RQG 95 - Apophis Awaits

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## Apophis Awaits

### Players

Helen Gould as Azu
Ben Meredith as Grizzop
Bryn Monroe as Hamid
Lydia Nicholas as Sasha

## Content Warnings

Discussions of real-world racism, discussions of prejudice against fantasy races (halflings) discussions of past childhood bullying, discussions of mass death

## Summary

The party finally find out the secrets of Hamid's past. Hamid spills his dark and dirty backstory including Gideon and death, and the party go to meet Apophis to plead for Sasha to get the Heart of Aphrodite.

## Synopsis

The party is all sitting together at breakfast, and Sasha has just asked what actually happened to get Hamid kicked out of university. Hamid mentions that they met Gideon in Prague, and explains that Gideon and Bertie were very similar, but that Gideon took active pleasure in being mean to people, and was good at hiding it. Sasha’s a bit hung up on how someone could be worse than Bertie. Hamid confesses that Gideon used to be his best friend.

He went to England at the age of 15, and was the only brown-skinned person there, and the only halfling there. His English wasn’t very good, and everyone else at the school was a rich, white English person, so Hamid stuck out. He figured out that the only way not to continue being bullied was to be one of them - he also became a bully, and him and Gideon were best friends. They graduated, and Hamid went to Cambridge, hoping that he could leave Gideon behind. He met Liliana, switched majors to magic, but Gideon was still there, and Hamid couldn’t escape him. The magic stuff didn’t go well for him - he didn’t know at the time that he wasn’t a wizard. He struggled with all the spells, but then they came to him incredibly easy, so he stopped listening to his professors and hung out more with Gideon, who, like Bertie, did whatever he wanted whenever he wanted. There was a single professor that Gideon really hated, and he and Hamid decided to pull a prank on the professor; he asked Hamid to come up with an alchemist’s potion that would pop and sizzle and smell bad that they could leave for the professor, but that’s not what happened. Hamid accidentally miswrote the formula, and Gideon doubled the quantities. The professor wasn’t alone in the room, but he was a powerful wizard and got some of the class out, but not all of them. The students left in the room and the professor died. Hamid was kicked out of university and Liliana dumped him; he thought that he could leave Gideon behind forever, but when he met up with Bertie again, he was worried that he was falling back into bad habits, but he tried to be better. Hamid says that he knows how easy it is to feel like what you’re doing is justified when there’s no one around to tell you that you’re wrong. He says that he feels like Saleh was in a similar position, and thought that Saleh deserved the same chance that he had, but knows that he was wrong. He apologises to them, and says that if they want to leave, he won’t fault them for it.

   Grizzop says that Hamid is clearly learning, and that that’s a start. Azu asks how long ago this happened, and Hamid says that this all happened about a year ago. He says that he left Cambridge and moved to London, and a few months later, ran into Zolf, Bertie, and Sasha. Grizzop asks why he joined, and Hamid admits that it sounds childish but that he wanted to make up for what he did. His parents wanted him to be a merchant, but he wanted to do something more with his life; adventuring gave him the chance to help people. Grizzop clearly appreciates this answer; however, Hamid wonders if he’s even helped anyone. Grizzop asks if he’s tried, and Hamid says that he’s always trying to help, but that he keeps making mistakes, and he doesn’t know if he’s even saved the world. He questions what they did in Paris, because Zolf didn’t think it was the right decision, and the world doesn’t seem to be better for it, and then talks about how he was useless in Prague. Grizzop cuts him off with this line of thinking, telling him that self-doubt won’t help - the point is that Hamid tried, and that’s all people can do sometimes. Sasha mentions that he did hit a few zombies, and that he’s rarely ever sick anymore while they’re fighting. Grizzop gives her a look, but Hamid says that it actually did help a bit, and that he has gotten better. Sasha smiles and nods. Grizzop says that he’s trying and learning, and that that’s all people can do. The point is to do good, and Azu says that they’re all here to help him.

They hear Wilde outside asking if they’re done yet, and Hamid asks how long he’s been out there. Wilde adopts a dramatic pose as he comes in, saying it’s been long enough, and Hamid considers casting *fireball* on him for a moment but then decides not to. He introduces Azu and Wilde, and then Wilde turns to Sasha and Hamid, mentioning that they’re going through a lot of people recently. Hamid explains that it’s a bit of a hard mission, and Wilde accepts this, asking if they’ve got Azu signed on yet. She hasn’t, so Wilde produces the contract and hands it over to her. Hamid reads it over her shoulder to make sure it’s the same contract and it is - Azu signs it. Wilde comments on Grizzop still being there, but Grizzop doesn’t acknowledge him. He says that he’s spoken briefly to Saira and knows that the party has requested an audience with Apophis to speak about Sasha’s condition. Wilde makes a pointed comment about keeping things easy, and Sasha reminds him that she’s on a bit of a timeline for all this. He acknowledges this, and then says that if they’re going to speak to Apophis, he’ll have to tag along anyway.

Wilde asks how they all did get to Cairo so quickly, and Sasha pointedly says that they actually have friends who can teleport them. He says that he got teleported as well, but that it took him days to get here, still, and asks who they found. Hamid explains that they have connections, and no one reveals Einstein’s name to him. Grizzop says that they’d be happy to tell people who they don’t view as irritating and unprofessional, and Wilde quietly mutters that he likes Azu better, because she’s polite. Azu says that she likes him to, and Sasha just tells her to wait for him to make a tactless pun about her death. Wilde says he wouldn’t, but it’s clear he’s holding back on making a pun about that very thing.

Wilde goes to get Saira, and brings her back to the breakfast room. She looks exhausted and unrested, but tells them that they can head over now. They won’t be allowed to bring their weapons inside the main room, and cautions them against using any sort of magic while they’re in there. She mentions that they may be asked to be seen individually - she is unsure of what exactly will happen once they’re there, and also asks them to please be sure she doesn’t regret doing them this favor. They head out to a carriage; there’s more sand everywhere after the storm, but they all step into the carriage. It starts making its way toward the Meritocratic offices, a little ways outside of the city.

The building itself is situated out in the dunes, but is not fully in the desert. It’s an absolutely massive pyramid, larger than the great pyramid of Giza, and is magically reinforced. The building itself isn’t gilded, but is covered in draconic designs and stone renditions of a magnificent dragon. A shine comes from the top of the building, which has a golden artwork on it. The area around it is mostly isolated and empty; there are some smaller buildings in front of the building that are bit more on a human scale - kind of like town hall buildings. The security around the building seems to be a bit lacking; there are a few people going around the different smaller buildings with paperwork, and some carriages around, but it is much more self-contained than expected.

Hamid asks what the proper form of address there is for a meritocrat. Saira explains that some of them are very formal and require titles, but Apophis doesn’t go in for that type of thing - sir would be accepted, but as long as you’re respectful, it will be fine. They make it up to the building and Saira and Wilde step out, gesturing for the party to follow. They do, heading in through the main entrance of the largest building. The doors are gilded and massive, with a smaller inset door that the party uses to get inside. It’s reminiscent, to Sasha, of the al-Tahan mansion doors, except maybe with a few less gems. As they enter, the first thing they notice is that there’s loads of wasted space. It’s a massive, pillared hall, with more people inside, speaking together in groups. On either side are massive mosaics, depicting images of Apophis. The mosaic moves, magically, and is simply to be aesthetic. Everyone notices the party enter and then continues on their way. Wilde strides in; most people seem to dislike Wilde, and he gives most of them two-fingered salutes. Saira, meanwhile, has people rushing up to her to carry on a short, hushed conversation before moving on. The party is shown through to the opposite side, where there’s another set of double doors. They head in and find themselves in a much smaller room, sort of like an antechamber. There are couches along the wall, and the room itself is magically lit.

Saira turns and explains that beyond these doors, they will be entering into the realm of Apophis. She tells the party not to worry about him, and that he’s kind, but asks them not to make a scene if possible. They all agree, and so Saira opens the door to let them into the next room. They head in, entering another massive room, built potentially to house a massive dragon (similar to an arena but with no seats, in terms of scale). Right in front of them is a person behind a desk, used for security. To the left, there are racks to hold weapons, with similar ones on the right to hold armor. There are a few freestanding racks that hold ceremonial gowns, and such. Saira nods to the person behind the desk and trades her overcoat for a gown, explaining to the party that they don’t have to take one but that it’s seen as formal. Hamid goes first, taking off his crossbow and bag of holding, and then dons a gown hesitantly. It magically resizes itself to fit him; it’s white, with a brassy inlay, with patterns depicting agriculture, trees, and farmland. Grizzop goes next, hanging up his weapons, but leaves his armour on. Azu follows suit, also leaving her armour on; the man behind the desk asks them not to move too close to Apophis out of courtesy. Sasha goes last, dumping about half of her weapons on the table. Hamid coughs, slightly, and Sasha continues dumping weapons on the table. She stops, and Hamid raises an eyebrow, and Sasha frowns, then continues dumping some daggers on the table, before placing down her bombs and a tanglefoot bag. The man at the desk gives them a thumbs up, and once again warns them against using magic, since wards and such will go off if they do. Sasha asks if those will hurt her daggers, and tells them that if something happens, they can just call for her and she’ll come running back to get them. The guard reassures her, saying that if anyone comes in, they’ll get a *fireball* to the face; Sasha, mollified, steps away, and pats herself down quickly, before setting down her last knife.

Satisfied, Saira leads them further into the massive room; there are a few elderly men and women standing around and keeping an eye on things, and the light begins to die down more as they get further into the room. She stops them at one point, and mentions that she needs to announce them properly, asking if there are any titles that she needs to announce them by. None of the party have anything specific for her to say, and so Saira heads off while Grizzop starts impatiently tapping his foot. Far away, there’s a shuffling sound, and then Saira comes back. The shuffling continues, sounding like a snake sliding over sand. Coming out of the gloom is an absolutely colossal dragon; Apophis is very stout and long, with four legs and wings upon his back. He is shiny and brass, and each scale looks like a huge brass sheet. It doesn’t move like a human would be; he is constantly moving, either his head or his tail, and his eyes are bright orange and narrowed to slits. He comes closer, still low to the ground, and then his body starts distorting; their depth perception seems to go a bit weird, but the dragon starts to shrink and change as the arms reform, and slowly, it turns into a humanoid shape. He’s clothed in brass robes, and his eyes are still bright orange. It’s difficult to look him directly in the eyes, and the light is actually giving off heat. He continues to walk until he’s about 20 foot away from them, but his hands stay similar to claws. The resemblance to Hamid is actually quite stark.

   When he speaks, his voice is deep and bassy, echoing and booming throughout the space. He greets them, and Grizzop gives him a thumbs up. Apophis smirks, and returns the gesture. Hamid bows his head slightly in greeting, and Azu attempts to curtsy in armour. Sasha gives a bow as well, but doesn’t take her eyes off of him. Both Saira and Wilde have dropped to one knee, and wait until Apophis allows them to rise before they do. Apophis turns to the party and mentions that Saira told him that there’s something they need to discuss. Hamid asks to have access to the heart of Aphrodite and explains Sasha’s condition while Sasha waves. Apophis asks Hamid to step forward; Hamid does, and Apophis evaluates him before telling him that he wears his heritage well. Hamid looks shocked and pleased, and then thanks him. Apophis says that it’s been a very long time since he’s seen someone who shares Hamid’s appearance, and Hamid says that his heritage is expressed more strongly. Apophis asks if anyone else in their family shares it, and Hamid says that he is the only one. Apophis almost seems amused by this; Hamid asks to show him something, and takes the gown off before turning around to show Apophis the family tree on the back of his robe of arcane heritage, mentioning that he is keeping it discreet. Apophis thanks him, and asks that the rest do as well. They agree, and Hamid puts the gown back on. He steps back, and Apophis asks Sasha to step forward, bringing up that she’s asked for the heart of Aphrodite, and asking if she knows why the item has been put into their protection. Sasha says she doesn’t know, but that people said it might help, and mumbles and stammers a bit about how it might be too much trouble. Apophis cuts her off, telling Wilde to come forward, and he does. Wilde seems much more deferential than they’ve ever seen him, and Apophis says to the party that he is torn, since the Meritocrats have good reason for keeping the heart contained, but that Wilde has told him that she is an invaluable asset to the company. No one else can see this, but Sasha notices him wincing at the comment. She doesn’t seem to completely believe it, but Apophis says that they’ve all served the Meritocracy well. Sasha starts to stammer a bit, and Hamid speaks up, saying that nothing that they’ve done would have happened without Sasha. Apophis asks Grizzop and Azu to step forward, and they do; he asks their counsel, and both Azu and Grizzop look stunned. Sasha subtly steps behind Azu.

Apophis mentions that the Meritocrats decision to remove objects of power from the temples was not one they took lightly, and it was not a popular decision. The heart of Aphrodite, in particular, was removed because they have outlawed resurrections throughout Meritocratic lands. These objects were placed under the supervision of the Meritocrats in the hope that it would increase equality and encourage sentient races to develop more. Waiving this decision would be a stand against this long-standing tradition. He asks Azu and Grizzop how they would rule, if they were in his stead. Azu mentions that it is the heart of Aphrodite, and that their creed is to share their healing with all. He asks how they would decide who gets to be resurrected, when people show up in droves, and continues, saying that he understands the temptation, but has no idea how to justify this decision and ensure that it isn’t mishandled. Grizzop speaks up, then, saying that Sasha isn’t actually dead yet - this wouldn’t be a proper resurrection, but instead, it would be using the heart of Aphrodite to protect someone who isn’t dead yet. Apophis asks him what he would do, and Grizzop says that he would immediately use it in this situation. Apophis asks what will happen when people find out about it, and Sasha says that they can keep a secret.

Saira, for the most part, has been stood aside for most of this conversation, but Wilde steps forward now, saying that it’s possible for them to simply use it for this situation and that other people don’t need to find out. Apophis doesn’t look very pleased with that, but Hamid tries to clarify, explaining that it’s a different situation than a resurrection, just like Grizzop said. He says that the rules were made to protect the cycle of life and death, but that this situation is exceptional and that the entire thing is a direct result of her service to the Meritocrats. Grizzop realises something, and asks Apophis (who still seems slightly amused) why they didn’t ban magical healing. Apophis explains that the temples all receive stipends to fund the healing of the needy - healing magic itself is so widespread to be unexploitable. Wealthy people do not receive more or better treatment. However, the specific, more powerful objects, could easily be only given to the wealthy due to the number of components and other items that would be needed for the rituals. He admits that if there was a way to bring resurrections to the masses, the Meritocrats would consider it. Grizzop points out that there’s a reason they didn’t just destroy the heart, and Apophis acknowledges this, saying that he would be alright with resurrection being widespread, but that this opinion is not necessarily shared among the Meritocrats.

    Hamid argues that this is an extension of the healing arts rather than a road to resurrection; Sasha isn’t dead yet, so this would be more of a preventative measure. Apophis smiles, and mentions that there are those who have forgotten who they serve - the people, and then agrees to their request, saying that he will allow them to use the heart to save Sasha. He thanks him for their time, and the party thank him in return. Apophis starts to walk away, getting larger and larger, and then turns, returning. His face is absolutely massive, with burning orange eyes, although he has a benevolent smile on his face. Grizzop whispers a prayer to Artemis. Apophis once again requests that Hamid keep his heritage discreet for now; he doesn’t expect that it will always be a secret, but that it may be able to be delayed for now. Hamid agrees, and Apophis leaves again. Hamid turns to the party, exclaiming about how cool that was.

## Quotes

**Alex**: "I got a plan guys. You ready for the plan? The plan is, no abject misery in this episode."
**Helen**: "You’ve said that for like the past 10 episodes."
―Episode introduction.

"Gideon…was like Bertie…but worse. He took active pleasure in being mean to people. But, he was much much better at making it seem like he wasn’t. He was my best friend. I…arrived in England at the age of fifteen, at a new school. I was the only halfling there, I was the only brown-skinned person there. I didn’t speak English very well back then. It was full of incredibly rich British people, so you can imagine how well that went. I figured out after a little while that…the best way not to be their target was to be their friend. So, I did everything I could to make myself one of them. I became a bully too..and from that moment on, me and Gideon were…and then I went to Cambridge. And I thought, maybe I could leave him behind, but he was there too. And I tried to make friends with new people, and for a little while it worked, I met Liliana. I switched to studying magic. It didn’t go so well. I could never have been a wizard. I didn’t know that at the time. I couldn’t do even the simplest spells…and then suddenly I could, except it was easy when they’d always said it would be hard, and so I stopped listening to them all together. I started hanging out with Gideon a lot more. And by this point, he…well, he was like Bertie, he went wherever he wanted, did whatever he wanted, and tried to make people suffer. There was this one professor that he really hated…and we were playing a prank. I mean, you call it a prank at the time, it doesn’t seem funny in retrospect. He made me work up the formula for this…it was like an alchemist’s thing, it was supposed to just pop, and sizzle, and stink. It was supposed to be just the professor alone in the classroom. I…wrote down the formula wrong. And then Gideon doubled all the quantities. And the classroom wasn’t empty. The professor was a powerful wizard and managed to get most of the class out, but not all of them. And he…couldn’t save himself either. I still…see their faces sometimes. I got kicked out. Liliana dumped me. I left Cambridge behind. I hoped I’d left Gideon behind forever. Sometimes I worried that with Bertie I was getting back into the bad habits, but I tried to be better. I’m gonna keep trying to be better. And I just…I know how easy it is to think that what you’re doing is okay when the people around you are telling you that it’s okay, and you feel like you don’t have a choice, and you feel like just one more thing and you’ll be able to escape. And I…I felt like the same thing happened to Saleh, and I thought I could give him the chance I had. And I see…that I shouldn’t have. And I’m sorry I let you guys down. And if you don’t want to work with me anymore, if you don’t want to be part of an adventuring group with me… I’ll understand."
―**Hamid**

**Grizzop**: "Sounds like you’re learning. And wallowing in self pity isn’t gonna get you anywhere."
**Azu**: "How long ago was this?"
**Hamid**: "Nearly a year."
**Sasha**: "Oh wait, so that would be only a short while before…"
**Hamid**: "A few months, I got kicked out of Cambridge, moved down to London, wasted a few months, and then decided to join an adventuring group."
**Sasha**: "Ah, so nice coincidence that you walked into me getting attacked."
**Hamid**: "Sort of, yeah."
**Grizzop**: "Why did you decide to do this? You know, join an adventuring group."
**Hamid**: "It sounds stupid, it sounds childish, I wanted to…make up for what I did. I thought that…my parents wanted me to become a merchant, I just thought, I’m not improving anyone’s life if I become a merchant."
**Grizzop**: "That is the best answer you could have given."
―Hamid explains why he became an adventurer.

**Hamid**: "I haven’t really made anyone’s life better have I, Grizzop?"
**Grizzop**: "Have you tried?"
**Hamid**: "Just keep making mistakes, don’t I?"
**Grizzop**: "Have you tried? Have you genuinely tried?"
**Hamid**: "Of course! Every single moment, that’s all…"
**Azu**: "You’ve saved the world, so you’ve improved everyone’s…"
**Hamid**: "Have I? Have I though? Cause what we did in Paris, I thought it was necessary, but Zolf disagreed, and clearly the world is not better. And when we got to Prague, I got…I was useless, what did I do? I didn’t do anything."
**Grizzop**: "That sort of self-doubt won’t get you anywhere."
**Azu**: "And the world is still here."
**Grizzop**: "The point is you tried. Genuinely tried. That’s all you can do."
**Sasha**: "And you hit a few zombies with your lights. That’s always useful. And you’re very rarely sick!"
**Ben**: "I’m just gonna give Sasha a look."
**Sasha**: "What? He’s getting better."
**Hamid**: "Thank you, Sasha, that actually…"
**Sasha**: "You didn’t see how much he was sick early on. He’s trying!"
**Hamid**: "I haven’t! You’re right, it’s been a while."
**Sasha**: "It’s great! He didn’t used to like fights very much."
**Hamid**: "Violence was a real problem when we first started. But, I’ve gotten better."
**Grizzop**: "Point is you’re trying, and you’re learning."
**Azu**: "None of us are perfect."
**Grizzop**: "And if you genuinely want to do good, then, let’s get on with it instead of feeling sad for ourselves."
**Azu**: "And we’re here to help you."
**Hamid**: "Thank you."
**Grizzop**: "Your sausages are getting cold."
―Hamid has self doubts.

**Wilde**: "How did you get here so quickly?"
**Sasha**: "We got friends, Wilde."
**Hamid**: "We discussed this. We got teleported. We said we would get teleported."
**Wilde**: "But who did you find to teleport you, it took me days. It’s been a nightmare."
**Hamid**: "Didn’t seem that hard to us."
**Sasha**: "Yeah, people like talking to us."
**Grizzop**: "It’s our little secret really."
**Sasha**: "Being not awful. I’m dead and I still find it easier to have friends than you do."
**Grizzop**: "We might tell our good friends, people that we don’t find incredibly irritating and unprofessional. So, shall we carry on and you can take us to see Apophis?"
**Wilde**: "I like you better, Azu. Just saying. You’re polite."
**Azu**: "I like you too."
**Sasha**: "Wait until he makes a joke about your death."
**Wilde**: "I wouldn’t be so callous."
**Alex**: "You can seem him visibly restraining about three different puns,"
**Wilde**: "So, you know, time’s wasting…"
**Sasha**: "I’m wasting away, ey. I’m wasting away. Cause I’ve got a wasting illness, yeah?"
**Wilde**: "The trick’s not explaining them."
―Wilde continues to annoy the party.

**Lydia**: (*They're required to remove weapons before seeing Apophis and Sasha starts taking off daggers.*) *Clank. Clank. Clank. Clank.* Looks at people, begins to move toward…
**Bryn**: "Hamid gives the slightest cough."
**Lydia**: "*Clank. Clank. Clank. Clank. Clank. Clank.* Then looks very hesitant clanking her favorite ice dagger down, looks at Hamid like he’s ruined her Sunday walk in the park. *Clank.* While maintaining eye contact, now you’ve knocked over her ice cream."
**Bryn**: "Hamid raises an eyebrow."
**Lydia**: "*Clank.* That’s the fire one. Then, “Wait, no,” she reaches behind inside her leather jacket and then, like, three bombs. And then begins to sort of bring the bag of sulfur that she carries and then is like, “ehhh,” that goes back in the pocket. So, that is, I think, all of her…wait, wait…then *Clank*. Cause she had a tanglefoot bag."
**Bryn**: "Hamid turns to go, he’s pretty sure that she’s given them all up."
**Sasha**: "Yeah, that is all of them."
**Clerk**: "Do try to avoid using magic, not because it’s illegal or anything, but we have quite a lot of wards and protections in here that will go off, and it might just cause a bit of a fuss. So, do try to avoid it."
**Sasha**: "Will any of them damage my daggers?"
**Clerk**: "No, no, no."
**Sasha**: "That one’s my favorite. So if anyone comes along, just shout and I’ll come back for them."
**Clerk**: "Oh it’s fine, if anyone comes in unannounced, they’ll get a maximized *fireball* to the face. It’s all good. That’s sort of what I’m here for."
**Sasha**: "Will that damage the daggers?"
**Clerk**: "No, no, you’re absolutely fine, I’m rather good at this."
**Lydia**: "Sasha, like, puts her hands, pats everything, and, like, there’s one sneaky one that’s been sewn into the collar."
**Sasha**: "Ahhh, sorry. *Clank.* Yeah."
―Sasha disarms before meeting Apophis.

**Apophis to Sasha**: "You would ask for the Heart of Aphrodite?"
**Sasha**: "Um, well, I mean, so I’ve been, I’m told that that’s, um, I mean, you know, if I have to die, I have to die, I guess."
**Apophis**: "What do you know of the reasons for us withholding this item."
**Sasha**: "Nothing really. Look, they said, right, um…yeah, they just said that it might, it might help, but if, if, if it’s too much, uh, trouble, then that’s, then…"
**Apophis**: "Wilde, stand."
**Alex**: "Wilde steps forward. Tell you what, doesn’t seem quite so sarcastic or up himself right now, the model of demure obedience."
**Apophis**: "I find myself torn. Our reasons for withholding such items and considered and correct. Yet, I hear from your representative, gesturing to Wilde, that you have proven yourself beyond irreplaceable."
**Sasha**: "What, he actually used those words?"
**Alex**: "The rest of the group can’t see, but you can because you’re beside him. Wilde winces."
**Apophis**: "I believe your words were “singular talent?”"
**Alex**: "He winces yet more."
**Sasha**: "Well, he could mean anything by that. Yeah, right, okay, good, I guess."
**Apophis**: "And surrounds herself with honorable and talented individuals who have been serving the Meritocrats almost perfectly, from what I hear."
**Sasha, muttering**: "Almost? I just, I mean, I don’t know what I could have done better, really. I’ve killed a lot of bad people, probably some good ones…"
**Hamid**: "I have to say, sir, that nothing that we have accomplished would have happened without Sasha. She’s done more than any other person in terms of the accomplishments we’ve made over the last few months. Times when I’ve fallen or started to give up, she’s the one who’s been able to carry on and none of it would have happened without her."
**Sasha, still muttering**: "I just gotta have more daggers. That’s the trick. I just need lots of them."
―Apophis addresses Sasha.

**Apophis**: "Paladins, would you step forward for me. I would ask your counsel. The Meritocratic choice to withhold items and rituals of unparalleled power was not made lightly, and was not popular. The Heart of Aphrodite would allow simple risk free resurrections. The actual rituals for resurrections have been outlawed for an extremely long time, in your years. These decisions were made in the hopes that it might encourage equality, that it might encourage human development towards such things. To waive this would constitute an act against this decision, which even now we do not necessarily believe was incorrect. As representatives of Aphrodite and Artemis, I find myself curious, in my situation, how would you rule?"
**Azu**: "Well, it is the Heart of Aphrodite, so…it’s a healing item. We would share it, as that is our creed."
**Apophis**: "And what would you do when one hundred turn up, and you may resurrect two. Then four hundred turn up, and you may resurrect two. And so on, and so on."
―Apophis asks for Grizzop and Azu to share their opinions.

**Apophis**: "It is easy for people to presume that, as a Meritocrat, I consider myself beyond the realm of mundanity. That is not the case. But I have yet to receive council from anyone who could justify this act and make it work. I am more than willing to do so when that council is provided."
**Grizzop**: "Well, not really the kind of person to deal with something like this. More of a doer."
**Apophis**: "This is why I asked your council."
**Grizzop**: "She ain’t dead."
**Apophis**: "A fair point."
**Grizzop**: "So, you know. But she’s gonna die. And you can stop it. We’re supposed to help people, so, you know. The decision seems clear to me. But as I said, I’m not, you know, whatever."
**Apophis**: "Don’t imply, speak plainly and I will not judge you for doing so."
**Grizzop**: "Yes, I would immediately."
**Apophis**: "And when people find out about it?"
**Grizzop**: "Not my problem, as I said, I’m a doer, you know."
**Sasha**: "We’re, we’re good at not talking."
**Grizzop**: "You asked if given the choice I would, and yes, I would. So, there you go. That’s my honest answer."
―Apophis asks for Grizzop's advice.

## Dice rolls and Mechanics

* Azu makes a “check out the contract” check: 2
* Sasha makes a Stealth check: 34
* Sasha makes a Sense Motive check: 19