HighRollers: Lightfall/Episode 15

"MURDERER!" is the fifteenth session of High Rollers D&D. It was broadcast live on the Yogscast Twitch channel on May 15, 2016. CaffCast joins this session as a special guest.

In this session, Elora returns with a bang to help her friends trapped inside the Broken Sky cell in Talis'Val. Amongst the people that are with Elora is Korak, which sends Jiǔtóu in a raging frenzy against him, threatening the group's battle against Varesh. Also, Wald turns out to be putting on a disguise as he reveals to be the person Jiǔtóu and Trellimar are so familiar with prior to the invasion of the Black Valley Brewery.

Campaign Summary
After the Trial, Varesh announces that Jiǔtóu, Lao, Loben, Trellimar and Wald as the five victors of the Trial. The stone walls start to pivot and out comes numerous guards and medics. The medics tend to the wounded as Victoria steps out with five guards behind her and tells the five victors to follow her. Wald tries to find a better weapon than the sickle he is carrying, but there are no better weapons near him for him to stealthily swap the weapon.

Victoria leads them to outside of the Temple Hall. Several guards are seen holding their gears and equipment as Victoria tells the five victors that they can take them back. As the victors take back their gears, Victoria looks at Loben and tells him that although he is originally a prisoner, she can overlook that fact if he considers joining the Broken Sky after she witnessed his magic and skills back at the Trial. Loben grunts back at her. Victoria was about to let the victors into the Temple Hall when Wald suddenly claims that his belongings, which he claims to have seven superior healing potions, a great sword with +2 enchantment and a helm which fires magic missiles, are yet to be returned to him. Victoria retorts back by saying if he even know what a magical weapon is as she does not understand the term "+2 enchantment" and also asks if he is referring to a game he has been playing. Wald then clarifies that his sword has "+2" engraved on it. In response, Victoria sarcastically says that they have misplaced his items. When Wald comments on how badly they manage their inventory, Victoria facepalms as she asks Jiǔtóu why did they have to save him from the Gelatinous Cube back at the Trial; Jiǔtóu just shrugs.

Victoria leads them into the Temple Hall where Varesh and some hooded people stand on the raised platform by the pit. An eight-foot tall object draped in cloth stands beside him. Nearly a hundred people and six armed guards are in the room as well. As the door shuts behind the victors, Varesh welcomes and congratulates the victors, especially at Jiǔtóu. Varesh tells them that the Temple of Kord where the Trial took place is enchanted and those who have fallen in battle will not succumb to their injuries, except for the man who was burnt to death by the magical coals. Wald raises his hand and Varesh allows him to speak. Wald have some suggestions for the organisation and firstly shares that the name Broken Sky can be changed to something more public-friendly like Fix-Her-Up Sky. Before he can continue on, Varesh immediately silence him and threatens to cut off his tongue. Wald replies back that it will be healed nonetheless due to the enchantment Varesh said that the place has. Varesh says that the enchantment is only in effect at the labyrinth, not in the room they are in.

Varesh goes back to say that the Trial is merely the first step into joining the Broken Sky and is not only testing their combat skills, but also their teamwork. He states that Broken Sky has one goal which is the destruction of the Dawn Republic in service of Her Majesty, Princess Felania. He then pulls the cloth off the object, revealing an eight-foot tall, three-foot wide mirror decorated with intricate details of clouds and griffins. Varesh says that the victors will speak with Princess Felania individually and says that she is far nicer than himself. He states that they are to treat her with respect by addressing her as "Your Majesty", glaring at Wald as he says that. He shares with them that only the person that gazes into the mirror can see and hear the other side, allowing a certain degree of private conversation, although what the person is saying may be heard by people on his or her side.

Trellimar is allowed to speak first as Varesh comments that Trellimar is the first among the victors to state that he wish to join the Broken Sky and he is the least cautious of. Everyone, including Varesh, steps back as Trellimar walks to the mirror. As he stares into the mirror, the surface begins to shimmers. As it settles, the image is being portrayed. He sees an opulent palace decorated in luxurious furniture. Princess Felania is seen sitting on a chair making notes on her large book. She then shuts the book and looks at her desk mirror, seeing Trellimar on the other side. After Trellimar introduces himself upon request, she questions why he wish to join the Broken Sky. Trellimar simply responds that he seek power. When she questions him further, he shares that he has seen how the other members have acted and believes that they are on the correct path. His response pleases her and she show some of her power as her mists and lightnings comes out of her hands and magically lifts a glass of wine to her without touching it. She says she is a powerful spellcaster to some degree and has obtained many valuable artifacts and items. She says that those items can be his if he serves the organisation loyally. She goes on to say that she is impressed by his skills and, as she can see through the mirror what others cannot, is able to know that he is no wizard or sorceror, but his magic comes from his patron. She will not pry further of his patron, but says that she can offers more than what any patron can. She goes on to say that although she have heavy-handed yet necessary evil people like Varesh, she prefers a softer-touch, people like Trellimar himself. With no further questions from Trellimar, the Princess gives a cheer to him and drinks the glass of wine, pleased by his actions.

Trellimar steps back as Varesh gestures Loben to come forward and redeem himself since he was a prisoner. Loben walks up to the mirror and it shimmers to reveal a palace with Princess Felania sitting on her desk. She asks him for his reason for infiltrating the Broken Sky cell. He simply says that he has no intention to join the Broken Sky but just to retrieve his research back. She now knows that he is the researcher on the Lightfall as she is made aware of a group hired by the Broken Sky that stole research from a well established scholar. The Princess firstly apologies to him for their treatment against him as she claims that her organisation is not meant to be the one who takes away the hard work from people like Loben who seeks to make the world better. She continues to say that her organisation is to make the empire on what it should be and need people like Loben. He retorts back by mentioning of the treatment against the three tieflings is reflective of what the organisation is that she claimed. When she claims to not be aware of the tieflings' treatment, Loben explains of the three being tortured and held captive against their will. The Princess is appall by this and insists that people who wish to join the Broken Sky should only join by their wish and not by force. She says that she will speak with Varesh immediately.

Going back to the topic on the Lightfall, Princess Felania shows Loben her platinum choker with a piece of dawnshard in it as she says that she discovers the shard after the Lightfall when she was younger. All she knows that the shard amplifies magic but needs someone who understands it. She goes on to say that she will want people like Loben to research on the dawnshard. All these makes Loben intrigued and interested by the dawnshard and says that although he have no interest in the Broken Sky, he is far interested by her dawnshard. She says that she can show him her goals she wish to accomplish in time, but if it still does not, they can be allies of convenience as she needs her knowledge and he needs her dawnshard. She ends off by saying that she will ensures that his research are returned to him, that he can continue his research and that he can access their finest libraries if he joins the Broken Sky and. Loben gives an awkward royal bow and walks away.

Jiǔtóu is next to speak to Princess Felania. She tells the Princess that she wish to join the Broken Sky only to seek revenge against Korak. When the Princess pries further, Jiǔtóu shares that a dragonborn in red and gold is the one who slaughter her village and her parents when she was a child and is enslaved by him. She believes that the dragonborn she described is Korak. Upon hearing this, the Princess feels apologetic and says that she understand her plight better than Varesh and Victoria. She says that she has been separated from her family since young. She knows that Korak is not the person everyone thinks he is and also wish to see him fall. She continues by saying that although Korak rules the city through democracy, he does not understand what the people really need. She states that Korak is a fake. She says that Talis'Val needs a ruler who can rule in a fair and just way. She then offers Jiǔtóu a chance of revenge against Korak should she joins the Broken Sky. In seeking revenge, Jiǔtóu also wants to seek revenge on Varesh and brings up the similar issue Loben brought up earlier about the ill-treatment against the tieflings. This time, Jiǔtóu adds on by saying that Varesh killed Sheng hours before the Trial began. The Princess looks appalled and claims to have no knowledge of the tieflings being held captive. She then says that she will speak with Varesh, and adds that she will also enforces punishment should it be needed. Adding on, Jiǔtóu also brings up the death of Vixanis who was murdered by Reese, the leader of the Briarcrest Cell. The Princess shares with her that the organisation have agents both in Talis'Val and Briarcrest who sometimes had to have some events take place in order to further their agenda, including assassinating corrupt individuals or people with dark agendas. Now aware of the murder of Vixanis and with Jiǔtóu saying that she is innocent, the Princess says that she will investigate on the matter.

On overthrowing Korak, the Princess tells Jiǔtóu that she will first expose the Guild Council's incompetence in running the country. Korak will then need to be brought to justice and be killed. Jiǔtóu asks her that should she joins the organisation and slays Korak, she will need to know information on how he is deemed unworthy to run the country. The Princess tells her that one needs to just look at the cities he and his councils are managing. There are people in the cities whose needs are not taken care of and people opposing him that goes unchallenged. She also says that Korak is oblivious to other threats that grows elsewhere in Arrak, threats that could destroy the country again. On asking what the threat is, the Princess replies that it is the other kingdoms, particularly the kingdom west of the Dawn Republic. Jiǔtóu interjects by saying that killing Korak may result in the people seeing him as a martyr, an event Jiǔtóu believes the Princess does not wish to happen. Instead, Jiǔtóu suggests that he instead be exposed of his evil deeds. The Princess gestures Jiǔtóu to leave as she ponders on what she had said. Jiǔtóu bows and steps away from the mirror.

Wald is next to speak to Princess Felania. Upon seeing such a beauty he has never seen before, Wald adjusts his pants to secretly do an uptuck. As the Princess looks at Wald, instead of a welcoming gesture Trellimar, Loben and Jiǔtóu received earlier, she frowns and demands to know who he is and why he is in an illusion, disguising himself as another person. Wald says that people call him Wald the Bald, due to his receding hairline. The Princess sees through his magic as Wald tells her that her people will need to work on their security. The Princess then says, "Why have you put up this disguise, Lightborn?" Wald replies by saying that he needs to protect his friends from dying, gesturing back to the other victors. The Princess says that his devotion is commendable but now warns him that he is treading into areas he will not understand, but Wald claims that he is fully aware. The Princess tells him to drop his ridiculous accent, but he stubbornly refuses. He goes on to say that he have no intention to join the Broken Sky and is only here to protect his allies from corruption.

Princess Felania now asks if Wald is aware what sort of organisation the Broken Sky is. Wald insists that he is aware and dares to give a sarcastic feedback that the organisation needs to have a human resource department since the top leadership's agenda is far different from what the agents are portraying. He mocking on the fact that the agents conduct business using dirty tactics yet the Princess claims that her organisation is meant to be a peaceful. By now, the Princess' expression begins to darken and tells him that he and his kingdom are insignificant. Wald interrupts her by saying that her words hurts him. This makes her angrier, yet Wald tells her that she needs to maintain her composing since she is of royalty after all. This time, the Princess raises her hands as the platinum bangle on her wrist starts to glow and tells Wald to be silent. Wald feels a force he has never felt before, much stronger than compared to people who tried to control his mind or action.

Going back to the event when Elora escaped from the torture cell, she went to seek help from the Guided Arms mercenaries at the Guild Quarters. Upon gathering a huge force, they took half an hour to reach the Black Valley Brewery. From there, many of the people in the brewery as well as the underground catacombs are under arrest. Elora then leads the mercenaries through the tunnels along with two important figures.

Back at the Temple Hall, due to Wald's stubbornness in wanting to piss off Princess Felania, he manages to hold back against the spell being cast on him. Wald sarcastically apologies and tells her that she should listen to him as the Princess' eyes start twitching. Wald then says, "If you can't handle me, how are you going to handle ruling, my Lady?" With that, the mirror shatters. Wald manages to dive out of the way as the glass shards flies everywhere. Everyone in the Temple Hall is taken aback.

At this point, from the door where the victors came in from, there is a loud explosion as the door that was locked shut burst open into the room. Elora stands before them, together with six members of the Guided Arms. Two more person is with her. First is a human lady in cropped blonde hair, wearing plate armour with the symbol of Bahamut and is carrying a greatsword; she is Cassandra, Paladin of Bahamut. Second is a dragonborn of red and gold scales, donning golden armour and carries a stonesword made of fallshard with one hand and a shield with the symbol of Talis'Val in the other; he is Korak the Champion.

Korak enters the Temple Hall just after the explosion and orders Varesh to surrender immediately. At the same time, Wald drops his disguise and reveals that he is Cam Buckland.

The Meta-Game
While Mark is recapping the events that took place in previous session, Chris jokingly wrote "KIM IS A PRICK" on his notebook with an arrow pointing towards her; Kim saw this and show it to everyone.