High Rollers DnD - Altheya: The Dragon Empire #4 | The Lightless Chasm (Part 2)

Episode Date: November 30, 2023

The party escape the mines to return back to Burnell and complete the investigation! 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) 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. Protect that lead. That's like 2FA on Kraken. A surefire way to keep what you already have safe and sound. Go to kraken.com and see what crypto can be. Not investment advice. Crypto trading involves risk of loss. See kraken.com slash legal slash ca dash pru dash disclaimer for info on Kraken's undertaking to register in Canada. Hello everybody, welcome back to part two of Hyrule's Althea, The Dragon Empire, episode four. You join us as our party have descended to the lowest depths of Blackrock Mine where they've encountered the problem that has been engulfing this area and indeed the reason that they came here in the first place. Having found Marion, the foreman of

the mine, holding this strange artifact, the Hand of the Lightless Pilgrim, channeling some unstable, powerful, primordial magic, carving through this mine whilst all these creatures, these belemorphs, are swarming around, being called or pulled or created or somehow connected to this thing, whilst a number of criminals have also been in the process of trying to fend these creatures off and maybe find a way to get the Hand of the Lightless Pilgrim. Our party fought in a very desperate battle where fate seemed to begin interfering, the whimsical and ever-changing nature of the fate

perhaps still shifting and settling into how it will take form in this world. But our party did manage to succeed with a heroic effort by Rowan to push one of these larger creatures into the chasm with Daisy and Xanthius killing many of these Belemorphs and Ophelia desperately trying to wrestle with Marion to reclaim the rod from her hands.

You now find yourselves out of battle. The threat now passed. With the very last thing happening, as I said, this horrid feeling as you watch the rod lift up off the ground as if floating, and then from invisibility, a caliphras,

the tiefling that you had encountered that asked you to make you a deal to reclaim this hand, claim this artifact for their master, has been following you invisibly, using stealth to pursue you, and then waited for the prime opportunity when the rod was out in the open and on the ground, snatched it up, and has vanished into the rock itself.

Done. Done. One of the criminals, Beric Brassfist, the kind of mastermind, is dead. Very dead. Torn to pieces. You have Regina Violate knocked out by Gruff.

And then you also have... Bless me. That's right, bless you. We also have Yurgo the Eel, the little kobold, the renegade kobold, who is fully surrendered. Hands up.

Hands up. Maybe backing away into the outer corners of this chasm just like as they move away from you guys but what do you guys do? What's the plan here? Literally these things have all just happened in a very rapid succession

to one another. For now, I want to help I want to help Rowan up, because after that heroic push, that's the coolest damn thing I think Xanthias has ever seen in his entire life. So I want to help you to your feet and say, you better write a song about that one, big guy. Oh, I'll make a note. I'll add it to the queue.

Okay, good. Daisy will come down the stairs and pull out her little book and go, I'll write it down so that I remember to. I'll remind you. Thank you. Is everybody else okay? We're all here. Ophelia? Yeah, sorry. Yeah, I'm okay. I'm okay. How is everybody else doing? Gruff is just restra up Regina's hands.

You got some rope? He's got, yeah, 50 foot of rope. Easy enough. Yeah, you can bind their hands fully behind their back. Do you disarm her? She has a knife. She has one dagger left in a kind of bracer, and then she has a rapier, which is on the ground now, because she knocked her out.

Yeah, I'd definitely make sure that she's not ready and able to fight again. Sure. Like, yeah, a little pat down, a little, like, yeah, just taking away anything pointy. Sure. Anything pointy. And then, yeah, I'd probably make moves

to do the same to Yorgo. He's just like, no, there's no need for that, there's no need for that. I'm going to come willingly. I hold my hands up. See, I'm being cooperative. I'm not like, no, there's no need for that. There's no need for that. I'm going to come willingly. I hold my hands up. See, I'm being cooperative. I'm not listening to you, little lizard. Put your hands behind your back now.

Don't make this difficult. He's going to make it difficult because he does not want to go to prison. So he's going to basically cunning action disengage and try and run around you, basically. So he'll basically get into the middle of the event. He's running for it. He's gonna make a run for it. So you're kind of advanced towards him, like, don't make this difficult,

and he's like, and then he just scurries and scurries and tries to run around you, basically. Swabby. Tol'Din! Catch the little bugger! The, I mentioned it before, the pickaxe boomerang thing. Can I just throw it at this dude? Yeah, you can try to, yeah. I'm not good at throwing, but, I mean, it's the first thing I can see.

Yeah. So do you have, like, a dagger? I'd be throwing the pickaxe. Yeah, but it uses this. Oh, I do have a dagger, yes. Make it simple. Just use the dagger stats. Clock this guy.

13. 13 against Yurgo the Ear. He probably has, he's probably quite dexy yes he is quite dexy runs uh as he begins like so i mean if anybody else wants to do anything but otherwise he's going to run towards the entrance block the entrance uh you watch as this guy's like get out of my way monk and then you just you just see Scyther's little hands, and probably Percival throws his hood back, because he knows the effect that he can have.

He throws the head back and just blocks the way, and the cobbler's just like... I think this is the first time that we've actually fully seen Percival. Rowan and Daisy haven't seen his full... You haven't seen him yet. We didn't tell you. You told us, but we haven't seen it. But he is also actually tucked away right at the back here.

Okay, so he still wouldn't see it. So Yugo's running, basically. He comes around the corner in the darkness. He sees this robed skeleton with a dagger in its hand, a shawl in its hand, and he just goes, and he runs back around. He's like, and he's freaking out, trying to run out where he's going to go.

Do you want to offer those handcuffs again? Nothing would give me good action. The saint, the saint, the thief is here. She's going to take me. They're going to take me. I'll go, I'll go, I'll go. He puts up to you with his hands out like, oh. Stop wriggling.

I've seen it. I've seen her. I've seen Lady Death. Do you need a muzzle as well? See, like, he's very scrawny. He looks like a cobbled runny. He looks like a very scrawny little cobbled. But, yeah.

I mean, only after, have you now restrained him? Yeah, yeah, at this point we can say that. And now that you have, Gruff, I know this is your first arrest, so to speak. What's the process here? Are we taking them back? Do we have to read them like some things? I don't know. It was never my intention to become some kind of officer of the law.

It's justice. You just justiced. I suppose I did. Yeah. Well done, Grosh. We caught the people we came for, except don't look over there. You just see a very mangled corpse. You can see the two glinting knuckle dusters on Beric's fists,

but his chest has basically been split in two. God. Yeah. Movie. He has various pieces of, he has got like pockets and pouches and like various pieces of jewelry all on him and stuff like that as well.

I suppose we did distribute justice. Yeah. I don't actually know what to do. This is my first time. Well, we can leave. Rowan. Hello. You seem in touch with all of this. Do you sense any more of those things?

It looks like they ran, but... I lean up against this pillar of stone, just try and connect. I'm gonna actually use the ability that I've got here. Sure. The harmonious... I'm gonna spend some time here. Just give me a moment. Harmonious recall.

Okay. So as an action, I spend ten minutes listening to the music of either a natural location or an object made of wood, metal, or stone that is no larger than a five-foot cube. So yeah, the area. And the information I learned is typically of a significant past event that took place in or near the target. It's almost like feeling the vibrations run.

It begins to conjure a scene in your mind, and you begin to almost see something playing out as it accompanies the music, kind of building this narrative, this story in your mind. You sense the presence of a desperate woman meeting with three shady individuals the woman grasps this rod that just glows with magic powerful ancient magic when she does you don't hear words it's like kind of seeing like scenes but she she yells something and then the

magic explodes and erupts you see as the cavern begins to be carved out the beam of light from this rod flows through the stone you almost can picture it like a serpent writhing its way maybe a worm and it finds pockets of ore and gems and thinks it's seeking out valuable resources. But as it does and exposes them, some terrible ancient thing that dwells in the dark of the earth hears and it hungers and it sends out her children to go and fetch the new bitches, more importantly, to claim the rod.

And you feel that skittering and that scurrying. Thousands, hundreds of tiny hands are sent to try and claim them. But with the rod gone, they begin to recede back into the dark earth. I think for now we are safe. But something sinister emerged from the effects of that from the effects of that rod carving into the stone. Something listened and heard and sent their minions and was unearthed. I suppose right down that hole there.

You don't know if it was unearthed. Do you have a feeling that that presence was there? Presence has always been there. It just had a reason to show itself. Right. I would like to leave now, Xanthius. I would very much like to leave as well. Hey, nice job, Yorgo.

Just like looking around terrified. We should probably take the body of the dwarf as well. The authoritator wanted three criminals. We have three criminals. How? I will take him. I will help. I've got a two-person tent.

I'm going to wrap the body in the tent canvas. It will ruin the tent. It's going to stain. I've got a bedroll. It will ruin the tent. It's gonna stain. It's gonna bedroll. It will ruin the bedroll, but you can do it. Is there anything around? Yeah, is there any material or anything? There probably wouldn't be material

like cloth and canvas here, no, I don't think so. Maybe like a sack, but it's not enough to get the whole body in. You could've worn a bench. Yeah, you could use a bench. Like a stretcher or a ladder. Yeah, you could stretch the ladder. The ladder would easily work. Yeah, use the ladder and just carry him on a bench? Yeah, you could use a bench. Put him on a bench, like a stretcher? Yeah. Or a ladder? Yeah. You could bench the ladder.

The ladder would easily work. Yeah, use the ladder and just carry him on the ladder. Maybe a bit of rope to keep it together, but yeah. The ribs keep splaying. Worst case. He was ripped apart. Worst case, all we need is a brass fist. It's okay, I will carry him.

Okey-doke. Well, Rowan and Gruff together can probably do it. What about Marion? She's currently unconscious. She's stable, she's not dying, but she is unconscious, and she will be out for a while, maybe. I can try and carry her. If we can get people to the lift at least, then that's a start.

And maybe when we get back up to the top, there might be people from the village. There should be. I hope so. So if we can get them up, so we can just make sure that we get to the lift. It's not too far. I mean, you can easily take everyone to the lift. It's not far from here. And then we can just put them on the ground. You have the key to the lift. Unlocks.

Loading everybody in. It seems to be able to carry all of you together. Daisy, do you want to help me just hold this? Yago? So he doesn't run off. I like to imagine that Gruff has bound his wrists, but then has a lead. And it's like you're yanking him along.

I would have done it maybe behind him, though, because I don't trust enough to let him have it at the front. Sure, sure, sure. So it's like behind him. Yeah. It's just like a little harness. But there would perhaps be a little lead. Yeah, you can like yank him and make sure he's not running away.

I could drive him. I could little dog lead. I'll try. We'll hold on to him. Okay. I will say, at this point, Yorgo is terrified of Percival. Yorgo thinks that Percival is a representation of Saint Dathyr, like this literally figure of death that appears. I mean, that's fair. Yorgo is convinced Percival is a representation of Saint Dathyr like this literally

figure of death that appears. Like Yorgo is convinced that that is what they are. That's fair. For Rowan and Daisy yeah Percival is a skeleton.

Yeah. I was still coming too I'd say and that's quite far away so I'm not sure I saw it. Yeah he's put his he's put his hood and his robes down

so he looks like just a clad friar now. Just wanted to delay that reaction. Sure. Yeah, I don't think we would, because if he was back at the entrance, we wouldn't have seen him. Yeah, but knowing that Yurgo has these explosive powders

and charges and stuff, obviously I'd try and get rid of those from him. Yeah, he has a satchel over his chest. I'll take that, so he doesn't burn his way through the rope and just get away. He's not getting away, basically. I'm wearing him as a backpack. Run, run, run.

Run, run. It'll be a backpack while you run. I just wanna hold it. Yeah, let's all ferry out. You guys happy with everything? You're literally leaving this place now? Yeah. There is a body at the top of the boat.

I want to see what's in the satchel. Oh, the satchel and the gun. You guys make your way up, you get up to the main chamber. When you're going back up, you're looking out into the mine, you don't see any signs of those skittering creatures, you don't see any signs of any more belemorphs. You make your way up, you get to the central thing, you stop by that body and you want to rummage through what the body had on them.

The dwarven body. I don't think Rowan would what the body had on them. The dwarven body. I don't think Rowan would, actually, because I didn't know anything about this body. It's true. I was thinking about, I would probably say, like, before we go, the body had some more stuff on it, but... Well, stuff came spilling out of it. So I don't know quite the condition of the body right now. Oh, it's ruined.

But, like, the things it was carrying are still. You had a satchel, right? Yeah. Satchel and a gun. So the thing left would be a satchel and then a dragonfire pistol. So if someone else wants to look at it, I don't. Gruff's too busy carrying the-

Holding the ladder. I'll make Yurgo do it. I roll the strikes again. Never any loot. I think I could go and look, yeah. Sure, All right. So, yeah, you examine the... So the pistol itself can be carried.

It harrows two shots loaded, but these things do require special ammunition and, like, powder refills and stuff like that. It can be expensive, but you have a dragonfire pistol with two shots. Somebody write that down. Ophelia's got a gun. Unless you don't carry it.

Ophelia's picked it up. I've got a gun. Yeah, you pick up this strange device, Ophelia's got a gun. Unless you don't carry it. Ophelia's picked it up. I've got a gun. Yeah, you pick up this strange device, Ophelia. Gosh, it almost looks like a crossbow, but there's no arms and there's no bolt. Very unusual. Never seen anything like this before. Can we take the satchel as well?

Yeah, you can take the satchel. Inside the satchel is a broken but still functioning lantern. It only provides 15 feet of dim light right now. So it's not a bullseye. It's like an all-around lantern right now. Yeah. It has a flask of oil, a tinderbox, and one long kind of dynamite stick, effectively,

of dragonfire powder. Man. Did you write that all down, Rhi? Yeah. We picked up the useful thing, but the other stuff could have been pretty good. I mean, could you imagine trying to open that gate? Whilst being attacked.

Yeah. It was literally the only thing we knew we really needed. Can we look around? There were some other crates around. Yeah, the crates all just have mining equipment and stuff in them. They were set dressing. But yeah, you search through them, you don't find anything of super value and but one thing you do notice is like as you've been making your way through this mine this mine is dead it's dried up like you don't see any active veins of ore you don't see any signs that there's really anything of value left maybe down in that huge

chasm that marion's created with the rod there might now be things to find but in this primary mine you don't see any signs of recent digging you don't see any signs of any recent valuables or anything like that eventually you get to the top floor you begin searching around, you find the stuff on the dwarf

and then do you guys start carrying things out of the mine back towards the entrance do you have your lantern? Yeah. Still has a few hours, still would have three hours left on it now. I can cast light on my dagger. Yeah, I just wanna make sure that if someone is coming in,

they don't just see like this many shambling people just out of the darkness. True, that's a good point. I got my bullseye lantern. It is about halfway to the mine's entrance in the mines themselves. First of all, you hear them coming along. You hear armoured boots and things like that.

And you hear Captain Lucas Ficarra kind of just like, all right, don't let your guard down. They may have feigned the retreat. Search around. Explore these side tunnels. And you can hear the sounds of an armoured unit basically coming. The mine is clear. It's me, Xanthius, by the way, from the village, Bernal.

Ah, you've been to... And he kind of calls us, like, bring up light, and eventually you guys meet. You can see the Captain Vaccaro and Zaron Tekis, the authoritor, as well as Cade, are basically, like, leading. Basically, they've marched as many men as they can. Some of the men have split off down the tunnels and things like that, but they look like they've been in combat,

their like armors are pitted with acid blood, you can see that they've definitely been fighting a big battle. Is everything all right? The creatures, we saw them, they fled back into the mine. Good, yes. We probably all look like hell. Yeah, yeah, definitely. You guys all look pretty rough.

We encountered the creatures as well, but at the very base of the mine, we dispatched, or Rowan dispatched, I suppose their leader, they fled after that one fell. And you've got, you see Tekkis, the authoritor is just like, is that him? Is that Beric's remains?

Ah, you see you've got Violate and Kirgo as well. Excellent, Yogo as well. We do. see you've got Violate and Kirgo as well. Excellent. Yorgo as well. Ah, we do. Want to hand him over? Yeah, like, Regina, Violate is still unconscious, but like Techist, the authoritor, will be like, you two, and he just points at two guards. Take them into

custody. I will deal with them later. You're in for it now, Yorgo. You're never going to escape Deep Glimmer. And you just see the cobble just like just crying. Kim feels sad. Gruff doesn't. Would you, in the whole journey,

how close of an eye are you keeping on Yorgo, by the way? I disarmed him and I... As you were leading him out. I'd probably have him in front of me. Make a perception check, Xan. He would be like in front of us. I would. Sure, Daisy can make one as well,

because you did say that you two were gonna keep an eye on him. Both of us, yeah. So is this like a help, a perception? You can give Daisy advantage. I'll just do a separate one. Let's just do a separate one. You can do separate ones, because I wouldn't actually actively

be helping you perceive, would I? No, please be subtle. What'd you get? Four. No, I see fuckers. What'd you get? Four. Oh, I got a five. Okay. You don't see anything. Like, he maybe is,

like, as you're kind of transporting, he, like, goes up to the side of Beric's body. He's like, I'm sorry, mate. I'm just, I'm not, I'm not a fighter like you. I'm sorry I let you both down. And he kind of, like,

pats the dwarf on the side. On the ribs. But yeah, like, Tekkis is like, take those two into custody. And like, the couple's like, and he like goes along with him. The Regina's unconscious, and they begin,

they take the stretcher off you to take Beric's as well. And he looks down, he's like, I would have liked to have seen, I would have liked to have taken him alive so that he could properly serve justice, but this is what I have to do. Just to clarify, we didn't do that. The creatures.

Even if you had, this man was a criminal, a dangerous one. I would not have been angry if you had been the ones to do it, but it seems that Beric got what he deserved. He did come to a horrible end. He fell to two of those creatures. As should anybody who disobeys the law of the Empire. Agreed. What about this one?

And they gesture towards Marian, and the Captain Varkar will say, this is the foreman, yes? The one who was working with these criminals, the one who let them into Burnell. Yes, she was, yes. All right, we'll have to take her into custody as well. I guess they'll come up and we'll take Marion,

take her into custody. I have information that could assist. You have done a great deed, all of you. We were, there were hundreds of those things poured out of their mind. They were racing down towards the village. They were, you know, consuming everything they could. We've been battling them.

I wanted to try and catch you before you entered, but we were delayed in the battle. But yes, any information you have, please let us walk and talk. You are injured. I can have my medic see to you. We can try and get you patched up. Please.

Yes, of course. That would be much appreciated. Basically, the medics will come up with healing kits and bandages. We'll let you basically spend a free hit dice as if you had spent a hit dice on a short rest. Only the one, though. Yeah, sure.

So it will get you some hit points back, but it's probably not going to fully heal you. Yeah. You're still wounded. You're still out of energy. I mean, Rowan, you're exhausted at this point. Two levels, right? Two levels currently for Rowan, yeah.

Poor boy. Poor sweet boy. What was it, right? Two levels currently for Rowan, yeah. Poor boy. Poor sweet boy. What was it, three? Because he got one at the... He got one from the journey and then one from pushing the big guy. There was one from the... The wheel. Wheel. If he took another...

No, he succeeded that. Oh, right, okay. He passed it. I got you. Yes. We almost tombed that one. Yeah, I was going to say, I was trying to tom it. No, no, no, I love it. Don't say sorry. I lovecha. I gotcha. Yes. We almost tombed that one. Yeah, I was going to say. Sorry. I was trying to tom. No, no, no.

I love it. I love it. But yeah, so they will offer that. So you can each spend a hit dice as their medics kind of come up. They bandage you. They like help clean wounds and things like that. But yeah, Captain Vicar will basically walk with you as you make your way back down. That was very much like a bandage on my leg.

Oh, yeah. Your whole leg. Recently borrowed, seared leg. I mean, you stomped it before it fully borrowed it but it's ravaged. It's ravaged. Are we allowed to know

what would have happened if that thing fully incubated itself up in there? So if you don't remove it within three turns let me just get up the thing. Oh I don't actually

have it ready to go again. R1. If we encounter one again then we'll do some experiments. Okay. I'll just wait. Yeah in fact actually yeah because there is a chance you might encounter to go again. R1. If we encounter one again, then we'll do some experiments. Okay, I'll just wait. Yeah, in fact, actually, yeah, because there is a chance you might encounter these things again. That's why I said, are we allowed to know?

Yeah, I'd say no. Bad stuff. Yeah, so Captain Vakara on the way back will be like, so what happened? You went up to the mine, you entered, and then it was after you entered, we had some of the miners, we met them on the way down. They said that you had rescued some of them,

that you had gone into the mine, that these creatures had attacked it. And as we reached the mine itself, I mean, yeah, it must have been a hundred of those things poured out. We've been fighting them up here ever since. We just began to push into the mines. They fled, they turned and ran a few moments ago.

But what happened? I don't know. Oh, well. Lots of stuff. Lots of stuff. I think Gruff would try and give a kind of full report. Statement. In a kind of what he thinks is an officer's statement, but being from a tiny village. Atta wait, hundred hours!

Yeah, that kind of very formal, very regimented, of everything that had happened. Okay, yeah,, that kind of, like, very formal, very regiment of everything that had happened. Okay, yeah, the captain kind of, like, listens and nods. Zaron Tekis, the authoritor, is furiously writing down, do you tell him about Caliphras and, like, the rod? Like, how much are you telling these guys? Unless someone stops Gruff. He will tell them everything.

Gruff will be as honest as possible because he, not worships these guys, he respects them you know he respects the law and authority and he would be honest you know to a t unless someone tries to stop him no just be adding to it if anything yeah any details from the emotion of the environment yeah so it's like the stones are very upset with the whole situation you see very disturbed they nod along. When you talk about more like that element, the captain is kind of a bit

lost. He's definitely not a magical person. He doesn't really get what you're saying. But the authoritor is kind of trying to nod along. He's like, there is a great evil that is stirred as a result of the power of this rod. As you're kind of talking, the authoritor will say, yes, the creatures,

I'm familiar with them. They are Spawn of Belain, one of the Embered Goddesses. It is likely when this rod, this hand of the Lightless Pilgrim, that this tiefling, and Caliphras, you said their name was, I will hunt them down as best I can.

But when they activated this relic, this device, exposing the raw gems, the metals, this is the sort of thing that the lane waits for, hungers for. She is known to be a plague to miners and dwarves and many others who dig for such treasures in the earth. She has a habit of instilling greed. I still believe that perhaps Beric is some unwitting pawn, or perhaps not a cultist, but in league with those who are. Belaine has many shadowy cults and figures hidden all around the empire.

We must always be vigilant for their insidious nature, their greed. to be vigilant for their insidious nature, their greed. But yes, it sounds like it is Belaine to whom this feeling, this ancient fear. She is said to dwell in the darkest depths of the earth, where even the goddesses and the saints cannot see her. Either way, I believe. Marion of Burnell, seeking a desperate attempt to source any new minerals

or ores from this mine, fell into the wrong crowd. Yeah, you see the captain is like, that is a sympathetic cause, but to align yourself to cause this sort of situation, it is, to ally herself with those criminals, unfortunately, Marion has, and he looks towards the authoritor. The authoritor is just like,

you know the law as well as I do, Captain. She is a criminal and guilty. We must take the appropriate action. You see the captain is torn. He's just like, she was a very faithful person, perhaps. I would wish to know more of her intentions. Perhaps when she is awake, we can speak with her more. I want to know why.

Why was she so desperate? If the mine was dry, then the Duke would have understood. If there is no ore, there is no ore. We would have prospected in the mountains, found a new mine or some such. I don't understand it. My Duke is a patient dragon. He would not have... I don't understand it. My Duke is a patient dragon. He would not have... I don't think that he would have... I think he would have been fine with the mine not bearing any yield for a while.

Dragons are patient creatures in general. They can live a long time. One mine running dry would not be an issue. Perhaps there is still more to this than we think, but unfortunately the authoritar is correct by if Marian did help those criminals enter the village then she is an accessory to their crimes unfortunately. Willing or not, that is still to be debated. If she was under threat, if they were threatening her, blackmailing her, then the penalty will be less severe. But if she did this willingly, I'm afraid that there is only so much I can do. Rowan's really trying to be respectful and nodding

and paying attention, but his eyes are very much like, he's just phasing out for all this information. This is a lot, but thank you, Gruffydd of Tremorow. Your report has been excellent, and I'm sure that we'll keep a note of this. When we get back to the village... Just Daisy just thumbs up to take her off like... A muscle twitches in her cheek, trying not to belay any...

When we get back to the village I will make sure that you receive adequate compensation for your efforts here and also walk away with a formal writ of the Duke's favor. I only have the one, but I will assign all of your names to it so that it is recorded. If you present this at the Duke's manor in Ashen Rest, he will see you and you can speak with the Duke himself. And I'm sure that he would wish to thank you for your great deed that you have done here. I will send word with a courier as well to the town. Oh, forgive me, I don't mean to bite the hand, so to speak, but one favour with all our names on it?

It would be a... Think of a favour not as a direct, you know, you have done something for the Duke, the Duke will do something for you. You have earned you have earned his grace's respect and he will not forget that. The favor is a token to show

that you have done a deed in the service of the Duke and with that he will likely look favorably upon you is what he's meant. This is not a, ah, can I have a this, can I have a that? It's not that. I understand, yes, I understand.

It's fantastic, worth it. Is the Duke, is the Duke hiring any knights right now? Well, those who wish to prove themselves to Duke Ignarius, who seek the title of knighthood, Drathoth of Tremoro, there is always room for those who believe themselves to have the valiant virtues of the knight.

I myself have not attempted yet, but it has always been something of a dream of many. But you perhaps wait and meet the Duke, see if the Duke's interests align with your own. The Duke has a few knights, but not many. To be a knight is a very important matter in the Empire, especially to Caldra. To have a figure from Iceheart join a Caldron Duke's court as a knight

would be interesting indeed. Iceheart would have their own knights, wouldn't it? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Absolutely. It is a bit weird that I've... Yeah. Keep in mind that being a knight of a duke or a duchess, like a lord dragon, and being a knight of them,

it's very different to, like, joining the group that you've heard of. Because being a duke's knight, you are sworn to serve that duke in what they believe is, right? And that can be anything. They can literally order you to do anything at that point. Whereas a knightly order tend to have a shared belief

that they all collaborate towards. Being a duke or duchess's knight probably is more prestigious, but being one of a knightly order often is something more intrinsic to something you believe. And it would be weird in that case that Gruff would leave Iceheart and not swear to Silver-Eye. So Silver-Eye is the dragon noble for Iceheart,

so it would be weird. That would look after the region of Tremora. Yeah. So they're always divided into these regions, but yeah, Silver-Eye is the dragon of Tremora. Yeah. So, like, they're always divided into these regions, but, yeah, they are sort of Raya's, the dragon of that one. Cool. Yeah. But, yeah, the captain will just walk back with you.

And, of course, there will be gold. These criminals had a bounty. You have captured two alive and one dead. I will make sure that that bounty is paid adequately towards you. You have, I mean, me and my warriors, we were fighting on the hills, but you delved into the belly of the beast, quite literally. We must make sure that this is rewarded and paid for. And when we get to Burnell, after a rest of course, are we free to...

There is no need for the investigation to continue. I see no reason to not open the roads and allow passage to the south. I will send words to the force coming from Kalsgaris to let them know that the criminals have been found and they are no longer needed. And will you be traveling back to Ashen... sorry. Ashen Rest, yes. I will. I will likely spend a few days here. Like I said, there still seems that there is perhaps some mysteries still to be unraveled here. And I want to speak with the Marshal about this matter as well. He looks around between us

before we've reached the village. I do not think much of this town's Marshal. I've seen the type before. Very easily corrupted and swayed by coin and many other things. I do not trust them. I wish to look into a few things. But if you like, I can have some of it.

If you are looking for an escort to Ashenrest, I could assign a few of my scouts to travel with you. I think that would be... if everyone else is headed that way, I didn't actually ask, I suppose. Uh... can we eat? We'll talk about this later. Perhaps a conversation to have. It is very late as well. It has been... We are near the time for sleep, so let us head back.

You guys all make your way back, and yeah, you come back to the village. A crowd has gathered around. You can see that Marshal Valgra, this very bitter, kind of worn dwarf, is on the walls, just kind of scowling, crossbow aimed as you approach, and she's just like,

ugh, those creatures didn't kill you all then. Fine, open the gates. And you see the guards, like, opening it, and you can see the guards are all, like, you know, shaking. These are, like, farmers and miners that have picked up weapons, but they're kind of, like, watching the gates as you all return with the soldiers. You make your way in, and everybody who, like,

as you make your way the whole town is like here like the village sorry is like watching you see the reverend you see the reeve you see like the Raoul and

and the Adriana the innkeepers you see various many people around can you guys just give me everybody make one perception and one insight check

for me okay one perception one insight is that good insight? What am I kidding? It's wisdom based, so probably not my... That was the perception.

Oh. Ooh, perception 20. Perception 20. Um... Insight eight. Eight, okay. I got a natural 20 perception. Nice, well, 19.

But also a three insight. Okay, so, yep, Xan and Daisy are kind of in the same thing. Good seeing stuff, but not so good reading. Good looking, but not observant. Gruff? I got 23 perception and 18 insight. Okay, yeah, very good. Rowan? 19 insight and only four perception. Okay, yeah, very good. Rowan?

19 insight and only four perception. Okay, and then Ophelia. 21 perception and 15 insight. Ooh, man, all of you guys together easily pick up on this. So you notice a couple of things walking through the town. You see that Marian's parents are basically being watched by a couple of guards and just look terrified.

Like, they look really, really scared. When they see Marion, they're like, Marion! But the guards are like, no, stay there. Don't engage. You see a bit of a small commotion with some of the guards that had moved ahead of you, the ones that were escorting Yurgo and Violate and the corpse of Beric.

And you can see a couple of the guards are like guiltily looking at each other and you only see two figures with them. The small little kobold is missing. Oh. He got away. He got away. Should we tell someone?

The other thing you notice when the insight check is you see the Reeve. And when she sees you all returning with an unconscious but alive Marion, the Reeve is nervous. And you see her very hurriedly making her way back to her cottage, like her main house, which is one of the nicer houses in Burnell. And you can see her very hurriedly making her way back to her cottage, like her main house, which is one of the nicer houses in Burnell. And you can see her very hurriedly making her way back there as you guys are escorted to the inn.

You guys get inside. Adriana in the peony post. It's just, oh, you're back. Oh, thank goodness. Oh, you're all injured. Kids, kids, come on. And you see a couple of her children come out and she's like,

let's get food ready for everybody. And starts like sending to everything. We'll get you beds, everything you need. Thank you very much. We're happy to pay for all. Are drinks on the house? No, no, no, no, no, no.

Absolutely not. Can I have some extra bread? Please, please, please. Yes, of course, of course. Anything, of course. Let's get a thing. And she begins like preparing, like bringing out plates full of hot food of course, anything, of course, let's get a thing. And she begins, like, preparing, like, bringing out plates full of hot food

and bread and cheese, like, bringing out all the stops at this point, like platters, charcuterie board, the whole thing, fruits, drinks, basically anything you can drink. Like, the whole town is whispering with a buzz. You know, there are people saying, like, I heard that there was over a thousand of those things up in the woods, and they slayed the queen. And that's why they ran away.

They're heroes, they are. There's all this kind of, like, stuff. There's 10,000. Yeah. But definitely word has reached that you guys are the ones who went up there. The miners, like, as you come in, the miners that you rescued are like, and they're, like, cheering. They come over to you.

They're already hammered as hell. And they're just like, come in! They bring over you, Gruff, the woman that you kind of helped before, the alt woman, it's just like, I need to, I owe you a drink. I know Adrienne is paying for it, but I will, whatever you want. And like, just sits you down and like, there's this kind of joyful kind of like, oh, the heroes have come back kind of energy

as you guys make your way down. I mean, yeah, if anyone's coming over to talk to me, I'll answer any questions I can. I mean, for a point, after very quickly, I would just be so tired where I'm like... Seeing as you've invited me to that, at some point in the evening, you kind of speak to a few locals and things like that,

and then as the rest are maybe eating, maybe Rowan, you've just gone to bed at some point, like, you know, collapsed, or you're snoring in a chair. Well, I'd say, I'm going to do one song for everybody in the moment. Sure. And then I do, like, three or four notes and fall asleep at the lute.

Stood up. At the lute. Sleeping, standing, holding the lute. They kind of, Adriana comes over and is like, okay, big man. And she kind of, like, takes you and puts you in a chair, puts a blanket over you. It's like, you're massive in this, like, big man. And she kind of takes you and puts you in a chair, puts a blanket over you. It's like you're massive in this armchair,

but it just about fits you. And she's just like, you did great. And she just wraps you up and things like that. But yeah, Xanthia says you're sat there kind of watching all of this. You see, you notice the crowd kind of pulls away from you a bit. And Zarin Tekis, this orc authoriter, literally pulls a chair out,

like Riker maneuvers into the chair. You got Riker. and Zarantekis, this orc authoritor, literally pulls a chair out, Riker maneuvers into the chair. Yes! You got Rikered. Thank you, Mark. He sits down, that's all right, you're welcome. Thanks. Well, a busy evening.

Quite a heroic welcome. I didn't expect the welcome, I'll be honest, but I don't hate it. I can't imagine so. He leans in conspiratorially. How's the investigation going? I have my criminal. I have my...

culprits. One has escaped for now, but they're not there. I have a greater concern. This tiefling you mentioned. Yes. I can give up any information you need. Please, tell me everything you know. Well, it'd be difficult, actually.

Appeared from the shadows and can change their form seemingly at will. So I can describe the two forms we saw. Please do. They look like this. Teckis listens and is like, likely a warlock. One has made a deal with the Planar Powers for these magical tricks and gifts. Thank you, Lord Oregon.

Xanthius will do. Xanthius, that's right. Do you want to tell me why you're really here? No. No. You've saved this town, and you've done a great service to the Empire. For now, we'll part ways. But you will see me again.

I'm sure I will. I will ask you this question again. And the next time I ask it, if you do not tell me the truth, I will know if you tell me the truth. There will be consequences. I'm very aware of the consequences. I suppose I'll see you in Ashen's Rest.

Oh, I'll be traveling back with you. I want to keep my eye on you, Xanthius Orogan. Enjoy your night. You too, my lord. And he just stands up, goes to the bar, leans against it, but just watches you. I'm guessing we're not around. I mean, you see the author to sit down and have a very quiet conversation.

See what you said? Inviting Ian, I thought it was going to be a romance thing. I mean, I'm like talking to people. Someone else is going to take a seat. Keep in mind, I don't know if you remember this, but back when you first were telling the Authority about what you guys were and why you were here, I rolled a little insight check on all...

Zanakin. Zanakin. Zanakin. So, but yeah, for the rest of the evening, what do you guys do? Like, you know, this is like... So Rowan falls asleep, you know, at the loot, tucks away into

the little sofa chair what about the rest of you though anything you guys want to do any plans like ophelia it's like like when you guys when you guys get back there's definitely a very mirthful atmosphere like when you get back there's food there's drink there's songs people are dancing there's that vibrancy that you miss a little bit maybe yeah um i think i feel you would join in a little bit have a little dance for a bit, like just enjoy some of the merriment, nice atmosphere, and then she'll probably just quietly find a table

and have a bottle of wine to herself. Sure. Just with her and Percival. As you do, a little halfling fellow in black and white robes comes up. Oh, hello, my dear. You must be one of the... Oh, I mean, I've heard all about you,

but I wanted to come and introduce myself. I'm Reverend Arthur T. Thistle, local priest, and he offers his hand. Oh, hello, my dear. You must be one of the... Oh, I mean, I've heard all about you, but I wanted to come and introduce myself. I'm Reverend Arthur T. Thistle, local priest, and he offers his hand. Oh, hello, Reverend. How are you? Oh, I mean, I'm much better, thanks to you and your friends. I mean, I might have been, whatever those things were, food, I guess. Oh, monstrosities is what they were. They're taken care of now. Yes, yes. I mean, I don't know too much about them, but we get taught a little bit when I'm in training for my priesthood,

and I believe that they are some sort of creature of a terrible goddess called Belen, or former goddess. She was corrupted. But terrible things, terrible things. I've spoken to the others. I met Raph and several of the others. But I don't think we got to meet before, my dear. What was your name? Oh, my name is Ophelia Della Rosa of the House of Blood. House of Blood? The House of Blood? Is that something up in the big city in Kelskaris? Oh, no, no. I'm from Ossius.

Ossius? Across the great sea. Across the sea? But that's... But that's... It's dangerous. It's dangerous, yes, but it happened. It's possible. My goodness, I don't think I've... Oh, my goodness, I've never met somebody who's not from Ilmera before.

But, oh, marvellous, marvellous. What brings you to our shores? Just education, learning. Oh, wonderful. Oh, my favourites. You know, I teach the children here in the church. We do school, we teach them their numbers, their letters, we teach them the history of the Empire,

teach them prayers, teach them songs, things like that as well. So I'm a big fan of education. I'd invite you to come along, but I think you might be a bit bigger than my usual students. Very nice. Do you know much about, about, Ossius, about the House of Blood? I can't say that I do, my dear. No, I'm just a local little provincial

priest. I was taught a few things, but I'm not a scholar, I'm afraid. But perhaps you could educate me. Perhaps I'm due for a lesson. I would love to. Yes, yes, please do, yes. I mean, oh, is that wine? Would you like a glass? Oh, yes, please do. Yes. Oh, is that wine? Would you like a glass?

Oh, yes, I'll get a little glass. I'm only... And he goes and he fetches a halfling-sized little, you know, it's like a smaller wine glass. A shot glass. Yeah, not quite a shot glass, but like a kid's wine glass or whatever. And he brings that over and he's just like,

oh, I wouldn't mind, you know, cauldron red. Have you had much cauldron wine before? I love it. And he like pours himself a thing. It's very nice. He's a wine guy, by the way. He starts talking to you very much about the wine. But yeah, like how,

what does this look like for Ophelia? What does this education on Osseus look like? He's sort of just very intrigued and very, but he's also very keen to like explain about the Greyfather and about the history of Osseous to this halfling. And so she goes into quite a lot of detail. I was going to say,

the more you talk to him, the paler he gets. And he starts making the sign of the scions like over his heart. Like, and he's like, oh, we don't, yes, he's being polite. After you die, it's quite delightful actually.

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh. You see the whine. You break this man because you are basically telling him, you know, he's just this local priest and he's just overwhelmed

by what you're telling and he's just like, no, but the soul, you maybe not argue, but like you maybe have a little bit of that philosophical debate of like,

he's like, no, no, no, no, no, no, the soul has to prove itself worthy before it can ascend. No, no, no, that's what we're taught here. Our goddesses, the great father, who is this? Perhaps there are, maybe he starts, well, maybe it's a manifestation of, and he gestures up into the air,

the imprisoned one, maybe it's Melia, maybe Melia in a masculine form sometimes. Oh, I don't know. And he's trying to wrap his head around the things that you're telling him, but he's having a hard time. It's not a High Rollers campaign unless we give a halfling a panic attack. This one's tapping in everything.

This is like going up to Father Ted and being like, so here's everything that's wrong about your relationship. He's like but no but it's educational he will reveal a little bit more about Ulmeran culture

about the gods here telling you maybe some of the different names of the saints you know in fact actually as you get onto the topic of death

he would probably talk to you about straight away yeah which is pretty much straight away standard he will tell you well for us here we don't have would probably talk to you about... Straight away. Yeah, which is pretty much straight away. Standard. He will tell you, well, for us here,

we don't have the grave father, but we do have Saint Dithia, who is the grave shepherd. I heard that they mentioned in the mine, the kobold said Saint Dithia. Oh, perhaps, well, sometimes there is this thing that people believe that just before moments of their death, they witness Saint Dithia with her bow that she's famed to carry, pointing, aiming at them.

They can feel her aim upon them. Oh, the icy grip of death itself. Yes, yes. Isn't it exhilarating? Well, some are afraid of it, but some find it a comfort as well. Because if you have Dathyr's vision upon you, then she can tether your soul here, and then you can be reborn,

so that the planar realms do not snatch you away. But reborn is how, how are they reborn? What do you mean? Well, you said about reborn, that souls are reborn. Are they, do they go somewhere? Or do they, are they brought back? Well, let me, so in our belief is that when you die, your soul is released from your physical body

and Saint Dethia does her best to tell you. She fires an arrow and tells you to Althea. And in that process, a new body is born for you, whether that is by, you know by a lovely couple, perhaps, or by magic or by creature or some such. And then if you are not worthy, then you are reborn and your memories and your former life are wiped away

so that you can attempt to find worthiness once again. But if you are worthy, then you ascend. You become one of our divine saints, as Saint Dathia herself once did at the very beginning of time, at the bright storm when she rescued, when she proved herself in the great calamity that befell upon high.

Interesting. Yes. But that is what we believe, anyway. Well, thank you for sharing. It's enlightening. And I must say, it is... I do not... I cannot say that I agree with some of your beliefs,

but they are fascinating to hear, and I very much respect your belief in them. But, yes, yes. And you plan to stay long here in Caldwell? I was planning to move around, learn more from the different cities. I think Ashen Rest is our next stop, so... Oh, I mean, it's bigger than here.

It's a large, well-walled town, the Duke's home, so you are bound to find many people there of great interest, and I'm sure that Burnell is a small place. We're growing, but small still. But perhaps one day we will be like Ash and Rest, a big town full of business and busy people.

I don't doubt it for a second. Oh, thank you. That's very sweet of you to say. I think I've actually... I think I've had a bit too many wines. And Mrs Teethistle does not like me coming home drunk. I tell you that. I always make a mess. I insist on cooking and I make a mess in the kitchen. Oh, it's terrible. Also, get the trumps.

Okay, then, okay. I'll bid you a good night. Oh, very good. Good night to you, my dear. And the Greyfather, is it? Yes, it is. Can I, I, can you walk with their blessing? Is that something that I could?

I will bless the grave. Yes, I will. Let me have a look in my teachings. Let me see in my notes. Oh, you have scripture. I do, I do, I do. Oh, wonderful. Yes.

Flesh for the mortal, blood for the eternal, in his grace, by the great father. Oh, my goodness. Well, and by scions and saints, may you walk blessed in both sun and moon. In fact, he reaches into his pocket and he pulls out a little prayer book of Ulthuan, like Ilmeiran religion, the Church of the Scions,

and he hands it. A gift on your travels, to learn more about our ways. Thank you very much. You are most welcome. Good night. Stumbles out. Adrianna's just like, Reverend, your coat! Very good, my dear! Put that on.

Put it on backwards. Anything else from anybody else? I am all good. I wouldn't mind joining up with everybody else if there's a table. Yeah, I have something, but perhaps like end of night something. I mean, I think unless there's anything else, it sounds like Xan and Daisy and that. I'll probably just take my usual little bit of time

to do some little doodles in my book, speak to my friend and update on everything that happened in the mine. Yeah. So Nim will say to you, update on everything that happened in the mine fully. So Nim will say to you, when you sort of relay and relay your memories and things like that, she will, they will kind of, not curse,

but you hear almost like this harsh chime sound in your head. That's tifling was bad news, I knew it. Worries me that they got away with that artifact, but no matter, cannot be helped now. But it was a bit broken. Would it maybe be just broken enough to not be useful anymore?

If it truly belongs to the person that they work for, then they will be in the position to fix it. But sometimes the Planar Powers meddle in the mortal realms, seeking things and favors and items. Perhaps now they'll simply reclaim it and save it for another time, but still. But yes, but you did excellently. You fought well.

Copped your mind, didn't you? I tried. Was I better than last time? Oh, yes, yes. You're certainly picking up, you're certainly learning much about how to wield the blade, but also your movements and keeping your, you know, use the high ground,

very important in reconnaissance and ambushing. Yes, you did very well, little one. I'm very proud of you. Yay. Okay, well, I was hoping that Rowan might sing a song, but I think he's actually fallen asleep at his lute right now. He seemed very tired. So, maybe tomorrow, though.

If he sings again, I'll make sure and let you know. Sure. Rowan's in the armchair like mouth open snoring how tuneful is the snoring it's quite nice baritone him will say one more thing

I wasn't fully aware of it but there was a moment down in those mines it wasn't plain arbet it was something of the those mines. It wasn't plain arbut. It was something of the plains, but it also wasn't. Something that that dragonborn did. I felt it.

I'm not sure what it was, little one, but just be cautious. Be cautious. Oh, I've got two to be... I've got the bitey one, and now I've got the shiny boy. Strangely, that the woman who has the touch of death about her, I feel she does not give me as much concern as that surge of power I felt from the dragonborn. Interesting. It was only for a brief moment. There was something.

Gonna need more to scoff. But still, perhaps. Gonna need more wine. I did not fully sense it. Perhaps it is just the nature of his magic, I don't know. But just be careful. You want me to ask him? I could just, I could just ask him. You are not very subtle, my dear. No.

Perhaps just listen. Wait and listen. Okay. Okay, but I still think I should buy a scarf because even though Bitey Woman says she won't bite me, I quite like the scarf. It was cozy. Do as you will. She goes quiet.

All right, Gruff. So I think Gruff will be... Talk to this fucker! Spending the evening, enjoying the food, enjoying the drink. A little bit awkward, because this is a lot of people, and it's a lot of noise, and he's like...

Normally this is something, when it's all your family together, but that's family. This is strangers. um so he's a little bit like like laughing a bit too loudly and going a bit quiet but enjoying himself and kind of feeling that warm strange glow of like yeah we did do a heckin justice today and like that was his first taste of it and okay yeah um and then yeah yeah I'm trying to let that in um but I think towards the end I guess as things are starting to quiet and stuff like that he would go up to Xanthius yes and he would say Lord Xanthius as I said, just Santhias. Would you accompany me to the little stream nearby?

I need to... I'd like to soak my paws. And I'm an old man. I'd like a little company. Sausage swam in it. What sort of company are you asking for here? Is this an interrogation? No. And by all means. And so I guess as we walk, Gruff will light up his pipe.

You know, not saying anything really, just kind of, you know, quiet old dude lighting up his pipe as we walk. You make your way down down you have to go outside the walls to find that little geothermal pond near the church and the reverend's cottage.

You maybe hear some fumbling like no no dear just a bit of bacon smash bang bang bang as you see the lights in there but it's quiet. He's my new favourite.

And you find it and it's steaming in the night air. Like it's still perfectly, you know, it's still hot. It's a proper little hot spring. So you can sit on the little bench. There may be some rustling in the bushes as you see a couple of the fire stoats or whatever we call them scurrying around.

I'd probably invite, you know, I'd put my paws into the the water and sigh a big contented sigh and invite Xanthius to do the same

I'll just sit cross-legged by the but I'd still sit with you tip the tail in maybe yeah just a tip and I guess

just as there's a peaceful moment Gruff would say And I guess, just as there's a peaceful moment, Gruff would say, We met on the road. You were in trouble. Meek and firm. Vulnerable.

Vulnerable, yes. But not now. I won't lie, when we went to the mines and I saw you talking with that tiefling, I did wonder about you and I wondered how you fit in in the world of justice and what's right and wrong. And I was very proud you did not take a deal or a trade. We saw how that, the colours of that one in the end. Mm-hmm, we did. What happened in the mine, I'm not asking any questions.

I just want to share some wisdom with you. When I tried to heal you, and I saw you there, hurt from your own magic. And you looked at me, and you looked straight in my eyes. Let me tell you, young man. I've seen that look before. In the eyes of a man who was drowning. Now, I'm not asking any questions. But I just want to tell you.

If you need help, just give me the sign. asking any questions, but I just want to tell you, if you need help, just give me the sign. I think you see Xanthius, I think to begin with, he's trying to be as stony-faced as he can, like almost trying to stare you down, I suppose. But in the final line, something does kind of twitch for a second there, but he can't quite bring himself to answer you until eventually he does just nod slowly

and just turn to watch the stream, I suppose, but can't quite formulate words to answer that point. But it definitely got to him. And Gruff wouldn't say anything. He wouldn't even be looking at you when he's saying this. He'd be smoking his pipe, looking around. And just looking up at the end afterwards, like, kind of, and just saying, We enjoy the stars for now.

The stars. For now. As you have this conversation, Xanthius, subconsciously, not even actively, but your hand drifts towards your chest. It would, yeah. You feel that ragged lump. Heat. Also maybe...

something, looking at Gruff, hearing those words. But the pain seems less. But maybe it's beginning to strain sensation in your right hand. The tips of the fingers almost feeling warm. It's like Smouldering. I mean, I think in my head right now, it's a memory of the burning hands that I had when I went down earlier. So I don't pay too much mind to it.

Also, a lot of weird sensations. Right. We leave that as a great scene. And I think that unless there's anything else, that'll be the long rest. Oh. Long rest. I stay in that armchair unless someone takes me to bed. Now, Chris Trott.

When you long rest, the point of exhaustion you gained from the effort of pushing the creature out, that goes away. But I still have the... The level of exhaustion you got from the effort of pushing the creature out, that goes away. But I still have the... The level of exhaustion you got from the journey, that won't go away until you have an extended rest in like a safe haven, basically.

And an extended rest is about five days of downtime. It's like doing stuff in and about a town, basically, like not active adventuring, right? Cool. You awake on the 10th day of mid-moon of stormfall uh you awake to the sound of the soldiers uh of uh captain vicario's force preparing to uh continue their sort of like investigation a little bit but mainly are securing the area now like making sure there's no more of those creatures out there you hear the guards kind of talking about it like yep we can go and patrol

up into the hills around the mines um the captain's talking to the foreman and and the reeve and a few of the others and things like that in fact actually no you would actually hear uh the captain's talking with the foreman uh and the marshal uh and then you overhear Adriana just like, oh, did I hear you correctly? The Reeve is missing this morning? It's like, yeah, the captain went to speak with her, and she's gone. Maybe we should have told someone.

You overhear cleared out the treasury, and the big thing you hear is like, yeah, she cleared, the treasury and is... So the big thing you hear is, like, yeah, she cleared out, like, the town's treasury, like, you know, what was left. She's taken everything. So the village is, like... Well, luckily, the tithe has already happened. The hoarding tithe took place a week before the campaign began.

So the tithe has been paid to the Duke, but any, like, town funds that were remaining for, like, repairs, were remaining for like repairs infrastructure things like that is gone um also like the towns were only mine potentially yeah is also empty well perhaps with new things discovered well deep in that chasm like yeah um but you over here like yeah the captain's speaking with the foreman and the marshal there's a bit of a kind of big uproar like the towns were just like you know i can't believe yeah, the captain speaking with the foreman and the marshal. There's a bit of a kind of big uproar. Like, the towns were just like, you know, I can't believe it.

Like, the Reef's gone missing. Maybe it was those thieves. Maybe one of the criminals, like, I heard that the kobold escaped. Maybe they stole it. Like, there's a lot of, like, you know, gossip and rumor kind of floating around. Adriana is just like, oh, my goodness. When will it end? But good morning, good morning uh maybe like

you've stayed in the lordly reigns but uh philia you've been sort of invited to come over and meet with everybody uh the duke the captain has said he will come and meet you here at the peony post to give you your reward and your writ and things like that as well um so we all around like a table in the uh yeah in the peony post yeah so adriana brings out breakfast uh it around like a table in the... Yeah, in the PA post, yeah. So Adriana brings out breakfast. It's like a sweetened porridge with like cinnamon and like honey. There is like bread and butter and like fruit. All sorts of things are brought out. All basically paid for by the captain's purse.

She probably makes a joke of like, well, you should make the most of it. Once you get to Ashen Rest, I don't think you're going to be getting any free meals. Friends of the Duke or not. So make the most of it while you can. Like piles on like toppings and porridges. You wish for me to leave? Well, Rowan, I think that it sounds like the rest are all heading on to Ashen Rest.

Is it my music I can do better? Rowan, your music is beautiful. You are a big, tall, kind soul, and it has been wonderful to have you play, but you can't stay here forever. You don't want to stay here, and you know, when everyone is going off on a journey to a big town. Are you all going? Oh, well, I'm definitely heading towards Ashen Dress, yeah.

Oh, I'm coming. I'll come. I'm coming, yeah, I'll go with them. Well, Rowan, I would definitely welcome your company. I'd love to hear more of your songs. I've got... I don't know how many I have. Well, so far I've only heard one about the pedals. We still have to write the lyrics for that.

Yes, I have. We're going to work on it. Yes. But yeah, I do want to break that out. Anything before Captain Vakara comes and meets you, any kind of plans or anything like that? Otherwise, yeah. Just getting more food.

Yeah. Into pockets and pouches. Load them up. Load them up. Pretty much. Going to load them up. Captain Vakaro comes and meets you. Ah, good morning.

I apologise. I wanted to spend a bit more time with you, but it seems that our fleeing grief has left me with more problems to deal with, and I'm going to be focused on investigating that. Zaron, the Authority will be heading back to Ashen Rest with you to continue the investigation there in case the Reeve and our missing kobold make their way back to the town.

But, first of all, and he kind of looks very pleased when he presents this, he presents you with a beautifully gilded golden scroll case with these kind of elongated things. And he pulls it down, and he sees that in beautiful draconic, in calligraphic script, any of you who can't read draconic,

it is this language, only a few of you really know it. But I believe Xanthius does speak draconic. I do, yes. You were taught to kind of read this. And it is basically a writ of favor. Basically, the owners of this deed, your names, as you have been given them, performed a great deed in the service of His Grace, the Duke of Northvale, His Draconic Majesty, Ignarius.

This writ is signed by Captain Lucas Vicardo of the Second Talon to prove that these deeds are of honourable and just means

and that the Duke's favour should be heaped upon them and it's basically like a formal we did a great thing Duke

thumbs up but it is this beautiful looking document and he places it on the table along with a sack, which you can see has gemstones within.

His eyes just go... I'm afraid that coinage would be somewhat inconvenient for me to provide you, but you will find within the pouch, you will find a payment for each of you individually. A number of rubies that will provide you with, as I believe it was two, you did capture, even though we have lost the kobold,

you did capture them alive, and Beric, unfortunately, was dead, which is a slightly lesser payment, but it is a payment of 125 gold each. Wonderful. Wow. This is like beyond the realms of any of us. I mean, so keep in mind, in Ulfea, like normal D&D money,

like, oh, it's like one gold for rooming in. In Ulfea, and like most of the items as well, like if you want to buy a weapon, if it says like it's 10 gold in the player's handbook, it's actually going to be a lot more than that. So 125 gold is still a good reward. Yeah. But this is not like, oh my God,

the richest I've ever seen. You've all seen this amount of money at some point maybe not you've had it personally but you've seen like somebody just coffers yeah exactly right this isn't a crazy someone maybe all together because that's going to be like nearly 700 ish gold that's quite a lot but this is probably the most that daisy's had on her person at any one time same for sure but I think for some of you it's definitely going to be a lot. It's tearing up. But he will look at it and say,

this is my thanks for the great service that you've done, and I'm sure, please, if you speak with my grace, please make him aware that I have been very grateful for your aid and service. I will make him know. Thank you. Thank you so much. And I wish you all the best in your travels, my friends.

I believe that you have done a in your travels, my friends. I believe that you have done a great deed here and you have noble souls. And perhaps one day you will meet again. If you are continuing to aid my grace and the people of the Empire and the people of Khaldra, I'm sure our paths will cross again. But it has been wonderful to meet you all. Strange and unusual as some of you may seem. But with this, I must bid you farewell

and go chase after our missing Reeve. If you do happen to find the Reeve on your journey, make sure that they come into custody. I believe the authoritor will be traveling with you and young Cade has asked, he has his family stationed in Ashenrest, so him and a unit of three guards will escort you along the road.

Oh, wonderful. Just in case. There might be problems, but hopefully not. But with that, he stands up, snaps your firm salute. Goodbye. Try to be a bit more... Go for it. Yeah, what would be like a formal sort of... Not like a bow, I suppose.

I mean, for you it would be like a bow, like a kind of hand over the chest and sort of a nod of the head. That would be a very respectful gesture. Okay. But yeah. In that case, a bow. Yeah. Rather than a...

And with that, the very last thing before no cliffhanger, apart from you guys do level up. Oh! Yes! We will handle that offscreen, which will bring you to level three. What are you going to do? Now, some of you, if you are picking your subclass,

whilst you are going to have those, we're going to get the subclass, build it into your characters and stuff now, I would like to, when you maybe get to Ash and Rest or maybe along the way, we start laying the foundations of how you're going to get that subclass. I do want the subclasses to be a bigger part of you know the narrative it's not just a

thing you pick up as a game mechanic so for example i believe rowan you need to pick a subclass which means that we need to figure out how that's going to work and how you're going to gain that same with daisy and i believe also same with ophelia um whereas yeah we've already got things yes you guys do but that will also be a thing that as you gain abilities I want to keep building into the narrative

as part of arriving in the place maybe something will happen on the road maybe not we'll find out so that's it for episode four

just one thing I want to say as well like as we are playing through this we have a lot of homebrew rules and mechanics those things are

going to evolve some things might work some things might not don't worry about it too much obviously more than welcome to like leave you know your feedback and stuff like that but keep in mind we're all friends in a nice way yeah in a nice way but we're all friends and we're going to figure it out as we go so there's a lot of mechanics yeah with subclasses with the crucible

of fate with like magic items there's going to be a ton of stuff that gets homebrewed um and everything like that as well uh as always do go and tell all your friends it's a perfect time to start high rolls we've got the brand new campaign and it's the best way you can support us is just getting the word out there maybe somebody's looking for a new dnd show to watch maybe somebody's watched another dnd show they've never tried high rollers it's a that helps us out immensely uh so please go and do that we love you for it that's it take care and we will see you next time. Bye. Bye. Bye. Oh, we're back, everybody. Hey.

Thanks for watching a great episode. We hope you enjoyed it. I had a great time. Very intense, but fun encounter. Trying out some new rules. Yeah, whatever you want. Nice little bit of RP. Loved it.

A bit of level up. It's been a long time since we've had just a long, gruelling dungeon delve, you know? Yeah. I mean, that was also only three and counting. As far as dungeon delves go, that's not a big one. Oh, I know, I know. That was a scary boy. Yeah, it was a scary boy. You guys got Brookstoned again?

Yeah. Sort of? Well, kind of. Kind of, yeah, kind of. We knew he was an ass. Yeah, exactly, no. You didn't get fully Brookstoned. We didn't trust them to start with.

Hey, is there anyone who's not concerned about Xanthius? Oh, yeah, no, fully concerned. Concerned, whereabouts are you? Well, now I am, yeah. I mean, since session zero. You and I, Tom Hazel, we need to have a conversation before the next episode as well. Because another day has passed and things are happening.

What do days mean? What do days mean? But with that, bye-bye. Bye, everyone. Bye. Bye-bye. Bye. Bye.