High Rollers DnD - High Rollers: Aerois #77 | Dance of the Sixth Finger (Part 2)

Episode Date: July 2, 2020

Gratzt sets the rules of his game to win the greatest prize: three wishes! Follow Gratzt's game on our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/episode-77-dance-38737154 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

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With ANC on, performance may vary based on environmental conditions and usage. Accessories sold separately. We come back. You have all gained some sort of finery from Mr. White, a demonic tailor here on Azaghrat. You can decide what that looks like. We'll go over that in a second. You kill a few hours. Getting the clothing basically takes up long enough of that time

that you can get fancy clothes that will help you blend in at the Argent Palace. Certainly, you begin to notice as you get closer to it, the clientele desperately improves its attire and its displays of wealth as you get closer. You retrieve the hammer, the Howling Tempest, after a few hours from the Durgar. Katie, for your benefit,

Howling Tempest now triples your jump distance whilst you wear it. Nice. Which means that you can basically do a long jump of about 60 feet or a standing high jump of 25 feet, and then obviously things like athletics or if you're jumping

off stuff, that will make that even higher. So kind of yeah just literally jump yeah yeah if things are flying i'm just gonna be like ah yeah and you know if it's flying 60 feet up in the air you're probably still not gonna be able to reach but this at least gives you like i can jump around and get to things a lot easier basically um and it. It was like 500 gold. Jump, jump, jump. It was pretty cheap. Jump, sorry. You pick up the hammer,

and you basically continue on your path. You follow the Hall of Vanity. The polished mirror surface that Sentry saw as you were coming down to the city, this kind of has this covering over the whole promenade which is polished like a mirror as well so where before all the walls of the buildings were like a mirror and we're creating these like complex reflections and making the place seem even busier now your sky is a reflection of everything below it which which adds even more confusion. As you're trying to look up in the direction of the palace,

you're seeing a reflection of the crowds and the buildings and the signs and the illusion advertisements all ahead of you. And it creates this sense of not quite knowing exactly where you are, what time of day it is you're not sure where the sun is, you're not sure how long you've been here, you're kind of guessing it at this point

but it doesn't take you long before you emerge into an area which is much quieter as you reach the end of the Hall of Vanity, you see a great courtyard opens up a courtyard full of hundreds of statues and each statue shows the same individual cast in bronze silver gold platinum

they all show this perfect humanoid. Sometimes they look slightly more feminine. Sometimes they look slightly more masculine. Sometimes they are neither. Sometimes they are both, but they are always just unearthly beautiful and unearthly perfect. They represent, like, you look at them and that is what a humanoid should look like.

That's just their perfect form. Some of them seem to have, like, feathered appendages coming off their perfect form some of them seem to have like feathered like appendages coming off their body some of them have scales there's just all these different types and versions of this person that they just appear to be perfect uh and these statues all point towards an entrance a grand uh open entrance of stacked golden columns as you make your way you begin to see more and more guards you see people wearing armor you see robed um acolytes all with these uncomfortable big smiles that just stretch all the way up on their jaws welcome to the argent palace please don't cause any trouble as they kind of gesture towards it

uh you know best of luck enjoy the hospitality of our prince grats uh as they you know lead you up and you can see many many visitors also make their way again you see these beautifully dressed fey creatures you see demons uh in armor making their way up you see soldiers ganassi you see these beautifully dressed fey creatures, you see demons in armor making their way up, you see soldiers ganassi, you see creatures of all different planes, insectoid like creatures that you've never really seen before you think you see a mind flayer

you think you see an illithid, their long tentacled face, their big domed bulbous head and a high collar making their way up the steps and eventually you are led into the most opulent but also

gaudy place you've ever been. Everything is gold and it is polished to such a shine that it is like a mirror. There are fountains with, again, statues of this figure that seem to be full of wine. There are gemstones that cover most of the furniture.

And it is just a place of such opulent, gratuitous beauty and wealth that it's kind of ridiculous, but also awe-inspiring at the same time that so much wealth could be contained in one place. Everybody, like all of the staff, wear almost nothing. They basically have like loincloths. Regardless of gender or type, they are of different races. Some of them are insect-like people. Some of them appear to be walking golems, but they're all dressed in these almost very scantily clad,

showing off as much skin as possible. They carry trays full of alcohol. You can see strange glass pipes full of narcotics. You see like just every kind of pleasure or indulgence is here. You can hear all sorts of noises. You hear music. You can hear lovemaking. You can hear all sorts of just weird stuff going on throughout this palace.

You can hear fighting. You can hear cheering. You can hear drinking, eating, and looking around this main central hallway splits off. There are restaurants. There are drinking dens, gambling halls.

It's just full of anything you could desire anything that you could indulge in is here and it is ridiculous and whilst the staff all seem to be smiling anybody who can look in their eyes can see that they are miserable

that they are forced to smile but their eyes are dead to the world but the guests who are enjoying it it's the complete opposite they they look so just indulged and happy and blissful um that they are just uncomfortably to be around that they're just slovenly laying on chairs shoving food in their mouths drinking from six glasses at once um spending gold and gambling you know you're just pulling up piles of platinum and silver and just throwing it on a table to throw it away um and yeah the whole place is full of music and smells sweet and sour and uh citrusy

but mixed in with cigar smoke all of it just kind of filling the place as you enter. What do you guys say or think or anything? It's a lot to take in. It really is. For characters and for players. Let's keep a clear head. Let's not get carried away. I know it's a lot, but we've got it.

We've got an objective. We need to complete it and get out of here. I'm so confused. I'm so conflicted. Everyone here is just doing whatever they want. Yeah, as you say that, you see this

almost like a werewolf woman. She kind of leans over here in the conversation like, Do whatever you please, my dear. That is the nature of the Argent Palace. And you see her just pick up what appears to be a roasted lamb leg and she starts

eating it. All the juices spilling onto this elegant silvery dress that she appears to be wearing and the juice and the meat just fills it. Doesn't seem to care. Just doesn't. A servant begins coming up and cleaning it away for her. Just pays no mind um that's salia revolting salia just lets out a breath let's just do what we came here to do um and we need to i need to make it very clear to everyone here that we are challenging Graz to the Dance of the Six Finger.

If everyone is aware that we are playing, it is more likely the game will be as fair as it can be. He doesn't want... We want to ensure that people know that we are playing this game. It gives us a certain degree of protection. Yes, I think.

So, do we need to make a big... Oh, we want to be together in this game. Yeah. Well, and she sees there is a large gong in the center of the chamber, this kind of like big opulent golden palace. She starts moving towards this gong.

Oh, is that how we alert everyone? I mean, I was going to use it. I don't know. I've never been here. I've never done this. I was going to ring that thing as loud as I can and yell that I'm here for the dance of the sixth finger. That is

certainly to get Graz's attention. Unless you don't think that's a good idea. It's the way to go. I mean, no one's going to stop you doing it. Hold on. We'll get attention. Unless you don't think that's a good idea. It's the way to go. I mean, no one's going to stop you doing it. So... Hold on. We'll get attention. Sentry, hold up your shield.

Okay. I'm just going to check my teeth. And adjust my hair and stuff like that. I mean, Lucius, like the shield, you call it the shield, and it's it's so polished it's like a mirror like century shield over the time that you have been on this planet century any like dirt or marks on it have vanished and it is now polished bright it's super reflective um and yeah like lucius can like see his teeth and pick at them and adjust to your appearance, but every surface like the floor,

the bases of the statues, the walls, the columns, they're all so polished and shiny they are mirrors. They are basically mirrors here. The whole place is reflective. Just in case. Yes.

I want to cast aid at level 4 on me, Lucius, and Nova nova again so that raises your max by 15 hp nice damn it's your max hit points it's not temporary as well yeah 15 so while you guys do that thalia makes a way to the um go on tom you had You heard an um. That was it. Okay. Thalia picks up a hammer, like a golden hammer, looks at it, seems to think, I wonder how much this is worth. And then...

Bang! Clong! Clong! Clong! Wax it. Really loud. All the heads whip round and Thalia, just at the top of her voice I have come to challenge for the dance of the sixth finger, Graxt. Those of you who serve him, tell your master

I have come for his game. And then there is a pause, a long drawn out silence. Go on, Quill. We're joining. Yes, and my companion's here, and she points to the group of you. Us two. There is a long pause,

and then just, yes, yes! Everybody just begins cheering and clapping, Everybody just begins cheering and clapping, screaming in mixtures of fear and hate, but also joy, like just noise begins filling the chamber. People begin singing and crying and chanting. It's just this overwhelming emotion erupts through the whole place. And then you feel a presence. I would like everybody

to make, and I believe this is a wisdom saving throw. Oh, good. Okay. I guess we're all in range of century, yeah. You are all in range of century, so you can all have the plus three

so you'll get plus oh natural 20 26 total for me eight well and nine yeah that's not great it's not great um you feel this this presence overwhelm you. It's like the air itself is alcoholic. You feel drunk. You feel joyous. You feel an intense chill ripple through your body. Nova, you are the exception. You're the

only one who semi-avoids this. I've got 19. I've got 21. 21? No. I don't think you succeed either really nope i got 26 yeah yeah um you almost want to just fall to your knees and just just begin indulging yourselves and whatever your characters would want in this particular moment in time. As you feel the air just become thick with this presence, it's intoxicating. You yearn for it as a figure, a pair of golden doors at the top of the hall open up and a nine foot tall onyx skin, like not black or gray or brown but like pure obsidian skin made from stone

with a bald head and powerfully you know rippled muscles that are perfect in every way um begins descending down uh wearing nothing but a kind of long skirt made of red thick luxurious looking fabric and their abs and their torso completely on display gold bangles around their wrist and a big gold sort of like a torque around their neck with his arms outstretched he just begins descending each footstep as it touches the ground almost seems to send out reverberation and the people around you are just like squealing and squirming clapping people can begin like just guzzling drinks um taking food narcotics just like shoving them in their mouths or their eyes whatever they can do just completely indulging themselves and it's really only the presence of i'd say century the matrix that is

kind of keeping most of you from kind of just in you know debasing yourselves and indulging yourselves nova you're much more clearly you know clear-minded as this happens but even those of you within centuries matrix like you're it's like hard to think it's hard to like feel anything apart from just like man i've just got a craving to do something, you know, do whatever you want to do. And this voice just kind of like ripples out from this figure as he speaks.

Well, well. Someone has come to dance dance figure. I am so Someone has come to dance, dance sick. I am so pleased by this. Ah, it has been too long. Who am I challenging? And he gestures to the party

several demons a large vulture like creature and a woman with a snake's like her lower half is that of a snake but she has six arms she appears to be wearing a beautifully

embroidered dress which shows signs of battle. Angels and demons and devils, a trio all fighting at once is embroidered on this dress. She kind of slides from an unseen room. Greetings, everyone. You are in the presence of his majesty Prince Grast what are your names

challenger Quill I'm Quill Quill Thalia Thalia Whisperwind if you don't mind any others Thalia Whisperwind, if you don't mind.

Any others? Sentinel Prime. Just the two. Ah, the Constra. Looks to the others to see if anybody else I'm Lucius then. I'm Elwin Elinath, to your service. Ayla. Ay. send me. It's your service. Hey, love. Hey.

Nova. Nova just struck dumb. I think, yeah. I mean, does she notice everyone being really different in the group? Well, I think that they're not as bad as everybody else but

yeah you definitely notice that like they're struggling to like think and things like that or like things seem to be distracting them but they're not acting different they're just yeah yeah something is obviously influencing them or like it's like watching somebody who's like getting drunk like you can see their eyes kind of struggling to focus a little bit. I'm Nova. Nova Veeja. Hmm. Well, well. What wonderful challenges.

I have a game for you ah yeah yes yes yes come my little darlings my cherubs my challengers I have a game for you and with that the large large, tall, nine-foot-tall demon prince

gestures and begins making his way back up the stairs from whence he came. And as he departs, that presence seems to fade, and you kind of feel your minds reeling back to what they once were. The Maralith, the snake woman with the six arms comes up. You can see that she has delicate silver bracelets around each wrist.

You will follow me, those of you who wish to challenge. His majesty will brief you on the challenge itself. Then there will be several, perhaps a few hours, whilst we set it up. You will be free to enjoy any food or drink or games or other pleasures as you wish in this time.

Consider yourselves guests of the Argent Pats. Just don't cause any trouble. I could do with some lamb. I'm gonna go start finding the woman earlier that was just indulging. No, no, my dear. We will have it brought for you. Come, come, come.

She holds a hand out to Lucius. We will have it brought for you come come come she holds her hand out to Lucius we will have it all prepared fresh for you you are most honoured guest it is rare that we have a challenge for the sixth finger so very generous thank you come I'll have a suite prepared for you

and she slithers her way up the stairs leading you all. You're led to another opulent suite. Sofas of rich fabrics and velvets, rugs, furs, golden bowls full of fruits and food

of worlds that you have never visited. Brightly coloured liquors in bottles. There is a custom bar. Behind it it a figure with four two large pincers and two small arms a giant red horned demon in a small little tie is preparing drinks for you watching you with a callous eye please i shall have His Majesty join you to explain the game momentarily.

Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. We've got time to waste. I mean, why not? Why not? You know? Why not? While we're here, we may as well enjoy ourselves, right? This is a plan. We have a plan. We have a plan.

But also, we have a plan we have a plan but also we have time like they said we can do what we want yeah I mean for Quill like if he was indulging he's just burning spell slots he's like using the iron swarm like displaying magical finesse all around the place

like you get made and I feel your but didn't you say that it subsided when he went back upstairs it did subside yes so there's still that lingering like you know like how like you have that thing of like

when you have something you really want and then you finish it and then you're like I really could go for another one of those. There's still that lingering like, oh, I could just have another one, you know, that kind of like, yeah, but what if I did just like I could just do that, right? Like, it seems fine. Like, there's that lingering

thing in your mind, but there's not a compulsion. There's no compulsion there currently. Is there any restraint? That's absolutely what Quill would be doing. Yeah. Okay. Do you guys do anything? She seems like she'll be returning with

gruts almost immediately. You've got a few minutes before he returns. Yeah. Are you guys okay? You kind of went really weird. What's going on? I'm the one who's weird, but you guys went really weird. What's going on? Like, I'm the one who's weird, but you guys went really weird, like mega weird, like off the charts weird.

Something about the presence of... It just felt intoxicating, like I wanted to indulge some sort of... I don't know, my head got cloudy and I just wanted to enjoy everything this place had to offer. And why not? I can still feel it. Do you not? No.

I mean, I really want to read books all the time. And I know what it's like when you get into a really good book and you can't put it down. And then you put it down and then you pick it up because you just can't stop thinking about it and then you don't want to read it. You don't want to finish reading it because it's really good and you don't want it to end. I'm going to put my hand on her face. Classic. Yes sir, I get it.

But this didn't happen that time. I don't really I think you guys maybe, oh Lucius I'm going to lick your hand. Good thing I wear gloves. It's just important. Valia is holding a giant drink, by the way. She went to the bar while you guys were talking

and comes back with a massive alcoholic drink and is just like... So, do we all want to be in the challenge? Shouldn't some of us be on the fringes helping to fix... I don't really know. I don't know. I feel we should all be in it together, right, team? Yeah.

Six-person challenge. Were we not originally supposed to just be supporting Thalia in the background? All there. Well, we need to be there. Not at all, but... That was my impression of it all. That was my impression too. Me too.

I like that plan. I don't remember my soul being a part of this. Well, I think it was the idea that perhaps if there was some sort of team battle I might need your assistance but it depends on the challenge I suppose. Let's see what big, tall and handsome tells us.

Hold on a second, Thalia, there. You're about to enter a very, very important challenge which could forego your entire soul. But I think you need to be, like Sentry said, clear-minded. Able to do something to the best of your ability. Absolutely, my dear Lucius. Keep in mind,

yes, I am about to wager my soul for a dream of mine that I've had for several centuries. Yeah, I needed a drink. Second of all, I fly my astral ship through hazards far worse than this whilst being far more drunk. Quite honestly, she's probably better when she's drunk.

She's really good during that ship when she's drunk. I can vouch for that. It just relaxes you a little bit. That's what I needed, just a bit of relaxation. Also, I'm quite terrified, and honestly, the drink relaxes you. That's what I needed, just a bit of relaxation. Also, I'm quite terrified, and honestly, the drink was quite necessary, I assure you. Is there something we can do to assist Thalia now before we're ushered into the challenge itself?

As you say that, the doors begin opening, and you see the Marilith returning, but this time the figure is not nine feet tall. They are six feet tall. Still, this time, rather than being obsidian skinned, they're just dark skinned, you know, with a bald shaved head. They appear more feminine in their form before they were impossibly powerfully masculine

with these big big broad shoulders and muscles. Now it's a little bit more sculpted. It's a little bit more of a feminine kind of shape, but still muscular. Still very well defined with a physique an impossible physique. But a bit more kind of like thin and

lithe. As they kind of stretch forward, they're wearing like a long black gown as they step forward the Marilith bows her head our majesty prince Graz and you don't feel that same presence

spreading out this time as the figure smiles forgive me for earlier I like to make an impression. It does the palace good to have me, well,

appear in my natural form. I felt that for this conversation, something like this is a bit more appropriate. Don't you think? I agree. So, challenges for the Dance of the don't you think I agree so challenges for the dance of the

sick finger it's been a while decades at least I do enjoy these oh they give me they give me a special pleasure to create something to to put people to the test

a gamble so you've come to put people to the test a gamble so you've come I suspect you know the basics the rumours, the legend shall we discuss how it actually works please yes

good it's quite simple, it is a stake you will stake your servitude soul if you wish to use that term uh in exchange if you win you will win three wishes a powerful magical relic that will grant your heart's desire three times to do so we will play a game of my own creation the very nature of the game well changes each time i've developed this one most recently based on a lovely little thing that i was given from another existence i gathered it from a planar friend of mine it It's an interesting game.

One I think you will find. However, I see that there are six of you. I'm afraid that only three may participate. Oh. Oh. Okay. You will soon understand why.

It is something of a game of threes, in a way. Three wishes. Three players, three fates. Do we get to know what the game is before we decide? You know, so we can put the best challenges forward and make a good go of it. Hmm. Well, I will tell you this. It is a game of chance.

There is, well, some could say there was some skill to it but ultimately it is a game of fate there will not be any fighting I will tell you that but also I will not tolerate any cheating spell casting and the like I will of course oblige by the same rules I wish it to be fair of course

yet now it is one I have been very fortunate I will, of course, oblige by the same rules. I wish it to be fair, of course. Yet now it is one. I have been very fortunate. Can I... Can I roll an ins... No, I've got minus one. What's the fucking point? I was going to roll an ins on that. I got minus one.

I got nothing. I look to Quill and say, Quill, you've gotten eye for this sort of thing. Messenger ring. It's still magical. He might be able to detect it. I mean,

Thalia steps forward. Thalia, I will be one of the challengers, without a doubt. And then she looks. I won't make the rest of you choose. I, Graz turns, I could play it with just one. If there is three of you, I will split the wager. Instead of

one lifetime, perhaps say, well, seeing as you are something of a longer lifespan, my my dear why don't we split it three 200 years each that seems reasonable to me reasonable reasonable um could you give us some time to discuss our plans to make the most entertaining game for you of course as well it will take about an hour or so for us to set up the game um and obviously bring people in to watch it is something of a spectacle after all so yes you will have some time to discuss and debate your plans but i want to leave

some of the surprise like i said this is my game it's my rules i want to make it um i don't want you to sit there and worry too much I want to make it I don't want you to sit there and worry but it is a game of chance of course do you have any other takers for the challenge? it is three wishes, I suppose that if three of you play

that's a wish each think of that, a change to your entire life you could do so much have all the wealth in the world you desire yes, I will join if you could do so much? Have all the wealth in the world you desire? Yes, I will join. Ah, very well. The handsome elf.

Oh yes, I will enjoy having you serve me if you do lose. I can think of many uses for you. Oh, fuck you, Mark. Fuck you. I mean... Ah, the bird man. fuck you mark fuck you is there anything else that you can tell us is there anything else you can tell us about this game before we decide who who participates

uh just so we can you know have a little chat how about this you can ask me three questions about the game, and I'll answer them. A game of threes. I enjoy this so much. At the end of the day, I don't need to tell you anything.

You wish to win the ring, you play my game. Play by my rules. But I like this. This is fun. So three questions about the game. For no skills. Feel free. What do you call the game?

Ah, now that is a good question I call the game the taroka game okay that is one two more questions okay

okay I mean I could just that's that's info enough right Okay. Because I mean, I could just... That's info enough, right? For what? Is it the... I mean, that's info enough. What decides the chance?

What decides the chance? That's a question. It is cards. Randomly selected cards. Two questions. That's one one left how do you win ah you win there are two ways to win you either have more points than your opponent or you draw a special card in a special way. Three questions. Three questions answered. The Birdman, I believe you were raising your hand to volunteer yourself

as a player in this challenge, along with the handsome elf. Claw. Should we have a chat? Unless anyone else could do. I'd prefer to know the players now okay

I've answered my questions about the game oh you can talk in front of me please for free it's my palace my dear if you're worried about me overhearing things that you don't want me to hear you are doing it in the wrong place this is my home this is my city. I know everything. I'm very unlucky.

Then I recommend you don't play. Very unlucky. Quite simply. Yep, I agree. I think I'm not going to play. We all need to look at ourselves and our ambitions

I put myself forward because I feel you all have a greater purpose how noble what what uh

I mean I would put myself forward because because I might win but the chances are so slim I love a confident player there's no point playing a gamble if someone thinks they're going to lose

I want someone who thinks they're going to lose. I want someone who thinks that they're going to win. I like this, Birdman. You should play. Your other friends do seem too cautious. You'll need a bit of confidence to play. A bit of free information. I'm not

very perceptive. Does anyone oppose me joining? Thalia turns around Quillik, if I'm honest I think you're the best one to join me but I won't force you I would very much like your powers your insights There's no spellcasting in the game

I'm excited that I've got the natural arrow you are a very you are very wise and you have a you have a mind for this sort of thing I have I have strength but there's no fighting no no no fighting I have enough fighting I don't know what I can offer you

that's it don't play okay then I will join with Lucian oh marvelous marvelous well the game will be prepared I will have you will come and be fetched and brought to the

gaming arena the rest of you will be able to watch along with everyone else it will be prepared. You will come and be fetched and brought to the gaming arena. The rest of you will be able to watch along with everyone else. It will be a wonderful show, I'm certain. Can we have front row seats at least? Of course, my dear. Of course. Whatever you want. Indulge yourself. Take whatever you want.

Do you have any libraries? I have knowledge. If you want knowledge, I can provide you knowledge. Anything. Oh, I like that. Huh? Yes, yes. What?

Indulge. Someone will pass the check. There have been many wizards and mages and scholars who have come to me for forbidden knowledge, forbidden lore lost to the ages. and to mages and scholars who have come for me for forbidden knowledge, forbidden law lost to the ages. Hobby, my dear. What greater pleasure is there than

indulging in one's hobby? Mine, well, one of my hobbies is making games. That's why I created this little challenge. Still, I will leave you to prepare. One hour and then we'll be ready to play. Marvellous. And with that,

the figure presents itself as Graz leaves. You're once again left in this suite with a demonic barman. He's the only person in the room with you. Seems to be thoroughly bored. Okay. He said no spellcasting in the game.

We are not in the game now. So if you've got any preparation spells we can have to influence us more. I can enhance ability. So he's definitely going to cheat as well. So I was wondering if that was one of the ways that I could help, is I could try and figure out how he's cheating, maybe. How?

Things like detect magic, or I can briefly see through things. I don't know, in case he's got, like, a false table. Or, um... Uh... I don't know. When are you going to use your eye? I will do. I absolutely will do.

But, uh, I guess I want to prepare to, before the game begins, cast Enhance Ability on... Do I know who's less wise of the two, Lucius and Dahlia? Not really, but you know Lucius the best. If I had to put a stat, a number i'm not gonna tom just pick one of the two i'm not gonna tell you what all right you can make your judgment based on the character that you have seen me play that's what you can base that on i mean she's a pilot right she's gotta be pretty wise uh i'll cast owl's wisdom on lu Lucius so he has advantage on wisdom checks

and that lasts for an hour so I'll do that before you know before the game begins and I will use the eye to ask how do we identify now yes

because he's described the game like the game exists in his mind so I mean unless's described the game like the game exists in his mind so I mean, unless he changes the game but he did pitch it to us so I want to ask how to identify the correct card in Grats

to rock a game or whatever he called it You don't expend a charge because it cannot answer that question The nature of the game means it cannot answer answer that question so you don't spend a charge damn you can't so it's not possible to identify one from another rather than sitting here and having tom go through a bunch of questions is there any other preparations otherwise unless you've got some stuff that you want to do, Lucius?

I could. That's all Lucius has to hand up. I could put down a teleportation circle here, so that if the worst comes to worse, me and Quill are stuck, you could utilize it to get out quickly. I don't know where you can go, but...

Well, also, you have to be there to activate the teleportation circle. I don't think where you can go, but... Well, also, you have to be there to activate the teleportation circle. I don't think it works that way. Well, I could put it down in the hopes that I can get out and take us all away. I wouldn't worry too much about that. I can... Tiangong and me had a talk, and I can also do a thing that Mark's

going to tell me I can't do now. I'm going to say for Trot, the way the teleportation circle works is you spend a minute casting it. At the end of that minute, a portal immediately appears and remains open until the end of your next turn. You can't hold the teleportation circle. You could...

No, it's not even a concentration spell. It takes a minute to cast at the end of that minute the portal appears and you've got six seconds to use it you can't put it down and activate it later

that's like a you have to spend like every day putting it there to do that i also can cast it could i use it exactly same thing casting it as well

no because it takes a minute to cast no it takes a minute to cast and then when it takes a minute to cast, and then when it's created, the portal appears for one round, and then that's it. That's how the spell works. I just meant if we were double casting it or whatever, then we could create two to the same place or whatever.

Then it would be like a fly though. You could do that. Yes, it's not a combat spell. Teleportation Circle is a travel spell, not a combat spell. Teleportation Circle is a travel spell, not a combat spell. You can try fusion. You can try fusion dance. Absolutely.

But it won't help you. Don't worry about that. I've got you covered. In case of a speedy exit, come straight to me. I got it. I can hit things to get away. You can. Sentry, do you have anything you want to do I'm just going to give

give him a bless give him a good old fashioned bless give him a d4 how long does bless last up to a minute so I'll probably do it just do it just before just before yeah yeah just

for I don't know I probably won't help but just because just in case um can i cast um comprehend languages on myself uh before we go out so it takes 10 minutes that lasts an hour and then i can comprehend every spoken language and written language if i touch every written language not spoken if i touch it if you touch it that's true um anything else any other like preparations if not all right yeah mine's concentrated so yeah i'm good the marilith comes uh with several other guards human guards uh with the metal faces and you are led away lucius th, and Quill are separated and led down to a separate area. The rest of you are brought,

you are led into a tiered circular room, like a domed room. The upper ring looks down into a smaller area, like an arena, that is separated by a large glass dome. Inside the smaller dome is a table with a red velvet covering and a small deck of cards the upper ring is packed with spectators rich looking fey orcs in armor humanoids ganassi demons and even some celestials join you wearing their best finery

looking down chittering and chattering and excited tones lucius quill and thalia are all led down into and you see them emerge at the in the kind of lower arena and led which is about 60 feet it's separated by about 60 70 feet you are led into the glass dome when you pass through you are basically told head inside and stand by the table. When you pass through the kind of door archway that leads into the dome, any active spells on you

immediately end. So enhance ability, bless, all of it, gone. You also realize inside the dome you can only messenger ring each other. You cannot messenger ring You also realize inside the dome, you can only messenger ring each other. You cannot messenger ring anybody outside of the dome.

So the two of you can still communicate, but the others can't. We locked in. You're locked in. It's a mystery game. It's three minutes. Automatic locking. The queue. And it doesn't take long before the far doors open and

once again the nine foot tall impossibly perfect demon prince grats emerges and enters in the same way you see the same spell effect as grats enters and walks in the same dispelling magic uh fills his body you see him kind of stretch and everything else. Lucius and Quill and Thalia all need to make wisdom saving throws. Shit. 25?

Wow. Good. 11! 11. I will roll for Thalia. Poop. Right. So Lucius for Thalia. Ugh, poop. Right. So Lucius and Thalia, you both feel this kind of intoxicating sense come over you. And before you,

a deck of cards has been laid out. 14 cards in total, laid out in two lines of seven. Graz's voice echoes, and those in the upper ring can hear it. My good friends and companions, a dance of the sick finger has been engaged. So, I welcome you to the Taroka Gate.

The Taroka Deck is a deck used in a realm far, far beyond our own multiverse. It is used to tell the past, the present, and the future, to divine fate. And what a better fate than gamble. A gamble to decide one's future, to condemn it, or to enjoy it forevermore. The game is quite simple. The 14 cards represent the high deck, is worth a number of points. They value from zero to thirteen. The cards have been shuffled

and placed by a completely fair celestial, and he points. And he points up to a well-clothed, very prim and proper looking angel who just nods with a very glaring look, just kind of glares and nods to everyone else.

To ensure that there is no claim of unfairness on my behalf. Each player, in this case, three times for myself or once each for my dear challengers, will choose a card. The card will score them a number of points equal to whatever it displays. However, if it is in its upright position, it is worth positive points. If it is in the reversed position facing downwards, it is worth negative negative points whomever scores the highest points wins there is one exception the card called the broken one it is worth zero points but if you choose it and it is faced upright you win the game automatically is yours if the card is faced upright, you win. The game automatically is yours.

If the card is faced downward, you automatically lose. Either player draws it. My apologies, the challenger, whoever draws it, wins or loses. Sorry, I'm going to change that. forgot i've changed the wording on this

the challenger will win automatically if it is drawn face up or the challenger will lose if it's face down so if i draw it and it is facing upwards you win if i draw it and it is facing downwards you lose right if you draw it so that's the only. So that's the only instance where face down is what you want on a zero. No, you want it facing upwards. Yeah. If the broken one is

facing upwards, you win automatically. If either of you draws the broken one and it's reversed, you lose. It's the challenger, which is you, loses or wins depending on the position draws the broken one and it's reversed you lose, it's the challenger which is you loses or wins depending on who draws it I fucked up my wording because I remember I changed this to make it more

exciting and fun it's a 50-50 chance if that card is drawn it's a 50-50 chance you win or you lose automatically. What greater pleasure in life is there than a gamble, a pure, primal chance, a roll of the dice, a toss of the coin, fate, death, life hanging in the balance. I'm exhilarated. of the coin, fate, death, life, hanging in the balance. I'll exhilarate my challenge.

I will even be the gracious host that Graz is. You may choose whether you go first or second. And he gestures to the cards, which you now see on the table uh podcast listeners it is a row two rows of seven cards black uh with a strange white design over the front uh they are listed

their point value is listed the broken one is worth zero the beast is worth one the ghost is worth two the horseman three the mists four the marionette five the donjon six the innocent seven the seer eight the tempter nine the raven 10 the executioner 11 the artifact 12 points and the dark lord 13 points if it is in its upright position, you will score. Yeah. If you draw it and it is upright, it is a positive score. If you draw it and it is reversed, it is worth

negative points. So in theory, if you have all negative, you could have minus seven points, but if you have the highest score, you still win. Yeah. Okay. that makes sense um now do i i feel like quill with his arcane knowledge and having used the eye as much as he has uh does he know if it actually gives off powers like if Like, if divine magic can sense it. You have never known a creature to pick up when you

were using the eye, because only you see it. There is only a brief flicker in your eye of magic, but it just seems to be... Oh, I see. Yeah, you don't think that anybody knows when you use it. But you only get to pick one card, Quill.

That's true. That's true. One card each. You, Thalia, and Lucius. We can't say, you know, to each other, you know, you pick this card, then this card, then this card,

or whatever. Not as one team. I mean, you and Lucius could. That's true. And Grazer said that you can choose if you go first or second. Okay. Who's's first us or him I would

prefer us I feel that we should take the first first move it's a game of chance even if we assume that he is cheating in some way at the end of the day it's still just picking a one of cards out of 14 possibilities and if they can for some, know the positioning of the cards,

us going first could prevent at least one from being picked. If he knows the position of the cards, he'll just pick the one which means we lose automatically. True. Yes, that's a very good point. How far away are the rest of us like so they're in a little 70 feet 70 feet you're looking down on it

and you can see the table and everything else but yeah you guys realize the same thing if you try and messenger ring they don't reply you can't hear them they're blocked off Thalia will say i'd let me pick first i'd rather if i pick first i feel like quill should pick the last card if anybody has a chance of salvaging whatever we find ourselves in it's probably him yes you have an insight into these things, Quill.

Even though this seems completely random. We've got something about you which draws fate and destiny into your wing. Cool, no pressure, Lucius. I believe in you is what I'm trying to say. Okay, okay. We'll go first, Grats. Oh, very well. Such ambitious, courageous

gamblers. Oh! Yes. Oh, the ecstasy of the temptation of chance. Pick your card, challenger. Thalia will step forward and I'm going to roll to determine

which card I randomly pick as Thalia. Because obviously Mark Humes knows which one. So one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten. Thalia will pick this card. What is that? Beast. It is the Beast. And it is upright.

Ah! We've got one point. The Beast, one point, but a positive point nonetheless. Well chosen, my seductive snake. It's a start. It's a good start.

Grart then steps forward to take his first turn. And he will pick... You'll notice I'm not rolling for Grart. He will pick... Interesting. Don't like it. Don't like this. Don't like it immediately.

You just know exactly what they get. We literally need to have the luck to get more points than they possibly can. Which means the broken one. Bratz reveals a ghost. Oh, how terrible for me me I'm behind on points already the ghost minus two to my score three points ahead

oh don't trust it okay a one and a two that's a good start don't like it it hasn't shifted things too much Lucius A one and a two. That's a good start. Don't like it. It hasn't shifted things too much, Lucius. I don't like this.

What do you mean? Lucius, one of you two has got to draw the next card. Let me go. I'll go. Can't you wish to do any? All right. There's nothing I can do no you're right just do your best Lucius whatever you can do we'll be alright

Lucius we'll be alright okay I'll step over to the table yeah let me know top row this one five in so lucius you step forward you place your hand on the card and flip it

it reveals the reverse executioner. No! Oh, dear. Minus 11 points. The reverse executioner. That brings your total to minus 10. Oh, dear. It seems that now I'm ahead. Grot will step forward. Let's see. Minus 10, he's at minus two.

So, you will want him. Oh, man. He's eight ahead of us. Eight ahead. Are you planning on cheating Nova? Keep for us. No, I was just wondering if I could cast Detect Magic to see if he's somehow using magic to... Sure, do you want to cast Detect Magic? Yeah, it takes 10 minutes to cast, though.

So I don't know how long this is taking. Don't need to ritual cast it. But then, no, I'm 70 feet up. It's 30 feet, so... Also, like, all of our spells dismissed as soon as we went in here. I think there's some sort of protective barrier. What did you do? Over?

No, there's nothing I can do within range. Unfortunately. Well, there's things I can do within range, but they're all... So you watch as grats makes his way his hands seem to hover over the cards for a minute and quill you notice he is looking incredibly intently and there is a flicker of annoyance over his face as he's looking down at these cards like a frustration that's only there for a second and then it's gone as he kind of looks over I shall draw I shall this one he reveals the reversed innocent minus, but look at me, I'm

still a point ahead. Minus nine to your minus ten. Two cards left to go. Yes, Kim. Can I cast... Can I cast a tech magic anyway? No, I can't.

I'm wondering if someone's sending him shit. Like if someone outside is... You can wonder all you like. What would you like to do? Can I look in the audience? Can I look in the audience and see

the women that were with him before, like the snake lady and all of that. Can I see where they are? She's at the door. Basically guarding the door. The main entrance that you came in. The door that you came in to get to the upper ring entrance and you came in yeah the door that

you came in to get to the upper ring she's what she's stood in front of it and i'm guessing she's not looking particularly intently any anything or she looks bored she just looks okay is there anyone that looks like they're looking really make a perception check That could be in his stuff. Perception minus one. Yeah. Yeah. Well, there's... Yeah, that'll be a one. So that's a zero. It's crowded. It's so crowded and you are so worried about the game

that it's impossible to tell. Quill. Yeah. I've gone pallid white and I've just turned to Quill. I'm sorry. I've lost it for us. No, we're even Lucius. We just need the right question. Remember

it's the right question. You are a point behind technically. Minus nine to minus ten currently. I know, but compared to what it could be this is closer than it necessarily should be. Do not see this, Quill.

This is all a ruse the mannerisms the way they speak they're making it seem like there's a chance uh i mean i i picked up on his frustration i guess i'd probably need to actually do an insight check to see if it was genuine frustration but he was hiding it right i know i'd genuine frustration, but he was hiding it, right? No, I'd say that, yeah, he was hiding it. Just by that, you think it was a genuine frustration because he was hiding it. It was like he noticed something about the cards that annoyed him.

He can't read them either, Lucius. If anything, the way these cards were laid out were not to his plan I think he was planning to cheat but couldn't if there's anything you can do do it now's the time I mean I can also just use the eye and if I don't get an answer right I don't get an answer

so I just try again I mean, I can also just use the eye, and if I don't get an answer right, I don't get an answer. So I just try again. Okay, I'll use the eye, and just... It's kind of a simple question, but... Which card will win us the game? It's a bit of a shitty question, but like... Which card will win you the game? Also relying on

something that gives us the guaranteed most points. Something that means that he has no chance of beating us. Yeah, that's what you're asking. That's what I'm trying. I'm doing the math in my head to see if I can work that out. So he's at minus nine, you're at minus ten. If the Dark Lord is on our side,

we've got 13 points, but he could draw the artifact and we're evens i don't actually know what happens if we're even that's a good question you don't know uh yeah so you the eye clouds you see that familiar rush of storm clouds as a lightning burst and you look down at the table and you see this card oh did my ping not show up can you guys see my ping no what row what number

the second row first in from the left you should be able to see my ping why can you not see my ping I do this oh okay this card begins to glow white Can you not see my face? Can you see the one next to the beast? Yeah, I saw that. Oh, okay. Second road to... This card begins to glow white.

Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Please, please, please, please, please, please. There is an element, though, that as you see this, the problem is that because you asked which card will win us the game right

yeah so that card glows but you can tell that with the eye it's almost like it glitches and you can see that like this is a very uncertain future this is you get the sense that this is the most likely card but because

it depends on his action after yours if you had gone second if he if he if this was the last card of the game it would be a more certain answer but this is the answer of this is the card that can win you the game now right now shit you know what that means i mean that means if it's, it's not the broken one. It means it's most likely the Dark Lord on our side. Or a higher scoring card. Yeah. It's not the broken one. They can still get the broken one to win.

Unless it's the broken one on our side. No, the broken one only affects the challenge. If you get the broken one, it will only fuck you guys. Which means they could get more points by having... No, it's like Quill said. If they get more points by having a dark lord. Yeah, if they get the dark lord, they'll win. If they get the broken one and it's

upright for them, then we lose. No, no, no. I changed that. Sorry, that was my mistake. If it's upright, the challenger wins. If it's reversed, the challenger loses. That's the rule of the broken one. It doesn't matter who draws it, it's which position it's in

and it affects you guys yeah points right now but that one was the one that showed up the most in all 400 realities that i perceived that was the card that showed up the most when you ask the question what card should i pick to win the game it's that one but it's an uncertain future but likely it's likely it's uncertain you know what would have been a good question asking what they would have picked next because that way you could have

countered it anyway carry on there's a sense that he doesn't know though right I'm not yeah if you want to infer that that's up to you I'm not going to confirm or deny Anyway, carry on. There's a sense that he doesn't know, though, right? I'm not... Yeah, if you want to infer that, that's up to you. I'm not going to confirm or deny. You don't know. So, what are you doing, Quill?

Quill, I... That happens in six seconds. What do you do? Because we've got to wrap the episode up as well. I know, I know. I'm sorry. I am going to reach forward and pick up that card. Second row. Second in. If that's the one you pinged pick up that card. Second row, second in.

If that's the one you pinged, then that one. Okay. So, Quill, you reach out and you feel for a brief moment the fluttering of wind and feathers as you feel the very faintest touch of Hesper with you. The upright Dark Lord. As you hear the crowd

kind of like, they begin clapping and cheering. 13 points on us. You see Grotz kind of like a small twitch in his eye. And then he smiles. Well, well,

we seem to have our final card. Your past, present, and future has been revealed. What is this? Three positive points. My, my. I'm in quite the pickle. I suppose if I could draw the artifact,

if it is positive, well, then it's a draw. I suppose then no one wins, no one loses. Well, I better hope that luck is on my side. And he reaches down to draw a card, and that's where we'll end today's episode. No! Oh, come on.

No way! No way am I going to give this away for five minutes to end. Yeah, I want to leave you in for a week, I want to leave you in for a week. I want to leave you in for a week. Fuck you. Straight up. That is the cruelest ending ever. He's got nine cards and two of them,

if they're facing his direction, will either be a win on his end or a draw. Anything else is a loss. The unbroken one and the artifact, right? Yeah. 12 points or the zero point insta-win snitch. Oh, I don't want to do it. I don't want to wait.

Do it now. No, absolutely not. Absolutely not. Absolutely not. It's too good a cliffhanger. It's too good. It's too good. But Mark... I hate this. Also, Mark... I'm out. I hate this. Also, Mark. I'm out. I'm out.

What happens? What card did he draw? Did we win? Did we lose? Did we potentially just draw? I guess we draw. Fate of servitude for an eternity. Yeah.

200 years. 600 between all of us. 200 years. Technically, Lucius would live through that. It'd just be a really miserable 200 years. Actually, no. He's in a row himself. He wouldn't live. Oh. Technically, Lucius would live through that. It'd just be a really miserable 200 years. Actually, no, he's an aroh itself. He wouldn't live. Oh, well, you say that you'd only serve. I mean, keep in mind that it still has

ownership of your soul for two years. That doesn't mean that he can just bring you back and be like, yep, bring you back. Still mine. Have a little ghost. That's it. Thanks very much. We will see you soon. Bye-bye. Bye-bye. Take care. Be kind. Bye, everybody. that's it thanks very much we will see you soon bye bye bye bye take care

be kind everybody