High Rollers DnD - Altheya: The Dragon Empire #33 | A Question of Quests (Part 1)

Episode Date: August 13, 2024

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

Pickaxe. Oh! Oh! It's Sunday everybody. I crashed. Yeah, just blue screens. Just a complete blue screen. Hello everybody, welcome to High Rollers D&D.

Hi! Hey, we don't often, it's, you know, we don't always do this one, but if you like listening to us on the podcast, why not give that a five star review? Yeah. And make Tommy's day? That does make me happy. I read them all.

He reads them all, every single one. I didn't have any additional notes. Have I forgotten anything? Does anybody want to shout anything out? We did the Cosmere RPG. Oh yeah. And it was a banger. It was a banger.

We had a great time with that. There is a stream available. If you're watching on YouTube, it's in the live tab. If you're watching on Twitch and you're subbed, it's in there as well. And there is also a 45-minute bonus members and supporters exclusive video of us just praising the game and having a great time talking about Brandon Sanderson. So you've got that to look forward to as well if you haven't watched that yet. I had entirely forgotten we did that like like hour long chat after the game.

That is just, my brain had forgotten that existed. It was a lot of fun. It's a lot of fun. So yeah, check that out. It's a really, really fun stream, a really fun system, and we were all in costumes. You know what?

We're not being sponsored right now, but it's a damn good, you should go check out the Kickstart. Because it's a damn good game. It is a damn good game. It's a damn good game. We love the Cosmere. I love Bandi Sandy, Bando Sando.

What else did they call him? Came up with a bunch of names for him. BrandBrand the Sandman. Yeah. Oh, I like that one. You can go and check it out. We love his stuff. Yeah.

Cosmere RPG. The Sandman Cummoth. The Sandman Cummoth, yeah. Thank you very much. We'll run the intro and we'll get to the start on today's High Rolls D&D episodes. Thanks. See ya.

In a bit. Bye. on the intro and we'll get to starting on today's High Rolls D&D episodes. Thanks! See ya! Welcome back to Althea the Dragon Empire. During the Festival of the Forge, a holy day dedicated to Saint Messara, our heroes took part in a nightly tournament, making new friends and earning glory. As things draw to a close, some of the party indulge themselves in the festival's offerings, but as the final day draws to a close, the party attend a grand ball at the Ducal Palace, the Dominus Eggnarum. During the ball, the party meet with old friends and encounter new ones,

but as everyone else is enjoying themselves, a lonely Xanthius is pulled aside by his draconic majesty, Lord Obsidius, son of the draconic Duke Ignarius, and is interrogated about the strange powers he displayed during the tournament. Obsidius reveals he knows about the crown steel embedded in Xanthius' chest and discloses more information about its properties and consequences of its use. Whilst Obsidius offers aid to Xanthius, it is not entirely without hostility,

after certain suggested threats from Xanthius spark the Black and Red Dragon's ire. With that conversation ended, Xanthius rejoins the party as the duke himself arrives and his considerate asks the heroes to find some time to speak with him about other matters. And that is where we pick things back up today. God, I really boffed it, guys.

Is that in parenting? That's fully boffed. Hey guys, real quick, boff nation over here. What does boff mean? I don't know. You boffed it? I boffed. I boffed all over this entire party.

Full boff. Also there was just the small matter of Gruff becoming a Nigh-Erin. That was also, yeah, that's very true. I forgot to put that in my recap. That was a very good point. God, you really boffed this one. Everyone's boffing. I boffed it.

I do apologize, Kim. That is me totally blanking because I've been very distracted this week. You are quite correct as well, yeah. Gruff got the test assigned by Sir Nora Kell of the Circle of Loyal Hounds and has been given the title of Knight Errant. Woo, yeah!

So. Yes! Go Gruff! The exact nature of the test is rather open has been given the title of Knight Errant. Woo, yeah! So. So. Yes! The exact nature of the test is rather open to a certain degree, but it is up to Gruff to now decide how to proceed. Being a Knight Errant does not necessarily give you any authority. Superpowers.

Yeah, does not give you any major authority necessarily quite yet, but it is generally a well-respected position amongst the people of the Dragon Empire. So just simply introducing yourself as Knight Errand Gruff, or Gruffeth, is enough to certainly earn respect. I have a title. You have a title now. Yeah. Oh, your introduction's gonna be so long now.

Oh, god. My name is Knight Errant Gruff. Gruffeth. From a little village of Turmorrow. Yeah, it's still pretty long. Yeah. Yeah. It could make it longer. It could do. Work on it.

I mean, yeah. Need to get into the rhythm. You'll get more titles. Yes, cause I keep wanting to go, hello, my name is Gruff. And then it's like, where do I shove the Knight Errant? Knight Errant Gruff. And eventually, you know, Slayer of Worlds, Punisher of Gods. Slayer of Worlds. Or you could say, my name is Gruff, and then it's like, where do I show the knight errant? Knight errant Gruff, and eventually, you know, slayer of worlds, punter of gods. Or you could say, my name is Gruff,

I'm a knight errant, and I come from a little village? Bitch. My bad. Yep. Like the added bitch on the end there. To set the scene, the duke has just arrived, the duke has just arrived. The duke having entered with his entourage, with his son and daughter, Lord Obsidius

and Lady Ambrisa, aside him. The crowd having witnessed the event of Gruff becoming the Nigh Errant, the duke now reentering. The ducal palace, the Dominus Ignarum, you are in the main chamber, the sort of audience chamber of the palace. All of the decorations have been pushed aside, a large buffet, like rounded buffet table has been laid out.

There is a area for dancing, there is a band with several musicians who are playing, and you can see that the large glass dome above the Dominus Ignarum, which can be opened for the dragons to come and go in their draconic forms, lets in the clear, it was raining but now cleared, the clouds have kind of parted, and you can see the twinkling of stars, and we can also see

the large broken moon of the crown itself kind of lingering over Ilmira, as it always is. Very rarely moves out of position, it very slowly passes over the world, but for now it has been very prominent over the Dragon Empire. Behind it we see the smaller shadowed moon of Melea as well. Always almost like a black circle, almost obscuring light rather than reflecting it like a silvery moon.

Oh, so there is a long period of time in which it's just not over Ilmera, it's say over Osseus or something like that. Yeah, it passes over, but it tends to be very, very long periods, it moves very, very slowly. Okay. So generally it's for like a good long time the crown will be over Ilmera. So is it like people's entire lifetimes a good long time the crown will be over Il Mera.

So is it like people's entire lifetimes this has been here? Not quite that long, no. It tends to be sort of like several years at a time and then for several years it'll disappear and then several years it comes back. And it's generally seen as, it is something of a portent of troubled times. So generally when the crown is present,

it is seen as a, it's more likely that there will be trouble. It's sort of a bit of a badge of misfortune. Less so in other countries. In Osseous, the crown doesn't mean anywhere close to that. It is, in Osseous, the crown is where the battle took place and that is why it is broken, but it's not seen as particularly ominous, it's not regarded as a prison or anything like that,

it is seen as a triumph, like a battleground, where the Grey Father won and banished the evil that was present, basically. But yeah, the Dominus Ignarum is still full of knights and night errants and visitors and guests of Ashen Rest. The place is very busy. I believe that whilst Xanthius was being interrogated

and Gruffydd was, you were having that conversation with Sir Norah Kell about the tenants and things like that that you were related to, Rowan was running around trying to find a bathroom, which he has now found and is much, much relieved. Huge character moment there. Yeah. Yeah, we didn't mention that in the recap.

I didn't mention that in the recap, sorry. I've forgotten so many things. I, Aaron. Yeah. Rowan entering his bowels. Yeah. Level blank. Level blank, yeah.

I also, yeah. What the title of bowels. Bowel emptier. Bowel emptel. Bowel Emptier. Bowel Emptier. Bowel toilet destroyer, bowl destroyer. Yeah, there is a smashed up. Yeah. Anyway, to also follow on we had,

so with Daisy, I think that Daisy had just been eating her way through the palace. Eater of snacks. Eater of snacks. And also, Ophelia had been in conversation with Mistress Ilana Vidante, the armorer of some renown within Ashen Rest, and the Dante name being known across the Empire.

And you had been sort of enjoying some light conversation. Is there anything the two of you, whilst all of the others were off doing exciting or silly things that you would like to have been getting on with? I was silly once. I was not silly, nor exciting. I think Ophelia would just be flirting.

Okay, just outright. Outright, just flirting with Elana Vedante. Showing off her sword, presenting it to her. Okay. I heard that you were curious about this relic that I had. Yeah, she will sort of look over it, having you being allowed to carry in a dress sword. She also has like a slender,

more of a short blade at her side, more of a dress piece than it is an actual weapon for self-defense. But she will take in, Elana Vidante is this gorgeous, sort of tan skinned cauldron woman, hair shorter on the sides but kept long and then beautifully braided around the top,

and she examines it with curiosity of an artist. This is examining it, fully taking in the scabbard, fully taking in the detailing of the basket hilt that Verasti has, looking at the gems, and almost like testing its balance almost. Oh, this is a beautifully made blade. I must say that I'm quite impressed. Who was it that made this piece?

That's the thing, I don't know. Truly. It's a relic that you recovered from somewhere, or a gift, a family heirloom. From the afterlife. What, you must forgive me, I perhaps have misheard you. Sorry, sorry. My good lady.

What do you mean, the afterlife? So, long story short, I was slain by a horrible demon, and I was brought back to my god's, well, I was brought back to my gods, well I was brought back to the Greylands, which is the province of the Greyfather, who I worship and as I was wandering the wastes endlessly for I don't know how long, days, months, I don't know, I came across this sword from a lovely merchant. And when I found my way back, the sword came with me. Can you make a persuasion check, please? You need to work on your flirting. 19.

19. Oh, we should do Crucible in a second as well. She is enraptured by this. She starts asking you questions. Your god, you mentioned the Gravefather. What is that? What do you mean? That is not one of the Scions?

Oh no, I'm from Osseous. In Osseous, we have the Gravefather as our god. And you do not believe that your soul is bound here, you go to another place, and you've said you found this sword in your afterlife. Yes. And then your god brought you back? Yes.

And that's important. Yeah, and she's totally taken in by this. She's just like, well, you must be some woman indeed. I'm assuming that this is not some tall tale that you are telling to impress. Oh no, my friends will back up my story. I'm sure. Well, this is a beautiful piece,

and obviously being from some place that I have no way of knowing. This afterlife, is it beyond the stars? Is it the planes? What is it? I don't know how I got there. It was magical. It was like one minute I was there

and the next minute I was in the Greylands. I was just whisked away like on some chariot. Absolutely, you are a curious woman, Sister Ophelia. Very interesting. So are you, you are a fabulous craftswoman. Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you. I admire your work greatly. I mean, the armor you made for Griffith,

well, for Knight Errant Griffith now is spectacular. I am very pleased to see that it has not gone to waste or it was not misplaced in Knight Errant Griffith's hands. Yes, yes. I do unfortunately have to reclaim it. It is not something that I can give as a gift, but I'm very pleased with the work. Not my finest, but not my worst, I would say.

But yes. In Osseous, we very much appreciate the crafts. Oh, good, then you have found a good home here in Kaldras. We also appreciate the beautiful things. Yes. And she kind of like smiles and kind of like, there's definitely flirtation back there as well. But that continues on, like you absolutely

have her attention. A lot of suitors and a lot of knights are definitely trying to get Mistress Vedante's attention throughout the night, but hard to take it away from you. Definitely seems to be intrigued by your story as well, especially like the idea of it is so outlandish. Like, you almost get the belief that she doesn't quite believe you,

but she almost wants to, and sort of is maybe beginning to believe that maybe parts of it are true, but there's this idea of like, the things you're saying are so beyond what she's been taught, and she doesn't seem to be a particularly devout woman necessarily,

so she's willing to kind of let some things, like she's not as worried about talk of other gods and things like that as much, but this is almost unbelievable to her. But examining the sword, she definitely seems to believe it. I think if there's like a natural end to the conversation, I think Ophelia would then go up to like the buffet table and take a cup, like two glasses of champagne or wine

and present one to Grotheth. Just like a little congratulations to Grotheth. So she, yeah. Yeah, absolutely, yeah. Eventually there would be a point where, you know, the flirting, maybe a bit of dancing and things like that, it continues, but this is not the place for anything more overt than that.

It's kind of very casual and sort of, oh, well, I have to go and do business now, and blah, blah, blah. Perhaps we can speak again another time. Perhaps we can discuss this over dinner or something, perhaps, and there's definitely a kind of lead in there if you wanted to follow up on it. But yeah, you make your way over to Gruff,

who is finishing up that kind of conversation with Sir Norah Kell. Is there anything that you, after the kind of event has taken place and everyone's looking at you, Gruff, is there anything that you wanted to ask Sir Norah Kell or go and speak with anybody else here at the party about? I don't think so, to be honest. I think he would...

Kind of like, if he could glow, he would be glowing. But I think he kind of almost doesn't know what to do with himself because it's so overwhelming that he's finally achieved like this first major milestone. And I think when Ophelia comes over, he takes the champagne, but very awkwardly because he doesn't know how to hold champagne.

The pinky up is delicate. Okay. Very good, very good, yes. This is really quite awkward. It's okay, it's okay. You'll get used to it, I'm sure. Okay. Knight Errand Grraf, to you.

I knew you'd do it. I had absolute faith that you would do it. Sister Ophelia of the House of Blood, cheers. Cheers to you. Oh, yucky da. Oh, wow. I'm honestly speechless. I can't believe it.

I can't believe we're here and... Did you see that? It was amazing. I was on my knees, she touched my shoulders and everyone was looking and... There was a tear. It was beautiful. I was trying to hold it inside as well. You looked very regal, very noble. Oh, thank you.

And I must say, and I'll say this to the others as well, I couldn't have done this without you all. Oh, I could think of no one better. Your letter that you wrote me, I know it's a character reference, but I did read all of it. I had it in mind during the fight and your words really bolstered me.

Oh. It really meant a lot, Sister Ophelia. Oh, well, I'm glad. I'm glad it helped you in some way. As you are having this quite lovely polite conversation, it is somewhat interrupted as several of the knights and knight errands all come up to congratulate Gruff. Some of the more bold ones not waiting for you to finish your conversation,

but probably Sir Javar and Sir Morning and Sir Glory who you've met previously. Everybody's kind of, oh, congratulations, Nytarion, congratulations. Come up and offer you these kind of accolades and things like that as you are, sort of as everything is progressing through the evening. So Gryld waits patiently, he does wait until there is

a more opportune moment and then we'll kind of step in. And you probably see him sort of across the way a little bit beforehand whilst everyone's coming up to shake your hand and you know that thing where everybody wants to come up, it's like being at a wedding and everyone wants to talk to the bride and groom and they're like, we wanna talk to family and stuff? But across the way, you just see him sort of raise a glass,

a glass of wine. He raises it in your sort of name and then later on he comes and finds you. Well, I did think, I didn't, I had no doubts that you would get here eventually, but I'm glad to see that a proper audience was present. I'm glad that Sir Norra Kell was the one who was able to be here to provide you

with the opportunity. I must say, I... You know, the thing about the Order of the Loyal Hands is nobody really knows anything about them, so I had no idea, I had no image in my head of what this moment would be like. And I didn't think it would happen in front of everybody. I didn't think it would be in a royal audience.

I'm honestly gobsmacked. And Dame Norriekell was everything I hoped. Well, I think that it is perhaps a sign of destiny as what I know of the Circle of Loyal Hounds, they're not grand, they're not... They don't seek glory in the same way that a lot of knights do. This is very much... They are more subtle, they are often more homely. But I think it is more of a comment on you and the situations you find yourself in

that this situation has come about. I don't think it's anything to do with the Circle of Loyal Hounds, but actually a reflection on you, Knight Erinn Gruffydd, and the friends that you've made and the endeavors that you've accomplished and perhaps the destiny that awaits you as well. Scions and saints certainly are following your path. Oh, aye. It's a big word, isn't it, destiny?

Mm-hm. I just hope I live up to everybody's expectations. Oh. I think as a knight, if I may, you'll never live up to everyone's expectations. But being a knight isn't about that. Being a knight is about living up to your expectations of yourself. As long as you can do that in your heart and you know that you've done everything you can to live up to that knife, I think that's enough.

A little different when you're a knight of the realm. I have my draconic lords and ladies to meet their expectations. And perhaps the knights of the church have to meet their gods and goddesses' expectations. But as a knight of a knightly order, I think you know what that order represents. And if you live up to their expectations, to your expectations, that'll be enough. How long is it since your first quest, your first task? Oh, long, long ago now. I think that I was a young dwarf when I began. I was barely out of my home,

barely reached adulthood when I left and I came to Duke Ignarius and I requested my test. It took me two years to accomplish, but I did not have allies and companions by my side. But I've been a Knight Erent now for, oh, 30, 40 years. Wow. Well, I live a little bit longer, thanks to my Dwarven blood,

but I am getting on a bit in my age, and I won't be as capable as I am now for too much longer. So eventually things will, the metal will begin to take over and I won't be as good as I am now. Have you ever thought of settling? I mean, have you settled now? Do you have a wife, a husband, children? I never have. I've never been one for romance. A lot of people build up romance and intimacy of knighthood. It's quite a romantic thing, you know, in their stories of Surya's abel and her charge

and things like that, but no. I've never, I find I'm quite keen on friends and I feel affection and love for people, but I've never been attracted to anybody. I've never been interested in anybody in that way, I must say. My home is here. My home is with my duke, whom I love as a brother, as a father almost. No, my home is here in Ashenrest, and North Vale in particular, but no, never. Never considered really settling. It's not, not for me. I'd rather die in battle, gloriously, as a knight should,

rather than old and in my bed. That's where I belong, I think. Well, if you ever want to make a last charge, let me know and I'll be there by your side. You are far, no, your journey's just beginning. Far too early for you to be thinking about glorious charges at the end. Far more for you to do, I think.

But I'm sure we'll fight alongside side by side once more. I look forward to it. And to you as well, Knight Errant. Knight Errant. Can I give you a nod? Yeah, Daisy, what's been Daisy up to? What's been Daisy? What's been Daisy? Not much,'s been Daisy? What's been Daisy?

Not much, I feel like she's probably been, yeah, having some snacks, but I think she would also be sort of using the opportunity to be in the presence of everyone, to just sort of wander around and try and listen to people's conversations a little bit. Okay. And just sort of...

Is there anything you're trying to listen out for or are you just trying to pick up on little bits and pieces? Just, I think little bits and pieces. I think she's just more curious because this is quite a large amount of people that are here. It's a large amount of very influential people as well. Yeah, yeah. So I think she's gonna...

Give me a perception check. Let's see what you can pick up on. I'll do a scaling test on this, so the higher the better. 13. 13. You don't pick up on much because it's quite a lot of conversation. It's happening in a big echo-y space,

so it's quite hard to like, unless you get real close, it's hard to pick out on details. But you do overhear one small thing. Probably as the Duke, and Barissa, and Obsidius arrive, and everyone starts talking about the Duke and the dragons, because they inevitably become the sort of center of attention and focus of attention

when they're there. You would overhear, who would it be talking about this? It would be... I would say, it would actually be a couple of the Guildmasters from here in Ashen Rest. You haven't seen them before, but you recognize the symbol on their outfit,

on their buckles, and on their belt. She's a female dwarf who seems to be the guild master for the Stone Masons Guild. And she's talking to a few other guild masters, including some of the one from the House of Making that you did encounter when you went up there with the little things that you crafted. And you overhear a little conversation of just like,

oh yes, did you see, Dame Cassandra's returned. Yes, yes, she just arrived. She's been gone for some time, hasn't she? I heard that she was important business for the duke in investigating matters around Cauldron, things like that. It's a shame that she wasn't here for the battle against the lamp lighters.

She's quite a, her and Ser Gryolde are supposed to be quite good fighters. You know, I think we would have been much better off if she had been here. And then you, the last thing that you pick up on is, what about Ser Eldrach Ignis? He's not been seen in nearly a fortnight. Well, I heard that Lady Embarissa sent him off,

and then that's where, like, you kind of have to move on, like, as people shuffle around you and things like that. Eldrach Ignis. Eldrach Ign and things like that. Eldrach Ignis. Eldrach Ignis, yeah. So Eldrach Ignis. Ignis? Ignis. Go up with a new respite.

My sweet boys. But yeah, so you kind of pick up on a little bit of like, rumor almost maybe, or like a little bit of information. Okay. But yeah, unfortunately with only a 13, that's all you're able to glean. We need to do Crucible. Yes, you do, yes, thank you for reminding me. Oh, would anyone like a D6 then?

Nope. No, ew! I would love a D6, please Tom. Hey, I made it myself, here you go. Did you actually? I didn't actually make it myself. Oh, it's not a cube. Oh, that is awful. It's not a cubular D6, however,

I think it is extremely even. I think every face is even. It is just massively warped. I don't like it. It's completely skewed. It feels wrong. No, you don't like it? It feels cursed.

You could try it if you want. I'll give it a go. I think it's even. There it is. I, you don't like it? It feels cursed. You could try it if you want. I'll give it a go. I think it's even. Well, try one of them. I think it's even. Hang on, real quick, before you take it, there you go, there's an actual D6. For reference.

Oh. Oh, gross. Oh, what a cute boy. Oh, you can roll that, Chris Trot. Yeah, I wanna want a skewed one. Everyone else, a D6, please. A one. A regular D6, yeah, good idea. Yeah, I wonder what a stupid was. Everyone else, D6, please. A one! A regular D6, yeah, good idea.

That'd be stupid, but I want that piece of shit. A one, a dice for me. Nice. What is that? Who's that? Six. A dice for you. Five.

A dice for you. Three. A dice for me. Woo! I've got a six on this bad boy. Oh, hell yeah. That's what we love to see, a dice for you. And I rolled, I already rolled it, I rolled a four.

So that's a nice dice for you. Two to four. Two to four. Just me letting the team down this time. Yeah. No, somebody else redid as well. Don't worry, you're not on your own. No, you can have that back.

Oh, thank you, thanks. I'll prize that one, I like that one. But yeah, you, at this point, you know, we can say that Xanthias and Rowan sort of regather with everybody. You guys maybe all gather around Gruff, like as everyone is coming up and congratulating Gruff, you can see that Ophelia and Gruff

are sort of in conversation. And yeah, you can see that the party has now turned to that point where the hosts have arrived and everybody's trying to get moments of their attention. Oh, I thought Ignarius did the, well. No, no, no, no. This is the point where everyone is trying to get their attention, music has quietened down again

to a more mingling, chatting sort of volume, and yeah, you guys are gathered once more. Was I, did I not spot Xanthius at the end of the tour? Yeah, you were coming back, you basically were the one who found him in the library. He told me about all the lore about how dragons don't shit, they fuel their fire with it, and then said I was drunk. Yeah, yeah, I picked you up.

Tried to take me back into the past. Did you see Gruff being knighted or were you being? I think I might have come in right towards the end of that. Yeah, there was a period of time, I was there for a while, getting levitated and shit. I boughed it. I think if there's a period of time in which, when Gruff is-

Gruff's looking around for Xanthias. It's not here. Oh, it's not here. Sorry, bud. I'm being thrown around like a rag doll. If there's a... I leave that to you to decide. If there is enough flexibility in the timing that Xanthias could have been there for it,

if you think it's more dramatic and interesting that he is not there until the end, then that's fine. If Gruff turns around and is sad that I'm not there, then I'm not there. Okay, perfect. I love that, I love that. It's a good little bit of dramatic moment. I love it.

Not that I want Graf to be sad. But it's a good moment. Graf would absolutely be devastated if you guys weren't there. Well, if you were there, I had to not be there. Oh yeah, you by extension wouldn't have been there because you were taking the extra. No, no, because what we can say is that Rowan,

in his desperate search for a bathroom, ran back into the ballroom, got to witness the Gruff thing, and then ran off again to find a new bathroom. He was in the background like, oh, oh, oh. I need to get Xamthius for this moment. Yeah, but if there's a period of time in which Gruff is talking to all the knights and everyone is surrounding Gruff and stuff like that.

I would 100%, not that I, that Xanthius doesn't care about you being knighted, that's all well and good, however he has just been threatened by Obsidius and has been told that there's other people who 100% saw it. He's like hyper aware, like looking at everyone,

almost taking a way back corner of the party, like is anyone looking at Xantheus? Are you making it, do you want to make a stealth check? If I avoid attention? Or do you want to make a perception check? Yeah, it's not that I'm trying to hide myself as such. More is anyone looking at me strangely? Insight then. Insight, okay.

Gruff, I'm trying to figure out where you were. Oh no, Graft knows. Gonna have to kill Graft. Do I spot Xanthius? Yeah, I think like, yeah, he's not hiding, so anybody who wants to can. That is a, it's just a 10 on his way. A 10. It's very difficult to tell, it's a very crowded room.

Everybody's kind of excited that the duke is here and they're talking about the thing with Graft. You definitely see people glance at you and look in your direction. That could be read in a million ways. People look over to you as you're stood in the corner looking around, some people frown, some people kind of bow their head in a polite sort of,

I'm gonna acknowledge you. Anyone that frowns, I take a picture in my mind. They've gotta die. Okay. No, I don't. Jesus. They're gonna get wharfed. They've gotta die. Okay. I don't. Jeez. They're gonna get wharfed. He wharfed it again.

No, I... Do you want to know who does that? The dude. I mean, if someone is looking at me and it's anything less than just an idle chat, the hello, then I'd be concerned. I'd be suspicious. The person that there would be,

there'd be certainly one person that would look at you in a less than great way. Savory, yeah? Well not in a less than great way, there's just sort of a look of more of a kind of cold, neutral regard, almost like they're trying to like place you or figure you out. Oh no, okay.

Which is the representative, the Knight of Gildai, who you don't know. But you see them with their small entourage as they look over at this solitary gold dragonborn, who is clearly a gold dragonborn in caldron, wearing caldron clothing, and they sort of look over in your direction and properly do that eye scan,

where they look you up and down and then they just incline their head and then go back and they begin whispering to their companions. That's fine, I was already suspicious of those guys. I was already scared of them. A few others do notice you, look over to you, but it tends to be more of a polite bow of the head or they look at you and then just immediately look on

as if, oh, that's not who I'm looking for and stuff like that. There's definitely not just them that needs to see you. For anyone that does see me, except for a couple that catch me at the right time when I'm not really distracted, and in my own mind, I do sort of return the hellos and stuff like that.

It's not like I am completely phased out, but I think for most people, they'll see me kind of idly like... Most people aren't even talking to you. They're just sort of like looking, oh, like nod, and then they move on. Yeah, but anyone that would look over and see me, I'm kind of not like far away, but like just looking around the room

in a corner on my own, like idly like rubbing my neck where that sort of spell took hold. And yeah, just, so us. Great. Can I go up to Xanthes in the corner? Probably startle him a little bit. Xanthes!

Where have you been? Did you see? Did you see it? Why aren't you over with Gruff? It's Gruff's moment. Oh, yes it is. Yes, I need to go congratulate Gruff on this. Also, these were almost out.

I brought you this sweet thing that was on the dessert table. Really? I saved it for you. I got one for Gruff. What is this? What is it? It's like a big, it's like a sugary cloud.

It looks like a piece of cloud. No, it looks, Daisy, it looks great. Enjoy it. Come and see Gruff. Come on. Oh yes, I looks, Daisy, it looks great. Enjoy it. Come and see Gruff, come on! Oh yes, I will, okay, you go ahead. I'm just gonna take his hand and put the candy floss thing in his hand. And then- Daisy, no, it's not the time, please!

You go congratulate Gruff. I'll just take back a second. Little scene there. Rowan comes over. It's definitely a few people notice. He's got two pints. He's got two pints of water. Okay, so you're not seeing Gruff in this state,

so I need you to down these so you can get sober. Is he drunk? He's drunk as hell, I found him on the floor. Oh god. Sebius! Okay, I'm not, I haven't had. You should probably have that cloud as well. Maybe a quarter of a wine, a quarter at most.

Okay, all right, look, I'll go, I'll go get, okay. Let's go see Gruff, let's go see Gruff, okay. I'm not gonna please. I'm gonna throw up. I'm gonna throw up. I'm gonna throw up. I'm gonna throw up. I'm gonna throw up.

He choked my tube, you know what I'm saying. I leave this entirely in your hands. I'm gonna throw up. I'm gonna throw up. I'm gonna throw up. I'm gonna throw up. I'm gonna throw up. I'm gonna throw up. I'm gonna throw up. I'm gonna throw up. I'm gonna throw up. I'm gonna throw up. I'm gonna throw up.

I'm gonna throw up. I'm gonna throw up. I'm gonna throw up. I'm gonna throw up. I'm gonna throw up. I'm gonna throw up. I'm gonna throw up. I'm gonna throw up.

I'm gonna throw up. I'm gonna throw up. I'm gonna throw up. I'm gonna throw up. I'm gonna throw up. I'm gonna throw up. I'm gonna throw up. I'm gonna throw up.

I'm gonna throw up. I'm gonna throw up. I'm gonna throw up. I'm gonna throw up. I'm gonna throw up. I'm gonna need water. Rowan, thank you. This is a knight error, damn it. I... As you guys are having this little moment, Dame Halana, who you fought in the Crucible, one of the knights, a devotee of Saint Messara, is everything all right? Are you well? Is your friend not feeling very well? Do you need any magical assistance? I don't need magical assistance, no, thank you.

Just a miscommunication on the amount that I drank. I stumbled a little bit, I tripped over my cloak, and they think I'm drunk now. Oh, I see. I don't, I didn't, I wasn't drunk. Are you? No, I'm not drunk, I swear. Okay, all right.

I'll even, if I put a finger on my nose, I spin. What does that prove? What does that prove? I don't know, I saw something do it. I'm not here to judge, merely offer help if you needed it, but I will leave you and your friends alone. Okay, well, Rowan is taking care of you, so that's fine. I'm gonna go and take this other cloud

and give it to Gryff, okay? And you should come and see Gryff. I will. As soon as he's okay. I will, I will. Yes, you need a little burp. I baby burp you. What?

Come on now. Daisy's gonna go towards Gruff. Okay. In a very enthusiastic way. Knowing that Rowan is not gonna let go until I go burp. Yeah. So just for my benefit, Rowan picks you up and baby burps you

in the Duke's palace in front of everyone. I just wanna make sure I'm clear on that. Does a little flame. I don't know Rowan, you tell me. I don't lift him up. But you just sort of hug, but then you pat his back. Does a little flame come out? All right, so it just looks like

you're giving a friendly hug. Yeah, I set fire to it. All right. I drag and press. Daisy makes her way over the gruff. Do and be. Gruff, gruff, gruff, gruff, gruff. Daisy thistle out, what can I do for you, my love?

Ahhhhhhh! Accurate, yes. Ahhhhhhh! You're not screaming, so I'm doing it for you. Ahhhhhhh! Here, I brought you this. This is a celebratory cloud thing. It's very sweet.

I don't know what it is, but it's really good. Right, a cloud. It kind of melts when you put it in your mouth. Sugar, you say. It's quite fun. I'm't know what it is, but it's really good. Right, a cloud. It kind of melts when you put it in your mouth. Sugar, you say. It's quite fun. I'm trying to cut down my sugar. Try a little bit, because it feels like magic. Feels like magic. Okay, I'll try a little bit for you.

Okay. It takes a little bit. Oh, as soon as it touches the tongue, it like dissolves, leaves like a sweet, sticky taste. A little, maybe a hint of spice that the cauldrons probably wouldn't notice because they're used to it. It's very nice.

It's weird, isn't it? I don't like it. Okay, that's fine, I'll have it. I just thought I'd save it because there was hardly any left. It was a sticky. Sorry, sorry. I know my foot is sticky.

I'm all sticky. Sorry, try and help clean it up. Yeah, get a little wet napkin. Have you spoken to all of the knights now? Because you're a knight now, well, knight errant, but still. Knight errant. Still. They've all come up to me to say congratulations

and all that and oh, it's a bit overwhelming, Daisy. But you're doing great though. Do I look all right? Yes. Am I keeping it together? Okay. You look amazing. The hair, the armor, everything's working. The braids are holding. Do I look all right? Am I keeping it together? Okay. You look amazing. The hair, the armor, everything's working. The braids are holding.

Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. As you have this conversation with Ophelia and things like that, Ronan's Entheus, are you going to go over there or do you have more that you want to do separately? I guess, well, you tell me you still, you're trying to throw up. You also don't have to roll play out the whole thing. We can just be like, yeah, yeah, yeah, eventually we me you still... You don't have to throw up. You also don't have to throw up when you're out the whole thing.

We can just be like, yeah, yeah, yeah. Eventually we all get to see his butt. Yeah. He's satisfied. Come on now. Okay, yes. Okay, yeah. So, were you there during the night, Erron?

Towards the end. Towards the end, okay. So, you saw him enter, like, maybe as the thing was put on your shoulders, and as like the last few words were said. So he saw like the last bit where you got properly knighted as a knight errant, or like made a knight errant. But he certainly wasn't there at the beginning.

As you're coming over, Daisy's describing how she's gonna decorate Gruff's room with magnificent paintings of Gruff being a knight. And she's going to put the banner up in his room that says, yay Gruff, and all of this stuff about the tournament. And yeah, basically Daisy's just like super excited talking to Gruff. Can we get a word in between all the excitement? I feel like when Xandias comes over, I'd be like, oh, he's here!

Congratulations, Grog! I do the hand, while he's stumbling a bit. Aw. What happened? Nothing. Grog, well done! Okay, you did it! A massive congratulations. Inside check!

I don't know why. I mean, I don't think, yeah, I don't think that they're trying to, they're not trying to keep anything from you, so. Our roll is 17, I guess just that little note of something in round the side 21. Oh wait, who are you insighting? Because if it's- Come back from the dead!

Yeah. I live up to the, yeah. Who are you insighting? Oh, in that class, yeah, fine. So like, yeah, what does a 17 insight pick up from it? It's trying to try and hide anything. And I look at Xanthias, and I'm doing this to Daisy. And with the other hand, you're doing like a drinking symbol.

And then like, he's fell on the floor with my hand. And Daisy's not subtle in the way back, she's going, all right, what have you boyos have been up to? You haven't been causing trouble, have you? Nothing. No trouble, no, they are under the impression... Not so firm, are you? I've got some new...

Still, yes. It says infirm now, yes, I got some new... That's okay, no, they are under the impression that I've had too much to drink, that is simply not the case. Half a wine, at most, not a bottle, glass. That doesn't help me, because I don't know how much wine you would typically drink, so maybe that is what your limit is.

To be honest, the wine here is rather strong, see? It is quite strong, but no, I mean, we had two glasses while you guys were sparring the other day and that was totally fine. Yeah, but that's Ophelia. Ophelia can drink a full bottle and be absolutely fine. I don't know what your tolerance is. I put a big pour on your forehead.

I'm okay, I'm okay. Just feeling it. Look at this, a real knight errant. I know, you're still doing it. Making sure. Now, I just want to say a massive congratulations on becoming a knight errant, of course, but I hold in the highest regard

me being your first charge, and I hope that doesn't change. Remember, I'm still meek and infirm and vulnerable. Oh yes, you are, aren't you? I've also, they've cleared up some of the tenants, like the scroll that I had, bit outdated. Oh, no, it doesn't say anything about not... No, no....protecting Dragonborn, does it?

Do not protect... No, it says... That's specific. ...to pass on the wisdom of age and ensure it's protected against those who would misuse it. So I can pass on my wisdom to you. Oh, okay, share your first lesson as Knight Erend. My first bit of wisdom. When drinking, I like to go.

You should listen to this, Darius. Sure, okay. You go a wine and then you go water. But then stick to the wine. Don't mix the beer in as well. Take a type of alcohol and have that the whole night. Don't mix them, when you mix them up, that way madness lies.

That way madness lies, so wise. Wise. And if you leave a glass of water at home next to your bed, then- How long? No, then you can drink it when you get home next to your bed, then. How long? No, then you can drink it when you get home. It's the last thing you drink. Right.

Before you fall asleep. Then you fill it back up? Yes. Well, if you have the energy to. Then you leave it to the next time you drink? No, you can keep drinking it. You should just stay hydrated anyway. That's my second little wisdom.

Stay hydrated. Always stay hydrated. Rotate between water for your drinking. Always be hydrated. Drink water more. Is water optional? Well, I suppose if, you know, could it keep just being wine?

Why isn't very hydrating? Leave yourself a glass of wine on the bedside. You come home drunk. Oh, have a lovely glass of wine. Yum, yum, yum. And everyone's concerned about me. It's not the most hydrating, no. Oh, I see. So maybe the other stuff that you imbibe.

Oh, the other red stuff. Oh, that's a good idea, yes. No, no, no. Don't leave glasses of that lying around anywhere where anybody can find it. Just keep a blood boy by the bed. No, why not? That's my third bit of wisdom.

Keep a blood boy by the... No, I do not say that. This is my blood boy. I do not say that. We're not thinking about Blake's ideas. You're giving me ideas. No, no, no. No leaving blood anywhere in the vicinity.

I can't have a little glass by the side of my bed. No. I could in Osseous, I had a whole picture. Very different. Well, when you have your own room, absolutely. But for now, we are all still kind of sharing. So maybe until we fix up the place. Or just keep it in the shrine.

Yes. So about that. The shrine? The house. Oh. Right. We should fix it. Yes. So, about that. The shrine? The house. Oh. Right. We should fix it. Yes.

Right. Now do we need a room of trophies for you? I have all intent on staying in Ashland Rest. Yes. I'm building a shrine, but I suppose I can- She's building a shrine so we have to stay. I mean, I intend to... Right?

That's what we all agreed. Well, we can't really have to stay all the time. We can move a bit. No, we can go around. Yeah, but we'll just keep going back home. Well, keep coming back. The water's going to be... I mean, we don't have a tavern anywhere else,

a dilapidated tavern, that's hard to say, turns out, dilapidated... Dilapidated. I'm not drunk. You're sure you... Walk in a straight line. I've done, look, I out. Delapidated. I'm not drunk. You sure you... You're sure you... Walking a straight line. I've done, look, I put my finger on my nose, do a spin.

See? I don't know if this proves anything. Because I, well, did you hear the task I got given? Oh yeah, we should help you with that, though. Yes. Yeah. Yes, we'll do it really quick and then we can go back home. Task? Oh, so. Yes. Yeah. Yes, we'll do it really quick and then we can go back home. Task? Oh, so you didn't hear.

Oh, the way you said that! I was... No, well, I saw... It's okay, Xanthe. The best bit? Just the most important moment in my life. Well, I saw the tab, the shoulder tab. And the actual...

You were standing behind behind shaking his head. You missed some of it too. I was pooping. I couldn't. I'm sorry, Gruffydd. I was pooping. He has been in pain all day though, to be fair. I'm sorry. Where were you? I can explain later. He has been in pain all day though, to be fair.

I'm sorry, I can explain later. What? I'm just saying later. Just not right here. Are you okay lad? I think he's being very vulnerable. Samthias, do we need to leave? No, no, we can stay leave? No. No. We could stay.

If we let. I'll be the first. As you are having this conversation, a dwarven man, very well dressed, approaches you dressed as a considerate, an advisor to the dragons. This is Edath Orgrim, who you've met before. I hope you all are enjoying your evening. Duke Ignorius and Lady Emberissa,

as well as Dame Cassandra, have requested to speak with you when you, at your earliest convenience, hopefully this evening. They are just wrapping up with some of their other guests, but we have a waiting room set aside for a more private conversation, but they have requested to speak with you about some matters that they feel that you could be of great assistance with. set aside for a more private conversation, but they have requested to speak with you about

some matters that they feel that you could be of great assistance with. Okay, this evening? Ideally, I believe, is the request. The Duke finds some of these balls are rather tedious, and it would be a welcome distraction for him. Oh, well, of course. Right away, yes. Yes, I mean. Oh, yes, that would be a welcome distraction for him. Well, of course. Right away, yes.

Yes, every, no. Oh yes, that would be marvelous. I can have you, I can bring you to the audience room and then they will join you as soon as they are ready. Thank you. Yes, of course, come with me. And Eddard Thorgrim will take you out of the main ballroom, a few of the nights where you've goodbye to Gruff.

So Norah Kell will just sort of. Oh, good smile. Norah Kell will just sort of... Oh, good smile. Nora Kell will, Damon Nora Kell will just nod to you. You know, she's going to be staying here for a while, so if you need to ask her any questions, you can do. But you are led out of the ballroom, down one of these impressive marble floored stone pillars, beautiful tapestries, display cases with relatively,

you know, kind of historical items and, you know, pieces of gorgeous items and, you know, pieces of gorgeous jewelry, draconic crowns that would fit upon like a dragon's brow and around their horns and things like that. And you are taken into a very plush audience, a smaller kind of like private chamber where the dragons would, you know,

have private conversations with people that have come to see them out of the main audience chamber. There are these plush couches, chaise longs of like deep red velvet and gold everywhere. Everything very much stylized in the cauldron manner. Beautiful kind of gauzy red silk drapes hung up everywhere. There is a sort of table laden with wine, water, carafs of wine and water.

A few things of like bowls of fruit and things like that are all kind of displayed. And you are left here, or Orgrim will turn around and say, the duke, His Draconic Majesty, Duke Ignarion, should not belong. Please make yourselves comfortable. This pulley here will ring a bell if you need anything from myself or any of the staff here in the Dominus Ignorum.

And then sort of shuts the door, leaving you in here. You're in. I heard you're Dame Cassandra's back, and people were excited that she's returned. But they also said it would have been good if she had been here when all of the stuff... Do we know who Dame Cassandra is? Nope. I'm trying to recall. But they also said it would have been good if she'd have been here when all of the stuff. Do we know who it is, Cassandra?

Nope. I'm trying to recall. I don't remember. I feel like I've heard the name before, but. People seem to really respect her from what I've gathered. So, mm. No, it doesn't ring a bell immediately. Oh, there's more wine here, though. There is, yeah.

Beautiful cauldron red from a local winter. I'm still kind of, I'm like, looking around everyone like, hmm, hmm, see, I'm not the problem. It doesn't go to a red, though. No. I go to mine. You were on the floor.

He was on the floor. He was on the floor. Yes, I had to pick him up. Sad, there. Where were you? And he was in a whole different place. What? Drinking alone.

Okay. That's just sad though. We will talk about this later. Later, later. Don't bring this up to anyone. It's one of those. Did you have a little private time with somebody? Yes. No, not no, not like that. Yes, no, no.

Yes, but no. Yeah, I mean my own idiot thing is like, yeah I did, it was a private time. Oh no, no, no, no, no. Oh, okay. I don't think we need to know the details. No, no. But you know, we're very supportive of that.

That's good, but it's not that way, no. If you want to introduce us, you obviously... What, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, five minutes of quiet, it can just pass, if you guys are happy to not have any major talking points. Try to place this name Cassandra, why do I know the name? I am wondering that it's Cassandra, I've got it from Life or, like, yeah. Oh, another campaign. There's a lot of similar names, unfortunately.

Yeah, yeah, it might be. I don't think we've actually met anyone in this campaign. You haven't met them, but the name has been... It has, yeah, it's been mentioned. The wickeys are all like... They're going nuts right now. I think you're fine! So after about five minutes, the duke doesn't arrive just yet,

but another figure enters the room, probably ahead of the duke. And the figure is a little bit unusual. You find it quite striking because a halfling woman dressed in this beautiful kind of red, like vest-like outfit with like these puffy, kind of slashed red and white sleeves, and she has almost like a musketeer-like hat

that she's wearing, and it's got this beautiful griffon's feather in the bow of it, and you can see that she has wearing, and it's got this beautiful griffon's feather in the bow of it, and you can see that she has a rapier on her side, and you can see on her gloves and on her boots, and attached to her belts, and even on the collar of her hat, she has all these little trinkets, some of which have got magical runes that are glowing.

She actually, the trim of her boots, they are clearly a pair of magic boots. And she has like a little charm on her hat, and she's got like a little pouch and bits and pieces, and a wand as well, so she has this rapier, but she also has this ornate crystal tipped wand, tucked into like a sheath on her belt as well. Vibrant red, quite thick, voluminous hair.

Almost like an 80s mum, like you know, that big, voluminous hair. And then the hat is sort of wedged on top and like makes it puff out even more at the sides. She's got quite a sweet face, but very hard to place her age because she's kind of got these big eyes, like kind of youthful, childlike eyes,

but you can see a little bit of signs of aging, just like at the corners of her mouth, the corners of her eyes, but she still looks quite youthful and exuberant, like a lot of halflings do. She's got like little pointy ears, and she looks around, well, hello there, everyone,

and she takes the hat off and sort of bows, and she's like, where should I put this? Oh, and she has to get on her little tiptoes to put it on the table. Oh, please, let me get that for you. Oh, thank you very much, thank you very much, my good man. If you could place that up there for me, please. Yep.

Well, I thought I would get here before the Duke and Lady Imbarissa does, just to make an introduction, as I don't think we've had the pleasure of meeting just yet. No, we haven't. I am Dame Cassandra Maurice. Sir Cassandra Maurice, if you prefer. I don't really care whether it's Dame or Sir,

both work for me, but Knight Errant of Northvale. I've heard a lot about you, though, in my short time of arriving back here in Ashenrest. Made quite the little name for yourselves, haven't you? Oh, please. It's an honor to meet you. I would be very surprised if any of you had really heard of me, but that's very sweet of you

to say, my good man. A quite a tall one, aren't you? I say. I'm a big boy. Quite the opposites, aren't we? She is like three feet tall, because she is a halfling. So then she's like, yeah, Rowan and her is this enormous difference.

But there is, you can tell that there is a confidence in this woman, like she does not blink looking up at Rowan. There is a kind of gleam in her eye. And one thing that I think, because I think, Gruff, you've got a passive insight right of like 15, I think. 17. 17. That's 17, Tom.

17, that's you. I think you're the highest in the party. Anybody else got 15 or higher? No. Insight. Insight, yes. 14. 14, so not quite.

You maybe pick up on something a little bit daisy, but not quite. But Gruff, you can tell that this woman, when she entered the room, and she was doing the whole thing with a hat, and she was looking around everyone, she was also very quickly, her eyes quickly glanced to Ophelia's rapier,

looked to see what weapons Rowan had on them, was looking at everybody, taking everybody in very, very quickly. This is a woman who is, has definitely some experience in sort of matters of, you know, warfare or like protection or something. This is clearly a woman who knows what she's doing. And she kind of, she's got like little rosy cheeks,

like she's like, she's like very, if you've played like Final Fantasy 14, a little bit of like the Lala Fell, like she's a halfling, but she's kind of got that little bit more cutesy kind of look to her. But also clearly, you have no idea how old she is. She could be young, she could be in her 60s equivalent

of a halfling, you don't know. If I missed it in the character description, I'm sorry, was there any heraldry as well? Yeah, so she would have the heraldry of Duke Ignarius. It would be probably emblazoned on a big sash. She has like, she looks like a little musketeer. She's got like orange sash over her red tunic and her big puffy sleeves.

She probably has like a little cape over one arm and she's probably got like little things and then she's got all these little runic items on her. You can clearly tell that she uses magic and she knows how to fight with a sword as well. Okay. And she will look around and say, just like, well, I've heard names,

but I couldn't say I could necessarily place them. Who is who, I think I've got some good guesses. But, well, you've met me, so introductions, if I may? Oh yes, I am Sister Ophelia de la Rosa of the House of Blood. Oh, well, a pleasure to meet you, my lady. Lovely to meet you. She like reaches up and like shakes her hand.

Well, yeah, she has to get on her tiptoes, but like kisses the edges of your fingers. And you are? I'm Rowan. Oh, she like pretends to almost shudder as if being reverberating. Oh my goodness, quite a deep voice you've got there. Pleasure to meet you Rowan as well.

Oh, you'd have to sort of kneel, but I can kind of. I'm already kneeling. I'm already trying to get as low as I can. Should shake your hand. Well, one person here certainly doesn't need an introduction. Knight Erendrathroth, I believe. I caught your induction. Well, yes, you'll have to forgive me.

It's still rather strange to have the Knight Erendrathroth part. Yes, I just recently brought into the circle, I understand. Yes, literally, Ten minutes ago. Yes, quite an interesting order you've chosen there. Oh, well, it suits my advanced years and... I would not have been able to tell had you not said anything. Flatterer. You look as if you are 20, 30, something like that.

Met many wild cards of you. I've met a few, I've met a few. And you are? 20, 30, something like that? Many wild arts of you. I've met a few, I've met a few. And you are? Oh, Xanthias Oragon, pleasure to meet you. Pleasure to meet you as well, sir. And she'll like shake your hand. It'll be my un-gloved hand. Yeah, so she'll be like, oh yes, of course,

and she'll switch hands. I'm left-handed now. I'm really clumsy with my left hand. Yeah, you're like, well, because the natural thing, you would reach with a glove, but then you would correct yourself, right? Yeah, and then she does the same thing. She's like, oh, oh, yes, of course. But there's definitely like maybe a moment of like,

oh, that was sick, that was, he does interesting. Hey, you're barfing. Once again, that's double bortfen. Bortfen all night long. And what about you, young lady? I'm Daisy. What a pleasure to meet you, Daisy. And she offers that, and she'll take your hand

and give you a shake as well. And she's just like, well, well, marvelous to meet you all. Oh, no, no, these dragons and their furniture, honestly, it's not built for halflings, and she sort of has to hop and pull herself up and twist shades long, but when she does, she sort of sits back and she furniture, honestly, it's not built for halflings, and she sort of has to hop and pull herself up and twist shays long, but when she does, she sort of sits back and she's just like, ah, brilliant, nice and comfy, wonderful.

Well, it shouldn't be long before the duke joins us, but I should give you perhaps a little sense of what the discussion's about, really. Now, I've been told that there was some rather unfortunate business here in National Dress whilst I have been told that there was some rather unfortunate business here in National Dress whilst I have been away. This matter with the Lamplighters Guild, demonic attacks, and all sorts of horrible things.

But you've also proven yourselves out in Burnell, as I understand it. Yes, we did, we apprehended some rather unsavory folk who were up to some, well, they were stealing artifacts and... Yes, stealing artifacts and were connected to, who were connected, cultists who were connected to the embered goddess Belayne. Yes.

Now, you might not know much about me, but I am not a traditional knight. I am a knight of the realm of North Vale, but I leave the tawnies and the parades and the soldiering to Ser Gryold and usually Sir L. Jack as well. My matters, my interests, concern more not necessarily investigation, but I look to problems out in Northvale. I travel to places, I follow up on rumors, um, uh, vaults, born attacks, or cultist behavior,

or people who are just up to no good. Um, and I pursue those. And I've been, uh, investigating various things around Northvale, and I've come back to Ashland Rest because, well, there's a couple of them that might need my interest, and with everything that happened with the lamp lighters, I simply don't have enough, there's not enough help to investigate some of the things that I've discovered. Now I've spoken with the Duke and normally we would offer a more public bounty, a call for adventurers or mercenaries to come and offer their services,

but he trusts you. And so I trust you. And therefore we would like to ask your help with a variety of matters. Now, you don't need to accept them. These are optional. If you have your own business, your own affairs to deal with, of course you should follow those up. But neither should you be worried about they are paid, these endeavors, they would be paid as we normally would be. Nor do you have to help with all of them. If one of them is more of your interest, then so be it. But please do not think that you are under any obligation

to follow up on anything that we ask you to look into. We are presenting you the opportunity because the Duke and Lady Imboressa trust you. That's nice. That is an honor to hear. Do all of these requests take place around Ashenrest? Or? They will see you leaving the town for some time.

Some of them might involve perhaps two weeks of travel or so. Just around North Vale and Caldre. But you will be leaving Ashenrest for some time, I imagine. I am quite used to traveling on the road, but if you are not, and you do decide to go on one of these, then I would suggest you make sure you take with you adequate supplies, tools for camping out in the wilds, perhaps, and such things.

Well, we have some travelers in our group that we can lean on and learn from. I myself, not much of a traveler. No, you really aren't. I'm just thinking back to how I met you. Yes, yes, no, yes, but. It sounds like there's a story there. I was collapsed on the road. Oh my goodness. Exhaustion. Oh, exhaustion. Troubling thing. a story there. I was collapsed on the road.

Oh my goodness. Exhaustion. Oh exhaustion. Troubling thing. Not enough supplies. Back from the city. Ah, I see. Big mistake, but luckily Gruff was there to save me. First of, well, first of many nightly errands, I suppose, of yours. Nightly orders, nightly, you know what I mean.

Are you quite all right, sir? You're speaking quite rapidly there. He's been drinking. Ah, yes. I've been warding off suspicions of drinking. I find myself in a similar state many times as well. People seem to think I can't handle my drink for my smaller stature, I imagine,

but I've proven them wrong several times. Well, I don't want to go into it too much detail without the duke and Lady Embarissa here. One of the matters is more Lady Embarissa's request than it is mine or the duke's, but I said I would help facilitate and make sure that you are presented with all of these options.

Yes, well. Oh no, we'd be happy to hear them. Wonderful. Oh, would you say, Rowan, wasn't it? Yes. Would you mind pouring me a drink of just water, please? Absolutely. My dear, just, it's an,

I'll get one Byzantius as well. I don't say it like that. Yeah. I'll get one for you. One water, one wine. Thank you, yeah. And yeah, pour them in. Yeah, she takes it happily and she like,

oh, she's just like getting off the little chair and then getting to the water thing and then getting back. You think it would be quite an effort for her, so she's like, nope, I'm not gonna do that, I'm just gonna get, yeah. I put some snacks on the tray as well. Oh, wonderful, oh, you read my mind. She starts like popping grapes in her mouth.

I think I'm ready to start eating again, actually. I start snacking. It's very good. I'd have too much. Why? You remember what just happened, right? You don't know what happened in there. Have you had any of the cold nuts?

Cold nuts? Yeah, it's a cauldron specialty. Little spicy nuts, they're the little black round balls. Spicy, you don't, okay, no, you go ahead. Yum yum. Yum yum. Yum yum. They're quite hot. It's like wasabi pee kind of like,

whoa, whoa, goes right up in your nose. It's good. I love wasabi pee. He just starts crying. It's good. After a few- Malaysian doesn't get to talk about the spicy food. Yeah, I was gonna say.

I was like, are wasabi peas hot? To white people they are. Hot, you got me. Yeah. I'm like, I love it. I love spicy food, but like, yeah. To, can you hear me? Yeah. I'm very white. I love it, I love Spice Food, but like yeah, to a lot of annoying points, like, ugh. Anyway, you've got a few moments

before the Duke of Gnarris arrives. Is there anything you guys wanna ask Dame Cassandra, or anything you guys wanna do, like in a few, in a quiet period? Yeah, I would ask. So when did you arrive back in Ashland Rest? Just this morning. Just this morning?

Just this morning, yes. Not even, well, even morning. To say morning would be not quite true. It was perhaps midday. The tournament was ongoing, but I unfortunately had to come straight here. I had to drop off supplies. I had to send messages, missives, that sort of thing.

Oh, well, apologies if this is keeping you from resting after a long travel. No, no, no, not at all. I'm used to it, like I said, I travel a lot, so I'm quite used to it. I use a little bit of magic to make myself comfortable on the road as well. I know a few tricks here and there to make sure

that I don't have to worry about sleeping rough out in horrid weather and things like that, so I'm normally quite well cared for. I would normally have my squires, but unfortunately I've had to dispatch them on business as well. Where did your recent travels take you? All over, really.

Generally, although I am a knight of Northvale, I often lend my expertise to some of the nearby regions as well, the Hartdales. I sometimes go down to Feroz, the city, the capital city of the province. I have worked for the Archdragon on some matters. I see myself as a bit of a diplomat, as well as a knight of the realm as well.

So I try to ensure that the Duke and the other draconic nobles and the people are kept in good alliances. I see. And if you don't mind me asking, if it's private, then tell me to shut up. I certainly will. What were you investigating while you were out there? Well, the most recent things. We will come to some of them, as I mentioned,

but I generally... My... Shall we say... My endeavors. I generally, my... Shall we say, my endeavors, they generally concern matters of magical in nature, but beasts, like I said, vaults-borne, cults, is quite a common problem. A lot of people, unfortunately, get led astray by those who would teach them of dangerous entities or corrupt

them into doing things dangerous in the pursuit of power or wealth that sort of thing. Tell me have you had any experience... there is a name for them but individuals who are possessed of strange... They might appear as crystals and metal embedded in their skin, embedded in their bodies. Have you encountered such people before? Dwarves. No, no, no, no. Not grown from them, embedded intentionally. There is a group that we are aware of,

not just in Caldre, but across the Empire, who they take the magic and the relics of the protomagai and they embed it in their bodies. And they are obsessed with the protomagai, obsessed with the vaults. They believe that they can become greater than humanity are obsessed with the protomagi, obsessed with the vaults. They believe that they can become greater than humanity by building the protomagi's relics into themselves.

We call them the Awoken. They are something of a problem. The cults of Belayne and the other members of the Ember as well. Sometimes I deal with simple banditry. Sometimes it is a town being plagued by bandits and they simply need someone to go and teach them a lesson, that sort of thing.

The Awoken sound terrifying. Sound cool as hell. They are terrifying, yes, in a sense they are terrifying. They are. But also I pity them. They prey on people who are disenfranchised, or those who are desperate, whether it is for power, revenge, desperate to mean something to the world.

They prey upon these individuals. And from what I've been able to gather, they do not really understand the things that they put into their bodies. They will find vaults and just take things that the Protomanager have made without knowing what they do or what they're for, and they will just find ways to put them into themselves.

And it can have horrid, horrid consequences. Mutation, magical corruption, warping. Wow. Motherfuckers. That's not me. We don't know that. Are they able to find these vaults? How are they able to track them down?

They either, well, in some cases, we don't believe that they have any supernatural ability to find them. Rather, they research them or they pursue them. Sometimes they go into old vaults that perhaps we have stripped of magical relics, but they will find pieces of the wall and rip that off and put that into themselves. They do not really understand the technology

and the magic that they are using. They just simply think that if they can make themselves like the proto-magi, like the vaults, they will somehow gain some understanding. Now, and this is something I do not often speak of publicly, but there are members of the Awoken, they're leaders. Now they are a little different. They have often found a piece of proto-magi relic

or vault or magic that has given them some greater understanding and I have seen them display powers that I have never seen before. Not magic, something else entirely. Something other than magic? Yes, but not, it is not divine, it is not arcane, it is not of the earth, it is something else entirely. And they have this ability,

they do seem to be able to find vaults. Sometimes they can even unlock vaults that we have no idea how to, that we have never had any idea of how to unlock. We believe that the experimentation with the protomagic relics and magic gives them some insight that we ourselves lack. Could this affect creatures?

We dealt with some gnolls on the road and they were horrendous. Garsely. Ah, yes, gnolls, yes. I've seen, I do not, sometimes the Awoken will capture these creatures and tame them or ally themselves with them. I've seen Awoken work with Gnolls and other such creatures before,

but also sometimes we encounter what we would call an advanced Vault Spawn, a Vault Spawn that has been modified from its original purpose by proto-Majai relics or weapons. Sometimes by the Awoken, sometimes they are simply found in vaults themselves. More intelligent versions, more powerful versions of them. A very dangerous thing that we do not speak of too openly.

Well, I can understand why. Yes, very much like any cultists, knowledge of them will only breed people who want to investigate them, people who perhaps are tempted by the things that they offer. So we try to keep it under wraps. The thing is, I was about to say, do you think there's any Awoken leaders around here?

But now she's saying, tempted to learn more. I'm like, well maybe I should stay quiet here. Even though I do wanna, I am interested. Yeah, she will say. But that is, the Awoken are just one of the, they are just simply one of the threats that is posed to the Empire, and it is why that knights such as myself,

and indeed now knight Erron Gruffydd, this is part of what we do, is to protect people from these matters. But like I said, it is, the Awoken are just simply one of the potential threats out there. Oh, forgive me for asking so many questions. I'm from Osseus, this is all fascinating and all new to me. Osseus, the realm of the, of necromancy.

Yes. I have read a little on it. I have met one of your fellow Osseans, I suppose I would call them. Long ago, this was years ago now, one of the first to come over to our shores, I believe, a diplomat, a, oh, there was a certain title for them, but it escapes my mind now.

But I remember that they had immense power, necromantic power and spells that I'd never encountered before. They could pull bones from a creature and use them almost as weapons or shielding. They could create armor from it. It was grotesque but impressive display of magic. That sounds fascinating.

I'm afraid that it is not in my purview. I did not learn of the magic myself, my dear, but is one of your- Looking at the group and Ophelia's wide-eyed with wonder and everyone else is like. Ugh. If I'm remembering correctly, you said you are Citorophilia of the House of Blood.

Yes. I believe that the, I can't remember the title or their name, it was years ago now, it was only briefly, but we fought some creatures together. They said they were from the House of Bone. I, as I explained, yes, the bone magic, yes. Yes, yes, yes, they were, they served some baron of theirs or some such, I believe.

They were sent over as a sort of diplomatic envoy. They were dealing with a lost acolyte who had been sent here with them and had gone missing and I helped them recover them. So the House of Bones has been here before. Yes, they passed through, I believe. That doesn't help me. Oh, they weren't supposed to be here already.

Fine, sorry, thank you. I'm sorry to bring you distressing news. Oh, no, it's okay, it's okay. We're just in a little... The House of Bone, they bring me some... They're fascinating, but they irritate me. You see, we have a rivalry amongst the houses. I can understand that. It's very similar to the provinces, I imagine. There can be rivalries. Yes, just the House of Bone, they think they're better than us,

and House of Bodd are clearly better than us. I'm understand that, it's very similar to the provinces, I imagine. There can be rivalries. Yes, just the House of Bone, they think they're better than us, and House of Bod are clearly better. I'm afraid I could not possibly say either way. You seem lovely. I won't, thank you. I won't go, it's boring politics stuff.

I won't go too much into it, but it's just, oh, it's just stress. Makes my job more difficult knowing they've already been here. Ay-ay-ay-ay. Ay-ay-ay-ay. Ay-ay-ay-ay. I love the fact that Ophelia in canon says that. Bleed me dry.

With that, there's a sort of awkward silence, as I think nobody really knows how to respond. But then the doors open. With that, there's a sort of awkward silence, as I think nobody really knows how to respond. But then the doors open, you can see Considera Edath Algrim opens the doors and stepping into the chamber. Having shrunk themselves down a little bit, just to make it a bit more comfortable, still standing at least sort of Rowan's height,

like eight feet tall, you see the dark scarred skin of Duke Ignarius wearing a much more formal regal, no armor. Still has like a, I think he would have like a giant battle axe. Like he has that like on his belt, like a very fine, wicked looking sort of jagged bladed axe with an ornate hilt and things like that,

like in a loop belt or a side. More for display than anything. Is this a stand situation the moment he comes in? You tell me what you guys do. I stand. Dress for the slums. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Cassandra, Dame Cassandra does the same as well.

She wiggles off the chair, sort of stands, and she would place her hand over her heart, sort of like as the Duke enters. Okay, sure, yeah. The Duke enters. He's smiling quite broadly, and then sort of entering very gracefully and lifefully behind him.

She looks a little bit, when you saw Lady Embarissa before, she had slightly kind of tanned skin. She looks more pale skinned, more sort of like my skin tone this time. Still has the ornate black horns, the red hair, long sort of like, you know, glamorous, D.Va-like red hair,

wearing this kind of red silk shifted kind of outfit with covered in gold jewelry, like arm bangles and necklaces and ornate things around her horns and things like that. You can still see that there is a little bit of scarring on her arm, but it's begun healing. And Duke Ignoris will sort of boom. Ah, well thank you friends for sitting with us. Please, relax, biddies, sit, sit.

This should hopefully not take too long, will it, Cassandra? No, of course not, Maitre-Connach-Lige. I've briefed them a little bit, but I have not gone into the details, and I would not dream of speaking on Lady Embarissa's behalf. Of course, my lady, and she sort of bows deeply to Embarissa. Cassandra, wonderful to see you again.

Thank you for your time, heroes. My father wished to speak to you on some potential matters he needs help with, and I thought that I would request something of you myself, if I may. Oh, well, thank you for having faith in us and assisting you in your... You, my good peep, my citizens, people of my Northvale,

as I have made you one of my own, I trust you immensely. After all that you have done for Ashen Rest, the way that you dealt with that traitor Tobias and the Lamplighters. After everything they did, you stood against them. You saved this town, my town. For that, I will always, always think of you favorably.

Please, sit, sit. Let's just take a moment here. And he places his immense frame in one of these chairs. Yeah, it's in full fit. And with that, that is where we're gonna take our break. And when we come back we're going to get an offer of what they would like you to look into. If you would like to.

I wanna get that quest log updated. Turns out, like, what he wants us to do is look into reports of some crown steel in the area. No, weird, no, I won't take that mission, no, sorry. Don't fancy that one. I don't wanna do that one. That is it for part one. It's me!

So dead! We can automatically hand it in. I balked it. I balked it hard. With that, that is gonna be it for part one. We will see you in part two. We'll see you very soon. Join you, see you, join you soon.

Yeah, that checks out. Join you soon. See you in a bit. Join us soon. Bye. Join us.