High Rollers DnD - High Rollers: Aerois #181 | A World at Peace (Part 2)

Episode Date: April 13, 2023

Quill embarks on the most important adventure while the team prepare for a final dinner on Aerois! 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

Welcome Welcome back to part two of Hyrule as Erois. You join us as the champions and the party are conducting various pieces of personal business around Erois entirely, not just in Horizon, but all across Erois, as now they prepare for the final journey and battle against the forces of Hadar at the edges of astral space. Spending this time to reunite with old friends, to converse with old enemies, to reminisce about adventures past, and to reconnect to those who were thought lost we jump back in uh wrapping up any further business i know that we've i think we'll probably finish we'll kind of wrap up the session with a big meal thanks to nova's family and inviting various npcs that people want to speak to i know that other people have got a few more

things that they want to do as well um but time for any other bits and pieces that people want to speak to. I know that other people have got a few more things that they want to do as well. But time for any other bits and pieces that people over here might want to do. You got any plans? I think, yeah, but I don't know if you wanted to go first or second. Well, mine involves bringing you with me. I'm going to need your help for this. Specifically your help. First or second. Oh, he's a strong boy. I'm going to need your help for this. Specifically your help.

First or second. Oh, needs a strong boy. I think after we just had a very, I think... Do it now. Something silly, please. Silly? It's not silly. Oh, okay.

No, this is... Is it joyful? I can't cry anymore. This is probably one of the most important things we could ever do. Is it treasure? It's not quite treasure. Continue. I think aboard the Storm Chaser, I think we'd be meeting with the crew and things like that,

talking to them, and I'd see Howard. Hello, Mr. Quill. Hello. Hey, hey, Howard. How can I help you? Just trying to get everything ready, supplies ready for our big trip. I appreciate that. I really do appreciate that. You've been doing incredible work recently.

Thank you very much, Mr. Will. I know you had to take some leave not that long ago because of, you know, stress. But I'm feeling much better. I'm feeling much better. I'm so glad. Lano and I, we've been talking mental health, very important. I've been doing my training and everything. It's going well. I've been trying to take my my my role more seriously i know i've been quite lax with lists

and and provisions and things like that i've made sure i've got you apples uh i've got you all these things you're required to make the effort it's gonna be so tricky because you know apparently we're not sure how long this journey is going to take it might take a very long time and i'm you know i'm just worried how are we going to get new apples out in astral space i just don't how are we going to do it well i think I think we need to preserve them, right? I mean, yeah, but there's no way. There's no way we can do it, Mr. Quill. Howard, just give me a couple of hours.

Ayla? Yeah? I'm going to need your help. Yeah. Back up. Yeah. Okay. I want it.

Thank you, Mr. Quill. I'm going to go find Zim Yeah. Back up. Yeah. Okay. How about it? Thank you, Mr. Quill. I'm going to go find SimZamZimbalore. All right. Well, how are you going to go about this, Quill? Master of magic, 20th level player character. How are you going to do it? Well, I'm going to Gustaven. Okay.

No, not Gustaven. It's Horizon. Horizon was where I spoke to him for the first time. And I'm going to use locateate Creature on my book. Okay, yeah. If he's anywhere within like five miles or whatever. I think it's not that far, but yeah. How many times can you use Locate Creature on the book?

Locate Creature, it's a charge in the Wayfinder's Guide, and it would be recharged. Because it's been a long time since I've used the Wayfinder's Guide so it is available to me. Okay. Is he within a thousand feet of me? Well, you would probably have to spend some time

and maybe multiple charges because Horizon's a big city. A thousand feet's not a big place but you go back to the... This guy's mine. You go back to the places where you first encountered this strange hermit wizard.

I find the flyer that I put on the wall still there with the little tabs taken out of it. They're all gone. But you begin the search. I would like Kelek Adkalar, with the aid of magic, to give you advantage,

to roll a perception. This is the primed dice. There's never been a more important roll than to use this one. Perception. With advantage. Doesn't matter. What's 15 plus 18?

Lots. 33. 33. Where are you, Zim Zam? So, Quill, you spend a few hours using the spell of Locate Creature and also your burgeoning perception. You find, tucked away in a seedy little tavern.

Well, not seedy. Horizon's not a seedy place, but this is kind of definitely a tavern in the sort of more place of ill repute. And you... The spell is going off, leading you in this direction, but you spot, through a crack of the door, sat in, like, a booth,

talking to what appeared to be, like, some maybe sort of young adventurers. They're looking, you know, fresh-eyed like an elven girl with a bow and a green cape and blonde hair. And there's a young man with like a kind of half beard and like dark hair and sword and armor and shield. And they're talking to a man dressed as the most stereotypical wizard you can imagine. Blue robes, dirty and filthy filthy but like blue with stars and moons and a big merlin the wizard you know kind of hat um i remember talking to him and it's it's

immediate you're like that's him that's the man ayla put your hood up i've got a hood right it's okay he hasn't met you i've got mine. Sorry, I actually didn't think that this guy existed. I told you. Yeah, you told me that Zemzabazubazubzab looked like a wizard. I described him. Yeah, and it sounded ridiculous. It sounded ridiculous, and yet, and yet.

Genuinely, I'm shocked. I'm going to put my hood up. Okay. I'm going to mask my... I'm not going to mask myself in any way. He's going to put my hood up. Okay. I'm going to mask my... I'm not going to mask myself in any way. He's going to put a hood up. But... I'm going to slowly walk up to the table.

Okay. And make a stealth check for me. I'm not like... I'm not stealthing in any way. Is it stealthing to not have him recognise me? That's exactly what... Yeah, we use stealth for that as well. Or deception, I'd let you choose.

Is it one? No. One? Well, I mean, I've got... It doesn't matter. I mean, well, it might matter. I rolled a two. I mean, wait, so stealth is plus three.

Okay. My deception is plus one. I'll go with stealth. So for a total of four, with, again, Zimzam's perception, which is, I rolled a two, minus one. What? He doesn't mind it.

Of course he does. Zimzam is useless. He doesn't need to see anything. He doesn't see anything. He's absent-minded. He forgets everything. He's got incredibly low wisdom. You walk up,

and it's everyone else is like turning around as like your wings are like knocking over beers. You can't hear over roads. Oh my god, it's Quela Kad Kalah! The champion of Hesper! But this wizard character, this elderly, I mean Aayla, this man looks like

a hermit, like a hobo. But he's just dressed in this shabby, dirty, stained wizard's robe. He does have a bag, like a kind of weird-looking satchel with a book in it. It's stained and he's got weird trinkets hanging off it and things like that. And there's just not a staff. It looks literally like a broom with all the bristles taken out of it

is leaning up against the thing like a staff. And you approach and you overhear. I'm sorry. You gave our money to that? You approach as you hear the young elven woman be like, so you're saying that in this dungeon we can find this magical treasure? Yes, my dear.

A very powerful magic item exists. And if you help me find it, you can have all the other treasures you can find. I'm a wizard and I can, only I know the secret code to enter the mines of Magarion. When I get to the table, I'll gesture to the people that he's talking to, leave this place.

I'm not even going to roll. They look up and the man's like, the champion of Hesper. Very well. They kind of get up and this wizard's like, where are you going? No, come back. I need champions.

And then he looks. He's like, what do you think you're bloody playing at? You've ruined it. You've ruined my... And he's like, Aayla, take a seat.

I know you. Aayla's on one side of him. I'm on the other. He's in the middle of the stool now. He can't leave. Oh, so you're like,

why did you sit? No, because he's like a pup bullet. He's sat on one side. How are you going to get past him? I thought for some reason it was like one of those U-shaped super pits. You know what? Sure. We'll say it's like a U-shaped.

They were set on one side. He's in the middle, but you can sit on either side of him. There's no getting away this time, Zim Zam. What do you mean? I'm, Zim Zam. What do you mean? I'm not Zim Zam. I'm Zor Zon Zondador. Aayla's just the whole time just looking at Quill like you're a fucking moron.

Do you remember me? I remember this face. I remember you. Oh, that little weedy bird man who wanted... What was it you wanted? You wanted something from the mighty Zorzon. What was it? Today you pay up, Zamzamzordalord.

I actually can't remember what you wanted. I wanted a magic... Okay, I wanted a magic fridge. Fridge. Now, admittedly, I did invent the term fridge. Something to preserve food. You promised me. I gave you...

The box! The box of preservation. You promised me... The box of evocation necromancy transmutation. That's the magic you were going to use. Okay, now, see, I was... Zeb? Zeb?

Zebaleb? Yes, I remember. Just one of your hands. And he places a filthy hand and the nails are long and there's dirt. He's like, I remember. I sought you over mountains, fields, and deserts. Long did I journey to find you. Insight check, 20.

21. I sought you for weeks, and I could not find you, despite my, you must be a powerful champion of magic to elude my magic senses. But if you were traveling for that long, why not just message me? Why not send a message to me? I could have found you.

Oh, it is simple, my boy. Long ago, the great witch Tagargaron... Tagargaron? She cursed. Sorry, are you speaking different languages here? Because I haven't got a clue what you're saying to me. We are speaking wizard language, young lady. Wizard speech.

Keep up. Now, the great witch, Zabarin. Zabarin, yes. She cursed me. She cursed me with an ancient mystical curse that never would I hear a magic message ever again. And I have never been able to receive it. What a very complicated and specific curse.

I know. She is a crafty rival of mine. Powerful and wicked. Very sexy. I'm so sorry to hear that. I'm afraid I have even more dire news. No, the fridge? The box of whatever it's called?

It was stolen. By who? By the Thieves' Guild of Angrimid! Those devilish, red-masked bastards, they stole it from me. Zelzid, you speak to a messenger of the Arakokran Guild. I know maps, I know locations. There is no, what is it you said? Zelza grid?

Aggramar. Who stole it? Aggramar. Agrabled. There is no Agrabled on Arois. Aggramar! Who stole it? Aggramar! Agra-bled! There is no Agra-bled on Erois. All right. I will come clean with you. I want the truth.

One wizard to a- The whole truth. What happened to the box? But it is difficult and long to explain. Is there no quick version? There is no quick version. Okay. Could your friend fetch a drink? Nope.

She stays here. She stays. Right. Very good. Not that good. Yep. Very good. Right.

Yep. So this tale begins a hundred years ago. begins. A hundred years ago when I was a student I learned from the great sorcerer

Bagerius and Bagerius once taught me a fable. Another story that begins a thousand years ago. Okay, so inside this story is yet another story. Yes, and it all relates to your magic fridge box. And you see that as a long time ago,

what's your passive perception? Everything. It's 33. Is your passive actually 33? As he's telling this story, he is like on the table. And like, Ayla doesn't see this. He actually wrote very well, but not enough.

He is subtly sketching out a spell. Like he is casting a spell subtly while he's telling this story. Message to Ayla. Grab his hands. Ah! My hand! Oh! Sorry. Nipper, nipper dude. You were distracting me. My hand! Oh! Sorry!

Dipper, dipper do! You were distracting me! I was trying to listen to what you were saying, but your hand was just all over the place! I never made the fridge! You never made the fridge! I never! Bastard!

There's no such magic in this world! There's no such magic! There is! There has to be a way, Zib-Zib-Dib-Dib! There has to be! There is zib, zib, dib, dib. There has to be. There is one. Travel to the highest peaks of the great mountains of El Seraph.

And there is an ice elemental. The soul of that ice elemental, once installed by an enchanter of some skill, of which I am not, would probably be able to preserve some food. Sorry, are you just saying that you're not skilled enough? I'm not a skilled enchanter. Can I, sorry, can you repeat that?

I'm not a skilled enchanter. Louder for the entire tavern to hear. I'm not a skilled enchanter! Thank you. I'm a thorn. I'm a charlatan. A pawn man. What of the gold we gave you?

Spent it. Pawn? Having sexy times. I also bought myself four cakes, and I ate them whole. I mean, that's fair. I'm a man of simple pleasures. A wizard. A wizard should know better.

Well, this one bloody doesn't. All right, now what are you going to do? Your days of defrauding people are over, Zemzob. You're not going to hand me into the authorities, are you? And what if I do? I wouldn't last very long in prison. I'm too beautiful. Please.

I've learned my lesson, master. Let the student leave! He bows his head and places it on the table. What do you think, Caleb? He took gold from us? I meant what I said about the elemental. I actually think that might work. That's actually, yeah.

Does that check out? It's convincing. I mean, if it doesn't, we can just find him again. I actually think that might work. That's actually, yeah. Does that check out? It's convincing. I mean, if it doesn't, we can just find him again. It's very easy to do. Yeah, he looks nervous. And I will find you again. All right, can I leave? Fine.

And it gets up. And it walks out to the door of the tavern he opens his bag to a new world and jumps into the book and stop that man and the book falls to the ground

he's gonna pop up in campaign three where's that book the book's there give me the book yeah you pick up the book and it's this old it looks like an old wizard spell book. But on the face of it is like a brass impression of Zim Zam's face. And the book is called The Tales of Zim Zam Zimbalor.

I'm going to hold the book, fall to my knees. Zim Zam! I will find you in this world! You're the next! Hell no. However, you and Ayla can go on a lovely adventure and find a nice elemental,

get its soul, and Azaria Perel will make you a magic box that preserves food. You gave gold to a man dressed like the a magic box that preserves food. You gave gold to a man. I was, I was dead, I was dead. Dressed like the cheapest, dirtiest, most disgusting wizard I think I've ever seen.

Everyone had a spa day, it was a really nice time for everyone involved, I didn't get to go. So you just lost your brain? I, it was stressful. You're an intelligent bird, for God's sake! We just got back from getting the Star of Siaska, it was, it was a, it was a, it was. Is that it? That's probably the worst decision you've ever made.

I think I might be stupid. Do you want to go beat up an ice elemental? I mean, yeah. Yeah, yeah. And when we get back and tell everyone about this, can you please convince them that he's real? Or at least was. He might be in another world now, but...

I'm still not convinced he was because that was too absurd to actually have happened. I don't know. Are we... This is real. Are you sure? This is real life.

I pinched him. I mean, he's got... Well, you pinched Quill, he's holding this book. And the little brass edifice of Zim Zam goes... It winks. For the podcast listeners, I winked. I hate that man.

I hate that man with all I am. That was incredible. Genuinely, I don't think you could have found a worse wizard if you tried. I know. I know. I know. The thing is, I could probably do it myself now. Well, do it. I was at my wit's end. Can we go hunt this ice elemental?

Yeah, you do. Yeah, it's just, I mean, you go, it's at the highest peak of Alceraph, you find this, powerful the rhyme lord Aayla goes up whack whack whack dead all ye who enter my domain

I am an ancient terror of the mountain long have I ruled these crack crack it's like you know when you go in an MMO and you've completed the latest expansion and you go back to like three expansions ago and it's like, I'm the mighty lord of Naldrax.

It's like one, one, two, three, dead. In the background, there's a little baby elemental daddy. I'm going to harvest that thing's heart. And then, yeah, with that, Azari will be able to, Azari's just like a very simple and charming and she literally

gets like a box and just literally places it and you know does a few things and within like five minutes it's done out of curiosity

Azaria have you met a wizard called Zim Zam looks like this I find that name utterly ridiculous it is isn't it

and he looks foul. Would you have given that man a big old pile of gold? No. Yeah, you know what's even more absurd? At no point did I actually consider coming to you first. Very strange. I know. I don't know why many people say I'm delightful

as she caresses a half-decomposing zombie corpse that she's like, have you met Nigel? It's my latest. I guess, no, we haven't met Nigel. We've met a few others, yeah. He looks happy. When you leave, don't forget, as you leave, you get the skull. Every single time okay

bye Howard no oh we're back oh yes Mr. Quill hello can I can I ask

Azaria if if she can put one of those skulls that screams at you just inside

Quill's door. I don't know what it should give you a skull to fix. No, no, no. But the last time I did it... Inside the box. No, no, no. If he's not there, it opens it. He's had enough.

He's had enough. That's why I ran. No, just every time Quill walks into his own room, just... Yeah, well, like, Azaria, like, for the storm chaser, Azaria will give you a skull. Oh, just mount this on the inside, my dear. Gives you one that you can afford.

It's on the inside of Quill's door. But just so that he can't really, he can't see it until he's fully in, then it will scream at him every time. Perfect. You're welcome. There's also a tree just in your room, by the way. I was there a while ago.

Oh, you. You motherfucker. Just a pile of soil. I cast through sight. Can I see the ethereal connections from this tree to all others? On the storm face, then. Yeah. There's a magical tether.

After he had a huge rant about it, I held up a sign to Mark and said, I put a tree in Quill's room. Just a little one. Just a little one. Suddenly, I've unlocked

all theories of magic as I fully understand travel via fucking plant. With that, I'll try over to the other side of the table. Wow. If there's anything anyone else would like to do. That really went some places. I'll try over to the other side of the table. Wow.

If there is anything anyone else would like to do. That really went some places. I think it had to. No, I can follow that. That is unfollowable. Secretary Tuck. You go, you go. And cakes, I ate the whole.

I'm going to speak with my sister to bring the tone down a bit. Let's do that. Okay. So you travel to bring the tone down a bit. Do whatever you want. Let's do that. Okay. So you travel to Gustaven? Yeah. Sure. I walk past the kitchen of the storm chaser while he's delivering the...

Oh, yeah, he's delivering the fridge. Oh, this is brilliant, Mr. Quill. I love it so much. I'm going to put so many crumbles and freeze them and keep them fresh. I'm crying. I'm so sorry it took so long. It's all right,

you should quit, it's all right. And you go to rest in your room and you get screamed at. And find a lot of soil on the floor. And a bonfire, it's magical. It's not going to burn in.

I put that in the engine room. Nova. Fuck, bonfire! No light though. It's so dark, burn. I'm going to put that in the engine room. For Nova. Fire, fire, fire. No light, though. It's so dark. Can't see anything. Yeah, I'll go and find... Sure.

Edea. Moonstar. Trying to think. I might go to the Sky Prince. Yeah. And see if he... Oh, see him as well. Yeah.

You, yeah, I mean, there's absolutely no trouble in finding your way to the palace. I know where that is. Yeah. And everyone there knows who you are. There's no trouble. You know, the guards let you in,

lead you into an audience chamber. Aradan is likely attending to just everyday matters, like kind of speaking with a few advisors, making plans for the city and things like that. You also notice that the priestess from the Temple of Siaska is here and seems to have, they are in a conversation talking about the message that Siaska sent.

And the priestess is just like, she was beautiful, my prince, it was amazing. I just don't know what we're going to tell the people. I mean, this battle against this Hadar, people have seen a lot of war and the attacks that happened not too long ago. I just think that it is a dangerous time for us to be talking about another battle.

I mean, this Valkyrian matter is only just seemingly resolved now and these pirates that we're attacking seem to have vanished. about another battle. I mean, this Valkyrian matter is only just seemingly resolved now. And these pirates that were attacking us seem to have vanished. And Aradan is like, I think they should still know, Priestess. This is a message from our creator. We have to let them know.

We have to spread the word. And then he kind of sees you and he's like, forgive me. You know my thoughts on this. Come and speak to me again. But I think it is best we let them know. She said, very well, my prince. And she sort of bows and Aradan will look over and be like,

Lucius, it's wonderful to see you again. I'm assuming that we have you and your friends to thank for recent developments? I suppose you could say that, yes. We've been very, very busy. Yes, from the sounds of it. I do speak with Danica from time to time. Fighting these titans. I hear that Starbane fought you in a duel? Yes, that bloody fool. That thousand-year-old tyrant. To think that we would be here calling him a bloody fool after our years of

fear and history teaching us of the horrors that were inflicted on us. It makes me feel better. Good, good. To make light of the situation. Either way. And to know that he can be bested. That he is just a man. How can I help you? What brings you to Gusthaven? What brings you home? Oh, well, um, unfortunately we're not here to stay. I'm sure you got the message

as we were just discussing. Our final journey is upon us. Hopefully as and I mean that in the way that I would like to stop doing this after a certain amount of time. And I think we've reached our career peak, so to speak. I'm glad to hear that. I worried that you may have meant it in another way. I hope that you return home and we'll have the peaceful life you deserve after all of this.

We'll see. The peaceful life for everybody. Yes. Well, you think of others a lot, Lucius. You are part of everyone, too. Me wishing you a peaceful life does not discount me wishing everyone else one. Wise as always, Sky Prince. I try to just be...

I try to just care about the things I care about As is both our duties Duty is a part of it How can I help you? What brings you home? Well, first of all We're having a little dinner Like we had before

Yes Hopefully Perhaps less rude gestures at this one perhaps And Lucius blushes He just laughs He's just like I'm joking It was a joke Please

I didn't actually technically say that you were coming to Nova But I'm sure Nova's mum always prepares far too much food They were very kindly people And they've been wonderful here in Gustavianshire. Her cooking is quite popular. I've heard a lot of people speaking of it. Yes, you'd be more than welcome. Thank you. I would love to attend. I would love to.

It would be nice for a final gathering of the people we care about the most. Of course. Speaking of which... Yeah? Have you seen my sister? An interesting topic. I have. She has petitioned...

Her record of death has now been expunged. She wishes to resume the name Edea Elanasto. It seems that the pirates, they're all gone. The wind barons? Wind barons, they are all gone. Edea took care of many of them. Others fled when Valkyrian seemingly pulled their forces away. The Empire sort of retreated.

Without their support, these pirates really couldn't stand up to any strong military force, so they fled. A large number of them vanished just before then, though. Edea and some of the others that we had them investigating them

spoke of another one ordering we had investigating them spoke of another one ordering them to join them, to take them to gain power somewhere. I think the name Zarkira was mentioned. Right. But since then,

unfortunately I have very little information about that, but since then, now that the Wind Barrens are no longer a threat, I think that your sister has been a bit bored. She doesn't really... her quest for vengeance is sort of sputtered out. She doesn't know what to do with herself, so she's asked to expunge the record of her death to reclaim the title. She's been trying to buy back your family's land from those who bought it. Interesting.

Well... As I understand it, the families who purchased the land keep rebuffing her, saying that they have an agreement with you about some other property that may be involved. Yes. Maybe good for you to speak with her. It's all very secret. I believe she's staying with them at the moment.

They've offered to let her stay with them for the time being. It's all very amicable. It's not aggressive or anything. At their estate. Not in the secret basement. Secret basement? Never mind. I didn't say a word.

Clearly. No, at their estate. Just not too far from your own family's home. Right. I can take you there if you wish. Please. It will be good to get out of the palace. By the way, we may not get a chance at the dinner,

but I want to thank you. Why? I feel like I've done very little. Ever since I returned to Gusthaven and tried to find out about my family and follow the Windbarons, you've been nothing

but a great ally and a great friend. Of course. You are, well, I mean, your family was always kind to me and to mine, but also you're, I don't know, you're a good person. Of course I would help you.

You went above and beyond your station. Your station lies with the populace of Gusthaven, not just me. No. And you took a lot of your time to help us on our journey to get to where we are now. Well, I guess I can't say that I didn't. It's strange. From the moment you walked in, I knew that there was something different. I don't know if it was a divine calling or a sense of fate or just a hunch, but I felt that I had to help you, that it was important that I help you, that you deserved my help. And really it wasn't that hard to give.

You were kind, you were considerate, you did much for the people of Gusthaven. When there was danger, you and your allies did not hesitate to come to their aid. Not for a moment. So of course, you're welcome, but I feel that the thanks are unnecessary. You've done and given so much for Erois, for Gustafen, what I've done feels very little in comparison. Well, not to me. Thank you, Lucius. And not to what we consider the champions, I guess. Champions of Erois. I think that is a very apt title and you're welcome.

He kind of like looks at you and sort of isn't, like, kind of does that thing of, like, isn't sure, like, kind of goes to offer a hand, but, like, maybe, like, does that, like, is this a hug? Like, I don't know. I'll give him a big hug. Yeah, he kind of, like, oh, and he kind of leans into it and, yeah, presses tightly against you,

you know, his hands on your back, and just sort of, like, you know, still sort of keeping that embrace, but, like, takes on your back and just sort of like, you know, still sort of keeping that embrace, but like takes a step back and looks into your eyes and just says like, the High Elven people in Gusthaven are proud to count you among us, Lucius, Varian, Elowen, Elinasto.

You do us a great service. I think I'd cut him off. Yeah? And go in for a big kiss. Oh. Oh. Okay. Okay.

It's happening! Natural 20. It is... Fucking hell, tongues. There is shock And surprise But it does not pull away Aradan does not pull away Aradan leans into it

And when there is that break in a moment You see that he is like Completely flustered And like surprised I'm sorry It's out of place Guy Prince He like He coughed He like looks He's and like surprised. I'm sorry, it's out of place, Sky Prince.

He like, he coughed, he like looked, he's like, no, no, Lucius, I, I had, no, I didn't realize, I thought, I thought that you weren't, I, I mean, I, since, and he's like, I'm very happy, I just didn't think that you were interested, I didn't realize. I didn't realize. I didn't either. I'm trying to discover myself as much as I discover others.

That is a journey I understand quite well. It has taken me a long time to find who I am. And I did not always have the most understanding of family but I found myself and if I can help you in that journey that would be very nice and if you have questions or if this is too much if this was something that you come to later think on and regret

I won't be offended or upset I understand that sometimes in the moment it catches us all unawares that you come to later think on and regret. I won't be offended or upset. I understand that sometimes in the moment it catches us all unawares, but if you want to talk about it, any time, of course. I'll hold you to that. Please. First I have to go kill Hadar. That's certainly a... Yeah, that's certainly a goodbye message.

Um... But... I need a reason to come back. Well, you're not going tomorrow, right? We've got the dinner. And if you have any time before then, spend some time with me. Come back where we can sit and talk and...

just do whatever you want. That would be lovely, thank you. You too. He just sort of like squeezes your hand a little bit and then- He takes off his silk glove. Oh, you take it off and he like takes your hand gently. He really takes his gloves off.

He maybe will like actually like just kiss the top of your hand and then sort of nod and say, I think I should get back to being a prince for a bit. Oh yes, of course. And you need to go find Edea. Let me, and he'll sort of, he'll say, I'll walk with you to the palace exit

and then I can sort of point you in the right direction. I mean, you know where you're going anyway, but I'd like to walk with you at least a little way. Of course. And yeah, he'll walk with you. Yeah. And isn't afraid to like, you know, if you were receptive to it, he would hold your hand.

Like there's no like keeping a secret in the palace. He's clearly like, this is new. Yeah, yeah, absolutely. This is nerve wracking, but... Yeah, but it's up to you. Like he is very, he's like, you know, he'll have that hand like lingering, like if you want to take

it but if you don't he just like keeps it and relaxes it i think he's he's probably waiting for like cues sure the sky prince yeah rather than sure yeah yeah yeah yeah in that case like you know like um you know he would probably just like walk next to you brush his hand against yours as i like her like if you want to like you can take my hand kind of thing um but there's no hiding it amongst the staff or anything like that nobody's like shocked or surprised you know if they see it there were probably people that saw you get him and like you know nothing you know paparazzi yeah no no paparazzi they're like probably palace staff outside the window quills looking in we just went to rose hall together i I wish that were me. I wish I were a high elf. He's laughing.

He's just like... We all know that it's Quill and Max and that's it. Oh, God. Yeah, yeah. Quacks. You've got to fight Century for Max anyway. Good luck. Yeah, and it's not hard to track down the bear.

You take... Oh, God can't remember the name of the other family that Bourne was talking about. Excuse me, one moment. Because it's like, yeah, it's so far in my notes, and I don't have it very well organized, unlike him. There were, like, multiple guilds. There were the three families that, like, minor families that, like... Volcanoes, volcanoes...

It's fine, we'll come back to it, and if you find it, let me know. But they, Adelia is basically staying with them. Still not publicly announced that she is not dead, but it's very much, when you find her, the moon star, she's not wearing her moon star disguise.

You maybe see the mask on the table desk placed down, but the leather armor armor the weapons none of that's there um instead she's wearing a simple but very refined uh tight like leggings boots um like a blouse doublet with a vest um not like masculine clothing like feminine cut but more of a sort of like not a dress like kind of pants and vest and shirt adela viranel viranel that's it the viranel family um so it's their mansion she's staying with them and when you knock and and you know say you know i'm here you know who you are they they recognize you and say oh yes of course master elinor so come in um she's upstairs and they'll take you upstairs and she's got a lavish bedroom

like maybe with an ensuite and like a a little sitting area combined to it. And when you walk in, she'll just kind of stand up in her very straight, rigid kind of a day away. Brother, I wasn't expecting to see you here. I heard the last I heard you were fighting gods and evil emperors. Oh, yes. You know, the usual things. The usual. Yes.

As is to be expected of you these days. Indeed. Quite the graduation from crying in the corner with your paints. Can we not? I mean, I never had a problem with it. It's just that's where you began. Now look at you.

I'm very proud. It's good to see you. It's good to see you as well. Edea, no longer Moonstar. They're all gone. I either killed them, arrested them, they fled, or they vanished. I tried to track more of them down and there just weren't any. And with the Valkyrians pulling out of Erois, the Sky Prince has got control of Gustaven again, there just wasn't a need for Moonstar anymore. I feel like Gustaven needs Edea Elanasto more. Tinkerer, magician, diplomat, I don't know, something.

What do you want for yourself? I don't know. For the last year, it was just vengeance. Vengeance against those that killed mother and father. The desire to feel useful. To feel like I had power. Now, I just don't know. I like to think.

I like to create. I just don't know what to do with it. Me neither. I don't want to do what... I don't want to do Ethereum, I don't want to do business like Father did. It's not me. But I'm not an artist like you.

I just don't know where I fit into this world. I don't know if I fit into this world. I don't know if... You have a gift. You have not just magic but artistry and... You have something to share. I don't. I don't feel like I have that. I was good at making weapons.

I don't want to do that anymore. It's funny, isn't it? You used to be the one to tell me all this. I used to be the one to look up to you. You were the favourite. You were the wise one. It's maybe how you saw me, but it's not how I was. Father wanted me to follow in his footsteps. He taught me, trained me.

I was responsible, yes, but I wasn't wise. I didn't have all the answers, Lucius. I never did. But you were so, not lost, but caught away in this world of colour that you can see that I can't. And Father didn't understand it, so I had to try. That's all. You set me on my path. Regardless of what you think. I respect and I honour you.

And I do the same. Look at you now, this gift. What a marvellous thing it's become. I feel like I don't deserve it. Oh, no, not at all. You absolutely do. I still remember... What was that boy's name?

That nasty one at the jousting? The McGrouners. I remember... What was that boy's name, that nasty one at the jousting? The McGruners. I remember. No matter how horrible they were to you, how upset you would be, you wanted to give it all up. But when I said I would go and I would beat them up or I would have father take action against their family,

you said no. You didn't want to do with it that way. You've always had a kind heart. A gentle soul. soul. If anyone deserves the gift of seeing beauty in the world, it's you. Thank you. Look at me. Normally I am the emotionless one, and here I am shedding tears. I got something for you. A gift? Well, it doesn't quite... It's not as artisanal as the gauntlet you gave me.

But something, hopefully, that you'll like. And out of his coat, it'll be the broken painting, uh, picture of the family that he took from the rubble of the manor. I want you to have this. She takes it, holds it, looks at it. I want you to be at peace, sister.

She clutches it to her heart. Peace? I didn't think it would be possible. I think I can now. I did everything I could to punish those that took, those that took them. Those that have fled. If you find any of them out there, she looks up. You finish them.

You finish what I can't. But I'll find peace here, I think, now. I want to... I think I do know what I want to do. I want to build something. Not weapons, not aetherium, not airships. But something. I don't know what yet, but something.

Something that will make the lives of people of Gusthaven and the other Sky Cities better. Not just airships, but something to really... I don't know. Balance things out. No more nobility, no more common folk. Something that brings us to equal level. Something that makes life for everyone better. I like the sound of that.

And I know you're more than capable. So you'll no longer be needing this, and I take the mask. But I will. She nods. Moon star is a symbol, not a person. Symbol of light's justice, to illuminate dark places. That's what moon star is. Take that with you, but keep that in mind. And make sure that

you come back. No promises, sis. I suppose logically I can't expect you to, but I will be praying for it. To our newly reborn goddess. I suppose I should come back and see if you've done anything good. You should. Certainly you need to come back and see the house that I have re-bought from the people that you sold our land to. Oh, yes. Have you got the paperwork for that? Hmm. No, I do not.

They are being stubborn about the nature of your agreement, some sort of secret base that is built only for land. I don't know what you mean. It's fine. I will... They are... They are lacking in certain things that I think I can provide, and we will negotiate an agreement.

And it will take time, but I hope by the time you return, there'll be a new house waiting. Good. She nods. I'll see the paperwork handed over to you. And in typical Edaya fashion, she will offer to shake your hand.

I'll shake it. She shakes your hand. I let go. Yeah. I bow. She bows back. Good to see you, sis. And I start walking away.

You too, brother. That's it. Does she turn around? As in, like, when you leave the room? Yeah room she means you catch it unawares and then give her a massive hug okay like so she kind of like watches you leave thinks like you have to literally get to the point where you're about to go downstairs and then you hear her like turn and begin like and then she hears you come and it's like oh for god's sake for god's sake and she kind of gives you a hug um but yeah, watches you live. Love you, sis.

I love you too, Lucius. Take care. I'll try. Come back. Mm-hmm. All right. Anything else from that side of the table? Is that true?

You've got one more thing. Do you want to do that at the dinner? Or do you want to do that before? Because then we can go straight into big dinner. Sure. I've got one more. It's short. You've got one more before dinner time? Yeah. Sure. Let's do that before because then we can go straight into big dinner sure i've got one more it's short you got one more before dinner time yeah sure let's do that we'll do that then we'll do century and then and if you want to do something we'll grab you as well ayla and then we'll do big dinner time i want to go visit my girlfriend okay yeah sure hold her hand real awkwardly

okay well so you would find a you'd have to go to the Astoria, and you find in one of the kind of these hangar bays, basically, on the sides of the enormous colossal ship, you find the Twin Star with its modifications. It's kind of shortened wingspan, kind of rebuilt, looking more like a freighter, like now. It's not like a freighter, but like a kind of Millennium Falcon-y kind of like, you know, it's compact, but the wings are compacted, but it's been expanded a little bit. It's like a full retrofit designed to work with the Astoria and other ships and things like that better.

You can see that she is Thalia. You basically just see a pair of like legs sticking out from underneath where she's like working on something. And she's just like, Kairi! Kairi! Bring me the magic thing. The one that connects the magic thing to the other magic thing. No, not that one, that one. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

And you just see like Kairi like flapping over, kind of like clutching it in her wing claws, like with her wings. And she's like, I've got this one. The scary lady has all the other ones. I don't know if this is the right one. She's like, oh, the dead woman's fine. She's harmless, I've got this one. The scary lady has all the other ones. I don't know if this is the right one. She's like, oh, the dead woman's fine.

She's harmless, mostly. And then she's like, psh, psh, psh, psh, psh. And then Kairi sees you and is like, oh! Thalia, Nova's here. Hi, Nova. Hello, girlfriend. You just, you hear her. Please don't just call me that.

Like, for God's, for God's stars sake. And then she's like, you are, she like slides out and like looks at you. And you can see like her elven like tan skin now. She's like kind of like, not oil smudges, but like dirt and dust and stuff over her. And she's quite sweaty. And she's like white. And she's just like, she looks at you with this kind of like, ugh, and she's like, really?

Please, you are such a dork. Oh, my God. I love seeing you two. Yeah, yeah, great, yeah. Are you finished, like, killing gods or whatever now? It was just the one god, actually. Oh, okay, sorry. I get confused.

Oh, yeah, sorry. One god, one tyrannical astral space emperor. Yeah. Is he dead or...? The space emperor's not dead. Oh, that's a shame. We did give him quite a beating. You don't think... I mean, do you think that he still might wipe out my record

of, like, all my crimes? Oh, I could ask him. I'll ask him. Yeah. Girlfriend with benefits. And she'll slide out and she'll walk over to you and, like, wrap an arm around your waist and, like, pull you in. Like, Thalia is aggressively, like, intimate

and, like, she'll pull you in and, like, look down at you, you know, kind of, like, looking down at you with her elven features now. It's always a bit strange to not see the snakes. Like, you were so used to, like, the snake kids. Yeah, I mean, they're around. They're just chilling out up in the ship. But she looks down at you and she's like, Missed you, kid.

Missed you too. She'll give you a smooch. Purple. Bright purple. Do I get some of your company and time before you go off to fight another god or something? That depends. Oh.

I've got a question for you. Oh, God, please, you're not... Is it going to be the question? It's a question. Okay. Your friend Lucius is, like, really insistent. He thinks I can't see him, but I see him. Oh, the... Yeah. Oh. I can't see him, but I see him.

Oh, the... Yeah. Oh. He's not subtle. Yeah. No, I'm not ready for that. No, me neither. Good. Oh, thank the stars.

Okay, good, good. Okay, nice. All right, go ahead. Yeah, what's the question? Do you want to go on a mission to space with me where we might both die? She looks down at you. She looks you far as a brow.

You idiot. What do you think we're doing? And she, like, points at the twin star. You think I'm just doing this for what? I thought you might be wanting to go back out into space and doing, like, space stuff. Like, you know, your missions and that. Well, I've done the whole space pirate thing i've i've i've stolen stuff i've like you know what i haven't done fly out to the edge of astral space and fight a mad god never done that before it sounds pretty

fun yeah and we might die right absolutely we probably will die. You know what I always used to say? The higher the chance of death, the higher the chance of death, but it might be really fun. Oh, that's so right. That sounds like a famous saying. Yes, I'm going to write that down. I kind of remember... Are you trying to be Himmli from Lord of the Rings?

No. Certainty of death? What are we waiting for? No, she knows what she's saying. Okay. I was a lot more drunk back then. Maybe that has part to do with it. certainty of death what are we waiting for no she knows what she's saying okay I was a lot more drunk back then maybe that has part

to do with it but no I mean me and Kyrie we're locked in big cat I mean we're ready to go just to be clear

I was going to thinking of coming here and telling you no you shouldn't join us because I want you to be safe I want you to be alive I want I want you to be safe

and we're alive this is exactly what I thought would happen yeah yeah you want me to be safe. I want you to be alive. I want you to be safe and we're alive. This is exactly what I thought would happen. Yeah, you want me to be safe and stay at home and bake cookies. I would like some cookies. Can you bake? No, I'm terrible. I'm terrible at cooking. I lived off, like, re-magic foods for, like, years.

Kyrie is pretty good. The feathers do sometimes get in it, though. Oh, yeah. Having a bird friend feathers get everywhere. Yeah. But, you know, she's pretty good. The feathers do sometimes get in it, though. Oh, yeah. Having a bird friend feathers get everywhere. Yeah. But, you know, she's pretty good. But no, listen, of course we're coming, kid. Of course we're coming along.

Like, I'm not going to sit here and just wait for the world to end or for you to win and come back. That's not me, honey. We're going to be on there. Also, you need this. And she slaps the twin star. I've looked at all of these other little crystal ships you have. Garbage.

Trash. This baby, pat, pat, pat, is going to kill so many weird Hadar creatures. Thank you. Slaps the top of it. Something falls out On the other side Fuck Ah shit

I'm gonna fix that Hey listen You're friends with The creepy dead lady right Azaria Perel yes Yeah yeah yeah She's not that creepy She just has an aesthetic

And it works Creepy aesthetic yeah The walk's past She's creepy There's no two ways About it Nova Keeps going That's why I like that one.

Listen, she... I've seen her on the Storm Chaser. She's putting that big cannon on. Does she have another one of those? Because when's the twins time? Would you like it if I fixed you up with a big cannon? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, that'd be great.

I'll make it up to you in two weeks. Okay. Do you know what? This is going to be fun. And after all, being dead ain't so bad. Yeah. I'm not even... We're going to have that conversation, but not today.

I didn't tell you. You didn't tell me. No, I had to find it out from everyone else. Who told you? I'm not telling you that. It was Qu had to find it out from everyone else. Who told you? I'm not telling you that. It was Quill. It was Quill. It was Quill. I was going to tell you.

I mean, I can't be mad at you because I did a lot of dumb shit. So I can't be that mad at you. But also, as you have probably gathered, I'm not exactly... I'm a bit fickle. You know, fae, princess, all that kind of stuff. It's in my nature. The way I see it is, you know, you're mortal. You're mortal.

You're gonna die someday. I might not. Because of the whole archfey thing. But I'd rather go on one crazy ride and die with you than just live for like another 600 years drinking and being bored. That's probably the nicest thing I've ever said to someone. That really is. I'm going to put that in my diary.

Yeah, you should. I'm going to put some hearts around it. That's you should. I'm going to put some hearts around it. That's a quote. Mm-hmm. That's how I get it. Tell you what, though. I got better. It's...

Yeah. Pretty good? Hey. One to ten? Ah, it was quite peaceful. Yeah. Which one was it? Eight or nine?

Eight, nine. Yeah, it was pretty good. Yeah, I'd go for that. More books. More books. Hey, if I die again, die again would you like be crazy sad for a little bit yeah i'd like you to move on but i'd want you to be really sad i mean how like for a mortal how long is like a long time oh i don't know a good year a year yeah i'll be

yeah i can give you a year of sad yeah that's that's easy. Oh, God. Oh, thank the stars. Oh, man. That works. That works for me. That's really good. Yeah, a year? Oh, inconsolable. Won't touch another person for a whole time.

Be so sad. Okay. And a year, right? Yeah, a year. That's good? Pinky promise? Oh, yeah. Pinky promise.

Yeah. All right. I'm going to kiss you again. Okay. Okay. And then'm gonna kiss you again okay okay and then she can and then yeah you can spend as much time with Thalia as you like

yeah cool yeah alright good girl Ayla I need oh hi

is there something you would like to do before we um I think Ayla will probably just want to go to where she grew up on Erois.

The Eredith, right? Yeah, the Eredith clan. So she wants to go to, like, the clan was always, like, on a cliff overlooking the sea. And it was very windy on the cliffs and the air clan. And that's where they kind of got that and the name of the hammer and everything so she just kind of wants to go there yeah to just yeah so the air dith clan being wild elves they're somewhat nomadic they might settle down for like in a place for a couple of years yeah then they tend to move. You return to the last place you knew they would be.

You know there's a chance they might have moved on. When you arrive, you find that a large amount of the Eredyth clan have moved on. Many of the temporary houses and tents and camps that they live in have been packed up and have moved on. But there's still a couple and this happens sometimes wild elves find a place that they find peaceful they connect with and they build more permanent homes and they kind of live as like hermits they kind of live there as just you know one-offs people that like just decide to live in that area of the land and

you know live off the land hunt eat live by themselves often in solitude when you arrive you see that there is this stone cottage probably has been built over the last year still kind of being built in parts of it um and a campsite a couple of tents uh and sat by the campfire you know It's maybe like not quite evening, but they're clearly getting everything ready for the nighttime. There's like some roasted half a deer kind of being ready to be cooked. There's just this old wild elf. Muscles still there, but taut and wiry.

You know, like somebody who's quite, you know, a bit elderly, maybe in their 60s, 70s human years, but still keeps themselves very fit um and gnarled hands gray beard kind of cropped short uh one long braid uh just down his chest and along his arm tattoos all faded but very present um no shirt just like a kind of fur collar and then and then the traditional kilt with the tartan of the Eredyth clan. He looks up at you with that wary, like, Stranger. And looks at you. If you're looking for anyone, there's not much people, there's nobody around here. Not a stranger, just coming back to an old...

an old place I used to live. Come closer. I'll walk up. Ah! He, like, looks at you and when he sees you, he's like, Forgive me. The eyes, they're not like they once were. I remember you. The one that was found.

Yep, that's me. What was your name, girl? Ayla. Ayla. Ayla. Ah, yeah. She who was lost. I remember you.

You probably don't remember me. I was a hunter. Wasn't often around when you were growing up. I heard about you. All fantastic stories, I would assume. We're wild elves, girl. They're all fantastic stories, whether we get up to good or not. They're all stories.

Come, member of the clan, sit by the fire. You hungry? Need drink? Yeah. Sit. Well, I've got a few stories of my own now since I've been here. You looking to tell them or keep them to yourself? I'll tell them. Last time I was here, I didn't have any to tell.

Didn't know who I was. I would be glad to hear them. I'm sorry that the others aren't here. They left maybe half a year ago. I didn't expect them to be. Just wanted to come and look out over the cliffs again. Look at the sea. That's why I stayed.

I always felt something drawing me to these seas. I like it when there's a storm. Me too. Maybe that's why this is where I felt like I needed to come back to. Probably would have stayed like me somewhere like this. Maybe but I was trying to find out why I had abilities that some people didn't here. Did you find out why? Yeah kind of. why I had abilities that some people didn't here. Did you find out why? Yeah, kind of.

Still a bit weird. Weird's good. Yeah. The world wasn't weird. Be very boring. Did find more wild also. More like me. Assholes? Oh, of course, all of them.

Good. But, you know, all of them. Good. But, you know, some of them had some pretty cool things. One guy was like really good with fire powers. Useful. Yeah. Yeah. Put some fire into a weapon.

That's a new trick. It's pretty good. I mean, like, he picks up a stick out of the fire. Oh, look, I made fire. Does it cast light? Yeah. It's not bonfire. It's not bonfire.

It's normal fire. Yeah. Well, tell you what, I'll go get you a drink. You start telling me these stories of yours, Ayla of the Etnaith. Yeah, she'll just put the hammer down in the middle of the circle. That's where I got this. Here. I remember this.

I don't remember it looking like that. I've made a few improvements. Well, friends of mine have made it. I have friends. That's weird. That is weird for a while. I know, it. I have friends. That's weird. But... That is weird for a while. I know, right? To have friends. Yeah.

Okay, I'll say friends. Yeah, I'll say friends. Well, like you said... Took a while. Like I said, weird. Weird's good. It's fine. I'll accept it.

It's fun when your friends can kind of make your weapon really cool. That's very useful. He, like, looks at it. I remember this. It was just a dull, lifeless hammer, broken. Nobody wanted it. They always thought it was bad luck. The last people who wielded this, I remember them, all killed.

Every one of them who took this out of the camp all died. It used to be something that people were afraid to take. Thought it was bad luck, evil spirits, that sort of thing. A few of us didn't believe in it. But I think when it was given to you, it was different. They knew that there was something about this that didn't belong here. Not amongst the people.

I think that maybe because you weren't born amongst us, maybe it was meant for you. He has smacked a few titans across the face. I don't know what a titan is, but sounds- Basically a god. Right. Apparently. Don't believe in gods.

No, me neither, but it's fun to hit them in the face. Good. You know? Proves that they're not that big a deal. You can hit it. So, and I guess I'll probably just go through all of the stuff that Aayla's learned and the places that she's been with this old wild elf.

He introduces himself. He says his name is Aayna, and he's been here for a long time, and he's nearing the end of his life. He tells Aayla that he's not going to last much longer. Elves tend to be pretty spry until a certain point, and then it's just, they're gone. But he, like, yeah, he roasts this deer. He brings you out.

It'd be like a whiskey-esque drink, like a homebrew kind of made thing. It's strong, but he has, like, bottles of it in the cottage. Probably gives you one to take with you. But yeah, you spend the night with the fire, the stars, just telling stories to him. And then when you're done, he tells you stories. They're simple stories, but stories of his life,

tells you about his family that he had and, you know, the stories. Yeah. I think at the end of the night, Ayla will go and just sit on the edge of the cliffs and just feel the wind, the wind that blows along and look out over the sea. When you do watch late into the night, the weather begins to change.

Out, far, far out at sea, moving across, not coming this way, a storm. You see the thick clouds even in the night as the sun is setting you're kind of just beginning to see them as the lightning. The thunder rumbles over you. Feels good. Feel a connection to it, this primal energy. You hear a voice. A voice you recognize. It's far away, distant voice, and it comes from the belt in you, almost like sounding up through your body.

Give that red bastard one good hit from me. And you just hear the voice of the god who called himself Thor reverb in your mind. You feel that surge of strength. All right. I think she'll just... verb in your mind, you feel that surge of strength. All right. I think she'll just, I think she probably before she left would have gotten more of the tartan fabric that she had made and just probably tied it around

a tree nearby where the air dice was where she was found and she'll just tie an extra bit of that tartan around the tree before she leaves. Okay. Have a look out over the cliffs again and... Aina will make a promise to look after that tree until he passes. Make sure that it doesn't break away or somebody doesn't take it and stuff like that.

And she'll probably say to him that the whole of Erois is home now. I used to think that this one spot was, but it's the whole planet. It's everyone in it. And I looked for who I was, where I came from, and I found out that it didn't really matter. I don't think so. Glad you came to the same conclusion.

The only thing about a home, home can be anywhere, can be anyone, as long as you've got the strength to protect it. I hope I do. Gotta look you up and down. You might be all right. With that, we will end. As Nova, I imagine you would gather the family.

Would you like it to be in Gustaven or Horizon? Or even the Astoria? Or the Stormchaser? I think maybe the Astoria. Break new ground. There are living areas the story was built to house people it was a city once uh and a section of it has been set aside for you guys the upcoming journey you know you'll have the storm chase the storm chaser can be anchored and tied to the story is a lavish kind of place there's a there a kind of almost... The walls are made of this white crystal.

Everything is polished smooth and clean. It feels a little empty, maybe. The people here haven't had much time to furnish it. Soon enough, anybody that you wish, you tell me who you would like to invite and bring along, will arrive. It's a large room, banquet laid out. There's space, a kitchen for Nova's mother

to begin preparing a feast and the rest of the family, begin preparing food for everyone, drink has been laid out, everything has been prepared. Who would you like there to be? I guess the easiest for me is all of my family, including, you know, mum, dad, sister, Tornado, Thalia, Kyrie, and Big Cat. Yep. Yep.

As you kind of enter, you can see Nova's dad, Wade, right? Mm-hm. Is playing with Big Cat. Like, chasing each other around, like, and Wade will do that thing of, like, he'll, like, run away from Big Cat and then stop and then turn and big cat will like pounce and then wade chases after big cat he runs away like there's the they they are chasing each other around and thalia's like laughing her head off at this like absolutely it's just like he he doesn't do this with anyone

i've never seen him do this um and. And your mom is like busy shouting like, Wade, stop playing around, get in here and help me. And he's just like, just a minute, just one more round. And stuff like that as you guys enter. What about Quill? I think I would invite, obviously, notable members of the messenger guild, including...

Mama. My mama. I would probably, I mean, she's in the Feywild. I don't know if she would make the journey, but I'd probably send a message to Hope. Hope. Yes, Hope. And I mean, I have teleportation to the Feywild. You don't need it. So I mean... You don'tation to the Feywild.

You don't need it. So I mean. You don't need it. You send the message. Buddy! Oh my goodness, of course we'll be there. Is it okay if I bring a friend? Sure, yes, sure.

Okay! Okay. Mom, there's one more. Like what? Lucius told me he's bringing someone extra. Oh my God, okay, hang on. And like she begins pulling, like, wait, I need you to go someone extra. Oh, my God. Okay, hang on. And she begins pulling. Like, wait, I need you to go to Horizon.

Oh, I need magic to get in. And it's like this kind of funny, like, you need to go fetch me more eggs. I need more eggs and I need more beans. It's like, okay. And they run off. But, yeah, basically as you're kind of gathering, your mother and the messenger guild arrive very prim and promptly, like arrive, but teleporting to the astoria uh through like this kind of

it would appear like a rainbow makes an arm with clouds that become butterflies spread out and it opens and stepping through is not just hope like unicorn beautiful kind of this like fey unicorn uh centaur um but with her is ms mera as well yeah yeah who looks a lot happier and is like they're linked arms like they look like you know maybe not romantic but certainly like very close friends um and she looks a lot healthier she looks a lot happier uh her hair has been all like tied up and you can easily immediately tell hopes how you work it is just strewn with like ribbons and things and flowers. Very Rapunzel when she gets the hair kind of all pulled up.

And the two of them come along, and as soon as they see, as soon as Hopes sees Quill, just charges and, like... I miss you, buddy, so much! I know, I know. Oh, sorry, I keep forgetting about my horn! Oh, okay. I'll heal you!

I'm sorry, I'm so sorry! Hi. Hi. Hey. Hey. Ayla, anyone you would like to invite? Just, I think any of the wild elves, like Rethra. I think she'd extend an invite, but be like,

there's a lot of people there, so if you don't want to come, then you don't have to, but it'd be nice if you wanted to. There's food. Yeah, yeah. But just wild elves don't tend to. I think Rethra and Varnia would come along. Still mourning the loss of Morgaine, but having spent some time. I think Rethra and Varnia would come along. Still mourning the loss of Morgaine, but having spent some time.

I think Big Jack. Yay! The Beast folk would probably come along, not wanting to miss out on a party and knowing that Santa can't be there. Mom, there's a giant rabbit. Do they eat? Sorry, Mrs. Beecher!

What do they eat? Literally anything. No, wait, wait. Vegetables? Vegetarian food. Okay, vegetarian., wait, wait. Do they eat vegetables? Vegetarian food. Okay, vegetarian. Okay, I've got this. I've got this.

Carrots? And Big Jack's just like, yes, please, ma'am. He's like, oh, very much please, ma'am. Carrots would be delicious. He's now suddenly Texan. I don't think he was before. I'm assuming like Arvel.

Arvel, yes. We're just going to default the Arvel, Valor, and Max are all there. Yeah, yeah. So we have the Waddle. Sentry, anybody you would like to invite? Petal, maybe Starbane? Would you invite Starbane?

Yeah. Okay, you invite Starbane. You send a message. We'll say you look like Quill sends a message or something like that. Calus would say, I am very grateful for this invitation but I feel that my presence would be uncomfortable for many but thank you for inviting me I do not deserve to be there but I'm grateful for the opportunity perhaps another time when we are on our journey you and I can meet once more. I'll hold you to that.

But yeah, he would be imagines he would not be Moswok. I was going to say, how do I explain to Nova's mom that the guy who's been trying to kill her is now suddenly coming to dinner? Who said he was trying to kill her? That's Nova paranoia.

We can send some leftovers back with valor yeah i'm so glad uh all right so petal uh anyone else you can think of um guardians yeah danica and that will come along rain will be there yeah like guardians we've met like callie's rest sure um have a bunch of guardians yeah just a bunch of the guardians. Yeah, just a bunch of guardians. And Nova's mum's like, guardians don't eat, right? No. Okay, great.

Warm plates, though. I'll sort that out. I'll sort that out. She's like, can I have those crystal dwarves? Can they help? Oh, have they not been helping? Well, I don't know how to ask them. They're so weird.

Just literally just ask them. They will be so happy. She, like, sticks her how to ask them. They're so weird. Just literally just ask them. They will be so happy. She like sticks her head out. It's like, Crystal Dwarf. And there's one that's like, hello, ma'am. My name is Amber Two. And it's just like, I need four of you. Very well, ma'am.

Three just merge out of the wall. She's like, I don't care. Come in and we'll cook this. Do this. Do that. And they're like, very well. We've never cooked human food like this. You can cook this, do this, do that. And they're like, very well. We've never cooked human food before. Boop, boop, boop, boop. Like, they're doing that. What about Lucius?

Sky Prince, Aradan. Yep, absolutely. There, without a doubt. Edea. There, without a doubt. The officers of the Storm Chasers. So we have Oriah. Yep.

And I think the leader of the Wolf Pack. Yep. Kamara. Yep. That's right. It's been a while Wolfpack. Yep. Kamara. Yeah. That's right. It's been a while. Beth, yep. Grey Lano.

Grey Lano. Yep. Howard. Howard, Lansian, Penny. You know, that. Yep. The named officers. Yes.

So not the rest of the Wolfpack. I literally have to stop them at the door. Yeah. I'm so sorry. They're like, ah, but we can smell it. It smells so good. We'll save you some.

We'll have another feast. Come on, back off, all of you. Go on, clear off. Captain's orders. I'll come lower deck and see you all later. There's one exception. Yes. Because you didn't see them

how they got past you. Yes. In the corner. Yes. It does smell good. No. They never speak. Oh, yeah.

They're just in the corner. Looking at their lips. Looking at Quill. Did we name this one? No. Did we not? They're nameless. They're timeless.

He did have a name. He did have a name. I thought he had a name. Nigel? I can't remember. The thing is, he's there. And then when you all go and look for him again, he's not there.

Every time I go to point him out. Lucius, you let us on the wall package. He's there! Look, he's there! He was just there! He was right there! Phil, you lie down. It's like the wizard thing. It's not like the alien?

It's like a little pile of bones. To be fair, the wizard did exist, but I maintain that there... Why the fuck? Bless you for trying. Bless you for trying. Bless you for trying to... Group hallucination. No, no, no, no.

He is real. Hey, let's just focus on the... Where is he now? No, no. Where is he now? He's in another world. Oh, okay. Okay, yeah, yeah.

It's very convenient. I saw him... Here's his face on a book. That's a really pretty book. Is that like a Necronomicon? No, it's not a Necronomicon. It's an ugly book. No, it's a...

I'm just... Okay. Just duplicate him. Did you drug me to make me think I saw that lunatic? Oh no, it's not a nice, it's an ugly boy. No, I'm just, I'm just, I'm just like, hey, I'm like. Did, did Freddie, did you drug me to make me think I saw that lunatic? I guess I did. I'm doubting it.

Guess what, gatekeep girl boss. No more adventures, no more adventures. Nova century Lucius, make a perception check. Oh yes. 19. A two. 12. A two. 12. Lucius.

The little face, this brass face on the book stick is like... It's like normal. It's like, did I imagine that? Anyway. I'm losing my mind. All right, so we have the crew of the Storm Chaser. Yeah. Is that it? Danica. We it? Danica.

We've got Danica. Assume that any major NPCs are... There is a catch-all for when you inevitably get mad at us for forgetting one person. Catch-all. We found them. We got them.

They're here. No, I can't... I'm literally just asking if they're right. Because I might not have anticipated... If there's somebody that I wasn't expecting might be there, such as Calistar Bane, I was not expecting Senshi to be like,

who am I along? The ghost of Smeek. I cast True Resurrection on Smeek. Do it! Do it! I'm not going to do that. It costs like 20,000 gold. Yeah, we can afford it.

Azaria will do it. She'll do it for free. For Smeek. Azaria. Oh, Azaria will, no. Azaria will do it. She'll do it for free. For sneak. Azaria. Oh, Azaria will, no, Azaria will do something, but it's not true.

She'll bring something back. It's not sneak. The daughter of Azaria. I mean, it's basically still sneak. I'm going to bring back our greatest ally who has died along the way,

Bim Returns. Oh, God. Don't tease me. Don't tempt me. I'm also trying to keep it tight. Are we over time? I think we're over time. We are over time.

Is it okay if we extend a little bit longer? And is that okay with you, Samuel, back in the heavens? Is that all right? I've got to tell my mansers. Sorry. Just because I want to wrap up a couple of things. Sam, are you good? He's good.

He's good. Perfect. A little bit more. If there are specific things you want to say at this dinner, we're going to go around each for one thing. And Century, I know perhaps after everyone else has left, when it's just the team, is that when you want to do your thing?

All right. So, let's start with Lucius. Lucius, is there anything you want to kind of talk about with everyone here? Is there like anything specific you want to do within this dinner? Like with all these beloved NPCs who are here, many of whom will probably still come with you, but there are definitely going to be some people here that won't. Yeah, yeah.

I'll probably stand up and ding a glass. Ding, ding, ding, ding. Hello, everyone. It's Lucius, Captain of the Storm Chaser here. If you didn't know... Oh, wait. No, I think everybody knows. Good to see you all.

All these fresh faces. This is our moment of peace. Our moment of clear skies, if you will. Clear skies. There's everyone sort of like, yeah, clear skies. We have the biggest task ahead of us all. The greatest.

And if we don't succeed, then the greatest fall. So I just want to thank you all for getting us to where we are today. Without each and every one of yours devotion, your kindness, your help, we wouldn't have made it this far, I think. So, from the champions of Eroas to our dearest friends and allies, who will be joining us or not joining us, I raise a glass to you all. Clear skies. Clear skies. Clear skies. Clear skies.

Clear skies. Clear skies. Or some mean sky Prince Arrenhan might be dating. Anyway. What was that? Aranhan just sort of like puts his hand over like this and goes a bit red. You must learn subtlety a bit, Lucius, I think. As that bomb drops.

What? Quill was livid. No worries. I tackle Aranhan. There has to be a big speech to everyone, but is there anybody here that you want to specifically have a conversation with or anything,

any moment in this gathering that you want to have? And like, you know, emotions are high. Like we can say that maybe this happened before Lucia's speech, but like I just want each person to have a moment where if there's somebody specific they want to speak to, if there's something they want to say to the group,

now is the time. I think, to be honest, Nova's pretty tapped out. And before all this, she would have obviously had quiet time with her family and, you know, some tears and hugs with mum and dad and all that. And, yeah, I don't think there's anything really specific. I think she's still reeling from everything and processing everything and just happy,

like keeps coming back to the five and just all through the night, just like knowing looks, like just. Yeah, and I think that there would be a plan for you all to stay up and gather once everyone else is left. There's generally a mood. Yeah, like a knowledge.

That we can all feel of like we need to. We need to have a quick moment. There would definitely be some point after Lucius' speech that she just catches nine and is like... Me? Podcast listeners, lewd gestures are being made. Yeah, the same lewd gesture. Quill.

Circle. Anyone you would specifically want to speak to, anything you would specifically want to say or do in this moment? Yeah, I mean, I don't have any, same as Nova, I don't have any major speeches or anything to make. No, there doesn't have to be. Same sort of thing, generally,

just catching up with people, some people more than others, because I refuse to message. But yeah, the same sort of thing that I would find more comfort returning back to the storm chasers and just relaxing with them than others. Yeah. All right.

Yeah. Okay. Ayla, what about you? Ayla's not a speech universe. No, she's not a speech kind of person. She would probably just take some time to spend with the wild elves and make sure that they probably toast to the fallen and just have a moment since they haven't had a moment since that big fight and say how much that she appreciated them helping and that she's

glad that she's found people that are like her. Yeah. It's great. But, yeah. Just a quiet moment with them off to the side. That's what it's all about. That's what it's about. And there's lots of those quiet moments, you know. I think you would probably see, like, Valor and Arvel having a little side conversation at some point.

You would see probably Hope and Mesmera like just enamored with big jack and like just like like chatting to him and like having a whale of a time chatting to him like these little moments of of connection and humanity and and peace and companionship and friendship either people that they've never met before some people that have known each other for a while now and forge these deeper bonds i'll probably also try and make max laugh probably eventually at some point you will you can tell me what that is but eventually people leave they head home things end cleared away and it's just the five of you left together and i think century wanted to gather up from that.

Um, I guess, yeah, she'll just stand up and gesture to everyone. My fearless, wise, curious, glorious friends. Since I last swore my oath, everything has changed. My duties, my life, Erois itself has changed. I stand before you today with a promise to all of you. I want you to know that whatever future waits for us out there, I will always be with you. Thank you for giving me a new hope and a new purpose.

And she'll take out Starbreaker, hold it up to whatever end, and then she'll turn the tip down and plunge it into the floor. And then she will get on one knee and say her new oath. For the glory of joy in dawn's new light, protect all hope from evil's blight. My might stands true till dark undone, till we are all, till all are one. And then as she says that, there's a slight flicker of change in her armor

where it was like, once a grey, it flickers to like a white and then her vine hair sort of turns from green to gold. There's like a second and then it like dissipates. And with that,

my friends, we're going to bring this episode to a close. Oh my god! Thank you so much for joining us for the next episode as we enter the final chapter of Varroas as the battle must be taken to Hadar.

We'll see you next time. Take care. We love you. Bye-bye. Clear skies you next time. Take care. We love you. Bye-bye. Clear skies. Clear skies.