Aerois - Episode 45: Maiden Voyage

Katie Morrison as Aila

 Kim Richards as Nova V'ger

Rhiannon Frost as Sentry

 Tom Hazell as Qillek Ad Khollar

**Maiden Voyage** is the 45th episode of the Aerois Campaign. It was broadcast live on both the Yogscast Twitch channel and highrollersdnd Twitch channel on 8th September 2019 from 5PM to 8PM BST.

*The crew set sail for the City of Glass on their maiden voyage on The Stormchaser!*

## **Summary**

### **Announcements**

* Mark welcomes everyone and introduces the players. Kim is absent at the start of this episode, but it is announced that she will be joining at the break.
* This week’s episode of High Rollers is sponsored by D&D Beyond.
* Thank you to the Idle Champions team for taking Mark, Katie, and Tom to Seattle for PAX West. Thanks also for putting together some posters and colouring in sheets of the Aerois characters. Thanks to all the community members who met the team, especially those who gave gifts and artwork. Thanks to the Penny Arcade team (especially Ryan and Elyssa) who allowed them to do a very last minute live game (which is now up on YouTube or available as a podcast). Thanks also to all of the enforcers at PAX. Thanks to Nate and Erin for joining for the live game.
* Merch: There is a Sorcerer and Lucius t-shirt available until tomorrow. There is also a new HR hat. Something very exciting is coming…
* It is Subtember – new subs on Twitch are 50% off.
* There will be another fan music spotlight during the break – The Cradle by George Paris. Tom really likes this. There is also a fan art video.
* (added at the break) Immediately after this stream will be another episode of Lightfall's Descent into Avernus.

### **Recap**

"*After discovering that Ellois, Royal Stave of Gusthaven, was behind the actions of the Wind Barons and the deaths of Lucius' parents, and many other crimes, the party brought him to justice and then went and informed Sky Prince Aridan of their actions. The matter was investigated by Knight Captain Valera and the Sky Prince themselves, and after their interrogation via Zone of Truth the party were hauled away to be locked up under suspicion until the matter could be thoroughly investigated fully. However, they were found innocent of any wrongdoing, with thanks to some external aid, and were released. Whilst waiting for their judgement, the party were also visited by the vigilante, Moonstar, who offered to help in clearing their name. However, Quill, using the power of his new Eye of the Storm, revealed Moonstar to be Edea Elenasto, Lucius' twin sister, who survived the attack on their home and had used her false death to strike back at those responsible.*

*As the party return to their now ready to fly airship, the Stormchaser, a gift from Edea for Lucius is left on the side: a magitek device to assist him with his chromatic sorcery.*"

### **Part 1**

*Making preparations to leave Gusthaven but something is wrong with Aila and Quill!*

The party is conversing in the Captain’s quarters of the Stormchaser. Sentry, Lucius, Nova, and the crew{{TRIVIA}} watch as Aila and Quill’s bodies go limp, and they collapse onto the ground. Sentry, Lucius, and Nova begin to panic while Kamarra denies that the Wolf Pack have had anything to do with it. Oriya stands up for the Wolf Pack, telling Lucius that they have been diligent workers around the ship since they were hired. Lucius calls for a cleric, but Quill is the only cleric that any of them know – Lucius checks to see if they are breathing. He can see that they are breathing, and that their eyes are also open but that their bodies have lost all muscle tone. Sentry wonders if this is due to Starbane but Nova tells them that he only came to her when she was in a dream. Lucius ensures that what they discuss will remain confidential, and Kamarra does not know anything about Starbane except that he, at one point, tried to blow up Aerois. She is concerned that what has happened to Quill and Aila might happen to her, but Lucius reassures her that it should not. Oriya heads off to get Greylauno while Sentry tries to revive the two with *Lay on Hands* with no effect.

When she gets close to them, however, she can tell that there is an almost invisible, silver cord rising from their chest which vanishes about 3-4 inches from their bodies. Her hand passes through and above the silver cord, and neither she nor Lucius knows what this means.

Greylauno arrives after a few minutes – she is tall and slim, but lithe and athletic with long dark brown hair and wearing traditional Orcish clothing. Lucius tells her that they have been stabbed in the heart but that they are breathing. Greylauno examines the two conscious but unresponsive people, performs some rituals and tries poultices and smelling salts. Eventually, she suggests taking them both to the medical bay, thinking that they have been affected by magic and that their consciousnesses have been pulled away. She has not had a lot of experience with this sort of thing but does not believe them to be in any immediate danger.

Nova is convinced to look the condition up in a library and she, Lucius, and Sentry head back to the Empyrean Archive by sky coach – there they can do research, ask the Dean what she knows of the condition, and collect Helios.

Two hours later, Aila and Quill return to Aerois as they are pulled from the deck of the Stroke of Midnight, away from Paultin and Havilar. They feel as though they are travelling at great speed through a dark, starry sky – they are pulled through the Dark Beyond, the world above Aerois. Because they are travelling so fast, they see strange shapes that appear to be frozen in time – great fleets of ships, long, dark Court of Shadows ships that are engaged in a desperate battle with enormous, writhing masses of undead grey flesh (possibly living ships of gargantuan creatures). They see planets that have been turned into barren wastelands, desolate with the Court of Shadows ships looming above them. Suddenly, they see Aerois – a familiar sensation to Quill, who has returned from death – they begin to slow as they approach the planet with its surrounding barrier of shimmering energy. The last thing they see is the great, bright, blazing solar ship – it is a long, sleek metallic vessel that is crewed by strange mechanical creatures with a glowing, handsome, but worn Human man with bright blond hair. As he looks over and sees Quill, he almost seems to laugh as the two bodies pass him swiftly.

As Aila makes this swift trip across the stars, she also sees flashes of old memories. She is in a long corridor in a ship, like the one beneath the Rosewater Lake. Outside are stars and planets, but she is also surrounded by other Elves wearing silvery armour inscribed with Wild Elf symbols and runes, and some even wear tartan sashes across their chests. They march alongside Goblins, Devils, and other unrecognisable creatures – all part of a horde being funnelled into some large area…

With a jerk, both Aila and Quill find themselves in the Medic Quarter of the ship, and their sudden intake of breath causes Greylauno to drop a tray full of herbs. They are both very pleased to find out that they are back on the ship but disturbed to find out that they had collapsed earlier. While they both insist that they feel fine (and don’t believe that they have been cursed by Lady Duskwillow), Greylauno insists that they stay under observation for a while until she is certain that they are actually fine – she even pulls rank on them to do so.

Greylauno checks their temperature and pulse, makes them chew on some sort of leaf that makes them feel more energetic and alert. As the examination is taking place, Quill feels strange – he feels that something is missing, both in his mind and with his equipment. He now feels like he knows more about magic – the bandore is gone but he has a new ring. Aila checks that she still has her hammer (she does) but also notices that when she opens her hand, the silver coin from Lady Duskwillow is there, while Quill’s is gone. Quill had decided that he wanted to know more about magic and less about music, so had used his Duskwillow coin to learn something different to what he had known.

Lucius, Nova, and Sentry arrive at the Empyrean Archives in the busy Trade District of Gusthaven. The archives are quiet but still busy, with robed scholars, merchants, and even a school excursion filling up the rooms - Elven, Half-Elven, and Human children are being led around and made to read books by a very tired, Elven male teacher. Nova leads them to the stairwell that goes down to the dark area where the Dean resides. Behind a dark, curtained door, Nova hears the Dean talking to Helios asking about whether Kalus is only using Eterna to power his Court of Shadows technology. Helios is not sure but hopes to find out more information by travelling with the party. Nova whispers outside the door that this is the vampire lady, but Lucius pulls the curtains aside and walks straight in.

There is a hissing shriek and a call for him to stop from the Dean before he sees, blocking his path and the light from the sunlight globe outside, a 7 to 8-foot-tall glowing lion man made of light. The broad-chested lion grabs the curtains and pulls them closed again. With Nova and Sentry on the other side of the curtain, Lucius is all alone – he can hear the hiss of pain from the Dean before Helios challenges him, asking him who he is and why he is there. Lucius introduces himself before Nova calls out, asking what they need to do to enter without causing harm to Ellessandra. Helios directs Ellessandra to move behind her screen and Lucius sees behind Helios, a very elegant, thing, deathly pale Elven woman with long ears and hair tied up on her head. Shielding her eyes, she steps behind a thick black, lacquered wooden curtain, allowing Nova and Sentry to enter safely.

Once the curtain has been closed again, Ellessandra emerges, patting at her right cheek where a burn is quickly healing. She chides Lucius, believing that a member of a noble family would have better manners than to enter without knocking or requesting permission. Lucius is shocked to find out that Vampires are real, thinking that they were made up, just like bed monsters and closet monsters, used to keep children in line at night. Ellessandra assures him that unlike the others, vampirism is real, that she drinks blood and can poison his mind, along with other things. The Dean says that she would offer him a drink but is sure that her type of beverage would not be to Lucius’ taste – so saying, she drinks from a wine glass containing a thick, dark red liquid. Believing for some reason that she drinks garlic, Lucius tells her, straight faced, that he prefers onions.

Lucius asks about his friends, Aila and Quill, and their current predicament, wondering whether the Dean has ever heard about or encountered something similar. She asks whether there was any magic cast, or poison present. At the mention of the silver thread, she goes to her bookshelf and consults a tome – she tells Lucius that they are not dead but are at the risk of death. She asks for their discretion since the book that she is consulting is not necessarily banned, but research involving it is heavily discouraged. Given her research into the Eterna, however, Dean Vastra must look beyond Aerois for answers, and has done a small amount of research into planar magic. She recognises that the Genasi (pointing at Nova) once got into trouble doing this sort of research but tells them that she has been more cautious.

She opens the book, flips a few pages, then pushes the book towards them and tells them that she believes that their friends are on the Astral Plane, a realm of dreams and thoughts where the mind is more powerful than anything. In the Astral Plane, she tells them, there are creatures that live there who fly around on ships called Spell Jammers. It is the home of the Githyanki, the Githzerai, and the Mind Flayers – a race who once ruled the Astral Plane but have long since been destroyed. The Dean tells them that the silvery thread is the giveaway – a person using the spell *Astral Projection* leaves their material body behind, sending their mind and consciousness (their ‘essence’) to the Astral Plane, and the two are bound by a silvery cord. As long as the cord remains intact, their real bodies cannot be harmed, and if they are destroyed on the Astral Plane, they would simply wake up with no harm done. If the cord is severed, however, their minds and bodies would be destroyed. There are several creatures in the Astral Plane that can do this, but also natural phenomena such as psychic winds can shred the cords. Ellessandra advises against trying to bring them back to consciousness since this may do more harm than good.

Ellessandra tries to explain to Lucius that the Astral Plane is another realm of existence, explaining that there are lands beyond the Cradle of which many are unaware. She points to Nova, telling Lucius that the Genasi are from another planet, called Elementalis{{TRIVIA}}. When Sentry appears confused, she asks them to think about the Astral Plane more as a ‘space between spaces’. When Sentry says that they must do everything to protect Aila and Quill, she suggests that if they could find a sufficiently powerful spell caster, that person could send Lucius, Sentry, and Nova to the Astral Plane, but they would be more powerful than anyone she knows on Aerois, and only Ellois might have been powerful enough, even if he had the required item that was attuned to the Astral Plane.

Lucius is curious about Ellessandra’s condition – she has made a significant study of it and offers the following to Lucius. As a vampire, she:

·        Drinks blood,

·        Is not allergic or harmed by garlic (rather loves it, if fact),

·        Cannot see her reflection in a mirror,

·        Is harmed by sunlight, and it will destroy her if she stays in it for too long,

·        Radiant energy is a particular nuisance, and she cannot heal from it very readily.

Ellessandra tells them all of this in case they ever encounter a vampire on the road and recommends a stake to the heart, although she is not sure if that will work. When Lucius is surprised at how open she is about it all, Vastra tells him that she is a scholar and a Priestess of H’esper, and she is using her long life to study and to share knowledge.

When she advises Lucius that Nova had expressed an interest in finding more pieces of Tiangong and had agreed to taking Helios with them, Lucius is startled and asks Helios if he is also a vampire. When Helios states that he is an Eterna and looms over Lucius, Lucius gets down on one knee and bows – this irritates Helios who does not feel that he should be bowed to as a low level Eterna. He wishes to accompany them to ensure that his leader, Tiangong, is cared for appropriately – he is not impressed with how he has seen mortals treat Eterna to date. The Dean gives Helios her blessing to depart but presses Nova to return with whatever she finds – the Eterna have been her life’s work, and she is now confined within her dark chamber. She wishes Nova to bring them back to speak to her, and she will ensure that whatever wealth or power she has with the Church of H’esper is given to them in return. They agree and depart.

Once they leave, Lucius chastises Nova for not telling him that Dean Vastra is a vampire, but Nova insists that she did – Lucius did not believe that vampires were real, however. Nova tells him that she had read about them in a book by A. Plumbus, called *Undead and You.* Lucius suggests trying to communicate with Aila and Quill using the messenger rings but there is no response and Nova reminds him that the messenger rings only work over a distance of 5 miles. Helios tells them that he has not travelled to the Astral Plane, but he knows of Eterna who had before Starbane betrayed and subjugated them. When they get onto the street, Lucius summons a sky coach to return them to the docks – Helios is too large to fit into the carriage, so he begrudgingly changes his form into a small orange orb that flies into the carriage, where he reappears as a medium-sized lion man.

By the time they fly back and arrive on the docks, they arrive to see Aila and Quill being released from the medical bay. Nova is full of questions, and they tell their story about Paultin, Havilar and her hellhound, the party, and Quill angering a Devil. Quill insists that everything that happened was real, and that this can be proven by Aila’s coin. Aila shows them a large silver coin that has embossed on it a thin crescent moon with a spider’s web stretched between its points. Lucius wonders how something from the mind has been made manifest on this world, but no one knows.

Quill points out that they did travel, after all, they saw Starbane’s ships fighting weird, fleshy, undead ship things on their way back, that are most likely something to do with Hadar. There were also other planets that look like they have either been taken over by Starbane or have been destroyed. Sentry moves to the meeting table and hides underneath it, hugging her knees and panicking. Lucius quickly joins her, believing that they are all doomed. Helios stands behind them in his huge lion man form, listening intently to Aila and Quill babble about their whole experience. When they turn around and see him, he is stony faced, and angry about Starbane and his ships, demanding to know what they know about Starbane and a name that, as far as he knows, has not been spoken on Aerois – Hadar. Helios tips the table and demands that Lucius and Sentry stand – he is angry that they knew of Starbane and have not said anything. Quill insists that they are on Helios’ side and that they are allied with Tiangong but given that Nova holds Tiangong as a weapon, Helios is not necessarily convinced of this.

Quill tells Helios about their encounter in Suvonna where Valla opened and directed a portal to Starbane’s ship. Helios is furious. Quill tells him that it was unintentional, and Lucius tells him the story around it, but neither he nor Quill mentions Valla’s relationship to Starbane. Helios tell s them that they do not know what they have unleashed – they assure him that they do, but also deny responsibility for it and insist that Valla was innocent and randomly pushing buttons. Helios knows that there is more to the story than they are telling him, and he tries to clarify the situation. Quill explains that they had been in combat, and that Sentry had fallen – they could not stop him – in the end they made a deal with Starbane. Helios is angry although Quill tells him that they had no choice (something that Helios denies) – Quill tells him that he would have done the same. Helios, incensed, steps forward menacingly over Quill and reaches out towards his throat with a gauntleted fist – Sentry runs in between the two of them as Quill casts *Shield* which stops him. “I would *never* have made a deal with that man! He betrayed by people! He has enslaved worlds, you cannot trust him or his honeyed words, you fool!” Quill calmly responds that they do not trust him at all, but the deal that they made was required at the time. Helios insists on knowing the details of the deal – when Quill tells Helios that they were given the power to bring Sentry back, Helios asks angrily if the power source was one of his people. Sentry tells him that it was a star – Helios, not sensing any deceit, agrees that he has used them before. When it becomes apparent that only Helios and Oriya know about this, Helios insists that the leaders of the world should be told so that they can fight back if he has access to Aerois – Aila tells him that they are concerned about whom they can trust.

Helios thinks for a moment before telling them that while he is angry, he cannot fault their logic – mortals, he says, do not always make the wisest of decisions. Quill tells Helios that H’esper has informed him that there are people who are aware of what is happening, but they do not know whom and what they are doing with the information. Helios agrees that if the Gods know, they will tell those they trust and that perhaps they have made a wise decision. If the other Eterna on Aerois find out about Starbane, they will flock to fight against him, but he worries that some others may wish to join him. When he tricked the Eterna into serving him, he kept them fed with magical energy to keep them strong – there are several on Aerois who have already died through lack of nourishment, and others who crave the energy that they would be offered. Others have been corrupted by having to feed on living creatures. If it is a choice between dying or serving Starbane, many will choose to serve Starbane.

Helios asks Aila if they are enemies of Starbane – she assures him that they are – and he agrees to fight along side them as a shield but the events that have happened are regrettable. He tells them never to trust Starbane – his honeyed words may try to convince them to join his side just like he did with Tiangong and the Triumvirate to serve him against Hadar. Starbane’s tyranny is no different to what Hadar would bring.

Helios suggests that they find out how Siaska protected Aerois long ago, to find out whether the Cradle hides them from Hadar or keeps Starbane out. There is something about Aerois specifically that Starbane wants. Helios was only a minor Eterna in Starbane’s service, but he was given to one of Kalus’ commanders, and he heard and learned things – while he has taken over multiple worlds and dominated species and planets, his eyes were always turned on and preparing for an invasion of Aerois. Whatever it is that he wants, it must be protected, says Helios, because in Starbane’s hands, it would be a terrible weapon, and it may be the only thing that protects them from Hadar’s wrath. Helios goes quiet and then leaves them to explore the ship and discuss their future plans.

Once Helios is gone, there is a collective sigh of relief.

Quill tries to lighten the mood by pointing out that he cast a magical barrier to protect himself, indicating that he spent his Duskwillow coin that has now given him different abilities. Aila mentions that Paultin was given the ability to transport between his home plane and the Astral Plane and suggests that she could ask for the same so that they could go elsewhere, but Quill wants to save Aerois if possible. As far as they know, planar travel outside of Aerois is still impossible, despite where they have just been, so they are not worried about visits from extra-planar creatures for the moment.

Lucius calls them to order so that they can discuss some serious matters – he is concerned that they are letting out a lot of secret information to people who may be better not knowing things. Aila asks why Helios is even aboard their ship to hear things that they are discussing – Nova puts her hand up to that, saying that Helios wants to find the other Eterna, and she wants to find them and the rest of Tiangong. Aila asks why Nova has brought him along when he does not even seem to like her – she says that he is a Guardian Eterna so should protect them. They worry about him finding out about Nightfrost, and even though he knows that Nightfrost is dead, they suggest not mentioning the circumstances around his death.

Nova suggests that one of the upgrades that they may eventually want to consider is an enhancement to the Captain’s cabin that stops people outside it from hearing what is being discussed and also stops anyone from scrying on the people or the conversation being had within it. Lucius suggested adding something to prevent people from forcing people from their bodies and taking them to the Astral Plane.

Alia suggests that they assign a ‘babysitter’ to Helios – Nova puts her hand up for this. Nova suggests that they tell the crew what roles Sentry and Aila are playing so that they are clear that both are officers and that they are to be afforded all courtesy – she has taken this from another A. Plumbus book, *Ship Sailing and You*. They suggest making Aila Chief Security Officer, and Sentry Morale Officer (or Chief of Happiness).

Before bringing in Oriya and Greylauno for the Officers’ meeting to begin in earnest, they agree that their priorities must be to:

* Gather allies, gain weapons, strength, and abilities that will make them better prepared to fight Starbane,
* Find out what is at the centre of the mystery of the Valley of Storms, and
* Go to the City of Glass – they have been told to return the Sentry unit to the City of Glass, and they think that this is probably most important.

### **Part 2**

*It's time to test out our brand new airship, the Stormchaser!*

Lucius sends Quill to gather all of the senior people on the ship while he tries to work out how to stand for when they arrive. Quill gathers Oriya, Greylauno, Kamarra, Lancion, Howard, Penny, and Lookout and heads back to the Captain’s quarters but because there is not enough room, he has taken them all onto the top deck and had them wait there. He has noticed that Helios had been followed around the ship by three wolf pack members who kept asking him what he was doing, but because of his size, had not wanted to take him on in a fight.

Aila is introduced as Security Officer, of which Oriya and Kamarra – she advises them about the presence of Helios and asks that he be treated with respect. Kamarra points out to Quill that the Wolf Pack will need to know about these things before they happen, otherwise there may be problems. Lucius emerges, introduced by Sentry, and is saluted by the whole crew (except for Nova, Lancion, and Howard, who are all cheering wildly for him). Oriya announces that the Captain is on the deck. Lucius makes a brief speech and introduces the officers. Other than Lancion, Howard, and Nova, who are all enthusiastic, the rest are a bit nonplussed, wondering what is going on, given that they already know all of this.

Oriya asks the Captain to explain their mission and what their rules of engagement are – she asks if they will be pirates, mercenaries, tourists, or something else. He explains that the Stormchaser was built for stealth and secrecy, and that their mission is a need-to-know basis. He assures them that they will be performing a critical function that will be preventing problems of a grand nature. Lucius reveals that they will be in danger, flighting against things that have never been seen on Aerois and may pose a greater threat than anticipated – he offers to let any of them withdraw from the mission now, they may. Kamarra and her pack do not wish to leave, and Lancion is keen (believing that he is meant to be there because his Celestial told him that he had a great destiny). Penny (a Human woman from Suvonna, who is dressed in furs and leathers) says that she has spent her whole life fighting monsters in the lowlands of Suvonna, so she does not mind being around if the pay is good, and Lookout is happy to serve.

Lucius asks them to prepare to set sail and invites Oriya and Kamarra to his ready room to discuss it – Oriya dismisses the crew and tasks them with preparation for their first flight. When they enter the room, there is an incomplete map of Aerois on the table which belongs to Quill, and he has had this for some time. Quill tells them that they are going to Gisella and Gusthaven is currently just past the Starfall Archipelago, near Jakkesh – Oriya tells them that Gisella is some distance away. Quill says that they are looking for the ruined city of Kamina which they may be able to see from the air if they fly over Gisella.

Oriya tells Quill that the airship is faster than a sea vessel but is more prone to bad weather and they may be beset by flying creatures. The ship cannot fly at exceedingly high altitudes – Gusthaven is the highest that it can reach, and it cannot fly at that height but must descend to be able to fly. Oriya recommends heading west (in the direction of the flow winds or the elemental winds) which should speed their journey somewhat, so much of their time will be spent travelling over the oceans before they appear over the southwest of Gisella. Nova is excited to hear if they will pass by Vortinssar – they will not, but they will be closer than if they go east. If they head eastwards, however, they would need to circumvent the Maelstrom (where Atelicus split Aerois) before they pass over Suvonna and could stop in Goldthrone (where Nova would like to pick up the Wyvernhide Armour if Arval has not sold it off). If they go to Gisella, they could use Immixan as a port for the airship where they could refuel and gather supplies. As it is, Oriya says that the distance is so great that they would be flying on aetherium fumes. Quill reminds them that when they heard the voice from Sentry, it told them that the Messengers would guide the way – he suggests that they look for a Messenger outpost in Immixan that may be able to direct them further. Lucius wants to go to Goldthrone – there are multiple other tasks that they have there, so he thinks it best to go to Immixan via Goldthrone.

Oriya plots their course – they will travel south and go along the southern edge of Jakkesh, cross the Starfall Archipelago, head to Suvonna and Goldthrone, and then on to Immixan.

Before they head off, Quill sells the Thunderstone Pistol for 400g, Nova sells her opal scrollcase and two silver bars for 400g, and Lucius sells his Force Claws for 1,000g. Sentry acquires 8 featherfall tokens (giving one each to Lucius and Aila and keeping one herself) – the rest she puts away as a backup because she is terrified of falling off the ship. Nova spends 1,000g acquiring a research library and cartography tools, much of which is carried aboard by various bemused members of the Wolf Pack. They realise that they will need to acquire some lockable bookshelves due to the movement of the ship, but they can get this done in any major city if they have enough time.

They let loose from Gusthaven and the aetherium engine hums with power and it vibrates up through the wooden decks. The sails begin to glow faintly with golden light as the force and energy fills them, the lines become tight, compelled by an invisible force, and the Stormchaser begins to lurch away from the dock, dipping lower and starting to sail. Oriya turns the great wheel, banking the ship and making it descend through the fluffy white clouds that surround Gusthaven – the dark wood and dark sails swirl with the black smoke of the Nightfrost-style enchantment. Lucius stands at the helm with Oriya watching Gusthaven disappear above them.

Nova is in centre of the ship beneath the two main masts – one is for the backup engine and currently non-functional, but she knows that the power from the working aetherium core is channelled up the mast and into the sails. Around her are a number of sleek metal consoles with crystals and tubes, and on each console are etched runes in different colours to show statuses. Lily and Sprocket have taught her how to read them – she can see that the engine is running efficiently at full power, fuel is being burned efficiently, and the redundant engine is ready to be switched over to when needed.

Quill sends an illusory two-dimensional copy of his map from the navigator’s quarters to Oriya at the helm (almost like a head up display).

When the ship dips beneath the cloud line and the fluffy white clouds begin to rise above them, the protective barrier of Gusthaven is removed and they are hit suddenly by a cold, buffeting wind and intense pressure. They hold on for a moment as the ship plunges downwards, trying to get to a place where the atmosphere is less thin, all the while with the nimble wolf pack hauling in sail lines and checking the engines and other devices.

They level off reasonably quickly, however, into a grey, cloudy day, and staring over the wide, flat ocean that seems to extend for miles around. On the port horizon, faintly in the distance, they see islands that must be the Starfall Archipelago, and above them they can see the very lowest parts of Gusthaven poking through the clouds – visible are the ramshackle wooden platforms held by iron chains and wooden houses of the Chains, as well as the aetherium nets used to capture the precious metal from the clouds.

The ship sails uneventfully towards Goldthrone for the first three days, and they make sure that everything runs properly. Oriya breaks up a couple of fights among the crew. On the fourth morning, Lookout advises Quill that he has spotted a small settlement on the horizon that appears to have been built into the ocean itself – he has seen a number of geocentric rings that rise from the ocean and there are a number of Humanoid creatures fighting with some sort of sea creatures. He thinks that the Humanoids are Orcs. Lookout then returns to the small observation post that he has created in the prow, sits down, locks his legs into it, and then resumes staring out the front of the ship. Quill follows Lookout and reports to Lucius and the others via messenger ring what is happening, asking whether they wish to stop or to fly on to complete their own mission. Quill can see that they will be over the conflict area in a few minutes, and he spies concentric stone rings that sit out of the ocean on stone plinths. On top of the rings is a settlement – small wooden shacks, walkways and platforms, fishing nets hanging off the sides. Around the stone pillars supporting the rings, small docks have been built, and there are many small Orc vessels nestled around the docks. The rings look ancient, but the settlement appears to be new.

It is clear that the Orcs are working with strange fish-like people (who are Humanoid in shape but have fins for hair, webbed feet and hands, and are wearing seashell armour) are fending off some sort of attack from hideous, bulbous, fish-eyed creatures coming from the sea. Many of the sea creatures are riding sharks, and several of them are using magic. There is also one enormous shark that is destroying the Orc ships and tearing apart the docks. Quill recognises the Orcish allies as Tritons and he sees that the battle is going badly for them – there is one Triton woman leading the attack of the giant shark, a mermaid-like princess with glittering hair, shell-like armour, and carrying a trident and shield.

Quill recommends lowering the ship and using the ballista to assist – Lucius agrees and asks him to inform Oriya, who begins to prepare the crew. Penny moves to the ballista at the bottom of the ship, and they hear a cheer come from the Orcs and Tritons when it is clear that they are coming to assist. Some of the fish creatures (Sahuagin) who are mounted on sharks raise their spears in challenge at the approaching airship – they see that many of the sharks have saddles made from shell or some sort of leather with reins made from thick, sinuous seaweed. Some of the more feminine Sahuagin start pointing at the ship.

Knowing that the ballista’s range is 120 ft and accounting for the movement of the ship, Oriya takes them to 110 ft away. They see that there are as many as four dozen of the Sahuagin, many of which are trying to climb up ladders to get to the settlement, and these are being fended off by the Orcs and Tritons (successfully for now). The Wolf Pack pull out longbows and prepare to fire once they are given orders about their target. Penny makes an astounding shot at the giant shark, embedding a ballista bolt deep into its head – this injures and angers it, but does not kill it. The giant shark is controlled by one Sahuagin and dragging the four females behind it on floating vehicles – when the shark is injured, the four female Sahuagin snap around and point directly at the ship as a result.

The giant shark, angry, goes on a rampage and tears through a quarter of the small boats that are remaining before swallowing one of the two guards with the Triton woman. They know that they must destroy the shark quickly or it will destroy the settlement – Sentry casts *Moonbeam*, which injures and enrages the giant shark further. Lucius realises that the female Sahuagin are priestesses and leaders of the attack – he casts *Firebolt* and hits one of them who shrieks as she is singed by the fire. Lucius yells to anyone who can hear that they need to focus fire on the priestesses although Aila disagrees, saying that they need to destroy the giant shark. Nova aims for the same priestess that Lucius has hit, managing to hit with one bolt of *Eldritch Blast*.

The four priestesses, seeing the Stormchaser as the biggest threat, all point up towards the ship and cast *Guiding Bolt.* Nova *Counterspells* one of the priestesses… (to be continued next episode)

## **YouTube Timestamps**

0:00 Start
1:00 sponsors
1:20 It’s not easy
7:39 Intro Video
8:40 Recap
9:56 Weee begin with one shot canon
12:08 Such a high roller
19:01 Aila and Quill travel back to Aerois
21:37 Spelf
24:42 Quill re-class cleric / bard wizard
26:57 Expert Vampire consultation
34:10 Astral magic explained (Forbidden Lore)
38:29 Whelp Ellois can’t help….
44:02 Such an author
46:35 And everyone is back… so many questions
48:38 X-men 2002 reference by mark, smh
52:00 ohhh….Helios is right there & Lore drop
1:05:56 Selphie-Nova hybrid
1:07:27 Well this world’s f\*\*ked, let’s bounce
1:08:47 Official rules of the official ship with the official salute
1:10:37 Aila’s a delight
1:14:24 Another A.Plumbus classic
1:18:40 Break starts
1:19:15 Fanart Video & Music
1:30:38 Break ends & Kim’s here!
1:31:30 Jumping back in
1:35:13 Salute sign language
1:44:57 Captain’s grand entrance & Cringe speech
1:53:02 Ooo… wrong person, greatest captain
1:53:31 The curse of the red shirt, o7 press F
1:55:16 Aerois MAP!
2:06:23 Personal potions
2:07:13 Lucius has such a great memory….
2:10:02 Famous last words
2:11:57 Set sail
2:13:17 Damnit Quill
2:13:54 Lucius’ “fond” farewell to Gusthaven
2:17:09 DUN DUN
2:18:42 Lookout
2:19:45 Tom’s Karma/Mark’s vengeance
2:27:11 Preparing to poon the sharks
2:28:44 Initiative
2:32:18 Poon the giant shark, nat 20
2:34:46 Nat 20
2:38:35 Cliffhanger ending
2:40:20 Donations

## **Featured Characters**

#### **The Stormchasers (Player Characters)**

* Aila
* Nova V'ger
* Lucius Virion-Elluin Elenasto
* Qillek Ad Khollar
* Sentry

#### **Returning NPCs**

* Oriya
* Kamarra
* Greylauno
* Dean Ellessandra Vastra
* Helios

#### **Mentioned NPCs**

* Kalus Starbane
* Lady Duskwillow
* Hadar

## **Featured Locations**

* Gusthaven
* The Stormchaser

## **Trivia**

* Kim was absent for the first half of the episode, arriving for the second half. Mark played Nova in part 1.
* Mark refers in the opening description of the party being in the Officers’ Quarters – they are, in fact, in the Captain’s Quarters. He also refers to the crew seeing Aila and Quill fall to the floor, but other than the party, the only person there from last session is Oriya. Mark later states that only Oriya and Kamarra are in the room with them.
* Quill used his Duskwillow ring to change from a Cleric/Bard dual class to a Cleric/Wizard dual class. Aila chose not to use her Duskwillow coin at this stage. She would later use it (to great effect) in Episode 138: Enemy of my Enemy. Many fans questioned and pressured Katie to use the coin between these two episodes, but she had a plan for when to use it.
* Inconsistency: Mark says that the Genasi once came from a planet called Elementalis. This becomes Genas later.
* Dean Ellessandra Vastra is not harmed by garlic but loves it – she tells Lucius that this common belief is a fallacy. She still cannot see her reflection in a mirror, however.
* Nova tells Lucius that she has read about vampires in a book by A. Plumbus, *Undead and You.*
* Mark tells a joke: What happens to a Mind Flayer when it gets hit by a bolt of lightning? The same thing that happens to everything else. (This is an X-Men 2002 reference according to Mark).
* The reason that the astral travel worked for Aila and Quill (despite the Cradle being in place) was to do with the way that they got to the Astral Plane and back (the Orb).
* Nova’s suggestion of a “cone of silence” and anti-scrying field for the Captain’s quarters was suggested by Mark. He said that Kim would get the reminder in the notes from the session, or that Discord would tell her.
* Nova later reveals that she has read another book by A. Plumbus, *Ship Sailing and You*, that says that there must be clear lines of hierarchy on a ship so that in an emergency, people know whose orders to follow.
* Lucius refers to Kamarra as Calianna (then Celebrimbor). Mark does a good job of appearing confused. After being told that he needs to remember the names of the crew, and saying Kamarra’s name several times, Lucius then refers to her as ‘Kelmara’ and ‘Special K’.
* Mark advised that the Hadar ships that Quill and Aila would have seen look very much like Tyranid Hive Fleets from Warhammer 40K.

* Kim discovered that if the Stormchaser salute had been a little bit lower, it could have been confused for the American Sign Language symbol for “bitch”.
* Oriya has taken a shine to Lancion and has taken him on as a First Mate’s assistant.
* Penny Maywild spends most of her time on the prow or on the masts and focuses on maintaining the ballistae (including ammunition).
* Lucius asks if Lancion is wearing a red shirt – Mark says that he is now. This will become relevant in episode 185.
* Mark and Kim had agreed that Vortinssar was in Jakkesh in “the top quarter”.
* There was much confusion from fans where people thought that Solwynn, the City of Glass, and Volcanos were the same place. This may have been because the attendant of Valena told them that the Prime is in Volcanos, a facility of Solwynn. By comparison, the voice that they heard when Sentry was “dead” told them that if the unit was damaged to bring it to the City of Glass.
* The Maelstrom is the spot where Atelicus split the world when Siaska died. It is a place of turbulent winds and waters and is dangerous to traverse so most ships go around it.
* The Thunderstone Pistol is not worth a huge amount of money because, although they are rare, most people do not know how to use them, so they are bought more as a collector’s item. They are seen as relics of the war and seen as historical artifacts. Quill sells it for 400g.
* Featherfall tokens are often bought by the nobles of Gusthaven “in case I get drunk and fall off the side again”. You keep one on your person, they are one use and do not need to be attuned, when they sense you falling a great distance (more than 10 feet), they activate automatically. They cost 50g each to purchase.
* Tom misspoke the name “Lookout” and Mark got his revenge from episode 42 when Tom made fun of him for it. (YT 2:19:45)
* Kim gets very excited at the end of this episode because she has a new library, and there are lots of Star Trek references – they talk about communicators (messenger rings), Oriya being “Number One”, not getting involved in someone else’s fight as the “Prime Directive”, Eldritch Blast from an airship being compared to phasers, and Tom’s Guiding Bolt being compared to photon torpedoes.
* Mark describes the Triton princess as “very Atlanean from Aquaman”, and the fish creatures as being like Murlocs from World of Warcraft. The fish creatures do not sound like Murlocs but make a noise like “Sahuagin”. (*I wonder what those creatures are? ~Crispi)*
* The ballistae on the Stormchaser have 120 ft range.

## **Quote**

Dean: I would offer you a drink, but I’m sure that you would find my choice of beverage a little not to your taste.

Lucius: Garlic! Garlic liquid!

Mark: She holds a wine glass of a dark red liquid. (She drinks)

Lucius: I’m fine, thank you. I prefer onions.