High Rollers DnD - High Rollers: Aerois #77 | Dance of the Sixth Finger (Part 1)

Episode Date: June 29, 2020

A dangerous game awaits the team in Azagrat! 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 Beyo...nd! 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

Transcript
Discussion (0)
Starting point is 00:00:00 Pickaxe. Because the Skip app saves you so much time by delivering stuff like your favorite cool treats, groceries, and bevies, you get more time to have the best summer ever. Like riding roller coasters. Learning to water ski. Applying sunscreen to your dad's back. Yep, definitely the best summer ever. Squeeze more summer out of summer with Skip. Did somebody say Skip?
Starting point is 00:00:52 Hello, everyone. Welcome back to High Rollers, a Dungeons & Dragons podcast in the world of Erois, run by Dungeon Master Mark Sherlock-Humes, with me, Tom, playing Keelak Adkalad, Cleric Wizard. I am Chris Trott. I'm playing Lucius Viren, Elowin Elanastio. And I am a High Elf Sorcerer. Hi, I'm Rhiannon. I'm playing Sentry.
Starting point is 00:01:09 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.
Starting point is 00:01:23 Create your free account and speed up your campaigns today Welcome back to Erois. Last time on our adventures, our party have been traveling through the Astral Plane, seeking out friends and foes in an attempt to return to their home plane of Erois. They have visited strange worlds, tangled with mind-flayer pirates, and most recently attempted to make a deal with an Ultraloth, a mercenary fiend who had information on the party's main enemy, Kallus Valkyrian, Emperor of the Valkyrian Empire. The deal did not go as planned, but as Zax Ravus attempted to make a desperate escape from battle, they were pursued by a desperate Nova Vigia, who with some luck and her friends managed to stop the fiend from escaping, rescuing a precious shard of her hexblade weapon, Tiangong. Tiangong. The party chose to let Zax Ravus live,
Starting point is 00:02:44 though not before using them to try and distract anyone else who would be after them. And then they left for their next destination, the world of Azaghrat, and the pleasure city of Zelotar. Here, in a place called the Argent Palace,
Starting point is 00:03:00 the party hoped to help their new companion, Thalia, in winning a game against the demon Lord Gratz. The prize, three wishes. But will everything go so smoothly? And that is where we are going to begin today. The hum of the infernal engines of the twin star longbow have almost vanished to your ears now. Having spent several days aboard the astral ship,
Starting point is 00:03:25 you have enjoyed a brief moment of calm and peace. Thalia, Whisperwind, the Medusa captain, Kyrie, the harpy gunner, and Big Cat, a big cat, have become close friends as you have shared food, played games, and taken solstice in each other's company. It's been six days since you left Elysium,
Starting point is 00:03:46 so you have all had plenty of time here on the ship to bond and chat if there is anything you wish to do. Now is the time to say it. Thalia kind of sends a message through the ship. Just to let you all know, we will soon be arriving at Azaghrat. If you have any final questions to let you all know we will soon be arriving at Azaghrat. If you have any final questions or you wish to make
Starting point is 00:04:09 some plans, now is the time to do so. Gotcha. But yeah, this is... Before we arrive, this is your chance to have any discussions, ask any questions, make any plans that you guys have.
Starting point is 00:04:26 Man, I've been going through my spell list like crazy to try and figure out what the hell... We've got no idea what this game is! Yeah, yeah. You do not. Could you not use the eye to see?
Starting point is 00:04:41 I mean, I've only got two charges on it. We could like when we get there. Yeah. Then when we get there and know what it's like, maybe Quill can give us a little bit more help there. I was also
Starting point is 00:04:57 going to use it in the game. Yeah, Thalia turns to Ayla after you said that and is like, my understanding is Grazt does not reveal the information of the game until he is challenged he creates a unique
Starting point is 00:05:17 game every time someone challenges him there is a set process to it is called the dance of the sixth finger is the challenge. It's known amongst certain circles, smugglers, criminals, gamblers, that sort of thing. Generally, I will need to go to the Argent Palace, make it clear that I wish to participate in the dance of the sixth finger. participate in the dance of the sixth finger. Likely I should make it aware that
Starting point is 00:05:45 that's well, we don't know the nature of the game. I don't know if it will be beneficial for them to know that we are companions or if it is better to keep that knowledge secret until we know the nature of the game. I don't know.
Starting point is 00:06:01 Question. Yes, of course, my dear. She kind of stands up and adjusts herself we're widely wanted across the entire universe for um being horrible horrible people um what do that is something that i'm yes that is a good a good question not one i have an answer to i'm afraid perhaps some of you have some magic to disguise yourselves if not i have some skill in being able to use physical ones yes my dear you seem to have some sort of thing you are excited about i can disguise myself.
Starting point is 00:06:45 Ah, excellent. Well, there's one. I can make you invisible as well. The other thing, Ayla, that you should be aware of is this planet, Azaghrat, it is technically part of Kallus' empire, but it is ruled by... It is ruled by Gratz and the Demon Princes. There will be soldiers there but
Starting point is 00:07:06 their power is limited the bigger risk is the demons and the devils and the celestials and the mercenaries who frequent as a grat they will likely be more interested in you are than any of the actual soldiers but it may be too much trouble. They may not wish to pursue you. It's hard to say. I would certainly, if you are concerned, take precautions. Don disguises. Whatever you need to, but...
Starting point is 00:07:36 Is there a forfeit if you lose? Do bad things happen? Oh, it's... My understanding is like any good gamble uh a stake must be placed something must be put at risk to be lost um generally man from what i understand with gratz it is servitude you place yourself your your soul your life um to serve to serve them to serve him um the only reason i am attempting this game is because i trust you all have some ability to assist me i do not expect the game to be entirely
Starting point is 00:08:14 fair uh or the challenge to be stacked in my favor but perhaps with with your assistance we have a chance of winning. How about we establish a word? Like, if you're in trouble, just say the word and we'll get you out. Clear skies. No, clear skies is good. Help, help, I feel like I'm going to lose. Is that suitable?
Starting point is 00:08:42 Subtle. More than one word. Keep in mind that this is a city filled with powerful fiends and creatures. Orcs from Archon, Celestials, even Ganassi
Starting point is 00:08:57 soldiers, all sorts of people. Fae, if we get into trouble, it will be quite obvious that we're in trouble. We may need to fight our way back to the ship and make a very quick exit.
Starting point is 00:09:13 Okay. Let us hope that Gratz himself does not deem to take the offensive. He is one of the most powerful beings in the multiverse. He is a demon prince. So I guess, really, the problem
Starting point is 00:09:32 is we need to know what the game is and then once we know what the game is, we'll know how to maybe help. But what do we have that can help? Do we have I guess spells are probably I guess they'll probably... What do you have, Ayla?
Starting point is 00:09:47 A really big hammer to hit people with. Okay, that might not work. The challenge may be combat. I don't know. It may be a gauntlet that we need to run. It may be we must best a champion of Graz's. I just don't know. Sometimes the stories that I've heard,
Starting point is 00:10:06 sometimes it is a game of dice. Sometimes it is a card game. Sometimes it is a gauntlet that must be run through. Sometimes it is a battle to the death. Sometimes it is a guessing game, a riddle.
Starting point is 00:10:22 It changes. Graz makes it unique every time so that no one can prepare. Exactly. That's what makes it so difficult to divine. Exactly. It's the perfect strategy to prevent the eye of the storm happening.
Starting point is 00:10:38 It's perfect. Yeah. So, how about we think optimistically about this whole situation I think that sounds wise what if we win right and we get granted
Starting point is 00:10:53 our three wishes but we have to say them there and then because the thing that gives us wishes needs to be used right away that is one concern I can address Master Lucius the game, the challenge is called the dance of the sixth finger
Starting point is 00:11:09 for a very specific reason Graz carries a ring it is the ring that grants the wishes the challenge is to win the ring so we get the ring and leave we take it with us right and I suggest that once we have it,
Starting point is 00:11:26 we leave as quickly as we can. Yes, I was about to say, it's going to be dangerous once we obtain that. Not to mention, I mean, others will want it. Yes. You joke,
Starting point is 00:11:41 Master Quirk, but it may very well be something as simple as that. You just don't know. I think we're prepared for whatever game he throws at us. There's no way of us knowing in advance. We've gotten through worse surprises, right? Remember Brookstone? Also, keep in mind, Grotz is not a devil.
Starting point is 00:12:03 He is not an archdevil. The servitude is enforced. We could just run away if we lose. We may have Graz's demons come after us, but it is not a magically binding contract. It is simply a case of you are a prisoner. So worst case scenario, we fight our way out. So we just add...
Starting point is 00:12:28 Yeah, we add Grotz and his demons to the list of people who are chasing after us after the Valkyrian Empire and probably Zax Ravos. Yes, but your planet is well hidden. Your world is not known to many. We could hide there.
Starting point is 00:12:43 If our entire existence is threatened by a big entity that's trying to destroy everything, maybe this is the least of the concerns. Let's just add it to the list. Positive thinking. Exactly. I like it. I like your attitude. I just don't think
Starting point is 00:12:59 about the list anymore. I find that it helps me sleep better. Just pretending the list doesn't exist. Yes. Who cares? Or just drink. I find that it helps me sleep better. Just pretending the list doesn't exist and who cares? Or just drink. I find drinking is a marvellous way of forgetting all of your problems. I've noticed.
Starting point is 00:13:16 Well, it's good to stay hydrated. Anyway. Well. Anything else? Do you have any more questions? Is uh formalities to speaking on this this plane this planet no on the on the planet no uh i mentioned this before but azergrat is it's a lawless place well there, there is one rule. The strongest survives. Demons on this planet, they will pretend to be civil.
Starting point is 00:13:53 They will smile and invite you and offer you hospitality. But they are creatures of chaos. They are creatures of violence and desire and pleasure. They do not care for rules. In terms of speaking, speak as you wish. My only suggestion is do not appear weak. Do your best to come across as strong. The weak are
Starting point is 00:14:15 preyed upon in Azaghrat. If you are attacked, fight back. Do not expect there to be authorities that will come to your rescue. Do not expect there to be authorities that will come to your rescue. Do not expect there to be law that you can run to with a complaint. The law
Starting point is 00:14:32 is Graz's, and he has decided that pleasure and strength are the only things that matter on his planet. Oh. Oh. Right, well. This, this, this umming and oh-dearing, that Oh. Oh. Right. This umming
Starting point is 00:14:48 and oh dearing, that must stop before we arrive. Optimus. We will stop Grazt in his tracks. There's no way he can get past us. The time that I get to talk to people because it doesn't matter
Starting point is 00:15:03 if I say something offensive because I'm going to appear like I'm strong and I know what I'm doing. As my time comes where I'm not going to mess stuff up. Do you have any pointers for the rest of us? Could you give us a quick masterclass in appearing confident even though you want to die inside?
Starting point is 00:15:20 Sure. I'm a delight. Just don't... Yeah, that wasn't convincing in the slightest, Quill. Just don't give a shit, really. I mean... The lady knows her. Hell yeah.
Starting point is 00:15:34 The lady knows her, man. Just, uh... Hey, hey, think of it this way. Everybody in the universe probably after us anyway. What's a few more go out swinging fuck it hey ayla i don't care about what you just said i'm kidding ayla i care a lot i really appreciate the lessons well i think we're all ready in for a copper in for a gold we will be arriving shortly I'm going to go plot our
Starting point is 00:16:07 descent through the astral sea and Thalia makes her way to the cockpit and yeah you guys if you guys want to chat to each other you can but otherwise we will skip ahead to arriving in Azaghrat hmm I'm scared
Starting point is 00:16:24 I'm scared I'm scared so I mean it's just a lot of tension and a little planning we can actually do yeah how many days
Starting point is 00:16:31 do you actually have I don't know is there any planning you can do how many days until we're there um like one
Starting point is 00:16:39 like you are arriving today unless if there's something you wanted to have done yesterday sure if you want to say I used used the thing yesterday or today,
Starting point is 00:16:49 you can do that now, if you want to use the eye. Or if you want to use a spell. If you said, like, I want to cast Commune yesterday, I would say, yeah, sure. Or can I say that I cast Legend Lore on the sixth finger? I mean, sure, read out the spell. Name or describe a person, place, or object.
Starting point is 00:17:10 The spell brings you to your mind a brief summary of the significant lore about the thing you named, and it must consist of current tales, forgotten stories, or secret lore that has never been widely known. All right, you have not disguised, you have not said a thing, a place, or a person.
Starting point is 00:17:25 I said an object. The Dance of the Six... The Dance of the Six Finger is not an object. It is a challenge. It is a game. Oh, is the ring not called the Six Finger? Process. You don't know what the ring's called.
Starting point is 00:17:35 Barley just said it's a ring that grants wishes. No. Damn it. Can I do Grats instead then? You can ask about Grats. Yeah, you can ask about Grats. Yeah, absolutely. Cool. See what he. What do you get?
Starting point is 00:17:48 Is it just like... What does it say that you get from the spell? Sorry, it's not a spell I super like. The information you learn is accurate, but might be couched in figurative language. For example, if you have a mysterious magic axe on the... Blah, blah, blah. Right, okay.
Starting point is 00:18:02 If the thing you named isn't of legendary importance, you gain no information. He's of legendary importance. Okay. That's a cool build. He hasn't pooped in four days. Wow.
Starting point is 00:18:18 So, as you as Quill, as you as you cast your mind out to the questions and answers of the multiverse, of the planes, of all the knowledge that magic itself can provide, you get the following back. A prince of pleasures, dark and powerful, burning eyes that promise both pleasure and pain.
Starting point is 00:18:51 Born of two worlds and master of one. His power... greater than his greed. I'm scared. The Argent Palace is his kingdom. hmm trying to think of like because it just says that you just learn lore about him like there's not really like a secret
Starting point is 00:19:34 thing that you can really find out I've learned a couple things there yeah it's his wikipedia page not really it's like yeah I'm just trying to think because I want to give you something that's useful for the spell but I'm trying to
Starting point is 00:19:50 think that what would be useful that falls into the category of the spell this is legend lore and stuff like that sometimes you need a bit of thinking for it I need to start prepping myself I did not realize how much it costs yeah that's 250. It's 250 GP you've spent.
Starting point is 00:20:08 And also, let's say that you bought 200 golds worth of ivory strips, Tom Hazel. So who has money? Who can mark that off? I got tons of money. I can do it myself. You've got all me. Oh, you can do it as well. Yeah, if you mark that off.
Starting point is 00:20:23 You've locked loads. So, okay. The spell brings to mind a brief summary of the significant law the law might consist of current tales forgotten stories or even secret law that has never been widely known okay that helps a little bit more okay so along with that stuff it also says um unfortunately this is stuff you kind of already know actually no because i think it gives you more information yeah if I know it it gives me something new no one has ever
Starting point is 00:20:49 bested Grazt at the dance of the sixth finger it has become a mystery it has become a story told a lure for adventurers we totally got this, guys.
Starting point is 00:21:07 Optimism. Fine. It'll be fine. A secret deal between the Prince of Pleasure and the Emperor of the Multiverse keeps his planet safe under his command. Hold on There you go
Starting point is 00:21:26 So if we Convince him Calus doesn't like him Yeah I think that's worth the 250 gold Spent What the hell do we do with her Hey Calus doesn't Like you 50 gold spent. What the hell do we do with her?
Starting point is 00:21:46 Hey, Calus doesn't like you. Give us the ring. I don't like you either. So, we cut back. Well, you can either have cast that. You can cast that yesterday and then we'll just say that you kind of remembered all of the stuff you learned.
Starting point is 00:22:03 As the twin star longbow uh begins to descend towards a crimson red mixed with brown planet yes rian as the twin star is descending can sentry go to the cockpit and like observe the planet and try and get a good idea of like pathways for like exit strategies and stuff. Mmm. Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. Oh, absolutely. Yes. So, you head up to the cockpit where Thalia
Starting point is 00:22:34 is controlling the crystal... the crystalline controls of the astral ship. She is gently touching various orbs and switches and crystals as the twin star descends through a very thick, ash-like atmosphere. The sky here is crimson blood red. The nearby sort of like sun is masked behind these thick ever-present clouds
Starting point is 00:22:59 that kind of cast everything in this haunting glow. Gold and brown streaks through the atmosphere give it this otherworldly appearance as everything is coated in this blood-red light. You can see that there are many cities, large cities. Some of them appear to be giant spires made of iron connected by bridges. One of them almost looks like a giant spider's web of metal strands and
Starting point is 00:23:28 strips where you can see large arachnid-like shapes skittering and crawling across it. But Thalia heads towards a much more welcoming sight. You see a city that
Starting point is 00:23:44 whatever light makes its way through the blood red atmosphere this city reflects it it is polished bright and shining its buildings seem to almost be made of gold and silver and bronze and at its very heart is a giant pyramid with six spires that project out of its uh many faceted uh faces um each each of these spires held aloft by an enormous gargantuan golden statue the statues are in different poses some of them are suggestive some of them are dominating some of them are dominating, some of them are imposing, some of them celebratory. They all show the same humanoid, though its form changes slightly with each one, sometimes appearing more feminine, sometimes appearing more masculine. This giant figure is perfect, no matter what form it is in.
Starting point is 00:24:48 Every inch of its body is sculpted to absolute perfection in a haunting way as it holds up these giant spires from this main central golden palace you can see that great streets stretch out like spokes of a wheel connecting alleyways and tightly packed corridors of crammed together buildings, magical lights, illusions that show off designs, clasking, you know, flagons being brought together in celebration, demonic looking entities fighting against each other, all sorts of different illusory signs and advertisements displaying different pleasures and indulgences on offer. One main street connects the kind of port to the palace, the golden building at the very heart. This main street appears to be covered by a shiny mirror-like substance that keeps the
Starting point is 00:25:46 kind of dull red atmosphere away. And that seems to be the main thoroughfare that leads through the city of Zelotar itself. It doesn't take long before the hum of the infernal engines of the Twin Star come to an end
Starting point is 00:26:02 as the ship settles into one of the many berths of a large port on the edge of the twin star come to an end as the ship settles into one of the many berths of a large port on the edge of the city itself. Dahlia stands up. In terms of scoping out escape vectors and stuff
Starting point is 00:26:17 for Sentry, absolutely. You can see the easiest options, although they look like they might be the most crowded. The side streets are a maze. They're like a warren, a labyrinthian in their twists and turns. It would be difficult without perfect memory to be able to use those to navigate a fast retreat. They're purposely designed to be confusing.
Starting point is 00:26:42 So the main thoroughfare is probably the fastest and easiest way cool um but as the ship comes to an uh kind of still uh thalia kind of picks up a few things and gestures i'm going to be leaving kairi and big cat here i will also be sealing the twin star that only i may open it again the other two will be able to open it from the inside but i do not trust this place i will be making sure that it is well defended i do not want anybody trying to steal my ship good plan yes fair enough it's a shame we don't have big cat for the intimidation factor it's a shame we don't have big cat for the intimidation factor walking towards this venue the people here big cat is not a powerful creature they are a loyal companion a good body
Starting point is 00:27:32 guard but here people would not be afraid of big cat i'm afraid um perhaps some of the lesser demons but we don't have anything to worry about no one's afraid of big head here we're doomed no alright if you're ready my plan is to head to the palace unless there is anything you want to try and explore the city to find
Starting point is 00:28:00 it is you can find almost anything here if you wish to find services or items this is the place to do it but i recommend you do not go off alone no no not libraries uh there may be dens of things such as there may be dens of um more interesting methods of learning perhaps we could which we could call them i thought you said this was a pleasure planet. Unless you're a nerd. You're a nerd.
Starting point is 00:28:30 Nerd. There is not significant profit to be made from a library, but you can pay people to teach you things here. You can pay to learn things via magic if there is a thing that you wish to become familiar with. Knowledge is priceless.
Starting point is 00:28:48 Not on this planet, I'm afraid. Oh! Team, maybe I could find someone to teach me that thing. The thing, the thing, the thing, the freaking heal greater injury for my book.
Starting point is 00:29:03 And then if one of you breaks your leg again, I can put that back together better. I can cast that. Oh. Well, you could teach me then. Why didn't you tell me this? You didn't ask.
Starting point is 00:29:20 You didn't say. He doesn't always know what he can cast though remember yeah he's only just learned that he can raise the dead i've only just learned that spell yeah um i've only just learned heal greater injury also i have 25 spells prepared at any one time like wow i've got a lot going that's a lot um this this is a a place to trade if you wish uh things like art jewels gemstones gold very valuable here this is the place to trade, if you wish. Things like art, jewels, gemstones, gold. Very valuable here. This is the place to trade them, if you wish.
Starting point is 00:29:50 If anyone needs anything, we've got plenty of money. We can do things. Ayla, could we find someone to make the hammer do the thing? Yeah. Yes, there's definitely going to be artisans here, yes. Then I can upgrade the hammer a little bit. That'd be awesome. That sounds like a good idea.
Starting point is 00:30:08 The only ropey potential thread that we could use to benefit us is to get some rumours. Rumours about this person, whether there's a trick to it or ways we can expose the fact that he's never lost. There's got to be something to do with that. If we can expose him, will law and order take place and we'll be given the ring? No, nobody will care. Nobody will care.
Starting point is 00:30:41 Right. Sadly. But embarrassment. Nobody would dare go against. The other demon princes, the other rulers of the different cities on this place, they're the only ones who could really challenge Graz, and I don't think they'd care. Nothing else.
Starting point is 00:30:59 People will still be desperate enough to try it. There are none, Lucius. As I mentioned, Graz is the ruler of this city. The Empire takes no interest in it. But they can't take to the streets and make sure there's no petty crimes going on. Oh, there's petty crimes everywhere. I suggest you watch your coin
Starting point is 00:31:16 purse, your equipment very closely as we walk through the streets. Remember when we crashed an airship and you ended up in the lowlands instead of on your own high elf planet and you were devastated and you didn't know what a cow was yes thank you it's like a new version of that consider it the lowlands again Consider it the lowlands again.
Starting point is 00:31:45 Oh, Lord. Why? Why do we have to be here? Wishes don't mean money. If you wish to just remain on the ship, you are welcome to, but I would be loath to not be without your sorcerous abilities. If we do need to fight,
Starting point is 00:32:02 you will be very useful here. You are a very talented spellcaster. I'm not leaving my friends, but it doesn't mean I don't like it. Well, I can't say I like it either. I do not particularly like this planet, but needs must. Needs must. Right, gather yourselves, my friends, and let us go. And with that, Thalia will open the door.
Starting point is 00:32:24 Remember, fuck it go out swinging screw you Azagret screw you with that very confident battle cry you exit the little loading
Starting point is 00:32:40 the little ramp opens up and a little step leads down into a busy port. Very much like the port on Elysium. You see various astral ships all birthed. But this time, instead of beautiful angelic creatures everywhere, you see monsters. Huge, terrifying, nine foot tall, red skin, scaled toads with huge claws and long drooping arms you see you see creatures that look like they are made of gelatinous flesh just kind of like blobbing and
Starting point is 00:33:16 and pulsing and kind of making their way along in huge groups of them yeah uh this kind of like big gelatinous you know big gelatinous, you know, these gelatinous bodies that have vaguely human shapes and tormented looking like mouths that look like they're constantly screaming are just sort of like being herded around to cargo and things like that.
Starting point is 00:33:39 Sounds like my natural state. Humanoid figures, but rather than heads, they have golden masks that don't change in their expression carrying weapons and armor patrolling the streets giant fly like
Starting point is 00:33:54 humans that buzz through the air carrying messages it is full of monsters and it is horrible the air is surprisingly sweet it smells like sugar and cinnamon and it is horrible. The air is surprisingly sweet. It smells like sugar and cinnamon. The air is thick, cloying.
Starting point is 00:34:12 Every breath, kind of your head feels woozy and there's almost an intoxication to it as the air is just so rich and thick. It's pleasantly warm. Everything about the city is alluringly comfortable, despite the horrific kind of creatures that inhabit it. And Thalia begins leading you down towards the main thoroughfare. You see a sign that points to the Hall of Vanity,
Starting point is 00:34:41 which is the main thoroughfare that leads through into the Argent Palace. Every surface here, every stone wall is polished to such a sheen it is like a mirror, which means these crowded streets seem even more full and confusing than they would normally. It's like walking through a hall of mirrors, but it's an entire
Starting point is 00:35:06 street of mirrors. So every crowd is tripled, quadrupled, ten times the sizes it could be as you're just looking around at all these different reflections. You catch yourselves in weird angles as you are making your way down, and you think you see
Starting point is 00:35:22 somebody that looks like, oh, it's just Aayla's reflection, but it's, you know, separated down like an alleyway or something like that as the light is being reflected around. No, it is definitely, there are other people here and they are a lot of them. Looking around,
Starting point is 00:35:38 you see huge giants, fire giants, their bodies smoldering and smoking, hunched, kind of crawling and pushing their way through narrow corridors to reach into a small little bar. It looks like where they have to duck into tiny little doors and push their way through. You see Valkyrian soldiers, not in armor, but in uniform, drunkenly making their way through the town, seemingly exploring it for shore leave or fun. You're not quite sure what, uh,
Starting point is 00:36:08 you see fame, you see elegant, uh, Elven nobles, um, Eladrin with huge eyes that beam just one solid color and elongated ears dressed in green finery covered in still blooming flowers. Eladrin that seemed to be made of ice,
Starting point is 00:36:26 frost covering up their body almost like clothing as they laugh and titter and point at the strange realities of the city that they find themselves in, like tourists exploring it for the first time. It is densely packed as you make your way down. It is densely packed as you make your way down. You don't go a few steps before a very strange-looking, green insectoid-like creature, no bigger than a halfling,
Starting point is 00:36:57 comes running up. He literally grabs, let's see, one, two, three, four, five, and then Thalia will be six. He grabs, he tries to grab Sentry's hand. It's like, yes, yes, come this way. Immediate. Best, best, best armor and weapons in, in, in Zalatars city. Come, come, come. And he's pulling on you, Sentry, to try and take you down an alleyway.
Starting point is 00:37:23 No, thank you. Sorry. We're, we're busy. Maybe try. No, thank you. Sorry. We're busy. Maybe try... No, no. Yes, yes. Busy. Come this way. No, no. We have other things. You leave him and Sentry alone now. Ah!
Starting point is 00:37:37 He just lets go of Sentry's hand and looks around, gives up, finds another visitor, runs over to them. Almost looks like a dwarf, but with glowing skin. They run over to them like a almost looks like a dwarf but with glowing skin uh they run over to them and like a luminous white beard yes yes celestial come this way best weapons and armor in zelotastini follow me follow me and it's just like trying to lure them away um just immediately gives up as soon as you resist they just go straight off you do have to just be a little stern.
Starting point is 00:38:05 See? Sounds good. Oh, my heart is racing. Mine is too, seeing you be so mean. I didn't recognize you, Lucius. I know. Yeah, you continue making your way down this main thoroughfare, and soon it becomes quickly, there are dozens of stores, stalls, bars, gambling dens, brothels.
Starting point is 00:38:33 There is just any kind of business exists here, and there are hundreds of them. Restaurants, taverns, inns, all with these glowing magic signs with barkers outside. You see humans, you see humanoids like orcs, you see a few halfling-like creatures, gnome-like creatures, you see humans all smiling these incredibly uncomfortable two wide smiles, and they don't stop smiling.
Starting point is 00:39:03 No matter what they say or do they've constantly got these big high smiles they're giving out leaflets they are calling out to people yes come this way best best devil clams in the city this way this way and they're trying to pull people in um you see
Starting point is 00:39:20 similar humans yeah it's deafening it's like a cacophony of shouting and noise you hear barkers calling out you can hear music just blaring out of inns and things like that as you make your way down um it's hard to hear each other without shouting to one another um as you make your way down um but yeah is there anything that like takes your interest you can see like anything you can kind of imagine, like any sort of business or
Starting point is 00:39:47 any kind of store that you are looking for, you can probably find here. Do you want to go find somewhere for the hammer? A hammer upgrade around here. Let's not stay apart. I'm going to use my glamour weave fabric to make bright vivid patterns
Starting point is 00:40:10 almost like a a beacon so that everyone can see where i am and therefore can stay together sure uh yeah so it starts with his pulsing animated magic arrows indicating his presence. And you see a few citizens, a few people kind of like look, a very regal looking, almost like a dryad. Like you can see that she has these like long vines and flowers blooming instead of hair, bark like skin, but appears to be wearing like almost like mushroom,
Starting point is 00:40:44 like fungus clothing. It's like grown over her like mushroom like fungus clothing it's like grown over her like a like a dress but it's like a giant mushroom and she kind of points at lucius um and says something in a language i don't think anybody understands maybe century do you speak sylvan um no yeah so just this very beautiful flowing language just as like lucius goes past um and yeah people start noticing lucius like he's drawing a lot of attention to himself uh yeah oh my goodness we're not going like under the radar anymore and yeah what are you asking for like are you asking to ask directions are you just going gonna wander around till you find somewhere that looks like a blacksmith's or what do you guys want to do? Mmm leave that to Nova and Ayla
Starting point is 00:41:32 Sure, do not go into the alleys if if you get separated do not stay on this promenade Because if you go into the alleys, I've sort of they're like a maze you will on you might not be able to get out We'll die there. We'll die there. Stay here. Nova? Drink. Thank you. I'm going to pretend to flex, but then
Starting point is 00:41:56 can I just slip my hand into sentries and just hold on? You can hold sentries. Oh my goodness. I'll hold Nova's hand. Oh my goodness. I'll hold Fitch's hand back. Stay together. So this is unlikely, but I've got the observant feat,
Starting point is 00:42:14 which means I can interpret what anyone is saying by reading their lips. Can I just look down the entire road that we're on? Because we can't hear anything, right? Even people shouting out, I'm just waiting for the hammer upgrades and i just see anyone just saying like well i keep in mind that being able to read lips and looking like if you went into central london and looked at piccadilly square could you like you'd have to look at each individual person and
Starting point is 00:42:42 like watch what they say to read their lips. You can't just immediately absorb what everybody at once is saying. So you kind of have to, like, one person at a time. Passive perception. Says otherwise. Even with a 24-passive perception. I look beyond our range of hearing. Yeah, I mean, you look around,
Starting point is 00:42:59 and with your high perception, with Quill's high perception, and being very observant that you are, you can see a lot of things. You see shady deals going down. You can see that there is what appears to be like a large vulture-like demon seems to be making some sort of deal
Starting point is 00:43:16 with a bunch of little urchin gnomes or something like that, like kind of like little grey rock-coloured gnomes, and slips them like a little something, and then they go scuttering off. You look over and you see a trio of drunken Valkyrian
Starting point is 00:43:35 soldiers, and these, a trio of two women and a man, look at them, their forms ripple and change as they become these exotic long-eared blue-skinned white-haired elves and then they make their way over to the soldiers and begin like calling them and like pulling them into what appears to be a bar uh and the soldiers just go with them like uh the the mixed group of soldiers just immediately follow and kind of chase after them. And after a while, the thing you notice is you don't see like many smithies
Starting point is 00:44:10 or like armor smiths or weapon smiths in this main promenade. But one building does stand out, mainly its name and also the clientele going towards it. There's an interesting mix. There appear to be two entrances to a large theater like an opera house um bright it kind of shines like polished steel um and it has uh these wonderful illusions that project this simulated battle between a knight in like shining golden armor and a powerful demonic figure in black armor with a flaming hammer. And the two of them clash
Starting point is 00:44:47 and the sparks rain down on the front of the theater entrance with a little box office. The people going in the front look like nobility, like the kind of nobility you would see in a rowist on Gusthaven. Fine ball gown like dresses, domino masks,
Starting point is 00:45:02 carrying like fans, but they're made up of all different creatures. One appears to be a giant ball gown-like dresses, domino masks, carrying fans. But they're made up of all different creatures. One appears to be a giant that has clouds and storms gathering around her. One couple appears to be two excellently well-dressed angelic beings, two men who are holding hands and they make their way in. You see a group of armored uh demonic looking creatures are all dressed in like these elegant slim fitting dresses making their way in these warrior women but the other entrance you see very well equipped with good weapons good armor
Starting point is 00:45:40 magically enchanted going in a side entrance near the back of the place. And a sign says in common the theater of steel. Hmm. Cool. That sounds fancy. Sorry, I just pictured a stage with the curtains pulled back. It's just blocks
Starting point is 00:46:01 of steel. On the stage in little outfits. Could be. And that's it. Could be. Little Minecraft. Okay, I'll message a ring so everyone can hear me and sort of say it's over there. I found a place. Follow me. Don't follow me. Follow
Starting point is 00:46:22 Ayla. Ayla, it's over there. Make a path. What is... What's over there make a path what is the place okay I'll go towards where he's pointing then so Ayla you start making your way forward Thalia kind of follows and the rest of the group will begin
Starting point is 00:46:40 kind of following with Ayla and Quill to get to the theater of steel you have to kind of walk further down the concourse um and quill you see the three figures that you'd seen change form to lure the soldiers in they appear to be in front of a large bar like a drinking den um it's elegantly black onyx stone everything is written in a very deep red kind of font. And it just calls it, it just calls itself the lights. And it appears it's got that kind of swanky cocktail bar vibe to it with kind of this brushed black stone.
Starting point is 00:47:15 These three figures look over everybody. One of them transforms into a very muscular, topless, dark skinned elf that looks very similar to Aayla's kind of style with this type of ears and stuff like that and tattoos. One transforms into a very vibrantly colored Aarakocra, like a bird person with a sort of crested, feathered headdress. Oh, shit, I'm rumbled.
Starting point is 00:47:41 And then the other one takes on the form of a very kind of like swell uh svelte um scantily dressed uh just uh probably a fire ganassi probably um with long flaming hair that kind of spills down her back and bronze skin and the three of them approach uh and you they begin kind of calling out just like oh travelers come you should have the best drinks in the city it delights you're so like we'd love, travelers, come. You should have the best drinks in the city. It delights. You're so, like, we'd love to join you for company. Like, this is the best place to drink in town.
Starting point is 00:48:10 And they're kind of calling out to you as you approach. No, we do not have to. Whoa. You see this, like, almost like a cockatiel with bright colored kind of like pink feathers. And she raises like a wingatiel, but bright-colored, kind of like pink feathers. And she raises a wing up towards you. Yes! The best drinks in the entire city.
Starting point is 00:48:36 We've never seen some kinds like yours before. I've got 24 perception. I can see everything. I've got 24 perception. I can see everything. The fire... The fire Ganassi looks towards Nova, Thalia and Lucius and she just flicks her like long... And it's like fire.
Starting point is 00:48:54 It's like Hades. It's like Hades from Hercules where it's just this long, fiery orange embers and she just kind of flicks her hair as little embers flip her away. She's hot. I am. I am quite hot.
Starting point is 00:49:12 Yes. Come, we have good food and good drinks. The perfect way to celebrate your arrival in Zellitar. Where are you from? Who are you? And they kind of reach out with their hands. They're reaching out towards you. One of them slides up, the larger kind of muscular one, kind of just looks at Aayla
Starting point is 00:49:28 and is just like, hey, what's up? Yeah, don't touch. I won't touch you unless you want me to. And he just kind of shrugs. And then looks towards Lucius, looks towards Nova and Thalia and Sentry.
Starting point is 00:49:46 So, um... What brings you all... What's your name? Ah! It's... It's... Flexes these huge muscles behind his back. It's, uh...
Starting point is 00:50:05 What is my name? I totally forgot. I could just call you Your Majesty if you like. God! You know of my nobility? Oh, no. Sure.
Starting point is 00:50:22 It's the outfit, isn't it? I just look down at all the animated arrows Sure The female Arakoka looks at Quill I'm doing a main gun Yeah Kicking his little legs back
Starting point is 00:50:39 Flapping his Puffing himself up laughing laughing laughing laughing what is Quill doing? I would like to know what Quill is actually doing when Tom can rose himself
Starting point is 00:50:56 I'd like to formally request that someone draws Quill performing some kind of mating dance oh my god it's like in House of Train Your Dragon when Toothless starts doing the little dance in the third one. Oh my god. So what's everyone doing?
Starting point is 00:51:15 Century? Anything from Century? Anything from Quill? I know what Nova's doing. Nova's freaking out. Thalia looks a little bit annoyed. I think Thalia looks a little bit annoyed. I think Thalia looks a little bit like... Nova like, come on, really? Every pretty face that comes across?
Starting point is 00:51:32 She looks a bit indignant. That you're just like... Total hypocrite. Thing is, Nova can't stop looking between the fire ganassi and the muscly dude. Like, especially with the flexin. She can't.
Starting point is 00:51:47 Yeah, yeah, yeah. She can't. Yeah, he's just sort of like... No. Nova's just like... Boom. Don't you have some sort of tailor to go to? You're missing a...
Starting point is 00:52:02 A garment! A lot of clothes. That's a lot of skin. It's very warm. It's very warm out here. You know, it's easier to do my job not having as many clothes on. He kind of winks at you.
Starting point is 00:52:16 I don't understand. Is this person flirting with me? No, we're just asking if you want to come and join us for some drinks come and join us Wait, you should have some lovely drinks and in the dots. We are no longer interested in your your sales tactic Oh The fire Ganassi is like oh you wound us sir. This is we're just inviting you for some drinks
Starting point is 00:52:42 We want to have some we just want to have some good companionship. Why don't you join us? I'm going to look to Ayla for confirmation on what's going on. It's the no, sir. We're going to have to pass, and I'll just keep walking. Okay. Nova, Nova, do not. They watch Ayla walk off, but they're still looking at the rest of you.
Starting point is 00:53:04 Come on, let your friend go off. Why not come and join us? Sit down. She'll be fine. Look at her. I'm just consenting cast. Yeah? Go on.
Starting point is 00:53:18 Consenting cast enlarge, and then just pick up Quill and Nova and Lutas. Just carry them away. No, thank you! You don't even need to cast Enlarge. For three of you, I think she does. Oh, three of us, yeah. I'll come back and get Nova. Okay, so Ayla kind of stomps back.
Starting point is 00:53:38 Sentry just picks them up and just... You can look at them while I walk away. That's too many. Valia looks back, kind of looks at the three of them and is just like, if only I had more time, darlings, and then
Starting point is 00:53:54 trots off after the rest of you. As, yeah, Century and Aayla carry you away from the three succubi who were trying to lure you in to their drinking establishment. And yeah, you continue on your way. And yeah, the group of you arrive
Starting point is 00:54:10 before this theater, this theater of steel. And you can see that there is a side entrance. The sign for the side entrance reads Participants and Warriors Only. And then the main entrance is got flowery language. Welcome guests to the greatest story that can ever be told. The only story that matters. The story
Starting point is 00:54:29 of battle. Wow. Wow. Well, this is not the place that... This is a show. Well, the place around the other side is, yeah,
Starting point is 00:54:46 but this place... I mean, someone's going to be able to upgrade your hammer here. The story of battle. That's a participant's door, Quill. Do you want to go in? Do you want to participate in the battle? They might sell or upgrade weapons as part of the process of battle. Or hit you in the face with part of the process of battle.
Starting point is 00:55:07 Try it. Try it. We just go in, we go out. I'm sure we could ask them if they know anything about weapons. There is a bouncer on the front door. There's like a concierge for the main entrance. On the side where it says
Starting point is 00:55:24 participants only, there is... I need to check how big these things are, actually. How big are these guys? I think these guys are very big. Yeah. You didn't notice this creature at first, because it's not like they're a bouncer next to the door. They're not even a large creature in the alleyway.
Starting point is 00:55:45 They are leaning on the side of the building nearby, looking down into the alleyway. They must be about 20 feet tall. They look like a giant horned demon with huge goat legs, and powerfully huge build. And they're just looking down, kind of picking at their teeth, just watching
Starting point is 00:56:06 the alleyway, but they almost look like another building like this huge red furry building next to it oh boy oh did you want to ask that gentleman up there this is for your hammer
Starting point is 00:56:24 excuse me as Quill kind of like walks that gentleman up there. This is for your hammer! Excuse me! As Quill kind of like walks down this little alleyway and you can see that there are demons and fighters all kind of in a bit of a line making their way in and they all look at Quill casting this side glance as the huge
Starting point is 00:56:41 angry ape goat creature looks down. Yes. Can I help you? Hopefully. Little bird. Are you here to be target practice? No, no, Hesper, no, no.
Starting point is 00:57:05 My friend here has a big hammer and we want to make it bigger. Biggerer. If you want upgrades, yes, inside. But, uh... Don't go near the stage
Starting point is 00:57:21 or the lady will, uh... Well, let's just say you won't have any hands left for your friend to be using that hammer. Oh. Inside on the right. Inside on the right. Seek the smith. Thank you
Starting point is 00:57:37 very much. Nowhere near the stage. Nowhere near the stage. Interesting. Interesting. Maybe we could watch the show. Sounds interesting. You wanna watch the show? You and your friends are gonna need to be much better dressed. The lady doesn't like it when, uh, streets come in. Even this guy? Look, he's got arrows all over him. He's fine. He points at arrows all over him he's fine
Starting point is 00:58:05 he points at Lucius this one's fine the construct is fine the rest of you need to change what the hell we're just gonna go to the smith thanks
Starting point is 00:58:21 inside on the right look for the elf okay and I will do that to the smith, thanks. Inside, on the right, look for the elf. Okay. And I will do that. I will. Yeah, you kind of make your way in. You see, uh, there's a screeching vulture creature that's wearing thick black leather armor covered in blades. Kind of grabs your arm, Ayla. It's like, hey!
Starting point is 00:58:40 What are you doing? I'm going to get my weapon upgraded. Ah, not before us. I'm going to get my weapon upgraded not before us and kind of like lets you go just like you wouldn't have lasted five seconds anyway
Starting point is 00:58:56 I'll just keep walking yeah sure you just walk in what about the rest of you staying outside or are you following Ayla I'm still over Sentry's shoulder you're on my shoulder so I'm currently carrying you someone's got me who's got me
Starting point is 00:59:13 Ayla's got Nova and Sentry's holding Quill and Lucius like this somewhere around Ayla's butt you just hear those Ayla I don't know oh I honestly forgot Aayla's butt, you just hear there's... Aayla, can I put it down now? Oh, I honestly forgot.
Starting point is 00:59:31 You weigh like nothing, so I forgot you were there. I forgot. Yeah, you put it down. When the two of you go inside, you enter into, yeah, the backstage of a theater almost. You can see, rather than being made from from wood it is constructed from a dark gray near black polished stone uh you see racks of weapons armor you see little kind of like pieces of terrain almost or like obstacles movable boulders uh giant like spiked things that hang on a wall um you know portable fences
Starting point is 01:00:09 that sort of thing um and you can see a lot of hustle and bustle there are a lot more of these smiling humanoids with these uncomfortable joker-like smiles who are running around laughing singing yes i'm bringing bringing the next load of weapons, mistress, ha ha ha, and they're kind of smiling and laughing as they push around crates of weapons. One appears to be dragging several headless bodies. Got a couple more for the disposal, milady,
Starting point is 01:00:36 and they're just, ha ha ha ha, look how funny he looks, and they're dragging them away as a big smear of blood is left as they drag the body away. But the two of you look to the right and you can hear the faint clanging of a smith and the heat of a forge coming from a little bit to the right and down.
Starting point is 01:00:55 It seems to be that there is a set of stairs down that lead into some sort of basement or similar setup. Okay. We'll go towards that. Nova, I'm sorry, you've got to come with me. You're the bank. I need you. Yeah, no, that's fine. Can I hold your hand? Do you want me to just pick you up again? Honestly, it's less
Starting point is 01:01:14 embarrassing. No, I just want to hold your hand. There's bodies over there and they're missing their heads. Ah, fine. Thank you. Century, you need to be a bother. Hi, Quill, by the way. Oh, you need to be a bother. Hi, Quill, by the way. Oh, hi.
Starting point is 01:01:30 Should we be following Aayla and Nova down the basement? Oh, yeah. Sure, yeah. Let's go follow. I was wondering if maybe it might be worth someone watching outside, just in case. We could, yes. But something bad can happen down there too. He's doing that for us.
Starting point is 01:01:46 Yes. That is true. Okay. Bye, big guy. You just hear a grunt. That's it. Picks its teeth. He likes me.
Starting point is 01:01:57 Yeah. You guys follow, and the group of you all make your way downstairs. You emerge in a kind of... It's been hot. It's been comfortably warm up on the main thoroughfare and the main plane. Down here, it's stifling hot.
Starting point is 01:02:10 You can feel waves of heat coming from some supernatural furnace. As you emerge in a workshop, you can see that there are racks upon racks of weapons and armor. You can see materials, crates, stacks of it. And there are two figures. One appears to be a Durgar.
Starting point is 01:02:26 You've seen Durgar before. They are dark, grey-skinned dwarves with kind of quill-like beards, orange-red. They have glowing orange eyes. And he appears to be overlooking the various weapons, checking them. They have a very, like, he has a very short quill beard, but very long orange hair that's all tied up into, like, a samurai
Starting point is 01:02:51 topknot. And he is, like, examining several blades as he looks up and sees you. Everybody, you notice that there is a figure in the back. They appear to be kind of lively built. They've got tattoos, tattoos like red tattoos over dark caramel skin um and long black hair that's done up in a similar like undercut samurai top
Starting point is 01:03:13 knot um where it's all kind of shaved at the back but then the the length longer bit is kind of put up into the top of the head um you can see that the the figure behind appears to be working the actual forge itself. And you can see along these red tattoos is fire. It kind of swirls and moves along their body and their skin. And Quill is eerily similar to how lightning appears on Aayla's body. lightning appears on Aayla's body and Aayla you notice a scrap of red, black and orange fabric
Starting point is 01:03:50 hanging off of a belt a thick leather belt around their waist they are seemingly adjusting the forge and you can see a pair of mutilated ear tips from the back of their head, you can see that the of mutilated ear tips from the back of their head.
Starting point is 01:04:05 You can see that the tips of them have been cut off. But yeah, it's very easy to spot the same sort of tattoos and markings that you have seen on other wild elves. But this one has fire rolling down their body as they surge the heat into the forge. The Durgar looks up. I don't think I know
Starting point is 01:04:32 any of you. You're not combatants or staff. Freelancers, are you? Yeah, just here, actually. Heard that you were good at upgrading some weapons
Starting point is 01:04:46 Got told to speak to the elf Ah It's a bit of a joke if you heard that from the Garistra outside He doesn't speak, or at least not much And he like turns around and in Elvish, so anybody who
Starting point is 01:05:02 speaks Elven, hears the word sort of like, you hear like a boy, and the elf turns around, and you can see they're very, it's a male elf, very well built, like heavily muscular, but covered in scars. One half of their face is almost ruined by scars. It's like deep cuts and wounds, burn marks. One of their eyes is
Starting point is 01:05:26 completely white the other one is wild and kind of looks around part of their mouth where it's been scarred is kind of drooped and and sort and in a kind of very broken elvish you just hear a kind of like a yeah the fires the fires of the goddess i I need to keep them keep them hot, keep it hot, must keep it hot gotta fight, gotta fight and he's just like, back to the forge, and the elf kind of turns around and begins stoking at the fires as well
Starting point is 01:05:56 too many fights in the pit afraid the mistress the blade mistress put him put too much on this one, I think. Okay. I'm looking to upgrade this hammer. I'll show you that.
Starting point is 01:06:16 Yeah, you kind of bring out the material that you bought for like the jump enchantment and stuff like that. And he says, ah, yes, yes, yes. Very fine work. Very, very nice. I like this a lot. I've and stuff like that. He says, ah, yes, yes, yes. Very fine work. Very, very nice. I like this a lot. I've not seen much like this. Almost.
Starting point is 01:06:31 Reminds me of somewhere else. Hmm. Elven. Where's that? Place called Alfheim. He kind of looks at you, sees the cloth. Huh. Alfheim. He kind of looks at you, sees the cloth. Alfheim indeed.
Starting point is 01:06:49 Puts it on the thing. Aye, with what you've brought me here, I can do something with this. Can make it light. An enchantment that'll let you leap and jump. Make you weightless in a sense. I can do that. It's easy enough. Take me a few hours. Why do you do that?
Starting point is 01:07:08 That's not all you want to ask. I want to talk to the elf again. Be my guest. I'm afraid that you're not going to get much out of it. Anyway, let me deal with this. When he was a fighter, we used to call him... When he used to fight
Starting point is 01:07:34 Wraithra. Wraithra. What was his name? Boy! And then he turns to the forge and starts taking the enchanted metals you bought on elysium you see him beginning to pull out very fine inscription tools to hammer some sort of like glyphs and runes into metal and he begins working on the hammer in the background the elf kind of shuffles around the fire dulls and dies down along his arms
Starting point is 01:08:06 as he kind of looks around, not quite seeing you guys. Like, he's clearly facing towards where he's been told, but the eye is kind of scanning all over the place. You see his muscles kind of tense at every noise. Like, if there's, like, the sound of fighting or, like, the sound of a scream or a cheer from above, you see his muscles snap too.
Starting point is 01:08:25 He grabs weapons nearby. Fire, fires. I need to win. I need to win to survive. That's an interesting narrative you've got there. And I'll just speak to an elvish and I'll just let one of my
Starting point is 01:08:44 arms crackle with lightning just looks at it you see him wince a little as you kind of summon the lightning almost like detecting a threat like an animal almost just kind of like reacting to it and then just kind of the eye glances around yes yes yes yes yes
Starting point is 01:09:00 the divines chosen chosen by the divines another one just like me they'll make you. They'll make you fight. They'll make you fight again. They'll make you fight and win and win and win until you're broken. Yes. You will win. I'll hold up the scrap of carton I have on my belt
Starting point is 01:09:15 as well. Looks at it. Is it an exact match for his? It's not an exact match. Yours, I think, yours is, oh yeah, so yours is red orange with browns and blacks um i misspoke earlier his is is red black and gray uh the three colors on his that kind of intersect so it is different and it's a different pattern style as well um he kind of looks at it uh but i mean quill with your of insights, anybody who's got like a passive insight of over 15.
Starting point is 01:09:49 This person's very clearly had such trauma that they're probably just they don't seem to be fully aware of everything. They're kind of hearing words and they're aware of this danger. But anything more complex than a task or, you know, reactions to something primal. You don't know if it's getting through to them. Um, definitely some madness here. It might be something that can be healed with magic or time, but yeah,
Starting point is 01:10:16 this kind of environment is probably not helping. Um, the sounds of constant fighting and stuff doesn't, doesn't seem to be very good. This individual, individual um but yeah like alia you kind of try and catch his eye but he won't even look at you properly like every time he glances it glances away and he like shuffles around he runs his hands up and down weapons like gripping the hilts picking it up weighing it putting it down picks up a different weapon
Starting point is 01:10:42 this time an axe holds it puts it down down. Oh no, not good enough. Not good enough, not to fight. Need better, need to find their weapons. Need to use whatever I can. Just kind of like nods to himself. Are you from Alfheim? I think when you say Alfheim, there is
Starting point is 01:11:02 a kind of pause. Planet, planet, yeah. Oh, oh. Seed, seed, memories. Too many memories in my head. Too many, and he's just kind of clutching, like, too many lifetimes, too many lifetimes, all of them fighting.
Starting point is 01:11:15 Too many fights, too many wars. Too much, too much fire, too much death. I don't know what to say to him anymore do I do I recognize this as anything magical or is this just
Starting point is 01:11:36 age old this is there's definitely I think that there's some element of this like, this isn't, like, age. Like, he's a young man. Like, this is a young man, probably no older than Ayla. There's definitely an element of physical trauma that's put this to work.
Starting point is 01:11:54 But there could be magical elements to it as well. Make a arcana check for me. Okay. The first one was a 15. Okay. The first one was a 15. Okay. Things like Dispel Magic probably wouldn't do anything, but if you had some sort of way to restore their mind,
Starting point is 01:12:16 like clearly this trauma has been reflected, Great to Restoration would probably work to help this person. You know the spell, you know what it does. It would cure this madness, this kind of enforced trauma that's been put upon them. Okay. Yeah, I don't have it now.
Starting point is 01:12:37 Something you can get later. If we do stay here until tomorrow, then maybe we can come back and maybe I can try something that might help this man and we might be able to get some actual answers out of him.
Starting point is 01:12:53 But until then, he can help you with the hammer. But that's about it. Hammer. Good weapon. Good weapon. Hammer. Want an axe? Axes feel good. Axes feel right. Picks up some axes. Puts them down. Good weapon, Hammer. Hammer, want an axe? Axes feel good. Axes feel right. Picks up some axes.
Starting point is 01:13:08 Puts them down. Picks them up. Puts them down. It's like certain words seem to trigger responses. But it's cryptic. It's broken. I... See...
Starting point is 01:13:23 Go on. I'll just... I'll wait for the hammer but if we could come back I'd like to speak to him I don't know anything about different clans from Alfheim but clearly there were a few
Starting point is 01:13:43 maybe he would know from Alfheim, but clearly there were a few. Maybe he would know what one was mine, and be able to tell me a little bit about it. He has his own tartan, so I'll just wait for the hammer.
Starting point is 01:14:03 I don't think Aela would say anything else. She would just probably watch him as he's working and just... Yeah, if you... If you don't talk to him for a while, he just absentmindedly... You can see his wrists are chained
Starting point is 01:14:18 and the chain goes down to like pittance on the floor. So it looks like he can't leave this area for whatever reason. There's like a small bed just around the side of the forge and things like that. But without being told, he just diverts back to going to the forge where he starts helping
Starting point is 01:14:34 the Durgar, heating up the metal. The Durgar turns around and is like Sorry, I told you it's not much use. Give me a few hours. I should have this enchantment done. In terms of money, the materials,
Starting point is 01:14:52 if you don't mind, if you let me keep the scrap of the materials, because there's going to be some left over, I'll consider that payment. This isn't a particularly tough job. I'd really appreciate that, and you're welcome to keep them. Yeah. Appreciate that. You're welcome to keep them yeah appreciate that you should
Starting point is 01:15:09 yeah I'm doing this for my benefit lass don't worry too much and then he just kind of like goes back to his work but yeah if you're happy to leave the howling tempest there you guys can continue on if you want to go and find something else to do or what do you guys want to do?
Starting point is 01:15:27 oh man it's spooky out on the streets I feel like I'm leaving the hammer yeah I don't think we should make deals yeah I don't feel like we should make deals with devils when Ayla doesn't have her big smackaroo no way
Starting point is 01:15:42 maybe we can find somewhere nearby to pass the time. What else were we looking for? Who else was looking for something? Maybe we went to the bar. We're not going to the bar, Nova. Apart from there. Talia will
Starting point is 01:15:58 flex for you later. Talia flex for her. I'm not really a muscular type. You're more the muscular type. Okay, I'll flex. You can look at Talia's chest area like you like to do, okay? How about that? That's fine, yes. That's acceptable.
Starting point is 01:16:15 Duh. Nova just goes purple immediately and looks everywhere but where everything that's been suggested. We can't stay in this workshop. We could try and watch one of these
Starting point is 01:16:29 gladiatorial battles, if you prefer. We could go for a drink. I could certainly use one. Otherwise, I mean, we can't wait down here. I don't imagine this fellow is going to just let us stay here. No, I'm not. You need to leave.
Starting point is 01:16:47 Do we get a time slot or some sort of ticket that we return the item with? Come back in a few hours. I'm not going to forget the lot of you. Yeah. Fair. Good. All right, then. I mean, we don't have to Fully roleplay
Starting point is 01:17:05 If you guys just wanna say We kill two hours Doing other stuff We can make that happen We don't have Attracting attention Fancy clothes We got fancy clothes
Starting point is 01:17:15 To get into the Theatre I think so Don't think enough That we do We could change our clothes To be more inconspicuous Like we kinda tried to plan
Starting point is 01:17:25 before we go see the big bad change our identity somewhat could do you want to go spend like you could go and buy some like glamour weave outfits for everybody or like shift weave fabrics for everybody and get everybody dolled up to the nines general that would be like think about how useful that would be just for for every time we do these the glamour weave doesn't change the outfit entirely but it does help it blend in like it creates like illusions and stuff like that yeah I mean like any colour you want
Starting point is 01:17:55 yeah you can schedule a colour to a day as well I'm just I'm just absolutely imagining like I don't know Las Vegas like neon cowboy outfits like
Starting point is 01:18:09 oh man yeah you got the uncommon glamour weave didn't you Lucius you've got the one which can actually create illusions around it not just on clothing itself so yeah if you guys you guys can go and find a a demonic tailor basically um which is probably run by a very creepy thin awkward looking they look human but they're very
Starting point is 01:18:36 clearly not human because all of their proportions are wrong like they're too tall, their fingers are too long and thin. When you enter, they're like, ah, yes. Welcome to my store, good customers. I am, you may call me Mr. White and his suit changes to be completely white he's kind of wearing this elegant thin cut noble tail coat
Starting point is 01:19:14 and it just morphs to be all white yes can I help you good customers Can I help you? Good customers. We would like new outfits, please, to suit the locale. We're going to see some very reputable people on this planet, and we want to suit.
Starting point is 01:19:42 Yes. Very good. I will need your measurements. And he pulls out a long... What can I say like that? No. Not touching me, no. It will be quite quick and painless for you.
Starting point is 01:20:03 Why is painless a word that you just said? Why did he just say painless for you. Why is painless a word that you just said? Why did he just say painless? It was an unusual specification. Nova already has my measurements. Yeah, I do. If you guys want, you can purchase this fellow
Starting point is 01:20:22 is just a tailor. And if you want, you can can spend i think it's 50 gold it's a 50 gold for the basic glamour weave outfit so you can use a bonus action to create illusionary patterns on it um and you can just get nice fancy you know rich people clothes um or it's i think 200 or 150 gold for the uncommon stuff i can can't remember. It's a long time ago. Which is you can create flames, like illusory flames, glowing butterflies that fly around it and stuff like that.
Starting point is 01:20:52 I'm just going to skip ahead because I don't want to spend forever doing a shopping episode. But yeah, you guys can buy that stuff if you want, and you can kill time. I want a cool-ass jumpsuit that looks like nebulas. Looks like a moving nebula on Starscape. That's what I want. Well,ass jumpsuit that looks like nebulas. Looks like a moving... You know, like Nedley on Starscape.
Starting point is 01:21:07 That's what I want. Well, here's the thing. One, you guys will think about what you want whilst we take a quick break because we've got to take a break. Oh, yeah! Katie, I will sort you out your hammer and then we will jump to the Argent Palace
Starting point is 01:21:18 while we do that. Hopefully. Stop making deals, playing games, losing lives. Wait. I'm so bummed. hopefully stop making deals playing games losing lives wait no you're so bold

There aren't comments yet for this episode. Click on any sentence in the transcript to leave a comment.