. Okay. And she lays out these cards. She's like, hello. You don't need to be afraid. Just come and sit. Okay. And she lays out these cards. She's like, hello. Now, I know of your nature and appearance, but what is your name? Daisy.

Hello, Daisy. I'm Kiva. Your friend was very excited to come. Why are you here? I don't know, really. Curiosity? That's a very good answer, actually. Curiosity. Do you think you're quite a curious person? Yeah, probably. Probably too curious. I'd say too curious is very difficult to be.

I think being curious is a good thing. People think of me is a good thing. People think of me as a fortune teller, but really what I do is I read your story, in a sense. Or maybe think of me like a cartographer, helping to draw a map of who you are, where you've been, where you might go. She spreads out the cards along the table. This deck of cards I call the Citadel,

and it is inspired by the designs of the Empress when she first built Kelskares, because a city can tell you much about an empire, about the one who built it. And this deck can tell me much about you. But what I need to know is, is there anything you want to know about? Is there a particular thing that you are nervous about, or an event upcoming?

Or perhaps you would like to know more about your past? Or simply where you're going? I want to know if... I'm going to get in any trouble. That's a very good thing, a very wise thing to ask about. Being safe, being secure, being happy. Very important things in life. I'll draw three cards.

Interesting. She reveals the adventurer. Responsibility and expectations. This might represent your future or your present. I don't think it sounds much like your past. Or perhaps this might be about someone close to you, not you yourself. Somebody who has lived a long life of responsibility.

Somebody who had great expectations. And now those are passed on to you. Did you know... Do you have parents? No, they passed away. When you were young? When I was three. Then this would be somebody who has been like a parent to you, perhaps.

Does this sound familiar? Yes. Draw something. Just draw us the next one. Does this sound familiar? Yes. Draw something. Just draw us the next one. The painter. Productivity and creation. This is something important to you, I think. It is not just the art of creating.

It is not just the art of creating. It is not just the art of making something, but about leaving legacy, leaving something of yourself behind, something that is yours and yours alone, keeping a record of your journeys or a statue of a likeness that is important to you. But this is somehow connected to who you are as well. of your journeys, or a statue of a likeness that is important to you. But this is somehow connected to who you are as well.

If the adventurer is who leads you, the painter is who you are without that influence, without that leadership. Which draws the last card. The reversed pilgrim. Normally the pilgrim represents opportunities and growth, but in its reversed position, it can be a person who... ..is a threat, a danger to your growth,

somebody who blocks the way, who is an obstacle. Pilgrims are often people of a faith, often misguided one. If you wish to know if you are in danger, the reversed pilgrim represents such an individual who is pursuing you, who is a threat to your growth, who is a threat to your opportunities. She will lay these three down.

Which to these three is your hand drawn? Adventure. Like Rowan, you two feel sort of magic overcome you. As it does... With this card, Daisy doesn't know this. Same that Rowan, you don't know exactly what that card does. But for Daisy, what this card does, and I'll write these out properly. I might tweak them slightly later on.

The Adventurer, when you are in a situation where responsibility is heavy on Daisy. You can return that card to me to automatically succeed at an ability check. So you can basically guarantee yourself, or if it's an attack roll, a guaranteed critical hit. But it can only be used in a situation where Daisy is responsible for something,

when you are taking a responsibility on yourself, right? So it has to be at a moment where you take charge and you take responsibility for something. But when you do, you can give that back and basically guarantee that you will succeed. Ooh. She will smile and say, I would be wary. I think this pilgrim is close. The pilgrim is not always just one. It can be many.

What can I do to anticipate them? You are a painter. Be creative. Think outside of what others may. But remember, you carry a responsibility, too. That responsibility is yours as much as it was the person who first bore it. I do not often reveal the destinies of those others who come but you should speak to your friend, Rowan. Think of him as a foundation.

Thank you. And there is safety in foundations. Oh, well, that's a lot to think about. Well, you are always welcome to come back if need be. I'm happy to provide insights where I can. May I ask you, Daisy, could you please send in... I see a knight of the sea. The, the, the... Yeah, Gruff.

I do not know their name, but I know them as a... I saw a fisherman bearing a shield and sword. Then please send them to me. OK. I'll come out and I won't be as... bearing a shield and sword. Yeah. Then please send them to me. Okay. I'll come out and I won't be as, probably as excited as, I'll just kind of be like, uh. How'd she know you were the Foundation, bro?

We, oh wait, she gave that to you. Um, Gruff? She wants to see you. Well, she wants to see the fisherman, the Knight of the Sea. I'm not a knight. Maybe you will be. Maybe she saw it. As Groff begins making his way in,

you hear Nim kind of like, what just happened? I couldn't hear a word. Like, you were talking, but I couldn't hear her. I just have to write some things down, but I'll speak to you in a minute, and then I will write stuff down, but basically just be communicating everything

that just happened to Nim. Sure. Nim is quiet for a while. Like, doesn't really comment on the things that the oracle said, but is disturbed by the fact that, like, she's like, how did I not hear her? Normally I can hear when people speak to you.

Did she cast a spell or did you see her use magic? Like, she's trying to rack, like you can hear Nym racking their brains trying to figure out how that happened. But you begin retailing the tale to her and she says like, I think that this, and Nym takes a very matter of a fact approach to everything. This pilgrim has to be the sister inquisitor. We need to be very careful.

There's very much a like, right, make a plan, do this kind of thing. We need to find out what spell she cast on you. Whatever that magic is, we need to figure out what that was. Like, it's very pragmatic. I think while Daisy is in there as well, I would be like probing Rowan, I suppose. Like, so what is it that she knew about you?

Rowan spills everything, apart from Lady Kiva's secret. Okay. Keeps that very much shtum. But, yeah, explains the entire process in child fashion. So she knew exactly what you looked like, that you would arrive here today? Yes. As a group of people, or just you?

Yes. Yes. And that you're my pillars pillars and you should never leave me and you should all stay together forever. But she didn't know your name? No. She knew my energy, my aura, my... What about what you saw in Burnell?

Did she know what we've been up to? She knew before that. I see. Okay. While you're having that conversation yeah yeah i was gonna say well no it would just be general like i want to know oh yeah and roll would repeat as much as what you heard yeah the best of his abilities. Cool, yeah. All right. Graf, you enter, see the same kind of sights of everything. Kiva will just say, please, come in and sit. Yeah, I just give her a kind of firm nod and I sit where she points.

She will say, when the others, when I saw these visitors come to me in this dream, all had a warmth to them. But yours was cold. Not simply an icy breeze. There was a coldness to this figure that I saw. There was a coldness to this figure that I saw. I tried to understand if it was a loneliness or if it was a...

..a lack of something. But my attendant tells me that you are sceptical. I suppose that's a word. I was brought up in the Church of the Scions I suppose that's a word. I was brought up in the Church of the Scions ever since I was a week up. Oh, as was I. I still firmly believe in the wonders of the Scions and the saints.

I have heard a new voice when I thought of the Empress, and I sought her guidance and wisdom, and I felt myself drawn to the city. She gestures to this map of Kelskares. I began to feel her presence, much like the priests and the priestesses of Maelyr and Pyrrhus would speak of their connection. Why? How? I don't know.

I know that the Empress didn't just build this empire to conquer a land or to defend her children. There was a purpose to it. or a land, or to defend her children. There was a purpose to it. Perhaps that purpose is greater than we can know. Much like a city, she just does the map and then she spreads the cards out. Where we go matters. Our destination, our direction. As much as the path and where we come from

Is there anything that you Concerned of is there anything you wish to know about yourself or your future the destiny Perhaps a threat to you? Or an opportunity? What, if you could, glimpse something of yourself, what would you like it to be? If I could be honest for a moment.

Please. You probably already know I come from Iceheart. By your appearance, I can make that assumption. And you already know I'm a fisherman. All my life, in my little village, I work on the rough, cold waters. I live in the ice. And there's an honesty in that. You can't reason with nature.

You can't glimpse a future. You can't beg for things to go a certain way. The best you can do is survive, prepare the best, build a community, to ask the ice for a glimpse of the future. It's not something I'm used to. No. When I left, I knew what I wanted to do. Let me ask you something.

You say you're a fisherman. Can you not look to the sky in the morning and tell me if it is going to rain that day? Or if the sea will be good or bad? I've learned that eye. But it also has its own mysteries that I still have yet to solve. And the seas can turn. They can. And you cannot control them. Exactly.

But we can glimpse sometimes more than what is and what is now. We can look ahead, look to the horizon. We know that the sun will rise and the sun will set. We can look up to the sky and say whether it will rain. There is magic in the world that can tell us if the weather will turn or if it will not. I suppose what I'm trying to say is my goal is to come a night.

It's been a dream since I was a little boy. Whether I succeed or fail, I don't know that it's for the gods to tell me. Then perhaps I will draw these cards and we will determine whether that is a message from the Empress or perhaps it is simply a card being flipped over. I want you to know I'm here to listen. I'm not so old that my heart is completely closed.

But it is difficult when you've been in the church all your life. She draws a card. She flips it and reveals it. Vengeance. This card represents overcoming slights and making choices. Choices not always to seek vengeance, but choices that change us.

Choices that change us. Perhaps a man who has been a fisherman all of his life makes a choice to leave home and follow his dreams. The Warrior. This card can sometimes represent perfectionism and training oneself beyond its limits, but it also represents growth, encouraging of a new spirit. Reversed miser, stubborn, inflexibility.

This represents a threat to your future? If one cannot change one's ways, how can one follow a new path? Tell me, which of these three is your hand drawn to? Gruff reaches out, and initially his claw hovers over the warrior. Mm-hmm. But then something in his mind clicks and shifts, and he takes the miser. Okay.

Pass that over. So it does, you feel that magical essence touch you. Gruff. With this card, when you have to make a choice that you don't want to make, or a saving throw that forces you to act against your wishes, you can hand that card back to me and tell me what you want to happen instead. Whether that be a success or whether that be to change the circumstances,

but you can effectively use your stubbornness to overcome somebody trying to impose their will on you. Mm. Very cool. I'll write these up in a more sort of structured way. But that's just the reversed Miser effect as well. Yeah, well, does that have any... This is the power that you have. How you use it, that's just the reversed Miser effect as well. Yeah, well, does that have any... This is the power that you have.

How you use it, that's down to you. Great cards. How wise. She will look at you and just... And doesn't comment on which cards you pick or anything like that. Just says, well... People think of me as an oracle, as a fortune teller, but I've never claimed to be able to see anyone's future.

I think of myself as a cartographer, as a guide through a city, whether that be Ash and Rest, whether that be Kelskaris. But the Citadel represents more than that. It is a journey in our lives. There are many people and places that we encounter, and I simply see myself as a guide to that. I feel I know your story. But whether you agree or not is yours to make. It's your choice. But this blessing is yours. This gift. I believe

that inflexibility and stubbornness will be a threat to you. It's yours to decide if that is true You sound like my wife But I Appreciate that because I'm a long way home and it's a long time since I've seen her Perhaps the advice from back home is worth something now It is always welcome Thank you for giving me some of your something now. It is always welcome.

Thank you for giving me some of your time today. You're most welcome. I am led to understand that the... There was a woman in red. Clad in so much red. But she is not with you today. Not today. I would like to speak to her at some point.

But for now, there is one other. A dragon. And his shadow is split in three. And there is something burning at the heart of him. I want to speak to him. For podcast listeners, Tom just bashed his head on the table. You asked earlier if there was someone I was concerned about. Yes.

That one I am. That bitch. I am. That bitch. Get him. His future is not mine to reveal to you. I'm not asking, but I'm just saying, good luck. Thank you. Get out.

Gruff. Makes sense. Yeah, I think, again, apologies, if someone else wants to have a chat while the Gruff is in there as well, I just wanna have a talk with Daisy as well. Sure, if you want. What were you gonna do?

So at the start, she's probably still talking in her head to Nim and doing some little scribbles, but after that, she will talk to you. Are we done? What did you draw? The card, I was writing what I was told. I've just drawn your three cards. I'm fucked, aren't I?

I'm not saying anything. Yes, you are. Very good. As the others, I've seen all your other drawings as well. What? Oh, thanks the others, I've seen all your other drawings as well. What? Oh, thanks. Well, I just- No, that's nice of you.

One of the cards actually was the painter that she drew. I can see why. Oh, very appropriate actually. Were yours all very fitting as well, Rowan? Why wouldn't they be? I see, you're sold on this. She's the oracle. Right.

It was very, yeah, very accurate. She knows. She knows lots. Hm. So does that worry you? Worry me? No. Not at all. Because you're such an open book? As are you.

More open than you. I'll say that later. I just wanted to let you know. Okay. That I feel like you trust me. On the road, when you let both me and Gruff into your mind and we spoke there. By the way, that's a thing that happened, Rowan, I'm sorry.

That's okay. I will, Rowan, I'm sorry. That's okay. I will explain at some point. I feel like you trust me, and I want to let you know that we are maybe more alike than you might realize. You had skepticism about fortunes being told. I do as well. And you have something that you wish to one day

reveal to us all that you might be scared of or you have abilities you don't understand. I wish to assist you in that. Help you learn these abilities. Understand what it is that you have. Okay. Well, I don't fully

understand them just yet. Maybe with my assistance we can teach each other. Okay, if you want. I haven't seen too much of your abilities yet, but you seem quite powerful. Big fire. You saw that one? Oh, okay.

Good. I think that's probably the point where Gruff emits this. You're up, boy-o. Oh, Rowan would, seeing this going on, would be weeping. And would be coming slowly in for a big group hug. This is lovely. My pillars. Oh, big hug's coming.

My pillars. Oh, my time is, I have to go. Boyo, you're up. Gruff, can you just be a stand-in for me real quick? Big hug happening. Oh, okay. There is a big hug, but also, Rowan you just be a stand in for me real quick? Big hug happening. Oh, okay. There is a big hug, but also Rowan, you're a good foundation for me.

I am. Yeah. So I think we were meant to be friends. I know. That's great. That's wonderful. It is, it's really nice. We're all meant to be friends.

I think. Every single one of us. I'd love to stay for the chat, but I think I have to go. Very well. You enter Xanthias, the door's shut behind you, leaving you in this very dark, quiet room. And there is a moment as you step in,

these dark sheets with a silvery landscape of Kelskaris. I would be looking at that quite interested. There's a sense of familiarity, that darkness all around you in this space. Remember that dream, that first night in Burnell, a small space with darkness all around you, a pillar at the center. You look and see this table with a stone surface,

almost like that pedestal. And then you see this woman, this dwarf, this young, beautiful woman in the veil and the outfit. And she is looking at you quite intently, staring at you with these beautiful blue eyes. I think I probably... I think for her, she might see me almost phase out, I guess, for a moment.

But if I snap back, I'm kind of looking at that landscape of Kelskaris again. And I would literally say, Kelskaris, an interesting landscape. Why not Ashen's Rest? Ashen's Rest was built by the Duke and many others, but Kelskaris was the diagram for all of it. It's where it all begins.

And she gestures at the map in front of her on the stone pedestal. Cities are an interesting thing. Life is not normally meant to be lived amongst so much stone. Life is not normally meant to be lived amongst so much stone. Yet, the gestures of the streets reveal so much about where people live, their habits, who they are,

where buildings are placed, what services can be provided. Who rises to the top, who falls to the bottom. A city, I find it a fascinating thing. The Empress, she sculpted this one. She designed it. Just like she designed this empire. Built it. Just like this empire. And that is what this deck represents.

This is how I... I guide people. I told your friend, the fisherman, I'm not an oracle. I don't see myself as a fortune teller. I see myself as a guide. I ask all those who come to me, what do you want to know?

Where are you trying to go? What are you afraid of? Can I first ask you a question about yourself? Of course. You dreamed of us arriving at this tower, asking for fortunes to be told. I dreamed of you. I did not dream that you came here to ask for fortunes,

but I dreamed of you, and when you were described to me, I knew you were the I did not dream that you came here to ask for fortunes, but I dreamed of you. And when you were described to me, I knew you were the ones in my dream. But what else do you know of us, our history, our past, our stories? That is for the cards to tell. Would you like to know what I dreamed of about you? Please. I saw a about you? Please.

I saw a dragon with three shadows. Gold in colour. Something burned at the heart of him. Hmm. What do I'd like to know? About myself, about my journey, about my future? How long do I have? A question that all of us must ask at some point.

The pathless. Difficult decisions. A lack of direction. Reversed. This indicates... ..heavy burden. Something that eats at you and causes you to run in panic, to make terrible decisions out of fear or hate,

or some awful thing that has driven you. It eats away at that time. The cartographer, a crossroads, an exploration, not just of space or where you are, but who you are. Question of who will you become. The runaway. Secrets. And running from one's problems.

These tell me tale. They show me a path through the city. Of someone scared. Making decisions that they do not fully comprehend the consequences of. Someone who is yet to truly find out who they are, what they stand for, who they might become, where they come from, but they stand at a crossroads of that decision. Now, this moment. And the runaway indicates that if they continue to hide, to keep secrets, to flee from the problem, they will be lost. secrets to flee from the problem.

They will be lost. You ask, how much time do you have? Continue down this path, and the answer is not long. She lays all three cards out. To which is your hand drawn? Dragon. Hmm. I was thinking about all three, to be honest.

But... I'm honest, but... I don't think I take any of the cards. That is a choice. This meeting alone, I think, may have answered many questions for me, as is. As you refuse any of the cards, Xanthias doesn't feel this, doesn't see this, because it does not happen on the Material Plane. But beyond Ulthea, beyond the planar realms, in that miasma that creates the crucible of fate, something shifts. Oh shit.

You, Xanthius, by refusing a card of fate, have gained the ability to alter its outcome. At some point, and I will give you a card or a token or something to represent this, because the others have got a reminder, you will be able to reset the crucible. Oh, that's big. Oh!

Because you have basically chosen to make your own fate in a moment. Good luck having all those, when are you gonna use the come in question? Well. But you will be able. I think everyone has now got that question right. You will be able at some point to reset the crucible,

which I know we haven't rolled today, we didn't really need to today. Sure. You will be able to reset it, which means that it would be a complete reset, like we would re-roll completely all of the dice. I thank you for the options, though. I have been living by the goals and dreams of others for too long, I fear, and I don't wish to succumb to yet another.

You are at a crossroads. If you recognize that, then you know that I cannot guide you. It is your choice to make which path you follow now. If I may offer one piece of advice

as somebody who has grown up in cities, got lost amongst their streets and amongst their stones, before you make that decision at this crossroads, get the lay of the land. Know what lies

in the directions before you. Before you choose. I will. Thank you for meeting with us all. Were the others so foreboding? It is not for me to say. Surely your companions, if you were to ask them, they would tell you. Runaways can't keep their secrets forever.

That'll be when I leave. Mm-hm. Xanthius exits the chamber. How was it? Rowan stands up to attention. Hello? What happened? What did she say? You don't have to say, but please do.

She offered three cards. Yes. As we know. As I guess happened to everybody, yes. Yeah. And I refused a card. Why? But what she said, was it accurate? Eerily so, yes.

See? I won't lie. There was some accuracy to it, yes. But, I don't know, maybe I made the wrong choice. I don't want to be beholden to the fate of... Whatever it is this person can see is my choice. Does that make sense? Not that I discredit, did you all pick a card?

Yeah. Yes. And? I don't know. I picked the Founder. The Founder? Yes. And what pick the founder. The founder? Yes. And what was the story behind that card? Well, it's the present for me,

and the founder is the foundation with which my pillar friends live. Your pillar friends? And I need my pillar friends to keep me strong. Now, is that the rocks, or is that us? That's you. Oh, okay. Okay. Okay.

I chose the adventurer. And forgive me, I'm not a seer. It was very applicable to me and the thing that you heard, right? Right, I see, I understand, yes. Somewhat on the same page, not nearly close. Okay, well it's fine, it'll happen, it's all good. Grel? I pick the card that reminded me most of my wife.

You're married! What's her name? I bet she's beautiful. She is, aye. What color's her fur? It's, uh, well, she's a bit more... Sorry, is that too forward? I just want to know everything about you all of a sudden. Her name is Keridwen. Ker-o-wen. Keridwen sudden. Her name is Keridwen. Kerowen.

Keridwen. Keridwen. That's a lovely name. And she's a lovely person. I'm sure she is. She's got good taste as well. Oh, thank you, Rowan. You're welcome.

You married her? That's so adorable. Does she reside in Iceheart still? In Tremoro, yes. In Tremoro, yes. In Tremoro, yes. I would love to go and... We should go. We should go, one day, perhaps. It's quite far north and very cold.

Would you like to spell that name from my diary? That's such a good excuse we have to say excuse Daisy can just be like Spell that for my diary I got you wiki team It's a very famous name If you're Welsh I'm not though Nine jars on it

C-E-R-I D-W-E-N Keridwyn Apologies to the Welsh people The people of Welsh D-W-E-N. Ceridwen. Apologies to the Welsh people, the people of Welsh, if I have not pronounced it correctly. Who's Welshies? You're forgiven, because it's not Welsh, it's Iceheart.

It's Ice, it's Tremoran. It's Tremoran. Inspired by. That's wonderful. And I hope she's well, and that you're doing everything. I hope so, too. Good. She encouraged me to leave.

I didn't want to ask. It's funny, Ashley. She's Tremoro's storyteller. So you'd say maybe the heart of the village. Stories to us are very important, especially in the evening when the cold's coming in and it's too dark to see out. We gather and we tell stories. I would love to hear those stories someday. I have a few, But yes, my card reminded me of her. What is it, Gunai? What's the name of it? It reminded me of... Perhaps to say of her is a disservice.

It reminds me of something she says to me often. What is it? You're going to say it, Brynn. She calls me a miser. Oh. What does that mean? That I'm stubborn. No. I would never. Never.

Oh, that's... She plays tricks on you, right? No, not stubborn. It's okay, Rowan. I know she's right. Well... I am a stubborn old man. Not so much. You're hanging out with us.

You're traveling the world? You listened to Kiva, the oracle. That's not very stubborn. You've set out on a brand new path. Hmm. So maybe not quite so stubborn. I don't want to speak for you. Listen. Don't shout at me again.

I didn't shout at you. Spoke sternly. You'll know when Gruff shouts. You gave me a look. A dad look. I wanted to see that again. He wasn't angry, just disappointed. It was awful. That kind of thing. It cut me deep.

Good. Right to my rotten core. So, with you guys having this conversation, you will probably have to end this episode rotten core. So, with you guys having this conversation, you will probably have to leave this chamber.

The attendant probably comes and is being ushered out. He's probably being ushered out a little bit. It's maybe been sort of the whole thing, maybe about an hour

for all four of you to have these readings, so you're still very early in the morning. You guys make your way back down into Ashen's Rest rest what we might do or at least what rowan might suggest is telling ophelia that she's most required under lady kiva's presence yeah for a reading and that she should

head there post haste if she's not going to come with us and do menial tasks. Separate to us and then we catch up with her afterwards. Yeah, if she wants to. She's got the option there. Yeah. Otherwise we'll tell her what we're doing next I guess. Which is? We could investigate the bounty board.

The Lamplighter's Yes. Alicia Teffio at the Lamplighter's Guild. Bright Eyes. One of the guilds, and that's a good start. Yes. You guys know where the Pharos is, I think you've passed it, so it's on your map. It's.5. So it's not too far away. And maybe, depending if Ophelia goes to Lady Kiva or not, maybe when we're done with the guild, we can get some outfits from the Griffith for the Duke tomorrow.

It might help. It might help. Yes. I just need to pray for strength. Good first impressions. I'm hearing it, I'm listening to it. I'm praying for strength. Do you want to say you're having that conversation as you make your way to the faros? I'm hearing it, I'm listening to it. I'm praying for strength. Do you want to say you're having that conversation as you make your way to the Faros? Sure. I put my head through the door.

Your future is this way. Yeah, you guys make your way. I believe I've described the Faros as well before, but I'll give you another quick reading of it. This is the headquarters of the prominent Lamb lighters guild it's an impressive and tall uh tower uh with a large magical crystal at its peak which glows all day and night um it is not as fancy in its stonework as the coil of the empress that you just came from but you see that there are metal components uh lattice works of metal. You even see elements of artifice. So

not like clockwork and things like that, but like magical enchantments. So you see like elements of the Tower of the Pharos actually hover and like rotate and things like that. And it provides almost like this, like a lighthouse, but almost like for just a city light, like a big sort of city light almost. And you can see that uh there are these large kind of arcane crystals and things attached to it and you can see people coming and going and you can see people wearing those uh the the robes of the lamplighters guild that i described to you last time um bringing the staffs back you know they would have gone out and done that uh sorry they haven't gone out to do that yet but you can see that like they've got them stationed around and things like that um very much like the coil of the empress it is a busy

affair with people coming and going um you can see that this also the pharos has its own private guards um there are actually like hired guards mercenaries not wearing any sort of uniform but very clearly working kind of like security basically these are the same ones we saw wandering around with them at night. Yeah, exactly that. But you are, you know, the lower level is open to the public, and it is very similar to the Call of Empress in that there's not quite a museum.

This is more like an exhibition of, like, technology, kind of like magical artifice, basically. It's, like, showing off, like, wonderful machines of, like, you know, this is the creation of like you know uh you know there's like a clockwork device or like a kind of like little magical puppet show illusory projected screen kind of thing um that it's got like silent images like a silent piece of theater on it and it's being magically projected um and people are coming in to like look at it and you can see that you know there are visitors to the town who have come in here

uh there is also what appears to be a small group of schoolchildren who are wearing a uniform, like a single uniform, which is of the same colours as the Duke's colours. Their uniform is like an orange kind of academy uniform. So cute. Yeah, very kind of like British school kind of uniform kind of thing, like little blazer jackets and stuff like that. And they have a teacher who is a wild heart, more

humanoid cat person, basically. A cat lady with little ears and tail looking like a Mikote from Final Fantasy XIV. And she's just like, alright, and she's showing them this projector and the kids are just completely engrossed in it. Is there an area that's like, visions of tomorrow's Althea today?

That's exactly the kind of thing I'm going for. That kind of rapture, it's kind of like, you know, that kind of thing. Shulam will be traveling around on wheeled vehicles. The Lamplighter's Guild wonders. It's that kind of thing. They probably have like a clockwork person who's like, but it's very crude and rudimentary. We're talking like really early clockwork and sort of magical enchantments

more than it is like technology, technology. But there is a desk at the front as well. You can see that there is a young human man just wearing a very fine vest. He's got like spectacles on, and he just looks up at you and is like, oh, hello, welcome everyone to the Faros. Welcome to the Lamplighters Guild headquarters.

Can I assist you with anything today? Greetings and good morning. Good morning. We managed to pick up a little note from the bounty board. We are looking for an Alicia Teffio. Yes, if you are here about that matter, I will send for Bright-Eye Teffio immediately. He does sort of like, is looking over you guys like, you guys don't look like mercenaries but

you know he's like yep of course and he actually goes over and picks up a stone it looks like it's kind of hanging on like a brass like a like clawed like device and he picks up the stone which has got runes engraved into all and he holds it up and he's like, this is the front desk for Bright-Eyed Tifio. Yes, I have some people responding to the bounty board posting. Yes, absolutely. I'll send them up right away, ma'am. Yes, thank you very much. And he puts it back.

It's like a little telegram. It's a sending stone. He puts it back on, but it seems that the pedestal that it's on recharges the sending stone, so he can use it again. And he says, like, yes. Why are those charged? If you just head up, I will send, the guards will send you up to speak with Bright-Eyed Tiffio. She's one of our senior members of the guild here.

Well, thank you very much. Yes, of course. You guys make your way up. The guards let you in. You're given the all clear to go up to the second floor, which appeared to be kind of, imagine like a large tower that is all interior walled off and has been turned into lots of different offices within. And you are led

by a guard to a very ornate looking door, which just has Alicia Teffio bright eyes. And you are let in. You see a very bookish-looking woman. She is a tifling. She has long, black, wavy hair, looks a little bit like Evie from The Mummy, but has got the round spectacles, is wearing a little bodice, and she's just like, Oh, hello, yes, please come in.

You are responding to the posting on the Forges board. We are indeed. We understand you are looking for skilled warriors and mages. Yes, I was going to say, are you more magical in training? Just, my apologies, you don't look like the usual mercenaries that we get through here.

Do you have some experience in that sort of thing, that sort of work? Really, my dear? We fought six? Six. Gnolls. Gnolls, yes. On the way to town. So we are versed in combat,

if that is what you require. If it's, let's say, a simple repair job, we helped in the baths as well. Oh, oh wonderful. Well, it is sort of both, but we would not be expecting you to handle the repairs. And she sort of like shuffles her papers, and she's a bit sort of flustered.

She's like, oh, yeah. Well, you see, the thing is, we're looking for people. We have our own private security here at the Lamp Lighters Guild, but we're quite stretched thin, unfortunately. And we've been having some difficulties. There are a couple of our lamp posts which are down in a rather rough part of Ashen Rest. And we've sent some of our engineers in to try and repair them. And there is a local element, shall we say, that have been obstructive to our repair work.

So what we're looking for is some people to act as bodyguards for our engineer to repair several... a number of our lights in that area. It would be a sort of evening job. Sort of escorting them around. Well, as soon as possible, really. Ideally, I mean, basically there would be a small fee the quicker the job is completed.

We'll need to make the arrangements with the engineer to have them meet you and go out. It will be once the sun has set. We need the darkness so that the engineer can make the right repairs. OK, we are quite new to the town. What, whereabouts is this? Well, it's in Riverside. It's sort of in a, it's close to the river. Close to the Clevertoad?

A few streets away, sort of the southern end of Riverside. I see. Just, it's a... Let's just say that not all of the other guilds in Ashenrest are... They are unhappy at how successful the Lamplighters Guild is. And there may be a belief that is held by certain members of the Lamplighters Guild that this might be the work of other guild members who are trying to besmirch our good name. I see.

What do you think? We'd be very well paid. We would be glad to pay for the completion of the job. Each lamp, each lamp that is successfully repaired, we will pay 200 gold for. And how many lamps are in need of repair? Well there are currently three that are needed in repair but if for whatever reason if you're not for example able to repair all of them, if you are forced to flee for example, if

you are overwhelmed by these ruffians, then we would pay for however many you are able to. If these ruffians are hired by other guilds, I'm guessing you'd perhaps want non-fatal consequences. Oh, yes, of course. Now, obviously, you would be well within your rights to defend yourselves. If they attack you with murderous intent, you would be more than welcome to defend yourselves in such a manner as well. But of course, of course, you know, we have implored the Duke and the High Marshal

to deal with the matter, but they claim that this is guild business, and between you and me, I think the Duke doesn't want to be shown giving any sort of favour to one guild over the other. So, yes, this is a bit of roughhousing. You know, just enough to see them off, that sort of thing. OK. Yes, yes, I'm happy to answer any questions that you have. Hello, Rowan, the Resident Wanderer.

Pleasure to meet you. Hello. With regards to payment. Yes? We also have another matter. Tomorrow is the public hearing with the Duke. With the Duke, yes, yes, yes. I'm not sure if it's in your position or not,

but a lot of guilds, we've been told, like to queue. The guild likes to ensure that its business is properly addressed, yes. We obviously have a matter that we wish the Duke to hear. So if there were a slot

that the guild could provide... I would need to talk to my superior about that, but the Lamplighter's Guild, we look after our friends. And mercenaries who were able to assist us with this matter would be friends. And I'm sure that we can help each other out.

That sounds delightful. Do the Lamplighter's Guild intend to speak with the Duke tomorrow? I couldn't possibly say. It's not really my division within the Guild, but there is always something that the Guild would love to discuss with the most noble Draconic Majesty, Duke Ignarius. Well, if there is a space in the queue, we'd happily take the space just behind the Lamplighter's Guild.

I'm sure that an arrangement could be made, provided that you were able to provide adequate services to us. Well, I think we... As long as, shall we say, the majority of the lamps were repaired successfully. I see. Shall we say. Gotta get two, guys. That's two, yeah. Two lamps.

Minimum. You're right, it is, yes. Well, I believe this is something we could attend to this evening. That would be most appreciated by the guild and I. Yes, I can arrange to have our engineer meet you. Did you say the Clever Toad? Is that where you're staying?

Yes. Well, four of us. There is normally five. Even better. Five is an advantage in numbers. Well, I can have our engineer come and meet you at the Clever Toad just before sunset. Yes, that sounds perfect. Wonderful. Well, wonderful. Shall I

draft just a rudimentary contract for us, just a written agreement of services rendered and payment and such? Do you have a company name or a name for your mercenary activities? Is that normal? Is that standard? Normally, yes. If we work with an individual, it is normally on an individual basis, but it seems that you have formed a sort of party. A group.

A team, yes. Normally it is, we function, we would contract you under a group, an organisation that includes you. Well, we'd have to. It took us years to get names for one mark. Years! This is just episode 10. It's never going to happen. The team has had a bit of a switch up recently

and we are between names right now. Is this something that I can get back to you? Yes, we can handle that in post. I will draft a sort of... We'll leave the name section blank and I'll draft a contract. Wonderful. Wonderful.

Thank you. Should we give at least Gruffydd's name so that it's at least attached to us and not a blank name? Don't worry, I'll have that covered. Okay. I will remember you. Are you sure someone else can't come in and claim? No, no, no.

I will remember you. Like I said, the guild looks after our friends. Calm down, Rowan. You're nervous. That's my boy. That's my boy. Attention to detail. Yes. my boy.

Attention to detail. Yes. Good boy. Thank you. Well, yes, marvellous. Well, yes, I can arrange to have, well, hopefully you're successful and payment will be provided promptly. Yes, I will have the engineer come and meet you. Any idea what guilds could be the ones interfering?

Oh, well, I think it would be very inappropriate of me to implicate any of the fine guilds here in Ashenrest. Just what witnesses might have said. Well, there is some ugly talk. Obviously this is not my own... No, of course not. Someone else. You know, the Carpenters Guild have not been as successful recently and they have been saying rather ill things about us. But the blacksmiths have also, you know, since being pushed out to Graveforge, they seem to believe that many senior members of the Lamplighters Guild were the ones who convinced Duke Ignarius

to push their businesses outside of the city walls, which is not true at all. It was a vote in unison by many prominent members of the city. There's a bit of bad blood. Mm. Mm. Allegedly. Of course. This is all rumour and hearsay. Yes.

Wonderful. Thank you. Well, I will have the engineer come and meet you then. Wonderful. Pleasure to do business with you. Thank you very much. Likewise. Would you like a candy?

And she slides a small one. Yes, well, if you're offering. It's like little hard-wrapped candies. Or sugar-papered candies that you can take. Yeah, but what are they called? They are called... Ember Swirls. And they're like little orange and white peppermint candies.

Very good. Very nice. Well done. Write that down. Didn't prepare for every eventuality. I'll catch you out sometimes. Someday. But with that, with you guys having basically gotten a little quest.

We all got our little first mercenary contract. That is where we are going to end today's session. Hell yeah. Wonderful. What a search. We need a team name. We need a team name. Yeah, we do.

Have a think about it. The Clever Toads. No. No. God, no. Please don't it. The Clever Toads. No. The Clever Toads. No, God, no. Please don't call yourself the Clever Toads. Well, you've got such a good mascot. Gruff and the Sunshine Squad.

You've got some, you know. Gruff and the Mizers. You could always do something to do with the Citadels or something, you know, something that I'm sure you can think of a cool idea. The Pillars. The Pillars? The Grumpy Bastard.

The Grumpy Bastards? The Pillars of Premonition. And the Secretive. Premonition. The Deadly Premonition. Anyway,umpy bastards? The pillars of premonition. And the secretive. Premonition. The deadly premonition. Anyway, with that, thank you very much, everybody. That is the end of the episode. We will see you next time here on High Rollers.

Take care, tatty bye. Bye bye! Tatty bye! Tatty bye! Tatty bye! I'm in.