High Rollers DnD - Return of the Reforged (Part 1) | Altheya: The Dragon Empire #101

Episode Date: May 12, 2026

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Hello and welcome back to Althea the Dragon Empire. Our heroes have traveled across the Azar Step, province of the Blue Dragon Host to seek a place called the Dron. giant's wet stone. On arriving, they were confronted by a mercenary company working on behalf of a professor of the academia of Kelskaris, who had cordoned off the site and were preventing access. Xantheus and Rowan convinced a knight, Dame Vasha, attached to the mercenary company to let them speak with Professor Braxton Brasquil, head of esoteric geology. However, the professor was very stubborn and determined and had no interest in what the party had to say, forcing them to confront

him about the legality of his work. In a tense confrontation, he burnt the forged writ and escaped with his students via a teleport spell. However, now able to approach the stone, Vricks and Rowan sought to commune with it. Vricks, the dynastian who had been accompanying the party, was met with silence. But Rowan was expected. and spoke with the dreaming deity Alfay, learning an ancient song of primal music and power, but also bringing the former wetstone to life with the dark energies in his sword's stone razor.

The heroes battled the enormous rock elemental atop the plateau with Gruff sending it flying down to earth, narrowly avoiding crushing the mercenaries below, and Rowan using his and Gruff's magic to remake the shrine now with access to three small veins of the metal ulthrite hidden below. And that is where we pick back up today, my friends. You still stand atop the enormous stone plateau that is the giant's wet stone, the vast rolling plains of the Azar Steps stretching out in almost all directions in front of you,

Behind you, beginning to rise and climb is a vast mountain range that will eventually become the collar, the mountains that divide the Azar Step from Ice Heart, much further to the north, of course. But there are grey storm clouds growing on the horizon, but you stand before this perfectly formed stone basin, which is now filled, beginning to slowly fill with rainwater as the storm range. begins to fall with just a replica of the wet stone sculpted in the middle of it all. And that is where we left things off last time. So I'd like to hand it over to you guys. What is the immediate sort of scene?

Where do we find each of your heroes? And what would you like to do? Well, Rowan is right up front. And he's probably going to say, thank you, Griffith, for your assistance there. I think it looks wonderful. Awesome. I think.

Think nothing of it, boy, of course I don't. I think we should put it to some use. Bricks. You see that still off to the side, probably looking down to where the elemental has fallen, is this six and something foot tall beetle person. Just no facial features, this is a literal giant bug with four arms, still kind of half,

wrapped in the scavenged coat of the bandit that you guys thought earlier. And very hard to read. Like the body language, the facial expression, there is no facial expression. The body language is tense, and you can hear this sort of low drone coming from her broken carapace. And she just sort of looks up in your direction, glancing back from where the fallen elemental was.

Like, hmm, friend Rowan. I've had a word with Orthe. I had a good moment to rebuild a little bit of the energy that used to be here. The reason it didn't work for you is because it was further down. I've now brought a little bit back to the surface and I think... This is why Ricks's pleas were not heard. Yes, it was... That wet stone was heard too many times and lost its power.

but a little bit more remained underneath, so if you're ready, cocks her head in your direction. Give me a persuasion roll with advantage. Should we roll for a fate? Oh, yes, yes, we should roll for fate before that happens. Always forget to over the kidding. Daisy, nice for you. I got a four.

Nice for you. Two, I know, where I am right now. Five. Dice for you. Four. Dice for you. I was so distracted by whatever Rie is going with a dice. One side, that's another dice for you.

So it is a five to one. Whoa. So plenty of fate to go around if one does wish to use it. Just let the side down, didn't I? Roe, wow, go, go, go. We've had full fate before, haven't we? Yeah. Yeah.

29. Not today. 29, with the advantage. Yeah. You definitely see, Rick sort of takes a few hesitant steps towards you and the stone, but there's maybe a little hesitation,

sort of looking, cocking her head in its direction. Why did it speak with you, but not with Ricks? Why did it tell you of hidden power and not of Ricks? I don't know. Doubtful. Frankly, I don't. know, but do you trust me? Mm.

Friend Rowan has been kind. Uncertain, but it did not help Ricks. You saw Ricks humiliate themselves. Ricks pleaded and there was no answer. Perhaps Ricks should not, perhaps Ricks should not be fixed. But what if

the first time with a test. Did I pass or fail, friend Gruffeth? Well, you'll have to test yourself again, won't you? Can you give me a persuasion roll, uh, gruff? Um, there'd there be advantage on this? Yes, you do get advantage on this one. Oh dear. Had so much fate.

I had advantage. I rolled an eight. and an eight. Oh. Plus one. Plus one, nine. If it is a test, angrily, why should Ricks be tested? Ricks has already proven themselves coming here.

Ricks has faced so many trials. What more has Ricks to prove? The saints in silence, they move in mysterious ways. And if everyone got what they wanted unbidden, then, well, they'd be rather busy, wouldn't they? You see that there's, I mean, I guess for you guys, like, there would need to be insight roles to really, because Vricks is so hard to read. You know, there's no facial expression. There's a hesitation.

Like, you know that this is what Frick's wanted, but, you know, having come here and then not gotten what they wanted and then Rowan seemingly getting what he wanted, there's definitely an element here of Frick's uncertain. But, yeah, like, they sort of are looking in that direction and seem to be trying to be trying. to decide on what to do, but maybe don't have not reached a conclusion themselves, yeah. I think Ophelia would step up and say to Vrix. Well, from my experience, speaking with plain our powers, they can be quite fickle, personally. Thickle? Hmm. Yes.

Gods and realms cannot be distrust. I am constantly in a state of being tested. be that physically or mentally, but I still step forward regardless because I believe. What do you believe? I believe in what the Greyfather has taught me. I believe in his lessons,

and I believe that through strength, we can have great immense powers. You think that this all they will, grand strength if I pass this test. That's up to Althe to decide, I think. But I think, at the very least, you should at least try. Trust in Rowan. I trust Rowan. Can you give me a persuasion check with advantage?

Because you said certain key words there. 15. 15. Rick sort of nods in your direction. Ophelia is great warrior. You understand. strength is what I desire strength I was humiliated

I thought that perhaps I was being humiliated again but strength if there is strength to be gained here I will take it I will take it for myself and you see like takes a few more steps towards the shrine does anybody else saying anything

or just watching this happen Vrix if it's helpful we did see that there is There is magic down there now. You see when you went up to the wet stone how it was, there was no power left. It was, it was dull.

There are veins of shimmering power down there now. That had just run out. There is power to be claimed again. Yeah, it's fresh. If you go and look, you can see it too. And maybe then you'll feel a bit better about asking again. Walks over to the fountain and looks in. You can see that that water where the rain is filling it,

the green, all, is sort of coming through and illuminating it. See, see how it's glowing? The stone before didn't do that because it had run out, but there's more underground. I do not understand magic, but friend Daisy and other friends do. If the magic has returned, then... Just make one final persuasion check for me, Daisy, with advantage.

Natural 20. Nice. I'll do it. Uh, Rick's looks in your direction. and you hear that tone, that buzzing shift, and it becomes more of a rhythmic, more melodic, rather than a low droning, quite angry hum, like an angry bee or a wasp that's ready to attack. Now it becomes more like a circadian rhythm,

you know, that kind of chirping, you know, cicadas kind of vibe. And we'll just look the tiny little black eyes kind of looking down. It's quite terrifying, really, this giant bug person looking down at Daisy, but the two smaller hands sort of come out and pat you on the shoulders. Friend Daisy is good to Vricks. Very well. I shall entrust if friends trust, then Vricks will try again. We'll step back a bit and give you some privacy.

Would that help? It matters not. Oh, okay. Your distance to Riggs will not change the outcome. Okay. Fair enough. Just thought I'd check. Grateful, thank you for offering.

That's okay. Good luck. And then just takes a step in. There's no sort of, there's no sort of awe. There's no like, oh, a holy place. Like, Rick is like puddle and just steps into it. And sort of splashes her little insect legs in it a few times. and sort of looks down almost like Cox the Beetlehead again

and you see that all of you see, Rick maybe doesn't even notice this, but the pool dims a little in colour. And then you begin to see that carapus on her back is beginning to regrow, slowly regenerating, rebuilding itself, kinden, sort of filling in the gaps, the horn

you can see that she once had like a two twin pronged almost like a Hercules beetle horn and it was like broken and now both parts of it are beginning to mend and regrow and you sort of

you get the impression that Vricks is talking to something in her mind because she's sort of moving her head and cocking and looking around you know as if she's having a conversation but you can't hear anything and

after a few beats maybe five, ten minutes or so, you see that the carapus has like fully regrown and the horn has fully regrown and Frick sort of steps out and he sort of confused, looks around and then reaches up with one of the claws and grips the horn. It's just like,

ah, Rix is mended. Vricks has been fixed. Rix is no longer broken. Now I am Vricks. I need a new title. My former title was taken and I was given the title of broken but now I am not broken.

Now I, what will I be? Mm. Thinking. Roan is sobbing. Because he's witnessing the power of Althei. Yeah. And also seeing bricks being healed again. Yeah.

And again, it's so hard. Like, there is this sort of happy circadian rhythm, but there's no, like, vocal expression of joy. There's no, like, excitement or, like, expression or anything like that. There's no smile. But you do see that sort of, like, the arms begin to retrain. and sort of pat the carapus where it was formerly broken, very quickly, like, rips off the bandit's coat,

just throws that to the side, raises the halberd that she claimed triumphantly, just like, yes, reclamation, vindication. I am remade. Ricks is reborn. How do you feel? Do you feel stronger? Do you feel... Strong.

It is strange, friend, Xanthius. I always... My strength did not leave me, but I felt weaker, but now I feel strong again. Confidence. Perhaps it was that. My shell was broken, but so was my resolve. And now I have faced this and remade myself, and my shell has been remade by this sleeping god. I like them.

You look magnificent. My horn is plentiful again, and you can see begins to like swoop it through the air. Like she goes up to some like, you know, clusters of rocks and just begins like smashing them with her horn. Yes, strong, is like breaking off chunks of rock with a horn. We should, like backs up, does like a charging, like slam with the horn, like smashes the rock to pieces.

Yes, strong. Ricks is remade. We can hit all the, rocks you like at the bottom of this sacred place. Friend Rowan, great respect, admiration. Will you rename Vricks? Vricks must have a new title. Dynastian, we are proud of accomplishments,

and mine was taken. And I was given the title of broken, a humiliation, a great shame, but now you have mended Vricks. It's such an honour. My mind is muddled and... You may think of it as we descend. Thank you.

Thank you for this. Thank you for this. And Pat's the characters. We can thank Althe for this. If not, but Althe did not answer, Rix. Rowan told sleeping God to rebuild. It is Rowan that Ricks is grateful to you. I just need a minute up behind this broken rock.

back here. Before you go, and just the forearms, like, wrap around and lift you up into it. It's like a crushing hug. I've never been lifted before. As I understand Rowan appreciates this gesture. I do. Best day ever! It's like, you know, when like these Beatles fight and they grab one and they like lift it up to like slam.

It's almost like a wrestling move, but it's like Rick's doing a hug or like what Rick's thinks a hug should be. and it is like a proper like forearms just like completely crushed. And then you're put down. So painful, so good. This is what it's like when you hug us. Feels great, I'll do it hard next time. Please don't.

No, God, no. Santhius. Yes. Now I put this forward to you. Okay. As we have reforged the wet stone. Right, yes. And if anything needs to be cleansed or

maybe I'll say has the power. Well, I mean, I don't want to sap at all, you know? It would take all of it because I'm a hungry guy. I can't think of anyone that deserves to be cleansed more than you, Xanthius. But with all the,

we're so close to getting all of the, you know. You're close to death. He's not wrong. He did also die. Yes, have you spoken to Althea about this? I haven't, no. Shall I check in first? I don't want to go in there and start.

I mean, your sword was heavily corrupted, right? It was. I don't want to be the corruption. Does that make sense? Oh, we had to fight the giant thing because that was the sword. It was confused with... I don't want to... Oh, what would we fight the...

Well, I'm not to say that this is more powerful than Althe, but I'm concerned about the effect it will have on the wetstone and the area and the people nearby and you guys and me. I will remind you guys you are always free to do, like, arcana checks and things like that to figure out, you know, what is something that might happen. But also, like, there have been discussions about arthritis and Xantheists and things like that in the past.

But just as a reminder, like, you are welcome. to make checks. Can I do a reminder Arcana check? Yeah, sure. It's the thing that I always assume will happen when Zandthos. I think it's a 14. Yeah.

Yeah, it's a 14. 14 is not enough to give you the answers that I think you're looking for. You don't necessarily remember exactly the discussions that have happened in the past. What I would say with a 14, I'll give you something because you're close to, like, the base DC, so I'll give you something.

there's only probably now two small veins of Althright left. After the power to heal Vricks, there's probably only two small veins of Althrite left. Those veins are probably not going to be enough to fix Antheis as he currently is. Althorite, as you've seen, has very strong powers with healing magic and growth. And there was something you remember

about Arthurite, it was for, there was something about arthritis being used after Xanthius had removed the crown steel. It was something about that that you vaguely remember. It wasn't necessarily like Althright can magically heal him as he is now. It was, there was a part of a process that involved Arthraite, but you can't remember the details of it. It may be best. You might be right.

It might do more harm than good. Possibly. And like I said, we're so. so close to getting all of the essences. So I'm not that close to death. Not as close as I was. Closer, but further away at the same time. Just gotta not antagonize a certain, you know.

Graefathe. That too, yes. The other one. The other one? Althe. No. Obsidious. No one who killed you.

I mean that too, to be fair. Yeah, don't antagonize. Braxton. Can it reminds me, are we gonna find that guy when we go to Kelskaris? I don't know where we're gonna find him. What was the name of your friend in Kelskaris? Varus, yes, sorry.

I was writing a list of people that I want to go after when we get to Kelskharis, and Braxton's one of them. You've got a list? Yeah, Varys is on there now. It's a short list, but I figured it's healthy to start it. Is it two names? Yeah. Braxton?

So it's just become a list, really, because before that, It was just various before. Well, technically, depending on what kind of list this is, there is also a third name. My contact from the loyal house. Three people, add them to the list. Oh, your brother. You want to hunt them down and kill them?

Add them to the list. Okay. Oh. I need to find them. You want me to put that on my quest list? You have quest list? Yeah. Yes, add it to that one.

And they all have names as well with little descriptions underneath them. Tell me one. What's the name? You ask for it. Yes, Santhias. Tell us. The top quest in my list is called, oh, brother, and it's to deal with my sibling, of course. That's good, I like the thing, yeah. To the point.

That's capital, arrive in Kelskaris. That's capital. Yes, exactly. That's good. The Wedstone one didn't have a name, but that's solved. Cross that one off, that's done. I just got a surge of everything. when I just crossed off that quest.

Just a boost of, like, experience. Zantheis is an experience it was. So delulu. We had such a great experience. So many points of interest. Have you wet your head? What, no? Just, you're talking a bit...

Maybe with you. Friends, Antheis is strange. He got magnetized to a pillar of rock. Maybe he slammed in... He might have concussion, Santhias. Maybe lie down. Let me cry. Maybe fall asleep.

Maybe I'll fall asleep. Sorry? Have your eyes. I'm people stylated. Oh, no, he's gone. He's gone. What's that about being close to death? I don't know.

I've forgotten the entire conversation. Oh, so you have lists, but one is one... Is anyone feeling really nauseous? No. Is one list people who have wronged you and one list general things that we have to do? Yeah. Okay, got you.

Do you have any nice lists? Well, it would just be you guys on there. Oh, please. Do what you want. Does that mean there's a naughty list? You can do persuasional deceptions on this? 12. Like 25.

Okay. What a nice list. Lovely. What a lovely gesture from Vantheis. What a lovely gesture. It's probably about this time when some very out-of-breath mercenaries and Captain Janick eventually get to the top of the plateau,

sort of looking wide-eyed eyes. and exasperated. Like, what the hell? We heard fighting and a giant rock monster fell from the sky and it nearly took out the camp. But is everything all right?

We'd like to formally apologise for the tumbling rock giant. That was you? Yes. But we were solving a problem. Problem is now solved. Yeah. What happened?

The last thing we heard that professor vanished and we were being told to clear out and then we started hearing, like, God, some amazing battle going on, and then it fell down. Yes, we're there. Battle over? Okay.

Is the giant rock monster dead? Oh, yeah. It, like, smashed into, like, a dozen pieces. Right. It was not moving. Everyone's okay down there. I mean, luckily, we had sort of cleared that area out. We hadn't taken the tents down yet,

but everybody had moved off to sort of help with packing up the pack animals and things like that. The tents are down now, if that's any... The tents are destroyed now. We're not going to worry about those. We're just going to... That's gone. All part of the plan.

But like... You're pretty much halfway there for a patio because you've got the lining with the tents and then you've got the gravel on top. I wouldn't really call it gravel. It's several very big boulders. You just call it a rock garden. Yeah, I mean, we're not going to call it anything.

going to leave. Ambitious gravel. But we didn't know if you were still fighting up here. We didn't know what it was happening. Is there going to be more of those things? Is that something we need to be careful of? What was that? It was a giant rock monster, yeah.

I spoke with Althe. Right? Believe me, the professor didn't. Well, Alfei, the god that gave up their life to become the planet. You just saw a giant rock creature fall from up here. Come on. How are they related?

I infused... This is the world of D&D where like monsters and magic is quite commonplace. I infused the wet stone when I spoke with Orthe. Okay. With a corrupted energy that lasted centuries from Ojania. Right. And it manifested...

Yes, and it manifested... Yes, and it manifested... into a corrupted creature, and we fought that creature. And you, well, and you pushed it off, and it's dead. The best thing, though, is we've reforged the wetstone as a team. And Bricks has already used it. Look at Bricks. Do you remember?

I do remember you being, well, I don't want to use the B word, but yeah, you had, your horn was not, that's a big horn. You remember Janick's like a halfling as well. Like, he's like three feet tall. So he's half Rick's size, and he's like looking up. He's like, that is a very big horn. It could crush you into. Yeah, it probably could.

Hey, are you broken at all? Feeling a little bit like in need of, what? Are you in need of healing? Janet? No? No? No? Okay, no.

It's only because, is there not much left? Oh, right. Okay. We are going to head back to Kelskary. Me and my company have been here for too long. We've just found out our employer was like, had literally forged it and it was illegal. We're getting the hell out of here. I just, we weren't sure if there were going to be more of those rock monsters,

what happened to you lot. So we just rushed up here to try and see if, like, we could help or if there was something. But apparently not. It seems it's all fine. So we're going to leave now. Do you need anything from us? Anything to help with the tents? No.

Money? No, no, no. I mean, no, God. I mean, why would we need that? I don't know if you need to do. We'll claim those expenses on the professor, I think. We're going to make sure that the academia pays full price. Do you know where the professor is based?

Well, I would have been based in the academia. That's where we got the job. In Caracas. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, they were the head of some department, some study of rocks or something. Fantastic. But yeah, they were based in Carcores.

Did you happen to know the names of his assistants? Students. He probably would really be. remember maybe one of them. I don't think he'd remember all three. But I think he'd be able to tell you the name of one of them. He would tell you. Bob Robben Knob.

You can just go with Bob Rob a Knob if you want. No, because I'm not doing that. He would be able to tell you, I remember there was a wild heart, a feline wild heart with them. I just remember it because their surname, it's one of those things. Like, do you think that they got this name from their family because they're a cat wildheart, or do you think that like...

Wait, was their last name Cat Wildheart? Well, their name was Kiro Sweet Whiskers. Sweet Whiskers? That is... How are you spelling K-I-R-O? K-I-R-O, sweet-wiskers. It's got to be like your family. They've got to all be feline wild hearts, right?

Yeah. It's like if I was called like Gold Scales, or something. Yeah. Or sweet whiskers. I mean, that would be weird if you were called sweet whiskers. I could grow some sweet whiskers. Sure you could.

Thank you. But no, I'm afraid that's the only one that I remember the name of. I don't remember the other two, unfortunately. Thank you very much. That's all right. Well, I guess we're going back down again, folks, and he turns to his two friends and they sort of make their way down.

Thank you for coming to check. Yeah, of course, sort of make their way back down. They put me back. Yeah, they have. We're also going to follow you down right now. Oh, yeah, we're actually going the same way. Oh, it's that awesome. Yeah.

I mean, there's literally nowhere else we could go. We can wait, like, we can give you, like, a head start. If you want a head off. I mean, it's up to you. You guys can wait. What does Roman's sword look like? The sword is now just a completely plain, dull gray, great sword, but without the jagged edges.

So it has just become a mundane great sword. So you can remove stone. razor and just add a mundane great swords. All of the magic has gone from it, but so have those jagged, wicked, like, flesh-tearing edges, and it is now just a smooth blade. It is removed. Yeah, I mean, we could probably put it up in Tyree's rest.

If we want to, it's like a symbol of how we can make things new again. Sounds good to me. Speaking of Tareas, rest, what's the plan now? We could go back there. What's the plan in terms of the grand plan? Or like, what are we having for dinner, grand plan? That's very important.

Oh, I was thinking more rose goat. Right. I've still got some from the last... I love your roast goat, yes, please. I do love it, but we have had it for nine nights in a row. What are you bringing to the table then? He's not bringing anything. part of it.

Fire. There you go then. You cook it so slowly and I have to sit there for so long just holding my hand out. Would you rather have nothing then? No. It just melts off the bone though. That's like so succulent.

I've just been thinking about it's been eight days straight but in my head what with the concussion? Yeah, nine. Nine days. He was close. He was close. That's pretty close. Considering the concussion. Well that's the thing.

Do we want to go back to to tarry his rest now. Is our business concluded here? Do we have any further matters? Ruin, do you want to go anywhere else while you're close to home? You know what? I'm quite content. This feels like a nice, full stop at the end of a chapter

that I'm, we've helped Vicks along the way. I had a little chat with Althe. And there's nothing further in your vision than nothing else yet to do. Well, I feel like me being able to provide and carve out a little bit more of authorite for all of those people that take the long journey to make it here, I don't think I need to do anything else.

I don't think, yeah, I think the only thing for Rowan, I mean, there was a lot of discussion about sort of who you were and your chat with Scalar as well seemed to, like, push you in a certain direction of being this, you know, person of support who uplifts other people. But I think that there's one thing, it's that there is this knowledge that you have learned the song of stone, that there is these primal chords, these primal tunes to the world.

And if you wanted to, Althe did seem to almost suggest that you could go and learn more, but you would have to go and seek them out and learn them through trials similar to this one. But that is maybe not something that's important to you now, but there is that implication that should you ever want to, if Rowan became curious about what that music could be. You know, it's like you've got one piece of a song, right? You've got the bass line, you've got the beat, you know. But if you wanted to learn more parts of it,

you could choose to pursue that if you wanted to. I'm ready for a change of place. I'm just wondering before we go, is there, would Alte be offended if we took a piece of the Althright with us? I'm just thinking about when we sort out Santhius' problem. I dare say he might need a bit of healing after. Owen's currently making a face. I don't know what you mean?

Um, well... We do know another place that there is some. Yes. Yes, but it's a lot trickier to get to it, and I don't really want to disturb the caper in. My only concern is, are we any better, than the professor if we dug it up and used it for our own means,

rather than it's for the people that come here. Well, a person likes Santhius. I'm so much better than Braxton, I love to think. Because he was, and I don't use the word all the time, a meanie. Huh? Santhias, wash your mouth out. He was a meanie.

He was a mean. You, say it with me. One, two, three. That guy sucked. He was a meanie. I should have gone with that. We really need to get a cursed jar for you. What, meanie?

Meany, meanie, meanie, meanie, meanie. Meany, meanie, meanie. Right in front of the wet stone. Right, that's six gold, do you owe. Boo hiss, that guy. Boo hiss, indeed. I will not take it back. What's more?

He was very mean. He was a meanie. That's why he's on my list. Oh, snap. He's on the list. He's on the list. He's not. But then again, we haven't met Paris.

There's only two names. That's fine. Is he above a little sovereign? Sovereign is not on that list because I would lose. Just, I want to do a little side here because I don't think we've heard the name Varis as much as we have in this conversation. Like it's been in it, and I'm kind of just curious for Ophelia, like what's coming to Ophelia's mind? Because that's a name that you've not heard out loud in quite some time.

And I want to just quickly check in and see what's like going through Ophelia's mind as, you know, Xanthius' basis. like fuck this Varus guy, he's on my list, basically. Yeah, it's difficult because on one half of Ophelia, Varus represents a lot of good things. Like memories. Yeah, like kids playing, you know, like learning about osseous together

and, you know, sharing a lot of very fond times. And on the other hand, there's that abandonment and that rivalry and that sort of bitter need. to be better than him that kind of rises up in her. Cool. Great. I just wanted to check in. Just wanted to get a little glimpse in on that as the name gets said.

Sorry. I'm only bringing it up because we potentially go any couple of us. Yeah, no, it makes perfect sense. Like, Xanthius is like, this person, fuck my friend. Like, I don't like them and I want to go sort them out, right? Fudd or fun? Yeah. But it's just, I just wanted to do that thing of like,

let's get a glimpse into Ophelia's mind because I think it's like, again, it's a name that we haven't heard said out. loud very often, if at all, apart from when Aphelia first mentioned him. So yeah, I'm assuming this conversation, by the way, is as you're making your way down. Well, I just wanted to check, like, if we're taking...

Oh, if you want to, yeah, sure, you can still be up on the top of the plate. And I would go so far as to give him a big old thumbs down. That's right. I ain't holding back today, guys. I'm just questioning what's the difference between taking a piece to heal his anthias, or bringing Zanthias here after we were move. It's a really good point and I'm, I don't have a good answer.

It just feels, I don't know, like we're taking destiny away in. Okay, Ron, I don't, I can see it's uncomfortable for you, so let's, we'll come back hereafter. This could be the place I just returned. You, Friends Antheis, are also broken? No. Yes. No.

Then why does Friends Zanthias need? the wetstone? He needs another treatment elsewhere. Ah. First. I one day will be broken. But not today. Not today.

Mmm. You, if you are strong, you will never be broken. Be strong. Do not be like Fricks. Maybe not physically like you want me to be Ricks. But magically. Wow. Yeah.

You see me telekinesis that thing off the cliff? I saw you do nothing. Yeah. Well. I had some assistance. If you require physical training, Vricks could help build muscle. What would you want me to do? First, much running, lifting heavy things.

This is how Vricks was trained. I think he'd pass out. He won't even do stretching. No. Stretching is important. I could do a long run. Last time that Gruff tried to show you something and get you to do a bit of exercise,

I found you hiding in the basement with a bottle of wine. Oh, that's where you were. No, I was, I just... Interesting. I could absolutely do it, and I wasn't hiding from the exercise. I just found something else I'd wanted to do instead. I'll know where to look next time. I was working myself up emotionally for it.

Your arms are very thin. That's fucking untrue. All right, well, what's your plans, Rick? It's so cool? I suppose. Now I will, I will go and seek the one who broke me, and I will make them pay. I like this, I like this. That's good, that's good.

I will claim my vengeance. Wait, does that mean you're going across the sea, or? No, I shall head to the city, city of dragons and the fighting pits. Gascarus? Yes, the arena. I want to see this, I want to watch this. Oh, is that where the incident happened? Yes.

All right. Wait, what was her name? Oh, was it, yeah. I don't do the lake. Give me a minute. This isn't like a few episodes ago, notes. We need to compose a list. You see, Xantheus needs lists.

Yeah. He's really fond of a list for me. The name was Xanthias. I mean, we could... I could add it to the quest list, too. What do you want the name of that quest to be? You seem so distracted all of a sudden. Shush.

I think you're being concussed. You are the... The one who broke me was Sekar. They gained the title of Shellbreaker when they broke bricks. Sikar Shellbreaker. That's a title. I shall break them. Well.

And then Shellbreaker will be my title. And they will be Sikar the Broken. Yes, I will humiliate Sikar as Sikar hell merely humiliated me. Sure. Yes, in front of many hundreds of... Dragon Empire. Such a clear and concise goal. I love it.

Yes. Vendidst's a great motivator. Yeah. Yeah. So my title's like a transitional title. It depends. If your title is the most impressive, I will keep it. We have shell breaker to work with, potentially.

That's really good though. It can workshop something. I will need some time. I must gather funds, purchase, equipment, gather my strength again. I mean, we can do better. and fricks the shell breaker. Ciccar's got that, and you know what, Ciccar?

Thumbs down from me. Friends, Antheus is good. Thumbs down. Oh, you broke my weedy arm. You are now broken. I might just jump in the pit real quick. In the pond, I suppose. Pool. Puddle.

I just remembered. We don't need to travel down at all. You just remembered that? I have this. Whoa! Remember? The ruin. No, that's news to me.

Of course, home. I was thinking of what we were going to get back. You have a rock. I have this rock. It's a very important rock. You say that about all of your rocks. That is true. She's got you there.

Yes. And I'm right. This is a really good one, though. I trust you. No, this rock. This would take us back to where we live sometimes. Caldra. Caldra. If you want to come with us.

The Red Dragon Host. I have not visited there. Would you want to? Yes. You can gather some supplies there. Is there a smith of weaponry? Yes. Then I would like to visit it.

May I find work? Almost certainly. Excellent. Oh. What kind of work? Fighting. What about like a bodyguard? Yes.

Bodyguarding. I have worked many years as bodyguard. What about like pouring drinks and serving food? This does not interest, Frix. I am a warrior. That's a shame, though, because you know the extra arms would be really good for characters. Exactly. That's true.

That's where I trip up. These arms were built for fighting, not for carrying. A real task for a warrior. Indeed. There are many fine dynastians who have mastered the culinary arts and the brewing of beers, but Avericks is not one of them. Well, there's almost certainly going to be work for you in Ash and Rest.

Yes. I shall be your bodyguard or a hitman, a hit person. A hit person, okay. A hit bug. There are lots of bounty boards around the place. Bounties. Yeah. Ricks excels at capturing bounties.

Yeah, yeah. There'll be a few of those, I'm sure. Yes. Hes. Hirenas or so. The, well, after we go back there, not too long after, we're probably going to head to Kelskaris ourselves. Ah, then perhaps Ricks can accompany you.

Yeah. You can pay Vricks to bodyguard you. Or, like, friends sort of discount kind of thing? Acceptable. Ricks owes you that. Great, thank you. Oh, and I've got something to show you. But you will help Vricks find employment.

Sure. How hard going to be? Have you got a, like, references? I once defeated a great Moor Shell upon the lands of Stridia. I fought the blackhand bandits of, of Iceheart. I have defeated three champions

of the Kelskaris Arena. You've defended the Wetstone as well. Yes. From a giant rock monster. I defeated the evil rock. Do you have evidence of all of these? Evidence is in my deeds. Ah, right, because I've lied on my preferences before.

I would never lie of my honorable victories, as I would never lie of my shameful, defeats. That's a very healthy attitude. Well, we can easily get you were and gruff. Easily get you. Thank you, friends, Antheis. Okay, well, Rhawn's rock can take us back home magically if you would like to come with us. Very well. All right. So you just want to use the room, you want to just use the road now? You're like good to go? I think so. Okay. Most ice heart, gruff. Would you want to go to ice heart? Oh, no, that's very kind. I've already sent a letter on to my wife.

But I didn't really want to return until I return a knight. Okay. Thank you for thinking. Add it to the list. It's on the list. When Groff becomes a knight, ice hard. Easy peasy. So the quest has some prerequisites. Yeah, you can add those. You need a job.

It could be multi-quest. Okay. First become knight, then go home. Right. Yeah, it's great out at the moment, so I can't do it. I can't cross the border until... Right. Okay, I get it.

That's DLC expansion. You walk up to you and you can't get through it. You see through it. Yeah. It's like going to Ishgard. It's like a paywall. Gates closed. I keep throwing money at this paywall and just it won't let me through.

So it's not complete yet. Oh, I see. There's a trailer out, but, you know. I can't wait until it drops. All right, I'm going to fucking use the rock. No, I thought we just let that joke go further into the ground, actually. I thought, like, we could really get that one, like, stuck in there. You think it's over?

It's not. Oh, yeah, no, it could have continued, I know. It will. It's actually, I'm quite, it was Trot who interrupted, rather than me. Yeah, I'm amazed. I'm amazed it was this. You just really wants to use the rock. Use the room?

Yeah, but Rowan can't remember how it works, so he starts rubbing it. You just will it. Hello, Rock. I believe it's just you mentally command it. Yeah, I'll go through a few iterations of trying things. Why are you licking the rock, Rowan? I think as you... Take that out from your nose.

You stop looking at, you focus, and then all of you feel this familiar sensation. You know, you've been watching the clouds go past. There have been winds that have been blowing, causing the little plants to sort of pull away and their fronds to sort of blow. And then everything drops to a dead still. And the light, you know, this was middle of the day,

sort of late afternoon. All of the light, the ambient light begins to dim. And still suddenly it is not storm clouds overhead, but a starry, beautiful sky. Ricks sort of, not panics, but is immediately sort of on edge as if this is some sort of, you know, magical spell or something that they're being attacked with. But you begin to hear the lapping of river, like the kind of rushing of a river, as a familiar sort of weaving, bounding river of light. begins to weave its way through the air

and you see a familiar longboat beginning to approach. The same sort of giant, hooded maiden with her great awe sort of at the back sort of begins to approach the two hounds at the front of the boat. They bark, but there's no sound.

And it's not a warning bark. It's excited. It's almost as if they recognize you and they sort of bark at your presence and the sort of giant woman nods her head as if, yep, and then brings that boat to a slow as the boat pulls up alongside the plateau. And where the river stops, it's actually the very edge of the plateau. So to step into the boat, you will have to step off of the plateau entirely.

And the boat is partially transparent, partially see-through, almost as if it is made of millions and millions of stars brought close together. and that light is what's forming the actual structure of the boat and the dogs and the giant woman, the steward, the sort of what is it called, like fairy person. And yeah, you see this kind of boat pull up. I think Rowan, given that Sostanuto has been infused with giant Rune mesh, is going to observe his Sostanuto and maybe start playing. a little bit of what he heard

through Althea the song of stone or something different He's going to begin the song Not the playing the actual song but a part of it You notice that Sostanuto The lightning is sort of Gently cascading up and down it And as you begin to play

Little moats of starlight Begin to almost pull away And form around as if being drawn To the lute itself And let's say that, like, Rowan is kind of doing that as the rest of you. What are the rest of you doing? I like people getting into the boat. I mean, most of you have done this before, but you can see that Vricks is, like, looking around, like, is looking down at this boat and it's like, that is deadly.

Yeah, I think Ophelia would take a step onto the boat and hold out a hand for Vricks just to show them that it's, like, it's physical. They can... Doesn't take your hand, Vrix is like, like, you know, and then, like, almost does a little hop into it. like goes in like feet first. Like there's no, like, it's like, ah, goes to like pet the dogs, but the hand sort of passes partially through them and it's like, ghosts.

And it just sits down right at the front, like a little kid's like, this giant beetle round form. So, Ophelia, you're on it and guessing like the rest of you can follow. I think like, Rowan, you're the last one to step in. And as you're gently playing,

you see that hooded woman, like she lifts up her face. normally doesn't pay much attention to you all. But as you step in, she sort of looks and is like cocking her head, looking towards the loot that you're playing. And you see a smile sort of broadened across her like big, you know, broad features. And I imagine that you would see that she has patterns. This is the first time you've really seen her face and like her skin.

She has patterns that almost look like, forked lightning, that would probably indicate her as a storm giant. And Rowan, you would know that there are different types of giants on the island of giants and sort of listens to you playing the song and looks at Sostanuto and sort of smiles and catches your eye and just nods their head as if somebody who's appreciating not just the music, but the fine instrument that you're playing and just sort of nods their head.

And as you step on, puts a hand on your shoulder as sort of like a gentle reassurance. Okay. And then... Bro kind of takes that a little bit like he's frozen because it's like suddenly like a... almost like a celebrity

is watching a performance and me doing it for the first time. Feels a little fraudulent, but he settles into it with the reassurance from the hand on the shoulder. She just like pats you on the shoulder and then goes back to her position at the back of the longboat

and pushes off the boat sort of eases off the bank of this river of light and it begins to float. And once again, the wild of... Alphair just races underneath you. You rapidly pass over hundreds of miles. Perhaps you would, the speed that you're going with,

the only real detail is that you pass over an enormous city. And it's a blink of an eye, but even those of you who, you know, you pass over it enough to recognize that you have just passed over Kelskaris. You know, this great spoked wheel of a city with all of its different districts, slightly different colours and things like that identifying the different dragon hosts and it's gone in a flash but obviously it's so expansive

that even with this rapid travel with the runestone you're able to sort of pick up on it but then it becomes mountains and roads and forests and then before you know it once again the boat is the travel slows the river of light forms

just above Tyrea's Rest where the great giant runeastern stones embedded in your in your back garden and the boat comes to a slow once more. And yeah, you all step off. And I think that the only thing is, Roman, as you go to leave again, the last one to get off the boat, you would just hear this giant woman the first time ever that they've spoken and you hear a single word spoken in what you can imagine is giant. It certainly does not seem to be

The cadence of it is deep And has a timber to it I know, giant But you don't need to worry Because the word is simply Sustanuto Just nods her head Rowan is just taken aback by that

And just kind of walks out, wide-eyed And then the magic fades And the boat and the woman is gone Are you famous? Ro? Ro, are you speaking to Sosternoot? Yeah, I am, yeah. What's it saying?

The giant fairy lady. Yeah. Knew Sostanuto's name. Oh, wait, because of the runes? I don't know. I started playing the song that I heard, and they recognized it and smiled. And I felt very pressure because then they were watching,

and I had to do the giants proud of the music I was doing. but they knew the name. I never said the name, Sostanuto, to them. It sounded lovely, the song, even if it was very quick. That journey always is. It's only but part of a much more complicated and layered song that's out there in the world.

I look forward to hopefully stumbling across more. Do you feel more rhythms? Do you feel more of a draw? When I'd settle down and connect with the land, yes, everything has a beat to it, and I hear it louder than ever now. I think it's that thing of like, it's almost like all of the other rhythms of the stone

and the earth that you've heard, you realize that you were hearing a piece of the song of stone, like you were hearing a few bars and just repeated, or like you were hearing a snippet of it. But now you know the song of stone, all of those rhythms are made up of the same thing. Like you actually, you understand now where those songs and that beat comes from. But, and that's very familiar to you now.

You don't necessarily feel a drawer or a pull. You know, you stand in the air, the fresh air of your home, and there's a breeze. It's almost like you can hear that there's something there, but you don't quite catch it. But it's that knowledge there. And I think that just to skip ahead a little bit, like, you know, maybe at some point, you know, you're looking at the fire in Tyria's Rest in the hearth,

and you get that same sensation looking at that fire. Like, it's knowing that their song should be there and not being able to hear it, but knowing it's playing. And it's the same with the next time you feel rain or, like, you see water. Like, you get that kind of same sense. you know the song of the earth now that there are at least three more that you can feel

wind and fire and water earth wind rain and fire whatever it is yeah there you go but yeah so like that oh god sorry I was going to say you know when like

when I'm out fishing in ice art on the sea you know the ocean has a rhythm to it you know the tides come in and the tides go out, the waves, they have a beat, a motion. I wonder if perhaps that's somewhere I could pride another song. They may well do, yes. And I can almost sense it now.

I just need to discover it. That's really, that's wonderful. It's like the pulse of Othay that ebbs through life itself. Friends, I do not wish to alarm you, but there is snow in your home. That's my area. That's my area. That's my ermitage. Not normal as such, I guess, but we're aware of it.

It's, yeah, Hermitage. And then I will not trouble you. I thought that you should be informed that there is a tiny snow in your home. No, it's a tiny little winter. That's my little corner of home. It seems nice. It reminds me of ice-heart.

I fought many bandits in Ice-Hart. The blood, the snow was stained red. Oh my gosh. That's doing us a great boon. Those bandits say they're terrible blights upon the gaiety. Part of the economy. They're necessary. Well, no, they were stealing a lot of our commerce

and that's the only way that, you know, in a poor village. Taken over a mine stealing its precious resources. They need to be kept in check, but ultimately we can't get rid of them fully. No, no, we need them. We need mercenaries and work. Exactly. You do hear coming from inside tires, rea's rest. You hear a little bit of commotion and excitement

and then sort of bounding out of the back door, a tiny young dryad sort of comes bursting, like, grafts back, grafts back! And like you see Springheart sort of dashes out. Gruff, gruff, gruff. And then just kind of like clams. But just like, it's not really a hug. She sort of jumps on you and then climbs around you

until she's sort of just like on your shoulders, like, looking in... Ow, ow, ow. You've come back, you've come back, it's been so long. It's so, it's been so long. It has been quite what, eight days? Nine, no, because it would have been more in the... You've been a long time? Right, yes.

Well, I'm glad you're back. We're back now and I've got a new friend. And then looks at Vrix and his immediate, just like, what are you? Brickster, this is Springard. Tiny Springheart, hello. You are small. She's a dryad and she's staying with us for a little time.

Very good. I do not know what a dryad is. Is that a person of Caldra? Do you have plant people here? There's now two I think we've meant right? Ah, like dynastians, rare. Very rare, yes. Very well, then I shall applaud you, Tiny Springheart.

You are rare and mighty like a dynastian. And just immediately, it's like, yep. You must be Percy. Very well, more friends to meet. Come with me, come with me. Yes, very well. Persi! begins following off.

So you go off to try and find Percival. What are the rest of you? Are you going to go to the shrine? Are you going to go into the innver? You're going to go straight to the shrine. Okay, what's the rest of you guys doing? I was going to stare at a fire. Okay, so you just head in and start, you know.

It's very wistful now. Sure. I'd say that, like, it's probably a bit early, but, like, Mateo can, like, get that side, basically at any point. But, like, I just want to check what everyone else is. doing? Probably just older man stuff like check the mail.

Yeah, sure, yeah? Well, Mateo takes care of that, like, you know, Matteo, that's kind of part of Mateo's job. You go back into the tab and you notice the doors are little squeaky. To get the WD-40. When you go to get the WD-40, the light bulb's not working. Sure. I want to fix that.

And then I slip off the store. Yes, the store breaks. Check the thermostat. Who's set this to 27? Mateo's been burning too much firewood. Like, no. Left that light on. Yeah.

Gas built a sky. Turn the TV off. Make your way inside. And you can see that the Tyreus rest, you know, as like I said, it's kind of like late afternoon. There's a couple of customers at the bar, like some locals. Looks like a couple of like the local merchants from the nearby area like to come in here. Mateo's at the bar serving. He sort of just, he knows that Springheart's run out.

So he knows that you're about to sort of come in and he's doing his business. But you would notice. sister sat at a table near where the fire will be lit. You recognize two people. You recognize Sister Malady and Sister Benedicta actually kind of sat there. Malady is like reading and writing through several books. Benedicta looks very, very bored and is sort of picking and like filing her nails and things like that as you guys enter in.

It looks like maybe they've been coming here semi-regularly while you've been gone. Meanwhile, Ophelia, you make your way out to the shrine. where you would find, acolyte Teresa, and Percival, who are just, you know, dusting and sort of keeping the shrine in a good, good state. Obviously, it's a bit too early

for any sort of sermons or, like, any sort of meetings, yeah. But when you sort of enter through with Rick sort of hulking behind you, Sister Teresa would just be like, Sister Ophelia, you're back, hello. Teresa, I'm happy to see you. And then Perci was just like,

Mother, it is wonderful to see you. My Percy! I missed you. And he, wraps his hair, you know, kind of following your gesture will offer you a hugback as well. Ricks will sort of stand, has to like scoop her frame through the door. I apologize.

I apologize. Don't apologize. You're perfect the way you are. Frick's is Percy. Percy, this is Frick's. This is Frick's. This is a skeleton. Yes.

You're not wrong. It is a corpse. He is my most wonderful friend. This is a friend? Yes. Hello? Hello. Vreeks, was it? Yes, formerly broken, now not broken. And you just see, Percy's like, oh, that's very good.

I'm so glad that you're back, mother. Me too. I've missed you. Has everything been here? So it's been very quiet, sister. I mean, we've had a few of the sort of regulars coming by. I've been giving them sermons from the ones that you've taught me and things like that. But nothing really, I must say, it has been rather quiet. It's not been really anything of note to let you know about, unfortunately.

That's okay. I mean, normality, a nominal kind of state. I do my best. I do try and preach the word of the great father, but many people in Ash and Rest are very still resistant. And I'm not as good as a public speaker as you. And, you know, I try my best, but I'm afraid I've not really managed to convert anyone else. That's okay.

You're wonderful. We can just keep doing what you're doing. Thank you, sister. I wish I could do more. to serve the eternal one. But we've been keeping the shrine as best as we can. Well, thank you. Hopefully we'll be going to Kelskaris fairly soon,

so I should be able to help make some moves that way. Oh, marvellous. That sounds wonderful. Yes. I should be meeting with the ambassador there at their own embassy. Well, that would be a wonderful opportunity for you to speak of the great works that you've done here. in a National Rest and the fact that the Duke has allowed you to preach, the word of the Gravefather, that's quite an accomplishment. I suppose it is, yes, we have come very far, haven't we? Yes, yes, absolutely.

Yes, thank you. Sorry, the host of the other embassy leaves me with, you know, doubts in my mind about my own personal accomplishments, but no, you are right, we have made great strides here with Ashen Rest. Sophealia, you are wonderful. I'm sure whoever they are, they can't. hold a black candle to your greatness. This is why I missed you.

I need these. I need you in my life. If it wasn't for you, Sister Ophelia, I don't know what I would be doing. I've been reborn thanks to the grave father. Obviously, I hope one day to ascend as much yourself, but I know that I'm a long, long way from that. You know, I hope that one day I could true be blessed with the gifts of unlife.

I'm sure you will. Once I achieve what I have, I'm out of desire, or once I keep what I, desire to achieve here. Yes, of course. And my power grows, then yes, of course, you shall be made even greater. Wonderful. Yes, of course, yes. I am going to leave now. This is a strange place.

It's a wonderful place, but yes, Rick's, you're free. It is full of skulls and bones. Are they wonderful, each and every one of them? I like the skulls of enemies. Are these your enemies? Ophelia friend? No, these are more friends, I suppose, in a way. Friends are all right.

Yes, friends are acceptable. Yes. Like, Percival? Percival is very acceptable. Why do the other skulls not talk and move? I do not have the power to grant them that yet. Ah, I see. If I were more powerful, of course they would all be raised in my name.

But right now they're just waiting in Zimbo. I see. Sorry. Why do you apologize? Are you apologising to the skulls? Yes, they're waiting. Ah, I see. Very well. I'm working on it. I'm working on it. It will take a bit of time. I will leave you to speak with your skulls. Okay, thank you.

Like squeezes out. But yeah, we jump back inside. Is there anything you guys as you step in? Alright, if anyone's sitting by the fire, Rowan is going over different titles he can give Rick's. Mm-hmm. What do you think of Bricks the bolstered? Mm-hmm.

Baltered? Bollstered. That's good. Bricks the valiant, alliterates. Vryx the valiant. I do like that. I like it. Bricks the boulder. The boulder.

We already know a boulder. Yeah, that's what it used. Bricks, the reforged. Reforged. That's not bad. That's a good one. Very large one. Yeah.

But is it going to be strong enough? What about Brick's platinum edition? I don't really understand that one. Just say Vrix 2.0 and sleep it. Rix 2.0. HD remix? What, there's two of them? Dream drop distance.

Literally, my brain, like, the exact same. All I've had in my head is rebirth. Like, I've just had re-burst. I've just been re-forged. Since it happened, I've just been thinking, reforged. Frick's classic. Oh, that would mean.

Well, if you say re-forged, then they can go and fight the person again and then get a new type. Like you say, it might just be a, for this period of time. And reforged seems very appropriate for that. That is what they are. They are strong and re-forged.

Well, we don't want to go with, because it was broken before, we don't want to go with unbroken. What about the unbreakable? That's also good. That is good. The only thing with that, Vrix is very proud, as she said,

of her accomplishments and her failings. True. Her failings make her who she are. So if you were saying something like, Unbreakable, That's alive because she was broken. So maybe reforged or... Reassembled.

Mm. Hmm. You hear like... Again. Fricks again. You hear a kind of... I assume that your journeys have been successful then. I had no idea you were here. I literally described them being here.

I know you did. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Zanthea sin. But yeah, you see that in the course, What brings you back here? Have you been... Mateo, have they been paying well? Yes, actually, no. Sister superiors have been paying very well.

They come in. They provide me... We do meals, we do drinks for them. They've been coming by every day. Fantastic. It's been good. It's been good to have a little company on the quiet afternoons.

As I understand it, well, Sister Superior Malady has been chatting with Spring Heart quite a lot, actually. Really? Um, uh, uh, Sister Benedicta not so much. Ah, right. Probably for the best. In fact, and you see, let me tell you's like,

Sister Benedicta doesn't spend a lot of time here, mainly Sister Benedicta doesn't spend a lot of time here, and then Sister Benedicta sort of comes and goes. Okay. I've got customers to serve, I'll catch up with you in just a moment, my friends. Okay, dokey. Um, but yes, Malady will just sort of be like, I take it that your travels have been successful.

Yes, well, we went to that stronghold, and it was wonderful. And then it wasn't. Yeah, there were some troubles. Oh, you have, good, yes. Yes, we've been informed by Inquisitor Argus. I inquisitor what happened. Very curious matter, definitely.

But hastily resolved, and we didn't get trapped in a tunnel once. And then we started exploring as our step. And it was wonderful. Until it wasn't, we got us accosted by bandits. But then we got to the giant's wet stone, and that was wonderful. Until it wasn't, there was a giant rock monster, but we handled it hastily.

And... And... Now we're here. Sounds very successful. And this is wonderful. Good. Until it won't be... That is the nature of life, Zanthias.

Yeah, a lot of ups and downs I'm starting to learn. Yeah. Is um, authorit of Argus as he well? He is as well as... He is as well as can be, Gruffeth. I do, I have my own suspicions. Rather convenient that as soon as Heinquis de Argus leaves the eerie, some blunder enables one of the planar-touched prisoners to gain some power,

especially when they are transporting several pieces of powerful material back there. I have my, well, let's just say that there are rivalries amongst the inquisitors, and perhaps one of them wanted an opportunity to make a fool of Argus. But still, that's ecliptic order, politics for you, nothing for you to trouble yourselves with, I imagine. Are those rivals in Kelskaris? I'm making a list. Ah, some of them certainly would be, yes. I am not sure there are many different inquisitors of different calibus.

I do not know to whom exactly Argus has difficulties, but it would not surprise me if there were ones who perhaps vied for the position of High Inquisitor, who did not get it, who could easily send a brother or a sister to the Gallo's diary to perhaps replace one of the others. Wait, if we have interrupted their plans Are we on... Have they made a list and we're now on that list? I mean, if it was me, I would make a list.

I think we're on a lot of people's lists. We made more enemies. We made more enemies. Yeah. But still, you've come back alive, that's something. A lot of Argus's companions and allies didn't come back.

No. I heard from... Argus. Edith was a very powerful threat, one that, yes, well, lessons have been learned and lives have been lost. It is now for the ecliptic order to make due and ensure that these things do not happen again. As I understand it, you are quite essential in bringing Edith down, so well done. No small feat against a rather powerful and dangerous planar threat. But you had got what you were seeking, Miss Thistleheart. Yes.

It was very helpful. And hopefully we can probably talk about it more another time, but maybe a plan to help some of us who have been in our situation. You can speak candidly with me, Daisy. Well, we want to just stop the Yeager, really. and we might have an idea of how we could do that so that it doesn't cause any more destruction to any other villages or kill any innocent people in any way.

I would be very interested in hearing this plan of yours, purely from a magical academic perspective. Well, it involves this and I'll put the arrow. And what do you intend to do with it? Surely a single arrow will not be much against the celestial foe of this nature. Well, it's been tampered with in a way that will help us, if we shoot this,

shoot this arrow into the Yeager, when it's weak enough, it will disrupt its tracking, enough so that it just doesn't find anyone else. It's always, it's, how so? Magic. I see.

Do you mind if I perform a little, yes? In identification magic. and she'll cast, identify and detect magic. Ah, I think I begin to see now. Fay-willed magic. Yes, yes. Illusions, trickery.

So it should keep it going in circles rather than actually looking. Very clever, very. You see, blood kind of cuts off onto her sleep. Very clever, very clever. And she hands the arrow back, a very clever plan. It just means I have to actually hit. I have no fear that you will achieve such a feat.

You seem to be very competent young woman. I'm sure you'll be able to do so. And you have your friends to assist you as well. Yeah, we'll be able to hold it down. Yes, exactly. Stand it still. Right in front of you. Yeah. Okay. Has it always been Yeager, by the way?

Yes. Yes. Why? I thought it was Kager at one point. Zanthias has concussion right now. Genuinely. Does he need C to? I could have my sister do something.

do something to help along with that. I mean, that's the whole problem. He's gonna go up and take a nap. No naps, no. Or else what? Throw a glass of water in his face. Stay awake. Wobble, garble.

Maybe like possession as well. He's really gone. Got him. Got him. It's my fucking favorite. Well, seems that yes, you've had quite the adventure. elsewhere.

Yeah, it was. And now we have to come up with the title for... Oh, have you met a Dynastrian before? I have not met one. I know of them. I've read of them. Well... We've met one.

We're friends now. Truly, quite rare in the Empire. There are a few wandering around, but I'd be... Well, if they don't mind coming in, I'm afraid getting up and moving around is a bit much at the moment, but... I think they're just with Ophelia right now.

I'm sure that's going wonderfully. I'm sure it is. You see Benedicta just sort of like rolls her eyes and is like filing a nails list into all of this. Xanthius Benedicta kind of looks in your direction. Yeah. This sibling of yours. Oh, have you got news?

Maybe. Whilst my sister has been researching various magical matters and conversing with the High Inquisites, I needed something to keep me busy. So I've been speaking with travellers who have been arriving Ashen's Rest asking about if they'd seen a gold dragonborn who stood out to them traveling from Gildai.

Okay. I had received word that a few, perhaps three, four, five days ago, it's not exactly clear that travellers weren't 100% sure themselves, but one was seen in a village called Rust End, north, east of here, on the road to Guildi, they were said to be quite a large figure carrying various weapons quite heavily armoured. They suddenly stood out to the travellers I spoke to, never gave a name,

seemed to keep themselves, was spotted asking questions around Rust End. Who were they talking to? Oh, that doesn't matter. Various locals, I imagine. but given your reaction, I would imagine that this does seem to be likely to be this sibling of yours. Well, it's Rust End as well, is my home before, you know, I started travelling. That would make sense then, yes. So might be getting quite a good amount of information. Are they staying there, do you know?

I don't know. The people that they spoke to only noted that they had seen this figure in Rust End. And then they had set off. It looked like they had, perhaps, this figure had remained, at least a day, perhaps. But these were travellers coming in only because of their, well, they described them as being very powerfully built, carrying lots of where.

They thought that they might be a mercenary or a criminal, which is why they spoke to me about them. Okay, so a warrior of some kind? It seemed to be that way, yeah. Marshall Pryor. That's fine, that's good, maybe no magic, which is great for me. I would not be able to give you

any sort of confident answer to that, I'm afraid. Right, well Rust End, we've not been too far from there recently, actually with the Ash Hill, so we know how far away that is. And I would estimate about five days. Anywhere between if they were following the road

and they made good, provided that they didn't have a mount of any kind, it could be between five and seven days, which if they were seen four days ago, means like literally could be today, could be tomorrow. I'm just doing some math really quick. So five days, minus four. Did you not say that you wanted to not meet them in the city?

Not in the city, no, outside of the city. I wanted to meet them very far outside of the city away from all of this chaos. We're losing time to do that. We should probably... get back out of the city. Maybe I can talk to Obsidious. Obsidious was working on some means to track them

and also needed them to be closer. The Dragon Lord has been rather quiet of late. Has he? What since? Crownfall? After you left, I tried to meet with the Lord to discuss various magical matters and also these matters of private, this sibling. At first they were receptive, we spoke.

about magic and various things. Then they sort of drew away, and I've not had the opportunity to speak with them for a few days now. Okay, well, probably just working on some problem. I'm always... I have a way of getting through to him, and normally it's through rage.

You certainly have your way with people, Zantheis, don't you? I do. I do. Do I need to go and buy some cakes to try and... It wouldn't hurt. Obsidius does love cakes. Maybe it's just been too long since he's had... a good keke. It could be. I appreciate that my manner is not always a pleasant one. Some do find me a little uncomfortable. No, you have away with people. Mm, quite. Yes. Still,

yes. Well, perhaps you should go and speak with him. Well, it wouldn't hurt to just go knocking on Obsidious's door and saying, hello. Any news on that? Hello? Brother or sister of mine. Certainly. She sort of leans in to you, Xanthias. If you do find that you have some time, given these threats and dangers that you are coming across and battles far in the future,

if you would like, I may be able to help teach you something magical. I love to learn magic. What do you think? It is... Basically, what I'm saying is I like what you're putting down. It is a technique that only those who have an exceptional raw talent for magic... Hello.

...can utilize. I can use it, but it manifests differently depending on the spellcaster. Okay. But given what I have seen and what I can sense from you, it may take some practice, but I think you... you would be able to master this technique as well. Interesting. Have I seen you use it before? You would have seen something of it, yes.

I was still quite unpracticed with it when we fought together, but I have developed it since then. We will speak on it. You have other matters, important matters to do it, but perhaps this evening if you have some time. Yes, well, how long do you think it will, how long did it take you? It takes some time to master,

but I can convey to you the basics of it and then it will be up to you to practice and learn and harness. You are very different. My magic I have gained through raw power and talent, but refinement study. Yours, as I understand it is very inherent to you. It is raw. It is bound to your personality. I probably could do some more work to understand it more, but...

Work will always be rewarded, Santhias. Hard work is always rewarded. Okay. I look forward to learning that. Come and speak with me when you have some time. I will. Good. But first, I might just pop over to go see Obsidius, really quick. Do you want to back up or do you want to go on your own?

Do you want to go see him? We're all friends here. If you need some companionship, I'll have you to come along. I'll give some background music if you like. Yes. Sheppron. Okay, and we can work on that title as well.

To be honest, they'll be so real with you, Xantheis here. It's more about your. safety. Why? Because you sometimes, you know, say something. No, come on, me it obsceneas. We're like this. I just feel like... Do the gesture again? For podcast listeners. Me too rude gesture.

Was it like, did you do a docking gesture? I just soothed that. You did the scissors. You did the scissors. Hot scissoring. Who knows how dragon's... That might be how dragons do it. The tail gets in the tail, yeah. Maybe. Okay, well, actually, I know how it works.

I have to know. Yeah, yeah. And I'm not gonna tell you. Do we 12 tales? I'm, listen. It'll be in the guidebook. Yeah, it'll be in the guidebook. With that, so I mean, Ophelia,

do you wanna go and find Ophelia? Is the idea here that we're gonna head off and try and speak to obsidious? Do you wanna grab Ophelia on the way? What's the vibe here? We can do literally anything else by the way. I'm okay, we just. No, I love it.

I love an obsidious. I love an obsidian. Why is he so drawn away, though? What's going on there? I wonder. Oh, God, yeah. How's that little, uh, little thing? Can I pick up treats before I go?

Of course you can. Yep, I would assume nothing less. I pick up treats. Certainly. All right, well, in that case. No, they're so old. Empty-up bag, I'll know. They're so fungal.

Oh, it's so dry. I can hear you crunching from here. Just give me a con save. Oh, not the belly again. Natural 20. Oh my God. He feels tough than you too. He doesn't so often.

You don't even pick it off. You don't even pick off the mouldy bits. It's good, it's good for you. It gets better with the huge. It's good for the... With that... Good for something. With that, we're going to take our five minute break, everybody.

We will see you after the five minute break. That's the end of part one. Yeah. See you next time. Bye. Bye. Bye bye bye!