High Rollers DnD - High Rollers: Aerois #106 | The Valkyrian Ploy (Part 1)

Episode Date: March 29, 2021

The Stormchasers try to discover how the Valkyrian Empire will interfere as the meetings begin in Horizon! We're sponsored by D&D Beyond! The ultimate Dungeons and Dragons toolset. Clean up your dungeon delving life and speed up your games here: http://bit.ly/HRDNDBeyond2021 We're also sponsored by NordVPN! The best tool to protect yourself online! Discover new content that's normally region locked and stay safe with code HRDND to get a 2 year plan + 1 free month here: https://nordvpn.com/hrdnd ALSO we're sponsored by Manscaped! Go to http://manscaped.com and use code HIGHROLLERS to get 20% off and free shipping! 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

Pickaxe. list in the app and it'll show you similar items at a lower cost add coffee to your list then swap it for one that's cheaper craving chips the app will suggest some on sale to get started just open the app it's as easy as that see the pc optimum app for details this episode is brought to you by lego fortnite lego fortnite is the ultimate survival crafting game found within fortnite it's not just fortnite Battle Royale with minifigures. It's an entirely new experience that combines the best of Lego play and Fortnite. Created to give players of all ages, including kids and families, a safe digital space to play in. Download Fortnite on consoles, PC, cloud services, or Android and play Lego Fortnite for free.

Rated ESRB E10+. Android and play Lego Fortnite for free. Rated ESRB E10+. with D&D Beyond using the link in the episode description. We're also sponsored by NordVPN, the best tool to protect yourself online. Discover new content that's normally region locked and give yourself the guaranteed safety you deserve when browsing the web with NordVPN using the link in the episode description. Hello and welcome back to Erois. The crew of the Storm Chaser have travelled to the Sky City of Horizon, crew of the Stormchaser have traveled to the Sky City of Horizon, a bustling aerial metropolis protected by a powerful sorceress called Danica Bloodfire. They have come to meet with the leaders

and representatives for the forces of Erois to discuss the threat of Calus Valkyrian and his Planar Empire. After tearful but joyous reunions with old allies and loved ones, the party stepped into the political ring and met with the dignitaries that have been assembled, some known, many new. Security has been tight, but has it been enough to prevent any potential attack? Now it is time for the Erois Defense Summit to begin. We begin as you had all taken a long rest, ready for the next day, the beginning of these talks. But while you sleep, there are dreams. Oh, God.

No. Century. Century sleep? You float amidst the golden river of guardian spirits within the Prime Matrix. One of them grows brighter and larger than others, and you are pulled in its wake. Root's memories flow through you as you are dragged behind his spirit. dragged behind his spirit you in roots place stand on an alien world a plane of radiant mountains and golden cities armies of angelic beings elves with tattoos and swirling elemental magic as well as ranks of gleaming guardians made of metal, stone, and plants,

their echoes floating and hovering around them. All of these armies stand behind a dozen or more figures that stand impossibly tall and bright. Men, women, others who are both or neither, some are more bestial or abstract in their appearance, but they're all brilliant and luminous, greater than any living being can be. And you know that they are divinity. But yet, they are mourning, and emotion is high amongst them as they grip weapons or conjure primal magic.

And beyond these figures, you can see the sky of this alien world, and beyond that sky would normally be the stars. But it is now filled with a writhing, dead grey mass, a million toothy maws and grasping tentacles, and at

its centre, a humanoid figure, glowing red and laughing. The divine beings let forth a bellowing cry in a language you don't speak but its meaning reaches your heart we fight for all life and in a flash they explode into action launching up into the sky leaving trails of luminous light. The angels and the elves all follow. You, as Root, raise your sword and the guardians ready themselves around you. You connect their essences to the Prime Matrix, ready to absorb their spirits should they fall so they can be reborn again.

And Root's voice calls out, Till all are one! And the visions fade. Quill. Uh-oh. The storm around you buffets your wings and blinds you. The swirling winds are thick and grey and you cannot stop yourself from spinning as if caught in a vortex. A number of air currents pull at your

feathers and talons and you see their lines like coloured threads with your eye of the storm. with your eye of the storm. One pulses with a violet magic. One with a shimmer of starlight. Another glows red and dark. The fourth crackles with lightning. And the last is soft pink with a touch of gold. Which one do you reach out for first? The lightning?

The thread charged with lightning cracks like thunder. You see a model of the storm chaser, your airship, inside a glass bottle. The bottle is adrift in a vast, dark

sea, and many hands reach out to push it or guide its journey. Some try to submerge the bottle beneath the dark waters, others try to pull it up and free and into their grasp. Inside the bottle, a storm rages, wind swirls, and bright colors of blue and orange fill it with light. The glass of the bottle cracks, but it does not break. What is the next thread that you reach out for as this vision fades? Oh god, uh, what were the other options ah lightning's gone one pulses with violet magic one with a shimmer of starlight another glows red

and dark and the last is soft pink with a touch of gold I like starlight I'll go with starlight the starlight thread bursts into a cloud of brilliant motes of light and you find yourself stood in a bed chamber made of glass a woman dark skin and hair like the astral sleep astral sea

sleeps in a bed atop white silks blood pools beneath her staining the white silks red. It drips down the glass bed and then falls like rain onto a world below you. She smiles though. All I have I give to those I love. Myself, my power, my life. The vision fades. What is the next thread you reach out for? I'll get this one over with.

The red one? The dark red thread fills your mind with horrific sights. You see the armies of Erois fleeing from a great tentacled mass of dead grey flesh that fills the sky. Guardians, elves, dwarves, all cry out for you to save them before they are grasped and flung into the gnashing teeth of a million mouths. Their bodies, their souls, the very memory of them erased from the world

and watching it all from a realm of dull red light. A twisted palace of sinew and flesh sat upon a throne of teeth. A figure watches it all. A humanoid in shape

but lack any features beyond a great wide mouth and a pair of soulless white spiral-like eyes. They smile as the mouth opens wide and begins to devour you, but in the dark void of its mouth you see a glint of light a sense of hope you see flickering black and white images of you and your friends stood at the helm of a ship facing away towards a distant

star three figures join you a man and two women the vision fades you go to reach out for the next thread but the winds pull you away A man and two women. The vision fades. You go to reach out for the next thread, but the winds pull you away. You find yourself waking,

uncertain of what those last two threads may have given you a glimpse of. God damn it. Damn it. The rest of you awake as normal to a fresh new day. Well, that was long. And I hand this over to you. I think Lucius would be awake

early because of anxiety and tension going on with the first day of meetings. And just go around and check on everybody i guess if we're all in one big are we in like a a shared apartment kind of complex yes it's like a big uh apartment suite so you know like in really expensive hotels where you have like a living room and multiple bedrooms and a kitchen it's's kind of like that, where you've got all your amenities in, like, one place. There's, I think there's six or seven bedrooms.

Petal and Arval are now basically filling the whole place up, although Petal probably stays in Sentry's room. Sentry doesn't really need the bed, so Petal can probably just sleep in there. But yeah, so it's quite a vast it's like a like a yeah like an apartment complex really okay so he'll just go over to the the kitchenette or whatever and uh loudly start getting cups and stuff out on purpose oh such an early morning well sure good that I'm up, though. Yeah, you're up.

You're awake. That's good. Did you hear some groans coming from... Must you. Must you do that. So loud. It's really irritating. Sentry, where's the coffee? Sentry.

I'm on it. I'll get going right away anybody want anything tea uh can i get you anything lucius would you like anything oh you're already getting ready i'll help you some sort of coffee i guess no no no no no no lucius maybe maybe just century makes this one you You are very loud. Very loud. I'm not the best at making coffee either, just... Yeah, century would be good, yeah.

It takes a lot of practice, but I don't mind, that's fine. I'm sure you'll get better at it though, Lucius. I'll get Howard to show you. It'll be fine. Deal. Okay, sit down. In the middle of the day. Get him to show him in the middle of the day. Go on, Kim.

I think Nova's just going to burst in and she's got a whole arm full of scrolls. Her hair is a state. It's clear that she's been up all night. She's like, I haven't slept. I was wondering when you guys would wake up. I've been running so many... I've been trying to write out so many projections

and figure out everything that's going on and what could possibly happen today and where Starbake can attack and where Zarkir could attack and all the outcomes. And my conclusion is, I don't know. And I'm really worried. Yeah, it could happen really anywhere, anytime. That was me two days ago, actually. I tried to figure out a question on how to solve the meeting thing and in the end I got no answer.

Which, I mean, could be a good thing. I saw nothing in a few days' time. What was your question? Indication of what? Yeah, what was your question? What was your question? It could be an indication that it's not going to happen here. It's not going to happen here.

They're going to take the advantage of all the world leaders being here to attack elsewhere in the world because we're not there we're here we're not there where is that i don't know well we can't really protect the entire world at once so if we can focus on protecting this small pocket of world we currently are in with a lot of very, very important people, most of whom, by the way, I don't remember the names of, because there was a lot of them. We met a lot of people, yeah. I mean, look, Nova, do you want to know where Project Vanguard is,

for example, if it's operational? That would be a start. That would be a start. That would be a start. That would be a very good start. I have another working theory. I have a working theory that the Hall of Resplendence is about to be attacked. Might I suggest at this moment in time, as Lucius robs his temples,

where we are and who can hear. That sort of thing. Well, I mean, we're about to go in there and tell everyone everything anyway so yeah true i'm just letting you all know that there is everywhere don't picture it everywhere because that's strange but i mean people are doing it we can talk to each other in another way and ayla will just start talking through the messenger ring instead. Sure, okay. Messenger ring.

I can find out where the project Vanguard is. I could find out where it is in a couple of days. I could maybe find out where Starbane is. I mean, the question I asked was in three days, two days now, what does this

place look like? And it was untouched, as if nothing would happen. Maybe it was the wrong question. I got an answer, though. From the outside? What about the inside? Was there any images of the inside, or was it just the outside? Well, just the outside, but no battalion, no giant mech thing. Nothing besieging the city in a full-scale assault. So there's that. But they could teleport inside.

We know that Starbane has teleportation technology. He could teleport inside and kill us from the inside out. It's okay, Nova. These are all assumptions. There are the finest of guard, security, technology, all that sort of thing, right here. It's the safest place for everybody. That's what makes me wonder if it's somewhere else, if there's somewhere else. You know, even if Starbane is here, Zarkira could be elsewhere.

If Zarkira's here, Starbane could be elsewhere. We should bring it up in the meeting, and then these powerful leaders of all of the Roeths will know, and will do something about it. Or at least be on alert. Send messages back. Why don't we ask a really great question in relation to Project Vanguard, and or Starbane, and or the Halls of Fanciness now. And then we can go to the meeting. That word, fancy word. And then we can best both worlds, you know? Maybe?

Or maybe we... So far you go with your question. Can you be like, show me Project Vanguard and Starbane and Halls of Resplendence and Itziaskirke and... I have a list! Okay, wait, so it needs to be limited. It needs to be limited for sure. But remember,

if I ask a question and it cannot answer, I can try again. So maybe there's a way we can work that into it. If I ask what's Starbane doing right now, it will tell me, hopefully. But then I've just wasted it. He has too many people working for him.

I feel like we need a wider picture than just what he's doing. You know, he could just be sitting on his butt. Where does Starbane intend to attack during these meetings? And if he doesn't, I don't know either. As a note, you don't just have the Eye of the Storm. The Eye of the Storm is very powerful.

You still have access, like Nova can cast Scrying. Sentry and Quill can both use the Commune spell. These are not just, you don't just have to rely on the Eye of the Storm. Like, these are all excellent avenues. You also have people here that you can ask. You don't know what Danica is capable of. You don't know if any of the other representatives have this kind of magic that they could use. The difficulty is that they don't probably know what to even inquire

about. You are the only ones with knowledge of these kind of things. So don't feel that you have to pin everything on the eye of the storm. Like, you do have many, many options available to you. What was the person who was... Navarine? Who's like... I think it's Navarine.

Who's like the person she's like all in touch with the gods. Starcaller Navarine? I think it's Navarine. Who's the person she's all in touch with. The gods. Starcaller Navarine. She's the representative of the pantheon. She would maybe be a good person to talk to. That was Katie, not Ayla. Ayla wouldn't. I think it would be a fairly safe assumption

that Navarine will have a similar ability to quill, to use a commune spell to ask questions normally those questions are limited they can't give as much information like the eye of the storm can but they can be like yes no cryptic answers uh to certain things um but yeah uh as a note arvel and petal are with you uh but they are just kind of in the background kind of letting you guys have this discussion um just okay probably arvel's probably making breakfast with petals help they're probably kind of actually like you know making stuff while you guys have big important talks yeah i could i could scry i tried to scry on starbane, but unfortunately, as expected, it didn't go anywhere because I think he has protections against him. I could try again.

Zarkira, Valor, maybe Maximilian. I don't know. Anyone else you can think of? I bypassed it before by scrying on Maximilian, and luckily he was meeting with Valor at the time. Zarkira, Valor, and Starbane, they're going to be protected, I imagine. And if they're not protected, they're going to be monitored. So they're going to know that you're looking at them. It's finding someone lower down that they wouldn't expect us to care about or even know about.

I guess there's Maximilian, or maybe the woman he was with... I think you had a good idea, Quill, in saying that maybe we should ask if he plans on attacking during this summit. That's a broad question.

You could ask not just him, you could say where are the Valkyrian Empire going to attack? That could cover everyone. Oh, I guess my only worry is the Valkyrian Empire is huge.

They could be just taking some outpost in the middle of the Astral Sea right now and I'll see that. True. But I could just say where in Arois yes true but I could just say where in Aroas did the Valkyrian Empire intend to

attack during these meetings that could work you could certainly ask that during the meetings is that quite a specific amount of time they could do it just after the meetings ended for example or just before if could do it just after the meetings ended, for example, or just before. If they're not attacking during the meetings,

then I'll see nothing. And you'll retain that ability to do it again, or it will be expended. I believe so, anyway. It's been like that before. It's worth a try. Right. Where in Arois does the Valkyrian Empire intend to attack during these meetings?

I like it. Quill, you fill yourself with the energy, summoning the power of the Eye of the Storm. You wait for the foggy mist to overcome. Nothing happens. You do not expend a charge of it, as the question cannot be answered. Okay, I saw nothing. Which is good. That's great.

Is it? So, it could mean there's no attack. Has he... Has he wormed around it some way? Is someone not making a decision somewhere down the line that could affect... No. Okay, different question.

New tactic, new approach. We've got a question. Why not use it? Next. Where is Project Vanguard, maybe? Because that thing is big. That will give a definitive. I mean, it's great to know where that thing is because yeah as no if

it's near the fancy schmancy holes then that's a bad time bad time would zarkira attack today would that be on her list of things to do well the valkyrian empire i will say that the valkyrian empire would include zarkira like anybody like anybody, like, from Quill's perspective, he's including anybody associated with Kalos. So I'd say that Quill would know that Zarkira would have been included in that. It wasn't specific to Kalos. He said Valkyrie Empire, so. Nice.

Okay. I don't like his face at all. No, he's doing that thing again. What about Kyle Barrett? He got away with something. Let's us do something. I'm not letting you do anything. You guys are just coming up with what you want to do.

As definitive as we can get, having no answer to that specific question is a good sign that the Valkyrian forces will not be attacking during this meeting, at least. Will not be attacking during this meeting at least. Will not be attacking. I think that's the important distinction here. I don't, the thing is I don't think you had a no. You just had

no answer. I don't think that was a confirmation either way. It was just no answer. So they're not attacking specifically, but could they just show up? They might do. They might do.

Try and negotiate or something. I'm so stressed. There's little we can do about it. As long as people are safe, that's all we care about, right? Politics aside, if they're here to talk, so be it. We can't do much about it other than talk back. But as long as the people we care about

and Erosian people are safe, we're doing our jobs right. Well, okay. We're about to go into these meetings and we're about to show them Project Vanguard. Okay. Valkyrian and these guys that we're now meeting yeah they don't know about my eye so they've got no idea that i could find out where project vanguard is right now

and we could jump on this thing before it's even activated hopefully could you ask that question now then because at the very least we could present that to the council and say we know where it is. Sure. Wait, wait. You can do it at any time. Let's use that. Something could come up in the meeting and you could answer that question straight away. The Vanguard They got it through a portal.

They got it through a portal, so if that thing can move through a portal, it can move through one at any time. I think we need to keep Yeah. That needs to be used in the moment, probably. If it's instantaneous, then I think we should. I'm just doing it to watch you guys.

Go, Kim. One other question, I guess, for us is, should we mention the wings of Ishtar and our possible mission on the Tassadar? I feel like we need to keep the wings safe, right? So we should probably keep that to ourselves. It depends. How much do we trust the people in this meeting? I don't at all.

Well, probably not much then. We don't want to share too much of that. Valor sent us the codes, messengering, and... I'm assuming all of this is messengering because Arvel and Petal aren't interjecting, so they can't hear you. They're just doing stuff. So this is all messengering. Before we go into it, Kim, I have one very important question because you've already given a bunch of data to the Dragonborn.

You've created a bunch of these copies data data shards and things like that what exactly what exact information are you sharing because like yeah are you going to tell them about the wings of ishtar are you going to tell them the teleportation circle runes for the tacit are you tell me what you've got on there so i imagined that i would have told them of our brief reports of our... What's the word? Engagement with Zarkira in locations like the Coldlight Depths, the Twilight Corals, the Temple of Hesper in Ironwick, the ship under the lake with Deimos.

So the known sites. sites known sites yeah i would have told them about uh ages five um and the kind of the operations there i would have told them about the use of cloning um how starbane uses cloning to create soldiers. And probably, I guess, with Aayla's permission, depending on what Aayla says, like about the destruction of Alfheim and how he was using the world engine there as a possible weapon and that's why he wants to use the world engine on Aroas

to destroy the dark. I think Aayla would say, tell them that. So yeah, assuming that's part of it. I think Aayla would say tell them that. So yeah, assuming that's part of it. I would have told them, I probably would have included the map of the

Astral Sea and the Empire up there and then you know how we got all that tactical information? I would have given them that. I would not have

said anything about the wings of Ishtar and I would not have given the teleportation location to the tastar yeah i think it's pretty much anything the valkyrian empire knows that we know just not the stuff that directly leads us to vala i guess and that mission okay yeah that's like a big distinction i just wanted to make it clear sure yeah that sounds like that's the key stuff you're leaving out you're not including anything about valor or um because you told the dragonborn about valor being starbane's daughter

before didn't you i'm pretty sure you guys did uh i went through and i'm pretty sure you mentioned i think so yeah you did yeah so the dragonborn know that valor exists and that she's been taken um but maybe the others don't. Cool. I would have said all the schematics for Project Vanguard as well. I would have given a report about the base and the schematics and all that stuff too.

Sweet. Yeah. Valor, sorry, arval and uh petal uh bring over various breakfast foods uh some waters and things like that um arval's got like a little apron and a tea towel thrown over his shoulder uh petal's kind of helping him she's got like lots of little magical devices where she's been helping heat up food and you know, flavor things and things like that. Well, you're all being quiet, so I'm assuming you're all doing some magic talking or something. But still, you guys have got a big, long day.

You've got a lot of important conversations, so make sure you eat up, get your strength, and, yeah, good luck. I don't envy your position. Thank you. then uh yeah good luck i don't envy your position thank you you do a lot of business talks and big big meetings with people right any tips it's a little different uh i don't engage dagus trading has always been in a position of strength so i've never really had to negotiate any big major deals personally i don't buy up other companies and guilds and things like that the main thing i could say is uh well know your priorities yeah y'all know what you're all capable of you know what your abilities are you know what

you can do i guess look at what you need from others. Look at what you want. And you're going to have to find a compromise somewhere. Nobody's ever going to give up everything they have. Nobody's ever going to give up everything that they want. Every negotiation, whether it's a business deal or diplomacy or a surrender, It's always about a compromise. You all have to be prepared that you're going to have to compromise as well as the compromises you expect others to make as well. I guess that's

my only advice. This is all a little bit above me. It's one of the reasons I never signed up to be the head of the guild. Well, it's appreciated nonetheless. You wouldn't be where you were if you didn't have your expertise so thank you Arvel

I appreciate that that's alright and I'll take good care of Miss Guinevere here we'll keep each other company don't worry I'll go over some work and she's got all sorts of magical tinkering she's been showing me so we can keep ourselves busy with that.

Petal or Guinevere will come up to Sensory and just be like, be safe, Sensory. I know that this place is protected, but just be safe, all right? And you, Petal. I don't want to lose you again. And she just kind of rests her head on your big metal armor. I'll give her a big hug. Yeah, she kind of hugs you back.

But yeah, well... Be good as well. I know what you're like. I am not quite that little anymore. I don't run off causing trouble, but yes. Mr Arvel and I will just keep ourselves busy. I've got plenty of work to be getting on with. I've brought a few little things to tinker with.

Oh, wonderful. I look forward to seeing them when I get back. And let me know if you need anything. No matter what, I will come running. I will leave that meeting. You are my top priority. I will do, but focus on the people of Erois. They're the most important right now.

Okay. Yay. Cool. Well, is there anything else? Like, did you want to use the storm? I have the storm. Are you going to save it? Do you want to cast any spells? Otherwise, I will have Rain come and get you

and take you to your first meeting. I'm going to save it for an important moment in the meeting in case there's any other questions that come up. Sure. Any scrys or communes? If not, we'll jump to it. I think, yeah, with three spell slots I might

keep it. Sure. Okay. Rain, your liaison here comes and fetches you, knocks at the door and after giving permission comes in uh you can see that he's dressed once again in a kind of very uh prim and proper military uniform hair tied back uh or nicely oiled um and he just bows his head crew of the storm chaser i am here to request uh you accompany me to our first meeting of the day

uh i believe that danica will be opening the floor for the initial overview of the current situation. We will also be having Starkor and Navarine discuss the matters of divinity and the cradle. The Drangoborn wish to confirm some of the military aspects of Valkyrian's forces. And then you are invited to offer up and make your initial statements

about your encounters with these forces. If you are ready, please follow me. Yeah, I'll be ready. I think Ayla is just going to say in the messenger ring, just remember that we have this channel. So, you know, before we trip up over words or i say anything at all in front of any other humans you know ever and just just remember that cool nice okay just make sure you tell me when you're using messenger ring so i know when you're talking out loud and when you're talking telepathically uh okay rain leads you uh he takes you down several winding corridors and once again um

exchanges lead you to a set of opaline doors that lead into an internal chamber uh a series of command phrases kind of key phrases uh are passed back and forth between the two um the the guards at the door and rain something along the lines of like azure clouds open waters uh and then they respond with a series of you know code phrases as well um they will nod and then you are let in the room is like a giant round table uh at the very far end the only chair that is different uh is a very um it's not particularly opulent uh it appears to be carved mainly kind of like shaped from brass uh so not particularly expensive or gaudy but it's done in the decoration of flames like a rising flaming kind of chair or high-backed chair uh and that is very clearly uh for miss

danica bloodfire who is already sat down uh wearing uh red robes much more regally dressed than she was before looking very resplendent with this high golden brassy flame collar, still looking quite young compared to all the other representatives. Danica is, yeah, she's only kind of, she must be in her early 20s at best in this life of her reincarnation. But the others are all sat down, and it looks like you are the last ones to arrive. Everybody is sat down, it looks like you are the last ones to arrive everybody is sat down uh eagerly

anticipating uh they have various scribes or attendants waiting near them um sheaths of paper uh inks and all of that kind of all laid out there is also a very large map of arois in the very center of the table uh you are invited to sit down section of seats all arrayed for you uh and then when everybody is there you you can hear murmuring, that kind of hushed conversation as everybody's getting settled, speaking with their neighbors. On either side of you, so sat next to Lucius at one end and then whoever wants to be at the far end of the other.

So Lucius, Sky Prince Aradan is sat next to you. On the other side would be... It would actually probably be amadrasos uh the copper dragon in humanoid form you can see that the dragon's chairs have had to be uh replaced with larger ones because they're all like seven eight feet tall they're massive the dragons in humanoid form um and they're you know so they've kind of got like separate kind of chairs that space them out a little bit differently um but yeah so whoever is at the far end is sat next to amadrasos um lucius is okay it sounds well it's an overall or ayla because ayla was also i think i think i think i feel like ayla would put herself in that position rather than nova yeah uh amadrasos just kind of like nods his head.

He's polite. He kind of nods his head. Aayla of the Stormchaser. As you kind of take a seat. Prince Aradan looks at you, Lucius. Lucius, I'm so glad that you're here. Do you think you and the crew are ready? As we'll ever be, honestly.

I hope you have your best diplomatic hat on today. It's going to be an important one. I will certainly do my best to try and lend as much strength and support to what you have to say, as well as represent Gusthaven as best as I can. I have to deliver my report on these Sky Pirates and the weapons factory that we found, but I don't believe that will be until perhaps later today or tomorrow. But still, I will do my best to lend you what support I can, my friend.

And he just kind of like puts his hand on your shoulder, sort of like we're in this together now kind of thing. Thank you. Before we carry on with the show, I need to take a moment one on one with you to talk to you about your balls. We've all gone lazy in lockdown. And with the world starts to open up we need to consider what we're going to do when you start to open up. Your pants, the world, they're all going to see it trust me. If you want to control that mess down there then you should try out Manscaped and use the code HYROLLERS to get 20% off with free delivery. You can tame the wilderness

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the very top of the room ceiling casting a very kind of golden but still orangey glow down onto everybody below. Danica looks around, taking a moment to look at everybody in the eyes. Welcome, gathered representatives and noble leaders of Eros.

I am Danica Bloodfire, steward of Horizon, and I shall be the chair of this summit to discuss Eros' safety. I have made one thing clear to all of you in private, but I will repeat myself here. You are all guests of Horizon. I do not care for any anger or tempers to cause trouble amongst us. We have all had our conflicts in the past, whether internal or external. As far as I am concerned, you are all under my protection and you will treat each other respectfully.

other respectfully. You are all also protected. In this room, we must discuss the future of our world against a threat that only a few of us can truly understand. It is a grave threat, and I cannot impress upon its importance to the people of Erois, that we approach this matter with the grievous sincerity and security. With that said, the matter we will be discussing is the potential invasion of Erois by one Calus Valkyrian, also known

to the people of Erois as Calus Starbane. We all know the stories, we known to the people of Eroes as Calus Starbane. We all know the stories, we all know the legends. I was there in the Sundering 500 years ago. The Dragonborn, the dragons, General Nathariel was there. Sentinel Prime, which is just a century, was also there. We know the weight of the forces that Kallus can throw against us, but it seems that Kallus is not our only threat.

An extraplanar being called Hadar, one that is not mentioned in our histories, in our stories, also represents a grave threat. Valkyrian's empire claims to stand against it, but it is the belief of the storm chaser crew that Calus's interest in Erois is to acquire some sort of weapon. That it needs Erois for some reason. So let us begin. I invite Starcaller Navarine to first bring us up to date on the matter of the Cradle and the gods.

She gestures, and this kind of elderly elven woman stands up in a long white dress. You can see that she's decorated in jewelry, all with different holy symbols of the different gods of Erois. She also wears a single tiara with a star emblem, the symbol of Siasca, on her forehead. Thank you, Steward Bloodfire. This information has not been shared with the wider faith of Erois, but I can confirm, after communing with the gods,

the cradle is weakening. The cradle, we are not scientists within the faith, and the gods do not measure things in the same way that we do, but I have been told by them and their allies, their servants, the cradle will fall within one year. The cradle is our current defense against these planar forces, and the Titans themselves have said that we cannot trust Calus Valkyrian, that Calus is the one who destroyed Siasca, our beloved Star Mother,

and has waged war on our world. They stand ready to fight, but there is conflict within the pantheon. The god Hesper and the goddess Syanna, and she gestures to Kelek, confirmed by champion Kelek, believe that they must surrender their power so that Siaska can return fully formed

with as much of her power as she once had before she was defeated. We believed Siaska to be fully destroyed, but apparently this is not the case. When the cradle falls, she will be reborn. The other titans are not certain if this is the case that this may be a ploy they believe siaska to be truly gone and believe that the best chances for erois are for them to retain their power and to fight back against kallus there are several of the gods who believe this atelicus, Zephir, Kelara, they all firmly

believe that they must retain their power to fend off Starbane this is a grievous matter of faith across Eros I fear that if news of these matters gets out to the wider many followers will lose

their belief in our gods that they will begin to question things about siaska and our history but these are the truths that we must be aware of champion do you have anything to add to what i have said uh only that palador also wishes to join with Hesper, sacrifice his power, among the others. I think it's important to remember or to know that these gods are not gods, but titans. We cannot rest.

A big murmur of unrest when you say that. There's kind of like a, what? What is he talking about uh they do not hold they hold great power incredible power power far surpassing our own but they are not gods we cannot place all of our hope and faith in them nor can we blame them for the actions that may occur in the future uh or Kila, this is heresy. This is not the case. They are our gods.

They hold the power of... You yourself are a priest of Hesper. How can you say this? Siaska is a god. The ones we know are her children. And do not hold the power that Siaska holds. If the cradle falls and the gods have relinquished all their power, then Siaska can be reborn and we hold a true defense against Hadar and Starbane.

Until we can get them to unite, we need to figure out how. We cannot get Siaska back to help us. This big murmuring sort of... It's actually General... I never remember the dragon's names uh nathirul amalaz the eldest of the dragonborn generals stands up i do not know much of gods the dragonborn of draconis worshiped the great golden worm a divine a divine being but i know that when we came to your world there is a difference between Siaska and her children I believe that what

Kelek Adkular claims to be true the gods you speak of are not true divinity they are but vessels of Siaska's power there's another sort of like dragons you and your heresies, kind of, you know, lots of kind of bickering and arguing that kind of goes around.

But yeah, and you can see that Starkhull and Navarine is shaken, like she's looking at Quill aghast that he said this in front of everybody. We're off to a flying start, team! Woo! Oh, you got to break Go on Nova

If I may Danica holds up her hands We spoke with Palidor Silences so you can speak She kind of like silences everyone so Nova can speak We spoke with Palidor When When we returned to Aroas, and he let us pass.

And he confirmed this too. He said that if the Titans sacrifice themselves, Siasca will be reborn stronger. If you can't believe Palidor, who else can you believe? If you can't believe Palidor, who else can you believe? But why would they tell you this and not myself or the other followers of Arois? Why are you the only ones who have been told this? That is what I cannot understand. Maybe it's because we were face to face with palidor you can kind of like there's murmurings but less angry kind of more um that's a good point you know

how can we be how can we even comprehend you know what they're talking about nobody's supposed to be able to go beyond a cradle how you know it's kind of like lots of discussions you do pick up um uh some of them uh duke rogrick uh of uh misgear uh a few of the others some of the speakers for the beast races the admirals there's a kind of a like a are we sure that they've actually gone beyond the cradle we only have their word for it kind of thing there's a lot of kind of murmuring like that. Danica holds up a hand. Thank you, Starcaller Navarine. Matters of faith, philosophy, the nature of the gods

or titans, whatever they may be, that is a matter for another time, one that we must discuss in the future. This council is to discuss the threat of Calus Valkyrian to Erois. You claim the cradle will fall within a year.

The titans, or gods, whatever they are, believe that they may hold the power to hold him back. Champion Kelek believes that our best chance is with them sacrificing their power for Siaska. This will need to be a conversation we have, and if need

be, this will be a matter of faith to convince these other gods that they must do whatever it is we need them to do that is something we will need to discuss in the future thank you both for your thoughts I will now hear from the Dragonborn on the matters of military power and then we will invite the Stormchaser crew to give us their opening statements on this whole affair.

The Dragonborn stand up. This time it is General Felissa Farris, the blue Dragonborn. She's in a humanoid form, very tall, very muscular, long blue, anime blue hair, wearing sort of ornate gold and silver jewelry, long robes. She stands up. Yes! wearing sort of ornate gold and silver jewelry, long robes. She stands up.

Yes. We have consulted with our eldest dragons, our eldest generals, as well as the records we have from our fallen ships. Valkyrian's forces are immense. The forces that he brought to Eros 500 years ago are but a fraction of the power that he has to bear. He controls many worlds. In fact, Nova Vija of the Storm Chasers has provided us with a map of Valkyrian's empire.

It stretches many worlds, many planes. With an assumption based on the forces that were deployed to Draconis during our invasion, we estimate Valkyrian's forces to be about 10 to 15 times the number that were brought to Eros for the initial invasion.

This is considerable. Even though forces of all of the United Dragonborn functions, even if we were to liberate draconis it would still be a difficult battle to win we are vastly outnumbered whilst the cradle is in effect we have a hold a choke hold valkyrian cannot bring his largest forces to bear. If his intent is to destroy Erois, he could do so without landing a single troop upon our world.

However, based on the information we received from the storm chasers, we believe that their goal is not complete annihilation. They must recover something from the world. And if they destroy it, there may be a possibility that they will destroy this artifact, this world engine that Calus is currently seeking. This means we will have to fight

a ground war. This at least gives us a chance. We know Erois. We have technology. We have magic. You can only bring so many forces to bear at once but this will be an immensely difficult war if it comes to it in terms of technology the one advantage we did hold was ethereum it seems that ethereum

is unique to arois it cannot be used by the other worlds. Valkyrian has obtained some in a report given to us by Sky Prince Aradan. A number of dissident Gusthaven citizens have provided the Valkyrian Empire with Ethereum technology. However, they do not hold the means to manufacture it. This does give us a slight advantage. means to manufacture it. This does give us a slight advantage. For now, until we have a greater assessment of the forces

that we have to bear, and she looks around all of the assembled leaders, our assessment is a grim one. She sits back down. Danica nods her head. Prove the stormchaser. I invite you now to

give us your thoughts. I would hear from each of you. She gestures for someone to start, but she would hear from each of you. Who would like to go first? All eyes

turn on you. Lucius's chair squeaks back i suppose this captain of the storm chaser perhaps i should go first i'm lucius virion eloine alanastro of gust haven and we have seen a lot. A lot has happened. Where to begin, ultimately? What do you need to know? We're here to provide as much truth as

we can. For now, Captain Lucius, I would hear your thoughts on the threat that we face. Perhaps what you believe to be our best steps forward. I would hear your thoughts on the threat that we face perhaps what you believe to be our best steps forward but also

anything else you wish to say out of all of us the dragonborn fought a war a long time ago I was I was a courtesan back when the sundering happened even sentinel prime here only fought as a foot soldier, a protector. The five of you have traveled beyond our world.

You have seen Valkyrian's empire, but more than that, if the reports are to be believed, you have met the man himself. You understand that he has a greater machinations for all of this right now you are our best source of information on not only the threat we face but what our best solution to it would be she nods back towards you lucius absolutely and i believe all of our accounts are important as well as the accuracy and i'm not the most accurate so that's why nova quill century and ayla are here to fill in the gaps we first came into contact with starvane many months ago

when he was seeking someone that was amongst us. That came into our party seemingly out of chance. We were taking an airship on a trade mission. That was attacked by the Court of Shadow. Seemingly Starbane influenced.

Right. And he looks down at Nova. Any other details? Okay. There we... It's fine. You got it. Two thumbs up. Thumbs up.

In the messenger ring be like, you know, I did point out that we have this. We should maybe make use of it the airship crashed the court of shadows did not seemingly get their uh

their prize alas Starbane tried to claim it again and thankfully that person that Calus wanted saved us, but unfortunately transported us elsewhere. The dragonborn, Faelissa, interrupts for a moment. Captain Lucius, I would ask,

we are led to believe from our reports from the vivex this treasure this item that he this person he was seeking you refer to the one called valour yes you claim that you believed her to be his daughter he said it with his own words, to which both Valor and us were utterly shocked and had no idea. Please continue, but for the purposes of this council, let us refer to her as Valor, not as some unnamed thing. Absolutely. She has been our personal driving goal throughout all of this. We did not want to be thrust in the face of Starbane and deal with what we have dealt. I want everyone to know that. We've had to do what we had to do because we want to save Valor.

We want to save people of Arois. And we've been put on this pedestal unwillingly. Nevertheless, Valor is still out there. Kallus has her. The last reports we've had that she is safe. However, who knows

what indoctrination or attempts he has made to bring her and her powers of which we have seen she is quite capable, to use and to utilize. One of the other members, not interrupts, but kind of gestures to speak. This is Bloodlord Urianna Vashton of Bloodvale.

She is his daughter, and he has claimed her. If we can recover her, do you believe that she would be a suitable hostage for keeping Erois safe if we were to take her as our captive? That is a difficult question to answer because Calistar Bane is no straightforward person you do not know his motives truly but he didn't desire to find her he sought her out this implies that she is important in some way. Yes. I believe she may have some importance with his mission. That is somewhat speculative.

It's only assumptive on our part. That is somewhat speculative It's only assumptive on our part I will now hand over to someone Who has been Journaling everything All accounts Nova Vija Nova stands up

Bangs her leg on the table Sits down, stands up again Hello Assembled dignitaries my name is Nova Vija I come from Vorten Saar I'm an Eir Gnasi thank you Lucius for yielding the floor if I may there is a lot of information that we, there is a lot of information that we have. There are a lot of encounters we have had with both

Starbane and various of his forces and of Hadar's forces. I have chronicled all these reports on these tablets known as Data Shards. This is a technology I brought back with me from beyond the Astral Sea. Circulate whatever

Dump them on the table pass them on pass them along pass pass them along Stop passing them along. Yeah You can see that those in the council who are familiar with magitek help the others to like they're like pressing the thing They're showing them that they can touch it and scroll it and stuff like that Like the ones because a lot of them have never seen this stuff before. They're like holding it up like, what the hell is this? They show them how to do it. I'll messenger ring Nova. Take a deep breath.

You'll face many things. This is just talking. You've got this. I'm really bad at talking. Nova, you've spent every second that we've known you writing this stuff down just say it out loud you got this it's totally fine

I believe in you do it if I may in addition to what Lucius has said I believe there was one contact who was looking for girls who looked similar to Valor. Her name was Lady Vale and she was based in Goldthrone.

Perhaps our emissaries from Goldthrone can investigate that thread because it is certainly one of the first threads in this whole tapestry. I would also say that we discovered worshippers of Zarkira in Ironwick who were working with forces that appeared to be here despite the cradle being sealed. There are several

figures of concern. One is Starbane himself, who I believe does fight with a sense of honour. Perhaps not the honour that we recognize but it is his own code of conduct my biggest concern comes from his second in command Zarkira she is responsible for horrible violent gory experimentations as you will see in my notes under subheading coldlight Deaths, Twilight Corals.

She is a matter of some concern, as she has shown the ability to operate outside of Starbane's parameters. And then finally we come to Hadar itself. There are records in our journals, in Erosa's journals journals from pre-sundering of contact from hadar and it took divine power to seal him away in the farm realms and it will take divine power to stop him that is why starbane is here because he believes that there is the world engine here can stop this however he has experimented before with Alfheim and the world engine on Alfheim and that resulted in the entire destruction of the whole planet he has offered he has offered to let people leave this planet. However, it would be under his rule,

and the people of Aroas would be integrated into his empire. There's silence for a moment. In your mind, Nova, you receive a message. An external message. From a voice you recognize. Oh, no. It's a panicked elven woman's voice. Nova, I am with your family.

Something is happening here in Vortensar. My research has been taken. City locked down. Can try to teleport them out. Where are you? Everyone's looking at you in the council chambers. Nobody else hears this message. Nova will freeze.

Just absolute freeze. Just her mouth kind of going... Nova? Messenger ring. Don't worry, Nova. You've got've got this just keep talking you're doing great you have 25 words to respond city of horizon world leader meeting send them here now yep you've got 15 words left if you want something else

yep you've got 15 words left if you want to say anything else what what is happening to vortensar leaders here i can't think she wouldn't think of anything that's fine that's fine there's a long pause no do you say that out loud no okay so everyone's just kind of looking at nova uh while she just She wouldn't think of anything else. That's fine. There's a long pause. No. Did you say that out loud? No. Okay. So everyone's just kind of looking at Nova while she just suddenly goes silent

and all of you are like, oh, she's just gone silent. She doesn't have another scroll of sending. Yeah, that's the last thing you hear, unfortunately, Nova. But you send that message. Miss Vija. Miss Vija? Miss Vija?

Danica? Are you alright? Do you need to take a moment? Vorten, sir, and I look for the river and... Titan. And I'm just the river and Titan. Yep. And I'm just looking directly at them.

Make an insight check for me, Nova. Ooh, I'm really good at insight. Eleven. They're looking at you. They're pretty, you know, expressions just kind of neutral. Um. Uh.

If I could, one last thing before I yield the floor. Uh, we have potential allies in a race called the Eterna. Uh. potential allies in a race called the Eterna. Uh, if we could reunite the Triumvirate, they could be a powerful ally, especially as Starbank uses them to power his fleet. Uh... Nova, you are in distress.

Allow me to speak. And you see Tiangong, like, glowing at Nova's side. you see Tiangong like glowing at Nova's side I am Tiangong I was once a member of the triumvirate leader of the Eterna, magical beings we entered

a bargain with Calus Valkyrian to save our race. That bargain was not as expected. We were tricked. However, our race was saved from annihilation. Hadar does not just destroy. Hadar consumes. Hadar annihilates

Hadar erases That which it destroys is no more No body, no soul, no memory Be aware Callous may make offers it will likely be a choice

of lesser evils Nova Vija is currently distressed please give her a moment to align herself and then the glow kind of fades and the messenger rings, Nova align herself. And then the glow kind of fades. And the messenger rings like, Nova,

what's going on? Why are you in distress? I don't like hearing that. I've received a message from my professor. My family is under attack. She's trying to escape. My professor's research has been taken. I don't know if it's... I don't know if...

Who is responsible? I've told them to come here. I don't know if it's... I don't know if... What? Who is responsible? I've told them to come here. I don't know what's going on. What do we... Do I say something? Do I say something now? What do I do? Nova, calm down.

Now might not be the time. We need a contact. We need to send some help. Something. Someone needs to distract. We need to be talking to the room right now. As you guys are having this conversation, Vicerine Galilea

Vespretto of the Sanzenian Commonwealth stands up. I believe it is time that we heard from another source. And her eyes seem to almost shimmer with magic. and in the very center

of the room appearing in an illusion an illusory form is a dark-haired handsome man in purple and black armor that you all recognize this is why we didn't want to talk to you lady we had nothing to say to you, lady. We had nothing to say to you. That's why the meeting was so awkward when we met you yesterday. God damn it. The illusion looks around. People of Aroas,

my name is Calus Valkyrian. Though you know me as Calus Starbane. Your history has taught you to fear me, and rightly so. Much of what you know is true, though not all. Today, your leaders meet to discuss me and my intentions for your world, But I would speak to all of you. I came to Erois 500 years ago to claim this planet. Not out of some bloody conquest or tyrannical display of power,

but because Erois is the key to a far more important battle that I have been fighting for over a thousand years. Hadar, the Red Star, the Ever-Hungry, the Endmaker. A being so powerful that the gods of the multiverse locked it away in another realm on the edges of the Astral Sea. It has learned to attack from within its prison and has destroyed countless worlds, including my home. It invades not to conquer or to enslave, but to end all life, all matter. What Hadar touches is not just killed, it is annihilated, erased from existence. I have been fighting Hadar

since before your world was created, holding it back and defending the planes within my empire. But I cannot hold it back forever. Slowly, inch by inch, the red star gains ground and my forces diminish while its are infinite. Despite Siaska's hopes to hide you away from Hadar's reach, it will eventually find Aroes and everything you know will be consumed. I cannot stop, Hadar. not without the heart of your world. When I came 500 years ago, I gave Siaska an offer intended for you, her creations, to make. She refused it for you, and there was war. Today, I have come to make the same offer I did then, but now the choice is yours and yours alone. Not your leaders, not the titans you call gods, nor the champions who fight on your behalf. I want this to be your choice, no one else's.

In one year, the cradle will vanish. When it does, I will be able to bring the full might of my empire to claim your world. And I will use it to stop Hadar. I will do this. I will not negotiate or bargain. I will take your world by force, if I must. But, anyone who surrenders to me and my forces will be made into a full citizen of the Valkyrian empire you will be given a new home of your choosing from my many worlds you will be given

shelter food resources jobs if you want them or opportunities to do as you wish you will have the protection of my armies access to my magic and technology. You will be made equals, regardless of the status of your birth or wealth now. My empire rewards those of skill and hard work, not of privilege. Your lives will be enriched beyond belief, and you will see the worlds and meet people you could not imagine. Two of your nations have already joined me. The Ganassi of Vortensar, long held prisoner by Siaska's laws, will rejoin their homeworld of Ganass. The Sanzenzian Commonwealth of Gisela has also agreed to my terms.

Both of these nations will be safe havens for any who wish to surrender over the next year. You will be protected and cared for in these great cities until the cradle falls, and my ships can take you to your new homes. Until a year has passed, my forces will establish footholds and military advantages across Erois. If you surrender and comply with these forces i promise you a better life will await you but resist you will face a swift but merciful death the choice is yours and with that the illusion vanishes the council explodes not in a literal sense like people are like what is the meaning of this you have brought like they're pointing at the woman from gisella they're now like like people are like the dragonborn you can see them like magic and you know engulfing their

hands um netherials like flames are's flames are pouring out of his mouth as he looks at the two ambassadors from Ganass. Traitors! You have already aligned yourselves with this tyrant, our enemy! And you can just see the two of Ganassi just hold up their hands in complete surrender. What do you guys do?

I have no idea. Aayla, the lightning is rising down arms yeah sure yeah i immediately want to advance on titan and river just screaming what did you do to my family what did you do they just look they look they look sad they They look guilty. Your family has not been harmed, Nova Vija. No one in Vortensar has. We've locked the city down. This harmony has made the decision that this is for the best for the people of Ganas.

Our city has been held here for too long against our will, the will of its people. This is not our home. We were denied planar magic to return to where we are supposed to be by Siaska, your goddess, not ours. Talos offers us a chance to be reunited with our homeworld, for you to have your people back, for the people of Jasovir to be returned to you in a new home. It is the better option.

We cannot fight against Kallus. His force is too strong. This is the best option. We can defeat Hadar. We can have new homes, new worlds, and be united with our people. What makes you think that he's not going to destroy that world

like he destroyed mine? He does not need to. Once he has the world engine, he will be able to defeat Hadar. Siaska took it from him. She stole his opportunity to use it as a weapon. He's told us all of this.

We know that you fight did you ask the people of vorten sar to vote on this or did you just make a decision for them we are meant to be a democratic city you are the best of us you were chosen to represent us i asked you to protect my family and i got a message saying they are in danger what have have you done with them? No one is in danger, Nova, and of course this was to the people. You know how our city works. Harmony put the vote to the people, and this is what they decided. They would rather go to their home than have a pointless war that we are doomed to lose. They've made their decision. And I... I know that.

I have spent my life's work trying to find Jasiphir. I came back with information. There were other ways to do it. Not without avoiding bloodshed. This is the best way. I'm sorry. You can see that, like, the guards are, like, all getting ready. Danica stands up.

Enough! And flames erupt over the roof of the room. Despite these revelations, you are all still here as my guests. I will hear the voices of all those who seek to protect the citizens of Aroas. She looks at the dragons. Stand down, General. I will not have you attack any of the other guests. You can see the dragons are seething, ready to just...

One is crackling with lightning next to Aayla. They're just kind of ready to go. This is a revelation. An unexpected one. But my rules of my city still stand. I will not have violence in these chambers or in my city.

Not until I know that there is a direct threat. Stand down. I think that this meeting is adjourned for now. She kind of steps back. Storm chasers, I would have you speak with me once your affairs are attended to. And she looks at Nova when she says that.

The rest of you, guards, escort them to their chambers. You can see the dragons like, we will not stand for this, Danica. These three have committed treason. their nations are treasonous the dragon the draconis militarum will not stand for this you will stand by or you will go to war with horizon generals holy shit holy shit and that's where we're gonna take a break. Holy shit. Jesus. That's a lot.

He didn't attack. He didn't attack because he didn't even need to. He just got those nerds to join him. I had a feeling. Little shit. Little traitors. That's some genius play right there, Mark Humes. Damn it. It's almost like I've had this in my back pocket for a year and a half. That's some genius play right there, Mark Hughes. Damn it! It's almost like I've had this in my back pocket for a year and a half.

Incredible. I love it. I don't even know how to respond. We're going to take a... I need to get out of this. I don't know what you're doing. I know that that's your characters, yeah. It's so juicy.

Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh. Oh. Jesus. Anyway, we're going to take a break. I knew there was going to be a gag, right? Going to give you guys my gosh. Jesus. Anyway, we're going to take a break. I'm going to give you guys a minute. Yeah, of course.

You just didn't expect people to have already signed up to him. That's the problem. Yeah, yeah. He wasn't, yeah, he's not going to take any chances. He's already started doing his work. scene.