WEBVTT 00:00:01.260 --> 00:00:09.359 Hey, pets people! Too much? So the holidays are 00:00:09.359 --> 00:00:11.460 here, and we have found ourselves in a bit of 00:00:11.460 --> 00:00:14.140 a schedule kerfuffle. We can't really meet up 00:00:14.140 --> 00:00:16.500 this week to keep things moving with our main 00:00:16.500 --> 00:00:19.100 heroes, but I figure that doesn't mean we can't 00:00:19.100 --> 00:00:21.339 check out some of the other figures in our conquered 00:00:21.339 --> 00:00:23.839 worlds. So this episode 158 is going to be a 00:00:23.839 --> 00:00:26.699 shorter one, quite short, and it's going to be 00:00:26.699 --> 00:00:30.500 just me. Well... Me and a couple of you. Uh, 00:00:30.679 --> 00:00:34.399 haha, wink. So I hope you can forgive our little 00:00:34.399 --> 00:00:38.939 holiday break. And speaking of holidays, there 00:00:38.939 --> 00:00:42.340 is one swiftly coming upon the Radiance Adele 00:00:42.340 --> 00:00:46.100 and upon all of our conquered worlds. Fifty years 00:00:46.100 --> 00:00:48.960 ago, the stars fell from the skies of the desert 00:00:48.960 --> 00:00:52.079 world of Ankaran Sangar. Shining streaks of light 00:00:52.079 --> 00:00:54.380 crashed into the forces of the Horned Demon's 00:00:54.380 --> 00:00:57.000 army, just as they were about to overwhelm the 00:00:57.000 --> 00:00:59.100 final stand of the combined forces of that world. 00:00:59.560 --> 00:01:02.939 These lights resolved into the forms of celestial 00:01:02.939 --> 00:01:06.579 warriors, led by the brightest hero the conquered 00:01:06.579 --> 00:01:11.780 worlds have ever known. This day, this miracle, 00:01:11.900 --> 00:01:14.000 was quickly adopted as a representative of all 00:01:14.000 --> 00:01:17.030 miracles. and its annual date would come to be 00:01:17.030 --> 00:01:22.390 known as Skylight. Skylight, a celebration of 00:01:22.390 --> 00:01:25.590 not just one singular miracle, but of all miracles, 00:01:25.989 --> 00:01:28.250 an idea that serves as a common bond between 00:01:28.250 --> 00:01:31.989 the once -25 Concord worlds. After all, in these 00:01:31.989 --> 00:01:35.109 magical lands traveled by so many larger -than 00:01:35.109 --> 00:01:37.730 -life heroes, miracles are not an infrequent 00:01:37.730 --> 00:01:41.030 fact of history, yet they are always celebrated. 00:01:41.650 --> 00:01:44.370 And now that day has nearly come upon this year. 00:01:44.840 --> 00:01:47.760 We open up on a point of time somewhat disconnected 00:01:47.760 --> 00:01:50.560 to the events of our main story, though it will 00:01:50.560 --> 00:01:53.079 happen sometime during the current journeys of 00:01:53.079 --> 00:01:56.379 our own larger -than -life heroes. As they travel 00:01:56.379 --> 00:01:58.859 different worlds to create new miracles, the 00:01:58.859 --> 00:02:02.519 Radiant Citadel is preparing to celebrate. We 00:02:02.519 --> 00:02:05.019 see vibrant and unique decorations dotting near 00:02:05.019 --> 00:02:08.180 every structure on the Citadel along the fossil, 00:02:08.379 --> 00:02:11.020 many tied to the stories and cultures of the 00:02:11.020 --> 00:02:14.340 resident or shop owner's homeworld. Luminescent 00:02:14.340 --> 00:02:16.900 orbs are a common favorite, though, with hundreds 00:02:16.900 --> 00:02:19.620 hovering freely in the air, caught in a slow 00:02:19.620 --> 00:02:23.580 dance above the streets. Upon the eve of skylights, 00:02:23.659 --> 00:02:26.400 they will be cast en masse into the keening gloom 00:02:26.400 --> 00:02:29.340 below to hopefully deliver some light into the 00:02:29.340 --> 00:02:33.120 ever -looming darkness. We see the facets of 00:02:33.120 --> 00:02:35.080 the Oral Diamond are animated with short illusion 00:02:35.080 --> 00:02:38.319 -made animations or luminary cast films, each 00:02:38.319 --> 00:02:40.879 telling a story of a miracle from among the worlds. 00:02:41.449 --> 00:02:44.389 On one screen, Fai -Me -Moon of Sumsunko climbs 00:02:44.389 --> 00:02:47.569 to the peak of Avern Mountain to commune with 00:02:47.569 --> 00:02:50.669 the spirits of the land. On another, Queen Jean 00:02:50.669 --> 00:02:53.629 -Mi of Halry stands against the Gwishin of Arathelon, 00:02:53.689 --> 00:02:56.069 the supernova, calling upon the power of our 00:02:56.069 --> 00:02:59.110 ancestry to quell the luminary's undying rage 00:02:59.110 --> 00:03:03.330 alone. On the largest facets of the gem, and 00:03:03.330 --> 00:03:06.009 on all screens connected to the broadcast of 00:03:06.009 --> 00:03:09.050 the crystal network, we see a scene of high honor. 00:03:09.680 --> 00:03:12.599 Atash, commander of the Luminary Adventurers, 00:03:12.740 --> 00:03:15.159 has chosen his lieutenants among their ranks. 00:03:15.400 --> 00:03:18.539 Upon the central stage of the crystalline Aurorotown 00:03:18.539 --> 00:03:21.520 Amphitheater, Atash hovers over the form of one 00:03:21.520 --> 00:03:25.020 Rory King, his hand outstretched towards the 00:03:25.020 --> 00:03:30.819 tiefling. Rory King, your loyalty and drive have 00:03:30.819 --> 00:03:36.090 served our world well. Now, let your blaze light 00:03:36.090 --> 00:03:41.270 the way for our true luminaries to follow. And 00:03:41.270 --> 00:03:45.909 we see Rory take the angel's massive hand. My 00:03:45.909 --> 00:03:49.990 fire shall burn a path for you. Beneath the animated 00:03:49.990 --> 00:03:52.870 screens, we see the trade to Skelas. bursting 00:03:52.870 --> 00:03:55.870 with rushing crowds. The shops all along the 00:03:55.870 --> 00:03:58.110 thoroughfare resound with a buzz of chatter and 00:03:58.110 --> 00:04:00.629 barter. Gifts are being purchased by the armful 00:04:00.629 --> 00:04:02.770 and carried along from shop to stall to food 00:04:02.770 --> 00:04:05.569 cart. Even a certain sad little china shop at 00:04:05.569 --> 00:04:08.030 the edge of the trade discale near the now infamous 00:04:08.030 --> 00:04:11.629 ugly coyote is just crawling with business. The 00:04:11.629 --> 00:04:13.990 coyote itself, of course, is locked down tight 00:04:13.990 --> 00:04:16.930 with an overly large closed sign sitting in front 00:04:16.930 --> 00:04:20.579 of the not -saloon doors. The threat of a good 00:04:20.579 --> 00:04:22.660 holiday business season is enough to keep aiders 00:04:22.660 --> 00:04:26.100 shut down for a span of days every year. We see 00:04:26.100 --> 00:04:28.379 the patch of respite is locked in constant flow 00:04:28.379 --> 00:04:31.160 of ascending and descending gemstones, the twinkling 00:04:31.160 --> 00:04:33.860 forms moving in a faster -than -usual orbit around 00:04:33.860 --> 00:04:36.980 the auroral diamond. Each arrival begets a surging 00:04:36.980 --> 00:04:39.399 wave of new visitors to the Citadel as the hub 00:04:39.399 --> 00:04:41.899 between worlds is shifted to the role of a multicultural 00:04:41.899 --> 00:04:45.259 shopping mall. Despite the recent barrage of 00:04:45.259 --> 00:04:47.060 tragedies and shocks, the people of the conquered 00:04:47.060 --> 00:04:49.759 world share one commonality that pushes them 00:04:49.759 --> 00:04:54.639 into the light. They believe in miracles. Even 00:04:54.639 --> 00:04:58.300 those not seeing the bustling crowds believe. 00:05:00.899 --> 00:05:03.360 Something builds in the shadows of the citadel 00:05:03.360 --> 00:05:06.959 as well. A countercurrent to the excitement and 00:05:06.959 --> 00:05:10.240 frivolity. Folks that perhaps believe even more 00:05:10.240 --> 00:05:13.389 deeply in the power of miracles. And that work 00:05:13.389 --> 00:05:18.009 in secret to create the next one. Justice Undying. 00:05:19.110 --> 00:05:22.009 Amongst those rebels hiding in plain sight, an 00:05:22.009 --> 00:05:24.750 early Skylight's gift has been shared, has been 00:05:24.750 --> 00:05:28.250 in circulation for some time. A gift given by 00:05:28.250 --> 00:05:31.930 luminaries Shrike and Steadfast. A diamond holding 00:05:31.930 --> 00:05:35.170 a particularly embarrassing scene stolen from 00:05:35.170 --> 00:05:38.230 Rune Rusong's collection. It hides in the midst 00:05:38.230 --> 00:05:40.850 of a very full collection of recordings of the 00:05:40.850 --> 00:05:44.490 number two luminary, Fu Liling. This scene in 00:05:44.490 --> 00:05:46.470 question takes place in front of a wide, well 00:05:46.470 --> 00:05:48.889 -stocked bar in the corner of an auroral town 00:05:48.889 --> 00:05:52.410 gala. As the clip starts, we see a very agitated 00:05:52.410 --> 00:05:55.310 Runru Song dressed in the nines in a white fantasy 00:05:55.310 --> 00:05:58.790 suit. He stands beside Fu Liling, the dwarven 00:05:58.790 --> 00:06:01.310 woman dressed in a fine silken robe, light blue 00:06:01.310 --> 00:06:03.269 and embroidered in the style of her homeworld 00:06:03.269 --> 00:06:06.939 of Xing. Her black hair is bound tall with glittering 00:06:06.939 --> 00:06:09.279 blue and white gemstones, and her makeup gives 00:06:09.279 --> 00:06:12.540 her eyes a frosted blue border. Though a dwarf, 00:06:12.660 --> 00:06:16.079 she still looms over the gnome, her nose upturned 00:06:16.079 --> 00:06:19.199 in haughty disgust. They each hold a glass of 00:06:19.199 --> 00:06:21.220 sparkling champagne. The runes is spilling over 00:06:21.220 --> 00:06:23.180 the edge of his glasses. He motions with the 00:06:23.180 --> 00:06:25.759 frustrated exaggeration of one who is deep, deep 00:06:25.759 --> 00:06:30.060 in his cups. Just hear me out. I've been your 00:06:30.060 --> 00:06:34.319 biggest fan forever. I love you, you know? You 00:06:34.319 --> 00:06:37.019 got me in the game. I just wanted to meet you 00:06:37.019 --> 00:06:39.860 and... Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait! He reaches 00:06:39.860 --> 00:06:42.160 out, his hand grasped at the silken robe as Fu 00:06:42.160 --> 00:06:44.740 Lingling tries to step away. Without a word, 00:06:44.819 --> 00:06:48.019 she whirls on Rune and pours her full glass over 00:06:48.019 --> 00:06:52.230 his head. What? He stammers, eyes wide, and Fuliling 00:06:52.230 --> 00:06:54.209 takes the opportunity to slip her robe from his 00:06:54.209 --> 00:06:56.730 fingers and steps away with a rather scathing 00:06:56.730 --> 00:07:00.110 chuckle. Rune watches her, and we see his face 00:07:00.110 --> 00:07:04.949 sets into a look of fury. You, you, you bitch! 00:07:05.350 --> 00:07:08.790 Fine, I don't care what you do. I can, I can 00:07:08.790 --> 00:07:11.350 make you love me. You know that? When all is 00:07:11.350 --> 00:07:13.389 done and we're in charge, you won't have a choice. 00:07:13.529 --> 00:07:16.850 None of you will! The background chatter in the 00:07:16.850 --> 00:07:23.139 scene goes very still. Rune, panting, turns to 00:07:23.139 --> 00:07:26.459 regard the crowd around, a look of dawning horror 00:07:26.459 --> 00:07:29.339 creeping over him. His eyes stop as they lock 00:07:29.339 --> 00:07:31.680 onto the screen onto whatever mystery figure 00:07:31.680 --> 00:07:34.660 had been recording this moment. And we don't 00:07:34.660 --> 00:07:36.959 need Salome's observant feet to see that he mouths 00:07:36.959 --> 00:07:42.100 the word. Fuck. The recording ends. How Rune 00:07:42.100 --> 00:07:43.759 Rusong got a hold of the recording diamond and 00:07:43.759 --> 00:07:45.660 how he managed to bury this incident is really 00:07:45.660 --> 00:07:47.939 no mystery. After all, he has friends in some 00:07:47.939 --> 00:07:51.300 very high places. But why Rune Rasaan kept holding 00:07:51.300 --> 00:07:53.699 the recording is a strange matter. Perhaps he 00:07:53.699 --> 00:07:55.899 just couldn't allow himself to erase any scenes 00:07:55.899 --> 00:07:59.699 involving Fu Liling. Whatever the case, his loathsome 00:07:59.699 --> 00:08:01.480 behavior and threatening words have become yet 00:08:01.480 --> 00:08:04.759 another spark stoking the flames of justice undying. 00:08:05.279 --> 00:08:09.360 And these very flames are about to ignite a powder 00:08:09.360 --> 00:08:14.600 keg. We open on the House of Convalescence. the 00:08:14.600 --> 00:08:16.639 five -tiered wedding cake palace hospital that 00:08:16.639 --> 00:08:19.319 served as the celestial hub on the Radiant Citadel. 00:08:19.759 --> 00:08:23.019 The angelic statue adorning its top smiles down 00:08:23.019 --> 00:08:25.819 the bustling holiday -frenzied crowd moving past. 00:08:26.139 --> 00:08:29.019 And flinging down over this crowd on silent wings, 00:08:29.160 --> 00:08:33.919 we see two figures, two owlin, each carrying 00:08:33.919 --> 00:08:38.039 a stringed instrument, a shamisen, and a noble 00:08:38.039 --> 00:08:42.080 banjo. Luminary Auric Songweaver, the Song of 00:08:42.080 --> 00:08:44.500 the Night, and Gluminary Vesper Songweaver, the 00:08:44.500 --> 00:08:47.379 Midnight Rhymer, are moving into position. Whispers 00:08:47.379 --> 00:08:49.279 break out in the crowd as they pass over by, 00:08:49.500 --> 00:08:52.539 people pointing, laughing, and cheering. And 00:08:52.539 --> 00:08:55.139 they notice that there are two of them. Both 00:08:55.139 --> 00:08:59.320 twins are hero. Hero and villain together. Confused 00:08:59.320 --> 00:09:01.600 murmurings erupt all around. The moving crowd 00:09:01.600 --> 00:09:04.460 stalls before the House of Convalescence to watch. 00:09:05.100 --> 00:09:07.879 We see our two owl and fly to a spot in the center 00:09:07.879 --> 00:09:10.320 of the wide street directly in front of the house 00:09:10.320 --> 00:09:13.519 of convalescence. Beneath them, a light begins 00:09:13.519 --> 00:09:16.379 to shine in a near 30 -foot circle. The crowd 00:09:16.379 --> 00:09:18.899 parts in a brief panic, opening up a space as 00:09:18.899 --> 00:09:22.120 the light rises and shifts, coalescing into a 00:09:22.120 --> 00:09:26.379 new form. Illusory metal framing rising on either 00:09:26.379 --> 00:09:28.879 side of the circle, serving as supports for a 00:09:28.879 --> 00:09:33.179 giant screen that hangs above the street. A jumbotron 00:09:33.179 --> 00:09:36.929 of sorts. Odd gasp and excited chatter resound 00:09:36.929 --> 00:09:39.309 as the Owlen drops into their programmed illusion 00:09:39.309 --> 00:09:42.350 beneath the great screen that shows their stage. 00:09:42.990 --> 00:09:46.549 And here, their instruments of justice and undying 00:09:46.549 --> 00:09:50.370 are slowly drawn out. Auric looks to his twin 00:09:50.370 --> 00:09:52.809 on the stage, then glances at a nearby rooftop 00:09:52.809 --> 00:09:55.750 where the real Vesper Songweaver lies in wait, 00:09:55.909 --> 00:09:58.070 the projected image in the street and on the 00:09:58.070 --> 00:10:00.509 screen being controlled by the Midnight Rhymer 00:10:00.509 --> 00:10:03.009 as he prepares to move on to the next step of 00:10:03.009 --> 00:10:06.220 the plan. With a subtle nod towards his real 00:10:06.220 --> 00:10:08.820 brother, and an obvious one to the fake, Auric 00:10:08.820 --> 00:10:12.220 turns his attention to the crowd. Come one and 00:10:12.220 --> 00:10:14.919 come all, for putting out a conscience thanks 00:10:14.919 --> 00:10:18.159 to all of Adash's angels for showing us how justice 00:10:18.159 --> 00:10:21.720 is blind and their loyalty is undying. And the 00:10:21.720 --> 00:10:25.929 two begin to play. The sharp twang of the shamisen 00:10:25.929 --> 00:10:28.250 mingles with the percussive plink of the banjo. 00:10:28.289 --> 00:10:30.789 The chords boom out towards a house of convalescents, 00:10:30.789 --> 00:10:33.070 and we see a flood of staff and patients flow 00:10:33.070 --> 00:10:37.190 out onto the street. The windows along each tier 00:10:37.190 --> 00:10:39.250 of the wedding cake fill with shadowed forms 00:10:39.250 --> 00:10:42.730 of watchers. As the impromptu concert crowd swells, 00:10:42.730 --> 00:10:44.570 a pattern of swirling lights accompanies the 00:10:44.570 --> 00:10:47.409 music along the path into the hospital. A rather 00:10:47.409 --> 00:10:51.509 hypnotic pattern, one might say. Auric cleverly 00:10:51.509 --> 00:10:53.509 interweaving the spell's somatic elements into 00:10:53.509 --> 00:10:57.250 the plucking of shamisen strings. As the figures 00:10:57.250 --> 00:10:59.649 leading to the entrance stop and stare and throb 00:10:59.649 --> 00:11:02.490 with the music and the lights, they take no notice 00:11:02.490 --> 00:11:06.250 of the very notable figures that move past them, 00:11:06.309 --> 00:11:08.710 pushing into the House of Convalescence to face 00:11:08.710 --> 00:11:12.049 a very unpopulated entrance hall and an elevator 00:11:12.049 --> 00:11:15.980 waiting on the other side. Somewhere above, in 00:11:15.980 --> 00:11:18.399 the long -term care wing on the third floor, 00:11:18.659 --> 00:11:21.799 a man named Cully, known to the world as Orin, 00:11:21.860 --> 00:11:24.940 is being held prisoner. His freedom could give 00:11:24.940 --> 00:11:27.139 a voice to the cause of justice undying that 00:11:27.139 --> 00:11:29.200 would be impossible for the world to ignore. 00:11:29.460 --> 00:11:32.779 His experiences, his truth, a blade that could 00:11:32.779 --> 00:11:35.539 slice through the sapphire's intricate web of 00:11:35.539 --> 00:11:38.899 lies. unbeknownst to the Sapphire, unbeknownst 00:11:38.899 --> 00:11:41.200 to the crowds of the Citadel, unbeknownst even 00:11:41.200 --> 00:11:46.240 to our primary cast of heroes, a third arc to 00:11:46.240 --> 00:11:51.460 retrieve a third weapon has just begun. And we'll 00:11:51.460 --> 00:11:54.259 call it there. Happy Skylights, everyone.