Upon their arrival at the elven city, the group learns something surprising about their skeletal companion.
The doors to Kidohlva are large and intricately carved into the side of the mountain, guarded by four guards in fur-lined coats. The group approaches carefully, though they find the caution is unwarranted as all are welcome at the University.
Deciding to disregard the guards’ advice about making an appointment, they head straight to the office of the University’s Headmaster. It isn’t long before it is revealed that Arcterus was actually banished for stealing an important artifact, and now must deal with the repercussions of his actions. On their way to turn him over to the authorities, they notice a mysterious figure staring at them from a distance.
Follow Dax @GM_Dax, Kappa @TheKappaChris, and Wren @ThornyDryad
Transcript by CJ Kallevig
Upbeat piano intro ends[00:28]
Gentle piano fades in [00:29]
Kappa (as Rou): Hello, this is Rou from Roads Uncharted. You know, for a small town on the road, Westbridge is quite exciting but not in the good way. Our companion, Mood, Moody, Big Mood, wonderful fellow, was reunited with his family. We uncovered the assailant to the destruction of Jerry, and you know, one of my deep, darkest secrets has been revealed to the party. Eight knocked some sense into me when I tried to run away. This is going to be hard of a conversation to have with Arthas, but the conversation with Eight made me feel a little bit better. And so we continue.
Piano music fades out [01:16]
Steady drumbeat and guitar fades in [01:17]
Dax: So, players. During your stay in Westbridge, you ended up learning that one of the tunnel paths you took after your departure from the Sciuren guides actually led you to Westbridge. As opposed to Kidohlva. Basically took a “wrong turn at Albuquerque” kind of deal. You learned over the course of the two days that you were in Westbridge that the caravans typically will drop off some supplies, some wares, and then they keep going. More often than not, they don’t actually stay in the village. Marc, the warehouse worker that showed you to the tavern when you first arrived, actually ended up offering to lead you through the mountains to Kidohlva. At this point, it was really only a half trek days’ way... Half a days’ trek away. I can talk, it’s fine.
Taking him up on his offer, he led you starting at dawn, up the mountainside. The snow held off, although the sky remained gray. About midday, you arrive at the gates of the city and the first thing that strikes you is the massive size of these stone gates. Nearly 100 feet tall, carved into the side of the mountain, intricate carvings cover a good portion of the surface. These large doors seem hingeless, they don’t appear to have handles. However, on either side of the doors, are a set of guards. They are all wearing dark blue uniforms, hoods lined with fur sit atop their heads. One of the four stands a little taller and broader than the others, but otherwise they appear nearly identical. At this point the doors are about 30 feet away, as you crest the landing space. What are the three of you doing? What are you talking about as you approach these doors?
Kappa (as Rou): So, these doors. Do you think they made them piece by piece or there was just one very large carpenter? Stonemason? Stonemason.
Wren: Regarding those doors, and pondering on it infinitely longer than really should be thought, I respond,
Wren (as Eight): Well, it appears that given the proximity of this location to the mountains, it is quite plausible that perhaps they chiseled it directly out of the mountain side. Or perhaps they created the rock from the stuffs of magic.
Kappa (as Rou): That’s right, that’s right. I forgot that you know, you could do just anything with magic.
Wren (as Eight): Although I suppose if we really wanted to know, we could ask our talkative companion.
Wren: And I’ll slowly turn and look at Arcterus’ head.
Dax: You hear the clattering of teeth.
Dax (as Arcterus): [teeth chattering] What?
Wren (as Eight): What’s the matter?
Kappa (as Rou): Do, do you have any idea of how you know, we could see them from way back over there. It took us ten minutes before we even got here, and we still have a ways to go. Do, do you have any idea how these were formed? No?
Dax (as Arcterus): [teeth chattering] Well, could we maybe get inside before we talk about the base? It’s a little cold out here.
Kappa (as Rou): Oh, yep, sure. Sure. Would you like a blanket? I don’t have one, I just, I just figured offering would be nice.
Wren (as Eight): That’s true. I have learned this same thing in my travels.
Dax (as Arcterus): [as if shivering]I’m fine. Let’s just go.
Wren (as Eight): I was aware Arcterus could feel pain. However, I was unaware that you could sense the cold and be affected by it. What was the point of dying if you were still going to experience so much discomfort?
Kappa (as Rou): I also didn’t know you could shiver if just your face was cold.
Wren (as Eight): I was under the impression that shivering was caused by the nervous system's response in an attempt to generate energy and heat and warm up the body. How is it possible you can shiver with no nervous system, no muscles, no blood?
Dax (as Arcterus): [sighs] I was trying to be funny and you ruined the joke. Let’s just, look. [sighs]
Wren (as Eight): Does this mean you’re not cold? And you simply don’t know about the doors?
Kappa (as Rou): I thought it was pretty funny. [pauses] But like, not haha funny.
Dax (as Arcterus): When the Silarin first moved into these mountains, they wanted to fortify this fortress. And the first thing they did was carve these doors out of the living rock itself. Some of it was old-fashioned masonry, and the rest was indeed magic. Now, as I said, we can continue the history lesson inside.
Kappa (as Rou): Oooh, testy. Okay.
Dax (as Arcterus): Sorry, I’m not looking forward to dealing with the Headmaster, I’m sure he is going to be most displeased.
Wren: I will look left and right, like you’ll see the, the bright pupil of my lenses shift from left to right and I will look back at Arcterus.
Wren (as Eight): Headmaster. Just to clarify, this was not a joke?
Dax (as Arcterus): Yes, that is the title of the person who runs the University, Eight.
Wren (as Eight): I’m well aware. However, given the fact that I was unable to determine the fact that you were joking with your previous comment, I wanted to clarify whether or not you were attempting humor with this pun? With reference to a head-master? After all, they are in charge of you who is little more than a head at this time. Making them the master to your head.
Dax (as Arcterus): Very good point Eight, very good point.
Kappa (as Rou): So are we just going to walk in? Are these guards going to just let us go? They’re not, they don’t seem like they’re going to hold us up.
Wren: As we draw close to them, as we’re like walking and talking, I will just walk up to one of them with Bessie behind me. And, get within a few feet.
Wren (as Eight): Hello! I am Eight, and these are my companions. Simply Arthas,
Wren: And I’ll gesture to Arthas’s enormous body.
Wren (as Eight): Friend Rou.
Kappa (as Rou): Hello.
Wren: And I will gesture to Rou, in his enormous ill-fitting armor.
Wren (as Eight): The head of previous staff member, Arcterus. Last name unknown. And my mechanical companion, Bessie. We seek the library and the knowledge held within. I have traveled across all of the lands of Rejiev in order to arrive here at the University. What’s your name?
Dax: Out of curiosity, which guard did you walk up to? The one that is taller and broader or one of the other three?
Wren: I don’t know, I walked up to whichever one was first.
Dax: Roll me a d4.
Wren: The third one.
Dax: Peering out from underneath this fur lined hood, this petite individual looks up at you. You can see a fair face, strands of black hair are peeking out of the hood, and these really dark, round green eyes.
Dax (as the guard): [in a British accent] Um, my name is Mistra. If you’re here for the library, you’re more than welcome to go in. No one’s going to stop you.
Wren (as Eight): Oh, excellent. Did you hear that, Rou? They will not stop us from entering.
Kappa (as Rou): Oh! Good. Not that there was any reason for us to be stopped, I just, you never know.
Wren: I’ll look back to Mistra.
Wren (as Eight): I appreciate you letting us know that we can enter freely. Mistra, where is the library? And where might we find the Headmaster of the University?
Dax: The individual that is directly next to Mistra does her best to stifle a little giggle. She tilts her head down and brings a hand up, darkly gloved hand up to her face as if to cover a smirk.
Dax (as Mistra): Uh, well, if you, when we let you through the doors, um, if you head down the main hallway you’ll find a set of stairs leading up to the left that will take you to the Headmaster’s office. There is a stairway that leads up way to the right, that will lead you to one portion of the library. Usually the one that most visitors like to see. So there’s a nice little observation lounge up there. And if you were to continue following the tunnel, that will lead you down into the city proper.
Wren (as Eight): Wonderful. Left first, see the Headmaster, and then peruse the library.
Dax (as Mistra): The Headmaster will want an appointment, he doesn’t generally like to see people unannounced. So it might be better to either go to the library or the city proper first.
Wren (as Eight): I understand your suggestion. It has been considered and we will go see the Headmaster. After all, we do have one of the missing staff.
Dax (as Mistra): Alright. That is your choice.
Wren (as Eight): Granted, they don’t have much choice.
Kappa (as Rou): It’s not like a hostage situation or anything. They’re, they’re here by their own volition. We are helping them.
Dax: She turns to look up at you Arthas. Rou and Eight, as she does so, you notice that when her neck extends and becomes a little more bare, that the.. there seems to be a tattoo on her throat. It almost looks like lightning or potentially tree branches. It is a whole bunch of jagged lines that go outward, up and then outward across her neck.
Dax (as Mistra): You're, um, you’re a Giant-kin, aren’t you?
Neil (as Arthas): Yes. I like your birthmark.
Dax (as Mistra): My birthmark?
Neil (as Arthas): This thing.
Neil: And I motion around my neck.
Dax (as Mistra): Oh. You, you mean my tattoo.
Neil (as Arthas): A what?
Dax (as Mistra): Um, a tattoo. It’s uh, ink engraved into the skin. Kind of like..
Dax: And she gestures to the door.
Dax (as Mistra): Like these markings engraved into the stone.
Neil (as Arthas): Neat! Where do I get one?
Dax (as Mistra): [chuckles] I don’t know if the markist will be willing to mark up a Giant-kin, but I suppose you could ask them. Our people use this as… distinction. Have you never met a Silarin before?
Neil (as Arthas): I cannot say I have.
Kappa (as Rou): Is that different from Kidohlvan?
Dax (as Mistra): Oh, Kidohlva is the city. Silarin is the name of my people.
Kappa (as Rou): Oh, okay, okay. Interesting. So it’s not called Silara?
Dax (as Mistra): [chuckling] No, no it’s not.
Kappa (as Rou): Okay.
Wren: Dax, I’m struggling to remember the name of the Elves that I have met.
Dax: The ones in the forest were Kinder-Kai. The twins you met before heading to Isha were Moldir. So you haven’t yet met a Silarin.
Wren: I nod thoughtfully.
Dax: The woman that had tried to stifle a laugh earlier, full out snickers at this point and turns to the group of you. You can see she has almost the exact same facial features as Mistra, with the exception that her, her eyes are so brown, they’re almost black.
Kappa: That’s kind of cool.
Dax: She also has a very similar tattoo on her throat.
Kappa (as Rou): Well, we should be on our way. I mean,
Kappa: I look, I look around that there’s nobody.
Kappa (as Rou): We don’t want to, you know, gum up the business…and your work.
Dax: She nudges Mistra.
Dax (as the other guard): [in British accent] This one’s funny. I like him.
Kappa (as Rou): Thank you!
Dax (as Mistra): Marta, we’re on duty. If there’s nothing more that you require, please enjoy your stay and do not cause trouble. I wouldn’t, I wouldn’t want to kill you.
Dax: And she turns and reaches behind her. You can see as she steps aside, that there is this mechanism built into the stone. She turns this mechanism once, twice, thrice, and once she finishes, you start to hear the echoing sound of unlocking and gears. The doors start to slowly open, the heavy stone scraping against the stone floor. You can almost feel the small vibrations as they do so.
Kappa (as Rou): Oooh, what a fancy mechanism. Mistra, Marta, good day to you.
Wren: I will tug on the reins and I will say,
Wren (as Eight): Come along Bessie. Mithra and Marta have opened the gates and they will not stop us.
Wren: And I will clomp my way down past the gates.
Dax: As you walk around the large door, what you see before you is a massive stone hallway. There are stone columns, about two dozen on either side leading down this large hallway. You can see above you are these gigantic chandeliers. You can see these sconces all along the columns, providing sufficient light, considering you are now going into the mountain. There is no natural light to be held. You can see in various pockets there are people standing around talking. Most of the people that you see are Elves, not surprisingly.
Music shifts to a melodic guitar [16:32]
Dax: The Silarin all tend to wear these very elegant looking robes or blouses and pants and cloaks. Their hair is, in most cases, braided up and out of their face. What sets them apart from, at least in Eight’s case, other Elves that they’ve seen, their ears are much larger than human ears. They kind of stick out from the sides of their head, kind of billow out. And I will be putting a picture in the Discord for y’all to see. You do see some humans, you see some Dwarves, a couple of Gnomes. But for the most part, you just see these Elves.
There are people walking around and they’re talking. Once you get to the end of the hall, you do see the large stairway, both to the left and the right that Mistra was talking about. The hallway, instead of going straight ahead past the door, the stairway, actually starts to lead downward and what rises up from the floor is this banister.
Kappa (as Rou): Are you sure we’re going the right way? There’s no signs or anything.
Wren (as Eight): I believe we were instructed that the Headmaster’s office was the left way.
Wren: And I will start heading up to the left.
Wren (as Eight): After all, we were very eager to bring Arcterus back.
Kappa (as Rou): Oh yes, speaking of. Arcterus!
Kappa: I’m going to pull Arcterus out.
Kappa (as Rou): Does any of this look familiar to you?
Kappa: Start, and start pointing Arcterus in, not pointing in like different directions, just like slowly panning around.
Dax (as Arcterus): Yeah, I’m..it’s kind of hard to change stone in a hundred years I would imagine. And it all looks about the same. Mistra wasn’t lying though, the Headmaster really doesn’t like to be disturbed without being announced. I’m sure that you could make an appointment with him and it wouldn’t be a problem.
Kappa (as Rou): I think you sell yourself a little too short here. I mean, you are a missing member of the staff. It would be prudent of us to, to bring you right at once. Appointment or not. Right?
Wren (as Eight): That’s correct! And besides, we are on a very sensitive, secret mission that requires the assistance of the Headmaster with determining where to look in the library for the appropriate reading.
Kappa (as Rou): See, that I believe would require an appointment. But, you know, we help you, you’re helping us expedite this process.
Dax (as Arcterus): Okay. If that is what you wish, I am beholden to your desires.
Kappa (as Rou): When you say it like it, it makes us sound mean.
Dax (as Arcterus): Well I mean, honestly, where am I going to go? I’m just a head.
Kappa (as Rou): That you are.
Wren (as Eight): You do have control of the arms on your body though.
Dax (as Arcterus): And what am I supposed to do with those?
Kappa (as Rou): Perhaps we could, you know, commission a little rig. You know, like a little harness that you can use your hands to move around, attach them to your head. You’re like one of those creepy spiders that I’ve seen in books.
Wren (as Eight): I mean, upon your return here, you did intend to return to work on the staff, correct?
Dax (as Arcterus): I don’t know what’s going to happen. Preferably I’d rather not remain a skull for the rest of my life.
Wren (as Eight): Fair point. Though technically you aren’t alive.
Dax (as Arcterus): This is also true.
Kappa (as Rou): So, Arcterus. Which way? This way? Are we going the right way?
Kappa: Pointing him down the stairs on the left side. Up the stairs?
Dax (as Arcterus): Go up, up the stairs to the left. That’s the Headmaster’s office. Up the stairs to the right is the observation lounge and part of the library and down the hallway is the rest of the city.
Kappa (as Rou): Okay. Up and left we go.
Wren: I’m already halfway up the stairs. I’ve just been like, calling back as I’ve been going. Leading Bessie up the stairway as well.
[everyone laughs]
Dax: Of course, of course. These stairs are very wide, you can easily fit maybe six people across. The stairway slowly winds and curves upward. Once you get to the landing at the top, you notice that it actually leads into a hallway with several doors. A couple of the doors are open, you can see some light filtering out. You can hear voices, and then a couple of the doors are closed as well. Then all the way at the end is a large set of massive oak doors.
Kappa (as Rou): You think the Headmaster likes just large doors too?
Kappa: I say this as I approach and knock. [knocking] That was way dinkier than I meant it to be.
Dax: Nobody answers.
Wren (as Eight): Perhaps your knock was not loud enough.
Kappa (as Rou): Wait, wait. Hold on. That was, that was the dinkiest knock of all time. Let me try this again.
[knocks again]
Kappa (as Rou): Hello?
Neil (as Arthas): Allow me. [knocks louder]
Dax: Arthas, give me a Brawn check. Just a simple check.
Kappa: Just a simple, innocuous check.
Neil: Okay. [dice rolls] Okay, two Triumphs.
Kappa: There are no more doors in Kidohlva.
[Wren laughs]
Wren: Arthas proceeds to set off a..a Rube Goldberg machine effect, the whole building collapses piece by piece.
Neil: [chuckles] Except for the door.
Dax: Okay, so I was just going to say based on how many Successes you had would be how badly this door is now attached to its hinges. The door does come off the hinge, but since you have some Triumphs, what would you like to insert into the scene with your Triumph? As the door falls or whatever.
Neil: The janitor on the other side trying to screw the hinge into the door as he’s trying to replace it. This is a frequent occurrence apparently.
Dax: So the door falls and reveals this, this custodial worker that’s trying to repair the door?
Neil: Yeah, so just like on a step ladder or off to the side, just staring.
Dax: Sure, I’m here for this. The Elf stands there, tool in hand. Kind of just, now standing mid-air.
Dax (as the janitor): [in British accent, slightly deeper tone] Well, I guess I should have done my work a little quicker.
Dax: Puts the tool down, steps down off the step stool.
Dax (as the janitor): Um..
Kappa (as Rou): Hello, we’ve been looking for you. You’re the Headmaster, correct?
Dax (as the janitor): No. No, no, no, no, no.
Kappa (as Rou): Oh, oh no.
Dax (as the janitor): No, it’s not ‘oh no’. I just, I’m not the Headmaster. I’m just a custodian, as it were.
Kappa (as Rou): Ah.
Dax: It is at this point now, that this person is relatively close to you, that you notice he has a tree tattooed. The very top of the tree is actually covering his forehead, some of the branches cover his cheekbones, and right under his bottom lip is the very roots of the tree.
Wren (as Eight): If you are not the Headmaster…
Wren: I pipe in.
Wren (as Eight): Is their office through this door?
Dax: You hear from the back of the room,
Dax (as a stranger): [in British accent, femme tone]It depends on why you’re looking for her.
Dax: And a female Silarin comes walking around the corner.
Wren (as Eight): Hello, would you happen to be the Headmaster?
Dax (as the Headmaster): Present and accounted for.
Wren (as Eight): Excellent!
Wren: And I’ll clap my hands together and push past the janitor. My feet just clomping on the floor.
Wren (as Eight): Come, Rou. Bring Arcterus. This is the moment we’ve been waiting for.
Kappa (as Rou): Sure! Thank you very much, sorry about the door.
Dax (as the janitor): It’s fine, I brought it upon myself. Do you mind, would you just mind lifting that and putting it back in place and I can take care of the hinges?
Dax: He turns to you, Arthas.
Neil (as Arthas): Of course.
Neil: And I step in and do so.
Dax: Perfect. As soon as it’s up, he does, get back on his step stool and start working. The headmistress that stands in front of you is about average height, 5’6-ish, whatever. She has dark brown hair that’s tied up in this very complex-like bun. Dark green robes. She’s got the same tattoo that Mistra and Marta had on their throat.
Dax (as the Headmistress): I’m sorry, why are you barging into my office? And who are you?
Wren (as Eight): Oh. That was, huh, terribly rude of us. Hello, Headmaster. My name is Eight, and these are my traveling companions. Simply Arthas,
Wren: And I gesture to Arthas.
Wren (as Eight): Friend Rou,
Wren: And I gesture to Rou.
Kappa (as Rou): Hello.
Wren (as Eight): My mechanical traveling companion, Bessie. And our new traveling companion, a talking skull who claims to be staff here at the University from an age long gone.
Kappa: And I will hold up Arcterus presentably.
Dax (as Arcterus): Is Headmaster Kiran no longer around?
Dax (as the Headmistress): Uh, no. Headmaster Kiran passed on about 50 years or so ago. I’m sorry, what did you say your name was?
Dax (as Arcterus): Arcterus. I was the professor of history about, I don’t know, a hundred years ago or so. I went down to map the tunnels between Kidohlva and Azarra and…
Dax: She kind of scrunches herself down so she’s eye to eye with this skull.
Dax (as the Headmistress): Ooohhhhh. You’re that professor.
Dax: She stands up and looks at the three of you.
Dax (as the Headmistress): I suppose he also forgot to mention he didn’t leave of his own accord, he was banished from this city for stealing magical artifacts.
Dax: And at that, she looks down at the skull.
[Kappa gasps]
Kappa: And I’ll pull the skull to me.
Kappa (as Rou): You didn’t, you did not tell us that. We’ve been deceived. Arcterus, how could you?
Wren: I rub the back of my neck and turn and look at Arcterus.
Wren (as Eight): Arcterus, how could you omit facts of that nature? We would have seriously reconsidered whether or not we brought you to the Headmaster if you had told us that. Also…
Wren: And I’ll turn and look at the Headmaster.
Wren (as Eight): What magical artifacts were stolen? Is it possible they would have had…
Wren: And I gesture to his talking, living purgatory.
Wren (as Eight): This type of effect on the thief?
Dax (as the Headmistress): I don’t think so. I believe all that was taken was a transporter.
Wren (as Eight): Ohhhhh.
Kappa (as Rou): Ohhhhh.
Wren (as Eight): That makes sense. Arcterus, is the transporter the reason you got yourself embedded in the tunnel walls and perished? How embarrassing.
Kappa (as Rou): I fed you cheese!
Dax (as Arcterus): Arthas, help me out here.
Neil (as Arthas): Now, were the artifacts important? Or were they mundane magical artifacts?
Dax (as the Headmistress): An artifact from our people’s history that allows one to basically transport their mortal form from one position to another without disintegration first.
Kappa (as Rou): I mean, that sounds really cool.
Neil (as Arthas): Is that mundane in your society?
Dax (as the Headmistress): It’s part of our people’s history. It’s not something we use every day. So I suppose it wouldn’t be mundane.
Neil (as Arthas): I’m sure there were perfectly legitimate reasons…right?
Dax: She raises her eyebrows when she looks at you, and then she looks down at the skull.
Dax (as Arcterus): I wanted to test it out and Headmaster Kiran wouldn’t let me sign it out and it was fun.
Wren (as Eight): So you stole it.
Dax (as Arcterus): Yeah I did. I’m ashamed of it, and I think I’ve been punished for it. Don’t you think? Yeah?
Kappa: Rou is nodding his head, considering that.
Kappa (as Rou): I suppose you’re right. I mean, it did happen a hundred years ago and society has moved on without you.
Kappa: I look over at the Headmaster.
Kappa (as Rou): I mean, how, how serious of an issue is this at this point?
Dax (as the Headmistress): Well at this point, it’s going to be up to the Council as far as what to do with him. He was banished and… wait a minute. You said you found him. Where exactly did you find him?
Wren: I will gesture emphatically with one finger and I will say,
Wren (as Eight): Oh, just a moment. I prepared a map!
Wren: And I will reach into my pack and pull out the really, hastily crude drawn map of the tunnels that I had been producing. And I will show it to the Headmaster.
Wren (as Eight): This is a crude map of the tunnels that led us to this region. You’ll see right here,
Wren: And I’ll, like, point to a spot on the map, the parchment.
Wren (as Eight): I have drawn a skull, denoting the fact that this is where we found Arcterus embedded in the wall. It is also important to note that his body was putrefied, so I suppose that could be considered a portion of punishment as well.
Dax (as the Headmistress): As I said, it’s not my decision. It’s going to be up to the Council. Would you mind terribly bringing Arcterus down to the guard station at the entrance to the city? They can hold him while we get those things in order. And then that way you’re not burdened with carrying him around anymore.
Kappa (as Rou): Sure. I mean, if it’s all the same, we can just, you know, leave him somewhere. He’s not going anywhere, there’s not much holding that needs to be done.
Wren (as Eight): That is true. However, it would be better if we put him under the watchful eye of someone tasked with keeping him safe. Because it would be a shame if he were to fast-talk his way into someone else’s hands and thus escape.
Kappa (as Rou): Oh, no, I totally agree. I was, we were definitely going to do it. I just wanted to, you know, drive it home to Arcterus that he needs us.
Dax: Y’all are so mean to this skull.
Kappa: I fed him cheese!
[Dax laughs]
Dax (as the Headmistress): You didn’t happen to recover the artifact, did you?
Kappa (as Rou): What did it look like? Did it smell bad? Because if it did, we got rid of all traces.
Dax (as the Headmistress): I don’t imagine there would have been a smell. Hold on.
Dax: She goes towards the back of this entryway, foyer, thing and you can see that there’s some bookshelves that are on the far wall. She scans a few of them and then ends up pulling one off the shelf and starts flipping through the pages. And as she walks back towards you, she goes,
Dax (as the Headmistress): Ah-ha!
Dax: She turns the book around to you and what you see on one of the pages is a drawing of what appears to be a glass orb with some swirling smoke on the inside of it. On the outside are two bands of copper. Almost criss crossing but not exactly at 90 degree perpendicular angles.
Dax (as the Headmistress): It should have been about the size of a large rock.
Dax: She kind of holds up her hand with her palm extended.
Kappa (as Rou): No, I don’t remember seeing one of them.
Wren: I shake my head.
Wren (as Eight): I certainly do not recall seeing an artifact of that nature.
Kappa (as Rou): Arthas, did you see anything like that?
Neil (as Arthas): Not to my memory.
Dax (as the Headmistress): Alright. That’s a fact that I’m going to have to bring up to the Council, that it’s been lost. Wonderful. Is that the only reason you barged into my office?
Wren (as Eight): Well, it was certainly the one we felt most relevant to your interests. However, my friends and I are here on a…
Wren: And I lean in.
Wren (as Eight): Secret mission. On behalf of the ruler of the City of Saleen. And I was hoping that you might offer your expertise and assistance that we might peruse your library for the most relevant resources we might need to solve a mystery?
Dax (as the Headmistress): Um, what mission of secrecy is so important?
Dax: And with that she kind of closes the book with a loud clack.
Kappa (as Rou): Wait, hold on. Before we, before you continue, I’m going to move Arcterus 20 feet away.
Wren: Are you going to roll him across the floor?
[Wren and Kappa laugh]
Kappa: No, no.
Wren: I continue to like, get closer to the Headmaster, like leaning in.
Wren (as Eight): How do you feel about children, Headmaster?
Dax (as the Headmistress): I’m sorry. What do my feelings about children have to do with anything?
Wren (as Eight): If you answer the question, I can make it apparent. How do you feel about children, Headmaster?
Dax (as the Headmistress): Children are the lifeblood of any civilization. They are the future. Why?
Wren (as Eight): How would you feel if I told you that thousands of children went missing without a trace?
Dax: The book drops and slams to the floor.
Kappa: From twenty feet away, Rou’s just,
Kappa (as Rou): [farther from mic] Did you tell her about the children?
Wren (as Eight): Yes, I was getting to that part.
Kappa (as Rou): [farther from the mic] Okay. That part’s very important. Please pay attention, Headmaster.
Wren (as Eight): It is essentially the entirety of our problem. You see, thousands of children went missing on the eve of the Festival of Aram in the City of Saleen. And, we were tasked with arriving in Kidohlva that we might do some research as to moments in history which bear similar parallels to how the children vanished.
Dax (as the Headmistress): Alright. Um…
Dax: She reaches down and picks up the book.
Dax (as the Headmistress): That is…disturbing indeed. Um… yes, of course I’ll help. Alright, have you stopped anywhere to get lodgings? I’m, I’m assuming you’re going to be here for quite a while. Especially if that’s the task you’re, you’re going to be looking into.
Wren (as Eight): We have not stopped for lodging at this point. We figured it would be best if we brought your missing staff member to your attention as soon as we were able.
Dax (as the Headmistress): Alright. It’s going to take me a little bit to gather my staff, get them to scan the archives and find out which texts might be appropriate. Why don’t you go and drop off our…
Dax: She looks over towards the skull.
Dax (as the Headmistress): Staff member, gather yourself some lodgings, and meet me across the way in the observation lounge tomorrow morning? I have some things I have to attend to this afternoon aside from gathering my staff, so.
Wren: I turn and yell at Rou.
Wren (as Eight): Did you hear all that?
Kappa: Rou is having a conversation with, with Arcterus and goes..uh, [chuckles] he obviously didn’t and he goes,
Kappa (as Rou): Oh, uh, yeah, sure. Whatever’s good!
Kappa: Giving a thumbs up.
Wren (as Eight): Wonderful. We will see you tomorrow morning, bright and early at the observation lounge.
Dax (as the Headmistress): You seem a little quiet, are you alright?
Dax: She looks at Arthas.
Neil (as Arthas): I suppose I’m more just taking everything in. The artifact you’re talking about sounds dangerous.
Dax (as the Headmistress): Not so much dangerous, just finicky.
Neil (as Arthas): Still, it feels like something people shouldn’t be messing around with.
Dax (as the Headmistress): No, but not many people go down into those tunnels except for the supply caravans, to my knowledge.
Dax: She says as she glances at the three of you.
Dax (as the Headmistress): It just means I’ll have to send a search party down there to go and find it.
Wren (as Eight): Oh! When you do, make sure you send an armed escort. For there are dangerous creatures in those tunnels.
Dax: She scrunches her brows a little bit as if considering your comment.
Dax (as the Headmistress): Alright, I’ll, I’ll do that. Well, if there’s nothing else you need, I’m going to kindly have to ask you to leave. I’ve got a meeting in a few moments.
Dax: Alright, so you bring Arcterus away from the group. What does your conversation look like?
Kappa: I’m just going to hold Arcterus, speaking into his skull.
Dax: Mhmm.
Kappa (as Rou): You know, I’m not actually mad at you or anything?
Dax (as Arcterus): Okay…
Kappa (as Rou): Yes, no, trying to gain favor with the Headmaster. You know? She seems to be someone who has a lot of power and would be good to have on, you know, have her good graces when trying to do our research and stuff. You’ve got to admit, stealing and all that stuff with artifacts is kind of bad, but it’s all in the past, right? Like, you’re not going to be doing that anymore.
Dax (as Arcterus): I mean, even if I could, no. No, a hundred years of silence and loneliness was plenty punishment enough.
Kappa (as Rou): Now that it’s all in the past, do you mind telling me exactly why you did such a thing?
Dax (as Arcterus): Well, to be quite honest, Headmaster Kiran and I disagreed on why the artifact was being kept. Kiran wanted to keep it in a box, I wanted to study it. History is meant to be studied, to be learned from.
Kappa (as Rou): I guess that’s fair. But maybe, you know, not really pointing out the error in your ways, um, but you know, I feel like there could have been better ways to go about it. I don’t know, I wasn’t there.
Dax (as Arcterus): Look, um…
Kappa (as Rou): Oh, hold on. Yeah, sure. Whatever’s good!
Dax (as Arcterus): Just be careful with these Elves. They live for so long, I think they forget sometimes that the rest of us need answers a little quicker than they have time for.
Kappa (as Rou): I see. I’ll keep that in mind. Thank you, by the way. I hope your stay in the guard house is pleasant.
Dax (as Arcterus): If you, uh, if you get the chance, see if you can get into my old office.
Kappa (as Rou): Okay, um. Sure. I mean, is there anything that would withstand the test of time?
Dax (as Arcterus): In my desk, there is a false bottom on one of the drawer compartments. You can take what’s hidden in there.
Kappa (as Rou): Hmmmm….
Dax (as Arcterus): As thanks for bringing me back.
Kappa (as Rou): It’s not like a cursed parchment or anything, no?
Dax (as Arcterus): Not that I’m aware of.
Kappa (as Rou): Strangely enough, that should give me less confidence, but I honestly am more curious. Anyway, I think it looks like we’re leaving.
Dax (as Arcterus): Yeah, yeah. Alright. Let’s go, let’s see how this is going to turn out.
Kappa (as Rou): Yes. Best of luck.
Wren (as Eight): Come along now, Bessie. We have to turn Arcterus in, so that they can be punished further for their transgressions against the University.
Kappa (as Rou): Yeah, and lying to us.
Wren (as Eight): Which is really the most unforgiving crime of all. I cannot believe that you, our friend, Arcterus, would lie to us. Even through omission. This is going to taint my view of talking skeletons for the rest of my existence.
Dax (as Arcterus): I honestly have no response for that, Eight.
Kappa (as Rou): I mean, I, I wouldn’t, you know, put it past him. I, you know, certainly omitted some details about myself. When you think about it, I feel like Arcterus didn’t really have a choice. What, what, what would anyone else, what would you have done if he came forward with ‘I am a criminal, I stole some wild artifact’?
Wren (as Eight): Well, I suppose at the very least, giving more accurate facts with respect to how he transported himself into the wall would have given us a greater view of what had previously happened. But now, but now, I suppose I’m not upset so much as I am disappointed.
Kappa (as Rou): Ooooooh. That’s the worst.
Dax: Can I have all three of you give me a Vigilance check please? You know, why don’t we make this a group check? So, who has the highest rank? And who has the highest Willpower?
Wren: I have one rank in Vigilance.
Neil: I also have one rank in Vigilance.
Kappa: I have zero rank but four Willpower.
Wren: I also give two Boosts to Vigilance checks. So,
Dax: Alright. So who would like to actually roll the dice? Alright, Kappa. You want to do it? Alright, three green, one yellow, two blue, two purple.
[dice rolls]
Kappa: Two Advantage, four Successes.
Dax: Okay, so with the two Advantage, you do have the option, if you want, to notice something additional to what you notice with your successful check. I’ll narrate that, and if there’s something else you want to notice, we can discuss that afterwards. So, as the three of you are walking back down the stairs and you’re talking. You hear the clomp of Bessie’s hooves hitting the stone. You happen to notice that there stands an individual at the top of the stairs to the entryway to the observation lounge.
Kappa: Okay.
Dax: And what makes them stand out is they are wearing these bright silver robes. Their face, most covered. They seem to be staring right at you. This draws your attention. What would the group use those two Advantages for?
Kappa: I have an idea, but I don’t really like it. If anyone else has any other idea. I know you said their face seems pretty obscured, but does their body language tell anything about the motivation behind this malevolent staring? Sorry, not malevolent, but like, awkward.
Music shifts back to the drums [44:41]
Dax: The staring? Sure yeah, I, I think that’s fine. The individual, to start, is standing there pretty erect. Their hands clasped in front of them, as if they’re studying you. And as the three of you each notice that they’re standing there staring, you individually turn to look at them. You notice the faintest of nods, and then they turn and walk away. And that is where we are going to end this session.
Music fades out [45:10]
Dax: Thanks for listening! We hope you’ll join us next time but in the interim, follow us on Twitter @RoadsUncharted.
The “Roads Uncharted” podcast is GMed and produced by Dax, who you can find on Twitter @GM_Dax. We use the Genesys RPG system published by Fantasy Flight Games, and music licensed by Epidemic Sound.
Arthas, Champion of Offam, is played by Neil.
Eight is played by Wren, who also composed the music for our opening theme. Follow them on Twitter @ThornyDryad.
Rou is played by Kappa, and you can follow him on Twitter @TheKappaChris.