High Rollers DnD - Return of the Reforged (Part 2) | Altheya: The Dragon Empire #101

Episode Date: May 14, 2026

Obsiddias has been... distant lately. He's probably just stressed. Anyway, the party start making plans to encounter Xantheus' sibling! Can't wait for Part 2 of each episode? Join our Patreon to get early access EVERY week (+ a few other bonuses)! www.patreon.com/HighRollers⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ _______________ Boost your Charisma with some HR merch! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://highrollersdnd.teemill.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Add official High Rollers Minis to your TTRPG collection here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://only-games.co/collections/high-rollers⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bless your table with the Clever Toad Dice Set: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://dispeldice.com/collections/high-rollers⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Enhance your bath time experience with the official Altheya themed DiceBombs at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://geekyclean.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.highrollersdnd.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for all the latest HR News! Love the podcast? Give us a glittering 5 star review! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/high-rollers-dnd/id1401508198?see-all=reviews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music courtesy of Epidemic Sound, TCT Adventures (Solasta: Crown of the Magisters), Monument Studios and Jolene Khor! Check out Jolene Khor and all her wonderful work on High Rollers on Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/artist/1WX3ICiTmf4GpHwImnQMs6⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠v Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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After helping convince Ricks to accept the power of the wet stone, the newly rebuilt wet stone, and having her carapus and her horn mended, they use the runestone of hearth and home to return back to Ashen Rest, where they have caught up with some familiar faces, Mateo and Springheart, as well as Parsi and Sister Teresa of the Gravefather, as well as Sister Superior Malady and Sister Superior Benedicta. Benedicta having informed Xanthius that this gold dragonborn sibling was possibly seen

three, four, five days ago in the village of Rust End, a short journey away from Ash and Rest. And that is where we kind of left things off with, or you all deciding to go and visit, it good old Lord Obsidious. Yes. Yeah. It is probably, by the time you kind of get going,

the sun is beginning to set. It is not evening yet, but it is that kind of golden, you know, red and orange hour. You know, this is prime cauldron time. This is when the restaurants are absolutely booming. The taverns are like filling up. Everybody is out, you know,

children are running through the streets, family are conversing on their verandas, and the whole of Ashen Rest is buzzing with activity, as that beautiful sunset sky christens the world around Ash and Rest. You all make your way up to the Dominus Ignarum, a place quite familiar to you now. You've traveled there and been there as guest of Duke many a time. The guards recognize you on site. A few, you know, necessary checks just to make sure there's no illusions at play and you're not, you know, claiming to be people that you're not and things like that.

You are met with your old friend Considerate Orgrim, the grumpy steward of the Dominus Signarum. Hey, buddy, long day? It is always a long day. No, that's how time works. Hey, we're hoping to see Obsidious again. What a surprise. I know. It's always that way.

We'll have to inquire the young, Master has been not taking many visitors recent. Really? Just distracted by a big project or... It's not for me to comment on the Lord's business. Do you know? You won't comment on it, but do you know? Give me an inscan. Six plus.

Probably not enough. Insight two, eight. Eight. He just stone faces you. The Lord's business is his own. Oh, okay. break you one day. I will send word.

Not physically. I will send word. If he does wish to meet you in, then we will send you up, but you should wait here in the interim. Okay. And you are left waiting a little bit of time. But I think that eventually a young cobald

kind of comes scurrying down, sort of pulls on, consider it all Grim's robes. He sort of leans down, and the cobald sort of whispers in his ear. And he just nodsies like, well, it seems that Lord of Sidious is taking, at least some visitors today.

He said that a brief discussion. He does not wish to have this linger for too long. That's totally fun. You are more than welcome that you are to be welcomed and taken to his quarters. Fantastic. Is everyone ready? Ready.

Always ready, Zanthius. Great. I'm going to assume that Vricks has remained at Tyreus Rest and it's just the five of you here. Percy can come with you if you want. So Percy's backwards. Ophelia, you sound like one of those presenters from the arena then.

Ready. Ready. It was very good. Oh, thank you. You'd do that. Being out in the earth, as our step has given me a bit of a cold. Oh, right.

It sounds great. Oh, thank you. I mean, the House of Rotwood surely approve. They would love it. They would love it. You are led through the grand halls of Dominus Ignat. Once again, passing through these wings that you have traveled through multiple times now,

these grand archways full of paintings and statues and suits of armour, you know, all showcasing the history of Ashen Rest and parts of the history of culture. You are taken up into the West Wing, I believe, and led to a spiral staircase that leads up into sort of domed apartment that is Lord Obsidious is. The door is shut, and you are sort of left outside waiting briefly while a cobald goes into a tiny cobald-sized door, sort of makes their way in, and then after a few seconds, the doors magically open,

and you are allowed inside. You see hunched over... What do you mean? His dragon form? No, Obsidious doesn't rarely take his dragon form. You see sort of hunched over his desk. He looks flawless, you know, in the way that this is a dragon,

he takes a humanoid form. Things like clothing. he sort of conjures as part of his magic. Like he's never, he doesn't look dirty. You know, he doesn't ever look disheveled. But there is something of his demeanour that does strike you as a little off. He's sort of rubbing a clawed finger

sort of into his temple and he's flicking through great tomes and spellbooks. And with his other hand, is occasionally stirring a very large, ornate tankard of some sort of drink with a stirring spoon. And just, we'll look over it. Yes. Come in.

Obsidious, it's Zanthius and friends. I gather. I understand you are very, very busy right now, but we've brought you some cakes. Do you like some cakes? You can leave them over there. I'm not hungry right now. Thank you.

That is kind of you. Okay. Is there another purpose to you coming here? Well, checking in, really, just seeing how are you getting on? You seem distracted. I am, yes, distracted. Anything we could help with at all, or anything I can help with? No.

Oh, right. No, you do enough. Yes, really. Is there, was it something specific? Is this to do with your sibling or something else? Yes, well, they might be nearby, very nearby, as in potentially a day away nearby. Is this, I know that you attempted some kind of tracking on them recently.

Yes. Do you think that... There was the tracking spell, the scrying that you used your blood. Yes. I... It worked in the way that I described you before. It was muffled, multiple sources, not just here in Caldra, but spread all over, blinking in and out, disrupted.

And then a few days ago, perhaps a day or two ago, it just stopped working. Either this sibling of yours has found a way to block divination magic, or is in an area that disrupts it. I... An area that disrupted. Could the ash hills disrupt it? Yes, the ash hills do disrupt divination magic and teleportation.

That would make sense. Could be that's where they're traveling through? Yes. Do you want to talk about it, what you're working on? Maybe we can't help, but... It is my own research. I'm studying various things. It's not your concern. Okay.

All right, well, we're always here to help each other, Obsidious. Lord Obsidious, beg your pardon. Do you have a bit of a headache? I do, yes. It looks nasty. You're a bit of... It is very unpleasant, yes.

I am tired. and I've not been sleeping well. Forgive me if I'm a little out of sorts. But, yes, this sibling matters, Santhias. If you can figure out where they are and inform me, I will, of course, assist you, as we have discussed. I know that the sisters, the ecliptic order, are keen to interrogate this individual, as am I.

I wish to learn what your father's plans are, and perhaps they know more. But it will. be... What was I saying? Um, you will help us with the siblings. But just so you know, you've helped us hundreds of times. I think whatever you're working on, if there's some way that we can assist, maybe you just need an extra body to go out looking for something for you, we can help.

What do you mean looking for something for? Well, if you're just... What are you implying? I just, if you're too busy to, you know, if you need us to just deliver some food for you, if you're not eating, if you're too distracted... What do you don't... I'm just, I want to help you. Blathering.

I'm not blathering, I'm, uh, grating. Yeah, yeah, no, that tracks. Um, well, lovely to see you, Obsidius. Glad to see you're doing well. Um, Lord Obsidius, have you been feeling unwell for a little bit of time since we've been gone or?

Uh, yes, a few days. I don't know. It's hard to keep track of time. Yes, I've been on, I've not, been feeling myself recently. I'm just not sleeping and I'm tired. It is nothing to concern yourself with Daisy. It is nothing for you to concern yourself with. It is fine. I am just, perhaps it is a small malady or something. It will be fine in time. Oh, well, I know a bit about medicine. Do you want me to seem like an answer? I have plenty of physicians. Gruff of if I need them, it is a headache and I am not

sleeping. That's all. It's fine. Because of your research. My research, my research, What you're studying right now? What's preoccupying? This is just, this is just, give me an insight role. This is nothing, just, just, just magic study. It's nothing important. I think it's very good. 12.

Ah, I mean, there's plenty of fate here. You get the sense that like, yeah, he's definitely irritable, he is very dismissive, like, he does not want to have this conversation. Like, the fact that he's kind of said it's okay for you to come in and talk kind of shows, you know, that he does value and, like, it thinks that you're important enough. But he definitely is like, just go away. Like, he does not want to have this conversation with you right now. Is it?

And, yeah, he just closes the book and it's like, it's nothing important. It's just, I like to study magic row, and that's all. It's nothing particularly, no word. I just see a bug going around. Ophelia's got something to. A bit of a cold, yeah. If we get it, we might die. Yeah.

For dragon. Not contagious, is it? I don't know. It could be. Perhaps you should leave. It's a very fucking reckless of you. Not even wearing a mask. Rowan will get the hint and kind of nod to everyone else saying,

I think we should leave Obsidian. Yes. Well, we're here for a short while, so if you need us for anything, let us know. Cake, as I said, is on the counter there. I'm going to take a cake over and put it on the desk. I know you said you're not hungry now,

but maybe later, maybe a little bit of sugar will just help a little bit. Can I look at what the book is that he just closed? Sure. Give me a perception check for Daisy. Gruff. Gruff, what's your passive insight? Passive insight.

Yeah. Insight or perception. Passive insight is 14. 14. 23, I have a plus 9. 23. I mean, even with a 14, I think, Gruff, you don't know exactly it, but like,

you can see he's restraining himself from getting angry at Daisy, like getting, bringing his cake, like, he's like, Daisy, it is fine, just leave it there. That's fine, thank you. I will have it if I'm hungry. But he's like very much like biting his temper back. And you can see that that took actually,

like, he had to really focus himself to like not get angry at her. when you look at the book I mean obviously he's closed it but it seems to be treaties some sort of academic journal like what you glance from like the cover

and a few pages that you saw before he closed it with 23 I would say you get the impression that it's like something to do with like disruptions in magical flow decreases in magical power, causes,

maladies, like draconic maladies. He's definitely looking up like something's wrong and he's researching what it might have been. Seems to be something like that. Is it okay if I run like a medicine check because I'm asking about headaches and stuff like that? Sure, yeah. Absolutely can, yeah.

How subtly are you trying to be? After I see that, by the way, I fully retreat. Yeah, yeah. I figured that you just wanted to get the glance at the book. Just a glance. I feel like I would have done it when Daisy was approaching, maybe, like when he was kind of, you know, slam the book shut.

So like, are we talking subtle? Maybe. It's a little, well. Okay, that's fine. It's just going to affect some things on my end. So make a medicine check for me. Can I take a fake? You absolutely can't spend a fate.

Absolutely. Oh, good. That's an actual one plus three plus eight, eight, nine, four, 12. Twelve. Twelve. It is so difficult with him being a dragon. You have no idea. This could be like some draconic cold.

It could be that he's under a lot of stress and it's causing insomnia and that's leading to like these headaches. It could be so many things. Very difficult to tell necessarily. And also what you guys as players know, but what Gruff knows, you obviously don't know about his connection.

in the fact that he's had this interaction with Crown Steel. So for Graf, I don't think you really pick up on him, I think. Graph was chat pathetic. But you see, like, his eyes, like, looking at you, and, like, you're kind of, like, looking him over and sort of thinking, and he just sort of, I am fine.

Please, just go. I just need some quiet. I'm gonna put the group chat up and tell them what the book was that he was looking at. In the group chat. Just, you have that information in your heads. Yeah, that checks out. He is ill after all.

He doesn't seem right. Oh, probably. Are you leaving at this point, or are you lingering? Well, deciduous, loud clap. I'm going to, we've got to head off now, so make sure you get some rest, and we'll speak to you soon, okay? Yes, please only come by if it is urgent.

Do not bother me with things that are not of important. Doke-a-doke. All righty. Please try and get some rest, my lord, please. I will. Thank you, Ophelia. Thank you. Good day.

Slam door shut. I don't do that. I don't do that. Good tonight. Well, that's a shame. Maybe you would just talk in the group chat in the head. I did see a suggestion, by the way, Daisy Chain. Oh, I like that.

That, the daisy chain. That's a good one. I like that a lot. We're speaking in the daisy chain. Hey, what's up? Why are we in here? Because I just don't want him to overhear things. Is this in the head?

Yeah, he doesn't know what is, he doesn't know what's wrong with him. Oh, I rarely know what's wrong with him most of the time. No, I know, but he's a dragon and he's very smart. Why does he not know? Well, he's not a doctor. No, but. Or a surgeon.

It just seems odd. A physician. Seems odd. Or a another one? Did you, you showed what you saw? Yeah, I can, you can inject the memory, basically. Well, it's likely that, you know, Crown Steel is completely outlawed,

that there's just not that much information about what happens to Dragons, it's just been. We don't know that he's... We don't know that he's touched Crownsteel. We don't know that Zanthia... I don't think even Zanthius does. No, I don't. We literally know that he's ill.

Although Xanthius would know that he was briefly in contact with you when he had a... Yeah, but this is... Zanthius has got a low whiz. He probably won't put two and two together, right? Like, it was like long time ago. And I was very distracted.

Yes. Just to give you that option, if you did want to be like, would Zanthias know, like, I think that there is an argument, but if you just want to be like, no, he has no idea. I also, in Zanthius's head, he retreated away and pushed him away effectively enough. Then it was like, there's no chance, yeah. And even then, he could just have a cold.

This could be the first ever. dragon that's gone ill. The first ever, it doesn't happen? People would like to make, like, history checks or medicine checks. Like, Gruff's the only one who's made, like, medicine check, or Arcana check. Like, again, that's what this is for. Check through the other. You have a lot of do fate as well.

Don't use the fate. No. Well, I already have a minus one, so. Hey, fates, the next year's. One to six. 22 for history. 22 for history. What do you want to spend it on, Daisy?

Medicine. Medicine check. A natural 20 plus. A D-6. So 21 on a history from Rowan. I just got 15 on history. 23. 23 and 15 on history.

15 on history. I just want to verify that claim of a dragon has never been ill before. I know, I know. I think that like they're getting ill from like a common illness, dragons don't get ill. Magical curses, you know,

magical maladies, yes. Generally they're inflicted by like battle. You know, especially during like the war, like the Oriat insurrection and things like that. But generally, no, dragons don't get sick. You know, they don't, as they get older, they actually get stronger for the most part until they're in their very final few centuries. A sick dragon is a very, very rare thing,

and it would only be caused by, in the histories, the only things that you can think of is when, you know, during the Oriat insurrection, a lot of the dragons who fought against Gald Vassar, they had symptoms after the battles where they were in states of, like, weakness. Like they felt themselves quite weak, or they encountered like brief spats of like being almost reduced in power or strength. And that was something that did happen.

the medicine that you get Daisy and I think that actually for once this doesn't come from NIM because this isn't something that NIM would be familiar with but Daisy having like spent a lot of time traveling around and like going from village to village and being quite amongst the people the way that he was acting

it reminds you of it reminds you of this old farmer that you used to know near your hometown and they had to give up alcohol. But their wife made them give up alcohol and hit it from them. And they got very irritable and they couldn't sleep and they got headaches. It gives you the sense of withdrawal symptoms as if he is suffering from not having access to something. Go and smush up close to him. See what happens.

Stick your crown still fingered him. Well, he would have to Xan-a-Zan. Matthews would have to lower his protection ruins to do that. No protection? Only with obsidious. Well, it just seems like something that withdrawal from something, but I don't know. It's been a rough couple of months for everyone, really.

After the battle for Ash and Rest and the Ash Hills and Crownfall, I can imagine he's just very, very strange. There's been crownfall. He's... Crownsteal has been around. Not close to him. supposed? Didn't he help clean up the mound that was also collated by that cult?

If you, just as a reminder, he went to find it and it was missing when he got there. No, I think, no, I don't think it's ever been really close to it. Well, maybe it's the first sickness then. I mean, has he even sought out the physicians in the Dominole's? in the Dominos in the Darum? They probably wouldn't be any, because dragons don't need them. True.

He just said, he told me that they had physicians. Oh, there's, like, for the, like, the mortal staff, like the cobalds and the considerates and things like that, there's definitely going to be a doctor on site, but the dragons don't have, like, one specifically for the family, like specifically for the host, right? Again, it's just not something that is normally they have to deal with. Um...

He's far no, as well, his son is very sick. But if it is withdrawal, what could it be from? Uh, Xanthius. A broken heart. Probably, I've been far away for a bit. Withdrawal from, uh, I don't know. Oh, maybe it's not an illness. I think he's just stressed.

It could be stressed because there were like arguments and things that we heard before we entered the room last time. He was not in the best of moods last time we spoke just before. Well, no, during Crownfall, in fact. Something else might. have happened. Yeah. While we're at the azar step.

Let's not, this is dragon stuff. This is dragon stuff, and he's very adamant that we stay away for now. So we'll come back later when he's feeling much, much better. Dragons always get better anyway. Exactly. How bad gonna be? Yeah. I mean, if he's out of action, he's been helping with a lot of things.

He'll be back on his feet in no time. Hmm. I'd be interested to know if his first Father knows. This is so above the table of like, we know something is wrong. We don't know anything is wrong with him. But I do think, like,

Daisy's made a check to be like, saw that he was looking up, like, magical maladies, like things that, and then is suspecting that he's under some sort of withdrawal. Without the gaming. Like, saying the only time that dragons had illnesses was after the Oriette insurrection. Yeah, I think Crownfall is just as bad as the Oriole.

direction for some people. I'm like, there's a big, there's a big question mark there without, like, you know. I think it is very apt that, like, Daisy and Gruff are like, we're not ready to give up on that. Whereas, like, Zanthia's from Rowan are like, he said that he was, like, yeah, I guess. Like, you know, just being, like, totally blase about it, right? I think both of those things can be true. Yeah, it's also, like, that he's actively helping us with a bunch of stuff,

and if he's not focused and stuff, there's, like, a worry of, oh, like, what if Zanthius is. sibling is just like knocking on the gates to Ashen Rest and we don't know because Obsidious is not paying attention to it. Well, I will say Xenthius, you did make a very good point where when he said that the Ash Hills do disrupt divination magic, Rust End is between, you know, Rust End and Ashton's Rest the Ash Hills are in the middle of it, right?

And it was, what was it, a few days ago it went dark. Yeah. And it was like... Like two-ish? It was like three days travel to the Ash Hills. Yeah. So it does narrow it down even further of like, it could be now.

Let's go to the front gates real quick. Just have a little look. Just have a quick peek. Oh, actually, Gruff, could you send Sarah now? Are you could? Yeah, maybe to the main gates, just to have a little look. Apparently, I mean, you heard,

very big, armored gold dragon-born sort of character. A lot of armor. I imagine you'd be quite distinctive. Yeah, quite distinctive. Quite distinctive. Probably no spoor from far away. Golden, glittering. Maybe.

Right. Possibly. I was there when I listened to the description from the system. Yeah, I know, I know. I was just... Anyway, how do I do this? Seren, away. Have you rested, Santhius? Flyer wings, Seren?

No. Have we all rested? No. Not yet. Not yet. I feel like we should sleep on this. It's been a long journey. Would Melody and Benedicta,

shine some light on this somehow. I don't know, they seem very well versed in magics and things. Well, it feels like she saw him and she said he wasn't himself. I don't, I think that they would have if she would, she knew. So she said that

she had been speaking with Lord Obsidious? And then he basically was like, I don't want to see anybody anymore. So she hasn't seen him since he started feeling unwell, basically. So as we tell them that he's unwell, maybe they have, I don't know, access to information. about these maladies or whatever

was in his book, maybe they know what's been convicted by. I might just bring it up with Considerate Orgrim on the way out. He's as, you know. I don't think he'll know anything. I think he's just here to manage. It's good to see. Like if, you know, he's part of the household.

Do you know that the son is sick? Yeah, I mean, like, you can definitely grab Consider Orgrim before you head out. I'm assuming that you guys are having this conversation in your as your bed. So you're kind of at the front gates at this point. Like you're getting to the point where consider Orgrim is sort of there waiting, sort of nods his head. I trust that your business is concluded with the young master, with the young lord. Not really. It's a bit under the weather.

Seems a bit more agitated than usual, but it's a dragon's don't get sick. That's knight-errant. Well, he said he's got a headache and he hasn't been sleeping. The young master is very studious and he's under a lot of. of pressure, wants to do his best for the family and make sure that he's got a good reputation. We're not seeing him as out of it as he was, though. Normally he's quite sharp. He couldn't finish his sentences. He wasn't all there. I think Orgrim sort of does sort of hear that. Are you sure? That does not sound like the young law. Well, that's what I mean. We've You know, had the pleasure of his company several times now,

and he just seemed very different. Couldn't finish his sentences. Drifting off, wasn't sure what we were talking about. And you do see, like, concern on the considerate's face. You know, he's a grumpy, stubborn, quite miserable old dwarf, but he wouldn't be in his position if he didn't care about the dragon family that he serves. He's called considerate in his name.

He's considered. That's why it's there. It sort of leans in. It really wouldn't be my place to speak with the Duke about this. The young masters, if there is something wrong, it's really his business. It would be very improper of me to say anything. But I can try and keep an eye on him.

If you really think I can ask the cobalds to keep an eye on him, you know, they're still bringing food and drink and that sort. Well, he said he wasn't hungry. He hasn't been eating much, but that is not uncong. common for the young master. He does tend to forget to eat. He gets very focused on studies and research. We often are forced to remind him to eat and things like that. I'm not really sure what do you expect me to do, Knight-Herentie. Oh no, just, you know, like you say, maybe you can ask

the cobales to keep an eye on it. Certainly. If what you're saying is true, I honestly just was willing to put it down to him being a bit not sleeping because he's been saying, you know, he doesn't always look after himself very well. He gets distracted quite easily, a trait he's had since a young boy, since a young dragon, since a young worm. But he's a very smart man, so if it is a smart dragon,

if he's failing with cognizance, then that concerns me. I will, we will keep an eye on him. Thank you. No, that's what just threw me a little bit. He just... That does trouble me. Doesn't seem like him.

No. But you understand, it would be very improper of me to say anything to the Duke. I'm not asking you, though. Especially the way that things are between the two of them. It's very tense. Oh, I'm absolutely not asking, like, no. Well, that's yes. If I hear anything, I will try and send word to you.

Thank you. Very considerate. I understand that this will remain between the seven of us, though this will not be discussed further. Absolutely. Good. It is not good to have scandal. get out of the domino's.

So we don't want people thinking that there is anything wrong with Young Master Obsidious. You understand? Absolutely, I think we do. Knight-errant, I would have your word that this will not go further than us. On my oath is a knight-errant.

The dwarfs, this old dwarf sort of nods and that totally appeases him. He's just like, yep, I trust Gruff. I know Gruff is to be a very honorable man. Well, did he realize my paws were crossed behind my man? That's not very knightly, is it? But yeah, like the considerate seems to be taken in by that and happily, you know, you guys make your way back

to Tyreus rest, I guess. It's still early people. That's good, is it? That was, you would have someone already suggested that, didn't he? Where did they? Valiant, I see. Valiant, oh, no, but they might have won victorious once they get their owner back.

Well, it depends. Are their titles, what's the name of their, the shell breaker? Shellbreaker? Sikar, the shell breaker. Sikar the shellbreaker. Maybe we need them to have a name that will strike fear

into Sakaar's heart. And to call them victorious, that's not someone you want to challenge, right? But their names also do seem very, very literal. They need to be very descriptive of the current state. Bricks the stabby. Oh, I was thinking, yes.

Yeah, lots of stabbing. There must be a word for that, a good word for that. Hopefully it's... The impaler. The impaler. With the horn as well. Exactly.

I think that's pretty bad. That's pretty good. Yeah. Not untrue in any way. It's true. It's just... I've seen them in the... Rocks?

She impelled those rocks. She impelled the rocks and then... She kind of broke the rocks. I wouldn't say she impaled the rock. Bricks the rock breaker. Bricks the... Smashinator. Smashenetor.

Pateel maker. Sajon Bash. The Bernard nature. She's more Matilda. Oh, yeah, absolutely. She's got the bed. That's true. Yeah, she is Matalpa.

Yeah. Anyway, we can work on it. That's where my mind's been. I'm going to bed. Okay, do. Just seeing how tired Lord Obsidious Woods, I feel. I'm feeling that. You think you might have...

There is an immediate sense of... You feel a bit funny when we started at the Azar step. Right. That would be it. There is immediate... Well, after I got taken over by Edict. Sense of comfort when you return to Tyria's rest. Like, to be in a place that is familiar,

to be in a place that is home. or at least the home away from home, that the scent of your own bed, the pleasant warmth coming off the fire, the sounds of Mateo talking to the customers, the clinking of glasses, there is something immensely comforting and familiar to be back here. As exciting as new places and travel are,

there is something about being here in, you know, and again, in that perfect time, Tyrea's rest is actually quite busy. There's always a table. There's always a way to clear a table for you and your companions if you want to sit and have a drink. But it's actually quite a busy tavern, especially at this time of day.

It seems that Malady has basically commandeered a table close to the fire for herself, and that's become, like, her spot. And you see quite a few locals giving her a wide berth when they come in. She gives them a very sickly sort of knowing look and smile and sort of tips, you know, tips her, you know, does a little salute with her fingers and tips her robed cat.

Melody? Malady. And, you know, coming and going is Benedicta, but doesn't tend to stick around too much. But you see, Springheart has, over the last eight days become quite adept at, like, pouring pints. Like, Mateo's kind of, like, got her helping behind the bar. Oh, good.

I can't labor now. There's got some laws in place. You lever with Mateo, he's going to be like, right, you're going to help me because I've got nobody else. Technically, how old is? Oh, she's probably thousands of years old. Yeah. Yeah, oh yeah.

Like, since the beginning of time. You know, like, ageless almost. But, yeah, there is... Did she send Serranow? Oh, yeah, as you would have been walking and talking back, I would have sent Serren. Sure. Oh!

Seron flies over the two... There are two main gates in and out of Ashton's rest, the north and south gate. and you do a sort of loop of the two. People come and go. You know, this isn't like a massive cue to get into the city, not so late in the day, but people come and go as they please.

Seren flies past. You see travelers, farmers, merchants, but you see no hulking gold dragonborn warriors coming to or leaving. Nothing, really. No one that looks a little bit like this? No, well... No one could look like you, Xantheus.

Thank you. Is that a compliment? Yes. Okay, thank you. No hulking great golden dragon boon carrying a lot of weaponry. Right, okay. That's good. That's good. I mean, hopefully we can... We've only been able to check the immediate perimeter, not further than that. Okay. I mean, maybe I'll stay up tonight then, just to be safe, you know? I think you should sleep, Cynthia.

No. I mean, you've seen what a lack... Incussion. You've seen what a lack of sleep is done to Lord of Sadius, though. You need to get some sleep. Yeah, but what if they... It's better that you sleep now than they might be here in two days. We don't know.

That's true, but what if they're here tonight, in the middle of the night when we're all asleep? They absolutely know where I am because I got a letter delivered here, right? So there's nothing holding them back from just showing up right here in Tyria's rest. Well, why don't you go and sleep somewhere else? Get a room for the night somewhere.

Yes, Rowan? Yes, me, Ron. Hi, Rowan. I've got a question. Yes, Rowan. How about, or a suggestion more like, how about we go to the front gate and we ask the guards

to do us a favor that if they were to see someone come in that looks like this, to inform us immediately. Yes, but maybe they'll find a way to, they've got some checks on the gates as well, right? So maybe they can find a way to hold them back for a while. As heroes of Ashton's rest,

we find that they could be a danger, to action rest. Yes, exactly, yes, okay, good idea. I'll head there now. A covenant weapons, right? Covering in weapons. There you go. But Sidious did say that he didn't really want anyone

knowing about their arrival. True. Could be bad. He kind of wanted to deal with it far away from anything. Because you know. It's a VIP visitor that we want to speak to the moment they arrive and to let us know when they've arrived. Easy.

But then that's going to bring them to Tyree's arrest. No, no, no, no. We just say, hold them at the gate for a while. be there in no time. They'll escort them in. Escort them in. Except we then escort them out. Yes.

Far away. Dead. Well, yes. Well, unless they're, you know, nice. Happens nice, maybe, maybe. Hopefully, I mean, like I said, it could be a brother or sister of mine. Yeah, well, maybe not, but still, it's still like blood, right? The alternative is, I don't want you staying up all night on your own.

Maybe we could do shifts. Okay. I'll be honest, I don't think I'll be able to sleep anyway, but I'll try. I'll speak to the guards, at the very least, and then I'll come back, sleep, wake up, meet sibling. Right, someone accompany him, please. I'll go with you, Xanthias. Okay, doke. I'm going to go to the barracks and talk to them as well.

Ask them about getting Vricks a job as well. Absolutely. In fact, take Fricks with you now. Okay. Bricks. Are you looking for the giant beetle person? Yes. They left.

Where are they? They said they wanted to go out and find work and things like that. They just headed off. That's crazy. They have their own lives and don't revolve around our actions. I mean, you were gone for quite a little while to go and speak with a friend. You know. They don't just hang around.

Okay. Well, they were quite keen to get out. They seemed quite raring to go. Okay, well, best of luck to them. All right. So, Rowan and Zanthia is going to head to the gate to try and speak to to the guards there. Gruff, you want to go to the forge, the barracks,

and speak to the people there, okay. Daisy, Afia, anything you guys want to do? Not particularly. I was going to go to bed. You can go to bed? I might go with Gruff so that Gruff has some company. Sure. Yeah, I think Ophelia will just stay at Tyria's rest,

wait for them all to come back. And just, yeah, have a little catch up with Percy, you redo your hair, have a bath. Your lovely time. Chill out, yeah. Lovely time. Some wine, don't finish it, I'd like someone I get back. Oh, try not.

Well, you put this whole bottle in front of me then? Just this entire bottle, don't drain the entire thing. You know I will. I'm gonna leave the entire one here though. I'll pour it all out for you into one big glass. Just don't drink it all. These some for me, okay? That's gonna be empty when you get back, Xanthius.

Just don't do that. That's all I'm asking. I don't have the impulse control. Yes, you do. I believe in you. I don't. Please don't drink it all. I'd like some.

Oh, okay. I will pour out a glass for you, and I'll give it to Mateo. Mateo, this is for Xanthus. This is for Xanthus is one. Xanthius does drink. And Mateo, if you just leave that on the table right in front of Ophelia.

No, just put it on the bar. Just for when I get back, I'll know exactly where it is. I'm going to put it behind the bar. Okay. And then I will give it to... And Matteo, don't drink it. I'm not going to drink. I don't drink while I'm duty.

I'm working. Well, it's late. Duty's over. Working. Once everything shuts up, I'll pour myself. a little mine, but yeah, until then. Don't drink it's mine, all right? Have fun. Thank you. So, Roman and Xanthius, you make your way to,

let's say the South Gate's the closest one to Tyree's rest, the North Gate's a little bit further. You make a way down there, and you notice there's probably about sort of like six guards on shift, two of them actually on the gate, and then four are sort of in the gatehouse, kind of keeping watch on sort of like the battlements and kind of keeping in eye and everything going on below.

And you're quite lucky as you approach, you recognize one of the guards as it's Bliss, the two thing, and we'll just sort of be like, oh, hey, Rowan, hi Xenthius, like kind of like waves down. Like, how's it going? Like, I'll come down, like, and makes her way down from the battlements, basically, down towards you guys. Hey, what's going on?

How long have you been gardening the gates? I mean, I've been working through a bunch of different stuff. I was working for, I was working for Zarantecis for a bit. I was, you know, I've, I've called it. Wasn't Bliss injured? Yeah, she was, yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

But, like, it's been a long time. Do you feel well now? I'm fine, yeah, yeah, it's all good, yeah. It was in the battle, the crownfall battle, I took a little injury. You know, the medics saw me, got me patched up, I got some scars, but it's all good. Great. Yeah, it's all fine. So what's going on?

Is there a problem? Oh, no problem, no. We're expecting a visitor. Right. Who's going to be arriving at Ash and Rest. Okay. At some point within the next couple of days. Okay.

Now we don't know their name, just that they are a... You don't know their name, but they're a guest. Yes. For us. The Heroes of Ashen Rest. Sure. They are a big dragonborn. I know that much.

A gold, dragonborn, lots of armor, possibly some weaponry. I like a dragonborn, more like you or like a full draconian dragonborn? Yes. You don't know that. Hmm? Hmm? They look weirdly like Xanthius. So human, dragon.

Yes. Likely. But like bigger and with lots of weapons. Yes. Big gold. Like they could be related, but not. Hulk King have been described as. Right, okay.

And they could be arriving at the gates any time. Now we would like for when they arrive, for you to just let us know immediately. Hold them here for a bit because we intend to go on a trip with them. But you don't want them escorted to the inn? No, no, it's fine. We'll meet them at the gates. and then we'll head out of the city with them.

Don't need to bother them with Ashen Rest as a whole. Just keep them there for a bit. We'll meet them at the gates, and that's all we're asking of you. Okay, so hold them here, send a runner to the inn. To the inn. Let you guys know that your guest is here. Day or night.

Day or night. Okay, and a humanoid dragon-born, big weapons, armor, looks a bit like Xanthias. VIP. All right, okay. Which stands for... Virile. Virile, impotent.

I think VIP would still stand for the same thing in a D&D world. It doesn't have to be different. I didn't know it was the same in Ash and Rest, you know. Different places. Different places. But yeah, I mean, like Bliss is somebody who trusts you guys. It's not an outrageous request. So it's just quite happy to do that.

I'll pass the word on to the next shift. Thank you. Now Bliss. Next time you are off duty, you must come to Tyrea's rest. I try to. I try to. It's just like when I was healing from the army and things. things like that. I think like the last couple times I've been there, you guys have been off, you know,

doing the thing. I know, yes. But the place is still a great place to go. Oh, I love it. Mateo's great. You know, a lot of the new squad go there. You know, a lot of people do go and drink there. It's been great. Yeah, no. I mean, listen, if you guys are going to be sticking around for a while, I'll definitely try and come by on my next day off. Yes, because I've been working on the studio taught me. Oh. And I would like to show you how good I've gotten at it. I'd love to. I'd love that, Rowan, that'd be amazing. Yeah, sure, I'll come by. Next time I've got a day off. Yeah, same. Perfect. Great. We'll let you know.

All right, perfect. Yeah, well, I'll pass that word on to the next shift. Thank you. I'll put, I'll sweet talk with the captain. I'll speak to all the captain, make sure that it's, oh, you know, I'll let them know it's for the heroes, so it'll be all right. Yeah, for us. Yeah, no problem. Do you want that message passed up to the North Gate? Oh, yes, yes.

Yeah, I can sort that out. Yeah, we can sort of out. They don't know their way around the city. They could arrive at the other gate, yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So. Do you know where they're coming from? Are they coming from Kelskaris? Are they coming from Paris? That way. Sorry?

Hmm? From around Gildai area. Oh, so they'll probably come through the Southgate then. They'll be coming in through the Southgate. That's what I was thinking. Okay. So, likely this one. Could be here within a day, maybe two days.

All right, great. Perfect. Okay, great, no problem, guys. How much do they look like you, Anthony's all? That's a good question. Anyway, bye, Liz. See ya. Bye, guys.

just sort of waves cheerfully as you guys head off. Imagine if they're identical to use that. They could be identical. I don't know. I don't know. That's all been written down, noted. Yep. Very specific set of, very specific set of things. Thank you, Liz.

I think we did. Fantastic. Meanwhile. I had no idea. Idiots. And I was almost gonna say. You guys make your way. I said before they left to do it as well.

I'm kind of. I didn't want everyone to. Well, it's also I love the fact that like you guys don't know if he's a draconic dragonborn. or a humanoid dragonborn and just had to guess. Yeah. Yeah, you don't know.

See, Mr. Burns, what's your first name? I don't know. But we jump from you guys as you begin making a way back to the inn to Gruff and Daisy who are making your way to the forge. I'm kind of reconsidering as to whether or not this was a good idea or not.

The fortified barracks known as the forge right in the sort of center of Ash and Rest. I just came along for the funsies. It's so great. So real, so real it doesn't, isn't. So Greal's based in the barracks, yeah.

Us. Yeah, I want him. Yeah. Yeah, well, you do arrive to, not a bad scene, but as you arrive, you see a familiar hulking beetle shape right outside the forge, ripping down bounty notices, like has four of them in her four hands.

And one of the guards is like, no, no, no, you can't take all of them. Like, we need some here. And Vricks is basically like, query, why can I not take, I need them. Produce more, human guard. And you just see Vrix is like, then make copies for me. I cannot do this. I have no parchment.

And the guard is like, but I can, what? And it's like kind of confused. No, Frix, I can maybe help you. Ah, friend Daisy, please explain. I can write them down for you and then you can leave those ones here. But I'll write down what you need to know. You are most competent, friend Daisy, thank you. Unlike human god.

I'll write down the details of the bounties that Fricks wanted. Ricks has taken every single bounty. It's the bounty on Noles, the bounty on Ilcarus Sunsword. There is some sort of like unknown monster roaming the hills and the woods to the north near where the vault that you guys came in. There's like, and then I think there's another one which is just for like a car. couple of like cutthroat bandits who are like roaming around the heartlands basically. But Rick's wants all of them.

Huh? Maybe they can get the skins in the pelts. That is no longer up there unfortunately. Do they go like... It is. They have my favorite one though with the piss and the like... What? What?

Give me that. Does it not say? Need someone to piss on me. No, there was one of... There was just insult after insult after insult. Oh yes. I do know which one you are referring to, yes. I'm not just going mad. No, you're not going mad.

There is one which. Which was a huge amount of insults. Yeah, there was one that was pretty rude. Let me see if I can find it. Stats, stats. I love having a very organized wiki that I can easily look things up on. I swear there was something about piss.

There was something about. Either way, they've got more. Yes, yeah, there is one which is, need professional and honest individuals who will actually do the job, unlike the Piss drinker useless Opelow and his shit-striennel. brothers and cousins.

Recovery of goods and supplies from a historical dig site south of hearth, not even a hard fucking job, Opelow, you snot-scaled little weasel. Payment of 350 gold or a selection of magical scrolls on behalf of the Imperial Academia, payment after delivery,

and absolutely no upfront payment. Lent my fucking lesson there, didn't I? Apollo. Bring goods and supplies to Professor Lily Juniper Meadow song in Redgate. That is no longer there. No.

Why did we not take this? What the fuck were we doing that we couldn't take that quest? It was an option. It was an option. But yeah, Ricks has basically gathered up every single bounty and is just like hands on to Daisy to like write down the details for. My fucking lesson. No upfront payment.

Fuck you. I just love it out of all of that. I just went, piss the piss one. The pissinger. Shit stayed. That was a good one. Oh, it's a good bounty. Such a good point.

Yeah, well, Bricks is one covered. Yeah, Bricks will like hands them over to you like, please copy these, Friend Daisy. I believe I will pursue these, not the knolls first. They seem their weakest and easiest prey. Fair enough. You might... Could you maybe leave Ilkar San Sor to last?

Rix like puffs up like really big. I would like to accompany you on this. Elkhara did me a great wrong. I will claim all of the bounty reward though. This is, I will claim all the payment, but you may accompany Rix. That is justified. Good. Then I accept.

Rix accepts. Okay. We've established that. I'll write, I'll write, leave till last gruff going with you next to that one. Next to that one. Just so you know. Perfect. Yeah.

And, yeah, like, hands the four posters back to the guard who starts, like, hammering them back in. Like, we've got to make more copies if people... We don't expect somebody to take all of them at once. And so, like, they sort of having a discussion. And then one of the other guards would just turn and be like, oh, Knight-Erant, what can we help you with? Sorry, we got a bit distracted by this newcomer.

Oh, Fricks is very dependable. Oh, you know the Dynastien. Oh, right, okay. I found the actual boundary. Is it there? Yes. This drink of one. Anyway.

Is Sir Gryolden? I can check. He might be in. He might be out drinking, but I can see if he's about. If you could. Yeah, absolutely. No problem.

It'll scut her off. Gives you like a few minutes. Daisy finished writing out for Vricks, and Vricks is like, excellent. Now I must find supplies. I must find, I need money to buy equipment. Perhaps this will be enough

and looks at what they've currently got. I was going to ask, do you have any money on you at all? No. Right, okay. Negative. Here they go, then. Consider this, um, a gift. You have already paid too much for Ricks.

You paid for my rest in the inn. You have paid for my food. You bought me supplies to travel to the wet stone. I cannot accept, friend Graff. Consider this alone. Alone. Explain. I lend you the money now.

You pay me back after. Hmm. I take the gold now and I repay you the same gold later. Or if you want, this is a down payment for me for your services accompanying us to Kel Scaris as a bodyguard. Down payment, yes, this accepts. This is acceptable. Vrix is pleased with this.

Right, and so I'll count out one. Oh gosh, can I just, can I step in and do? How much do you want to give, Graf? I was thinking to, you just drop to my count. 200. Okay, I'll count out 200. Sure, yeah, you count out 200, and Vrix gladly takes. That like, yes, down forward payment, yes, forward payment for bodyguard services.

Acceptable. Thank you, friend Gruff. This helps Vricks immensely, but I will still pursue the NOLS. Oh, absolutely. As you should. They're a nuisance. There's always the bounty on that board for NOLs. I will leave you to it.

Okay. Where is point Vricks in the direction of Goodsmith? Where's the map? In the other room. You can just like, So would you point them direction of Ilana, or would you point them somewhere else? Probably somewhere else,

because Alana's very expensive. You would know that in the north part of the city, near the Northgate, there's the Blacksmith's Guild and stuff. A place where Rowan got his helmet made. Yes, yeah, that's literally the same place. Oh, what you're going to say is underwear. Yeah, oh, yeah. No, he's in joke, well.

No, wait, that was a different shop. You can point Vrix in that direction, and Vrix is like, that is perfect, I will head there. Happy Unton. May, if I require a reference. May I rest at your home? Oh, absolutely. Goodbye.

Enjoy? Happy hunting. Just make the way off. After this little exchange, Sir Greal does come out. He's not wearing his armour. He's sort of just wearing a tunic and trousers, maybe has like a kind of furred jacket on that he's wearing. It's getting colder in the evenings now.

And he's got a pipe, and he kind of comes out and he's just like, And Sir Greal was Scottish, was he? Did he, or was he nor? He was Scottish. Jummish, how are you again? No, I don't need you to. You think you. Graff.

Ah, gruff, hello. It's been a while, friend. All right, have you been well? I've been keeping all right. I, yeah, not too bad. I mean, the battle, the crownfall battle, that was pretty serious business, and things got a little hairy

against all those creatures. I mean, they were just relentless. and, you know, whenever we killed one, it sort of just erupted into fire and pain, and, you know, a few of them managed to break through our lines and a couple of the younger warriors. I mean, they unfortunately didn't make it, but, I mean, considering what we were facing,

I think we did quite well. We had a similar situation as well, but I think we came out all right, and thank you for lending me your steed. I knew that they would be in good hands. So what can I do for you? Oh, can we just take a short stroll around? Certainly.

Certainly. We can go for a saw through the town. We've got a bit of a situation. There is someone coming to Ashen's rest, and I need you to keep this well, as secretive as you can. It's a sensitive matter. All right.

Now, obviously, Graf, you know that I can't go against my vows. You know, if this is a danger to the city or to the Duke, I'm obliged to inform me. my lord. Well, that's the thing. We are trying to head this off outside of the city, but we need one night of rest. So I was just wondering if you could just, if this person arrives at any of the gates, just make sure to keep them at bay while sending a runner for us. Kind of pauses and takes a real hard look at you. Now, Graf, I need you to be honest with me. As this person a danger to the people of Ashenrest's or to my lord.

Definitely not to your lord. I couldn't say we don't know the nature of them. They're here for Xanthius if that is any. Zanthias is also your citizens of Ashen Rest. I'm is obliged to protect you as I am to protect anyone. But we can we can protect ourselves as a group if we, just have a little bit of help so that we can get some risks. And we can take them out of the city, the town.

We plan to meet them outside of the town. This is purely a precaution. You have put me in a difficult place. I feel I have to let the Duke know if there is someone that poses a risk coming to this place, especially if they seek heroes that the Duke greatly holds in esteem and respect. The Duke himself would want to make sure that you're a

protected. If someone's coming to harm you, the Duke would want to know about it. Well, that's the thing. We don't know if it will come to arm. That does make things different. It is a deeply personal matter. I won't ask anything further, and I can't promise anything, but I will... I'll mount up obsidian, and I'll keep a close eye on the gates tonight so that you can rest, and should... I mean, can... what can you tell me? about this person? Do you have any

description or... We've been told they're a golden dragon born well-armoured. That's about... They're coming from Rust End direction. Likely the Southgate then. And are we... Is it a human dragon

born? A draconic dragon born? I'm afraid I cannot tell you further. That's fine. I can keep my eye out for both. But I imagine they'll stand out. Hmm. All right. Just delay them. Send for us. All right. If you give me your word that you will take this person away from the town and ensure that they don't pose a threat to any civilians,

I will not inform the Duke of it for now. I thank you for discretion. But there may come a time if there is anything that draws attention, I will have to tell the Duke and I have to tell him that you knew of this. I understand. You understand. And that is my... These are my vows to the...

Lord, to my lord. And that is my responsibility. And I know well that you understand what that means. But I will keep an eye on the gate tonight to get you some rest. Thank you. I would suggest that in the morning, in the morrow, you find this person and you deal with this matter quickly. We intend to deal with it outside of the walls. All right. I'll go get armoured up and get obsidian.

fed and watered and then I'll begin a patrol and I'll keep my eye out tonight. You have my endless gratitude and if there's anything else I can do in repayment. We will see but I'm sure that there will be something. All right. Thank you. And you definitely get the sense that like Greal does not love this because it is kind of like he feels like he's keeping something important from his lord but he respects you enough and he respects the fact that you're going to like

we just need this one night and then we'll deal with it. So he's like, okay. But he's definitely uncomfortable with it. But he still holds gruff in high regard. Like, you've not lost any respect or anything from him. And, yeah, he goes off and leaves you and Daisy to head back to Tyria's rest or whatever you want to do. I imagine that Rowan and Zanthia, she would get back first

because the forges a little bit of a bit more of a trek. Do you have any siblings? Do I have any siblings? Yeah. No. No. Not that I know of. Did you ever want one?

Are you going to be my sibling? Well, I could... I'm sure. Yes. We are like brothers, I suppose. But is that something you've always wanted? Family. Or, you know, a best friend since you were very, very young, that kind of thing. Well... I guess so.

My village was very close-knit, you see. Right. So we kind of knew everybody, and I never felt like I was missing for anything familial. Okay. That makes sense. I had a mum and father that were very dear and close to me. But your entire sentiment was your family.

No, no. Family, extended family. Yes. We all knew each other. Like family, I mean. Like family-like, but not really family. Okay. Do you want to be my brother?

Absolutely. Found family. Yes, that kind of thing. Perfect. That sounds great to me. It's just in Rust End, I didn't have that family. You know? It doesn't sound good what you had.

Considering your father. No, it was not what I would have picked for myself. I can't help but feel nervous that a... Maybe I... Sure, I don't know them. Maybe they just share a last... Maybe we share blood, I don't know. But I can't help but feel nervous that I'm going to meet some family for the first time, right?

I don't know. I'd be terrified. What do I do? What if they, what if they're like me? What if... Oh, then they have nothing to fear. But what if... You're a magnet for friends. I seem to be, and enemies too.

That too, but, you know, you're all colorful. Okay. And people are drawn to you. you. And if they have your blood or your personality, because that's family, what family has, similar traits, then I think you're in for a treat. But the same time, we don't know what we're facing. Well, I'm hoping, it sounds unkind to say, but I'm hoping this is someone that's had a similar experience to me. And maybe isn't so under my father's control as, we might expect of them.

That may well be the case. In which case you can help each other. Maybe. Maybe this will just be a simple, hug it out. Meeting family for the first time. Well, your found family will be right by your side. Okay. Good.

Great. You have every right to be nervous. And that's perfectly natural. Okay. I just don't want it to immediately come to violence, you know? Um, you can help me convince them. This is the right path, and following my father is the wrong one. That's easy enough to do, because I do it.

Very easy. Thanks for your help with the guards, by the way. The guards? Oh, we nailed it. You know, helping us back to Ash and Rest. Thank you. I don't say thank you enough to people. I've learned, especially after they bring me back from dead.

This is beautiful to see. Thank you, thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. It's a lovely bit of you too making your way back into the end with that sort of conversation

coming to an end. Ophelia, you have been sat in Tyria's rest, what, enjoying a wine in the bar. I am, you know, sort of relaxing. She's been part in the bar as well. Like, are you, like, sat at a table with like a bottle and a glass, kind of nursing it?

Yeah, sat by the window, like a, yeah, with a bottle. And is this actual, Is this your wine or is this your special wine? I think she'll start with Zandias's pick and then she'll go into the basement and get some of her space. Special stash. Okay. I think that maybe just before you get up

to get that second stash, a sort of tall figure sort of looms as shadows sort of falls over the table and Sister Benedicta actually stands there. Benedicta, too what do I owe the pleasure? Do you mind if I sit? Not at all, did it all take a seat. She sort of eyes the bottle of wine.

That's a very fine vintage, a caldron red. Yes, well, they are very delightful. Empty, I see. And she'll look over at Mateo and just two, like, and point to the bottle. And Mateo'll open a new bottle and pour two glasses, and he brings them over. And he sets them down. And Benedicta sits down. She rests her massive great sword sort of by the window.

I want to ask you some questions. Not as an inquisitor, not as a member of the Ecliptic order. Why are you here? Why am I here? Yes. In the empire, here in Ashen's Rest, why... Why here? I have work to do.

And that work is what, to come and spread your religion here? Why not stay where you were? Why come here? Well, how do we teach people? if we don't move, if we don't grow. But you're coming here and you say teaching. But you're bringing something so wrong. No, I don't... You're bringing something that the people here don't know.

The people here don't understand. And it's frightening and confusing. And you're... You're... putting their souls at risk. And I, you are welcome to follow your grave father in your homelands. I just don't understand why you feel the need to come here. Like surely there are enough of you in Osceus.

You don't need the people of the empire. We always need more people. And I don't force their hand to listen or be present or join if they wish. From what I have seen on my travels, there has been much, shall we say, disappointment from some people about saints and sions, other religions around the empire. Sometimes people just need a change. But that change, you say that you always need more people. For the war, for the planar war, to serve as soldiers, to serve as bodies? That is information that I do not stray from, the people know that.

I tell them that freely, they make up their own minds, whether they wish to join or not, as purely up to them. Is Ophelia being honest? Yes. I think she is. She is quite honest with it, isn't she? Can you make a persuasion role for me? No advantage or disadvantage.

This is just to see how much Aphelia believes you. Sure. Natural 20. Oh, shit. So I don't often do this. I'm going to spend a point on my fate to add a sort of complication to that because you, she believes you.

And I think that what that does is that has a far more profound effect than I think maybe even Ophelia was intending. Because it's when you say like, I don't lie to them, I give them a choice and they choose. And you see something really hit Benedicta. they choose.

You're telling me that they choose what a life of luxury, a life of all these promises, and they accept that they'll become just mindless, soulless soldiers for the Gravefather. And they're okay with that. Oh, yes. I mean, in the eyes of the Saints and Sions,

people may come back to Omerer as somebody completely different. Perhaps they want to have their own destiny, they want to control their fate rather than leave it in the hands of the saints and signs to a random roll of the dice. See, when you talk about taking charge of their own destiny and their fate,

she looks at Malady and she looks back at you. And there's this waiver of you get the sense without a need for an insight role within that 20. that concept of like having your own destiny, not being tied to something else. Like that is a profound thing. And you see her sort of just take a big glass, a big, big gulp of the wine.

I could not understand to you when you first came in. I just felt like you were trying, I thought you were trying to trick people. I thought you were lying to, them, tricking them. In the Ecliptic order, we're often taught that that's how the plain our powers work. And with many of them, it's true. The Healyan throne makes deals and promises, but those contracts, there's tricks and traps written into them. The Faye are, perhaps not malicious, but they're so unaware of what their dangers can bring to the people. They treat mortals like

toys like pets, they don't know that they have a very real soul that that matters. Even the Lucent Peaks, the Celestials, people like your friend Daisy, those spirits, some of them, they wait until that mortal is in desperate need and then I can save you, I can help you, but they're damning them. I mean, you know what will happen to your friend Daisy, right, if she were to fall in this world. Know what would happen? Her soul is bound to the Lucent Peaks now. That bonding of her Deva and her, it conjoins them.

The Deva will stay here. It will need to find a new host. But Daisy's soul, that goes to the Lucent Peaks. She'll become a warrior, a soldier or a medic or something in their war. Does Daisy know this? I don't know. I don't know. It's only recently that my sister told me what she really was.

I thought maybe that Daisy had been a messenger of Pirus. When I saw those glorious wings, I thought that she was sent by the silence. This is what I mean. Perhaps your grave father, well, no. Perhaps you are the first honest preacher of the powers that I've come across. The others trick, they lie, they deceive.

But I'm beginning to see that they're not the only ones. There are people in this empire who are just as... That aren't honest. And that's all I've ever wanted. People to be honest. Well, I've never met anybody more honest than you. Thank you. It is very hard.

I know what I take from my sister. I know what my birth has done to her. has done to her. Could I just take her hands? She like pulls them back. No, but like give me a persuasion roll. Like just give me a persuasion roll because it's like a flinch.

Like she doesn't want that. But if you wanted to be gentle, like she would potentially. Five, six. Six. I think she just pulls them back and it is just like... I'm sorry. No, it's all right. I just...

I can see you're getting upset. No, it's just... I'm not upset. I've lived with this my whole life. It sounds so wrong to complain, to feel bad for being beautiful and strong and healthy. But goodness me, I... By the saints in silence, I feel so rotten. I feel rotten inside for it.

It's strength I didn't earn, I didn't deserve. I train and I work and... But none of it's real. But you're real, aren't you? Yes. I think you very much are, otherwise I'm talking to myself. Which wouldn't be the first time this happened, but what I'm trying to say is none of it is your fault. From what I've seen of you, you are honest, reliable, strong, my goodness.

I don't think you would give me a hard time. But that strength isn't entirely mine, it's stolen. Anyway, what of you? What of you, Sister Featlin? You clearly have some transformation. Is that, did you choose that? Was that bestowed upon you? A bit of both, in a way.

My parents made their decision for me. Yes, we are quite similar. It's more alike than we thought. But it was life or death. I was being eaten away from the inside by something that my parents couldn't fix. No one could fix, but the house of blood had a fix. You're looking at it. You see.

And in return, you joined the church of this grave father, your religion. For which I am so grateful. It's such a parallel our story. Your parents did this to save you. It was altruistic. Ours did it for selfish reasons, not thinking of the consequences of their actions. You embrace the church that transformed you, that took you in. We were forced into it.

No one else would take us. We were treated with such suspicion that my sister is smart and I am honest and hardworking, and we proved ourselves. How strange that two strangers from across the sea could have such similar but yet so different a story. Yes, I suppose in answer to your first question, the reason why I'm here. Yes.

Guess people like you, having these conversations. I enjoy them. You are expecting me to become some convert to your grave father. Oh, not from you. Never. I could never force it upon you and I wouldn't want to anyway. You're magnificent. Thank you.

It's strange. I have been told that much throughout my life. You're so beautiful, Benedictie. You're so strong Benedicta. Yet I've never felt it. If, to ask a question, if destiny was in your hands, what would you do? What would you choose to do? If destiny were in my head.

If you could make any choice right now? She looks at Malady. She looks around the room. There is a part of me that would answer. I would give everything back to my sister. I would make her strong and healthy and suffer in her place. But I am honest. That is not what I would wish.

I wish to protect people from the deceivers, from the people that lie, the people that trick them. I don't want people to end up like my sister and I victims of some selfish decision and if my sister's strength and health help me do that saints and signs forgive me then I will take it I cannot change that I cannot change that circumstance about birth part of me does not think Malady would want me to

I would burn out the lies be a light be such a bright light that no one could deceive anyone in my presence. I see that light in you. Talk about it, I can see it in your eyes. Why not do it?

Why not take the chance? What do you mean? There's no way. I am no mage. I can channel a little divine power, but I have no magic to do such a thing. I don't need magic. Your words, your actions. What you do,

you can change minds. Words are powerful tools, Benedicta. She is constantly looking at Malady and you can tell that this is a woman who has lived in the shadow, which is weird because Malady is the shadow, right? If you were to look at them, Benedicta is the light and Malady is the shadow. But you see that that's never been true.

That Malady is always the one leading. Malady is the one who speaks. Benedicta is just the presence, right? She just nods. This has been a good one. conversation. I will, um, I will leave you to your evening, but, uh, thank you. Thank you. It has been wonderful. And please, come find me anytime. I would love to talk to you more. I will try. I apologize for my behavior when we first met. I have had a lot to think about since then.

And lots of things have changed my perspective. I do worry for your friends. You have clearly made your choice and you are resolute in it. I admire that. I may not agree with it, but I respect it. But your friends, Daisy and Xanthias, they tread dangerous paths and ones that I am not sure they fully understand the consequences for. They won't listen to me.

They would listen to you. Thank you. I will. I will keep them updated. as best as I can. Yes. Well, good night, sister. Good night, Benedicta.

She makes her wait. At that point, I think Gruffen, Daisy, return. I think we did a good job there. I don't think they're very subtle about it. You're not going to say anything to anyone. Yeah, no, we, um, smooth, clean. How are you, Ophelia? Fantastic.

Yes? I am wonderful. How much of that have you drunk? I have one. Okay. I went to get the second secret stash. Oh, okay, good, okay. Right.

So that's what you're riding right now. But, but, but, but, Mateo, Mateo. Yes, yes, yes. Have you got the glass of Santhius? Still here. Mateo. Hey, see. The best of us, really is the best of us.

How's it go? Successful, I hope, wonderful. Yes, I think so. We should be warned the moment They arrive. Amazing. And they'll be held at the gate for us to figure out step two, which is, I don't know, take them far from the city.

Love it. And try not to have them kill me. And be diplomatic. Or kidnap me. First. Diplomatic first. Yes, yes. I'd like that.

Is there anything you guys would like to talk about or do before we long rest or anything? No. Just as a small touch, Groff would order a round of drink. since these two are imbibing. Gruff would order a round of drinks for everyone, maybe a tiny sifter for Mateo, just sneaky, you know. Certainly, certainly.

You can enjoy that. Honey, something for Springhart. Sure, sure. And just in a very gruffy way, no big speech, just yakida. Yakida. We enjoy a fine cheer. I think there are two things I want to happen before we wrap up this episode.

The first is a brief. The doors of Taira's rest fly open. And a looming figure stands in the doorway. And immediately, you immediately, Xanthias, your mind races. But then the shape of that figure becomes clear. And Vricks stands there. A leather band, a brand new leather bandolier. A round, spiked shield, multiple swords, axes, javelins.

You know, just completely now redecked out, including on the points of the horn, metal kind of like coverings that have been placed upon them and just stands there like mightily proud like, I am ready. You have been busy. Bounties. Really?

And just holds them up. Such a short time. Welcome Vricks the Reforged. Vricks the Reforged. Reforged clang. This is a good title friend, and Ricks, Ricks, Ricks.

Ricks. People in the tavern don't know what's happening but start crapping and cheering. And yeah, your ally, Vricks will now be like a consistent, like, reoccurring companion. And if you want to,

kind of a little bit like Gilgamesh from Final Fantasy, you can, hey, you can kind of be like, hey, Ricks, come with us and they might accompany you, depending on what their, like, mood is. But they are basically, like, fully loyal to you guys

and is now re-forged and is now basically like, until they get to Kelskkaris and free prove themselves, it's like, I'm here to get stronger and make money, basically. But the very last... It's going to clear up every side quest we never picked up. Yeah, basically, yeah. They might like sweep the board. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Love that. But you all head to bed and you take your long rest and as you all drift off in your own ways, Zan. There we go. It's been several, it's been a while now. It has, yeah.

And you dream. You see, you dream of the street of Ash and Rest leading to the gate. The streets are empty, quiet, a starlit night sat on, not only, quite the curb, but maybe a small stone wall that leads off as part of the barracks, the gatehouse itself. A figure in a gold cloak with gold skin, flipping a coin, catching it, flipping a coin, catching it. It has been some time. Yes, it has. I thought you were done with me.

You upset me. Did I? I offered you a gift. I wanted to make you strong. And you rejected it. You said you wanted to diminish me. But I apologize. For harming you. My power was too great.

I had not intended to end your life. It was not my intention, merely to send a message. Well, I'm still here. You are? Proving that you are strong, powerful. What is it you want? Want? Nothing. I've come to make an offer.

More power? Someone is coming for you. Someone that is also touched by my power. Tell you where they are. Is this another Oregon? Oregon? You know of whom I speak. And they also answer to you? No. My friend, do you answer to me? Present. I can offer gifts. I can cause harm. But I don't mean to. I don't intend to. Only when angered. And you understand that. Do you not lash out when angered?

When insulted, when your pride is hurt, would you not do the same as me, my friend? I'm not like you. You don't wish to be. I see that. Your companions. I once had companions, people I trusted. They betrayed me. They were taken from...

They tell you that you shouldn't be. like me. But deep down, my friend, that is what, that is why we, we share so much in common. That is why I want to help you. What will it cost me? To let me in. Just briefly. So I can share with you the knowledge that I have, plotting. If you want to help me, why don't you just contact the person that's coming after me. If you're able to so freely contact me, contact them instead. You and I are special, my friend. I cannot speak with them the way that I speak with you.

You carry a piece of me within you. I am so special. They have merely been touched by my power. They carry my gifts, but you carry something far great. What do you want for me? I said. I let you in, then what do you want from me? I will share with you my...

What I know. I let you in, what do you get? I need you to be honest with me. I am being honest with you. I would gain nothing. But I can't give you this information without you letting me in. I cannot share it with you. Dreams like this, my power is limited to weaken.

it's weakened. Speaking to you is the limit of what I can do. Just trying to figure out how much Xanthius would be swayed by it, because it is what he wants to solve this problem. Uh. Only your decision. Like, not, not, not this time. I can solve this by myself.

I don't need you. I've made that. very clear. Perhaps you do not quite realize the danger you face. But if no is your answer, my friend, I just fear there will not be a next time. But perhaps your brother will be a better companion when they claim the piece of me. So be it. And the dream begins to break away, but it is not lost on you that there is plenty of

time to change your mind, it almost is delayed the dream breaking away into gold, red and black chunks, breaking away, leaving you and the figure stood together as the last possible bit of the dream. It's like, it's like a knife edge to like try to continue the dream, but it's like, no matter what, even if he does, it's too late for the dream to break away and to to fully dissipate before, like, it goes beyond the stopping distance, I suppose. So this is, like, almost, like, Zanthus is about to say, wait.

Like, just as he's about to turn around or something. Or, like, just about to say, like, wait, and then that's where the dream dissipates. That's when the dreams, yeah, goes beyond the point where it can be, like, recovered, I suppose. Well, as that dream finishes, very last little cinematic thing, is the camera pulls away from Tyria's arrest.

It pulls away from Xanthus' bedroom and begins to soar across the now night sky of Ashen's Rest of Caldra. And we fly into the ash hills. We fly through a familiar route where we come across a burnt village above a lake, familiar place, and sat in a burnt church crumbled ruins, but still just a very faint section of this mural with a great, gold dragon on it, sacked, hunched, weapons sort of stuck in the ground nearby, giant, colossal-like dragon-like claws, just holding pieces of this burnt church. And then a face just looks up, and we never see it covered by the cow, but a draconic snout just looks up at this gold dragon.

And then just crushes the wood. And that's where we'll end today's episode. Oh, yeah, yeah. That's where we will bring today's episode to close. Yowie zowie. Yowie. Yowie. We hope you enjoyed that one, everybody.

We will see you next time for the next episode of High Rollers. Until then, take care. Bye. Bye. Bye.