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World of Ae'oene Ep. 13: Masquerade
53 Plays2 months ago
Political intrigue, secret identities, murder plots....Oh, and dancing of course! What else could you want from a ball episode?
This show is written with adult audiences in mind and contains content that may not be suitable for younger listeners.
This episode has the following content warnings: Strong Language
We'd love to hear your feedback! What do you want to hear more of? Should Jean Claude Can Dance make a comeback? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
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Our cast:
- Curtiss Woosley as The GM
- Rennie Armas as Kaldin
- Sapheara as Maeve Strongheart
- Jack Baldwin as Jellen Ykalle
- MJ Guenther as Thalira Grimstone Eku'Lanathi
Addtional Credits:
- Show graphics by Sentic GFX
- Show editing Rennie Armas and MJ Guenther
- Intro/Outro music composed by Ryan Muns, Owner/Operator of Eyes On The Moon Studios
- Ballroom music purchased/licensed from Monument Studios and Adrian Von Ziegler.
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction and Rubber Ducks
00:00:01
Speaker
Destabilizing Foundations, Episode 13.
00:00:07
Speaker
The World of Aeon contains stories with mature themes. Content warnings are in the episode
00:00:23
Speaker
Hey everybody, welcome back to the World Aeon Stories of Legend. episode 13 right guys 13 lucky 13 i know the title yeah the title lucky 13 i know the title like thing just went off but i forget so quick so quick you know um so quack man i'm so so quack so so quack just like the ducks speaking ducks have you all ever who here has been on a cruise i have i have Okay, if you haven't been on a cruise, the one thing I learned this year, apparently like rubber ducks are a thing on cruises. Didn't know if you knew that, but you can go searching throughout the cruise and it's not put on by the cruise whatsoever. It's putting put on by the guests. Like there it was a couple, a couple doors down from us on this last cruise who brought two suitcases literally full to the brim of rubber ducks and they hid them around the cruise. That's a lot of rubber ducks. That's also a lot of luggage fees.
00:01:17
Speaker
I will bet you any amount of money they own a Jeep. Just for rubber ducks, you're going to litter with. It's insane. I hid a hundred little duckies around my office for Christmas last year.
00:01:29
Speaker
Oh my gosh. This year it's going to be frocks. Have they all been found? yeah Oh, no. definitely not No, of course not. I still find them. I think we found 15 on our last cruise, but now that we know about it, we're prepping. So like next cruise we go on, we're going to bring a bunch to that should bring also hide. Oh, you can get like little like pink ones or glow and dark ones.
00:01:48
Speaker
Right. Well, I
Masquerade Ball Preparation
00:01:49
Speaker
was also, i you know, i make dice. So I was thinking about i making some, I found a thing where you can make resin little ducks and then just paint the beaks. and I was like, phw you know, that might have to be the thing. Yes. Right. Right. but Well, anyway, let's get into it. I don't have anything else today. And i'm frankly, I'm just excited to get into our masquerade ball. Yeah. exciting. So excited.
00:02:07
Speaker
all right.
00:02:24
Speaker
everyone have their their clothing ready to describe? Yes. Yeah, no kidding. It's the most important part of any masquerade. Okay. Maeve, as you walk down the halls of the Great World Union, with paintings of world leaders throughout all of Aeone represented here, at the end of the hall you see the beautiful and gorgeous Anora Nighthall, the left hand of the Lord of Glory, as she's been one of your main contacts in the preparation here for the masquerade ball that you have been prepping.
00:02:58
Speaker
for this moment, the fundraiser for your foundation, for helping those affected by the state destabilizing foundations of the elemental plane, these rifts that have opened, and to help those who have lost their children in the Nivoa Peninsula.
00:03:12
Speaker
As you approach her with Sally by your side, Sally going, okay, now just remember we need to keep this meeting with Nora short. I mean, I know you have a lot to go over, but but after this, we've got a head directly to the ball. we are We're getting close on time, and we still need to spruce you up a little bit.
00:03:26
Speaker
Yes, yes. I completely understand. Thank you so much, Sally. Ah, Maeve Strongheart. Good to see you once again. You're looking absolutely gorgeous today. I see you are already ready for the ball. Yes, yes. um I try to be prepared, as as always, as you know. You're looking fabulous yourself today.
00:03:45
Speaker
Thank you so much. Thank you so much. It's a big event here. Obviously, we've had a lot of big events back to back, but personally, this is the one I've been most excited about. Lord of Glory is one to give to charity and to help with those in need affected throughout the world. We're all about trying to unite the world for the better good. So I was so happy whenever your people reached out about trying to plan this event.
00:04:06
Speaker
A few details. I noticed this last second change where you are seating the Divinity Ambassador and his envoy in the back of the room. Yes, yes. um I thought it would be nice for them to have first option when it came to hors d'oeuvres and mains,
Seating and Cultural Representation
00:04:27
Speaker
Right. Okay, I just was curious on why, you know, they're very important people to the city here. Exactly, exactly. that That is why I wanted them to make sure their food was the best it could be.
00:04:43
Speaker
Gotcha. Okay, she's going roll an insight check on you.
00:04:49
Speaker
That's going to be 14. fourteen um and What do I roll? Deception? Deception or persuasion. Oh, I'm going to give myself guidance because I need to.
00:05:02
Speaker
Oh, no. Yeah, no. I rolled a nat 1. Oh, no. Oh, That's really funny. That's awesome. As you say this to her, your your face betrays you, kind of ah just that that little bit of disgust coming up on the corner of your mouth. You can see it in your eyes. and i understand you want to make sure that they have a good seat to get their pick of the food. But in all reality, a lot of a lot of the religious folk, though, you know from the Divinity District...
00:05:36
Speaker
They think highly of themselves, and I think they prefer to be seated up front. I understand you may have some personal experiences with them in your time here. Some of them can be dense, to say the least.
00:05:46
Speaker
But maybe we move them up at least a couple rows? i i understand. Sally, you can arrange that? Yes, yes, I'll take care of it. Absolutely.
00:06:00
Speaker
as As far as everything else goes, it seems to be in line. We've got the food arrived. It is currently being prepared. it is going to be served a couple hours into the event, although we do already have the finger foods available. We're trying to touch as many cultures from around the world as we buy as possible. as we as Since the timing of this event went with the announcement of the new representative seat, we've we've this is the perfect timing for your fundraiser. We've got...
00:06:25
Speaker
important people from everywhere here. So I think this is going to work out well for you. We did put a spot for a speech in ah near the back half to mention your fundraiser and the work you guys have been doing.
00:06:36
Speaker
I think you mentioned that you weren't the one wanting to do it, but rather that it would be Lord Fenlin Laldes Rowe. Yes. Your sponsor? Yes. he He will be doing the speech. Okay.
00:06:47
Speaker
Okay. Just wanted to make sure as long as he's still good for that, we've got that set aside for him. Just before that, We may, i she mentioned it. i don't know if we're going allow her to. it's Really, it's kind of up to you and whether she wants to follow through. But Piara, the new representative that went through her traditions yesterday, mentioned maybe wanting to speak at this.
Key Interactions and Sponsorships
00:07:07
Speaker
Did she mention on what exactly? Just about what your research, you know, she's from the Primordial Plane. A lot of your research has to do with the failing connection between the two, how it's affecting both our worlds. And seeing as she is the representative for the Druidic tribes from the Aether over there, she mentioned maybe wanting to provide some encouraging words.
00:07:28
Speaker
Well, I don't think it's an offer we can technically refuse. But I hear a but there. No, there's no buts. um Definitely cannot refuse it. So I think we'll just schedule it in towards the back.
00:07:44
Speaker
us Yeah, no, we'll schedule it in. Okay, we'll see where we can fit her in. I'll work with Sally, so you don't have to worry about that. I know you have places to be. I appreciate that. Yes, absolutely. Absolutely. If you can at least make sure to take some time to stop and talk with Elias Winthrop. The Lord would very much like to speak with you personally. I know you haven't met him yet, but he has invested a decent bit of his own, of the city's own reserves into this event. So and with the rift that we had just a couple of months ago, he's very personally invested.
00:08:11
Speaker
Understood. I'll make sure to catch touch base with him during the war. Sounds good. If anything else comes up, I'll shoot a message through sending some to Sally so she can get a hold of you. Otherwise, i know you have places to be. So I'll see you at the event. Amazing. I'll see you tonight. Absolutely.
00:08:27
Speaker
As she goes to walk off, you turn around and approaching almost silently is Lord of Ronan and Lady Zillofine Rho, your sponsors for your foundation.
00:08:38
Speaker
um Maeve sees them and curtsies as best as she can to them. Ronan takes a bow as Lady Zilfine curtsies back to you, which, you know, culture-wise in the elves is a sign of great respect. Normally the noble houses won't do that as much to those underneath them, but you have grown such relationship with them and their son. So you get a curtsy and a bow back as Ronan approaches and takes your hand and kneels down, gives it a light kiss on on the fingertips.
00:09:06
Speaker
Ugh, Maeve, what a grand event you have put on here. We are just delighted with how great this has been turning out. The amount of nobility and power from the world that has shown up, you've outdone yourself.
00:09:18
Speaker
it It definitely wasn't just me. Your son was an immense help throughout all the preparations for this. I'm sure he was. He is a hardworking man.
00:09:29
Speaker
I'm glad you mentioned him, actually, as We're very delighted with how close you have been working together with this foundation and how close he's grown to you and your family as well. You know, normally the familiar lines in Rothdara tend to marry off, especially their firstborns, in strategic ways, but us and Ro are a little bit more open-minded than some of our other brethren.
00:09:52
Speaker
yeah Just hoping you keep an open mind today is all. Yes, yeah my my mind is always opened. um The lady stands next to him. I just, it would be amazing to be able to call you my daughter. Just and honey, honey ah too direct, too direct honey.
00:10:10
Speaker
i I'm sorry. No. ah We don't mean anything by that. We just are very excited for how hard you've worked and to see the climax of your your work having come to such fruition. i i' am honored i am I'm honoured just with your presence and grateful that you took the time to speak with me.
00:10:35
Speaker
ah i can I understand you're a busy woman, so we'll we'll leave you be. we ah We're going to go do some final preparations for the event ourselves. so um I hope you enjoy the ball, and I'll see you later tonight.
Arrival of Guests and Social Dynamics
00:10:46
Speaker
Absolutely.
00:10:47
Speaker
It was great seeing you again, Maeve. We'll ah see you later. I can't wait to see what mask you've chosen. Oh, yeah. um Your son actually picked it out for me. He's bringing it shortly. ah He does have a good eye for fashion somehow. Don't know where he got that.
00:11:00
Speaker
Yes, he he's very much all over that.
00:11:05
Speaker
All right. And they walk off as Sally directs you towards the event to do your final checks over the grand ballroom. Sally, can you get me a drink, please? Yeah. Oh, ah absolutely. absolutely um the The regular? Yeah. yeah Like, you're not you know, just the regular.
00:11:25
Speaker
I'll go see if they have some in the cellar. I'll be right back. All right, and she scurries off. Elsewhere, at the edge of this district of the World Union, we'll pick up where we left off last time.
00:11:37
Speaker
I didn't expect to see you here, especially without your betrothed. I'm afraid you must have me confused with someone else, my lord.
00:11:52
Speaker
Oh, come now, you know i am not a lord but a count, Talara. Of course. ah I'm ah so sorry. Remind me who you are?
00:12:07
Speaker
i am hurt. I am hurt. Talara, we have... done... had so much business together, especially your soon-to-be husband. I...
00:12:21
Speaker
He kind of squints his eye at you as you look back and you see this very large dragonborn. i He's going roll an insight. Okay.
00:12:38
Speaker
Good heckin' luck. That's an 18. Well, that's 23. Woo!
00:12:49
Speaker
don Kalden's a very good liar. Yes, he is. um a very actor, too.
00:12:59
Speaker
I guess maybe I...
00:13:03
Speaker
underestimated how many business of partners you and your... to-be may have. I assure you, my lord, I'm already married.
00:13:17
Speaker
Oh, you moved up the date of your wedding. I thought I got an invite, just...
00:13:23
Speaker
What, three-fourths of a year ago?
00:13:27
Speaker
Did you? Yes, it to be married to one of the Jondry sons.
00:13:36
Speaker
Miss Talara Hudorum.
00:13:40
Speaker
Uh, you must have misheard that. That can't possibly be the case.
00:13:49
Speaker
I am fairly confident. I mean, it and but I believe that some of the Dandre family is here. I've already spoke to them. They're quite excited about your wedding.
00:14:02
Speaker
I see. um well, apparently news has traveled without me. Interesting indeed. a pleasure seeing you, Dallara.
00:14:13
Speaker
Yes, I hope you have a wonderful evening. As i hope you do as well. As he passes by you and goes up to the guard shack. Count Veiroth Drossgar.
00:14:26
Speaker
Plus one, yes. And he goes and joins the crowd waiting to be called in. Who was that? Um, someone who thinks they know Talara Qdorum.
00:14:42
Speaker
Well, I don't know who Talara Qdorum is, so, um... How are they... How? What? What? What?
00:14:53
Speaker
I agree. What? what
00:14:58
Speaker
um Well, i i saw the list and I picked a name from um the... from Rothdorre and um usually no one comes, so I thought it would be safe.
00:15:16
Speaker
Well, apparently you are engaged.
00:15:21
Speaker
Yeah, it seems you've picked someone with a lot to do. Um, it seems I chose a terrible name.
00:15:35
Speaker
Yes. I should probably try to keep a very low profile while here. Otherwise you may have to meet the in-laws. So I don't cause any scandals for this to Laura. Apparently, um, I am a guest here, so, um,
00:15:52
Speaker
I would say stick by me, but I don't know where you're sitting. Probably with other Q-dorums, actually, now that I think about it. The guard next in line. Is this to actually, like, get in? Because we've already checked in. Talara, or sorry, Talira checked in.
00:16:10
Speaker
No, I also checked in. Yeah. You were about to, and then oh shit Count just snuck in front of you. No, because we had a conversation. We said, oh, we didn't expect you to come.
00:16:24
Speaker
Oh, you're right. You know what? You're right. You are right. that 100% you are right. Okay, so
Mysterious Potion and Assassination Plot
00:16:29
Speaker
yes. Don't question the editor. Okay.
00:16:33
Speaker
ah Fair enough, fair enough. Can't argue. Cannot argue that. Okay, well, either way. A few ah goes by and you hear them call, Count Veiroth Drosgar, you're up next.
00:16:46
Speaker
You watch as Veiroth Drosgar goes in and the wall that that divides The merchant alley into the World Union District above the top of the wall is an aqueduct that comes from the Divinity District.
00:17:01
Speaker
And right before he passes underneath it, he stops and he takes a little vial, like a potion vial out of his out of his coat. Drinks it. You can see grimace and snarl for a minute. And then walks through.
00:17:13
Speaker
but That's something we see too? Like Talira would see? Yeah, he's he's it's nearby.
00:17:20
Speaker
Is there something I could roll? Not hard to notice. He's not trying to hide it. Figure out what it is. Is it just booze or? It doesn't look like it's in a booze container. You want to roll perception? Yeah. Try to get a better idea. would love to.
00:17:33
Speaker
ah Can i roll history? Yeah, go for it. Although I think I'm going to give myself a worse chance at it with history.
00:17:44
Speaker
No, I'm not so sure. I've never seen that before.
00:17:50
Speaker
To be fair, I don't know if you would have to get much information, to be honest. Oh, Dirty 20. Maybe a hint of something, but... Dirty 20? And you rolled Perception, right?
00:18:02
Speaker
Perception. Yeah, so It had, like, a slight glow to it. That's probably all I can give you, but... Hmm. It was glowing. Kind of potion, I guess.
00:18:15
Speaker
Eh... It seems so. Hmm. Hmm. So, what is our plan tonight? I mean, I feel like Get Maeve should be on the top of the list.
00:18:29
Speaker
ah Besides the assassination, of course. Right, yes. um Presumably Maeve will be able to help us with this, but yeah, I guess that's first course of action is to find Maeve and tell her what we know.
00:18:45
Speaker
And we may have to do it strategically. She'll probably have a lot of people going in and out, trying to speak with her. You just tell me where I need to be.
00:18:58
Speaker
I'm sure Talira could clear a path if we needed her to. I could do that. I have no doubt about that. But yes, as surreptitiously as we can, that'd be nice if we can keep from...
00:19:11
Speaker
upsetting the festivities, letting anyone know people are onto them, that's probably preferable. Agreed. Indeed. If no one ever finds out that an assassination was thwarted, that's probably for the best.
00:19:23
Speaker
I should probably stick close to the druids, then. It's probably not a bad idea. After some time discussing these things in this in this group of finely dressed people waiting to go into this world union,
00:19:37
Speaker
You do notice a lot of the people out here, while they're probably important people, these these aren't the most important. None of these people seem to stand out to you as if they're like part of the World Union or they are the leader of their country. ah But they're all semi-important in some way, shape or form.
00:19:55
Speaker
And after a bit, you hear a guard open the door, a crack, and yell out, Talara, faileth Qdorum. It's your moment. Go get them, tiger.
00:20:07
Speaker
See you soon. You got this, Talara.
00:20:11
Speaker
ah He goes in. As they open the gate for you, enough for you to walk through, the guard asks, Do you have an escort, miss? I... I come alone today.
00:20:24
Speaker
All right. Well, I must say it is a pleasure to have a Q-dorm here. I do believe you're the only one who has showed up. Yes, I assumed that would be the case. Well, may I escort you, madam? You may.
00:20:35
Speaker
All right, he offers his arm as he goes to escort you into the grand ballroom. As he's escorting you, give us an idea what Kalden appears to look like right now to be disguised as, I guess, this Talara Qdorum.
00:20:53
Speaker
Oh, baby. Okay.
Masquerade Atmosphere and Attire
00:20:59
Speaker
Kalden is fine as fuck right now. Yes. Okay, so he has employed a combination of an actual skirt that he has purchased and his glamored studded armor. So he's changed the look of the armor to match the skirt that he found.
00:21:21
Speaker
So he's in this like deep midnight blue gown with like an ivory and blue corset. And what what are the name of those types of sleeves again? Bishop sleeves, yeah.
00:21:36
Speaker
Bishop sleeves. it's got bishop sleeves. So it's very flowy until the end of it. And he's got this cute little... ah He's taken some of the cloth from the skirt and turned it into a choker around his neck.
00:21:49
Speaker
The mask that he is wearing is three quarters mask. So it covers the majority of his face, but not all of it. It covers both of his eyes, completely covers his nose and mouth. And it has like a lipstick painted onto it and blue designs covering it.
00:22:07
Speaker
Okay. He looks very fancy. And thanks um to the studded armor, um he does appear to have a bosom. Very nice. Just so that we're clear.
00:22:20
Speaker
Understood. All right. As Kalden, or a.k.a. Talara, is escorted into this grand ballroom, you go through a small atrium that has a grand chandelier of of different colored crystals.
00:22:35
Speaker
led down a grand staircase to a massive, about 20 to 25 foot tall set of double doors of thick, intricately carved wood.
00:22:46
Speaker
And as two royal, completely just gorgeous guards, as far as like their arbor, their getup, going, holding a staff with a little, or not a staff, a spear with a little flag on the end, grab onto the gold door handles and slowly open them.
00:23:01
Speaker
You hear an announcer entering the ballroom. Lady Talara Faleth Qdorum. And here are just some polite claps from around the room. As you see, that the room isn't super full yet. There's a fair amount of people here, but it's none of the super important people as they're always last to come in so everybody can hear them announced.
00:23:20
Speaker
So you're fairly early. But you do notice, while the clapping isn't a lot, when the name Qdorum comes out of his mouth, everyone in here, for the most part, does turn their heads in astonishment as they're a bit surprised that Qdorum has showed up to this event.
00:23:33
Speaker
Cool. And as you walk in a ah small set of stairs from those from those doors, this magnificent ballroom is massive with marble flooring with different intricate designs in them to represent the different cultures of the world.
00:23:49
Speaker
You have golden and sapphire inlays. You've got a long wall that's completely filled with tables of different kinds of food. as you The first one you notice is ah some sort of snail dish, and but the snails are not of like earthly snails that we know. They are these massive snails looking probably a foot wide.
00:24:09
Speaker
You see a chocolate fountain and different kinds of fruits and desserts to be able to dip into it. One of the biggest things you notice in between the four pillars that hold up this massive curved ceiling to this place are second story balconies that don't connect to anything, but rather they're just floating in space. And along different points in the wall, magic circles beneath them, active dimension doors.
00:24:33
Speaker
that connect to one of these floating balconies that have seating areas up there to allow for more standing and dancing room along the bottom of this ballroom. As the guard lets you off, well, Lady Qdorm, have a wonderful evening. Thank you, you as well.
00:24:49
Speaker
I will. And there is a an assistant, basically, at the bottom of these stairs. Talarafei the Q-dorm, you are seated at table 25 through door 3 on one of the second-story balconies. And you can see each of the doors have, like, a little floating, glowing number above each one.
00:25:07
Speaker
She kind of does a little head acknowledgement, knowing that a bow of any kind would be beneath her. indeed I would like to do a quick just surveillance check around the room.
00:25:20
Speaker
Yeah, perception. Like taking note of people that are here. Right. That would be 25. twenty five Okay, 25's fantastic. Are you looking for people that you would recognize or just a general run of the mill of like what kind of people are here?
00:25:33
Speaker
More just a general taking note of everyone who's here. But obviously if I see people I recognize, I would like to very much take note of that. Of course. Okay. You notice as you look around, there is a surprisingly like small amount of guards, of armed people specifically for defense in here.
00:25:52
Speaker
They're almost non-existent. The ones that are here don't, like, they they're armed, sure, but they don't look like they would be ready for a fight. They look like they're just here just for the principle of being here for show As you look around, you see a wild assortment of people from Tritons to a couple different Ganass, different kinds of Ganassi, plenty of humans. You see Dragonborn, a couple Kobolds, a lot, a fair amount of Halflings, to be honest, as well as a couple of fairies that seem to be flying around and skipping the use of the Dimension Doors.
00:26:19
Speaker
You see a lot of High Elves. which to see this many High Elves outside of Rothdara is almost unheard of. You see a couple Half Elves kind of thrown in there, although you do notice that they're kind of not included in a lot of the cliques of the High Elves.
00:26:33
Speaker
You see a couple Tritons here, a pretty large amount of Dwarves and Orcs, and Half Orcs as well, as Trolf is very heavy with them, and a smaller amount, but you see some Dark Elves and an Owlin as well here.
00:26:48
Speaker
Pretty wild assortment. As far as people you would recognize, You, see, and while in your past life per se, You didn't really have a lot to do with a lot of the ruling families. The royal, I would say noble families is the better word, of Rothdare. But especially being at the University of Kudorum as you were at one point, you've seen them. You at least know what they might look like. And you see not all of the ruling noble families here, but you see a couple of the people from those familial lines.
00:27:18
Speaker
The actual noble leaders, the lord and lady of the entire house, you don't see in here yet. They come later. You probably see Lord Zillin Minivi Jondri.
Notable Entrances and Social Maneuvering
00:27:30
Speaker
He is an administrative secretary for the Jondri family. He's one of the cousins, he's a little lower, but he works directly with the main family in a lot of their events. that one You may have seen him at Q-Dorm at one point, just in administrative duties between the trade of both families.
00:27:46
Speaker
Oh boy, I hope that's not who she's apparently engaged to. Oh boy. I know, right? You like that the like that twist I threw in there for you? I'm so confused.
00:27:58
Speaker
I know you are. It's great. And then another one you probably would recognize, because you'll recognize the noble like leaders, but of these ones you'd probably recognize would probably be Lord Silyran Rue.
00:28:10
Speaker
Silyran Galal Rue, he's a seat of specialties at the House of Rue. So again, kind of dealing with events and just special projects and things like that for the for the family. Other than that, you recognize Count Drothscar, who you just had an interaction with.
00:28:23
Speaker
And now that you can get a little better look at his his plus one, the lady at his hip, you don't know her name, but you recognize her. Because he never got her name.
00:28:34
Speaker
Oh. But she's been around for a while? Yeah. Okay. Can i will you allow me to retroactively roll an insight on him being like, yeah, Talara?
00:28:48
Speaker
I mean, yeah, if you want to, go for it. okay Okay. I'm 19. No? ah Yeah, what do you yeah what do you what are you trying to get out of that? Like, ah is he lying or... Yeah, like, does he actually think, ah, your name is Talara? Or was he being weirdly like, yeah, you, who I know who you are No, he was not trying to hide anything. He thought you were Talara.
00:29:13
Speaker
Or thinks. Okay. Who the fuck... ah Oh, man. Okay, I'll keep my mouth shut for the rest of it.
00:29:23
Speaker
ah So as you've made your way in here now, we'll throw back to the the door as the gate ah probably takes a probably solid like 15, 20 minutes before the next name is called, which is, or sorry, now the next name, but you all are called as the gate opens and you hear,
00:29:40
Speaker
Talera Grimstone Eculonathi Talera, but yes, thank you. Talera, yes, so sorry. um God, as you approach, I'm so sorry, too many names tonight.
00:29:51
Speaker
I think you're the sixth one I've mispronounced. Well, it is okay. It's Talera Grimstone Eculonathi. Talera. Eku or Eka? Eku, yes. Eku-lenothi. That's an interesting name. Goliath. Giant. where Where? Oh, I see. Ma'am, I believe you're the only Goliath here tonight, so. It's... Thwill be useful, then.
00:30:12
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah, you'll run into that. I do i do think we have a furlbog on the list, though. I know, they're giant kin. So, anyway. um Please, and your plus one is? Yellin' Ya'Kal.
00:30:25
Speaker
Yellin' Ya'Kal. Okay. um And he pulls out a sending stone. Don't say that name, though, when we walk in. um um what What should I announce? Say, uh... Call me... just say Galvin.
00:30:37
Speaker
Baron Calden. Baron Calden. Okay, he pulls out a stunning stone. For the announcer, Talira has a plus one. Baron Calden? That's all I was given.
00:30:53
Speaker
Kind of hear back, muffled. but ah Okay, we we'll we'll add it to the list. He's a family name. I see. um well Please, come with me. And he leads you all to the same grand ballroom.
00:31:07
Speaker
well Welcome to the Peace Ballroom. And the door double doors I previously described open up. And the announcer, Madam Talira Grimstone Echolunathi and her plus one Baron Calden.
00:31:27
Speaker
light, light claps. In this one, not many people turn as it's too early for people to care too much unless they hear something crazy. But yeah, you guys see the the same grand ballroom and Calden, would you have like waited around for them near there or would you go find your seat or? I would have waited.
00:31:47
Speaker
Okay. Yeah. Not too, not too far from the bottom of these stairs with the assistant. You see Calden standing there as the assistant comes up. Talira, let's see, on the list, yes, I believe you are at door... Under door six on the second floor, you have a seat.
00:32:01
Speaker
Oh boy, you are large. One moment, I'm going reseat you.
00:32:07
Speaker
Okay. I told them! Looks at her seating chart. Looks at the seating chart. I wish somebody would have told how large you are. LAUGHTER
00:32:20
Speaker
um Someone's getting fired. um You know what I think but with your stars, we're going to put you on the ground floor.
00:32:31
Speaker
It's your lucky day because normally that's held for more important people. No offense. um ah Okay. going to see she kind of points to the back corner over near the hors d'oeuvres. That...
00:32:42
Speaker
The table is mostly empty, if I'm going to be honest. It's held as for extra. um I see I count as extra. and Well, I hope I don't mean offense. I'm extremely sorry. Talira is obviously, like, joking when she says that.
00:32:57
Speaker
So, to right yeah. Right. She does not understand that in this case, being the event that it is, dealing with super high-class people. it She takes it way too literally. Yeah.
00:33:08
Speaker
It is okay. I promise I know I am large, much larger than most people here. I am... breathe. Okay, thank God. Oh my gosh. i was I was not lie, was freaking out for a moment that we weren't prepared for you.
00:33:22
Speaker
Okay, yeah, no, have whatever seat at the table if you you want. i'll Hopefully we don't have to sit anybody else there. um If they do, they'll sit on my lap. Fair enough. enjoy you Enjoy your evening. All right, next name, next name.
00:33:36
Speaker
Sits there and you can hear her starting to like go through the pronunciation of the next name, making sure she doesn't get it wrong. All right. Yeah. As you peer around the room, you see this point having come in, you probably only see one other crystal tiefling here besides Yellen.
00:33:52
Speaker
But you do see a couple different. Is he blue?
00:33:57
Speaker
He is not blue. He is an earth. He's actually very dark. He's like ah with obsidian horns. Ooh, indeed. But you see just a wide variety. You see dragonborn, kobold, maybe even a lizard folk or two. It's a wide variety of people. None of these people looking extremely important by any means, but important enough to be here.
00:34:17
Speaker
Just similar to how it was outside. But you can see like, as far as the size of this ballroom, there's not a lot of people here compared to what is going to be here. But, tons of food on the right side of the of this ballroom, hors d'oeuvres, a chocolate fountain, I believe I already described all this, but I can go into more detail on some food if you guys want.
00:34:33
Speaker
But yeah, you see all different kinds, of cultures are mashing in the best way possible here, as everybody's outfits are wildly different, as you see masks that have giant colorful feathers coming off of them, as some that are just a simple, perfectly created ceramic ivory covering just half their face. So you from the crazy to the elegant, you have a mashup of different cultures here of different outfits and masks.
00:34:55
Speaker
My question to you, do you have anything you want to do while you wait for more people to arrive? Okay, well, two things. One, forgot to mention, Kalden's hair is white right now as opposed to the usual brown. Two, you didn't ask Yellen and Talira what they look like. Oh, shit, you're right. I literally had on my mind to do, and then I just got caught up with the name because I did not mean to. Yeah, yeah. No, what do you guys look like as you walk in? Thank you so much for reminding me. So Talira, as she walks down the stairs, she's still wearing her armor because...
00:35:27
Speaker
That's what she's got. But it is polished impeccably. It is shining. it is glittering under the candlelight. And Calden had bought her a beautiful cloak of the Q-dorum...
00:35:44
Speaker
colors and the cloak is actually white instead of blue with a silver brocade a small silver brocade woven finely throughout she looks like a knight in shining armor i love that i love that okay oh and her hair her uh her hair is braided at the top All right. And what does Yellen look like? Yellen is wearing and interestingly cut suit where it kind of like one side overlaps with the other and goes around to the side. And on each arm is a a little embroidery of a moon with what looks to be stars in different constellations spilling toward the ah cuff. And he has like a maroon sash that's tied around the waist.
00:36:27
Speaker
And then his mask is The same silver as the embroidery, and it it looks to be like a dragon with that horns that go back around his horns into different horn jewelry.
00:36:39
Speaker
and it And the mask itself has these little like teeths that come down a little bit over his face. I forgot to mention Talira's mask. I was just about to ask for that. I love ah Yellen's. before yes describe that yeah Before you describe that, Yellen, I do have one more question for you.
00:36:56
Speaker
Seeing as how unkept you were before this, what's been done with your facial hair? I'm so curious. Ah, yes. Well, Kaladin, you know, ah went to cosmetology school and all that. Yeah, the elf who doesn't grow body hair is like, I know what to do with this. all nice
00:37:17
Speaker
Calvin was like, yeah, i'll I'll hook you up here. it's It's kind of shaven down into like a neat beard almost. not Not fully clean shaven, but not like Unruly.
00:37:31
Speaker
Okay, I dig that. I dig that. ah Yeah, and Talira, what does your mask look like? Her mask is a little silver bear face where the snout comes at her nose. It's a very simple design, but very cute, expressive little bear face.
00:37:49
Speaker
I love that. I absolutely love that. Speaking of, I'm so glad you have a mask that did that because it reminded me about Lou and the chicken. I assume Kaladin would have tried to bring the chicken. No.
00:38:00
Speaker
know a party? No. left at the end. Listen, that chicken's attached. Listen, that chicken's like attached you at the hip. it can sleep barn at night, I can leave it there. That's fair. Okay. So the chicken's left at the end. I just need to make sure i cover my bases. Did Lou try to come? I don't think so, no.
00:38:17
Speaker
Okay, so Luz at the inn, too. Luz the Glad we established that. I just had to—I was really curious to be frank, and I forgot about it until you mentioned your mask. I was like, oh, my God, you guys have a bear with you. No, no, Luz at the inn.
00:38:30
Speaker
Okay, just making sure. It would not have made sense for us to try and smuggle these animals in ah ah To be honest, the guard might let the bear in. The chicken probably not, but Luz might have been let in. I don't know Maybe if the Q-Dorum threw her weight around— Yes, this is my plus one.
00:38:47
Speaker
My chicken. A chicken? You have a large chicken. This is my escort. His name is Sir Box-a-Lot.
00:38:58
Speaker
It likes big box and it kind of likes way too much. Oh, Talira yelled that over his shoulder. and and a fuck up That's so funny. you were me That was all of 20 seconds ago I thought of that.
00:39:12
Speaker
That's beautiful. That's fantastic. I love that. Yeah. Question for you, Safira. What would Maeve be doing this early into the party as like the most important people have not arrived yet? um Probably still getting attacked by Sally in the makeup chair, to be completely honest. i'm I'm pretty sure she'd be arriving with Fenley as her date. Right.
00:39:35
Speaker
So... Finnan. Finnan, yeah. I'm good with names. um So she would either be with him or being attacked by Sally, like ah physically attacked.
00:39:46
Speaker
Cool. I just want to make sure whether you in the but way, I just needed to know whether you were in the ballroom yet or not, because I could totally, i just want to make sure Maeve wasn't in there being like, not kind of like in the corner being like, hey, why why aren't why aren't they being seated? Where are they being seated? that I told you.
00:40:00
Speaker
No, no, she's she's being attacked right now. Cool. Okay. In that case, I will come back to our other three and ask you guys, in the meantime, do you guys have anything you want to do before more people, like the more important people are arriving and things like that?
00:40:17
Speaker
I would say we'd scope out entrances and exits, places that someone could try to get in with nefarious means or quickly escape after doing something, look for hiding places.
Ballroom Logistics and Dance Lessons
00:40:30
Speaker
Okay, yeah, absolutely. If if you all are doing that, then I'll just take a series of investigation checks for sure. Okay. Yeah, okay. I was going to say Talira would probably ask, like, hey, just tell me where to stand and I'll stand. But no, I'll look around too. Oh, 16.
00:40:50
Speaker
That's with a minus one. Okay, not bad, not bad. Donk. All right. so say Investigation rate? Yes, sir. Oh, that's a seven. Can't really see past my mask, actually. It's a...
00:41:06
Speaker
Do I need to make the eye holes bigger or something? no it was kind of expensive in Calden Barnet, don't want break it, but a bit small. I mean, I have... I smuggled in a ah dagger. i can, like, carve it if you want.
00:41:25
Speaker
Oh, my God. It's on my hip or on my thigh. Am I allowed to take it off once we're inside? I think now is especially the time you need to keep it on. Oh, well, then I'll keep it on. Um... A just little, little.
00:41:38
Speaker
Yeah, like, yeah you know maybe do the god see this. Oh, that's bad.
00:41:45
Speaker
Oh my god What the fuck? so oh Cal then comes in, kind of stands around and then a giant walks in and then they huddle together, start looking around real suspicious like, and then start huddling together and like kind of pointing at the third guy's mask and face.
00:42:08
Speaker
Needless to say, people are not approaching you.
00:42:13
Speaker
Who let them in? Yeah, so I got 16. What were the other rolls? 18. 7. Got it. 7. 16, 18, seven got it sixteen eighteen seven Looking around at the people, you don't, because you're probably looking for a blue guy that seems to be a crystal tiefling. Yellen's the only one you see, so far at least. Nobody seems to be acting super suspicious. um You pick up some normal high-class political and even like business bullcrap of people kind of like looking at each other and sneering, or you know maybe some rumors going around and they look over their shoulder and point, things like that. But nothing nothing that seems out of the ordinary for an event like this. At least,
00:42:51
Speaker
At least probably for Kalden. I don't know if Talira and Yellen would see this and know anything different. or so Or think anything different. But you do see a bit of that as people slowly are getting introduced more. You do notice as well, not that this has anything to do with your investigation check, but the music's not playing yet. You do see a band setting up though, to give you guys you it an idea of how early you were invited in.
00:43:12
Speaker
But it's good because there's not a lot of people here who also be in the way. You know, you have a little more free roam of the room. And as you do look around, you you notice that maybe there is a small balcony on the second floor that's actually connected to the walls, but it's more just it's just a walking lane is really all that is And you do notice from the second story floating balconies that probably make the jump if you need to.
00:43:35
Speaker
Could be a way out, could be something. There's a couple different doors in the ballroom. Obviously you see a lot of kitchen staff coming in and out of a couple of them of just regular swinging doors.
00:43:45
Speaker
Bathrooms in two of the corners. And you see obviously the grand entrance, but completely opposite of it is another set of double doors. Not quite as big, but still very nice doors.
00:43:56
Speaker
They're locked with guards and with the two of the guards in front of them. Not sure where that leads. Places to hide? Kind of hard. This is a very open room, to be honest. I don't think you could see anything that would stand out, really.
00:44:09
Speaker
So there are, but like I said, there is a, there, and with how large this is, there is a third floor balcony. It's the same thing with just a walking lane. And there's a probably two or three doors on each of the second and the third floor.
00:44:19
Speaker
Not sure exactly where they leave. You don't see anybody walking around up there, minus about three or four guards on each floor that are looking down. Again, not a lot of guards, but enough to have a show of presence.
00:44:32
Speaker
Okay. That's about it. All right. I suppose we have to wait until guests honor arrive. I guess so. Most likely. Kelden?
00:44:43
Speaker
Yes? I don't need to dance, do I? i um, I doubt it. I realized I don't know how to dance like this.
00:44:54
Speaker
In case we do, can you maybe show us a traditional dance? Right here now? You guys should have asked me this a lot earlier in the day. No, we need to find somewhere a little more private. I've never been to a ball before.
00:45:08
Speaker
I already am the one going to stand out here. Everybody is going to be looking up and seeing this big oaf, trying... Um... I... Calvin. Yeah, let's... Yes? Yes?
00:45:24
Speaker
Teach me how to
00:45:31
Speaker
Yes!
00:45:39
Speaker
He breaks into it, yeah. Beautiful. Flawless. Oddly, magnificent. Literally no one is going to come talk to him at all Oh my god.
00:45:51
Speaker
No, the Dougie is actually like a super high class dance that I
00:45:58
Speaker
am.
00:46:01
Speaker
Oh god. That would be so funny. I kind of like that. That might have to be a thing. like Oh my god. Okay, yes.
00:46:11
Speaker
We don't have music right now. How good are you at just kind of keeping rhythm on your own? I'm good at it. I'm... ah I think I'm alright. I'm pretty decent, yeah.
00:46:26
Speaker
Oh boy. Okay. That remains to be seen. We can go see me where You've seen back at camp.
00:46:34
Speaker
Creamstone. Oh like boy. Like drums. So if... Thunder. Rue. I've got rhythm. A little different.
00:46:47
Speaker
She's got a heavy rhythm. We can go back to where my table is. I don't know if anyone's even going to be there. It's on a different floor, so maybe a little less noticeable while I show you how to dance.
00:47:06
Speaker
You know what, maybe I'll just sit this one out.
00:47:10
Speaker
How soon does it look like the orchestra is going to be set up to start playing anything? Looks like it's probably going to start in like 20 minutes. Should we wait and I'll start teaching in like 20 minutes when we have music? Or I can start showing the basics and then we can have a beautiful show while people are coming in of Yellen and Kelden dancing.
00:47:33
Speaker
right. and Show me the footwork. Do you want me to roll to see how well I can teach this? I think... I think it would be a role for both of you because you've got to teach, but he also has to be able to retain.
Family Dynamics and Social Tensions
00:47:49
Speaker
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Learn. Yeah. God, what? and I would argue performance, Chuck. At least for him, it's dexterity. What would mine be? i Yeah, I would either argue yeah dexterity or performance for the dancer.
00:48:04
Speaker
Yeah. and Since you're the one showing him, you have to do performance because you have to show him yeah properly. So I think performance for you works well.
00:48:15
Speaker
And probably just a dexterity check for Yellen. Oh, boy. Yellen's got a nine. Big nine. Don't have high performance.
00:48:25
Speaker
Oh, boy. That was a seven. Oh, no. know Oh, both low rolls. Oh, boy. um Oh, no. Yeah, it's rough. Yeah, you guys are up on that second story balcony, floating balcony, like, trying to dance between the tables, and it's...
00:48:44
Speaker
It's rough looking, but you do catch some eyes because you are a quote-unquote Qdorum. People are looking at you. And down on the first floor, Talira... Yeah, Talira overhears a couple of people.
00:48:55
Speaker
Is that a Qdorum dancing with that random tiefling boy? maybe she Maybe we should try this again when there's music. Yeah, you're probably right. By the way, in here, my name is Baron Kaldun, so...
00:49:10
Speaker
You used my name? Why? Yeah. Well, it's just the first name that came to mind. The baron part is what is cracking me up. but Hello there, baron.
00:49:24
Speaker
i'm a baron of somewhere. You're just baron. That is your name. we yeah Oh, no, baron. Yeah. yeah be Your last name is Calden. Exactly. yes Oh. Okay. Okay.
00:49:39
Speaker
I mean, it's it's your only name, so it's your first and last name, so. No. Hmm. No. Hmm.
00:49:49
Speaker
Well, no. You have another name. Long story. Oh, okay. Yeah. What? The one... Oh. Yes. I have been given a new name.
00:50:03
Speaker
you're not Calden anymore? Or you are? I'm still Calden. Okay. Has the music started yet? No. i was just gonna let you guys go. Actually, a little bit right before the orchestra starts, you guys are kind of talking in your in your group, taking everything in.
00:50:18
Speaker
Talira approaching directly towards you. you see an elven man of blonde hair. It's kept, but it has like that kept purposefully slightly unkept look where it looks good on the person, right?
00:50:32
Speaker
A man who is adorned in beautiful, gorgeous, gleaming armor, and similar to the way you've polished yours with a house symbol from Rothdari that you do recognize being the same one that Maeve wore on her armor.
00:50:46
Speaker
o You haven't seen armor this glorious except on like the guards here. He has a broadsword across his back and a shield over top of it that is rimmed with plated gold. And he walks with purpose with a chest held high.
00:51:04
Speaker
And being a part of the Adventurers Guild, you've actually seen this man. Okay. some of the more impressive, especially having gone to the Adventurers Guild here in Glory, some of the more impressive Adventurers Guilds have paintings of him.
00:51:20
Speaker
Hmm. As you recognize this, and you didn't put two and two together beforehand, but seeing him now, and you see some of the resemblance to Maeve, as this is Sir Eric Strongheart.
00:51:31
Speaker
Oh! And it never... The name, because it's so such a passing thing, the name never made sense to have like made that connection. But as soon as you see him now in person, you can see the resemblance to Maeve.
00:51:44
Speaker
As Sir Eric Strongheart walks up to you. Excuse me, ma'am. Talira Grimstone Echolunorthy, correct? That is me. You are Sir Strongheart. Absolutely at your service.
00:51:56
Speaker
um Maeve is my daughter. She's told me about her time adventuring with you. It... things just clicked. It is a pleasure to meet you, sir.
00:52:08
Speaker
Yeah, not... those paintings in the Adventurer's Guild don't do me justice. Um... Either way, I heard your name announced, and I had to come meet you.
00:52:19
Speaker
I... And thank you for keeping her safe while she was out with you. Of course, I'm... it was my pleasure. i ah hope she is doing well. She's thriving in the best way she knows how, right now, I think.
00:52:33
Speaker
She's... she's an amazing woman that she's turned out to be. um I'm supposed to be here on personal time to enjoy my daughter's event, but hard for me to escape work, I guess you could say.
00:52:45
Speaker
He puts an arm out for like a forearm handshake. I had to come and meet you personally. Well, it is again the pleasure to meet you, and Talira reaches her hand out to shake his hand.
00:52:58
Speaker
Um, I really hope Maeve comes and finds you today and talks with you. Um, he, he kind of finds like a loss for words. He, you can see he's kind of, ah he's kind of cold, little bit of a, not normally this, he's trying, you can actually see he's actively trying to be warm hearted here. Not super social of a guy. Um, yeah, I'm sorry. I don't know exactly how to do this. No, please. just Social event thing. What is going on?
00:53:27
Speaker
Oh, It's... I'm truly... I'm just truly thankful that she came back alive. That's all I taught her to do was to survive, and I am so proud of her. But seeing the... seeing the state in which she showed up at our doors again, um she has been so passionate about this project of hers because of the time she spent with you all.
00:53:50
Speaker
I see. I'm just glad I could meet you. That's all. Thank you. Um... Talira looks over to Calden and Yellen and it just goes... Still terribly trying to dance. Yeah, yeah.
00:54:06
Speaker
Mouth, should I tell him? think you need to get our attention. I think we're busy giggling how poorly we're trying to dance. You know, there are a couple... We are so embarrassed. There are a few other people I think you should meet.
00:54:22
Speaker
Um, okay. Yellen. Uh, yes, What did you say Yellen? Yellen Yellen you call? Shit. and Yep, that that would be me. yeah He's not- You're alive.
00:54:35
Speaker
You're alive. I am. I'm here now. Oh, hello, Mr. Strongheart. Strongheart, yes. This is Sir Strongheart.
00:54:48
Speaker
Sir Stront, I apologize. but you were going to say Mr. Father. Mr. Father, Maeve has thought you were dead for years. She has been on a non-stop, like, I don't even know what to call it anymore. it's She's been relentless in trying to find you and has convinced you are dead.
00:55:05
Speaker
How have you not reached out? Well, it's been an interesting time. Yellen, you have broken my daughter's heart. Do you know how that makes me feel? Probably not great. There's an alright explanation as to why.
00:55:19
Speaker
Blue guy's man. It better be a damn good explanation. Well, I have been stuck in the elemental plane for quite some time, and I recently got back, which is why I haven't been able to say anything.
00:55:34
Speaker
I'll let you explain that to her yourself. We lost contact with him, and I didn't know he was here. We found him yesterday, and we were here to find the Maeve. Hmm. I see. Well, I'm glad you're alive.
00:55:48
Speaker
And I know Maeve's gonna be too. Yes, I am also glad. And we're excited to meet up with Maeve again. Yeah. You make sure you find her today. You understand me? Yes, sir. Alright.
00:55:59
Speaker
Um... It was an honor to meet to you all. I mean it. Um... Yeah, enjoy the party. And he just turns and walks away. Same to you, Mr. Strong. Shit. All right, he's gone.
00:56:15
Speaker
Does he have any recognition at all for Q-Dorum? Yes. You saw him look at you and like avoid your eye contact. Interesting. Okay. Yeah, he he like saw you. You could see like recognition of like that's a Q-Dorum, and he looked away. Yeah.
00:56:31
Speaker
ah Something you would probably know, Calden. The Roe family of Rothdari and the Kudoram family, they beef. They beef hard. Oh, okay. Would I know that? That's been an age-old... That's been a long time. Like, an age-old thing. that it's It's common knowledge in a lot of the world, to be honest. If you have any knowledge of Rothdari whatsoever. Because Roe is progressive, is anti-slavery, and is is welcoming. And Kudoram is... If you are not of the family, you are beneath me.
00:57:02
Speaker
Not Calden. And as far as like the Council of Rathdari, because they are a Council of Monarchs, they have the most disagreements of all of the houses. Okay. didn Then never mind, not confused.
00:57:15
Speaker
Yeah, no, they, he looked at you and it did not acknowledge you. So, because he serves the House of Ro, so. He walks away and walks back over and you can see he he kind of stands over near the entrance and puts his arms behind his back, very rigid and kind of cold, but it looks as if he's like waiting on someone.
00:57:34
Speaker
I think we should go find Maeve. Where will she be? I don't know. Is she organizing the event? Why didn't you ask her dad? Well, he kind of stalked off because I also fucked up and blew your cover. I'm sorry, Ellen.
00:57:50
Speaker
That's all right. I'm not going to worry about it. This is why I'm not in charge of things!
00:57:57
Speaker
ah You did a great job. That's fine. Well, yeah, I left friendly enough. and dont think Maeve's dad is going out us yeah over here. so um Speaking of which, ah in the time that this has happened, you've heard a couple people get announced since then. Nothing too crazy. The most that you've heard announced is you just heard two of the two of the World Union reps be announced. as Surprisingly, they're not announced at the end because they're not a world leader. They are simply representatives for their world leaders. As you heard the announcer being like, Representing Viore, the World Council, Count Chai-Shing Magmorar, as a very tall, slender, fairly good-looking, actually, red dragonborn.
00:58:39
Speaker
Comes through the doors with a small, like, envoy of people around him, as well as From Undor, Representative Galenor Kladun. It's dark elf who... walks down again, small envoy of people, not very many, like two or three people with them each as they join. As you can see, like some of the more important people are starting to arrive. And as that as they they start to get announced, the orchestra starts to play.
00:59:02
Speaker
And you can I would say orchestra is a strong word. Although this is a big party, you can see that the bards here, the musicians who have been brought are extremely high end. It's a band of maybe eight. It doesn't take a lot, but when they play it, it's like magic fills the room.
00:59:17
Speaker
As you can tell, like their instruments and them themselves are magically enchanted. As you can hear it with the perfect acoustics across the entire room. You're not sure, sure magic's involved, but also is the design of the architecture of the room also playing a hand in this? Hard to tell.
00:59:33
Speaker
But they begin and it's ah it's a nice light tune full of some strings, a little bit of woodwinds, and you notice there is a singer who has not started singing yet. With these tunes they are sticking back a bit and resting. but after a couple of those people get announced.
00:59:46
Speaker
Joining the room, Lady Maeve Strongheart Rowe and Lord Fenlyn Laldis Rowe, as you see Maeve walking in arm in arm with a young dashing looking high elf.
01:00:01
Speaker
Maeve, as you enter the room, what do you and your partner in crime here, um I guess I could say, or sponsor for your foundation, your friend, what do you both look like as you enter the room? Well, Maeve would be wearing a dress that kind of has a similarity to armor black with ah gold lacing throughout the bodice and then a shoulder and cape to hide her back um and a ah beautiful gold mask that's like golden metal that's like laced throughout and her hair will be into soft curls
01:00:38
Speaker
Everywhere with like bits of bits of fancy stuff in it. And her partner would also be just in a black suit with some matching gold embroidery on it and a a simpler golden mask to match.
01:00:53
Speaker
Very nice. As they approach, the double doors open, and you can see as he has to help Maeve down the stairs a bit. As they come a little slower, you can see it's a slight bit of a struggle. But they get down the stairs and enter into the room, and you see immediately Maeve and Finlan being approached by Maeve's father, by Erik. As Erik stops you for a moment, Maeve, just to... He kind of stops and almost offers hand... He offers Finlan a handshake first and gives him a strong handshake. You can see that he smiles, like, surprisingly warmly to Finlan.
01:01:23
Speaker
and then kind of stops in front of you and kind of awkwardly doesn't, he kind of like goes to maybe do a one arm hug and then stop and then both and just kind of awkwardly tries to give you a hug. ah She would, um she would shake his hand.
01:01:37
Speaker
because She's just, she matches the awkwardness like two people. Right. it they They have the same amount of awkward, so together it's just a shit show. It's beautiful, I love it.
01:01:50
Speaker
It's fantastic. but Lovely to see you, Father. May, daughter, yeah. i i'm I'm so proud of you. This is a wonderful event you've you've put on.
01:02:03
Speaker
I appreciate that. I just hope Mother would be proud. um I'm sure she would be. um I'm sure she would. I'm sure she'd be right up there with the orchestra joining them.
Maeve's Social Navigation
01:02:16
Speaker
I'm sure you're you're quite busy. Um, Um, yes, I- yeah, I- obviously this is your event. I know you have a lot going on. Um, I don't want to be in your way, but you should also know, um, your friends are here.
01:02:30
Speaker
Yeah, I- I am aware. Um... Make sure to see them, Maeve. yeah Oh, yeah, I- I've got a lot of work to do. Hey, look at me. Look at me, Maeve. I'm not gonna get in the way your work.
01:02:46
Speaker
Those are your comrades. I know, I know. Um, i'll I'll get to it. right All right. We should get to it. All right, well. Yeah, yeah, no, absolutely. I'm going to wait for, um Lord and Lady.
01:03:00
Speaker
Uh, yes, you look beautiful, by the way. Um, Fenlan, you, uh, you treat her right, okay? As always. Um, yes. And he kind of like, just steps back. love him. I love him.
01:03:16
Speaker
love Everything makes so much sense now with Maeve. ah um
01:03:25
Speaker
Oh man. He reminds me of my dad.
01:03:31
Speaker
Yes. It's so funny. Oh man. ah Yeah. So he steps he steps aside and like is waiting. and you know You know how he is and he can't let work go. He's waiting on the Lord and Lady that he works for, he protects.
01:03:42
Speaker
Habit. Oh, man, that was funny. So, yeah, Maeve, what do you, as as you walk in, obviously, with Fenlyn, that whole interaction happens in Fenlyn, he's like, you know, find it funny how your father can, he can never really let it go, can he? he is a ah man of few words.
01:04:01
Speaker
Yeah, you ain't kidding. Well, we have appearances to make, so, Lady Maeve, if you'd accompany me. As always, Lord Rowe. And he begins to lead you around the room to some of the people. He leads you the people who just got introduced before this, actually, to go talk to some of the World Union members. And it's we're not going to go into the RP of all that just because it's it's it's fluff conversation. it's It's you and him, especially him as he's very good socially. Yeah, he's very good with that kind of stuff of talking about your foundation and just the event and just kind of fluff them up to try to get more money out of them for the and donations, as is really the purpose of this event.
01:04:39
Speaker
But my question for you, Maeve, is there anything you specifically either try to escape from him to go do or do you have anything on your list that you you drag him to? Anything like? I think she just makes the rounds with him and tries her best to avoid certain clergy people.
01:04:56
Speaker
She will probably. ah That is funny. As soon as he goes to talk to them, she would probably make an excuse to make sure the food is being prepared or or any other excuse that she could think of.
01:05:10
Speaker
Yeah, as he goes over to the Divinity Ambassador, gets announced, welcoming Belderanos Zufrir, as he comes in and a full delegation of the Clerical Conclave joins him.
01:05:23
Speaker
Yellen, you recognize. not necessarily the specific members by any means, but you recognize some of the outfits as part of this clerical conclave are a couple members of the Anima Clerigi, which is fairly surprising to you, as normally they don't enter into political type things or even go to events. In fact, you don't have monasteries in most cities at all.
01:05:41
Speaker
Most of the Anima Clerigi is fairly mysterious, and there's just individuals that'll travel or the monasteries are hidden to society. So this is actually pretty surprising to see, but you do see a few of them.
01:05:53
Speaker
and comes in with a full conclave of clerics and fenlin turns to uh well next on our list i guess mave oh yep sorry um sally's calling there's there's a problem in the kitchen i should sort it okay okay yep i i've i've got got this um amazing amazing i i believe in you
01:06:16
Speaker
Again. Okay. Yep. I got it. And he goes to walk off. It's not hard to see this as ah you guys can answer me. I'm sure, but I want to confirm. Would you guys be watching Maeve as she goes around the room? Oh, 100%. Talira talera would be yeah keeping her eye on everywhere because she's towers over everyone. She can just follow the top of Maeve's head. Yeah.
01:06:35
Speaker
Absolutely. Yeah. You notice that Fenlyn goes and Maeve kind of ducks away from him and you see that happen.
01:06:45
Speaker
But... You guys enjoying the bowl? Yes! Hell yeah, what a party. I really want one more chance to teach Yellen to dance. Do it.
01:06:58
Speaker
Yeah, give me some rolls.
01:07:01
Speaker
Oh boy. For teaching? Yes. Yeah, go for it. Now that there's music, maybe it's better. 19. Ooh! That's much better. 16. We just needed the music, dude. Yeah.
01:07:13
Speaker
Done. He was able to learn some. Absolutely. Able to pick some of it up. So this time, when Keldon tries to teach Yellen, now there's more people to notice, but we're doing it very well.
01:07:26
Speaker
Right. And yeah, this time it actually looks like purposeful. And there are people that you hear going, is the Qtron giving charity to some random people?
01:07:36
Speaker
so Does Maeve hear that? ah No. um What's, I mean, i can't remember. What's your guys' passive perception? i think that would be like the real answer to who notices.
01:07:48
Speaker
Um, I think it really matters because Maeve doesn't know who you are. You would know of Qdorums, Yeah, would know of Qdorums. I'd be like, that's weird. You particularly would. The end. Ah, yeah, my passive perception's are only 11 anyway.
01:08:01
Speaker
Yeah, you probably wouldn't. Maeve probably wouldn't hear Maeve's a bit busy. Man, people are gonna think I'm a Qdorum side piece or something. Yeah. You're welcome. Although Maeve, I will say a little detail to note is Maeve, you probably, Sally probably would have came up to to tell you like, Maeve, surprisingly ah one of one of the Hudorum family showed. It's Tulara. She's been somewhat active.
01:08:23
Speaker
ah she She rejoined the familiar line to get her lineage officiated and is now in talks to marry one of the Jondry boys. well... well Keep an eye on her and make sure we'll get at least someone to keep an eye on her. You're muted, Renny.
01:08:42
Speaker
Make sure. i know I am. Meanwhile, your face. What? I can hear it. I can't hear it.
01:08:53
Speaker
You don't need to say anything. I can hear it.
01:08:59
Speaker
That's so funny. um Sally's like, absolutely. Well, the Q-dorm, the lady Q-dorm will be at the top of the the list for making sure they're taken care of 100%. She will be treated accordingly.
01:09:11
Speaker
Sounds like she's just trying to murder
01:09:15
Speaker
her. She'll be taken care of. Oh my god. So funny. Okay. Yeah, so and MJ, ah Talira notices as Fenlin goes to immediately beeline towards the clerical conclave as the Divinity Ambassador gets announced into the room. You see that Maeve has kind of stepped away and tried to steal her way away a little bit in a sense.
01:09:42
Speaker
So yeah, you see that. I'll let you react before I do anything else. Talira is going to make her way towards Maeve.
01:09:50
Speaker
Maeve's going to run away.
01:09:54
Speaker
Well, we'll first have to see whether you notice, but I also want to know is Calden and... Is Calden and Yellen following, or are they attempting to, rather? before Before she does, Talira would actually say...
01:10:07
Speaker
Tell me, go find somewhere a little more secluded. Right? You don't want to surprise her in public? True. It's fair. Alright.
01:10:19
Speaker
Yellen? Yes? You know how to dance now. But yeah, i I do. I know a couple moves. You picked it up so fast.
01:10:31
Speaker
Yes. What if... You go ask Maeve to dance and then she'll be stuck and you can talk to her. Or that's probably the worst thing to do to somebody who thinks you might be the- No, no, no, no, no.
01:10:47
Speaker
Now, hold on. Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
01:10:58
Speaker
As we have recently learned, she's the proprietor of this event, which means she's going to be difficult for ah you two, probably, to approach.
01:11:10
Speaker
But you can get a alone time to talk to someone when you're dancing. I... yes? I will see where you're going. will ask her to dance and you cut in. I give her a preparation.
01:11:24
Speaker
Sure. Right? Should I like disguise my voice as I go in? Should I be like, hello Maeve, I'm not yellow. I'm very golden. Definitely do it just like that. Okay, I will, I will.
Influential Figures and Noble Interactions
01:11:39
Speaker
Oh my goodness. Okay. As you guys are discussing this, a few more people get... get introduced as you start to hear some of the more important people get introduced. You recognize one as the council seat for the Aether, Piara Bhakti.
01:11:56
Speaker
And you everybody turns and there's a big applause as this is the new... ah the new ambassador for the Druidic tribes of the Primordial Plane who got this seat yesterday.
01:12:07
Speaker
Very big thing. Everybody turns in as a big clap. Lots of people come up and come up to her and immediately try to talk to her, give her handshakes and things like that. You see Fenlin had beelined towards her as well, and this is when Maeve was still with her or with him.
01:12:21
Speaker
And you end up hearing some others so others that you hear from Rothdare. From Rothdare! Lord Enlana Nithashjone. or sorry, Lady, good lord, I can't speak. Lady Ilana Nithasha Joan Joan.
01:12:39
Speaker
um As those are the patriarchs of the Joan, patriarch and matriarch of the Joan family. And here hear a couple other ones as well as specifically, I'm going to bring this up because it's going to be important. ah The announcement of Lord Theric Alderfait Jondri and Lady Mayondra Biala Jondri.
01:13:00
Speaker
which are the patriarch and matriarch of the Jandri family. And you do notice a couple of their kin are with them as they come in. But that continues, and you see the party at this point is is starting to get very full. There have been some people who haven't been announced that have kind of snuck in through side doors. Not actually snuck, but been welcomed in through side doors as maybe they didn't want to be announced or they didn't deserve it for any any certain reason. Maybe they didn't need the attention, whatever it may be.
01:13:25
Speaker
Ah, damn, should have asked for that. Most likely they just asked not to be. As you all have that conversation, and Talira looks like she's going to go try to grab Maeve. Calden, you get a tap on your shoulder.
01:13:38
Speaker
Why the fuck do people keep tapping me on the shoulder, dude? Leave the shoulder alone. Welcome to Potties. And obviously everybody's masked, so it's kind of hard to tell. and But so you actually, they... You see somebody, and one of their eyes is visible, and you can see it's kind of squinting a bit.
01:13:54
Speaker
I'm sorry, is is this Lady Gudorm? Hello, so lovely to see you. Yes, let me save you from this riffraff. Please, come with me. I'm sorry they had seated you so close to them. i'm Oh, I'm sorry, i forgot it's Masquerade Ball. I always forget about these events.
01:14:12
Speaker
Lord Theric Jondry, your soon-to-be father-in-law, Talara. Of course. It's so wonderful to run into you here. Yes, I know. i've have a mag I know my outfit is magnificent. My mask really hides who I am. But it's lovely to see. I did not expect you to be here. In fact, where is my son? Why is he not with you?
01:14:31
Speaker
Well, um it was it was a bit of a last-minute decision. i um have some relations with Maeve Strongheart, so. Oh, you do?
01:14:43
Speaker
How... This is news to me, and not much news gets by me. How did you become in relation with one of the the guarding families of Roe? I am surprised that you would have a relation with a compatriot of the lowly Roe family.
01:14:59
Speaker
Well, she's taken a vested interest in this strange happening with all the rifts, and I'm particularly interested in ensuring that the world continues to run safely.
01:15:11
Speaker
I guess that is a decision decision I can respect, especially considering your position at the university. I know a lot of the professors there have been particularly interested in the research they're doing. I just wish it wasn't from the Roe family.
01:15:25
Speaker
Gives them more standing in the council than I care for. Booze, what is their son's name? Fenelus Jondry. This is Talara's future father-in-law?
01:15:38
Speaker
Yes. Okay. Because she's gonna get married. Yeah. Okay. That's what we've learned, yep. To Thelenus. Yes. Thenelus. Sorry. Yeah, Thenelus.
01:15:51
Speaker
Thenelus. Yes. Okay. He continues, well, either way, i see they seated you up here on the second floor balcony. Obviously, that was a mistake, as you deserve to be down here with the rest of the noble families. We have an open seat at our table. you Since you are obviously here alone, and you are more than welcome to join us, as you are about to be part of our family anyway.
01:16:09
Speaker
Yes, of course. And and where Penelis? He didn't come with you? I thought he would be with you, to be honest. To my knowledge, you both were back in Qdorum.
01:16:20
Speaker
Um, okay, so you know... You know that meme music? Oh no. Oh no. Yup. Yup.
01:16:32
Speaker
Yup. yeah Yeah, that's going through Counting Sand right now. What did I get myself into? Oh no. he never He never mentioned coming as well.
01:16:50
Speaker
um No, no, he did not. To my knowledge, you all were busy at the university. Some sort of ah semi-semester event going on there that you all had to be a part of for some reason or another. I don't remember. It's just the university. They have events every week.
01:17:05
Speaker
But regardless, um come come with me. I'll show you to our table, at least get you seated properly. We don't deal with the riffraff of going up to the tables either. that We have our own personal waitresses who were bringing us the more fine food of the evening.
01:17:20
Speaker
Talara and Yellen, Talara, Talira and Yellen are standing nearby hearing all this. Yeah. Oh, absolutely. Yellen is gonna, ah like, he kind of, please wait one more moment.
01:17:35
Speaker
Perhaps the lady would enjoy. I need an aside. I am her dance coach. i I need some sort of role. I don't know what it is yet. I need something. Performance.
01:17:51
Speaker
That's beautiful. Maybe. um I think it would be performance. Okay, here's what happens. Here's what happens. You both, after he says that, both of you in your in your minds hear Kaladin screaming.
01:18:09
Speaker
exactly
01:18:14
Speaker
I
01:18:17
Speaker
i think I need... Oh my lord. Okay. ah Yeah. Yellen.
01:18:30
Speaker
I don't know if it's deception or performance that I need. i Okay. all right Yeah, what do I need for Talira to not just die laughing Kalden screaming her head? 100%. saving throw, 100%.
01:18:49
Speaker
Oh my god. I've made a mistake. Okay, so
01:18:57
Speaker
that's a 16 total. Oh, that's 23. She's fine. Yep, you managed to keep it in. Eyes are on Maeve. You just see Talira just staring and the jaw flexes.
01:19:09
Speaker
Her eyes go unfocused for a second. yep
01:19:14
Speaker
was I am just helping the lady finish her dance moves. I am her tutor. ah Fuck. i I just... have to finish this last part, okay? Give me one moment.
01:19:29
Speaker
What was your roll? 16. 16? Okay, okay, that's decent. You have the accent of someone from Celestia, but you're a Crist. I won't question it. I don't understand who they invite to these- This is why I don't come to these events.
01:19:47
Speaker
Yes, um, I've been practicing charity lately. It's, um... That is beneath you, Jalara. um aware, i but I've always had a big heart.
01:20:00
Speaker
Well, I'll give you that. You have always had a big heart. Okay, well. I'm trying to secure my way into the afterlife. and Into a good afterlife. That's not how the afterlife works.
01:20:14
Speaker
Well, when you're done reaching down so far, we're table 13. Well, hard to miss. We're right up front. down You can find us. um Wash your hands when you're done.
01:20:26
Speaker
And he turns off and flips his waistcoat and walks off. Talira growls after them. Not like super loud, but like when they're far enough away, you just hear her go. Little little frog in your throat.
01:20:48
Speaker
I don't know where that came from. i apologize. I just needed a few more minutes to stabilize the plan, i suppose. I have so many questions.
01:21:02
Speaker
Yes, uh, the-the plan. Yes, of course, um... Well, you now all hear in your head... Piara. We can now all talk like this now.
01:21:13
Speaker
Right. Yes, of course. Um, yeah.
01:21:20
Speaker
Are you okay?
01:21:23
Speaker
just shaken from the super strange interaction we just had. Can I insight check that? Let's see. Let's see.
01:21:34
Speaker
13. Wow.
01:21:51
Speaker
I mean, the way that dude acted obviously threw you off enough to growl at him. Like, it's it it that was an experience that having a conversation with somebody that high class, especially when you haven't either done it ever or at least very often, is generally going to throw you off balance. So I would say you probably don't get much other than but you get from... Okay.
01:22:12
Speaker
All right. Well, then ah let's get going. Yes. Yes. Let's do that.
01:22:22
Speaker
Agreed.
01:22:24
Speaker
right. How are y'all going to try to corner Maeve, I guess? Or not corner, but... Talira's just keeping her eye out, like following Maeve's top, the top of Maeve's head along because she can see over what everyone.
01:22:38
Speaker
Right.
01:22:40
Speaker
By the way, that guy was right, actually. A Firbolg, you do notice that there is other another tall, really tall individual as another as a Firbolg does end up getting announced. Not an announced, but and is part of the Clerical Conclave. Cool.
01:22:51
Speaker
If their eyes ever meet each other's over top of the crowd, Talir would give a friendly, like, hey nod. shoot Nice. You'd get the same thing back. 100% like, yeah, yeah. Feel feel the pain.
01:23:07
Speaker
Yeah, you watch Maeve as she darts around. Saphir, as Maeve's kind of like just trying to avoid some of the people here, specifically those of the the Divinity District, what are some of the places she goes and like checks on, just to give some context? She would probably check on most aspects of the ball. Definitely, she'd pop into the kitchen for a little bit, probably hide in the fridge for few seconds.
01:23:35
Speaker
just as you do when you have mad anxiety. I think she'd just walk around, make sure there's no disturbances, um probably make very small talk to a few people or anyone who's come up to her.
01:23:50
Speaker
Gotcha. Okay. Well, you see all of this happen, obviously, Talira. And while you're... is as Is there any point where you guys are going to try to go intercept her? I think we were waiting for the dance, or is it...
01:24:02
Speaker
Dancing has begun. There's not anything that's been announced officially yet, but there are people who have casually started to take to the dance floor. Gotcha. um If you want to wait for the official dances, those will happen.
01:24:12
Speaker
Yeah, I think Talira is going to be She's going to want to catch Maeve as soon as possible because there's other business we need to talk about. Okay. You try to intercept her as soon as you go to walk away to try to catch her on her path.
01:24:27
Speaker
Yellen. You feel somebody grab your wrist and turn you around. as Oh, didn't try to tap his shoulder, huh? I would have preferred a tap on the shoulder. Nope, not at all. Fairly forceful. As you turn around and you recognize who who had been announced earlier, Piara Bhakti, who's the ambassador for the Aether from the Primordial Plane. as She is a light genasi. You recognize the species from the Primordial Plane with the, like I like to say LEDs for hair, but like the flowing basically blocks of light and the super the super glowing just eyes you you can't look away from.
01:25:01
Speaker
As she turns you around, who are you? Hello, Piera. I, I, um, Yellen's like, going back and forth, he's, uh, thinking, oh, should I disguise my voice like I talked about with Kaladin?
01:25:14
Speaker
Yeah, I'll do that. My name is Jor-Code Candance. I am very expensive dance tutor. I hate you a little bit for that
Disguises and Assassination Plot Unveiled
01:25:21
Speaker
name. I mean, Kaladin's standing right there still, so... He could have just gone with Baron Kaladin.
01:25:31
Speaker
Why do you have three different names right now?
01:25:52
Speaker
Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Dude, what the fuck have you done for this episode? It's been wild, isn't it? We've had literally no downtime from anything crazy happening.
01:26:03
Speaker
I know, I know a lot of happened. Yeah, what's your deception roll? Oh, ah let me roll it.
01:26:11
Speaker
14? 14, yeah, another that's good. Yeah, that's good. She eyes you as you say that. I see you from material plane familiar line. Yes, most definitely.
01:26:23
Speaker
That makes sense, you crystal tieflings. Always trying to find your way to a better life when you deserve none. ah Well, I'm very expensive dance teacher. I think... ah
01:26:37
Speaker
Are you looking for someone in particular? but I just had to make sure you weren't one of them. i thought I would know all of the Ganassian crystal tiefling here, but you were the outlier.
01:26:50
Speaker
Uh, yep. right. He forgets to say that with the accent and she goes, yep.
01:27:01
Speaker
It's changed like three times. And I'm crying.
01:27:09
Speaker
Yellen's never done this before. He he doesn't know what anybody should sound like. she kind of She just raises an eye eyebrow at you and is like, mm, okay. Calma's Just head, face hand, face-palming, whatever want call it, just like,
01:27:24
Speaker
but know what happens. He's coming out of me. It's not me anymore. No, it's short clock dance! just head face head face in hand facealing whatever you want to call it just like ah ah don't know what happens he he's coming out of me it's not me anymore don know who it solu dance may Maybe avoid speaking from now on.
01:27:53
Speaker
i i I agree. Oh my gosh. Clear up as obviously you probably continued on the line maybe or did you as this stop you? She's listening in and keeping an eye out on things. But yeah, she's she's still going for Maeve.
01:28:09
Speaker
Perfect. Okay. You'd be able to beeline to Maeve pretty easily. What is your passive perception Maeve? 15. Oh, 15. fifteen up No, sorry, Maeve. You're not Maeve. think that's pretty low, right? I am not Maeve, no. I'm Maeve, I think.
01:28:23
Speaker
and Maybe I'm John Clark undance.
01:28:29
Speaker
Eleven. Eleven, yeah. I'm sorry. With an eleven, you definitely I don't think you see Talira coming. How the f- Of course, I know she's here. i'm going to keep an eye out on her, too.
01:28:41
Speaker
That's a fair point. i'm just I also know that Maeve is super, super busy, right? But that's good point. She's very large. I will give you a roll instead. Okay, what am I rolling? in Perception?
01:28:51
Speaker
it'll It'll be a perception, but I am gonna say at disadvantage because of how much you have going on being the proprietor of this event. Okay. She did also say she was intentionally trying to avoid Talira. I feel like she would then be keeping an eye out for the giant person. yeah Okay, I'll give it to you at regular. You have made a good argument.
01:29:14
Speaker
You don't see Talira coming somehow. back is turned. someone yeah someone's yeah Someone burnt something and it's on the table. Yeah, you're you're walking away from her and in in a way, so like your back is turned to her as she's approaching you.
01:29:31
Speaker
Can I have this dance, Maeve? Maeve just freezes a little bit and like slowly turns around. I actually don't know how to dance, you don't have to, but it's really good to see you!
01:29:47
Speaker
yeah it's it's good to see you too. how How's your mother? She's okay.
01:29:57
Speaker
don't know if you knew this, but we tried reaching out to you. Yes. um I'm sure Siobhan caught you up with everything that that happened. The children's bones have been returned, so payments just pending.
01:30:11
Speaker
You guys to pick it wasn't even worried about that. Are you okay? Yeah, yeah. um Still pending after three years? haven't picked it up yet, have you? you'd have to go back to the kind the adventurer's guild that you did took the contract from.
01:30:25
Speaker
So I doubt it. I would have doubted you guys would have been to Krayle. Yeah. ah We haven't been to Krayle, but, um, someone is back. He's here.
01:30:37
Speaker
Okay. Yellen is my guest. Um, yeah. Wait, what? Yellen is here.
01:30:51
Speaker
Mm-mm. How about we have this dance? Okay. You're going to have to teach me the steps, I don't know how. That's okay, I probably won't feel it if you stepped on my foot anyway.
01:31:03
Speaker
You can step on mine. And um maybe believe lead her to the dance floor. Yeah, and just perfect timing as you are leading to the dance floor, the orchestra cuts off and the singer grabs the mic.
01:31:17
Speaker
All right, everybody, it's time for the standard ball dances. You can tell this is probably their first time. This was a lapse in the in the preparations. We're going to do the ah what's it called, guys?
01:31:30
Speaker
Oh, OK, OK. The what? Yeah. Okay. The jewel waltz from Viore, if you all know that one. Great. i will I will tell you Just all right follow my... Welcome to the dance floor, everybody.
01:31:43
Speaker
You see, as you're walking and that happens, you meet, Maeve, you meet Sally's eyes and Sally's like wide-eyed like, I didn't, I didn't hire her, I promise. Maeve just death glazes her and one, she ah Sally just knows like straight up, just like, can one person do their job for once tonight? That would be amazing, thank you. Right.
01:32:03
Speaker
All right, Maeve, you probably at least know the the basics of this dance, given the preparations just for this event, knowing the type of people that would be here. You knew the set list, so you would at least know the basics.
01:32:14
Speaker
So yeah, you all go about beginning to do this dance. Let me get a performance check for both of you. Maeve would take the lead to assist and also probably cast guidance for both of us.
01:32:25
Speaker
So I would get advantage on that then for Maeve's health? Yeah. Sweet. Yeah, I'll i'll give you that. Oh shit. Oh. yeah hurt Fuck, I've got a goth, cast guidance. All my ones today.
01:32:41
Speaker
Eight. I got 23. Nice. Oh my god. I rolled a nat one, but. Oh. Oh no. But I did roll this and this. Fucking hell, I got a nine. Okay.
01:32:56
Speaker
So you had to learn this fairly quickly, Maeve. So you know the basics, but even then, it'ss it's rough trying to keep up because when you were learning, it was slowed down. you were and You never quite got the hang of this one, especially with the injuries to your leg. This one's a bit more difficult. Where Talira, surprisingly, as you kind of follow her basics, but then watch as ah all of the dragonborn in the room and some others, including the kobolds and even some of the humans, all step up and begin this dance. It's very it's a very back and forth dance, but it's very rhythmic and...
01:33:23
Speaker
You pick up on it pretty quick because it's actually fairly similar to some of the the traditional dances to the Goliath drums that you would do at at ceremonies and parties.
01:33:34
Speaker
Nice. Could i include some of this performance? um because Talira is now rolling her performance or her social checks with her.
01:33:49
Speaker
Khan, can I do something where I lift Maeve up in a nice way that like makes her look pretty too? Absolutely. Absolutely.
01:34:02
Speaker
To show Maeve off. Yes. As she, like, I'm dancing with Maeve. Yeah, because now Talira is the the big one and the one in armor. So she's like, wait, no, no, no, no. no I am noticing that the lady looks pretty. The pretty one is the one you show off. So I'm going to show Maeve off.
01:34:22
Speaker
Right. Absolutely. I love it. Oh yeah, no, absolutely. And as you go through this this dance, heads are turning. Absolutely. Especially in the fact that Maeve looks gorgeous.
01:34:34
Speaker
She's and you're showing her off in the perfect way to accent the dance. And not only that, people are also surprised that this Goliath knows this, this dance as well as you seem to be doing.
01:34:45
Speaker
So lots of heads are turning. So it's not going to be a blue man she runs away with. It's going to be
01:34:58
Speaker
Maeve, Maeve, Maeve.
01:35:01
Speaker
Yeah, I guess you kind of she smiles, she's she's enjoying. She's very surprised. when When did you, you said you didn't know how to dance.
01:35:12
Speaker
Apparently I do. I guess tonight's full of surprises. You and me both. Um... Maybe this ball thing doesn't suck so much after all.
01:35:27
Speaker
don't know. It grows on you. not Not literally. Get used to it. Yeah. Um...
01:35:39
Speaker
So yeah, we found Yelen yesterday. I... Are you... Are you sure? I'm positive. He was in the elemental plane.
01:35:53
Speaker
We tried reaching him too and we couldn't get through and that's because he was on a different plane. I am... aware. Um... I...
01:36:07
Speaker
Maeve just kind of kind of like zones out a little bit. she um She's really fumbling to like believe you. she know she she doesn't She doesn't believe you at all. She thinks you'll think maybe someone's deceiving you Playing the cruelest trick imaginable on Maeve. Yeah, literally. She's like, are you just here to torture me now?
01:36:27
Speaker
I have a feeling something is up, and I would like to do an insight check on this, because I have a feeling Talira might know.
01:36:34
Speaker
Okay, yeah, you can, if you want to insight Maeve, go for it. ah do I have to do something? ah Yeah, I mean, it'd be deception or persuasion, depending on whether, you know, you're trying to hide something or if you're trying to convince. 22. She's not really trying to do either. She just doesn't believe you.
01:36:51
Speaker
don't
01:36:55
Speaker
know. If you'd like to just take the 22 of her insight and just let her know what that would give her. Um, Maeve is traumatized.
01:37:07
Speaker
Okay, yep, yep, yep. That's what you're getting. Hey Maeve. Yes. Stay with me here because there is something else and I think this might help you a little bit.
01:37:20
Speaker
We heard there was going to be an assassination attempt on the Druid. Maybe some action. Bring your head back. my My head is... I should tell Lionel.
01:37:34
Speaker
Did you have any more information? That is all, but, um... We know it was for me crystal tiefling. It was not Yellen. Yeah, I kind of figured wouldn't be Yellen. Okay, um... Once this... Once this dance is up, i'll I'll talk to Lionel and get the guards to keep an extra eye out on what's happening.
01:37:56
Speaker
What is the next step other other than that do you think we should do? I don't have any more information. I guess probably find more information.
01:38:08
Speaker
Would be best to to try and fan out, see if you can hear anything, see anything that is out of the ordinary. ah Cowden, I saw Cowden with you, so he's probably already off doing his thing.
01:38:26
Speaker
As Talira lifts Maeve up in the air again, she's going to whisper, he's Talara.
01:38:40
Speaker
Really?
01:38:43
Speaker
Really. heard that tracks. I was wondering why um one of them were here. Yeah, they're not.
01:38:54
Speaker
should
01:38:56
Speaker
so This is great. Oh my god. How's he holding up?
01:39:05
Speaker
I heard screaming in my head. Yep, that tracks. Yes.
01:39:15
Speaker
o You just, you hear more screaming. I don't know what's been happening during this scene for Calden and Yellen. I imagine something else that's wildly uncomfortable. Oh, you'd be approached by several of the high nobles. Yeah. You're the only Qudorum. You're getting talked to a lot. Yeah, and absolutely. Talira, you just, you see her crack a smile and like snort laughter.
01:39:38
Speaker
He's screaming again.
01:39:44
Speaker
Why are they all talking to me?
01:39:49
Speaker
this This would have to be his worst nightmare and I'm so glad could witness It's pretty bad. How... Look, I don't want to look a gift horse in the mouth, Woos. How have I not had to roll deception for these conversations?
01:40:09
Speaker
You look just like Talara. We already rolled, we we already met, that was confirmed last session. Don't get me wrong, there are people I've rolled. People have incited you.
01:40:20
Speaker
Ah, okay. People have, people I've rolled. that His voice sounds like her? Really? She has a cold. It's close enough. You have to realize, like, Talara, Qdorms in general, like, you're not gonna you're not gonna hear them talk a lot because most people aren't having lots of interactions with them.
01:40:39
Speaker
The Jondry family would be. Correct. The ones that have, I've rolled for. okay. yeah Boy. and Indeed.
01:40:51
Speaker
Carry on. So, as the dance comes to an end, what do you guys do? What do you, what do both of you do? a think, I guess. Do you want to come with me or do you need a minute?
01:41:02
Speaker
um Are you... Are you sure the person that's with you is yelling and not another blue-teethling trying to murder everyone? There seems to be lot those around.
01:41:16
Speaker
I'm positive. i I... Maybe you saw them? Maybe they're just like... Another blue tea thing, like... It is not... It is him.
01:41:36
Speaker
Maeve looks around to see where Fenlen is. To see, make sure he's not doing anything stupid. Or looking for her. No, he is actually currently talking at the table, uh, Pjara's table, of the new ambassador from the Primordia plane, currently talking up some of her envoy.
01:41:55
Speaker
Maeve also looks for Lynel. Uh, Lynel is actually standing over near your father, kind of like right next to him as they're watching over the room. Lynel's kind of watching you as your father seems to be watching, of course, the Lord and Lady Roe.
01:42:08
Speaker
Maeve looks at Lynel like a ah quick nod to come, yeah. Not in that way, but you know. You meet his eye and he kind of, his eyes go wide for a moment and he kind of nods and starts to move that way.
01:42:22
Speaker
I think it would be best to tell the guard guards what's happening um with your your fears of the assassination, just so they can be prepared and on guard. It's their job anyway.
01:42:37
Speaker
I overheard word of an assassination attempt on the druid envoy. You're saying that to Lionel, I'm assuming?
01:42:49
Speaker
When he gets here? Yes. ah Yeah, Lionel approaches you see he's ah not quite as like, the armor's not quite to like Eric Strongheart's level by any means, but he is adorned in armor with the Roe family symbol on there. And as he approaches, you kind of see the way he looks at Maeve with warmth in his eyes. And as he approaches, also sees you and when he eyes you, Lyra, you can see there's recognition there.
01:43:13
Speaker
Was he the guard that we saw yesterday? no, there's not. No, he's not. But he recognizes you because of your name, rather. And the fact that he's obviously was standing next to Maeve's father. So he's been informed.
01:43:26
Speaker
As he comes up, he gives a a slight bow. And Talira nods her head. Miss Talira, it's an honor to meet you. You as well.
01:43:37
Speaker
I am simply Lionel. We'll be fine. I am the personal guard here for Maeve. Maeve, you called for me. Yes, Talira has come into possession of some information that I find would be a bit moronic to ignore. Talira, would you like to to tell them exactly what you told me?
01:43:58
Speaker
He stiffens at hearing this. Yes, i overheard word yesterday of an assassination attempt on the Druid envoy. It was from a blue tiefling that was not the one that is accompanying me.
01:44:15
Speaker
I see. Okay. Well, that's news for sure. Is that all the information you have? That is all I know, yes. That was all the information we had, right? No! No? no shit No? I'm trying to remember. I'm blanking.
01:44:31
Speaker
It is Talira, mind you. Exactly. Exactly. That's all the information to tell. I mean, are you all hear in your heads, okay, what is all of the information I need to tell and to tell about this envoy? Okay, so out of above table, I'm going to say, it's like an overview of all of the information you have, because they probably won't know anything about the Zorogog, but Maeve will recognize that probably. Yes.
01:44:56
Speaker
So when you're telling Maeve, I would absolutely bring up the Zorilgog and that whoever this blue tiefling has hired, or this blue tiefling has hired someone to or is working with someone who's going to kill Piara, they're vying for power, for the same place of power as the Zorilgog.
01:45:20
Speaker
Right. Yes. Talira would mention all of this to Maeve. Much more succinctly. Gotcha. Than I would, because yeah.
01:45:31
Speaker
Right. lot of Okay. That's um good information to know. I will go ah immediately. i'll I'll be back. I'll go speak with the Envoy Guard and alert those who need it. Make sure my father is made aware. Thank you.
01:45:45
Speaker
Of course, of course. And he quickly goes to to lead now in full-on, like, work mode. Okay, for the sake of time, as you all finish up, Fenlyn actually catches your attention, Maeve, and waves for you to come over to the two PRs' envoy table.
01:46:02
Speaker
Looks like I'm being summoned. Would you like an introduction? Sure. And she starts making her way over with T'lyra.
01:46:13
Speaker
Okay. We'll stop as you guys approach Finland on, or start, as you guys approach Finland on the next episode. But what a fun one. and That was crazy. There was all so many things. We got through a lot of it.
01:46:25
Speaker
Crazy episode with lots of stuff happening. And I think we'll start next time with Talera and Maeve approaching Finland. I hope you guys, I'm not going to say I hope you guys enjoyed blah, blah, blah. I hope you guys were thrown for a loop with this episode.
01:46:39
Speaker
ah And I amm speaking we were yeah i' am I am speaking to you guys, not the audience here. I have questions. I have questions. I have so many questions now. I had a lot to throw at you guys. Ready's going Carol.
01:46:56
Speaker
Yellen's just off teaching people how to dance. Wu's mayor may not have a screaming DM from me I might. I might have that. Or a couple.
01:47:06
Speaker
No kidding. And I obviously saw the reactions from our players, but I hope, audience, hope you and enjoyed ah Eric Strongheart because I've been excited to introduce him to the to the podcast for a while now.
Conclusion and Impending Danger
01:47:17
Speaker
May have made a great character for me to play, so I'm pretty excited. He's a good fellow. Don't kill him, please. yeah crazy you'd say that. Don't give him ideas. No!
01:47:34
Speaker
Okay. Well, we'll see you next time, guys. This was fun. Peace out. Bye. Bye-bye. Bye.
01:47:47
Speaker
We would like to thank our cast, myself, Curtis Woosley as the GM, MJ Gunther as Talira Grimstone at Kelenathi, Saphira as Maeve Strongheart, Renny Armas as Kalden, and Jack Baldwin as Yalin Yakal.
01:47:59
Speaker
Additional thanks to Scentic GFX for our graphics, to MJ and Renny here for our show editing, and our intro and outro music composed by Ryan Moons, owner operator of Eyes on the Moon Studios.
01:48:16
Speaker
you
01:48:54
Speaker
While the ball was going on in the peace ballroom, Talira and Maeve dancing. There was a conversation happening elsewhere in the room and not out loud either.
01:49:06
Speaker
As Kalden connected with a mind link to Count Veeroth Draskar. Veeroth. but Oh, um, who is this? It doesn't matter who I am You spoke with Tadara Qdorum earlier. Yes. I overheard the conversation.
01:49:24
Speaker
Who are you? I'm really no one of consequence. Please, just tell me about Talara Qdorum. I'm not in a habit of betraying my business partners.
01:49:39
Speaker
I... When? Why is she associating with the Qdorum family again?
01:49:52
Speaker
Why is this important to you?
01:49:57
Speaker
I need to know.
01:50:00
Speaker
Her husband. She was married. She was, at one time. What happened? What became of him? He's still alive.
01:50:12
Speaker
that's the answer you're looking for. i thought they were dead.
01:50:18
Speaker
So it is you. Haven't heard from you in a long time.
01:50:23
Speaker
Didn't expect to ever hear from you again. I would have preferred that. You know, he's been going mad since you left.
01:50:34
Speaker
It is just tasteful to watch.
01:50:41
Speaker
I don't care about any of that.
01:50:46
Speaker
Oh, you'll care.
01:50:48
Speaker
Don't think he's given up.
01:50:54
Speaker
Why? Why wouldn't he? It's been so long. Why won't he just leave me alone? You know, understand the minds of a vampire lord as old as we are, uh, I don't know if a mortal can, and if I'm going to be honest with you.
01:51:21
Speaker
Oh my gosh. To think I get to speak with you before he does. ah Listen, your parents, can't say I haven't taken advantage of the situation, because it's been perfect.
01:51:35
Speaker
But you know, losing a child, especially one as gifted as yourself, it's ah it's hard on a marriage. Hard on that union.
01:51:45
Speaker
they're alive. They're really a alive. Both of them.
01:51:56
Speaker
But why are you associating with them? Oh, not them. Just her. Why? She's just in a really useful position, we'll say.
01:52:08
Speaker
Ve'eroth, if you touch her... Now, again, i don't betray my business partners, at least why they're useful. You helped me once, but don't think for a second I won't kill you.
01:52:25
Speaker
Oh, I'd love to see you try. Oh my god. You would say that to the man who helped you get out of that prison you were in? Oh my gosh. hu This is better entertainment in this party's gonna give me all night. Thank you.
01:52:42
Speaker
Don't worry, I'll keep your secret. I won't tell him you're here. I won't tell him I even saw you. At least... and ah Not for now. Not until it's useful.
01:52:56
Speaker
Where is my father? How fuck if I know?
01:53:02
Speaker
And my mother's at the university. You've learned that at least. She is in a fantastic position there, given to her when she decided to take her lineage back and accept her place within the family, I guess, as you'd say. And then I did the lovely thing of pulling some strings and getting her into a, frankly, after everything she's done to have abandoned her family originally.
01:53:27
Speaker
a gracious opportunity to marry into the Jondry family and help those familial lines in the council and gain more power and influence and whatnot. So I'm surprised you showed up here.
01:53:41
Speaker
You know he was invited. He, he was. he just doesn't know how to get in the city yet.
01:53:52
Speaker
But you do. That I do. So what? Staying here is just...safe? I'm not staying here, I'm visiting. I don't mean for you.
01:54:04
Speaker
for you. I mean, for now, yeah. He won't have a reason to come here unless he's invited again anyway. Although, I say that, but... Asit is quickly becoming the hub of the world, so if he's to make any business moves and keep his place of power, then I'm sure he'll show up at some point.
01:54:22
Speaker
But I will be doing everything I can to keep him locked away up in the north.
01:54:32
Speaker
You keep track of his movements, then? i keep tabs. I have to. All four of us do. Well, the three. Do you know where some of his generals have been recently?
01:54:48
Speaker
I've heard tell of some of them. There might be one in the city right now, but who's to say? If that is a problem, I could take care of that for you.
01:54:59
Speaker
Why? How? Seeing as I'm how he got in, can get him out. And why should I trust you to do that? Why did you ever trust me in the first place?
01:55:12
Speaker
I didn't have a choice. Do you have a choice now? Would you have a way to prove to me that they're gone? Who is it? I'll let you know when I'm ready for my favor.
01:55:25
Speaker
No, you'll tell me the favor now. Have a good night, Kelden. We- How do you know that name? keep tabs on those. I find interesting.
01:55:38
Speaker
Apparently not good enough, Tabs. You didn't even know I was here. Alright, I'll bite. I was about to be done with our conversation. i heard you had a run-in with Lust up in, what is it, the Jona Peninsula?
01:55:52
Speaker
Lust is here? i think you're putting words in my mouth now. Listen, I'll take care of it. I'll ask for a favor in return.
01:56:02
Speaker
Simple exchange. You owe me anyway. I never made you promises.
01:56:10
Speaker
That's fair. But you know that if you don't deliver, you know what I'm capable of. You already got what you wanted out of this. Yeah, but I'm a greedy bastard.
01:56:22
Speaker
Tell me first what it is you would want. I'm not making a deal when I don't know the cost.
01:56:33
Speaker
Just like Vyram, I have an invested interest. In this Foundation and the research they're doing with the Primordial Plane. You might be in a good position for me to use, so when I call for a favor, you'll be about that.
01:56:51
Speaker
I won't help you do anything that I don't feel is right. I won't help you hurt anyone. Okay. I'm okay with that. I can make do. And Kalden cuts off the connection.