High Rollers DnD - High Rollers: Aerois | #9 - Riches of Rosehall (Part 2)

Episode Date: September 13, 2018

Valla is ready to share some of her mysterious past and we meet someone we've heard a lot about! Huge thanks to our sponsors D&D Beyond and Brilliant. D&D Beyond is the official digital toolset fo...r Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition. Use the code HIGHROLLING on D&D Beyond (http://bit.ly/dndbeyondhighrollers) to get 25% off all digital items (excluding the Legendary Bundle)! Brilliant.org helps you master concepts through fun, guided problem solving. D&D has a rich history of puzzles and problems, so boost your brain power with Brilliant! The first 200 users to follow our link (http://bit.ly/highrollersarebrilliant) will get 20% off an annual subscription! Music courtesy of Epidemic Sound Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Starting point is 00:00:40 It's a good thing mom lives on the other side of the country. And it's an even better thing that you can get six IKEA 365 Plus glasses for just $9.99. So go ahead, you can afford to hoard, because IKEA is priced for student life. Shop everything you need for back to school at IKEA today. Hello and welcome to High Rollers, a Dungeons & Dragons podcast in the world of Arois. Run by Dungeon Master Mark Shaw-Humes, with me, Tom, playing Keelakad Kalah, the bard slash cleric. I am Chris Trott.
Starting point is 00:01:09 I'm playing Lucius Ewan, Elowen Elinastro. And I am a high elf sorcerer. Hi, I'm Rhiannon. I'm playing Sentry. I am a guardian paladin. And I'm Kim. I'm playing Nova, who is an air ganassi, and she is a hexblade warlock. Once again, a big thank you to our sponsors, D&D Beyond and Brilliant.org.
Starting point is 00:01:26 Stick around for the end to hear more about those. Vala finally wants to share some information about her past, and we meet a person we've heard a lot about. Welcome back to High Rollers. We took a break as the party are just getting up to some good old RP in Rosehall at the moment. The party have raised the funds to heal their friend Arvel, the dwarven merchant. His leg has now been healed by the cleric Torval Blackhammer. The party have also been accosted
Starting point is 00:02:12 by various members of the town in search of gold. They are asking for donations to help with their families or paying to get through the winter and all this kind of stuff. And they have made the decision to open up a charity fund that would be looked after by the owner of the tavern called Rosalina, a halfling woman called Rosalina, to help with the town in the future.
Starting point is 00:02:34 As we left it, Quill, Lucius and the young teenager Valor had run off to talk about their adventures and such things. run off to talk about their adventures and such things. Meanwhile, Sentry, Nova, and Arvel are all heading back from the temple. Is there anywhere you want to go? Anything you want to do? No.
Starting point is 00:02:59 Let's head back to the tavern. Okay. Let me just check my equipment. So you guys just head back to the tavern. I. Okay. Let me just check my equipment. So you guys just head back to the tavern. Yeah. I suppose, actually, Arval would probably ask for some of that gold to buy some new clothes. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:03:13 And you would probably stop by the Dale Geld Provisions Company to buy some new clothing, just some tunics and things like that. He needs about, I think it would be about five gold for a new set of travelling clothes. Yeah, I'll give him that. So if one of you can mark off that. I'll mark it off. It doesn't take very long to just like, there's plenty of stock dwarven tunics for Arvel to buy
Starting point is 00:03:35 that you can do that. Quill and Lucius. Vala leads you to the, I'm trying to think here where it would be. Is that be to the north the northwest be the southeast corner of the town um a section of the wooden palisade wall near the river i mean you can hear the white breeze this uh this large river that flows directly into the lake um it's not a particularly fast flowing river at this point it's quite gentle um but there is an old
Starting point is 00:04:03 watchtower uh built from wood. Just basically a little kind of platform with a roof that sits just above the palisade wall. I think we saw this watchtower on the way in. I think it's the route we came in. Yeah, there's a couple of them stretched along the wall just in case of wild elf attacks and things like that. And yeah, there doesn't appear to be any militia or harvest guard there. Valar kind of climbs the way up and gestures your wall to follow. The ladder is a little rickety and it is a bit cramped when you harvest guard there. Valar kind of climbs away up and gestures you all to follow. The ladder is a little rickety
Starting point is 00:04:26 and it is a bit cramped when you get up there. But you can see for miles the direction you originally came from. So looking back out towards the south, towards the Bitterwood, which you can see just in the distance on the very edge of the horizon,
Starting point is 00:04:38 you can see like a thin line of trees with mountains eclipsing behind them. Wow. How far we've come. Fascinating. See how beautiful the view is. Oh, yeah, looking that way, it's beautiful. It must have been just like this when you were flying around up in the sky. No. Seeing everything in just bird's eye view. Bird's eye view. No, it was much higher up, actually. And also I don't like to think about it too much, actually.
Starting point is 00:05:06 Oh, I'm sorry. Oh, I thought it was a cherished memory. Well, but no, it must have been the view you had from the Sky City that you're not in. No, mostly clouds, actually. Oh, well, I suppose that's true. It's above the clouds, isn't it, each Sky City? Hm? Is it above the clouds each Sky City?
Starting point is 00:05:21 They pass through clouds. Oh, okay. I tend to not look over. I get a bit nauseated I imagine you might fall off and if you fall off you can't fall off You can't fall off. Well, you could yeah There's some protection and whatnot. I would know that most most citizens of Something that almost every sky citizens carries is a small token
Starting point is 00:05:44 Which will basically activate the feather fall spell if they get too far to the ground. Because you can fall off. Yeah, but they have these magic... But also, they build things like fences to stop people falling off. People also generally don't just go... Because they know that there are thousands and thousands of feet in the air. Yeah, the people that are most at thousands of feet in the air um yeah the the the people that are most at risk of falling off the sky cities are people that work the um in the electrum harvesting
Starting point is 00:06:10 business because they have to basically climb down these these chains and mine away the ethereum crystals from these cages and then they fill them up and they carry it back up yeah because um just trying to move the cages is too dangerous it It can basically make all the Ethereum crack and fall apart. So they basically send halflings and humans that climb down these cages and like get hammer and chisel out while they're descent, like literally hanging by a piece of rope and like ting, ting, ting.
Starting point is 00:06:37 And then they carry it all back up and they're the, they're the most dangerous, but the halflings love it. It's fine. It's not racist because halflings love it. I have a great time. So yeah, so Vala kind of sits down and you can see that from a patch she kind of pulls out like a little water skin and she like pulls out like a little snack bar. Oh, she's got snacks.
Starting point is 00:06:57 No, maybe not. It's like a little camp night. I have some boring little rations. I have some disgusting rations. Okay. Which we took from the Wild Elves, remember that? Oh, yeah, no, they're probably long gone, actually. You think so?
Starting point is 00:07:10 We bought new ones. We bought new ones. Oh. Did I get one? Yes, you did. I may have not been there. You were in the shop. You wanted to know... More about why i went to the temple right uh
Starting point is 00:07:28 yes well i mean you said yusuf is not your mother yeah so yes yeah she's um she was appointed to me as a guardian from i guess like quite high up people in the church of siasca uh i don't remember them much because i was really little, but I remember being brought there. It's weird. I don't have really any memories of before I was maybe four or five. Okay. I just remember like dark and cold.
Starting point is 00:08:01 And then I remember the first thing I remember is a bunch of people in robes, Siascan robes opening something and pulling me free and then they took me in, they looked after me, they fed me, they clothed me they gave me my name, they told me my name was Valor and
Starting point is 00:08:20 they kept me in this temple I think it was on one of the sky cities I think it was there one of the Sky Cities. I think it was there because I remember getting an airship and we went to various other cities. But then I joined, then I was put into, they call it the Abbey, and it's where they raise a lot of priests and priestesses. There's normally a bunch of orphans there that they take in, that they train to be priests.
Starting point is 00:08:44 But, yeah, I just, I guess I was put in with all of them. And were you treated any differently than the other orphans? Yeah, kind of. I wasn't... I went to lessons with them, and... Where we learned things like history, learned to read and write, maths. And then I had special classes for my magic, which was one-on-one. There was an old... It was a high elf actually like Lucius he was quite old though and he taught me magic I think he was a wizard he had a book but he could teach me a little bit about how to control the energy and you know the gestures and
Starting point is 00:09:16 things you have to make okay um but I wasn't a matic sister yeah that's the term I wasn't I wasn't allowed to really interact with the other students. Like Yusuf, they were always so worried about me getting hurt or maybe hurting them. I don't know, but they didn't like
Starting point is 00:09:37 me spending more time with them. I know Yusuf doesn't like the idea. He doesn't like me sneaking off and she doesn't like me hanging out with you guys. Right. Well, we'll keep it short then, just in case they get worried. It's fine. So, she worries too much anyway. She just, she's, I don't know what she's so worried about.
Starting point is 00:09:55 I mean, we got through the Bitterwood fine, right? Like, that was scary. That was dangerous. I mean, that was probably the closest she's ever been to losing you, though. The crash could have gone very differently. Yeah. Any one of us could have, well, not come out of that so well. Yeah, those guys in the masks. I mean, if you guys hadn't been there, they probably would have killed us straight away.
Starting point is 00:10:17 Yes. It is interesting why they were there in the first place. Still haven't really got to the bottom of that, have we? Well, Nova knows something about them. I figured that they were just pirates, right? They were just trying to steal the ship. They seem to have an agenda, though. They destroyed
Starting point is 00:10:31 the ship. They also were from, what was it Nova said, the Court of Shadows? Court of Shadows, yes. Yeah, we heard about them in history. They used to, they worked with Starbane, right? The guy that killed Siaska and
Starting point is 00:10:46 tried to invade the world. That's right. All myth and legend, though. Yeah. Well, apparently, or it used to be anyway. You said when you were young,
Starting point is 00:10:58 before you were five, it was cold and darkness. Do you ever get these emotions or feelings back any time you cast a spell? No. It's feelings back anytime you cast a spell? No. It's weird. When I cast a spell, I feel really strong. I feel like there's more I could do. Like my magic could be stronger, but I'm holding back.
Starting point is 00:11:17 Okay. All right. Let's give it a go. What? Let's cast a spell. Okay. Just a gentle one. Okay. Like what? Okay. Well, let's start with the basics.
Starting point is 00:11:28 So everyone learns Dancing Lights when you're in the High Evil Society of Gustaven. Right. And it's good because it has both vocab, somatic and material components required, so that's all three. That's like the little lights you make, right? Yes, four. I don't think I can do that one. You cannot? No. I didn can do that one. You cannot? No.
Starting point is 00:11:46 I didn't learn that one. So you're not... potentially not... hmm. It's fascinating. What do you know? Well, I can... I can kind of move stuff with magic, so I can create like a little hand... A little mage hand? Yes, yes. Very quaint.
Starting point is 00:12:00 But... What does your hand look like? I can also do this other thing thing which they told me i shouldn't really do because it can hurt people right right um most spells do yeah uh hang on and she kind of gets climbs down the ladder looks around to see if anybody's around are we looking down you're looking down on her and she kind of closes her eyes for a minute and when she opens them you see her her purple eyes like pulse like pulse, like, with an energy, and seven spectral swords kind of appear around her,
Starting point is 00:12:31 spin, and then flash away. Okay. Wow. That was something. Quite powerful. Very powerful. Come back up, do you? And she climbs back up.
Starting point is 00:12:45 Like, a lot of my spells, a lot of the magic I seem to have, like, seems to let me do stuff like that. Like, I can conjure swords, or I can fire energy. Not really. That one's really easy. The other ones can be more tiring. How many can you do until you feel like you need to rest? Of that burst, I can do it until as as long as as much as I need it.
Starting point is 00:13:06 You have that as a cantrip? I think that's what they call them, yeah. Yes, cantrip is when you can do them at will without any material component and it's innate to you. I think so. I can also, I mean I've not really the only time I've ever really used it is when I've been able to hold weapons and things, but I can also
Starting point is 00:13:23 kind of make weapons get... Like a purple flame? You can enchant them. Kind of, yeah. Like a purple flame that can then leap between different things. I think Nova can do it. Everything's purple with you. Yeah, that seems to be my inherent color that all of my magic takes.
Starting point is 00:13:40 Can Lucius, because I've got an inkling, but can I do an intelligence or arcane check to know what this purple energy and that type of spell would be associated with a class? Why don't you make a roll, tell me what you think it is, and then I'll tell you if you're certain. 19 plus 2, 21. What do you think it is? I think it's a warlock. Okay. Shadow warlock. Okay. Shadow warlock. Okay.
Starting point is 00:14:06 So, what you know of warlocks, that you've heard of the stories of these people that make packs. A warlock, you know, is somebody that borrows their power from another source. Looking at Valor the way that she's described her powers, you're pretty sure that's not it. You don't think she's
Starting point is 00:14:21 a warlock. You think she is a sorcerer like you. You think that whatever magic she has is in her blood. This isn't like anything you've ever heard of. This isn't like any sorceress ability that you've ever heard of. It sounds like she, yeah, you're not quite sure what her
Starting point is 00:14:38 bloodline is, but it's definitely related to her herself. This isn't a pact. And you say that if we were to give you a magic item, you would source that power from that, and then what does that do? I don't know. Does it render it
Starting point is 00:14:53 nerf? It's not like I... I feel like... Like, when I grab Nova's sword, I mean, I can tell that there's something about that sword. There's... I thought I I could tell that there's something about that sword. I thought I heard a voice that seemed to cry out or scream or something when I picked it up. I think it just yelled no.
Starting point is 00:15:17 And when it did, I panicked and I felt its energy go into me and I just dropped it. And that's when the explosion came out. And then when I picked it picked up again it was fine. Interesting. Maybe it seemed to repel you some kind of maybe... I don't know. That maybe that first... That's the first time that's ever really happened. I've had it once before the only other time that
Starting point is 00:15:38 it's ever happened before is my old my old teacher Master Tal Talus, he had a wand. He wanted to test if I could use it. And when I touched it, I felt a similar thing. That didn't have a voice, though. It just seemed like I drew some energy from it. Have you ever held a potion of healing? I've held one before, yeah. We used to make them sometimes in the temple.
Starting point is 00:16:04 I assume you don't absorb the power. No, that was... It has to be magical. I've held one before, yeah. We used to make them sometimes in the temple. I assume you don't absorb the power. No, that was... It has to be magical. I think so. Well, do you have anything that you need to focus on when you're casting these spells? Maybe Lucius, you could... Maybe one of your focus you could give to her? That's the thing is, I don't have anything like that.
Starting point is 00:16:21 Why don't you just touch gem on my Fabrio? My gem hand. nothing you can't sense its resonant power i mean it doesn't i can't sense a resonance power i can tell that it's it's a focus it's something that you use to channel your power but i don't sense any power in it not like nova's sword nova's sword there's something in it there's this like a presence uh well nova did say it's been speaking to her which um yes it does line up doesn't it yeah well that was definitely a concern of mine but alien power uh yeah well it sounds really weird but it felt old it felt really
Starting point is 00:17:00 old like whatever was in there was way older than me way older than than anything i know well nova described it as uh several hundred different voices sometimes hers sometimes many different voices sometimes just a different voice entirely so it's weird you're able to hone in on just one of those yeah i did saying that i was able to touch a matrix of a sentry and the old, not sentry's matrix, sorry, that involved me going inside sentry. I don't think I should be hearing about this stuff. You tear open the chest and then you have to get inside the matrix.
Starting point is 00:17:38 Anyway, we got inside the blacksmithing matrix. Right. That old one, and I was able, I think, thanks to my magical abilities, sense its visions in its past. It was a cacophony of sound. It was awful. Maybe it's just the way that we have magic as part of us rather than something external.
Starting point is 00:17:56 I don't think there's anything wrong with you. That's good, at least. I just think we need to maybe define it a little more. And by defining it, you mean letting me come in on adventures and testing my magic, right, Lucius?
Starting point is 00:18:14 I look. Like Quill? She looks at you, and you can see she's got quite a bright face. You've only ever really seen Val looking quite quiet, but when she's kind of talking about coming on adventures, you can see her little eyes light up. We can speak to Yusuf, right? I mean.
Starting point is 00:18:30 Field trip. We could speak to Yusuf, but we know what she's going to say. That's why you shouldn't speak to Yusuf. No, we have to be responsible adults here. And at least say where you're going, so she's not worried sick. She won't let me go.
Starting point is 00:18:45 I'll speak to her. You'll speak to her. But you said she doesn't stifle your learning, at least in terms of your magic. No. Well, nothing... She doesn't... It's by stifle.
Starting point is 00:18:59 I mean, one of my spells is I conjure magic swords, Quill. She's not really keen on me practicing that one Well, what if it was simply just an observational learning? I mean Lucius clearly is Similar enough at least to your magic power Nova. You've got some sort of connection there and she's not there I know but Nova and I point off to the village. Yeah, I mean if you can convince her sure I just think that's going to be pretty hard. She's really protective. But I mean, I'd love it if I could come.
Starting point is 00:19:30 Just, I feel so trapped, constantly being just mothered and looked after. I just want to figure my own thing out, you know? I want to figure out what I'm meant to do. I'm not a priest of Siaska. I'm not going to be. Sure, I respect her, I worship her, but I'm not, I don't want to be like Sister Yusuf.
Starting point is 00:19:50 I want to be like, I want to find ancient places like you. There's something in the world calling to me, and I just want to find it. How old are you? I'm 15. And 15 is a maturity age for a human? Just so you know, in a row, elves don't mature as the same ancient, ancient. It's not typical D&D elves where they're like 500 years old.
Starting point is 00:20:16 Elves are generally just a bit more long-lived, so they live to about 150. So, yeah, you would know. Roughly the same. Yeah, it's not far off. She's old enough isn't she I mean she is she should stick for herself
Starting point is 00:20:27 make her own decisions she is 13 years older than me what yeah well immature no not 13 11
Starting point is 00:20:37 11 years older than me I mean I'm a Cobra that's just how I'd be so you're a baby no no no you're a baby. No, no, no. You're a big bird baby. No, no, I'm just... I'm an Aarakocra.
Starting point is 00:20:53 We advance very quickly. It's okay, baby. No, no. She like pats your face. Okay, little baby bird. This is adorable. Valor? She's just laughing.
Starting point is 00:21:04 You're relying on me to convince her. Yeah, okay. This adorable. Valor? She's just laughing. You're relying on me to convince her. Yeah, okay. But then again, maybe I'm a good example. Promise I won't tell anybody else about the baby bird thing. It's open knowledge. I'm an Aarakocra. I'm not ashamed of this. Baby bird. Okay, I am ashamed of that.
Starting point is 00:21:23 Cut that out. Let's go back. Thanks for talking to me about this, guys. I've not really had anybody to talk to before, so... We can try to talk to Yusuf, but maybe it's best that you talk to her yourself. Okay. Have you tried that? No.
Starting point is 00:21:40 I will. I tell you what, Vala. Once I get the message up to Daddy, I'll take you on an airship. You can come visit Gusthaven. Yeah, that sounds great. There's plenty of books and libraries and sorcerers and whatnot. Sounds amazing. Very old elves that will know probably what you have.
Starting point is 00:21:59 Sounds amazing, yeah. If we don't find out beforehand. Yeah. Okay. Great. Very good. After you out beforehand. Yeah. Okay. Great. Very good. After you.
Starting point is 00:22:08 Climbs right down. And yeah, you make your way back over to the Brazen Heart. When you arrive, it's probably enough time that Sentry, Nova, and Arvel have all made their way back as well. Arvel, wearing new clothes, comes back in walking with his leg. When you enter, you see
Starting point is 00:22:23 Rosalina is behind a bar. There's a few patrons in there. It's probably around like five, six o'clock. And there's a few patrons just getting dinner. You can see that Rosalina, so Rosalina, Yusuf, and the half-elf girl are all serving dinner, basically, like going around serving out plates. When you enter, Rosalina just looks up.
Starting point is 00:22:44 My friends, welcome back. So glad to see you again. like going around serving up plates when you enter Rosalina just looks up my friends welcome back so glad to see you again we've had fear for a little while that you had obviously been killed and you're adventurous
Starting point is 00:22:53 but I'm pleased to see you back nope unscathed well scathed but pretty good I see you found my little errand worker
Starting point is 00:23:01 for the day yes we found her and we ushered her back to do some more cleaning. I think she might have been avoiding it somewhat. Vala just like shoves you. Thanks, baby bird. Vala!
Starting point is 00:23:14 Rosalina looks at her and is just like, yes, I have plenty of jobs saved up for you from the day that you were not here. You can start by cleaning the rooms upstairs, Vala. Well, Rosalina, it's very late. Yes?
Starting point is 00:23:30 It's very late, and she's very tired. Hmm. Maybe... It's up to you. You're the boss. Give me a persuasion check. Natural 20. It's up to you. She looks at you. Give me a persuasion check. Natural 20. It's up to you. She looks at you.
Starting point is 00:23:48 Valor's like, Very tired. But she will definitely do them tomorrow. Yes, very well, we will see. Go on, off you go. But we're going on the wagon tomorrow. Oh. Oh, but, well.
Starting point is 00:24:05 That's a problem for tomorrow. Valor Oh, but, well. That's probably for tomorrow. Valor's already left. Valor is snuck off in the middle of this conversation. Okay, well, fine. Can we see Central... Yeah, you see these guys like, these guys enter like a few minutes after you or whatever. Hello. Hello, troop. Yet got a name.
Starting point is 00:24:20 Going to get one then, aren't we? Or party, or group. Arvel, you look sprightly. I am very well, thank you, Lucius, my boy. Thank you all once again. It's strange to see
Starting point is 00:24:30 you like this instead of like that. I mean, I was able to hobble at least before, but yes, it's good to have my leg back. Um,
Starting point is 00:24:38 fascinating. Miss Rosalina, I appreciate your hospitality in letting us stay in the barn all this time, and now that my leg's fixed,
Starting point is 00:24:47 I'd love to, you know to help make it up for you. Is there anything I can be doing around here to help you out? She says, well, yes, perhaps a nice strong dwarf like yourself. If you could chop some firewood for us, that would be most kind. He's like, I will do that immediately. When I get back, I'll help out in whatever way I can. You can take Bella's job. Sure, whatever.
Starting point is 00:25:08 Excellent. I just want to make sure I pay back for the ganders. Okay. Well, let me come have a table. And she clears the table and lays out a nice tablecloth and starts pulling out some drinks. What can I get you? What drinks would everyone like? Could we have a word
Starting point is 00:25:25 actually of course of course what can what can I help you with well ever since we got back to the town
Starting point is 00:25:32 and seems to have acquired some money a lot of people have heard that you managed to get money out of old Navill well it was
Starting point is 00:25:40 that is no small feat perhaps more impressive than you coming back from the chima life. That gnome does not like spending his money. Well, we may have potentially given him something quite powerful, but it's fine. We need the money more.
Starting point is 00:25:54 Money is money. A lot of people have been asking us for help. I am sure they have. Monetary help, that is. We had a plan of maybe somehow fixing that. Or more to the point is. We had a plan of maybe somehow fixing that. Or more to the point, Lucius had a plan of how to fix that. Okay. It was a group effort.
Starting point is 00:26:12 It wasn't just me. But yes, we're thinking of establishing maybe a charity fund here. Okay, so... And I may have mentioned your name as the leader of the charity. Oh, thank you so much. Because everybody loves you. For the wonderful new headache. So much.
Starting point is 00:26:26 I mean, you could probably hire somebody to do it for you, but it would be under your name. I mean, how much are we talking? That changes things quite greatly. I'm not sure. I don't have the money. We hadn't quite decided. We hadn't quite decided yet.
Starting point is 00:26:40 I don't have the group fund. I thought you were about to say that you didn't have the money. Directly, otherwise you would have it all. Okay. And I've been told not to. Well, I mean, if you tell me how much, I will do my best to make sure it gets into those who actually need it. Not just somebody who wants to buy a new donkey or something like that.
Starting point is 00:27:01 I can make sure they get what they need. How much do you think would be a good starter? I mean, in a town like this, it is difficult. It depends, you know. Something like, well, each family, if I give them 20 gold, that would last them through the long night. It would help them, you know, make repairs to their homes. It normally would take them months. Let me put it this way. Your average family, they perhaps earn five silver a week.
Starting point is 00:27:33 Would 200 gold be enough? I think that that would be very good. I think that that would be a really nice amount that I would save, and if people have good uses for it or if somebody has a big loss you know perhaps a farmer loses his crop because of something he can't control that gives me a good pool to to loan him some money and and I encourage them to try and repay the favor to help other people you're good at business right you I think so I've managed um well more than just this tavern in my past. Let's put it that way. I managed a big successful business. Perhaps as a method of replenishing the pot, so to speak,
Starting point is 00:28:15 you could also ask a favor of the people that you get a donation from. Yes, I think that I would ask Maximilian and some of the others in town if they would then generate. Generally, if somebody comes in and does something very generous, like you are doing, other people will follow suit because they don't want to look, you know, like they're not a good guy. So, you know, if you give some money, Maximilian, maybe he gives some money. Maybe Merik, he gives some money.
Starting point is 00:28:38 Maybe other people in town give some money too. And we hope that maybe in the future, if other mercenaries come through, not that we're mercenaries, but if other groups ofaries come through, not that we're mercenaries, but if other groups of travelers come through, maybe they could be encouraged to do it as well. Sure, I can ask. I will always ask. Say that we've set something up. This fund, instead of individuals.
Starting point is 00:28:54 Yes, that sounds really nice. If you are willing to do that, that would be great for this town. Do you think 200 gold is enough? I think so. I mean, if you're happy to take up the responsibility It will be It will be some work, but It will be a good thing for the town And I want to help the town
Starting point is 00:29:12 That's one of the reasons I came here I've got an idea, another one I mean, I don't want to speak out of turn, but If we go to Goldthrone, there's a lot of money there What if we establish a secondary charity That could then feed? And then they, you know? Balance each other out?
Starting point is 00:29:28 Yes, one could fund each other and then send... I mean, we could do... Patronage there could be facilitated here and whatnot. I'm sure there's some things here that could be useful for Goldthrone. Honestly, there are many towns like Rosehall all over Sivona. Perhaps you maybe make your charity in Goldthrone one that helps smaller outlying towns, not just Rosehall. They could all reach out.
Starting point is 00:29:51 Yes. That'd be lovely, wouldn't it? That would be very, that would be great. That would help a lot. I mean, I'm lucky. I came to this town with a lot of gold and a lot of money, and I knew what to do with it. But a lot of people here,
Starting point is 00:30:03 they have lived here their whole lives. All they know is farming or, you know. But they also, they have to deal with lots of bad things. Monsters, bad weather, wild elves. A lot of people out here can lose everything in a click of fingers. So something like this, this would be a great thing. I mean, what's the safety net currently for these people? Nothing. The generosity of their neighbors, really.
Starting point is 00:30:30 And how do we expect to refill this charity? Like I said, perhaps people pass by or, you know, we can do maybe events, host a bake sale, do like little clear outs, sell old things. There are things that could be done for tourists Should we say That don't really cost monetary value Just provide shelter and what not You know, if you've cleared out Chasm
Starting point is 00:30:53 If you think you've got all of monsters in Chasm We could maybe set that up As some sort of historical site Get historian to come Pay money to explore it We could sell them supplies, that sort of thing. I'd be careful with that, though. We did clear it out, but we didn't exactly check to see if there was anything else.
Starting point is 00:31:14 Oh, okay. You might want to send an adventuring trip. Well, I'll speak to Merrick and let him know. But yeah, maybe we can look at other things. A lot of visitors come to see the Rose Lake, the Rosewater Lake. can look at other things. A lot of visitors come to see the Rose Lake, the Rosewater Lake, but with the Rose Hall Palace a lot of people think it is haunted and people don't like to go near it. They see strange lights, they hear strange noises, a lot of people avoid it. Sorry? Okay. The old ruin north of the city
Starting point is 00:31:41 along the White Breeze River, you maybe saw it on way into town. It spans across the river itself. Two keeps connected by like an archway. It's an old elven palace. Nobody really knows the history behind it. It was built long ago. But yeah, travelers on the road, they say they see strange lights in the windows, they hear strange moaning or screams. Sounds spooky. People don't like to go near the lake anymore because of it. Well, is that something that we could investigate? Yes, I love ghosts.
Starting point is 00:32:18 I mean, we don't know if it is ghost or monster or what, but people avoid it. I mean, it couldn't be worse than the chasm. True. But at the same time, I'd like to avoid it if possible. I mean, you don't have to go there. I'm just saying it is a local spot. We're trying to earn a name for ourselves.
Starting point is 00:32:38 If you want to earn a name, then clearing out the rose hole is probably a good idea. You haven't had anyone come up to you with a bulletin, have you? I had a couple of people come by ask if i have bulletin board i just told them to stick on wall and she points to a wall uh where there is now two pieces of paper one which reads need name for hero band giving us money suggestions here and then it's got like scrawled names and then the other one is
Starting point is 00:33:08 pigs four number sale speak to Jim everybody knows Jim and another one
Starting point is 00:33:21 is Lucius's face wanted cowed missing not yet not yet they have no proof Everybody knows Jim. And another one is Lucius's face, wanted. Cow murder. Cows missing. Not yet. Not yet. They have no proof.
Starting point is 00:33:30 It's only been a day since that happened. No one saw it. Well, they're going to get CSI Rosehall in the second line. Here, there's loads of code by these cow bodies.
Starting point is 00:33:41 Looks like they were killed by a snowman. Case closed. Case closed. Case closed. looks like they were killed by a snowman case closed case closed he's melted isn't he it's only the one snowman actually perfect crime it melted away yeah in terms of
Starting point is 00:33:59 names you have the Dwallon Delvers nice I like that a little bit clumsy clumsy
Starting point is 00:34:10 it's a little bit mouthful I mean once we get to Goldthrone that's going to mean nothing it's irrelevant you need a global name an international brand
Starting point is 00:34:18 the double D's would be better wouldn't it the double D's fantastic I like how Ree's just like yeah I'm down The Double Ds. Fantastic. I like how Ree's just like, yeah. I'm down.
Starting point is 00:34:30 Down with Blazing Squad. Down with Blazing Squad. The Rich Folk. I'm trying to think of what dumb names these people would come up with. Hero Band is just fine for now. Unnamed hero band. Just makes me think of rock band or guitar hero. One of them is two women,
Starting point is 00:34:51 one elf, a robot and a bird. That's their name. Walk into a bar. I like that one. Not many names. There is a bulletin. He's fulfilled what you asked him. Maybe by next week the villagers of this village
Starting point is 00:35:06 The villagers can come up with some names Suggested some better ones On the bulletin of Reddit There you go, nailed it Or on Twitter Hashtag roll on Sunday Village people So yeah, you're just left there
Starting point is 00:35:22 Birdie, we need to speak to Yusuf. Do you want to... Are you going to give 200 gold to Rosalina? Are you in agreement 200? Mm-hmm. Yeah. Okay, I'll give 200. This is not going to go sour.
Starting point is 00:35:38 It's a good idea. It's like spilt milk. Is there anything you do in the evening? In the next 30, 40 minutes, is there anything you guys do? I mean, I guess, are we getting Valar first before we talk to Yusuf? Well, you said that she should talk to us. You said Valar should talk to Yusuf. So she said that she would go and talk to us.
Starting point is 00:35:59 Oh, okay. Yeah. We'll leave that for now. Okay. And then wait until Yusuf storms through the door. Like, what the fuck have you said? Yeah, exactly. leave that for now. Okay, then wait until you said storm through the door Yeah, okay angry mother about 45 minutes you guys have probably eaten you've probably had some food I'm chillin out. Yeah, I think they adore what's that useless? If you want rooms by the way for the night, you will have to pay for them again. Yeah, take it out to charity
Starting point is 00:36:21 No it out to charity no we need it you've given that as a thing so there's you can just sleep on the floor you said to can't you century so you and century have a single room nice and then nova and ayla share a room and then you have a single room so that's 8 16 uh that's 30 silver piece that's 30 silver for all of you to have rooms. So that's three gold. And then with food and stuff like that, it's going to be another, let's say, one gold. So four gold. Or two.
Starting point is 00:36:55 No, that's total. Four gold total. I'll pay one gold of that because I'm in my own room. Okay. From my fund. Could Aayla and I split? Sure. Like 50-50.
Starting point is 00:37:04 But you just know we have a down and then you can ask Katie for it when she gets back. I'll and I split? Sure. Like 50-50. But you just note it for Dan and then you can ask Katie for it when she gets back. I'll pay for mine and mine. You pay for now. Aayla's like, yeah, you pay for it for now. I'll pay you back.
Starting point is 00:37:11 Yeah, trust that. I'll pay for mine and Quill's. Okay. I'll pay for it. One gold, two gold, one gold. And it was ten silver for the food. No, no, that's included. It's just four golds
Starting point is 00:37:20 for food, drinks, and beds. Okay, okay, okay. How do you have so much money? Because I picked up the pre-sundering money. She doesn't spend it. I don't spend money. You guys are enjoying a lovely meal when...
Starting point is 00:37:32 You should actually write down your loot there. A figure enters the tavern, which causes a lot of people to look round and kind of look a little bit stunned. He's a large man, very broad-shouldered, loose tunic, but quite a nice-looking tunic with a little bit of trim, a large man uh very broad shouldered loose tunic but quite a nice looking tunic with a little bit of trim um a ring on his finger trimmed beard dark hair kind of swept back uh and he comes in smiling and he looks around and he when he sees you he's just like
Starting point is 00:37:58 ah there you are i was hoping that y'all would be in here this evening like comes to the table and is like, let me introduce myself. My name is Brett Brookstone. I just wanted to come by and, well, I felt like I should come by and speak a little to y'all because I fear that you have been mistreated by some of my workers and that there have been some very vicious rumors about me that I wanted to personally come and dispel to you oh well I I mean we can't say that we haven't heard some things I'm sure you have my friend I'm sure you have unfortunately there's a lot of
Starting point is 00:38:35 people who are well a little a little jealous that my business has taken off I am particularly well off in terms of this town and some people don't appreciate that they don't appreciate the fact that me and my family have worked very hard
Starting point is 00:38:50 for many long years well funny you should say that because we recently came into a lot of money ourselves and we also have I've been hearing this
Starting point is 00:38:58 you're having quite the adventure down in the chasm for a day out of town yes what an exciting adventure. And we came across a magical item. We saw that.
Starting point is 00:39:08 Yes, yes, yes. But, Luke, what I'm trying to say is we no longer have that money. No. But what we did do with the money, excess money
Starting point is 00:39:19 that we don't need for frivolous use is put it to Rosalina as a charity. And what better way to convert the populace to your good side and good nature
Starting point is 00:39:30 is to maybe donate to the charity. Why, my sir, what a lovely idea. I reckon that... Now, you know what? I will put down 50 gold to this charity right now.
Starting point is 00:39:41 We put down 200. Well, my sirs, aren't you the generous kind? I'm afraid that 50 is all I can spare at this time. Sorry, I spoke out of turn. Yes, I forget that it's quite a penniless village. We are not as well off as four marvellous adventurers. Is there anyone else want to share?
Starting point is 00:40:01 Can I just pick up Lucius And just walk Very briskly away He's like He pulls out a small gold pouch He thumbs through it He's like yes Rosalina Rosalina I will leave this here
Starting point is 00:40:16 Please contribute this 50 gold To the charity that these fine folks have begun And she's like That is very kind of you Brett Thank you so much I will do that Thank you Could I Can I do an insight check on her on her on her to see how she is actually acting around him like I mean insights 14 14 you from that the impression you get is she's very clearly kind of feigning a
Starting point is 00:40:43 sort of like polite oh thank you that's very kind she's suspicious she's she's quite suspicious but she's just conducting business as usual everybody else is a little bit on edge with him around um well and the other thing i wanted other reason that i came by you don't have to speak up i've been carried away oh please it's like by all, no, bring your friend in. This is an interview. I wish to invite all of you. She has no time for playing. What I wanted was to invite all of y'all to dinner at my house,
Starting point is 00:41:15 out, you know, my family. We would be delighted to have you as guests. You have done great things for the town. I am also, I wish to help the town as best I can. Many of the town work for me. I try for employment. My wife is a fantastic cook. I hate for y'all to miss her cooking. My daughters and my
Starting point is 00:41:34 sons would love to hear of your adventures in the chasm, telling your tales of daring. They would love to hear it and I would be delighted to have you as guests in my home tomorrow evening, shall we say? Well, I mean, we can stay another day, surely? Yes.
Starting point is 00:41:50 That, I am so gracious to hear that. That sounds marvellous. Thank you so much. What do you have for thoughts? Rupert. Nova would be pretty oblivious, wouldn't she? If you think that's how she would play, what's her wisdom, like eight? Yeah. Yeah, it's pretty wisdom? Like eight? Yeah.
Starting point is 00:42:05 Yeah, it's pretty oblivious. It's like, kind of like, yeah, like, I mean, you can make an insight check if you want against this guy. Like, if you are suspicious of his intentions, you can make insight checks. One. I mean, yeah, this, what a lovely man. What a kind gesture, you know.
Starting point is 00:42:25 Obviously, people are saying all these nasty things about him, and you can't ignore that, but he's being thoroughly polite and showing no signs. His body language isn't aggressive. He's all smiles. Just, yeah, seems to be... What a lovely man. I'd love to come over for dinner.
Starting point is 00:42:41 Well, thank you, ma'am. Thank you so much. And who else would be there? Just your family? It would be me, my family, and yourselves. We would just like to delight in your company. Hm. Well, if you have us, it would be lovely. Of course I'd be delighted to.
Starting point is 00:42:55 Uh, is there anything that I should tell my wife? Anything about cooking for the evening? Any problems with any dietary requirements? I'm afraid we've never had a bird man in our village before I'm not sure if is there a garden do you have a garden we have yes you probably have some
Starting point is 00:43:13 worms we can source some what would you like them marinated or stewed or just fresh out of the ground alive alrighty I will tell my wife that marinated or stewed or just fresh off the ground. Alive. All righty.
Starting point is 00:43:29 I will tell my wife that. Century likes warm plates. Yes, of course. Do you eat, Miss Century? That's correct, yeah. You'd only need to make four plates of food. Four? Well, one, two, three, four... You want more than one to have food if you like, but we can leave you out if need be.
Starting point is 00:43:52 We cook for more than our fair share anyway. There'll be plenty to spare, I'm sure. Do you have any dishes without beef? Do you not eat beef, sir? Obviously, no, I'm coming on a diet. Oh, it's a diet. I was about to ask if it was an elven thing. I wasn't sure, but no, we can... He's not keen on the stuff right now.
Starting point is 00:44:16 Is chicken all right? That's fine, yes. Chicken won't be you. Well, that's fine. Different creatures. All right, well, tomorrow night, shall we say, just after dark, say 6, 7? 6 or 7. Oh, we were planning on meeting with Deysa.
Starting point is 00:44:34 You know, she was having trouble with money, wasn't she? Oh, yeah, there were people threatening her earlier. Yeah, I can't remember. What was it again? They said it was something about money. Something about money. In debt to someone, I think. So we'll have to tend to that first.
Starting point is 00:44:48 Oh, why? He just kind of... You see that there is an ever so slight twitch, but then the smile comes back. He's like, well, that sounds awful. I would be shocked if somebody was trying to wrestle money out of poor Deysa. I know that she is. Threatening someone in the town.
Starting point is 00:45:07 No, they were workers from the mine. Nova's saying this completely innocently, by the way. Like, no sarcasm. Now, is that so? Well, I am going to have to speak to my workers that they are trying to hassle some good, hardworking folk in the town. What a terrible... Oh, now you don't happen to have known their names now, miss. No, I didn't realize you owned the mines.
Starting point is 00:45:30 Yeah, fine. It's fine, miss, it's fine. A man can't... You know, they are just... They are their own men. I can't control everything they do. Some of them have come from troubled backgrounds. I will speak to them and make them...
Starting point is 00:45:44 Make it clear that we do not tolerate that sign of business in the Brookstone family. Thank you for letting me know. Okay. What a lovely thing to do. You all right there, Rihanna? Would you like to do something? Yeah.
Starting point is 00:46:01 I kind of want to like intimidate him just a little bit okay or flex I want to flex how so how do you intimidate him I would like to
Starting point is 00:46:11 stand up and just tower over him okay just huge just huge near seven foot guardian yeah
Starting point is 00:46:19 and just yeah his eyes go a little bit wide and he's a tall fellow like he's probably just he's over six. He's probably six to himself. But you rise up even taller than him.
Starting point is 00:46:27 Yeah, like I just don't trust him. He kind of takes a step back. Is there something wrong? I would hate for any ill will to come of this, but we will attend your dinner as you request it. Oh, well, there will be no ill will, my friend. I assure you, just a local businessman inviting some good folks to a good dinner I promise you no shenanigans for yourselves
Starting point is 00:46:52 I promise, I promise He holds his hands up and it takes a definite defensive stance back You know, clearly kind of imposed by a thing Just give me an intimidate check just to see, just for my own benefit. Eleven. Okay. Yeah, he just holds his hands out and he's just like, I promise you I mean no ill intent.
Starting point is 00:47:13 Just a humble offer of hospitality to some kind folks in town. I'm clearly overstaying my welcome. I've made my invitation clear. I will leave you to your evening. Thank you very much for your donation. We'll see you tomorrow. See you tomorrow, and then he and he gives like a good evening Rosalina Good evening all and then he heads out What a lovely man. I was really making waves in this town. Mm-hmm. I could really bring you together
Starting point is 00:47:38 Did I just do it bad? Well, I mean not quite it was What I was aiming towards I just thought he was a really nice quite. It was what I was aiming towards. I just thought he was a really nice guy. He was inviting us for dinner. That was Brett Brookster. Yes. That was the guy that Deysa
Starting point is 00:47:55 is in debt to. That's the guy that's controlling the workers who have been following us around, and also the guy that doesn't like wild elves. Well, at least his workers don't like wild elves. But lots of people have been following us around and also the guy that doesn't like wild elves. Well, at least his workers don't like wild elves. But lots of people have been following us around in this village. Oh no, no, they have been following us around. Asking for our money.
Starting point is 00:48:12 Asking, well, no, no, no, no, no. Those are totally innocent requests. These were following us around keeping our elves. Yes, I remember that group that looked at me funny a couple of days ago, before the chasm. Yes, they were a bit suspicious. I mean, i look at you funny yes but you look at me in a kind of a way and then they look at me in a i want to beat you up kind of way oh should i get a lot he has this town in the in a tight grip an iron grip if you will you get it yeah that was a good yeah good that was a good joke. I agree. So, Quickstone, bad. Not necessarily bad.
Starting point is 00:48:45 He, for all intents and purposes, might be a good person. He just donated 50 gold, which, I mean, for a man with a successful thriving business, could have definitely done more. But 50 gold to a charity, that's a pretty good thing. And also, he promised to keep his workers in check, maybe. So, you're saying that we should trust the people who've been following us around the village and asking us for money, but not trust the guy who's invited us for dinner and donated 50 gold to charity?
Starting point is 00:49:13 I think those are two separate things. I think we're just talking about Brookstone at the moment. I just don't understand. The people asking us for money are asking because they're poor. Something that Brookstone could have solved many years ago. Okay. And we're now invited to his house. Someone who apparently is chasing up debts with the town.
Starting point is 00:49:38 If anything, he's bleeding the town rather than feeding it. So I should be suspicious tomorrow? I think you should go in as you. Okay. We'll do the rest. Yes. I really am bad at reading people. Yeah, no.
Starting point is 00:49:54 Planets, stars, some trees, I'm fine with. People? You can read trees? Kind of. I'm trying. Like the emotions of trees? Yeah. They network, you know. So we'll go tomorrow.
Starting point is 00:50:10 This has been interesting. But it's just fine. It'll be fine. We'll just be cautious. And, I mean, if something goes wrong... Can we have a code word? Sure. I think that's a good idea. Okay. And if something goes wrong? Can we have a code word? Sure. I think that's a good idea. Okay, and if something goes wrong?
Starting point is 00:50:30 Yeah. And what could that be? Pineapple? What if they are serving pineapple? I don't think they would around here. Just in case, because I don't want to say, oh, what a lovely pineapple that is, if there's a pineapple around. Wow, nice pineapple.
Starting point is 00:50:51 What is this conversation? I just don't want the code word to be pineapple. I don't want anyone to just jump up and draw their swords and things. How about... I'm just complimenting someone on their pineapple. How about by Hesper's beard? Does Hesper have a beard? I don't know, but that could be something. I mean, sometimes he does.
Starting point is 00:51:05 Say that. By Hesper's beard. Look at the time know, but that could be something. Oh, I mean, sometimes he does. Say that. By Hesper's beard. Look at the time. We have to get out of here. Stop, stop, stop. No, we're not going there to kill people. Like, the people who are, like, in the tavern can obviously hear this conversation
Starting point is 00:51:20 and they just, like, there's, like, a shuffle as they all turn to their dinner and like they're talking about killing people eat food. Rosalina will know about him right? Of course I mean she was Rosalina! Yes hang on one second dear. Thank you. Do you think
Starting point is 00:51:36 and she comes over and you can see that she was just previously speaking to a young man and a young woman who were like in a quiet corner kind of having a quiet look talk to her. They look a bit flushed and a young man and a young woman who are in a quiet corner, kind of having a quiet look talk to her. They look a bit flushed and a bit embarrassed, and she comes tottling over, typical Rosalina, happy like, yes.
Starting point is 00:51:51 Now, did he cause you any trouble? No, quite the opposite. He invited us to dinner. Oh, okay. Yes, any thoughts? Brookstone is a... very good at being charming and polite, and he only shows himself to do good things around the town. But everybody knows that his workers, and his sons in particular,
Starting point is 00:52:18 can be quite the ruffians. Does he, no? They don't... He claims not to and normally if anybody raises an issue with the with the field marshal or they raise it with Brett himself he gives assurances to fix it and normally the problems stop for some time. They always come back around again. His workers continue hassling. Again, if you're asking me, I've met many men like Brett Brookstone before.
Starting point is 00:52:50 He's very controlling patriarch. He rules his family. He wants the best for his family, for his blood. Doesn't really care about anybody else. And he will do everything to make it appear that he is a good man, but no. Nothing happens in his company without him knowing. I'm worried.
Starting point is 00:53:09 Why? You told him how much money we gave to Rosalina. Well, don't worry. I can handle myself. Trust me. Okay. I lived in a much more dangerous place than Rosehold before all of this.
Starting point is 00:53:24 Well, like you say, he protects his image, doesn't he, in the town. So stealing from a charity would be the worst thing for his image. If anything, I imagine that Brett will play up his donation when speaking to other people in the town. And besides, if he sends his boys around here, I have ways of dealing with them. Okay. I have spells to deal with them. Oh.
Starting point is 00:53:41 I have ways of dealing with them. Okay. I have spells to deal with them. Oh. Hmm. Yeah. Knocking them out with some sleep spell and leaving them in the pigsty is normally what I do.
Starting point is 00:53:52 Right. Well, thank you, Rosalina. I don't want to take up any more of your time. Oh, thank you. You will have to excuse me. I will be gone for about an hour. I have to help a young couple with some of my services.
Starting point is 00:54:03 So I will be gone for an hour. If you need anything, just the girl is just outside the back. You can grab her if you need her. Thank you. Okay. Thank you. And then she smiles and she goes over and she takes the young couple, one in each hand, and leads them upstairs. Adult
Starting point is 00:54:19 services. Not that naive. Now, Sentry, a moment ago, I don't know if you recall, services. Mm-hmm. Mm. Not that naive. Mm. No. Now, Sentry, a moment ago, I don't know if you recall, but I am a little concerned. So I'm just saying this because I know that your time is short and whatnot. I don't want to bring it up, but I know the Matrix could be going a bit iffy, but do you remember picking me up and taking me away? I do.
Starting point is 00:54:43 I don't think that's a custom that we do nowadays. So do you remember doing that up and taking me away? I do. I don't think that's a custom that we do nowadays. So, do you remember doing that? Did you have control? Are you going? I had full control, don't worry. Don't worry. Okay. Don't worry.
Starting point is 00:54:55 I think it was more going back to the conversation we had about not telling people how much money we have. Oh. Yeah. Oh, oh. Look, it's rule number three in the travel guide, and I get out a little pamphlet. Oh, so it is. Yeah, right. Rule number three. That's underlined now. Always give money to yourself. That's quite a deep line you've see. I've learned a lot being in your company. Oh, good. Yeah. See, earlier today we had the crowds of people because they knew how much
Starting point is 00:55:22 money we had, and I don't want... Wasn't that lovely? Well I guess if it wasn't for that we wouldn't have the charity which is lovely and very nice but also I want to make sure that we're safe and by keeping how much money we have secret. Can you can you keep that secret? Then we can... Locked away. Thank you. Then we can all... I'll say we only have 700. You don't have to say anything at all. No I just we only have 700. You don't have to say anything at all. You don't have to say anything at all. Just don't worry. But what if they ask me? What do I... I can't lie. Tell them it's rude. Yeah. Say it's rude to ask.
Starting point is 00:55:55 Yeah. What about the question? Where to? Ask them another question. Ask a question back. How much do you have? What's your name? What's your name? Why do you want to know? Yes, oh um... It's very intimidating things. I don't know, we'll try that. Lucius, how much money do you have? What's your name? Why do you want to know? That works, it's a good start at least. And probably the first time anyone asked my name. start at least and probably the first time anyone asked my name so is there anything you would like to do this evening or tomorrow that you want to do before you attend this dinner or do you even want to attend the dinner did you just say that you wanted to oh yeah sure now's the time to do it well I have a quill about the hammer. Oh yeah, sure.
Starting point is 00:56:46 Now's the time to do it. Quill. I have a question. Remember when we were in the chasm? Yeah. You found a hammer. The blacksmith's hammer? Yeah. Yeah. Can I borrow it for a second? I mean, I was thinking about giving it to um, giving it to Deysa.
Starting point is 00:57:03 You can give her the other stuff. It's just Right. It's just... Right. It's a blacksmith's hammer. But... She's a blacksmith. Here's the thing. It's magical, right?
Starting point is 00:57:12 Yeah. I think I could use it. Do you need to heat any metal? I think I could use the magic in it. Have you been talking to Vala? No. Why? No reason. Actually, I've been meaning to talk to her because Kang-gong hasn't felt the same since I last saw her. Really? Hmm. Why is that? Just out of interest?
Starting point is 00:57:36 He just feels different. He's not talking? No, she's talking. She? He, she, it, one, all, many. Are you both at the table that we're at? Yeah, this conversation is happening right in front of you. You remember Vala said that she touched Tiangong and took its powers and it exploded? Oh, really? There's no secrets in this group. We shouldn't have secrets. I suppose not, you're right.
Starting point is 00:58:03 No, but I figured something had happened because Tiangong felt different. And, you know, logically speaking, Vala was the last person to touch him. Now, it hasn't lost any power, just so you know. It felt different, but it didn't feel like it was weakened in any way. Vala says, and she probably speaks to you about this because we told her to speak to you because you're very knowledgeable. Oh, thank you. That's quite all right. Anyway, I was saying that she's got innate powers,
Starting point is 00:58:26 potentially sorcerer, but I can't quite pin what it is. And she felt like she could draw upon Tiangong. Hmm. She heard a voice, too, saying no, or something like that. Very old, apparently, the voice. Very, very old. Fascinating. I need to talk to her more about
Starting point is 00:58:42 this. Yes, and maybe you could help her figure out what she possesses. I'd be interested to see if she could draw more power from Tiangong, but... Here's the thing. I might be able to use the power in the hammer to power Tiangong. And then we can use that to help Vala. As long as she doesn't explode again. Yeah, we would have to do it
Starting point is 00:59:05 away. You do controlled experiments right? I try. Yes. That's what the goggles are for. And the rest of your body? I'm pretty resistant to most things. Okay good to know. The rest of us aren't so we'll stay way clear of that. So wait, you can give power to Tiangor? I think so. And it speaks to you? Yes. And what does it say? Stuff.
Starting point is 00:59:33 Just anything? Well, it doesn't really... It's more like the words are already there. Right. In my head. And you just feel it? Yes. And when it asked you for the hammer did it ask you for the hammer it suggested that i could make some kind of link between the two
Starting point is 00:59:53 okay and i'd like to see wouldn't you like to see i mean it's how did it ask for it it was like oh that looks lovely could i it was in a vision could I have a nibble on that? And it said power. And then there was a flash from the hammer and a flash from Tiangong. And how does it say power? Is it like, oh, power? Or is it like, power? I mean, Tiangong's
Starting point is 01:00:17 never really been menacing. No? No. You trust it completely? Yes. I can't describe it. It's a feeling. It doesn't feel evil. It feels scared. Lucius, you seem to have a lot of insight into these things with echoes and whatever else, and Valor could read some feelings from the sword.
Starting point is 01:00:38 Why don't you try and touch it? Would you like me to touch your sword? All that happens is I get a cacophony of visions and I probably fall backwards and dribble a bit. I'm not going to affect your Tiangong. Okay, give me a second. I get my notebook out and get my pen ready, my quill ready. And I'm like, okay.
Starting point is 01:01:00 Controlled environment. Yes. Go ahead. Sentry, if I fall over, catch me. Middle of the town. Arms out. Controlled environment. Yes. Go ahead. Sentry, if I fall over, catch me. Middle of the town. Controlled environment. Middle of the town. You just touch your finger against it.
Starting point is 01:01:12 Gently. Okay, do you do anything or are you just touching it? Just going to touch it like I did. Echo. Yep. And what, do you try and focus or are you just going to try and clear your mind? I guess I will clear my mind. Okay.
Starting point is 01:01:23 And focus on Tiangong. Okay, give me a clear my mind. Okay. Focus on Tiangong. Okay. Give me a charisma saving throw. Yeah. Seven plus five. Okay. Twelve. So you touch Tiangong and you kind of,
Starting point is 01:01:36 you can't just put a finger against you. You actually grip the handle and you focus. And yeah, you begin to feel that there is, there's an old magic here. In fact, it feels less and less of magic and more like a sentience. You begin to hear this kind of cacophony of voices that just seems to speak various
Starting point is 01:02:00 you can't tell what they're saying but there's all these different voices murmuring together. various, you can't tell what they're saying, but there's all these different voices murmuring together. You see a vision of the dark above space, like an endless night sky full of stars, and
Starting point is 01:02:14 you get the sense of moving through them for a long time. And then you just hear the words... I'm trying to think what it would say. Piss off. Piss off, ghost. You hear this...
Starting point is 01:02:34 You hear this strange voice that takes more of a masculine form when it speaks to you. Chromat. And then the impression of it goes away. Well, did the voices, the cacophony voices sound similar to
Starting point is 01:02:55 the cacophony from the Matrix? No. They're not similar? It sounded like the voices you heard from Tiangong sounded like they were really far away. So it's not the same technology. No. Wow. What did you see? What did you hear?
Starting point is 01:03:10 I saw above the sky as if I was a lot closer to the stars, but drifting through it. You were in space. Is that? Yes. I've seen that. You have? Yes. And then I heard a voice. It's quite a husky man voice. Interesting.
Starting point is 01:03:27 And it said the word Chromat. Hmm. It's very, very old. Much like Valis said, it felt really old. Oh, very interesting. The sentience there, yeah. Chromat as in Dragonborn or Chromat as in you? I just said the word Chromat. I don't think it said it at me. I just heard it. But you're Chromatic the Sorcerer i don't think i said it at me i just heard it but you're a chromatic sorcerer
Starting point is 01:03:46 aren't you oh yes yes i suppose it was that me then fascinating who'd have thought wow so my question is before we wrap up the episode are you gonna lend over the hammer because then that will determine the last thing we do before we cut um sure i'm guessing you want to make it your packed weapon Because then that will determine the last thing we do before we cut. Um, sure. I'm guessing you want to make it your packed weapon. I don't know what, I don't know what. You don't know what you want to do. Okay. I don't know what the, I don't know what the thing was with the hammer.
Starting point is 01:04:14 If you lend Nova the hammer. Yeah. Uh, sure. And you spend a short rest with it. Mm-hmm. You will learn that yes, you can basically, what Ti Tiangong the process of it is that you can morph you can have Tiangong absorb the properties of the weapon of the magic weapon but that means it would take on all of its properties so Tiangong you kind of get this vision of in your head in
Starting point is 01:04:39 that you can bond this hammer to Tiangong Tiangong would shrink down to about dagger size, so it would do the same damage as the hammer, but it would gain the magical bonus and the spells per day. Basically, the hammer would become your weapon, but it would have the visual appearance of Tiangong, but as a short blade, like a dagger sized version. So he would kind of like,
Starting point is 01:05:00 the blade would go a bit wider, it would become short and stocky. The crossguard would morph to look like a dagger. It would basically change its shape. And then could I change that every long rest? Basically, while it has the Gatwin's Hammer absorbed, it basically takes that form,
Starting point is 01:05:20 and then you can change it to become a different magical weapon if you find another one, or you can have it revert back to its mundane form by and then the hammer basically becomes another item Does it become mundane? The hammer doesn't become mundane the hammer would vanish basically So Tiangong can absorb the the magic item Become that magic item in everything but appearance and then it can you can eject it Okay, so it's basically a way of, you can use a different weapon, but still have it look like
Starting point is 01:05:48 Tiangong, basically, is the way that it works. And will it take a short rest, long rest, or is it just like an action to just be like... If you want to expose it, it's in the player's handbook. I think it takes like an hour. It's a ritual you have to perform. It's under Pact of the Blade. So it's a short rest then, I guess. Short rest, length.
Starting point is 01:06:03 It's basically the pact of the blade it says uh i will read it out you can transform one magic weapon into your packed weapon by performing a special ritual while you hold the weapon you perform the ritual over the course of an hour which can be done during a short rest you can then dismiss the weapon shunting it into an extra dimensional space and it appears whenever you create the packed weapon after so that's basically like you can make it disappear and reappear but But that's Tiangong, not the hammer. The only rule here is that rather than it looking like a hammer and making the hammer your packed weapon, Tiangong absorbs the hammer's abilities and changes its appearance.
Starting point is 01:06:35 But it would become a default damage rather than its current form. Because it has to keep the same hammer's damage type. But you would gain all the other benefits of the hammer, including the plus one to hit and damage and the spells it can cast. But she doesn't know that before she touches the weapon, though. You spending an hour with it
Starting point is 01:06:53 is you figuring out exactly what this process would be and you know that it would change the way Tiangong looks and it would take on the properties of this hammer, basically. Cool.
Starting point is 01:07:03 And that's it. And that's where we're going to end because it's 10-2 and we've got to finish up. Nice. Hey, thank you for listening to this episode of the podcast. Also, thank you to everyone that has been trying out Brilliant.org and D&D Beyond, our two lovely sponsors. Make sure you check the episode description
Starting point is 01:07:16 for more information about those. Also, if you're looking for more High Rollers, then make sure you check out the new miniseries we're doing with a brand new Dragon Heist module on twitch.tv forward slash highrollers and twitch.tv forward slash D&D. And if you miss an episode of that, you'll be able to catch up on our YouTube channel, Highrollers D&D,
Starting point is 01:07:31 or the Dungeons & Dragons channel. We've got some very cool plans for that series, including ways for you guys to influence how it plays out, so make sure you watch that to find out some more. I hope you enjoyed this episode of Aroas. Next week, Mark and Trot are away for a nice spot of LARP, but we'll be back the week after for this meeting with the Brookstones. We'll see you then.

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