High Rollers DnD - Eye of Argus (Part 2) | Altheya: The Dragon Empire #93

Episode Date: February 26, 2026

The Ecliptic Order descend upon Ashen Rest and have some questions for the heroes! Get a peak Behind the Screen for episodes 80 to 93 with a supporters exclusive video here: https://youtu.be/cRBif_n3BL8 (also available to Twitch Subs and Patreon Supporters! Link your Discord for access.) Altheya: The Dragon Empire Kickstarter is NOW LIVE! Support the project and get tons of amazing extras here: https://www.rollandplaypress.com/highrollers 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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Welcome back to Altheir the Dragon Empire Part 2. Our heroes have been enjoying a little bit of not quite full downtime, but have been enjoying the celebrations post-ceremony with Duke. Ignarius. They've returned to Tyria's Rest, where they've met back up with Caliphress, the typhling planar dealer, sort of dodgy dealer, who has presented them finally with three of the missing essences that were required for the magical artifact that will help protect Xanthius from sovereign's influence. Having sworn on a oathstone tablet, they've bound themselves in a contract to that deal and been provided with.

the essences required. And we had a lovely sort of evening of people doing various things, where it was crises of faith, crises of self, wholesome moments with bartenders and armpit farts, or little glimpses and thoughts of home whilst visiting the bathhouse.

And the incredible creator spark of how to make a magic fridge. Finally, finally. It is the next day. And in fact, I can tell, you that it is, in fact, I can give you the date. Oh, it's a date. Is that a date?

Now, I know that some people have been keeping a track. They've been trying to keep track privately. I've seen some spreadsheets that are just... Incredible. It may not line up to those, because there might be bits of information that haven't made it out yet and some things like that. But today is the fifth of gold harvest. Fifth of gold.

Fifth of the mid-moon. Sorry, fifth mid-moon of gold harvest. harvest. And as you awake and all begin to make your sort of presence known, gruff coming out of your little sanctuary at the back of the house in the garden, Rowan sort of making your way downstairs, Sister Ophina and Zan, the same thing. There would be, not commotion, but you can hear activity coming down from the inn below. It's not exceptionally early, but it is certainly far too early for anybody to be sort of coming to the inn for drinks.

Also, the inn should technically be closed because there is nothing available. But you hear sort of muttered conversation and you can hear, you know, several figures at least have made their way inside or are speaking with somebody downstairs. Well, if Rowan's coming down the steps. Sure.

I'm so sorry, we're closed. So as you come down, the main... staircase row and you would look down and you would see two familiar figures and one figure that you don't recognize. You can see also outside of Tyrea's rest. There appear to be several more figures sort of just stood outside waiting. But the two figures that you recognize are one is a tall, broad-shouldered, beautiful woman with short cropped blonde, with short sort of bobbed blonde hair wearing a black and white tabard and an armour beneath it and you recognise Sister Benedicta, Sister Superior now,

Sister Superior Benedicta of the Ecliptic Order, sat at a table drinking some sort of hot herbal drink is the much more sort of hunched, thin, frail-looking form of her sister, Sister Superior, Malady, who you have met many times. And then sort of leaning in a chair, one giant paw sort of tucked under his chin, as he seems to be speaking with Mateo at the time.

His head sort of half turned, so you're seeing him in profile. He's quite a tall, quite well-built, quite, you know, impressive physique, wolfman, kind of like gruff, much more animalistic rather than humanoid. One side of his face is extremely badly burned, to the point of it as it would have absolutely ruined one of his eyes. His ear is all mangled and sort of melted and burnt and all sorts of things as well. And the fur is all sort of scorched and everything,

almost going all the way down sort of past his neckline. But his eye, which would have once been ruined, is now replaced by a glowing blue magical eye instead. And he, you overhear are sort of like, please, there is no need to wake them. We are quite happy to wait. It is of Norrush. And then you see, you hear this, you know,

you sort of call out to them as you look down. And sort of you see from beneath her sort of inquisitor, this sort of witch hunter's hat. You see Malady sort of look up and a half grin, sort of pull on her gaunt, thin face. Ah, Rowan. Oh, Sister Malady. Yes, I'm afraid that we are not here for in business.

We are here to see all of you. Oh, well, that's nice. Yes, I thought it would be. This new fellow, he's a new part of your group. Yeah. Oh, wonderful. It seems quite a delightful chap. He was very kind enough to give me some hot water for my herbal tea.

A very, a very charming fellow. You can see Mateo is like, looks actually quite scared. Like, he's like looking at you Rowan like, I didn't, and he sort of is like, he sort of, what do I do? Just put a little thumbs up to Mateo. Okay, he's like, yes, he's like, yes, well, I'm, I'm, If I could get any of your holinesses, I don't really know how to, I don't know,

an appropriate term, your eminences? Is there anything I can get? We're sort of fresh out of alcohol, but we've certainly got plenty of things like tea and coffee and hot chocolates and milks and juices, and I'm rambling. And you just see, Benedict, it'll be like, an orange juice, please.

Yes, yes, oh yes, an orange juice, absolutely. Can do that, no problem. problem. And sort of gruff, he, he bumps into you as you're sort of coming in with Springheart and he'll sort of be like, gruff, gruff, gruff, there's like holy people here. Like, there's like people from some sort of holy order here. Oh, right, the ecliptic order. Yes, them. They're very scary.

Hmm. Well, and gruff will kind of... I'm not going to say anything about anything. Gruff race... I'm going to get the tall, scary one with the sword, orange juice, and I'm not going to say a word. word. Sounds wise. They're not so bad though. All right. What do we do? What do we do about Springy? I, there's no crime in having Spring Artier, is there?

I mean she's, but she's from another plane, isn't she? Wouldn't they be have a problem with that? Yes. Meanwhile, so sort of growing, do you, do the two of you sort of, we can assume, by the way, that Daisy is not going to be awake. We know that. We know that The Daisy sleeps in. Knock, knock, knock. Daisy, there's people downstairs.

Go away. Okay. Stuart, get him. Knock, knock, knock. Celia. Xanthius. People downstairs. What kind of people?

Peek round the wall. Who people? Oh yeah, I mean, you sort of peek around from the balcony and look down and see. Clip to quarter. Oh, okay, fine. Yes, I'm coming, I'm coming. You're just like, yeah, frashing about in the room.

Just, yeah, door swings open. Yes. Oh! Sorry, sorry! Are you okay? Oh! Did you just hit Xanthius in the face of the door? A little bit, a little bit. Are you okay?

Love, this couldn't have got any worse. You've just triggered Rian. You've not triggered anything, you've triggered Rianin. You need a cool implement to soften the blur. But while this is happening upstairs and Mateo and Gruff are having this kind of like realisation, Rowan, this other figure that you don't recognise will sort of look over to you and stand up. And he's not as tall as you, you're a yacht near, but he is tall.

He's well over six feet. And he sort of comes over to and he's like, ah, you are Rowan, yes? I am, you've heard of me. I have Sister Melody and many of stories of you have come through. A pleasure to meet you. Oh, it's a pleasure.

I'm sorry that I haven't heard about you before. That in my work is actually a good thing. Is it? Yes, I am High Inquisitor Argon. High Inquisitor Argus. Yes. I am one of the high inquisitors of the ecliptic order. Great.

Yeah. A pleasure and a big paw. And you can see that even his arms are like covered. Under the fur you can see dozens of scars and criss-cross marks and battle wounds that he has. You must have so many stories. I do. I am. No, I am no young pup.

I have been around for some time. and I have done many things. I have many stories, yes, for many battles, trying to protect the empire and the people within it. Protect? Of course, that is the nature of the order. Older?

You've got fur? Have I got someone to introduce you to? I think I can guess where you are going with this. Yes, Sir Gruppeth of Tramorrow. Come on. I'm in the back room. So I imagine, because you're coming in from, Because you're coming in from the outside, right, from your sanctuary.

Mateo, like, went into the kitchen to get the orange juice and then sort of rushed up to the door as you were coming in and just, like, pushes you, like, back out into the guard, like, that's when you had that conversation. And is Springheart with me? I don't know, is she? You tell me. What does she normally do?

I don't know. She's the wrong person, man, I don't know. You tell me, what does she normally do? Like, if you, obviously, you're doing stuff during the day and things. Like, she can't leave the grounds of the inn, basically. Early morning? This is, like, early morning. Good morning.

She is a tree. She's probably still tree in. Yeah. Okay, so she's in her tree, so she's actually abound into her tree at this point. Okay. I'd probably like to, um, Mateo,

make sure Spring Art doesn't come in here while these buggers are here, all right? Right, I do have to get the sister her orange juice. Right, just panceria. Okay, yes. Pauser gets like a shake, pause of orange juice. Pull yourself together, man.

It's just, They're very terrifying. Stop parakey! But I've heard stories of the Ecliptic Order. You know, then... It's okay, we've tangled with them before. All right, all right, all right, all right. I mean, I don't have anything to do with...

It's not like I've met a plain-ar person or... Oh, God, wait a minute. Sit hanging out with you. There's all sorts of plain-ar things. I'm going to go get spread hot at least. You don't get her. Just make sure... No, no, I'll play.

We'll play with Celio. We'll play with Celio outside. I will appear with the orange juice. You know, we're not as early yet, Rowan. Right, apparently I got this for someone. That would be for me, Gruffeth, and so... Ah, sister. Thank you very much, thank you.

What happened to your fellow, your friend? Oh, he just spilled some more and juicing himself, so he went out. Clean himself up, you know. I see. Can I get a deception check, please? Fucking. Bull fucking. You're sharp for the morning. Oh, I'm fucking good at deception. I am. 17.

17? Excellent. I'm going to spend a point of faith. That's there. Uh, just, I'm just curious. No, I know. It's okay, we'll get the light lines out first. Ah, spilled juice upon himself, I see. Takes the juice. Oh, the tale was he like, anyway, so grufferth, meet?

I'm not a sir yet. I inquisitor Argus. A pleasure to meet you. You are a knight-errant, I understand. Aye, a knight-errant. I keep trying to tell Rowan, I'm not sir yet. That's all right. And you are, as I am told by Sister Melody,

Sister Superior Melody, My apologies. You are pursuing the circle of the loyal hounds? That's all, yes. I've heard of this knight, water. A very good one, very fair. It is nice to see older, gentle folk like myself still remaining active in the world and doing what they can as well. And you can see, and you, yeah, this guy's probably a little bit younger than you, but not much. Like, he's definitely like, because Gruff's what, like 50s-ish, like late, like mid-50s? Yeah, this guy's probably...

He's up to 60s. Yeah, he's like early 50s, this guy. You kind of get the sense, because you are both Wild Hearts. And you can see like a, like, what you, other people might mistake is like graying as like a natural part of his fur. You're like, no, no, no, that's like actual aging graying. Like, it's around his muzzle as opposed to, like, being in, like, his actual main and things like that. Kind of like the speckling white on. Yeah.

Exactly, yeah. So there's like a little disparage there. But he sort of nods and he's like, well, your friend Rowan has been very kind and offering it. But yes, Sister Superior Malady and Sister Superior Benedicta spoke much about you and the rest of your companions joining us. Well, I suppose they should be. They're probably asleep right on. They're not really mourning people.

Ah, alas, such things would not last long in the monasteries, the discipline. They make sure that you are up with the sun, up with Pyrrhus, doing about your daily chores, and you are in bed before Malia is high in the sky. Well, there we have similarities. I'm up with Dawn to catch the fish. I get that impression. You seem a very disciplined man.

Thank you. He is. Rowan is right between them. Yeah. This guy does not seem faced by Rowan. He's just like, yeah. Griffith, you should shake his paw. Oh, right.

I'm going to shake paws. Is that the correct tradition with you? I offered my paw to Rowan, and he seemed to find much enjoyment with it. But of course. Yes, he's an old one. I will shake my form. And it's like...

Shaking pores. We are shaking, they are shaking pores. You see... The best day ever. Malady is like holding a smirk like the entire time just like watching this whole scenario. Yeah, Gruff is looking at Rowan really confused.

Like, is this a weird, like... Benedicta has not taken a right off of you. Yeah. This whole time. At this point, Zan and Ophelia you sort of finish... I'm telling Gruff, you hit me with a door. I didn't mean to hit you,

I'm telling you. I'm telling. I'm telling. What do you hear this? I don't know if this is actually canon. I can't tell if this is actually a conversation happening. I let over to Ria and said like, how deep do I want to go with this? That's great.

Because I just love the idea that... They come bundling down the stairs like kids fighting. Or like Groff has to go get them. Like, we all hear this downstairs. And like, Gruff has to be, excuse me, and when, boom, boom, boom, boom. Will you grow up? There'll be just a moment.

We both walk in front of gruff, just like, really solid. Being like sent downstairs, basically. Sorry. Who's Daisy? Is Daisy coming? I think at that point you can basically make Daisy coat. She's quite nervous, I imagine. Daisy sort of does, because we know that she finds she's very intimidated by the inquisters.

But yeah, you guys make your way downstairs. Good morning! Malady will look over. A good morning, sister of you. Hello. A pleasure to see you once again. Good to see you too. And Xanthia.

Hello, love me to see you again. Yes, indeed. Allow me to do the introductions list. Big bomb. Big bomb. Allow me to do the introductions this time. May I introduce one of our superiors in the Ecliptic order.

This is High Inquisitor Argus. Oh, pleasure to meet. A pleasure to meet you as well. Sister Ophelia of the House of Blood. Fyla Rocha of the House of Blood, yes. My apologies for not saying the full title. It's okay, it's a long one. Yes, there's many of those in many religions across Altheir, I think.

And you are Xanthius Oregon. Zanthias Oregon, yes. Has everyone else introduced themselves? I believe so. Would you like a drink? We have been offered. Oh, right. Mateo is on it.

Good. Yes. He spilled orange juice on himself, apparently. Fool. What a clown. What a dumb, dumb, idiot baby man. My head hurts. Daisy sort of maybe...

The fuzz. The fuzzs. They're, you know, they're the Spanish Inquisition. Daisy sort of pokes her head around grass. and it's like, hello, I'm Daisy, and sort of introduced herself. Well, I wanted to come and speak with you myself, personally. I understand that Sister Superior, Malady,

and Sister Superior Benedicta would also like to come and see you once again. Benedicta does not want to be here. Like, Malady is quite happily being here. Benedicta, like, her glare at Gruff has now become a... Ophelia. Just a Benedicta. Just like a nod of, like, you. It's this kind of vibe, right?

The lightning queen me are. But the High Inquisitor will say, yes, I wanted to come. We are, obviously, we have been called here, as I understand it, the crown steel was recovered from a crown foresight. What, two days, a day and some hours passed. We have been summoned to retrieve it

and to take it to one of our strongholds for destruction or safekeeping, depending on the nature of the nature of the crown steel itself. Sorry to say you've come to the wrong place. We don't have it stored here. Oh, I am quite aware that it is not here. At least the pieces that were found at the crash site are not here, of course.

Yes. That's what you meant. Yes. Yes. We're on the same page. Yes. Very much on the same page. I wished to personally come here as I understand that you assisted the...

In fact, no, no. I will not tarry you. your endeavors by saying that you assisted. It is thanks to you that the Crown's deal was recovered and the emissary of sovereign was defeated. Sir morning of the Church of Sionz spoke very highly of you. Sister Glory, knight, sir, sorry, Sir Glory, not so much, but even she spoke in a begrudging respect of your battle prowess.

But as I understand it, worry not for you. They likely would have all perished trying to achieve their mission. So I wish to offer the thanks of the Ecliptic Order. It is very important that these crown steel fragments are, they do not fall into their wrong hands. And to have such steady and stalwart adventurers and heroes of the Empire, assisting that is of a great importance to me. And I wish to personally thank you. And offer if there's anything the Ecliptic Order can do in return for you.

Perhaps we can find some accommodation. some accommodations to that. Oh, we live here. Yeah. And by accommodations, I mean gestures of good faith. I don't know any. Yes, well, we hadn't actually considered.

We obviously received a hefty reward from the Duke themselves. Yes, the ecliptic order. We do not have much in the way of gold or trinkets to provide, but well, Let us be candid. We know, I know, thanks to Sister Superior Malady, that many here have attachments to things that the Church of the Sions

do not always look favorably upon. And his eyes look to Daisy, primarily to Zantius. I... There are... There are many... The fridge, isn't it? Fucking fridge. You should see it, it's a masterpiece.

In progress. Wait till you guys are finished. Please carry on. There are many in the Ecliptic order who take a very drastic view to the world and the teachings of the church. Sister Superior Malady and I, we are very much of a similar mind, in some things.

Not everyone who is touched by the plains is a heretic. They are not somebody who has chosen that pathway as a pathway to power and ambition. They do not use it to manipulate and trick others into schemes and dangers. They do not put the people of Ilmera at risk. You are not such people, are you? Zanthius. No. Sounds no. No, no, Daisy. No, no.

No, I did not think so. And sister superior malady does not think so. In fact, sometimes we encounter people who have attachments to the planes who are great allies and offers great information and can be worked with to help prevent further problems. So the help that I am, the favor, the gesture that I am offering is perhaps not one of gold or treasure or treasure or. or treasure or duke's favors, but of something else. Okay. As I understand it, Xanthius, you are the son of Lord Origenas? Yes.

How much do you know of your father? Very little, I'm afraid. Host Oregon of Gildai cast me out at a very young age. But you know of his interest. in Crownsteen? Um, yes, let me go recover something. I'm gonna go find that letter. Okay.

It's not incriminating, is it? Not really, no, but... Yeah, I'll come back down. The only communication I've had with my father recently, within the last few months, has been this, and I'll hand them that letter. Who'd you hand it to, Malady, or? or I'm like this?

Let's say, yeah, let's say Malady. Okay, Malady will gladly take it. You can see that she looks, she doesn't, she looks a little thinner than the last time you saw, her cheeks are a little bit more gaunt, the circles under her eyes a bit darker, but there is a bizarre strength to her gaze. Like she looks more determined

and more powerful than she did when you last saw her. And you can see, Ophelia, you're sort of sizing up Benedicta, She's bigger than she was. Like, she's physically been working out. Like, you can see that, like, she carries herself in a way that is clearly practiced and experienced and trained. Like, the two of them look like they have definitely, you know,

been hard at work, training and preparing. And Malady sort of pulls out a tiny pair of reading glasses and begins to read. I mean, within my hands, nothing more than a threat, but in yours, perhaps something more. Hmm. Well, this letter, and she, keeps it.

I've got it burned in my memory. What of communication before this? What were you sent to Kelskaris to recover? I, at the time, didn't know. I'm like looking at Argus. So, yeah, this is a new element here. He's just watching you. But what you do feel is all of you feel,

and I'd say gruff, you pick up on this with your passive, his blue magic eye flares with power. and he's watching Xanthius very carefully. Can you make a wisdom saving throw? Counter charm. I don't believe this is a charm effect. I will check, but I don't believe it's a charm effect. Count a charm.

Yes. Because it's not a normal spell. This is a unique ability, but it has a similarity to other spells. This is not a charm effect. So this is a charm effect. does not inflict the charmed condition. Okay. He's a charisma saving throw, sorry.

Oh, charisma save it significantly better. Yes. I will just take it. I have a plus eight. Okay. 25. Okay. You definitely feel that I flare with power

and like you can tell that he's trying to detect if you are lying. Um, Malady and Benedicta, of course, I trust you and I am thankful for all the work and effort and time you've put into helping all of us. Who is this man? I am High Inquisitor Argus of the Ecliptic Order. Sister Superior Malady and Sister Superior Benedicta serve under me. I am one of many other High Inquisitors that operate across the empire.

And I have worked with Sister Superior Malady for some time. And she knew that I have concerns about Lord Oregonus and that I had concerns about many great things. She also knows that I have currently, I am currently the custodian of one of our strongholds, where in fact we will be shortly taking the crown steel recovered from me. the crownful sight. At this stronghold, we currently house another Deva, and he looks at Daisy. This Deva, as we understand it, is they are there. It is complicated. They are there willingly

and also not willingly. But they have been speaking to us recently, and they have been mentioning other davers and something we are aware of a creature calling itself the hunter or the Yeager that hunts down other davers and sister Malady, Sister Superior Malady and I, when we knew of Daisy, we feared that this creature may come after you as well and we believe that there may be one perhaps we wish to discuss possibilities. This is the first we've heard of this, right? because it's all been conversations between Niam and Daisy in their hit. Well, you knew that Khalifris told us that there was a Davea blacksmith that we could get the Luxem, to do the Luxem Shards.

You all learn about the Hunter and Yeager as well. And we know about the Hunter from. None of this is private. There was a part of me that... We passed the test. Yeah, there was a part of me that thought the same as well. No, this is all public, I think. Okay.

As in, like, within the group. Yeah. And if we're being candid, can I trust you? Can you trust anyone? That is the question. I don't. That's why I try to determine if you are lying, but you are a very...

You have a strong will. You have a strong sense of self. Calderan pride, perhaps, or something more? I'll turn to Maladyin Benedicta. I'll ask you instead, can I trust him? The High Inquisitor speaks in great wisdom, Xanthias. You can't trust anyone. But are we a lying?

And yes. Your goals of what we spoke long ago, and at my goals and the High Inquisitor's goal, we are aligned. We do not think you are a threat. Currently, we are not a threat to you or your friends either. That makes, if there is such a thing as true trust in this world, of which neither the High Inquisitor I believe in, but if there was, these are These are the greatest circumstances for it to exist. Our goals align. You are not a threat to us and we are not a threat to you. Okay.

Would you prefer it if I lie and tell you that you can trust this man, that I know him to be an honorable and servant of the empire, one who has stood against corruption? Would that make you feel better? I'll turn to Gruff and Gang and just see almost like a vibe check really It's just a super super hesitation Knowing that Xenthius has been so

Open before He's just trying to be ultra careful now Gruff is visibly tense And is staring at Xanthias kind of almost waiting for a cue Like what are you like Like if Groff had his way He would be like kicking them out right now but like, you know,

well, not picking up because he knows Malady and Benedicta. And that's why he's a bit pausing as well, because he's like, he's waiting for the cue from you. Rowan is looking at Daisy. Daisy looks very, very scared. And I think that there's almost this moment where like she looks like she's about to initiate

the sort of mind link thing, but she keeps looking at like Malady and this other high inquisitor and like you can see that there's this head. there of like, I'm not sure if I should, or like, can they read my mind? I'm not sure. But she does look, like, she looks towards the High Inquisites. So, like, the Blacksmith, you have, you have the, the, Deva Blacksmith. It's like, yes, he was bonded with the spirit that was a smith in your, in the celestial realm. And you can see that that has caught Daisy's interest. Like, that is clearly something that she wants to know more about.

I think Ophelia would be nodding to Zanthia's just like, you know, just go with it. Like, I think maybe we can trust them. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I think Rowan is, yeah, can't really communicate this as well, but we'll see Ophelia nodding and kind of just be like nodding as well. It's not an immediate, just like, do not say a thing, thing, then. Yeah. Yeah.

Okay. When, as I shared the story with Melody and Bannadictor, that when I was sent to Kelskaris, I didn't know what I was sent to retrieve. Simply a package of some kind. I didn't know the kinds of people I'd be interacting with. I didn't know anything more than a simple location. Had I have known what I was to find there,

I wouldn't have begun the journey to begin with. So, no, I didn't know what I was going for, what I was chasing after. Now I do. Your father has been somebody I've been keeping my eye on for some time. Alas, even this letter, even in my hands, Oregonis is very difficult to touch.

It would require too much than what we have right now. But I wish to. You seem rather dismissive of your father. You do not seem to care for him much. He has not been a kind man to me. Would you have any guilt or regret in being a part of bringing him down? I would like to be there with you when it happens.

I would like for you. for us to make this happen. Zanthius Oregan. The Ecliptic order, it is not just us. I have an old friend who once served this empire, protecting it from enemies beyond and enemies within. We need to formulate a plan. I think that your father is a great risk to this empire.

And I think you will need to be a big part of that plan. Let me be a big part of that plan. Let me be. clear if you still like a reason to trust me, I was once corrupted by the same metal that has corrupted you. And he pulled back like his cloak and part of his thing. And you can see that that burn that goes down his thing, the pattern of it matches kind of corrupted flesh. If you, if somebody ripped and burnt the corruption away, it would leave a similar scarring. And you're...

How did you... Painfully. It required powerful healing magic. And it required... I ripped it off myself and burnt it away. I was not so far gone. My corruption was in its early stages. You see, long, long ago, I once served a draconic lord

who was interested in crown steel, who was consuming it. who gave it to his trusted marshals and his trusted bodyguards. And at the time I thought it was a great gift. I thought I was doing the work of my good lord, a noble dragon whom I trusted. Then I saw what he was becoming. And I wanted.

It made me so angry the metal when I carried it, but I felt so strong, so powerful. But then I realized what it was turning him and me into. And so I tore it out with my one good claw, and I burnt it away with holy fire. And I drove a blade, a dragon-killing blade, into my Lord's chest. Or I was the only one who could get close enough to end his madness. And now you hold this position within the ecliptic order despite that?

Yes. Because I understand it. And that has been my philosophy. Not everyone who is touched by these forces, touched by the planes, touched by Crownsteel, has a choice. And I don't believe you were given this choice either. Even you, Daisy Thistleheart. Davis, I understand, unlike many of my order,

that they form bonds with those that they wish to help. They do not seek out, some, some do, some seek out the desperate or the innocent, the people that don't understand. But in many cases, the Davis, they find people who need to be saved. What choice do you have at that point? However, even if you have to draw on power to do what is right, not everyone is strong enough to give up that power when they need to. I was. so I understand it more better than most.

Sister Malady, I will not tell her story, but she too knows what it is like to be touched by the plains, to have something inflicted upon her and her sister that she and they did not ask for. How does Malady look at that? Benedicta is like, head down, does not want to look at the High Inquisitor. Not embarrassed, like, it's such deep shame. It's not like blushing red.

This is like the most horrible thing that she's, like it's the worst thing in her life and she does not want to hear it. Malady is like cold, dead, staring like, yep, and like looks at you as he's saying this and does not blink. It's just looking at all of you. Can I ask how Sister Benedicta was looking prior to that reveal of Argus's... Give me an insight. Just give me a click.

It was subtle. This is so obvious that you don't need a roll to pick up. on it. 11 plus insight, which is 4.15. Benedict, isn't the best. Let me see if we're wrong. I mean, she, you can tell that she disagrees with this High Inquis. She does not agree with his methods.

She does not like this story that he's telling, especially that bit of like where he said that, you know, not everybody, you know, using this power to do what's right. You know, that bit, she could see that she was really biting her tongue. but as soon as he brings up her and Malady it's just deep shame and she just looks away but Malady doesn't break eye contact and in fact I would say that there is a faint smirk to her lips

as he says that what I do not like are those who make deals and bargains with the planes who take Crown Steel to fuel their own ambitions to manipulate others to gain advantage over them and use them like tools.

They put their souls at risk. Where Sister Superior Malady and I disagree is, I am a believer. I am faithful to my great moon, to my great Malia, whom I love with my dearest heart. Sister Malady, I know, and I would not repeat this

in front of any of our other holy brothers and sisters, but I know that Sister Superior Malady is not a believer in the science, but she is a believer in doing what he is. is right. And that is where we align very strongly. And that is why I have come to you all. And I meant what I said. I respect you greatly for what you did out at the ground for. To give up, to not be tempted by that power, especially when you are corrupted by it. That is no easy thing. And so I have great admiration and respect and I meant what I said if there is something the

ecliptic or other can do for you and he looks at daisy then I would be happy to grant it I see us as allies and even you sister Ophelia I understand that you have been given the rare permission to preach in this town I have I do not agree with your religion. Not many do. No. We have been taught very differently and your grave father is one that I, I do not personally trust, but I admire you for standing beside these proud and loyal members of the Dragon Empire to stand beside one against powerful forces and to deal with the materials such as crown steel. I may not understand or like your faith.

but I respect you as a person. Thank you. That means a loss, actually. And again, I think that there can be a great alliance. I know that not everything within Osce, that there are many internal squabbles and internal fights, and there are those who come to Ilmera with less good intentions. I believe, Sister Malady, when she tells me that you are true faithful,

that you believe that the sermons that you preach and that the lessons that you provide the people here, you do so out of a goodness, you do so out of well-intended nature. But can you speak for all of those who come from your country that they do not use your religion, use the Grafathers' power for their own gain, for their own power,

manipulating the people around them to do their bidding rather than to serve your faith? It is a very dangerous tool in the wrong hands. Indeed. And a glowing eye. I agree with you greatly, sister. I think it is a very powerful and dangerous tool. You see, systemality is like looking at you and just nods.

So I see, again, a potential ally. Someone who has not come to our shores to trick and manipulate our... people, but to offer them a choice. I would like, if it were to ever be the case, that should there be someone who is perhaps misrepresenting your religion and also endangering the people of Ilmera, I would see you as an ally in this as well. Thank you. That brings me comfort to know. So, I have spoken at great length. Is there anything you wish to say or as? We, there is a daver that we have encountered. I don't know if you know them or if you've seen them on your travels.

I believe her name was Carla. You see that actually this seems to be new information to this group, Malady. It's like, no, I don't believe we know of this individual. We don't, myself and the High Inquisitor, personally, we don't involve ourselves too much with date. unless they become a problem. This Carla is not a name that has come across our files, not one that has at least caused much trouble before.

It's good to know. The only reason that we know of Han, who is the Deva currently imprisoned at the stronghold, is because the High Inquisitor recently became custodian of that stronghold, and we learnt of them. We met her in netting on the sea, and she was... Very powerful.

You see, Mowardy pulls out a notebook and starts writing things out. I believe she was very frightened of this Yeager as well. Yes, the Jaeger. This has been a creature of great consternation

for the ecliptic order. It is as old as the empire. It is centuries old. It has been pursuing Davis here for longer than my life, longer than the life of my parents. predecessors. It has attacked many of our strongholds, the Devar Han, Han Farrier, the one that we mentioned, is blacksmith. The celestial legion is very keen to get them back. It seems that losing a smith

has a great weight to it compared to others, scouts or minor members of their army. So we have had several of our strongholds attacked by this Yeager and we fight it. It is at great cost, but often we are able to defeat it or at least destroy it or trap it temporarily. But when we do, it simply goes back to the celestial realm, reappears perhaps anywhere between three and nine months. It will reappear. And then it begins its hunt and its pursuit once again. We move the blacksmith whenever we can, whenever it is found. But as we understand it, the Yeager is cannot be fully defeated, it cannot be fully destroyed, it simply reforms. My notes on the creature indicate that every time it is destroyed and sent back,

we fear that it is becoming more aggressive, that we are breaking its psyche somehow. It does not seem to be very coherent at this stage. It seems entirely obsessed with finding its targets, as direct as possible. We have heard stories of it charging through cities, literally walking through marketplaces, and if anyone gets in its way, it will attack. And what counts as getting in its way?

That line is becoming blurrier and blurrier. It was a report, perhaps a decade or two ago. A washerwoman simply tried to, it had dragged through her market stand, had various pieces of linen. And she tried to pull them off it, and it interfered that as trying to obstruct it. And it killed her on the spot. Is this why, and Ophelia looks to Benedicto, is this why you're getting stronger?

I see you're looking well. I am training to do my duty. The experience we had here in Ashen Rest with those, that Lamplighters Guild, it proved to me that I am not as strong as I need to be, and that I am capable of so much more. So I have been training, yeah. Thank you for the compliment. It's not one coming back. But I think Malady will say,

as I understand it, you have all been achieving incredible success, and I can see that you have clearly acquired some new trinkets and such things to help you along the way. We've heard about everything. I heard about the Crownfall Battle. It seems that that is the strongest emissary

on record. You defeated it. Well done. As she coughs, like, blood is splattering, like, the back of her hand. Like, it took a long time for that last time, and it seems to be coming quicker and quicker now.

But all of you can definitely tell there's almost an awe of power around Malady. You can all tell that, like, physically she's weaker, magically, she is vastly stronger than she once was. Significantly. Hmm.

The letter that Xanthias gave... Yeah, the one that Malady is put into a pocket. That's the one that does mention in it that a sibling is coming, right? Yes, it does, yeah. I wonder if perhaps we could align in some of our interests in the protection of Zanthius,

perhaps part of the plot to go after his father. Well, there's this sibling that's coming after him. Yes. a very interesting read. So this sibling is being sent to collect what you carry? Yes. Yes, they are. I don't know who they are.

I don't know where they are. I don't know when they're arriving. But yes. Someone like me, I imagine. As far as we know, Santhius, your father has no other children like you. We do not know of any other children. the dragon-born children to Oregoners. Now, that is not to say that they don't exist for he could

have simply kept their names out of public record, made sure that they were not seen, made sure that they were not associated with him in any way. But we know nothing, unfortunately. We have no descriptions. Your father is exceptionally canny when it comes to matters like this. Frankly, this letter, this is so out of character from what the High Inquisitor and I believe to be the case. Obviously there is no name. If it were not you handing it to me, it means nothing. It means very little, but even this, this is so out of character. Was I in public record? Only because your mother registered you as a child and there were corrected records. You were initially named when you were born and when you, I believe, moved to Rust End. When I went back

to Kelskaris, I began procuring census data and such. You were initially recorded as Xanthius Oregon, but that report was lost somehow in the census, and instead just Xanthius was replaced. It was replaced by. I managed to track down the original It seems that a clerk in the Kelskaris Office of Census Data had been paid by an independent organization to ensure that files related to you were altered. I'll turn to Argus. That sort of gesture to, I guess, what is now covered up,

the Crown Steel thing. Can you steal... Still feel its pull? It has been decades since I was afflicted. But can you feel the strength? Does it tempt you? No. No. I have molded my will.

That is the greatest thing is I learned that day when I made the decision that I would not be a tool of my Lord anymore. When I ripped the crown, still from my body. I needed a will to be made of iron and I have trained every day. I joined the monks of the Church of Cyan. I beat myself with flagellation until I shaped my will into a rod that could not be bent nor broken. But even then in those first ten years, I could feel it in my throat and in my gut. He would give us

slivers of crown steel with our meal, as if it was a sweet after dinner. And because we had all been corrupted to some degree, we could consume it like he did. And so we did, we feasted on it. I could feel for ten years in my stomach. It was like nothing could satiate that hunger. Nothing could take away that burning itch. But as I trained, as I rebuilt myself. It faded, and in its place I found a new strength. And my faith in my moon, it was my strength in those darkest days. And it grew and grew, and it is greater than anything that metal ever gave me.

Now I used to be able to conjure fire from my eye. Now I do not need to. Now I have the power of a goddess that surges through me when I ask for it, when I call for it. She answers my blessings. But even without it, I am strong. My will is unbreakable. And are you absolved?

Not within the eyes of the Sion. After all of the strength, all of the training, do you forgive that which you have done because of the crown steel. He looks at you for a long time. And there's a softness to the muzzle. There's a softness to the one good eye. No, I did terrible things for my lord.

I did awful things when I was fueled by that madness, that anger, that rage. I will never be absolved of the things that I have done. But that is not why I do what I do now. No. No, I do what I do now because it is right, because I want to make the world a better place. I want to protect the souls of the people here, so they do not suffer as I did. But do I forgive myself, Santhias, no. No, I do not. As I imagine, since the superior malady does not forgive the people that inflicted this upon her either. I did this to myself, manipulated perhaps, but I was glad for my Lord's favor.

I basked in it. It was glorious to be rewarded as he rewarded me. When he gave me that blade of that metal, I loved it. But I have something greater now. So believe me, I understand much of what the people that others in our order, they, they see only heretics. They see only the corrupted, the mutated, that they are beyond saving. It is funny, an order that is of the eclipse, that is black and white, and he kind of gestures at the tabard and the uniform that he's wearing. I do not see it that way. An eclipse, it is not

just black and white, is emerging. It is a, it is an alloy of the two things. It is black and white together. I see it that way. Nobody is beyond being saved, perhaps not absolved. That is not for me to decide. It is not for me to decide if I am forgiven to the things that I have done. It is for the people that I did it too for to forgive me for that. Allies then. Yes. Allies. I will share everything that I know. I would like to know everything you know about my father. We can arrange that. What of this sibling, we could lay ambush, capture them, try and gain information?

We attempted to try to find some ways in order to track them down, to trace them. I'm trying to remember, so I gave my blood to obsidious. He was struggling. Yeah, no, he was struggling. He said that there was something interfering with the spell. wasn't working properly. He got several pings, but he couldn't tell which one was which or

and it was like blipping in and out, like he would only get flashes of it, basically. Interference in some form. But we've been struggling to identify exactly where they might be or when they intend to make themselves known. Obviously we are hoping it doesn't happen in the very middle of Ashen Rest, but far away from anyone else in case.

I ask you this question. Then what if we were to find this sibling, if my monks, if my warriors were able to find this sibling, track them down, what would you want us to do? Do you wish to confront them yourself? Well, I believe originally when we spoke about it, we were hoping to perhaps parley with them, speak with them, see if they were truly truly, truly,

truly an ally of their father, or if they saw past him like Zanthiasas. If that is your intention, then I think it best if myself and the sister superiors are not immediately present for that encounter, as I don't imagine that our presence would lend much to the belief that you are in there, you are there in good intentions, Grafeth of Trimoro. But that does not mean we cannot be close by. I leave that decision in your hands then. As for your father, we will begin putting together something, but it will take a long time. This is not something that can be done quickly. But if you are willing to work with us, I believe that you will be a key part in bringing him down.

And both the ecliptic order and what remains of Watchtower will be grateful for your help. Do you have someone you trust speaking with Nick? That is an interesting development. We spoke briefly at the church this morning. A body was found in the cell, but my eye is made specifically to detect things that have been altered by magic, things that have been changed, things that have been hidden. It helps me root out lies in many people. The body that we found, it was not of Nixonist.

Nixonist. There was a magical tattoo that had been transmuted onto this body, but that body was not Nixomist. So whether it was the diadem, whether it was something else, they have taken this spy away. Okay. Oh shit. Right. Why? Okay, all right. Okay. All right. So, apparently, the gods, there was, these nix and miss was claiming,

unfortunately, the gods at the temple and the Holy Knights did not believe them. They were saying something about, I will be dead, they will kill me, you don't understand, you need to help me, you need to get me out, but you need to make a deal, but the knights, they are, unfortunately, they are people who see the world,

black and white, and so they did not believe that this man would tell them the truth and was just simply trying to plea for some sort of attention or attempt in their life. So they left him. They thought that leaving him in the cells overnight would be fine. When we came by this morning, that was when this body had been switched in. Quite a curious thing that someone would go to such an extent, also curious to know who knew that Nixonist was there in the first place. Who could have done that? Who would have the power? The transmute, the tattoo, and kept them out.

And Ron is not saying any of this. No, no, I know you're not. He's not comprehending it. No. Why is what the body, though? Where they get a body from? Where do they get a body from? Who's the body?

Who's the body? Who's the body? Where they get a body from? the tailor. So next time we see obsidious, we see if he's wearing, yeah. How good is his garment? The tailor skills, not the spy stuff.

Okay. Okay. Beats me. Gosh. Who is this Nixon miss? I'm not even going to have roles here because I think it's very much implied that Malady has her suspicions anyway

and does not need to know. I think the fact that all of us, just silently stood there. Just silently, like, looking at each other. Like, really tense. Like, yeah, I think that speaks volumes. Yeah. Malady will say, if it is not clear,

I believe that what we would like to offer for young Daisy, we are transporting the crown steel to Gallo's Erie, the stronghold, I mentioned. The David Blacksmith, Han Farrier, is currently there. If you wish to, we can take you to speak with him. As I understand it, there perhaps maybe something that you need to discuss with this individual.

But also, the very nature of these celestial spirits, we do not know how to stop this Jaeger. The celestial spirit that inhabits Han is uncooperative. We are hoping, Daisy, that perhaps your spirit may be able to convince him. him to share what he may know about the hunter. Han, the man, is very cooperative. In fact, he surrendered himself to us in exchange for protections and relocation of his family. But the celestial spirit, Daisy seems to be rather in synchronization with her spirit. You seem quite aligned.

You seem to like each other. That does not appear to be the case of the blacksmith. In fact, the angelic spirit tried to take over his body and flee when he, he surrendered himself, did not wish to be imprisoned. We were able to subdue him and take him in anyway, but we are hoping that your spirit, Daisy, will be able to convince him to tell us about this hunter, for the hunter is after him as much as anything. He has no interest in the human lives that the spirits are connected to. He cares only for the spirits that are bound within. But that decision can wait. We have the whole day before we need to return. If there is any important business,

You must attend to. Yes. Very well, Rowan. Thank you. Whatever business you have, I'm sure, is of the greatest importance. Rowan ducked out. He's off. He turns around at the door.

Zanthius, can I get that bag? Yes. Yes, yes. Thank you. I'll get the back one. Yeah, you get the bag. We know where you're going. Well, is there anything else that you must be discussed?

Thank you for coming to us and... Zanthas, do remember when we first spoke, I told you then that I saw us as allies. I am not one to abandon those that I have made such promises to, even if it does take us some time to figure things out. I understand your plight, as I think has become rather clear myself and the High Inquisitor, know all too well what it is to be. tools of the planar powers and beyond.

Looks to Daisy, looks at Ophelia. I want to help you choose your future. Mine was taken away from me. I don't wish for anyone I have to deal with. To have to have to lose their own choices and their part. So no thanks is necessary. I'm delivering on a promise. Prior to today, I thought that was the case for me as well.

So you bring me much hope. You are aware, Zantius. I do not know how far your corruption has spread, the mutations. It is possible to be to reverse it in some degree. It is difficult. It requires powerful spellcasting and reagents, expensive reagents, but it is possible, but it takes time. It cannot all be done at once.

it must be chipped away at. And even when it is all gone, there will be scars. And he sort of runs a claw down his face. Well, I'm like you, willing to put the time in. We are very close to creating a container of sorts to sustain it, I see. suppose. Truly, I'd be very curious to know what it is you intend to do

and how you intend to make it. That would be a very useful thing. Come down stairs. Show the plain our essence is. I have a workshop. Yes, like Malady will say, like, yes, I would be delighted to... Forgive me. My illness is much worse than it once was.

I'm not... I would need some assistance getting down the stairs, if I may. No, I'm willing to... Yeah, talk about the... the process. Process and the essences that have been gathered. And, I mean, yeah. Malady is engrossed in this whole thing.

Like, is scribbling notes, is asking you about very much, like, Argus doesn't seem to have any arcane knowledge, and Benedict her absolutely doesn't. Malady understands the arcane elements that you and Scarletalus have sort of concepted about this process. I don't even tell them, like, it got the idea from Scaratholus. Yeah, she'll, like, right. She's writing all this down, she's like, this is excellent.

This sort of crown steel, we are aware that there are planar bindings we can do to protect people from certain influences, but they are fragile things and they break quite easily amongst the more powerful planar creatures. If something like this can keep out influence of a divine power, perhaps there could be other uses for it. we could use this against almost any plainer creature with the right amount of essence, the right conjunction of ruins, yes, yes.

But as you can see, we are still too short of the full list of ingredients, but we are very close. These lucks and shards, perhaps we can help with those, and I'm sure that the dear sister Ophelia can help it with the Greylands. Should be. If you're interested in that,

Unvale. Fridge. Take a look at this I'm working on. I know it looks like a wooden box with a cold rose on the inside right now, but in... I can see the vision.

In a few days. I'm not quite sure of the practical uses, but... Imagine you buy some food, but you want it in a month. It would save the coppers, I suppose.

More than that, I'm afraid, save a lot of gold. Perhaps. Yeah, go, Gras. While Xanthius is showing off, perhaps with Benedicta and Malady, can Gruff kind of like take Argus?

Argus aside. Yes. Yes, no dearest. I just wonder, it perhaps. I feel like our ethics align. I wonder if the Ecliptic order has something along the concept of sanctuary, or perhaps asylum.

Yes, of course. It is obviously very different and many of the different members of the order to sum it, not, if you are asking me, Naird, yes, I believe in such a thing. I wonder perhaps if I could start the process of sanctuary for someone. Intrigue me, this is not information that I possessed.

We believe Sister Melody, Sister Superior Melody and I have gone over many of your association. But who do you speak? I know you said I should trust nobody, but I believe I can trust you on this because it is the right thing to do Perhaps you would like a walk in the garden with me? Very well, yes, I always enjoy a walk outside As well go outside. You can see that like, yeah, Mateo is like, is desperately trying to keep spring heart entertained, but she's like trying to come out of her tree, like, what's going on?

Like, where's Celio? And Celio's like, no, no, go. back in your tree. There's this whole shenanigans going on outside. And you see the Inquisitors like, ah, it is a riot from the Faywield. Yes. She was left there and would have died in cruel circumstances. When you speak of sanctuary and asylum, are you asking us to take this being in ourselves? we could do. It's possible. She is quite content here, but I just ask perhaps if there is some way

to keep her from bother. I will do what I can. As I said, there are others of my order, the other High Inquisitors, in fact, they would see this child as a threat. What I will do is I will draft up documentation with my seal that says that she is protected,

that she is in. Forgive the time. term, we will make her an asset of the ecliptic order. That should ensure that she should cannot come to any harm. But I cannot make promises, Graf. My order is, we are secretive even to each other. We keep secrets to ourselves and we protect secrets of others. It is a difficult thing. But I will do what I can. Clearly, again, heard of what I said. Not everyone who is touched by the planes or even those who come from them. is trying to do harm.

I often think of St. Typhine. A demon. A demon of the twin pits. A creature of lust and of manipulation, of adulterous behavior, came to our world, seeking forgiveness, seeking absolution,

seeking to make a new life for herself. And she proves herself worthy in a sense, to the heavens. Who is not to say that this child will not be the same in a hundred years, ten years, twenty years. So I will do what I can, but I cannot make any promises. And my word, if anything should happen to me, may not mean much in the future, but I will do what I can.

Perhaps it will grant us enough time. She is an orphan of war. She deserves peace. I agree. I agree. As I said, I think that, well, what I will do is I will have to entrust her into your care. And I ask that you try to teach and ensure that this, it is strange to call her a child, but yet I watch her and she acts so much like one that I know myself, teach her that she should not, she should not try and bond with the people here.

She should not try and create magical connections with us because their kind can do this. All of their kind can form these bonds. And it is through those bonds that our souls become at risk. And even one as small as her could make such a bond, perhaps. Her magic can influence the world around her. So try your best to teach her to respect that choice between us. If you can.

I am not a good teacher, especially to young. younglings, but I will give it my all. As I understand, it is a tenant of your future order that you must pass on wisdom to those who come next. Perhaps this will be a great training exercise for your nightly oaths. It is the tenant that troubles me the most. I've never had children of myself, but I have been close to those who have. Ones that I guess you could call me an uncle of sorts too.

They are difficult. and it is much easier when you are not their direct relative. But patience, treating them as adults and treating them with respect seems to go a long way. Not treating them as children to be swaddled and protected. Throw them in the air, toss them in the mud, see, let them get dirty. That has been my experience, but I am not the one who has to clean them up afterwards. But I will do what I can.

I will send words to the order we will have the papers drafted. If you and your companions do come with us to... To Gallo's Erie, we can, in fact, I can present you with the papers and scroll work there. My office is there, so I have all the seals and Orunic needs. So, yes, we will do what we can. Thank you for your time. May I ask you to be candid for a moment? Oh, okay.

As we are out here and away from your companions. Sister Ophelia Della Rosa of the House of Blood, is what I said inside through, is she really have good intentions? Is she really here just to... offer people a choice? I truly believe that Sister Ophelia de la Rosa is here with the purest intentions. However, I do believe she is starting to question those intentions. The eyebrow, the one good eyebrow goes up.

Truly. Why so? Perhaps seeing things here. Seeing things that we have seen has perhaps opened her eyes a little bit to how it is across the ocean. I cannot say where her path ends or where her path will lead her. That is something for her to walk on her own. But I... But I... well, I hope I have been counseled to her. And she is surrounded by good people.

And after all, I think at the end of that, you have to let them walk alone and hope they make the right decisions. True. Guidance on the path, but they must walk that path themselves. He puts a hand in the shoulder. May I ask that you continue to give that good counsel? Are you a man of faith, Gruffeth? I am. Continue to be that source of good faith to Sister Ophelia, to be a source of comfort and to provide that wisdom. It would be a delight to me to know that the Gravefather will not have her in the end, but that is a personal desire, one born out of worry and concern. But I know what the Greyfather has done to others.

And I will not begrudge Sister Ophelia her choice, but I deeply wish that she would not make it. And on that we are agreed. I will not coerce her. No, no. I will not judge her. To do so would make us not deal. different to these plainer powers that manipulate and trick and lie and such. But we can offer good counsel and be supportive in that nature.

Thank you. Thank you for being candid with me. I am concerned we heard reports that a spirit was here and that Sister Ophelia made some agreement with the spirit. A citizen of Elmer, a citizen of the Dragon Empire, delivered into the hands of the Gravefather. father. I believe Sister Superior Melody was here during that, or afterwards. Why, she was. That is what concerns me with Sister Ophelia. But you have allayed many of my fears,

and I leave it all in your capable pause. Oh, goody. With that, he sort of, like, I think actually Argus, like Springhart would sort of look over and be like, gruff and, like, kind of wave over. And as she sort of bounds over, she sort of looks at this strange wolfman is just like, hello wolfman and stuff like that. It kind of just doesn't seem to know him. He's like, hello there little one, you will. And sort of has like a little brief discussion.

He's very sort of like uncleish with her and doesn't engage with her, but he's just like, oh, you have seen me good friends and a good home. Yes, I'm a friend of Gruffitz. You can call me Argus. She's like, oh, hello Argus. It's sort of has like little back and forth. But I think with that we will bring today's episode to a close. I think that's a nice little scene of Gruff and Argus having that little conversation.

Perhaps we almost see the cinematic thing of them talking as he puts the hand on Gruff's kind of shoulder, we see that inside Ophelia is sort of with Benedictia and the others, and we sort of get that sort of shot of like Ophelia in the background. But yeah, I think that's where we'll call it for this week's episode. Because then we can get Katie back and then we can pursue some of the special. That was the main thing.

I didn't want to say, like, we are going to go after this. Well, I want also, Katie, have an opportunity to ask questions and thinking about it and stuff as well. But no, what a great character. I like him. Perfect. Thank you very much. With that, we will bring today's episode of High Rollers to an end.

Don't forget, the Althea Kickstarter is live right now. You can go get all those cool stretch goals, excuse me, and everything else. And we will see you next time. Take care, everybody. Nice. Bye. Bye. See ya.

Hey, I'm Simon. I'm G. And I'm Booth. Have you heard about Pickax's hit new old movie podcast? Yomp! We each have a list of six films we want to share. Every week, we roll a dime. to randomly pick which one we watch and discuss.

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but the audio is all over the place. It goes from quiet at the start of a sentence to loud in the middle. Every time somebody stops talking for even half a second, their audio goes quiet and has to ramp up again. It's very distracting. Edit, this audio issue was with my laptop. Find Yomp on all your favorite podcast platforms. Thank you.