High Rollers DnD - The Watchtower | Altheya: The Dragon Empire #112 (Part 2)

Episode Date: July 30, 2026

Xantheus faces danger once again when he tries to collect his garments from Narcissa and the party share information with Malcom Tombs and Watchtower! 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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wherever you listen to podcast today. Welcome back to part two of Althea, the Dragon Empire. Our heroes have returned to the estate of Duke Ignorius, where Lady M. Barrissa, her son, Sir Elgin. Jack and also their friend Lady Verithera seemed to be spending their time. They have returned the heroes, having had many personal conversations, paranoid thoughts, keeping an eye out for any potential dangers. And they have come up with a plan to go and speak with Malcolm Toombs of Watch Tower.

But first, Xanthius wished to stop by at Carnation House where the Taylor Narcissa has been working on various outfits. As you arrive, still fairly early in the morning, you notice that the shop is, it doesn't really have an open or closed sign, but you can hear like swearing coming from inside you hear. Just fucking, why isn't it? Oh God, this is your heart.

I don't know that. Do you think it's good to go in? Sounds pretty hectic in there. Well, it's Alicia. No, you're... Stupid, you stupid servant. No, do it this way. Yes, like, I'm doing, oh my goodness, by the science.

Who wants to go first? Hello. You hear like a little dinglingling, it's like a magical chime. When you step inside, the beautiful showroom has been taken over. Whatever workshop out the back has clearly spilled out into the main workshop, as there are several mannequins of sizes equivalent to you and your companions, all with half-finished projects on them. You can see that several unseen servants have been conjured and are kind of taking care of basic elements

of some of the more simple works like Rowans and gruffs and things like that. A very, very stressed, quite dishevelled-looking Narcissa. No makeup on, her red glasses kind of perched on her nose, her hair looking like she's just sort of woken up. It's got all sorts of like pins and needles and like things that she's plucking from it. Attached to one of her horns is one of those little puffers with all the pins in it, but it's stuck to her horn.

And she's like, she's wearing like an over, like an oversized, like dress shirt, basically. It looks like she's literally gone straight out of bed and is working. Her tail sort of like flicking it up and pushing it up at the end. And she just looks around, what? What do you want? Don't cut you've come with changes

No changes now We can't make any changes now No changes no changes no changes Well how do the outfits look so far I mean it's hard to tell There works in progress but Aphelius is not here Okay

You would see like a massive Yacht near mannequin A mannequin which is a bit shorter Which looks like it's about daisy's proportions There's mannequins about Xantheus's size And then like gruff stuff was just being coloured I think So you can see that rather than a mannequin, an unseen servant is like hand dipping and dyeing,

various pieces of another clothing. Hard to tell. I mean, they look pretty good, but... Is that one of Zantius's regular outfit, at least? I would say that not out here in the showroom, right? Okay, fair enough. Hello, we've just come to check on the progress of how things are going. I can see it's going very well.

It would be going much quicker if I didn't have any interrupt. Sorry. What's you want? I was hoping to pick up the... To know how hard it is to produce five couture designer or garments in three days, two days. I understand entirely... We, we, we, we, we, we, we, we were what?

You, well, I was my... Seeing a pastry at the window. I was hoping to pick up the first of the orders, my outfit that... You were just hoping to pick up whatever. Yes, I was, I was, I was. I understand you are very, very stressed and I... The garment is done, but I have not done the enchantment

for the ever mending. Because this and her outfit out there is the priority. It's absolutely. It's a deadline. No, absolutely. That has a deadline. So you can have your clothes, but the enchantment is not done. Okay, now what would it take to turn? Do you...

Don't ask me that's that. What I'm with you? Do you want me to finish your friends? incredible eye gout, like eye-wateringly, eye-catching beautiful, magically enchanted gown. Yes, absolutely. You want me to do that, don't you? Yes, no, absolutely. Then you have to take it without the enchantment.

I'll tell, fine, yes, that sounds, that sounds good, doesn't it, darling? It does sound good, yes, but I will come back for the enchantment. Yes, like I'm... After, yes, after that is done. Yes, absolutely. You seem to be doing fantastically by the day. I am doing fantastic. Yes, this is all looking spectacular so far.

Where is, where is it? I will fetch it for you. No. Okay. I don't want you going in the workshop. No, I'm just... I will wait here, I won't touch anything. You just...

Lucien! And you see one of these like floating spectral things like, continue working on this hemline. I will fetch this. The tail kind of flecks. Are you doing okay Lucian? It's just like a kind of spectral ghost. It just starts stitching this thing.

It doesn't say anything. Me and you both buddy. You would also... On the window I'd sight with my pastry. I also imagine that also the other thing you would notice is not only are there a couple of unseen servants, but also she's used animate objects. So there's like a sewing machine that's just animated by itself.

There's like a sewing needle that's been done, like a leather tool that's like leather, you know, making leather engravings and stuff, and she's used magic to animate them. She returns shortly, whips the glasses off. Hello, hello. I stand to attention. A beautifully wrapped golden package, basically.

Thank you very much for getting that for me. The enthrment is not done, but the fabric has been sealed with semi-resistant magic. Great. Normal fire, ambient heat cuts, things like that. It will protect against somewhat. Okay.

I do not want to see this damaged before you return for the enchantment because that will create more work for me to do. It will. I was not expecting you to want this done before the event was finished. I may have miscommunicated that. then and that is a client problem.

Client issue. You are doing fabulous work. I am. You are. And I'm not going to see you or you or anyone until tomorrow when you come to pick up the garments. Is there a time that works for you that is preferable to you? Midday tomorrow.

Midday, okay. About midday. Okay. No earlier, no later. I'm going to leave you to it. I'm gonna leave you to it. We'll get out of your hair. Lucien, coffee.

Stop, Sammy. Let's just, let's just go, let's just go. Can I just like, out of my pocket, give her just a little handful of gemstones? Sorry. I feel, okay. Sufficient. What gemstones?

Are they gemstones on your inventory? They are in their monetary value. Yes. They are 400. Oh, you fucking. She's like, darling, thank you so much. No, no, pleasure to see you. Oh, m-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-d-darling, yes, of course.

I'm sorry, I'm-morrow. I'm so grumpy in the mornings. No, no, no, it's fine, it's fine. Tomorrow. Tomorrow, midday. Later is wonderful. Later is wonderful. We'll see what we can do.

Midday at the earliest. Okay. But if you want to come a bit later, that would be lovely. Okay, no problem. Yes, it would be delight. Thank you, thank you. Oh, wonderful. Oh, Ophelia, that was so many gemstones. Could we consider that?

Goodbye, is it. Sandheus. Okay. Okay. Let's go, let's go, let's leave the wonderful Taylor to her work please. Let's go, let's go, let's go, let's go, let's go. I don't think Ophelia has any understanding of the monetary value of things. You exit the room and I think shortly after a glowing magical sign appears in the window closed on no business, and enter, you know, it's like, go away. Okay.

Rose across the street. Do not go in there. He's nowhere near this. Daisy's just like at the window. I'm at the window. Daisy, there's a pastry shop. Let's go over there. That went well.

That looked good. Good progress. Somewhat well. I was hoping for the enchantment to be complete like I paid for. It's a lot to ask. It was more than I expected to. Did not ask to have that first.

It took me like two months just to do this vein. It'll be two months just to make this one thing. She has to do a whole... Is it Santhius? That was 400 gold. Was it? You just gave away just for an apology.

Oh. 400... I just went... I just reached into my bag and just pulled some out. Next time funnel it through me or... I panicked. She was so upset. She was...

Not 400 gold upset. Yes, absolutely it does it. It is absolutely a lot of money. That's quite a lot of money, sister of you. I don't... I don't think, I'm surprised you had that much money on you. I've been carrying it around since netting on sea. I've fantastic.

And then every time she wants them, she goes, Graf, can you pay? Got some buying all my fingers for me. So I paid for that dress and you had that in your pockets, right? Well, you were so keen. I was very keen. I think that was simply a let's get out of her hair kind of payment situation of anger level. No, I genuinely felt bad for her.

Oh, yes. but we paid for that service. I know, but in obvious, work is, you know, it's a toil, it's a droll. Work is a toil and droll everywhere, but that's why we pay money for work and drawl and toil, which we did do.

What we did there was pay 400 gold for simply picking up an order that we paid for. It's not enchanted, yeah, you really need to be careful. It's somewhat lightly enchanted. We made more resistant. Why would you pick it up if it wasn't finished though?

Because I thought it would be finished. I thought it was services rendered and paid for. It was paid for, but you made no specification that that outfit was to be made first. Maybe it was simply a... The priority was on the event outfit. You're lucky that she's made this. I'm going to go get changed. I'm not going to do it in there.

No, no, no, don't go in there. Do not cross that threshold. So maybe I'll just find some... alleyway or something. There's like a Buckstar's coffee that you can make sticks to us. I'll run by a deer wild heart. Hell yeah. I'll

go into one of the toilets in there and get changed. When you do Xenthias, there is some of, maybe you tell me if the sting goes out of what just occurred, because as you unwrapped, it's like beautifully wrapped, it's like golden kind of like crate paper, it's been sealed

with like a ribbon and things like that. It is the most resplendent and incredible version of your outfit. This is so much better than what nix and mist that anybody has ever made. There is a subtle sheen-like glow to the puldron and the patterning on the sash. The gold almost glows, with a very slight, slight hint of magic on all the trim. Fantastic, I'm going to show this to the lantern. You knicks her.

Would you like to spend it? Oh no, you don't have the lantern. No, I don't. I'm not going to spend a charge on it, but I'm just going to, you know, make sure I stand right in front of that lantern for a little bit. The leather is like toughened but supple. It's, oh, it's the most, this is exceptional work.

So comfortable as well. I don't want to get it damaged. I can't get it damaged. Wait, you can't get it damaged? Sorry? You can't get it damaged. I can't get it damaged. But like I said, lightly and charming to protect you.

Does it look, it feels so, thank you, thank you. It looks fantastic, it feels fantastic, I'm so happy. Oh, wow, this, look at you. I know, I know. It's a pastry. Thank you, oh, funky rod. You got it all over you and you have here. No, don't, don't, don't, don't.

I have to keep this in as resplendent and as condition as it is currently, so I'm just going to. But it's all protected, right? What if you, what if you get stabbed randomly? Because that has been known to happen. Pippa has a knife. I have mending myself. I will keep care of it,

but nothing more than, you know, a light stabbing. Let's all hope. You got attacked randomly in a very secure location just yesterday. I know, but... I think it might be better to leave that in the care of the very nice and very stressed out Taylor until... This is not coming off of my body. Okay. Okay.

For the sake of the outfit, let's avoid me getting stabbed. Wise. We can try our best. For the outfit. Obviously. Obviously. You have changed your shell. Yes. What do you think?

This one is much better. Thank you. Thank you. It was hideous. Don't tell gruff. I know. Graff thinks it was okay, but... I don't see the difference.

Gruff's here. Sorry, I forgot the gruff's here. I don't see the difference. You don't see the difference. I mean, it doesn't say come meat on it anymore. No, it does. So that's a much better. I'm so happy to finally be back in my usable.

It was only because of where the tabard was cutting off the welcome. Oh, true, yes, yes, yes. And my arm is covered it as well, so good. Yes, good. Good. And that you can make your way. Good! I'm never going to interrupt Nassissa ever again, by the way.

Do not, do not. Oh, I just did outside. I just, I could not. I sensed that this would be bad, so I never went. He just didn't go inside. I never went to work. It was like, nope, not doing that. I imagine that Gruff and Rowan were just like, nah, we're not going in.

It's like two dads. Like, you go in the shop, like we're going to just wait outside. Talked about hatchball. I looked at her face and then I walked back out again. I wanted to, but I had to. It was worse than yesterday. I just started with optimism and then that quickly, quickly disappeared. Yeah.

I mean, she was delighted with you at the end, though. Yeah, we're in. Don't do that to someone. I cheered her up. I wasn't expecting that amount. I cheered her up. You did, you really did. Right?

With that, I'm trying to figure out if it's a failure doesn't have monetary value or re doesn't have monetary value. Oh, a little column A. A little column B. I've had, I literally have zero money. She steals it all.

I've made no bad finance decisions in real life ever. In real life. Has the broken and reasonable run? The broken and movable rod. What that cost you, like 20 gold? That was enough. That was a bargain. Yeah.

Yeah, but look at it. She paid 10 pounds for that little. No, she did not. She did. She did not. She did not. We could get packs of those. For that?

For that. I mean for podcasts. Wait, she got, did she get more? No, no, just one. Just one. So it's a tiny little finger puppet. It's like a little huge to get those in like sweet packets for free when you were telling.

The joy of a bag. Ten pounds. Rubber, dinosaur finger puppet. It's like a little finger puppet thing, but the fact that when you brought it in, I went, how much did you pay for a truck? And she said 10 pounds. I was like, no, you did not.

It's why I can't go to conventions. I'm terrible. You are at any point out. Any merch retailers out there, if we're at a Comic Con in the future. Target is. Target. If you know there's a high roller show happening at that, they're set up.

Set up for me. Sell her favorite things. I don't have money to spend. Oh, Rihanna, please, come in peruse on stock. She did buy the most expensive thing at my chemical romance as well. Right. With that, listen, I'm not one to talk. I fucking collect Warhammer and buy my little pony cards now.

Oh, none of us are one to talk. It's just hilarious that it's translated into a character thing. Yes. Well, leaving that lovely scene, Nussi, just desperately trying to rush these fine, clothes through. So much lighting. You,

making your way. You travel once more through the Burn Bright District on foot, weaving your way through busy morning crowds. Maybe a little paranoia. Any person,

that the trader walking with his, you know, carrots in a box, could be a blade in there, could be a spy, could be a... A sharp. How shall be a carrot.

A chapposper's carrots. Yeah. That, That little girl with the pig tail swinging her legs on the sidewalk. Could be a watchtower agent in disguise. Could be a halfling. No one is that happy. No one's that happy.

No one. But eventually you make your way out onto the coil and begin heading your way down to the south of the city where the path of ascension leads. And you have to sort of cross over the path of ascension to get to your destination. What you see is an enormous, wide thoroughfare. wide enough for the largest dragon that you can possibly imagine.

Those of you who are from the empire know the stories of the dragon empress. Even Scaritalos would have looked small in comparison to her. She was rumored to be gargantuan in size. And the path of ascension is supposed to be where she walked with the survivors of the bright song that she gathered with her wormlings, her first clutch of eggs, she walked and in the center of what is now the central district where the Imperial Palace was constructed

was where she found and built the first shelter. And the path of ascension is the steps, and in fact several of the large flagstones that are set into the ground have the outline of a colossal draconic claw imprinted onto them, stenciled out, carved out with beautiful masonry to represent her steps leading to what was. become the home of the empire.

On either side of the path of ascension are shops, traders, ins, but these are clearly the most elaborate, the most wealthy. This is the prime real estate of Kelskaris. There are trees and little dotted like little parks off to the sides nestled behind the buildings. This is the first sight any visitor to the imperial city would see walking through the enormous, massive city gates and walking through towards the central district.

And it is resplendent and awe-inspiring. It is also busy. And as you cross over, you are constantly, you know, Daisy, wanting to almost take a little bit of shelter from Vricks because it's very easy for you to get knocked around, people barge through. Vricks almost acting like a boulder, diverting the course of a river.

Many people seeing this, you know, I imagine with Rowan and and Ricks together, this hulking, you know, armored beetle and then this enormous yacht near, you sort of split the crowd around the two of you as you make your way through. You cross over and find, as per the little address, the grain on the vine,

which is a little unassuming. It's a townhouse on the corner, so kind of built in between a bunch of several other buildings, a very fine-looking haberdashery to one side, a very fine looking bar, not quite an inner tavern, but like an actual evening bar. This tall, thin townhouse rises up with just a very, very simple sign, no words on it, just a sheaf of wheat and a bunch of grapes. And this does seem to be the place.

Although it is unassuming it's very elegant. It is polished marble, dark woods, almost black stained. everything in there is polished brass and kept to this exquisite standard. As you step through, a young woman with slightly elven traits is at the door. Oh, good morning, ladies and gentlemen,

good morning, friends and folks. Are you here, do you have a reservation or a table book? No reservation or table. A pre-arranged meeting with Mr. Toombs? Mr. Toombs. Oh yes, he did say he was expecting some people to stop by today.

Yes, of course, of course. Mr. Toombs has the roof all booked out. You're more than welcome to set up there. We'll send a server up shortly to take orders. As I understand it, Mr. Tooms has said that it is an open tab on him, so if you wish any breakfast,

we are on our breakfast menu. until a bit later. But would you care, I could have drinks brought up for you if you'd like to leave those orders with me now? Yes, please, yes. What would we care for? Is wine? I mean, if you wish to have wine this early in the morning, madam,

it's not my place to judge, of course. Do you have a particular preference? A red, please. Red, of course, yes, absolutely. I'll take like a spiced coffee. Asp. Cinnamon coffee, maybe. Coffee, yes, of course, cinnamon coffee.

Yes. Yes, coffee, please. Yes, a coffee as well. The same, a cinnamon or... Something sweeter. Something sweeter, yes. Or, well, I'll find something. Maybe caramel.

Yes. Caramel, very good. I'll just have water, please. I'm just worried about spilling it on the roof. How would we balance on it? It's a flat roof, sir. There's tables and chairs up there waiting for you. Good.

So still water? Just water, please. Water. We'll have a little bit of cordial in it. Oh, very good, yes. Some berry cordial, elder flower, yes, certainly. Yes, please. Perfect.

Yes, we can have that all sent up. Rick's water for me as well. This, what is elder flower? It's a, I think it's an old flower. Mind you not. Flower in water, strange. Just water for me. Very well, take some notes, gruff.

Yes, just some water as well for me. It takes it down. All right, well, we'll have that all brought up. If you'd just like to go up the stairs here, You see like a narrow set of stairs, almost like you're entering like a very fancy townhouse home, but you can see that the rooms have all been opened up into a restaurant, basically. You make your way up two flights of stairs and eventually come out onto a rooftop terrace. This sort of early winter day, it would normally be quite chilly and breezy up here,

but kind of trellis-like fencing has been erected around most of the rooftop itself. and also suspended are these sort of hovering translucent panels with glowing balls of sort of an orangey warmth and light that radiate a bit of heat down. Also looked like they would protect you from any rain that would come down. And sat in a corner, the entire rooftop terrace, there's like a good ten tables up here. They are all empty.

And just sat in the corner, looking out onto the central district, reading a Clarion newspaper with a little sort of like briefcase bag next to him, his cane, you see Malcolm Toombs. Well dressed as he was yesterday, his black dragon-born tail kind of emerging from the sort of top of his trousers underneath a kind of tailcoat jacket that he seems to be wearing. He kind of turns half of his head. Ah, good morning, I wasn't quite expecting you so soon. Apologies.

We were hoping to make headway on what we discussed yesterday and get to know you a bit better and what you offered us. Of course, please come and take a seat. I hope that the waitress downstairs told you that if anything you like, please feel free to order it. Yes, was that the person you mentioned yesterday? No, no. Darling. Darling. Darling is out on an assignment right now.

Right. Okay. You might get to meet them later, depending on our conversation. Okay, well, I'll take a seat. Yes, please. Drinks are brought up very shortly. You watch it, it's like, you know, Malcolm, everything he does is very methodical. Like, the way he folds the paper. It's very practice. He, like, folds it perfectly the first time,

folds it in half again, places that down beside him. even just the way that he like sips his coffee. It's very measured, very precise in everything that he does. Well, if you have any questions, now is a good time for them. If it's trust and building a relationship, I don't want to try, I'd like to be as open as I possibly can. And we are safe up here.

I mean, no one else here, obviously, but with the far affair and... Oh, please don't. worry about that, no. This spot in particular, nobody. And he kind of gestures, they can't hear us up here. Oh, good. Obviously, we've been keeping a watchful eye as we've been making our way through the city. Yes, we've been very nervous of people following us and those that we speak to and those that might be part of that organization. I can't imagine that after their failure at the academia, the diadem would make another bold attempt so quickly. They know that you're going to be on alert.

They know that you're going to be looking for signs of danger. What's more likely is some of their lower-level agents who are just out on the street will just be keeping a rough tab on where you're going, what you're doing. I can't imagine that they would have anyone actively pursuing you after what happened yesterday. Right. Somewhat reassuring in a way. Well, please keep in mind, this is my belief or an understanding. It's what I would do.

I can't speak to exactly what the diadem may or may not be doing. That's very true. Well, we'll keep a watchful eye anyway. Yes, I recommend that. If that's what we'd least expect, that's what they might do. So we'll keep a watch out. It might be fruitless. It can't hurt. But, yes, as you said, and I apologize for saying.

Obviously you assisted us in the academia, but this is a question of trust for us. We've heard of the Watchtower before, but as we understand, it's long since vanished. Um, so... It is... Watchtower has never vanished, but its official existence is what was...

extinguished, but I can assure you that Watchtower has still been operating ever since the death of the Empress. Okay. Does anyone have any initial questions, or... Well, let me ask each of you a question, if I may, each of you individually. What does trust mean to you, Miss Stacy? Um, I just want to feel like someone... Someone has my back. I want to feel like... There's no secrets between us. We're on the same page.

Even though sometimes friends keep secrets from each other, to protect them. Not us. That's good to know. Trust that the knowledge that they have, though secret or otherwise, is contained with no judgment and not spilled so freely. I'd like to believe, this Antheist, that all On that, maybe I've already proven myself. I know what it is that you carry.

I know what it has done to you. And that information has not reached the ears of those who would like to know. Yes, well, I mean to ask you the means by which you acquired that information, that which you are knowledgeable of, but I will let you continue asking your question or ask. But I will come back to that. Mr. Rowan, what does trust mean to you?

It means everything. Our goals are aligned, our morals and our values are also aligned. Having information is one thing, but is what we do with it as well. And we do the right thing. I think that can be a tricky one. Morals and actions.

Everybody's very different. I imagine that even with your own party, there will be people who perhaps see things differently to how you do. But I think that on our goals, on our beliefs in doing the right thing, that's definitely aligned for sure. Miss Ophelia, sister Ophelia, apologies. No, no problem. Unwavering loyalty, no matter beliefs or circumstances.

I should expect no less, based on your devout faith. I will endeavor to provide as much of these things as I can, but in all honesty, it won't be entirely impossible, entirely possible. Unwavering loyalty. My loyalty is to my people, my agents, the people that I have worked with. I wish to be loyal as much as I can to you, but I should be honest. If I have to weigh their lives against yours or somebody else's, that's a difficult decision for me. I respect you, but these people that I work closely with, they've become like family to me as well. So can my loyalty be unwavering to you? I don't think it can. What I can give you is as much loyalty as I can spare.

Our morals, I don't think that you and I will see eye to eye on everything, Mr. Rowan. I think that... We're about the same heart. I think you've still got a good footer to a little bit. a foot or two on me, but I have had to work in the shadows a long time, and I believe that sometimes

things like legality, morality, morality, to do the right thing, you have to bend those rules sometimes. We have done that ourselves. Adventurers often do. Miss Daisy, you mean, in terms of having your back

that you have no, I can give you my full assurance that that will be the case. Whatever agents I can, they will do their best to provide support and aid and defend you when you need it. As for secrets, though, there are secrets, some secrets I have to keep. For your safety, for mine, for my agents, for the cities, some secrets I just cannot share with you. That is the nature of what I do and the nature of my work. What I will promise you is that any secrets relating to our work together, any secrets relating to the diadem or the investigation that you are part of, I will not keep those

from you. But I have other secrets, many, many secrets that I must protect. And as for you, Mr. Xanthias, you ask how I came about the information regarding your, let's call it your contraband. You have not been very subtle in some of your... dealings and usages. We became aware that there were interested parties, communications via diadem agents concerning your name. We know that there has been some chatter in Gildi from the Oregon family.

Not much, but just questions about goings-on-rest, curiosities. We know that you have been working closely with a sister of the Ecliptic order. Sister Superior Malady and High Inquisitor Argus you recently met. We know that the two of them have a very loose... They follow their order's rules rather loosely. It did not take a huge jump of conclusion to what you might carry. Okay, well, and what about us as a team?

As a... Where I'm aware of your activities in Ash and Rest, the defeat of the Lamplighters Guild and the demonic invasion, that was certainly what brought your attention to our agents early on. You've been working very closely with the Duke and his family.

We know that you have had some dealings with planar entities, a particular figure that is known to Watchtower, One, Caliphress. They're one that we've been keeping an eye on for some time. Okay. I'm not quite sure where they fall, whether they're a threat to the empire

or whether they're actually helping it, but we keep an eye on them. And then this diadem activity, I believe that you encountered them before. You met your companions, is that right? I did, yes. when I arrived in Kelskara's to acquire the contraband, which as a reminder I didn't know of at the time.

You asked for no judgment right now. I don't have any on your past actions, Antheis. What matters is dealing with the diadem now and any threat that they or any other groups attached to them may pose to the city, to the empire. Well, as you are almost, certainly aware we were beginning an investigation and working with an authoritor to investigate the professor.

We did gather some information investigating his room. Have you already acquired that yourself? No, this is something, Orthota Crumlow is one that we do not have any direct contact with. We knew that they were looking into this missing professor, but we didn't realize that that was connected to the dinah, not until your involvement, became apparent. So whatever information you gathered there,

that would be new information to us. What kind of looks towards Daisy? What do you know about the diadem? They are bad news. Certainly. And that they're trying to acquire the contraband in general, not just from Xanthius, but in general. They've been trying to get their hands on that.

And that's how we keep coming across them. They tried to intercept us when we helped to seal away after the crownfall that we had. They tried to ambush us to take that away. And that's when we met one of their agents, Nixomist, who we thought was just a tale. and turns out that he was working with them. Bad news.

We don't know what their plans are with it, but... Crown Steel, contraband, trade is something that they have dabbled in in the past, but it's never been a focus of their organization. Often, we believe that they have used Crown Steel to create magical... proper, like magical relics and weapons, tools. But generally, they have not been particularly interested in the material. Not until recently. They seem to be quite focused on it right now.

About a year ago, we believed that the diadem increased operations to acquire crown steel. But not any kind of crown steel. They were actively seeking out high purity crown steel, Crown Steel of exceptional quality. But we don't believe that this was for themselves. We believe that they were acting on behalf of a third-party buyer. There might have been another organization that they were trying to get to help them.

The reclaimers? Reclaimers, not one that I've come across before. It's just another instance where we came across Crown Steel, but it wasn't very pure, the crown steel that they had. The one from the Crownfall, some of those pieces were very pure. I think Zanthi's last know that they weren't very... Yes. Trying to remember if any were quite as pure as...

Not as pure as you, but... One of them. One of them. Yeah. Yeah. Well, this is interesting. I don't know much about these reclaimers, but I can put someone on to try and find out what they can. Sister Raffia, what do you know about the diadem's organization,

their structure, their hierarchy? They operate on a... ring system. Correct. So higher ranking officers have more rings, varying power, and then lower rankings have smaller amounts of rings and lesser power. They also, some members have tattoos from what I can remember as well that contain magical properties. And if these members are identified, they can use those tattoos to control the members that are identified or kill them. Yes, this is correct. You're absolutely right in your statements. There are... What we know is that there are the lower-ranked agents of the diadem, the ones that you mentioned, the ones who wear the rings.

One-rings, three rings, and five rings. One-ring agents are informants. Typically, they're blackmailed or pressed into service against their will. Shopkeepers, security guards, It's low-level enforcers. People that just want to live their lives and are being threatened to provide information or services to the item.

We believe that they bear a bronze ring. Three rings are their foot soldiers and thugs. Often, we find these quite common in street gangs or low nefarious. various mercenary bands. They bear rings of bronze, silver, and gold. Five ring agents are rare. They are given, each one typically in the past has borne a magical ring, which is given to them as their final gift and a sort of welcome to the elite of the elite, a symbol of their leadership. The rings vary in function and form, but they're normally magical in some way. And then finally, well, not finally, but we also believe there is a rank above the five rings, which we call facets.

The facets each have a codename. They are elite operatives and also the co-coordinators of the diadem. They serve under the diadem's direct leadership, which I've come to call the crowned council. We have no knowledge of this council. We know that the facets work for someone, that they report to somebody, but we don't know who. We believe that the Crown Council keep their identity a secret even from each other in order to make sure that their identity is kept as hidden as possible.

I know of at least four facets of the diadem who operate in the Empire, not just in Coast Guards, but in the Empire. I've learned four of their names. I know of Mr. Sapphire, Miss Amethyst, Mr. Garnet, and Miss Aquamarine. We've heard of a couple of names. Of facets? Miss Herodil.

Peridot, and... A minute. Garnet? No, it was Emerald. Garnet is one that I know. Oh, yes. Emerald? Mr. Emerald?

That's very good to know. We know that there are other facets. We just haven't heard their names before. I believe that Herodot may be one of them, Miss Peridot. Peridot, Peridot. Peridot. Peridot. Peridot. Peridot. Peridoo. Peridoo. Not Peridoo.

Very interesting. Do you have any information about these facets? I don't believe you have any information about them specifically. How did you learn of them? Mr. Emerald and Miss Peridot, they're members of the diadem. We gathered information. information after Nixir missed attack us. I believe it was Lord Obsidious, who. Yes, I am very familiar with Lord Obsidious.

Good terms? Professional respect. Okay, agreed. But yes, we were advised of their names to look out for when we arrived in Kelskaris, but also. Specifically in Kelskirms? Yes. They may be the pair.

We believe that the facets operate in pairs, and they generally operate within a radial. Maybe it will be a region, for example, or a North Caldra, or a section of the Azar Step, a big city. They normally would, each pair of facets coordinate operations within a certain radius, Kelskaris is a big city

I can't imagine that one pair would be single-handedly responsible for the whole city but it sounds like they probably operate in a particular district or region or... What were the names that he knew again? He knew Mr. Sapphire, Miss Amethyst,

Mr. Garnet, and Miss Aquamarine. Mr. Sapphire, Miss... Amethyst. Amethyst. Mr. Garnet. Mr. Garnet. And an aquamarine. And Miss Aquamarine.

And you're right about the tattoo as well, Sister Ophelia. Even the lowest, even low-level agents, three rings, but almost certainly all of the five rings. And we believe the facets, too, have this marking. I have a band with a single gem stand. Magical. We believe that Diadem must have an archinist who specializes in these tattoos,

or maybe multiple of these archinists. And these tattoos basically enable them to kill their agents if they believe they are caught or killed. The mage that attacked you suffered a similar fate. We tried to intervene, but any attempt to dispel or remove the glyph, as far as we know, will trigger it in a similar fashion. We've not found a way to prevent the tattoo's curse from taking effect.

Do you know of any active hideouts currently? The problem is we do, but they are operated by usually no higher than three rings. Warehouses, narcotics dens, places that we know crime happens, but nothing of any significance. There are places that we have tried to... investigate, but we've never come up with anything. The Diodame are very, very wealthy, very influential, very powerful. They're very good at hiding their tracks. Okay, well, as part of our investigations into the professor,

we came upon a letter that was asked for him to go to the Opal Lounge to ask for a Peridot sling. Opal Lounge. That's in VaultWatch, I believe. So the Opal Lounge potentially operated or at least visited by this Miss Peridot. Yes, that would make sense. And this professor, you found this letter to just directed him to go to this place and work this drink. Yes, disguised but dispelled magic.

Ah, that makes more sense. I was going to ask why you think that this was specifically related to the diadem, but the paradigm? hidden messaging, but almost certainly where he fled to after his engagement in the Azar step. That was our next step. The professor is the type of person that diadem would want to have under their control. That makes sense. You intend to go to this Opal lounge? We were, well, we were going to find a way to disguise ourselves, but...

I think I can help with that. Great. Great. Yes, we were going to head to the Opal Lounge ourselves anyway. Well, if you're heading to the Opal Lounge, I definitely want to support you in that. It sounds like this could potentially be a huge lead. If one of the facets themselves goes to this place,

if it indeed is Ms. Perrido who goes there, that could be a real chance for us to capture somebody who has real... intelligence or at least learn more, find one of their primary operations. I will assign Agent Darling to shadow you. She may not make herself known to you, but she'll be watching and will be there to support you should you encounter any trouble. But also, he reaches down and he opens up that kind of like briefcase, like a doctor's bag, like a kind of posh black leather doctor's bag, and sort of a bit like a Mary Poppins bag. He sort of reaches into it and begins pulling many things out of it.

The first things he pulls out are two ones that have like tripod, like wooden, like they extend out and he plants them down. And a magical head like mannequin shape is projected out of force. And a grey hood and mass, like a balaclava is kind of formed over it. And he has two of these. These are called hoods of false faces. It's a magic item. It creates a non-magical disguise

that can impersonate a person that you've seen or create a imaginary persona. It can't change your body size or your body type. It can't change your gender or your voice, but it will almost perfectly mimic the visual facial appearance of somebody else. It is, and it will not register as magical. It is, it weaves it into a sort of non-magical disguise,

like a mask that one pulls over your head, with hair, with everything that is needed. There is magic to disguise the fact that it is magical. They are, they are temperamental. After the first use, our agents have reported that sometimes they break down. So I'll provide you two. I also have this.

He pulls out a very elegant looking pink perfume bottle. And the perfume inside seems to almost shimmer ever so slightly, and it's got one of those big squeezes and, like, you know, kind of proper old-school kind of perfume bottle. This is perfume of tracking. Whilst you're holding, whoever is holding has hold of the bottle, if you spray it on a creature or person, that person will glow to you and only you

with an incandescent aura that will trail up like smoke. So you are able to see them in a crowd or at a distance. You can't see through, it doesn't, you won't see the aura through walls or solid objects. And it lasts anywhere from two to five hours.

I should also make you aware that creatures who can true sight would be able to see this R as well, but it won't register and it detect magic or see invisibility or anything like that. Is it also scentless? It has a nice, pleasant floral scent, fairly neutral, something that can be genderless.

Might be somewhat difficult to apply subtly to someone then, but it depends on the person. I believe that Miss Daisy would be actually quite adept in such a thing. Sneaking up on somebody, spraying on the... It doesn't have to, you know, directly on their skin spraying their clothing. You know, approaching them from behind

and giving them a small spritz would be sufficient. There are four doses of the perfume tracking in there. I also have these and pulls out a pair of just like very nice-looking brass spectacles. Kind of like round frames, very normal-looking.

Spectacles of secrets. These will help you detect hidden doors or hidden traps, things like that, whomever is wearing them. They only have enough power for several uses, and then after that they will no longer function. Do they also sense the mundane secrets as well, or entirely magical? It would be both magical and mundane, provided it is obviously hidden.

Okay. Okay, yes. So, for example, you know, a spring-loaded mechanism disguised to look like a lock, it would reveal that in some way that lock is a danger or has some hidden mechanism to it. It won't distinguish between what is a trap and what is simply a hidden mechanism to open a door or things like that. But it should provide you help at least. Yes. Reveal things of interest, points of things to be aware of.

And then finally, he pulls out two potions and a source. scroll, potions of invisibility, and scroll of major image. Illusion magic can be very useful for missions like this. Watchtower and I would like to offer these things freely to you to help you in your investigation. They are limited in their uses, so once you have used them to their completion, they'll have no further use to you. We ask that you keep us informed of whatever you learn and find.

As I said, I'll have Agent Darling shadow you. Keep an eye on things for you as well. Oh, these would be very helpful. Thank you so much. Yes, and as I understand it, you have your own magical abilities, your own physical skills and abilities to use as well. Yes, it definitely give us a leg up. Yes. I hope that they are useful to you.

Thank you. It may also be that they are useful to you beyond just this Opal Lounge. I know Sister Ophelia, you have this fundraiser with members of your home, your religion. As we suspect to just say, we do not know what the diadem is planning. But if there is something, these tools may be useful to you then as well. Yes, definitely. Sorry, I was just reading it. Those items should all be on D&D beyond.

Ooh, yeah, I was just reading major image as well. So that's the one that lets you create an object. So you can create like a person or an object. I think it's like 20 feet wide, 20 feet high, like it's like a 20 foot square. So you could create like, you can make a door look like a wall, right, and disguise it as that. You could move it, you could create an illusory person. It's pretty useful, yeah? I think you can do all of them.

So you can have a creature that moves and sounds and smells, it looks and feels real. Cool. Yes, cool, okay. It's pretty useful in terms of for this kind of thing. Again, not to do too much mission of possible, but it's like that scene where they have the corridor that they can push down and it adjusts to the person who's watching at view.

You could do something like that with it, right? So can you use it to have to basically create like an extra person with you that can talk and... Yeah. Interesting. Okay. I believe so. For the duration, I think it is concentration, obviously. Concentration in 10 minutes, but... would show up under Detect Magic as illusion.

It would show that they have an aura of illusion about them, right? If you created an illusion with it, or like a wall, it would glow as illusory, that sort of thing. So it's not infalliable, but very useful. My initial thought was, like, it would be weird for us to show up, like, uninvited into this place asking about a Peridot sling, unless... we create the illusion of Professor Braskill. Yeah. And we go in, like, with him again.

Yeah. I mean, maybe he's still there, maybe not. I don't know, but like... Certainly, you know. That's a good idea. And just... To be clear, the hood of false faces, it is literally the Mission Impossible Mosques.

Like, it is a balaclava that you can... But you have to spend an hour basically, like, making the person that you want to become. So you have to, like, you can't just, like, put it on and make it instantly somebody that you've just seen. Yeah. So you have to, like, plan and be like, right, we're going to make this one look like this person.

Or you can make it look like a generic, like anybody you can sort of imagine. So it's like you can make yourself look different. So it's temperamental after the first use. So basically, it can be used five times. Okay. After the first use, there is a 25% chance that it breaks. Right, okay.

So it's like a percentile chance that everybody uses it. We can use it again, but it will... Broken. It will be fricking. it, don't worry. So yeah, it's basically like, and it's in that process of creating the face. So like the first time you use it,

if you make one person and you just keep using that face, that's fine. If you wanna make a new face, that's when it can break. Basically, like a D&D movie, when it does the bard move and then his face is face. Yeah, it kind of like fucks up. How long does it last for as well?

Well, it's a non-magical disguise, so you can just put it on. Okay. That does mean, so, because it is a mundane disguise, in disguise, a creature can tell that you are disguised by making a DC-25 perception check. Wow. Or if they physically touch your face,

it's a DC-15 investigation. So it's like, because they can actually feel that it's not your face, basically. I wonder if we should disguise ourselves as caliphress. You could. Keep in mind, as I said, though, it can't, like, Rowan can't appear like, like short.

No, sure, yeah. You have to get someone with the same body size. And also, you have a tail. Yeah. It's not going to, but you could disguise your tail to look like Califris's tail. Or you could, you know, so you can play with things like that. So, but you're just going to kind of keep those things in mind. Like Gruff, for example, the face, the masks are not going to work on Gruff.

Yeah. Because he's a lion man. Yeah. He can only look like a lion man. Yeah. He can't look like a human with it, for example. Well, we can make two of the false face disguises at least. Yeah.

So that's too. And then if you need to change them. Like... And then potion of invisibility as well. Yeah, really good. Two of those. Again, to take magic or true sight or whatever. Yeah, okay. Nice. Cool.

Yeah. And like things like the... Things like the spectacles and the perfume. Perfume might not seem much, but actually, like, in a crowded city, you won't have to roll. You will just be able to follow that person because it's bright enough that you can be like,

there they are, and you can track them in a place. Sprits it on their coat on the coat rack before they pick it up. Absolutely, you can. Yeah, absolutely, you can. Yeah, okay. Cool. And Gruff wears glasses sometimes.

Yeah. But then also, if you've got the hood of false face, you can just make you look like some. who wears glasses, right? What a loser? Yeah. Podcast listeners, I wear glasses. I have to clarify that one.

It's apparent from my voice. It's apparent from my voice. This is extraordinarily generous. Well, this is consider it a gesture of good faith that Watchtower believes in you and also that we do see ourselves aligned against this common foe. Yes.

Saying this, you know all about us. It'd be interesting to know a little bit more about the Watchtower. Speaking of trust. What would you like to know? What do you think of trust? I think trust is a very difficult thing. I think trust is delicate.

It's beautiful when it's looked after. It's powerful when it's strengthened. But whilst it's being built, it is malleable, it is delicate, and it is easily broken. It can be used against you. You can use it against other people. I see, and you may not like this answer, but I see trust as a tool. And how many rings do you have, or do you have little towers or something? holds up his hands. There's no rings.

How do you distinguish between ranks? Back in the day, we had our methods, but these days, Watchtower doesn't officially exist. I think that you don't want to give yourself away belonging to an organization like Watchtower. So we don't need tokens and trinkets and things like that. I know who my agents are, and I know who my people are. Who's the leader? Once long ago, it was the empress. Now, I suppose I'm the closest thing, but I wouldn't consider myself a leader.

I am a coordinator. I help put people together who want to do the right things, and I help give them the means to do those things. But I don't tell them what to do or where to go. I trust my agents to do what's needed, where it's needed. where it's needed, when it's needed. So no tattoos on agents if they go awry, no stranglehold on us in case you lose trust in us?

Have I put a tattoo on you, Mr. Rowan? I don't know. You might have something more secretive and subtle, but we're being let into something that seems... I keep my tabs on my people. And if you're asking, there have been agents of watching tower in the past who have betrayed my trust and have gone down darker paths.

What were there repercussions? How did you react to that? Some of them became threats to the empire and agents were sent to deal with them. Others, unfortunately, is still out there. They were trained very, very well. You know how to hide. They know how to stay hidden. Well, I think this is going to go great. Absolutely. We have a knack of fumbling through situations and coming out of the other side somewhat unscathed.

I'm well aware. Well, that's good that you're aware of the fumbles and you still think that we can do it. Miss Stacey, let me tell you from my many, many years of experience, missions never go exactly according to plan. A good agent knows how to bend their luck when they need to, but they also know that sometimes luck is against them, and all they can do is adapt and press on.

I think that's the quality you've shown, that even when things go very wrong, you still find a way forward. And that is a sign of a good agent. I'll take that. I'll take that any day. I'll take that any day. Yes.

Luck will not always be on your side. things go wrong. You make mistakes, you trust the wrong people. You just do what you can to fix it and and see the mission done. Well, where we have no luck, we'll always have fate. And fate seems to be on your side. I can't imagine many others would have survived and gotten away like you did yesterday. Perhaps there is something to be said that fate is watching over you. Pure skill there. I didn't think fate was on my side that yesterday. No.

Ambedished by two highly trained people? As I understand it, you were actually knocked unconscious, and if it hadn't been for the guards arriving, they would have captured you. I was still a mostly fatalist fight mechanically. Yes. Well, yes. But as we agreed upon, in terms of an exchange of information,

you have been extremely open and honest, I certainly believe, with us. Is there anything more I should know? In your understanding of the diadem, I think I spotted some holes in your knowledge there. You mentioned a mysterious, purchaser of the contraband. Third party.

A third party. I believe I might know who that might be. I believe that is Oregonis, my father, in Gildi. It was because of him that I was sent to Kelskaris to try to recover this contraband to begin with. And he has sent

agents, siblings of mine to try to recover that contraband. The one that you have? Yes. Are you aware of your father seeking other pieces of Crownsteel? Of this high purity? I didn't recover it from Crownfall. What makes you believe that your father is this third party working with the dynamic?

Do I have any concrete on that? I don't think I do, do I? Did Nixon Miss said? Huh? Nix a mist said that he was. That's why Nixon Mist was interested in your surname, right? Yeah, yeah. Because, yeah.

Yeah, Daisy, go ahead. No, that was Katie. That wasn't Daisy. That was me, Sailing Tom. Fat. See. Pretty risky for this Nixon mist to spill that information, knowing that the curse can be triggered upon reverect

and things like that. They weren't particularly subtle when we last encountered them. I think that they thought that they could beat us easily. Ah. A common foible of the diadem is, a lot of their agents are arrogant in that way. Not me.

All right. Well, that is good to know. I can begin, if that is the case, we can certainly begin looking into Oregon actions and trades, see if we can build any connections with known diadem locations and agents and things like that. Any information that you find out about Oregonis would be really helpful for us to know. If Oregonis is gathering high purity crown steel and is working with the diadem to do it,

that is of great importance to me and my organization. That, to me, my gut tells me that that is a bad thing for the empire. We also just want to keep Zanthia safe. Of course, I understand that that's your primary focus. But if, as much as that is the case, if Oregonis is also gathering other sources, my question is why? Why? To what end?

We haven't been able to figure that out yet. He would know the consequences of the Oriya insurrection. He knows what happened to Galvassar. There's no way that a gold dragon would ever be able to pull off what Galapar once did. So why? Why only high-grade crown steel? Why only pure crown steel? Important questions.

Yes. You should also know I have some other siblings in the city as well. A sister and a brother. Do siblings that you said work for your father? Yes. A sister and a brother. One that Ophelia has met already. I can give you a description of her.

Yes, of course, please, yes. Any information you can give is useful to both of us. I can send agents to try and find them, keep tabs on them. She is disguised as an academia student. She has the robes, and the baton she carries is fake. So it might be wise to scout the academician. see if, or at least give them a warning that somebody of ill intent is disguised one of their students.

It is difficult. I must make it clear. Watchtower is not an official organization. We are hesitant to tip our hand to organizations like the academia. What I would prefer is I will send my agents there to try and track down this sister, and we would follow her. and we would follow her, observe her movements, learn what she's up to. I think it best not to alert the academia. They will panic, they will shut things down, we may lose our opportunity.

She has been showing an interest in necromancy, whether that is a farce or not, I'm not sure, but if this interest is true, it's worrying. This is good to know. Academia would have a lot of restricted knowledge is only for their students, so. They do, yes. No, this is excellent, excellent information.

We will definitely keep an word out for this. All right. Anything else? I genuinely can't remember. Well, this will not be our only meeting. I'm sure that we will meet and speak again. For the time being, take these tools, investigate the Opel Lounge, see what you can learn, see what you can find out.

Will you have agents at the, I'll see an embassy tomorrow? The embassy is difficult. Or nearby, even? Nearby, yes. I'm sure Sister Ophelia has informed you and you know. The House of Shadows, is it? Yes. They are exceptional of what they do,

and they have magical abilities that my agents could, I mean, they are literally ghosts. I call my agents ghosts or their ability to vanish into a crowd or down a dark alleyway. They are literal ghosts who can walk through walls, turn ethereal, invisible at will. I have not been able to get any agents remotely close. The one time I tried, they came back to me very severely cursed with a warning of stay out of Aasian business. Not to say that I don't have other methods of keeping myself informed on what's happening, but getting agents into the embassy or even close to it is very difficult.

I must commend your House of Shadows. They are very good at what they do. Oh, I wish I knew the secrets they knew. Don't we all? Well, take these tools and see what happens at the Opelage. All right. Thank you very much. Of course. With that, I bid you good day. Thank you. He does his things, holds a newspaper under his arm,

and he makes his way out. And that is where we're going to leave the episode. Nice. We're going to end the episode right there. You've got your gadgets. You've got a bunch of intel. You've given Mr. Toombs a lot of good intel as well. And we'll have to see where things go from here.

I think it's pretty safe to say we've just allied up with the Watchtower at this point. Oh yeah. Happy to work with them. You're like, you know, temporary recruited agents. basically. Cool. Until we get the outfit. They don't wear outfits.

No. No. But with that, thank you so much for watching everybody. Yeah. We will see you next time. Take care. See you next time.