High Rollers DnD - The Court of Masks (Part 2) | Altheya: The Dragon Empire #67
Episode Date: June 19, 2025Gruff has a list of tasks for the heroes as they embark on a new knightly quest! _______________ Boost your Charisma with some HR merch! https://highrollers...dnd.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 Support the High Rollers on Patreon and get early access to Podcast episodes, vods and more: www.patreon.com/HighRollers 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/1WX3ICiTmf4GpHwImnQMs6 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Transcript
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Pickaxe.
Welcome back to part two of AlphaEarth Dragon Empire. Our heroes are preparing themselves. After finishing their social deduction game of a Court of Masks,
they're now preparing themselves to endeavor,
embark even on the Gruff's latest knightly endeavor,
to go and slay two champions of Orjanya, the Embered Goddess of the Deep.
And that is where we pick back up Roa,
who is a very powerful warrior, latest knightly endeavor to go and slay two champions of Orjanya, the Embered Goddess of the Deep.
And that is where we pick back up.
Rowan and Ophelia have just been buying some supplies
from Kett's collection here in Wavemeat.
Speechcraft plus five.
Ophelia's not so much, but yours, maybe.
But we will then jump across to Xanthias,
who is headed over to a completely different part
of the town.
That's right.
To head to the Smoke and Steel Armory.
You find this quite close to the barracks,
like the local militia barracks here,
and just on the same street,
just behind the barracks here. And just on the same street, just off the behind the barracks themselves,
you find a rather quaint little squat stone building.
You can see kind of like, you know,
smoke billowing out of it.
Although it's probably,
they're winding down the forges now.
You can begin to hear the sounds of tools being put away
and things like that.
And connected to it is a small shop as well.
This one doesn't have the ostentatiousness And connected to it is a small shop as well.
This one doesn't have the ostentatiousness of some of the other shops here in WaveMeat.
It's a little bit more run of the mill.
Okay.
But there is a very clear like shield above the door,
like a mace and a spear,
indicating that this is a shop for armory.
And as you approach,
you can see that a gray-skinned
Typhling woman is just about to turn the sign to closed
as you are making your way up,
as she's just sort of like, do-do-do,
tidying a few things up and just about to like-
As I'm heading towards it, I almost want to
adjust my demeanor slightly into that of a more noble person,
being more Dragonborn in lineage as well,
in order to try to sway this bartering a little bit.
Yeah, sure, so you kind of stand a bit straighter,
puff your chest out a little bit,
and yeah, do you like cough or get her attention
as she sort of comes out?
One more for the evening, please.
Oh, oh, I was just about to...
Shut up.
I won't be too long.
Of course, yes, of course, absolutely, sir.
No, not a problem at all.
Um, uh, you know, uh, and she goes back in, shuts her,
and she'll call out, she's like,
oh, honey, I just, we have one more customer,
but it's closing time, and it's just like,
yes, oh, just one more, it won't take long.
Um...
Uh, well, unfortunately unfortunately we have the misfortune
of having to head out onto sea tomorrow
when we're worried about some of the reports
we've been hearing around town of, you know,
some attacks on the ships and the nearby villages
and things like that.
Right.
Hoping to arm ourselves with some equipment
and well, this is the first place I saw, but if you're too busy, I can move on.
No, no, no, not at all.
No, no, we can absolutely help you with that.
So, no, it's really not a problem.
We have shut the forge down, but everything that we have out here on display,
you're more than welcome to peruse.
It's awful. I mean, I know that we often hear about attacks and things like that,
but I didn't realize
that things were quite bad.
Are you some sort of warrior?
Are you with a guard or the sea guard?
Or I don't think I've seen you around before.
So.
Adventure hero champion, that sort of thing.
Oh, neat.
I just sort of looking at some of the equipment here
and just, is this all in, any of this really suitable
for fighting underwater?
I'm kind of like daintily kind of like
touching some of the things as if they're almost like,
not displeasing, but like.
Sure.
Can you give me, this is a bit of a performance
or a sort of deception,
but I'd say more of a performance really.
Okay, yeah, fair enough.
Because you're sort of putting on the airs
more than you normally would.
This isn't just lying, you're sort of. But it's all in like bartering, right? Yeah, for sure. Not trying're sort of putting on the airs more than you normally would. This isn't just lying, you're sort of.
But it's all in like bartering, right?
Yeah, for sure.
Not trying to be mean to this person.
No, no, no, no, no.
That is a 16.
A 16.
She kind of like looks at you and like,
A, she's got like the way you're holding it
and the way that you're like,
oh, like, are any of this, is that,
oh, well, I can certainly give you some recommendations.
It's been a long time since I've had to do
any fighting underwater, but my wife might know a little bit more.
Vanna, Vanna, and she calls out,
and emerging out from Bahak where the Forge was,
you see this deeply tanned, like brown-skinned elf,
but clearly an older, an ancient original elf,
very much in the same
as Blackwing and others that you've met.
Because you immediately, as the moonlight passes over,
you see almost like flames, like flickering around
like her face, and you almost see like a Lian in sort of
mane, but it becomes just this curly blonde,
sort of sunny brown hair, long, long ears,
very sort of World of Warcraft-y ears sticking out,
and just bright blue eyes that are almost like sapphires.
But she's wearing like dirty kind of like blacksmith's smock.
You can see like her sleeves are rolled up
and quite muscular.
You would kind of, Xanthius probably carries themselves
in like a soldiery way, stands very straight backed,
sort of very business and sort of comes out
and is like, oh, hello there, sir.
We were not expecting customers so late,
so please forgive me.
Oh, apologies for keeping you up for a little bit longer,
but I promise this will be quick.
Yes, this is something I could help you with.
I heard some of the conversation, but not all of it.
Yes, just, well, looking for anything
that might assist us in, you know,
taking down some vile oceanic creatures of those,
that kind of ilk.
You know, champions of Ajania, that kind of thing.
Right, yes, I know a little.
My wife has taught me a little of your world's gods
and goddesses and things like that,
but I can certainly help you with fighting underwater
and things like that.
Well, ideally something that would allow us
to either slow them down while they're underwater
so that we are able to lure them back onto land
for a fair fight.
while they're underwater so that we are able to lure them back onto land for a fair fight.
Well, nets, bowlers, things like that, anything that you can use to wrap the enemy. I think we might have one net and some weights that we can attach to it.
We might, I might need to have to attach them so you might need to pick that up in the morning.
But if you are fighting underwater I would recommend, and she goes over,
ah, yes, pulls down two crossbows, a regular crossbow and a heavy crossbow.
These will be much better underwater than a bow or anything like that
if you want to attack at ranged.
The power of the crossbow will give you at least a burst of momentum.
The range is somewhat shorter.
So these, I think we also, and she pulls down a hand crossbow
to add to that pile as well.
Then also you want anything with a thrusting point, sir.
Spear, trident, pike, and you can see there's a massive
like big spear like pike.
Only now realizing quite the arsenal this person has.
This is like a weapon shot, right?
Like it's going around to it.
So these, anything with a good thrusting point,
but if you need to close the distance,
you have a few good blades here, these daggers, this knife,
and it's like a short sword, like a kind of jagged flat bladed short blade.
Yes, this will do quite nicely underwater,
and she kind of gives it a few practice for us.
I don't necessarily know weapons too well.
How well forged are these?
Give me a investigation roll.
Investigation, do I still have advantage from the eye, right?
That's only on magical items, I believe.
I can't remember though.
To examine objects and discern illusions.
Sure, like I would say if it's examining objects,
I'd say this would count, so you get advantage.
I have a plus zero, that's a one.
That's an eight.
I mean, like you said, you don't really know weapons.
These are masterworks.
Well, I would say that probably not that,
like you wouldn't be fooled into it.
Like there's no decoration or ostentatiousness.
These like just look like weapons to you.
They could be very good, they could be shit, you don't know.
But they're not fancy.
These crossbows could be useful actually.
How much would you be selling these for?
Let me have a think here.
I don't know off the top of my head
how much a crossbow is so I've gotta look it up.
Let me. So I heard down, so I've gotta look it up. Let me.
So I heard down, just I've traveled a little bit,
I heard maybe, I don't wanna say a number
because I'm gonna get it completely wrong.
You can say a number.
Does, would I, no.
Signed me out of D&D behind.
I know, it's legit, right?
Don't use it in a up. Yes, please.
This is very annoying.
Because I've now got to fucking fill in all my passwords and stuff.
I see.
What I can do is I can go get a physical book.
How about that?
There's so many crossbows.
Physical book?
In 2025?
Go far, Lord. 2000... What? Physical book? In 2025? The year of our lord.
2000. Heavy crossbow.
Heavy crossbow on roll 20 instead.
Take that D&D Beyond.
We're not sponsored by them anymore,
we can do what we want.
Doesn't say the value.
Take that.
It's fine, I've got it, I've got it.
It's gonna be, I've got the book.
This is why sometimes a good old-fashioned book is better.
A heavy crossbow.
She will sell it for,
because she will sell it above market price,
she would, Vanathielle would point at this and be like,
are we selling this for about 75 gold?
It's well made, we will throw in a case of 10 bolts as well.
Do I...
It's quite a heavy weapon to wield.
She also showed a hand crossbow, right?
Yep, hand crossbow as well.
I should point at that.
Because they're delicate to make, hand crossbows to get power on such a small item.
This is 100, we do price it again.
It does come with a case of 10 bolts.
The regular crossbow we would do for 45.
Okay, okay, okay. And what about that weighted net you were talking about?
Yes, yes, I could do something like that.
That would not be too much to add the necessary equipment to it.
This is where they've moved net from a weapon to a thing.
Oh!
Five gold for a weighted net, I imagine.
Five, five, zero, zero, zero.
Okay, and I'm trying to think.
This is Tom talking now.
I would recommend if you are planning to fight underwater,
if you need weapons, you will definitely have something as a backup
for if they engage you closely.
Short blade, knife, something like that.
A spear is always very good.
Preferably something like a pike with a bit of reach,
if you know how to wield,
if you and your companions are adepts with weapons.
Yeah, I am. So I've got proficiency with simple weapons,
and I presume that's...
You reckon you could probably use a spear.
Like, it's a big pointy stick.
How hard can it be?
How hard can it be?
How hard can it be?
Something like a dagger and stuff like that.
To the gun and the giant stained glass.
Also, the regular crossbow, like the light crossbow,
you're pretty sure you would know how to use. You've probably used that like when you were growing up as a boy, like the light crossbow, you're pretty sure you would know how to use it.
You've probably used that when you were growing up as a boy,
if you would like to watch out for wolves on the farm,
your family probably had a crossbow
that you would go out there with and stuff like that.
Yeah, okay.
Okay, I think either way I'm gonna get the net.
So is that a, with the weights,
is that a different net to what Roanborn?
It's pretty much gonna be the same thing.
Okay, so it's not like you mentioned before,
like a combat one?
It's, I mean, there's not really such a thing.
Like it's a, it's just a net is a net.
Yeah, yeah.
You can make attacks with it, basically.
Okay.
I think I will get,
because I know that Ophelia has the rapier,
so it's probably okay.
Gruff, you have, well, a staff, right?
And a net.
And a net. You already have a net?
This is amazing.
I'm a fisherman.
Staff, because it's bloodshed and you will have disadvantage on that.
Yeah.
But Gruff's got spells and stuff.
That's true.
I can turn into a shark and eat them.
That's very true.
That's kind of a big advantage.
Rowan has a longsword.
That's not the best.
And ink them.
So your dagger, when you throw it, is an issue, do you say?
I can attack melee with mine.
Without having any disadvantage and stuff like that.
But if you're ranged, yeah yeah, it's gonna have disadvantage.
And the regular crossbow I have, I'm okay with.
Okay, I think I'll go for the net, the regular crossbow,
and the hand crossbow, how much was that?
100, did you think?
100, yes.
155, 150, how much was the net?
How much was the...
Five.
The regular crossbow?
45.
150 total then.
If I was to pick out just these three things
and the net as well,
hopefully with the weights tomorrow morning you say,
I'm gonna be setting out quite early tomorrow, so.
Oh, that's fine, I'll be up early.
I'm normally up with the sunrise.
Okay.
If I just get these three,
is there some sort of deal we can make,
maybe to make them a little bit cheaper?
I'm going to hand you to Smoke here,
my wife to deal with that.
I don't deal with your commerce here in your realm,
it's something beyond me.
I like making things, I like fighting with them,
that's all I know.
You see this gray tea flaying,
she's kind of got like white,
very true to her name of Smoke.
She's just like, yes, we can certainly do a deal, sir.
Absolutely.
Spending this amount of money, it would be a lovely offer.
The hand crossbow is quite a difficult custom item to make.
What were you thinking price-wise?
So the net, hand crossbow, regular crossbow,
and 20 bolts for both of those, let's say, 100 gold.
I will have to ask for a little bit more than that, sir,
but give me a persuasion roll.
22.
22.
I can't do 100, but...
110.
I could do 120.
110. I could do 120. 110.
115.
And then I'll leave, you can close up the shop,
you'll never see me again.
Mm-hmm.
115.
Fantastic.
Nice.
That's how it's done.
You'll never see me again,
except for tomorrow morning when I have to be up at the...
Oh yes, other than that, yes.
You're getting out of their heads tonight.
But yeah, she's just like,
yes, I think we can make that work.
Yes, that should be fine.
Wonderful, 115, fantastic.
Nice.
Thank you very much.
Which also, I think this is also helped by the fact
that you are a gold Dragonborn.
Obviously Dragonborn, they think that,
oh, if I can make a good impression here and so forth.
But yes, if you and your companions do need anything else whilst you're here in
Suncrestiles, please do think of us and come by. I certainly will.
And you're all right for armor and you just need the weaponry?
No, I turned around and then I turned back. Actually, so I predominantly fight with magic
and sorcery and things like that.
Is there anything that might assist me?
I normally only really use fire spells.
Underwater.
I'm afraid that magic is,
it's not really my realm, sir, I'm afraid.
Okay, well.
That would certainly be maybe something,
maybe the academy would be able to help you,
but I don't think they're open this late.
Alternatively, could you point me in a direction
of where I could get these materials,
the ones I need for the etheric?
Oh, I think that there's a funny old cat
who runs a pawn shop called Kett's Collection.
Kett's Collections, yes.
Oh, you've heard of it?
Yes, yeah, now I have.
I can quickly swing that way just to see what I can find.
But no, other than picking up the net tomorrow.
That's fine, we can have it.
Or are you staying here in Wave Meet?
I'm sure that Vanna can bring it up to you.
Oh yes, we, well, we're going to be in the Radiance Hotel.
Or if you're heading off from somewhere.
But we don't know necessarily exactly which room just yet.
Well, the Radiance, we can leave it with the front desk.
Yes, okay, put it under the name Gruffeth of Tremoro.
Gruffeth of Tremoro, all right.
That's not me, that's...
That's one of your companions.
One of my companions.
Yeah, she takes the name down,
and it's like, yep, that's not a problem,
we can have that delivered to Tremoro for you, sir.
Amazing, enjoy your evening.
Yes, what was your name, by the way?
Zanthius.
Lord Zanthius, thank you very much for your patronage.
No, it's not.
All right.
I'm gonna head to Kets to pick up.
Sure, I'm not gonna role play that fully out. It is 100 gold, he will charge you,
well, because you're probably gonna barter with him,
he does sort of like you, he thinks you're kind of interesting.
He would probably normally charge you about 150 for it,
but he'll sell it to you for 120.
I thought it was 100 shit.
No, well, it costs 100, but everybody marks prices up,
right, they're trying to turn a profit and stuff.
Well, unfortunately, I can't.
Do you only have 100?
I have 106.
He'll take 106. I have 106. He'll take 106.
105.
106.
105, Ket, or I'm not buying it,
and I'm not coming back tomorrow for the ring.
105.
I'm not buying that ring.
That's fine.
Chip in a chair.
Sure.
Got one gold.
There you go. Right, with that you buy that stuff.
So Daisy and Gruff.
I'm going to love in the gardens.
With your one gold.
One gold, that's all you need.
You guys have the slot machine?
Nothing.
Well time, I can really know for me.
So Daisy and Gruffith, you actually make your way up,
and I don't think any of you have been up this way yet.
You have to make your way up onto the far side of Wave Me,
up into basically a sort of angled street
that goes up onto the top of the cliff.
The fancy part.
This is indeed Glitter Cliff.
And you pass by the Radiance Hotel.
You can see this rather resplendent, very well decked out.
Imagine the kind of Caribbean, like the balcony out front
that looks out onto the sea, big white columns
and things like that, looks very much out in that kind
of style, it has a symbol of just a golden orb
that glows with a slight magical illusion
and just Radiance wave meat written onto it.
You also bypass a rather splendid looking sort of seaside temple,
like a little mini church, a cathedral, number 13, High Watch Abbey,
which is obviously dedicated to the Scions, Malir and Pyrus.
But eventually you make your way up to the very tip of Glittercliff,
upon which sits a rather impressive fort that extends into the wall that surrounds Wavemeat
and looks out onto the sea itself.
And you can see that there are multiple kind of like watch posts,
you can see that along sort of the top of the fort,
there are great ballistae that point out down into the sea as well.
And there is even what look like deployable sort of like ladders and stairs
that can be dropped down and things like that as well from this position.
As you approach, unlike the regular militia that you've seen walking around
in the traditional colors of WaveMeat
and the traditional colors of the Suncrest Isles. When you approach you see
a pair of heavily armored Mermodons basically. They are wearing a scale armor,
a scale and plate combined that has this bronze kind of trim but then has
this sea blue almost kind of a little touch
of white as well, sort of muffled into it, armor.
It's almost like ceramic with metal trim,
it almost looks like.
And they wear full plated helms,
they have tall long shields,
and you can see that they have long long spears
next to them on their side,
as well as, you know, short blades to draw as people get closer.
These are clearly elite soldiers.
And you can see that beyond here in the fort,
there are sparring grounds and training grounds
and things like that, but as you approach,
one of these mervidons is just like,
oh, said your business.
Oh, hello there, my name is is Griffith of Tremoro.
I'm here, I'm looking for some wisdom and advice
from the Sea Guard regarding some of the attacks
on various islands around here recently,
Iridia and netting on sea.
And what interest does a wildheart from Iceheart
have in these matters?
I have been tasked by Ser Jorah Harper to assist in
challenging the threat to these islands
and hopefully bring an end to it.
Ser Jorah Harper, the Barnacle Knight?
Yes. You're a knight errant?
Yes.
They sort of look you up and down,
unsure what to make of you yet. One of them will lean over, they'll have a sort of brief whispered conversation with each other,
and then one will say, stay here, citizen, and you see the other one goes inside.
It goes up to the door, makes their way inside.
We're going to send word to the Watch Commander
and see if she wishes to speak with you.
That's fair.
And they kind of keep their...
Very stern, very, very matter of fact.
This is kind of like the Beef Eaters and the Queen's Guard,
like very focused on their business.
You and Daisy are waiting for a little bit
and as the sun is beginning to set
and you're up high on cliff,
the wind blows us through
and it's a little chillier up here than you're expecting.
Time sort of ticks over, the night sky,
the summer sun is now fully, fully set
and you see that over the horizon, the twinkling of stars
and also the reflection off of the sea,
you see the reflection of the crown,
which is always present in the air.
That casting that sort of quite haunting green,
mixed with red and yellow glow, sort of trickling down,
and it's reflected by the sea light.
But eventually the doors open,
and the armored guard steps back out.
Very well, the Watch Commander has agreed to speak with you briefly.
Come, follow me.
Thank you.
You are both led inside.
When you step inside, there are two more of those guards immediately on the inside.
And you can also see the inner sort of box up above with an arrow slit hole looking down and the approach up.
You can see that there's another guard sat up there
with a heavy crossbow sort of leaned up against the wall
ready to take that and shoot outwards
at anybody approaching from coming up from Glitter Cliff.
You are led through a sort of winding fort-like tower
where you go up a couple of flights
of a sort of rectangular spiral stair
until you are led into a large war room, essentially.
Large table is laid out, there are covered in maps
and cartography maps and maps of the city, of the town
and all this kind of stuff.
There are desks nearby for like writing,
with writing implements and things like that.
But sat at a desk with her sort of feet up on the desk,
and you can see she's just peeling an apple
with like a rather large serrated blade,
just peeling an apple, is a rather impressive orc woman
wearing the same armor, but doesn't have the helmet on,
and hers has more sort of trim and ornamentation to it
as she sits there.
And you can see that around her neck is a symbol
that bears a bronze dragon head
with a wave like sea motif around it as well.
And she sort of looks over and just says like,
ah, Garrett, is this,
give her a bit of a voice actually, like,
ah, Garrett, is this our knight errant?
And he says, yes, mom, this is the knight errant
I told you about, claims to be working
with Sir Joran Harper.
Working with the barnacle knight, I think.
Well, and she kind of takes her boots off,
munches from the apple, puts it down,
moves and sits on the desk now,
and sort of looks over to you and looks, who's this?
Hi, I'm Daisy, I'm with Gruff-eth on his quest.
Right, all right.
Well, and she'll extend a hand out to you, Gruff,
step forward, and you know, a thick grip.
Like, she is, you can tell that under the arm
they're like very strong.
Like, this is somebody who works out like broad as well.
Like, this is not like, you know,
she is thick-shouldered, very big arms.
Her hair is like cropped short on the sides
and then just sort of like a little loose bit,
like a longer bit sort of flops over to the side.
Sun kissed for an orc, you know,
still has the kind of greenish hue,
but there's a little bit more brown to the green
where it's, you know, obviously being darkened by the sun.
And kind of in contrast to her rather fearsome
and bold physique, she has like the, like,
kind of smattering of freckles across her cheeks and nose that kind of give her
a little bit more of a youthful kind of look to her.
You can see that one of her tusks is broken,
like snapped off at the point.
And like most of Orcs of Ulfair,
you can tell that there is a glow coming from beneath
the armor of her scarring, basically,
the glowing scars that all Orcs bear.
And she will say, ah, well, pleasure to meet you.
I'm commander Mirana Taravos.
M-I-R-A-N-A,
T-A-R-A-V-O-S.
Mirana Taravos.
T, sorry, T-A-R-A-V-O-S.
T-A-R-A-V-O-S. T-A-R-A-V-O-S, Taravos.
Commander Taravos or Commander Myranna.
And she'll say, pleasure, if you are an acquaintance
of old Joran, I'm happy to try and lend you
what assistance I can.
He's an old sea dog, but he's proven very useful
in his time.
Oh, aye, well I'm trying to, I'm trying to work my way through the ranks
of the Order of the Loyal Hounds, which he is a part of.
And so this is part of my duty and my, I guess,
I suppose, my quest.
A noble endeavor.
And he mentioned that there has been some trouble recently
at Eurydia and the west coast of Netting-on-Sea,
a couple of attacks by champions of Orjanya.
Orjanya, that's, you and Ser Joran are very well informed.
That information hasn't been made public yet,
but it doesn't surprise me that Joran has learned about it.
He has networks from his, well,
let's just say that Sir Joran has not always been
the epitome of knightly honor and glory,
and he still has a lot of contacts from his old life,
and he learns about these things.
But yes, there have been attacks by creatures of Ojanja.
This is not that uncommon in the Suncrest Isles.
Forgive me, but I don't think you're from around here.
No, I'm from Trimoro. It's a nice art.
She nods her head.
And also seeing daisy and sort of cauldron colors and things like that as well.
She'll say, the attacks from Ajanya are not uncommon, but these recent attacks on
Iridia have been more savage than usual.
Normally the creatures of Ajanya attack passing ships, those who are out near the deeper waters,
those who go to the furthest islands or attempt to sail around the coast into Gildi or into Mistwald,
or even occasionally trying to visit our neighbors on the Isle of Giants.
However, it is on occasion they will come more inland to attack, cause havoc, that sort of thing.
Unfortunately, we only hear about the attacks after they happen.
It's very hard for the islanders to get warning to us in time for us to come and help them with any expediency.
If the local guard or the local sea guard aren't able to help them, there's not much we can do in the moment.
So we've been trying to track these creatures down.
I have a few patrol ships out there looking, but unfortunately it's a big ocean.
Right, so Ser Apa told me that there's two
particular champions, Doomclaw and Coralsong.
It's the nicknames I've been hearing some of the
sea guard use to refer to them, yes.
Do you know much about them, or the nature of the attacks?
We know that the Iridia where they attacked
was a sort of resort village,
often visited by people looking to get some sun,
enjoy the sand, but somewhere more quiet and peaceful
than somewhere like Waivemead.
Quite expensive, but people that travel out there by boat,
you know, they're normally out there for some time,
a little bit isolated.
We know it was pretty bad.
Several deaths, a few of the locals and tourists
were abducted by these creatures.
In all of my experience, I've never seen any creatures
taken by the children of Ljania to be returned.
In fact, there's been some mages who have investigated it
and they believe that the Child of the Deep
can perform some sort of unholy ritual
that transforms those that they kidnap
into creatures like them.
It's generally if someone's taken,
you hope for a swift death.
And is that quite common then?
Not very common, no, but common enough
that over the last few hundred years,
it has developed into a working theory, at least.
So people have been abducted?
Not in every attack, but it's common enough that it's not surprising that it's happened at Iridia.
I know that there have been some reports of them being sighted along the coast towards netting on sea, but netting on sea hasn't been attacked.
We've sent word, we've sent scouts, nothing's happened there.
But I think that maybe some of the local fishers or fishermen or maybe even some of the local
travelers have seen creatures, unnatural things, shall we call them, out in the sea nearby.
There's a lot of coastal caves, cliffs,
the sort of places where these creatures like to go
and hide and set up nests or ritual sites
and things like that.
They are intelligent, they're not mindless beasts
or abominations, they're not like vaultspawn,
a vaultspawn, they don't just attack with mindless fury.
These things are, there's an intelligence to them
and a dark, very,
their will and their devotion to their goddesses
extremely high.
They will fight to the death.
They almost never, in fact, they never retreat.
They never surrender.
They will fight until their last.
Have you got any advice or any knowledge?
Well, if you're, I mean, I don't wish to rob you of your nightly glory,
but if you find these things, you should send word to us
so we can come and assist you.
I don't know exactly what to expect.
Like I said, we've only had the reports
in the aftermath of these events.
Iridia was the first one that's really been attacked,
but it could be that these two champions, you said,
it could be that these two have been operating for years
and we just didn't know it was them.
The problem with the children of Vajanya
is they can just vanish into the deep.
They can just swim down into the depths
and we never see them again.
So it's very easy for them to get away.
Hit and run tactics they generally tend to prefer.
But if they're attacking now,
it's likely that there's a purpose behind it.
I just don't know what it is.
What's the best way to contact,
is there like an emergency way that I can send a signal
or anything like that?
Generally most of the villages have a,
what we would call a mage right,
who can use a sending spell to send to one of us,
but it takes days for us to sail across.
I won't take too much more of your time,
but do you have any maps or anything of these areas
that we can perhaps copy or look at
just so we can get a feel for the area?
She sits up from the desk and walks over to the war table
and clears some papers around and sort of gestures
to a larger sort of, it's not a detailed map,
it's really showing just the outline of islands
and things like that.
She'll say, well, if you have a scrap of parchment, I'm happy for you to make a copy of this now.
And she sort of points out, she's like, here we are in Wavemeat here.
Iridia in Twin Peaks Isle is about three days south in this chain of islands here.
There's a few dotted outcroppings and points to the areas and things like that.
I don't have a map I can give you now,
but I can probably do something briefly for you.
Can I, in my head, just say to Nim,
can you, I'll look at the map
and I kinda wanna just say,
can you remember as much of this as possible
of the areas that she's looking at?
Of course, little one, this is what I did.
Yes, of course, in the Legion.
This won't be a problem at all.
Can you let us know where,
you said that there was like some caves and things?
Yes, all, I mean, all over, I mean,
this is the Suncrest Isles, little one.
There's dozens of caves hidden around these places
all along, and she points like along the coast.
You'll find little caves and nooks and bays
all along this coastline.
The Twin Peaks Isle itself,
the bay on the opposite side of Iridia,
on the other side of the mountain,
this whole area, there's caves, coves,
probably something, probably a few underwater as well.
That wouldn't surprise me.
But most of these islands around here,
they have little nooks and grannies
for creatures to hide in.
You know, we often deal with,
we sometimes get vaults born out here.
We're almost certain that there might even be
some underwater vaults in,
not necessarily in the immediate area,
but around the coast.
I don't wanna do that again, Gryff.
But they sometimes, creatures will emerge from them
and attack and things like that.
But also these coves and hideaways are
the breeding ground of my ever-foe
pirates and brigands and scoundrels and things,
smugglers and the like.
They like to hide. They'll raid trading vessels or, you know,
quite often they'll hold up a tourist vessel
and rob them of their riches.
That's often what we're dealing with
most of the time around here.
Do they ever get attacked by-
Oh yes.
Oh yes, of course, yes.
As risky for them as it is for anyone.
But desperate people turn to desperate measures.
Right.
Well, I don't believe.
Do you have much advice for combat underwater or on ship?
Don't do it.
Yes, that was-
I mean, fighting on a ship is very different.
Generally, the sea guard, we make sure all of our armor
bears some mild enchantment so it doesn't weigh us down.
It's called Mariner's Armor, it's difficult.
It's not cheap, but most of us have that.
Does any of, we don't, who has heavy armor among us?
I don't think anyone.
I do not.
No, yours.
This is special method of chamber.
I think everyone's pretty light.
It's like light.
Right?
Yeah, it's pretty light, yeah.
But generally, you want to use ballistae,
crossbows, that sort of thing.
Regular bows and arrows won't make a dent
if you're trying to attack something in the water,
especially if it dives under.
Fire, generally not very useful.
One thing I will tell you,
I've encountered the creatures, the children of the Deep a couple of times in my career.
And a lot of them, I fought with a mage once, and I remember him telling me that magical ice doesn't really affect them. They're used to the cold temperatures of the deep sea.
So you really, I mean, they're very resistant
to ice and cold, obviously fire.
If they're in the water and if they're submerged,
will have very little effect.
Some of them, but not all, the mage told me,
some of them have blessings from their goddess that can make them
More resistant to other energies as well
Yes, if we fight in two champions we can probably expect them to be have all the blessings from Mojana
I certainly would imagine so
Now if you think this area where you're looking,
I do have at least one patrol out there.
Let me, I've got something.
And she goes over, and you can see
there's sort of like a little armory rack
and kind of things, and she pulls out
what looks like a sort of hand crossbow.
I mean, you guys have seen a pistol,
you've seen like a pistol, like a firearm pistol.
They're kind of a new invention in warfare,
but they do exist.
But it's like a pistol, but it's got a really wide barrel
and it has some sort of like a device lodged into it.
This is a signal flare.
If you shoot this up into the air,
if the patrol vessel is nearby, they should see it
and they'll immediately come to your aid.
If they can, as quickly as they can.
I don't know how long that'll be,
but if they're in the area, they'll come by.
Oh, fantastic, thank you.
I mean, it is in my interest to have these champions
slain as quickly as possible as well.
I don't suppose I could be a bit cheeky.
Is it possible to borrow or rent a crossbow from your armory?
I mean, sure, yeah, I don't see that being a problem.
I lent mine to a boy from a village
and I didn't think to get it back.
Yes, for sure.
I mean, are you looking for a heavy or a light or...
Maybe light for you, because I think it's a simple...
Yeah, use martial weapons.
Oh, you can use martial weapons.
So you can use a heavy crossbow.
Take the heavy.
Yeah.
Likewise, if you didn't want to use your staff,
like if you wanted to like use a spear or a pike
or anything like that, you could take one of those as well,
but you won't be able to shillala it, that's the only thing.
So it's like, do you want to attack with Disadvantage,
or do you want to do more damage and have a higher attack bonus?
Please.
My brain can't do...
No, you can waste it. We can catch up on that.
We'll catch up on that.
But yeah, she can fetch you a heavy crossbow.
I would like to have this back.
Oh, of course. Absolutely. You have my promise.
She'll probably send a guard to go and fetch it from their armour. It won't be from her personal armoury, but...
Daisy, is there anything, any other questions?
Like, have I forgotten anything?
Sounds like we need to go near Natting-on-Sea.
Natting-on-Sea, you think?
I was thinking of Iridia.
Iridia was where the last attack was.
Where they've already attacked.
Not to go and see there, seeing signs.
Seeing signs, no, you're right, isn't it?
Rather than go backwards, go forwards.
Hmm, good idea.
I leave that to you.
Like I said, we've been searching that area for a few days.
We haven't encountered anything.
Well, we'll be setting sail with Ser Joran
off for tomorrow and...
Ser Joran knows these waters very well.
If you need, I'm sure that he'll be able to advise you
or at least get you to wherever you want to go.
Perhaps you could send word to your troops
that your patrols that will be around, so, you know.
I mean, yes, we will be difficult.
We will send a bird to carry a message,
but it might take a day or two to reach them.
But absolutely.
Like I said, if they see that signal though,
they'll come, if they're nearby.
Well, thank you very much for your invaluable advice,
Watch Commander.
Well, you're welcome.
Good luck on your nightly quest.
Thank you.
It's going to be fine.
Let me walk you out myself, and she will come down and sort of like picks up her apple to finish as she munches that on the way.
You can see that like immediately like a lot of the soldiers will snap to attention.
She is quite tall and just very broad to the point where like a lot of doorways she has to like duck and like move through sideways.
Like she is very broad-chested.
Can you come with us?
You seem very, very strong.
Alas, I would, believe me, but.
You have important things here.
Sadly, it is the nature of Rankin's station
that I rarely get to do the actual job anymore.
But I will make sure that my people
know that you're out there.
That's okay.
Gruth's got this.
If these creatures did decide to attack Wavemeat,
I would be needed here.
Well, yeah, if they do,
then hopefully we'll hear word of it and come right back.
I'm sure you will.
With that, you are escorted out of Watcher's Point.
I haven't had your conversation and that,
I hand it back over to all of you.
I'm assuming you would all like to meet back up
at the Radiance Hotel.
Yeah, I think that is a good idea.
I don't know who goes first,
but who gets there first, necessarily?
I know, probably Ophelia and stuff,
Ophelia and Rowan will get there first,
but you can do this. Unless.
She's gonna have to drag him past the door
to the lavender garden.
He's making another saving throw.
I can't, I swore an oath.
Yeah, I swore an oath.
And I stick to it.
It's fine.
Yes you did.
Rhiannon is blowing her nose, I'm assuming.
Yes.
But yeah, you guys make your way back.
Like I said, this is this very, very beautiful opulent
sort of white and gold building on Glittercliff
with this beautiful view out onto the city, which is by at this point now as well because
the sun has fully, fully gone down as night, the city is just like a glowing beacon of light,
like the streets have street lights, you can see the lavender gardens glowing, you can even hear
the sound of music and things like that coming from the various places of interest
here in WaveMeet.
But yeah, you all meet up outside.
And as you step in, you step into a very large open foyer.
There is a small bar, a sort of tiled white floor lobby
with chairs and lounges
and things like that.
A very small little bar in which a bartender
is just cleaning glasses.
You can see a fine array of like liqueurs
and bottles of spirits and things like that.
But in front of the main desk,
you can see a very smartly dressed halfling man,
a little sort of waistcoat with a little tie.
He's got a big pair of spectacles,
his hair fully slicked back, a little tiny goatee beard,
and he's just sort of browsing books
and sort of tidying a few things up as he looks up.
And he's like, oh, hello, checking in?
Looking for a room?
Oh yes, we'd like to check in, please.
Very well, yes, may I have your names?
Sister Ophelia de la Rosa of the House of the Lost.
Sister Ophelia de la Rosa, allow me to check the ledger?
Oh yes, I have them, oh, of course.
Mr. K has purchased your rooms. Oh, wonderful.
May I ask, are you going to be quite loud
and messy in the room?
Because that is something with Mr. K's friends
that we do like to know in advance.
No.
I do sleepwalk.
Right, sleepwalking.
Now and again.
Okay, right.
I might sometimes eat a pastry in bed,
but the crumbs won't be too bad.
I'll clean them, I'm sorry.
You are a very different type of guest
to what Mr. K normally has here.
Yes, very good.
Well, are we?
Sorry, are we all here?
Are we all here?
Yeah, I'm assuming everyone's here.
I didn't realize, my bad, carry on.
Yeah.
The place isn't haunted, is it?
Haunted?
Yeah, well, we have a history of staying in haunted places.
No!
And then, you know, getting into fights
in the garden and stuff like that.
Oh, no, no, no, sir, no ghosts or,
only spirits here are the ones behind the bar.
That's very good, that is very good.
I like, I'm quite known for my quick wit.
We should use that.
Well, I have you, I have five rooms.
That's marketing. All paid for.
For the inn.
That's marketing.
Write that down.
On the door.
No ghosts, only spirits here behind the bar.
I don't know what's behind the bar.
We don't have any scripts for.
We will.
Okay.
We're trying to open a bar of our own.
Oh, delightful. Well, yes, I have you down for five rooms. We'll. Okay. We're trying to open a bar of our own. Oh, delightful.
Well, yes, I have you down for five rooms.
Oh, lovely.
For the week, so yes.
Can we be messy?
Oh, I'd prefer if you didn't.
Okay.
That's a small planet.
I don't know if it was a thing we have to do.
What kind of mess?
Is there a limit on what kind of mess?
My dear, if you have to ask, I don't think I need to worry.
Okay, I'm just... Never mind.
It's just normally, like, furniture gets destroyed.
Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no.
There are all sorts of...
Do you allow animals here?
...sheets need to be cleaned and things like that.
Do we allow animals here? Very good question, sir.
Because we could have brought...
Stuart. Stuart.
Stuart is safer to be at home, really, though.
Yeah, that's true.
Next time. I didn't realize you could have animals.
Ha ha, yes, pets.
Yes, anyway.
So, he fetches down several keys, hands each of you a key.
Now do you have any banks or should I send for the porter
to take any banks or things up for you?
No, I think, I mean, I've got these crossbows,
I can carry these up.
Oh no, no, no, sir, no, no, of course not.
We can have a porter carry all of that if that's-
Oh my god, they are heavy.
Yes, of course, yes.
And he sort of rings a bell, ring, ring, ring, ring, ring,
and you see two kobolds- Oh my goodness. Come out and they're like, hello, hello, yes, sir. Oh, the bag ring ring ring, and you see two kobolds come out. Oh my goodness.
And they're like, hello, hello, yes sir.
Oh, the bags for you sir.
Yeah, sure, yeah, thank you.
Maybe I'll get above them.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, there's the two of them.
Like, they carry it all up there, let's go.
But they sort of scurry up, and he's like,
well, allow me, it seems to be quite quiet,
I will take you up to your rooms myself,
I will show you the way.
Just to be clear, this is all covered by?
Mr. K.
Mr. K.
Yes, yes, you're paid for the week.
Okay.
You're paid for the week.
Breakfast is included.
Breakfast is between six and nine in the morning.
We have it out in the veranda, in the veranda room,
which is just out the back here.
Everything in the room is complimentary.
Please help yourselves to, perhaps I should be clear,
things like the robes and the slippers
and the toiletries.
These don't take the pillows and the bedsheets
and things like that, all the furniture.
Oh no, you wouldn't dream of it.
No, but yes, now I have three of you up on the first floor
and two of you on the lower floor.
You'll just be above here.
It takes you through...
And yeah, it's a very pleasant little room.
There is like a sort of inner garden in the middle.
I mean, it sort of takes you around that.
This is like the fanciest place
you guys have probably stayed.
Oh, love, definitely.
I stayed in Obsidius's room.
Yeah, I mean, even...
But Obsidius's room is like a wizard's room. I stayed in aidius' room. Yeah, I mean, even, but Obsidius' room is like, like a wizard's room.
I stayed in a ducal palace.
Yeah, but you were in the wizard's room.
You were also somewhat of a prisoner in this situation.
It was a nice bed though.
It was a very nice bed.
But yeah, you are taken in and these are very fancy hotel rooms, right?
Like, lovely bed, little vanity desk, bathroom.
Each one has its own little sort of like washroom
and things like that.
Very lovely, you're sort of shown everything around.
You're each given one of these keys and yeah,
it's yours to use as desired.
I tear up the furniture.
Ha ha ha ha ha!
Typical board.
Well, I'm gonna take the first floor.
What time do you want us to gather?
Good question.
Preffeth of Tremoro?
Yeah.
Well maybe we should talk about the overall plan.
What?
You can tell them what we learned.
How did you do with, you know, buying rations and?
Oh my god, it was.
Went so well.
Yeah?
It was insane.
I learned so much from you, Zanthias,
and I thought about you the whole time
when I was haggling with...
Amazing, well done.
Yep.
And what did you get?
Well, I got some blood for Ophelia.
Oh, yeah, that's a little...
And a chanted jar as well, would you believe?
We knocked that price right down.
Really, that's good to hear. That is good to hear.
Only 170 gold.
And then I got a net for five gold.
So.
Why was the blood so expensive?
Enchanted jar.
Oh, it's a special jar.
Special enchanted jar.
Keeps blood fresh for a year.
So multiple uses.
Yes.
Well, that sounds quite handy.
It's very handy.
Okay, well that's a-
What a steal, right?
That's no, that's a good deal.
So Ophelia's cupboard.
Well, I might need to get some more.
This bottle I have.
Oh yes, yeah, they didn't have any rations,
so we stopped looking.
You didn't buy any rations?
No.
Right.
I could get some, I could trade in some tokens
for some more sweets.
Rowan, the food is really important.
We should get some food.
Because if we're hungry, I might cry.
It's gonna be closed now, right?
Yeah, it was all closing.
I'll wake up extra early and get some stuff.
Maybe there's some stuff on the boat.
Gruff, maybe you can fish while we're out there.
I mean, I'd rather be, you know, doing duties like looking out for the creatures of the deep and...
Well, yeah.
That kind of thing. I don't really have time for fishing.
I mean, that's what we're doing, basically, isn't it? Fishing?
No.
No. I get it. I think I got the quick wit from the first mine.
Count it.
And which money do you have left?
Oh. Blimey. I can barely count all this.
77 and 500 bronze coins.
I have 298 gold.
I'm drained, I have only one left now.
We only spent 175.
What have you bought?
Oh, I bought this hand crossbow,
which is really good for anyone
who wants to use a hand crossbow.
10 bolts as well.
I also got this regular crossbow,
and if you hold them up next to each other,
it's like Rowan and Daisy.
I kinda want the little one.
Can I have the little one?
There you go.
So whoever wants this,
I think I might be able to use it,
but it would be useful underwater,
and a net with weights.
Oh, that's very useful.
How much was that, like, two? That was five gold. and a net with weights. Oh, that's very useful. How much was that, Lex?
That was five gold.
So you didn't get weights?
I didn't have weights on mine.
No.
Well, I already have net.
Oh.
So.
Well, that's three nets.
Brilliant.
That should be plenty of nets.
That's a lot of nets.
But we do need some food.
Yeah, no, food is a good call.
I also have a crossbow,
and I'll hold up the heavy crossbow
that the Watch Commander gave me.
How did you have that?
Oh, the Watch Commander here very kindly lent it to me.
I do have to give it to you.
Just gave it to you?
Lent.
For free?
Yes.
I could have done that.
Could you?
Yes!
Yeah, how much did that cost?
500, something like that?
I did also have to buy some spells things as well.
You get to keep that though. I have to give this back.
Oh yeah, that's true. Unless we run.
Or die. I'm not going to do that.
Or die.
And you're learning a spell, are you?
Yes, one of the spell stones.
What are you learning?
I don't really know the name of it, it's just this orb.
You do know the name of it?
I know, it's called aetheric armament.
It's like part of like the spell's tenancy, you know the law of the spell.
Well that's good. I did learn some-
It protects and attacks.
Well that sounds fantastic.
I know.
It's like a knight.
I did have some advice from the wash commander here who said that fire and ice doesn't really work.
Wait, no ice either?
No, because they're used to the cold of the ocean.
Well, that's really easy.
That's happy to know, Gruff, thank you.
Next you'll be telling me some are blessed
with other resistances as well.
Well, actually it's funny you mentioned that.
But yes, the creatures of the Deep who are blessed
by Orjanya will have resistances to other things as well.
Lightning?
I'm not entirely sure what.
But given that these two-
Acid? I don't know.
These two big buggers are the champions of Ajanya.
They definitely probably have blessings.
Extra blessings.
Extra big sense, yes.
All right, so we should be careful.
Quite intelligent, we were told.
Oh really?
Yes, quite intelligent.
That's also frustrating.
Well no, because we're all really intelligent as well.
Well yeah, I mean we'll manage perfectly well.
Yes, we'll be fine.
Yep.
Turns out they've been abducting people.
Oh, that's horrendous.
Oh, good, another vault, is it?
Actually, funny you should say that.
Really, is it actually another vault?
There might be another vault around here.
Oh, I can't do another one.
They have experienced vault spawn around here.
Oh.
So they wondered if there is another vault around here.
Now, I don't know, and they don't know
if the two are connected.
But something to think about.
But she did say.
Underwater, no.
That people have been abducted to be turned in,
well, their theory is that the creatures of the deep
abduct them so a genny can turn them into creatures.
That does sound pretty vaulty.
Doesn't always happen, but when it does happen,
they might turn them into things.
That's their theory.
They don't know for sure.
They just know that people have been abducted
and people have been abducted from a radio.
Which of the two places?
There was also, it wasn't like the goal was to abduct them.
They also said that there was a lot of killing.
Yeah, a lot of killing.
Sometimes they grab people and take them back with them as well.
A lot of killing.
It wasn't like the focus, unlike with the vaulting up in common,
that was like actively abducting people.
And they said that near netting on sea,
some people have seen sea creatures around about,
nothing's happened yet, but it maybe would happen,
because there's not been an attack there yet. Oh they think it's about to be attacked?
Well maybe. So we have two choices we can either go to an area that has been attacked and gather
some intelligence and see what happened there or we could go to netting on sea that has had sight
it hasn't been attacked but it's had sight of creatures. There's also the bay as well
but it's had sight of creatures. There's also the bay as well.
Apparently a lot of these creatures hide in caves,
coastal caves and things like that.
Or underwater, what such thing's awful?
No, we don't want to do that.
So nowhere is safe?
Nowhere is safe.
Nowhere is safe, okay.
No, no.
Good to know, good to know.
As leader of this group,
these champions that will face Ser Jon is best.
What do you think, Gruff?
I think I'm gonna have to sleep on it, to be honest.
I'm a bit more worried about the fact
that we need some food and supplies like that.
Oh, that's easy.
Because we can't be fighting on empty stomachs.
No, I would go out tomorrow morning
and I would go and buy rations.
Very easy, I'm not gonna,
we don't have to worry about that.
I wake up earlier than a lot of you, so it makes sense.
She also gave us a flare that we can, it's like a-
Signal flare.
They gave you a gun too.
But it's for signaling because there's patrols in the area
and if we're in trouble, we can just pew,
and they will come and maybe assist us
if they're close enough.
The Sea Guard.
Yeah.
That's good to know.
The vessel we're on, is this just a transport from here to?
I don't know too much.
Okay.
It's the Barnacle Knight.
Oh, okay, so he will be able to...
He will be accompanying us.
Direct it.
Well, not direct it, but...
Well, Gruff will have to direct it, yeah.
Yeah.
But he knows all of these areas, so we shouldn't get lost.
Okay.
I also asked him if they could remember the map.
Yeah, we have a map.
Well, brilliant.
But it's also in my head.
Do you mind writing it down?
I did write it down, but it's also in my head as a backup.
Fantastic. Just in case I lose a piece of paper. Actually, Gruff, I'm gonna give you. I did write it down, but it's also in my head as a backup. Fantastic.
Just in case I lose a piece of paper.
Actually, Gruff, I'm going to give you the piece of paper.
Oh, thank you.
Don't say I'm going to lose my head.
That's terrifying, and I don't want to think about it,
and now I'm going to have a nightmare.
Sorry about that.
So with that, is the plan now to just sleep?
Maybe.
Well.
Oh, what is that?
What do you guys do?
I think some of us are always sleeping.
I'll sleep.
I'll sleep.
Daisy goes to sleep.
Samthus goes to sleep.
I jump on a very big bed.
I presume that.
Yeah, it's a good size, yeah.
It's a big size.
I'm in the middle, the exact middle of the bed.
Starfished.
No, burritoed in the middle.
Probably burritoed in the middle. Probably burritoed in the middle.
Gough probably pokes the mattress and the pillow,
suspicious of it being so soft.
Very soft.
He's never experienced any, he's never been to a hotel.
Yeah, Gough would probably struggle to sleep on that bed.
Really?
Yeah, because it's that soft, he's just not used to it.
It's like you feel like you're sinking,
you feel like, oh, I'm sinking too.
It's itching me.
I'm about to die.
You know, after all the excitement of today,
I don't think I can.
What?
What are Ophelia and Rowan doing?
Oh no.
What are you doing?
I was just gonna go to bed.
Oh, she should have taken the money back.
What's Ophelia doing?
Ophelia's got an empty bottle that needs filling.
So Ophelia's gonna go fill her empty bottle.
How is Ophelia gonna do that fill her empty bottle. Ophelia just bought another full bottle.
How is Ophelia gonna do that?
Ophelia's got some girl in her inventory,
so I think Ophelia's going to peruse the streets
looking for a suitable donor.
See, you want to find someone to buy their blood.
Yes, I do.
Wowee.
I did say ethical, didn't I?
Yeah.
And you, Ophelia, give me a...
I guess this would be...
Because you kind of, it's like scoping out
and like going up to people, approaching people
and finding somebody that you think is gonna be a good...
Like Batman's father.
Well, it's like finding somebody that you think
is gonna be open to this transaction. True. So it's like gathering information. This looks like Fitzgerald. It's like maybe a good... Open. Well, it's like finding somebody that you think is gonna be open to this transaction.
True.
So it's like gathering information.
It's like maybe going to the bars,
like chatting a few bits.
So give me a persuasion.
You can't go up to someone drunk and ask them for...
That's not ethical.
Eh. Eh.
Eh.
You do have fate.
I do have fate.
Would, if you drank the blood, if you took the blood from a drunk person,
would she then have drunk blood and get drunk from it?
Like in what we do in the sheddocks?
Yes. Yes.
Ted.
Yeah.
We kind of all had to have in there.
I'm gonna say that, yeah, the difficulty you find
is that you kind of go to a lot of like,
you go to like some bars and like taverns, and like everyone there is quite drunk and they go to a lot, you go to some bars and taverns,
and everyone there is quite drunk,
and they don't really get what you're asking.
What do you mean?
And you're kind of being coy,
and you're trying to not be too obvious,
and they're like, what?
And they think that you're coming onto them,
or like, what?
And they just don't seem to pick up
on exactly what you're putting down.
So how far is it, does Ophelia take advantage of that?
Or is it like, you're gonna go the other way
and be like, no, no, no, okay,
these people don't really get what I mean,
I'm not gonna take advantage of that.
I think she'd be a bit desperate at this point,
so I think she'd try and skew the situation
in her favor a little bit more.
Oh my god.
You've been doing the house,
you've been doing my home a great service by providing me with some of what you've got.
I'm going to add a fate dice to the roll I just made.
But I'm also going to spend two fate
to just add a complication, make it a little spicy.
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Stop right there, criminal scum.
You, Ophelia.
You, Ophelia, like, you find this kind of like very,
a couple of like drunk tourists, basically.
You're like, yes, and you're like,
I want to trade with you,
you kind of like make this offer to them.
And they don't really get it,
but they're like, gold, how much gold?
Well, I could give you,
start at 50. 50 gold yes you just you won't blood yes
I don't know how you're gonna give it I honestly it's a very clean very precise process you don't have to worry about anything
I'll just do all the hard work
Is it gonna hurt?
No
Okay great And they follow you right where do you go with them? Back to my hotel room No. No. Okay. Great.
And they follow you, right?
Where do you go with them?
Back to my hotel room.
Okay, so you start, so you take them back to the hotel.
Someone is sharing the room with you.
Nobody's sharing the room.
No, it's not a room.
You all have independent rooms,
you all have private rooms.
Oh, sorry, I thought it was three and two.
Oh no, yeah, okay, go.
I'm asleep, I have nothing to do with this.
The complication, I think, is going to be that...
Is this now just filling the bottle out?
Are you cutting them and then draining the blood?
Or is this a feeling that's going to feed on them?
I'm going to give them a little bite and then just drip it into the bottle.
I need you to make a wisdom saving throw.
And that's gonna be the complication.
Right, yeah.
Love can fake.
So I'm gonna fake this.
Sure.
16.
16.
You succeed.
You bite into this person.
And you're initially just going to make it like a little...
Just to open the vowel, right?
Yeah.
You don't just open the vowel.
You begin to drink.
Because as soon as it hits your mouth, just the flavor and the freshness...
And it's this relief, this instant relief.
And it isn't until you feel this person become dizzy
that you realize you've drunk way too much.
And by the time you put it out, they are white as a sheet
and they are unconscious in your arms.
But you have stopped yourself before you killed them.
Yeah.
Because that's where it was gonna go
if you failed that saving throw.
So they are completely out.
You've not filled your bottle at all.
Like you have, you have,
you've not paid any money to this person yet either.
But like, you have like,
you could put it in their pocket
and try and put them on the way.
But you are now in your room.
I'm gonna say it's like three in the morning.
You have a nearly dead person.
They are unconscious but alive,
but they are flat out, they are white as a sheet.
And if you take any more out, that's gonna be it, right?
So that's the situation that Ophelia now finds herself in.
And we will find out how you deal with it next week.
Oh!
I'll just write that in my...
No!
That's a good one to write down, I think.
Yeah.
A conscious person in my bed.
Yes.
Cool.
Yeah.
But, any preference to who you like,
what like, ancestry or like gender
you want this person to be or?
He's gonna give them a backstory.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's gonna be tragic. I don't think Ophelia would have a preference, to be or... He's gonna give them a backstory and... Yeah, yeah, yeah.
It's gonna be tragic.
I don't think Ophelia would have a preference,
to be honest.
So just at random?
Yeah, go for it, DM.
Sure, I'll roll it up next week
and then we'll know more details next week.
But yeah, you definitely find yourself in a sort of,
and it's that realization of like, oh God,
oh, I've drunk way too much, oh no.
And like, you've got this person.
And I think because they were quite intoxicated,
like your, the room is like spinning,
like you're like, oh no, like I feel, you're drunk.
Oh no.
And you have this person.
It's like a deadly combo of blood hunger
and slowly getting drunk.
Yeah.
It's like a euphoric, you know.
I feel like amazing, but I'm like, oh my God.
But now, but you're also like, oh.
It's like when you have that,
it's like you get home from like a big night out.
And you're like, oh no, I've got to like,
you've got to do a thing.
And you're like, oh no.
And you've got like, you know, like you didn't make your bed.
Like your bed's like, no, I put the sheets on it.
And you've got to put the sheets on your bed
whilst really pissed, and you're like,
how do I do this?
Oh no.
God, I don't like that sober.
Yeah.
But that's it.
Sorry, sorry.
How much blood doesn't hit the jar?
None of it.
None of it.
She drank it.
She went straight to the source.
There's none.
Oh, okay.
I thought you might have also spilled something.
Roll a, actually, last, before we end the episode,
roll a just a dexterity roll for me.
So D20 plus dex.
To determine if you are a messy hotel guest.
Yeah, yeah.
That's exactly it.
Don't make a mess.
Oh dear.
Oh dear.
Oh dear.
Oh dear.
12. It dear. 12.
It's not bad.
It's not, could be a couple of drops.
I think that like, you took them to like the chair,
like there's like a little chair by the desk.
Oh, not a chair.
And it's like, the chair is like covered in blood.
There's like blood on the floor around the chair,
but it's localized, right?
Like it's in one area.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. If you had rolled really badly, it was gonna be over the chair, but it's localized, right? Like it's in one area. Okay, okay, okay.
If you had rolled really badly,
it was gonna be over the bed, over the wall,
it was gonna be like a blood bath.
You should have put a towel down, man.
Always put a towel down.
And it's like Berlin, always put a towel down.
It's like she has to get on a boat,
so if you only has to get on a boat tomorrow,
drunk on blood.
I mean, you do now need to explain.
We had an adventure to the zoo. Whilst very drunk.
Whilst.
Having thrown up in your shared hotel room.
She threw up in our shared hotel room.
All up the wall of the bathroom.
She said, I cleaned it, and I went, no you didn't.
No you didn't.
Oh girl, you didn't.
That is where we're at.
That is where we're gonna end today's episode.
That was the first thing that came to my mind.
Thank you for joining us.
We will see how this develops next week.
Okay. Okay. Bye. You you for joining us. We will see how this develops next week.
Okay.
Okay.
Bye.
Oh dear.
You're on the run.
Bye.
Bye.
Bye.