High Rollers DnD - High Rollers: Aerois #176 | Kaiju Fight! (Part 1)

Episode Date: March 1, 2023

Atelicus' true form storms towards the Halls of Infinite Resplendence but the team have a powerful plan in place! Support the High Rollers and get early access to podcast episodes and more 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

Hello and welcome back to Erois. Last time the champions were engaged in a fierce battle against one of the three great beasts of Atelika, Stone Maw, the tyrant of the land. The party continued their battle against Stone Maw its adaptive uh physiology and evolution to try and get around its resistances it was a tense um and climactic battle but eventually the party was successful and stone more was defeated and as the body began to decay and vanish back into the earth a few moments later the party were contacted by a very panicked valour who told them that something had happened and that they needed to meet them at the halls of infinite resplendence

as quickly as possible the party traveled through leaving their companions to deal with the aftermath including the loss of uh two uh named npcs oh important very much npcs yeah the party two named NPCs. Oh, important. Very much. NPCs. Yeah. The party travelled back to the halls where Valor revealed to them that something had happened. And that is where we're going to kick off today with a little bit of a

clarification on what you saw last time. When you arrive in the halls of Infinite Resplendence, you... Valor sort of made a gesture and turned one of the walls transparent, casting your sight,

showing you a scene of the open, endless ocean that extends from around the point that is the sort of extra dimensional space that is the halls of infinite respondents you saw in the distance many many many miles away something in the ocean churning up the water and then eventually that something revealed itself to be a giant colossal creature, bigger than anything you have encountered before. I think last time I might've said something around 300 feet.

I'm gonna slightly rectify that to be closer to five to 600 feet. Oh, it's worse than before. I'll be like, no, let's make this reasonable. It's further away than we realize. Yeah. Or closer. Wait, Quill, you can make this reasonable. It's further away than we realise. We'll close. Wait.

Quill, you can make out thick, thick armoured carapace, giant spikes, huge colossal bulging muscles and limbs, and a terrifying mixture of beast, demon, dragon, some sort of contorted, horrific, bestial face with giant horns as it appeared. And you remember the booming voice of Italicus reiterating its plans to consume Siasca and Syanna, gaining their strength to fight Hadar. With which to punch Hadar. And that is where we pick up again today.

I believe I did give you a sort of special magic long rest uh valentine magic yep vali used her magic to help rejuvenate you however and i mentioned this before it doesn't recharge like things like items that require like a certain like period of time right so it only is literally the benefits of a long rest like you know you get your hit points you get your spell slots back um things like items and stuff will not necessarily naturally recharge this only affects your physical bodies and magical energies oh so not elder quill no elder quill no gateway shield none of that stuff unfortunately spicy no i can't get it um at this point, Valar and Maximilian are just sort of staring out the open ocean. And, you know, Valar kind of gestures with her hands

and the image on the wall, this translucent wall, almost seems to kind of zoom in. And it does show this creature in far more detail. You can really only see its kind of top half. You can see like at the top of its face, kind of like stretching out and then its giant kind of spined carapace back. You can just see the tops of like bulging shoulder muscles.

Is it like swimming? You imagine so, yeah. I mean, like this is deep ocean that you're currently looking out on. It might be like, you know, a giant crocodile, you know, when it swims. I think it's probably big enough just to walk on the bottom of the air. Or is it big enough to walk? Yeah.

Could be. Maybe. Depends on how deep the areas are around here. This is the point where the Halls of Invalidity... You don't exactly know precisely where on Erois' planet surface this entry point is, but you do think that it's close to the Starfall Archipelago. That's where it was always rumoured to be when you've been discussing this with various other factions in the past.

Yeah, Valor would just turn around and say, I couldn't, the reason I couldn't find him was we were looking in the wrong place. He must have sent those beasts to Al-Saraf to distract us, to trick us. I've been looking there this whole time. His demiplane must have been closer. It must have been near here,

building his strength under the sea, under the ocean. Do we recognize what this creature could be? Like based on like a form or an animal or something? Is it something that's like existed before or is it like that's like existed before or is it sure version i mean make a make a nature history or arcana uh skill check if you want to just check your own actual knowledge can all of us do that yeah you can all yeah yeah everyone can make that check yeah you can do arcana arcane arcana nature or uh history. All of mine have a minus one.

I rolled an actual 20 plus nine. Okay, plus nine, that's good, so 29. Ten total. Ten total. I threw this in a dream. Lucius or Sentry, anything? I don't need to worry about that. Nova, looking at this creature, you see it up close.

With a 29, you are almost certain that it is it's strange it's it's like looking at a chimera of sorts because there are parts of many different kind of beasts right you can see elements of stone moors like armor plating and carapace and spikes and spines there are elements there's reptilian elements there the horns on the head almost look like a bulls or like a like a you know triceratops or something like that like there's elements of many different powerful predators and beasts in in this form there's yeah elements of like almost like a tortoise almost there's mainly kind of more of reptilian dinosaur element to it but there are mammalian

traits as well um but you don't imagine that this is a base this is a creature that has existed before this is this is some sort of divine form that's like plated like stonewall was he's gone yep cool i i don't know if this is the thing. It's still quite distant. Even with the magic of whatever Vala's doing, this zoom in, you're only seeing vague, fuzzy shapes and things like that. We'll see. Of course, it's the same thing. Well, I got 10.

I was just wondering if this is within the 29 or say no if it's too metagamey. Yeah, ask me a question. But given that we just fought Stonewall with all the elements and stuff like that, does it look like it has the same sort of adaptation? Sort of like... With a 29, it would be pretty safe to assume that there is either the same sort of adaptation or something even stronger.

Because if this is based on all three, then it's probably not just gonna be Stonewall's traits, but the other two as well. But it's not like adapt, it's not got like a fiery part to it. It's not not just going to be Stone Maw's traits, but the other two as well. But it's not got a fiery part to it. It's not got a... You can see directly, but hard to tell. Okay. Articles don't render it.

You don't see the volcano shoulders and things like that. You don't see the things like Stone Maw had. I think it's safe to assume that if this is Artelicus, we can probably expect some of the same traits of Stonewall and the other monsters that we've just fought. So, armor plating, elemental adaptation. There's no doubt it's Artelicus. This isn't a manifestation.

This isn't an avatar. That is Artelicus. I can feel the divine presence in him. That is himself. The size, the power that they have. We fought the Titans individually, but we've never fought anything of this gargantuan scale. But also, you were fighting Titans in their demiplanes,

which almost had not quite constrained their power, but forces, when I open their demiplanes, when I take you, when I took you to Killara, when I took you to Zephir, we were fighting on sort of equal terms almost because I was taking us into their domain in essence. Atelicus has always been strongly connected to the earth, to the land, to the oceans, the mountains of Arois.

We're not in his playground anymore. This is... It's hard to describe, but it's... This is more than that. The ones that you fought before, imagine that they were bound, they were limited by their own domains. They could not be their true manifestations of power.

This is Atelicus as Siaska made them. Stronger than that even, with these beasts that you fought. I don't know how or what to do here. I'm guessing there is no way to banish them back to their demiplane, so that we can face them on even ground. I mean, we could try but i mean they were the titans themselves were created by siaska i i don't know if there is any magic that can i mean we when we fought the other titans kalara zephir they had certain protections if you had tried to banish them

uh or change their form or if you had tried to do certain things like paralyze them and things like that, it wouldn't have worked. They're protected in some way. I imagine that Italicus has similar protections now. You would need to be on a level of Siaska's magic to be able to influence it in that way, banish them, for example, or polymorph them or transport them somewhere.

Okay, so my first thought is how do we get Siaska away from here? We can't. Her essence is bound here. Her, her, her... We can't move her quill. We can't move the halls? Not as far as I know. I don't know. I barely know anything about this place. You brought me here and I've studied what I can, but I don't know if this is even a place that we can move necessarily. It's not a physical place. This is like the soul of Siaska's connection to Erois. What about that temple that you built before? I mean, he would probably be able

to break right through that, but I imagine this place is very similar to that kind of temple. Just so you know, based on it, I think it will be here in about two hours. Okay. We need to go out to it. Try to slow it down at some.

We need backup. We can't fight it as we are. No. We can't even. A toe, we are smaller than its toes. Stonewall was hard enough. Do you still have the communication? You gave it to... I think you dropped it before you came.

I dropped it. You gave it to... I dropped it. you dropped it before you did. I dropped it. You gave it to... I dropped it. Okay, in that case, I'm going to... Where exactly... Do I know exactly where we are based on the landscape or like... You have a vague idea, but you don't know exactly where. I mean, it's also far from Elsaraf, right?

Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. It's far from Elsaraf. So even if we diverted everyone from there to come here, it would take them time. You don't know how long, but you can send a message. I know it will take them a while, but if we could just at least get them moving here.

Can we try and speak with Siaska? Certainly you can try, yeah. They have an awareness of what's going on? Sort of, she's weak at the moment. Syana is... She went out. When we saw a telekis, she went to try and find some information. She's been out travelling.

But when she heard about a telekis, I told her, and she said that she would try and find out what was happening. She's trying to gain some information for us. But I think that she's very weak, and Siaska's kind of giving her some strength right now. I don't, we can try, but I've not been able to reach her. There is one other option. This is what Starbane warned me about.

I mean, he said he'd help with the Titans and with Artelicus specifically. He did say in that dream, he said that Artelicus is the most dangerous because he represents Siaska's anger and her protection. This is going to be the hardest that we've ever fought before. He said to call him. And we've not heard a stir from the army since they stood down.

He said he was going to find answers, I presume about Zahkira and what she's doing. What I'm saying is a good sign. Even all through Vortensar, there's not been any further armies. But we call Starbane here. We're calling him to the halls of the Infinite Resplendence. He would be-

We don't have to necessarily be here. True, but... I can open you out to the mortal world from here. And then we start communicating with everyone we've got. Yeah? Yeah. I think we should call him in. I don't know what else we would do otherwise. As you guys are talking, there is a...

Almost you hear like a kind of strum of a lute, like a... And sort of appearing out of thin air near the crystal sarcophagus are two figures. One is a very elderly looking halfling woman. Syanna, if she was a mortal halfling, she would be well into her 100th, maybe 200th year. She looks old. Her hair is crisp and white and thinned. Her frame is frail, very thin. And she sort of stumbles.

And a figure sort of catches her arm and sort of helps her, prevents her falling to the ground. her arm and sort of helps her prevents her falling to the ground and the four of you are somewhat stunned in a way to, well, I leave that to you whether you are stunned actually, to see a figure that you recognise a strange

being made of sort of blue and white energy in a form of almost like an old man holding a staff. Oh. And you just hear, you nearly fell, Titan. And he's just like, yes, yes, thank you, dear.

It's Tassadar, right? It's Tassadar. Yeah, it is Tassadar. It is the sort of projection of Tassadar that you remember projecting themselves down to Eros once before. Had a nice holiday. Got some souvenirs. Could be.

I always pictured Tassadar as a Hawaiian getup for some reason. Yeah. If you remember Sword in the Stone, Merlin's Disney Sword in the Stone, and Merlin has the Hawaiian shirt and the sunglasses, you could imagine it like that if you want to. That's not reality reality but you can imagine that but there is a kind of merlin-esque appearance to him has like the long beard uh bald head wears

almost like wizardly robes but there it's made of this same shifting material as their form itself and they have these kind of like glowing nova kind of like starburst like you know pulses of energy for eyes and we'll just turn around and be like, Champions of Arois. Trying to remember what his voice was, perhaps more like this, yes, perhaps more. Uh, Tassadar, you, um... That is correct.

You have been travelling with Sayana? Yes, I accompanied the Titan. I discovered that she was travelling and learning much about the world, and so was I, so I figured that it would be useful to learn more from one who has experienced so much of the world uh she has been an interesting traveling companion and elderly Sienna is just like he's a little boring and stuff but um it's been interesting showing him things and teaching him a lot about our world um you've all seen him I suppose yes have. He is getting closer and closer by the second.

I don't mean to rush you. No, no, no, please. I was not, I don't have the strength to get close enough to him to fully analyze, but our new, our friend here, and she gestures to Tassadar, did make one discovery on my behalf. Go on, Tassie. And he just, Tassadar kind ofar looks down, doesn't actually acknowledge the nickname, just is like, yep, that's what this one calls me, kind of things.

It's just like, it is important that you all understand. I have detected a cluster of entropic energy within Atellicus. Entropic energy? Ah, forgive me, you are not familiar with these terms. It is what we in the Valkyrian Empire use to discern creatures that have been influenced by the one called Hadar. Oh, okay.

Hadar. Are you talking about that out there? The titan formerly... the titan called Atellicus, yes. There is a cluster of atropic energy found within its body. Difficult to pinpoint precisely where. Okay, so.

Makes a lot of sense about, I guess, where their power comes from. And consuming Siaska. Wait, wait, wait. Their goal is to fight Hadar. Why are they taking power from Hadar? Perhaps they've been corrupted. I don't believe that Atellicus would have willingly taken any sort of power from Hadar. Perhaps they've been corrupted. I don't believe that Atellicus would have willingly taken any sort of power from Hadar,

but I'm sure you've all experienced this by now. Hadar is a cunning creature. It manipulates, it allures people to its cause, very much like this Zahkira that Calus worked with. We believe that she has been influenced by this Hadar, yes? So they're oblivious. I imagine that my brother would not willingly have taken any sort of power from Hadar, but it could be that in my brother's desperation, in my brother's protectiveness,

they have, something has opened up. Perhaps Hadar has found a way to subtly influence them, and once it gets involved it is quite easy for it to take root. Yeah, wouldn't be the first time we've witnessed that happen. This is dangerous. Is that so? You've encountered this sort of thing before? Sentinel Prime? With Harold. They were so desperate to fulfill their cause of finding the Prime that they got taken over by Hadar as well. Ah yes, we found this in the Valkyrian Empire. Often strong emotions, strong desires can often allow for planar instabilities, creating small pockets of

which Hadar's influence can seep from the Far Realm. When obsession becomes an almost madness, it has a brief window into the Far Realms of which Hadar seems able to reach out and influence one's mind, sometimes, it seems, without any acknowledgement by the subject host. I'm guessing you know your brother's goal in mind, then? Yes, to consume me and Mother, yes. We must not allow that to happen, obviously. But also, if this Hadar is influencing Atelicus,

I'd like to believe that that means that if we can stop it, then perhaps my brother can still be reasoned with. Most of us... Killara and Zephir, they wanted to accomplish things before they passed on. Kallara, I know, had deeper emotional reasons for why she did not wish to rejoin Mother, but Atelicus was always very loyal to Mother, and I think that perhaps this is why, if this Hadar has been influencing, perhaps that is why he's been so resilient

and so adamant against it. But perhaps if we can remove that presence, then we may be able to reason with him. Well, the size of this thing is far beyond anything we've ever come across before. So we're trying to think of who to contact, who to bring in to help. And one of those people is people that Tassadar may know quite well. You are speaking of Emperor Valkyrian, of course?

Yes. Yes, of course. But we don't know what kind of aid he might bring, just... I have my suspicions. Suspicion, sure. Hopefully that suspicion comes true. It is quite likely that Emperor Valkyrian's Magitek may be one of the few weapons still able to affect this creature. I've analyzed its structural properties, its defensive abilities, many of its vitality features. I do not believe that you currently possess any magic or weapon here on your world which would be capable of harming the creature.

What? Okay. It is evolved. It is a highly evolved form of life. It has witnessed and built itself. It has adapted itself. I do not believe that you currently... And you see Tassadar kind of almost scans each of you with his eyes, like, up and down. None of you currently possess the means to actually harm this creature. Does he notice that Tiangong is- Certainly hasn't said anything. But just scans through and says- Tassadar, do you know the location of Project Vanguard?

Currently, yes. Can we use it? Not on my authority. Only the Emperor can provide that authority. Well, all roads point to... I am to understand that you have a powerful Magitek weapon of your own. The Historia? Yes. It is a slow-moving vessel.

And yeah, currently in Alcerave. We can make the call to try and bring it back, but I mean... That's not going to take too long. The vessel was created from Solvin, the previous magical city of Erois, yes? The Magitek city. Yes. It should be more than capable of reaching here quickly. Is there a problem with it?

We're just trying to understand it ourselves, and I think we've got our best on it right now, and they haven't currently managed to make it move faster. No, it's not at its full potential. Could you help, Tassadar? Yes. Are you help, Tassadar? Yes. Are you willing to help? Allow me to communicate with my prime form.

The eyes go dull, and he just stands there for a few moments. Right. What's his prime form? I have no idea, but... Oh. He might separate himself from the ship and join... Remember, this is like Tiangong. When Tiangong manifests, it is still the sword.

Is he informing the forces of Starbane? Absolutely he is. Okay. Also, I don't believe that Tassie will do anything to compromise what we are doing here. And it sounds like the Emperor, this Valkyrian, it sounds like he is no longer wishing to attack Eros. Also, Starbane wouldn't attack Siaska. We saw the truth. He didn't kill Siaska. Siaska sacrificed herself. This is where we are, Quill.

I'm sorry, but we have no other options if there's one extremely sacred place untouched by everything that's happened so far it's here but then again Tassadar's right here so

do you really think that Starbane didn't know where this was well I didn't we don't necessarily have to bring him here as well

we can like Valor says be taken elsewhere. You can. I concur with Nova. I'm almost certain that my father knows exactly where the halls are and has the means to get here if he really, really wanted to. He's never been one... Once he found out where Oroes was, except for the cradle,

once he could get past the cradle, anything that he's not done has been with purpose. There's a reason that he didn't come and slaughtered the four of the five of you immediately. There's a reason that he didn't come here and try and do something with mother's body. He's not a man who does, everything he does has purpose. He's not one who just acts... I know you don't want to hear it, but he's not a man who acts in an underhand way. Perhaps Zarkira did, perhaps many of his minions and his lieutenants did, but he doesn't. He's...

I hate to say it, but he's somewhat honourable, at least. He has his code that he won't break. If he has not done anything here, I don't imagine he will. He's pragmatic. Well, I trust Vatla and her insight. I can only give you what I think, and do keep in mind that I'm biased. He's my father and he treated me very well, but that's what I think anyway. Only recently.

Oh. Sentry? You know how I feel, but this is bigger than how I feel. This is our home. This is our whole world. We've got to do what we can to keep it going. If there is one thing, if Hadar has influenced Italicus, you might not have to defeat this thing. If Hadar has influenced Italicus, you might not have to defeat this thing. You might not have to defeat this version of Italicus. If you can, I have a theory, and it's just based on what I know of my brother. He wasn't always the cleverest. He's cunning, but he's not clever, and he's ruled by his emotions, especially his anger. If you were to enable, if you could stall him, if you could make him furious with rage, then whatever this insidious control Hadar has, I don't think it will, I think he would break free of it. And that would result in either two things. Telekus will either break his connection to Hadar and come to his senses once you can sort of calm him down

again, or this Hadar influence will have to take direct control. And if it does so, it will expose itself. And once you do that, you may be able to defeat the root of this Hadar influence. Perhaps it will be something that you can fight or something you can address or a spell that you may have may be able to remove it from him.

But once they do that, once we know for sure that it's taken full control, you may be able to stop it. Okay. So I don't think we have to defeat Atelicus as he is now. You just have to slow him down or make him mad enough to lose control. That is something we can do. I think so. I think so. Tassadar seems to come.

I am prepared to assist with this Astoria in powering, making sure that it is fully powered. However, it will depend. I will need to receive orders from the Emperor himself to allow me to do so. But it is possible. Okay. All right.

That's what we were going to do anyway. Speak with him. Have you contacted these people? Do they know, do you know where this ship is? Yes. Good. We can contact them at least. Yeah, I mean, we know where they were five minutes ago. I thought you were going to say something, Nova.

I don't know when the right moment is. Oh, for what? Calling? Tassadar. Nova Vija. Tiangong. They're dead. Your statement is incorrect, but your intention of meaning is acceptable. Tiangong cannot die. They are a being of energy. They are gone, yes, but they are not dead.

To be dead means that they had to be alive in a sense that you understand them to be. I understand that the form of Tiangong that you carried with you has destroyed, been destroyed. I failed the Triumvirate. I'm sorry. You have not done... There was no... Tasla almost looks confused. There was no... You were not given a task. You have not failed in anything.

You were not given a task by us. You were not... Nothing was by us. You were not... Nothing was expected of you, mortal Nova Vija. I took it upon myself to reform Tiangong. Do you think that Tiangong... Do you think that you had any ability to command Tiangong to do so? Tiangong did so because they chose to. It was not a point of command. It was just what was right. Perhaps you misunderstand my meaning. Tiangong would not have done what they did if they did not wish to do it. You had no, you had the only influence you had on it

in that you were connected to Tiangong and they empathized with your position. It doesn't make it any easier though that they're gone. Part of them is gone. There is still a part of Tiangong that exists. I was led to understand that they're different. They are, but they are also still Tiangong. This is difficult.

You cannot understand it in the same way that we as Eterna do. You are mortal beings. You exist in a very different format of life than us. To us, there is still a Tiangong. They may not be your Tiangong, but they are still Tiangong. They still represent what Tiangong represents to many of us. Your Tiangong is perhaps different. You had a more personal connection, perhaps, than we did. Our connection is greater than that.

Our connection, perhaps greater is the wrong. Our connection is greater than that. Our connection. Perhaps greater is the wrong word. It implies a superiority. Our connection is different, perhaps. We have existed for millennia together. We knew each other. We've known each other very well. But we are beings of energy, and energy cannot be fully destroyed, but it can dissipate. And this is a fate that we all have come to accept. You do not need to apologize, Nova Vija, nor do you need to burden this responsibility that you seem to carry with you. You have done nothing wrong.

Thank you. It will take a while to feel like that, but thank you for your guidance. Tiangong did what they did because they chose to just take that in acknowledgement at least it's not yeah immediately like no emotion tassel is like so with the problem of italicus like it would like just completely like there's no emotion at all in there, Mina. And it's not that there's no cruelty in it either. It's just fact.

It's just that is how this being determines the situation. I always kind of saw him as like a Vulcan. Yeah, very much. Like, this is logic and, like, this is how we are. And this is, you don't quite understand because you're mortal beings. Like, your emotions get in the way. I mean, while this conversation is going on, I'm not listening to it,

or Quill doesn't necessarily care about it. Time's a-wasting. Time's a-wasting. I think I would be setting up communications with... Who do we last know to be, I guess, the higher command on the Astoria? That's a great question, because no command was ever set up.

Rain was definitely heavily involved. Do you know the people that you know are involved directly with the Astoria are Rain. It is currently on it because of the... Yeah, I mean, you don't know. The last people you know, Rain, Arvel was responsible for, like, you know, coordinating a lot of supplies and things like that and helping to get the Astoria working. Azaria, you know, chiefly, primarily on board the Azaria,

working with the Maidens of Valena to try and... So Diamond One, you know, is directly involved in getting the ship running as well, and is a creature that you can cast Sending to. They do count as a creature. Oh, Diamond One does? Okay. I think Rain makes sense, being essentially second-in-command to Danica.

So, yeah, I'd let them know that someone or something is going to be arriving on the ship and will be demanding more information about the entire working of the ship, most likely. When you send that message, a few moments, a few minutes pass, maybe by the time Nova's finished speaking with Tassadar, you get a message back, a few moments, a few minutes pass, maybe by the time Nova's finished speaking with Tassadar, you get a message back, which just says, "'Close, guys. Belay that quill.

"'We have the Astoria running.'" Okay, apparently the Astoria is running, according to Rain. Okay. A few moments later, you'll get your own, there was still a few words left, so Rain probably would have said something along the lines of, like, ship is operational.

Heard you had to leave. What's happening? What do you need? Well, that's great. Zari's managed to do it. Yes, I mean, I can tell them where to go. We only need a ballpark. I'm sure they'll see this thing. Whatever a ballpark is.

As long as Azaria isn't putting skeletons in the... I don't wanna think. I don't wanna know how she's powered it. It's working. It's working. It's working. I mean, it was never, the story always had power, it's just like the systems weren't working properly,

it wasn't fully able to actually power it. It's a big boy. Yeah, it's a big boy. Yeah, I mean, I'll, yeah, sending again. And just tell them the vague directions of where we currently are. Are you telling them what is happening or are you just saying come to this point?

How do I, how do I 25 words? It's fine! Italicus is here. Okay,'s fine! Italicus is here. Okay. Clear skies. Italicus is here. He's very big. He be.

Starfall Archipelago. See you soon. XO, XO, XO, XO. How about prepare for battle? Prepare for battle. Okay. Battle stations. What's that after all the XOs? XOs, yeah. Enough enough xos to leave i'll take off enough xos to make it work

red alert shield red alert message you get back would say um close guys on our way uh leaving as soon as possible estimate three to four hours oh it's not okay three to four hours so we have to delay speed yeah like at full speed, the Astoria is still... And Elsaraf and where you guys currently are, I mean, on an airship, it would take you days to reach. The fact that the Astoria might be able to do it in a couple of hours, like three to four hours, it's pretty nuts.

It's like Concorde. It's like Warp 9, isn't it? Okay, so we have to delay... I've been watching a lot of Star Trek, sorry. No, no shit. Until... Did you guys a lot of Star Trek, sorry. No. No shit. Until... Did you guys know I like Star Trek? Delay Italicus until the Astoria gets here.

Tassadar, apparently we won't need your assistance on the Astoria itself. Your engineers are more competent than I realised. Thanks. You are welcome. So, but, I mean, definitely calling in Starbane. Hopefully he will give us access to Project Vanguard. Do you require a means to communicate with the Emperor? Yes.

Yeah, it wouldn't hurt. He's got that old going to sleep or something, right? Well, I could... Yeah, he's always watching. ...send a message, but I'd prefer if it came from you. Very good. Before you do that, I have a strange request, but I think it's important.

You scanned Italicus for Hadar energy. I conducted a magical analysis, yes. Can you do that for us? To what extent? I want to know if we're all okay. Wait, you think one of us is... We wouldn't know if we were. I just want to be sure.

I can scan you for entropic energy, yes. I just fear it. We have been very close to it, I suppose. I'm happy to call those fears. In that case, Tassadar raises its hands and you watch as star-like patterns kind of swirl into his palms and he kind of holds them out and gestures as if casting a spell.

You can all make a charisma saving throw. You can willingly fail it if you would like to. I'm pretty confident. All right. I'm gonna make a decision for Ayla. That Ayla is like, doesn't resist it. Yep. I'm not resisting it.

Sentry does resist it. Go on. Unnatural. Why are you resisting that? It's just fun. I want to see what happens. It's just fun. Nova?

Yeah, fun. No, right? Lucius? I'm not the closest to Snow White. Oh yeah, I'm not resisting. All right. So, Tastar opens his palms. What's happening?

And sort of scans, looks around. Connects analysis. Ah. I see that two of you have had close contact with the Entropic Entity, but I do not detect any lingering presence of Entropic Energy. Good. And he's looking at Century and Lucius when he says have had contact with the Entity. I don't believe anybody else did during that.

I think it was mainly... I used the portal to slice the connection. Then he would also recognize it as Nova, having had this close contact with Hadar energy. But Lucius and Sentry, I remember, because you touched the... Yeah. Yeah. So there is a kind of moment where, like,

I do not detect any lingering entropic energies at this time. Okay. All or always. All or always. I'm all or always nervous fine. Hmm? I'm right here.

What? Just checking. Why would I not be? Have you been suspecting me this whole time? Not at all, but it manifests when our emotions are at their greatest, and that you want a desire and a drive for something, and Hadar can help with that. I don't have a desire or a drive right now.

You had a great loss recently. Yeah, and that's all I feel. And I would, in the same position. I can't bring them back, though. In which case? Unless. That's good. No, let's not think about it.

Hadariya's made of great forms of energy, but then... I understand loss and that desire to clutch at something to get it back. Whatever it takes. And I saw that in you. And I'm just making sure that nothing is manipulating that. Not because I don't trust you.

I understand, Lucius. I appreciate it. I do feel the grief very keenly. I can say that there's nothing further to it. I know that I can't bring there's nothing further to it. I know that I can't bring Tiangong, my Tiangong back. And it does feel like there is a hole in my chest, but yeah. You're right, I am open to persuasion by Hadar. Not that I know of.

Like obviously I don't have this desire. I know it's futile, but yes, that is perhaps enough for Hadar to manipulate. I think you are too smart for that, Nova Vija. Max says. Hello, Max. He's always there. He's always with Valor. He's just, he hasn't had anything to say.

His nips are out. He just hasn't had anything to say yet His nips are out. He just hasn't had anything to say yet. I think you're too smart for that. Hadar is insidious, but I think smart creatures, unless they choose Hadar, can detect when they're being manipulated. I don't think this Atelicus is particularly socially aware from what I've seen.

Thank you, Maximilian. That's the nicest thing you've ever said to me. How do you feel about... I'm going to write that down in my diary. Your boss helping us out. My boss? You mean my emperor? Max thinks I'm smart. I would not use the term boss.

Well, I did. Very well. I find your sense of titles and loyaltyyalties strange, but what about... I still call him Starbane. It is not an inaccurate title, but... So how do you feel about your boss? In what regard, Champ? I mean, technically, his boss is Valor, really.

Okay, how do you feel about your emperor? In what regard? What do you mean? I don't know. You ask the question. I am still loyal to my emperor. I am still sworn to him. I love him. I care for him. I believe in his cause, if that is what you are asking. And if it came to it that this battle with the Telekis was another of Starbane's ruse to weaken...

There is no ruses. There have never been ruses. If he asked you to take us out. I will answer your question, but first I want you to understand something, Lucius. The Emperor is not an underhand man. There are no ruses. Zarkira, I admit, and perhaps the Emperor has been mistaken in providing her with too much trust and power

but the emperor does not he does not want to trick people out of what he offers he will take it or he will give it that is it there is no trickery in what he does if my if the emperor comes and i have to make a choice between him and eroes i will choose my emperor. Have no doubt in your minds about that. And he looks at all of you. That is not to say that I do not value the friendship that we have developed, that I have not come to care for each of you, but you must understand that for many, many years, I have been a knight of Gideon,

and it is through the emperor that I was saved from my past. It is through the emperor that I have found my strength, my belief, my confidence. And he has always been a great man to me. A man that I admire and look up to. That cannot change. That will not change. So if it must be, I will draw blades against you

and I have no doubt that you will defeat me handedly now. You are far greater warriors than I am. But I must be true to myself and true to my heart. And if I must choose between Valor and the Emperor, then in that situation, I must wait for that moment to decide because I could not tell you now who I would choose on that front. Well, let's just hope it doesn't have to come to that.

And I hope the same. I truly do. I truly do. I've come to see that the I hope the same. I truly do. I truly do. I've come to see that the Emperor and you and Arois and Siaska, we should not be fighting each other. There is a greater enemy out there that we must unite against. And I hope that the Emperor can see that. I hope Siaska can. I hope you all can too.

Well, if you trust in your Emperor, see that. I hope Siaska can. I hope you all can too. Well, if you trust in your Emperor. I do. To be pragmatic and smart, he already does know that. I trust him to be, I trust him to be a true man, to his word and to his cause, and to his code. Well.

I wish he loved me like he loved his emperor just go say that out loud that inner thought are you just saying that to an elder are you wearing a ring there's only one ship in Max's life and that's Max X of Calus

Malus that's a lot of muscles Calax that's an old game that's an Ikea shelf it's a lot of muscles. Alex. That's an old game. That's an Ikea shelf. It's a shelf. It feels like a Mega Drive game.

Alex. Anyway. Anyway. Anyway. There's a lot of nipples in my brain right now. I think it's time to speak to the answer. Yeah. It's all nipple.

Yeah, it's all nipples. Just a ball of nipples. Valor. That's all nipple. Yeah, it's all nipples. Just a ball of nipples. Yeah. Valor. That's gross. Yes. Would you mind transporting us out of the Halls of Resplendence? Yes, very well. All right, Sayana, you should stay in here.

And Sayana just like nods, like, don't worry about me, kid, go on. She's like, okay. She draws the triangular shape, and you see this shimmering purple door that just seems to step out onto wide open ocean, but then Valor gestures, and it forms almost like a triangle,

like plane of force, like something to stand on that's sort of created at the bottom of the triangle. I give a very respectful bow in Siaska's direction and then walk on through. Okay. All right. Everyone's following?

Yeah. Yeah. All right. Valor and Max will come with you. Tassadar follows as well. And then a group of you emerge out and Valor closes the portal, leaving you just stood out on wide open ocean.

In the distance, you can just see that churning of water. You big boy. Okay. Okay. Tassadar, I guess, send a message to Starbane and let him know that we need his help with Atelicus. Do you wish to speak to him? Does one of you wish to speak to him? Do you of you, does one of you wish to speak to him?

Do you all wish to speak with him? I can speak with him, I guess. Yeah, I can link you all, or I can link just one of you. Link all of us. All right, very well. Holds out his hand, and you see from his fingers five points of light stretch out from thumb, finger, each finger, to your foreheads.

So it's like, essentially, get out of my head! As he does so, your vision sort of goes dark, and you seem to just be stood in black space, just like a black, empty void. You see Tassadar in the middle, establishing connection with Emperor, and then Tassadar fades. Okay, I've been teleported to so many different places today.

I need something to grab myself. I don't like the void. This isn't teleportation. Projection. I'm not sure what it is. I've seen so many places today. I don't like nothingness. And there is just this kind of tone,

like this kind of low... Sentry starts her hand hovering over Starbreaker, just in case. So we wait for Starbane, I guess, to answer the call. And what do we do if he doesn't? Not looking down. Not looking down. Callous Starbane.

You see two of them, just nothing so far. And that tone shifts. And a flickering sort of purple, black, magical image kind of begins to form and then solidifies into a... into the man that you have met several times now, Calus Valkyrian, Emperor of the Valkyrian Empire He just turns and sort of restablishes you all and he looks

something terrible has happened You were right about Artelicus Stop it, I think you're on mute You want to crack jokes, you son of a bitch Carry on That does not happen a telekis. I think you're on mute. You want to crack jokes, you son of a bitch. Carry on. That does not happen.

Cat in the background. Wrong filter. I'll let you all get a laugh out. It's the little cat filter. I thought of Kylo Ren. You've got a cat face. Kylo Ren. He thought of the whole

like with the high-waisted trailer. He's just like middle of like Could with the high-waisted trail. He's just, like, middle of, like... Put a shirt on! Could you put something on, please? Okay. Thor's out. Slytherin's out.

Slytherin's out. All right. He'll look at you, Nova. He has appeared. He has. He seeks to consume Siascara and the others, yes? And Valor. Thank you for contacting me.

What do you need? Do you have Project Vanguard? Yes. Can you help us? I can. I'm assuming he is making his way to Siaska's resting place. Yes. We have two hours.

Two hours. I am not, I do not have easy access to my teleportation system, the gate system. I will be there as soon as I can to assist you, but in the interim, I can send aid. And he looks at Nova and nods like, you know, the aid that I'm talking about. Big fucking transformer.

I ask only one thing. One small thing. When the Telekis is defeated, before Siaska awakens, you, Five, and I shall meet face to face in Aroas to discuss one last thing. My armies will not attack. I just ask that we meet. What do you want to discuss?

The future. Hadar. Did you find your answers about Sarkira? I found answers about a great many things. And that is one of the things that I wish to discuss with you. We will speak more of it after this, but right now your priority must be Atelikiss. You must be protecting Siaska.

Are you aware of what is enhancing Atelikiss right now? Doesn't, yeah, like he actually raises an eyebrow, like. He's Hadar-touched. Fool. I should have expected this. Be prepared for that. I will be, thank you, Lucius. I will be prepared for that, as should you be as well.

If Hadar has influenced Atelicus, it will grant him greater strength, but it will make him vulnerable in other places. Capitalize on that. Can you grant Tassadar the authority to help us? In what way? We might not need him, but he needs

authority from you. He needs direct guidance. He needs commands from you to do so. We may need him to pilot one of our ships. Trust goes both ways. I will allow Tassadar to assist you in defeating Italicus, but for now, I don't want to give too much in case we cannot come to an agreement.

But I will allow him to assist you against the Titan. Thank you. We may not need it, but at least it's there. Tassadar, can you hear me? I can hear you, my Emperor. Grant Nova Vija project authority over Project Vanguard. Accessing systems. Granting Nova Vija access to Project Vanguard's system. Accessing systems. Granting Nova Vija access to Project Vanguard's system. Administrator level.

He gestures. You will not have long to learn how to use it. Do your best. I will be there as soon as I can. He just looks. Tell my daughter to remain with Siaska. Tell Maximilian to protect them both. Okay, control. The darkness ends.

You come back to the open ocean, and Tassadar is stood there. I mean, in that case, how do we bring it down? How do we get it to us? Do not worry about that, Kila Kadkula. I am currently working on that. It will take me a few moments. And you see Tassadar is stood rigidly still,

holding the staff in front of them, almost like they're concentrating. Their eyes are open, these kind of bright points of light, but they're just stood perfectly still, staring forwards. Tastar, are you able to give me a data pad with instructions on how to operate Project Vanguard? I am not currently able to. If you have a data pad available, I can transfer it to you.

If you have a crystal tablet. Oh, decent. You will need to wait. You will be able to access the information shortly once you are inside Project Vanguard itself. What is their ETA? 10, nine. Okay, everybody hold on.

Oh, okay. Do we need to? Five, four, three, two, one. Hold cool shoulder. Cross over. Transport system engaged. Five, four, three, two, one. Transport system engaged. You watch as directly in front of you, maybe sort of half a mile or maybe quarter of a mile away from your current position,

you watch the sky fill as not Project Vanguard, but a sky city transports in. Kind of the air kind of flickers. And a old, seemingly deserted Sky City comes back and appears. You feel like the air kind of crack and snap as it does so. And then you watch as that Sky City parts of it begin to break away and fold out and you can see that there is these long chains of Magitek equipment kind of stretched between them as it begins opening and separating out providing this wide

kind of circle beneath itself creating what you can see as a giant archway gate, a teleportation device. And as it kind of hovers in place, you watch as something begins to emerge from the bottom of it. Two enormous legs begin to fall down, followed by an elongated torso, arms, giant shoulder pads and helmet as this giant construct, maybe 300 feet tall, into the water as the water swells and erupts around the outside of it, nearly

burying it up to about its waist. You can see as it lands kind of like stood there in the open ocean. And then the Sky City begins to drift down to the side. After a few moments, it too splash lands in the water and basically now almost like a floating city, like an island city. Becomes

embedded in the ground. Tassadar watches the staff actually fades and the form begins to fade. Current power levels of projection are failing. Project Vanguard has been delivered to Administrator Vija.

Sky City Kasatoris has crash-landed in halls, near two halls of resplendence. I will temporarily be out of contract for the... And then the projection just fades away. I'm trying to remember what we know about Kassotaurus, but it doesn't...

Once again, we visit this wonderful dilemma of you saw a vision of it very early on. I communicated it. But that's what we're deciding about. I don't think you did because I can't find any record of it in my notes. It doesn't matter. Sky City didn't exist anyway until now.

If you told me about it. This Sky City has existed for a long time. No, I mean, like, historically, like, in terms of record. I mean, that was just nobody knew where it was. Like, they knew that this city, Sky City, the city of Kassotaurus was lifted up by hespa and then it vanished and it was like the city of the dead yeah there's also where when nova scribed on starbane yeah he was there at one point no i think it was that was a cool vision if nova would have known it, I would have written it down.

I know what Kim knows. Did you backtrace it? Yeah. Is that what you did? I did something. No, it was when I was talking to Calus, like he was communicating with me, and you used the I or something to trace the line,

and the line led you to Kassatoris. Yeah. But you didn't... I traced it. I don't think he communicated that to the group because I Kassotaurus. Yeah. But you didn't... I traced it. I don't think you communicated that to the group because I never wrote it down. Anyway. It's here now.

I can tell you're just bad at making notes. You can see about a quarter of a mile from your current position, you see the top half of Vanguard, Project Vanguard, in the water waiting. And then maybe half a mile away from that, Castoris kind of drifted and crash landed in the ocean. Oh, there he is! That is a cool mini.

Look at that boy. Of course he's purple. Gorgeous. Of course. It's in Valkyrian colours. The mini is not exactly to the design. The Project Vanguard Juicy doesn't have a sword. It has, like, these giant fists.

Most of the mini is kind of accurate. It definitely has this Pacific Rim, Jaeger, you know, Gypsy Danger kind of vibe to it, but it doesn't have any weapons, seemingly, on its body. So what's the scale of this map, then? The scale of that map is I can't put your minis on there because they won't fit. They'd be so infinitesimally small. It's pretty massive.

But yeah. Okay. So let's get over there and figure out how to use this thing. One Nova's been granted access. Oh. So I guess we... Grant us access. Hmm. Come on. We're going to need it.

Hmm. We do not have time for hmm. I mean, yeah. How close is it to us? About a quarter of a mile. You're going to need to fly out there or get over there somehow. Yeah, I think we're going to have to get there for me to... See ya!

You can go on your own then. I'll cast fly. Yeah. Um... That's three. Before we go though... That's four I guess. Well, yeah. Do you want to fly or do you want to spend 10 minutes summoning Aloysius? Aloysius?

Aloysius? We haven't really got time to wait 10 minutes, so... I mean, maybe. Got two hours. One hour and 45 minutes. One hour and 45. Hour and a half. Hour and a half.

At least goes through Project Vanguard for dummies as well. I mean, Lucius can just cast Fly on you, Aayla, Nova. Yeah, I've got Fly as well. Before we go, can I turn to Maximilion and say, Starbane has requested that you protect Valor and Siaska, and Valor, he has asked that you stay in the halls. To be expected. I'm not saying you have to.

I'm just saying that's what your father said. I know. I've been thinking about it, and on the off chance that you fail, not that I want to put that idea into your heads, but if you do fail, I might be the only one that can stall Atelicus long enough for the Astoria

and for my father and for the others to get here. So I think I have to stay. I don't want to, but I think I have to stay. I want to come and help you, but I think I should stay. I think it's the right choice, to be honest. We need a failsafe, and you are the failsafe. Yeah. Yep.

Maximilian is just like, there's very little I can do, but I will stay by Her Highness's side. We'll see you both when we're victorious. Good luck. I cast Fly on myself and Sentry. Could you spare a fourth level spell slot? Because otherwise it's sixth level for me to do all four of those.

I mean, I've only got two spell slots. Okay. So I could do it I mean I've only got two spell slots okay so I could do it but I've only got so you can do it at 6th level Lucius and take everyone I mean I might be too busy like piloting a mech so screw it I could just do it yeah I do a 6th all right Lucius is gonna cost flight 6 to get everybody across yeah it takes you a little bit of time um cutting down on that window you can see that that shape in the distance getting closer and closer but you all fly over um and you see the scale of this giant construct i mean it is massive uh it has been developed further from the last time when you saw the sort of plans um back in the space that you were it was being built in the cloud pirates.

I can't remember what I called them now, but in their base. But yeah, this thing has been massively upscaled. You are quite small in comparison. When you fly over, you can see that the thing is brimming with magitek. It has a giant sort of generator on its back. You can see these kind of pylons and you can see blue and purple energy like flowing in between its armor plates just you know powering this enormous construct um you can see various

different components some parts of it look like they can shift and move it looks a mixture of mechanical and clockwork but also magical all kind of combined together um when you all land together uh the only real place that you can really land is on its shoulders or its head, where it's kind of like its top half is emerging out of the ocean. Nova, you can see that there is basically like an access point on the back of its neck, which is like a person-shaped door. And there is a touch pad, a kind of crystalline pad that you can touch that has, you know, Valkyrian Magitek readouts and things like that, but it looks like this is the access point for whatever controls are inside.

Okay, I guess I'll walk up and... Yeah, you put your hand on it. There is a moment it seems to sort of scan your whatever it is, your signature, your palm print or your DNA, whatever it is. Your ether. Your ether, yeah, exactly. And then, yeah, the symbols turn green, and it just seems to...

and opens it. I have a question for you guys out of character now. Do you want Project Vanguard to be five pilots in one room, or do you want to have one in the head, one in each arm? I think we know the answer no I mean I don't know the answer

that's why I'm making a choice because I think both are cool does it separate into lions yeah they do not separate into lions

it's just a question of who goes where then Megazord or yeah it's basically do you want Megazord or do you want Vanguard or do you want Voltron basically it's like

all five of you in the cockpit together do you want a drift or do you want a we're going to fight over like all five of you in the cockpit together. Do we want to drift? Or do you want to... We're going to fight over the head, aren't we, Nova? I say we all together. Yeah, that's totally fine. You don't have to be in each part.

I just wanted to throw this as a personal choice of which mecha cockpit scenario do you want. Do you want to... I'll be there! Okay, yeah, all right. I'm kind of swaying more towards separate body parts. You will need to determine who goes where. And I will say this, Nova would be the head

because she's the current one with the anal throats. That makes sense. I've got eyes. I don't need eyes with this. What am I, a leg? Is that what you're saying? You're the butt. Am I a fucking leg?

You're the butt. Oh, I'm a leg. You're toe. It's up to you. You could the butt. Oh, I'm a leg. Your toe. It's up to you. You could all be sat together. I'm a yellow lion. You could all be sat in the cockpit together. You can go Power Rangers.

You can Megazord this. Who votes Voltron? I mean, I do like Voltron. I like Voltron. Are you voting for Voltron? I vote Voltron. All right. In that case, I mean, it doesn't matter.

I'm also playing Aayla right now, so Aayla votes Voltron. Okay. It's hard case, I mean, it doesn't matter. I'm also playing Ayla right now, so Ayla votes Voltron. Okay. It's hard, isn't it? Everybody used it. All right, cool. So the thingy opens, and you can see that there is basically

like a short corridor, like a passageway, and then it splits off. There is one that goes up towards the head, like the ladder. There's two that go off to the side, and then there seem to be like two chutes that go down into the leg. Who is going where?

Nova, when you get inside, there is a voice that says, there's a kind of pre-programmed, magical kind of projected voice that is, welcome, Administrator Vija. Authorized Vanguard 1. Please designate Vanguards 2 to 5. What are the locations of vanguard two to five? They'll tell you whichever ones you vote for. Okay, so whichever anyone says, I will then authorize that with the voice.

Okay, now do the different positions mean we are able to do different things? Because I'm not so stable and I'm not so punchy. The voice that's talking, do I call them computer or? I mean, you can probably call them vanguard. Can I start from that? The voice that's talking, do I call them computer or? I mean, you can probably call them Vanguard. Like Vanguard, it would say that you can see that a very quick glance at the systems. It was called Project Vanguard. This construct is called Vanguard Alpha.

Or just Vanguard. Wait, there's more? Maybe. With a name like that, there's more. Maybe. This is Vanguard Alpha. Okay. So can I... So it doesn't matter what positions people are in.

It doesn't change, like, you can all control different things. You don't, like, if somebody's used the arm, you can't just do arm things. If you want to play it that way, you can do. If you want to be like, no, I'm an arm. I do arm things. That's fine. But I think that even when you look at Vault, like, because it would suck to be like, no, I'm an arm. I do arm things. That's fine. But I think that even when you look at Vault, because it would suck to be a leg, and all you can do is leg stuff.

I think you can't. But there are other systems. So basically, the way we can do it is either it's locked to arms can do arm stuff, legs can do leg stuff. We can make it so that everybody can do anything. But there are also special systems that can be accessed by anybody um and each of the positions so each one of you and technically tom will get two because if he's going to control ailer he'll get to do two you get to pick a

signature system that only that you get a bonus to using everyone can use it but you have a bonus when you use it that's really cool um but i'm not going to tell you what those are until you're in your positions and you've determined what you're doing well i'm starting to feel like it's at least my perception of it would be me and century's legs quill and century's legs yeah quill and century interesting lucius and ayla his arms, and then over his head. Sure. Yeah. I don't really know what's gonna happen. So that's the point. I'm a support character.

I'm a lefty, so I'll take the left arm. Okay. All right, yeah. And then Aayla's like, yeah, I wanna hit stuff. Yep, I punch. I'm good at that. Maybe I can cast a spell out of the hand. Maybe, hopefully. Yeah. We'll see. All see all right well I guess I'll um bye all right all right good

luck everybody probably like two and three with the arms and then four guys guys guys wait which floor we long um do you know how you're gonna get it's it's quite simple like the corridors it just kind of splits off. It's quite cramped, so Sentry, you're probably hunched in, but you can get through here. It's big enough for you just about, but you're kind of a bit squished in. Yeah, Nova, so for your example, so if we're going to have... So Aayla can be Vanguard 2, Lucius would be Vanguard 3,

and then Coyle would be Vanguard 4, and Sentry would beanguard four central vanguard five sure yeah if those if those are the positions you're taking all right i mean again when you arrive in each individual cockpit uh there is basically a kind of uh swept back throne-like chair um each of the positions have uh basically like crystalline uh almost like things that you can grip onto. They're almost like orbs, but like jagged, like things that you would hold onto and resting into the arms of each throne. There are also crystalline screens in front of you and then runic sigils, arcane looking apparatus, magical technology kind of all surrounding you. And when you sit in, those crystalline screens flicker to life and it feels all of you. And when you sit in, those crystalline screens

flicker to life and it feels all of you have the same position as if you were the thing's head. So you're looking at it from the thing's head. And then there are displays of each of the other cockpits so you can see each other as well. From this point, you can communicate easily with each other from each location. It just filters through and basically relays

magical messages. Can you hear me? I can hear you. I can see all of you on my screen. I can see you too. Mine's a bit snarled, I can't wave. Hang on. I'm touching the orbs at the moment.

Oh, you're touching the orbs, okay. Nobody touch anything. Don't touch anything. Until I know which one is not a self-destruct. There's a self-destruct? For Kim. Oh, God. Why would there be a self-destruct. There's a self-destruct? That's a Kim. Why would there be a self-destruct? Why is there a manual?

I'm scared. Of course there's a manual. It's a giant mech. You think you're going to not get a manual? This is amazing. The top bit is shared information. Basically, the first page is shared information. Oh, my God.

So, for Project Vanguard, you will not really be using your own personal character sheets. The main thing you're going to be using your own personal character sheets. The main thing you're going to need to know is your main attributes, so your bonuses for your strength, dex, con, charisma, etc. Not your saving throw bonuses, just the raw ability bonus. Okay. The first page of the manual basically has Project Vanguard's things like its hull.

You don't really have armor. Each location has its own hit points or hull points. Vanguard also has energy, right? You start off with a maximum of 20, and all of your abilities and systems use energy, right? And then at the end of each combat round, you will make a check to see how much energy you regenerate each round. There are generic actions.

Use arm, use leg. Doing things like recalibrating systems to fix errors and things like that as well. And then also, you'll find on the next two sheets, special systems and teamwork systems. Right? Each of you, I like each of you and Tom, you'll pick one for Katie Ayla as well.

Okay. You get to pick one special system. Whenever you use that special system, you have advantage on the roll. Sorry,

I'm trying to figure out which leg I'm in. It doesn't matter. I'm in Bagsy right leg. Are you left handed or right handed? Right handed. I'm left handed. Great. So mean bagsy right now are you left-handed or right-handed right-handed i'm left-handed great all right so right and left legs right um the signature systems there's a bunch of different options you pick one and you have advantage when you do it

anybody can use those systems but uh you will just have advantage on it and then lastly on the last page is something called teamwork systems and these are basically systems where in order for them to activate you have to all make you like so for example one of them requires two of you to use it as your actions you both have to use that action and only when the second one is done does that system actually activate so you're like building it up right it's like a power up move so. So if we wanted to use the first ability, like say us two have to use a turn to activate it, and then it will activate at the end or whatever. If it's the teamwork ability, yes.

You would both have to do it. You both have to succeed the check. So if one of you fails, that means that system doesn't activate. So it's like a gamble thing, right? You can also still do things like cast spells on your turn and whilst you are in project vanguard um like for example you don't have to worry about ranges like if you wanted to bless you can basically technically bless everybody in project vanguard right you can like reach like blessing into the orbs yeah basically yeah you're doing that effect but it would still be

like okay i can affect three people you would choose who three are going to give that benefit to, right? How about heal? And also, there is no way to heal Project Vanguard. It is a construct. It does not get healed by healing spells. You can heal each other if you guys take damage, which might happen, but you can't heal Project Vanguard. The only other thing I'd say is do still fill the need.

Whilst there are a lot of options here, you can always heal Project Vanguard. The only other thing I'd say is like, do still feel the need, like whilst there are a lot of options here, you can always be creative. Like certain things like actions, like use arm and use leg, it's open to interpretation of like, we want to do this. Oh, cool. Let's make that as a generic thing.

You know, you want to try and fire a spell out of Project Vanguard. That might be something you can try and do, but it might manifest in a different way. But like, feel free to be creative and come up with different ideas, right? I'm going to use the left arm to put the OK symbol below the waist. Yeah. Let's see if the telekinesis looks.

And then they've lost. And then you get a free punch. How is these pages, are these literally showing up on the screens in front of us? I think that Nova can basically, yeah, basically when Nova gets in, it's like, would you like to relay training manual to pilots? Nova, my second screen is asking me to tick a box somewhere, asking me to take a special action. Which one should I pick? Hit the screen until it shows something else.

Should I accept the terms and conditions before I start? Probably not, you need to read small print before you do. Small print. it shows something else terms and conditions before I start print small print you have joined the balcony I think I broke it I picked Gideon shield and so you have chosen Gideon signature sister All right, so you have chosen Gideon Shield as your signature system. Oh, God, this is amazing. So whenever you use the Gideon Shield, you have advantage on the ability check to activate it. So Gideon Shield is assigned to Quill. Propulsion Fist.

Thank you. Nice. All right, Mark, you're taking that one. Fair enough. I'm in a fist. True. I thought in a fist. True. I thought you'd take Radiant Saber.

Well, Aayla can take Radiant Saber. Aayla's taking Radiant Saber. Hell yeah. It was a toss-up between the two. What, Magicite Missiles? Signature systems, by the way. Signature systems, when you wish to activate them, you must yell the name of what the system is. Okay.

Otherwise, it's a fail. Yeah, otherwise it just doesn't work. It's a voice-activated system. Ayla's got Radiant Saber. I've got Gideon Shield. Lucius has Propulsion Fist. There's Magisite Missiles, Jet Boosted Shot, or Emotion Surge Drive. Yeah, what do you want to lose?

I mean, my highest stat is Charisma, so maybe Magisite Missile? Yeah. Or... Wait, I didn't text Jake. Sorry? Yeah, did you not read the bit where it says dex check? Of course he didn't read it.

This man was... I feel like Ayla's in her thing just like, I'm trying to hit propulsion fist and it's not working. I'm not propulsion fist everyone. Fuck! Well, Ayla needs strength and Radiant Saber is strength. Aayla's also got crazy dex. That's both Aayla, so Aayla gets Radiant Saber.

I think Lucius is locked in. Can we disable Lucius' one and make him re-pick? I'm already like, moving the arm. No, okay, he's locked in. Oh, yeah, and like, if you, I mean, like, we'll say that there's like, whilst there's not in combat situation, the energy would replenish in time. But like, yeah, like, I mean, you know, you can move around, but you can, you know, test the system and stuff like that. Nice.

And it's basically activated. The whole system that you'd realize is that you grasp these orbs and it feeds off like the will that you send through to it. And it kind of feeds off your own body. Like as you're touching it, you have to imagine yourself doing the motion and drive that will and energy into it which is why it uses your ability checks to actually activate these things um the whole system is basically built around your psyche and emotions as well um stop thinking about dabbing i don't really understand what you yeah so you and nova have got one. So Sentry wants to take Magisite Missiles.

Oh really? Because my dexterity stat is not good. Use one or the other. So I think the Emotion Support Drive and Magisite Missiles. So both of you could do well with those. I've got good charisma. I could do Emotion Surge. I can use it twice though. Emotion Surge is just charisma.

Just remember that you can use any of the system sentry. That one you just have advantage on using. So it's your signature system. What's your dex like? Zero. It's not good. So I've got three dex and five Charisma. Go for Magitype Missiles, then. That's got Charisma. You've also got Intelligence or Wisdom.

I've got three Intelligence and minus one Wisdom. Yep. So you choose. Wait, what did I pick? Shit! You picked something that used Con. Constitution. Do you want to swap? No, he can't swap. He's locked in. Brilliant. I'm pressing back. I think there's a big blue screen now.

It's got a lot of white text and a sad face on it. I'm pressing back. I think there's a big blue screen now. It's got a lot of white text and a sad face on it. I'm crying somehow. I'm so sorry, Starbane. So, I just need you to remember, these are just, you get advantage. Anybody can use any of these systems. It's just what you get advantage on. Yeah. How about I take Jet Booster and you take one of the other,

the Magisite Missiles or something? Yeah yeah i'll go for a motion search drive okay yeah i would definitely recommend having at least one person who uh well i was saying that anybody can use it but it's good to have advantage on because it's a good way of getting energy back yeah your jet booster well i do wonder now if i should take magic missiles because charisma is my highest yeah take it. Like I said, anybody can use the Jet Booster, it's just that you won't have advantage on it. I'll take Magisight Missiles because Charisma is my highest stat. All right. Okay.

Cool. Team Vanguard, assemble! I don't know what you mean, Lucius. Storm Chasers, for starters. Storm Chasers, alpha. Storm chasers, for starters. Storm chasers. Alpha. Just storm chasers.

Just in a big man. Vanguard Pilot 3. It does register you are listed as Vanguard Pilot 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8. Can I change these names? Vanguard Pilot 2, ready for action. Okay, Vanguard Pilot 4. I'm here. Sentry's ready.

Vanguard 5, that's Vanguard 5. I'm not Vanguard, I'm just Sentry. Vanguard numbers. Good to go. Yep, Vanguard 2. Vanguard 1, Nova. Still reading. Okay.

We've lost our head. Well, before we head to break, you guys can keep reading, but we'll basically assume that you begin making your way and Project Vanguard... We're moving! I can feel it. As it begins wading through the water and each stride is easily clearing like, you know,

30, 40, 50 feet with each stride. And you begin hitting closer and closer to the shape in the distance. Eventually, that form begins to get clearer and clearer, and you begin to see it, too. No longer swimming, but begins to take a full stride as it pushes itself up the water water spooling spilling from its back the carapace the spikes crashing down into the ocean before so you've taken one of our enemies toys to try and defeat me have you Traitors to your world. Traitors to the goddess that gave you life. I'll consume

you. I'll consume Calus' little toy, and then I'll destroy him with its power. As. Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes! Oh no! It's so big! Oh, we're yes, yes! Oh no! This is so big! Oh, we're in trouble. We're so small! Yes! As Italicus...

As Vanguard and Italicus stare at each other across the waves, it just raises one fist. And that's where we're going to take our break. And when we come back, we will get to this titanic clash.

Kaiju fight! Kaiju fight! Kaiju fight! Kaiju fight! Kaiju fight! Kaiju fight! Kaiju fight! Kaiju fight! Kaiju fight! Kaiju fight! Kaiju fight! Kaiju fight! Kaiju fight!