High Rollers DnD - Matteo's Mailbag (Part 2) | Altheya: The Dragon Empire #80

Episode Date: October 16, 2025

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at OnePeloton.ca. Empire. Our heroes have returned home to Ashen Rest, having been teleported there by Obsidious, with Sir Jorin concluding Gruff's second part of his nightly test. They've returned home and now face a little bit of downtime before they go on their next adventures. And we're going to pick back up on the morning. And in fact, the first day that you spend here back in Ashton's Rest is the first day of gold harvest, a brand new month.

As the last few days of summer slip away and turn autumnal, the trees of Caldra are starting to turn. Reds and golds and yellows sprinkled across the various forests and vineyards and many other places here in Caldra. Every field and farmer

is busy preparing for the big harvests of the year and the last few plantings before the colder weather of winter settles in. Roads are packed with travellers, farmers, and the local army forces as preparations for the second hoarding tithe of the year are also underway. A period of time when the tax collectors for every draconic lord and lady go out to their serfs and their lands to gather up their tithe, basically, for the year. It happens twice a year, and the second one of the year is happening this month. So it is a busy time across the Dragon Empire.

as the weather is starting to turn a little bit colder, still in those last heady days of summer and the early days of autumn before we head into the real sort of late autumn black hallow, which is the sort of more autumnal, autumn winter month basically and then finally into full winter at the end of the year. And yes, it has, I can confirm

that it has been over-cutting, Coming up to close to three months since your adventures began. What? Two and a half, three months. Yeah. Okay. I'm good than that. We started to say two years ago.

We've done a lot. Yes. So 26th October, 2023 was session zero. Yeah. Well, session zero. Fifth November. Yeah, fifth November, yeah. It's our first one.

There you go. Three months. What an action-packed, a couple of months, three months it's been. Yes. But, yeah, you all awaken to the familiar. sounds and smells of ash and rest coming alive in the mornings. Perhaps a little sleep in, even, well, more than, not more so than usual, but as the exhaustion of the last several days,

about a week or so since I think you traveled to Wave Meat, just settle in. Yeah. Yeah, and you all awaken in the inn. Good morning, everybody. Hello. Hello. How's it going?

Did you feel well-rested? That felt great. I slept like I was dead. You basically are, aren't you? Well, working on it. Okay, great. It was nice to be back in my bed. The familiar thing, you know,

and not under the water or against some rock face or something like that. You know? Good. Anyway, where's gruff, sleeping outside? Snowball! Ow! There was a rock in that. When morning's amphitheus.

You can't see. I blind in my eye. If there was a rock in it. Two points of damage. Gruff, why would you do there? That voice. That really took me back. You probably would see Percival is happily sorting out

Sister Afide's makeup and hair. As you've sat there, attending to Percival's duties once more. It's so good to be home. It's so good. And you are a huge part of that, Percy. Thank you so much. Thank you, Sister Ophelia. Of course.

I'm glad to be able to be. of service once again. Once again to have good bones. I have a suggestion for our very important task today, very important, serious business. Sorry, you're not boring me, I'm just very tired. So I'm used to it, don't know. Okay, go on. I think our first order of business today, we should go to the House of the Rose. Oh, yes, oh, you are, rough? Yeah, that's what I have to say to that, yeah. Good idea. Oh, you know what else we can do, if I may, add to our agenda.

Yes. Go give Rodry a little screech. Can I add to the agenda? Yes. Aletee fun. Yes. First. We put that very, very top.

On the way. We can eat it on the way. Oh, I have a suggestion. We should check out all the different museums. We can donate the statue to. That sounds like a really generous idea. Yes. I'm surprised by your sister.

As you are having this conversation, as you are having this conversation, I think that Teresa would arrive in the morning and she's carrying a set of a latte fun. She's got the carry, you know, cup things with all the month that the coffee's in. You know us so well. Good morning, good morning, blessings of the Grave Father to you all.

I thought that you would want, I have a bag of the pastries and I thought that you would want these. Yep, that's my one, thank you. Oh, let's going to melt into it. This is the best morning ever. I forgot to mention as well. I wanted to rush over because, Sir Griffith, I completely forgot it was such a rush.

It was so late last night. I forgot why you were gonna letter arrived for you and I put it aside for you. It's not from, you know, that mailman, is it? Yes, it wasn't from a green skin charlatan. No, it was from the local courier. Local courier from the clarion. Oh, yes.

You knew them? No, no, I didn't know. I didn't recognize them at all. Well, it might just say, does it look good? Careful. Take magic on it. I can, ding, ding, ding.

Yeah, yeah. Okay, gross audio opened it. It's from my darling head, Edwin. Is it? Is it really? Yeah, do you want to read it out loud? This could be not in character, but you could read it out for the audience. Might have secrets.

Yes, but, well, could, yeah, it would be nice for the audience to know, though. to know, though. Yeah, is this a private letter in-game? You can read it, or you can come back if you want to. If you want to read it out, you can. Yeah, don't have to. Yeah, parts of this are not getting read out to certain characters. Well, I'm saying, but I'm saying you can read it out O-Slee.

How explicit is it? My darling. There's a reason I'm going back to Isart. So we can almost imagine that this is in Gruff's head as he's reading it to himself, right? But for the audience and for us, we can listen in. I'm not going to do it, and I'm not going to be. put you through that um oh but i want it like over candlelight and it's like a montage of slow shots of gruff while we hear gruff voice reading the letter close your eyes you can picture that okay

my love i got your message though strange to hear it from a bird i am grateful to the sions to know you are safe well uh well and i'm making progress in your dream it's been too long since your last letter and i'm not ashamed to say my mind and dreams have been awashed with fear i know this is important to you, and you will likely have so much on your mind, but do try and spare a thought for your poor wife, and let her know you haven't been eaten by a vault monstrosity or murdered by Briggins. I am glad you are helping this boy, but it breaks my heart to hear you say you failed our own. You provided. You were kind where you could be. No man can be the perfect father, but I know you have tried, and for many years you put them and me first. Most of them feel

the same, but I do worry for more Fran. He has been quiet of late, but then he's of that age and I'm sure it will pass in time. Good luck and Sions be with you oh brave knight, you're Keredwen. Piers

if knights get paid, send some gold. Clearly once when you boots in a cloak, heart. Aww. Very nice. As Groff silently reads the letter to himself.

What do we, what kind of expression do we see on Gruff's face as he's reading the letter at least? Well, he's got his broken glasses resting clutched on his nose. On the very end of his nose. And his claw is kind of like, you know, he's very much a pointer reader

so he has to point and read at the same time. And it's definitely, I think, the softest expression you'll see on his face. Like this, he's just melted. He is like, this is my wife. my heart, my guiding star, she can do no wrong. I am completely smitten. And then there's probably a little furrow

about two paragraphs in. Yeah. And then a little chuckle and a smile at the end. My darling wife is, she's doing well, and she worries for me. So I should really get in contact with her and let her know I've not been eaten by a vault spawn or a brigand.

Briggins murdered by Briggins Wow, imagine And she's glad I'm helping you And you all Well Like we said

We would love to go up to ice heart with you If that's what you want to do To be reunited We will join you Well I know it'd be hard on you Those, Anthea's you don't like the cold It's not fancy Like you see your anophie sisterophilia

It's not, you know, it's a very, it's a rough and plain village, you know. Yes, Daisy. We just went under the sea, which was not comfortable or fun or fancy. So I think we'll. Yes, and you all complained every single minute of every second. Well, I wouldn't complain, though, if I got to meet your wife. I wouldn't complain then. If to make you happy means we have to brace the cold, then we'll just buy a coat.

Exactly. Join you in that. What does it they say up there, gruff, there is, there's no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes. Exactly so, Mateo. Very wonderful people, people of Ice Heart, very welcoming, very warm, very, as long as you, you know, respect their traditions and you sort of, very community, mind it. Digging. Yes, you've got to sort of contribute and, you know, respect the community there and things like, a lovely people, wonderful. Nothing better than all shuffling into a little, a little hut together.

and enjoying the warm coals and the warm steam and being all snuggled up together in the coal. It's quite, quite pleasant, I said. And it's quite beautiful in the simplicity of it. Beautiful white as far as the eye can see. Beautiful. But also I need to send some money on. Really, right. Oh.

Okay. How much? Do they want a figurehead? We shipped it this far. I mean... Yeah, it's pretty easy. easy. If you go to the Oric Bank, the Gold Dragon Bank,

you, it kind of, because of the way the gold dragons work, and they have this innate magic of knowing how much gold is in their hoard, they also know who's given them gold. They have like a mental track, a mental spreadsheet, effectively. They operate the banking system on that. So Gruff can go to the Oric

bank here in Caldra, you know, there'd probably be a small branch of it here in Ashin's Rest, and be like, I would like to deposit this money and transfer it to my wife, Keradwen, in Village of Tramaro, Icehart. And then they would sort of out, and they would, like, literally do a sort of wireless transfer,

gold dragon transfer, where they just go, okay, Gruffer has paid this amount in, we're now going to pay this out from our own supply and recompense it, because they can keep track of that stuff, right? I can't say, I don't know how much Keradwin is asking for,

but do you think they'll split a topaz? How much was the topaz? 500 gold. I think absolutely, I don't hope. Maybe something else then. Just a figure in mind. We have this chest.

We have plenty. My share is of this. I will send onwards to Kerouin, to my family, and to the community. You can have my share. Oh, Daisy, I don't. I still have quite a lot left from when we got money for it. I don't spend as much.

I do absolutely have already a thousand gold. Oh. Oh, my toe chokes on his coffee. You're right, then, it's quite hot. I'm fine, I'm good. How much gold? Also, there's some statues upstairs. Actually, you might have seen them in the bedroom.

Yes. Yeah, they're about 150 gold each. Yeah, and there was a topaz. There's obviously the figurehead. We need to... I've got this diamond as well. A diamond, yes, a diamond. It was also 600 of just raw gold,

and it was just in the... And about the 10 to 20,000 for the figurehead. We have... The ornate painting. There's plenty to... How could we forget? How could we forget? Something that we can talk about now,

since it's in close proximity. She's gonna start parading it through the streets. Can I trade you this ornake? No, she's keeping it. I'm keeping it, amazing. So we can get our funds and check. You turned to get rid of it so many times when you didn't have it near you. And now that you're here, you're like, I don't keep my painting.

It's the principal thing. Did we spend all of the Duke's favour? No. So we still have that too? I still have... She's seven somehow. I have... And a ruby.

I have seven silver. That's all I have. 600 in jewels and things. Whatever did happen to the money that I gave you to to buy all the supplies. I bought the supplies. Crossed.

He bought some nets and things. You bought several hundred gold, though. Immovable rod. Sorry. I'm going deaf in my old age. I'll come around to the other side. Immovable rod. immovable.

But I got this cheap. I got this for cheap. Don't test it. Well, yes, I don't know. You don't know that it's faulty. So here's how this works. Okay, if I just hold this here, run into it. No.

Or just hit it. No, don't run into it. Just hit it. I'll just put... Look at that, full stride over. Watch this. Think. Press the button.

Yep, please. What is it, D20? I'm just checking it for myself. Now, to be clear, I am also in the very center of like this tavern as well. Oh, you're such a day. Are you at Tesla? I don't know, it's broken.

Let me... You chose that. Let me just find it. Where are we? Where are we right now? If not the center of the tavern. Yeah, of course. Unreliable and movable rod.

Yes. I've got a moment. I'm just trying to. Yeah, roll a D20. You don't want a one or a two. You're right, I don't. Oh, okay. Nine.

Yep, click. He lets go. And now it stays in place. Now, just be careful, it might hurt your hand. Pat it. Oh, try again, harder this time. I don't really... Just giving it.

Ophelia? Yes. I'll reach. That's great thought, but you don't move! Yeah? Does not move. A immovable rod. Think of a utility.

Now, keep in mind, I got this quite cheap. They thought it was just a chair leg. Bulls. How much? I cannot recall. It was like 20 gold or something, wasn't it? It was like super cheap. It was very cheap.

So if that was 20, you've got some nets and some crossbows and stuff. I got two crossbows, one of which was a heavy crossbow. Those came to quite a hefty cost. There was a little bit gambling behind on that. Hey, I'm sorry, say that again. I was just coughing and trembling. Right in my ear, though. I was on the wrong side, was I?

I bought all the supplies that you requested. You got nets? There was another bit there. I coughed. There was, I heard the word gambling. Over the word gambling. That's what I coughed over, yes. We went to the lab in the garden.

and spent quite a bit of money in order to get some tokens so we could get some hats and clothes and toys and things. And did you get your hats and clothes and fancy toys? All of us did, except Ophelia? I didn't. Yes, you did. I got two hats, I think. No, I didn't.

Maybe someone... You did, you got a hat. You got a hat. You got a hat except... You got a commiseration hats. You played in the... What a Mask's game? Remember when we played...

Clearly. Everyone got a hat except Ophelia. Yes, I'm still fuming. No, Tom. It's called Court of Masked. masks, my bad. So there was that... I've been quite responsible with money. Comparatively.

Comparatively. Thank you, Daisy. Thank you. Your Gold Drammer knows the value of coin. Yeah. Gruff is very much looking in Sister Ophelia's direction. Hello. Hi. Once again, money is of no issue at the moment either.

Money is of no issues. After the treasures and the hordes that we've just excavated from deep under the ocean, we are now once again good. Plus, we're back in Ashen's Rest, where we have access to that Duke's favour again. I have 700 gold. I didn't spend all of my children originally. But Croft didn't give me that. That's my money that I kept from the Duke's favour.

Maybe I'm not so good with money. I'm glad you've come to this realisation. Do you want a boat? What? Do you want a bow? Do you want a bow? Maybe. Do you want a bow? Parheelian.

I'll have a look. It's got dogs on it. It's got dogs on it. Why does it have dogs? Do you want to get those dogs out? No. There you go. Why does they have dogs on it?

There's some legend about dogs chasing the sun. So it's a beautiful, so it's a short bow, but it has like a handguard over the central part of it, which has a glowing, radiant gem. And then it doesn't have a bow string on this bow, but it does have this arc and you can see that on the tips of the limbs there are two other crystals

like socketed blank gems and then on the bow's limbs itself there are these kind of long hunting dogs that are chasing the two suns on the limbs and it basically is almost like two smaller suns around the largest sun in the middle

basically maybe magic bone I'm gonna hold it and look at it and say Nim What do you think? It seems a fine, fine bow, little one. I think I can use it. I'm not that good.

Yes, you would. It would be no different to the other weapons I've shown you how to use. Yes, your I am is quite true. I think you would be quite, it's not too big. It does not require too much draw with this magic, I think. This would be a fine weapon, I think, for you. It would not be too dissimilar to the throwing blades, but slightly different.

Okay. Maybe. But I want to check, does anybody else want, Bill? I wouldn't know how to use that thing, but yeah. I have veracity, I am very happy. Rowan? I've got a really big sword. That's very true, it's very big.

It's a huge sword, yeah. Okay. I'm not much of an archer. Okay, well, I guess I can try it next time we need to. Mateo, you have a dagger. No, no, I couldn't, I, exactly. Scale bane. Scale bane.

Scal bane. The crabbiest looking dagger. Oh, no. Wouldn't want to be anywhere without this, I tell you. No, that's true. That's true. Not giving the relic. I know, I know.

It's funny to make him be like, of course, no. But yes, you see that. All right, perfect. Either way, money is fine. If you wish to send some back, It's up to you. We've all got our shares. Yeah, I am happy to give you my share of the stuff.

We'll figure it out because, frankly, my heart is already in the spa. Yes, yes. It is so heartening to hear you say that. You hate it the last time when we're there. No, I think Gruff is starting to like it. Yeah. It was the first time.

The first time was not so much, but now, yeah. Okay. So is the, you just want to head off? Have a little day spa. Yeah, I think just a big old relaxation and recuperation and... I should invite Alana. Can I invite Alana? When was the last time you...

Yes? We left. Okay. Mateo, you're coming. Yes, I... Lantius... He points at the rod still in the middle of the room. Oh!

Stay there? No, you're right. It's okay. I can deactivate that. That's the other beauty of it. Dink. Rolls you 20, for me, please. Four.

Jesus. It's always single figures. It's just that easy. Swish for swish, back in the pocket. I thought you wanted to click a click. Click, click, please. See? It's just that easy. Think of the application.

Does it have to be clicked by, like, what if something, like, if he has it in his bag, what if he accidentally clicks on the edge? It's quite a significant click. It's not going to trigger accident. Because you know how sometimes you have your phone in your pocket and the torch gets switched on and you know it? This is a lot more sturdy and requires a very active

and intentional press. Because it was a funny image of it clicking and then him just being stopped. And it ripping his pants off of it. Sure. Why does this keep happening to me? He's rubbing and then all of a sudden. My clothes.

I have to buy new clothes again. Yeah, you guys can enjoy a lovely day if you would like to go and invite Ilana, you absolutely can do. Otherwise I was just gonna be like, you go and enjoy the baths, but obviously if you wanna like bring some new season things. Date at the spa with all my friends.

Okay. That's true with all your friends. Maybe we should, uh. Yeah, it's not really a date at that point. We're not gonna, we're just gonna chill hang. It's just a friendly hang out basically. Yeah, friendly hang. In the back.

Well, we can deal with that. My question is, we're basically gonna have a week of downtime. Okay. I would like you all to think about what you do during that time, what kind of little activities or preparations or things like equipment or training or anything like that that you would like to do. Research is always a possibility as well.

Just think about what you would like to do during some downtime. What can we progress in terms of elemently things, essences? Yeah, it's a lot of different things you can progress. Have we actually figured out, aside from the sort of location of your next nightly tutor, I suppose, is there actually a firm idea of where we are going next? We're going to kill Scaris, I think. Right.

So that is locked in. So the stuff that we need for the plain art essence, we need things from the Fayewe. So the Lucent Peaks, we do have the Lux and Shards, but we need to... They need to be worked. Which is a side quest. The Twin Pits, so we, did we say the Demon Gun?

But we needed soul, not essence. Well, no, the Demon Gun was a soul, not essence. I think Calliferous was looking into that. Okay, so we need something demonic from the Twin Pits. We need... We've got Elemental with the Afriti gone on there. Yeah, from the Primal Isles. Then we got the Greylands.

So I'm sure we... How hard could that be? I'm sure Ophelia can help us out with that. We need something representing law and constructs from the precept coil, and then pandemonium from the Howling Sea. So one, two, three, four, five, six, seven. We've got about two slash three things. Question mark.

Yeah, the difficulty, the two difficult ones will be law and chaos for the preset coil and the Howling Sea. Those are going to be the hardest to obtain. You do believe that the demon gun, which you still have not investigated or done anything with. Yeah, I think in the last downtime, I didn't have time to do that, so I will do it this time. Sure.

Califris wanted to sell that for us. Yes, I did offer to do a trade for you. May or may not have essence in it, but could be able to trade it for us. We'll have a look. Easily. May have a modron contact in the precept coil. Yeah. We've given Califerus the Injector in payment for sourcing the planar essences. and the unsealy court do not like mortals,

Faye-Wield essence can only be found on their plane. Yes, the Faye-Wield and the Grey Lions are probably the two easiest ones to pursue next whilst you wait for Calliferous to bring you more, or the Celestial with the Blacksmiths. Those three are kind of like your next easiest objectives to pursue. You would just need to have a think about how you go about that. Obviously, Aphelia does have a connection

to the Gravefather and the Greylands and could investigate that. You do know several Faye beings now who could be inquired into how you could work with that. But also, yeah, and then the celestial stuff, it would be a case of, I think that Califras did tell you that there was a potential prisoner who was a blacksmith. The monastery.

A monastery, owned by the Ecliptic order. So we could free that blacksmith, who would be able to help us with that? the working the Luxon charts. Yes. And again, you do have a contact in the ecliptic order if you would like to try and gain more information in Malady and Benedict. Yes. So those are good avenues

to pursue on that front. Also, this downtime could be an opportunity. You do have a considerable amount of gold. Obviously, the figurehead you will need to find a buyer for or a museum to be donated to. Most of the other art objects you have,

things like the decorated sort, the chalice, the topazes. There would be the trade guild here in Ashton's Rest. If they cannot find a buyer for it here, they will facilitate a trade for you in Ferros, and so you can basically trade those things as well. Like for like, just for gold. Basically like for like for gold, yeah.

They'll be able to facilitate that. Again, you guys are known your renown is high enough that nobody's going to try and cheat you out of a deal or anything like that. And the trade guild master would be happy to do that. Their name is Patience. They are a Tiefling. I think the Duke and everyone in the Dominus Ignarum

they love their trophies. And what's better than a giant gold dragon's trophy? The Duke would certainly probably be the only one in Ashton's rest who has any hope of, like, buying it for, like, value. It does mean pushing it all the way up towards the Dominus Ignarum. Well, we could tell. We could just tell him about it. And if he knows it's there, then he could come and pick it up, literally.

Collection only. Yeah. Collection only. It's on Facebook Marketplace. Sure. So, yeah, but all the other art objects and various gold pieces and things like that, that is yours to spend. This is a good time, like, again, you know, it's been a while since you've had a good amount of money. Things like, I know most of you've got, like, armor and weapons now, but, you know, Percy doesn't have weapons and armor anymore.

Gruff, you're still wearing your basic armor, aren't you? You don't have nice armor. It might be an opportunity to do that. But also training, if there's, like, specific things like, hey, could I train to use this weapon that I'm not proficient in? Could I do some training in a skill that I'm not proficient in or tools that I'm not proficient in? Could I potentially even gain a feat or something like that? I'm open to the ideas depending on what you are doing

and why you're doing it and how you're doing it. So the coat that Percy has, that's not armour. It's just... It's not almond, right, right, right. It's just a leather coat. It's just like a slightly sort of tattered and sort of crusted coat. Do we still have his halberd? No, he doesn't have...

No. He lost. He lost all of his equipment in the box. We should also, I guess we could do that. I guess the planar essences involve us going and doing side quests and moving on to places, I guess. Getting the tavern up and running and getting staff and alcohol and stuff in

is probably something we can do. Because if we have that up and running, then when we're away, we can be earning. That's what Rome was most focused on. Yeah, I think that's a good idea. Yeah, so it would be like you'd be, spending your downtime, like, talking with the trade guildmaster to get, like, stock in. I like the idea of Mateo basically running the place for, like, a couple of weeks and then training somebody up.

And you guys can, you know, it will be, that will be the most basic level staff that you can get, but they will be, you know, fairly trustworthy at that point. Although you might upset certain people that didn't get the job. Oh, wow. They'll become a problem. Should have done a better interview then. Take up with our HR department. The HR department is just three hours.

and sanding with her wristophilia just going get out yeah so yeah so yeah definitely like I think like between Rowan and Daisy you can totally do that and get the tavern like spend the week sort of sourcing all the materials and things like that that would be no problem squit in another yeah that's not that's not the word you want to use just splooge in a bit more r p kind of a gross word but I'll allow it thank you um to look at stone razor yes See if I can go to a blacksmith and try and retcon some of the underwater desecration that's happening.

Cool. Okay. This is all jagged and stuff. Yeah, yeah, you can definitely sit there because I think that's just going to be a short conversation. Which blacksmith do you go to? Do you go to somebody like Yelana Vidante, who's like an expert master blacksmith?

Or do you go to like the blacksmith's guild and go for a bit more of a sort of common, regular blacksmith. How about comes down to a role of how well I talk to her in the House of Rose. So, yeah, whilst in the bath. Sure. Whilst in the bath. If you want, that's not a problem.

Just while I have you here. I picked the worst time to, like, sidled over to Ophelia in Alana Fidun. So we guess, so, Ophelia, you do go and invite Ilana to the Baths, One, you're all just, you just sort of swan into the shop. You see the Armelier there. Oh, Sestrophilia, you've returned to us. Yes. Oh, I'm so glad to be back.

Is Alana in? The mistress is in, yes. Would you like me to send a word that you are here? Yes, please. Of course. Please, if you wouldn't mind, wait a moment. Oh, no problem. I'm leaving in this beautiful sort of, you know,

velvet showroom of weaponry and armor. Eventually, the Armelia returns. It's just like, she is very busy today, but she's more than happy to have a brief conversation with you, if you would like. Okay, yes. Yes, please follow me. And you can see that she is at the Anvil and the forge.

She's not in her sort of elegant dress. You can see that she's actually kind of got, her shirt is quite heavily open. Her sleeves are rolled up, dripping with sweat. Her hair is like all pushed back up, and she is very finely working on this beautiful stiletto blade. and she is deep in concentration as she is, you know, putting the finishing touches on this weapon

or, you know, working on it in some way. I think I feel we'd just politely just wait for a beat. You can see how much she's concentrating. And then I think she gets to a point where she, like, lets out a rest and sort of moves a little bit away, fetches like a long glass of water and drains it in one. And then it's like, forgive me for not greeting you,

But that was a very intense moment. Oh, no, not at all. I could see. No, it's fantastic work, sublime. Thank you, thank you. A custom piece for a customer in Ferros. A jewelling blade for a fighter up there. But yes, wonderful to see you again.

The blade pales in comparison to you. Ah, you are. Very charming. You speak very well given... I was led to believe that you would be rather sudden departure from Ashland's wrath. Yes, I'm sorry. I had left so abruptly.

It was, it's been a hard couple of days, but I'm so glad to be back, and of course, seeing you again. You are quite the flatterers, Sister Ophelia, quite the flatterer. Oh, you're worth flattering. It's true, I am. I'm sad to say,

as much as I enjoy this most delightful distraction, and she looks at you specifically, She says that, today is a very busy day. I am deep in commissions at the moment. My work is in high demand. At the moment, I wish I could give you more of my time. That's quite all right. I was just wondering if you'd be, we've had a spare minute,

but we were going to head up to the House of the Rose, just for a little relaxation. It would be divine to get away from this hot forge for a brief moment. And you can see she's in that, like, oh, she really wants to, but, like, glances over at her work table with all these designs and worksheets on it and it's, like, looking at the forge. And it's in that precipice of, like,

oh, I really want to just shirk off work and go and do this, but I probably shouldn't, right? Yeah. But is leaving the air open for, you know, that put someone to maybe make the compelling case, that she shouldn't, and she should go and take a break. Well, surely you'd work better if you were well-rested and relaxed. It looks very intense.

Ah, it is true. It is true. She kind of stretches. My muscles are getting quite sore after days of the forge. Come on, you need a break. Give me a persuasion roll. 19. She looks, just the two of us, or?

Well, my companions are coming, but. There are various different. There are. We can step away somewhere quiet. The housebaths have private corners. Yeah. Yes. Very well, but not for long.

Not for long, not for long. I appreciate you're a woman of work and I don't want, as a very busy woman myself, I wouldn't want to, detract from your work. Too much. My work is very important. I can see that. My reputation and my legacy matters.

But you are right. I will work better if my muscles are relaxed. Sometimes one slip of the hand can ruin a design. Give me a few moments, and I will come and join you. Amazing. See you in a moment. I'll wait outside. And she will begin packing up her tools.

and sort of turning the heat of the forge down, things like that. And yeah, shortly after she returns, dressed more elegantly this time. Hair is still messy and up, but having, like, sort of wipe the sweat off of herself. And she sort of will quite flirtatiously, like, walk beside you,

and we'll sort of let her hands, like, occasionally brush past your arm, but we'll never, like, fully, like, take an arm or a hand. But it's very, very much just being very playful as you kind of make your way to meet up with the others. As when you get to the House of the Rose, the Reverend Mother and Reverend Father

are happy to see you once again and offer you the free services to head down into the baths. And at some point, I guess, sort of you would all see, Ophelia enters with Ilana who strips off and gets into the bath and everything else. And I guess at some point, Rowan, you sort of swim over.

We see feet waves to stop bashing you in the face. She just like raises a very thin arched eyebrow as like Rowan swims over. Feels like glancing of Rowan. Royd. Hey. Hello. It's me. I like the idea of you just boshch-h-h-h-h-h-ha-fleasure.

Yes. What was your name again? Rowan. Rowan? Rowan. Yes. Hello. I've got this.

Oh. Oh, my goodness. I've never seen one that large before as you bring this giant sword out of the water and of almost lifting it up the edge. But that is quite, oh, I've never... And you can see immediately, Ophelia, you tell me how Ophelia feels like,

her attention is now completely off of you. She was a bit annoyed at Rowan and was like gone to... And then she sees this weapon and she is absorbed into like, oh. Shush, shush, shuddy, I'm working, you. Yeah, it's like, oh, what's this? Shut your heart, mouth.

And, like, she examines it, like, sharp, but this, is this a form of stone? This is no ore. She's supposed to be resting. You're supposed to be resting. I know, but I saw an opportunity. Anyway, this came from underwater, and it's been forged by Althei.

the earth, the divine divinity who gave their body and soul to become... Yes, to the people so that they could fight back. All right. But unfortunately it fell into the wrong hands to into Ajanya deep under water and it's become this desecrated mess. But I thought there's only one person...

It's quite a vicious, violent weapon with this razor edging. It didn't used to be. I saw it before. It was smooth, like a normal blade. It was beautiful, and I thought there's only one person that could restore it to its former glory. And you can see that the flat, and she's like,

yeah, it's very good. And Phila speaks so kindly of your... And I've seen it on Griffith. Does she? You did indeed, you saw some... I mean, and that was what I had laying around, of course, something more customized, custom-made. This is interesting. I've never seen stone like this before.

I am no mason, but, you know, in my business, we learn a little bit about many artisan crafts, and I have never seen anything quite like this. She runs, like, a finger along the edge, not the sharp part, but the sort of flat. Just underneath the wall, like at the top part, Rowan is, like, nodding, but underneath, he's playing with water. Like, with his legs, he's doing, like, a...

You know, you do, like, crabby stuff and, like, move your legs around or funny? Rowan's doing that. He's like, I love this. This is great. Give me a persuasion roll with advantage because you've hit flattery, which is like a big, you know, you've flattered her skill as an artist,

as an. 28. And you want me to try and restore it? Yes, if you don't mind. How much would it cost? It is difficult to say, because I have never worked, I mean, I am no mason. Normally I work with metal and steel, iron,

but I can try, but I get the sense that there is something innately different about this. Leave it, bring it to my shop, and I will see what I can do, but I'm not sure I can make you any promises that I will be able to fix it right away. Perhaps, if nothing else, I can at least determine some things for you. Fantastic.

And this, the hilt is currently bare. There is no wrappings. There is no protection for your hands. Let me see. And she's like, oh, these are too rough. This is far too rough on your hand. Yeah, it's kind of rude. I will fix, I will fix a nice grip for you.

Thank you. I've got big sausages fingies. Mm, yes, yes. And she's like holding her hands. Very strong, good hands, yes. Thank you. Yeah. I think it's mostly the Sostraduto playing.

Yes, musicians, you do tend to get the calluses on the... I do, yes. And she's like, well, I will put a nice, perhaps a nice lamb skin leather, a nice grip, something that will be kind of on your hands. Will the lamb suffer?

No, no, they will be fine, yes. It grows back. It grows back, yes. By the signs, I was worried. She's like, I rolled a two on her deception, by the way. So that would probably be like a six total.

So it is very painfully clear to everyone that, like, she is... Yes, yes, yes, that will be fine, yes. We'll bring it to the shop and... She starts rocking back and forth. Okay, perhaps go... I really want to go play in the morning. Yes, Rowan, good, yes. Thank you, Rowan.

Thank you. Can I swim over to, like, gruff and daisy and Xanthia. She's a big fucking child. Oh, you're just getting that. An enormous child. Let's not forget that you are half giant. It's been almost two years. But you go swimming off, and yeah, like, you can pass it by.

I will tell you now, like, Ilana Vigante is not going to be able to undo the sort of corruption itself, and she's not going to be able to physically change the baby. But what she will do, she'll be able to point you in the direction of how to do that. Cool. this is not her skill set, but also there is something about this material that does not want to be metalworked. It wants to be reshaped in a different way.

So this is going to be a bit more of an involved thing. We'll get to that later. We'll get to that later. So after Rowan goes, Alana's attention does fall back to you, Ophelia. But was Ophelia just like shooting daggers? Just like shooting daggers, yeah, yeah. I think Ophelia will give Alana a back rub just.

Oh, yeah. Just work the muscles a bit, yeah. Yeah, very, very enjoyable, very enjoyable. I think that that's probably something Ophelia knows how to do quite well. The Countess probably would have had you do something similar back in... Got keep your muscles ready to fight. Yeah, yeah, very much. It's like a nice decadent luxury for the House of Blood as well.

Gets the circulation of the undead, you know, fluids going. Yeah, excellent. So, yeah, you enjoy a lovely day. And, you know, the week basically passes with activities like this, you know, go into a latte fun, enjoying the house of the rose, you know, spending some time researching or doing whatever needs to be done. Yeah, so obviously, Daisy and Rowan, you guys start getting the inn, sort of like, or the tavern, I should say, kind of set up.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, easily, no problem. What about Gruff, Ophelia and Xanthius? Anything in particular during the downtime you would like to achieve? Yeah, so, I mean, first thing for me would be to finally examine this, this gun, the demon gun. If you could get it off of, Borough, Borough. Yeah, who is currently pointing out of him. Borrow, borrow, put the gun down.

Put it down. How many times you did do we hear him go, put it, put the gun? It's loaded, Borrow, it's low, point it, if you're going to you, Borrow. You just occasionally hear like a bang, like very loud bang go off. Yeah, so I fire five shots, I did I fire six. Borrow, I didn't know you could speak. You're feeling lucky, Xanthius?

Yeah, I think you have the actual information of, like, what it does, right? You have the information on, like, its special rounds and things like that. Do you have that information? I have the weapon is forged from Fedlight from the Abbas. So, examining this thing closer, you do think that, haven't examined it, Zanthius, there is slumbering within this. demonic firearm is a soul

but it is asleep it is not awoken yet you don't know its name you don't know what powers it may possess wiki wiki hello to awaken it it needs to

you would learn through the week of research and things like that it is it is excited by violence using the weapon itself is what is likely to trigger the sentience being awoken as it has been left within your own sort of like compartments it's not

being used it's fallen into a deeper slumber since the lamplighters guild instance where it was being used so it's kind of in a dormant state at this point on the other side you do think that it would be possible to break this weapon down magically and recover demonic essence So it would be essence of the Helian pit, of the twin pits. Okay. Of the Helian throne. It would be a demonic essence, not a devilish essence, but it would count as a fiendish essence.

Roll an Arcana check for me. Arcana, Arcana, I roll with Arcana. Yes. Oh, I have the... Oh, do I not have advantage anymore on this? Should do. The gold side, right? Yeah.

Okay. Advantage. Arcana. Plus four. That is... Oh, 17. 17. You think that there could be consequences of breaking this weapon down, like releasing that sort of energy.

You just don't know what that would be. Well, I just do it far away from the city or anyone else. Yeah, so you can spend. So what I would say is this is like your week of research is figuring some of this stuff out. It would take you another week of downtime to prepare a ritual and the appropriate alchemical substances and the appropriate sort of arcane sigils

to perform a dissolution incantation, basically, to break this thing down into its magical components. You would still then be left with, like, the metal pieces, like the fellite and stuff afterwards. Okay. But they wouldn't function anymore as a firearm. It would be, because this thing does not use, like, gumpowder or bullets.

It uses fell energy, basically. I had a vision of him just leaving the gates at Ashton's rest, going over, like, a hill, and then just being... A lot of your visions of Xanthius involve me exploding quickly and abruptly. You can actually have a nuclear bomb in your chest. You're usually, to be fair, it has been a running theme. Yeah, I remember the last one in the Obsidious's room. Is that all your goal?

Yeah. So with this. It just works so often. So Demon Guns spending another week of downtime, you would be able to create this incantation, which you could then do at any time. Yeah, okay. You can just use that to then break this down into demonic essence.

Yes, okay. But it would no longer function as an item. Yeah. So is that my, like, entire week is just focusing? And you're, like, doing little experiments here to try and figure this thing out and stuff like that. Yeah, so basically. Cool, nice.

Okay, so Demon Gun could become the third of seven. I'm collecting the Chaos Emeralds. You are. You just... Did you just put that together? Why did I only just... You literally... It's not my attention.

It's almost like collecting the Chaos Emeralds is a very... generic fancy trope of collecting magical guber-gubbins. And also the stuff from the Halloween series, literally chaos. You could literally call it Pokemon Badges and the exact same thing. I don't know why it took you that long. Why did it take me so long? You did a diagram of them. I did.

He literally has a diagram. And I drew Sonic and Super Sonic next to them as well. But I do that everywhere. Exactly. Yeah. What about Gruff over the week? No. And Ophelia as well afterwards.

The Hermitage thingy, animal messenger in it. How many times can I send a message? I believe it's once a week. It's been a week. So I would want to send a message back. I need to go and write that because I need to go check on something before I can write the message. But I would send a message back using that. I'd like to send two messages. So if there's another week of downtime, there'll be another one going back. I will also send some money to my wife.

wife, I'm sure we can figure out probably how much. It will probably be a sum. Yes, yes, it will be. It will be a sum. Well, you know, Groff, he just gives, he just money, have. I've witnessed it many. Yeah. And then I would like to do some kind of armor and weapon upgrade.

Sure. I didn't want to pester Eleonville Dante. She'll live. She's fine, you've got plenty of time. It's business. But yeah, definitely want to do. some sort of upgrade. Do you know what kind of armor you want?

Nicer armor. I believe that since 2024 rules, you are now proficient in all medium armor, light and medium armor. And they no longer have the restriction of no metal for druids. Oh really? Yeah, slap some fucking metal on me then, dude.

So, I believe that the best medium armor you could get would be half plate armor, which is 15 plus plus your max Dex Modify, so Dex Modify, but up to a max of two. So what's your Dex modifier currently? Plus one. Plus one. So that would be 16 base armor,

then your shield to go up to 18, and then your armour of Oakenthorn on top of that. So it'd be quite a significant upgrade from your current hide armour, which is 12 plus 1, so 13 base. You'd be going up by like 3A, basically. Oh, okay. It is going to be expensive.

You would have disadvantage on stealth checks. but the base price of it is so it's normally 750 but I know I up armour prices in this so you'd probably be looking at like for generic half plate armour a thousand gold for like really nice Ilana Vidante masterwork armour probably looking at about 1500 for half plate

plate armour would cost you even more but half plate will do you well cool half plate will actually basically give you nearly the same AC as plate armour except might two off, so it's pretty close. So I'd say, yeah, it's up to you what you want to do with that.

Well, I feel like we maybe need to work out what we're selling and costs and all that. Sure, we can do that off. We can do that in-grain, yeah. Yeah, absolutely. But that would be, like, proper, like, half-plate armour. So normally that's, like, a full chest plate, a big shoulder, you know, shoulder polter on,

gauntlet, and then I think it's normally like greaves and some sort of plate skirt rather than like full-armoured legs, it would be like, you know, grieves on your boots, you know, shoulder armour, maybe not all, one arm would be left free. So it's, you know, it's not quite a full suit, plate metal.

Yeah, if there is more money as well, I would want to do something about a weapon, because I'm not satisfied with my weapon. Sure. But again, we can work out how much money. I feel like we need to work out how much money we have before we can... Sure.

Do that. All right, cool. All right, well, you can sort of work on those messages and things like that for me. And, Aphelia, at the end of the first week, a letter arrives for you. A courier, dressed in the livery of the clarion, which is the, it's a newspaper, but also a courier's guild.

And they deliver messages, yes. They also deliver messages from place to place. Sort of knocks on the door. Sort of, probably somebody like Mateo would open it early in the morning. like, hello. I'm looking for a sister Ophelia della Rosa here of Ashton's Rest. I was instructed that she could be found at this inn by the gate guard. He's like, oh, certainly, let me get up for you. Sister Ophelia, you have a letter from a courier here.

What time is it, Patera? I mean, the sun is up. Okay, I'm coming, I'm coming, hang on, let me just put my robe on. By the idea of like a kind of flouncey, sort of gauzy robe, percy sort of trailing behind you, yeah. Scandalous. This man is like, this young boy, just looks up.

Oh, me, oh, thank you for waiting for being this early as morning. Mateo's like, off you go now, boy. Slips him like a couple of silver, like, oh, you go for your trouble lad, and sends him off. Thank you, Mateo. Yes, of course. And again, I imagine that this is in Sister Ophelia's head, but could you read it out loud for the audience

and for the players, the people around the table, not the characters. Well, the first word is invitation. Oh. Ambassador Varus... I was waiting for that. You were so excited when you saw the first word. I read second one.

Ambassador Varus Evernight of the House of Blood, hand of the Countess Irman Orsa of Osseus Friend to the Draconic Empire of Ulmera cordly invites you, Sister Ophelia Delarosa, and guests to a celebration of Aussian culture and a fundraiser for the first Ilmeran Temple

of the Gravefather. Oh. Hosted at the estate of his good friend Lady Name Cibu Play. Gloam. I don't want to do it

a clonodle again. I really don't want to do another I really don't want to do a Galanodal. It is Lady Glomeris. Glomeris. Thank you very much, Councillor of Kelskaris. To take place on the evening of the third, first moon of Black Hallow, it will include a grand ball, auction,

and a religious ceremony to showcase the beauty, majesty, and devotion of Ossian faith. Regards Nemesa Gallo's secretary to the ambassador. Looking at Varus Ebonite. She went from, ooh, to... So I imagine that that's the expression we've seen on Ophelia's face, like it's excited, and then it immediately kind of turns into a bit more of a sort of somber, darker look

as she reads through this letter. I'm going to go out and get some of you. You're okay? I'm fine. Yeah? Yes. What's less? Oh, don't tell me you got some mail too?

I did, yes, I have a lovely letter. A lovely invitation, in fact. Really? Yes, to Kelskaris. Kelskarius? Oh, good. To the Ossian embassy. Oh, they have an embassy there.

They do. and a temple of the grave father. A temple? Wow. I mean, uh, uh, uh, must be a shitty temple, right? I would say that, but Varus Evernight has sent me the invitation. Friendials. Varus Evernight, we remember that guy, right?

Oh. You ever heard that name before? Is he, is he like, do you know him well? I used to, used to know him well. A Pavs separated a while ago. It appears he's doing quite well. Wasn't there something in the paper about some Ossean ambassador in Kelskare?

Some kind of attack at the... Let me just dig this out from the pile of newspapers really quick. You only kept that because you pictures in it, don't you? Yeah. Have you seen how good I look in this? Damn. Read the article. Huh?

Has that got a bullet hole in it? Oh, yeah. Don't worry about that. Or I've got, all of gut. Kelskaris under attack, shocking news from the capital as rogue agents of an unidentified source, attempted to assassinate several draconic nobles and representatives of the foreign theocracy of Osseus at the diplomatic gala held at the Ossean embassy. You're right, it was in here. Right, so the last time they had a gala, someone got assassinated.

Yeah, yeah, thanks to the actions of local guards and a number of heroic citizens, who fought the terrorists and healed Duchess Emerald Vickier Emerald Vigke of Miss Vald Captain Fia of Mr. River District gave us the official story on page two but unfortunately that one burned away I think in the teleport.

They didn't have his picture on it. I only kept this one and binned the rest. Sounds like could be an interesting... Just as a point as well for the audience The letter specifically says that the event is not being held at the embassy. It's being hosted at the estate of Lady Glomiris, who is a councillor of Feltzcarat. So it's not actually at the embassy. Okay.

Yes. Well, are you going to go? Well, I suppose I must go. I haven't seen Varus for a while. Do you want to? Well. No, but... Okay.

But. It's a ball, isn't it? Well, yes. I suppose it would be nice to you all to see more about Osseus, I suppose, and how. Another Osseon. Another Osseon, yeah. How we've not seen.

How we throw a party. A temple to the Graveader in Kelskaris as well. Yes. Fundraiser for one. Oh, fundraiser, yes. Oh, sorry, did you say that that was written by a secretary? Yes. So this ambassador as a secretary.

Don't remind me, yes. Did you have a secretary? No. Would you like to be my secretary, Graff? I can't write. Percival does a lot of things. Who will to be my secretary? I, no.

I need to respond to a secretary. If I do, I do, I need to respond to a secretary. Percival, Percival is your secretary. Can't you ask? Would it be my secretary? Tury. I will do whatever my mistress asks of me, of course. We've got Tories as well, haven't you?

I can write the letter if you would like. I can't believe he's doing so. Well, he's a secretary. Oh, right, it doesn't come with the... You have a shrine. Stop. And you've traveled the world, and you've sent those flies are flying. As they say, most of them under the sea, sure.

But you've sent those flyers are flying. I can write the letter for you if you like. Handwriting is beautiful, Daisy, but I think he'll know. He'll know my handwriting. What does the seal look like? It bears the skull of the grave. farther on it. It is probably written the envelope is like a black

envelope. It's embossed with symbols of the house of blood on the air. This looks expensive paper. Yeah, absolutely. I'm America psychoing it. Yeah, this is, oh my God. Yeah, no, this looks luxurious. It looks well penned.

Most of it is printed with the exception of the name where Sister Ophelia Deloosa is, is handwritten, and as is the secretary's name. The rest of it is actually printed pressed. And there probably would be the symbol of the Tooms and Co-printing company.

Very, very subtle. We can get that. We can get a similar thing. Kind, I like that. Yes. And then if he does know your handwriting, I can write the name in my handwriting, and then he wouldn't know

and he would think that you do have a secretary. I like this. And then we can just make up a secretary's name, right? And we can just sign... Am I not the mistress's secretary anymore? Percival, we need a full title. Yes, Percival, uh, secretary to... See, I'm not an ambassador.

You can be. You can be. I thought you were a title. What exactly is an ambassador? Well, I'm an Aussian diplomat. I'm not really an ambassador of... You are the Austrian ambassador of Ashen's... Hero of Ashen Rest.

Hero. Yes. Well, here's what I say. Titles, anyone can be an ambassador. right? Yeah. Sister Ophelia de la Rosa of the House of Blood, friend of Duke Ignarius Ignarum

of Caldra, yes. Savior of Ashen's rest. Savior of Asian Rest. Savior of other places. As you see. Champion of... Champion of...

The Gravefather. The Grave Father, yes. Well, I mean, maybe not a title of... I'm not sure he'll respond to that, but you could just give yourself as many titles as you want. I like this. Make your name 20 times longer than this.

It's all about the names Actually, sometimes as well when I've read letters from fancy people like wizards and stuff like that you put letters as well like P, H, you know, D-R Well, in the academy they always, all the professors

that the academia always refer to themselves of the book circle so you could put something like that I've heard the third circle a lot I don't know, is that the highest one? Write a lot of sprinkles. Yes, squiggles, squiggles and the third circle for what's better.

That's not that good. Is two better than three, or is four better than three? Does it matter? A favourite of the grandfather. Oh, weren't you telling me that Sister Ophelia was brought back from the dead? Yes. Reborn. Sister Ophelia Deleroce, the reborn.

And then like 20 other things. And then all the other things. Perfect. Groth does it all the time. Yes. Groth name is way too long. It's just three words. Then we need to go shopping.

Yeah. My name is still longer than Gruffman. Yeah, yeah, that's true, yeah, right. I think I have the longest name, out of everybody. There's also the night stuff as well. It's all great. I'm not a knight. Not yet.

It's a knight-errant. On the way to being a knight. So that arrives at the end of the first sort of week of gold harvest. So we need to go to Toms & Co. And get a fancy lesson. So that will leave you basically. about 26 days before this event in Kelskaris. Okay, 26 days, okay.

So another week of downtime is, because it's not really a week of downtime, it's seven days of downtime. So, because the calendar in Elmera is measured in three 12-day segments called First Moon, Middle Moon, and a late moon. First, moon, mid-moon, late-moon. So currently you are about, you are on the seventh This would be on the 8th of Gold Harvest.

On the 8th Day of Gold Harvest? You have basically sort of a fair amount of time before Black Hallow, which is the next month. Okay, so you've got 26 days. It means we need to respond. Not quite, it would be, sorry, correction. It would be 1, 2, 3, 4. And then 28. You'd have 31.

31, okay, there's not too bad. 31 days. An earth month away. You should respond. Kind. How long does it take to get to get? to Kel Scaris. From Ashen's Rest.

If we were to just mundane travel. Mundane travel on the road, not rushing. It would probably take you about seven days, I would say. Because you're travelling along well-used roads, but you've got to go up through the Mountain Pass, north of Caldra. You'd go past Bernel once again. You'd basically be retracing your steps, Zanthia.

From my experience, Ophelia, it takes about 12 days to get to Kel Scaris from here. But then I did pass out on the way back, so I don't have a, yeah, you had to carry me. So I don't have a full, you know, clear judge of the timings there. But also, are we, are we walking, or are we going to get a resplendent beast to take us? Well, we've got Rodry.

Yeah, we've got Rodry. What are you talking about? The most resplendentive beasties. Yes. And that is assuming you go in the wagon as well, by the way. A feeling made a face. What's wrong with Rodry? What's wrong with Rodry?

I can, sorry. I don't think I could go to the House of Blood. With Rodry on a wagon. No, I mean, Kelskaris is, we can't take Rodry right through the center of the capital city. No, we would house Rodry in some kind of stable somewhere, and then we would deliver you in the appropriate way to the House of Blood. It'd be too spooked to go near the...

Exactly. Could we not ask that Lord Obsidius if you could teleport us, sir? Like if we say it's on business. That'll be a good entrance. Potentially. Hearing and flame. I don't want to alter vision for anything. Ask Lord of Sidious to be your personal taxi.

See how well that goes. I'm freaking out, I'll be honest. How bad can it be? Like we said, you have many titles under your name. Some of the ones we made up are expanding maybe on your feet a little bit, but most of them were true. You are a friend of Duke Naurus. Yeah, exactly.

They are true. And what titles did they have again? Just remind me, once more, what was the name? Ambassador Varus Evernight. Did that it? As far as I know. Boring. Just the one, just the one title.

Just one. Just the one. Okay. And you're scared of that? Ophelia, I know you better than that. You don't know Varus Evernight. Don't need to. I know you.

Okay. It would probably, as well, Ophelia, Dawn on you that if Varis is doing this grand event and sending these invites out, you are probably not the only one from House Ossia. from Osceus that would be invited.

There would probably be representatives from all five major houses. As well as Ilmeran political figures, wealthy merchants. You know, this is going to be, you know, a pretty important little shindig. And it's likely, you have been invited. You imagine that Varis is doing this because he's almost confident

that you are not going to sort of stand out in the same way that he thinks he is going to. And so he doesn't, you know, mind you popping along. This is almost for him to show off to you. Yeah, this is a pity invite. Kind of. But the other representatives would probably, they would probably have major diplomats

and ambassadors from the other houses there. There's perfume on it. Major diplomat is going to be there? Yes, it's, Tophilia. It's going to be a... Major diplomat, major ambassador. Can we just have... There'll be representatives from all over, from all over,

there's gonna be, and representatives from Osseus, from all the houses. Yes, but Aphelia, are they, are they not, are they not, are they not, really stink it up. But they said that they're doing a fundraiser for a temple, right? Yes. You've already built a shrine. I have a temple.

You've built your own already. You have an ornate painting. Do you have an ornate painting? The most ornate painting. Imagine his face, if you funded the entire thing. You have followers. Ah, Santhius. Obviously, we're not only getting the money together for that, but...

That would be quite the spectacle. Exactly. But you are returning, reborn, with veracity. With veracity, which I acquired from the Gravelands because I died and came back. You did acquire that from the Greylands, didn't you? Yes. Can I take a look at that at some point?

In a minute, yes. Thank you. Right, okay. My head on straight. You're right. Yes. This is... You examine that while I just take a look at your sword real quick. Little paper, this is nonsense.

And Percival will be with you and he will also look fantastic. He will look resplendent. I will make sure I'll get you some armor, I'll get you some fancy rose. Oh, I would be delightful, Sister Ophelia. Do you up to the nines. You'll look amazing. I would appreciate that. I feel that I am not adequately equipped to assist you if we encounter combat once more. You will get some lovely armor.

Oh, thank you, sister. And a weapon. And a weapon. What would you like, actually? I'm happy, as I mentioned before, I'm happy to use. whatever you think will serve you best. You are quite respected with a halberd. I'm happy to use the halberd again or whatever you deen to give me my mistress, I would be most grateful.

Good, okay. Armour for Percy, I need a new dress. Respond to the invitation, actually, R-Sv-P, B-Y-O-B-A-S-A-P. That's a lot of letters. B-Y-O-O-B-B-B-B. B-B-B-B. The last piece, the last, the whole piece. I can't,

Simpsons is just in there all the time. I don't have the full quote in there, but I know exactly what you mean. The last B is a spell. It's a typo. B, B, Y, O B. Just to be crystal clear. Yes.

And I don't mean to be insensitive. Does the bee on that, does it stand for beer, blood? Or bones. Or bones. Everywhere I go, I bring my own blood. Boils? Boils.

Boils, house of rot, love boils. Bandages. Yes. House of shrouds. Loves bandages. I think it applies to all houses. Banshees. Banshees, yes.

House of Shadow. It applies to everybody. Hmm. Yes. Very functional. It's so functional. It's not an acronym. It's great.

It's so efficient. We can help as much as possible. We can make you look fancy, hopefully. We can. Oh, you would need to look fancy too. Oh, that's easy enough. We have to go. Would you have to go.

to go. You don't have to come. I can take Teresa. You know, if numbers are down. We have you. The invitation doesn't say how many guests you can bring, by the way. You could be like, I don't bring as many guests as I want.

I can invite all of Ash and Rest if I wanted to. You could. I would do whatever is needed to assist you for Ophelia, although I'm not the fanciest. I'm going. We'll make you fancy. Don't worry. You fancy.

We'll help. Thank you. Amazing. Just to confirm. you're okay with me breaking down your sword as an essence for the plane up? Do not break it down! Sorry, I may have misheard what you said earlier.

Give it back! Okay, you can take it, I'm sorry. Sneaky. It's not sneaky, I thought you gave it to me willingly. You didn't tell me. You did say, can I study it? Yeah. You didn't say, can I be reading?

Well, that's all the studying I do. Well, now, you're not even going to get a whiff of it. What, I like whiffing? Magic, I mean. I like whiffing magic, anyway. Are you like whiffing magic? I really hope your next few attack rolls are like, miss, miss, miss, miss.

All right, he goes whiffing in. So, with this letter, is there, there's going to be another little bit of downtime, if anybody would like, just like to wrap up any other tasks and jobs and things like that. I think Ophelia would like to research St. Deathier, because Teresa brought it up.

For interest. Okay. These will all be things that we can maybe go over next time. I will do some writing for you all. Could we find out how much the fun is actually hoping to meet from a thought. Oh, is it funds? Is it funds?

Is it money? That's true, actually. Is it money? You never know with the houses of all of those things. Bring all your life. It is for building a temple. You imagine that there will be some... They might need skeletons to do the building.

Yeah, I mean, like, certainly they... Contribution. Like, a good contribution. Yeah. I'm saying, what if we use... Feeley just, like, takes out like a bandit camp and just rolls in with, like, like, caskets full of, like...

I've brought you 20 dead brigands. Yes. Do necromancer, raise them. That'll be amazing. What if we just giant magic, the, the fucking thing, the giant statue, straight to the... Before we run out of time, at the end of another week of downtime,

which we can discuss off stream what happens. Yeah. Another letter arrives. What? Ding-dong. the young courier, perhaps not of the clarion, dressed in a very smart,

non-descript uniform, will drop this off with Mateo, who's probably at the main bar and is first to get to the door. It doesn't say much else. Mateo will just be like, um, at Xanthius, a letter has arrived for you. Oh, is it?

It wasn't from the clarion. It's from a wrong, well-dressed... Any lipstick on it? No, no lipstick, but... Really? Very well-dressed young man, just sort of a rife. I have dropped that off, said...

Was it dressed in my sort of snaglings, well? No, no, no, green skin, no. Ah, okay. Right, Zanthias, I guess maybe. Would you like to hear this? I would like, do you... So, you can have a quick scan through to see if Xanthius would read it out loud.

I have seven wisdom, I'm going to start reading it out loud. Okay. Yeah. I was going to say, because I'm happy to read it in your head for you, but if you start reading it out loud, I love that. Zanthius, it's been quite some time since I sent you to the... city yet you have not returned. I am not concerned yet. You have clearly been, I'm gonna be back

in a second, everyone. Is that, Santhias, you're okay? Hang on. Can I slowly walk downstairs to the, can I read it out in your heads? Yes. Yes. Zanthius, it has been quite some time since I sent you to the city, yet you have not returned. I am not concerned. Yet, you have clearly been making a name for yourself in the lands of Caldra, and I am led to believe you have ingrained yourself with one of the Reds minor dukes, which bodes well for the host. Given the reports of your magical abilities in tournaments and various heroics around Caldra, I have safely assumed your task in the city was successful.

This is good. I do not begrudge you for making the most of this opportunity. I welcome it. It has shown me you have more potential than I gave you credit for. As you seem to have forgotten your way to Gildi, I have dispatched one of your siblings to retrieve my property. You now have several choices. Submit to them, and I will let you live out your days in Caldra,

Free to do as you see fit. Oppose your sibling. Survive. And deliver it to me yourself, and I will elevate you to a member of my court. You will have wealth, power, and prestige as befitting a true scion of House Oregon. Or you may continue to defy me.

I am sure I need not tell you the consequences of this will be severe. The heart of ambition bleeds golden, your father. Oh, shit. Oh, my fucking God. Oh, no. So we see Xantheus hurriedly sort of walking away, reading this in his mind.

Like, very clearly, like, just goes pale. Like, um, as I, yeah, I'm reading this as I hurry up to my room and close the door behind me. And what do we see as you finish reading this letter? Take the camera spotlight for yourself for a moment. It's just, it's almost like really, really examining every word, making sure to just drink in all of the, not even like subtleties that are in there.

It's all just a message written in hatred. and just cruelty. And I almost want to destroy the letter, but I know I shouldn't. I know I need to keep it. So the question I have is that Cynthia's right. So he reads it as like, this is mocking. This is like cruel writing to you.

There's not even a hint that this could be genuine or like the hand that's being offered is real. The hand has been offered before. is the thing, that promise of wealth and power and prestige. And it wasn't delivered the last time. And there is, like, the tiniest part of him is still, like, what if? Like, it's his father, right? No one can be that evil.

But siblings. though. I mean, Zantius knows, does Zantius? Because I didn't. You would have had no way of knowing and no clue. You were sort of banished so young out to Rust End. You know so little about the host. You know so little about your father.

But, I mean, Emberissa and Sir Eldrack, and you've encountered other Dragonborn. Dragons have these moments. It does not surprise you to consider, perhaps for the first time, that you are not the only dragon-born son of host Oregon. But where those siblings, you know, sons or daughters, sit on your father's side, you have no way of knowing.

And as we sort of, I think, that we see this scene of Xantheus in the room reading this letter and then the camera pulls out and it pulls out and it pulls out of Caldra and we see a figure on the road walking a tall gold dragon born don't see any of their features don't see in their face just a helmet a cloak something underneath this great cloak as they are just slowly walking in the direction of volcanoes and red mountains in the far distance as golden wheat fields, like golden hills almost,

sort of surround them, very pastoral, countryside of Gildai as they just slowly walk towards Kaldra. And that's where we're going to end today's episode. My God. Oh, my God. Thanks very much, everybody. We'll see you next.

next time. From all our elders. See you next time. Bye. Bye. Bye. PC, Switch, and PlayStation. Sony's dead. They're not dead.

PC MasterRace. Anyway, if you want to hear us, if you want to know more about the show and listen to John and I argue every week, you can do that on video game outsiders.com or anywhere podcasts are available. In a world where board games rule the planet. Walker, this is for So Very Wrong About Games, not a thriller from the 90s. Here at So Very Wrong About Games, we value your time. We get to the point. We give you a critical analysis of games and tell you which games. are worth checking out. Things we value, rigor, your time, gibbons, buzzwords. You'll get it all at So Very Wrong About Games. Critical Reviews. What's Hot? Longtime classics. So very

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