High Rollers DnD - Altheya: The Dragon Empire #32 | Consequences (Part 1)

Episode Date: August 6, 2024

A final event in the festival takes place at the ducal palace in Ashen Rest! A perfect place to meet the knights from the tournament and old friends! _______________ HIGH ROLLERS LIVE in London on th...e 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

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Starting point is 00:00:00 Pickaxe Welcome back to Ulthaya the Dragon Empire. The Festival of the Forge, a holy celebration dedicated to Saint Messara, has been taking place over the last few days. As part of this celebration, a grand tournament has been held for knights and knight-errants to prove themselves and win fame and glory. Gruffydd of Tremoro, one of our heroes, has entered the tournament in the hopes of attracting the attention of a knightly order he wishes to join. Whilst preparing for the bouts to begin, the party also met with a young man called Atlas
Starting point is 00:01:00 Altar Phoenix, a knight-errant of Emberfoot and the draconic noble Lady Metiona. With the rest of the heroes supporting them and cheering them on from the sidelines, Gruff and Atlas fought in single combat bouts, eventually coming up against one another in an epic clash, and then fought side by side along with the other heroes in a team battle called The Conquest. Thanks to their efforts and victories, Gruff was able to meet with Senora Kell, a knight of the Circle of Loyal Hounds, who agreed to discuss a test to join their order. But whilst the heroes enjoyed the celebration, Sister Ophelia de la Rosa of the House of Blood returned to the dilapidated and haunted inn that our heroes
Starting point is 00:01:43 acquired and spoke with a ghost of Tyria, a woman murdered by her husband. Ophelia offered the possibility of joining the necrotic theocracy of Osseus and becoming a follower of the Gravefather. Oh, I like that, necrotic theocracy. That is what it is. It's a religion dominated society.
Starting point is 00:02:03 Necrotic theocracy. Necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necr- necroticreocracy. Necro- necrosy-acy. Yeah, that. Don't ever say necros. I'll show you my necrosy. No! I could not get it out of my head. I couldn't get it out of my head, I'm so sorry. As the words got mushed together,
Starting point is 00:02:19 my brain made that. Necrosy. Oh. Okay, okay, yeah. Yeah. He's there with me now. I hate that. I hate it there. Oh, okay, okay, yeah. He's there with me now. I hate it. I hate it too.
Starting point is 00:02:28 I hate it as well. It's okay. I hate my brain. You just confirmed it even more. By expressing how much you hate it, you've made it happen. It's all right, we'll cut it. We'll cut it.
Starting point is 00:02:39 Right, before we, yeah, if only we could now. So, we begin today's session with you guys. The tournament has ended. Just because we don't have Jasper here to continue playing Atlas, thank you very much Jasper. The tournament has come to a close. If there are any little odd bits and pieces that people wanted to do, we can still kind of flash back
Starting point is 00:02:59 and deal with that stuff. But, the tournament has come to a close. You were successful, you won your matches in the Conquest, which meant that you were not able to, because it is a points-based game, some of the more senior and higher level knights would have been able to score a little bit more, but you performed very admirably,
Starting point is 00:03:23 to the point where the glory that you had scored in the previous game's graph, which I believe you were at 13 glory, if I remember. 14. 14, you might have. Oh. Maybe you can catch one in the end. I think, I may have just added one from the conquest, though. I think that's it, yeah.
Starting point is 00:03:37 So the idea of that being that that is, first of all, the points that you scored in the first day were enough to garner the attention of the Circle of Lighthouse, right? So you were trying to basically get their attention and you had to reach a certain threshold of all, the points that you scored in the first day were enough to garner the attention of the Circle of Lohaus, right? So you were trying to basically get their attention and you had to reach a certain threshold of glory in able to be able to do that. So you have done that now.
Starting point is 00:03:52 But that's not the end of the glory points, right? Like there is a sense here that that is gonna be something that continues to build as your career is a knight and as your fame as a knight grows. And you will be able to exchange it for rewards once you have made a bit of progress in your Knightly Vow, and you are further in your way. So definitely keep a record of your glory points.
Starting point is 00:04:12 They will come back to be of benefit at some point in the future. So is it 13 or 14? Well, let's say 14, I believe, yeah. I believe it's at 14. Cool. But to kind of round off the celebrations, Duke Ignarius is hosting another grand ball
Starting point is 00:04:29 at the Ducal Palace. This is the more formal ball. This is the one that is, you know, previously you'd gone up there, you'd met some of the competitors, it was a bit more of a social gathering. This is going to be a formal ball. All of the knights who were participated in the tournament are gonna be there. Many of the wealthy and influential citizens of Ash and Rest will be a formal ball. All of the knights who were participated in the tournament
Starting point is 00:04:45 are gonna be there. Many of the wealthy and influential citizens of Ash and Rest will be there as well. The guild masters, some of the wealthier merchants and things like that. And this is a good opportunity for your player characters if you are interested in that, to go there and make a bit of a name for yourself,
Starting point is 00:04:59 make contacts and things like that as well. So that is gonna be happening in the evening, but if there is any urgent business that anybody wanted to take care of, or anything that you as characters would like to discuss amongst yourselves, there is also time for that to happen as well. I guess the only thing for Gruff
Starting point is 00:05:18 is I have to give back my armor. Yes, they did say that it would, that would probably be tomorrow they would come and collect that. Because the tournament has just finished, you've just finished doing the Conquest, they're not just gonna cut, yeah. So tomorrow they would come and collect your arms.
Starting point is 00:05:32 That would be Mr. Silana Vidante and Marthea as well. In which case, I'm gonna leave town. See ya. So that was a... You could certainly do that. The armor... I'll go down very well. Did it make it through the tournament undamaged, undented?
Starting point is 00:05:45 Yeah, so because basically there was no spells or anything, you never put yourself in a situation that it was really gonna damage you beyond what is expected of armor. Like, you know, you didn't purposely put yourself in any situations where you were gonna get it damaged. There's no damage to it. Yeah, the oak and thorn.
Starting point is 00:06:01 Oak and thorn. Oak and thorn. Oak and thorn. Oak and Thorn. Oak and Thorn. Oak and Thorn. Oak and Thorn. So yeah, no, there is absolutely no damage to it. I have to give back the shield as well, right? No, no, it's just the armor. Shield and, was it Billhook? Do I have to give back the Billhook?
Starting point is 00:06:16 No, no, it's yours as well. It's just the armor. Nice. A Thunderbeast skill armor. Cool. That's yours. Well done. You win. If I just leave, if I just leave turn skill armor. Yeah, cool. That's yours, well done.
Starting point is 00:06:26 You win. If I just leave, if I just leave turn that. Just go now, right. Just play. Whoa! Sprint. Yeah, the crowds of Ashenrest. Now that the festival, the festival is still ongoing,
Starting point is 00:06:37 so people will still be spending time outside. There'll be meals, people will be enjoying the festivities and the games, probably until sundown. And then after that, people will begin to wind down, the travelers will begin making their preparations to head back home. This has brought in a lot of the people from the outlying villages and things like into Ashenrest, which is kind of the largest settlement in Northvale. So a lot of them will start returning home and things like that. But for now, the town is still quite bustling and busy.
Starting point is 00:07:04 But there's time to do things if people wanted to or go and speak to people that they wish to. Is there someone somewhere in the festival who is running the strength game hammer bell thing? Has he since the first day of the festival been trying to get more people in just to chase that high that he discovered on the first day? No one growing amps can destroy it.
Starting point is 00:07:23 I think that there would be multiple versions of that game being run by different people. That particular vendor has not been seen since that first day. They never returned, there's just an empty space where their stalls should be. The broken remnants of the machine just left there. He's on a new path now.
Starting point is 00:07:44 Yeah, a better one. He's on a new path now. Yeah, a better one. Yeah, he has found a new god. Yeah. Well, we'll have to see. Is the shrine, is that being, because I should- Your shrine. The shrine.
Starting point is 00:07:56 So that will be, you know, if I was being annoyingly sort of like, actually, because it's a festival, people probably work on it, I'm gonna say that they found some people that for a little bit of extra money they were willing to work on the festival, and that will be ready tomorrow. So tomorrow morning, about midday tomorrow,
Starting point is 00:08:14 it should be ready. Can I go find Vorex Kelp? Yes, the knight, one of the knights. The asshole? Yeah. Oh, that? The asshole, you're not gonna talk to the asshole? Yeah. Yes. She decided based. The asshole, you're not gonna talk to the asshole. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:08:25 Yes. She has decided based on his aesthetic that he fits Bill. Yeah, wasn't that the son of Rax'Kael? Yeah, grandson of Norakael, yes. Okay. Leader of the house. Did we teach them a lesson?
Starting point is 00:08:38 You certainly would know that you would find them at the ball this evening, because all the knights are gonna attend there. Finding them beforehand, you could certainly make an effort. The town's busy, but you can make an effort to try and track them them at the ball this evening, so the knights are gonna attend there. Finding them beforehand, you could certainly make an effort. The town's busy, but you can make an effort to try and track them down before the ball, if you'd like. Yeah, I'll try and get a little... Sure.
Starting point is 00:08:54 Make just a... Because it's very busy, I'll give you a choice here. You can either go around and ask people, like have you seen Rax'kel, like where can you put him, in which case it would just be a straight charisma roll. Or you can use perception as a skill to try and like track them down, basically. I'll go for Chariz.
Starting point is 00:09:11 Sure. 16. 16. You ask around and you kind of go and inquire with some of the considerates and the people running the toilet, and they point you in a direction, and you would find Sir Rrax-Kael,
Starting point is 00:09:25 where would Sir Vrax-Kael be? Skullcrap. They would be... They would probably, after all the fighting has been done, and they did lose their match against you, they may be won like a match against another team later on, but they didn't score as highly in the ranks as perhaps they were expected,
Starting point is 00:09:41 you would probably find them around the dock side, like the river side of Ashenrest, which is a pretty expensive area. It's where a lot of the Carpenter's Guilds and some of the smaller guilds are located. Also the shipbuilders, they have these long canal boats here because it's not a city, it's a river. So they build these river barges.
Starting point is 00:10:01 And he's just sort of walking, almost like just taking in the town, basically. Most people are stepping out of the way. He's about six feet tall, human, bald-headed, like no hair whatsoever, completely bald, dark clothing. He has this wicked-looking woodsman's axe hung over his back. Big, thick, dark cloak. All of his clothing looks very well made,
Starting point is 00:10:28 but made for rugged rain. It's not meant for fashion. This is all utilitarian, like proper, like I need good, strong boots, no decoration, like nothing like unnecessary. Crazy well. New clothes. I can fix him.
Starting point is 00:10:44 I can, I can literally. I can fix this man. Ah, Sir Varex Kel, I believe. You kind of speak and he whips his head around and you see his hand almost instinctively. This is a man who's like, but in a sense of like, you know, that trained soldier kind of like, something unexpected
Starting point is 00:11:05 as you've creeped up on him a little bit. He brings his hand back down and looks you up and down. Yes, I am Sir Vrax Kell. You were one of the ones fighting in the Conquest, I remember you. Yes, we did fight briefly. Your strength is admirable. Thank you.
Starting point is 00:11:24 Fine compliment to you and your companions fought very well as well. You seem to possess quite a powerful visage, if I remember correctly. Oh, thank you. Who do you, what house do you serve under? Yeah. You intrigue me.
Starting point is 00:11:45 I do, interesting. You can see that this, he kind of like, doesn't know how to necessarily respond to that. He kind of looks at you a bit oddly. He kind of stiffens. I am a knight of the realm of Urdas Keir. I serve my draconic lord, Galosirax. So you're not looking for work?
Starting point is 00:12:07 I'm no mercenary. I'm a knight of the realm, and he kind of stands up straight. If you are looking for some sellsword or such, I'm afraid that you should look elsewhere, madam. I'm not looking for a sellsword. I'm looking for somebody who may help my cause, someone who may defend the honor of someone very, very dear to me.
Starting point is 00:12:35 Well, it is, some knights concern themselves with things like chivalry and honor. In Urd-as-Kir we are a far more practical people. If you're this person that you wish to protect, who are they? If they have a benefit to my Draconic Lord, then perhaps I would be willing to take on some role as a protector.
Starting point is 00:12:58 Oh, it's just my god. Ah. Your god. Yes. You do not strike me as a servant of the Church of Scions. No, I serve the Gravefather. I'm from Osseus. Ah, the land across the sea. Then forgive me, madam, but I'm afraid that my draconic lord
Starting point is 00:13:21 would have very little interest in whatever it is you are offering, I think. I'm having a shrine built tomorrow. Maybe before you leave, you would, would you fancy coming just to have a look, just see if what I might do there is of any interest to you? You are a strange one.
Starting point is 00:13:46 Your country. You know your nation, your realm. You know much of necromancy, yes? Mm-hmm. Hmm. So there's not completely out of the realm of Erdeskir's interests. Yeah, some of your powers did have a flair that seemed not very familiar. I will... powers did have a flair that seemed not very familiar? I will... I make no promises, but if I am free tomorrow, perhaps I will stop by to see
Starting point is 00:14:10 the shrine of yours. Well if I do change your mind, let me know. If you are ever in Urd-as-Kir in the area of South Fen, I'm sure my lord would be interested in offering an invitation for perhaps an exchange of discussion if you mention my name. And yours? Well, it's very generous. Madam? My name is Sister Ophelia de la Rosa of the House of Blood.
Starting point is 00:14:36 Offers a hand. Very delicately. He would not quite shake. He wouldn't take it like a lady's like. He would actually kind of take it and twist into more of a handshake. You can see that there's a practicalness to this man, and his hands are so rough and calloused.
Starting point is 00:14:53 These aren't like pampered hands that you felt and touched. This is a man who's probably been a woodcutter for most of his life, you know, really, you know, strong, thick grip hands, like forearms, but then this calloused roughness to the skin. And there's not the cauldron care of his appearance. Like, there is a more pungent odor, I would say, to this man. He smells of earth and peat and, you know, wood. There is a more roughness, a less care for the frivolities, necessarily, but he will shake your hand
Starting point is 00:15:31 and says, I will remember the name. And I will remember yours. Good day. Have a good night. Yes, seems a little perturbed, perhaps, but then makes his way off. Your grandmother thinks you're an asshole. If I get my notes, I'll go silt them out on the break. All right, hang on. It's all right. We'll see you tomorrow.
Starting point is 00:15:55 Rex Kel. Made an appointment. Brunnish. You've got potentially three conversions. Gnome we saved, a ghost already, and now a knight of the realm. I dunno, maybe. Just working your way up. I've got work to do, bro.
Starting point is 00:16:16 Duke Ignorius. I mean, oh, can you imagine? I have a dragon? Don't get me excited, bro. While Ophelia is off chasing down Servrax Kel, is there anything anybody else would like to do in the interim? You have a few hours before the ball this evening
Starting point is 00:16:34 if you are even gonna attend. You don't have to attend. I believe that you would be expected to, Gruff, because you did fight in the tournament, and it's also where Nora Kel said that they would be. I think Rowan would make sure he goes with Gruff. Axe is like a herald again, in case he needs to introduce Gruff to anyone.
Starting point is 00:16:53 Sure. There's snacks there. There will certainly be food. Food, music, dancing, all of that is promised in the invitation. You probably would have been given, like Gruff, you probably would have been given a formal invite. I think about all of you would have been, because you all fought in the invitation. You probably would have been given, like Gruff, you probably would have been given a formal invite. I think all of you would have been, because you all fought in the Conquest,
Starting point is 00:17:08 and the Duke knows you. So you would have been delivered a handwritten, probably from Consider Eddarth Orgrim, a very fancy, beautiful invitation of you are cordially invited to the Ducal Palace this evening for a celebration of our glorious knights who participated in the Festival of the Forged tournament. Many attendants from Ash and Rest will be there.
Starting point is 00:17:29 Dancing, drinking, food, music, the finest celebrations, that sort of, it's that kind of invitation, do you know what I mean? Yeah. Zanthias, who common? That was me saying it. What was that? That was me saying it, that was not Gruff.
Starting point is 00:17:43 I have not turned off my Gruff brain. That wasn't you saying that, you were possessed for a second there. By who? By Rhea. I'm sure she'll come in. You're coming. I suppose so.
Starting point is 00:17:56 I don't know if that was a Kim Orograph, I think that was something entirely different. I've had a very weird week. I don't know if I should answer, I don't know what I'm signing up for. You come to ball? It's like an archfey, like, may I have your attention?
Starting point is 00:18:09 Ooh, I've got it now, it's mine. Yes, I suppose. Oh. Are all cool vendors and stores being closed up? I mean, you know, they're starting to wrap things up. You know, the sun's beginning to set. By sundown, everything will be closed up, yeah. But you haven't gotten to change someone else's life.
Starting point is 00:18:29 Yeah. I tell the group, I've gotta go. And he starts running around trying to find the coolest minigames and stalls to visit before they all close. Okay, give me a minute. I gotta load up my old notes. You're gonna go speed run.
Starting point is 00:18:43 Speed run minigames. Order them before they're done. Well, you did, you already did the Strength I gotta load up my old notes. You're gonna go speed run. Speed run many games. All of them before they're done. Well you did, you already did the Strength game, didn't you? Yeah. Did you participate in the Dexterity, the needle thread the needle game? I can't remember. I didn't do that one. You didn't do that one, you could do that one.
Starting point is 00:18:54 Yeah. I think you would have demolished that one, didn't you? I'm all in low prices. There are not just, there are like multiple versions of these same games, these are are traditional games for this festival. Right, yeah. So they're being run in different places all over town. So it's not just the one hammer strength guy.
Starting point is 00:19:15 There was multiple of that game. Rowan just happened to find one of them and completely blow the guy's mind. Is this like the awkward weird moment at the end of a con when people are clearly leaving and all the vendors are clearly trying to pack up. Absolutely, there's that massive vibe, right?
Starting point is 00:19:32 Of the sun's going down, technically all the vendors and game runners have to stay until it's fully sundown. The shutter's gone half down in the shop and he's ducked underneath it. That kind of thing. Hang on, don't show. Still open? Reservation for 15.
Starting point is 00:19:50 Yes. I want several creme brulees. Just one meal, just one meal. It's the kitchen clothes. Stop it, don't. Do not bring up the creme brulee thing. Nobody out there will understand and they shouldn't ask for it.
Starting point is 00:20:03 Anyway. Several. Several creme brulees. I've just got a piece of rice on my t-shirt. You do find that there would be as- will understand and they shouldn't ask you. Anyways. Several. Several. I've just got a piece of rice on my t-shirt. You do find there would be as- I'm a stereotype. As it is getting into evening time, one of the things that is still ongoing,
Starting point is 00:20:15 which has been kind of going on throughout the weekend, which you guys didn't have time to check out, or go and check out, is there are cooking contests and big group meals being made. So you find, and again, all spread out through Ash and Rest, you would come across like, you know, in little plazas in between buildings, they've got a giant big pan out
Starting point is 00:20:36 and they're making like a huge dish of like a rice and stewed like meats and like spices and all this kind of stuff, almost like a kind of paella-esque kind of dish. And like there's clearly somebody who's running it and they're like dishing it out and people are tasting it and like, seeing what they think.
Starting point is 00:20:51 You can even see people with like, consider it's with clipboards who are going around and like judging things and stuff like that as well. And it's free, it's like, you know, just open for anybody to come and grab a plate. You're allowed to have a plate for free basically. And there's all of you. Yeah, like there's, you could easily,
Starting point is 00:21:07 how many of these do you wanna sample? Because there are, okay. Okay, you spent several hours. You spent several hours. Several hours. Yeah, because it's, like, you, like, as you're walking down the street, you're like, oh, yum, yum, yum, delicious, you know, rice,
Starting point is 00:21:23 rice meat dish, and you're walking through. And then somebody's doing these deep fried cake type sweets. Oh, you've got to check those. That's down the street in another section. And then you come out and you're out in the main plaza, and there's four of these big group dish competition things going on. And you're like, I've got to try all of those.
Starting point is 00:21:43 I try one and I feel bad that the other ones are seen. You try this one, I'm like, well, I have the other three. And again, it's like this is just on the main street of Ash and Rest that you've gone down. You start going off towards the dock, towards the river, you start going out towards the south gate. There are even more of these things. And you're also-
Starting point is 00:22:00 You can spend as long as you think Rowan would keep going, basically. And you're also misinterpreting the looks as well. You're worried the staff are upset you're not going to them. They're looking at you like in fear. Please don't. Please don't come here. We're trying.
Starting point is 00:22:11 Hello. Oh, would you like a plate? Yes. Okay, very good, yeah. I'd love a plate. And this one's like a spicy. Burps. Like almost like kimchi, like cabbage,
Starting point is 00:22:21 like spicy kind of thing that's been fermented in like local things. It's like spicy kind of thing that's been fermented in like local things. It's like a bowl of it, basically. I need three Constitution saving throws from Rowan, from all of these different, because like some of them, Cauldron food is very spicy as well, and Rowan is not from Cauldron,
Starting point is 00:22:38 so he's going to all of these places, and it's building and it's building. It's like hot ones, but throughout a whole town. Right. I'd be the worst person to do that in the history of everything. Okay, okay, first one, 19. Great, delicious, lovely, lovely dish.
Starting point is 00:22:53 Beautiful dish. You're right, it's fake notes, because you saw the other people doing it. Yep. Great dish. Give me a deception check, because I want to see if they think that you're an actual judge.
Starting point is 00:23:07 10. 10. 10. Five. Oh yeah, have you got a bonus? Yeah, five plus five. Oh, okay. 10. So yeah, 10. Like maybe some of them are like,
Starting point is 00:23:16 oh, is he a judge? And then somebody's like, no, of course he's not a fucking judge. But you definitely convince some people. Also, what other reviews you're giving for everything? Is it just great dish? Great dish. Great dish. All down the arm.
Starting point is 00:23:27 Well, it depends on my constitution rolls, I guess. So the first one, absolutely delicious. Great dish. Really, really enjoyable. Spicy but flavorful, packed with lovely, tender meats. The rice is beautifully cooked. That all absorbs with raw incenses,
Starting point is 00:23:43 and the output is great dish. Great dish. It doesn't matter how to put that into words. Yeah, let's go for a second roll. My tongue tingles. 19 plus five, 21. 21. 21. That's two, sorry, 20.
Starting point is 00:23:55 Again, like, maybe getting a little full, but so much good food. You have like several of these dishes, three, four, five. Yum, yum, yum. Some of them are small, some of them are big. Doesn't matter, you're happy to just be trying them all. Third constitution roll. Nine. Nine.
Starting point is 00:24:13 You got two out of three. By the time you finish, you reach back maybe towards the inn, you are so painfully full. I can do one more. Oh, it's just these, we just have these very thin cookies. They're like wafer-thin. They're very thin.
Starting point is 00:24:29 They're sort of like a wafer, yes, yes. They're very thin, very small. But you shouldn't, you don't have to have one, so it's fine. I insist. Only if you're sure. Please. It's only a little, tiny little... It's hyperventilating.
Starting point is 00:24:45 Sweating. I mean Sweating. Good dish. Good dish. You successfully eat many of these meals. You do end up feeling quite ill, but you've never eaten this variety of dishes before. You do gain five temporary hit points that will last until this bed. Yeah, boy.
Starting point is 00:25:06 You're gonna lose 10 HP. No, yeah. But yeah, you are done. You can't possibly have any more at this point. Oh, guys. Might have a consequence at the ball later on. Well. A lot of spicy food.
Starting point is 00:25:20 We'll see if you roll any nat ones. If you roll any nat ones, I'm gonna remember that. My guy, you. Do you know the Crumpy Hog, anyone? Oh nat ones, I'm gonna remember that. But my guy, you. Do you know the Crumpy Hog, anyone? Yeah. Oh, yes, I am starving, actually. It has been a full day. What the fuck, it's, yes.
Starting point is 00:25:30 No! What's wrong, Rowan? What's wrong? I'm not hungry anymore. No? Are you upset that the festival's over now? Yeah, the stores are all packing up, and I couldn't find another game.
Starting point is 00:25:44 Oh, that's a shame. Well, we have... So I ate everything. All the food vendors were still open. You ate everything. I tried it all and it's all delightful. But my tummy's all dicky. Have you got a dicky tongue on a dicky tongue? You've got a dicky tongue, Tom? I've got a dicky tongue.
Starting point is 00:26:00 Oh, that's no good. And we're about to go for a meal and there's the ball. There'll be so much food there as well. I'll just have water, I think. I don't think you should have water. Why not? Well, with the Dicky Tum Tum. I haven't drank a thing.
Starting point is 00:26:15 I've had like ten dishes. And no liquids. Okay. Let's go grumpy home. We'll go get some food, and maybe you just... I'll come along. Have a lie down or something. Oh, he lies down right there.
Starting point is 00:26:29 In the tavern. Just get some food. This does help, I'm pretty sure. Hogan just walks over, he's like, I'm not gonna ask. Just such levered breathing. We've all been there, haven't we all been there? I've been there.
Starting point is 00:26:44 French dip sandwich, man, I've been there. That was the first thing that came to my mind. They are bringing up so many food backstories. Look, there's a lot of them. There's a lot of them. I know. Just as you're doing that, so you guys are gonna get some food.
Starting point is 00:26:57 A couple of other quick things that, like, this is your last chance to do them because before the festival closes, it is a tradition as part of the Festival of the Forge to make a prayer icon, which is you make a piece of art in any form with a wish or a prayer on it, then you take it to the House of the Making to have it blessed for a year, and then you keep that piece of art in your home, and it's meant to bring you good fortune and things like that.
Starting point is 00:27:21 So it's like you physically make a piece of art yourself, you go to the temple, it gets blessed, and then you keep it in your house for a year until the next festival. So that is a thing you could go and do if you would like. There are like places with materials and things like that to help you. Cool.
Starting point is 00:27:37 I think Gruff would wanna do that. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You can easily go and find it. What would Gruff want to try and make? So like when you say art, do you mean like a sculpture or like a painting or just like? Anything that you physically create yourself.
Starting point is 00:27:54 So the idea is that Saint Messari is known as the Forge Mage or the Saint of Creation, of like craftsmanship and artisans. So it's the idea of anything you make. It could be, you could wood carve something. Or you could- Yeah, I was thinking he strikes me as a whittler. Yeah, absolutely.
Starting point is 00:28:13 You could easily go and find they've got pieces of soft woods, little whittling knives. There's a couple of people showing you how to do it and things like that. Almost like these little workshops, where people have got pre-done pottery and you come and paint it, or like a... Oh, rage room.
Starting point is 00:28:27 It's the opposite, that's the destruction part of it. You shouldn't be moving that much right now. But yeah, so like, yeah, you can start like wood carving, something like that. Do you have proficiency in wood carving tools or anything like that? So then if you can just roll, plus either dexterity or intelligence for me, please.
Starting point is 00:28:46 I'd say wisdom, I'd allow wisdom. Okay. Must have a lot of finger off. Yeah, I was gonna say intelligence is minus one, so plus four wizzy. Yeah. What do we get? A very misshapen, could be an ice diver, I don't know.
Starting point is 00:29:02 It's just very rough, like, it still looks like a stick. It's a four, eight. Eight, okay, so it's not a very good Ice Diver, but you've made it yourself, and you look at it and you're like, I made this. And then part of it is also, there would be these little fine tools to carve in, and you write a wish or a prayer on the actual item as well.
Starting point is 00:29:24 So what would that be for Gruff? It can be secret. Ooh, he would wish for protection for the group. Okay, great. You take it to the House of Making, which I don't think you guys have been to yet. The House of Making is on the northern side in Greyforge. It is a shrine dedicated to Saint Misara. It's a three-story tall building carved from incredible stonework in a
Starting point is 00:29:53 classic style and with features of draconic faces and mouths from which illusory lava pours in channels that glow and illuminate the building. The topmost floor is open to the elements and features a beautiful lattice metal dome over it. The lower floors of the shrine are offered as workshops to teach artisan skills such as leatherworking, smithing, glassblowing, jewelry making, and so forth. When you go in there, you can see there are three priests. They're called makers or mentors,
Starting point is 00:30:20 and they're kind of helping everybody with their prayers. And you can see that they have this large kind of altar that's been laid out, and people are going up, placing them on there, and then one of the priests, you know, does a little right, touches the art, holds it. Normally they're sort of examining, like, oh. And when you take yours up, Gruff, there is a old, quite leathery, very deeply tanned,
Starting point is 00:30:42 like dark skinned human male, really leathery, like wrinkled skin, bald head, wearing loose robes. Ah, very welcome, they are the good sir, how can I help you, are you here to have a bless? Hello, my name is Graf. I've made this, it's not very good, but it's the first time I've done it.
Starting point is 00:31:01 We do not use words like it is not good, it is bad, we do not use these things. You have made this with your own hands? Yes. Then you have done Saint Misare's great work. And that is to be commended. You have made something yourself. Please, may I see? He hands it over.
Starting point is 00:31:15 Oh, yes. Oh, beautiful bird. This is a bird special to you? Yes, it come, voice has gone, Hello, my name's Gryff. It's an ice diver from where I'm from, Tremoro. So it has the importance of home to you, this bird? I have two ice divers of my own that I grew from hatchlings. But this wish, you wish for protection for your friends
Starting point is 00:31:46 at home, or are they here? My friends here. They need all the help they can get. Oh, and I have many friends like that myself. Ah, very good. Well, this is a beautiful Aesda Everbord. And as he touches it, you can see that what would have seemed imperfections to you, things that you made mistakes on,
Starting point is 00:32:10 they almost seem to glow and shimmer. And actually, with this little touch of magic that this priest does, it almost seems to make those imperfections stand out as more beautiful things. And it lingers just for a moment, a very subtle glow, but it lingers. And he says, forge, mistress, forge, mage, Saint of Creation, let this wish come true.
Starting point is 00:32:38 Let this art offer protection and guidance to Gruffoth of Tremoros friends. He hands it back to you. I'm so glad that you joined us here today, and thank you for partaking in the Festival of the Four. I think it is very much needed after the events here in Ashenrest that we've had. Oh, absolutely.
Starting point is 00:32:58 It's been an absolute privilege to take part in the tournament and see all the celebrations in the city, the town. I do not go to the tournaments much myself. I am often here teaching classes, but I do know the work of a very talented smith when I see one. Perhaps Mistress Dante's work you are wearing, yes? Oh, absolutely.
Starting point is 00:33:22 Unfortunately, I have to give it back at the end of tonight, so I'm wearing it as long as I can until I have to take it off. Oh, absolutely. Unfortunately, I have to give it back at the end of tonight, so I'm wearing it as long as I can until I have to take it off. Oh, it is important to appreciate things that are such beautifully made, you know, whether that is for a few minutes, for a few hours, for a few years, whatever it is. Appreciate these things that we have,
Starting point is 00:33:37 something that has had so much skill and care put into it. Thank you for coming to the House of Making, Gruffydd of Tremor. I am Cecilio Zatrassi. and care put into it. Thank you for coming to the House of Making, Gruffydd of Tremor. I am Cecilio Zatrassi. I'm one of the mentors here, a priest of St. Misara. So thank you, thank you for coming. Thank you for the blessing.
Starting point is 00:33:56 Of course, of course. He just nods and hands back to you, and then he takes it. You see a little girl and boy, and their parents have come up, and they've all made these things themselves. He's like, what do we have here? Beautiful necklace, let me have a look at this. Oh, very lovely, oh, you can see,
Starting point is 00:34:09 and he kind of goes through it with the children and stuff. And yeah, you make your way out of the house of making. Anything else from anyone else? Yeah, I can't think of a thing I would try and make for this. Is anyone else making anything? You are all more than welcome to. This is a traditional thing, it's a big part of the festival. Ophelia might.
Starting point is 00:34:34 Yeah. I think what she'd do is use the gem that Rowan got and make a little necklace, just with a bit of rope or just a little necklace, just like, with like a bit of, like nothing too like, just like with a bit of rope or like just a little chain that she finds. And then carve on the back, just a prayer, just like, let them understand. And then, yeah, she won't get it blessed though.
Starting point is 00:35:00 I was gonna say, would you take it? No, you just, but this is for you. Like you're indulging in the culture of it, but this is a thing for you to do. I mean, yeah, it's very easy to find, like, do you have proficiency in jewelers' tools and jewelry and things like that? Let's have a look.
Starting point is 00:35:12 Shhh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh. Proficiency tools. Nobody cares about them. Until I do a Rob Blake thing about it. Well, I can fish. Yeah. And I've got proficiency in herbalism kits. Me too.
Starting point is 00:35:24 I'm gonna go grow some weed. If you don't know, it's fine. Just check it another time. Bro. It's not under Torson. So you probably haven't spent too much time with this, but you've seen the Baroness work with jewelry and things before.
Starting point is 00:35:42 She certainly made your Sanguineite gem and things like that. So you don't, the casing for the gem is quite crude. It's basically like wire wrapped around it and then you attach the chain to it. But they provide like these thin, quite cheap chains, but you can get a piece of chain and then this wire kind of casing to wrap around it.
Starting point is 00:36:00 And it's holding this gem that Rowan got you. It would have been a red gem for if you can imagine, right? And yeah, you can loop it over you and it has it engraved on the back. There are tools to like engrave on the gemstone and things like that as well, easily. What about Xantheus? Does Xantheus want to make something?
Starting point is 00:36:16 Yeah, I think so. I think he spends a long time leaning at the back of the stall, just like maybe with some kind of writing thing, maybe I steal some from you, sorry. And I'm like leaning at the back of the stall, just like maybe with some kind of writing thing, maybe I steal some from you, sorry. And I'm like drawing things. They give you supplies, man. That's true, that's true. But if this is at the dinner,
Starting point is 00:36:35 and I know this is coming up, I'm like trying to come up with what is Xamthius. What could be something that Xamthius thinks is Xamthius, and he's thinking of all these things from Rust End, maybe his journey to... Kelskaris. Kelskaris. But maybe there's like this, where he lived in Rust End,
Starting point is 00:36:55 maybe there's this one weed that everyone else in the village is like, we get rid of this thing. It's ugly, it's gross, but it's like this gold, almost yellow-leafed vine that kind of weaves its way through all of these beautiful plants and things. Everyone else is trying to demolish this thing,
Starting point is 00:37:09 because it's gross and ugly, but he loves this thing. And he tries to make something almost reminiscent of this... golden-leafed weed, essentially. Like an ivy or creeping... Bindweed. Yeah. Yeah, I will think of a cool name for that plant, because I really like that.
Starting point is 00:37:30 That's a lovely little bit of world building that I want to use. So I will think of a name for it. But I'm not very good at coming up with them on the spot. Yeah, and, yeah, like, I don't know, he tries to make this out of, like... Dendinus. Whether it's like he's cutting out pieces of paper or he uses some other the wire to like, some wire and these paper leaves or whatever.
Starting point is 00:37:48 Yeah. Paper craft. Paper craft, yeah. I don't know what to do for the prayer. Something along the lines of like, I don't know, like accept us for our beauty or something like that. Or accepting flaws or whatever.
Starting point is 00:38:04 Yeah, it can be a prayer or a wish. It's a prayer for something you want to manifest into the world, or a wish that you, something for yourself also. Yeah, something along those sorts of lines. Yeah. Would you take it to be blessed as well? Yeah, I think so.
Starting point is 00:38:19 Yeah, yeah, you would, you probably, when you go up there, you probably would not meet Yeah, you would, you probably, when you go up there, you probably would not meet Celio. Instead, it would be a woman, similar sort of age, definitely cauldron. She has all these beautiful glass decorations, like, you know, pieces of blown, decorated, colored glass that she's wearing as jewelry.
Starting point is 00:38:41 And she would introduce herself as Lucinda Giovano. She's another one of the priests, the mentors here, and she would do the same thing, she'd go through the same sort of beautiful, beautiful kind of speaking and talking to you, I'm not gonna roleplay the whole thing, I've already done it. But yeah, she would take that in,
Starting point is 00:38:55 and yeah, absolutely, bless it and return it to you, and stuff as well. Yeah. You would also, actually one thing both Gruff and Xanthius would notice if you go up to the House of the making is there are all these different chambers but one of them is actually closed off. It looks like a chamber separate to the main shrine area is closed off and you can actually see that a
Starting point is 00:39:16 portrait with a wreath, the wreath would look like it's kind of been a few days so it's kind of starting to fade and foil like maybe a couple of weeks it's been there. And it shows a picture of a halfling, a young halfling woman, a jeweler, dressed in kind of white robes, almost like in a memoriam to somebody who's passed away recently. And that's kind of outside one of these sections of the House of Making.
Starting point is 00:39:41 What about Daisy? Would Daisy make something? I think she would do a painting. Mm-hmm. And I think she would put, she would draw a bouquet of flowers because she used to sell flowers to get by back in Goodfine.
Starting point is 00:40:04 But she would make sure to include a flower that represents everyone in the group. Okay, nice. So, I don't know what they would, a weed. Mine's just wilting. No, no. But maybe like a red rose for Ophelia, something very beautiful and fancy.
Starting point is 00:40:28 And yeah, something that's like a snow drop or something for Gruff, maybe something. I was thinking sea buckthorn. Have you ever seen sea buckthorn? It's like a yellow flower and kind of thorny, grows on cliff side. Yeah, Gruff's not yellow, can't be that. No, but it's kind of hardy and lives in it.
Starting point is 00:40:47 You're the dirt. But, yeah, she would do a bouquet of flowers and, crack, just have them all coming together as just a group. Next. Yeah. And just, I think she would wish for us to find a home together. And want to put that up in the inn somewhere.
Starting point is 00:41:10 They would provide like a basic frame. So like you have the canvas that you've painted all this on. And then they would give you like a very simple basic frame. You know, you can put the prayer on the back. You take that, get it blessed as well. That's given to you. You guys can all, if you want to write those down, you can say that you've got those items.
Starting point is 00:41:26 I'm not gonna say if they have any bit of, you ever know. Yeah, what about Rowan? Rowan, or is Rowan too? Yeah. Now he makes something. He makes a little clay sculpture of himself. And there's big arms like a circle,
Starting point is 00:41:42 and inside is everyone getting hugged by Rowan, but there's a grip. And it's friends forever is my prayer. Okay, nice. Perfect. Do you want me to roll up addings? Yeah, so is this a sculpture, sorry, in my brain? It's a little clay sculpture.
Starting point is 00:42:01 So this would be, and I'm guessing you don't have any proficiency in relevant things. Not at all. So this would just be with clay. I think this would be, yeah. Hand or something? It would be decks or intelligence, just straight decks or intelligence, no proficiencies,
Starting point is 00:42:14 because you don't have proficiency in it. So I'll let you pick. Plus zero, 11. It's very much like the Ice Diver. It's crude, but you can tell who everyone is. You've managed to get enough of the details. That's you, Ophelia, and that's you, Gruff. But I imagine that everything has to be enhanced
Starting point is 00:42:32 to make it clear who people are. So Ophelia has giant fangs, and Gruff is this big, squidgy mane of hair. Daisy is tiny. And you're much clay for that one. Yeah. And then with Xanthius, yeah, it's like a big tail and maybe he gets your, he makes your horns too big, they're not the little ones you've given him to.
Starting point is 00:42:51 But it's obvious who everyone is, and then you're like the big arms coming in. Like comically sized arms. And then the arms are like stretched out. Yeah, yeah. I didn't realize how many. Yeah, it's that kind of thing. But they take it, there's a couple of maybe
Starting point is 00:43:05 a little bit of, a couple of little giggles from the people that are like firing it for you, but it comes out and it's all like done, and yeah, you can take that. And like Woody's foot, on Rowan's foot is friends forever. Friends forever, with the number four EVA. Couldn't fit the word. Couldn't fit in, he writes too big, that's his problem.
Starting point is 00:43:25 You start going up the side of the entire thing. It's on my back of my leg. Friends, it's not friends, it's friends. Friends. Yeah, friends. Perfect. Yeah, you guys finish all of that. And I think that that's kind of maybe a big thing, is as you guys get these things blessed, and meet back up again at the inn.
Starting point is 00:43:46 Oh yeah, that's true, we didn't roll for yours. What did you roll? Oh, what is it, a performance, did you say? No, for you, you were making like a paper graph with like wire and stuff. I think it would just be straight intelligence with dexterity. Oh, I got a non-natural 20 then.
Starting point is 00:43:58 Now there you go. Nice. Very beautiful. We know that Daisy can paint very well. I am proficient. You're proficient, so we don't even need a roll for that. It's a very beautiful little piece. But yeah, you guys all meet back at the inn with your various little items that you've made.
Starting point is 00:44:14 I feel like as the night time is falling, you can see that the last couple of masons are making their way off. You can see that work has been accomplished on the outer building. It's not quite done yet. They're gonna need the morning to finish things up, but you can see that definitely the shrine is nearly ready. You can be very excited. And yeah, you guys return to the inn,
Starting point is 00:44:37 formerly known as the Enticing Devil. Do you wanna just go straight over to the ball, or is there, do you guys wanna chat? It's up to you. Where we puttin' our little things? In the inn. In the inn, where there, do you guys wanna chat? It's up to you. Where we puttin' our little things? In the inn. In the inn, where in the inn? The big inn.
Starting point is 00:44:49 It's a big inn. Is there a mantle piece? Right now it's very barren, like there is the old bar, so there's like a couple of, but they're all like broken shelves. Like none of it is really usable right now. You could definitely put it on the bar top, that's about the only stable thing that's still remaining.
Starting point is 00:45:03 It's gonna have to go on there, I think. Yeah, but now it is, yeah. But you definitely, like, again, I need to remind you that the roof has collapsed on this inn, and most of the rooms, all the furniture's busted. Like, you are basically- We've got a beautiful shrine. You, yeah, you are currently staying in,
Starting point is 00:45:16 like, you know those guys that do, like, the YouTube videos where they go to all the bad buildings? You guys are living in one of those right now. Oh, the explorers. There's like, yeah, there's like bedrolls in like the various rooms. Like, you Yeah, there's bedrolls in the various rooms. There's an old campfire that I think Gruff's been cooking on and stuff. It is, you are living like homeless people.
Starting point is 00:45:33 Heroes of Ashen. All fixable, all fixable stuff, but... But for now, party time. Yeah, sure. Well, if there's nothing else anybody wants to do, we will just jump on ahead. Everyone got their invites? Yes. Everyone got their invites on them.
Starting point is 00:45:50 Where did you put it? I need to lie down again. Okay, okay, maybe someone else should take care of Rowan's invite, just in case. Do you want me to hold it? Yeah. Yes, okay, I'll put it with my own one. I'll keep them together. I didn't expect them to hold it? Yeah. Yes, okay, I'll put it with my M1.
Starting point is 00:46:05 I'll keep them together. I didn't expect them to address us all individually. I thought it would be just a group, you know? But I guess we still don't have a name, so kind of hard to do that Heroes of Ash and Rest. But we all fought individually in the Conquest. Well, yes. We all participants in the Conquest.
Starting point is 00:46:24 I know, it's just nice. It's nice to get an invite, I like it. You gonna keep it? What? Are you going to keep it? I'm gonna hand it in when we get there. Do we get to keep it? Would you if you could?
Starting point is 00:46:35 Pfft, paper. It's not that fancy, I mean, look at it. It's the fanciest thing in the world. Yeah. I don't know what to wear. Oh, we did get you the outfit for something a while back. That's where we went to meet the Duke. For the first time we met the Duke. I'll put that back on.
Starting point is 00:46:56 There is that. And you've still got the armor. Are you gonna keep the armor? Do you think I can get away with wearing it tonight? I think so, you're still. That's made the most of it. Yeah. That's exactly what I was thinking.
Starting point is 00:47:07 I feel underdressed. You're always massively overdressed. Look, compared to these two, Gruff is resplendent, Rowan looks very smart. I've only got half my outfit on right now. Rowan will look very smart. My stomach. Resplendent.
Starting point is 00:47:24 I need to fix my hair and my makeup. Percival! Immediately there, immediately attending to what you need. Thank you, thank you. Yep. That one's out of place there, can you just put that one back just behind me? Bony finger sculpts it back,
Starting point is 00:47:35 uses some of the slick gels and oils and things like that to keep it all in place, but has already laid out all of your makeup things in the area that you normally perform like your makeup and things like that. Everything ready to go. Anyone that want to touch up? Anyone want anything from Percival?
Starting point is 00:47:51 No, it's okay, I've got it. I brush a hand through my hair, glitter comes out, shake it around, and then it just lays perfectly. Sure. Just like Skywalker. Yeah, I love it, sure. It's a recent cut, it still looks good. Yeah, absolutely. Have I still got my gre-old braids in? Yeah, sure. It's a recent cut, it still looks good. Yeah, absolutely. Have I still got my greal braids in?
Starting point is 00:48:07 Yeah, probably. It was yesterday that you had, yeah. So you'd probably need to keep them done, yeah. Because the Conquest, it probably... The battle would have shaken out a bit. I guess he would try to clumsily do some braids again. Yeah. Maybe he could help. Maybe he would probably help.
Starting point is 00:48:23 Okay. He fidgets a lot. Sit still would probably help. Okay. Yeah. He fidgets a lot. Sit still! I am sitting still. You're not sitting still. I am sitting still. I'll pull your hair.
Starting point is 00:48:31 I don't want to do that, but I'm gonna pull it if you keep moving. Ow, ow, ow. If you keep moving, if you keep moving. His tail just like, twats you in the face. Yeah. It's a warning sign. As you finish getting ready,
Starting point is 00:48:43 you can feel that there is a bit of a breeze that's picked up over, as the sun's gone down, and you begin to hear the faint pitter patter of just spring rain beginning to drop. So it's mice. Pitter patter of mice, no. Another thing. To help us get ready, like in Cinderella.
Starting point is 00:49:02 Through the hole in the roof of the inn. A tiny bit of rain, the place is gonna flood. That mold is going to... That's gonna cost me more in joists, I tell ya. The... Town of Ashen rests with the issues of the Lamplighters Guild. They've had to go and hang out normal lanterns and stone lanterns,
Starting point is 00:49:24 and you can see that some of the guards have patrolling it, but it's not as brightly lit as it once was. And as the rain begins to fall, you see that the clouds drifting in and out. In between them you glance up and see the shape of the crown, the great broken moon that hangs above in the air above. You can see the very faint, dark shape of the crown, the great broken moon that hangs above in the air above.
Starting point is 00:49:45 You can see the very faint, dark shape of Malir, the moon behind it, ever vigilant, keeping watch over the crown. And you make your way. You know, there would be like parasol-like umbrellas, you know, you can probably buy one on the way or something like that, you know, to kind of keep the rain off of you as you go.
Starting point is 00:50:03 And as you arrive, there is a great kind of crowd being led into the Ducal Palace. You see at the, as you approach the main gates, you can see some familiar looking faces. You would see High Marshal Logan Grey, the kind of High Marshal of the Duke's forces here in North Vale, mounted on one of his, on hiske, just kind of keeping an eye on the crowd, you can see a few soldiers here and there. You would also spot Considerate Eddarth Orgrim,
Starting point is 00:50:34 the dwarf who is the duke's main Considerate, and he is the one who is like, name, yes, very good, sort of gesturing as people approach. As you all approach, he's like, may I have your names? Ah, I see that you have all arrived. My invitations reached you all, I see. Hello again, thank you for the invites.
Starting point is 00:50:53 Of course, of course, it was by the request of his fraconic majesty himself. Oh, what a pleasure. You are, please, enter and make yourselves available and enjoy your evening, please. Thank you. Takes your names down. And as you enter, you make your way
Starting point is 00:51:12 through the Grand Ducal Palace. This is a place of immense wealth and luxury, but also of just awe and magnitude. Everything is larger than life here. The stone pillars are twice the size that you would almost imagine them to be. The roof is tall enough for an immense dragon of the duke's size to move through in his draconic form
Starting point is 00:51:36 if he desired to. There are great tapestries hung along the walls that depict the duke's life and the life of his family, his draconic family, the Ignarum family. The most impressive of all is the, oh, where is my stuff? It's all gone, here it is. The most impressive of all is what is known
Starting point is 00:52:01 as the Battle of Ash Hills, of the Ash Hills, which is the battle in which the Duke, Ignarius, fought against one of the more powerful servants of the gold archdragon, Galdwassar, the traitor. And it is these hills that are being stained black through their fire clashing. The Duke, his flame breath meeting the corrupted gold dragon's breath,
Starting point is 00:52:25 the two of them fighting, claws tearing into each other, and then on the ground below, armies of non-dragons clashing as well. You can see that there are ally dragons, reds, even some golds on the duke's side. You can see other dragons on the Galvasar side, and it's this beautiful war tapestry, all woven. The scales of each dragon seem to be threaded with small gemstones, so the two dragons catch the light and glitter
Starting point is 00:52:53 as you make your way down. What was that battle called again? The Battle of the Ash Hills. I guess they were since named Ash Hills. They were renamed after the Civil War, basically, after the Orientation. You would know the Ash Hills, because they are south of Rust End.
Starting point is 00:53:09 Okay. If you travel along what is now known as the Broken Road. Right. So this is the Battle of Crownsteel. Well, it wasn't just one battle that Crownsteel was involved in. So, just as a refresher, the gold archdragon, when Crownsteel was discovered that it had these magical enhancing properties, the gold archdragon of the time, Galdvasar,
Starting point is 00:53:35 promised the Empress that he would take care of it and he would secure it so that it couldn't be misused. What Galdvasar actually did was he hoarded it and consumed as much of it as he could. And that mutated him and caused him to gain incredible power. And then he also gave it to his loyal followers as a sort of prize for their loyalty, thus corrupting them and binding them to him as well. He eventually launched a civil war against the Dragon Empress and tried to take over in an event which is known as the Oriate Insurrection. These battles took place all across the empire, mainly around Gildai, Kaldra, the Azhar Steppe, and some other places,
Starting point is 00:54:15 but these battles kind of fought all over the place. This is the Battle of Ashhill, is the battle that Duke Ignarius single-handedly basically defended his lands, like him and his army, without any... You know, they basically held the line and stopped Galdwassar taking North Vale, which would have been a huge thing because it's so close to Kel Skarras. So it was... And that's why the Duke is kind of respected as a war hero.
Starting point is 00:54:40 This very impressive battle is where all of his scars came from and stuff like that. That was a very important part of the insurrection. Very big battle, yeah, it was one of the key battles basically. Worthy of some statues. Yeah, absolutely. Tampestries. Absolutely.
Starting point is 00:54:55 You make your way into, and you've been here before, this is the duke's audience chamber, you've been in here and it's this immense, huge building with a giant dome that can be opened and closed. But all of the thrones, all of the furniture has been pushed and little areas have been created to host a grand ball. Great big floating banners,
Starting point is 00:55:16 almost magically floating in the air, these kind of beautiful pieces of cloth are suspended, creating this kind of almost ceiling of reds and golds and orange silks all over the place. The dance floor has been like the floor has been polished stone. There is a band of musicians who are playing very soft, gentle, mingling music at this point in time. A grand buffet table has been laid out. And you can see that gathered there are maybe sort of close to about 100 people here.
Starting point is 00:55:45 Almost all of the knights that you saw at the tournament, all of them are present here as well. There are also various people from Ash and Resh that you would recognize. You would recognize some of the religious characters such as Orellah and Dandelion Evidue of the House of the Rose, dressed resplendently.
Starting point is 00:56:01 Orellah, quite open-fronted dress, shall we say, low plunge, sort of sat on a chair drinking wine, no shoes, just her sort of elongated sort of like feet with her little rabbit-y toes, her big ears kind of stuck up, danderly dressed in a fine, very similar, very low cut, his real waxed chest on display. This is the equality I wanted.
Starting point is 00:56:24 Exactly, so it's House of the Roar, Saint Typhoon's all about that equality, man. They're mingling and sort of, you know, definitely perhaps flirting with some of the guests. You would notice, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. You would actually notice there is a black dragonborn, like a full more draconic dragonborn, Nixxamist, who is the tailor that I think some of you
Starting point is 00:56:44 ordered outfits from. They are kind of discussing, maybe analyzing somebody's outfit, what they're wearing for the evening. You would notice the Speaker of Secrets, Ardyn Savran, the priest of Maelynn from Bright Shadow Cathedral. You would see mingling, looking very uncomfortable, Zarantekis, or Thorita Zarantekis, along with Bliss, the tiefling guard, who's sort of looking very uncomfortable, Zarin Tekis, or Thorita Zarin Tekis, along with Bliss,
Starting point is 00:57:06 the tiefling guard, who's sort of looking very awkward and like, I shouldn't be here doing that thing where she's just holding like a glass of champagne or wine, just like, oh, her tail flicking back nervously. Who else would you see here? I mean, lots of people that you would recognize. One person that you've not seen in a while, who sees you and you hear a like, ah!
Starting point is 00:57:28 As a big bright smile as the charming Captain Lucas Vicaro, who you met at Burnell, the captain who led the forces there and was the one who interacted with you. And the one who gave you the duke's favor. He's there dressed in full military dress, like uniform. He's just like, ah, wonderful to see you again, my friends. I'm so glad that you all made it here and everything seems to have gone well.
Starting point is 00:57:49 Oh, and you too, Captain Lucas Vicaro. Lucas Vicaro, that's the one. Xanthius Aurigarh. How could I forget, unfortunately. How indeed. Your events in Burnell left quite the impression. But now I'm so pleased to see you here. I'm glad that I am sorry to hear about the business Indeed. Your events in Burnell left quite the impression. But now I'm so pleased to see you here.
Starting point is 00:58:06 I'm glad that I am sorry to hear about the business with that Lamplighter's Guild. I'm sad that my forces could not return to the town in time to help. Oh no, I mean, luckily we had it under control just in time, but hopefully we didn't leave Burnell. Yes, we heard that you were instrumental in the defeat of these demons and all sorts of things.
Starting point is 00:58:25 The High Marshal speaks very well of you. He says that you have done a great service to him. Have you been a cocky bitch again? Yeah. Go on. How is Burnell? Everything is, yes, it was resolved as best as it could. We concluded a few more investigations, we searched,
Starting point is 00:58:43 but we encountered, we found a few more investigations, we searched, but we encountered, we found more null creatures. I know that you encountered some, I spoke with Sergeant Gioro. We found more of them and I diverted some of my forces to go and deal with them and that is why we did not return to Ashurrest in time for the events that you were involved in. I've only just come back to the town yesterday.
Starting point is 00:59:03 We've been out. Well, you've got to keep the road safe. That is very much the purpose of my role and the role of my forces, so yes, unfortunately, that is the case. But I'm glad to see that you are all well and you have adapted well to life here in Kaldra, it seems. Looking very, very splendid, very fashionable.
Starting point is 00:59:23 Are you all right, Rowan? Yes, it's lovely to see you again. Are you all right? You seem a little uncomfortable. I'm fine. Okay, all right. A long day at the festival. He had a very, very, very, very, very, very big lunch.
Starting point is 00:59:37 I will leave you to it. I'm a big boy. Yes. Yeah. All right. The cauldron spices might be getting to him as well. He's looking a little... Very good, very good.
Starting point is 00:59:47 Yes, yes, very good. Well, I will leave you to your evening and a good evening to you all. See you. Good evening. Oh. You've got to find somewhere to put them. Okay.
Starting point is 01:00:04 Yeah. You would, some others, so basically anybody that you've really met here in Ashen Rest is kind of here. You would see Mistress Ilana Vidante. She is currently engaged in conversation elsewhere. Pretty much everybody that you've spoken to, including a few people that you don't recognize. There may be some more religious characters and characters that you've not met, including a few people that you don't recognize. There may be some more religious characters
Starting point is 01:00:25 and characters that you've not met yet mingling around. Plus also all of the knights from the tournament are here. Ser Gryold, you also would see some of the knights that didn't necessarily fight in the tournament, such as Ser Mourning, the Knight of Maelir, and Ser Glory, the Knight of Pyrrhus from the Brightshadow Cathedral. You see the ones that you fought against the Conquest.
Starting point is 01:00:46 So Servrax Drell, Servrax Kell is here, along with Sir Thomas Cooper. He is enjoying the buffet at the moment. He's like, he's just eating a junk chicken drumstick. He's just like, all right, that's not bad. He says to no one around him. No, he's just chatting to himself. He's like, very good.
Starting point is 01:01:04 What about the rabbits? Rabbit's in it. Willow the Wit is indeed here. They are currently, they're sort of not arguing, but they're like talking at the musicians. Like, you should play something a bit more jolly and speedier. Why are you playing so slow?
Starting point is 01:01:17 Like, it's a party, isn't it? I think I could play something better. Like, it's basically having a bit of an argument with the band. Like, oh, you're boring and rubbish. You see that he basically has just like his big scarf and then like a pair of very nice looking trousers with a sash, but he doesn't have a top on
Starting point is 01:01:35 because he's just got furry rabbit fur, he's a rabbit guy. He doesn't have boots on or anything like that, but he does have like, in his like sash belt, he has various instruments, like he's got a flute, he's got a little harmonica-like device called a bee-singer. He has a shortened version of a trumpet, which in Il Mere is known as a frog trumpet, because it's kind of got shaped like a bit
Starting point is 01:01:58 of an open frog's mouth. Aw. It's like a short, like, bwop. He's only played one note on it. It's very limited, it's like two or three. It's like three short like, wha! He's only played one note on it. It's very limited, it's like two or three. It's like three-fold car horn. Whaa! But no, he's got that, and you can see, yeah, like I said,
Starting point is 01:02:14 pretty much anybody that you've encountered over the last few games and sessions is here if you wanted to speak to anybody. Yeah. Where about in the Hall of the Gold Knight? Oh yes. The Gold Knight, so you would see them, you see this, yeah, if I'm remembering,
Starting point is 01:02:34 because I didn't write exactly the description details, I don't know if you saw them in much detail, you just saw like a flash of gold. I think I saw gold banners maybe, that was it? Yeah, I think you saw like a flash of gold. So you would see very evidently any knight of the realm who is representing their province very prominently in their colors.
Starting point is 01:02:51 So it's not hard to detect that there is a single knight maybe with a couple of squires from Gildai here. They are dressed in fine golden robes, like almost like high elf from Lord of the Rings, like high collared, rounded sort of neck, long draping fabrics, beautiful golden sash, ornamental armor, but not in full plate or anything like that. But they do have their sword, a very kind of long, beautiful long sword. A bit more like a Chinese straight sword, I'd imagine,
Starting point is 01:03:24 with that sort of rounded hilt and the long blade sort of sheathed at their side. Dark, long dark hair that is like almost black against the gold, like very narrow and straight. Very fine features. They would be human, and they've got a couple of squires with them as well. Looks like a dwarf and another human attendant.
Starting point is 01:03:46 Not sure, probably non-binary, or you're certainly at least not sure of their gender from their look. Like they have very soft features, but quite hard, like hard eyes, and then this like long hair, but not quite sure at first glance of gender pronouns, that kind of thing.
Starting point is 01:04:03 But yeah, they are just engaged in conversation with probably, they would be speaking to, Sir Glory, Knight of the Church of Pyrrhus. They're talking to Sir Glory and Caiman. Is there any universe in which I recognize who they are? I know I've spent basically all my life in Kaldra. Are they renowned enough? You can make a history roll,
Starting point is 01:04:29 I'm gonna tell you now that DC's gonna be quite high. Okay. But you can make the roll. History. Because you do have a reason that there is a chance that you might know them. History. Has he seen them on the telly?
Starting point is 01:04:39 I think this is a chance, which is why I'm gonna make it a roll, because I'm not like, this isn't, I'm like, no, no, you would have heard of them, they're not that famous. Mystery. Nine. Nine. You couldn't, no, you don't recognize them.
Starting point is 01:04:50 Okay, fair enough, let's go. Nor do you recognize like their crest or their house or anything like that. Okay, fair enough. Yeah. Rowan is my barrier between them. Yeah, sure, yeah, you can basically make sure that like, this place is busy enough that if you don't want
Starting point is 01:05:07 to be near them, you can like keep an eye on them and always move around and make sure that you're not, you know, too close to them. Anytime Rowan buckles over in pain, I bend over behind him. Nice. Which is often from the sounds of things. Is often.
Starting point is 01:05:22 Do I need to wear the belt? You're kind of walking like one of those automatic birds. Boom! Stand in front of me. Boing! Okay. Popping about buckles. Recochets around the room.
Starting point is 01:05:39 Button's just hanging on for cheer life. It's like the Captain America when he's got the helicopter. Arrgh! Rowan's back. This is like that pre-phase of a big party where the host hasn't turned up yet. So everyone's just mingling, the music's very light, everyone's having a little bit to eat, a little bit to drink.
Starting point is 01:05:58 Everyone's in that early stage. Duke Ignarius, Obsidius, and Emberissa are not here yet. So they are all just in this fight. Oh yeah, it's very good. You probably would be approached by, Obsidius, and Emberysarun not here yet. So they are all just kind of in this kind of fight. Oh yeah, so we're good. You probably would be approached by, as a group, a couple of people, specifically the people that Groth you fought against. So Sir Bolvar Brass Bull, oh no, that was Atlas
Starting point is 01:06:19 who fought against them. No, I was Javar Caladan. You Javar Caladan. So Sir Javar would come up and be like, ah, Groth of Tremoro, I believe. Sir Geva Kaladan, how are you? I am recovered, thank you very much. I very much enjoyed our bout during the match. You caught me a little off guard,
Starting point is 01:06:37 but it's a good lesson for next time, I feel. How are you? I am well. How did you find your first tournament? Terrifying. Slaps you on the arm. Ah. Grog doesn't move.
Starting point is 01:06:52 Cause he thinks you're joking. Yeah. He's just like ah ha ha ha, oh you. Yeah, Grog's just like very like serious face, like why is this person laughing? He's like, oh well you have suddenly, if you continue performing the way that you did, I think that you have quite the career,
Starting point is 01:07:06 very excellent performance. I especially enjoyed the bout between you and that young Atlas, very spectacular. I do. Sir Atlas, it was an honor. I regret that I did not have a chance to fight the young man myself. I think I would have enjoyed that very much as well.
Starting point is 01:07:22 But to see the two of you fight, the fact that you withstood that blow at the end, you're made of some stern stuff, I think. Ha ha ha, slap, slap, slap. Now he's just like, every time he's like, he's kind of jerking forward, like, eh. Ha ha ha ha. Well, ready to punch back?
Starting point is 01:07:38 Slap! I take it that you are not from Kaldra. You are not a knight currently. You are seeking to join a becoming knight, yes? What gave it away? Ah. Your terse demeanor, the fact that you are not dressed so stuffily as some of these Caldrans are, I think.
Starting point is 01:07:57 You are dressed practically for calderclimes, I think. Well, that, yeah. Yes, I'm from a little village called Tremoro in Isart. Yes, yes, yes. It's a lot colder up there. I'm familiar, yes. The birds on your crest that I noticed are ice diver birds, yes? Oh, you know ice diver birds?
Starting point is 01:08:21 A little, yes. I am from the Suncrest Isles, and we are very proud of our education and our knowledge of things. And I have done my traveling around. I have done a little traveling here and there. And I remember reading, I have a fondness for animals and things like that.
Starting point is 01:08:35 And I remember reading about the ice diver birds from Iceheart. Often used in local farming and fishing and things like that to help you. Very ingenious, very clever. Oh, they are the smartest birds that there are. You know you can train them, they can hold their breath underwater,
Starting point is 01:08:49 and then it's just like, unless J'var stops him, he's getting a lecture. I think that, no, J'var enjoys it. There's a lot of like, oh, so tell me about this, oh, really, there's a lot of, you can immediately tell that this man is not just a knight, he's a scholar. He's somebody who loves to learn, and so he starts asking, but's a lot of, you can immediately tell that this man is not just a knight, he's a scholar. He's somebody who loves to learn,
Starting point is 01:09:06 and so he starts asking, but like you talk and he just asks more and more questions. To the point where like, I don't know how like, Gruff would like give up, but like, if Gruff's willing to talk, he's willing to listen. Yeah, like, so he probably does that thing, he's like, let's go get some chairs, and he drags some chairs over, and he's like,
Starting point is 01:09:21 really, so tell me about this. Russ literally talking about how Sarah in the era, he raised them from eggs and like his feeding routine and like how he trained them and their care routine and things he's noticed about them. And in all of this, his two birds are definitely the best birds out of, you know, there are other ice divers, but his are the best.
Starting point is 01:09:44 Yeah, give me like an insight role here. Oh, okay. You... There are other ice divers, but his are the best. Yeah, give me an insight role here. Oh, okay. You don't actually like ice divers, it's just these two. Ooh, seven. Seven. Yeah, this man is a captive audience. He sometimes, maybe, I don't know if Gruff would find this rude, he sometimes interrupts,
Starting point is 01:10:01 like you start, oh, I love Saren, and Saren's got this beautiful, and he'll cut in, and be like, so tell me more about this thing. Yeah, yeah I love Saren and Saren's got this beautiful, and he'll cut in and be like, so tell me more about this thing. Like, and for the audience's perspective, and you know, Gruff doesn't pick up on this, but this is clearly a man who is interested in the sort of, the knowledge and the technical.
Starting point is 01:10:15 He doesn't care about your feelings, about your birds or anything like that. He's like, no, no, I want to learn the factual knowledge. But yeah, he sits down with you for a while and happily chats away. Do we have our weapons here? You're allowed to carry, you're allowed to address weapon, basically.
Starting point is 01:10:32 So you can have your staff, so you could have brought the other one with you. Yeah, I'm trying to think which one would be more appropriate to bring, but if it, I mean, I'm gonna say he brings his staff, because he's like, I'm representing Iceheart, so I'm gonna bring my old staff, and he'll activate the illusion so he can see.
Starting point is 01:10:46 Oh, yeah, I mean the second that you start bringing magic into it, like Sujavara is like, oh, brilliant, oh, wonderful. A slight, and he starts examining it like a magician would. He's just like, wonderful little bit of illusion work. Oh, who did, and he starts asking you what about these questions and stuff. But yeah, very clean and involved.
Starting point is 01:11:01 So the two of you get dragged in, like for this reception-y bit, you and Sujav are just happily chatting away. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. Anybody else wanting to like speak to anybody individual? Or is anybody like, I wanna look for somebody we've not met before,
Starting point is 01:11:17 or anything like that? Like any interest or anything that people are doing specifically. Are there any special snacks? Special snacks? Yeah, I think that there would be actually because the duke, I think, would use some of his imported stuff here. So there would be these strange, like, cut in half, they almost look like giant nuts,
Starting point is 01:11:44 but they've been cut in half, they almost look like giant nuts, but they've been cut in half and in the middle they have this creamy, milky texture and they've been spiced on the top and it's almost got this, it's a bit like a coconut, but not quite. What's the spice? It's less flesh, it's more like, yeah, it's kind of almost got a vanilla-y taste to it
Starting point is 01:12:02 and it's like the meat of the nut is quite soft, like a cream almost. And it's been like spiced, huh? Retcon. Retcon, what? On a retcon meat of the nut, please. What? What?
Starting point is 01:12:14 It's the meat of the nut! Coconut meat? Yeah. It's factually correct, Don! I just don't like it, okay? So he has like these laid out. There are also lots of unusual fish. Fish isn't like that, like mainly in Kaldur,
Starting point is 01:12:31 it's river fish. So like sea fish is kind of an unusual dish here. So there's things like salmon, like that's quite common in Kaldur, from the rivers and things. But there's also these bizarre ocean fish that have been brought in, like big tunas, and they've been roasted and cooked.
Starting point is 01:12:47 There's also, big tuna, very good, big tuna. I spent too long in the sun this week, okay? And then lots of odd vegetables, like beautiful vegetables that definitely look very different to the cauldron ones. They probably come from Mistwald, the Green Dragon's province. There's also, this would be a weird thing from Mistwald,
Starting point is 01:13:10 edible insects, but they look like, they're so beautifully colored and almost like preserved glass. And they're like candies. I don't know if any of your characters would be brave enough to eat some of these bugs, but they're like sweets. They taste sweet when you pick them up. I imagine there's someone, maybe not in our party, but it's just constantly chowing at these things,
Starting point is 01:13:32 like, oh, I didn't know you liked bugs. Pfft. Pfft. I don't know about that last bit, but there is certainly a, you would have seen her walking around the night area because she stands out a little bit because she's a wild heart,
Starting point is 01:13:47 but she's kind of like a satyr wild heart, so she has deer legs, like fawn legs, fawn antlers and doughy freckles over her face. And she's dressed in pinks and greens, and she's just looking at me eating these bugs. She's like, oh, they're so good, I miss them, yum, yum, yum. Just like, oh, they taste like home, and she's shoveling them in her mouth. And you can see that her, they're so good, I miss them. Yum, yum, yum, yum. Just like, oh, it tastes like home. And she's like shoveling them in her mouth.
Starting point is 01:14:06 And you can see that her and Willow the Wit, like Willow the Wit is like, oh my God, they've got dream bugs. Yum, yum, yum, yum, yum, yum. Starts eating them as well. And she's like, no, I can't believe it's got dream bugs. Yum, yum, yum, yum, yum.
Starting point is 01:14:16 I thought Willow the Wit was just gonna go to all of these individual, like he just said the band sucks, now he's gonna say the spray sucks. Food sucks, no, no. He's more than happy to see Ms. World Food. Yeah, okay, cool. They start helping themselves with some of the vegetation and stuff,
Starting point is 01:14:28 but yeah, you definitely see some of these odd characters kind of walking around and stuff as well. Can Rowan find the other Yotnir that fought? Mm. Mm, oh yeah. I just, it's like. Soraka Stormrider. It's like the scene in Always Sunny.
Starting point is 01:14:44 Yeah. Like opposite ends of the room,. It's like the scene in Always Sunny. Yeah. Opposite ends of the room, but because our heads are above everyone else's. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You, where would Rekka be? A restaurant.
Starting point is 01:14:55 Rekka would be, so Rekka would be kind of a, I think that actually, so she's kind of stood, not in the corner, but to the side, holding a giant drinking horn, probably her own personal one, that's overflowing with wine, but just kind of like, what the fuck, why am I here? And she's trying to dress nicely,
Starting point is 01:15:19 but clearly hasn't been able to find anything in her size, so she's got trousers on because the dress isn't long enough, So it's like, she's got like trousers on because the dress isn't long enough, so she's kind of bought like a pair of trousers to go underneath it. She's had to get like a belt to like help wrap things and keep things closed together. It's like, you know, like nothing fits properly.
Starting point is 01:15:36 So she's just looking a little bit like a giant warrior woman who's completely out of place, like, weird. Just, and then she sees you and is like, like nods in your direction. You're a yut in here. She's like, yeah. How cool is that? I mean.
Starting point is 01:15:56 Two of us. Yep, pretty cool. I know, what's your name? What's my name, really? Come on, Really? Yeah. Uh, Rowan is flustered. Uh-huh. Rowan, Rowan, constitution's here.
Starting point is 01:16:13 20. 20's right. Okay, okay. Hmm, hold it. It's a tiny part. I think I get it. She doesn't hear it. Yeah, it's like sneaks out. I won the single combat tournament.
Starting point is 01:16:25 You did. So my name is? It's, I looked at Gruff. Seracus Stormrider. Really? As Gruff's like mouthing it to you. Stormrider, I'm sorry, I'm so bad with names. But you fought so admirably. I did, I'm sorry, I'm so bad with names.
Starting point is 01:16:47 But you fought so admirably. I did, I fought really admirably. You fought quite hard, actually. Strong, really strong. Yep. Yep. Oh yeah, people need to be afraid of me. I've got my reputation. I can't be the greatest Knight Fighter in all of the empire if people aren't afraid of me.
Starting point is 01:17:04 You are? Yeah, yeah, aren't afraid. You are? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I will be one day. I can see that happening, but you'll have to go up against Groth of Tremoro, a real up-and-comer. He's showing the illusion at this point, and his face is just like, ah.
Starting point is 01:17:20 Sparkling eyes. Like a child. Yeah. He fought against that flaming kid. Atlas. Yeah, he was all right. I liked him. He tried hard. Very cool.
Starting point is 01:17:31 Is he here tonight? He's around somewhere. Yeah, I've seen him. Yeah, he came over. We had a quick chat. Nice. You know, no hard feelings or anything. I wanted him to make sure that it wasn't personal.
Starting point is 01:17:40 I just had to beat him into the ground so everybody knew I'm the best. Right. Because that's, you know, they so everybody knew I'm the best. Right. Because that's, you know, they need to know I'm the best. I mean, people know. Good, yeah, they should, yeah. They need to know that. You know, because, you know, my lord needs to know
Starting point is 01:17:55 that I've made an impression. Who's your lord? Oh, Eliodnir, the blue archdragon. Ho ho ho ho. Shit. Yeah. Gruff? Gruff's ho ho. Shit. Yeah. Grov? Grov's just deep in conversation.
Starting point is 01:18:08 Yeah. You're on your own, dude. Where from? Where from? Where are you from? Are you from the Isles? Are you from the giant Isles? Is that why you don't know anything?
Starting point is 01:18:18 No, no, I'm just Rome. I'm the only Azar step. She like looks at you. Is that our dragon? She looks at you. Oh. Dude. What?
Starting point is 01:18:34 She's just like, that's our archdragon. Yeah, yeah. You're from the steppe? Yeah. Wait, you're in the towns that roam around, right? Yes. Man, just like, okay. Word doesn't spread for you.
Starting point is 01:18:49 I need to tell, like, this needs to change. The draconic, we need to make sure that you're getting properly educated. What's his name again? Eliodnir. Eliodnir. Eliodnir. Eliodnir. He's very important, by the sense of it. Yeah, really important.
Starting point is 01:19:03 Yep, had a huge impact. Hey, oh, I've seen a friend. Oh, by the sense of it. Yeah, really important. Yep, had a huge impact. Hey, oh! I've just, I've seen a friend. I've seen, I'll chat to you, no, no, no, I'm gonna catch up with him. You go, you go your friend, I'll sit up up here. Okay. Ah!
Starting point is 01:19:14 Ah! Let's come out. Make him, I can't see. Ha ha ha ha. Ha ha ha. Is it a one? Four. Four, all right, you gotta go to the bathroom right now.
Starting point is 01:19:25 You're like running there, she doesn't leave. I just cut off the foundation. I must go. I must go. I must go. Push someone out of the way. Can you, can you give me a survival roll?
Starting point is 01:19:41 Oh no. I wanna see if you can find the, this is like the ducal palace. Imagine you're in Buckingham Palace and you've gotta find a loo. You'd be like, where the fuck's the toilet, man? Like, I've gotta find it. I've got plus seven.
Starting point is 01:19:54 Okay, maybe you hope that you can find the bathroom. Oh. It's 12. Did you use fate for this? 12. Yeah, you could've used fate. It's gonna, you do just barely manage to find a bathroom. It's this gorgeous...
Starting point is 01:20:08 Excuse me! The guards are almost like, what? They're like, changing out, you know, whatever, but you do eventually find one of these... You pin one against the wall. Where is the bathroom? It's the nicest bathroom you've ever been. Where is the bathroom?
Starting point is 01:20:24 It's dirty all. Thank you. Whilst Rowan is indisposed. Anything to say? I should now be in Ophelia a little. Sanchez, Dalia, Ophelia. I don't know how to act in these things, these parties.
Starting point is 01:20:41 Who to talk to, where to go. So I'm just gonna follow your lead. This is your whole thing, right? Parties? Oh yes, I would- Fantasy balls? You know? Yes. Nobility?
Starting point is 01:20:51 Mm-hmm, mm-hmm. Do they like this in Ossius? We like to entertain ourselves. We like to enjoy the finery. Is there not enough entertainment here? What kind of entertainment are we talking about? Oh no. What?
Starting point is 01:21:04 You're not talking about, you know, the whole teeth thing. No, we like, we love dancing and music and arts. Okay. Yes, we love balls. But all the food and drink. Oh. Okay, okay, all right.
Starting point is 01:21:19 Maybe a side. Okay. There would certainly be a table for the Countess, because you've mainly seen the Countess's balls. The Countess and her friends would have their table, and then there would be the table for all the living people. Yeah. You know, and then there would be things like,
Starting point is 01:21:37 I mean, I guess like for Ossius, like the House of Bone, they don't need to eat or drink anything. The House of Runes would probably drain magic from stuff, so there'd be like enchanted vials of like essence that they would just suck up the juice from, like you know, like hold it and it just absorb the power. And then I guess like all the House of Rot,
Starting point is 01:21:56 they would eat anything. So it'd be like rotten carcasses. They'd just be like, ah, yum, yum, yum, yum, yum. Whatever you found in the back, you froze it. Yeah, basically, yeah. They'll eat anything, so. And then the House of Shadows doesn't of your fridge. Yeah, basically, yeah. They'll eat anything, so. And then the House of Shadows doesn't need anything
Starting point is 01:22:06 because they're ghosts, so yeah. They'd be like an eclectic mix of things. So I imagine that each house would almost have its own area for food, because nobody wants to be near the House of Rot's gross, smelly table. Like a dead horse. Yeah, and they're just like, ah, the best! Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah!
Starting point is 01:22:22 A quine. Yeah. So tasty. So tasty. So lean. But yeah. Well, I hope this food is good enough for you. There are bugs and things from different places, but. Well, it's perfectly adequate,
Starting point is 01:22:35 but I'm not feeling particularly hungry for that kind of food. Oh, good. That's good. Sated, then? Oh, wait, are you saying? No, that means she wants the thing. I mean, I had a little nibble when we were fighting those ruffians earlier before the tournament.
Starting point is 01:22:50 Oh, did you? Yes. Poor man. Oh, he was quite delicious. I wouldn't worry about it. Okay, that's good for him, I suppose. Good to know that he's delicious. Yes, but I don't need to bite as much now that I have my sword. Oh, that's true.
Starting point is 01:23:08 But I do miss the visceral, just, eh, of it, you know? I don't miss the visceral eh of it. No, no. No, there's something quite comforting about the warmth of flesh. It's not comforting at all. Not for me, no. No. You really must try it.
Starting point is 01:23:25 It's to die for. I, well, me personally, I don't think I'm gonna be biting any flesh anytime soon. Oh, we can make arrangements. What does that possibly mean? I know people. What people, and are they here? Well, no, they're on Osseous,
Starting point is 01:23:41 but I wasn't always like this. Wait, how long have you been this? This? Not very long, probably. How long have I been? How long have I been here? How long have I been this? Well, how long had you been here?
Starting point is 01:23:59 What is time? Before you met us. What is time? How long have you been in Althea? A few months. Well, I was in Althea. Althea is the world, Ilmera is the... How long have you been in Ilmera?
Starting point is 01:24:12 Ilmera? Not very long. Well, when we met in Burnell, that was probably a few days after I'd arrived. Really? Yes. So about enough time to travel from the coast to Kel Skares and then out. So maybe about a week, maybe. About a week. Okay, and how long prior to that have you been... bitey?
Starting point is 01:24:32 About... about ten years. Ten years? Wait, how old are you? Er... 22. So 32? No, I'm 22 now. I was 12 when I was 10. Oh, oh, okay. Okay.
Starting point is 01:24:54 So you do age? Slowly. But I can stop it entirely. Oh, wow. If I ascend. Oh, right, of course, ascend. Is that what the shrine is for? No, no, no, I just need,
Starting point is 01:25:11 well, I need a base of operations, you see. I need somewhere where I can talk to people. Okay. Talk about the faith. I need a place where I can communicate to the Grey Father as well, and hopefully I can do that. Now, just so we're clear, not a place to lure people
Starting point is 01:25:30 so that you can bite them. No, I can't turn people. Not turn people. I meant more, you know, drink. Snack. Snacks. No. As those words kind of leave, you do see approaching your group.
Starting point is 01:25:46 Ilana Vidante approaches, seeing Ophelia. Oh my dear, it seems that if I may, I saw you attending, and would you like some conversation? I noticed your fine wares that you have, and your clothing. I would very much like to learn more about it. Oh, of course. Forgive me, sorry, I was meant to come speak to you and I missed you entirely.
Starting point is 01:26:12 There is always time for that, my dear. I always find the company of charming and beautiful men and women to be something to make time for. And sort of like, kind of takes you a sign and starts having a conversation with you. I need to go in this way, it's lovely. Mangle, mangle, I need to find it.
Starting point is 01:26:26 No, sure. It's very lovely. Enjoy yourselves. I like turn to Daisy. Well, as you turn for Daisy, Daisy, Willow the Wit has come up and is like, hey, you like the food? Come try this, I found the good stuff.
Starting point is 01:26:41 It's like down this end. What's the good stuff? It's like, I don't know, it's like sweet, I don't know what it is, but it tastes really sweet and delicious and fluffy. It's like eating a cloud. I'm interested. Look at this way, this way.
Starting point is 01:26:54 You see Daisy being lured away. I turn around like, so what are you, oh. Okay. And as you kind of stood there on your own, like, look around. Hey, let's play air drums. A large, powerful figure quickly sweeps up next to you, Xanthias, grabs your arm.
Starting point is 01:27:14 Oh, come now, come this way with me now. And drags you away. As you see Obsidius, the duke's son, basically grabs your wrist and with an immense strength, this is a dragon, you can try and resist it if you want. He is gonna try and gank you away. I initially resist it, but if I look up and I see it's Obsidius, then I'm like, okay. What, with dancing?
Starting point is 01:27:37 He just, no, he pulls you and he starts taking you out into a corridor that leads away from the ballroom. Okay, did I do something? And that's where we're gonna take a break. What? Yeah! Holy shit. But we're dancing, right?
Starting point is 01:27:51 He's gonna break. Break time! Privately. That is it for part one. I'm doing a little jig. We will see you in part two. Take care, buh-bye. See ya!
Starting point is 01:28:01 Bye! Bye bye bye bye! See you! Bye! Bye! Bye! Bye! Bye! Bye! Bye! Bye! Bye! Bye!
Starting point is 01:28:11 Bye! Bye! Bye! Bye! Bye! Bye! Bye! Bye!
Starting point is 01:28:19 Bye! Bye! Bye! Bye! Bye! Bye! Bye! Bye! Bye! Bye! cast of 18 have been telling stories in our homebrew world of Theria. Four different groups explore lost ruins, run for political office, rage against a mad king, set sail to long forgotten islands, and so much more. Every group has a different story and flavor, and every season or arc has a new set of groups
Starting point is 01:28:40 and stories, all building the history of our world with every single session. Literally hundreds of hours of stories are waiting for you as part of the Pickaxe Network. Check out Dungeons and Randomness wherever you get your podcasts, and we'll see you around the table.

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