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C3 Episode 51 The Voices in the Trees Chapter Four
196 Plays5 hours ago
A Day of Remembrance
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Transcript
Introduction to Eberron Renewed
00:00:00
Speaker
D20 Radio, your game is rolled. www.d20radio.com
00:00:14
Speaker
radio
00:00:23
Speaker
Hello, and welcome to Eberron Renewed, an actual play podcast set in the Eberron campaign setting. I'm your Game Master, Eric. I'm Mia. I'm Phillip. I'm Madison. I'm Jeff.
00:00:35
Speaker
And welcome to another episode, folks. What happened last time?
Recap and Humorous Insights
00:00:41
Speaker
We got a staff therapist.
00:00:44
Speaker
Kinda.
00:00:47
Speaker
Sword fighting lessons. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. And sword finding as well. We weren't going to bring that one up. just We have to remind the listener. Whether we remind the characters is a different story.
00:01:02
Speaker
Valk had a real take this cunt from me moment. Yeah, Nix would take the sword from you. I mean, it was like... We had some downtime and we're going to pick up where we left off. You all still at Athelhampton Manor.
00:01:19
Speaker
So... You all have been able to do a lot of your downtime and getting to spend time around the house.
Bright Souls Day Explained
00:01:30
Speaker
um And we reach the 18th of Odaru, which is Bright Souls Day. So for those of you in the know, you would know that Bright Souls Day is an important holiday for he As he frantically clicks around trying for the silver flame, it marks the end of winter and it's remembering the sacrifices and celebrating the lives of the members of the church who died in the fight against evil.
00:02:01
Speaker
Um, I'm kind of extending it. Like it doesn't necessarily need to be like, you don't have to be ardent follower of the silver flame to acknowledge it and recognize it.
00:02:12
Speaker
It's just much more meaningful for those people.
Invitation to the Remembrance Dinner
00:02:15
Speaker
But Over the the years, it has bled into other parts of culture and society, especially in Thrain, but then also to a certain extent in Kair as well.
00:02:25
Speaker
Really commercialized.
00:02:29
Speaker
Yeah, you have your your Bright Souls Day mugs and your little like commendative silver flames that you can hang on your tree. Father Souls Day and all that stuff. Yes.
00:02:40
Speaker
But Aurora... does observe bright souls day. And she probably would have told you ah few days beforehand that she was going to be having a remembrance dinner on this evening.
00:02:56
Speaker
um and that she welcome all of you to come. Um, so do, I guess the question would be, do any of you observe or practice bright souls day in any way?
00:03:12
Speaker
Next us.
00:03:16
Speaker
She's not really into like remembrance dinners, but that really probably doesn't surprise anyone. Yeah. um Nick's not being into the social aspect of a holiday is not shocking too. All right.
00:03:28
Speaker
And I think Kaz is exclusively into the remembrance dinners or whatever else. its Kaz likes the gift giving. Yeah, that is 100%. Tira Myron coming down the chimney. Yeah, there it is.
00:03:40
Speaker
i don't think Selena celebrates, but she would go to the dinner. And Valk is an ever-present observer. Nyx will go to a dinner that other people are going to. She's not actually a misanthrope.
00:03:52
Speaker
It's just... Indeed. not what she It's not what she sees the... It's not what she does with the holiday. She's just misanthropic. It's different. Yeah, yeah it's different. And I guess that that's my follow-up question, Philip, is what does Nyx do to to honor Bright
Nyx's Solitary Ritual
00:04:08
Speaker
Souls Day?
00:04:08
Speaker
Is it something earlier in the day, or or what does that observance look like for her? i i think Nyx probably spends Bright Souls Day... It feels like Athelhampton Manor almost certainly has like either decorative or maybe one day that once long ago they were functional like turrets or something you could have roof access to.
00:04:34
Speaker
um And she probably spends... think her her her observance of it is probably less elaborate and more brief than a lot of more, more orthodox followers of the faith.
00:04:54
Speaker
And so she probably at some point, disappears for an hour or so and spends that time up on one of the parapets sitting in the sun.
00:05:08
Speaker
um and she lights five candles that are, that she has acquired at some point as quietly as she can, that are the, you know, the ones with, with silver sheen built into the wicks so that they burn silver. And she,
00:05:27
Speaker
Before lighting them, she goes through and ah a period of making a bunch of markings on in chalk all around herself on the ground, but on the floor of the turret, um that would be equivalently, to to put it in D&D terms, protection from good and evil, and um which is a ah ah simple enough spell that she probably learned it in her training.
00:05:55
Speaker
the function of which is given her nature to essentially cut herself off for the duration of the ritual, which probably hurts a lot given what it is that tethers her to the other plane.
00:06:12
Speaker
And she sits there in meditative silence and at least by her intention, solitude, ah watching the candles burn. Probably for about an hour.
00:06:26
Speaker
It's anybody else doing anything during the day before the remembrance dinner kicks off. Is the is the just I mean, I i i don't know this. Is the candle thing next thing or is that a standard part of all souls? you're lighting a candle for the remembered lighting a candle is a common form of worship in the solar flame.
00:06:45
Speaker
Oh, sure. As these candles will be. I don't. I don't know what Eric has in mind for the traditions of Bright Souls Day. Fair enough. It seems likely that the the lighting of candles for for the souls of the departed would be something that would carry over into the silver flame, um given all the fire symbolism.
00:07:11
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah.
00:07:14
Speaker
I think just kind of... As for more posterity's sake, because they don't celebrate or really participate in this holiday, think that would go back out to the to the graveyard and make sure that everyone gets a fresh set of flowers.
00:07:33
Speaker
her make sure that no one has dug up any more bones make sure everything is clean over there so everyone is nice and resting as well as they can be don't know if these are good people buried here or not so we're just gonna roll the dice I almost said even if they were bad in life they can't turn anyone any more because I didn't have fantasy where that's like sexually untrue literally our first job demonstrably untrue
00:08:07
Speaker
Yeah, i if a one of the traditions is spending time in the sun. I think that that is something Kaz gloms onto and probably spends some time out. It goes to the second floor. this is No, no and I think Kaz definitely spends more time outside than he has been lately.
00:08:25
Speaker
ah But i unrelated to All Souls Day, if Aurora... is otherwise occupied most of the day. I think Kaz might spend time in the library looking for stuff about his situation, but I don't think, I don't want necessarily play that.
00:08:43
Speaker
you know saying? If she's, if she's out, he might be in because he doesn't want to answer questions about why he's looking for the stuff he's looking for right now. Cause he has no answers, but we don't have to actually do it. Yeah. Okay.
00:08:54
Speaker
Selena doing anything. Since part of it is like being outside in the sun, Selena would probably go for a walk at some point during the day, but that's probably the extent of it.
Selena and Javier's Book Discussion
00:09:04
Speaker
okay Selena, while you're out for your walk on the grounds, you come upon... You may be kind of surprised to see him out of his normal location, which is his office. You see Javier ah enjoying the nice weather, sitting underneath the tree, reading a book.
00:09:18
Speaker
As you approach, you see the title of the book as Ashes in the Vault, a Priest's Confession. And...
00:09:28
Speaker
He sees you. Is it a murder mystery novel? No, it is not a murder or mystery novel. It's a tawdry memoir. He closes the book and looks up. He's like, hi, Selena. How are you doing today?
00:09:40
Speaker
I'm good. How are you? Doing well. Just enjoying some peace and quiet for a bit. How's the book? I haven't read that one.
00:09:52
Speaker
It's, and he kind of smirks. Definitely. It's a memoir of a repentant priest of the keeper and it's his tales of the, his time in whatever you would call the church of the keeper. It's, it's interesting.
00:10:11
Speaker
don't know how nourishing to the mind it is, but it's fun to see what people come up with. They don't all have to be nourishing to the mind, I guess. That's true.
00:10:25
Speaker
What have you been reading lately? Not much. I've been trying to do some research about the sword that I had found and that sort of thing.
00:10:36
Speaker
Interesting. up Not much hobby reading right now. Fair enough. Quick question for the group because we did not play this out. I'm assuming you all revealed and told Javier about the second bunker recording that you found.
00:10:53
Speaker
But I don't want to make that assumption if you all would have kept it quiet for some reason. I don't think we would have a reason to keep it quiet. No, I yeah he told him. until Until he gives us a reason, we will. He says, yeah, it's fortunate you found that sword the bunker.
00:11:11
Speaker
Seems like that's an interesting find, to say least, given the research you had been doing before. I thought so, too. What's your take on the bunkers? I don't really know yet.
00:11:23
Speaker
I think it's important that we continue to try to locate the other ones just because I think there's a lot of information that we need to get. um it's that It seems important. like It's been forgotten and somebody should find it.
00:11:36
Speaker
I'm inclined to agree. Just wanted to make sure that people don't think it's a waste time to look into. I don't think it is. I think somebody should.
00:11:48
Speaker
agree. And I'm glad you all are poking around in there. Hopefully we'll have another job for you all soon and we can get you all back into the field and potentially come across another one.
00:12:01
Speaker
But yeah. Yeah,
Remembrance Dinner Gathering
00:12:05
Speaker
hopefully so. Well, I won't keep you from your walk. Just enjoy the day and I'll see you at dinner tonight. Sounds good. See you then.
00:12:13
Speaker
Bye, Selina. He opens his book and leans back against his tree. Okay. The communicated time comes for the Remembrance Dinner. The decorations are not as garish as Hendrix decorations for the previous holiday that you all celebrated.
00:12:28
Speaker
and There are i you as you all enter the dining dining room, you see that Aurora has a small table lit with quite a few candles on it.
00:12:46
Speaker
And. As you all enter, you would see that there are 16 candles lit as you enter, but there are about 40 candles set up on the table with a small lighting implement next to them.
00:13:00
Speaker
And even a passing understanding of the holiday, like if you have people that you are trying to remember, or celebrate the sacrifice of you would light candles for them as you entered the dining hall.
00:13:15
Speaker
If you wanted to do that, that is just something that is offered to you. Um, but Aurora is seated at, at the table and is just reading while she waits for people to arrive. the
00:13:33
Speaker
I would want to say ah val does the same thing of of standing outside of the door, just kind of waiting for other people to filter in first. I think Kaz might ask Nix, because he doesn't want to offend, necessarily.
00:13:51
Speaker
you might is it Would it be bad taste for me to light a candle in remembrance if I'm... just fairly certain in the last, you know while I was gone, I lost some people. I mean, I'm sure I haven't had a chance to check everybody, but like my grandma was old. like That's fine.
00:14:08
Speaker
yeah It's not offensive. Okay. I think he does. I think he goes over in like partially in remembrance of people that he assumes have passed and partially in, but i don't think he places it as morning relationships, but like,
00:14:25
Speaker
you know, his dad as he knew him has gone kind of thing. You know, his mom as he knew her. And so he I think he lights a few candles and ah gets kind of sad. And then he barks.
00:14:38
Speaker
the touch As Kaz enters and lights the candles, Aurora looks up to the table and is like, welcome, Kaz. How are you doing today? I'm okay. It was nice. I took a walk outside and, you know, kind of...
00:14:53
Speaker
is Kind of put a bunch of stuff out of my head for a while. It was good. That's good. Then I brought it all back and see as he's lighting the candles. How was yours?
00:15:07
Speaker
Good. Making preparations for tonight. It's always an interesting day. But... It's good. Yeah, it looks it looks really nice in here.
00:15:18
Speaker
Thank you. Who arrives next? Nyx, presumably, is here at this point since Kaz asked her questions. Kaz, didn't mean to put you there. That's fine. I was going.
00:15:29
Speaker
Nyx will light five of the candles and then sit down at whatever seat is available where there's only another seat on one side of her. What's specific? but She sits down at an end of the table. She does not want to be between people.
00:15:45
Speaker
I think Valk would enter now that two other people have entered the room and then they just walked past him. It's normal right now. And I think Valk is going to find the shortest candle light that one.
00:16:01
Speaker
Just one. And then we'll find an open seat. Well, there's only one next to Kaz because he's sitting next to Nix in the one seat next to her. we got it We got to do our assigned seating. is this look at What shape is this table? ah Okay. i I almost said oval and then I realized that there it would be impossible for Nix to have sat the way she sat. So there has to be corners to the table.
00:16:25
Speaker
Nix puts her bag in one of the seats. Nix just inadvertently breaks a chair. It's fine. Yeah. That one doesn't work. Sorry. Selena?
00:16:36
Speaker
Selena would come in and light one candle. Okay. And then sit wherever there's an open seat at this point. All right. Yeah, what is the scale of, i mean, i assume this is the same dining room that the previous holiday was in.
Javier's Moment of Reflection
00:16:53
Speaker
What is the scale of the table? Is this the old grand dining table for the from the manor, or is this a ah more reasonably sized table that has been brought in since we moved in?
00:17:04
Speaker
It is a reasonably reasonably sized table in a dining room made for a grand dining hall. Excellent. Wonderful. lots of empty real estate.
00:17:14
Speaker
Yeah. So we could like, you know, hang up a net and play tennis in here. Yes, you could. and here And should. we We have a gym, but yeah, let's do it here. yeah It's more on brand to play tennis in here.
00:17:27
Speaker
It's true. Hendrick. Skeletons in the gym. Tennis court in the dining room. Ghost in my bedroom. the It's fine. The chapel's haunted too. So is the library... I thought we definitively were told that it was not. No, we just know it's not a...
00:17:45
Speaker
know, it's not an apparition. Something in a cloak is moving around here. And it's not a goblin. Yeah, ween it's not a goblin. We're not sure what kind the the our goblin ghost made.
00:17:59
Speaker
Yep. Sorry. Hendrick enters and lights four candles. Javier enters last, walks up and lights 12 candles. Bleh.
00:18:11
Speaker
And everyone can give me a wisdom, whoever wants to, can give me a wisdom-based check as Javier's lighting candles. Oh, that's not. He must direct dice. I've signed it.
00:18:23
Speaker
Okay. got 11. 16. Eight. Not worth. I mean, 10. Slayna, you're the only one that really picks up on it, and he's lighting candles for the members of the last organization he started.
00:18:37
Speaker
Yeah. Oh, no. Oh, no. You hear him mutter, my failed field teams. e And you kind of connect a little bit the conversation you had with him earlier in the day when he was referencing the book he was reading.
00:18:49
Speaker
But... there's a lot of, a lot more reverence and sadness that you've seen from Javier in this moment. Um, almost, it's hard to say uncharacteristic, but it's a pretty big departure from who Javier presents himself as in the way that like you're sitting, the, the grief exuding from him as he lights these candles.
00:19:20
Speaker
but it's it's a very old grief that has never gone away is what you kind of pick up on but as soon as he lights the last candle and turns to like face you all it snuffs out pretty quick and he ah walks over and the candle No. the Oh, the demeanor.
00:19:44
Speaker
yeah Yeah. Trick candles on All Souls Day. Wait, what? That's a weird detail, Eric. Goblin again. the person sits down,
00:19:55
Speaker
as the last person sits down Aurora stands up and walks over
Aperitif and Dinner Introduction
00:20:02
Speaker
because there's so much space. There's a, a whole other table set up with like the serving trays and there are small little heating implements underneath them, but she grabs a drink tray first and brings it over and you see small,
00:20:16
Speaker
very small glasses. Um, and she presents the aperitif just simply called the whisper to each of you to take. Um, and she explains, this is a mulled wine with clothes and blackberries and is just something from where I come from. That's say preferred drink.
00:20:41
Speaker
That is also, she'd smirks palatable to those outside of
00:20:47
Speaker
The area that I come from. You all know that she comes from Western Breland that modern day Eberron would call Joanne, but it's not called that yet. But she offers you each a glass.
00:20:59
Speaker
Hannah takes one. Sure. Yeah, sure. after After she's passed them out, she has raised her glass in silence in a ah silent toast of remembrance.
00:21:10
Speaker
And then... sips from her class. She, after after drinking, says, it is obviously not requirement of attending the dinner snack to participate in the remembrance of the holiday.
00:21:26
Speaker
It is enough to be with those that we care about who are with us now so that we may not take for granted the time that we have with those around us while we still have it.
00:21:40
Speaker
However, in my observance of the holiday. And if you all indulge me, I prefer to share in my grief. but What?
00:21:52
Speaker
In a way of lightening the load. So I observe this day in remembrance of those who have died to keep Kazakh drawl free.
00:22:03
Speaker
I come from there, for those you don't know. and was an advisor to my queen, Sheshka. I was a member of her court, but two years ago that changed when Sora Terraza came to speak with my queen.
00:22:20
Speaker
After the visit, Sheshka spoke of change and united Troa. I did my best to be supportive. But when I learned that it would be the hags and not my queen leading the nation, I could no longer support it.
00:22:38
Speaker
When the daughters took power, I, for better worse, led a rebellion against my queen. My brother, Karash, sided with Sheshka, though.
00:22:49
Speaker
Those that sided with me were slaughtered. I was slated for execution as well, but then someone arrived, and you see her... look at Javier, who's seated at the table.
00:23:02
Speaker
My release was negotiated, and thus my exile began. I know that my queen seeks my redemption, but her masters, the daughters, would sooner see a noose around my neck.
00:23:13
Speaker
I observe today those lost to the darkness, not just those whose lives have been lost in the fight against evil. My brother Karash, I think of most on this day.
00:23:27
Speaker
it For a while, He still draws breaths. che He lost the fight against evil in that he sided with it. Thank you all for listening.
Aurora's Story of Rebellion
00:23:35
Speaker
Thank you for sharing. She stands up and walks over to the table and grabs a tray but did and takes off the covering and brings it over.
00:23:47
Speaker
And you see small fried... Not quite balls, but I mean, they're croquettes, essentially, is what's on the plate. And she places a plate in front of each of you.
00:24:02
Speaker
These are fire pepper croquettes with peppers from the southern region of continent, mixed with it soft, brie-lish cheeses and minced mushrooms. Hope you enjoy.
00:24:14
Speaker
And she sits down. And... After a potentially like awkwardly, Hendrik just goes, so obviously i have my fair share of, well, people like me have their fair share of tragedy in the past.
00:24:33
Speaker
And it's kind of, ironic to be using ah silver flame holiday to remember those that I have lost in the past.
00:24:44
Speaker
Not that some of them did not. As Aurora pointed out, sometimes those that we love and care about get lost. Often those we care about most get lost to the darkness and commit commit to courses of action that I am sad that my father and uncle are gone.
00:25:06
Speaker
But I understand why they are. And I think that's what I want to stop. Sorry. ah I am sorry for your loss. thanks pleasure I think that's the right thing to say. know. See? Okay. got it or gets up and go grabs another tray and there are bowls on this one and she sits down a stew in front of you this is an eldine roots to parsnips um artichoke cards it's vegetarian look
00:25:38
Speaker
she describes these dishes like she's intoning a ritual Yeah, or that we're judging it. Like, yes, thank you. and what And at what point in the response of reading do I take a bite of the stew? Yeah, yeah, yeah, exactly.
00:25:53
Speaker
um She also grabs a s'me with some mugs on it. And this pairs with a dark wood ale from the wood, breed in the woods of Western Ontario.
00:26:05
Speaker
and green hot i eat this the vibe of dinner i yeah the vibe this dinner is not like everyone sits in stairs like waiting for someone else like it's very much like hendrick spoke after eating a bit and just kind of thought like i i feel like sharing so there's no expectation to speak up and share i think mentally i'm hung up on now mixing alcohols and know usually does not boat well
00:26:35
Speaker
I mean, you had basically a thimble of line. I don't know if that kicks you hard with the ale. I'm just trying to be responsible.
00:26:45
Speaker
You don't got to drive any...
00:26:48
Speaker
This podcast is famous for horrifying cocktails, by the way. so Oh, yeah. Not on my watch. What was it? Whale? The white whale. The white whale.
00:26:59
Speaker
The white whale. And I don't know what was in it, but it was gross. It was kumas and white wine.
00:27:08
Speaker
it was It was foul and Thorin hated it. Nyx does not share, surprising no one. Yeah. yeah ka Kaz doesn't know what to share, so he doesn't. He's like happy to listen, but is not interested in Being like, I don't know what's going on. don't know why I'm sad, but I'm feeling sad.
00:27:28
Speaker
Someone's dead. Thanks for listening. Like, that's not going to be Cassis. No, no, no. i'm saying that's that would That would be his contribution, and he's not doing that. He has just enough social grace and self-awareness.
00:27:41
Speaker
Next Aurora goes and gets a large trow that she reveals a large braised boar shoulder on. And she sits out and sitting in the center of the table and begins cutting and serving on ah some plates.
00:27:57
Speaker
And she puts some gravy over the top that she explains is made from red wine, mushrooms, and bone marrow. This is not vegetarian for those that are concerned with such things.
00:28:10
Speaker
She says with us, that sounds delicious. It does sound very good. Is anybody going to share beyond? took that like If not, that's totally fine.
00:28:25
Speaker
I don't think so. so Without my... Which, with much hesitation, not that that is unusual, and think he would just kind chime in...
00:28:42
Speaker
after I've just like poking at a lot of the food and just start saying, I'm not sure if it was wholly appropriate. So I took the smallest candle, mostly mostly in part.
00:28:57
Speaker
I'm really hoping Nyx is not just cracking up in the corner. No, Nyx is not.
00:29:03
Speaker
No, Valk is like immensely helpful to Nyx because Nyx can focus on what Valk says and it helps Nyx to not feel things because Valk's way of expressing things is so is so, i don't know, to me at least, pleasingly awkward that that it it allows Nyx to focus on that.
00:29:28
Speaker
It's gonna get worse. So Nyx is not laughing. um But he would ah kind of continue with I wasn't sure if this was wholly appropriate, but I took the smallest candle in part of for myself whenever I was with my last group, one of the defining moments that has happened.
00:29:59
Speaker
led me to be how when we attempted the excursion Zoria. I can't recall much of it, and I really shouldn't.
00:30:14
Speaker
For the reason I took the candle is any time I tried to recall any part of that portion of my life, bit more of myself gets taken by it.
00:30:26
Speaker
So i I lit the smallest candle, the shortest candle for what I don't have anymore and what I will continue to lose.
00:30:41
Speaker
i mean, no one no one else died. She she kept everyone pretty good and alive. ah That was very important. But that particular incident... Yeah.
00:30:55
Speaker
I'm not going to say what I think happened, but I lost a good chunk of something. I don't know. I'm going to stop now. think Thank you for the food.
00:31:07
Speaker
Thank you for sharing, Valk. Aurora gets up and goes and gets the last tray. Reached over and you see a tart on it as it is lifted up that she explains is candied dragon fruit tart with dragon fruit native to nearby Kalazat itself. yeah And she cuts slices into it and passes it out.
00:31:34
Speaker
And as you all are eating,
00:31:39
Speaker
Javier speaks up and i
00:31:43
Speaker
I'm very fortunate to, I lived a long life and I'm very fortunate to have grown close with a lot of people over that time.
00:31:55
Speaker
But with that comes the pain of loss and also pain of betrayal, like Aurora and Hendrik have spoken of. It's hard when hard when people lose their way.
00:32:07
Speaker
It's even harder when it costs you. It costs you those that didn't. So I'm very thankful for the new friendships that helped me forming with those around this table and the purpose that eight this new mission has given me This world i mean that we live in is a precious place.
Javier on Loss and Friendship
00:32:31
Speaker
like It's imperfect. It's harsh. It can even be cruel. But there's a lot worth protecting and worth saving in it.
00:32:42
Speaker
And that's why I've gathered all of you around the table to be a part of it. Hendrick, I understand you came with the house, but I'm glad you're here all same. He says with a smirk, but thank you all for all that you've given already to the lighthouse.
00:33:00
Speaker
And thank you even more for what I hope you will give in the future and what will be asked of you. And he raises his mug of ale and takes a drink. I don't know who I've lost.
00:33:12
Speaker
The ale is going to be cast. it's not wow Is that allowed? Yeah, man. it i'm mean my I'm in my own home. I know I'm sure some people, but I'm more concerned that I don't have a really good grasp on what I've lost.
00:33:32
Speaker
I was, you know, I didn't get to grow up with my friends. My dad's old now, know, I was supposed to go to Morgrave and with my friends and they've all been through it now. And even if I wanted to still after being here and doing this, I don't know how I could,
00:33:56
Speaker
You know, even if I wanted to leave this, I don't know where I'd go. And so I lit candles for all the things I don't, I don't know, but I'm going to find out I've lost.
00:34:11
Speaker
I figure start the morning now and it might be easier when I learn what it is I'm mourning. And he takes another drink of the ale and sits down.
00:34:22
Speaker
Anytime Kaz says something serious, he spends the next 30 seconds looking at everybody to gauge their reactions to it. Like, just a very, like, okay. Is anybody laughing? Nix is not laughing.
00:34:36
Speaker
I feel like Selena would just give a little like reassuring nod. It probably jumps when you suddenly launch into to something. Likely. yeah this The standing two is that was a a note that you sat back down. Yeah, I think I might have stood in the middle of the talking.
00:34:52
Speaker
As part of the dinner, you all see Aurora walk over to a ah another small table. And you see her like pick up some ritual casting implements like things to carve runes into various surfaces and like ritual circles.
00:35:14
Speaker
And she completes a mark and the center of the circle begins to glow as silver flames glow in the middle of it. Nyx, you would probably be pretty familiar with this that like for remembrance dinners like this,
00:35:28
Speaker
It is customary to do this final ritual and any food that stopped in Eden to be cast into the flame for those souls that are in it just as part of the remembrance.
00:35:41
Speaker
And so Aurora casts the rest the food into the fire um because this is magical fire. There's no like crazy smells or anything from, you know, croquettes and raised boar and pie being cooked together. There's pie? You can tell us about the pie.
00:36:00
Speaker
Okay. And she turns to you all says, thank you all for joining me in this and sharing what you shared. I hope that
00:36:12
Speaker
I hope this gesture of community and togetherness at least brighten the day a bit. and Importantly, you all probably would have noticed, Arumi did not attend.
00:36:23
Speaker
keen He was not here, but neither was Alget Frisk. Although that may have been, for those of you that were slurking, potentially missing Arumi, I doubt anybody missed Alget.
00:36:34
Speaker
I was about to ask. Were there seats for them? Yeah, and okay this is the normal dining table. So yeah, there's, the yeah. I'm assuming there's at least 10 seats. So if there's four on each side and then the ones at the end. of the taste So yeah.
00:36:51
Speaker
That math checks out. Okay. Hendrick gets up fairly soon after Aurora finishes the ritual and walks out. He doesn't do a good job of concealing his emotions. So you can tell that he's in his head quite a bit and not, not like he's something is upsetting him.
00:37:12
Speaker
Does anybody do anything other than going to bed once you leave dinner? I feel like Selina would ask the group, like, just our little group. Like, Hendrix seemed upset, right? Should we go check on him, make sure he's okay?
00:37:28
Speaker
He left. Doesn't that suggest he wants to be alone with his feelings? I don't know, maybe. feel like you're also the only person empathetically equipped just hand yeah yeah i'm I'm struggling to think of which one of us might make him feel better by talking to him. I'm afraid it's you, Selina.
00:37:53
Speaker
Okay, I can go with you, but I probably should stay silent. Okay, sure. All right, let's go to your semi-friendly face.
00:38:05
Speaker
At least an ever-present annoyance. You can be whatever face you want. so I was going to say, you can have a friendly face. Just locked and loaded whenever you need it.
00:38:17
Speaker
Not exactly. Oh, all right. know how Intriguing. More layers to the vouch to the Valk onion.
00:38:28
Speaker
don't want it to be an onion. How about a parfait? Garlic? Pastry? I'll take a parfait. A puff pastry? A be a trifle? croissant?
00:38:41
Speaker
A croissant. Hendrik has sleeping quarters in his lab, so that's where he adjourns to at the end of the night. See, it's not weird trying to sleep in the place where you work. I don't think that makes it better. I
00:38:59
Speaker
i think Selena would go check on him. Selena? Okay. Valk will follow suit. Okay. I love how any other character I would take that as just to mean they're coming with Selena, but with Valk, I know that means Valk is literally following Selena at a distance.
00:39:15
Speaker
That's so true. Selena, you enter and you see Hendrik is aggressively reading some notes on some, likes like, yeah.
00:39:29
Speaker
Um, nerve And he sees do you walk in and he kind of starts with, oh, hi. hey You just seemed a little bit upset when you left and I just wanted to make sure you're okay.
00:39:40
Speaker
Thank you. As I alluded to at dinner, I obviously, people like me in the past were hunted down by the Church of the Silver Flames.
00:39:54
Speaker
And my father and uncle were part of not only those that were killed, but part of the reason why the church felt the need to hunt us down.
00:40:05
Speaker
People like me, we... It's not the assumptions that we're wild beasts that lose control and just attack indiscriminately. There's more to it than that. The bestial part of us is that part that lacks...
00:40:23
Speaker
reason or nuance or discernment. We're just emotion. We're just impulse. We're just instinct. But it's something that you can fight against and you can train yourself to rise above or you can lean into it.
00:40:42
Speaker
And my father and uncle and others like them chose to lean into their emotions, to lean into what they considered their strength.
00:40:56
Speaker
And then one day something stepped in them and they just decided to start killing. And that's also the blood in my veins. I've never had the impulse. I've never had an incident where I've attacked somebody against my own will, but I never thought my father capable of something like that.
00:41:18
Speaker
And yet he did. yeah So while I mourn my father, there's another very guilty part of me that that hates him for passing this on to me, so for me being like him.
00:41:32
Speaker
So... never known a life not like this, but I see the way people look at me. I see the way people act around me. And I get it, I understand, but I just can't help but wonder what if they're right.
Hendrik's Confession to Selena
00:41:44
Speaker
I like to think that we're a lot more than just the blood in our veins. I think our choices have a lot to do with who we are. And I, for one, am very glad that you're here. And I'm very honored to be your friend. Thank you, Selina.
00:41:56
Speaker
I appreciate what Aurora intends with a day of remembrance of those that we've lost.
00:42:04
Speaker
just hard when we've lost is calm. I appreciate your words, and I appreciate re appreciate your friendship as well. Well, I'm always here. I'm always here if you need somebody to talk to.
00:42:17
Speaker
yeah Thank you. Thank you for your physical presence and support as well, Falk. Ingrid says. Happy to help from over here.
00:42:30
Speaker
I think I'm going to get some rest, so thank you. Have a good night. It's good to talk. You too. Anybody else doing anything? If that left Nyx and Kaz, just the two of them, and Nyx didn't leave, think Kaz has been wanting to ask Nyx since they were in Pella's Watch and they both saw a bunch of dead orphans on the ground.
00:42:51
Speaker
these Hey, remember in Pella's Watch when we left the underground and you said kids die all the time?
00:43:03
Speaker
I don't know if this is the worst possible or best possible day to ask you about that. Um, but I, I don't know. I haven't stopped thinking about all of those bodies on the floor and that reaction to it.
00:43:24
Speaker
I don't know how to end this question, but I was wondering if we could talk about that. Nix is... Nix does not... Who else is in the room? Eric? Who else is here?
00:43:41
Speaker
I think Kaz was going to wait until it was just the two. Oh, 100%. Yeah, I wouldn't have asked if Aurora was still like cleaning up the boar's shoulder. Well, I guess the fire took care of that. But yeah. Okay, then probably. Yeah, okay. So Nyx is quiet for a bit.
00:43:58
Speaker
What exactly did you want to talk about? About that? My family probably thinks I died. Yes. And I don't know how to deal with that.
00:44:15
Speaker
And I don't know how to tell them they're wrong. and I don't know anyone who has... I don't know who else to talk to that might've experienced that to ask them those things. And you, you kind of offered up the fact I'm assuming i you could have, I, were you just being glib Nix? Cause that was a hard thing to hear at that moment.
00:44:42
Speaker
If you were because of all, again, the bodies on the ground, I know they weren't real, but it was still real hard to look at. And I don't know.
00:44:54
Speaker
yeah We don't have to. It wasn't glib. Okay. It was true. There's a war on. Children die all the time. You're 16. Yes, that's when, or at least you were 16 when. Yeah. Whatever it is exactly that happened happened.
00:45:09
Speaker
I feel like I still am, I guess. Right. So, you were just, where's Kaz from? Rowat. In Breland?
00:45:21
Speaker
Rowat. I suppose you never got anywhere near ah frontier. in those 16 years that the war was going on. No, no, no.
00:45:33
Speaker
We, I wasn't really allowed to leave Roat once that all started. i mean, I was, yes yeah. I've lived through air raids, riders on dragon hawks or wyverns or dropping explosive devices.
00:45:49
Speaker
have only traveled on a flying mount a couple of times. But it makes a great deal of sense. In hindsight, there's no particular way that you would be able to calculate where the thing is going to land that you drop.
00:46:10
Speaker
Wind and your own momentum and dark of night would make that virtually impossible. So you drop a lot of them.
00:46:23
Speaker
You get a lot of you together and you fly over the city where whatever objective of strategic importance is there and the most logical thing is to drop as many things from the sky as you can so that at least some portion of them hit.
00:46:38
Speaker
A lot of them don't. Children die all the time. They're doing it right now. Not here. in Calhazart. like Near the borders. In Thrain and Ondere and Karnath and...
00:46:52
Speaker
the borders of Kaya and Breland. Nix, I'm not ignorant of what the war entails. I am not so sheltered. I was not.
00:47:06
Speaker
I am no longer sheltered, period. I was not so sheltered that I don't understand that. I thought... I don't know what I thought. I thought that I could talk to you.
00:47:21
Speaker
and Okay. That's what I meant. I understand. It's not the first room full of dead children I've seen.
00:47:29
Speaker
i don't know what they were, but it's not the first time I've seen it. I don't imagine things in this job, I don't know, that we have are going to get lighter.
00:47:48
Speaker
And I don't imagine...
00:47:52
Speaker
That it's going to get... Although that's not true. I think I might be concerned that it's going to get easier for me to handle it.
00:48:00
Speaker
And to see that sort of stuff. And I just don't know if I'm prepared to cope with that. And it concerns me.
00:48:12
Speaker
i don't i don't know what I wanted to hear from this Nix, if I'm being honest. Because I don't know what... is going
Kaz and Nyx on Coping with Death
00:48:24
Speaker
on.
00:48:24
Speaker
I don't know what we're going to see next. And I was, i don't know, you seem to be able to handle stuff. And maybe it's the walls you talked about the other day.
00:48:37
Speaker
And I don't know, I guess, is that the only way through it? I, I, you have to learn to set the things aside else you can't function.
00:48:49
Speaker
It's the only way you can't,
00:48:54
Speaker
You have to learn.
00:48:58
Speaker
To see the thing and not see the thing. Okay. ah Otherwise it overwhelms you. And I've done a lot of things. I've been a sellsword. I've been muscle for criminals.
00:49:11
Speaker
I've been a black market smuggler. I've taken advantage of the bombings. The chaos to move things in and out to make a profit.
00:49:23
Speaker
Yeah, it didn't escape me. If we were having a lighter conversation, I'd ask you more about... Oh, God. I wrote her name down, I thought.
00:49:35
Speaker
The eye. What was her name? The only things in my head are Mad Eye and Magic Eye, and those are both other things. Glass Glass Eye. Theatrist Dolan. Yeah. i'd I'd ask you about Glass Eye.
00:49:47
Speaker
I don't know if maybe that's a conversation we can have other time, or maybe I just need to forget about that. I think I'm going to try to focus on
00:49:59
Speaker
It feels like what we do here is it in service of something beneficial so far.
00:50:11
Speaker
And until I'm disabused of that feeling, I'm hoping it'll help me cope. Is that... Kind of what you're talking about?
00:50:22
Speaker
What hope we're doing here. There are other people who are supposed to do this. The Church of the Silver Flame is supposed to do this. It's what they teach as their core tenant to the primary function to defend the world against supernatural evil.
00:50:35
Speaker
They're not doing it because... They've decided that more territory for Thrain is the primary good instead. There are other people, there are organizations, there are governments, there are churches, and they're supposed to do this.
00:50:49
Speaker
They're not doing it because it's not strategically logical for Templars from Thrain to come deal with an undead rising in Kair, or to look into a
00:51:09
Speaker
Incursion from Donvi in Breland. In fact, it's useful to them. we It deprives Kair of military resources, of manpower, of all manner of things, or Breland or whoever. I hope what we're doing is standing in that gap.
00:51:28
Speaker
Yeah.
00:51:31
Speaker
It sounds like you're saying those organizations, the church... specifically has, but it's now more interested in amassing power and influence.
00:51:44
Speaker
And doesn't feel like that is something the lighthouse consortium is under threat of. Yeah. amassing power or influence at this juncture.
00:51:57
Speaker
So at the moment we're incapable of it. Right. So, so it seems relatively safe. Like maybe we'll stay true to our ambition or at least for our mission statement. Well,
00:52:10
Speaker
Yeah. Once wealth or power come within reach, that's when it will actually be a test. But for the moment, there's no real danger there. We're not capable of exercising power or influence or acquiring even a little bit of wealth. Right.
00:52:26
Speaker
So I hope that's what we're doing.
00:52:34
Speaker
I worry that curiosity, that the desire to study the effects of the planes will pull us off of that path. But we'll see. Yeah. I won't keep you more.
00:52:46
Speaker
and I know that... I don't follow this stuff closely. and I know this is kind of more your day. i don't want to keep you any longer. ah But can we...
00:53:00
Speaker
I gotta learn how to fight Nyx. Can we meet up later? I've already taken care of my part of this day. Okay. Well, then I think I'm just gonna go to sleep.
00:53:11
Speaker
Then. I've got a lot to consider, ah guess, but... I'm sorry about your family, Cass. I don't know what to do in your situation. I know.
00:53:22
Speaker
I know. I wasn't necessarily expecting advice, I guess. Just... perspective maybe and you did whether you think you're not provide that so thank you for talking to me nix parents probably do think you're dead yeah and uh probably sorry and sad and have probably had time to deal with it and agree and grieve there are worse things yeah
00:53:58
Speaker
Yeah, you're right. Okay. i'll so i'll see them I'll see you tomorrow. Then. All right. Thanks. Thanks, thanks. And he turns and walks away.
00:54:09
Speaker
and Unless anybody has anything else, we will call it an episode there Thank you all so much for listening. you want to be part conversations surrounding this episode, you can head on over to our discord, the link to which is in the show notes of this episode.
00:54:21
Speaker
We also have a YouTube channel, youtube.com slash the geek pantheon. If you want to check out the videos over there, you can do so. Philip has a plug now. Yeah. On Spotify and YouTube, you can find tales from the laughing tree but where we have another pod, another actual play.
00:54:37
Speaker
It's currently the queen's blades. It's a swashbuckling adventure set in brain.
00:54:44
Speaker
Indeed. but we also have a Patreon, patreon.com slash the Geek Pantheon. If you want to financially support the show, you you can do so over there. Thank you all so much for listening. I've been your Game Master, Eric.
00:54:56
Speaker
I'm Mia.
00:54:58
Speaker
I'm Phillip. I'm Madison. I'm Jeff. And we will see you next time.