Aerois - Episode 96: The Gusthaven Elite

Katie Morrison as Aila

 Kim Richards as Nova V'ger

Rhiannon Frost as Sentry

 Tom Hazell as Qillek Ad Khollar

**The Gusthaven Elite** is the 96th episode of the Aerois Campaign. It was broadcast live on both the Yogscast Twitch channel and highrollersdnd Twitch channel on the 3rd of January 2021 from 5PM to 8PM GMT.

*Dinner with the Prince and a Dream with Mum...the party rest and restock in Gusthaven!*

## **Summary**

### **Announcements**

* Mark welcomes everyone to the stream and introduces the players.
* There are no sponsors this week, but everyone is encouraged to check out the podcast and YouTube episodes, which may have unique sponsors on occasion.
* Merch: The Prime Hoodie, dice sets and new dice tray have been restocked with exciting things coming in spring!

### **Recap**

"*Last time on Aerois, our party of adventurers inside an ancient temple to H’esper, the God of sky, knowledge and magic, the party completed several powerful trials and saved a primordial tempest Dragon from a terrible enchantment that trapped it within a deep nightmare. In doing so they also ended a magic storm that had ravaged the land of Voksar for centuries and gained another powerful ally. But, their good deed would not go unpunished: as the party boarded their airship, the Stormchaser, and prepared to leave, a powerful sorceress called Xarkira teleported to the temple and attacked the ship with a meteor swarm. With a last minute order, Lucius managed to save the crew but the ship was nearly destroyed – only the quick actions of Aila, Quill, Nova, and a few members of the crew saved them from absolute disaster. A devastated Stormchaser limped its way back to the Skycity of Gusthaven, where the party have docked for repairs and prepare their next steps.*"

### **Part 1**

*Desperate for money the team pawn off their legendary loot!*

The Stormchaser is being repaired and there are five days remaining before the all-important meeting in Horizon, where the leaders and representatives of the various countries and factions of Aerois will congregate to discuss the threat of the Valkyrian Empire and the fate of Aerois. The party decides their next course of action: many ideas are suggested, such as meeting with Edea (which Lucius deflects), purchasing supplies and items and visiting the Empyrean Archive, the great repository of knowledge where scholar of the Eterna Dean Ellessandra Vastra resides. Helios has, in fact, already departed for the Archive, wishing to catch up with his old friend, separating from Sentry to do so.

Lucius receives a young female High Elf messenger in courtly attire who delivers a missive to Lucius and the Stormchaser Crew:

*"I am pleased to hear that you have returned to Gusthaven. I deeply wish to enquire into your recent activities and your progress into the various threats against Aerois, and to catch up regarding the matters in Horizon. Please, at your convenience, attend to Galecrown where I will be happy to host you for dinner. Skyprince Aridan"*

Lucius advises that they will attend that evening at seven bells, and they are told that it will be a private dinner for them. Lucius then travels to the location of his old family home to enquire whether any of his previous wardrobe remains, but after spending time asking various members of the Virinor family and their staff they admit everything from the old house was either destroyed or sold off. While there, the Virinors present him with 800 gold as a seasonal payment for leasing them the land, something he will receive several times per year, and he tells them of his dinner with the prince, which perks up a few ears.

The party then discuss selling items, acknowledging that they are expecting the meeting to be attacked so need to be prepared. Nova wants 2000 gold to stock up on materials for Heal Greater Injury and Greater Healing Potions due to recent catastrophes, and also wants some gold plating to modify the lenses of her goggles so she can cast *scrying*. Aila wants to focus on “living just a little bit longer…because [she] doesn’t like it when [the others] fall down anymore”. Lucius says he never gave the others a tour of the key features of Gusthaven, and again deflects when Quill says this includes the Moonstar. Upon mentioning the various sights, Nova wonders if her brother Cloud - stage name Tornado - would be at the Deathball Arena, Gusthaven's Skyjousting Stadium. Sentry wants to be careful, being worried about the meeting, and suggests perhaps protecting the Skyprince even before the meeting. They decide to go shopping.

The trading district of Gusthaven, called Faren's Fortune, is a series of beautifully-kept, well-cleaned stone streets, well-paved and curved around. Every area of space in Gusthaven is used - trees, flowers and vegetable plots are placed wherever they fit, houses are very tall and narrow buildings; everything is a little claustrophobic with the narrow streets and tall buildings, but it was necessary given that there was only so much land once the skycity was raised with a large population. Gusthaven is also very beautiful and non-utilitarian: many of the building surfaces are made from magically-reinforced glass in order to let as much light in as possible, while colourful curtains can be drawn to provide privacy for those whose apartments overlook the streets. At the end of one of these streets stands The Aethegora - a department store run by Azaria Yorien Perel, of the Perel noble family, that deals in magical items both powerful and simple, as well as more mundane materials (such as traders' supplies, fabrics, tools, seeds and vegetables; plus a whole section that is dedicated to items of convenience, which include various household enchanted items like a broom that will sweep by itself or a metal plate that will heat up magically without a flame). It is a half-moon semicircular building with multiple floors and stairs that lead to different levels.

The party heads to the department focused on the arcane itself where they are greeted by Azaria, who recognises Nova and Lucius (she calls him "Sir Elenasto") from their previous trip to The Aethegora. They are invited behind a curtain to Azaria's private magical parlour, which seems to be impossibly large given the space it occupies - it is lavishly decorated with rich blacks, purples, dark reds and gold filigrees; there are silks, crystal decanters, elegantly carved wooden shelving and bookcases filled with all sorts of components and devices. Azaria Perel is a very tall (nearly 7 feet), graceful (almost alien), ageless-looking High Elf with solid purple eyes, mature but with the flawless skin of a young woman, and she wears all black with a long veil that covers most of her eyes: her headdress has sweeping dragon horns, and long, silvery black hair that trails down behind her. Unseen servants bring them cups of cold mint tea to provide them with refreshment.

Nova shows Gadwyn's Hammer and the energy crossbow to Azaria - she recognises Gadwyn's Hammer as a pre-Sundering item, and waves her hands in front of both items and they watch as her eyes go from solid purple to a swirling white and black spiral. She offers 1,000 gold for the Hammer. She also recognises that the crossbow is not of Aerois, being able to create magical energy: she offers 5,000 gold for it, wanting to break it down and learn from its structure. Nova is concerned about the ethics and morality of selling such advanced magitek to people on a primitive planet. Quill shows Azaria the Staff of Striking, which excites her: she says that they were spoken of in ancient historical records, having been wielded by warriors of Aerois and invaders from the Valkyrian Empire. Azaria also says that she is interested in the accomplishments of the Valkyrian Empire in its magical advancements. Given how powerful the weapon is, she is surprised that they are willing to sell it. Aila considers getting Azaria to fuse the Staff of Striking with her hammer to form its haft (although it would mean the staff losing some of its potency), which Azaria would do on the condition that the residuum left over from condensing magic items would be hers - the alternative is to sell the staff for 20,000 gold.

They sell the Stone of Good Luck for 3,000 gold and the Lightning Cable Launcher for 500. They choose to keep Quill's breastplate (which he can no longer use as he cannot fly with it) and Aila's javelin, so that they can give them to the crew of the Stormchaser. Lucius enquires whether The Aethegora does trade with the Royal Family of Gusthaven, and Azaria notes they have plenty of their own relics and magic items – such as Aridan's sword which has passed down through generations - but she has also performed many enchantments for clothing and armour and such for them in the past. Sentry sells shards collected from an old Guardian's matrix for 50 gold each: Azaria seems very interested in studying Guardians and how much the matrix's magic has faded. She mentions that Queen Astoria of Solwynn was a role model growing up, and expresses an interest in examining Sentry (Nova offers her own notes that she has made when observing Sentry), though it is observed that Azaria sees Sentry more as a curiosity than a person.

Obtaining some extra messenger rings is considered; however, they cannot add new rings to their current connection, so Quill suggests adding a second channel to one of their rings and getting two more for the crew so they can always stay in contact. Azaria says that it will be a challenge and she could experiment, but they would have to pay for the experimentation, and she does not know how much this would cost. They finally decide to sell the staff for the 20,000 gold offered, and buy five greater healing potions and two superior healing potions.

Nova gets new crystal lenses for her goggles (1,000 gold) that will allow her to use her goggles to cast *scrying*, and two sets of ingredients for *heal greater injury*. Nova suggests that Lucius might like to purchase some new clothes but he insists that he would not buy clothes from this shop, leading Azaria Perel to raise an eyebrow but remain cordial.

Once they have made their final decisions on all the items that they wish to sell and purchase, Azaria offerse them a deal for the lot, leaving them with 24,000 gold. Lucius mentions to Azaria that he is concerned at the idea that the secrets of the magitek weapons would get out, but she assures him that it would not be in her best interests to do so. She also assures him that she will work with Skyprince Aridan towards the protection of Aerois so long as she is suitably compensated. She asks what threatens Aerois as a world, with the Cloud Barons only posing a local threat, but Lucius is not yet prepared to share sensitive information with her. Azaria offers to enhance the Stormchaser magically if they wish it, but they would have to pay and provide certain components – Lucius asks about a shield, but she says that the area is too large for that to be effective. She would be interested to study the technology that the Dragonborn fiercely protect, to see if it could be applied to vessels native to Aerois so that they could travel outside the Cradle to explore the unknown space outside.

Quill uses his secret chest to stow their new loot. They plan to give their mundane gear to Kamarra with the intention that she can farm it out to the most appropriate crew member. They are also aware that they can ask Lily and Sprocket to do upgrades to the ship such as non-magical reinforcement. This can be done to the hull (would cost 10,000 gold), engine (would cost 5,000 gold), helm and sails (would cost 2,000 gold each). They could also explore magical upgrades such as giving the ship dragonscale sails, a livewood hull, a magical figurehead or arcane ballistae.

Having concluded their shopping, they make their way to Galecrown, the House of Gusthaven, to meet with Skyprince Aridan.

### **Part 2**

*The team meet with the Gusthaven elite!*

Nestled between several different districts, especially the Azurebright Plaza, Galecrown overlooks the rest of the Skycity of Gusthaven. A prismatic shield is projected from its tallest towers over the entire skycity, and this protects the city from the winds and cold weather that is experienced at this altitude. They are escorted by guards into and through the castle – much of the castle is more sparsely decorated than they remember, with rich tapestries and suits of armour that once took pride of place in its hallways now conspicuously absent. It appears that a lot of the more ostentatious items have been removed, leaving only the more utilitarian furniture. This has the effect of making the castle feel far more spartan than it once did.

They are led into a small, intimate dining room where a large table has been set for dinner, and they are seated while the attendants leave to advise the Skyprince that his guests have arrived. While they are waiting, Nova asks Lucius about etiquette regarding having a meal with royalty. Aridan, casually dressed in white and blue robes and clothing including a large cloak, arrives. He appears to be the same age as Lucius, has long brown hair and soft pale blue eyes with the angular and unmistakable features of a High Elf. In place of the large sword that he usually carries is a slender rapier at his side, and on one arm is a thick falconry glove with a white owl perched on it – the owl has a glowing star mote (like a sigil) above its head. Aridan arrives without servants or attendants and with no pomp or ceremony; he closes the doors behind him, and they see his expression lighten as he sees them again.

He seems genuinely pleased to see them as he lifts his arm, and the owl, Malachi, moves to a perch near one of the chairs. Aridan advises them that the dinner will be a simple one, hoping that this will be adequate for their needs: Lucius gives him a deep bow and thanks him profusely. Aridan reassures Lucius that the pomp is not required – he knows what they have done for Gusthaven, and H’esper has informed him in his dreams what they have done for Aerois. He invites them to drink, eat and regale him with tales of their recent exploits. They tell him of Voksar, Gideon Prime, the City of Glass, Volcanos, Azagrat, Astral Space, their adventures on the space worm and meeting Palador. The food is well-prepared but simple, there is only one set of cutlery (much to Nova’s relief and Lucius’ surprise), and the wine is good. The Skyprince is captivated and listens intently, asking many questions of the worlds outside Aerois.

Lucius asks about what is happening in Gusthaven and Aridan tells them about the Cloud Barons’ activities attacking airships, advising them that some airships have gone missing entirely. It is Aridan’s opinion that the Cloud Barons are working with Kalus Valkyrian, saying that they are too organised and that they have access to magic and technology which they didn't have before before. He tells them that for some reason (maybe because of Ellois’ death or maybe just because they have new allies or targets), Gusthaven is now seemingly less important to them because they have not suffered as many attacks lately, but that there is another problem - fewer airships are docking at Gusthaven, which is killing trade. Aridan has spent most of his treasury to ensure that the people are provided for; it has made him unpopular with some of the nobles of the city, but he feels that he has done what he needs to.

He speaks to them about the upcoming meeting in Horizon and asks them to attend as both his guests and his guards, considering it likely that either the Cloud Barons or Kalus Valkyrian are likely to attack the meeting. Aridan is concerned about the zealotry of the Dragonborn and thinks that they may lead Aerois to a war that it does not want; he eventually relents, agreeing with Sentry that they are allies and will do the right thing by Aerois. He tells them that they can travel by teleportation circle, but that he will send guards by airship to Horizon as well, in case they are needed or another method of escape is required.

Nova asks who will be attending the meeting. Aridan tells her that the various factions that are likely to be represented are the Princess of Gisella, representatives of the Council of Vortinssar, someone from the continents of Aelseraph and Xiphenna, someone from Goldthrone on behalf of Suvonna and another from Bloodvale. From Voksar, Aridan imagines that one of the Druids will attend, and from the Archipelagos, he believes that someone will be attending but does not know who – likely a senior merchant. The Dragons are likely to send a Dragon with an accompaniment of guards.

Aridan knows the leader of Horizon somewhat, and he advises them that the city has a troubled history with High Elves: the people of Horizon were abandoned and nearly killed by the High Elves who used to rule over the city before it was reclaimed by its people. Its current leader, he says, is wise and noble of heart, if a little fiery in her temperament. Lucius’ noble background will count for nought in that great city and all High Elves will be treated the same as any citizen. Horizon is a mix of cultures rather than an Elven city, and Aridan believes it to be a paradigm of what Aerosian society should aim for in future.

Aridan says that there is another matter that he would like to discuss and he thinks it time that his other guest shows themselves – he moves to a window, opens it and invites the person outside to join them. Through the window, moving silently, comes a slender Elven female wearing tight-fitting leather armour, a long cape, and a mask in the shape of a crescent moon. Once Ellois was revealed to be a traitor and in league with the Cloud Barons, Moonstar (whom Ellois had assured Aridan was a threat to Gusthaven) approached Aridan with evidence of wrongdoing by others in Gusthaven and they have been working together in secret ever since, and he thinks it important that the Stormchasers meet with her.

Moonstar says that Aridan wanted her to meet with them as the only allies that he truly trusts. The Cloud Barons are still at large and Ellois was but one of many heads of the criminal organisation that seems to have infiltrated the nobility of Gusthaven and other skycities, and many of the other leaders are still out there unpunished and posing a threat. Moonstar says that she has information specifically for Lucius and asks to speak to them in private once they have finished with the Skyprince. She advises them that she will also be accompanying Aridan to Horizon in order to protect him; she believes him to be a good man and a good protector of the city she calls home. With that, she runs and jumps out the window.

Aridan affirms that he trusts Moonstar and believes that she is working for the good of the people despite the fact that some of the guards and nobles still think her a criminal, so he meets with her in secret. Quill is concerned that Moonstar will be seen with Aridan at the meeting, especially if she is still considered to be a criminal, but Aridan says that she will protect him from the shadows. He tells them that the Cloud Barons are still somewhat active in Gusthaven, smuggling narcotics in to test in Gusthaven: they have found manufacturing labs in the Chains district, beneath the city, but they are less prominent than before. Aridan has noticed fewer attempts on his own life, too.

Quill mentions Valla, the teleportation code for the Tassadar and their meeting with the Angels; he wonders if they should attempt to rescue Valla during the meeting while all attention is turned on it. Aridan offers them the use of Gusthaven’s teleportation circle, soldiers, or anything else they need (although he is not in a position to assist them financially). Gusthaven, he says, will offer them full support in whatever they do and whatever they request of the other leaders at the meeting. Aridan speaks of his unsuitability for the role of Skyprince: he is a genuine and humble man, but according to Lucius, downplaying his skills and abilities. He bids them good night and heads to bed.

With the dinner over, the party must decide where to go next: Lucius appears to want to avoid meeting up with Moonstar, his sister, but Quill says that no matter where they go, if she wants to meet them, she will find them. They head back to the secret basement to await the inevitable meeting with Moonstar – when they teleport into the secret basement, however, Edea is already there with her mask removed. Edea has the same face as Lucius, but with brown hair sweeping down the sides of her face and two blue eyes. Standing next to her is a figure in full plate and elaborate tabard, holding a helm in one hand, with short cropped blond hair and a handsome masculine face. He looks like he has just returned from duty, with a gleam of sweat on his brow – this is an Elf, Belanor Magrona, whom they met on their first visit to Gusthaven, and whose family was connected to the murder of the Elenastos.

Quill is concerned about the presence of Belanor, but Edea reassures him – she brought Belanor to the secret basement because he has important information that Lucius and the rest of them need to hear. Belanor has offered his aid to Edea, and she trusts him, so much so that he now knows her secret identity. Lucius is flabbergasted and wants to know why she is suddenly so trusting of a Magrona; Belanor stiffens, muttering “For star’s sake, Lucius” under his breath. Edea tells Lucius to put his petty childhood squabbles behind him because Belanor has information about the Cloud Barons and may have information about those who killed their mother and father.

Belanor tells Lucius that he is certain of his information. When Lucius returned, they began investigating the deaths of his parents – Belanor’s mother, Anastasia, was arrested in the belief that she was connected to the murders and the embezzling of the Elenastos' money. Since then, Belanor’s brother, Democles, has taken over more and more of the family’s affairs and their business of making magic items with aetherium. Anastasia has been keeping to her room, distraught, but Democles will not allow her to leave the house, saying that she has brought shame upon the family. Belanor has noticed some odd things: money going missing, shipments that should not have been made have been sent out – Democles keeps telling Belanor that it is normal business and that he is too stupid to understand. Belanor and Edea have been investigating Democles: it appears that Democles may have made the explosive device that was used to kill Lucius and Edea's mother and father, and Edea thinks that he is working with the Cloud Barons to use magitek to build weapons for Kalus Starbane. Aetherium is a resource unique to Aerois – it is dangerous and powerful - and she thinks this is why Valkyrian is trying to get his hands on it.

Lucius is not so sure, but Edea points out the coincidence of the Cloud Barons becoming violent only after Valkyrian arrived on Aerois through the Archway: once they had magitek and new tools, they went from being a small-time gang to a violent organisation. Belanor tells them that Democles has a meeting soon – he normally travels by airship but must teleport for this one. The meeting is in a few days, and both Belanor and Edea think that he is going to the weapons manufacturing facility which is not on Gusthaven. Nova is concerned that they may try to use some of the weapons at the meeting in Horizon, so thinks it would be beneficial to get more information to prevent that; Quill thinks it would be advantageous to determine the scale of the operation. Belanor tells them that he cannot give them any more information – he and his mother have been shut out of the family business, but Edea assured him that Lucius and his friends would be able to discover more. Quill asks if he would be able to get a glimpse of Democles, saying that he would be able to gather more information with that – Belanor says that this could be arranged.

Edea believes that they need to find the facility, shut it down, and recover devices or blueprints in order to prevent an attack; Quill thinks it might be possible for Gusthaven to take over production if they can capture it, and Belanor approves.

Belanor apologises to Lucius for his behaviour in the past; he says that he is proud of his family despite its history with the Elenastos. He believes that what his brother is doing is wrong, however, and is shameful to his family and to Gusthaven, and he asks for Lucius’ help to put a stop to it.

Belanor recommends that Quill be at a café near The Aethegora the next morning, and he will ensure that Democles passes nearby. As he is about to leave, he looks at Nova and asks if she has a brother who is a skyjouster: he knows Tornado, who was at Gusthaven for a tournament that finished that evening but had been knocked out a couple of days prior – he thinks that Nova may just have missed him, as he would have been heading to Horizon for the next tournament.

Edea has heard rumours of the Stormchasers’ exploits in Voksar and coming from Astral Space: she is worried about her brother and the risks he has taken. Nova tells her about his amazing skills as the captain of the Stormchaser and Quill chimes in supporting her – it is clearly embarrassing for Lucius, and Edea tells them that hearing this, she is just as uncomfortable as he is. Lucius thanks Edea for the arcane focus that she has provided for him, and Nova is prepared to provide her with feedback on its performance. Lucius thanks her again, trying to get her to understand how much he appreciates the gift, but she takes it for granted that he would appreciate a gift from her because she is more unemotional like their father was. She is more interested in getting feedback on it.

Edea reminds them of the importance of finding the weapons manufacturing plant as soon as possible. She also tells them that if she finds Democles there, she will kill him – she needs to know that he has suffered for making the device that killed their parents. Quill points out that Lucius should also have a say in his fate: Edea initially goes to argue, but decides that he is right and that she will speak to Lucius about the matter. Her concern is that either he will manage to finagle his way out of prison with his connections, or that one of his companions will silence him and she will not get her revenge. Lucius is more concerned that killing Democles will not help Edea and will only be the catalyst for more. Edea thanks the party for looking after Lucius.

Lucius asks if Edea has heard from Nanny Norfir: she has received cyphers from her and she helped to verify information that Belanor had given. She has recently been searching the lowlands for the manufacturing facility, and was most recently meeting with large business owners in Goldthrone to investigate Suvonna and whether there could be any facilities in that continent. Edea makes her farewells and leaves.

They agree that they need to find the facility and disable it prior to the meeting, but Lucius warns them not to consider just this issue because there could be many threats other than Democles. Aila says that she will trust nothing and no one, seeing Brookstones at every turn. Quill and Sentry think that any weaponry would already have been made and shipped, and it will be important to find out where it is and who is buying it.

They return to the inn, and Nova casts *dream* before going to bed: she shapes the engine room on the Stormchaser and puts herself in the room, holding two cups of dream cocoa. An older version of Nova appears in front of her, blue-skinned, hair puffy and curling but thinner and wispy, dressed in her work clothes with an apron and sandals and tiny spectacles perched on the end of her nose with a chain around the arms. The new figure looks around, bemused at the dimness and the grime – she turns around and sees Nova, wondering if it is a dream. Nova reassures her that it is a magic dream and gives her mother an enthusiastic hug.

Her mother barely intercepts her and manages to grab one of the cups of cocoa before Nova embraces her fully – her mother smells of spices and street food, and leaves a floury handprint on Nova’s clothes as she pulls her in for a tight embrace. She enquires about Nova’s new abilities with magic since Nova disappeared so suddenly to learn things. Nova is overcome, asking about her “stupid sister” Coral, her father, the store and everything else she can get into a single breath. Her mother squishes her cheeks and reassures her that everyone is fine.

Nova’s father is now doing painting (“watercolours, of course”), Coral has an irritating new friend who never stops talking but she is doing well in school, and Tornado is on tour somewhere in Suvonna. Nova tells her mother that she just missed Tornado and that she went to space – her mother politely enquires whether she has been taking narcotics or other drugs; Nova assures her that she has not. Nova tells her mother that she needs to see Professor Whitsong in the morning to advise her that Nova has found Jassavir and Genas – her mother suggests that with news this big, it should go to the Council instead, but she agrees to take it to Professor Whitsong who can then take it to the Council. Nova shows her a planetary map of the multiverse and asks her to remember the information so that she can share it with the professor.

Nova tells her mother that their people are working with Kalus Starbane and that Genas is part of the Empire, and also that Kalus Starbane is here and about to attack Aerois. Her mother finds that hard to believe with the presence of the Cradle, but she promises to pass the information along. Nova is concerned that in contacting her mother with this information, she has put her and Vortinssar in danger: her mother reassures her that she has and will continue to do the right thing as the *dream* fades.

## **YouTube Timestamps**

**Compiled by *Themythicmystic* on YouTube**

0:00 - Intro (Songs: Down Time in the Devils Dance by Billy Jennings at 0:00)
00:06 - Episode Start
2:30 - Announcements
 4:10 - DUN DUNS
5:35 - Recap starts
7:39 - Recap ends
1:22:50 - Break start
1:32:37 - Break ends
2:50:05 - Gameplay ends
2:50:50 - Ending donos
*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**

* Galecrown Messenger
* Azaria Yorien Perel
* Belanor Magrona
* Breeze V'ger (Nova's mother)

#### **Returning NPCs**

* Skyprince Aridan Irisen-Pelony Starsorrow
* Malachi
* Moonstar/Edea Elenasto

#### **Mentioned NPCs**

* Helios
* Dean Ellesandra Vastra
* Tornado V'ger
* The Cloud/Wind Barons
* Nanny Norfir
* Democles Magrona
* Coral V'ger
* Wade V'ger (Nova's father)

## **Featured Locations**

* Gusthaven
	+ Faren's Fortune trade district
	+ Galecrown
	+ Secret Basement

## **Trivia**

* **Continuity error:** Mark refers to "The Empyreum Archive" and "The Imperial Archive" rather than "The Empyrean Archive".
* The Joyous Sceptre is a small, esoteric store in Gusthaven dealing in off-the-cuff or unusual items. The Mind of the Arcane is more of a library that deals in specialist scrolls or spellbooks.
* Nova's concern about selling Valkyrian technology to Aerois is similar to The Prime Directive from the Star Trek universe: it prohibits the members of the Federation from interfering with the natural development of alien civilizations and protects lesser-evolved, unprepared civilizations from the dangerous tendency of well-intentioned starship crews to introduce advanced technology, knowledge, and values. When offered 20,000 gold for the Staff of Striking, Nova's thinking seems to change and her attitude becomes "Prime Directive be damned!"
* If Azaria Perel were to replace the haft of Aila's hammer (The Howling Tempest) with the Staff of Striking, The Howling Tempest would go from a +1 weapon to a +2 weapon and keep the staff's ability to spend charges to add extra d6s to the attack. Although the staff is +3, the hammer would become a +2. The number of charges would likely decrease from 20 to 10 or 15. It would cost 4,000 gold to simply upgrade The Howling Tempest to a +2 weapon.
* Reinforcing a section of the ship will double its hit points.
* Dragonscale sails would increase the sails AC and give it resistance to certain damage types. This sort of upgrade would need rare components, such as dragon scales.
* Livewood hull would allow the hull to regenerate hps (1 every 10 minutes). It must have 1 hp in order to regenerate: if reduced to 0, the ship is destroyed. This cannot be used along with reinforcement – you can have one or the other, not both.
* Guardian figurehead – transform the figurehead into an iron golem for 1 minute. 1 use every 24 hours. Costs gold but also need to provide an iron golem.
* Storm Giant figurehead – allows the ship to project a line of lightning. Costs gold and needs a metal pole charged with a Storm Giant’s lightning.
* Ballistae can be upgraded to shoot elemental energy (ice/fire/lightning) rather than mundane/physical ammunition.
* **Continuity error:** Reference is made to the Cloud Barons multiple times in this episode. They are alternately referred to as the Wind Barons (original name). Tom questions whether they were Wind Barons, but Mark cannot remember saying that sometimes he cannot keep track of his own world.
* Mark says that Malachi, Aridan’s “Star Owl”, is “way cooler than the lame Prince”.
* **Continuity issue:** Nova’s sister is called Coral in this episode. Kim later decided to change the name, and she will re-appear in episode 107 as Aurora (see Trivia for episode 107).