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Ep. 152 Erith Unravelling - Bellum Draconis
16 Plays6 hours ago
A meeting of the powers of the Realm where our group of heroes find themselves in the epicentre
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Intro written and produced by Joseph McDade
Music kindly provided by Fesliyan Studios
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Transcript
00:00:00
Speaker
It takes a few moments before anyone has the courage in this singular Do you want us to get on the stage? You're not invited to do that.
Welcoming Questions: An Open Invitation
00:00:07
Speaker
but Yeah, I just thought it'd be easier for them to ask us questions. I'm not... up Yeah, obviously you can ask us from down here. That's absolutely fine too. I was just saying, like, it's easier to see us from there, especially if you're at the back. Sorry if you're at the back. We will shout loud.
00:00:19
Speaker
But yeah, no, we invite all questions and things thrown our way. got nothing to hide. Nothing to hide. Don't throw food at Seth draws the scimitar. Okay.
00:00:55
Speaker
Hello
Introduction to Fellowship of the Tabletop
00:00:56
Speaker
everyone and welcome to this week's episode of the Fellowship of the Tabletop, Belum Draconis. We are a live play 5e 2024 D&D podcast set in the magical homebrew board of Aerith in the kingdom of Dralak. Joining you for this week's episode, we've got the the ice lorry sucker, Puby, who plays the rules consultant human cleric, Emron.
00:01:13
Speaker
So listeners, ice pole, ice pop, you decide. We've got Darren who plays the half-orc barbarian, Therak Sunjari. Suction. We've got Will, who plays the Dragonborn Druid, Balvalcon.
00:01:28
Speaker
Misophonia. Ian, who plays the Tiefling Warsor, Nyx Carell. Yeah, sure. We've got the Granny Smith Pie-Smashing Edgelord Callum, who plays the Warforged Alstavrisa Alpha.
00:01:42
Speaker
suffering suck attack my name is mark and i'm playing the human blade singer seth farrow but last but at least is the saga sniffer the the strategist of the stank the sorcerer of the secret holes the steward of the safe word dungeon master that steward of the safe word its that's one of your best ones but he never tells us what the safe word is I like strategist of the stank.
00:02:03
Speaker
I thought that was a nice one. That was a good one. Put a good stank on it. going to strategize the stank. And speaking
Recap of Previous Events: Ghost Town and Gangs
00:02:10
Speaker
of strategizing stank, we see old Gel um in a sewer, or the entrance at least to a sewer. A rat skitters by as the rain comes down in Sleetgard.
00:02:21
Speaker
He stands tentatively for a second before looking at the orb and then begins. Mmm, that smells. Mmm. Ooh! the undisclosed Disclosed. Emron's new wet dream involves walking with his new crew, and he sees a ghost town literally in the Steel Nightmare, and a dragobond says, yeah That's where he's meant to be. Nyx tries to remove his Prego curse, but nothing seems to happen. Farrakh asks Alpha to compare faces at the last meeting with the upcoming one to maybe root out some trait holes.
00:02:59
Speaker
Sparrowhawk has left a note saying, meet at the library in Old Town at noon. And the group went shopping. Alpha swears vengeance on Urien and is like, I'm gonna kill him. And the group tries to talk him down somewhat.
00:03:12
Speaker
Gangs be literally taking over Scorch Helm and it's all fucked up. There's a beggar linked to Prego coming up to the group, but fuck that guy. Sparrowhawk meets the group inside that library and he needs a favor. He's like, I done fired my bodyguards, boys, and he jews with me. I'm coming with you wherever you go.
00:03:31
Speaker
And the group enter the Watt Cave. That's the Winkwatch Cave. There about 800 humanoids within there. And the group try to work out how to protect Sparrowhawk.
00:03:43
Speaker
Drago approaches and learns of McBenners' fate it's pretty sad. And
Kingdoms in Turmoil: Devils and Disappearances
00:03:47
Speaker
Ghostwing starts the meeting. He's like, Aerith stands on a precipice. And this is where you're going to to strap in, because I'm going to talk really fucking quickly.
00:03:54
Speaker
The object in the sky is officially called the Steel Might. The Tolkien's Devil Army is fucking about. The alignment happens in 56 days, and the leaders are disappearing from different kingdoms. Redbrook reveals that the Ozzer and Ireland are getting DP from up and down.
00:04:07
Speaker
Sleetgaard is unharmed. The Scarlet Realm, there's lots of devil incursions. Moonrise is becoming some sort of arcanically unstable place. The Sanguine Lands, the Obsidianists, are holding their own under Rothhock's Splitter.
00:04:20
Speaker
The East Harald Empire is, uh, up-kris-kra getting themselves all sorted there. The West is just a fucking free-for-all. The Hentis Empire, the Imperial forces are getting fucked. They, uh, Jade Heart is getting it hardcore from the devils. Hi, Jade Heart's getting it hardcore from the devils, and the leaders getting fucked up.
00:04:37
Speaker
Shadow Man is defended by the devils, and there's no up-kris-kra there. Dralak, on the other hand, we find out more about that place. The anchor is the biggest here. The forces seem to be greater coming out.
00:04:48
Speaker
Seventy percent of the entirety of the Obchriska seem to be defending, and the fizzlebangs are helping too, but getting fucked. The infiltration team that went into the Obchriska stronghold in Scorchhelm learned...
00:04:59
Speaker
of an egg count. They said 84 harvested and deposited eggs, whatever the fuck that means. They reveal that the Undying Champion's actions have been recorded over the past six months.
00:05:13
Speaker
I wonder what that could be ah about. You should really get yourself checked out directly, huh? Delmon will be at Goldfew Castle in Sleetgard for a few days, and ah she also reveals that there is a skirmish map of Sleetgard's personal garden. Finally, turns out they sent another group to Beach Barrow Port.
00:05:34
Speaker
oh
00:05:37
Speaker
Take inspiration, Will, because you had to speed write that. I'm there's shorthand notes. It was a long one. Yeah. happens, listeners, typically is when we record these, we have a short intermission between each.
00:05:49
Speaker
think all the rest of us take a load off. I think Will is hastily writing notes to try and do that moment right there. So, well done, Will. I'll take it. Thank you. However, I will take no mercies. Now, you are all in the midst of a very deep, a long agenda that fills out the inaugural meeting of the full complement of the Winged Watch.
00:06:09
Speaker
You will have wear T-shirts in the future, I'm sure, that say, I was there when...
00:06:15
Speaker
But we are going
Missions and Threats: Reports from Red Rook
00:06:16
Speaker
through the Red Rooks reports. Now, these are from a series of missions that the party were offered to take one of them at the smaller meeting that happened a week or so ago.
00:06:28
Speaker
The party elected to head speech by report. That was the third of the listed missions, and we are about to hear that report now. You find yourself in this
00:06:40
Speaker
amphitheater.
00:06:44
Speaker
And there is a palpable anxiety in the air.
00:06:56
Speaker
The idea that some kingdoms are faring better or worse than others is becoming a realization for most of the compliment here in front of you, that what they thought was their peril was massively dwarfed in comparison to how other kingdoms are faring.
00:07:12
Speaker
And some kingdoms are really losing a lot of their structure, their identity, that their forces to this.
00:07:20
Speaker
The size of this invasion, let's call it the size of this theater war, is slowly becoming more apparent to more people. You get the impression that you are all quite well informed in comparison to most of the garrison that's here now.
00:07:38
Speaker
And then Red Rook proceeds to read your report out based on everything you shared last night on the subject of the visit to Beach Barrow Port to locate the absent member of the winged watch that you learned was McBenner.
00:07:51
Speaker
She reads out verbatim everything that you included and also everything you excluded is not mentioned. So we're talking about your ah discovery of the dragons. We're talking about your discovery of the alignment also.
00:08:06
Speaker
We're talking about of chris-cris activity and eggs. But that's everything you mentioned. so everything you didn't mention was not read out aloud, if that makes sense. and was Was the Prego stuff mentioned? Because we obviously we talked about that or not.
00:08:20
Speaker
In the report? Yes. There was a brief mention of ah the inclusion of Prager the Majestic. the His role in all this wasn't wasn't clear, but just shared with the room as a person of interest, really.
00:08:34
Speaker
and So she she didn't share the fact that we're spies? Wasn't shared. No, just everything that you provided, not her opinions or the the leadership's opinions. Because we provided that information her. I'm just checking whether that was yeah included to the membership. No, just him as a person of interest.
00:08:50
Speaker
Thank you. And your report is read out.
00:08:56
Speaker
Next.
00:09:01
Speaker
Redbrook says
00:09:05
Speaker
another one of our teams went to go inspect towers that we have in this kingdom. These great towers that's run by Dame Edna Fizzlebang.
00:09:23
Speaker
She's a well-versed...
00:09:28
Speaker
I don't know how to describe her, but she's one of the leaders of this kingdom. And she rose to power by controlling the largest,
00:09:42
Speaker
unhinged, uncivil force in these sands. The wild tribes of orks They're controlled by these leashes, these spire-like towers that span across the desert.
00:09:57
Speaker
And for years, they have operated without fail.
00:10:03
Speaker
But one,
00:10:07
Speaker
one seemed to malfunction.
00:10:14
Speaker
We sent a team there, and it looks like the leashes are being sabotaged. by Sleetgardian
Instability in Sleetgard: Divided Forces
00:10:22
Speaker
forces, again, not their main host, but those carrying the insignia of King Leopold Sleetgard.
00:10:33
Speaker
What's critical here is that we recognize that it seems Sleetgard's forces are divided, that there is the kingdom guard themselves,
00:10:47
Speaker
And there is this splinter group that specifically served the absent king that no one has seen in a long time, that isn't on the throne.
00:11:04
Speaker
Surveying the scene, we found dying soldiers.
00:11:08
Speaker
And magically, when questioned, they would just fanatically spout, long live the king. Long live the princess.
00:11:21
Speaker
Though, through magical means, we learned they weren't referring to Princess Helena Sleetgaard, but a different princess.
00:11:36
Speaker
And then there is our final report.
00:11:42
Speaker
We've had a large cluster of demon gates open. between here and a western settlement in this kingdom called Snake Run.
00:11:53
Speaker
And this is where the three gnomes stand up.
00:12:01
Speaker
friends here investigated.
00:12:08
Speaker
We know that thousands of devils have struck across Ereth, but again, the largest cluster of hell gates, as we're calling them, seem to have appeared in these sands.
00:12:35
Speaker
The only thing we've heard them speak, again, is the phrase, the princess.
00:12:46
Speaker
we followed, or they did, a trail of hell gates along the road to Snake Run and further south into the desert towards a known lair of a dragon.
00:13:01
Speaker
It goes by the name of Shandralakar.
00:13:11
Speaker
Our friends here believe that these gates
00:13:17
Speaker
are following a route
00:13:23
Speaker
that this group, and she points to the six of you, have been traveling in our kingdom so far.
00:13:33
Speaker
We think this because one gate appeared in Beach Barrow Port this morning.
00:13:42
Speaker
It seems you are leaving a trail
00:13:46
Speaker
And in your awake, demons are forming.
00:13:55
Speaker
Thus concludes the reports of Dralak. Can I get a perception on Red Rook's demeanor? As she says that final bit in our direction.
00:14:08
Speaker
Yeah, make it in studying a body language and a tone and those sorts of things. Or are you but what what are you looking for? ah tone of voice Sorry, i was shaking my head
Debate: Sharing the Lost Verse
00:14:18
Speaker
because the role is utter pants.
00:14:20
Speaker
It would be insight. It would be insight. So you need to change your role. if you're looking at her vocal and non-vocal language. It would be um tone...
00:14:32
Speaker
ah Just general demeanor because you you stand up there and you present the information and you're being very professional. But then at the end, when you're talking about something that could be quite ah directed in a negative way towards a group of people that seems to be leaving behind a trail of hell fucking spawn.
00:14:54
Speaker
I want to just see if there is a tonal shift in her demeanor um that would be that one would read as negative vibes. Insight, you say?
00:15:11
Speaker
She looks worried. She looks worried and concerned. Not spiteful, not aggressive. It's fear. Okay.
00:15:22
Speaker
Really, you're reading. That's fine. that That Nyx is actually relieved at reading that because yeah I think previous situations has taught him to, everyone's going to be pissed off and angry at us.
00:15:36
Speaker
And then there was a rogue shout from a voice high in the crowd that just says, well, let's kill him and then he'll stop spawning gates everywhere. And then immediately, Ghostwing's arm is up.
00:15:51
Speaker
There's time for open debate, and it is not now. Thank you.
00:16:00
Speaker
At the in conclusion of the rap report, Ghostwing begins again. There are matters to discuss. First order of our discussion...
00:16:10
Speaker
We feel it is appropriate to consolidate our numbers here to Western Earth, to this kingdom, where it appears both hell gates and anchors are clustered heaviest.
00:16:31
Speaker
And then this proceeds to around the houses and it's about 15 minutes of just noise as various groups will shout over each other and try and discuss.
00:16:42
Speaker
And the leaders look content with trying to just let that filter and let that that happen. So the whole room is just in sort of a loud cacophony of so many different conversations and arguments about, no, we can't abandon our homes. And people saying, well, we haven't got the military power. Maybe we should just focus on where the threat is biggest. And these opinions kind of get battered around.
00:17:09
Speaker
And there are a few people that sort of loudly gesticulate, loudly sort of gesture or um provoke towards you that, that, that,
00:17:26
Speaker
They aren't willing to give up their kingdom. They aren't
Trust Issues and Rising Tensions
00:17:28
Speaker
willing to lose sight of it for, and begins to say racial slurs and and and um ah so being generally prejudiced about the activity that happens in Dralak and and undermining it, and that sort of thing.
00:17:46
Speaker
And then after exactly 20 minutes, Ghostwing enchants the room again in Thormaturgy and just silence shout, silence!
00:17:59
Speaker
We appreciate this is not an easy ask to take you all from your homes to protect this kingdom, or have eyes at least on this kingdom. And it is not an answer I expect us to have landed on just yet.
00:18:15
Speaker
We shall return to this in time.
00:18:20
Speaker
The next matter to discuss is the release of the truth across Ereth.
00:18:30
Speaker
Before this meeting, those of us who made it here early discussed releasing the Lost Verse to every bard in every tavern across Eryth and let the entire population know of what is coming.
00:18:49
Speaker
We all voted in favour that this should be allowed to happen.
00:18:58
Speaker
I'd like you to all spend the next 20 minutes discussing that. And again, you hear repetitions of the same conversations that happened when you guys were going through this, that we need to protect the truth, not cause mass hysteria. And then the counter argument that everyone does it needs to know their fate.
00:19:14
Speaker
And that goes on for 20 more minutes. And you guys are sort of given that space now to to know this is the formula. that They'd make a provocation and everyone just sort of goes at it for a bit to get things off their chest in smaller teams. But Emron, Baal, this team of seven, really, what do you guys kind of lean in on?
00:19:34
Speaker
Emron's going to be, when this discussion opens up, Emron's going to be taking the time to go to groups and advocate for it being shared. Absolutely. He's going around making the same arguments he made earlier, saying you know it's about preparing everybody. Everyone needs to be prepared.
00:19:51
Speaker
best way to do that is if everyone knows. Okay. ah Make a persuasion check. Okay.
00:20:01
Speaker
go I'm not with you.
00:20:05
Speaker
So nine, I mean, nine. guns would be nice Thanks. yeah yeah Thanks, Bo. I'm not you said there, man. You said you were going around different groups. I'm staying where I am. Yeah, Bahl is by and has been by Sparrowhawk's side.
00:20:19
Speaker
And with this as an opportunity for people breaking out into groups, Bahl is explicitly looking out for people who are not necessarily engaging themselves fully in conversations, maybe snatching glances or anything like that towards Sparrowhawk. He's looking for some sort of shifty behavior now that he's got the... ah Yeah, now now that there's a perfect excuse why people...
00:20:42
Speaker
shouldn't be kind of looking his way that's what he's looking out for okay you sort of scan the scene and your your passive is high enough to kind of keep this ticking along but there are a number of people dotted that i just seem to be um sort of stoic and silent individuals that occasionally chip in with conversations but it's not like anyone is purposely dark and mysterious and not wanting to let their voice be heard in these moments some people you know look in any group dynamic of more than of of seven people, you know, you have people that are more passive, you have people that are more conversive.
00:21:21
Speaker
There is no one, and and you like you could literally spend this 20 minutes sort of surveillancing and you would not naturally be on the surface suspicious of anyone not passionate about this conversation, right? And not invested in this kind of,
00:21:38
Speaker
without digging deeper into everyone's individual motives, you're placated that that everyone is attempting this here from a scan.
00:21:46
Speaker
Okay. Yeah. In which case he'll he'll kind of pass that on to both Sparrowhawk and Nix because they're both nearby and that that's what he's been doing and that's what he's noticed. Okay. Nix in this current open forum, what are you doing?
00:22:01
Speaker
Nix during this entire thing... has not taken his eyes off Ghostwing and Red Rook the entire time, just trying to ascertain where they're at.
00:22:17
Speaker
Again, similar to what he did to Red Rook before. It's almost like he's just identifying these two as the key people that will lead this decision-making, and he wants to know...
00:22:33
Speaker
just where they're at. And I'm not going to use detect thoughts at the moment, but that it's that kind of, he's waiting almost like he's got niche tricky trigger tricky he's got niche itchy trigger finger wanting to know what's going on. If there's any secret chats, secret glances, they're looking down at the map and then they're looking at each other or they're looking around the room. He's just trying to get a vibe check on how are they feeling?
00:23:02
Speaker
This is the second time you've been in these open discussions and you're noticing a pattern here that Sparrowhawk, Ghostwing and the Red Rook let the entire room speak for 20 minutes unfiltered and the three of them stay very condensed and together in the center of that room and they kind of like are shooing off anyone that approaches. So the three of them remain as a bit of a cluster.
00:23:22
Speaker
is kind of it's Just to confirm on that one then, Sparrowhawk is stood with them, not with Yeah, the three leaders are together solidly here. so Even more so, he's just fucking watching them hugely. Yeah. yeah But but they they're like dismissing anyone who's trying to talk to them in these moments. They're making it very much about, this is your chance to... Let off steam.
00:23:42
Speaker
To figure this out. And they they won't influence that. So they're having these like private conversations that where people are like doing strategies and and discussing... um privately like they're in an inner circle lots of rubbing of chins lots of coverings of mouth while they talk to each other um a couple of like known looks between them where you can tell they're trying to speak telepathically or you know non-verbally to try and um present information to each other as a three but nothing nothing you haven't seen them do before just on the scale where there loads of eyes are on them if that makes sense
00:24:19
Speaker
Looks like you're thinking about something there, Nick. I'm just tempted to cast the tech thoughts at them. There's three targets there to choose from? Just choose. No, I'm not doing it. No, you almost got me. I'm not. I'm just watching. I'm just watching. I'm looking for an opportune moment, as it were.
00:24:36
Speaker
We're all good. As we were. Anyone else doing anything in this time? Okay. Alpha. Alpha. The only thing I think Alpha will be doing at this moment is is actually purposely, might make him look more suspicious, his purpose is just trying to blend into background a little bit.
00:24:57
Speaker
We've already been singled out as a group, and with the um Lost Verse that's come out, it came with warnings against
Intrigue in the Winged Watch: A Traitor's Note
00:25:06
Speaker
you know the creases of wood and metal and everything else, which is Alpha all over.
00:25:10
Speaker
So he's purposely just trying to not draw any extra attention to himself. He's trying to hide behind people as best as what he can do, despite being quite tall and quite broad. His purpose is trying to ah find his way into further crowds to cover himself. Okay.
00:25:30
Speaker
You do spy at one point and because so many of you are fixated on Seth. I imagine you're you're unblinking in your focus on Sparrowhawk.
00:25:42
Speaker
Orla just seems to sort of brush behind Sparrowhawk for a second and you absolutely see an exchange of something in their hands.
00:25:55
Speaker
Is anything you want to respond to that?
00:26:00
Speaker
No, Orla trusts, ah sorry, Seth trusts Orla and so there must be a a message or something coming in that's important, news being passed from one to the other, he'd it's clockt he'd clock it, but he wouldn't necessarily intervene.
00:26:16
Speaker
it's He's above him in the line management structures anyway. So he's he's not the hierarchy, sorry, he's important. So he's not going to yeah tell him how to do his job.
00:26:28
Speaker
After a few more minutes of that 20 being consumed,
00:26:33
Speaker
Orla just sort of accidentally stumbles into you, but kind of on purpose. She apologizes. oh I'm really sorry for Areva. And grasps your hand quite tightly.
00:26:47
Speaker
You feel a small piece of parchment placed in it. Seth rolls his eye.
00:26:54
Speaker
and and she kind of just smiles and kind of stays in your presence for a bit, like it's just in that company of six that you are. He takes a minute when he realises that all is not going to go anywhere, he'll have a quick glance around, but he's not very subtle.
00:27:11
Speaker
He'll just look down and, if it's a small piece of paper, unfold the piece of paper ah to read what is what what is up on it. Are you trying to do it subtly?
00:27:24
Speaker
No. i mean, I'm not making a big show and dance of it, but he's not... he's not he's just going to have it down low. Everyone's preoccupied with the 20 minutes of um of of of you know discussion and arguing, et cetera. So he's hoping that acts as cover ah realistically.
00:27:44
Speaker
At first glance, the script is and entirely blank, but it's not until you focus on it
00:27:53
Speaker
that words begin to appear very quickly. And it just says,
00:27:58
Speaker
The next discussion is around a traitor in the wing or drop traitors in the winged watch.
00:28:06
Speaker
There will be eyes on you. And after a few seconds, it kind of dissipates.
00:28:17
Speaker
Seth will just look back at Orla and kind quite nonchalant kind of shrug back at her. Even as as much as trying to say, ah got nothing to hide.
00:28:30
Speaker
And she just kind of beats her chest in front of her heart at you affectionately, compassionately,
00:28:39
Speaker
and then just performs being distracted and going to sort of mingle, if it were, with other people. And the end of that segment sort of concludes the same ever so sharp tweak in the lighting and ghosting calling for silence.
00:29:02
Speaker
The next matter arising that you may discuss, we have reason to believe that there are... Traitors is not a word I wish to use,
00:29:14
Speaker
but individuals
Open Q&A: Devil Ties and Dragon Activities
00:29:15
Speaker
among our company that are not holding the information of our company and our activity close to our chest, and it is filtering to counter-forces.
00:29:30
Speaker
This is not as black and white as saying someone who walks amongst us is a traitor because we do not know whether it beneficial
00:29:41
Speaker
that our opponents know we're watching.
00:29:49
Speaker
We know that Chris Grohev eyes on a certain group and he makes a point of gesturing with an open hand towards the six of you.
00:30:02
Speaker
and then looks away from all from you on purpose for the next bit.
00:30:08
Speaker
And perhaps some of you, maybe those who come from the East, those with ties to Shadowmen, may have a closer connection to the devils and looks for a different part of the of the assembly.
00:30:23
Speaker
Or those of you from Sleetgard may have a closer affinity to those in the steel nightmare.
00:30:35
Speaker
But I invite you to discuss amongst yourselves if you've seen any sort of activity that meets these descriptions, or indeed, if you believe it to be a problem or not.
00:30:47
Speaker
And the light sort of seed, again, for open conversation. And at this point, by all your spidey senses, tingling a little bit with that passive perception, there are a lot of eyes on you six at the mention of this.
00:31:01
Speaker
And it seems like everyone is doing that thing where you look at a football match where you're talking to the person next to you, but your face is very much at the pitch. It's almost like the entire room is like in quiet conversation with the person beside them, but everyone's focus is on you six.
00:31:17
Speaker
I'd like to meet the stairs. Well, there's, It's about 14 flights of stairs in this... Where do you want to start? and Such a dad joke. in Yeah, buddy.
00:31:30
Speaker
And in the round focus, you want to you want to just sort of square up to the same stairs. Almost like a clock face. Everyone's going to... If people are staring at them and everyone sees it, you're going to just stare them back. yeah right Make a constitution check, because this is quite an intimidating scene to see like genuinely...
00:31:51
Speaker
How you can hold your resolve here. Your steel will, if you will. will
00:31:56
Speaker
As a 14? Yeah. You must ah In a conviction that only a leader would would what instill you with and you were empowered to...
00:32:10
Speaker
meet this with a powerful stance and an and ah unblinking eye. Well, occasionally to stop yourself from getting bloodshot eyes, but you show no signs of... oh
00:32:25
Speaker
Yeah, everyone's not going to like avoid glances and make people think we're looking suspicious. going to meet the gays and be like, look, if you want to say something, fucking say it. and you You do get absolute eye daggers from the vast majority here.
00:32:43
Speaker
but no one challenges you. It looks like it might. It looks like a a few people may. And then some of you just spy a small collection of gnomes making a very deliberate point of intercepting those would-be challenges.
00:33:03
Speaker
Happens maybe eight times in that 20 minutes that someone, it looks like someone has courage enough to come out and face you before
00:33:13
Speaker
You're kind of shepherded little bit. Not necessarily in a hostile way, but more in a pausing, the this this ah diffusing way.
00:33:33
Speaker
And then that 20-minute segment is up.
00:33:45
Speaker
I would like
Strategic Plans: Tackling Key Threats
00:33:46
Speaker
to deviate for a moment from our set agenda.
00:33:55
Speaker
We sense a lot of you had questions there for these individuals,
00:34:04
Speaker
the undying champions, as we've come to learn them.
00:34:13
Speaker
In an orderly fashion, I encourage you to ask those questions. Champions, if you are willing to give five minutes of your time to respond. If not, I will understand.
00:34:24
Speaker
And looks the six of you for permission.
00:34:30
Speaker
Very well. Yeah,
00:34:37
Speaker
It takes a few moments before anyone has the courage in this singular Do you want us to get on the stage? You're not invited to do that. but Yeah, I yeah just thought it'd be easier for them to ask us questions. I'm not, yeah, obviously you can ask us from down here. That's absolutely fine too. I was just saying like, it's easier to see us from there, especially if you're at the back. Sorry if you're at the back, we will shout loud.
00:34:57
Speaker
But yeah, no, we invite all questions and things thrown our way. nothing to hide. Nothing to hide. Don't throw food at us. Seth draws the scimitar. Gabe, like he's just doing that for, because he's a champion and ah it's like a salute thing. It's not a threat thing.
00:35:17
Speaker
It might be a threat. Make ah persuasion check, Nix. I'm going to just pat myself on the chest and give myself guidance. And you see Sparrowhawk stand next to you, arms folded and looking out in the same direction as you're looking at as well.
00:35:33
Speaker
Did you say persuasion? Yes, please.
00:35:38
Speaker
That will be 16.
00:35:43
Speaker
Seems to land. ah seems to land.
00:35:49
Speaker
and It takes a few moments of silence before anyone musters the courage to speak solely in this forum. You know, a lot of people like to hide in a group, collective group voices. But when people are challenged to individually ask, it takes a little bit time for someone to stand up. And eventually one does.
00:36:07
Speaker
and just shouts, honestly, speak honestly. What forces watch you? What forces do you report to? You know, have you ever heard of... ah And Nick's just look around at the group to go, we're good, we're okay saying this.
00:36:23
Speaker
Pray go the majestic. Ah! And about third of the room nods in response and one sort of, you see, you ah sorry, Baal and Alpha, because Alpha you're listening in various different language, will hear ah the games master of the jewel of the desert champions is kind of used to kind of explain who that was for other people's references who weren't in this part of Eryth at the time.
00:36:47
Speaker
everyone's so Everyone's arms are raised so you can see the tattoos. Yeah, he's a devil. Kind of got a deal going on with him at the moment. ah It's not particularly cool, but it has enabled us to save a few lives.
00:37:00
Speaker
ah So we did it with good intentions and with ah full knowledge of the the deceptions that he brings our way. ah We're all tied to him apart from Tharok.
00:37:14
Speaker
Tharok, show your arms.
00:37:17
Speaker
Tharok, without Gesturing everything else just just holds up his arms, almost kind of in bewilderment as to what's happening. There you go. Take a note. One, no tattoos. Two, massive guns.
00:37:30
Speaker
ah There's some giggles in the crowd.
00:37:36
Speaker
And the same boy says, Alice Devil.
00:37:42
Speaker
What does he see? Everything we see and hear. He kind of did that anyway. had like an omniscient presence on most things. He always seemed like he was two steps ahead. So this is kind of like he would be able to, he's probably in this room, regardless of the deals that we've made or the presence he has over us. He does seem to have already had an oversight on a lot of things without our involvement.
00:38:11
Speaker
Lastly work. Go swing, bring devils into this. Yes. Thank you.
00:38:19
Speaker
party were not sure, nor by their own volition, did they encounter this devil and then freely invite him in as far as we are aware.
00:38:29
Speaker
Next question.
00:38:34
Speaker
Another voice says,
00:38:39
Speaker
What's all this about dragons? What's all this about dragons i and eggs and what's going on there? And points at Baal specifically.
00:38:52
Speaker
Yeah. What's...
00:38:58
Speaker
I don't know much about Western Eryth, but I was under the impression there isn't many dragons.
00:39:08
Speaker
What's going on there?
00:39:13
Speaker
Do you want the long version or the short version? Ghostwing says, the short will do. Hmm.
00:39:23
Speaker
Each kingdom has its own matriarch or leader of some sort. He kind of stumbles his way through without turning his eyes in any direction.
00:39:39
Speaker
And they seem to derive power from the monarch, whoever is on the throne.
00:39:50
Speaker
I think the Ibkriskra have been taking these eggs to build some form of army.
00:39:58
Speaker
We've encountered
00:40:02
Speaker
potential use of time manipulation to age these eggs into young and adult dragons.
00:40:20
Speaker
There is ink uproar at this this idea for a second, and you no longer have the floor because people are just talking over you, and then Ghostwing has to call for silence once again, and allows you to finish.
00:40:32
Speaker
Cool.
00:40:38
Speaker
It's my belief that they are on the side of Aerith, and therefore on our side.
00:40:50
Speaker
So there's that, I suppose.
00:40:57
Speaker
We kind of trails off. And you're interrupted before you really finish that by just assertion of of confusion and lot of people saying if this is an impossible task if if we
00:41:14
Speaker
things are moving through time, that there's not something people can control, that's not... There is despair. Upright despair. and has It takes a few attempts for Ghostwing to regain control of that room. perhaps
00:41:36
Speaker
Perhaps now is a better time to think about what our next steps are.
00:41:45
Speaker
Those of you who have just travelled here from afar... Take your time and orient yourself with this part of Eryth.
00:41:54
Speaker
Those of you native here, have been here a while,
00:42:00
Speaker
we will be sending three teams. Three teams on three tasks, where all our questions will be answered.
00:42:10
Speaker
We hope.
00:42:14
Speaker
Redbrook. And Redbrook stands.
00:42:26
Speaker
Far to the south, two, three days beyond the anchor, a small number of hired hands
00:42:47
Speaker
are holding a hell gate open.
00:42:53
Speaker
Tomorrow I'm taking a team with me. and we're going to go through the Hellgate and we're going to see exactly
Leadership Crisis: Disappearances and Power Dynamics
00:43:01
Speaker
what Tokalon's host looks like.
00:43:16
Speaker
What we hope to learn here is twofold.
00:43:21
Speaker
One are the numbers um devils we're seeing on Ereth?
00:43:30
Speaker
A portion or most of what's left?
00:43:38
Speaker
The other is exactly what Tolkelon can be, will be, can do ah threat assessment.
00:43:52
Speaker
I've already selected my team.
00:43:56
Speaker
And just gestures to the three gnomes to cast down Binbin Valhorn.
00:44:04
Speaker
And then she then takes a seat.
00:44:09
Speaker
Aye. Ghostwing stands.
00:44:16
Speaker
I'm taking a small team to the steel nightmare.
00:44:23
Speaker
Few have attempted already to enter it and there is some sort of force that repels them.
00:44:32
Speaker
We will get close but we will not enter it. We will learn of this magical property and we will devise a counter plan to penetrate it.
00:44:53
Speaker
Everyone who agreed to follow me up there
00:44:58
Speaker
They do so... Consenting that we may not return. For none have.
00:45:11
Speaker
But I hope for better news. And he sits back down.
00:45:17
Speaker
And then Sparrowhawk stands.
00:45:24
Speaker
It's fitting, I suppose, that... All three leaders... are leading these assignments.
00:45:33
Speaker
ah Myself and the undying champions,
00:45:40
Speaker
we're going to kidnap Del Montrese, we're going to tie to the biggest fucking chair we've got, and we're going to pummel answers out of him to every single question.
00:45:55
Speaker
We'll report back when we do.
00:46:03
Speaker
Red Rook stands again.
00:46:06
Speaker
Three missions. Three leaders.
00:46:11
Speaker
When we reconvene,
00:46:15
Speaker
I expect we'll have all the answers we need.
00:46:19
Speaker
We'll be as informed as the Upchrskra.
00:46:24
Speaker
We'll know the true number and the true power of Tolkilon's forces.
00:46:31
Speaker
And we'll find a way in, we hope, to the steel nightmare.
00:46:38
Speaker
So there is hope. There is a plan. Please, everyone, be assured. A few parties still in open rebellion about this. Some satiated, but in general, everyone's continuing to listen.
00:46:54
Speaker
ah Back to the last discussion point. Ghostwing says,
00:47:03
Speaker
Kingdom leaders are disappearing. In some areas.
00:47:09
Speaker
No one here has seen Lord Vossan for days. No one in the kingdom has. He's just disappeared.
00:47:23
Speaker
In the last few minutes we've been getting reports and they're still coming in. And you can kind of spy as one by one runners are sort of coming from a smaller chamber with sending stones, giving reports on various ah kingdoms.
00:47:41
Speaker
As they're running in, the Red Rook just announces
00:47:52
Speaker
the forces in command of Haral East and Haral West have disappeared. She's kind of like getting this information real time and kind of relaying it.
00:48:07
Speaker
And begins to send word back and you just see this constant back and forth between different runners and different sending stones.
00:48:17
Speaker
and Please don't be alarmed, Coastwing says.
00:48:23
Speaker
But we have to think now why the Upcriska are poised in every kingdom.
00:48:29
Speaker
And my kingdom leaders are disappearing. In Dralak we are ruled by three forces, Delmontreis, Edna Fizzlebang, and Lord Vossen, two of which we still know ah at large.
00:48:45
Speaker
I invite you all to discuss your thoughts on where they might be going. And then within seconds of that permission, the whole room is up in raw and it's it's it's charged. And everyone here is is emotive and expletive and um panicked almost. The six of you do.
00:49:09
Speaker
Paul's going to just... I mean, the group is spread out, actually, isnt aren't they or they? Kind of. knew each other but it would be It would take a few minutes like a minute at best to kind of reconvene if you attempted it.
00:49:20
Speaker
Okay. ah if he is able to pass on the message to the others, he would just say, it's clear to me that they're trying to undermine
00:49:34
Speaker
the ruling dragons of each kingdom.
00:49:38
Speaker
We know that with no one on the throne of Sleepguard, Valkyraeth will not be able to reclaim her true power.
00:49:49
Speaker
by removing the leaders of each state. They are effectively, i think, cutting off the power to the dragons.
00:50:01
Speaker
They're weakening for an invasion. That's my guess.
00:50:12
Speaker
I don't know if we have enough time to convince everyone about that. In time to get people back in position of power? my I don't think it is solvable at the moment.
00:50:26
Speaker
We can beat the answer out of Delmon Trace.
00:50:31
Speaker
Well, yeah, and and that's... I feel like we should discuss that. I don't like the idea of beating him up. I mean, yeah, ah for sure...
00:50:44
Speaker
This is getting hot, though. There's a lot of emotions happening around us right now. This is not what I'm used to. My my involvement in the past with Wing Watch is you get job, you go do job.
00:50:55
Speaker
That's the end of it. this is This is politics. I don't understand. we've We've got a job. We're going to go find Delmontre and ask him some questions without torturing him.
00:51:06
Speaker
I'm not going to torture him. I'm going to smack him in the face. know that That's torture.
00:51:13
Speaker
Sounds effective. yeah Well, I mean, it's not... course i mean but did it It's not really. Well, let's try it anyway. Fair enough. Everyone can ask him nicely, and if that fails, I'll punch him in the face.
00:51:26
Speaker
No, no. Because also, don't forget the note in the Upcrista garrison from McBenner said, I was wrong about the Upcrista. So, you know, let's think about the fact that there might be more to it.
00:51:41
Speaker
then he better have some interesting things to say.
00:51:46
Speaker
What do make of those three? And Nix would just kind of look over to Sparrowhawk, Red Rook, and Ghostwing.
00:51:58
Speaker
Taking a lot on themselves.
00:52:02
Speaker
I mean, either they're really, really confident that it's all going to go well, or it's going to go tits up and yeah. I'm just wondering whose idea it was to, whether it was their idea or someone planted an idea to send the three most powerful people of the Wing Watch away.
00:52:22
Speaker
They're leaders and time is running out. I don't understand the nature of the politics of this, but I think I understand that it's about accountability and trying to make things right. They're harbingers of the protection though.
00:52:39
Speaker
and like It goes similar to what Baal says, where the leaders are being taken away and the dragons can't help, so we're vulnerable. And then the company that is standing up to try and save Aerith are splitting up their protection, their leaders, and become vulnerable. I'm just trying to piece it all together.
00:53:01
Speaker
like I mean, maybe the leaders are splitting up so that they're not all in one place to be taken at once. And also they're focusing on the three most important things for them that the group needs to do. So they want to oversee it personally.
00:53:15
Speaker
Could be. I've just given thought to it is all. but I think we need to know. If you have three precious diamonds, if you put them in the same place...
00:53:27
Speaker
They all get stolen. If you put them in different places, they don't. And we will be going with one of them, which means we will keep one of them safe. If you put them in different spaces, you can't spend them.
00:53:39
Speaker
They lose value. I understand what you mean, but I don't think we can afford to lose any of those leaders. Just wondering, like if I was a traitor, I would be trying to get those three alone.
00:53:56
Speaker
Wonder where the
Dragon Power and Kingdom Balance
00:53:57
Speaker
idea came from. Atul. if i If I hear correctly, Red Rook is going with Drago. That's correct. thought they said.
00:54:06
Speaker
i don't know. Yeah, literally going into the hells. ah Yes, they're going into the hells. But I have seen that. We've all heard the story to this man. I was at the Emberscar. I saw that gnome when he was a dragonborn.
00:54:17
Speaker
Spell a ghoul with the back it would but swiftest mood I've ever seen of a blade. If he's not safe with Drago, he's not safe at all. In terms of, like I say, in terms of Sparrowhawk, he will be coming with us. We will keep him safe as best we can.
00:54:32
Speaker
can't speak for the other one. don't disagree with anything you're saying, Tharok. I'm just saying that it's worthwhile thinking about all possible avenues here.
00:54:41
Speaker
Forgive me, it's not a trail of thought that I'm used to. I'm used to being given my trial, doing it, and going on to the next. I'll defer to all of you. It's not my place here. I don't understand it.
00:54:53
Speaker
Am I...
00:54:55
Speaker
Right in thinking. And Barl's kind of looking not at them now, quizzically. His eyes are kind of flicking back and forth somewhat. Imagine there kind of the calculating gif that you get of that woman. a car I don't even know the reference. mind style. Thank you.
00:55:11
Speaker
Well, kind of. He's going, it?
00:55:17
Speaker
It's the only reason why above and below haven't fully invaded because of the dragons.
00:55:26
Speaker
We're trying to work out how they fit into all of this. The Upchriskra are doing what they can to replenish powerful dragons to Aerith.
00:55:38
Speaker
The leaders are being abducted, which will rob the dragons of their power. If the 13th kingdom is here, why not fully invade with their full force if they have the power to do so?
00:55:50
Speaker
Same with the Hells. If they have the power to do so, what is stopping them all just using Aerith as its battleground? i Are you saying that the Abkrisgra is harvesting dragons to protect us yeah by inserting more dragons in?
00:56:07
Speaker
Right cause, wrong means. Yeah. And that's possibly why they've accelerated the growth with their time travel.
00:56:19
Speaker
Because no dragon right now would help. And the Kriskra's not too up and up on the old social chain to ask for favours.
00:56:31
Speaker
I don't think we can afford to... do real damage to Delman Trace. We do need to know what he knows. We need to get this confirmed, but... I mean, there's ways around everything. We can use fear as a great tool.
00:56:46
Speaker
And there's a lot of you are scary motherfuckers. And I'm pretty crafty. I can peer into his mind. If you scare him, get him to sweat. Don't actually hurt him. but Just like you make him think and then ask him questions.
00:57:00
Speaker
I could scan his mind. You can peer into his mind and I can cast a spell that means he has to tell the truth. and i mean um um I mean, that just sounds like the best way anyway. and I'm relatively good at reading people as well, so the combination of all three, surely there's something we can get through. Oh, we're going to mindfuck him!
00:57:16
Speaker
i but doesnt yeah On your point about so those are bio the your point, Baal, you said obviously that the dragons keeping him back. Don't forget that the Prager being on this plane means his brother can't come here fully, which is perhaps also keeping some of his forces back.
00:57:34
Speaker
Right. So dragons keeping above at bay, Prager keeping below at bay. Maybe. I mean, i mean the Gartrand's called the dragon's slave, so maybe there's something to that as well.
00:57:48
Speaker
The Gartrans called the dragons their servants, didn't you? ever like the more we talk, the less we know?
00:57:56
Speaker
don't know what you mean.
00:58:02
Speaker
Hmm. There's something else I don't understand as well, which is ah just a question. Who rules in Sleetgard?
00:58:13
Speaker
Who is the official monarch? What is the line? Because there are some who say that Leopold is alive. There are some who say it's Helena.
00:58:22
Speaker
Baines was always set on Helena. He was. And certainly when we were when we were there, it was there was there was talk about the family hasn't been seen for a while and Helena hadn't been seen when we were in the kingdom. but I mean, you could ask that question directly to someone who's here.
00:58:46
Speaker
she's not You're right. Alpha, what do you think? um
00:59:01
Speaker
dare Dear, dear, dear me. You yeah okay, Alpha? I do not know of true heritage.
00:59:12
Speaker
I just feel uncomfortable. being here, being around all this talking.
00:59:23
Speaker
i don't know. It seems impractical.
00:59:29
Speaker
This a powerful force. why Why are we not doing more? Why has this not been done previously? Why are we only acting now? And I agree with it Because we didn't have all the answers. Why are we only just splitting up now?
00:59:41
Speaker
Why are the leaders going out on and certain journeys. It's illogical. I mean, so the heroes of Aerith are off to go fight the devils, literally in hell.
00:59:54
Speaker
So everything else is just like a little supporting thing. There is an interruption to the din as Red Rook just screams. Shut up, Alfred, they're talking. Screams the word Hawksplitter.
01:00:07
Speaker
Hawksplitter has fallen and she has an ear pressed to a sending stone in her ear.
01:00:14
Speaker
Hawksbitter has fallen.
01:00:19
Speaker
He's breathing.
01:00:24
Speaker
Ada's getting to him slowly. And then there's a silence in the room for a few minutes. And she sort of nods at that messenger. That messenger heads back.
01:00:38
Speaker
And then the conversation kicks up again.
01:00:42
Speaker
If there's anything else you wanted to discuss there.
01:00:49
Speaker
Carry on, Alpha. It's okay. They've stopped. it It's okay,
Chaos Unleashed: Capture and Murder
01:00:52
Speaker
Alpha. You keep saying what you were saying. You were deep in thought then.
01:00:56
Speaker
oh It doesn't matter. You know, I like their system of sending stones on and up and on and up. Do you reckon we could get that, Seth? Do you reckon we could get your crew to do that? It's Tharok's crew. Your crew. It's our crew on the on ah on our boat.
01:01:12
Speaker
Seth just looks confused. Like, what? Seems like a good way to get information across. I saw they're doing a good job. Look at them. Nix will point over to the the ferry of messengers going back and forth to Red Rook.
01:01:26
Speaker
Seth nods at that and then just turns out his empty pockets as a sign of lacking funds. What, just feel like you've paid them enough already?
01:01:35
Speaker
Are you talking about having more of these and everyone holds up his his little pet rock from Drago? Oh, nice. Where'd you get that from? You took it for one of those? Drago gave it to me. I believe it's a sending stone.
01:01:49
Speaker
Means he likes you. I think we're going to become best friends.
01:01:59
Speaker
um I think this is so we can communicate and you'll find out about... There is another interruption. Oh, fucking hell. another... ah Shut up, Alfa! Hands of Sending Stone.
01:02:16
Speaker
King Haddo.
01:02:22
Speaker
King Haro...
01:02:25
Speaker
He's been captured. And taken to the Steel Nightmare.
01:02:37
Speaker
Do you think they mean Urien or the other one?
01:02:45
Speaker
And then she just nods and the runner goes back. Could Urien. That would be... Biles is going to try to see if Ghostwing shows any alteration. Make an insight check.
01:03:04
Speaker
Do I know you're gonna do this, Baal? No, it's not. And fucking do it by yourself. 23. Never mind, don't need me. is is Are the three gnomes still in the room?
01:03:17
Speaker
Three gnomes still in the room. Cool. While Baal's doing that, going to make way over to Drago.
01:03:25
Speaker
You're looking for very acute tells here, Baal, based on information you have. And you did spy... Everything Red Rook was announcing to the room seconds before she was whispering very quiet locally just to Sparrowhawk and to Ghostwing.
01:03:42
Speaker
And Ghostwing is having to prop himself up. His hand is firmly pressed on the table. You can just sort of see the whites of his knuckles appearing as he's doing everything to stay balanced at this point.
01:03:54
Speaker
And despite being robed, you can just make out a very quick movement in his chest. but he is trying his best to hide the fact that he is at all in and impacted by that news.
01:04:07
Speaker
Bile is just going to mutter fuck to himself, not to anyone else.
01:04:15
Speaker
Alpha is also going to just um advise quickly. It is the king, Heddo, that's Rains' father, not Uriam.
01:04:31
Speaker
Why would they capture him? Weren't we told it was the same person?
01:04:38
Speaker
No. No, we we were advised, I suppose, as previously mentioned, almost like ah cloning of some description. ah The potentiality that Eurion is trying to ah create himself in younger forms.
01:05:04
Speaker
King Heddo is of a similar line of what Reigns was in that manner, but still different people.
01:05:15
Speaker
Danny, can I just get confirmation? Was this something that after the death of Reigns, Prego revealed when he gave us kind of more information about what happened?
01:05:27
Speaker
He said that Arion was Reigns' actual father. Yeah, so we so we did get that information. but information so King Hadow is a different person. It still exists. It's another spawn of Uriand.
01:05:43
Speaker
Okay, my bad. Thank you.
01:05:47
Speaker
And Emron, you said there that you were heading over to do something. Yeah, I sort of go over to Drago, and when they talk about Hadow being taken up to the the Steel Nightmare, Emron sort of goes over to Drago and says...
01:06:03
Speaker
just so you know, in my dream, you said. And as you're closing that distance distance and and Drago clocks that you're wanting to talk to him and also beelines for you, you begin to announce that over the quite heavy wave of sound.
01:06:18
Speaker
And you just say, just so you know, in my dream, and it looks like he's ready to receive the information. There is a scream from Red Rook.
01:06:28
Speaker
And you, you see his,
01:06:33
Speaker
Sparrowhook's forced to sit down.
01:06:39
Speaker
She whispers something to Ghostwing. Her hand is pressed to her ear and Ghostwing just announced
01:06:47
Speaker
her on a sleet guard's been murdered. oh oh And that's where going to end this week's episode. Go fuck yourself. Okay, so it is scorched earth, motherfuckers. That's where we're going with this shit. oh No, no, no. Why have I invested in a crew? What the fuck?
Conclusion and Audience Engagement
01:07:09
Speaker
whenever When are we going to go sailing? No. Well, Varric and Seth can retire on that if we survive. do li do doooly Fucking hell. Flipping heck.
01:07:23
Speaker
So's Casey. You're not coming back.
01:07:28
Speaker
Get me there in the next 59 seconds. I'll revivify her. It'll be fine. You've got a friend that can teleport. be great. I'll fucking help. Flipping heck.
01:07:41
Speaker
Bosh. Hawk splitters down.
01:07:45
Speaker
Sleet guard line lineage falling apart. Dragons tied to the very fate of Eric. only we had another member of the... Sleek guard family. oh wait. Shh, don't ruin it.
01:07:58
Speaker
Let's just out him. He'd be the shit one.
01:08:02
Speaker
He was the drunkard. He sobered up. He was.
01:08:06
Speaker
Oh, man. That was a twisty twist. That was very twisty. Twisty poos. Twistersaurus sex.
01:08:17
Speaker
So... Yeah, try and segue that, bitch. Speaking of bitches, you can be like we are, clearly, and become a Muska bitch.
01:08:38
Speaker
And by that, I mean check out X page, which is at Photoshop Table. Then you go one step further and follow us at
01:08:47
Speaker
fellowship table yeah he's holerous individually i'm at I rolled a one fuck's up uh will's up up darren page granny smith smashing callum is up the D20 Gamer.
01:09:19
Speaker
And our VIP of the D&D, Dungeon Master Danny, is at Total Party Thrills. Until next time, guys. Farewell!
01:09:29
Speaker
Farewell!