Hm. I. A week and a half ago, we find a number
of soldiers out around the barracks grounds training sparring. We recognize one of them
as are there? I think you set up a meeting, if I'm not
mistaken. Who is that with? With parasite of the gods patrols the temple
guard watch temple God? Yes, absolutely guards for the temple, of course,
yes, Harris, and he did in fact accept your summons request a
spar Are you feeling ready up to it today? You've been doing this for
a couple of weeks now I'm quite ready. Harris is quite good with his
sword, but truly I think I'm better, and he did somebody who was
famed for their swordsmanship. Well so they claimed, at least do you when
you met them? Did he ever give you a rank? A rank?
No? No, of course not. That's fine. Well, he meets
you at the gate as per usual. This fairly rugged looking brown and curly
hair, usually not very well kept as a helmet going over it anyway.
So my bother rod shoulders tall, lean but wiry, I think is what
some people will say, stronger than he looks, which is seems to hold
respect among the rest of the soldiers enough so that just him being there is
enough to get you through the gate without any hassle their questions. It's lucky
I don't have a writ That's right, you don't. I don't always take
the rits here, no matter of who you know. As you've kind of
become aware, this is what your fifth sixth training with him thereabouts, he
waves you through and greets you. I can't remember, do you normally talk
before going? I'm talking to you view this early in the morning. Hm.
I can't imagine that I would be too talkative, and is providing me
with his time. And it's really the only chance I get to brush up
on my swordsmanship. It's nobody else really measures up with my friends. That
is true. That is true. But you walk in silence. He is
mourning person, but a hushed morning person. You see more light in his
eyes than his words. If you can see words, I should say,
but do you make it to the training grounds. You don't see Brahm out
there today? The General and the Lord. You've seen him a couple of
times out training is men and women and denizens and other things. I don't
know what to really think of him. If anything, but he's an eight
foot The Nasi se him prefer his fists over weapons. He never loses,
well, not yet. I'm sure he'd love to hear that. I'm sure
he'd loved it. Well, you see slight, get his position, maybe
wave a few of the soldiers off, and roll his shoulders and start doing
his morning stretches and getting ready into his routine. And almost like clockwork,
there seems to be a circle around you. Yet again, seems a lot
of the men like watching you fight. Well, why wouldn't they. I'm
a man atch for Paris, who's supposedly quite a famed swordsman. Hearing helios
supposedly, yes, how many times have been knocked on your ass so far?
Only a few? I'm sure they wouldn't be watching for that. Mm.
So how do you prep? I'm curious? Or do you just kind
of going cold and warm up that way? I do stretches before I put
on my armor before I leave, right, but my style of fighting doesn't
require me to be particularly warmed up. Paris is a slightly heavier hand than
I. I tweat it more like a dance, as I was taught.
He does prefer the hand and a half and usually uses both hands. Yes,
my style is more akin to bencing. I suppose yes you uh,
you really really like that elder on Fellow, don't you. It's my It
was my singular influence for a long time. M I like that, But
we'll touch on it a bit later. I think perhaps in the future.
Who initiates these fights? Normally you see him ready, He's got his sword
out, he's done a couple of spins, and then takes a low stance,
almost like a claymore though it is a hand and a half. He's
ready, are you? I'm always ready? I was trained by the very
best. Simply put a hand on my side, hold my sword forward and
beckon him attempt to strike at me. I know how he moves. Now,
well, VENs is there. I think it will be wise for you
to skirmish? Yes? Or are you hoping to finesse this time with a
little bit of your fencing or something else? Skirmish? Okay? Yes?
Well then I think since you's a starting year, you can go middle across
the board risky, because there's always risk. It's those aren't blunted weapons you're
using, but absolutely not standard effect as well. Very well, on God,
mister Slat, I see, we see a leap forward blade. But
what blade do you use? Just a normal long sword? Day it is
a thin blade, which is somewhere between both. Yes, a straight blade.
Well, I'd love to know how your first hit an X after you
leap forward. I leap forward with the intention of baiting him towards me,
and with a slight skip to the right and a flourish of the wrist,
I very quickly parry his initial response and place my sword towards his chest without
striking, proving a point. He nods, steps back and resets. You've
got a point. You tend to go to three normally, though, knocking
someone down absolutely just essentially gets you the win, which is why those knockdowns
of you earlier were kind of embarrassing, at least in my interpretation. But
well, he weighs a little more than me, a little bit. He
charges forward, But I think based on your previous attempts, his hits don't
connect. You're able to parry them away, though, does seem like he's
putting a bit more effort in Now, you don't usually get a point this
early. What are you going to do? He is continually attacking at the
moment pentitively, maybe a little bit more avoidance on his side. As I've
said, I'm beginning to understand how Harris fights after our previous sparring session.
Most of my skill set comes from my brother, in fact, almost all
of it, and therefore my small amount of training with another person realistically only
comes from author and I have had to spend a lot of time working on
my technique with dolls and wooden posts, so moving around people is something I've
had to get a little more used to. As such, I am quite
prepared to do so, allowing him to move forward. Just as he lifts
a foot up, I very quickly dart down, moving to one side,
and lunch forward with another attack. He's not expecting me to use such an
advance, ah, is he not? Well, I'm almost always on the
defensive as that is true. That is true, you tend to play a
little safe. Perhaps that's some of Galen's influence. Now that may seem to
me like you're attempting to finesse using a bit of misdirection. Now that's an
interpretation of mine. You may correct me if you think I'm wrong. That
is precisely what I'm doing as I'm trying to trick him a little as he
right, that's one thing of me. He wasn't expecting what I have planned
today. Wonderful. I think you have a controlled position for this with a
greater effect. But as you are well aware, you're not nearly as skilled
in this. So we'll see what happens. Yes, Well, again,
moving to one side, I dit quickly with him just off a foot,
hopefully landing a lunge as I dit forwards from the side. Well, that
isn't great. You see you're not so familiar with this, and Slate recognizes
that your footing was changed because you fought pretty much the same way every time.
Now I'm going to give you a choice, says there you were in
a controlled position before. You see your failure as it's happening, and you
see he never pulls his punches with you. You like to take the upper
hand and show off a little bit, maybe as a mercy in your mind.
I don't know, but he doesn't. He hits you hard. When
he hits you, and he's about to hit you very hard. You have
a choice. You can fall on your ass and lose, or you can
retry this with a risky opportunity instead and reroll only because you were in a
controlled position before and you did set him off balance, inceed or a try
again with not as good a spot. How is your honor doing? My
honor is perfectly well intact. This is simply a sparring match, and I
don't have anything to prove to anyone but myself. However, it has become
quite frustrating. I can undercide the frustration for sure. I think this time
I shall attempt to avoid his Well one, don't you remember practicing Skylas after
you made that fancy dual comment. No, well he did, interesting used
the same stance. M Perhaps it opens you up, tighten up a bit.
I suppose what he's not expecting, considering what Skylas does is redouble.
He is not expecting a full retreat from me. Perhaps if he thinks I'm
falling backwards, I can lean on my rear foot, and in fact that
recovery would allow me to reposition for a quick counter lunge. I'd say that's
risky, but doable. Kiria for cutting in you're going to need to take
to stress. But I don't actually with this new ability, really, it's
foresight two times per score. You can assist a teammate without paying stress.
Ah, well, then enjoy that for the moment. Thank you. So
there you get another die if you choose to not withdraw. I absolutely do
not so this one. I would actually like to injure him a little bit.
I'm not sure if that means this is a wreck ooh, I mean,
you know, if you're going out of your normal I would say,
if you're trying to injure him, yes, it would be wreck. Normally
you don't used to injure him properly. But in the same way that he
would me, I shall count to him in a way that leaves a little
mark, perhaps on his body. For me, this is a slight breach
of my own levels of control. Yes, you might even be struggling a
little bit with your vice doing this absolutely in fact, well, go ahead
and count as indulging my vice. No it doesn't. So now it's the
opposite of there. Yes, yes, I mean intending to do this is
a move that is outside of my usual controlled stances and the endless. When
I was fighting with law Fair at first, I was like an undomesticated alley
cat, simply being flailing wildly and slowly, but surely he taught me how
to restrain those maneuvers, to allow them to be contained. To allow emotions
into my rist would simply allow chaos into the control. And that is not
what Authair's fighting style was all about. And it's also not what the Paladins
are all about. And therefore I very rarely allow myself to push through something
with a little frustration. Why that's an interesting interpretation of the Paladins, is
there. It's not an interpretation, it's what I was told. Okay,
well, would you like to wreck Sleep then? Or attempted to? Wonderful
a risky but with a greater effect. Still you do get that bonus dice
from Kyria. Oh but that is not good. That is quite bad.
As a matter of fact. Well, so there you lunge backward with a
faint hoping that your heel goes back and that you think you're going to be
able to lunge and maybe stick him in the thigh when he's thinking you're falling.
Unfortunately, you do fall and his blade comes down. It's you directly
into the shoulder chink of the armor, and you will, unfortunately pick one
tick of harm now devotees. I'll let you know this is a week and
a half ago. As I said earlier, he'll be all full heeled up
by the time we get back. But I do want him to know that
there are consequences for failure. Well, that's the field to get hit with
a bastard sword. That's uncomfortable, as the last time. You're on your
ass at that point didn't matter. You've lost Slade. Immediately, sheathes his
sword and offers you a hand. I take the hand. He lifts you
up and the flaps you on the shoulder. That was interesting. I don't
understand your footing is all wrong. I could see you from a mile away
what you were doing clever, poorly executed anything that. What I like is
conviction. You like experience. M It feels like you haven't wielded that sword
before. I know you have. No, I think you're right. I
don't think I have wielded it before. M hm, not for anything that
mattered. At least. That was the very first time I've seen you try
to hurt me. M hm. You're not as soft as I thought.
No, No, I think I am. I try to force an attack
through. I tried to feel something else besides just going through my motions and
movements. That's good. You fight an enemy more than once. That will
bite you if they can recognize how you fight. Like every time I have
won, you have the same patterns. This time was different. You changed
it up. You had an advantage, even for a brief moment. You
didn't hold on to it. You let it go. You doubted. Am
I wrong? No? I intentionally left opener an invitation for you in which
was good well, not good enough? No, it wasn't. Is there
on the right track? All right? Get out of here. Those over
you see a number of the men. Then they go off and continue their
sparring with everyone. Well that is for the day, or would you like
to keep going? You know, I'm feeling a little tired. Actually I
have to. I have to help my friends with something as well. They'll
need me, I'm sure, right, all right? Well after you go,
then, Harris, When somebody doesn't have a writ, what is the
practice of the city guard? What do you mean when we search someone and
they don't have a writ? Yes, well, we see who the patron
is. If they have a patron in the city, the patron will present
their own writ showing and proving as such. I know that's how you entered.
That's why I don't have assert you. I know you don't have one
on you. It's not a big deal. Your patron has one. And
if you lose a writ, how can you prove that you are in the
city or your patron is. Don't lose your writ, that's the answer.
And if it were stolen, well, then you made a mistake. If
you're in a fight and you can't find your sword, it's stollen. Do
you expect the enemy to go easy on you? What if somebody can't fight?
I repeat the question. Do you expect the enemy to go easy on
you on the battlefield? If you do not have your weapon? You're on
the battlefield. If you're on the battlefield and you are unarmed, do you
expect the enemy to treat you any different? Is that how you see this
city? A battlefield? Everywhere is a battlefield. We must keep our lord's
safe. I suppose that is a mindset I should adopt. It would be
wise, or else you'll find yourself unarmed and then dead. Hm. Yes,
I do wonder if I were in a fight for my life, whether
the conviction I look forward. I say, there were a fight for your
life, you would have died, but luckily it was not. Luckily,
don't count on tikey. Yes, well, thank you Harris for your time.
I shall arrange for coin. Oh yes, yeah yeah. Send it
to the gate guard very well. Tell it's from me, fella, my
mis expecting it to come. Otherwise they will just take it for themselves.
Well. People shouldn't just take things from others, should they. No,
well they should make sure that you, as your city guard, would not
allow such a thing. I would really recommend do not tell me how to
do my job. That's there, Yes, same time next week, Yes,
of course. Good huh Harris, good degree, head out before we
jump back in time forward in time? Would you be doing anything else?
Is there? I think I I think I go home that day and I
know that we're in the middle of moving things. So I was put to
a decent amount of work, which was nice to be able to get a
little kind of workout whilst also whilst also being useful to the group. But
during that time I think I really spend a lot of time working on the
difference between myself and Harris Slake, because I really don't think skills wise,
he is better than me. He certainly has a lot more experience. Oh,
he absolutely has way more experience than you. But something else. I
think there's something else. I think he was pretty clear as a matter do
you believe him or not? I believe him, But I also think that
there's a level of conviction that I don't have yet. I think that's true
as well, And I wonder what would happen should I be pushed. I
wonder that as well well. I think it's perfect time to make our way
back to the hideout, don't you agree? Yes? A week and a
half later, after the lunar bites broker ring, perhaps we'll say we find
ourselves in this lovely I doubt where the courtyard is working? Well? A
number of buildings enough for each person to have their own rooms should they desire.
Where is everybody even here? Where does this all me? Now?
Well, Galen's here, that's good. Anyone else? Galen is in his
room, surrounded by books and parchments and candles, lit chalks, accouterment,
quill ink, papers, herbs. But he's not looking. He's still a
little pale. He keeps not sleeping, but he's not looking. At the
books at the moment he's looking at well, I suppose it is technically a
book, but he's looking at something slipped between the pages of a book,
and that is all that he's staring at at the moment. Just he has
imagined a plate of food next to him that hasn't been eaten, probably got
it hours and hours and hours ago. Actually I don't even know what time
it is. I don't think he knows. He's just been staring at this
item slipped hidden inside a leather bound book. Well, let you have that
mystery for a moment. What have you been up to today? I know
you are disposed for a bit and feeling better, I hope. I'm feeling
clean, m clean, even very good. Yeah, I'm glad to hear
that. Thank you so much for asking. Of course, of course,
what have you been up to since? Anything in particular? Well, since
since testing some of the bottled merchandise and having the day I had, I've
been going through and logging what everything is and labeling it and creating kind of
a log book of all the merchandise in the front of the front, if
you will. And I am working on developing a code to name things so
maybe people that are looking for something not on the shelves can indirectly ask for
it, you know what I mean? Ah, I do. I see
also courses there. I have no idea how many of these he's tested today.
I'm hoping he can read. He can read, right, Mmm,
we're going to go. He can read sort of, I can sort of
read a little bit. Excellent, excellent. I'm hoping there he go.
I've also been a logging intail that I've been gathering and trying to figure out
how to work this low quality rit shall we call it m M that we
have procured? Yes, I was going to get to that in a minute.
We can delightful. I wanted to see how you handled yourself at the
Gag and Dragon. But oh, goody, it was a delight Oh that
it's a it's a fan favorite. What a place. It was good for
making a few connections, I'll say, I think so, I think so.
Yeah, Well I believe, but I heard some people coming back,
Unless, of course, you had something else you'd like to say. Loss.
I have so many things and so little time. We'll get there,
I'm sure, But for now, I do believe I need to finish cleaning
up if you know what I mean. Oh, yes, of course,
continue, thank you. I wouldn't say these things, all right, Yeah,
it'swarming, you know, I have very good food that they do.
But they told me that that they don't transform at midnight, and then another
one told me that he did. Okay, well, I'm sure they're not
going to tell you everything that you want to know just because you asked.
I thought that was the whole plan. I mean, it was part of
the plan, but there was a very integral part of the plan, which
was scouting first, that we didn't do. I still don't understand. Is
there something I'm missing the difference between scouting, you know, combatitive term and
scouting a bakery. No, it's exactly the same. So we should have
done some recon first, quietly, not letting them see us, not letting
them know why we were there, so we can assess the whole numbers that
we went there to speak to them about why we were there, Yes,
but not yet we want to First, of course, it's underhanded. That's
not how we were going to do things. I don't think it's underhanded.
I think it's being safe. How dangerous can a bakery be? Well,
the entire city is dangerous, and we don't know how dangerous the bakery can
be, but it could potentially be so dangerous. But it could be potentially
very dangerous. So doesn't it benefit us to be safe. In the whole
time I've been here, I've seen maybe three small fights break out in the
street, and I'd see three every other hour in Kingston, especially outside our
place. Within fifteen minutes of being here, we had our ritstone. Well,
yes, isn't that a type of violence? Depends how you view this
city, I suppose, But no, I don't see it. It's a
type of violence. Who knows why we had that rit stolen? Perhaps somebody
was starving and looking for bread. Do you think someone's starving and looking for
bread can steal a whole group's writ And that makes it okay, even if
it condemns us to live the rest of our lives in the city, unable
to leave and not saying what they did was right. But sometimes situations drive
good people to do bad things. Exactly doesn't necessarily mean that it's competitive,
and it doesn't mean that every baker in town is a villainous criminal waiting to
the God to know what to us. We're all panicked by so much,
so frightened of everything. I just don't know why. Hopefully you never do.
I truly hope that for you. I'm not afraid of the dangers of
this city. That's because you've never had to be afraid of the dangers of
any city. Then how am I supposed to help? What do you mean,
well, aunt, I supposed to be protecting you all from these dangers.
Yes, that's exactly why you're here. Well, then let's find some
real dangers instead of bakers. So you want to go looking for trouble,
I can provide that it's not that I want to go looking for trouble exactly.
I just I'd rather prove to you that a baker isn't frightening competitive.
I don't know that a serial killer. What if the Baker is a serial
killer? Are you suggesting that that? No, I'm just asking what if
the Baker is a serial killer? Am I supposed to go into every single
establishment assuming that everyone is a serial killer and therefore scouting it out? Not
every establishment? Do you think that Baker was a serial killer? I happen
to know they are a killer, Yes, a killer of what berries?
People? They've killed people. That lovely baker who we wandered in and ordered
a meeting with, and they gave us one right there and then. It's
a very friendly thing to do, wouldn't you say? Or if they were
busy and they looked it too, I'd say they were perturbed. You think
they were perturbed because they were busy and we interrupted their baking. Yes,
it was the middle of the day, so naive. Yeah, it's funny
and cute until it isn't until it bites you, almost literally, something like
that, Boche Allen, are they here? Well? Oh, you weren't
asking me. Sorry, I don't know. I'll go find them, Okay.
Simple's all I'm saying is fifty to fifty equal chance they're not a killer
or a serial killer, and equal chance they could be. So there's nothing
wrong with being a little cautious to keep everyone safe. Wouldn't you feel terrible
if you wandered into a place and I got slaughtered and killed because you wouldn't
take ten seconds to be on the defense first. You wouldn't be slaughtered and
killed. If I was there and skyless at the same time, you'd be
fine. There were some big looking chaps yes, but what if there were
four of them or five of them? Do you think you could take them
all? Yes? What if you're wrong? Well, then I don't feel
right judging everybody, or fearing everyone, treating everyone as if they're a dangerous
threat or a criminal before I get the chance to get to know them more,
find out, maybe even why we've known each other for a very long
time. Your mother did you a disservice, keeping you sheltered as she did.
I'm sorry, what was so important? We're back from the lunar bites?
Oh you went? How did it go? Well? A scouting mission
turned into a direct approach, and there was a little bit of a direct
approach, There was a little bit of a confrontation, lost all of my
vantage as well. I had to go in to the front and they know
are scent and my blood. Would it be unkind for me to ask for
a bit of it for the shop? Then seeing us that we're giving it
away freely my blood? And it wasn't free? Oh? Was my sarcasm
not clear enough? I apologize? What exactly happens? Sister? Where are
you attacked? Nothing as abrupt as that, But our lives were in danger
and I did what I had to do. It's awfully mysterious of you,
so our familiar relations with the lunar bites exist. Still, No, I'm
going to take that look as a no. Excellent. Well, I'm unsure
carrier took them off to a shepherd meeting. Well, I had a babysitt
baby said they had children. Seems odd, No, dimples, dimples.
Just told them who we were and what we were doing, and that we
were sent there to get information on them, and then just ask them for
said information. And and they threatened to not let us leave a life.
And so I struck a deal. I don't recall them threatening anyone. I'm
sorry you've struck a deal. I did. I did. I did elaborate,
if you can, I tell. I offered to give only the information
they want us to give to whichever group they want us to give it too,
luckily for us. No, the original deal was that we get information
on them, the truth, and deliver it to both parties. Luckily for
us. They want us to give the truth to the accountant, the only
one I'm really concerned about right now. However, they want us to give
some false information. Galen's new friends. You have a confirmation confirmation of what
do we have the information? Oh? Which false information? Which is the
yes? Yes? I do, all right herea yes? But would you
mind reminding me what that was? Yes, I'm curious how accurate you remember?
Yes, they want me to tell the accou contant that they are opening
a new bakery in the Noble district. And they want me to tell Galen's
new friends that they are not doing that thing, and actually there's a bit
of discord, and that their leader is injured. Thank you, all right,
you may continue. So, I don't know what we want to do.
I just bought us time, really, is all I think I did.
Well. I guess we've in it in our favor. I believe well.
Like I said, telling the accountant the truth is mostly what I was
worried about. Do you think we can somehow win over this accountant? No,
then we dispatch him and remove him from the equation. No, I
don't think you can, not even you mm hmm. Interesting, very I
think we need to brainstorm on this more. It's frightening. Yet I'm a
little excited for the challenge. It's been a while since anyone got ahead of
us. Sister, hold on it. Guys. Yes, dimples should go
put the kettle on. Yes, very well, Impulse, just a quick
question, my apologies before you go. Yes, I am going to step
outside and listen to the doorway instead of the catalog. Thank you for offering
that to me. That wasn't the question, but it kind of answered it
anyway. I was just going to ask if you knew what that code was
for? And I think you do. Carry on to suspect good. You
want me to go get Galen? Not yet. I think we have to
make a decision Galen kind of yes, always Galen made a decision without us
and an agreement with his new friends. And I don't know what we want
to do. Do we want to only tell Galen the information that we have
and tell them it's true. Do you see what I'm saying? Oh?
Absolutely? My wonder is is Galen for us or against us? I mean,
he could be doing anything, He could have his own plan. I
wouldn't want to ruin it. I think, well if I wouldn't want to
ruin it either. But I think Galen is for us as long as we're
for him. What is for him? I thought I needed a good question.
It's a very good question for him could be alive or dead, if
you know what I mean. I'm very curious about this fiance of his,
and I'd very much like to meet if they exist. I think that might
be a key to this and understanding more about our friend Galen. Okay,
but what do you want me to do about this information? Do you want
me to tell Galen the whole place or half the plan? I think we
give him everything. I think we can find it out whether we give it
to him or not. It's what he does with it that we react to.
Right, Yes, but you understand my position, right. I gave
them my blood, they know my scent. If if if, if Galen
tells his new friends the whole truth, half the plan, You're right?
Do you think half the plan? Which half? How much do we give
him that he can function and not suspicion? Only half that rich needs to
know? I agree? Galen does the talking, Yes, I agree,
and that's way he's not lying. Yes, I'm the liar and he doesn't
have to be the liar. It's next thing. You know, when you
do talk, you're you're very smart. Thanks me, Oh not to you,
sister, I'm so sorry. Oh I know so how much? What
are you going to not give him the real information? How much you said
you're going to give him half. I'm just trying to be clear on what
we are not discussing in front of Galen. Well, it doesn't matter because
I'm the only one that has the information and it's going to stay that way.
You don't think there should be a second party just in case no katies
forbid something happened to you. That is exactly why I will be keeping it
to myself. What what are you keeping to yourself? The information that we're
supposed to have affection? Just ignore it, my dear, did you make
us team information? I made a deal with them, goodbye some time,
Thank you, ron right dimples. I made a deal with them so that
we could exit the bakery safely. I know you think that we were perfectly
safe, but we were not. We were not safe at all. And
I gave them my blood and my scent and my neck is on the line
here. I need to do what they asked me to do or they will
come for me. But I gave them my word, so I'm going to
do that. I'm going to keep my word right. Isn't that what you
would want? Me to do. I will be very back. I might.
I'm just running to the friend of your back. They strong armed you
into this. Yes, they threatened to kill Skyless and you and myself.
They threatened our safety, and I did what I had to do. And
sometimes good people do bad things when the circumstances call for it. But the
accountant and the dead Ends, yes, they did not threaten us h not
directly. No, they didn't. Then why why side with the lunar vites
to survive? Don't you see I'm starving and I need bread, So then
build a better bakery. How, sister, how do you have a fat
neck? What? Yes, that was right there in just one second.
I don't even think that was called for. I just said, worse,
why not call upon the dead Ends and the accountant to help us because we
don't know who we can trust yet. I'm just trying to keep us safe
until I figure out who means to do us harm and who can help us.
Well, those that would threaten you on a simple meeting, those aren't
the types to be to be building relationships with, I'd say, so what
would you do build relationships with those that have not threatened us? So wretch
and the accountant. Yes, And what about my promise to the lunar bites.
Do you think you made it under duress? That is correct? Hardly
a promise, is it. But they have my blood and my scent,
right, I do believe this should do something to cover up the lovely scent
of your sister. I've got ignore the smell. This spits and bobs from
the front, but inside, in the middle there is an actual foot of
a wolf. And this, this should cover up your smell a little bit.
I mean, it's nothing magical by chance or you know, expensive it
might have been, but I didn't use money. I'm just saying it's something.
If you would just wear this on your person, from my sense of
well being, I'd really appreciate. And what if they can smell me and
then suddenly can cannot know if they can they smell right, But that's what
I'm saying. If they can smell suddenly that I'm mixing a scent. Now
all of a sudden, they they think I might be betraying them. Look
a roll in the cow shed with one of your good friends. You could
just be dirty. It doesn't smell good any no, No, I can
I can tell that from here. It does not. When you say they
have your blood, they pricked my finger. My eyes are watering. Maybe
I need to have a single dry for a minute. That's right. What
are they to do with this? It'll dry up before tomorrow? Blood magic?
I don't know. Blood magic? We can please? Please? Where's
Galen? Galen? Do with it what you will. But I've made it
for you, and it has a very expensive foot inside. They keep it.
Thank you for making it. I will, I will think about it.
Okay, just just give me some handkerchief. Thank you. If you
don't, I mean, we can always sell it, of course. So
have we decided? I'm still deciding. I do think it should be up
to you, considering your neck is the one on the line. Not to
be too literal, Thank you, I think so too. Need Do we
really be worried about single drop of blood? Yes? Have you never seen
a dog hunt, let alone a wolf bare? They need blood? Do
we actually do them to be were wolves? Yes? But wouldn't it be
great if we had scouted first and confirmed it? Yes? Wasn't that what
you were meant to do? Ye? Well, I feel a little as
if I'm on a different plane of existence. Are you feeling all right?
Did you eat something from the front again? Because I told you not to
touch the labeled jars, Sometimes you don't. It's almost as if you don't
tell me all the information until afterwards, or maybe you don't ask the correct
questions until afterwards. My dear, you can't expect us to be your own
personal encyclopedia, now, can you? If you tell me we're scouting a
bakery, how am I to know that it is infested with serial killing rewolves.
It's a good point. And if I am to blunder and you need
to know and upset your plans, perhaps knowing would have helped that arguable.
Well, we did tell you what we wanted to scout first, and we
did tell you we don't know who they are. Like you, I don't
want to assume that they're serial killing werewolves, and I didn't know for sure
until we sat in the meeting room with them. But it would have been
great if I had been able to glean that information before walking into the Lion's
Den. Did you suspect I thought maybe it was a possibility. Fifty to
fifty yes, yes, why not tell me? We did tell you we
want to be cautious. We don't know for sure, but we would like
more information. Told me that we were going to speak to them, and
that we're going to be upfront, but not right away. Business is not
my thing. It really is a mother's thing, and yours. Your naivety
keeps you very darling to us, though, dear, don't be ashamed of
it. This is delicious. But I think it might be good to see
what Galen's up to for just a moment. I'll yes, like me,
I see it, sister. Will you please come in the front so I
can size that on your neck. I am not putting that on my neck.
Please, I will put it down between your breasts. You want to
even smell it? Galen? Yes, what are you working on? I'm
just looking in a leather bound book, that's all. Just what's it about?
What it's about is not the point, really, it's it's not the
book that I'm looking at. I'm looking at something I've slipped inside the book.
What is that? I didn't catch it when you held it up,
And it's because I don't want you to see it. I don't want anyone
to see it. I don't want people to see me looking at this thing
they don't need to know? Are you looking through my eyes? If I
was, I wouldn't tell you. Can you do that? If I could,
I wouldn't tell you. I see, it's a portrait. This is
what I'm looking at. Ah, that's all I need to know. I
think I know of who? How would you know? I don't speak to
you that often now, but I know you're obsessions. I'm not obsessed and
read it like a book. In fact, I do. I'm not obsessed.
It's just Oh, I'm sure Lothier wouldn't think you're obsessed either. You
do not need to speak his name, Specialifer. I think you are who
you might be. So you're studying then, yes, yes, I'm studying.
Look at his portrait. Ah, I see reminiscing maybe more than studying
a portrait. I didn't say his I said, oh, no, of
course not. I'm my mistake. Yes, he's the beautiful landscape of Othia's
home. Yes, perhaps it's a I think it's just that I miss him
sometimes, and really I miss him all the time anywhere. Yes, I
suppose you are. You shouldn't be. Really, no one should be.
I don't. You don't become a lord for nothing. If you are who
I think you are, you killed him, didn't you? No? Not
you? You his father, but his father under your orders killed him.
And I want you to know that you will not survive in the long run
because he will kill you or something. What Oh ah mm hmmm, excuse
me you were saying, I was are you talking to? Uh? I
wasn't talking at all. I was thinking, let me put this book away,
so there's no need for you. I'll take my leave for a moment.
You two have a moment. You don't like me watching anyway? I
don't like you watching what skyls. I was just I just showed up.
I wasn't no, no, I wasn't more than anything. I was talking
talking to someone. No, I was talking to myself. M What did
you find out? What? What did you find out about? Weren't you
doing research for something? Oh? Wolves, yes, I was Skyless.
I think Skyless pulls over a chair and sits down next to you. What's
his feet up on the table and galland just make sure that the book that
has the portrait in it has sort of just pushed the side. Oh,
there's not the information? How did I'm sorry? Am I bleeding? No?
No? I'm not on the outside bleeding at all, Skyless. It's
so good to see you. It's pleasant. I sent Dimples after you too
for your scouting mission to let you know what I learned about the lunar bites.
Did he tell you what I found? No? He told them everything.
What do you mean, Well, we Ky and I went over to
work on potentially scouting and doing a reconnaissance of the area and learn a little
bit more about them. But as soon as we walked in the door,
Dimples was there right up to the counter and told them about everything. Everything
we were intending, which is the case we were going to do, but
not in our first visit either way. It's everything's all gone tips up right
now? That's not good? Did you make it up? Well? Your
back is. Everyone is curious, an we're all here. Everybody's high I
am. I was thinking they have three bakeries, one in the noble district.
That says that speaks to connections. The fact that all the bakries have
the same name. It's not subtle, which means they're not hiding in certain
ways. Once they've established themselves in a place, they don't seem to feel
the need to hide which means they're bold, which means they have some sort
of protection connection, arrogance. They it's not only asked you, yester about
werewolves, not the bakery. Well, the bakery is run by the werewolves,
aren't they. Yes, so we have that information. Oh, I
was looking into dimples? Is all right? Yes, he didn't get hurt.
Everyone's fine, Okay, good God? The dogs? Yes? Uh?
They you know he looks a lot like his brother, doesn't he?
Dimples? Sorry, I thought you were talking about the werewolves. Of course,
the dimples. Yes, so let you talk about do I? I
feel like I never talk about that. That's all You've been talking about for
how long? How many days? How many days has it been since we
last spoke? Not long enough? M I was it this morning or was
it yesterday? Theady before where wolves gave'em? Yes? Yes, yes,
Uh. There are many many different stories, uh, many different conflicting,
conflicting tales. It's the library will not help me there. I feel
as if I might need other means to learn more about their habits. I've
been studying other means, other ways to get information. It's not I don't
need a body or anything. I just need m hm place. I don't
need maybe dimple seeing, but I can ask questions. You know, if
we could learn someone they've killed and where that might be useful. What have
you been doing in here this whole time? What have you been doing in
here? I've been I've been studying, studying, studying what well, uh
ghosts spirits? Right? Well, you know what you came in here for
the werewolves. But I was mistaken, No I did. I am.
I think we need to find a victim of the werewolves, and I think
if we do, I can learn more things from them. Right, it's
easy, I'll find one. Also, we know where they live, where
they're based, right, I suspect perhaps their bakery in the Noble District might
be interesting, might be safer, They might have more things there. I
may be able to do a different kind of scouting there, get more information
for you about them, the were wolves. Right, Or you make your
way up to the normal District or wherever, and I'll find you on your
victim. No, I don't need to go myself, that's bring lumish.
No, No, none of us need to go. I just need to
find maybe a cemetery. I think that's all I needed. You cemetery or
place where they dump bodies just to rot. I think that's what I need.
Yes, I'm gonna be honest with you. Yes, what I see
not many people are very supportive of your craft. No, they don't understand
it. Really I don't either. It's not but if you can get information,
I'll go with you. Do you know I had a conversation with Cesare
dimples with Temples? I know who Dimples is? Yes? Yes, No,
I just want to use the right name. He's surprisingly supportive of my
craft. Oh, they're good and bring him? Oh h maybe skyless?
Do you you know that it is possible for you to live longer? You
know that, and then any concerns you might be having about your longevity could
be fixed. It's not anything untoward. It's just moving house, is all.
What are you talking about? Talking about obstacles in your path between?
Do you worry ever? No? I don't. You've never spoken to Kyria
when I keep giving you opportunities to you don't dance with her. You don't
talk to her enough or the right way or with the right the right way.
Yes, I don't talk to her the right way. No, you
don't. How should I talk to Kiriam with Let me ask you a question.
How should I talk to Kurria? Let me tell you? But first
the question how do you feel about her? How am I supposed to talk
to him? That depends on how you feel about her? Do you care
about her? Orse? I do? No? Do you care about her
with your heart and your soul, your spirit that endures when the flesh fades?
You're talking in necrotic poetry? Again, what do you mean? Do
you love her? What a nice question, it's kindless I know the answer
it do you? Oh? He does? Do you? Oh? Are
you playing with her? I'd never play with her? So then I ask
again, do you love her? Then? My good man, you should
speak to her differently than you do. But I suspect you don't because something
is holding your back. Are you afraid she doesn't feel the same way about
you? Or are you afraid that you cannot give her what you think she
deserves because you are a bouncer for a brothel? Do What is it that
stops you from speaking to her as you should speak to her, which is
with your heart, telling her that you love her? Why do you not
say these words? It's been so long I don't know what you're trying to
get at. It's the questions, why have you not told her? I
don't think I need to you do you not telling her as cowardice. Ye're
so brave and violent, which I appreciate very much, But here your bravery
fails you. You know she's waiting to hear you say it. I think
you better hold your tongue. I see that my words strike true their honesty.
You cannot face yourself, I see. Don't strike the messenger. Oh
I will. I'm going to see what they're up to. Scott. I
will follow you, low Fair, I will bring you back. I miss
you. It can help you follow him. Yes, I will follow him,
Scott. I mean that's not what I meant. Let's take a break,
your help. Let's take a break. You're a little heated. Take
your three to five minutes. We'll be right back. I'm curious to see
where this goes. A week and a half ago, Losh was gathering information
down at the gaggon Dragon. You had to with a pause last week.
I know you were indisposed, but at least a week and a half ago
you were feeling just fine. Oh yes, Rip, you made your way
down Hawker's Alley if I'm not mistaken. After talking to the guards, I
did it was very interesting experience. I will say, well, you did
pretend to be such a sad state looking for your possessions and friends and family.
Is it convincing? Well to them? Thank you, You're welcome.
So the gag and dragon? What remind me again, or perhaps remind our
my fots? What were you looking for exactly? Ooh? I am a
person that really I never turned down really anything I find. So I'm looking
for intel, just a general feel of the city. I'd like to know
what the city needs in terms of, you know, shops. It's lacking.
It seems a little downtrodden and not exactly like a shopping type. But
we need some sort of front of course, sure, I would say Hawker's
Ali might disagree with you, but hmm, they seem to have one product
on sale when I went by, Oh, filth, it was filth.
Your standards are so interesting, Loch, of course they are. Well.
I also need to find out how in the ever loving hades we are going
to get another travel rid, right right? That's not my concern, though,
is it? Well, depends who you're asking I suppose I was asking.
I wasn't asking. I was stating my issue. Well, if I
talked to Cisaire, he'd probably say, you besties? We never know,
do we? I didn't. I didn't think that I was besties with anyone
save maybe Brahm or Tall. But I've lost him. Uh sorry, what?
Oh? Nothing, just listening, taking notes my prattle every now and
then. It's fine. I like any prattle. You always say just a
little too much. It's fun. Do I m here and there? Not?
Everyone's perfect. So the gag and Dragon blows delightful scenery, isn't it.
I enter the door in the front, which definitely looks like a back
door. I stood in front of it for quite some time before deciding to
enter, and despite the very abrupt I wouldn't even close school. It was
more like a crunching of the door opening. I don't know what's in those
hinges, and I don't want to know. Entering into this smoke filled loud
yag in Dragon and Yes that is the name, and the clientele matches.
It seems to be a lot of travelers, am I correct? A lot
of travelers. The inside is well kept. Admittedly there is smoke, of
course from tobacco and opium. But of course, yes, the cloud is
as you would have expected, kind of on brand really hmm, but it
is quite nice. Really, in the midst of the smoke, you maybe
smell some nice roasted meat, even seasoned. Ooh, so is it an
inn as well? Oh excellent? Good the travelers here, ah, I
noticed the travelers. I noticed not many people have the brand or a brand
that I can see is yet not in here as it should be. But
many different uh emblems on people's Oh yeah, did you see a few from
Valen some THERMOPYLI Kingstown is pretty common. I'm curing more than that. Hmm.
What do they get out of coming here? Besides their goods? I
haven't seen exactly a local commerce that indicates good trade in this city. You
haven't really been walking around much, I think, not in the areas it
would be. On the other side of Hawker's Alley is a large market square.
You could even look at your map. There's an amphitheater there as well.
Oh. I did not bring the map with me this time, but
ah well, I do have it over here if you'd like to see it,
Oh excellent, I will as soon as I make my way through this
delightful establishment. Of course, do they have a bar with like a barkeep?
I could come sit by they do, Yes, that's more than likely.
The avenoma itself excellent. Is it crowded, it's a bit of a
light. It looks like they're gearing up for something, oh, preparing for
something. Yes. You see a few workers moving about carrying casks and kegs
and crates down to the basement every now and then, I should say,
it's not like they're moving at a high speed. About okay, so they're
not rushing all right. Well, I will sit at the bar, not
too close to other people, but close enough to listen if anything interesting is
said, of course, of course, And I would like to order and
drink from the barkiet. Of course. You see a gruff looking, dark
skinned dwarf, possibly a duear guard. Interesting, and I can see him
over the edge of the counter. Chairs are high on purpose, and you
have to know if you're looking over there's a a nice long bench right at
the front. Oh, bless him. All right, if I can grab
the delightful gentleman's attention, I would love to order a mead, A mead
as you wave and attempt to flag the door guard down, kind of looks
over at you, nods for a second, and attends a different patron that
had been there before. Oh excellent, So he does acknowledge me. All
right, I'm very patient when he does come to me. I would like
to ask if any strange visitors have been by anyone stranger than usual that seems
off putting. I would love to actually have you asked them that instead of
making it. May I speak with the bar cape. I thought that's what
you were going to do. You see him walk by, excuse me,
barkiep I could I trouble you for a mead? Sir, I'd be no
trouble. He hops it down, goes over to one of the barrels.
It's a stein, fills it glides it to you. Thank you so much.
It's been so long since I've had a refreshing drink. Five gold.
I take out my little coin purse off my belt, and you know there's
not much, but I try to act like it's not a panic to hand
over that much gold. Thank you so much for your kindness. How has
your day been? My day? Your day? Yes, it seems you've
not been too busy, but that something might be happening soon. You haven't
heard, I haven't. No, I've been away for some time, but
I am a local, as you can see. No, I see not
too many locals in here. They stick out. I noticed. It's fine
though. No, we've got swear. How have you not hurt the parade,
the Liberation parade? The parade? I do, I didn't. What
is today? Oh, the weeks must have slipped by. I've been very
busy. I've just moved house. I'm actually looking to start up a little
business of my own. Not a tavern a hoop, Oh, definitely not.
I would never take such a such a beautiful establishments to see. Joey's
the Bratlin. I know what you're doing, you want in for you.
I'm just feeling the city for As I've said, I've been gone for quite
some bit. I had to go fetch my sister, and we're both back
and looking to start a business. But I was wondering if you had a
feel for maybe what the city might be looking for, if it's lacking in
any area. Obviously, not establishments as fine as yours, right right,
right right? You didn't think to go to the market, and look about.
We just got in recently, and as I said, I just moved
house, and as you know, it can be quite tumultuous, very little
help. We have none for exact ay, Well, I know what speaks
Well I think you do too. Hmmm, and what would that be that
I know? Pre tell the dourg are kind of almost looks like he's about
to put his hand to his temple and p's it back down on the counter.
Are you really from Ilios? I am not long thow newer brand.
M I'm sorry, newer brand. Oh no, it's just in a placement
more visible, if you know what I mean. He got rebranded. Rebranded
would be the word. Yes. I actually we came here recently, as
I said, and within moments of reaching the city, our travel rigs was
stolen from us. You wouldn't happen to know where I could procure another for
myself. I's quiet down there for a second. I'm sorry. Do you
have work to do? I don't mean to interrupt it all. I will
just enjoy my beverage. Thank you so much. I think that to be
wise. Yes, I'll be with you in a moment. And he shuffles
off. What a delightful sir, he is. I wonder if he had
a headache. I could probably make something for that. Maybe I'm gonna look
up and down the bar and see if there's anyone of interest to listen to.
H. Well, I think i'd like you to roll for that.
Oh, but I'd like you to tell me what you think is relevant for
this, because I'd like not to hand everything to you on a silver platter.
Complaints. I just want to see if people are complaining, you know,
the little things, little things? Yeah? Oh, and again,
what what would you be rolling? I would be rolling? I'm thinking,
please, I'm so sorry. Uh. Would it be perhaps survey or study?
I think survey would be a good idea your gathering information you're sensing trouble
that sort of thing. I think that would be fair excellent survey. Correct?
Yes, Now, Hm, your position is desperate in this case?
Does it seem desperate? I'm trying not to come off as such. Ah.
I thought I was pretty clear in the body language of that barkeep.
Well, let's be real, he was a dwarf, and my ears may
not show because they were sliced off and stolen. But I think it's pretty
obvious they were sliced off, and the relations between our people aren't exactly the
best. No, but it is also a duergar, which I would recommend
not calling them dwarves. If I were used, I wouldn't to their face.
Oh god, you didn't hear me, did he? Am I talking
out loud? Oh? No, no, No, you're fine. That's
just us now. Desperate situation, of course, but standard effect, not
greater, not lesser. Oh, desperate, I would say, all right,
you do as you noted, stick out like a sore thumb. Yes,
I'm most likely to, especially because I am dressed as local as I
possibly can, and I came to the one establishment not full of locals.
This is true, excellent plan. You hope to gain any bonus dice there
are you? Oh no, I'm too late now apparently not. No,
well that's a partial success, a partial so I might hear a little bit
of whining here and there. Well, yes, you do mark an experience
for that particular stat. Ooh, a governing stat excellent. You can see
there's a little tick mark there. You're a little easy for you your insight.
My character sheet in my brain suddenly just deleted. It's land itself.
It's so strange. Well, you can refresh and don't worry about the fourth
while with me. It's fine, But yes you will, you'll gain an
insight. Tick all right, I ticked. I did it. Now I
will also say, unfortunately, you do suffer a serious consequence. Oh you'll
get something. You do the thing you are doing, your listening for complaints,
specifically trying to gather what you might be able to provide for the city.
Oh, you hear a number of complaints about the city guard being a
bit too strict coming up to this parade in the searches. Would it be
very odd if I took out my little leather journal and journaled. I don't
know I wrong, but I'm not going to tell you. Excellent, so
strict guards, thank you. Yes, not troubling at all with our lack
of frit that's more entering the city is a bit more strict. But is
that's what they say as the travelers. You don't get much more than that.
Unfortunately, this serious consequence it being in a desperate situation means you'll have
to find a new approach. So surveying is not going to be working for
you here, all right? Now, Yes, I do have occasional voices
in my own head, but they're more divine. You can attempt to resist
this consequence if you like, but there's always a cost, a cost,
a kind of cost. Well, you can take six stress if you'd like
to roll to resist this sex. Yes, let me think. Hmm.
So if I if I took the sixth stress and I'm rolling to not have
this consequence, does that give me another chance to try a different welly like
at my different angle? Or is that just saying different angle is the consequence?
You wouldn't need to take a different angle. You might maybe listen just
a little longer. Maybe something else could happen to I think I will take
the chance. Oh warm from the mead? Ah what do I roll?
Ah? Well you're going to roll? Let me see here. I was
trying to see if she had something. No, I wouldn't be I was
trying to see if the she just had a little spot that said resistance roll.
But I you know, I don't see one. And that's okay,
so ah, sorry, the divine intervention here is coming to me. It's
all right. It's the gods interrupt everything, menstruation cycles, celebrations. I
fear for the parade A what I would love for you to do. Oh
look at the stats. You see where it says resolve rowise insight dooomm hm.
Mouse over that and you'll see resist consequences. So why don't you go
ahead and roll insight for this now, because that's resisting consequences from deception understanding.
I saw resolve there, but that's not actually here you surveyed. So
why don't you take that insight for me? Right? Zerial bonus dice?
I'm assuming oh zero bonus dice. Yes, excellent, i'd suggest. Hmmm,
well so that's mean for you. Do you know? Do you see
what that says, suffer six stress minus oh the highest die results, which
is a oh my lord, I only get us stress. Mm hmm.
You rolled, well, well done, hadies be with me. That is
the language I like to hear. So that was very terrifying experience. I
am so delighted to have experienced it with you. Good, that's what I
want. You've reduced the consequence. You won't have to do a new angle.
You don't get as much as you would like still, because consequences don't
go away. You can't just make them go away. But you can lessen
them. Oh you hear one other note, Specifically, some traders found that
certain guard shifts aren't as strict with their checking of writs. They might be
tired looking over things a little more than they should, and while it wasn't
a complaint or say they were complaining that they were still getting searched at the
time, they've usually had no issue. Well, that is definitely a piece
of useless information, obviously, but I guess i'll write it down. All
right, Thank you so much for this. I think I'd like to finish
my meat and then, you know, walk the market on my way home.
I'll let you get my eyes on the shots, of course. Of
course, well i'll let you do that, then your own piece. I'll
leave you be. Thank you so much. Of course you would get it.
You're not muted, dear. I'm sorry. It must have been a
wild donkey in the streets, right. Of course. Let us go back
to the present, shall we. I believe Losh, Desaire and Kyria we're
all finishing their discussion. Yes, I don't know if they came to any
conclusion outside of they couldn't decide if they wanted to tell Cesaire what he needs
to know. You can also say that conversation ended if you'd like to.
I think we need for Galen involved. Are you telling me no? He
was being out loud and I was thinking, thank you. Also, well,
he knows his way around magic, so you think he might have some
insight on what they might use the blood for? Yes, anything else.
I think we should make these decisions as a group and as a team.
Do you not feel part of the team. I'm not sure. So how
do you feel about Galen making an agreement with Wretch without asking us? You
were there, but he didn't ask us. He just made it and it
certainly wasn't under duress. And we should make all of our further decisions as
a team. But what if you're the only one that feels that way?
Then we are already lost. What will you do if I tell Galen everything
and he still betrays me? Betrays you? Yes? Why? And ask
would he betray you? Maybe he needs bread? You consider his deal with
the dead Ends to be a betrayal, do you? I think he did
not ask us first, which is fine unless it threatens our safety. I
think he's just trying to do the best by all of us. I used
to believe that. Not so sure I do anymore, because he made a
deal. You said yourself that we need allies, and they seem like better
allies than these terrible bakers. I think he's obsessed with an idea, and
that idea won't let him go, and that if he has to choose between
me and that idea, he'll choose that idea. Why on earth would it
come to that. England's coming? Thank you, I will do what you
ask nimpulse. I didn't come to that fifty to fifty might be a serial
killer? Might not right? I have a hunch. I have a feeling,
just like I did about the werewolves. I hope I'm wrong, but
I might not be all right. So skyless? Uh? Where? Such?
I don't know? She was just here? Oh I thought we were
having a group meeting. How can we have it without her? Well,
she was obsessed with this necklace. Maybe she's oh, what is that?
That's what you're smelling? Unfortunately? Oh or idea? That smells? Do
you like it? No? Okay, it smells rancid. I wouldn't clear.
Yes, it wouldn't wear it to work. Losh. Well, I
can go get her and bring her back. No, it's fine, it's
fine. What did you find out about where wolves? Yes? Please,
I think we need that information sooner than we anticipated. Oh well, as
I was speaking to Skyless, my research led me to mostly information about the
Luna Bites' real estate holdings and the implications thereof in terms of their connections and
boldness and which might be a weakness we could exploit or at least investing it
further. And I sent Cesaire to give you that information. It seemed the
most relevant about their holdings. Yes, he told you the three bakeries,
Yes, yes, yes, good? And I did he tell you that
all of them had the same name. They're all called the Lunar bite?
Where will themselves? Specifically the affliction? Oh yes, I wasn't able to
find anything in the library about it, so I'm going to have to go
through other means. And what do you know of blood magic? Oh well,
it's quite powerful. Blood Do you need Oh not much, not much
at all really to do terrible things to a person if you are so inclined,
Probably through rituals. I would imagine that's how you do most. If
you had a drop of blood, how would you store it? Oh?
In a vile one, I can stop it from drying up. Oh,
especially vials, alchemical vials, alchemical slides. There are ways to keep these
things, and I have quite a bit of a collection myself in momatics.
Oh, all sorts of things, yes, blood, flesh, ears,
whatever. Also, I'm sorry, what ears? What types of things can
you do to a person? Oh? Really, it's limitless, it's all
about I mean, that's the thing that's so amazing about the arcane. You
can do anything, anything at all. You just have to spend the time
to craft a ritual. They're always drawbacks to these things. Of course,
It's not like you can do something without there being a cost. But with
the right ingredients you can. Well, you could do anything like what examples
Some examples would be great. Ooh examples, Well, let me see.
You could inflict pain and damage on someone cross great distance if you so desire,
You could probably track them. Perhaps you could even give the blood as
a gift to a possessing spirit and have a spirit possess them and puppet their
body. Okay, that's enough. That's enough. That's enough. That's enough.
Well, but there are more options. That's enough, I said,
that's enough. You might be heading a little close to home, my dear,
Well, and which way, Lady Kirria, why would you be concerned
about such a thing. If anyone should be concerned about this, it should
be I, not you. So how did the mission go? I was
told you were successful of a sort by skylars got some information. Another always
said that if you needed something, the skylas would always get it. Yes,
is that true in my experience? Then Skyless, we need a vile
of curious blood. I believe that's up to her. No, that's not
what he meant from Carrier, Oh you need the vile. Wait? Excuse
me, am, I to understand Curria, that somehow you lost some blood?
Yes, I did, to whom and under what circumstance? To the
lunar bites? How did this happen? Equal exchange? They threatened her?
Did they? I see? What was the nature of the threat? This
clearly was this emission of subtrofuge or Carria? I would love to know what
happened. Your safety is important. They weren't just bakers, and they were
more dangerous than we had anticipated. We went with the direct approach, which
was to lie. No, it was to tell them everything. And did
that work? No? They wanted to kill us. That usually is the
case, Curia. Might I ask when you said that we told them everything,
do you mean specifically we as a group or do you mean that my
most favorite dimples told them everything. We as a group decided it was best
go on. So you told them everything everything, Yes, everything, including
who Yes, we are Icee And they wanted to kill you. And so
because everything was told, they have a lot of information they it's unfortunate for
them to have. And you were put in the position of maybe being killed
by werewolves, and so you had to make a deal to keep everyone alive.
I am to understand from Scylass that it was you, Curia who made
the deal. Yes, I did. Lady Kiria, you always take care
of others. What was the deal? It's not her fault though, No,
I'm not blaming her at all. I'm praising her for getting everyone out
alive. Had some great cost to herself. We wouldn't been put in this
position. If it's fine, it's fine, Uh, information exchange. What
information do they want? Not what they want? It's they what they want
us to give. They want us to give specific information to Wretch and to
the accountant, presumably false information. Would you do it? Well? This
is tricky, tricky, I think while people are focused saying on Galen,
in Galen's thought process, I think, yes, Skylas is going to slightly
take his index and thumb and pinch the tip of a Kiria's pinky just to
get her attention. And when he looks, you want me to go get
the blood right lush m hmm. You are the leader of this group.
I am, shall we say, a consultant, and so I shall consult
with you my thoughts in this moment that you may decide. What do you
think? Kiria in the meeting with the accountant, made a deal with it
him, that being and for information, and that being is a pitlord,
demon, devil of the abyss the sort of places, and I do not
know all of the do not know what arcane information was set. But making
a deal with a pitlord of some sort, especially if it's a sort of
devil or demon, and breaking it could be disastrous for curious health. So
I would counsel against breaking any sort of agreement with a pit lord, especially
since we are also within their territory, could be unfortunate for us. As
for the dead ends that is an agreement that is not of this group.
It is a personal agreement that I made with them myself, and I appreciate
being able to get information that is good. If this does not go well
with them, the consequences will fall upon me, as it is my blood
that they have in no one else's, and this is a mission that belongs
to me, to save lor Fair's soul, his spirit, to retrieve it.
As you say save a soul, do you mean raise? His soul
is captured at the moment, trapped, and he cannot either be brought back
or set to rest as long as it is kept captive. I imagine he's
being tortured in some way at the moment his spirit he just I'm sorry,
So for your counsel, Loch, before you decide, I would hesitate to
double cross a pit lord. I think that would have disastrous effects upon what
kinds of goals you have here. Whatever happen, do we needn't we needn't
double cross anybody. I was thinking the exact same thing. I had no
plans. I don't believe my sister would make such a foolish choice. Well,
if we are to give false information to the dead ends and the Pitlred
the accountant. That is a double cross. We promised to give them good
information and if we I doubt the lunar Bites wish us to give them good
information. So it seems we are in a bit of a tricky situation.
The only group who have any anything that we can use is Rich and the
dead Ends. The accountant we popped by to say hello after they left a
message, and the lunar Bites. We were doing a favor for the accountant.
The only actionable quest we had was to work for the dead Ends well
and also the accountant. That was agreed upon, but it was the same
information and now lunar Bites under duress Loch. This is of course your call.
I'm sure they'll take that into account when they make their decision on what
tortures think they want to do to me. You know that's not going to
happen. We are in a situation where there are two different groups who might
harm Kuria and we cannot please them both. What information do they want you
to pass across the accountant to Wrench and how do you know it's false?
I assume they want false information. If someone asked me, what's your favorite
color, tempulse cool? Is he lying? No? There is also the
option of not necessarily giving wrong information, but just maybe withholding a detail here
or there, you know what I mean? Well? Will you all be
here when I get back? Probably? Not? Where are you going?
Well? All this talking isn't doing much for me besides confusing me and making
me tired. Where you get got a vile to collect? No? Yes,
he can't do it. Then whom I shall go if you'd like.
No, If you go and they catch you or they see that you're doing
it, They're going to think I'm betraying them, and they might be forced
to act. I mean, either we get the vile and they catch us
and think for betraying them, or they kill you just for having the vile
I don't, or they don't kill me because I do what they asked me
to do. But isn't there another side? Threatening her life as well?
My dear, it seems you can't please one without dying, so to speak.
Won't We won't catch me, No, you know of her. Just
don't leave me here by myself. You won't be by yourself. Well,
close the door and we'll lock it. No one's getting through it. Mayor
I'll be right back. I've got something. Where's she going? I don't
know, Skylas, do you need if you leave to get that vial?
That should be glocious call because that could be dangerous for you. If you
do go, I could Perhaps you avoided my question, Galen, what was
it? Will you lie to them? For me to rect torect? I
would need to put my affairs in order first. Is he lying? No?
You do know what this would mean if I lie to them. It
cannot lie to them, Kyria. You do know this would mean if I
did. Yes, yes, but it's just one, one option, one
pathway to accomplish your goal. It's not the whole goal. It's just reconvene
and maybe consider other options. I would need to before that happens. I
would need to make arrangements. What kind of arrangements so that when I am
killed that someone can bring me back? None of you can, but I
know someone who can if I do something for them. Probably, but I
am not wedded to this vessel. That is the long goal that is important.
Making an enemy of one of the groups who might enable me to find
and free low their spirit would be unfortunate. But when I return, I
am raised. That will be different, but I will not stop looking to
save him. Death is just a temporary state of being an inconvenience. I
just need to make sure that I am prepared so that after I fall someone
can raise me. So I would just need I would ask you that you
give me some time before this happens. I know we have only a few
days. I think we have at this moment we had one week, two
three, so five days five four days, four days starting how many tomorrow?
Basically four days starting tomorrow. Yes, that you give me a day
or two to speak to my mentor and then it carrier. I will do
anything for you, as I've said many times. Is he lying now?
Nope? Some day, some day someone's gonna lie. And after all day
death is only temporary. I can I glance over at Dimples. They don't
want me to lie to the accountant. That's strange. They want me to
tell them the truth. But they do want me to lie to Wretch.
And I wasn't going to tell you what information they wanted me to give to
the accountant, so you weren't technically lying when you gave them the information you
discovered. However, Dimples thinks that everyone should be involved in everything. Everyone
should have all the information, and we should make all the decisions together.
Well, it's ultimate a loocious call. What will happen to the banggang and
the creeding of the brothel? This is saving law theirs personal. So I
appreciate you letting me know. I also appreciate you taking me with you to
Helios, even that was my name on the writ. Give me a chance
to bring him back, speak to him, free his spirit, free him.
Right, he's trapped. But I not bring him back and put him
somewhere else, especially if he doesn't want to write, Cesaire asked, And
I'm sure he would want to bring he brought back? But what if he
stop? Skyless? Could you come up front for a minute? Skyless?
Yeah, I I thank you. Just just a moment, and Skylass grabs
Keia's hand and he takes the bowstring that he has been playing with and he
wraps it around her wrist. He looks at her and leaves. Does our
camera follow them? If you're done? I will. You can't get out
of this. Answer me? What what if he doesn't want to come back?
Of course he does, but what if he doesn't, he would That
makes no sense. What if he does you release him en, Yes,
of course, Kiria. Can you release him safely so that he doesn't return
to any trapped bottles? Yes, Kira, you're saying that my my love
would not wish to return to me in that I cannot accept he loves me
more than anything, then he would return to me. So it's fifty to
fifty. K It is not, I am sir, it is fifty to
fifty. No, it is not. This is no. The the accountant
and the Luna bytes. Yes, no, they're in league. Also,
the test remain friendly from the accountant. Yes, I think so? Or
does that not simplify things? It means that they are not in league with
dead end. We simply tell the accountant the truth. The Luna bytes would
believe that you are telling the truth to the accountant, then therefore likely going
to take the false information to the dead ends. But what if you don't
take the false information to the dead ends? We make an ally of the
dead ends and for now an ally of the accountant. And what if they
find out that I have given the correct information to the dead ends the lunar
bites. I mean, well, there are two possibilities. There is of
course skyless. If you have faith in his abilities, as my mother does,
then you shall have that vial by sun up. And if he doesn't
have it, then I asked him and I shall acquire it. Well.
Of course you did. If not, Heim, I would have gone.
I am will not have this group suffer for deals that are my own.
Fulfill your obligations, Carrier, Lady, Carrier, mistress mind, I need
to speak with my mentor to prepare to speak of vessels, and no harm
will come to you, Galen, Ah, harm may come to the vessel,
but the spirit will live on. No. I shall not let anybody
harm you. You, Ah, I will not risk you not being brought
back, as I cannot risk any harm coming to you, and therefore not
bringing my brother back. Freeing him. You remind me so much of your
brother. We're freeing him, yes, and then we shall ask him whether
he wants to remain, and if he she will. But if he doesn't,
if he doesn't release him myself, he will want to return to me.
I believe that too, to his brother, to the Paladine order and
all those things he holds. Dear, I know that, more than anything,
I shall have to take a walk. I need to speak to someone
who knows how to prepare vessels because I cannot prepare mine own. No,
I do not Galen, don't leave. I think you should go with him.
Oh, he does not need to see where I'm going. I'm locking
the door once I find Los, and we're going to stay here all night
until Skylass comes back, and until I return. Please, well, then
you best go find Mosh and quick. But are you trying to leave the
building? Yes, I I have. I won't like you leave, says
I stand in front of you. No, not until Skylas is back.
If this city is as dangerous as everybody makes it out, then we stay
put. I put my hand on his chest, by his shoulder collarbone area.
I say, I mean dimples. No, in this moment, I
mean cesare. If this goes poorly, we will have very little time to
act before there's a backlash and retribution, and I would like to have my
affairs in order when that happens. If I cannot keep you and Curious safe
unless I have eyes on both of you. I thought we were to decide
together what is important for the group. But I have never been a member
of this group. I did not grow up together, as all of you
have done. Losh and Skyless and you and sayes are you all grew up
together in one home, in one house. You are the group. I
am a friend. I lean against the door. You know I can't move
you. They're so broad me. Whatever you need to do, you can
do tomorrow. Can I swear you you absolutely can? I'm asking him no,
No, I shall retire to my room. Interesting make sure a lush,
nervous I support of her choice she makes. I don't know what do
you think she as soon as you like me. We smell the same.
It's fine. Look out the front, hush bilas what you've gone? Please
you just go check the packery. You want me to go to the bakery.
Just check. Don't do anything foolish. But we smell the same,
My sister and I and I am worried for her safety. I closed the
door, lean on it. No to your blood, they have not hers.
Okay. She insisted to me that she can take care of herself,
and Skyless wouldn't wouldn't do anything foolish either. Do you think she went with
Skyless? No, he wouldn't do that to me. Then we wait.
I lean against the door arms crossed. You wait, Kyria, are there
windows in the one room? Of course there are. I think you know
what I'm gonna do. Then, yeah, we'll get back to that in
a minute. Skyless, slosh, what in the hell's are you doing?
I think we are cloaked and moving very swiftly through the streets. It is
approaching evening. Where are you going exactly? The bakery, The bakery,
the bakery right, the luna bite. Yes, they're getting close to closing
time for sure, and hoping to get a sweet bedder too before they close.
You're a sweet breader too, Skylass knows what we need to do.
No words are even exchanged between us. I think it's a look here and
there, but understood. How are you traveling? There? Might I ask?
I think at one point Skyless exchanges a look with Loch and he disappears
down an alley. And then moments later she's looking into the into the rooftops
and she sees a cloaked man totally, and I'll probably do my best to
like move with him along the streets. Every once in a while, I
think you see the cloak man silhouette maybe look back and looks down at you.
And also is doing the same. Yeah, but I stick to the
shadows like I'm just moving quickly, shadows, dark alleys, whatever I can.
I don't think we would like take public trans rotation or anything. I
think we would as long as I mean, how far away is it.
I mean it's a ten minute walk perhaps, oh yeah, week, yeah,
you make it. There are no problems. You occasionally passed by a
CD looking character, but you're on the main street that don't seem to care
about you, and Skylas is doing his own avoidance. M hmm. I
probably before we got to the bakery, I would stop, like, not
even at the building. I would stop a few buildings before, just try
to scope out where Skyless is. A couple of minutes go by, and
then up up on a rooftop of you see a silhouette, a familiar silhouette.
Stop moving, looks like they could be looking down at you. I'll
probably just really quickly glance up and then move towards the front door to move
into the business. Does it appear to be still be open? Yes,
it is still open, all right. I will approach the door, and
to my astonishment, Cesare is in the dark shadow near the door. Just
standing there, Skyless, Yes, skylt wow, ses, I'm sorry,
Skyless shadow and I'll just move in to the building as a shopper to uh
purchase some sweet goods. I suppose the smell of fresh bread and sweets is
very pleasant. Use of course, you don't like breads and sweets. Oh,
I love the smell of fresh bread. Is it overwhelming those? It
a nauseating thick smell or is it no? No, No, it's the
smell of bread that was baked a few hours ago. Skyless slides down a
laundry line and let's get a vantage point through a window. They're making bread
at night fresh, they make it early in the morning. That's why it's
a few hours old. They're running low. All right, I'm just going
to be looking around, and is there a shop keep at the front or
anyone else within the store? Yes, actually there's a blonde female. They're
pretty pretty well built, broad shoulders as she seems to be better liars.
He looks like she's mopping. Oh excellent, all right? Is she watching
me like? Is she? Oh? Yeah, she notices them stepped in.
Yeah, you start a look up, nod to you, and then
continue mopping. It's a kind of a self serve. You grab what you
need and then you bring it to the counter. Excellent. I would like
to approach her and ask her a few questions about her merchandise. Ma'am,
you seem to be very busy, but I don't I don't want to inconvenience
you, but my family has many allergies, and I'm just curious what sorts
of of pastries and breads do you offer? Not only are they gluten intolerant,
but they're paleo and keto and all these other magical words I can't even
pronounce anymore. And do you have bread? Basic things? You have?
We have bread, but what kinds of bread? Smells of many bread?
Sugars If you'd like some sweet rolls, we have that. If you like
sugar in the bread, like did you develop the yeast with the sugar or
was it added afterwards or is it a crystallized sugar on top of the bread.
I'm just trying to make as much conversation and like busy talk as much
as possible. Yeah, she's sound like completely distracted, and yeah, are
you looking for something in particular? Well, I need like something inexpensive and
small, but very big and dense and filling, but not two fillings so
as to you know, ruin the rest of the meal. But also I
need it to be extremely high quality ingredients. Of course, are your eggs
locally sourced? By chance? Are farmers? We get eggs from the farmers?
Yes? Oh good? What is the farmer's name? I'd like to
write it down. I just want to I like to know where my ingredients
we bull court. You have a brand, You've seen the fields in the
farm come to your delightful establishment, though, right, But we're in Helios.
Do our best to be Oh so, I'm assuming the same grain as
literally every other place in Helios because the farmers. Oh that makes sense,
because you would take from the same silos as everyone else. You see.
It's late at night, and I'm silly. I did. I did consume
some grains that were not of my allergy, you know listings, and I'm
feeling it a little little ill. You can see. I'm very paranoid about
these things. Thank you so much for your delightful patience. Do I know
you? I don't believe you do. My name is el El. I'm
local, but I've been away for a bit. I just moved house and
I'm bringing some family to the city. As you know, family the best,
and their allergies are honestly driving me insane, and I have to shop
for them as if they are some sort of rare ingredient themselves, you know
what I mean? God, like this huge list out of my pocket that
just rolls across the floor. You can see the things to buy for these
people. I just we have bread, we have sweets. What would you
like? If you're not a customer, you may leave. We are close
to closing. Do you carry pastas by chance with hypros? No, we
have breads and sweets, breads and sweets excellent. What kind of sweets again?
Do you carry ginger based sweets? By chance? We do have some
lovely ginger snaps. Careful they have a bit of bite. Scarlets approaches the
back door. Was that a such an attempted humor? Yes? Now are
you going to buy something or not? We'd like to clean up and close
shop. I would let me think, Oh, and this is everything you
have. There's nothing like in the Everything you see is what we have.
Okay, yes, so there's they're not touched, but people, right,
I'm just worried you know, contaminants and whatnot. I wouldn't want any family
quality is higher than you're used to. Oh really, Oh well that is
comforting, isn't it. Well that rather plump loaf in the back yep,
the one with the kind of the crooked cut. Yep, that one would
be X. Can I smell it? I think you can smell it from
there? Would you like it or not? Well? What if that one
smells differently than the other ones? What if only the ones in the front
smell nice and that one is put in the back because of m Yes,
I'm going to ask you to leave in a moment if you do not purchase
some bread. Oh I mean that is why I'm on yours. I'm sorry,
I'm just so nervous. All right, I will take that. Yes,
I would love to purchase that loaf. Please wonderful. Here you go.
That will be fifty copper. It's thank you, thank you, thank
you so much for your time. I didn't I didn't mean to keep you
up later than usual, of course. I just trying new things makes one
anxious, doesn't it. Anyways, she's like rifling in her pockets. Cute
to think, so many pockets? What that Gregory, would you mind helping
the poor dear gather her coins? It seems she's having trouble. I'm gonna
drop my purse just all over the ground. It's like, you know whatever
this age of people's purses contained crap. Oh, I can't believe. Oh,
I'm so oh, I'm such a silly billy, aren't I. I'm
gonna give him a crown and just start during the loud clamor. I think
that's when the door opens up. It's gardless. Yes, I believe you
were attempting to prowl. Is that not correct? All right? I love
you to roll for me for that. You are in a controlled situation due
to the help if Losh offers it, as I do know that help causes
stress. Are you attempting to stress yourself out slightly? Here? Flos and
add an extra? I would, I would absolutely. I'm yeah, I
kind of stress myself out as well. For up total of three extra three
extra I don't know one, No, it's I get two. I'm sorry
she gets one. That's correct, dice, Okay, that's all right.
And also, since I leveled up last time, I when I gather in
fold to locate and target I get a plus one on the effect. If
I am king, I get plus one. Die to the rules to avoid
detection. Well, you'll get a greater effect then it would have been standard
in a controlled situation. So you'll have a greater effect with controlled Where do
I add those two bonus dice? Oh? I see, thank you.
Let's see how well you prowl? Very well? Not a critical success,
nonetheless as an increased effect because of the sorry, my mistake. That's only
critical and you don't have that, but you do it. Yes, tell
me what you're doing, I think. He opens up the door as he
tries to listen for maybe the jingle of the bell of the door as the
door opens as she leaves, but Steady hears the closest thing. There was
a clamor, and that was that'll work fine. He opens up the door
just enough and sneaks in. The door closes behind him, probably out of
sync with the clamor of the purse, but it's enough for him to then
dash under a potential confectionery counter immtterful. He creeps silently for a moment,
catches his breath, and then he sneaks opens up the door of the confectionery
counter or the cupboard and looks around for potential oils, flavors, molasses,
vanillas, anyway they would carry tinctures or anything with glass pials. Wonderful.
Just for a moment, you feel something odd. Aalen Galen is in his
room. He's retired, and he well, he said he retired, and
Steady opens up his bag and he takes out his spirit mask and a lock
of Skyless's hair, and he begins to burn it over a candle, and
the flame turns blue, and he begins to bleed from his nose and then
his ears as he chants, and you can see the vessels blood vessels on
his forehead pulse and throb as the mask glows, and with a command,
one of the dead spirits of this place emerges from the dark and he says,
I command you to find Skyless, owner of this hair. He is
at a bakery owned by the lunar Bites. Protect him, let no harm
come to him. This I command you, and the hair goes up in
flame. WOULD like you to attune Galen, because that is what you're attempting
to do. And I rolled a five, a partial success. I push
myself even further, putting me at the very edge. I would like to
use my special ability again. Please please remind me of that area. Yes,
two times per score, which I think means two times per session or
score. You haven't finished the score yet, as you have not spoken with
the accountant or the dead ends. Okay, you can assist a teammate without
paying stress, but you must describe how you prepared for this. I would
love to know how you prepared. I'm going to say that he got Skyless's
hair from me, and I will roll ont more diet that is accessible,
and you may roll a D six. Just roll up by itself a four
out of five. You are made out of five. You will suffer a
minor consequence to this. It's fair. I will not let harm come to
Skyless. You won't to Skyless harm comes to Kyria, and that I cannot
have. I think your effect is slightly lessened. I had a boost because
of the mask, so that average it that evens out. Yes, it's
not great, but it'll do. I say, as long as he is
in the bakery, protect him. You must give spirits specific I'm sorry,
I have a headache and something's wrong. I what the spirit is? Said,
I have to. It's gireless as I was saying, something feels odd,
not bad, but odd, almost as though I don't think you have
Is that correct, Galen? That is correct. You never felt this before.
It almost feels like without the weight of it, you put on like
an extra leather jerk and mhm right, worry kind of brush my shoulders a
bit. I'm expecting to move some fabric out of the way, but there
is nothing. He shakes his head disbelief. And here's through the cabinet door
to look for any sort of storage bios. Well, that's a cursory glance.
You don't see anything that looks outside of baking materials. Right, You
need to do more than that. Yes, he's going to listen for anyone
going by, and then he's going to sneak out. We're trying to find
a better advantage, all right, blowing out any candles or lanterns that are
in the way. I like that. I'll ask you to survey unless you
think there's something better for it. Regardless, you'll be in a controlled position
due to what you just said. Mm hmm. Could I argue hunter study?
How would you argue it? Well? I think I think hunt for
it is an object or a target that needs to be found. But I
think he is. He's almost you always want to do prowl, but already
done a prowl. You don't have to do more than you can do more
than one if you'd like. When I leave it to you, I think
your hunter's study could work. You'll just have to describe how you're doing that
particular thing leads it out of his prowl. This would be a little bit
more simple. I think whatever that feeling was leads to a little bit of
a primal frustration, and I think he's going to hunt. All right,
you're hunting. He takes a deep breath through his nose to try to just
discern anything of the area. It's probably just a nose full of full of
flower and baked goods, but he still tries. All right, is controlled?
It is controlled standard effect? Wouldn't my scouts still work here? What
was that? My scout and I gather in photo located target plus one?
The effect? Ah, when you gather in front of target plus one effect?
Yes, it'd be a greater effect then was standard limited? And great
so limited? No, you'd have an increase of effects. So it'll be
greater. You were standard before, right, but it comes from a standard
limited great greater standard limited. So you were at standard. You bumped up
that effect too greater. If you succeed, you'll find more, basically would
My apologies if you're not understanding, I'm happy to be clearer. The drop
down says standard limited great extreme zero. I was at standard, so if
you're now at great, I would be at great. Yes, thank you.
I didn't know that was out of order. What's all right? Bonus
dive. I've won. Well, you have a partial success, and since
you're in a controlled position, you have a choice. You can succeed with
a minor consequence, or you can withdraw and suffer no consequences whatsoever. You
will not get what you want consequence. Please all right, I'm also going
to I'm going to reduce the effect. It's back down to a standard.
It's offset your ability. Yeah, so you're looking through eight items spices.
You have no idea where this would be. I'm just looking through ingredients anywhere
vial would be, even though it's probably not where blood is kept. You
at least hope they're not baking with blood, right, But I don't think
I don't think Skylas is thinking about that. I think he's more worried about
Curia and her comfort and her face she had earlier when she was talking about
what they could be doing to her, and he's thinking about it, and
right, well, Skyless is lose his focus in the moment. Yeah,
you don't mind what you're looking for, but you're not sure it isn't here.
Perhaps if you had a greater effect, you'd be sure that. You
start to hear noises outside, and maybe that distracts you a little bit from
your search. What kind of noises you would hear as well as you Loach?
It almost sounds like I her works. Oh could it be the parade
is beginning? Well, the parade isn't for a couple of days. Oh
interesting, I think I think sky has continuous looking. He kind of smiles
to himself. We start to hear the explosions overhead, thinking that there may
be something to distract the shop at least for a couple of more moments.
What are you doing? Then, it's Guileless, it's a bit noisy now.
I think he tries to retrace the steps backward from the back of the
building. So he tries to go through and find where that meeting table was
that we met, that back room that we met with them, and starts
to sneak that way and try to find any clues to where it will be.
You will absolutely need to prowl again because that door was out in the
main portion of the shop. You were going to be attempting to sneak pass
met yikes that werewolf, you saw the one that was leading the conversation.
Very will you are in a risky If not, it would have been desperate.
But there's fireworks going off. It's risky. If you'd like to move
faster avoid detection, it would be desperate, but I would give you a
greater effect for that instead of standard. Oh was that? I'm sorry,
You're in a risky situation because of the fireworks. Yes, you could attempt
to go through faster to avoid detection and smells, but it would put you
in a desperate situation and gain you a greater effect instead of standard. So
you could say that I can do how was that risky? You can do
risky and standard or you can do desperate and greater. I leave the choice
for you will do desperate and greater. All right, A bonus die.
Can I stress myself again? You have any role you can stress yourself to
stress per You could attempt a devil's bargain as well, but that's on you.
What would you like if you'd like a devil's bargain? I would like
the devil's bargain because I don't think we've seen one of those yet, and
that's how I roll. You have not seen them, but they're never in
your favor. You'll get what you want, probably go on, Well,
you have to offer first. What do you want? Oh? I offer
the book? Oh yes, I give you the consequence. You offer the
bargain. What do you want? I can grant it? Okay? I
think I think devil's bargain is going to go down like this, if you
will let me. I think he's going to sneak by as fast as he
can through the front to get to where it is. He does end up
finding the vial. Wherever it may be doesn't really matter, but let's say
in this case it is on the woman dangling from her side. He goes
to cut the vial off of her side. It does so, and as
he leaves, his cloak is grabbed by her. He pulls as much as
he can, and he leaves through the back door and throws over the the
the fence, the viol just enough for actually reverse that she grabs. She
grabs his cloak and he turns and slides it across the main room to losh
on the table or like into the bag. But he's dragged into the back
captured. You're offering the consequence, not me, I see. I like
the narrative you have Skylis. Come back for a moment. I will let
you get a prowl the plus two. You will take two stress wor stress.
If you succeed this desperate role, you'll make it into the back room
unseen. There's a reason for this because looking at there's no vile there.
A part of this bargain is I will tell you there's something in the back
room very well. What's the effect greater that you're getting two dice instead of
one? With that to stress ro well, guidless, unfortunate, you are
in a desperate situation. With a partial success, you will be suffering a
serious consequence. You sneak by, you make your way into the back room,
you shut the door behind you. Perhaps even los sees you sneak in
just a moment as she's gathering coins on the ground, sloppy, sloppy.
You shut the door quietly behind you. You see a blood stain on the
table, slightly darkened from the day. It's where Iria was sitting across from
the werewolf. And do you remember her saying in this moment, she pricked
my finger. Nowt in the hell's which you have a vial from a single
prick, Skyless, You've made a grave mistake, and now you're in that
room. We'll come back to you later. You may galen quickly. There
is a move, a teamwork move that you can do and blade in the
dark, and that move is that you may protect someone. You may face
danger for a teammate suffer. You step in to suffer the consequence in their
place. And I have a spirit there to protect him on the scene,
watching him, and I will do to take whatever consequence he might get,
all right, because I remember that spirit, because we're not dealing with it
until next week. Thank you, Heiria. Yes, our final scene today
will be you. You're at a door. You've snuck out already, you
know where you are, but would you mind telling everyone the accountant you are
indeed at the accountant's manor the front door. It is an assumption of mine,
and you know how I feel about those. But are you hesitating at
the door? Yes, I thought so. What would you like to do?
Oh? Go in? You knock? Or do you just let yourself
in? Very good? The same imp butler opens the door, vows,
mistress, looks at you, led May, I you may. The accountant
is waiting you parla always. He backs up and leads you the accountant's beautifully
adorned door. One moment, please. He hits a small box with a
button on it. Mistress Ledy is here for you, eh, Would you
like any averages? No? And I just go in. Of course.
He opens the door for you and shuts it behind you, where you see
Vocley, the accountant sitting smiling expectedly at you, all twelve feet of pitt
Lord Mistress Kiria, please have a seat. The seat is there for you,
just one. You were offered beverages or snacks? You were not offered?
No, I was. I would not like them. I was offered,
I declined. I know it's rude. I'm sorry, that is all
right. I was about to kill him. Apologies. I did not mean
to snap. What can I do for you, Heiria? Why would the
lunar bites want me to tell you the truth because they know what is wise?
I thought as much. Was that it? I don't believe that was
it? It took my blood. Well, that was stupid. I had
no choice. You always have a choice. You're right. I had a
choice and you made it. So ask again, what can I do for
you, mistress Kiria? What does working for you entail? Exactly? And
that's where we'll end the episode. O, holy shit, weve done everyone.
Wow, how are you feeling stressed? Stressed? That's six stress stressed?
Oh only six? Interesting? M hm m good. Well, I
mean there are ways to manage that, of course. So need a moment
before we do shout outs. Don't just don't have me be first, that's
all. Like, my heart rate is super high. I actually need to
let that come down for a second. I can allow that. I'm out
of ten, you're out of ten? Well there, I think we can
start with you. Then Hello, there it's me. So there. I
didn't roll any desperate rolls. Oh write that is this? No? What
we're doing? Exactly? What we're doing? Yes, Oh, thank you
I'm addressing a challenge with violence or coersion. I was going to say you
did, Yeah, I think you did. Yeah, at least least with
the scene where you blocked the door. There was at least that, And
then yeah, I'd say that's it. I'd say that was it. Yes,
I guess. I guess. I was also violent in my fight with
Harris. I don't know if that counts as a separate one because it's a
fight. What's the rules if you're already any Yeah, but no, it
was a duel and you actually attacked. You meant to hurt him, you
meant to him, and you absolutely addressed a challenge with violence rather than finesse.
Yes, that's expressed beliefs, drives, heritage or background music. I
guess I did, but it wasn't quite as strongly as I have done in
previous weeks. It was more just, I mean, everyone expressed their beliefs
this week, you know, and drives. I think I think you could
get one for it. Yeah, I wouldn't. I would be surprised if
everyone didn't get one. And then struggling with issues from my vice, I
did you absolutely at the beginning, Yeah, and then did I again?
In the other conversation, honorable Sir, I mean, I don't really know
exactly what your vice is, but I think I don't think you did struggle.
I wouldn't I struggled, Actually, I would say, I know,
I know, if anything, I just yeah, I just had it.
So yeah, I think that's it. Then, so I have the one
from it. Yeah, that's a pretty decent haul from me this week for
XP. But yeah, that's it. Man. It's interesting what I actually
enjoyed about this moment that at the beginning during the fight, I like I
Sasa was really looking for something to have some conviction about, to see if
it would alter his state of mind, and then you all provided it for
me by the end, which was a nice mini character arc to happen,
even though the sparring session happened a week and a half ago. In character,
to have him be pondering it for that week and a half and then
come to that realization but it was within the same session was very fun.
Yeah, it was at the full of my mind as well. Yeah,
it was nice going into it. I love very much the flashback mechanic because
it allows us to play with you know, what would be in a TV
show, which is we would see that scene in Game of Thrones and then
we would immediately put it. Yeah, it's insane. It really works in
a singular episode. You can also initiate from yourself. I don't have to
well for real, Yeah, because you know you when you do the setup.
So like I did set up by doing the library or getting the spirit,
you can also that in the past. So, for example, somebody
could spend that stress to say, hey, I actually earlier that day picked
the lock so and left the window ajar so that it would be easier for
Skylass to get out or whatever. You have to pay stress for it,
though, Yes you do, Yes, you do. Maybe he's about to
manipulate time. Look, you just hand it at a time start. Well,
you can't undo consequences that way, but you can prepare for something,
right. I'm glad I haven't taken any stress or consequences and stuff. Stress
we're all about glad. I haven't up to this point. But yep,
that's me, says there. I don't stream, but you will be able
to see me on further and upcoming table story productions such as What Table Stories
spell Wind, which will be happening very shortly eating. Okay, sorry,
I was just trying to kind of like lay us some of it in so
that so that Cord could be the one. Yes, why would want to
be related to this conversation? Can I say my one small stupid fact,
myth? Yeah, my character in spell Wind should be in this campaign,
and my character in this campaign should be in spell Wind. And I named
them similarly because I came up with them both around the same time, and
I was like, these are in the wrong place. He should be in
there, and that one should be in this. And I'm really looking forward
to and now with this character, yeah, with his decisions. So I'm
really looking forward to it. But that's it. That's me wonderful. Thank
you, Brad fall of Brad will Tell, he does dream, He's a
liar, he is Galen. Hello, Hello, I'm Trooper SJP and Galen.
So let's see. He did not rule any desperate roles at this moment,
so none of that. Did I address a challenge with knowledge or arcane
power? I did. I summoned a spirit and commanded it to protect Skyless
in his mission, So I feel like I should get one for that.
Yep, that was awesome. Yeah, that was so good. Yes,
taking an awful lot of stress to get there, don't worry about it.
Do you have to be stressed to do that? No, it's just that
I pushed myself to get an extra die Galen pushes himself when it matters,
and then he has a lot of stress, a worrying amount of stress.
I mean, but he's in his bedroom by himself. It's fine. Don't
worry about all the bleeding. So I feel like I only did that once.
Express beliefs, drives, heritage or background. I certainly did in our
conversation about the mission and how it went. I think in there I was
sort of my beliefs. I also think with in this scene with Skylss,
his drive to well, he's a bit of a shipper as it were,
and I believe his goals trying to get those two together Forevern's sake, but
also his relationship to Cisah's brother Lorthair also came out in that conversation, So
I'd say two, I think that's fair. And I do not think yet
that I struggled with issues for my vices or traumas, because I do not
technically have a trauma yet. However, even close we're getting real close.
And I did not yet struggle from issues relate to my advice. So I
think a three total wonder And you can find me on Fridays on my channel
Triper s JP at seven pm four City of Light and Shadow, which is
a fate French resistance campaign. Sometimes Peebe guests and yeah, it's so fucking
good. It's so good. That's me. Also, gosh, all of
y'all, right, all of y'all, how tense, how stressful? Yeah,
that's it. Good Hereria, mm hmmm, are you feeling really good?
Good? She lied? Thank you? I mean I can detect life.
Are you lying? Someday someone will be lying? Yeah, someday someone
will be lying someday. I loved that. Actually, I feel like that
should be the title of the episode. Jesus, well, oh boy,
did you do anything desperate? Oh yes, I uh, I don't see
any desperate roles. No, no, no, I just meant everything I
did today was attempt at something, Okay, no desperate roles. I addressed
a challenge with deception or influence twice. Absolutely, at least absolutely okay.
I do believe I expressed my beliefs drives, heritage or background I believe that
too, Hey, and how is your vice? Did you struggle from that
at all? Today? I would pause it that I did, and in
fact too, Yeah, okay, I would too. I don't have to
say what it is. Yeah, okay, I would. Thank you did?
And who are you exactly? Oh Jesus who cares? This was one
of the coolest sessions of role play I've ever had the privilege of being a
part of. It was non stop, top form the whole episode. Everyone
was on fire. Every scene was fire. I had to peece so badly
right before break I literally could not could not leave the seat. It was
great. Everything was so good and I loved it. And I'll see you
guys next week and on Wednesday at four pm Eastern. Why what's landing on
Wednesday at four pm? Something amazing interesting there? That skyless. Let's uh
let's chat with you. Thank you, peb Okay, here we go,
thank you peb uh so uh So I had a desperate action, which was
my last rule. Yes, and that suck, but it was also awesome.
Get the experience for so prowess specifically, Oh, that's how you level
up the stat that way, Yes, get rid of that. Then okay,
uh. And then I addressed a challenge with tracking her violence. Yes,
yes, and I expressed my belief drives heritage background. Yes, you
tied a bowstring around my wrist, give me a break, all right?
I think you also may have said something to Galen as well. Oh yeah,
that's true. That's also true. I said, God, give you
two for that. Certainly will give me two for that. All right,
thank you. I struggled with issues from a vice traumas during the session.
Well, that's just the that's just the bingo card. Every more than once,
I'd say every week. I think, do you do it for every
time it happens, not just once in a session? Well, if you
do it more than once, you get to x B Yeah, one of
the ones in a session. Yeah, I think you might have. Yeah,
once with the conversation and then once with the actual you know, the
actual idea that. Yeah, all right, I'm gonna become a god very
soon. It's on the open. But you're gonna need it. Yeah,
it's true. Being generous with this for your safety. Right? Actually,
could I get one for struggling with my uh vice? Because I did a
lot to I sacrificed a lot including my vessel's life for Kiria, or my
vessel's possible life, all of the very reckless, dangerous things I was doing
there there was I have. I'm not a Lord of Helios, but I
curious. I think I can say yes that, yeah, all, thank
you, You're all right, And then we switch gears to me talking about
myself. Yeah, my favorite hart, Yes, everybody, my name's mythematic
I played Skyless. Everybody's talking about spell Wind, which gets me super excited
but also very anxious because it is my mind baby that I've been nursing for.
I'm gonna keep going with this analogy for the past ten years or so,
and it is like it is a home brew D and D setting with
volatile magic and cosmic mystery. I've been thinking a lot about this world and
how everything kind of goes together with it every time I've had a creative thought
in the past ten or twelve years, and Dan would probably also agree.
When it comes to world building and stuff, when you have those creative thoughts,
you go, hm, how does this apply to my world? And
how does this apply to my setting? And things like that, And that's
exactly what's been going on. So I get to show you all what I've
been working on and thinking about what's just been hatching in my brain over the
past ten years. I'm very excited a lot of cool things involving spell Wind.
I got some really cool art done by Jamihan Art, who's been doing
some of the stuff from Star Forge and irons Horn, so that's really cool.
I can't wait to show you some of that. And I'm just I
am just so nervous, and I'm so excited to be playing and to be
running this game because it's been so long since I have and I'm honored to
play and run a game for Table Story the channel and also table story players
and people. So thank you for letting me do that, and thank you
for saying my thank you to all of you by letting you play in my
world, I guess, or by dming you. Either way, it just
means a lot. And I'm honored. Follow me on all the things Twitter,
because believe it or not, that's how everything else grows. So follow
me on Twitter and then you'll know when I'm live on Twitch, and then
you can see me on Twitch, and then whatever else I'm doing, like
page dressing, like that thing, you'll see how something else grows. This
is and this is how Brad ends it. Thank you very much. I
also have another spell Wind announcement. Tune into Witchcraft and Wizardry on Tuesday for
the final teas. Ah, you collect them all, collect them all.
This one will be centered around Myers kinda oh, I don't think I saw
them in chat. Also follow c K. We love her, but she
had a dip for cool life things that she had to go to, so
please twitch our TV slash Classy Katie. She's been building a suit and it's
finally being finished to need to test it out. She's just testing it out
and get packs around the block. Yeah, exactly that. Look she might
be there. Oh no, Dan, Dan, Sorry, I'm going to
play the spell When teaser, but after that we're going to go over and
see you right. Yes, okay, I'm domestic Dan and I was your
Lord of Helios today, also known as the GM of Doubt. I don't
want I doubt, I doubt, I know, like uh and uh yes.
We'll be having the recovery room right after this. Actually, so if
you need a spot to debrief vent about today's episode, that will be somewhat
allowed. We'll hold off on heavy spoilers. I need to recover, of
course, because someone may have missed it. They come in, see,
that's that's my that's my serberce. I'll get you if you're not careful.
That's the alarm to end the stream, and everyone go and follow domestic Dan
well the recovery room where So that's it. Thank you so much for watching.
We'll see you next week and we'll see what plays out from today. M