High Rollers DnD - High Rollers: Aerois | #36 - Goblins and Guardians (Part 2)

Episode Date: June 13, 2019

It's time to restart the forge while avoiding a powerful Guardian in the Midwife's Forge! Support the High Rollers and get early access to podcast episodes (and more) on our Patreon: www.patreon.com/HighRollers Thanks to our sponsors D&D Beyond and NordVPN! NordVPN allow you to browse securely and protect your data online! Get three years and an extra month free for 75% off with the code HRDND here: www.nordvpn.com/hrdnd D&D Beyond is the official digital toolset for Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition. Create your FREE account now and start digitising your campaigns here: www.dndbeyond.com/ Music courtesy of Epidemic Sound Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Hello everyone, welcome back to High Rollers, a Dungeons & Dragons podcast in the world of Erois, run by Dungeon Master Mark Sherlock-Humes, with me, Tom, playing Piri Adara, the Fire Ganassi Monk. I am Chris Trott, I am playing Lucius Vue, Elowen Elanastio. And I am a high elf sorcerer. I am Rhiannon. I am playing Oriah, the rogue ranger orc. Hi, I'm Katie. I'm playing Ayla, a wild elf barbarian. And I'm Kim. I'm playing Nova, who is an air ganassi, and she is a hexblade warlock. Thanks to our regular sponsor, D&D Beyond, the official Dungeons & Dragons toolset, and NordVPN. NordVPN is the perfect app to protect your data online

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Well, we have just launched the brand new High Rollers Patreon page. For just $5 a month, you'll get access to a load of different perks, including, most importantly for you guys, access to Thursday's podcast on Monday. We're also planning on releasing some snazzy goodies onto the Patreon as well, including custom stat blocks for our homebrewed world and other secret things. You can head to www.patreon.com slash highrollers to support us and help make the Highrollers podcast a better place for everyone involved. Anyway, on to the episode. With a procedure in place, the team finally enter the last room in the Midwife's forge. Welcome back to High Rollers.

The party have just vanquished, or have they? A number of animated weapons within an antechamber in the Midwife's Forge. After a little battle, many goblins lay dead. We did decide that Nova would immediately spare the dying on Smeak, so he is stable but unconscious. Great. The other goblins are dead. There are three goblins including unconscious Smeek left.

What would you guys like to do? Can I check that this bow isn't going to get back up again? How would you like to check that? Prod it with my foot? You'll have to make your way up there. You will climb up this kind of gravel, because you can see that what appears to be the ceiling collapsed and has kind of formed like this sloped platform that leads up to it.

Whatever, there was obviously some sort of room above you that once led down here, but all the columns and things have collapsed. There do appear to be several ladders, it looks like. Like hastily built ladders. Strewn about. In which case, can I change my plan? And perhaps, is Varric around? Fezzik, is he around?

You can cast for him. You look around, he's not immediately there. Can we have some more goblins, please? We need a refill. We really goofed this up. You hear from very far back, like, What have you done with all my goblins, please! We need a refill, we really goofed this up. You hear from very far back, like, what have you done with all my goblins? It was a bow! Ugh.

All right, hang on. You may have four more goblins. Yay! You don't ask, you don't get. You just come teetering down the hallway. You literally hear like a, like, I don't think this is right Can I go and get this ladder

And prop it up And send these poor little goblins to their slaughter And walk up That's all we're doing We're massacring poor little green goblins They don't know any better Go on then Make an attack roll

You're kicking the boat I, the boat, right? No, I just wanted to nudge it. Oh, you just nudge it. Oh, okay, yeah, you nudge it. Nudge what? What's going on? The boat. Oh, okay. Sorry, two things were going on at once, so I got confused. I get confused when one thing is going on. Tom!

Ah! Where am I? Doesn't move. Come on! Goblins, go back. Go back to your master. Where am I? Doesn't move. Come on. Goblins, go back. Go back to your master. No. Why are we sending them back?

We're going to need them when we go against the guardian. They're going to last a second. That's fine. That's the second that we don't get killed. I'm sorry. How many times did you get shot by the magic bow? None, because I hid behind this little rock. Yes, you hid. Yes, excellent. But I did hurt the things, but alas, I don't think the goblins helped us.

Well, but I mean... They were slaughtered. But they're a distraction. Vezic's using us as fodder. Life is a distraction. I'm doing no such thing. We are working in partnership. It doesn't sound like a part...

You're back there, we're in here. here yes you're using my knowledge great if it was an equal partnership you'd be here with us I didn't say it was an equal partnership it's just a partnership that's why we're calling out for it is I'm going to keep the goblins by me. Okay, fine. I'm just saying we might need them when the guardian is shooting everyone. Question. Can anyone heal?

No. Have we got anything? No. I've got a couple of potions. Would you like a potion? You can take a short rest. I think we should take a short rest. I don't think we should stay in the room

with these animation shit. They're destroyed. I would wonder about that bow. I don't think we should stay in the room with these animation shits. They're destroyed. I would wonder about that bow. I don't trust the bow. It would just take some more Corrupted Lightning to empower it again. Why don't you just whack it a couple times, Ayla, and just be done with it? I would maybe... It's intact, but you could break it. I would maybe break the bow.

Yeah. I'll break the bow then. Okay, give me an attack roll with advantage. break the bow. I'll break the bow then. Give me an attack roll with advantage. Break the bow. 17. It's unconscious. Yeah, I'll say that it hits. Do critical hit damage.

As if you rolled a crit. I guess because it's down. That's a fucking one, so two. Six damage. Wow. Honestly, kill me. To be fair, it can't actually... I thought it might wake up if you hit it,

and it doesn't actually say that it does. It's just unconscious for one minute, so you can just keep whacking. Can I just whack it? You just keep whacking until it's broken. Yeah. For future reference, for Nova, you judge watching this going down.

The Dispel Magic, you suspect, suppressed its ability for a minute. It basically put it to sleep, and then Aayla whacked it until it was destroyed. Okay, shall we move forward? Shall we keep going? I was just wondering, should we get Scaldi to join us?

Or have a short rest? Scaldi's currently still with the bodies on the wagon. Somebody needs to stay with the bodies, I guess. Well, it's just she's a healer. You take a short rest, though. But let's take a short rest. I think it's safe in here. Please.

Okay, let's take a short rest. I'll keep watching. I think Piri took a fair bit of damage. Yeah, I did. I'll keep watching. I'm okay. It's only an hour, so... I'm actually out of hit dice.

I'm going to go look for a ladder and see if we can... Oh, you already did that. You look over. Ayla's already on top looking down with a ladder placed up against it. Am I? I'm going to try and play with the goblins. What are you going to play?

Just create lights and things like that. Just make them chase after you. Oh, Oh my god now I roll well. Yay Need about the goblins chase around yeah, and the lights for a little bit of time But they kind of quickly grow my heart a bit and then they start just like Looking around the room some of them picking up broken bits of the old weapons Swinging them around I'm just gonna to back off then. Vezic probably makes his way, sensing that the danger has passed,

makes his way and kind of joins you, just standing with you. As we... I guess people are waking up and we're getting ready to do the next bit, I'm going to talk to Lucius. Okay. Hello. Lucius, when we go into this next bit with the forge, were you paying attention to the whole reset process by the way? Yes. Okay. I need you to do something.

I need you... I wasn't listening. Yeah. Maybe I should ask Oriah. I can do the synchronised twisting. I was going to ask you to put the power source back in. Oh. Mmm. Mmm.

What would you feel more comfortable doing? Well, I'll do it. I can do it. You have to put it in very carefully and make sure it's secure. Right. Well, when I was with Daddy, he always used to make me put his exotic hand-me-down weapons on the display at the end of the year so that all the families that came round to our mansion would see them gleaming.

And I had to do them very, very delicately. Not a single scratch. So I've had... And were they secure? Oh, yes. Okay, now did you have to do this while a guardian was trying to attack you? I was attacked verbally and traumatized. Okay, this is super important.

Oh I know the answer, I understand the gravitas of the situation. So I'm gonna give you the star. Oh! It's real. Yeah. It's happening. Yeah, this is happening. I'm not sure I can contain this. No, I'm struggling now. Anxiety is building. Okay, but I really need you to... Oh look, I'm shaking. Would you rather do something else? Yes. Okay, what would you rather do? I'll look after

the goblins. Okay, I'm gonna go elsewhere then. Are you Well, uh... Because I believe in you, Lucius. Oh, thank you. That's very lovely. But I don't believe in myself. Okay. Given looking at the... Oriah! Hello?

Hi. Sorry to wake you up. Oh, no, no, don't worry. It's fine. You know the part where you have to put the power source back into the forge and do it really securely, I think was the word Vezic used? Yes and and safe and not die and and you know probably get attacked by a golem loads yeah do you think you could do that are you sure you want me to do it yeah i trust you you

were my first choice um okay if if i'll do my best. It's a big job, are you sure? Yeah, because I'm going to be working the consoles. Ayla's going to be working the other console. Lucius wants to look after the goblins. I look after the goblins. It's very good of you. Yeah, I think you'd be perfect.

I'll take it, I'll do it. Okay. I pass you the Star Fragment. So, Rai, this is your first time seeing it, I think. Yeah. What overhands you is this long, slender metal tube of strange, dull grey metal, not like one you've seen before. There is a glass window in its centre, and it looks like you unlock it by twisting it and then sliding it open. And inside there is, being held by a lattice of metal, there is a diamond.

Although you wouldn't recognise it as a diamond, when you first look at it, it looks like a star, like a blazing star in the night sky. It's radiating magic. But you can see that at its core it's a pure diamond, the purest of pure, and it's radiating magic. But you can see there, at its core, it's a pure diamond, the purest of pure, and it's radiating magic. Oh wow, I just, I look at it and I just immediately shut it, wide-eyed. Not to add any intensity to this situation, but what you're holding in your hands is a

literal lifeline to our dearest friend. So if you could treat it with the utmost respect and do the best job you can, we'd very much appreciate it. Well, I've heard how much she means to you. It's an honour, honestly, to do this. I'll do my best and be extremely careful. I'm sure you will. Never would choose you first otherwise. As you guys are finishing up the short rest,

you see little Smeek, his eyes flicker open. He like looks down, checks himself, and he just seems to get kind of sad. He kicks a rock. He gets up. He's sad he's not dead. He wants to die. He wants to go to Valhalla. He wants to come back as a bigger goblin. But yeah, he kind of gets up and looks around. He's like... Picks up a rock. Probably hits himself in the head with it. Oh my god.

Oh no. So shiny. So chrome. Vezic, kind of looming in the back of the corridor, is like, So, are you ready? He gestures to the large double doors that Aayla can now see in this other platform. That leads into the forge. Okay, me first, doing the console. You next, doing the other console.

Oriah third, doing the power source. And then both of us together. What am I doing? Turning the key. Stopping us from dying. Do you want to do the key thing? If I'm doing the... I mean, yeah. I think Vezic should do one of the keys. Vezic, are you actually going to come in there with us, or...?

Very well. But I will not engage in combat. Like I said, my weapon will cause...collateral damage. Right. But I am happy to remain behind, and if you become stuck on the process, or if you are struggling with one of the command nodes, I can obviously give you some verbal assistance. But the manual override is near the entrance, I will remain near that. Is that the one that I have to pull?

You will need to pull it. Okay. Very well. Okay. Okay, team. If you guys take your miniatures off and take the goblins off, please. Oh. Oh my. So we've got four gobos. Four.

And sneak. So five gobos. Yes. And Vezic. And all of us. Oh, that's so cute. Did Vezic see the handover of the power source? I don't know, did he? He might have. He was in the room.

Wow. This is also mega light as well. That's incredible. So this is the arena. This is amazing. The forge. Oh my god. He's done a really cool map, which means it's going to hurt a lot. Yeah.

I love the forge-y bits. Yeah. Cool, right? Pass me Piri. I don't like the size of the dwarf goddess. Yeah, have you got a different mini? Nope. This one with the hammer is going to be Vezic,

and then place your five goblins in front of you. Smeek, immediate death. Smeek would be in front of Ayla. Yeah. There's limited space. I'll describe, yeah. Just place them down, and then I'll describe what you see. Say what you see.

Say what you see. Scattering around. That's cool. see. Say what you see. Say what you see. So. Maybe I bought it specifically for this. I want it to be, I want some fights to be very cool. I am spoiling you. So, what you see. The open, the large stone doors that lead from the antechamber. The large stone doors that lead from the antechamber,

they open up and lead into a long, worked stone corridor. Nova, there are elements here which seem familiar to you. Not the same, but familiar. Lines of blue, dull crystal make their way through the rooms, along the floors, along the walls. The stone here is remarkably clean, the lines expertly sharply cut, almost impossibly so. There is no flaw present. This is the work of such skilled artisanship that it is near perfection.

As you enter the main chamber, you see rising up before you a large statue of a dwarven woman, hammer in one hand, chisel in the other pointing towards you there are there is a large round the best way to describe it would be a cons or table upon which there are multiple runes as well as one large

twisted lever that appears to kind of rotate in place. There is also another single smaller lever built into the very front of the console itself and then runes and buttons and crystals inlaid around the edges. The room then expands out and you can see that there is a large section in the middle encased within a stone cube. Kind of a perfect stone cube is being formed around. Kind of a perfect stone cube has been formed around. There are lines drawn into the ground which seem to indicate that that cube will come apart. It's almost like tracks in the ground of where something would be moved along. At the very far back of the room, you can see that there is a platform that leads up onto a platform overlooking the rest of the room huge stone columns rising up

to the ceiling with torches giving off a very very faint white light and then there is a large semi-circular console which seems to look down on the rest of the room as you all step in and you your lights or the dancing lights of lucius's magic and the dull lights of the forge itself illuminate the space, you watch as this giant statue... Great. And you watch as black lightning crackles up and down it. Its eyes open with a dark purple flame. Intruder detected. Intuders detected, roll initiative.

Damn. This is cool. Now I roll a natural 20, great. So, Ayla. 24. 24, Piri. 19. 19.

What the fuck? What? 19 as well. 19 as well, help me roll. Lucius. 19. What? 19 as well? 19 as well! How have we rolled? Lucius, 14. I'm going to check three times in a row. 19 as well, Arya. You rolled a 16.

Plus three. We'll have Piri go first because you went first last time. What is your actual dex score? Plus three. I mean, what number? 16. Damn it, okay. You're exactly the same. I thought you were going to be 15.

The goblins will want to go at 10. Vezic is here, but he... I'll roll initiative for him, but I don't think he's really gonna be doing much in the combat. Thanks, Vezic. Just enjoying us. Is he not having to run towards the keys? Well, not the keys, but the activation.

He's next to one. Oh, right. Ayla, you are the first to react. You can see that this thing... And it's about to kind of come towards you. So this is the console that I have to... Yeah, Vezic will quickly basically shout like, yes, yes, this is the manual override.

We cannot let it come too close. It will disrupt the whole process. Okay. You, Ergonassi, the larger console at the back. That's the main command console. Got it. Can I then, oopsies, go to this side? Yes.

And I guess just, I'm gonna, oh. I can't go too far, but I can't let her get to the thing, so... At the moment, it looks like it's scanning, because there's so many targets, it's scanning the line. Yep, so... I'm trying to look really inoffensive. What I'm going to do is...

Not that it matters, but I'm just like... Dash to the side and prepare myself. If she comes near me, I will attack her twice. So you kind of drop into a combat stance? Yeah. Okay. Just kind of like scans over, looks over the rest of everybody else. That is a let's go, period. looks over the rest of everybody else as Aayla's go,

period. I will go to the side with Aayla as well. And I guess, can I just have one ping at it? Just shoot one? So you just sunbolt it? I guess I can do that twice.

You can do it twice, you might as well. And my intention is to, I'm like yelling at it, like, hey, this way. Hey, this way, this way, over here, over might as well. And my intention is to, I'm like yelling at it, like, hey, this way. Hey, this way, this way, over here. Over here. 19 and 23.

Both hit. So you, so Piri, it's like flame bolts, right? Because we kind of reflavored it. Yeah, my sun bolts. It's like, you're like throwing fire out of your hands. Yeah. So three plus three, six, two plus three, five. So 11 damage. Could one of them be a thingy?

Stunning Strike, I believe, has to be a melee attack. Melee weapon attack. Ah, damn it. Okay. Can't be your Sunbolt, sadly. It's like a nerve pinch. Yeah, it's like a nerve pinch. I want a nerve pinch with my fire.

Well, the fire just hits it. So you watch as the statue, it's currently facing away from you, or kind of on its side. One blast hits it in the face and the second catches it in the arm. Yeah! Violent activity detected. Yeah, you suck! And takes a first step towards it. This way!

Aria. I'm going to cast Zephyr Strike on myself. And then... It's your bonus action, right, for Zephyr Strike on myself. Mm-hmm. And then... It's your bonus action, right, for Zephyr Strike. Yeah. Nice. And I'll give myself an extra 30 feet of movement and then move out here.

So it's going to go Uriah, the Attendant, and then Nova. 20, 23, 24. Sorry, Lucius, actually. So it's Uriah, Lucius, it's your next trot. I'm just going to move out of the way. Oh, so you're going around the opposite side of the bus, too. I'm going around the other way. Okay, nice. And then just, that's it? That Raya, Lucius, it's your next trot. I'm just going to move out of the way. Oh, so you're going around the opposite side. I'm going around the other way. Okay, nice.

And then just that's it? That's it, yeah. Okay, Lucius. Come on, little goblins. Follow me. 5, 10, 15, 20. Okay. 25.

Yep. Give me a persuasion check. Okay. That's an 18. Yeah, the goblins will do what you say. So on their turn, they're going to follow you. Excellent. Okay, is that all you're doing?

Can I tell them not to attack? No. Itchy. Yep, sure. No. Okay, you're like, no, this way, this way, follow me, no attacking. Does that count as a bonus action? No, I mean, I'd say that that's just, yeah, your action is like you're basically commanding them

to follow you and not attack. Okay. Okay? That's me. Okay, no bonus actions. All right, the attendant itself. Oh, it's really getting up in our space. Basically, it's kind of, she's like half balanced.

She's a big boy. She kind of stands between you and Ayla. Your radiant action will go off. Thank you, Thomas. Ayla, so you get to attack. She readied it if it came near you. Wow. Was that 2-1?

No, it was 1-1. And... You can spend the coin. You just need to declare it before you roll. You got the coin. 16. But have fun coin. 16 hits. Okay. Yep. 6 damage. 6 damage?

So you cleave into it with the Howling Gale, and as the hammer hits it, it just reverberates you hear like almost like hitting the side of a mountain or a castle oh rattles all the way through your arms yeah and you just hear this kind of again this kind of very soft but very autonomous female voice just like your attacks will be ineffective leave this place now and then it begins to bring something down it strikes down at ayla and perry one with the hammer and then one with the chisel as it comes down on two of you so against ayla that is a 25 and then against perry is a 16 oh exactly ah that's unfortunate damn uh did I get the hammer or the chisel?

So you got the chisel. Ah. So Ayla, you're going to take 15 bludgeoning and then two lightning reduced to one because you're resistant to lightning now. So 16 points of damage. You also cannot take reactions until the start of your next turn. So things like attack of opportunity and stuff like that.

Oh, right, okay. Lilip Piri, you take nine points of bludgeoning damage and three points of lightning damage, so 12 total. Okay. As you're kind of slammed in the chest, you manage to bring your arms up to deflect this chisel from impaling your chest, but the lightning scars down your arms. Oh.

And then it stops moving. Okay. So after the attendant, it goes to Nova. Nope, sorry, the goblins. The goblins will do as they were ordered and just kind of begin swarming around Lucius. Aw. Vezic will stand.

Like puppies, but way more gross. It's like Pikmin. Farty little puppies. Have their own shit. And they're just kind of like looking up at you like, great job, all of you. Nova. Can I move as far as I can so it's dashes and action, right?

Dashes and action, yeah. So can I move 60 feet towards the console going right? 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60. And before I do that, can I cast Hexblade Curse on the golem? Sure. Yep, done. So as it stands now, everyone but me and Ayla are on the right-hand side of the room. Yes, and it is now Ayla.

Cool. You're going, bad. And you can tell that the machinery here seems dull. There's no life to it. There's no hum of power. There is no sound of anything moving. Apart from the guardian. Yeah.

So start of your turn, you get your reactions back. Cool. I guess I'm just going to... Can I skirt around so I'm still just here? So you appear on either side of it. To the console. And... I don't really want to hit it.

I don't know. Can you do anything defensive? Everybody can take the defensive, the total defense action, or dodge action, I think it's called. It's an action. Any attacks against you have disadvantage. Can I do that? Can I just be defensive just now until Nova?

Because I want to be in a position where I can get to this. Get to this thing. Sure. So you're going to take the dodge action. So any attacks against you remind me I have disadvantage. Piri? I was going to do the same, but I'm going to use a key

point to make it a bonus action, patient defense. So I'll do two attacks with my standard, seven and a six plus six so thirteen. Thirteen misses. And then yeah, twelve will miss as well. So neither hit and then I'll... You do hit because it's such a large creature made of stone and it's this very kind of voluptuous, curvaceous dwarven woman. It's a beautiful statue, like Michelangelo-esque in its detail, but it's completely come to life and it's bearing down on you.

You punch her in the thigh and it's just like, you just hit rock. You're like, ah! And then you swing again. Your kind of magically enhanced fist connecting but doing no effect. Damn it. And yeah, then I'll do patient defense so one key

point so dodge action or raya you'll go um let's see so i'll put the power source into the forge yourself which part do i need to put the power source you don't know at this point okay i think i might just stay where i am yeah you could hold your action if you tell me that you're waiting for something to happen. Yeah. So when I know the forge is open, I'll move towards that. Okay. That's your readied action. Cool.

Nice. Then we have Lucius. I'm going to cast Lucius's Luscious Light. It's going to get the 20-foot radius. So can I just get the spaces that encompass her? Yep. That just happens. Okay. Do I roll an effect or is that at the start of her turn?

It's at the end of your turn. Any creature that starts its turn in there takes 2d6 cold and if you end your turn there it's a deck saving throw. Okay. 2d6 acid. Otherwise it's blinded. Okay. Oh it's blinded. Just now. You watch as this sphere of blue and orange light

erupts near to Piri and Aayla, but not quite encompassing you, and it encompasses the statue. You can occasionally see her arm and things poking out of it, but you just hear, like, visualization disabled, unable to locate targets, and it's smashing around.

Get out of there! After Lucius, it is the Attendant's go. So at the start of its turn it takes what? It's a cold 2d6. Roll it. Meh. One. Meh.

Two. Three points of damage. Does that count as your two bad rolls? Would it? No, no, it's damage rolls. No, it doesn't count for damage you still did something um documents work with it its intelligence is pretty stupid yeah it would yeah seven points seven points because it's the third level right nice man you hear something horrific going on

inside you can hear like the creature kind of making noises. But how intelligent is this thing? Let's make a check for it. Not that smart. It's going to stay where it is. Instead, it's going to try and make two attacks, both with disadvantage against Piri and Ayla. So Ayla, that was a natural 20 on one, a three on the other one. So that's only an 11 to hit.

Misses. And then Piri, natural 20 on one and a nine on the other one. So that's only an 11 to hit. Misses. And then Piri. Natural 20 on one and a nine on the other one. No joke. So that is a total of 17. Oh, both hit. No, it's not two attacks. It's one attack with disadvantage.

I know. So 17. It's just one hit. Oh, Piri. Both hit. So that's going to be 13. I'm dead. 13 piercing

and then two lightning damage. You go down? No, no. 15? God damn, that's badly. 13 plus two, yeah, 15. That is bad. That's pretty bad.

Okay. So even though you're ready or dodged, this thing swings so wildly and unexpectedly, you just don't have time to move out of the way. And it swings with such force, it kind of carves the chisel into the ground, and then the bunch of stone that it flings up and the lightning in its body kind of hits you in the chest,

sending you flying back. That's pretty kick-ass, I'll take that. Nova. At the end of its turn, by the way, I have to make a save. Yes. Dex. Two. Fail.

Two. Oh, eight damage. Eight points of damage. That's acid. 2 Fail 2 8 damage 8 points of damage Acid You hear like this kind of bubbling noise coming from inside I assume my Diagram of Mancy only works 1 per turn It's when you cast the spell Right

That's the way Diagram of Mancy works When you cast a spell So any lingering effects on like the second round and stuff It doesn't have an effect on Nova How far away from the console? So 5 In fact you can go like 5, 10, 15, 20, 25.

You're basically, you can get there within one move. And then yeah, can I start looking at this manual override? Guessing it's in common? So you're going to try and locate a manual override? Uh, sorry. What was it? No, I need to... Tell me what you're doing. I need to initiate the purge system okay you will need to make an arcana check looking down there are a number of arcane symbols there are crystals

with different lights this is an arcana check to try and figure out how you activate this particular system and would like my ability to read all languages help at all i'll give you advantage yeah it is written that it's not really in, but there are symbols which your eldritch-like power. Tiangong helps convert. It's almost like Tiangong is just helping tell you what does what. It's the inverse of translator. Kind of, yeah. So, yes.

Maybe with written languages. It's not really this is a language. It's more these are functions, but he's helping you or they are helping you figure out what's what. So, Arcana with advantage. Wow. Oh, my God. I'm taking those two as my bad rolls because I rolled a three and a two. Okay, it's one check.

You have advantage, but it's one check. So you failed one check. It doesn't count as both. It's not failed rolls. But that's a ten in total. A ten in total? Yep. Even understanding it, this is such a complex device

that you're not sure what is what, and clearly there are a number of subsystems based here. Can you roll a d4, please? Oh, here we go. Four. Four. Can you make a wisdom saving throw, please? Three.

I'm going to take my lucky coin now, thank you. That's just one. Because I rolled three. I rolled three. It's not three bad dice rolls. It's three failed checks or attacks. So you failed the arcana check and you failed the saving throw. So it's not just dice rolls.

I'll fail the next thing, it's fine. Yeah, I'm sure you will. You feel your body... That's the game in it. You watch as you kind of beep, boop, beep, boop, beep, boop, beep. And then you feel this kind of pulse of magic, but it only hits you. It kind of blasts you around the console

and you feel your body freeze up. Alpha. Damn. That's... You're paralyzed. Bad news, bad. After Nova, we go back up to Ayla at the top of the round. Nova, what's happening?

God damn it, can I see her from here? She's just frozen. Okay. Not invisible. Yeah, because she's kind of over the room, so you can see Nova at this console, and you see this flash of magic, and then Nova is just frozen in place.

Damn. That'll do it someone needs to help nova who is closer than me i might be able to okay you can run can't you well i might be able to hold my turn. You need someone with magical understanding! It's not me. I have a plus 7, but I just rolled bad. It's gonna happen. I guess I'm just gonna... So is she still blinded by this? Currently, while the attendant is in the sphere, blinded. As long as Lucius maintains concentration.

What happens if you back away from her blinded creature? Still gets the attack, but is it disadvantage good to know I will just continue I will hit her twice okay I'll hit her twice now you know where she is enough that you can roll that was a shit roll but but okay. That was also pretty shit. Don't forget, you got the coin. You got to spend it before you roll it. I forgot about it. Put it in front of you.

Yeah, there you go. So that's a 12 to hit for one of them, which is probably going to hit. No, that's going to be a miss. And a 17. That hits. So you swing the hammer into the sphere of light. I forgot to rage.

You have not ranged so far. But full damage, though. Bam. 14. Bam. I hear this kind of crack as the hammer slams into the sphere of light, and you pull it out before the ice and the acid begin to pull at your

weapon. Yeah, you don't see the effect, you just hear this enormous crack. Piri? While weapon yeah you don't see the effect you just hear this in almost crack period while it is in there I'm going to I need to get away from it but I could disengage but I kind of also want to stun it it's a hard one it looks quite constitution-y, doesn't it? It is made of stone. If this attack... It's on. Not many hit points. Oh, God.

Yeah, you're risking it, boy. Yeah, but how long does a stun work last? I think it's the end of a turn. It's until they save. Oh, it's stunned until the end of my next turn. Yeah. There's not much point, to be honest, if it's this far away. Yeah, I'll disengage then.

So key point to disengage is a bonus? Oh just as an action. Oh you're just going to take it as an action? Um your normal move? Then I'll back up. Where do you want to go? Down here? Yeah just um I guess 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 you can go? 45. 45. Yeah and then get onto the stairs. With my bonus action I'll drink my potion. Okay. Regular potion of healing, 2d4 plus 2. I'll roll that for you. That is a 5, 6, 7. You'll do. 7 HP. That's Piri's Go, Oriya.

Cool. I'm going to cast Hunt of Sense on it. Okay. And see if it's got any vulnerabilities, resistances, and if it's not hidden from divination magic. Sure. I will tell you a bunch of information please do so you know it is immune to the following effects poison psychic damage weapon attacks from non-magical sources okay that's me gone then charmed it cannot be charmed it cannot be

exhausted it cannot be frightened it cannot be paralyzed it cannot be petrified and it cannot be poisoned I cannot be stunned, it cannot be paralyzed, it cannot be petrified, and it cannot be poisoned. I cannot write this off, but that's pretty much it. It technically can be stunned. That's probably like the only thing it could have been. Basically, it is a creature made of stone, and it is not a living thing. It is not a living creature. You also know that its shape cannot be altered in any way. It is immune to any spell or effect that would alter its form.

Okay, anything else? And then I'll cast Slayer's Prey on it as a bonus action. I do have my magic rapier, so I can hit it with that. Yeah, you can do that. Sweet. Okay, so that's a Raya. Lucius. We cannot simply just keep hitting it it will repair itself you need to get on with repairing the forge stay here goblins stay safe I'm gonna fly okay so you can fly 60 feet I'm gonna fly as far as I can towards Nova I have 10 15 20 can I use the spaces? 35, 40. Like, go direct?

Yeah, I'm just counting the distance. I think, anyway. You can basically get it. You're, like, on top of the console. Nova! Paralyzed. Does that count as my movement? That's your movement, yeah.

I don't know what to do about her, but... You can have a go at the console. Like, if you... Try the console. Lucius, looking down, you didn't think you knew about this stuff this isn't that different to aetherium technology there's a lot of stuff here that airships function on the command console here is not too dissimilar to how an airships console looks you can attempt it's an arcana check

alright wish I had a coinie don't look at me who they are um 16 Wish I had a coinie. Don't look at me. Hoo-yah. 16. 16. You look down, and you recognize a couple of arcane symbols, things that just innately speak to you through your sorcerer connection.

You hit them in order, and you hear this kind of hum, and a pulse echoes through the room. Something's happened. Nova, you immediately are unparalyzed. Your luscious light is immediately gone. It's dispelled automatically. Any active spell, so spells, are gone. So your stuff doesn't affect it.

Hexblade curse is fine. Yep, that's fine. That stays. Your stuff stays. But luscious is light. Yeah, it's not a spell stays, your stuff stays. Does it? But Luscious's Light, yeah. It's not a spell, technically. Well, it's an ability. Cool. Yeah.

So Luscious's Light and the Paralys- the Hold Monster on Nova is gone. Okay. And you hear this kind of voice emanate from the Guardian. Cleansing Protocol complete. That's one. All right. Next up!

Okay, that was Lucius's turn. It's an action to do the commands. Unless you're playing a section. What do we do next? The attendant sensing this will turn around. So we get like the Apple Mac sound. It's actually, Ayla, you're gonna get an attack opportunity.

Okay. Because it's gonna go. Oh lord, she coming. It's actually, Ayla, you're going to get an attack of opportunity. Okay. Because it's going to go... Oh lord, she coming. Oh. Starts making, it's like... Oh, it's not super quick. No, it's very slow. Oh lord, she coming.

Oh lord. 15? Hits? Okay. I didn't get my fingers at y'all. Oh. 11. 11 points?

Yeah. Again, as it's passing, you crack it in the back and you watch as part of a braid of her hair just snaps off. And as it hits the ground, the stone evaporates into dust and smoke. And then you watch as it begins growing back on the statue. That's bad. Nova. Sorry, the goblins, they do exactly as they're told.

They just kind of huddle up in the corner. We have to use this. And they start just... Nova. Nice. Ayla, you're up next with a manual override. Tell me which one I need to... What do I need to do?

Ask Fezzik. He's right there. Anything else, Nova? So she's coming towards us and she's falling apart, right? Well, no. Falling apart and then coming back. She's completely unscathed.

Everything we've done... Every damage you've done is like slowly repairing on her. I'm going to... I'm going to cast Invisibility on both myself and Lucius. Okay. You both vanish from sight.

Interesting. Probably won't work, but... You don't know? Let's just try it. Sure. That's your turn? And then, yeah, I guess I can't really in action, because that's my...

Okay, Ayla. I'm gonna go to the console. Fezzik is like, yes, yes, yes, strong one. Which one? The large one in the center, rotate it. Okay, I will rage. Yep. So you kind of grip this double-handed, you know, turntable,

and you watch as the lightning begins crackling down your arms as your muscles tense. Athletics check. I'm using the coin. I will take the coin. Advantage. Wait, I already had advantage. Damn it, no.

Then you don't. Give me the coin back, because I already had advantage, because I'm raging. More advantage. I'm raging. Triple advantage. Oh, that already had advantage. Damn it, no! Then you don't steal it. Give me the cloak back, because I already had advantage because I'm raging. More advantage! I'm raging. Triple advantage. Oh, that's cocked. That's mega cocked. That's the same roll as...

Wow! That's pretty good though. What is it? Athletics. Athletics. So, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23. You begin turning and it's incredibly stiff and your muscles tense. Ayla's like hair crackles with lightning.

As it begins to rotate, the actual room itself begins to slowly shift. Oh, oh, the cube is opening up. The cube begins opening up. Oh, cool. That's cool as shit. Piri, you have to jump back as it almost crushes you as part of it. Isn't that crap?

And it, like, slides back, and you see this large circular chamber. Like, no forge you've ever seen opens up into the centre. Yeah. Okay, jump the next person. Piri. Use the goblins if you need them!

So I'm now behind this wall, it's got no access to me. It is like about 10 feet high, so you can climb up on top of it and over it. Can I go round, like off the stairs to the side? Yeah, you can do that as well. What is this middle bit? Is it just a whole thing? It's floor. Oh, it's floor. Okay. Like recessed floor? Yeah, it just a whole... It's floor. Oh, it's floor. Okay.

Like recessed floor? Yeah. It's like a slightly recessed floor. So it's not lava? No. I just wanted to know if it was a drop. I did consider making it lava for a short period of time. Okay.

I'm going to run... Save that for behind the screen. ...to it. Yes. Do two regular attacks. Yes. And with the intention of stunning. Okay, is this like key points? Because it's a key point plus.

Well, I mean, it's on a hit, isn't it? Yeah. Oh, yeah, yeah, that's true. So I'll see if I hit first. 16 plus six, so 22, and then 13? 13 doesn't hit. 16 does. I guess I'll do the damage.

Six plus three, so nine damage. Why not? Yep. And then I'll spend a key point. Constitutions do the damage. Six plus three, so nine damage, why not? Yep. And then I'll spend a key point. Yeah, constitution. DC? 14. 15.

Oy! Okay. So you reach up, and it just threat detected. Oh, okay. And it begins reaching down towards... And then I'll use another key point to bonus action disengage. Do you have movement left?

Yeah. Yeah, 15. Okay, yeah. So you just like, nope, and then you just start running away. Orion. Cool. Okay, so number three, power source.

Vesic, where do I put the power source? The main chamber! Okay. He points to this now open central console. Okay. Jump in there. 5, 10, 15, basically. Very carefully. Okay. Very carefully. So first, as you reach it and you start pulling out the star, you can see that in the very center of the chamber, there is a circular hole that you kind of slide open, and there is a chamber that sets in with a very similar lattice, and it looks like you have to take the diamond out and place that inside the command console.

Okay. So it's not like a slot for the actual capsule. Not for the container. The container is holding the diamond. But it looks very similar. You kind of... And the smoke begins trailing out of the tube and you can feel this power emanating from it you reach your hand in to put it into the thing i need you

to make a sleight of hand check because it's very delicate how it's it's based in good luck oh my god this is like you're almost it's almost like the reverse of the pick pocket like you're using tiny hands oh i was really mean with that oh no yeah oh 15 that is just oh god delicately with your hands trembling sensing large creature, and you can hear the attendant kind of turns, like, stay away from the main console. And you delicately place it on, and then as the latticework wraps itself around the diamond, it pulls it into the forge itself,

and the chamber shuts shut. Yeah, you've completely, you've successfully placed it in, but you can see the attendant is about to come towards you, and this dark lightning is crackling up and down the attendant, and you can begin to see that as the lightning gets closer to the console, the console almost begins reacting to it. Oh. Get away.

Lucius. You are currently invisible. I am. The dispel was just a pulse. I don't sense any lingering... It dispelled any active spells in the area. I'm going to cast the luscious light again. Okay.

Because it seemed to put her in her tracks before, so it's going to be right on top. Right on top of there. Great. You still get dunkomancy so what's that seven points again yes yeah great um so you kind of summon again this sphere of light encapsulates all around her oculatory systems are down and it seems to stumble around for a second you're not sure how much time that's bought you uh anything else um i'm still am I still flying yeah hovering

I'm gonna head you're at the very top of the room almost towards the goblins okay so you can basically get to pretty kind of like around the corner of the wall so I can see what's going on yeah yep cool that your turn yes Nova the goblins at the moment have no orders so so they're just cheering. Oh, Vezic, I'm ready when you are. If I hit the right buttons, that is. Vezic is like, like, he's kind of mid conversation, but he's like, you, the smaller lever on her command. Like you're next to it. You're both kind of next to it. You can see these levers. On her command!

Like, you're next to it. You're both kind of next to it. You can see these levers. You, Nova, can ready an action that when Ayla pulls it, you pull the same switch, basically. You can see the same sort of twist and pull device that seemingly is the activation switch. Okay. I'll shout to Ayla to count down.

The thing is, your initiative has worked out incredible because Ayla is literally straight after you. So it goes to you. So with that, you kind of look at each other across the room I'm still invisible well you kind of look over to where that's true you're gonna go on your count Nova either that or drop your spell drop the invisibility and then you look at each other you kind of clock eyes. Two, three. As you kind of flick it, there is a clap of thunder.

You're all knocked to the ground, not prone, everybody. As you just fall to the ground. Do we have to do it every second? Okay. Sure, they're doing it. Then there is this kind of hum. Araya, you're kind of blown back as this pulse from the central chamber as blue light scores up the lines

through the gaps of the stone into the ceiling and flows out. The console in front of Unova lights up. The manual override begins lighting up as well. And you watch as whatever dark lightning was around the attendant. Oh. And you watch as whatever dark lightning was around the attendant. Oh. And you just watch as it powers down.

And it powers back up, but now its eyes are blue and the lightning is gone. Greetings, worshippers of Valena. I am the attendant. Can I? It's not my go. It's not your go. It's not your go. It would technically be Piri's go at this point, and until anybody does anything in initiative...

We'd like to use the forge, attendant. Of course. That is why the forge was built, for attendants, for followers of Valena, to enjoy their craft. How may I assist you? I think we're good, guys. It has been some time since my systems have been fully online.

As this is all happening... Bezic, can I get up? So you are getting up. So everybody starts getting up. Oh, yeah, I think I get up as well on my turn. Bezic. You pick this up. You've done this. You pick it up. so everybody starts getting up. Oh yeah, I think I get up as well on my turn. Vezic! You pick this up, you've done this. Yeah, you pick them all up. Vezic gestures behind him,

and you see two of the goblins, the two remaining goblins that he had, have basically dragged Sentry's body. Wait, no, we didn't have Sentry's body here. No, you didn't. It was left outside with Scaldi. Wait, what? And Vezic points the cannon down at the body of Sentry. Here we fucking go. We had a deal, Vezic!

Yes, we did. I know. Please understand this is nothing personal simply I'm concerned that restoring this Guardian's life force will drain the forge of too much of its power. I'm invisible. Is there something wrong? Can I no longer offer any assistance? We'll... in a second, attendant. Very well I will wait six seconds. I'm invisible, right? You are currently still invisible. I actually know the spell drops, so you're both visible. Oh. Yeah.

Yeah. It's very simple. I'm going to do what I require first. Then what if there is enough power left? Then you may have your friend back. Can I cast Hypnotic Pattern, the 30-foot cube, on that area? On Vezic, basically. and the two goblins yeah you can what do i do it's a wisdom saving throw two sevens and a one oh wow just his eyes glaze over

as this swirling mass of colours evaporates around him. Can I take, can I grab the cannon out of his hand? Yeah, you just kind of rip it out. It kind of pulls it away from the backpack, but he's just stood there like... That was my final third one. They're charmed, right? They're charmed. Okay, so he's kind of like, what amazing colours.

I've never seen anything as beautiful. And I will take Sentry's body and get it away from them. Yeah, just pull it away from the goblins and carry it further away as well. Smeek follows you, but the other goblins stay where they are. Put her on the forge. Quick.

I'll put her on the forge. You place her on the forge. Do you require assistance restoring the Guardian's energy source? Yes! Attendant, please, bring her back to life, quick Of course, it will take some time We've got a minute with this charm Can I run over... Is there something wrong?

Attendant, these goblins have ill intentions with your power She kind of looks at you for a moment I will remove them temporarily Is there one in particular? Uh, the Vezic, that one. She kind of looks in for the first time seeing Vezic properly.

This one appears to be wearing armour and weapons of Calistarbane. He will be removed immediately. She raises up her hand and Vezic is lifted off the ground and she basically throws him into a chute in the ceiling

and he just vanishes. These don't harm the other goblins. They're under his control. You are affected by some sort of malady. I will not affect them if you require it. Can you cleanse them? The madness has become too far. My arts are in craft, not in healing.

The Maiden's Forge would be more likely to assist you with this problem. Although I am no longer connected to my sister sites. Oh, we can work on that. Perhaps. With regards to your, with regards to this guardian, and she kind of cocks her head,

she makes her way to the center, looks down at it, and then you see her eyes rapidly flash. Sentry unit assigned to Solvin. Prototype. Very well, I will assist repairing this unit. It has been marked for special operations. Can you tell us more about that? She regards you for a moment. There is not any classifications or security protocols as to why I cannot. Yes, this unit was originally signed as a protector for the Solvin Royal Line.

However, since within the last 100 years, it has received a new priority mission. To seek out the Prime and take control of the Prime Matrix. Take control of it? You're writing this down, right, Gim? I don't know. In red form, the priority task has been assigned by the Prime itself. Do you know where the Prime is? The Prime is located in Solvin, in the Mines of Volcanoes,

in a secret research facility deep beneath the ocean. The Mines of Volcano volcanoes and the blah blah what? Is there anything else you can tell us about how we can get her there? I'm afraid that my geological understanding has shifted significantly. I detect that there have been incredible seismic and teutonic shifts in the planet's systems. I'm afraid that my navigational data is no longer operational. Do you know where the City of Glass is?

It does not register in my database. I am sorry. Probably a slang term for it or something, or a code name. Slang. We have another fallen friend. Can you help? Is the fallen friend a guardian?

He guarded us. He's an Arakokra. I'm afraid that I do not know what an Arakokra is. However, I can tell you that only unsentient lifeforms, such as guardians, can be restored to life here. I do not have the abilities to restore life to the living. I am sorry. Do you also have the power to fix

Piri's device? I have a javelin. How much power do you have? Restoring the guardian will consume considerable amounts of my power, and it will take some time for it to recharge. However, I am more than capable of fixing your device, and if you have something regarding your magical. However, I am more than capable of fixing your device,

and if you have something regarding your magical weaponry, I am more than happy to comply. That should not tax my systems too much. But I will not be able to restore a guardian to life for some time. Please focus on Sentry. Of course. I can tell that her outward systems and her armor have also been badly damaged through combat.

Would you like me to upgrade them? Yes! Very well. Sorry, no choice. and her armor have also been badly damaged through combat. Would you like me to upgrade them? Yes. Yes. Very well. Sorry, no choice. Upgrade? You will need to leave the central area. I will need to close the forge again.

How long will this take? Perhaps a few hours. I would recommend that you take some rest if you can. It will approximately take nine point three hours And what about the goblin you took away? How long has he gone for he has been he will be held for processing if he has information regarding the remnant and well Sorry the court of shadows. We will this will be passed to Valena Can you share that information with us as well? Of course. Can you keep him for maybe a day?

He is an enemy of Varroaes. I will keep him as long as it is necessary until I receive orders from Valaena. I like her, she's pretty. I like her, she's cool. Guys, I'm worried about Scaldi. Yes, we should go check immediately. I've forgotten this goblin's name. Fezzik. No. I'm worried about Scaldi. Yes, we should go check immediately. What's... I've forgotten this goblin's name. Fezzik.

No. Smeek. Smeek. Smeek. Smeek. Smeek. Smeek. We are your leaders now.

Smeek. Nod his head. Do you understand me? Bzzzt. Bzzzt. Bzzzt. Great. I can't speak goblin.

Attendant, can you speak goblin? Just a query. Goblin. Race. Primarily Starbane's forces. Language. Basic. I believe that I can replicate it, yes.

Can you tell them that... Would you like me to speak directly to their minds? Yes, can you... Well, can... Mouth. Rhiannon's just getting too excited. I think it's going to scare them. Yes, can you, well, can, mouth. Mouth. Rhiannon's just getting too excited. I think it's going to scare them if it's telepathy. Yeah, it's true.

Can you tell them that Vesic has instructed that we are in charge now? I'm afraid that I cannot cause any deception. Aelie, you're already its boss. I just want to... Just whack them if they get out of the way. Come on, let's get this done. Zap them. Yes, continue.

I'm just saying there's a force of goblins out there and if we can say we're in... No, you've either had, they've either died in battle with you or they are now in this room. There was only 12 goblins. Vezic had about 12 goblins. I thought there were more than that.

No, no, no. These four are mine now. Okay. Tendon, should. These four are mine now. Okay. Tendon, should I leave the watch here, or? We will need to come to that after I've restored the guardian. Fine, okay, well let's go check on Skaldi, and the forge, it will take me some time

to clear out the main path leading towards the entrance. Do you have a way of accessing this chamber again? Do we have a way of this? Yeah, the way you came in. You have to go back through that empty chamber room, but... Because you can see that there is another route leading out of this building, but it's all collapsed in. No, we can get in and out.

The main entrance is blocked. Return in approximately nine hours. Nine hours. One final question. Sorry, you only just come awake again. How rude of us. Are you aware of dark energy that corrupted you prior to your awakening? I am, yes. This energy system. I am unfamiliar with it, but it has many various traits to Starbane's weapons.

I believe that in the absence of the Forge's power, since Valena has withdrawn into the Halls of Infinite Resplendence, that I use the dark energy source as a backup system, unwillingly. So you created it? The dark energy? No. That has come from nearby storms originating approximately 20 miles from this location. Can it be stopped? I am unsure. I am sorry.

Okay. My systems are limited to what I can do here in the forge. Do you know what creates it? I am unfamiliar. It has an unusual weapon signatory based purely on my experience with Starbane weapons. It appears to match that of nature. Do you know if the power that thing generates

is the same as the thing that's currently in the forge? She kind of scans for a moment. Different energy source. The source that you've used to reignite the forge appears to be a pure matter. Star matter. The dark energy source comes from something different.

Let's go check on Scaldi. Yeah. Is Starbane's energy similar to what's in his watch? The watch on the fire ganassi's wrist? Yeah. No. This appears to be made by Erosian technology. Okay, carry on. Bye.

That's a tough cookie. Very well. If you will all excuse me, and then as you guys have kind of stepped out, the guardian steps back, and you watch as the whole thing... Oh, it encases itself. And Sentry's body is kind of taken into the middle of it with it. Cool. Nice. And yeah, the whole cube just seals up with Sentry's body

kind of laying on the forge in the middle. Does anything happen with like the rest of the room as well? You see this pulse of power, these blue lines. And the attendant appears to just stand back and close her eyes. Something begins happening in the cube.

We should probably get out of here. Like... Let's go find Scaldi and make sure she's okay. You guys make your way back outside with the goblins in tow. You find the wagon has been pulled to the side. Scaldi is unconscious.

Looks like she was maybe taken by surprise, kind of like knocked out. Where's Quill's body? Quill's body is in the back. Seems to have been undisturbed. Is Scorb okay? Scorb is tied up. You can see that like big ropes have been tied around his claws.

Oh boy. And he's kind of shuffling around. Poor boy. Nice. Nice. I'm going to untie him. There's some worms. You can untie him. What do you guys do? You guys want to wake up?

Do you want to take a long rest or do you want to chill? Nine hours to kill. 9.3. It's probably quite late as well because you were travelling most of the day. This is probably night time when you head outside. Can we take a long rest in shifts? Can we encourage the goblins to go into their weird huts at the beginning? Yeah.

They seem happily like they're not being told to go get themselves killed and they'll probably go find some food and Smeek won't leave your side though, Smeek stays with you Because I'm four hours trancing and the rest I can just kind of docile Can I try and communicate to the goblins that they're free now? Yeah you can spend that time, yeah And then make a persuasion check Y'all just gotta educate them as to what free is

And then what's everybody else doing? Because like Nova you'll need eight hours of sleep if you want to take a long rest i'll do it mine's the same you'll do a half so perry's gonna be sleeping ariah um i'll take a long rest yeah okay yeah you don't seem to be in any immediate danger um the goblins seem very happy with just doing what they were doing which is like throwing sticks around and you know maybe, maybe trying to kill themselves with rocks occasionally. I guess me and Lucius can switch. Yeah, you can go swap out. I'm trying to think. Nova. Oh, here we go.

We've been waiting for this. You lay down. It's been a long day, exhausting day, but there's good news with Sentry's body being repaired. And you drift to sleep. You're not sure how long day, exhausting day, but there's good news with Sentry's body being repaired. And you drift asleep. You're not sure how long you've been asleep, but you begin to dream. It's a strange dream. And soon you find yourself in a familiar place.

A cavern with a broken gate portal. Deep beneath the Brightflame Abbey. Oh, that place. And you hear a voice. I thought that perhaps I should choose somewhere familiar to speak with you again. And kind of emerging from the portal like he did before,

a figure in long, dark armor with a long, dark cape and long, dark hair. He's so sexy. As K Calus himself. Stupid sexy Calus. That kind of dream. Stands before you.

It was Nova, wasn't it? Vala told me that is your name. Lordship. You do not believe in my cause. Do not mock me by fake title. I just, I don't know what to call you. Callous would be a start. Okay, Mr. Callous.

Noor, Valor has asked me to inquire to how you are doing. Uh... I'm fine, yeah. How's Valor? She is well. I am instructing her and teaching her how to control her new powers. They are developing quickly. Is she happy? I have done everything I can to ensure she has every need met. Of course, she is still learning to understand my situation, my crusade. She misses you and your companions,

but I've said that that is the one thing I cannot grant her. Anything else. She has had gifts, she has had room to train, space for herself. When she wishes to be alone, I leave her alone. I wish to see that everything she has, she receives. I have been gone far too long from her life. Don't suppose she's asked about a dwarf called Arval?

She has. Is he okay? He is concerned at your sudden disappearance, but there is news spreading, I believe, that he does assume many of you are dead. How's your crusade going? I will not be discussing my plans. I just want to know if you've taken over, um, where were we again? Kayleigh's Rest. Kayleigh, have you taken over Kayleigh's Rest already? He smiles and smirks. You think

far too small, but then that is not your fault. You are only mortals. I... I've kind of been thinking a bit, right? So I've been seeing a lot of technology recently that kind of looks like your technology, but a bit different. Yes. And I was kind of just wondering if people maybe have the wrong idea about you. You're very smart, aren't you? I... Not very clever no maybe I don't know. I just try to think about things a lot and then when I think about things a lot just sometimes something stick out a bit more than others and yeah just the more we've been traveling around this area and the more i stopped you

and then looked down i did not recognize it before oh this you have made them stronger otherwise i would not have noticed when we first met it was imperceivable you carry Tiangong, my old friend. Yeah. I'm glad that you've found their shards. I worried that Tiangong would be split for his... their parts scattered across Erois from my fallen ships. Not that I don't carry many of his parts with me myself. Yeah. But I recognize that power

in you. You ask if people have the wrong idea of me. Perhaps. But things are never black and white. There is a mission, something I have to accomplish. Something

that mortals would not truly understand the scope of. Only Siaska did, but her nature... Her nature led me to stand against her. Does it have something to do with Hadar? He looks at you and smiles. I said you were quite smart. It does. Hadar is an ancient evil. Far greater and far worse than anything you can imagine. It is the black star that consumes everything

from the center of this galaxy. And I have given everything to fight it. Because I've seen a bit of it, and it terrified me. Good. And I don't know if I'm, you know, I'm still a bit confused, so I'm not going to say the words like pledge allegiance, but if I could help, that thing can't be here.

Hmm. He nods. We will speak again. Nova Vija? Yeah, you know my family name now. I know lots about you and your travelling companions. I have many powerful magics at my disposal. And whilst you do not seem to be much of a threat, Valor cares for you and I am careful to consider all of my options. I will tell

you this, your gods are not wrong about me. I came to Uroes to conquer it, to take what its resources it has, to take its people, to put them into my armies, to do everything I can to stop Hadar. Siaska's sacrifice was unexpected, and a true loss. I will speak with you again. Perhaps Valor would like to speak to you at some point as well. Sadly I cannot contact either of your elves. This communication will only work between you.

Perhaps some others. The Arakokra. Okay. Could you tell Vala we send our respects... No, not our respects. That's weird. Our regards. That's the word. And ask her if she's still practicing her dagger skills. Stab, stab, stab. the word and um ask her if she's still practicing her dagger skills stop stop stop um i did wonder

where her pachand for daggers came from yeah sorry um and tell her sentries back i will goodbye and have a vija and i will consider your offer and then the dream fades thanks for the star you awake and you remember that crystal clear. It's not like a regular dream which you half remember or things change. That conversation is imprinted in perfect memory in your mind. Traumatized. That's the eight hour rest over with. I wake up.

Yep. Have a little breakfast maybe. Yep. Scaldi comes to, offers her apology. I wake up. Yep. Have a little breakfast maybe. Yeah. Scaldi comes to offers her apology. I'm sorry. I thought those things were harmless.

They brought me food and then the next thing I knew they hit me over the head. We knew they were going to betray us somehow. I didn't expect them to do that but

Yes I'm sorry. I would have normally fought them off but they caught me off guard. Is everything all right? Yes. We reactivated the forge Visak has been dealt with he's now in prison

I believe and centuries being repaired as we speak upgrade it We should go we should you should go to her and be there when she wakes up We should we have like about an hour left. I'd say Something like the time we set like check checked on Scaldi and everything it's probably been time the attendant told you 9.3 hours so

it's not that long 1.3 hours left I don't have my wait I do have my watch it's broken though so yes don't have the stopwatch

app installed it fell out in the SD card wow wow yeah so I mean you guys if you guys have got anything quick or you can just I would... Wow. Wow. Yeah. So, I mean, you guys,

if you guys have got anything quick, or you can just go and wait for Sentry so we can finish the episode with Sentry. Wake up. Yeah. Nose pressed up against the door. Okay. Yeah, you guys enter, and the attendant is kind of powered on,

and you can see that half of the kind of collapsed tunnel, she has repaired, and it is perfect stone she's repaired it with. It's like she's chiseled away and has created this new hallway leading towards the entrance. Ah, welcome. Your friend should be reviving soon. The process has been faster than I expected.

Excellent. I see you've also been putting the extra power to use to repair the entire forge, too. That is simply my work. That does not require power from the forge. Very talented. Thank you. I was built this way by the goddess herself.

Can you leave the forge? No, I have no purpose to. Okay. Sentry. Sentry. Century. Century. It's strange.

It's almost like you were asleep. But you know you don't sleep. And you don't dream. But you begin to feel that stirring as if your mind is awakening. You feel a swell of power within your chest, but this is greater than it was before. You feel a surge of energy, and with that energy comes the flash of memory,

memory that you had thought was lost. Last sight as the royal family of Solvin, the Astoria line, are crouching, hiding within the remnants of their palace as the world around you shakes and trembles and rages. Huge, great waves of water. You can hear them crashing outside the building as the stones and roofs themselves begin to collapse. You remember the king looking up his final commands. But your memory doesn't end like it normally does. It continues. You remember watching the king

as he begins scribing a rune upon the ground, a delicate teleportation pattern. As you hold up, as the roof begins to collapse, and you, with your muscles tensed and straining, your armor plates being torn off, holding it up. So the king finishes the last of the circle. He just looks up and just before he touches it, the roof breaks away in a great wave, strikes through and you're pulled away from the family as they teleport away, whisked away to somewhere you have no idea, your body thrown into the sea, smashed against rocks and debris as Solvin itself begins to crumble in the distance you just see.

Volcanos, a mine of which we're many guardians and Volcanium, the ore that's used to create many of Solvin's weapons is built, is erupting, lava spilling down it, huge plumes of smoke as the whole world shifts. You are plunged deep into the sea and you sink and are pulled by currents for what feels like days, months, murky blackness all around you until eventually another large blow to their head renders you unconscious and then you wake up and see Quill. Sentry for the rest of you as you're waiting you watch as the large stone cube opens and a large steam erupts and standing upon the the forge itself sentry made whole her armor brand new

and even more armor plated than before you can see brand new armor plating all down her arms her body her face plate any dent or blemish completely gone uh and now her core swells with purple energy. An even little echo floats behind her head. Sentry, you see many familiar faces, some unknown faces before you. And I think we're gonna have to wrap it up. No, we got five minutes. Okay, you see everyone's faces before you.

As Sentry. Hello! minutes um yeah you see everyone's faces before you as century hello i'm just gonna collapse just straight up i think i would just too much yeah you're watching over and lucius just like fall to their knees or sit on the floor looking up uh the attendant uh very different yes lucius looks like a fairy princess. The attendant, this enormous stone statue of Valena, kind of stands in front and kind of stands in front of you. Her eyes connect and you hear in your mind, you hear a,

Are you feeling well, sentry guardian? I'm feeling very well. Excellent. I can report that all of your systems are now functioning. I've also taken the liberty of upgrading your armor pieces to offer better protective surfaces. You will also find that your Echo has been upgraded. It now features a transportation mode. What?

Okay. Can I see it? Of course. I will commit the mental commands to you now. And in your head, you hear a series of commands that you know will transform Echo into a vehicle or a mount. Oh, I'm sorry! A mount. What?

Yes! Yeah, do you want to activate it now? I would like to, yes please. Yeah, so you watch as Century kind of, you kind of hold your chest out, right? So you watch as she kind of flexes her arms. Her chest glows, and Echo kind of merges with an energy source that's projected out, and Echo's form twists and rotates and transforms

and forms into a metallic elk, this huge metallic elk made from metal and wood, just like Sentry is, but with a single gemstone eye, just like Echo, as it lands next and kind of raises its head majestically and you hear

in your head from the elk because you can communicate with it telepathically Hello Sentry, I am ready It's got a voice Hi I'm just going to get up and throw myself at her

Can I go up to her and just hand her Hi! I'm just gonna get up and throw myself at her. Can I go up to her and just hand her her axe back and her shield? You take them. And then I think Sentry hugs you from the sounds of it. He's gonna hug everybody. He pulls Ayla in. All the glitter goes on. He's just sprinkling glitter all over you.

Oh my goodness! I can't just see this, that's true! Let me show you, you look very different! Oh yeah! I'm getting glitter all over you. Oh my goodness! It's so cool to see you, Cedric! I'm just, you look very different. Oh yeah. I'm getting glitter all over you. What? What's happened? I'm so sorry, Cedric!

I'm so sorry! It's okay! I'm better! We did it! We worked so hard to bring you back! I'm so sorry! I love you! It's okay.

Where's Quill? Oh. That's a good place to win. It's okay Where's Quill? Oh Fuck Where That's a good place to end I think that's The point we end Where with

Where's Quill And then That's where we're Going to end this week Straight in Century needs a Birdie boy Well it's also because

It's the fresh memory Right Of like He was the first person You saw And he's not there. Wowzers. Chief Beck!

Chief Beck! One down, one to go. In a long ten weeks. Ten weeks. But I was pretty happy with that whole episode. That was amazing. That was a great episode. Great combat.

And the map is fantastic. That was such a cool... Well done. Thanks, guys. Glad you liked it. And a little sprinkle of callus, too. Hey. Well done! Thanks guys, glad you liked it. And a little sprinkle of Calus too. Hey, well it might be that I've found out that there's some things that Calus can do

and there's reasons that he might want to reach out and speak to you guys. Stupid section. Well there you go. Rhiannon's looking at Sentries. She's looking at Sentries. The Indie Beyond page. And clearing the Death Save. Ah, she's back!

Also looking at her brand new higher AC as well oh man we'll see that in two weeks time for the next episode of High Rollers see you later guys thanks for watching

bye hey everyone thanks for listening to this episode remember to check out both D&D Beyond and NordVPN with the links in the episode description you can

also support the podcast on our Patreon page, patreon.com slash high rollers. Unfortunately, there's not an episode next week because Mark and Trot are away, but we'll see you in two weeks with the return of century and the continuing journey to resurrect quill. We'll see you then. Thank you.