High Rollers DnD - Those Golden Bones (Part 2) | Altheya: The Dragon Empire #79

Episode Date: October 9, 2025

The party return with their nets of loot as well as some golden bones in desperate need of some "Percy-ing" 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/1WX3ICiTmf4GpHwImnQMs6⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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and has been downloaded more than four million times. Dumb Dums and Dragons can be discovered anywhere hilarious podcasts can be found. It's like Lord of the Rings if everyone was an idiot. Althea the Dragon Empire. Our heroes have returned from the sea, having gathered up the treasures, even cleverly transporting a small fortune in the gold figurehead that was on the front of the ship,

sending it back to their inn, Tyree's Rest in Ashton's Rest. They have made their way back on Sir Joran's boat to the little quaint fishing village of netting on sea. It would probably be, because it is, you know, about a day and a bit, travel. So as you are pulling into netting on sea, it is late afternoon. So you've spent, you can have a long rest. It's not particularly pleasant rest sleeping on the circus. So you would remove one level of exhaustion from taking a long.

Oh, fantastic. Aces. As we get closer to shore. Yes. I'm going to sidle up next to Gruffeth. And with my net of belongings, my share of the loot, Gruffeth. Hello, Rowan. I put it overboard a little bit and dip it into the sea.

Netting on sea. What do you think? What do you think? I've been thinking about that the whole journey. Mateo's like, I know. I'm naked Ned on the sea. It's right there.

It's right there. I'm very proud of you, Robert. That's a very clever bit of wordplay. I'm going to go for a nap. You deserve one after that. Yes. You just falls like a log. The entire ship just, whoa.

We hit something. We hit something. And you just, I like the imagination that he's like, I'm going for a nap now. You close your eyes and then just fall. and then he's asleep standing up. Graff just very slowly turns towards Santhias and Ophelia.

We heard it. He sleeps like a log. He really does, yeah. Now he's asleep. Wow. What a genius. I know, right? The funniest shit I've ever seen.

Can't believe none of us thought of it. The ship pulls in at these small docks. You can see that the village of Netigon Sea It's only been about three days since the brutal attack by Agamox and the betrayal from within by the cult that was present here. Things have not quite returned to normal, but there is a sort of semblance of getting back to work. You know, there are fissures going out on their boats.

You know, there is things that need to be done. The bodies have been burnt away. you know, the blood stains mopped up, damage, being repaired. But netting on sea will not quite be the same for some time, it seems. At least one, at least a couple of figures are at least excited to see you return. Carla, the innkeeper of the catch, fellow Davea to Azee, to Daisy. It seems to be rather pleased that you're back. still seems to be helping coordinate

some of the repairs and affairs here in the village, as well as dear sweet Anne Bree's Water, the Otter Wildheart who comes up. It's like, oh, you're back, you're back, is everything all right? I think we're okay, we're okay, right?

We're okay, we're not dead. The creatures that were responsible you were traveling to deal with them, weren't you? I think we've taken care of their leaders, their champions. Oh, yes. Vanquished, defiled, destroyed. Yes. Gone. Demolished.

Demolished, yes. Thank the Sions. I've got something to show you. Yes. But we'll need to go to the water's edge. Not now, no, and we'll do it later. Oh, all right, all right. You're going to want to see it though.

But, Kruff, do you think we should announce to the town as a whole of your grand What kind of announcement you're hoping for now? Is this like a quiet, subtle, muted kind of arrangement? Oh, there goes your humble knight gruff over there. I'm not a knight yet. Yeah, well, future. I've still got one more to do. Hero, then, hero.

I'm not a hero. Current hero. I mean, hero, you saved this town. We saved the town, but you save you. I'm just... Or we could go for the loud and the boisterous. Everyone, you stand before... Hero gruff, savior of netting on...

Right, you've been travelling with me for how long now? Quite a while. I feel like you want neither, but... Does that sound like something that I would want to do? So you want me to make the decision for you? Does that sound like something I would want to do? I could shut up. I'm picking up, I get it now.

That's what you want, okay. He's loving. Watch him, though. He's going to twitch in about 10 seconds, 9, 8, 7. So Joran walks past straight into the inn, very much like, It is time for my drink. I am going to the pub and just sort of like nods in your direction graph

of join me, join me when you're done kind of thing. Sister Ophelia, hello, yes. What do you need to do with your bones? Well, I need to replenish my... That is a sentence I have just said. That makes perfect sense. Doesn't it make sense?

I mean, you're picking up very well. It's very good. I mean, I'm glad it's becoming sort of part of the lexicon. It's nice. It's comforting. Anyway, I need... to replenish my charcoal and parchment supplies because they, for some reason,

just aren't on my person anymore. I don't know what could it possibly happen to them. It's crazy, actually, that they're gone in the first place. And then I need to get some, let's see, charcoal, my incense, need to replenish incense, and I need to find a place where I can cast a ritual, and I need to open the way to the Great Father

so I can communicate with him, and then we can talk bones. Just talk bones. That's the plan. With the old barnhouse, was there a barn house? Am I imagining this? A barn house? There is the old mayor's estate that belonged to Coulters

that you stayed in one of the nights. You also have to catch the inn, Carla's inn here as well. Do you know what I was thinking of? I was thinking of the farmhouse, the barn house that we stayed in in our fucking Warhammer one shot. Yep. Yeah, yeah, yeah, okay, yeah.

Very different. Because I get netting on C-5. I mean, yeah, both secret, like little... Uri-Roondier, cootistie. They were culty as well. Yeah, they were very culty. I should really watch that. If you haven't.

Where could one find it? On the High Roller's Live tab. Yeah, alongside all of the other ones. Anyway, yeah. I'm sure we can find all of that. I really do feel we should prioritise that. You've done a lot for me. I really want to make sure that's...

The, oh, that's really nice. I'm trying to cry, don't want to cry, it's been a lot. I see it is now, we're not underwater. Suppress, suppress it. It's like a bag of it. Get back. Get up. The parchment and charcoal would be available at Anne's general store.

Like, she has a little general store. She's like, well, we could provide you with parchment and charcoal and things like that. Amazing. Yes, of course. The least we can do. What kind of sense do you have for the incense? Like what? Oh, I don't know if I carry any incense, not really something that we carry.

Okay, okay, that's okay, we can work with something. We can make something. Maybe some up at the church, maybe. Hmm. Now, that might be, is that safe? I haven't actually been there since, you know. Technically, it's safe. Yeah, okay.

Yeah, that might be a good place for you to, you know, connect with... I don't know if merging different religious practices and... Oh. I don't think they would be very happy. Oh, so they are still there? They're currently... Yes. Yes.

Okay, yes. Okay. Yes, the sister's ghost is still there. She probably would be a bit Mardi if you started practicing someone else's religion. We wouldn't want to be Mardis. May I have a wisdom saving throw, please? Wisdom saving throw?

Yes, please. Wisdom? Yes, please. Can I convert that into something else with my magical abilities as an arcane professor of the third? 14. Okay. Do I feel like I just resisted something?

Would you think I would tell you? if you did? You told me, but does Xanthius know that it's what's everyone doing? I'm trying to scry on Zanthis. So what does Mardi mean? Mardi, don't you know that word? No, not, it's not called me. It's short for Mardi Gras. What's Mardi Gras? It's a really fun party holiday.

In, oh, in Osset. Can we not canonize that Mardi Gras is the thing in Osis? No, no, no, no, no. It can be very Mardi Gras like, but it would not be called Mardi Gras. making a terrible thing. Yes, yes, yes, yes. There's muddy grass. There is muddy grass. Is that what you mean? Yes, probably.

Mardi comes from, Mardi comes from muddy grass. You know, when you get muddy grass. But, okay, well, let's not, yeah, we, well, okay, so we don't go to church, that's fine. No, no to church. But there might be some incense there, so. Yes. Would Jameson's dwelling house, cottage, domicile?

Yeah, he had the, stayed near the barracks. You've already searched Jameson's house. I want to go again. Okay. And I want to try and find a personal effect of his. Okay. Yeah, I think that, yeah, give me an investigation, because I think he would have grabbed as much as he could.

But let's see if he left anything behind. For fuck's sake. Can I have some fate? You absolutely may. Please, spend your last point of fate. Look at this lovely stack. I know what I'm using that on. 18, minus 1, 17, plus.

Three, Dirty-20. Dirty-20. Yeah, it's tucked. You find it tucked where most of the drawers, anything that belong like clothes and equipment, it's all been ransacked, but it looks like it was packed up in haste, in a panic, perhaps circled back,

like after the battle when you guys were needed, circle back and grab things. But you find, fallen down beside the dresser, you would find, like a shaving mirror, like a little small, like soldiers shaving kit, basically. And it looks like that fell down beside it. And it's engraved with the family name.

They were the Canbericks. So it is engraved to Jameson, you know, from his father, I would imagine. It was like a gift. Like a beard stuck on it or anything. It's like the actual, like, maybe a couple of dry drops of blood, you know, cut himself shaving and things like that. But not enough to, you know, fully power a Skry Spell.

But this would count as an object. A tenuous one, but an object. Thank you. You're welcome. Just pocket that for later. Nice little reminder there of me asking Xanthius for a wisdom save. Like, oh, it's crying. That's a thing.

I was getting my spells ready because we had a long rest. And I was like, yeah, I can't scry. Yeah, that's true. But yeah, you can absolutely do that. What is ever, is anybody else doing anything of any importance? Have you got, now, I'm sure you have been looking very carefully after all of these, but have you got every single bone? I think I do.

Was it the human body is made up of two hundred and six bones, I believe? Two hundred and six? And you have all two hundred six there? I think I have two hundred six. I was counting them as I was going on. I'm going to need to arrange them. Not including the teeth. The teeth are in the skull already.

That's fine. That's easy. Also, I, I, I have two. Also, I imagine that although you are not from the House of Bones, Ophelia, you probably know that through the ritual we used to create Percival and things like that, the nice thing with their currency is they don't need all of those bones. Like, as long as you've got the most important ones. The little ones, nobody cares about that.

You don't need your little toe. The magic does a lot of it, do you know what I mean? You need a little toe, though, because you're... Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Things like that, but, like, you know, like, as long as you've got strong legs and You don't need the, you don't need the, a lot of bits and pieces. Well, the magic helps it. I have a micro-caps.

It keeps the knees in place. Because there's no joints holding it all together. So it's magic that kind of keeps the bones, you know, animated. So you don't need all the bones. I think I have everything. You have all of them, amazing. Okay, good. I've got the rib cage, which is like, that's the kind of where the magic needs to be front of it.

There needs to be there. And the spine as well, there's a lot of, yeah. How's that in? Okay. Good, good, good, good. But do we need to arrange it in like a certain way, or how do I help is basically? What I'm saying? Oh, thank you.

Well, I think what I'm going to do is lay it all out so the great father can cast his judgment upon it. Um, hello, yes. Where are you going to do that, Ophelia? Because I don't think we should get bones out in front of all these people because all that their friends were like murdered. Not that long. Not about it. Oh, yes. We shouldn't do it here.

Yes, that's true. The church? Not the church. No, ghosties in there. Ghosties in there. Yeah, they're already in there. Maybe the old man a house. Maybe the old man a house.

Yes. like, away from... Yeah. As long as your connection to the Grafather is, you know, strongest. It should be fine. I mean, ideally it would be best to do it in Ashton's rest,

but I kind of want to get this just done. Right, yeah. How long until you, you know... A week. Right, so that's off the cards if you want to do it's done now. I really miss Percy, and I really want to see Percy. Oh, so do I.

Wouldn't he look amazing just... I can see it now. Just stood in front of me. Do you still have the robe? The robe. Percy's robe? Percy's robe. Yes, yes, I do have Percy's robe.

Good reminder, thank you, yes. I think that will really complete the look. I cannot wait, I can't. Wait, okay. Will he still be able to speak? Well, I think so. It's all in there. It's all in the heart.

I have the heart, it's all in here. Save slot one. Yeah. Kind of is. That memory card, good. Memory card is intact. It's like altered carbon. It's dust in there.

Yeah, yeah. Make sure the plugs are aligned. The pins are all good, yes. Cool. Cool. Cool. Anything you want to do. Oh, well, I'd like to figure out, I guess,

what our next steps are. You said you want to go back to Wave Meat, Graff, if you're here with us? Is Groff in the room? Yeah. I hear, I hear Groff. He has a shave hair in his aunt. Okay, good.

Do you want to shave? Oh, no. No, because you look ridiculous. I... I... Wow. Wow. Like an anti-beard.

Yeah. Where it's just skin Everything else It looked like a hairless cat Just the goate but shaved away The area for a bit The skin Good idea, gruff, great idea

But why have you It's Jameson's Oh, oh Oh Would you like me to try and do some magic To maybe try and figure out? I don't think I can do that Right, but I do

Go ahead You know what, Gruff, I'm learning from me Do you remember that thing that... I'm going to shut up. 10, 9, 8. God, this whole body's twitching. I can't grow wings. You can do it.

Five, four, three. Crowns to your blast. Burr busts out of his chest, annihilates Andri's water, like, destroys a house like a kameha meha. A whole... Bha! Oh, credits roll.

Well, you're technically... And then, that vision in Xanthius' head comes to an abrupt end as he's just staring there and... Three, two, one. And scene. Shit. Well, actually, I was thinking of whether or not to use that font that we found in the... To heart, to hemo.

Ah. To Homer. Whatever the font is. Why was that the one that way? Oh, shut up, Gruff. I think you also need to take Gruff's lessons into real life, and not just Xanthius, but Tom also sometimes. You don't have to say everything that comes into you.

Right, right, this is, I think this is a very important lesson. I know I need to learn it sometimes, but sometimes the thoughts need to stay inside. If not me, then Trot. Let's be real. It was a pretty funny joke though. It's pretty funny. I love a font joke. Yeah.

Who doesn't love a good Helvetica font joke? Helvetica. Right. With that, so Gruff, you plan on trying to use that scrying pool in the cultist cave to try and track down Jameson. Very, very interesting. And Ophelia, you would like to try and perform the ritual to return Percival. Do a little grave father checking?

Sure. How are you doing that? I'm going to cut, not cut one of these things off, But Gruff, when you go to investigate that cave, it's fucking full, in it? It is not full. It is empty and dry. It's empty full.

And there is a sudden quiet about the entire sort of culty church that you find there. Like you kind of weave your way down there. I don't think it's, I don't think I need to have you roll for this is very obvious that whatever power or Jania were sort of channeling here with choral songs dead. that nexus of power is now gone,

and whatever was channeling that water and causing it to fill and be used in that way is now gone. Sure, I thought about that, really. I've let myself down. Not to say that, I mean, you know powerful wizards, you have access to shops and things like that, it would not be implausible for you to acquire the means

to use the spell elsewhere. I do also now have a thousand gold, so... You have quite a considerable amount of gold coming your way. If I can pry it from Xanthias, it's cold, dead. Just to wrap that up, so there's a couple of things I want to get, a couple of things I want to get done. You then all convene with Sister Ophelia, who you make your way back to the, not the Canbericks,

it was in fact the other family, the Ogdens. Ogdens, that's right, thank you. The Ogden family farm, which she, you stayed up before it's where you found many clues about the cult and things like that. Some of the left out food and things like that has spoiled, you know, there's but otherwise it is a pretty clean, safe environment. And yeah, so, Ophelia, you lay out these newly acquired bones. Still, no idea who this person was. You get the sense that they were the captain of that vessel.

What's the name is Captain Percy? Can you imagine? What is there a wangor? Doesn't matter. That would be a very weird coincidence. If it was cool, Captain Fiske. But, yeah, you're not knowing much about them. Still, it looks like they spent so long underwater.

The salt crystallization, you could break it off, but there is a risk of you damaging the bones because it's almost become quite ingrained into the essence of the skeleton. That is cool. It's part of the skeleton's history. Yeah. Zanthius, you have the gold site eye.

And whilst, you know, normally it's a charge, you use the tech magic. One thing you would be clear is... I've got some charges back, you know. The skeleton itself, there is a trace here that being submerged in that water, being so close to primordial deep magic,

these bones have a trace of water essence about them. Like the bones themselves have become in... fused with magical essences left over in the deep water. Oh, cool. Giving them the properties of a water essence. Very nice. We did the bones themselves. Sweet.

And those kind of crystalline, the salt growths, almost like crystals on like the shoulder bones and the arms and things like that. And it still has, I imagine that you kind of gather up all the bones. Did you gather up like the rusted armour and the tattered clothing? Or did you leave all of that behind? I think people have kept taking some of the armour. No, not all of it. not like, maybe not the tattered clothing so much,

but maybe, yeah, like, yeah, some of the armour. The belts and things that like that, like, yeah. Because there's probably like a leather military coat that was left. So, like, all the shirt and trousers had frayed and worn away. But the leather's actually quite still sturdy underwater. And so there's this kind of, like, long, would have been a sort of dark umber, like a dark orange military coat.

Yeah. That still sort of hangs off of this, you know, and the bones, some of the bones were caught up in it and things like that. So it's definitely still present. But you lay it all out. And you do indeed have a full skeleton here. And any missing bones that would be required, you're pretty confident the necrotic heart will sort of repair them

and sort of replace them and regenerate them over time, long time, but it will regenerate them throughout. Yeah. Cool. So what's this look like? So I think first of all, the philia is going to, she's laid the skeleton out on the floor. And I think she would have bought some candles.

Yeah, candles would be easy enough to obtain, yeah. I think she would have placed one at the top of the skeleton's head and then made sort of like a house formation kind of around the skeleton, so two by the shoulders and then two at the feet, sort of form like a house shape. And then Ophelia will sort of stand, like the head of the skeleton, sort of looking up, and then she'll do her sort of ceremonial bloodletting

where she'll slice the palm and let the blood sort of drip onto the skeleton and sort of a little bit on her to side kind of like in my mind laced together they're like connection and then I suppose then she'll just hope that the great father can hear her

and can sense that she's trying to just open the way she likes these candles and tries to channel like her sense of home and her belonging well you are far from your chapel making use of rudimentary terms here. I would like a religion check

from you, Sister Ophelia, please. 19. 19. You, I'd say with a 19, I'm going to spend two of my fate points here as you let the blood from your hands drip. down onto the black wooden heart that you know contains the soul of Percival. As the blood touches it, you begin to see these tendrils of dark, red, and black magic

sort of spread out from the heart bonding to the bones and then fading and vanishing until there is sort of shadowy, very, very faint shadowy kind of like strings, kind of almost bringing it all together. But as it does, Ophelia, you feel the air in the entire room. In fact, all of you would feel the air in this room goes very suddenly, very, very cold. And color begins to leach out of the room as well. Your clothing, your environments, your skin, your hair, all of it becomes duller and duller till as if the saturation has been turned way down, not quite gray scale there is a hint of color left but it's faded and worn as you bond you create that connection to the gray lands to the gray father and then you just hear as this this thing this

energy sort of dispels out of the bones as whatever spirit of its former life still somehow our bond is forcibly ejected out. And I would like all of you to make a charisma saving throw, please. I will make one for Daisy. Oh, okay. Okay, we do have two fate if anyone did want to. You do now. Spend them.

I'm all right. One's enough, right? One's enough. No, I got 20. 20. Nice. 12. 12?

16. 16. 16. uh, Daisy unfortunately gets like an eight or something like that. Okay. Um, I rolled a five and I know she doesn't have that higher bonus. So, um, you watch as, uh, Daisy and Graff, you, you see this green spectral orc male, uh, officer, uh, broken, shredded, shattered, uh, kind of pulled from the bones.

and then just disperses and that energy flies throughout the entire room. All of you feel it passed through you, but yeah, gruff, you feel this strange sensation come over you as something has affected you in some way. I'm not sure what, but... Ophelia, was that normal? Was that...

Wait, I didn't. I did it. Did what? Did what? What was that? You watch as the eyes of the skeleton glow, that familial red glow as it sits up. Some of the salt crystals cracking and breaking, falling away. The voice that comes out,

at least initially, is not Percival's. My child. My lord. I sense you are far from my house. Yes, I am. We have travelled far, farther than I could have ever walked. I bring news beyond Illmera. The people here, they're easily seen.

by promises and power, what I've learned from crown steel, from beasts, from dragons, and how people behave here. This realm, its entire realm, the lustful for power. As all mortals are. Yes, and we, I believe, I have shown them our power through my deeds, through what we have done, through the foes we have vanquished, that our strength and our stories will continue to grow and flourish. Our word will spread throughout this realm, and I believe our worlds will close much easier than anticipated. One bony hand reaches out to your head as you bow towards this body,

placing it on your skull. You have done well. Yes. Thank you, Lord, thank you. You wish this vessel to carry your servant once more? I would, your lord, but please, please. Your judgment is, of course, far greater than my own. If you believe these bones to be of inferior quality,

if you believe them to be unworthy of your great power, then please cast them aside and I can always find more. A hand retracts. Continue your good work, my child. Thank you, my lord. And also, the foes we have vanquished, they have not been without assistance, my lord. Observe this creature on the back of my neck here,

taken from one of those foul proto-magic vats that defile bodies that twist them beyond recognition. Please, if it would be, if you would be so kind as to let me carry this vessel, this creature, it may well serve in our name as punishment, my lord, as punishment for defiling the beauty of life, for ruining the sanctity of life itself. The skeletal hand reaches,

and as you kind of show the scarab, the armored scarab to it, you see the skeleton touches it. this being is not so different from many of my children it too feeds on blood for strength it understands the symbiosis of power

do not blame it for its creators misjudgments, you are more alike than you realize. Of course, thank you for your wisdom, my lord. I would never have known that myself. You have so much to learn, my child. I do.

But you are pleased. For now, you have much to do still. Mm-hmm. But this is good. This is good. The weapon you bear, it has drunk deep of late. It wants more. Then I shall.

I shall, I shall. In your name, my lord, I shall. Good. And with that, the arm pulls back, the skeleton lays down. The eyes remain alight. but then a different voice comes through. Hello, Sister Ophelia. Hello.

Ah, I'm back. Ah, yes. It sort of sits back up awkwardly, looks at skeletal hands. Have I been in the sea? Yes, yes, you have. You have, well, yes. Oh, Sister Ophelia, your hair and your makeup, it is not done.

Oh, I'm so, I know. I know, it is my fault. I have not been here. My foolish actions have left me, left you without your servant, my sister. No, no, no, no, no, I must. And he begins, like, immediately, like, where is your comb?

Where are, where are the, where are the ointments? I don't know, I've lost everything. I need to buy more. I need to buy more things. So I completely forgot. I must, I must do what I can in the interim and starts, like, manually sort of trying,

using the finger bones to try and comb the hair. I have a comb, I've been trying my wrist. Pursle literally just grabs it without even saying he just grabs it of course and shh-h-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-h-h-h-h. It doesn't say thank you. It just is like, yep, excellent, that's what I need. Come, come, come, cope.

Thank you, Percival. I've missed you as well, sister Ophelia, my mistress. I am sorry that my absence has denied you of my services. Well, they have been greatly missed and I'm really looking forward to catching up with you. So much has happened.

I fear that this body is different to the one of the one. I had. Yes, it is. It is a new one. It is not unpleasant. Oh, good. That's good to hear. It looks brilliant. It's quite thick. I find it thicker. It's strong. It's to be stronger than your old. It feels stronger, yes. And your robes back. Well, my friend. Thank you. And you can see he like puts, he kind of looks at the robes and he's like, but then he's also looking at the coat and it's like, oh, should I. Well, I mean, it's a choice as yours, Percival. I mean, you may, would you like to keep the coat and have that or wear?

I fear that many mortals here in the Dragon Empire are rather concerned that I am dead, but I should still hide my nature to them, yes? It just always feels a shame. You look wonderful. Thank you, Sister Ophelia. Do look exceptional, Percival. Do you remember much from the vault? I remember everything up until the moment of our escape, Lord Xanthius.

I remember the moment when we had to flee, and I ensured that Sister Ophelia made it out of the vault, as is proper for my duties. And at the last moment, I think I remember Sir Gruffeth, myself, and Sister Ophelia reached, Ah, yes, I knew that I would not make it, so I plucked my heart and ensured it was given to Sir Gruffeth. Well, what you did was very, very honourable. I think it's because of you that...

Honourable, sir? Yes, absolutely. I do not think it was honourable at all. You helped us all this thing. Oh, of course. How could I do anything? else. I have to ensure that Sister Ophelia is safe. But I feel I need to

apologize to you. It was because of me that you were in that situation. Sir, I am but a... I am but a skeleton. I am but bones. You do not need to apologize to me. I have... I am unlife. But you've assisted us and... That is my purpose, sir. ...helped us and we needed you and you weren't there because of mistakes that were made. Lord Santhius, please. If I may, forgive me for speaking,

but I must make something very clear. I am not helping you. I am helping Sister Ophelia. But Ophelia is helping us, and friend of a friend and all that. I just, I'm happy you're back. And like Ophelia says, you do look amazing. Oh, that's very kind of you to say, Lord Santhias.

I'm glad to be back. That's just all I wanted to say. Oh, that's very kind of. I'm very happy for you, Ophidia as well. Well, it's always appreciated. Thank you. It was a good apology, boy, oh. It tried.

It was better than you. the one I gave you guys. Pretend I gave that to everyone, the first time. Right. Yes. Now, I must your clothes are all wed, sister, Ophelia. We must get them dry, and we must make sure that everything is cleaned. It seems that, oh dear, my absence has clearly had quite an effect.

I must, must attend to my duties. You haven't really stopped or had time, I'm afraid. It's just been a whirlwind. This estate appears to be quite adequate. Is there bathing opportunities here? Is there water to be run? I think that... I said, I'm not a hundred percent.

We've not really explored this place very much. We did a little bit. I would set to it then. Thank you, Percival. That would be greatly appreciated. And literally just immediately is back into Butler mode. Just like, right, starts fetching hot water, like starts eating water up to fill a bath.

And it's just straight back into it. There is one thing I will say about this new Percival. There is a kind of very strong briny scent that is always present, unfortunately. It's nice to graphlers. Yeah, it's kind of got that sea. kind of like briny sort of smell. Not unpleasant, but it is rather pungent. It's sharp, yes.

But yeah, he just immediately falls back into it. Daisy and Gruff definitely, you still don't feel right. Yeah, like a chill down your spine. He's like, I didn't like that of that ghost. I think that was that, was that, Sister Fia, was that like the ghost of the boat? I thought that they didn't. Skeletons aren't supposed to have things in them.

Everybody has a soul, Daisy. But I didn't think that they stick to your bones. It was just a transference of personality. But that didn't happen the first time. No. Well, no. But it's normal. It's so normal.

Alright, if you say so. I wouldn't worry about it. Old soul, gone, new soul in. Winner. Where did it go? to the Greylands, I assume. Oh, right, okay. I mean, there's plenty of skeletons in the Greylands.

I'm sure it's probably went to inhabit another body in there somewhere. Oh, great, okay, yes. I mean, it was just laying on the bottom of the ocean anyway. I mean, that couldn't have been very fun. No. Now we guess to fight an eternal war that it may, you know, against the day.

Purpose. Yes, exactly. A grand purpose. Eternal war. As long as it's happy. It's good that Percy's back. I'm so happy Percy's back. I feel a little bit like I'm...

I can be normal again. Good. I'm glad. Croft, could I have a word? Absolutely, Rowan. You're all outside. Oh, I just feel... I want to stretch my legs. Let's go outside. You go outside the front of the house. There's like a little farmer's porch with a little swing chair. It's for halflings though, so Rowan fit just about fits by himself.

You want to sit next? I'll stay standing. Stretch my paws. One leg. I mean... I mean, you heard that too, right? Right for the plucking, easy. Greedy. Subjects.

Lustful for power. Washing over a spirit just being destroyed, screaming in agony and disappearing into the ether. I certainly perked up when I heard the words, Eternal War. Yes. That would you would all know, though. That is what you know of of the planes. It's not seen in action.

No, that's true. But, like, you know, Nim and Daisy have explained that as well. But, yeah, just as world law, that is a known thing. Wouldn't you have a direct example? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. It's very different when you're like, oh, yeah, that soul's being forced to go fight in an endless war. It knows another. Yeah, that's a thing.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, it's fine. Look, I'm trying not to be prejudice, and accepting of other cultures always have been for a failure. But there are some aspects of the grave father and the teachings that question my morals a little bit. You know, lad, after some recent events, I really had hoped that Sister Ophelia felt differently. You know, especially after what happened in Wave Me, she said some things that really showed me another side of her. And I won't lie, son. I'm rather disappointed.

Unless she was putting it on for the great father. Well, either way. Yeah. You won't lie, though, if there is someone who is lustful for power. Well, obviously, yeah, Xantheus, right? Yeah, we're both thinking it, right. But it comes at a cost. Everything always does.

And he knows what the cost is. As you are having this conversation outside... You begin to hear the farm of the Ogdens is quite far out of town, but even the two of you, Rowan and Graf, hear the sound of, not a scream of it, excitement or maybe panic. Very brief. And then you see a figure making their way towards the estate. It's late, it's dark, you don't see.

see them up close but as they get closer and closer you realize that one thing is they're very very tall way taller than they should be and you can see that they do not carry any sort of light source they are just moving and almost seem to blend in with the shadowy dark night except for the occasional streak of red and jewelry of gold any wingies as no wings as they are in human form but corns protruding from their head and a rather large, powerful tail whipping behind them. If such a being were like a cat, a rather agitated tail, one might think.

As you see, walking down the road towards the estate is Lord Obsidious. Oh, Lord Obsidious! What are you doing in these parts? Gruffin. I know Xanthius is here. I have come to discreetious. the matters of WaveMeet.

Right, before you go in there, it was not his fault. I have spoken with Watch Commander, well, former Watch Commander Taravos. I have made inquiries within WaveMeet. I have been trying to contain the situation. I am aware that this was not an intentional activity. It highlights the dangers of Xanthius' situation, but also yours and now mine. We are as embroiled in this as he is. I am not necessarily angry.

But... So we could... He might want to tell his face that. His face is really... He looks pissed. Like, he has resting bitch face 24-7. But I am concerned. The matter has been dealt with as best as it can be.

for now, but this, what happened in WaveMeet is going to have consequences. The authoritor is very stubborn. May I ask, what happened to the watch commander? The watch commander, the authoriter and the church took the matter to the Duchess of Wavemeet. The watch commander would not say why, said that they believed that the authoritor was wrong,

that they let the prisoners go, and they were stripped of their rank. The Duchess had no choice, faced with such a decision, with no evidence as to why. The Duchess wanted to support the commander, it seems that they have known each other for some time, but without good cause and with both the Church and the Office of Authoritus, there was very little she could do. The watch commander was stripped of her title and rank, and I do not know what has happened since. I have managed to convince the Duchess that Xanthius is not what the authoritative thinks, but I have had to expend considerable political influence to maintain a good relationship

to ensure that this does not develop further from the draconics side, you understand. This authorita has been reassigned. And I can imagine that wasn't an easy task. It was not. it is also partially my fault I brought you to wave meat

and I have I know what Xantheus is by imperial law by the very wishes of my father I should turn him in I should have I should have killed him when I found out

I have chosen to see where this goes and to trust in him and in you so we are are in this together, whether I like it or not. Well, we should probably go in. This estate is going to be a problem for me,

as it is a halfling designed house. And he is very big. Oh, you stay in, are you? Okay, I think I, like, the door would probably open something. You've heard all of this. Well, I was helping Ophelia, like, clean up the ritual. I've got, like, hands full of candles. of candles?

I think Gruff as well would have purposely said very loudly in a kind of stage like, Lord Obsidious. Oh, Lord Obsidious. Oh, right. In that case, what brings you to these parts? Well, in that case, while Ophelia's getting her hair combed, I'm like around the doorway, like, not here.

Yeah, yeah. That's what I imagined would be the case. I was just gonna do like a come through the door with a armful of candles. Oh, Ophelia, I've just got all of these things turn around. Oh shit! Obsidious? No, I imagine that, yeah, Groff said it loud enough for you to hear

and you could have listened into that whole conversation. Hello. Ah, Zantzantz. Yes, sorry. How did you know we were here? I scried on you. When? Earlier today.

I've been attempting it, but something was interfering with the spell. I've been trying to, since my sending spell to you. Oh. I wanted to see what you were up to. No, sorry. Well, as you... Sending spell?

Yes, I think I told you about that. Yes. He did? Yeah, I did, yeah. Did you reply to you? He did. I did. In fact, it was Xanthius who encouraged me to speak with the watch commander, who did inform me of the situation, but also of the request that you were forced to make, Sir Gruffeth.

Oh. Actually, he would say Gruffet. He wouldn't call you, Sir Grufford. I apologize that we had to leave so swiftly. I'm sure you understand the situation now, but... I do not know it's in time. Highly, I have made the calculation that this is somehow related to your knightly quest, Gruffeth. Well... I saw Sir Joran the Barnacle Knight's ship out on the shore as I flew in. Yes, I was tasked by Dame No, Raquel, to seek out two further knights of the Order of the Loyalands to assist, well, to set me tasks.

so I can prove my worth as a knight. My second task was here with Sir Joran, which was to slay the two champions of Wojanya. That's why we... Well, not necessarily why we came to Wavemeat, but it was fortuitous. Yes. Well, did you hear what I was saying to Gruffeth?

Sure. Yes. Yeah. I'll watch the Vod. The authoritor has been temporarily dealt with. However, they strike me as an old dog with a bone. Stubborn, I do not think that they will let this matter lie. They know that they have been manipulated both politically and socially to get them off of this, which only makes them the more suspicious.

Do you have an idea of what additional information they might have dug up in their time and ways? So far, I would assume that my involvement will implicate that we have some sort of connection. I see. But they do not know much more than that. It is very fortunate that the guard who witnessed your arm is not a reliable source. It's how I was able to convince Duchess Glimaxa that this was not a case of crown-steel corruption, but a magical accident gone wrong under my tutelage.

Duchess Glamaxa knows I was Lampthias, Oregon. No, they know that there was a gold dragon-born who had been... potentially had crowns deal corruption. Luckily, the guard to themselves, after I spoke with them myself, they confirmed that they were not entirely sure it was what they thought.

They described vagaries. Okay. Xanthius. Yes. Everybody else can roll an insight if you would like. I would like. But Xanthius, I'll give you something for free. 23.

23. 17. 17. 19. 19. The 23, Rowan, this, you know, Rowan's the only one who really picks up on this, maybe it's up from Xanthius. When Obsidius is saying this, that this guard suddenly is a bit unsure,

there is a look on his face that implies Obsidius encouraged that. whether through intimidation or perhaps even magically it is implied that obsidious has had no qualms about manipulating this guard to back up what was said but he would say the guard thankfully was able to recant some of their accusation which lended much to my argument

with the duchess but this authoritar they will not be so easy to sway it does not help that the members of the church who were also present did not like my interventions. I fear that they may reach out to the ecliptic order. Ah, right. Well, I hope you didn't have to dirty your hands too much in this endeavor. It is clear to all of you that he absolutely did that he has covered this up, like full-on CIA black, you know, blacklist up. Like he has manipulated, threatened, magically coerced.

But is this a situation of like he's literally killed people in order to cover this up? Or... I would say that you don't know. Okay. You can tell that he has done something. Yeah. Definitely.

Oh, yeah, absolutely. You don't know what he's done, but you know he's done stuff to manipulate. this situation and cover it up. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, okay. I would not recommend you return to WaveMeet and you avoid the Suncrest Isles for some time. All of us were just me.

I would recommend all of you. Oh. You were all seen together, with the exception of Daisy, actually. Daisy, you seem to be rather uninvolved in all of this. Oh, that's good. Mateo is, like, in the room just like, what the fuck?

He's like, shit, but I'm serious, hasn't seen him yet. Does Mateo know? No, he doesn't know that you know a track. He doesn't know, he doesn't know. He's like listening in. I mean, he must have figured something out because, like, we left wave me. No, I'm really subtle. We left wave me.

and somewhat of a cloud. Yeah, but he pretty much stuck with Daisy, who, again, was pretty much uninvolved in the entire fiasco. Because he helped out with the arrest debacle. He did help out, yeah. But he doesn't know about Crown Steel, and he didn't know about Obsidious.

He does now. I mean, Obsidius did literally say a gold Dragonborn has been seen with Crown Steel influence. Like, he literally said those specific... I imagine that Mateo is in, like, the estate. Kind of like you, when you heard Lord Tius, you press yourself up.

Him and, like, Daisy's come out, But Mateo was like, well, I don't know. He's like right up against the window. But he's like at the window, like peeking in. Like, holy fucking shit, that's a dragon. But he hasn't been spotted yet. Like, Obsidious hasn't seen this man. Yeah, I'm not even thinking about, I love Mateo.

I'm not thinking about him right now. No, yeah. We all knew that as an NPC, he was going to die eventually. We just didn't see that it would be by your hand because he learnt too much. I don't want to kill Matteo. He's my next character when's that. Zanthias dies.

I tracked Xanthius down to go over this matter with you. And also to offer you, if you are in need of it, I will be returning to Ashen Rest short blue. Oh. And I can offer you a return teleportation. Okay, okay, that's good. Well, we need to figure out. Have you had much luck with your contact on finding these planar essences

for the spell Scaratallus mentioned? Oh, we potentially found some rare metal in Purporea. That might help. Arrea. Alth. Altharite. Altharite. Altharite.

Ever heard of it? You guys would know the term Altharite. I think I gave that to you O.C. But like, nobody would have cut. Like a green, glowing, very earth-like mineral that seemed to, a very protection, healing, that kind of thing. The cap of them that were guarding it, they called it the blood of the mother. Ah, I've heard of something like this.

There have been reports from some of our more brave explorers. They speak of an island, unnamed lands, where they have seen metal of this miraculous property. There is much talk amongst the draconic nobility of what to do about this. As you are well aware, traveling across the oceans is particularly dangerous. But interesting. I have heard of something like this. A few fragments of it have been found across the empire, but never in large amounts, very small,

but it has profound effects on healing and growth. Very curious. In Perforay, it was a single instance of this thing, but Gruff had this idea, it seemed to react in a very peculiar way with the Crown Steel, and now Mateo is like, but it seemed to react in a very peculiar way that could potentially be an alternate avenue or solution or anything, but if it is in distant lands, then, well, maybe too difficult for us in the short term. Yes, but an interesting avenue of pursuit.

I would still recommend we, you, continue pursuing these elemental essences, these planar essences for the spell and the item that my master mentioned. But for now, I would not say that the matter and wave meet is closed, but its impact hopefully has been lessened. I do not know if I can do this again. I have spent both political and monetary means. If I were not present, were I not in WaveMeet, I doubt I could have managed this scenario.

Rowan. Rowan is calculatively asking a question and is looking closely at how he reacts to this. Is it the first time you've had to do something like this? Give me a insight roll. I will roll. I will not tell you if it is deception or persuasion. 11. 11.

I think it's you catch him so off guard. From all of you, it's Rowan he doesn't expect to ask a question like that. And there's a pause. There's like a couple of beats between him answering. And he locks eyes with you, Rowan. I do not think that that is a wise question to ask. And then he just moves on, and that kind of tells you what you need to know.

And you can see it in his eyes when you ask him, you know for sure that Obsidious has done stuff like this before, that this is the game that he plays with whatever it is he's into. Like, this is, you know, He is not unaccustomed to the things he's had to do. This is not a new experience thing. There's honestly a kind of a vibe I was getting from him when we first met him in Ashen's Rest as well.

He could have just knife-edged been on the other side of like, oh, we can cover up all the cult stuff for all of the demon lanterns and things. He very easily could have been on the other side of that as well. It's a vibe I was getting from him. Cool guy. Cool, yeah. Glad he's on his side.

He's on, I think we're on his side. He's on his side. He's, he's there. Yeah. And we just happen to be, like, gracing past him every now and then. We orbit. Yeah. As, yes.

Sorry, the watch, sorry, ex-watch commander Taravos. Can anything be done to ensure a secure future for her? Gruffeth, if you're conscious, wants you to undo some of this damage. If we can find where she lives, you could send gold, ensure that there is a comfort of life, but if you're asking, I doubt, I don't imagine that the way that she was forced to resign her position, no other Duke or Duchess or Lord or Lady in these lands will take her on as a, military mind. Perhaps a life is a mercenary or something like that.

She was a good person. Yes, she was. Maybe still is. But this life, this world, being a good person does not mean you don't suffer the consequences of others' actions. We are not free from the actions of others. Good morals do not equal fair treatment. She didn't have to do what she did No All for a word For a promise Is that not

Forgive me That would strike me as quite a Nightly thing to do To honour one's word and code No matter what And that's why I want to help her She's She's lost her world

And I want to help her I wish you all the best with that Gruffith But you can see Insidious is like nothing I can do about it Since we can't return to wave me Can you at least

I don't know Can you tell me where she lives Can you find Can you get that information I will see what I can do Thank you As this Farm is far too small too

small for me. I will retire. If you wish a few hours to gather your things, I will return before I head back to Ashton's rest for offer you that teleportation if you desire it. Yes, this is quite an embarrassing question, actually. Despite all of the stuff that we went through in Wave Meet, do you have the authoritor's name? Yes. I don't know if I did. I certainly didn't write it down in the moment. do have it. It's probably in my actual session notes. Did I put them into the campaign MPC list? I might have done.

Sometimes I forget to update certain things. I certainly need something to add to my list of people to be scared of. Would you believe it? It's another fucking authoritative. What you mean? Zarentekis. He's fine. He's dead. I will have their name. I don't have it right here. It's buried in my session notes, but I will get to...

I'll get it to... Buried in my session notes. Yeah. What a weird name. I will find it for you and let you know. Okay, thank you. We can get that next time, that's all right. Track through. Okay, yeah.

I would have put it somewhere, but I don't know where I've put it. Let's chill. We can get it next time. Episode 65? Nice. Oh, that's good to know. 65 or 66? Excellent.

Double nice. Noice. But anyway, If you don't remember Obsidious, then I don't feel so bad about it. No, Obsidious would know. Right, now I'm going to look it up, Tom. Now that you've done that. Now I have to look it up.

Now look what you've done. Hang on, let me check. There may yet be a message in chat. Or indeed, in the Discord. Oh, no, it'll be in 68. 68 is where it kicked off. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Oh yeah, I've gotten big red pen.

Rowan Ophillian Xanthias are arrested. Yeah, that's checks. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm, mm-hmm, mm-hmm, mm-hmm. It did happen. Caldwell? Yes, that is it, in fact, actually, yes. There you go, thank you, Jen Saferam for saying Cardwell in chat,

unless someone else did first. Yes, Cazarin Cardwell. Cazarin Cardwell. Yeah, dwarf, authoriter. It's truly for you. Authorita, Cazarin Cardwell. Cazarin Cardwell. I had found it, but thank you.

There you go. Um, chat. But yes, it's authority to Kazarin Cardwell. They have been reassigned, but I will not know. I have suggested it is somewhere remote. Oh, if you're not, Ash and rest. Can you imagine? Can you imagine?

It would be awful. Yes, okay, well, as I say, that's lightly in jest. I was hoping for at least a smile or something. Obsidious. Thank you for all you did, Obsidious. Really, I just want you to know that I was doing my best and continue to do my best in order to... You were very wise to not give it to the intimidation

forcing you to reveal yourself. It was very close, I will admit. You are very fortunate to have people like Gruffeth and the former commander Taravos to do what they did. That's what the watch commander said as well. Yes. Hi, Gruz. teaching moment. I learned. I learned, right, Ophelia? But I do praise you. I do praise you for your,

for not giving in to the authoritor. It would have been exceptionally bad for both of us. Yes. Yes. Yes. But yes, no, we will gather all of our things. I think we are. Has there been any further incidents with sovereign? No, no. No. No. Good. Very well. Nothing of the sort. Well, do you wish some time before I take you back?

I need to finish business with Sir Joran and complete my task. Very well. A few hours then. How many can you teleport? I have eight in total. Eight total. Eight total. One, two, three, four, five, six, Percy. Oh, seven. Mateo.

Who is Mateo? I'm like, look at the window of this. Oh. Oh, no. Would Mateo still be there? Just do you hear window smashing. Be coming side of the house. Just put step, put step, foot step,

car door closed. He is still there. You see, he's like moved away from the window and he's sat by this like little halflings dining table and he's found like a bottle of brandy and he's just drinking a bottle of brandy and he like looks at you as you turn round and see him. We're like through a window from each other, right?

Like through a doorway. Oh yeah, yeah, yeah. He like, he looks at you and like he looks you up and down and like he looks out the door. It's just like, mimeing like, come, come, come, come, go. No way. All right, okay, it's just like, no way, I'm not coming out there. Stay there, okay, great.

Mateo is another, I suppose, full-time member of the party. You've gathered another acquaintance. Yes, assisted us greatly in WaveMeet before we left and has ever since that point helped us in the fight here. Truly the most valerent and best of us. How much do they know of why you had to leave Wavemeat? Um, I look back. That's the question.

The wavering arm. That is the question. He's here now. Has he overheard what we have been speaking about? Can I... Come out now! As he just bellows towards... Mateo just like freezes in place.

Whoever you are now, come out. Mateo... Do not make me bring you here. You just come on out. It's totally safe. You understand. It's just come down. Mateo, like...

I'll come get you. Drain's the brandy bottle throws me. And just... Coz. This is Matteo. Hello. Yes. My lord.

Quite appropriate. This is Lord Obsidious. Lord Obsidious. What a gracious and grand guest. Yes. Of my companions. Indeed. He has the full tale of the story here.

The tale of the... Yep. That's a bad role. Very nervous, fart is let out. Matt Mateo. Yes. You see Obsidious looks at him, looks at all of you. I think this is like his instinctual move.

Oh. Is he looks at Mateo and casts, he casts a spell. And he's like, I suggest you do not move and do not speak until I tell you otherwise. Mateo just goes slack. And he's like, and just doesn't move.

Obsidious takes a few more steps towards him. He pulls out a kind of circular disc-like book, flips through the pages, and then he begins casting a spell on Mateo. What are you doing? I am modifying his memory, so he forgets this conversation. No, well, he's been very valuable to us, no less valuable than everyone else that stands before you.

After everything that has happened, Are you serious? You cannot have this man that you have just met knowing what you know, knowing that I am connected to this. This cannot happen. Yes, save yourself. You are welcome to try and stop me

as he continues casting. Can I do an insight check on Mateo? Yeah? And I want to fate it. Okay. I want to get advice, I know he's not speaking and things, but, and obviously he's terrified of Ophidious and whatever else, but I, I want to know, I want to get a,

I don't even know how I could possibly see this, but like, you have a minute. You would know that this casting of member frame memory takes about a minute from Sidious to me. And I'm also basing this on the small interaction we had, like when he was drinking his brandy and stuff and looking at me, like, is it likely this guy is going to run? Is it likely he's going to, yeah.

Make an insight roll, and you can ask me the question. How much is he going to trust and stick around and be the best of us? Once again, I'm going to roll. I will not tell you if this is deception or persuasion. Yes. Oh. And I've two on that. I got an unnatural 20.

Great. I rolled very badly. You can read this guy like an open book. What do you want to know? So is he going to run? Probably not. No. He genuinely likes you.

He's scared and he doesn't know what's happening. and he hears, like, modify memory. He's like, you can see he's kind of panicking, but he's under this suggestion, compulsion, not to move or speak. Yes. And he's scared, but you don't think he's going to run. He's confused and worried, but, yeah.

I want to get a judgment of, like, not loyalty as such, but, like, of all the time that he's been with us, he's been talking this big game of how he's going to stay with us forever and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. how much of that is like legit I would say based on your experiences

with Mateo and the read of him over the last few days and everything else he was willing to come down and fight choral song with you and you also remember a brief moment in the cave where there was this real moment of seriousness where he looked into that pool

and he saw something that deeply upset him and you get the sense that this guy is so genuinely lonely and for the first time he's bonded with a group of people and like he's really kind of not hero worshipped

but like he is like these guys might be my only chance to have a new life a life again obsidious please I trust this person I trust them with the information they have the things they know I trust they will not run off and tell the nearest person.

What does that mean, trust? How can you trust this man that you just met? Even if you did, what if he was taken by your enemies or captured, or by an authoritor and magically forced to speak of the truth? It is better for him, it is better for you, and it is certainly better for me. I trust him like you trust me. You could modify my memories and just throw me to the Duke, but you haven't. There's a reason for that.

I trust Mateo. Give me a persuasion check with advantage. Oh, I do have another fate. Oh, how many, did you use the last one? Got two left. Yeah. Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. Persuasion roll.

Plus eight. With advantage, because that was, you connected with something that was true. Holy shit, I actually rolled better on the next one. 19 plus six plus eight. 20, 35. Is that right? Maybe.

You see Obsidius looks down and he looks into these scared eyes of this man that he's, you know, this just a normal man and he looks at you and you see a crack in this armour, this shell of this dragon who is so

paranoid and so self-preserving. But clearly whatever you just said has hit at something, something about trust, something about why, you know, he could have done this to you, why didn't he? And you just see him like, and the spell ends. And he pulls his hand back.

You may speak and move, Mateo. Thank you. But he's not saying it to Obsidious. I have made mistakes, Obsidious, and you know that I'm working to make things right. But of this, I am... I feel I am... certain, that this is the right choice. I hope that you are right.

Doing the right thing does not always work out for the best, but it is your choice. I entrust that you understand the severity of this, my new friend. Yes, Lord's obscenious, of course I wouldn't speak a word of it. How could I? I don't want to endanger my friend. Thank you, Obsidious. I... You won't regret this. I hope that that is true.

I will leave you to your business. I will return in a few hours. Okay. And he nods and then just turns, walks out onto the street. You see him ripple as he becomes his dragon form and just flies up. and flies off somewhere for a few hours. In like a moment of silence after he's left, like I turn to Mateo, like,

I can explain everything. I can explain everything to you. I'm sorry to have dropped you into that. You don't have to explain anything. I mean, I heard pretty much all of it. You've got this ground steel stuff. Something happened in Wave Meets. This dragon lord is involved.

Look. If you have any questions, I mean, if you want to know anymore. I don't, Zanthias. I don't. Okay. Whatever happened, you've proven yourselves to me, all of you. You're good people. Whatever has happened has happened.

I don't want to know anything more. Or at least, I don't want to know anything you don't want to tell me. I appreciate what you did. And you have my silence and you have my trust. But if there is anything. I just... Just, there's a lot, it's a big burden, I know, that we're throwing at you right now. It sounds like it's a burden that you've all been carrying for some time.

I don't know much, but I know that this crown steel stuff is very illegal, very dangerous. That's all I know. I guess if that, if I have a question, am I in danger of it? The church tells us that it warps and twists you if you get close to it. Oh, yes, well, it can't, but not you are safe, as safe as everyone else is. and have been with me for, well, much longer. Yes, I mean, that makes sense, right? You've all been traveling together.

I don't think any of you turned into hideous monsters or anything like that, so... I used to be a human man. What? I used to be a wild hut. What did you used to be? I'd rather not talk about it. Oh, gods!

It's fine, Matera, and I put a big hand on his shoulder. Yeah. You're a good man, Mateo. Thank you. And so are you, Xanthius. What? Why? What?

What did I do? No, that's right. There's a look of reverence and respect from Rowan to Xanthius. You did us proud, Boyo? I did. I just thought, well, I was protecting him like I would protect any of you. I'm trying. There's a big smile on gruff's face when Zanz says that.

Faises just gives you a little hug. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I didn't annoy him again. Did I? I know you keep saying not to, you know, just... I don't think you did.

I think actually that was the best interaction you've had with him. Honestly, I'm going to be thinking about this one for a while. The adrenaline spike, I'm not sleeping tonight, but I'm going to be thinking about this interaction, and of course, all the possible routes that we could have taken, all the different things I could have said. But you're right, I think I... We did good. I did good.

We all did good. You're learning and growing. I'm growing and but wilting at the same time. Mateo, I think the only question we have for you is, do you want to come to Ashen's rest with us? I don't think I've really got a choice. I think I'm sort of stuck with you now. Yeah, yeah.

It would be nice to know though if you'd like to come. You own an inn, right? We do. Do you need a bard? Absolutely, we do. Then I'm in. Yeah. I mean, I don't, you know, I've got, I don't live, you know, here.

I've got nowhere to be. I'm a sort of wanderer, so. You can't sing about this though. No. Don't take that from the song. I mean, keep me in the song, obviously. Yes, of course, of course, of course. Well, I need to hear, I mean, we need to get the...

I was crossing out of the song idea. Zanzan, the Crowns to your bat. Good one. Yeah, Mateo will be like, well, I have to come with you to Sajoran, and I'm assuming you're going to regale the story of what happened against... God, I need to know, the finale of the battle against the champions of Virginia. Yes. The battle of...

And we have to show you a latte fun, too. I don't know what that is, but I love it, I can't wait. It's our local place. Eight. It's great. Yes. That's all, that's Obsidious Ophelia, me, Percival.

Yes. Rowan, Graff, Daisy, Mateo. That's eight, right? Yes. So that's enough for terrible. But, oh, Daisy, what about the Deva? Carla, I think she said she wanted to wrap up some things here, but she said she might visit Ashen Rest and figure something out.

Okay. I don't think the plan was she was going to leave now. Right. Well, you have an opportunity to let them know that we're leaving. Oh yeah, well, we need to go and see Sir John in anyway. We need to make sure that Gruff gets his finish. Sure as to where. Are you getting a cape?

No. Right. Just as you are. Ophine's hair is looking amazing. It's like a mirror. It's astounding. I don't know if we need to inflate the ego anymore, you know. Sorry, what I have my name.

Sorry, Kerry. What are you saying? Your hair is splendid. Honestly, Percival is doing amazing work now. I know of course was doing amazing work before, but this is something else. The hairbrushing helped in that whole situation. Honestly, I could have been literally anywhere else. You did hear all of it, though, right?

Oh, yes. Oh, good, okay, good, yes. I did, I was listening. Yes. Well, I think that we will save the conversation with Sir Joran and Gruff and also you'll return to Ash and Rest where a little, just a little peek at what awaits you

because mail delivery has been... We've got mail! We've got mail! Why am I so excited about getting mail? I'm going to speak for that. Three of you have letters. Three male? Who? Who?

Who? Who? Who you don't have to find out of them. It's all for Xanthius. One of them is for Xanthius. Oh, all right. No. No. We will see you for the next episode of High Rollers.

Thank you so much for joining us, everybody. We'll see you next week for a brand new episode. Episode 80, because today was 79. I just loved this episode. I really liked it. Even if it was just like a wrap-up story one, like Percy's back. That was a really cool ritual.

April. We last saw him at April. It's been so long. We've had a couple of missed weeks here and there, but also, yeah, sometimes it just takes a long time for stuff to happen. Love it. Right, loved it. With that, we will see you all next time.

Thank you so much for joining us. Take care of everybody. Bye-bye. Bye-bye. See the next week.