Well, hello there. Haven't seen you around these
parts before. Might I tell you a little bit about
Reckless Nerd Out Nights? Every other week at
Reckless Brewing Company's Pine House. It's a
hippity -hopping time. Seriously, guys. It's
awesome. Every other week, we're hosting a game
night at 6 o 'clock p .m. to 9 o 'clock p .m.
Monday nights. It's super, super cool. I'm going
to get in some magic this week. I'm so excited.
I did a Commander game the other day. It was
so cool. And then I'll be running some one -shots
here and there. We're also getting some local
DMs together to run one -shots of their own.
Seriously talented, seriously cool people. Please
come by. Please check them out. We're putting
tickets up on Eventbrite. Just search for Eventbrite,
Reckless Brewing, Nerd Out Night. You should
find us, grab some tickets. The second they come
up, you want to get them fast because they are
selling out so quick. People are excited because
it's awesome. So please, please, come on by.
Yeah, come on by Reckless Brewing, where we make
beer. Before they can chew there. Tres and Kellig,
Blanche Trudeau, and Sean Franklin Mondelio.
And who can be more surprised? I mean, Ardash
himself has reported that their work on Santacian
was instrumental in the arrest of Itzmin Del
Prado and the nefarious big man. With the hand
of the Sunweaver sees potential, you better believe
the people of the Concord Worlds will jump on
it. Now, now hang on. Whether or not they agree...
to this locked position is yet to be seen. We
know they have returned to the Sindel early this
day for a proper hero's rest, so let's give them
all some time, shall we? They've all three got
a big decision to make. Jean, too, huh? Ooh.
The offer is out there. Go Jean Franklin de Montelio.
All three got a big decision to make. Are you
thinking what I'm thinking? Hmm. I guess not.
What do you think? Man, I'm like, I'm trying
to decide if I should like, if I should save
it for like the show or maybe a little bit of
both. I'll play it. I'll play it out. Imagine
this. Yeah. Imagine a world. Yeah. Where Jean.
Yeah. Is sponsored by the pale moonlight. I'd
argue ugly coyote. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Just to
piss him off. Oh man. It fits his brand. Speak
of the pale moonlight. I had. I have things in
this episode that were supposed to be last week.
I had things I wasn't going to do this week that
I'm doing this week purely because of your choice
back there. That was some fun stuff. Yeah, I
thought so. I wanted to try to get an extra week
out of it for John. We're getting an extra week
out of it for the viewers, the listeners, because
we're here. We're going back to the pale moonlight.
Before we do that, we have something to talk
about. The pants people rose up. The pants people
have spoken. And the rule of no takesies seems
to be demanded. Shall we implement such a rule
for our button chaos situation? I'd just say
just for this time. It doesn't have to be like
a blanket rule. I'm cool with going down to three.
Yeah, just for this time. I'm just saying just
for this time. I want my damn buttons. Okay.
I think there are a couple of unspoken rules
in our... world our society the first being the
golden rule treat others the way you want to
be treated yeah the second no takes these back
seats wow i was genuinely wondering where you
were going with that i should have seen it i
think i think if we all play by those two rules
the world will be a better place okay all right
in that case i hereby declare A no takesies backsies
on the buttons of last week. I see where you're
going with this. You're going to screw us over.
He's going to say butt. Which means pants people.
He has two buttons. I get to keep my button.
Yeah. And I'm going to tell you all. I think
it was just one. I'm going to tell you all right
now. Oh yeah, we joked about one. Yeah, but one
button almost TPK'd you guys in the mesmerized
fight. Remember that? I have one button. I'm
going to tell you all what I'm going to do with
it. I have a plan for this button. Okay? On our
next major arc, I will use this button and I
will kill Jean Franklin Montelio. That's it.
I declared it. It's been declared. It's out there.
Brace yourselves. Brace for riptide. Pants people.
Yeah, what? Revolt. No, no, they did. This is
the world they wanted. I gave that button with
the understanding that this was all going to
be erased. But you know what? I like it. Yeah.
Yeah. I like it. Yeah. It's going to add some
nice tension down the road. I hate it. But I
like it. And that was really fast, too, because
we are recording this on the day that that episode
came out. So it's what? 2 o 'clock in the afternoon
right now? Very quick revolt. 3 o 'clock? Very
quick revolt. Thank you, Pants People. It was
installed and ended in a couple hours. There
were like 8 or 10 hours of revolt. Your voices
have been heard. I just hope you don't come to
regret it. You guys want to get into it? I just
got some new headphones. Stephen gave me a GM's
Day. I didn't know it was a thing. A GM's Day
gift. I now have the headphones they have instead
of the garbage headphones I've been using for
a year and a half now. Wow. This is weird. It
sounds really good. Now David knows how the podcast
sounds. Yeah, seriously. Welcome to the show.
It's a pretty good show, guys. Not too bad. What
have I been listening to? You've done a lot of
work here, Jeremy. Thanks. It's been painstaking.
I'm ready to play. Oh, yeah. Give me some music.
Where's that sirenscape? Hashtag sirenscape.
Let's open into a room lit by a soft yellow light.
See, glowing salt lamps sort of lining the walls.
Incense burns on a table in the corner and the
room just smells so good. Just think of a really
good smell. I don't know what smells are. It's
a good one, though. Give me a smell. How about...
Jasmine tea. Hell yeah, that's great. Nice. Nice.
In the midst of all this, this very quaint, very
comfortable space, we see John Franklin is halfway
submerged into an extravagant bathtub filled
with a warm silvery mud. Two cucumber slices
cover his eyes. In one hand, he holds a glass
of a deep red wine. The other is reaching to
the tray at the tub's side, where a delicacy
of sushi rolls is stacked elaborately along this
very long tray. I will say that this tub is easily
big enough for two. These are the private apartments
that Jean's been staying in, and they are...
You have found Blanche. wildly extravagant. This
is just the bathroom of this. And right now he
is taking his pre -bath, post -shower mud dip.
I guess a daily ritual. Sometimes twice. It's
a big tub. Picking it up for two. Is Blanche
possibly enjoying an amazing eel bath as well?
I think it's even better. Oh. I think Blanche
is maybe towards the other side of the room on
a massage table getting her shell. Really worked
and polished. Oh my, your shell is so nice. Oh
God, he's back. Says Beauregard. Flippery hands
are just kind of rolling over your shell. This
feels very nice on my battle scars. Well, your
battle scars feel so nice on my flipper. Not
too familiar, sir. I'm sorry. I'm going to throw
up. Jean's just sitting around letting little
silvery eels in the mud just lick at his dead
and damaged skin, feeling his legs sort of reinvigorated.
Just a new thing, all the rage in the Citadel.
Well, at least in the pale moonlight where those
who can afford it can enjoy it. So, despite Beauregard
just massaging her shell, I think Jaune kind
of lulls. This is just excellent. It's been so
long. Well, a few days, but it's so long for
me. He kind of, like, takes a second, sort of
grunts to himself, sort of getting comfortable.
Then you see him reach up and pull the cucumbers
off his eyes, and he kind of looks over to you,
Blanche. So, you, uh, um... I suppose you'll
be returning to your station then, sir. Back
to Father's heel. I have a duty and a responsibility.
One that I will not shirk. Right. Right, right,
right. Yes, of course. Though you should stay
with me. He's not what you think, sir. Father
is a lying, betraying murderer. All the kings
of coin are. Beauregard, please disregard this.
Of course. Discretion is my absolute principle.
Very well. They're all murderers, sir. And I'm
going to prove it to the world. How do you plan
to do that? Well, I suppose I'm on the path already.
For now I can use jewels. He's gaining more clout
as a luminary. Let's assume that I believe any
of this at all. Why don't you tell me what you
know? I suppose it's as good a time as any. But
to God, you can stay. Thank you, sir. I'm just
going to keep working on this shell. He's fine.
He's got your trust, I guess. Yes. I will preface,
Jean, that my station... is not dependent on
the acts of those I protect. I understand. So,
hear me out, and you may make whatever decision
is best. I, of course, trust your judgment, sir.
But I shall tell you why I left the Golden Bay,
why I left Noari, and tried to become Illuminary.
It's really quite simple. The truth is, on the
day that I left, I broke into Father's private
office. I was hoping to forge a mistake on his
latest financial reports and get that damnable
no -good Le Dulemois fired for good. Well, I
didn't get that far, unfortunately. But there
was a document on his desk, penned by his hand.
A letter addressed to the Kings of Coins at large.
A list of grievances he felt towards the rest
of the merchant monarchy. He was upset that he
was treated as lesser to the others, even though
the Golden Bay's fishing industry easily made
more overall revenue than a few of them, at least.
I mean, we're up there. It was an angry note,
quite personal. He probably never even meant
to send it actually, just some sort of stress
relief. I don't know, but... But it detailed
another reason why he should be more respected.
That he was complicit in a grave crime. We all
know of the jelly flower. Probably the most commercially
valuable crop grown on any world. I weep at night
knowing I can never stomach the taste of its
sweet wines again. But I couldn't stomach it
now, knowing the truth. Apparently the jelly
flower was purely the creation of someone named
Eden. There was a trade with the kings of coin.
Some unnamed price for the first jelly seeds,
but the kings never intended to pay their side.
They murdered this... Eden, and took the seeds
for themselves. They must have known the financial
boom Noari would experience from the flower,
yet their greed was so great, so loathsome, they'd
rather commit cold murder than make an actual
investment. Now, father was not one of the kings
before the jelly flower first bloomed, but he
was in talks with them, and he certainly knows
of their dark secret. He's only profited off
of this villainy. I have profited off of this
villainy. Even the speaker of our world knows
about this. That they told me I should be grateful
to the kings for what they've done. It's maddening.
My family's honor, my honor, is absolutely tarnished.
Now is that a man that Master Defense Blanche
Trudeau should serve? Sir, someday, I will be
Lord of the Nine Pools. And I will deserve your
company. I will. But not before I see the kings
of coin revealed for the villains they are, father
included. Okay, so maybe we come back to the
point where you said father included. Yeah. We
might want to cut this out. I don't know yet.
Let's go over real fast. See, this might be stuff
that just you and I have talked about. Yeah.
But the Golden Bay where the bioluminescent bug,
fish, thing, whatever come in. Yes, the algae
that appears. The algae. Condorola's blessing.
A great sort of spirit that lives within the
bay. And the fish come in to eat that, which
is what. gives such wonderful bounty, blah, blah,
blah. The Festival of the Golden Bay, the sort
of tournament you had, it's done every year at
the end of the Wage of Vice to appease this spirit's
deity. Yes. And when this deity's appeased, the
Golden Bay fills with this golden shimmer as
this bioluminescent golden algae sort of floats
to the top, appearing as if from nowhere from
the bay's bottom. It draws in such a massive
population of these huge, healthy fish that...
The trained fishermen of the Golden Bay, the
turtles there, snatch up and sell for incredible
profit. They are the best fishermen, and this
is the best fishing spot on any of the worlds.
And this has nothing to do with these jellyflowers.
No. This is a totally different venture. The
jellyflower is more to the south of the Golden
Bay, probably about a mile's journey, is the
city -state of Zinda. It's the main powerhouse
city of Noari. and generally what people think
of when they think of Noiri. The turtles and
their rituals are oftentimes just kind of, you
know, sort of put out of mind. Zinda's where
it's at, and the jelly flower, the gardens of
this jelly flower grow all around outside the
city. It is essentially this flower that's mostly
used for wine, but it's basically used for many
other things as well. It's this incredible resource
that has caused, like, there's one king of coin,
because each king of coin has their own, like,
thing they oversee. And one of them literally
just oversees jelly trade. And this king is the
richest. Okay. It's a big deal. Yeah. Alright.
If what you say is true, Tadpole, I will help
you expose this as best as I can, but it will
be from the Golden Bay. I'm tasked with defending
the bay. And I will do that even if it is from
the kings of coin but that is my place i understand
i think you like you do see a moment he like
swallows a little hard he's like not trying to
show that i guess it kind of hurts him that you're
leaving because he's he's committed to staying
you can see that in his eyes he's committed to
staying he had nods i can't go back not yet i
just i need jewels I need a luminary. It's the
only way forward. They have clout. They have
the ability to say things, do things. You saw
Jules when he got here. He set the whole place
on fire with that word about Tythos. I mean,
that's what I need. That kind of respect. That
kind of... I think you actually hear another
voice rise up. Then why don't you, Lord John
Franklin, become a luminary? That's what I was
going to ask. I was like, okay, so obviously
our characters don't know that they were offered.
You don't know. You don't just, ha, I've been
down that road. Not popular enough. Us tortoise
have kept to ourselves a long time. Some folks
still look at us as monster races, like goblins
and kobolds and such and such. They'll never
make a tortoise luminary. I think, like, you
feel hands come off your shell, Blanche. And
you kind of see Beauregard starts shifting over
towards one side of the room. And here, of course,
is a crystal projector in every single room.
Yeah, of course. So he kind of just walks over.
You haven't seen it. And he kind of finagles
the projector, and all of a sudden, on the wall,
an image resolves itself against sort of the
stark white sort of paper wall. You see images
of Orin kind of like speaking, and I think almost
belayed behind him, almost like on a green screen,
are images of you, of your group arriving on
the Jewel, stepping out onto the world, coming
back from San Satyan, and you hear, The people
have spoken, and the offer of luminary ship is
officially being expressed towards Dresden Kellig,
Blanche Rudeau, and Jean -Franco Montelio. We
already did the intro. But you're hearing the
intro, and Jean's eyes go. Oh, it's been playing
all day long. We, we... Sir, is this real? Well...
We've become luminaries. There you go, Tadpole.
That seems like you're off and running. The first
total luminaries. I didn't... But I told Jules
I'd become his sidekick. Do you think? He might
maybe allow me to stand as his luminary partner
instead. That would be quite something. He would
be lucky to have you. You think so? Anybody would.
This is huge. For the turtles, for my plans,
for everything. And I think his eyes fall on
you, and he kind of looks at you quizzically.
You too, sir. Tell me, do you wish to become
a luminary? And before you answer that question,
I want to take us all back in time. I want to
bring us back to a younger Blanche when she was
still training in the art of the sword. The details
of that will leave mysterious for a moment. Stephen,
how young was Blanche when she was still learning
to use the blade? It's certainly going to be
before her victory in the Tidepool Arena that
we have seen previously. I imagine some years
previously. Yeah. She was probably about John's
age now. Wow. Yeah, she was a young woman. Oh,
that's awesome. Wow. Okay. Blanche, as we move
back in time, we see that the rooms that surround
you now are not nearly as ornately decorated
as those of the pale moonlight. I would describe
them as simple and efficient. Training rooms
with little frivolity to see. But the Umizun
architecture is very similar, as the training
school you currently live in is on the world
of Umizu. You are moving through a white -walled
hallway, a steamy haze filling the space. As
you pass by a small window, you can see that
another student, a young man, is standing at
the center of the training grounds outside, repeatedly
swinging a blade. All other students have retired
to their Romans and baths following a harsh day.
The one outside is sort of the problem student
of the lot, and so has unsurprisingly found himself
committed to yet another thousand swings punishment.
You can see as you stare out this window how
the wind itself seems to wrap around his blade.
It's his natural talent shining through as he
grows deeper into exhaustion. But Pupil Eminrath
is not the person you should be focusing on right
now. That's so awesome. Because your master,
Master Ozen Yoshikatsu, has summoned you personally.
Boom. Mic drop. Don't drop the mic. Yeah, please
don't. Please don't. You move on. You reach the
end of the hallway and stand before a sliding
door that is just slightly open, releasing steam
all around you. Do you step in? Before Blanche
steps in, I just want to like, guys, that is
so cool, right? Yeah. Blanche was taught by Ozen
Yoshikatsu, the storm eye. The storm eye. Yeah.
Alongside Emon Roth. Alongside Emon Roth. Did
you originally plan that or did it just like
start to make sense? I'm very curious. I think
we can start bringing up our initial talks. Yeah.
Okay. You want to be a blade singer. And I was
like, you know who's basically a blade singer?
And like, it just kind of came together. Yeah.
That, that kind of fell together during character
creation. Yeah. But I mean, like we've been sitting
on that for a while and I'm so excited to get
it out. How rich, how rich. Oh yeah. Yes. Blanche
enters. You step into a bathing room, uh, facing
a wide, clear pool of bubbling, steaming water
at the far end of this sort of spring in the,
in a shape revealing in the mask. And at the
far end of the spring is a shape sort of resolving
itself in the mist. You see, as things begin
to clear, the haze flowing out the door behind
you, the figure raises a solitary hand in your
direction and says, Hello! No. I mean... He can't
say no to me! Ah, Blanche, do come in. Feel free
to join me. The water is exceptionally soothing
and the sake is delightful. As things clear,
you see Ozen. The storm eye sits casually and
very, very naked, his arms resting at the frame
around the spring. There's a sake jar in one
hand. You see him take a long sip from it and
place it back with a satisfied, ah -ha. As he
pulls the jar away, Ozen is... Sort of a light
brown eye sort of sees you and softens without
his helmet on. You can see the old scar running
over his empty socket of his other eye. I don't
know which eye it was. I said it before, I think,
but that was like 70 episodes ago. It was that
one. It was that one. And might I just say. Yeah.
Like that younger Ozen voice is like on point.
I remember exactly how he sounded in the first
two episodes. Oh man, I did not. I tried. That
is on point. point he was surprised i was very
surprised it's literally just a little bit of
a higher pitch of the same exact accent see if
i can keep it up his long black beard is like
trailing down into the water and spreading sort
of floating amidst the bubbles where it touches
on the surface um his form is well muscled with
various battle scars etched into his body some
might find it odd to be summoned into their master's
bathing side but you know that's just ozen He's
a type who is maybe too easygoing once you get
to know him. Formality and prudeness are just
a waste of energy and time. I would think that
the whole school is probably like that. If you
come here with vanity, it's probably taught out
of you. So Blanche happily accepts the invitation
and joins him. Just come right in the tub? Yep.
Blanche is going right in. She's, after a long
day of training, excited for a soak and a little
sake. He, like, stands up. You see too much as
he walks over to you and, like, hands you the
sort of bottle or jar and sort of goes back to
his side of the tub, sits back, leans, and, ah,
it's wonderful. I mean, this is, ooh, primo spring
here. Fine work today. Your battlefield awareness
is just exceptional. And did I hear you whispering
some sort of oceanic phrase for that move you
pulled in combat? Thank you, Master Rosen. I
am pleased that you are pleased. Yes, I am building
a little lexicon for myself. Oh, wonderful, wonderful.
That is just excellent. It helps me to remember
the forms as I practice. They form a story of
sorts. Hmm. His eyes are closed and he leans
back, almost thinking that over. He just, he
seems very pleased with your, I guess, with that
statement. And is, uh, Eminirath still working
through his thousand swings? I saw him on my
walk over, yes. Good, good. He may tire, but
he has kept his form. Yes, he is an odd one.
Still insists that I kidnapped him from his goat
farm. The nerve of that boy. So very odd, isn't
he? Wonderfully. Wonderfully odd. Wonderfully...
Did you know he's been calling me the Big O?
The fuck does that mean? The fuck is a Big O?
Oh, oh, oh, oh. Yes. That too. Hi, Stump. Talent
with no discipline, like a fine blade left unwielded.
One could cry. But that is the wind for you.
Impossible to hold in shape. You want to harness
it? You have to trick it. But the storm has many
forms. The wind, the lightning, and the wave.
Almost like with that. moves his hand slightly
and like the great waves sort of moves across
the tub, splashing down over you. He kind of
laughs with delight. Yes. The wave. Its power
is great, but there is a structure to it, a method.
And there you are, Blanche. Incredible, raw talent,
absolute discipline. You are an amazing pupil.
Far and ahead, the best I've ever trained. Thank
you, sir. I do hope someday you can understand
the sheer elation of being a proud mentor. It
is a gift, unlike anything else. I'm focused
only on learning now, sir. Yes, and that's why
I brought you here, actually. Your focus now
is on learning, but soon enough you will learn
all I can teach. And so I want to ask you, what
are your intentions following your time with
me? Now, I'd never pushed you down any set path.
Once your blade is honed, it is yours to wield.
As you will, where you will. I wonder, though,
if you will end up walking the very path I have
tread. If you, too, will become a luminary of
the Citadel. To be honest, Master Ozen, I...
Just Ozen. We're in a bath. Ozen? Or Storm Eye.
It is cool. It's very, honestly. I don't know.
I don't know what I would be called that would
be nearly as cool as Storm Eye. I'm sorry, there's
nothing. I didn't even coin that. They just did
that. But to be honest, I know that I want to
serve my people. Whether that is as a luminary
or as a teacher, I have not yet decided. Serve
your people. A noble answer. Now I will say,
the path of the luminary may be able to do just
this. I understand that there are reservations
around turtles. Perhaps when one rises up, stands
in the spotlight, this will change. It will be
hard. But don't let that stand in your way, Blanche.
Time changes all. Seeds become flowers. Tadpoles
become frogs. And fools become less foolish.
I hope to become less foolish under your tutelage
and... If I were to ever be a luminary, I imagine
that I would have only you to thank. Please don't
misunderstand me, Blanche. You are not the fool.
The worlds are filled with fools. Fools who do
not see the potential in you. In those they deem
less. But don't think about the world's want.
Never... Think about what they want, what they
expect. Think only of you. What do you really,
truly want? Glatch Trudeau. Simply to prove my
worth. And I think a voice interrupts this memory.
Sort of pulling you out of your aviary. Are you
alright, Lady Blondie? Shall I continue your
massage? It's a good thing your flippers are
smoother than your voice. Jean Franklin still
looks to you. There's resolve behind his eyes,
and you know he has decided he will take the
mantle. Do you want to make the decision now,
Blanche? Jean, I am deeply happy for you. But
I can think of no greater title for myself than
Master of Defense at the Golden Bay. Wow. Wow.
Damn. All right. It's so, I never expected my
sidekick becomes a luminary and your PC becomes
not the sidekick. I don't know. It's wild. Yeah,
I mean. It's cool. No, I love it. I think that
was fucking awesome. And you know what? Take
a button. All right. I'm playing Blanche so hot
right now. Yeah, I still haven't decided exactly
what Blanche is going to do, but right here,
right now, she's ready to go home. She's ready
to go home, get back to her post, back to her
duties, and the rest will come. At least I'm
hoping. I'm trusting. Something tells me the
story's not going to allow that. Hell yes. So
let's leave you guys. as your massage continues.
Or however you say it. Before we go... What?
Blanche looks up to Beauregard. Oh. Beauregard.
Oh. What is the name of the one you work for
here? Oh, my. Let me think about that. That's...
Who's your boss, Beauregard? Let me... Give me...
I have to remember. Maybe you can remember later,
but how would your boss feel? That's Master Soze.
I thought of it. Ah, Master Soze. How would Master
Soze react? Shut up, Jeremy. I see your face.
How? Don't. Does he also work with Kobayashi?
Shut up. Ask your question about the Soze. It
took you a second. How would Master Soze feel
about having a luminary spawn C? Let's cut from
there. That's pretty cool. That's pretty cool.
I think that would be awesome. I think that the
pale moonlight could gain a lot. It also works
so well because I realized that in hindsight,
Jaune being a luminary means he gets payout.
But now his payout, if you also end up becoming
a luminary someday, I don't want to double the
payout. That's ridiculous. So his payout could
just be staying for free. Yeah. I'm just trying
to get Jaune back in the pale moonlight, the
poor guy. Very nice of you. That's very nice
of you. I love it. And we will circle back to
that. First things first. Let's go check on Jules
LaRoche. Hey. Let's open up. A little later on
in the day. Now it's late afternoon moving towards
evening. So I'm day drunk? You're day drunk.
I think Chester and Jeans have disappeared upstairs
somewhere. Cherry Delights are all around her
still just having a blast. Mulligan's kind of
off cooking. I think pretty soon they're going
to open up for the night crowd. I mean, Ayer
doesn't give a shit about closing randomly for
no reason all the time. And so that's kind of
why he's like, eh, Jules is back. We're closed.
I don't know. But I think Jeans is like... You
know, you have to open. Fine, all right. I'll
open it up. He's kind of just getting ready for
that. Maybe Kiana's sort of giving a hand. You
kind of find yourself alone at the bar. And then
a very large figure comes and sort of awkwardly
tries to squat down the stool beside you. Arhalon
kind of just... Hello. I, um... He just looks
awkward. Just staring. He's kind of looking towards
you, looking down. I want to apologize for all
this. I came here to explain myself, my actions
to the good people here that I wronged. They
are a surprisingly forgiving sort after what
I've done. I tore your family apart, Jules, and
I tore their family apart, and I'm sorry. I explained
it to them and what happened on Sunset Yarn and
they conscripted me into this. Hey, that's the
past. Did you learn? Yes. Yes, Mama Jules. He's
truly a cherry to light now. I learned. Did you
grow? Yes. Not physically. That'd be terrifying.
Do you feel better? I think he actually kind
of, like, smiles, a sort of deep smile. I do.
I... Despite everything, despite Zebulon, I feel
better. I can do better. Well, there you go.
We're here now. Now is now. Yes. That was then.
And now... I can continue the real work, what
I should have been doing this whole time. Tithos.
I will find out what happened. I will. I'm going
to investigate. I'm going to dive deep. I just
need to know what this Shadra Khan has to do
with it all. Ozen, he mentioned it, and I just,
I know. Oh, you mean the World of Serpents? And
like, should Fyros kind of stand right beside
you guys? Yeah. Yeah, I went through a few more
translations. I think the most crisp translation
you could find, going back to a number of mythologies,
especially looking at Umizan lore, that of Xing
and Yanito, World of Serpents seems to fit the
best. So yeah, Shadrach, come on, World of Serpents.
That's it. You son of a bitch. Oh. Jules, Jules.
Jules puts his hand on his head and shakes his
hair. Jules. What would we do without you? well,
it's really your doing, Jules. You gave Chester
a bunch of gold last time before you left, and
there's a bookstore that kind of just opened
down the way, the Book Den. Pretty odd place,
but I mean, Chester gave me some gold. I went
in, and I've been visiting Penny, the owner there,
every day. I mean, I've learned a lot. And you
actually look over, there is that massive pile
of books I mentioned he was hiding behind last
time. It's a little bit ludicrous. You give Chester
a lot of money for books. You can see now that
most of these look to be, like, explorations
of, like, the ancient histories and mythologies
of the conquered worlds. Though there are a few
mixed among them that kind of stand out. You
can see a book called Touched by Arcanes, or
Red Cover. Ones are a very dark -looking book
that has dragon bones down the side. a light
purplish novel called moon dust. And again, thank
you, Meg. I'm having a lot of fun with this stuff.
This content, uh, the book dens is, is, is from
her new zine. And, uh, I've got early access
to it and I'm going to, I'm going to flop that.
So it's really cool. Yeah. Find that stuff at
the hungry familiar. Find it. Um, but he kind
of likes these kind of, and hey, we have a, we
have a wizard in the party. So, uh, perhaps we'll
be visiting the book den before long. Man, keep
it up. You keep doing what you're doing. You
might save our lives one day. I, uh... Thanks,
Jules. I think you realize, like, besides you,
our lawn is just gaping. I see. So, the mystery's
tied to the lore of our very worlds. What are
you doing every day? I may have questions for
you. Mazir Drakkar, do you know that one? Oh,
yes, I've read that too. That is, uh, Speakers.
with serpents is the general term you find with
that. Someone who can communicate with these
aforementioned serpents. Dracon being the exact
translation of that word. Ancient ones can be
used as well, but serpents, again, seems to be
the older, more primary translation you'll find.
Incredible. Jules, may I borrow this person?
Fiber, what do you think? I just want to be helpful.
Can I help? Help so fucking lutely. He's all
yours, Arhalon. I'm going to rebuild my conspiracy
board. Is that what they're called? That's what
I call them. Just take it one step at a time,
okay? Conspiracy board. All right. With that
done and said, let's move ahead in time just
a little bit. Maybe to just later on that same
day. It could be a different day when you come
back, Blanche. Time is going to be sort of immaterial
here for a bit, but another thing we got to wrap
up is you had information recorded on that diamond
of yours. I'm going to assume that you transferred
it all to Jewel's diamond and gave Palma back
hers because flashbacks don't give you free expensive
shit. Yep, that's totally fine. Yeah, I didn't
intend on taking the diamond. I think when we
asked for it. It was with the understanding of
being borrowed. Cool. I just want to make sure
that's out there. Yeah. But I think that going
over this stuff would probably have to happen
within the same day because Jaune only has one
night at the Pale Moonlight. True, true. Okay.
So unless we want to play that out. Right, right,
right. Okay. So maybe everyone, I'm sure Jules
isn't going to the Pale Moonlight. That sure
as hell isn't happening. So I guess we're going
to see Blanche, Jules, Jaune. all kind of crammed
into the coyote. Maybe, you know, sort of later
on before any sort of crowd comes in, maybe you're
upstairs, you brought the projector up with you
so you can get some privacy. Maybe Arhalon's
there. Would you invite him? Yeah, of course.
Hell yeah. Boy, one of these is going to be kind
of a blow to Arhalon. Oh, God. We'll do that
off screen. Let's go over what you heard. First
of all, Doña Estela. Reading the file, you just
kind of see his number of blackmail. Anyways,
the stuff that Ichimin had in her, you realize
he had it on all of the various Tresna. That's
how he was controlling them, is just utilizing
blackmail and, you know, gaining the upper hand.
Very simple stuff. Is there anything else we
can notice from when Dresden scanned the room?
anything that would be important. I imagine not,
but... I think in that room, mostly, apart from
the files, there's all just kind of tools that
were laid out. Things are being built. Maybe
you see a couple of, like, Marfil prototypes
that were on the sort of desks, but they are
full, melted, gone now. Okay. Maybe show it to
Fibro in case he can figure out how to put something
together. You know what? Maybe. Maybe. He can
reverse engineer it. Exactly. Oh, that's a nice
wrench. Um... Pigman, in parentheses, Goltan.
Let me give you a quick rundown of the gist of
what this says. Golta -Porg was an ettin taken
from the Risenor Peaks around eight years ago.
The lone son of a female ettin named Shalmao.
Golta -Porg was experimented on by Zavar, a cult
contact shared by the LaRoche family. Physical
strength was immense. After his changes, he was
just mind -bogglingly strong. Mind tailored for
reception to combat training. Porg, the more
subdued personality, was buried during experimentation.
His head removed. For ease of control, though,
Porg's mind was brought to the surface. The pig
mask worn serves as a conduit for the soul, or
the head, that basically was Porg. Sleeping mind
that was buried within. But Goltan would be the
primary mind with nothing else there, with nothing
sort of holding. a Porg in place, Goltan would
take over. That's so fucked up. So, Pigman was
not even the dominant personality. Pigman was
buried and brought out by the Mask. Goltan, the
dominant personality, the aggressive and dangerous
personality, savage and brutal, that was the
true Goltaporg. That was the true creature. Goltan
is the true power behind the Pigman persona.
And in case of emergencies, Golton can become
awakened by being directly referred to by name.
You remember Pigman freezing as it's been sent
a message to his mind and saying, Who is Golton?
Before everything went down. And that's what
you know about the Pigman. Jules LaRoche. Here's
a lot. Hot seat. Some stuff we know, some stuff
we don't. A lot of stuff we know, but... Zavar's
experimentation has opened Jules' body up to
the purest influence of magic. Early tests of
the Feywild instrument have proven this. The
boys become a perfect vessel, one to be filled
by Zomateshab. He touches the essence of the
plane with such ease, his own will able to change
the very shapes of souls. Bouts of powerful emotion
currently serve as triggers for this power. It
is also noted that Jules' escape from the Tower
of Authority, Ceres' assure the rest of the cult,
was only another step in his growth on this path.
In the end, he will bow to the Horde Lord's will.
note says, the artistry inherent in Jules' alterations
is remarkable. Serapio's own change was a rapid
thing, where Jules was slowly changed. All the
resources of the LaRoche family pushed towards
a set result. Should this vessel be allowed to
reach full maturity, all of my own efforts combined
will be cowed by this one singular product. There's
just this element of jealousy, even hatred, towards
Jules in these notes. It means notes. It is clear
that Serapio was Ichbin's greatest achievement,
this Tlacatacolo, yet it stands as a mere prototype
in comparison to the demonic weapon that Jules
will no doubt become. In many ways, the earlier
battle in the desert could be seen as a test
drive, a conflict forced between the Fractured
Horde's weapons to see which was the sharper.
And the Tlacatacolo had reached near its peak
in power, while Jules is still growing. The last
and very recent note is an update from Zavar
following the events. of the battle against Jessenth.
Zavar, after hearing word of this battle, had
excitedly concluded that Jules had matured enough
now that he no longer needed a living soul to
tether him. While Cerise would likely disagree,
always erring on the side of caution, Zavar fervently
believed that Jules' life is a detriment to the
Horned Lord now, a shield against his will. If
Jules is to die, Zavar believed, then the Horned
Lord may take his flesh at last. Whoa. Whoa.
Yeah. That's why Zavar did not hold back. It's
also like Jules' biggest strength in his emotion
is also his greatest weakness. Yeah. The entire
time you were saying that, in my head, round
and round, was future Jules. And hitting me that
he's going to need to grow out of that. Yeah.
Another note of interest. Sometimes maybe catch
himself and think a little more rationally. Yeah.
And I think that's maybe the realization that
he needs. Yeah. And the image that he needed
to see to kind of, it hit me, therefore it's
hitting Jules. Yeah. Laying the ground for some
character growth. Yeah. It only cost one Zebulon.
So inexpensive. I'm kidding, Steven. So Monteshav
got shortchanged. Hey, oh, sorry. Zebulon's small.
Don't care. It's funny. Another note of interest,
actually, is that Jules, what you read is, Jules'
modified body can touch many planes. This isn't
so much in the note as something you'd realize
and think about. We've described how this gave
Chester fey magic, and how it turned Jesseth
into a demon. It also explained who was able
to unknowingly guide Zebulon in the feud plane.
especially when you consider the theory of planar
absorption, and the idea that Sansatyan touches
the feud plane just as the horror -filled God's
Breath touches Shadowfell, and the very magical
Samsonko touches the Feywild. One might wonder
if Jules' own abilities bear similarities to
this strange phenomenon that threatens all the
worlds. One may wonder. But that's all for Jules.
Moving on. Calypsania. Very little is written
here. So much not known. All you really kind
of gain from this is that Calabsani is the matriarch
of the Cult of the Fractured Horn, an ancient
black dragon and most hated foe of Sholay Brass.
The first commander of Zomateshav. Current whereabouts
unknown. And there's a line. It's actually from
something you may have heard before. It's kind
of a sort of chant that is used here and there
in like the sort of lore and... What's the word?
What's the word? I guess mythology surrounding
Vosomateshab. Her words are his breath. I read
it wrong already. I was going to say, you have
never said that. I've never said that. Hang on.
Her words are his words. Her breath is his breath.
Her guidance, his hand. And her fury, his horns.
I think you've seen this reference a lot. I heard
this before in your life growing up. But only
now you're connecting it to this Kalapsania,
this dragon. who stands as a pillar of the cult.
And last, Zebulon Brass. Son of Calypsania, foremost
weapon of the Fractured Horn against the interference
of Speaker Xole Brass. In bargain for his deliverance
to Xole, the cult was granted leniency. It needed
to lock down their horns into the politics of
the worlds and the crystal network that informs
them. Zebulon has since been handed over to Xole.
His unknowing role fulfilled. Personal note,
again, my mind is razor sharp, my memory is perfection,
yet I cannot recall a single detail about Calypsoania's
former partner, father to Zebulon. A curse? An
impossibility. What did Xolay do? I don't want
to linger on this long, but that line doesn't
stay. for long in your mind. Almost like he's
being pushed out. Arhalon has this moment of
like sheer panic, sheer rage, like something
is bearing into him. He grabs his head, almost
like bellows out until he calms as if he'd never
heard anything at all. And by the time that slide
has moved past, his maze ticked by, that note
goes forgotten. What note? All right. And with
that, I've been playing really chill music this
entire time. I know. We're talking about, like,
demons and, like, if Jules dies, he's going to
take his body all with the, like, funny pub music
in the background. I was going to change it.
I forgot. No, I loved it. Jules really can't
die. Oh, that's funny. Yeah, Jules cannot die.
We'd be in trouble if Jules died. Yeah. Yeah.
I don't know if... I don't know if my backup
character could handle what would be coming.
We'd have like Jules in the ring and Zalmante
Shab in Jules. And that's not a fair fight. That's
how we keep the bard. Exactly. My backup puts
the ring on. Yeah. Even if your backup's not
actually a bard. Yep. Let's try not to let Jules
die, though. No, I'd prefer not. All right. I'm
going to move things forward very quickly now.
We've been dawdling for long enough. Let's get
some information out of the way. We're going
to see a montage of events. Imagine them, if
you will, like you're watching footage, like
news footage over time, just a statue of the
Crystal Network over the next few weeks. Firstly,
luminaries. Jean Franklin is taking the position.
Blanche is not. What about you, Dresden? I will
say surely you would find that useful. If you
want to step out of the shadows to take up the
role, that is something you are fully allowed
to do. Can he do it without stepping out of the
shadows? Crispin sort of does. You can stay somewhat
muted. You'll get like, I think you'll be acknowledged.
That's fine. But he is not going to take part
in the crowds and the imagery, you know, the
grandeur of it. I think the only one we see really
basking in that in these news sort of feeds is
Sean Frank. I think he would because it's a...
It's a very easy way to actually have a life
for himself. Yeah. Yeah, true. You've got to
move on. You're on your own now. Yeah. Yeah.
His own agency. I think he would, but he's going
to have no part in the grandeur of it and the
spectacle. Yeah. So in that sense, Dresden and
Crispin would be like peas and carrots. Yeah.
Like peas and carrots. I will say this. I'm still
going to have you choose a sponsor because it's
fun. Now, I will say there's a number of sponsors
from Saint -Étienne that would be interested
in having Dresden. The Limp Cactus is looking,
as well as a few casinos, eating venues, even
old Sandy Hill Inn. But there is another option
that you might like. See, there was a sudden
need for metalworkers, a gap that some members
of the revolution had swiftly filled. And it
turns out, Paloma used to be a master in the
craft of forging, her magical scorpion -tailed
dagger being a work of her own art. She and those
loyal to her have been repurposing some of the
Ironworks district into their own company, one
focused on people over profit. They're calling
it simply Freedom Ironworks. Where Marfle's slogan
was, break your chains with something stronger,
Freedom simply declares, we don't make chains.
Damn, that's so badass. Would you want to take
that sponsor? I was going to say Peppers Peppers,
but... Peppers Peppers can only... It's too easy.
Yeah, only so many luminaries can be carried
by one small sponsor. It's a cart. Yeah. Okay.
That sounds appropriate. Then as a bonus, you
may add a dagger of venom to your inventory as
Paloma has gifted you her prized creation, that
scorpion -tailed dagger. I love this, actually.
It seems like you two really kind of got along
very well. So that's really cool. Cool. On this
note, let's discuss Crispin's sponsor. You would
have already had one since you were already a
Luminary. And when I asked you last week, Stephen,
who Crispin would pick, what did you say to me
again? What were your words? Wow, I really, truly,
I remember having this conversation. I don't
remember. I saw that coming. Yeah. You wanted,
like, something to be as nondescript, out of
the way, slow brow, as humanly possible. And
I was like, okay, you know what? Yeah. I know.
Just the place. This has already been, exactly,
yeah. So I think, despite the sort of distance
created as you go off to see Shelley, there is
a day where we see Crispin Dubois. Makes his
way to the saloon doors of the Ugly Coyote. And
moves up to the bar. I think Jules, you just
kind of catch a smile where Adrian sort of nods
down like, Hey, Crispin. Here for the usual?
Hops up on a store. One quick drink and I'm out
of here. All right. Slides you a glass. Slides
you a bag of coin. You, uh, getting a little
popular out there. People starting to come to
my establishment. Maybe want to... Tone it down.
I apologize, friend. Yeah. It's all right. Say
hi to the family for me. Mm -hmm. He knocks the
drink back, grabs his bag of coin, and heads
out the door. To God's breathy and just got to
love him. That was like the most awesome and
the most boring conversation we've ever had on
this show. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. So we're going
to try to not have those two in the room a lot
together. Because it would just be that. It would
be horrible. Oh, that's awesome. I will say,
Jean Franklin becomes the, or becomes sponsored
by the Pale Moonlight. Yes! I love it. He's going
to get free board there from here on out as a
luminary. Damn. Hey, he's... Hot right now. Yeah,
for sure. He knows the place. He can speak to
it. I mean, no one sells a Pam Boone like John
Franklin does. It's his brand. That's like all
he talks about on the media when he's up there.
And not even because he's asked to, because he
wants to. So it's perfect. Match made in heaven.
Perfect. Then let's talk about money. Payout,
guys. You all have sponsors. Here's what you
get. Blanche, you get this too. yeah i mean i'm
gonna say maybe she i don't know does she get
this as a bonus when she comes back like hey
you brought on you brought honor to the to the
golden golden bay you're literally sponsored
by a king of coin who oversees the fishing industry
on noari yeah he's getting a boom and he's gonna
give you some money totally here we go um base
pay for each pc for this arc is 400 gold oh yeah
that feels good mama footage from the jesson
fight will net you another one 100 gold. Ooh,
yeah. Damn. Footage taken during Atash's raid
on Itzman's manor, getting the whole moment when
he came down and started fighting the pig man
and all that, will net Blanche and Dresden specifically
200 gold each. Blanche and Dresden specifically,
you said? Yes, because they were there in that
moment. Before you get too worried about that,
the battle in the lab, should you give it to
Orin to show the world, will net Jules and Crispin
also 200 gold each. And... You can, of course,
cut the footage around bits you don't want to
show, such as a certain necrotic -looking demon
arm that has, as of yet, been unfeatured on the
network. Oh, by the way, in all this montage
shit, I've gotten a new glove. I'm assuming so.
A really nice glove. Oh, absolutely. It matches
my cloak. Oh, that's cool. Honestly, though,
I'm so... Lovely. And actually, I think at this
point, he actually bought a pair of gloves. Because,
kind of weird, just a guy having one glove. On
one hand. I don't know. It's very Midnight Prince
-y. It's so Midnight Prince -y. Imagine one Midnight
Prince glove, one Midnight Prince cape, and it's
like attached with a little rope, kind of like
very opera. Is that an opera thing? I was like,
at this point, am I just Prince? You almost have
a purple guitar. I do. You almost do. I do. Wow.
June was the roast of Midnight Prince getting
his payout. Yeah, so I think in total, what's
that like? So right now for each PC, I have 400
plus 200. And then it seems like there's 100
for a party split. No, 100 each for the Jester
fight. 700 each for what you've done. For PCs.
For PCs, yeah. Not that nice. You got your payout.
Wait, that includes like Dresden and Crispin?
Yes. Woof. All PCs get this, so you put Mark
on all your sheets. Okay. Yeah, so right now,
all four PCs are up to 700 gold. 700. Oh, I got
to add another 100. Whoops. Oh, my God. We're
rolling in the dough. You're rolling it. Hey,
this was a big swing. This was a swing, man.
This was a big swing. Yeah, for real. And let's
talk about how big a swing this was, because
it turns out, Shirley knew what she was talking
about. As we push forward in time, we see footage
showcasing the fall of the LaRoche family. Samuel
LaRoche arrested, sent to the Sky Prison. Cirilla,
removed from office during investigation, locks
herself away in a rural town, not making any
contact. Cerise, as far as anyone can figure,
has vanished into thin air. And right now, there
are no plans to elect another speaker for Tythos,
as there is no Tythos to speak for. One speaker
against Atash, gone. And speaking of speakers...
Speaker Infante of Saint -Étienne has been taken
into custody as well. Evidence connecting him
to the cult has been discovered. And a new speaker
has already been chosen. There was a great stirring
as one of the surviving Pari angel warriors named
Artevazda was chosen by the populace as the new
speaker. The first time in history that a speaker
not native to a world was picked to represent
them. It should be pretty much illegal, and yet
the popular vote took it. That, yeah, that legitimizes
the hostile takeover. The leaders of Sansatyan
had failed their people, and it was the angels
of Ankara and Singhar that set them free, finally.
Maybe this is a good change? I don't know about
that. It stems from another change in Sansatyan.
See, whilst the Tresna have been removed from
office, some of Atash's forces have remained
within the city to help maintain order and guide
Sansatyan into the future. They're just hanging
out. It's a good thing. Good stuff. Do you mean
it's the occupying? And as we move forward, I
want us to take this one last scene, I guess,
before we cut to whatever's next in our little
story. Big crowds surround the gateway into the
diamond. We see the great iron doors open. We
see Artavazda himself is leading a figure bound
by thick, thick chains, magical chains, too strong
for the typical sort of crystal prisons that
they keep as the pig man. shackled and hated,
is being led out into the trade disc all up towards
the jewel. He'll be taken to the Sky Prison.
You see him weeping openly as he looks into the
crowd. There are fruits thrown at him, splashing
against his sort of bare chest, against his head.
He's, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. I didn't mean
to do it. I'm sorry. And just like moving around,
all these people, The children throwing, hating.
And as his eyes look up, they fall on someone
in the crowd who has just pushed their way to
its front. Blanche Trudeau, perhaps you came
back when you heard this was coming. Do you think
you would? Oh, yeah. To see him off? And so I
think our news footage falls in this moment,
falls on you as the pig man's... Weeping, defeated
eyes meet yours. Does anything transpire in this
frozen moment between these two souls? Yeah,
Blanche is going to cast message. Oh. Take heart,
pig man. I don't know when. I don't know how.
But I will get you. I meant to say like... Save
you? Or, like, I meant to mix, like, save you
and get you out. Oh, God. It didn't come out
the right way. Oh, shit. I mean, I thought you
were channeling Liam Neeson. Not what I expected.
Let me try one more time. Let me try one more
time. Recoils of fear. Frozen moment. His eyes
meet yours. I don't know when. I don't know how,
but I will save you. Be strong, as I know you
are. And as the chains sort of pull him forward,
his eyes sort of stay locked on yours. This glimmer
of something. Gratitude? Hope? Maybe just happy
to see one soul out there is still looking out
for him. Maybe just happy to see his friend.
And the pig man is pulled away. You're a monster.
Towards his fate. When we see this party again,
following the events of the return from Saint
-Étienne, nearly a month will have passed. I'm
trying to think of a segue to say we'll call
it there. I didn't feel right. Give me something.
Give me something to work with here. I actually
thought that was a great place to call it. Yeah.
Yeah? Like a really sad note? Yeah. And now it's
perfect because then we can leave this all in
now and you can say... We'll call it there!