Transcript
Speaker: it's mad mad it's like other versions of us right that's been here before cycling around like if we could get or think of some way to get in touch with them like you've been here before nick's just pointing out everyone you've been here before you've done this before you've been here before you haven't but you've been here before you've been here before it's utter chaos
Speaker: Howdy doody everyone and welcome to this week's episode of the Fellowship of the Tabletop, Bellarm Dracotnis. We are a play 5e 2024 D&D podcast set in the magical home-brewed world of Aerith in the kingdom of Dralak.
Speaker: Joining you for this week's episode we've got Pughie who plays the rules consulting human cleric Emron. It's howdy doody time. We've got the braven apple pie smashing edgelord Callum who plays the warforged Shartificer Alpha.
Speaker: Howdy howdy howdy. Ian, who plays the tiefling war-saurer, Nyx Carell. We've got Will, who plays the dragonborn druid, Bal Valkon. Hello.
Speaker: My name is Mark, and I am playing the human blade-singer, Seth, Pharah Reaver. And by last, but by no means least, is our anima engineer, the executor of exhilaration, the enforcer of the eerie, the embodiment of ex excitement, the excreter, exonerator, and pubic leg executor, Dungeon Master Danny.
Speaker: Happy Valentine, Mark. Yeah, absolutely. And speaking of roses and butt plugs, old gal is sitting on a corner of an old street.
Speaker: not on i' Not sitting on the corner. Speaking of butt plugs. Who are we to judge? We don't know what's going on under that old, ricky skin. Corner.
Speaker: You know, love is love. He's standing on a street corner. And he yeah he's there playing between his fingers with a single coin, which is is kind of and a worn copper haze. And he flicks it, tries to fling it between his fingers, and he drops it.
Speaker: bing ding down He goes and picks it up and flicks it and flicks it and catches it and then looks at us and begins. I could flick it some more if you'd like. Ooh, fuck, mansion!
Speaker: The Dragonborns are here, and one of them needs to chat to Baal. Vescal appears to be the leader. He informs them that Baal is now the Harbinger, and he is to lead them home again. Turns out they all had a shared dream involving him. Oh, and also, Shondra LaCars killed three quarters of the Golden Dragonborns and cast the rest of them out.
Speaker: What a bitch. Baal reassures that brood that they will be reunited with Gael Farr's heir, Valkyraeth the Sleet. And Varyon wonders if Baal isn't telling all, but Baal's like, just rest on it, bitch. Emron and Tharok chat logistics of bedding and food. Alpha creates a spell store and ring and very kindly gives it to Baal. And then more caravans arrive. It's the Winged Watch. Carstan and Beauregard. Oh, and Kinnard died in the fighting, by the way. That's pretty sad. Carstan creates a magical mansion on the side of the shitty keep, and it can host for everybody. And shit gets kinky. After a while, Kareem and Karstan are like, what happened in... Kareem asks Karstan what happened in Scorcham, and Karstan's like, oh, it was just overrun by golden-faced demons. Dralok is going to hell. Literally. Ghostwing and the Red Rook return with Drago, Synga, and Ren, and shit is about to get real.
Speaker: A cold breeze slips into the sitting rim of Karstan Finbin Valhorn's pocket dimension mansion, bringing with it a bite of high air and distant ash as old allies cross its threshold.
Speaker: Drago, Sayangar, and Ren guide this exhausted ghost wing inside, half carrying him over these opulent rugs and past these elaborate candelabra whose flames gutter in colours that do not exist outside of this ethereal place.
Speaker: Drago, a dragonborn of renown in this kingdom of Sleetgaard, ushers Ghostwing into a waiting armchair and fastens his travel-worn cloak emblazoned with the red-ringed symbols of the Eternal Ones, a disciple of Akiva.
Speaker: He drapes this over the half-lizard's shoulders. Ghostwing winces, his scales dull with dust and dried blood, shiver beneath the weight of fatigue and cold.
Speaker: Nearby, a shaken and weary red rook drags a footstool in close, So the two exchanging these hurried murmurs, barely audible over the soft cackle of this enchanted fire and ah the sort of distant unseen strings that are pumping out light melodies around Karsthan's common room.
Speaker: Across the room, The slimmer, light-footed dragonborn, Syengar, his scales matching Drago's, knocks back a vial of tonic from his bandolier.
Speaker: Sharp, medicinal and metallic tastes fill the air.
Speaker: Slowly, discreetly, he slips towards one of the roaring hearths set into Karstan's enchanted walls. Wren, the half-elven woman, lingers at the door.
Speaker: Feeling the pressure of the mansion sealing itself against the outside world, she just pulls the door wider as more figures spill in. A halfling, bearing two dragonborn eggs in their trembling arms, followed by a robed elf carrying the third.
Speaker: The father of clan Silvermoon. And finally, not carrying an egg, Bovrin, a dwarven priest a priest of Vatinis who shuts the door behind them with a heavy thud that reverberates longer than it should.
Speaker: The halfling clears her voice. It is Orla. Orla Goldport. But before she even looks up, her voice is pitched somewhere between cheer and alarm, the eggs really blocking her view of the nearly 60 guests that are already in this common room, eating, drinking, watching.
Speaker: I swear to you all, it was not this much of a shit tip when I left. I'm sure there's a ah ah perfectly reasonable explanation for why there's goblin goo everywhere and and and and those wagons outside. a funny thing, really. And the whole time she's kind of speaking into the eggs.
Speaker: Because I could have sworn i I saw traveling cases belonging to the master slave trader, Lord Vaughan Dan. And she then makes a beeline for the fireplace and kind of pops very delicately these eggs in front of the fire to keep them in a kind of incubative state.
Speaker: And she then continues not taking in the audience in the room, which is obviously preposterous because that shithead enslaved me for defaulting on my debts. And that whole mess was...
Speaker: And she slowly pans to the room, realising she's not just speaking to Tharva and Bovrin. Her eyes sweep the hall. The fruit-laden tables.
Speaker: The cured meats. The wine.
Speaker: Kareem Snakerun. Lord Vaughndan.
Speaker: Fuck.
Speaker: Silence swallows the room, until Karstan, savvy to the situation, clears his throat, snaps his finger, and the enchanted music trickles back into existence. Drago offers Emron a quick nod before joining his brother and the two winged watch leaders that remain in this room.
Speaker: Karstan strides forward, clasps Wren tightly in a fierce embrace, then joins the same growing knot of commanders and confidants. Our gaze, however, our camera lens, our audio eye, follows Tharva as she moves with quiet certainty through the crowd, past the indentured servants in rags and chains, the elegantly dressed slavers carrying the will of Erith's richest power broker, Lord Vosann.
Speaker: Passes dragon worshippers, blight heroes, actual dragons in borrowed flesh, mercenaries, and winged watch spies, druids of the sands and priests of the four gods, at the center of this impossible gathering sit the undying champions, a blacksmith, a war veteran, a machine, a disgraced pirate,
Speaker: a kingslayer, and an unexiled now deathburner.
Speaker: Thartha reaches you, Baal, producing a small key from her sleeve. She exhales, grinning. Safe and sound.
Speaker: Good, great. ah This key... Sorry, my head's over the place at the moment. I'm a little bit lightheaded from... going kind of glance quickly to Nick's and checking out the mansion.
Speaker: yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah just there's a lot of rooms here and there's a lot of rooms yeah it takes the breath out of you right yeah feel empty stamina levels are low yeah well like i could sorry i digress the key to this key what but what what what key it's to the lock on your wagon my what but You asked me to get your your elephant and your wagon safely here.
Speaker: He's outside. Hold on! Trunks is here!
Speaker: I'll be back in... I'll be back in 20 seconds. I need to see this. And Baal can run happily to the door with it and burst himself outside. They have a very special relationship.
Speaker: Not as special as mine, but like it's up there. you You go and push out of this kind of ethereal a mansion that that you have been splendoring in for a number of hours here.
Speaker: Splendoring is the term you can kind of use when you're kind of surrounded by um the company that are currently kept. Yes, immediately parked about 200 feet amongst the the the car boot sale of caravans that now kind of exists on this southern lawn is Trunks, tied to the same wagon that you have seen him tethered to since you met.
Speaker: What is changed, however,
Speaker: is a low red light that seems to reflect on everything around you.
Speaker: You look for the source of that light, I assume, and the object in the sky, the steel nightmare. It's once moon-like qualities, that sheer white shimmering silver plate in the sky has turned blood red.
Speaker: Shit. Trunks marking you, however, as a swish of the trunk and a swish of the tail. Not quite as animated as a puppy, though still gesturing in excitement for seeing you nonetheless.
Speaker: Yeah, he'll give trunk scritches and scratches and talk sweet nothings to him, probably only for 10, 15 seconds or so. Give him a big hug and then jog, ah well, half happily half in anticipation on the way back in with eyes up to the sky. Before return to the group.
Speaker: And the rest of you in this time.
Speaker: I think Alpha, just while this is all going off, is rushing over to the eggs that have been put by the fire. He still has ah tremendous amount of guilt about what happened. And if there's any kind of like... um soft furnishings or anything like that i just kind of create a bit of a more cozy comfort heat retaining environment environment for these types of eggs at the moment under no circumstances he's even going to probably just stand a little bit closer to them and if anybody gets a little bit too close maybe in a little bit of merriment he's just going to kind of slowly gesture them away even if he has to kind of put hand on shoulder and kind of direct where they're actually going he's definitely on kind of a bit of protection over the eggs um at the moment
Speaker: So as you kind of head over to the the the hearth they've been placed in front of, there is where the huddle of the Red Rook of Ghostwing of Sayengar, Ren, Karstan and Drago currently are gathered and sort of Sayengar in his regular um misfit style, not wanting to be kind of in the center of things, but a, but an a more quiet observer than his brother is kind of there pondering with the eggs as well. And, and, and,
Speaker: Probably the first time that Saingar has been around dragon eggs before. One of of different color scales than these for certain, but is in that vicinity.
Speaker: still think Alpha would be, not in a rude manner, but he's not going to engage with them. at the moment, not going engage with Saigar, Jarga, anybody in that little huddle. um e Excuse me, excuse me, please. i I just need to get to the eights.
Speaker: And Saigar, you're kind of indifferent to the care of these, also trying to figure out whether or not you have some kind of kin-like connection.
Speaker: Yeah, just ah don't, I don't know, touch them or stick your metal bits in it.
Speaker: I have no metal bits to penetrate these eggs with. I didn't say penetrate. Don't put words in my mouth, in my snout. My apologies, it was just another term.
Speaker: I'm merely caring for these X. They are very valuable. I apologize if I've given you any offense. No, no, I'm just making sure everything's all right. Just, uh, yeah.
Speaker: Are you, you, uh, well? Can you be well? With your bits? I presume in every essence of a...
Speaker: Person, i I would call myself well, yes. I'm as well as what I could ever be. i feel perhaps... I think it may be nervous, I'm not too sure.
Speaker: Nervous? For what? just the end of the world. Yes, that would do it. Are you not?
Speaker: ah Fuck it.
Speaker: I do not understand the context of that. Fuck it. Are you saying fuck at the end of the world or are you directing that comment to somebody else in this room?
Speaker: yeah I think you're reading into it too much. I'm just saying it doesn't matter. All will happen. Will happen. Our roots have been decided for us. Don't, don't ever think here metal man. Just, just chill. Just,
Speaker: keep your bits away from the eggs. Yeah, I think. I don't know. Chill is an interesting perspective. Oh, Jesus. Just, I mean, who's that? Just, fuck it. Why are the gods? My apologies. I have you tumbling.
Speaker: I don't know. What do you want? i am merely here to look after these eggs. Yeah, i'm I'm doing that right now. I'm literally, I'm stood here doing that. Do you, does any both, do you not trust me to do it?
Speaker: I suppose you could say of a potentially guilty conscience, as if I have one of those, I'm not too sure. So what, you want to just stare at the eggs for a few hours and I can go to sleep? I just wish to take care of them. I wish to keep, but there is much merriment going off in this room at the moment from the benefits of Karstan and his wondrous magic.
Speaker: An accident, as I'm all too aware of, can spell doom for many fra many a fragile thing. I think these eggs can be looked after one of their kin. No offense, but I wouldn't trust this in the hand of most mortals or humans.
Speaker: ah I don't know why you go in that category. So the nicest possible way you can keep an eye out if some some fuckers, you know, stumbling over, give them a shove, but just don't don't try and touch them.
Speaker: Right? Very well then. I will be nearby, but I shall leave these eggs in your responsibility. How about if I need a hand, I'll give you a shout, Alpha. I'll say, Alpha, come here.
Speaker: I need you to protect the eggs. Absolutely fine. Not a problem. Right. Thanks, though. I appreciate it. Bars, you kind of return after your quick scritchings with Strunk's.
Speaker: You kind of at that moment where you see two groups of friends that don't really know each other particularly well, but are somewhat associated, ah separated in these two spaces. And Ren just kind of over the corner of these eggs and Syngar and Alpha just kind of waves gently towards you.
Speaker: Have I seen Wren before in her elven form? You have not.
Speaker: So I'm seeing this kind of elven person kind of waving me over. No, you so you saw the transition, actually. I see. When um there was the assault ah from... the Shadow Mendians in the meeting of the Winged Watch. Because they'd already teleported by that point. When all three had broken Gnome form.
Speaker: Oh, right. again there In their their true form. Before Drago, Saingar, and Ren moved to a different place. Awesome. So I would, yeah, i'd there'd be at least there'd be that there. yeah Awesome.
Speaker: ah Yeah, he'd see that and he'd kind of go over to his group and then he'd stop for a second and go, next You're still wearing that bag, aren't you?
Speaker: The bag Holden? Yeah. Yeah. ahing Oh, yeah. Yeah. yeah Yeah. I mean, at this point, though, who isn't our friend slash enemy? Frenemies. We've got so many frenemies. This thing is really useful.
Speaker: Yeah, I agree. How about take mine for now, and we'll just kind of empty your shit into this one, into my one, and then ah let's throw this outside here for now, just because...
Speaker: Yes, they've seen everything up until this point. Yeah, but like but at the same time, like Tracy kind of orchestrated all of this and, and has, don't know, like that. Tracy has his own motives as well. And we also recently found out that Tracy murdered Edna Fizzlebang. So Tracy isn't necessarily the upstanding citizen that you seem to think they might be. I don't think any of us are at this point, Paul! Oh, certainly not. No, I'm a complete and utter cunt. But I'd rather just have that little bit of leverage over him and he'll look down at the bag and say, no offence, Tracy, but I think you can go fuck yourself at this point and do what you've said and we'll do what we've said, but just butt out of this bit so you can't get involved.
Speaker: Okay! I'll pick the bag up when we leave the room, but let's have at least a conversation that, you know, they're not privy to for once. but At this point, I don't know what part of me is privy to who. Like, I could be carrying something else, Bob. We don't know. I haven't been tested. Like, there's so many things that You can't get pregnant.
Speaker: Wait, no. Can you? We haven't spoke about that. and We haven't. No, I can't, but like... well I didn't know that. Just to let you know, i don't know if that's why... awkward So I'll take the your bag of holding. I'll put my stuff in that and ah we'll leave this one outside. Someone will just steal it though. I mean, I would steal it. If I walked by this house and I found a bag of holding, be like, haha lucky days. well I'm taking that.
Speaker: I'll hide it in the piss swamp. No one will delve into it. but Then I don't want to pick that back up. That's a piss swamped bag of holding. Someone can... prestigitation it and clean it up but we i feel like after all this time why are we keeping secrets anymore let's just from the the the one party that isn't specifically here with us in this room that you know the leader of which has got his own intentions after we saved the world and i just you i did less but you but that we're surely we're thinking about saving the world not what happens after that we'll get to the up look hey up i'll put it outside give me a bag of holding i feel like this is no so this is what you want and i i'm here let's do it okay thank you seth and emron while these two are arguing over a bag what are you doing
Speaker: I'm glowering at Kareem's snake run. Everyone's ums doing a lot of glowering at at the Dirty Slaver. um And yeah, just I suppose he's he's just sat because like there's these great heroes. There's really important people here. There's people with plans. And he's just like, cool.
Speaker: I know our plan. We're going to hell. That's the plan. Okay.
Speaker: That's it. He's just sort of sat there just mulling things over, I think. And Seth? Seth's seth's going to have seen this glowering and mulling and get a bit too close to Emron.
Speaker: yeah Hey.
Speaker: Hey, Emron. Who are we looking at? ah Kareem Tosspot Snakerun.
Speaker: Is that really his middle name? ah Apparently, yes. No, no, no, it's not. It's not. um It's just, he's a twat and yeah. Okay.
Speaker: Do you want me to glower at him as well? I've only got one eye. Sorry, it only counts as one, one and a half people glowering at him, but I could give it a good... But for personality, you count as, count as an old person, so it's all right, you know.
Speaker: I could open the one eye really wide, maybe that could be the opposite. why Would that lot look surprised? Oh, shit. Yeah, maybe not. I might go get another drink, though.
Speaker: Do you want one? Yeah. well I mean, where's this stuff come from? Is it real? I mean, is it magic? What what what are we eating or drinking? I don't know. It's good, whatever it is.
Speaker: put it in my mouth and it feels like it goes into my belly or my piss flap, you know, my piss sack. I don't know what it's called. You know, the thing where the wee goes? Your bladder.
Speaker: I don't know this shit. I forget. Okay. Right. um yeah in that enough well Don't ask silly questions. Don't make you, what are you, which doctor?
Speaker: Listen, I'm going to go get some more magic drinks and maybe some more chicken bones. ah what What do you want? Yeah. Some of that sounds great. but Now be specific. What exactly do you want?
Speaker: you want the same? Yeah, same. and And some more somewhat more of that. though There was some steak-looking stuff as well. that's Some of that as well. Yeah. I think it was venison.
Speaker: I'll get some. I'll get some. Okay. Just keep glowering. I think it's working. Okay. Is it working? Danny, does it look like he's ah enraged or um I don't know what Seth doesn't know what he's going everyone's going for, but does Karim look somewhat perturbed by... he looks very relaxed. He's fine dining. He is with one of his closest allies. He is ah amongst a lot of his property now in both yeah and both ah persons and real estate.
Speaker: He looks he looks a very comfortable place. Look at him pretending to have it all together. he's He's quaking in his lovely, gorgeous leather boots. I'm going to go get some drinks.
Speaker: And then um um Seth's going to go and scarper to find the nearest butler, servant, Trey. There's buffet tables out in this. and He's buffeting up. plenty He's off.
Speaker: As that happens, Barl's going to make his way round the individuals and just say, i think we're wanted for a chat and kind of motion over to the fireside. And as you're kind of corralling everyone, as Seth and Emron are, their estates are perusing the the the ah cold cuts and the hors d'oeuvres.
Speaker: The camera just pans back to the wider hearth in the corner of this room with a very injured ghost wing and a very shaken red room.
Speaker: consult very closely with Drago, with Karstan, with Wren and within earshot of Sayangar.
Speaker: And Karstan, as you kind of huddle in your in your own immense means of perception, able to half tune in into the concerns that are being exchanged by the leaders of the the Winged Watch, and also noting Drago's changed ah demeanor, elements of his appearance, his odor,
Speaker: and also his aura, for want of a better term, You're used to this being a very composed individual. You're used to drag seeing Drago and being always assured and being almost instilled with confidence yourself just by osmosis of being around him. And you were looking at an individual that has seemingly held a lot of concern recently and has yet to shake that that confidence that bravado hasn't quite returned.
Speaker: He smells putrid and cold, but nothing on him is kind of soiled. There is a sick appearance about him, like the equivalent of of kind of like um us having colds and and flus. There you know there is ah bloodshot eyes. there is There is moisture around extremities on the face. There is a small quake occasionally in his hands that Drago is able to kind of hide beneath his own muscular form, folding his hands and under his arms, et cetera.
Speaker: But he is
Speaker: he is fearful, you think. Fearful and unwell. And you make the same observation as you glance over to Sayangar.
Speaker: Although Sayangar's kind of
Speaker: Substance abuse um is not the right term, but his reliance on substances kind of makes Tsingar appear as though that's filtering out of his system quicker. And the Red Rook looks equally as ill, though with the Tiefling, it's really hard to tell.
Speaker: As you tune back in to what Ghostwing and Red Rook are saying, they're making calls to empty the room. We need to talk.
Speaker: And gesture to this immediate circle and to the undying champions.
Speaker: Do we want to go to... Muted looks back to you, Castan, from the rest of that huddle. We can retire to another room or you want to get everybody else out of this one and we'll stay here? Turn the motor fuck off.
Speaker: Good plan. um Right. And Karsan will ah amplify his own voice and say, ladies and gentlemen, and if you could please retire to the sunroom, there will be more ah drinks and food provided there. um Yeah, basically, you need to get out of this room now. Fuck off.
Speaker: And then at that point, the um the the semi sort of ethereal-esque servants almost like form like ah like a like a riot wedge and just slowly start ushering people out of the room.
Speaker: So who are they ushering? So they're ushering anyone that's not in our immediate group and um um the um the Undying Champions are staying in the room. So, you know, Kareem and all his tosspots.
Speaker: um ah The Dragonborns? If they've not been invited to stay, if if they've not been indicated to stay, then by ghostwing, then they're they're being ushered out as well. It's your interpretation here. your This is your hall.
Speaker: um o
Speaker: until Until otherwise, Karsan's going to ask them because he doesn't know them. Okay. Father of Clan Silvermoon? Yeah, if she's not if she's not win watch she's out.
Speaker: Bovrin, the priest of Vatinus.
Speaker: Oh, Bovrin. That's not Bolt, is it? Or is that? No, no. I haven't got something watched currently. Okay. Bovrin, the priest of Vatinus. How much do I know him?
Speaker: How well does Karstan know Bovrin? not very much, but he is ah fourth the fourth being in Emron's dream and Drago's shared dream. Oh. Yeah, he'll be allowed stay.
Speaker: Karstan, let him stay. Okay.
Speaker: ah then it's just all around members of the Winged Watch. Yeah, they're they're allowed to stay. And most kind of acquiesce to that request. And just as kind of Vaughan and Kareem get the hint...
Speaker: Karim makes an extra point and returns to the buffet table one last time to get quite a big, sizable bottle, or carafe, rather, of wine. There's a really arrogant nod to you, Emron.
Speaker: And they exit. And this common room is now members of the Winged Watch, Bovran the Dwarf, the Undying Champions, the Heroes of the Blight.
Speaker: And that is all.
Speaker: There is a muted silence for a while. And Karstine, you probably think it's appropriate to adjust the setting somewhat, to lose the reception music as it were, to maybe stop replenishing all of the the hot food magically as it's appearing.
Speaker: Seth is angered by this. more more chairs will also appear, like they'll sort of merge out and more chairs will appear for people. And Carson will sort of look over towards Baal and Nyx.
Speaker: Do we need to do anything to not be observed by anything? ah um We've done our bit to try and keep this a private party, but I cannot guarantee that someone somewhere isn't listening in.
Speaker: But surely at this point in time, given everything that's going on, we need all the help we can get. So bit six or seven at the moment. Okay, i just thought I'd check.
Speaker: I mean, we are extra dimensional right now, so any observation things would be quite difficult. So we'll see how it goes. I'm not sure that we're not being watched anyway on our side.
Speaker: Who do you mean?
Speaker: can't shake the feeling that since we've come back from the hells,
Speaker: we haven't brought anything back with us.
Speaker: Is there anything we can do to check that? If you could, i would appreciate it. It's not my forte unless... While you're looking and everyone's slowly beginning to huddle isn't the best word, but form kind of insular um meeting circle, Bal, your passive insight here would kind of reveal a similar expression on the faces of Drago, of Syangar and of Wren and the Red Rook.
Speaker: They look how you felt, only 10 times worse when you fell into the portal temporarily.
Speaker: Back to you, Karstan. Sorry. It's like Carson's watch. It's a, it might be something I have to consider for the evening and work whether there's anything we can do.
Speaker: There's a few magical tricks we could try. Does it have to be magical? I'm not a, I'm not a healer unless in cast and Carson sort of cast it with bars. think you'll, uh, have a dabble in, in healing as, as, as I've heard anything you could diagnose.
Speaker: Um,
Speaker: Don't... Forgive me, it doesn't look like there's anything... Kind of externally wrong.
Speaker: You... You all look kind of... Well, not you all, and he'll point out the ones mentioned. You guys look... Withered. Like your souls... Are withered.
Speaker: I don't know what I'd be able to do. Hmm... Perhaps a restoration of some kind.
Speaker: Allow me to think. i will tell you what's Great, yeah, thinking, that helps. Anyway, now that we're all here, Ghostwing, Redwood, are we going to say what happened?
Speaker: Ghostwing isn't able to stand. remains in this armchair, attempts it, but Redrick stops him, comforts him, and stands beside him as he sits.
Speaker: Carsten, forgot to mention before, do you have any healing magic?
Speaker: Ghostwing, are you tapped out? I can heal.
Speaker: It is a kindness.
Speaker: Cassano cast Cure Wounds. At what level? ah I will cast it at second level.
Speaker: Go ahead, roll for it. First roll the night. ah He will receive 26 points of healing. That's my man. It barely seems to do anything.
Speaker: you You feel as though it worked and it was restorative, but
Speaker: In terms of his overall vitality, you don't expect that contributed a great amount. You're made of stern stuff, Ghostwing. um hu I thank you nonetheless.
Speaker: Please. I can ah give you some more if you need it. If you need over the course of the next minute or so, I can keep trying to pour some more life essence in.
Speaker: Whilst we're talking. Don't pain yourselves much further. I'm sure a night's rest will see me. Far healthier, if I may.
Speaker: While we give our recent arrivals a moment to catch their breath,
Speaker: I'd like to fill you in, says this kind of two-red rook, but speaking to his shoulder, keeping the eye, however, of Syngar, and then rolls his head to Drago and Wren.
Speaker: On the events that have happened Aerith since you've been gone.
Speaker: And perhaps you would help me. And he looks to members of the Undying Champions. You want us to fill you in?
Speaker: In case I'm leaving anything out. And can we expect that to be a two-way thing? Like, we fill you in, you fill us in? Yes. And then...
Speaker: Let's just bring them up to speed. Do you agree? Yeah, but they go first.
Speaker: Ghostwing proceeds to recount everything that has happened since
Speaker: the Winged Watch meeting was disturbed back in Scorch Helm.
Speaker: chronologically, and pauses at points in that tale where Ghostwing has only heard from you what happened. Now, rather than us going through this in its entirety, when we get to go when we get to points that particularly pertain to you, I will ask if you want to omit, lie, deceive, or suggest otherwise events that have been canon thus far.
Speaker: Ghostwing starts by talking about the events that happened to your group outside of the old library when Prager was taken and you were attacked by demons.
Speaker: He stops to invite you to comment, and if no one does, we'll assume you're happy it being verbatim kind of read back and spoken back to the group.
Speaker: Emman sort of pipes up. I don't know if you know this, you might not. We've come to the understanding that Prego might actually have some information that will help us.
Speaker: um We're given to understand he has may have knowledge of previous cycles of this, so he might be someone we need to get hold of again.
Speaker: We'll go and get him. We shouldn't have sent him out of room. no no, no, no. He got dragged to the elves. Everyone, please. We haven't even got to cycles yet. Okay, so sorry. to talk sorry
Speaker: But thank you.
Speaker: He then details what happened on the passing from Scorchhelm
Speaker: to Goldfew.
Speaker: He then begins to talk about what happened in Goldview Castle.
Speaker: The entire truth of what happened at Goldport Castle is shared to Drago, to Syengar, to Karstan, to Wren and the Red Rook, and the other members of the Winged Watch.
Speaker: And at that point, there is a notable kind of retreat from members of the Winged Watch. ah ah About a fifth of them kind of visibly upset and angry.
Speaker: You can kind of tell from their accents, they were sleep guardians.
Speaker: And there is a moment to kind of pause and reflect.
Speaker: I mean, we had no choice. Yeah, there was nothing we could do.
Speaker: It was either like yeah ah them or us. He was a pretty, pretty bad guy. And he went down pretty easily too.
Speaker: Nix. Sorry. I was just. There are members here who are friends with their children.
Speaker: Just saying. We expected more of a fight.
Speaker: And then to the murder of Delmon Trace. And he talks about retrieving Trace from Goldport Castle.
Speaker: For exchanging Trace unknowingly for Sparrowhawk so that Trace could gain audience with you here in Goldport Keep.
Speaker: He then details your journey to Goldport Keep,
Speaker: and then begins to talk about all of the events that occurred within the Zone of Truth. talks about the cycles.
Speaker: Matt, it's like other versions of us, right? That's been here before, cycling around. Like if we could get or think of some way to get in touch with them, like you've been here before. Nick's just pointing out everyone. You've been here before. You've done this before. You've been here before. You haven't. But you've been here before. You've been here before. It's utter chaos.
Speaker: We do have someone that can be spoken to to try and remember some things. that being the angel part of myself.
Speaker: Perhaps we should speak to them then, Ghostwing says. He is available again, but you have to be quite succinct because ah can only the power can only be here for a certain amount of time and I could do it now if needed.
Speaker: And it's probably best to quickly summarize and give him some context before asking the question, because last time we didn't, and most of our time was wasted him going, what do you mean? Do you mean this? Do you mean this?
Speaker: And we fucked it Let us report on everything, and then decide what's best to ask him. I thought put that out there just because, you know, it might be useful. Thank you, Emron. I think that might be useful.
Speaker: I've got an orb that we can use to talk to old gal. He's like, like he's very important to like, I, you know, I don't have a form to change, but I have an orb that we can talk to.
Speaker: That's the orb that I tried to look at. Wasn't it ages ago when I fixed it? Yeah. When I then spoke to the grand chrono master.
Speaker: and I know that's one of the that's one of the guys that might be in the steel nightmare.
Speaker: Important stuff. As important as an angel, I would say.
Speaker: Not that it's a competition. I'm just saying that if we're going to have cards on the table, what's important to talk about, this this this holds weight.
Speaker: that because it's heavy? Yeah. That's not heavy. I mean, like, you know, for me, maybe, but like that guy pointing at Drago.
Speaker: And heroes of the Blight and Cyengar, for the first time, learning that that orb ah has wants contained, if it still does, ah the ability to converse with who Delmon Trace believes is the mastermind behind what's in the Steel Nightmare.
Speaker: The retelling continues.
Speaker: Everything that you shared with Ghostwing in those exchanges with Delmon Trace around the cycles, around people's motivations, around people's history, people's health,
Speaker: and then the counter alignment Well, first the alignment and then the counter alignment is proposed.
Speaker: Right up to the events before the arrival of Karstan.
Speaker: And now Karstan,
Speaker: Ghostwing gestures a hand to you and asks, Would you mind retelling?
Speaker: Your journey here in case there are any details.
Speaker: There were fights on the road. The gold face demons. Dralak is becoming overrun with demons themselves.
Speaker: Um,
Speaker: it was hard work getting out of there. Um,
Speaker: ah He sort of looks towards Bolte, who was also with him during that. um Lots of gold-faced demons.
Speaker: I don't think we saw any gates or anything like that on our routes there, but there were lots of them in large numbers.
Speaker: And devastation. I think a harbinger of what will happen if we fuck this up.
Speaker: And now
Speaker: what happened?
Speaker: What happened in the hells?
Speaker: Seth, sorry, not Seth. ah Sayangar, Drago, could you both make constitution saving throws for me, please? Yes, I can.
Speaker: oh shit, Drago's constitution is not so good. How's a 15?
Speaker: Wait and see what Saengar gets. you don't feel as though you have it in you at this point to accurately kind of retell as you're still kind of shaking off
Speaker: the shock really of it all for want of a better term. Drago, you were able to suspend that feeling.
Speaker: And you look to the Red Rook and the Red Rook looks even weaker than you, Sayangar. And you look to Ren and Ren just looks back at you, Drago, with ah despair as though she can't yet.
Speaker: All eyes are on the prophet of Akiba.
Speaker: Drago is just going to take a moment and he's going to grasp the amulet around his neck, which is Claude's amulet of Akiva. And just close his eyes for a moment. Take a deep breath.
Speaker: Fine. Our turn.
Speaker: Karstan, you would notice this. Drago's eyes. Usually when he has conversations with people, he looks them dead in the eye. Drago's staring into the fire.
Speaker: We all went into the hells
Speaker: on what we thought was just a skeleton mission.
Speaker: The journey to get to the Citadel
Speaker: was no mere journey.
Speaker: was a gauntlet
Speaker: We were dragged through rifts of blistering fire, choking ash, corroding acid.
Speaker: Each threshold we made it through,
Speaker: stripped something from us.
Speaker: breath, courage.
Speaker: And we've finally made it to the vile plane. If any of you here know of ancient infernal texts, you understand the gravity of where we were.
Speaker: The air there was thick green black mist.
Speaker: And the ground around us, slick with burning ichor.
Speaker: We trudged through the fell swamps.
Speaker: It hissed and bubbled beneath our boots.
Speaker: Demons rivered in the muck or stalked us. We were never left alone. We were never left alone in our minds.
Speaker: Just towering spines of bone and iron,
Speaker: jutting out from the bog.
Speaker: A foul stench clung to our very souls.
Speaker: I can still smell it now.
Speaker: finally made it.
Speaker: The Everace Citadel.
Speaker: The unholy seat of the Devil Lord himself, Dolcyon.
Speaker: That spire, that seat.
Speaker: It's like it's clawed from the heavens. It's like a blade forged from greed itself.
Speaker: It's blackened.
Speaker: It's damning.
Speaker: And around its base, legions of demons stand in endless ranks.
Speaker: I know armies. I've been a part of many.
Speaker: Their formation was precise. Their discipline terrifying.
Speaker: One unit. An army of many. Standing as one. Unshaken.
Speaker: The air was thick with their growls.
Speaker: You can almost hear the clash of their armour.
Speaker: There's the citadel's gates blazed with fell light.
Speaker: A deep warning to anyone who dared approach.
Speaker: can feel Tolkien, we could feel him down there in our minds, raping our souls.
Speaker: And even now, as I stand here away from that place and standing here with all of you,
Speaker: I can still feel his presence in my mind and my body. It's cold.
Speaker: Colder than the silver veins running through my body.
Speaker: is a vast ancient cold radiating from that obsidian fortress like heat from a dying sun
Speaker: you want my story you want our story you want to know what we're facing it's like nothing nothing that you could ever think of in your darkest nightmares
Speaker: Drago looks back towards the amulet and just grabs it once more.
Speaker: And w Ren holds the other hand.
Speaker: And as you are able to kind of voice
Speaker: that, it's almost like you're expelling it.
Speaker: And you feel better within a few seconds. More importantly, you hear Akiva again. A connection you had lost. Hmm.
Speaker: Okay.
Speaker: Okay.
Speaker: Cards are on the table.
Speaker: I would very much like to know what the plan is moving forwards.
Speaker: The Red Rook stands.
Speaker: this This counter-alignment.
Speaker: This place you describe.
Speaker: In the Avarice Citadel, we saw it, I think.
Speaker: think we know where we need to go.
Speaker: hanging there from the skies. There's this, it was like a prism, but it was the size of ah mountain.
Speaker: And this beam of light
Speaker: firing into the clouds above us.
Speaker: We know where to go.
Speaker: So, so that's step one, two, step one with
Speaker: Rion Cardinal.
Speaker: What's your decision there with. Yeah. Yeah. So we've got. yeah so we've got Quite a few things, quite a few plates to spin all at once on our side. Drago, who's very cool hearing you talk about Hells. Emron, not sure how you're feeling about that story.
Speaker: um i There's always room on the ship if you decide to come and kill Cardinal. Someone's got to go and we've got to try and get Prigo back.
Speaker: I'll go.
Speaker: Who else is going with you? at the moment, Seth and myself.
Speaker: You need a way back. bro oh You need a way in and you need a way back and you need someone who's been there before. Yeah, so we're we're we're ah open to volunteers to join Team Hells. I believe the plan is hopefully there won't be as many demons there this time because they'll be on...
Speaker: Erith, five things. Ghostwing kind of affirms that because the Kriskor will call them to Erith. Yeah, yeah. Okay.
Speaker: How close are you going to Dolcyon's chambers? However close we need to call. The rhetoric speaks over you almost, Drago.
Speaker: To the prism. The prism above the citadel. Above the citadel? Yes.
Speaker: Ha, Emron, ah you don't need a di- Like, I'm sure that we can leave that particular thing to the heroes of the blight.
Speaker: I'm not one to ask someone else to carry burdens for me. Yeah. And I don't expect you of all people to tell me what to do.
Speaker: I wasn't going to tell you what to do. I'm not talking to you. I'm talking to the over fucking talk over there. or we yeah, he does that. let's Hey, hey, hey, hey. We're on the same side here. We're on the same side. I'm just saying you've been there before. Why take one of us to go there as well?
Speaker: Shut him up, or I will. Nick, Nick, Nick. What I know is Aledo faced these devils before in the stories.
Speaker: And it's my place to do so again. And I'm prepared to go back in there to do what has to be done. And if we can, find Prego.
Speaker: Is he like to be in the Prism or the Citadel? i thought I thought he was going to be in the Citadel, right? Well, I think you have to go through the Citadel to get to the Prism, it sounds like. it so Maybe not.
Speaker: If you could fly, if you could climb.
Speaker: We still owe it to get him out, because he's also bound to us, still. So how do you get out?
Speaker: Hopefully someone's able to transport us from one plane to another.
Speaker: And who is that someone? And eyes kind of slowly look towards Ren.
Speaker: Carson sort of popped up. I can have a go. i'm I'm pretty sure it's some magic I could do as well. i'm Just putting it out there. um Hell's not the best on my dress code, but you know, I'm prepared to do what needs to be done.
Speaker: In the moment you offer that, she looks immensely relaxed.
Speaker: I mean, who doesn't want to go to the hells? mean, sounds like a great story, Drago. Wish I have been there. Could have made an epic. Carson, don't. Not your stories. Not now.
Speaker: I know I'm not one of the heroes of the blight. Make a great part too. I spent about 15 seconds in the hells and I don't intend to go back.
Speaker: I don't know how you did it. I really don't, but it looks like it's taken its toll on you.
Speaker: But Redrick makes a point about getting out, which was another idea that we were thinking of. Obviously, we're looking at stage one, stage two.
Speaker: Get the key.
Speaker: Stop the curse. What about stage three? What do we know of above?
Speaker: Ghostwing says, yes, the six seconds we have to get into the steel nightmare. The third group.
Speaker: Whoever goes in there
Speaker: needs to be able to get more of us in there.
Speaker: Is this the group from the dream?
Speaker: I think it needs to be more of us. And the Undying Champions here. What our theory is, is the dream is actually echoes of previous attempts to do it, actually coming back to us through the cycles having been repeated. So I don't think there's any definitive these people must go.
Speaker: Personally, from what we've been shown and can remember, I think we need to take everything we can up to that thing.
Speaker: This is a Hail Mary. This is, it's all or nothing. We've got no resets after this. We've got to put all of our eggs in one basket. I know the whole plan is insane regardless.
Speaker: And I don't really know how long-range teleportation, plane shifting works, but is there any possibility of us Team Uriand and Team Hells within those six seconds of the key being passed, getting ourselves up above? yeah Can you teleport somewhere you've not been? i'd I don't know how it works. Is that is that a possibility?
Speaker: Ren's still holding on to Drago's arm quite tightly, clears her throat, trying to pull some bravery from him.
Speaker: I could do it.
Speaker: If I can get inside And people would give me time. I could open... could open something.
Speaker: I don't know the hells.
Speaker: But a group on Aerith. I could open a door just for a few seconds. And we could be in there.
Speaker: Where do you need to be for that to work?
Speaker: In the Nightmare.
Speaker: You're not going by yourself.
Speaker: my Please no. But I can do it. opinion so I'm sorry. you would You would have to go ahead of us before we could get to you. Well, I'll have six seconds to get through it. And once I'm through it, I could open a door.
Speaker: Do you need... extra like this is a silly question i know but but when you're through are you going to need a short amount of time or can you spend i don't know several minutes doing what you need to do is it just we get you there and then over the course of the next minute or so you get us there so less than an hour i don't know until i know what i'm dealing with I'm sorry, quick question. I thought we only had six seconds to get onto the nightmare. I'm confused. Is that not a thing?
Speaker: To get onto the nightmare, but once there, she's saying she might be able to pull us through. oh okay. Okay. If she's there, Ren, um I might have someone who can help you.
Speaker: I haven't actually spoken to them about it, but I'm hoping that I can pull favour. and So we need a vanguard to go with you. As an option to go swing. Yes. Announces.
Speaker: So we need to a vanguard to hold the bridgehead, as it were, for Ren to be able to open the way for the rest of us. Is that what we're saying? Yes. We need some of the fastest beings on Aerith on our side, don't we?
Speaker: We're all talking in riddles. Can we just explain what the fuck we mean here? I intend send, with her favor if I can, Valkyreth alongside you, soon to be dragon matriarch of Sleepguard.
Speaker: Are you telling me you have pull and favor over the dragons? No, not at all. But I'm telling you I might be able to get this done.
Speaker: Ghostwing clears his throat and everyone in this room now is aware of what Ghostwing really is, who Ghostwing really is.
Speaker: The only way it's possible is if a dragon ascends. So do that. Their kingdom that they're connected to needs to have a ruler.
Speaker: Delmontreis
Speaker: will crown Queen Helenus Leegard imminently. And in doing so, Valkyraeth will reach her full potential.
Speaker: Has anyone spoke to Helen her about this? Yes.
Speaker: We understand that's where Sebastian has gone.
Speaker: I also offer my service.
Speaker: But it will require you to make a decision. Accept Vosan's offer. Olivurion the life.
Speaker: Or do neither. But I can't help you otherwise. Not with that task, Wren.
Speaker: Karsan pipes up. Can't we just get rid of Vosan as well?
Speaker: It might take ah decades. It might take a very long time to find a ruler of Shadowment again. I might be resigned to this form.
Speaker: or a weaker version of who I could be, but I'm willing to make a sacrifice here. There is, of course, a conclusion I have been worried about.
Speaker: Edna Fizzlebang was murdered.
Speaker: Vossan
Speaker: gave his power for his life.
Speaker: Dralak has an undisputed ruler.
Speaker: At present, Shondralakar is the most powerful creature on Aerith.
Speaker: And he just turns to the three eggs incubating by the fire.
Speaker: And we have an ace in our hand.
Speaker: But what are you suggesting?
Speaker: We needn't put Valkyraeth's life at risk. Nor decide the future of Shadowmend if you don't wish to. A third option is that you use her eggs as leverage
Speaker: and demand Shondralakar take you into the steel nightmare. No.
Speaker: Dragon eggs as leverage.
Speaker: I mean, Chandra Lachar was a bit annoying to us, so I'm happy for us to throw under the bus, just just saying. It won't throw her under the bus. You say she's one of the most powerful beings on Earth, I agree.
Speaker: She would sooner kill me and my group, probably first in front of me, than do anything to help.
Speaker: Three options, however. you do not wish to wi to to risk Valkyraeth in such a prime, raw, and young state.
Speaker: It's true. Is there anyone else that could fly us up there? I don't know. and there any eagles or something that?
Speaker: If you have time to source eagles quick and strong enough, then perhaps...
Speaker: I am confused. I'm just thinking, what is the... Yeah, I'm i'm here for it. Let's go. What about the people who are making that flying boat with the Keltrad?
Speaker: You're talking about a flying ship? even they They were having that boat that could... I know, I know, I know what you're talking about, it but I just want to make sure before I go all in on this, we're talking about a flying motherfucking ship.
Speaker: Is it not beyond the realm of possibility that such a thing, through artificery, through the culture, through magic, could be made to fly? Just saying. In the remaining days we have...
Speaker: Is this not in the lands that are currently overrun by demons? Oh, yeah. Fuck! Our only artificer is working on something else and points to Alpha.
Speaker: Sorry. I just thought i'd put that out there. I'm sorry, Nick. you know I felt like I was so close, Emron, of all people. You really got me going there. I was like, Emron's saying it. It's going to be legit. We're going on a motherfucking flying ship.
Speaker: So... Decisions need to be made. ah Unless we can think of anything else that can move as quickly and as powerful as a dragon, then taking a dragon, Ren, and another group into the steel nightmare, whilst one group goes into hell, whilst one group goes to Uriand.
Speaker: This we need to decide.
Speaker: Are you sure about this? Drago just turns to Ren and asks her.
Speaker: I can do it. I don't doubt that. Are you just, are you sure that you'll be safe?
Speaker: I do not want to go down there again, but. Yeah.
Speaker: Do you want me by your side?
Speaker: Or do you want me to go to hell?
Speaker: I want you to go where you think
Speaker: you can make the most difference.
Speaker: Well, if you guys, where are you all going?
Speaker: Red Rook just gets out a parchment and a quill and begins make a list. like this. Strong. Leadership.
Speaker: Sign your names. ah
Speaker: I miss being Jago so much. I story shit there i i i have all that ah have a slight um ah kink in the plan.
Speaker: Yes. I can get us to hell.
Speaker: But I can only cast that once. I can't get us back.
Speaker: I believe
Speaker: an earlier... idea of Emron's involved using Prego to get back. Ah, then excellent. We can hitchhike on him.
Speaker: Brilliant. But logic also so suggests that these demons have a way of getting to Aerith. The gates, I would assume. mean, the other option is to use a gate.
Speaker: Yes.
Speaker: Sorry, I just wanted to put that out there before everyone went, oh wait, Carson can transpose two and help. and accurate It's only one way, sorry.
Speaker: On the subject of dragons, am I right to believe then, Ghostwing, that you are, and forgive me for the insolence of the question, but of of adequate power to be able to get yourself up and through into the Steel Nightmare?
Speaker: so long as Urien is alive?
Speaker: There is no king. There is no queen of shadowbender present. If you wanted me to do this, I need you to fill that seat.
Speaker: Right. Okay. That's fine. like that answers that question.
Speaker: So is this where we make our decisions? Yes. And you sign your name. You're quite pushy, aren't you?
Speaker: It's the end of the world. Baal, is it? Yes, it's Baal. You know it's Baal. I've talked to you loads. Fuck. Drago, is it Drago? I'm going let that slide.
Speaker: There's a lot going on right now. There's a good boy. There is one final thing.
Speaker: A lot of this revolves around you, Alpha. Yeah, what the fuck do you think, Alpha?
Speaker: I'm thinking this is a lot of pressure. Where do we think it's safest to put you? I understand your need for revenge. Erion is the safest route for myself.
Speaker: Hells delivers me to Tol Cologne. Still nightmare I'm not even sure I would be able to enter or do anything about until perhaps some barriers are down or a doorway has been opened. i I do not know. It is un unforeseen circumstance.
Speaker: Miriam is a safe bet for myself. and he's actually going to walk over to, um was it ah Red Rock who took out the quill and ah parchment, and he's going to put top line, Yuri on Cardinal, Alpha, and pause for a moment.
Speaker: And then surname, Hadal. Okay. That's what I'm fucking talking about. Right there. Decision made. I like you.
Speaker: like ray taking the name skywalker
Speaker: and then redroot looks around the room who next uh we're going uh we're going you're right where are you going Wherever you're going, I am by your side next. I love that. I love that so much. But I've just forgotten. is it? Is it? you mean you've forgotten?
Speaker: How have you forgotten? No, not me and you've forgotten. I know that I'm with you and you're with me. Like, I'm happy. i But in all honesty, me and you could get out of here right now. That's not happening. we're We're keeping that one alive. I'm keeping you and him alive. And he's pointing to Alpha. That's what I was saying. We're going with Alpha, right? I'm going to write your name. I'm going put mine first, then yours.
Speaker: Right. Always the bottom. Okay. Fine. And Baal kind of, yeah, swagger's over. And yeah, he'll but he'll put his name and then Nyx's underneath. He'll write Nyx's for him.
Speaker: A little heart, right? Yeah, exactly right. exactly My dragonborn. And in the last sort of 15 minutes of decision making here,
Speaker: a mirror is almost held up to Seth. A mirror is almost held up to Syangar as the two echo very similar body language and a very similar i just need a heading style approach to this.
Speaker: And we kind of look to the side of this huddle, and there is a human, very malformed, ginger-haired, scarred human about a metre away from a thinner but more dexterous silver-scaled dragonborn.
Speaker: Both stood, arms folded, in a stoic silence.
Speaker: Eyes look towards those two next.
Speaker: ah Seth turns to Siongar and says, well, all right then, big boy. Where are you putting your money where your mouth is, yeah?
Speaker: I'm putting it where I'm needed. And by the way, You're going to need this. And he, um, flicks up from his claw, a small coin pouch, uh, which, um, which Seth grabs out of the air. Really?
Speaker: When did you take that from me? Um, I thought Carson's going to take a few steps forward and look to Drago.
Speaker: I'll go where I'm needed, brother.
Speaker: For our father and for our bloodline.
Speaker: I'm glad you're here.
Speaker: Where do we go?
Speaker: need to know what everyone else is doing first. You ginger human.
Speaker: Deformed, malformed creature.
Speaker: You look like you belong in the hells. Yo, okay, thanks very much. Not my fault. Can't say the same for your appearance, though, can you, really? Someone was born like that. He pokes a finger to his and... Me and the big men are going to hell.
Speaker: Yeah. Which one? That one, he points towards Amron. The guy with the big fucking hammer. You got the hammer still, right? haven't made that up. Yeah, yeah, yeah. We're going to hell. We're going to hell.
Speaker: What are you doing, big boy? If you want to join us, you're welcome, you know. Yeah, you're welcome to, yeah, you are welcome to join us.
Speaker: It sounded lovely the last time you were there, ah but I understand if you're too pussy to go, you know, it makes sense, all good. What did you say? i said, you know, shmushi, don't think too hard, remember?
Speaker: It's just a game. It's just life, you know? We've all been in war. What's one more battle? What better way to die than trying to save the goddamn world, eh?
Speaker: Let's go out with a bang if we are to go out. And if not, it'll be one hell of a party afterwards.
Speaker: And he um looks around and finds whoever has the quill and will write his name down and then hold it out arm's length to Emron.
Speaker: Emron will take it. Seth and I have stared death in the face before. We will do so again and we will spit in its face. Fuck you. And the the hairy, bruised, scarred arm of Emron...
Speaker: passes a quill to the next body, which is the delicate, elegant wrists of Karstan Finbin Valhorn. Well, this seems absolutely smashing. um I, for one, can't wait to go to hell. And quite frankly, um I can see a two-parter coming. i think I think I can see another story. And this is going to be brilliant.
Speaker: So I'm in and Carson will sign it with a nice big C that turns into an underline, bit of a flourish. There we go. Let's go. Come on, Drago. let's Let's do this once more unto the breach, dear friend.
Speaker: Sure. But also, Ren, who's going with you? What's happening there?
Speaker: Didn't Tharok want to go to the Steel Nightmare?
Speaker: Who the fuck is Tharok? He's in the kitchens. He gets really, really finicky about stuff. So he's probably in the kitchen.
Speaker: He's a barbarian. He's a good fighter. likes to hurt things. You'd like him. um a a He was one for like going up to the Steel Nightmare. So I'm just saying that could be an option for him.
Speaker: is good doing on He's a good martial fighter and he is true to his word and he will defend those near him. I recommend him as a bodyguard or ally. Okay. Or both. Plus, if you if you smell what he's cooking...
Speaker: Yeah, he's quite good at culinary-ly.
Speaker: One thing to maybe think first. If we're going with the dragon approach, the weight that Shondralakar or I might carry is far greater than what Valkyraeth could. that even in ascendancy?
Speaker: Yes.
Speaker: We are older. We are bigger dragons at full strength.
Speaker: But you might favour a smaller team. It's worth thinking about. What if we made everyone who was travelling on on the dragon smaller? Would that not lighten the load and then they could that would wear off and they'd bigger?
Speaker: Yes, that would that would solve that issue. just Just an idea? Good thinking.
Speaker: And then Ren just kind of... Let's go of your arm at this point, Drago.
Speaker: I would like some company. Please.
Speaker: I can't let her go on her own. Castan.
Speaker: Ignoring everyone talking to you. Oh, I get that. I get that. um What about Syangar? I mean, he's not going to lie, he looks a little bit more worse for wear coming back than you do.
Speaker: I don't know whether he has a... Steady. Careful. In in him. I mean, he's great. He's awesome. and you're I'm right here. What? Third person. I know you are. How have you not learned yet?
Speaker: But Dribbo and I, we have this thing...
Speaker: So I think, uh, hell or sky. I trust you, Ren.
Speaker: But I trust you down below. Let me stay with Ren.
Speaker: To the best.
Speaker: I'll get her out of their things and get hairy. always talk over each other. Nah, it's just... It's because we telepathically... We just know... The blood. We just know we're gonna... Say. Gonna say every time.
Speaker: Every time. It just... Works. Every... Time. Time? Shut up. Shut the fuck up, cast out. Ruin everything. Having a diamond.
Speaker: Fucking... Read the room. Your room. Where were we? Oh yeah. I'm to going to the sky.
Speaker: The sky. with Yes. And he's going to take his claw and etch it with just the nail under the steel nightmare part, wherever the names are for that.
Speaker: Castan looks over just to check his spelling.
Speaker: Syengar has a relatively good wisdom score. I imagine he can spell his own name.
Speaker: Yeah. You say otherwise Syengar if you deliberately spell his own name. Mark did not seem confident. he'd write The only reason he'd write it wrong would be to piss Karstain off. But he's not thinking about that at moment. He starts with an F. He's taking it seriously and will write his name.
Speaker: Almost that this might be an archived document in some museum in thousands of years, which would denote the heroes the world, maybe. And with that reverence, he he writes his name as neat as he can with his claw.
Speaker: And then you passed the... Well, you didn't take the quill. So the quill, I guess, is in the last person's hand, which is Ren. So she just offers it back to you, Drago.
Speaker: And your Tharok can be trusted. is a He's a steadfast companion. So, yeah, he can be trusted. Okay.
Speaker: Go into the hells. And Drago will go and claw his name into team hell. Okay.
Speaker: And who's taking this group to the Steel Nightmare is the last question.
Speaker: Zynga.
Speaker: Upon what steed? Oh. I mean, is it something we could kind of sleep on? Maybe consider so tomorrow when we've had rested fresh heads? No.
Speaker: We don't to sleep on that. We want to ride it. i didn I didn't mean sleep on it. Okay. Anyway, what about... um Balty, what are you doing, old chum?
Speaker: Well, I'm afraid I really know how to swing a sword. So, you know... Where the fuck were you? You've been opinion here the whole time. course I have. I mean, the rest of the members of the Winged Watch listening to everything you bloody well say.
Speaker: I mean, he he could always go to the... st i mean He could come to to hell. Great. Lovely to have there, Balty. ah Big fan. We will hold a position here.
Speaker: If any of you, in any of your locations, find yourself in hot water, it might be useful to be able to call upon, looks around, the 24 armed members of the Winged Watch who still yet will fight.
Speaker: Unless you want us all somewhere.
Speaker: We will be your reserve. You mean I'm a backup? Rude.
Speaker: just to talk about something else as well. um What about, and everyone sort of looks over to the dwarf, what's Bovring going to be doing? Hello. He just very shyly raises a hand, surrounded by all these kind of um powerful, powerful people.
Speaker: He's just holding onto a prayer bead, sitting very quietly. I mean, a are you a a fighter or a sort of... no Okay. Maybe you could stay here and, you know, pray to the gods to be watching over us.
Speaker: That I can do. If you think I might be useful somewhere, I ah could try. i don't want... sailor, are you not?
Speaker: Yes. And in my spare time, ah holy man.
Speaker: mean, if you're going to face demons, maybe you could join... nixing that lot on the boat. What? Hold on. No, we're fine. We've got our three going on. We don't need any extra baggage. No offense. Sure, you're nice. Sure, you're great. But like, come on, man.
Speaker: it it Equally, I don't want to force you to do something you don't want to do
Speaker: But I came in these dreams, so I don't but all came here because you asked. You said I was important. You are. I mean, maybe that's something we could ask ah Tilwa about Bovrin's role and things. I don't know. just I'm here to be of service.
Speaker: Vatinas is here to serve.
Speaker: Drago, it was told to us that the gods won't be much help to us in the underworld, ah into hells. Is that correct? Yeah. My god, Akiva.
Speaker: And Drago just grabs the amulet again, almost out of um routine at this point.
Speaker: I only just started hearing him again. When I was down there, you are stripped of God's willpower and courage.
Speaker: Okay. Okay. Um...
Speaker: Well, hopefully um all those potions we asked Sebastian to get for us ah comes back because there's a few things that might help us in the health then um if we don't have access to Akiva and Aledo's otherwise engaged. Yeah,
Speaker: just wanted to check. That's my original question.
Speaker: Who is taking you into the still nightmare?
Speaker: The safest route? What's the safest one? well The thing is...
Speaker: The realistic options, and I say this again with due respect, in the time that we have, are Valkyareth and Shondralakar, and realistically, Shondralakar is not an option.
Speaker: Correct me if I'm wrong, please. So it's just Valkyareth? but or wait We need to actually talk to her because I'm not consigning her to a fate that she has no say in.
Speaker: But I think she'll want to do this. And if she does, she will have her brood on her side as well.
Speaker: I think every able body that's come here today would fight with Valkyrie. Can they fly as well?
Speaker: Many can. Not all.
Speaker: Not the whole journey. And certainly not at that speed. But... sure whether we could fly some more people in. You get close. I mean, a lot of them are druids like myself. A lot of them have learnt some of the spells. They can reduce people in size, objects in size, much like I can.
Speaker: What about if, i mean I mean, last time we climbed,
Speaker: there is the platform underneath. i'm I'm just, just it's is there a way for us to, for people to climb up? I don't know whether that would be quick enough or not, or whether that would work.
Speaker: Could we send people up the chains?
Speaker: It's an option.
Speaker: It'd be, I suppose, down to them to organise how they do it. Just a thought. I don't know whether that was an option, given that that's what I feel like. Six seconds is a very small window.
Speaker: Yeah, but they could...
Speaker: I don't know. We've climbed up there before, which makes me feel like it's an option. I don't know. it's yeah Just for clarity as well, Ghostwing... Was it like a ah big old area around the Steel Nightmare that you could not penetrate? Or was it that when you got close to the actual metalwork, you just kind of felt weaker? What was the Second.
Speaker: Right. Oh, I thought it was like a big bubble. So they need to somehow penetrate through into the city in six seconds? Yes.
Speaker: Torpedo style. Yes. Right. Right.
Speaker: Why won't we go for Jondralikar again? I know she was a bit of a twat, but... I mean, if it's not me up there, and if it's none of my brood, then it's plausible.
Speaker: I mean, if your brood are with you fighting against the demons and the gold-faced demons and and screwing over Urian, does it not make sense for us to use... We don't want to sacrifice... um
Speaker: you know you either the you the the leader of your your matriarch. We don't want to do a deal with the devil and and sort out Shadow Men, so let's use what we have in front of us. I know it's not a great idea, but at least it's one that doesn't totally screw us over in the long run.
Speaker: i don't think you can use her.
Speaker: We could ask her. i mean, it's her country being currently trashed by these demons and these things. You could.
Speaker: And also, oh, by the way, we've got some eggs to give back to you. this that's the That's part of the issue, isn't it? It's not like she's not going to know where those eggs had been, who they come from.
Speaker: It's dangerous. It's a bigger risk, I would say. If we have her on her side, excellent. There's an ally. Are there any of her brood you're still friends with, maybe? You could put in a good word. i don't know.
Speaker: Your best option is to keep me completely out of it.
Speaker: ah Ghostwing, do you know anyone? i mean, could you talk? i don't i don't know. Our dragons. I could call her. i could grant us an audience. But like Baal, we are not allies.
Speaker: So it sounds to me like you need someone really good at talking to people and convincing people of things. That sounds like a job for me.
Speaker: Or me. I'm pretty good at talking too. mean, you're great, Nixie boy. You're great. But um no offence, kind of... found like i feel like I'm going to get offended already. You say no offence, you say that, when really you're going to offend me. Go on, say what you want to say. i think you'll be swinging a little bit...
Speaker: Above your tier if you try to convince the dragon.
Speaker: You don't know what I've done? You don't know I'm convinced to do what? Bal, back me up!
Speaker: That's not backing me up! She would murder you very slowly for only one reason. you're not You're not talking to her. You can't be close to her.
Speaker: That's right. I can't talk to her. Karstan, so like, but but if i if I could, if I could, I would convince her.
Speaker: And they're right. Bal. Bal. Bal. In another cycle, in another situation, maybe. Isn't that right, Bal? Yes. yeah Yes. Yes. As Nick nods his head. He certainly, yes. Yes.
Speaker: Yes. If, I mean, if I wasn't involved, other cycles, you would have been able to do it. Just not this one. That's right. You're lucky this time, Carsten.
Speaker: Well, i'm I'm just saying, i'm I mean, I'm happy for you to help, Nyx. I mean, you could pat my bum. No, no, no, no, no. You go you go. I understand. You want to change your name from Hells to Skies. That's fine.
Speaker: Well, no, we're going to talk to the dragon beforehand. Redrock raises a voice.
Speaker: We're short on time. And alpha Alpha needs to get building. So if you are going to seek an audience with Shondra LaCarr, Carstan, Nyx, you best leave soon to make it back in time.
Speaker: if I'm happy to do it if everyone thinks that's the best option that doesn't screw everything over. What's the quickest option? What gets us there the fastest?
Speaker: What gets this decision done the quickest? What gets this plan into action? All of our plans the soonest. Everything happens in four and a half days.
Speaker: Oh God, is it really that close? Everything. What we're deciding is our vehicles, is the means. to execute this plan but everything starts in four and a half days right and we're stuck on the dragon choices at the moment there's a few others
Speaker: you also need to decide the outcome of Lord Vosthand's letter because without his fleet
Speaker: How is your single ship getting through the shadow indian navy to into Urian's flagship? Yeah, we kind of need that fleet.
Speaker: I mean, could we accept Lord Rossan's offer and then just, I don't know, stab him up later? i am perfectly fine with that plan. Just just putting it out there. He seems a bit of a knob to me.
Speaker: i agree. I say, make a deal with the devil now. Burn it later. Yeah. I could modify his memory so he does he forgets we actually made the deal with him.
Speaker: Oh. You can do that? Very talented. Yes, I can. Custod, are you don't want to come sailing with us?
Speaker: Okay, but the problem is if I do that, then Ren has to go back to hell and I don't want her... I don't think she wants to do that. No.
Speaker: I'm just putting out there. i thought I'd modify memory sounds like, you know, I'd like to learn. Is it possible to learn such as... that Anyway, ah future times. There there is, but but I can tell you about it, but it does involve um a mind flare and a vampire. Okay. ah If I may caution for one moment.
Speaker: Say we succeed. Do you all wish to repaint a target on your back? by deceiving and or killing one of that power.
Speaker: ah Just right now, i'm not thinking about post succeeding. I'm thinking about succeeding. And I think we need the ships. We need Fossen's crew. So whichever way we go and whether or not we rescind the deal or anything like that, I think this is a deal we need to make right now to guarantee success, which is all we can do right now.
Speaker: All of us, it's just about finding success. After that, don't know. I'm not thinking about it.
Speaker: Plus, we've i mean we've pretty much been having a target on our backs for a long time now, so it it doesn't really change things for us. long time! I just feel like we've had a lot of targets on our backs. So, quite frankly... um I mean, we've killed one king already, so um and he was a bad one, and Vossan's a bad one, so bit regime change isn't really outside of our remit anymore.
Speaker: Well, Vossan wouldn't make it to the throne by my understanding of your your logic. Oh, no, he wouldn't. He wouldn't. At all.
Speaker: Ghostwing, you say you're able to call audience with Shondrala Khan. Do you think you could do the same with Valkyraeth?
Speaker: I've never met.
Speaker: Save for that one moment.
Speaker: I believe you could. And that audience would be accepted in a moment.
Speaker: I've always felt like I could. I i just can't think how right You are the harbinger of your people. It's not a good thing.
Speaker: I'm sure you could. Quick question, and excuse me if I'm being an idiot. Why couldn't we have Shondra Lekar helping out, get into the Steel Nightmare, and then we could have Baal's Matriarch um help you guys out with the people and and killing the things here on Aerith against that stuff?
Speaker: Two dragons sounds better than one. They don't have to be in the same place. They don't fight.
Speaker: Valkyreth could assist with Eurion. Exactly. A dragon against a navy is balancing the scales without the deal of Vossan.
Speaker: I feel it's too much to decide for her. Indeed.
Speaker: if this is If this is one of the sticking points, and I need to talk to her. i That needs to be my... Well, my next port of call.
Speaker: And then from there, could the decision be made? Do we have time? If we move quickly, a group to meet with Chandra Le Carr.
Speaker: Baal, you'll meet with your sovereign mother.
Speaker: Alpha, you need time to make. And everyone else needs time to prepare.
Speaker: We have four and a half days to end this.
Speaker: Is there any stone we've yet to unturn? Yes. He'll point at Emron, the angel.
Speaker: Tilwa. I'm happy to let Tilwa come forth if you want to ask him some questions. Is there anything we can do to extend the time?
Speaker: um I suppose I could try and keep him here, but I don't know what that would cost. But I'm willing to try a few guys if you want me to.
Speaker: What are our questions?
Speaker: If you were to meet with an angelic form, an envoy of a leader who has seen this cycle before, what will you ask in the time that you have?
Speaker: I mean, could you ask what went wrong last time? I want to know how everyone got up there last time. That's a good option. We need to start it with... will have more specific last time. Well, no, but that's what I mean. I think we spend the first five seconds saying, we know about the cycles, we need to ask you about the most recent cycle to help us with this last time.
Speaker: Please. And start it from there. Because the last cycle was the one that seemed to be most successful, didn didn't it, from what we were shown? Well, apparently there's been lots of successes. It's just that the one up there hasn't agreed with them and therefore reset them. Oh, hasn't he? Yeah. um
Speaker: The point is that you can also, if you talk to him now, then tomorrow morning you can talk to him again. Yeah.
Speaker: You essentially have, if you've got four and a days... not including today, you've got four more chances after an hour to ask him.
Speaker: Four minutes.
Speaker: Four minutes. I mean, I can try and keep him here, but I don't know if that would work or not.
Speaker: It might hurt.
Speaker: In which case, if anyone is leaving here in the next four days, we will try our best to capture what is said.
Speaker: but Kastan, perhaps choose your group wisely for this audience with Shondralakar.
Speaker: Oh, you might not be present either. We'll think about that in the morning, but what do we say now?
Speaker: think we need to assume that we're going to be victorious in the hells and victorious against The cardinal. I think the question for now should be about any weaknesses above or how Tilwa thinks we can best defeat Johan Veritas, knowing what he does.
Speaker: And that is our questions. Agreed?
Speaker: Yeah.
Speaker: We're doing this now.
Speaker: Yeah, didn't... All eyes are on Emron. Didn't, Nick, didn't you try and tap into my mind when he did this? Did that work or not? um I mean, i it was tempted to tap into your mind anyway, so I may as well just do it for the cause.
Speaker: Just, just so okay. um Okay, I'm happy to do this um if everyone else is is is ready. Who's asking?
Speaker: ah I can Yeah but you need to be quite concise Nick I'm always quite concise It was Seth last time I believe And yet I would go for ah'd go for the quieter one Well no it didn't work No I asked the wrong questions No offence Seth but you fucked it hard Alpha you're quiet to the point I do not believe i am the best one. I would ramble with any question that I would give.
Speaker: I will happily do it again. no think ball I'm going to do it this time. Optimal suggestion here. Okay. Are you sure? Maybe I asked three questions you asked the rest. No, it's fine. Is this how you guys always make decisions?
Speaker: Always. Every fucking time. Pretty much. It's infuriating. it it's ah It's amazing we've got this far, to be honest. we Certainly got an upgrade in defending Aerith, didn't you, this time around? Look, I'm happy for you guys to take this on. We'll just sit this one out if you want.
Speaker: At least the Dragonborn's doing it.
Speaker: Okay, here we go. It's racist, but all right.
Speaker: And with that, Emron sort of just stands up and closes his eyes. And then as he sort of just mutters a prayer to Lido, Lido, guide me now.
Speaker: Let Tilwa come forth and please let him have the answers and the messages that we need. Let him be your voice. Let him, let you guide us now.
Speaker: Because I know... in the hell you won't be there. So I'd appreciate it to be on our side now. And as he opens his eyes, um rather than his eyes being there, there's these glowing um pits and these almost...
Speaker: These wings suddenly come furling from his back out of nowhere and he almost takes he just starts to hover about half a foot off the floor. Emron, your consciousness goes into darkness, nothingness. you You enter into a plane all by yourself, as you have done every time the tilwa has appeared in your body.
Speaker: For the rest of you,
Speaker: Kastan's Hall is awash in this glowing, vibrant, rich, amber light.
Speaker: All of you kind of squint and shield your eyes as that angelic form slowly materializes until our holy presence levitates around you as you all form this near perfect circle now, invested, intrigued, desperate for answers.
Speaker: And Baal.
Speaker: Just as you go to take your first inhalation of breath, that is where we're going to end this week's episode of the Fellowship of the Taker. Oh!
Speaker: No! shit. No angelic lifeline for you this episode. Done me dirty. This interview will return after these messages. It just turns into an episode of Parkinson. Okay!
Speaker: Could you imagine that? That would be great And here is our chat show host... We could make that parody work. Oh my lord. What i crazy episode. We brought together both parties, guys. Some double duty work was done there. doo Duty.
Speaker: Howdy, duty. See, it all comes back around. ah We're the Fellowship the Tabletop. You can find us on our various social media channels. I'm at IRolled1 on the tweeters. Pubies at Natural20Will.
Speaker: Apple Pie Smashing, Loving, McLoving, Callum can be found out. Not McLoving, because that's hot, but the D20 Gamer. Mark can be found out.
Speaker: Hasty roll, DM. ah Better Will can be found out. A fellowship of NBC3. Blow, blow. Fuck are you, Woody? Blow, blow. Fuck you, Callum. So, listeners, other well, Pubey was starting to just glaze over as I was doing my normal spiel. And then as soon as snapped awake there, rightfully so well. was reading.
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