High Rollers DnD - Deep Dreams in Kelscariss | Altheya: The Dragon Empire #108 (Part 1)

Episode Date: June 30, 2026

The heroes meet up with Emberissa and Eldrak in Kelscariss for a nice long rest... but long rests always bring ominous dreams! Enjoy a Layout Map of the districts of Kelscariss here: https://www.patreon.com/HighRollers/posts/altheya-map-very-161846601?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link Can't wait for Part 2 of each episode? Join our Patreon to get early access EVERY week (+ a few other bonuses)! www.patreon.com/HighRollers⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ _______________ Boost your Charisma with some HR merch! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://highrollersdnd.teemill.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Add official High Rollers Minis to your TTRPG collection here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://only-games.co/collections/high-rollers⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bless your table with the Clever Toad Dice Set: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://dispeldice.com/collections/high-rollers⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Enhance your bath time experience with the official Altheya themed DiceBombs at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://geekyclean.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.highrollersdnd.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for all the latest HR News! Love the podcast? Give us a glittering 5 star review! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/high-rollers-dnd/id1401508198?see-all=reviews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music courtesy of Epidemic Sound, TCT Adventures (Solasta: Crown of the Magisters), Monument Studios and Jolene Khor! Check out Jolene Khor and all her wonderful work on High Rollers on Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/artist/1WX3ICiTmf4GpHwImnQMs6⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠v Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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you get your podcasts. Oh, hi there, listener. Gustavo Soroli here with the cast of Tales from the Stinky Dragon podcast, and we're about to set the record for the quickest D&D session. Everyone roll initiative. I got the highest roll with a 19. I moved 10 feet toward the listener and say, Hi, I'm Barbara Dunkelman.

You should listen to our show, Tales from the Sninky Dragon. It's an immersive D&D actual play show with a fully voiced cast of characters, plus sound design, and then I finished my action with a high five. Go ahead and make a dexterity check. That's an 18. Oh, that's a good high five. I rolled a 16 on initiative. I walked over to the tavern piano.

a sick song and say, hi, I'm John Reisinger. Wow, do you hear that? Tales and Steaky Dragon also has its own original score. It's like a movie, but for your ears. All right, yeah, go and roll a performance check. That's a tune. Not your best, John. Okay, but I promise the show's actual music sounds really good. Okay, me next. I moonwalk up to the listener. Sup, I'm Blaine Gibson. You should really check out the show. It's funny, heartwarming, and perfect for everybody. I'm talking D&D veterans, people new to the genre, old people, babies, everybody. And then I do a backflip.

All right, roll an athletics check. that 20. Okay, that leaves Chris. Hi, I'm Chris Damaris. Please subscribe to our podcast. And then I draw my sword to attack this. Put the sword down. Put the sword down. Get him. Get him. Get him. Now it's your turn, listener. Subscribe to Tales from the Stinky Dragon wherever you listen to podcast today. Welcome back to Althea the Dragon Empire. Our heroes have traveled to the Imperial City of Kelskaris, heart of Ilmera and foundation of the Dragon Empire. They have come to pursue a number of personal activities. For Xanthius, it is where Crownstil found its way into his life

and began this twisted tale he finds himself in. And his brother, Rhexanath, said that there were other siblings at work in the city, furthering their father's sinister plans. For Gruffeth of Tremorro, it is the setting for his third and final nightly test to join the circle of loyal hounds. After meeting with Sir Fordring, he was tasked with assistant, a local youth hatchball team called the Ascension Alleycats, a mixture of young upstarts, recluses and outsiders

who have only three games left to play. And for sister Ophelia Delarosa of the House of Blood, it is where her rival and former friend Varys Evernite is hosting a grand auction and fundraising ball to construct a temple to the grave father in the city. Returning to the embassy and meeting Varys again has brought conflicting and difficult feelings for the sister. to contend with. But as the hour grows late on their first day, they have made their way to the

Burnbright District and the Ignarious Estate House where old allies await them. And that is where we find ourselves today. You stand at the very threshold, the Cobboldt clan having sort of open the doors and welcomed you in, this grand cauldron building, perhaps not as vast as the Dominus Ignorum as the estates you're used to. This is more. more like a grand townhouse with a small garden and French sort of area. You know, three, four stories tall, beautifully decorated in cauldron colors with the tiled roofs and verandas and all the sorts of things that you would expect in Ashen Rest. But you are led inside.

The cobalds in their little red and orange uniforms, their little butler and made outfits sort of hurriedly scurry before you, opening to you. doors clearing the way, this way, this way, come with us quickly. We've been preparing, preparing for you, and sort of gesturing for you to follow. They lead you inside and through a quite narrow but grand entranceway and up some stairs. You can see that at the top of the stairwell, there is an enormous portrait of the Ignarius family, Duke Ignarious Emberissa and obsidious. And the Lady Inflaria, Emberissa's mother, this would have been when they were much younger. As it kind of looms over, you see a younger Duke Ignorese, a younger Emberissa and the others.

And as you make your way up, you notice that there are many mirrors as well as like golden statues of dragons, beautiful women and men, sort of all about the place, the classic red, silk and drapes. And you are eventually led out from that sort of first floor out onto a balcony, like a large veranda, which is outside of the estate itself, a beautiful little sort of like columned, sort of half-war. a great gazebo in the middle with a long banquet table that's been set out with glasses of wine, bottles in chilled buckets, many places for, you know, people to sit plates and knives and forks at the ready. There are actually large stone basins with floating balls of fire, sorry, that project heat on this quite cold near winter's night,

sort of giving this very warm, pleasant atmosphere to this verand. draped from the veranda itself from the gazebo is wisteria-like red flowers which kind of drape all over it is very picturesque and then before you is the actual skyline of Kelskaris you see the Burn Bright district sort of laid out in front of you and then you can see the central district the Great Imperial Palace floating it's a beautiful beautiful location to look out onto the city how high are we you're only like the first floor of the townhouse but this is The townhouse is constructed for humanoid dragons.

So, you know, the rooms are like 10 feet tall. So you're probably about sort of 15 feet off the ground. Over most houses. Yeah, well, you're looking out. And so, like, most of, like, the shops and regular people's houses are, like, below you. But there are some various tall buildings all around as well. But it has this beautiful kind of skylight view. You see, at the far end of this terrace, sat in a sort of little, you know, garden seats,

kind of, like, sofas and couches, fainting, couches and things like that, you see two figures. One, you recognize instantaneously. The tall, red scales, like patched on her cream skin, the red hair embellished with golden jewelry, draped in very much a quite scantily clad sort of like nightgown that's very, you know, made from see-through fabrics and things like that, you know, very proud of her figure and appearance. But she's actually sat doing some embroidery when you first arrived, just very peacefully, kind of. of doing this, doesn't quite seem to notice you initially. And sat next to her, you see Sir Eldrack,

who you have not seen in some time, and he does look very different to how he once looked. His once muscular frame has shrunken significantly. You can see that his entire right arm, I believe, the one that was crowned so corrupted, is now gone. And he is sat in a wheeled chair made of like beautiful redwood and gold, and gold embellishments and metal fixtures. And with his remaining left hand, he appears to be reading. His face is very gaunt. You didn't really see his face before because it was covered by a helmet.

But he's a very handsome dragon-born, red dragon-born, much more draconic-looking than, say, Zanthius is. But he's, like, quite gaunt in the cheeks, looks quite tired and exhausted. And there's like a blanket laid over his legs in this wheelchair. And, yeah, when you sort of arrive, the little couple's like, Mistress, mistress, the heroes of Asherner Wester here,

the heroes of Asherner Wester here. And then Berissa looks up and just, you see this big beaming smile. Just like, oh, my friends, thank you. I'm so glad that you made it. Obsidious did send word that you would be traveling to the city and I hoped you would come here. Please, come, let come sit. Okay, yes, it's lovely to see both of you as well.

She nods. It's a lovely, lovely house you have here. It's the city estate. It's whenever there is. important business in Kelskaris for father or one of us we normally stay here. I quite like it. I like being in the city. It suits me a bit more than Ash and rest. You see Eldrack looks up and sort of very weakly sort of nods his head and you hear a kind of hello greetings. Hello, Sir Eldrack. Hello Lady Emberissa. How are you both keeping?

Emberissa sort of looks towards Eldrack and he is like, well, I am recovering. I must apologize. I know that you helped me, that you all came to rescue me, but my memory of that battle of everything that happened is very, very hazy. I've been told who you are, your names and the like, but I'm afraid I don't actually recall much. Then he sort of looks at you, Ophelia. You are the one who I remember most.

I think you were there. you helped cut away most of the corruption. Yes, I'm terribly sorry. No, don't apologize. You did the right thing. It was the right thing to do. I think it was just that as I remember your face most of all. Ophelia, isn't it?

That is, yes, Ophelia delirosa of the House of Blood. Yes, nice. Yeah, and you can see that, like, that he is definitely very weak. Like, he was this hulking, muscular, like, like figure and now you can just see the weeks of like months actually of recovery have sacked him but also there's something more to it this isn't just like muscles don't atrophy that quickly you know the fact that he's in this wheelchair sort of implies he can't really walk at least unaided and you don't remember there being any sort of like crown still corruption with his like legs

or anything like that um like a super withdrawal potentially yeah i mean it certainly could be something like that. But yeah, he looks, he looks cognizant and like, he smiles weakly at you and sort of nods his head. He puts his book down with his one good hand. And you see Amber Rissa is just as like, yes, yes, we've been trying to, well, we've been just keeping to ourselves mostly. Things were very difficult for the first month or so. And she sort of glances nervously towards Eldrack, who sort of looks down quite despondent. But Lady Verithira has been coming and treating Eldra. And you've made such good progress, son.

And you hear, like, say the word, and he sort of, like, nods his head. Yes, it was difficult, very difficult. But I seem to be getting at least somewhat better now. I'm not sure if I will ever be the Kelskaris hawks. There are a plague around here. Yes, they're very, very loud. Yes. That was actually Rowan.

It's okay. I'll go chase them off in a bit if they can do that again. But yeah, he would just say, yes, it is, I doubt I will ever be a knight, or at least the knight of I once was. but I'm alive and I'm not controlled anymore. So that is something, something to be grateful for. You hear the cobbles like... Give me a second. Oh, no, Master Santhias, we do have a broom for this sort of thing.

It's what Santhius does, I'm afraid. It gets very angry with this. Emberissu is just like, you have no idea. There's restraint I have not to incinerate some of them sometimes. It's okay, dispatched. Thank you, Zanthia. You shouldn't have used the fire. It was right outside the window.

I was pretty sure because I could hear how loud it was. I opened the window and I got jump scared by how close it. It's like, what? What do you want? Look at you, like, hmm. Well, when I shout, I felt bad because I really, like, I was like this close to when I shout. There's going to be someone on the other side of building being like,

what? I didn't do anything. I just shout with a bird out of my mouth. Anyway, sorry, I, uh, Managed to get rid of the hawks. It's the Kelskaris hawks, their absolute carrion. I know. The tourists keep feeding them.

They shouldn't do that, think they? It's terrible. It's terrible. They feed them all the leftovers from the bakeries, and they steal things. If you walk down the Path of Ascension with a pastry in your hand, they'll just swoop in. That is good to know, good to know.

Close the bag up. I'm not ready to return. return. Okay. He needs a minute. He needs a minute. I really took him out of it. It's a very serious, very somber roleplay moment.

I saw a Lady Luce her Meg's sausage roll. We are not canonising Megs. We are... That's not happening. I'm sorry. I am not putting that in the Althea book. That's not happening. I'm pretty sure we're not allowed.

Okay. So, Ophelia didn't say that. I'm putting my hard foot down as GM. But yes. In the background welling up, seeing Sir Eldrack and Lady Emberissa both alive and together knowing this romance. No, no.

Their son and daughter, mother. Yeah, yeah, no romance. Literally just said son. Let's not rule that out. Don't know, no. No. I wasn't ready to come back to the room. No.

You two look so beautiful together. I don't know if you're ready to ever come back. You're gone. God, you bark at one bird. That's it. I completely forgot. Yes, they are mother and child. They are not romantically involved.

Let's make that very clear. But yes. But yes. Still. Yes. Welling up and seeing them together and that Sir Eldrach is cognizant and well enough.

How does Santhias feel about it? because this is a person who was very heavily crownstil corrupted. There was much nervousness in the lead-up to seeing Eldrack, obviously, because Eldrach was there, when bad stuff happened, but almost a, not like a sigh of relief or anything like that, but the concept that the battle was so he's forgotten everything that happened there is like a load off.

Because Sandus eight, Crownstil didn't. Yeah, he chugged it now. Yeah, he pulled him away, yeah. And I think El Drac was still conscious while that was happening as well, and like, if Ophelia is the only person that El Drac seems to remember? Well, he doesn't even seem to necessarily remember Ophelia.

You get the impression that it's less the battle was hectic, and more that whatever state he was in, because he was very crown still corrupted, and he was basically had lost his mind. That, and since recovery, it's like he doesn't have any memory of anything that happened in that chamber, basically. Or he has, like, no real strong memory of the events that took place with the reclaimer cult. He remembers Ophelia chopped off his arm.

I think that's definitely going to leave a mark on him. But even then, it's like your face, like he could remember something. But, like, you know, and he remembers, you know, maybe seeing you strike the arm, cleave in the arm. But that's about it, basically. I think there's also seeing someone. Now, see, this is months after, right? Yeah, I think this has been like three or four months. Oh, okay.

So this is now months into recovery. And, I mean, I guess we... Did we ever see, like, a picture of Eldrack in, like, their primers and night? Well, I think you've got a glimpse of it when you were fighting him. Obviously, he had his giant crown still corrupted arm, and he had, like, all these other things. But, like, the rest of his physique was impressive.

Like, he was this tall, muscular, like, the epitome of a heroic dragon or knight, but he had. No, no, no, no, no. My taller, broader. No, no, the word was a... Just more chas. I read it as a epitome as well. It's epitome.

Epitome. I made that mistake as well. I'm just saying... Oh, I thought you said he's like me. And I was like, no, no, no. But I think it's... But I think it's... Like, even if he looks very, very healthy now

comparative to how he might have done before, or at least it's... There's... it's kind of a, I don't want to say scary sight. Like, people go through these kinds of recoveries and things, but like, it's now months in, and this is the effect that getting away from it looks like. It's kind of a worrying thing of, like,

there's a universe, a path that Xanthius will have to take, where he will also have to go through those kinds of trials, and it will be rough. Like, so trying to see the strength of the energy that he has is kind of bolstering him in some way, but it is also like a scary sight. Whatever he has gone through, and you don't know the details, right? I mean, you could ask him, but like you don't know the exact details

of what this recovery has been, how Lady Verithyr has been helping him. I mean, she's a green dragon, she has powerful healing magic, and he's still this ravaged, right? Like, okay, yeah, he lost his arm from Ophelia, but the rest of his physique has, like, physically shrunken, like he doesn't look like he can walk, like he looks exhausted. Like, this is real brutal stuff. Whatever he went through has been severe and traumatic.

But he seems to be happy to be alive and to be present. Emberissa sort of reaches over and sort of, you know, gently puts like a hand. hand on his shoulder and sort of squeezes it gently. We're so happy to see you. I've tried to tell Eldrack everything that occurred and everything else, but I'm so glad that you came by. We've prepared a dinner.

The staff are just getting everything ready, but we have wine, we have food. I believe Lady Verithira will be joining us. She normally comes by to check on Eldrack anyway, but we thought that we would, once she arrives, we can properly start dinner. But yes, please, come, sit. And I won't hear any other word. As long as you are in the city, stay here.

We have rooms. We have plenty of rooms. Yes, yes, yes, yes. Okay. I'm so kind, thank you. It is the least. It is the very least. No, the very least.

You are friends of the family, and you have done much for me and my son. And a debt that I can never truly speak of beyond this secluded group. You carry a lot of trust and faith in the Ignatarius family. So, no, I won't hear anything else. You will stay here, you will be guests, whatever you need.

If you need help in the city, I know a little, but not much, but I will do whatever I can. I very much appreciate it. I think we all very much appreciate it. I was very worried about the arguments who were going to have about where we were going to stay. So thank you for saving us from last. Let me put those arguments to rest. You will stay here as guests. I will give you a key so you can come and go as you please.

The key will also disable. come back after sundown, there are magical wards active. You just need to hold the key up and it will dispel it will disable them temporarily. Yes, I will have that fetched for you. Keeley, Keeley, fetch the spare key for Mrs. Xanthius. Oh yes, of course, Mom. And she bows and cuts, he's in a little outfit and goes... I see the Cobol's again, isn't it?

Yes. They are lovely. Skarping around. Yes. They're very cute. But yeah, other than that, you are invited. You know, I think Daisy's like hungrily looking at the table. and things like that.

There's, like, bread rolls. It's kind of that classic thing of, like, you're waiting for the next part, like the other person to arrive. But there's wine, there's, like, little breads and little starters and things like that. The cupboards will bring out anything that you really want.

Maybe not fresh blood, but, you know, good wine, at least. I've had some good stuff recently, so I'm good. He just topped up. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, they're good top up. But, yeah, is there anything in particular specific or is anything you'd like to ask, Emberissa or Eldrack?

Hmm. So, uh, Sir, truck. Yes, it's Gruffeth, isn't it? Graffeth of Tramoro. Yes. I just was wondering, do you know much about Hatchball? Hatch?

Hatch ball? I know that it's a game played here in the city, but I'm afraid I wasn't really much one for sports. I was often training, and, well, I didn't really come to the city much when I was younger. I'm afraid it's not one I know. Emberus is like, I know that we have a local team, for the Burnbright district. I've been asked to donate some money for their uniforms

and things like that, for the youth team. Oh, yeah. Yes, the Burnbright Bulls are the local team. All right, do you know how they are? Are they any good? I think they're pretty good. I think that we're... I mean, again, Sir Grafah,

I don't really follow the sport myself, but people seem to be quite excited about their prospects. They seem to be one of the sort of upper teams, I think. I mean, Calutron, of course. Of course, you know, they take pride in their hobbies, in their sports, so they train hard, they work hard, yes, I imagine they're quite good. Why the interest? Oh, no, I've just, oh, just picking up a sport in the big city.

Rotha Pha's a knightly order. You became a knight. Oh, no, no, no. My last task in my quest has been assigned to me is I have to coach one of the local teams. She sort of looks like, your knightly test is to coach a hatchball team. Shrug. She, like, looks very strangely.

I must admit, your ladyship, I'm just as confused as you are. Well, mother, there are different knightly orders. Not all of them are about slaying monsters and fighting, you know, armies. Oh, we've done all of them. Yes, we've done that. Then this must be, you know, there must be a reason. This is a test of the mind and patience. I feel perhaps it follows the third tenant,

which is to pass on wisdom of age and ensure it's protected against those who would misuse it. And do you're supposed to teach this children's sports team? Yep. Well, I wish you all the best, Griffith, of course. I better, yes. I mean, yes, I know that the Burn Bright Bulls are the local team, and they seem to be quite good.

The alley cats might have to go up against them. Oh, bloody yells. Right. Is that the name of your team then? The Alley Cats? The Ascension Alley Cats. Oh, right. Named after those strange creatures

that run around the city, no doubt. I'm guessing. What? Alley cats. Some strange beast that is present. Are they scary? They go for those birds at the you. Then I like them.

Then I like them a lot. Yes, I mean, they seem pleasant enough, quite wild, from what I understand, but they seem drawn to the city, so. Oh, well, we do need to get some, some, what's the word? I keep saying costumes. Kit. Kit. Kit. Kit. Cat. Uniform. Uniform. Uniforms. We need to get uniforms. Oh, well, yes, I've been, I've been, that was one of the things they were asking to help funer it, is they wanted to get the bulls, all sorts of new uniforms for the season and, you know, new training equipment and all that sort of things. kit. Is there, can you recommend a place?

I mean, I certainly can. I mean, it depends. The sorts of places I normally, I mean, I've just been giving them gold for the people that come asking. That was my plan. The people that I get my tailoring done by Xenthus are, they are not,

they would not be making a hatchball team kit. They are for fine events. Oh, oh, well, yes. Then, this is one of my cheaper, cheap places. Certainly. I mean, there's a, wonderful seamstress here in Burnbright.

The Carnation House. Carnation House. Carnation House, Ophelia, write that down. It's on PyroFlo Street. Narcissa. How are they redresses? Oh, darling, they're wonderful. Narcissa is a bit of a character.

I should warn you that she is a little... Well, just don't... How do I put this? She can be a little sharp, and she can be, she's not always very astute on the customer's sort of demeanor and mood. Right. Just don't let her get under your skin. She's very good, but she can be a bit abrasive.

That's fine. I'm very abrasive. Well, she might make comments about... Is that this? She might make comments about your body or your appearance, and she doesn't mean them to come across negative, but just try to take them in... It's a professional thing. My body's fine, yeah.

I don't think I'll take offense. But yes, I mean, she does some of the finest, some fine work. I'm afraid that I don't really know, I don't know any other seamstresses out of the district. I tend to keep within Burnbright. I don't really go far. But I'm sure there must be other good tailors and seamstresses in the other districts.

Well, your recommendation is top of the list. Yes. A culture in seamstress is exactly what we're looking for. Wonderful. Well, maybe is there an Ossean seamstress for you? Oh, yes, I've had, is this for the... Taylor? Yes, the big fund-race that's happening.

Oh, I did hear, but we did get an invite, but I must admit I have to decline. I don't like leaving El-Drak alone. Al-Drake is just like, you can go, Mother, if you wish. I will be fine for an evening. Lady Verithiel would probably come by and she would keep me company. No, no, I of course, no, I want to be here with you. We have our plans, we have our games and things that we do. No, but I'm afraid that I did decline it.

But I've heard about it. It's a bit of a buzz amongst some of the dragons and the and the councillors of the city as well. Oh, exciting. There's a few interesting people who are in attendance. Oh, who would they be? Well, I have heard that. Tell the Goss.

I love the Goss. Well, I mean, I must admit, I mainly know the dragons who are involved. I don't tend to speak much with the non-dragons. It's exciting enough in itself. Well, I suppose, well, Lady Glomiris is the one hosting it. She's an interesting character. I know that the church don't like her very much, which is maybe why she's courting your faith.

Very interested in necromancy. Has always been her family, a powerful necromances. The Black Dragons, Verdes Kier, have a talent for it. But the one who's quite interesting, and you won't mind a bit of gossip, do you? I love the gossip. I live for the gossip.

There is a young black dragon, Lord Umbraxian. He is in a tent. and he's quite a popular political figure in the city, even amongst the elder dragon councillors. And, well, he's caused quite a stare. He's got quite strong opinions about things. But I've heard something of a rumor that the Princess Infernia, the arch dragon,

and this Lord Ombraxian may be interested in one another. So he's, everyone's keeping an eye on him, Especially those of us in Burnbright, if he is with the princess, then obviously we want to court favor with this Lord Ambraxian as well. Would you want me to keep an eye out to see if I can... Oh, well, if you can certainly make sure that he's aware of the good name of Ignarious and that, you know, myself and father and obsidious are trustworthy dragons that would be good for the princess to work with.

That would be, you know, obviously you don't have to. No, I'd be honored to let them know about you and the wonderful house of Ignarious. Oh, well, that'd be very kind of you, Sister Ophelia. Not a problem. Yes. I think we're hearing about dragon, Goss. Well, it's not normally something I would share with. Dragons have very good hearing, Rowan.

It's not something that I would normally discuss in non-dragon. She almost says ill-kier, and it's like, no, no, I can't say that that's rude. Non-Dragon company. But, yes, it is quite interesting. Lord And Braxton is definitely one to keep an eye on. get on the good side of. As I understand it, he's very popular with non-dragons. He's very much a champion of non-dragon rights, and for some of the older dragons, they find that a bit of a struggle, whereas the younger dragon generations are very, very much in favour of working with non-dragons,

much like the Empress wanted us to, and the princess and he share that view, so. Oh, interesting. Yes. I'll keep an eye out and an ear out, for sure. I'm afraid I couldn't tell you much other than, I do believe some of the councillors, the councillors for the different districts will be in attendance, but I couldn't tell you which ones. But they're very important people. They tend to any of the matters. The councillors are sort of responsible for the matters of non-dragons in the city. And so they have their own council, which is sort of adjacent to the dragons council. And then the two of them work together for the benefit of the city and the people. But yes, quite a few of them will be in attendance as well. It's shaping up to be quite a who's who of the city.

Yes, that's very exciting. This young Varys Evernight is causing quite a stir, quite a delightful charmer from what I've thought. Yes, he is. He's very good with words. Definitely says the right thing. I have never, I received a beautiful invitation, but I can't say that I've ever spoken to the young man. No, we lost touch a little, well, you know each other. Yes, yes. Well, we had a very close. We had a very close. close connection in Osceus. Oh, wonderful. It must be delightful to re-reunite.

Well, yes and no. In a way, we sort of lost touch and lines got crossed and feelings are very confused. Um, yes, well, it was nice, but also it just brought up a lot of old feelings, I suppose. Mm. Matters of the heart. I think there's a bit of cauldron in you somewhere, Sister Ophelia. Oh, maybe.

It's nice to do you. think sometimes. But yes, I think that sort of having this little conversation, probably like during this, like, while she's been gossiping with like Ophina, so Eldrax probably been having like very nothing conversation, like kind of very polite chit chat with like gruff, like

asking about the Alley Caton Hatchball, you know, maybe like, you know, complimenting Rowan and like Shostanuto and things like that. It's very minor kind of like conversation. But eventually one of the cobbled butlers comes in and bows, Your Highness, Lady Verothera has arrived.

and sort of gestures and entering. You remember her. She has a sort of larger figure. She's a bit more plump and round. This beautiful green dragon, sort of very tan skin, but fleckled, you know, in her humanoid form, speckled with green scales, wearing sort of emeralds and browns and creams.

Very, not as elegant as Emburissa, like much more earthy, a bit more sort of cottage witchy kind of like vibe to her. Her hair is quite messy. It looks like it's got all sorts of leaves and flowers growing through. out it. But she will just be like, oh, hello again, my good friends. It's been some time. I did not expect to see you here in the city. It's great to see you, Lady Verithura. Yes, of course.

Rowan, isn't here? Yeah. Yes. And Gruffeth and Daisy and Xanthius and Sister Ophelia, I remember. Oh, wonderful. I did not know that you'll be joining us. Um, oh, hello, Mboresa and she like, they like kiss on the cheek. And you can see that they've clearly grown quite close. You know, Verithira is younger than Emberissa, but they've very clearly grown, you know, to be quite friendly with each other. And then she goes over to Eldrack, who, you know,

weakly, like, you know, takes her hand and, like, kisses it. Very sort of gentry, nobility. But she sort of crouches down, like, how have you been Eldrack? How's the, how have the legs? Have you tried walking at all this week? I managed a few steps, lady, but not, I wasn't able to go very far.

Well, that's still good, a few more is, you know, we work on it every day. how's your fever been and she starts like just going into kind of like doctor mode with him. And you can see that it's, you know, like she's quite intensive. She uses her draconic magic for a little bit. And you can see he kind of perks up a little bit. You know, he seems to get some of his energy back. How does Emberissa look whilst this is happening?

Give me an insight roll. Anybody who wants to, in fact, actually before you do that, we should roll fate. Oh, yeah. Let's start about fate. Let's do that before we do any skill rolls. Oh. Always gorgeous into the RP. I got a six.

A six. that's a dice for you. Five. That's another dice for you. Two. That's a dice for me. That's a dice for me. See.

And then a four, that's a dice for you. Three to two. Oh yeah. All right, I'm gonna use three fatal. You can use one fate on this. You can use one fate. Yeah, anybody can make an insight roll if you're sort of interested. Yeah.

21? 21. Seven. Seven. I think you were just distracted. It's lovely, good company. You know, thinking about the goss. Yeah, Tragor.

Yeah, Rowan, you, it's so obvious that like, Emberissa, the way that she's looking at Eldrack, she is both, she's terrified, like, she's just worried about him. But you can see she's also racked with guilt and regret and just, yeah, just, you know, deep regret, deep guilt, deep fear, just watching him being attended to. She puts on the plastic, like very calm, smiling, very polite, very sort of noble, but you can tell, without a doubt, like, you can see her tail

flicking backwards and forward, like her talons sort of, like, you know, very nervously, like, you know, pressing into her. And just the look in her eyes tells you everything you need to know that, yeah, she's racked by guilt. Can I rack my Roman brain for any music that was playing back in Duke Ignaris's palace? Yeah, absolutely, yeah. I mean, I don't think that that's hard for you to do. Your music is your whole thing.

You don't need to roll or anything for that. You can absolutely think of like a cauldron. Maybe like something like it's maybe not something you necessarily heard directly in the palace, but you know an old cauldron like court song. Like a cozy one that kind of feels. Ambien, yeah, it's like, you know, it's not about anything in particular. It's just kind of about Caldra, the beauty of culturedra, the countryside and things like that. because you don't want to like,

I'm gonna do a story about a night, oh, Sareldrach, you know, it's kind of that, but you think, oh, there's this beautiful one about the countryside, about the hills and the mountains and the flames of Caldra, and like that's like a very gentle, more ambient-y kind of like, you know, classic bardcore background noise. Yeah, totally.

Rowan will play that kind of ambiently in the background. Okay, do you give me a performance role for that though? Just to see kind of how good it is. Like, you can play it, like, that's not in doubt. 19. 19. So, not the best, maybe it's like you're half remembering it, you don't quite get it right, but it's a beautiful...

Ding ding ding ding! But it's a beautiful rendition, and it does seem to somewhat calm Emberis's nerves. And I think even Sir Eldrack sort of looks up and he's just like, oh, that's the Fires of Caldra. It's a good one. Is it? I was playing the other one.

Oh, well, you were playing a very good version of the Fires of Caldra. Thank you very much, Sir Eldrak. Of course, you're a very talented, very talented musician. Oh, please. No, it's clear. I mean, I'm a knight. I was a knight who are a knight.

I've heard many ballads and tales. I've had probably a couple about me somewhere, but I know a good musician when I hear one, and it's always appreciated. You said, shucks. Stop it. It's an elder act. And he's just sort of like smiles.

And you can, Rowan's like completely like, the atmosphere has kind of gone back to that nice chill. He's trying to shift it away from. So everyone looking at Sir Eldrax looking good. And I think it's like people laugh, like when you're like, oh, stop it. Like it kind of elicits it like a laugh from people. Didn't it have a dance of some sort? Oh, my dancing days are probably a little behind me.

All right, I could do them. Yeah, I mean, if you want to, you... It's a little bit like a knight's tale when he's just like making up a dance. And it's kind of awkward, but then everyone's sort of like, yeah, okay, we'll go with it. And sort of the Cobbold start kind of trying to copy you and like doing a little dance around the veranda. stuff. Yeah, I think it's quite nice. I think, like, you know, Lady Verithere is like, it's beautiful music Ryan, it's very wonderful. Rowan blushes and pivots away.

I think, that's right. With Lady Veritirotero, I think I gave her a slightly Eastern European accent. It's been a while. I think it was ever so slightly like this, so I must remember that. Well, everything seems to be all right with you, Eldrach. Obviously, as I said, you must keep trying to walk and build your stamina and strength back up. I've brought the special herbs and that sort of thing that you need. So please do keep taking it. And I will be back again. I am sorry that the magic will not regrow your arm.

I've tried it still, whatever is blocking it, still won't let it regrow. I'm sorry. It's all right. No, it's all right, lady very few. Thank you for your aid. I will. I'll take medicine. And mother would, it's not like mother would not let me to anyway. She would force it down me if I had to, if she had to, and sort of chuckles a little bit. But yeah. Is there a chance during the night where, like, I could have a conversation with Lady Verithero away from Eldrach?

Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, let's say that that happens, right? You know, the dinner starts, like, they sort of lay out the food. You're sat next to each other and you can sort of, like, lean in and have, like, a whispered conversation. Maybe, like, Sir Eldrack starts talking with Xanthus, you know, about, like, the local fashion. because you were asking about like tailors and things like that. And he seems to like, again, like a knight would probably need to know a little bit. But he's like, oh, my information is probably a bit out of date by now.

But, you know, six, 12 months ago, last year it was all about this. It was all about collars and trim and things like that, you know. Also about collars and trims. Not anymore. Not anymore. Now it's all Xanthias, baby. It's not all Xanthia. It was a few months ago.

In Ash and Rest. In Ashen Rest. Yeah. Your fame has not reached that. Critical level, yeah. Reach puppy. Shit. But yes, a gruff, like, you have this, like, little moment with Lady Verithere, absolutely.

Oh, Lady Verrethira. Yes, Gruff. It's too forward for me to ask, but I did just over here something you said to Sareldracher here about the magic being blocked or something. Oh, yes, of course. You may be wondering, I mean, you, I've seen you use healing magic as well, yes? Well, green dragons, we possess innate healing magic. We are connected to living things. And I have the ability to, I can't do it very often,

but I can, there is a spell which will help regenerate a lost limb or if somebody has suffered a grievous, grievous wound. It will regenerate flesh and bone and muscle. I've tried to cast it on Sir Eldrax arm two, three times now. and it will not grow back. I think that the corruption of the crown steel, it has left a mark on Sir El-Drak, and what was taken cannot be reclaimed.

I cannot explain it. I have tried to research it with some of the elder green dragons, but of course crown steel is so illegal and forbidden it is difficult to discuss, There are no previous examples of it. And I don't want to reveal Eldrax condition, so I must be very careful with what I ask. But I found no research on it. And yes, I'm afraid I cannot, it will not regrow.

Other healing magic does work. I've been helping him with his exhaustion. He seems to get very tired very, very quickly. And so I give him a little restoration to help boost him. I'm also trying to undo some of the damage to his physical body. but it is slow. Normally, when one has been, we are, there are sometimes vault beasts

that will drain the strength of a creature. Something similar has happened with Sir Eldrach, and normally my spell will restore all the strength in one go, but with Sir Eldrack, it is coming back a little bit at a time. When we first brought him here, and she kind of leans into you, It was very bad, Graffeth. He had to be restrained.

He was frothing, mad, raging. He tried to kill me, tried to kill his mother. He just kept demanding. He needed more. He needed the crown steel. He was, you know, we had to restrain him. Luckily, he was weakened from the loss of his arm. But he would howl and rage.

We had to have silent spells cast on the estate to make sure that nobody could hear him screaming. It lasted nearly a month and a half. Like, it was very bad. And we nearly lost him several times. Extreme fever, violent vomiting, weakness of the blood. It was severe.

I was able to keep him stable and alive. It was hard, but it helped me improve my own healing magic quite a large amount. But I learned a lot. And we've got him now to where he is. And he is getting better. but I think he will never be as strong as he once was and his health will always be affected.

It is... Sounds for reason like everything I know about Crown Steel. It's akin to addiction, and that poor boy was subjected to quite a lot of it. Yes, I believe that it is very similar. I have treated people who have become addicted to substances. Unfortunately, Miss Wald has a problem with narcotics, Things grow in the forest that make you see things and make you feel good or make you stronger.

And some of the people there get quite addicted to it. And I've dealt with that sort of thing before. And it is very, very similar. With the exception at Crown Steel, it bites into more than just the body, it seems. It affects something more. The spirit, the soul perhaps, but there is a mystical element. to it as well and it was very difficult to break. I genuinely think that had Sir El Drac been more corrupted,

he would have died. Trying to heal him, trying to remove the corruption every time it made him worse and worse. And had he been perhaps a little bit more corrupted, I think he would have died. Well, it's a good thing we got that in time then. Yes, a very good thing. I just wanted to pass on and I don't share this lightly.

I trust you to keep this to yourself and perhaps to Lady Embrissa. In our travels we have come across a metal that seems to help with crown steel corruption. Have you heard of Althright? Althright, I cannot say that I have. I am not a scholar or metallurgist. It seems to be something left from Al-Thay. Ah, one of the gods who created Arthaya. And we have actually encountered some,

and it seems to enhance life, growth, vitality. It seems to be everything that Crownsteel isn't. Mm. Well, Crownsteel is a metal of sovereign, who was one of the deities who created Althea as well. And as I understand it, in your histories, in the histories of the church, Althe was one of sovereign's children or followers or something like this. Another divine being. It stands to reason that the metal of one god's prison, the metal of another gods could perhaps, if it is so opposed, as you say, if this altruite is all about life and growth, healing, that could do something, yes.

I know of two locations. One is, well, guarded by sacred beings and perhaps not the best to go to. I'd rather keep that one secret. Very well, I understand. We do not wish to anger the spirits of the living world and Althe's dreams, as I think they are sometimes called, can be powerful things.

There is another location in the Azar step, But that resource is dwindling. If I locate any more, I will let you know. Yes, even just to study it, even not to use it, but to learn more about it, that could unlock certain things. But Eldrach will recover. I think that he has no desire to be a knight. He has no desire to go into battle ever again.

The loss of his arm, Emberissa worries more about it than he does. I think he's quite content with a quiet life now. That makes sense. But it's just... But for the future and for Zanthias. Well, I was going to say, I do have an alternative motive letting you know this because I know that you are

researching all of this and you have, you know, you've cleansed crown steel. But perhaps, you know, if you have time to learn more, it could help. Yes. If I will help Zanthias, But he must come to me. I will not

force him. It is just not in my nature. But if he comes to me, I can help him. It requires resources, diamond dust, ground, and I can help remove some of the corruption now. But also,

Zantis is a unique condition. I can help the corruption that he has. But as long as the metal remains in his chest, he will just continue to... until that is removed or dealt with. We're working on it. It's a work in progress. Oh, I don't imagine.

I, of course, you know that you would do everything to help him. If you ever have any questions about the healing of it and things, I'm happy to share what I know. Thank you. Of course, of course. I mean, you saved my life. I know Amborissa is very grateful, but so am I. You saved me.

and Sir Eldrack. Well, you've done the same for us. The Fiolas you gave us have come and very useful. I'm so glad. I'm afraid that I cannot make any more, but I'm glad that they've been useful. Boranth and the others, and they will be glad to hear that you are well as well.

Send them off, for Norgaard. I will. This whole time, especially when Verothera was talking about Eldraq's recovery and his symptoms, Groth has been staring across the table at Zanth Emberissa, Emberissa. Emberissa. Zanthius is probably acting in such a way that's not like,

not slovenly, but it's not like decorum at a dinner kind of thing, like the kind of training a noble would have because he didn't. Sure. Emberissa, these potatoes, very good. Oh, amazing. I have a pitch for you. I saw all of your decorations, your paintings, your golden statues. Yes. Daisy, show me the picture.

What, the dragonhead? Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. Okay, possibly. We recovered from Wave Meat, like my shirt says. Well, it says come meet right now, but Wave Meat, we recovered from the bottom of the sea a statue, a golden dragon statue from the glory of Palladrax.

The ship. It's a beautiful thing. I mean, I'm not really a student of history, Xanthias. It's a beautiful statue. It's a gorgeous statue. Pristine condition, mostly pristine condition. I'm certain. I wouldn't want it for the estate here.

However, if you would like, I can put some... If you give me the picture, I'd be happy to speak to some of my draconic friends and see if there are any interested buyers, of course. Absolutely. The glory of Palladrax, that's a brass dragon, I believe, of a ship or something like that. Yep.

I have a few friends in Brass Bellows. I could go and speak with them to see if they're any interested buyers. I don't want it for the estate, but... Oh, okay, well... It's currently stored in ash and rest, right outside our tavern. Protected from the elements, kind of... We're doing our best.

I think it's in the tavern. Like, it's mounted in the tavern. That's why you have a garden stuff. No, no, no, no. That's why you have a balance. Oh, yes, yeah, yeah, yeah. Well, I mean, that's not a problem. Like, I mean, if a dragon wishes to buy it,

they can arrange transport. That won't be too much of trouble. Oh, and fetch a very good price for it. I think I can do so. I mean, do you are of gold dragon blood? Do you have a price in mine? that you would like for it? Well.

Lots. I think it was valued at 10K. Yeah, what was it valued at? I'm not telling you, you gotta remember. I would... It's not here, so you can't taste it. It's extraordinarily high quality, obviously an artifact of historical relevance.

I would... Now, I might be pushing a little far here, I would ask for 15K. 15,000 gold. I will keep that in mind. that in mind. The alternative option, if there is not a private buyer who's interested, you could try and sell it to the academia. However, I should warn you that they are sometimes they will, how would the merchants put it? They would lowball you because they would claim

that because it's historical, therefore it belongs in the academia. Belongs in a museum, okay. Exactly. But they do, they will pay just not a as much as a private buyer would pay. Hmm. Okay, yes. Well, yeah, we can head to the academia. We had a run in with someone from there recently. They're not all, pardon my language.

Bastards, are they? I can't say that I know too many of them. I know the dean of the academia. Well, know him by his reputation. Certainly another interesting character. Of course, there's quite a lot of scandals. Really? Well, as I understand it, he's a...

See, more gossip. There's more dragon gossip. He's a silver dragon. And, well, the silver's... Every couple of generations, some of them get these oracle powers. And some of them are very good at kind of keeping it under control

and sort of using it very wisely. The dean... I think he gets lost in what's happening now and what is going to happen and what has happened. And so sometimes, well, The most famous story is that he was caught running through the halls of the academia, completely naked, his attendance chasing after him with a staff and a book in one hand. This is a dragon, keep in mind.

It's very... She is nearly naked with what she's wearing as well. But she's just like... And he was just running through the halls, running through the streets, saying that he had to be... He was... He was... had to be somewhere. Never heard what it was, but it's this silver dragon oracle magic. No one ever divined what...

Oh, there was probably something, but, you know, there's all sorts of things like that. Like, you'll be having a conversation. I've heard that the people who have dinner with him, he'll keep telling you that we've talked about this. Like, I know I've given you that answer, and he hasn't yet. Okay. Things like that. That's cool. But, yes, he's certainly an interesting character.

But, I mean, there's plenty of students. I can't imagine that they're all bastards. I mean, there's hundreds of students of the academia. I mean, there was one. They can't all that. Yes, there was, yes. That was the one? Yes.

That's forgotten his name. That's probably for the best. I'll remember it. I'm just going to tell you the name of the dean because I've got it somewhere. Parlevir, Dean Parlevere. Dean Parlevere. Running through the halls, completely naked.

But, can you imagine? Can you imagine? I can. Yes. I am. Oh my. Wait, you are butt naked? What are he's saying?

She's imagining. I must be somewhere. We've already talked about this. Is there anything else by having this lovely dinner? Conversations amongst yourselves or questions? After all of that food, I think I just need a hydration break. Okay, well you can have a drink. Don't, Sam.

Holy, your wine is correct. I'm telling you right now, do not do it. Yes, it's delicious. Great, fantastic. Culdron wine, of course. So wonderful. See, this is what I mean, you appreciate fine wine. Definitely some cauldron blood, someone.

It's one of the things I live for, very much so. What we die for? What is this? Oh, that's wine. That's wine. That's wine. Cobold, could I? Yes, hello, Mr. Revan.

Can I get it juice, please? What kind of juice would you like? Juicy juice. The juice juice we have. All right, very good. Thank you. Are you finished with that? I never started.

Can I have it? Thank you. I don't want to waste it. Is that blood? No, it's... What, wine? Eof. How does it compare wine and blood? It's more of a sensation thing, I suppose.

Yes, blood invigorates me in a way. I suppose it's like... Yeah, blood, blood gives me energy. Wine brings the energy down. Upper and downer. Okay, a nice balance. Yeah, it's interesting. Wine relaxes me, blood emboldens me.

Do you drink that blood more? I do like room temp. I'm full. If you let it get your food. Maseran, I've got your juicy juice and the desserts are coming out. Wine is really good in cold because of the heat. Okay, yeah. So I can actually drink it for a straw?

I'm trying to think of like, what would like a cauldron name for Tira Masusi. If it gets too cold, I guess too thin. It coagulates. It'd be like a, it's almost because it replicates like a molten sort of like surface almost. Oh yeah, like volcano. Yeah, it would be like a, you know, volcano dessert or something. It would be like called something like that. Isn't there literally a lava, like.

Yeah, it's not lava cake though. It's not lava cake, though. Oh, I love lava cake. I don't. It burns me every fucking time. Every time I'm like, it's not going to get me this time. It's not going to. No.

Oh, actually, no. I imagine a cauldron dessert would be like a creme brulee. It'd be like very sweet. But like, it'd be like a, like, blow torts. like tall. Like a little cobald with fire breath being like, yeah. Not to turn this into Kim's therapy hour,

I almost died to eat in a crumbrolet. Me too. Because the sugar got stuck in my throat. Oh. And I almost choked a death. Kim, Trot nearly died from happiness when he had a cram relay. I was not happy. Damn.

There's the opposite ends of that. Traumatic. Never helps it. Missing out. With that, anything else? Otherwise, we can jump to you guys taking a long rest. Yeah, sure. Cool.

Long rest time. What are rooms like? Do we have a shared one? No, I think, imagine that here you would have, I mean, it's an estate house, it's like a big tall townhouse. I imagine that there would be maybe a bit of room sharing because I don't know if they would have like five rooms to spare.

Lady Anne Brissa, we have security stationed outside. Oh yeah. Oh, do you? Oh, what, a companion or? Yeah, we met them on route, and now, they're adamant to be our security detail. Yeah, so dynastian. Mixing with some of your security action as well.

I mean, certainly. I mean, they could stay in the barracks with, we have like a small barracks where the other guards stay. Or if you'd like, they can come and stay in the house. What do we think? Well, I think they saw my films stay in the house. Yeah, we should put them in the house. All right, let's invite them in.

Billy and a little Cobble Butler, Billy and Killie. Oh, on Billy the Brulee. I've got it for you here. Thank you. Of course. Yes, my, yes, my lady, yes, mistress, yes my lady. There's another guest of our friends, a dynastian, you said.

Would you make sure that they're welcome to come in and meet with their friends? Their name is Vricks. A Vricks, very good, very good man. Can you, okay. No, he's already roasted it. Oh. It's nice and crisp.

It's amazing. But I just produced a flame. What am I gonna do with this? That's what you do it. Phelia is an opportune for you, I am. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. That's fire. Did you actually just eat me? I was going to say, that would not go well for you.

It's not long before you hear the heavy armored carapace thuds of a very boisterous fricks. Ptsch, kind of bursts in. Pricks were all dead. Incorrect. You are very much alive. Yeah, true. I was standing watch with the other guards. They are adequate.

Did you speak to them? Yes. Information from them? Information that they are adequate. Just, uh, information on Kelskaris. Why are they adequate? They are vigilant to an extent.

They are too obsessed with gambling. Ah, and you didn't partake? No. Okay. We've got your room here tonight. I will sleep outside your rooms. Outside? I don't know if they'd allow that.

There's barracks as well. Irrelevant. Okay. There's barracks as well with the other guards. You could, if you would like to stay. They will be gambling. Probably. I will sleep outside your room.

Okay. But if you sleep inside the room. I, if, are you all in one room? Well, we'll be split. Then I will stay outside in corridor. You are allowed to Raks and have time off. Do not worry about Rinks. Okay.

Okay. I have slept in worst, places. Okay. Right. Have you slept in better places? No. Right, okay. Um, and Barissa is it okay if Rick's just a hallway? Is they can you... Treat this as your home. Do what you wish, you are my guests. Well, well in that case. I'm gonna run around these halls and butt naked. Oh well, I'd rather you didn't do that. I won't. Um, but yes, uh, I think that it's probably like there's a corridor with like guest rooms, but I don't think there'd be five. So it's probably like there's one that can sleep like two or three,

like a kind of family room, and then there are two individual rooms. So it depends on how you wanna divvy them up. Well, I like to sleep large form nowadays, so. Yes, yeah, we've noticed. Doesn't that only last like 10 minutes? And then you just fall. It's enough to fall asleep.

I can't, I wake up to the bed. Except with the crashing is in the tavern. Yeah. It's also what the Boeing is in the ceiling. I did wonder about the ceiling. Yeah. Feels really nice though. I can't sleep without that 10 minutes of large form.

Okay, well. Interesting. It's like putting on an A-S-M-R video. It's like a weighted blanket, but you are like that. Yeah, exactly. Well, anyway, you guys divide the rooms up, but you can decide what you're going to do. You do see that out in the corridor,

Ricks literally, like a little beat, like he just, that she, sorry, sits down, crosses her little legs, and then the eyes just closed. And it's kind of like I'm in Silk Song where they just sort of like sat there and just shut down. There goes Ricks again.

I am still away. Oh, sorry. Okay, well, you know what to do if anything comes up? I don't imagine it will, but... Kill them? Yes. Well, no, we'll just help us first. You will be asleep. Little cobalts, they work here.

I will not attack them, yes. Okay, good. I'm just too. Unless they're under cover. I will keep an eye. If any, try to break into your rooms. Fantastic. Thank you. Thank you.

You're welcome. You're welcome. You're welcome. Thank you for your service. Okay, well, good night, everyone. See you bright and early for... Shopping? Shopping?

Do you get some of your clothes, maybe? I need to talk to this kid's father about making some kit for the essential alicats. Okay, wait, did you need a logo? I don't have a mind, but... Oh, that's... I'm working on it. Daisy and that girl are working on it, so yeah,

but I just want to at least start. That girl? Gruff, you need to learn the names. Vennora, was it? Vanora. Venora. I don't remember the names, but I feel like it's... I do feel like you should know that.

their names, Grav. I'm doing my best! Okay, well, okay, well we'll like on it tomorrow. There's 11 of them. We can come with you tomorrow to help with me. There's that, Tristan, he just doesn't wanna be there? Yes. Hawkins, prick. Yeah, oh no, I remember Hawkins, yes.

He's kind of hard not to remember. Yeah, yeah. He knows it as well. Oh, Barnabas. I hate those kinds of people. Barnabas, real sweet heart. Barnabas, yes, yes. Sweet Barnabas.

Well, we haven't got a lot of time, Gruffeth, so we'll need to. I know, Rowan. Well, okay, tomorrow, bright and early, Daisy, bright and early. We can... Can I sleep in and you guys go shopping? Yeah. Fine, I can't say no.

Yay! Yay! But we can go sort out costumes. Kit. A kit. Yes, for your team, the Essentialian Cats. Might is not. I remember that.

The mightiest team and all of Caldra. Did I have a chant, a song? Roar. I just got here. I don't know. Rowan. What's that? Chant time.

Oh, yes. Did you work on a song or something? Well, you know what I'm like with lyrics, but I'll... We believe, we will. I will figure it out. We can all figure it out, I'm sure. Just get the tune down and we'll just fill in the blanks. Oh, right.

Mostly with Ali Cat and Ascension. Stand to Ascension, like the soldiers do. Anyway, that's just one of my ideas. You can take that one of my ideas. You don't have to have the ascension bit in the chart and you could just have the Allic Cat bit. It's going to be pretty obvious who you're cheering for. We're just spitballing.

All the Cats ascend. I like it. I like it. Sendle. Alicats a sendle. No, I never once. All right, see you guys. Edgbert.

Take a long rest. Good night, everyone. Good night. The roves are. Good night, Graf. Good night, Sister Ophelia. Good night, Ruff. Good night, Ruffeth.

Good night, Dazzie. Good night, Daisy. Good night, Graf. Good night, Daisy. Good night, Zanthiaz. Good night. Is that Zaltius? It is.

I can hear you of large formed already. Yeah. Good night, I figure. Sex. The rooms are lavish, comfortable, even in giant form. This is, you could not ask for a better place to stay in the city, you know, to have free run of it, but also this is a, a bit of luxury.

Xanthias. Oh good to hear. Go on drop some bars. You are in Kelskares. But it's not like the Kelskaris that you were walking around just now. It's not as built up. It's smaller. It's older.

It's crude in some ways. There's no fine statues. There's crude. carvings of a majestic six-winged dragon but it's not the same this is old and as you walk these these you know almost new cobbled streets you begin to recognize the outlines of what will probably one day become some of these grand buildings and you see sort of crossing in front of you crossing between buildings a figure in a golden robe with golden skin.

They sort of pass in front of you between alleyways. What do you do? I think it's, um, there's a certain majesty to the city because I don't think Xanthius is over Kelskaris and the grandiose nature of it and seeing all of these new things.

He's kind of in awe at what he's seeing. But for any time that he's, He sees what's coming, because he knows what's coming. He's seen it a million times before, or not a million times, but he will not try to lose them, but whatever path they're taking, whatever route they seemingly are blocking any time they cross the path. He tries to turn and take another avenue, just try and... When you turn to try and take that other avenue, you see the figure sort of cross in front

of you again. And then when you try and turn again, you see them walking towards you, turn back. Like, they seem to be vanishing and reappearing all throughout the city. And then they are next to you. They just sort of seem to, like, walk out of nothing. You did well against your brother. Yes. Your power is growing.

Your mastery of my power. is impressive. I don't really take this as a compliment, I'll be honest. No. I've already told you a million times. I don't want you here in my mind speaking to me, giving me these powers. I don't want you here.

That's not true. You asked me for my help. You knew that I could save you, and you asked me. Yeah, well, what was my alternative, really? Death? could have died a hero fighting against your brother, a noble end? I would have died unfulfilled. You know my goal.

Ah. So if my power helps you achieve that goal, do you want it or not? I'd love to give my father a taste of his own medicine, I suppose, but I... Why are you here? What do you want this time? To check on you. To praise you, you did fight very well. You were able to turn away...

Your brother's power, a very deadly power. You did very well. But I am worried your other siblings are here in this city. They will try to kill you to take my gift that you carry within you. Why are you wasting your time on these frivolities? Why are you shopping for dresses and helping the Pretender Knight with his children's game? Because I would like to live my life, as if you never existed. Until your siblings and your father are dead, you won't get to have that life.

Don't get distracted, my boy. You have a greater destiny. You're meant for more than this. I see that now. You're stronger and more powerful than I thought. So just consider this a friendly warning, not to let your guard down. I do have one question. Oh, yes.

Would you want my gift again if you needed it? How do I wake up from these things? Do you try to? Do you want to try and wake yourself up? You close your eyes really tight and then... Wait, open. Yeah, it's, it's almost openly willing, willing their presence away. Like, it's not so...

Sure. Like, it's almost, it's not so childlike as to block my ears and la, la, la, la. Yeah, of course. But I don't want to talk. Your force of will, you're like... I don't want to hear this. You try and want to expel him.

Roll and just straight charisma. D20 plus charisma. Fate. Straight upris. You may spend fate if you like. Charisma... How much fate we got? Three.

Yeah, let's fate it. Okay. So a D6 on that. Let's put my fire. ball dice into this. Bo bam! 14. It's not enough.

You will. Oh, no. I'm afraid that our connection is so much stronger now. Great. If you want me to go, I'll go. Oh, please. Please.

Will you not answer my question? I will not answer your question. I have a question for you. You praise me for my strength. Will you think twice about killing me next time? Yes. Great. Fantastic.

I'm glad we can come to a call. No, I want you to succeed. I see value as power, untapped raw power. You're so much greater than what you are. Well. That one definitely cuts as anxious. I will.

The idea of like, oh, you see, potentially me. You see worth it me. Someone does. Not that no one at the table does, but you know, it's... Yeah, of course, yeah. It's nice to be validated and to have somebody. Yeah. But you, he's like, but if you wish this conversation to come to an end, I don't want to sour the good work we did together. Mm-hmm, mm-hmm. I will... I use your power as I Please, and not the other way around.

You'll still need to ask for it. I was here. Any gestures around. I remember the Empress building this place, watching it from afar. I was amazed. Such a small thing. Creating this.

Great destinies. Goodbye. And the dream ends. Hell yet. Hell yeah. Hell yeah, hell yeah, hell yeah, hell yeah. Very cool. Sister Ophelia. Hello.

You are somewhere familiar, but it's not quite right. Grand arched windows, carpeted floors, the occasional painting, but the figures in it are blurred. A great palatial corridor that seems to stretch out before you. You know you're here to find something. What do you think it is? Her shrine. Your specific shrine.

You run down the corridors. There are doors, openings. You glance in them, but they're not what you're looking for. You see different places. You see laboratories. You see galleries. You see training rooms, sparring rooms. You see bedrooms of someone familiar to you.

A young boy with white blonde hair, writing a letter, but it's not what you're looking for. The corridor then seems to split into two ahead of you. One leads to a warm parlor with fire and the sound of laughter coming from it, the smell of wine. The other is more shadowy and cold and is a shrine to the grave father, but it's not your shrine. Yeah, she'll go to the shrine.

The shrine is cold and dark. You feel an immense sense of loneliness. You know that in this place, you are alone. The other place that's now gone, you can't go back. That corridor no longer leads that way. That parlor, that's full of light and life. You wouldn't have been alone there. but there's something else here

in that darkness, in that cold there is something like power the shrine of the grave father the muscular body, the skull-like face on that throne the giant morning star at his feet there's power here resolve what'd you do?

I think she would go up Yeah, I go up to the shrine and just kneel at it. I'm sorry, I've... I've been so wayward, I've been so lost. I need to find you. You saved me. I owe everything to you. You hear a voice, a deep, rumbling voice. You have found me.

I am always here. Do not lose your way. Do not forget your purpose. your faith. Without your dream in. Gruffeth. Oh, well. You are on a road,

a familiar road, one that you've walked down. It could be the road from Iceheart to Kelskaris or Kelskary to Ash and Rest. It's a road that you know, countryside on either side, not your home, but pleasant enough.

And a group of children are ahead of you, running down the road, away from you. Into the alley, They're jeering and laughing. Ah, you can't catch us. You're not a real coach anyway. Ha, ha, ha.

And they're like laughing and running away from you. A couple of them sort of straggle, looking behind, almost wanting to like come and speak to you. But then the others jeer or lead them on, and they just constantly keep running away from you. No matter how hard you run after them, they outpace you. and soon you become ragged and breathless.

Can't keep up, can't keep up with us. You're going to fail, you're going to fail. You kind of hear these jeers coming from the children as they run away. Hawkins's voice, but also Pippers and some of the others as well, Damien's and even Tristan's. Eventually though, they sort of, the road dips away from you and the children vanish. You can still hear laughter and voices,

but you seem to be gaining some pace on them. You seem to be catching up. And then the voices suddenly change, and it's not the alley cats anymore. You hear a crying, a deep male or boy's voice crying, and a sweet little soft girl's like, it's all right, it's all right.

But you can hear that she's getting teary and upset as well. Stop it, stop it, stop fighting. And then you hear a familiar, girl's voice. No, he started it. He started it. And then you hear a young boy's voice. No, I'm the best. It's not up to you. And as you crest the hill, you see children versions of Ophelia, Xanthius, Daisy and Rowan. Rowan is in tears sat on the side of the road, like his head in his hands, just bawling his eyes out. Like, stop it, stop it. Stop fighting. Daisy's trying to console him, but is also on the verge of tears herself.

Ophelia and Xenthius are beating each other, like proper fighting, punches, kicking, really going at it. I mean... What do you do? So I'm at the top of a hill. Sort of looking down, you can see that they've stopped. This fight has, like, stopped them moving.

But you swear it was the alley cats, but now it's the kids. And this is a dream, so it feels normal. I will give a sharp whistle and it's the whistle that Gruff gives when he is instructing Seren but it's a sharp whistle and Seron will kind of shoot down the kind of illusory sharon will shoot down

get between the erosurin passes through them as if Seren no I didn't I don't mean for it but they don't react to Sarah they don't react to it okay as if to them Seren isn't there But the whistle, they sort of, the two stop fighting, Ophelia and Zanthias. Literally, Xanthius has got, like, he's grabbing, like, Ophelia's collar, and he's raised a fist. Ophelar is, like, literally, like, you know, grabbed his shirt and he's, like, mid-kick.

But they stop and they look up at you. You see, like, Daisy looks up at you with these big, watery eyes. Like, Rowan still hasn't, like, pulled, like, he's actually kind of, like, holding his ears from that loud whistle. and you can hear him sort of like softly whimpering. But they don't say anything. They just look towards you. What is happening? They stare for a moment longer

and then Xanthius just looks at you hard, this young boy version of Zanthius. And you've never seen Zanthius, young boy, but this is what you imagine he looked like. His arm still is partly crown still corrupted. He has that fire in his eyes. Go away, gruff. You're not our dad.

And then you hear Rowan, you're supposed to fix everything. Is someone going to tell me what's going on here? I'll keep walking down. As you begin walking towards them, Rowan and Daisy get up and run away. Xanthias, let's go of Ophelia, Ophelia, let's go over Xanthias, and Ophelia chases after them.

But Zanthias stays there. As you begin to walk down, the sun, in this bright, sunny, country road kind of blinds you for a second. You raise your hand to sort of give yourself some shade. And when you bring the hand down, it's not Xanthias anymore. It is Talasin.

Can you tell us what Talasin looks like? Is he the age that he's meant to be now? He would be as you remembered him as a young boy. At least you describe that, actually. You tell us what he looked like as a young boy and then I'll adjust it. Because he doesn't know what Talison looks. looks like now. No, I know that.

So I think he would see a young cub, black fur, you know, the kind of turquoise eyes, little like tufts of white, so like the tip of his tail and like he's not as white as gruff, but just like, you know, some little bits and pieces of white in his fur. He'd be scrappy, like a scrappy little kid, like, you know, that kind of kid who's always got like a scab on his knee and his clothes are covered in mud, like a little bit of mud and stuff like that. Like he's definitely got rocks in his pocket because he's been collecting them. And just those big turquoise eyes.

You see that for a second as your eyes adjust to the light. but then that person isn't there and the person there is a bit older they look weary they look worn there's scars and cuts and marks on their muzzle their fur is ragged cut like it's not been properly groomed in a while

still wearing the same clothes but now their patchwork and sort of ramshackle put together and he just stares at you Oh my boy. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry for everything. And Gruff would just sink to his knees, like kind of grasping at his, you know, his arms and just sink to his knees in front of him. Just trying to, doesn't want to rush it, like, almost like rushes, but then stops because he doesn't want to, doesn't want this to go because he tried to get close to everyone else and they went. So he just doesn't want him to go.

The boy doesn't move. You kneel before him, you reach out. He just stares at you this whole time. But you can read that there's not really a look of recognition. It's a boy who's staring at a stranger. What do you say or do? I'm so sorry, Talley. I failed you. Your mother misses you.

Your brother, your sister, they miss you. Come home, Talley. Please. He just looks at you. And then effortlessly, no matter how hard you try, he pulls away, turns, and walks down the road. And that's when the dream ends. And that's where we're going to take our break.

Oh, boy. We're going to take a five-minute break here, everybody. That's going to be the end of part one. We will see you in part two. Take care. See it a bit. See in a bit.