%% date:: [[2023-07-11]] %% # [[096_20230711 Beware your pride in splendor's hall]] ![[twc-096.png]] ## Session Summary > [!tldr] [[096_20230711 Beware your pride in splendor's hall]] > We entered through the door outlined golden light and went from Pearl's hut to a circular chamber with another door, on which was written a poem with a warning: those who pass the divine trials are those who let go of their pride. After a brief discussion about literally leaving everything we were carrying (and wearing?) behind, we walked through the door, which had magically swung open, to find ourselves at the Heroes' Banquet. > > In a large banquet hall, we found six nobles and four servants by a long dinner table, with paintings on the walls that depicted our various adventures. Each of the nobles had a specific type of story they wanted to hear from us: tales of treasure, danger, importance and finery, skill, fearsome monsters, and elaborate plans. Whenever we fulfilled those requests (while not talking ourselves up), we got a golden divine mark (such as the beginnings of wings, a sun tattoo, golden hair, and extra eyes) and a potion of some sort. The servants instead needed us to do some tasks to help them, and Milla got a key for doing so. All ten of these people were somewhat related in appearance to us or people we loved, but didn't seem to know it. > > We proceeded to the next trials: an arena with a platform on which a gold dragon named Shindiya curled her tail around a mound of treasure. She wasn't the golden dragon we were after, but she said that we would have to get through some battles to get to the next trial. Winning one bout would allow us to proceed, four would let us walk away with the treasure, and five would see us win her ultimate prize. > > We won the first fight easily, against a Ki-rin named Hesper the Magnificent. We could call upon the blessings of Pelor every round, and in doing so would get extra damage. As a side effect, we would also continue to get gifts like golden weapons and divine tattoos. ^summary %% ## Video  [Video](https://youtu.be/WtxXHrdyUMo) 00:00:00 Welcome to the TWC + recap 00:05:00 The game begins 00:11:40 We enter the circular chamber 00:13:40 Back-channel funnies 00:17:10 Leave all our ambitions and clothes 00:19:10 Entering the Banquet Hall 00:32:45 Leandra likes tales of risky maneuvers 00:33:15 Friends call me Dax. You can call me Ms Duppelan 00:33:41 Show me the notches on your sword 00:36:40 Sirudan wants healing 00:39:31 Fucking Goodberry 00:41:46 Vivien likes tales of elaborate plans 00:47:34 Halliope wants help with his tray of goblets 00:49:56 Just because they're servants doesn't mean they're more important than you 00:50:23 Servant wants help lighting her lantern 00:52:46 Xenia has some skank 00:55:21 Magic 00:56:09 Viinathur likes fearsome tales and Murathan really can't multitask 01:01:11 Aniyel likes tales of important people 01:02:28 My buddy Murathan 01:04:41 Halliope wants her stain cleaned up 01:07:03 Rine likes tales of skill 01:09:03 Beer exchange 01:11:31 Andy's not that big 01:13:38 Halliope wants to change clothes and we're not looking 01:19:22 Aniyel wants a tale of important people 01:25:23 Opulence wants a tale of treasure 01:31:51 We enter the arena 01:33:19 What do earth elementals do when they have sex? 01:39:52 Let's go for five 01:42:35 Roll for initiative 01:43:31 Do you really want to hurt me? 01:47:53 Round 1 - Scura's turn 01:50:14 Wally's turn 01:54:25 Xenia's turn 01:57:31 Hesper's turn 01:59:36 You can have multiple windows in Arc 02:02:53 Milla's turn (sliding into Andy's DMs) 02:05:04 Legendary reaction 02:07:44 Dax's turn 02:09:01 Round 2 - Scura's turn 02:13:47 Wally's turn 02:15:26 Xenia's turn 02:20:07 Hesper's turn 02:22:39 Milla's turn 02:25:01 Dax's turn 02:27:41 Round 3 - Scura's turn 02:30:01 Wally's turn 02:32:01 Xenia's turn 02:35:03 Hesper's turn 02:39:09 Milla's turn - HDYWTDT 02:42:11 The other champions ahead 02:47:53 End %% --- ## Recap ![[095_20230704 The Pearl of Preparation#^summary]] --- ## Log Arcos's hackles come up and stays out with [[Pearl of the Beach|Pearl]]. I asked her if she's from [[The Pallid Grove]], in Elvish, and she says no. We enter the circular chamber, and come face to face with another door, with writing: “Hone your soul in tests divine By entering this holy shrine. The highest-flying reach the sun And in its rays are thus undone. Do not crow, nor glory seek, No vanity nor bluster speak. Beware your pride in splendor’s hall Or in disgrace you fail and fall.” *Shed your ambition.* There are motes of sunlight in the air, and Xenia notices that our shadows have wings. The door opens on its own (heh) and there are six humanoids around a banquet table are eating and talking. Another four are in subdued livery and uniforms are waiting in front of them. On the walls, there are various paintings framed in gold, depicting us in acts of bravery, grit, and ingenuity. - Kalani and Promise, no Scura - first calamity on the ferry, battling against giant crabs and giant snakes. - Quest to help Nelsen - Stahlmast in Hupperdook - Temple of Raei on Vermeillon, observatory collapsing in, volcano - Adventures as demigods - Tower of Caes Mosor - Rescuing Floyd - Slaying of the giants Crimson tiefling ([[Opulence]]) - male - greets us. Looks like [[Music]]. Wally does *Divine Sense* and everything seems divine/celestial. At the other end of the hall is a large door. - Nobles - [[Opulence]] (treasure) - Dax says that we're the biggest treasure she's found. I hug her and lose my halo. :( Opulence doesn't seem quite satisfied though. - [[Leandra]]: Elegant female human who looks like [[Lady Floella Volcain Hemsworth|Lady Floella]]. (riskiness and danger) - Scura got a clear potion with a fingernail in it and a sun brand on her arm after talking about Dax's heroics with the giants. - [[Aniyel]]: Elf looks like [[Reya]], with some of her cheekiness. (most important person) - I tell her about how good Milla looked when we went to the [[The Hemsworth Mansion]]. I get a cracked halo. Milla gets a potion of purple liquid with pink clouds. - [[Viinathur]]: Goldish dragonborn that has similar mannerisms to [[Halkin Leafspark|Halkin]], although very different colouring. (fearsome) - Wally tries to talk up Xenia, but she isn't impressed. - [[Rine]] (REEN): Halfling who is sneaky, like the thief we killed at the Amber Crossroads. (skill) - Wally talks up how Xenia used *Feather Fall* to save me from the chasm (which did not happen) and he gets a blue, bubbling potion and his hair turns golden. - [[Vivien]]: Half-orc, male. Gruff like [[Kalani]]. (most elaborate plan we've pulled off) - Xenia and Dax tell him about the plan to fly a roc into the city. Xenia gets a red, glimmering potion, and gets a golden-pupiled set of eyes on his forehead. - Servants: - [[Sirudan]]: Female half elf, limping slightly - Milla healed her, but maybe not enough? - Hands Milla a key. - : Male human, clumsy with tray of goblets - Milla calms him down. - [[Halliope]]: Female bluish tiefling with a stain of red wine all down her dress. - Milla changes clothes with her. She gets Sirudan to hand Milla a key. - Female perky gnome who's desperately trying to light a lantern but failing. Opulence is the tiefling. He says we should tell him a story of our finest deeds. They each have a particular taste. If we share our finest hours with them, the door will unlock. Leandra - elegant human who looks like Floella. I talk up Dax and I get a brand of the sun on my arm. She passes me a small vial with a fingernail inside it. She likes tales of risky maneuvers. Half elf wants healing on her leg. Milla tries a medicine check, but it isn't enough. She gives her a goodberry. Orc turns to Xenia. He wants the most elaborate plan. Dax tells him about the roc we flew into a city. Xenia gets given a potion - it's red, glimmering. On Xenia's forehead, another set of eyes appear on his forehead, but with golden pupils. Viinathur is the gold dragonborn. Milla Wally goes to the one that is trying to get one to light a lantern. Aniyel is the elf Rine (REEN) Vivien (half orc) They are The Heroes' Banquet. Wally doesn't feel like he's a good guy. Elf asks us for the most important person he's encountered. Wally tries to talk up Xenia, but it didn't work. Halliope (huh-LAI-uh-pee) is the name of the servant with a stained dress Halfling asks for accomplishments and skills of use. Tell him a difficult situation that only that character can handle. Wally talks up Xenia and his hair turns gold. And it's heavy. The halfling gives him a potion that's blue and bubbling. %% Lulu 178 5'10" %% Milla changes clothes with Halliope's wine stained Sirudan, limping half elf, gives Milla a key. Golden key with a picture of the sun. Elf gives Milla a purple liquid with a cloud of pink floating around it. As I finish my tale, a halo with a crack appears on me. Opulence likes tales of treasure. I give Dax a hug and the cracked halo over my head disappears. The door opens up, and it reveals an arena. Sun brand on forearm. We hear applause and cheers. We step out into an open arena. Blazing wall sconces fill with bright light. Champions plus mounts are on a platform overlooking arena. On a platform is a gold dragon whose tail is curled around a gleaming treasure chest. Her tail is idly fiddling with the lock. I am [[Shyndyr]], Glory-keeper. You stand in Apricus Hall, where adventurers fight one of our own, after which you get to the next (final) trial. - Fight honourably, or face my condemnation - You must win one round to pass the door, three more rounds to get treasures, and then one last round to gain my ultimate prize. You can choose not to parttake in one or more trials. - You may rest between battles. (short rest) - The light of the sun can be called upon to gain strength in your attacks. (Once per turn, when you hit with an attack, you can reach beyond your limits to gain extra damage.) Resplendent unicorn-horn horse with mane that blazes with holy fire. [[Hesper]] the Magnificent! ![[1689106268608 - Combat]] [[Hesper]] bows at us. The dragon breathes, and her breath coalesces into a key that goes towards the door. "You may proceed, but my champions thirst for the glory of battle!" - Two armed knights and a priest with fire - small mage with a serpent ([[Seluthiel]]??) - pegasus and gladiator - ??? Golden tattoo appears on my arm like a sleeve, like a righteous angel. Xenia gets golden freckles. Dax gets an itch between her shoulder blades. Wally gets an extra set of eyes. [[Shyndyr]]: "Round Two! [[Nanri]]! [[Ilva]]! [[Akril]]!" Curves of women under armour (knights) and a teenage boy wreathed in a robe and flames. Xenia: red and glimmering when agitated. Wally: fingernail Scura: blue and bubbles Milla: purple We need to roll for initiative next time - remind Andy!