High Rollers DnD - Altheya: The Dragon Empire #50 | The Gullible Jotnyr (Part 1)

Episode Date: February 11, 2025

Our lovable, gullible, friendly Jotnyr shares his story with the party as they make plans to head towards another proto-magi Vault! _______________ Boost your Charisma with some HR merch! https://highrollersdnd.teemill.com/ Add official High Rollers Minis to your TTRPG collection here: https://only-games.co/collections/high-rollers Bless your table with the Clever Toad Dice Set: https://dispeldice.com/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. Do you want to Netflix and chill without paying the ridiculous subscription fees? Have two dates to prom and don't know what to do? With your most meaningful relationship with just your dog and some peanut butter? Complications of the heart are serious business, but don't panic. Zero Degrees are turning their attention to your romantic trials and tribulations. Join Zero Degrees for an exclusive Valentine's Day live event on the 12th of February at 8pm. There's also an after show party where we will be doing an Am I the Arsehole? All Valentine's Day

themed. Patrons of course will be able to join in for free or if you want to hop in you can pay four dollars and come join the after party madness. Tickets are selling out so be sure to grab one real quick from moment.co. slash zero degrees. Come and join us. Hey folks, Mark here and I wanted to do a little podcast shout out for anyone looking for more funny D&D adventures. I've been listening to Tales from the Stinky Dragon recently and wanted to recommend it. It's a show full of humour and heart with five amazing writers, comedians and voice actors like Gus Cirola from Red vs Blue and Barbara Dunkelman from Ruby,

and it's very accessible for folks even if they aren't D&D experts. I love their immersive sound design and original score, which makes the podcast feel very epic and cinematic. In fact, you might have actually seen some of their animations and puppet videos on social media already. That's right, puppet videos. I think there's a lot of similar vibes between High Rollers and Tales from the Stinky Dragon with goofy hijinks, emotional moments, Chaos Gremlin roleplay, and all the stuff I know

you already love. So why not check out Tales from the Stinky Dragon anywhere you listen to podcasts, or on youtube.com forward slash at Stinky Dragon Pod. Cheers! Thanks everybody. Hello and welcome back to Hyrule's Ulthaea the Dragon Empire. Our heroes have spent a few weeks in Ashen Rest working on various projects and outfitting their inn Tyria's Rest to their various needs. An arcane workshop has been built for Xanthias, and a druidic sanctuary potentially for Gruff as well. Ophelia has followed an Ossian ritual to carve a necrotic wooden heart that would enable her to enhance an undead minion

with extra capabilities. Whilst Daisy has researched the celestial rod that the party discovered in a troll's lair, seeking out Blackwing the Elven mage, they discovered that it was called Zerrachial, Word of the Legion, and that it is a powerful relic that was once given to a celestial warlock for the aid in tracking down celestial spirits. However, this rod is packed locked and would

only function for a warlock bound to the correct patron. Blackwing has advised Daisy to seek out someone who had more...underworld dealings with planar magic items who could potentially unlock this relic. Meanwhile, Rowan delved into researching the proto-magi following his recent encounters and strange visions in the Ash Hills. Through careful study, Rowan has learned that the mysterious events in the Rustwale Woods north of Ashenrest may be connected to a yet undiscovered vault. And that is where we begin again today. A fresh new morning in Tyria's Rest.

Small little bit of admin before I want to hand it over to Rowan, I think, who expressed a desire to maybe speak with the group about his findings. Gruff. Gruff, Kim. Hello. Mainly because you weren't with us in the last time. So I wanted to go over the options

for your Druid Sanctuary in the Garden. So, the base cost will be 300 gold in raw materials and 200 gold in enchanting supplies, so about 500 gold. It takes up half of the garden. So basically you would, and this would include your pond. So with the rune stone of hearth and home that Rowan has, the garden's limits for space are now filled up with the druidic sanctuary, right?

That would take up all of the space. It would take about five days to build and about seven days of downtime for you to attune to the space because you would need to spend time sort of meditating here and we can make that retroactive. We can say that that's been going on for the last while. And what this does though is you would have a sanctuary

which would contain a stone structure or perhaps a small hermitage like a small building or shrine and various rune stones and the planting of various plants and trees depending on the land type that you choose. Each sanctuary is attuned to either arid, polar, temperate or tropical. I think it would be polar, right?

Yep, absolutely. And what that would mean is that magically, that part of the garden would have a polar climate. So it would be, you would have a little bit of ice heart here in Caldre. You can go ice fishing. In like ponds. Into your pond, yeah.

And all the plants would, it would enable the plants and creatures to thrive there if they were native to that environment, right? The benefits. So by spending one hour performing a ritual here and providing a suitable offering, about 25 gold of rare plants, incense, a small gemstone, et cetera,

a druid can choose one of the following benefits. Once per day, attract a tiny beast that can deliver a message, as per the spell, animal messenger, cast at third level. So you basically get to have a little carrier pigeon, or a weasel, or whatever you want, basically. Penguin. Yeah.

Penguin. Well, the penguin, the moment it leaves the aura of this snow climatist. It's fucking hot! Oh, god damn! Lights a cigarette. Oh, it lights a fedora Why would it light a cigarette? Sorry, that voice just gave this penguin

so much character in my head. Geez Louise, you wouldn't believe where I've been today, honey. Really? That message. But being cast at third level, it would enable it to basically reach ice heart. That would be like the limit it can travel to.

Your other option instead of that is, well this is on like a seven day recharge, is you can actually gain one additional spell slot of a level up to your proficiency bonus, that once you use that spell slot, it's gone until you get this ability back again. So think of it as like a one use extra spell slot of right now I think it would be third level. Yeah, for your proficiency bonus.

Yes. Yes. No, I have fourth level. Fourth level, okay, so you get an extra fourth level spell slot that basically once you've used it's gone until you recharge this, and it's a seven day recharge. And then the last thing is potential upgrades. The Sanctuary has three unbound spirit stones. The Druid can have a nature or animal spirit

bound to these stones, providing different benefits depending on the type of spirit. So very Studio Ghibli, very kind of like, you might meet a nature spirit out in the world or an animal spirit, and you would need to convince them, or if you, you know, I don't imagine this would be Gruff, but some druids might forcibly try and sort of bind it to them and things like that.

But I imagine Gruff would like convince them to come and be part of the sanctuary. But those would be upgrades that you would need to find out whilst you're questing, all right? Awesome. And yeah, if you want to just spend that 500 gold, we can say that that has all been happening during the downtime.

I already spent it, because we had a little catch up in downtime when I already took it off. And I took off your 500 for the bench. Oh, wonderful. Excellent. Did you just call me a bitch? Yes. Okay.

Very fair. Yeah, I was gonna say, actually, it was very fair. Right, now, last thing, before we jump into some lovely RP, Crucible of Fate is... It's been too long. Oh, it's been too long. Whoa, where'd that go?

Oh yeah, keep it up. Bity bity bity bity bity bity bip. We're back. We're back, baby. I should've fleabity beep beeped a bit more. Oh, right. Well, let's go around, starting with Katie. Five.

That's a dice for you. I got a five, five, five, five. A dice for you as well, my darlings. I got two. Ooh, a lovely, a dice for me, what a treat. I got a two, too. Another one for me, lovely. Right, a six.

Oh, a dice for you. Two down. Three, two. Come on, five. A three, oh, lovely, an eight. Well, yeah, scales are fate. And then a three. Oh, lovely, an even three. Well, you know, scales are fate. Balance the scales. Perfect, so with that, we find ourselves,

perhaps it is a fresh morning at Tyria's rest. You come downstairs or from your various bedrooms, making plans for the day. The downtime now coming to sort of an end. You know, about a week ago, you experienced the Volant Vault, and ever since the magic of Ulthaea, there has been a subtle change in the air, and even some of you have found that

some of your sort of natural abilities have shifted, changed ever so slightly. This is something we've had enough time to train in and understand as well. Yes, absolutely. One of the reasons I wanted it to happen in Dao time, you know, Ophelia, you have managed to contact the Grey Father, you know, concerned that your Visage of Dread was no longer working, discovering that this is, you know, your connection to the Grey Lands is maybe a little weaker and it needs time to rebuild

and you need to practice your necromancy to sort of uncover these kind of powers again. For Xanthius, it would be learning more about your Ruin of Magic, maybe learning some new spells as part of your new spells that you can use. Breaks a barrier and locks a few doors in the process. Damn it, Thunderstep, I miss you already, my bae.

Exactly. What? What? What? What? What? What's wrong with you today? I don't fucking know, dude.

Jeez, where do we start? I know exactly what's wrong with him. He's been up till three, four in the morning pretending to be a blacksmith. That's what's wrong with him. Yeah. But yeah, so like you, and even the people of Ulfair, you know, you've encountered mages and soldiers

and things like that, and everyone's sort of discussing that yeah, like whatever happened with that vault, it seems to have spread, not just over Caldre, but across Ilmira, across perhaps even Ulthair itself. I've got one less charisma point now. I now have Starry Wisp as a cantrip, and my background is no longer archaeologist. My background, my entire history has just changed as well.

It's really odd. I'm no longer a fishermanologist. I'm Pat Gredd. I say this. My entire history has just changed as well. It's really hard. I'm no longer a fisherman. Really? You forgot? I just forgot, I don't know what I'm doing anymore. But where would perhaps we, where should we begin this kind of scene

of a beginning of a day? Has anybody got any ideas of what their characters are doing or ways that this new episode or this new season might begin? I wake up wanking. What's wrong with you? Leave the table right now. Go sit in the corner.

Imagine starting a season like that. It's been like two years, I've been waiting for this show to come back, I can't wait to see my favorite character rowing again. Go, go, go! Go sit in the corner. Until you can behave yourself. It's one of you guys, it's not my son. What, what? Okay. Go sit in the corner until you can behave yourself.

What? What? Okay. What is happening? I think Rowan's dying in there. Rowan wakes up from his dream. No, we're not doing this scene! Of the dream where you're hard fucking a rock.

Oh my god. Rowan's not doing that. No. Rowan just wakes up. Okay. And someone else is taking the season opening. Rowan's not doing that. No. Rowan just wakes up. Okay. And someone else is taking the season opening. Maybe he's actually playing King.

I have a nice idea. Let's go with that, Kim. Let's go with your nice idea. How is my energy weird? Both of you. Both of you are. Yeah. I was playing the Blacksmith game too.

We need shock collars. We need shop callers, honestly. Oh god. Carry on, carry on. Oh god. Annecy. Gruff is outside in the shrine. Wait, we role playing now? We are role playing. Okay, good.

You bitch. You bitch. All right. Yes, I don't know, because he gets up early, so maybe it's early in the morning, if anyone is watching or seeing, but he, given the change of magics that has happened, and his attunement with this new shrine, he senses there's something a little different that he can do, and he has his old staff with him, the one that used to be able to summon the Lucery Seren, and he has that out, and after a moment's thought, you'd see him looking at his staff,

and then he bangs it twice on the ground. Rhoma's doing that too. And instead of an illusory Seren, the magic comes out, the green kind of sparks of light and modes of energy, but a real life ice diver comes to life on the top of the staff and flexes its wings.

Yeah, we hear its shrill bird call as the wings extend out, almost like stretching, as if awakening from a sleep, as if just waking up from a nap. And we see that, yeah, that statue becomes very, very real as, I believe you're casting Fine Familiar. Yeah, Fine Familiar. Yeah, wild companion essentially now. And Gruff can now summon an actual Saren. Actually summon Saren.

Nice. And you notice that when you summon Saren, there is something ever so slightly magical now about Saren. Saren was just a natural Ice Diver, but now there is a touch of something magical. And would you like this to be a celestial or fae energy that's kind of connected to them? I would recommend fae because it's a bit more connected

to the natural world. So there is something of Saren which kind of, maybe those motes of green light, maybe it was the enchantment that the mage, who made your staff, has sort of connected to, and there is this slight magical element to Sera now. And yeah, you have access to your new familiar. And I think, yeah, Groff would take a moment

and just, yeah, just look at her, and maybe almost feel like the cold on her wings, and if anyone was close enough, you would see that there are tears in Groff's eyes. And he just kind of takes the moment and said and... Just immediately flies from the top of the staff. And I like to imagine that maybe the staffs remain stuck in the ground because it's like snowy ground now, right? Like the ground has become soft and as you slammed it into the ground,

it's now kind of locked in place as flies from the little perch on the staff and just lands on your shoulder as Saren would when you would come to feed them or tend to them and begins to kind of like nuzzle your neck and then nuzzle up against your hair, immediately begins coring like hungry, basically. Like Saren is hungry and is like, you know, feed me.

But just acting as if no time has passed, just as if it was back home. Oh, my heart, how I've missed you. Hopefully, maybe I can summon your sister too. And just kind of like, calls and looks around, kind of taken in the new environment, basically. You hear like a dull, glassy thud, coming from like the top second floor behind you,

and Rowan is pressed up against his bedroom window. Why, Siaska? And then you hear some thudding of running down the stairs. Who, what, what'd you say? Who's Siaska? Who's Siaska? Not Siaska, fuck me. He's hard reset, like several years there, bud.

Dude, he's had a mercy. He doesn't know where he is now. Oh my goodness, I've never heard of... Or Talisvar! I need to pull a pressure check. Rowan treads down the stairs. And he's bowing. It was embarrassing, I had to remember,

I was like, what's Talisvar? I was like, what is that? Deep law. Yeah, do you know where the Laura Glenodel was? That's right, my favorite elf, the Glenodel. New fans are going to love this shit. Anyway, references to our very first campaign. Anyway, so yeah, Rowan, you come running downstairs.

Thump, thump, thump, thump, thump. What's happening? What's this? Ooh, is this? Also, Rowan, as you get outside, when you step over that threshold, yeah, there's that, you forget that you step into this arctic kind of, oh, it's sunny, it's really chilly as you step into this half of the garden. Step back to the threshold.

And I will send, I will whistle and send Saren to fly to you. This quite large, Cormoran-esque bird flies over towards you, Rowan, kind of circles around you and then lands on your shoulder. It's got a poop. Hello? She's rather well-trained, my boy.

Make an animal handling check, Rode Gruff. Oh, animal handling, okay. Oh no. Feel it. Know what he's fake? Oh, it's a four, but plus seven, so that's an 11. There's no poop. If you'd rolled a one, there'd be a poop, but.

Yeah, there'd be a poop. Yeah. This, my dear boy, is Saren. Saren, it's so good to see you. Ah! You're so tangible now. It seems... Can I pet them?

Are they petable? You can, and I whistle again, and they land on your shoulder. Sort of duck their head down, almost waiting for scritches along their long, slender neck. Beautiful. Hello. Good screech. It seems with the change of magic, I don't know.

I just suddenly felt this connection, maybe with the shrine and whatever's happened since the vault, and I just called for her and she's here. Yeah, there's something about that vault. It sent something out. I feel it too. I feel some slight changes in the magics of the land. A blessing, to be honest, if this is what I can do now.

Yeah, there might be some downsides, but depends on how you rolled your character, frankly. I have no idea what you're talking about. Cairona suddenly transcending through the plains. Become the Deadpool of Olfair. I know. Break the fourth wall. Oh, I see, Asuka.

But yeah, so we see the scene. What's Ophelia up to? I imagine after hearing Rowan fonder down the stairs, Ophelia will wake up and be like, today's the day, they're ready. Ah! And she's gonna fly out of bed and fling open the indoor after getting ready and doing all her hair.

I like to imagine him personally he's maybe chasing after you. You're so excited, he's trying to get the last few bits done and chasing after you as you're running downstairs. Good morning Rowan, good morning. Hello. Good morning Grog, hello. Who's this? This is Saren, Saren, this is sister Ophelia.

Oh, she's beautiful. The famous Saren. In the flesh. Surround, craning her long neck around. Have you noticed some changes since the vault? I didn't want to dwell on it. I feel like it's my connection to the Gravefather. Something's gone wrong.

Gone wrong? Well, I don't, it feels different. I feel like it's my connection to the Gravefather. Something's gone wrong. It's gone wrong. Well, I don't, it feels different. I don't like it. I don't like that it feels different. You know what I mean? Well, it has its upsides. I suppose. There are changes, yes, but I,

it doesn't feel the same. I don't feel the same strength, the same connection. Do you want some food? Maybe some food? No, no, no, I need to go up to the printing shop. I think my flyers... Do you want to read a book? No, my flyers are all ready. I need to go pick up my flyers.

That's why I'm up so early. Do you need a hand? Do you want me to carry something? I don't mind, I mean, if you're not busy... Or have you got Percy doing it? I mean, Percy can come with... I guess Percy will help me do it. I'll help you carry it. Okay, thank you. You ready to go now?

Do a couple more scritches on Sarah. Oh yes, I'll do some scritches too. A couple scritches. Oh, beautiful. Can I feed them some pocket lint? It's caught, there's snow on the ground! What's going on? Oh yes, that'll be my shrine. I seem to have harnessed some energy of ice heart

and brought a little of ice heart here. This is amazing! I was gonna say for Ophelia, I think that the temperature of ice heart would feel closer to your home back in Osseus. It's quite a cold climate in Osseus. The temperature of the crypt. Very much so, yes.

Are their shrines, like, looking at you? Well, like, Gruffs, I mean, I don't know what you imagine it to be, but it's not necessarily a shrine shrine, it's a sanctuary. So it's really up to you, like a hermitage can be basically like a small little stone cave, or it could be like a kind of very juridic kind of altar looking thing, or it could just be

like some menhirs or like standing stones. It's really up to you, I imagine it's all kind of around where the pond is. Yeah. I imagine the pond is kind of the focus point. Why would that be? I don't know, it's a good name, isn't it? The fate of a Menhir. Yeah.

Yeah. It's up to you. If you split me some money, it could be a Menhir. Sponsored by. This grid sanctuary is sponsored by. Sponsored by. Yeah. But yeah, so like, whereas like,

Ophelia's is like a little church, like it's this little stone and wooden church building, all very dark and gothic obviously, but very different kind of vibes, but yeah, they're kind of very close, like you have to go through the garden to kind of get to the shrine in some places. I imagine they're not literally parallel to each other.

Nah. Yeah. It's kind of around the corner, but it's not... You're gonna have a shrine off, aren't you? One's gonna get slightly bigger. Mine's big enough. You got the towers in action right now. Hey, hey, hey.

Hey, hey, hey. I'm ready to go, Ophelia, if you like to skedaddle. Okey dokey, I want to come back to this snowy place, though. It feels a little bit more like home. It doesn't look like it's going anywhere, right, Grog? No, I think this is it for now. Oh, well, could I come and sit in it for a little while later?

Is that okay? I'd be honored. Oh, I'd love to. Oh, thank you. Be back in a little bit then. You see Daisy standing in the kitchen at the window, glaring. With glare everywhere. Glaring the snow. You're so loud hair everywhere. Flaring at the snow.

You're so loud and it's so early in the morning! Hello. Hi, bye! Half the day's basically gone now. Ophelia and Rowan like out the door, like making their way out. We're gonna get some flies, apparently. Leaving Daisy, so we see Daisy kind of glaring

at everyone from the window. Chill, rub her eyes, and then go to the door, and then go, snow! Crap, what's happened? There's snow and she's immediately going to get on the ground and make a snow angel. Yeah. Right.

No! There's almost this very faint snowfall that's like always falling in this area. Just, and it ebbs and flows, but yeah, like as Daisy you're making the snow angels, like over time it'll slowly be covered back up, but yeah, it's very cold. For a cauldron who's only ever lived in cauldron.

No, she's gonna do it for a couple seconds, get up and go, why did I do that? And then run back inside again. And it's freezing cold, like, oh, it It's that real excitement of a brand new experience, like something you've never, you've heard about, you've read stories about, you've seen pictures of, but actually getting to feel it and touch it, and it's so, just this magical moment

for really understanding it. As you sort of run back in, Daisy, and you maybe run back up to your room, your clothes are now a little bit damp and wet, and your hair's kind of got the same thing as well. Do we see what Xanthius is up to, maybe? In Xanthius's head, if you indulge me for just a moment, spotlight pose, spotlight new outfit, spotlight audience

of people cheering, spotlight walking, spotlight sunglasses Struts, struts, struts. Spotlight, Ophelia's pissed off. They're like, sunglasses come out. Ophelia's pissed off, spotlight, crowd, spotlight, some dragonborn in the distance, spotlight, robe guy, I wake up. I like that, I like the idea that he gets creepier. Yeah, like in the dream he's like perfect, immaculate,

then he wakes up, his head is upside down, there's drool going up his face. Yeah. And I just start to wake up, like way after everyone else. You hear a kind of thump, thump, thump, thump, thump. As like Daisy comes running back in. She'll knock on Xanthias' door.

Don't roll about in the snow, it's really freaking cold. What do you mean snow? Snow? Snow! There's snow. How long was I asleep for? It's winter now. Oh my, I've missed so much. Well, I mean, even in winter,

I don't think you would get snow in Caldra, cause like, you know, it's so- Daisy, what the fuck is snow? Ha ha ha. Do you ever read? Ha ha ha. Ha ha ha. Barely not. Do you ever read? Barely not. Asked a very prominent role play question. Oh damn.

Do I? You do, I suppose I do. Yeah, you probably would have heard of snow. I've heard of reading. You've heard of reading. What do you mean snow, Daisy? In the garden. Oh no.

Gruff made it snow. Gruff! Well, okay, I guess Gruff's not here. Rowan? They can't hear you. These windows are immaculately soundproof. You're on the other side of the house. I'm far away from everyone.

That's right, you're here. They're all the way back there. Oh, I thought the garden was here. No, it're here. They're all the way back there. Oh, I thought the garden was here. No, it's there. No, your bedrooms are at the front. They're at the front of the- You're facing the main street. We're at the back.

Step, step, step, step, step, step, step. Gruff! What is it, Zanthia? So you're in trouble. I heard about snow, what's happening? You hear a whistle. I imagine you're, are you like, where are you? I'm like going around the balcony, heading down the stairs.

Okay. Ready to come outside. As soon as you go outside, a snowball hits you in the face. A fireball comes back. No, it doesn't. I'm being attacked. Ah!

What is this? Who was that? Good morning, Xanthias. Oh, I hate this already. What is this? Welcome to my little corner. I have a nosebleed. There's a rock in that snow.

Ow. I spend one faint point and I'm dead. You hear, Daisy comes back down, but she's completely bundled up. Scarf. Scarfs and loads of clothes, and then she comes back out into the snow and makes a snowball and throws it at Xanthius.

So wet already. Welcome to my little corner of the world, Xanthius. You really cut this out from the usual cauldron. I don't know what I'm saying, I'm so tired. It's lovely. Thank you. It's cold. Also, what do you think of this? And I whistle and Saren appears over your head.

And a fireball comes back. We're eating tonight. Wait, I know that. That's the... Saren. Saren, yes. Saren, I don't know why I said it. I guess I would.

Saren, well that's Saren. Ask my dear sweet Saren. I can actually summon her in real life. But it's not like the, it was all blue before. This is her. The real, actual? The real, actual. Wow, it flew all this way.

I'll be honest, I don't know. Ever since the Volen Vault, I've just, I felt this connection and now she's here. Oh, you all feel different as well? Mm. Mm, weird. I feel great. I don't seem to be able to shape water as much anymore. But you were so good at that.

I know. It was so useful. Exactly. That's a real shame. It's a real fucker. What a nerf. Yeah. Damn, you really got debuffed there.

It's the best spell. I'll tell you. Meanwhile, as you're having this conversation, so Ophelia and Rowan, you make it over to Tooms and Company printing house. This is still quite early, and as you approach the young Noamish woman, Preeta, is basically opening the shop up,

opening up all the shutters, and getting the outside looking, maybe bringing the sign out and things like that, specials, romance, action, sort of things like that, kind of putting a little board out for the front. And she sees you, oh, hello, my dear, hello. Are you here for your pamphlets? Yes, I am, yes.

We've got them in, they're looking wonderful. Oh, amazing. Your lovely little illustrations as well. Our team loved working on them. Oh, amazing, thank you. And she goes in and she fetches a box, quite a substantial-sized box. And it's all been neatly printed up.

It's in a beautifully kind of ribbon-wrapped box, stamped with Tombs and Company Printing House, which is a logo of, it looks like a gravestone on sort of, in front of a tower, basically, like a little watchtower, and there's like a gravestone in front of a tower, basically. Like a little watch tower, and there's a gravestone in front of it. And it has the name printed around the outside. And she's like, here you are, my dear! And she brings it over to you. And she opens it up for you and shows you the first one.

Amazing! You look incredible! I'm so glad that you're pleased with them. Obviously this is quite a new thing for us, working on, you know, sort of religious pamphlets and teachings and things like that, but we do hope you appreciate the work and we're very glad for your business. Thank you so much for, well, helping me with my little request. Of course, of course, of course.

And I've said this to you and to you as well, Mr. Brode, lovely to see you again. Oh yes. Yes, yes, we've met before. Was the books on the proto-major useful to you as well, Mr. Broe, as well. Lovely to see you again. Oh, yes! Yes, yes, we've met before. Was the books on the proto-mashai useful to you? Yeah, very, very useful, actually. Good, good. Did you find out anything interesting? Yep, yep.

By the way, I got some stuff to say about the research I found that might set us on a new adventure. Oh, wonderful! And with stories. Yeah, I was going to say, like, anything you'd like. that I found that might set us on a new adventure. Wonderful! And with stories. I was going to say, anything you let, please, yes, we'd be delighted to buy that,

the information from you for publication. I've got a collaborative story with our adventuring party very recently. Oh really? Ready, three, two, one. Volun Volt. Volun Volt! Volun Volt, the comet. She was on it. Oh wonderful, yes, we would love. Volen Volt. Volen Volt. Volen Volt. She was on it.

The Comet. Oh, wonderful. Yes, we would love to hear about that. It belongs so many. Should I schedule an interview? Three, two, one, crown steel pile. What's that? Should we schedule an interview

to have, I can come down and take some information and notes from you? Sure. Yes, absolutely. Would tonight be all right? Yeah. Wonderful. I will come by this evening

and we can have a little chat about what you've, what you've discovered, what you've learned. Yep. Do you like, what do you eat? Oh, no, you don't have to worry about that. No, no, no, no, no. Do you like coffee? Yes, I do. Yes, that's fine. All right. We haven't hosted yet.

Oh, no, it would just be a very casual interview just to get some of the details down. What if it's not warm enough? Because I need to send it to head office in Kelskares to see if they're interested in buying the greatest Torah you see. So, you know, it will be to get a few details and then I send it to Mr. Tunes.

Well, I haven't really fleshed out the idea, you know. Well, if you need a bit more time, that's fine, but let me come and get the basic details. Okay, all right, that's fine. All right, very good. Well, I hope you enjoy the pamphlets. Thank you very much. You're most welcome, most welcome. Good luck, good luck.

Thank you, bye bye. Wave goodbye. I'll carry them if you want. You may carry them if you wish. Oh! Wait, what? Oh, this is what you were doing, lino printing. Wait, you actually made them?

That's so... Well, Rowan's the only one who's got it so far. You don't like to look. Yeah, Rowan, the box is open, you see them sort of arrayed inside. Did you just say smells like leaflet? Yep. The House of Flood welcomes you to a

congregation. Congregation, yes, I went to the. Wow, very fancy, huh? Yes. Ceremony to follow at Tyria's Rest. Mm-hmm. I have class. Congregation, yes, I went to the... Wow, very fancy, huh? Yes, well... Ceremony to follow at Tyria's Rest. Mm-hmm. I have plans. Can I look inside?

I'm looking inside, here I go. That's a lot of words, I feel it. There's a lot of things to say. How much was this print? Oh, well, I paid for it with my platinum, so... Your platinum. Well... Yeah!

You also got your own gold from the duke and things like that as well. with my platinum, so. Your platinum. Well. Yeah. What? You also got your own gold from the Duke and things like that as well, yeah. Oh, this is a lovely drawing. Oh, thank you, yes. Did you do that? No, no, that was just a quest that I made. A commission?

Yes, a commission, yes. Lovely. They had to replicate it by hand. It looks just like your shrine. Ah, thank you, yes, that's what I was going for. It's a guide to guide people to a new home. Hold on, what's that? Is that a rock?

That's yours, that's your rock. Is that my rock? That's your rock. Rowan starts tearing up. Well, it's part of the end, I had to put it in there. Made it into the leaflet. Yeah, and there's the tree. There's the Chinese tree.

Phenomenal. Phenomenal. Well, as Rowan reads through, yeah, Rowan, you start reading through. Tree, because this is fresh news to me and I had no idea you were making this. Do you mind if I put this on the Patreon for people to look at? No, not at all.

There you go, it'll be on the Patreon if you want to see this. It'll be on the Patreon. Oh my god, this is so good. That is phenomenal. Yeah, well, let's say that Ophelia and Rowan, you make your way back, you enter the inn, and yeah, you all see Rowan that Ophelia and Rowan, you make your way back, you enter the inn, and yeah, you all see Rowan and Ophelia come in with this box full of these pamphlets.

Graff, I don't know about this, this is far too cold, actually. I'm just gonna go back into the house, I like it warm. You just need some better clothing, I want it. I think I do need better clothing, I simply have to go back to this team. I was gonna say, are you wearing your nicer clothing that you got?

Yeah, I am. Yeah, so actually, are you wearing your nicer clothing that you got? Yeah, I am. Yeah, so actually, yeah, you would all notice that, yeah, that last few days, Xanthius has been wearing a rather fabulous little outfit since the St. Typhoon's Day festival. Yeah, which is art-wise almost identical. But it's just a nicer fabric, nicer patterns.

I think the older ones might have had, some of the patterning might have rubbed away or disappeared over time, whereas this is clean. Embroidered, rather than being a kind of painted on design and things like that. But yeah, you make your way back, and Ophelia and Rowan. Rowan is like sat at one of the tables looking through.

Is the wording perhaps a little interesting as Rowan's wording? Very interesting. It's very interesting. It's right there. It's quite, yeah. Well, it's Ophelia, isn't it? So I've not seen these yet. I should point out I've not seen these. When we get to the front door, do you want to enter with drama?

Always. Yeah, I was thinking like, I'm going to kick the door in. Oh, okay. Here we go. Okay. I kick the door in. None of us are in there hard. Here we go! Okay! I kicked the door in. None of us are in there, we're all in the garden. What was that bang?

Did you hear that? I heard that. We're under attack! Fireball! Fireball! Fireball! Fireball! Fireball!

I'm a snowball. Hello? Just a luck. Oh, ice and fire. A nice combo. Mmm. Hello? Hello?

Rowan, Ophelia? We're in the garden, freezing. I'm perfectly fine. I'm fine, wrapped in layers and layers and scars. You've got to take a look at this. This is my optimal temperature. Where have you been? I've been vacating my pamphlets for the next sermon.

Oh, of course. And they're good? You're happy with them? I love them. I'm very happy with them, yes. Whoa, that's so... How many did you get printed? Scary. Like a hundred. Oh, of course. And they're good? You're happy with them? I love them. I'm very happy with them, yes. How many did you get printed? Scary. Like a hundred. So I've got like a box.

It's like, yeah, like a little box, yeah, full of them. Yeah, I was hoping to just put them around town and invite people into the sermon. Oh, that's a lovely illustration. Yeah, really skull-like. Yeah, that's great. You really captured the rock. Lovely illustration of the garden. Just like it.

A tree. Thank you. Father, take this lowly flesh, tear them from, oh. Yeah, well that's a thing. It's like a little hymn, or like a little sort of prayer. I have a thing, well, I have a ceremony to do later when Percy is ready, and I was hoping that maybe I could get the congregation to join me.

Oh yes, lovely. Is any of that gonna happen? Is your flesh gonna be taken? Oh no, it's just metaphorical, it's for prayer. Oh right. You know, it's all. You've gotta ask, haven't you? Just in case.

It's fair to ask, I suppose. I mean, Ossian traditions are different to Ulthayan traditions. Yep. They're in the leaf, so it's, can't hurt to ask. I like the, I like the seal. Gruff desperately trying to find something to compliment without being heretical.

I existed to put that on. That's kind of my trademark for Osseous. Yeah, nice... Very cool. Colors. Oh, don't you think so? It's very vibrant. Yes, good use of the blood red.

Very sanguine. Yes, very sanguine. Yes, yes. They did very well. They hit my recommendations spot on. And that was blood red. Yes. Skulls.

Very, very cursive font. Oh, it's exactly what the House of Blood would have wanted. Whatever a font is. Oh, yes. I'll share a card. Daisy. If I remember correctly, you looking at that box and seeing this symbol

of a gravestone in front of a watchtower, it would remind you of you met a gentleman at a ball hosted by Lady Embarissa when we did our other side quest, and you remember he had an amulet or a necklace on which had the same symbol. I relay that information. The ball with the masks. Yeah, yeah.

The fairies, the one with the fairies, all I remember is the really nice fairies. Was I in the toilet at the time? I wasn't there. I think you might have been, but he had that symbol. I think you were the only one who spoke to him at that party. I can't read my handwriting. Adelaide and Dante? Someone Dante.

I'm going to be very honest with you. There was a table of food. And there were very nice little fairies that I was talking to. It's true. And then something went wrong and there was all sorts of chaos and things like that. I remember I was like... Just something that just, yeah, you just, oh, I think I remember seeing that symbol before.

But yeah, what about the rest of the day? The symbol that's on the... The symbol that's on the box of the... The tomb. The tomb, yeah. The tombs in Co-Printing Company box. But yeah, what about the rest of the day then? Rowan, did you wanna speak with everybody

whilst everyone's gathered here before people go off on their different ways, or? Rowan would probably be like, hmm, everyone's here right now, great, this would be a perfect time to do it. Rowan bails out on that. But later on, he catches Gruff. Okay. On his own.

Yeah. Gruff, he's standing on the edge of your winter paradise. Not coming in, because it's cold. You're just both in your own temperatures. Yeah, a little climate. Can I have just a quickie? Word?

Absolutely come in. Nope, there's a little nippy. It's perfect temperature, bracing. Yeah, invigorating. Invigorating. He's perfect temperature. Bracing. Yep. Invigorating. Invigorating. He looks down at his sandals. I'll join you.

Thank you. Would you like a stroll around the garden? Sure. Small stroll. I know, right? It's just like we just turn a little square. Just like a bench near the runestone. Yeah.

Somebody's been playing on my mind recently since the Volen Vault. And I don't know how to bring it up to everybody. Well, are you okay? Are you in danger? I mean, vaults are dangerous, right? Yes, but as you can see, we went through one and we came out rather unscathed. Well, I've got some history with vaults. It's not my first one. I did wonder. You seemed, um...

Well, I'm not going to say at home, but you seemed to have some familiarity when we were in the Vaulan Vault. I did, and I've learned some things recently that might be interesting to explore. If anyone's willing, there is a vault, and one of the missions that we were assigned as a potential option turns out that is a vault.

At Rustwild. Rustwild. Rustwild. Rustwild. Rustwild Woods. Rustwild. Rustwild Woods. Now, I've gotta ask you, Rowan. Is this going to put you at arm?

It's going to put me at both arms and legs. Right. Because you see, with Xanthias, we've got to keep an eye on Xanthias with the crown still and make sure he's not in danger, right? Of course, yes. And then we ended up going right to the source of crowds. Nevermind. Oh, I see.

But I see what you're saying. What I'm asking is, is this going to be dangerous for you? Because I don't know what your history is. All I remember is I remember looking at your arms and looking at some of the patterns I've fought and they look rather familiar to me. And I just want to ask, especially after what happened to you with Belaine.

Yep. Yeah, there's a little gap there that I may not have revealed everything, because it was a little difficult. And we just kind of plowed on and we had things to do and crown still to deal with, you know, and it wasn't that important. It happened in the past. But, yep, there's a little... That's why I wanted to bring it to the group and see what everyone thinks. And just kind of, it's gonna be sitting on my mind and I just kind of want to let it out now.

Rowan, you have my full support. I know our friends will support you as well. Just want to ensure that you are safe because everyone thinks that my tenants, you know, protect me, confirm, and vulnerable. Everyone thinks I'm only focused on Xanthias, but you know that extends to you as well. I kind of hoped it would.

That's why I came to you. Thanks. I look up to you, Gruff. Oh, don't look up to me. You're taller than me. Look, if I do this, I can. I can squat. Right you, Gruff. Oh, don't look up to me. You're taller than me. Look, if I do this, I can. I can squat. Right.

I'm joking. But yeah, thank you. I'll find an opportune time to tell everybody. Well, you want me to gather everyone now? Well, that's a little sudden, isn't it? I've got so much to do between now and then, obviously, so. What have you got to get done? Gotta clean my sandals.

Pfft. You. Oh, sorry, I thought there was something else coming. Yeah. All right, just the sandals. Yeah. Because I could clean them for you right now with. I wouldn't.

All right. Very stinky. Okay. Fine, okay. Sometimes right. Very stinky. Okay. Fine, okay. Sometimes you just gotta get it done. You're right. I can't put it off. I'll have your back, Rowan.

All right, thanks, Gruff. Let's do this. You're a big strong fella. You're stronger than you give yourself credit for. You can do this. Rowan bends down to the edge of the snow, scoops up a little bit. I needed to know what it tasted like.

I'm sorry, I was very preoccupied with it. What does it taste like to you? Just water, cold water. Yeah, that's pretty much all it is. A little bit. Yeah. Cold water. All right, all it is. A little bit. Cold water. All right, I'm good. Here we go.

I can't speak that tall. I'm just glad you did that bit, not that bit that Stuart was missing earlier. He's gonna do something really sweet and nice and he just eats it. Did you think you would be sugary? I kinda did. Yeah.

Yeah, it looks so like perfect, you know? Yes, if you don't mind gathering people. Gough just has an internal moment. Well this is happening a little bit later on after like everyone's kind of done some stuff. So one thing I wanted to do for Sister Ophelia, giving out your pamphlets. I wanted to see how successful you are.

Oh yeah. Cause I imagine you would like go around Ash and Rest, like you go around to different areas, maybe the big plaza where there's lots of travelers, maybe go to some of the inns like walking around giving these out, right? But how often does that work in real life, just going up and giving people breakfast? So I would very much like a persuasion check. Yeah, you can spend a fate on this, absolutely.

Oh! A natural 20, 21. Highest roll of a life. 21. The highest roll I could get. Roll a D6 plus five for me. Plus five. Four plus five, nine. Nine. I'm gonna say that you give out a lot of these pamphlets

and a lot of people, they kind of take them like, what's this, oh yeah sure, I'll take that and then they don't really read it properly. Some people read it and they're like, oh yeah, and then they hurry off. It's just, you come, it's very important. We'll see, we'll see if we're free and then, you know. But throughout the course of the day,

and you don't give them all out, right? You know, you spend a little while, maybe give about half or just under. But you think you've made a pretty strong impression on about nine different people. Who you think are genuinely, especially the wording about people that have lost meaning or feel worthless

or not sure of their place in the world anymore. Maybe appealing to some of the lower class kind of workers, you know, the artisans, things like that. But also, you know, a couple of people of more prestigious looking kind of roles who are feeling maybe a little bit sort of aimless. One including a very rich, like merchant's daughter, who just seems to not really know what she wants from life. And yeah, the pamphlets seem to intrigue them.

And they will come and attend your ceremony this evening. Including Theresa. Yes. You already have Theresa and Vraxxus Kal. Yes. So with those Theresa and Vraxxus Kel. Yes! So with those two already in place, that will give you about 11 people plus the party currently who are gonna come and attend.

Now whether or not, it depends on how the ceremony goes, but you're definitely making inroads into, you know, spreading the word of the Great Father here. Small steps for now, but you know, definitely making your place into it. Awesome. Yeah, but very successful your place into it. Awesome. Yeah. But very successful so far.

Yeah, absolutely. You'll need to keep that up and make sure they stay interested and you might even need to spend some time with them. If you'd like to as well, to go away and come up with some NPC names and things like that for the people you'd like to be in your congregation, you're more than welcome to. Cool. So just let me know and I will add some details about them.

Nice. Nice. Xanthias and Daisy, is there anything you would like to do during the day whilst Rowan and Graff are having this conversation and Ophelia is out doing her pamphlets? I wanna pick up a copy of the Clarion post. Yeah? I'll go with him, because I'm walking Stewart. In a 50-50 of pride and fear.

Which is actually just Santheus. So the Clarion group, they do a newspaper called the Clarion but they also have like town criers and heralds who it's their job to travel from town to village and basically bring word and news and they carry with them copies of the paper. But the paper is only printed like, sort of every 12 days. Because they have to consolidate information,

they get it printed in Kelskaris, and then it's disseminated, right? So you can go and find the last month's edition, basically, or the last 12 days edition. I'm not in that one. But you're not in that. Unless. I think it's not been enough time. What about the hero, the Ash and Rest?

Yeah, there would be like, maybe not on the front page, but like, you know, in one of the sections, like you go and pick up like the last 12 days, and one of the larger sections, and there is a sketch of probably the broken tower, and like, you know, the Watchtower, and some of the destruction. But there is a report on, it just says,

battle for Ash, or demonic battle for Ash, for Cauldron Town, is what would be the headline. Demonic battle for Cauldron Town. And in it, the sort of agent, the herald of the clarion, writes about how, you know, Lamplighter's Guild in prosperous Cauldron Town nearly brings forth demonic invasion, foiled by group hero adventurers and Duke Ignarius himself.

You know, kind of goes into, doesn't name you guys in this article. But, you know, says like, you know, very much is like, these heroic individuals, travelers to the town, would probably say including a knight errant or something like that as well. Knight errant and a diplomat of the Austrian Empire. I think they wouldn't necessarily detail you guys, but for news, the idea of like,

and you know, that's a little sensational, right? So there's like, what business does this Ossian diplomat have, but the people of Ashen's Rest surely owe their lives, yada yada yada. Duke Ignorius, reportedly his daughter, Lady Embryssa, was wounded in the battle. What a heroic example of our draconic nobility. Very kind of like, little bit of propaganda involved, right?

But like it's a fairly substantial article in there. Okay, yeah, I mean I'm happy to just see what information is actually getting spread out, at least from that. He wants to Google his name and see what comes up. Yeah, but there's like definitely. You're right by the way, Daisy, turns out I can't read.

I have no idea. Can you read this to me? Make a, both of you make, oh no actually no, just because you're the only one, Zanthias, make an insight roll for me. Which I know you're not very good at. Oh, I might have changed with the new, no I have proficiency, but plus one. Two of Marlin's and three of your...

Yeah. Wait, have I got the right character? I have. It's not Marlin. Yeah, you're right, yeah. It should be that. So this should be the... Right, insane.

Should they? Red this side, blue that side. Yep. Bates are flipped in this realm. I've been very triggered about it for the last hour. Just tell me. I've been very triggered about it for the last hour. Just tell me! I got an 11. Oh wait, do I not have...

I think I have a thing that gives me some special to... to... Investigation, not insight. Investigation, yes, you're right. Yeah, so reading through like... There's all sorts of articles, but you don't really glean too much information from it. But this, the Clarion kind of deals in a mixture of like real world events, like you know, but it's like boring stuff, you know,

there's like gossip, but there's also celebrity gossip and things like that in there as well. Like, ooh, night so-and-so, seen in the arms of mage so-and-so in Kelskaris, ooh, is there secret romance blossoming? There's like, you know, such-and-such town discovers new mining operations. Like, is this going to be the future of Gildai?

Like, this mining town and things like that. So there's like all these kind of little bits in there. But there is, yeah, like I would say within 11 you don't pick up too much. Yeah, yeah, that's fine. I mean, I'll keep an eye out for the future issue. Perhaps, and then when you return from your next endeavor, perhaps, your next adventure, there may be something more prolific in there. I'm worried, guys.

You haven't told us that yet. Double-paged support. We don't know that you're worried. I don't know what you did in your day off. Oh, my. Gruff didn't see the show. That's true. I just love that it kind of gave a valid reason

as to why you two were pissing each other off in the vault. I noticed that in the Volun Vault. It really timed up really well. As a reason why you were kind of bickering so much. Yeah, it timed out. Or part of the plan. So Daisy, you're just walking Stuart. Any other major plans or anything

you would like to get up to? Not really. Yeah, sure, that's fine. How often do you have to walk him? Every day. Every day? Okay. But then there's the garden, so he could go out.

He only has the really tiny legs, so he can't go that far. That's good to know. Is he gonna be joining us on, you know, if we leave the Ash in Rest, if we go out elsewhere? I don't know, I might leave him here because it's not very safe. Okay, as long as you have someone to look after him. if we leave the Ash in Rest, if we go out elsewhere. I don't know, I might leave him here because it's not very safe.

Okay, as long as you have someone to look after him. It's what Percy's for, Percy can take him for. A skeleton man with his sausage dogs. He's always being chased though. Yeah, does Stuart try to chew off Percy's leg? I think sometimes the ankle bone has definitely got teeth marks. Stuart's walking along with a bone in his mouth and Percy's licking. You put that back right now! Put that back!

Help me! I'll help you! Okay, so. And stop. So with that then, let's jump back to perhaps a bit later on, perhaps just before Ophelia's sermon, when Gruff and Rowan sort of gather everyone together. Rowan's sat in the corner, his leg is bouncing with nervous energy. Mm.

He's just like. Pfft, pfft, pfft, pfft. Me. Rowan, please stop your shaking off! Sorry, sorry. Dominus Ignar crumbles. to, uh, z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z- Ruff, you got anything to say or? Rowan has something he would like to share with you all. Oh really? And we're all going to listen. Okay. I'm Rowan.

What? Hi Rowan, do you want us anywhere in the? Oh no, just make it, just go about your business. All right, night everyone. I've got a sermon to get ready for, so I'll just be doing. Rowan has something to say. Is it, okay, go ahead.

Imagine this is one of your performances. Would it help if you played your lute while you told us? I could play a Sustenuto, I guess. Would that help? Yeah, I'll play my rock song. But instead of the lyrics to your rock song, tell us what you need to tell us. As if it was a song.

All right, I'm just going to play a melody just to calm my nerves. Okay, yeah, all right, well, I'm listening. I start strumming just a nice casual ambient tune. Lo-fi. What? Nothing. Turn your head.

No, no, I thought you picked up on a word I said. Anyway. I'm going to watch the VOD. No, no. I thought you picked up on a word I said. Anyway. I'm going to watch the Vod. Strutting. I missed a joke. Hello. I'm in crisis. So you remember everyone we were like out and about in the ashen ruins for a bit.

What's the time? Oh, it was a good time for us bit. Oh, what's the time? Rowan, Rowan. It was a good time for us all. Everyone had a great time. And we went down into the mining excavation. Yes. And it was all naughty and bad. Horrible.

Jason was, caught me unawares and went to stab me. Yes. Yes. So she stabbed me and it left a mark. Okay. First of all, and I show the area that was stabbed and is now turned to stone. Yeah. So you see that the flesh itself has become stone. Like, you know, Rowan has grey, stone-ish kind of skin,

like a little bit of his giant heritage from the Dale Giants, but this is like, there is no flesh, it's not grey coloured. There is like strata and like, you know, like lines and cracks and things like that. It is petrified. I can feel you just like scratch a long nail on it to be like, oh no.

He kind of like pulls away a little bit. I'm sorry, that is stone. Actual stone. Which nowadays I think is pretty cool. Well, okay. Because I like rocks, frankly. But this came from the knife? No, this is what I kind of explained,

but a little bit more happened. Okay. Remember when I said kind of the ground and the earth cocooned me? Protected you? Yeah. We strangled Blaine. You mentioned that, yes.

That one. Yeah, so I was in the cocoon, I was kind of in a different realm. I think it also protected my stab wound. Oh. So that is not a bad thing, the stone. No, that's why it's, although traumatic, that I got stabbed.

Of course. Kind of cool, right? I mean, yes, but. It's a little weird to flex. I was gonna ask, you can still move and... Thankfully not quite... It's not restrictive? On a bendy bit, so... Okay, that's good.

It's kind of, yeah, just there now. Okay, and you feel okay, it doesn't hurt, it doesn't... Don't think so. You don't feel it spreading or... I think it just stopped the... It's just there. The pain of the stab. Interesting.

Right? Yeah. I think that's it. I mean, great, as long as it's not a curse from Belayne or whatever J. Soon did. Okay, good, great. It sounds- I think this culmination of power

that came from the ground itself scared away whatever fragment of Belayaine was in this area. Obviously, Belaine is a much bigger thing that encapsulates the whole planet. So it's not like I strangled actual Belaine. I think I, whatever was here in that moment, I scared away. A vestige or an avatar or a herald or something like that.

Like a small piece, a shard, perhaps. And, yep, that's probably the whole thing. There's probably a couple other bits. I mean, when you're ready to tell other bits, we'd love to hear it. How about now? That you have a connection to the Earth this strong is obviously only a good thing, right?

Yes, it's very, very nice that the ground protected me and it might be for a reason. Witches. So, okay, you may have noticed, you may not have. My arms. Your green tattoos. Yeah, they're not tattoos. Out of interest, this is Tom saying this now.

I imagine them as like literally just green tattoos. Are they almost an embedded thing or Are they, I imagine them as like, literally just green tattoos. Are they almost an embedded thing or are they, I don't know if you know the- They have a texture to them. Okay. And it's- More like overlaid rather than embedded in.

Yeah. Okay. And if you like focus on them for a bit longer, like they don't have the same texture as skin. Right. They have a slightly different sheen to them. Maybe like, not even a millimeter, half a millimeter of like raised up from the skin as well. Like a scarring sheen to them. Maybe like, not even a millimeter, half a millimeter of raised up from the skin as well.

Like a scarring of sorts. Yeah, like, yeah. But basically it looks like a tattoo, right? From a distance, unless you looked at it up close, it would look like a tattoo. But when maybe Rowan holds up his hand and you can look up his arms and things like that, you now, yeah, begin to see that this isn't painted on

or there is a raisedness to it. This is something that almost looks like it's been placed and sort of like a... Like fused to him. Yeah. I just thought this was an element of your Yotnir clan. It's not really Yotnir at all. Okay.

So, I don't know if you remember, we went to the Volum Vault. Oh no, I remember that very vividly. It was just a couple of days ago. Yes, I wrote Obsidius for the other one, I can't remember. That. You wrote Obsidius? We all know you wrote...

As we all know, has affected us in some strange way. These things, these proto-magi vaults are very powerful. Yes. And they have strange ancient things going on in them that no one really understands fully. It's not the first one that I've come across and or been in. Wait, you found your way into a second.

This was your second? This is my second one. Where was the first one? Well, that's the thing, all right? Funny story. Okay. I didn't remember. You do now?

When I was cocooned. Right. Somehow these memories flooded back. Was it then? You do now? When I was cocooned... Right. ...somehow these memories flooded back. Was it then? It was then, wasn't it? Yeah, it was, yeah. I had some memories that were lost to me that I think maybe this power has given back a little bit. has given back a little bit. Hmm. And I remember walking through the lands,

as I usually do around the Azhar Steppe, which is, did you know I'm from there? Yes, yes. The Azhar Steppe. Yeah. And tropesing about, exploring like I do, and I came across this strange sound. Okay.

This humming, this harmony, this dissonance. And I drew closer to it. And as I got closer, my vision just went white. And I passed out, and that's all I ever remembered. But this coming to the cocooning, which I'm calling it now. No, it makes sense. Yes, yes.

The cocooning. That is what happened, I presume. The cocooning, it's hard to say. Just cocooning, which I'm calling it now. No, it makes sense. Yes, yes. The cocooning. That is what happened, I presume. The cocoon, it's hard to say. Just cocooning? I've got some memories of being inside now. Right. And it was weird. It was strange technology that I've never ever seen before.

And it tracked me and put these shapes on my arms. Wait, how long were you in there for? I don't know. Okay. And I just remember being out again and it put something on me that I feel a stronger connection to the land now, hence why I can feel the resonance.

Do you see anybody else in the vault? Yes. Was it just you in the vault? I did see other things in. You remember being in this device or this space and you remember words about something like primal energy or elemental infusion or something. And you remember looking out, Rowan,

and you could see there were maybe half a dozen maybe a dozen similar looking domes or spheres or something like that that looked like the one you were in but you can't remember it's very hazy because it was like blurry you think you might remember that there were shapes in some of them, but maybe not all, you're not really sure. But like, you certainly wouldn't have been able to get any details, but now that that question's asked, like maybe there were others in those other things as well. I relay that, the haziness of it,

and also this strange voice that sounded so cold, like emotionless, and that there was some sort of element, primal element, infusion, and then that's where I got trapped and infused, I guess. Well, we heard some voices, and also you said there was a tone, like a song or a rhythm. Yes.

We heard things like that in the Violent Vault as well. Yes. So maybe that's a recurring theme across all of them. You remember, especially from the Volant Vault, that there was the fabrication golem, the creature that made the Voidstar Ring, and that had the same, and for Rowan, it would trigger some, you know, it was very similar to that emotionless kind of voice.

Robotic, we would know it as a robotic voice, but more of like a construct, or an alien disconnected kind of voice. Okay. Yep. But there was no, this vault, the first one, there was no visible entrance. You just heard this... It was like a cave mouth.

Just looked kind of natural. Okay. Then as I grew closer to it, just looked kind of natural. Okay. Then as I grew closer to it, that sound kind of took over. And then... You really don't remember, like you could have, maybe there was an entrance, but you just don't remember it. The last thing you remember is walking into that cave

and then it's whiteness. Yeah. Yeah, so it could be that there's missing memories, but you don't know. And now you're connected to the land and it's assisting you in fights against old gods and guiding your path. Yep.

How long ago was this? Hmm. Quite a while ago now. Talking years. Yeah. It's been a bit. Was it after the vault that you decided to start travelling south? It's south, isn't it?

Yeah, a little bit south, the culture. Yeah. Um, yeah. I'm going to say, because Rowan doesn't know how long exactly you were in there, I think it would make sense that you've not been home since. Because otherwise you would have a sense of they would probably be like, oh, you've been gone for so long. You've been gone for so, so months. I think for Rowan, it's like you haven't been home home

since that happened. You know, why that is, I leave up to you, but I think otherwise you would have some answers, I think. I just, from that moment, I just kept walking. Did you have a destination in mind? Nope. I just knew that I didn't really want to go home. Okay. Hmm. Would your parents not miss you?

Uh, yeah. Probably. Have you contacted them since? No, not really. Is that usual in your culture? Uh, nope. It's not. Do you, do you want to speak to your parents again? Oh, yeah, that'd be nice, but I don't know.

I look different and it's just difficult, you know, with, I feel different. I'm not the Rowan I was before this happened to me, and now that I've had these visions of my past, it's become a bit clearer that I went in and came out different. But that shouldn't mean anything bad to your parents. It's complicated, but you're right. I should probably connect with them at some point. It's just really far away. And now we're heroes. And we've got missions, you know?

I think also to lend some credence to, like, Rowan's decision, you know, you come from a nomadic culture. You don't even... You might not know where they are. Like, yeah, they travel all... The Azhar steppe is a massive area of land, and trying to track them down could be very, very difficult. Like, it might take you months of traveling to try and find them. Would they be looking for you?

They might miss me, I'm sure, like any parent would, but it's not uncommon for people to go on their journeys and find themselves, seek their purpose. I think my purpose got given to me. So it's not that bad, grand scheme, but I do miss them. I'm sure they miss you too. Yeah. And they probably worry for you as well.

Probably. So that's my story. I'm just, I'm trying to understand So that's my story. I'm just, I'm trying to understand how you found this thing and why it gave you this ability. That's the question that is unanswered. Whether it's I just happened to stumble upon it and I was the unwitting victim. Or I don't think I was chosen.

I think I might have just stumbled across a thing. But there must be other people that have stumbled across this thing. And I mean, maybe has similar abilities to you. It wasn't just me in there. Exactly. I think there were other shapes. So there might be other people with this power or something similar?

I've been on the lookout, but I've not seen any. Is this why you've been researching, do we know that you've been researching Proto Magi? Yeah. Because I told Xanthes that I'm interested in the artifacts of relics from proto-major vaults and their technology. So yeah, that's kind of linked. It's interesting technology and it's also scary as we saw from vernen vault, the powers that they have. I wanted to make sure that there wasn't any nearby that were unsafe. But there's also part of me that wants to see more of them

and answer more questions that I've got. You found that there are in fact two, well, one that is known of in Caldra. You've read the story of the investigator near Emberford, but also you may be the first one to realize that there may be this other one closer to Ash and Rest. Yep, Roswell Woods. That mission that we were given

about the strange lights and disappearances. You think that's a vault? That's a vault? During my research, I think that is a vault. Oh, okay. And it might only be active for this next month. Oh, all right, so, okay, yes. Okay, well, I mean, good news. The weird whispers and whatever's happening in the Rustvale Woods will stop in a month.

But, I mean, we have been kind of looking for a proto-Magi vault. I mean, we have been kind of looking for a proto-Magi vault. I'm drawn to it. I just put it on the table. I'm not encouraging anyone to make any rash decisions on this, but I think I might go. If you're going, then we're going too. I hope you understand that at least.

Not going by yourself. My concern is the word disappearances. Yes. So people have been going into this vault presumably and not coming out. That's what worries me. I guess, yeah. Or they could well be coming out with new found abilities.

Being different. One may not even be recognizable. Yeah, but you're certainly not going on your own. Yes, and the Volant Vault, just as a reminder, very dangerous. So you're not facing that alone. But also very lucrative. Extremely lucrative. Mmm, yeah.

And, I mean, we could obviously take a quick look inside, but as long as... I mean, these vaults get raided constantly, right? But this one in Rustwale is... When they are known, they are raided, yes. But also highly controlled. During the Empress's reign, vaults that were identified and discovered

and were learned about very quickly were locked down by the Empress and her forces and the armies. And any of the contents found were very carefully controlled. You know, new spells were given to the academia to study, new magic items were given for study or found their best purpose for. It's only since the Empress's death that this kind of wild west of vaults has opened up, because all of the Draconic Lords and nobles want to kind of get at what might potentially be very powerful objects and magic and things like that inside.

So there's been a sort of general sort of like, yeah, anything you confirm from vaults, they're very, very keen to get their hands on, which makes them equally dangerous because you never know, you might run into some other people that have learnt about one or stumbled into one looking for riches. But as far as Rowan knows, nobody's connected the dots like Rowan has for this one in Rustwell Woods. There have been reports, maybe somebody could or maybe somebody has and hasn't said anything,

but certainly it's not a known vault. Normally the known vaults are quite famous. They have names, their sites are almost not excavated, but it's made sort of, you know, they know where they are and they mark their position and things like that. Yeah. Well, like maybe like an area is built of like,

we know a pyramid is going to appear in this spot in 20 years, so they build like a wooden sort of platform for it so it appears like they can get to it easier and things like that. Wait, you said there was two. Yep. So Rustwail... There's one somewhere else.

Somewhere, okay. There's a league that delves vaults, which is how I found out about it in Kelskar. It's called the Locksmith League. So if we want to find out more, these people are specialized in delving vaults. There is also a cult, isn't there, the Awoken? Yeah. Very well remembered.

It's just maybe because I look back on my notes to the Rustwale quest line and I saw a big thing that I wrote down about the Awoken. If you could just remind everyone else. Oh, they're the ones who loot for metal and crystals and put it in their bodies. Yeah. And they seek the power of the relics, and their leaders have unusual powers

and know how to unlock the vaults. Those ones. Those ones. Everyone remembers those. The ones that sound like Bed New. That one's at Emberford, right? The other one is at Emberford, yeah. It's the mountains near, close to Emberford, yeah. That was, like bad news. That one's at Emberford, right? The other one is at Emberford, yeah. It's the mountains near, close to Emberford, yeah.

That was what I said. I relay that. Yeah. The other one I think's at Emberford, but the Rustware Woods is the closer one that's also, I know, has a month before it will disappear. True. You also know that the one in Emberford,

the reason you found out about it is there was a report made by an investigator called Alia Moonflower. That's correct. And Alia and her party went into the vault, they explored it, they found some things, but it's likely that this was published like, you know, months ago, maybe close to a year. So it's likely that other people have gone in there since, so it might be raided and ransacked if it's still there at all. There was no clue on how to open that vault

though, so maybe there's still informational riches to be found inside if nobody else could figure out how to open it. I have a feeling because of the danger and the disappearances of this Roswell Woods vault, that it is relatively unscathed and it's just doing what it's set out to do, which is capture people for whatever reason. I mean, no one seemed to indicate that there was a vault there before, so maybe the Awoken or the Guild haven't identified it and aren't also chasing after it. We are going to have to deal with the dangers getting to it,

but I mean, if we're the first people to explore this vault, that's hugely beneficial for us. I hope it's hugely beneficial for you, Rowan, as long as, I mean, the thing gave you the power over the Earth, did it give you some kind of connection to vaults as well? Well, I didn't think about that till now. Maybe, maybe when you're in there. Oh, let me think of vaults.

How did you feel about the Volant Vault while you were in there? I felt like they had my vibe. It was a vibe? It resonated with you. It was a vibe. They resonated with me and they had the patterns on the walls.

But you also looked really, really scared. Now you mention the patterns. It was terrifying. You looked really scared in there. I feel like a little critter that's been put in a cage and had something done to them. And the thing that's done that thing

is way smarter than me and I don't understand why. That's how I feel. I'd like to find out why. We'll help you. Thank you. Thank you for telling us. Yep, that's my story. And I should point out as well that, you know, whilst Rowan was doing this research, you know, you thought you had about a month, you know, maybe, so that would be 34 days. You know, you've had about a week, so that timer is dripping down.

You know, you've probably got about something like 20-ish days to go before Rowan's estimates would come to fruition. So, yeah. I say that just at the end. Oh, by the way, that month thing was a couple weeks ago. Oh, okay, okay. Well, I mean, luckily, like you said, Rostock Werewood's not too far away.

Maybe two or three days. It's about a three-day travel to get deep into the woods, yeah. So, we've got Hot Rod though. We do have Hot Rod. Yes. But yes, we can get there pretty quickly. It makes sense that we go check this out.

I mean, we had a contact to meet there regarding the spooky spirits and noises they were hearing in the woods. Where did, was it Cassandra? Dame Cassandra. Where did she go? Because she said she was going off the lake. She went off to the lake.

Um, she did not, she left her squire. At Colville. Yeah. I fucking did it. I made a note. A single note. It's the first time in nine years. It says scalp.

Middle of the page. I reckon we should go to Colvale, the village. We might be able to meet the local reeve there, Elwendel. No way. That's actually very, that is all the whole information pretty much. Do you remember how much that quest cost?

The reward. 500 gold, give or take. What a smart boy. Written in a slightly different pen color. Wow. Look at the rest of my notes. There's literally one episode where all I wrote was I'm going to kill obsidias.

Ha ha ha! One day, perhaps. One day. So maybe we can go there and meet with this wreath. I'm not helping you on that one. What? I'm not helping you on that one. You won't have a choice one day.

No, that's just your problem. So is the plan that you want to basically gather up your supplies and head out into these Rustwell woods as soon as possible? Are we gonna take a couple of days? What's the vague plan? Stand up in like a... Well, Ophelia needs to do her...

Yeah, we've got your sermon. That'll be tonight. Nice. So when are we leaving? When are we going? Well. With Saren's. Okay, first of all, all those in favor of us going.

Aye. Aye. Aye. We don't even need to... Just making sure. Even Percival raised a hand. Thank you, Percival. All right. Saren raises a wing.

Is there not anything... Wait, can Per first personal talk now? It's the heart thing. No, no, no. That's tonight. Oh, that's the Seren thing. Okay, so we're all in favor. Great.

And going on this adventure. We should get supplies and things. Yes, we could do with some more vitality potions. Yeah. And a ration. How many pastries do you think we could fit on the wagon? So many. You could fit loads.

100. We should also get them things that last a bit longer. Mm-hmm. Well, that's a thing. It's maybe two, three days traveled, but we don't know how deep into the woods it is, how long we're gonna be gone. How long we're in the vault for.

How long we're in the vault for. We should take vault snacks. Which is? Vault snack. Surprisingly, like any other ration that lasts for a long time. It could be in their decades. Could be.

I don't think it's gonna be in their decades. Could be. I don't want dragons blood. What? Excuse me. Well if it's gonna be in their decades, then I'd be dragons blood, right? You're gonna have to run this one through slowly for me. Well I can't go decades without dragons blood. It's so nice.

You've had dragons blood before. Oh, is that the only reason? I guess Santheus probably was not, yeah, like wouldn't have been paying attention. I slowly step back. What do you mean it's delicious? I've had dragon's blood. Whose? When?

When? Why? When? I don't know why now, but what? Lady Thera. Yes. Oh, yes. Lady Thera, she... I told her I wasn't feeling very well. And she... Oh, right, yes. I told her I wasn't feeling very well. And she let me drink some of her blood.

You were thirsty. To help heal me. I said I was sick. You lied to Lady Berifera to drink her blood. I just exaggerated, perhaps, a little bit. To drink her blood. I hadn't had blood for ages. And she offered me some, so kindly. Hello. Does this mean that, out of all of us that are here, Xanthius is the most appealing to you?

To when it... I mean, I've not had Xanthius. No, you haven't. And I don't think you ever will. I've had Graz. Plenty of mine. Dragon. Graz is very nice.

I can't remember if we know about that. It's very, it's... Refreshing. Yes, refreshing. Like an icy cold beverage. It's wonderful. That think. Refreshing. Yeah, it's refreshing. Like an icy cold beverage. It's wonderful. That's a weird thing to be told. You've got Crownsteel, though.

Unfortunately, gosh, can't drink mine, corrupting. It was very interesting, although the after effects, if I remember, were quite... No, it would be worse than golden. The come down on the Crownsteel water and food was very, very bad... No, it would be worse than golden. The calm down on the crown steel, water and food was very, very bad. Yeah, and unfortunately my blood is gonna be much more potent than that golden...

Drink, I can't remember the name, but golden yellow. Do you know if you're helping or case? No, what I'm saying is it's purely detrimental drinking my blood. Okay. In that you'll die instantly. You wanna try some of mine? Hmm.

Dude. God. Ha ha ha. Starts licking it up like a cat. Nom nom nom nom. No, if you wanna try some, like find out who's the tastiest. Because then if we're all going in the vault, we need to see it.

We don't, it's not, it's, oh, maybe. Just a little bit. You have to. I can't, like a little bit. A little bit. I can't, it's been a few weeks, like you were. You have cut, like a little bit. A little bit. It's been a few weeks, like you were pretty, like the dragon's blood sustained you for a while,

but Afili, you've been getting quite hungry lately. Feel just like dab a little finger, just. Yeah, a little bit. Ah! Yeah! I was about to say, can you make wisdom saving throw for me? But apparently I didn't need to.

No need. So you just chomped down on Rowan's hand, like not even his arm or neck, but on his hand, the fleshy bit of his hand, sink your teeth in. It's strange Rowan, like there's an initial burst of pain, and then the whole area in your hand goes numb, and it's actually really pleasant. Like actually, ooh, it's quite euphoric actually,

there's almost a calmness that kind of sustains you and you feel, not sleepy, but very serene. Like you've had a really good gummy. Polyphony away, rolling. Ooh. Sister Ophelia. How much do you drink? Not a lot, just like.

Roll a D, what's your normal bite damage? Let's have a look. I think it's a D4. Plus. Plus. I want to know what it's plus. Three. Plus three it's a d4. Plus. Plus. I want to know what it's plus. Three. Plus three, roll a d4 plus three.

Do you have any d4? There's one. Seven. Seven points of damage to Rowan. As you just keep feeding it, there's a kind of floral note to this. It's kind of a little bit of an earthy taste and smell. Not unpleasant, but not very unusual

for the sort of thing that you enjoy. Maybe, yeah, very verdant. And it's been so long and you drink and drink and then it wasn't until like, yeah, Rowan's like kind of like nods his head or like his arm goes a bit limp and you see that that gray's gone quite pale, and you're like, ooh, and you have to kind of

snap yourself back out of it. Rowan, Rowan, I'm so sorry, are you okay? Oh, it's okay. Oh no, go sit down. Why? Just please, sit, please sit. You're gonna fall over, you're going to faint. A big paw comes out.

Hello. Some green magic manifests and I cast Cure Wounds on Rowan. New Cure Wounds. So many nice sensations. Back to Beck. 2d8. 2d8 now for a first level Cure Wounds.

Oh, it's doing it. I'm glad. Just rolled like completely one dice. How does that make you feel though, Tom? Oh, it makes me feel like I could have had this sooner. I like think of it this way Tom. You played Claracon hard mode. Yeah, and won.

What a god gamer. You did it pre-patch. I played nightmare mode. You beat it pre-patch. Yeah. Man. Now what a ride. If you don't, you can do that, that's fine.

We're just letting this happen now. This is okay now. I don't know what came over me. It's been a while, it's been a few weeks. I've not. It hurt, but after that, I was like, I'm ready. Ready for what? To die.

Oh good. Oh my goodness. Maybe we should put some like, sanctions in place or something. Off limits. Off limits. We need all the strength we can get. I don't think that you should come near me because, you know... I mean, I've already bitten you, but that was an accident.

Yeah, but if you do it again, then... Am I the only unbitten person here? Well, now if you want to be bitten. I kind of feel left out. What I think is seen for us to take our break on, as Zanthea's just quite, quite brattily is like, well maybe I do. Why not mine? You said you didn't want me to earlier.

I'm gonna do it anyway. Am I going to have to have? Both go in your corners again! Gruff by holding you by the scruffs of your neck. I bet I'm fucking delicious! Children! I'm gonna get a hangover! Yeah, I guess it would be like a slight on his pride, like that Xanthius is the only one.

It would be like cinnamony, oh, it would be so good. And with that, we are gonna take our first break here, everybody, so we will be back in five minutes and see you in part two. Bye-bye. See you in a bit. Bye-bye-bye. Bye.

Bye. Bye. Bye. Bye. you you you you you you you you you you you you you