Aerois - Episode 105: Leaders of the World

Katie Morrison as Aila

 Kim Richards as Nova V'ger

Rhiannon Frost as Sentry

 Tom Hazell as Qillek Ad Khollar

**Leaders of the World** is the 105th episode of the Aerois Campaign. It was broadcast live on both the Yogscast Twitch channel and highrollersdnd Twitch channel on 21st March 2021 from 5PM to 8PM GMT.

*Time to put down those weapons and scrub up for a little soiree with all the leaders of Aerois...*

## **Summary**

### **Announcements**

* Mark welcomes everyone and introduces the players.
* Next Thursday's Curse of Strahd stream will be a fund raiser for Cat Protection.
* Another RhiCap is out on the High Rollers YouTube channel. These are a great way to catch up on the story of the stream. Rhiannon is going through chapter by chapter, giving a rundown of everything so far (plus an update on the status of her home and her feeding/drinking habits). These are great for people who want to get caught up on the story without having to watch 100 episodes.

### **Recap**

*"The party has arrived in the Sky City of Horizon to attend the Aerosian Defense Summit and discuss the threat of Kalus Valkyrian and Hadar. After heavy security pat-down and questioning on arrival, the party met their liaison with Horizon's elite guard, the Velenar: a half-elf man named Reyn Talevir. Reyn gives them a brief overview of the security and rules in place to protect the visiting leaders and representatives before taking them for a private meeting with Horizon's steward, Dannica Bloodfire.*
*Dannica appears as a young woman but reveals that she is a powerful sorceress imbued with the primordial spirit, the phoenix, that allows her to be reborn if she dies. She has protected Horizon since The Sundering, when the Elven nobles attempted to butcher the rest of the city for their own survival. Dannica explains that she wanted to meet with the party to get a sense of them on a personal level: they explain their fears and concerns, and Dannica listens, but makes it clear that her first priority is to the people of Horizon. She encourages the party to go out into the city before the larger meetings begin that evening.*
*The group use this as a chance to track down an old friend, Arval Dagos, a Dwarven merchant whom they travelled with when they first began their adventures. En route to meet him, they bump into another old acquaintance, a centaur herbalist called Rosemeadow, who sells them potions they are desperately in need of. Meeting with Arval is a much-needed and emotional reunion. They explain their adventures and even obtain a suit of wyvern hide armour they had commissioned months and months ago. Arval promises to aid them with his vast wealth and tells them to stay safe.*
*Finally, before returning to the meeting, the party pass by a little shop adorned with plants and magical items called Solwynn's Legacy. Quill spots it and encourages Sentry to stop in where, inside, a young woman emerges and is taken by complete surprisse in Sentry's appearance. Quickly, it becomes clear that the young woman is Petal, the girl that Sentry had sworn to protect back in her days as a guardian of Solwynn. Sequestered away by her mother after escaping Solwynn's destruction, Petal now lives as an adult here in Horizon."*

### **Part 1**

*The Stormchasers are moving on up, learning Lucius' 20 step introduction plan and meeting the leaders of the world in Horizon!*

Sentry and Petal have an emotional moment before Petal composes herself and starts gathering things up, knowing that Sentry will have to leave to attend the meeting - the plan is that she will join them later. Quill had used the storm eye to see what the citadel looked like after three days, and there was no change. The party returns to their temporary quarters, discussing Sentry's past with Petal along the way. They notice that the area of the city that they are walking through has no obvious division of wealth: it is a very vibrant city with houses, businesses, areas for pleasure, art galleries, museums and theatres. There is a feeling of progressiveness in the city. There is a strong military presence in the city with the red and gold dressed guards, the Velenar, patrolling the streets - this increases getting closer to the citadel. Their accompanying guards escort them back to the citadel and the waiting Reyn Talevir. Reyn is formally dressed in a pressed, very prim and proper military uniform including a breastplate, sword and long metal whip as well as a mage's rod or wand. Their beard is shaped into a pristine goatee, and their hair is slicked back - they are very presentable. Reyn tells them that there is a small meeting, an informal gathering, that night for the representatives to get to know each other before the formal meeting in the morning. Lucius is concerned about the dress code, understanding that there will be nobles from other lands represented here, but Dannica has not enforced a strict dress code, which seems to make Lucius nervous. Nova wants to know the etiquette for greeting royalty, and Reyn recommends that he gives them pointers as they head to the gathering; he takes them via an indirect route through the citadel. Reyn mentions that King Telven Rooksilver of Suvonna is a traditional noble, and that proper respect should also be shown to Vicereine Galilea vis’Prieto of the Sanzesian Commonwealth. They mention the Dragon generals would respect strength over formality (as military types). Duke Rogric from Myrskyr is down to earth, and should be respected but is perhaps a little less rigid than most nobles; the remainder can be greeted with simple, formal introductions. Lucius reveals his 20-step plan to meeting important persons; Reyn is concerned by what they hear, almost not believing that the party has really met important people or Kalus Valkyrian. Reyn reminds the party that they are not here to be diplomats, but witnesses - good impressions will help, but the formal protocols are not important. Lucius then reveals that he has 50 steps to a proper greeting (saying that the 20 steps are the quick and easy ones).

They arrive at the location for the informal gathering, noticing that the large metal doors to the room, which are heavily enchanted with runic circles, wards and glyphs, are very new, and there are at least four guards stationed at the doors. The doors can be magically sealed, and prevent scrying and teleportation. The guards cast detect magic, and go through a sign and countersign ritual with Reyn before they are all shown into the meeting room. The room beyond the doors looks larger than it should be, and looks like a royal ballroom: there are tables laid out filled with food, and unseen servants carry around drinks, papers and anything else that is required by the delegates. Reyn as the party's liaison offers to introduce them to some of the delegates: he first shows them to an ember elf and a high elf. The ember elf is Sumar Xemeks Elledovian, Grand Strategist of the Xiphen, while the high elf is Starcaller Navireen of the Starborn Faith: the crew of the Stormchaser is introduced to them as experts on the Valkyrian threat. The party makes awkward bows, except Aila, who is herself and introduces herself - Elledovian says that Aila understands how to behave, but the others do not. Elledovian is a philosopher, scholar and general. Starcaller Navireen says she has heard much about the party, but especially Qillek (from H'esper); Zephyr has mentioned Aila, but she finds organised religion irritating and prefers not to speak to many of her priests (preferring her Orcish priests over most others). Navireen thanks them for their efforts in Myrskyr and for the many lives they saved in quelling the storms - she tells the party that she represents all gods of Aerois, and that like the delegates at the meeting, even the gods are divided on what should be done with the Starbane/Hadar issue.

Reyn then takes them to meet another group, this time a group of four beastfolk: the first is an elderly rabbit folk-woman, hunched over with grey fur and a walking cane, she's dressed well but plainly. The second is a large hulking wolf-like man, broad-shouldered and grey-furred, with a bushy and tattered tail, but wearing and elegant-looking coat and jacket. The third is an extremely tall (7-8 feet) but slim woman with enormous antlers and long brown hair. The last member of the group is familiar to the group - it is Sanna Longears, who accompanied them for a while - she has long white hair, long tall furred ears, digitigrade legs, armoured boots on her feet; she smiles at the group but says nothing. Reyn introduces the group as ambassadors from the various beast tribes: Warrenkeeper Nanna Greytail - Speaker for the Burrowfolk, Grovemaiden Maya Dewstorm - Speaker for the Elk, and Packmaster Hargen Greycloud - Speaker of the Wolves. The Packmaster offers a hand in friendship, which Aila shakes (rolling a natural 20) and this show of strength impresses him; he reveals that Atelicus has spoken to his priests and that he is aware of what they have been doing. The Warrenkeeper moves forward to speak to the party, at which Lucius and Nova wave and call to Sanna - Sanna awkwardly responds and indicates that they should behave properly. The Warrenkeeper advises that Sanna has spoken highly of the Stormchaser crew, but that the Burrowfolk are cautious and loath to be pulled into another war: they consider that they may not have much choice and are willing to listen to the threats that they face. Sanna has a chance to talk with the party and tells them that after Kalie's Rest, she went home to consider the larger world problems they all faced. Quill says that they may need to speak again because of her connection to Atelicus - she says that the more martial beastfolk are the ones he wants to talk to, the Packmaster and the Grovemaiden, and that their people will do whatever Atelicus tells them to do. The Grovemaiden has said nothing for the entire introduction, but has just observed.

Reyn is purposefully keeping the party away from the four Dragons (three of whom look familiar) who are at the gathering in human form; they are talking quietly amongst themselves, but are glancing in the party's direction. Quill is able to read lips and sees Ammadrassos saying things such as, "Stormchaser crew is here", "that's them over there, General", Nathiral’amalaz is seen to say only, "indeed" before they are taken to meet three half-orcs and a wild elf. They are introduced as experts in Valkyrian warfare to Admiral Suntusk, Admiral Stormeye & Admiral Goodwind - The Tide Kings of the Archipelagos representing the major island chains and Orc fleets on Aerois and Morgaen Frostblessed - Champion of the Telethe’Du (Aelseraph Elves) - Morgaen appears dismissive of all but Aila and Sentry.

Admiral Suntusk is a male half-orc wearing an ostentatiously large and decorated admiral's hat, and is decorated with what appear to be multiple medals, but are actually gold coins minted from different eras of Aerois's history or different locations and these are displayed on a naval jacket. He thanks the party for rescuing Myrskyr, a favourite stopover of his, and is interested that the Stormchasers are here to give an expert opinion on Starbane (the party denies that they are experts, preferring to call it "additional insight"). Admiral Stormeye is a male half-orc wearing a tricorne hat. Admiral Goodwind is a female half-orc has a buzz cut on the sides and mohawk with the rest of her long hair braided and dreadlocked from the top of her head down her back, she wears no hat but has a large collar standing proud around her head: she tells Lucius to be more confident and less humble. Lucius mentions fighting Hadar-touched, at which point the wild elf interjects in broken Common, "Hmm. Hadar. Tough? Strong?" - she is tattooed and wears a blue, white and gold tartan. Lucius speaks to her in Elvish and Nova translates for those who cannot speak it, which even the orcs appreciate. Morgaen tells the party that she is looking forward to hearing their information and tactics for countering Starbane - the wild elves of Aelseraph fought Kalus a long time ago and they remember it well for many worthy battles and the internment of many champions of the Telethe'Du to their tombs. She is also glad that there is a real warrior amongst them, indicating Aila, who asks more about Morgaen's clan, and they share an icy and electric handshake. Morgaen inquires about Aila's clan, but she says that she doesn't know, that her clan seems to have disappeared or passed away a long time ago, and that she has never met anyone else from her clan; Aila tells her about her lightning powers, and Morgaen tells her that while they have come across a few wild elves with the power of flame, all of her clan have power over ice and snow. Morgaen offers to tell Aila more about the Telethe’Du, the largest collection of wild elves on Aerois, where most wild elves came to settle; she says that while she has never seen anyone with the power of lightning, she has recently come across a wild elf with the power of fire, Rethra. He has been learning from the Telethe’Du, and had mentioned the party, but is seeking his own answers. Aila offers the information that both she and Rethra seem to hail from Alfheim and that her clan is part of the Lair Dir Lann; Morgaen is familiar with the name, saying it is an old name and that they only have trace records in Aelseraph, a few stories and some stone tablets that speak of the Lair Dir Lann before the Sundering.

They are next taken to meet a trio, one of which is Sky Prince Aridan. Next to him is a shabby-looking man, half-elf part-goliath, tall and broad-shouldered with a bald head, tattoos and long beard, making him look like a friar; his green robes are sewn with thorns and emblems of the wilds, and he wrings his hands constantly and looks around nervously. The other person is a more regal-looking, Viking-looking man with a leather headband, golden torc and bracelets. Aridan calls them over and introduces them to Shepherd Parick, a druid, Representing the Council of Shepherds of Myrskr, and Duke Rogric of the Duchy of Hiljdainen - Representing the Duchy of Hiljdainen of Myrskyr. Rogric thanks them for saving Myrskyr from the storms. Parick also thanks them for stopping the storms, saying that neither he nor the other Shepherds could ever find a way to stop them; his people had had to flee their homeland because of the power of the storms and lost many lives, but now the people have been able to return and the land will now be able to prosper. H'esper has informed Parick that Xarkira was involved in what was causing the storms, Quill confirms it and says that he will have more to say about this at the meeting. Rogric says that he has forces he can commit to the coming battle but that his people consider Starbane and Xarkira to be children's stories of a past long gone, and that no one expected their return.

As they are about to move onto the next introduction, Quill notices members of the messenger guild, one of whom is Quill's mother, Mireeka Ad-Khollar: Quill is keen to avoid the encounter, but cannot. Before this dreaded reunion can take place, Quill quickly tells the party of his previously unknown history: when he fell to the lowlands, he "died", vanished and disappeared and never contacted his family again because he'd failed the messenger guild test and considered himself a complete mess, and didn't want his family to see him with one wing... Mireeka comes up and slaps Quill across the face, angry. She only knew that Quill was alive by chance when his brother checked in a Kalie's rest and heard about a one-winged Aarakocra; they have since been waiting in vain for Quill to contact them to let them know what had happened. Quill argues that prior to getting his new mechanical wing, he was useless and not even an Aarakocra any more, perhaps even better off dead: Mireeka replies that he is not nothing and was never nothing, but is her son and hugs him. She wonders if that is what his brother or sisters made Quill think, and is then irritated that Quill has not even told the party about his family. Quill says that he is ashamed of who he was, but with the Stormchaser crew, he has found a place: his mother says that he always had a place with her and his father. Quill reveals that he was planning to write his mother a letter at Kalie's Rest, but he didn't know what to say or how to approach the situation. Quill didn't like who he was and didn't want his mother to see him that way, but with his new wing and H'esper's guidance, they have cleared the storms in Myrskyr and he is proud, not of who he is, but who the Stormchasers are - Nova takes umbrage at this last statement and gives it to Quill. Mireeka agrees, saying that Quill is always putting himself down despite being one of the best flyers in the family and the spire - he had let his injury shape him, she says he is more than just a wing, more than just a god: he is Quill, he is her son and she is glad that he is alive. Quill apologises again and introduces his friends from the Stormchaser, Mireeka introduces herself and tells them that she is the representative of the Messenger Guild at the summit - she thanks them all for looking after her son and tells them that they are all part of her family now. Nova promises to make Quill write regularly, to which Mireeka responds that she is a good child and embraces her with a wing. Mireeka says that tonight she will tell Quill's father, who is at the Spire coordinating things, that he is alive; Quill's brothers and sisters are not in Horizon, but busy delivering messages across Aerois because airships have gone missing, people are losing contact with villages, and they are working with armies and nations to coordinate battle plans. She hugs him again and tells Quill to listen to Nova, then departs.

Quill seems to think that after speaking to his mother, he's ready to face the Dragons. Reyn tells them that they have been very vocal in questioning the Stormchaser crew's attendance at the summit, and that they are displeased with them. Nova decides that she wants to deal with the situation once and for all, and starts to make a beeline for the Dragons, but Reyn insists on protocol and wants to introduce them to ensure that there are no misunderstandings. They are taken to a group of three Dragons in human form: Reyn introduces General Nathiral’amalaz, General Faelissa’tharas (the blue dragon) and Ambassador Ammadrassos, the copper dragon who had acted as the party's liaison when they flew over Korsadi - he reminds all parties that everyone is under the protection of Horizon and would like things kept civil. General Nathiral’amalaz, who is a six-and-a-half foot tall human man, thin and elderly-looking, he sports a long goatee beard and long joining mustache, and his hair is pulled up tight and bound by a brass circlet. He is dressed in very ornate-looking robes and has his hands folded in front of him with piercing coppery eyes looking down at them. Next to him stands a very muscular-looking woman in sleeveless armour that shows off the patches of blue scales on her skin; her arms end in very powerful hands with bright blue nails that are akin to claws: she is wearing a long dress bottom, and sporting a blue-tinted steel breastplate; her azure hair spills down her back. It is clear that the Dragons are annoyed at the way that the party has mistreated Viz and lied to them. Nova owns up to being the person primarily responsible for the issues between them, but Nathiral’amalaz holds them all responsible as accomplices - he knows that they kept information from the Dragonborn and says that this has made the Dragonborn suspicious of them. The Dragons are not interested in petty retribution when there is a greater foe, Kalus, to deal with - they are concerned only with the safety of Aerois and know what Kalus is capable of, and they know what other threats exist beyond. Aila says they were guarded with their information because they didn't know whom to trust, and that once they became aware of the ILS, they immediately destroyed it. Nathiral’amalaz makes it clear - the Dragonborn are here to protect Aerois and are not allies of Valkyrian, and either the party stands with them against Valkyrian or they are in the way. He says that they are displeased and do not trust the party fully, but they will have to decide whether they trust each other now and fight against Kalus or continue their squabbles: they both know the power that Valkyrian has and the threat that he poses to Aerois. Nova offers a data crystal that contains all of the information that they have on Starbane and Hadar as a gesture of reconciliation: Ammadrassos accepts the data crystal in the spirit in which Nova has intended it and they retire to examine and discuss the data; as he is leaving, he turns to Nova and mouths, "well-played" at her. Lucius is indignant that the Dragons have been high and mighty about the whole situation and barely managed to avoid inflaming the situation; he says that they need to encourage trust without the idea that they need to steal knowledge from each other, they need to unite as Aerois rather than multiple factions.

### **Part 2**

*We've got a few more leaders to meet as we figure out what to do with Arval and Sentry's new charge!*

Reyn now takes them to two Genasi from Vortinsaar - Nova knows their names, but has never seen them before - the first, Ambassador Titan, is a quiet, elderly-looking man dressed in muted browns and greens and some of his flesh has a stony, earth-like texture. He is sitting on a chair, calmly sipping some water and prodding casually at some food whilst quietly observing the room. The other, Ambassador River, is younger, more bubbly and energetic, and engaging passers-by in conversation. Her hair flows around her as if she is under water, her skin is blue, and her eyes are the deep blue of an ocean. They thank Nova and the Stormchaser crew for all they have done and discuss the current goings on in Vortinsaar. Nova asks for some privacy with the ambassadors, and the others step away: she asks if they will take some letters back to her family, offers to give them some notes on Vortinsaar and Jassavir (telling them that she found where Jassavir went), and asks that Vortinsaar provides protection for her family because they are in danger from Kalus.Titan, whose voice sounds like rumbling rocks, agrees to take the letters back and tells Nova that her family is safe because Vortinsaar is aware of the danger, that guards are plentiful and they are watching for extra-planar and local threats, but they will keep a special eye on her family. Nova pulls out a large wad of letters and hands them to the ambassadors.

Reyn takes them to a trio - a human and two Dwarves. The man, King Telven Rooksilver (Representing the lands of Rooksfield of Suvonna), is a dark-skinned, elderly-looking with salt-and-pepper long hair that is slicked back, and a salt-and-pepper beard; he is wearing blue and silver robes and is rubbing his temples. One of the Dwarves, Dalenor Brassworn (Guild Master of the Traders Guild of Goldthrone), looks to be Suvonnan - he has tanned skin and is sporting a big brown beard, plaited hair under a well-tailored hat, and is dressed affluently in a waistcoat, vest and shirt while sporting many gold rings and gold necklaces. Dalenor is arguing with a terrifying-looking figure, Bloodlord Uriyenna Vaschten (Commander of Bloodvale): the Bloodlord is a Dwarven woman with blood-red eyes, white hair, pale white skin, and she is dressed in black steel armour trimmed with red and bones set on the armour like a carapace. She is staring Dalenor down and then continues their argument about land rights to a pass between their two lands; the King is simply rubbing his temples and not getting involved. After some brief discussion, King Rooksilver says that he is looking forward to hearing the briefing tomorrow, but is concerned about the threat that Starbane poses to them: Suvonna was very important in the previous war - it provides much of the food, steel and ore that is needed by Aerois, so is likely to be hardest hit if war comes again - he is hoping that the party may have some solutions to this problem. He invites the Dwarves to go and meet other dignitaries - separately - and requests that the party leave him to get some peace and quiet for a while.

Finally, Reyn directs them to a very tall, regally-dressed Goliath woman who is sitting by herself, taking great interest in the happenings in the room, but not engaging any others. This is Vicereine Galilea vis’Prieto, Representing the Sanzesian Commonwealth of Gisella (On behalf of her Royal Highness Princess Asayaeina), She wears a renaissance-style outfit with a large train dress, large puffy shoulders and a large mantle behind her head; she has long dark hair spilling around her large, muscular Goliath form. She asks the party about the recent occurrences at the City of Glass and thanks them for overcoming the issue of the feral Guardians there, and wonders if the feral Guardians can all be removed from the area. Sentry advises that there are some non-feral Guardians on the way to the City of Glass who should be able to help; the Vicereine is curious as to what Sentry's intentions are with the city and invites Sentry to speak to her if Sentry needs help. The Vicereine is looking forward to the updates to be provided at the meeting: the Princess is skeptical that the Cradle was created by a Goddess to protect Aerois, so they are curious as to why there is now such an immediate threat.

Having met all of the dignitaries, the party now discusses spending more time with Quill's family or returning to Petal. Reyn insists that they have guards go with them and inform Reyn where they are going: he insists that this is for their safety - there are spells that will allow people to listen in on them, track their location or even teleport to them, and these are powerful magics of which they believe the Valkyrian empire is capable. Aila asks if they can bring people into the Citadel if they wish, and Reyn says they can once those people have been vetted, but it would be available only to two or three people. Arval should be easy to clear as he is well-known to King Rooksilver, but they would need more information about 'Petal', who works at Solwynn's Legacy. Reyn recognises Petal as Guinevere Astoria, and says that they know who she is, she was raised alongside Dannica and can be brought to the Citadel immediately. Reyn tells them the story of how Dannica found Guenevere: at the end of her previous life, she received a vision from Sayanna then went and found the young girl, sequestered away by powerful magics. The last thing she did before she was reborn was to set the girl up, making sure that she had a place to stay in Horizon and also funds and tutoring; when Petal was old enough, she revealed who she truly was, the lost Princess of Solwynn. The party agrees to stay in the Citadel and have Arval and Petal brought to them by the city guard.

Nova decides to try to scry on Starbane to find out where he is before the meeting - she casts the spell, but it fails and she knows that there is some effect that protects Kalus from being scried on. Nova then talks to Tiangong who has been listening to the conversations the party has been having: Tiangong thinks that the only chance that Aerois has is to unite against Valkyrian forces which vastly out-power and out-number Aerosian forces; chances of survival are low. Nova asks if there are any shards of Tiangong near them, but Tiangong cannot sense any portions of their personality nearby, though it is getting harder as their intelligence grows to sense smaller potions of itself; Tiangong senses that there is another Tiangong out there (numerous shards brought together formed as Tiangong has been with Nova). Nova guesses that Starbane has formed the other half, which Tiangong thinks is possible: Valkyrian carried many fragments as his own weapon for a long time but also used many shards to power his devices - he understands Tiangong's power as well as their knowledge. Nova then asks if shards of Tiangong would power the Titan Killer that they saw the schematics for at Shadowsong Pinnacle - Tiangong tells her that there was no eterna power source on the schematics, but that it appeared to be powered by infernal engines like the Twinstar Longbow, but that they looked to be enhanced with aetherium-refined products to make them stronger and more powerful. It seems that Kalus has been avoiding using eterna as power systems as Tiangong has not detected any eterna-based power systems for a long time. Nova is concerned that someone else is gathering shards of Tiangong, but they are not convinced that all the shards have been combined in such a manner, but it is difficult to detect other shards: Tiangong tells Nova not to worry that she will lose them if someone else is collecting shards, that their relationship is a symbiotic bond, that their essence and knowledge is as much hers as Tiangong's, and that it would be difficult to separate them. Tiangong warns that this may also be true for Kalus, who has spent a long time with multiple shards of Tiangong and may have a similar symbiosis. Nova remembers that she can also re-form Tiangong with incredible magic power: a high yield of concentrated magical energy which may allow Tiangong to forge new parts of their personality. It may also be possible for Tiangong to attune to any remaining shards, one of which may be somewhere near Goldthrone.

Aila goes looking for Morgaen, and is taken to her small suite in the Citadel. Her bedclothes are piled on the floor in front of the fire, and she is sitting on them sharpening a greataxe. Aila talks to Morgaen of Rethra and asks how many wild elves with magical power there are on Aerois given that she has only met Rethra and that was in Astral space; she is told that occasionally in the cold mountains of Aelseraph, they will find a wild elf with a gift. It has always been assumed that the power comes from Zephyr or Atelicus, but they are called Frostblessed and brought into the clan; they usually appear as orphans or with no memory of their origins, but there is always a strange story about them. Morgaen was found as a baby in the middle of the frost, and when she cried, little flurries of ice and snow would swirl around her so she was adopted into the Frostblessed clan. She says that she has only ever met three wild elves with the power over flame: Rethra was one, the second was brought from Xiphenna to Aelseraph when she was very young to learn to control their fire (after burning down a village), the last was a young man who fought with his fists and feet and a great anger and rage - he had trained his mind with scholars and wanted to know more about the Lair Dir Lann because there were no records of them in the great libraries.

The Telethe’Du have stone tablets that tell of the time that Starbane came and war fell to Aerois: three Elven tribes seemed to appear one day. Siaska said that they'd always been here, that they were the same people as the wild elves and children of Aerois, but the Lair Dir Lann had special powers - powers of the storm with ice, fire and lightning. They fought in the war against Kalus, but after the Sundering, records of the clans vanished, and no one knows what happened to the clans themselves, they drifted apart - there were some roving bands - otherwise they seemed to vanish from the world. Aila says that her situation and Morgaen's are similar, she was found and brought up by the Airdeithe Clan but is the only one who seems to have lightning powers: she tells Morgaen about her vision with Thor and that her power had descended from him, rather than from any of the Aerois gods and wonders if their heritage stems from Alfheim rather than Aerois. Morgaen is curious that if Aila saw her vision in a lightning storm whether she might get more information if she went into a large blizzard; she says that the Lair Dir Lann is a great mystery, that there are only two or three found each decade and that its legends have been incorporated into the Telethe’Du, and she wants to know more. They have a long conversation about what Aila knows about Alfheim, Starbane and their shared heritage; as a scholar, she is fascinated and makes many notes.

From everything that she's experienced, especially on Aegis V, and everything she's learned from Rethra, Aila begins to build a picture that the Lair Dir Lann, the rare elves with the special powers seem to appear every few years. In Aelseraph, every decade a couple of them show up, and the way that Rethra spoke about them they were small in number. It appears that it was when the war against Starbane began that the Lair Dir Lann first appeared and they just seemed to materialise on Aerois. No elf on Aerois displayed the powers of the Lair Dir Lann before Kalus' war, before the Starbane forces came to Aerois.

Aila says that they must reunite the Lair Dir Lann to fight: Morgaen offers to gather the Frostblessed family, of which there are only six or seven, she also offers to reach out to Rethra to see if she can find any others with the power over flame, but she says that she has never seen another elf with powers over lightning like Aila's. She thinks that the majority of the Lair Dir Lann might still be in Astral Space, especially given that Rethra told her that they were warriors who fought for Kalus - it is possible that there are still some Lair Dir Lann doing just that. Morgaen says that they can also unite the other wild elf tribes, whether they have powers or no, and that they will be willing to fight for Aerois.

After two to three hours, Arval and Petal are brought to them in the Citadel. Nova asks Arval if he will put together an expedition to go to the Auric Peaks to recover another shard of Tiangong, and he is happy to fund the expedition, but isn't sure if it will be done any time soon. Petal thanks the party for bringing her in and introduces herself as Guinevere Astoria, she meets the party formally and finds out that it was Quill who found Sentry as she re-awoke. Petal had thought Sentry destroyed by The Sundering - Sentry reveals that she awoke about four to five months ago. Petal tells the story of what happened to her when she was sequestered and subsequently found by Dannica. Quill says that Petal has been safe in Horizon for many years and wonders how they were to keep her protected by Sentry, and Sentry wants her to come with them - Petal says she would feel safe with Sentry, Lucius wants to have her hide in the secret base in Gusthaven, but an alternative suggestion is made that she join them on the Stormchaser, which she seems more interested in. They decide to make the decision after the meeting.

## **YouTube Timestamps**

0:04 - Episode Start
1:08 - Announcements
4:30 - DUN DUNs
5:30 - Recap starts
8:20 - Part 1
1:12:52 - Quill introduces his best friend, Lucius, to his mother
1:40:20 - Break time/Donations
1:46:00 - Past Mark setting up problems for Future Mark
1:46:30 - Part 2
2:03:24 - Lucius makes a joke
2:33:08 - Trott gets excited for Tiangong and Tianwrong
3:02:35 - Outro/Donations
*feel free to add extra timestamps of significant events!*

## **Featured Characters**

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

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

#### **New NPCs**

* Sumar Xemeks Elledovian, Grand Strategist of the Xiphen
* Starcaller Navireen of the Starborn Faith
* Warrenkeeper Nanna Greytail - Speaker for the Burrowfolk
* Grovemaiden Maya Dewstorm - Speaker for the Elk
* Packmaster Hargen Greycloud - Speaker of the Wolves
* Admiral Suntusk - Tide King of the Archipelagos
* Admiral Stormeye - Tide King of the Archipelagos
* Admiral Goodwind - Tide King of the Archipelagos
* Morgaen Frostblessed - Champion of the Telethe’Du (Aelseraph Elves)
* Shepherd Parick, a druid, Representing the Council of Shepherds of Myrskr
* Duke Rogric of the Duchy of Hiljdainen - Representing the Duchy of Hiljdainen of Myrskyr
* Mireeka Ad Khollar
* General Nathiral’amalaz - (Bronze Dragon) - Representing the Draconis Militarum
* General Faelissa’tharas (Blue Dragon) - Representing the Draconis Militarum
* Ammadrassos (Copper Dragon) - Representing the Draconis Militarum
* Ambassador Titan of Vortinssar
* Ambassador River of Vortinssar
* King Telven Rooksilver - Representing the lands of Rooksfield of Suvonna
* Dalenor Brassworn - Guild Master of the Traders Guild of Goldthrone (Companion of King Telven)
* Bloodlord Uriyenna Vaschten - Commander of Bloodvale
* Vicereine Galilea vis’Prieto - Representing the Sanzesian Commonwealth of Gisella (On behalf of her Royal Highness Princess Asayaeina)

#### **Returning NPCs**

* Reyn Talevir
* Sanna Longears
* Petal /Guinevere Astoria
* Sky Prince Aridan

#### **Mentioned NPCs**

* Brookstone
* Dannica Bloodfire
* Kalus Starbane/Valkyrian
* Xarkira
* Hadar
* Thor

## **Trivia**

* Reyn Talevir uses the pronouns he/him and they/them.
* Lucius' 20-step plan to meeting important persons: 1. inhale a little bit (Quill wants to know what happens if you inhale too much, Sentry wants to know what happens if you don't need to inhale). 2. Take your dominant hand (choose one if ambidextrous), lean it forward slightly - extend it (not too much! not too little!) in a gesture that shows respect (not too much! not too little!). 3. You lock eyes momentarily (2 seconds is too much - 1 and a bit is good), then look down at your hand, extend it and offer it.... then there are many more steps after that. If there is no hand, you gracefully move it into a bow.
* Quill introduces Lucius to his mother as his "best friend" after Lucius proposes it first. This delights Lucius who cries, "he said it!".
* Quill says that the Harvest Guard were very helpful in dealing with Brookstone but wondered if they ever worked out whom he was working with. Nova suggested that Brookstone's daughter was probably working for Starbane, kidnapping girls that looked like Valla.
* There was one roll this session, which was a natural 20 (for a handshake), making this the most successful session of High Rollers ever.
* Courtesy of a donation question by Caelomondorion: favourite sweet shop treats: Rhi - sour cherries (later agrees with Mark about the black jacks and fruit salad), Katie - vampire fangs/giant strawberries, Kim - "any of 'em"/fizzy cola bottles/pick 'n mix, Trott - lemon bon bons, Mark - black jacks and fruit salad/fizzy cola bottles/milk bottles, Tom - aniseed balls
* Mark's shirt for the episode featured a picture of a racoon with "Death is coming. Eat trash. Be free." written on it.
* **Continuity error:** the area of Suvonna known as Rooksfield is spelled "Rooksfeld" on Mark's map (available on his Patreon), and is referred to multiple times as such in earlier episodes. After this episode, however, Mark released a written list of NPCs that documented this area being spelled "Rooksfield".