High Rollers DnD - Ambition Bleeds Gold (Part 2) | Altheya: The Dragon Empire #81

Episode Date: October 23, 2025

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I'll say it. Sure. Our heroes have been finishing up the last few bits of their downtime. From writing and sending letters to train. in a new style of combat to running the Tirea's Rest, running the bar, the inn, whatever you would like to call it, the tavern, hiring new staff to upsetting the religious core of Ashton's Rest

and recruiting more followers in the Gravefather's name. All researching various arcane matters. You now have a security specialist looking over things and have come up with a plan to utilize, the draconic figurehead you recovered from the glory of paladrax as a attraction to the inn. But when we left things off at the break, Xanthius had just finished reading the letter he had received from his father,

and now his companions await outside. And that is where we pick back up as that echoes through. Yeah, deep breath in, deep breath out. It might take a few more attempts to slow, Xanthius's heart as the inevitable has come true. Zanthius, you okay, boyo? I will turn around and open the door and clutched in both hands is now this very...

Singed. Well, slightly singed, but also clearly like death-gripped letter in his hands. Right, lad, you know what I've said about setting fires in your room, yeah? Not setting fires. I'm not setting a fire. He has found me. My father has found me. It was this. Here you go.

Take a look. He knows where I am. Knows I'm alive. Knows everything about what I've done. He knows about this, of course, because of course he does. And apparently, I have family, family that I didn't. know about coming to reclaim this. He's sending more of...

More oregans after me. So what do I do with that? I should have planned for this. I knew it was going to happen eventually, but now he's just on his way. Well, first of all, Zanthius. You sit down. Okay.

Right. Deep breath. I've been trying to deep breath. One, two, three, Is I breathe out on the three or four? Okay, I'm breathing. Out. Two, three, four.

Okay. The first thing you need to know, we've got this. Do we? How do we? We've got this. We've got this. Yes, I'll think that, yes. Right.

So the letter, siblings are coming. Sibling, singular. Just the one. Oh, that's fine. There's way more of us. Did you know? you have siblings I didn't know I had siblings no

I don't know is this a brother is this a sister is this I don't know I don't know who they are I don't know how many there could be I don't know what kind of abilities they might have they might even have

some crown steel of their own I don't know but they're on the way here to find me to find us in our lovely little tavern um

Santhius I knew when we found you on the when I found you on the road something like this was eventually bound to come up it's okay but now it has happened and now I'm here in the situation I didn't

I really believed that we could have gotten right around it you know well I mean I didn't want to question it at the time because it seemed like you were having fun but going in a fashion show and being in a newspaper didn't really seem like the smartest move

if you're trying to fight for your father. What I wanted to do was live my life happily without this and now it's here. I get that. Maybe your sibling, whoever they are, doesn't realize the extent of the trouble that you've had because of your father

and maybe you could reason with them and tell them that he was awful. I don't know what reasoning I can do with them. I didn't know they existed. What care will they have for me? certainly don't have care for them. I wonder how high up in the chain they are. Well, but if this happened to you,

what would your father's capable of a lot to them? Can I read that? Of course you can. So your father? Did you come, burnt? What? The letter, no, so I almost, I figured it would be best to keep the letter.

Yes. What information it has on there. I know it's, Not so much of an implication for him. I don't know what we can do with it. He's been clearly quite careful with his words, but... We can send words to Duke Ignorius. If one of your siblings are on the way,

perhaps he can help us defend against him. The letter implicates me as well. Implicates us. Implicates... It's... Are you sure your father wrote this? Doesn't sound like something a father would write. So I've received a letter from him before.

Much of the hand. It all, yeah. In fact, actually, I think that those of you who are reading it, I actually think the three of you wouldn't be able to read it because I think it would be written in Draconic. Ah. Brilliant. Okay.

So, but it doesn't take much for Zanthias to read it out and read it out loud to you. I can speak... You can speak Draconic. Okay. So Athenia was at there reading it like, mm. Yeah, graph was like, yeah, yeah, yeah. It was a pride thing, she didn't want to let on.

No, my apologies, that would have, obviously I had to write it in English for Tom to be able to read it, but it would have been written Indraconic. You should have just written Indraconic and given it to him and see you know what? I'm guessing it also wouldn't have necessarily gildi like ceilings or anything like that. It's written that gold glitter. That last line about ambition.

The heart of ambition bleeds golden. That you would know is the house. Oregon sort of quote or motto. Which, to be that, someone could, but all signs, yeah. I mean, there's a you know, Rowan's right, it could be a forgery,

but who else would know you would say it? It's less that, the more the... Yeah, I know what Rowans, yeah, Romans's like, fathers don't speak like this. That's not a dead way of speaking to a son. Right, it's not. The things he says in here, it's very different to the folks. letter I received, but I believe it is written by him.

And the things we've come to learn about him, the first letter I received from him, I didn't know what it was he wanted me to recover, but now I do, and now I know he wants it back. Um... Well, wait, you can't have it. I don't want him to have it. No.

But he's... So what's the bigger picture here? Why... Why is he... Why has he placed crown seal within you? He didn't. He sent me to Kelskaris to recover it. Like I said, at the time, I didn't know it was crown steel

that I was sent to recover, but it was with the promise of being restored back into the house Oregon. I think that when Gruff asked that question, you start answering it, Xanthius, your mind kind of replays that memory. reaching out towards that pedestal and watching the thing you were sent for explode and then that searing pain in your chest. And with it comes a realization, reading through that letter and thinking back,

you don't think your father knows the circumstances of the crown steel. Probably thinks you're just holding on to it because who could have foreseen that it would become infused into you in this way? way. Certainly that was not the goal of when you were sent there. You were sent there to recover a much larger piece that, you know, had been purchased. But there was a struggle. Other parties wanted to get their hands on it. And it, for some reason, something caused it to detonate. Was there anyone, this is obviously above table? Yeah. Was there anyone with Xanthius? It was.

Huh. You remember flashes of red scales? Hmm. Um... Pubsidia. No. So he sent you to... Recover Crownsteel.

An artifact, but yes, as it turns out... So he doesn't know what it's done to you? No, he... A sibling has been sent to retreat. He must just think I just have it and is using it to fuel my abilities, but there's no way he can understand that it's become a part of me.

So in terms of, even if I did choose to submit to this sibling of mine, I can't. We know we can't. If they try to steal it from me, then you know what happens, but we cannot have them come to Ash and Rest because the scene it would call for starters.

You would expose obsidious. Yes. The harboring crown stool. All the farce, well, me, at the very, very least me. So if he's not responsible for the crownsulet being in your chest, how did it end up in your chest? When I went to Kelskaris, I wasn't completely unknown of where the location might be.

There is an organization running in Kelskaris that a friend of mine had been bragging in Rust End about the work they've been doing for them. So really I wasn't going in blind. I was following them. And when I got to Kelskaris, I knew of, the place where it might have been held and to say I simply walked in, I didn't go undercover as such getting into this place. I was assisted in some regard by this friend of mine that I'd known my entire life, my best friend working for this organization, and they'd been harboring crown steel. And it changed him in ways that I didn't like. I worry that he did something to change the

crown steel and have it fuse within my chest. But I haven't seen them since. But something changed with them over time in their work with this, this, this, whatever they are, uh, what is their name again, sorry? The diadem. The diadem. The diadem. Um, I think their name has come up before, but... Yes, it has. Um... So that cult that spoke of them, wasn't it? Mm-hmm. So they did this to you? Possibly, I don't know for certain. The events, Since I got to Kelskaris, and up until this happened, have been a blur since then. I remember walking to the gates, entering the city,

and... I think as you say that, we maybe see a little glimpse of that memory. This grand city, you know, for a boy who grew up in Rust End, to see the great walls, to see the throngs of people making their way down the park, path of ascension, the great floating skyways that connect the districts, and then, of course, the floating new imperial palace, this incredible structure of magic and architecture. Just the, there were so many people, more people than you thought could possibly be in one place.

And you're sort of looking around as this, you know, a much more, not younger, but more innocent, more naive, Zambles. Yeah, if you're being bumped around by people. And then we see a, like, come on, and like a red dragon-borne hand. Like, come on, like, grab you as you see Ferrier. Dressed in simple, kind of common as clothes, looks almost like a blacksmith's apprentice. Kind of gives you a cocky grin, like stop, and kind of like maybe like sort of gives you a little playful slap on the head. Like, stop gorking.

You look like such a farmer. Look at this place. It's amazing. so much to learn and do here. Yeah, we've got work to do, come on. You're right, okay. And then drags you inside. And in that memory, there's a little glimpse of the boy that you knew,

not the person they became. Yeah. And then we see that little image as it flashes up. So where was this place that you went to in Kelskaris? Do you know? I'm not certain. I'm not certain. If we went back there, maybe something will twig.

But thinking back now, I mean, it's all. I entered the city and then I woke up on the streets with gruff and then this pedestal with the crown's deal on it. But whether

Ferrier, whether my friend did this or not, I don't know. I pray that he didn't. Right. So your father's wants what he claims as his.

And he can't take it from me, much as he'd like to try. Do you know why your father's trying to gather Claren's deal? I don't know. Okay. Do you think it's worth talking to Lord Obsidious about this? I think it certainly doesn't hurt for him to have a version of this letter. Whether we obscure some of it or whether we just give him the entire thing,

It is evidence. If you try and keep some of it out, Obsidious is going to know. You will know. You will probably question it more. But it's evidence that also hurts me. And we'll hurt obsidious and will hurt all of you as well. So it's not what we're looking for.

He's been clever in that regard. Why will it hurt you? Why will it hurt us? Because it directly says that I'm, if we say this is evidence that my father has crown steel, then it's evidence that I willingly went to Kelskaris to recover it, that I've been holding onto it, that I've been using crown steel. But you didn't know. Not willingly.

No, you didn't know. You were sent to Kelskaris to retrieve an artifact. That would not matter. Yeah. If Xanthias had handed in the crown steel immediately, the second he had it, perhaps he could make a case for that. It has been months since. And by extension, it would probably dawn on you all that, yeah, as Zantir says, therefore for this letter to be evidence of wrongdoing on his father's part,

he must admit to wrongdoing on his own, which implicates you for knowing him. You know, perhaps you could argue that you didn't know, but a good authoritar could easily argue that you did. And also, by extension, this would potentially implicate obsidious, Duke Ignorius, anybody you've come in contact with. It also reopens WaveMe, like that entire investigation. That authorit was brought back. But it's also, at the start of the letter,

clearly been making a name for yourself in the lands of Caldra with one of the Reds minor dukes, which bodes well for the host. It's almost like the entire time I've been here has been a political mission from Guildye, which is not true obviously but there's it places a certain

visual a vision of what Xanthius has been doing this entire time that is like wording of the letter there is no mention of crown steel there's just the task because Xanthius' father knows what he's been sent there for so for that letter

to be evidence of any wrongdoing it can only do so if Xanthius himself admits to a crime and that crime is one of the harshest, toughest, most, you know, strictest, strictly enforced crimes. Especially under Duke Ignorius as well, of all people. Under most of the... Yeah, everyone, but even then...

Snake Very thorough would be implicated as well. She knows. Yeah, but, like, if... Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. It's bad. Bad news, best. Yeah. So I think we need to carry on with our objective of gathering the essences so that we can... at least stabilize the Crown Steel. I think that's a priority.

Your safety is our priority. Thank you. I know, but we need to figure out what to do with this person that is on the way. Obviously, I can't just submit to them, be carted back to Gildae. We wouldn't let that happen anyway. Yep. You'd have to kill all of us to let that happen. Also, you wouldn't let it happen because...

We know. Yes. So I don't think that that's going to be an issue right now. Also, it's quite likely that when they get here, we might not even be here. Will that look like us running away? Does that matter? We wouldn't be running, but would it matter? You wouldn't be able to, they wouldn't be able to get you. We will be fixing things.

We'll be doing the things we need to do to keep you safe. So good things. Yeah, they will catch up eventually, though, and we need to figure out what that might look like. It can't be in the city. It can't be in Kelskaris. Can we meet them on the road face to face? Maybe they can be reasoned with. Hopefully. If they're as stubborn as I am... Maybe when they find out what's actually happened to you and that you can't give them the crown steel, it will change.

Knowing as well what you've told us of your father, it's quite possible that this sibling doesn't know the full truth of the situation. They've only been told a part of it. But this is an Oregon that lives within the house and will have unquestionable loyalty to my father. I only am able to break free from that shackles because I was blessed with his exile, I suppose. His indifference.

So, we can try. We can try everything, of course. We can try. Those words, Xanthius, this conversation, tarnished gold will always linger. This sibling, perhaps they were not so tarnished. There's definitely a, in some small way, there's always going to be a jealousy of that as well.

Like, this person is, no matter what, like, in Zanthius, his mind, the better Santhius, right? The one that was accepted and has lived with this ideal. The life that you dreamed of as a farmer's boy in Rust End, you know, that imagining what could have been. Yeah. Santhius, if we, I'm just thinking here, but if you keep this from obsidious and your sibling walks into the town.

That doesn't, that's not great. They will come here asking questions, you're right. So, I do think we should meet them outside of the town. If we need to, we should not meet them here. Mm-hmm. Or in Kelskaris, but... I don't know, maybe if... We need to tell him, because...

We should. He's helped us so far. I just don't want him to get... real angry with us again. And he might even know how to help. He might have heard something about the family and know who's coming. We don't know how much he knows about other dragons

and their offspring. They might know all of the family ties. We were stopped by guards that when we, the moment we arrived in Ashen's rest, maybe, maybe obsidious can, I don't know, what they look like. I don't know anything about them. I don't know their name. So how about? Gold. We speak to Lord Obsidious. Ask him if he knows further, if he knows a family line,

or anything like that. And then I can speak to Sir Griot. I won't tell them or everything, but if we get a name, a description, anything. Yeah, get people we trust to keep an eye. Okay. Yes. Okay. Good. And then we continue to defy my father. Consequences severe. Well, hasn't it always been severe since we started? I just worry what more severe looks like. Well, we'll take it on. So my question is, why now? Do you travel up to the Dominus Ignarum to seek out Lord Obsidius? Are you up for doing that, Sampheus? I think we have to, right?

What other choice do we have? The only other thing I think of is to meet them on the road and stop them from getting here at all. That's the thing, I don't know how close they might be. It takes a couple of weeks at best to get Ash and Rest from Gildai. If they left the moment this letter was sent, or if they left weeks ago, I don't know. It's not much, but in the meantime, I can send CERN for a scout.

See if she sees anything unusual. Okay, well, there's only really one road they would take, I presume. The road that passes Rust End. I mean, there are other ways, but they are less direct. They would literally be going through the Suncrest Isles and coming up that way, unless this person is traveling via magic, which completely throws out the equation. That's true. I feel like they'd be here.

Either instance. Yes, but there are other ways besides. teleportation, right? Like, you know, they could turn themselves into mist and travel on the wind or turn themselves into a beast. If they have to pass through some places that we know people, maybe we can send them a letter and ask them to communicate with us when they see them. Letter made me too slow.

Or if you can, if we can somehow send a message to them with magic like we've done? Well, if they come via the main road, it won't pass to any places that you've been thus far. Yeah. Apart from Rust End, which only Xantheus knows. But it's maybe Serran for now, and we can figure out a better way. At least to see if there's anything in the Mugid fraternity. Anything gold. If you see something glitter, or just even shine a little bit,

just let us know. Well, Seren is smart enough with Gruff's guidance to know a gold dragon-born. Like, you know, it doesn't have to just be anything gold. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm just scared. It's not a report of anything that comes down the road. Okay. But yes, obsidious. We can share this with obsidious and maybe work on some better security, but I think we can still go to Kelskaris. It's just hopefully we will conquer this before we get to the middle of the city.

Right? I have every confidence that we will handle this. With you. What does Rowan think about all this? I've been just silently, quietly listening in. I want to put the spotlight on Rowan. What's Rowan looked like? Has he responding to it all?

He's empathetic. He's worried on Xanthius's behalf, but also he trusts Gruffeth. And he trusts the strength of this party now. So he's just kind of... Just quietly... Allowing Gruffeth to, like, say the words to Xantheus, because I know those cut through the most.

and of the most reassuring, but he's just in agreement, basically. He's also thinking, we've got Garrett now, so... That's true. We're fine. He got rid of Terran Darkblade. Of all people. You think this guy's Terran Darkblade?

No. So, plan to head to Lord Obsidious? Yeah, I think that... It makes sense to at least just give him the letter at the very, very least. Because he's going to be pissed if we don't... As you will gather to leave Tyrea's rest, to make your way to the Dominus Ignaran.

Outside on the iron fence that surrounds your sort of plot of land here in the city, there is an unusually large Corvid, a black raven sat there looking waiting. And when the raven sees Daisy, it cocks its head, its beak opens, and a voice comes out. Um... Daisy Thistleheart I would like my favour. You and your friends

Please come to Raven Spire Tower Um Oh no, oh right The Raven cocks its head back, closes its big Although Hello, Blackwing. We do need to, we could maybe get some knowledge. We need the, the Faye essence, anyway.

That's, you're right, yes, okay. We were probably going to have to go there anyway. Oh, is this, yes. I'm trying to make it into a positive thing, but I'm a little bit scared. The Raven hops down, like hops over to Daisy. Yes, we will go. Pecks, like, at your boot. Here, ah, let's take, like, half a cookie out and give it some crumbs.

Quickly pecks up the crumbs, but then it sort of like, It's nudges its head into your ankle, like... Oh, do you, uh-uh? Do you want me to reply? Ah! We will come and see you as soon as possible. With that, it sort of hops back and it... Oh good.

Flies off. Okay, good, it's not an immediate thing. Well, we can go see obsidious and then we can go there. We owe Blackwing. It's just perfect timing. We need the fair essence anyway. We do. Life and adventurer, mate. It's a very serendipitous, you know.

Well, this is happening. can I send Seren up to do the little scout? To just for reference so that you don't always check in like what does Serran? Like Seren is not going to see anything for today. No, absolutely. It's just to see that there's nothing like, they're right at the gate. Yeah, you get reports back from Seren like every few hours

and things like that. They kind of fly, come find you, and telepathics, and then they resume it. For the whole day, there's nothing on the horizon that they see. No gold dragon born. Nothing so far, Zanthias. So they're not at the gates, they're not in the city. You... Good, okay, good.

Make your way to the Dominus Ignorum. By this point, you are well-known guests. Consider it all grim. Oh, you're again. Kind of grumbles as you get let inside. And you are taken immediately to Obsidius' chambers. Along the way, you do pass by the audience chamber where you can see Duke Ignorius is taking the sort of,

sort of, you know, bi-weekly, like, town hall hearing. He's basically listening to the problems of the town, and it's quite quiet, and you can see him there quite happily. You hear him laugh, something one of the merchants or somebody has said and is in council, as you see him there with a few of his cobalds and considerates around him helping. But it's strange to see him on his own. Normally you would see Obsidious and Emberissa in there with him,

but it's just him. But he seems to be in good spirits, if nothing else. But you make your way back up as you are led up. by the Cobbles into Lord Obsidius' chamber. You, you know, water and fruit and whatever you desire is fetched. As you see that Obsidius is sat there reading, he's sat, you know, in his human form. He seems to be one of the few dragons who quite likes his humanoid form. As he is sat in an enormous sort of chair, a sort of mixture between a throne and an armchair,

quite padded, but has this ornate sort of backboard. and he is idly reading a book and then with his clawed hand on the other side he is scribing some sort of arcane spell or some theorem or something and he's sort of glancing between the two and as he moves his claw the quill is sort of hovering in the edge scratching and he turns back

flips it with magic you know being very wizardy as you enter he sort of looks up arcs one eyebrow Ah, please enter. The scroll wraps up, slides it into a bookshelf. Could I have gone to a latte fun and picked up the pastry that he did eat last time? Yes.

I'll get a box of those, and I'll just go and put them on a little table. You see a little cobald maid sort of glaring at you, like you're stealing my job. You're stealing my job. Put them on a plate. Put them on a plate. Take the box, disappears through a tiny door in the wall.

Tiny thing. Tiny door swings back open. It's on a beautiful platter, and they've all been sort of laid out and stacked on her, like, and she's like, the old obsidious. I'll give them a thumbs up.

He will look and sort of, he does kind of cock a little smile. And he's like, thank you, Daisy. And he will take, it's very good, thank you. Thank you. What can I do for you? Absidius.

Zanthius. Lord Obsidius. I. Oh God. I imagine that any time you see me, it's under the expectation that we are bringing bad news, and that's a standard that I fear we are going to uphold once again. I'm going to step back.

One of these days, I would quite like it if you were to appear with good news. Well, maybe next time I can appear as a friend, but for now, uh, a letter has arrived for me, Lord Obsidious, from an expected source. An expected song. You see his eyes read this very rapidly.

Like this is, almost scans it. And then you just see that single eyebrow, sort of high arch. Well, I imagine this was quite a shock for you. Yes. I was hoping. A clever old worm, your father. I scanned and scanned to try to find just some kind of... Something we could use in there, but I couldn't see anything.

You know as well as I that there is only one way this wet letter can be used, and your father knows that. You would need to admit to your crimes, and in doing so, you would endanger those around you, myself, all of your allies. Anyone who has known you and harbored you, Even if they were not held guilty by court of law themselves, they would be subject to interrogations, proceedings. It would be difficult.

He is clever. I expect nothing less for such a wizened and ancient dragon long before my ears. So, what do we do? Well, the first thought we have, First thought we had was to inform you of this letter. You see, he probably will actually pull forth a piece of parchment, and again, absent-mindedly, he begins writing a copy of this letter.

Totally fine. He doesn't ask your permission, he just thought... No, I know. He was going to do it anyway. He begins, he looks... Thank you for bringing this to me. I fear that in the past you would have kept this, but I'm glad that you have kept me informed. Almost certainly.

but things have changed. So, an Oregon is heading to Ash and Rest in order to reclaim their property. You have, do you know these siblings? Were you ever aware that you had siblings? I was cast out at a very young age. I didn't know of them or any siblings or... I know that Oregonus has dragon children.

I can't imagine he means to send one of them, not on an errand like this. I must admit, I have looked into your host's name. I have found no record of Dragonborn children. Some draconic hosts, there is a shame in Dragonborn. Not all dragons believe this, but some more traditional do. they hide births of Dragonborn I'm afraid that

Host Oregon is one such host there is no record of Dragonborn children with their name being registered to them I'm afraid I know as much as you when it comes to these children so this

person looking for me could be more like me than I realize someone cast out from the Oregon house. Potentially, I can only make assumptions and extrapolate based on what I would do. I would not send one who... If I were to send somebody on an errand like this,

I would send somebody so zealot, so loyal, that there would be no question of them turning against me, of them joining you or resisting me. I sense that if Organis has sent a dragon-born child, for I truly do not believe, think, I think this is, you would consider this beneath him to send a dragon. I imagine that this is a child who has been raised as a tool, as a weapon to be used by your father.

It is not uncommon amongst the more the less scrupulous dragons to use their children in this way, to raise them to turn them into assets. Well, I realise now that's what he was attempting to do with me. Yes. This mission you were sent on, had you succeeded and brought it back to him,

there likely would have been further rewards for similar work, build you up slowly, break you, This is very common. They break you down, render you until you think that you have little value, and then slowly and surely build you back up until you are dependent on their support. I imagine that this sibling, think of them almost like an addict. Fulfilling this task for your father, it will have a great, pull for them.

It doesn't seem like they know what happened. They think they can just pick up. Yes, that is true. I suppose it will depend on what kind of person this sibling is. Are they the type

to, when they realize that the crown still cannot be separated from you? Will they kill you and take it? Will they knock you unconscious and drag you back to Gildi themselves? I'm not sure. What I would know

is like I cannot expect that failure will be considered an option for them. Think of those last words there. The consequences will be severe not just for you, but for this sibling, they fail. So expect them to be determined. Either your body, your corpse, or you unconscious and draped upon their back one way or another, I suspect they will wish to see you brought back to your

father. Okay. Well, how do we meet this person on the road? We need to, they can't reach Ash and rest, they can't find us in Kilskaris, wherever we end up. This is difficult, yes. There is also the matter that if I help you too much, I would be attacking a member of a rather powerful gold dragon host that is very different and has far, far reaching political consequences. It is one thing for me to offer you guidance and assistance. It is in another entirely were I to raise a claw against Oliganus' own blood. Guidance would be great. I can begin to look into these Dragonborn,

see if there are sources of information that may give us clues as to who they are. I can also arrange for senses that will keep an eye on the city gates. Clandestine, of course, none but us can know about this. That is as much as I can think of for now. But should you think of some way that I can assist you, I do not want this servant of Oregonus to enter this city. I do not want them to put the people of Ashen's rest or my father at risk. If your plan is to meet them on the road and deal with them,

I would encourage it. That is the idea We can't have them Encountering us within the city Making a big scene And then Sions forbid Attempt to remove their crown steel Yes

Especially in the middle of the city So that's the plan right now Meet them on the road No one else around And talk it out I can send Brother to brother Agents

To keep an eye on the road I will not be able to tell them exactly what, but they can inform me if a traveler, a gold dragon born from Gildai, is traveling the road. But this will take time. I cannot promise quick answers to any of this. If I knew more, I could attempt to scry on them as I have attempted on you and many others,

but without any information, a description, a name, without anything. Does this letter work? If that was sent by your father, I could use it perhaps to scry on your father. but not on the sibling. And even then your father is no fool. I can't imagine that his palace is not the same wards and guards as we have here in the Dominus Ignarum

that prevents such scrying. Many dragons, especially the golds, are rather paranoid with such matters. Could the scrying spell be reworked in some way in that it can track anyone within a bloodline? Prone to failure, complications, but it is possible. May not have the same desired results as the scrying spell. Reveal a visual or an auditory response, but perhaps something could be worked, yes.

I would need blood from yourself. From this arm, I presume not. Yes, yes. It would need to be untainted blood. Yeah. Thank you. Um, well, if there is a way to manipulate that spell in such a way to get more information, then it's blood I give willingly.

I can try. I make no promises of its results, but perhaps it will yield something. Come here and he will send an unseen servant to fetch a large silvered bowl from some sort of side table. That's a lot of... How much blood are we talking here? talking here. What do we? It would need to be significant.

Oh, good. Ophelia, maybe you can do this as well. You're good with blood. Oh yes, I'll help you, no problem. This giant clawed hand will sort of engulf around your wrist. Just don't look. As you watch as a long, razor sharp talon sort of extends from Lord Obsidius.

Look, look, look, go behind Xanthius and start preparing healing spells, like, yeah. And he drags it along the as blood begins to gush out. I'm just gonna roll some damage. Yeah, yeah. And can I have a Constitution saving throw from you as well? Constitution, okay, I'm good with Constitution.

Let's do detents. Okay, dook. Okay, doke. 22. 22. So it is gonna be 22 points of necrotic damage to represent the blood loss. but you don't gain any exhaustion from this.

Ah, okay. That was what the concept was for. There is significant amounts of blood. Like a really long, drawn-out process. And this is not like a blood test. This is like it... I need to sit down. It needs to fill the bowl to the point where, like,

a scrying spell word is enough to be visually peered into. It needs to be thick and deep enough for it to almost be like a bowl of water. Yeah, whichever hand is not being... bled, I guess you're behind I'm like really gripped into your fur with that as well. Anything as well, another paw, maybe I'd cost elementalism just to like have a cool

paw on the back of your neck just like trying to kind of help and I'd just be talking to you and just be like, just nonsense but just talking to you. When you see that Xanthius does go quite pale but is staying together you do feel quite lightheaded Zanthius

you feel dizzy but eventually obsidist is like. Like, that is enough. You may heal him. I will cast your wounds at level three. That will seal the wound. And that weakness doesn't go away,

but that con-save means you sort of quickly begin to recover. Yeah. There is a moment of silence, and then you see obscenius will ring a small bell, and the cobbled hurry out again, and he's like food and replenishment, perhaps some tea for Xanthius, and they will rush off.

And they start bringing you, like, sugary tea and like, you know, like some snacks, like, kind of Terexos and things like that, like things to replenish that blood, you know. Or to help you kind of like. I feel okay, yes, if you have enough, I realize that what I'm asking is not a traditional casting of the spell,

but if- I enjoy the challenge of reworking magic. If there's any assistance I can give as well, I know my magical ability pales in comparison, but- If you are willing to be something a student and learn, I would be willing to teach. I'm willing to learn.

At least to assist with this, at the very least. Very well, well. For now, rest, I will, and he casts a spell on the blood. I think Ophelia, this is not an Ossian spell, but you recognize it, where he basically casts a version of gentle repose to keep the blood fresh so it won't congeal and it won't spoil. and he cast that on the bowl

to keep the blood fresh. This will keep for some time now. Interesting variant of that spell. Yes, of course, that would make sense that the mages of Osius and your house of blood, was this? Yes, it would make sense that you would know this well. Your house of horrors, yes, no, that one. This will keep the blood from spoiling,

which will give us some time. For now, you should rest, Zanthias. will be weakened from this, even if you do seem to be holding up rather well, but I will not pressure you. Thank you. We have some time here, I think, provided there is no magical aid in traveling here. I can't imagine that even if they were sent at the same time as a courier, somebody on land versus one of the courier's guilds. No, no. We have time, I think. I've been sending Serran on a scout, and she's reported nothing so far. Yes, yes. I can't imagine that this will come into effect for a few days, at least.

But I will send out my agents as well. They can travel further out than perhaps Sera can. Also, you can tell us if you hear anything, because then you can message Santhias and tell things. Yes, I will keep a sending spell prepared to send word to you. Thank you. And perhaps I should also, yes, he'll go over to his sort of scroll collection and we'll pluck one and we'll hand it to you, Xanthias.

sending scroll of your own in case you need to send word to me. Wonderful. Yes, okay. Good. In case you learn anything that is pertinent and you do not have the time to travel here. Understood. Our plans are to go to Killskaris just to inform you. Very well. Ophelia has some business and Gruff has some quests to do there. So we won't be in the city for a little bit.

But... Inform me when you intend to leave. I will keep an eye on things. Kelskaris is, well, many things, many stories begin and end there. Do be careful. But I will keep an eye very well. Have you heard back from your contact on these other essences? Not yet, no. You might have some progress.

Yes, I've been working on, I don't know if you recall, that gun that we recovered from the band, in Ashton's rest, I've been working on a way to dismantle it and recover just the pure essence from that. Impressive. Do not complete just yet, but that's one more to add to the collection. Yes, good, good. Well, then, I think for now, Xanthia's best you rest and consider this. I will make the appropriate arrangements to send out my agents and perhaps work on this scribe.

I begin at least theorizing this variant of scrying spells. Thank you for your assistance. Once again, hopefully next time, good news. Yes, that would make a nice change of pace. And still, we are in this, we are bound in this together now. I help you to help myself, my father, my family. And because you kind of like some of us a little bit now, even if Santhius keeps causing trouble.

Yes, if you wish to see it that way. By accident. Yeah. I would not rob you of this. Friendship. Thought. But yes. We'll get there.

Very well. Good luck. Great. Thank you. Good. Bye. You see he kind of carries the bowl back to a place and begins to sort of go, start going through his books. Like, yeah, it's like, shush, shoo. Vampire. Vamp.

You did really well. Thank you. Thank you. Sontheus, I must commend you on your honesty. with Lord Obsidian. And you called him Lord Upsidies. You've come a long way. He did, unfortunately. But have you seen how opening up a little bit, we have another ally?

Yes. He didn't get angry once. But remember, there's only so many people I can open up to about this. No, but I just, yeah, commend you. Thank you. I think we should keep it to the people that know now and add no more to the list.

I know that Obsetius is on our side and has been doing very, very good work. assisting this, um... And he's our friend. And he's our friend, maybe, hopefully. I feel the need to be his friend and impress him because he terrifies me if we're not friends. Right, yes.

Understandable, yes. That's how I feel about Ophelia. Understandable, yes. Um... Blackwing, called for us. Yeah, I think. could be a road to keep them waiting. Okay.

Blackwing next. Oh, just a list of chores. It was such a nice, chill two weeks, remember? Wasn't it lovely? Oh, wait me. A little count time. Wave me. I'd dare say we probably could have time

to go to the house of Forrose for a quick dip. Yes, we could do. Someone's a dift dude. You've become very fond of that place. I like the way they do my air. You know about who do that. Very well.

Remember the first time Graft didn't want anyone... They put some new oils in it. I was waiting for you to notice. Oh, we noticed. We noticed. Oh, is that oil in your hair? Resplendent? Maybe not the right word. Handsome? You flat for a...

I know. So, yeah, so is the plan you want to swing by? I mean, you basically have free access to that place. Oh, no, at the end of the day. At the end of the day, at the very least, before we go to... Well, at the very end of the... I believe that there's a certain sermon at the end of the day. Oh, that's true.

Well, I've got a good look of it's good for the same. desired. But you make your way out into the Riverside District and the familiar site of Raven Spire Tower. And once again, as you approach what is a distance appears to be a barren sort of closed wall as you draw closer, an ornate silvery door begins to form. And you step inside. You can see that dozens of Corvids and Ravens on all the buildings nearby are watching you very closely as you approach. And then once you again, you feel that kind of sudden sucking sensation of being pulled somewhere. Oh, there it is again. Go on. Yep. You're at least. Oh. You're not in half. The great suck.

No. No, this is not a hatful's face. You feel yourself pulled dramatically through time and, sorry, through space as you emerge into the kind of beautiful anti-chamber, once again, the calm, silvery light, the deep blues, the blacks of this spiral staircase kind of leading up this kind of ornate, almost flowing like water silver. Around there are various chairs and lounges and, you know, chaise longs.

And waiting for you, uncharacteristically, actually waiting for you on the lower level, not descending from above. You can see working on a painting this time down the lower floor and easel and they are painting this scene of an incredible city that appears to be carved from an enormous tree. The top end, the upper part of the city almost begins in the tree itself

and then it pulls out and then it becomes part of the grounds, the roots of that where the tree meets the land. And you can see that from the tree, silver streams of saps almost like rivers flow out little bridges and canals forming amongst the city and it's painted in these beautiful twilight hues as blackwing the elf stands there finishing up and almost perfectly timed that as soon as you sort of overcome that initial transportation and you sort of gather your senses and look that is the the final brushstroke, the painter's laid down, and Blackwing turns, revealing the painting to you all.

They are once again in this very androgynous, tall, thin-like frame, high cheekbones, long-gated ears, and then black hair spilling down around them. Ah, my friends, you received my summons. Welcome, welcome. Welcome. Food and drink freely offered, if you desire it. Very good. Thank you. Your painting looks beautiful. Thank you, Daisy.

You have an artistic soul, and I am glad you appreciate it. Painting was a small joy of mine back home, and I have thought of how much of late. You see them looking at this city very fondly. In fact, it is why I have asked you here for a favor is owed. And a favor I require. Ro's mouth is stuffed with food. Trying to recall what the offer was, to begin with.

Like, what was it, they did? Because they did a lot for us. What was the one thing that was like, this requires a favor? I can't actually remember, but I remember not really, realizing that I had asked for it in the first place. Yeah.

And them saying, you now owe me. And I was like, no, no, no. Didn't want a thing for free. That's how they get you. That's damn Faye. Can't trust the Faye. Yeah. You bitch.

Oh my gosh. And Daisy, you also remember that there was a sense of magic in the air when Black Wing said that. Like this is not like, oh yeah, just do me a Faye. Like there was something that happened. Favour. What is it that you need from us? I have felt strange since you came to Ash and Rest.

Since you spoke and the events of the Lamp Lighters Guild and many other things. I cared so little for this place and the people here before you arrived. Now I find myself. I am nostalgic and I want more than to be apathetic. I wish to feel the joy of life as I once did. That is wonderful to hear, Blackwing. I am pleased.

That's a good start. Um, maybe perhaps being cooped up in this tower, uh, is, uh, that will be a part of it. But I am not ready to, I do not wish to integrate more with your world, with this Althea, without a few remnants of my past life. You know that three centuries ago. ago, we elves were forced to flee the Fayeweil when we were betrayed. I was forced to flee in a hurry swiftly, and I left much behind in my home. I was able to rebuild here, but I yearn for some of the things.

nothing of great import to anyone but myself but things that I left behind I I miss them so I would ask you especially one with skills such as yours Daisy Thistleheart who can move quietly be unseen who can acquire things were you not a good friend and we were not in such good company,

perhaps one might use the word burglar. But you are not such a thief, but skilled at such skills. I would ask you to travel to my home in the city of Vathalian in the Faye-Wield. Can you spell them, please? V-A-T-H-A-L-E-N. Barthalian.

Athalian, right. And in, wait, in the Faywiel. Oh, good. To seek my home and recover three things of mine. You are welcome to anything else that you find in my old home. There will be trinkets of magical nature. Valuable, many such things. Many things with essences.

Yes, yes. You would be most welcome to them, and I will give you, I will give you the keys and tokens necessary to ensure my guardians and wards do not hamper you. But I, it would be too dangerous for me specifically to return to my home. My magic, my presence, would be, well, very swiftly discovered. it. So I must send those who would be unexpected to retrieve these things for me. Magically inferior, I think, is what...

That's, yes. But our presence in the Fay World, would that not cause alarm? Perhaps if you are caught or seen, or if you do not have the magic to disguise yourselves? Disguise. Yes. Okay. Yes, understood. But you are clever, and you are cunning and swift. Yeah, and really stealthy. You wouldn't expect it of Rowan, but... When he wants to. Can you see me?

Yeah. I see much of you, Rowan. Oh. They just... Did I put clothes on today? Um... Okay, what are the things you need us to collect? to collect.

They are... They will have no value to you, but there is a folio of my artwork in my study. A jewelry box. It is in the shape of an everbloom in the bedroom. What's an everbloom? A flower. Okay.

You will know it when you see it. Okay, thank you. And just a simple... woven blanket from my sitting room. They bear strong memories for me. You can see that there is a sad, a deep melancholy speaking about these things. Well, I think it's really nice that you want to

bring some of these items here. Yes. Hopefully that would make you feel a bit less homesick. Yes, that is my hope as well, Daisy Thistlehardt. When we fled, I took what I thought I would need, weapons, my spellbook, things that would aid me. But I did not think of such personal effects

as being important at the time. But now they are all I have left of very different life. And I would dearly like to see them again. This is what I ask. And in return, the favor will be complete. And as I said, you are welcome to anything else you find within my home that you would like to take. Understood.

If recovering these also eases the sorrow in your heart, then you're more than happy to accept, right? Thank you. That would be our pleasure. We don't want you to be safe. No. What's the, um, the status of your, uh, previous residence, though? Wise questions, Antheus. The city of Vathalian was taken by the unseely court, who now control it. As I understand, there are still many fay, elves and others who work there as laborers, who serve as citizens, but the regime is

crew will, I believe that one of the nine hag queens has taken up her residence in the old palace and now commands her own army to patrol its streets and enforce her laws. What has happened to the city, to the people, to the Fayewield itself, I cannot say. I dare not even look into that place, for to do so would I think break my heart What I could offer Is to open a portal that will take you to a place near to the city A road called the Lightless Trail

It was once a path of some secrecy used by many elves To come and go I cannot promise It will not have patrols or guards But it should be the safest And most secret secret entrance into the city itself. And to return, you see that they sort of open up their hand,

a small figurine of a raven. And you will hand it to you, Daisy. Activate this, and it will send word to me that you are ready to return. And that return is at an instant. It would take a little time, understood. How long? Not long.

Not long? A minute, perhaps less. But it will take time for the magic to work from this side. My home you will find on the dusk side of the city in an area called the tapestry. It is where many of the weavers and mages resided. Dusk side. Okay. What contact I have had with other Faye and elves,

there is talk that scattered throughout the Faye-wield. There are still elves and others who resist the unseely court, the hags and the Formians. A resistances, resistances of different names and types, but if you were to find them, they perhaps could offer you some assistance. They are friends of mortal kind. and also those who are friends of true elves. Okay.

Show them my statue and they will know, they will know of whom you seek, of whom you work for. Right. Well, sounds like a very important task. Yes. Um, yes. Disguises, first and foremost. Um, what would you do you do? What would you suggest that we disguise ourselves as...

Creatures of the Faye realm? What such creatures would those be? Elves, centaurs, satyr, sprites, dry ants. Animals? Many animals, yes, many animals are present within the Faye wheel. Hello. I would portion you... you. Hi, Rowan.

Hello. I would caution you one thing. If you have the magic of illusion to disguise yourselves, this will be effective against the common soldier, the slow of mind but noble, unseely,

hags, and the more powerful fay, they have the power to see through lies and illusions. It will not hold up against them. To be cautious. We'll be stealthy, we'll get in quick, get out quick. Right?

I mean, hopefully, yeah. I think we're going to have to follow your lead on this one. What? Yeah. This is more your wheelhouse. No, there's a... Yes, Rowan. Hello.

Hello. Do you have any of your wonderful artworks of creatures from your home? Hmm. I sadly do not hear. I could provide some simple sketches for you, but I do not have any here specifically. Okay. Is there something you are looking for in particular?

Oh, just for inspiration. Blackwing sort of gestures and from the paint palette that they are currently holding, you see colors swirl up into the air. And very simple sketch outlines sort of form in the air with magic because they'll use minor illusion, effectively. And they create the images of fake creatures. You see satir, little goat-legged, horse-eared, horse-tailed, little people, about the same height as a half-ling, maybe,

or just maybe a little taller, you know, wearing simple clothing, playing flutes and instruments, and dancing and capering around. Nope, that's a centaur. Oh. They have, like, just the lower legs. Yeah, it would be better than that. Yeah, Mr. Tumnus, kind of thing, yeah, Saitier. You would see centaurs.

You would see pixies, which you have encountered before. Elves, you know, elves like Blackwing and many others. Yeah, sort of any sort of fay creature, dryads like people like literal plant and sort of, you know, tree people. Animals. The animals, when you see the animals, we're kind of talking a bit more kind of

of Ghibli Princess Mononoke, like, like deers that have too many animals. Right. Or they're bigger than natural, like, you know, boars that are the sizes of horses and wolves, you know, that are enormous, you know. The fay-wheeled creatures tend to be larger and more prominent. Yeah, so you see like these kind of sketches.

So that we have a better chance of disguising as something correctly, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I completely forgot that we did actually, after the proto-mage, I met a load of... Fay, yeah. Yeah, one of them are favour. Yeah.

Like, they would definitely have, like, they would almost look like elves, but with these kind of like animal traits or masks and things like that. Yeah, okay. Cool. I'm going to be a moth man. You do that, Rowan, you do that. Is that common?

A moth person? Yes, a person that looks like a moth. A person or an elf who has moth-like traits, yes. I think that that would not be uncommon. We met one. They were so fuzzy. Yeah. You can do that if you want.

Spider one as well. We saw the spidery one, didn't you? You have met more of my kin. Yes, we did, yes. Quite a talented tailor. Elves, we are a broad people of many kinds. Not all of us are connected to animals and insects. Some are simply perhaps more related to a concept or to feelings, emotions.

But many of us enjoy the company of beasts of a certain kind. Corvids have always been a particular face. of mine and one of these way too big raven kind of lands on black wings outstretched arm places on their shoulder so it's just gonna be like bruh it's way too big kha kha kha kha kha oh gross it's like that what natural animal habitats yes yeah oh i love that channel uh it's gone from my head now more pancake for me mother That one, anyway. Mouth.

Mouth, yes. I think we just need to make some very basic preparations. Maybe looking to some, gaining some spells, scrolls, perhaps. Disguise? Disguise, for starters. Yes, I can disguise myself, but I can't disguise the whole party. There are some spells that will help us with stealth as well. Maybe we can find some scrolls for that.

I ask that you be swift, but make your preparations as need. Wonderful. Thank you. You're welcome. A favor for a favor. Indeed. This is the law. Be cautious should you encounter any of the unseely.

Watch their words, especially those of the hag queens, if you were to encounter them or others. As you have seen a bargain made with an elf, even one separated from the Faye-Wield can have far-reaching power and consequences, especially one well-versed in the weave as I. So do be cautious. Do not take what is not freely given.

If something is offered, ensure you ask of its price and many other such details. Can't haggle with a hag. No, you're right, Ron. You're right. You're right. I shall leave you to your preparation. And with that, I'm leaving you.

Get out of my house. But yeah. So with that in mind, if you return to back going, they will be able to send you on your way. Yeah, I think there's just a couple of things, well, at least in Zanthius's mind, of trying to procure some scrolls for some spells that are useful. Very doable.

So what I would recommend is have a thing about what you would like. We won't fully role-play the shopping. Sure. Just tell me in-between sessions what you would like. We'll price that up, and then you can go in with, say, a couple of scrolls of disguise self or whatever you're looking for. Cool. Passed Without Trace. Yeah.

I've got that. Yeah. You've got it? I can cast, yeah. Great. I go back to that. Remember, Pass Without Trace is very good for stealthing as long as you are not obviously visible.

Like, it's good when you have cover and things. It doesn't make you invisible. No, it's just a good bonus. And also, if you are spotted and you are not Faye, you are going to stand out. So having some sort of disguise to disguise yourself as Faye beings, if you need to, if you need to speak to somebody

or if you need to appear or do something like that, it's just something worth keeping in mind. Yeah, and while we're at it, get me some Faye essence as well. How hard can that be in the Faye Ways? I mean, you know, Black Wing is a weaver or a mage. Yeah. It is inconceivable that their house

would not have a direct Faye essence that you can just use as it. Kind of like the Afriti gaunt. It will be some sort of item or substance, a crystallized form of magic or something like that that will have the essence of the faywold. It would be, you are almost certain

the Black Wing will have something like that in their former home. Does the little crow guy? Is that a fay... Won't count as an essence, no. No, so that's just a sort of an enchanted item. It's like a magic. But an essence is something different.

Like an essence isn't just a magic item. It is a very condensed sort of manifestation of a plane's, you know, being, basically. So normally it's like either a naturally occurring thing or it is a, from a specific creature. Like the Afriti gauntlet is like from a powerful Afriti, which is a fire elemental, basically. So it has to basically be something like naturally occurring.

You know, a magic item just isn't going to cut it on its own. Okay. Hell yeah. And then... Sweet, good. Team Daisy go in and four of us stand completely still. What, Daisy does, all the stuff. This is going to be a big sea.

This is not going to be like you guys just way outside the city unless you want to leave poor Daisy on our area. We can stay in a tower, I think. And she died. Oh, right, okay, just solo mission from poor Daisy. We can just cry, right? Yeah, we'll just follow you. You could just stay here for hers, aren't you?

I need a bowl of blood. In here? Yeah, you died from here. I could just escape to the Fay World. If you don't come with me, you ain't getting assences. How about Dan? I'll go with you. All right.

Well, with that, we will have to leave things there as the end of the episode. Yes. We will get to sermon next time. Oh, yeah, yeah. Let me know your preparations because I would like to basically do sermon next week and then ideally jump straight into this.

Yeah, no, that makes sense. I think it's just a couple of spells. Maybe. It seems too simple. We just need to figure out to the guises. Sure. It's going to be a can. Oh, yeah.

We're going to fuck it up somehow. I mean, it's south, so we're going to fuck it up. Teleport in, stand on a twig, everyone's like... Who's it? And again, remember, you know, just like alloting one group of guards isn't necessarily going to throw off,

it might put some people on alert and stuff. I love one group of guards, kill them. A second group of guards, kill them. Fall over in a shower block. Do not. Do not. I never want to talk about that again. With that, dear friends, it is time to end the episode. Thank you so much for joining us.

We will see you next week for a regular episode. We'll see you then. Bye-bye. See you next time. Bye-bye. Hi, this is Michelle Madison. And I'm John Jacobson. And we're the Video Game Outsiders podcast,

and we just joined the Pickax Network. That's right. We've been covering video game news and reviews for the past 20 years. On everything from Xbox, PC, Switch, and PlayStation. Sony's dead. They're not dead. PC Master Race. Anyway, if you want to hear us, if you want to know more about the show

and listen to John and I argue every week, you can do that on video game outsiders.com or anywhere podcasts are available. All My Best Friends Are Digital is a podcast about video games and the stories they tell. Every week we cover a retro title, where Mark finds a way to bring up Terry Bogart or aspect ratios. And Caitlin grudgingly acknowledges that there are games other than square RPGs.

We do a feature review of a recent release and also chat about what we've been playing lately. We love the stories and memorable characters that video games bring us. Eris Vicarian will never love you the way he loves me. Sometimes a little too much. Join us every week for all my best friends are digital. Wherever you find your podcasts.