High Rollers DnD - High Rollers: Aerois #62 | Trial of the Prime (Part 1)

Episode Date: March 2, 2020

Deep under Volcanos the party finally find a long lost relic 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! 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

Pickaxe. with uber reserve you can book your uber ride in advance 90 days in advance perfect for all you forward thinkers and planning gurus reserve your uber ride up to 90 days in advance uber reserve see uber app for details hello everyone welcome back to high rollers a dungeons and dragons podcast in the world of eros run by dungeon master mark shawlock humes with me tom playing keelak ad khala the cleric wizard i am chris trott i'm playing lucius view and elowen and Dragons podcast in the world of Erois run by Dungeon Master Mark Sherlock-Humes with me, Tom, playing Kelek Adkalad, Cleric Wizard. 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 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. Create your free account and speed up your campaigns today.

Last time on Erois. In the blistering heat of Volcanos and the ruins of a solvent research facility, our party have been seeking to aid their companion Sentry, a Guardian Paladin, in finding the Prime, a powerful figure that seems to be connected to the secrets of Guardians' energy and their lifespans. After restoring some power to the facility, the party endured the intense heat of the volcano to search for a pair of keystones that would unlock the foundry and the path to the Prime. During this search, they fought against a

pair of lava worms in the tunnel-like labs of the facility. Securing the keystones and making their way into the foundry, the party were attacked again, this time by a much larger and more powerful lava worm, and an intense battle followed. Thanks to some clever spell use and

tactics, some DM mistakes, and an insane amount of critical hits, the party triumphed, though very nearly at the cost of Sentry herself. And a painting. And a painting.

With several of the party heavily exhausted by the heat, and others heavily injured, we resume our adventure in the foundry itself, as the giant metal doors that lead to the prime remain closed. That is where we begin this week. Sid, I don't know if there is music playing, but we can't hear it.

But we'll just crack on. Yeah, you can't stand the blistering heat of the foundry is as intense as it was last time. Spending too long in here will very quickly tire you and exhaust you. The lava one is dead. Its body is now underneath the lava where it tried to dive and get away, but you have recovered

sentry, though her armor is now effectively ruined. I did change her AC slightly just to reflect that the armor is completely destroyed. Her armor plating basically all melted or ripped off in parts. Oh damn. But you are alive.

Heavily injured and exhausted as you are, you can see the giant metal doors that lead into where the Prime is located. Are there keystone slots for that door? There are not, but you can see that where once, on either side there there are these giant crank wheels. But the heat has basically melted them and rendered them unusable, basically.

Right, okay. And you can see these steel doors are kind of, they're glowing hot. They are very, very intensely hot. Hmm. Who wants to push that then? So, in the silence of, like, bubbling lava and hissing, you just hear Quill. Who wants to push that?

I think you should... We should attend to Century. She's not looking so good. Are you okay? I don't know if I can do this. I don't know if I can do this. We're so close, Century. We are so close.

It's just through that door, right, Herald? It is. It is a short corridor, but perhaps it will be, as long as it is not flooded, that should be the path to the Prime.

Okay. And she kind of, like, Herald will come up and try and, like, pick you up and basically be like, it is not far now, Sentry. You are so close.

You must complete this. You need to be there for the Prime. the prime please we face anything more like that through that door I'm not sure we can survive perhaps if necessary I will try and buy you as much time as necessary you must get century to the prime it is of great importance will she need to be it a peak energy for this for the tramp I don't know how it works i'm afraid i do not know i do not know what state the primal being if there are more of those creatures it has been centuries since i was last here but i will do everything i can to give you the time needed

century can i please put that painting in the scroll case. Okay. Thank you. Quill? You got the scroll case? Yeah, I do. Let's put the painting in. You're going to have to take out the note you already had in there. There was another scroll case. We had the sequester. That's got sequester in it. Do you want to get rid of that? Can I not keep that in a backpack or something?

Yeah, do you want to put the scroll in a backpack? In a hot place? In a really hot place? There's only one thing fit in this scroll case? Literally, like... It's round. Yeah. It's just a note that he has. It's an old piece of paper.

Just an old piece of paper. Oh, probably... Oh, no, that's probably, like, taken out and kept on the ship, right? Like... Sure. It probably... I never said it was. Would I have any scroll...

I guess probably nothing as special as, like... You have mundane scroll cases. Could I put your note in one of my scroll cases? Sure. Let's do a little scroll swap. This is going to take some time. It's a constitution saving throw. Because you are basically pulling apart a frame.

You're trying to carefully remove the painting, roll it up, put it in the scroll case. While they're doing that can I go to the door and see if I can can I see if I can start working on

are you just going to open your hands or are you going to try and it's hot isn't it you'll get plus two as well I want to try and do we get plus two from you natural one You'll get plus two as well. I want to try and... Do we get plus two from you? Natural one. Sorry, I'm just seeing if Beacon of Hope is still on.

It's concentration for a minute. Okay, can I just burn a load of heals on people as well? I'm just going to put a hand out and just have people walk into it. I mean, you spend your spell slots as you like. Like, they're six seconds, so... Yeah, I just want to spend two fourth-level cure wounds on whoever needs it most. So, Century. So, you're going to get 4d8 plus 4, so that...

So, 4d8 maximised is... 16, 22, 36. 48? Yeah. 48 plus 4. 15, 32, 36. 48? Yeah. 48 plus 4. 15, 24, 32. So 16 times 2, 32 plus 4, 36. 36.

You've got 36 healing. Thank you, Gil. Who else needs it? That's one. What are you on? Just walk into my hand. What is everyone on? 58 of 72.

58 of 72. 58 of 108 And you're currently now 46 of 90 46 of 90 It's my exhaustion Alright, I'll just bonk Ayla's head And she also gets 36

I have this potion Which is something to do with Vitality, was it queer? What did you get on your con save as well? Oh, I didn't check. I got a natural one, so I'm level three of exhaustion now. Maybe you should take this, Nova. Well, I mean, what was the total though, Nova?

It was a natural one. Yeah, natural ones aren't automatic fails. Four. Yeah, okay, yeah, that's not fair. Five, six plus century. So it was never going to be. It's worth adding up, just in case. I got ten.

Ten? Yeah. That's a fail still, because you're in the intense heat zone. So you're a higher level of exhaustion. Yep. I'd like. 10? That's a fail still. So a higher level of exhaustion. I'd like to point out we die on level 6. That's a level of exhaustion. I've got this person whoever feels most

succumbed by these intense heats. Maybe it's worth taking. In terms of RP, I'm on level 3 of exhaustion. Can I look and see what the best method would be, if it would be similar based on what we've done with the pipes outside? You can make an intelligence check for me.

No, no. I'm smart. Ten. Ten. They're doors. They're very clearly very hot. They're doors. They look like they can just be opened manually.

You don't think you need magic to open these doors and yeah immediately it's obvious like any idiot could work out that like if you touch these doors it's gonna hurt um you could use something to leverage it you're that's a pretty basic thing if you could wedge something in you could probably try and pry it open um you might still take some damage just from the heat radiating off it can i try and do that with my uh with the howling tempest the end of the howling. Can I try and do that with the Howling Tempest, the end of the Howling Tempest? You can try. It's not the best. So give me an athletics with disadvantage.

Wait, I have a crowbar. You have a crowbar? I have a crowbar. Can I have that for a second? Yeah, you just hear this voice from the floor. I have a crowbar. Can I borrow that? It was in my bag.

Okay. Just you have to come get. I'm going to go to Nova and borrow the crowbar. As a point, I think at this point, Nova and Quill look just dead to the point. Yeah, imagine anything I'm saying is a lot more tired. I took a lava bus as well. What if one of you split this and have half each? I don't think potions work that way.

I mean, maybe they do. Do they work that way? I'm dumb. Do they work that way? I'm not dumb. No. Quill would also, you identified it, it's you have to drink the whole thing to get the effect.

Okay, so... What if you drink half? We have to have the entire amount. What about that armour of ice that you used? That seems to protect from the heat for some time at least. I don't think it's going to make you any better. It won't make anyone better, no. I can only cast it on myself. Oh, can you?

Right, so are you taking the crowbar off over? Yeah. Sure. So you can open the door, you don't need to check. You will take a small amount of damage. That's fine. For five points of fire damage. Woo! Just because, like, you're getting close to an Aayla, like, you can feel, like, the kind of edge of your skin on your bare arms beginning

to, that heat, like, very mild burn as you're so close to the door as you wedge them open but once you kind of manage to get a creak in you hear the metal stretch and strains screech against itself but once you manage to get that small gap you can use the rest of your strength to just push it and on the other side of the door no heat whatsoever it's only the megalops facing this room is hot and so once you can get your hands on the other side you can pull them apart quite easily everybody in this room is not hot okay everybody in and i'll can i send echo free first just to check it's safe yep do it now okay i'm gonna go and start picking i'm gonna pick up nova okay okay i'll quill you help'm going to pick up Nova. Okay, okay.

I'll help Quill. You help Quill. I'll pick up Nova. So the two of you... I'll just start crawling, and then I'll just feel a lift from the back. Sentry's got one.

Aayla's got one. Just scrap the neck. Got her! You've got two. All right, so Herald will probably help you, like, helps you up and is, like, carrying you because Herald's fine.

Yeah, level two, our speed is halved as well. So with help, we'll negate the speed for now, because you are being carried. I can give her a piggyback. You send Echo ahead, but you are pulled into this stone corridor, and you see that beyond the great metal doors of this foundry is a long, perfectly smooth stone corridor, and it goes down at an angle. not steep enough that you're at risk

of slipping and falling but a steep enough angle that if you follow this for some time you are going deeper than you even currently are now you have a sense that you're pretty deep underground as is. The relief, whilst not cool, the stone here seems to be protected against the heat of the volcano around you and is cool enough to the touch that it is a relief. You don't lose any exhaustion. You stay at the same exhaustion you are, but you don't think that in this environment

you're under any threat of getting more exhausted. Okay. The air is still warm and humid. You can still feel it. It's like being in the tropics. There's this dry heat around you, but it's not oppressive. It's not draining

and sapping your strength. And you get the sense that this is probably some pretty powerful magic that would create this kind of effect to cool enough that it can exist this deep into a volcano, especially a large volcano like this one.

Is it worth our while in this environment to make the most of it? Could I sleep just a little bit, please? I think... Short rest? Since we're not in the heat? Sentry, if you're able to keep sending Echo down,

then that seems like a good idea. Make sure we're safe. Yeah, I can do that. I will keep watch. I do not require rest. I will keep watch in case any more of those creatures appear. Okay, thank you, Harold. I can keep watch, too, if you guys need to rest. I will keep watch in case any more of those creatures appear. Okay, thank you, Harold. I can keep watch, too, if you guys need to rest.

I can... I'm okay. I'm fine. If the three of us then remain vigilant while the three exhausted ones take some time. Yes. Okay, so you're going to take a short rest, yes? Okay, so you take an hour, and Century, you're going to keep focusing on Echo.

Yeah. Okay. Can you focus on Echo and still take a rest? Yeah. Yeah. It's basically as long as her body's not really doing anything for an hour and Sentry you're going to keep focusing on Echo. Yeah. Okay. Can you focus on Echo and still take a rest? Yeah. It's basically as long as her body's not really doing anything for an hour. If there was any combat then it would interrupt it. Would that be the same with Arcane Eye? I would let you use Arcane Eye to that extent.

Can I be able to keep a watch and still take a rest? Watching is a bit differently because you're kind of keeping yourself ready. Because it's an external force that they're just channeling their senses through, it's a little different, I would argue. But maybe. Those of you who aren't resting can make perception checks.

I guess I don't actually, because like exhaustion, I can keep watch, I guess. You can, but you are at a disadvantage and your passives all have a minus five to them. Oh, really? I may as well do it anyway. Sure. You knew. Okay. It will be harder for you

as you are trying to rest as well, Quill. I'm asleep. Nine. Nine on perception. No, I'm not resting because I don't really need to. Oh, you're not taking a short rest? I'm not, no.

You're not. Okay. I'm good. Just exhausted. Okay. But resting doesn't recover. Short rest? I'm not, no. You're not. Okay. I'm good. Oh. Just exhausted. Okay. But like resting doesn't recover, short rest doesn't recover exhaustion, does it? No, rest.

No, it's a long rest. And even then it depends on the type of, where the exhaustion came from. Do you not need any healing? You have a feeling that with heat exhaustion, the main thing is you need long rest and water. Yeah. Right, okay.

Do you guys have any? Yes. If you're not, if you're not resting, then I will rest then. He's not resting, so I'm going to rest. You're going to take a long rest. Spend hit dice, those of you who are short resting, if you want. I'm not. You can spend some as well.

Why not? What were you going to say, Lucius? If I created a flurry of snowballs, and we collected those snowballs into containers and watched them melt you could drink that. Does the snow last? Does it not disappear

once the magic is gone? It creates the element so I assume it would stay. It would work. Do we have a container? Do you? Did you bring one? Have you got one? I wouldn't bring an ant. You could scoop it up with your hands. I could scoop it up with my hands.

You could just eat the snow. That would be quite refreshing. Maybe, but... It takes a lot of my power, but I can do it. If you put it on fabric and then suck from the fabric, it's water. That would just roll around in the blood of snow. It also is quite powerful. So don't go in it straight away.

Because it will pelt you to death. I think to spend a spell that powerful on just keeping you two alive, I will do it. I appreciate it, but we're okay for now. Okay enough. He says. For now. Okay enough. He says.

For now. For now. For now. Nova's already asleep on the floor. If you're sure. Okay. She just fell asleep right in front of her. While that conversation goes on, Echo, small ball of thorns and a little amethyst crystal, bobs its way down this long corridor.

Watch 10 minutes, 20 minutes, it goes down. You can see that this corridor occasionally has spheres of light embedded into the ceiling, into the tunnel, the roof of the tunnel, casting a dim blue glow down onto the tunnel itself. This echo just bombs along. After about 25 minutes, deep below the earth, it sees something. The corridor opens up into a huge cavern. It seems to stretch out.

There are metal staffs stuck into the ground and walls tipped with small crystals that give off gentle light that fill the room. The focus is drawn to the center where a figure 20 foot tall made of metal and wood and stone, is encased partially within the mountain itself. Just a head and a chest remains open to this cavern. The rest, crushed limbs you can see to the side. Some of its limbs are still embedded into the rock itself. So it kind of lifts its head, sees the echo,

at last. And it just nods in Echo's direction. I just like suddenly go, I wake up and I'm like, is that? Oh my God. What's happened? Who's where?

Sentry, sentry, sentry. Words, words. It's Echo's sword, Echo's sword. It's the prime. Is it a word? It's the prime. Oh, it's the prime.

The prime. Is it safe? Did it look friendly? It's the Echo Sword! It's the Prime! Is it a word? It's the Prime! Oh, it's the Prime! Is it safe? Can we carry on? Did it look friendly? It's huge! That's not friendly! It's huge!

Oh my god! As long as the Prime is active, he should be safe. You've got nothing to fear. He doesn't look good. He doesn't look good. Is it all touched? No, he looks fine, but he looks injured. He doesn't look... He is trapped. Yeah, he looks injured. He doesn't look...

He's trapped. Yeah, yeah, he's trapped. He's been trapped here for a long time. And there's nothing en route to that? No, it's safe. It's perfectly safe on the way down. Then let's get going. Let's get going. Do you want to wait for Nova for an hour to finish?

Yeah. Let's get going a bit. Sentry, if anyone can get this prime out of where he's trapped, it's you. He's been waiting for you, right? I don't think we'll be able to get him out. On a question, what was those perception checks? You got like a nine. What did you get on your mind?

Nineteen. Nineteen. With disadvantage. Nice. Oh, yeah. I see everything. Hear the occasional kind of rumble. Nothing strikes you out of the ordinary for now.

Good. Okay. I don't know if 19 was enough. So we're here for an hour. And then when are we good? After an hour, we head out? Yeah. Down.

This is it, Sentry. I'm scared. I'm so scared. Yeah, but you know what? It's fine because we're here. A little bit sleepy, but we're here. What if something happens to you guys? I'm scared.

We've come so far underground. We're under a volcano. What are we doing? Is this stupid? What are we doing? Is this stupid? What are we doing? This is your call. Terrible idea. But also it's happening anyway,

so let's do it. It's kind of badass. Like, if we survive this, we were just under a volcano. That's badass, right? That's badass. Yeah. Oh, you guys are amazing.

Well, we're here for you, and we're so close. We still need to be vigilant. We have to remember that one. We don't know what's really down there. Echo saw it, sure, but we don't know what could happen. No. Don't forget your vision.

You saw a century improved and different. This is probably it. Your armour's ruined now, but it's so much better. It might be this. Maybe. Let's make sure it stays on that path okay hopefully it's not one of those too good to be true things you mean a Brookstone yes one of those things she's got brooks we're under water I'm unconscious shut up I'm sleeping soundly in the corner

time passes you wait an hour probably have to nudge and overweight definitely but your short rest finishes no threats

no creatures no more burrowing worms no more lava for now you seem safe stop saying that let's head out and actually do this shit

okay you begin making your way the light is dim but enough to see by you follow the same path that Echo did 10, 20 minutes, 25 minutes going down deep into the earth. There is a sense now that you are living creatures moving down. There is a sense of weight

and age here. Beyond even the oldest parts of Eros you have found yourselves in before, the earth seems to change color. The stone becomes a darker gray like something from so long ago that was built around. Strange sense of weight and destiny falls over you as you come to this cavern that opens up. What Echo couldn't really discern before is that the roof of it is covered in these glistening crystal stalagmites. Tights, stalactites.

Mites in the ground. It's tights. Stick to the thing. yeah it's tights sticks to the thing they hang on tight so crystal stalactites form the main ceiling like a giant geode um kind of hanging down glittering sparkling and every now and again amongst the grey rock, you can see small flowers. Green and pink and purple buds. Your eyes are drawn to the central figure. Almost like a column of stone that this cavern has been excavated around. Its head is free but kind of locked into certain positions. And then you can just see this enormous torso made of metal and stone and wood.

And at its center, the most beautiful matrix. This kind of shifting, scintillating silver and gold orb that just seems to swirl and coalesce. The same light fills this figure's, this guardian's eyes. You estimate that if it was not buried, 20 foot tall or more, it's huge. And as you arrive, Herald, leading sentry first, this deep, rumbling voice. At last,

I have waited nearly five centuries for you, Sentry. Thank you all, mortals, for helping her arrive here. I am Root Prime. Welcome. At last, destiny can be fulfilled. Root Prime, it's an honor.

It's an honor to meet you finally. No, the honor is mine, Sentry. It has been so long. Only very few guardians were potential to be a successor. To finally have one arrive here after everything that has happened is a great service to our kind. And then it seems to notice, Harold, I am surprised to see that you have brought yourself back, Harold.

I know what you have done to bring yourself before me. That is bold. And you can see the herald just lowers her head and goes to her knees. But that is not my decision. Not anymore. Your fate rests in Sentry's hands. Or at my decision, I would destroy you for what you have done. But perhaps you still have a part to play in all of this.

Sentry, who are your companions? I can see it's trying to look around, but it really can only look in a certain area. I was going to ask, where it's encased, is it literally like it's just standing upright and the rock has grown around it, or is it... Make a perception check for me. Okay, I guess. With disadvantage.

13. 13. With your best guess um it looks like he fell onto his back and then has kind of like earth shifts have like pushed his body up maybe separated like his legs from his torso one of his arms has been ripped free and then the rock has either grown or fallen and then just kind of melded parts of it look like magma has pulled through and then cooled um and just kind of locked his body in place he looks completely encased and trapped you can see probably evidence where it looks like somebody has tried to dig him out, but it just is either too immense a job or the rock seems completely unfazed by what's happened.

Or he's just become so damaged that it was decided that nothing could be done. Yeah, okay. You get the impression of. But you see, and his face plate is different to centuries um he has more of like a mouth guard and you can see almost what looks like kind of a helm like a winged helm but built into his head um like thor's kind of helmet has been built around its skull um but he looks ancient like old and ancient weather. You can see the metal has been like, parts of it have begun to become discolored, parts have become marked by wear and time.

Its chest cavity, apart from this glowing matrix, is the same damage. This doesn't look like any Guardian, really. It has similarities to Sentry, but it looks completely alien, different. Oh, really? So it's not like a primitive design where it's like cogs and wheels? No, no, no, no, no. This looks more advanced than Sentry, but just worn down and broken apart. Right. You don't even recognize the metal he's made from.

Like, it doesn't look like steel or iron it doesn't look like ethereum it almost has like a bluish tint to it it looked weird you just don't know it but the matrix is definitely matrix it's a matrix yeah and anybody who has any magical inclination you don't need to have detect magic or make arcana checks. You can feel the raw power coming from this matrix, especially Lucius. There is something about this thing that just you can feel it. It's you can almost hear voices coming from it. You can almost hear voices coming from it.

Not unhappy voices, not like screams or cries, but like laughter, cheers, battle songs. It's like music almost, just echoing from it. But only you can hear that. I feel like touching it, it's going to be like a Crystal Skull kind of scenario. What's that film? I didn't realise that film existed.

Just block it out. I'm sure that you all have many questions. Please. I do not have much time, but what time I have is yours. There is much to discuss, but I will answer your questions if you have them.

Okay. I'll just follow a knee. Like, I instantly go to instinct in front of royalty. Okay. And I'm like, it's truly an honor. There is no need for that, my good elf. I am no king or being for you to worship. Yes, you don't follow those petty titles that we have here.

You are a noble soul, but please stand. I would not have companions of Sentry fall to their knees before me. Sentry, have you got questions? So, I take it you know about solvin and the sundering yes

solvin was the land that discovered me they found me here buried deep within the earth queen astoria herself met with me and together we made a pact that she would help me recreate the guardian race in exchange I would teach her of my knowledge and magic. And so this pact was formed. She was a good friend. I was devastated to learn through Harold and some of the other guardians what had befallen Aroas, but I was trapped here.

And as the world around me shifted, even more of my body was damaged. More of my systems depleted. My energy drained. Unable to reach out to speak to guardians. It is why I sent Herald into the world. If nothing else, at least through her actions, you have found your way here. How did you get down here? How did you fall down?

That is a long story. Are you all prepared to hear it? It's quite cool down here, so yeah, we're good for now. Mr. Prime, sir. You will find some relief.

You may call me Root Prime. Root Prime. Root Prime. That name. Yes. It suggests that there are more. There are no more, just one. But I was the first, but I will not be the last he looks at sentry I was

called root once when my creator one of the first divines created me I was but a simple golem a creature not capable of its own thought its own rationale, but my creator, Prometheus. He used one of the ancient devices, one of the Genesis relics, the Prime Matrix, to not just give me my mind, but to give me a future and a hope. Together we created more like me. We called them guardians, protectors of life throughout the universe. And through the Matrix, my sentience

was gifted to them as well. They created their own personalities. And as their lives began to fade and fall, they would rejoin with the Prime Matrix to be reborn again. But then, war came. One of the original divines, a creature called Hadar,

turned on the others. It committed the greatest sin it could. It consumed another divinity, destroying it forever. One was not enough. It consumed more and more, until all of the divines were united against Hadar, and they sought mortal armies to assist them. As guardians, it was our destiny to protect life in the universe. So I and my people joined them valiantly. The War of the Crimson Star lasted centuries, but eventually, a few remaining divines sealed Hadar away into the Far Realm.

But at a great cost. Many were killed. The original guardians, all but me, were wiped out. It was only through the power of the Matrix that I was protected. Damaged, paralyzed, I was sent hurtling through astral space, drifting for years, until I crash-landed onto a barren, empty world, a rock of no life.

Over eons, dust, galactic material collected, burying me. And there I remained, until a young goddess, And there I remained, until a young goddess, a brave young woman, came and discovered that planet and turned it into the paradise you now call Erois. Centuries later, Solvyn found me, and hope was reborn. That's so fucking cool. It is. Oh man, that's pretty cool.

I'm sure you have many questions. I know through Harold that you have encountered this being, Hadar, you know of its power. If you have questions, I will answer. But there is something I must discuss with Sentry after. Yes. Come. Let me see you, Ganassi.

Oh, he knows he's on here. Oh, Sentry, I know what you're nervous about. Hi! Greetings. What is your name? I'm Nova. Hi. Greetings. What is your name? I'm Nova. Hi. Greetings, Nova Ganassi. You're amazing.

I am a shell of what I once was. Even then, I was but a humble protector. It's okay. It's been here since before Nova was born. I think it's just like right now in Nova's okay, he's been here since before when Eros was born. I think he's just like right now in Nova's mind, so many things, he's just like, ugh.

You mentioned Siaska came here and found you here when the planet was a dust bowl planet, made life arose. Did you help her make green life? No, Siaska did not find me. She did not know I was here when she created the world

that you now live in. But I know how she did it. I felt its power. She used another Genesis relic. Something called the World Engine. It had been used once long ago to create Alfheim, a planet, home of the Storm Elves.

Oh! Oh! Yes! What? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. We have a planet! Badass! yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah we have a planet badass sorry mister

sorry sir root root sir root root prime sorry storm elves yes your people what uh alice people she's

um so yeah i'm just from this little group of people that grew up on a cliffside in the lowlands I'm very confused I'm afraid that this is perhaps something I cannot answer fully I know your kind your genetic makeup that I can see is different

to this one you are not originally of Erois, though your people may have lived here. But I knew you as the Storm Elves of Alpine. A world looked after by one of the ancient divines. Of what? Alpine?

Alpine. Like the old Nord world, Alpine. That's very cool. Nova. Nova. I'll find it. That's very cool. Nova, Nova. I'll find it. Huh? I'll find it.

I'll find it. Okay. The world engine was used there to create a planet that could sustain life. I do not know how Siaska found it, but she brought it here and installed it into the world's core. found it, but she brought it here and installed it into the world's core. And it turned an empty barren rock into a

bountiful world of earth and air, fire and water. Around me, I felt its energy coursing through the planet, creating life. Is it still here? Yes. It's what...

It's what Sorbain... It's what Sorbain wants to use the planet to stop Hador! Nova? Nova! For what, the world engine? Yes, that's what makes a rowist so unique in the whole universe! That's why he's here! What about, okay, there's a world engine, this Genesis relic. How many Genesis relics are there?

I could not tell you. They were the property. They were coveted by the divines, the first gods. They were fought over, coveted, secured away. There are many scattered throughout the universe. If he takes the world engine from this planet, what's going to happen to the planet? It would likely crumble, return back to the barren life wasteland it once was.

Oh, no. Maybe we could go to the storm elf's planet that I didn't know existed. I'm afraid that if the world engine is here, such a fate has likely already befallen Alfheim. Oh, cool. Learned that I'm a different race. Learned that my planet doesn't exist. All in

five seconds of each other. Yeah, this is a good day. Good times. It's a bit of a rollercoaster. Your planet is here. Yeah. The Rois. Yeah. I'm just gonna stop talking for a bit because I'm gonna start swearing

how can we stop Hadar without using the world end is there a way we imprisoned him before they released him again I must admit that the circumstances around his release I'm afraid I do not know Siaska would likely

know more she was a young goddess at the end of the war now perhaps she is the only one who stands who has the power Siaska would likely know more. She was a young goddess at the end of the war. Now, perhaps she is the only one who stands, who has the power. Hadar was immensely powerful. When it consumed other divine beings, it gained portions of their strength. It's done more than one? Yes. Consumed many.

But the other divines could not bring themselves to destroy Hadar for if they did they would become Hadar entropy is what he represents destruction, consummation consumption if one divine destroys him another must take his place so instead

they imprisoned him in the far realm a realm of endless void, of nothing, hoping that would seal away his power. It was a costly battle. The Far Realm is a place where not even magic can function. Only a divine can make it habitable. Was Siaska one of the original divine? No. Siaska was young, a child.

She was created by the other divines. But she is a true divinity, a true goddess. One of the few remaining. They gave her many gifts that I believe she then created into her later children, the Titans. Do you still speak to Siaska? I'm afraid not. Now that she is dispersed, her form is scattered.

The divine cannot be destroyed, but this callous you spoke of, through Harold, and I've heard that his war, he struck a blow. He knew he could not destroy her, so he scattered her essence, creating this cradle. She is there, but no longer has a voice or thoughts. Okay. Only a divine can destroy another divine.

That is the rule of the universe. Okay. Yes. And divines are of the universe. Okay. Yes. And divines are born? No. Created? Divines are made. A spark of divinity can exist in a being.

Belief in something can give someone incredible powers. But to be truly divine requires something else, something beyond my understanding. Do you know of Siaska's daughter? No, I'm afraid that that is not of my knowledge. But if she has had, if she has created such a being, it would have a divine spark, but her true divinity would not be unlocked until she can meet whatever requirement is necessary. Likewise, this Kallus, my understanding, he has a following, an empire that believes in him.

This will give him great power, but not a divine spark. He would need to acquire that through a means I do not know. He already has. Messenger ring, yeah. So Lucius can't hear this? If the Prime Matrix is a Genesis relic, Starbane may have followed us in here. If no one's going to ask you any questions, I will

They all seem stunned to silence It is very difficult topics of conversation I understand Starbane My knowledge of him is limited, I'm afraid You said your race Helped imprison Hadar the first time We were foot soldiers.

To clarify, Hadar still lives within the Far Realm. But he has the power to create vessels. Hadar represents death, destruction, entropy. But that can leave remnants, echoes, undead creatures. My people and I, we would protect the divines from these beings. Give them time to work their rituals and their magic that was required to imprison Adar. Keep them safe. So his...

His powers can stretch beyond the Farum, even though he's still there. This must have been something that was done after I fell here. The Divines believed that once he was sealed in the Far Realm, he would not be able to influence the material plane. But something must have happened. And I'm afraid that my knowledge on this is limited. It has happened. Well, we've encountered undead beings.

Undead in general can be created by more than just Hadar, but Hadar can create types of undead that function in his ideas. An undead that simply exists, an undead that simply refuses to die is not necessarily in Hadar's domain. Okay. It is almost an antithesis to him. But undead creatures that can consume life, that can destroy, those are Hadar created. Okay. Your matrix is beautiful, by the way.

It is the Prime Matrix. Not the most powerful of the world engines. It has a specific purpose, but it is a precious gift. With it is the hope of the Guardian species. And to that, we must speak, Century Guardian. I cannot carry the Matrix into the world. And because of this, guardians

are dying. The purpose of the Matrix is that as guardian sentients can rejoin it, be replenished, and as a choice they can return to a body if they wish, or they can remain in the Matrix at peace and at ease.

And over time, these sentiences develop new properties. New sentiences is how we can continue as a race. Okay. By reproducing sentiences built from experience and memories.

Like having children, I suppose. These can then be installed into new guardian' bodies. This was the Concord I struck with Queen Astoria. But I can no longer go into the world. The Guardians cannot be brought to me. The Prime Matrix must return to the world. And it must be carried by one who is worthy.

Okay. And it must be carried by one who is worthy. Okay. This, this is a duty that you must take. Okay. That's a lot. It is. A heavy burden to bear.

What makes, what makes me right for this? Many things. You were built to be a protector. That is one. I failed at that. No. You did your duty until the very end. That is what makes you the prime candidate.

Even when you were restored to life, it was your first thought. You have gained new allies that you seek to protect, that you seek to aid. These are the traits of a good Prime. You have been tempted. You have been offered a chance to extend your life, as Harold was. But you refused it. You are caring and brave and loyal. These are the

traits of a Prime, but you must become a leader to truly earn the Matrix. That is what you must be tested against. When you are ready, you will need to enter the Prime Matrix to undergo a trial. Okay. To see if you are worthy.

Normally, by the purview of Prometheus, you would be allowed other guardians to accompany you. But I see that you have chosen mortal companions now. I cannot assure you if it will work, or that you will not be in danger. Century will be safe. I can return her to her body. I can't attempt to send you all, send your

soul into the Matrix. But I cannot guarantee that you will return as you are. But Century will face great challenges alone. A leader is nothing without their advisors, without their companions, their protectors. If this is what needs to be done for Sentry to be what she's meant to be, then I'm in.

It is Sentry to be what she's meant to be, then I'm in. It is Sentry's decision, but it is heartwarming to know that you would offer yourself freely. If it's what you guys want to do, have a think about it. Don't rush into it. Think about it. I'm done thinking. We're coming with you. Stay here and mooch about an empty cave or save a race of people. Ooh! Where's the choice? Sentry? We're coming!

Okay. You've protected us all this time. It's time for us to return the favor. Oh. I'm just going to crumple to my knees and start crying. It's a lot. Harold looks up. I cannot accompany you.

The Prime is correct. I do not deserve to enter the Matrix. It is a place of peace. It is for those Guardians who have fulfilled their duty. But if you succeed, I feel I know a way I can help you. But I cannot bring myself to be

in there with our people, knowing what I've done. I understand, Harold. I understand. But if you are successful, I promise I will fulfill my vow to you in a way that I think will help

You've done so much for me already, Harold You really have I have not done anywhere near enough I still have much She looks at Lucius I have much to pay for Okay Take your time

If you have more questions I am happy to answer them The trial you face Will be of For century it will be a test Of leadership Of courage Of sacrifice

Being a leader is not always easy You must sometimes make difficult decisions. You will be tested. Okay. But it will also be a test of strength, of your ability to protect the bonds of loyalty you have with your companions. Okay.

While this is going on, sorry, just before you do that, can I cast Detect Magic and just be scanning the cave? Yes. You cast Detect Magic and are nearly blinded. Like, just... I don't want to look where he is. I want to look. You're, like, looking around the cave.

I'm looking for Starbane agents. Okay, yeah, you look around. You get tiny little bits of light off these little light sticks that have been stuck into the cave. But no. I mean, it's only 30 foot range and it doesn't go through stone. Yes. Have you

encountered the mortals of Eros before? Yes. The people of Solvent were the ones who discovered me. Queen Astoria. Indeed. Have you had anyone with magical inclination reach out to your matrix before? Ah, kind of like, not smiles, but he's like, you are connected to magic. Is that it?

Yes, innately. Yes. What form does your magic manifest? What do you feel most connected to in the world? Magically? Yes. Acid and ice. Cold. And these are generated how? Is this through blood? Is this something that you...

Through color. Color? Ah, a rare one. Through color. Color? Ah, a rare one. You are what my people called an arcane chromat. It was a type of magic user that some guardians manifested and that I have seen in the people of Aroes before. It is rare. The Prime Matrix is from a realm called Genesis. It is the place where all life began,

where our universe, the divines, magic came from. Many learn magic. They study sigils, study sigils, runes, spells. Some are given these gifts by powerful beings, gods, or particularly powerful creatures. But you, young elf, magic is deep within your soul. It is a part of you as it is a part of me and Sentry and other guardians. Like dragons or unicorns or other magical beings. I love unicorns. You are magical in nature. Your connection with color, you see the very essence of what magic is in those colors.

It gives you power. Your kind were rare, but I always admired the beauty of it. But yes, Queen Astoria herself was something like you. She learned magic as well as felt it within her blood, both mage and sorcerer. She reached out to my matrix to understand the history of the world, both mage and sorcerer. She reached out to my Matrix to understand the history of the world, but it was a little overwhelming.

The Prime Matrix is not like other Matrixes. That's my fear. I feel I want to benefit the group by learning something. I don't want to be overwhelmed by your power. You are in control of this power. You can shut it off as you wish. Astoria was wise enough to pull away when it became too much. I cannot stop you, if that is your desire. If there's anything you see that... It could be useful.

It could be, but I'm saying if you do need to get out of there, but you desperately need to find something out, I could just ask. Well, you can turn off the power whenever you want apparently, so as long as you know how to stop. I think I'll figure it out.

I hope so. Century, do you mind? I don't want to get in the way. Prime gives you his blessing. He said you can do it.? I don't want to... to get in the way. The Prime gives you his blessing. He said you can do it. Wait, you're going to res... Wait.

Are you going to end up with this anyway? If Sentry is successful, she will become the new Prime. The Matrix will become hers. To protect, to bear. But with it will come power and strength. Okay. If you truly wish to oppose Hadar, it will be an ally.

It will protect you as it protected me. And that is what we want to do. That is the goal. to do. That is the goal. I'm going to reach out and slowly walk towards the matrix. Even as you get closer, as the hand comes out, you can feel like tethers. I'm going to not use the hand with the gauntlet on. I'll take the glove off the other hand and

just reach out you can feel like little pinpricks along your fingers and skin like you can feel the magic radiating off it and in the swirl

of colour and light within the matrix you begin to see the streaks of orange and blue calling to you and as you reach and touch it.

Make a wisdom saving throw. Oh, fuck. 20. You reach out and you all see Lucius's eyes, where one was orange and blue, become prisms of color. Every color radiates through his eyes as he touches it and he almost begins to like shudder for a moment but for you lucius it's like your perception of everything expands you can feel the stone. You can smell the oxygen, the hydrogen. Everything around you becomes something you're aware of.

You can see things in a different way. Rather than seeing Aayla, if you turn your head, you just see and hear storms. For Nova, you hear the rushing of wind mixed with this strange ancient magic this old magic but then your mind begins to

reel like cycling through time eons pass in a flash of an instant trapped beneath this earth until you are there in a war unlike anything you could ever imagine. The stars themselves seem to be fighting each other as light streaks across the galaxy. Ships like those you've never seen, dozens, hundreds, millions of them, tiny little ones, huge ones, fight against these writhing

masses of red muscle and dead flesh as crimson light just tears the world and space apart. And you see eight or nine lights, white lights, beings at their center, men, women, androgynous figures wielding weapons, some with swords, some with lightning bolts in their hand, hammers, shields, beasts. They fight this red light and every time they strike or they move, it ripples the universe and stars and nebulas break apart. Oh my god. And you feel yourself there in a moment. And then the mind reels back further and further and further and further until you are a puppet on a bench in a workshop. a puppet on a bench in a workshop.

An old man with a hunched back and long beard and long hair turns to you. What do we have here? My little root. And he kind of reaches up and touches his face. Your mind races forward back in time through the war, through battles. You see Prime's memories, companions, allies allies now gone, long gone, hurtling through space, flipping through as you crash

and look up into the stars and then nothing and you pull yourself free eyes settle back into orange and blue Lujas? You pull yourself free. I settle back into orange and blue. Lujas?

Lujas? Hello? You got out of there okay? You didn't say a safe word. Quill, I mean, you can, there's, you can tell he's seen, you've, you've, you've felt this similar power. Yeah.

Too much acid there bro I'm just gonna fall to a knee again and just overwhelmed by what I've witnessed and what he's been through and now you see just this kind of horrific just this

broken pitted chest and this head stuck for centuries not even centuries like decades thousands of years and finally you can watch and you can see him he's just looking at sentry and that connection that you forged just sees hope it's truly an honour to have met you, Root Prime. Thank you for sharing. The honour is mine. What will happen to you? My hope

is that if Sentry can pass the trial my sentience will rejoin the Matrix. What if I don't? If you don't, you must keep trying. Okay. Or find another successor. But you are the only one I can count on now, Sentry.

You can, It almost seems like he's getting wearier. Yeah. You can see that it's taking every bit of strength he has just to keep his conversation kind of going. My time is running short,

but I know that you must still have many questions. I can answer them. This rude Prime has been through everything. Let's take no more of his time. I agree. Sentry, you're more than deserving of what power he has. If there is one last thing,

if you truly wish to fight against Hadar, you will need a being with true divinity. Whether you fight Hadar or try to seal him, only a truly divine being can do so. If you fight in the Far Realm, your magic, your strength will mean nothing, but divinity can create space for you to fight. But if you draw Hadar

here, if you fail, he will destroy everything. When you are ready, Sentry, bring forth your companions. Okay. Place your hand upon the Matrix. Thank you. Okay. You got a question? Look at that face.

That's the face of the million questions. When does Kim not have questions? I guess when he says about the divinity, I'm just going to look at Tiangong and hold it up and say, is Tiangong divinity? The Aeter are powerful,

but they are creations like me. Powerful beings capable of giving others, like yourself, magic. But they are not truly divine. Siaska was truly divine. Her child could be truly divine or anyone that can meet what must be done. Beings like myself. Creations. Powerful, but... servants.

If it's a creation, could I give my magic or my energy to reform Tiangong? Anything is possible. You mortals. You are the children of true divinity. You are not just creations. Your potential is unlimited. This is how Calus has become as strong as he must be.

Never lose faith in what any of you can achieve. You have greatness in all of you. Okay. I mean, shall we... Are you ready? I'm always ready. Lucius, give your potion of vitality to Quill. Somebody needs to be at full health. You have the power to heal, Quill.

Okay, thank you. Look, look, look, look, look. Okay. I think it removes one level of exhaustionill. He go. Okay, thank you. Look, look, look, look, look. Okay. I think it removes one level of exhaustion or I can't remember what it says. Removes any exhaustion you are suffering and cures any disease or poison affecting you.

Also, you gain the maximum number of hit points for any hit die you spend. Awesome. For how long? For 24 hours. Wow. Nice. Hey, I don't have bird flu anymore. Hey. Wow, wow, wow. Wow.

Okay, Sentry, I think we are all ready to assist. Has anyone else got exhaustion? I've got level two. Level two. Shouldn't Sentry at least remove some exhaustion? We don't have any way to do it. With what? To sleep for the long- I don't think we have time, two. Shouldn't Sentry at least remove some exhaustion? We don't have any way to do it. With what? To sleep for the long-

I don't think we have time, really. This guy's on his last legs. I think this is a now thing. Yeah. Otherwise, we can use the potion, I guess. Okay. Thank you, everybody. And no matter what happens,

we got this, I think. We remain loyal to you, Sentry. That's why we're here. I to you guys. Thank you so much. You guys are awesome. So you gather everyone up. Yeah.

I'm going to be no good in a fight, by the way. Level three of exhaustion means I rolled the advantage on attack rolls and saving throws. And skill checks. We can't really do anything about it. We can do our best. That's the best we can do. Good risk taking a long rest. You can try.

I mean, we can. He might die. Or just leave me outside. I think he'll die if we leave it. And it's a test of loyalty as well. It's not just combat though, it's loyalty and I think that nobody can help. Maybe with the brains. Overbrawn, I don't know.

Plus you're not on your own, we can get you through. Okay. We have an Alfheim storm elf. Whenever that is. Alfheim's gone. No, no, no, no, no. Dead.

By the way, you have a planet. Good news, you have a planet. Bad news, blown up. Too late. I have the kindest DM. Good news. You have a family. Bad news, they're dead.

I didn't do that to him. So, I turned out fine you gather century do you how do you want to just gather everyone out like you tell me how you want this to go down yeah i i guess we'll i guess i'll like i'll be in the middle and like we'll all like hold hands around each other and then i guess i'll just reach for the matrix kind. Yeah, you hold out. And then I hold out. You gather everyone's hands and you reach out and you see the light in the prion's eyes fade, but the matrix stays lit. And as you reach out to touch it,

you feel like a little spark of lightning crosses across your arms, across your chest, through the matrix, through your hand. And it goes through each and every individual. You will feel the same sensation like a tether, like a string being pulled across your heart, your mind and your body. As it all links together and then you are sucked. You feel your essence being pulled in to the matrix itself. You can all

immediately take a long rest. You remove all levels of exhaustion. Wow. Damn it. And that's where we're going to take a break. Oh, we spent a potion of vitality. You got full healing though. Yeah, but it doesn't matter. Yeah. Worth the risk. Yeah. That's very cool

oh my god we all got a long rest as well yes that spell slot's restored that is holy shit

I was so worried that was my favourite lore dump yeah I mean it was a lot of lore dumps so yeah this was like

a good point I could sit here and listen to you do visions every week more visions I just I live for that.

Well, I mean, to be honest, one of the things I hadn't thought about when you meet the Prime was I genuinely had forgotten that, like, yeah, Lucius has interacted

with Matrix and always had visions. You forgot that and just came up with that shit? Yeah. Wait, you just came up with my little room? Yeah.

Piece of shit. He just called that shit. That's not fair. Crazy. It is. That's such a... Like, you're like, if Lucius touches the Matrix, I have this prepared. I have his history. that's not fair crazy it is awesome that's such a like you're like

if Lucius touches the matrix I have this prepared I have his history like the lore of the prime you know that was like I was like

him telling it I forgot that Chuck can just see it like oh my god so cool