EE-3-12 - Interview With The Guild

SUMMARY

After much time away, the party is finally back at The Guild Hall and can relax for a night, or so they hope. Kenina finds herself whisked away in a dream once again to confront Doitean and learns a lot about the history of Dragons.

Upon waking up the next day, each member of the party finds themselves called in front of the guild masters, alone. Rem is given a mysterious letter and a package. Ariel is asked about her experiences with the spear. Kenina confesses about her meetings with Doitean and her connection to Fioch is brought up. Everyone is asked if they believe Tempest is a good fit for their group and if she is ready for the journey ahead.

Believing that everyone is on board with the path that has been laid out in front of them, the Guild Masters call the entire party in together in order to point them in what they believe is the next best direction. The party is told that they should seek an audience with The Queen of The Faevale.

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CAST

Damian - The DM

Chris - Rem

Christa - Ariel

Chantalle - Kenina

Caitlin - Tempest

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MUSIC

A huge thank you to all of the musicians who allow us to use their work. If you are interested in learning about them, check out our Music Page.

 Fimbulwinter – Vindsvept (Intro)

Tavern Loop One - Serpent Sound Studios (1:11)

Ambient Room – Monument Studios (1:55)

Temple of Knowledge – Michael Ghelfi (3:00)

Chasm Ruins – Cyberleaf Studios (3:25)

Sanctuary (non-melodic) – Epic Stock Media (5:33)

Skylight – Alec Weesner (6:49)

A Little Place Called Home – Adrian von Ziegler (9:14)

Game Over 2 – JDB Artist (9:51)

A Little Place Called Home – Adrian von Ziegler (10:00)

Piano Interlude II – Cyberleaf Studios (10:13)

Ethereal Temple – Monument Studios (11:19)

Sanctuary (non-melodic) – Epic Stock Media (12:17)

A Little Place Called Home – Adrian von Ziegler (13:44)

Garden Oasis – Purple Planet Music (14:20)

A Little Place Called Home – Adrian von Ziegler (15:14)

Spiritual India – Purple Planet Music (15:34)

A Little Place Called Home – Adrian von Ziegler (16:02)

Innkeeper – Monument Studios (16:09)

A Little Place Called Home – Adrian von Ziegler (16:21)

Day 0 – A Thousand Dreams – Dark Fantasy Studio (16:32)

A Little Place Called Home – Adrian von Ziegler (17:59)

Quiet Tavern – Michael Ghelfi (18:31)

Grassland Night Ambience – Fusehive (18:39)

Forested Cliff – Michael Ghelfi (18:47)

Giant Wyrm – Incompetech (18:48)

Garden of Rest – Purple Planet Music (20:58)

Subtle Dark Atmos – Monument Studios (20:58)

A Sunless Passage III – Cyberleaf Studios (22:49)

Cursed (Loop) (No Whispers) – Cyberleaf Studios (22:57)

Tense Atmos – Monument Studios (23:03)

Deep Sleep – Purple Planet Music (24:15)

Dark Legato – Monument Studios (24:25)

Marie Celeste – Purple Planet Music (28:28)

Under The Night Sky – Cafofo (30:09)

Ethereal Atmos – Monument Studios (31:22)

Introspection – Purple Planet Music (31:34)

Ambient Room – Monument Studios (34:47)

Medieval City Indoor – Michael Ghelfi (35:18)

Spring Morning – Adrian von Ziegler (35:24)

Background Strings C – Monument Studios (37:26)

Contemplation Loop – Monument Studios (38:04)

Always on a Journey – Purple Planet Music (39:10)

Decisions – Monument Studios (39:45)

Difficult Decision – Joel Steudler (40:00)

Background Stings C – Monument Studios (42:10)

Medieval City Indoor – Michael Ghelfi (42:30)

Spring Morning – Adrian von Ziegler (42:34)

Background Strings C – Monument Studios (43:25)

Mythic Grove – Monument Studios (44:15)

Snow and Ice Ambience – Alec Weesner (44:21)

Heaven – Michael Ghelfi (45:54)

Well of Souls – Dark Fantasy Studio (46:54)

Mythic Grove – Monument Studios (47:16)

Dangerous Catacombs – Joel Steudler (49:54)

Cold Flame – Joel Steudler (51:07)

Medieval City Interior – Michael Ghelfi (53:30)

Spring Morning – Adrian von Ziegler (53:33)

Background Strings C – Monument Studios (56:28)

Snow and Ice Ambience – Alec Weesner (57:36)

Dangerous Catacombs – Joel Steudler (59:05)

Dragonborn A – Monument Studios (1:00:09)

Scary Theme – Andy SV (1:04:59)

Fresh Air – Incompetech (1:07:39)

Spring Morning – Adrian von Ziegler (1:09:28)

Medieval City Indoor – Michael Ghelfi (1:09:29)

Stranger Places – Monument Studio (1:13:08)

Horizon – Dark Fantasy Studio (1:13:09)

Unknown Terrain – Andy SV (1:18:13)

Medieval City Interior – Michael Ghelfi (1:18:59)

Spring Morning – Adrian von Ziegler (1:19:07)

Fantasy Medieval City – Michael Ghelfi (1:20:16)

Stables (Ambience Only) – Tabletop Audio (1:20:24)

Medieval City Indoor – Michael Ghelfi (1:22:32)

Heroic Orchestra Mix B – Monument Studios (1:23:59)

Mystical Sanctum – Epic Stock Media (1:24:01)

Dreamseer – Adrian von Ziegler (1:25:29)

Skylight – Alec Weesner (1:34:21)

Last Stand – Vindsvept (Outro)

Transcript

SPEAKER_03 0:00

This episode of Adventures in Aurelia is brought to you by Dave and Jeff from Interparty Conflict, Red on Fire, Davora Dawn, Motogool, and PolkaDancer on Patreon. You can join them in supporting the show at patreon.com forward slash adventures in Aurelia. Hello and welcome to Adventures in Aurelia, a podcast where five friends sit around the table and record themselves playing Dungeons and Dragons. I'm Chantel and I play Kenina, a T Fling sorcerer.

SPEAKER_05 0:38

I'm Krista and I play Ariel, an Asmar Divine Soul Sorceress.

SPEAKER_07 0:42

I'm Chris and I play Rim, Human Paladin.

SPEAKER_06 0:45

I'm Caitlin, I play Tempest, a Water Genasi Ranger.

SPEAKER_08 0:48

And I'm Damien. I'm the D.

SPEAKER_00 0:52

I'm Steven Johnger from the official Gunning Geek.com show, a weekly Geek News podcast that is a part of the Gunage Geek Network. Just like the show you're checking out now. Shows on the network are individually owned, and opinions expressed may not reflect others. Find other awesome Geeky shows at GunageGeeknetwork.com.

SPEAKER_08 1:16

Previously, on Adventures in Aurelia. After what has felt like years, though has really only been a few weeks, our adventurers have finally returned to the city of Ribbon. After saying their goodbyes to Thorstag and the crew of the Iron Cask, they made their way to the Guild Hall to meet with the Guild Masters and to brief them on the situation with Grimfang and the Spear, as well as see what they have learned about the axe. The party, including Tempest, are given one last chance to turn away before entering a one-way door into a saga that will change the course of their lives and perhaps all of Aurelia. We're going to pick things up today. In the evening, the 11th of Monanon. You guys have just finished your meeting with the Guild Masters, where they kind of took you into the next level of being a member of the Guild. The item that you had recovered in Fiat uncovered a great movement within the underlying nature of the world. And they've kind of hinted at wishing for you guys to look into things further. But they also understand that you guys have been on a long journey and it is late. And that you probably want to, in some form or another, rest, relax, take it easy for a night, and they'll reach out to you guys later. What do you guys wish to do with your first night back in Riven? At this point, you guys will have finished your conversation, gone downstairs into the like central great hall area, and gathered around a table for a moment. You guys already have your horse and cart put away at the stable. Believe Rem paid for like a week.

SPEAKER_03 3:11

I know I had just listened back on it, but I don't remember. I remember asking the question at the time, but I don't remember what the answer was. Uh, about Tempest's sleeping situation. Did they were there guest quarters or some such?

SPEAKER_06 3:23

Yeah, it was essentially that the guild kind of works as a hotel.

SPEAKER_08 3:30

Boarding house of sleep.

SPEAKER_06 3:31

Boarding houses, yeah.

SPEAKER_08 3:32

So yeah, you could go up to the front desk area where you originally let them know that you guys were here and let whoever is working there at the moment know that you need another room for the new member of your group.

SPEAKER_03 3:47

I think Kanina will, having uh walked away at the group now, we're starting to kind of wind down. She'll stretch and just be like, Well, it's good to be back in the guild finally. It feels like ages since we've been here. I'm looking forward to showing you around and stuff, Tempest. We'll have to make sure we get your room sorted out.

SPEAKER_05 4:01

Ariel's gonna randomly. I wonder if my plants are dead. You had plants? Yeah. I'm a bit of a herbalist. They're probably dead though. Probably.

SPEAKER_07 4:13

Nina, do have you spoken with the guild about the uh the mini accounts you've opened up while we were out? I know you wrote them once, but you you made quite a few promises.

SPEAKER_03 4:24

Uh no, I figure I'll bring that up in the morning, take care of some more business after we get settled in. I know I have a a bit of a log that I need to make sure is covered.

SPEAKER_07 4:33

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 4:34

I mean, if anything, I could always afford the bill myself. We did earn quite a bit of money.

SPEAKER_07 4:38

Well, I'm just saying you might want to let the guild know that they may be receiving letters or bills from afar. So they don't just automatically reject them outright, and then you're in trouble somewhere else.

SPEAKER_03 4:51

Yes, I did tell them to specifically ask for me, though, uh, several of the notices that I gave him, so I'm sure if it comes down to it, I will be held accountable, which is fine. I am, I suppose, still considered fairly new to the guild, so perhaps I was uh offering a bit more that I could honestly fulfill, but I plan to make good on what I did promise to those.

SPEAKER_02 5:12

But yeah, you see you see in Kanina maybe not quite as peppily walking as she was, thinking just like, oh, how many promises did I make again?

SPEAKER_08 5:22

Where's Kanina walking too?

SPEAKER_03 5:24

I think she'll probably steer us toward, I guess, the front desk to just make sure that Tempest does have a room settled up for the night, because she doesn't know if they do have like an occupancy maximum or some such. So she wants to make sure that she at least has a place to stay. If not, then we can figure something else out.

SPEAKER_08 5:38

Uh, you approach the front desk area where probably at this point, about an hour and a half, maybe two hours ago, you had uh kind of checked back in with your return trip and uh the person behind this. Oh, um, I take it that your meeting went well with the guildmasters. Oh yes, indeed it did. Are you on your way out? Yet again, I know that you just recently returned from an adventure that you had left on after just coming back from an adventure, so you guys do seem to be the adventuring type.

SPEAKER_03 6:12

That we are. I don't know. Uh, do you guys think we want to take it easy for tonight? I know it's been a bit of a rough trip getting back here.

SPEAKER_07 6:20

I'd like a night of sleep in my own bed.

SPEAKER_05 6:23

I want to refresh my pack and actually take a bath.

SPEAKER_03 6:26

Yeah, I think we're probably just going to stay in for tonight. Uh, we want to make sure that our uh new member here, and she'll kind of like pat Tempest on the shoulder. Uh Tempest uh has a room to stay in until she can get affiliated with one of the branches of the guild.

SPEAKER_08 6:39

Ah, so you guys have a new member with you. Indeed. And uh, since you said that you kind of pushed Tempest up a little bit, they look right at Tempest and goes. And uh you are My name is Tempest.

SPEAKER_06 6:53

And yes, it appears that I am uh joining the guild.

SPEAKER_08 6:58

Welcome to the Guild Tempest. Um, there's going to be a little bit of paperwork, and they reach under the desk, pull out a scroll of parchment, inkwell and a quill, they lay it out in front of you. Uh this here is the guild charter. Mostly it covers that you do have a yearly due, it can be paid, yearly it can be paid by the month. The DM doesn't remember how much it's supposed to be, and you give a share of whatever you earn while you guys are out doing official guild business, especially if it is a contract that was acquired through the guild. The fee does cover your room while you are staying here. And uh what size are you? Excuse me? Oh, for your guild garb. There's garb.

SPEAKER_06 7:49

Medium.

SPEAKER_08 7:50

Yes. When when you are here, you are welcome to access the guild wardrobe as a matter of representation. Also, you hear like kind of a metal clinking sound as they reach into a cabinet underneath. You also get the guild signet badge. You'll see Canina kind of flashers off a little bit, proudly.

SPEAKER_06 8:10

I've seen that.

SPEAKER_08 8:12

It tells others that you are an affiliated member of Sival's Guild of Adventures. So official. And you will need to sign here at the bottom.

SPEAKER_06 8:23

Um, okay, so yes, I'll sign my name. Tempest signs her name. Just Tempest.

SPEAKER_08 8:29

Just Tempest.

SPEAKER_06 8:30

Just Tempest. And we'll also just pay the whole year in advance, I guess.

SPEAKER_07 8:37

I'll pay as well.

SPEAKER_03 8:38

Um, me too. Can you know Pipe Bum? She'll be like, uh yeah, since we're here and we've gotten a little bit of funds out on our journey, um, I'll go ahead and just pay for the rest of the year as well. I think that's a clever idea.

SPEAKER_08 8:47

So they reach under, you hear a couple clicking sounds, and they withdraw a box with a slot in the top of it. And they start just piling the gold that you guys are placing down on the table into the top of this box. This is heavier than normally. You don't normally have to deal with so many at one time. Well, Tempest, welcome to the guild.

SPEAKER_06 9:15

Thank you.

SPEAKER_08 9:16

And they go, and you can choose from any of these for your quarters, and they lay down a map of the second floor of the guild hall, and there are a number of rooms that don't have a name or anything associated with them.

SPEAKER_06 9:34

I pick that one.

SPEAKER_08 9:36

Okay. For reference, do you pick one near any of your current party members?

SPEAKER_06 9:42

Sure.

SPEAKER_08 9:43

Who would you like to be near?

SPEAKER_06 9:44

I guess Nina. Oh! Gonna pick a room near me, huh? Perfect. Roll me a D20. 19. Is it Karim's old room?

SPEAKER_08 9:53

No.

SPEAKER_06 9:53

Is it Nixie's? Is it Nixie's old room?

SPEAKER_08 9:55

Tempest has picked Nixie's old room. Oh, I knew it. Because I remember that Kanina and Nixie were like right next to each other.

SPEAKER_03 10:03

So Kanina will look pretty cheery at uh the fact that Tempest will be bunking uh somewhat close to her room, be like, oh, this'll be neat. I can show you around my room too.

SPEAKER_08 10:11

Oh, but before you go, and reaches a key out towards Tempest.

SPEAKER_03 10:16

And then uh before we step away as well, um, Kanina also mentioned. Um, I've sent a few letters and whatnot back to the guild uh when I was on my travels. I'm not sure if any of them reach them. Uh some of them may have reference to address me in particular. Uh, some of them might be expenses that need to be paid. Uh, I don't know if it'll take some time to get that stuff in order, but I can try to help figure it out in the morning if necessary.

SPEAKER_08 10:41

Uh yes, I did see when I looked you up earlier when you arrived that there wasn't an amount given, but there was reference to some promises that may have been made to other establishments and people that might have some form of fiduciary responsibility for the guild. That's something that the guildmasters will work on and see if your contributions have been deemed worthy enough for the guild to expense it, or if we will be requesting some recompense from you.

SPEAKER_03 11:18

Alright, that sounds perfect. Just let me know if I have to end up paying anything. One last thing, uh, the ship that we had uh sailed over from Port Norsaal to here, the Iron Cask, uh, they're experiencing a bit of um unsettlement due to some objects we brought back from our journeys, and we were hoping we could get a cleric to possibly bless the ship to help ease their minds. That's something I'm fully willing to pay for if necessary. But I wanted to make good on a promise I had made to a dear friend of mine on that ship.

SPEAKER_08 11:48

I see. Let me reach out to a member of the clergy this evening. It's a little late now, but I think that this is something that we can have arranged by morning.

SPEAKER_03 11:59

Perfect. I just wanted to, yeah, let you know as soon as possible, since they're probably only gonna be in port for two or three more days, I'm guessing.

SPEAKER_08 12:06

And and once I've reached out to the member of the clergy, we can figure out what it might cost, if anything.

SPEAKER_03 12:14

Indeed, thank you so much. Right? I think that's everything.

SPEAKER_08 12:17

We'll kind of look around at the rest of the group. And they look between uh Ram and Ariel. Uh, can I help either of you with anything?

SPEAKER_07 12:24

Uh, I will be expecting a package from Port Norsaul from a darn black hammer. Understood. If I could be alerted when it arrives.

SPEAKER_08 12:34

Do you think you will be staying in town long enough to be alerted when it's received?

SPEAKER_07 12:40

Uh, as of right now, I don't believe we have any plans on going anywhere. Uh, if things change, I will let you know.

SPEAKER_08 12:46

Alright, thank you for uh letting me know. And uh you were Rem, correct? Yes. And you see them flip through a ledger and make a small note down in it.

SPEAKER_05 12:59

Ariel's gonna look to Rem and say, um, are the horses good?

SPEAKER_08 13:03

Yes, they're fine.

SPEAKER_03 13:04

Okay. Alrighty, I think we're good here. Uh well, have a good night. Thank you for your help.

SPEAKER_08 13:08

You're very welcome. And welcome back, all of you. Uh enjoy your stay, and good luck on your next adventure.

SPEAKER_03 13:17

Thank you. We'll make sure that we grab the key and take a walksy over to our rooms. I'm not sure which direction Rem and Ariel are gonna be headed in regards to the direction that Tempest and Kanina will be. And how unsettled are you that I took your best friend's room? I think her heart hurts a little bit, but she's not going to show it because this is now going to be like your room, and Nixie has moved on, so she might have more words to say depending on what kind of state the room is in when she gets closer to it.

SPEAKER_06 13:45

Well, if you're not letting it show, then uh.

SPEAKER_08 13:48

Alright, so everyone makes their way to their rooms. I imagine mostly you guys want to unload whatever bits of pack and gear you didn't leave with the cart and horses. Uh, start with Ariel. What do you as you get in here?

SPEAKER_05 14:04

Throw my old cloak and my new cloak up on my coat rack that's by the door, and toss my backpack on my bed, go straight over to my dead plants. Actually, we were gone three weeks. They're probably not that dead.

SPEAKER_08 14:20

Go go ahead and uh roll me a nature check.

SPEAKER_05 14:22

Ooh, I get to do a check.

SPEAKER_08 14:25

See how much forethought you put into this before you left.

SPEAKER_05 14:28

19.

SPEAKER_08 14:29

Actually, before you left, Ariel had asked whoever was running reception that day to keep an eye on the plants that you had in your room. And you find that they are actually alive and quite healthy.

SPEAKER_05 14:42

Nice. So she'll go over to her bookshelf and she has a book that she's kept with her that has different creatures and stuff that she's seen. That's the one that she saw the fairy in that she knew what it was. And she's just gonna like go through the pages and put like little check marks next to different creatures that she's seen on her adventures as a little like, I've done this or I've seen this type of thing. A little list, kind of. And uh then I think she'll probably start filling her bathtub and relax for a bit.

SPEAKER_03 15:20

Uh well, if Tempest is at all interested in still walking with her, she'll like just burst open her door and just be like, and this is my room. But uh, she is looking to basically do much the same. Uh, settle in, unpack some things, look to uh get to bathe and clean from travels. I'm sure her room, like upon first entry, is um basically you're just greeted by a big wall of aromas, lots of spices, dried herbs, and whatnot is things that she kind of has hanging around in her room. She is interested in cooking, so she likes to dabble here and there. And when she is present in her room, she likes to keep it quite warm. But she'll unload her stuff. She has a collection of her own little trinkets and books and whatnot, and she's looking to add probably some of her trophies she's collected along our journeys to that selection.

SPEAKER_08 16:05

Rem, what do you do as you enter your room?

SPEAKER_07 16:09

Rim basically walks in, sets his pack down at the base of his bed, sits on the edge of the bed and kind of, you know, leans forward, looking down at his feet, takes a big deep breath, looks up, and then lays back on his bed and closes his eyes.

SPEAKER_08 16:23

Tempest. What do you do as you enter your brand new living quarters?

SPEAKER_06 16:28

So, uh, after poking head in and taking a look at Nina's room, goes, is it like directly next door?

SPEAKER_08 16:36

Let's say it's across the hallway.

SPEAKER_06 16:38

Okay. Goes across the hall, opens the door, walks in, throw my like rock sack on the bed, and uh just kind of stand in the middle, take it all in, and then definitely start going through any drawers to see if there was anything left over.

SPEAKER_08 16:53

One thing that you find in the sort of dresser that is in the room is a set of guild garb and a robe that is in the guild colors, like a bathing robe. The rest of the drawers are empty.

SPEAKER_06 17:07

Would they fit me?

SPEAKER_08 17:09

They would.

SPEAKER_06 17:09

Oh, weird. I didn't actually give it my size.

SPEAKER_08 17:13

Other than the couple items that were guild provided, you don't find anything to give you a hint of the person that was in this room before. In fact, having seen Kanina's room, you recognize that it looks like as a room is prepared for someone else to take it over, it is set back to a somewhat default standard layout. You notice that there are slight changes and modifications to Kanina's room and placement of things like the bed or the dresser. Um, Kanina has that trophy shelf that you don't have in your room.

SPEAKER_06 17:53

So it feels like a room at an inn, pretty much.

SPEAKER_08 17:56

Yes, that has not yet been personalized. And after settling in, does everyone kind of just relax in their rooms until you guys would all go to sleep?

SPEAKER_05 18:06

Yeah. I think after Ariel's bath, she'll go back and start messing with her herbs and suches.

SPEAKER_03 18:12

Kenina will probably uh be unloading some of her bits and bobs from the travels, her ward claws from that one fight with the war and grimfing, and the midnight fair cloak that she got for herself. And as she's unloading some of these uh display trophies, she'll stray her eyes over to a folded-up note that she's kept from Nixie and kind of just touch it. She won't open it, but she'll lay her hand on it and kind of just remember and then go back to her sorting.

SPEAKER_08 18:41

As we transition to night on the 11th of Monadon, and everyone goes to sleep. Nina, roll me a wisdom saving. 19. As you've drifted off to sleep, you find yourself in maybe not familiar yet, but a recognizable clearing. It seems to be in the woods. Somewhere up high in a mountain.

SPEAKER_01 19:07

Hmm.

SPEAKER_08 19:08

And there's some heavy breathing that's coming off from somewhere behind you.

SPEAKER_02 19:13

Kanina, I think, uh, recognizing that she's been whisked off against her will and uh not quite expecting this after her first night back, she'll she'll take a look around in the direction of the breathing, expecting to see a large red figure, but she'll turn around and see.

SPEAKER_08 19:28

And as you turn and make eye contact with the large red creature behind you.

SPEAKER_09 19:37

Welcome back.

SPEAKER_03 19:38

I'm surprised you're aware of where I am. I meant here.

SPEAKER_09 19:44

Though I will say I could feel it. Hmm.

SPEAKER_03 19:49

See.

SPEAKER_09 19:50

How is Fioc?

SPEAKER_03 19:52

Well, nothing seems to have changed from when I was last in contact with Fioc. We haven't come across the second half yet, if that's what you're asking.

SPEAKER_09 20:00

So you know what I meant now.

SPEAKER_03 20:03

How?

SPEAKER_09 20:04

I've told you. I am broken.

SPEAKER_03 20:07

Yes, I suppose I have a little bit more of a clue as to what's going on.

SPEAKER_09 20:11

With what you've just told me, it seems that the reason I feel like this is because Fiat is no longer whole. What appears to be wrong with it?

SPEAKER_03 20:25

Well, I haven't seen the other half, so I'm not quite sure what's missing exactly, but can tell you what it looks like from what I've seen.

SPEAKER_09 20:34

So the weapon itself is whole. Yeah. And what does it look like?

SPEAKER_03 20:40

It's a very finely crafted axe, inscribed with runes, and there's a handle with a grasping claw on the end. Looks like a very serviceable weapon at its current state. I'm not quite sure what would be missing from it.

SPEAKER_09 20:55

The grasping claw at the bottom used to contain an ore.

SPEAKER_01 21:02

An ore?

SPEAKER_09 21:03

An ore. It was made with a shard of marshell.

SPEAKER_03 21:07

Oh, I don't believe there's anything like that currently now that I've seen, even in the first time that we acquired it. I don't think that kind of thing was uh present.

SPEAKER_09 21:20

What would they tell you about it?

SPEAKER_03 21:23

Um, not much. There's not really much information to go on, besides the fact that it is a dragon bonded weapon.

SPEAKER_09 21:31

It is. Or at least it was.

SPEAKER_03 21:34

I I guess I can assume, since the uh shard of your soul is no longer part of it, that it is no longer fully dragon bonded? You seem to still be aware of it, and perhaps the contact that others may have with it, though.

SPEAKER_09 21:48

Do you yes? But it explains why I have felt broken.

SPEAKER_03 21:55

Are you able to sense where the other part is?

SPEAKER_09 21:58

I cannot. My connection to your realm is very weak. I could sense Fiat as you were close, but I could not sense where it was until you arrived. The Dragon Bond was made as the physical embodiment and connection between myself and my rider.

SPEAKER_03 22:28

Who's your writer?

SPEAKER_09 22:29

His name was Teveran.

SPEAKER_03 22:32

Do you know what happened to him?

SPEAKER_09 22:34

He is much responsible for my current predicament. He became greedy. He became corrupted. With the power that was granted between the dragons and their riders. Instead of just being protectors of the realm. Kavarak and a few others that were part of the Dragon Riders saw themselves more as rulers.

SPEAKER_03 23:08

See. So would you assume that they'd still be around? From what it sounded like, this happened a long time ago, but could there still be riders around who may want to ensure that you're locked up?

SPEAKER_09 23:23

I doubt it.

SPEAKER_03 23:28

And if these riders were the corrupted ones, why did the gods decide to lock you away instead of them?

SPEAKER_09 23:35

Because between us and the dragonballs, they saw potential for it to happen again. I see. So they locked my kind away. They took care of the riders. And it seems that they broke the dragon bonds as well as they could.

SPEAKER_03 23:55

Oh, so some of the other dragonbonds out there may also be shattered or separated from the shards of the souls that were perhaps used to make them?

SPEAKER_09 24:05

Perhaps. I only know what seems to have happened with the other. Where we are, we don't exactly have a way to communicate with one another. You understand the concept of what it is like when you are sleeping but not dream. How it feels when you've gone to sleep but you do not dream.

SPEAKER_03 24:48

Certainly not an existence that anyone would want.

SPEAKER_09 24:52

Other than when I am here speaking with you, the rest of my time is spent like I am sleeping without dreaming.

SPEAKER_03 25:01

I know before you mentioned that many of your kind was locked up here. Is there any way for you to contact them, especially in this kind of state that you're in now? Or would they also have to have something like a dragon bond to connect with?

SPEAKER_09 25:16

This connection that you and I have is not something that I have shared with anyone since being locked away. I think that what has allowed me to drift into this dream state with you is your contact with the other. I think that for the others, which is probably the same, that without someone in contact with a dragon bond to create a link, that they are also trapped in a dreamless sleep.

SPEAKER_03 25:52

I see.

SPEAKER_09 25:53

Without knowing of someone else with another dragon bond, or that has come in contact with one, it would be impossible for me to know. Unless you could speak to someone that has gone through a similar experience.

SPEAKER_03 26:09

If I were to touch another dragon bonded weapon, would I perhaps be able to speak to multiple of you at the same time? Perhaps. She is still a little dubious of Deuton's intentions, but he is doing a very good job at making his situation to be very empathetic. So she she doesn't like the fact that he is stuck in such a state, but she's also a little bit nervous about how much she should help, and if her good intentions might lead to something worse in the long run. But at the same time, she does know that this entire situation is kind of what the guild is kind of leaning towards, anyways, at least obtaining the parts, and it seems like that is what Doitan is leaning towards, is gaining more parts of the Dragon Bonded weapons, specifically his own, to make them whole again. I think Kanina is set on working with Doitan as much as possible to be able to start finding these shattered dragon bonded weapons. Kanina will go ahead and pipe up and she'll uh be like, well, if I were to bring Fioc with me, would I be able to perhaps uh use it to help ascertain the location of the missing orb?

SPEAKER_09 27:30

I believe that if you were to wield Fioc and bring it with you, that it would allow our connection to be more consistent. While it is still broken, I don't know that I would be able to share a link with you the way I did with Kevin. But if you were to have Fioc with you and reach out to me, I believe that we could more frequently and intentionally speak to one another.

SPEAKER_03 28:00

I see. Well, it may be a bit tricky because I'll have to uh go through some important people to gain access to Fioc again, but I can definitely try my best to get my hands on it again, and hopefully uh we'll use it to make Fiat whole again.

SPEAKER_09 28:15

I would appreciate that.

SPEAKER_03 28:17

And after Fioc becomes whole again, what is the next step? What do you plan?

SPEAKER_09 28:21

I'm not sure yet. I don't know what making Fiat whole will mean for me. There was a time before things went wrong with the riders, that we lived in a somewhat tenuous but peaceful harmony with your races. That is part of why we allowed ourselves to be bonded with a number of your kinds. It was a show of good faith on our parts that we would work together with the mortal races of Aurelia.

SPEAKER_03 28:58

I see. It's a shame that it's turned out like this, then. Some of the information we were able to hear also included some information that there was some dragon wars in the past. Was that perhaps caused by the corruption of the Dragon Riders?

SPEAKER_09 29:13

The Dragon Wars were Kavarak's fall. The Dragon Wars were what happened when Kavarak and his group decided that they were going to be rulers instead of protectors, and use their bonds with the dragons to take areas of Aurelia by force. There were a number that stood up to Kavarak. But in the end, when the gods decided to get involved, it did not matter whose side anyone was on. They knew that things were able to happen once, and they decided that they weren't going to let it happen again.

SPEAKER_03 29:54

Well, is there any other information you might be able to give me? I know you've been blocked away in a very death-like state for a long period of time, but if you have any names or information that might help point you in a direction, and certainly help trying to uh find the other half.

SPEAKER_09 30:10

Where are you?

SPEAKER_03 30:12

Uh, we're near uh we're in a port town of Saval.

SPEAKER_09 30:15

Sival. That was the domains of Nim, who was bonded with the rider Vraya, the dragon bond. It's called Gorta, the rapier. Also on Saval was Lil Bod, a pair of twin daggers that were wielded by Radim, the rider of Agiadah.

SPEAKER_03 30:40

Canino look very focused as she's trying to make sure she commits these to memory so she can compare with her uh companions later.

SPEAKER_08 30:48

And Doitan kind of stands up a little bit. You see his claws dig into the ground as he stretches out, and then lays down and gets comfortable once more. And his eyes slowly close.

SPEAKER_02 31:02

Uh Doitan? She'll kind of like peer over, tilt her head a bit, approach, lay her hand on his claw.

SPEAKER_08 31:12

It like subconsciously lifts up and shifts a little bit.

SPEAKER_03 31:18

Hello?

SPEAKER_02 31:20

I suppose now that he's uh asleep, she'll she'll like kind of look around a bit and kind of wonder how big this dreamscape really is.

SPEAKER_08 31:31

Which direction do you walk?

SPEAKER_03 31:32

Um, I suppose the direction that she was first facing, away from Doitan. You begin walking. How far would you walk? How far can I walk?

SPEAKER_08 31:42

You need to keep going. You will keep going? You begin walking into the tree line that was the way that you were originally facing. After making it about a hundred feet, the area around you starts to become a dense, thick, misty fog. You're able to continue walking forward if you wish.

SPEAKER_03 32:04

Is there anything that stands out at all in the scenery? Any kind of landmarks or noticeable trees or anything that might look kind of memorable?

SPEAKER_08 32:13

At this point, it just seems that you are in the middle of a forest very similar to ones you have been in before. For all you know, the place that you could be in right now is the same forest that you went into to fight Grim Fang. Do you press forward?

SPEAKER_03 32:31

Let's say before she goes too far forward from the clearing in which she was speaking with Doitan, she'll go ahead and use her burning hands to make her mark upon a tree. She she's kind of curious about the space in which she has entered to see how physical it is of a place, if it will remember her being here previously, that kind of thing. Because she does wonder if she keeps going, if she'll come across another sleeping dragon, or if she will just fade out. She's not quite sure about this uh area that she is in and how tangible it is, so she'll press forward after leaving her mark upon the tree.

SPEAKER_08 33:03

So as you go ahead and use burning hands and press your flaming hot hand to the tree, you see steam start to swirl around it from the mist that is around. And it's repelled, but you see that it is trying to pull itself back to the space that you just burned it on. And you remove your hand and see the charred bark of a tree and the shape of your hand. When you said you make your way forward, are you continuing to walk away from Deuten? Yes. Okay. As you walk another ten feet, make a constitution table. Eleven. You feel like you've only walked ten feet from where you placed your hand against the tree. But you start to feel a strong headache coming. Just kind of a dull pulsing inside of your head.

SPEAKER_03 33:57

Hmm. Am I able to sense anything arcane about this, or is it just something that feels entirely natural that came on? Does it get worse if I proceed forward, or if I step back, does it go away a bit? What do you do? I will step backward a bit.

SPEAKER_08 34:12

You step backward, and the intensity does fade, but you're still feeling just a dull through like the side of your head.

SPEAKER_03 34:25

She'll take a few steps forward so she's just a bit ahead of where she was before she had stepped back.

SPEAKER_08 34:31

Make a constitution saving tool.

SPEAKER_00 34:33

Testing limits.

SPEAKER_08 34:35

Ten. You take another step past where you were when your head started to throb. And against your will, you're brought down to your knees. You fall forward, face down into the ground, and you wake up in your bed in the guild hall.

SPEAKER_03 34:52

I think she'll just take a second to kind of blink a bit, gain her bearings. Does she still have the headache? You take six points of psychic damage.

SPEAKER_08 35:02

Not the best way to wake up. And your head is no longer throbbing, but you feel that dull pain that you would be familiar with from having had like a headache before. The part of the headache where you've gone past it actively hurting, and it's more of just a physical memory.

SPEAKER_03 35:22

Yeah, she'll go ahead and sit up and try to glance at the windows, maybe to ascertain what kind of uh time of night or day it might be.

SPEAKER_08 35:29

As you look out your window, it is early morning. You are in the earlier sides of sunrise, where as you look out towards the horizon, you see the sky starting to turn a light blue, while the sky above you is still kind of that darker blue with pink reflecting off of any cloud cover.

SPEAKER_03 35:52

Seeing what time it is and shaking off the uh lingering headache that she still remembers vividly having that caused her to pass out. She'll uh decide that it's about time to get up for the day, anyways, and she'll seek about doing her morning exercises as per usual.

SPEAKER_08 36:07

Alright. We know that for Kanina that takes some time. Rem, when do you anticipate waking up?

SPEAKER_07 36:15

As soon as he got to bed pretty early, he'll probably have his fairly early morning wake-up.

SPEAKER_08 36:19

And what does Rem do with this early morning wake-up time?

SPEAKER_07 36:23

He'll sit up in bed and look out the window at like Kanina to see about what time it is, and then he'll probably stand up and stretch out his back and roll his shoulders, work out the travel knots that have built up over the time knock on the boat and things. And then he'll put on, you know, set of his guild garb for an early morning run, and he'll go out and like probably jog a couple of miles.

SPEAKER_08 36:45

Alright. As Rem returns to the guild hall and is in kind of the the main great hall meeting area. Off from the reception desk here. Uh Rem! Rem!

SPEAKER_07 36:57

Yes.

SPEAKER_08 36:58

Uh, this is for you, and you are handed a letter with the guild seal on it.

SPEAKER_07 37:05

So take the letter and rope up on the top of it and look inside.

SPEAKER_08 37:09

And the letter is very short and simple. It simply says, Rem, take this upstairs and show it to the secretary. I'd like to meet with you, Albert.

SPEAKER_07 37:20

Okay, so he'll fold it back up, stuff it into the envelope, and then before going upstairs, he'll change out of his sweaty shirt and then go upstairs.

SPEAKER_08 37:28

You go up to where the secretary's desk is, hand them the letter from Albert, and they let you in. And Albert is sitting there by himself at the guildmaster's table.

SPEAKER_07 37:40

Ah, Ralph. Yeah, you summoned me. I did. What can I do for you?

SPEAKER_08 37:46

I have some questions for you, Ralph. Does your party know what? About you.

SPEAKER_07 37:55

They know who I am.

SPEAKER_08 37:56

But do they know why you are here? I see.

SPEAKER_07 38:04

Do you really know why you're here? Uh needed something to do after my service. Didn't really see myself signing up with some other mercenary group or royal or township guard. Figured this was my best bet to use the skills I have.

SPEAKER_08 38:20

But do you know why you're here? There wasn't a lot of other places to go. I see. I know that what happened is not done lightly. But the fact that it happened means that I know I can trust you. And I know that I can trust you to carry out the missions that you are given.

SPEAKER_07 38:41

As long as you uh don't seek to harm those who are innocent of crime or wrongdoing, I see no reason not to do as asked.

SPEAKER_08 38:50

He pulls out a simple but well-crafted box that was sitting in his lap, and he sets it on the table in front of him, along with a sealed letter. I need you to take these.

SPEAKER_07 39:04

Take them where?

SPEAKER_08 39:06

That will be clear shortly, but I trust you to carry them.

SPEAKER_07 39:11

Alright.

SPEAKER_08 39:16

The letter is instructions.

SPEAKER_07 39:18

For who?

SPEAKER_08 39:19

For you. Alright. You will open it when you are close to your destination, and it will explain what the box is. The box doesn't have to be kept secret from your friends, but it needs to be kept secret between your friends. It's not something that the rest of the world is ready for.

SPEAKER_07 39:40

Alright. Then when will I know I'm at this destination?

SPEAKER_08 39:44

That will be clear when I call the rest of your group in and we talk about things.

SPEAKER_07 39:49

Okay.

SPEAKER_08 39:50

But before I let you go for now, how do you feel about Tempest?

SPEAKER_07 39:55

Um, I mean, we met her along the way. She seemed fairly reliable. And for somebody that until recently hadn't fully invested themselves in this endeavor, made uh made good account of themselves.

SPEAKER_08 40:09

Do you think that she is suited for what you guys have gotten yourselves into?

SPEAKER_07 40:15

I don't know if anybody is suited for this. The small group that we are has been thrown together, but nobody here yet has backed away from the challenge.

SPEAKER_08 40:24

From what you've seen of her on your previous adventure, do you trust her to see this through with you guys?

SPEAKER_07 40:32

She seems like she wants to explore the world and adventure, as Kanina has told her this guild does, but I can't speak on her true dedication to anything, just as anyone in the group might want to leave if things become too much for them.

SPEAKER_08 40:48

Understood. Thank you. Like I said yesterday, the course that you guys are involved in is not really something that can be undone. I hope that the four of you can remain committed. And I hope that she is treated the same as if she was with you guys from the start. We as the guild masters are having to put the same level of trust in her that we have in you guys. Because at this point, if we were to shun her, send her away, what would happen?

SPEAKER_07 41:24

Imagine she wouldn't look very favorably upon the guild. She may let some things that she's heard slip, but no more than I think any shunned party might.

SPEAKER_08 41:33

But she can't unknow what she knows.

SPEAKER_07 41:36

True.

SPEAKER_08 41:36

Which is why the guild masters and I have made the decision that if you guys have this level of trust in her, then so will we. I know she hasn't been with you as long as you guys have been together. But I also know that you guys had not been together much longer than she's been with you now, before you set out for Port Gorsal in the first place. I mean from before that.

SPEAKER_07 42:04

But we did not know each other long before that either.

SPEAKER_08 42:07

Exactly my point. We trusted you then, we will trust her now. Don't go too far today. We had no plans. We'll be calling all of you up later to discuss what we believe should be the next step for you guys.

SPEAKER_07 42:22

Alright.

SPEAKER_08 42:23

If you happen to see Ariel, let her know that we're looking for her.

SPEAKER_07 42:26

She's probably somewhere with Nina. He'll take the box and leave.

SPEAKER_08 42:31

Ariel, what do you do when you wake up? After what is probably the first peaceful night of sleep that you have had since entering Steringeld, at least.

SPEAKER_05 42:43

Huh? Ariel just grew up with books and she's been away from them for so long, so she's probably gonna grab all of her favorites and just make piles just all around her, and just go from one to the next, and she's just gonna relax and read.

SPEAKER_08 42:57

Somewhere about mid-morning, there's a knock on your door.

SPEAKER_05 43:00

She's gonna get up and go see who it is.

SPEAKER_08 43:04

Standing outside your door is Ram.

SPEAKER_07 43:06

Good morning.

SPEAKER_05 43:07

Good morning. Do you sleep good?

SPEAKER_07 43:09

I've slept.

SPEAKER_05 43:10

Good.

SPEAKER_07 43:11

The uh guild leaders have been looking for you.

SPEAKER_05 43:14

For me?

SPEAKER_07 43:15

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 43:16

Why?

SPEAKER_07 43:16

Didn't ask.

SPEAKER_05 43:17

Okay.

SPEAKER_07 43:18

Right.

SPEAKER_05 43:19

And she's gonna go inside and put on her guild robe and actually make herself a little bit more presentable. And then go figure out who's looking for her and why.

SPEAKER_08 43:29

As you make your way to the guild master's chambers, the receptionist sees you and recognizes who you are. Oh! Uh they were they were looking for you, they're expecting you, and pulls open the door and guides you in with a hand.

SPEAKER_05 43:43

Ariel is going to reach out and try to give her the dainty handshake. Thank you so much.

SPEAKER_08 43:49

She kind of just has a confused look on her face, tilts her head a little bit to the side, but also is just like, I guess we're doing this. Her hand back and slowly closes the door behind you. And anyone that happens to be outside right now would just see kind of a weird head tilt and look of confusion before sitting back down and kind of shaking her head. Ah, Ariel! Hello. Welcome. Hi, Ariel! Hello. So, you brought something interesting. Oh, the spear? Yeah, we're going right into this. Okay. So, it's a spear.

SPEAKER_05 44:31

Uh-huh.

SPEAKER_08 44:31

Very evil.

SPEAKER_05 44:32

Yes.

SPEAKER_08 44:33

How'd you get it?

SPEAKER_05 44:34

From Grimfang.

SPEAKER_08 44:35

What's a Grimfang?

SPEAKER_05 44:37

A really, really corrupted evil knoll? An undead knoll?

SPEAKER_08 44:41

Undead evil knoll. Okay. And how do you believe that Grimfang ended up with this?

SPEAKER_05 44:49

He had it?

SPEAKER_08 44:50

Uh, he he just had it. Where where did where was Grimfang?

SPEAKER_05 44:54

We found it in a camp east of Stiringgeld, like an abandoned camp. He was kinda chilling there. And he had a warg.

SPEAKER_08 45:04

And kind of as they're back and forth asking you questions about this, they're taking turns, catching up on ridings down between uh Beerie and Verna, who are sitting there with like, each of them has a fresh roll of parchment that they're starting to unroll on either side of the table as you are speaking to them. And what made you go into the forest to find this Grimfang character?

SPEAKER_05 45:30

You know, I'm really the worst person to be talking to. I think Nina knows all the information.

SPEAKER_08 45:36

See, you're saying this, but you're also the one that carried the spear, and so that makes you a primary source.

SPEAKER_05 45:43

Okay, but so Kusan kept me, like, safe, and I just felt like I should be the one to carry it, but I'm just really bad with information. Who's Kosane?

SPEAKER_08 45:56

How do they keep you safe? That sounds very important.

SPEAKER_05 45:59

Kosein is it's the one I that protects me.

SPEAKER_08 46:03

Uh-huh. Who are they?

SPEAKER_05 46:06

Um, my protector from Agma?

SPEAKER_08 46:09

Oh, Ogma. I recognize Agma, that's a name. Okay. Wait, so you're saying that Agma, the god that you follow and worship, has sent you your own personal protector.

SPEAKER_05 46:22

I I guess so, yeah.

SPEAKER_08 46:24

And their name is Kosane.

SPEAKER_05 46:26

Yes.

SPEAKER_08 46:26

Huh. We're gonna have to ask Albrecht more about that.

SPEAKER_05 46:30

It's more his realm. I've seen them too. They come to my dreams. Uh-huh. Well, Grimfane also, like, came to my dreams too, and we had a fight with him, and Kossain kept me alive, and then we were like in this bubble that I made, and we kind of held off from like getting killed by Grim uh it was a it was a big thing and it was really scary, and I almost died in my dream. Wait, wait, wait, back up a minute.

SPEAKER_08 46:56

Grimfang came to you in a dream.

SPEAKER_05 46:59

Um, yeah?

SPEAKER_08 47:00

Same dreams that you see Kossein.

SPEAKER_05 47:03

Yeah.

SPEAKER_08 47:03

And you fought.

SPEAKER_05 47:04

Yeah.

SPEAKER_08 47:05

Was this before or after the spear?

SPEAKER_05 47:07

I had the spear, but Grimfang I thought we killed, but in my dream he was alive and he was wanting the spear back, and he took took it, I think.

unknown 47:14

I don't remember.

SPEAKER_08 47:16

So, if I if I understand this correctly, you went to Steringeld. Yeah. Steringeld sent you to the forest.

SPEAKER_05 47:24

Yeah.

SPEAKER_08 47:24

Found creepy undead knoll thing.

SPEAKER_05 47:26

Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_08 47:27

Creepy undead knoll thing.

SPEAKER_05 47:28

And warg.

SPEAKER_08 47:29

Had spear.

SPEAKER_05 47:29

And warg.

SPEAKER_08 47:31

Don't care about the warg.

SPEAKER_05 47:32

Well, the org was in my dream too.

SPEAKER_08 47:33

Okay. Big creepy undead knoll thing. Had spear?

SPEAKER_05 47:36

Yes.

SPEAKER_08 47:37

Evil spear.

SPEAKER_05 47:38

Yes. Same spear we brought you.

SPEAKER_08 47:40

You kill evil knoll thing.

SPEAKER_05 47:42

Yes.

SPEAKER_08 47:43

That was undead.

SPEAKER_05 47:44

Yes.

SPEAKER_08 47:45

So you re-kill the undead knoll thing.

SPEAKER_05 47:47

Yeah.

SPEAKER_08 47:48

And you took the spear. Yep. Why?

SPEAKER_05 47:51

Because we didn't want anybody else to have it. We were bringing it to you guys to keep it safe.

SPEAKER_08 47:55

Okay. So that's how you ended up with the spear, is you you kept it.

SPEAKER_05 47:58

Yeah.

SPEAKER_08 47:59

So you could bring it here.

SPEAKER_05 48:00

Yeah.

SPEAKER_08 48:01

Good. Good idea.

SPEAKER_05 48:02

Thanks.

SPEAKER_08 48:03

And then dream happens.

SPEAKER_05 48:06

Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_08 48:07

Undead null thingy comes back. With his warg. With the pet. Yeah. Tries to kill you now.

SPEAKER_05 48:13

Yeah. Because I had his spear. But he got it from me in that dream. But then I guess I got it back in the dream because we had to kill him again.

SPEAKER_08 48:20

So you killed him again in the dream?

SPEAKER_05 48:22

Yes.

SPEAKER_08 48:23

And you got the spear back. Yes.

SPEAKER_05 48:25

But it was a dream. I still had it when I woke up.

SPEAKER_08 48:27

That's what I mean. You woke up, you still had the spear.

SPEAKER_05 48:29

Yeah. And then we had the um creepy shade thing try to suck my life out in the boat, too. I think it was after the spear. And that was not a dream.

SPEAKER_08 48:40

Okay, so it started out as a dream thing with you in the undead knoll.

SPEAKER_05 48:44

Yeah.

SPEAKER_08 48:44

And then later, a not dream thing.

unknown 48:48

Yeah.

SPEAKER_08 48:48

Evil shadow spooky thing.

SPEAKER_05 48:50

Yeah.

SPEAKER_08 48:51

Tried to suck your soul out.

SPEAKER_05 48:53

Yeah, and we had to fight it. And you fought for life. Yeah, not dream.

SPEAKER_08 48:57

And you killed it.

SPEAKER_05 48:58

Um, I don't know. I think it just disappeared. Maybe we killed it. And it wants the spear back? It came to us twice.

SPEAKER_08 49:05

So it keeps coming for the spear.

SPEAKER_05 49:08

Yes.

SPEAKER_08 49:09

How long did you have the spear before this happened?

SPEAKER_05 49:12

You know, all the days kind of blend together. I think it was like a week or two. I don't know. Okay. It was one big sad cloud space for me.

SPEAKER_08 49:22

But then you said it happened again.

SPEAKER_05 49:24

The black, shadowy, creeper thingy, it it happened on the boat twice. And I think there was like a day of rest between maybe two days.

SPEAKER_08 49:34

I don't remember. The the real world thing though happened twice on the boat. Yeah. How long ago was the last one?

SPEAKER_05 49:41

It might happen tonight. Because it was like.

SPEAKER_08 49:43

Did you see Beery's eyes like wide?

SPEAKER_05 49:46

We slept good. We it happened again. And now we've slept good again. So it might be back again if it's like every couple days or every other day.

SPEAKER_08 49:53

Beery's eyes like open wide, and you see her turn to Verna. I better go keep an eye on it. And she dips into the back room. The back room where you guys had been taken to yesterday. So I think that one of us is gonna be kind of staying with the spear now to make sure that no spooky patch happens to it while we continue research and figure out what the fuck it is. Cause we don't know. We know it's not a fiok. Okay. We think. We think it's not a fiok. I think it's a Okay. Well, it doesn't seem to be doing to you what we know of before the dragon bonds. Okay. As far as we know, people that touch the dragon bonds, like your friend that brought Fioch to us, don't get chased down by spooky creatures in the night that try to kill them.

SPEAKER_05 50:47

Okay.

SPEAKER_08 50:48

So we're kind of caught up with the spear.

SPEAKER_05 50:50

Good.

SPEAKER_08 50:51

Good. Uh so Beerie's better at this part, but she's kinda gone now. And you see Verna kinda like cross her legs under the table and put her her elbows up and lean in and kind of just winks at you and smiles. What do you think of Tempest?

SPEAKER_05 51:07

I think Tempest is awesome. She's really good at tying knots, and she's been teaching me.

SPEAKER_08 51:12

Uh-huh. Is that a sex thing?

SPEAKER_05 51:14

What? I don't understand what you're talking about.

SPEAKER_08 51:16

Okay, it's not a sex thing.

SPEAKER_05 51:18

Ariel's just sitting there like really confused now. Is Tempest ready for this? I think so. Are you ready for this? Um I think if the black spirit things stay away, yeah.

SPEAKER_08 51:30

We're hoping they're tied to the spear thing.

SPEAKER_05 51:32

Yeah, that that really brought me down, so I don't know if I'd handle more of that, but trying to figure out all these clues and stuff, I can handle. I think if I could it, Cosane wouldn't have sent me.

SPEAKER_08 51:43

Good, good. Um, so yeah, we're we're gonna send her with you. Assuming that she sticks around. I heard she signed paperwork yesterday, so she's kind of in.

SPEAKER_05 51:52

I'm pretty sure because Nina kinda put her Iron Group of Friendship on her, and so she can't really get away now.

SPEAKER_08 51:58

You know, that Nina friend, she's really good for recruitment, just saying.

SPEAKER_05 52:03

She really is. She's like basically becoming my best friend, I think.

SPEAKER_08 52:08

Good. That's good that you are good friends with the people that are in the group that you've been traveling with. Because you're gonna be traveling with them a lot now.

SPEAKER_05 52:16

Yeah, she's also been teaching me a lot of like exercises and stuff like that, and then training a little bit with my magic.

SPEAKER_08 52:25

Good! Good.

SPEAKER_05 52:26

Because uh, yeah, the course that you guys are on, you're not spending a lot of time here to be learning stuff, just saying. When we go, are we gonna be taking our horses with us?

SPEAKER_08 52:36

That's up to you. You gonna get a boat that you can take him on? Oh. I mean, you got him here. You got horses?

SPEAKER_05 52:43

Yeah, I have a black horse and his name is Princess, and he's the coolest horse ever, and I love him a lot. Why is the male horse named Princess? Because it's a good name.

SPEAKER_08 52:54

Uh-huh. What's a princess?

SPEAKER_05 52:56

It's a name. No, but but what's a princess? It just means like flowers and beautiful. Uh-huh. Okay. I made it up. Uh-huh.

SPEAKER_08 53:06

It's You know, princess is a real word, right?

SPEAKER_05 53:08

Really? I haven't really read about them. What's the word mean?

SPEAKER_08 53:12

Uh, typically it's the daughter of royalty.

SPEAKER_05 53:15

Oh. A daughter.

SPEAKER_08 53:17

So if you say Canina, will you send her up here?

SPEAKER_05 53:21

Okay, I might have to talk to my friends about changing princess's name.

SPEAKER_08 53:25

Uh, you don't have to. It's just a name, right?

SPEAKER_05 53:28

Yeah, it's like beautiful flower.

SPEAKER_08 53:30

And for a beautiful horse.

SPEAKER_04 53:32

He's very beautiful.

SPEAKER_05 53:34

Alright, I'll go get Nina? Yes. Okay. And she's gonna leave. And uh she's gonna go knock on Nina's door to see if she's in there. Unless she sees her along the way. What time is it?

SPEAKER_03 53:45

9-ish, 10-ish. Yeah, I I imagine Canina would be back from her exercises by now. Probably uh bathed and refreshed and in new guild clothes. Are you in your room? Yeah, I would suppose she'd be in her room. I think she definitely was looking forward to, you know, being back in the guild hall and eating and stuff, but she probably would have gone there after refreshing herself and exercising, so she'd probably be going back to her room now and probably in her room, further organize her collection. Having just eaten and whatnot, so she's looking to spend some downtime, roll things over.

SPEAKER_08 54:13

You're working on kind of arranging your collection in a way that you can fit in the new items that you've required. And you hear a knock on your door.

SPEAKER_05 54:22

Nina! Are you there? Oh, good morning, Ariel. Yeah, I'm here. Good morning.

SPEAKER_03 54:26

So she'll go ahead and uh walk on over and uh open up the door. Like, did you get a good sleep? I did. Did you? Oh, of course. It's nice to finally be in a nice safe environment. Uh be able to rest finally.

SPEAKER_02 54:38

You might see that Kanina maybe has a little bit more bags under her eyes than she would usually, but.

SPEAKER_03 54:42

Did you get up early and exercise this morning? I did, yeah. Sorry I didn't go and grab you. I was just needed to get out and run around a bit.

SPEAKER_05 54:49

Oh. You do seem a little tired. Are you just worn out from exercising?

SPEAKER_03 54:53

Uh, a little bit from that, and there's been a couple things weighing on my mind. I found out uh some more information from Doitan. Oh, you had a dream? I did. And uh it kind of caught me off guard. So I'm trying to piece all the little bits together.

SPEAKER_05 55:09

Okay. Well, if you want to talk about it maybe as a group we can Um, anyway, uh Verna said that the guild people want to see you now. Oh really? Yeah, they just talked to me. Uh Rem came and got me, so I assume they talked to him too. What'd they talk to you about? Um, the spear? They were trying to rack my brain, and I told them they should probably talk to you about this stuff because I'm really bad at remembering things, and I just don't keep track of all those details as much, except for the stuff I put in my journal, and I didn't have my journal with me, so you know.

SPEAKER_03 55:41

Uh plus it was uh it must have seemed like a a lot longer than it actually was. It was a very stressful situation. Yeah. You definitely bore the brunt of that.

SPEAKER_05 55:48

Yeah, and I think I just blocked out some of those memory bad stuff. Anyway, they also asked about Tempest, like if I trusted her or how what I thought of her or whatever. But yeah, I think I told her I think she's cool, and I told them what um Tempest has been teaching me. Then I talked a little bit about like us, you and me. But yeah.

SPEAKER_03 56:07

Yeah, I suppose and unless we wanted to go see any of the others, I can go over and just head over to the Guildmasters now.

SPEAKER_05 56:13

Yeah, I think it's they're kinda doing one-on-one type things.

SPEAKER_03 56:16

Okay, yeah, I'll I'll go ahead and uh take a look and see what they want, and I will see you later. Alright.

SPEAKER_05 56:22

And Ariel is gonna go get food.

SPEAKER_03 56:24

Kenina will close up her room and she'll uh head over to where the guildmasters' quarters are.

SPEAKER_08 56:29

Alright. You make your way over to Guildmaster's chamber, and the receptionist goes, Ah, Kanina! Good morning. This is this is standard at this point. They're the uh debrief day. You know, you guys just got back. So they've been calling you guys up individually. It's been interesting. But you guys had a big adventure. Uh, come right in. Oh yes, of course. They open the door and wave you through, and inside is Beerie sitting at the guild master's table.

SPEAKER_03 56:58

Oh, good morning, Beery. Good morning, Canina. How did you sleep? Uh, truthfully, not the best.

SPEAKER_08 57:05

Oh, unfortunate.

SPEAKER_03 57:06

Yeah, I was hoping to be a little bit more well-rested for my first night back in the guild, but unexpected things happened.

SPEAKER_08 57:12

It wasn't a shade creature again, was it? We've been trying to track down kind of where that's coming from.

SPEAKER_03 57:18

Oh no, it wasn't, thankfully.

SPEAKER_08 57:20

Um Okay, good, because so far we think it's tied to the spear. If it came for you, then we'd have to have a different conversation with your friend because we just told her that uh shade creatures don't seem to be going after the person that interacted with Feok. So if it went after you, last I oh boy, did that totally change everything.

SPEAKER_03 57:40

Yeah, I suppose we are um a little bit still in the dark about the spear and what entity resides within it that's trying to attack Ariel. I certainly hope it won't continue to attack her now that it's locked away, but I guess we can say.

SPEAKER_08 58:55

Yeah, she said something about that. That's why uh Verna's down there right now watching it. I see. We decided, uh, while talking to Ariel that it's probably best if one of us stays down in the vault with it at not all times, but right now all times, until we know more about what's going on. She did say that you probably know a little bit more about all of the events that you guys have gone through. And as kind of the leader of your group. You see Canina's chuff about a little bit. We were just, you know, interested in the details of uh what you guys have gone through since leaving Riven after the whole Fiock thing. You're not having any weird, like, spirit things, are you?

SPEAKER_03 59:40

Uh, well, I'm not having exactly weird spirit things, but I've been having some rather interesting dreams that might kind of Are they like related to the Kobold that had Fioch before? No, not to the Kobold.

SPEAKER_08 59:55

Okay, good. Ariel said that she's been having dreams about uh the one that had the spear before.

SPEAKER_03 1:00:01

Oh, the uh Noel Grimfang?

SPEAKER_08 1:00:03

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 1:00:03

Hmm. Yeah, she's definitely expressed that. She's actually in the note too, because I informed my comrades, but I've been having dreams to do with Fioc and perhaps the one who was connected with it. So I can go in the order of events if you'd like.

SPEAKER_08 1:00:18

You see Beerie's eyes widen and kind of her head pulls back and draws up as you could imagine, a the facial expression of really now! Uh, one second. She's she's like fiddling around underneath the table and and turns and uh dude. This is okay, I'll use this part. And you see her puts down what is now a piece of a roll of parchment and pulls out a quill from like the side of the table and puts the tip of the quill down onto the parchment.

SPEAKER_03 1:00:58

Explain. Indeed. Uh, do you want me to start from the beginning or mainly the parts about Fiaq?

SPEAKER_08 1:01:03

Uh the parts that are important.

SPEAKER_03 1:01:07

Well, uh, after we more or less uh visited the Dwarven Kingdom and got some information regarding the uh last tokens there about the Dwarven King's daughter and how she may have passed, we continued on our adventures um in the town of uh Sterin. A woman named uh Lydia told us about Grimfang, who would uh send out regular scouting parties attacking people on the road and attacking the town and whatnot. So we encountered a couple of gnolls attacking us um along the way as well, along the road. Uh after we encountered Grimfang uh and got the spear, we uh started getting into the dream situation. Uh, shortly before we had finished off Grimfeng, both Ariel and I uh received dreams about Doitan, the red dragon. Uh Ariel had dreams of the dragon uh and apparently me riding it, burning down the monastery that she was raised at, and I had dreams of the dragon burning down the village where I was raised at. And later on, I continued to have dreams in which I met with Doitan in a more, I suppose, peaceful setting. Uh, and I was able to glean some information. I'm not quite sure how tangible the space we were meeting in was.

SPEAKER_08 1:02:24

So you're saying meeting with Doitan is in like your meeting with a dragon.

SPEAKER_03 1:02:30

Yes. In your dreams. As far as the legends can like tell me, this is as much of a dragon as anything anybody else has ever encountered in a long, long time.

SPEAKER_08 1:02:42

And you think it's Deuten, the dragon that we were able to surmise is tied to Fioc.

SPEAKER_03 1:02:50

Yes, and if anything is to be said, uh Doitan in my dreams himself has claimed to be uh the one who the dragon-bonded weapon is forged with, uh shard of his soul, if you will. And you brought Fioch to us. I did. And after touching it, it seems that I somehow became connected to it.

SPEAKER_08 1:03:13

Interesting.

unknown 1:03:14

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 1:03:14

I don't believe anybody else has touched Fioc when I was traveling with it. I don't know if that has changed since I left it in the care of the guild, but it seems the first contact I had with it after we slew the creature that held it before seems to have uh made some sort of mental link.

SPEAKER_08 1:03:30

And I know we kind of had to go through things fast yesterday. Do you understand what a dragon bond is?

SPEAKER_03 1:03:39

Um, from what I have heard from the information you have gathered, the research my me and my comrades have done, and what Doitan himself has told me, it is basically a weapon that is forged with pieces of the dragon's soul, and is given to a rider who in turn has great power that they're able to use.

SPEAKER_08 1:03:58

So Doitan is instructing you about the dragon ruins and telling you what they are and how they were made and how they work. Indeed. You'll understand that all of that information's lost, right?

SPEAKER_03 1:04:13

Yes, I did what I could as being as um unprepared as I was with meeting with Doitan to gain some information that might help us track down some of the other dragon-bonded weapons. And why has Doitan picked him? It seems like I am the only one he can actively communicate with at the moment. He described his state of being as being in a dreamless sleep when he is not able to forge the mind link with me, which does seem to require me being in some sort of close contact with the axe. He has uh mentioned that since I am now linked with the axe, then I can help make it whole again.

SPEAKER_08 1:04:51

Interesting. I need to speak with the others. There's something that I'd like to. There's many things that I would like to try with the information that you have given. But I need to run it through them first. I cannot act on it on my own as much as the experimental researcher in me really wants to try something stupid right now.

SPEAKER_03 1:05:14

I mean, what are you thinking about trying?

SPEAKER_08 1:05:16

I want you to touch it. I want to touch it. I need to talk to the others first. I cannot make that call on my own.

SPEAKER_03 1:05:24

I mean.

SPEAKER_08 1:05:25

Berna's down there right now.

SPEAKER_03 1:05:28

Well, alright, if you insist. Uh well, uh, see what you can do, I suppose, to uh let me gain access to it, and I can do what I can to help the guild with uh collecting the pieces to keep them safe. I will say I am unsure of Doitan's true intentions, and I'm not quite sure w what I should be focused on asking him if I do meet with him in the future in dreams. So if the guild nesters will be kind enough to help me figure out what would be important information to glean, I would be ever so grateful.

SPEAKER_08 1:06:00

We'll see, but to be honest, you've told me more than we found out while you've been gone. I mean, different things, but also things that we have never read anything about.

SPEAKER_03 1:06:12

Yeah, this has holding a big dump of information for uh things that I am not really too familiar with, but you'll see uh Canina just be like, um, well, do you want me to wait here while you check with people or should we meet at a later time? Because he also gave me some information about other names of weapons and dragons. Oh, and that is? Uh, he mentioned that there was Nim, uh, who lives on the continent of Saval. I was a bit hesitant to give him our exact location, but I did mention that we were in Saval to him. And he mentioned that Nim uh was one who is bonded weapon Gorta, with the writer who wields that being Vraya. Uh, then also the other one was a Gaedok's weapon, which was a pair of twin daggers named Lobod, wielded by Redeem.

SPEAKER_08 1:06:57

This is all good. This is all stuff that we can use to further the research that we've been working on.

SPEAKER_03 1:07:04

And he told me some information about uh Kavarok, which was his writer, Droyton's writer, who apparently once wielded Fiach and how he gained corruption in a desire for power. Apparently, um Kevarok's corruption uh triggered the start of the Dragon Wars, from information I was told. And I know uh my comrades have some more information about uh some of the dragons and their associated colors and whatnot, some legends that we came across while in the Dwarven Kingdom.

SPEAKER_08 1:07:32

This is all really good information. Um, yeah. We might have to try to talk again tomorrow or so and see about doing some experiments. But outside of the whole dragon thing, we've been trying to get a feel from the rest of your group. What do you think of Tempest? Why do you ask? Well, you uh seem to be a little more involved than even the rest at this point, but you understand what you've gotten yourself into.

SPEAKER_03 1:08:03

I feel like for the most part I'm a fairly good judge of character, and I truly appreciate the guild and what it represents, so I have been actively trying to gain more people to join the guild and kind of lean on the guild for uh support and whatnot. Um, I feel like Tempest has been very reliable throughout our journey. She's been a bit hesitant about joining the guild, but she seems to be a good comrade and a good fit for our group.

SPEAKER_08 1:08:27

And do you think she's ready for something like this?

SPEAKER_03 1:08:31

I feel like she's about as ready as she can be. I still sense a little bit of hesitancy about what she's getting into, but she's been filled in as much as she can be with the current events. So she knows.

SPEAKER_08 1:08:50

Okay. If she's caught up with more than what even we knew about before you guys got here, then the fact that she came in willingly tells me that she's probably as committed as we could expect.

SPEAKER_03 1:09:04

Yeah, I think she's fairly committed to the cause. She left her uh the place that she's been for a long time, out on the seas, and she chose to journey with us and see what the adventuring life has to offer. So it's been a bit of a learning curve for some of the processes that we've had to go through, some of the fights, the risks, but also the rewards, and I think she's come around to the life in the guild. Good. Speaking of, would you mind getting her for me? Oh yeah, I'll go ahead and fetch her now.

SPEAKER_08 1:09:32

Where would Tempest be right now? Ten or eleven or so.

SPEAKER_06 1:09:35

You said breakfast is over by now.

SPEAKER_05 1:09:38

I think that Ariel would remember that Tempest wakes up to the smell of bacon, and not seeing Tempest downstairs, when she got done, she would have loaded a plate of bacon and brought it up and been like, Tempest, and then just like check to see if the door is open.

SPEAKER_08 1:09:52

So at some point, Tempest either woke up to or just heard the sound of.

SPEAKER_05 1:09:59

Yeah, she would have been like trying to open the door.

SPEAKER_06 1:10:02

Would you have locked your door? Uh, yeah. Especially being in a secure location where you can be on your own comfortably, like and not have to worry about who's on watch and stuff like that. Uh, a break from that sort of dynamic. Anyway, she would have woken up, obviously, when Ariel started knocking. But Tempest is not an early riser, so she would have still been in bed. So by the time Nina comes by, I'd say Tempest would still just be lounging around in a room, enjoying the we don't have to do anything right now. I mean, there's like this sense of impending maybe doom? But you know, still not sure. So just kind of hanging out for a minute, chewing on some bacon.

SPEAKER_08 1:10:53

Would Ariel have stuck around? Would Tempest have let her?

SPEAKER_05 1:10:57

She can hang out if she wants. Ariel wouldn't have stuck around because she wants to go buy something. So she would have been like, here you go, I got things to do. Enjoy.

SPEAKER_08 1:11:07

And there's another knock on Tempest's door.

SPEAKER_06 1:11:10

She will begrudgingly put the bacon aside and get up to the door. Open it just to crack.

SPEAKER_03 1:11:18

Canina will be peering into the crack and just be like, Morning, Tempest. Hope you got a good sleep. Good morning. Canina will just be like, Me and a couple others had a meeting with the guild masters this morning. Uh now they want to see you, so I don't know if you're ready, but I would go up and see them whenever you get a chance.

SPEAKER_06 1:11:33

Oh, uh I guess so. Just me alone?

SPEAKER_03 1:11:38

Yeah, it seems like they've been doing that to uh most of us from what era? All of the guild leaders. Um, well, I met with just Beery, so it might not be everyone.

SPEAKER_06 1:11:46

Hmm.

SPEAKER_03 1:11:46

Okay.

SPEAKER_06 1:11:47

Uh where where do I go? I I you know don't really know my way around here yet. Oh yeah, I'll go ahead and uh walk you up over there.

SPEAKER_03 1:11:55

Okay, that's appreciated. After Tempest kind of gets ready and leaves Kanina, Canina will just be chatting up, uh, praising Beerie. Just be like, she's really great, you know. She once did this huge fireball thing, and it just like completely exploded the area. She's very powerful. Oh, that sounds dangerous. I hope I can be as powerful as her one day. She's really great, you know. And her brother Meehen is very intimidating, but he's also very neat. Hopefully he has a lot to teach me in the future as well. She'll go ahead and lead Tempest over just uh kind of babbling praises about the guildmaster she's associated with, and she'll uh leave Tempest to go check in. It was Tempest, right?

SPEAKER_06 1:12:33

Yes, and I honestly don't remember your name.

SPEAKER_08 1:12:37

Oh, uh, no one ever thinks to ask my name. I'm Susanna.

SPEAKER_06 1:12:42

I was told they wanted to see me. Someone wanted to see me.

SPEAKER_08 1:12:45

That is correct. Uh uh right this way. I know this is like your first time. Don't be intimidated. They're friendly.

SPEAKER_06 1:12:53

It's asking a lot.

SPEAKER_08 1:12:55

They're here to help. There's a reason that they're in charge. Think of them like teachers. But like teachers that have gone to school for a really, really long time.

SPEAKER_06 1:13:04

I didn't go to school.

SPEAKER_08 1:13:06

Anyways, gestures for you to go in through the door.

SPEAKER_06 1:13:10

Tempest will walk through the door.

SPEAKER_08 1:13:12

And sitting at the guildmaster's table is Alberic and Mihen, who you had met yesterday. And over at one end is a dark-skinned elf wearing. They're very reminiscent of the style of clothing that the guildmasters wear. But he is wearing clothes in a kind of green and brown pattern. Ah, Tempest! Nice of you to join us. I heard that you signed papers to bring you into the guild yesterday. After our first meeting. Seems that you're intending to take this seriously. Considering you did that after everything we discussed with you and your group.

SPEAKER_06 1:13:58

Yeah, I guess we're all official and stuff now.

SPEAKER_08 1:14:02

I told you yesterday that I would try to arrange a meeting. I was able to get Oberin to come in. And Meehan decided that he would sit in as well, being one of the more physical-oriented branches of the guild. Since by my understanding, you uh are a bit of an athletic companion, uh, familiar with uh bow use?

SPEAKER_06 1:14:26

Um, yeah, yeah, I I like to think that I'm pretty good with a bow and arrow.

SPEAKER_08 1:14:31

And the dark-skinned elf that was sitting on the side had kind of been seeming to be spacing out a little bit. Kind of was looking off into this room has some large brasiures over by the entrance area that at this point are maybe just barely smoldering. And he was just kind of lost looking at the change in the embers, and he looks over at you. Hello, Tempest. My name is Oberyn Kinswood. I'm the leader of the Naturalists Guild. Alberic said that you had a vague interest in joining, but that your guild of choice remains yet undecided.

SPEAKER_06 1:15:18

Yeah, Nina really talked up joining the guild, but I don't know. I just I uh still kind of figuring out what this whole thing is all about and where I would even fit in.

SPEAKER_08 1:15:31

The Naturalists Guild has a focus towards people that, as the name would imply, prefer to find themselves out in nature. I spend much of my time, as well as while I train with students, out in the wilderness of Chrysal, the region that you're in. I don't know how familiar you are with this specific area. I know that in your previous line of work you were a shipmate.

SPEAKER_06 1:16:01

Yes, for a number of years.

SPEAKER_08 1:16:03

And what drew you to wishing to be aboard a ship for so long?

SPEAKER_06 1:16:08

Well, to be entirely honest, it wasn't by choice to begin with.

SPEAKER_08 1:16:12

And when it became by choice?

SPEAKER_06 1:16:14

After my time was served, so to say, I had come to feel like the rest of the crew was family, and why leave?

SPEAKER_08 1:16:24

Well, considering at this point that you have, in fact, left, why leave? What made you give up the life that you were living before to join with Rem, Kanina, and Ari?

SPEAKER_06 1:16:36

I believe I heard them call it the iron grip of friendship.

SPEAKER_08 1:16:41

Interesting. She does have a bit of a reputation that even I am familiar with.

SPEAKER_06 1:16:46

Yes, uh, so you see I was somewhat compelled to branch out.

SPEAKER_08 1:16:52

Well, things in my guild tend to be very relaxed, and there is a lot of room for your own personal growth and learning. There's no pressure to pick my guild, or right now, even any of the guild branches. You could start for now just as a general guild member and come to a decision at a later time. Unfortunately, from what I've been hearing from Alberic so far, is I do not think that you will be here for very long before you set out on your next adventure. So I'm not sure that you will have a ton of time to get to know me or the other guild leaders. I personally believe, and Alberic does agree, that it would be in your best interest to hold off on choosing a guild branch for now. But if you'd like to make a choice now, I am willing to bring you in.

SPEAKER_06 1:17:44

I think I should probably take some time to uh figure out where my place is a little bit more.

SPEAKER_08 1:17:50

Understood. And is this your decision, Tempest, to wait for now?

SPEAKER_06 1:17:55

Yes, it is my decision.

SPEAKER_08 1:17:57

Well, I've seen the ledger. I know that you have paid for a year. Stay here. Your rule will be held for that time, regardless of what you decide. And hopefully, as you return in the future, you've decided what role you would like to play in the guild. Are you prepared for the journey that lies ahead of you?

SPEAKER_06 1:18:21

I think I'm as prepared as I'll ever be.

SPEAKER_08 1:18:24

Interesting. Your groupmates have said much the same.

SPEAKER_06 1:18:28

That was sort of my thought. Are any of us ready for what we're getting ourselves into?

SPEAKER_08 1:18:33

I think there's some conversations that will be had amongst all of you very soon. But for now, I think it's good that all of us meet for a moment. The rest of the Guildmasters and I have been discussing things based off of the information that we have gained then after our debrief with you last night, and we have some suggestions. Albrecht stands up and walks over to the door that is behind you. And he leans outside and you hear him say, Susanna, could you send for Rem, Kanina, and Ariel? And he comes back in, closes the door, and Rem, Kenina, and Ariel. What are you guys up to individually as Susanna comes and finds you?

SPEAKER_07 1:19:20

How long has it been since I was there?

SPEAKER_08 1:19:22

Two or three hours.

SPEAKER_07 1:19:24

He would have returned to his room, probably slipped the letter in the box into his rucksack, and then probably cleaned up after his run. Because all he did before was like change. So he probably took a bath, maybe headed down to grab some food.

SPEAKER_03 1:19:38

I feel like Canina perhaps would not have strayed too far from where she left Tempest because she wants to make sure she doesn't get lost.

SPEAKER_06 1:19:46

Waiting for me to come out. Yeah. She can take me back.

SPEAKER_08 1:19:49

Probably one of the first people then that Susanna ends up finding is Canina who's like, oh, you. Guildmaster's chamber.

SPEAKER_03 1:19:55

Oh, so soon. Okay.

SPEAKER_05 1:19:59

Ariel would have gone back to her room real quick after dropping off the bacon. Um, she would have uh grabbed some parchment or whatever, and in kind of a large font written P R Y N S E S S princess, but spelled differently. And then she would have gone down to the stables to find a stable boy or girl and tried to see if they can figure out a way of putting that near princess. So anybody that is near and wants to talk to princess, they know princess's name. Wait, what's this for? So the black one, that's princess.

SPEAKER_08 1:20:42

The black one?

SPEAKER_05 1:20:43

Yeah. The boy with the cart? Yes.

SPEAKER_08 1:20:46

That's yours?

SPEAKER_05 1:20:47

Yes.

SPEAKER_08 1:20:48

Do you have the token? Uh I assume we do as a group? As a group? But do you have the token?

SPEAKER_01 1:20:57

Personally?

SPEAKER_08 1:20:59

Well, yes, that's how we know whose is what.

SPEAKER_05 1:21:03

Um, I think I would we have gotten this token when we dropped our horses off? Yes. I will have to ask Rem. Okay. Because he dropped the horses off. But the black one is mine, so I have to get it from him. But can you put this up?

SPEAKER_08 1:21:18

When you bring me the token? I don't know that that's yours right now. And they are just blinking at you with a big shiting grin on their face.

SPEAKER_05 1:21:28

What if I give you money?

SPEAKER_08 1:21:31

How much money are we talking about?

SPEAKER_05 1:21:33

She's gonna like reach under her bed pouch and pull out a random amount in her hand.

SPEAKER_08 1:21:39

How much is this random amount? Probably like three coins. And what what denomination of coins? A gold, a silver, and a copper. Huh. That's kinda random. Okay. Uh you said this one? The black one, yeah. Yeah, okay. Yeah. Hi, Princess. You just made me a lot of money.

SPEAKER_05 1:22:00

Princess really likes carrots and apples. Do you know if they sell them around here somewhere? I mean, somewhere you're in a city. Is there like the best farmer that you would recommend? Like a friend?

SPEAKER_08 1:22:13

Oh, in here, no, you'd have to go outside for that. But you can find stuff here. Find stuff? I mean, there's a market. Oh. I just wouldn't say it's the best, you know, from the best farmer. That's probably on one of the farms.

SPEAKER_05 1:22:28

Okay. I'll have to do that.

SPEAKER_08 1:22:30

You should probably get get out of here though, because if anyone sees something which has happened, that would be bad for you. It could be bad for me. I'm gonna.

SPEAKER_06 1:22:38

Bye! Bye. How old was the staple he?

SPEAKER_08 1:22:42

Oh, this was probably like an 11-year-old at the most.

SPEAKER_05 1:22:46

Alright, I guess Ariel will make her way back in to see if she could go to like the kitchen area and see if she could scrounge for an apple or carrot or something.

SPEAKER_08 1:22:58

You walk into the main area of the guild hall, and Kanina is standing at the center of this room, hands on hips, just looking in every direction, wondering why you weren't in your room and why she can't find you.

SPEAKER_03 1:23:13

Oh, Ariel! There you are! Hi! Yeah, uh, the uh guildmasters want to meet with us. Again? Yeah, again. Apparently they've uh come to some sort of conclusions. They just want to meet with us all now. All of us. Okay, cool. Have you seen uh Rem anywhere? Nope. I was out by the stables.

SPEAKER_07 1:23:29

Meanwhile, he's sitting like just off to the side.

SPEAKER_04 1:23:32

Do we notice him? Go ahead and roll perception. Oh, I for sure did. I got a dirty 20. Ooh. Canina got a 19. In fairness, Rem, go ahead and roll stealth.

SPEAKER_07 1:23:46

Seven.

SPEAKER_03 1:23:51

There you are! I didn't notice you. I'm not used to you not wearing your armor.

SPEAKER_07 1:23:54

Um, not expecting to be attacked here.

SPEAKER_03 1:23:57

She'll go ahead and just be like, oh, the uh guildmasters want to mute with us all again.

SPEAKER_07 1:24:01

We'll just nod and stand up. Alright, let's get this over with.

SPEAKER_08 1:24:05

Come in, come in. As you guys enter the Guildmaster's chambers, Ariel, Kanina, and Rem, you notice someone you've never seen before. Sitting at the end in one of the spots that has always been empty when you guys have come here before, is a dark-skinned elf that is wearing kind of a green and brown tunic and a half cloak. And they're sitting relaxed, they watch you guys enter, and you notice that they kind of seem to space out as you guys start to kind of form up in front of the guildmasters.

SPEAKER_03 1:24:41

And all of the guildmasters are currently here? All five of them are here now.

SPEAKER_07 1:24:46

Including the one we've never met.

SPEAKER_03 1:24:47

Yeah. I would think that um just using deduction, we can surmise that this is the uh elusive one that we have never met.

SPEAKER_08 1:24:55

We've been discussing things based off of information that we had already gathered, information that we as the guild masters were already privy to, and based off of the conversation that we had with all of you yesterday. We believe that your guys' next destination, if you wish to dive into the whole situation with the dragons and the dragon bonds, would be to head to the Feyvale. The Fay Vale?

SPEAKER_03 1:25:26

Does that sound familiar at all to any of us?

SPEAKER_08 1:25:28

So, for all of you, the Feyvale is one of those places that exists in myth. It's one of those things that's very interesting. All of you are aware of legend that tells you exactly where the Feyvale is. The Feyvale is a region that lies in the center of Dunatus' ring, which is the mountain range that lies to the west of you, and is the same mountain range that Sterengeld is built into. And it is a mountain range that you guys know from looking at any map, forms a large ring around a very good portion of the continent of Saval. And the center of this ring is where legend tells of the existence of the Fayvale. Unfortunately and interestingly enough, the Feyvale is an area that, much like the Misty Sea, people don't go to. It's one of those kind of open secrets that you know that it's there, but the people that attempt to go there either don't come back, they do come back, and have no recollection of where they went, how long they've been gone, or why they were in the area that they were in. And some have come back with very little memory of who they are as people.

SPEAKER_07 1:26:44

Is this like where there's stories of like the Rip Van Winkles and stuff where like people entered the Feyveo like through fairy circles or things like that, but it's all just legend and myth?

SPEAKER_08 1:26:55

No, there's a pass that you guys know exists. You guys know that there is a pass in the region to the south of you, in the region known as Carinthia. There is a large mountain range that runs east-west that separates the Chrysol Valley that you guys are in now from Carinthia. And then there is another mountain range that runs north-south from the bottom of Dunatus' ring that separates Carinthia from the region known as the Expanse, which is the Great Desert that makes up the center of Civil. Close to where those two mountain ranges meet is the bottom edge of Dunatus' Ring, where the pass that leads into the Fay Vale is. There's a reason that people don't really try to go there anymore, because though you can point to that area of the mountains and go, that's how you get into there, a lot of people that try to go in there end up dead or broken. So people just don't try anymore.

SPEAKER_07 1:27:52

So again, Rim will just be looking at them and be like, the Fay Vale. Yes.

SPEAKER_03 1:27:56

Hmm, from some of the stories that I've heard, it I don't think very many. People come back from that. Or if they do, then there's seems to be memory impairments or whatnot. Has anybody actually came back from there intact?

SPEAKER_08 1:28:08

Yes, all of us have at one point or another. The Adventures Guild in Saval has a very long and deep and storied history. And alliances with places that typically don't make alliances. It's one of the reasons that we have connections with Tel Vashir. We also have connections with the Queen of the Fey Realm.

SPEAKER_03 1:28:31

Would we know the Queen of the Fey Realm, would I'm sure Brian the Fay Male?

SPEAKER_08 1:28:36

Yes. The region is kept very secretive. Many of the races that live there are not accepted in other places of Sival. And many of the races that live there live much longer than those that make up the rest of the continent. It is home to the majority of the gnomes, halflings, elves.

SPEAKER_07 1:29:03

And what do you expect us to find there?

SPEAKER_08 1:29:06

People whose history is much richer and deeper than what we have access to here. There is a good chance that with the length of the lives that they live, that the records that are ancient in this library are only in the modern history to them.

SPEAKER_03 1:29:24

I see, so we'd be uh trying to glean some interesting information from what will likely be a more detailed history of the events that have occurred in the Dragon Wars, and perhaps what has become of some of the weapons.

SPEAKER_08 1:29:37

Yes. The hope would be that if you can get an audience with the Queen there, get access to their historians in their library, that you will be able to find more information about the Dragon Wars. And perhaps more information about the Dragon Bonds and how they work.

SPEAKER_03 1:29:57

Speaking of the uh Dragon Bonds, has Mistress Beerie um informed you of some of the information that I shared with her?

SPEAKER_08 1:30:06

That is a discussion for another time. I understand your eagerness. You guys don't have to rush into this. As far as we are concerned, everything tied to the dragon bonds is over a thousand years old. The difference of a few days, if you wish to take some time to rest and recuperate, should not mean much in the grand scheme of things. One of you has instructions for how to safely enter the realm.

SPEAKER_07 1:30:52

Are you setting up travel arrangements here or do we have to?

SPEAKER_08 1:30:55

We can, if you need, set up travel arrangements to get you as far as Thumeria. You're not sailing all the way. It would be hard for us to arrange travel beyond that.

SPEAKER_07 1:31:07

Being that Rim is more traveled as far as like overlay and stuff, would he know how long it would take to get there? A guesstimate.

SPEAKER_08 1:31:15

Roughly like five or six days to sail from Riven to Thumaria, and then somewhere between 10 and 15 days to get from Thumeria up to the pass, because most of that doesn't have a road.

SPEAKER_07 1:31:30

So we could take the cart, but only part of the way.

SPEAKER_08 1:31:33

Depends on how much you trust the cart to just hit.

SPEAKER_03 1:31:37

I was gonna say, I do have plans for the cart before we leave.

SPEAKER_08 1:31:40

So because you're traveled, especially you have been there at one point in the past, there is a road that connects the city of Thumeria to the city of Rhodes, which is pretty much at an intersection between the east-west road in Corinthia, the main road, and a river that actually flows down from Dunatus's ring down through the plains and then eventually into the sea.

SPEAKER_07 1:32:07

But we're talking still like a half a month of travel. Yes. With the last stop being Rhodes.

SPEAKER_08 1:32:12

The last stop before you get into like wilderness. Yeah. I mean, there might be smaller like villages, but the last like city is Rhodes.

SPEAKER_07 1:32:23

Could you send word to Rhodes for provisions for a few weeks of travel over land to be ready for us?

SPEAKER_08 1:32:32

I think that's something that we can arrange. Alright. Especially if you guys would like to take a couple days. We will make sure that a courier leaves with that information today.

SPEAKER_07 1:32:42

I think spending a couple days just to prepare for what we'll need is going to be important.

SPEAKER_03 1:32:46

Yeah, I I agree. I think it'd be best for us to spend some time in town, rest up a bit, and then regather our supplies.

SPEAKER_08 1:32:53

Is there anything more that you guys would wish to discuss right now? I know that you guys have had a lot of information overload over the last day or so, and from my understanding, haven't had much time to sit and discuss amongst yourselves what is going on yet, or what your plan going forward is. So, we think it would be good for you guys to take a couple days to rest, prepare, and get ready for the very long journey ahead. But if there's anything that you guys would like from us now, we are here.

SPEAKER_05 1:33:30

If we decide that we're going, we're taking horses or whatever, can we not bring Princess so I can keep Princess safe here?

SPEAKER_08 1:33:38

That sounds like something that you're going to want to discuss with your group mates. I mean, you can leave Princess if you're willing to pay for the board of the horse for the time that you're going to be gone.

SPEAKER_05 1:33:49

Okay.

SPEAKER_08 1:33:50

But I can't grant you permission to leave a horse that you own with your group here.

SPEAKER_03 1:33:56

Uh, as much as Kanina's excited at the prospect of having all the guild masters together in one room, there's been so much information exchange, and they've already kind of mentioned that her topic of Doitan will have to wait for another time. So I think Nina will pipe up and just be ready to move on. So she'll say. Um, I think we'll just have to take the next couple of days to prepare, as you mentioned, and if we do think of anything, we'll be sure to let you know. But I, for one, don't have anything else that I required discussing immediately.

SPEAKER_08 1:34:26

Before you guys go, we do have something for you.

SPEAKER_03 1:34:29

Oh.

SPEAKER_08 1:34:30

And Albert pulls from like a large pocket a long, thin wooden box, and he lays it down on the table in front of him. It's roughly a foot long, probably about two inches tall and three or so inches wide. And he flips it open facing you guys. Inside the box are four rings. And he reaches down and pulls one out and holds it forward, somewhat in Rem's direction.

SPEAKER_07 1:35:03

Rem's gonna look at the ring and then look at him, then look at the ring, then look at him.

SPEAKER_08 1:35:06

Go ahead and roll perception. 14. It's it's a gold signet ring, from what you can tell. What signet? High enough for that without taking it.

SPEAKER_07 1:35:17

What's this? These are Gilda signet rings. And what do we need these for?

SPEAKER_08 1:35:24

Not only are they enchanted with a minor protection enchantment, but they also have a special property. That once per day you can write a letter and seal it with this ring, and the letter will appear inside the guild quarters.

SPEAKER_03 1:35:42

That sounds super handy.

SPEAKER_07 1:35:44

Do I believe him? Like that's all this is?

SPEAKER_08 1:35:46

Go ahead and roll an insight check.

SPEAKER_07 1:35:50

19.

SPEAKER_08 1:35:51

As far as you can tell, he's being truthful.

SPEAKER_07 1:35:53

Okay. You're not sure what he would be lying about. Well, I mean, maybe it's a tracking spell. He's sending me to a place that people don't usually come back from normal. Rem is not sure. So he'll take the ring, though. He'll kind of like look at it.

SPEAKER_08 1:36:07

He pulls out another ring and hands it out in Kanina's direction.

SPEAKER_03 1:36:11

Yeah, Kanina will be excited to grab it.

SPEAKER_08 1:36:14

He pulls out the third ring and hands it over to Ariel.

SPEAKER_05 1:36:18

Ariel will put her hand out.

SPEAKER_08 1:36:22

He continues to hold it in Ariel's direction.

SPEAKER_05 1:36:25

Ariel take it like everybody else, but just think that he's boring.

SPEAKER_08 1:36:29

And he pulls out the final ring and hands it over to Tempest.

SPEAKER_03 1:36:34

Ooh, shiny. Uh, Kane will actually enthusiastically put the ring on and she will look on it shining on her finger, and uh, can she tell like kind of like what materials are it's made out of or anything like that? Are there any features about it that strike her as interesting?

SPEAKER_08 1:36:47

I mean, the signet on it is the guild crest. Other than the once-per-day property of being able to send a written message to the guild, functions as a crest of the guild that could be used for sealing other things. Um, it's a gold ring. Just pure gold.

unknown 1:37:04

Yeah.

SPEAKER_08 1:37:05

These rings mark you guys as being adepts in the guild.

SPEAKER_03 1:37:10

If Kanina were to glance over at uh the guild master's fingers, are any of them wearing rings? Each and every one of them. Nice. Theirs are platinum. But Kanina is actually a bit excited to have something of like a status symbol now in the guild.

SPEAKER_08 1:37:24

Aside from being able to send us a written message with these, when we receive a message, we will be able to write a message in return and send it back to whoever wrote it to us. So, as we wrap things up, in early afternoon, on the now 12th of Monanon, you guys are once again leaving the Guildmaster's Chamber to enjoy the rest of your day. And each one of you can select one feat from the book and add it to your kid. Seriously? A feat?

SPEAKER_01 1:38:01

A feat!

SPEAKER_08 1:38:02

As a difference to leveling up, you guys get your signet ring and a feat.

SPEAKER_03 1:38:12

We hope you enjoyed this episode of Adventures in Aurelia. You can help the show out a ton by sharing episodes in social media and telling your friends. You can get in touch with us by joining our Discord server at adventures in Aurelia.com forward slash Discord. There you can chat not only about the show, but about video games, Dungeons and Dragons, and other geeky things. Lastly, we'd like to thank the artists who allow us to use their music in our show. Michael Guelfe, Tabletop Audio, Scott Buckley, Joel Steadler, JDB Artist, Alexander Nacarata from Serpent's Down Studios, Windswept, Adrian Von Ziegler, and Kevin McLeod of Incompatech.com. You can find the links to all of these wonderful artists at adventures in Aurelia.com forward slash music.