Hello there, and thanks for tuning in to listen
to Friends of Morty, a new D &D actual play podcast.
My name is Tony Ruperto, your DM here to guide
you on this new adventure. We are releasing two
episodes to start off. This is our session zero,
lots of world and character building. We've also
got session one up that dives right into the
action. If you're starting here with this episode
to listen to our players explore their world
a bit, we are glad you're here and welcome. to
the world of Harith, a world filled with magic,
fantasy, talking horses, and a lot of really
hot androgynous elves. Following the events of
our previous campaign, our players found out
that they were trapped in a world created for
them by the big bad evil guy, Gano. The players
then returned to their home world with one massive
change. Fifty years have passed since they were
imprisoned. Whatever life they had or thought
that they had is long gone. Moments after learning
this, our players were urged into hiding by none
other than Gano's estranged father, King of the
city of Karim, King Frode. His advisor, Tenzin,
helped secure passage for the newly formed party
by ship, but not before informing them of the
Maccabean rebellion. An uprising growing forces
against Gano, the same rebellion that party member
Esther was part of long - ago at its nascent
sea, but for a very different reason. Other horrors
have taken place during the last 50 years, like
our own Volandros' home of a carrion being covered
in the desert sands, his noble family scattered
to the winds, but you'll learn all about that
and more. Now they've arrived in a new city.
Chitegatse, on the small continent of Anima,
the old home of our own Galleous, as they rediscover
their world, wondering what else has changed
in the past 50 years that they've been absent,
why they were imprisoned by Gano in the first
place, and why they were the first ever to be
sealed away. Let's introduce our adventurers,
shall we? My name is Hagar, and I play Esther
Cohen, aka Esty. Esti is a war cleric from Puremount.
She comes from a long line of Aasimar priests
and has never really left the Temple of Velsir
until she was taken by Gano. So she is sheltered,
her best friend is an owl, she is constantly
overwhelmed by the secular world, but give her
an axe and her inner rage will take over. Esti
has very fuzzy memories of who she was under
Gano's mind prison. A lovable bard who was really
into fame and women and weed. seemingly the polar
opposite of who Estie knows herself to be in
this world, which is pretty disorienting. She
is determined to join the Maccabees and defeat
Gano, but also finally live her life on her terms.
Estie wants to figure out who she is outside
of the temple she was raised in, or some shitty
dude's mind prison. I'm Katie, and I play Volandris
Kediri, a noble warlock who has lost his nobility.
Born Asimar in a human family, Volandros' parents
believed him chosen by the gods and skipped him
over his three brothers to be next in line for
the lordship. As young Volandros was inducted
to the world of politics, war, and protecting
the good Kediri name at all costs, he found himself
wishing for another life. Eventually, he snuck
away to travel, discovering a life of anonymity.
However, his thirst for power and burgeoning
interest in the occult led him down a dark path.
He attempted to take on an archfey patron to
grant him power, but it went horribly wrong when
the archfey revealed herself as a demon who tricked
him into trading his soul. Horrified and humiliated,
Volandros was searching for a way to free himself
when he was thrown into Ganol's prison. Inside
that strange world, he remembers being, embarrassingly,
a low -born tiefling thief. And now that he's
back, he's determined to achieve his original
goal of making the demon, and Gano, pay. My name
is Brian, and I play Galleous Estris, a School
of Illusion wizard. In his early childhood, Galleous
was revealed to be a changeling to his human
parents, who disowned him for fear that he was
not their own child. Living first in an orphanage,
then out onto the streets, Galleous first fell
in with a thieves' guild, where his powers as
a changeling were prized, eventually working
undercover to gather information and a brothel
under the assumed identity of the courtesan Primrose.
Long fascinated by how appearances shape reality,
he developed a fascination with illusion magic
and decided to save his pay to enroll in a magical
education. Cynical, rude, and possessing a bit
of a superiority complex, controlling others'
perceptions felt like Galleous' calling. Once
he saved up enough gold, He stepped into a new
identity as a School of Illusion wizard. When
he finally set out for his own journey, he was
kidnapped and thrust into Gano's prison, living
as a naive and innocent half -elf paladin. Newly
escaped from his prison with his new peers, Galleus
wants revenge. Shall we get started? Let's go!
So, thanks for listening to our intro, and let's
get right into the play. Say, hi gays! Hi gays!
So, the three of you are on this ship, the Dreams
Vale, approaching the city of Chitagatse. After
three long days of travel at sea, you finally
see the city come into view in the distance.
You get closer to the mainland. Some time passes,
an hour or two, as you slowly and slowly approach
a very small, straight, a straight enema. Like
boo. A straight. Can I get an enema please? I
have to get an enema. Might as well. Coffee enema
even? Okay, Rue. Where the captain talks to someone
who is operating some of the levies and stuff
that that make up this straight and things that
I totally as a DM know how a straight works.
I wrote the book on how straights work. Yeah.
And you know, you make your way into the city.
of Chitagatse. A city focused more on building
out than up. To preserve the views and the natural
beauty of the land, it sprawls along the southern
edge of Varanestra Lake. Galleous, you lived
here for a long time. You know that this city
is sectioned into a handful of different areas,
and it's a powerhouse when it comes to trade
and defense. It benefits from being on a massive
body of water that is enclosed on all sides,
with very small straits that allow for ship entry
and exits from its waters. While other cities
are open to the world and such, sitting on the
seas or ocean fronts, Chigatse is protected and
yet still has the means to trade and travel.
Plus its unique architecture attracts folks from
all over to visit and spend time and money in
its confines. As the ship courses around the
southern edge of the lake, you take in the sights
of the city. Its widespread low rambling buildings
with varying shades, mainly reds and some blues
and greens dotting the land. The occasional building
poking above, greeting you as you pass by. A
large castle -like church looking building far
off into the distance. After some time, you enter
into a large harbor. Bells dinging all around
you, workers yelling and securing boats to docks.
A tall Goliath man yells and gestures. for your
boat to enter one of the docks along the coastline.
Throws a rope to one of the deckhands on the
ship who begins tying it to a port, the rope
immediately begins to glow with arcane energy
as the ship smoothly slips into place as a large
ramp begins to descend to the dock. Welcome to
Jigatse. How, at a glance, different does it
look since last I was here? Relatively similar.
50 years to a city. really isn't all that long
unless something catastrophic has happened, like
being covered in sand. But it doesn't look like
anything crazy significant has taken place. So
what would you like to do? Are we at the dock?
You are standing on the boat ramp in front of
you, waiting to, you know, you can go down if
you want. Did we get our payment from... We were
not promised any payment. We had been paid in
advance. We were to tell him, which we didn't
actually tell him that, but we were. Because
we were just in this for passing. He didn't question
us. Yes. I'd rather not talk to this guy ever
again. I will turn in a brief effort to be polite.
Connection open. Thank you for the trip. Good
day. All right, good day. And I leave. Volandros
offers his hand to Shake. All right, and he grabs
it. It's very limp. All right. Well, Volandros
gives him a fairly firm handshake in return and
says, uh, safe voyages. Thanks. Uh, thank you
very much. All right. Bye, Esther. I'm going
to send Bigby to shake his claw. Oh, this is
interesting. Yeah, where I come from in the temple,
that's a, you know, how to show a measure of
respect to someone when you send your celestial
owl to. Shake claws with you. All right. As you
start to make your way, you hear a... Wait! Wait!
Melandris! Tina. Hi. Hi. Um, thanks so much for
helping me learn how to read and write. Here,
I want you to have this. These are my binoculars.
Well, I mean, the last time you tried to give
this to me, I said... Truly, you don't have to.
And then I ran away, I know. It's completely
alright if you wish to do the same again. No,
I can just buy another. You're five. And? Oh.
What did you say your last name was again? I'm
not telling you. My mommy told me not to tell
people my name. Smart girl. Well, I mean, if
you insist. You could try to steal me. I... You
know, I don't think your father would appreciate
that and he is very much looking forward to seeing
you next Oh, right because he's gonna be here.
I can't wait to see him. Yes. Oh Whenever that
is it will be wonderful. Well, I'm sure it's
gonna be soon. You read the letter, right? Thank
you so much for these binoculars I will treasure
them always I hope you do I will think of you
every time I hold them to my face You grab them
and they are so sticky Ugh. Disgusting. I mean,
thank you. Truly. All right. Well, have a nice
life. Um, you too. Thanks. I will. Take care.
All right, Tina. See ya. Goodbye. I don't know
what your name is. You don't need to know. That's
right. You shouldn't tell people your name like
my mom said. That's why I'm Tina. I know, Tina.
We have a history. Take care. All right. This
is already down. Like, just waiting at the bottom
for them, not turning around to look at this
child. So what would you all like to do? You're
standing in the harbor. Let me pull out a map
for you. Gellis, you know your way around, right?
What's around here? Yes, well, you know, 50 years,
but we should probably find a nice inn or hotel,
at least, to stay for the evening. Um... And
I want to lead them. I want to look for like
in a tavern or something, and I want to lead
them generally in the direction pretty close
to as close as I can get while still being in
a reputable neighborhood in the direction of
the velvet pillow. Sure, sure, like just I want
to get nearby it, but as close nearby I can get
that we're still in a reputable, not surrounded
by brothels neighborhood. Sure, sure. So you
know that the velvet pillow is in Jan van Zand,
which is also where most of the restaurants and
taverns and such are also at. So you'd be able
to kind of get in that direction if that's what
you like. I would like. In order to get there,
you're gonna have to walk through Handover Harbor,
which is the large harbor area that you'll have
walked in. You'll have to walk through Pennypunch
Steps, which has most of your general shops and
such. And then you can take a small bridge over
to Jan Fen's Hand, which is... a rambling of
different taverns, restaurants. There's some
places for people to buy their groceries and
such with some market stalls set up. And what
would you like to do? Are you trying to, you
know, just happen to stumble upon it? No, I want
us to get lodging nearby so I can like kind of
sneak over there later on my own. So I'm just
looking for a nice inn and tavern of decent repute
for us to crash for the night. We looking for
the... Cheapest, most expensive, some more in
the middle. Absolutely not. At minimum middle
of the road. Okay. So you know that there is
a tavern that you've previously stayed at many
times called Home of Hoorayth and... Home of
Hoorayth? Home of Hoorayth. Sorry. Home, home
of Hoorayth. And you make your way there and
50 years later it is still in operation. Perfect.
You open the door. It is a cozy tavern built
with wood and stone, and there's a dog in there
who greets you as soon as you walk in, of which
the owner says, ah, Appa, get back here, and
greets you and says, oh, good, good, good afternoon
to all of you. How can I help you? We were just
looking for three rooms to secure for the evening
while we make our way about the city. That'll
be about 50 silver each. All right. You all each
grab a key to a certain room that you have for
the evening if you would so like. Anything in
particular you'd like to get up to the city or
just want to wander around and see what you find?
I would like a few minutes, maybe an hour to
myself to go see if I can find any contacts if
you two wouldn't mind a little privacy. Sure,
by all means. Maybe I really enjoy the wine.
Before maybe we can have a glass of wine or something.
I put one gold on the table and say drinks on
me Well, thank you galleys much appreciated.
I have to go see to some things and I go over
to the bartender and I discreetly asked Tell
me I've been out of the city for some time, but
I am looking for Madame Throne Another visitor
at the velvet pillow, I see. You could say that.
Well, that's where you'll find her. Same place
it has been for a very long time. I let down
just like a deep sigh of relief and I slip upstairs
to my bedroom. Mm -hmm. And I'm gonna change
my clothes and I have, I'm gonna shape shift
into Primrose, my other... persona. So whereas
Galleus is currently masquerading as in Asimar,
but he's currently what? Generally a thin, you
know, young man. Primrose is a very voluptuous,
as if like target design, like design for the
male gaze, like ridiculously. Beautiful, long
brown hair. Big busty titties. Big busty titties.
Wearing a very skimpy, almost like dancer's outfit.
Little like just barely on the edge of what you
could call classy and acceptable but like way
more revealing like not high society like and
Primrose saunters down the stairs And just checks
out the table of our friends and just gives each
of them like an assessing look on the way out
and walks outside All right. Yeah, you both see
a busty young woman what? human Yeah, walk past
you, give you a little wink as she walks out
from upstairs. I blush. What? Did she just wink
at us? Volandros also blushes, but very, very
slightly. And he turns to Esti. Kind of like
a little bit taken aback and says, oh, I suppose
this tavern wasn't quite as reputable as Galleous
led me to think. Why does she also like cheat
in dice games? Is that? I wouldn't be surprised.
Oh, yeah, that's not cool. I did. I mean, she
seemed nice with the wink, but. Well. I never
trust a winker. Never trust a winker. I write
that in my journal. Never trust a winker. I'm
learning. I'm learning. Not any other language.
Frimrose is going to pause at the door on the
way out and then turn around and walk directly
to their table. Sit down and grab Volandrius'
wine glass and just like take a sip and say,
charmed, I'm sure you must both be. I am speechless.
I was like, uh, Esti, uh, temple, um, latkes
sometimes, um, dreidel in bag, um, hi. A godly
woman. Yes, that, that is I, that is me. And
you? This is Bigby, my friend. Um, well, I just,
just a traveler. Just a traveler. What's your
name? Uh, my name is Val. Val. Val Cloaker. Val
Cloaker. Yes. Val. Esty. Yeah? You must be friends
of Galleous. You know Galleous? I do. He just
left! You just missed him! We caught each other
in the stairs. Oh! Um, it isn't... It's a matter
of some delicacy, but... We are former associates.
And he asked... me to check in on a couple of
things for him. All right. And then friend Moses
is going to like, laugh to herself for a second
and say, you can come if you would like. We're
going to go gather some information on some friends.
Where is Galeus? He said he was going out. Oh,
yes. He went upstairs and then I don't know,
he might have found another exit or something.
Oh, hmm. Come with you where exactly? Oh, just
a little establishment Let me consult Bigby for
a second Why don't you two take a minute? I'll
go get myself a drink. Oh, okay. Great. Oh Is
that a is that a yes or a no? I don't know. You're
pretty good at reading people Bigby. Oh You like
her? Oh, okay. Thank you saying who who? The
busty lady there. Oh, Bigby! Get down, Bigby!
Calm down. Val, what do you think? I think this
is very strange. It is very strange. It's not
the first time I've been approached by a beautiful
woman and invited to go somewhere. First time
for me. Should we go? Well, how long do you think
we'll be gone for? Because Galleus has said an
hour or two and I would hate to miss him. Always
thinking. Hour of two would be plenty of time.
Well, I mean, we don't have any plans. We were
just going to sit and drink and I haven't seen
Chagatse for such a long time. I would love to
see the city. Yes, why don't I show you around
a little bit on the way? Well, a friend of Galleus
is a friend of mine. Delightful. And me and Bigby
also. Yeah. You're very... Trusting you too.
Yeah, make a um perception check for both of
for for me both of you 11 Dirty 20. Okay. Well
here dirty 20 this female beautiful female Has
seemingly come out of nowhere as soon as you've
entered into a city that you none of you have
been in for 50 years and she is easily Way younger
than 50 years old and human which age at normal
paces and show certain minds So that's probably
the only thing the wine that I trucked must be
the wine Anyway, um before we go. Maybe you can
tell me though. How did you and Galleous meet?
How long ago And then like a like crosses Galleous
promotes his mind of like Did not think about
that, uh, and... Why do you ask? Well, I just
would expect. You know, the galleys that I know
tends to hang out with older people. Much older,
maybe 50 years? Hmm, well, how do I put this?
Delicately. Don't trust all that you see. That's
all you need to know. Yes. And that is advice
that I will take to heart, and I'm afraid that
just knowing someone's name doesn't really make
you an acquaintance necessarily, does it? I would
much rather be introduced formally by our friend,
our mutual friend, Galleous. So if you care to
sit with us, by all means you are welcome. But
until then, Essie and I will remain right here
and wait for our friend. You said that Galleus
was upstairs. I... Perhaps you could go and get
him. As you're talking, I'm sending Galleus a
message. Can you message him? Magic initiate,
buddy. I'm like, Galleus, who is this lady who
winked at me and is kind of, I don't know, coming
onto us and wants us to go with her? You get
that message. I get that message. For a message,
you have to point your finger towards a creature
within range and whisper the message. It does
go through solid objects, if you're familiar
with it, and it can go through stuff. It doesn't
follow a straight line, however... To cast message,
you have to point it in a certain direction.
So, and Primrose is not in that direction. I'm
gonna say that that message kind of goes out
into the ether. And you're not able to connect
with, like, you get the sense that you sent out
that message you can't find, Galleous. I'm sending
a message to you. I just tried to send a message
upstairs. I did this, I pointed upwards, and
no one got the message. So Volandros replies,
and he says, suddenly I am worried for the well
-being of our friend and we should go and check
on him. I agree. You two look like you're having
a little conversation privately. You don't want
to drink with me? How about I stay here, you
go upstairs and check on the book that I wanted
you to get for me. If you really want to check
on Galleous, why don't all three of us go upstairs?
No, I have a Hanukkah book upstairs. I just love
reading Hanukkah tales. Why don't all three of
us go upstairs and Galleous can introduce us
all? You want all three of us to go up to a bedroom
with you? Well, sure. What could possibly happen?
The two of you clearly outnumber little old me.
I'm not carrying any weapons. Well, you can see
everything that I'm wearing. It's not large.
So we can see. You don't want to have a drink
with me? She stands up drinking hand. You said
you wanted that introduction, didn't you? Lead
the way. And it's like so the landers is getting
up He's not going to do anything super dramatic
like conjure his glaive But he is like part of
him is worried that this mysterious sexy lady
has murdered his friend And it's now about to
like, you know, like murder that he about it.
There could be we're supposed to be laying low
There could be assassins out after us like Gano
could have sent anyone after us. So so the landers
is kind of putting his hand on the hill of his
dagger, which is at his side just in case, but
in a very subtle way. And as he stands up and
says, lead the way. Primrose walks in the direction
of the stairs, a very sultry sort of walk, like
it's just always on with her. She's extra as
hell. And we get up to Gallius's room and she
takes out his key and opens up the door and steps
inside and then turns around and like... strikes
a cute little pose and says, come on in. I come
on in. I peek through the door. I'm not seeing
anyone else in there into laughter, like just
actually just like part like belly laugh laughing.
This is. And then I have something to confess
to the two of you. Where's Galeus? He's fine.
Well, I don't see him. But I'm not an associate
of Galleous. Galleous has not been entirely honest
with you about something. It's the die, right?
He did cheat. I saw it. Essie is taking that
to the grave. Yeah. And then she does like a
little like and just transforms back into Galleous.
What? Hello, friends. Well, Andris is just mouth
open, like jaw dropped. Estie, can you come in?
We can shut the door. What in the name of Elsir
is this? He gestures again and then turns into
the human version of him, the half -elf version
of himself, not celestial version of himself.
This is how I typically present. What? You're
a change thing. You're fast. You're fascinating.
You, hi. The results you expected. This is incredible.
I'm a changeling. You're not, you're not a brother.
That's a matter of some flexibility, shall we
say. And then snaps a finger and turns back into
Primrose. I'm still me. It's just, I've got options.
So you've lied to us. That's one thing. Also,
that means that... I was having a little fun
downstairs. I was going to tell you. Yeah, but
now we really don't know why we were chosen by
Gano, because we're not all... Because we are
not all Aasimar. Which is why I knew I would
have to tell you. I didn't want to do it on the
boat, because sailors and nowhere to go. I couldn't
bring out any of my other personas, but it seemed
prudent that the two of you should know. It is
not something I'm very public about. Uh, Volandros
is just taking this in, like, he's doing, like,
you know, the, um, you know, the gif of, like,
Julia Roberts. With the man? He's just, like,
putting things together, making connections.
It's, like, thoughts are zipping. He's processing.
But yes, I'm not Celestial. I'm Faye. You're
Faye? Well, I mean, I knew you were Faye. But
I'm Faye Faye. But you're Faye Faye. This is
Limprist Faye. Limprist Faye. Again, when you
can... Choose your gender of the day. It kind
of becomes irrelevant. That's pretty cool, I
guess. Thanks. Can you promise not to lie anymore?
I really don't care that you're Faye. You don't
have to be an Asimar to... Yes, it was... You
two came out of the prison first and you were
in front of me and I saw that everyone else was
an Asimar and it just seemed a safe thing to
do. Once I had committed to the lie and been
introduced to a king and packed off on a ship,
there weren't... opportunities to disabuse you
of that illusion. So I waited until we got here.
Of course, you were just trying to protect yourself.
And once we once I decided I was going to tell
you, I had to have a little bit of fun with it.
Oh, my God. You should have seen the look on
your faces when I sat down at that table. Oh,
you winked at us. Yeah, that was you. Oh, yes.
That was you. So those associates that I wanted
to check in with, I lived as Primrose for a couple
of years in the city, and I did some work that,
well. Like accounting or? There was, there were
coins exchanged. I don't think it was that kind
of work, Esti. It's not a work. Let's just say
Primrose is very experienced at giving people
what they want. So, okay. So she's a little...
Lose? When it's called for. Okay. I mean, no
judgment. Just save up the money to get into
the Wizarding Academy somehow. Incredible. I
am very glad to have you as an ally, Primrose.
You're welcome. All right, some time. passes
as you discuss, unless there's anything in specific
you each want to delve into a little bit more.
I'm good. I'm just having fun. We're just drinking
wine. We're just three buds. Three buddies drinking
wine, but Landers isn't ready yet. S .E. is enjoying
all these new experiences and new friends. Getting
close. Loose friends. Loose friends. Loose friends
in high places. Is that her party name? Yeah.
Loose friends in high places. That's the name
of the podcast. so you passed and that's the
name of the episode loose friend you um pass
am I accidentally naming all of our shit uh -huh
uh -huh in the tavern that you are in it has
become busier as the day has progressed as the
three of you have sat and talked it is now dusk
the moon is in the sky the city is alive with
people moving back and forth outside. You're
currently in the district of Janfen's Hand, which
is where all of the taverns, brothels, shops,
and things. Not all the shops, but a decent amount
are. So it is a busy, bustling area. And in the
tavern, there's also a calling board that has
some different things posted on it, but the night
is yours. What would you like to do? Why don't
we look at the board? We need some gigs, you
guys. We definitely need some gigs. I think experience
would help us, but I do have some old friends
in the city that I would like to check in with,
you know, while we're here. And they're presumed
to be alive. Even after 50 years? Yes. They'll
be older. Yes. But not so old that they should
die. I asked after one particular person at the
bar and they informed me that she is where she
always has been. which was a great relief. Do
you want us to go with you? If you would enjoy
it, there are a lot of women such as myself there.
Changelings? No! Accountants? Accountants, yes.
It's a house of all accountants that generates
quite a bit of wealth into the city. I do like
wealth. Prior to studying magic, I made a living
there for some time, accounting. The powers of
a changeling are in very high demand in such
a business. Okay, I mean, I don't have any interest
in accounting, obviously, but I'm, you know,
I want to be a supportive friend, so... Estie,
are you sure that this is the kind of establishment
that you would be comfortable in? It's not literally
accounting. I know, I know. We're speaking the
same language. I'm not comfortable anywhere,
Val, so might as well face it. A lot of anxiety.
So, you know, I might as well get used to it,
right? I left home and I'm gonna get used to
it. Well, several of the ladies and several of
the lads too can be very accommodating to one
who is uncomfortable in that environment. I say
nothing. I turn into gaseous form even though
even though I don't have that spell and I disappear
into nothingness. It's still pretty early in
the night. Okay, so the we probably have a couple
hours to kill because the the the the I mean
it is open. You know, you know, it is it is late
enough where it's open. Is it late enough where
it's it's heightened period where they're getting
most of their customers? No, but it is open.
Okay, so then sooner is probably better. I think
I would assume we can, you know, talk to Madame
Throne is her name. Madame Throne. Throne. Yes,
I would like to see how things are. And I don't
know, we're just from there and find some jobs.
All right, so. The three of you collect yourselves,
pay your tab at the bar, which you already did
last session, and make your way out into the
streets of Chitegatse, specifically into the
streets of Yonfin's hand. I have a question.
Absolutely. As we are on the streets, this is
something that I think I'd be very attentive
to. How are people dressed? What are people wearing?
Because Primrose is a little concerned about
being 50 years out of date as far as fashion.
Good point. So I just want to like... Like, how
out of place is what we are wearing, if at all?
Okay, make a perception check. Oh, that's a four.
18 plus what? 19. I thought you were like, that's
a four. For guidance. I love your number. You
can tell that your fashion is a little bit out
of place and that someone who is looking might
think that you are poor. or that you're just
really obsessed with fashion from a different
time. You know, even today in our real world,
people like sometimes dress like they're in the
80s or, you know, in the 90s and stuff like that.
And it sticks out when we see it, but it doesn't
necessarily say, oh, that person's been out of
this world, you know, for 50 years. Your fashion
is definitely out of touch, but not to the point
where people are like, you know, you're not...
You know, it's not like you're the equivalent
of walking around in a suit of armor in today's
world Yeah, we're just a little dated. Yeah,
but the the fashion has progressed and specifically
in the streets what you notice is that there
is a mix of of Every different type of race of
people in the streets here that look like also
a mix of different wealths and statuses. There's
also a decent presence of the city guard, because
Yonfen Sand is right next to the military district.
So there are guards walking around in the streets
as well, and the buildings are low. Most of them
have these red roofed tiles around them, on top
of them, and they're kind of built very close
together, making these very windy, twisty streets
with cobblestone on them for you to walk through.
You know your way. to the Velvet Pillow, like
the back of your hand, is that where you would
like to lead them? Directly, yes. All right.
You make your way, twisting and turning through
the streets of Janvin's hand, and eventually,
after a few minutes of walking, you see a similar
sign that has been since changed out, but still
using the same symbols and lettering for the
Velvet Pillow. It looks like the sign got an
upgrade. You remember it being a little bit...
Ragged and it has changed from a wooden sign
to an iron sign now and has been enchanted with
a bit of a glow And there's a little pillow icon
at the end at the bottom of it And there is a
large glass and iron door Are you both ready?
I'm sweating in my armor profusely But I say
yep, I'm ready. This was home for a time and
then promos, you know Pushes the door open and
strides directly inside. You push the door open
and immediately the the sounds the smells the
tastes of the air around you just immediately
change from the bright open outside air the smells
of smokes and perfumes the sounds of drumbeats
and the sounds of like very soothing brass instruments
fill your ears and noses and your eyes are just
immediately assaulted with tons of fabrics of
reds and purples and yellows. You walk into the
entryway, which is modest compared to what the
rest of the building would be. There are very
comfortable pillows set around the entirety of
this entry foyer, and there is a desk at the
end of which behind it stands a tabaxi who purrs
slightly as you walk in and say, Welcome to the
velvet pillow. Are you here to rest your head?
On business, actually. I'm looking for Madame
Throne. Ah. May I ask who's calling? A former
employee. You can give her my name, Primrose.
Are you waiting for a payment? No, I'm looking
more for a... What's the word? Like a reunite.
Real me is actually - Like a social calling.
Like a reuniting with someone. Like there's a
word for that. Reunion? Like a reunion. Like
when you reunite with someone. How do you call
it though? More of a reunion. All right. Well,
any employee past or present of Madame Throne
knows that she does not like to be disturbed.
Is she with a client? No. I think she - Persuasion
check. I might make an exception. Guidance. Nineteen.
Nineteen. He sighs, says, alright, but it won't
be my tail on the line. Turns and walks out briefly.
A minute or so passes. You are all standing in
an entryway. You see a head perp from a curtain
behind of a tiefling woman who looks at the three
of you and says, I hope I have the three of you
tonight. Oh my god. And then she pokes her head
back in the curtain. This is just like, idly,
like, nervously, like, checking and like, fiddling
with her fingernails. Just like, a little nervous.
Yeah, Volandros just looked away. I'm just punching
your arm, being like, did you? What? I'm not
nervous about that. I'm nervous about seeing
Throne again. Yeah. Yeah. I don't even take the
moment to make fun of my friend for being nervous
like I normally would. After another minute or
so time passes and the man the tobacco seat walks
back in says Go ahead Thank you, God I Just sway
on past and like swirl a little finger like come
come to my allies to follow I suppose that's
our cue. Yeah, that was a cat you guys I've never
Esti Come on. Sorry. Okay, let's go. Do they
not have those? No, I've never seen that. You've
never seen a cat? No, I've never seen a cat man.
First of all, they're not called cats. They're
called tabaxis. The velvet pillow caters to all
ranges of tastes if they have a coin. Wonderful.
So you make your way through. Through the velvet
pillow of which SD goes through So many interior
emotions as you are seeing tits out dicks out
walking around You are seeing people having like
full -on sex in the corner in the back of the
room. You said kind of campaign. I swear It just
happens to start with a brothel. You are seeing
people lead others into private rooms and such.
Things that you are like, whoa. I cover the dicks,
but I open my hand just ever so slightly for
the tits. Lovely. Just so I see a little bit
of tits, but I cover the dicks. Just a respectable
amount. Yep, yep. Yeah. You walk through, definitely
getting winks as each of you walk through. Maybe
the occasional hand might like land on the landress's
shoulder as he walks by from someone. And then
you make your way to where you know Madame Therony's
office to be, of which you knock on the door.
Come in. I, uh... Yeah, as Primrose, I'm gonna
just open the door. I'm gonna drop the whole
sultry, like, way of walking facade, uh, and
she actually, if you guys are, like, really perceptive,
uh, her proportions get a little less cartoonishly
over -exaggerated as, like, a slightly more vulnerable,
realistic -looking person. Her tits shrink. Uh,
what? Her tits shrink. Her tits shrink. Tits
of shrinking. A little bit. The potion, like,
consumed. subtly just a subtle shrink you've
changed and you know with like hope and nervousness
fluttering together in her heart she tosses open
the door um all right yeah you toss open the
door not like violently but like a like step
directly into the room she makes an entrance
she makes an entrance you toss open the door
into a just beautifully decorated room filled
with floating lights, massive pillows, stacks
of papers and books all over, a large desk that
is cluttered with a massive amount of paperwork,
little sacks of coins here and there, and you
see behind the desk Madame Throne, a very short,
very old human. woman. She has aged 50 years
since you have last seen her. She was probably
middle -aged when you were working there, and
now insanely elderly. Like, should not still
be working there, but definitely still is running
the place. She's writing, looking down at her
desk, not even looking up, and saying, what do
you want? Primus just puts a hand to her chest
in shock of just taking it in. She knew logically
that 50 years had been passed, but it was not
an emotional reality yet until setting eyes on
Throne and seeing all that she has missed. And
she just quietly says first, it's true. Madam
Mother, I've come home. She looks up and then
gasps and says, Yonfen, be gone. Do my eyes deceive
me? Primrose? I've got a lot of explaining to
do, but I am back and... No, it can't be true.
No, come here. As she steps forward, she actually
like shrinks and Galleus has another persona
that he has not revealed to the friends. That
is him when he was much younger, when he first
arrived at the brothel and was like still male
presenting that goes by Galleus Rondel or just
Rondel for short. So he slips into like essentially
like a 17 year old version of himself and shrinks
down and becomes like more masculine again, but
very slight, a little more effeminate and says,
It has been no time at all for me, and I have
only just learned how long it has been that I've
been gone. As you step in, the three of you walk
into the room. Gally is changing forms again.
She breathes in deeply with this massive internal
sigh. walks up to you very slowly. She's short.
She's very short. The size of a gnome or a halfling,
even though she's human. And she's very old.
She's walking slowly, looking up at you. And
as she sees you change forms, sighs, stares at
you for a little bit with this like antagonizing
gaze, turns back to the desk, grabs something
off of it. Then turns back to you and holds up
a newspaper as she starts whacking you and she
says What are you doing? What what is your problem?
You know, I thought you were dead. I accepted
your death along with my husband for so long
What is your problem? Where have you been? You
told me you were coming back You go and you go
off and you become a wizard at the academy You
think you're better than all of us and you leave
us for 50 years? I have thought you've been dead
for so much time I accepted your death and now
you come back. What is your problem girl? she,
like, puts her hands up in front of her and becomes
right back to Primrose again. It was like, I
can explain. I can explain. Please, please don't
be upset. I'm just so happy to see you again.
I was so afraid that I wouldn't have the chance.
I was kidnapped. These two were as well. We were
sealed away. You can... I haven't... She takes
a deep breath and she's like, not sure where
to start. I... had only been gone at the Academy
for two years. I was planning on coming back
maybe three or four years, but that's beside
the point. It was not 50. And I don't know what
happened. I was kidnapped. My next memory is
coming out of some kind of tank, some tube, some
illusion and being told that we had been imprisoned
for 50 years, myself and these two. I swear,
I haven't aged a day. I don't know what happened
either. Make a persuasion check. She's so pissed.
Guidance, guidance. She's so mad. You need all
the guidance. 14 plus was my persuasion for.
18. Please, please. She holds up her finger.
Immediate silence. She just stares at you. really
uncomfortable amount of time. You go to speak
and she still holds up her finger again. No,
I just wanna, as she stares at me, I change again
and molt to something that I never let anyone
see, but I'm trying to like prove myself to Primrose
and maintain my actual changeling appearance
with like white hair, gray skin, fully like faded
out. She sees that and she says, let up girl.
These two? Hmm. Madam? Well, they're quite attractive,
your friends. You've been gone for 50 years.
I thought you dead. I mourned you for a long
time. And you say that you've been trapped away
for all this time. And I need to just believe
you. I... You are the first person that I have
come to see. We woke up in some dungeon in...
Mondalore. In Karim, the city. In the city of
Karim. In... Karim. We woke up in a dungeon in
Mondalore. We apparently, in whatever this prison
is, have lived entire lives as other people on
another world. And then we awoke. and are struggling
to come to terms with all the world has changed.
You're the first person that any of us have been
to see. She scrutinizes you for a moment and
then throws her arms out and throws the newspaper
to the side and she's like, strange things have
happened. So you come back, what, now to work?
You want money again? What, these whores over
here want to work too? Whoa! No, oh, uh, no,
I, um... You, you are our finest employee. I
mean, look, you know my policy. I don't want
customers or employees sticking around the velvet
pillow for too long, but it's been 50 years,
and so if you want your job back, I will happily
hire you. I will forever be indebted to your
work, but I just... I came to see that you were
okay. When they told me 50 years had passed,
I... I feared I might never see. Oh, honey, not
even time can kill me. I'm just here... to express
my gratitude. Well... This has been a very strange
day for me, but it is good to see you, Primrose,
and get back into Primrose. I don't like this
form. Changes. Much has changed in 50 years.
This is a very strange thing for me, too. So
you truly do not remember a single thing of the
last 50 years of... Not a thing. I mean, we remember
some things. Not from this world. Oh, not from
this world. From Gano's world, yeah. I mean,
you went off to be a wizard at the Academy at
Atlas -Dem. I... Did you do some weird magic
thing and get yourself put in the cage? And your
friends? We have not met until after coming out
of the cage. Odd. Strange. We haven't found what
unites us, what is common between us, that all
three of us were kidnapped. We are told only
that we are the first to escape from Gano, was
it? Okay. So you're familiar with Gano? I mean,
who isn't familiar with Kanno? But, uh, he's
above my pay grade. Can you tell us what you
know of him? I know that, um, he's done some
bad things. I don't concern myself too much with
the other parts of the world. I have the business
to run, and I have people to take care of here.
I know the name. I know that he does bad things,
but what is it with me? There's always something
bad happening in the world. I flash her just
a smile at, I have business to run, and just
say, like, and it appears to be doing very well.
Well, yes. But why wouldn't it? It's you. Exactly.
And that backseat at the front wants to take
over one day, but not while I am still alive.
Well, do you need help with anything? You want
to work here? No, no, no. We're adventuring.
You know, she just might. You guys. What is under
that press plate? I die a little. We're looking
to get some experience, some combat experience,
so is there anyone giving you a hard time that
we can, you know, you know, take care of in that
way? That is a very nice suggestion of yours,
but we do a different type of sword fighting
here. So if you're looking for a bit of experience
in that realm, sure there are many things I could...
I haven't asked, I don't know much about sword
fighting, but... If either of you do want to
indulge, I can, you know, pay the costs as gratitude.
What? Pray, Rose. The friends and family discount
extends to you still. She just, like, tosses
her hair back. I'm just happy to see - Who better
to experience than - With someone who could meet
any desire that you want. I mean, that is what
our Primrose was so skilled at. And do not volunteer
myself in this matter, not to my traveling companions.
No, we're not like that. Don't mix friends and
business. I understand, I don't either. Well.
Anxiously. Not on Tuesdays. Polish my ex. Well,
no. Your question, I don't need help with anything.
I have lived my entire life. doing things by
myself, working by myself, building a business
by myself, and I have been successful. And I
will continue being successful. But I appreciate
the author. Honestly, I wouldn't mess with you.
So that... Smart girl. Yeah, that adds up to
me. The madam is a cape woman. So, now what?
I hadn't left this far. Truly, I... Common for
Primrose. It was just... I needed to get home
to you. I needed to... I needed to know that
you were alright. Do you need a place to sleep?
We had a room at... We are currently accommodated
by... at the Homo Herath. Homo Herath, yes. Homo
Herath. Not the Homo Herath. Homo... I believe
it's called Homo. Yes. Well... If you have lodging
there, that is fine. But should you ever find
yourself unable to pay for lodging, you can always
rest your head on the pillow. Very kind. Yes.
Thank you. And, um, you're not gonna go back
to your thieving days, right? She just kind of
like, didn't tell them about that. She just makes
a face. I thought you said that they were your
friends, these... We are... new princesses. No,
I am a journeyman wizard, looking to work as
a wizard. Okay. And so what now? Well, I suppose
we are. Off to find work? Yes. Alright. Please,
madam, if there's ever anything that you need
help with, know that you can call upon us, and
I will be back in a heartbeat. I never wish to
do what happened again. I don't want to disappear
like that. You know that if you do any wrong
to Madame Throne, the least of your problems
is time. And I would never. Right. Learn that
lesson long ago. Good girl. Now, out of my office,
if you need something, can you come back and
tell Tigger at the front if you need something,
that they must let you through. Primoz gives
a mix of like a curtsy with like a deep bow and
says, thank you so much for making the time to
see me. 50 years have not been kind to your posture.
Yeah. And she immediately straightens her back
and is like, oh. It seems I still have things
to learn in practice. Always. Should you want
to improve them, you know where to find me. And
should you need help accumulating yourself into
the city, let me know. And then, really quickly,
Primrose, without a word, just like hurriedly
grabs her in a little hug and just like gives
a squeeze. She lets you and then after a second
starts fidgeting. And then I let you know. I
love that. Now, off. Good night. I have a business
run. Good night. It was a pleasure. Nice meeting
you. It will be. Oh. And we, at her direction,
you know, step back out into the hallway. All
right. Now, what would you like to do? Volandros
is going to kind of like, we're going to huddle
maybe, because he wants to ask Primrose, are
you all right? How are you feeling? Relieved.
Relieved. Great. There are people that I am concerned
about that we apparently have not seen for 50
years. It's upsetting. It is horrifying on one
hand to see the madam aged so much, but heartening
that she hasn't changed the slightest. She can
definitely hold her own, that one. 50 years have
not sapped her figure. She is quite the character.
Uh, and I assume we're just like still in the
hallway. Like people are just walking around
like a hundred percent. You are in a hallway.
There's lots of tapestries hung up around the
entire room. There is, you're just kind of in
one large style room, but there are other ones
and hallways that lead off. But eventually someone
does walk up to you. A, a tiefling man that has
a lower half of clothes on, but the upper half,
none, and walks up to you and says, Are the three
of you patrons tonight? We just came from a meeting,
Madame Throne. I'm not, I can't speak for the
two of you. You have way too many clothes on.
Volandros is just pointedly looking away from
this person. Are you afraid too? We're quite
alright, thank you. Fine, everyone has their
tastes. Why don't you... I need one more moment
with Madame Thorena. I forgot to ask something.
Why don't you two maybe have a drink? Wait outside?
Yep, yep. Wait outside. Yeah, I bet we can maybe
find some ways to kill time together. Oh my god.
I know a few games. I see. Let's go. Yeah, you're
very attractive, but also like I'm into something
else. Well, fair enough. Enjoy your night. Thank
you. Primrose knocks on Madame's door again.
No response. You know, pops her head in. Madame.
Yes? I'm sorry to have left an interrupt, but
I was so swept up in the moment I have a question
that I forgot to ask. I know it has been a long
time. Have you heard word of Guildmaster Seragil?
You can remove the first part from his name.
No longer a Guildmaster. And the Gilded Veil
no longer in operation. They merged many, many
years ago with a different, with a different
guild and currently operate under the name of
the Silver Node. Seragil, you know, I, listen,
Seragil and myself, we don't, we got along enough
as we had to. Many members of the Gidlet Vale,
when they were in operation, came to rest their
head at the pillow, but Seragil and I often disagreed
with each other's means of running a business.
I do know that Seragil retired. with his money
and left to travel the world. Retired? That seems
unlike him. 50 years can do a lot to a person.
Not me. But not everyone can be as perfect as
I am. Last I heard, and this was a long time
ago, he went to Nishama to explore the Tiers
with particular interest in a pet sanctuary there.
Thank you. Of course. I am... Be careful. Yes,
and I promise you I will not be rejoining or
working in any capacity, but as you were a mother
to me, so Serigil was a father, and I wish to...
The node is better than the veil was. Interesting.
Do they live well? The people in the silver node?
Yeah. Well enough, yes. They make quite a handsome
fortune. It seems I have some investigating to
do. Thank you. I'll be on my way. Be careful
and watch your step. He nods and goes out to
rejoin the friends. Alright, and y 'all have
went outside or something? I believe we went
outside, yes. Yeah, I'm hyperventilating outside.
Okay, so Vlandris is just kind of like patting
you on the back. Like, breathe a seat, so it's
alright. This was a lot. Yes, well, I was a little
skeptical of bringing you in there, but you've
now seen it, and I have to tell you, I think
I've been there before. Wait, what? Yes. You've
been here? Yes, I've been to Chigatse before.
Oh, I thought you said this. No, I think I've
been in that establishment before. What do you
mean? I'm just saying. I mean, you know. Like
as a customer? Well, I was meeting someone, but,
I mean, you know, when in Chigatse? I want to
arrive at that. When one has a meeting at the
Velvet Pillar, one might as well avail oneself
of the accommodations. That's what I'm saying.
I'm not saying anything. You did well, Esty.
Oh, thank you. A little overstimulating. Yeah,
just a tad. Love the word choice, Gallius. I
just take a bag of chips out of nowhere, like
you've never seen how I procured it and I'm just
stress eating chips, crunching away. Perhaps
if neither of you will avail yourself of their
services, we call it a night and look for a job.
postings hunts you know requests something for
adventurers in the morning yes it's been a long
day and i imagine you have a lot to think about
yes okay as you talk outside the bar a few patrons
of the velvet pillow begin to make their way
into into the establishment giving you a slight
nod as they walk in some walking in with drinks
some already very Likert already you make your
way through the streets back to home of her eighth
I say very pronouncibly Home of Harry Also one
that I just said out loud from my brain that
they did not plan and that is my fault or having
a brain that said that This is the whole more
her race in animal. Sorry the enema home of hurry
listen Listen I wanted to title something. Listen,
we all make mistakes. We all get out of us. I
hope you never learn, because that's one of my
favorite parts about your campaign. Like, Pee
Cold. You're actually gifted at naming things,
truly. I'm gifted in being verbally verbose.
So you make your way back to home of Harith.
Do you do anything in the tavern? Just head straight
up and go to bed. What are you planning, buddy?
Nothing. Oh my god. Nothing. What are you gonna
do to us? I'm gonna go last. Okay. Alright, the
two of you? Uh, yes, so Volandros is going to
cause a surprise, just like, losing his shit.
Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry. Velandris is going
to go to bed. He's, you know, he's gonna do his
usual nighttime routine, which is just like writing
prolific volumes into his journal of every little
detail that happened to him that day. And otherwise,
you know, kind of wash up and hit the sack. Hit
the sack. Hit the sack. As they say. All right.
Sorry, Estie? Don't use that name here, Tony.
I'm going, you know, you know, my routine, my
luxurious lotion, my, you know, your pimple berry
lotion. What? Yes. I'm going to talk to Bigby
a little bit about the day. Yeah, Bigby also
saw lots of dicks. Oh, first time you got some
aerial dicks that he saw. And we just were catching
up like friends and I'm kind of unwinding. Yeah,
that's it. Nice. Prime Rose gets back to her
room and shapeshifts again and shapeshifts into
Tina. Oh my god. And marches out into the hallway
and very aggressively knocks on Volandris' door.
What the hell is that? Volandris is... I guess
maybe not quite in bed yet, because that was
a little rough. Yeah, it was like the first thing
I did. So he comes in, opens the door and sees
Tina and is just like, it's like, you know, like
the... Yeah, he is like, it's like, you know,
major plot twist, rug pulled out from under you.
Tina, what are you doing here? As Tina, I like
put on my... Peltius face, cross my arms like,
I'm very cross with you. How did you get here?
You still have to help me write a letter back
to my father. Oh my God. No, no, no. Volantris
slams the door into his face and like starts
pacing around being like, leave me alone, demon!
Like, he thinks it is his patron demon, like,
haunting him and fucking with him. So he is,
like, rubbing his face, being like, get out of
my head! Cali changes back to normal, and while
the door is closed, just goes back into his room.
So after, like, three seconds later, Volandros
camps down, and he says, control yourself, control
yourself, and you control the world. And he walks
over to the door, like, flings it open, sees
that Tina is gone, and he is, like... You can't
control me, demon. Just the door. Did I hear
you scream? Almost, definitely. And with the
loudness of Tina, you almost definitely also
heard Tina. Yeah, I'm going to open the door
like with my axe, like I'm like ready to fight
someone. I'm like - You both open the door at
the same time. You opening the door the second
time to like face Tina. And then you across the
hall open your door, axe in hand, looking at
each other. What the hell? Gallius opens his
door as Primrose, and it's like, what's going
on out here? Sorry, I had a bad dream. Are you
sure? What was the dream about? It sounded like
you were going through it. Well, I dreamt of
a diminutive friend from the ship visiting me.
God, I thought I heard a voice. What do you mean
you thought you had a voice? Well, I heard someone
shouting in the hall that they were very cross.
Make a deception check and I want both of you
to make an insight check. Because if it was a
dream, you wouldn't have heard anything. I got
a three. What's my deception for? I got a seven.
Oh, yeah. I like crushed this. I got a 27. I
got a 16. Yeah. You're... Listen, with everything
learning tonight about Galleus being able to
shape change, he... accidentally as he was speaking
to you. Turns into Tina. No, no, no, no. I'm
gonna after whatever you say. He talked like
this. Yes, he accidentally at the start when
he opened the door, started talking like Tina
and then corrected himself immediately. And you
both are like, ooh, the fuck was that? I turn
right back into Tina in front of him and he says,
sorry, I couldn't resist. Oh my god. I swear
to God, next time you do that, I will take my
glaive to your head. Let it be a lesson in not
befriending awful children. So that none of us
have to be afflicted with this witch again. Beautiful.
Good night, both of you. Volandros slams his
door. He is pissed. I put my axe back very slowly
and like I could have I could have axed someone
on accident because of this bullshit. And it
wouldn't have even been the real Tina, which
would have been a tragedy. It would have actually
been hilarious. Good night. Good night, Gallius.
You each should close your door and take a rest
for the night and regain hit points, spell slots,
and such, and we'll take a break there because
the food is here. All right. So the night passes
and the Lantris, you have a dream that is unlike
the other dreams that stand out. You dream of
a sandy pit in the city. with stadium seats around
it, people filling that stadium, and in the center
of the stadium, horses running around in a circle
over and over and over again. And then the bottom
of the stadium becomes a clock, and the horses
meld into the clock, becoming their hands as
the clock hands spin around wildly. And then
the dream fades. We're back to dreams and visions.
You all wake up. in your rooms, Tina -less. And
the day is yours. Good day. We're going to get
some breakfast as always. We always like to see
what breakfast are there. You love making me
describe food and listen, I don't mind. I've
got my brain and I've got resources. Do you have
vinegar? I don't know. We'll see. Maybe. Roll
for vinegar. A vinegar, vinegar check. Roll for
vinegar. Investigate. I hate that. So you head
downstairs. You grab breakfast. Well, you sit
down at a table and the half -elven bartender
slash innkeeper slash person that runs Tavern
walks over to you and says, good morning. What
can I get to you? What do you have? Well, lots
of seafood here. Clams, mussels, oysters. We
have some fish and cabbage skewers. We've got
some... For breakfast? Deviled goose eggs. Eggs,
you say? Uh -huh. They have a real fixation on
the eggs, don't you? Are they a delicacy where
you're from? No, absolutely not. I don't know
what it's about. I just... Every time I hear
it, I just want to have them with vinegar. That's
disgusting. I know! We can't give you that. You
can't? I mean... You don't have vinegar? No.
You don't? No! Strange. Alright. What do you
clean your floors with? Lye. Oh, you do clean,
though. What's the name of that? They have a
nice little plastic bottle of it under the counter.
We have some fermented garlic crisps. I'll take
those. Does sound good, actually. We do smell
amazing after. Stuffed grasshoppers. Stuffed.
Yep. With what? Fish. Geez. Anything like more
breakfast -y like classic breakfast? Do you have
any croissants? What do you consider as - I just
have like a bread roll or something. Oh, you
just want bread. All right. Well, I'll take some
of the other things. The - Chagatian breakfast.
Yes. I'll take the grasshoppers and the garlic
and the eggs. And if you happen to find any vinegar,
please bring that too. I'll talk to the chef.
You'll have some lye. I could have some lye.
I feel like that's a really shouldn't thing.
It's definitely, definitely poisonous. For you?
Scrambled eggs and some, uh, some bread and maybe
some vegetables if you have some. Yeah, we can,
um, yeah, we'll see if we have some vegetables.
Do you have coffee? Please bring a lot of coffee.
How much is a lot? Did you not sleep well, little
Andress? Well, first of all, just, you know,
like a, like a lot. A carafe of coffee. Why not?
Why not? It's one of those days. All right. Already?
Well, I'll be back. He scurries on off. Innkeeper
comes back, places your food on the table in
front of y 'all. The two of you getting eggs
and bread and you getting fermented garlic crisps
and stuffed grasshoppers. And he says, could
I get anything else? Did he also bring the coffee?
The cool piece of coffee. Oh, yes. I didn't forget
that. I'll be right back. Goes back, returns,
comes with a giant carafe of coffee. Some cups
for you. And, uh, says... So, can I get anything
else? Also, like, what brings you to Home of
Harath? Oh, Home of Harath? Yeah. Um... We're
just you know, we're an adventuring party and
we're just looking to help people and and get
some some work exciting Well, if you need anything
to call board people post all kinds of postings
there right on the wall So feel free to check
it out in case you need to inspiration for any
Doings. Thank you. We'll be sure to take a look.
Yeah Volandria starts crunching up those grasshoppers.
Mm -hmm tasty crunchy earthy and fishy The grasshoppers
are fishy because they're stuffed with fish.
Oh god, that's they're stuffed So it's not fish
stuffed with grasshoppers. No, no, it's grasshoppers
stuffed with and the grasshoppers are small morsels
of fish No, no, no, they are big grasshoppers.
Oh, I thought they were little ones as well.
I don't like that big They're like the size of
your hand I know that I grew up in the area and
I would thus be familiar with the local cuisine,
but out of character I don't like that Yeah,
some would say that the grasshoppers stuffed
with fish is an anima specialty. Can you do like,
prestidigiation on their breath afterwards? Yeah,
for all of our sake. For all of our sake, yeah.
Well, you get a bill. It totals up to about 75
cop silver pieces. I'll take that one. We'll
cover it. Alright. And I'll leave the rest as
teep. As teep. Teep. I live teep. Thanks you
very much, and wishes you the best on your journey.
Asks if you want to stay again for another night?
I think so. Yes, we don't. All right. Well, another
50 silver each. All right. Well, enjoy. She's
a goddess, eh? And should you have any questions
about the city, feel free to ask. I'm happy to
help. Thank you. Thank you. All right, why don't
we take a look at the board on our way out? See
what kind of stuff they have. And then shopping
in between. Pick up a job, shop, go -do, job,
I'm thinking. Yes. Okay. So, you approached a
calling board, large cork board with dozens of
different things posted to it. The ones of note
you see. Flooding happening in a nearby town
of West Tower because of manticore swarms attacking
the local beaver ducks. 30 gold reward from the
local town government. Another one. Roving bandits
making the road difficult to travel between Campana
and River's Edge. Reward 10 gold for each bandit's
head. A lost dog sign with a reward of 10 gold
for anyone who returns it. A picture of a large
dog, black with white spots all over. His name
is Meatball and he loves dried fruits. Hands
needed for apple picking and deworming. 5 silver
per day. A house hit by hex. Need help. Bolting
down furniture that won't stop floating. 20 gold
reward. Personal chef needed for small party
ASAP. 50 gold higher. Rats in the basement. Experienced
exterminator needed. 10 gold reward. You see
an advertisement for a pubs and rubs tavern.
There's a special discount if you order a beer
and a massage. That's on purpose. That one was
on purpose. Looking for bandmates to start a
cool band called the Sending Stones, auditions
tomorrow night at the Gay Wilds. Gay Wilds? Gay
Wilds are back! They're back! The Gay Wilds are
back. Alchemist looking for rare flowers, 10
gold per reward per flower, report to Dagon in
the crafter stage's northern flank. Confirmation,
if the Gay Wilds are back and Gay Wilds were
in Runehold and Fintos, absolutely confirmed
Gano's gay. Why else does he know the name of
obscure gay bars in single cities to name in
his new world? Also, who's not gay in our campaigns?
Truly. Everyone's gay. Fish stealing Faye, a
few towns over in Umbertide, five gold reward
for quelling the problem. So many options. Unknown
potion testers needed, one gold per potion drank.
Inexperienced barber looking to test haircuts
on willing participants paying 50 silver. Need
signatures to start a guild, paying 50 silver
per signature. And then the last one. one I could
just grab. Geostar della Quintana signups. 50
gold entry courtship dinner with Emiliana Montefeltro
for the winner. There's a picture on the poster
with a photo of Emiliana Montefeltro, a beautiful
human female with long brown hair, rounded features,
and a kind smile and eyes. You uh... I know the
Montefeltros. Recognize the name as being one
of the part of high society. Yes. have it in
my in my journal um oh well that last one looks
interesting but i have to say that finding a
dog seems quite easy so well what would you like
to do i think we need to enter this contest and
this is a paid to enter contest paid to enter
but there is a reward um and you know because
you are you've spent a lot of time in chitagaze
that um that there are rewards throughout that
they're typically done in rounds. And those who
make it further win rewards with like an ultimate
reward usually at the end. Am I familiar with
the types of contests they usually run? There's
usually a joust. There's usually some kind of
combat that is that is kind of, you know, the
vibe. So we don't have to pay to enter. We just
like if we win, we earn money. You pay to enter.
But you but you there are rewards throughout.
OK. Well, I would. much rather find another way
to meet with Montefeltros. Are you familiar with
Montefeltros? Absolutely. What do you know about
them? Well, I know that they are one of the major
noble families in Chigatse. Have you had dealings
with them? I have met with some of them, but
that was, as you know, more than 50 years ago.
Well... I hope you will permit me to speak frankly,
your lordship. But, if I have any sense of intuition,
and I do, I am sure that, like me, you are looking
to learn what became of your family and what
befell them. Am I correct? Yes, of course. The
Montefeltros present a pathway to that. I understand
that a contest would be beneath your dignity
as a man of your house, but have you any other
leads? I will also say, make a history check
for me, Galleous. With guidance. And you've been
to Chitegatse, so I would say you could also
- 18. 12. Okay, with your 18, you know that -
that actually the people who tend to participate
in these tournaments tend to be noble families.
That this is a display of strength. This is a
display of power and influence that the families
use every year to try and influence the people
and show their prosperity. Think of it less as
a gaudy contest and more as tournament fair.
I mean... Certainly the peasantry aren't participating
with a 50 gold fee. Well, I suppose that is technically
true. I just would have preferred to just find
another way, but... And we all would have preferred
to have the last 50 years of our lives returned
to us. We don't have what we've preferred, but
it presents an opportunity. Do I have any historical
context about... Like, the nature of the contest,
does it take place over several days? Is it all
on one day affair? Yes. Several day affair. Do
we know when the start date is? You saw on the
poster that the start date was in two days. They
were collecting signups with a deadline of the
day before. It's a deadline of tomorrow. Yeah,
why don't we sign up? I would love to swing my
axe around. Well, Volundris, you could consider
it like... A debutante's debut at a ball. Be
your grand re -entrance into high society. Well,
I thought I was supposed to be laying low. Right.
So which is it? So, maybe. Oh, I know just the
thing. Do you ever read those romance books where
there's like a masked competitor that is competing
against the nobility? You could be like the Masked
Knight. Hmm, hot. Oh, it would be such fun. You
think so? Oh. Yeah, I don't know like, you know
dark and mysterious, you know, yeah, if you're
the you know, we could go buy a literal method
Oh, really? I could just change my appearance
like a wrestler here knows you so none of us
will stick out Well, I mean that could be so
cool. You think it would be cool. Yeah your glaive
Hmm and that hair you tell me I noticed that
you summon your glaive Yes How exactly does that
work? I'm not aware of a lot of weapon summoning
spells. It's magic, Gallius, of course. Yes,
but how do you come by your magic? I notice you
don't carry a spell book. Well, that's because
I'm not a wizard. And the question still stands.
How do you come by your magic? I would prefer
to talk about this another time. Because for
now, I'd like to focus on this tournament. So
you are interested in the tournament? Well, I
mean, now that we're talking about masks and
big reveals. The mask got you. A little flair
for the dramatics. Mask for mask. Mask for mask.
Well, I know you have a real interest in magical
scholarship, so if you'd ever want to compare
notes on magical theory and practice, then yes,
we can, you know, discuss. He is tempted by that
offer very much. Well, I have no idea what the
Kadiri name's current standing is in this state
of things in the world. We should research. Yes.
We're both researchers. Correct. Well, Galleous
is a researcher, but you know, I'm Galleous.
Why not? If you both think it's a good idea.
Yeah. Perhaps I could bring some glory to my
name. People will also hire us more, probably,
if we win, you know. Make a name for ourselves.
We can get some higher -paying mercenary work.
I don't know, a Kadiri in an adventuring party?
That's a little funny, don't you think? Honey,
you're already in one. Yeah, that's what we're
doing. Yes, but I'm not - I'm not Volandris Kadiri
right now. Well, I think this is time for a frank
discussion, Volandris, Mr. Kadiri. What's your
endgame here? What are our goals? We are adventuring
together, based on a shared familiarity and shared
trauma of this prison. But where do we go from
here? Yes, we want to get stronger. We want to
fight things. Do we have a goal as a group or
is this a temporary thing before we part ways?
Gano, what are you talking about? We need to
take him down. Are you in for revenge against
Gano? Yes. Then I regret to inform you, you're
in an adventuring party. You're even on an adventure.
Val holds his face. And I'm afraid you've been
doing it for quite some time. Yes, I'm quite
aware of it. I don't know what this accent I
slipped into for Primrose did not start that
way. I don't know what's happening with my voice.
I think you're rising off each other. It's contagious.
It's contagious. Yeah, it's weird. I was like
not trying to do it. I will start talking like
this really soon. Oh no. We all start talking
like Tina. I have to practice Primrose's voice
because it's very effective, but I do not have
a single... I am not a stable accent person.
We don't care. As long as you're having fun.
Same. None of us are stable in any way. Yeah,
exactly. We're quite loose. We are loose. Very
loose. And we are loose friends in little places.
So what would you like to do? I think we at least
go look into the sign up and that gives us two
days to prepare. Yeah. The signups were in the
Mystic Square area of the city, so. Alright,
well if that's going to... You should discreetly
ask about the Kadirri name. Yes, well I would
very much like to be in front of a Montefeltro
to ask. Perhaps participating is in the cards
for us, because I had a dream last night. It
was, seemed to be actually some kind of tournament,
funnily enough, where there was a big sandy pit,
there were horses, they were running... around
and around and then the whole thing morphed into
a clock and it gets a bit weird after that the
horses became the minute hands and were running
around and i think maybe they disappeared but
i don't know this seems a little usually tournamenty
yes feels like it might be related to this maybe
event it didn't feel bad or scary or i don't
think it did anyway but maybe it means it's our
destiny it's Absolutely, one way or the other.
Maybe it means we should stay away. Well, no
one usually doesn't get a prophetic dreams saying
to disengage of the contents of that dream. That's
a good point. So maybe that's it's a sign that
we should do it. So I think we're going to go
and look into signing up. in the mystic plaza
mystic square sorry mystic pizza why do i think
it's mystic plaza the movie with julia roberts
i'm sorry no mystic pizza did it take place in
mystic connecticut yes yes dude that's the whole
point of course okay so you make your way across
the city across the crafter stages through jan
fin's hand past the counselor's cultures and
past the terraced springs into the mystic square
where there are temples, churches, holy buildings,
museums, a few parks, mage quarters, and a library
as well. You see a group of people huddled around
a tall man standing on a pedestal that has been
constructed in the square, and I would like all
of you to make a perception check for me. Nat
1. Okay, so with a 16 and a Nat 20, you are able
to tell that the person standing on this pedestal
in the center of a square is definitely the person,
the contact person for the Giustra De La Quintana.
With your dirty 20, you are keeping an eye out
as you walk through Mystic Square, and Mystic
Square is filled with an array of different temples
and churches, and as you pass by a humble stone
building. and see in dark red paint, painted
on a door, the following symbol. And you recognize
that it's a symbol that Tenzin showed to you
as the mark of the rebellion. You guys, I know
the symbol. What? The Mukkabees use this. This
is probably a safe house or something. Oh, yes.
Yes, you're right. Is the symbol a secret? I
mean, I'm the only one who knows it, right? So
it's probably not really a symbol that other
people would know. You know it as a symbol, like
a part of the alphabet that exists for... Shin.
Yeah. The letter Shin. As a part of the alphabet,
and that it is known to you as certain because
you're part of this movement, that you know that
it means something more than what it is. But
to those who might not know what it is, it's
just another symbol. Interesting. It's a letter.
Yeah. I want to check it out. I want to see if
we can talk to anyone. Well, if you recall, Tenzin
told us to avoid those places for some time.
Didn't want to draw attention. I mean, why are
we worried about them seeing me? It's not that.
It's about us being seen near or around. I mean,
if Gano's forces are looking for us, then...
think that's what Tenzin was alluding to was
that it was dangerous for us to be seen close
to these places. I'm not concerned about going
in or being seen by whoever's in there, it's
more who might see us go in. Do you want to send
Bigby up or do you want to send Bigby into the
building? Oh. Okay. Um, yeah, make a perception
check for Bigby at advantage. Okay, 13. Uh, yeah,
Bigby doesn't really notice too much anything
in particular. Seems like this is an area of
the city that is dedicated to multiple different
types of religions and gods and such. So this
is just this one that is dedicated to the religion
of Aelsir. Yeah. Um, I'm gonna change into Rondel,
my, like, 16, 17 -year... Old self persona. Okay.
It's like Street Maddie kid. Okay. Are you going
in? Yep. Let's do it. All three of you? One of
us should wait outside. I'm happy to wait outside.
Okay. All right, Rondel. Rhonda. You picked up
quick. Let's do it. Let's go. Okay. So, um, it's
a small temple dedicated to Elsir. You walk in.
and it is just a simple large stone room that
has tall slits of windows that are letting in
sunlight, and a human man who is sitting on a
bench towards the end of it. There are a few
different benches throughout. There's a small
temple in the center of the room, and there is
a... sorry, I did not know what you were doing...
and there's just a man sitting reading from a
large book. who looks up as you enter. He raises
his head and locks eyes with the both of you
and says, welcome my little flowers to the temple
of Elsir. Hello, brother. Hello. Just visiting.
I'm Zak and Raviv. What is your name? Zak and
Raviv. Nice to meet you, my name is Esti. Hi,
Esti, and you are? Rondel, I'm your squire, Esti
Squire. Actually, I work for Esti. Okay. Make
a deception check. Oh, God. It was a lot of explaining.
Oh, all right. I actually did really well, though.
Uh, 17. Okay. Um, welcome, Esti and Rondelle.
Is there anything in particular I can help with,
or have you just come to pray? Well, I noticed
this symbol outside. Yes, the shin. The shin.
Yes. Just was, you know, I share the same cause.
I can tell by your breastplate. I just wanted
to kind of see how you guys were doing here,
to see if there's anything I can do to help.
We're travelers. You feel a little bit awkward
in an Elsir temple? You feel a little out of
place? I did not answer that question out loud,
but yes. I give you a little dreidel you can
fidget to feel a bit more comfortable. There
is a large menorah that is in this temple as
well, behind the altar, and he stands and walks
over to you and motions for you to sit on a bench
next to him. He says, tell me, Esti, are you
an active member of the Rebellion? I've been
trying to join. I mean, they saved our temple
in Puremount, and that inspired me to want to
join them. Which temple? Temple of Elsir. Ah.
I'm a Kohen. Ah, you're a Kohen. I want to just
give Este a look that just says, 50 years ago.
We age very slowly. He says, I'm of the Kisara
tribe and the temple that was attacked a very
long time ago. We've had, I feel like this is
someone I can talk to. Your call. Please be honest,
be open. We were taken. I was taken from the
temple. Bye And now I'm back 50 years later trying
to piece some things together One thing I do
know I want to end his life Well, yes, I just
want to like point in the direction of outside
and cast message And send a message to the laundry.
Yes. Yeah, it's just gone off the wrong rails.
She's telling the complete truth Um, do I receive?
You can, you can, you receive it and you can
respond to it. Should I come in? I don't know
what's happening. I'll keep you posted. All right.
Zac and Raviv sighs slightly and says, so, um,
you were one of the few that was imprisoned,
um, and you're back. Interesting. I hadn't heard
that that had happened yet. However, I, I will
be honest. I, um, I have not been to Puremount.
in a long time. Since about 25 years ago, the
rebellion has sent out small missionary groups
to travel to Mondalore from Puremount to put
an end to the travesties happening by Gano and
by the cities of Mondalore that scar the land.
I haven't been there in decades. My family has
always run the temple here, and while I consider
myself part of the rebellion, we are not the
most active chapter of it. We stand in solidarity,
and I have cousins and family in Tarsh, who send
me information every now and then. But we are
of the Kisara tribe. We study the holy scripts,
we study mathematics, we study science, and how
they interact with the holy scripts themselves.
So I hear things every now and then, but I'm
not very well connected. That's what I know.
Where should I go if I want more information?
The movement has mainly been growing and gaining
pace in Puremount, with notable presence in the
northern area of Shilomir, Mizpah, and Reisha's
Rest. Those tend to be where the significant
gatherings of the Makopian Rebellion take place.
And while small battles have happened here and
there, there has been no official declaration
of war, but tensions have been growing between
Puremount and Mandalore. over the last few decades.
Puremount has become growingly upset at the cities
of Mondalore for destroying the lands of Herath,
and they tend to see them as centers of greed
that will eventually turn their eyes on Puremount
when they have nothing left. Mondalore sees the
cities of Puremount as lazy in that they stifle
growth, and what their nose is upturned at anyone
who they see is different from them. Many of
the cities, though, I will tell you, have disavowed
Genno. and banned him from their walls, even
though they continue the work that he has started
to their own benefit instead of his. So, my little
flower, I beg you to be careful. You have chosen
to trust the right person, but it is dangerous
out there. Anima is a good safe haven for the
moment, caught kind of in the crossfire at times,
but fully neutral when it comes to the dealings.
between Puremount and Mandalore. You are safe
here, but be careful. Would it be safe for me
in any Makabean safe house? Or are some of them
kind of infiltrated by... It's impossible to
know. I haven't had any problems here. But that
doesn't mean that information can't leak. Yeah,
I guess we should keep a low profile until we're
strong enough to put our money where our mouths
are. We should. Listen, I haven't seen a brother
in a while. And I miss my family. A little trusting.
I get it. Is everyone okay in Purim? Do you know
about, do you know my family? Avigail? No. You
don't know anywhere from that temple? No, no.
Our tribe tend to keep to itself a little bit
more than the others. So no, I don't. Sorry.
That's okay. Well, I appreciate the information
that you've given me. Yeah. And if anyone gives
you a hard time here. I'll find Esther. Yep.
Just look for this breastplate. Okay. And I'll
kick some ass for Elsir, and for you. I'm sure
you will. Although, the Kohans... those healers,
no? Yeah, I do a little bit of that, but I was
inspired by... by the muckabees and what they
did in my town, in my temple, and... Took up
arms. Yes. My dad actually made this axe, isn't
it cool? Wow, that is, um, beautiful, yes. He
knows what he's doing. Well, I'm sure he does.
Well, if there's anything else you need, any
more questions, it's a strange time in the world.
Well, maybe we can pray together. I would love
that. Alright. How do you pray? I'm gonna step
outside. You feel awkward? Are you not a member
of a religion? Are you part of one of the tribes?
You can stay here, though. I have to check on
something outside. All right. Bye Rhonda. Rhonda.
Yeah. Rhondel. I'm going to go outside and update
Velandris on all of this. How do you pray? We
take our books and we sing. All right. How much
time do you spend there? Ten minutes. Okay. You
spend a few minutes reading, humming, singing
along. And I will say you can, for The rest of
the day, get a plus one to any wisdom checks
made. You pass some times, and then Zachan Reviv
says, thank you for visiting. We don't get many
visitors here to this temple, and so it can be
a little bit lonely sometimes. But I appreciate
your visit, and I will be here if you need anything
else. Thank you so much. May our fear be with
you always. And with your spirit. Come on, Tony,
get serious. So you make your way outside? I
just blessed you. The spirit of Elsir just bestowed
blessings upon you. And I said, and with your
spirit, as they do in the Catholic Church. No,
we're not. We don't have any spirits. Yeah. All
right. What would y 'all like to do? Esther walks
back outside and the two of you are standing
there. I'm going to revert to normal base gallagos
of just human wizard. appearance. Okay? Alright.
You were in there for some time? Yeah, we prayed,
we talked. Who waited you talk? Listen, that's...
I haven't had anyone I could really trust other
than you two for... Since I came out of Gano's
prison, I kinda needed to talk to someone for
my... for my direct try, but at least. This person
seemed trustworthy? Yes. Did they give any indication
as to whether it was safe for us to... A little
safer here, but I mean, it's really going down
in Puremount. By the time we get there, we need
to be ready. Really? Well, that's not good. Yeah,
we're gonna have to kind of lay low, as you said.
Tenzin said! I know, but I think this conversation
needed to be had. Alright. And are you alright
hearing about the goings -on in Puremount? I
mean, it seems like... The temple is still standing.
He didn't know much about my family, like the
specifics of my family, but I'm hoping everyone
is okay. Maybe there's a way to send a letter
or some kind of communication. That's a very
good idea. Safe communications, because that
may be monitor. Right. There must be a way. Yeah,
I guess we can think about that. But why don't
we register? Why don't we follow our original
plan? Tournament time. Tournament time. TT. tt
okay so you continue on through the mystic square
and in one of the larger areas you find again
that man on top of the large wooden pedestal
that was um built where people are crowding around
him lots of chatter and he's holding a wooden
clipboard writing names down as a person next
to him collects entry fees. He is shouting from
the top of the pedestal, come one, come all,
please sign up for the Giostra della Quintana.
Bellandus, we're going to need a secret name
for you. For us too, I think, to be quite honest.
That is true. Well, I have one. So I was planning
on using that on this. Great. All right. Alright,
you approach, you wait a little bit of time as
the line forms and people are giving money, and
you notice that as you're waiting, there is a
group of guards that approach and clear the line
for someone else. And you see a tall half -elven
woman with very pointed features, a smirk that
she's wearing like a badge, and she says, put
my name in, and throws a sack of gold towards
the person collecting, and the man on the pedestal
says, yes, Lucia Borgia, for you. And writes
down a name on the clipboard, to which she then,
without even glancing at anyone there, turns
around and walks, accompanied by her guards.
That's one of the Borgias. They're another noble
family from here. Do you think I should try and
catch up with her? She seemed quite... You can
try. She seemed rather dismissive of others.
I don't know when I'll get another chance. For
sure, we can wait. All right. Philandros steps
out of the crowd and kind of starts like speedwalking,
as it were, after Lucia. It's not gonna go well.
And calls out Lady Borgia. Make a persuasion
check. I'm surprised it's not a dissident. I
was just gonna say, I like this. I feel like
I want to give myself disadvantage. I just feel
like she's so off -putting already. Like, she
is a mean rich woman. 24. Okay. She hears you,
turns as she's walking with the guards around
her, and then does a... And turns back and keeps
walking. As she does that, Volandros like feels
that like an arrow through his little heart.
because in the past, that never would have happened
to him. Never in 50 years, except that it just
did. And he's realizing that nobody knows who
he is, which is something that he is really,
really not used to. And from that, he realizes
that it is futile to try and talk to this person
right now, because it's going to make him look
bad. So he, for some reason, I guess more intelligently
than usual, thinks, you know what, this is a
bad idea. And he returns to his friends. Sorry.
Well, I think you saw that she has no idea, no
interest in speaking with someone she doesn't
know. Well, she'll take note of you when we win.
I'm sorry you had to experience that. I don't
mean this to sound... Harsh, but the nobility
have a way about these things. Right. Well, I
just... I don't think I ever acted like that.
I'm not saying you did, just that... Well, the
rest of us don't quite exist. Right. Well, you're
right. In that case, I will have to make her
pay attention. To the commenters? Yes, let's
sign up. Yeah, and as you get closer and closer,
you hear the man on top of the pedestal again
saying, come, come, apply. 50 gold for passing
the first round. 100 gold for making it past
the second round. And third place wins 1000 gold.
Second place wins 1500 gold. And first place
wins a courtship with Emiliana Montefeltro. And
money? I was, I had this exact same question.
I was like, money too? You say out loud? Yes.
I do. We want the answers to that question. We
want to know. I'll actually bomb for second place
on purpose. To which he says. For second, third.
For second, third. Yeah. Yeah. To which he says,
as if the hand of the courtship of Lady Emiliane
Montefeltro is worth more than any gold prize.
No, it is enough. Is it not? You're right. Escusi.
And he says, do we have entrance in front of
me here? Yes. Three right here. Three right here.
Your names? Val Cloaker. Val Cloaker. Alright.
I've been listening to how everyone's talking,
so I came up with a name that I think would fit
in here. And I say, I am a Giovanna Mozzarell.
Giovanna Mozzarell. No spaghetti. No spaghetti,
okay. Let me write this down because I need to.
I'm trying to come up with a fake name. I have
a list of names in my doc for this. We've got
Val Kluger. And he points to Hugh Gallius. Lorenzo
Ravioli. Lorenzo Ravioli. Gio. And Gio. Last
name? Sorry? Swartzanti. Sportzandi. All right,
Geo and Giovanna. Perfect. Oh, you're Giovanna.
Giovanna wasn't listening. I was panicking. It's
too late. You said it. That's what happens when
you're panicking. You gotta come up with a name.
That is what happens. It's too late. Your brain
shut down. All I heard was mozzarella, and I
just went from there. So I was like. He said,
that'll be 50 gold each. You got it. Please mark
50 gold each off of your papers. It's all right.
This will be worth it. He says, all right. Well,
the stages are outside the city. Be there first
thing in the morning, day after tomorrow. You
got it. Grazie. Prego. What would you all like
to do as you pass some time for the torment to
begin? You want to go to some shops and things?
Yeah, we don't have a lot of money collectively.
I don't even know. Yeah, I want to buy just some
updated sets of clothes. Okay, you know that
there is a clothing store in Janfin's Hand, unless
you want to go to one of the stalls that's in
the Penny Pound Steps, but those are more kind
of just set up stalls for the day that have certain
vendors coming from out of the area, whereas
the ones in Janfin's Hand are established stores.
I'll probably be interested in Janfin's Hand.
Okay, so you make your way to Janfin's Hand,
looking around for some clothing stores, and
you see the treasures of Holg. You see Shava's
peculiarities, Melek's oddities, the flame treasures
that has lots of reds and yellows and blues in
the window that have different, you know, fashionable
items. Does it look like it sells masks? How
about this place? Let's go. Seems like they sell
a lot of costume -y pieces. All right. So Volantris
is going to go in and look for something that
makes him look cool and mysterious Yeah, there
is an owl in this is a taller building and it
goes to a few stories up and you see an owl in
that is perched on one of the railings on a higher
floor sees you come in head turns 180 from his
body sees you come in turns and flies down and
says Hello Welcome to the flame's treasures.
How can I help you? Hello. Hi. Hello. Hi. Hello.
Hello. Hello. What are you looking for? A mask.
A mask? Oh, we have those. Yes, up on the second
floor. Would you like a ride? Sure. Hop on. All
right. He extends his wings and flies up to the
second floor to drop you off. And as he's flying,
he says, Oh, did your friends need something
too? Um. Well, they're just looking around. Ah,
all right. Non -purchasers. But you are different.
What kind of mask are you looking for? I'm looking
for something I can wear. I'm participating in
the tournament. The Ciostra della Quintana? Yes.
Oh, my goodness. And I would like to wear something
that, you know, gives me a bit of mystery. Flare?
Yes, Flair. I have just the thing. Alright. And
he runs down one of the aisles, grabs something
off of a rack, whips it, hides it under his wing,
and then pulls it out in front of you, and it
is this massively bedazzled flame mask that hides
from everything from your cheekbones and above
with eyes cut, and it glitters. in the light
with starting with blue at the bottom and then
orange and then yellow. This beautiful like carving
of flame all throughout. Velandris's eyes are
like glittering like as he looks at... may I
try it on? Yes and he puts it over your your
face and pulls out a mirror from his pocket.
If you're the Masked Singer get ready for the
Masked Fighter. Like an or like Orval Peck. Volandros
takes a look in the mirror. He doesn't dislike
what he sees, but he does. Is he on like a platform?
No, he's holding him. He's holding him. No, no,
but is Volandros, like he's on a platform and
he can, if he looks over the edge. Yeah, he can
see them down. Alright, so he kind of walks to
the edge and like looks down at the two of you
and says, what do you think? Oh, this is snazzy.
It will definitely make an impact. Is it too
much? Oh, darling, it is not too much. Please.
There's no such thing. Do people, uh, how do
people typically dress at this tourney? However
they want. Don't think about what people think
of you. Do what you want. It's not that. I just
want to make sure that I stand out appropriately
and if everyone else is wearing a mask then...
Oh, darling. You will? Well, I don't think everyone
will wear a mask. That's kind of going to be
your whole thing. Yes, but it doesn't mean that
it's not what people do with this. This is one
of my finest. It's a little pricey, but you seem
like the kind of person that can afford it, right?
Well, it depends. How much is it? Five gold.
Five gold. Those are diamonds, encrusted. The
flames are pretty sick. It is a lovely mask.
Small diamonds, but still. How about this? Do
me a deal, and I will promote your store at the
tournament. Now that of good deal is interesting.
Give me a persuasion check at advantage. At 20.
Absolutely. You look strong. Strong. What's your
fighting style? Close. Close combat? Close combat.
Very close. Make sure that you stand in as many
sun rays as you can to catch the light. It would
be my honor. Perfect. I'm Oskar. Oskar. And this
is the Flame Treasures. Flame Treasures. Alright,
Oskar. You're wearing a signature piece. While
we're... Oh, hold on, I think I hear something
from downstairs. Oskar? Oskar? He leans over
the railing. Yes? We might be interested in something,
not quite as flashy. Purchasers? I thought not.
We were browsing. What are you looking for? Are
you also participating? Oh yeah. Three participants
in the Geostadella Guantana? Oh my goodness,
what a day. Please. For some restrained elegance.
Restraint. You've come to the wrong place. My
elegance is unrestrained. You want restrained
elegance? Go somewhere else. You got flashy.
You got drama. Yes. I kind of like it. Yes. Oskar.
Yeah. I'm just wondering if I wanted to pair
some kind of outfit with the mask. Do you have
something that could go with it? Something that
you can fight in? Of course. Yes. Yes, I do.
Do you like... Fringe? I could be tempted to
fringe. Let me get something for you! And he
runs down the aisle, grabs something off the
rack, and comes running back. And you can see
as he's running, little fringes of reds and yellows
popping out the sides as he runs. And he holds
in front of you what looks like a ballroom dancer's
outfit that has yellows and reds and blues at
the bottom with hundreds and hundreds of fringe
that as the dress turns, all of these fringes
just fly off in different directions. This one
will go perfectly. I do like that. I did design
the outfit to be worn together. I can tell. I
do have a question. I'm wearing my armor. I would
like to keep the armor. Do you think this would...
What kind of armor are you wearing? It's, you
know, fairly simple leather, really. Is it leather?
Do warlocks wear leather? Um, he is wearing,
he is wearing, like, he can wear light armor.
Right. So he's wearing, like, it's very, like,
ornate and, like, beautifully decorated armor,
but it is, at the end of the day, leather armor.
Yeah. Because he wants to be sty - See, now he's
getting swept up in this, so he really wants
to look amazing. He says, well, the benefits
that this outfit will give you are about the
same as that of the other armor, anyway. So,
the benefits that you see from your current one?
would not be diminished by wearing this because
they are both light armor underneath you and
he holds it out for you to feel and you can feel
inside of it like a thicker texture that is underneath
ah i see this is beautifully made yes uh he like
holds it up in front of himself and kind of like
looks down to see like now for for volandros
who usually wears quite like muted clothing this
is very feminine and this is very extravagant
And he walks over to the edge again, like holding
up and he's like, what do you think? Very dramatic.
It's a little Primrose, honestly. Is this in
a good way? I mean, how do you feel? I feel amazing.
Then go for it. I just, well, I mean, it's not
a bit much though, is it? Darling, the terminology
doesn't exist here. And at the tourney, it won't
look strange. You would stand out. Isn't the
whole point of the tournament to catch the eye
of the beloved? All right. Well, in that case,
let's discuss our deal again. Our deal is that
you promote my shop as much as you can. And I
won't even charge you a dime for this. Oscar,
you have a deal. Looking for more models? The
three of you? You together? Yeah. We are. Indeed.
I'm downstairs. Indeed! I think that I could.
arrange something however the three of you i
will have a stipulation if none of you make it
past the first round you will pay me in entirety
for what you owe that's fair and if we get through
the first round we're good you make it through
the first round i will charge half if you make
it through the second round i'll charge nothing
all right well we fully intend to make it through
all rounds i'm sure you will that's the spirit
now the two of you what would you like I mean,
I know that my breastplate is pretty catching
with these 12 gemstones. Well, you've got gemstones.
I could find an outfit that could go underneath
it that would accentuate the gemstones. I could
see lots of fringe sticking out from your breastplate.
No. The different colors. Absolutely not. Fringe
and gemstones? Crazy. No, no, no, no. Something
that catches the colors. Yes, but not with fringe.
Are you crazy? Right. God, Galleous. Yes, that's
right. My god, Galleous. I want - I want to feel
badass, you know? I want to feel like a warrior.
We need something blocky. What is your fighting
style? Um, kind of mixed, so... Spellcaster,
but I also swing the sick axe. Mm, okay. Give
me a moment. He flies up to the third floor.
Uh, you hear his, uh, his little, uh, talons.
Clip -clop -clip -clop -clip -clop through, uh,
through the store. He grabs something, flies
out, and you hear him yell, Do you want a mask,
too? Oh, that would be awesome. Yeah, why don't,
yeah. I'm the one with the mask. That's my whole
thing. Oh, sorry, okay, no mask. All right, and
then he jumps off the side of the ledge and then
like a couple feet before the ground, sprouts
his wings and lands right in front of you. And
he's holding this jumpsuit very tight, but all
around it are these bulging gemstones that come
out of it. And he says, I think that this will
work perfectly. underneath that breastplate beautiful
i love it all right and you uh so as far as fighting
style i'm a wizard so wizard swishy robes further
away from things and what are you wearing right
now um uh i'm wearing something i actually pulled
up the picture from the handbook the picture
for changelings in the race i actually love that
outfit yeah and i want something in that direction
But in actual terms, what armor are you currently
wearing? Oh, none. I can't wear any armor. Okay.
Literally just clothes, just robes and stuff.
All right, so you don't need anything special
in particular. No, I actually can't actually
wear armor. We can go as clear as possible. Tell
me about you and what you like. Well, I'm a wizard,
and I merely cast illusions. Illusions, Michael.
Michael, illusions! I would like something...
I know it's not the style of the shop, but that
implies that subtlety. I have just the thing
that is not. And he flies up to the third floor,
opposite direction where he got Estie's stuff,
grabs something. Do you want a mask? No, thank
you. All right. He flies down and he's holding
this sleek pant and shirt combo that are completely
black. And he says, these. will change color
depending on your mood. I call them... mood clothes.
Oh, I'm gonna hate that. Oscar's mood clothes.
They're illusions. They change, Michael. Based
on what you're feeling. It's a touch revealing
to let everyone know what I'm feeling, isn't
it? Well, then I guess you'll have to be a master
of your own emotions, won't you? Very well, we're
gonna get really far and get it for free anyway.
Well, that's the spirit. And if you don't, yours
costs 20 gold, yours costs 20 gold, and together's
yours cost 25 gold. So make it past the first
round, cost is half for each of you. Well, those
of you that make it past the first round, which
I'm sure all of you will, can half the cost if
you make it past the second round. It's free.
If you don't make it at all, then you've got
to pay me directly the entirety of the amount.
And that is also subjective that at the end of
each round when you are victorious, you announce
the name of my shop, which is... Flame Treasures.
And my name is... Oscar. Oscar. Oscar. Oscar's
Flame Treasures. The Flame Treasures of Oscar.
Oscar. Scribble Scribble. Anything else I can
help you with? I don't think so. You've helped
so much. This has been delightful. This has been
a lovely turn of events for today. I've been
struggling a little bit with my business and
you are going to be what helps turn me around.
People say that I have a little too much flair.
My fashion is a little too gaudy for the streets.
I'll show them all. No, you'll show them all.
That's right. That's right. Well, good luck!
And don't fuck it up. We're going to tournament
for our lives. As we step outside, Gally's just
like, I've got some reservations. What do you
mean? I don't know, mood clothes? As an illusionist?
That seems like it could actually do good harm
to my battle. But how would people even know
what color signifies which emotion? That's a
great point. And also, Gally, is if you control
your emotions, then... Battles are kind of heightened
emotional states. You just have to practice breathing,
won't you? Why don't you put the clothes on now
so we can see what color they turn? Oh, yeah.
So would you like to do anything in particular
as you pass the next day or would you like to
just, you know, spend some day walking around
the city doing some things until the following
day that we arrive at the tournament? Yeah, I
don't think we have a lot of money to spend anyway.
Yeah, I think it's more like working out montage
Rocky style, you know draining clips. I have
the tiger Okay, so long rest Spell slots back.
I couldn't take pole arm master now because this
would have been that would have been really helpful
master of the pole master of the pole master
Master of the Pole. So it's now the next day?
Are we morning of tourney? We'll say that it
is morning of tourney. We skip, you know, a day
where you just kind of lounge around and, you
know, I will say if there's... Mark, however
much time, if you at some point want to start
building towards a feat in D &D... you can work
towards something like if there's a feat that
you know that you want to take and you want to
start working towards putting skills in that
area you can mark however much time during that
day you want to dedicate towards that okay so
like eight hours or however long you know you
don't have to know right now which ones you want
to take but in general with times of rest if
you want to fully rest great if you want to try
and build towards something that's also totally
fine with me okay i'll put down eight hours some
feats in mind so At the next day passes, you,
you know, maybe you work on some feats or something
like that, maybe work some skills. And then the
following day passes as well. You wake up in
the morning, fully rejuvenated, fully rested,
ready to enter the Giostra della Quintana. You
make your ways to the outskirts of the walls.
People flooding through the streets besides you,
making their way outside the city of Chitagatse,
where you can see large fighting pits have been
constructed. around the outside of the city,
and tall stands have been carved into the mountainside
that runs along the outside of the city. You
can see further up, there are housing where people
normally live there, but as you scale down the
mountain, it seems that they have carved seating
for the general public to sit and to watch. You
also see members of the city, some children and
some people just standing and sitting on the
edges on the tops of the city walls watching.
You all walk together towards these grounds and
you can see people beginning to separate into
the general public and competitors the air amongst
the competitors is excited is Jubilant jubilant
jubilant is jubilant. What'd you call me? Is
excited there is hubbub there is chatter everyone
seems to be ready Make a perception check for
me Oh yeah, 20, 30, 20. 17. 6. Okay, you are
kind of, you're a little, like, a little nervous.
This is a lot of people be around, and this is
a really big step for you in what you're trying
to just accomplish as a person. The other two
of you are looking around, equally as excited
but nervous, and you see that there is a varying
level of who's competing. You see some people
that are clad in beautiful armor that is representative
of their family, some nobility, and then you
also see some people that are in the raggediest
leather armor cloth armor as possible that they
likely have tried to scrounge up as much money
as they could to try and get in this and you
see wildly different folks those are the ones
to watch they've nothing to lose they'll be scrappy
and then a booming voice comes from the center
of the stage after a good 15 or so minutes as
things progress. You hear the echoing voice of
a man thrum through the entire fighting pits
along the outside of the mountainside and through
the gates of which you can see the fighting pits
inside. You have been told to line up in a certain
order as you will expect to be introduced into
the stadium as a competitor. This voice booms
from beyond and you hear, ladies and gentlemen,
and everyone in between, people of Anima, welcome
to the glorious Dioestra della Quintana. I am
your master of ceremonies, Signore Franco Sforza,
and let me tell you what a privilege. What a
thrill it is to stand before you all on this
magnificent day and to be this year's host of
Digiostra. And what a beautiful one it will be
where you will witness a spectacle that shall
be sung about for generations. First, let us
raise our voices and our hearts in gratitude
to this year's esteemed sponsors, the noble house
of Montefeltro. And the stadium erupts in cheers.
Dies down a little bit, and let us give a thunderous
applause to the dazzling Lady Emiliana Montefeltro
herself, the jewel of the Montefeltro lineage,
whose hand is this year's prize. What a treasure
it shall be for one of our lucky champions. Crowd
again, going crazy, starting to chant Emiliana's
name. As it quiets down, you hear again. You
all know what's at stake. This, my friends, is
not merely a tournament. This is a test of spirit
and will of flesh and blood that Giostro della
Quintana unfolds in three storied stages, highlighting
the relationship between man and beast. First,
the ferocious horse race. Five grueling rounds
where riders must show mastery over beasts. Only
the top ten of each most skilled equestrian opportunists
shall advance. Second, the joust, where iron
and wood will clash and the bonds between rider
and mount shall be put to their ultimate test.
Dancing in perilous harmony, cutting the number
of opponents in half in preparation of the final
stage. Man against man. or woman against woman,
person against person, in glorious single combat
until one stands victorious. But who you ask
shall stand before you and dare the gauntlet.
I present to you our gallant champion." And he
begins listing the names that he has collected,
many names you've never heard before, and the
occasional name that does strike true. He says,
I present to you From the house of Borja, Lucia
Borja. And the woman that threw her sack of money
and wrote and had her name written down trots
in on a beautiful white horse. None of the other
contestants have a horse. She just walked in
on a horse. I'm worried about our horse status
with jousting and horse riding. Component skills.
You hear a few more announcements and then from
the house of Gonzaga, Luca Gonzaga. and the crowd
goes wild. These are two houses that are from
Chitagatse specifically, and so they have lots
of support. And you see Luca, so Lucia you recognized
before, half -elven woman, pointed features,
smirk that she wears like a badge, short black
hair that is layered that doesn't go past her
chin. She has a sigil of a cow on her plate armor
and her shield. Luca, a cow, Luca Gonzaga walks
in. He is stunning. perfect male figure. He's
got a square jaw, long blonde hair put up in
a ponytail, with the sigil of four flying birds
on his shield and plate armor. A few more names
are announced. And then you hear all the way
from the shores of Wuhan, Giuseppino di Moncuri,
and you see a tall fire genasi man that walks
in his hair flame above his head. He has the
sigil of a line of mountains on his leather armor.
A few more names, and then you hear also from
Ohane, the fiery -laid herself, Fionnala Monachie.
And a water genasi walks in, average height,
very stunning sharp figures, very young, and
has a sigil of a water drop on her leather armor.
A few more names, and then we hear Val Cloaker!
What? You walk in. There's some, you know, there's
the general cheer as names are announced. You
walk in through the stadium, take your place.
Giving a very like noble wave for this. Kind
of a little unexpected for a name like that,
but he's like, you know, he knows, he knows how
to do this. Yeah. Yeah. Give me a performance
check. Alright, yeah, um, 24. Beautiful. You
walk in, posture straight, waving gallantly to
the crowd. A few more names as a few more people
walk in. Some are fucking names. And we hear
from the sacred city of Nishamah, Adonai Nahari.
And a warm human man, simple face, simple features,
curly brown hair, with common clothes compared
to the rest, with the sigil of a river on his
scale male armor walks in, just quaintly waving
to the crowd. A few more names, and then we hear,
uh, hmm, Gianna Mozzarell! Giovanna? Giovanna
Mozzarell! I go up there, and I think I'm going
to be really shy and uncomfortable, and then...
There's a little bit of Isabelle that just...
I was like, I kinda like this attention and I
just raise my arms. Give me a performance check.
You're loosening up, some would say. I am loosening
up. I'm gonna give myself guidance. I don't want
shitty performance. Alright, 21. Yeah, you raise
your hands up. You are timid at first and then
something deep inside you is like, I could like
this. and you raise your hands up and you just
bask in the glory of the center of the stadium.
As you're standing in the center of the stadium,
like you get this weird wave of nostalgia that
you feel like you've been in something like this
before. My trials. I've done this before. I was
at the Dwarne Blade. The Dwarne Blade! A few
more names, and then we hear Giot Sforzandi!
So as much as Galleous, like, wants to play it
cool of, like, I'm an illusionist and I want
to be kind of low -key, he's seen the trials
before and he's kind of, like, geeking out about
it, like, a little bit. He's kind of, like...
cool. So he's gonna like as he steps out, like
toss his cape out behind him. And as he tosses
his hands up, he's gonna cast dancing lights
and summon a bunch of different colored globes
of light that like the orbits of like an atom
or like a galaxy like spin around him rapidly.
Beautiful. And then he's gonna like twist and
toss them up into the air and they like explode
like little fireworks. Give me a performance
check at advantage. Those are almost exactly
the same, 11. So it didn't go that well with
the crowd, I guess. I loved it. I loved it. Listen,
it was great. You make these great things, but
unfortunately it's daylight. And so these illusions
are being hit with the sun. You're trying to
create these things. If it were nighttime, it
would have definitely gone off better, but you've
made a grand entrance for yourself. A few more
names are listed. And then he says, and last.
Sun and heir to the Queen Roki of Nishama. Matthias
Roki of Nishama. And you see a pure -blood ASMR.
Charming with a beautiful smile that could slit
throats. Oh my. What the hell is a smile? Walk
into the stadium. The crowd goes insane. I mean,
there are not many... Nishama is the only...
a city in Anima that is in that is a monarchy
that is run by royalty and he is the son of a
queen next to be the king of an entire city well
known very well known crowd goes absolutely insane
and he is charismatic as hell just smiling waving
to the crowd what a prick massive grin on his
face fucking nobles and then as the crowd Quiet's
down. The man steps, not, not, uh, the announcer
steps forward and says, denizens of anima, I
ask you, god damn it! God damn enough. I'm gonna
have to change the name of this goddamn country.
No, it's perfect. It just hit right away. I was
trying to specifically pronounce. You went so
far out of your way to say it that it wrapped
back around again. I know. It did a loop -de
-loop. Denizens of Anima, I ask you now, are
you prepared? The crowd goes wild. Are you hungry
for blood, for glory, for the roar of victory?
The crowd goes wild. Then I say unto you, let
the first stage commence, and may the gods bear
witness. And we'll call it there. Yay! Oh, yes!
We'll pick up next time. Ah, what an ending.
With the tournament beginning. Ah, that's so
exciting. I got riled up. Go riled up. With all
the enema. Listen, enema means soul in Italian,
and I wanted it to be a fun little thing. No,
it is super great. I mean, it is great. It's
just funny. I think it's, yeah, and it's just
because every time you say it now, I hear you
say that ah, like really far. Yeah, yeah, yeah,
yeah. It just reminds me of why you're saying
it. And it's not, that's why I'm laughing. It's
not anything else. Yeah, it's more how far out
of your way you are going than how much it actually
sounds. Thanks for listening.