High Rollers DnD - High Rollers: Aerois | #44 - The Elenasto Fiasco (Part 2)

Episode Date: August 29, 2019

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Add your teen to your Uber account today. Hello, everyone. Welcome back to High Rollers, a Dungeons & Dragons podcast in the world of Erois. From my Dungeon Master, Mark Sherlock-Humes, with me, Tom, playingila Kad-Kalar, the Bard slash Cleric. I am Chris Trott, I'm playing Lucius Viren, Elowin Elinastro, and I am a High Elf Sorcerer. Hi, I'm Rhiannon, I'm playing Sentry, I am a Guardian Paladin.

Hi, I'm Katie, I'm playing Aayla, 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. Create your free account and speed up your campaigns today. You can check them out with the links in the episode description.

Anyway, on to the episode. We've been taken to the Palace Dungeons to await our fate. the party are led down into the very clean very empty dungeons of Galecrown. Lucius, whilst you do not, you know, you wouldn't have probably paid much attention to legal precedent within the city, I think Lucius would have at least a vague understanding of, like, general process. Like, I know that criminals go to court, and then criminals get put in prison if they're guilty. You have the same level of knowledge of of gustaven's legal

process gustaven doesn't have a like a prison it can't hold criminals here because it's floating in the city they can't build a new prison and stuff when they need it so prisoners are held here for short periods of time and then generally they are either if it's a minor crime they are basically exiled and dumped at the nearest lowland town or city that they pass to. They're just kicked out and are like, don't ever come back. Or the sentence is death. For major crimes, it is a, you are pushed off the side of the island. Oh, wow.

Really? Jay whiz. They don't have, they don't have cemeteriums. They can't keep bodies here. They can't, you know. I just would have thought it would be at least like a, you know, chopping off the head, not like a, we're going to throw this body off the side. Chopping off the head, then they've got to dispose of the body again.

And then it's just going to land on some lowlander and then kill them? Oh no, they wait until normally you're above sea. Okay. What if they kill a whale then? And then it's eco crimes. Do they kill you before they dunk you? It depends. It depends on the crime. Like if you generally are, if it's like And then it's eco-crime. Do they kill you before they dunk you? Depends. Depends on the crime. Like, if you generally are,

if it's like an honourable thing and you're like, you know, you admit to your guilt and stuff like that, they give you a quick and easy death. If not, it's like, off you go. Okay. I want to talk about their next character.

Yeah, think about it. Yeah. You are let down. You are kept in individual cells, but you can see each other. Like, the fronts are barred and you can see each other like the fronts are barred and you can see each other in like the six cells basically all the five cells that you're currently in um and you can speak to each other because you have the bands your weapons and any gear is taken

um but i think that they would leave stuff like jewelry on so i think your messenger bands remain um any kind of jewelry that is not obviously like a No, your fabriel's gone. They know what that is. Anything that they think can be used for magic or for weaponry, they remove from you. So you can't cast spells at all anymore? Lucius can't. You can't. They take your holy symbol.

Well, I'm a sorcerer, so they're innate. The cantrips, I could... Yeah, cantrips and stuff like that, yeah. But they're not going to be needed. They see my flamelands. They can't take it off you, so I think that they basically... Would they know what it did, though?

No, but what I think they do is a mage is brought in and, like, a big barrel is, like, sealed to your arm. It's like a stone crucible. So you've got, like, a big stone Hellboy thing. So it's kind of, like, wiping you arm. It's like a stone crucible. So you've got like a big stone hellboy thing. So it's kind of like wiping you down. But it's just like a blunt sealant and it's sealed with magic. And they basically tell you, we'll take this off when you're let out, basically. Okay.

You are unmanacled when you're in your cell. But if you're ever taken out, then they put manacles on you. You are left in there so far for a night so you get a long rest yay I made them do a short rest yeah

because the thing is I made you do that because you're like well we might be attacked or what's gonna happen if I just tell you you get a long rest then you won't be excited

when we go to break during the night quill oh god I was hoping for a star dang dream Like, during the night, Quill. Oh, God. I was hoping for a Starbane dream. Not yet. Super sexy Starbane. Oh, God.

Yeah. Quill. Well, during the night, you, your hearing kind of picks up on something, Your hearing kind of picks up on something, some movement or a noise coming from maybe outside or in your cell, and you begin kind of drifting awake. The others are all either resting or meditating or powered down. And you begin to see a soft glow. Like a bluish, greenish light begins to kind of fill the space. A fucking snake's ghost.

And it begins to take the form of a small goblin. Oh my god. What are you talking about? It kind of begins to go... What do you mean? And a ghostly sneak Forms in front of you And looks at you

What? And he looks around Kind of confused Oh he's so pissed off And he looks around Kind of confused Oh he's so pissed off And he walks up to like Tug on your wing but his hand just goes through your wing I am definitely dreaming Quit I am definitely dreaming. Quill!

Luci, the elves and sentry who don't need to sleep for full eight hours. Nova's fast asleep. Yeah, I'm snoring. Those of you who are not necessarily sleeping, but kind of in that four hours meditative state, hear... Quill! What the fuck? And there is a soft light

Snake Wait you can hear that Snake Can everyone else hear that He just walks through the bars He walks to Aayla He like gets down on his knees His feet kind of sink in

And then he like looks down and like floats back up And he starts hovering in the air. No! He starts spinning around, kind of floating like he can't control it. This goblin just refuses to die, doesn't he? It's like this just... What? Goblin!

Oh, God. Yes, you died. Yes. And he gets angry, and he begins you died. Nick! Yes. God, I'm so sorry. And he gets angry and he begins like, flashing around. Quill?

Quill? He fucking died. Fuck. Yeah, he died not in the way he wanted. He's a ghost!

He lives with regret now. Is he a revenant? No, he's a ghost. He's a revenant in the way he wanted he's a ghost he lives with regret now he's a revenant he's a ghost can we keep him he's out the body isn't that enough what he begins

he walks through the wall and begins just walking around what is happening please what is this? Smeek goes to Sentry and he just fucking floats through you. He like tugs at his halberd but he can't hold it.

He just is like. Oh I'm sorry Smeek. You did so well. Can we We can't give him the thing to understand him can we? No he's a ghost. You can wear it but he can't understand you now forever. This is a permanent haunting. Honestly, this is fine.

No, this isn't! This is not fine! Is that Tom shopping or Quill shopping? My favourite thing is Tom is like, ha ha ha, ghost me, good one, Mark. And like Ha ha ha ghost me Good one Mark And I'm like Ghost me And that disbelief

But the desperate This isn't real he's joking it can't be real It can't be so cruel I love it He just floats around And doesn't It's not hard to get the impression You don't think Smeek knows he's dead He just floats around and doesn't... It's not hard to get the impression,

you don't think Smeek knows he's dead? He just floats around and tries to hold things. Has he got a halberd? No, he's not even wearing his armour. He appears in his shitty loincloth and stuff, covered in his scars. He now has..., you can see that his ear, where Nova broke off his ear, that's missing. So like

his broken ear is missing. You can see that like his skin is got like it's been rapidly frozen so like all of his veins kind of stand out. He looks pretty gross. Oh god. How do we deal with Smeek?

I don't really know how we... Honestly, we could just keep him and scare the shit out of people with this tiny goblin. Tiny dead goblin. Smeek vanishes. Oh, God. He just disappears from sight. Oh, this is going to be a forever thing.

Where's he gone? He's just going to come back. Why is he... Just to annoy Tom Hazel. Why? Just to annoy Tom Hazel. We got t-shirts to sell, bud. Good for that, Charlie.

I love it. Then he reappears three cells down and walks out into the main corridor. And he starts pointing around him rapidly. And then he vanishes again. He could be a

real problem yeah it doesn't look good we can hear him other people can hear and see well

we don't know if anyone outside of us can hear him or see him they can though I still think I'm just having a collective dream we've seen spirits before yeah

yeah you have yeah we've dealt with them but why sneak why sneak Just having a collective dream. We've seen spirits before. Yeah. Yeah, you have, yeah. We've dealt with them. But why sneak? Why sneak? I'm guessing he didn't die to lightning like he wanted. So he's trapped. Jessica, do not try and pin this on me.

Because I didn't kill him. He didn't get that. Maybe he's like jumping up and down, but he kind of floats up in the air as he does it. And he's just, he can tell he's mad about something. Someone from, well, the priestess or Calaro. Someone. Fuck, I can't. Just from Nova's cell.

Nova's cell, you can just hear him snoring. Like. Never. And Smeek wanders in that direction. Can we? Fuck, I can't. Just from Nova's cell. Nova's cell, you can just hear snoring, like... Never! And Smeek wanders in that direction. Can we zap his ghost with lightning? Would that be enough? Yeah. I mean... Can I do a little test? Because this is...

I mean, he's in a different cell. Oh. This is cruelty of anything. Smeek! He, like, his face comes through the wall. I mean, you can give him a zap, like, it's, there is something there. Like, you fought ghosts before. He's incorporeal, but there's still an essence there that you can see the lightning effects,

and he just kind of, he's like, but it doesn't have as big bigger reactions it used to he's resistant to lightning yeah that's a ghost so he's like and he like comes closer and he's like dancing around you trying to get zapped more um basically if you want to continue doing stuff just resist it yeah he's not immune he's resistant it's called space taking some value storms mate do you know the best thing tom If you want to continue doing stuff... He's just resistant. Yeah. He's not immune, he's resistant. It's on his face. Taking some value storms, mate. Do you know the best thing, Tom? Do you want to know the best thing about this? What's the best thing, Mark?

I sent Rhiannon a picture on WhatsApp that just had ghost me. It was great. I was just like, don't tell Tom. I was like, ha ha ha, yes! It's in the chat, please. You've been brooksed down, basically. Smeek continues to just pop in

and out of existence, and then as the sun begins to come up, you see he gets scared and vanishes. Aww. That kept me up all night. It's alright, because the next day, nobody comes to collect you. You're brought food.

Food is brought down to you. You are served food, but you are left in the cells for another day and a night. So you get to finish your long rest. I'll at some point explain what I know about the system in terms of... Like crimes and stuff. It's either exile down to the lowlands for minor crimes or death. Death. If we're found guilty.

On the second night, as soon as the sun sets, Smeek reappears. Am I awake for this? Yeah, you never see Smeek this time. I guess we tell you during the day. Yeah. Oh, he's back. Yeah, there he is. This might be a problem.

Now, I thought you guys were having a group PTSD or something like that, a group hallucination. Unless you are as well. Oh, God. Is that a thing? I'm pretty sure I'm not traumatized by Smeek's death. Smeek? But he's here.

And then can I say, Smeek, is that you? No, because, no, I have the trauma. You can't speak it. You can hear it. You can understand him so he you you nova when when you're awake smeek is basically he's like sun go sun go smeek smeek go to other place when when sun here smeek go to other place now sun gone smeek come back where is like i want he's like, Ayla. Ayla. Wanna be with Ayla. Quill. Bring Storm.

Bring Storm. He wants lightning, booze. I mean... Why in Hull? Why stay? Why stay here? Nerva, why stay here? And he's like looking around like, why haven't you moved?

Uh. Smeek bored. Smeek bored! And he's like looking around like, why haven't you moved? Smeek bored. Smeek bored! I'm bored too. I love how he's got a deep voice. When he's speaking normally, yeah, he speaks like Mark Gaines. Smeek bored. I'm just going to try and mime like, old man, die, and then prison, like chains. I'm just going to try and mime, like, old man, die, and then prison, like, chains.

Like, I'm just going to try and mime all of that. He just copies you in a complete... He's like... I don't... He's like, I don't understand. Strange human, why dance? I had such... Why dancing? I had such hopes for you, my little goblin friend.

Whilst this is going on, you do... Quill, you pick up... It's not like the sounds of fighting, but like the sounds of like guards like rapidly running somewhere. Mobilising. Mobilising. A few minutes go past and then the door to the cells down in the basement opens. But nothing happens. And then the door shuts and you hear like a very soft

uh oh they're looking for something in messenger messenger communication, calms and then there is a kind of shimmering of the air as a

feminine form dressed in tight leather with a moon mask appears with bandoliers. Well, what a predicament you found yourself in. Now, I really thought I got you. Got me? What do you mean? Your identity. Oh, really? Being right next to the Sky Prince the whole time, that would be... You thought I was Alois?

No, no. I'm afraid I'm a lot more loyal to the city than that. I've been looking into a few things. I heard about what happened. News has spread quickly, despite the Sky Prince's... attempts to keep it under wraps for now. Alois's body has been moved to the Church of Siaska temporarily while they continue the investigation. And why are you here?

Because I do owe you an apology, Lord Lucius. Perhaps you really are him, after all. And I want to offer my help I'm not sure if you'll be let out of here The whispers and the rumors going around the palace Can't seem to decide exactly what's going to happen At best case scenario Your wild elf friend here will be exiled

The rest of you may face the same Or maybe you'll be allowed to remain. I'm not sure. At this point, sure. Send me home. This sucks! That's a best case scenario. They intend to call us guilty for this? No. It's not certain which way it will head. However, your friend here did ultimately deliver a final blow from what my understanding is. And that can't go unpunished, necessarily.

I guarantee if it was any of you, that wouldn't be the case. But because it's the wild owl... Sadly, I think she may have a point. However, there's still hope. Even though it was Tom Hazel, and not me. The most important thing is, is there anything else that you can think of? Any way that you can prove that Elois was planning this all along,

that he was a threat to the city, not just to Lucius? I'm sorry, but the last time we saw you, you came at the most inopportune time and accused me of being some sort of fraud. Yes, because I thought that the real Lucius was dead. And knowing your sister as I did, let's just say it pissed me off a little bit. Yes, well, the feeling's mutual.

I get that. I'm here to help now. Well, we've met far too many people that we thought we trusted that we definitely don't trust now yep and you're coming to us in a disguise telling us we're going to be exiled yep

that's about the right of it yes I could just find out who you are could you? she doesn't know what you can do she's like

I'd like to see that fine oh really? you're gonna do it? Or are you just going to let it go? Yeah I'll do it Oh shit What are you asking?

Who are you? Oh god You've got to think of the question Because she's Moonsar right now Because it's also You've got to ask about A moment of the past Or of the future

Like you can't just go Who are you? You have to like Think of a way That it relates to the past Could of the future. Like, you can't just go, who are you? You have to, like, think of a way that it relates to the past. Could you see a moment later? Look at this, it's for Tom, he's got a pig. I suppose you've got the messenger ring, so you could, like, in character,

if you wanted to try and advise him. I'll ask... What if it's Brookstone? He's back! I'll ask her... You're asking the universe. I'm asking... Yeah, I'm asking... You're asking Hesper, effectively.

What is your real name? Moonstar McMoonstar-y. Hesper answers, it's Hesper, dummy. I mean, obviously the question is directed, right? Well, it's, so yeah. I mean, I'm not going to, right? Well, it's... So, yeah. I mean, I'm not going to fuck around with wording that much. Yeah. The more thing is, is the Eye of the Storm's main...

Like, the thing that it does is... I'm just going to read it. As part of the action you use to make this ability, you mask a single specific question about your immediate surroundings, an object you are holding, or a person you can see. You receive a shadow of your vision and relate to that question. So, yeah. So, I guess you could ask, like is moon star's real name and you would see a vision of that yeah so that's what you ask christ i've already spent the charge i really want

to just whisper this to you because i don't want to say this out loud do it like let's head out let's step outside for a second let's outside? Let's get into revolt, kids! Oh, God. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. See you in a bit. Bye. Is it Brooke Stone?

Talk about D&D Beyond and merch. Is it Brooke Stone? D&D Beyond and merch. Thank you. Buy our merch. It good. Fam. Who do we think it is?

Who do we think it is? Well, it's obviously someone that we know because why else would he be whispering? I think it could be Lucius' mom. Yeah, or like a sister. But then there was an implication that she was like your sister's, not your sister, but Lucius' sister's lover.

Yeah. Like earlier. Yeah. Could it be... It's not going to be a daily response. Smeek? Smeek? Is it the real smeek it's two smeeks

on top of each other in a tall coat I'm wondering if it just is my sister that's yeah yeah but I don't know

if that's too easy right I'm going to be real pissed off if I'm getting XL because of Tom Hazel I kind of blubbed it as well though didn't I I'm going to be real pissed off if I get extra...

In my head, it was Nova just trying to be super honest and like fill it in with Sentry's details. And it was afterwards I was like, oh wait. These cheeky names. These cheeky smirks. These cheeky smirks are condoming. What do you know? Oh, his face.

I had to give him context to what he sees. Cheeky smirks. That is very important. Abound. Is it the spirit of friendship? I don't know. Is it Smeek? We are going to squirm.

So yeah, so you watch Quill. All of you notice this. You see Quill's eye begin to swirl as the storm moves, but she just turns to the rest of you and is like, I know you don't have any reason to trust me, but I can promise you that I'm here to help. I've been doing what I can to oppose people like the Wind Barons and Eloise.

Who is it, Tom? If I'd known who was involved. Who? So many people have said that to us in the past. So yeah, Coy, you've got a moment. A quick question. Of course. Can you see a small ghost-like goblin in the room?

She turns. She nods. I wasn't going to bring it up, because it seems quite strange. Right. It's like the elephant in the room. The goblin in the room. And then he vanishes.

So it's not a group hallucination. Okay, so this is all real? Afraid not. Good to know. Quill. In telepathic. Quill. telepathic Quill how did you know about the explosion

which the explosion at Norshus if the whole city heard about it how did you know about it to escape from it huh what she's like I didn't I just left a day there I was sneaking out I didn't. I just left Edea there.

I was sneaking out. I didn't want her parents to know about me. That wasn't Edea. Huh? Like, there's a mosque. I don't know what you're talking about. I told you I'm Edea's partner. And I told you I could find out.

I don't understand. It's Edea. You're Edea on the last day. Oh, shit! You're notdea, our master. Oh, damn! You're not the master! The figure is just like, I don't know what kind of magic you're trying to pull, Arakoka, but

I told you, Edea is dead. She died in that explosion. She wasn't at the explosion. I saw you leave. She takes a step, a visible step back. Sorry, but I'm not buying it. I've told you you can have my help. I'll come visit you again tomorrow if you're still here. If you're a day, why would you let your brother believe that you were dead? I believe the bird.

The bird knows shit. The bird knows. The bird knows. If it truly is my sister, she would rightly suspect that it wasn't me at that estate when she found me.

She turns, but she's not left yet. She's about to go up the stairs, and she's just, there's, like, deep breaths. Odea wouldn't be so quick to believe you were dead, but that's her. You may as well admit it. Your brother's here.

The head turns back, and the mask's pulled away, and, yeah, she... It's like looking... It's like looking at a female Lucius. Like, they're identical. They're twins, but without the eye colours. And as she pulls the mask away,

her kind of long brown hair, she has darker hair, is the main difference, falls down her shoulders. Well, Lucius has dyed hair at the moment. And she doesn't look at Lucius. Like, she's looking at Quill. I'll visibly stumble in the back of my cell.

How did you know? Nobody else knows. Nobody could have known. I have a gift from Hesper. I can ask the right questions. I asked who the Moonstar really was. She just kind of pauses and shakes her head for a moment. Yeah, I didn't know about the explosion.

I'd been sneaking out for months, going to my workshop. I left my partner, Lorna, there. I was going to go back to her in the morning, but then I heard about the explosion. When they were reporting me dead, I knew that it was my chance to try and find out who did it.

They never would have suspected that I had somebody else in my room. And then she glances at Lucius, but it doesn't last long. You can see she's somewhat ashamed to look at him. You're alive? I don't know about that. Technically, Edea, Elinasto did die in that explosion. I'm so sorry. You're sorry?

No, you don't have anything to apologise for, brother. I thought you were dead. I genuinely did. We all did. So you've been living as the Moonstar exclusively since? I'm afraid I don't have my brother's creativity. I'm not very good at coming up with ideas, but I always loved Siaska, and we were always a very religious family,

so it seemed like a natural fit to proclaim to be a champion and try and dispense some justice in in the world so you're not the champion of the Ascot well I guess if I am if it's a chosen title but um I saw it as an opportunity to go after the people that I knew that something had happened that I knew that father wouldn't have made that sort of mistake they were accusing him of. I knew that it must have been something to do with the Wind Barons. He'd mentioned to me that they'd been pressuring him, trying to get him to join their little alliance, but he'd refused them. I didn't think that

they'd go to such extreme measures. So I decided to go to extreme measures of my own. I've always had a talent for invention and building things. Not much of a wizard or a sorcerer, but I know how to use magic and technology. So I've been trying to hit them where it hurts them. Yeah, you've built a reputation in Gusthaven. Not a good one. I don't care about that. All I care about is making sure that justice is done. Yeah, you've built a reputation in Gusthaven. Not a good one. I don't care about that. All I care about is making sure that justice is done.

I don't care if everyone in the city hates Moonstone. What matters is that these Wind Barons pay for what they've done. What was your plan for when, you know, if this all ends and the Wind Barons are gone from Gusthaven, what would you have done afterwards? I don't think that's a very easy thing to achieve, Guardian. There's more of them than just... It's not just Eloise. Don't think that this is done just because you've killed him.

There's a lot of other nobles. They're in other Sky Cities. They're not just here in Gusthaven. The Wind Barrens are plaguing everywhere, from Horizon to Cloud Garden, everywhere. I don't ever think what would happen after that, I suppose. I guess I would have just gone somewhere. I thought that Lucius was dead, and Mother and Father had gone,

and Lorna had gone. I didn't have anybody else. I'm sorry. You do now. I don't know about that. Like I said, I'm not sure what's going to happen to you. I have a few spies in the palace, but things are still unsettled. You need something else.

You need something else to collaborate that Elodus was more involved in this Windbaron stuff than what evidence you've already found has. Well? Is there anything you can think of? I'll do it. I'll find whoever it is, but I need information. Which part of you was coming to help us? Was it the one that wanted to see Lucius safe, or was it the one investigating Alois? She looks quite hard. Are you always this

nosy? Probing into people's personal lives and their thoughts? Yeah. Yeah, I am. In cases where we're stuck in cells and accused of murder and there's conspiracies going around the city,

yeah, I think we kind of have to be a little bit nosy. Just a smidge. Well, to the point. It doesn't matter her motive. She's here to help us. When I heard about what happened with Eloise, there's no way that a charlatan would have gotten involved in all of that. There's no way a charlatan would have turned themselves into the Sky Prince about it anyway.

You always were a little bit naive. You didn't quite think things through, do you? I didn't have much of a choice, sister. You could have just run, left the body in that secret room where no one would have found it. I don't think anybody even knew about it until your bird friend apparently stumbled upon it. I'm fortunate I'm a good... You have the talk of the entire palace. A bit more like Dad than you are.

Yes. Well... We have to confront our problems. You chose yours by giving up what you were. You've embraced what you always didn't want to be, I think. I want to help, not just for Lucius, but for this city. The Wind Barons are a cancer, a plague that needs to be cut out. They're going to keep hurting innocent people.

The Prince is naive. I know he's up to something, but I don't think he's involved with them. We need to find the scryer, the person who reported Lucius dead. Adela Venifor. Apparently she was last seen going into the chains. That's news to me. I hadn't heard about that. I thought they couldn't find her at all. The chains? Yeah, that was the last thing we heard. Alright, I can probably track her down. Norfyr will help me. There's also, um, Salverus...

She knew? I think she suspected. We fought once. I was going after a group of wind barons down at the docks, and I think Norfeel was trying to find some answers for her own. I didn't want her

to know it was me, so I pretended to... I tried to threaten her, told her to stay away, and you know what she's like. She was training me when I was a girl. Father had her teaching me swordsmanship and bowmanship and that sort of thing. He was worried about me going on long trips with Sky Paracy on the run. So Norfear was teaching me her special skills which I believe that you now know about. How is all this happening? Right under my nose. You were quite distracted, Lucius.

You had your painting and your jousting and all of the things that you like to do. And I think that you just didn't really want to see this stuff, really. I guess not. But now it's very much in my face. Father didn't want it to be this way. He wanted you to do what you wanted. He wanted you to be the little creative soul that you are and to explore what you wanted, most of all. He knew that the business wasn't for you.

He knew that it wasn't right for you. That's why he wanted me to take it over. That's why I studied the things that I studied. Ethereum and the like. Which is why you should, when this is all over. It will be difficult now. The death of the Alan Astor family was a great way to cover who I was. To make sure that the Wind Barons were only ever looking

for Moonstar and not a Elven noblewoman. To undo that now? I don't know if that's even possible. Well, I may have put in place some changes with the money that was given

to me. Yes, I know about the airship. Oh, you know about the airship, but there are other things. Oh? Something to do with the Viranors, perhaps? I know you've been spending a lot of time at theirs. Yes, and that's all I'll say for now. Smart.

I will do my best to find the Scryer. If I can connect them to Eloris, that might help. Basically, get you out of here and make sure that nothing bad happens to you. But I need to act now. I don't have too much longer. I'm sorry I didn't tell you who I was. I thought it would be safer for you. I'm sorry I wasn't there.

I'm glad that you weren't. I have a gift for you when you get out of here. With that, she puts the mask on and turns invisible you hear the door open yeah

because invisibly doesn't let you vanish completely Lucius will collapse in a ball of confusion and emotion now

we know who she is is it a good idea that she helps us I mean now we know who she is, is it a good idea that she helps us? I mean, now we know it's her, sure, but it's still the Moonstar. We need as much help as we can get. I think that, like you say, part of her wants to help her brother. I think we can trust her.

And she at least wants to take down the Wind Barons. I know, I'm just... No one one trusts the moon star as it is and nobody trusts batman but he still gets stuff done he still gets stuff done but can we deliver the scryer tied up with a the note the note on the front of it do we want the person that no one trusts to help the people we don't have a a choice. True. They're looking, they know that they're looking, we already told them to look for that person. Yep. I'm literally creating a hideout for Moonstar. It's literally Batman. You've literally, yeah. You know you had this, you had basically a

female butler who's also kind of special forces, who's a butler basically. You're Robin. Origin story. Yeah. Yeah, boy. I was just on the side just like, there goes Batman. You're Batman's brother.

Shall I pay for it? I mean, don't worry about our secret hideout. I kind of saw hers. I basically saw a workshop as well. She could just move

that into the... Yeah, exactly. Hers was like a small apartment. It wasn't like a very grand secret hideout. Imagine the things she could make in our secret hideout. Yeah. Next to Nanny Norfair as well. If we're not exiled.

Well, yeah, if you guys want to keep talking, but otherwise I can just jump ahead a few days. No parents. Anyway. Yeah, I'm free. God damn, you have actually yeah the perfect Batman

just gotta find the Joker awkward brother hey hello it's me I've got colour magic wee

woo so proud of you yeah you're Batman's secret brother yeah like he's an artiste I don't know him she's not quite as cool

as Batman very way she's like Batman year zero yeah Batman year zero yeah exactly year zero Batman yeah cool

yeah do you guys want to keep talking or like I can skip ahead a few days I mean we're giving everyone the right information this should just be

a mess anyway two days later Christ Valera comes down and you are released Valera arrives and is like

I am very pleased to tell you that you are being released. No charges are being brought against you. Can we ask why? Your nanny gave us a tip about where to find our missing scryer. Interesting. We found them in an apartment block in the breeze.

They have been beaten and tortured, and somebody has been supplying them with Comet, a narcotic from the chains. But they were coherent enough that they partook in a zone of truth, as well as several other rituals to make sure that they could be a trustworthy source. as well as several other rituals to make sure that they could be a trustworthy source. They confirmed that Elois had actually engineered your falsified death, as well as confirming that Salvarius Aetheron was also involved. We also had information delivered by Democles Magrona.

Apparently his mother had been involved with their schemes, and Democles had discovered it after hearing about what happened with Elois He ransacked his mother's private vault Found various ledgers confirming the information Which were brought to the Sky Prince's attention Is that the one that we met? The Sky Jousting, yes No, that was Bellona You never really...

Democles was... He was the quiet boy of the Magronas. Like, his brother was like bullying you and Democles would be there but wouldn't really partake in it but would watch. Okay. So Anastasia Magrona.

Anastasia Magrona. Oh, okay. Cool. Salvarious and Anastasia have both been taken into formal arrest away from here. We did not want to put you near them. They will be tried

for treason against the Sky Prince himself, but the Sky Prince does wish to speak with you before you are free to return to the city as you wish. What about... Where's my hammer? Your weapons will be returned to you as city as you wish. What about... Where's my hammer? Your weapons will be returned to you

as soon as you are free of the palace. What about their companies? Well, their companies aren't necessarily tied to the individuals. Both Magrona Manufacturing and Ethereum. Matthias will take over the running of Ethereum and I believe that Democles will be taking

over the running of Magrona Manufactories as well. They are family businesses inherited down the bloodline. If one is arrested or exiled, then the children take over. Belenor was offered the business, but he turned it to his brother instead. Turned it over to his brother. Okay. I feel like this runs deeper than this situation. Indeed, which is why I've come to speak with you myself.

I looked. There is something going on with the Sky Prince. Your friends mentioned, she nods to Nova, that there were funds he was getting from somewhere. I don't think it's connected to the Wind barons but there is something he's hiding from me many of the nobles here have opposed young businesses, merchants non-nobles who have risen in power they're very much against myself and many others I think that there is something brewing under the surface of Gustaven

and these wind barons are connected to it. But it's creating deeper ripples. Whatever you uncovered here has started something, Oshus. And I don't think it's going to end any time soon. But, for now, I don't think there's anything more you can do. And in fact, I think it may be best if you leave the city for a while. Well, how's my airship getting along? It's continued work as normal.

I checked in after I discovered the payments that you had made for it. We did do some background checks on what you've been up to in the city. What about the people that we hired? Oh, they're fine. They've not been arrested. We had no reason to arrest them. Thanks for doing the work for us. You are... I would recommend you conduct your own investigations my investigations were only related to Alois' murder and the connection

to the Wind Barons how well you can trust these crew that's up to you okay so true construction I'm going to lead you to your goods and then you are free to leave but the Scare Prince would like to speak with you privately before you go.

Okay. Can I message ring everybody? Hmm? I know that we kind of just got away with this. Not that there's anything to get away from, but we're just free now. When do we start telling people about Starbend? No, yeah. It's not right now.

No, not right now. Not anywhere in Gusthaven Gusthaven is not no we'll tell the Sky Prince I don't think we should tell the Sky Prince

I feel like leaders should know as you're being led out like Valera just thinks you're all being very quiet as you're all just having intense mental

conversations eyes are dying right now yeah twitching a bit yeah well apparently if he's under investigation for other things right now, if there's other stuff going down with him, do you think it's really a good idea to tell him about it?

I don't think so right now. It could be in part. He could use it as a distraction. If he's getting money from somewhere, or he's to say it's not starving. Who knows? Just saying. Hesper did say that people are aware in some form. I think the Sky Prince may already be aware in a smaller version of it.

How do you know? Also, we've just been told to leave the city. If we just go, by the way, Starbring's on his way, just stir the pot a bit and then fuck off. Could be a lockdown. That's... I just really think people should be told. I really think we should find a leader we can trust.

Why don't we tell Moonstar? And then she can do with that information what she feels is important to Gustafen. Yeah. She cares for the people. When Gustafen is at a better position. But what if Starbane's the one seeding all this unrest? You may well be.

Then Prince may be in convo with him. Because it's easier to take over the world right If you If you topple all the cities With politics And civil disobedience and all these problems And have the prince in your pocket Like surely then it's easier to take over the world

When everyone's just too busy fighting each other Then telling the sky prince means nothing If he's already in his pocket He might not be We can always send messages back Then telling the Sky Prince means nothing. If he's already in his pocket. He might not be. We can always send messages back. An idiot. Let's just, we know.

He might just be a pawn. Yes, but we know that Moonstar's here. Quill can message them. Hey, by the way, sup? Hadar's a thing. It's fine. We got this. We can get in communication.

We got an airship. We could fly back. Well, tell Moonstar anyway. Let's just, for now, we just spent now We got We just Spent a while in jail Spent four nights And just got out Almost got exiled Can we not stir the pot

At the moment They might They might I don't know what they're capable of doing to us I just would quite like to be free for a bit You know I want to leave Gotthaven What does Sentry

think to all this Sentry is just listening to this conversation where they're talking about your mortal enemy the one who

waged war on your homeland what does Sentry think you haven't actually met him either I haven't met Starbane

no no I'm kind of with Ayla on this one I'm like Starbane's a bad guy

but like there's just there's so much going on right now. Sentry's brain is like... There's so many cogs spinning. It's just like, what is going on right now? He could be orchestrating it. And Prince Aradon might not realise that's where he's getting his money from,

or I don't know, whatever. I think let Moonstar look into that side of things a bit more. She can let us know if she finds out that information. And then if the time comes, let's just re-sync that. I'll use the eye. The people we trust, right? Moonstar and my nanny. Let them know, and they have networks of people.

Arvo. Sorry, I was just trying to think of someone else that we trust. Are and they have networks of people. Arvel. Sorry, I was just trying to think of someone else that we trust. Are we just saying names of people now? So many people. I was just thinking it's easier to list the people we do definitively trust. Arvel. Oriah. End of list. Moonstar. Just matter. Scorb.

Scorb. Scorb. Nice to know. Valera, like, you kind of snap back to attention and you are stood in front of a armory where guards are, like, holding your gear out, looking at you like, why aren't you taking this? Take the hammer back.

Yep, yep, they give you your equipment back. It's been a long four nights. I'm sure. You're better now. They hand you your things back and then just say, when you are ready, the Sky Prince is in his audience chamber and he'll speak with you. I'll accompany you're better they hand you your things back and then just say when you are ready the sky prince is in

his audience chamber and he'll speak with you I'll accompany you up there okay do you want us to mention the thing I'll keep it to yourselves

okay just in case sure what thing are we mentioning this time messenger ring the money I would keep it to yourselves Okay Just in case Sure What thing are we mentioning this time? Messenger ring The money The siphoning of money from Exile

Somewhere Yeah You are taken upstairs There is nobody waiting The schedule has been cleared A meeting has been set for you And you are led in Where Aranan is just Looking out the window on the rest of the city

he's kind of got his back to you with these large huge windows that look out of gale crown onto the the main part of gustavion itself his hands kind of class behind his back um you can see the great sword is uh actually in a sheath on the floor beside his desk, and it's kind of embedded into this plinth where it's placed down with a bright gem on the top of the pommel. He turns. Thank you all for coming. Valera, it's fine. And she nods but stays in the room but moves to the back of the room.

I wanted to offer both thanks and an apology. Elois, when my father died, I did not know if I would be okay. I never expected to take on this position as young as I am. I thought that my father would rule for perhaps forever. Elros was there to guide me, to offer me advice. I saw him as a rock that I clung to, as a drowning man would. I see now that likely most of his advice was only to further his own ambitions. The revelations of his connections to these wind barons, the conspiracy with Anastasia and Silvarius. It's made me doubt everything

that he told me, and now I feel as if I'm drowning once again. But I would rather be a drowning man who tries to swim than one being pulled down into the depths by something he does not know. So thank you. Whilst I am saddened by a mentor's death, I am very glad to finally have the truth brought to light. And I am sorry for having you wait so long, but we wanted to make sure. I'm glad that, well, I have my suspicions on who found the mage. I'm glad that they did. Can I roll an insight check to see just how genuine he's being?

Someone's rolling an insight check? What? Galaxy brain! What's that? Yeah, you absolutely can write an insight check. see just how genuine he's being. Someone's rolling an insight check? What? Galaxy brain! What's that? Yeah, you absolutely can write an insight check. What's that? 16? 18? 18. So insight isn't like

they're telling the truth. No. However, with an 18 insight, watching this man, you've been around royalty for most of your years. You served the Astoria line of Solven. You see vulnerability. You see a lack of armor, of shields.

This is a man who has let down his guard. He's relaxed. this is a man who has let down his guard he's relaxed he is he's relaxed but still tense in that i'm speaking about something i find uncomfortable way but he keeps eye contact his hands tremble but from a emotional reasoning rather than a nervousness. The rest of his body is still. His eyes don't dilate from his body language. That's what you get. How you interpret that is up to you. Cool.

But you can, I would say that you definitely get the sense that the other thing you'll get from that insight is I will tell you that it's very clear to you that Prince Aradan is afraid. He's afraid that he won't live up to the role of prince, that he will let the people of Gustaven down. That is a fear. That is a character flaw. Right. That if you want to, you could exploit. You could leverage that in persuasion or intimidation checks

and things like that. Sweet. So you know that he is afraid of letting the people of Gustaven down and not living up to the position of Sky Prince. That is a fear he has. Cool. It's the thing I'm trying to do with social engagements is rather than just telling you, yeah, you've convinced

him to help you or like, yeah, he's convinced him to help you, or like, yeah, he's lying, I'll give you things like, oh, he's afraid of this, or this is a secret, or you figure out that he doesn't like this, and then you can use that. He hates mayonnaise. Nice. I'll step forward.

For your part in this, and of Gustaven, I want to thank you too, because I've seen a prince before you. I was very young, but I know what it takes to be in the position that you're in. And you did the right thing. The first step in Gustaven going in the right path, I hope. But like I said before, nothing is black and white. No one is black and white.

Let's just hope there's more white than black in Gusthaven. That is... That is my hope, Lucius. I want this to be a good city, good for its people and good for the world of Eros. And if I may... He nods. Nothing comes for free.

He looks at you hard. Yes, you're quite right. Thank you. I know that this, all of this, cannot have been easy on you especially. And you're very different to the young boy I remember. You've given me a lot to think about. I hope that whatever you choose to do next,

I know that you've sold off your estate and you've invested your money in an airship. I hope wherever you go, you find what you're looking for. Thank you. He nods. he nods to all of you his owl flies down and just kind of lands on his shoulder and he kind of scritches it he has an owl pet by the way

for your benefit Katie and yeah he's just like thank you I won't take up any more of your time he just nods okay can I just say, thank you. I won't take up any more of your time. He just nods. Okay. Can I just say to him before you leave? Yeah, of course, yeah, you can.

Don't let these uncertain times sway you. I know you can do the right thing. Thank you, Sensory. Thank you. And he just nods. Thank you for everything. No, thank you. And he just gestures like,

okay, I don't want to take up any more of your time. Fuck off, please. No, I mean, he's definitely not giving you the like, you can leave now. It's more that he said what he wants to say. He feels that you said what you want to say. So there is that silence of like, I have Hespa.

Yeah, I mean, if you want to. You've got two charges. You've only got one left left I've only got one left but you've still got three days I think before you get that back as well

because you've had four days in prison so you've got three days before you get new charges so you get to roll for charges um I don't think I will

no no hang on I need to save it okay um and also I don't think I will. No? No. Hang on, I need to save it. Okay. And also, I'm going to change the charges on Eye of the Storm. I'm going to make it a D3, so there's a chance you can have one, two, or three charges each week, because right now you'll always have two or three.

Yeah. So I'm going to change it to just a straight D3. Right, okay. Which does nerf it a little bit, but it means that you might have a week where you're like, I can use it three a little bit but it means that like you might have a week where you're like I can use it three times oh my god and then you might

have a week where you're like fuck I can only use it once what do I do yeah makes the risk versus reward better on it yeah

nice yeah I think like I already know as much as I need to know about him so I'm just gonna like leave it okay sure leave the poor man

alone yeah poor man has suffered enough you thunder gun is out oh my god the alakai

the alakai no inside the owl what have you been into you little use the owl to storm on the gal it's the owl the owl is hadar

it's a polymorph black dragon in the shape of an owl oh my god oh fuck that's a thing that can happen what would you like to do I will on the way out give a very respectful bow to in the shape of an owl. Oh, fuck. That's a thing that can happen. What would you like to do?

I will, on the way out, give a very respectful bow. Yeah, he bows back. No, to the guard. Oh, Valera. Valera. Yeah, she kind of nods her head curtly and just kind of gives you a stern, well done, I'm a military woman.

Good job. Please keep him on the right path. I will try to. That is my duty. Cool, cool, cool. I think we're all awkwardly leaving. Good luck! Good luck with it all! Yeah. Bye.

So, yeah, where do you go? What do you do? Should we just say to her before we leave, if you need to contact us, is there some magical means of doing that? There are sending spells, but I'd have to approach the Church of Siaska to do so. I'm not a spellcaster. I'm just a warrior.

Well, Birdie here can respond if you do need us. All right. Everyone at hand. Well, he can send more messages. It's fine. It's good to know. Yes, well, I believe that you have an airship, so I have already flagged...

Your crew told me it's called the Storm Chaser. Yep. I've already flagged it, so whenever you wish to dock, you are always welcome here. Thank you. Thank you. I suppose we should probably see the progress on that. Yeah. You want to see my airship you make your way back

to Cloudgarden the airship you find Lillian Sprocket's shipwriting company you can see there is something there as you begin to approach emerging from the back of the ship docks, extending from the quay, is a dark-colored wooden hull

with sleek sails. Shadows kind of ripple along the sides of it and blend it in a kind of dark mist that forms around the base and the hull of the ship itself, and a great maw, like a beast rising from the mist itself as this great jaw protrudes from the prow. It's so neat. It's very un-lucious, in fact.

When you arrive, you can see Sprocket, the little male gnome, kind of gesturing, and you can see there must be like 40 gnomes. They're on the rigging. They're hanging off the sides of the ship. And they're doing things like little tiny detailings, like just chiseling out like little bits of wood so that the planks fit like completely uniform. They're measuring like where nails go. So it is exactly on the point.

And it's like, and then they move to the next one, but they work extremely rapidly. Like they just, they know exactly what they're doing. Like they're like ants just swarming over this thing, like putting things in place. Uh,

there are a few, um, actually Goliath laborers who are doing all the heavy lifting. So you can see these kind of big mountainous almost rocky excuse me you can see like these rocky textured human men and women basically carrying heavy bits of lumber several of them are kind of hoisting the second sail the the second mast into place as the sky sails are being measured the sky sail the sky sails themselves um are you can see this just soft pulsing blue magic kind of flowing through the sails like wind and just like flying

through but it looks near ready to fly how big is it it's pretty it's gargantuan like in terms of size it's gargantuan um it can hold i think it's something like 30 people in total um and then you there is your crew of which there are 10 of them and then you have your officers and then yourselves so you're already about like 20 20 ish people as it is um that's cool yeah and it's three decks it's its main deck um then you have the two kind of half decks on top and then you have two decks below the main deck. So it's a big ship. It's a big, big sailor ship.

It's a big boy. Is it bigger than the... The Sparrowblade. The Sparrowblade. It is, yes. It doesn't look as fast as the Sparrowblade. The Sparrowblade was designed specifically for speed. I've got a dual engine set up in that, baby.

You have a redundant engine set up in that baby. You have a redundant engine Cup engine Yeah Sprocket turns he's like well Lauren. I don't know so great to see you again heard you were arrested Yes Charges were dropped as long as you're not, you know being thrown off the island any time. No, no, no, I'm still here It matters. We've got your gold anyway Yes, very forward business. Hmm you know, being thrown off the island any time soon. No, no, no, I'm still here. Nothing matters. We've got your gold anyway. Yes. It's a very forward business.

I don't see the point in all that talking around each other nonsense. You appreciate that. Waste of time. Yeah. I've got a ship to build. Speaking of, what do you think? I mean, so far. I'm clapping like a vibrating rape.

She's a beauty. She's one of the best I've ever worked on, I've got to say. The redundant engine setup has been quite the little mechanical problem for me to solve, but I think I've got it. You think you've got it. Perfect. Yes. Well, it is an experimental.

It's, you know, it's only a theoretical design at this point, but I'm excited to see what it does. I tell you. Okay. And how long left? It looks almost complete. It's the finishing touches, Mr. Collar. Just the finishing touches. Okay. Just gotta give it that Lillian sprocket dazzle, you know? Right. It should

be ready tomorrow morning. I've spent too much money. This is too much. I don't know if it's so big. It's spent now. No need to worry about it. It's still gone. Your crew has been here. They've been making sure they're all ready to go. They've been practicing and the like.

Did we do the right thing? Lucius, Lucius, this is the best thing ever. Look at it. I don't even like airships, but look at that. It's terrifying. But it's amazing. It's terrifying, and I love it. It could have been more colorful.

No, no, no. Can we change the color to like bright blues? Dear terrifying, and I love it. It could have been more colourful. No. Can we change the colour to, like, bright blues? Dear God, no. We could. It would cost you probably a few thousand more gold and several days' worth. You ought to lay low, Lucius. We're laying low.

This is perfect. Yes. And Nightfrost would love it, I think. He would. Yeah. That's a point, actually. We didn't decide on all of the rooms. No, we've left them empty for the time being.

Okay. So we've left those empty for now. We can take a few more days to finish them off if you have any final decisions. Or you could simply return at a later date and we'll outfit them then. The interiors are much easier to design. It's mainly getting the main hall and things like that. Okay. I'm all right, thank you.

No, I'm okay. Mackie D's? Oh, you have that on Gustavum now. Lovely. And Mackie's? Those can be added at a later date. Likewise, if you wish to see more upgrades or different weapons and things like that, we can facilitate that

later. You could, I suppose, go to any other shipwrights around Erois, but trust me, you want to come back, I made it. I know this ship better than anyone else. Of course. I mean, we've been given docking access as well, so. Marvelous! I assume you have a loyalty scheme anyway, like the other companies. Yes!

Come back to me and I'm very loyal. That's my scheme! Wonderful. There's no, once you build four airships, you get the fifth one free? Have you ever built an airship, Mr. Parr? I know. It's a very expensive, very laborious process.

I imagine. I used to build the ones in bottles. Me too? You can build a little model airship in a bottle and then... It's quite rudimentary, nothing like the real thing, but it is fun. Oh, I almost forgot. A young woman dropped off a package for you, Mr. Alan Astor. Oh, really?

Oh, yeah. Yeah. What did they say? It was an older half-elf and woman, I think. She said that she was your nanny, but that can't be possible. And she simply said that you would understand it was a gift from someone. Excellent. It's in the captain's quarters. Oh, wonderful.

I guess we'll go inside the eshy. Yes, yes, yes. To board the eshy? Yes, of course, yes, yes. It's all structurally sound. Safety equipment? No, no, no. It's only finishing touches now. We're just getting the second... The main job was the second mast, which it seems the team have done. It's mainly just making sure it's all fine and dappy.

Thank you so much. It looks wonderful. Oh, thank you. It's a pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Alinasto. Come with me and I'll give you the little tour. And yeah, he will take you on board and he shows you all of the rooms that you guys wanted. Okay.

Because I don't necessarily have it right here. But yeah, the airship is basically done. It is just finishing details, putting on a few extra bits of armor plating and things like that. But otherwise, it is complete. How do we board it? So there is gangplanks. So from the main deck, gangplanks can be lowered that connect two docks.

That's it. Right. That's how any kind of boarding is done. Are there railings? There are. There are railings. But they are just simple railings. Like, you could fall off them.

One-hand contact at all times. The railings just go around the outside of the ship, though. To cross the main deck, you will need to let go of the railings. We need to make you a harness or something can I have some rope you are stationary Miss Guardian you're fine I would like some rope

it just gives you like a coil of rope to hold onto the side you get 50 feet across the deck because the deck is about probably about I think Gargantuan, something like 80, is 80 foot long and about 20 foot wide. So you get to the stairs that like go down,

you get halfway down and then you're like, you can't go any further. But you're now inside and you can't see the outside of the ship. I'll work out a system for this. Carry on. I mean, this is bigger and better than the Sparrow Blade. It's high. Just finished in with a new captain. Sorry.

New ship smell. When you go on board, as you start making your way around, you begin to hear not quite barking, but kind of guttural noises. It's like, you can hear like, ah, come on, ah,

like, kind of like, like slight barking, and you see two wolf-like, beast-like crew in like loose shirts kind of startle. They look at you, and then they kind of remember themselves, and they're like, Captain! Oh, that's so cute.

Hello. Hi. Sorry, we's so cute. Hello. Hi. Sorry, we weren't expecting you here. Kamara said that you were busy doing something or something. Well, I could appear at any moment. You're actually being arrested, but we're not arrested. Who the fuck are you, bitch? Whoa!

They might look at you like that. Oh! Wow! Street in 11 How old do you say that? They do, yeah They're like You know, they're kind of fronting on you a little bit You're not even an officer

Just the lightning Crackling Their fur starts getting up as well. They're like, hey, we're the crew here. You don't talk before the captain does. Yeah, and I'm an officer. You're not a fucking officer. She's not an officer, is she, Captain?

You're going to be dead soon if you keep talking. They look at you confused like, oh, we... But you're the captain. You're talking to the junior engineer, and I am the head engineer. Oh, we... But you're the captain, right? You're talking to the junior engineer, and I am the head engineer. Oh, sorry. We... I thought you were just the engineer. All right, sorry.

And then they kind of salute. I didn't realize that you were part of the pack. I thought you were just like some merc or something. I need her to lift things. Oh, my God. We can lift things. Okay. What do you need to lift?

Who the fuck are you, bitch? Nothing right lift? Who the fuck are you, bitch? Nothing right now. Who the fuck are you, bitch? It was more like that. I ended up extending it a bit too long. Oh, my God. Could you not call her a bitch, though? Oh, sorry.

I got plenty of names that I could fire right back, though, so try it. I thought we were going to get on pretty well, but you know. You got to prove yourself. You got to prove yourself to us. Make a salute. Quartermaster, sorry. Sorry, Quartermaster. How does he get a salute?

He's an officer. You're not all the... Kamara told us all the officers. The Birdman's a Quartermaster. The Ganassi's an engineer. He's the captain. And then the engineer, he's the captain, and then the orc lady's the first mate. She's been running things around here.

Didn't say anything about a guardian, didn't say anything about a wild elf, so I just thought you were a merc. I told you to put shut up because the captain was speaking. And you are for all intents and purposes our crew and you do not address anyone on the ship in that way. Alright. Sorry, quartermaster, we didn't know.

Just out of interest, do I look delicious to you? Yes. Like, really, really, like, oh, just tear it apart. Off limits. Tear it apart. It's fine, it's fine, it's fine. The halfling's foot cooking's pretty good, so it's fine. Good.

Is it? Yeah, yeah, yeah, Howard's a pretty good guy. He's really fun. We like him. Oh, good. We play cards with him all the time. Fantastic, and how are the others? Don't call Howard a bitch either.

No, I wouldn't call Howard a bitch. Howard's great, we love Howard. We love Howard. And what about the other members of the crew? Of all the people you could've called a bitch, I'm remembering that. All right, fine. Aayla will remember this.

I mean, surely in wolf culture, that's actually quite a highly thought out word. No, no. He didn't mean anything good. It's a female wolf, right? Nope, it's fine. Maybe not to a wild elephant. Christ, I can't actually find that line.

Wild animals and beast walkers get on quite well, though, don't they? Yes, they do. But what you know about beast walkers is, first of all, these are wolf beast walkers. They're very territorial, and they are like, their family is their biggest thing. If they weren't told you were part of the crew, they see you as an outsider. Taylor. That's a really dumb thought coming to my head. Go on, share with the class.

I have one as well. Let's take the same one. If you said they were territorial, I just imagine them just pissing on everything. Piss on the floor and maintain eye contact. This is mine. They're not quite that bad. Alpha dog them.

But there is an alpha dog mentality. Like, Kamara is their alpha. Their alpha has said, you listen to these people. You weren't one of those people. Oh, God.

Why are we not one of those people? We should be one of those people. You weren't officers. Pity on them. Pity on them. Maintain eye contact. I mean, it looks like now that they've accepted, okay, you're obviously with the captain's team, we know. Oh my god. But they're not, they don't

look that sorry that they're just kind of like obeying orders now. We will have words with your pack leader. Oh, sorry, captain. And they kind of like hunt down. And their ears go flat and your pack leader. Oh, sorry, Captain. And they kind of, like, hunch down. And their ears go flat and they're sort of like, oh, sorry.

Just to make it absolutely clear that these two are very important to this crew. Of course, Captain. Yes, certainly. Sorry, sorry, Captain. At the level of quartermaster

and engineer. All right. All right, Captain. Yes. At the same level. Should we go? Should we go now? Yes, as you were.

They, like, scratch a little bit behind their ear, and then they dash off. They lack power. I was going to help you out up the mast when it got stormy and stuff, you know, but... I just helped you out then. I just told them not to address anyone like that ever again. No, you did.

But... But? You looked down on me when you said, at the same level. I saw your eyes. I mean, responsibility-wise... It's pretty much like Captain, First Mate, Quartermaster would be the range, and then Bosun is the next after that.

And then Doctor and Cook are all below that. Where am I? So you're below Quartermaster but above Doctor. Yeah. Quartermaster is, like, very essential to a ship. I won't take that. Without a Quartermaster, you will crash and die. I guess we're about an engineer.

An engineer is there to fix things that are... I'll make you crash. Yeah, the engineer is there to fix things when things go wrong. The Quartermaster's job is to stop things going wrong. We're support. Yeah. Well, this is a solid going wrong. We support. Yeah. Well, this is a solid start with the old morale. Yeah.

The moment we arrive on the ship. Let's go to the captain's quarters, shall we? I was going to say, the fuck you, bitch. The fuck you, bitch. The wolf pack have got rules, okay? Oh, I want a wolf pack emote. So, yeah, you make your way to the captain's quarters And inside the captain's quarters

Because you've not been there Is a Orc woman in green With a big feather hat I guess I'll play Araya so that you're not constantly Switching between the two So if I get stuff if you're like Araya wouldn do that, just tell me and we'll retcon it.

And she's going over diagrams on the table and stuff, and when she hears the door, she's like, Hey, I did not say to come in. Oh, my friends! And she kind of looks around and she kind of like, and then she salutes, Captain? Araya, that is number four.

She had a very strange accent, so she's just going to be French now. Okay. Because I can't... It was a weird mix. It was a weird mix of accents all over the place. Ah, Captain, sorry.

She will be more like this, I guess. Do we need the formalities? I guess it's important for... Oh, absolutely. You are the captain, I am the first mate. Of course, in private, we can be more relaxed,

but I should still treat you with the same respect, with all of you as well. Oriah! And I just throw myself at her. And she kind of hugs you and pats you down. She's like, ah, you're looking well, Nova. I suppose I report to you now. Certainly you will all do. So the chain of command will obviously be Lucius will speak with me,

and Lucius will discuss plans and where the ship is heading. But then if there are any problems you should come to me but you assume the captain's role when Lucius is away yes why did you make that clear so quickly I suspect that if Lucius is away you will all be away as well so it will fall on me and the crew to look after the ship but what a vessel you've bought for yourself here, Lucius. I've never... I have never... helmed an airship before, but I've been working with the gnomes here, and it is not so different to sailing on the sea.

Just a lot more up and down. That would be the hardest thing. What do you think? It's a fine ship, very well made. There are manoe maneuvers and things that would never be possible on the sea. The crew you have selected is interesting but workable with. In terms of you, how are you? I'm good, yes I'm good. After we parted I traveled back with Scaldi. We encountered a few goblins and things on

the way but nothing that we could not take care of. Oh, yeah, I'm back, by the way. Mr. Quiller, I assumed that when I was told to come to Gusthaven that you would be with them. Same with Sentry and stuff as well. I knew that she was back. How is Scorb? He survived the trip back. Skaldi is keeping him in Stenhill, I believe. She's grown quite attached to the trip back. Skaldi is keeping him in Stenhill, I believe. She's

grown quite attached to the strange lobster. I would have cooked it for dinner, but... Yes! As soon as this opportunity arose and I had the funds to have an airship, you were the first thought in our minds. You flatter me, Lucius, you flatter me, but no, it is good, and

I'm hoping that there will be some chances for some great treasure, yes? Perhaps I can... Well, we were going to ask, is this better than your brother's boat? Yes, definitely. But that ship was mine, and he took it from me. I would like it back at some point. Okay.

Okay. Well... But for now, this will suffice. This is good. Yeah. Hopefully we can use it at some point to locate it. Oh, yes. I would very much like to see my brother's face

when we come sailing down from the clouds above his ship, eh? That would be very... I'd like to see the look on his stupid, ugly face. Well, actually, we should probably figure out where we're going next. That's what I will need to know. The ship still has about a day before we are fully ready to sail. There are some things that we need to go over

just to make sure that everything is ready, but I will need a course. In Quatermaster, you will need to plot one for us. Well, we have a day to figure that one out, don't we?

Also, you have a gift. Yes, yes. I do. An older, quite attractive lady came by and she dropped this off. And you can see it's like a wooden, very elaborate

very well furnished chest but instead of like a lock, it's kind of got like a sealed like a letter seal that it's been put onto the side of the chest itself and it's a gem of blue and orange kind of merged together

How do you know if it wouldn't make something like this? itself and it's a gem of blue and orange like kind of merged together um I didn't know if it wouldn't make something like this uh the woman who dropped it off said that this was a gift from somebody you knew someone who has access to a workshop well

she gestures it towards you she puts it on the table uh the captain's quarters by the way the captain's quarters are split into two rooms So there is like a meeting room Which is segmented and has its own entrance Which is like a long table, there are maps in it It's kind of like a meeting room And in the captain's quarters there is a double bed

There is a desk, chest of drawers A footlocker It's quite, not extravagant It's not plain There is like a little bit like, there's like a rug and there's some like nice bedding. It's refined, but not elaborately so. It's not like, this is a noble's

palace. It's just... It's upgradeable. Yes, it's upgradeable. You can spend money on it. Well, it's the start of No Secrets Amongst Us, right? Yes. Honesty is the best policy. And if not, I'll find out anyway.

Especially from a charioteer. Creepy. I'm worried about your position as quartermaster. No snooping on friends. No snooping on friends. Putting Tan Ayla like that in front of the crew? Unbelievable. Putting her in a place, were you?

Please open the chest. I'm really curious. Yes, will do. You just open it. When you touch the gem, it kind of lights up and responds to you touching it, and then you open it. That is so fancy. Inside.

Takes a moment to figure out what this thing is. It's like a long strip of bands of ethereum, but it all connects to a gauntlet Fabriel-like device with a prism in its center. There is a note. It reads, Prismatic Alternator Gauntlet V1. Oh!

And it says, To my brother, may this help you on your journeys. It's unique, just like you. If you want to go into D&D Beyond, Prismatic Alternator Gauntlet. What this does, and we'll need to go over it because it is a little bit complicated. When you see a spell being cast within 30 feet of you that deals damage of acid or cold, your dichromancy options, you that deals damage of acid or cold, your

dichromancy options, you can use your reaction to basically absorb the spell's energy into the prism and it will convert it into charges now if it's third level or lower it does it automatically like counterspell if it's fourth level or higher you have to

make a charisma check, so it's a d20 plus your charisma modifier to beat the level of the spell, so it's just like20 plus your charisma modifier to beat the level of the spell so it's just like counter spell if it works you just the spell doesn't happen and you suck the level

of the spell into charges in a thing so it becomes like if it was a 6th level spell you'd get 6 charges in it when you deal damage with your

dichromancy ability you can expend those charges as additional damage oh nice but how much 2 backgrounds so d6 per charge jeez however can expend those charges as additional damage. Oh. Whoa. Nice. For how much? Two backgrounds, so d6 per charge.

Jeez. However, there is a slight flaw to it. It can only hold a maximum of seven charges at one time. If you absorb more than that, every level of spell that it absorbs above seven, you take a d6 of psychic damage. No saving for it. you just take the damage that's cool

I might limit it to a certain number of uses per day, we're going to balance this as we go, we're going to see how effective this becomes, yeah, well I'm not sure how much per day we see ice or acid spells, well this is the thing though is it combines with another of the chromat sorcerer's abilities where Lucius can spend sorcery

points to convert spells into acid or cold right so he could be like oh that person's about to cast fireball I'm going to spend sorcery points to make it cold damage and then I'm going to try and suck it up oh he can just turn a fireball into cold damage

he has to spend sorcery points to do it but yeah we'll talk about it like out of game because it is a bit complicated. But when you put it on it goes where your Fabriel is. Is Lucius left or right handed? Left. Left, like you. So it goes on your left hand and then it replaces

the Fabriel so you don't need your Fabriel anymore. The bands wrap around your hand and become like second skin. So you have like this metallic silvery ethereum arm with a prism

in the palm and then each fingertip has a small prism in it as well so it's like you hold it out and then it

channels into your body and then you can release it with your other prism I'm really good at art to do that yeah that's really

cool and that's it and that's where we'll end today's episode amazing with a ghostly sneak appearing in the captain's quarters

oh let's read some things I fire the old hey I suppose that's the end of the chapter right I think that that would be a good

end of chapter point well I need to do one more thing I need to go get Helios oh it's cool for him I think that that's yeah that's like a

beginning of a new chapter. You've got a day to do that, right? Yeah. I basically see that next session, you guys are going to head out. Yeah. Transform and roll out. Great, I love the robots, roll out! And the plan was originally to start heading towards the City of Glass.

Yeah. So I wrote together a massive quest log. Yeah. And that was top of the list. Big boy story. I think City a massive quest log. Yeah. And that was top of the list. Big boy story. I think City of Glass is the next one. And I think that we'll come back. We'll definitely be coming back to Gusthaven.

I'm almost certain. When it's burnt down. Maybe. All right. See you in a bit. Bye. Hey, everyone. Thanks for listening to this episode.

Remember to check out D&D Beyond with the links in the episode description. You can also support the podcast on our Patreon page patreon.com slash high rollers giving you early access to podcast episodes and more me mark and katie are going to be at pax west next week so if you're going to pax or are in seattle then why not come and meet us needless to say there won't be an episode of arois that week but we'll be back the week after when we board the airship and begin a brand new chapter we'll be back the week after when we board the airship and begin a brand new chapter. We'll see you then!