High Rollers DnD - High Rollers: Aerois #148 | When I was a Young Elf (Part 1)

Episode Date: June 6, 2022

We prepare for our journey to Kellara while My Alchemical Romance still runs rampant in Nova's mind! Support the High Rollers and get early access to podcast episodes and Studio updates on our Patreon: www.patreon.com/HighRollers Grab some High Rollers merch: https://freshmerch.fm/collections/high-rollers Music courtesy of Epidemic Sound & TCT Adventures (Solasta: Crown of the Magisters) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Download Bumble and try it for yourself. Welcome back to Aroes. After assisting the Titan Valena in the completion of her two final projects, the champions of Aroes returned to the Sky City of Horizon to meet with their companions and allies, updating them about Valena's gift. Discussions and plans have been made for the new weapon, as well as updates for champions regarding the movements of Calus's forces. Of great note was two updates regarding the Titans Calara and Atelicus. A unit of Guardian Scouts have returned and located the Sanctum of the Order of Black

and Rose, once an order of holy knights in Calara's service. They have now become killers plagued by grief and sorrow. Believing this sanctum to be the location of the breach point into Calara's demiplane, the champions have set it as their next goal. Some of the party enjoyed some rather unusual dreams, as two of our party were visited seemingly by the essence of Siaska, who has now grown strong enough to begin manifesting her will through these dreams, whilst one of the party were instead contacted by an old acquaintance, shall we say. And I will leave that to our party

to discuss with their crew as they wish. As you have completed a long rest, you wake up in the Sky City of Horizon, and I hand it over to you. I'm going to run out into the main room, the main dining room area of this place. Yeah, where you've got your suite, you've got a rich apartment, basically. Yeah, and is anyone around, around the time that Early Bird wakes up? I'm busy.

I don't know. I awaken too as an early bird. Oh, yeah, you do. Siaska! Siaska! Siaska? Siaska! Siaska!

I had a dream. Me too! You weren't there, though. No, you weren't in mine either. I had a voice, and it was definitely Siaska. A hundred percent. I saw her. There was the questions.

There was the hammers. There was the seagulls.ers there was the seagulls did you hear the seagulls I did hear yes I looked out upon a landscape of such I did hear seagulls

what landscape where were you I was totally wow I sculpted that dream for Lucius

in the last 10 minutes yeah no I sculpted it long ago but it was just conveyed to you in the last ten minutes. Yeah. No, I sculpted it long ago, but it was just conveyed to you in the last ten minutes. It was in Gusthaven. It was in Gusthaven. It got a bit dark at some points. Oh.

But then it got really good. Oh, mine was good throughout. It was amazing. It was, I think, a future. It was in the Valley of Storms, and I saw there was no cradle. It was an Arois. If we win, I think a future. It was in the Valley of Storms, and I saw there was no cradle. It was an arois. If we win, I think.

Okay. There were ships coming down, ships leaving. It was incredible. We were flourishing. Honestly, this whole dream thing is wonderful. It's great, right? Well, sometimes it's awful, actually. Door slams open.

Starbane! What? Sometimes it's awful, actually. Door slams open. Starbane! What? I think at that point, Aayla is probably woken by at least a noise.

Arvel and Tettl will probably come out, and, like, Sentry probably would have jostled out of, you know, power. It's your trigger word. Yeah, Sentry hears Starbane. What? What? Comes out of Starbane, going, shh. What have we said about shouting in the morning? Especially that name.

It is in my dreams again. You dreamed about Starbane again? Yes. Oh, for God's sake. Well, what dream? Like, dream, dream, or dream, dream, dream? Not the dream, dream, dream, but the dream, dream, where he's actually talking to me, like, actually in the room.

Oh, so not a dream, dream. And communicated. Yeah. What did he say? He to me. Oh, so not a dream dream. And communicating. Yeah. What did he say? He says hi. Oh. You know, just checking in, wondering how everyone is. What did he say, Nova?

What did you tell him? All our personal passwords and PIN codes. We don't have PIN codes. Nova, what's a password? I don't know. Well, it's like two guys. Oh. Well, now we can't say that anymore.

He was really nice. Really nice. I don't trust it. He said he came with two warnings. Two. Two warnings. He was nice, but he came with warnings. Nice warnings.

Okay. Go on. One, Artelicus. Nice warnings. Okay, go on. One, Artelicus. He warned me that Artelicus is different to the other Titans, and Artelicus represents Siaska's protective, stubborn nature, and therefore he's going to be the worst.

Worst. We had it good with the maiden. Worst. Right. Okay. But plus side, he kind of said that if we really struggle against Artelicus, I could call upon him to help. Wait, wait, wait. Hold on.

Okay. Let's just dial it back just a second or two. Yeah, maybe four. He's aware, so much so that he's giving us advice on Atelicus. I mean, he was aware when we saw him last. You know, he said, like, I know what you've been doing with the Titans. That's why we took our anti-Sky devices off, remember? Because it's pointless.

Because he already knows what we're doing. Why is he helping? Because surely he wants the cradle to come down so that all his forces can land. That worries me. Yeah. Does it not? He's goading us to do it. I did bring this up before.

Yeah, he was also building a titan killer. I did bring this up before. I've definitely spoken about this before. Then again, we had a dream about Siaska. We had a dream about Siaska. And it was fantastic. We saw her. And she's got the power to speak to us now.

She does. I saw a statue of her. You didn't see her. You felt her, but you didn't actually see her. I smelled her. I saw a statue of her, and Starbane was underneath the statue. What if she was trying to talk to me and Starbane got in the way? She could have probably.

She'll try again. Sounds like something you'd do. It was a very potent dream. And it was wonderful, mostly. Quill had a really good one. I had a great dream. What did you say about your dream? Oh, it was a future of Erois, I think.

And Erois is the future in which we win, I think. No cradle. There's trade and travel. And everyone knows what Erois is. And it's visiting and loving it and leaving. Are the Ganassi still there? What and leaving. Are Ganassi still there? Are the Ganassi still there? I didn't see any people. It was just ships up, ships down. There was also a city in the Valley of Storms

where there wasn't a city before. Hang on, my book is rumbling. There was also a city in the Valley of Storms where there wasn't one before. It was more for Tom's knowledge, in case Tom had forgotten more than me trying to correct anything. But, yeah, so that was my dream. What was yours?

I saw my dead family for a moment. Oh. And I briefly approached them, but they'd all kind of disappeared very quickly, and then it was a siesta. Which is nice. I had a second warning. Oh yeah, two warnings. Okay, good. About Vort and Saur.

Um, he said that, um, Harmony and Shansara have taken over. And Shansara's kind of gone a bit rogue. Bit rogue. Not really... As in rogue from Valkyrian Empire rogue? Yeah, she's kind of not following his orders anymore. As in following Sarkira? Starbane's.

I mean, because we know there's already one split. I don't know about Sarkira, but apparently she's just fallen in love with the fact that she's an idol. You know? Okay, so just Starbane disagrees with this. Well, they've blocked communications from all of Orton, sir, which is why you couldn't get through to my brother. Mm-hmm.

And I definitely kept sending. Okay. I believe you, Quilt. But yeah, you're not going to be able to get through. But yeah, apparently Harmony is more invested in taking Fortinstar back into space, into the Astral Sea, than we realised. And Starbender thinks it's not going to work.

He thinks there could be a monumental disaster. Which, you know, lots of deaths, city blowing up. Bad. Yeah. Says the guy who's trying to kill a whole world. Well, he's trying to evacuate people from the world first. Into his colonies. Yeah, subjugation of sorts.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. But, you know, so you know it's bad if he's saying it's a disaster, right? It's gonna be a disaster. I'm trying to think of the ulterior motives here. Is there anything that we can... Well, here's the thing... Why would he warn Nova of Italicus and the situation with Vornsaar? Because Vornsaar's a sensitive point to Nova. Of course it would get a reaction. Well, he even said that he would try and stop the project the the teleportation

project he was going to try and contact anyone who's listening to him and get them to delay it as much as they could it's also concerning that starbane worries about someone like shansara like why is that such a big deal to him, considering his vast empire? Maybe because it's another high-ranking officer who's going rogue? Yeah, he has to be betrayed by Zarkir as well, so it's like... It's not a good look. Did he ask about Maximilian? No. Okay.

I think he trusts that Valor is in good hands with us. Did he ask about Valor? No. That means he knows everything already. Yeah. Oh, yeah, he does. I mean, he literally said, when I said, how can I call on you? And he said, oh, no.

And I was like, oh, yeah, because we took off our device. But then he did say he's not spying on us. Oh, sure. So I feel better already. Okay, yes. Then he's just coming to you in your Oh, sure. So I feel better already. Okay, yes. He's just coming to you in your dreams. Right. Yeah.

There was one more thing. Oh. Oh, third warning. It wasn't so much a warning. I don't know that we should share this with people, though. Yeah. Can we protect the area? I think we already are.

Mention it. Although it was in the dream. There's some protections in the main citadel. Hushed tones. Our messenger ring sentry all this information. I'm going to say what it is. She's going to say what it is. I'm going to say why I don't think we should share it outside of this room.

And we shouldn't share it outside of the room. And please don't shout at me until I have shared it. I't need to say i guess can we have like a word for when you are done with the information so we can't share in the middle of it i think alva will say like at this point do you want me and pedal we can we can step away for a second if you'd rather figure out the other stuff just don't share it with your vast network. Yeah, of course. Yes, of course. We won't share anything.

I feel, you know, I try and stay quiet, and if you want my opinion, I'd give it, but you know more about all of this than me. I'm just here to support. Starvel or Petal in danger. I don't think so, no. Then you're welcome to stay. All right.

Starbane said that he is leaving Erois for a while. That's good. Because he is going to find the answers that he seeks to the that Aayla did to him. Wow, that coin really rattled him. Wow, yeah.

Great. I did that! What he saw with the coin That was Aayla! has rattled him enough that he wants to go and seek answers, presumably from Hadar, from Zarkira, and that must be why his forces have just, you know, not left, but... Stalled.

Stalled at the moment. You see, that was exactly what I anticipated when I did that. Here's the thing, though. I don't think we should tell the Council. I don't think we should tell the council. I don't think we should tell the world leaders. Because I think that we have a real chance here, a sliver of a chance to bring him over to our side if he finds these answers.

But if the world forces attack his forces while he's out, it's not a good look. No, it's not. What would prevent them from doing that anyway? Even if they don't get this news, they could still see that they're on the defensive or stalling and take that initiative. Maybe we should say something.

That Starbane is springing a trap, so you shouldn't attack. He's goading you. Convincing. No, he's going to get you. You could say that at the council. I mean, their forces have been on the defensive and stalling for... Well, like a month or so.

A month or so, my book says. So... You need to stop this number. That is not canon. Hard DM rule rule that's not how it works this is all in quill's head my alchemical romance is canon yes you can have that one fuck yeah but they they haven't made a move to attack i mean they have the forces on the defensive that if we decided to attack they would be able to i was going to remind you guys the last time this came up um there was a discussion the dragons wanted to press the attack and you guys danica and the grand strategist uh convinced them not to oh yeah they're going to

help with the well this was actually before that which is the first time that you found about valkyrian's forces stalled you basically said there was this discussion of, like, you are still outnumbered. Like, your alliance has grown, but you guys individually are still outnumbered. Kallus's forces hold Giselle, they hold Zephenna, which are two big continents with a large army in support, and then all of Kallus's forces, who knows where in the astral space. You guys convinced them, like, look, just because they're stored doesn't mean that we should attack. We should use this time to strengthen ourselves

and then be ready for whatever happens next. That was the plan that you guys and the council agreed on initially. A memory jog because it was a while ago in-game. So a little memory jog. Maybe if we do what Danica suggested and try to find a way to wake the dragons, like the Vivex and all that, then the Dragonborn will hold back a bit. If we say, we're going to look into this, you know, they mentioned using a sliver of the world engine or something or somehow,

maybe if we say, hey, look, I know you want to go fight, but don't, and we can go wake up the dragons, and then we can go fight, and maybe Starbane will be back by then. I don't know. There's a lot of thoughts in my head. My head is exploding. I mean, I don't know much about... I've had some dealings with the dragons and the dragon form all across Arois.

They, those ships that they came in, the Vivex and many of the many others they're basically gods to them if you were to wake them up i mean it would be a distraction their culture would be completely different they would they would suddenly be as if siaska woken again they would they would there would be a period where they would have to adjust to that you know same as eros will have to do with you know when you're successful bringing c.E.S.K. back. That'll be, it will cause waves amongst their people. So it would certainly distract them from anything else,

I imagine. It's just my opinion. There's that and then there's the fact that we've got these gods causing chaos, like the giant beast and everything. We've got a lot to deal with now that we could actually use a lot of help on you know if anyone's just chilling how about maybe help with the the catastrophes around arois for now well you say that um they are helping. Thankfully, we are distracting the dragonborn with the three monsters that are attacking a place in the jungle. Look at you with your nose.

Yes, it is Hunter Varnir that told us. Who's the leader of the wild elves? Not the leader of the wild elves. He's the leader of the wild elves of Asagrad. Nope. Asagrad? Alcerath. Alcerath. He's not the leader of them. Nope. He is, nope, I'm not gonna say any more, but you're wrong. He's an arctic wild elf. He's the leader of the wild elves and he let us know that there's a growing

threat of three large monsters of a variety. One is like a tide hydra. I do know that there's a growing threat of three large monsters um of a variety one is like a tide hydra i do know that what what are they called no they have names now oh they have names what are they called well one was called stone more storm wing and tide hydra i said that one already tide hydra and uh they're attacking they're mutating, adapting, evolving. What were their names? Stonemoor. Shall I just pass you my notes? My writing is really bad.

I was writing notes that whole time. Stonemoor, Stormwing and the Tidehydra. They seem to have abilities akin to their environment. And they're adapting to the hunting techniques. Yes, they're learning. And Hunter Varnir is a representative of the Hunters Guild, which is a clan of wild elves who have basically dedicated themselves to trying to track down these great beasts. In Asagra. In Asagra, yeah.

Not in Asagra. An entire other place in another plane. You literally have written Asagra as well. It's obviously like he knew that that name was a thing and he's written that down. an entire other place in another plane. You literally have written Azagra as well. It's obviously like he knew that that name was a thing, and he's written that down, yeah. Bless you. I'm writing stuff down, all right?

I'm impressed. He's bought new pens. I've got new pens. New pens and a new notebook. Yeah, I'm impressed. I'm such a good boy. I mean, it's been six years and he's finally here. I'll take it. Even if they are wrong.

Yeah, they are adapting, so we need to find a unique way to attack them. One thing is becoming hunters of monsters. Yeah, we need to hunt those monsters. Raise our hunter rank a little bit higher. It does mean that the very battle-hungry Dragonborn are somewhat distracted with that threat right now. They've gone to help. Rather than attacking Starbane's forces. So that's one positive.

Also, Rain, the Horizon Guard, leader of the Wild Elves, will protect the teleport circles on Astoria, which is one of the big worries that we had, a safety issue of the wild house um protect the teleport circles on astoria which is one of the big worries that we had a safety issue of the astoria um we took we asked if rain would do it and that was nova's idea i'm smart uh never tried to contact his brother but was blocked yep you kept sending messages i kept sending messages but we know why now sending messages i kept i kept sending messages but we know why now yep yep there's some more notes on the previous page i've got other people i like the idea that like ayla is trying to read like nova's actual notebook in all of this and it's just like what yeah very tiny as well yeah it's about halfway down oh we've got new information on the uh the the knights of the

black and rose the order of the black and rose, the Order of the Black and Rose, which is our next step, I do believe. Yes, it is. Because that is a growing threat. Two guardians, scouts came. One was called Stave, he was a mage, and Dowser, who was a scout. And they gave us lots of information with a really fancy map,

which spread out all amongst us. It was incredible. What was that information? In northern Jakesh, in Nightbloom Hold, the location that is the location of the origin of the Knights potentially, which is within a huge jungle valley, which looked fantastic on this little mini map. It's wonderful. There's a few Knights and a Celestial There's a few knights and a celestial in that hold,

and it's potential that the celestial could be their leader of some sort, and that celestial could be teleporting these knights around Arois, causing problems. On top of that, a lot of necromantic corruption is growing in the area. There's a lot of undead that are enhanced and they seem to have some sort of shared mind. Yes, like a hive mind. But they're very cognitively simple, if that's the right way to put it. They don't seem to learn, adapt and engage. It's just if you're near them, they will just keep coming,

so you have to keep moving. So basically, we're going to have to be fast, get in, get out, do our job. Otherwise, we'll be overwhelmed by undead forces. Perfect. That's basically it. Was the Celestial also a necromancer? I think he was the leader of the wild elves. That's why we probably shouldn't put him or her in the Pokeball because they are celestial with necromancy, bad energy.

And then we'd have to propose that. And we'd have to find a necromantic good guy, which doesn't make sense. You'd have to find a fiend that is infused with radiant energy. And given that we want to put Grotz, the leader of Azagrad, in there, that's not... Wait a second. Who was that little purple... Bim. No, Vim. The... Oh, the dragon dude.

The little one that rescued from the ship. He was very powerful. Was it radiant? And is he a fiend? No, he's very chaos. No, he had very... He was chaos time magic. Kind of like Nova's new gravity oscillating spells.

Nova and Quill will also recognise that his powers were very similar to what Vala was using. Yeah. Very similar. I know there's a lot of people who want us to solve that mystery. But not radiant. And we never will. That's the closest I saw of some sort of fiend with powers. He's not fiend.

He is a little tiny dragon creature, so I'll let that be. I will say Nova, Quill, and Sentry. If you guys want to make me Arcana checks, or religion, you can choose. Arcana or religion checks. Would you like any other notes? No, we're good. We're good, thank you. 24. 24?

Oh my god. 15. 15? 14. 14. Sentry, Nova, you'll get a bit more information. Two of you, Sentry probably from when you were you know fighting callus's forces you know in the initial war uh on on arois um callus has vast amounts of celestials and fiends in his army like those two of the forces that he first conscripted um into the empire and so a lot a large amount of his army is filled with Celestials and Fiends.

That's what you sort of remember and you know with that in mind it is possible that you know maybe a Fiend and a Celestial have intermingled in some way or like have influenced one another and you could find a Fiend imbued with radiant energy the best place to find them probably would be in kallus's forces somewhere um for nova with the a much higher result you kind of have the same theory less from your experience with fighting but remembering like the fiends and the celestials you saw in elysium and as a gratt and places like this um for the years, based on how long the Empire has existed, there must be, you are almost certain that there will be several fiends and celestials of both sides that have become sort of influenced by each other.

And although normally a celestial is a being of a radiant plane, you know, would be associated with a heavenly plane, and the fiends with hellish or abyssal planes. It is certainly possible that one could be influenced by the other and become infused by it. You don't remember seeing any in particular, but things like groups like the Wings of Ishtar,

Kallus himself, any of his like military records and things like that would probably have knowledge of those kind of individuals if you needed to track one down. So if you did want to pursue and try and capture this Celestial that's in the Hold, you could, in theory, try and fight in Nightbloom Hold, sorry, you could, in theory, try and track down a Fiend Hold, sorry, you could in theory try and track down a fiend

that is infused with radiant energy as well. So, and that is why, that presentation, ten-minute presentation that I've just pulled out there, while still in my pajamas, is why it could be a good idea to capture the Celestial, because we could always figure it out afterwards. True, true. You've got one.

I prefer that to Grants grants he'd be very difficult really difficult to match as well because i'm still not past the whole thing you would need an extremely powerful celestial like not quite deity level but on the level of like an archfey uh a demon prince version of a celestial which would be basically a what I think we would call the term High Celestial or like a Grand Angel, basically. Like this would be like a commander of an angelic legion. Doesn't seem as easy to find that one. Plus if he gets out, he'll probably kill one of us.

Yeah, all of us. It's a big problem, yes. Doesn't like us a lot. Would make the Stormchaser very powerful if you were able to. But that's a choice. Can we upgrade at a future date? No. Once you give one being,

because remember the ball can only hold one creature at a time, so once you've captured one and you give it to Azaria to install into one of the engines, that is locked into that engine, which means that you are then committed to whatever force give it to Azaria to install into one of the engines, that is locked into that engine, which means that you are then committed to whatever force you have to find the opposite for. But if we were to let that one go... Once it's in the engine, you can't let it go without destroying the engine. We could buy a new engine.

You can certainly ask for Azaria to make you another one. She was very, very happy with the Astoria, worryingly so. However, she is on our side, right? Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. It's all for a good cause. And she's made her feelings very clear about Zarkira. I think she's already on there. In fact, she's probably...

Oh, yeah, like, yeah, nobody stopped her, so she's gone straight there. Yeah. Which is fair enough. But hopefully we've also sent a fleet of ships to try and arm the Astoria 2 as best we can. But we still need to decide who's going to be the... What was it, Admiral?

Is it Admiral? Captain. Captain? Commander. Commander. Yes, we need to assemble the team starting... Master and Commander. Master and Commander.

We could hold interviews. In fact, I like the title Master and Commander. It's Master and Commander. Yes, we need to assemble the team starting with Master and Commander. We could hold interviews. In fact, I like the title Master and Commander. It's Master and Commander. They very much left it up to us to assemble this team. We just don't have enough, you know, on our plates to deal with. I mean, they could pick. They just, like, Danica, the point Danica made was that, like, everybody, all of the other major NPCs you've assembled

have political or, you know know reasons that they would sell you know if you are the dragons will be like we should be in charge of it you talk to the grand strategist the grand strategy is going to say i should be in charge of it you know danica can't leave because she has to be there for horizon so she's like well it's the ship was given to you as the champions of Erois, you should pick who's in command of it. And there were some ideas floated around. Do we want to do that thing where, this is Kim talking, do we want to do that thing of like sentry commuting to find some likely souls? Oh, yeah.

But we'd need to find some bods though, wouldn't we? Yeah. We have the bods. Do we not? No, no. They're all fixed up. Century. Oh, yeah.

Conveyor belt. Beep, beep, beep. Yeah. Retail. Check it out. Where's the label on it? I think... Broccoli pot. As you're having this,

Arvel's been sort of listening and thinking Petal as well. And Petal will sort of say, I do want to go back because I worry that it might have got lost over. You said that Kallus offered you his help for dealing with the Telekis, and Lucius made the point of, like, why would he do that? What's the purpose? Is that something we should be concerned with or thinking about more? I only know him as the villain. In history, I was taught by my mother and we learnt the

history of Eros, but being here listening to the things you've all talked about, I don't know if there's more to it than that. There seems to be more to his story than what I seem to understand. And I know that from speaking with Arvel, he cares greatly about his daughter, Vala, who's connected to all this. But why now? Why wouldn't he offer help with the other Titans? You said that Atelicus is different somehow, but we always knew that Atelicus was born of Siasca's protectiveness. But why is he different? What is different about him?

Why would Kallus offer his aid for this one Titan? Kallus commissioned the Titan killer to be built with the primary purpose of facing Atelicus. If Kallus was going that far, and we don't have the Titan killer at the moment, unless we go for it, he must know that Artelicus is very dangerous. Artelicus is anger and protection,

and anger is a very dangerous quality to confront. Do you think that there might be more to it, like Lucius said, do you think that this is a ploy? Do you think that this is... I don't think it's a ploy because, you know, the enemy of my enemy is my friend and he needs the Titans gone because once the Titans go, the Cradle falls and he and his entire Starfleet can access Arois incredibly easily rather than coming through gates and setting up bases.

He can bring the full force of his fleet down. There may be more to it as to why he's only just interjecting at Atalicus, but it also does line up with the moment of revelation giving him the coin. And now he's having these second thoughts and all that. And he's retreating from Eros, and he knows that we have to deal with the Titan and can't be there unless we

ask for it. It would have been nice if he gave us the coordinates of the Titan killer. That would have been really nice. Yes, give us control of that thing. You already have those. Yeah, we know that. Oh yeah. Well, if he pops in my head again maybe I'll ask him for the command codes or something. I don't, I can't say I I know this is all a bit beyond me, but could it be that as well,

if you said that Calus seems to know what you're doing with these Titans, that means he must know that Valar is going with you as well, right? Maybe that's the reason. Maybe he's worried about Valar. It could well be as simple as that. Maybe he's worried about Valor. It could well be as simple as that. If he's concerned with Atelicus, he knows his daughter will be in danger,

maybe that's why he's offering his help. He did come to save her, after all. And he knows he can't stop Valor from doing this as well. Maybe you should speak with Valor as well. You've spoken with her. She does still care for her father from what she's told me, so maybe worth just letting her know that he's going off to ask these questions

to figure these things out. She's also had some time with him that we have not, so her insight's probably quite valuable. Sure. Maybe she can make sense of his decisions recently. Okay, let's go see Valor. Good idea, Marvel.

Just trying to think out of my head. I spend a lot of time with the girl, and she's smart, and she knows what she's doing. She is. She's getting smarter by the minute as well. Very powerful. All right, let's go see Valor. I'm guessing we would just date her.

Yeah, I mean, if you guys want to go see. Yeah, I mean, we'll speed through it. Yeah, you update Valor and everything. And she kind of listens. And I think when she hears about, like, him going off, like, Calus going to ask questions and that this vision, the coin, seems to have an effect on him, there is a sense of relief in Valor.

There's a kind of sense that, like, a little bit of pressure has been eased off and she thinks and she kind of like listens and she's like well he's very strategically minded and if he thinks Atelicus is a threat and we know that he prepared this vanguard project then it is likely that Atelicus will be the most physical danger that we've encountered. Zephir was a fine warrior, but we dealt with her. Obviously Italicus will be more significant than that. I suspect that Calara will be a similar battle, but in a different way. I imagine that Calara we won't just be able to defeat with swords and steel and spells.

There'll be a trick to defeating Calara, her nature. Atelicus will just be, well, we've seen these great beasts. He will be a powerful combatant. My father's probably thinking of that. I do wonder as well, that. I do wonder as well, he knows that defeating the Titans is key to bringing down the cradle, but it won't have escaped him that in doing so will return Mother to life as well. I do wonder if there is a touch of fear perhaps, a worry that Atelicus can't be stopped, that Siasca won't be reborn? Or perhaps that Atelicus may interfere with those plans?

I know that he... well, he misses her. There may be a more human touch to this, rather than purely strategic. I can't say for sure. Even what Arvel said, if maybe to protect me. Yes, he is a conqueror. He is a tyrant, but he is a man who loved once and still does in a way. So an element to think about. It also brings me on to something I've been considering. Our plan is to go after Kalara's domain, yes? I read the report from the Guardian Scouts. Calus is aware of what we're doing.

My father is aware of what we're doing. I don't think it would have escaped both Atelicus and Calara's knowledge either. They would have recognized what we're doing by now. Going to the Demiplanes, seeking them out. They would have known. They must know about my power by now. I have a feeling that this Cel and these knights in this this hold i think that they're to protect the breach point i think calera calera is expecting us and me that's something we might want to consider and also for a telekis as well i think that he's probably expecting us at this

point we should be prepared that things won't go as smoothly as they have previously with Velaena and Zephia. Do you know of any way that we can conceal ourselves? From Calara? I don't think so. I think that from the report, this necromantic energy that's infused the valley, that'll be directly tied to Calara's influence.

We may struggle to use certain kinds of magic, things like divination spells like Sending, Scrying. Many of those spells may struggle to function in that area. I think that we can probably conceal ourselves from the minions in the same way that any sort of invisibility or illusion spell would work, but I don't think we'll be able to conceal ourselves from Calara entirely. And if she is a way of communicating with these knights, this order, then she can simply tell us, she can tell them where we are or what we're planning.

Very much like the other titans, they all possess, none of them possess Hesper's gift for foresight and seeing what wishes to be hidden, but all of them do have a divine sense about them. They are able to feel presences, they are able to feel creatures, especially in places that are deeply connected to them. I do wonder if we need to bump up our clerical power a little bit. Sorry, Quill. Okay. Well, with the reports of all these hordes of undead, rather than engaging them,

I do wonder if we just maybe need a few more kind of, you know, radiance. We could acquire some scrolls, perhaps, that I could use. I wonder as well if Scaldi can help. Although she did say when we last saw her that her power was waning as Calara was cutting herself off. I do wonder if we should visit Scaldi before we go and ask for her guidance. The more you can learn about Calara and her nature and her teachings, I think that the better your faith,

the better chance we will have in her domain. Zephir was a battle, because Zephir is... She's reckless, the sea, adventure, the spirit of the thrill of combat. Calara, there will be a physical element to it, but I think that there will be elements that we will need to figure out. And the more we understand about her as a goddess,

in a sense, the more we understand about her teachings, her duty, her role, I think that that may give us insights into what we may need to accomplish. So it's certainly worth, I would definitely, I think I would agree with Nova there. I think you should definitely go and speak to, if you have a priestess that you know, go and speak with her, learn as much as you can. Okay, so as much prep as we can do.

Yes. And less destructive, less offensive capabilities, maybe we're thinking more bolstering, more defensive? Yeah. Think of... Kalara has mastery over life and death, natural things that grow, but also the power over death and spirits. If you have ways of protecting yourself from those kinds of energies, that is definitely something I would investigate. But also, also yes like we encountered in the forge there were many changing scenarios that required us to move or access

areas quickly maybe beneficial to have those kinds of powers as well but also combat will likely still be the colorara will have creatures, minions that she can send against you. You will also need to be able to fight. Okay. I'm going to throw my radiant spells. Radiant energy would certainly, you know, historically has always been very powerful against the undead.

Yeah. It's funny in a way. We've left both of the oldest titans for last. Calara and At we've left both of the oldest Titans for last. Calara and Atelicus are two of the oldest. Which is probably why they're two of the scariest. And less willing to give up, I suppose. Yeah, that's it. They're the oldest, that means that they've been infused with the most power,

which also makes them much more dedicated to their duties, right? So, yeah, they're much more stubborn. Whereas Sayana, who's one of the youngest, and Hesper, who's one of the youngest, they retained their sort of will for a longer time because they've got that youthful rebellion against the things that they were told to be and do. Yeah.

Well picked up on. How much money do we have? That is a very good question. We have, unless this is wrong, because we haven't been really, I guess, adding up any costs we've had from the Astoria and stuff like that, but I have in my chest 11,640 gold.

And that's a decent amount. Yes, that should be a decent amount even for you. Okay, good. So, how about... He's like economics. If it may be a stretch, we could commission some enchanted haste boots. Ooh. Something like that. Or some enchantment on haste boots. Ooh, yes.

Something like that. Or some enchantment on our current boots, so that, like I say, the need for flexibility, being quick, on our feet, literally. The need for speed. The need for speed, yes. I did quite enjoy what haste did to me when we caught the starseed.

Do you remember? Yes, that's what I was thinking. Valor's hasting was very useful. I really enjoyed that. Yeah, it looked fun. It looked fun. But remember, all of us only have the capacity to be attuned to three items at once. I'll have to lose my passenger ring.

I mean, to be fair, I'll be able to update you on it. Because I'm the only... I think I'm... Am I the only one with this ring? Yeah, I think that the two of you at this point, it's just the two of you and Oriah, who's got one of the other rings as well. Meanwhile, I have my wing, which I'm not giving up, my spear, which I'm not giving up,

and my book, which I am not giving up. We don't all necessarily have to have the booties. True. I mean, I can fly as well. I can fly. You can? Well, we're still kind of hovering. But also the hasting would also allow us to perform more abilities than just movement. Like actions and bonus actions. It gives you an action.

Well it doesn't even actually give you a full action. It kind of is like a halfway house action. Okay. It's good. It's still very good. So I mean we can try to get some. I'm just making you aware. So we can afford to say like two.

I'll take the 11,000. No. No. And then I'll go. I'll go with you. I'll go with you. Right. No, no. And then I'll go... I'll go with you. I'll go with you. Right. We'll do that.

Yeah. At the very least, we can find some ways to quieten ourselves. I look at Sentry. I can walk through trees. That sounds quite loud. Quite loud. Oh, yeah. Do you have to hack away at the tree and then...

No, I can just go through them. If I can see a tree, I can walk through it to another tree. We're going to a jungle. Oh, you need to know the tree already, right? But if I'm looking at it, then the jungle's full of... Yeah, you could use a short-range version, but you wouldn't be able to go a significant distance unless it's a tree you know.

I'd like to see that. I'd like to do it. I haven't done it yet. What about also some protection from necromancy in some form let me see how many potions have i got that's hard to say like resistance of some form quaffing potions as we go would be nice or scrolls or i have two necrotic resistance potions brilliant what how do you have to century like there was a period where like everybody did a bunch of shopping and century riannon sent me a a period where, like, everybody did a bunch of shopping, and Sentry, Rhiannon sent me a message which was like,

I want to buy a bunch of protective utility potions. Here's what I want. I was like, yeah, fine. Six years later. Yep. I also have one greater healing potion, potion of poison. I have two psychic resistance potions,

and I have... I used up all the fire resistance on the volcano, I think. But I have about five potions left. But I might need more. I'm running out. Also, is it potion of poison that you have? I have a potion of poison. Okay.

That doesn't sound very protection-y. Yeah, that's the other way. Don't drink that one. No. But it smells nice. No, don't drink that one. No. But it smells nice. No, don't drink that one. They often do. Okay.

It smells like walnuts. Is it walnuts? Almonds. Almonds. What about, I'm just reminded of when we were in Rose Hall and...

Wow. That's a long time ago. Well, I just remember I remember when Lucius was touched by a thing and then you look really pale afterwards and you said you felt like your soul was getting sucked. Oh, um...

Oh, the ghosty woman. Yeah. Felt very frail. Felt very... You had it as well. Whoa, in that weird house? Weakened? When it lowers your as well. Oh, in that weird house? Weakened? When it lowers your max health. Oh, yeah, I mean,

drained. Like your vitality was drained. Yeah, like our max health wasn't as wise as it was. Well, because that's a very undead thing to do and if Clara is the titan of death and undeath and, you know... You want resistance to that. Yeah. No, I don't want that. I want that to not happen.

I want her to be, I don't know if she has an ability, but I would feel like if I was the goddess of undead, I would have that as an ability to be like, you. Life essence.

Exactly. So, you know, imagine her face if she's like, suck, and you're like, no. I don't want to be sucked.

Not today, thank you. No, not today. I mean, resistance to Negrotic, I think we'll fix that. Hopefully. Maybe. I don't... Possibly. Do we have to go to the Astoria? Are there any other magical shops that we know that aren't Astoria? There's loads of magical...

Like, you can definitely find places that sell magical items, but they will be much less powerful. You basically... Anything significantly rare or potent, less powerful. You basically, anything significantly rare or potent, you have to have custom made. You know, most people aren't going to sit there making potions of

necrotic resistance. You probably need to go and find somebody who specializes in that or can make it as a custom thing for you. Azaria is just that, she is specialized in enchantment magic. Her specialty is making items and making things, magical items. But you could definitely try and scour in the places you know. You could go to Gusthaven. You could try Goldthrone. You could

try some of the bigger cities that you've been to. There's places in Horizon that sell minor magic items, but nothing that's going to be particularly custom or powerful. Anything that's kind of rare magic item quality or higher is harder to get hold of. You have to kind of hope that you stumble upon somebody that has a unique thing.

Well, in the interest of time, I guess we'll go to Azaria first. We can also see what she's doing. Like what she's poking around Yeah, make sure she's all right. Like, what she's poking around in, you know? I can use the book. It's been another day, right? Yeah, it has, yeah.

So I can use the book to... Yeah, because did you leave the Stormchaser stationed at the... So you did. So my finder's guide will go back to the Stormchaser, and then you can travel from there. Can we just use the teleportation circle and... You could do as well. We could do that. Because and it could just save you a charge on your book yeah let's do that we're literally surrounded by teleportations

there is a slight cut there is a slight cost if you want to use unless you're going to use your helm you could use a charge of your helm to do it um if you use the gust hate if you use the horizon teleportation circles it will cost about 200 gold for you guys to teleport. I mean it's cheap for you guys It's like that's for rich people basically First class Walking no, but Nova's helmet teleportation can actually take you there uh and it's it's guaranteed to hit because you know the teleportation's going on soon we'll use your helmet okay we never know when we're going to need your charges before you go valor would just say

well just either say contact me come and pick me up on the storm chaser or let me know when you are traveling um and i can bring myself i can bring myself a max to the Stormchaser when you are ready to... When do you want us? No later than. I mean, I know where we're going, and I feel I am as prepared as possible to breach Calara's demiplane. It's just when you feel ready.

I know that you also wanted to speak to this Scaldi, this priestess. Yes, that is important. You can help us a lot. So we'll do those two things, shopping and knowledge gathering, and then we'll be right back. Of course. Oh, wait, before we leave, Licious has a question for you.

Oh, yeah. Of course. Do I? Mm-hmm. You're a bird. It's fine. It's right, Vela. You've got a lot on your mind. Let's go. I'm fine with it. I'm fine with it. I just want you to be aware, I'm fine with it.

Don't argue again, please. Please. I don't know what's going on, but I mean, until... I don't really have anything more I can do. I mean, at this point, it's just once we've dealt with Kalara, I can focus on Italicus, but I don't know if I'm going to... Italicus is going to prove very tricky. I think we need to deal with these beasts. She's got a lot to do with. She just said the exact opposite. I did say the exact opposite. Lucius, just tell me.

Whatever it is, just tell me. It's just a little thing, really. I am not a high elf at the moment. And you would like to know if I can use some of my powers to help you with that? Yeah, well, it was brought up very smartly that you are able to manipulate life as we know it. No, no.

And change all of reality. Time, time, time. And create a new me. Don't sell my powers. I'm still learning to control it. I have thought about it. I think that it is something I think I could do. There may be

complications with it. Oh. But I think I could fix any problems. But... It's not a... I just want to make it very clear. It's not a problem. It's not a problem. I think it would take some... We would need to do it very clear, it's not a problem. It's not a problem. I think it would take some...

It's a... We would need to do it on a day... Of course offended. I'm not offended. I'm totally fine with this. No, it's more that whenever I choose to do it, I think it may... I don't think I'd be able to use my powers for the rest of the day.

Channeling time magic is far more exhausting than I thought and it's very draining. So it would sort of... I wouldn't be able to do anything for the rest of that day. And... I don't have the finest control over it. What I did in Forge was a

panic-juiced moment of desperation. Yes, I think I can help. But it might take me a little bit to get there. Okay. If you don't want to do it, it's fine. No, I want to help, please. It's too much trouble, honestly.

We should probably just go shopping. What sort of complications do you foresee? Well, it's just... I don't have the finest control over the amount. I might make him... I think i could turn him back into being lucius but i might make him too young or i might make him too old and it will just take me time to settle in it might take me a few attempts to get him perfect okay just make sure make sure he's elf first and then go backwards in time because if you do it while he's an arakokra

first and then go backwards in time because if you do it while he's an arakokra well yes because he's what the way that the way that the magic would work would be to it it wouldn't be his lifespan as an arakokra because that's only been for a few days right it it oh i see yes i think maybe time yes it's it's complicated and confusing. Like I said, it might just take me a little bit of time to get there. And every time I use the power, it does sort of render me unavailable for the day. Sounds like far too much. So let's just go get... If you were to turn him back into an elf, but he was a baby,

would he still have all of Lucius' knowledge and memories, but in a tiny baby? I don't know. I don't know what would happen. I don't know what would happen. It's just your regular life. I've never done it before. I don't know if it would just be... Because I'm assuming you'd want him to have all the memories of the things that have happened since he became an Arakokra. So that means I have to alter his body but not his mind. And I think that that would be the case, that he would have...

I would have to... I think we should do this. A tiny baby. We should do this. Let's do this. But he can still talk like Lucius can. Yeah, if i use spatial magic if you put the idea in her head she might accidentally do it we'll have to pick you up and carry you everywhere if it oh that sounds like a pain in the ass carrier what if we did this side to a formula i don't want to be a baby well it's more than

if i made if his body became small if i did make him accidentally too young, his brain would be too big to maintain those memories, but I could use spatial magic to create an extra planar space where his brain is to help it stay larger. But I think that that could work. You don't need to focus on the baby. Baby with a giant head. If it does happen, I want to make sure that I'm prepared. But what sort of foods?

Would he only be able to eat liquid food? I don't want to be a baby! I don't want it! No! I'm just trying to make preparations. He probably wouldn't get hurt as much if we had him in a little carrier. Or he'd get hurt much easier. A little papoose. One HP babi.

A little papoose. A little papoose. One HP babby. A little papoose. A little papoose on Ayla. Hold his little arms up. Like one of everything. Please can someone draw baby Lucius and a little papoose on Ayla. Just carrying it around. Looking really fucking done with it though. Yeah, yeah, yeah. She'd get bored of it real quick.

Well. I don't know what's going happen stop thinking about it and then it could manifest if he's too old then we'd have to get him a cane and stuff so that he could walk around age very gracefully what was teenager lucian yeah but it'd be really old it's not that long ago. Only like 50 years. Petal had a really rebellious... Oh, I don't want Teenage Lucius. She was very rebellious. I had to keep getting out of trouble all the time. Oh, look at that! Titans are

destroying us! Let's go! Okay, okay. We'll get back to you, Bella, on that. Are you not ready today? I mean, I could try to, but it means that, yeah, if we wanted... Yes, I would need a full day to recover mean i i could try it but it means that yeah if we wanted if i mean yes i would need i would need a full day to recover but i could try but um we're going shopping we are we're we're going to the astoria so you could always rest at the astoria teleporting

to the jungle no are we traveling we don't there's no point there. It would be risky to do it. None of us have been there before. Perhaps we do it on the traversal, too. To the jungle. Yeah. Sure. Sounds smart. If you want to do it. No pressure. If we're not at risk, then I can certainly try.

Is there a risk that we could alter time as we know it? No, I don't think my powers are that. I was only only even the forge that was the most power i've ever channeled and i was only able to affect that one small space um it was contained within the demi-plane i i wouldn't be able to affect anything larger than than an immediate area around me i remember a valor that wasn't aware that she could make purple stuff explode out of her in the forest yes of course i didn't know all of a sudden you're more powerful every day and you're an adult now um and you could turn lucius into a baby like crazy what unequal standing to you know being a sibling of all the other gods yes yes yes i don't think it's well out of your reach to do such things. No, it's not that. It's not self-doubt, Lucius.

It's more... Even gods can't do... There are some things that even gods can't do. And I'm only a demigod. And I know the limits of my power. And I think even if you were to speak to Mother, I think that she would tell you that people like to think that gods have all this power,

that they can change the time of all time, that they can fix every problem, but they can't. Their powers, they are great and they can do incredible things, but even a god's power is limited. In some ways, it's why they created mortals. It's why we exist. It's why the world isn't just gods. Because mortals for millions of years or thousands of years, hundreds, tens of thousands, millions of individuals can accomplish so much more than a single god can. You know what? That's somewhat reassuring, Pala. I think so. I think that it's something that I've had to struggle with a little myself. You feel this burden. I don't want to feel like everything's up to me, but I can only do what I can do.

And I'm learning to stretch those limits, but I know that they are limits, and one day I won't be able to stretch them anymore. They will just reach their natural point. Also, it means that the other entity, there's a limit to him too. Indeed. I think so. We've just got to find that limit. No, not actively seek it, but know what the limit is. Sure.

I think that that's why Hadar corrupted zarkira i think that's why hadar has these creatures that it sends out he leads them i think so i think that it is i think whatever hadar is whatever it's become is very powerful more powerful than anything we face but i think that there are still always going to be limits. Well, he was imprisoned once. Exactly. I've got the Binding Sphere. Think about how fast the Storm Chaser would be with that. I'm not...

Mark's just like, yep, just going to leave that one. It's like using a regular ball in Pokemon. It gets muted on Mewtwo. it doesn't matter you're like oh it bounces off yeah um what if yeah all right so what's the plan you want to go talk to scaldi do you want to go to astoria what's the point of the dark the both oh well which one do you want to do first i can't do both scenarios at once Or which one do you want to do first? I can't do both scenarios at once. Scaldi is in Gustaven.

In Horizon, yeah. Do we all want to go shopping, or do you want to go talk to Scaldi while we go shopping? I want Val to turn him into a baby. I want Val to turn him into a baby. Stop mentioning baby around Val, or she will be thinking of it the whole time. Even better.

I need entertainment. I'm really trying not to. I'm really trying not to think about it. just want to be lucious as i was really little that's what i'm aiming for that's what i'm aiming for don't listen to them he's a little weird they're bad influence stupid and they just talk i can't they're talking and i'm hearing them i can't help. Let's go shopping. Bye, Valor. So, yeah, out of character, I need to know what the fuck you guys are doing. Scaldi. You want to go talk to Scaldi first? Okay.

You find Scaldi. You actually have to... You ask around, and you get directed to a... There is a small graveyard shrine to Calara here on Horizon. Graveyards don't really exist in Sky Cities. There's not ground to bury the dead.

The dead are interred. They are generally cremated, and then they are interred and kept in storage containers and things like that, kind of like urns. It's a bit just easier for space-wise. And you find a very pale, very tired looking Scaldi attending this shrine deep in prayer. All dressed in black. Garner has sort of more misc, kind of black and gray, sort of more Celtic Viking style clothes.

And now just a sort of plain black, like a kind of like chemise kind of like long dress basically. Looks very different. Her white hair sort of like tied up. Looks much more priestess-like. And as you kind of get in she's muttering in Dwarven. I don't know

if anybody speaks Dwarven. Oh, I do. I'm pretty sure I do. I do. Oh, I think you do because I do. Do you still have theven. I do. Oh, I do. I'm pretty sure I do. I do. I think you do, because... I do. Do you still have the translator earring? Yeah.

So those of you who speak Dwarven, it is quite a sombre prayer for the souls of the departed. It's intoned in Dwarven, very sort of melodic, this kind of rumbling, deep, but still sing-songy voice, but the words are quite sad, and it's the tale of the lost being, you know, guided on their path by the light of Calara's lantern, to leave behind the lights that they knew once before, to travel the darkness, and to make their way into Calqalara's embrace, basically. It's kind of like the general tone of it.

She doesn't seem to react when you come in. She doesn't seem to either hear you or doesn't seem to kind of disrupt her prayer. Do you guys wait for her to finish? Yeah. Yeah. So you wait only a few minutes, and then she kind of finishes. And when she finishes the prayer she gets up and she there is a sort of uh set into the sort of uh shrine is a stone lantern with a bunch of

candles on the inside and she just lights all of the candles and the light then spreads out and you can see that underneath all of these kind of like carved alcoves where these urns of the dead are stored as the light hits them there are these little small gemstones that seem to almost catch the light and illuminate and the whole chamber becomes filled as as they do so and she turns and she looks drained very similar to how lucius looked when you know you fought those specters a long time ago. This kind of like quite sunken cheeks, black. It doesn't look like she's been sleeping. And she's just like, ah, champions of Eros, hello.

I'm sorry, I am not quite myself. I've not been able to sleep in a while. Have you found much for my lady, the Lady of Lights? Do you know much of what is happening? I know last we spoke, you were looking into the order and the jungles and trying to locate their sanctum. Yeah, we found out a little more information. We've sent out scouts. They've been able to track down her domain in J'kesh, so that's our next move, hopefully, to travel down there and try and track her down.

And what will happen when you find her? What then? We will have to confront her. Confront her? In what way? What do you mean? To fight? To convince? To bring her back to her place?

To undo whatever madness or spell has taken her? The Titans are dying, and that is why they have acted out in different ways. In grief, in anger, in acceptance. The ones that we've met with so far, some we have fought, and some have actually gone quite peacefully. I would hope a confrontation with Kalara would be peaceful, but we are preparing for a fight. Given the fact that she no longer grants power to her faithful, the stories I have heard of these grief knights, I think that you will... I think you should be prepared to fight.

I think that grief and sorrow have taken my lady beyond the realm of words and understanding now. I think that all things must come to an end, and it seems that this must be Calaris. And that's why we're here. We wanted to learn from your expertise and your knowledge of Calara, because, frankly, we are... Scared is perhaps a strong word, but we want to be as prepared as we can be.

We know this will be difficult. There are much more powerful priests and priestesses of Talara than me. I was only a small shrine maiden in Mirskir when you found me. I was... I tended to the local dead of a small town. There are much more powerful individuals that you should go to. I'm sure that... That doesn't matter not the power it's your devotion and also we trust you who is the who is this other arakokra oh hello lucius lucius it's

it yeah that's lucius i'm a peacock oh oh it's a long story yeah yes i'm sorry is it questioning no i just did not know who you were i I thought that you were perhaps a friend of... I'd billow my huge tail. I'd do that now and again, sorry. I do see some of the similarities now, I suppose, yes. It's the eyes, isn't it? It is, yes, and the colours. Well, I will gladly tell you what I know.

My mind is a little disjointed of late. I find it hard to remember and focus. And I find things very, very sad, but I will do what I can. She just, just emanates sorrow. Just like being around Scaldi, you almost feel like this oppressive force trying to like clutch hold of your own hearts, like trying to drag you down. The fact that she's like still able to pray and speak with you is quite impressive in a way. Because like, yeah, just this overwhelming malaise and depression has really taken hold. You can feel it in the air, like a supernatural presence. Whilst Kalara's connection to granting her cleric's spells seems to have failed, there is still absolutely some sort of connection here.

We have reports that the jungle surrounding Nightbloomhold are filled with undead that are marked with black flowers and vines. Undead are the antithesis of Calara. I can't believe that my lady would create such things. It was one of the sacred duties of her faithful was to destroy undeath, to seek out creatures that delay the inevitability to all those who would enslave the spirits of others. This is heartbreaking to hear. Does anything about black vines and flowers,

does that mean anything? Kilara, before Siaska's death, Kilara was the life maiden. She would nurture the growing world of Erois. It is thanks to her that we have plants and herbs and fields of wheat and earth and trees. She loved flowers and life, and even when she took on her mantle from Siasca to guide the dead, she maintained a piece of that.

Many of her mortuaries down on the lowlands, not here in the Sky Cities where Earth is harder to come by, but in the lowlands, almost all temples of Calara have a garden along with their graveyards and their mortuaries. In fact, the soil, we believe it to be divinely nurtured by Calara. Many of the best plants and herbs and flowers grow in our graveyards connected to the temples. She's always depicted as having a mantle of flowers around her shoulders, but when she took on the mantle of the guardian of the dead, they became black. They turned black and dark in color, but still beautiful and vibrant. turned black and dark in color,

but still beautiful and vibrant. There is a strong connection between the earth and nature, things that grow and things that die. When we die, when we are buried, our bodies return to the earth in a way, and it fuels growth. That is one of the teachings. From death, there is life.

I just wonder if there's a significance of why the undead are wearing flowers. If it powers them, if it's... The northern jacquess, you said, yes? There is... Ebon Nightbloomhold is in a place called... The valley that it is located in. It is called the Gravebloom Valley. It is something of a site of pilgrimage for clerics and priests of Kelara. You would travel there to take a sample, a cutting of a plant called a tomb lily. And we would plant tomb lilies in our graveyards because they're said to ward off undead they're supposed to protect corpses from becoming undead creatures perhaps if

kelara has fallen to grief and madness if she's connected to tomb lilies perhaps they have become the opposite now they they grant unlife in some way, rather than ward against it. Calara seems to have been her knights now, rather than protecting, they kill. Perhaps there is... this is all connected somehow. I wonder as well, we've had reports that there's a celestial in Nightbloom Hall that is infused with necrotic power. It's the Titans. Kalara was how priests are able to summon celestial beings. It is not inconceivable that the goddess herself would be able to send a champion to protect somewhere that is holy or sacred.

A champion? Yes. I know that, I do not know the exact nature, but I've heard stories that you traveled to a temple of Hesper, that you encountered many individuals and creatures there that were somehow connected perhaps I don't know the exact nature but many of the gods of Arois were able to send call forth beings and champions or create them in a sense a celestial is something that is bound with a hint of divine power in some form or way it does not necessarily need to be a celestial from beyond Oroes.

It could be a creation of Killara's own making. Hmm, it isn't unreasonable to imagine a champion answering some divine call from an angry god. A sad god. A sad god. I suppose I got lucky with Hesper, but it could be a cleric. It could be one infused with that... I mean, we can see it here with Scaldi.

Maybe that's what we're looking for. Maybe Calara... Maybe it won't be an encounter after all. Maybe she's trapped by this champion that's unleashing all of this sadness. So maybe we need to find a way to fight that. I don't know how. But...

If it's a champion... They're gonna be very powerful. We're champions too. We're champions too. We... I had a dream about it. I mean, I'm... Are you? Is it my dream?

Unless I was dreaming of, you know, ambition. Scully. Yes? Just returning. If it's not too personal a question, how do you feel right now? My heart is heavy. I struggle to sleep.

When I do, my dreams are dark and of frightful things. But I am mostly sad. My goddess will not answer my prayers. I can no longer help those who I feel lost, unwanted, and that hurts. It is hard to bear. For all my life, I have studied the Lady of Lights. I've studied her path to help guide the souls of the dead to the afterlife, and now she has cast us aside. I just feel lost, like a sheep without its shepherd, alone, scared, frightened.

I just wonder, Quill, do you have any spells that can restore or calm emotions or anything like that? I just, I wonder if... I don't know if calm emotions will help with this. Because she'll be calm, but... I mean, I don't know what palace you have access to, but I have seen doctors, I have seen priests of other gods, Siascan priests and priests of Sayana, priests of Paladol, they have said

that there is nothing physically wrong with me, there is no illness. Many suspect that it is this connection to Kalara that priests have that is not so easily broken. that priests have that is not so easily broken. Well, we can offer some reassurance, perhaps, at the very least. You know who... Our journey to return, not defeat, gods of Erois,

back to Siasca, as they are just a part of her. We're returning her. Mm. And so she is... Calara's final mission, shall we say, is to save Eros. I feel that you know more of this than I can ever understand,

and I trust you. I do not think that even if I did not, there would be anything I could do about it. I hope that whatever it is, you can accomplish. If I can give you one last piece of advice, in all of our rituals, in all of my teachings, in all of the rites with our dead, Calara's lantern, the light of it, has always been most sacred. Whatever encounter,

whatever challenge awaits you, when in doubt, trust in that light. Thank you very much. I just have one more question, if you will. Of course, yes. I have nowhere one more question, if you will. Of course, yes. I have nowhere else to go, Nova Vigia. In my texts, which admittedly I've come to realize are somewhat outdated and incorrect, Calara was always associated with the word trickery.

Is that true, or? No, I think perhaps there may be, there are some priests who perhaps thought there would be an element of that. I think that perhaps there's a misunderstanding. Kehara is associated with life, with the grave, but also with darkness. The lantern, again, it symbolizes the light that she casts because the path to death can also be shrouded in shadow.

And I think that perhaps where once people saw trickery, illusion, deception, now we understand it better as twilight or darkness. So that is perhaps something to consider as well. Darkness is in her purview of power, as is light in a sense. and its absence perhaps okay well it's a little bit of a retconning for you there out of character because the twilight domain didn't exist when we started uh eros and trickery was the closest one there was that's why i said my text was probably outdated. It was good.

It's a nice little note. I got you, boo. I see you. I got you. But yes, I'm afraid that I am in no position to come and help you. I wish you all good fortune in whatever you hope to accomplish and to be careful. Thank you.

We hope this helps you as well. With the connection you have, I hope it improves things. I do not know. I can only hope. She just like bows her head and like very wearily will leave if unless there's anything else you wanted to ask her or say, but yeah, it's this kind of like yeah I mean yeah you can do you just kneel down yeah she just very weakly returns it and I think that there is

very clearly like she is forcing herself not to cry like there's this like she's almost trying to seem stronger for like everybody and like she's holding it in like you know and there's like that kind of like hiccuping kind of like you know holding it back um as you just sort of like grip her and she just sort of like i will be all right it's very sort of softly i hope you find peace and rest soon she says bring peace to my lady and i will find it we will i'll like a little flower from my vines. She takes the flower. One of the petals immediately falls off. Almost as soon as she touched it.

And as she walks away, the other petals just... As if like her presence, her touch is sapping the strength out of it. I'd say essentially like you touch her and hug her touch, is sapping the strength out of it. I'd say, Century, you touch her and hug her, you come away and there's a tingle of, yeah, you could feel some of your energy almost being siphoned away. Yeah. Okay. Right.

Yeah. Well, that is break time. That was a lovely little pre-break treat, wasn't it? Quite the somber mood. It's just, you know, the question I have is, how do we defeat depression? The age-old question. Well, it's also, yeah,

it's like a magically induced connection thing, but it's also like, it's not just necessarily depression, it's grief, it's that kind of like mourning, right? Of not just the dead, but of things. Like when you mourn something that you no longer have, that feeling of being lost without a guide, all kind of combos together. A cleric who has a very strong connection to their deity,

that is going to be anything that affects that deity could in theory affect the god. He was lucky that, you know, obviously Hesper was fine until it wasn't. Yeah. Yes, super chill. Yeah, yeah. Until he wasn't. Yeah.

And even then, Quill seemed to have been sort of like, protect, like, you know, Hesper made exceptions for Quill and kind of almost protected him. Special little boy. He was a special little boy. Special bird boy. Yeah.

Bird boy. Dead now. Cool. So that's bird boy. Yeah. Dead now. Cool. So, that's going to be it for part one. We will see you for part two

very, very soon. Take care. Till then. Bye. Goodbye. I'm