Transcript
Speaker: Rather elegantly put, Tharok. I love that song to myself. I love what you said. I'll put it in your chair.
Speaker: everyone and welcome to this week's episode of the Fellowship of the Tabletop, Belem Draconis. We are a live play 5E 2024 D&D podcast set in the magical homebrewed world of Aerith in the kingdom of Dralak and now actually Sleekguard.
Speaker: ah Joining for this week's episode, you' got Pubey who plays the rules consultant character Emron. I hope everyone here has that identification digital form. The apple pie loving edgelord Callum who plays the warforged Shartificer Alpha. Ah, fuck it.
Speaker: Ian, he plays the tiefling water right next to Corral. Ian. We've got Wheel, he plays the dragonborn druid Balbalcon. Wheels. Darren, plays a half-orc barbarian Thraxunjari. And the barbarian...
Speaker: My name is Mark and I'm playing the human safe blade singer Seth Farah-Reeva. And last but by no means least is the slow whisper in our ear. The caress of the neck. The overly long eye contact.
Speaker: o Tongue lick of the rectum. Dungeon Master Danny.
Speaker: Sorry listeners about that that. That's right your ear holes. Will just vomited his out mouth And speaking of vomiting all over the pavement, we see El Gale stepping over a um ah pavement filled with vomit as he jauntily makes his way down the street the cobbled streets of Sleetgard, upon which he finds an old dog sat on a corner that eyes him pensively and then strangely winks.
Speaker: The dog then ambles off down the street. El Gale looks to us and begins. Ooh, voluntary interrogation of unbelievable truths. The party tries to chat shit and Baal cuts to the chase and he's all like, what do the 13 names mean, bitch? And the 13 names are the 13 Cronomancers of the Weave, basically Time Lords from Faerun. The Gartrans and Tolkelon brought war to Aerith, ruled by dragons, and the Thirteen froze the forces and the dragons were destroyed. Johan Veritas, the leader of the order, and turns out he's actually the reason for the Steel Nightmare's return, he's pretty much a bad guy. Dawn breaks and the group return to the Keep of Goldport. and it's like some sort of goblin sex den of drugs.
Speaker: Who'd you bet on in the duel of the desert champions, they ask him? Emron. Why? Because last time, Emron won. What the fuck is that all about? Turns out, Tilwa's dreams are all actually the past that are being experienced and sent into the future in some crazy way. Nyx keeps probing questions until Delmontrese falls asleep, and as he gets closer, Nyx turns into a bit of a dick and makes it dark. After a long rest, Seth realizes that Nithravar isn't automatically summoned back.
Speaker: Hmm. And the interrogation with the Zone of Truth begins. The alignment happening in 47 days is a time the Steel Nightmare will be fully charged and fully up operational. and destroy all tethered locations. They have tried, this is the 13, to stop it 12 previous times, and and we are told the Erythian decision, which is some sort of quicksave, would start at the unmending and finish at the alignment, and the fate of Eryth would be given to a group of different backgrounds. On the last cycle, the groups destroyed the ability to reset time and Alpha was created. Coincidence? Maybe not. Only Tilwa and Prego know what happened on the last cycle. Oh, shit, Prego's important again. 13 cycles ago, Pragon and Emron were best mates, apparently. Also, Nyx and Delmontreus were really good friends and friends in one of the previous iterations of what has happened. The Upchriscra have a time well which has now been destroyed. It's some sort of dimension to aid dragon eggs. Also, the Upchriscra have all of the Erythian leaders. Oh, and by the way, Euryan Cardinal is a Gartron, bitches!
Speaker: The group needs to save Prego. The Gartons will destroy everybody if they fail. And Trace has a proposal for the group. And now shit gets real. He projects Emron's dream around the group. And he reveals himself as one of the golden figures. He also reveals that Emron is there, dying to some magical energy with Prego crying. And he's asking him, how will I make you believe me? And Emron's like...
Speaker: Make me hate you, boy.
Speaker: That was so good. That was so good.
Speaker: Yeah. The sanctuary of gold port keep holds its silence now like a tomb. The goblin stench still lingers, stale smoke and excrement and worse waft into this keep's common room from time to time as the breeze changes direction, but even that foul air cannot mask the heavier weight now pressing in.
Speaker: Beyond these walls, forces stir, blades are being sharpened, And the whispers of King Leopold's regicide coils like a storm cloud on the wind.
Speaker: To slay a king is no mere crime. It is a wound dealt to the order of the world itself.
Speaker: The last glow of Emron's truth spell glutters and fades, sinking back into the stone. And the chamber is left hollow once more.
Speaker: Nick comes over and ah just embraces Delmontres.
Speaker: Describe the embrace. Is it cautious? Is it? Nope. Like an old friend seeing an old friend. ah After everything that the entire group at Nixon specific has been through and all the questions that he posed to Del Montrese and then the truth being revealed in the way that it was in the multi-layered faceted way where previous versions of him have existed and given that a past version of him had a strong connection to Del Montrese and seeing Del Montrese just honestly and openly lay bare his story.
Speaker: And the sadness of in his face when it got to the past friends he had and no longer has. Nix just takes it in himself to embrace a friend, but not a friend.
Speaker: He's just using anything that he can to bring comfort to someone that clearly would have meant quite a lot to him if the circumstances were different.
Speaker: So it's a brace as if you would a brother or a lost friend.
Speaker: And you hold him. He doesn't push you away, but he also doesn't reciprocate the warmth, doesn't reciprocate the the effort that you go to. He's far more guarded and cautious.
Speaker: Whether that's because the zone truth has dropped and he's masking or whether he genuinely doesn't want to participate, but he but it's not enough to cause him to push you away, if that makes sense.
Speaker: And after a while, he does kind of gesture for it to end and just unravels this huge
Speaker: wavy, sheer, icy white hair, just shakes it a bit and reties it as prim and proper and takes good care and time, pulling it into a far more presentable form than it has been over the last eight to 12 hours.
Speaker: and no Not quickly to turn his back to you after you've made that gesture, but just sort of cast slowly beelines for a table and picks up this sort of cup and conjures this water spell and drinks quite aggressively and um ah desperately almost like he's incredibly dehydrated.
Speaker: and then just so turns back to the room, propping himself against the table.
Speaker: ah And a bit shaken from what you've just done, because was relatively composed coming out of that truth spell until that moment kind of derails him.
Speaker: I'm just going to get some air. Yeah, sure. I mean... you know got the weight of the world on your shoulders there and, Seems like we were close or were close or are close. I'm not entirely sure how that kind of works. Old me being me, but me being and me right now and not how that feels. But I just thought like, you know, you've given us a lot. In fact, you've given us everything. And Nick's will look around to the group. this We've been desperate for this sort of information. i don't know why it's taken so long to get here, but we got here. And I feel like there's a lot we can do with this. ah But just in the moment, I don't know.
Speaker: there may be something inside of me stirred and just needed to go we got this you you've got we've got this right guys we undying champ were we called the undying champions before or did we have a different name just wondering we got a better name now On the barometer of names and the previous names that our group would have had, is the Undying Champions one of the better ones or one of the worst ones? Like, where was it? If you could rate it from, like, zero to ten of all the names that we've had, where would you say? Give me a number.
Speaker: wage Wait, wait, wait, wait, Steph, that's forward. Is ten good or is ten bad? Ten's good in this case. Like, ten's the gold standard. I didn't want him to say the wrong number and then we read that we think the name is bad. but Yeah, i didn't think about that.
Speaker: I wonder if we've had this conversation before. Isn't it trippy? Like, we could have already spoken about this. I mean, we failed before. We. They. We? They. We. Are you okay? Are you having a stroke?
Speaker: I don't know. i a bit overwhelmed by it all. What do we need to kill to win?
Speaker: A great question.
Speaker: I'm going to leave you for a moment. Brilliant. That's a good answer. Thanks. ah But I'm not going to go anywhere. Just take a moment. Reflect on whatever this means. And we'll do round two when you're ready.
Speaker: Before you go, just a quick question. Where is Sparrowhawk? He's safe. He's in another dimension, isn't he? Yeah, but he's safe.
Speaker: I want to leave here alive just as much as you want your prince back.
Speaker: but we we're We're not going to do anything to you. I mean, you're practically family, I think. No.
Speaker: It's complex, but... So complex, right? But that doesn't mean that it doesn't mean that you weren't or are or is important. I mean, certainly in the grand scheme of just like what will play out, you're needed clearly to be next to the our fucking champion over here. Everyone, they're fucking you got a lot on your shoulders.
Speaker: No. We've we've lived that. That was then.
Speaker: as As you would have jested over at Emron, he's not there. And you just see like the door ah of the of the hall just shutting. And it seems that when you were doing all your stuff, Emron seems have just stepped outside.
Speaker: so Quiet for him. if you there's This is a single-chambered...
Speaker: common room so opening any door would lead to the outside of the keep yeah like you would be outside yeah and the point where you do open the door it's a very dull midday scene it's dark dense cold rain clouds fill the skies above and it's heavy with sleep and hail
Speaker: Whatever you're doing, it's amongst that deluge. Yeah, I think. And Trace, in this moment,
Speaker: just turns to Nyx and says, let's ask more questions soon.
Speaker: to like done you To me and you, to you back in the zone of truth. To everybody. To everybody. Just like take stock of what you now know. Okay. Yes. like That's a good idea. I feel like it's going to take some time really to sink in, especially for like, maybe not for me. I think that's I've taken it pretty well. If I just say my myself, but maybe everyone else will need like take five, give a time, breathe, maybe have a drink and let it all kind of just simmer in. But I said, I'm fine with it really, but it's just kind of trippy that my old self was there.
Speaker: And like, yeah. Wow. Trace just turns and walks into the the hail. Okay, don't go far though, Tracy. Just before he makes his way out the door, Baal will just quickly kind of call out, Trace, don't go far.
Speaker: There's a habit of devils and demons following us.
Speaker: Then as my captors, I am in your charge.
Speaker: I think you know that's not quite true.
Speaker: He lets out a very subtle, wry smile.
Speaker: And walks with a stance, an elegant stance, like he has the knowledge of ages and the power to match.
Speaker: Yeah, shake it, baby, looking good.
Speaker: Doesn't respond. Yeah, we were totally besties. You could tell, right? That energy, we're riffing off each other. I can feel it. I can feel all me. Me and Tracy are going to be thicker, Steve. i I just know it. feel like it's going to be a beautiful relationship all over again. Or was, continuing. Don't know.
Speaker: And now it is so it is you guys minus Emron. oh um How are we all?
Speaker: You're pretty good after killing a king, i guess. i ah I mean, by the way, Seth, props for that. And can we also, on behalf of the Undying Champions, welcome back your voice.
Speaker: Yeah, I'm not keen on it, but, you know, it's happened now. We are very keen on it. If I did it the third time, then I think it just you'd think I'm a cunt, you know? but but but But we're just glad to hear you again.
Speaker: yeah right Yeah, was good. ball No, I like it. i Yeah, I'm here for it. And also, congratulations on the the tattoos as well. It feels good, doesn't it? Yeah, it feels nice. Back to normal.
Speaker: Yeah. ah Yeah, but we did, um you did kill a king, killed a king of Sleetgar, he's in my bag. His toasted remains are in my bag. yeah You went crazy. yeah And I liked it because I saw devil ah so chaos in your eye and you fought like a caged animal. You're not an animal, and i no no disrespect intended. but None taken. that was like That was like thorough levels of anger that we saw and it was great.
Speaker: I would like more of that when we have to go to hell. Please. I think we'll need it. No, the fires within aren't going to help us within hell, are they?
Speaker: I need to... I didn't think of that. Can you, like, do this the opposite and make, like, ah opposite fire? What is that, water? Ice? I need to think. I need to think.
Speaker: I think what's worked for me before. You could decrease them with heavy steam. Take away the logs underneath it. Okay, I'll get thinking.
Speaker: While they're doing that, Farrakh is just going to start rooting through cupboards in this common room. And he says, swear to God, if the fucking goblins have drank every last beer in this place, I'm going to kill the first fucking goblin I find. I've got Grog right here.
Speaker: ah grog right here Grog sounds good. Here you go. And Nix will dig out of his pocket his but ah bottomless flask mug of ale of Grog. Farok will take a take it. He'll pour himself something and he'll just hold a toast out to everyone else. I don't know what happened in the previous past, but clearly by this point, I'm normally dead. I either die in the Undying Champions or I'm left to rot in a stupid Yomte Castle. So here's to all of you for making sure that I'm not dead.
Speaker: Thanks.
Speaker: you're You're welcome, Tharok. Glad to have you on board. just for the scream Please don't kill the goblins. if you And Alf, you're not even meant to be here, like, Reigns.
Speaker: Yes, I'm somewhat of an an anomaly. There's three of us. Me, Bal, and you. Well, we've been round apparently for at least one more. This is Alf's first time. Yeah.
Speaker: o But I agree, we're Who knows? Maybe it's because of us. Maybe we're the ones that, you know, maybe they're not. You're the chosen ones. We're the real chosen ones. You put the champions in Undying Champions. Me and Seth put the Undying. Oh, shit.
Speaker: Either way, it's a good thing, though, yes? Clearly what has happened before hasn't worked. So whatever is different this time can only be good. And I agree. I think the most important thing here is you, Alpha. They must have gotten close if they'd destroyed whatever it was that managed to get them to reset everything. they could We... you?
Speaker: We? The information for my myself seems to have been forced into this last final attempt, if I understood Delmont Trace correctly. Yes.
Speaker: Emron should really start chatting to his other self. And now that now that we know that Tilwar's experienced it before, surely surely there's there's the specifics.
Speaker: Can we not speak to Tilwar ourselves? Yeah, just make Emron get his angel out again. um i I mean, I'm sure that's how it works. But like right now, like if I was to put myself in everyone's big boots, and I don't often do this, but if I was for this one moment, I would say that having seen what he's seen and realized how he's treated Prego, how we've all treated Prego, but in particular, like those two clearly had a thing, right? And then being recipient to all the dreams, and then to be like the very final kind of
Speaker: save thing of like how am I going to make you believe ah you got to make me hate you type thing there was a lot on everyone's shoulders during that entire thing we are but it worked didn't it we bloody hated him very true it's got us to twelve So if anything, it worked perfectly. And so good on Prager and good on Imran for being the way they are.
Speaker: Yeah, but can you imagine the scene when those two, if we do save Prager, and I'm not entirely sure still that we have to, but like yeah but if we do, can you imagine that kind of thing happening?
Speaker: we I mean, is it going to be like Ewan Baal kind of levels of... ah Heat, intensity? Nah. Do you think they were... Maybe. but But I do think one thing, just on Tharic's point of like, you think we have to save him. I'm still not sold on that one because at any point, and this is something to remember, at any point, these motherfuckers could have told us what was going on.
Speaker: It's not about Prego. It's not about... I agree with you. They are fuckers and they could have told us, but we have to save him because we need Emron at his best with a clear head. And Emron is not going to be himself until we... Well, we don't know what Emron wants yet. If Emron says, like, let's go, let's go save Prego. then we're going to go and save Prego because that's what we do, right? but You know Emron better than i do, but he's already lost one friend in the process of all of this. I doubt he'll want to lose another one. But as you say... Well, that's why as i just said, like, if he says, let's go and save Prego, well, go save Prego, best day of my life. Then that's what we're going That's what we're going to do.
Speaker: he might turn around and Prego's a cunt. And then the other thing we have need to do, yes, is... the The other thing we have to do is... And he'll point to Alpha and goes... Euron has to die.
Speaker: That I can get on board with. Absolutely. That was fantastic news. I was very pleased to hear of this very revelation. Euron is a godron and must be killed. I'm very happy with this. Yes.
Speaker: And what about Sparrowhawk? If we get him back before the end of this is done, we well we we killed his father. and Lots of people will celebrate that. He's not one of them. Was he close with his dad, Seth?
Speaker: Like, these royal families are all fucked up anyway. I don't really know. He talked about him as much as any other guy would, but he grew up with midwives and people around him. He saw his dad as a king, not as anyone else.
Speaker: Fuck him. To be honest, did we have a choice? It was dead or we'd all be dead right now. We had die, that's but we do have the factor of what it means to Sparrowhawk to consider, particularly if we get him back. Yeah, but it was him or us, you know? I'd rather he die than me. We did the right thing. That's not for dispute, but it is still his father.
Speaker: I'll get that. Yeah, yeah, yeah. We still will have to tell him. I'll tell him I'll kill we still got him. like He's in a bag. He'll be all right. you've got You've got to remember this man, Delmontreis, he's been playing the bad guy for so long. Drago, they don't fucking hate him. Remember, this man took Sleetgaard from Helena. He took it from her family. He took it from them.
Speaker: we got Yeah, but like you know given everything, it seems like it was their last ditch attempt. I'm not saying let bygones be bygones, but you know old me would certainly say that. Past me would say that. um other me. I only know of some of these other people what I've seen and I think you'll have a very hard time particularly with Helena and maybe even Drago of convincing them.
Speaker: But anyway, that's that that's not the as you say. It's not about them though, it's about us. think i have hope this one i I have a pressing question, however. um Remember when we were on the boat and we couldn't stop the boat because the demon holes were going to follow us in the water?
Speaker: um We've been here for a little bit of time now, and I'm pretty sure that means, knock, knock, who's there? oh hello, it's the seven levels of hell. I'd like to come and rape your home, please.
Speaker: That's probably going to happen quite soon. Do we need to make Emron get his wings out and have chat with with the Tiloire before we go to hell? Because I feel like, i um to be honest, I'm ready to go now. I feel like the the ground is going to open up, Megas will come out and we will go in.
Speaker: You know what, Seth? It's been so long since Emron's heard your voice. Do you want to go out there and corral him? That's great idea. I'll go out and tell him. Emron, where are you? where Where is Emron when he exit the common room?
Speaker: Tell me your location. So Emron sort of left um left left the common room and and had this this ash and hail. And um he's sort of looking up and he's assuming that this ash is coming from the city.
Speaker: Sleet in hail. Yes, sleet in hail. He's assumed that that that this might be whatever's burning in the city and whatever. And Still have looked around. Sleet and hails in precipitation. as Oh, sorry. I thought it was like whatever's yeah smoke, ash, combined and combined. Yeah, I said just sleet and hail, like wintry rain. Wintry rain.
Speaker: Miserable. Ah, a pathetic fallacy. There you go. Emron, what are you? ah So, Emron would have walked out. And actually, he's travelled...
Speaker: um
Speaker: yeah He has traveled from the ah from the keep area and he's not made his tracks um difficult to follow. And he's walked along um through the grounds towards the forge that was just set aside.
Speaker: Yep, to the east. And um he's sort of gone in there. And is it trashed like the goblins did or is it all right? Yeah, this this forge hasn't been worked since it was worked during the the ah ambush of Marota and Nyx when they snuck back into your lives.
Speaker: um It is cobwebby. It is like old ashes set on that stone and it hasn't been tended to for for now half a year.
Speaker: So M1 will have sort of brushed the cobwebs off stuff, just trying to sort of reconnect with um sort of the past and and and the times in there.
Speaker: And then he's he's he's gone over and he's yeah there's barrels of of of of stuff in there and water. And he sort of cracked open the lid of one of the barrels and sort of looking inside at the water and he's sort of searching around and he's starting to find some glass vials and that kind of stuff. And he's just slowly dipping the vials in the water and filling them up and then sealing them. And then he's laying them out.
Speaker: And that's probably, what if Seth follows the tracks and comes in, then he's just, he's got Emron sort of there just methodically sort of laying out and creating these vials of water. on this, on this, so on the, on the ledge.
Speaker: Seth will, yeah, follow the tracks, walk in and see Emron in this, you know, trying to remain grounded in something that he knows to return to something that he's close to and find solace in simplicity.
Speaker: And he'll say, Oi, we need to go Can you be an angel now? We need talk to you. Well, Seth and so everyone doesn't sort of stop as he's doing this.
Speaker: If we're going to hell, then we need stuff to be able to fight devils with. And last time I checked, holy water tends to fuck things up quite well.
Speaker: So I figured I should start making some so we can use it when we go there. Oh, shit. Yeah, that's a good idea. How do you do that? Do you got to just say some prayers? I can help.
Speaker: I've got to, yeah, I've got to make this stuff and do some, do some spells and a few hours and we can have ourselves some holy water to throw at devils if we need to.
Speaker: All right, but if hell comes knocking, we can't wait. No, no, I know. um Sorry, I walked out. It all got a bit. bit too heavy and when Nick started rambling about is well I just I just needed to let my head get straight oh you know me I'm your when you've got problems Emron you know yep you got you got them in your head and uh I know I know that they're there in your head too
Speaker: And I ah can ah can ah can um talk whenever or whenever you want to talk about them. i'm i'm Or as someone else can do it, but you know, but I can, I guess, ah listen. Or you could write them on paper and I will read them for you or to me um if, you know, you need to speak of about... No, I appreciate that, Seth. We've we've shared a fair few...
Speaker: heart to heart, some of them when you weren't talking and it was mainly me doing the talking and you sort of nodding and reciprocating. but Yeah, I thought it rude to walk away then, so, you know, yeah. No, I appreciate that.
Speaker: I mean, what what do you make of it I mean, we've we've done this, apparently, 13 times. Like,
Speaker: why did we... stop it being done again. Like part of me is like, is the reason why we've stopped the reset happening? Because sometimes we've won and Veritas has gone, fuck you, i'm going to reset everything. um Or is it, it just feels like for some reason we decided to go, no, this has got to be the final goal. Do you want to know what I think?
Speaker: Go on then. Like we are bright people. Well, most of us. And what makes you think this is the first time we figured it out and got told? yeah What about last time where we figured out, oh shit, we've done this 12 times before, 11 times before, 10 times before. And maybe maybe the 12th time was the last time, the only time we figured it out and we found out and then we fucked it.
Speaker: And we you know we had to change the the outcome somehow. And that's somehow then you know a couple of steps later, boom, boom, boom, alpha's made. I ah don't know how that bit happens, but...
Speaker: maybe a bit of that thing. I'm imagining it's like a machine and like there's a bit that we take out of the machine that makes time repeat itself and we put it into Alpha's butt or something and it suddenly makes him work different too.
Speaker: I mean, it's like, it's like you know, like Trace said, like the plans from Alpha came from somewhere. The plans from Alpha didn't just
Speaker: like they were given to me rather than us thinking they were our idea. So clearly something, and as Trey said, the only person who seems to be able to tell us what happened in the other times is Prego.
Speaker: So we've got to go get him. He's in hell. And we've got to go get him. Apparently we were, we were friends. So we've got to get On that, on that, mate, don't be hard on yourself. I just said to the lads, look, the whole point was to piss you off.
Speaker: And he did that. He pissed us all off. We fucking hated that cunt. Well, we still do. i'm To be honest, I have not seen any reason for me not to hate him still, you know, except some other cunt tells me he's not a cunt. don't know.
Speaker: But it worked. yeah He knows you well enough. That proves a point that you were mates at one point. Otherwise, he no way would have got under your skin that quickly. No, no, it's good point. So we'll just go get him. Fuck it. Are the others in? I'm bored with that.
Speaker: I don't care. We'll go. You and me. I mean, we have of course there'll be in we have a a pretty big demon between us. So, you know, that's what I mean. We fucked it. But no, ah yeah. yeah i date They tell me to come talk to you because, you know, I'm such a, I make good talking noises with my gob. And i yeah they thought, you know, send the one who can talk, but you make, you know, and they thought, mit yeah, I'd be a good one to go.
Speaker: So here I am. I'm going to get the Holy Wood. That's great. good idea. Well done, Emron and Tilwa. Do you guys, do you run like simultaneously alongside one another? Like, is he there now? Can I, hello? Or is it just you and like, you fall asleep and then he wakes up?
Speaker: It was strange. yeah i mean, there was a time when, that time when, it on the first few times when I was Tilwa and it felt like he was, that we were separate. And then I spoke to people and I started try to accept that we're not separate. We're the same.
Speaker: The dreams have got, the dreams sort of became more when I accepted him that we're one in the same. I don't know. I don't know, Seth, whether if I go in angel form, whether Tilwa does come back or whether it's me or whether I get a bit more access to his memory. I don't know.
Speaker: Well, when you're ready, we're here to talk to him. if he If he shows up, we'll ask him the right questions. If he doesn't, fuck it, you can fly me around a bit and then we can, you know, go for a drink. I guess the problem is, is when Tilwa comes out, it's it's so draining. and only It only happens once a day.
Speaker: So we have to decide when we're going to do it because once it's done, that's it. And I feel like it might also be useful if the devil's short. Yep. Which is the problem. He's powerful.
Speaker: Maybe you hold off until we're in a big fucking fight and then at the last minute... We'll have a chat. You know, we we kill this stuff and then we say, quickly, tell us everything you know about the last 13 times we've been through this and all the iterations and what happened and why did we build Alpha and da-da-da-da. We can ask him then, you know. Quickly speed write it down, maybe, just, well... Give him a bit of paper.
Speaker: Yeah, maybe. Anyway, I'll let you get your um your water bottle. It's okay. I can bring these over. I just, I know I had this stuff here. Yeah, I'll take one as well. Give me that one there, that the the small one. You're a big boy. You can carry the big one. or I'll take the little one. Let's carry these over back over that way then. As as you slosh get closer, Seth, do you notice that Emron's got a blue light flashing in his pocket?
Speaker: Um... you are have a blue lock You have a blue lard fleshing in your pocket. Okay, let me and I take it this is it's a sending stone? It is the sending stone. There's a message.
Speaker: Oh, it's a sending stone. It's got a message. Let me just check my voicemails. ill I'll see what I've got. Everyone will activate the sending stone to receive the message.
Speaker: Indrago's dulcet tones. Returned. Rendezvous at Goldport Keep. Departing Scorch Helm by road.
Speaker: Why is it hailing in the desert?
Speaker: That's the message. um I messaged him last night, so I can reply, can't I? One a day. I've got 25 words, haven't I? Yes.
Speaker: Yep.
Speaker: Okay. Discovered lots of information. We might have to go to hell to rescue Prego.
Speaker: Yes, we killed the king. also killed the king of sleet guard may have made the automatons go crazy
Speaker: that's it okay yeah wasn't gonna add whoops at the end of that who is it it was drago um he's returned because they went to the hells as well but we should have maybe asked him to go get prego at the same time um yeah They're traveling here from Scorchelm by road.
Speaker: It's hailing in the desert. Scorchelm, it'd take them ages to get here. Yeah, it'd take them days. Well, we're going to go to hell before then, I'm don't know whether we've got that time because the demons might show up. I mean, actually, I'd have thought about this.
Speaker: If the demons show up, big portal, kill the demons, jump in the portal, gives a doorway. Fuck yeah, that's what I meant. Wait till hell up here is at our door. Because I don't know about you, I don't know any other way to get to hell other than, you know, like in stories. and So what about if, and I imagine he's picked up the bar and he's walking by. What if you bless the water, you're going to bless the water, and then as the hole opens up, we pour the water into hell?
Speaker: Will it like flush out all the demons? No, I mean, it's it's more of like a it's more of like a grenade. Okay, what if you bless the sea? Would that work? No, I don't quite think ah that the the magic's not that powerful.
Speaker: Okay, what about a river then, or a very big puddle? Don't think it's that powerful. That's why I was getting vials. I mean, I don't know. I mean, I'm willing to try. i don't know. I could bless a keg and of of water and see what happens.
Speaker: That's a start. And then we can chug that down into hell. What if I drink the highly water? Will my piss be highly? I don't know. Do you feel holy yourself?
Speaker: I haven't drank any holy water yet. so ah would Would your body filter out? don't know. Then I have a holy kidney. I don't know. but that my Liver, maybe. Anyway. Oh, look, we're here. Ah, here we are. You step back into the common room drenched in hail. Do want here or do you want it outside?
Speaker: No, no, we'll go inside. Yep. Okay. All right, everyone. What is the... Oh, hi. going to bless some water. So I figure if we're going to hell, we need some things that can help fight demons, and Holy Water tends to be pretty good at that.
Speaker: Yay! So I assume we are to rescue Prego then, Emron? um I'm going. Others don't have to come if they don't want to. Oh, fuck off. Of course we can. I think we need to stick together there, Emron.
Speaker: but good. I'm i'm ah pretty glad you all said that. I was worried some of you might not, but I'm glad you didn't. That's good. Tharok was on the fence, but we managed to couldn cajole him in, you know, said that might get to kill a devil. And I was kind of swayed at that. I won't lie. Yeah. I mean, Seth and have pretty numbers up on those. So, you know, something you need to catch up.
Speaker: I only have my best about seven seconds of experience of hell. And, uh, I'm not talking about that time. Nix. Um, it It makes you feel different. I wouldn't be so keen.
Speaker: i don't want it to go back to hell. I will come with you. I don't want to. That's why we need to take precautions. You remember that lake we found? And we bottled water from it.
Speaker: Oh, yeah. And that water made us feel really good. I still have... Yeah, I've got some vials here. So if if if you saying hell made you feel really bad... what if we drink the water when we're in there and it makes us feel really good and maybe that counteracts the effects of hell.
Speaker: It also took me on a wild trip. but Maybe that's just the first time. To the best night of my life. I once saw a guy who drank so much booze, he almost fell over, and then he took a bunch of Caltrad to do the upper, and it it let's just say he went for a very long walk off a cliff. It wasn't good for him. you know I'm just saying, i I will not partake, but if you guys want to partake... It it was just an idea. if I just think we're trying to counteract that...
Speaker: impression you add we need something that is is the opposite and that's the thing can think of something you hold on to Nix is fondling the cloak that's chained to him now he's like well doesn't this get rid of all the fire in a room it does within a certain radius yes so we could fuck some people up just by activating this thing I mean if they're made of fire yeah like my wildfire spirit I'm pretty sure got gobbled up by that once
Speaker: i it's not a bad idea. you know, if we're ever in a burning building... You have to understand I don't really know how to use this thing yet, but... um You used it to save your fall. That was pretty fucking cool. It was one of the ways that I was going to save my fall. I had three ways to save my fall. No one needs to worry if I'm ever ejected into the air anymore. i Once, my bad. Twice, my bad. Three times,
Speaker: All right, my bad. But still, like I'm just saying that I have come up with ways to deal with it. You've learned to so land softly is what you're saying. Yes. weren't Weren't we going to try and give this to Tharok, though? I would love to get rid of this. Does anyone who would take this, please? Oh, yeah, we need to make him really warm, don't we, or something? I've need not be in the room.
Speaker: Well, yes, I should probably at least stand behind him. or you No, no, it's it's going to go you. We can't. I mean, Tharok, anything metal on you? Farrakh will glance down at himself. His his his armour is made of mithril.
Speaker: That will work nicely. Could you not heat him up and then leave the room, Nick does his thing, Farrakh will be the hottest thing because he's hot, therefore cloak goes to him?
Speaker: Yes, and it would fucking hurt, but I mean... Farrakh's a big boy, big lad. He can take it. you Are you willing to try it, Farrakh? I mean, we're not going to... I don't need to be at my best immediately, although are we anticipating the hells are going to open? Yeah, I was just about to say this.
Speaker: Like, because I'm the one who has to get rid of this, right, Baal? I have to use my own magical powers to get this. can do it. Yeah, it's you. Yeah, so I'm just thinking, like, I love this idea, and I really, Tharok, if you want to take this, I'm all for it. Just i i kind of need to reserve. If we're going into hell, I would love to reserve some of my residual powers for the battle. Drago's on his way here.
Speaker: Yay! Brilliant. How long will it be? Weeks. But the point is, Seth and I were talking, we need to wait for the Hells to open up to be able to get into the Hells.
Speaker: We don't know how long that's going to take. We've been here since last night and they've not turned up yet. So maybe we've got a bit of time. i think the sooner we do things, the better because then we can rest up, hopefully. Right. Who's best to take the cape into hell, me or Nick's?
Speaker: yeah but but but But I still have to be the one performing the spell. So I'm all for this. If we get to tonight and we haven't got into hell, we'll give it to Tharok. And what if they come overnight?
Speaker: Surely now is a good and as good a time as any. But if if I do it now, i won't have a rest and I won't have my power properly. There's a low giggle, that kind of not really a giggle, but a chuckle that kind of catches the ear of the more perceptive of you or those who aren't really engaged heavily in this conversation. So definitely Bile, Alpha and Seth-ish.
Speaker: As Delmon Trace's sort of silhouette just kind of fills the door doorway again. Good walk. That's bloody ominous. Hey, Tracy.
Speaker: I find it surprising that amongst all of this, you're swapping costumes. That's not really a costume so much as an exploding cloak of fire fuckers. Which came from the actual hells. Yeah. We haven't actually swapped anything yet, just just just to point out.
Speaker: We're trying to plan so we can go into the hells and effectively and trying to redistribute our resources in order to do so. And why? you wish to help rather than judge us. Yeah, Alpha, you're coming up with a team conversations. What do you have to say?
Speaker: I think we will be fine in regards to the arrival of demons. They seem to want the princess, and if the princess is being kept elsewhere at this moment, then I believe we have time to make proper preparations for a journey.
Speaker: Yeah, have they shown up since you changed back? No. Coincidence? As I said, it is the princess that they want. I'm surprised at how green you all are this time.
Speaker: i mean I mean, now, like... probably You're talking it was going into the hells like it's... I find that somewhat racist as well. We just killed...
Speaker: i'm more of a dusty sand color. I'm playing the race car. wo a dusty sand went do the oaks from dryak We're not actually that green. I mean mean, we did just kill a king. We have defeated like the Jewel of the Desert champions. We have ah bested beasties. like We're not as green as as you may seem, Tracy. We have an undying ability to stay alive.
Speaker: And we've had to bumble our way from threat to threat because we've not really had any major guidance because the one person that could tell us to do stuff told us to, you know, I said told us to make us hate him, which was clearly useful at the time. You seem to be almost serious and have some answers, but didn't decide to share them this time because, you know, why the fuck not? And great hindsight's 2020. And clearly we fucked something or did something deliberately to make the reset not happen.
Speaker: I mean, did we win at any time? And has the reset happened because of Veritas or has it been reset because we fucked each time? Every time we haven't achieved what we thought was the right decision. And Veritas has won.
Speaker: So.
Speaker: So who made the thing that could reset time? It's Veritas' is' creation. But now it no longer exists. We destroyed it. We destroyed it to stop him from going, actually, no, I don't like this answer either, and resetting it.
Speaker: Correct. So we must have been really fucking confident that we knew how to fix this, because we literally put all our eggs in one basket. Yeah, was previous us green?
Speaker: No. At least to the best of my memory, and I i don't quite fully remember every time, because... I imagine I die in every cycle also. But no.
Speaker: At times, you have been generals amongst legions of soldiers. Now you seem like a motley crew of delinquents.
Speaker: i mean I mean, not that it matters. Not that it matters. But let's just put it out there. and fight like What was me in a previous um back time? Look. Captain? I don't remember. It's feelings. General?
Speaker: Okay. If we are green, and maybe we're green this time because actually being super powerful drew too much attention to ourselves too early, and actually we need to be inconsequential in order to go under the radar. Which is why yeah we haven't shared information, I think. yeah But also, you made quite a habit of being seen by everybody in some capacity.
Speaker: What, in the previous ones? No, in this one. Yeah. Deals with devils. Bargains with the upchriscra.
Speaker: I feel like you're looking at me here, Tracy. It wasn't like that I just happened to be a part of these situations. think those were subconsciously us making choices to make connections or not? I don't know.
Speaker: So...
Speaker: What do you know? We're green. Okay, you've clearly got lots of lots of experience. The one thing i Guidance, can you give us? I... Would you prefer the zone of truth?
Speaker: No, I think we're beyond that now. You've called us delinquents. You can't get any worse. Yeah, Trace, like, come on, you know us and we know you. we we Then you have to live with the idea of doubt.
Speaker: then that comes next. Ultimately, Trace, you've got to realize that if you do cast doubt, I mean, this is fucking it. This is the last roll of the dice any of us get.
Speaker: So if you're holding back, you've got to decide whether you're happy with the fact that you could fuck it up because you held back. I work have deliberately created the Akriskra to be as big as we are so that we aren't reliant on you.
Speaker: And how's that gone for you? Snap. Fucking murked you there, Trace. Like, I love the way that you're playing this game, but the end of the day, Emron's right. You are relying heavily on us. Nick, do you want to suck his dick or not? Like, are you on his side? Well, no, don't get jealous. I'm just like, no, I'm just, this is just both. Right, look, what me and you have is like what me and you have in this timeline, but I don't know what me and Trace yet. Were we ever, were we in the last previous time? We're like friends. Nick, Nick, focus, focus. Sorry, so what Emron was saying. want to know that as well, to be fair.
Speaker: I mean, it does seem like you are playing both sides here. The Kriska and us. And we seem to be pieces of a bigger game. Absolutely. But he's right. Nick's points to the M1.
Speaker: You have borders here. Yep. So anything that you withhold, whatever happens, that's on you. I'll answer your questions.
Speaker: But you will have to acknowledge that I might not be telling the truth now. And that's fine, and you'll have to live with the knowledge that if it all goes to fuck, that's on you.
Speaker: But why wouldn't you tell the truth? Because he's a slimy fuck. Less of the insults. like you know I actually think it could be more complex than that. If Delmontreis would have said to us a day ago that killing Leopold Sleetgaard was a good thing, none of us would have believed him and le Leopold Sleetgaard would still be alive because we were convinced that he was the enemy. I don't think there's a single person in this room right now who believes that Leopold Sleetgaard being dead is a bad thing.
Speaker: I forget who he is.
Speaker: He's the king of Sleetgaard. Thank you. yeah but He was also the enemy. So I say. If he would have said that yesterday, we would not have believed him. And Leopold Sleetgaard would still be alive because we thought he was the enemy. We've seen a lot of things since then to change our mind, yes?
Speaker: but Hold on. Are you saying that we do trust him or not trust him, Tharag? ah To my mind, I'm a very pragmatic person and I think we have no choice but to trust him. and right That's what we're saying.
Speaker: Great. Well, then we're all on the same side. Yes! Let's drop the petty insults and let's hear what he has to say.
Speaker: Right. So, I've got the questions. The way I see it. Listen me, Listen to me. If we dunk a barrel of holy water into hell, will it not flash out all of hell? Tell me that for honestly.
Speaker: This is why I called you all green. Do you seriously think you can go into one of the darkest places ever imaginable with a flask of special water and stop the encroaching darkness, the tocalon will release.
Speaker: Bitch, I saw the blot on Slitgard. I saw hell spew forth for fucking years and years. You think a couple of bastards covered in flames is going to scare me?
Speaker: Suck a dick.
Speaker: was going to turn to Seth and just say, I have seen Tolkien. Definitely not a creature you wish to mess with. Well, the point is that You say you don't have all the answers. It's also been indicated that Prager perhaps knows more or remembers more than you.
Speaker: So we need to get him back to get answers. Now, if you've got a better way of doing it than going to hell, awesome. Offer it up. That's what I said. But so let's stop tiptoeing around this and just fucking put your cards on the table because we're doing the best we can. and Yes, you are. Every time people get cagey with us, we get pissed off. and Yeah, we do.
Speaker: We do. He's right. We do get we get pissed off. we get ah we get We get all antsy and then we start killing things. And before you know it, just kill the king. Yeah. You say with that we're green. we've And to everyone's point, we've had no one hold our hand. And what was I? Was I a captain, a commander, or fucking...
Speaker: General! I think in general when you ask questions you wait for an answer. Delmond, go.
Speaker: Let's call this phase two of our conversation today.
Speaker: This all ends in 47 days. but our enemy is at their weakest now. And each day towards that number, they grow stronger.
Speaker: Now, I've made the Akriskra to this scale, this time,
Speaker: with the idea that we move before the alignment happens. So I need you to think about this idea of 47 days being too late. Okay? I agree.
Speaker: Fact number two.
Speaker: Raises a hand towards Alpha.
Speaker: Alpha cannot go.
Speaker: If Alpha steps foot liing him in Tolkilon's plane, it's game over.
Speaker: Can he go as the lady? Either. The information is in both.
Speaker: Can we take his little gun? Sorry. Also have to exist acknowledge that
Speaker: Aledo doesn't exist there. Hold no power. You will be significantly weakened, Emron. And Nyx.
Speaker: Ah, just about to say, what about my old spider friend? Spiders are scared of everything.
Speaker: Everything the Tokalan possesses.
Speaker: Okay. um I mean, it'll be quite nice to have a break. But it doesn't mean you have to go the other three of you by yourselves.
Speaker: The last thing we talked about,
Speaker: the 12 of us, not including Johan Veritas, but The rest of the chronomancer is about
Speaker: what we could do.
Speaker: We made a counter alignment, if you will.
Speaker: A series of things that if we could coordinate to happen near instantaneously,
Speaker: we could pierce a hole through all of this.
Speaker: Pieces are still assembling. And I think when your friends return, we'll know more.
Speaker: You say they've returned from the Hells, the scouting group? Yeah.
Speaker: And by my calculations, you also sent someone to the gates of the Nightmare. As far as we're aware, yeah.
Speaker: If they survived... Hopefully we hear from them soon too. But the counter alignment was this...
Speaker: a series of events that we could estimate would happen every day because it does so to sustain the steel nightmare.
Speaker: Every evening when the moon is in its zenith, the nightmare breaks for a second. And everything that protects it and everything that holds it just suspends.
Speaker: I fucking knew it. Sorry, carry on. You've seen it. If you pay close attention at midnight, there's a shake, a shudder. That's what I said. That's it.
Speaker: It lasts a few moments, but A few moments is enough.
Speaker: In Tokelan's palace, there's a very, very powerful spell.
Speaker: A curse. That's being cast indefinitely around the steel nightmare. Layering it, imprisoning it.
Speaker: And all with flesh you try and move through it will be destroyed. And that's why Johan Veritas turned all of the remaining Gartrans into stone and metal.
Speaker: So they could break through. Is that something he did or you did? Him. But you think you can pierce it or we can get through it in this?
Speaker: If you can... Get into the palace of Tolkelon, to the chamber where this spell is being cast, at the steel nightmare.
Speaker: You'll remove the curse, and all can travel through it. All matter.
Speaker: And then you have a handful of seconds to get through before the steel nightmare reactivates.
Speaker: A two-pronged attack. So we get in, turn off the shield, and the Krisk will come in to help. It's in the sky. We will be focusing on the ground.
Speaker: At each of these anchoring points, the nightmare in the sky. But the dragons could come in the sky. and Trace turns his eye to Baal.
Speaker: You'd need a dragon strong enough, and right now, none are. Because you have the fucking leaders, Trace. Yes, I do. And once we decide which dragon is appropriate, we can return them.
Speaker: That is a decision
Speaker: we can discuss. And there is a third part to this.
Speaker: The chamber in Tolkilon's palace can only be opened can only be opened by key.
Speaker: No spell can break it. And if you were tempt to face Tolkilon alone, he would destroy you in his realm. One key exists on Aerith, his most devout follower.
Speaker: Eurion.
Speaker: Indeed.
Speaker: In a matter of seconds, if Urian was killed, the key recovered. The key used in hell to enter the chamber.
Speaker: The spell ended in hell.
Speaker: The steel nightmare would open.
Speaker: And for 10 seconds, a living force could get through.
Speaker: So something's got to happen in hell. Something on Earth, something in hell, and something in the skies. All at once. Okay. So we've got split up.
Speaker: sounds like we've got to split the party. Wow, we are experts in this. All the time where we said, oh, we should stop splitting up. We should stay together. Look at that.
Speaker: so Not so green now, are we? We've been training for this, this whole so one of our lives. So if Nyx can't go, i can't go, Alpha can't go, maybe we can ask Drago and Karsan that lot to go with them instead into hell.
Speaker: I think it's summon your friends.
Speaker: I think there are three teams. We don't need them. We can do it. on, Feroch. Go on, Ball. We got it. I don't want to go back to hell, Seth. Did not listen? to We need Prager. It's the whole thing. We've got to get in.
Speaker: Three teams. An Erythian team, a Hell team, and a Steel Nightmare team.
Speaker: Some team members can't leave Aerith. And he points to Alpha again. Because if Alpha, if you enter the Steel Nightmare, Veritas wins.
Speaker: I was also going to say... in the previous versions of this mission, when we've got onto the steel nightmare, it's been Drago, myself, a dwarf.
Speaker: Does that mean Drago can't go to hell? That was the past. And the one thing Johan Fertes
Speaker: will count on is that he will grow stronger if he encounters what he already has. So we need to change the... You cannot repeat the failure of last time.
Speaker: He'll know your every move and you will not be able to surprise him. But we need to know what we did last time. Is there a way of rescuing Prego without triggering this whole plan? Or is Prego in Telklon's palace, do reckon?
Speaker: He'll be there. So whichever group is going there, that can be the secondary objective. So actually, because it'd be good to get him to be able to know what do, but unfortunately we'll have rolled the dice and things will be in motion in the moment you rescue him. So actually it's more of a, oh, whoops, you needed this information.
Speaker: I swear to God, if he does that, I'm going to kill him in hell again. Please do. So just just do I check well what you're telling us to do, Tracy, man. We need to split in half. Into threes. Into threes.
Speaker: But in twos, I'm assuming. Correct. Three teams. Three teams. Some guys have to go to hell. Alpha gets to chill on Aerith and have a good time.
Speaker: I'm guessing the others have got to go up to the steel nightmare in the sky and fight till they get to the entrance, during which we have to kill Uriam Cardinal, another king, basically. Just easy. We've done one, do another.
Speaker: Then we get a key, put it in he in the held door thing that makes the ah the curse go away, which means all the metal things can go in,
Speaker: And kill the king of the hells. so And then we get Prager out and then we destroy the steel nutman and then what? Everything is fine? That's it? We win? Then you win. How get How do we get a key from Aerith, from a dead Urien, immediately to the palace within the hells to unlock the door?
Speaker: Now you're asking the right questions, Balval Khan. I've got an idea. and Sorry, put my hand up. Just while you're saying that, he just reaches into his sort of satchel pack, his rifles through a series of documents, and you see the same um document that that bound, the the folder that bound the the names that you've used to um locate him previously. and He produces a schematic, but he doesn't show it yet because Seth, you're about to speak.
Speaker: That looks important. But, um yeah, like, Emron you just said like the way we go to hell I agree we wait till the gate opens up and we make Alpha do the little become a girl for a bit why don't we do that at the gates of the steel nightmare and then you can just kill Uri on Carton now drop his body into hell and we'll catch him and we'll I'm guessing it's him Trace said that when we kill Uri on will the key disappear will the key will still be on him
Speaker: Once Uriand is destroyed, Tolkalan will know within moments. You have a very fine window. And when he does find out that chamber will be the first place, he secures.
Speaker: Unless the gateways to hell don't just immediately open, I'm assuming, to the palace and to the door that we need. There needs to be a team there. There needs to be a way of transporting the key. what What have you got in your pocket? What's that?
Speaker: And he lays down this blueprint. It looks like it's ah written on a stock magic scroll.
Speaker: And ushers you all gather round. And it's it's a series of sort of portal-like drawings, but about the size of an apple.
Speaker: and it's written in Elvish and it's quite, and some of you who don't speak that won't be able to read it, but Alpha, as you're looking at this and you're scanning through this, you recognize the handwriting.
Speaker: And then Emron, you're slowly recognizing it too. This is Reigns' hand.
Speaker: This was an invention that we were yet to make.
Speaker: But essentially, it's a shared pocket.
Speaker: A shared pocket through time. A shared pocket through dimensions. Capable of moving very small objects. Like a key.
Speaker: Alpha. And you've made it? I have the schematics. It was... I believe the idea was that it would get made in this cycle hats had... had Reigns not passed.
Speaker: Oh, fuck.
Speaker: So, Alpha, you're the only artificer that we know left. Yes.
Speaker: Alpha's kind of over... overcome at this moment, just staring at the handwriting that's on the blueprint and all the little flourishes that Reigns would have had from a royal upbringing that's put into the runic inscriptions, and he just kind of very gently, very slowly just opening it up out on the desk a little while he was pinching the edges just a little bit, but being very, very careful with it.
Speaker: Yes.
Speaker: Possibly a last gif
Speaker: From my dad.
Speaker: He was the architect of this plan.
Speaker: You have a team arriving who have just scouted Tocholons Palace.
Speaker: I expect members of that team should accompany you into the hells, whoever chooses to go. Alpha cannot leave Aerith, or you hand victory to our enemies.
Speaker: it's fine But it sounds like Emron's... It sounds like Alpha, you would pro prefer being the one that delivers this blow. If Urian is on the table as part of this plan, then I am more than happy to be a part of that.
Speaker: He is at sea. You'll need a ship. A captain. a crew.
Speaker: So if we're going to mix things up, Barl and I can't be on the Steel Nightmare. we last time Or you can, but just know he'll know that's coming.
Speaker: Which is why I think we have to try and curve things. I know Barl doesn't want to go to the Hells again.
Speaker: So maybe Baal stays with... i can't go to them I suppose the next part of this is
Speaker: is if you need a force strong enough and powerful enough to puncture through the steel nightmare. ah dragon makes sense. It would be really useful if ah Sebastian could come back. would be really useful to talk to him because he was actually quite good at you know helping us make plans. so you know Or maybe he needed to be absent.
Speaker: It's the Arithian decision. It was tasked to you.
Speaker: Yeah, but he's also our connection to the to the Wing Watch, and it'd be quite nice to have... Because they were also about you know stopping these things, or maybe if you worked with them. I expect they're all coming.
Speaker: You'll see them within a few days. um I think we need to think about where we need to be. And then we need to think about the other people that are coming in and how we filter them into the teams. But surely there must be, we must have feelings. or Some of you here, I'm slightly ignorant to this. Someone must have a gut feeling about that's where I need to be. We certainly know where some of us don't need to be, but does anyone here have a feeling about where they should be?
Speaker: Apart from Alfa who wants to kill Euron. Good idea. Go around the group. What's your preference? Murion, and Alpha's just going to raise her hand up instantly for that.
Speaker: We're not saying that this is definitely cemented in stone, but at least... I mean, we know where we stand.
Speaker: I... would rather be on Aerith. Or up there. I don't want to go back below.
Speaker: I spent a long time killing undead shit. It's pretty much like hell, isn't it? I'll give it a go.
Speaker: If it's half the stuff I've seen in my days, I'll be all right. And if not, I'm just a broken, crippled ginger anyway. won't really be that much of a problem I go.
Speaker: Let's be honest here. right And to be honest, I don't know. Maybe Nith might find himself at home. Maybe he can talk to Tokeleon and maybe their best buddies. Who knows?
Speaker: It's where he belongs, probably. i don't really know. Okay.
Speaker: I'll go to hell.
Speaker: Next. I don't know. I know I joked earlier that we have been training for this our entire time by just splitting the party, but that was for fucking jokes and laughs. This is this is serious.
Speaker: End of world. Shit.
Speaker: I guess if i if I... I'll be with you. ah if if the end of the world is coming, I don't want to be anywhere else. Nick looks towards Bile.
Speaker: i know
Speaker: I know. It's not like my my powers are much good down there, according to Tracy. i Most of what I know and can do is shit, because the spiders be running.
Speaker: i don't believe that's true. And Farrakh will rummage in his bags and he'll take out the deed to the severed compass and he will just put it on the table and slide it towards Nyx and go, Alpha is not going to get the Eurons without a good ship and a good captain.
Speaker: but He's out at sea. He knows where to hide. it needs a dairy there It needs a good captain and a good ship to get him.
Speaker: Right. That's it's actually a
Speaker: That's a pretty savvy idea. makes sense for Nyx and Alpha to at least
Speaker: be on the boat to get to Urien.
Speaker: don't know, guys. Is there any way that we can stay together? Do we have to split ourselves evenly, Trace?
Speaker: It's whatever you trust.
Speaker: Who else do we have? That's just another big part of this question.
Speaker: what you mean? Allies? who Yes, we said Drago. Drago, Carstan, there was... Balti, was he called?
Speaker: Beauregard. Beauregard the Balt, yeah.
Speaker: Your friends are coming. Yeah, we know, we know, we know.
Speaker: If anyone wants to ask me where I want to go,
Speaker: part of me wants to say I'll go to the Hells You say Aledo's not there. i say Aledo is wherever I carry him with me.
Speaker: So, Aledo fought demons once before, according to their stories.
Speaker: So, the app said it should be me again, or someone following Aledo again. Even if it isn't the hells. I'll take Aledo with me. If it doesn't work,
Speaker: I think you're too powerful for us to jeopardize your power, Mon. I think we need to have you somewhere with it where you're... problem is, last time we went to... Last time we went to
Speaker: to... looked back at things.
Speaker: Bal and I were on the thing and if if Delmond is right, then we need to mix things up to keep Veritas guessing.
Speaker: don't know whether it makes sense what's going up there, unless he's expecting, we're questioning ourselves. We get tied up there. Guessing and double guessing. Exactly.
Speaker: I know... I've been here before. What you say makes sense. And... While your God... might not have their own power down there. You are a conduit of that power.
Speaker: I know that I would feel, not that it's about me, not that it's about any of this, but if Seth's going down to the hells, I've seen you working together.
Speaker: And that's another thing. I don't feel like ah if Seth's going to face demons, I'm not going let do that alone. no Yeah, but we can't put all our awesome eggs in one basket. Yeah, but it'd be fucking awesome though.
Speaker: Tharox, you're a curveball in this. Delmon's told us this. You're a curveball in this. It makes sense for you to be on the Steel Nightmare because Veritas won't know how to respond to you.
Speaker: That's a very good point. You could be the ice in the hole. Should he's golf a thing? Or baseball. You're inventing sports. You could be the dragon chess piece that no one expects.
Speaker: Nice. Like some kind of base kit.
Speaker: Ball. Yes. I mean, you want to stay with Nick's. I do, but not if it's Aerith at stake.
Speaker: I would feel... thing I keep people alive. It's what I do. And if you need to keep our potential ace in the hole that's Tharok alive, put it this way, you've saved me before when we've been up there in other cycles.
Speaker: Maybe this time it's your chance to save others.
Speaker: It's also going to be a big factor with the dragons, yes? we're going to be up Exactly. The dragons aren't going to do anybody else but you.
Speaker: You say the dragons. One one wants to... wanted to well And one has shown up to help us that seem to be more powerful than he should have been. ah She, he... she She should have been that you expected. So...
Speaker: ah Clearly there's something there. And he looks to Delmon. Like, it was that you guys? is is Is she more powerful because of your time stuff or what? Who are you referring to?
Speaker: Valkyret. He's asking him to half answer your question. Yes, Emron. Dragons grow in power with age. My understanding of Valkyret is that she needs...
Speaker: The throne.
Speaker: She needs Sleekart to have a stable monarch. So we can either Helonot or Sebastian. That way she'll have her full power.
Speaker: But isn't she still like an egg? How has she grown big? we We answered that already. Time wells, I think. Yes. Trace said.
Speaker: Okay, okay. She was at least two, three hundred years old when we saw her a few days ago in the desert. ah Can we not, like, get, you know, the other one that tried to eat Seth and I?
Speaker: Maybe she can help as well to make up for me and a dick. And you think that
Speaker: Shondrala Carr will aid our cause in the way we want it?
Speaker: feel like Shondrala Carr has to realise that yes it's Bacchus or Aerith gets fucked and she's part of it. The two things she hate most are Kriskra and Baal.
Speaker: She said it herself. And yes, okay the Steel Nightmare will be a strong third, but who's to say that she would have the patience? i mean, you've seen what she's like. She is fury and flying electrocution.
Speaker: what about what should we have to look at We also have to look at some of the other things that have got to this point. I survived in that duel with the death champions, but that's not the only thing. Baal won and he took that egg. That egg has to be significant. That throw to this point has to be significant. If it can be that dragon, I say that's the one it should be. But I'm basing that on on on that logic alone.
Speaker: I mean, can that could you do you think... do you think Do you think she could gain more dragons to to to help her? do you think the other the dragons would be willing if they're available? If I may interject.
Speaker: Until the coast is clear. We'll control the rest. Okay. So we do all this, deal with the steel nightmare, and then go fuck over Chondrala Carr for bit of itch.
Speaker: but she is one of the strongest. Do you have any other dragons that you would rather promote? We're not on first name terms with any other dragons. far away We are.
Speaker: i know wait more I know of more. Who? And maybe we could. But you have the leaders. You are literally the person crippling their power.
Speaker: You return the leaders of Erith even for a day, even for that moment. If this is about timing, you return them at the right time. The dragons to regain their power. They, a lot, admittedly, are a variable that we cannot possibly comprehend.
Speaker: Bal'Khoreth will fight our cause. I know it. so we need And there is one more.
Speaker: I can think of two that are certainly on our side.
Speaker: Okay, you seem versed here, Bao. Pontificate for a second what happens if a dragon,
Speaker: if a dragon matriarch learns that they are the only matriarch at full power in all of Earth.
Speaker: Those creatures are greedy.
Speaker: Creatures.
Speaker: They are not all creatures.
Speaker: Some, yes. Some of the matriarchs can be greedy, of course.
Speaker: But like I said, there are two.
Speaker: Two in charge of their kingdoms. One who you have the power to possess.
Speaker: instill all of their power. If we can get Helena or Sebastian to decide who will be the ruler, I know that's a stupid and rash, arguably, way of putting it, but who can be the ruler of Sleekrad? We have got Valkyraeth that can be on our side. I know she can, and Tharok makes a point. If things happen for a reason, if Prego has pushed me towards finding her for a reason, which he did. He has known the future as you have, and everything he has done is put us on that path to gain her back and to make her powerful. He knew that she would be in that way because he installed someone in the very temple near to where we found her. So he already knew of that future.
Speaker: If that is the case, It makes sense to be her. But if you're saying if one dragon leader is more powerful than the others, you are literally the one clipping their wings.
Speaker: That is a lot of power for you to say who is in charge.
Speaker: Who is the second dragon in this? You don't mentioned one.
Speaker: I did. And the fact that you don't know. and I know you're putting most of the cards on the table,
Speaker: means that I'm reluctant to say. I'm sure everything will be revealed in time, but it's not my place.
Speaker: See, that unnerves me. And he's getting quite angry here. That unnerves me.
Speaker: Because everything you've spelt out is entirely
Speaker: coincidental, is it not? A force is driving you
Speaker: to to allow the path for Valkyraeth to ascend. And yet there is another option that you are holding on to,
Speaker: Which one do you think he sees? Which one do you think Veritas is expecting here? The path that has been made for you or the one you're keeping in the shadows?
Speaker: And in the spirit of me being entirely honest,
Speaker: if I were so bold as to add myself as the seventh member of this party at this moment, I would be asking why we are not doubting you, Baal. cards on the table.
Speaker: Careful, Tracy. He's done less to make us not trust him. No, but it is also rich from someone saying you'll have to trust the words I say. i appreciate where you're coming from.
Speaker: I do. But if you're the one that has literally revealed to this group that Prager was someone that we can ultimately trust, yourself included,
Speaker: And Prego has clearly set us upon a certain path. Clearly set us upon a certain path.
Speaker: Well, you know of that one already.
Speaker: Do you remember if dragons helped us before, Dalmon?
Speaker: Dragons have never helped us before. And that's why the Upchriscra, that's why we did what we did this cycle. Right. So then technically it can be either, right?
Speaker: If you've never used the dragons, it's an unseen hand regardless of which card you play.
Speaker: Delmon just doesn't like the fact that he doesn't know the other one. Yes, you are correct. He doesn't like being in charge. That's probably a good thing this time, Trace. wonder what feels like. That's a good point. The less people who know, the less likely this Veritas bastard is going to know of it.
Speaker: I think, do it, Paul. Keep it close. Don't tell him. Don't tell any of us. I agree. Don't tell anyone. Apart from me. But, like, agree with the rest of it. Got it later. So, Trace, if we've all decided where we're going in all this, where are you going?
Speaker: Hell, Aerith, or the Nightmare?
Speaker: What do you think is stopping Aerith from falling into complete destruction already? The of Kriskra, the almighty of Kriskra. I am returning to the warfront in all 12 of the theaters we are in.
Speaker: And I'm not going alone. And he looks at Alpha. ah You think we're handing Alpha over over to you? You're a funny man. I just need one half.
Speaker: Have you seriously been trying to play us this time? Oh, we've already killed one big person today. don't want to kill another. So which half would you like us to have slap you?
Speaker: Would you prefer the zone of truth was acted again?
Speaker: mean, sure. It'll just make it easier for us to decide if you're a twat or not.
Speaker: And then Ron Castor's Moments ago, I'll remind you of how much that was not the sentiment. And he looks sympathetically, not sympathetically, he looks tactically at Nick's.
Speaker: Yeah, that's all well and good, Trace. And I might have consolidated a hug out of you from previous me or lives or everything that you said while you were in the zone of truth based on a relationship that me and you had.
Speaker: However, you can't come in here and start shouting the odds in a game that you've lost without us. And you are giving us half truths and then expecting us to deal with it.
Speaker: Or at worse, questioning our place in it. Or wanting to then take one of our own with you.
Speaker: Like, Trace, I i understand weight that you've got to carry. But if anything of our relationship is true, you've got to understand that you have got to do a better job at talking to us on a level and not from high above. Just because you've seen it and been there and done it. Come down and expect anything.
Speaker: to be talked to like equals because that's where we're coming from. We don't know. We are navigating these waters, these seas with no foresight. You have all the sight.
Speaker: Try and imagine what it's like if that wasn't possible and you were still asked to save the world.
Speaker: And that's why I'm here. Can Delmon Trace make a charisma saving throw or choose to fail it? And then within 15 feet of him also make a save or choose to fail it as Emron casts Zone of Truth.
Speaker: And he's not being subtle about it. You tell if he resists it. ah I know if he succeeds or fails to save.
Speaker: He fails the save, but the spell took longer to take than the last one. You notice that much. Okay. Val, you you you um pass, so I don't... Thank you. I know you didn't i know you passed it.
Speaker: Okay, thank you. um Cool. So I know that Delwand is on the side of truth. Seth, you'll tell him the truth. DC's 13, Fenway. He's who's making the roll, by the way. What? rolled natural one. What are you about? I can't believe it's so high. ah What's the save again? ah It's a charisma saving throw if you're within 15 feet of Delwand trace.
Speaker: I failed. Okay, but yeah, so yeah, DC's 13, so anyone who got less than 13. I have a seven on charisma as well. Has everyone failed this? Alvin, did you make a seven there? Yeah, I got two.
Speaker: Everyone failed it, but Barl, the guy with the minus, excellent. He should. He shouldn't. Ask her question again then.
Speaker: I don't like you.
Speaker: You give me the ick and I think I'd rather enjoy pushing my scimitar into your throat. And you would never see Sparrowhawk again. Yeah, I could live with that.
Speaker: What? Huh? No, I couldn't. kill can Can we get back to these questions?
Speaker: Someone asked question. I need a wee.
Speaker: And Seth's going to walk out and go for a wee.
Speaker: Your question about alpha? Yeah. so which alpha do you need? And why?
Speaker: In order...
Speaker: he's tearing up a little bit. Oh, we'll...
Speaker: Emron is pissed off right now, man. Best day of his life. Best day of his life. I nearly told a dragon to go fuck himself. In order
Speaker: to give Reigns' plan, this counter-alignment, a chance of succeeding, the only chance of succeeding...
Speaker: we need to drain the hells of its forces and we need to drain the steel nightmare of its forces so that you aren't walking into certain death.
Speaker: And those two sides will fight each other.
Speaker: If...
Speaker: If Alpha can part with one of yourselves, Alpha...
Speaker: I can have that stone,
Speaker: then at every anchor across Aerith, where we are at our strongest, we can provoke the next stage of this war.
Speaker: We can summon both armies to Aerith in near full force.
Speaker: And all of the Akrisker will die defending Aerith to give you this chance. Likely.
Speaker: There'll be some kingdoms where we'll hold out longer.
Speaker: Where we'll work with the Assyrianus. We'll work with whatever's left and of the Sleek Guardian forces now that they'll change. We'll work with the mercenaries of Dralak. We'll work with every allied force we've created.
Speaker: But the only chance you guys have
Speaker: is if those places are not full of those things that will kill you.
Speaker: That is the fourth place in the counter-alignment.
Speaker: So Alpha can't be there to kill Uri on then? and that think you're gonna He can. is I understand it. Alpha, you can exist in two places. i can just take your stone.
Speaker: You don't need us to make another Alpha for you to put the stone into it. and No. The forces will believe that the stone is the princess because there is enough power in that for them to make that memory.
Speaker: What happens to Alpha if you take the stone? You'll get the version of Alpha that he chooses. The form he chooses. Because the two are separated now. They can be separate now.
Speaker: Alpha, what do you make of all of this? I am still very unsure. I understand the need for a distraction.
Speaker: It makes logical sense. However, I will admit I have grown fond of the princess and having her nearby in these past few months.
Speaker: And yet I am still proud to be an artificer, still proud to follow in my father's footsteps in that regard.
Speaker: I am very unsure as to what to do.
Speaker: May give you a piece of advice, Alpha? Please. The way I see it, and forgive me if I'm being too overly pragmatic, it is your task now to kill your own cardinal. No one else here has the means or ability or even...
Speaker: Desire. How to kill him. did Desire, yes, that's the word. Desire to kill him. However, that is not the princess. You did not know about the princess until you were traveling with these people, right? So before all of that, when you think back to that moment you switched on in Shadow Men, you are Alpha. And we are not asking here, from what I understand, to take Alpha away. But instead, it just seems to me it's the next phase in your life. No Nacavolo, from what I understand, you're the first one has ever existed without their stone.
Speaker: Time to be the alpha. Time to be the first. That's my fault.
Speaker: Rather elegantly put, Varok. I lost all time to myself. Not what you said. Do some oil. Sorry, defragging. What are your modem turning on? Dumontre pulls a chair. assume the zone of truth is a spotlight on him, it kind of moves.
Speaker: Or is a fixed point? Un momento, por favor.
Speaker: ah Centered on a point within range. Yeah, so say it's on his person. Yeah. yeah i don't know whether it's an emanation that stays there or it's just that point and things. For this one.
Speaker: yeah For this ruling. He kind of walks to one of the nearby tables, pulls a chair and just sits in it while yeah kind of watches are you. You're all trying to make these challenging decisions.
Speaker: While Alpha, you decide whether or not to give the princess to the up-kris-kri. While Baal, you decide which dragon takes you all into the steel nightmare.
Speaker: While Nyx, you struggle with the idea that in the final act of this play, you might not be next to Baal on stage.
Speaker: Emron, you cling on to the idea that Alito must follow you everywhere, even into the darkest places.
Speaker: Seth, you're pondering, I imagine, in the likelihood of your return from such a dangerous place.
Speaker: And Taroq, the wild card in this hand,
Speaker: And to hear how these decisions resolve themselves, tune in next week to the Fellowship of the Tabletop, Bellum Draconis. That's sick. here Sick. That's good. That's good. um You know what?
Speaker: What can we do from that? Like, you're going to tune in, right? Right? Right? How could you not? So... I'm going to. Yeah, I'm going to. I'm going do. you have to, you edit this.
Speaker: a Can't wait for that. Follow us on our X pages and our websites and everything. I'm at I rolled one on X. Mark's at.
Speaker: Hey, CD roll. DM. Darren's at. Darren page 06. Will is at. Hello, ship MPZBZ.
Speaker: now Apple pie smashing edgelord lady bird is at. the date game What the fuck, ladybird?
Speaker: Pooh Bear's at Natural20. Pooh Bear's at And our VIP of the D&D, Dungeon Master Danny, is at Total Party Thrills. Until next week, guys. Fairway, fairway!
