High Rollers DnD - High Rollers: Aerois #179 | Duel of the Fates (Part 1)

Episode Date: April 2, 2023

Kallus Starbane vs the Stormchasers... the Duel of the Fates! 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, welcome back to Arois. Last time, the champions faced off against a Seed of Hadar, an insidious fragment of the Entropic creature that had infected the mind of the Titan, Atelicus. A desperate battle with twists and turns aplenty was eventually won, as Quill delivered the final blow after rising from near death. But even with the seeds destroyed, Atelicus's rage remained. However, a blast of magic from the great astral warship the Astoria, as well as a strange figure in the sky city of Kasatoris, forced him to submit and as the anger subsided it turned to grief and regret and the giant titan decided to give up their power back to his mother, to Siaska, the goddess of stars.

However in order to battle Atelicus, the party had agreed to receive aid from Calus Valkyrian, also known as Starbane, an Astral Emperor, in exchange for meeting him prior to Siaska's awakening. As they travelled to the Sky City of Kassotaurus to fulfil this agreement, Calus appeared to them and told them that he had come to understand the truth about the visions they and he had shared and that he believed that the party may be the key to truly defeating Hadar, but to ensure that they were capable of doing so and protecting that which he loves most,

they would first need to defeat him. And that, my friends, is where we jump back in today and set the scene for you once more. Kasatoris was once a great sky city, a great city of Eros. Kassotaurus was once a great sky city, a great city of Eros. But when Hesper set these great cities up onto the winds to protect them from the ravages of the great cataclysm that occurred during the war with Kallus initially,

Kassotaurus was unluckier than most. Its path did not lead it to anywhere where they could trade or gather resources. And slowly, over the years, the people died and perished, and the place was left to become a haunted ruin. At some point Calus Valkyrian has claimed it for his own, cleared out any of the undead or creatures that were remaining in, and now it is a stone silent mausoleum a graveyard, a tomb there is no sound or light or life but there are also no horrors

it is a dead place the city itself much like the other Sky Cities is full of tall beautiful architectural buildings but the section you are in specifically is almost like a bit of an amphitheater you can see walls and buildings stretched around you in a slight curve but one

section of it is now open would have once looked out on the great blue sky of eros but now instead looks upon the great azure ocean of eros as it has been sort of crash landed into the ocean and now is a sort of floating island city you will stand sort of looking at the rest of the city in this kind of coliseum like environment there are still the remnants of statues and broken walls and a few buildings that probably remain from back in the day and stood before you is kallus himself, wearing his thick black plate armor. You can see power, kind of conduits of crystal and purple magic flowing between the joints.

His long, dark hair sort of gently blowing in the wind with a giant greatsword, very reminiscent of Nova's sword, Tiangong, strapped to his back. And he's looking down at you. And that's where I hand it over to you. Whee! So he said moments ago, last week, that we could rest.

Yes, and yeah, he kind of looks around you all and will say, You can rest assured, for my honor, you can rest here. I do not wish to fight you until you are at your full strength. I want to make sure that you are ready for what is to come. Does Nova feel anything from his sword? That's a great question. Can you roll an insight check for me? Oh, I'm real good at those. Minus one.

Nova's not very good at necessarily reading. I rolled a one. Oh, my God. How? If that is the same dice from last week, you need to put that in jail and get yourself a new one. I'm going to put it in my bag. I'm going to put it in my bag.

It's going to infect the rest of them. No, I'm joking. I don't believe in any of that shit. I don't believe in any of that. Can I roll with another dice? You may. Try this one. You know what?

This one's rhymed. After your shit last week, I will genuinely let you re-roll this with a new dice. Wrong! That would be a one. That was my primed dice. You ruined it. That's the one that you got a 20 on. That one's dying, unfortunately. That was my primed dice. You ruined it. That's the one that you got a 20.

That one's dying, unfortunately. That's my... Right, I'm assuming none of these are the only ones. Get away from there. Pretty much. She rolled a one. They're all under 10. Okay, it's just you.

Right, well. Well, I'm cursed. Unfortunately, no good. I'm all cursed. You. Whether it's... It's up to you. Kim, it's really down to you.

Whine over, like, if this is a mental block, if this is a magical thing, whatever this is. Maybe this is, maybe he's distracted. Honestly, it's all too big. She's died, she's just come back. She was straight in a massive battle against the giant dinosaur, and then the giant mech, and then the giant dinosaur mech,

and then he'd been thrown around a lot, Lucius almost died. It's just a lot, and and yeah you don't necessarily feel or pick up on anything there's certainly no magical aura and there's no magical effect or communication so telepathy or anything like that yeah so far nothing maybe after I have a nice sleep yeah maybe I think um quill would be interested to see centuries reaction actually reaction, actually, to this duel. Because, I mean...

So is Quill literally looking at Sentry like, is there anything you want to say? At this point, I'm Sentry's squire. So, I mean, also, I know who Starbane is to Sentry, and the opportunity to beat the out of him like i mean i'm half expecting century to like i i don't need a rest i'm just gonna go in there and beat the out of him now well why don't you make an insight check for me as well because like he stood before you and like you're thinking about century but like there's you and you're thinking about sentry, but you might pick up on some stuff from Starbs as well.

Starbs. Starbs. Cow. Cow. Cow. Special K. I like Special K. It's fucking dice, I swear to God.

I might have to get rid of it because it's bust. That is a 30 on insight. 30 on insight. I got a plus 12, baby. Nice. But Kim touched it and I just cursed. It's just... You can only use it for special occasions.

If you use it all the time... I know, I'm going to retire for a bit. So, you're thinking about Sentry and you're looking in Sentry's direction and I guess at this point, yeah, Sentry does cool pick up anything from you, but he's also going to pick up some other stuff. But with that 30 insight, what might Quill glean from Sentry's demeanor? Interesting. I think... Sentry's just tired, I think.

There's a weariness. Weary. In the body language. Yeah, not only from the fight that's just happened, but almost from this again. I think she's just... I think she just wants to bury this. I think she just wants to be done with this star vein and just move on to the bigger picture at hand.

Okay. Another delay before Hadar. Yeah, exactly. You also pick up on the sense that Kallus is very rigid in his body language. There's very little movement and even callus is very rigid in his body language there's very little movement and even his face is very stoic but you can't help but shake this sense of like there's a awareness and a sort of uh almost anticipation or expectation from him like reading in his face and sort of thinking about everything he he must know, you know,

like Lucius and Sentries and Aayla's kind of feelings towards him. And so you kind of get this sense that he's kind of expecting you guys to want to fight him as well. Like to be like, he's kind of like, yeah, I'm going to let you get out your anger and aggression towards me kind of thing. Like there's almost an expectation of that in him. Okay. I think Lucius shares Sentry's sentiment in that,

in fact, he might even say it. Yeah. Calistarbane, you want us to fight you in the hopes that we win your approval? No. So that we can fight Hadar? No, this is not a-

Would you stop us? Fight Hadar if we weren't to prove this to you? If what Siaska plans is what I think, I wish to make sure you are strong enough. I would be placing two of the things that I care about most, the two things I was willing to risk everything for, in your hands. And I do not think you are strong enough. But the visions that I have been shown,

the faith that Siaska has obviously placed in you, makes me doubt. If you are to face Hadar, if you can't defeat me, you have no hope against Hadar. This is a chance for you to prove yourselves. This is a chance for you to test yourselves. Not just, this isn't some ego for me.

I do not care. I just wish to make sure that you are strong enough to do this. And if you are not, I can help you, or perhaps you can reconsider a plan, or perhaps my way is the only way. Perhaps my plan for the world engine, although you have seen one future where it fails,

perhaps that may not be the case here. And perhaps it will convince you that my way forward is the right one. But see this as a chance to prove to yourselves, if you cannot beat me, you will not defeat Hadar. I say this now. And I say that with no shred of arrogance, just fact. I know how your world sees me. You call me Starbane. I know that your history is painting me as a conqueror, and I was. I am. You're a murderer. Not directly, but my actions have led to war, yes. You're a soldier, I am a soldier. Soldiers fight, we die. I regret that my former friend was more duplicious than I realized. But that does not change the threat that Hadar poses

to Eros, to Gideon, to perhaps more universes out there. From what I have seen, if we do not stop Hadar here and these fate weavers somehow fail in separating our universe from the others, this Hadar may face, it may threaten other universes, other worlds beyond ours. So rather than all of us defeat Hadar, we're gonna waste time proving ourselves. No.

Why don't we just team up and go? We can. You realize that we care about Vala a great deal. We tracked her down to bring her back from you. I do. Because we didn't think she was safe with you. I understand that. We would protect her with our lives. That I have no doubt.

It is not your... it is not your intent, it is not your will that I doubt, Champions. That has been proven time and time again. It is merely your competency. Can you protect her? Can you stop Hadar? Can you promise me that now, Aayla? Can you tell me now, without a shred of doubt, that Can you stop Hadar? Can you promise me that now, Aayla? Can you tell me now, without a shred of doubt, that you will defeat Hadar, no matter what, that you're strong enough? We can do it together.

We can? Can you do it without us? I believe that the world engine is at least something. And if what we saw actually happens, then that just goes the opposite direction. Like we've seen. What if you fail? What if you go to fight Hadar, and perhaps with me or even without me, what if you go to Hadar and you fail? You would be giving, if what I think Siaska and Val are planning to do, you would be delivering them to Hadar directly. You will give them straight to that creature and then there will be nothing.

You would give Erois? If I had to. I'd sacrifice Gideon. I'd sacrifice Erois. If it meant stopping Hadar, yes, I would. I would give him my life if I could stop him, without a second of a doubt. Yet I do have doubts. The one right under you now works with Hadar, and you didn't see that coming? Don't think any of you need to make an insight check. Yeah, like Lucius, like what Lucius says,

he's like, you see like, yeah. And he knows he's like, he can't get out of that one. He's like, he just nods his head. He's like, believe me, that betrayal hurts more than you know. Zarkira was a friend, a longtime friend. She was an ally. We journeyed together, much like you and your friends. Imagine if Aayla or Quill or Sentry or Nova betrayed you,

turned into some hideous creature bent on power and greed. How would you feel? I don't have to worry about that. I certainly hope you do not. It is not a fate I would wish on any. I've got someone with great insight. I'm hungry for gold. Wait.

I have come to accept, you have proven to me that I am blind to many things, that I am stubborn, and that perhaps it is not always, That I am stubborn, and that perhaps it is not always... That sometimes I am blinded by many things. But look at this place. And he gestures at Kassotoros. Even your own gods, this Titan Hesper, made mistakes. We all do.

But this is not about my will. We can fight together. That is, if that is what you wish, I will see it done. I will call off my armies, regardless of what happens in this fight, in this duel. But I stand by what I said, and he looks at Quill, and I think one of you agrees with me. If you cannot defeat me, you cannot defeat Hadar. I've studied you, as Hadar will likely have done. So far you have fought many enemies, powerful, great ones, but I promise you have never fought a foe like me, you've never fought a foe like Hadar,

you've never fought a foe truly like Zakhira, and we will have to defeat them both. Logically speaking, he does have a point. Yeah. It's just the fact that, you know, if we lose, there's still a chance that someone who doesn't even live on this planet is making a choice to give the entire planet away at a slim chance that it's going to defeat something.

It's not your choice to give Eros away. The people here deserve to choose. I can give them that choice, if that's what you wish, as I did to the people of Alfheim. And honestly, Aayla, you may be surprised. Look at Wharton, sir. A slim chance is better than no chance at all. Well, you can't make the choice for them. I wouldn't have wanted that. I didn't even know

about my people fully, because it was hidden from me. All I've known is this, I wouldn't want to grow up in a world where I wasn't given that choice. Choice is a... Or at least all the information. That we agree on. So be it. If you cannot defeat me, if I lose, or if you lose,

and you wish to give the people of Varroas this choice, so be it. But I promise you this, if you or I cannot stop Hadar, nothing will. It doesn't matter whether we use the World Engine to attack Hadar or we let the people of here of Arois enjoy a decade, a few years of life. Hadar will come. So obviously this is Dan Huber. Is Shansara kind of actively thinking things and seeing things in Nova's head?

In Nova's body? Let me roll something. It's difficult. You've only briefly become even aware that they're present, having seen their manifestations. You're not sure. I was just curious. You certainly don't have, like, thoughts or you don't hear them in any way. She doesn't react to her emperor being here. There's maybe an ever so slight feeling feeling like in the back of your mind

or deep in your heart like a flicker like a dying ember just giving off that tiny bit of heat and there's a sense of admiration but also guilt just faint but also guilt.

Just faint. And it's not enough to influence Nova or anything. It's just a little tickle at the back of the brain. So far, neither Harmony or Shansara have ever tried to control or push themselves into you. You get the sense, Nova, that they're connected to you, bound to you, but they're not controlling you. They're just Tiangong, Shansara harmony.

It's like their essence is tethered to your soul, and they're present, but they have no power. You have to call them, and even then you have little control over it. Mm. Yeah. and even then you have little control over it. Whatever happens, we need to rest. Yes. We are tired. We have spent a day, two days fighting.

I don't even know at this point. We've been through a lot. I'm afraid that there will be more to come. Take what rest you can now. Leave you to it. I know that my presence is discomforting, but I will return. Rest here, this place is safe.

There are no more creatures that linger. I will return in a few hours. I don't care about my safety. I care about the invasion of Eros. You've brought that upon us. He kind of looks at you quite hard, Lucius. You do not like me. I called off my invasion when I first learnt, when Aayla showed me these visions, I called off my invasion. You say you do not care about your safety. I believe you.

I've seen hundreds, thousands of men and women with the same look in your eyes, Lucius. I fear for you. I can see that longing for death, that comforting embrace of, you know nothing. Let us rest and face this fight and face Hadar. Very well. He just turns and walks off. I felt pretty good.

Yeah. You just told him to shut up again for any more words. Oh, what's that? Chris Trott disrespecting authority figures? Oh, I wouldn't have ever expected... Oh yeah, no, Lucius doing it. Oh yeah, definitely. We're doing my roleplay right now.

Oh no. No, no, no. I'm just saying that Chris Trott sometimes influences the roleplay of the character. Oh, that was... It's like cam all over again. It's like a repeating pattern. No, I'm joking. I'm all for Lucius completely despising Starbane,

if that makes sense. Especially when, you know, Quill and Tom and Noah came out and love him. I mean, I love him. I can still love him. I understand him. I fucking adore him. Well, Kim loves him.

Yeah, Kim is an absolute pervert. He's joining the Empire, don't I? Throughout all of that, I just kept looking at Tom and I'd see Tom going like... I'm all for it. Nova understands him and agrees him. Why do you think I'm wearing purple? I did almost wear my Starbane t-shirt today.

Yeah. With the butt. Oh, fuck. I'm part of the franchise. Yeah! You drank it. Shit. It is, the sun is setting, by the way.

Like, it is probably actually, it's probably actually already set. It is actually probably nighttime because you guys literally fought the Beast of Italicus. You jumped straight into the fight against Italicus himself. That took several hours because it was the, you know, there was an abstraction of time in some elements of that. So it is probably night, like the stars,

yeah, the stars, the cradle is in full view. And this place is just, there's no animal noises, there's no trees, it's just the occasional bit of wind. You kind of hear that whistling howling as the wind blows through the city streets. That's it. I think Sentry will find a quiet place just to sit and rest before. Maybe she'll sit on the edge and just dangle her legs off

the edge of the city, just looking out. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah? Yeah. We should probably take a moment, just a moment, because unfortunately that's all we have right now, but just to remember Morgana and Sana. Yeah, more victims

of this greater battle. We've lost a lot, but we've gained a lot too. What have we gained, Ova? Drama. The Astoria. Another weapon. We've gained allies. We've met more people than we would have

if we stayed at home. And they're all doomed if we don't beat up the purple guy. I met Thalia. There is some hope. I wouldn't have had that. I just think I... I understand your mindset right now.

This is a lot. The end of the universe is a lot. And Starbane, whether you like him, hate him, understand him or not, he's standing in the way, right? It's just another thing that we have to go through. And we will. But sometimes you have to remember the little things. And why we're doing this.

I don't think I ever forgot. But I think some people have lost their way. Who's talking talking to? Someone, then. If we're to beat him, and I mean him as in Starbane and Hadar, we need to be that force that wants to live, that wants to see each other again, that wants kinship and a life.

And are you that, Lucius? Not at all. I have my doubts. That is my worry. The last few fights, you have fought harder, meaner, crueler to yourself yourself you have pushed yourself again and again to the edge of death sometimes it's necessary though you know because who else is going to do it but as you said you don't have to die to do it I'm going to die anyway, aren't we? No.

See, that's what I need right now. A firm no. I died. And I saw peace. I won't lie to you. It was peaceful in the Astral Sea. But it wasn't enough. I came back because you all called me back. Because everyone needs us. As Century said, we need to fight for a world that doesn't need heroes anymore. And whether we like it or not, we are those heroes right now.

We have to stay alive. If not for each other, if not for ourselves, for everyone else. And that is a burden. That is a burden. But we can't lose you, Lucius. I won't be giving myself up so easily. Don't worry.

It will be for the right reasons. And I will fight with every ounce of my breath to save as many as I can. We all will. I think we've all proven to ourselves that we're capable of doing that. And when everyone naturally dies, because that's just what life is,

I don't want to see them in the hellscape of Hadar. I want them to be in the Astral Sea. Agreed. Starbane thinks that death is death. But I think those decades, those years of living is worth so much more than an attempt at throwing it all away. Then we have to prove him wrong.

With brute force, yes. Whilst Nova and Lucius are having a conversation, is Cornela doing anything? Sentry, you're off to the side, right? Just thinking. I have briar in my hands. He's probably trying to get off your hands and gathering up little rocks. There's so much stuff here.

There's little pebbles and little things like that. Just watch him disappear. He's going to be the size of Sent century by the time we leave this island can i see uh the halls in the ocean still you could never really see the halls themselves well you can still see yeah you still see that that ever it's very small because it's still like a good you know it's probably a couple of miles away, but burgeoning perception. You do see just a faint purple glow of like a little triangle. You know that that's the point, like the entry point, basically. Yeah, I'm just wondering, like, I think Quill would be looking at it towards that,

knowing that, you know, all the Titans are finally returning. Just the other side of that gate, Siaska reforming. I think he's just waiting and hoping to go back there as soon as possible. But, I mean, Quill's in agreement with Starbane, ultimately. Like, he knows how tough the fight was against just a seed of Hadar. It cost so much. And even for Lucius, it cost his most powerful spell. I think it is something that we do need to do

to defeat the one thing that we've been chasing after this entire time would fill us with the enthusiasm we need to actually go against the thing that's much, much, much worse. So I think that's where Quill's head space right now. Ready to try and fight Starbane and see what happens if we fail. Okay. Anything for Aelin?

Not really. She's probably just wandering around some of the ruins and just thinking about... Basically, she's just thinking about she doesn't want Erois to become Alfheim. And that's kind of what's in her head just now. Well, if you guys spend eight hours, you can take a long rest. Get in some sleep, but also conversation, resting.

Pairing what supplies and things you have like that. Does anyone have a spare healing potion? We have none. Okay. Oh, I might have a few. What? Yeah, there you go. Have you been hollowing out on this?

Um, I've got- The healer had all the potions. I got a supreme, I got a greater. Are you actually kidding me right now? The healer had all the potions. Two pure wound scrolls. I got two potions of healing, two regular potions of healing.

Can you divvy those out? Because we can't fuck you. We weren't gonna let you die because we couldn't heal you at one point. You just take it off my body and just... We didn't know you had them. If it's on me... But we didn't know!

It's probably better if it's on me, so it's easier to bring me back if I go down. No! I'm sorry, do you think... Because rummaging through takes extra time that we don't have. Nah, I'm a very open guy. Give the potions. I don't have a backpack, it's just straps and belts. It's all hanging off me.

I have the haversack. You can have a regular, oh, well that's easier to loop through. I was incinerated, I have nothing. Yeah. An open bird boy. All right, fine, you can have one regular potion of healing. Oh wow, thank you, merciful.

It's all right, you're welcome. What can I have? Bird boy. You can have death ward scroll. What can I have? You can have Death Ward scroll. Would that be useful? No. I can't use it. You could cast it at the end of this long rest though. I'd like a potion, any kind of healing potion. Potion, potion, scroll of detect magic. No. Fine. How do you have that many? Look, all right.

You were all tapped. She hoards them. Fine. Because she sits there going, gold, gold, gold, gold, gold, gold, gold. I didn't hoard them. Yeah, look at all these things. I feel like they were bought for me

and I just never had them. So, all right. Supreme potion, greater potion, two regular potions. I walk away. Well, one's, Ada's got one of the regulars now. I would like to have the greater.

I will take the greater healing potion. All right, mark that off your sheet, Thomas. Nova, Kim can add a greater healing potion. Can you get a regular one? I've got one greater on me already. Okay. Does Lucius have anything? Does Lucius want anything?

Take a potion. Yeah, I'll take a potion. Which one you want to take? Regular and Supreme left. There's a Supreme. You take the Supreme. I'll'll take two regulars and then i've got the most movement so if i need to that is 10d4 plus 20. it's a big boy yeah you take that i'll take the two regulars because i've got more movement two regular so i've never got none yeah you but you can heal you're right not if i'm dead so what are you gonna do with a potion?

I come over to you with one of my fucking potions and put it in your face! But if someone doesn't have a potion, they come up to me. Everyone does know. And I'll have to use it. We should be using it if you heal us. I do heal you!

Oh, that's why you have a potion. Let's just mark this down. Tom, remove all the potions from your inventory. Yeah, here, take the Eye of the Storm as well, you fucking savages. Oh, nice. Aayla, you get two regular healing potions. Noga gets the Greater.

Lucius has the Supreme. Make sure you add them to your sheets. You don't need them. I got you. So. Just end the game, that's it. We've just, yeah. The dire is infected.

This is also your opportunity if you would like to check your prepared spells, for example. Lucius, because of the instant with the wish, which we went through and obviously you had lost. However, you do feel, as you take this long rest, that chromatic energy, begin to see the colors. Although it's night, the cradle above is this multi-prismed, kind of prismatic stretch of color and light, kind of stretching over the northern lights. As you look upon it, you do feel magic

sort of restoring in you. You can pick a new ninth level spell if you'd like. Because I don't want you to be missing out on one of your main big resources. Such a sweet kind, DM. Okay. You need to tell me what it is. You know what it is. Is it Prismatic Wall? It's Prismatic Wall.

To keep the theme. So you can take that because of your Arcane Chromat. You can't add it to your D&D Beyond sheet, but we can just know that you have that spell. Yeah, sorcerers can't usually have it. Yeah, but because of Arcane Chroma, you could technically take it. Very chromatic.

The prismatic wall is nuts. I just remembered which one that is. Yeah, it's pretty wild. So good. I'm not looking. I'm interested. Nah, you'll see soon. You can have that.

And that's like as you take the long rest, like looking up at the cradle, you kind of feel that magic kind of welling back up inside you. What are you looking at me for? Just at you just looking at you just looking at you you're looking good today no thanks i feel better now that i have actually got something if someone goes down i don't stand there going ah what do i do an action to just like like take it off my body and we didn't it's an action to take it off the body and then it's another action to pour it in your mouth so So you could die in that time. Go back in time.

I definitely said when I was downed, I have a potion on me. Right, that's out of character. If you're down, you can't say that to people. You can't tell us that. So how would their characters know? I said it. I genuinely thought we were 100% tapped out in potions.

Whatever. We have taken them all from me now, so whatever. Clearly you don't need them. If I run out of scroll slots. After five years and 19 levels, the same arguments can still happen in every D&D game. Remember when Quill died? Nah.

That was like, really? No idea. She's not even a potion. That was like, really? No idea. That was a completely different character. She doesn't know anything about that. I don't know who this bird man is. I don't need my potion on this bird man. I think you

made a sign with a sad face on it going, I have I had a potion and you showed it to me and I was like, you did not. You did not. Hey look, mistakes happen. Yeah. So, when you guys,

because some of you do, I think like Quill and Nova actually need to sleep, whereas the two elves are kind of meditating and trancing and Sentry, you're sort of in the low-powered state. Sentry, Aayla, and Lucius would note that, you know, maybe five, six hours, Calas does return, but he doesn't, he keeps to, like, the periphery. He keeps, like, on the outskirts,

but he just finds, like, a place. He, like, leans up against the wall and just seems to be waiting, but he returns a little bit after, and then sort of, like, as quill and nova begin to wake and sort of regain their energy dawn is cresting the sun is kind of rising and you can see it because of the way cassitoris is just on this open expansion of ocean now the light just glistens and sort of reflects in, creating this big, bright environment as the dawn sends red, streaking fire and golden amber light across the sky. As dawn arrives. If, once you guys have finished making your preparations,

once it is obvious that you are all rested and recovered and ready, Calus will walk over. I would like you all to place your miniatures on today's map, please. I will do the same. No, that's not you. I gave you your miniature. I fixed your miniature as well.

You did, thank you. The end of my hammer snapped up sometime. Okay, I will fix that as well. I don. Thank you. The end of my hammer snapped up sometime. Okay, I will fix that as well. I don't know where the end of it is. Oh, is it like the little, oh, oh, God, I don't know where that is, yeah. I can fix it, I've got the backup for me to see. You made your hammer more.

It's just really short now. Yeah. It's been upgraded. Oh! There he is. Oh, there he is. What a handsome man. That's a big sword.

Are you happy with him? Converted little callous. Daddy. Thank you, Samuel, for the lovely zoom in. But yeah. Beautiful. He strides out. That's a big sword, isn't it?

And he sort of... I want my sword. So, are you ready? Is this something... Are you going to refuse? No. So be it. He'll take a step back.

He reaches one hand. As you see, the blue and black blade, not an exact replica of Nova's Tiangong. It's different in its kind of shape, certainly different in its size and proportions, but it is like looking at Tiangong's twin or brother. Subtle changes, but it's the same. And for the first time, you hear a voice a voice you

instantly recognize it is Tiangong's voice it is the exact same are they ready my Emperor they are ready oh that just causes a In Nova's heart. Oh. Yep. And with that, Go on. If we are to do this, and Lucius is like adjusting his gauntlet, and like combat readying himself, I wish to stipulate one rule. I will listen to it.

Hadar will not have rules, but speak. Tell me what you wish. You ruined my one line. Don't hold back. You see him laugh. Oh, I do not expect any mercy from you, and you should not expect any from me. Adar will show none. And he just nods, like, yep. Lucius' eyes flickered prismatically.

Okay, yeah. He will just kind of crane. You can see like this thick plate armor. You know, it almost looks like he's wearing his war armor. Like this is an army you've seen him wear before. Like this is thick, heavy, full plate. And he just kind of creaks into position, rests the blade on his shoulder.

And I'd like everyone to roll initiative, please. Here we go. I'm too scared to roll the 20s anymore. Look at how the game works though, so. I know. Oh my God. Are you kidding me? It gives you lots of time to think.

I will also point out, I will, I have got a lot to manage. This is probably the most complex that I've ever had. So just be patient with me. I will be patient with you guys, but I might just keep in mind. We're going to all have a lot of time to think about stuff. Yeah, I've got some stuff to do. I'm just going to roll a one anyway. Lucian.

Initiative, please. 17. 17 for Lucius. Quill. Five. Five for Quill. Aayla. 18.

18 for Aayla. Sentry. 11. Sentry and Nova. Five. Five as well. I'll happily take final spot. Okay, I'll go before Quillie.

All right. Unfortunately, that's why Kieran is the first to go. Of course he is, big dick. Ah. What? He probably does. Can you make a roll real quick? And I will say this,

Lucius himself said it, no mercy. Oh, God. He's going to... Lucius dies. He is going to remain where he is for the time being. I don't think it's Lucius. Why do I feel like I'm about to be targeted here?

I don't know. Lucius has done a fair bit of poking him. I mean... Okay, several things are going to happen. The first thing he's going to do is he is going to hold Tiangong forward and sweep it through the air as four blasts, four force blasts are going to fire out. He's going to target Quill, Lucius, Nova, and Aayla to begin with,

with a force blast. We all roll right next to each other. I'll protect Quill on this one. You're going to uh okay well on this one you're gonna protect quill on this one all right i won't be disadvantage that is still gonna be a 23 to hit quill oh yeah yeah all right i'll do the damage uh once uh so nova uh it's a natural one so that's it oh it works in reverse that's working reverse uh lucius that is a 29. Yep. And against Ayla, that was a natural 20, I'm afraid. Oh, wow. You're just going to open up.

Open up. Open up with a nat 20. All right. I will do one damage roll for all of you, except Ayla, who will get the crit. That raised another nat 20. That would be 15 points of force damage to everybody else. And then that would be only 20 points of force damage.

Oh, okay. That's great. I rolled bad on the crit damage there. Keep doing that. You are also all pulled 10 feet forwards. Thank you. So can you all shuffle everybody forward for me, please? 10 feet forward, yeah.

Everybody but Sentry. Everyone but Sentry, please. Uh-oh. That is one of his attacks. But my aura's still on. Half tank. Off tank. I'm a mini tank. the back uh one of his attacks one of them um half tank off days uh he is then going to use uh so he's used one of his attacks he's then gonna use another one of his attacks to use his

replicate spell feature um as he pulls out a sort of round uh magitek orb throws it in the air uh i need everybody because this is a 20 foot radius to, to make a dexterity saving throw, please. Okay, two actions. All right, so that D20 is... No, this is one action. This is... Okay. He can replace one of his attacks with his Magitek Replicate. Can you please just put a pillow over my face, Trot? Oh, with pleasure.

Finally. Permission. Saving throws for everyone, I go Ayla. 22. 22 is a fail, unfortunately. 14. I fail. Seven.

Fail. Nine. Fail. 23. 23 is a success. 23 saves for half damage. Okay. As this is a fireball.

A fireball. A fireball. A classic fireball. Okay. Classic. You just like one shots us. It's a spell. It's a spell. It is a. He just, like, one-shots us. It's a spell. It is a spell.

Well, it's Magitek. Oh, wait, no, I got a plus three from Sentry, so I actually do succeed. Do you get a plus three from Sentry? Yeah. Within 30 feet. Within 30 feet, yeah, in that case. That's a good point, actually. Sorry.

Does this count as, like, spellcasting? It does not count as spellcasting, but I will say it because it is Magitek. Because I have War, not War caster i have um mage slayer he is not within range for mage slayer to go off but would that all those feats count no he's not like doing blah blah blah blah casting a spell he's not like gesturing he's not doing somatic components it's literally like i throw a grenade and it blows up like a fireball. It is not technically a spell, it is like a spell. I will say for this, Sentry, your aura probably won't affect it.

But your saving throw aura will still affect it. So Ayla, you are also going past, so you take half damage. So 26 to everybody and that's fire damage. So it'll be 13 points of damage to Sentry and Ayla. I might absorb that. You wanna cast Absorb Elements? Yes. All right, gain resistance to fire damage.

Wait, why is my... It's a level one spell. Cool. And then the last thing he's gonna do is replace another one of his attacks with Dampening Field. Sorry, wait, how much damage was it viable? Actually, yes, he has. How much damage was it viable? 26. 26, yes. How much damage was it viable?

26. 26. Cool. Sorry, my hit points were not- Oh, what is this? Dampening field. Bonjour. Oh.

Oh, I'm so damp. You watch as, well, I need to remind myself not to tell you what the names of his abilities are. So you watch as he throws out a hand and then sort of does a gesture where he like forms it into a fist up in the air, the ground in a 20 foot cube around Sentry, Ayla, Quill, and Lucius,

you see like a flickering of purple magic kind of coat the ground in like this square and you all kind of feel your legs suddenly become stiffened. Each of you gains a stack of something called Magitek Field and I need you all to make a wisdom saving throw, please. Oh, boy. You've still got plus three from me. Okay.

I'm guessing not me because I'm not in. You are not in the field. Yeah, I couldn't fit you in. So, Ayla? Nope. Okay. 25. 25 is a success.

20. 20 is a success. You do tend to be with plus three from Century. Yeah, that's with plus three. With it. So, unfortunately, the 25 is a success. 20. 20 is a success. You do, Tenabee would plus three from Sentry. Yeah. That's with it. So unfortunately the 20 is a failure. 21. 21 is unfortunately a failure as well.

Those of you who failed the saving throw, which I believe is everybody but Quill, you're afflicted by the slow spell whilst you remain in it. Oh shit. Half movement, only one attack, and a bunch of other stuff I can't remember.

And that field is just there? It's fixed into the ground, yes. Again, you can always make... So you can make checks. There's one free check on your turn to analyze any mechanic. Okay. Can we see where... Is it clear where the purple magic was within that cube? I'm leaving that thing down.

You can absolutely see that the ground itself is... That's what, is it visual? Yeah, absolutely, yeah. Yeah, you can absolutely see it. And I think that is everything he can do on his turn because he is not in melee range currently. I'm just checking everything. I do apologize, give me a second.

This has given you excellent time to think about your own actions. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I am now done. I am not done. It is now your turn. So. What was the debuff points that were put onto us?

One stack of Magitek Field. And at the start of your turn, Ayla, you gain another one. After a wisdom save or? Any buff points that we'll put onto us? One stack of Magitek Field. And at the start of your turn, Ayla, you gain another one. After a wisdom save or? No. Oh. Magitek, what is it called? Magitek Field.

It's everybody but Nova has one stack of it. Can I step out to the side? You can. So I believe whilst you're in the field, let me just check on the old slow spell. I believe it's half move, slow reduces your movement speed. By all means, feel free to just move yourself and then I'll update you. Let me know, so how much movement was that so far?

10 feet. 10 feet, okay. You don't have the time. So whilst you are affected by the slow, which you are now no longer affected by because you're out of the field, but whilst you are by the slow, which you are now no longer affected by because you're out of the field, but whilst you are in the field, an affected creature is a minus two penalty to AC and dexterity saving throws.

You can't use reactions. And on your turn, you can either use an action or a bonus action, not both. And if you attempt to attack more than once, I think you can only make one attack as well. So does that no longer... Is that because I stepped out

with the star, it's okay? You're out of the field, yeah. So I will rage as first. First thing, and then I would like. That's a bonus action, right? Yes. Okay, as you kind of move out of the field and you begin to, you know,

feel yourself with this rage and the lightning kind of crackles around you, I need you to take five points of force damage as, you know, the field that you were just stood in, it's like energy is clinging to you. And as you're like trying to pull yourself out of it and do stuff, that energy is reacting and kind of shocks you with this force damage.

Irritating. yourself out of it and do stuff, that energy is reacting and kind of shocks you with this force damage. Irritating. Okay, I'm going to use a charge on my hammer and fly right up to him and him twice. Okey dokey, yeah. Well, I can move you. Here is okay. Now we find out his AC. Sure. Yeah, sure.

I'm guessing it's real high. I'm guessing it's real high. 27 to hit. 27 will hit. Okay. I mean, even Italicus's wasn't that high. 16 on the hammer plus five lightning so there's 16 so I will tell you now as you strike with the hammer 16 damage is normal but the lightning is resisted completely cool no no no as in resistance half okay so it was five right so it would be two points of lightning damage. Love that for me. So as you strike, you can see the armor itself

is almost absorbing that light lightning or like resistant to it. But the hammer seems to strike normally. You're more bash than lightning. No, I'm actually quite a lot of lightning. You are quite a lot of lightning. But, I mean. Just nerfed slightly.

It's fine. Oh, I've just lost my count. It's 17, wait. 23. 23 will hit. Oh. He's actually got like five AC. Same damage, so 16 on the hammer.

And one white thing. What if Starbeak's hologram is a tiny baby inside? And then Dex safe. It's another crime situation. Yep. It's a crime situation. That is going to be a ten. Again.

He was a fake. Star baby. Three children stacked on top of each other. So half that to nine. That's my dream. So you watch, as you kind of

jump in, you fly through the air, you bring that hammer down, slamming strikes into him, and you're hitting Starbane. Like he's parrying, like this isn't like he's just, you know, unable to parry. He's parrying, but you're like kind of sending him, taking him off his guard, not even really breaking a sweat. Like he's just sort of like just kind of analyzing his and and you're like there's a part of him that like you're like he's almost like watching and analyzing you as you fight like he's like good and he like you kind of and you catch him on like the sun he's like hmm he like nods

but he's definitely like not toying with you but you can see that like these blows aren't really affecting him right now like they're definitely hitting him, but anything else? Anything else on your turn? Just a little smirk at him, analyzing her, and that's it. All right, at the end of your turn, I'm gonna go ahead and use a legendary action. And he's gonna use his powerful, he's just, I'm gonna stop, I'm gonna stop doing that.

Stop saying the names of them, yeah. Yep, let's see if he hits first. 29 to hit. He's going to use his Deku. With this, he doesn't attack you with Tiangong. He elbows you in the stomach. He drops down and elbows you in the stomach for only 9 points of damage. So you're going to take 4 points of damage from that.

But it does... Don't want to do that with that. Sure, it knocks you prone so you go like and you're like and then he kind of slams his like uh his elbow on your back and pushes you down there's no save it's not he hit you that's all they were big hit yeah that's no uh he's yeah it's it's it's if he hits you if he if he if you had dodged the attack he wouldn't have been able to do it uh but he just and then knocks you to the ground and it's if he hits you, if you had dodged the attack, he wouldn't have been able to do it. But he just and then knocks you to the ground. And it's not like, you know, you're like,

like you're still very conscious. Like, you know, it's not like the wind's knocked out of you or anything, but he just like got the bear off you. Lucius. Watch out for his elbows. And then we'll have a sentry afterwards. I do a little check to figure out what this dampening field is.

Yes, at the start of your turn though, you do gain another stack of Magitek Field. Okay. Stack them up, stack them up. Two stacks. So yeah, I'll do a little Arcane check. Yep, this would be Arcana check. Arcana.

Yep, you can make an Arcana check on this. This is Magitek. Intelligence or Arcana will work. Watch this. That's a seven, okay. Thirteen. Thirteen total. You know that this field is generating some sort of energy that is in your hand. That's a seven, okay. Thirteen.

Thirteen total. You know that this field is generating some sort of energy that is kind of like attaching itself to you. Not quite sure what it does, though. You do know that it has the effect of the slow spell, though. You know that as long as you stand in this field, you are currently under the effect of the slow spell. I'm going to sidestep out of it. Oh, next to Nova, excellent.

Next to Nova, excellent. That is my name. Behind this piece of rubble. Excellent. effect of the slow spell i'm going to sidestep out of it oh next to nova excellent next to nova excellent behind this piece of rubble excellent um then i'm going to test this slow by using some sorcery points to quicken a spell know that you're outside of it it's not affecting you yeah once you step outside you are no longer affected by the slow spell so you can science quicken spell Once you step outside, you are no longer affected by the slow spell. Science. So you can absolutely quicken spell. Quicken spell is a bonus action, yes? When you're casting it as a bonus action?

Yes. So I'll take some damage. You will? I'll take one point. You will actually take five horse damage. Very well. I'm going to quicken mirror image. Ooh. Okay. I'm going to create multiple instances of myself. These three other Luciuses kind of appear next to you.

Wael, wael, wael, wael. That's what that is. And then with that, I'm going to have all of them look like they're throwing just a cheeky little firebolt back at him. Okay. But it's only going to be one. The rest are fakes. Faker.

Sure. That is a 27. 27 more hit? Hell yeah. What's that like? This feels pretty damn good. You should try it. 19.

Very much like the lightning. It does strike him, but there is resistance to fire there, so that's going to be 9 points of damage. I call that out. Say, he's resistant to fire. Tis weak, tis strong to fire. Yep, sure. Bear's the head of a cock. He's got a big cock. Hey, everyone, look. Mark's trying to do a big cock. Hey, everyone, look. Mark's trying to do a big epic fight.

Super cool bad guy. Super cool bad guy. You know, main bad guy of the series. Big cock. Yeah, but, I mean... He would. It's fine. It's absolutely fine. You're angry again. End of your turn, Lucius.

You're angry, Mark. Yes. I duck down behind this rebel. Yeah. Just completely flat. So are you behind this rebel. Yeah. Just completely flat. So are you going fully prone? No. So, okay, if you don't go prone, you don't gain any cover.

It's like you would have to literally be underneath this thing. Yeah, you need to be flat. Yeah, you need to be flat. Also, does your mirror image then do that? Yes. Do they mimic everything? They mimic everything you do. I won't do that.

So all your mirror images floating around, he'd easily be able to see when you're about to lift up because they're all doing like that out of cover. You don't want to drop prone and gain full cover. Three quarters cover if you drop. I don't want to do that. Okay, alright. At the end of your turn, Kalos is going to take another legendary action.

This time he's going to try and bring Tiangong down on Aayla, and he gets advantage because you're now prone. That is going to be 33 to hit. Does that...? Yeah. That is going to be... I will roll this, actually. That is going to be 15 points of slashing, so half that to seven, and then some force damage, which is gonna be three points of force damage, which is not resisted.

I then need... Oh no, it needs to do that. Okay, no mind. Carry on. Go to Sentry. Can Sentry move 30 feet forwards out of the dampening field? Yes, you start in the dampening field, so can you gain another stack of that, please? And you'd like to move the full 30 feet?

Oh, I'm slow, so I'm going to move 15. You can move outside. I'll go sideways out of it then. As if we can see it. 10 feet sideways. Yeah. And then I guess you have... Would you like to move any more?

I think I'll go there for now. Okay. Yeah, Sentry will pull out Starbreaker, bonus action, call it, but instead of shouting it, she'll point it at Starbane and just say, Starbreaker, and just let it go. I do believe that in the Kamal Wars, you have to shout it.

But yeah, it's like, you say it loud. Yeah, in his face. You watch as the lance, the green energy, as it enhances and grows larger, you do take four points of force damage when you use that bonus action. As the magitek energy is kind of like reacting to what you're doing.

I will then plunge Starbreaker's tip into the ground and I'll cast Circle of Power at level five. Yes. What does that do? She's just drilled the ground basically the island just a 30 feet radius and for the duration which is 10 minutes each friendly creature including me has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects um additionally when an affected creature succeeds on a saving throw made against a spell or a

magical effect that allows it to make a saving throw to take half damage it instead takes no damage if it succeeds on saving throws. Oh, that's against spells. Against spells and magical effects. Oh, and magical effects. Okay, that's important. That's an important distinction because the Magitek counts as magical effects.

Okay, cool. Is that centered on you while you move or is that just locked in that place? No, if it's centered on Sentry, then it moves with you. Okay, so I was just wondering if Ayla will eventually be part of that. One thing I forgot as well, Ayla, Lucius, and now Sentry, if that's the end of your turn, you lose one stack of Magitek Fields at the end of your turn.

Okay. Well, I'm not going to say why, but you lose one stack at the end of your turn. Lucius makes an astute observation. All right. At the end of your turn, Sentry... turn century I know he'll wait a bit nobody destroy them I would like to am i 30 foot away from him that's the slightly yeah the rubble does count as difficult terrain if you move over it. In which case, I am going to cast... I'm going to hold up my sword, sigh a little bit,

and since everyone's shouting their names, shout Heavenswood, and then my sword will come... You don't have any stacks of Magitek Field, do you? No. Okay, carry on. I will do that, and then I'm going to... I'm going to Bless him. Okie dokie.

I'm going to use your... I thought you said Bless for a minute. I was like, why would you do that? I'm going to Bless him. Yeah, please. Bless you, Starbane. May your realms be good. Byzantite.

So these will... Yeah, okay. Come on, Lover. That's a three. I'm going to use my Dyson. Plus 14. That's a 14 to hit. 14 is a miss.

I also rolled a one on the d10 as well for that. I want to give it this dice, but I don't want it to... Let's try that one. That's a three, plus 11. That's a 14, so that dice doesn't work. Please take this one. I don't even care if you curse it anymore. 17 plus 11 is 28 to hit. 28 will hit.

Oh. Eldritch Blast. 12 points of damage. What type of damage? Force. Okay, like fire and lightning, the force is resisted. How much was it, 12?

Yeah, ignore that roll. I accidentally did a roll on D&D. Six points of force damage. So you watch as he's striking Aayla, he's fighting Aayla, tussling with her, and then the bolt does strike him, but he doesn't flinch, he doesn't get shoved back by it. It just hits the arm and he's like... I have one more beam.

All right, go for it. 18 plus 11. That fucking dice. That just means that the dice is broken, we need to get rid of it. No! No, she rolled a one on it earlier, it's not. Eight points of damage down to...

Four. Four? I will also move myself somehow. Say what you want to do. I want to move five, 10, 15, and then if you could move me a bit more round. So like what? Straight line or what? 20 and then in one.

30. Yeah. Closer. Yeah, closer. Closer and closer. Nice. Okay. That's me.

That's it. All right. Key look at cloth. At the start of your turn, you gain another stack of magic. I've only gained one because I succeeded the wisdom save. So I still gain it, even though I passed. You start in the field. Okay.

I'll do my free Arcana check on this. What would you like to do the Arcana check on? The field around us. Stacks? Well... We already know it, the field. Oh, yeah, the effect, the stacks. The stacks, the stacks. Okay. Stacks and stacks. Stacks? Or the effect? We already know what the field is. Oh, yeah, the effect, the stacks. The stacks, the stacks.

Okay. Stacks and stacks. Stacks on stacks. 18 plus my arcana, 26. So, analysing this kind of lingering energy that's clinging to you and clinging to your allies. Yeah, you work out the mechanic of this. These are called magitek field stacks.

Anytime you are hit by certain magitek attacks, it will generate a stack. The stack itself is triggered whenever you move more than 10 feet, attack more than once per round, or use a bonus action on your turn. When you trigger the stacks, you basically take 1d4 force damage for every stack you have. Oh!

They can be removed. You lose one stack at the end of your turn, always. You lose three stacks at the end of your turn if always. You lose three stacks at the end of your turn if you did not trigger any damage from the effect. And any effect that can remove conditions or spells from a target will also remove stacks. So we need to adhere to the effects of basically slow. Kind of, yeah.

Otherwise we take damage. That's cool. It's like it's clinging to you. And it's like you can move as much as you want, but if you have these stacks and you move too much, it kind of like clinging to you and it's like if you know you can move more as much as you want but if you have these stacks and you move too much it kind of like causes the energy to flare and damage you. I have. Same as if you like try and attack multiple times or if you use a bonus action. I have no idea how to canonically tell everyone about bonus actions and moving 20 feet.

You could say something like just you know don't move around too much, or, like, try not to do too much. But we can assume that you do it in character. Everyone can now have that information. Yeah. Do I know that if I... Is it just on the ground, or can I fly upwards? I would say this is a... It maybe goes about sort of 10 feet. It's like a...

Or maybe 5 feet, I would say, even. Like, it's just kind of, like, covering the ground. Okay, so if I do a five-foot vertical leap, I'm out of it. Leap! Yeah. I would like to fly upwards. I guess, yeah, I'm happy to just go up in the sky. And then, yeah, out of the range of this thing. Okay.

And since everyone else is shouting all their abilities, I'm going to yell, Bacon of Hope! Bacon. Bacon! Bacon. And yeah, everyone within 30 feet. Wisdom saves, max healing. Does that apply to everyone? I don't know if it does. Well, I would move in such a way that it does.

Actually, how far away am I from you, Ayla? I think Ayla's just out. I will nudge slightly then. So that I am in range of everyone. Okay. Yeah, everyone's got bacon. Bacon. You are blessed by bacon, and that is my turn. At the end of your turn, did you have any magic stacks?

I won, so I would have... You would take three points of force damage, and then you lose one at the end of your turn. Okay. Oh, because it's the end. Yeah, that's fine. Nice! Because you technically...

Actually, no, you didn't move. You only moved five feet. No, you flew up five and sort of moved five. It's ten feet. Maybe less than 15. And you used an action to cast a spell. I didn't use a bonus action. You didn't use a bonus action, so no, you don't.

You didn't take any force damage. I didn't lose a bonus action. You didn't use a bonus action, so no, you don't. You don't take any force damage. I lose. All right, end of your turn, though. Calus is gonna take his last legendary action, make another attack against Aayla. Why not? She's prone, gets advantage. 23 to hit.

Four. That's gonna be 15 slashing, so down to seven for you. And then, oh, nine points of force damage this time. So, kind of like attacking over on the ground. Sorry, Aayla on the ground. And then we go to turn two, Mr. Cow's fucking around. Yeah, this is the spooky bit. He is going to use a bonus action

to use his deep strike ability to teleport 60 feet. Mitch! Why are you taking him away? Because he teleports up into the air. Oh, crap! Wait, is he flying? He is hovering. Oh, that is fucking rad.

You know what? Take me. Just whatever. Do it. I drop all my shit. You know what? I'm yours. He teleports next to you.

Not behind you, I'm not gonna go that far. Not in person, no. But he takes a moment and then appears right in front of you, cape flying, and he is going to attack you numerous times. And I think I will replace... Get carved, bird. What does he yell? This?

He doesn't yell anything yet. I'll attack you a few times first. That is a 40-something. Nope, nope. Excuse me, more? 36. I was going to say. 36 to hit.

Yeah, no, that's over double my AC. That is going to be 13 points of slashing damage. And... Oh, not very good. Two points of force damage, so 15 total. Concentration check, please. Sure. 14 plus my constitution, so I'm good. That is going to be another 36 to hit. For this time it will be 13 slashing,

but this time with 8 force, so 21 damage total. Oh, man, okay. And another constitution saving throw, please. That's a nat 1. Beacon of Hope is lost. Beacon's gone. Beacon down on you. Now that you've been hit twice by this attack,

can you make a charisma saving throw for me, please? Charisma save. Yeah, plus 7. That's a 24. 24 is a success. You feel as Tiangong is cutting into you, almost like as it strikes you, it's trying to warp parts of you away. And you resist this effect. You manage to kind of use your own internal magic and power to kind of rebuff this effect.

But yeah, you don't know what would have happened otherwise. He's trying to banish my legs and my arms. And your chicken wings. I'm going to replace... I'll do one more attack against you, Quill. Yeah, I think you should. That's going to be a 34 to hit. Yeah.

Yeah. For 16 slashing damage and then 8 force. So that would be 24 points of damage. Oh, my God. Okay. Jesus Christ. And then I'm going to use the fourth attack to replicate spell. Yeah, no, I was at full health. That's the thing.

You take half damage from a lot of this stuff. I don't. He's also trying to banish, again, like I said, he's trying to banish my heart out of my body. So it's actually the third time, and then he looks down towards you, Lucius, and he's gonna pull out probably like a small flat disc, throw it in your direction.

I swallow it. No, I don't. Don't do that. I don't do that. Don't do that. As it lands, it attempts to disrupt the mirror image spell around you. So I'm gonna roll to dispel magic.

Six plus. So what spell level was it? It's two, yeah? Second level spell around you. So I'm gonna roll to dispel magic. Six plus. So what spell level was it? It's two, yeah? Second level spell. Yeah. So I need to be a 12. That would be a 19. So the mirror image, like this thing kind of hits the illusions,

causes like a spark of magic, and then just all the illusions power down. That cost me three points of energy. Energy. Energy. We then go to Ayla. Hello. And you said you're only flying about

like five feet off the ground, weren't you? 10 feet. All right, sure. Yeah. But he is right next to me. So is he on level with me? is he on level with Quill? He's on level with Quill, yeah. He's 10 feet.

I wanted to be more out of the range of the... No, he would be smarter than that. He would technically be 15 feet up in the air because he knows he can then still strike Quill, but it makes it harder for people on the ground to hit him. Is he floating up like that? He's floating up above you, striking down. Yeah.

Okay. Yeah, it's almost like he's... To you, it looks like he's vertically above you, like horizontally, but to him it's like the gravity is just he stood almost on the air in a different angle. Like he's looking at the world like you flipped up. Damn. Yeah, I still fly until the end of my turn,

so I'm gonna fly to him. Yeah, sure. Hit him twice. Join up on the platform. Dead. Yeah, so you fly up behind him. 29 to hit. 29 will hit. I wish I had some potions on me.

Shut up. Shut up. 18 damage on the hammer plus one lightning. Shut your mouth about potions. You know who doesn't take bonus actions? Quill. 27 to hit. 27 to hit, yes. I will do damage and then remind me to do d4 damage to you at the end of this.

Same damage again. 18 damage from the hammer and three lightning. So that would go down to one lightning. Deck save. Deck save and throw. That's a 10. 16 lightning damage. 16 points of lightning down to eight lightning damage.

You notice, I'll say this, so as you do, by the way, as you make multiple attacks, just take one force damage from the Magitek field. You do notice, Adar, as you kind of fly up behind him and you're kind of like fighting him from sort of above him and in this kind of weird aerial combat, you would notice as a pretty seasoned warrior, he's moving kind of slow.

Like the armor is really thick, and that's mainly what he's, like, just relying on to protect him. Like, even in his attacks, they're not rapid attacks. Like, even in the air, he's kind of sluggish to move around as he's fighting you. Anything else on your turn? Interesting.

Do I think I can do anything to take advantage of that? You think you're probably getting the most out of it now. Like his AC is obviously affecting things like his AC's movement speed. But you imagine that on the ground, that's probably why he teleported, because you don't think he would necessarily be super quick on the ground right now. He's clad in heavy armor and stuff like that. Okay. If you think of a creative way to try and do that on a future turn, by all means,

but without your action now, you've spent your action. If you want to try and do something you can on your turn. But yeah, you get the idea that that armor is really heavy and his movement is limited. At the end of that turn, I land on the floor. Okay, you land on the floor, so you'll use the rest of your movement to go down. No, he's dead. Well, technically, that would be an opportunity to... I mean, it's gonna have to happen, because I have to land.

Which he will take, he will use, he will swing around. That is going to be a... It'll hit. I want to work out how much. You rolled like a 19. 37 to hit you. i want to work out how much uh you're all like 37. all right he'll hit you with tian gong as well um that is going to be you are going to work it out separately 17 slashing damage goes down to eight slashing damage that's my angle damage swip swip the um yes oh god why do i ask questions the sword when it hits us does it count as stacks of Magitek?

No, it doesn't. It's still Magitek. I know, but I'm just wondering, because it's like a magical effect, I wonder if it... No, it's Naterna. No, it doesn't. At the end of your turn, Ayla... Respect it. Legendary action.

He's gonna use a legendary action. Ooh, what is it? New one this time. Uh, I mean, true Starbane style. Uh, he grabs the Tiangong Blade, and he spins in the air, and as he does, he's like, Gemini Vortex! And he's gonna conjure two spinning auras of bladed energy. Oh, shit. That's pretty cool.

Oh, wait, so it's not actually hitting me. No, it's gonna pass directly through you, Quill, down to the ground, and he's gonna send the other one down towards uh ayla um in fact he's going to send the other one from here five ten twenty and this one is going to go through you five ten fifteen basically behind lucius so it's gonna hit me so it will come within five feet of Quill, Lucius, Ayla, and Nova. And I need you guys to make a strength saving throw, please.

I won't do it, though. Strength? Here we go. Woo! Do you get advantage because of my power? If they're within 30 feet, it is a magical effect. This is a magitek. I think Lucius is in range. Quill might just be in range.

You should need it on a strength saving throw. What advantage? 26. 26 success. Quillie boy. 15. Failure. No, you're not in range, Mabel.

Oh, actually it would be 18 because of Sentry's Aura. Was it plus 3 as well? Oh, you just get advantage. And you get plus 3 from me as well. Actually, Nova, you wouldn't need to worry about this because you're not within range of it as it passes. So, success for Ayla, failure for Quill, sent... sorry, Lucius. It's a fail. It's a failure for Lucius as well. So, give me a second.

Lucius and Quill, you both gain one stack of Magitek Field. Okay. You take... 13 points of slashing damage, and Quill, you are pulled along in its wake. Oh, shit. Oh, that's come as hell. Lucius, you are as close to it as it can be.

Ayla, you are unaffected. This thing is in half its history. Do I take damage? Nope. You would take half damage. So six points of slashing damage. Thank you for reminding me. So yeah, he kind of spins Gemini vortex and these things fly out from him.

I will point out those cyclones remain in place. Yeah. Okay. We go to Lucius. Lucius is going to quicken again. Okay. You had one stack, right? Just the one now, yeah. Two points of force damage. Oh, is my stack gone now?

Yes, if you ended your turn. So you would lose one at the end of your turn. Okay. And then he's going to, with that quicken... Shit, I just drew a blank. That's all right, I've got a million think again. Armor of Agathys. Okay. At level three, so that's 15 points of ice on me.

And he's going to pull out his captain's command sword, use his absorbed element's fire, and add that to my attack against this vortex. You're going to attack the vortex? Yes. Ah, interesting. Okay. Can I just roll to attack you?

Yeah, sure. 25. I will say you hit the vortex. 1d8 plus 4 plus 1d6 of fire. So that's 7 on the melee and 2 fire. As you strike, it becomes clear this isn't a creature. There is no physical form. It's just like gathered wind and energy.

You don't feel that you strike it with enough force to really disperse that wind or energy just yet, but maybe you've weakened it in some way. But it's certainly not a creature, but you do kind of strike it. I feel a pull from it. Yeah, it's trying to suck you in towards it, basically. And it's already got you as close as you can probably,

you're kind of, you and Quill are kind of in the swirl of energy right now. Can I try and move out of it? You can, it counts as moving away from it is half movement up to 15 feet. I'm already slowed. No, you're not slowed. I'm not slowing.

You're not slowing. Okay, so. You will take another four points of slashing damage when you try and strike it, though. Yeah, so that would be as far as you can get away. How much slashing damage? Five? Four, I think I just said.

Yeah. So as you kind of like go to strike into it, you're being cut up by this kind of swirling force of magic. Let's just get away from it. End of turn. End of magic. Let's just get away from it. End of turn. End of turn. Okay. Sentry.

Sentry. I'm going to move 15 feet away from this vortex. We'll just hover 15 feet over the edge of the map towards... No, no. By the way, that, if you can't go beyond the southern area, that is where it basically dips into the ocean. Right. What if I just want the sea to take me?

So coming this way, 15 feet. Oh, towards me. Yes, yes, yes. But I'm Lucius. I think that's as far as you can move for now. Can I go in this action? Let me see. Yeah, I'll Misty Step another 30 feet.

You can still move another 15. Yeah, I'll Misty Step another 30 feet. You can still move another 15. Yeah, because you're not slowed. I've still got one stack of... That doesn't slow you. Yeah, so it just makes you take damage. Get some damage. Oh, then I'll do the full 30 then, yeah. I'll go towards like Quill direction.

10, 15. Yeah, that'll be there. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Starb's is up there. All right, did you have a stack of Mag be there. Yeah? Yeah. Okay. Starb's is up there. All right, did you have a stack of magitek, Phil? I have one.

Okay, you take four force damage. Okay. Okey dokey. Just a little chip damage. Chip in a way. Chip, chip, chip. It is effective. Chippies.

Yeah. I can't really do anything when I'm too far away. Yes, it is. It wasn't chip damage that took my health down. I'm gonna lose that stack at the end. No. Yeah. Yes, you always lose at least one stack at the end of your turn.

I will enlarge. I will enlarge your big and kind of temporary one. As an action, and then that will be my turn for now. Thank you. Swippity swap. Big. Swippity swoppy? I'm coming for that.

Boppy. Don't love that. Boppy. Sorry, is that the end of your turn? That is. It should be. After saying Swippity Swoppy. Yeah, it should be. Give me a second, just because I would like to use a legendary reaction. Heads up. Oh yeah, that's pretty good.

Sentwee! Hello. At the end of your turn, I'm going to use the Replicate spell Magitek. Ooh. That's going to be two points of energy. And I would like you to make an intelligence saving throw, please, as he kind of points his wrist, taps it, and a beam of light will emanate towards you. Do I get advantage?

It is a magical effect. So yeah. So if the Circle of Power gives it against magical effects. Because I believe your aura is spells only, but the Circle of Power does affect it. So, yep. Seven or one.

So pretty bad. You are gonna take seven points of psychic damage. You can't take a reaction until the end of your next turn. And on your next turn, you choose whether you get a move, an action, or a bonus action. You only get one of the three. All right. Oh, wow.

It is like a mind whip, as a psychic lance kind of strikes you. Suffering your enemies. Player of limiting our abilities. Nova. So he's 15 foot up, hovering around like a big boy. Yeah. Okay, cool.

I'm going to Misty Step up to him. If I do that, can I attack him before I fall? Yeah, yeah, absolutely. You will fall, but you can absolutely attack him. I always like the idea of like, because you know that you're gonna appear in the air, so you'd like teleport and then fall. So I'm gonna do that.

Sure, this will be cool, badass. 17 plus 13 is a 30 to hit. That will hit. Sorry, I just saw how much health you have. Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Not much. Nah, it's chill. I didn't realize I hit you so bad.

I'll drink my potion. I wasn't going to anyway, even if I had them. 12 points of bludgeoning and five points of radiant damage from the Heavensward Sword. Slashing damage, not bludgeoning and 5 points of radiant damage from the Heavensward Sword. Slashing damage, not bludgeoning. Yes! So 12 points of slashing. And 5 radiant.

Just let me check something. Radiant will also be resisted. Aww, what a nerd. It's almost like he knows what kind of damage types you guys use. He's been watching us for years. We have every type. Every type. Not every type.

Most types. Most types. Most types, yes. Not every. 24 to hit. 24 will hit. 11 points of slashing, 5 points of radiant. So that would go down to 13 total.

One, third. Ooh. down to 13 total. One, third. Nine plus 13 is 22. 22 will hit. So, 13 points of slashing and three points of radiant. That'll be 14 damage total. Before I fall, this is up to the DMs. You want an action search? No. Oh oh i would like

i is a free action i'm asking for a free action because this is rp i was wondering about that but yeah as i fall can i reach out to try and touch tiangong not grab her and just like interesting touch it i would say if you had not made your attacks yes but the if because it like the idea of you teleporting up, getting three attacks in, and then reaching out and touching the sword, I think is too much before you would fall. If you could fly, you could absolutely do it.

But I think by that point, you're just out of reach. Because that last strike probably would have happened just before you fell out of reach. I'd say it would probably be an action to try and do something like that. He's about to have an attack of opportunity anyway, so you're gonna touch it now. You will take two points of damage as you fall out of the sky.

Can I try and fall to the other side? Like, I want to fall, like, so as if it was through the motion, yeah. Yeah, over here, sure. And he will make a strike at you as you fall out of his attack of opportunity, because technically... Technically forced movement. Technically it'd be forced movement, so you don't. Gravity is forcing you to move. You don his attack from the front range. Because technically it would be forced movement. Technically it would be forced movement, so you don't.

Gravity is forcing you to move. You don't, I don't think. I should have just fallen. Yeah. Well, you would have taken a D6 points of bludgeoning damage if you hadn't. But it would be nothing for you. Damn it.

That's right. Hey, it's only a little bit of damage. Do I still have 30 foot of movement? You misty-stepped, so yes. I'm going to back up 30. Maybe not. Maybe just to this outcropping here. Yeah, just behind that, yeah.

Behind this? Yeah, so that's not full 30. Sure, okay. I'm just behind a little thing. All right. In that case, we jump down to Keelak Adkalar. Definitely. I mean, I want to get out of this vortex.

Yeah, well, you're currently stood next to it. If you want to move away from it, you can. It's just basically it's half speed for the 15 feet around. Yeah, I'll just... So, Senju, you are technically within 15 feet, so any movement furthermore is difficult terrain. Like, if you are any movement through... Imagine it's got like a 15-foot radius around it.

Is it like locked in place now or is it still moving it's it's kind of erratically moving it looks like he sent them out in a direction but where they go next you're not really sure okay well i certainly want to you can make a free check if you'd like i don't want to make a check on that i know i want to make a check on not that uh but i will move um just away it, so it don't hit me no more. Okay. Let's take a five-foot step. If it follows me, fine. And I will have to use a heal on me.

Okay. That's really selfish, Tom. Um. How did you do that? Yeah, come on, man. That's crazy. First he hoards the potions, now he's just healing himself.

Fine, I'll Guiding Bolt him. No, do what you need to do. Heal yourself. Come on. I just don't suddenly feel like Guiding Bolting him. Heal yourself. You're gonna Guiding Bolt? You silly little bird.

You're gonna heal yourself. 1400 damage in the last two sessions, but no. I'm gonna do 1400 damage in the last two sessions, but no, I'm getting myself with a Cure wounds at level my heel. I thought you were a heel spell That's mass heel I'm talking about normal regular ass heels Might not do you have it prepared? Yeah, fuck it So easily.

You're so easily influenced. It's six. I forgot it was such a low-level heal. So low-level. Six. To be fair, he did need that. Like, that still hasn't taken him off. All right, so you cast the heal spell on yourself. Yes.

All right. Did you have any stacks? I won't take any bonus actions, and I'm not moving more than 50 feet. Well, the heal spell would have removed him, so I believe he'll also remove some conditions. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah, anything lower than six level, I would also moved more than 50 feet. Well, the heal spell would have removed him because I believe heal also removes some conditions. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah, anything lower than the sixth level, I would also...

Yeah, it removes. Great. You have no more stacks. Okay, and the free thing, I want to check out his energy levels. Yeah. Because, I mean, he's powered by Magitek. Well, you will learn about the mechanic.

Yeah, but, yeah, I look at the battery on his... This would be an Arcana check. The battery on his arm. He's really using this one, a free check. Ooh, that's not- Hey, you don't know what an Arcana is. 10. Not enough. You know magic, but magitek is more Nova's kind of realm. You've explored it a little bit. It's more that he's like, even though he's not, he's kind of moving slowly, but the armor is covering up a lot of like the components.

You just can't really get a read on it. Okay, fair enough. That's me. All right, end of turn. Calus is 10. He's just gonna gently float back down to about here. Should we, since it's the start of new round. Since it's the start of new round.

Oh, rate time. I forgot that. I forgot that we take breaks. Oh, yeah! I got too into it. Hey, listen. We're going to come back and at the start of

when we finish from the break we're going to continue on this fight. This is the end of part one. Thanks very much. We'll see you in part two. See ya! you