Aerois - Episode 106: The Valkyrian Ploy

Katie Morrison as Aila

 Kim Richards as Nova V'ger

Rhiannon Frost as Sentry

 Tom Hazell as Qillek Ad Khollar

**The Valkyrian Ploy** is the 106th episode of the Aerois Campaign. It was broadcast live on both the Yogscast Twitch channel and highrollersdnd Twitch channel on 28th March 2021 from 5PM to 8PM BST.

*We're here. The Aerosian Defense Summit begins...will it run unimpeded?*

## **Summary**

### **Announcements**

* Mark welcomes everybody and introduces the players, now with new microphones!
* The episode has two sponsors this week, D&D Beyond and NordVPN
* Mark thanks everybody that donated on their Thursday charity stream for Cats Protection, The Barovian Detectives Club

### **Recap**

*"The crew of the Stormchaser have travelled to the sky city of Horizon, a bustling aerial metropolis, protected by a powerful sorceress called Dannica Bloodfire. They have come to meet with the leaders and representatives for the forces of Aerois to discuss the threat of Kalus Valkyrian and his planar empire. After tearful but joyous reunions with old allies and loved ones, the party stepped into the political ring and met with the dignitaries that have been assembled - some known, many new. Security has been tight, but has it been enough to prevent any potential attack?*
*Now it is time for the Aerois Defence Summit to begin..."*
### **Part 1**

*The Stormchasers try to discover how the Valkyrian Empire will interfere as the meetings begin in Horizon!*

Sentry dreams:

> *She floats amidst the golden river of Guardian spirits within the Prime Matrix. One of them grows brighter and larger than others: she is pulled in its wake. Root's memories flow through her as she is dragged behind his spirit. Sentry, in Root's place, stands on an alien world, a plane of radiant mountains and golden cities. Armies of angelic beings, elves with tattoos and swirling elemental magic, as well as ranks of gleaming guardians, made of metal, stone and plants, their echoes hovering and floating around them. All of these armies stand behind a dozen or more figures that stand impossibly tall and bright: men, women, others who are both or neither, some are more bestial or abstract in their appearance, but they are all brilliant and luminous, greater than any living being can be, and she knows that they are divinity. Yet, they are mourning, and emotion is high amongst them as they grip weapons or conjure primal magic. Beyond these figures, Sentry can see the sky of this alien world, and beyond that sky would normally be the stars, but it is now filled with a writhing, dead, grey mass - a million toothy maws and grasping tentacles, and at its centre, a humanoid figure, glowing red and laughing. The divine beings let forth a bellowing cry in a language she doesn't speak but its meaning reaches her heart - "we fight for all life" - and in a flash, they explode into action, launching up into the sky, leaving trails of luminous light, the angels and the elves all follow. Sentry, as Root, raises her sword, and the Guardians ready themselves around her: she connects their essences to the Prime Matrix, ready to absorb their spirits should they fall, so that they can be reborn again. Root's voice calls out, "'TIL ALL ARE ONE!"* The visions fade.
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Quill dreams:

> *The storm around him buffets his wings and blinds him. The swirling winds are thick and grey, and he cannot stop himself from spinning as if caught in a vortex. A number of air currents pull at his feathers and talons, and he sees there lines like coloured threads with his Eye of the Storm. One pulses with a violet magic, one with a shimmer of starlight, another glows red and dark, the fourth crackles with lightning, and the last is soft pink with a touch of gold. Quill first reaches out for the thread of lightning: it cracks like thunder, and he sees a model of the Stormchaser, his airship inside a glass bottle. The bottle is adrift in a vast, dark sea and many hands reach out to push it or guide its journey. Some try to submerge the bottle beneath the dark waters, others try to pull it up and free and into their grasp. Inside the bottle, a storm rages, wind swirls and bright colours of blue and orange fill it with light. The glass of the bottle cracks, but it does not break. This vision fades and Quill then reaches for the thread of starlight: it bursts into a cloud of brilliant motes of light and Quill finds himself standing in a bedchamber made of glass. A woman, dark skin and hair like the Astral sea, sleeps in a bed atop white silks. Blood pools beneath her, staining the white silks red: it drips down the glass bed and then falls like rain onto a world below him. She smiles, though, "All I have, I give to those I love: myself, my power, my life". This vision fades, and Quill lastly reaches for the dark red thread: it fills Quill's mind with horrific sights. He sees the armies of Aerois fleeing from a great, tentacled mass of dead grey flesh that fills the sky; Guardians, Elves, Dwarves all cry out for him to save them before they are grasped and flung into the gnashing teeth of a million mouths. Their bodies, their souls, the very memory of them erased from the world, and watching it all from a realm of dull, red light, a twisted palace of sinew and flesh, sat upon a throne of teeth, a figure watches it all. They are humanoid in shape, but lack any features beyond a great, wide mouth and a pair of soulless, white, spiral-like eyes. They smile as the mouth opens wide and begins to devour him, but in the dark void of its mouth, Quill sees a glint of light: a sense of hope. He sees flickering black and white images of himself and his friends stood at the helm of a ship facing away towards a distant star. Three figures join him, a man and two women. The vision fades. Quill reaches out for the next thread, but the winds pull him away and he finds himself waking, uncertain of what those last two threads may have given him a glimpse of.*
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Lucius wakes early and checks on the rest of the party as well as Arval and Petal, who are staying with them in their apartment. Everyone else awakens as normal (to Lucius banging crockery together) to a fresh new day. Nova bursts into the room with armfuls of scrolls, and looking disheveled: it is clear that she hasn't slept and has been trying to work out all possible permutations and combinations of what could happen with Starbane and Xarkira at the meeting. Nova suggests that they may take advantage of the world leaders being in Horizon and attack elsewhere, or that the Halls of Resplendence could be attacked, possibly by Project Vanguard. Lucius suggests that they cease speaking out loud because no one knows who is listening, so they have a conference using the messenger ring. Quill says that he could find out where Project Vanguard or Starbane are - the question he had asked had showed no battalions in Horizon, nor was there a giant mech besieging the city. Nova worries that perhaps Starbane would attack from the inside, but Lucius says that there is so much security here that there should be nothing to worry about. Quill considers using the Eye of the Storm to get more information, Nova thinks about scrying some of the more important players, but Quill worries that they will be shielded or that it would trigger and alarm of sorts. Quill uses the Eye to ask "where in Aerois does the Valkyrian Empire intend to attack during these meetings?" - but he sees nothing as the question cannot be answered. Sentry wonders if Starbane will just show up and try to negotiate. Nova asks if they should mention the Wings of Ishtar and their possible mission on the Tassadar - Quill says it depends on how much they trust the people in the meeting, which Nova doesn't, at all: they decide not to share this information for now. Nova has included the following on her data crystals: brief reports of their engagements with Xarkira in the Coldlight Depths, the Twilight Corals, the Temple of H'esper, in Ironwick and the ship under the lake with Damos, Aegis V and the operations there including the use of cloning to create soldiers, the destruction of Alfheim due to the use of the world engine, the map of the Astral Sea and the Empire and all the tactical information that they have received including the information they gathered at Shadowsong Pinnacle, especially with respect to Project Vanguard. Lucius asks Arval if he has any tips for the meeting as a businessman. Arval tells them that they should know their priorities: look at what they need and what they want. They will probably have to compromise, and they need to be prepared to compromise themselves.

Reyn collects them to take them to the summit: they advise that Dannica will be opening the meeting to give an overview of the current situation, Starcaller Navireen will then discuss matters of divinity and The Cradle, the Dragons will confirm some of the military aspects of Valkyrian's forces, and then the party will be called upon to make their initial statements about their encounters with the Valkyrian forces. Aila reminds them, telepathically, to use the messenger rings if they need to. Reyn leads them to a room with opaline doors, and following some signs and counter-signs, they are allowed into the summit. The room is like a giant round table; there is one high-backed chair shaped from brass, decorated with a flame motif, and sitting in it is Dannica Bloodfire. All other dignitaries are there already, the party are the last to arrive. There is a large map of Aerois in the centre of the table, and there are scribes and attendants, as well as sheaves of paper and inks available.

Dannica creates a halo of fire along the ceiling and welcomes everyone to the meeting, introducing herself as the chair of the meeting: she insists on respect and says they are all under her protection. She says that they will be discussing the future of their world against a grave threat that only a few of them can understand. They will be discussing the potential invasion of Aerois by one Kalus Valkyrian, also known to the people of Aerois as Kalus Starbane, and that they know the weight of the forces that he can throw against them. She adds that Kalus is not the only threat, and talks about an extra-planar being called Hadar (not mentioned in the histories or stories of Aerois), and a threat against which the Valkyrian Empire claims to stand - she then adds that the Stormchaser crew believes that Valkyrian's true goal is to acquire a weapon from Aerois. Dannica calls upon Starcaller Navireen to speak: she reveals what has not been shared with the wider faith of Aerois - that The Cradle is weakening and is likely to fall within one year. The gods themselves have said that Kalus Valkyrian cannot be trusted after destroying Siaska, and that they stand ready to fight, but that there is conflict within the pantheon. H'esper and Sayanna believe that they must surrender their power so that Siaska can return fully-formed and fully-powered. Aerosians had believed Siaska to have been destroyed, but it is now understood that when The Cradle falls, she will be reborn: the other gods are not certain if this is true and may be a ploy - Atelicus, Zephyr and Kellara think their best chance is to retain their power and fight against Kalus. The Starcaller believes this may cause a crisis of faith: if it were to be known, that many followers may lose faith in the gods. Quill adds that Palador wishes to join with H'esper and sacrifice his power, then drops the bombshell that the gods are not, in fact gods, but titans - incredibly powerful beings, but not gods. There is uproar and Quill is accused of heresy. He tells them that Siaska is a god and that the titans are her children, but that they do not hold all the power that Siaska holds: if The Cradle falls and the titans relinquish all their power, then Siaska can be reborn and there may be a true defense against Hadar and Starbane. Until the titans unite, they will not get Siaska back to help them. General Nathiral’amalaz says that the Dragons worship the Great Golden Worm, not the gods, but they noticed that when they came to Aerois, they noticed the difference between Siaska and her children - the gods are not true divinity, but vessels of Siaska's power. There is more murmuring at this. Nova reveals that they spoke with Palador when they returned to Aerois and that he confirmed all of this. Starcaller Navireen is clearly shaken by this information, others such as Duke Rogric, the Speakers for the beast races and the admirals question whether the crew actually even went beyond the cradle. Dannica shuts down the discussion about gods and titans, saying that this is a matter for discussion at another time, that this council is meant to be discussing the threat of Valkyrian.

The Dragons are then asked to speak. General Faelissa’tharas addresses the delegates by revealing that they have consulted with their eldest dragons and the records they have on their fallen ships: Valkyrian's forces are immense - those he brought 500 years ago are but a fraction of those he controls now, and it is estimated that he now has ten to fifteen times the number of forces that he did then. Even should the Dragons liberate Draconis and unite the forces of the various factions, it would be difficult to win because they are vastly outnumbered. Valkyrian cannot bring his largest forces to bear, but he could destroy Aerois without landing a single troop on the face of the planet. The belief is that they will not destroy the planet for fear of destroying the World Engine, which appears to be their goal. The suggestion is that they will have to fight a ground war: they have the advantage that they know Aerois, they have technology and magic, and Kalus is throttled by the number of troops he can bring to bear at once, but despite this it will still be incredibly difficult. Their main advantage was aetherium, which is unique to Aerois, and it is clear that Valkyrian has obtained some from dissident Gusthaven citizens - what they do not have is the means to manufacture it, which gives Aerosians a slight advantage. Her assessment of their chances of winning the war is not good.

The Stormchaser crew is then invited to speak about their experiences beyond Aerois, what they have seen of Valkyrian and what they think his plans and options for countering them may be. Lucius recounts their first meeting with each other and Starbane's forces on the Sparrowblade, and Kalus' subsequent kidnapping of his daughter, Valla. He tells the assembly that Valla is powerful, and that while they believe she is safe, they do not know whether she has been indoctrinated by her father. The Bloodlord wants to know if Valla would make a good hostage if she can be retrieved, but Lucius says that he does not know Kalus' motives or his mind, only that he believes that she may be important to his mission. Nova takes the floor and advises that she has information chronicled about their knowledge of Starbane and Hadar on data shards, which she passes out to the crowd. She tells them of Lady Vale of Goldthrone who was looking for girls who looked like Valla, and suggests that this is something that needs to be investigated; she also tells them of the worshipers of Xarkira in Ironwick who were in Aerois and working with Starbane's forces despite the Cradle being sealed. Nova tells them that Starbane fights with his own code of honour, and that her main concern is Xarkira who is responsible for experimentation which has been violent, gory and horrible (contained in the notes on the data crystals under Coldlight Depths: Twilight Corals); Xarkira has shown the ability to operate outside of the control of Starbane which seemingly makes her more dangerous and concerning. She then speaks of Hadar, saying that there is ancient, pre-sundering documentation of contact with him, that tells of the need for divine power to seal him away in the Far Realms, and that it is likely to take divine power to stop him this time. Nova says that Starbane is at Aerois because he wants to use the World Engine to stop Hadar, but that the last time he experimented with it, he caused the total destruction of Alfheim as a planet; Starbane has offered to let people leave the planet, but it would be under his rule and the people of Aerois would be integrated into his empire. Nova suddenly receives a panicked message from her professor: "Nova, I am with your family. Something is happening here in Vortinssar. My research has been taken. City locked down. Can try to teleport them out. Where are you?" Nova freezes momentarily, but responds with, "City of Horizon, world leader meeting. Send them here now. What is happening? Two Vortinssar leaders here." Nova looks to Ambassadors River and Titan while muttering something about Vortinssar, but they look back at her with a neutral expression. She finishes her speech quickly with some information about their potential allies in the Eterna, saying that reuniting the triumvirate may give them a powerful ally, especially as Starbane uses them to power his fleet. Tiangong begins to glow and asks Nova to let them speak, saying, "I am Tiangong. I was once a member of the Triumvirate, leader of the Eterna, magical beings. We entered a bargain with Kalus Valkyrian to save our race. That bargain was not as expected - we were tricked, however, our race was saved from annihilation. Hadar does not just destroy: Hadar consumes, Hadar annihilates, Hadar erases. That which it destroys is no more: no body, no soul, no memory. Be aware: Kalus may make offers. It will likely be a choice of lesser evils. Nova V'ger is currently distressed, please give her a moment to align herself." Nova is telling the group through the messenger ring of the attack on Vortinssar, when Vicereine Galilea vis’Prieto steps forward and says that an alternative voice needs to be heard.

She projects into the centre of the room an image of Kalus Valkyrian, and it speaks: "People of Aerois, my name is Kalus Valkyrian, though you know me as Kalus Starbane. Your history has taught you to fear me, and rightly so: much of what you know is true, though not all. Today, your leaders meet to discuss me and my intentions for your world, but I would speak to all of *you*. I came to Aerois five hundred years ago to claim this planet, not out of some bloody conquest or tyrannical display of power, but because Aerois is the ***key*** to a far more important battle that ***I*** have been fighting for over a thousand years. Hadar, the Red Star, the Ever-Hungry, the End-Maker, a being so powerful that the gods of the multiverse locked it away in another realm on the edges of the Astral Sea. It has learned to attack from within its prison and has destroyed countless worlds, including ***my home***. It invades not to conquer or enslave but to end *all* life, *all* matter. What Hadar touches is not just killed, it is ***annihilated***, erased from existence. I have been fighting Hadar since before your world was created, holding it back and defending the planes within my empire, but I cannot hold it back forever. Slowly, inch by inch, the red star gains ground, and my forces diminish while its are infinite. Despite Siaska's hopes to hide you away from Hadar's reach, it *will* eventually find Aerois, and everything you know will be consumed. I cannot stop Hadar, not without the heart of your world. When I came five hundred years ago, I gave Siaska an offer intended for you, her creations, to make. She refused it for you, and there was war. Today, I have come to make the same offer I did then, but now the choice is yours, and yours alone; not your leaders', not the Titans you call gods, nor the champions who fight on your behalf. I want this to be your choice, no one else's. In one year, the Cradle will vanish: when it does, I will be able to bring the full might of my empire to claim your world and I will use it to stop Hadar. I *will* do this, I will not negotiate or bargain, I ***will*** take your world by force if I must. But anyone who surrenders to me and my forces will be made into a full citizen of the Valkyrian Empire; you will be given a new home of your choosing from my many worlds, you will be given shelter, food, resources, jobs if you want them or opportunities to do as you wish. You will have the protection of my armies, access to my magic and technology; you will be made equals regardless of the status if your birth or wealth now. My empire rewards those of skill and hard work, not of privilege; your lives will be enriched beyond belief and you will see the worlds and meet people you could not imagine. Two of your nations have already joined me: the Genasi of Vortinssar, long held prisoner by Siaska's laws, will rejoin their home world of Genas. The Sanzesian Commonwealth of Gisella has also agreed to my terms. Both of these nations will be safe havens for any who wish to surrender over the next year: you will be protected and cared for in these great cities until the cradle falls and my ships can take you to your new homes. Until a year has passed, my forces will establish footholds and military advantages across Aerois. If you surrender, and comply with these forces, I promise you a better life will await you, but resist and you will face a swift but merciful death. The choice is yours." The illusion vanishes and the council erupts in anger: there is finger-pointing towards the Vicereine and the two Genasi as traitors, the Dragons are all but ready to start using magic. Nova runs to the two Genasi ambassadors wanting to know what they have done to her family; they tell her that her family has not been harmed, and that Harmony had made the decision that this was the best decision for the Genasi (the decision was put to a vote, and the people of Vortinssar would rather go to their home than be involved in a pointless war that they are doomed to lose). They argue that the city had been held on Aerois by Siaska against the will of the people for far too long, and that Kalus offers them a chance to be reunited with their home world, and for the people of Jassavir to be returned to Aerois. They also argue that Kalus' forces are too strong, that they can defeat Hadar and have new homes and be reunited with their people; they say that Siaska stole Kalus' opportunity to use the World Engine before, and that once he has the chance to do what he wants, no more worlds need be destroyed.

The guards are ready to break up any fighting that may start, but Dannica restores some order and calls the Stormchasers to meet with her personally; all others are requested to remove themselves to their suites.

### **Part 2**

*Kalus Starbane has made his move in the battle for Aerois... how will the Stormchasers respond?*

The ambassadors from Vortinssar and the Sanzesian Commonwealth of Gisella have been escorted by guards back to their rooms before anyone can speak to them. The Dragons are very unhappy with everyone at the meeting except, perhaps the Stormchasers, who are left in the council chambers with Dannica. Dannica, Reyn and Sky Prince Aridan and the Stormchasers re-convene without the other ambassadors present: Quill asks Aridan if he had received any communique from Starbane. Aridan denies that he has, but says that the Magrona family, and possibly some of the other nobles, were clearly in contact through Democles; there is concern that other nations might also now join Kalus. The Commonwealth controls most of the air routes and has many airships, and it is clearly a tactical ploy to bring them onside; Genas may have been a more emotional ploy because of the Stormchaser connections.

Dannica speaks of Harmony, the leader of Vortinssar, and thinks that it may have been her influence that swayed the vote to side with Kalus. Mireeka Ad-Khollar is shown in and advises that Kalus' message was broadcast across every major city in Aerois, and now people want more information and to know if this is true - hundreds of members of the Messenger's Guild are now carrying Starbane's propaganda and are no longer working with the Guild's leadership.

Lucius opines that Starbane did not need an army, just to turn them on themselves. Dannica thinks it is understandable that if faced with doom or a 'better life', that many would choose the better life - maybe it is a scam, but the people may choose to take it regardless. She says it would be costly to re-settle all of the people of Aerois, but so must all out war be, and maybe there is something on Aerois that will shift the balance. Dannica thinks that Siaska may be the deciding factor if Kalus has set the timeline to receive all the advantages before Siaska returns. The Stormchaser crew confirms that they still wish to fight: Sentry will give the Guardians the choice to fight, Quill says they have no choice but to fight or die, Lucius believes that Siaska's sacrifice was for a good reason and he is inclined to trust in that decision. Dannica says it is clear that Starbane is very committed to what he believes, and is terrified of Hadar; she suggests that Kalus cannot see that his theory about the World Engine is just that, and that his fear has made him desperate and convinced him that his plan must work. Lucius thinks that their one source of hope may be Siaska, Dannica wonders whether Valla may be of some help: Quill decides to cast Zone of Truth on all surrounding people, including Dannica and Sky Prince Aridan - all including the Stormchaser crew are affected. Quill asks the question: "*Do you wish to join the Valkyrian Empire?"* Dannica says that her people who will follow her whatever she chooses (but that she will allow them to make that choice), but that if she knew for sure that Kalus' plan with the World Engine would fail, that Kalus would betray them, or that they had a chance to win, she would not be swayed by Kalus' offer. Aridan is not swayed by the pretty words of Starbane - knowing that Siaska opposed him is enough for him, and he likes not the second side of the Empire that the party has reported to him (Azagrat and Gideon Prime). Nova thinks before stating that if she stays with them now, that she will be considered as a traitor by her people: she does not know what to do at this moment. Lucius states that he is with Prince Aridan and Siaska, on the side of Aerois: Siaska gladly laid down her own life to protect them from Starbane, and Lucius would gladly do the same. Aila refuses to stand by Starbane after his destruction of her world; she also stands with Sentry. Sentry swore an oath five hundred years ago to protect everything precious to her, and Starbane took that away from her - she is not going to abandon that oath so that others may suffer the same fate. Quill is then asked the question - he says he was swayed, but there is no good option if they join Starbane.

Quill then uses the Storm Eye to ask a question: *"Does Kalus' plan for the World Engine work in defeating Hadar?"*

Quill's eye goes grey, the fog fills his mind and his vision accelerates:

> *He sees an invasion of Aerois quickly descend before him. Ships come and go in billionths of a second. The planet is torn apart, and at its heart, a device is secured. The Tassadar, Kalus' flagship, flies it across the Astral Sea into a world filled with the dead, grey flesh. Kalus fights, leading the charge, his Tiangong blade in hand as he carves a path toward a fraction of space - one that is oddly familiar - a single, distant red star seen from the helm of a ship. Quill and his friends are not there: Kalus stands alone, and with all his rage and his hatred, and his grief as tears flow down his cheeks, he hurls the World Engine into the rift in space. It is consumed, swallowed, as his fleets and Empire is torn apart around him. Quill watches as the World Engine is pulled into the void and the humanoid figure, featureless except for its too-wide toothy maw, just smiles. As it explodes, it draws the energy in and Quill watches as the very nature of reality breaks and shatters: the Astral Sea becomes merged with the Far Realm as Hadar ascends to a greater level of power than has ever been seen. His tendrils reach out, gathering multiple worlds at once, pulling them into giant maws the size of planets... until there is nothing. Eventually, Hadar consumes itself, and the vision ends with an endless void of nothing.*
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Quill quickly advises that Kalus has no idea what he is doing and that his plan will result in the destruction of everything: Aila wonders how they communicate this to everyone on Aerois, but Lucius says that they just need to communicate the results to Starbane. Dannica decides that given the options, she is now firmly against Starbane and reveals that she has the ability to use the power of her phoenix to move Horizon independently, although it uses all of her power to do so. Dannica wonders if Siaska as a true Divine knew that the plan for the World Engine would not work - Quill's sight is a partial gift from Siaska channeled through H'esper. Lucius wonders why Starbane would not believe Siaska, and should have known that Siaska was capable of such knowledge; Nova has seen an argument between them about Alfheim and its destruction - the argument led to Siaska's death at Starbane's hands.

Quill reveals their final information: that of the knowledge of the teleportation circle that will allow them onto the Tassadar, and the existence of the Wings of Ishtar: Dannica agrees that this information should stay between the few people who are there, and that they should rescue Valla. Nova wants to rescue Tassadar, the Eterna, which powers the Tassadar ship: Tiangong agrees, saying that Tassadar has not been divided to their knowledge, and while he is powerful and 'complicated', removing him from Starbane's influence is advisable. Nova also asks Dannica if she would be able to provide the incredible power that Tiangong would need to re-create the missing shards - Dannica is reluctant to try with her own power, but is happy to try to assist with some of the theory. Dannica reveals that within the next year, there may be an opportunity to get three (maybe four) main objectives achieved.

Dannica advises Nova that it is possible that not all the people of Vortinssar agree with the decision they have made to support Starbane, but that the only way they may bring them back to the side of Aerois is to remove Harmony and the Council. She also says that the Guardians would be a great advantage if they could be reunited, not just for their warrior skills, but also their artisan skills. Dannica fears that the delegation from Suvonna will be swayed by Kalus' offer, but that a civil war on Suvonna would be devastating; she thinks that the fate of the universe may rest on what the Stormchasers choose to do with their remaining year.

Dannica is planning to let delegates leave Horizon if they wish to, but if they stay, she will keep them under surveillance. She suggests leaving the diplomacy to her while the Stormchasers pursue their own goals, and they will be called in if required for 'heroics'.

Nova scries on her family: they are being held by guards somewhere on Horizon along with Professor Whitsong: Nova asks Reyn to find them, and he agrees to send information to his forces to assist in the search; he appears to be very sympathetic to Nova's plight.

Sentry speaks alone to Dannica: she thanks Dannica for looking after Petal/Guinevere and offers Dannica her ceremonial axe, which she reluctantly accepts. Dannica had grown up on stories of Queen Astoria, and when Sayanna sent her a vision of the young girl, she knew who it was, and rescued her. Dannica offers Sentry this: that Horizon was not always called this, but the people were the same. She believes that Solwynn will be wherever its people can be taken: Guinevere and Sentry are Solwynn's true legacy.

## **YouTube Timestamps**

0:00 - Episode Start
1:25 - sponsors
8:12 - Announcements
9:07 - DUN DUNs
10:07 - Recap starts
10:55 - Part 1
1:26:39 - Break time/Donations
1:37:54 - Part 2
2:53:35 - 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

#### **Returning NPCs**

* Arval Dagos
* Petal/Guinevere Astoria
* Reyn Talevir
* Dannica Bloodfire
* Starcaller Navireen
* General Nathiral’amalaz
* Duke Rogric
* Kalus Valkyrian (AKA Kalus Starbane)
* Mireeka Ad-Khollar
* Breeze V'ger (Nova's mother)
* Vicereine Galilea vis’Prieto

#### **Mentioned NPCs**

* Ammadrassos
* Nova's father and siblings
* Professor Whitsong

## **Trivia**

* The team upgraded their audio equipment before this episode thanks to the donations and Patreon support that they have received. They are now using Shure SM7B microphones, running through TC-Helicon GoXLR interfaces. Kim was still using her existing headset.
* Aila refers to the Halls of Resplendence as "The Halls of Fanciness".
* Mark had the Kalus appearance "in [his] back pocket for a year and a half" before bringing it out in this episode.
* Mark makes a point of clarifying Quill's vision: The vision reveals that Kalus' plan does not stop Hadar, but it destroys him only once everything in the known Multiverse is consumed and destroyed. Understanding what Hadar is, however, i.e. entropy, Hadar still exists in that dull void, but there is nothing left for it to consume.
* Mark indicated that he does not want to play out the whole year, but is happy to time skip. He asked the party to think about missions that they felt that they had to do. Between the missions would be jumps of 1-2 months where they group would be attending meetings or fighting small skirmishes that they will win. The aim is to see the important moments, but to get to the end of the year as quickly as possible.
* Mark teased Rhiannon with "I wonder what Breeze is up to?"
* Tom reminds himself that to enter the Halls of Infinite Resplendence, they need two keys: one they have been given by Palador, the other they were going to ask from H'esper. While the World Engine is at the centre of the planet of Aerois, the Halls give access to the centre of the planet and the World Engine. From what they have understood, the Halls are a Divine space that occupies where Atellicus caused the great event that split Aerois apart. Mark describes it as a "God house/realm place - kind of a mystical/religious thing".
* Kim asks about the vision that was granted to Quill using the Storm Eye when he asked, "where is the world engine located?", to which the answer in her notes was "the islands of the Starfall Archipelago. There's an ancient temple made of stone and light, and in the central chamber there's a beam of light from a stone sarcophagus that goes up to the Cradle and to the very core of the planet". Mark explains that 'with Quill's visions, they are sometimes abstract, so while Quill may have seen a physical temple, that doesn't mean there's a physical temple there - it means there's a holy space. Like the vision of the bottle - you're in the bottle now because stuff is happening'. Tom realises that they're 'in the bottle' because they're "trapped" and Mark adds that people are pushing them in all directions. Tom adds that the bottle cracking is the Cradle (falling) at which point Mark makes a glorious, over-excited face.
* Mark teased in the outro/donations that "you guys don't know the half of it with Starbane!"