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In Character
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In Character
#16 Answers
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The Stonefellows spend the night in Cresting Castle and are shown great hospitality by the Royal Staff. Upon waking, the brothers meet with Valuin Meer, the Court Physician and Historian, to find out more regarding the Draconias. Answers are found to a great many questions and the King summons the brothers once more...
Welcome to In character.
SPEAKER_00With great relief, the Stonefellows finally reach the capital city Tempest. Once arriving, the brothers quickly explain to the City Watch what their business is and why they have come. The gates are opened, and they quickly make their way to Creston Castle. The Chamberlain greets them and reads the scroll given to them by Captain Cruan. Subsequently, they are led into the throne room where Torrent sings a song in the chamber. Moments pass, and the king arrives to their astonishment. They recount their story and explain the events which brought them there. During this time, they all begin to glow, and the court historian recognizes the blessing upon them. They are held in great honor and led to the guest quarters to spend the night.
SPEAKER_02And we're still glowing? You are. He leads you to a a staircase, a spiral staircase.
SPEAKER_04If you go up these steps and down the hall, you'll find bedrooms for all of you. Feel free to make yourselves comfortable. Um and uh there are bells in each of your rooms. Uh feel free to ring and servants will attend you immediately.
SPEAKER_02Um I will reconvene with you at dawn. That's pretty early. Then feel free to sleep.
SPEAKER_08Where shall we meet you? Um here at the end of the uh the stairs.
SPEAKER_04Yeah. I'll meet you here. Thank you.
SPEAKER_06Just up these stairs then.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. Yes, up the stairs. And he just points with his cane. I'm going.
SPEAKER_06Okay. Thank you.
unknownYeah, thanks.
SPEAKER_02He turns around and trundles off again, now with a little uh kick in his uh step.
SPEAKER_06He kind of reminds me of grandmama a little bit.
SPEAKER_07Yeah, they would be good together.
SPEAKER_08Aren't you a little young to be playing matchmaker?
SPEAKER_10I don't think so.
SPEAKER_08I'm gonna who's closest to me? I'm walking down the hallway. I'm already up the stairs. I'm just gonna reach over and touch you. And like kind of like the glowing, trying to figure out what's going on if it feels different than Hey. Hello. What are you doing?
SPEAKER_02Three trying to figure out what this is. With a three, you can feel that it doesn't feel warm at all. In fact, you would describe it as being freezing. You feel cold.
SPEAKER_12Maybe I just have a different different strength. I'll feel myself.
SPEAKER_02You feel you feel totally warm on my arm. I rub my arm I rub my arm. You feel warm in entirely comfortable temperature, and again, there's a sense of boldness that you you have in your spirit where it's like your senses around feel uh heightened. Just any sort of movement or sound, scent uh it it just you feel hyper alert oddly. But it's still warm.
SPEAKER_06Do we hear like extra loud? Like, do we hear like even people down in like the fourth quarter or district?
SPEAKER_02No, you you you can't hear any of that. Okay.
SPEAKER_07Let's find our bedroom. I'm tired.
SPEAKER_02Going up the spiral staircase, you find a long hallway with doors on either side. Twelve to be precise. Six on the left and six on the right. And at the end of the hall, you see a suit of armor and a window.
SPEAKER_08I'm gonna walk down to the window and look out.
SPEAKER_12I'm also going to walk down to the window.
SPEAKER_06I'm gonna look at the suit of arms. Or suit of armor.
SPEAKER_02Peering out the window. You can see a long way. Believe it or not, over the shroud into the horizon art fields. Uh but you can tell that it's the shroud because you see trees just on the fringe and then fog resting over the the uh it's the entire forest. But you can make out the city uh beneath you and each of the different tiers. The different districts.
SPEAKER_08And I wish I could fly. That would have been a whole lot easier.
SPEAKER_06Well, maybe you can fly now. Or try flapping your wings.
SPEAKER_08I'm gonna close my eyes and like clench my fists and like see if I can sprout some wings on my back.
SPEAKER_09Oh my gosh.
SPEAKER_06Nothing happens.
SPEAKER_08Yeah, I don't think I can fly.
SPEAKER_06Maybe you're not concentrating. Pardon. Please concentrating.
SPEAKER_08I'm gonna get some sleep.
SPEAKER_12That's clinching, not concentrating. I'm just gonna open the door directly to the. If you're looking at the window, I'm gonna open the one on the left.
SPEAKER_02Directly to the left. This would be the sixth most one on the left. Going in, completely furnished. Uh red uh embroidered rug on the ground with gold fringes or gold tassels. Uh crimson uh comforter this plush feathered bed. Uh four bedposts. Uh there is a window uh on that same side uh uh as where the armor was, uh facing out toward the city trunks, uh a wardrobe, a desk, chair. But everything is very very fancy and exp expensive. From you've done woodworking before, and you can tell everything in here that that has been chiseled is immaculate. The finest craftsman that you've ever seen. Had had probably made uh these things.
SPEAKER_12Boys. Your room's this nice.
SPEAKER_08I had opened the door on the right and just across from him? Just across, yeah.
SPEAKER_02Exact same. Just like with a couple of slight alterations.
SPEAKER_08I'm gonna do I hear him say that. Yeah, he turned right across. I'm gonna turn around and kind of look into his room. Yeah, same as over here. Must have a thing for fancy stuff around here. Gonna sleep well tonight.
SPEAKER_07Hope they take care of Onyx.
SPEAKER_06I'm sure they will. He'll be okay tonight. He's probably sleeping in luxury too. It's okay. Paralis will keep him company.
SPEAKER_13That's true.
SPEAKER_06But not my horse. My horse won't keep him company. Good redheads.
SPEAKER_08Yeah. Your horse is peaceable.
SPEAKER_12He who shall not be named. That's right. Who was not named.
SPEAKER_09Not long enough. Not long enough to get a name. Oh no name up there.
SPEAKER_06That's why he ran away. You know what? He's dead now. I hope he is. I hope he's cloud meat.
SPEAKER_08Cloud meat? Yeah, what is that? I don't know. I think he's talking about the fog. That wisp that attacked us. You know, he said that we all came through with sane minds. I think maybe most of us did.
SPEAKER_09Well, you gotta go in with a sane mind to come out with one.
SPEAKER_06Fair point. Anyway, I'm going to bed. Good night.
SPEAKER_07Do we each get our own rooms? Sure. I'm not sharing a room with you. I mean we've shared a tent.
SPEAKER_08Well, now I have my own room. Okay. You can sleep in here if you want, Tommen.
SPEAKER_07Okay.
SPEAKER_08Cool. I'm going to.
SPEAKER_02One thing you should know, there are hearths in each of your rooms.
SPEAKER_08Is there a fire going? There are no fires going. I'm gonna find the bell and ring it.
unknownOkay.
SPEAKER_07I'm gonna wake someone up right now.
SPEAKER_02You hear a footsteps coming down the hallway. Then uh a clicking. And then you hear a voice.
SPEAKER_01What can I do for you?
SPEAKER_02Oh, come in, please. You see a gnome waltz in uh with uh suspenders and uh a a fine vest and little curled uh shoes and kind of short blonde hair spiked up and looking at you with big green eyes.
SPEAKER_07Wow, I like your banners.
SPEAKER_03Oh, thank you very much.
SPEAKER_08Could you draw us a bath?
SPEAKER_03Most certainly.
SPEAKER_08Or two of them, rather.
SPEAKER_07Yeah, two hot or cold. Uh hot.
SPEAKER_12Hot wonder burz and can I hear this going on?
SPEAKER_07Roller perception check.
unknownUgh.
SPEAKER_02Eight. Yeah, you can hear it from uh across all the way. I'll poke my head at the end. Just like descent voices, but you hear the kind of this high-pitched squeaky voice. Be like, what the?
SPEAKER_12I'll walk out into the hallway and then kind of like, is the door open to the room at all? Yeah. Okay, I'm gonna like creak it open more and walk in. Be like, hey, can you draw me one of those baths too? Did I hear something about a bath? Ah no.
SPEAKER_08Go back to your own room. Go to bed.
SPEAKER_09I want I wander over the room. Can I get a bath as well?
SPEAKER_08You have a bell in your room. Ring your own bells.
SPEAKER_09I will even go into my room and ring the bell.
SPEAKER_02We're just gonna keep it. Several moments by all night. And you hear this pitter patter. And another gnome. Uh uh, a female gnome with with a high bun tied up and or kind of like sparkles in her hair. And she's kind of waving from side to side a little bit with her skirt.
SPEAKER_01She says, What can I do for you, sir?
SPEAKER_02Can you drop me a hot bath?
SPEAKER_01Most certainly, sir.
SPEAKER_09Thank you.
SPEAKER_01You'll take uh half an hour or so.
SPEAKER_09That's fine.
SPEAKER_01Very good then.
SPEAKER_02She gives a little bow. And then wait.
SPEAKER_06Are there like gnomes for every room? For each room, or is it like two gnomes for the whole hallway?
SPEAKER_08For the whole entire castle.
SPEAKER_06There's only a big thing. Go to your whole hallway.
SPEAKER_09Go to your room, ring the bell, see what happens.
SPEAKER_07Now for yourself.
SPEAKER_09I go out of my room, going through the next room. Ring the bell.
SPEAKER_02This one with a lot of freckles. Comes in.
SPEAKER_03Yes, my lord.
SPEAKER_09Uh um, thank you. Uh I don't need anything. I was just forgive me.
SPEAKER_01Very good.
SPEAKER_09Okay. We're trying now. As he's leaving, I could have reached for the bell again. And then decide not to ring it and just and walk out.
SPEAKER_08Of the neighboring bedroom?
SPEAKER_09Yeah. I was gonna ring it again, but I figured I shouldn't.
SPEAKER_08Very self-controlled of you.
SPEAKER_09Thank you.
SPEAKER_08I can sometimes. Um, I'm gonna did the gnome leave our room. I'm gonna look like around the fireplace. Is there stuff to build a fire with? Yes. I'm gonna start building a fire. You can do so. Sweet. I'm gonna pull up a chair, take my boots off, and just kind of lean back with my feet towards the fire. You're at the base of the hearth.
SPEAKER_02Uh you are resting on a goat skin. And it is quite comfortable.
SPEAKER_09While I wait for my bath, I go into their room and sit by the fire.
SPEAKER_07Are we just gonna stay up all night?
SPEAKER_09I don't know.
SPEAKER_08We should probably get some sleep.
SPEAKER_07Probably getting close to morning, anyways.
SPEAKER_08I hate to get the sheets all dirty with the filth from our travels.
SPEAKER_07Yeah, that's fair. They're pretty nice.
SPEAKER_08Hey, Ulrich. You scared alone in your room?
SPEAKER_09No. There's just a fire in this room.
SPEAKER_07You don't want to make a fire in your room.
SPEAKER_09I feel like that'd be a waste.
SPEAKER_08That's fair. And ringing the extra bell wasn't?
SPEAKER_09That was curiosity.
SPEAKER_08I'm gonna go back to my room.
SPEAKER_12Have you been standing with the bell? She's looking at us. There's a fire here. I'm gonna go back to my room and I'm gonna ring the bell.
SPEAKER_09He's like beside the window curtains.
SPEAKER_12I'm just in the shadows.
SPEAKER_09You can stay here by the fire. Your bath is gonna take a while. Or did you order a bath? I I did, yes. It'll take a while.
SPEAKER_12I know.
SPEAKER_06Honestly, I don't know where I've been this whole time, so I'm just going to pretend that I have been in the hallway just trying to pick a room because I want to be as far away from your There is a female no uh auburn curly hair that kind of bounces uh as she runs.
SPEAKER_02Comes up to your room, says, Yes, my lord.
SPEAKER_12Yes, I I'm looking to see about doing my laundry. Is there a place I could drop my clothes off that are needing cleaning by the morning?
SPEAKER_02Oh, most certainly. She points over to the door and you see this basket. Um that is there.
SPEAKER_03Just throw your clothes in there, set them outside your door, and we'll take care of them.
SPEAKER_12Perfect. Will they be ready by the morning?
SPEAKER_03Oh, most certainly. We'll we'll have uh uh leather workers working on them. If you need any repairs and anything scented or cleaned, we'll take care of that too.
SPEAKER_12That would be amazing. And um yes, I think that's it. Thank you.
SPEAKER_03Very good, sir.
SPEAKER_02She bows. She bows and then trundles off.
SPEAKER_08Did I hear this interaction?
SPEAKER_02Roll a perception track.
SPEAKER_08Very perceptive, I would have you know, on normal occasions. Very perceptive.
SPEAKER_02Um four. No. The crackling of the fire in the hearth and having the conversation with your brothers, and you don't hear it happen. Ah, that's nice.
SPEAKER_06Okay, I pick my room at the very end. Pick my room at the very end of the hall, at the other side of the hall, closest. Closest to the stairs. Closest to the stairs. On the left or the right? Uh the right.
unknownOkay.
SPEAKER_06Uh ring the bell, do all the same interactions to get a bath and all of that. Okay. Very good.
SPEAKER_08They refuse.
SPEAKER_06Can my numb be fat?
SPEAKER_11Give me the You request a hand down. Put that on a T-dirt. Okay. It's gonna be like that, Uncle Vernon. Yeah, looks you'd get pulled on the street.
SPEAKER_02Half an hour passes, and each of you uh see uh somewhat of a marvel at work. Um humans, elves, uh have rolled in these large tubs, um, big enough for two people, uh, but sufficient, you know, just for the one. And bucket by bucket uh uh these hot uh buckets of water are are poured in. And oddly, uh the gnomes uh whom you had called for uh have been standing by and facilitating and watching and making sure everything is up to the highest standard and quality of excellence. And after all of your baths have been drawn, they stand at the doors looking for anything else.
SPEAKER_07You think they could wash our clothes? Probably we don't want to get back into dirty clothes.
SPEAKER_08The king's clothes look pretty clean.
SPEAKER_07Yeah, maybe yeah, that's a good idea.
SPEAKER_12I'm gonna like shut my door. Well, at this point, they'll they all brought the tub in, right? I'll shut my door and take everything off and just stick it out the like open the door, crack and like stick it in the basket. And then uh shut the door and then hop in the tub and just relax.
SPEAKER_05Okay.
SPEAKER_08Um yeah, I'm gonna strip and hop in the tub. Okay. And start just sudden myself up.
SPEAKER_09Okay. Yeah, I go to my room and take a bath. Do the same.
SPEAKER_08All right, naked.
SPEAKER_10Run a couple laps around the room before I hop in.
SPEAKER_11Everyone's like, I was like, I prepare for a bath.
SPEAKER_12I tangly drop that into the top.
SPEAKER_09Take my pre-bath lap. You're just running in place.
SPEAKER_02Um there are trays that are have been set next to the baths, these having all kinds of soaps and colognes and perfumes and various things for uh just hygiene in general.
SPEAKER_09Uh I try them all.
unknownOkay.
SPEAKER_08As I'm sit soaking in the warm water, I'm just gonna take and start smelling them and smell amber, mint, what I like, all kinds of stuff.
SPEAKER_06Is there a frankincense? There is. I picked that one.
SPEAKER_02It's not particularly big, uh, but you can tell it it's uh sufficient for your needs.
SPEAKER_08For your puny puny form.
SPEAKER_12Is there a sandalwood? Yes. I'm gonna do that one.
SPEAKER_09I guess there prickly pear.
SPEAKER_11No, they're do of the grass.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, there is also on these trays uh there is an assortment of mints uh and a cup of tea.
SPEAKER_06Is the gnome still in the room? No.
SPEAKER_02No, they've left already, okay.
unknownNo.
SPEAKER_02They know when to take a hint and they have moved uh outside and shut the doors and stuff. Everything about the the gnomes quite formal, direct to the point. And with the whole bringing in of the baths and drawing of the baths, they were almost strict, but you can tell that they were definitely the facilitators.
SPEAKER_06I'm gonna take the cup of tea and sniff it to try and decide what kind of tea it is. Nine.
SPEAKER_02With a nine, you can tell it's something a little more fruity. Possibly uh of some kind of fruit. Possibly uh like a pear or or apple.
SPEAKER_06Okay, I'm convinced enough. I'll I'll take a sip. Oh, it's sweet. Possibly the most sweetest tea you've ever had. And I'm just gonna sink into the warm water with the cup in my hands. Just take a deep breath.
SPEAKER_02Okay. You guys were absolutely and utterly filthy. Uh a motley crew. Ushik, especially, uh, as he had dropped in through a pit in the shroud. Um from the dust and grime of riding uh with the scent of horse uh on you. Not particularly great, but now washing away. And you feel almost brand new. Believe it or not, all of you are still glowing.
SPEAKER_12I'm gonna be done with my bath and hop out and walk over to the fireplace. And I'm gonna try noticing that I'm still glowing and like feeling a little powerful and kind of weird. I'm gonna try to I haven't lit my fire. I'm gonna try to light my fire just with my power.
SPEAKER_02Okay. How are you doing this?
SPEAKER_12I'm going to like just kind of, I don't know. I'm gonna I'm gonna go down close to the fire. I'm going to just try to like use my like hand to channel my tracodic.
SPEAKER_02Okay, so using your hand. Alright, roll an arcana check. Twelve. You feel a tingling in your fingers. And a log drop here in the hearth. And nothing happens.
SPEAKER_12I will shrug my shoulders and go get a mid.
SPEAKER_02Okay. What are the rest of you doing?
SPEAKER_06Knowing that my brothers are not looking and uh and seeing that I'm still glowing, I'm also gonna be a little curious and I'm gonna I'm gonna just like I'm gonna try and blow some fire again, just like I did in forgot his name. These house. I'm just gonna try and do that again, see if it works this time.
SPEAKER_02Okay, rolling our cana check.
SPEAKER_06Nine.
SPEAKER_02In in blowing, you you realize that there's a lot of pressure on your chest, and you begin to hack um and cough uh with phlegm and as a lot of dust had accumulated there. Still doesn't work. I'm done then.
SPEAKER_08Is there like a towel and a robe and that type of thing? Yes.
SPEAKER_02Okay, I'm gonna hop out and you you were able to find the contents uh within the wardrobe. Uh and believe it or not, uh uh freshly ironed uh clothing, uh very fine, uh you would estimate for a noble of some kind. It looks pretty rudimentary, but more expensive than any kind of clothing you've ever donned.
SPEAKER_08I'm going to throw the robe on and then take my clothes and like open the door. Uh can I get these washed?
SPEAKER_07Yeah, grab mine too. I go grab yours.
SPEAKER_02There's no one in the hallway.
SPEAKER_09Hello? I I drive myself off, put my robe on, and open up my door and look across the hall and see. Who are you guys talking to?
SPEAKER_08Well, I wanted to get my clothes cleaned, but everybody left. I think you gotta call the gnome. I'm gonna go back and bell.
SPEAKER_02Okay. There's a petter petter down the hallway, and then a come in.
SPEAKER_07Oh, wait. It's the fun gnome. Not decent.
SPEAKER_02And the the gnome goes and just kind of turns away there in the doorway. Yes, my lord.
SPEAKER_08Can you wash these clothes for us?
SPEAKER_03Most certainly please place them in the basket and set them on the outside of your door. Uh and we'll take them.
SPEAKER_08I do as such.
SPEAKER_09Okay. I ring my bell and do the same. What you want me to wear my dirty clothes?
SPEAKER_02Is there one or two beds? Uh there's one bed.
SPEAKER_08Just one bed.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_02I'm gonna it is essentially a king-sized bed.
unknownOkay.
SPEAKER_08I'm gonna crawl in and just like spread out on my back, like on the whole bed.
SPEAKER_02Starfishing.
SPEAKER_08Yeah.
SPEAKER_02It is the softest feather bed you've ever uh rested on. In fact, you would put it just above uh the beds that were in Felician Artis' home.
SPEAKER_08Ahman, I bet you wish you had a bed to sleep in.
SPEAKER_07Yeah, I can just go next door.
SPEAKER_08Oh, right.
SPEAKER_06Wait, y'all y'all took a bath together. What? Y'all took a bath together, you're not gonna share a bed. But you were making us a room.
SPEAKER_08We're brothers. Yeah.
SPEAKER_06But you're not gonna share the bed.
SPEAKER_10Oh, he wants his own bed. Oh, okay. You're not there to make a power play. I'm gonna pop my head out in the room. To look into the hallway.
SPEAKER_02No one's there except for the pseudo phone.
SPEAKER_10Brother quickly, I'm gonna run out. But cheat naked. Run to a different mail. Inside. If anybody's in there. It's empty. Okay, we're gonna run inside. Close the door. Good thing you didn't pick my valence.
SPEAKER_11It's so true. Are all of you going to bed or are you still doing things? Yes, going to bed. I'm gonna pass out. Everyone, please take a long rest and uh something else.
SPEAKER_02You all gain five temporary hit points as well. You are all met with a soft tapping upon your doors.
SPEAKER_11Hello? Come in. Wait, which doors? All of your doors. Oh.
SPEAKER_02Oh, well. And each of the gnomes stand there in the doorway.
SPEAKER_08Yes. Are they aware he's in the other room?
SPEAKER_02Yes. Ugh, creepy. How do they know?
unknownOkay.
SPEAKER_02They're very good at their jobs.
SPEAKER_08Fair enough. That's that's fine.
unknownOkay.
SPEAKER_08Just a curiosity. Mm-hmm.
SPEAKER_02Uh the blonde, spiky haired gnome uh steps in just enough to get in through the doorway, stands there resolutely, and says, Good morning, sir. Good morning.
SPEAKER_08How did you sleep? I slept well. My eyes are still kind of closed. Did everything meet your expectations? It was fabulous. I lift up an arm. Am I still glowing? Glowing, sir. Never mind.
SPEAKER_02Your clothes are right here for you, sir. Um and he kind of points towards the uh near the door, just on the inside where he's walked in. Um if you require anything else, uh uh please ring. Thank you. He steps out, closes the door. It's the same for all of you. Um however, the person who's knocked upon Tom's door uh is a high elf. About 6'6. Uh male.
SPEAKER_11Stop giving me cheeky looks, everybody.
SPEAKER_02And uh says good morning, young master.
SPEAKER_04How did you sleep?
SPEAKER_02Pretty good. Do you require anything? Um we do have uh cinnamon buns and cinnamon buttons. Uh we do have um coffee and milk and uh other fittings. Uh if you're uh hungry. Yeah, all that sounds good. Uh should I have uh uh them brought up here?
SPEAKER_07Uh maybe bring it to my brother's room. I think we'll all go in there.
SPEAKER_02Uh which one, sir?
SPEAKER_07Uh the the bigger, the bigger guy.
SPEAKER_02Very good, sir. Yeah. And good morning. And he shuts the door.
SPEAKER_07They're all gonna. Are my clothes uh how how do I get my clothes? The door is shut. Hey, hey!
SPEAKER_02There's a yes, sir.
SPEAKER_07My my clothes, where do I get those?
SPEAKER_02Your clothes would likely be with your brother.
SPEAKER_07Okay.
SPEAKER_10He shuts the door. Okay, I'm gonna run over to the door, wait a few like a minute, and poke my head out. Pull a perception check.
SPEAKER_02Ooh. Uh that's uh five. You slightly dink your head against the doorway so you don't get a good look to the left, but the right looks clear, and that's the side with the armor standard. Alright, repeat of last night.
SPEAKER_06I failed. I back run forhead out to to just go and just get out into the hallway.
SPEAKER_11You you you see his uh two cheeks uh as he's hopping into Uchik's room. Oh.
SPEAKER_08What are you doing naked?
SPEAKER_07What do you mean? My clothes were in here.
SPEAKER_08Yeah, but they have robes.
SPEAKER_07I didn't see any robes.
SPEAKER_08In the closet?
SPEAKER_07I didn't look in the closet.
SPEAKER_08Oh heavens.
SPEAKER_07I thought that was like some other room.
SPEAKER_08I just shake my head and continue getting dressed.
SPEAKER_06I'm gonna slowly walk towards Ushik's room, hoping, hoping that Tammen will be dressed by the time I get there.
SPEAKER_02Okay.
SPEAKER_06He is you see your brothers looking quite well and clean. I think I heard we're having breakfast in here.
SPEAKER_07Yeah, I said to bring my breakfast in here.
SPEAKER_08Oh. I'm headed down to the bottom of the stairs to meet with our friend, the old fella. Well, he didn't really just say a time. Well, I figured I'd go down there and sit on the bottom step till he shows up. Okay, you're not hungry. Yeah, but I've been hungry before. Fair enough. If you have any food left over, you can't.
SPEAKER_02You feel uh a big emptiness in your stomach. And something doesn't feel quite right. Um just uh a lingering feeling. It's it's almost like you overslept somehow. But you all feel like rested and it feels good, but it's just like a lingering feeling where you're like, what what happened? That sort of don't.
SPEAKER_08I'm gonna look down at like my arm and hand and see if it looks normal. It is? Alright, well, if he's down there, I guess I'll run up and grab one of you. Or you guys. I'm gonna head out.
SPEAKER_12I'll go down the stairs. I'll step out of my room.
SPEAKER_09Yeah, after I get dressed. As I hear your door like open. After I get dressed, yeah, I'll head downstairs.
SPEAKER_06Okay, I'm gonna ring the bell that was in Ushik's room. Okay.
SPEAKER_02As you three, Torin, Ulrich, Ushik, as you were heading down the spiral staircase, there is a no. The gnome that was serving you, Ushik, running up the stairs. Oh no, excuse me, my lords. And you see him, as he's just like beelining it straight to your room.
SPEAKER_08Oh, don't worry about him. That was my brother. I'm sorry, sir. Oh, don't hurry too fast. He'll be fine. Roll a persuasion check. Um, we have five. Okay.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, he just keeps going. Pace never changing. And I valent, he's there.
SPEAKER_06At the door.
SPEAKER_12Wow, that was quick.
SPEAKER_06Uh what do you require? I'm sorry. I know that you're not the gnome that was uh for my room. I was just wondering if there was anything to eat. Oh, yes. Uh what would you like? Uh soft boiled egg and maybe some bread and cheese. Absolutely. Anything else? I I think that'd be it. Thank you. Anything to drink? Uh oh, uh if you had fresh goat's milk. It'll be done, my lord. Oh, I appreciate it. Thank you. See as he rushes off once again. I look at Tom and he says, Hey called me my lord.
SPEAKER_07Yeah, they call me that too.
SPEAKER_06Isn't that cool?
SPEAKER_02Down at the bottom of the spiral staircase. No one is there. And no one is in the throne room. You can hear some chatter, uh, but it's difficult to tell where from. And light is peering in through uh stained glass that was resting above uh the wooden doors that you had entered in through. Uh this side being on uh uh the face of the mountain uh and the sun is peering through. Roll survival checks, all three of you.
SPEAKER_08Twenty-one seventeen.
SPEAKER_02Six. Torrin, you can tell that time has passed for sure, and it's a little warmer light. Umrick, you can tell that this is closer to midday than anything else. Ushik, your internal clock is messed up because it's midday and you feel as though you've slept way longer than when you had gone to sleep before. Like in the wee hours of the morning for for how rested you feel.
SPEAKER_08Do I see any of the gnomes around?
SPEAKER_02Roller perception chuck.
SPEAKER_08Fourteen.
SPEAKER_02Uh you see no gnomes.
SPEAKER_08I wanna go back to the base of the stairway and look around again.
SPEAKER_02No one's there. There are several d doors that uh branch off from this main champ chamber, but they are all closed.
SPEAKER_08I'm just gonna head back up the stairs towards my room. Okay. That's strange. Do we sleep for a day?
SPEAKER_09I don't know. Yeah, it does seem kind of weird.
SPEAKER_12My head feels a bit off.
SPEAKER_08I guess we'll ask.
SPEAKER_12Perhaps we're all in the same dream.
SPEAKER_09Wow, well, if if that'd be a nightmare for me, but you guys if you two are in it. I I don't think so.
SPEAKER_08That is a fair point. I wasn't actually serious. Oh, okay.
SPEAKER_02Few moments pass, and uh there are humans and elves making their way up the spiral staircase with various trays, uh, some of different drinks, and others with food.
SPEAKER_12Excuse me. Yes. Can you tell us what time and day it is?
SPEAKER_02Um I I could indeed, sir.
SPEAKER_08Uh how long did we sleep? Um my why do you Didn't you wake us sooner?
SPEAKER_04His Majesty, uh the glorious King Ra Zadir Redorin, uh, thought it best uh that you uh get uh your sleep.
SPEAKER_08Well that was very gracious of him. Um do you know where the the older gentleman is with a cane? Oh uh Master Mir, yes. That sounds right. Yes, he wanted to speak to us. Oh uh then uh should I vetch him? Uh or we can go to him. Um whatever you you would prefer, my lord. Uh we can we'll go to him. That's fine. Uh very good. Uh maybe we'll eat a bite first. I'm rather famished.
SPEAKER_02Um then I I could show you the way. Please do. Agreed. Either way. Uh leads you up to uh the rooms uh with all of the food. Tom and you have never seen uh this many goodies and treats in your life uh with uh frosting and uh sugar uh but delightful fruits uh and various breads, uh various meats as well, protein. Um and as I Valen had requested, everything he wanted. Is that all says? Yes, thank you very much.
SPEAKER_13Shall I show you the way now?
SPEAKER_08Yes, please. The name's Trenton Trenton, my name is Yushik.
SPEAKER_02Good to meet you starts down the hallway. Down the spiral staircase and uh leads you across uh the chambers to another section of the uh Creston Castle. Um this one a little more intricate. You go up several flights of stairs, take a few turns, and you can tell that this section of the of the keep uh is for uh workers, you would guess, uh, of the castle. Um and there's one particular chamber chamber door very ornate uh with etchings in the door. Various symbols and he opens his arm to the door. He is inside.
SPEAKER_08Shall we knock or go in? Feel free to enter. He's been expecting you. Thank you. And I give him just like a nod and then push on the door.
SPEAKER_02It's unlocked. There's a you're instantly hit with the smell of musty old books. It's almost like a fog.
SPEAKER_08The guy likes to read, eh? Anybody in here?
SPEAKER_02It was you. What yes, come in, come in, and you see a cane over the the top of uh a book pile, um, and he he's ushering you over.
SPEAKER_08As I make my way towards the cane, I say, My apologies, we slept so long, you should have woke us sooner. Nay, sir, nay.
SPEAKER_02It was commanded by his esteemed royal majesty King Zedon.
SPEAKER_08No, he is very gracious.
SPEAKER_02So then. You see he's sitting on this stool, and you've started to pick up this may be the reason why his back is the way it is. Because he's leaning over a desk littered with all kinds of manuscripts, scrolls, books, tomes, grimoires.
SPEAKER_12Excuse me, sir. If you don't mind my asking, uh, how old are you?
SPEAKER_04I'm old.
SPEAKER_12Is that eighty or or like three hundred?
SPEAKER_02You just and he kind of points to the Kine.
SPEAKER_09Well I don't think he was. You're deadly serious.
SPEAKER_12You seem like Forgive me, I did I guess too high. Maybe too low.
SPEAKER_02His right eyelid twitches. I mean, no offense. Roll an insight check.
SPEAKER_09Can I roll two? Yeah, sure. Um getting a read on him. 17 plus seven. Yep. Um, so twenty-four.
SPEAKER_02With the twenty-four. Oh, sorry.
SPEAKER_12Twenty-four.
SPEAKER_02I definitely didn't. Yorick. Uh-huh. You can tell he's evading the question on purpose and he's deliberately hiding what the answer is.
SPEAKER_09We're not gonna make fun of you. Well, swoopin'. What can you tell us about um supposedly being blessed by the draconus?
SPEAKER_12And the prophecy. What is that about?
SPEAKER_09Yeah.
SPEAKER_02There's a little lurch. Or being heirs of dragons He he turns and he looks at you, Tom, and he says, What did you say? And he kind of pulls you in closer, like almost trying to like grab a hold of you. What did you say? But interested. Like genuinely interested.
SPEAKER_12We we found a book. The house of a friend.
SPEAKER_08Do you know Fleesian Artis? Silver Dragon?
SPEAKER_02Pull the persuasion check.
SPEAKER_08Um fifteen.
SPEAKER_13Many years ago. Yes. I know of a man by that name.
SPEAKER_08I could never forget it. You he was the one who blessed us, and we found a book. He what?
SPEAKER_02And he like pushes in closer to you, and he's like looking at you intensely, um, just straight up, like at as high as he's able. Like he he's way shorter than you are uh by a couple of feet due to his back.
SPEAKER_08He's just like just instinct grabbing hold of you. Grab his shoulders to steady him as he's like kind of staggering there.
SPEAKER_13Why would he do such a thing?
SPEAKER_08I don't know. If if it's a blessing or not, but he his hands glowed and we glowed, and now sometimes we glow. I I don't understand it.
SPEAKER_12He revealed to us his true nature.
SPEAKER_02But then he kind of gestures for you to sit down. And there's literally nothing to sit around in here. It is covered by books, and you can tell that this study uh hasn't seen the light of day a long time.
SPEAKER_09I sit down on this deck of books.
SPEAKER_06I'll I'll take the stack.
SPEAKER_12Is there a chair that he was sitting on? A stool. I'll just bring the stool over right by him and just like sit it right below him. Thank you, young man.
SPEAKER_02Of course. He sits down and he puts his cane out in front of him.
SPEAKER_08I kind of clear a space on the desk a little bit, push some books and papers to the side and I break it. Ongoing research. Sorry, I step away. Shall we talk somewhere else?
SPEAKER_02He like points next to uh I Valen.
SPEAKER_08I go sit next to Ivaland. I just try to make myself possible.
SPEAKER_04I don't mean to be so commanding, but it's just precious things.
SPEAKER_02Um it's fine.
SPEAKER_12Um It's okay. Ushik's never loved books much.
SPEAKER_09Was that like an insult?
SPEAKER_12Well, you never loved swords much. And yet I wield them well.
SPEAKER_06Okay, anyway, about the prophecies.
SPEAKER_04So then we have a lot to talk about. When did you first meet this Felician?
SPEAKER_06Oh, it's probably a couple of days ago. Uh we were going into It was his cabin, right?
SPEAKER_12Yeah. It was his cabin inside the blow, and there was before the blow.
SPEAKER_09Yes. I'm pretty sure he blessed us after the blow. We met him.
SPEAKER_12Yes, he that was when he first met him on our way up. Below the blow in the pass. A little hut just on the side of the mountain. South of the blow. What did you remove him?
SPEAKER_08Absolutely nothing. Nothing. There was a cabin and we went down to see what was going on. We chopped some wood. Yes, he had some wood. He fed us some food and we left. Wouldn't let us touch his instruments.
SPEAKER_12He had some beautiful instruments.
SPEAKER_09Next we saw them was um at a ferry.
SPEAKER_08Um uh heading south when we came back down this Captain Crewman told us to look for the boatman, and I guess he was the boatman.
SPEAKER_09Some yeah, somehow also the boatman. By God, and that's when he blessed us.
SPEAKER_08Well, he tried to be able to do it.
SPEAKER_12He took us across the channel, and uh he had another cabin there on the other side, where we ended up we s stay the night there. We stayed the night. After he left, though. Yeah, but and then he went took me on a walk on the beach, and I talked with him about some interesting matters, and after that he revealed to me that he was a dragon, and I shocked. And then we came back and he blessed us all. So how have you come to know about the Draconias?
SPEAKER_09Oh, that was the book. Yes, we found a book in his cabin.
SPEAKER_08After we crossed the last time, same place he blessed us. Oh, and we found a crate that things disappear into.
SPEAKER_07Well, how do we know we can trust you?
SPEAKER_09I feel like we kind of already told him everything at this point. Yeah. We can't really back out.
unknownShh.
SPEAKER_04I apologize.
SPEAKER_02This is uh a delicate matter as it uh surrounds so much uh the the future of the draconius, um, the future of Farensmark, uh the line of succession, um those who are heirs, um, the the possibility of uh succession without being an heir, um the the the bestowing of power, um the upending of governments and uh destruction, disaster I should I should start from the beginning.
SPEAKER_09Yeah, that'd be good because I'm lost.
SPEAKER_02Same. How much do you know of the uh the fall of ancient Faron?
SPEAKER_09Well, I feel like this much.
SPEAKER_06I feel like a fair amount since we've been talking to a lot of old people lately.
SPEAKER_12Well, I do know that Jaconius were given portions of land post well, after the fall of ancient Faron.
SPEAKER_08Just assume we don't know much and could learn.
unknownRight.
SPEAKER_04Well, after the separation of the clouds in the heavens, this rift uh and dragons uh uh subsisted uh here uh in Faron's Mark.
SPEAKER_02Uh a great many things happened.
SPEAKER_04Uh the dragons began fighting uh amongst themselves, uh claiming particular portions for themselves. Uh King Faron had given over a certain land to those who were Silverin, um Felician artists being uh one of them. Um I had a conversation with him many years ago about this very thing.
SPEAKER_02He had claimed that uh the Bronzian and uh the Goldian had uh moved to other parts, uh, and it was his uh vocation uh to protect that portion uh as uh various red uh dragons and others had moved across the channel uh over into Jita.
SPEAKER_04Dangerous things.
SPEAKER_02Humans got caught up in the mix, um, as of course uh uh great civilizations uh had made uh great strides in technology there up in the north your crossmark and others some even being in the blow ancient cities, mind you as it turned out um no one quite knows why but the rift in the heavens closed at which point uh somehow magical properties uh didn't meld well with this technology that was being used.
SPEAKER_04Um especially near Laddin's hold. This is where everything popped off, so to speak.
SPEAKER_02Apparently this magical power uh was taken over, uh, some by uh humans and uh others by those who are uh members of the Draconius, um those being dragons, uh moving these magical properties across Clarence Mark proper.
SPEAKER_04And due to the various uh cities and um this we would call it an undercurrent of energy and power that led to its destruction.
SPEAKER_02Uh the ancients fought amongst themselves, the dragons did as well, and very few survived. Um since then a lot of the technology has been lost different things, uh different tokens, uh currency systems, and uh all sorts of things. As far as uh the members of the Jaconius, and you in the line of succession, it was important because the the power was needed um uh to keep these technologies running. We we we have no idea what it looks like. I've been racking my brain. He points around to all the books around what this technology was. Um either running different uh machines, mechanical, I do not know. Um uh but uh it assisted mankind. Um but the members of the draconius were important because of uh the particular power, what they were capable of. Um great strength, their insight, um uh their fire. They were able to meld things, um obsidian, um of which he pulls out uh a coin of this black with vibrant light blue specks all over it. Very much like this.
SPEAKER_04This is called a Yabok piece.
SPEAKER_12It's a while he's speaking, I'm gonna reach into my jacket and pull out mine. You're gonna pull out like this one?
SPEAKER_02He he starts to lean back and he starts to slip out of his stool and and almost just Hold on, old man, hold on.
SPEAKER_06How did you come by these? My father gave us them when we were young.
unknownWhat?
SPEAKER_04Very few of these in the in the in the known world.
SPEAKER_02How did your father come to uh come by them? Oh, he's uh traitor. Who who is your father?
SPEAKER_08Who are you? Stonefellows. Stonefellows.
SPEAKER_05We haven't seen our father.
SPEAKER_08It's Anzel Stonefellow was our father.
SPEAKER_02You he turns behind him and he starts going through rifling through tons of papers and he pulls out this large tome and just throws it down on on top of the throws it on top of the desk and a bunch of dust just goes flying again. Starts rifling through papers. And so here and he points the book in your faces, and you see this genealogy of names. Ansel being the last one of these technicians, engineers. Dad. This particular uh uh genealogy represents those who who who were here pre-fall of ancient Pharaoh and and knew certain things about uh this technology.
SPEAKER_13But let me let me slow down. To simplify all this, I'm I'm sure this is a lot.
SPEAKER_04I'm making my head spin. Technology, ancient Faron, the Draconius, all of these three things meld together. My purpose in life has been to uncover this technology.
SPEAKER_02My life's work points to all of the things surrounding it.
SPEAKER_04The prophecy that I spoke of speaks to a line of succession for brothers doesn't say what number.
SPEAKER_03What does that mean?
SPEAKER_12It means that you may be the fulfillment of the prophecy. What has our father not told us?
SPEAKER_09Sounds like a lot, to be honest.
SPEAKER_12Do we even know where he is right now? Um He's always told us he was just out working.
SPEAKER_08Uh not sure I do.
SPEAKER_07What was your father's ac uh occupation? He was a traitor. A traitor? Yeah, like a merchant. A merchant? Yeah.
SPEAKER_04That would uh that would make sense. To be certain.
SPEAKER_07Well, yeah, I guess he did pretty well. Because he sent our two brothers here.
SPEAKER_04He he gave you these box pieces.
SPEAKER_02Yes. Do do you realize these are are power sources? They are he he holds it up and immediately uh it begins to glow. This vibrant dark blue color. Yes.
SPEAKER_13Oh. Oh my. What when did you receive these?
SPEAKER_06Oh, we were we were kids.
SPEAKER_09Yeah, we've had these for a while.
SPEAKER_08We were yeah, young.
SPEAKER_06He just told us to always keep them with us.
SPEAKER_08How do you activate them? My dear young master, you already have.
SPEAKER_04These have been attuned to you personally. And when Fleesian artist must have blessed you, he activated these stones.
SPEAKER_12I thought they were a form of currency.
SPEAKER_04They used to be, yes. A powerful form of currency. Not commonplace, not for your your peasant or serf. This means that you are n of a noble line.
SPEAKER_12You are of noble birth. Technicians were considered nobles?
SPEAKER_02In a manner of speaking, yes. Because of the knowledge and insight into these technologies.
SPEAKER_12Well, do you have any of these technologies we could potentially try?
SPEAKER_02We'll see this. And he turns around and he shows you this drawing, this intricate drawing. And it looks like a particular machine for flying. It looks like a bird.
SPEAKER_13Used to to to power this, as far as I understand.
SPEAKER_12What's the right is there writing on it anywhere? None. It's just a drawing or a sketch.
SPEAKER_08It looks old. Do you have any idea what it did? None.
SPEAKER_12But that is what I've I I've I've gone to seek. Do you know if any of these machines survived?
SPEAKER_04I I I I do not know, but there's something for certain. If a Lisian artist blessed you, one of you will then be required to take his place. Take take his place. One day he he will pass on, and one will have to be the guardian in the blue.
SPEAKER_13As far as I understand from this book.
SPEAKER_02And the title that you can see is Descendants and Heirs of Dragons, Volume Two.
SPEAKER_08Isn't that volume one in his cabin? Yes, that's the one we read.
SPEAKER_09We've read the first volume.
SPEAKER_02That is how you've you've come to know this. Yes. My dear young child, and he turns over to you, Tom and grabs you. This is how you know I'm telling the truth.
SPEAKER_12It does make sense. Is this a decision we need to make now? When the time comes?
SPEAKER_08Will we turn into dragons? One of you will most certainly. I just raise my hand. I'll do it.
SPEAKER_04I don't believe it is for uh you to decide.
SPEAKER_08Well.
SPEAKER_04It's likely Felician artist himself, uh, barring any one of your parish.
SPEAKER_08Does he know about the technology? Most certainly. Does our father?
SPEAKER_02I I cannot say. All I know is this. And he holds up the book uh with this genealogy that goes back hundreds of years. And at the bottom you see your father's name and cell.
SPEAKER_12Are there any there's no names after that?
SPEAKER_06None. When was the genealogy? Does there is there like a year listed on them on the genealogy?
SPEAKER_02There is Year fifty the age of relief.
SPEAKER_06And what year are we in?
SPEAKER_02You're in the year seventy-three. Age of relief.
SPEAKER_12Just before you were born, Oshik.
SPEAKER_08How what was the name before that? How many years?
SPEAKER_02It's a little muddy in the text. Acer Kala.
SPEAKER_09How do you spell that?
SPEAKER_02A S E R K H A L A. And the name above that one, Alar Mastin. A H L A R M A S T E N. So the one above your father's name is Acer Kala, and the one above Acer Kala is Alar Mastin. Master Mastin.
SPEAKER_12So these are our ancestors. Most certainly young master. Or any of the musicians.
SPEAKER_04Don't say.
SPEAKER_12Perhaps there's a reason Mother didn't want us to go after war.
SPEAKER_04All I know is at the present you are all servants of the Draconius.
SPEAKER_06We're servants of the Draconius?
SPEAKER_02As long as long Servantian. As long as you uh carry these stones with you, um the draconius power will reside on you, since as I understand it, uh Felisian artists blessed you, thus activating um this power in yourselves. For as you understand, uh these technicians, these engineers, um were wedded with the uh draconius only in work, in vision.
SPEAKER_04Um they helped one another. Um but that is as far as I know.
SPEAKER_06Do you think dad knows Felician?
SPEAKER_09I don't know. I don't that doesn't matter right now. I think the real question is what do we do?
SPEAKER_02There's a knock upon the door. My lord valuing. My lord valuing me. It's the chamberlain. Would one of you mind grabbing the door?
SPEAKER_09Sure. I get up and grab the door.
SPEAKER_02Uh you see the high elf, uh the chamberlain. Neymar, Morris. Ah, I can see that uh you are busy. Um all five of you have been summoned uh by the king. Uh you as well, Balloween. Yes, yes, but yes. We mustn't keep the king waiting.
SPEAKER_12This is fascinating.
SPEAKER_02He gets up and starts mosing out the door with this cane. We'll have to come back to this.
SPEAKER_09I follow.
SPEAKER_02Are all of you following?
unknownOkay.
SPEAKER_02Yes. You see, you see multiple sentinels around the throne, and the king sitting on his throne. The queen is here as well. Uh very pretty, somewhat subdued, uh, human. Uh Ivalund Torin, you've seen her before. Uh but she's sitting there quietly. As you approach, King Zadir Redoran looks at you. I have a mission for you all. You must go up to Far Reach, recruit the men there, sail across the channel, and deal with those fiends from Jaita. And we'll end the campaign there. Thank you so much for listening. If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to write a review and give us a five-star rating on the listening platform of your choice. If you are interested in more of our content, as well as updates, follow us on Instagram at in.character.t. The adventure continues with the Stonefellow Brothers and the Tank of our Kingdom. So tune in next time with InCaractor.