High Rollers DnD - Altheya: The Dragon Empire #29 | Festival of the Forge (Part 2)

Episode Date: July 18, 2024

Gruff signs up for the grand tournament while the rest of the gang get distracted by shiny things in the Festival of the Forge! ANNOUNCEMENT: New Clever Toad merch! Get your favourite legitimate prophecy telling toad on a t-shirt here: https://highrollersdnd.teemill.com/product/the-clever-toad-t-shirt/ 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. Welcome back to part two of Alfear the Dragon Empire. Our party have been getting ready for the Festival of the Forge and the accompanying tourney that will be part of it. An opportunity for knights across the Dragon Empire to show off their skill and talent and certain individuals to be able to prove themselves and perhaps gain the attention of knightly orders. That is where we come back in.

We have just had Rowan destroy a festival game by spending his powerful special one-off Oracle Boon that he was given. And then we've just had Gruff's armour delivered as well. His special armour that he is borrowing for the tournament. Just giving Chris Trott time to clear up his fucking mess that he made. Getting biscuit tea mixture

over his iPad and himself and his trousers. My trousers. Yeah. Yeah. He spent the entire intro eating biscuits from his own lap. Crotch in an area. He's already had a biscuit in his tea today.

It's already fallen. So we jump back in. We are going to basically have you guys all come together. Gruff returns to meet up with everybody. Or you can all meet up at the inn if you want. It's up to you. But yeah, at this point, Percival, I feel you've finished getting ready.

Percival's done all your hair. Everything is all prim and proper as it should be. Daisy and Rowan eventually make their way to the group. What is that? It's the vest! A symbol of Gruffydd's winds. What, that thing? Yeah.

It's cute. Keep in mind, an owlbear in this world is a vault spawn. It is like a famous monster that knights kill and go and do things like that. Is it common? Is it a known thing? It's like a known thing. It's like, I guess, when you go to a fair in the world,

in our world, and you win a stuffed dragon or something like that. Sure. It's like you are winning a monster. How did you get that? How much did you spend on this thing? It's huge. Two bronze.

Two bronze? Is that for me to warm up on? No, no, no. Lift stuff. No, no, this is Oliver, the owlbear. And he's mine and he will stay in one piece, thank you. Okay, Oliver. Oliver the owlbear.

What's inside him? Soft, fluffy goodness. Oh, it's not true. It's not real, don't worry. Gruff, you look magnificent. Wow. Oh. Did you put it on?

Yeah, have I put it on? Marthain would probably help you put it on, yeah. Because if not, I think Marthain would have to show you, Marthain would have to show you, like, this is how you buckle it on,ain would probably help you put it on. Okay, yes. Because if not, I take back what I say. Marthain would have to show you, like, this is how you buckle it on, and, like, I'll help you do it. And, like, that's part of the service, right? It is a super-scale mouse, so there's probably, like, a sort of skirt or some tassets of, like, this toughened dinosaur hide, basically,

rimmed with, like, occasionally studded with metal, rimmed with other natural leathers as well it's connected to a curious plate that's done in like like lamellae like levels of this hide

and then again like rimmed with piece of metal and leather and studs and things like that as well and then as I said this giant lion roaring lion

shoulder pauldron with then plates coming down the side of it as well yes yes I see. I understand. Yeah. Visualizing.

And it would be a sort of dark bluish green in colour because it is Thunderbeast hide as well. So, yeah. And then brass studs

I imagine. Yeah. Oh, yeah. It's tight. You definitely would feel quite tight in it. Yeah, and it's because it's scale mail

and it's done in these layers it makes you look quite sturdy. It doesn't have like sculpted, like you can't see any definition, but it makes you look very tight and slim and pulled in. Yeah, it's probably a little hard to breathe. Sitting down is hard. Yeah.

I don't think I've ever looked this trim since I was a teenager. Woo! Well, you look great. You look noble. Yes. Knightly. That is a real masterwork. I'm so chuffed. Like, look, look, look at this pauldron.

Look at this. It's me. It's you, but it's a pauldron. Can I touch it? Can I touch it? Oh, it's wonderful. And after this is over, I mean, the armour still exists, of course. How much would it be to... Oh, I didn't even think to ask, because it's probably really up there. OK, OK, well, I can keep it in mind.

It was about 1,000 gold for just the one piece for Ophelia. That's true, but... And this is very nice. This is my new goal. This is who I am now. I'm going to get you this armour. Oh, I can't ask for that. It's probably a lifetime's worth of money. No, you're right.

It's too high to your goal. I'll re-evaluate. Well, that Artelia, Amelia, Martijn, said that he would be on hand to take it away as soon as I'm done. Okay. But do you feel like you can fight in this thing, in this armor? Do you feel active, mobile?

Oh, and then Gruff will take a few swings with the new staff, and then, you know, kind of raise the shield, plummet the staff down, strike what he thinks is a pose. It's a very fine figure, like definitely imposing this beautifully made staff with like the staff down, strike what he thinks is a pose. It's a very fine figure, like definitely imposing. This beautifully made staff with like the hooked end, the sort of flattened, or sort of like widened,

more, you know, bludgeoning end of the staff, like firmly on the ground. There's almost a, you know, the kind of, the big Chinese club kind of like end, that's kind of like what the bludgeoning end is like, with this then elegant sort of moon almost crescent hook. And then the shield, which has almost this winged fan design that can be extended out. Oh, yeah.

Kind of with this beautiful now hide sort of style scale armor. It is, for the first time, Gruff looks incredibly knightly. Like, this is the very image of what you expect a, you know, maybe not a traditional knight to look like, but it certainly gives you that air of regality and sturdiness and everything else, for sure. I just only wish, I just only wish my little Saren could be on the new staff. But that's a problem for another day.

Don't you think it would be a lovely little finishing piece? Oh, that would really finish it off. Seren's just holding out right now, yes. Are you able to still summon Seren with this? I can if I use my old staff. Oh, OK. Unhooks the old one. Kind of gives it a little tap.

Little Seren pops out. Oh, there it is. If, well, would you prefer to use that in the fight? Would Saren assist you? I'll probably, I'll use the Ugg staff. Okay. But I'll see if I can ask maybe Master, no, no, no, no, no pronouns.

I'll see if I can ask Blackwing if there's a way to transfer the magic from one to the other. Okay, well, the shield and staff's yours now, so we can do that. Oh, I've never owned so many things in my life. Well, they suit you to a T. Mm-hmm. Thank you, Sister Ophelia. Your letter, it really does mean a lot to me,

and he's actually tucked it into the breastplate. Aww. Kind of takes it out and then shoves it back in again. Aww, Cruff, that's so lovely. But like I said, it was an honour to write about you and I hope you get to deliver it. And we'll make sure you get that chance. Oh, me too. Let's go get signed up. I need to get signed up. Yes. It'd be dreadful if we missed out on this because I didn't sign up on time.

Well, we have to go through the festival first. Let's not get distracted. Ooh, games! Yeah, so as you begin making your way, it's still very early in the morning, but Ash and Rest is blossoming with life. People are, you know, you suspect that people have travelled

in to the town for this festival and for the tournament, so it is packed already, and it's filling up. More and more people are arriving. The main market plaza, like I said, there is this market fair. So you look and it's all little artisans. Maybe people that do it as a hobby.

Maybe people that work in this professionally, but they're all set up little stands selling trinkets and toys, glasses, like in this beautiful swirling colors that's been blown into these beautiful cups and glasses and vases and things like that. You see people like leather workers with beautiful shoes and boots, cobblers. You can see people that have done dyed fabrics, just bolts of fabric that they're now selling. And it's very much a celebration of craft. But not just craft. As

you make your way across the plaza, you see small little stages and areas have been marked out where magicians are performing. You see one like, Ah, yes, come up there, my friend. Hello, welcome, please. And he brings up a man and it's just like, Ah, and how would you, you know, have you ever dreamed of being as small as a mouse,

as tiny as a thing, to see the world in a different perspective, and then he casts a spell and the man shrinks down to a few inches big and things like that, runs around the stage, and then it's just putting on a display of magic, basically. And you can see that this is happening almost everywhere, and there are shows for children,

but then there's also ones for adults and things like that of showing the more dangerous magic, fire, and shooting things up into the sky and things like that very gandalf doing the fireworks and bits and bobs like that barrick is with us as well no he ran off ahead he uh rowan said that you they'd meet you at the tournament right um you would also see uh there are occasional peddlers who are selling magical wares as well um you see people uh going up and buying small scrolls not the kind of scrolls that you've seen like magical scrolls of like powerful spells but definitely utility things or main minor enchantments scrolls that help your garden grow or potions that restore hair loss um you see quite a few uh tents that

are offering sort of magical makeovers to change your appearance, to change your hair, to change your gender, to change whatever, you know, you want. All of these are like paid services, but, you know, these have sprung up everywhere. It is a celebration of magic

and the art of changing and creation. You would also see similar games, the Anvil game that Rowan's already won. You see a few of those around. The other game that you see is called Thread the Needle, and you can see quite a few people have lined up, and you see some kids trying it. It involves a giant oversized needle with an eye

and then a long piece of wire that's made to look like it's coming out of a bobbin of a thread, and people are trying to trace it, but it's quite difficult to wiggle it round. At any time they touch the side, the gamekeeper rings a bell, oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, like you've broken the thread,

and they lose the game or whatever. You can see people are trying that, and that has a selection of prizes as well. The further along you get, the better prize you get. And see people are playing that game. No good at those, tried it once before, couldn't get, the better prize you get. And see people playing that game. No good at those. Tried it once before. Couldn't get past the first.

Bend. It's all twisted. You also see sign posters and signs on placards that advertise the different workshops and lessons. And you can see that there are multiple across the two days. So there's generally a course of three courses for each kind of field of artisanship. So if you would like to learn a bit about wood carving

or if you'd like to learn a little bit about painting or poetry writing or calligraphy, there are all these different classes. Metagame knowledge, if you complete three of those courses, you will gain a free skill proficiency in that tool. What are you interested in? three of those courses, you will gain a free skill proficiency in that tool. Ooh! What are you interested in? Rowan wants to learn masonry.

Okay. So there is like a stone-cutting course, basically. You have to complete three courses throughout the next two days. And you'll basically have to give up periods of time to go and do them they're free to attend during the festival yep but you just have to

sacrifice the time to do it so it might mean that you might have to like go it might be that like they might be on one of Gruff's

like doing one of his bouts or something like that as well so the intro maybe I'm sorry I'm sorry

I'm sorry I do poetry yeah you in fact you wouldn't notice this but Rowan I'm sorry. Complainly a new poetry. Yeah. In fact, you wouldn't notice this, but Rowan would recognise the name under the poetry lessons. It is Yeeda Parin, who is the gnome who worked at the printing house that you spoke to. The author of The Dragon Comes in a Night.

His Majesty's Scepter. His Majesty's Scepter. His Majesty's Scepter, sorry. She writes good stories. Yeah. So she is actually leading the poetry writing classes. How wonderful. You also, Philly, you would recognise that the art teacher is Miss Visa Farah, who's the school teacher at the school.

Oh, wonderful. And, yeah, there's just a bunch of different things um that you see going on must do that school thing school thing for learning give a lesson get paid to do a lesson oh you did a lesson yes um but yeah so there are all different things around the game like i said you will have to basically specifically say like okay i'm gonna go attend these uh and then there will be a little, maybe a role, or a little kind of bit of role play as you learn to do them. But you can pick up a free tool proficiency by participating. But you eventually, I'm assuming, start making your way, winding towards the tawny field

with the intention of signing up. You can see that the tawny field area, many of the guards are patrolling around here, and right now the Tawny grounds are off limits to the public. Nobody's allowed to try and get early seats. They're not going to allow people, you know, they're going to make sure that the citizens get the chance to come and get their seats first. So nobody's being allowed in yet, but outside on the green area, where there's a kind of a large grassy green area part of it is dedicated to stables for the drakes and the griffins that many of the the forge uh the soldiers here use

um but a part of it is open and you can see stands selling merchandise and souvenirs you see little dolls of some of the more famous knights of the world um you see uh banners with different knightly heraldries and things on it you do see a couple there is somebody selling sir griold's banner actually like you see his uh you see his his heraldry um you see there's various other pieces of heraldry that you don't recognize um there are people food and drink vendors setting up beginning to set up like little mobile carts that are like portable taverns with casks of ale sort of wedged under them. It's roasted peanuts.

Oh, absolutely. Like food and snack vendors and things like that. Hot dogs! Get your hot dogs! Now it's a hot dog, not an open sandwich. There are attendants at the gates into the tawny field and inside the tawny field itself

you can see these stands have been set up with scholars and ledgers who are making notes, and you begin to see very clearly a lot of very knightly-looking figures, some more knightly than others. Some definitely look like they are aspirant knights or people that are knight-errants, perhaps, but they are inside queues of them signing up for the titles.

It's just like a group of muscle-bound chads just stretching like... Some of them absolutely. Some of them look like that. Some of them are decked in full plate. Actually, they probably wouldn't be wearing their armour just yet, but they're very richly dressed. You can see that they carry these elaborate swords on their waists, fine cloaks, you know, very, very well appointed.

You can tell the Cauldron Knights because they are even more elaborate in their hair has been freshly cleaned. They've got the most beautiful cloaks and clothing on. But you also see figures from other places around the Empire around. You catch sight of some people, of some Nalunari, the Dark Elves, but they don't look like they are wearing the colours of any of the provinces. you catch sight of some people, of some Nalunari, the dark elves, but they don't look like they are wearing the colours of any of the provinces. They look like they are wearing sort of black and whites and greys, which are not the traditional colours of any of the provinces. And their symbol is of a silvery city outline,

which I don't think any of you would really recognise. You see you, Gruffydd, amongst the crowd. You catch a brief glimpse of them before they move on, but you definitely catch the sight of Iceheart, the colours, beautiful whites and silvers and pale blues and creams,

you know, thick boots, like clothing that would be appropriate for Iceheart, but is still elaborate and beautiful and striking in its own appearance. You catch the look of very long white hair as the person kind of moves through the crowd. Yeah, all sorts of people.

Remind me, what are the colors of the order that you're looking for again? I don't know. You don't know? I think you got told a little bit about their symbol. I don't know. Literally all I have is this. Okay, I was just wondering if we could see any of the...

This is just a list of the virtues written down for me by a traveler who came through our village. Okay. I don't really know much else. I just know that they're an order. They're taking older folk like me. Well, I was just hoping that maybe we could see some of their kind around. I think Sir Gryolt said the heraldry was two dogs chasing each other.

Two dogs. Look for two dogs. And if you want to introduce yourself, maybe. I don't know. It's up to you. You can make a perception check if you'd like to scan the crowd. Right now, you guys are outside the 20 field. You're kind of like looking in. There are guards kind of stationed

who are only allowing certain individuals to pass through. If I can see that particular faction, I know it's of interest to Gruff. That is a two. It is a thick crowd. Minus one, sorry. You start to look Xanthius.

And then the radiant sun burns my eyes. No, a sight actually causes your heart to kind of seize a little bit. Because you clearly see the colors of Gildai. And there is a knight of the Gold Dragon province here. You don't get a close look at them, but you are certain, like you see a flash of bright burnished gold, deep browns,

and rich blacks of somebody of Gildai. I just suddenly remembered who I am. And what you did. So unfortunately, yeah, that kind of takes your attention away. The guards at the front kind of look at you and are like, oh, sorry, champions, the only knights for the tournaments can go through. Are you looking for somebody?

Well, here we... Is it too early? Might as well warm up now. We have the most noble of knights ready to sign up Gruffydd of tomorrow Tremorro, a knight in training. Right, okay, yeah, well, that's, yeah, I mean, we're just, if you are entering the tournament, then yeah, we can let you through.

At dusk. Oh, I like that. Also, we'd like to enter as a group into the groups. That's all handled inside Gruff, is it? Sir Gruff, you're not... Gruffeth of Tremorro. That's all handled by the considerates inside.

Do they all need to come in? Well, actually, no. Only you can go in to sign up. This is just for knights only and knights in training. Oh, we were hoping to also join the conquest. That will all be handled.

That will all be handled. Sorry, ignore me. Carry on. I got really distracted by Rowan's rousing speech there. Okay. But yeah, they'll part their way and say, yep, just go on in and you can speak to any of the considerates.

And they point at the, above each of these little wooden stands, there is a shield with a symbol on it. One of them is a sword and shield. One of them is a pair of crossed wands. One of them is a giant axe. One of them is a bow of crossed wands, one of them is a giant axe, one of them is a bow with an arrow in it, one of them is a drake with a lance,

like a rider with a lance, and then the other one is like three warriors and three warriors on a kind of like, almost like a line with like trees and a mountain in the background. Um. Riders with a lance. So I guess the one I want is the sword and shield

because it was the... You tell me where you're going. I'm sure I wrote it down. Somewhere. Except I bloody didn't because I'm Gruffydd and I don't bloody write anything down. Well, I mean, Gruffydd sees these symbols, like you tell me what Gruffydd would do at this point.

You're let through. The others, they are just saying, like, yep, it would be fine if you can just wait here. Okay. This is for the knight. Oh, wow, is that Gruffydd tomorrow? The knight in training. What a noble heart that one has.

Look at his gleaming armour. Beautiful. Splendent. People definitely start looking around. Start looking towards the direction. I'm so meek and vulnerable. Would somebody save me? He Start looking towards the direction. I'm so meek and vulnerable. Would somebody save me? He just turns in the ground.

Protection intensifies. Kim, as Gruff enters the tawny field, and, like, you, you know, it's a massive arena, so there's, you know, it's only several dozen, maybe a couple of dozen sort of like knights all milling around, like signing up or having finished their now in conversation nearby. How lost does Gruff look? Does he look quite overwhelmed and out of place and a bit lost?

I'd like to think that taking on the advice of particularly what Daisy and Xanthias would have said about appearance mattering in this, he would be putting on an appearance that he knows what he's doing. But I think if anyone looked at him a bit too long, you could probably see... Well, give me a performance check to see how well this performance is going to play out.

Five. Five, okay. You've got that same smile you gave earlier. Yeah. That weird old smile, like looking around. The teeth are there, but the eyes are saying I'm not happy. And are you looking in a particular booth in particular? Like are you trying to figure out which ones to go to?

Like what are you going to do? So you said it was the one that was a sword and shield? Sword and shield. Crossed wands. A battle axe, like a giant axe. Bow and arrow. Drake with a rider with a lance. And then three warriors and three warriors. Battleaxe, like a giant axe. Bow and arrow. Drake. Drake with a rider with a lance.

And then three warriors and three warriors. So six warriors on a field with mountains and trees. So probably the sword and shield. Okay. You make your way up to that. You can see that there are... This line has less of the elegant looking knights. You kind of actually stand out quite considerably in your beautiful armour.

There are definitely some others here. Mixture of men and women some are wearing um thick kind of like old worn breastplate and old worn helmets uh some of them are dressed more like duelists and have like long slender swords one seems to have a very fine um shield like almost like a buckler like a very small round but in very ornately designed i mean in the other in their sort of sheath sorry would be a very small thin short sword like you know but definitely looks like an unusual fighting style cauldron that one in particular um but as you make your way there you definitely stand out like you look one of the more sort of well-to-do knights in this line um and you you wait a few, you overhear the conversations you're going,

and when you get to the front of the queue, you see a bespectacled man who's just like, oh, hello, your name, please, sir? Gruffydd of Tremorow. And which draconic lord, order, or church do you represent? I don't represent anyone at the moment. Kind of looks up. Well, do you have your writ of permission

by another night to enter? Sir Gryold said I could. Hmm, sort of, well, you overhear, like, this one's fine, and you kind of see Sir Gryold, who has been sort of makes his way out of the crowd, is like, it's all right, it's all right. I give this one my permission. I sponsor this knight.

I sponsor this warrior to enter as knight. And he's like, oh, very good. You really should give out the writ of permission, Sir Gryold. It is our only way of being concerned. If you were not here, I would have had to have dismissed them. I know, I know. I forgot to give it to him. It's fine.

But yes, I approve. I sponsor Gruffydd of Tremorow. And they go like, well, Gruffydd of Tremorow, they write you down. Yes, and you are aware of the conditions of the Shieldbearer tournament. It is a one-handed weapon and shield are permitted. Magic may be used, but not for offensive purposes. You may buff yourself, you may empower yourself and such things, but you cannot use it

to strike your opponent. That would be used in the Wandbearer tournament. Very good, your matches, you will be assigned and drawn after the closing ceremony. Your first matches will begin this evening. That sounds like the thing I'm meant to be doing. He just nods his head like, yeah, the correct one. It's like, very good. You have been noted.

He gestures over, Belamond. And you see this little sort of halfling guy comes up, and he's like, your crest, could you have it on you, or can you describe it? We can say that she was painted on the shield. I lift my shield. Very good, and you see this little... Paint still fresh.

Maybe like 16-year-old human. He has like a kind of board, and he begins sketching the crest. Yes, I have it, considerate. Oh, very good. Your crest will be added to the tournament roster. Look for your crest to determine your match. Oh, thank you. Oh, very good, enjoy the tournament.

And it just straight to business, like next! And like calls you over. Ser Griel sort of gestures to the side for you to step out. Oh, Ser Griel, thank you for saving my hide once again. No, no, it's my fault. I should have given you a writ of permission to show that you were sponsored.

The tournaments, only knights and knights errant are technically allowed to enter, but we knights are allowed to sponsor someone to fight in the tournaments as well. I should have given you my writ, but... Paperwork. Yeah, I never remember to bring that blaster thing with me. Were you only entering this, or did you want to

enter something else as well? Oh, the other lot also were interested in the Crucible? Was it the Crucible? The Conquest, you mean. The Conquest. Well, the way that that works is you sign up. If you were fighting

in a team of other knights, they would sign up with you, but in this case, you would be effectively hiring mercenaries to join you, so they don't need to be part of the process. You'll be responsible for bringing your own team, and if they don't turn up, then you're left to fight on your own. That's the risk of bringing.

Oh, they wouldn't do that to me. No, I imagine not, no. Would they? Ooh, games! We should play more games. Plus, it's an art painting. You said you wanted to do poetry, right? Yes, I do.

And masonry? Yes. There's so many snacks over here. What time are the lessons, actually? It shouldn't be a problem. Just do it. Just sign up. So, Griel will take you over to the conquest sign up. A shiver goes down his spine. And the same process repeats there where he signs you up.

It's just literally given your name, they take down your crest, they explain the rules to you. The rules for the conquest are a little bit differently. You are permitted to bring up to five allies with you, so a total of six. So you can bring up to a total of six. You will be pitted against a team

and the objective is uh you the main objective is to steal the enemy's flag and return it to your flag so it's a bit of a capture the flag uh scenario and it's the best of three bouts will win um and that is that is the way conquest works it is uh you are allowed to use magic you're allowed to use pretty much anything in it um the one rule that is explained to you is that you are responsible for any uh deaths that occur you will be held accountable so you are expected to pull your blows uh to make sure that you do not deliver with lethal force it's okay i'll take one for the team in charge the team will get disqualified. Enchantments can be placed upon your weapons to ensure that they don't kill unintentionally.

But the advisors would warn you that, obviously, magic cannot be handled in that way. So one who is using magic needs to be careful. So you are basically... This tournament does not stop you being... You are not immune to crime while you're in this tournament. The only thing is that you waive the right against an assault charge or anything like that.

You are entering at your own risk. The Duke Ignarius and the town of Ashenrest will not be held responsible for any injuries sustained during the tournament. That goes for magic daggers as well. Am I going to throw any? Am I going to throw any? Yeah, but what?

So that is it. So you are now signed up for both of those. The conquest will take place tomorrow. And it will take place from late morning to early afternoon, is when you're told. So you're to come back here tomorrow for the conquest. But the shield-bearer tournament will begin after the opening ceremony. Okay.

All right. As you make your way around, yeah, you definitely see some interesting characters. You spot the Nalanari, the Dark Elf, wearing this beautiful black and purple attire. You don't see any armor on them, but it is beautifully made, studded with tiny crystals that catch the light and glitter as they move around. They wear a very wide-brimmed hat that actually kind of comes down over their eyes,

and they seem very uncomfortable in the bright light. They're kind of keeping their head down the whole time, and their symbol, like I said, is of this glittering silver city outline. It's very elegant and beautifully drawn on their tabard and things like that you don't see any visible weapons on them uh they don't appear to have any kind of visible weapons um you do also see something that would definitely step out you see humans and dwarves a few halflings and half elves but one thing that definitely steps out, a person that stands out to you, towering over anybody else, she is Rowan-sized, is a Yotnia.

A Yotnia woman. She has blonde hair tied up into a high ponytail with an elaborate kind of leather banding, which actually has fabric trailing down almost like a bit of a bow, like a big sort of oversized bow of a blue and sort of white colouring. But, like, not a pale blue, like an azure, like dark blue almost. She's wearing leather strapped with, like, fabrics and things like that, kind of combined, has a big, big shield and a one-handed spear,

which is, like, tucked into her back. And you hear her. combined has a big, big shield and a one-handed spear, which is, like, tucked into her back. And you hear her. And she's, like, chatting with some other knight next to her, a human-looking knight. And she's drinking from a big flask, like a water-skin flask, very kind of Nordic-esque kind of, like, looking to her as well. And she's kind of, like, laughing around.

And you can see that there's no crest. She doesn't have heraldry or anything either. She seems to be an unaffiliated, either knight errant or warrior as well. But she definitely stands out just because of her size. It's very hard to miss her. Yeah, there's a lot of different people around, but I don't know how much attention you would be paying to potential knights.

Was there any of the ice heart? Yeah, so you spend a bit of time and you could also ask Sir Gryold as well or anything. Sir Gryold just kind of stood with you chatting idly. But you do see the ice heart colours again. You see a flash of silver and white and this

ethereally quite thin dragonborn woman. Humanoid dragonborn like xanthius but long elegant silver tail beautiful full horns that sculpt over her head long white hair just graceful like a dancer or an ice skater just moves through the crowd um wearing these elaborate robes definitely from maybe a higher like society or wealth in ice heart probably from the capital um no well she probably knows where it is but probably doesn't know too

much more about it um but yeah clearly as well part silver dragon um might be even related to one of the draconic nobles of of ice heart and you can see that she has a single like long sword but also a stave, like a rod basically. So it looks like she fights with one like sword and magic maybe and she's just dressed beautifully, very fine poised, like chiseled ice-like features, like strong striking nose, piercing eyes, scales of silver worn up. But you notice that one of her eyes is covered

by like a cloth bandage, like a beautifully intricate cloth bandage. Yeah, I'd probably be like just so grilled. Or do you know, like, do you know who that person is? Oh, I think I've seen her around before. I believe, what was her name? Aye, that's Sir Andorra Val of Iceheart, in fact. She is quite a well-known knight in those parts.

I believe she's related to one of the Silver Dragons, one of the families, I believe, that they live in Kalskaris. They're the ambassador to Iceheart, I believe, and she's one of their many children. Became a knight to prove herself. They say that she's a mage. She knows how to fight well,

and she can fight with both magic and sword, but I've heard tell that there's a rumor that she has other strange powers. She can almost see attacks coming. Oh, is that... As if she can see the future. Is that sporting in an event like this? Well, I mean, that's the thing.

I mean, it's almost like she's just predicting her opponents, it looks like. I mean, it's almost like she's just predicting her opponents, it looks like. Because consider it. They told me I'm not allowed to use magic unless it's to help myself. Yes, you can't attack anyone with magic. In the shield-bearer tournament, obviously if you fight in the one-bearer tournament, then you can use magic.

It's designed for magic users. And in conquest and the joust, actually, magic is permitted in both events. So if I was to use something like, I don't know, like I can make vines grab someone, is that allowed? I think that would be tricky. It's been a while since I've fought and I don't use magic myself. It could be okay, I don't know. I'd check in with the considerate for that tournament and check in with the rules.

Right. Oh boy. Usually it's if you're using direct magic to attack somebody, striking them with lightning or Moonbeams. Doing things like that. Stuff like that, anything that can cause physical harm. Very subtle. You might be away with vines that can grab and things like that,

but generally the Shieldbearer tournament is designed for those who are of martial... It's more for about displaying your martial skill. Martial. So if you had a spell that can, I don't know, make you harder to hit or make you hit stronger and faster, that would be fine, because it's still relying on your skill. I've got none of those. Ah, well.

I can act like I'm really dead. I don't think that'll do you much good because if you look dead, they'll probably end the match and call it in your opponent's favor. Then I can get up and... I've seen you summon that armor. You can summon that around you and stuff like that, eh? And you did that thing with your staff.

You make it glow with magic and then it hits good or something. I don't know how it works. Oh, yes, I can do that. What about shapeshifting? Ah, that's an interesting one. Could be all right. Am I allowed to turn into, you know... You know you saw I turned into the...

As long as it's not affecting your opponent, I think that'd be all right, eh? Because I don't know if you saw, but I turned into the... I mean, as long as it's not affecting your opponent, I think that'd be alright, aye? No, because I... I don't know if you saw, but I turned into the giant spider. Oh, I saw you transform into the horrible monstrosity that was that giant spider, aye, yeah. I like to pay real attention to the details. Mm, yeah. I mean,

it will certainly make the... it will be an interesting moment for the crowd, let's put it that way. Right. I'll bear that in mind. Now remember, it's mainly about the glory. If you can... It's about winning, but it's about how you win as well. Glory. Right. So if you transform into a big beastie

and you're competent in your ability to fight, that's grand. People will love that. If you're sneaky and underhanded, that's probably not going to go down as well. Oh, OK. Well, that doesn't match. I don't know how to be... Look at me. OK, just saying.

I'm a big lean in, I don't... Aye, I don't expect you to fight like that, but just something to be aware of. Do you like my armour? I do indeed. I recognise Mistress Dante's work when I see it. It's very fitting. I've never worn anything finer.

Well, you'd better get used to it. If you become a knight, you'll be expected to wear something along those lines. But then I said you were looking to join the Circle of the Loyal Hounds. Yes. They're not the most traditional knightly order. They don't expect their knights to go around in the finest plate and fancy cloaks and clothing and things like that. That's fine by me.

I'm feeling a bit itchy in this, to be honest. Ah, still, it's good to make a statement. And it does the Duke good to have the people that saved Ashland Rest appear so noble and mighty. It's nice to try this for a day. Well, two days. Well, it'd be nice for three days.

Maybe a week. But no, that mistress, she wants it back straight away. I imagine it costs a pretty penny. More than I'll ever know in my life. Well, we'll see. We'll see, Gruffydd. I have to go about business and get my own things, preparations made, but you'll be at the opening ceremony, don't forget. That's at three o'clock.

You'll be expected to be here before then to get everything set up. There'll be a little parade. The knights get sort of, we do a big walk around the circle, and then the duke will address everybody, and the tournament begins, basically. Right, thank you so much for your instruction in all of this. Oh, make sure you bring your herald,

or whoever's going to do your introduction, to the ceremony. They need to be with you when you do your walk up and you get introduced. Of course. All right. Okay.

All right, well, I'll leave you to it. Good luck. And good luck in your joust. All right. I'll leave you to it. Good luck. And good luck in your joust. I'm just here to show off. I'm not here to actually win anything. Duke just wants me to put on a bit of a show. That's fine. I can do that.

But he just kind of gives you a nod and makes his way off as well. I'll be cheering for you. Oh, how's it going in there? It's been a while. I hope it's going okay. Yeah, like, what are you guys doing outside? outside? You are waiting for a little bit of time Maybe like 10 minutes, 15 minutes

I can smell the food from here Yeah? What are you looking for? We've been thoroughly distracted by everything I do point out everything that we've Spotted so far On route I need to go shopping

Can I try and find like a gem Or a stone vendor? Spotted so far en route. I need to go shopping. One second. Can I try and find a gem or a stone vendor? You definitely find people that do decorative gemstones, like jewelry. There are people that do beautiful rocks that have been carved into things like that. Yeah, you definitely can find something like that easily. Yeah. I basically want to find... It's becoming a little tradition of Rowans

to go to a new town and get a gem of the colour that best represents each member of the party. Okay. Are you looking for just a raw gem or, like, a piece of jewellery this time? It doesn't really matter. So jewellery would probably be easier to find. And you find different, like...

Obviously, like, nobody's bringing out diamonds and rubies on, like, a little tent field or anything like that. But you find people with, like, lower quality cut stones that have been formed into jewelry that, like, regular people can buy. So they're, you know, they're like 15 gold, 10, 15 gold a piece, but they're a little brooch with, like, a little cut of, like, you know, a cheap, more like a crystal than an actual gemstone. So you can easily find those.

Or you can find beautiful painted stones that have been cut and shaped and then painted in these bright, beautiful colours, almost like porcelain. Painted like vases and things like that. People have made pottery and things like that as well. Lovely. Yeah, I try and get something small for everyone.

Okay. For Gruffydd, I'm going to try and get a big blue gem. Okay. That could also be put on the shield. And if the light catches it in the right way, can blind the opponent. And that last bit is going to be tricky to do.

Put it in the mirror, bro. Or set them on fire. Oh. Asking a lot here. Give me an investigation roll to see how well you can search these markets. Natural 20. Wow.

Wow. Wow. So you find this very humble-looking store, like a little tent, with a gnome man. He's got a little floppy Venetian-style hat to the side, a little puffy shirt, and he's got this intricate device of, you know, mirrors and, like, little lenses, and he's working on things with a little row of gems and jewellery.

Hello! Ah! Oh, I'm so sorry. It's just, you just see that what he was working on is completely broken. Oh, please let me get that, and I start stepping on things and... No, no, no, no! ...bundling around in a tent. No! Stay where you are! Don't touch anything! Completely broken. Oh, please let me get that. I start stepping on things and... No, no, no, no, no! No! No!

Stay where you are. Do not touch anything. Stay still like a stone statue. Yes! Still as the mountain. Please! You are ruining my work. Oh, I'm so sorry.

I didn't mean to do that. Oh, goodness me. Well, I'll fix that one later. Yes! I'm sorry. Can I help you? Well, I'll fix that one later. Yes! That's right. Can I help you? I would like... I would like...

I would like... I would like... I would love to get a beautiful blue... Well, you see it, in fact, like, you know, on these stairs. I want that! Yes, it's this large blue... What's like a cheap gemstone, like lapis lazuli or something like that?

No, sapphire's too rich, so they wouldn't have sapphires out in these things. Yeah, something like blue topaz or something cheap. Blue glass. But it's large, yeah. But it's big, and it's set into a beautiful kind of silver casing, and it's designed in the style of like a giant's face. Like it's kind of got like eyes and a face, like it looks like a frost giant.

Yeah, like an ice giant. That is exquisite. Beautiful work. I assume it's yours. Yes, it is indeed. Vincenzo of the gem cutters. Yes, this is a piece of my work. Are you interested in buying?

Absolutely. How much is it? Oh, well, this piece in particular, I could not part with it for less than 50 gold. It is quite a lovely piece. The gemstone is not the most expensive, but it took some time to carve and good for a little bit of work. Oh, it's too expensive for me. It's just going to go on the hero of Ashenrest's shield, and it's going to be shown in the middle of the tournament, but... Oh, he's trying to...

Oh, that's my Roro. He knows that I'm going to ask for a roll. Nine. Nine. Oh, well. I lean on the tent, and the tent buckles a bit. Buckles. He also looks at the broken thing that he was working on.

Well, I'm afraid that even for such prestigious person of ownership, I'm afraid that I could not simply part with it. I do have many things I need to replace. Oh, do you? Yes. He looks down at the thing that he broke when you burst in. Well, if you need guards or something, I know. No, I don't need guards.

I need gold to replace what I've lost. I see. 50 gold. No more, no less. I've got 38 gold, 32 silver, and 28 bronze. Well, then you will need to, unfortunately, my good man, go and find some more gold. Do you have a smaller one? Well then you will need to, unfortunately my good man, go and find some more gold. Do you have a smaller one?

Well yes, for 30 gold I could do this much smaller piece here. It's just a simple blue sort of cut gemstone in a little locket sort of dangling, but it's nowhere near as big. I'll have to think about it. Alright, yes, yes, yes. I'll be back later. Yes, yes. I'll be back later. Yes. Fine.

Just come into his shop, ruin what he was doing. Well, I leave then. He's like, you just hear him muttering, like, festival is worse than the bloody public. I catch, like,

my shoulders on the tent on the way out. Oh, you're pulling the tent down! I'm fucking with you. Actually, you're coming with me. Just leave him, like, the tent gets pulled and he's just sat there with a desk out in the open, like, bloody public!

I'll come back to this. This is why I never work on Festival Day. While Gruff is still in there... Uh-huh. Huddle, quick, huddle. What was that? What's up? It's really important. Where have you been?

I went to the shop. Okay. What did you buy? You see? He brought it with him.? I went to the shop. Okay. What'd you buy? You see? He brought it with him. Either way. The whole shop is here. You've got a really nice cloak today, by the way. Oh, thank you.

There's a gnome in it. I have an urgent request. It's very important. I found the best gift for Gruffydd. Oh, Rowan Urgent. Right, okay, yes. Yeah. It's a really big, beautiful blue stone. Okay.

And a beautiful, intricate brooch. And it's 50 gold. I've got 38 gold, 32 silver, and 20 bronze. I can give you gold, Rowan. I can give you gold? You won me a giant owlbear, which I'm still holding. I can give you gold for Rowan. I can give you gold. You won me a giant owlbear, which I'm still holding. I can give you gold for a gift, that's fine.

I only need, I'll carry the two. Twelve. Twelve gold. I can give you 12 gold. I'll give Rowan 12 gold. Oh, that's amazing. And what are you gonna do with this, Jem? Give it to Griffith.

Okay. And they can put it on their whatever they want. Okay. It's so resplendent and beautiful. I believe you, you know your stones. It will bolster Gruffydd's heroism and confidence, I'm sure. I hope so.

Is this? I better go get it now! Okay, I was about to ask if that was the stone guard, but sure, okay. As Rowan skips off, what about the rest of you? Like, what are the rest of you doing? Well, it's like 20 minutes that you're waiting. He is loving this...

Why have I completely forgotten the word? Festival? Festival! Sorry. My mind slipped. I saw some knights walk past in the distance again. Sorry, I was lost for a second there. Are you okay?

Yes, I'm enjoying this. Well, I mean, I say I'm enjoying this. Right now, I'm just waiting a second there. Are you okay? Yes, I'm enjoying this. Well, I say I'm enjoying this. Right now I'm just waiting for Gruv to come back. You all hear a, UGHHHHHH STUPID GAME! as you look around and you see Baris holding that thread the needle game. And he's like swinging the whole thing around. He's like, STUPID STUPID GAME!

And the guards are like rushing over to him like, calm down! He's just like, no, get off! Tiny legs. We should probably go calm him down before he makes a scene. I don't want to get in the way. I'll just go calm down. Barrack, Barrack. Ah!

Oh my goodness, Barrack! The guards are like, pin him down! There's like four guards on him. He's like, no! I want me prize! Calm down, Barrack, Barrack! Hello! Hello, Barrack, are you okay?

I got quite cross, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, guards, I'm sorry, I got a bit angry. So you're trying to win the game, win the prize? And the guards are like nearly drawing swords. No, no, it's okay. He like gingerly puts the game down, like the big needle down. Very good, very good. Well, I, it's okay. He like gingerly puts the game down, like the big needle down. Very good, very good.

I've got a bit cross. Yeah. It's okay. Sometimes when I get cross, like me eyes go all red and I get really mad. I can relate. I can relate.

I just lose me temper. My mum's always telling me I've got to watch me temper, but I did it. And he looks over at this horrified old lady who was running the stand, who's just like... Scared of him. He's like, I'm sorry, miss.

It's OK, we'll take him away to different games and bring him with us. What prize were you trying to win? He points, and there is a... Like, little wooden marionette puppets, but this one is of a dragonborn knight, like a more traditional dragonborn dragonborn knight, in like cool red cauldron armour with a big spear.

He's like, that's Sir Ignis, I like Sir Ignis, I want that one. Can we help you win it? You can try together. You can't, you can't do it, you have to do it one person. The lady said, yeah, you can't do it together, I don't think. That's how the game works, yeah. Shall we all give it a go each and see if we can...? Like I said, I can try, but like I said, I don't think I'm going to do too well.

It's really hard, because my big hand's in my arms and you've got to be wiggly with it i'm not very good at wiggling okay look we'll let ophelia take a turn you just take a seat here and just watch and watch us do it maybe uh maybe you shouldn't try again i ate too many sweets when i i got or bought them all rowan gave me 10 bronze and i spent it all on sweets and I ate them all. Already? Okay. Well, look, look. See, he's like vibrating. He's had way too much sugar. He's had too much sugar and he's a barbarian. He went into a rage.

He literally raged. He literally played the game. He raged. We'll just watch Ophelia, try the game, maybe I'll have a go as well, but hopefully we can win this prize for you. Just... Okay. Okay. Do some press-ups. Do prize for you. Just... Okay. Okay. Do some press-ups. Do some...

That's a good idea. Yeah. Just start doing press-ups. Okay. One, two, three. There we go. Get that energy. Yes.

One, two, three. Energy. More, more, more. Yes! You can do it, Barak. Okay. Down and give me three, but a hundred times. Okay.

Um, the old lady is like, I'm like putting the little game back up like, are you friends with that insane Cobalt? Kind of. Acquaintances, I suppose. I've got acquaintances like that. Would you like to go

and thread the needle? Oh, yes. Thread the needle. Here's two bronze coins. Two bronze? Okay. Oh, thank you, my dear. You have to, you start at this end and you have to wind it through,

but if you touch the metal, I'll ring the bell and you have to stop. Okay. All right. Very good. You can do this, Ophelia. I'm gonna get so mad at this. It is a sleight of hand check.

Oh. I've got plus two. I might have... Oh, really? Okay. So the higher you roll, the further you get to the end and the better prizes. The Sir Ignis figure is not quite the full end,

but he's quite far down. Far. Yeah. 11. 11. 11. You get about halfway, and then there's this really awkward corkscrew bit, and you just, the angle of it, you touch it.

Ring. Oh, sorry, my dear. No, no, no, I didn't touch it. You did touch it, I'm afraid. You did touch it. I saw it. From where I saw it. Yes, you did touch it. I'm afraid you did touch it, I saw it. From where I saw it, yeah.

Yes, you did touch it. But you do win this. And you get like a little bag of like sweet fruits, basically, like sugared fruits. It's like, there's like five in there, but it's like a little tiny bag. It's like the basic prize. How many has Barak eaten of that? Quite a lot.

He spent all of his money. I'll give these to Rowan, maybe. Yes, yes. The ones that Barak eating a fag. Quite a lot. He spent all of his money. I'll give these to Rowan, maybe. Yes, yes. The ones that Barak ate. Yeah. Would you like a go? Me? You can try.

Yes, Daisy, you'd have a go? Go then. Yeah. Can I try? Are you still going to keep holding the owlbear? No, I'll put it on the floor between my legs. If you had kept holding the owlbear, I was going to say do it with disadvantage.

But yeah, it's just a sleight of handshake. Pay two bronze. What are we talking, sleight of hand? Plus ten. I might roll shit. You might do. Use fate. No, I rolled terribly.

I got four, so I got 14. 14. You get to just beyond where Ophelia did, but something, you know, you can decide what it is, but something distracts you, and you just click. I thought someone was going to take the owlbear, and I was like, huh! And you hear like a little faint ping.

Oh, ring, ring, ring. No, sorry, my dear, you just touched it, but you did get a little bit further than your friend, so you get this. And she pulls out a little bit further than your friend, so you get this. And she pulls out little, like a little pennant flag with the cauldron, the Ashen Rest symbol on it. Oh, that's nice. A little orange flag, orange.

That is cute. The owlbear can hold it. Just think about it. Anyway. Oh, very good. Are you all done? Trust me when I say I have no precision for this. I'll try.

That's very cute. Oh, have a go, sure. Two bronze? Oh, yes, yes, two bronze, please, handsome young man. Thank you. Young man. Thank you. Young man.

Oh, beautiful young... Oh, stop it. Anyway, oh. Stop flirting. No, me? No. Take a persuasion check for yourself. Oh, stop it! Anyway, oh. Stop flirting. Uh-huh, no. Me? No. Take a persuasion check for me. What? Okay, well. Oh, two.

No, make that a five. What? All right, stop it now. Play the game. Okay, two bronze, was it? Yes. Yes. Okay. Sleight of hand.

All right, watch this drive. Uh, sleight was it? Yes. Okay. Sleight of hand. Alright, watch this drive. Sleight of hand? Yes. Plus one. Four! As soon as you start... See, I told you! Always on the first bend. I just can't get past that thing. I'm afraid that's no prize at all. No prize at all? No.

You have to reach here, then you get the bag of candy. Well, who better luck next time? I'm not there. Don't be next time, I'm going again. All right, my dear, yes, very good. Yes, two bronze, please. Two bronze. Thank you.

I'm gonna win this round. I believe in you. You've got this. You know how to navigate this bit. Inspiration. Yeah, I mean, you get a rer got this. You know how to navigate this bit. Inspiration. Yeah, I mean, it's a re-roll. Do you mean a fate or inspiration? Nat 20, don't need it.

You know you're spending it. I forgot we got a re-roll. You got your re-roll, yeah. Well, that lasted a whole day, so it lasts a whole day. Yeah, like, the Nat 20, like, this time, eyes focused, remembering all the dancing and the training under the countess's like you remember

the heart you know all of my training has gone into this one moment it's extraordinary the weird corkscrew bend she's doing it

you see the old lady's eyes just get bigger and bigger and bigger and then eventually you get it right to the end and you can you know

there's like a little stopper at the end with the red mark. And she's like, oh, oh my goodness, the grand prize. You did it, Amelia. I knew it. Well, the grand prize isn't the one that Barrick wanted, though. So she pulls out and it is a replica sword, like a wooden sword, all beautifully engraved and carved,

like a child's kind of like knight's sword, but beautifully engraved and carved, like a child's night sword, but very wonderfully made. The grand prize! Here we are, my dear. One of these made by one of the Art of the Lands here in Ashen Race by the Blacksmith's Guild. This is wonderful. Yes, we only have a few of those.

We don't expect many people to win. Do you know who made this? Oh, there's somebody in the Carpentry Guild, in the Blacksmith's Guild. I couldn't tell you their name, I'm afraid. They present a lot of the toys and prizes. Oh, this is wonderful. Yes, of course.

Well done, you. What a wonderful second attempt. It's been a good day. Very good. It's been a good day. Well done. It's been a good day. Thank you.

Great. Enjoy. Thank you. Yeah. Barrack. Three. One. Two. Three. One. Two.

Three. This isn't what you wanted, but this is for you. For later. For later. For later. It's... You can have this. You can have this.

For me. For you. For me. Yes. That's a sword, though. It is a sword. You said I could have that sword. When you go home later on, yes.

I can't have it till later. No, not till later, but it's yours. But it's mine. Well, if I feel you're... I will keep it safe for you. That's mine, I can have it. Yes, that is yours. That's for me.

For later. I can have it, the sword. Yes, the sword for later. When you go home. For me? Yeah. If Mama... See little tears in his little cobbled eyes.

I've always wanted a sword. I've always wanted one. But Mum says I'm not allowed one. Well, you can have this. No. Wait, your mother said you couldn't have one? I'm not allowed anything sharp or pointy. Well, this is wood.

This is wood. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So it might be okay. I mean, still, be careful with it. You've got to be careful with it. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Be careful, yeah, yeah. But you can have it later. I can't have it now. Not right now. I'd like to play with it now be okay. I mean, still, be careful with it. You still need to be careful with it, don't you? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Be careful, yeah, yeah. But you can have it later.

I can't have it now. Not right now. I'd like to play with it now, though. Well, maybe possibly. Can I have it now? I can't play talking about it. Can I swing it around a bit? Just swing it around.

I mean, it's a crowded area right now. I mean, we could maybe move to the side here, but... Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I think, sure. Oh, no. He immediately runs off. No, Barret, no! Barret!

Barret! He runs past like a tent and just swings and knocks the ball out. No, I'm so sorry, I'm trying to touch. Stop this, stop him, Ophelia! I love you! I got a sword, I got a sword, I got a sword! Give me the sword back, give me the sword back!

What's your movement speed? 35. He's 40. Oh my god. Oh my god. With his little legs. His little legs. So he can just,

he stays five feet ahead of you the whole time. He's like just out of reach. I could dash. Do you think you can pin Barak down? No, but I could try and swipe it. You could try to. Yeah, you could try to. Do you want to?

No, I don could try and swipe it. You could try to, yeah. You could try to. Do you want to? No, I don't want to. You have other interests. I stop at the first destroyed tent. I would have to put Oliver down. And I pulled an Oliver. How long do you chase him for? Oh, God. Probably a couple of rounds.

Then you just stop. Can I use my whip and try and like... If you'd like to, yeah. You've got reach on it, yeah. Like,. Then you just stop. Can I just use my whip and try and like... If you'd like to, yeah, you've got reach on it, yeah. Like, yeah, you can try. But he's so happy, though. He's real happy. He's really happy. He is also destroying tents.

Oh, not just tents. Like, he sees like a statue of like a... Oh, no. A statue of like a griffin. And he's like GRIFFIN! AHHHH! Alright I'll use my whip and I'll try and

I'll try and wrangle him. Okay give me an attack roll. See if you hit him. Oh my god. He's got an AC of 15. Oh my god! He's got an armoured defence! Oh 9

14 AHHHH! He wriggled. He's like AHHHH! You wanna fight? Oh, 9.14. He wriggled. He's like, ah, you want to fight? Barak, Barak, stop! No, no, Barak! One. He runs the natural run.

He runs towards you, but just slips on a loose cobblestone. The sword goes flying out of his hands. Oh, God. And lands in one of the fountains in the plaza. And he just like hits his face on the ground. He's like, oh, my mouth. Oh, no.

It's just blood pouring out of his face. He just sits on the ground, his little legs, his huge, muscly arms holding his face. I lost my sword and I've hurt my nose! We'll start at the beginning. He just wraps his joint up. Oh, okay, yes. Um... I don't have any bandages or anything on me.

It's just blood's going down your thing from his nose. Blood from anywhere else is more favourable than the nose blood. Oh, dear. And that's, we'll leave that scene. No, yeah, go on, carry on. Medicine check him. You can make a medicine check, yeah. 16.

16. I mean, it's fine. He's just like bloodied his nose. He's probably maybe like, you know... Hold your nose. Pinch it. Okay. Because he's a kobold,

so it's like he has to pinch it like this because he's got a snout. So he's pinching his nose like with two hands. Is it head forward? I'm going to hold my nose like this. It'll stop in a minute. It'll stop in a minute. Okay.

And then when it stops, we'll go find your sword. Okay. Okay, and then I'll give it to you later. Is that okay? Okay, yeah. Calm down for five'll stop in a minute. Okay. And then when it stops, we'll go find your sword. Okay. Okay? And then I'll give it to you later. Is that okay? Okay, yeah. Calm down for five minutes. Yeah, okay.

Okay? I think I had too many sweets. I think you did. I think you did. I'm, like, down the road, like, the tent is destroyed, and I'm, like, picking it up. Like, I'm so sorry about this old statue. It's so old.

Here you go. Yeah. Trying to clear up any mess. Sure. Just apologise to everyone. With that.iko. Yeah. Trying to clear up any mess. Sure. Just apologise to everyone. With that. So, after some time, we're going to have a go,

but we are actually going to end it there. We're going to end a little bit early today. So we are going to end the episode there and we're going to start it off with the opening ceremony. Oh! Should I have bought that brooch? Yes. Absolutely, you bought that brooch. Absolutely you bought that brooch.

And the team game we are signed up for. Well, I'm signed up, you guys just have to make sure you're there. Well, we have to be there. But it was like six, there's only five of us. Up to six. Does that mean we're going against a team of six? Or we're going against a team of five? But I'll tell you what, Tom, it would be sure great if we had a guest for next episode. Oh my god, you're right.

Oh! Six people in a tournament? I mean, there's a space for three. And there's just five. Yeah, five. Could it be the first Ulfea guest episode next week? We could make it happen, you know. Ooh!

I think we should. Well, on that note, we'll see you next week for a special guest episode. Ooh! Bye-bye. See you guest episode. Bye-bye. See you next time. Bye. Bye.

Hey, y'all. I'm Dr. Allo Kanoja, but the internet knows me as Dr. K. I spent seven years studying to become a monk and then became a psychiatrist. I want to tell you a little bit about my podcast, Healthy Gamer GG, where we combine my clinical experience of practicing psychiatry and sprinkle in years of experience as a meditation teacher and sort of focus on spirituality. So on the podcast, we're going to approach very common everyday problems from each of these lenses. And what we really do well is blend science and spirituality to create the most accessible solutions for people for their everyday problems.

So check us out at Healthy Gamer GG on YouTube, Spotify or Apple.