High Rollers DnD - Altheya: The Dragon Empire #27 | Under the Shadow of Death (Part 2)

Episode Date: June 27, 2024

With some surprising transformations and lucky rolls the team come out on top against the Lamplighters! It's time to wrap up Act 1 of Altheya with some juicy rewards! HIGH ROLLERS LIVE in London on the 17th September 2024! Tickets live now: https://www.aegpresents.co.uk/event/high-rollers/ Boost your Charisma with some HR merch! https://highrollersdnd.teemill.com/ Add the Heroes of Altheya Minis to your TTRPG collection here: https://only-games.co/collections/high-rollers Enhance your bath time experience with the official Altheya themed DiceBombs at https://geekyclean.com/! Check out https://www.highrollersdnd.com/ for all the latest HR News! Love the podcast? Give us a glittering 5 star review! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/high-rollers-dnd/id1401508198?see-all=reviews Support the High Rollers on Patreon and get early access to Podcast episodes, vods and more: www.patreon.com/HighRollers Music courtesy of Epidemic Sound, TCT Adventures (Solasta: Crown of the Magisters), Monument Studios and Jolene Khor! Check out Jolene Khor and all her wonderful work on High Rollers on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1WX3ICiTmf4GpHwImnQMs6 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pickaxe. Pick from over 190 assets and start with the $10 in your pocket. Easy. Go to Kraken.com and see what crypto can be. Non-investment advice. Crypto trading involves risk of loss. See Kraken.com slash legal slash ca dash pru dash disclaimer for info on Kraken's undertaking to register in Canada. Welcome back to part two of Althea the Dragon Empire. With Daisy's sudden transformation. With Ophelia's channeling of the Gravelord

with a critical strike from Gruffydd and various support and assistance from Rowan and Xanthius Benedicta, Gryold and many others the battle for Ashen's Rest has been won

the Everlight destroyed the demons defeated and whatever has been won. The Everlight destroyed. The demons defeated. And whatever power that Tobias Leto was trying to channel dispersed. The dome dissipates. And you have a few moments. Those of you who were stable, but on sort of like, you know,

you can be at one hit point, Xanthius. Oh, thank you. What a gift. As some time passes, Ophelia, you have a, at this point, very dejected. Like, Morris Goldsite, this aging dwarf, has just given up and is just head down, following wherever you sort of drag him or push him or shove him to. Or drag him.

Yeah, doesn't speak, just head down, no words. That figure that was flying towards you, you watched as the demon's power, this ballast gore and these demons that were appearing of of this weird phosphorous sickly light um as that power faded that figure just seemed to almost drop out of the air as they were flying as if the power was suddenly taken away from them um uh as they were flying towards you so a few streets down basically uh from where you currently are um it's rough you can distantly hear you can still hear sounds of battle but quickly you begin to hear cheering as well um as if victories are being won you know people are overcoming things um you begin

to see like several of the civilians that you guys helped escape they are beginning to return with things like water buckets and like people that are you know dedicated to putting out fires the buildings are most of them are either being you know evacuated some of them will probably burn down but the effort to make sure that the fires don't spread beyond anywhere else begins in earnest unless if there is there anything you guys would like to do, like, immediately? I'm laying on the ground. I just put an arm up to Gruff. Can you help me up?

All right, me boy-o. How you feeling? Pretty bad, actually. Pretty bad. Oh, by the way, Benedicta? Yeah. Knows about, yeah. We'll deal with that another day. I know, I know. I just... They were going to find out eventually. I have a feeling her sister already knew.

Oh, yeah, definitely. 100%. I'm bad at keeping secrets. Speaking of secrets... Rowan is bathing in the light of a celestial daisy, having been healed. I'm an angel. I will dismiss. I will drop the form. So you watch as the wings kind of disappear.

The light slowly fades until it is Daisy once again. What? Hi. What the, what? He's just doing two thumbs up, and it's stumped for words. I can talk about it at some point, but at the moment, everything's fine. You flew. You had wings.

Lots of people have wings and flying things. I don't. No? Nope. Benedict sort of looms behind Daisy. So, Rowan, you see her. You hear her, Daisy. You hear, like, a clank of armor and things like that.

And when you turn around, you see her quite tall, broad, muscular form. You know, she's very beautiful in a sense. She has, like, this shorter, cropped blonde hair, but she has a very kind of, like, picturesque face, like a statue. She's, you know, incredibly beautiful, but also powerful. And she's looking

down at you, and her face is difficult to read. Can Rowan and Daisy give me insight checks? Because she's just got this very strange expression on her face. Nope. Four. Eight. Eight. The two of you don't really know what's

going on, but like, she's just gonna... She's, like, staring down at you, Daisy. She's quite tall. She's, like, six feet. Nothing bad. It's fine. Everything's fine. She takes a knee. Child of light. Huh? Of Pyrrhus.

Huh? You were sent to save this place. Um. Sion's sent you to save us. Uh. A miracle. A true miracle. Start praying on the floor.

Yeah. And Benedicta, like, holds her hands up, and it's like. It's a sign. Son warrior, thank you for sending one of your blessed chosen. Thank you so much. And Benedicta is like in absolute awe of you, Daisy.

That's not what I expected to happen. Grown is crying. Stop crying. I just gruff. How are you looking? Well, Gruff and Xanthias and Ophelia. Ophelia, you can just walk down the wall with Morris, so you're fine.

I feel like Ophelia would be like, tutting and like, scolding Morris. Like, you see, Morris, this is what happens when you put your faith in demons and devils. They can't be trusted. If you trust the Gravefather, however, you would live a life of promise and luxury. So, just heed my warning.

This is what happens when you follow demons and the like. This did not happen. If it were not for you, our plan would have succeeded. They have shown me such wonders that I could not imagine. I was going to learn so much. Tobias and I, we were going to change the world with the gifts that they gave us. It was you, not the demons.

It was you. And if you had not destroyed that girl, the angel, if she had not destroyed the light, I would have fixed it. I would have had such knowledge. Such knowledge. All of it lost. Tobias. Oh, Tobias.

He's just shaking his head. You'll answer for what you have done to this town. So be it. There is nothing more. I am an old man. What will they do to me? Imprison me? Kill me? A few years, I would have died

anyway. I'm sure the Duke will think of something. Yes. The Duke. Stuck in the past. Not looking to the future. think of something. Yes, the Duke, stuck in the past, not looking to the future. I just imagine you every now and then, if he starts talking up again, you'd flick his forehead.

Shut up. Gruff and Xanthius, your main way down is a burning building from the walls. What do you guys want to do? You can wait and they might be able to put it out, but you might be waiting a while. I think that's the thing.

Groff is literally just going to sit on the wall with his paws dangling over the side, just looking at everything. He's tired. He's exhausted. Yeah, that tower over there, that goes up. That burning building, that's the only way down. I guess we're stranded.

This is who we are now. I think there's nothing wrong. We're all people now. This is where we belong. I think there's nothing wrong with taking a moment's rest. I... I'm going to sleep.

All right, lad. The two of you sit on the wall. Benedicta and Rowan just in prayer next to Daisy just who is looking bewildered.

Ophelia comes up dragging Morris behind you. A few minutes pass and that cheering becomes more audible as obviously Victories and the guards

and maybe even the civilians themselves throughout Ash and rest overcome those last remaining demons now not able to resummon themselves back into the world they are dispatched and the threat is eliminated you would hear a booming voice maybe just shortly after that of the Duke himself. Citizens of Ashenrest, my loyal people of Northvale,

the threat has passed, and I beg of your forgiveness for my actions and my weakness. Please assist your neighbors, your kith, your kin, and the guard in rebuilding and attending to what matters there need be. I will dispatch and send for our forces to come and assist with the recovery efforts.

But fear not, the creatures are gone. And that sort of echoes across the town for a moment I'm laying on my back I just do a weak yeah Ruff will take like his satchel or something

and just put it under Xanthius' head get a little pillow yeah yeah the next now again you guys are more than

I would definitely like to know what you're going to do with Morris and where you're going to do with Morris and where you're going to go from here. But the next few days are going to be, the town is going to be busy on rebuilding, putting out fires, any dead that need to be tended to. And there's going to be a lot of hustle and bustle,

guards going around protecting things and things like that. You probably would be summoned to go and speak with the Duke at some point, but we can do that when you guys are ready. But I want to know if there's anything that in that time period you guys do, and especially I'd like to know what you do with Morris or anything immediate. While Rhys thinking, just I guess there's a little admin point as we get down or something like that. Yeah, imagine after a few minutes you can make your way down

and they get a fire crew up here and start putting out the flames. Gruff is going to try and dismantle one of the... Dismantle? Why did I say it like that? Oh, how fancy. Gruff is going to dismantle one of the lights, one of the other lights. Fuck me. One of the normal other lights.

Yeah. All three of these have been destroyed, so they are damaged. The one in the tower. He just remembered. One in the tower is also damaged, yeah. Yeah, he remembered that Blackwing wanted a disc from an Everlight, so he will try and find a disc from an Everlight. Go out into the city and find a functional one.

Yeah. I'm glad to remember that. Because I forgot. He made a promise, bro. He spat on his poor and everything yeah yeah i mean like xanthius has shown you before like how to like dismantle them and how to like you know it takes you a couple of times like maybe some of the everlights aren't because not all of them didn't have these discs but you eventually would find one for sure yeah and yeah that's just

a little admin point sure yeah okay well remembered and you can note that down that you have an ever like this promise, bro. That's sacred. The demons didn't really leave anything behind. Like, anything that they were carrying went with them when they were defeated. But Morris, I don't know if you would, like, take his things off of him.

Oh, like his guns and stuff? Yeah, I was going to say, like, he has, like, this weird monocle thing that he has on him. He's got that. He has various kind of, like, they weird monocle thing that he has on him. He's got that. He has various kind of, like, they look more like alchemical ingredients, like powders and acids and things like that. Could be worth some money if you took those.

But that demonic-looking gun is this ornate, carved of, like, brass and almost this ebony black wood. Its, you know Its barrel is almost shaped like this sinuous kind of demoness and she's like got her mouth open and like the hands are like cradling the barrel and it's all shaped. There's no... That's rebate.

There is a chamber that seems to be almost like a kind of revolver, like a spinning thing that can house four things but they're all empty and Morris doesn't answer any questions about it. Does the vampire want to add a gun to her whip and her sword? It's a demon gun, though. No, it is a demon gun.

Demon gun. Demon gun. You can try and break it. Yeah, I'll smash it. Okay. That didn't take much. I was just like, oh, I guess you could destroy it. Yeah. Yeah, you can try and smash it. Give me a...

That looks really cool. Give me like a strength check. Spiritual damage. Oh, it's so cool. Four. Four. What is this? Is this like you take the gun

and you just like bash it on the wall or on the floor? It's like a wretched thing, and just like I try and like throw it at something or like. Sure. You throw it. It's out of disgust. And it hits like a, like a stone pillar,

like the edge of a building. And you see like fire kind of spark along its barrel. And there's almost, those of you who are nearby and say all of you basically hear this voice kind of almost like speak from it. Those of you who are nearby, I'd say all of you, basically hear this voice.

Ah! Kind of almost, like, speak from it. Like, you hear it in your mind. Oh, it's a sentient demon gun. Oh, good. Sentient weapons. We love those. I have a good track record with those. Yeah. Sentient demon gun.

I guess Ophelia would probably just pick it up again, because it's dangerous. Like, she probably wants to destroy it somehow. The kid might pick it up. It's hot to the touch when you pick it up again, because it's dangerous. She probably wants to destroy it somehow. The kid might pick it up. It's hot to the touch when you pick it up. Just wrap it in her cloak or in her dress or shove it in a bag or something. Okay.

Can you put down Demon Gun in your inventory? I will put down Demon Gun. Thanks. For fuck's sake. Morris's other equipment, there's probably like, you know, in terms of raw materials, like, you know, it's basically an alchemist's kit that he has on him.

And then he has this like weird, yeah, like monocle device thing. Almost like a one-eyed sort of like, not eyepatch, I'm trying to think. It's like, I can't think of what to use it as. It's like a leather banded sort of like not eye patch I'm trying to think it's like think of what to use it as it's like a leather band like an eye patch

but it has like all these different lenses and like pieces of metal like it looks very artifice-y kind of

like in the opticians when they go they put the lens in they go one or two but only on the one eye one or two yeah

so spy kids yeah I get it spy kids steampunk magic spy kids sure like Vegeta One or two, yeah. So Spy Kids, yeah, I get it. Spy Kids. Steampunk magic Spy Kids, sure. Like Vegeta? Like a scouter.

Like that, but like a steampunky version of it, yes. I've never watched it. It's good, though, good reference. Vegeta, what does a scouter say about his power? 9,000! 9,000! Fucking love that show. Anyway, so those are the... And yeah, you can write those down.

That thing that he's wearing, this scouter device, it does look ornate. It does not... Nobody doesn't speak to anybody. Okay. But it does look very ornate, and I'd say that you, having experience, because you've looked at the stuff out in Osseous,

again, looks like the kind of tool like an artificer, probably a magic item of some kind. I think Ophelia would probably gather all these up with the intention of handing them over to the authorities. Yeah, sure. Just to make sure they don't get used nefariously. I recommend, outside of character, is to go to the High Authorital.

With Morris. With Morris, yeah. You can see if Tobias is also somewhere. Wow. Just on the ground splattered. I mean, there's like a, not a force, but a crowd coming towards us. They're probably going to see him first.

Yeah. But yeah, we can have a little peruse. I think, yeah, High Authoritie with Morris. Wait, we think the flying person's Tobias? Said it was Tobias, didn't it? Yeah. No. No. Was it not? No. was Tobias, didn't it? Yeah. No.

No. Was it not? No. I say nothing. I say nothing. We don't know what it was. So it's probably something demonic. Oh, the demon dude was talking about Tobias. It fell out of the sky.

It disappeared. It fell out of the sky. I know. I thought he said something like, Tobias, I will not forget this. Yeah. He did say that. I will not forget this deal.

I say nothing. Shall we go and investigate what fell out of the sky? We can head in that direction. Yeah, yeah, yeah. We definitely want to hand over Morris to the authorities. Grown-ups. Yeah, the grown-ups, because we can't do that. Because it's basically, if you pass me the map,

I apologise, podcast listeners, I won't be able to describe this very well um for you uh for you guys you were you were fighting sort of here at this watch tower on the far west the the the flying thing basically the the body fell in like this street near here oh not too far away so you basically wow i didn't realize you were heading the pharos was so close yeah yeah so it was literally it would have that flying figure was going to arrive at the next turn. Okay, all right. So they've landed just like on this intersection, this street here next to the tawny field.

So if you wanted to, you could head that way and then head south towards the forge where the authoritar and that is. It's also towards the way of our place as well. Citizens arrest them as well, depending on who they are. Citizens arrest everyone. Yeah, when you who they are. Citizens arrest everyone. Yeah, when you guys kind of gather up, you've got Morris in hand,

the civilians start coming back, they're putting out the fires, they're attending to things, you see a few of the Duke's guard basically helping. They're doing things like clearing rubble, making sure everyone's okay, tending to injuries and things like that.

When you reach that point, you do find a body just laying on the ground, not fully dead, but clearly so critically injured that they can't move, basically. As you find blood kind of pouring down his mouth, clearly unable to move from such a devastating height, the broken, twisted body of Tobias Leto.

Oh, damnery! Grandmaster, guildmaster of the Lamplighters Guild. He's wearing, like, robes of that same sickly green-yellow light. And you can see, though, very similar to when Ophelia was attacked by that poison creature, that kind of lingering black vein-like mark

from the poison inside the body. His body is laced with it. Like his arms, his neck, all around his eyes has got that same black viscosity to the veins. And you can see that his eyes are all red. His mouth is all bleeding. His teeth are all blackened. Help me.

He's just on the ground in an imminent amount of pain. We do have to help him. Oh, we can help him. We can arrest him and we can help him. I'm going to healing word him. Yeah, okay. You healing word him, Rowan. And I'll subdue him as well.

Okay, how are you going to subdue him? I'm going to wrap him up, fold his legs, tie his arms to his legs. Okay. No, I'm not going to do that. Sure. I'm going to say the healing word is, like, he clearly has, like, broken his back, and, like, a healing word's not going to fix that. Like, he cannot really move.

his back and like a healing word's not gonna fix that like he cannot really move he but the healing word like he like coughs and all this black phlegm and gunk comes out of his mouth and kind of draws down his chin whatever the healing spells is giving him enough to hold on um but he's in a bad way. Uh... You... you've ruined it. You've ruined everything. You deserved it. I deserved a second chance. You can just see he's struggling to, like, breathe. Based on how the demon was talking, you're going to get a second chance. Punishment.

Eternal, maybe, but... He has... Balas Ghor has already taken from me. I have already been punished. Well, I pulled him up. I put him in my pocket. Yeah, literally put him on your shoulder and you can just carry him back. Yeah, you carry this broken man.

He looks even older. Like when you saw him before, he was quite an old guy, like nearly in his 70s. It looks like he's aged like 20 years. Yeah, between our dinner with him to now, something bad has happened. He's aged like 20 years.

Maybe more. He's like not quite Last Crusade Indiana Jones, like when he's the skeleton. Halfway through. Yeah, literally he's so sunken, his skin, all the veins, this black poison in him. He looks in a bad way.

Barely able to speak. He passes out while he's on your shoulder, just falls fully unconscious. He's not dribbled, is he? He does draw. As you make your way back through, you can see that there was a lot of damage done to Ashenrest. More done mostly by the Duke himself and his fit, in his confused state.

He's done more probably damage. There's been fires. You can definitely see where the demons were attacking. There have been casualties. There have been injuries. A lot of fun. We run. Sure.

And the inn. The inn is untouched because the Everlight outside the inn the inn is untouched because the well because the everlight outside the inn was already broken so the demons

couldn't appear there and for whatever reason it seems that nobody's attacked it or gone in it maybe it was

Tyria's influence maybe you don't know Percival is just stood there waiting just you know everything's looking tidy.

He's tidied everything up. He's done his job. A Latte Fun, it has sustained some damage just from like broken windows. It's got like some broken windows and things like that. We all fall to our knees. How are the mugs? No!

It means everywhere. The mugs are fine. It smells means everyone. The mugs are fine. It smells so good. The mugs are fine. It doesn't look like it was hit by any fire or anything like that. It actually looks like people maybe took refuge in a latte fun. And you can see that there are some guards walking around and escorting people back home and checking they're all okay.

You can see Maeve tidying up the glass and trying to get things back in order. Maybe bringing drinks to a couple of people who are in shock and injured you know they've got blankets wrapped around them sort of attending to the sort of aftermath basically um when you make your way to the forge however there is a bit of a somber atmosphere you can see a number of guards uh the lord marshal uh logan Grey is kind of coordinating efforts. And as you approach, when he sees you, he immediately kind of whips his head around.

He's just like, you there, you're the adventurers that spoke with the Duke, the ones who were investigating things. And he's like, his eyes fall on Morris and Tobias. By signs and saints, you've got them. Was it you? The ones who stopped this madness? I look at Angel Daisy, who's no longer Angel. Yes.

Yeah, we helped. We, yeah. We tried our best. Well, we did it. Yeah, we did. We, yeah. We're heroes. You are indeed that, my friend.

Subtle. He nods his head. He's like, there is no need for subtlety or humility. If it were not for you, I do not know what would have happened next. Our duke, the town, things would have been worse. And he just nods, and all of the duke's guard snap a salute. I salute back, throwing Tobias off my shoulder. snap a salute I salute back

throwing Tobias off my shoulder you see the soldiers like glance and Logan Grey is just like take him

take him to a cell and the dwarf as well to Morris we will interrogate them in time but he like looks

at you all I'm afraid to say that in the battle the high authorita was sadly killed. What? Remember that a number of the lamplighters were arrested during our initial investigation. I don't know how or why, but when the demons and the dome appeared, some of those lamplighters, they transformed.

They gained demonic strength and power, and they broke out of their cells. Myself and my troops, we were dispatched around the town trying to deal with the attacks. It was High Authoritor Wilhelmina and Zaron Tekis who held the line here. Tekis is badly held the line here. Tekis is badly injured, but stable, but I'm afraid the High Authorita is, unfortunately,

she's lost to us. It's fine. You have my deepest condolences. Thank you, it is, she gave her life, stopping those possessed cultists from getting out and doing more harm in the city. She, her and Tekis held them here, along with another guard.

Yes, and he points, and you see, you see Bliss. Oh. Yeah, you see Bliss, the little pink tiefling. She looks, like, totally shell-shocked. She's just kind of sat there she's got like a cup of like a coffee um and like it's just sort of like staring into space like she definitely is probably a bit shocked she's got like lacerations all over her face like her arms probably got like

one of her arms like bound up as well so she's kind of holding the coffee in one hand it looks like she's been through it uh but yeah, sounds like the three of them basically held the line here at the forge to stop these, the lamplighters who were arrested from basically getting out

and causing more harm. Rowan, run over to Bliss. You run over and she immediately, like the sound of you running over, she kind of freaks out a little bit. It's like she drops the coffee.

It's me, Rowan. Rowan. Hey, hey. Oh, wow. You guys are okay? Yeah. Ah, good. You guys didn't get hurt or anything?

But it looks like you took some scrapes. Yeah, yeah, I was... The High Authority, she... She wanted me to... Well, she asked me to join her staff, you know, promotion. And I was with her and authoritatis. And, you know, we were checking on the prisoners, those lamplighters and Lady Teresa. And some of the lamplighters, they just, It's like all this smoke came in through the windows

and under the floors, and it, like, went in their mouths and in their eyes, and they changed. They got strong, and they were bending the metal bars, and they were getting out, and we just... We did our best to hold them here, but it was bad.

It was real bad. You were very brave. Thanks. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. She's obviously struggling to like take some of this in, but the conversation definitely seems to be helping a little bit. I'll give her a little gem.

Put a little gem in her hand. Oh, what's this for? It's a gem. Oh. It's a really nice gem. Yeah. For you. It's really pretty. Thanks. It's a really nice gem. Yeah. For you. It's really pretty.

Thanks. You sure? Of course. Thanks. And she just gives her that distraction of like she's like looking at it, like kind of examining it a little bit. I think Roman will join the group. Yeah, she just gets lost in her own thoughts.

But like she definitely likes someone. She's like, thanks, Roman. I'm glad you're okay. I'll make your fist stew when we're all better. That sounds real good. Yeah, that sounds nice. Make it Guy and some of the others. Sounds good.

Yeah, I just need to sit here for a bit. You do that. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, it just takes a minute. I think while this is going on, I imagine Sir Griel is with us. Yeah, yeah, limping along, he sort of falls, he starts having a conversation with Logan Grey separately while this is kind of going on.

I'll probably interject with them and be like, you need to look out for Ilkarasonsword as well. She's a part of this. Ilkarasonsword, what do you mean? This is the hike that the Lord Marshal is like, what do you mean? She was fighting the demons. She had a connection with Tobias Leto.

It needs investigating. Either way, I'd say just don't let her out of your sight. She's back at the cathedral. She led a, there was a group of them, actually, no. Sorry, I'm going to retcon that. My own notes, there's a lot going on when you say okara sunswords the atmosphere kind of changes a little bit and logan gray sunswords well she is uh i don't know where she is

something happened she left the Ducal Palace. The reports that we've gotten, she left the Ducal Palace. She galvanized civilians and a few knights talking about this being a moment to prove their faith to Pyrrhus, to prove their strength that only the weak would fall. And she moved through the streets. She battled demons.

She slew them along with some of her followers and some of the knights and civilians even, galvanized them to take up arms and fight alongside her. But when she reached the plaza, something happened. She became taken over by something, some power. The reports were that she was mad with rage and anger at the weakness that had grown here in Ashen Rest. She started turning on civilians, on demons,

on anything that she could. A few of the knights and civilians with her seemed to undergo a similar transformation. We lost sight of them. They charged out somewhere into the city. We don't know where they went. In the sake of it, we had other concerns at the time. It sounds like she became possessed.

We've seen this happen before. Gryhold, yeah, Gryhold would come in and be like, Aye, Lord Marshal, I have witnessed it myself. Civilians taken over by this, by whatever this demonic power was. You said, Gruffydd, you said it fed on negative emotions. Aye. It sounds like maybe the Sunsword's hatred and zealousness, maybe that let in the demon itself. Sounds like it.

She's going to be a problem in the future, but not one that we can deal with, Neri. She's going to be a problem in the future, but not one that we can deal with, Neri. The High Marshal will say, I will dispatch scouts as soon as I'm able, but our first priority has to be securing the town, rescuing civilians. We have people trapped in buildings, rubble, there are injuries. Where do you need us? Right now, I think you've done more than enough. Take some rest, get your strength, recover your energy.

There will be more to come in time, but for now, you've done everything you can. We can take care of the rest now. We've got these two, and he gestures to Morris and Tobias. With Tekas injured and the High Authority lost to us, I will take them into custody and await Tekas' recovery. We will send for a high authority to come and pass judgment, but until then, we'll just hold them

in captivity until necessary. Maybe make sure there's no other lights near them. Oh, I don't think that's going to be a problem. Call upon us if you ever need us for anything. Indeed. I'm sure the Duke himself will want to speak with you. You need to be rewarded for your heroism,

and I'm sure that if you had Sir Grield with you, a Knight of the Realms witness and testimony will go a long way to spreading your tale of heroism. And Sir Grield will say, Aye, Lord Marshal these five are they they fought like heroes there's no word about it

knights, heroes, the lot of them and stand by any one of them again Thank you for your assistance, Sir Griel Ah I felt like I barely did anything. Aye, can he fly? And he kind of glances his eyes towards Daisy. Or summon, turn into a spider,

or summon flames out of my hands, but... No, but you are a great shot. I am. But I... But let's... I'll stay here at the forge. I'll help them with things here. You go attend to whatever business you need to.

I'm sure the Duke will want to speak with you and I'll come and collect you when he's ready. But perhaps we give our, perhaps we give his draconic majesty a bit of time. I'm sure he has to process some things himself. Of course. You can see he like looks over a building which has clearly got like dragon marks through the roof

and like extensive damage and things like that. But I know the Duke he will this will cause him great pain. Well hopefully Ambarissa is okay. Yes she is a dragon she will heal but I'm sure it will not be a pleasant injury. I think Gruff kind of stunned by what Gryhold said. You almost see tears forming in his eyes. It was a great honor to fight by your side, Sir Gryhold. You as well. I know it is perhaps a frivolous thing to think of now,

and it may be cancelled given these events, but there is a tournament to fight in. A nightly tournament. And I expect to see you there, Gruffydd of Tremorow. Gruffydd will be there! He will! He'll be there! Well, I did think maybe I would sleep for a few days, but who am I to turn down an invite? You have time for that, at least. Rest, recover, and let us hope that the Duke maintains. It is an important celebration, not just for knights and glory and things like that, but I think the town will need something like that. Something to rally behind. And a hero of the town.

People will want to see ye. And perhaps your companions. There are bouts where knights can fight alone, but there are bouts where knights can call upon allies to fight alongside them as well. Team games and the like. I'm not a knight, not yet. Not yet, but a good way to prove

that you're capable of being one. If I may, and he puts like a hand on your... You have to reach up a little bit. He puts a hand on your arm and he's just like, Humility can be a great virtue in a knight. But it is important for a knight to recognize their own glory too. One cannot be a knight if one is too humble to recognize their great deeds and the great purpose that they are applying themselves to. You said that you seek to join the Circle of the Loyal Hounds.

Yes. A fine order. Given what you've done here, I have no doubt that an invitation will be waiting for you at that tournament. One can hope. Hope is all we have. I think Groff just is stunned. Like, he has no words.

He's on the verge of passing out from tiredness. Yeah. He's very sore. He's bleeding. So we'll patch you on the. Yeah. He's very sore, he's bleeding. So we'll patch you on the arm. He's like, well, to business then. There's still a few things to do. Thank you for the healing, Bronn.

Thank you for keeping the minions off me. I did my best. Let's hope that none of us have to face any of those horrible, nasty demon beasties in a while, eh? Till next time, my friends. Till next time. We'll see you at the tournament. See you at the tournament.

Tournament. Is Benedicta still here? She did not come with you. She headed straight for the tab. Straight to the cathedral, because that's where she left Maladon. I have news! She runs off.

I mean, her first priority after helping you guys would have been to go back to Malibu. Yeah, that's fair enough. Well, we can go and rest. Yeah, that would be welcome, yeah. Shall we go back to our inn? We can do. I mean, I was about to suggest we could go back to the church or to Blackwing or something, but I'm going to be honest. I want to sleep. I want to lay down in our tavern and sleep.

Well, then let's all get some sleep. Who wants a piggyback? Me! What? No! Why? I'm only small! You can fly! I'm only small!

You can fly now! She can fly now i can carry she can fly now she flies now are you telling me this is like it's in griffin up here running like look at my little dates she flies now she flies now! I got paid to write that dialogue. Yeah. A lot of money, probably. Yeah. Okay. Let's just go back.

Jetpack troopers. No, no. We're not going to go into that. Let's not start that. We're not going to go into it. Let's not start that. Somehow, Pound Patina is... Stop!

Somehow, Tobias Ritter. Yeah. Okay. Stop! Somehow Tobias returned. Okay, you guys can go back and have a long rest. Yeah. I have some other good news for you. Oh, yeah? It's a big fight. It's a big milestone.

And I know you only recently did it. But? But I think that deserves a level up. Yeah, boy! Level five. Level five. So, so there's also gonna be a couple of other things this is gonna be a bit more of an admin conversation i kind of want to save some of the role play for when we get back let's have a good think about things that we want to do and stuff like that yeah but a couple of things that we can process in the downtime as well um and we'll

rob maybe like we'll close this episode out with you guys meeting with the Duke and I think that there would definitely be like a ceremony to like celebrate you guys. You are going to get a very big payday from the Duke. Oh, okay, that's nice. Yeah, yeah, are we talking? The Duke is basically as part of the celebrations for you rescuing Ash and Rest and you know with sir griold the witnesses of the civilians like this town you are basically now heroes in this town everybody knows it was

the five of you that saved ash and rest and saved the duke and everything else um so your reputation here in town immensely you your reputation is very very You are paid, you are given a stipend, sorry, like a reward of 5,000 gold. Oh, boy howdy. We can make the inn livable! Or we get one very good door. This is the best. You still have Tyria to sort of maybe deal with as well.

Yeah. Because she's stable for now, but she's gonna potentially revert. You still have Tyria to sort of maybe deal with as well. She's stable for now, but she's going to potentially revert. But yeah, you are the Duke. Basically, this is assigned to you via the Auric Bank. It's not like you are given a big pouch of gold, but basically you are given access to a large amount of money to be withdrawn from the Auric Bank from the Duke's sum. That can be handled by the Duke and his considerate at the Ducal Palace if you need to.

He's got to give him receipts. Yeah, basically. I bought five coffees. This is six weeks worth of a latte fun. I think it'd be more like, here's like a thousand gold, or here's a 500 gold or whatever. But you basically have a group pool of five thousand gold wow we

held safe yeah and Jay your reputation within Ashen Rest and within Northvale this will spread out so in Ashen Rest

you are yeah basically you have your exalted rep in Ashen Rest and then Northvale itself is

that reputation spreads out so if you go anywhere in Northvale which is the northern part of Caldra, you will be known as the heroes of Ashenrest. Not full Kaskaros, though. No, not in the full Caldra, not in full Kaskaros.

If you go elsewhere in Caldra, you may be able to play on this. So anywhere in Northvale, basically assume that most people will treat you as heroes. If you go elsewhere in Caldra, you might be able to use that as leverage for advantage on charisma checks. So if you're trying to be like, hey, we need to go and speak

to this person in this bigger town, you can leverage like, we're the guys who saved Ash and Rest and maybe you'll get advantage on your thing. But, remember, if you do things to ruin your reputation or bring disrepute... Disorder on you! Disorder on your cow! Exactly. That might affect your reputation here at Ash and Rest as well.

But for now, your reputation, your renown, is very, very high. So you'll have things like discounts in stores, people will treat you very well. Student discount. That's cool. How's our reputation in the Twin Pits, though? Well, that is a whole other thing.

You don't really know to what extent it is. I would say that with enough research, speaking to Blackwing or your own research, there are, within the Twin Pits, within the Twin Pits and the Helian Throne, there are many different factions. One thing you might be able to learn, and maybe we'll make this more of like a research project,

but Balasg gore the name that kept being thrown around is what's known as a greater demon a powerful demon who holds a lot of uh influence within the twin pits but they're not the only one they're they're always in rival with each other even within their own pit within the pit of diabolos all the different demons are vying to get to the top and it is a higher it's a it a literal hierarchy. The higher you are in the pit, the more influential and powerful you are, and the lower, the weaker you are, basically. Balaskor definitely is somebody

who's going to remember your name. Whether or not they're going to come up again is entirely dependent on you, the people that you make enemies with, and other things as well. But it's definitely a potential enemy made. And it depends on how much you guys want to get involved in it. You might be like, we never want to see that guy again.

We're never going to get into it. Maybe the lamplighters weren't the only people that were trying to help this guy. Maybe they were. You don't know, and I'm going to leave out, if you want to add to your quest list, you would find out that Sunsword Ilkara, when the dome came down fled with

a number of her acolytes seemingly possessed of some sort of demonic strength she became like a sort of infused with demonic power but also holy power as well oh my god and has escaped into caldra somewhere um there are there are posters wanted like not like wanted for like her death but like people like wanted for capture missing, report this person to the authorities and things like that. Approach with caution. Yeah, approach with caution, dangerous. But yeah, so that is a potential loose end, perhaps.

And if you always want to explore more what happened with Tobias and things like that, you obviously can do. But this little arc is done. This is a self-contained story in a sense. There might be some follow-ons and lead-ons, but this is now done. And my plan was originally basically to kind of maybe skip a few days until the tournament,

and then maybe when we come back in, the tournament would be the first thing that we kind of come back into. A few days of peaceful downtime. If you want to, yeah. We can do the downtime and stuff like that. I guess one thing I want to do in the downtime is fulfil my promise to Blackwing

and return with the two items they asked for, the demonic residue and a disc from the Everlight. Yeah, and I think maybe that's a good, maybe that's the avenue where Blackwing would tell you, like when they examine the essence, they will tell you, Ah, yes, this demon, Balascore, known as the Phosphorus.

I know very little about them. Experimented with celestial light, gained it to their own power, toxicity. They are very influential. Not the greatest, but powerful. Very interesting, and they take the essence, and they take the Everlight. These will be valuable.

Thank you for honoring your oath, Gruffydd of Tremorow. It's what I do. I honor oaths. For now, I name thee Oathkeeper. Oh. A name that I, and perhaps other elves, will remember. I thank you. And your aven was very helpful in the battle. I am you. And your raven was very helpful in the battle. I am pleased

to hear it. They are beautiful creatures. Absolutely stunning. Blackwing just nods their head in mutual appreciation of birds. But yeah, I mean, like, there's no payment. This was the payment for their help

so they're like thank you very much put that away you may leave that was a deal well it's also for Gruffydd because Gruffydd would not want to

break a promise especially and that's kept you in good standing you think that again that's kept you in good standing with Blackwing so if you do want to go

and speak to them again they are always going to be an ally here in Ashland Rest for you to go to cool great some other little things I think at some point So if you do want to go and speak to them again, they are always going to be an ally here in Ashen Rest for you to go to. Cool. Great. Some other little things.

I think at some point, Teresa Lavendale, the Illuminator of the Guild, she is released. She clearly had nothing to do. She wasn't part of the group. She was never part of it. She was a stooge. Talking to her, what she said was true.

Morris basically gave her instructions, but she didn't have any idea that it was connected to the everlights interrogation of morris confirms that that basically a number of the engineers were sent out with these things not knowing what they were you also would find out that jania cooper also not involved sadly killed by tabaish that's screaming when you pass the phos and the fighting and screaming you heard. Oh. Most of the Lamplighter's Guild were killed by those loyal to Tobias in that moment. They were sacrificed, basically.

Jesus Christ. So there are still some surviving Lamplighter's Guild members, but it's a handful of them now. The Pharos is basically given over to the Duke. That tower is now basically handed over to the Duke to do with as he wills. The Everlights are all taken down. All of that gets dismantled.

And those Lamplighters who were part of the guild are just left as now free agents. Theresa Lavendale one morning would come by seeking Ophelia. Oh. Well, I wanted to come and see you because you spoke of something, would come by seeking Ophelia. Oh. Hmm. I... Well, I wanted to come and see you because you... you spoke of something and I think in those moments when I was in the cells and I could hear those frightful things,

sort of trying to get out and... Well, I was very scared and I... I prayed to the saints and scions. And... I didn't... They didn't hear me. Oh, she's recruiting. But you spoke of... I was afraid to die.

Yes, it's very natural. And I remember what you said about your faith. And could I learn more? Oh, of course you can! Oh, I'd be delighted to tell you all about it. I can't promise that I'm going to be a believer or anything like that, but it's just made me realise that there are things in this world that I don't... I seek understanding of things, and I've always enjoyed making things.

It's why I joined the Lamplighters, and I enjoy the process of creation, and I'm a talented glass blower and an engineer and things like that but I feel like I've been quite ignorant in most of my life and perhaps learning about something brand new would I think it

I feel like it would help me in some way do I can I come in come in come in into the tavern I suppose and we'll sit down. You have your first follower. Yes! Yes!

So for Ophelia, as this is a thing that you gauge, you are going to potentially gain followers, and like depending on your actions, and if you go out and do things and things like that. Yeah. And Teresa is like the first step of that. Like, she is, like, a first convert. Hell yeah.

Another thing that relates to that, because obviously I know there were some concerns with Daisy's origins and Xanthius's origins and things like that. One thing that would become clear is the Duke Ignarius... I'll save that for when he does the big group thing. I'll save that, but he has something he's going to say about that.

Some other things that happened, or if you guys have got anything. Can I go see Maladie and Benedicta? Yeah, absolutely. You need backup. How soon do you think you would go? After that first night's sleep, would you go the next morning? I think, yeah, I'd make a point to go and see them.

Not as soon as possible, necessarily. Sure, sure. But I want to just make sure. A friendly visit. I would maybe go with them this time. I'll tell everyone. Okay, yeah. I'm going to go speak.

So Daisy and Xanthius is going to go. Does anyone else want to go? Yes. Okay, so Roman's going to go. Yeah. Everyone? Yeah, that's all. Everybody's going. Okay. Because Ophelia obviously is like, I don't going to go. Yeah. Everyone? Yeah, that's what everybody's going.

Okay, because Ophelia obviously is like, I don't want to fucking hate that bitch. Well, yeah. Yeah, maybe not actually. Benedict will do it. You can go if you want. Theresa needs some guidance, you know. I think they're willing to help, just by the way.

Just in case Benedicta wants to hit you around the head or something. Benedicta will probably hit me in the head, yeah. You would find them, not on the Grumpy Hog, they're actually still at the Bright Shadow Cathedral, where they've been helping the Speaker of Secrets, Saverin,

is trying to keep everything together. The loss of Sunsword Elkara and her betrayal, basically, has hit the cathedral quite heavily. Night Glory, Ser Glory, is basically acting as the head of the Pyrrhus part of the church right now and is totally too young and overwhelmed for it and just does not know what's going on. Apparently another Sunsword will be sent from Kelskaris to take over Ilkara's duties here. But in the meantime, Ser Glory has to maintain it. The Speaker of Secrets and Ser Mourning are helping out where

they can, but Sister Benedicta and Sister Malady have also been helping as the Ecliptic Order is part of the church. Malady is recovering. When you go in, you would probably find Benedicta is working with Ser Glory. They're out busy doing things like speaking to acolytes and trying to like, you know, make repairs and heal and things like that. Maladie is like propped up in one of the sort of priest's rooms, like her private chambers. She's like in bed and you can see that she has like ledgers and books, but she's basically being confined to bed and she's not allowed to like do anything. She still, she looks deathly pale, even more pale than she normally does.

Her slick, dirty blonde hair really plastered to the side of her face with sweat. She's in a loose, simple priest's shirt. The cover's kind of pulled up. And you guys knock and enter and she's like, Ah, well, if it isn't the heroes of Ashenrest. Welcome. That's what everyone keeps saying.

It's nice to see you... well. Thanks to, as I am led to understand it, your timely intervention at the inn. Some of you helped my sister deal with one of those demons that was trying to kill us. Yeah, we tried our best to get as many as we could. We couldn't be everywhere at once, but luckily we got to you just in time.

I'm very grateful for that. And also grateful to see that the Curse of Harrow has its business. And it seems... Damn birds everywhere. Ravens. It's that elf's tower. Blackwing is Blackwing, yes. It's nearby, that tower.

She, Maladie, will look at Ophelia and be like, oh, indeed, a number of miracles, it seems, have happened over a few days. The dead return to life. Angels fall out of the sky to defeat demons. Quite an interesting time. Stones move around the battlefield, seemingly of their own devices. I've been told of your masterful work with illusions, Master Rowan.

You've heard of it. My sister did not realize it was illusion, but I suspected it so. Instrumental in the battle, in fact. What do I owe the pleasure? Well, we just wanted to make sure that you were okay, and I thought it apt to- Checking up on me.

Checking up on you. She actually starts like laughing to the point where she coughs. I do not believe that anyone since my sister has ever thought to check up on me. Well, you've been very helpful to us and I know that you wish to help us more. Certainly you are a very interesting character, Xanthius Oregon. My offer to you still stands. It is a shame that Benedicta has learned the truth, but leave that to me.

Is Benedicta... She's not here. No, she's not here. She's not here at all. You do not need... I will tell you this. For now, you have nothing to fear from the Ecliptic Order. I will... Your secret shall remain between us for now. But I would like your assistance in dealing with greater matter.

And I will help you. Good. Good. I want you to know, by the way, it wasn't my choice. I didn't want this. And I want it gone. Oh, and by the way, you're dead right. Yes, I had figured as much. I based on things that were told to me,

but also you should be aware that there were rumors in Kelskaris. I was already investigating matters and descriptions. no names, but descriptions. Witnesses, rumors, things that I piece together when I heard from Zarantekis of a gold dragonborn, magical gifts and a strange problem of the chest. Well, I hedged my bets. Yeah, I'm finding myself to be awfully suspicious recently. Well, you have at least... You have this business here in Ash and Rest.

You have both done yourself a favour and a disservice at the same time. The name of Xanthius Aragon will now spread. And those who covet what you have, those who initially wanted it, they will know. But, as I understand it, you have gained quite the ally in Duke Ignarius. And that is no small thing. No, we intend to... speak... with...

My apologies. Speak with the Duke very soon. But again, wanted to make sure you're okay. Know that you have allies in us, and... Can you make a persuasion check for me? Because I think Maladie's such a paranoid character, I don't think she would, like... I want to see if she believes that you genuinely were checking up on her.

Yeah, this is like a... Like, legit. Aside from the making sure they're not taking up arms to kill me, is there still a genuine, like... You came to see if she were right. Sorry, what was it? Persuasion. Persuasion.

You are being honest. I just want to measure it against her. I have a plus three, which makes 23 nat 20. Interesting. I got a nat 20 on her inside. There's a real genuine moment where she kind of smirks when you say, like, oh, we wanted to check on you. She kind of is like, of course you did.

But then, like, you kind of catch each other in the eye and she, like, cocks her head and you do see almost like there's, like, a slight watering to, like, one of her eyes and she just, like, you know, rubs her eyes if, like, she's got something stuck in it.

You mean that, don't you? Oh I do, of course I do. May I ask why? Is this because I, I represent an ally, I can help you? Why would you care about some, some sickly zealot? Well, for starters, you're not trying to kill me. No, that is true. But you helped us, and we need all the help we can get.

In times like this, if threats like this can attack Ashen's Rest, it can happen anywhere. That is true. It is something that the Ecliptic Order fears. To see that a prominent guild such as this in a place of ash and rest one which we consider to be quite pious to be quite loyal to the empire to see this cult manifest it's a worrying sign i do not say this lightly she kind of like leans in conspiratorially with the five of you. Since the Empress's death, incidents like this have been growing across the

Empire. Cults of the Embered, devotees of the planar powers, not religious worshippers such as yourself or those perhaps gifted powers without their knowledge. Those who actively seek malicious, what we would call a crime of malfeasance. They are growing. It is like as if the powers beyond this realm sense a weakness in the Empire. So be guarded, be wary. So I'm not a criminal in your mind, then? You are an interesting case, young Daisy, isn't he?

Case young Daisy, isn't it? In terms of legality, the Ecliptic Order does not hold any authority to... We are not authorities. We cannot arrest you. We cannot harm you without a bounty or some such postage. We are investigators. Officially, of course. There are members of my order who take the law into their own hands from time to time. This crime, our feisance, it refers to those who strike deals with the plain, our powers, to cause malicious harm, to subvert the souls, to endanger the souls of a citizen of Ulthair.

Now, there could be a case with you. Oh, definitely no. That this, whatever it is, you are not seeking to harm others. You are not trying to corrupt others. But there is a legal... shall we say... difficulty.

Because a good authoritor could argue that your soul has been endangered. Thus making you guilty of a crime against yourself. Now, I personally don't believe in that hogwash. But be cautious. I have no problem with you, dear. You clearly care for the people around you and the people here. I do not believe that you would have done something as... My sister is quite taken.

She believes you to be sent by Pyrrhus. Also not true. Not got any bad things. Also not sent from anywhere. May I ask, where does this power of yours come from? I'd like to know also. When I was very, very young, my family passed away in a fire. I would have too if I hadn't been saved by my friend, by Nim.

Is Nim a presence that you can feel? The one who gives you these powers, this magic of light and radiance? Yes. So it was only to keep me alive. And then that's just all I've known. Would you like to know more? Yes.

I roll a nat 20 on an arcana check. Two in a row. Two in a row. I have heard it is a very rare phenomenon, but one I am familiar with. It is spoken of in the ecliptic order. You are what we call a Daever. Your friend, Nim,

is of the celestial realm called the Lucent Peaks, a former soldier of the Angelic Legion. Now, as I understand it, very few of these Daever, they keep themselves hidden, often not revealing themselves, but they form a sort of bond with a soul here on Althea. Why? I do not know. It is not spoken of. I do not have records of it, but it is a symbiotic relationship. biotic relationship. They protect you, they grant you these powers, they assist you. I've heard talk of them giving advice,

acting as advisors, mentors, friends, even. Yeah, I didn't really have any friends when I was growing up. Just, people didn't want to talk to the girl who talked to herself. The vacant expressions. Oh, by the saints and signs, it all makes

sense. I knew there was something there. You have a friend inside. Yeah, but good friend, friend good. Good friend, okay. Yes, they've helped very much. And now I, yeah, see, note. Nim. People didn't want to be my friend.

Yeah, how does this work? Hello, Nim. Rowan looks at Daisy's forehead. Hello, Nim. Nim. Pleasure to meet you, Nim. Little one. No response?

I mean, there is no sense trying to hide it now, but you do not need... I will not speak with him if you do not wish me to. You can speak with him if you want. I'll say it in my head. Like, you can speak with him if you want to, but I don't feel like... Perhaps another time.

She's doing the looking. She's doing the... He's talking to him. That's the look. The only thing that concerns me... I... I have heard that there have been others like me who have performed these bonds with mortals like yourself.

I still do not know if I trust this Inquisitor, this Malady. She, I mean, it's not that I don't not trust her, but she seems better than the religious one at least but i'm not used to people knowing of me and my kind this is it is meant to be a secret if the legions find out i am here if the legions were to learn that i have hidden within you they would send their agents to find me and take me back well i just won't tell them about you. I won't give them your full name.

I won't give them anything else. No, but you don't understand, little one. It is not simply a case of knowing my name. If they learn that I am gone and they start looking for you and they hear about what you did in Ashen's Rest, what we, what we did, I am just worried. Perhaps this Maladie, well, what we, what we did. I am just worried. Perhaps this Maladie, well, if we need to,

perhaps she could be an ally in some way, but let us be cautious. Okay, that's fine. But I'll probably tell a bit more to my friends. Yes, I think we've learned to trust them. Just those ones. Yes, I trust them. Oh, I think we've learned to trust them. Just those ones. Yes, I trust them. Oh, I hope Nim likes us.

Then maybe just, they're the only ones, they're the only ones who really need to know, maybe. Yes, I agree. But. Maladie will kind of continue on a little bit. This symbolic relationship, the spirit gets a refuge here, a place to hide, but they also retain their memories.

I've said that if they go too long without bonding to a mortal, their memories become disjointed, they lose themselves. And it is possible that the angelic legions of the Lucent Peaks reclaim them and reforge them into a new soldier. Fascinating. They are, as I understand it, and forgive me, Nim, if one can hear me and I am incorrect, they are deserters of their army. They flee the angelic legions and hide here. I have heard that... I've heard mixed stories. In some cases they are friends, allies, protectors. In other cases... There was a story once of a man who had this bond, who was a daver,

but it was not a pleasant relationship. The angelic spirit sort of tricked, forced him into accepting the bond. Used him as a place to hide. Not always to his own will. Remember this, if you remember anything at all. The Planar Powers, they are not like you and I. They are beings of alien intent. Morality is skewed. You might think celestials, angels, things that in our scriptures and things like that speak of as these protectors and warriors, but that is not always the case.

They are devotees of law, of justice. Justice is not always blind. It can be twisted, a tyrant even. So be cautious. And that applies too to creatures such as demons. Why, one of our very own saints was a devil herself. Reformed? Redeemed? The undead? You have great faith in your lord, I'm sure, Sister Ophelia. I do. But can you tell me that you trust all of the undead servants? Of course, Percival. But as I am to understand, in your country you have the different houses, yes?

Mm-hmm. I'm also led to believe that there is some rivalry between them. Oh, yes, but isn't rivalry natural, like, amongst all factions and nations? Indeed. Indeed. But these different, these undead creatures, these undead beings, they are not always kind. Some seek their ambitions above all else.

Not all put their faith in loyalty. Am I wrong? I suppose not, no. All I'm saying is, with the planar powers, you can never be too sure. This, him, seems... a hero, a soldier. Perhaps that is why they fled. They could not stand the tyrannical nature of their army. He didn't want to fight anymore.

But that might not always be the case. So far, it's just all been... It's just been me and them. Just me and them. And that's just it. That was my first friend, my only friend. Until now. And then they've never led me astray. They've always been very clear and there for me

and wouldn't want me to get in any danger. So I would appreciate it if nobody mentioned that. Oh, no, we won't, but... Very wise. Whether it was your feet or Nim's that led you to us, I'm thankful. I will say this, young Daisy. I do not think it's such a bad thing for people to believe

that you are perhaps a warrior of pirates. It will protect you in many circles. Well, I don't want to do anything bad, I just want things to be. Oh, my dear, my dear. Sometimes lies can be good things. Okay, I'm just really bad at it though, so... We can workshop it together.

You're good at it. Nope. White lies. Yes. Gruff is scrunching up his snout at this. He's not saying anything, but he's scrunching his little face. You see Maladie wipes a little blood from her cheek. She has another bad coughing fit, really bad.

She can't stop for a long time and she like wipes the blood. Forgive me, I have spoken a bit too long. My illness is taking its toll. It's okay. Um, we'll leave now, but you rest. I just, from the sounds of it, our work is far from over. You have at least a bit of time. Rest, recover.

I hear you are to receive quite a reward from Duke Ignarius. I hope so. Spend it wisely. I'm sure that we will meet again. My sister and I will not linger here in Ashenrest much longer. Once I am recovered and things are settled, we will head back to Kelskaris, most likely. But you can always send word to me if you need. Okay. Um...

But again, thank you for everything you did. It is rare that I am thanked in my line of work and in my life. I think that perhaps... you might be the first to ever thank me. I'm learning to trust people. Same. Yeah.

Well, then until next time. She kind of gives you a nod. She reaches over, pulls like medicine, begins taking some medicine. Yeah. I will. Yeah. I don't want anybody to be worried.

Everything's fine, it's all good, I just. Oh Daisy, I saw you fly and glow and blow up a lantern in one dagger. We're not worried, we're. Impressed. Yes, and oh okay. Amazed. But I don't want you to think it's blasphemous, Gruff, I'm sorry if you think he's wrong. It's just that I don't want you to think it's blasphemous, Gruff.

I'm sorry if you think it's wrong. It's just that I didn't really have that much of a choice because I was three, but also they've been really nice. My darling, it sounds like that's not my voice. Hello? Just give it a minute. My dear, it sounds like you have a celestial being. Yeah, pretty much.

That's the holiest of holy. Well, yeah, but people don't think that. I want to clarify one thing, because I know Gruff's religious. Celestials, like angels, aren't a part of the sign of faith. You could think it's like a warrior of Pyrrhus that's been sent, but it's very different to being a Celestial. They are a planar thing. This would be like a,

it'd be more like Daisy being given the power of a Saint temporarily, is what that kind of manifestation would be. The Saints, the Scions, sorry, do have servants, like heralds and things like that, but they aren't Celestials like the game Celestials, like what Daisy has. Just so I don't want you to get confused and think that, like, it's the same thing. This is Pyrrhus.

Yeah. Gruff could think, like, ignore what Maladie was talking about and be like, no, no, no, you're blessed by Pyrrhus. That's totally fine. Yeah, I think it's tough because Gruff is religious, but it's more just because it's always been there. He's never been a thinker about it. And the last few events in the last few days

has really kind of messed with his core belief system. I would say it would depend on how much stock Gruff puts in what Maladie said about it being a planar thing. You could be like Benedicta and be like, no, no, no, that was a blessing from Pyrrhus. I know what that was. No, he trusts Maladie. Yeah, Maladie. So he would probably know that, no, no, that was a blessing from Pyrrhus. I know what that was. No, he trusts Maledictor.

Yeah, Maladin, yeah. So he would probably know that, yeah, that the Celestial is actually a planar creature, not a holy, like, a something from the Scions. I don't know, man. I just want to clarify, I know it's world-building. Yeah, no, I retract my statement. Sounds like Pyrrhus. But I'm not...

It's not anything that's getting any better or worse or, you know, making someone's arm look... Okay. I mean, it's not hurting me, whereas your thing is hurting you, and that's not good. Because you're being hurt. As long as you're not being hurt.

I'm not being hurt. And I'm not going to hurt anyone else because it's just me. Hey, how often can you do that flying thing? Oh, I don't know, I've only done it that once. That was your first time? Yeah, I kind of panicked and it happened. Because, you know, there was a lot of fire around, there was a lot of fire around,

there was a lot of demons, it was quite terrifying, and I could do something about it, and I just kind of willed that to happen, and it happened, and then the problem was gone because the light was gone, and yeah. Well, you very much did something about it. I think that saved us there. So again, thank you, Nim, if you can hear me.

They can't hear you that well. Really? They're just muffled. It's like, not so much. Don't get closer. Okay. You know what, Daisy? What I heard in all of this,

I can't tell you if you're blasphemous or not, what I heard in all of this was I can't tell you if you're blasphemous or not, what I heard in all of this is a very young girl lost her parents, and this thing, whatever it is, kept you safe. Yeah. And in my eyes, that can't be blasphemous. Thank you, Cor. Very good Gruff response. Daisy will give Gruff a hug. Awkward, Gorr. That's a very good Gruff response.

Daisy will give Gruff a hug. Oh, good. Okay, a pat pat. I know you don't like it, but I'm going to make you a hug. No, don't cry. It's fine. Don't cry. It's okay. It'll be okay.

It's okay. Okay, my fur is all wet now. So, before we wrap up the episode, one thing that would happen is you are brought to Duke Ignaris for a private chamber conversation. But a parade is basically

arranged. Not just for you guys. It honours the High Authorita who gave her life. It honours many of the soldiers who also died in the fight and also the soldiers who fought and survived. It's kind of a we all did it in the fight and also the soldiers who fought and survived. It's kind of a, we all did it, but you guys are the guests of honor.

And these are the heroes who destroyed the lantern and stopped the demon and stuff like that. The private conversation with Duke Ignarius, you would find his tall, powerful humanoid form, you know, the 10 feet tall, dark-skinned Dreadlock, but all scars and cut up, slightly more morose than the last time you've spoken to him. That never comes across when he's publicly speaking.

Publicly speaking, he is as bold and brash. You know, when he does the parade, he speaks of your heroism and the unity of Ashen's Rest coming together and fending off this attack and how it's made it stronger. And, you know, it proves that cauldron spirit and pride is all there. Yeah, don't look me up. Yeah, there's a bit of all of that.

But in private, there's definitely a bit more of a guilt and regret to him. of guilt and regret to him. He will say, you have my humblest of thanks, heroes, not just for destroying the light and freeing us from that spell, but for saving me before I did something truly, truly terrible. And he glances over and lady amberissa his daughter is there and you can see that her arm uh even in her humanoid form still bears this horrific burn

scar all up her and you know she was a very beautiful kind of pretty humanoid like elven figure but now it's got this really intense quite nasty burnt scarlet chunks of flesh missing and she's trying to cover up with silks but you can you know you know it's there and his eyes kind of dart towards her and she looks away and he can see that he's yeah very guilty but for saving me from myself and my family from myself what ever you, I consider you to be champions of Northvale. I will make sure that you are rewarded as befits heroes of this place. Not just some but a true heroic reward. Gold, riches, whatever is in my power to grant. Just a couple of days ago,

we were just thinking about repairing the stairs. You do not need to tell me now. Just know that in me, you have not just a friend, but one who owes you a great debt. A debt of a dragon is no small thing. Sister Ophelia de la Rosa. Yes? I do not know by which miracle you have returned to us.

Oh, yes. For I saw your body laid out as it was. But I fear that given the... I feel that given... the... betrayal is perhaps the wrong word, but the actions of the Church of the Scions. There have been voices speaking to me that you are bringing heresy to my lands.

No, just education. Please. You used your power to defend my people to defend my home to defend me my family it is in my rights you know the dragons we have our own belief we do not follow the saints and scions as the ilkir do we were taught. I see no reason why you should not be permitted your worship here in my lands. I don't know what to say. I'm so...

Thank you. That would be a great honor, not only to me, but to Osseus. I would trust that you would seek only to help my people grow, to become stronger, to prosper with this religion of yours, this grave father. Of course. We would only wish for your people to experience nothing but joy and bliss, for they have suffered so much already.

Surely giving them joy would be what they would deserve. Then it is within my power as regional duke to allow you to preach the word of your faith here in my lands. I cannot. Maybe we should put this to a vote. I cannot offer you this beyond my lands. I cannot. Maybe we should put this to a vote. I cannot offer you this beyond my borders. Of course, of course.

You have to contend with the church and their interactions. Oh, of course. Your resplendence, I'm so thankful. You are most welcome. But I see this is only fair. For if the church of the Scions can nearly bring ruin to us. And he does look like, there's a look of like, fucking pirates fucked up.

Like, I see no reason to deny you your faith here. Nor should any who are plain touched. And he kind of looks around. Thank you, sir. Suffer prejudice. and he kind of looks around thank you sir suffer prejudice I am led to believe as well from my considerate and the high marshal that you have encountered you have uncovered information that the former owners

of the inn that I bequeathed to you they were mistreated by the church yes for name alone enticing devil we cannot have that I will make sure that this does not happen again we must make sure that our this these religious matters this zealotry it has already taken and has corrupted the sun sword turned this town into a battlefield against these demon demons

we cannot have this happen again i'm glad because I was running blanks on names. You are free to change it as you wish. It does not even need to be an inn. Turn it into a house, a business, a shrine, whatever you so see fit. It is yours, your land, to do as you wish. And I am proud to have you here as citizens of my lands. Think on what you would like. Think of what I can aid you with, and we will speak again.

But for now, I think a healthy donation from my treasury should at least enable you to build a future here, if that is what you wish. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. With that, we get the Star Wars medal scene. End chapter.

To clarify, Gruff doesn't get a medal. Gruff doesn't get a medal, that's right. Or we can do it like the Ewoks, where you're all banging on the heads of demons. Like... And the ghosts are... And then you dance with the halflings or whatever. Who are the ghosts in that scenario?

I guess Janya and the High Author. Yeah, yeah, yeah. The High Author, I think, for sure, yeah. I get 5,000 medals, though, right? In all the coins. Yes, yes, sure. But yeah, that's going to be it. That is the end of this little first arc, basically.

The Ancients Rest. We did it. To the point that we have now got a nice established base. You've got enough money to build up the inn into like a nice little home. Cool. We're probably going to jump back in several days later with the tournament,

and we can go over things that happened in between that and stuff like that as well. And yeah, a brand new arc will begin. We lived. Very close. We're five now as well. Five games. That is going to be it for this episode. Thank you guys so much.

We will see you next time. Bye. See you later. I'm so excited to be alive.