High Rollers DnD - High Rollers: Aerois #104 | Horizon Reunions (Part 1)

Episode Date: March 15, 2021

The meeting in Horizon is finally upon us! Every leader and important Aerosian figure in one place? What could go wrong?! Support the High Rollers and get early access to podcast episodes (and more) on our Patreon: www.patreon.com/HighRollers Music courtesy of Epidemic Sound Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Perfect for all you forward thinkers and planning gurus. Reserve your Uber ride up to 90 days in advance. Perfect for all you forward thinkers and planning gurus. Reserve your Uber ride up to 90 days in advance. Uber Reserve. See Uber app for details. Hello and welcome back to High Rollers. Last time, the crew of the Storm Chaser returned from the Magitek weapon facility of Shadowsong Pinnacle with schematics and rewards in hand. with schematics and rewards in hand, transporting back cargo for their own airship crew, as well as helping Captain Orgrin Dallas,

a dwarven airship captain working for their old friend Arvel. Returning to Gusthaven, the storm chasers briefed the Sky Prince on what they had discovered, including the dramatic plans of Project Vanguard, presenting the schematics, and at Malatyr Emrys, a Ganassi engineer who worked on the project. Malatyr was taken into protective custody while statements and reports were made of their findings. With only a day before the leadership summit on Horizon,

the party quickly wrapped up the few remaining tasks and spent some time with their crew, friends and family. Nova spoke with Thalia Whisperwind and each opened their heart about their feelings and family. Nova spoke with Thalia Whisperwind, and each opened their heart about their feelings and concerns. Lucius visited his sister Edea, who upgraded his prismatic gauntlet to help him protect himself, as well as some tender family affection. And now, the time has come to travel to Horizon

and meet with the leaders of Eros. And my friends, that is where we begin today. You are all called, you are all requested to meet with the Sky Prince

before he travels via teleportation circle to the Sky City of Horizon. If there is anything you want to talk about or anything you want to do before you travel before you leave gustaven uh as a point only the five of you and then aradan and his entourage are going like thalia none of the crew as far as you guys know that they're not going with you it's just you five sky prince and his bodyguards that's it so if there's anything you want

to do or talk about now is the time that what you're saying right there really feels like a dialogue box which is like there's no going back from this are you sure you want to continue finish up all your games it's a game

it's a little safe wheel start spinning in the corner moon star is coming with you but she's unofficially coming with you she's going to

very quickly that's fine that's fine gotcha yeah right you don't have to roleplay her

nice i think we mentioned in the last episode that we were going to try and get some um

potions like whatever that was still in stock before we left because we didn't So we're going to try and get some potions, like whatever that was still in stock before we left because we didn't have much. There are. I will tell you now, the maximum you can buy is four regular healing potions and it will cost 200 gold. So if somebody wants to mark off 200 gold,

you can get four regulars. And Quill. Little babby boys I believe Quill has other stock that he needs to divvy out yes I think I did divvy them out I gave 1 to Lucius I think

1 regular potion of healing I've got 2 potions of healing well now 6 I guess so I've got 1 then so who wants them two potions of healing. Well, now six, I guess. So I've got one then. Who wants them? If Lucius has one, Quill... Just take one each. If you take one each, then Quill's got two.

Yeah, that works. Alright. How much does Nova have? Does Nova still have... Nova's got one superior yes yeah yeah and one regular now one superior and one regular now yeah i also have one greater oh i'm lying i've got a great i mean it makes sense that i think that did get used katie i think maybe it didn't get marked off because i'm pretty sure you used that in the warehouse because i remember searching it and going i've gotten oh it says zero i marked off the quantity but not the actual didn't remove

the item that's what it was my bad okay there you go we did a shopping episode in like three minutes amazing i mean well that wasn't a shopping episode that was buying four healing potions and divvying them out that's not a shopping episode that's was buying four healing potions and divvying them out. That's not a shopping episode. That's not a discussion. I think we should follow up here. So, anything else? Do you want to talk to the crew? Do you want to talk to any NPCs?

Anything like that? Does anybody want to use their spells or powers? Century. What was that? Century? I'd like to commune with root before we go if that's okay that is more than okay I will bring up the spell just so

I've got a refresher on it and ask up to three questions that can be answered with a yes or no or you can get like a kind of cryptic kind of general short phrase instead I prefer doing that than yes no because it's lame um okay sure uh perfect so mark off the charges for commune i can't remember exactly how many it is um and where are you doing you can do this like sorry it says it has like three but it's like it's grayed out i can't like recharge it oh don't worry about that just we'll we'll keep a minute of it and i'll check it

because that's probably me messing with and fucking up the um recharge when it recharges okay no problemo so where's century doing this are you going to do this like uh in like your room or you're going to go somewhere in the city? What's the plan? I think she'll do it in her room before the day gets started. Heading out? Sure. Yeah.

You focus and close your eyes or kind of switch yourself off to the world beyond your kind of guardian body and instead focus on that energy within your chest. Very much like the first time that you really connected with the matrix with the prime matrix you feel yourself almost like in a river like an ocean where you can feel presences you can feel minds you can feel voices all around you thousands of guardians who have lived and been reborn or guardians who have not yet had a chance for life.

New guardians waiting for new bodies and all of them seem smaller than one large presence that just sits the very center of this non-existent ocean, this sentient place. There's just one presence which seems to shine brighter and stronger than the others. And you feel that kind of familiar voice.

Century. What would you ask of me? Do you... I fear that the next location we could go to may be the last place I see. And... I just need to know something,

just in case the worst happens. Of course. Do you know about people? I... about people? I have not lived amongst these living beings for very long. I knew

the guardian of Solvin well. I know guardians. Whether we would be considered people is a greater question, but I know, I feel I know enough that I understand the needs of living things. So, if I were to mention the name Pestle to you, would that mean anything? Of course.

That was the name that you gave to Genevieve's daughter, is that correct? The queen of Astoria's daughter. She spoke of her daughter often, with great reverence. A truly loving mother, who wished only the best for her child. It is through that connection that Genevieve and I found kinship

to build upon our relationship in developing the new guardian race. to build upon our relationship in developing the new Guardian race. Do you know if... Is Petal on Arois? I will scan my memories. Use the power of the Matrix in your own body to see if I can locate her presence. I will not be able to give you details, only confirmation on whether she exists in your world or not. You feel this almost energy, almost drifting out of you, Sentry.

energy almost drifting out of you century unconsciously you almost feel like roots present seems to expand in your own body and then stretch out impossibly wide it takes an agonizingly long time in your mind as you just sit amongst the not silence because there's this constant murmuring and swirling of presences thousands of just whispers and voices of these guardians who have lived or not yet been born but then eventually sentry the answer to your question is yes she's here and then you feel yourself pulled away as the power of this spell this communication with Root

begins to fade as that connection drifts and pulls you apart and the commune ends I think Sentry will sit just staring like not knowing what to do but there'll be like a hope, like a warmth in her matrix.

Sure. She's here. You feel it just kind of pulse over you. God damn. Excellent. Is that everything, Rhi? That's everything, yeah. Thank you.

Nice. So Sentry just kind of sits there with that hope resting in her chest, that warmth kind of spreading through her, just that faint trace of still a little bit of hope. Yeah. Before everyone comes and gets you, you just enjoy that moment of feeling that. Quill, was there something that Quill wanted to do?

Tom? Oh, man He'd spend the entire night before In an almost Nova-like panic Of what's the right question to Find the answer To not get the meeting completely destroyed By Starbane

Will Starbane interfere with the meeting? How will Starbane interfere with the meeting? Maybe it's not Starbane, maybe it's Zarkira Are Starbane and Zarkira involved in interfering with the meeting? Maybe it's not Starbane. Maybe it's Zarkira. Are Starbane and Zarkira involved in interfering with the meeting? What if it's not Starbane or Zarkira that's going to get involved? Maybe it's Hadar. Is Hadar going to get involved somehow? Is the meeting going to be totally safe?

So many questions. What's the right question? Maybe if I find out, maybe I won't get any sleep. If I don't get any sleep, will I be able to be awake and alert enough to go to the meeting in a perfect mental state? Or will I just fall apart instantly and maybe the situation will happen anyway, no matter if I know about the situation or how to solve the situation or how to stop the situation? So what's the situation? Is there even a situation?

Do we even know for sure that the meeting is going to get involved? It's going to get interrupted anyway. How do we do it? How do we solve the problem? I'm going to stop Tom Hazel there. interrupted anyway. How do we do it? How do we solve the problem? I'm going to stop Tom Hazel there. This is kind of a shockingly accurate representation of what goes in my mind on a daily basis. Explosions aside,

but that pretty much is me on a daily basis. I believe that's just called having anxiety. Supernova. Supernova, thank you. Well, my question to then, Quill, obviously we see Quill in this panicked state,

but is there anything you would like to do about it? Spells or abilities you wish to use? Okay, yeah, you know what? I'm gonna use uh my divine intervention in some way uh it's a chance it's a chance to see if it works so if i was to ask about something in the future like guaranteeing something to happen in the future to say protect me or would i have to use divine intervention no divine intervention is kind of more like miracles in the moment so you can use it to ask like a question get an answer to it in that regard you could also be like hesper send me something send like give me something that will

help protect the meeting and then hesper will maybe you know maybe bequeath a magic item or maybe sit like a temporary magic item or maybe set a temporary magic item or maybe send somebody to help you or give you some knowledge that might benefit you, some sort of boon. It's more like a miracle in the moment. It's not like the eye. The eye is very specifically for things like

trying to predict the future and see the past and stuff like that. Divine Intervention can do a lot of things. It can replicate spell effects. It can give you answers. It can do things outside of normal spells um you know maybe hespa would create a magic barrier over the the city to try and protect it in that way like you could use divine intervention to do stuff like that yeah in that case there is a chance i know i know uh i'll know. I'll try to

find some way for Hesper to protect us during the meeting with Divine Intonation. Alright, so this is a roll and you have to roll your cleric level under. Cleric level is 12. There's a 12% chance.

Let's see. Boom. 99? 99? 99. You know, we would... And this is a prayer, right? This isn't just like... This is like Quill kind of closing his eyes

and beseeching Hesper. You feel that divine connection, that link that binds you to the divine power of Hesper. Oh, my God. It's weaker. There's not enough strength there. You feel Hesper's attention too divided that he can answer this particular call.

Mm-hmm. That's literally the opposite. That's the worst you could possibly get I mean no you could have rolled a hundred you can you can't use that again today but you can try again tomorrow. Divine Intervention, you can try it once a day. And then if it succeeds, it's a weak recharge time. It was really good, actually, yeah. Yep. Okay.

Tom Hazel tries it once. Nah, useless ability. Never going to use it again. A 99 does not feel good. That's all I'll do for now. Did anyone else want to do anything? Anybody else? I have something. A 99 does not feel good. That's all I'll do for now. Did anyone else want to do anything? Anybody else?

I have something. I will, but I think... I think he's saving it. I think he's saving it, yeah. Don't forget, you've got spells like Commune as well. Yeah. Mine is a bit time-sensitive in that I want to cast scrying on Starbane but I want to time it

so that it's closer to the meeting so I could maybe try and pinpoint where he is like yeah I don't know how just close to that sounds like you want to do it later though not now yeah I was just wondering how long is it going to take us to

get there and then get set up like how many days away is this meeting i mean it's today the start of this summit it's not one thing it's going to be like a number of days you're going to be doing talks and meeting with leaders and things like that but it begins today like this is the morning of the day you travel to horizon so so we got lanyards where we arrive yeah maybe i feel blessed vip special guest so do you want to try that like now or do you want to wait until you're like at horizon and like the first sit down you know think of this like the un right like there's going to be a massive table and everyone's going to be sat there you know talking and stuff like that you could that. Do you want to try it then or do you want to try it now in the morning?

I guess I want to time it for when the Sky Prince is there. Because I kind of just feel like, I don't know. I just want to try and pinpoint Sarbanes where he is. So you want to wait until you get to Horizon? Yeah Yeah Alright In that case Lucius or Aayla anything?

Just checking Lucius is probably going around and telling everyone what's about to happen and then making contingencies of, like, speaking to a Raya, that sort of thing. I think you guys came up with a plan that basically as soon as the storm chaser is ready, they're going to fly to Horizon.

Yeah, that's what I was going to say. Unless you message them and say, hey, we're cool, don't worry about us, we're coming back, they're going to basically fly to Horizon and come pick you up, is the plan. Lucius goes and does that a few times to Orion. Like, anxiety plan. And Orion gets annoyed. Is everything in place?

Is everything... Everything is fine, Captain, yes. This is the third time you've asked, everything is fine. The repairs are still going on the way. As soon as we have everything, we will come back and we will come and pick you've asked everything is fine the repairs are still going on the way as soon as we have everything we will come back and we will come and pick you up it is fine yeah and he does that sort of you can always have quill

you can always have quill contact us if you need to check anything right but what if you can't you know I'm sure that horizon will have mages there that can cast sendingending for you. And you can have them message us.

True. What else have I got to do? And he looks at his sleeve and he's written stuff on his arm. Speak to the Sky Prince. Go and deal with that. Yes. Right. Well, if I don't see you ever again, it's been nice.

You will see us again, Captain. I hope so. You see, like, the rest of the crew crew the rest of the crew will wave and give you the salute and you know There's kind of like a general kind of you know, they don't expect any trouble. So All right, Ayla I'm assuming nothing Good old rest in preparation. She's probably like when drinking, doing some last minute like pull-ups and stuff, just to, you know, keep on top of the old muscles.

And then probably if she passes like Lucius and Quill through the day, don't walk into any gas clouds just as an fyi all right don't go and fly too far away from us because then we can't get to you you know if you're in trouble just like little bits of like just don't don't be squished this is not helping lucius at all what do I do? Right. In that case. Just be yourself.

Just be yourself. Do the good magic. I don't even know what I am anymore. He's just an eye. Okay, that's a problem. Cool. So you guys eventually meet up with Sky Prince Aradan in Galecrown, the kind of head, you know, the royal estate of Gustaven. You are brought in.

You're escorted by two elite-looking Gustaven guards and two mages as well, a squad of four guards. They lead you into the main chambers where Aradan is waiting for you this high elf very much like lucius long brown hair but wearing sort of pale blues and whites uh he has his great sword um uh his very fancy looking great sword uh sheathed on his back um and then he has malachi his owl on like a gloved gauntlet as well uh with him um uh he doesn't appear to have any like major belongings he maybe has like a small bag like a backpack and he just greets at you bow like nods his head my friends i'm so glad that you're here are you all ready and prepared i believe that our timetable we have

some time to arrive in horizon find accommodations, which I believe have all been prepared for us, and then the initial introductions will begin. So unless there is anything urgent, we must be on our way. We're fine. Quick question, actually. The man that we detained, Mal, any news still? Well, it is um uh strange he vanished from his cell we are currently looking for him oh he gives you a knowing look well i assume the authorities uh will be able to handle that one yes i've i i have um my best

investigators looking into it my personal uh my personal majors are investigating the matter and it kind of gives you that kind of smile uh that this is oh who could have done this um wink wink um before we do travel um just a little bit of information about horizon if you do have any questions uh please do let me know hundreds one thing that i should impress upon you is i have not whilst i was the one who requested this summit uh most of the organization has been done by horizon steward um a woman by the name of danica bloodfire she is the best person to have orchestrating this danica is one of the most powerful mages in arois she is near immortal and has a significant amount of power and she's very

beloved by horizon as well she's has considerable strength. My understanding is that when we arrive, we will be under strict Horizon supervision and surveillance. They've provided accommodations for us to stay in that I've been assured have been correctly warded. But also, all of us will be expected to treat one another with respect. Whether there are any, there are sometimes disagreements amongst the different leaders of Varois, not quite conflict, but we are all expected to treat each other civilly and with respect whilst we are in Horizon. Danica is assuming responsibility for all of her guests.

As such, any infractions against another visitor will be seen as an infraction against Danica. This is something which we should try and avoid. Danica is somebody we want on our side.

We want to convince her of this grave threat and error and problem that is facing Arois. She's one of our greatest allies in this battle against this Kallus. There will be others there, of course. My understanding is that we have representatives

from the Church of the Starborn Faith. We have pretty much most of the major nations sending emissaries or their leaders. The Dragonborn have also sent some of their general dragons to meet with us. The Messenger's Guild have sent a representative as well.

Many, many people will be there. Horizon as a city is safe. I believe it has a great reputation for being welcoming of all peoples. You should find all of us will be treated equally there. There are no nobility on Horizon. Everybody works, everybody receives a share of the city's

profits and benefits. There are no special treatments for anyone, regardless of races or lineages or ages. That is something I felt I should make clear to you all before we travel. Very useful, thank you. How do you think we should present ourselves?

You called us Eros's greatest heroes or something along those lines, but aside from you and the Dragonborns unfortunately no one there knows us oh i'm afraid mr kala that is actually not accurate um in organizing this meeting there are several people who are aware of you uh the shelf miaskir uh specific with you as they are well aware of your activities with clearing the storms from miaskirir. The Duke of Hill Jaden is also likewise familiar with your saving his kingdom, effectively, from the terrible storms that wracked Meerskir. The dragons, indeed. I believe that also King Telvin Rooksilver of Savona of Rooksfield has been informed of your efforts in helping the people of Savona.

has been informed of your efforts in helping the people of Savona. An individual called Arval Dagus, the head of the Dagus Trading Company, has spoken predominantly on your behalf. You are invited, Quill, not just as witnesses, not just as people who can give us testimony towards the Starbane threat, but also as champions, people that can fight, who will be at the front of this battle. That is your role in all this.

Diplomacy and politics. That's so cool. You do not need to worry. The diplomacy and politics leave to myself and the others. You are here to provide testimony, to speak of your encounters, to tell us what is beyond the cradle, but also of the threats that you faced here on Erois.

But also, you will be expected to participate in things like tactics, planning, battle strategy. That is where we expect you to take the forefront. Individuals such as Mr. Kalar, you are regarded as a significantly powerful priest in the faith of the Starborn. Your connection with Hesper is notable. Things like this.

I mean, Sentry, Sentinel Prime represents all guardians of Erois. There will be an extent of, you may need to represent these matters, but politics leave to people like myself it is at least the one thing that I have been trained to do.

Okay, I mean I fear my connection with Hesper is literally one away from being the furthest away it can be. So... It's like you have been blessed with incredible magical gifts and you wield so Skulek you have been blessed with incredible magical gifts

and you wield incredible divine magic I'm not quite sure what you're referring to but I assure you you are one of the most powerful I'm pretty sure you are one of the more powerful priests here in Arise still let's go

Horizon is a beautiful city I hope that you at least have a little priests here on the horizon. Still, let's go. Horizon is a beautiful city. I hope that you at least have a little bit of time to explore it when in between these meetings.

And with that, the Sky Prince will lead you to a private teleportation circle kept within Gale Crown itself. You all stand within the center.

A figure does emerge from the back of the room she appears that she's been waiting there for some time as moonstar nods to you all uh and steps in behind you uh just kind of you do i think quill would notice that she does brush past lucius and there is a kind of like patting of his arm uh as she kind of brushes past but nobody else would really probably see that very subtle maneuver and yeah within a few seconds the mages conjure up the portal and you are led through

you feel that familiar sensation that pulling of yourself being yanked out of space and kind of being hurtled across a great distance before you suck in a breath as you emerge into a very different room. This appears to be a large square stone room. You appear to be in the very middle of it,

and there is a big stone balcony up on the second floor looking down into this large open space when you emerge you become quickly aware that there are perhaps 20 maybe more crossbowmen up on the upper balcony all kind of watching this teleportation circle armed and at the ready and there is a phalanx of maybe five or six elite melee looking troops uh stood around a magician who is standing waiting as well uh the mage uh the colors here where where gusthaven is very blues and whites and grays you know the colors of the sky here everything is always very much coded in reds and golds and oranges uh the uniforms of the the soldiers reflect that. Their armor is like a

polished copper or brass-like color. The mage wears thick, deep red robes with flame-like patterns all around it. Halt! You must be inspected before you are allowed to progress any further. State your name.

Prince Aradan steps forward. Prince Aradan of Gusthaven. I'm accompanied by my personal bodyguards as well as the crew of the Stormchaser whom I believe you are expecting. Your Majesty, I will ask you and your bodyguards to step aside. Stormchaser crew, please move to the

other side of the room. You will be investigated, searched, as well as with magical investigations. I hope that you will comply easily without any undue fuss. Of course. Not at all.

The Sky Prince nods. He moves to one side with his bodyguards. You see a kind of split of two or three of these guards and a mage make their way over to them, and then the others gesture for you to kind of move to the opposite side of the room. To speed things up, because unless you guys want to go through it,

they basically check your weapons. You can see the mage uses a spell. You recognize it as detect magic and begins examining pretty much everything. Any items that you have, if you've got the bag, they ask you to open it. They ask you to pull out everything in your equipment, and they examine all

of it. So if there is anything, and I don't think there is, like, you know, untoward, if you kept those explosive orbs from the weapons facility those are confiscated hmm

I'm wondering about my tiny chest will they force me to spend a spell slot to open it no they wouldn't know that you have it so things like bags anything on your person they're like we need to examine this bag please is this a magical bag this is very TSA airport right they're like do you have any additional weapons on you do you

carry any spell scrolls are you carrying any potions what are they blah blah you see the mage is holding up a pearl identifying every item that they can if it looks magical they identify it um they examine each of you. The mage steps forward. Crew of the Stormchaser, please state your full names for the record. We only have a limited record of your actual identities. We have descriptions. We have some first names, nicknames provided to us on a basis.

I need to ensure that you are the people that you say that you are. Yes, sir, please. Lucius, Varian, are the people that you say that you are. Yes, sir. Please. Lucius Varian Eluin Elinaster. You are of Gusthaven, Mr. Elinaster? Yes. Do you have any family members or relatives?

Yes. Living or deceased sir mostly deceased one alive who is the alive sibling family member my sister Edea oh

need to make a note of that and you are the captain of the storm chaser registered wrestle storm chaser yes we have your records as being the the air captain for this yes excellent um you do not you are carrying a weapon sir we've identified it as magical do you have anything uh do you have any magical abilities are you a spellcaster sir i am yes innate innate thank you all right thank you sir uh madam and he looks at ayla uh we do not have uh any record or name we only have a description for you could you please state your name for the record ayla

just ayla yep just ayla excellent uh do you have any family members that we should be aware of anyone of importance i know of often uh do you have any innate magical abilities, spellcasting and the like? I have this thing where I can channel some lightning. That's kind of a natural thing that happens, but other than that, nothing. Lightning magic.

And this hammer is your weapon. Do you have any other weapons on you, madam? I have a bow, which is not magical. Some arrows. Some, uh, uh, got javelin in the bag, which I think you've emptied out. Non-magical. We have.

It's fine. I mainly wanted to make sure that we have the magical weapon on record. Thank you, madam. No, it's just the hammer. Noted. Sir or madam, he looks at Quill. I'm sorry, I'm not quite sure.

Sir or madam? Sir. Sir. Sir. Quillek Adkalar, Watermaster of the Stormchaser. Quillek. You probably have me noted down as Quillek. I did wish to check, Sir. Sir. Kelek Adkalar, Watermaster of the Storm, check, sir. You probably have me

noted down as Kelek. I did wish to check, sir. I'm not particularly familiar with Arakokra names. I didn't want to incorrectly pronounce it. Kelek Adkalar. Yes, we currently have you

Watermaster of the Storm. You serve on the airship along with Mr. Elanasto? I do. Managing inventories and plotting courses. And you are also a priest of Hesper, I am led to understand. Yes.

You wield divine magic? I do. And this spear is... is yours? Yes. Recovered from... Do you have any other magical abilities that we should be aware of sir

um i have a tomb of understanding want to check that out i in fact actually it would just appear as a normal book they they kind of look confused because it's it's magic so you've been used up right because you used it so it doesn't actually currently have any magic but no innate magical abilities that we should be aware of just the divine magic from your god, from Hesper it's all divine Hesper given magic

thank you sir they turn to Nova Miss Avija is it? we do have a record of you registered at Atlas Academy of Vortensar. Oh, wow. That's very personal. Why do you need all these details, by the way? Why do you need to know family members' things?

Well, we are checking every single person who travels to Horizon, especially through the teleportation circles. Only those invited by Danica Bloodfire have been authorized We're checking every single person who travels to Horizon, especially through the teleportation circles. Only those invited by Danica Bloodfire have been authorized to use this teleportation circle. We're checking family members to ensure that we understand people's connections. It's often a case of we want to make sure that any of those family members may not be associated with current cults of the Remnant or may have been involved in crimes or any kind of terrorist activity. We want to make sure that the people that we invite here are safe and are not compromised in any way.

In terms of our research, yes, we have looked into as many of you as we could. Those of you who have official records. Individual accounts are more difficult to account for. NovaVeja is full name, yes? Yes. And you carry this magical weapon and shield. Do you have any other abilities,

spellcasting abilities and the like? You tell me, you seem to know most. Ma'am, you're being particularly difficult. If you continue in this way, we will restrict you from this meeting we will literally send you back to Gusthaven we're not taking any chances we've been informed that this is a grievous threat to our city

to our leader as well as the leaders of other nations I'm going to ask you again do you have any spell casting or magical abilities yes are they learned, innate are you magical abilities? Yes. Are they learned, innate? Are you... Learned.

Learned. Wizard. Okay. Thank you, madam. Finally, Sentinel Prime. Hello, that's correct. We do not feel that you offer any kind of security risk, madam, and we know that you have a lot of innate weapons and abilities. My understanding is that you are now this device inside your chest

that is a part of you, yes? Yes. Yes. inside your chest. That is a part of you, yes? Yes. Do you... You are... This is difficult. We have tried to inquire in terms of our technicalities

all guardians would be related to you, but we're unable to check all potential guardians. Are you aware of any potential threats from other guardians towards you or of any potential threats from other guardians towards you or towards the city of horizon not at all as far as i'm aware okay thank you uh you spellcasting abilities madam innate innate and we assume that you carry this weapon and whatever other equipment you have

upon you yes yes yes I do thank you this we have made a record of all of this my name is rain Telavere I will be your liaison here on Horizon.

I'm one of the Arknights of the Velenar here. We are the security force that looks after Horizon. My team has been handpicked by our steward, Danica, to prepare for this meeting. There are a few restrictions I'm afraid that I must impress upon you. Firstly, you must inform me in person if you leave the citadel of the reborn the complex that you are currently in this cannot be done through any sort of messaging spell you must see me in person if you need to

acquire me and you cannot find me speak to one of the other velenar guards they will put they will put me in contact and I will come to you. I would ask you spend as much time as possible in your prepared chambers. We've prepared a marvelous suite for you. It has been warded heavily. It should prevent teleportation. It will prevent scrying from the outside. We will be keeping surveillance on you.

You will be monitored via scrying spells whilst you are in your residences. We are doing this to make sure that everyone is safe and that everybody is exactly where they should be and doing what they should be. You may leave. You are not a prisoner. We ask that you inform us where you are going, whom you are seeing, and you are accompanied by Velenar guards when you do so.

The meeting room itself, we have a number of meeting chambers. They have been prepared and each one will be selected at random before each meeting. Therefore, we will come and collect you and take you to the meeting before it takes place. Is that understood? Understood.

Do you have any questions so far? Where's the bathroom? There will be one in your chambers. We will take you there immediately after this discussion. Is that monitored? The bathroom has been... It is monitored in an audio capacity. We are not trying to impede on your privacy.

However, we do not want to have anywhere within the chambers that is completely private. I assure you that our staff will be discreet in whatever they overhear. I don't know what to do. I don't know what I'm doing with my hands. I don't know what to do. I don't know what I'm doing with my hands. If you have no further questions, I will gladly escort you to your residences as the next guard makes his way in as the next liaison for the next group.

Very well. I will take you to your quarters. I forgot to ask you about my family. Never mind. No, we already have your family on record, Miss Veeja. If you're referring to your mother or your brothers, your father, we have

them all on record. Yours is actually one of the easiest families to keep notice of, as they are fairly mundane in a sense. It's very disrespectful don't talk to Neville it is the truth you are under no

absolutely no authority to give me orders Mr. Elinasto we do not have nobility here on Horizon as far as I'm concerned you are a visiting citizen I am in charge authority is one thing respect is another

the respect is completely irrelevant it is simply a fact that Miss Vigis family live quite ordinary lives her mother is a baker I'd like to be a baker not a chef he corrects himself at the same time

I should say chef I'd like to be a baker. Chef. He corrects himself at the same time. I should say chef. Well, 12 quarters then. Very well. You are led by this individual, by Rain. You can see that Rain's definitely... It's kind of... They have little patches of facial facial hair and the saint, like elves don't really grow a lot of facial hair.

Like Lucius has like his little goatee, but there's like a kind of like scratchy patchy beard. Um, very pretty eyes, uh, sort of curled ginger hair, uh, kind of shoulder length height,

um, wears a mixture of armor and robes. And you can see that they have a long slender rapier and a wand on their belt. And very athletic form, but kind of very hard to tell, you know, you're not sure exactly, you know, more about them. They seem to be a kind of very curious individual. Very lithe and thin,

but also quite athletic at the same time. They've kind of got this very unusual build you are led through several stone corridors you see guards everywhere when you move about as well as this kind of reoccurring tapestry and heraldry of a kind of flamed halo um over a city um you don't see any windows you come across are boarded they are actually like blocked from the inside um you can see that kind of a paneling has been placed over them um so it's pretty much dark it's all lit by torches or magical lights uh you are eventually led up several sets of stairs to a large set of suites outside of which there are posted two guards uh they use a key to unlock the door and lead you inside and it is a very

nice uh well-accommodated suite uh there are several rooms uh with beds for each of you there is a section like almost like a kitchen section where you can prepare meals there are you know fully stocked cupboards of all sorts of supplies and sundries, fresh water, a bathroom. Everything's basically prepared and you are led inside. Rain kind of gives you the once around. He checks the rooms.

He checks the rooms, actually. He checks all of the rooms and then comes back and just kind of nods his head. Everything appears to be in order. Prince Aradan has reached his own quarters. I believe that the first introductory meeting will take place early evening. If there is anything else, I will come and fetch you here.

Just real quick, Rain. We appreciate the levels of security that are being displayed here. I mean, it's a lot more than we expected, but what security measures do you have in place for outside of Horizon? Things that aren't meant to be, for example. In terms of outside the city, we currently have a fleet of airships patrolling uh scouting rings around in a perimeter around the city as we move they have equipped with mages who can give us early warning early warning symbols the city itself is fairly well protected the pinion towers

are all equipped with anti-airship weaponry we also have strategies in this in the city to prepare the citizens in case of an attack but for the moment our focus is on this summit i don't believe that there is any real threat to the city itself from what we've been led to understand through our communications with the sky prince and everything else the greater threat is to the leaders who will be assembled here okay leaders who will be assembled here. Okay. Good to know. Is there anything else? Lucius runs

to the bathroom. Okay. If you do think of anything else, Mr. Adkalar, please do contact me. I am here to be your liaison, whether or not you approve of my tone or respectful nature. I am here to help. I am here to be your liaison whether or not you approve of my tone or respectful nature i am here to help i'm here to make sure that you are safe to do so i may need to impede a few minor freedoms

i hope that you can understand where i am coming from sure very well nods his head bows quite deeply and then makes his way out and you hear the door lock behind him you are given a key you are given a key if you wish to leave you are not locked in here but they lock the door behind them when they leave gas starts leaking from the vents

aggressive negotiations but yeah you guys are well what does everyone think I mean seems like they've got pretty much every scenario covered

it does ease my mind a little bit but I think they are overlooking the one scenario of who is working for Starbane or Sarkira. And we'll ruin this from the inside out.

Yes. But we also can't do much about that, right? Unless, like, they're going to lie about it. At least there's a record of them coming into the city this way. I mean, that's why we're here, isn't it? You know? Everything is monitored! He sings as he pees.

We know. We know. Nothing to hide. Did I ask the same things of Moonstar? You didn't see what conversation... You were separated from Prince Aradan's group. Is that Kim to Mark? That was Kim to Mark, yeah.

Okay. Kim doesn't know. Kim wasn't there. Nova didn't hear what questions they were asking, the other group. So, no one knows. Did I? Probably asked the same questions, I would imagine.

They... I mean, you definitely saw them, like, Moonstar looked like she wanted to get away, but away but like there was nowhere for her to hide like it was literally you arrived in the middle of like a you know 60 foot stone chamber with crossbowman watching you from a balcony there was no way that she could escape so yeah she was pulled to the side and probably had to answer some questions uh it's fine lucius already said a day is alive he did did you say that it's quill or tom just then no no that was tom my brain is tom uh testing is this messenger ring working messenger ring yes does work

it's on a closed circuit it's not outside coming in well this might be optimum it might not be completely safe but I don't know what sort of technology is in Horizon they scanned everything they know that we have the starters

that's what I'm worried about Yes They identified your messenger rings They might have a way of deciphering it Somehow or I don't think they're Super worried about us though I feel like

You know from what Aradan was saying They know about us I feel like we're kind of here not just to talk but to also help if any you know shit hits the fan we're kind of here yeah

oh no you did I did wonder what the panicking it's difficult to lie in these situations uh well it's better not to i mean quill good good with the uh the old yeah i'm saying it's a messenger ring i'm not saying that i don't know how safe this is but it's okay look nova was clearly panicking as well.

She got really sassy. I wasn't panicking. I was mad. They were rude. I don't like people having information on me. Starbane has information on me. I don't like this. I don't like them mentioning families. My family is my family. It's none of their business.

I like the fact that they didn't know my name. They just had a description of me and they know nothing. That made me happy. There's nothing to know. There's a nomad who walks around. It's like the crazy wild man out in the woods. Yeah, that's all they need.

There is a knock at your door. Hello? Stormchaser crew, this is Rain Telavere. May I come in? I know I just left. There's been a request.

Okay. I'll let him in. You don't have to let him in. As soon as there is a kind of like, okay, you hear the door unlock and the door opens and Rain stands there again. He looks a little bit sweaty, like he's just had to run. My apologies for disturbing you so quickly.

I was hoping to allow you a moment's rest. The steward of Horizon, Danica, would like to speak with you herself. She has requested you specifically. Oh, sure. I haven't... Steward of Horizon, Danica would like to speak with you herself. She has requested you specifically. Oh. Sure. I haven't spruced myself up. You don't spruce yourself up.

The steward does not mind that. You are always spruced. Yes, you really are. It's a spectrum of spruce, right? Okay. And I'm wavering in the middle here but anyway needs must please follow me

uh rain leads you out the door is locked behind you uh rain accompanies you through several more of these kind of like very innate uh elaborate corridors and you notice that now you seem to be in more of like the public part of wherever you are before you you seem to be in more of like the public part of wherever you are before you felt like you were in a kind of fortress or a barracks you know it was

all very uniform very much designed for like optimal kind of defense here things become not gaudy uh but definitely there is more personality here uh there are magical lights which are all rendered as these bright red orange flames that just seem to hover in the air but there's no expensive furniture in fact most of the rooms that you see you see several of them appear to be classrooms maybe you can see like school children taking lessons in them one appears to be some sort of like doctor's office as well. You see record rooms. It's almost like this is like a public building almost in this kind of section of it. You are led up a series of stairs, including a long, tall, winding spiral staircase.

And you emerge onto a large balcony. The balcony gives you your first real look down onto the rest of the city, which, if you go on roll 20, you can see a map of. As you emerge onto the balcony, you see, stretching out before you like a great fan, you see these huge, tall stone arches that end in these big towers at the end of each one and then sloped down a little

bit like minas tirith in lord of the rings is a city that kind of winds its way up towards the central area where you are uh behind you can't see behind you but you seem to be in the kind of like key point of this this this city uh you can see that there are more towers on each of these walls and each wall is built into a great arch shape and there appear to be buildings and housing inside the actual arches themselves as well as kind of scattered all around it you see that but something else quickly draws your eye as you see stood out on a kind of white stone alabaster balcony no decorations no seating or benches no servants you just see a woman and she appears to be looking up and uh you can see floating

around this tower or wherever you happen to be stationed there are these giant chunks of debris and rubble and they are suspended floating in the air like a giant halo around this tower and they are all perpetually on fire the fire just burns and burns and burns and doesn't seem to be going out giving this kind of flaming halo effect of this like chunks of rubble like an asteroid belt around a plant like saturn's rings all this kind of rubble and chunks formed into this giant flaming halo and you see stood there looking up at it kind of holding her hands open and her arms are on fire you can see this flame coalescing up and down her arms and you see a long red dress with a kind of very simple kind of silk train descending down behind her long red hair that seems to become orangey at the tips kind of slight curls to it uh and a giant sort of

collar of gold behind her head um you see this woman just the flame goes out on her arms she lets out a breath and then turns around she probably is around 18 or 19 she looks quite young to all of you um but her eyes are not her eyes seem to glow with the embers of a fire that has not gone out there is there is age and power in her eyes They glow orange like the flames that were just conjured from her arms. And she smiles. So, crew of the Storm Chaser, I've been hearing a lot about you recently. I wanted to meet you all

before this summit gets underway. You've caused quite a stir Anna Roess my name is Danica I am the steward of Horizon hello I'll bow instinctively we don't do that here Mr. Alan Astor

I'm struggling to find a place that does honestly outside of Gusthaven pleasure to meet you there are several monarchies still within the world of Arose I believe that Gisela still has a monarchy the duchy of Hiljaden

the duke still relies on such formalities they'll both appreciate it if you show them those kind of formal greetings but here on Horizon no we abolished both appreciate it if you show them those kind of formal greetings. But here on Horizon, no, we abolished things like bowing and nobility back when

well, the nobles of this city tried to kill everyone else. And she smiles. Oh, apologies if that was disrespectful. It's not disrespectful, just something you couldn't have really known. You're still young.

So, I know your names, but if you wish to be formal and introduce yourselves, please do. If not, we can just get to business. I am Kilokad Kalar, champion of Hesper. We've heard much of your incredible powers. Hopefully, we won't have to see it in action. Certainly, indeed. A very wise thing to say. I

certainly hope not. I have not had to use my full power in a very, very long time and I hope that that continues. Although, from the sounds of what you have told the Sky Prince and your actions in Mierskir I don't think that that's really going to be an option for much

longer. Still, hopefully we won't have to use them in the next few days I am Central Prime Just Ayla, I'm way less interesting than Central Prime Not at all, I think that you're all very interesting Trust me, Ayla. I'm way less interesting than Sentinel Prime. Not at all. I think that you are all very interesting. Trust me, Ayla, I would not have asked to speak with you if I did not think you interesting.

I am not bothered with any of these formalities and boring conversations with visiting ambassadors and the things like that. I'm strictly here for business and to get things done. That's why I'm organizing all of this. And Sentinel Prime, yes, I've heard much about you. There is something of a rumor

spreading amongst the Guardians who visit Horizon. People speaking of their hope, their new coming, their new life. Wandering the world. They've heard of this herald who sends them to the city of glass where they are

waiting so I'm sorry to pull you away from such important matters but I fear that I must ask a bit of your time not at all the fate of Eros is just as important as everything else I'm sure. Indeed. And Miss Veja.

Perhaps the one who has the most to share in our upcoming conversations. I mean, do I even need to be here at this point? Everyone seems to know everything about me. My name's Nova, by the way. Nova from the house of the mundane ganassi nice to meet you uh you're unhappy with the investigations into your past and your family i assure you that your abilities came to me because you are here for a reason miss vj you are here because we need your information your your knowledge that is why you are here so yes we've done a little digging would you prefer it if i did not investigate all of our visiting ambassadors and ensure that their family were not somehow connected to the remnant to the starbane or to these wind barons which i believe sky prince aradan has

recently been dealing with would you have preferred me not to have asked these questions don't mind about you just you know just a mundane ganassi oh dear oh dear well at least people won't be accusing me of being the youngest one here for a while. And you can see that she carries herself in a way that is not a 17-year-old. She carries herself in the way of somebody far, far older and wiser. I am led to believe that you have had some intense conflicts with this Starbane and his forces, yes? To put it lightly, yes.

And you've travelled beyond the cradle? You've seen what is beyond our world? We have. Yeah, that was an adventure. Definitely involuntarily. Like a huge detour. Quill, you notice that

when she asked that question, her focus was like, her focus became laser sharp. Like she's studying, when Lucius was kind of talking and when Ayla was talking, like she studies them when lucius was kind of talking and when alo is talking like she studies them very very intently i also believe that there are some concerns aradan has mentioned that there is another threat perhaps a greater one this had Miss Vija, I believe that you were most vocal about this being a greater threat.

What can you tell me about this being? Hadar... Hadar appears to be something old, something powerful. A creature that was locked away by the titans and divines themselves but somehow has broken through and is back in this universe devouring entire worlds and that is why starbane is here he intends to use this planet as a way to stop hadar interesting interesting there's something I think the the phoenix that resides within me

it recognizes that name I don't often speak with it it's too alien too powerful, too primordial but I get feelings from time to time it doesn't quiver at the name Starbane or Kallus or this Valkyrian Empire and I get feelings from time to time. It doesn't quiver at the name Starbane or Kallus or this Valkyrian empire,

but it doesn't like Kadar. The phoenix can sense it as a threat. It makes my heckles, gets my heckles up, makes me want to burn something. That's never normally a good sign. And you say that he wants Eros, because Starbane believes that Eros can defeat this thing. That's never normally a good sign. And you say that he wants Eros because Starbane believes that Eros can defeat this thing? Yes.

There's something about Hadar. Hadar corrupts. We've met several beings and people who have been corrupted by Hadar. It tends to be linked to greed, hunger, a thirst for power.

Interesting. Forgive me. I certainly don't think that you're... Please, Mr. Alan Nasty. Why did you call for us? Is this not the subject of the meeting anyway? It is. But I wanted to...

I've never been one for... I don't like politics, and I don't like... I don't like structured conversations where I can't really get a read for people. I grew up here. Just before the sundering, I worked the streets. I was a courtesan. I used to know everybody on my street. I would know the local baker. I knew the shoemaker, the seamstress.

She used to help repair my clothes when some of my clients would get a bit too aggressive. I like knowing them. You can understand people when you speak to them. Not as dignitaries, not as soldiers, but as people. Ask about their day, ask about their lives, that sort of thing. When I died the first time, it was at the hands of somebody I thought I could trust. Somebody I thought was going to protect me. The nobles of this city were supposed to protect us. but as soon as we were lifted up into the air by hesper's magic as soon as we were set adrift they started fearing that they would starve

so they sent their soldiers down into the city told them to gather up all the food and water they could and to kill anybody who resisted. People are a funny thing. Fire is easy. I understand fire. I've understood fire for nearly 500 years. It's power. It burns. It can harm people. But it's a simple thing.

People are complicated. I've heard a lot about you. The gods have even spoken about you. My priestesses of Sayana have told me that Hesper endorses you, that I've heard a lot about you. The gods have even spoken about you. My priestesses of Sayana have told me that Hesper endorses you, that Sayana endorses you. Some of the other gods, perhaps not so much. Palidor endorses you. The Sky Prince clearly believes you.

Believes that you are some great hope for Aroes. But I had to meet you. I had to speak with you. I had to see you. I wanted to look into your eyes when I asked you these questions. I wanted to see whether you would grovel and bow. And perhaps that's how you had won Aradan over, but not. Clearly was not the case.

Miss Nova is quite happy to give me shit over my investigative matters. Certainly Aayla is not scared of me. Mr. Quill, and you speak honestly, and Sentinel Prime here is a guardian. I have no doubts about sentinel prime's motives or behaviors but do you have her trust she trusts you so yes i wanted to meet you ask you these petty boring questions that i'm sure you will have to answer all over again but this isn't in a room with ambassadors and diplomats this This is with me. This is with somebody who has fought, who has killed,

who has defended something that she loves. And I needed to speak to you on that level. And I believe you. I believe you about what you've said. I believe you about this threat. I'm more concerned about this Hadar than I was previously. It seems that if it has you all worried,

it's something we should all be worried about. I'm sorry for being brash and for giving you shit. I'm just a bit tired of people talking about my family recently, especially in a threatening manner. It makes me uncomfortable and it makes me angry and I'm tired. We're all tired. It's refreshing to find someone who is actually listening to us. Well, I am listening, but I'm also going to be honest with you, Miss Vija.

I take no offence at your brashness i applaud it i approve of it it's been a long time since i well too many people bow and scrape to me not the people of horizon they know who i am what i will tell you is that you don't have time to be tired you don't have room to be tired you don't have the luxury of being tired and your family I'm afraid that you are a known entity now Nova Vida, your family will be probably asked questions, they'll probably be tracked down, people will want to know about them

because you're known about it's just the way of the world if you want to protect your family I suggest you find them you take them somewhere that you can look after them and you find them. You take them somewhere that you can look after them, and you keep them away from everybody else. The way I'm protecting my family is the reason I'm here.

I'm here to fight on the front lines, because until this threat is over with, my family are not safe. I'm afraid that that's not necessarily... That doesn't play out, I'm afraid. Yes, the front lines, absolutely, but people are complicated. Like I said, I'm not even sure if we can trust everyone we've invited here.

Everyone has their agendas. On that point, is there someone in particular, anyone in particular you want us to keep an eye on? Because, you know, we're not super comfortable with a large important meeting of important people, you know, we're not super comfortable with a large, important meeting of important people. You know, even though you say everyone is

as important as each other, that kind of doesn't work in the real world. Is there anyone you want us to keep an eye on? They're not as important as... They're certainly not as important as they think they are. But they represent the... They represent the populations of Erois. People that

we can count on to be fighters, to be soldiers. They represent our large cities. Cities where we trade, where we have supplies, food, hospitals, things like that. They're not all as important as each other. And in terms of keeping an eye on anybody else, none of them have given me a reason to suspect them. I'm just, I'm a little bit of a paranoid person.

You have to be when you've died several times. If anything, I think the dragons... It's not that I distrust them, but they're zealous. We know that they hate Starbane. They've never shied away from

making that clear to everyone else. I worry... They're warriors. They've never shied away from making that clear to everyone else. They're warriors. They're soldiers. They want to think and act like soldiers. They don't think about the seamstresses. They don't think about the bakers. They don't think about the other people that have to survive and live in this world.

They just see arms that can hold swords and shields or make them. That's all they know. So I worry about them. The orcs are difficult. They have an adventurous spirit, but I don't know if you know, but there is an affliction for many orcs. They call it the glint.

They can easily be swayed by greed and from what miss vega told me if this hadar preys on it i worry that they may be susceptible to this hadar's influence the rest they're politicians there's infighting amongst them the king of rooksilver and the blood lord of Bloodvale, they'll be at each other's throats. They always have been. Gisela, well, if her royal highness attends, she's going to be a pain in my ass.

But if she sends one of her diplomats, probably won't get anything done. This is why you should never get into politics, trust me. This is why you should never get into politics, trust me. That's why I just decided to hit things with a hammer instead and stay out of that. Seems to be working. If we could all be such a simple warrior, Miss Ayla, trust me, I wish I could just burn it all down sometimes.

Miss Vijja? If I could ask, because I think you have a handle on things. It's Hadar, it's not Starbane that's the threat. Starbane has said to us... Starbane has said to us that he offers a sort of peace where he will evacuate

races from this planet and into indentured servitude in the Valkyrian Empire. But it's a way to save... Indentured servitude does not sound preferable. I would much rather die than serve some other. Then that was my question.

If there was a way to save the people of Erois and defeat Hadar, that's his plan and would you do it but you've answered my question i i will be a slave to no one and i'm sure that the the dragons will not bow many people here will not become a slave a swift death much preferable i've lived that is why star i've lived as a slave i won't go back to something like that again it's easy for somebody who's never had to serve another be degraded humiliated punished tortured by another to think that that is preferable to death but i have lived

i've lived both and I'd pick death. I value that, and I hope you didn't take my question as disrespectful. It's just why Starbane is here and why Starbane is crusading. It's good to know. It's good to understand our enemy. It seems like he... From the way that you

speak of him, you almost have respect for him. Is that true? I don't have respect for him. I just understand the logic of what he's trying to do. Hmm. Sentinel Prime, you and I are from

a time when he tried to conquer this world with war. Do you have any thoughts on all of this it's difficult i like anyone would love to see a rowis safe surviving thriving from this hadar But Starbane doesn't bring peace. He brings death. We've seen it before. How can we be sure it won't happen again? Even if he says that we're safe with him,

there's no telling that we will be. From the sounds of it, speaking with your friend nova even the looks in some of your eyes is do you truly believe that he is an individual who would go back on his word do you truly believe that he is a somebody who would try and deceive us and i ask this genuinely i do not know this individual you have met this individual this legendary figure that we only heard of in rumor and I heard of from battle reports whilst I was living in a slum. You have met the man. Do you think him capable of deceiving us?

That is something we must know before we enter these negotiations with the others. before we enter these negotiations with the others. I think his right-hand command is capable. Zakhira, she will do anything to get what she wants. What of him? I think he has a goal. It's to defeat Hadar. And I don't think he cares

what happens to the people in between him and Hadar hmm that is interesting to know I do think he has a sense of honour but it is his honour and as Quill says he will do what it will take to destroy Hadar

he will offer us a way take to destroy Hadar. He will offer us a way out, but it is on his terms and his terms only. Excuse me for one minute. She turns around, goes to the balcony, and you just watch as she kind of crouches for a minute and flames just shoot up all of her legs down her arms and you just watch as she just into the air let's go she steams like smoke rising off her intense conversation yeah and it's and it's i mean lucius this is a sorcerer like she's a sorceress you can see that this magic is innate,

that some power in her is giving her this immense amount of, like, magic. That was basically kind of like a giant cone of cold but made of fire, and she just was, like, burning the magic off. Sorry. Conversation is very stressful. I like your way of dealing with it. Pretty cool. If you do have an ancient primordial spirit inside you,

giving you immense amounts of fiery magic, sometimes you just have to use it, don't you? What? Yes. Yes, you do. Ah, my apologies, Mr. Lucius. my power comes from a primordial spirit called the phoenix uh it gives me fire magic effectively also seems to keep me alive keeps me keeps i heal from wounds if i if my body is destroyed i am. Somewhere, some woman in Horizon gets pregnant, and then

I'm born again, with all my memories coming back as I grow out of adolescence. I know. It's a lot. That's a lot. That also changes perspectives, somewhat, I'm sure. How so so oh yes and living multiple lives i

think this is my fifth reincarnation now well if fourth if you don't count my first when i gained the powers um but your perspective in fact the last time i ah my yes. The fact that you are able to be reborn, you have this gift that others do not, gives you a certain... I didn't know it the first time. The first time I died, I was terrified. I was strangled in the very hands of a woman I trusted that I thought was going to protect me.

She killed me, and I was terrified. It frightened me immensely. But there was also a sense of relief to it. I don't know. But I don't know if this power will last forever. Who knows, maybe the next time I won't come back. I don't know. What I have learned is that I can't control that.

What I can control is what I do here now. What I can control is how I live and how I am treated and the lives of all these people

in my city. I will tell you this if there's one thing I can understand about this Valkyrian it's that drive to do something i would do anything to protect the people of horizon anything if i have to go back on my own desires to protect them i will i know what i prefer and i would choose that for myself but

the people here i don't get to make that choice for them. Can I insight check her on that? It's a funny thing. You can do that on anybody you like, actually. You can do that whenever you want. I feel really compelled to do it on this one. An alien concept! I've never done it before, but here we go.

Sixteen. Sixteen? I mean, mean her body language she is confident she speaks with an assuredness she keeps eye contact she doesn't glance away like when she's when she was speaking to you she was dead locked eyes with lucius and you didn't see you didn't see anything that would betray that she was hiding anything. It genuinely seems like she was just speaking from her heart. But she could just be very good at hiding it. You don't know. She's had many lifetimes to figure that out.

Yep, to find it. Like the dang avatar. I've got 21 passive insight as well. That's the other thing. like quill i'm assuming who has been quite quiet you know you've not been distracted you've been watching her this whole time yeah the way that she speaks matches up with the story like the way she holds herself the way she speaks it's definitely not a person who's 18 years old you know she's definitely kind of speaks with the with the weight of ages um you didn't see

any kind of deception she doesn't show any signs of body language or like nervous tics or anything like that like um yeah you didn't spot anything out of the ordinary for sure okay danica you you speak very much of trust and the lives you've led, the people you've met, you must have been betrayed so many times, as have we in such a short time since our airship crashed not too long ago. I could ask... You could ask us if we trust you,

and to be honest, the answer will most likely be the same for all of us. We don't know. And I think the important question is... You're a wise man. The important question is, do you trust us? Speaking with you, hearing your thoughts and opinions I think I trust you as much as I trust anyone which is a compliment

I am a paranoid person I told you I think that you have good intentions I think you are young but experienced I think that you have good intentions. I think you are young but experienced. I think that you have good hearts. She looks at Sentry when she says that especially. And I think you have the wisdom to see that things are not always so simple. And she looks at Nova when she says that.

I think that this is going to be difficult. I think that convincing our ambassadors and dignitaries is going to be a struggle. But I think that we can at least align on several things. And to that extent, yes, you have my trust. I'm not going to ask you if you trust me I don't need to because I know how I feel about you

and I suspect the answer is very similar it is in that case I hope that we can work together to stop this as best we can or at the very least to help the people of Horizon. Find the best solution.

I imagine that your eye casts a wider net to the people of Varroas. Mine is here. But yes, I think that that is what we need to focus on. Do you trust us more than you trust the Dragonborn and the Orcs? It's not that I distrust.

Let us be clear. I do not distrust the Orcs. I they all it's not that i distrust let us be clear i do not distrust the orcs i do distrust the dragonborn i don't distrust the orcs i know that they are susceptible to a magical malady that makes them very greedy that is so so so dragonborn storm chaser crew Yeah, I'm trying to make funnies leave me alone Well, take a look being political No, it's I Like miss a list approach to this Yes, I can I trust you more than the dragonborn if that gives you any solace a fantastic one If that gives you any solace.

A fantastic bar. One thing. You have a... There is perhaps... There will be some introductions later on to meet with you. You have a few hours. If you do wish to see the city, it is a wonderful place. It is a place that I dearly love. And if you need supplies, we have merchants and artisans here of great value and skill.

I do suggest you go and seek them out. There may even be people that are here that you know. A lot of travelers end up coming to Horizon. If you ever wish to find somebody, I think Horizon is the place to do it. Well, your messenger guild is quite prominent here as well, Mr. Adkalar. We have a very large institution. Yeah, they do. Quill, with your

passive insight that you pointed out is 21. That, the first time, there's like a hint of there's something she knows, but she's not saying. It's the first hint of like, there's like a little wink, like, but she didn't actually wink. Okay. Okay.

Cool. Well, let's go exploring! We'll see you at the meeting, I suppose. Yes. It will be in approximately two hours. The first, the order of business is that we will do introductions,

make sure that everyone gets acquainted. Tomorrow we will begin the actual discussions about Calus. Until then, try and relax. I know. Yes. Relax. We have a training room if any of you do need to let wild. And then she turns back and you can see her

beginning to play with fire up and down her hands, creating like little balls and birds made of flames. I feel that you frequent that. Yes, it is. It was built specifically for me. It's built specifically to withstand my magic. So it is very durable. I wouldn't mind witnessing and training at the same time. I wouldn't mind witnessing and training at the same time. Oh. Yes, I believe that your magic is innate as well, is it not, Mr. Elinasto? You have an innatural magic.

I don't know if there's some strange primordial creature within me, but maybe you can help me find that out. Certainly, of course. I'd be more than willing to help. It's always interesting to meet another practitioner of powerful magic i do apologize if i singe your eyebrows however oh i i can protect them good i'm not joking and she just gestures to the door i tweeze my eyebrows. I hope you do not. She just smiles. Eyebrow protection.

Just tinfoil. Priority. I need eyebrow armor. Okay. So, we can go on a break and then when we come back from break, you guys can head and explore a little bit of Horizon or you can go and meet these other ambassadors and such.

A couple of pit stops, I imagine. A little think about what we can do, yeah. We've got no idea who's actually here for us. Thank you.