High Rollers DnD - Gifts of the Planar (Part 2) | Altheya: The Dragon Empire #87

Episode Date: December 18, 2025

The party continues their search for the final planar essences as the party catch up with Obsiddius and other old 'friends'... Altheya: The Dragon Empire Campaign Setting begins in Q1 2026! Register interest and support the journey to release here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/rollandplaypress/high-rollers-altheya-the-dragon-empire 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

Pickax. Pickax. Welcome back to Althea the Dragon Empire. Welcome back to Althea the Dragon Empire. Our heroes are returned to Ash and Rest, where they have caught up with their friends in the tavern. They have introduced a dryand to the wonderful world of the material plane, examined essences, and then made a little trip to the House of the Rose

to the Baths to meet with an old friend, Caliphress. Plainar broker, who has offered two of the rare planar essences that the party need for Xanthius's crown steel, problem. In exchange for a favor to be paid back at a later date in an act of service to Califras's Warlock patron Baron Feldspar. Um, an agreement that a contract would be delivered later this evening to be signed and the essences delivered in advance. Yes. And that is where we left things off. Um, you guys finish up. I'm assuming you all sort of leave Califris in the in the baths, as you make your way back up to get dressed and changed.

And then, yeah, you are still free. It is still probably sort of afternoon, sort of, you know, afternoon time. The days are a little shorter. Did I make the right decision there? Yes. I don't think there was a, they were both very difficult decisions.

It would have cost us a lot of money to be able to obtain what we needed in order to make a suitable trade. I just don't want to be dragging you guys across the world or into different planes. all for my benefit. Like I said, anything that we recover from there, essences or items or anything,

I can make them beneficial to us. We've got three essences from the Fayield. Two of those can be used to empower items, make us stronger, better, faster. Zanthias, your well-being is my only concern. I know, and it breaks my heart. You're breaking so many hearts today, Graf. That's quite the smile.

Classic Kim. But it does mean that aside from the whole demon gun stuff, we've basically got all but one essence in such a short time span. That's rather good, isn't it? I mean, it is a priority. It's extraordinarily good. It's like we're trying to save your life.

Yeah, I thought this was going to take years. You know? It didn't. No, because we need to, to save your life now. Now, now. Yes, yeah, that's true. And get your horrible father off your backside as well. Free you from his terrible grass.

Somehow, that's second on the priority list, somehow. But Greylands, the Greylands essence. Yes. I think that might be the last thing I need. Okay. Aside from the demon gun stuff, like I said, but analogs and shots. Can I have one?

Yeah, yeah. We have one, but I do wanna do something with the other stuff. I wanna, you know. Likely you'll be able to do essence and then something, but yeah. Likely you could share, yes. Good, it might make the difference

between getting a short sword and a dagger, but. You fucking bitch. If you do happen to entreat the Grave Father, I don't want it to be, you know, something that you are, making some kind of deal. Try not to owe any more favors. I'm happy to join, make it so it's very clearly for me. I don't want you to be held under,

some kind of deal with the grave father. I'm already under his thumb. It's fine. What? It's all, it's worth it, Zantheus, for you to keep you around. Okay, thank you. Like Ruff said, your well-being is our priority. And then we just need to get to Scarletalus,

and this will be solved. More solved than before, significantly more solved. Well, yeah. Contained. Yeah, under control. We do need to fight a demon. We've already fought several demons.

When do you want to fight a demon? Where should we fight a demon? Not at the end, not here. We could just maybe walk like a mile out of Ashen Rest, find a nice field somewhere, set a trap for it. Should we tell Obsidious? I feel like he would be a good person to know about inviting. You did ask Obsidious to try a unique sort of tracking spell on your sibling.

We did. We need to talk to Obsidious anyway. That's true. It might be an update on that. You haven't spoken. It's been a, you know, probably that week or so. We should speak to Obsidius about the tracking if he's found anything out. And then we can also mention, hey, we've got these essences. Yes.

And we're going to do this, the fighting of a demon. would you like to come? Open invite. Yeah, destroyed in one shot, gather essence, problem solved. And then he can let us know what the next steps are because he will have to take us to...

Yeah, transport us and then figure it out. But we'd be good to update him that we're not, you know, just sitting around doing nothing. We haven't been busy. Yes, also... Very productive. And we will be leaving soon. And we will be leaving soon, TM.

Do they have trademark? Yeah, it probably would be something similar. Okay, what did you guys want to do? I was just going to go and... Oh, I was just... I mean, an open invite, it's a, you know, do what you want. Can you identify what this cloak, misty cloak is? Oh, yes, yes, actually I can.

Uh, how many charges do I reset? One. reset, one. Um, I will... Gron also has his delightful boots. Uh, well, not for him. Unfortunately, I only have one charge. I only have one charge on my gold site I. Well, the cloak seems like the best thing to do that. It's right here. It's right here. It's not back at the inn.

I mean, hold that for a second. So it's, you're kind of holding the sort of brooch pins. It's how Zampthias identify stuff. You'll identify stuff like, you're holding these like brooch pins and from these brooch pins this like silver mist is forming this cape you identify it is the you know you use the gold site eye

the magic begins to coalesce you get like a little read out on the gold site eye beep bo beep bo beep level is quite high how it doesn't have a numerical value I'm afraid this is it is called the cape

the cape of the Silver River. Cape off the Silver River, okay. It should be available to search for. And what it allows you to do is once- Don't add it to your inventory yet, it's in my hands. It's already in my inventory, it's in my hands right now, we'll see how strong it is.

It is once per day you can cast the Dimension Door spell with it. Oh. I miss it. Give me. The shenanigans I had with that. Daisy, have you ever heard of the spell dimension door? No, explain it to me in great detail. It lets you make doors.

Make door go. And you go through dimensions. You basically can travel through a door to a different place. Do you like the sound of that? Yeah. Cape is made of a fine silvery mist that builds out from two wooden clasps.

While wearing it, you can use it to catch a dimension door as a magic action. I found it. Are you reading my glasses? You are? Yeah. Yes. I'm just standing really close to you.

Okay, that's creepy. I believe it is also, it does require attunement as well. So there you go. Let me put this on you. Do you want to wear it? Okay. You want to wear it now? There you go.

Oh, it's cute. So it's kind of like Daisy's got like pinned to her like blouse top. She has these two wooden sort of beautifully like carved on a Elwood style brooches and a fine chain, silvery chain between them. But then where fabric would be for a cloak, this mist kind of coalesces and spills down her back into this mist. like cape, basically. You couldn't have the coat as well, though, right? I think I'm going to allow that you can have the coat in that,

because the coat's such a silly, stupid item. It's like a random bullshit, though. I could maybe turn that coat into just like a belt. Instead. I would allow that, yeah. I would allow that. But it will mean that you can't wear any magic belts that you find. I could turn it into a ring.

I could turn it into glasses. I can turn it into a single gold tooth. A hat. I like the idea of a box. The belt, actually. The belt's fine. Fits really well. Because you keep all of, you would basically take all the buttons and turn them into like bang

like pins that come off the belt. It's basically like rope and ladders and it's just like stuff mostly. Pocables with things. I would allow that. So with that Xanthia, the only thing is you would probably have to pay, you need to go find like a really nice leather worker in town. Sure. Pay like, let's say 50 gold to get them to make a nice belt.

And then in your arcane lab, it will probably take you like a day or a day or to, to craft that, basically. But I would allow that. I'd allow you to take the coat and, you know, extract the magic and re-bond the buttons and return it into a belt rather than cloak. Basically, he's adding trinkets to your... I can take 50 gold out for my inventory then.

I haven't had gold since Wave Meat. Yeah. I mean... Yeah. It sounds like you... Checks out. That was because of the... The gamble.

The big gambling. Sounds like... I spread it all on gambling. Yeah. I have lots. Do you? Yes. How did you come about them?

Yes, graphs. From the jewels and the gems we found in the... Oh, yes. Place. Have you actually had those salt? Did you sell those? And she's still going around, going, take these metal bars vets.

Take these metal bar. Useful to make into things. Let me pay for it in this. Got less of those now. Did you actually manage to sell those gems and jewels from the Faye-Wield? Or have you just got them loose in your inventory? I've got the military value of gems and jewels. I've got some jewels.

from the Faywield in my inventory, but I haven't going to have lightning until coming out of the wagon. Anyway, you can do that. I'll do that, I'm not, we're not going to roll play a night, it's just mark off a 50s. Excuse me, sir, I'd like to turn this coat. Tell me your entire story.

What would you like to do? Oh, um, I'm not even entertaining that as an idea. You're doing something that you're, I thought you were gonna do stuff in your, your lab. Yes, he is, yeah. I was gonna go to speak to Obsidious. Yeah. Oh, yeah, okay, yeah, that will go to do you all want to go to I will bring cakes with me from.

Oh, you want to go to do something. Oh, so while they're trying to Yeah, try and get some essels. I'm gonna bring the Latte. Say my name as much as you can. Santhos, Santhos, Santhos. Now, to the great father I mean. I'll try, I'll try my best.

Thank you. I'll come find you at the palace when I'm done. I just want him to know it's for me. And Gras, are you gonna go with Zanthius to Absidius as well, he doesn't. I'm gonna go. Daisy, well, yeah, Daisy, also. Hey, Obsidius, you don't fuck.

Fuck you. And that's why Obsidius needs. Okay, well let's, um, Zanthius, all of you, all three of you. I've brought cakes. Let's start with Obsidius. And then we'll jump back over to Ophelia. The three of you make your way up to Dominus Ignar

and winding your way up through the main streets. Good old grumpy, considerate, Allgrim. He's waiting. Orban is waiting. Hey. Give him one of the cakes. He brought cakes for you. Takes one of the cakes.

They're very good. There you go. Thank you. I'm bribing people with a latte fun cakes. You'll get a small. You are well known at this point. You make your way up, and yeah, you would find Obsidious in his study, probably taking tea as he is breeding through various journals.

He sort of looks over and you're, oh, welcome. Oh, it's you again. That seems. How was your endeavour? You were heading to deal with Blackwing, the Mage, were you not? Yeah, well, not deal with Blackwing. well actually a deal with I'm picking up what you're putting down

yes yes we went to the Faywield we managed to procure exactly what the Black Wing requested with very very little interruption well some but all in hand I would find that very dubious if you had not encountered some difficulties in the Faywild

some difficulties of course but all of them very easily surpassable we did very well And you've acquired an essence? Three essences, in fact, from the Faywield. Really? That's right. A poisonous spider creature thing.

He's called Derwin. It's called Derwin. An icy rose and a log that seems to bolster endurance. Well, these seem like fitting prizes, and can be turned into enchantments or items or used to empower things if required. You seem to have been somewhat practiced in that, I record Xentheus, or you are in the process

of learning these skills. Yes, I'm, well, dabbling, but all seems to be working well so far, and I haven't blown my head off yet. Well, I would like to avoid that, given we know what might happen. So if you require instruction or assistance, do come and speak with me. I have some skill in enchantment.

It is not my, I am not a skilled artisan, but I am knowledgeable in the process. There are scorch marks all over the lab. Experimentation will yield in that, as long as he is not scorching himself. Not yet. Uh, no. Well, I'm glad that you are making progress with the essences.

Fantastic progress, in fact. Good. We believe that we have managed to find all but one essence. You have been busy. Extraordinarily busy. Good. But Ophelia is now in the process of procuring the final one from the Greylands. and tonight we will receive a delivery

of a lore essence and a chaos essence. He kind of looks at the three of you. It is better I do not know. Oh, there is one hiccup, actually. The demon demonic essence is currently contained within a gun and inside that gun is a living creature that is the essence,

so we do need to solve that. I was wondering if you'd be interested in letting off some steam. I am not, you ill, here. No, I am beyond that. I do not need to let off steam. I entrust that you can take care of whatever this creature is. Okay, all right, fair enough.

I am not here to be someone that you run to for assistance in dealing with these matters. That is exactly why we're here. So, where does that put us now? Well, perhaps then my duties lie with the more larger scope. These individual matters are for you to deal with Xanthius. Right. Well, there's your update on our essence. Very, very close.

Good update. Very close to heading back to Scarletalus. Well, it comes at a fortuitous time. I have a small update for you as well. Okay. The sibling of yours. Oh, yes. Were you able to weave that spell?

I have been attempting to, but there are complications. It has been difficult. The spell is working, but you can see he's frustrated. It's kind of like smoke and acrid, sort of acidic smoke kind of coils out of his mouth. It is frustrating. There are bouts of instability and the readings. are inconsistent. I can only summarize one cause.

The spell has registered five different targets. Five, five? Yes. All have the locations, because the tracking spell is being divided by these five, and I have no way of focusing it. It jumps around at different locations. The information I glean is vague at best. as what I can tell, three appear to be in Kelskaris.

One is in Gildai. Okay. And another traveling between Gildai and Kulja, which I believe to be this sibling, the letter mentions. But I do not have... The spell is not giving me any concrete information on where or when. Huh. It is erratic.

Hmm. So there's more in Kelskaris. That's... Perhaps it is... I don't know. This could be other children of your father. This could be simply other gold dragon bond. I don't know. The one in Gildai, you don't suppose that is my father. No, no. This is not detecting a draconic energy. This is not a dragon. These are dragon born. The spell is not functional to that point. And none of them are me.

No, they are not you. So I have five siblings. Well, or something else, I do not know. This is the difficulty. My assumption is that these are other siblings, yes. It is not uncommon for dragons who spawned dragon-born children to have multiple offspring of that kind. And all of them work for my father?

I don't know. One is in Gildi, three in Kelskaris, one traveling here. Okay. I have had some more luck with my actual spies and agents scattered around. They have confirmed that traveling from Gildai is a very large, well-armed gold dragonborn. No name, but they do believe them to be an emissary of House Oregon. They are traveling in the direction of Ashton's rest. It is suspected that they will arrive at Rust End shortly,

perhaps in the next few days. That makes some... I'm trying to remember how long it was from Ashen Rest to Rust End was like three more days after? Yeah, like three, four, five days. It depends on how quickly they travel, if they're bogged down by weather and... Almost a week away. Kind of, yeah. From Ashton's Rest.

About, you know, he doesn't seem to know, but maybe two or three days away from Rust End. Yeah. Well armed Dragonborn Yes Large The description I was given

Larger than Rowan Not quite But more muscular Well that's Oh okay Armed heavily armed We are not Does not appear to be a magic user

Great That is fortuitous Did they have An entourage with them Or is it simply Traveling alone Oh Hmm

Conciling. Keeping to themselves, my ears have not been able to get too much closer. I see. Well, as we said, we were hoping to cut them off before they made it to Ash and Rest. I imagine they'll take the same road we took to get to that place with the vault. No, the other one. The Ash Hills.

The Ash Hills. I imagine that's the route we'll take to. to try to do that, but could be five days to be seven. It is a complex one. This sibling of yours is still a child of Organis. If I am to intervene directly, could be bad. But I feel I must, in this instance,

I perhaps should travel with you. Is there a disguise or a different form you might be able to take? One that won't directly place you as Lord Obsidious. Yes, I can disguise myself. My draconic, my humanoid form is rather set, but I know enough magic that I can disguise myself. I'm loath to do so, but I think in this instance it would be prudent. Okay.

Is there a way that we can, I guess, hide Zanthius or send out a signal that would disrupt or confuse his sibling looking for him? Certainly can provide false information a false trail. We could sew rumors, have Zanthius leave and say that he's headed elsewhere. But I do not know what resources this Dragonborn has, or indeed your father. It may be that they have their own magical means of tracking you. I do not know. But it's certainly possible and could be worth driver.

That is, I can assist, but you would need to tell me what you intend and how you intend to do it. Surely they're just going to keep coming for him. That's what the letter seemed to suggest. And if not that, and if there are other siblings, if one doesn't succeed, maybe he'll send more. I would also, I'm loath to say this to you, but I would suggest you consider what might happen

should this sibling arrive, and Xanthius is not here. here. If they are that determined, well, perhaps they will find people that knew Xantheus and try to gain information out of them, willingly or forcibly. Forcibly. You have made allies here in the town. You have the inn. I would, well, were it me, I would find people close to him and make them speak any means necessary. I think we need to face it head on. Outside of the city, away from anyone else, on the road if we need to, on some side roads, away from the main road, if we have to.

But it's a problem we have to stop before they get to Ash and Dress. They have everything within their power to just destroy my reputation, so to speak. Um, and alongside mine, unfortunately yours. I'm more worried about the people at the inn. That too. We can't fight them here either. Um... No, we cannot. It would alert my father to what is going on. The more people that know, the greater at risk we all are.

Your spies, do they operate much more closer to Ashen Rest? No, it is... I have agents here, but they are little more than eyes and ears. Do not think of them as anyone that can take action. They inform me of things, as I need to know. More just currently our reports, while good, are spotty. Will we have better information the closer they get? Unlikely. Okay.

The next point would be Rust End. We could... You could travel there to meet them, or we could meet them between Rust End and here. You could go to Rust End. Are you ready for that? I mean, either way, I have to stop him from getting to Ash and Rest. Or anywhere else that would be a danger to anyone else.

It's not far away, right? I did not expect this nobility of you, thinking of others. I'm a noble, apparently. I thought you had considered yourself. I still try to do the right things, Obsidius. Byzantius has always thought of others, Lord Obsidius. You assume the wrong thing of him. Hmm. Perhaps.

Just now, actually, in the Faywield, He was the one who took charge when it came to rescuing a young dryad who was bound to that place. Without him, I do not think we would have been successful in bringing her ear, alive. Perhaps I have misjudged him. It was just a simple spell. But given the way that he has behaved with me and in other matters, do you blame me for my assumptions? I just think you have the wrong end of it. Perhaps. Perhaps. We will see.

But I do agree with your plan. We should deal with this sibling outside of the city. Okay, back to Rust End. It need not be. There is road between here and Rust End, but it would be out of the way and... We could do that. We could do that. It would be easier for us to observe them, and perhaps, not ambush, but observe them before we engage them.

I mean, luckily, I know the area quite well. I'm sure I could come up with some good place to strike, so to speak. But yes, gather as much information as we can about them, find out what they are capable of, and then what do we fight them? I kind of think I can convince them. That will be up to you. Imprison them? Difficult.

I could not imprison them anywhere here in Ashen Rest. Even if I were able to arrange transportation to one of the prisons near Ferros, one of the prison mines, he would speak and speak would get out, talk would get out, through guards, through wardens. But it could be arranged, though I would. I am loath to do so. You are unable to convince him if he is an agent of your father and if your father is involved in what we suspect.

If this sibling, gruff attacks me. I will have to defend myself, as you know. And I know you will do everything you can to protect me, but you don't have to stand. And idly by, if I have to do something that goes against your code. Santhias, if you were attacked, I'm protecting you. There's no question to it. But also, there is no point quibbling now over what to do

because we simply don't know. We don't know how they react. We don't know how they behave. They don't know if they are fully in this. We don't know how much they know about the whole situation. That's true. They might not be aware of very much, and they've just been sent here,

and you can speak to them and maybe change their mind. Perhaps, and I do agree with Gruff that we do not know, but as much as I would love to believe in Daisy's optimism, be prepared that the best solution may be to dispose of the problem. Yes. Yes. Well, it would be the most efficient. Okay, yes.

Okay, I'm on the same page. I agree. We'll go to Rust End, we'll cut him off before he gets here, or anywhere dangerous. I will try and inform you when I get a better idea of how long it will take, but I can also take us there much more rapidly as well. Not a bad idea.

Obviously, we need to gather the elderly. There's Ophelia and Rowan and Mateo, of course. Bring who you wish to bring. Well, then, it seems that progress has been made, at least. I will leave you to your business. Come and find me what you decide to do next. Wonderful. Thank you for working on this spell. I'm sorry it was so frustrating.

You are welcome. See, he says thank you now. I noticed. you are welcome. And he says you're welcome now. I've noticed. And I brought you cakes here. Oh, thank you, Daisy.

Besties. He does put them next to his, like, tea. You know, you see him, like, open the bag with a little mage hand. There's a plate there waiting. Yeah, probably. Actually, no, there wouldn't be a plate there waiting, but very rapidly one of the cobbled comes out,

a plate for you, sir, a plate for you, Lord. A perfect, like, donut. nut-shaped plate, basically. Nice. And I think, like, he's so, like, one claw is enough to sort of, like... Now I want one long donut claw. With that, you make your way out, and you have...

Sorry? Merch idea. Merch idea of donut claw. Donut claw. Just a single metal claw that works. You can attach your finger. Yeah.

No. It's just an extendy finger, shaped like a dragon claw. Okay. Anyway. You guys make your way out. Unless there is anything else. I don't want to rush you, but if there is anything else?

No. No, I think I'm... You're good, clear? I think I would just catch Zanthias on the way out and just say, um, Zanthias, I meant what I said up there in front of Lord Obsidius. Did I say thank you? That I wish to thank you for what you did in Black Wings manner.

I dithered and did not know what to do or how to comfort Spring Art, but you were so confident and you immediately had a plan for how to help her with your magic. You were smart, and you were confident in yourself. I might have been a little unfounded, sure, but I was just experimenting with spells. I'm glad it works. I...

Santhius, take the compliment. You did really well, son. And I'm proud of you. I could not have done that without you. Thank you. I... And you saved that dryad. You save me?

And that's how the world goes round. I need to go. I need to keep walking forwards and away from everyone else now. In making your way forward, the little swelling warmth in the heart. As we cut back to the shrine. Turns out it was just loved.

As we cut back to the Shrine of the Gravefather, where we see It's not been very long, but sort of, Sister, if you come out of the inn, you've made your way back, you're about to go into the shrine, you do see as you make your way into the garden, sort of sat on a snowy rock, like just staring at you as you walk out,

like watching you as you make your way into the shrine. Little Springheart just watching. Oh my goodness. Feeds like staring back. Oh, those sunglasses back, by the way. She just like, puts them back on, just watches you. Those are gone for good. I'm coming back for those.

Yeah, Ophelia will... He just, and she just watches you walk in. You make your way in. It's like always sunny, just looking at each other. You know, yeah, and like Percy is in there, like Percy spends most of his time there where you're out doing things like the baths. He's not going to go there, probably, you know,

he knows that he doesn't want to draw too much attention. But he's been, like, you know, tidying, sweeping, keeping everything night... Oh, thank you, Percy. Of course, this sort of Phelia. I make sure that the shrine is always ready for your appearance, as is right for a sister of the grandfather, of the ecclesiarchy. It looks fantastic.

Oh, you almost want to. I must say, Sister Teresa does a fantastic job. Doesn't she just? In fact, forgive me if I am out of line, Sister Ophelia. But Sister Teresa is a sister now, is she not? She's faithful of the great father. Very much so. Well, then would that not make you?

You have a shrine? Are you, would you not be a sister superior? Percy, do not say those words to me? But that is only fitting. That is the hierarchy of the church, is it not? That's superior. Or even canoness, where you lead a faithful. I mean, no one's officially told me these words. Or perhaps they do not know that you have had such great success here. I must write back. I must, I must write a letter. I must...

convey what has happened here. I've been so busy. Oh my goodness. By the great father. This is a big deal. Yes. It seems only fitting. You have attendance.

You have a fledgling acolyte who follows you. I think that it is only fitting. Canoness? Canoness sounds... Oh, it is not for my place to say. I mean, you said the words, Percy. But I do not know. I do not know if it's his sister superior or canoness.

Or Gannoness or Abes or... Oh, my sister superior sounds really good, too! Give us more words! I'm gonna have to, okay, I need to sit down a minute. High priestess. High priestess. Ophelia de la Rosa of the house of... It has a wonderful sound to it, Sister Ophelia.

It sounds wonderful, doesn't it? Such authority. If you wish, I can call you by any title you wish. I would, I will call you what you desire. Well, what would you like to call me? I have... What is befitting of me, Percy? No pressure.

I do not. Sister Ophelia, I do not. It is uncommon for a servant to be asked what they want or what they feel. I... I value you in your opinions, Percy. Of course, I know, but I have never considered what I would want to call you. There is a word that comes to mind, but I do not think it is appropriate, Sister Amelia. How so?

Well, it does not relate to your position in the church, but how I consider you. Well, consider away. You are more than welcome in my house. Well, I, Skellen sort of looking around, the word that comes to mind is mother. For I was truly given life because of you. I was taken from... These eyes are like boring, just like, Percy, that's so... but so kind? I, is it?

I do not know, but you ask me what I, what I feel towards you, and that is what I feel. You have given me, you have expanded my life, you have expanded my understanding of myself. I am, I am born new because of you. Is that not a child to a mother? I suppose it isn't. Whilst I am, I am undead.

What a day? You have given me unlife. I have to... Wow. And to you, my loyalty will be eternal. Oh, Percy, you... But it does not seem appropriate that I call you that. It seems unbecoming, unfitting. Well, I wouldn't say it's unbecoming, I suppose.

If you feel like that it's right in your heart, then who am I to stop you? That is what I feel. Yes, exactly. I'm all about the feelings. Feelings are good. This is... Wow. I feel you know just what to say at the right time, Percy. And that is why I value you...

You honour me. You are always... you've always steadfast, always ready. I can always depend on you. Well, and you look after me as well. If I'm injured, you repair me and... Do you hug? Can I hug you? I... I've done a lot of hugging today, it seems.

I only have my bones. I... I do. not feel sensations in the same way, but if you require one, I would, I am happy to give you one. This feels like a moment for one, so I have, I feel like this is appropriate. Is it a really awkward? Yeah, like Percy doesn't know how to hug. Like Percy's sort of like, yes, I believe I've seen you

engaged this gesture before and sort of like, wraps the arms round and sort of, but it's very stiff. It's very sort of, like he's doing what he's seen other people. Like hugging an arm, stand. Yes. This feels strange, but right, okay. Good, good time for that. Right, so would you be able to ask Teresa, as fabulous as she is,

to write a letter to Osceus and to the House of Blood, to talk about what has happened here? Yes. Since I have been so lacking in my communications of late, I suppose I've been very grave father-minded. Well, if I may. Yes. Mother, the mirror is a communications device.

I know it is... We do not necessarily need to send you lesser. There's just been so many letters. I feel like letters... I could, of course, have Sister Teresa pen a letter. Yes, well, now you've said the mirror now. The mirror is, of course, the mirror is the appropriate way of doing it as to what it's there for.

I've just so used to letters. I've obviously been in this plane for far too long. Right, okay. Thank you, Percy. For everything. Right, so, mirror, talk, great father. Goodness me. What a day. Right. Excellent. Wow.

You're okay there, Rihanna? I just need to check in. Are you okay? This is all Ophelia at this point. Is this Ophelia or is this, I need to know. There's a lot of stuff happening. A lot of big stuff is happening. Okay, right. Check in.

Where does the other begin? Rianin good? Verala's good. Yeah? Pranis is like, what is happening? Okay. Rianen, mother in real life, has just become mother to a skeleton in...

Well, you asked him what he would want a colophilia, and that's genuinely what he... He doesn't know. It's very sweet. He's like a sort of just... He's like a, just doesn't under, he's like, you know, this isn't a sentence. He's not a soul that's already existed. This is a brand new thing.

Like, you know. But he's also picking up on what other people talk about. He's always listening. Like, he's almost, he's like, he's a learning computer. He's not AI. Well, he's kind of, he's not AI, but he's just like, he's like a child who's, like, absorbing everything in as he walks around. But, yeah, and so he's, like, hearing, like, other people.

Like, he hears, like, like, children. and parents walk past and he sees that and he's like, even if he's not talking he's always absorbing. So, yeah, it's just that's what he thought. That's cute. It's very cute. Yeah, it's nice to, I always like it when Percy

like gives his thoughts on how he sees the world. But he has to be asked because he doesn't volunteer this stuff. Right, I need your assistance very quickly. Of course, thank you. I need to communicate to the Gravefather and then obviously to obviously to Osseus just now. Um, okay. Would you like me to prepare the rights for a prayer?

Yes, please. Yes, of course. That would be wonderful. Could you like the candles? Yes, yes. Get the incense ready. Yes. Would you like me to use some of the blood reserve for a bowl?

That would be amazing. Yes, thank you very much. Yes, the blood reserve. Yes, wonderful. Okay. I think everything's in place. Right. Okay.

So yeah, Percy goes about preparing it, leaving you to meditate and to prepare yourself. You know, he lights the candles, the incense. He begins to swing the scent. to swing the censure, a bowl, you know, a carved ritual bowl. You know, with enough blood to create a pool, a surface that you can look into, is placed down, and, you know, the curtains are drawn, the door is closed, bringing this place into that dull gloom of the shrine.

The heady, very lavender-like incense begins to fill the air. It's like the opposite. Oh, let me let me let the light in and get everything. Let me let the gloom back. Yes, close it up. Shut the curtain back. That heavy sort of incense begins to fill the air. It becomes not claustrophobic, but heady.

And you hear the crackling of the candles, that faint, kind of hissing and crackling. The swing of the sense, you go, as this rhythm begins to build. Yeah, I think Ophelia will then close her eyes and stand over the censure and then take out veracity and bloodlet across her palm,

let the blood from her drip into the censure and fill up that last little bit and wait for the blood to settle. My great eternal lord, I come to you asking for your help. My friend, my loyal, most trusted friend, Zanthiore. requires energy from the grey lands to help cure them of an ailment. If there is a way I can procure that, I will be forever grateful to you.

If you require my assistance in the grey lands, to procure it, I am always here to help in your cause, as I always will be. Xanthius is kind, patient, resilient, strong in body and mind. He puts himself before... anyone else. And in some small ways, he reminds me a little bit of home. We squabble, we butt heads, but he never takes that out on anybody. For everything he's been through, please just, please help me help him.

I need him more than I think I know. As you speak these words, The surface of the blood ripples, and a face presses itself out of blood, a skull, looming, imposing, child. You speak of needing this Xantheus. You need only. You need only. one, and I am here. Is he faithful to me? He's faithful to me. You truly are a student of Countess.

Speak so cleverly, so cunning. I pray is that. But you did not answer my question. If he is not a follower, I will not deny him what he seeks, what he needs. But he is not my child. My gifts are only for my children. So he must pay for it. But he already has so much to pay.

for. I can take on this payment myself. I will do whatever needs to be done. My lord, please. If you help me, then I will know truly that the path to you, that you've shaped for me,

is the right one, and I will not alter. I do not. You doubt the path that you are on? I do not doubt to you, my lord. I will, my direction will be only ever stronger. for I know that you will help those outside of yourself,

that you are kind and forgiving and wise. You doubt these things? I do not, my lord. I do not doubt you. I only doubt myself. Mm, the weakness of your flesh. The doubts of the living, yes, I see them in you. You are not strong enough yet. No, let me prove it.

I will prove it to you in Kelskaris. I will prove to you that your faith in me has not been ill-spent. I hope so. As for this boy, a father is indulgent. I will open. the way to the gray lands through your mirror.

When your pilgrimage brought you here, you met a merchant, one who I long once enjoyed me. Cordog was a member of my court. They have what your friend see. seeks. You and this boy, the two alone, shall travel here to find the merchant of the sands. And then you may trade. The price, Rajan, will know. It will come from me. But I wish a display. A displea from you and a test of this boy's resilient. Yes, my lord. You are wise, and I am wrong to be misguided by my mortal flesh.

But in you I trust, in you I will always have faith. It is my flesh that lets me down. Pleases me to hear this. To hear this wisdom. You are most kind, my lord. I am. You will prove yourself in Kelskaris. I will. Varus does such great deeds in my name. And I will be even greater than him.

Yes, the ambition of the house of blood delights me so. Good, good. Be well, my child. Be well. The face begins to melt back into the pool of blood. Flesh of the mortal blood for the eternal. Yeah, that was awesome.

But we did all shrink into the table. Yes, yes. Watching the three of you just. the three of you just go, uh-huh. But also, like, go, girl, tell me to fuck on. Then she bailed.

No, no, no, no, no, no. I don't, no, I don't, I just need the ass real bad. Tell him, he's a prick. No, he's a wise father. He's a prick. What a, what a wonderful father he is. So kind. So kind.

So kind. Oh, yeah. We go to the Greylands boy. Just you two, apparently. Percy, will that seem to go rather well? Read the room, Percy. I think, well, who's to know anymore, really? Surely you would know, Sister Ophelia?

I mean, we're getting in essence. I'm helping Xantheus. That's all that matters. Then it is good. Yes. We are good. I'm sure that the Greyfather will not mind if a company as well, of course.

Well, of course not. Okay, right. One job done. Mirror. Okay. Yeah, I guess as Ophelia still has that bloodleted hand, she'll...

And you remember the ritual and things like that. Who do you want to reach out to? I suppose... Contest... Countess Oraman Ursa, I suppose. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

not spoken to her for a while. Yeah. I think actually, we've not, we've only seen a facsimile of her. I've seen her in the gray land, yeah. We've only seen like a sort of very vague blood image of her. Yeah. So yeah, you perform the right,

you sort of smear the blood from your palm on the mirror and you watch as that black surface, the smear becomes a crack and that crack begins to spread out. Not an actual crack in the mirror, but almost the effect of one. And as it does, the mirror breaks away, but the pieces float in the air, hovering. And where there was blackness, we see this opulent, grand bedroom. Red silk drapes from floor to ceiling, a four-post to bed that could easily sleep five, six people within it.

We see a vanity with this enormous black cathedral-like windowed mirror. The counter is covered in jewels and lotions and chalices. We see artwork on the walls of this most incredible immortal beauty, white skin, not even pale, alabaster white. her hair in one portrait this enormous kind of coiffed sort of almost headdress like with crown like appearance and then trailing ringlets falling down behind her in one completely nude but smeared with blood hiding her sort of intimate parts in another the most regal elegant ball gown we see her in the midst in this great portrait on a shes-long. The floor around it covered in up-turned chalices and wine,

or what perhaps might be mistaken as wine-goblets. But we see bodies writhing as Countess Uriman Orsa feeds on two of the house vessels, basically. Attendance that you would know, their duty is to feed the mistress. that is all they must do. All they must do is be healthy and fit and be present when the mistress is hungry. And she is gladly feeding on the two of them.

She sort of looks up, wipes her delicate face, these plump red lips, really the only color in her skin except for the red eyes that sort of pierce through. Her hair is black and streaked with white sort of pulled up into a high ponytail and wrapped with a delicate silver, like, ornament. She sort of looks over coily and these long lashes.

You know, she's a real ethereal beauty. She sort of wipes the chin of the blood. Girl. Sort of gestures. Wearily and woozily, the two get up, bow their heads, almost drugged, like euphoric. They are just so elated. And again, you would know that the bite of a vampire

especially the countess is exceptionally pleasurable like a drug or like being drunk and they just sort of gather hold on to each other and sort of slink off to the bed where they promptly just fall asleep to recover the countess wearing this long slender sort of nightgown of black but it's studded with jewels diamonds and things like that sort of drapes her legs to one side and looks over My darling, Sister Ophelia, it has been so long. Yes, it has. Countess, it's been too long. I look at you. So pale and gaunt, you look radiant. Oh, thank you, as do you. You look exceptional.

It is rare for you to call me. It must be important. Well, I realize I've not given you an update. I've not written to tell you of my... What's the word? Progress? Progress, yes. I was looking for, like, a more fancier way of saying it. There's no need for such eloquence between us.

I have known you since you were such a little small thing when you first came to me. Your lessons in fencing and so much joy. Well, they have paid off. exceptionally well. Good. You have brought the Grave Father's justice to many, I hope. Yes. We are. It was such a fine sort woman. Oh, you.

You. But you are progressing in expanding in your diplomacy, I hope. For that, I have not heard much. Well, I am, well, I'm calling you from my own shrine. I am pleased to hear... Isn't it beautiful? It is rather small, but... Yes, yes. Yes, I try, I'm trying to make, I'm trying to make the most of it.

I'm looking to expand. But that servant, is that new? Have you raised a new servant? It's Percy. It's Percival. Percival. The one that we say, but yes. Those are not the same bones that we sent you with. No, well, things happened. You raised your own?

I raised my own, using... Oh, Ophelia, you are never... You did not attend to magic that well. I'm pleased to hear that your necromancy has improved. It's doing really well. Well, yes. I've learned a few spells. My fighting is getting a lot better. I'm feeling out stronger.

The blood here is not quite as good as it is on Osses. The quality isn't quite... We cannot expect that too soon, but hopefully with progress. I know. Well, it is always difficult to send shipments, but if you provide an address, I will try and make sure that something makes its way to you. Good, well, could you send some to Tyria's rest

and Ashton's rest. Oh, darling, I'm not going to take notes. You'll send a letter via... I understand, no, you're very busy, yes, I get that, yes. The house, they are drained from the feed, right? And she could probably, like, reach out and fight her right with it, but she's not going to do that.

Now, what is, what is, and so your progress is going well? Do you have any of your own acolytes or followers? I have a follower, her name is Teresa. She's extremely loyal. And she's taken the oaths and has dedicated herself. She has, yes. A new sister. Oh, this is very pleasing.

And I have an audience with some of the townsfolk. They come here. I perform sermons for them. The majority of them seem a little, a little. There's another religion here that has more of an influence. So I'm getting there. I'm getting there with some of the more wayward folk, but there are some that are very stubborn in their ways.

But once I expand and look to a moving location to somewhere a bit more, willing to house more people... Remember your lessons, my dear. There are always way to convince even a stubbornness to see the way that we want them to see. Yes. All the lessons of charm and a little lie here and there. You make them see the truth.

Yes, I suppose. Yes. Yes. Anyway, so I was thinking that because things seem to be going so well, is there maybe... Percy mentioned that there may be a potential for me to, you know, maybe go up a rank, perhaps, like, Sister Superior, voted around as a name, or... Well, my darling, of course, that is more in the purview of the deacons and the Cardinals here, but I can... right and we will see what we can do. Oh, could you really? That would be amazing. Of course. Your elevation in status will only reflect well on me in the courts

to know that my protégé is doing so well. Of course, I mean, we're going to see Varus Evernight soon. I hear that he's doing excellently. It would be an awful shame if his efforts were something were to happen. Wouldn't that just be terrible? Would it be terrible? Would that be awful for him?

It's just so unbecoming. His lord has been speaking about Varas in all of the courts. Yadda, yeah, oh, embassy this, embassy that. Embassy. Shit. I'd like an embassy. Yes, well, I'll be working on that in the background as well. Obviously, I want to make you look as resplendent in name as you do.

in appearance. Oh, Ophelia, you are always such a sweetheart. I learned from the best. Ever since, yes, you did. Oh, now, my dear, if that is all, I am being hurried along. I have an engagement. Of course, no, you are so busy, yes. No, I don't let me keep you.

But yes, I will speak with the cardinals and the deacons, and we will see if your shrine, sister superior, perhaps, I think. Okay, yeah. The shrine is not big enough yet for canoness or anything like that, but work towards it. Keep up the good work and we can build upon this. Wonderful.

Have your people ride to my people. We will send a shipment, yeah. Wonderful, good to hear. Oh, wonderful to see you, darling. And you, my darling, take care, mua, mua, mua, mua, muha. And she just gestures and the mirror reassembles. God, they're all such assholes. I'm losing it here.

because she is so, she puts me in mind of an East Asian, South East Asian mom in that she complements you in the paleness of your skin. You've got progress, but is it good enough? Oh, it's a bit, it's a B, it's not, it's an A, but it's not an A plant. The food at home is better,

and then my favorite one, my friend's son is technically doing better than you. So step up your game. Isn't he great? He's a doctor. He actually runs his own hospital. And you're a local GP work. for a charity, isn't that nice?

Yeah, you nailed it. That's definitely the vibe I was going with. As you're sort of, as the mirror reforms, you just hear Percy, well, that went rather well. Percy. Fetch me a bottle of wine from the cellar. I don't care what it is. Of course.

Just a bottle. Of course, Mother. Thank you. And he goes off and fetches that. just sits on a pew and just rubs her temples, just like... We return, as you all, return to the inn. Oh, hello, Percival. On a rush, you're rushing...

Just fetching some wine for... Fetching wine? For mother? For mother? Mother? And I think that... That was quite sweet, though. Well, I think sweet... You guys have a little more.

You can catch up and things like that. Yes. But, you know, we're kind of coming to the end of the session. You know, night begins to fall. You do the check-ins and things like that, and we can always come back to this in the new year. But one thing I wanted to do is, as you guys head to bed, as I imagine, you would eventually.

Yes. Daisy. Oh. I was expecting him. It's not only me. It's not really him. I'm going to take a break. Shit.

Sit back. You drift into sleep, Daisy, and dream. You dream before you are hills. Hills, unlike anything in Caldra, unlike anything in the Suncrest Isles. Unlike the Fayweild. They are hills of light, white golden radiance with grass that flows in a wind that you can't feel.

there are jagged luminous peaks and you are running you are running your heart pounding sweat pouring from you as you can hear the sounds of steel and horns and pursuit and it takes you a second because the body doesn't feel like your body It's taller, it's stronger, it's more muscular.

The clothes aren't your clothes. And you realize that these are not, these aren't dreams. This is memories. They're NIM's memories. And they are running, fleeing. You hear calls. Sirenem, you cannot escape. Return.

You feel that pounding in your chest. You go down to your knees as you slide. down a steep decline these flex of light and glass kind of falling around you as if they were rocks sliding down pulling yourself into the cover of these white yellow trees the branches the leaves more like glass than anything else and you begin to hide the breathing the pounding in your chest growing stronger and stronger and then you're not in those trees anymore. You're in Caldra, you're in a town, cobbled streets, but that pursuit, that sense of being hunted is still there. And you look, and your hand is your hand, but it's also a golden

overlay, as you see another's hand there, as if you and Nim both exist in this place at one time. and then light the most blinding beautiful radiance just floods from behind this corner as this figure just seems to float into existence they're so bright you can barely stand to look at them but you see almost tendrils of light falling away from them as if they were wings as they hover as they look towards you A hand reaches down.

You do not belong here. I will not harm you, mortal child. I come only for the deserter. You feel this force in you desperately trying to pull away, and you can hear a voice, but it's so distant and so faint. No, no, I won't go, I won't go back, I won't go. Please, I bring no trouble to you, child of Althea. I seek only those who have abandoned duty.

What do you do? Run backwards. to flee and that light goes brighter and brighter to the point where you can't see. You cannot run forever as the dream is. Oh, buddy. Criky. Xantheus. Oh, son of a bitch.

You're having a break. No. You are laughing. you sort of look around and you're in this wonderful club and you know fine cigar smoke in the air

whiskey glasses being clinked under gray you know that you're you're yeah you know where you are this is um this is the club in Kalskaris you were sent here you came here to do business you see a red dragonborn sort of pushing through the crowd to get more drinks at the bar

and you remember this place you know that there's a media happening here, a very important meeting, one that you have come here for. You look and see a man, you don't see his features, it's all shadowed, but he's playing with a ring that looks almost like a circlet. The ring itself almost looks like something that one would wear, a diadem. And you remember this place, this is where you came, this club. You don't remember the name of it, but it's somewhere in Kelskaris, it's like a private club, somewhere that only the right people can come, but a meeting's going to happen here, and you can see that

there is a pedestal in the middle of this club and something's underneath it with a covering over it. You know what it is. There's a shape, a bladed shape, but you know what it is. And then everything stops. The sound, the hubbub of the club, the glasses pours, the liquid freezes. And you see that sat on a chair across the way, almost as if the chairs and the people part like a sea. You see a figure wrapped in a cloak and gold skin all over their arms and up their neck. Their face shadowed is looking at you

and raises a glass filled with a golden liquid. Thou travelled to the Faye-Wield. I felt you leave. Why? I was in the service of another, helping them to recover what they have lost. A story you've heard before from me. Your destiny waits here in this city of dead dragons.

Why do you tarry? Because I know... I know what you are. I know... of, and I know that's not for me, but I am better than you, and I am stronger than you, and I will keep resisting you at every turn. Oh, this fire, this spirit, little emper, stronger. Resist me?

Oh, my friend, I know you. You don't want to resist. You want this. You want this power. You see that as he gestures, you are pulled to that pedestal. I feel like I would literally just be walking towards him, even if I don't mean to be. And he steps up, places his hand.

Doesn't take the cloth off, but wraps his hand around something. This lifts it off. The cloth always keeps it wrapped and is always held in a way that you never see what's underneath. This is what you really want. Power. A blade to drive into the heart of those who have wronged you. Wrong to those that you love.

There's a finger, a gold finger along the edge. finger along the edge under the cover do not lie to me i know you is it must you be tempted do you want to I mean, my hand out of my sort of subconscious is reaching out to this dagger, like you see. He holds it out towards you under the cover. If a gift, if I must lure you in, if a gift will bring you closer to me. Ask and I will give it. So it's my dragon-born arm that I notice is raising up towards it. But as I willingly pull that away, I look back

and the other hand has already grasped the handle of the blade. Yeah. You kind of, you grasp it and he wraps his hands, like holding this blade to you. Yeah. Yes, my emperor. I will send it to you. I will send you what you need.

Can I push the blade towards it? Oh. May. Roll D20 plus your charisma. My charisma. I'm going to oppose it. Okay. this if you spend fate I will spend fate I will spend fate that's fine that's fair

so it's an even wrong I'm gonna so do I still add the dice of D6 roll the D you can do yeah plus my charisma plus my charisma I'm gonna burn the fate yes my charisma save or just my straights Chris so what your charisma mod is what's your charisma mod plus four all right so it's gonna be plus four plus the D6 and D20 and I'm gonna roll to see if I oppose you okay plus two on the fate so I got plus six I also rolled the two on my phone I'm really gonna roll in twos on my face. Oh, God. Okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay.

I'm gonna roll mine publicly. Okay. What did you get? I rolled a three on the dice, plus a six, so I got nine total. Oh, a three. Oh my God. So wait, what's his charisma though?

So it's literally down to our charisma mode. Three plus two. from the fate for five plus my charisma mod. Oh, so I got eight, sorry, yeah. Your charisma mod. You will... We rolled the same number. What the hell?

You will yourself to push this blade towards this figure. And I think in this moment, you can sense there is weakness here. This is a figure that was badly, badly beaten long, long ago. But that strength has been recovering. And there is a part of you, Xantheus, that wants this. And so you want to push it. You try and think of Gruff and Daisy and Rowan and Ophelia.

You try and think of your mother and you want to push it there. But in your mind, you see this. bigger traveling the road, this sibling, and behind them the specter of a dragon, and a part of you just, and the blade turns. Yeah, pushed back and you hold it, and he rips the cord, the cloth free.

And in that moment there is a flash of gold and red and black and you wake up. Oh my God. Oh my God, we rolled the same numbers. Exactly, same numbers. As we are sleeping. That's crazy. Gruff, you sleep out in your sanctuary.

You are woken. Oh. Gruff, gruff. Spring heart kind of wakes you up from your little hermitage. What is it? Are you okay? I'm all right, look, look. And she points up in the sky.

Oh, God. As you see the crown. Oh, and a piece of it breaks away and begins to fall towards Zulthea as crown fall descends new watch as it draws closer and closer and that's where we're entering. Oh my god. Holy shit. Oh, Jesus Christ. See you in January!

Sovereign sent their gift to Xanthia. Oh my God! That's what we're going to win today's session. Oh my God. Oh my God. Well done. My God. What a tenth episode that was.

Dude, I'm going to turn the blade towards him, not expecting it. I was like, whoa, okay. You brought the exact same numbers on both of your dice each. So, keep in mind, obviously, sovereign, very powerful to find being. Yeah. Weakened, obviously not fully manifested, plus six. Fiat by two.

It was a public roll. That's so... That was so cool. Rolled the exact same number. If you had rolled like three higher than it, if you'd roll a six, like... We'd be done. It doesn't get more fitting.

I don't think we'd be done. I think it would just end the dream. The fact that we both got the same on the fate as well. Yeah. Hey, me and sovereign. The dice were like less to tell this. Yeah, let's tell the story, baby. Yeah, I was fully expecting the dagger to be turned around.

And I was like... Oh, that's sick. I could have, I suppose, made a role of, like, resisting the thing, but I kind of like the idea of... I like the idea of that, so, yeah. It's his hand that has grabbed the thing against my will. Yeah. Oh, my God.

Oh, my God. That's it for this week's episode. We will see you in January. This year's episode. That is it for this year, and it is going to be a three-week break before the next canon episode. We will be back on stream doing some chats and QA. and bits and pieces like that,

but it is going to be in January when we return to Althea. Lots of fun things to pursue. And the very first crownfall in the campaign as well. I've got some fun things planned. Oh, jeez. God.

Oh, God. All right. We will see you there. Bye-bye. Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas. Happy holidays.

Goodbye. See you in the new year. See you next time. Thank you.