High Rollers DnD - High Rollers: Aerois #79 | The Displeased Prince (Part 2)

Episode Date: July 16, 2020

A dangerous chase through Azagrat ends in a very strange way! We're... saved? Maybe? 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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You can afford to hoard because IKEA is priced for student life. Shop everything you need for back to school at IKEA today. let's just jump back in uh let's just crack on with it shall we? Whilst half of the party are currently being rescued by mysterious folks, we have another two to three members who are trying to make their way through the busy city. Now, invisibility lasts for one hour. Is that correct, Kim?

It isn't too long after you escape the Theatre of Steel that you notice there are a lot of demons patrolling the streets. You see creatures flying overhead. The ones that fly overhead, some of them look like mixtures,

grotesque mixtures between humans and flies. Others look like they're almost humanoid vultures in appearance. You see winged, bedeviled-looking humano, similar to tieflings, but without the horns. They swoop overhead and patrolling on the ground, you see dozens of golden masked legionnaires, demons with giant pincer like hands. And you notice that it's these ones that are the ones that cause you problems. As you are spotted. One of these creatures looks in you while you are hidden by invisibility,

and you are spotted. Yourself and Ayla manage to flee for the most part, but you aren't pursued for very long before a similar thing to what happened to the others, which is a thick white smoke fills an alleyway, giant strands of like a thick, almost like webbing seal it up, and a mask, not a mask figure, but an elven figure, pale skin, long sort of white-ish, blondish hair emerges. This one one is she is a woman in her figure wearing tight armor all kind of white and gray and black in coloring to blend in with this smoky uh concoction

that they've conjured um and as you are being pursued you can hear sort of the sounds of battle ongoing but nothing breaks its way into the alleyway to find you and this woman just looks and is just like well if you want to stay alive I recommend that you follow me that little spell of yours won't keep you safe for too much longer I

huh what Ayla I mean I'm guessing this is what you don't have a lot of time I suggest you come with me now soon enough those glabrezu will break through and they'll find you

no matter where you are hiding well it's the best offer we've had all day let's go one versus army of demons I'm good let's just go yep I'm glad to see that you have some intelligence about you. You can recognize the danger.

It's debatable. Well, this way. And very similar, this time on the ground, she taps a piece of kind of stonework on the ground, and a circular hole appears, almost being carved out of the rock uh the stone

falls away um and she points down just gestures down into the dark cavern that has been uh revealed um and if you step inside you notice it leads into a large carved stone tunnel she hops in after you points up and the stone begins to almost like ooze kind of reform forming uh a perfect replica of what was above you before um i think ayla you'd probably notice that after she does this she discards like a piece of metal like a little metal sphere that seems to have gone dull in color. She just throws it on the ground after this stone effect takes place. And she gestures like,

follow me. I suggest that you are very quiet. We have a little ways to go. Your companions have already been found by my brother. So, this way. Important question. Very important question. Is the bird still standing?

I don't know. My last communication was that your companions had been recovered. I don't know their state, unfortunately. Also, does he still have all his bits? Yes, he's still got one wing left. We'll find out. We'll find out, but

it's fine. He took a few hits. It is not my business. My business was to find you. I found you. I have recovered you. And now I am taking you to where things can be explained to you. You've cursed quite a

star in this city. Something that my superior is quite interested in discussing. After you. Follow the tunnel. I think, uh, Ayla, I think we found ourselves in the middle of another revolution. I mean, at this point...

Forgive me, forgive me me you are quite amusing this is normal go to a planet create a whole bunch of enemies go to a random house anywhere create a whole bunch of enemies this is what we do we're really great at it I'm sure

she basically waits she makes sure that you move ahead of her she seems to be taking up the rear um and after a while uh you notice that she waves a hand over her face and the the pale uh elven almost eladrin like features give way and instead you see a purple skinned white haired elf i suppose uh what we would know as drow if you were looking in the player's handbook a drow woman takes her place same armor um all the same kind of colors and things like that um but with a kind of very deep purple hued skin and white hair um and yeah she leads you or is more kind of like, pushes you in a direction to follow these caverns.

For the others, a similar kind of situation takes place, where after a while, you are being herded down these tunnels, and you notice the tunnels, anywhere that the surface would become polished and shiny, like the buildings above

they've been painted black um and the light in the there's no ambient light any of you who don't have dark vision are being led by the others or by some of these strange um allies that you have acquired um those of you who can see in the dark or a small amount of light from centuries matrix, you notice that, uh, the same thing happens. They wave their hands over their faces and the, the, uh,

the Eladrin like beings are replaced by these purple skin, white haired drow. Um, this, the man who spoke before, uh, doesn't really speak after, after he gestures you into the tunnel.

The silence effect that was kind of making everything quiet, after maybe about 40 minutes, it dissipates and you begin to hear sounds and things like that again. But you get the sense that you're heading down quite deep underground. Trying to remember

what Quill and Lucius actually know about these guys, because I think it was Ayla that pretty much spoke to them the most. As far as we're concerned, we were arrested and then saved and we're told none of this. Yeah. Sure. We didn't really have time to fill you in on what happened before. No, I know.

We were just concerned with saving your butts. Thalia looks around and then sort of is like, ah, yes, of course. Of course, I understand now. She turns to the one, the man that you'd been speaking to before. I assume that you're keeping an eye on us, Ben. He just looks and nods.

Turns to the three of you. Quill, what's happening? Are these people Lucius? Sentry, do you know? I don't know. Are we prisoners? Are we safe? What is this?

That is, well... Prisoners is perhaps too strong of a word, but we're certainly not being rescued. Let's put it that way. Great. One thing after another. Are the other two safe?

You hear this voice. Your companions are safe. I've received word from my superior. Did you get the blue one? Does she have all of her bits? All I know is that your companions have been acquired. I do not know the details beyond that. Okay.

Nice one, Mark. I like that. Okay, where's this tunnel going? Where are you taking us, at least? We're taking you to our safe house. Oh, good. Good. It will take some

time for us to reach there it's on the other side of the city gonna messenger ring what will you do with this he doesn't say he doesn't answer that question what do we do what do we do how do we survive this one where do we go are we within the five miles to hear that five miles yes i suppose you would be

you're not that far separated from each other i know i always struggle with distances like five miles sounds a lot to me but it's probably not that much yeah it is okay so yeah it's like we probably wouldn't have gotten that far apart in the time that we've been doing this. Unless someone is really, really fast. Sure, you can messenger ring then. No, I think we

would have just heard Lucius's panic. Oh! Oh! You're okay! You're alive! You're okay! We're alive! Yeah, we're okay. You're alive. You're okay. We're alive.

Yeah, we're fine. We've got another elf with us now, so we're good. I'm not sure we can trust all. Yes, are you in the tunnels? We're in a tunnel. Right, good. Okay. tunnels we're in a tunnel right okay we need to be careful because i don't think we're being saved so to speak uh we're going from one calamity to the next i believe so keep your wits about you true but this calamity seems less aggressive than the demon one so more reason to be wary of it.

Yes, always. It's a smart people. Bad people. It's a smart people. Okay, thanks, Lucius. I'm panicked over smart people, Ayla. One of the other drow traveling with Lucius Quill sentry team

says something in a language none of you understand to the man who spoke to you initially. I know that you are communicating with your companions telepathically. I advise you, I would ask you to at least tell us what you are discussing. Why on earth would we do that? Oh no, because I have asked you laughter laughter

laughter laughter laughter It's gonna happen, it's gonna happen I don't worry about it Earth is just what they sometimes call a roast because it's made of. I don't worry about it Earth is just what they sometimes call it Royce because it's made I mean I don't know the family said a row. Yeah Why why would we State everything that we say we don't know who it will make things more complicated when we arrive

I will have to inform my superior that you are communicating telepathically. It will become things more complicated when we arrive. I will have to inform my superior that you are communicating telepathically. It will become troublesome for me. Oh, sorry to make everything so awkward. We've just been kidnapped again. Would you prefer it with Graz? He was on his

way when I rescued you. No, you absolutely... We don't know where we're going. Yes, we're confused. We're being taken to a safe house. We don't know where we're going. Yes. We're confused. You are being taken to a safe house. We don't know what's going to happen to us when we get to the safe house. You will be questioned, and then I believe the intention my superior has

is to offer you assistance. I do not have any more information than that. My superior does not speak with me about such matters. I was given a mission. I have completed that mission. Do you know how long we'll be here for? As long as you need to be.

I suspect that from the state of some of you you would require some rest. Well, that's something. Some good news. We would appreciate that's something. Some good news. We would appreciate that, yes. How much further do we have to go? Perhaps an hour or so.

The tunnels are complicated to confuse any of the demons that make their way down here. Right. Onwards then. Without any right onwards then without any further conversation unless you wish to ask something either side either team at this point unless there's something you want to ask

or discuss the drow lead you to another staircase that leads up this one you can see that there are numerous... Quill, you would recognize them. They are protective wards

kind of inscribed into the walls. The man waves his hand a few times in a kind of complex series of gestures, and the runes stop glowing momentarily, and then you are led upstairs, and you emerge into a very luxurious-looking lounge. The walls are all coated in a thick matte black paint that stops them being reflective.

The furniture is adorned with many, many motifs of spiders and spider webs. The whole place is decked in these kind of motifs. There is a table of foods that have been laid out. There is water in a carafe, a crystal carafe. Glasses have been laid out for you. And you are all basically whichever group is the first to arrive let's say Nova and Ayla and

Wraithra are the first to arrive you are basically the woman with you says sit, make yourselves temporarily comfortable. Once your companions arrive you will I will need to ask you some questions.

Can I, um... I guess just try and get some water for Wraithra and just see that he's okay? Yeah, I mean, he's just been following you silently, muttering occasionally in Elvish, just kind of muttering things just like,

Borg master will be mad i want him to be mad i don't i want to work in the force i want to fight do i not want to fight what do i want i want to go home i want to find to be free you need to need to find out what happened it's just like muttering to himself and it's there's never anything of any real detail or consequence um just almost thinking sporadic thoughts out loud i think shuffles a level to probably respond to him when he's talking about the the forge and working and just say no it's it's fine you don't work there anymore and just try and try and encourage him that he's free um but she'll probably wait until um because quill mentioned he might be able

to help him a bit more she'll probably just hang off on anything further than that just yeah yeah so she's not gonna encourage him about the current situation the encouragement the only thing it seems to do is keep him calm that you don't think the words are reaching him you don't think he understands what you're trying to say you know you're free you don't have to you know you're not part of that theater anymore he doesn't really understand that but there is comfort like hearing elvish calms him down like you can see that he kind of you know his muscles occasionally tense up but when there's an unexpected noise or if the drow woman gets too close to him he kind of tenses up you

know balls his fists ready to fight but then speaking in elvish kind of calms him down and then keeps him keeps him uh quiet um it doesn't take long you have enough time yeah he drinks water food and water he takes gladly as soon as he's offered it he's like he guzzles the water and he like eats the food like there's pieces of fruit and he eats even like the cores and stuff he'll just eat anything that he's given um almost as if he doesn't expect to get anything ever again you know he just inhales it or like stuffs it like if he can't physically eat anymore he'll like put it in like his little uh tunic and things like that to hide it for later um but yeah if you guys want food and water it's provided the the drow woman never leaves the room.

She watches you the entire time, just in quiet silence, just kind of observing you. And then eventually the stone flooring that you emerged from opens again, and you see the familiar faces of Sentry, Quill, Lucius, and Thalia, followed by about another four of these drow who emerge. You did it! Good, you're here. and Thalia, followed by about another four of these drow who emerge up. You did it! Good, you're here. Right, we got ourselves in a real mess up there.

I think I'll just instantly throw myself on Sentry. Sentry, you're okay! Nova, you're okay! You guys are going to give me a matrix attack, I swear. It's so good to see you. Quill to give me a matrix attack I swear it's so good to see you Quill has still got a wing

always good to see I'm all here I'm collected I'm together it's barely the spider motifs oh go on sorry I'm in shock I don't know what's going on it's been a very whirlwindyy moment.

She's gone from one thing to another without any rest. How is Lucius looking in terms of injury right now? That's a good question. He's about a third good. Okay. So Quill's looking a bit worse for wear

than Lucius is. I'm looking about a quarter good. Three quarters bad, you could say. Three quarters bad. I'm looking half bad. The drow that brought you here, the male one looks

at Aayla, Nova, and Rethra, looks to the female drow that brought them and he bows his head and she kind of looks at him I take it that your mission went without problems yes

it did and she kind of looks at him expectantly sir excellent seems that you had the more... You had the more difficult group to handle. Mine were

surprisingly quiet and easy. We're right here. I will go and inform... I know. I'm not speaking to you. She looks at Lucius like I'm not talking to you. Why are you talking to me? You're talking about us and I think that's, I'm not talking to you. Why are you talking to me? You're talking about us, and I think that's, I mean, right in front.

You need to understand one thing. We could give you up to Graz in a moment's notice. You would suffer greatly. We are going to help you. You will understand respect whilst you are in this place. You will not speak to me unless I speak to you. Is that clear? It's very hard to not Chris Trott this. Yes, it's very clear.

She looks at Ayla and Nova. I don't think she would know which gender sentry is. So she looks at the two of you and is like I would recommend you make sure that these ones are not flippant in front of my superior she's not as nice as I am

I will leave you in my brother's capable hands whilst I go and inform the matron that you have arrived and she turns and makes her way while I go and inform the matron that you have arrived. And she turns and makes her way into a different room. Some of the other drow disperse,

but the man that you'd been with remains, along with one other guard. He kind of looks at Lucius as as in you know when somebody looks at you and they can't believe that you've been really ballsy like they're like shit like there's that kind of look where he's just like um and yeah he just he just waits he doesn't say anything unless you ask unless you guys want to ask him a question um if not, then you just wait in silence. But there's food and water and everything else,

but nobody makes any effort to speak to you unless you do. So I wanted to ask about the spider motif. I'm guessing me and Ayla recognize Dusk Willow, right? Is this Dusk Willow? Yeah! You don't know. You don't know. I mean, Dusk Willow's ship had You don't know. You don't know. I mean, Duskwillow's ship had spider motifs,

and she had giant spiders that could talk. They were very friendly. She seemed friendlier than that lady was. You're not sure. There's definitely similarities, though. Definitely similarities. But these are elves. Lady Duskwillow had a giant spider body, and then

the top half of her was this purple-skinned female elf. These guys are just that bit. They're just the purple-skinned white-haired elf bit. No giant spider legs. I'm wondering if it's the same faction, or if it's just another spider person

trying to help us out. I put my ring up against the wall and just like trying to compare the symbols. The symbol is different. Lady Duskwillow's ring, I think, had a spider on it, but it also had elements of a moon and nature. It had like vines and stuff engraved on it. I can't remember how I super described it.

It was a long time ago. But it's different these are just a spider there's also now that you're kind of looking around the room lots of things like blades and um knives kind of incorporated into a lot of the design there's a lot of like spiky looking ornaments and decorations um yeah it's kind of it's actually kind of intimidating when you kind of take a second it kind of looks like a really really plush club lounge but then actually when you take a closer look at it it's actually a little bit more intimidating than that um brilliant maybe about 15 minutes pass and the the drow woman that you saw before that brought Nova and Ayla here returns.

In fact, no, she doesn't. I just need everybody to make a wisdom saving throw. Oh, GG. Oh. Plus free, y'all. Yeah, you get the benefits from

Sentry's benefit, yeah. I'm gonna need it. 13. 13. 14. Right, who got below an 18? Me. Is that everyone except Tom?

Not me. I got 23. Okay. You don't hear or you don't feel anything. You don't know what's happened. But then appearing, almost in thin air, appearing from the shadows, the drow woman appears again.

So. Are any of you working for any of the demon princes on azergrat everybody but quill must tell the truth oh no how about

hmm interesting and what of callus valkyrian do you work for Calus? Working against him? Definitely not. No, not at all.

Interesting. No. I know that I know that you lost your game against the Prince of Pleasure what happened after you lost

oh well I found out how he was cheating and we fled at least me and Lucius and Talia did how did you know that he was cheating I'm versed in the arcane ways fled. At least me and Lucius and Talia did. How did you know that he was cheating? I'm versed in the arcane ways.

You are lying. I... Tell me, how did you know that Graz was cheating? I asked the right question. A very vague answer. Did you use

magic? Of a sort. Why are you asking us these questions? Avoiding questions. Because I need to secure who you are, and if you pose a threat to us.

And who are you? She smiles. And it's not a good smile. It's kind of a sinister ah we are how should I put it?

We are the enemy of your enemy. And I believe that in some planes that makes us friends. It does. I like friends. I don't like you. Yeah. Why do you do this to me?

Why do you do this to me, Chris Trott? Zone of truth, buddy! She didn't ask you a question! My reactions are bubbling to the surface. I think that you see this woman raise her hand and begin to cast a spell when the man that had brought you here punches you hard in the gut, Lucius.

And it's like, you know, you take like six points of bludgeoning damage as he punches you in the gut. Silence! She did not ask you a question. Sorry. And you see her hand, and I think, Qu Quill you would notice

like there is like necrotic energy beginning to crack up that hand like she was ready to cast a spell on Lucius and then she lets it go sort of like nods at the male drow did you use magic to determine Graz was lying?

How did you do it, Mr. Birdman? I know that you resisted my spell, so you are not compelled to tell the truth, but I still know when you are lying, so I recommend you just tell me. Divination with my god. Ah, not so difficult was it it must be quite a powerful deity then Graz is a demon prince

this is interesting interesting information and you say that you are opposed to Valkyrian, Emperor Valkyrian he looks towards Nova, Aela and Sentry at this when he says this I know that there is a bounty placed upon you. Why?

Yeah, that's for a few good reasons. We kind of pissed him off a bit. What didn't we do? Yeah. I would love to know a specific. We landed on a planet that he was in control of. And in the process of getting away because you know he hates us

we um caused a bit of a ruckus among other things yeah he he doesn't like us you're not quite as skilled at dodging questions as your bird friend but no I never said I was you're not quite as skilled at dodging questions as your bird friend but

it's not too difficult to work out I'm really bad at it clearly still, capable fighters very capable fighters from our information we know you escaped Elysium you've avoided Starbane's forces

many times you've partnered up with quite the little scoundrel with Captain Whisperwind here. And you're going somewhere. You're going somewhere far away from Gideon Prime

and far away from the Fae Realms as she looks towards Lucius and Aayla. So where are you going? Little lost birds. She kind of looks around all of you. It's the one bird, actually. Oh, I see the truth.

So, how... I'm just... How do I RP this? Well, I would say ideally not by looking up the spell. It's a good way to not RP this. No, the... To RP this? Well, I would say ideally not by looking up the spell. It's a good way to not RP this. Yeah, you don't know. Is this a spell that Nova

knows? You just can't lie. Okay. Doesn't mean you have to answer the question. Because what's the boundaries of a lie uh not the truth ayla just knows that she um she probably it's one of those situations where she should just just doesn't say anything just shut just shut up just don't yeah farley is doing the same thing farley hasn't said a word since this began. She's just doing this. Just has her arms

folded. And the little snake's like, breath back from being winded. You were being winded. She probably looks towards Sentry. Nova's trying to copy Thalia, but probably not looking as confident. Skilled. Nova's trying to copy Kahlia but probably not looking as confident

your silence will not do much wherever you're trying to go you won't get there if we don't help you home hmm very truthful very honest answer but you don't have a home

the guardians were destroyed eons ago so where do the guardians call home now very well you are not going to tell me this answer Very well. Still live on. You are not going to tell me this answer. I can tell then.

Well, not unless I make you. But I don't think we're there yet. Come. The matron wishes to meet with you to discuss the events that are taking place. You, and she points at Lucius, you will watch your manners. Do not speak to her unless she speaks to you. And with that, she turns,

and the other drow basically form up around you, and they begin to cajole you into a... you know, to leave the room. Is anybody doing anything, or a you know to leave the room is anybody doing anything or do you want to resist um nope I don't think we're in a position to do much

I don't think so Tom's looking I can tell he's looking at spells. He's like, no. I've used all of my 5th level spell slots. I was going to do a mask your wounds and ask them first. Can I at least

just heal my friends? But with a level 5 heal on everybody, that's outside of... I guess we're leaving the Zone of Truth anyway, right? Yeah. Yeah, you would be, yeah. Okay, so either way uh can I can I at least recover

some of these cuts and bruises on myself just me she looks she looks at you the matron probably will not spare her magic to heal you yes you may but be warned if you try anything, I will have my brother here slit your throat and hang you out to dry like the

ready meal that you are. Oh. I'm not delicious, just as a warning. I'm not very tasty. I'd never know unless I try. Although people keep trying. So, anyway, I'm going to heal myself.

Sure. You watch, and as you cast the spell, she watches your hands, your gestures, your words very carefully. But yeah, you can cast the spell and nothing happens. Cool. I'll do a fourth level as well. Sure. Because I'm very wounded, by the way. Cool. I'll do a fourth level as well. Sure. Because I'm very wounded, by the way. Yeah. That's why she's letting you do it.

You can see that you're heavily injured. Nice. 18 healing on me. D.Y. I've got nothing special outside of that. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't dead the moment she looks at me. It is appreciated that you make yourself presentable before the matron she would have forgiven you for a few cuts and bruises but this sort of

this sort of manner is befitting good manners yeah you are led into several corridors you notice that there are multiple arcane glyphs and wards you can see guards all dressed in a similar

nature i mean you can hear what sounds like a bar or some sort of uh you know in above you but it's muted heavily muted uh down here um but you are led into a very opulent looking office a rich desk made of black marble tipped with silver spiders crawling up the legs there is silken webs that hang like drapes from the ceiling and sat in a very

royal looking throne dressed in these elegant almost like a power suit like a black very low cut v v-necked suit, is an older drow woman, purple skin, white hair. You can see that she has a circlet, which kind of has like silver spiders at her temples that keeps her long white hair from falling in front of her face.

Very immaculately dressed, and she appears to be writing several papers as you enter. The drow men immediately look at the floor and go to their knees as soon as they come in the room, and the woman that led you in bows her head. Matron, I have brought you the... Grazets guests, shall we call them. I have asked them my questions

I believe that they do not pose any immediate threat to us or to the queen we may discuss with them as we need to I believe that they need our assistance as much as we can benefit from their situation

yes thank you my dear as we can benefit from their situation. Yes. Thank you, my dear. And she looks up, and you can see that her eyes... The other drow that you've met, they all have these kind of red irises, kind of like circles around their eyes, not like natural colors.

They're all mainly red. Hers are gold. They're like rims of gold with tiny white pupils. And she looks up and casts a very Meryl Streep kind of eyebrow look at all of you.

You're kind of... She lingers for a moment on Lucius and Quill, who I'm assuming are not kneeling when you come in the room. I mean, we have no reason to right no exactly yeah

she just looks her gaze lingers for a minute and then she just kind of so you are probably all wondering why I have sent my people to assist you. I am Matron Ilhares. I expect you to treat me with utmost respect.

This is my daughter, Phyra. This is my daughter, Phyra. This, and she gestures to the man that brought you in, is one of my male children, Jevan. You have cursed quite a stir and angered

the Prince of Pleasure greatly. This is useful to me and to my goddess you are not familiar with Azagharat are you outsiders you may speak matron

ill harris should we be should we be sorry not really sure of the custom here and nova's kind of bobbing awkwardly it would be appreciated i

value respect especially from lessers and her eyes linger on Quill and Lucius when she says that oh Lucius falls his arms

I mean you see Lucius falls to his arms. Hmm. I mean... You see, uh... You see, Fyra, the drow that brought you here is, like, her face is just contorted in, like, rage at this. But the matron isn't. She kind of looks at you with a cool coldness. Ah. It has been some time

since a man has displayed such fragrance. Will. I'll put cologne on. You think you are very clever. He mutters to himself. I have encountered countless males like you

countless beings that thought that they were too good i can assure you and she stands up and she begins kind of like sauntering towards lucius yeah go on it's not that i don't uh respect i just the customs are strange when they're demanded without you know that we're not from this place she strokes your face would you like to get to know our customs i I feel like I'm going to anyway. Not ideally. I'm afraid that we don't have the time for playing. She turns back. Grazit is currently enraged

at whatever you have done. Whatever actions you have done to displease him. It has not happened in centuries. He cannot stand the idea of being denied something. Which gives us an opportunity, but it has also placed a number of very difficult obstacles in your escape from Azagorath. I would like to assist you in escaping the planet. And in return?

Perhaps one day you will repay the favor when it is asked. But for now, I expect nothing. Your presence is useful. Your distraction is useful. Your distraction is useful. Um, if I may ask, uh, Matron, why

do you not like the grass, uh, the prints? Like has nothing to do with it, my dear. I have been in Zelotar for many centuries. I have alleviated myself to many of Graz's pleasures here in the city. But my goddess is my true purpose, serving her. She controls a city not far from here.

A whole region of Azaghrat, as do many of the other demon princes. There is a fierce rivalry amongst them all. Most of them are too chaotic to be dealt with. Graz is insidious. He knows the value of subtlety more than the others do. of subtlety more than the others do. This alliance he has formed with Valkyrie

has cemented him a stronger position here on the planet. A position that my goddess would be very pleased to see diminished in some way. May I ask who your goddess is? Of course. I serve the great spider goddess herself, Loth.

As do many of my people here on Azaghrat. She is an old power, far greater than Gratz, but she has been bound by certain actions in the past. You are a very quiet guardian. quiet guardian. Even as old as I am, it has been, well, even just the stories of your kind have seemingly vanished from much of the multiverse

thanks to that accursed child Valkyrian. So it would seem you're not the second person to tell me that. There is something about you. You carry considerable power within you. So do you. Why do you dwell underground?

My people have always preferred the darkness to the car cold hard light of the sun or light whatever you call it but also my duty is to serve as the eyes and ears of my goddess my agents my children serve a similar purpose we We are here to destabilize, to gather information, as we do on many great things. There is no better place to do that than from the shadow. I suppose that is correct.

Yes, my dear. You are full of questions, aren't you? Very much like your race. Oh, yeah. Strange. Um. A Ganassi who does not serve the Valkyrian Empire. Yeah, there's a few of us.

Not that many, from my knowledge. Continue, you had a question. Are you and your goddess aware of Hadar? And how it's going to destroy pretty much everything? We are. Hadar is a very powerful force. For now, Valkyrian is doing good work in keeping it at bay at best. But Hadar is also a power that, even my goddess,

if he becomes truly free, she may not even be able to stop but we have our secrets and our ways if Hadar is unleashed upon the universe upon the multiverse there are other places for us to go can you make a wisdom saving throw for me nova me wisdom wisdom wisdom do i get a plus three from uh centra sure

yeah yeah 26 oh that's a natural 20. Nice. Yeah, you feel her you know, these elegant long purple fingers. It's almost like you can feel her trying to get into your brain. You feel like a spider tickling over the back of your skull, trying to weave through

your memories as she looks at you, her golden eyes piercing into yours. You are quite a strong-willed one. I was hoping to find out the mystery behind your oddity.

But it seems that you are you possess a strong mind. So I mentioned that there are some obstacles in your way of leaving the planet I think that I will

give you some time to consider your options perhaps rest and then we shall see about getting you off of Azagirat shall we not she looks and you'll call upon

us later I suppose well no you will need to remain here this facility this building is protected against interplanar travel teleportation sc scrying. Gratz will not be able to find you here.

I suggest you do not leave it for your own safety. I just mean, after we leave the planet, destabilizing isn't enough for you. You need not worry about that. I have plans that I will see done whilst Graz is busy.

I suspect I will not make any illusions. You will be pursued by the Demon Prince. He will not forget what you have done. But that is what I am counting on. He won't be the only person pursuing us. Indeed. You have been quiet, my dear. She looks at Ayla.

Katie has straight up had to work. That's fine. I'm being completely ignored by colleagues. Sorry. I've got nothing right now. That's fine. She turns

and gestures. You currently face three major obstacles. The first is that Captain Thalia's ship has been tethered and is being guarded by a force of demon. You see Thalia's ship has been tethered and is being guarded by a force of demon you see Thalia just like

ugh I was hoping that Graz wouldn't know which ship was mine the second obstacle you face is Graz has numerous pursuit ships stationed nearby

even if you were to make it into astral space, you would be very quickly pursued and overwhelmed by them. And then the third issue is, in response to Graz's proclamation, a force net has been projected over the port. Ships will not be able to leave until it is disabled. My agents can help you deal with some of these problems but you will need to decide what you wish to handle, what plan you have, but I have resources available

what's the in your expertise matron, do we have any chance of taking his ring of wishes? Oh, no. No. No. No, unless you were to turn yourselves in, I suppose. He may, uh, if one of you betrayed the others, you may be able to get it, but then the others would be in his clutches. And I promise you, you will not get away again. Gratzats overestimated you before you won't make that mistake again that brings into question actually another point grats himself is your greatest threat if any of these demons guarding

your ship alert grats where you are he can teleport to you instantaneously you will need to make sure that they do not get the opportunity to do so and I may be able to have some of my agents use their illusory magic to perhaps throw up some false signals around the city but yes I would

I'm afraid that that ring was not through without some incredible cunning on your part you were never going to win that ring Gratz always rigs his games he always has an upper hand

hmm He always has an upper hand. Hmm. What's the problem with dealing with such creatures? He is a being of pure hedonism, selfish desire. He knows nothing of serving a greater purpose. There's no concept of honor or the like. So, force field, guards, ship. Ships.

Forcefield is probably the first thing we need to figure out. I would advise you to consider ways that perhaps you can deal with some of them simultaneously okay destroying disabling the disabling the shield will alert that you are at the astral port the guards will reinforce themselves grats will not be far behind like I said I have my daughter my son Guards will reinforce themselves. Grats will not be far behind.

Like I said, I have my daughter, my son, my other agents can assist you. They can take care of some of these problems, but you need to decide which is the priority to you, where your skills are best suited. I imagine the captain will wish to go to her ship. Well... Still, you need not decide now i suggest you find a moment's rest i have some rooms prepared for you there will be food but i would not recommend you remain here for too much longer after your rest is completed they will be looking for you and even i can only do so much to hide you okay very well okay well well

thank you for rescuing us and thank you for giving us the guidance we need to actually get off this planet uh although you are i do have one question. Yeah? What opportunities does our destabilization offer you? What are your plans now? Why concern yourselves with these things? It will only harm Graz and his interests here. I'm afraid that such secrets are not for anyone. Not within my goddess's circle. I have my

own secrets to keep, after all. Okay. She nods. Anya, you are led back outside by Jevan, the male drow, and he leads you to a very comfortable suite. It is

one big room. There are multiple beds in it. There is also tables for food, there's basins for washing yourselves, but it is one shared room, and he takes up guard outside the door once you are let inside. Yeah?

You guys have room to yourself? Is to yourself long restable yep that'll be the first one we've had since we got here yes yeah are you able to do the thing on the thing I'm pointing at Raitha

the thing on thingy oh if you mean this if you mean that thing on that thing, then no. Not that thing. Thingy. Thingy? I can do multiple thingies on multiple

themies. Can you cast Greater Restoration on the elf? My god. Not yet. Lucius is going to be stiffly stiffly walking around in a massive huff

and he's just going to walk up to the table and he's going to like and really look at a cup contemplate for a long time and then timidly knock it over. Lucius. Okay there Lucius. lucius okay there lucius are you not sick of this sick of these people in their positions of power exploiting everybody else who are we talking about are we talking about the drow or the demon prince or everyone everyone or valkyrian empire okay these trivial disputes these vies for

domination over a planet throwing us into the mix every single time it's all trivial trivial matters when we are trying to do greater good these people just want to claim some land for themselves and use us to do that i'm sick of it I'm sick of hearing it since my childhood. I'm sick of my rival family back at Gustaven doing it to my family. Sick of it. I mean, that's kind of what we're trying to fight against. It's just, we're not going to be able to stop it

by just taking down Valkyrian or the Starbane Empire or anything like that. It's going to happen against. It's just there's... We're not going to be able to stop it by just taking down Valkyrian or the Starbane Empire or anything like that. It's going to happen everywhere. But we can at least stop the worst one. I'm just angry. I will get over it. I'm going to pick up the mug and put it back.

Yeah. You upright it into a normal position. And dust it off. I understand what you mean, Lucius. It's frustrating. There's so much more that matters. Unfortunately,

small people live small lives and this is what's important to them. And it sucks that we keep getting caught up in it no one's lives are small many innocent people have died over petty disputes my family included I will pay no part in it unfortunately we have to

kind of play the part in this if we're gonna get off of this planet I definitely understand what you're saying lucius it's why i've been living the way that i have for so long but nova is also right without these lolf worshippers help i don't see how we can get off of azagirath i know it's frustrating believe me, but I want to get my ship and I want to get as far away from here as I possibly can.

I don't know if we can do it without their help. I apologize. The zone of truth, it took me over and I couldn't hold it in. No, quite honestly, Lucius. I will not repeat our progress. I like that, Lucius. I was a big fan of that Lucius knocking over a cup. I honestly wish he'd smashed more. I think that, Lucius. I was a big fan of that, Lucius, knocking over a cup. I honestly wish you'd smashed more. I think that's quite

hard, actually. Not that part, but I think that you should get angry more often because it's quite useful, and I think that this will help you in your fighting. No. It's not dignified, and it will rip

my suit. Dignified or not, it's... It gets things done. You'd make a good astral captain. With a bit of time, I think. A bit more of Lucius knocking over mugs rather than Lucius panicking

about things. Anyway, enough about me. So, how are we going to solve this mess uh well i'm tethering a ship getting rid of their pursuit ships and also removing a net of some kind to stop all ships from leaving it's it's a lot it's a lot to do with a lot of resistance but i mean we've got all of their help, I suppose. But is it... Are we splitting up to do this?

I think we might have to. Well, they said we should do what we were good at, right? Nova, do you think that the net is something that you might be able to deal with? You're clever. I could threaten it. Like I did with that Durgar.

Did you see me, Ayla? That was really good. I was actually really proud of you. So, you know what? Nova, being a badass, jumped up on this guy, put Tiangong to his neck and was all, hey, you won't get to wish on anything if you're dead

and it was it was great yeah right yes she did yeah I was shaking inside and I think I weed myself a little bit but I was looking at Ayla and and Ayla like I channeled Ayla I was like looking at Ayla and I was like we're so screwed if we don't get out of this so I just channeled Ayla. I was like looking at Ayla and I was like, we're so screwed if we don't get out of this. So I just channeled my inner Ayla and I flexed and I definitely wet myself just a little bit. Nova, you're a terrifying monster. Well done. Don't say that.

But yeah, I'm sure I could do something technological. I might need to... Do you think this Lolth has any books on the technology here? I wouldn't count on it, my dear. No. I don't think that that's really their

sort of cup of tea, I would say. I know a little bit about these drow and these these loth worshippers um they're zealots they're they're they're utterly paranoid and uh very very secretive espionage on all sorts of different planets their spies are some of the best able to disappear and conjure darkness as they wish. It's funny, we've seen the kind of horrors that are here on Zelotar. The drow are paranoid people, and they're a very stern, quite strict people, as you've seen.

But, yes, technology isn't really their sort of thing they're more fanatics to their goddess she really rules over everything they do it encourages all of their culture i know quite a lot of them left centuries ago um they used to have quite a lot of issues with my people on lunaria but a group of them, a whole city of them left to go and found a new colony elsewhere. They followed another drow woman, Elistari, something like that. Some sort of freedom fighter,

some sort of rebel, a daughter of Lolth. They followed her and set up shop somewhere else, I think. But the ones here, I didn't expect to see them in the city, but they're known for being absolutely devoted to their goddess. So sounds like I should probably be a part of Team Forcefield. Yay.

I mean, we might be able to get two in one if the Force field only lets us through and doesn't stop their pursuit ships from following us and does stop their pursuit ships that's two in one somehow do that yes that would

be incredible if we could lock them out of their system somehow yeah maybe or even if I figure out an algorithm that locks down a timer on it, so we have a time to get out and then it just shuts off again. Yeah. That's good work. At least then we only have to...

Go on, Quill. Oh, as long as we figure out how the ship is tethered down, if it's magically, then, well, me and Lucius can figure that out. And if it's mechanically, then, well, Aayla and Sentry can smash it out. I can't imagine that they would be able to do it magically. If there's a force of that sort of immense power that can stop any ships from leaving the port,

I don't think they'd have enough energy to be able to use a magical way of tethering it. It's probably physical. They probably have something physically attached to the ship keeping it. Is Kairi still on board, and can you communicate with her? I've been trying to, but the ship has a system I can't communicate her while it's in

its lockdown state. The procedure, if this ever happens because we do have one was that her bim and big cat are hidden there we have i know have a number of cubby holes on the twin star that someone can hide in um the idea is that they hide on board and at the right moment oh yes it's he doesn't like it very much it's quite a small space but uh uh if need be they can hide whilst i am arrested or taken prisoner or too drunk whatever it happens to be um and they hide and then when it is necessary they can reveal themselves and and you know jump on the guns lower the lower the door and get us inside if need be but um so she should still be there i imagine yes lucius

so all together how about we utilize these wonderful people holding us here as a distraction from the guards giving us time to get to the port and then we use each of our means nova if you can to get to the port, and then we use each of our means. Nova, if you can use your force field ways to get us up. Everyone else goes into the ship, and then maybe the rest of us stall anybody coming towards the ship. Yes, that seems reasonable. Who can instantly teleport to where we are. So we need to...

My suggestion would be they've assumed our form, did they not? Just before we got taken into the tunnel. Could they not assume our form and cause all of them to go in that direction while we go towards the port? She suggested something like that.

Why don't we do that? So Gratz will teleport to them and not us. And hopefully by then we'll be away. One small suggestion before we get some rest. You all came to this planet because of my suggestion. Whatever danger has been my fault. Nova, if you can... You have a crystal slab, yes?

You have a data slate. Yes, I do. See if you can... You have a crystal slab, yes? You have a data slate. Yes, I do. See if you can work out something that I can take. Let me deal with the tower. If anything happens, at least Kairi can still get you on the ship, and Quill's been watching me fly it. He could take the

twin star. No. If necessary. But rather than yourself, Nova yourself yourself on your own well i just fear that we'd then be leaving your companions without your assistance i could have the trust the bird but i don't trust the bird to fly the spaceship i don't trust anyone other than you to fly that ship you're coming with us let. Let me be clear about something. I have no intention of nobly sacrificing myself. If I can get back to my ship, I will.

But the idea of... If you have to fight something on that ship, in that shipyard, it is better that you are all together. You understand how each other fight. It is far better that you all fight together. Let me and the drow take care of the tower. Nova can pre-prepare her algorithm, as she suspects. I can install it. I know Magitek as well as she does.

At least then, you are all together. I don't wish to see you split up again. I have seen you divided numerous times now, not knowing if your friends that you've been with for who knows however long are alive or dead, and that's not something I wish on my conscience, if I'm honest. But you're one of our friends. And also, I have

Arcane Gate. I can get back as fast as I can. What happens if something happens that I didn't think of? What if there's a new protocol? What if there's, I don't know, there's some algorithm that comes up that needs solving?

You won't be able to deal with that. I will. You can come with me, but you're not going on your own. Well, if that's what you wish. Obviously, it's five against one. I can only put my forth my argument but I just do not want to

we didn't come here because you forced us to if anything I'm sorry we couldn't get the ring for you I know what it means to you it was foolish I should have known that Graz wouldn't have played fair I thought that perhaps with

the powers that I've seen Quill use, perhaps we had an advantage, but it was foolish of me. I am what I am, and that's never... That's never going to change. I see that now. But I don't want any of... I don't wish to see you separated again, if that makes sense. I've known separation.

I know what it's like to be separated from the people you care about permanently. It is not a fate I wish on any of you. Let us sleep on it and see what happens in the morning, shall we? Yes, I think that's best for everybody. We've been through a lot today. Yes, we have yes and with that that's where we'll end today's episode because we've got to end about we're going to end uh early so correct still another operation to do before we get off this damn planet yeah but then you'll be free. Free to go home.

Being chased by everybody. Cool. That is going to be it for us this week. Thanks for joining us. And yeah, we'll see you next time. Thanks for joining us, everyone. Thanks, everybody. Stay safe. Look after yourselves. Wear masks. Stay safe. Sim.