High Rollers DnD - The Ascension Alleycats | Altheya: The Dragon Empire #109

Episode Date: July 7, 2026

The gang attend their first training session with the Ascension Alleycats and discover some unlikely pairings in the team! Enjoy a Layout Map of the districts of Kelscariss here: https://www.patreon.com/HighRollers/posts/altheya-map-very-161846601?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link 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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you get your podcasts. Oh, hi there, listener. Gustavo Soroli here with the cast of Tales from the Stinky Dragon podcast, and we're about to set the record for the quickest D&D session. Everyone roll initiative. I got the highest roll with a 19. I moved 10 feet toward the listener and say, Hi, I'm Barbara Dunkelman.

You should listen to our show, Tales from the Sninky Dragon. It's an immersive D&D actual play show with a fully voiced cast of characters, plus sound design, and then I finished my action with a high five. Go ahead and make a dexterity check. That's an 18. Oh, that's a good high five. I rolled a 16 on initiative. I walked over to the tavern piano.

a sick song and say, hi, I'm John Reisinger. Wow, do you hear that? Tales and Steaky Dragon also has its own original score. It's like a movie, but for your ears. All right, yeah, go and roll a performance check. That's a tune. Not your best, John. Okay, but I promise the show's actual music sounds really good. Okay, me next. I moonwalk up to the listener. Sup, I'm Blaine Gibson. You should really check out the show. It's funny, heartwarming, and perfect for everybody. I'm talking D&D veterans, people new to the genre, old people, babies, everybody. And then I do a backflip.

All right, roll an athletics check. that 20. Okay, that leaves Chris. Hi, I'm Chris Damaris. Please subscribe to our podcast. And then I draw my sword to attack. Put the sword down. Put the sword down. Get them. Get them. Get them. Now it's your turn, listener. Subscribe to Tales from the Stinky Dragon wherever you listen to podcast today. Welcome back to Althea the Dragon Empire. Our heroes have arrived in the imperial city of Kelskaris and begun to make headway into various appointments and opportunities within the city. As evening drew closer, they visited the Red Dragon District of Burnbright to call in on the Ignarius estate, where they reconnected with Lady Emberissa and Sir Eldrak Ignis. Enjoying a banquet

dinner, they learned more about Sir Eldrax's recovery, as well as gossip about the city, with an offer to stay in the estate, the hero's headed to bed for a long rest, but each were met by strange dreams. Come morning, the party discussed their various visions in the night, prompting some intense conversations with Sister Ophelia, then decided to visit a local tailor recommended by Lady M. Barrissa in order to secure outfits for the upcoming Ossian event. On arriving at Carnation House, they met Narcissa the Taylor, and negotiations for new outfits were begun.

And that is where I believe that we left things off last time, with Rowan being sized up for his fitting inside Carnation House. I don't know if a final decision was made on exactly who's getting what kind of outfit and what pricing was made. Sorry, here's from Kelskaris. Oh, the Kelsgaris forks are back, yes. Usually when this happens, he goes to the window.

Oh, no, no, no. You missed it, Katie. It was bad. There was one right out the window there. To the point that Tom jumped scared himself. And he's looking at it. I'm thinking about it. I'm thinking about it.

No, no, I'll do it. We'll wait. They need to know my face. That's true. Think of us no fear. But yes, you currently stand in this beautiful, sort of elegant, you know, tailor's shop with, you know, beautiful sort of glass displays and, you know, the big red velvet drapes sort of hanging,

dividing the place in half. You can hear Narcississa and sort of argue. with Rowan of like, no, no, no, stop that, and then sort of sizing it. Oh, God, the smell is disgusting. Gruff, also assisting. But you have an outfit, don't you, Gruff? Yeah, well, I was going to ask her to update the outfit that I bought. Right, okay.

But not, but nothing too fancy just to sort of update colors. Just to match Cisterofilio. Nothing too fancy. But yeah, just, you know, we don't have to sign out. and we can do it off screen as well, but the exact, I believe that there was plans to have a very fancy outfit for Ophelia with magical touches and everything else integrated.

The fund. But I don't know if a decision was ever made for Rowan and Santhius about what you guys want. The Kelskaris Hawks are in full force outside in the Burbank district. That's what came out of Rowan's leather. That's the noise. What just flew out.

Which windows is it? Is that one or that one? That one this time. It was that one. last time. It's very loud. I'm pretty sure Rowan asked for something Aussian, but not so scary. Yeah. Was his specifics, which is not very specific. But how much are we talking in terms of how extravagant do you want to be?

Do you want any magical effects? Like, do you want your armor integrated into it? That was the kind of, you know, obviously style-wise, you get to pick that and design that, whatever really wants to come up with on the day. I think Rowan was quite happy to be mundane, so that, um, Ophelia stands out more. Yeah, the centerpiece, so to speak. Okay.

Yeah. I also don't need armor integrated in my... No. I have magic armor. Would Zantheus want standard, though? I don't think Zantheis feels like he needs anything more than that. Oh, that's an interesting play on it. Ophelia's going to be the centerpiece, sure.

But there was a discussion because she can make you the self-mending clothing and things like that. That was for, like, regular. Oh yeah, if you wanted like a regular outfit and stuff. I mean, it was probably worthwhile for you because... Yes. You know. Gestures. Yeah, you break you.

Gestures. We've spoken about it, yeah. Okay. So in that case, so basically, we'll price all this off off strain, but the idea is that basically, Affili is the one who's getting the super, super duper fancy outfit. You also haven't asked Daisy X. Stacey's not currently with you.

But obviously, so Aphelia, super fancy and like 1,000 gold, basically. Yeah. Oh, my goodness. The bells and whistles every. Well, I believe, because you wanted the really fancy outfit, plus the magical details. Oh, plus the magical, yes. Yes, so.

Primo treatment. That would be primo treatment. As long as you got a good idea for it. I have a sketch. I have a sketch. You have a sketch. Okay, okay, okay, okay. Oh, damn.

Hold that, hold that, we'll save that if you have a full reveal. Oh, no, no, right now, right now. But, yeah, so I think that then, for the sort of the next hour or so, narcissus sort of makes her way. takes her way, after finishing with Rowan, um, sort of probably sends Rowan out with replacement underwear, um, in your normal clothing, but like,

for free. Sends you out. Yeah, I think she's so disgusted that it's like, please take these. Like, and it's, you know, this velvety boxes sort of like, just take those. Um, shuffles you out. Gruff is also like measured and sort of takes the outfit that you've provided. Zanthias, you're called in. Now, with Xanthius, obviously, how much are you willing to let her sort of measure and measure as you are?

Oh, that's the point, actually. I wanted to cast disguise self on myself. Right, okay. That's... You cast disguise self on yourself while she's busy doing her adjustments for Rowan and things like that. What do you do with the disguise self? So now I know that it doesn't... Because there is some protrusions around the shoulder, right?

And it's hard, like, scaled, you know, armoured placements. almost. So, yeah, I mean I want to obviously make it look like a regular, a duplicate of my other arm. Uh-huh. In terms of the protrude, like how much of it is the shoulder? Pretty like there's big spikes and spines, but also it's not flesh. It's like, you know, there's this heavy almost armored,

you know, plating that has sort of come up with the spines and spikes. Like it is significantly physically different. to your other arm. I mean, I'll just request she doesn't go near that shoulder. Sure. As simple as that. Okay. Um, so yeah, you...

You have to put it on and rip through it. Well, I mean, yeah. That would certainly be the case, but yeah, so you cast a sky's self. How much... I'm gonna make her role to see. Okay. She's pretty smart and she's also very clearly some form of mage herself. Something like the mage.

Okay. I think that the encounter with Rowan has got her so distracted and flustered and she's so relieved that you don't, you know, have stinky leather underpants that you've never changed. And it's probably distracted by, you know, your clothing that you're currently wearing. Yeah.

She doesn't seem to notice that you have a spell active. Sure. And she doesn't seem to notice about the illusion. You know, you say like, oh, can you not, like, touch this arm? Yeah. Do you have an excuse for that or like... We were training with Hatchball the other day

and one of the kids threw it really hard at this shoulder and it's just really achy. So if you could steer away from that, that would be much appreciated. Of course, of course, no problem at all. You know, takes out her tail and her tape measure and sort of begins measuring. Her tail was a tape measure?

Well, probably to... Cool. I mean, that is a cool idea. I think that she probably uses it to hold things though. She has it like hold like things as she measures. But also she has like... unseen servants that she conjures to like hold up different cloths and fabrics to kind of check your complexion, check your color palette. She does like a whole color palette thing where she like

examines like your skin color and things like that. Different reds and blacks and things like that on there. I'd love to do that but I'd worry that they would say everything in your wardrobe is currently garbage. Apparently that is quite, they don't, but they'll normally be like, oh this color that you hate, oh this is the perfect color for you. Oh, this color you love. Don't wear that. That's horrible. I've had a few friends who have. done those color theory things, and it apparently always goes that way. Exactly, it has to get a whole new watch.

But no, I think that, like, you know, with the reds, it's definitely, like, leaning towards the warmer reds with Xadius, I think, rather than the cooler reds. The blacks, it's like very rich, luxurious blacks and things like that. And she kind of goes through all of these things. Doesn't seem to pick up on the spell, and it measures you quite thoroughly. Great.

Takes down all of these notes. You can probably, she probably has, like, an unseen servant. Like, yes, yes, darling. Jacob, take down, you know, 40-inch chest, yes, you know, 28 in a leg and blah, blah, blah, and you see this little kind of floating parchment, you know, being written on. Power, not judgmental, but we were warned of... You've already seen a little bit, like, it's like, oh, quite skinny arms.

We'll have to, like, maybe we could pad you out or something like that. It's quite harsh, but also complementary of features as well. like, oh, what tail structure. Oh, what a firm, lovely tail. Yes, make sure that we, you know, like, well, being a fellow dragon born like yourself, like she's quite sort of like, oh, yes, she's scales. Marvelous. They catch the light so beautifully.

Like buffalo in the night. Yeah, oh, really? Well, do you use a scale smoother or? Scales smoother? No, I've been looking for a new brand recently. Oh, and she gives you like, oh, you should go and visit this alchemist. I will, I will. I recommend you, like, facials, you know, scale scrubs and things like that. You have a lovely conversation.

I imagine between these two Nostsister and Xanthius, it's actually quite a lovely conversation, apart from when she insults certain parts of you. Yeah, I've got to shut the fuck up. Oh, someone's testy. Listen, I'm just telling you the truth, darling. Somebody has to. Don't we hear of it.

Tell me lies, tell me sweet little lies. Tell me lies. Well, fine. And then she'll be like, well, the hair is wonderful. We'll keep the hair just as is. But yes, kind of sizes you up, measures you all, and things like that. there is definitely a little harshness in some of her.

Not necessarily so many criticisms, but observations. Yeah. And eventually sort of lynch you out and then Afia you go in for your fitting as well. And I think that's when she starts asking you. So what are we thinking? Your friends seem to put you sort of in charge of designs. This is all about you, darling. This is all about your evening.

So what are we thinking? I know a little about Osce, having seen a few of the, you know, people about the city. but I don't know too much, so I'm really relying on you here for inspiration. Okay, well, you said some very kind things about my appearance, so I think, well, I trust your vision, enhance the things that need enhancing.

You said my butt needed work. Yes, it's flat as a pancake, darling. That absolutely needs work. Gorgeous arms and legs. We love these. Amazing. Chest, you're a little small, but that's fine. Something to push it up.

Yes, yes, corsitting, I'm thinking, something like that. And then maybe a scandalous slit for the fight. Oh, oh, say no more, say no more. Ophelia, darling, of course, yes, yes, yes. And you can see that she sort of magically mage hands over sort of a parchment and a piece of, and she starts like sketching out some bits and pieces. Yes, absolutely.

I've gone for like a kind of... Oh, very nice, yes. Like the train, like it has the illusory blood that like follows behind. Okay, perfect. Looking in the puldrons, and then at the bow. the back of her dress, Veracities kind of worked into the back of her dress of a chain.

Wonder Woman kind of, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, perfect. So it's actually built into it kind of thing. Perfect, yeah. And so she starts sketching all of this out and taking into her. I don't like to be restricted in the arms. No, no, no, no, of course. Yes, yes, and we'll keep them gossamer as well so people can see your wonderful definition. Lovely gossamer fabrics.

Lots of red, I'm seeing blood, blood droplets. What about your friends, though? We want them to match with you. Now they're not going to be anywhere near as fancy, but what are you imagining for your sort of entourage? Well, I think maybe a color match could work. Yes, yes. Although we have some different palettes,

your tall Yotnir friend and the Wildhast, gentleman, gruff, they're very cool tones, whereas your other friend's antheist is very warm tone. So we'll need to do some adjustments. I'm thinking a range, a sort of color range, with you in the middle. Yes, a spectrum. spectrum of reds. What about, are we thinking any particular iconographies or any,

what do you want them to look like their attendants? Do you want them to look like? Maybe like a little, like a cravat, something along those lines. Yes. Because some of them, some of them do struggle with the iconography and I don't wish to force that upon them against their will. So we're not talking no skulls or anything like that nature on your competitors. I want to respect their wishes, of course. What about the blood element, the blood droplets, things like that. Do we think that's pushing it too far? Can we do a beadwork? Beed work, maybe?

Beed work, absolutely. No, embroidered beadwork. No problem. My version is very literal, but for them, if it's more decorative, I suppose, it could work for what they have in mind. Yes, yes, cravats, beadwork, no death iconography's in the same way, but yes, I think this is all something I can work with.

Wonderful, thank you so much. Well, obviously the work is going into you, darling. That's your main focus, but yes, you're going to look. Spectatulous. I want everyone to know. And obviously, please do let them know that it was Narcissa of Carnation House. Well, of course.

Yes, and there's another friend of yours that you said was not with you. Yes, Daisy. Well, let's make sure that we get her measurements in and I'm assuming you want the same sort of vibe. Now, obviously, it sounds like we're speaking about a young lady, not a gentleman. So we'll make some accommodations for that.

Wonderful, thank you. Perfect, all right, yes, well, and she starts scribbling down ideas. But yes, this all sounds wonderful, I did notice that you had a couple of others. So we have the Dynastian. They are your bodyguard, it sounded like. Yes, yes.

Are we thinking the same thing for them? Are we talking an outfit in a similar regard? Or are you sort of leaving them to their own devices? I can leave them to their own devices, I think. I think they have their own ideas. All right, perfect. I did see a hooded, robed gentleman.

Yes, as Percival. Percival. Should I measure him or? Could we maybe do, Hmm. He's very special, you see. Oh, well, special. We need to make sure that, yes, of course we match... He's a skeleton.

As in an animated dead? Yes. Right, right. I understand it's a bit of a difficult subject. I have studied magic, Sister Ophelia. I am aware of your nation, and it is very close with necromancy, and that sort of thing isn't really done here in the empire, even the Black Dragons of Erlus Keir.

Raising the dead is not really our thing, but no, I am open to the cultural ideas now, but a skeleton. I mean, how far are we going? I could make embellishments on the bone itself, or are we thinking about purely the dress and the, you know, accessories? I think Percy would like to be seen as he is. He is covered a lot, walking around Kelskaros and... So we want to have the full skeletal features on... Maybe a nice tux, perhaps. A tuxedo?

Yes. Tuxedo, but we want to show off... I mean, the tuxedo would hide quite a lot of the skeletal. Perhaps we could do, like, a vest, maybe. A tailored vest. A tethered vest. Yes, absolutely. What about, are we, perhaps, some decorations upon the skull?

Miss, maybe like a beaded red crown. That's what I was thinking. Yes, like red pearls across the skull. And the skeleton, you call them. Part of all, are they sentient? Yes. Right. So you can have a full conversation with him.

Right, well, of course, yes. I want to make sure I get their consent and everything before we go sticking things on them. But very good. All right. Well, this gives me a lot to work with. This will be a rush order, hence the sort of high price. But come by on the morning of.

Okay. I have everything ready then. Amazing. Thank you so much for doing this so quickly. Yes, of course. Well, you're paying for it, darling. So, of course. I'm more than happy to do it.

Your understanding as well, I really appreciate it. Oh, well, this is the thing. We cauldrons, we understand that one should look one's best, but for special occasions, it's not enough to just look at your best. You have to leave an impression, you have to leave a legacy, how you're perceived, how you're understood, how those around you regard you.

Those matter. It matters what you leave behind. and a part of how you looked and how you'll remember is part of that. You'll always see in every portrait of every famous caldron, they always look their best. When someone's having their portrait done, they knew that it was going to leave an impression. So, yes, we must make sure that you have the same effect.

Thank you very much. All right, yes, well, yes. Lots to do. And she's sort of going to be showing you out. Ophelia emerges, and she's like, right, well, as I've just told you the dear sister, Ophelia, I'll have everything ready on the morning of the event. So do come by to pick up your outfits and goods.

Payment is half now, half later. Oh, right. Have you got a figure in mind? Yes, and we'll work it out because we've got to price everybody's outfits and things up. But yeah, we'll figure all of that later. But it would be half now and half later on delivery. Okay, all right, one. Graf, give me the money. Two.

One. No. No. No, no. One. Okay. You wait for a good 20 minutes. Well, Gruff counts out the gold.

Sure. I mean, it's a lot of gold. And yeah, you finish up in Carnation House with an order placed, half paid for, for a lovely series of events. We'll say that Daisy's outfit is paid for. She just needs to come by and be measured and sort of discuss what she wants and things like that as well.

Cool. They left you in bed. I can walk in with a pastry. There you go. I was gonna see at the end. I suppose you were, yeah, you knew where they went. So yeah, like they basically just left you because they left early.

Hi. Hi, good morning. I went and got food, sorry. You're gonna look so good for the ball. Oh. Oh, is this your friend Daisy? This is Daisy, yes. Hello darling.

You see this, she's a humanoid dragon board like Xanthias, but red. So, you know, she has this gorgeous sort of, you know, thin, slender tail. She has the red scales, a little few red horns. Very dark sort of red long hair, but she's dressed like a tail, like a seamstress. So she has like a tape measure around her neck. She has like these little spectacles balanced on her nose.

Loose kind of like white blouse, very beautifully made, all embroidered along the collar and sleeves. And she's just like, right, well, I don't want to keep your friends, but so would you mind coming in for measuring, darling? Your friend of Phelia has given me ideas on design. Apparently you're all going to be sort of matching. Color match. Yeah. Is that okay? Yeah. Cool, cool, cool.

That's fine. It's like whatever looks best for you. I mean, this hair, there's so much of it. It's beautiful, isn't it? Well, it is, but it's so much. I mean, honestly, it's a bit too much. Can we do something with that, pull it back? Also, so short, really.

I mean, the beautiful face and eyes, but so small. Compared, stood next to the yacht, it's going to be, oh my goodness, there's got to be thinking stills. I think some heels, certainly, far too short. No, no, no. I've all over. You never want heels before? No.

Oh, um... I might fall. I can teach you to wear heels. Okay. They're not comfortable, but they make you look amazing. The calves, you make sure calves go... It's so good. Make your calves...

Literally. Explode. I've never seen my calves look so good. Oh. But this beautiful cherubic face, now this is something we can certainly work with. But we need to get all of this hair out of the way. There's so much.

Too much. Sorry. No, you don't need to apologize here. It's just who you are. It's just there. It's just who you are. that we can't improve things. Okay.

Now come here. Whatever looks good for Sister Felia's heart. You be you. Please. Be you, but be better. Oh, okay. I'll try. Just don't brush it because then...

Whoa! We could use prostititation to a bit of heat. That might help calm it. Yes, I'm thinking up, and then we use some lovely little curls coming out of the side. That would be delightful. It's so wavy and curly anyway. Yes, we could do something with that.

She drags you off into a sizing room. It's very much like... I'm going to become my best self, apparently. Well, you get... She's very complimentary of certain things, and in other things, is so brutally, like, honest, to the point of being insulting. But she's also...

When it's something that she likes, she just reigns praise down on it. So it's like, oh, these calves, you must... You simply must. We need to show the world these calves. They're beautiful. but then, you know, and then it's and kind of measures,

or takes all your measurements down, sends you back out with the rest of the crew. Now, how do you feel about blood? You don't want to drink blood. No, no, no, darling. I'm talking about a bit of embroidery just to symbolise your connection with sister Ophelia, thinking some lovely beadwork or some embroidery.

That should be fine. Is that all right? It reaches Ophelia, yeah. All right. Now, what about now, you, my darling, your friends have all gone for rather standard designs. your friend's sister, your friend's sister, Ophelia, is getting an absolutely exquisite,

extravagant, the grandest design. Would you like something a little bit nicer than standard? We can do magical effects. You can have little illusions. You can have all sorts of little details added in. I'll do whatever, whatever Ophelia thinks is good. Oh, good. Well, Sister Ophelia, what would you,

your friend, you would clearly want a grand outfit for your friend. Oh, marvelous. Well, that would be some extra gold on top then as well there, please. And what about, Do we want magical effects as well? Would you like magical effects? No, no, it's fine. You should be the...

We could have... We could have illusory blood-red flowers falling from her shoulders or scattering the floor. Wouldn't that be beautiful? Would it be beautiful? How much extra gold are we talking for the very, very fancy outfit? Oh, you don't have to worry about that yet.

Quite a lot. Ophelia. It's all right. No, stop. Maybe, no, maybe we should just focus on Ophelia being the best. Oh, you want another standard outfit. Oh, maybe. Maybe.

Sorry. Whatever you're comfortable with. I don't want to force anything upon you. I'm fine with the fancy dress. We're fancy dress with beading, sounds nice. Oh, fancy, yes. Yes, yes. It sounds nice.

But I don't need any magic. You should have that. Yeah. Well, we'll certainly do a fancy outfit. That will be some money should go out there, please, Mr. Graff. Hold on, 999. 1,000. Oh, excellent.

That's Ephelia's dress covered. Now we'll do the rest. What's that I'm saying? 1,0002, 1,000. Another 20 minutes later. A standard would be fine for me. No. She's charged you more now. You will look amazing.

You will look amazing, you will look fabulous. There will be mechanical benefits to those who have the less than standard. The standard you get nothing. Nothing. You get nothing. But with that finished. You're gonna get your, which is standard? A non-destroiable close.

Yes. Yeah, we'll do that as a separate thing, yeah, set up payment. Because also these benefits, these like charisma benefits, they will apply any time you attend any sort of social gathering or like any sort of make an impression on people should you be wearing them. So they are beneficial. They're like minor magic items basically.

I'm sleeping in this dress. You should. It costs enough. I'm never taking it off my body. But with that you finish up. I would say that at this point you are looking at, you've spent most of the morning here getting size, getting measured, talking about designs.

So we're kind of approaching sort of mid-down. by the time you guys finish at Carnation House. Burnbright District is alive. You know, it really reminds you of being in Action Rest. Just hearing the sort of barkers and the sellers and what they're selling, you hear them like offering local, you know, specialties and cuisines.

You see all the signposts for all the same sort of things that you would see back in Action Rest. And even the citizens here, you can tell that they're all cauldrons who have moved to the city who work in the city, but they still have a lot of the same cauldron cultural elements to them that make it feel very, very homey here as you exit out into the sort of main part of Burmbray district.

Okay, next steps. Next steps in a very, very packed schedule. Right, well, I've got training with the kiddos later today. Did you decide on whether you want us there? Well, you're very welcome to come, but I'm not going to say you after all. I will be there, Griffith. I need you to have that word with Hawkins. I feel like I could run so much faster now.

I was really restrictive with those pants before. That was really holding you back? Yeah. But they were pure leather. Leather was not a good choice for pants. It wasn't. Were you wearing those in Wave Me? Yeah.

Oh, wow. We dipped in the... Yeah, you're right. I don't think he's taking them off since. I don't think a small dip in the sea counts as a proper. So it's through, right? Leather? True.

As you're sort of having this discussion, you do hear a barker nearby. You hear like a little word. You hear a little, probably quite young, like a teenager carrying a big sort of satchel bag filled with papers going like, Clarion call, the latest issue of the clarion call. And they begin sort of shouting out some of the headlines.

You hear like, upcoming Aussian event fundraiser for a temple to their necromatic gods causes controversy within the councils you hear Hatchball Junior tournament

last few matches building up to the grand tournament on Founders Day might be good to find out about those Yes one which does probably catch his attention Missing Professor

abscones from Academy Disappears without a trace Hello how much for a copy of that newspaper Oh, it's two silver, please, sir. Two silver. Fantastic. Gruff, can I have two silver?

Right, here's two silver, kiddo. Who's your favorite hatchball team here? Hatchball team. Oh, burn bright boards, obviously, sir. Burn bright for life. Go balls. It's been bright district. On your way, child.

Yep, happily sends off. Be gone. You buy this issue of the clarion, which is the paper, which is like the kind of big, big paper of the whole of the empire. Very, very popular here in Kelskaris, especially. And it is like a proper big, like huge broadsheet, loads of different articles,

some of it being absolutely just like local gossip. But there's news from all over the different provinces. And the ones that obviously catch your attention is, yeah, it talks about this missing professor from the academy. And it is indeed the one you are thinking of. Braxton. Braxton. What was it?

Brassquil. Boxstick, probably. Braxton Brastkewale. Seemingly vanished without. out a trace. The article does say that there are rumors of some nefarious, rumors of wrongdoing, rumors of potential... On his part? On his part, yeah.

He's a roll-in. Disgraced of the academy. Ooh, okay. And it would say in there as well when questioned, after returning, I think the article would read something like, after returning from an, an, an, an, an, unofficial expedition to the Azar Steppe. Professor Brasquil returned to the academy with his students and then promptly vanished from the academia grounds

and hasn't been seen since. The students, having been questioned, had no memory of the expedition or of Professor Braxton's disappearance. We might be able to go to the academy and tell them the true account of what happened with... Be a witness. Fuckstick.

Be a witness, yeah. Rockston, Brassquil. What does abscond mean? Obscond means... Run away. Yes. I completely forgot. Yes.

I know this word. Yes, it is a very good word. Exactly how I was going to this scenario. To scond, yeah. Do you have a scon and for it to be... Or... To go right to the abs. Right to the abs.

To place a scorn on my abs. Mm, that's what it means. means, Rowan? You're always so astute. Thank you, thank you. What does a stud mean? Anyway, we might be able to go there and tell them exactly what happened.

It can't hurt? No. I've been meaning to check out the Academy as well. Do you read any of the other things I mentioned or are you mainly, because obviously I'm assuming I knew that Xanthius wanted to read about the professor. What about the embassy? What about the controversy?

Controversy, controversy. Controversy, Control F, controversy. Yes, so. You use your magic. You use prostitiation to like search for text now. Yep. No. Locate object, but it's a word.

You would read up that, yes, there is a lot of news coverage. Apparently, Varis, it would read Father Varis Evernight, a diplomat to the House of Blood of Osseus, is hosting a fundraiser in the Nightwalk District at the

estate of Lady Glomeres. And it goes into detail about how there are, the Church of the Science is vehemently against this and that there are planned protests to go on outside, that apparently is being debated heavily within the both inner and elder councils of the city. However, the temple is getting a lot of support from many black dragons, especially young black dragons in the city and some of the older ones as well. And many of the citizens of Erdas Kyr as well. There is also, mention that there's a mention of Ash and Rest as well.

Oh. Because it does say in there that this temple would not technically be the first official holy site of the Grave Father in... This is like when you watch the news and you see yourself in India. You're like, Ophelia, it's Ash and Rest. It's a small note but it says like technically this would not be, this would not be the first official holy site of the Grave Father in Ilmira. Sister Ophelia de la Rosa of the House of Blood established a shrine to the grave father in the town of Ash and Rest.

The Clarion asked Duke Ignarius for comment on this and said, I want my sister, my sister Ophelia is a citizen of Ash and rest and she has the right to practice her religion and teach it to those who are interested in its teachings. I don't care for the church or the signs of belief. This is my town, I can do what I like.

Basically, it kind of like comes down to the Duke being like, fuck off. It's like, I don't give a shit, basically. Love him. And it does mention, but it does, then it goes on to say that Varus' temple would be the largest structure that would rival. And it is definitely like, the clarin's like very much giving a favorable, it tries to stay neutral, but you can see that it's just like.

I mean, it's also been Kelskar and thing. So, but it does obviously mention that. But yeah, it also says that the construction of the temple is a hotly debated. topic amongst the elder and inner councils of the city. And that is the way that Kel Scaris works is the inner council is kind of like all of the councillors and the human non-dragon politicians. And the elder council is like the older dragons who, you know, represent the draconic element of the city.

And both, you know, they both discuss certain topics and both have sort of like, not quite an equal say, but definitely do you have a say in the city. Oh, awesome. And yeah, it's just kind of like a, It's a very interesting topic for the city to talk about. This would be a big deal, the construction of a temple to a foreign god, but also a god that the church is like, no, Graefarthur Bad, do not worship.

Interesting. So that's about the entire article there, Ophelia. Anything you didn't expect there? My shrine getting a mention. I know, I know. That was amazing. And your name as well. I mean, someone's been to see it.

Yes. Well, yes, potentially. Yeah. Well, remember that Clarion is the one, you know, they interviewed Xanthius after the fashion show and things like that. That's amazing. So first try. First official shot.

In an area, that's right. Technically, yeah. Technically, yeah. Can you see there's traveling to Erdos Kier? Seems like a lot of Black Dragon borns are... Honestly, I think I might do, yes. Yeah, there's been a lot of interest in the great father from Erdus Kier. So it would be an interesting place to go, I think.

They like necromancy a lot. They do. They do. So anyway, and also... counter protest. If you would like in the article as well, it does mention some other names that might be relevant to you.

It would mention the counselor of Nightwalk, the current Reve of Nightwalk, who is the kind of head of the counselors for that, is a man called Draxas Trey. Very popular. Is a devotee of Malia, and is currently, apparently the article says

that it's very, does not seem to be willing to share his opinion quite openly about the construction of the temple. You would also read that councillor Jalia Winsinger of the Bronze Bellows district is one of the advocates in favour of the temple saying that opening up the city to new religious ideas as well as new magical teachings

could only be a benefit to the majors and citizens of Kalskaris. seems to be a very magically focused councillor. Bronfellos is the district of, for which region, sorry? Suncrest, bronze. Bronze dragons, so Suncrest Arts. They like us there. They do. Well, yeah. So far.

Something, no. Oh, and another name that would come up in the article is Vizana Umbres, who is a wealthy merchant of the Nightwark District, is apparently rumoured to be donating quite significantly to the district. temple's construction. Cool. Who was that? V-E-Z-A-M-A, U-M-B-R-I-S.

U-M-B-R-I-S. No apostrophes. I'm not doing that again. Gregori's Lord's and Wonders and Wonders Aposrophes. That's funniest shit of a boat. Still not recovered.

No, I still think about it. Yeah, and I think those are the main sort of like call-out names that you had seen in the article. Who did those calls quite a buzz? I also, we haven't rolled any skill checks yet, but we should do fate just in case. Oh, yeah. Should we roll a two?

Three. Oh, that's a dice for me. Six. Five. I'm going to roll, a seven. So two for you guys. One for me so far. Five.

Oh, wow. Okay, so that is four for you. Five alive. Four and one, hell yeah. Just me. Sat on my own there. Five and one. Stacked up.

Stacked up. Stacked up. Stacked up. Not today, Stephen. Is there anything else you wanted to know? Can you laugh. Listen, what's all the names? I mean, there's going to be a lot of protests.

How are you guys feeling about that? I expected it, to be honest. We had a similar sort of resistance in Ash and Rest, right? Well, you've had a similar resistance in Ash and Rest. That's true. It's just a bigger city, so... Yes. More people.

But there's probably more people who are also interested, so it will balance, maybe? Maybe. Hope so. Yes, I mean, there's some big donators. That's very interesting. Yeah, it seems mostly positive, hopefully. I'm sure they have it in hand. They would have expected this, right? I suppose so. Yes. Lots of security. Yeah. It'll be fine, right? It'll be fine. We'll just guests there. They've got security. They've got...

We've got... We've got bricks as well. We've got bricks. We'll be fine. You have me. Yes. I nearly shot the tiny child with a... satchel of papers, but I assume that they were not a threat. Please don't shoot time. Good assessment. Yes. What about the hatchball?

I'm just reading about that now. It says. It's a small article. It's basically saying that the upcoming Tornant concludes on founding day and that it's the last few days to wrap up any remaining games, basically. Does it talk about the other teams and their standings? I guess it would.

I don't have all the team names yet. But it would definitely... The Alley Cats are like near the bottom, basically. But not the bottom. But if they lost every single game from... If they lose every game that they've got left to play the last three games, they will finish bottom and they will basically...

And if they win every game? If they win... Well, as long as they win one game, they'll remain... Right, right. Because basically, like, the top teams get to play a special match on Founders Day. And if they win at least... one game they will get to play in that special sort of game.

If they win all three games, they will seed in sort of like the top four and then they will go into the actual proper, they would have a chance to win the whole championship on Founders Day basically. Right. Right, no pressure. But I would say the Burn Bright Boers are one of the top teams. Along with, who would be some of the other really good? You can just say the district.

Bulls, sorry. Burn Bright Bulls, sorry. Burn Bright Bulls, sorry. I would say that, like, yeah, I imagine that Mistwald actually have a really good team because they're, like, very fit and healthy. Of course they do. The Ice Heart District probably has a good team as well.

Can't play in hot temperatures, though. Yeah, that's, I think that, you know, that's definitely a new thing. They need to acclimatized to it. And then I would say Azar Steps. So I would say, Azar, Ice Heart, Mistwold and Kudra, like the top, top teams. The metallic teams don't. seem to rate as strongly.

And the coil, there is a team for the coil as well that doesn't seem to play very well. Got it. Do they play, like, home and away games in their districts? Because if Iceheart played in that district, it's artificially colder, which means that they would be stronger. They do, basically. You play, like, in the different districts.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Cool. Yeah. But on the Founders Day, it will be held in the central sort of, like, tournament arena, basically.

Like, where, like, normally the, the night tournaments and joust take place. So it'll actually be played there. And knowing Kel Scarcen has been quite a magical place, they probably would be like, cool, we're gonna neutralize the temperature. So it's like a flat, you know, it's not too cold, it's not too hot, you know.

But if you go and play in like, yeah, exactly, yeah, yeah. Don't even start. Listen, you know, I think they want it to be a nice fair final tournament basically. Awesome. But yeah, it's not too much written on there. So there you go, not too bad, not bottom of the lead, leaderboard, league, lead aboard, league aboard, league boards.

League boards. League tables. League tables. It says league aboard in here, but I'm pretty sure this paper is AI generated. I'm gonna say it's league aboard. League aboard. Yeah. This is here this was co-authored by Chat, GPT.

No. He doesn't say that. No. Okay. Anyway, that's the news. Right. Brilliant. Does anyone know where I can.

There's a few other pages, but just there's quite a lot. Like the clarion is kind of a good source of just, If you had questions. Whoa, Mama. It's you. It's not a son. It's not the sun. It's not page three model. Is that a little cartoon section?

Cartoons? They have a little cartoon or something. There probably would be like a kind of political illustration. Oh, is there a little puzzles? I like the little puzzles. There would be puzzles, yeah. Is there a horoscope?

There probably would be, yes. There'd probably be like some sort of version of an Arthurian horoscope. What's yours? That's all superstition. I'll get my premonitions from Clever Toad, thank you very much. I wonder if they have a Clever Toad in Kelskney. Oh, do you know what actually it would be?

It would be the, you know, astrologer would be a Yotnir who knows giant stars. And it's all based on like giant star signs, basically. But it would be like a Yonai who's like a seer, like a Yotnian sear. So probably like a Storm Giant Yotnian. Or a silver dragon, yeah, one of the two. Or a little advert for like a mystic, like a Mystic Meg type thing, but it just says ZZZZ in the corner and it's just like a terrible ad. Listen, maybe there's an ad for a product made by ZZZZ Industries.

Industries, yeah. He's doing well. He's doing well. He's doing really well. Box of roasting. Yeah, box of roasting. He's invented the air friar. I mean, that's the kind of thing

that a magician would make, like, you know, that you would have. It's a little drawer on the bottom. It's actually a bound tiny elemental who just screams any time you get it. Freedom, let me free! No! And then you shut the box. Then the potatoes, la! But then your food comes out, but it has little bite marks in it

because that's how it gets fed. That's how it gets fed. It's amazing. It's the tax for cooking it. Yeah, the cheese tax. I'm gonna be honest, gruff, I don't understand the cartoon on the back. Right, okay. It's way beyond me.

It's also about people I don't know, so. Can I get the bit that says about my shrine being the first official shrine. Can I just cut that bit out? Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. I want to preserve that for eternity somehow. Sure. Keep Ignarious's quote in there as well. That's a good one. That was amazing.

Oh, an official statement. from Duke Ignorius himself. You imagine that probably won't earn Duke Ignarious a lot of favours with the church, but, you know, he doesn't care. Fuck off. He's like, look, I let you worship your weird gods.

Like, the sister worship her. Like, that's the way he genuinely sees it. You're all weird. It's all nonsense. Like, it's all mortal religion. Exactly. That's for non-dragons. I don't care about that.

I love that. It's so good. All right. So, yeah, you've got, like, as I said, it's about, I mean, you do have like a couple of hours before Graff has to sort of make his way to the coil, if there is anything that you would like to do. Otherwise, we can just skip ahead and say you guys explore the city and then head over to Graf.

So, we don't have to fill every hour. Why don't we go, oh sorry, go, sorry, go, sorry, is there anywhere in the look of the thinned tea that I can buy some oranges? Yeah. Absolutely. Yeah, you can buy, I should do that. Yeah, you can go and buy, like, fresh fruit. Probably cost you like a silver piece to buy, like, a bag of oranges.

We could go and ask the, the, the, About the professor, if we have a little bit of time, we could go in the academy? Yeah. Uh, how far that's in the centre, isn't it? It is, yeah. So you would probably have to split off from Graf if you wanted to do that. I might not have enough time to do it, but that's okay, I can get on with it. I can go after. It's probably open all hours, Academy. No end to knowledge. That's what they say, right? I don't know, they probably say that.

Sounds like something they would say. I've never come across them before. No, I mean, well, except Braxton fuck's dick. Yeah, but I've never come across their official building before. We walked past it. In other districts, in our travels, in my travels, in my travels across the continent. Right.

I'm picking up what you're putting down. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Anyway, we can go after. We didn't go after training. He's not there anyway. Ran away. That's true.

Spot of lunch. A bitch. Yes? A lot of lunch. Yeah. You could easily find a delightful place. Would you want to eat in Burnbright or would you like to like find somewhere?

Because when you, so with Burnbra, eh, eh, um, so you would be coming out here, the coil, you sort of are making your way up towards brass bellows. So you could pop into Frosthill and have food there. You can get something on the coil, you could pop into brass bellows and eat there. Frost till sounds cool. So that would be ice heart food basically.

Yeah, oh, Graff, can we go to Frosthill? It's all slushies. Why are you asking me? For lunch. You might like it. For lunch. Okay. Why do you need my permission?

What is food from Ice Heart? Is it? Frost Hill is the Ice Heart District. Oh, Silver Dragons, yes, that is me. It's literally called Frost Hill. I don't know. What, I'm thinking about Ashball. I'm thinking about the game.

Ashball? Ash ball. It's okay, I'm picking up and down. How about this, Gruffeth? You get a little thing, because you're talking about gifts for your team to build them around. Something from

Ice Heart from Frost Hill for each of them and teach them a little bit about where you're from. Oh, well, I got some oranges. Is that not bribery enough? I mean, treats enough. I don't know which... Oranges. Oranges are not really big treats, you know? Like pastry treat. Orange. Orange. Well, it's healthy and, you know. Oh, yeah, it's good for the sport thing. Quencher's your first to training. Yeah. When I was there age, I wasn't really big on healthy.

Have you ever played sport in your life, boy, oh? No Right No I did that duel at one time That's a good sport That was Been in a lot of fights

A couple of months ago though Been running The one against your brother No yeah The traumatic one It's exercise though right Not really, no It was exercise fight

It's quite but it's like bursts of activity Over the long period Like you're not doing it every day No It's not like here You're not doing a hit class every day. Yeah.

That was more for survival. That was more we, you know, we've died. He is doing a hit. Alive now, though. We are alive now, yes. It's not on a regular. Yes. So, what are we talking about?

You are very tiny. Orange's. Thanks, Rick. Maybe we could look in some of the little shops and see if there's something that would be suitable. Yeah. Right. Maybe like a little plush versions of the enemy team

that they can beat up. I suppose. I need to find out what their team is, though. That would probably just support the other teams with, you know, buying their merchandise. Yeah. That's a good counterpoint. Yes.

A me mentor from Iceheart, I think, would be nice. Oh, I suppose so. Let's go have a look, then. Let them get to know you so that, you know, they can warn to their coach. Are they ice? That's good. That's funny.

But then I might melt. That's very... We'll hold you up. We'll be there and we will scoop you up into a bucket, and then you will just be gruff in a bucket. Right, I don't like the sound of that. Shall we go? Yes, let's get some lunch. Bucket of gruff. Sure.

So you guys stop into Frost Hill, the Ice Heart District, for a bit of lunch. You end up probably being pointed towards one of the really common sort of touristy places to go for lunch, which is the Yaltstrom Longhouse. For you, Gruff, this instantly reminds you of your village Longhouse back home. This is where the community, where the whole town would gather in an evening to listen to storytellers, to get warm, you know, by the fire. And also normally eat communal meals.

So they have these long, thin, sort of long tables that, you know, you sit next to strangers, everybody's kind of sat together. This one is a bit more of like a bar in, where there is like an actual bar that's been built into it and there are rooms that can be hired out for staying the evening and things like that, but also it serves food and drink, no problem. The owner is a very, you can see that they're sweating profusely because obviously it's not as cold as ice hot, but they're wearing a very traditional thick ice heart kind of traveling coat with big fuffy fur on the inside of their hood.

Probably a dwarf, so kind of very short and stocky with this kind of like rounded big round cheeks, big round nose, face kind of sticking out of it. And you can see that their earth skin is coming out of their sort of like hands and wrists. That's like these brassy kind of looking, like rounded like bolts, basically. Who is Yalstrom?

This is the Yaltstrom. Eric Yalstrom is the owner. And he's, oh, yes, welcome, welcome. Come in, come in and sort of bustles you around. The ceiling is very low. So, Rowan, you are, like, really having to, like, crouch as you sort of step down, and it's very low ceilined. But that means that the warmth rises, and it's, you know, it's very toasty and warm in here.

There is, like, a heavy smoke, but it smells of, like, wood chips and smoked kind of, that really nice campfirey kind of smell. You sit down and enjoy a lunch of, because it's not really a place where you order, you get, like, whatever the lunch of the day is. And it would be dire penguin meat with ice-hart vegetables, like root vegetables, so like, you know, kind of hearty tubers and seasoned and not really a lot of spices, but a lot of kind of, everything's grilled and softened with sauces.

It's like a big, thick, heavy, like, stewed sauce that's drizzled over everything. The dire penguin meat is, like, quite thick. But for you, graphists, oh, my God, it's like being home. And then there's an extra treat, a part of it is brought out, is Fell Sturming, which is very stinky, pickled fish. Oh no.

Ice devil fish. Right. A little pot of it with that bread to like dip in and smear it and, you know, smear it on. This is going to be a bit of an acquired delicacy. Oh, this is a treat. You're in for a treat, my friends. I mean, this would be a real luxury back home.

Like, you would have this for like special. Well, it smells really bad. Oh, that's just, oh, that's the smell of good agent. Well, you're gonna need to get you something before you go and teach the kids because they're not gonna want to be near you of your breath smells. Well, fuck. Um, Look, nothing you can say is gonna take away from this moment.

You don't understand. This is, oh, this is a treat. This is a treat. This is a treat, boy, oh. And what's this, uh, this meat here? Oh, that's Dyer Penguin. What? Ooh.

What do you... Pretty common out there, actually. I mean, they're a menace. Overrun by them. Yeah. How do you... They all attack you if they catch you out on like the ice and stuff. How do you harvest them?

Oh, well, they tend to attack us. Oh, okay. Yeah, they swam our boats and tried to eat our fish. Oh, they're like fish, these penguins? Kind of like vermin, really. Isn't it? Penguin. Oh, sometimes some dialects they say ping ling. Pengling.

Right. Yeah. So they're all evil or... they say penguin. Pengween. Hmm. Interesting. Well, I'll give it a go.

It's very tough. It's very like steaky kind of texture. It's quite a tough but quite salty. Make sure you have this sauce with it as well. Yeah, the sauce is what kind of balances out the saltiness of it. It's kind of like a thick mushroomy kind of heavy gravy sauce. I could drink this sauce.

This sauce is delectable. How much? So glad you enjoy. It's so lovely. Don't vryle her up. Do you part taking the feldsterming? No price. Yeah, so as soon as you crack...

The jug? Give it here. The feldshring comes in like a clay pot with a lid, and it's like a seal. So it's like a proper... As soon as you pop the seal, yeah, like you're hit by this wafty, briny, fishy stench.

And you see Gruff like spoons it onto like these crisp flatbreads and like properly smears it. There's like a cream sauce that you put on. Rowan's trying to imitate. It's delicious. It's doing, but nowhere near the amount of sauce. A little, yeah.

A little tiny, it seems a bit much. Also, it's quite stuffy in here, has it not? It's quite stuffy. Rowan's head is just like... Yeah, you're like, you're eating, like, crunch like that. Probably, isn't it? Oh yeah, I've drunk all the sauce. You just drunk the mushrooms.

Well, is that so much. Okay, nice. No price. But yeah, the whole thing probably cost you about two gold for the whole everyone takes. Oh my brother, thank you for this treat. Oh, you're more than welcome. It's nice to see, you know, we don't get a lot of mostly folks who are already living here,

so we only get a few travellers from homeland, from home, coming through. So I'm glad you enjoyed it. It's nice to... We try and get a few things in fresh. We do a lot of stuff for the tourists, but I've got you the good stuff. Understand, but thank you so much. It's a real luxury here. Oh, you're more than welcome. Takes me back home. It really does.

More than welcome. Well, we're always here if you need a lovely meal from home. We do rotate the meal. It's different food every day. And also, you should come by in the evening. We have a story. We have a saddicorgia every night. We should do that.

You get an experience of storytelling. Now, it won't be as good as Mike Herodwin, but, you know, I'm sure others will suffice. I'd love to go. Yes. You can do that one night. Mm-hmm. Is there anywhere, do you know of anywhere

that has good little trinkets or gifts from Ice Heart? Oh, I, yes. Oh, absolutely. I mean, we've got loads of places like that. I suppose you want to head up into Calon Avenue. That's the main sort of street, and there's lots of markets and things like that

that run all around that. Hurthbourne Street is actually one. It's got a big open-air market. Lots of home-ings. made goods on Hearthbourne Street. We get a lot of our supplies for the food and things like that. There's a lot of food sellers, but also little trinkets and skrimshaw and that sort of thing up there as well.

Eye heart, ice heart. That's very good. That's very good. I don't think I've seen any of those, but probably... Well, they're missing out. Yes, Hurthbourne Street, which is just off Calon Avenue. Right, thank you. What's it like mailing stuff back home from here?

Oh, we've got pretty good couriers. You can expediate it. We've got magic. So we have a few folks who teleport back to Klon every few days. So normally if you're lucky and you can catch one of those, they can get it delivered pretty sharpish. Otherwise, we've got animal messengers for letters. We've got sending stones, telegram service stations, that sort of thing. So it's quite easy to get, it'll be to take a day or two.

I might get one of those to send something back to Keridwin. Yeah, you should put some dye a penguin in a, In a box or something. Well, she wouldn't need it. Inundated. Attacked all the time. I'll send her something from you. The source.

Yeah. Ophelia drank old. It's gone. Again, it's like a local, it's a local source. Kedwin would have plenty. But yeah, like you can definitely find a place here to send mail to.

Depends on just, again, it's how much you're willing to spend. Like if you spend a premium amount, they'll definitely give it to somebody who's making a teleport trip. back to Kalon City and then they'll transfer it from there. Send Santhi's there. Yeah, I mean you could. I've sent you a boy.

You're both him? I'm here from puppy. But yeah, I mean, after eating your meal and paying for it and enjoying that, if you head to Hurthbourne Street, it depends on what you're looking for, but mainly you see that the Ice Heart District, Frost Hill, is all about, like, handmade goods. It's a lot of, like, leather goods, a lot of furs. But Scrimshaw is the other big thing.

thing. So they kind of take like the tusks and things out of the creatures that they kill the dire penguins and stuff like that. And then they carve figurines or combs, whistles and flutes, those sorts of things. They do a lot of those from scrimshaw from the tusks and bones and things like that. They try to make sure that like nothing is really wasted, you know. So I've got an idea, it ties into something, an idea I had for a training later on. So I would like to shop for little bone whistles. Yeah. And that's all I will say, no.

Yeah, easily found. To buy, do you want one for each member of the team? So 11 of them? So you probably have to shop a few different market stores. And they all have different things. Like some of them are done like creatures. So you get like bears, you get a couple of like, dire penguins, like kind of like shape like that.

Some have done in the shape of like boats. Some of the whistles are probably done in like mythical creatures, like Yetis and knights and things like that. So there's all these different kind of designs and you get like a mixture of them basically. But yeah, you buy 11 Scrimshaw bone whistles basically. Cool. Yeah, we'll work out price for that.

It won't be too much. It's gonna be a handful of gold. Nice. See, that's a nice little little thing that they can keep. And it's from Iceheart and then it associates it with you. But we can also get the orange. because that is important. Oh, I already bought them.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay. Well, it's good, is that an half-time snack? Yeah. Keep you go in. Oh, I thought you were gonna throw them at them. Why would I do that? I don't know. I don't know what your coaching structure is. I don't know what my coaching structure is.

Well, consider throwing them. I don't want to see his. That sounds horrible. Said the end. Me and Ophelia, I think, are aligned on this. We just need to drill down on Hawkins and get right to his core. Shattering him from the inside out, and build him back up again to be a good, good boy.

That was my job. No, of Hawkins is... No, I know, I know, I'm just saying, consider it. I have. Okay, good, good. Yeah, considered, thank you. Yeah. I could do with you keeping an eye on that Piper.

Me? Yeah. Pippa? Yeah, I'm pretty sure she has a lot of sharp objects upon herself. Definitely has a knife? Yeah. Actually, I'm like 90% sure we saw them with the knife. Yep.

A hundred percent has a knife. He was wielding a knife. Yeah, okay. Why, I can do, yeah, absolutely. Scares me. Why, I can do that? Are you scared of Pippa and her knife? Are you not? Do you remind me of Pippa?

Small, kniffy. That's fair. You take Pippa. I'll take Pippa. Well, no, whatever Gruff says. Daisy's already working with an order. Yeah. Oh, yes, yeah.

Okay. So I've just, just Pippa. No one else you don't want me to, like, just PIPPA? Well, I need to find... It's going to be a full-time job. I need to find out more about the rest of the team and see who suits, you know, a little bit of guidance. Just try and encourage her not to get stabby whilst playing the game.

I, um, uh, I, now, I don't think you guys think this of me, but I've heard people describe me as stabbable. No. Very stabble. So, thank you for ricks. So, I, yeah, I, maybe, maybe, sometimes annoying. Sometimes, sometimes.

Thank you, Ricks. Nice this thing you said. I like it when you use magic to incinerate things. I'm really good at that. Maybe I could, no. No. Pippa, I can work with Pippa. I can work with Pippa.

It's only a small knife, it's fine. I don't want to get stabbed with anything. I'll hear you, it's fine. That's great Okay, yeah, Pipper Who's everyone else taking? Well, I need to think, I need to, I haven't really

connected with the others so I need to find out a bit more about them and have a think. Sure. Well, I think Hawkins would make a lot of difference to everybody because he's just terrible. He sucks.

He's bad. Yeah. He's stabble. Misunderstood. Misunderstood, yeah. That's the thing, if we can direct him the right way, I think he'll do a lot of good

for rest of tea? Yes. Yes. I hope. Okay, I pray to the Saints in silence every day. It'll be fine. It'll be fine, we believe. You've got this, Gruffeth.

Yes, children. You've got the whistles now and that won't be noisy at all. Why did it have to be children? With that, you begin making your way towards the coil, towards the Peach House, retracing your steps. By the time you arrive, you arrive a little early before the kids all start showing up. So you have a bit of time.

The field that they use, you know, this is really like, it was probably like kind of left as like an open garden space that's just been sort of abandoned and not really attended to for a long time. The ground is patchy with grass. There are like weeds and bushes that have overgrown far off to the sides. It's just clearly not been looked after by the local residents because it is sort of surrounded by townhouses and workshops and all that sort of thing. There is a ramshackle half-broken shed that seems to contain the hatchball equipment. You know, the goalposts, the nest posts have to be set up, you know, dragged out and put up. There's like all the shin pads and knee pads and shoulder pads and things like that are all stored in here. They're all really just bad quality and they've not been looked after.

They're worn, they're broken. You know, the uniforms, as I said, like the actual team has been completely faded. you know the numbers on the back are like mostly gone as well um it's dusty the shed is like full of like spiders and cobwebs and it looks like there's definitely a few rats have been in in and out of here um and the ground the ground itself is actually quite hard like without that you know grass that's growing through it's really turned to sort of like a dusty dirty kind of clay you know mud like substance and you know it's not the most pleasant environment to play on or like it work with basically. Since we're early, can I spend a bit of time and obviously up to you how much time I have?

Spending some time casting, mending on the kit just to kind of repair the worst offenders and then also using create water to just like, I was about to say moisturise. What I meant was hydrate. Moistrate the ground. Like I want to moisturise the ground. with water. So just like not water log it, but just kind of make it a bit more like spongy. Is it just you doing that? Like, is it just gruff or is anybody else going to help out?

We could help out by getting water. Is there any like wells or anything nearby? There's definitely wells, but there's no like watering cans or anything like that. So you would be sort of having to like use your own water skins to like go around and like try and water the ground and things like that. I think everyone's thinking.

I think the feeling of Percy would help just weed, pull up some of the weeds around. Rimeter. Yeah, for sure, yeah, easily done. Like, yeah, like, there's, like, clearly bushes that are, like, actual nice bushes, but they've just been left to overgrow. Yeah.

But then there are all these, like, thick weeds and ivies and, you know, stork grasses that are, like, you know, pulling through, and that, like, can just be whipped out and thrown away. Nasty. Ow. believe you can create moving parts with your sprinkler.

Unless with spools. So. You'd have to like build it. Yeah, it's an assembly piece. Right? Oh, not another. That's going to involve a check for you to build it. It's fine. I'll nail it. Okay. And then, so the water itself is what spins the device.

Right, okay. The velocity of aquaponics. Right. Where's the velocity of this water coming from? From the highest position. So you pour in high, it fills in. It fills in and then it starts spinning. Right, okay. Can you give me a, are you proficient with tinker's tools?

Yeah. Not this character, no. No, I don't know. I didn't think so. So this would just be a straight intelligence role. Use fate. You may use fate, absolutely. Got loads. Straight intelligence.

Just straight intelligence. You have no proficiency in this. 20. Really? It's minus one. You use your magic creation to create your sprue, which you've established before that you can do. You use your sword to like pop off all the pieces

and then begin to assemble this device that you've imagined. Okay, if you click in here. Screws on, like, you know, you rotate. Oh, it's got a good spin to it. Yep, and then you, yeah, you find this thing where you pour in water from the top. It flows down. And it only lasts as long as water's pouring in at the top.

Yeah, you know. Keep topping it up. Yeah, so it's exhaustive work for whoever's doing that. totally doable. And yeah. There you go, this will save some time, Gruffeth. That's wonderful. Is it like portable so you can move it

to different parts of the pitch? I would say it had wheels, but I'm pushing on that point. Gruff, why don't you give me a nature check as well, as you're going around and sort of like watering the ground? Nature. For a druid, I am garbage at this. You have plenty of fate if you want to spend one. I will take a fate because I am minus one at nature.

Okay. For reasons I don't know. 13 minus 1, 16. 16. I would say that with a 16, I mean, you can tell that this ground, there is like good ground here. Like, it's not being neglected that badly. It's just not being attended to in a while.

And you are a druid. Like, if you spent some time, you probably, there is magic that you could prepare to actually make this quite a nice, you know, luscious pitch, potentially, which would be a lot nicer for the kids to play on. Because right now, it's just kind of dreary and miserable as well. But yeah, so with that, you can probably like things like plant growth or something like that would be enough to like re-lawn this whole pitch basically. But you also go around and you start mending like the equipment.

And it's not so much that it's like actually broken, broken. You definitely mend a couple of pieces here and there. It's just worn and like old and cheap and it's not really being kept up to a good standard. And, you know, like the protective like knee pads and shoulder pads, they're so thin from overuse that they're probably not actually doing that much so it kind of de-incentivises the kids to tackle very hard or to even bother trying to block

because they know that it's just going to hurt if they get caught so yeah the nest ball prongs which are like the goals the nest sorry just they're called the nests it's basically the goals that they've got to score through you know those you erect those and it's sort of like

You have to extend them out, these, like, you know, wooden kind of rickety beams, plant them in the ground. And, yeah, by the time you've kind of done all this, unless there's anything Daisy and Xanthius are doing during all of this. Just helping wherever we get pointed, probably. Okay. And, yeah. So probably helping, like, parsine and ophelia, like, pulling up some of the weeds and, like, helping with Rowan's watering.

Yeah. You do? Enough to maybe repaint all the lines on this. No. Okay. Um, no. Graf, do you want me to burn away the lines? Oh, I suppose that could help.

Try not to set fire to anything else, though. Right. I could maybe go and buy some. I think it would be good to repaint the lines. Probably white is probably clearer. Okay, no. There's a good idea, though, aren't you? Well done. Some sort of paintbrush, but it's wheel-like.

Then on some sort of stick. and you can walk along. Give me a day. Okay, okay. Performance of creation, don't ever let a player make a sprew with it. That's a DM tip for you. That's on the coast, man.

Why are you gonna make a Gundam? Oh my God. It would not function, it would be a model, but you could make a model. I think it's only, you can create large now, right, with your performance of creation. So yeah, it's like a 10 foot by 10 foot spree. That's pretty big.

I mean, that's... Hundreds of great-in-sized. Yes. Yeah. But yeah, by the time you've all finished, Daisy and Xanthus, it doesn't... It's not very hard if you go by like a bucket of paint, basically. Come back with some brushes.

And the two of you paint on new lines, make it look a little bit more fresh, just as the first couple of kids begin to arrive. You would definitely see that there's a couple who arrive a lot earlier than the others. Guntrim, the young... Nerds! Yeah.

basically the nerds. Fuck you, shut up! Yeah, young Guntram arrives quite early. Pippa also arrives quite early as well. Do you want to shout nerd at Pippa? No! Paulie,

the goblin and Barnabas as well. And then the other sort of filter in as when they can. Hawkins arrives the latest actually after he's supposed to be here. So like, you know, you're waiting for him to show up, sort of saunter's in, you know, casual as anything, like,

big deal, okay, you have to wait for me, sort of throws, throws his bag to the side. I'd start without him. Oh, okay. Yeah, nice, nice. Ooh. Yeah, okay. He sort of arrives. What do you have the team doing?

Like, how do you set up your training day? So I feel like we'd start with a little bit of, so. Isometric exercises. Well, yeah, like dynamic stretching and that kind of thing. Like, just start. So I think, like, you try and sort of, you know, you welcome everybody and, like, get them to start stretching. And Pippur is just like,

Hawkins ain't here. We can't start with our Hawkins. Well, this is the allocated time, though. Yeah. But, like, Hawkins ain't here. Well, I'm sure he can get stuck in whenever he turns up. And there's this, like, look at, like, everybody sort of, like, looks at each other.

You can't start without him. But this time is the team's time. So the team needs to be here on time. And if you're not here on time, then you're not here for the team, are you? Give me a persuasion roll. Um, Lefit. Sure. Burn through it. Please burn through it. Ugh.

Ugh. 12. You get the sensation that like, there's definitely a couple of nods and things like that. Like you see Guntram is like, yeah, like, yeah. Like, yeah. Like, this is the team. time. It's time, you know, if he's not here, we should start without him and stuff. You see a couple of the other more quiet ones. Beron, the young Yotnir just is like, again, always staring at the floor. Very, like, hunch, like very self-conscious, doesn't seem to be engaging.

Paulie says just like, yeah, team time, time, team, team, team, team, team, go, go, go. And seems to be like very energized by like, yeah, come on, let's play. but Pippa and Athana are just totally not into it they're just sort of like okay I guess but like we can't play until Hawkegwick they're still not convinced by it

but you kind of get them all stretching and you can see that this is kind of new to a lot of them like they normally just go straight into like playing so this idea of like warm ups and stretching they're probably not too used to it you see Barnabas is struggling bless him he's just so big and he's very clearly not, you know, in shape.

And it's like really, really struggling. And you can see Pippa and Pauly and Emile and Davian sort of giggling and laughing at him because he's like, he can't even like reach his toes when he bends over and stuff because he's too big. You see that Athana is very good, though, at the stretches. She seems to be extremely flexible and very dexterous. And is sort of trying to like, you know, she's kind of sure. showing off a little bit, but almost like you get the sense of like not quite.

But yeah, you kind of pick up on a few things. Hawkins, as a said, arrives really late. And he kind of looks like, as every, you've kind of got everybody, probably at this point, like running, like doing some like running exercise and stuff. And he's like, what the hell? Like, you, you started without me. Well, you were late? Yeah, but like, just I'm the...

My responsibility is to the team. Ten of them were here. So I got them started. Well, I guess, yeah, sure. I mean, I guess they need it, right? They need the extra time. So, yeah, good on you, coach. Well done, yeah.

They need to do the extra work. Yeah, you're right. Right, start with your stretches, please. Stretches? Yes. All right, okay. Like, start stretching, like, I guess, like... Well, you're doing the same thing everyone does.

We do everything as a team together. And if you may, please, can you turn up on time next time? Yeah, well, we'll have to see. I had stuff I had to do at school, so. I'll try. Is that okay? Well, it's your team. You are part of the team.

Respect the time. Kind of makes this big, dramatic gesture, like, this guy, and you see, like, like, Pippa and his little cron, he's like, eh. But he's just like, this guy. I just like bark at Hawkins. Just like, not like a dog.

Ro, right, right, right, right. It's like, get stretching. Now, do a great. Gruff says. Give me an intimidate role. She's fed up with his back. Give me an intimidate role. With fate.

Oh, with fate? Yeah, please. Okay. Work. 29. 29. Fuck it out. I'm going to spend a point of fate to add like a complication.

So you, you scare the shit out of him. Like, he's like, Jesus, right, calm down. But you get the imprints. Hawkins will remember this, right? Like, he is just like, he glared. When he starts stretching and like he does quiet down and he focuses on it but you catch him like shooting daggers at you

like this point on. Let's see what he does. Hawkins. Hawkins. Hades. Halea. Halea. Haphaelian. Hawkins hates Hawkins. Basically anything that isn't an intimidate role,

you'll have disadvantage. If you try and do anything with Hawkins that is not scaring him, basically, or shouting at him, he is not interested, and you will have disadvantage on any future roles. Okay. Eventually, yeah, Hawkins kind of does his stretches. He races through it so he can start doing the sprints,

but he also completes that a lot quicker. You know, the rest of the team is kind of slow. You know, with people like Guntram and Barnabas and Beron, they are quite slow because they're big, they're like heavy, they're not particularly athletic. And so by the time they finished, Hawkins has actually caught up to them, and he kind of seems none the worse for wear, like the kid is athletic.

Like, unfortunately, that is something that you pick up on in that he is very, very athletic and very good at what he's doing. But yeah, so you sort of finish them all warming up. What's your next move and what does everybody else want to kind of get involved with? So I think the next one would be I am going to run a drill and I've got a drill in mind. Okay, great. So, yeah, people can help with that or, like, help. You tell us what, like, Graff's doing.

Yeah, I would ask, like, I will set the drill and then ask my team, the squad, the adults in the room. Your subcoaches. Yeah, to, like, observe, help, like, you know, maybe break out with the little groups and stuff like that and help with that. So we're like, okay, so I wanted to start again. My name is Graffeth, and I'm from tomorrow. And you may have met Seren last time, and Seren flaps, you know, on... and a grove shoulder. What I didn't tell you is what Serrin is for.

So Sarah and I, we fish together. And we do that through communication. And I will whistle. And upon my whistle, Seren will shoot up in the air. And then I'll whistle again, and she'll make a kind of maneuver. And then I'll whistle a third time, and she'll come back. Okay. Can you give me an animal handling role to see how impressive a display this is?

Yeah, I'm feigning it. Come on, I need something. Sure. 21. 21. It's an impressive display. Like you kind of whistle, Sarah and Abays, and you see all of the kids are definitely watching,

not quite in awe, but they're watching very attentatively. The sharp whistle sound definitely sort of catches all their attention. And even, like, Hawkins and Pippa, the, the troublemaker ones, they are sort of intrigued by this display. You definitely get the sense that Hawkins is like, like, where is this going? Like, there's this kind of like, okay, get to the point. But you see, Guntram is, like, nodding his head.

Like, he's like, oh, yeah, okay. And you would also see Vennora also seems to kind of, seems to get where you're going with this, basically. But yeah, continue. We work well together because we communicate together. We know how to talk to each other. We know how to talk to each other quickly, and effectively, we have certain ways of communicating

to communicate different things. What I've noticed from yesterday, you don't talk to each other. Okay, you maybe shout and you maybe throw things around and you read each other, that's okay. But what I want to work on is sharpening up communications with each other

because if you can sharpen that up, well, you're going to keep the other team on the back foot, especially because they won't know what you're calling for. You see like some nods of heads like, Hawkins, like, because you've related this specifically to the game, like, Hawkins is actually like, yeah, I've been saying the same thing. Like, we just get people that don't talk. And he points to people like Tristan and Vinora.

He's like, yeah, get them to talk. But do you listen? Yeah, of course we listen. Do you listen? Yeah, yeah, yeah. You don't get your brain. You can get him. You can get hurt.

But what I would say is that when he calls out some of the kids, even some of the neutral kids, his non-cronies, like, Guntram nods his head as well. Like, you kind of get this impression that, like, he's not lying. Like, definitely there are kids in this group who don't communicate ever. And yeah, Hawkins is a loudmouth and he's annoying as hell.

But when you watch him play, he does say it like, come on, cross over, cross over, and he's trying to coordinate them. But he's a bully, and he does it in a bullying way. Yeah. Communication is about talking and it's about listening. It's about call and response. Do you understand me?

So. You kind of nod their head. You get a couple of like, yes, coach and, yeah. I want those of you who are quiet to find your voice. And I want those of you who have voices to start listening. Now, to help with this, I've got you all something from Cremoro. And I'll start handing out the whistles that we bought in the market. They kind of look at them weird.

Athana looks at hers quite happily because it's made of bone. And it's like, oh, this is cool. She's kind of like the gothy elf girl. Pauley immediately puts it in his mouth. This goblin kid tries to like eat it and it's like, and it blows into it. It makes it super loud and he's like, ah. You see the others kind of like take them,

sort of curiously look at them. But yeah, it definitely seems to like they all sort of like hold them out, you know. So I'll sort of them a little bit. that's basically I'll split them into pairs to start with I think and it will be like I'll teach them three basic signals you know sort of pass to me defend that like run there and something like strike or something like that so three different basic commands and three basic different whistles and I'll set them in pairs and get them practicing just learning what what the like one will whistle and the other will be like oh that's attack, oh, that's return, oh, that's like, you know, defend.

So as you're kind of explaining this, one of them, Davian, who's this fabulous. But coach, we're not allowed to have these whistles when we actually play. What are we supposed to do when we actually play? We'll think of code words, but for now, this is what I want you to do. I wanted to share a little bit of my home with you all. All right, fine, I suppose. And also, if you learn this, you might be able to start speaking to say. certain.

Make a roll to see how many... I mean, like, you know, they can work with Saturday. Sure, sure. You... Very few of them seem to be interested in that. You don't get the sense. These are all city kids. Like, they're not like, oh, wow, special animal.

Like, they're just sort of like, whatever. You know, they're quite... They're teenagers. They're not little kids. Sure, sure, sure. But that's the thing. It's like they don't seem to react to that as an incentive. Right.

Who do you pair them all up? Who are the pairings that you do? That's kind of important. I think I would... Would I pair them up specifically? I kind of would just do it randomly. Like, numb your cells one and two. Like, I would go in...

Like, if they're in a shape, I'd be like, one, two, one, two, one, two, and then like... Okay. One's on this side, two's on that side. Okay, sure. in that case because it will affect

who's paired up with who so I'm going to roll I'll do evens and odds for each player and then there would be a group of three I think like if I run out

if I just do the same ones then all the rest of them are one Tristan is also two so the rest are all ones and then oh no Hawkins and Treas Tristan a pad up.

Oh no. Emil and Athana. A pad up. Davian and Baron. Pippa and Tristan. I don't know Tristan. Pippa and Pauley, which is also very bad. Chaos twins.

Yeah. And then Guntram and who do I not have... We will have an 11th, so I'll make a three. Nora. Well, it's tricky because Barnabas is obviously the archkeeper, so it does not normally... Yeah, yeah, yeah. So I partner him with Venora.

Okay, so Guncham, Venora and Barnabas, basically. So they're basically the two dwarfs and then this stocky little bear guy, basically. And yeah, you partner them up. I normally roll like an event to see how training goes, but based on these pairings, I don't think I need to. It's an event in its own. You watch them as they start blowing these whistles

and immediately you get the sense of and like you kind of ask the guys to like, are you asking the team, like your team to keep an eye on certain groups? Like help out, like, what are you doing with that? I think I wouldn't set any further commands to that. I'd just be like, could you just go and keep an eye and coach and like.

Roman will gravitate towards Tristan and Hawkins. Okay. Keep an eye on this dynamic going. Perfect. I'll watch Paulie and Piper. Okay. Oh boy. You told me to watch Piper.

He's dead. I'll watch the trio. You watch the trio. The goblins bearing the body. Have you flashed? So you have Baron, who's the Yotnir, and Davian, who's the very fancy boy.

And then you have Emil, who is the young bronze dragonborn boy, and Athana, who's the Gothic elf girl. I'll go with Athana. Okay. Perfect. And then gruff, you're kind of keeping like an open eye. Xanthias, you watch as Pippa and this goblin Pauly begin playing,

and within like five minutes, Pippa is like blowing this whistle, and Pauley is just like, ha! Hatsball! And it's just ignoring it. The whistle is just like round his neck, and he's just completely ignoring it. And Pippa's like, you stupid fucking goblin fucking!

and like, is like getting so angry. Whoa, language, language. He ain't fucking listening. Paulie, Paulie. Huh? Pauley, come here, buddy. Hatchball! Hatch ball!

Fantastic. He throws the hatchball at you as hard as he can. Try and catch it, I guess. Yeah, give me a, this would be an acrobatics role. Acrobatics. Four? I think it's like, well, it's either, do you want it to hit you and bounce off,

or does it hit you but fold you? you like inwards. Like, it's so hard, it like wins you. Can I cast shield? You can, yeah. Alright, I can shield. So like, you see this ball and it's like an art, like he throws it, this little goblin throws it,

and you're like, oh, God, and you just quickly pull up this shield. Okay. And the ball just bounces off, and he just starts like, ah, God, but he's saying in Goblin, which Gruff, I think, maybe you'd now eventually over here, he's just like, Cheetah, Cheetah, you're using magic. Not allowed, not allowed, I can't use magic.

Sorry, I'm not picking up what you're putting down. He's like shaking his fist to you. And like, Pip was just like, see what I mean? This is what I gotta deal with. He don't listen, he's stupid. He never listens to anything. He's not stupid. He's stupid.

He's dumb. He stinks. I hate this guy. I hate him. He doesn't stick. Kind of stinks. Um, okay. Well, okay, now let's just practice.

He's just a reckless moron. And you see, like, Paul, he's like, moron? Stupid? No. Hatchball. See? No, hatchball.

I'm also reckless and stupid, Pippa. Now, let's try. Paulie, listen to me. Great, great start. Run over there. Runs. Okay, see, now that's easy, Pippa. Doesn't stop running.

Come back. Polly? No, Polly's gone. Graff, we lost one. He's now just running laps around the pitch. I mean, the kid's got energy. Yeah. We're going running laps. I was saying Goblin, like,

return to Coach Santhius. Pauli looks at you. You speak. You speak, you speak, my parents speak. Oh. You speak like my parents. Yes, we are a goblin merchant once in Tramoro. Taught me a few years. Nobody here understands. I've only just learned common. I don't speak much common. Oh, right, okay. And you see that everybody on the team is like, stop what they're doing

and is watching you for the first time talking to this kid who nobody up to this point could understand. Oh, Paulie, I'm so sorry. Do you understand the drill? Uh, not really. You blow whistle, whistle makes a sound. Pippa, Pippa is mad. We're learning three specific signals like this, and each one means a certain thing.

What I want is for Pippa to blow the whistle and you say which signal it is. Okay, okay. I can't, and he practices the words of like what signal it is, and eventually he kind of gets it. Pippa looks at you like, you can speak his, like, goblin or what? Oh, yeah, absolutely.

Oh, okay. And he understands you know, he understand what you were saying? He understands perfectly. All right, fine. We'll try again. Pippa, let me give you something here. And I'll teach her, like, the goblin for the kind of words that I was trying to, the signals. So, like, run, defend, attack.

Sure. You know, and I'll teach her those three words. Sure. Like. Yeah, perfect. Yeah, you watch, having had this, like, little moment where you've actually kind of explained it properly. to Pauli and to Pippa as well and giving them this thing, the two of them, like, you watch and, yeah, suddenly, like,

Pauli's listening and he shouts out the correct, come on, and does, he runs, they pass, you know, she says, go long, he goes long. And the two of them actually play really well together, because they're both small, but they're both very agile and very quick, the two of them actually kind of really complement each other's play style, but they just did not get on because Piper would be, so mad that he would just never listen and he's too excitable. But now she can kind of yell at him and he does like stop and he does get too excited.

And you see Pippa gets very frustrated when he like, he'll like run and she's just like, no, come back and like gets frustrated with him. But there is like a little bit of a breakthrough where the two of them do seem to be able to work pretty well together. This is easy. Yeah. As that, you kind of finish with that training. As you look over, Rowan, you.

you've been watching Tristan and Hawkins play for a little bit and at first they're like doing the drill as normal and then I think like you can tell you don't need to make a role for this Tristan's just his heart isn't in it he does not want to be here he's like doing the bare minimum

that he has to do but you can tell that he's clearly got the capability he just doesn't want to do it and like I think Hawkins is like pass like he blows the signal for pass and Tristan just sort of half-asses it and throws it to him

and Hawkins just like, kind of, is just like, ah, typical Sister Trissy, just can't be fucking bothered, can you? Like, Babelan starts, like, railing into him. Like, what's the matter? Those priests, like, the nuns got you too hard, like scrubbing floors or, like, you know, mending, you know, washing dishes or whatever. Can you not be bothered to play with us anymore? And Tristan's just like, just stop, Hawkins.

I don't want to have this fight with you. He's just like, why not, sister Trissy, what's the matter? And, like, kind of gets up in his face. Not today. Don't do this today. And he's just like, do what? What? I'm not doing anything.

and eventually it snaps. And you see, like, Tristan goes to shove Hawkins. Hawkins knows not to touch him, but he's doing just enough to, like, get in his face. Come on, Sister Trissy, what's the matter? And then you just see this religious kid is, like, I've had enough today and goes to shove him. Well, he will hit Rowan as well as he steps in between. So, well, I think, like, you immediately go step in and just get him before he looks up. Hey, guys.

They like look up at you. I put one hand on either shoulder. What is this? Let me tell you something. I've got new pants. And it's the most freeing thing I've ever had. Coach, coach your friend's being real weird.

Just go with it for now. Now what's going on here? You don't like him? You don't like him. Oh, no, I like Sister Trissy just fine. I just wish that they actually fucking played the game. Do you like being called that, Tristan? Not particularly, no.

So, that doesn't sound like you like each other. I don't like Hawkins, no. He's a bully, he's a loudmouth, he's arrogant, and he needs to learn to shut up and let people get on with their business. Oh, Hawkins? Well, yeah, I am arrogant. You are, aren't you? Yeah, because I'm the best on the team.

And this little prick doesn't want to be here. So why keep turning up? Why do you keep coming and just dragging the rest of us down? Like, you clearly don't want to be here. You'd rather be off with what? Your little nuns, your sisters in the church. No more assumptions, please, Hawkins. Got a very...

Give me a persuasion roll, right? 11 plus. 12. 22. Woo! I think that, like, Hawkins kind of looks up, and he's like, he just holds his hands up, and he's like, fine.

But I'm not wrong, right? And Tristan's like, no, you're right. I don't want to be here. Don't like hatchball? I don't want to be playing this stupid game. I've got other important things to do, but the sisters say I have to come, I have to play. It's good for my physical education,

but why do I care about some... But it sucks, right? It's a stupid game. It's a stupid game for people that can't do anything else, and he's, like, looking at Hawkins when he says that. Right. Right. Ah, okay. Interesting. I've got a higher calling, and it's a waste of my time to be here.

Oof, ouch, Hawkins? I mean, what? Like, this, what, you think you'll, like, some gift from the gods, from the Sions? What's Tristan missing about Hatchball, though? It's fun. It's a good, like, it's a fun game. I'm not saying it's the be-all and end-all, but if you're going to be here, be here. I don't like playing with these losers, but I turn up and I give 100%. And this guy isn't. There's probably someone we can meet in the middle here.

First of all... I don't want to meet in the middle. I don't... Listen, you're not even our coach. No, I'm not. Rowan, was it? Yes. Like, I don't want to be here.

Why should I bother? I didn't bring you here. No, I didn't bring me here. I'm being forced to be here by my... by my caretakers. Look, I will play this stupid game, but I don't need to give you any more than I want to. And I don't particularly want to.

And I'm sick of that. this guy giving me a hard time calling me these names. What? Because I don't like your stupid sport, because I don't want to be some drunkard in a tavern like you probably want to be. I've got a bigger purpose. I've got a higher calling. I like to read. I like to be quiet. Like, why is that such a problem to you? It's not. Just, you know, want you to be like here on the team, I guess. Like, just think it's stupid that you turn up. Like, in your fancy robes and like your nice, you know, your stupid long hair. It's dumb.

And you can see that Hawkins is flustered. Like, he's flustered. I think you both raise very good points here. About each other. Great? It's like, okay? It's not helping anything, is it? You both come here and you're both frustrated, you're angry.

I'm not angry. I love being here. I love playing this game. I just wish I didn't have to play with a much. bunch of losers and half-asses. I should be playing with a real team. I should be playing with actually good people. Unfortunately, you don't get that choice.

No, I'm stuck here with these losers. So what are we going to do with the time that we have? Shout at each other? Well, yeah. I think, yeah. Yeah, that sounds good. I mean, having conversations, I don't want to sit around holding hands,

having whatever this is, this little powwow. I just wanted to talk about my new pants, but apparently I can't do that. Yeah, okay. Coach, this guy's weird. We're not talking to him anymore. Oh, right. Sorry, what's going on over here?

I think Hawkins has, like, gone off, and he's now just practicing on his own. Where's Hawkins gone off to? Hawkins doesn't like Tristan. Tristan doesn't like Hawkins. Tristan doesn't want to be here. He's got a higher calling, which rubs Hawkins the wrong way

because football, hatchball, is Hawkins' life, and he's very good at it. And I think maybe there's some jealous on Hawkins's part. Do you want to give me an insight role? No. No.

Rowan? Natural 20. Woo! You, Rowan, you're a storyteller. You know stories. You know the kind of common tropes that come up in various different stories and things like that. And that interaction between those two boys, you can read between the lines. Because it's a lot more than what was being said.

You think Tristan's very honest. Like Tristan genuinely just thinks this is a waste of his time. He doesn't see the value in being here. But he's clearly capable of more. Like he's very physically fit, very athletic. Hawkins is bothered by the fact that Tristan doesn't try. Because he's, Tristan is, could be as good as him. But also, you get the sense that there's more to it.

And Hawkins, you know, the way that he like went a little red. Like, you know, the way that he purposely wanted to like, get up close to Tristan, like to antagonize him, the way that he commented on things like his hair, you get the sense that maybe there's a bit of a crush there as well, but Hawkins does not want to acknowledge that in any way. Like, he's almost trying to deny that to himself as well. Cool.

But yeah, that's what... Within that 20, like, I'm just going to outright tell you that's the case. If it doesn't upset your training, I wouldn't mind a bit of one-on-one with Hawkins, if that's all right. Oh, yeah, sure. I mean, he's gone off on his own anyway. That's true, I need to... Yeah, and Tristan's, like, just sat on the bench and he's, like, reading.

He's got his book out again and he's reading. And it seems to be, like, what he does whenever he's not being directly told to do something. Tristan, can I ask? Yes, Coach Gruff. You wish to enter the church? I am... I'm an orphan of the church. I'm being trained as a priest of the science, yes? And I'm guessing you don't see any value in what we're doing here today?

I don't. I mean, surely you might... You've been... tasked with this by your knightly order. It's not like something you sort out to do, is it? You'd rather not be here, I'm sure. Can I be completely honest with you, Tristan? I think you're mature enough to take this. Well, thank you. I don't like being treated as a child. I didn't want to be here.

No. I can tell that. I know that. You must have some idea of why I'm here. I'm trying to join the order of the lawyer allowance. And I'm trying to be a knight. Yes, I understand that. It's very much why I'm here. as well. The physical, there are physical demands of a priest of the Sion's church. There is no real way for me to train in physical endeavors in our abbey currently. So the sisters thought that this would be a good, I don't know, stopgap, a way for me to

improve my physical capabilities without sending me off to the barracks and things like that. So yes, I do understand. So when I was set this task, and I've been set other tasks, you know, I was meant to do mighty deeds, slave foes, bring comfort to those in fear and pain. Great calling. I've been under the ocean to do it. I've been, well, I probably can't tell you about that one.

But I've been in battle. I've been through struggle and suffering to do it. suffering to do it. So I was confused as to why my third and final task was to coach a group. In a sport that frankly, I don't know a lot about. I never had time for sport when I had to go straight on the ocean, otherwise my village would starve. I question why your order has sent you this task. It seems ridiculous. It seems an insult to you and you seem a loyal servant of the Sions and a great warrior. But he is the thing, Tristan. If I don't do this, I'm not going to become a knight.

That's very unfair. It's not. It's a lesson. Sometimes we have to do things we don't know a great deal about. Sometimes we have to do things we are not accustomed to. Sometimes we have to do things we don't want to do.

But you do it with grace. You do it with determination. And I understand that. I do that all the time with my prayers, my sermons, my chores. I do. I'm guessing you want to do those. Well, I don't want to do chores.

Let's be honest, Sir Graf. It's not like I want to wash the Abbey's floors or help prepare, peel the potatoes and things like that. But you need to do it for the community, don't you? Yes, but I already do things that I don't want to do for the church for my goal. What I don't understand is why I have

to play this ridiculous game. They could send me to the barracks for training. They could, I don't know, I could run laps around the city. This just seems It's insulting. It's humiliating. I have to play with people like Hawkins and these people here.

They're not... They don't want me here. I don't want to be here. This seems like a waste of our time. And you don't want me here. I don't have anything against you, please. But, you know, I don't think that you're a bad person. But it's...

At least the previous coaches didn't make me play. Like, they would happily just let... Let me sit there and read my book. The thing is, Tristan, you're not getting out of this. You have to do this. Otherwise, you're not going to progress in the order and the church. You have to show the order that you have the determination and the grit it takes to see something out.

Can you make a persuasion wrong with advantage? As you've tapped into elements of his traits and persons, now either a favourable. Persuasion. Mm-hmm. Yeah, it's still plus one. It's one left. Yeah, I'm gonna figure it.

Okay. Come on, give me something like. 16. 16, okay, 16. He size. Yes, I do understand. Would you, would you make a deal with me? I'm all ears.

If I play properly and give it some effort, when this is over, when this season is over, would you speak with the church and ask them to put me into something else? This is not for me, this is not what I want to do. But if you were to ask them, if you were to make my case for me, I think it was, especially coming from a knight-errant, it would matter a lot more. And they might let me train with the Holy Knights, or at least the Squires, or the barracks, or something. If you do that, I promise I will give it my best effort.

I can do that. I have your word. You have my word as a knight-errant. I give you mine as a servant of the silence. This will be tough, Tristan. But it will set you up really well for life in the order. You will find things in the future, tasks, missions, that you won't want to do, that you'll find very tough,

that you'll find people that are quite disagreeable. But you will have that grit to see it out, because that's what you have to do. All right, I will trust you on this. Thank you, Tristan. Thank you. Thank you for that as well. And you see, like, you definitely have, like, he seems to be the type who will honor that agreement.

Like, he's, like, very well. He kind of, like, packs his book away, sort of, like, ties his hair back, and he's just like, all right, well, Hawkins is off doing his other thing. Would you like me to join one of the others? If you could, please. Yes, of course. And he moves over and begins training with the others.

I think that in that brief moment where you see him, like, again, like, as soon as he starts putting effort in, you can see that there is real potential with this kit. Like, you know, he is nearly as good as Hawkins, if not as good as Hawkins. And it would be a real, then it's going to be a real, you know, extra addition to the team. I believe that he's currently set down as a defender. He definitely would be a better striker. Like he's got the athleticism, he's got the agility, he's like physically conditioned to be better aggressive play. But he's currently, because he just wanted an easy ride,

so he was a defender. Stand in one place, isn't it? Yeah, perfect. I know we've been quite over on this side, so I do want to give you guys, like, a chance before we jump back over to Rowan. I'm enjoying what... Just listening.

Sure. I think, like, with the groups that you're watching anyway, Emile and Athana, like, they seem fine. Like, there doesn't seem to be any, like, major contention between the two of them. They just sort of get on with it, really. I think that, like, the only thing you would notice, Daisy is, as they're, like, practicing, as things get a little bit more intense, as they're, like, practicing passing and moving and things like that. You notice that Amel, his, like, his Bronze Dragon runes and his hands, he seems to sometimes struggle,

like bursts of magic, like, almost seem to, like, erupt around his hands. Or, like, his crown of ruins begins to glow. And he has to, like, stop. And he's, like, he tries to get it under control. And you see the thunder's like, come on, like, you know, we need to get practicing. And, like, he's trying to hurry him along. But he seems to have a, like, he struggles to control his magic sometimes. And that causes him to, like, stop and, like, kind of, like, play around with things like that.

Rowan, you go over. You see Hawkins is at the nest. and he's just throwing at, like, practicing, scoring, and then he runs over, grabs the ball, comes back. Hi, Hawkins. It's me, Rowan. The pants guy. Hi, pants guy. Sorry, they're just so, you don't understand. It's fine.

New pants, feels good? Feels new, it's fresh. Sure, sure. Sounds good. Hawkins. What do you do again? I play the lute. Right, and you're with the coach. You're like adventurers or something, right?

Cool. We've killed, we've maimed, we've saved. Okay, that's cool. We've sung about it. I mean, I don't really care about the singing about it, but sure. And you know what? There's always friction. There's always difficulties.

Uh-huh. Even with our group, our tight-knit close friends, there are differing opinions. Yeah, I mentioned there would be, yeah. Even with, you know, say, religion, for example. Oh, yeah, sure. Is this about Tristan? Absolutely, yes.

I'm talking about Tristan and you, and I'm relating it to me. I don't care about his religion. Like, yeah, my parents worship the science. I don't care. It's not like I've got a problem with that. But it's the fact that he's not invested in the time. God, the guy's like a waste.

And he's so, God, that holier than now attitude, oh, I've got a great destiny. Oh, I'm so important. Fuck off. He thinks he's better than us. I understand your frustration, Hawkins. Dickhead! You let it all out on that hatchball.

The thing is, Hawkins, you're extremely talented. I am, thank you. Thank you for recognising it. Enough people don't realize that. You're running rings around the rest of this team. It's true. I really like you, Pants, Guy.

You're a good guy. I love my pants. Well... Keep talking. The issue with it is... they're not elevated by you in any way. You're running rings around them. Why not?

And they are kept pounded down to the ground. Well, they should be trying to like rise up, right? How do we do that? That's a great question. Nothing's worked so far, right? Well, this is what you and Coach have got a figure out. You've tried your very best to just tell them how it's done. I play the best I can.

I tell them what I'm doing. I tell them what to do, where to be, and they don't do it. It doesn't work. It's not working. It's time... You're frustrated by this. Yeah, they're bad. It's time for a new tactic, I think.

Well, listen, if you've got ideas, I'm open. Hatchball's awesome. It is awesome. It's a great sport. You know how to play Hatchball? Yeah. And I'm really good at it. I think.

Look at Tristan right now. Oh, and he looks over it. He's actually playing. He's not just reading his book. Gruff's got a way with words. Sure. There's potential there. Can you imagine being up front with Tristan.

Yeah, he's good if he tries, yeah. And they listen to you, and you listen to him. He doesn't listen to me. And he... He never, he doesn't even, I don't even, he barely realizes I'm there. Like, he doesn't listen. Maybe give him space to speak. Find something in common.

In common, with him, with Sister Trissy. I don't think so. Everyone has something in common. Look at Ophelia over there. You know the one that shouted at you earlier? Yeah, yeah, I remember, yeah. The bitch. Why the silence?

I've had difficulties with Ophelia. I'm not surprised. Does she shout at you as well? No, but it's the religion aspect that I struggle with. Okay. However, we talk about these things. We talk about our differences. And we have so much more in common.

Sounds gay. Well, it's pretty gay, yes. Really gay. Yeah, if you want to call it that. Yeah. Talking about feelings and stuff. Ugh. Pretty gross, right?

Yeah. You don't have to talk about feelings with Tristan. Why would I want to talk about feelings with Tristan? I don't want to talk to that guy about feelings. Why don't want to talk to that guy about feelings? He's a loser. He's not. He's capable and you know it, Hawkins.

You know that Tristan's got potential there. making a face like he doesn't want to admit it but he can't. And I think you're the only one that can really get him to see the positives of Hatchball and how good it can be and how fun it can be. Give me another persuasion, bro. With advantage. Right. Because he does love Hatchball. That's a six. That's a three. So six plus 11. 17. 17. Oh my God. I think that he's like,

I'll try, but like, that he has to start actually giving his shit. And I'm not going to talk about feelings or any of that shit. Do you don't need to? No one's asking you to. Fine. How about this? If we can get Tristan to listen to you and try, will you do your very best to get them to see the fun and hatchboard? I'll try.

I'll try. This is the thing, Hawkins. and I put two hands on his shoulder. Okay, pants, guy. You're really intense. You're the only one who can. You're not crying, are you? Yes.

Oh my God, that's so gay. It's okay to feel your feelings. Oh, God. Coach, coach, coach, help, help. Thank you for this chair. It's really helped me, actually, August, thank you. If you just, like, let it happen, it'll be over faster. He just, like, makes a face.

Pat him on the back. Oh, God, I don't want to touch him. I'm not touching him. Pat a bath. I'm not touching him. Let me go. Rowan, put him down. Sorry, yes, fair enough. But listen to what I said. Yeah, all right, I'll try. I'll try and show him

that the game's fun and, you know, we could have fun if he'd stop being such a loser. Just keep those bits in. I make no promises on that. Reduce them. I'll try. Thank you. It's back. Yeah, so with that, I think that we will,

you know the practice will continue for a little bit kind of keeping an eye on everybody the do I want to do too much more now yeah I think that for Ophelia you would just briefly see that Guntram, Venora and Barnabas you notice one thing watching those guys play and at some point

Barnab's being a bit clumsy he tries to pass to Vinaura and the ball the sort of ball hits her in the face and knocked her mask off, she immediately stops what she's doing and will not play until, like, and it takes her a while, like, she will not play if her mask gets, like, knocked off.

And, like, she's, like, purposely, like, keeps herself angled away from everybody until it's, like, firmly fixed back in place. And then she continues playing. And you see, like, Gun Trim the other dwarf is just like, what are you doing? Come on, we need to play. Stop feeling around with that thing.

Come on. And he's, like, getting agitated that she's taking so long to get back in the game. No, no, no, let her time. It's clearly important to her. But if that happens during a match, she cannot just stop playing like that. She would give up the ball, we would lose, they would maybe score.

We cannot, this cannot happen in a real game. Venora, do you have more than one of those? Or is that the only one to have your mask? This is the only one I have. Would you like me to make you some more, some spares? I suppose that would be okay. Then that way if it's during a month. If you drop one, you can very quickly just replace it on the go.

Oh, yes, okay. That'd be helpful? Yeah, that would be good, thank you. I see it's important to you. I just don't want that... I don't want that... If you... I don't want you to damage the one that you have as well, you see. I mean, it's quite sturdy.

My father made it, but yes, some spares would be good. Have some flexible sort of game ones that are, like, made a fabric? That you can very quickly... No, not fabric. That's too thin, and it would blow, and I... No. Okay. And you can see...

it's like it completely covers like her lower face. It's like a Japanese, like, kind of only kind of like, you know, the mask like that. And it's like, no, and she's like, no, no, no, I don't, not fabric. Okay, so I can make some confidence, I can talk to some people around Kaskaritan and see if we can get one of those fabricated for you or get some spares. Is that okay? Yeah, sure, okay. Okay, so, yeah, just let her take her time.

I don't think that is a good idea, assistant cocheophilia. even if she replaces it What if someone Her mask falls off and someone needs to pass to her She's busy swapping I do not think this is a good idea But it is up to you It is you and Coach Gruff is your decision

But I don't think it is a good idea I think I don't know why she hides her face But it is bad for the team I don't think it's bad for the team It is it is bad for the team It will it disrupts the game If she is so worried about her mask and her face. She is not focused on the game. She is not focused on her fellow

team. It is not good. Not good at all. Um, okay, Grav. Right, justice, Sophia. Um, Venora's, Vanora's mask, it fell off during practice and it took a little while for the team to come together, but her mask is important to her. Is there something we could maybe do to help with the masks? I suggested maybe making spares that she could quickly change during play, but if it falls off, is there something we could maybe do? Vennora, are you comfortable talking to me about this right now? Or? She just shakes her head.

Would you be happy if I got you a mask that doesn't fall off? She nods. Okay, I'll look into that then. She nods. Right. By the way, how was the drawing coming on of the new logo? Yeah? Have you got something to show us at the end of practice? Not yet. Okay. Just shakes her head. She generally only talks when she has to, otherwise it's a lot of nodding and shaking the head.

She doesn't seem to like to speak. Okay. How are you coming on with the communications? I think the whistle, like with the mask, there is like a gap where she can kind of like, you know, because she speaks her in and stuff like that. She kind of blows on it. And like Gunterham would probably chip in and be like, yes, I like the communication system, but we will need to have cold words when we play because we won't have the whistles.

But I think it is very good, Coach Graff. We picked it up pretty quickly. Yes, very good system. I like it. Well, Guntram, maybe you could help me think of some words that would work, like cold words or something like. Oh, yes, I'd be quite happy to do that. Yes, I'm quite happy to help you with that, Coach Graff, yes.

Thank you, Guntram. Yes, yes. And you can see that Guntram's, like, very much the tactician. Like, he seems to have, like, picked up on, like, what all of this is happening and seems to be very good at it. But he's also quite direct and is like very like, no, game. Play game to win. Good game, win point.

You know, it's like very focused. And so the social stuff, like the thing with Vennora's mask, he does not seem to like really. He's like, why are you caring about your stupid mask? We've got a game to win. Win game. Barnabas, how's it going? Hello.

It's going okay. I'm not, I'm normally, I'm normally the archkeeper, so I don't normally do a lot of running and things. but everyone else seems to be doing okay. That's right. I thought I was watching you and I thought you were doing a really good job. Oh, communication. Oh, thank you. Thank you, Coach.

That's good to know. I'm not very quick. I'm a bit slow, I'm sorry. That's okay. You don't need to be fast to do good communication, do you? No, no, no, I suppose not. No. I guess I'm not going to be much use being all the way at the nest, but if I can help a little. But being at the nest, being in one,

one point means that you can see the whole field. You can help communicate, spot things that other people haven't seen. Okay, I'll try. He's quite nervous and shy and sort of, is not used to praise in any way. Like, it's definitely sort of, you see his little cheeks go red when you sort of praise him and... You've got a voice, boy, oh, use it.

Tell them things that they can't see. Oh, okay. And with that, I think that we will bring this session, to an end, we'll wrap up the training at the beginning of the next session, but seemed to go well in some ways. I think that was good progress. I think that was pretty good progress.

Figuring out all these little, these little individual problems and complications kind of lucked out with certain pairings happening so early. Yeah, how Tristan, Paulian's one. And yeah, yeah, so you basically got the two sets of rivals together, so Paulie and Pippa are rivals, and then Tristan and Hawkins rivals.

But the rivals mean that when they do work, like they work well together, but they clash with each other as well. Oh wait, Pippa stab the whole team. Yeah. Oh, wait, why Zanthias leaving out on the floor? Family guy, dead pose, yeah. I mean, honestly, if Xanthius hadn't interrupted,

I was going to have Pippa start fighting poorly and stop beating him up. But there you go. Pfebill. Solves everything. Solves everything. But we are going to bring this episode of Highrollers to an end. Thank you all for watching.

It is a shorter episode, as I mentioned, at the start this week. So that is going to be it for this week's episode of High Rollers. Hey. That's going to be it. Yeah, perfect. So I guess, yeah, we will see you next time, everybody. Take care.

Bye-bye. Bye-bye.