High Rollers DnD - Ascension Alleycats vs Frosthill Foxes | Altheya: The Dragon Empire #119 (Part 2)

Episode Date: September 24, 2026

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Welcome back to part two of Althea, the Dragon Empire. And we are at half time of Hatchball. Hatchball! That's right. The Frosthill Foxes and the Ascension Alleycats are going at it. It is currently a nil-nill-nill game. We've had a couple of exciting shots on goal, but neither were able to get past the archkeeper.

And now we find ourselves back in the locker room. Are there ads playing right now? Are there ads playing right now? There'd be like bands, like there'd be musicians. Like, you know. Are they like, because it's like a kids tournament, is it like kids from the local? Yeah, it's like the local bards.

Like, well, like, you know, it's like a young pop star bard kind of thing who's doing it. Probably singing the Imperial Anthem to, you know, at the beginning and then they come in and do a half-time show. But there's also like, you know, goofy costumes. And like, you know, it's kind of, you know,

it's a family event. It's a family fun day. Monster trucks. No monster trucks. Just tearing up the grass. But what we see... I was hitting the audience. Is there like a flyover?

Like a dragon flying over? They'd be like a Griffin probably flying over. Griffin chariot with like a streamer and stuff. But we find ourselves back in the locker room. With a very mixed team, the Ascension Alley Cats. A couple of the sort of quieter ones have had some really good performances. You see that Athana and Barnabas are getting sort of a lot of accolades from their team. sort of pressure, but it's tense because it's nil-nil.

It's like it could go either way. The team isn't quite sure about what's going to happen. Hawkins is like pacing up and down. You can see that he's bundled with this like angry frustration that is like really playing on him. Having missed that shot on going, having it deflected by the archkeeper. But I hand it over to Coach Gruff or the rest of you. Do I have a chance to talk to him?

So I talked to everyone else and, you know, kind of gee them up and celebrate the good stuff. And then do I have a chance to talk about. You basically, you have, this is your chance to, I would say you can do like one impactful thing during the half time. Like you can solo out a player if you want to pull a player aside

and have a quiet one to one. Because I'm assuming that you're going to do the generic, like, oh, great game, like keep it's up, like blah, blah, keep the tactics. But basically, this is your chance if you want to change any tactics, if you want to highlight a single player and, like, have a word with them.

if you want to focus on one thing. This is the opportunity to kind of do that. It's going to be really hard. Can I try and talk to Hawkins? Yeah, absolutely. As soon as you approach, he's just like, it's not my fault. Like, he's just really bit, like, it's a yacht near.

They should, it's not really fair that you can have a yacht near as an archkeeper, right? I'm not good for that. What is it? Like, I didn't have a chance to pass. I didn't have a chance. What do you need? What?

What do you need to focus? What do you mean? What do I need? What? What? Spinning out like this is not going to help you in the next match. Forget what happened in the first half. What happened? Happened. What's important now is what you do next. So what do you need? It kind of takes a minute. It takes a couple of breaths. Um, yeah, like well, uh, okay. Was it positioning? Was it timing?

No, no, it was timing. It was, it was a good, it was a good pass. I found it was a really good pass. So maybe next time, wait a second. Pause, just so you can get it right. Promises those defenders, those two dwarf, the dwarf twins, they were on me. I couldn't. I needed... We'll work on much. Maybe I needed, like, if Paulie or Pippa had, like, got them distracted

or got them worked up before I took the shot, maybe. I feel like I can get the shot, like, I can get it past him. He's big, but he's slow. I can get it past him, but I need those dwarven twins off me because they were on me the whole match, Coach. They were on me the whole match. We'll sort that? Timing.

And I may be like, Tristan, like, I'm not saying this to like get him, right? But if he was up a bit more, I could have passed to him and then he could have taken a shot and he wouldn't have been marked. He was open. Would you pass? I will, but he wasn't in the right place. It was too far. I couldn't get it to him.

That's on me. I'm still learning this team, okay? No, it's also him, right? I think, like, he's not used to it. He's not used to, like, he needs to, like, he's too calm. I know that you say I'm too angry, but when you're out there in that moment, I need him to be there.

I'll have a word. Okay. Okay. Forget the first half. Yeah, forget it. Focus on the second. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, you're right.

You're right. Yeah, you're right. But yeah, if we can get those twins off me or if Tristan could be in place, or, like, Pip... He's big, right? He's really big. Maybe Pip or poorly.

Like, they're good, right? Someone lower down? Yeah. Like, they might be able to get a shot off on him, you know, because they're quicker than he is. If you can pass. I can pass. I'll try, I'll try. Okay, go get them, champ.

All right, thanks, thanks, coach. Thanks. Orange slices! There's stuff in their face full of oranges and downing water. You can see that they are tired, so they are going to have a slight debuff because they got tired in the previous half.

We need some fucking cardio sessions. Yeah. Well, also, just like you think that it was just that long period of time where they couldn't just break through, like it's definitely worn them out a little bit. But yeah, you guys, if you're ready to go into the second half. Do I have time to feed back to Tristan or like, you know?

Yeah, like I assume that you're assuming that you're having that information, you're passing it on kind of thing. Because I think like the main focus was on that chat with Hawkins, right? And also it's something to work on in training for the next game. The team are called out, whistles blown half time's over. You can see the crowd is like cheering. They definitely seem to be like in a good mood. the crowd. Like nobody's, you know, this is an exciting game. The crowd are kind of like not,

they weren't expecting it to be going this way. So it's like, there's a good atmosphere. It's a good vibe in the crowd. Like the two shots on goal, both being deflected, like there's like a nervous energy throughout the stadium. Like what's going to happen? Like this is, is it going to be another tie or is a team going to be able to get a point ahead, you know? So there's an electric aspect. Well, it looks like our players are coming back out for the second half, Braun. It looks like Alley Cats are going to be standing with possession this time, thanks to as the Foxes headed in the first half. So it's really exciting to see.

We're seeing some new moves from the Alley Cats, whoever this new coach is. That's definitely, we're seeing something very exciting coming out of this new coach. I think you're right, absolutely, Clay, I think you're, Clay, I think you're absolutely right, this new coach. We'll try and get a name for the new coach. I mean, it's not...

The coach with no name. We've not had any information about them. Apparently, they're not someone from Kelskars. They've come in from outside. this outside coach, but they've definitely shaken up the team and we're very excited to see what happens in this second half.

And play begins. And in fact, the event I rolled was an Allie Cat's Possession event. Okay. So let's have a look of five. Okay. Play begins and with Alley Cat's in possession, the team starts off in a really good position.

Hawkins immediately is very observant. He's like yelling, Just to throw it like kind of egging Tristan forward. You can see that like he's like keeping an eye on where Paulie and Pippa are who are nimbly dodging around, getting very sort of like nimble and moving through. Play kind of passes back and forth. Like the defenders are kind of pressuring Hawkins. He passes.

Then the other players are passing back trying to move up the field, trying to get into that scoring position. This happens for a little bit of time. And then you see out of nether, nowhere, Paulie Goblin has the ball and he's yelling to Pippering Goblin and you see Darren one of these Dwarven defenders

quite brutally and quite maliciously comes in and tackles Paulie very hard. Redbury! Let's hear. Well, is it, we don't know if it's a penalty or not? I'm going to, we're going to see. So can I, because this is against Paulie,

can I have a D20 role and does Paulie try and like physically just blubly? block and resist this dwarf or is he going to try and dodge out of the way from this incoming tackle? I'm thinking a dodge. Yeah. Okay. Can I get a D20 roll for Pauli?

He has the benefit. He has the trait of being small, which means he has advantage on dodges against bigger players. He has disadvantage on checks to resist tackle, so blocks. So this is the right choice. So you have advantage on the role. OLLie is pretty quick. He's not as quick as Pippa, but he's pretty quick. 11.

11, okay. Let's see. I'm rolling like. Olly goes down hard. You actually hear like a yelp from him as this dwarf properly like throws his shoulder in and you almost feel like there is a bit of a kind of like punch to the side. Ten dollar referee, ten dollar you blubbery!

The referee immediately stops play, and there's some discussion. You hear, like, oh, we're not quite, you hear like, oh, we're not quite sure. I think they're going to have to bring in the Scry team. We're going to get a Scry review. Cry Reviewer. We're going to get a Scry. Yep, the on-pitch referee. The on-pitch wizards are just checking into that.

I mean, it was a pretty clear foul to me, Braun. I mean, I know where, I mean, I've not seen too many goblins. I know that they're not, you know, they're from foreign lands and things. But it looked like to me that that dwarf, that was an aimed tackle there. I mean, he had the ball. We have to see if it was a penalty or not, but it was a pretty brutal one as far as I'm concerned. However, whilst they are checking this, there is another problem. Because you see, as this is all happening, Pippa is losing hotbed Dan finds.

Pippa has the trait of aggressive. And so basically, she's taken. this very personally and I need a D20 roll for Pippa to see if she can resist basically starting a fight. Oh, you want to roll? Yeah, somebody else can roll for this one. Go on, Ray. This is with disadvantage.

This feels like a re-roll. This is with disadvantage and she does not have the best wisdom. She's got a fight. What should be two-d-twent twenties? Two-eighths. Two-eight. Pippa, like, poorly gets punched and like, this is one of the sort of like, it's a good thing that you've got their cooperation working.

Before, you're not sure she would have cared that much. But now she launches into this dwarf, and she's just like, you fucking, I'm gonna fucking kill it. You're like, you fucking did that on purpose. And she like gets up in this dwarf's face. He shoves her. She's like, oh, you didn't just fucking shove me, prick.

And she goes and, like, kicks him in the shins and starts, like, punching him. Referee, broo, broo, is immediately blowing whistles. And you see he immediately pulls out the red card on Pippa, and she is sent off. Referee, what about the door? Well, it looks like that half thing, Pepper, she has got some, I mean, pepper, more like Pepper.

She started to find, and it looks like we've got a red card for Falhi, but I'm also, we're getting a final report and it does look like it was, that was an unfair tackle. The other player, Darren is going to get a yellow card and it looks like it's going to be a free kick. Well, it was it because he did have the ball? It looks like it is going to be a free shot, a penalty shot. for the Alley Cats on goal here.

Pipper is sent off. She is now no longer available for the rest of this half. So when you're sent off in Hatchball, you're basically out for the half. You get to come back in because of the second half, she's out for the match. Paulie is injured. Like, he can keep playing,

but he is going to have penalties to some of his roles. However, you now have possession, and you have a free shot on goal. You get to pick how this goes down. How's Hawkins looking? Is he looking rolled up? He's looking confident. Confident.

Let's go Hawkins. He's pissed too. You can see that Hawkins is like, fucking mess with my team. Yeah, okay, we're going, we're going Hawkins. Because this is free as well. Like, there's no, like, marking here. Like, he is completely unmarked.

This is just him and the arch-keeper, basically. And this is, like, gonna come down to it. It's time for drastic measures. What's the draft? Get the banner out. Get the banner out. Hawkins. Yeah?

Can you, out of curiosity. I'm just curious if you could, Daisy could ask you what you could do. Could you change the banner? Like, could it be a magical banner that you can change the writing on it? So you could do the ticker tape thing where it could be like,

yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. And it changes to Hawkins. Yes. So it says ascensionally cats and then it changes to Hawkins. Go Hawkins or something. Yeah. We'll hold up the banner.

I think I can make that work. Go on Hawkins! Okay. All right, I'll keep that in mind. So, for this, Hawkins, has a free shot and goal. This is just going to be a D-20 roll from Hawkins with advantage as he is being spurred on by the banner.

The banner! The banner! The banners are working! And he does still have his talented re-roll, so if the advantage, you can rerol one of the d-20s, if you get really low on it. Okay. No fate. You can re-re-one, you can re-wobone.

Can you have a fucking word with my dice, please? Calm the fuck down. Unnecessary. Kim's doing a thing. Fucking do better. Roll an eight and a two. Rew- Okay, so you can re-roll one. Keep the eight.

No. 16. 16. With his bonuses, I'll keep that in mind. As the archkeeper gets to try and roll to block, he has advantage because he is big. Hawkins waits. He has this free shot, he winds up. His eyes glanced to the side,

and you see the Yotner archkeeper is already going in that direction, and then swift does anything like a cannon, launches out of Hawkins' hands in the other direction at the other corner. The Yon is already going, he tries to change at the last minute, but like a cannon shot, it thunders through the archkeeper gate, and a roar just erupts from the crowd. Ali Katz has scored.

Hawkins with a beautiful throw. Hawkins, what an excellent goal and absolutely smashing result after that penalty. Oh, beautiful play, beautiful play. That is some fine hatchball I'm seeing out there. Claire, absolutely beautiful. This is exactly what we love from the game. And Allie cats are 1.0.

That is the first quarter of the second half. Like the first play. I have those four plays per thing and it switches, depending on what you get you get in your roles. Possession will move to the foxes as you've just scored. And so we get into, okay, having seen this, Um, uh, uh, Bran, Bronson. Well, it looks like that the foxes are not going to take that lying down.

They are going aggressive. They are pressuring the alley cats, pressuring their strikers, pressuring the defenders, moving past them. They are moving so aggressively here. They definitely want to even this up. You know, we're moving into coming up to halfway through the second half. If they don't even this up now, the alley cats could potentially really make a way for it. Uh, so in this.

half the other team are playing extremely aggressively. So this is... Da-da-da-da-da-da. So they are coming in. They have possession, so you can either try and tackle them or hope that they fumble and that you get a chance to intercept.

As they are just going to try and move up the pitch, Farns Farnson's got the ball, and he is going to move up this pitch and he is going to try and really get in here basically. Run's going to jog on the spot, high knees. Timeout is called. So timeout, you can see that that's interrupted that flow of that play.

The other team sort of are like, oh, damn it, they were really making a play there. The defenders, your team was barely managing to kind of keep them rebuffed. They were really struggling to keep them away from the goal there. But with this timely timeout, you've called a timeout, the team come over. You can see that Guntram is just like,

they are really pressuring us, Coach. I don't know what we can do here. He's really good, and they've got some really good strikers on their team. I'm not sure what we should be doing. Mr. Rowan, assistant coach Rowan, you caught the timeout. Did you have an idea? You may have noticed I called it time out. Yes?

Good. It's because they were getting very aggressive, so it's all right. Give them a moment to diffuse themselves. Lose that edge. They might do, but they might also just come back as aggressive as they were before, is there anything... And then we must smite them!

Oh, okay? Be willing to do anything. Fight. Give me an intimidation. But Rowan, like, because you're trying to encourage them to play aggressive, I think. This sounds like almost intimidation.

Rowan's just gotten really into hatchball. Really into it, I love it. Intimidate. I've got a plus six. Oh, oh! I've never had to use this before. Yeah. Bards gets half proficiency.

I did roll a three, though. That's a nine. That is a nine. You see that... You farts at the end. I think that, like, you farts at the end, which kind of... My bad.

Takes it out. But also, Grath, your defense is very uncertain. And playing aggressively the way that Rowan's encouraging them does not really seem their style. But they sort of nod their heads, and they sort of, oh, yeah, we'll try. Or don't. But we go back into it as the timeout ends.

And once again, the foxes are still playing aggressively. Like, they kind of get back into that fly. time passes back and forth and they are pushing up and again they're going to get a chance on goal here unless you can get the ball away from them so what does what do the alley cats do and you can discuss it though don't forget like you can be like what do you guys think they should do or like I feel like our options is either to get a defender squad together but my defenders are all pretty uncertain little nervous beans or we could try and get a striker like Tristan in to get the ball away from them so I'm out of the

Pipper so for strikers I've got Hawley's injured Tristan and Athana and Hawkins obviously and then for defenders I've got Guntram Baron who's a yacht near Emil who Dragonborn they haven't done much yet Davillon they're a defender right Davian. Yeah, Davian is a defender. Venora. Venora and, yeah, Barnabas is in goal, so.

You can maybe get Tristan to try and get the ball in the ball. Get a little Tristan. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, I agree with that. Because Hawkins has also been hyping him up, like, trying to get him involved and stuff. So getting them to pass to each other and like, yeah, get up the field. Your strikers can tackle as well.

Like, your defenders are like, you're kind of first line of defence, and they're, normally they're better suited, but your defence is obviously very uncertain. But Tristan can absolutely fall back and try and try and do it. fall back and try and do it. It just means that when you, if Tristan gets the ball, if you get possession of it, you have to move it forward first. So you won't be able to do a shot on goal until it's moved forward, at least into another striker. Yeah, I'm thinking Tristan and then Tristan and Afana to move it up the field. Sure, I love that. Perfect. Good challenge. All right, in that case, so Tristan is going to make a tackle role here. This is using, I believe, tackling is done with Constitution. So, D20 roll for Tristan. Anyone else want to roll?

No? You go for it, Lou. You go? Roll goes up to Xanthius. Sorry if it doesn't work it. Zanthius, how much magic have you got left? Are you willing to fireball? No. Okay. Do you get any hot dogs? I've got, I ate too many hot dogs. That's why he's asleep. Food coma. Yeah. It's like five, six hot dogs. Oh, it's a ten. A ten, okay? Straight ten. Right down in the middle. I'm going to offer you. Tristan is also talented.

Which means he has re-rolls as well. I mean, I rolled five last time I did a re-roll, but I'd say do it. Fuck it. Yellow. Leave in the dice. 17! That's 17. Okay.

Leaving the heart of the dice. So, who's going to have the ball? I'm going to actually randomly determine, which the strikers on the other team has the war. This is Yancey, who is a half-ling strikers. Riker currently has a ball, which means that actually he's gonna have disadvantage to resist being tackled because he's smaller than Tristan.

But he's also talented. Cease. No. I'm not allowed to Rye Sports. It was close. So with my talented re-roll, I got a 16, but only a plus 1 to 17. And Tristan has more, has a bonus to the 17.

So you watch, as Tristan sort of weaves his way back in and you hear, oh, it looks like we've got a play coming in from Tristan. Young striker hasn't really done much in the game. It looks like he's moved back and he's moving in on the Halfling. Halfing can't do much.

Yancey is, oh, he's taken out. It's a beautiful tackle there from Tristan. He's got the ball away from the team and it looks like it's now in possession of the alley catch. Could we be seeing goal number two? So Tristan now has the ball. Okay. This is going to be the final play

of the second half. Tristan has the ball. He is in your defensive area, so he's gonna need to move, either move himself or pass, and then a striker can potentially make a shot and goal. The more times you pass, the less chance they have of being blocked and things like that.

What does Tristan do? I'm thinking have him pass it up. But then do we want him to pass to Hawkins and strike or have him go to like... Pass to Hawkins strike and then have Tristan run out. I don't know because Hawkins has been blocked quite heavily by here. Yes, yeah.

But right now we're just focusing on what Tristan does now. Like it's kind of we're doing it in stages, right? We could get it. Tristan to Athana, who did the great job earlier. So Tristan to a thana, a thawna to a striker. Yeah. To get a shot on goal. But then the only thing about that is that there's more passes,

so there's more opportunity for fuckery. Um... The only thing with a pass is only thing with a pass is only a pass is only a pass. with a pass is only if you fail a pass, is there a chance to intercept it? If you succeed on the pass, it goes off. It's a flat DC for passing. Yeah.

I think we need to get it further up the edge before we start doing shots on goal. Yeah, you mean you can't, right now, you can't shoot on goal anyway. Get Tristan to pass, then move. And then move. Move. And then move. So Tristan pass to Athana.

Move it up, and then get Tristan to move forward as well, and then we can reassess who takes a shot. And use Pippa's aggression right. Get this out. She's out. She's out. She's red carded. You're right.

Yeah. All right. So can I get a D20 roll from Tristan for a pass? Anyone want to roll? I can always roll. Go on it. There's no advantage of just wanted. He does have some re-rolls left.

15. You want to keep the 15? Yes. That's probably smart. 15 is enough. He passes to Athana, right? Mm-hmm. So, oh, that's a beautiful pass.

It looks like Tristan's opting to pass the ball to Athana. We saw her early, a beautiful mover, really able to dance her way up the pitch, hopefully. But it looks like the foxes are onto this kind of play, and they're sending some of their big defenders and strikers to try and box her in. Let's see what the alley cats can do with this. So Tristan successfully throws the pass to Athana.

Thana is making a way at the pitch. What would you like your team to do now? Can I get to have to be Athana right away. You can have other people do stuff, but then I get to act and I get to try and tackle Athana, basically. Thinking of getting some different. defenders in to protect Athanas up front. No, no, he's all the way down at the back.

He'll take him about half a day to get there. Or what about the Dragonborn? Emil. Yeah, so we've got defenders, we've got Guntram, the Yotnir Baron, Emil, who's Dragonborn, Davion, and the Nora, who's a dwarf. I reckon we get some of those defenders up to put pressure on their defenders so that frees up Hawkins.

freeze up Hawkins. Yeah. Do we want a big and small maybe? Maybe good. So Barron is a yachtier. Yeah. And then a small one as well to get the fucking ankles. My apologies, so defenders can't move into a striker zone.

So they are in your, they can only act when it's like your being. All other the strikers then. All other than all the strikers. On the defenders. So we got Hawkins, Tristan, Paulie who is injured. It's still playing, but just has like, definitely is not. You can definitely mark the defenders, right? Yeah.

Cause a distraction for them. Mm-hmm. Get Hawkins free. Yeah. I think we need two. So maybe... Is Hawkins still being marked? So I'd say that right now,

Hawkins is always being sort of like observed, and you can see that the two dwarf twins are always staying close to him. The other defenders and strikers are moving towards Athana. So the way that this works is always an alternate activation. So you guys get to do something,

now so you get to decide what you know happens now and then I will get to have my guys either try and tackle athana or move up or do something else and try and interfere in that way I kind of want to say let's get Hawkins and Guntram no sorry Guntrim's defender and Hawkins and Hawley to help Athana to get it get it to Tristan yeah yeah yeah because if it's been marked yeah yeah and then get it to Yeah, we can assume like moving Tristan up isn't really an action, like it doesn't cost you doing. He's doing that on his own. But if you want, like, if the idea is that you're going to have Paulie and Hawkins come in to basically like protect Athana as she moves up,

that would be your sort of go for the turn, basically. Yeah. I think that's good one. Good idea. Let's do that. Yeah. Okay. So I think that for this, this is going to be, I'd say that this is blocking.

So this is going to be a D20 role. Because they're working together. I will give you advantage. But on a failure, obviously, it will affect both of them. Natural 20. Natural 20. Good God. I'm not even going to contest that with a roll.

We watch as they basically form like a little V. Paulie and Hawkins basically swapping sides depending on which strikers and defenders are coming at them. And basically creating like a wedge for Athana to move. Quite often as well, you know, Hawkins and Athanas seem to have. have like a pretty good chemistry for like movement. And Pauli is just so chaotic and quick as well

that the other team don't really know what to do with him. To the point where like he's like literally like leaping up in like using his body almost like, like leaping into their faces to like throw them off. But with this they are able, a Thunner is able to move up and placing herself very much in the goal zone. Right now the other two dwarves, Tristan is wide open.

He's not being marked. We probably hear like, oh, this is some excellent teamwork here. We've got the Alley Cat. They formed a defensive wedge and they've got Athana. They've got a Thana moving right up the right side of the pitch. And it looks like, Braun, it looks like Tristan's wide open. It looks like none of the foxes are keeping an eye on him. He's completely unmarked.

It looks like everybody's going for Hawkins, the star player. Nobody's paying attention to the young boy from the church. He's right on the white, on the left side. She's wide open. So, D20 roll to pass from Athena. Anyone wanna go? She is uncertain. She is uncertain, okay.

Disadvantage. Disadvantage. But she's quick, so she does have advantage on passes. She's a straight roll. Straight roll. Straight roll. 14. 14 plus her decks, don't forget.

You watch as she ducks, she weaves, she spins. And I think she sees like one of these heavy defenders from the other side, there is a, a Phenic Fox Wildheart. Full like, like, becomes like running at her and goes to like dive at her waist. And Athana literally like a ballet dancer like leaps up in the air,

sails over this phoenix fox who like charges to the other side. Just as another one of the enemy team, the rival team, you see Svarns, you see Svansfansen has like fallen back and like goes to charge in and then sort of blinding out of nowhere, Hawkins just shoulder barges him out the way, giving a thun and this perfect opening. The ball arcs through the air into Tristian's waiting hands.

He's wide open, he now has a shot on goal. We're gonna shoot. Okay, go for the shoot. Roll for Tristan. We have one last time out. You wanna use it? If you use it now, that will disrupt the flow. Yeah, so I wouldn't use it now.

Yeah. Especially with a shot on goal. You don't want to use it now. Banner says Tristan. Yeah. Tristan! You've used that one so I'm not gonna give you advantage. Is it an advantage or just a straight roll?

This is gonna be a straight roll for Tristan. But he has a re-roll, though. He can re-roll and then I get a chance to block it. Okay. But you are one nil up anyway. Yeah, I want two. Tristan needs this. It would be nice for Tristan and Hawkins to pull four.

Yeah. Yeah, well, let's see. 14. 14, right? Plus, would you like to re-roll it? Are you gonna keep the 14? I kind of want to keep it. 14 is pretty good.

Above average. 14's pretty good, yeah. I'm going to keep it. Gamble, so I wouldn't, I don't even give any advice. Trott's giving me crazy eyes. It could be a tonne either. Could be more. It could be more.

There's four other numbers above that. A lot of numbers below it. Roland, the archkeeper, has advantage. Big Yacht near. He has to be a 16. Plus two from Tristan. Quick.

Someone distract him in the audience. I was thinking about going wild from. Tristan sort of takes this moment, and you probably see him, he actually closes his eyes. And they say something and then throws it blind. But you see that as Roland goes to hit the ball out of the way, somebody in the audience, something, something causes a bright light and he flinches.

And that tiny little bit of that. And the crowd goes wild. The last few minutes of play, a last few seconds of play, the foxes try a valiant attempt to get it down, to try and get it to one to, but there simply isn't enough time. The match is called and the Alley Cats win, 2-0. The crowd is electric, and there are chance.

Ali cats as they come walking back in. Fuck, yes. The team is just like, yes! Gruff, graph, imagine someone just dumps a barrel of water on me. Well, imagine, no, the kids just swarm you. Like, it's just hugs. Just like, shh. Fist bumps all round.

Yeah, perhaps maybe, like, I imagine, like, Tristan being the more reserved one, some of the other ones who are a little bit shy, they're kind of hesitant. But, like, Hawkins is just, like, he's crawling on you. Just like, yeah! Loves it. You see like Paulie is just like, ah, blah, blah, blah. It's just babbling and gobbling.

Just like, we did it, coach, we did it. It's just like so excited chatting away to you, and the whole team is electric. When you get back in, Pippa is like there, like she's got like bandages. No, so she was sent off, she wasn't injured. She's just like, do we win? Do we win? Who do I, fucking who do we win?

And then she's like, we won! And she's just immediate, and she's like, fuck it, yeah. Just screaming as a huge. celebration. Can I cast kill wounds on Pauli? Yeah, you absolutely can. Once you get him off the pitch,

he's just like, oh, that was great. Thank you, thank you, coach, thank you, oh, that's good. Good plays, Paulie. Good plays, everyone. Fucking, yes! It's incredible. Incredible effort for every single one of you. They are just over the moon. Like, this is, this went better

than they could have possibly imagined. but also I think that you know there is this moment where like even like Tristan's being like applauded and Rueh but also like Athana and Barnabas also seem to be getting their fair amount of praise as well. Hawkins as well as well you know like he got that first

goal got you guys 1-0 up from that free kick and things like that free shot rather and yeah the team is pumped with one victory with that the last thing we hear from the commentators well

Well, Claire, this has been a brilliant opening match for the IFA Championship, IFA Youth Championships. The Alley Cats have made their weight. They're going to be playing in the next game. They'll be playing in another game. If they win that, they'll make it through to the set of their finals. Potentially, coming in from the bottom of the table, we could be seeing the Alley Cats really dominating in this field,

but they've got a tough time ahead of them, some of the better teams coming up. We'll see you for the next match in a couple of days' time. And with that, the hatchball match is going to come to an end. Amazing. Details on exactly when that match will be will come. But as a reward for such a good team as well,

I will now pass to you, Gruff, the stats of your team. So you can now have a better understanding of which of your players, their kind of like temperament, where they're at, their stats. I know what position they play. You're a clipboard. You're a clipboard. a whistle.

Yeah, yeah. With the local on the bank. Yeah. Oh. If it's going really bad, just snaps the clipboard. Yeah. You, as you sort of wind down

the celebration with them, as they kind of get changed and their parents are all waiting for them outside, you would see a lot, they're all so hyped and excited, like all of the parents. Some of the quieter children definitely sort of shuffle off, but very excited and happy.

But a couple of standout, that you would see. Barnabas's father, she's my boy! And he's like, oh, great save lad. And he's like lifting him up and stuff like that.

Seems to be celebrating with him. Very happy that his son proved himself in this match. You know, Hawkins is just, you know, his parents are just like, you know, lauding praise over him and things like that. But you do see, like, as he's being sort of led away,

he would look over to the sister who's kind of like got Tristan and he's sort of, She's just like, oh, you did very well, like, excellent and wonderful. Blah, blah, blah. They're kind of whispering, you know, softly to each other. And you see Tristan and Hawkins kind of like look at each other. Just nod at the head.

Yeah. Yeah. And the two of them make their way off. However, Coach Graf, you have one problem. Oh, fucking hell. Here she comes. Which is a very angry-looking, dwarven woman. Begins making her way over to you.

Brace me, boys. Brace me. Perfect. She just comes over and you can see that she is wearing quite wealthy looking sort of merchant's robes. She has a very finely embroidered sort of leather apron.

She's got like the rod sleeves but of a silk shirt, you know, wonderful gold buttons. It does seem to be dressed in a style matching guildi and Volt watch as well. Slightly darker, a dwarven woman. You can see that her earth skin is almost like an opal

and it's been marked into these beautiful studs all along sort of her forehead and down her cheeks basically. Coach Gruffeth, I've got a bit of a word to have with you. Oh, of course, madam. To get more Swedish. It's not Welsh. Your Welsh is friend. I'm Welsh.

Yes, that's quite right to make it more like Rydian, our good friend, Rydian. Yes, hello. It's not here to shout about you. Exactly. What's... I... My son was playing in defence.

That's not what his position that I agree... He was supposed to be playing a striker. May I ask what your problem is? Well, my son didn't get a chance. He could have shined. He would have done a wonderful job up there and he could have scored some of those goals and it's not really fitting for somebody of our name

to be lingering at the back, not doing much at all at all. I wanted him to be a striker and that's what we agreed. But he didn't linger today. He was a key part of his victory. I don't know if that's entirely true. Do you know that your son has a very keen tactical mind and understanding for the sport? But what good is that if the...

People only care about strikers. He was calling the plays. He was pulling it together. You may have noticed we had a bit of a different communication system to him. That was his idea. and he's been helping the team learn so that they can communicate with each other. You saw how more cohesive everybody was today.

Well, that may be good for the team, but it's not good for my boy's reputation. Madam. Now, Mara, just out of, so when we were at the academy, I went and looked up famous defenders' names. Like, so am I allowed to bring that in now? Sure, yeah.

If you've got some ideas, I don't. Madam, being in the city, perhaps you have helped. heard of the famous defender Bobby Moore. I'm aware. And you can definitely say that they are the greatest of their generation. They made that team. Being a defender is no shame.

They are a big part of the team. I suppose if you keep winning and my boy is contributing. Your boy is a star player in his own right. He is the one who is bringing this together. and he's teaching me a few things. Then can I ask a question? Of course, madam. Why isn't he the team captain?

Why is that cat boy still the team captain? Look, I've only just got here, madam. There's a lot that needs to happen on this team. And one of the things I was hoping to run before the next game is another captain's the election. Give me a persuasion check with advantage. And a big picture of Ted. I got an 11 and I'm pretty sure it is persuasion one, so 12.

12. Shoulder all fate. I'm still not very happy about this. And I was thinking of sponsoring, contributing to the team's funds. If my boy's captain, I'll consider that. But if he's as good as you say, and he is a smart boy, I agree. then that should be reflected in him leading the team. Not some arrogant blow-hard show-off.

Yes, there are famous defenders. I agree. However, only die-hards really know who they are. Most people only care about the winners, the strikers. That's what my boy is, and that's what I want him to be, a winner. A known name. Prove me wrong. Madam, may I ask you?

One thing. You have a beautiful sense of style. You're very well dressed in your garments. I am trying to bring together, I know you mentioned sponsoring. I am trying to bring together a new uniform and kit. One of the girls in the team, Vinora, is designing the logo. And I am trying to get Davian's father to pull together the uniforms. Because you will agree they need new uniforms. They need to look good, don't they? Your son needs to look good. Yes. Would you perhaps consider sponsoring a little money so that at our next game, the team and your son,

look smart? I'll think about it. Thank you, madam. Come along, Guntram. Sorry, coach. And the two of them help. And I'll just stand watching them and then I'll call my mouth. Everybody sort of like goes, that you watch them.

I'll filter out. Is she gone? She's gone, it's fine. She's gone. She can't see me. No. Blood yes. What a terrifying lady. You handled that well. You did. You did good. Almost shut myself.

You couldn't tell. You couldn't tell. I'm so sweaty. That's okay. It didn't come across. The fur kind of hid it. Your paws are glistening. Yeah, but she didn't see the paws, so it's fine. You're fine. Okay. Well done, Griffith. You handled that. Well, as a knight should.

You handled all of that well. Look at your team, they're beaming. Oh, it was good to see them looking happy, wasn't it? That's right. And Hawkins and Tristan scored. Working together. To not like each other. That's amazing. Incredible. Incredible.

I need to work with the other kids, though, the quiet ones. We've paid attention to the loud ones. We need to look at the quiet ones now. Still, though, there are a couple of quiet ones that had incredible plays. But really, and weren't they? Yes. We need to get them uniforms, though. Uniforms, though. Uniforms. Kit.

Yes. Yes. Thank you everybody for your part in today. You're welcome, says Zanthias holding a hot dog. Oh, you're still here, right. I ate too many hot dogs. Okay. Do you know, what was the score?

Balls. Speaking of, we do have another ball today. Oh, right. Oh, by the great father we do. You best sober up, Zantius. Probably about four o'clock, seven. You have about three hours. Pick up the outfits.

I got you're the outfits. Oh yes. I need a shower. I need to hit the shower. Okay, okay. Yes, outfit showers, everything else. We should maybe pick up the outfits on the way back. Then we can shower and get changed and get ready.

Oh, bloody else. That's one thing done. Yes, we did it. Done. One match, done. Two more to go, I think. I don't know. I don't know what this sport is.

I don't know what the tournament structure is. Don't ask me. Bloody else, I need bed. If they win the next one, they'll go through to the final. If they don't win the next one, they'll basically play like an exhibition, like friendly to wrap it, basically. France versus Zinclair. So, you guys make your way back towards the Burn Byte district,

stopping en route at Carmine House, where you see, there is no closed sign on the door, implying that it's open. But the last time you came here, you had a very different experience. Yeah. Ophelia would just like tentatively knock on the window, like, do-d-d-do-d-d-do-d-t-tuk. I might wait outside until you give the old clear, to be honest. I might go on a different street.

Yeah. You knock and hear her like, come in. That sounded better than last time. Okay. Hello, it's Ophelia. Hello, Ophelia, darling. Hi! step in opening the door to see Narcissa, the red dragonborn,

dressed very elegantly herself. Her spectacles sort of perched on the top of her head, tape measure sort of around her neck, you know, her little bobby pin sort of like bracelet thing, but looking very well dressed herself, white blouse, kind of like pencil skirt, kind of looking, and she looks very pleased with herself. And behind her sort of in a row,

and as you arrive she'd be like I've been waiting for hours I've been waiting all day so bad you're here not rushing well I was rushing up until about oh an hour ago but I remembered something

about some sort of hatchball game and you've been there but anyway and she gestures and there are five because I believe it was everything with gruff's reworked outfit and everything else five outfits on mannequins magical mannequins

you also got a thing for Bricks as well right but they're in jail now. He did, yeah. It was kind of like a tabard thing, so it's like that's off to the side. It doesn't need a mannequin. But we see, you know, very fine outfits for everybody else.

Like very well made, very pretty, maybe not simple, but, you know, these are beautiful garments. Like these are going to make you look all the part of, you know, a visiting thing. But in the middle of them is the most resplendent gown you've ever seen, the one that Ophelia paid a hefty.

price for. You paid more for daisies as well. Yes, but not as much as Ophelius. So I think that like, you know, Rowans is quite simple, kind of like basic attire, gruffes, your other outfit's been sort of recolored and adjusted to match the Ossian vibes to it all. The Oseon elements to the more simple outfits are very subtle.

It's mainly in things like the colors. There is like the faintest kind of embroidered skull visage or like a sort of chalice, you know, these kinds of iconographies, but it's very subtle, it's not very obvious, nothing that would be too ostentatious. Daisy's outfit is a lot more, there's, you know, there's black roses and sort of like, you know, blossoming with like red glittered sort of gemstone sequins

to make it almost look like they've speckled with blood. The draped finery is like this fine lacy gauze that sort of drapes along the sleeve. a very tight, nice bodice with delicate embroidery of almost like cathedrals. Like it looks very sort of, you know, like a Gothic cathedral vibe to it. So again, very beautiful outfit. We'll absolutely make a statement piece for Daisy. But the gown in the middle, I mean, firstly, there is an enchantment upon it, which makes it look like it is a pool of blood that like it splays out into

and it drips and it kind of pulls out. but when you lift it up, the blood sort of coils back up into it as it's all magical illusion. But it is made of, I mean, you are almost certain that there are tiny rubies woven into it to represent the blood droplets and things like that, and it is exceptionally exquisite.

My apologies, there is a sixth mannequin, which is for Percival, which is, you know, the most finest kind of, like, tuxedo, waistcoat, jacket, cravat, he will look a very fabulous skeleton, fully dressed. It does come with a cloak for the to and from. It does have a fully enclosed cloak, but the clasps sit on the shoulder and it almost becomes,

you can see that it kind of merges into the suit and jacket as well. As, well, what do you think? I do not have the words. No, there are no words. There are no words. Achieved in, what, a few days? I believe that this may be quite legendary. I actually think this may be the greatest feat of tailoring

ever achieved in the empire. Yes, I concur. This is... I'm glad you concur. This is... This is incredible. I know, darling, I know. And I mean the rest of you, I hope you're pleased with your works as well.

This one aimed more, more. It's lovely. I love it. It's really, really nice. Very beautiful. But, Ophelia, that's the most impressive gown I think I've ever seen. Can I wear this as my skin? Can I just have this all the time? Well, I mean, you've paid for it,

so you can do what you wish now. But I want to be it. It's so beautiful. I want to become the dress. You know what I don't mean? Is there... Well, the art of the dress is a wonderful thing, my darling. It is.

And if you wish to make this your skin and to live in it, to sleep in it, to wear it... Do I do. What you do with it now is entirely up to you. My work is done. Tonight you will arrive at this function. And of course, when asked you will see. say, oh, Narcissor of the Carmine House.

Of course. My incredible tailor, my incredible seamstress, she made this for me. Yes. And you will tell everyone of my beautiful works, and they will marvel at it. And then what you do after that is really none of my business. Wonderful. I...

I don't know what to say. She's speechless. I clearly, clearly, as my work is oft to do upon my various clients, especially for this amount of gold, and your most generous gift that you gave me today. You did give her a lot. a lot of extra. I did. I hope that was enough.

Was it enough? Oh, darling, please, my dear friend, you have nothing to worry about. Okay, good. What are a few nights of what are a few sleepless nights? Well, now you can rest. Oh, I intend to. Please do you. Have you dressed anyone else for the

Aussian ball in particular? Not for this Aussian ball, no. I've not had any other clients for this one. So that means that you definitely have the most exquisite. I would have. I'm certainly. I imagine that many of those attending it. I mean, I can't speak for your embassy,

but I imagine that many of the citizens of Nightwalk, which is the Erdasian district, there is a pretty good seamstress there, runs the witch's wardrobe. I mean, it's not my level of work, but it's quite good. Possible. So they'll look very nice.

I imagine most of the locals went there, but no one will be as fabulous as. Sister Ophelia here. Of that, I have no doubt. Even dragons will marvel at your appearance, I'm certain. I like the idea of that. You will stand out, the bell of the ball. Thank you so much.

Indeed. You're most welcome. I just, I love it when a project just works. And it fits the person. This is, yes, I have good feelings about this. Thank you. The devil's in the details and there is a lot of details. Oh, so many details.

I mean, I can give you the tour if you wish. Yes, please do. When she immediately begins showing you off all these little hidden, there's like slashes in the sleeves and actually inside the slashes, she's like added embroidery skeletons and things like that. You know, it's incredibly detailed. How did she a skeleton in there?

Very fine sewing. And yeah, there's like all sorts of work that's been put into place. And it is elegant, but it is also unmistakably Ossian. Do you need anything else from me? Only for you to enjoy my works, my labours. I mean, I will. I will. I will. Forever and ever and ever and ever and ever.

And hopefully eternity. What I love to hear. Wonderful. Everybody happy? Are you all happy? Can I come in now? You can come in, yes. Hello. It's quite wonderful, Rowan. It's quite...

Oh, okay. It's yours. My tall friend. Oh, wow. Beautiful, obviously your proportions. I've had to make sure it's cut and fits your frame. It should make you look very fetching and very stylish. Thank you.

You're welcome, you're most welcome. So when I put this on, do you recommend wearing anything underneath it? Yes, please wear underwear, please wear undergarments. Right, right, right, right. Well, that'd be a fur. You need to be told that so often. I just haven't worn anything like this.

See, next to yours, there is like a kind of beautiful, elegant, like, boutique bag. There are, there is underwear there. You didn't. You, please do not soil my works with your unwashed crevices. Oh, we're all gonna hit the showers after this. Thank the Sions.

Enjoy. Thank you so much. They're very comfortable. Ophelia. Isn't, isn't it amazing? That's not even an address. It's a statement. It's, it's art.

Good. It is. It is art. It is. Is it tripping? Most people don't see it. It's the illusion, it's the magic. That's magical.

It's magical. I can't believe it. I can't. I've never seen anything like it. It wouldn't have. This is a one of a kind. When you try it on, when the moment seems appropriate, when you really wish to make a spectacle, spin.

Ah, I'm going to do so much spinning. I wouldn't overdo it. Okay, a little bit of spinning. Save it for the right moment, when you really want to make an impact to everyone. A dance. Potentially.

Do as you wish, but... I will. I would avoid spinning too much. Okay. Not too much spinning. Okay. What do you think it does? I don't know. I want to find out so bad.

Yeah. I'm doing a twill when we get into this. I believe your bill is settled up, or if it is not, you may pay the half. I believe that actually it's like... I think we paid all of it. Yeah, you paid a little bit. I did the whole counting up to $2,000. Your bill is paid up.

These are ready for you to take. Great, Rowan picks up the mannequin and puts it under his arm. Thank you very much. Yeah, she actually doesn't seem to have any problem with that. The mannequins will disappear within a few hours, so. Rowan doesn't do that. No, well no, she's telling you, I'm saying. The mannequin is not listening now.

Right, okay. I'm telling the rest of you. The mannequins vanish after a few hours. We should all name our mannequins. Okay, don't get to be hard. Well, I will leave this to you. Enjoy your evening. Thank you so much.

A million thank you. You're more than welcome. As just mentioned, Narcissa, you'll cut my nose. I will. I'll mention it a million times. I'll shout it from the rooftops. Indeed, as is befitting of my wonderful work. Well, I will leave you to it then.

Enjoy. Thank you so much. Enjoy darling, goodbye. Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye. I'm going to sleep. Please sleep. Oh my God, please sleep. Good dresses.

It's probably a good thing that Xentheus didn't, because I think he set her off last time real bad. With his, you know, taking the outfit before she's finished it. Yeah, he did not like that. No. One bit. No. I'm guessing Xanthius just went back. Yeah, let's just say that. I'll take Xanthius's, I guess. He seems quite hung over.

Did we just sent him on his own again? Yeah, but it's because he's not here, so it's okay. It wasn't an intentional event. Yeah, it's fine. Like the other times, you know. Maybe I've got the mannequin under one arm and Xanthus. Yeah, he's the sleep from the hot dogs. Yeah, he's a hot dog food food.

He's fine. Someone can carry his outfit. You guys, well, he's got his outfit, because he got his alley. Oh, he's got it on, never mind. No. You make your way back, you spend the evening getting ready. If you want to have any conversations amongst yourselves,

you may. Otherwise, I will take us to the Ossian evening. So if there is anything you would like to do, now would be the time. Rowan has a spoon of banana, and he brings it over to a mannequin's head that's got crude

drawing of two dots and a smile. Here you go Woody. Smear the banana over it. Can it at that point it disappears? Yeah. Woody. Banana just lands on the floor.

Woody's gone. We did tell you that did you not listen? I had a life planned. We did say that the lady's said that it disappears after a couple of hours. Life is so fragile, so brief.

Right, you need to go get dressed rowing. Oh yeah. Put the undergarments on first, please. Right. Shower, there's a queue for the shower, so who's going first? Oh, I don't need it. Shower. All right, do you want me to go first, because I might make it.

It's a very large dragon bathroom. I'm sure, you know, it depends on how friendly you guys want to get with each other, but you can like shower and bathe. very easily. Frost naked. I think that... A bath house before, this is fine. Exactly.

Whilst you are getting ready, one of the cobbled assistants, as you're kind of all getting ready, one of the cobbled assistants arrives. There is a visitor. I know that you are all getting ready, but she said it is quite important so that she just briefly speaks with you.

An orc woman. Oh, okay, yes. Says that you should... A darling. Yes, that her name was? I thought of Saint Decia. Well, that would be quite the thing for one of the Holy Saints to be here.

But anyway, should I send her up? Yes, please, sure. Okay, very well, very well. She makes her way back down. And then shortly after, dressed in a sort of, almost like a leather, sort of breastplate curious, loose, like rolled-up sleeve shirt, looking a little bit more like an adventurer

than the last time you saw her is Agent Darling, side-shaved head, the glossed. scar, the tusks. All right, all right, mates. I thought I'd come in and check on you after last night. My goodness, that was last night. Do you know how Ricks is? I only can give you a...

They've been taken to the central chambers. There's holding cells there. Their case is being processed. In all fairness, it's a pretty open and shut. pretty open and shut one. Tooms is trying to, you know, use what favours and information we have to, you know, keep an eye on things. But it's looking like they're going to be sent to one of the sort of labour prisons out of the city. You know, they don't have a prison here in Kelskaris, but there's labour mines and prisons for criminals that, you know, folks get sent to.

I'm guessing we're not allowed to make the case that that was a diadem venue. I mean, Look, the thing is, is even if we show documentation, you know, got your ledgers and things like that, so what, like, you know, the diadem don't exist, you know, the Worm Guard are aware that that's an organization, but we can prove that there was criminality happening there. Ricks isn't a member of the Guard, none of us are, like, Ricks had no authority to be in there doing what they did. They had a torture chamber. They saw it. They must have seen it. I know, and they did. The problem is, is Vricks is the only one that's come out of there alive, screaming bloody murder,

and as far as the wormguards considered, they don't, you know, Vricks has made the case that, like, it's made the exact same case, that it's a room full of villains and crittons and that they were going in there. Ricks basically said, I went in there to punish them.

That sounds like Vicks. Yeah, and the problem is, is, there's no, you know, The only person we got is that guard captain, it's the only one that we managed to capture. You know, you guys took Alejandro with you. I don't know what's happening, I don't know where he or the Red Dragonborn are.

Rowan looks to the ground. But the only one we had was that guard captain. And, you know, a lot of the people in there, you know, they described a dynastian coming, bursting out of the room, didn't know what was going on. It's not looking good. You know, again, Ricks isn't a guard. Isn't, you know, there's no watch

Watchtower doesn't have any authority. Watchtower doesn't exist, right? We're doing all of this without any... What you work for? Toms. They mean, technically. Yeah, Watchtower was disbanded. It's not an official organization.

It doesn't... It's not... The empire doesn't recognize it. No, the government of the empire doesn't recognize us, you. Is she safe, at least, from Diadem agents? I don't think... If there are diadem agents where she's being sent,

which I think is one of the nearby... You know, it's not bad... You know, it sounds horrible when I say something like Labor Prison. But it's actually... It's basically a prison that has, like, you know, prisons just work in the minds. You know, it's not brutal. It's not like, you know, it's pretty fair.

It's just, you know, you do a few hours of work in there and, you know, you get treatment and things like that. Decent food. They probably have some low-level diadem agents in there. Are they going to be able to do anything? think to Vricks. I don't know. I've seen that Dynastian fight and they seem pretty tough. We can try and send some support. We can probably get an agent put in there to help protect them, keep an eye on them and things like that. But, uh, I mean, I can't give you any guarantees, Graf.

If you're asking me, you know, can we make sure that Vrix is safe and never gets hurt by the diadem? No. None of us can promise that. Can you at least get out a message from us? I can do that. Just tell her, thank you, and that we will get her out. Noted. Well, not forget her. And Toms won't either.

You know, Tooms is going to do everything you can to get early release, to like make cases, you know, we've got appeals. I mean, his resources aren't limitless, but we can get really good authoriters to make the case, to try and, you know, gosh, I don't know, anything we can. But Rixie's going to have to spend some time inside. There's no avoid in that, I don't think. Just tell her we haven't forgotten about her. I'll make sure that the message gets passed on.

On top of that, you and Xanthius were spotted as well. We've called in a lot of favours and spent some gold and put some money around. And conveniently, the guards that saw you and Xanthias, descriptions are a bit muddled. You know, they thought they saw like a wolf wild heart, like they maybe saw a green dragon born. They're not really sure. it was dark, they couldn't really see anything properly.

And with Vricks, you know, it's an unfortunate thing to say, but with Vricks being taken and making such a loud stink about it, you know, the witness saw Vricks, there was a witness who saw Vricks trying to get that Alejandro in the alleyway. They basically are, you know, nobody's really looking at the rest of you right now. And, you know, there's a, they are looking for a wild heart and a dragonborn, but we've managed to kind of dilute the interest. so that you and Zanthia should be pretty safe.

I mean, Sister Ophir, you had the disguise on, so you're all right. But yeah, so... I want to say thank you, darling, for your assistance in there. I feel like I didn't do too much. I mean, I was stuck fighting those guards for a long time, but...

Doing that alone gave us time. Hopefully it brought you some time. I mean, gosh, I don't know where he is, but Xanthias, that firepower was like... Oh, he's, all right, he's past... There he's. All right, fine. But no, I mean, yeah, of course.

Like, that's what we were there for. I got your documentation. That's all been sent to tombs. We're currently going through in the ledges and going through all the letters and things like that now. I'm guessing you're aware about this deal with this Calzanus. We're making plans to be there at that drop. Right. Okay, good to know.

Yeah, we're probably going to be sending either myself or somebody to check that out as well. We're starting to investigate Calzanis's, you know, interests in the city and things like that. It's going to take time. Unfortunately, the thing is that was a big stink we kicked up in Volt Watch. A lot of Toms' resources are either out of the city right now or they're being put into helping freaks and stopping anybody coming after the two of you. So what I can tell you is we're pretty confident

that we've heavily disrupted at least Emerald's operations. We don't know much about Emerald. What we do know is they are very clever and cunning. but they're also very patient. I imagine that they're just going to collapse what they've got here and start again somewhere else. Probably move out at Kelskaris.

They'll swap in a different facet to come and replace his operations and start up again somewhere else. New Perido as well. Yeah, Emerald will pick a new Peridot. They're always paired up and things like that. But again, it'll take him time to find a skilled agent, you know, Peridot was no joke.

So you've done, at least we've disrupted the diadem's plans. And we now have a better understanding of how some of their deals, that ledger has pointing us to quite a few businesses, like blackmail, you know, racketeering, that kind of thing. So we can try and undo some of that work here. So we did good work. I wish it didn't come at such a cost, but, you know, that's sometimes how these things go.

Is there anything else you need to know? We have some information to pass to you and Mr. Toole. as well. And so I'd catch her up about the tattoo, like how to remove the tattoo. Okay. I guess like that's a good thing to pass on to them. Like the nature of it, what it does, how to remove it. Yep. Do we want to tell her about Alejandro and Faria? Yeah, I mean, we chose to like side with tombs, right? I'm not going to find out anyway. He's our Nick Fury now.

We'd say all of that. Yeah, she's kind of got like a little notebook and you can see she's got one of these like ink quill pen stylus things that just writes down whatever you say basically. And then also I would pass on Grosbig Theory that we started this episode with

so kind of just piecing things together what we know about Organis, the children and just that bit about the Empress and like do you know what happened? At that like well she's like well listen I mean I've not been

I've been a Diadem agent for maybe a year. Watchtower agent. Watchtower agent, yeah. Traitor! I've been a watchtower agent for, I mean, less than a year now. And what I can tell you is that Tomb keeps a lot of secrets. It keeps a lot of secrets even from people like me

and the other people he works with. As far as I know, the Empress's remains are safely locked away in some incredibly magical vault. somewhere that the dragons know, like the arched dragons and the throne watcher, you know, and the elitist, the top wormguard knew about. But what you gotta remember is watchtower was disbanded basically as soon as the Empress was killed. So, Tumes never really, as far as I can tell,

Tumes wasn't involved in that process, not officially anyway. So I don't know, and I'm not even sure if he'll tell me. I don't know if he'll tell you guys. If he thinks that there's a threat to the Empress's remains, I'm sure he'll act on it and he'll get you guys involved. Well, just more, if you could pass this theory on. Sure. I mean, listen, I don't know much about magic and necromancy and Oregonis.

Like, that's more, I think you guys know more than I do, but I'll pass it on to Toms. And if he's got any ideas, I'm sure that he'll contact you. I just feel better knowing he knows, especially just, I don't know if they step up security or whatever. I'm not even particularly interested. it's aware it is, just that she's safe. Sure. I mean, the thing is, you know, the difficult thing is,

is like I said, Watchtow doesn't exist officially. Tum's is doing all of this on his own profits, on his own coin, right? As far as I can tell, there's no, he's got a few old allies in the government. He's got, you know, dragons that he knew. He's got, you know, considerates and Reeves and marshals and all that stuff, counsellors that he knew. But officially there's nothing, you know, we can't, he doesn't control the Worm Guard, for example.

I mean, he might be able to get word to the right people. Maybe they can double the guard on the vault or whatever, you know, if the empresses remains are there or the tomb, I don't know. I don't know where she is, but I can pass the word on. So the main thing for us is, you know, we're still going to keep investigating the diadem and this deal with Calzanis. Obviously, we're interested in anything connected to Oregonis. I understand you're going to this Aussian thing tonight.

Yes. So based on your conversations and what you told me, sounds like there might be something going on there. As far as we know, there's no connection between the Osceans and Diadem. We weren't aware of any, we weren't aware of any connection between Oregonis and the Austians until you told us about this Orathera, was it? Being related to Xanthias and Oregonis and showing up at the Ossian embassy. I've looked into it.

There's no student by the name of ORA anything, as far as I can tell. I found an A. Sinclair. It was a new student at the academia, but that was about it. Registered only in the last couple of days. But yeah, as far as we know, there was no previous connection between the two of them. Alliannab did say that they didn't mess with them, didn't they?

Yes. To you? I mean, we've certainly seen, I think that if the Austians and the diadem were fighting with each other, the city would be in a hell of a worse shape than it currently is. Yes, so they have a deal, so... Makes sense.

Yes, hopefully. A neutrality pact, yes. Yeah. It doesn't surprise me. I mean, to be honest, it wouldn't surprise me if the diadem have made the same offer to Toms and he said no. I don't know, but, like I said, I'm pretty new to all this.

I'm mainly punch stuff and throw tables. You did a good job with throwing tables. Thank you very much. I'm very pleased, darling. I'm pretty pleased with the old But like I said I'll pass this on Yeah if there's anything else

I'll let you know It might not be me It might be another agent that comes to see you next time You know we're being constantly put in different places On different missions This is starting to get into a realm That's not my forte Busting into a diadem bar

And beating up a bunch of guards A-O-K Yes All this magic social politics stuff Not so me Maybe my friend... To be honest, I don't think any of this is very us. We've just kind of found ourselves there anyway.

That's how it often tends to be. That's what it was like when I got recruited. But my friend, Felon, he might come by, and he's a bard, so he might be a bit more suited to kind of this stuff. But that's it from me. I'll keep an eye on bricks as much as I can. Thank you. If you could just keep us updated on a whereabouts.

I'll try it. If not me, I'll send a sending spell or a message or something. Thank you. Of course. All right, well, enjoy your evening. Thank you very much. No problem. Say ya. Pleasure. Take care, be careful.

Oh, don't worry about me. I know, I just... Are you worried? That's right. I mean, listen, I dealt with as crazy shit as this elsewhere. The stories I could tell you. You know, anyway, I'm gonna head off. Okay, happy punching.

Thanks. At least it's not diffusing bombs again. I can't, that's not me. I can't do diffusing bombs. Oh, the bomb is. All right. With that, you guys finish getting ready. And do you make your way?

Is Benedicta still around? She can be. Yeah, can I go to see her? Yeah. You can have a date. Do you go and see Benedicta? Do you go and find out where she is and go to her, or do you ask her to come and visit you at the estate?

I'll go to her. Okay. Are you going to go in your outfit? Yeah. Okay. Wasn't expecting that. you you make your way towards the central district of Kelskaris and you make your way to an incredible central building it is I've got to go into my notes the cathedral basilica of the sun and moon

the holiest temple, the largest temple, to the Church of the Sion. She's dressed in this. You are dressed in this opulent, ossean ball gown. It is open to the public. The temple, the grandest temple, the cathedral basilica is open to everybody,

sometimes called the basilica of St. Yolanda. You draw eyes from everybody as you approach. Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry. You watch as... Steely-eyed guards watch you very carefully. Tourists just like look in amazement like, what is going on? Who is this?

Priests and pre-assess it sort of look at you rather curiously. But waiting at the entrance, in her full plate armour, her black and white tabard, you see Sister Benedicta. As you approach, she kind of like looks at you, her eyes go wide, sort of a gorg,

and then she just is like, don't worry, she's with me, it's fine. I'm going about your visit. Sister Ophelia, what, what are you wearing? I'm going to the Ossian function for tonight. Sorry, I don't know what's going to happen tonight. I'm really worried, and I wanted to say,

I'm sorry about how I spoke to you earlier today. She's just sort of staring at it. Sorry, it's so beautiful what you're wearing. I know, isn't it? You wanted to apologize. Why? Yeah, well, I was a bit short with you earlier this morning, before the ritual, and I didn't mean what I said. I was, I wasn't myself.

I don't know if I still truly holy am myself right now, but I know what I said wasn't very nice. I could tell that something was wrong. Yes. I understand that you and your companions had had a rather harrowing evening, but it was more than that. I've seen, you've fought and I've seen you fight and I've seen you in a city that was a set of flame by demons and you, you were still you. The person I spoke to this morning wasn't Sister Ophelia. No. What happened? Last night during the Opal Lounge investigation,

I, um, I repented for a sin that I'd previously committed against the grave father by losing a soul and he tasked me with replacing that soul. Sister Sophia, please. Sorry. No, I feel it best if perhaps, let's skip over that bit. Sorry, okay, I wanted to bring context to it, but anyway. Yes. Basically, I nearly died and I gave my heart to the grave father. Turns out as a more metaphorical gesture.

I still have a heart, but I feel things slightly differently. Ignoring, it is taking every ounce of my being, gifting a soul, taking a soul. Yes, I know, I apologize. It is a heresy of the greatest order, but you have done much for me and my sister, and you have proven yourself allies, and hopefully none of the other ecliptic order are in earshot.

I will forget about that. Because what concerns me is, what do you mean you gave him your heart? What do you mean by that? Why? That's the thing that I don't really know. I was weak and he just, he has this power over me. He has a way of twisting my thoughts of in. taking over my entire emotional state, I don't know.

When I speak to him, it's like I'm not me. I don't know if that's a me that I want to be. I want to be the kind of me that can apologize and know when they've done wrong and know that they've done something wrong and this feels wrong. It's because it is wrong, Ophelia. It is wrong.

Forgive me for saying this, but... In my duty, in my work, I have encountered many who speak as you do. Those taken in by charismatic leaders, who offer them power, who offer them easy solutions. We call them cults. And I don't mean that as an insult to you. I mean that this being that you worship, knows it has this power, knows it can offer you things that no one else can, and it gives you these easy answers.

And you fall for it, and you believe in it because you want to, because you must. Because if you don't, what else do you have? We see it all the time. These cult leaders, they isolate their members from everyone else, from their families, from their friends, from their loved ones. They make them dependent, reliant on them. It's how these, we see it mostly with fiends, but also with servants of the Gravefather. It is a very alluring thing to be beyond death.

And it pulls in many. For others, it is wealth, it is power. But for many it is also fear. And these beings, these leaders, these cultists, they pray upon that. I would not offer my heart to pirate. even if my lady asks for it. My heart drives all that I do. It is the love of my sister, the love of my people, the people I wish to protect.

Pyris can have my soul, she can have my body, but my heart is mine and mine alone. And I think your heart is such a part of you. A passionate, caring woman. So full of life and creativity and joy, a joy that I have not felt in myself a very, very long time. I was very envious of it when we first met. You were so happy and so pleased. And you seem to enjoy the simplest of things when I could only think of duty and labor. He's robbed you of something special. He shouldn't have accepted it.

A true God, a true, a person that cares about you would have said no and not taken it. He has made you lesser for this. I saw you as a beautiful soul who had love and passion in her heart, but, and I can see now that you regret this. And when you spoke to me this morning, you were more like the monster that I first thought you to be, cold and heartless. If there is a way that I can help you, I will. But understand this. The Grave Father is a being older than eternity. The planar realms are places of concepts.

He is inevitable death. He is. There is more than that. In our understanding of the realms, the Grave Father, what I have been heard, is that there were many beings. that came to the Great Lands, that were part of it, made with it. We suspect the Grave Father is but one of these powers,

the one that represents ambition, overcoming death, to command it, to rule it. It's where beings like liches and whites and things like this, they seem to draw their power. They seem to be molded upon the pattern of the Grave Father. But the grave father didn't create vampires. They did not create spectres on banshees. They had their own progenitors.

They had beings that perhaps the grave father defeated. Perhaps the grave father made deals with. We're not sure. But don't make the mistake of thinking that the grave father is some all-powerful thing that made you everything that you are. It itself, he himself, is but an asthmus. of death, a ruling one, a powerful one, an ambitious one, but only an aspect. In the way that Pyrus is an aspect of things.

I know that Pyrus, my lady, she is the sun, she is light, she is justice. She cannot be a secret between friends. She cannot be beauty and a dress. Malia is those things. Althe is other things. now that she is gone, no God has power over everything. No God should have all power over you. To give your heart.

Yes, that was foolish. No, no. You did what you felt you needed in the moment. You are... Do not speak of yourself like you are the one to blame. Years of this, years of your faith, of your leaders, of your betters, instilling this worship in you. I imagine that were I raised in your shoes, I would have done the same thing.

It is not your fault, Ophelia. But, much as it pains me to say it, I cannot entirely blame it on the Gravefather either. The Grave Father is what the Grave Father is. But your faith, the Ecclesiarchy, the organization, the priests and priestesses, the liches, as I understand it, The ones who rule Osceus. They're the ones who write the words that you listen to. They are the ones who control what you believe.

Perhaps the blame lays with them more than you or with the grandfather. Perhaps it's fate itself. Perhaps. Fate leads us in different places. Fate bound my sister and I together with the power of the realms. As you know the story now. Yes. You speak like her.

As do my friends. Like who? Saint Defeer. There is truth in your words, but it's kindness. Do you know much of the saint? I've heard a little bit. She came to visit me. She visited you.

Yes. It seems that when I'm near those that are close to death, Saint Othia can open a pathway to me. You're truly blessed. Don't, I'm not blessed. I'm not blessed. I'm just... Ophelia, you are.

It is very rare for the saints to speak with anyone. Rare still for the gods to do so. I have been blessed only twice in my life to hear my lady's voice. My sister has spoken to Melia a handful of times. Many of the faithful never have such an experience. If Dethyr is speaking to you, is because there is something greater there because she sees something in you

and I see something in you as well I will say only this she comes up and puts a hand on your shoulder as I have learned in recent days it is never too late to reconsider the path that you walk until I met you until I met your friends

until I saw what the lamplighters did in Ash and Rest or the events that took place with the Inquisitors and this Oregonis. I was a blind zealot. Now, I think I've found a clearer path and I hear my lady's voice ever clearer in my mind. It's never too late to look at the path you're on and decide if you wish to keep walking it.

Ecliptic order suits you. No, no. In a way, in a way, yes. But it is also an organization full of close-minded hate. My sister and I, Argus, they are the exception. You taught me that. The rest of the ecliptic order would have cut you down where you stood if you had said the words that you have said to me. But I feel that the saints and sions

they see potential in you as well. And as I said, redemption is not something we must, it is not something that we should go begging and pleading for, offering our hearts for. Redemption is something we find in ourselves. Thank you. I, should you ever wish to speak, and if there is any way I can help you, I will do so.

My heart feels a little less empty after talking to you and everybody else about this. So there's one thing. That says that the Grave Father cannot take it all from you. Let's hope. Whatever you offered, you didn't give him everything. Thank you. That means you have strength and power still. You're not his puppet, Ophelia. You're not his slave.

If you choose to serve him, that is your choice. but you owe him nothing. Thank you. I'll just... I'll just give her a hug. Oh, she's sort of... Sorry, I... No, I'm just... If you're okay, I just feel like I have to.

I feel like I... There's feelings. I don't know how to express myself. I also do not quite know how to express myself. It just feels right. Yes, I mean, it is very lovely. I just, this is not something I'm very used to. Sorry, it's weird. Sorry.

No, no, it is fine. You must understand with Malady. Hugs are not... I'm only just getting used to it. Rowan's a big hugger, and I... Maybe the moment's not right. Maybe I just... No, I don't know.

It was... It was nice. Okay. Good. And I'm glad that I've given you some comfort. You have. Everybody has. It seems like you've...

Please, please, do not ever say out loud near the church that you've converted. Like, you've given a soul. Never say that ever. Oopsie! Okay. Do not ever say that. Sorry!

Okay. Good. I wish you... a pleasant evening at your ball. And you look resplendent. Thank you. It will be training and prayers for me, as always. Well, go easy.

Have a somewhat relaxing evening. I will try. Thank you. I think, well, for you to say what you've said and for what I've heard earlier today, there's a lot of thinking I need to do. On a night like tonight of all nights. Perhaps that is fate calling to you as well.

Fate is a funny thing. You have good friends. Listen to. Thank you. See you. See you round, I suppose. Yes. Whenever you need me.

Bye. And you can see that she's awkward as well. Like she's like stood there like, bye. You hang up. Everybody is like staring at the two. I know, I know I look amazing. Don't look at me. As you make your way.

I think that that is the perfect time to stop the episode. rather we can save the ball for next time. As we arrive there. We will go to the ball. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, because I had a whole other thing to, like, start the ball. This was a conversation I expected to have, like, last episode, so I had to jump back in my notes, but I think it's great.

Amazing. Right, well, with that, let's bring the episode to a close. Amazing. Perfect. Thanks, everybody. We'll see you next time. Goodbye.