![[Spoilers C3E104] Episode Discussion](https://i.postimg.cc/3wr4GDwM/103braius.png){kind=link}
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Runtime Break start 4h 33m 1h 51m
Episode 104: The Cradle’s Convocation
Bell’s Hells, after trekking to the ruins of Aeor, had an encounter with Ludinus Da’leth himself (during which he showed visions of the fall of Aeor in hopes of expressing the dubiousness of the great deities that are considered the prime beings of law and morality in this world).
After trying to convince you to join him and the Vanguard in their interests, you combated his outlook and also each others’ (with some internal strife in communication), after which Laudna’s own dark passenger was triggered. Thus battle ensued with a Delilah-possessed Laudna. You defeated her and (while she was reduced within) used the soul anchor (that you had taken from the ruins) and successfully completed a ritual with Essek’s help that bound Delilah into the stone which was then bound within you (Laudna), reversing the power dynamic between you and Delilah.
After you went to go meet up with the Voice of the Tempest and the rest of the troop that was waiting on the western encampment within the Hellcatch Valley. You arrived to find it in ruin, still smoldering. The fallen stone being picked through by Reilorans and Vanguard soldiers alike. With rapid reaction, teleporting to Vasselheim. There you were able to maneuver through the city, climb the stairs that lead to the Platinum Sanctuary (where it seems a lot of dignitaries from around Exandria are gathering, along with their compatriot armies and protectors).
Upon arrival, Essek had to say his goodbyes, for there was tenuous relations with some other figures that were present. Upon arriving here on the outskirts of this crowd that had gathered in the central forum of the Platinum Sanctuary, you were trying to push through to get a good view.
You saw people from all over Exandria here. You saw within Vasselheim itself:
- The Highbearer Vord
- The Earthbreaker Groon
- The Holy Curator
- The High Hierophant
- The Coven of the Veil of the Matron of Ravens
- J’mon Sa Ord, the leader of Ank’Harel
- Keyleth, Voice of the Tempest
- Empress Leylas Kryn of the Kryn Dynasty of Xhorhas; The Bright Queen
- Gavis Aranda from the Chandei Quorum of Jrusar
- Guardian Tofor Brotoras from the Council of Taldorei
- Mythmaker Qi Mendozi
- Allura Vysoren and Lady Kima of Vord and a number of others
As you tried to push your way through, a massive goliath figure (with over-sized stone gauntlets, a bit of a paunch, and a black fuzzy beard with streaks of gray) made your announcement loudly, causing the group in front of you to divide slightly, and the entire chamber to shift its attention back to you in one moment. Here in that tense, awkward silence, all eyes are on you.
♪Episode Song References♪ (Rough Draft)
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Highlights
Kima:“we must assemble our communal forces!..”
???:“The army is already scattered at home…”
Allura:“We understand the discomfort of such arcana…”
???:“We have unlikely powers…allies from darker places and factions. Chosen warriors of the Betrayers who have sworn themselves to the cause.”
Bright Queen:“Absolutely NOT!”
Older woman:“We have seen firsthand what their alien warriors can 1) diminish some of our protective magics and 2) certain elite soldiers can prevent restorative magic altogether…”
Galtheid (Vincent-Price-lookin-mufugga) of the Ember Vigil, Archmage of Sruwargas(capiital city of Taloned Highlands):“The ever-tangled mess of the Solstice continues to play stress upon the Trellis of Ley Lines, threatening an imminent unraveling of our world’s magic as long as that Bloody Bridge continues.”
Apex War Lore
a years-long conflict between the Stratos Throne of the Taloned Highlands and the Court of the Lambent Path of Aeshanadoor. Episode 1 of Campaign 3 begins with Matt giving a brief history of Marquet.
Gavis Aranda:“…we are still just discovering the insidious depths of Ludinus’ influence…”
Gavis Aranda
The lone member of the Chandei Quorum permitted to appear in public, we also know Orlana Seshadri is a member.
???(loud, older male):“Matters at home must be finished or held. For the window of time to act directly closes imperceptibly soon.”
Lord Zeddan Graf, Emissary of the Dwendalian Empire (fierce rival of the Cerberus Assembly and it’s leader, Athesias Uludan):“what assurances do we have…”
J’mon Sa Ord(A.K.A. Devo’ssa, an ancient brass dragon), ruler of AnkHarel (central city in Marquet):“The Voice of the Tempest is correct and Ank’Harel is in agreement.”
Zhafe Uludan, Marquis of The Clovis Concord (also Ambassador for the Cerberus Assembly):“The Concord agrees and commits the majority of our non-naval forces to helping [kill all the moon creatures]”
Leylas Kryn, Empress of the Kryn Dynasty (Essek was known as her Shadowhand):“How can we be certain that these denizens of Ruidus aren’t all bent on our destruction? You speak of certainties and perspectives none of us could possibly know.”
Fearne:(bff hype squad)“Woo!”
Evoroa explains that the Reiloran overlords plan to spread their mind control to Exandria.
Fearne:“Yeah they can.” (grunts)
Marisha:“It’s like when people didn’t want to buy Coronas during Covid.”
Liam:“We don’t want your moon bread, only freedom bread.”
Braius:“Fuck that guy.”
Imogen:“She has her pants off?”
Chetney:“I’m sorry, excuse me.” (moves Pike to the side)
Laura is already giggling.
Liam:“Nice.”
Ashton:“At least he’s saying what he thinks.”
(please don’t tell me there are going to be hats and flags…)
Braius perks up.
Keyleth:“I’m uncertain I’d throw in with any of that lot, to be honest.”
Braius perks down. “You’ve been to all the Hells? I mean, there’s a few Hells.”
Orym:“If you’re looking for the black & white here, you’re not going to find it.”
Braius waves.
…but if there is any that I feel closest to, we stand in her realm…This is the Birthheart. The Wildmother watches over all that is natural, has taken on and lives with and is guardian to the spirits of nature that existed before she even arrived…The Eidolons, the natural nature spirits that you saw in the cultures of Issylra (beyond the religious influences of the temples of Vasselheim or Othanzia) worship and live alongside (that you’ve heard existed here before the gods’ arrival)… It is rumored in some of those spaces that (before the gods came) life was a cycle of rebirth. The soul, upon death, would return to the world to be reborn into some other form; the afterlife did not exist.
Ashton:“You should answer that.”
Orym:“You want me to find a knot to put it in?”
Chetney:“Wood can be very inviting.”
Dorian:“What’s real and what is innuendo?”
Matt:(grinning)“That’s always the question.”
Laura:(hype voice)“I wanna see you fuck that tree!”
Sam:“I like him.”
Taliesin:“Rocksteady?”
INTERMISSION
The rest of you watch Orym cocooned against the exterior of the Birthheart. As your bodies lurch to protect, Keyleth puts a hand up, silently acknowledging to just let it happen.
Orym, as the warm sensation of the surrounding branches and vines and flowers and grasses engulf you, you begin to hear the sounds of nature around you (the natural landscape, like an evening amongst the densest of bog forests, the sound of wind rustling through tree boughs) and then eventually you feel the vines pull back from you. As it does, you are standing in a beautiful, moonlit glade, soft white light beams piercing through numerous points in this clustered canopy of massive majestic tri-pointed leaves. The sense of scale is challenging your perspective. You feel so small, and the leaves look so large in comparison. You feel big until you look down at yourself and you are made of leaves. Your skin is green and veined with leaves protruding from your fingers, from your shoulders, no armor, no weapons. You are just as nude as the day is long, but like you had grown from a bud.
Which you did.
You look around, the pullback of nature around you are massive rose petals, like a massive flower had opened up that you had emerged from. Here you stand yourself, but different. You take a step beyond the bud and as your foot touches the ground, you can feel the breath and whisper of the forest around you. When you inhale, everything around you inhales with you and welcomes you. You take a second step. You hear the chirping of birds.
The creaking sound of the tree and the wind gets louder, the vines begin to unravel from above. The canopy itself seems to expand, grow more dense. The white moonlight begins to dissipate as it’s clustered and instead a golden, sourceless light begins to fill this glade; like a golden dusk color just as the sun begins to disappear beyond the horizon. As these branches begin to expand and lower, you watch as they pull open. From them emerges a face, a beautiful, welcoming smile. Earthen brown skin, gentle golden eyes, the leaves and canopy itself the hair that continues to tumble and curl around as it comes down to you and meets your gaze. So massive to where you felt you’d grown yourself from a larger flower, now you feel like you grew from a regular flower. You are so small and she is so encompassing. There is no fear, just awe. Her smile is a wordless, touch-less hug.
Ashton:“Are you dropping or cubes?”
Braius:“The kind that burns you.”
Fearne:“Yeah, cuz I think it’s hilarious.”
Travis:“We’re in a tree!”
Ashley:“Playin’ D&D Spin the Bottle.”
Zone of Truthand just make out?”Dorian:(nodding)“This is how the fate of the world should be decided.”
Braius:“I think so.”
Travis:“Better start beatin’ it.”
Sam:“Performance check?”
Matt:(giving up)“Sure.”
“If you didn’t smell like cedar and chestnuts!”
Doran pulls away, grits his teeth and says,“I fucking knew it.”
Chetney:(dazed)“He is royalty.” Liam:“In all of history, there’ve been five great kisses…that kiss topped em all.”
Chetney:“You want some of this Birthheart dog? I put some shavings in there, and fuckin’ seein’ some shit.”
(continued)
Robbie’s reaction