High Rollers DnD - Altheya: The Dragon Empire #34 | A Grave Sermon (Part 2)

Episode Date: August 22, 2024

Ophelia hosts the first of many sermons in the name of the Grave Father and tries to discover a way to allow Tyrea to pass to the other side! _______________ HIGH ROLLERS LIVE in London on the 17th September 2024! Tickets live now: https://www.aegpresents.co.uk/event/high-rollers/ Boost your Charisma with some HR merch! https://highrollersdnd.teemill.com/ Add the Heroes of Altheya Minis to your TTRPG collection here: https://only-games.co/collections/high-rollers Enhance your bath time experience with the official Altheya themed DiceBombs at https://geekyclean.com/! Check out https://www.highrollersdnd.com/ for all the latest HR News! Love the podcast? Give us a glittering 5 star review! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/high-rollers-dnd/id1401508198?see-all=reviews Support the High Rollers on Patreon and get early access to Podcast episodes, vods and more: www.patreon.com/HighRollers Music courtesy of Epidemic Sound, TCT Adventures (Solasta: Crown of the Magisters), Monument Studios and Jolene Khor! Check out Jolene Khor and all her wonderful work on High Rollers on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1WX3ICiTmf4GpHwImnQMs6 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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separate. Learn more at onepeloton.ca slash running. Welcome back to part two of Ulfea the Dragon Empire. Our heroes thus far have been attending to matters of their in. Planning for future renovations, repairs, examining the brand new shrine to the Great Father, which has been installed nearby, as well as meeting with several characters from around Ash and Rest, such as Mistress Ilana Vidante and Marthein the Armelier,

who had come to reclaim the armor that was loaned to Gruff, as well as Sister Malady and Benedicta, who had come after doing some research into matters with Xanthias. One thing I forgot to mention in that conversation, I don't wanna wreck on it. Malady would have told you that she mentioned that there were rituals that could slow down

the corruption. She would have just added on that those rituals are powerful, but they are costly and difficult to repeat. she would have just added on that those rituals are powerful but they are costly and difficult to repeat. So if you were interested, she would have to basically start researching them to look at options. Does it, I guess we would have spoken about this more, does it almost regress the corruption

or does it just stall it? At this point, it is unknown. Okay. It's not been? At this point, it is unknown. Okay. It's not been, it is a, at this point it is a, she believes that she can do a ritual to help slow it down. Okay. But what that means, you don't know yet. Sure, great.

Fine, I'll give it a go. I'll try anything once. Whilst Xanthias and Malady are inside having that conversation, Sister Benedicta is kind of left outside with you all. There's a little bit of an awkwardness. Sister Benedicta, kind of left outside with you all. There's a little bit of an awkwardness. Sister Benedicta, you would all catch like looking quite reverently towards Daisy,

having witnessed Daisy's angelic form. And Benedicta seems like convinced that it is something, you know, wholly connected to Pyrrhus. But probably is like trying to cover that up by having awkward conversations with Gruff talking about the tournament. I particularly liked your battle against that young man Atlas.

I thought that that was quite a fine display of stalwartness in your, his blows seem to be quite powerful. And sort of trying to have that like, oh, what do you, how did you do this? And sort of trying to keep the conversation going, but clearly is a little bit uncomfortable having any sort of long conversation.

And would occasionally just glance toward Daisy and like look back. I'm imagining her like looking reverently at Daisy and then just in the corner of her eye, Ophelia's there as well, it's like, ugh. She does not like Ophelia, does she? Ophelia like peeks ahead in. Yeah, what's her opinion now?

Because at first she was very... There's definitely, there is a much more sort of polite respect. I think having seen the battle and seeing what you've done for Ash and Rest, there would be a sort of like, Sister Ophelia. She wouldn't probably call you by your full title, but she would call you Sister Ophelia,

and would just sort of incline her head. An addicter? You are well, I trust? Well enough. And are you? Yes, I am recovered after the battles, and thankfully my sister, Maladie, is much on the mend. Thank the scions that her health has recovered.

Her illness is difficult at times for her, I think, but she does not often like to speak of it. And you have found Ilmera well and settled in? Yes, I mean, we've got a fabulous shrine now on the... Oh, you have a shrine? Yes, I do. To your god, this grave king or something? Oh yes, well, Duke Ignarius gave me permission

to perform my religion in Ashen's Rest freely, so. Yes. Now the house of blood can be spread far and wide. Isn't that delightful? Oh, she's pushing buttons. If that is the wishes of the Duke. I'm baby-popping. And people find comfort in your rituals of death,

then so be it. I'm sure that those who are faithful to the Scions and to pirates will find comfort in their light as well. Oh, of course. I wouldn't want to deny people their faiths, now would I? Indeed. Whoa! It's this kind of like, yeah, I mean,

if you, yeah, insight checks could be made, but this is definitely like she, yeah, by all means, yeah. Rowan might really awkwardly offer another carrot. Nine. In the middle of that. She will say, thank you Rowan, yes, and just takes one. Like desperate for something that isn't speaking to Ophelia. Just like, ah, no, no.

Anyway, I must get ready. I have much to do, much to prepare for, but send my regards to your sister. I will. She'll just skip away. Yes. So. Yes, yes, yes, but quite the battle you had.

It's just that really awkward, like... But yeah, on that nine, yeah, you don't really pick up on anything. Hard to read the body language. Xanthia's similarity emerge from outside. You probably have to stop, she probably has a little coughing fit again, like blood and stuff.

Yeah, I think if she almost needs support or anything like that to keep walking, then I'll offer it, but like. Like, as you go to offer it, a hand just comes up like, absolutely not. She kind of leans. I just, the weakness sometimes overtakes me. And she like, kind of shaky hand,

like touches like a banister and like takes herself down the steps. Not like in an old frail way, but like in a, there's clearly just a weakness in her that like, you know, which is strange, because you've seen her use healing magic before, but. Yeah, but well now that I know that you are both residing in Ashenrest for longer,

I'm afraid to say that not too soon from now we are intending to leave to pursue some missions. On a permanent basis, or is this a... We'll be coming back, don't worry. You can come over for food and stuff. That's very kind of you to offer, Rowan, thanks. I'm getting a bunk bed. We've requisitioned the Carpenters Guild

to repair the tavern and make it livable for all of us. Well, that sounds delightful. My sister and I shared a bunk bed for many years when we grew up in the church. I would highly recommend that the smaller person go on top. Oh, yeah. He tried to size up between you and... Boulder. Boulder.

Boulder, who's the bigger one. You're Moss's name. I am. I would say Boulder is probably a little bit wider than Rowan, not much. He's definitely more muscular upper body, but he's like hot. The same size but in a much smaller frame.

Yeah, he's like three feet, three and a half feet tall. A three foot brick shit, actually. Yeah, he is like, yeah. Yeah. He's like, he's so wide. He's nearly as wide as he is tall. Like, he's got these ginormous triceps and biceps. He's just all upper body.

Just a square. Try it, like, say there. He's a Dorito. He's a these enormous triceps and biceps. He's just all upper body. Just a square. Try it, like, say there. He's a big Dorito. Oh, his tail is like really thick and muscular as well. But his legs aren't. He does tail curls. He's got a six pack on his tail. Yeah.

But his legs are so thin and meaty. Ha ha ha. He sleeps like he... When he's lost his shit. Ha ha ha. He's sleeping like it. What if last year she's gone? She's gone. She's gone. And then his arm is like hanging off the side, but it's so heavy he like drags his legs off.

Ha ha ha. Now, to get all of that out of. I love his arm. I love his arm. I love his arm. There's a visual there, I'm just not sure I'm seeing it. Get all of that out of... Elevator's arm! Elevator! There's a visual there, I'm just not sure I'm seeing it. I just have to say uncontrollably sliding off the bed

because he's so heavy and wide. With that mental image. He just has a sleeping bag. Yeah, Malorie sort of like... Almost... He's down at night. You have to put a seatbelt on him. You can get the hench tail and like crawl the hench tail. Yeah, he can hang on like that. You have to put a seatbelt on him.

You can get the hench tail and like crawl the hench tail. Yeah, he can hang on like this. Oh, Bodger slipped again, Rowan. Maladie, with the practice of someone talking to a child... Sorry. With the practiced effort of talking to a child, Maladie is very much like, Oh yes, a bump, Ben. Very good, Rowan. So good, I'm so proud of you.

But she says, well no, that is fine. If you have business outside the rest, we simply wanted to let you know we are here should you require our assistance. Or indeed, if we gain a lead on Ilkara, I imagine you would be interested in accompanying us to dispense of Justice? Yes.

Yes. Yes. If you learn anything of Il'Kara as well, do let us know. If you encounter any information of her beyond the city, beyond the town, let me know. We will. I mean, our journey might take us to nearby villages. We can ask around there. And if there is anything, knowledge of the planes or of faith, my sister and I are happy to assist you with matters. I am quite the researcher, if need be,

and my sister, as you have seen, is a competent sword when one is needed. Please come and speak to us, should you need our aid. But with that, we shall let you get back to your business. This warm weather should do me some good, perhaps a short walk, sister, and then find somewhere to sit down for a moment, perhaps up by the cathedral. Oh.

Yes, I should. But she's like very softly kind of like has to nibble at it. They're raw. Yeah, raw carrots, always good. Nice healthy snack. Not washed. Oh. Gets like a water skin out towards a bit of water. But yes, we'll keep you apprised of our plans and our whereabouts, just in case.

Excellent. Yes. Very good. All right, come Benedicta. Scions and saints to all of you, and good day. I hope that we see each other once again. Bye. Pyres and melee, bless you.

Makes their way off. Okay, now let's exercise a ghost. In the great father's name. Yeah, so do you want to just skip ahead until everything's set out for the ritual and everything else? I know that Ophelia just skipped off, so I don't know. Yeah, well you can go back to the shrine, right?

To get things ready. It doesn't take long as night begins to fall, the sun begins to set, casting a heavy red glare over Ashen's Rest, it becomes casting a heavy red glare over Ashen's rest. It becomes almost a blood red sky, a very ominous moment. A small figure arrives at the front of the enticing Devil Inn. Little gnomish woman, pink hair,

wearing a very simple little outfit, just a pair of trousers, a little bodice and vest, kind of sort of smoothing her hair, adjusting her spectacles as ex-illuminator Theresa Lavendale arrives. Hello, I'm here for Sister Ophelia. I think she's doing a sermon, she invited me. Is it all right to just come through?

Absolutely. It's really good to see you looking well again, Theresa. Oh, thank you, Gruffydd. Yes, I'm feeling much better. I must say, it was a little bit terrifying being in the... I was in the jail when everything was happening and... It was very awful in there, I'm afraid to say, that some of the others that were arrested, well, it turns out that they were guilty, they were cultists,

and they turned into these horrible things, and I prayed and I prayed and I hoped, and then that handsome orc gentleman, Zaron Tekis, I hear him and that, oh, well, Sion's blesser, or a grave, I don't know, but the former high authoriter. And there was a young woman, a teifling there with us, and then they fought, and they helped me and a few others get out with them,

but it was quite horrific, I must say. I'm feeling better, and I'm glad to know that it wasn't me, and I wasn't responsible for anything. Yes. Sorry, that was a lot, wasn't it? No, you've been through a lot and I always had the faith that you were innocent. Oh, there, I'm glad to know it. I did begin to doubt for myself for a while. I mean, I knew I wasn't a cultist, but I wondered if maybe something was wrong with me, or I had an impure soul or something, and that is what allowed that awful thing to take hold of me, I guess.

But that's sort of why I'm here, really. You know, I've always been taught about the Scions and the Saints, but... Well, Sister Ophelia just seems to have something else, and... I just thought maybe curiosity wouldn't hurt to learn more about other fates, would it? I don't know, as I'm also finding. Sometimes maybe it's good to take a look at what's going on in your life. Yes, yes, that's the way I see it. I think we've all been through quite a thing, haven't we, really?

Absolutely, we definitely have been through a variety of things recently. Hmm. Yes. So perhaps, yes, the right time to re-examine things. You know, as an engineer, if you encounter problems or the things that you want to do aren't working, you try a different approach, and that's how I'm trying to see it. Yes. Do you want me to accompany you?

That would be delightful, yes, please, thank you. Yeah, you take it through. A few moments later, another figure arrives at the front of the Tysing Devil, dressed in sort of black cloak, fur mantle, dark hair. Good thing I'm not there. Dark hair. Strong, very, very angry features. This is a man who wears a permanent scowl on his face.

Five o'clock shadow, probably played by Henry Cavill, you know, kind of thing. Really? I did not. And he arrives and sort of approaches the inn, you know, kind of thing. Really? I did not. Interesting. He arrives and sort of approaches the inn, can see the shrine building, makes his way inside. Definitely like some slamming of windows and doors

as Tyra is another guest kind of enters, but he just like looks around. Be quiet, spirits. I mean, you know, I'm here. And sort of makes his way through, finds his way to the shrine as Rax'kel arrives. Can I just connect with Tyria and I will roll. Oh, eight people can hear Tyria, so I guess

everybody can listen to Tyria if she appears. Do you want to include the strangers or just the crew? No, just the crew. Okay. But everyone can hear Tyria if they choose to. Tyria has not manifested yet, so I'm assuming when she does you will use that.

When she does I will make sure to talk to her. She's not manifested just yet, it's only just beginning to get dark, like it's sunset. But yeah, Ophelia, is Ophelia wearing anything like ceremonial robes or anything like that? Is this, have you done anything different? She turns up in like a full robe and we're like, ah, damn, where's she gonna be? What's she in?

I think Ophelia would, first of all, have taken all her armor off, and her veil would be pulled over her face. her armor off and her veil would be pulled over her face. Yeah, she'd be in like this full blood red, long sleeve ceremonial gown, kind of like what Percival's wearing, very simple and understated, but you can tell it's been beautifully crafted.

All the stitching is like immaculate, it's stunning. And there's like a silvery trim around the sleeves, falling around the, like the hood around her shoulders and down, spilling out below her feet. Just this lovely silver trim along the edge. Yeah, and she, I guess when everybody's seated, she'll be the last one to enter. Does Percival just, does he have anything different?

Is he like wearing a mask? Is he just in the robes? Percival's in the robes, but I think he'll be behind Ophelia, like sort of carrying, maybe like her sword. Okay. Like carrying veracity. She walks through. Just following you around,

carrying the blade behind you like a blade bearer. Very cool. Yeah. Yeah, Theresa, Gruff brings in Theresa. The others are kind of all sat down and ready. Theresa looking a little bit nervous, like she's like, oh, hello, Sister Ophelia, thank you very much for inviting me.

Thank you for coming, Theresa, it's lovely to see you. Of course, yes, well, you were very kind enough to invite me and I'm very curious to learn more about where you're from and to learn more about this great father and be open to possibilities. So thank you very much for having me. This is lovely, lovely. Oh, thank you.

Well, please take a seat anywhere you like. Thank you very much. We'll begin shortly. If you don't mind, I would like to sit at the front just because it's hard for me to see otherwise. Rowan's at the front. Oh, she'll sit next to you. A seat next to you?

Yes, she can. Oh, nice view. Yep, little halfling pulls herself up. Carrot. Carrot. Yes, you can. Oh, nice view. Yep, little halfling pulls herself up. Carrot. Yes, thank you. It's a bowl like half empty at this point. I keep filling it back up. Okay.

She'll take a carrot. I don't offer anyone else. Dammit, shut now. Vrax Kael will enter. Sister Ophelia, I believe. Vrax Kael, oh, a pleasure. You made it. Yes, I was curious enough to learn. Wonderful.

Your homeland of Osseus is well known for necromantic power. Mmm. I'm curious to learn more about this deity and what they can offer and what opportunities might strike for one such as myself. Well, I'll be glad to teach you. Please take a seat anywhere you like. I will prefer the, I will, is it all right if I remain standing?

I prefer to. Of course. Very good. You can see he's fully armed and armored as well, and as he kind of takes a position, he leans up by the door. Definitely keeps his long blade within reach, his axe, sorry, his woodsman's axe, if he needs to grab it.

Definitely a kind of man who's like, no, I have to watch the entrances and exits and things like that. But yeah, so he takes his position. Unfortunately, nobody else shows up for now, but your other friends are all here. Phoebe, would you like us to close the doors or? We'll keep them open.

We need to make sure Tyria can find her way in. Oh, is Tyria another guest coming? Oh yes. Theresa asks. Theresa's about to be freaked out. All right, and then yeah, Ophelia, do you want to take it away? If you are already friends,

thank you very much for coming tonight on this very special night. I am honored to have you all, a guest in the House of Blood. Ooh. Let us begin. Ooh, ooh, ooh. We will give thanks to the grave, Father.

So if you would please bow your heads in prayer. Theresa would do it, like Theresa bows her head. Vex'kel just sort of inclines his head, but he keeps one eye open. What about the rest of you, who? Straight away. Yeah, I mean, I would look to see, because I'm curious, maybe Ophelia does it

slightly differently, just to make sure I'm doing it appropriately. I don't know, is there a particular way of doing it? Is it literally? Just bowing your head down. Percival would comply as well, obviously. What about Gruff? Daisy's a no.

Daisy's not gonna do it. Yeah. Nim would not approve. Oh, I don't know. It's all a bit blasphemous, isn't it, mate? It's all a bit weird. He's questioning, but he's not. He's not ready to be.

There, he's like. Give thanks to the Grey Father. I think because she said like let's give thanks to the Grey Father. Like he's used to the bow your head and you know, and he almost starts, you know, because of the automatic, like because it's so similar, right, to what would happen in the Confucian.

So he also, but then when she said thanks to the Grey Father, he kind of, I don't know, his eyes snap open and he's like, he'll keep his head bowed, but then when she said thanks to the Grey Father, he kind of, I don't know, his eyes snap open and he's like... He'll keep his head bowed, but I think he's gonna keep his eyes open, just... Not for... I think if you look, he's just very confused. Yeah, for sure. He's very confused. Daisy will sort of hover by the door, I think, looking for, like, whenever Tyria appears. I think she's just gonna stay on the lookout, but yeah, she wouldn't join.

All right, continual. We give our thanks and our eternal gratitude to the Lord. May the kindness of the Gravefather be repaid in flesh. Your guiding hands lift us from damnation. Arising from ash, our hearts beating, life coursing through our veins. Our mortal lives you keep safe in your loving arms. We breathe to serve you, who saved us from turmoil when we were abandoned, hopeless and

weak. We celebrate you in mortality, our pittance repaid when our last breaths are spent. Life is your gift, flesh is the price, blood is the fuel. Your love, our might, our savior, our forgiver, our teacher, our father. May you repent our mortal sins and deliver our souls to your eternal kingdom when our veins run dry. Flesh for the mortal, blood for the eternal.

In your name, we give thanks. Sort of murmuring. You kind of, you know, Theresa kind of opens one eye, like making sure, like, oh, am I supposed to like stop now? Vrax'kel kind of like leans back, kind of like nods. There's definitely a sort of like a nod of appreciation

as he hears the words. Yeah, the, you know, you conduct the prayer. The red light of sunset filtering in through the open windows, through the red gauzy fabric, kind of bathes the whole shrine in that deep red for a moment as Ophelia's words echo around the rebuilt shrine. Ophelia, do you want to use any of the,

as part of this ritual, would you like to use any of your shrine powers? Yeah, I think, let's see. I'd like to send a short message to the Grey Father. Okay, what would your message be? Can you please open the way for Tyria? Okay, so this would be, you would like go to the front, you would pray. Yeah, light the candles,

light the incense. The incense. The incense is a heady rose scent, mixed in with churned earth, kind of feeling quite floral, surprisingly so. The candles, they're kind of engraved with runes, their flames turn black as Ophelia begins to speak. Do you speak out loud or in your mind when you send this message?

I speak out loud. Okay your mind when you send this message? I speak out loud. Okay. You hear these words, Daisy, you're the first to see because you were keeping an eye out, but drifting in as the last few bits of daylight disappear and night fully comes. You see just that soft blue glow

from around the corner of the inn, filling the quite haunting-looking garden. The last few rays just kissing the top of the apple tree in the garden as the blue figure of Tyria comes around the corner, the horrific scarred face, the tattered clothes. I'll wave to her with a smile. She looks at you.

There's a faint upturning of the mouth on the non-scarred side, maybe a smile, and she bows her head to you as she drifts in. Vrax-Kel immediately puts it as the spirit drifts past him. He doesn't attack, he's like startled, he's like, and then it drifts past him into the shrine and he kinda eases off. Now very curious as Tyria comes in

and almost seems to float into one of the empty pews as if sitting, as almost called by her own name. Theresa at the front has not seen the ghost yet because she's watching Ovelia and she's kind of like, oh, this is, yeah, very nice. Who's Tyria? Like, blah, blah, blah.

Like maybe whispering to Rowan. Rowan's hyperventilating from the speech. Yeah. Gripping his ball. Only Ophelia would hear the response. But there is a moment where all of you think for a second that that statue of the Gravefather, you could swear that for a brief moment,

it's jaw of the skeleton. Even though it's set in stone, it appears to be moving. But for Ophelia, that statue does speak. My child, a great gift you bring to Osseus. The spirit is strong. She will be a worthy child.

I will teach you how to send her to me. Thank you, my lord. You see in your mind, Ophelia, a ritual. You see what you need for this ritual. You hear the Gravefather. A mirror large enough for the spirit to walk through. A black onyx, the size of your palm, engraved with a symbol of the House of Shadows. The spirit's body, you must recover it, burn it, and it remains till they are ash.

Then mix with fresh blood words to the mirror. Let the black gate be opened in Shroudis Sanctorum. Do this and the way shall be opened for Tyria. You have done well, my child. I am proud of you. It stops. All of you can sense that something happened. It is a change in the air.

The sound of a coffin lid being closed. The hairs on the back of your neck standing The sound of a coffin lid being closed, the hairs on the back of your neck standing as if a spirit passed you by. Power shifts in the shrine for just a brief moment. Tyria, you hear thanks to Daisy's abilities. Did he answer? He did, my dear. We will find a way back for you.

I know how to do it now. Thank you, sister. Thank you, Tyria. She just drifts away into nothing. You all are in this moment. I think for the majority of it, I'm almost watching Ophelia, like, move with such confidence and familiarity with the world that she's in now.

And I guess it is completely different to how you are when you roam Il Mera and stuff, I don't know. This is like, yeah, this is home. Even just listening to the way that she spoke, it was so different to the sort of frivolous and flamboyant Ophelia. This was sister Ophelia. Yeah. I think there is something just innately captivating about that.

It's hard to be drawn in, I suppose, by the performance of it and the way you clearly like wholeheartedly believe in this thing. It's your entire life, right? So it's hard not to just sit there almost in awe of Ophelia in this space. As a point, actually you've just reminded me as well, could I please have from Ophelia, this could either be, I'll give you a number of choices

of a skill to use. You could either use religion, performance, or persuasion. Ooh, religion and persuasion are both plus five. And you have a full set of fate over here. I do, I'll use a fate as well. Oh, excellent. Got it. I'm gonna go for religion. Okay.

12 total, I got a two and a five. 12 total? Yep. You, I mean, your speech was as it was, and there is definitely a sense here that when you look at the faces of Rax, Kal, and Theresa, you have not won them over yet, but you have kept their interest. Theresa is just looking at you quite in awe of the way that you spoke, but perhaps it's the

newness, the unfamiliarity, maybe some of the wording didn't quite hit her in the same way. She's a little bit distracted by everything going on, but she's like smiling at you and she's kept her interest, but she's not a follower. It's gonna take some time to maybe completely win her over. Vrax Kal, when he saw your interaction with Tyria, and he's definitely picked up, okay, yeah, this is real. This is actually perhaps more than what I was expecting. And he's kind of got like a begrudging respect.

Again, not quite won over. It will take multiple checks, like the higher you can roll, the better, but this is you've kept their interest for now. Can I try and like do something? Can I try another little? Yeah, yeah, yeah, absolutely. I know this is all unfamiliar territory,

but let me tell you a story about how I came to be a believer of Osseus in the House of Blood. I was not living a life of passion and bliss. I was shut away. I was an anomaly, but I was given another chance. The House of Blood gave me their gifts and purged my body and I was reborn. Under their tutelage, I adapted, I feasted,

and I grew stronger. The Great Father blessed me with his necromantic powers and without him, I would be shut away in a small room on a little farm somewhere. It's because of him and because of the House of Blood that I have been given this second chance, well, third chance now. So trust me, this is all very real,

and I promise you I will not lead you astray. I will not abandon you. Give me your hands and I will show you his path, a new path. You see that this kind of more direct personal experience latches more onto Theresa. It doesn't seem to hit Vrex Kel on the same way, but Theresa looks up at you

and roll an insight check for me as well. Anybody, people are all free to do this, it's just Ophelia's kind of taking the lead. Oh, dogshit, six. Six. There's a look there, but not one you're able to really place, but there is a look up into your eyes, a very serious look on her face. Did you want to make a roll with welcome?

Nope. Nine. And she sort of very nervously offers her hands, because you said, like, take my hands, and you're not sure if she's just confused, but she almost instinctively wants to reach out and take your hand. Oh, and then she sort of, like, gives them over to you. Um...

I... I... I don't know if I'm deserving of any one's help, really. I'm not sure what I would even have to offer something like this... This great father. I mean, I wasn't a very good engineer and I'm not a very good, I'm not beautiful or strong or any of those things really. I don't know if there's much I could offer in return.

I wouldn't know how to repay such a thing. You told me before that you like pottery, yes? You like creating. Oh, very much so. It's why I became an engineer. I love jewellery and glassblowing and creating of all kinds, really. I used... I don't know if I still am, but I always believed in the teachings of St. Messara and creating and things like that, but

Well after everything that happened with the lamp lighters, I'm just not sure if Maybe that's not what I meant to do after all it It was sort of all because of me that all of these horrid horrid things happened It wasn't because of you. It was because of those foul demons and those lying lamp lighters Those foul demons and those lying lamplighters. Yes. You had nothing to do with it, much as like we, we're just all caught up in it. Yes, I suppose.

Your passions are a gift of life. Follow those passions, let them guide you, let your heart guide you. You don't need to be strong, you don't need to be brave, fierce, beautiful. You just need to be you. And then what comes afterwards is your payment to the Gravefather. What payment is that? What does he ask of you?

Well, my... Well, if I ascend, then... Well, that's OK. Let's look into the superlatives of everything, but... My mortal body, shall we say, is payment for the life that I have lived because of the Great Father. Because he saved us when humanity was abandoned. He took pity on us, lifted us from the ashes,

taught us necromancy, and allowed us to pursue our passions in life, do the things that we love, and then what comes after is our payment. You are allowed to just pursue what you want, you don't have to work or? No, no not at all because the work is what comes afterwards but then you're not alive to even worry about it.

Oh, well that doesn't sound so bad. It's really not. Well thank you sister, you've given me a lot to think about, I think. Would you, are these weekly or monthly? Well we're about to go away, I think, for a little while. Let's say monthly for now, and then we can touch base after that and see where we're at.

Right, I would like to come again if it may. It would be lovely to have you. And I know that it is, and she pulls out like a little coin purse and she counts out a few silver coins. Theresa, my darling! Is there like, does Rowan have the two balls? I forgot the other ball.

It tips out of the carrots. Oh, and she puts the three silver coins in there. Thank you. I mean, I don't know if it's tradition, but to give a donation for your wisdom and your guidance and your kind words, at least. Thank you. Thank you. A pleasure to meet you all.

I'm sad that this Tyria didn't seem to come by, cos the spirit's already fainted. She didn't know she was there. Yeah. But yes, thank you all. It's been a very pleasant evening. Thank you. And she'll kind of get up and she looks at the little statue of the Gravefather and she'll just bow her head. Blessings of the Gravefather to and she'll just bow her head.

Blessings for the Gravefather to you. And to you, and sort of trundles out. Vrax Kel will sort of unfold his arms. I have much, I do not know about this payment and service, but you have power, that I can tell. Thank you. And this Gravefather, there is power here too. I've seen the power of the Scions, of the Saints.

Saint Dethir, but none of the Saints, only Malir, knows the power of death. Dethir wishes to avoid it. A warrior, true, but... Hmm. You've given me much to think about, Sister Ophelia. This Gravefather, you say that you were given gifts. I heard you talk of ascensions. Yes.

Is this something that any of the followers of the Gravefather can achieve? Well, there are those in my court that have ascended to higher positions than I. I wish to reach even further than them. And these positions come with power? Yes. Abilities? Mm-hmm. And your house is one of many?

Five. One of five. Perhaps I will return next month as well. It would be lovely to have you, Sir Rexkell. Indeed. Good night. Good night. Sleep well. He just very, very coolly tries to leave.

Yeah, he's like, definitely. Yeah. No, but definitely kind of like walks away with a kind of like, hmm, interesting. Okay. Still like, will you give me abs? Nice. There was definitely a little bit more of a like of,

and this may be a thing that your characters would know, Erdaskir is very pragmatic. And the idea- What is that dragon? Black dragon. Black dragon. And they already have like a connection to using darker magic. Not necessarily always necromancy, but necromancy is definitely used,

but using curses and maybe what other people would call darker, more evil magic. Like ball of ki. Yeah, to them they see that if it helps me do what I need to do, I'll do it. Sure. They are the means justify the end kind of thing. So the idea of like a religious power

where he could be like, oh, like if I worship them, they'll give me powers that I think are useful. That sounds interesting. Oh, yeah, all right, I'll have a think. Because with the scions, it's a little bit different. You have to prove that you're worthy, and even then, like it's only when you're dead do you get the power. Clerics and stuff, none of them really give

the sort of power that maybe he's looking for, so yeah, definitely have put some hooks in. Got a bag of Paladin and I. Yeah, would you, now that we are at the RP, would you like a refresher on some of the things that were needed for this ritual, or did you manage to get everything? I didn't find the blood.

Mirror, full size. I think we did, yeah. No, we found the knife. We found her arm. I think we found the bones in the cellar. Did you find the bones? You did not, you found the knife in the cellar. We found the knife.

Where did we find, oh, okay. Cover it and burn it. You haven't found it. Paint. Can we ask Zoria where her body is? Could do. Paint the blood,, and then say the words that the black gate be opened.

Oh, it was the last bit of the. Enshroudis Sanctorum. Enshroudis Sanctorum. Super duper, thank you. The onyx, the palm-sized black onyx, a palm-sized onyx like that, like a really nice one, will cost you about 200 gold. Cool.

Could be bought from a jeweler, from a gem, from a jeweler. Yeah, I mean, it's what we're intending to do anyway, right? Or at least do this thing. Worth it for the, you know, Tyria and also the gang, the In in there. Yeah. Why does that sound so different? No, you're right.

What you said was correct. Okay. It just came out wrong. We get in, Tyria good. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, Rowan. I think- Rowan? I think, yeah, throughout the entire speech, like I was saying, it's hard not to be drawn in by Ophelia.

I think, like, for Xanthius, he's not, like, turning into a believer of the Grey Father as much as just, like, having more belief in Ophelia as a speaker of this religion. So, like, I'll listen to you talk about the great father. It doesn't mean I'll attend great father sermons or anything like that.

But yeah, just that confidence and passion for it. Yeah, sure. But I mean, there is also, there was one bit you mentioned that I think would kind of hit Xanthius a little bit where you were talking about how your great father rescued you from being, working on a farm for the rest of your life. Whereas for Xanthius, it's because of my father that I was sent onto this farm to be exiled.

So it's like, there's some parallels I suppose that he saw in that that sort of struck Xanthius a bit I think. But yeah, he definitely admired the performance, I guess, and the shrine itself. There would definitely be, throughout all of that, for you, Daisy. Nim can hear most of it, because you're in the room, so Nim can hear it. Nim, there would definitely be just maybe a few words

she wouldn't say too much, not one, or they wouldn't wanna say too much, they wouldn't wanna get too involved, but just, there'd be a, you feel a sense of pity. And Nim would probably say something like, poor girl, poor, poor girl, to be so taken in, to think that that monster would care about her, would care about anything other than itself and its slow, endless procession of death.

It gives out trinkets in exchange for the beauty of life. I feel sorry for her. Interesting. I don't think Daisy would say anything, because I think she's just, she likes, she likes Ophelia. Yeah. She doesn't. You've likes Ophelia. Yeah. She...

And you've seen Ophelia as a good person, like, tries to help people and... But she still doesn't... She doesn't agree with the grave fact. She thinks the whole thing is very scary to her. So she's just like... Yeah. Yeah.

How's Gruff doing after that little sermon? I think, yeah, Gruff doing after that little sermon? I think, yeah, Gruff, I've written two bits down from the sermon that you gave, sort of paraphrasing a little bit, more actually from the speech that you gave, the kind of backstory that you gave to Theresa and Vrax afterwards. And there's two kind of lines that stood out and that was, he allows us to pursue our passions and do the things we want to do, which resonated with Gruff because obviously he's had to work hard, you know, for his village to survive. And it's only now later in life that he can leave to pursue

what he really wanted to do, you know. that he can leave to pursue what he really wanted to do, you know, but then with the, you are given power and ascension for your service, I think he definitely didn't agree with that because for him, I don't think he would believe that, I don't know, that, I don't think he'd feel right that a god would give him his powers, because he's doing this whole thing to be a knight.

He's given tasks, he's given things to do. He's earning it. He's earning it. And he's not earning it just like, you know, by worshipping, you know, a god, but he's earning it for himself. Yeah. So I don't know that he really resonates with that bit because he's like, yeah, what am I doing then if I'm earning it for myself?

I'm not just, you know, worshipping someone and then giving, and then what's the price of that? You know, you can just take it away, like, you know. It's quite a bit of a conflict maybe that Gruff's like, as he's listing, like quite conflicted emotions that Gruff's feeling as he goes through. But then also I think he's conflicted about the signs and the saints as well for everything.

So Gruff, I think, is just having a real religious meltdown right now. That's cool. And then there's Rowan, just like sat there, as well for everything. So, Graf, I think, is just having a real religious meltdown right now. And then there's Rowan, just like sat there, like, is it just scary or is there more to it? Rowan was genuinely freaked out, I think, by the whole situation that he found himself in. Beyond him doing creature comforts to make things seem a little better, like making characters for everybody. He was trying to placate his fears, very much so.

But when Ophelia, you know, sister of Ophelia, started making her speech, and like Xanthias feels, very emboldening, very captivating, scary for Rowan. Rowan senses the power, he understands that it could very much be real. He's very easily drawn in by people saying things and he's freaked out. He's freaked out by death.

He's freaked out by the idea of, you know, people becoming undead. You've seen the power that Tyria, like that awful curse that she inflicted, you know? Like that's a strong, you know, like that's a strong power. But it's all internalized apart from the fact that his carrot bowl is shaking. I feel like all of us believe in Ophelia though,

you said. Yeah, don't believe in the Grey Father, I believe in Ophelia. Yeah. That's very cool, very interesting. Yeah, Daisy doesn't wanna have anything to do with the Grey Father, so she's like, I'm just gonna stay on the outskirts.

Kind of lingering by the door and like. Try and be a supportive friend, but also, that's not my place. Yeah. So. Yeah. I think we've all been there, yeah. If you have like a really just friend and you're just sort of like, that's great for you.

That's great for you, yeah. But I'm gonna be here. Yeah. Yeah, so with that, like, Fili, you kind of finish the burning of the candles and the incense. You know, whatever rituals or rites that you, for me, I like to imagine that, like, especially in the House of Blood,

it would be tradition for the priests and maybe the devout to spill a little blood into the chalice, like, that he's holding. So it's like a little cut and you put a little bit of blood in there and stuff like that. Because Percy's got veracity, so she'd probably take into the chalice that he's holding. So it's like a little cut and you put a little bit of blood in there and stuff like that. Because Percy's got veracity, so she'd probably take veracity from Percy and just draw it across her hand.

Little bit of blood into the chalice and just, yeah. And you see that when the blood drops, enter, it does dry very quickly. But yeah, so it'd be like a little thing. Just to finish off this ceremony, it'd be like the last sort of payment that you make. It is now night, it is now fully evening. Rolling thigh slaps.

Wellp! That's the point where we're at. Must be getting on. Yes, a truly wonderful service. Oh, thank you, yes. Is that the right word for it, I guess? Yes, I'm glad you think so. Thank you again so much for coming.

It really does, it means a lot. It really does. I'm happy to assist. I know it's not the faith that you all share, but just you being here means a lot. Well, I think you may have won over those two, at least in some small way. I hope so.

But no, happy to help and, I guess maybe attend some more just to see how things go. It's not a crime to see how other people explore their beliefs. Oh, that'll be lovely. What do we need to do for Tyria? Should we talk to her?

Yes, so, oh yes, you didn't hear the grave father speak? No. No. I think if I did, I might have run away. Oh, it's just me though. Okay, so, we need a full-size mirror, big enough for a human to pass through, Tyria specifically the human, a black palm-sized onyx, engrave of the house

with shadows on it, I can take care of that part, that's fine. We need to find Tyria's body. Oh wait, we don't find her body. Oh, okay, well that's... That's a small block on that one. Just a little one, we'll get to block on that one. Just a little one.

We'll get to work on that one. And then when we find it, we need to burn it until there's nothing left. And we need to mix that with blood. Not it. It's OK. It's OK. And we need to mix that with blood.

Tyreas, ashes, they need to be mixed with blood. Just blood. Just fresh blood. Just fresh blood. Oh, just fresh. Not it. How much? How much? Enough to make, enough so you think

you can then paint the mirror with it. Oh. A full size human. A full size humanoid mirror with blood and ashes. Humanoid mirror. Right. A wing mirror. The mirror is shaped like a person.

It's terrible. You can get one made like that. This is my hole, it was meant for me. No. I'll come to the right. Okay, okay. is my hole, it was meant for me. No. How dare you jing-jing to me. I don't even, I've never read it because it terrifies me. So good, so horrible.

I can't read that stuff, I can't. But I know that. Yeah, yeah. I need to do that under a full moon, and then under a night sky even. Under a night sky. Oh, okay, as we've done it. Okay.

And then I need to speak the words, and then Tyria night sky even. Under a night sky. Has we done it? Okay. And then I need to speak the words and then Tyria can then pass through. Oh, so not in the actual shrine itself? We could probably do it in the shrine. It just has to be under a night sky. To be done. Okay. Okay.

Just a small list of things. Just a small, just a little one. Yeah, I mean, finding the body is a tough ask, but finding that much blood. Well, I was gonna say, anybody, you are free to make some checks or ask questions because you did do a little bit of research about this before. You might have forgotten some stuff,

but there's also some things that you might just know about magic or undead or necromancy in Ophelia's case that might, you might give you some hints and clues because it's, yeah, there's definitely like things here that you might have picked up on before. Because I think somebody did some research, and I know Rowan did a little bit about ghosts. We did Cavan research, so I don't have to know

what it's about. Yeah, I'll do a history check. Sure. I'll just see if you remember it. Can we just ask her? You could also just try and ask Taria, yeah. We still have, we can still speak with her just now. Yeah. So.

She's in the Theor of Blame, but I think like you can still speak to her. I got a Yeah. She's in the Aether of Blame, but I think you can still speak to her. I got a 12. A 12. You do remember something, from the books and research that you read, Rowan, you can't imagine that her body will be too far from the site of her haunting.

It's probably in the grounds of the inn, the garden, or the shrine somewhere. It will be somewhere here. And generally, wherever the remains are buried concentrates necrotic energy, so it will manifest as like behaviors. So, you know, the haunted inn, the haunted grounds, the garden, something like that.

She will be nearby. She can't be too far. Her body can't be too far. Well, I'll tell everybody I think I can find them if you just give me 10 minutes. Oh, okay. Do you want me to come with you? I don't know if you'll find it particularly harrowing.

Harrowing? Or finding a body. No, I'll just find out where they are and then. Okay, I can deal with the after the fact. I'll let you know where they are. Okay, I can come with you. Yeah. Is the latte fun opening?

Yeah. But yeah, I'm going to use my Harmonious Recall to try and connect with the grounds. So where are you gonna do that? Here in the shrines, you go out into the garden. I'm gonna go into the garden, I think, so to connect with the grass, the nature, and the soil. Yeah, the soil.

So yeah, you begin. How does it work for you? Is this like you begin like, you know, tapping out a rhythm, like vibration? I use the sostenuto, my lute, and I strum an unearthly deep note that wouldn't be possible usually on the lute, but it carries a vibration through

that then ripples into the grounds, and that seems to carry through my fingers, and I push it into the vibration through that then ripples into the grounds. And that seems to carry through my fingers and I push it into the ground and then it matches the frequency. What's like a pulse, like a echo location, like, it echoes out. You can immediately tell a few things Rowan. And you're already in this agitated, quite harrowed sense, already quite

afraid. You realize that yeah, this is, this place is just drenched in wrong magic. Like this place, this inn, these grounds. Tyria's spirit is connected to all of it, but her sorrow, her anger, her rage, and just the nature of her violent death, the horror that was achieved here. All the years of her haunting, all the fear of people that have tried to come and go, kids that have broken in have been, forget all of that fear is seeped into this malignant aura that kind of is attached to the place here and it's made it very strong and that vibration continues and the next thing you learn is that there are roots that go all through the grounds, roots, vines, thorny branches, all of it just spread out through the soil and the earth, underneath the inn, underneath the shrine, around the cellar, through the garden, and those roots all connect to the apple tree, and buried at the base of the apple tree, deep down in the earth by those roots.

You feel the presence of skeletal remains. I think his eyes would snap open and it would take him a minute. He would be breathing heavily from absorbing all that aura, that malignant. He was already, like you say, on edge. And yeah, he'd go to a feeler, kind of a little shaky and a little of a shell, and just point at the apple tree. Are you okay? Oh, this place, it's, um...

What they did. Poor Tyria. Yes. It lingers here. Be good for her to go. We'll give her another chance. Yes. But yes, the tree.

Thank you, Rowan. It's okay, it's okay. Sort of just pat his shoulder. You go get some rest. I lean down for the pat. It's been a tough day, honestly. I don't think the carrots really kicked off. I'll find something better for the next service.

Oh, they love the carrots. Theresa was having a little ball. Theresa had a ball with them, but. We'll work on it. We'll get some more soon. I forgot the donation bowl. No, it's okay, it's okay. Now there's carrots on the floor in the shrine.

Don't worry, we'll clean them up. Percival's already cleaned them up. Percival's already done. You did a great job, I just wanna say it's really freaky, but honestly, I thought it was really cool. Thank you, you did a great job just now. Thank you.

You go get some rest. Yeah, I'm gonna go lay down. Yeah, you go lay down. Yeah. So Rowan's gonna head inside, go up to your room. Yeah. Okay, well, and Ophelia, where you gonna go? You gonna stop?

Go to the apple tree. Okay, so just shovel out the shed. Were you a... Were you saying you were going for the onyx? You said you were able to sort the onyx as well. Or was that... You can do the symbol, yeah. You need to buy one.

Oh, the symbol. You'll need to buy one. All right, so Gruff and Ophelia are going to go to the tree, find a shovel on the way. What's Daisy and Xantheus going to do? I think I'll probably just tell Tyria what we're doing. Just as a more of like an inform her that we are, it is happening.

We are currently working on it. The earth might be a little bit disturbed, but don't worry about it. Stay in the house for now. So when you say that, and Xanthias, what are you doing? I think I would go and help Ophelia and Gruff. So Ophelia, Gruff and Xanthias, what are you doing? I think I would go and help Ophelia and Gruff. So Ophelia, Gruff, and Xanthius are all making their way to the tree,

and Gruff and Ophelia maybe find some shovels and things like that. And you guys start to dig. As Daisy's speaking to Tyria, and Tyria, as you begin explaining it, and when she sort of seems to realize what is happening, she seems to like, keep glancing over towards the tree. They should be careful. There is something wrong.

And as you dig, and as you dig down, no, no, no. Well, this is, at the moment, it's just Daisy. Sorry, because the way this telepathy works is it's like you speak and then you can pass the messages around and stuff. I don't think it's like a group call. It's like a bunch of one-to-one PMs. As you dig,

the tree flexes and creaks, and you see parts of the bushes, a tendrilous vine, a thorny vine begin to whip into shape as that oppressive feeling in the garden, as you begin to disturb the remains, and as that shovel, as it hits something, the tree seems to... As streaks of ghostly blue and green energy

begin to wisp off of it. And that's where we're gonna end today's episode. Is it? Oh, God. She can make us play tree? Yeah. Yeah. Well.

What's my style? Also, it's a case of, you know, there are costs to freeing Tyria this way, as there would be costs to freeing her another way. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, that makes sense. But with this, that is where we're gonna win today's episode, thank you all very much.

Excellent job all round. Great, well done, Briennon. Lovely, excellent job on the sermon. Yeah, lovely sermon, yeah. Very cool, very cool sermon. We will be back next week. No, we won't. No, not next week.

That's when we're taking a break next week, and then the week after we'll be back. We'll figure it out. We'll figure it out. We'll let you know. We'll let you know. Check on the Twitter and the Instagram. There's gonna be board games next week.

Yeah, something, there'll be something next week. But yeah, we'll see you then. Take care. Bye bye. Bye bye. See ya. Bye. It looks boring. What are you on about? All of their games, they look boring. It doesn't look boring, it looks like you're an assassin on the Isle of Man. But it doesn't have the kind of wow. The steampunk quail-based economy is incredible. Yeah, it's boring. VG247's Best Games Ever podcast is ostensibly a show about figuring out what the best game in a weirdly specific category is, but it's actually just about petty arguments. You should

listen to it, it's good. Is that it? That's the whole promo? Yeah, I was just doing... And that's supposed to make people subscribe, is it? Yes! Okay, good luck with that! You can find us wherever you get your podcasts.