High Rollers: Aerois

[@supremedragon339]

I think we can all agree Mark is an insane genius

[@ashmedlin7377]

Yes I have a very unpopular opinion that Mark is an even better creative genius and dungeon master than Matt Mercer is. don't get me wrong I love critical role 2 and Ashley Johnson is probably my favorite player nearly of all time but I just love the entire high rollers crew and I think that Mark is just a better DM.

[@TortillaBill]

@@ashmedlin7377 I agree wholeheartedly. his storytelling, creativity, dedication to roleplay, and likability put him in a short list of DM. It takes a real talent to pull off so many Npcs at the leadership meeting. Wow!! Personally he is my favorite and the main reason I watch high rollers.

[@reedk2402]

@@ashmedlin7377 I think the idea of “better dm” is a massively subjective one. What makes a good dm for one person can be vastly different from another. We really shouldn’t say better they just have two different styles both which play heavily on their players ability and desires. Which we know the Cr cast and the hr cast play very different ways.

[@rafamaster3]

Totally agree!

[@ElijahForLong]

@@reedk2402 I feel like there a spectrum of rules heavy to improv heavy DMs. Mark is very rules heavy, but he is a great DM for making that inhance his game. I would say a very improv heavy DM would be Brennan Lee Mulligan, and Matt is fairly Inbetween them.

[@thatmooseman]

Episode Start at 0:00 Sponsors at1:25 Announcements at 8:12 DUN DUNS at 9:07 Recap starts at 10:07 Recap ends at 10:55 Break start at 1:26:39 Break ends at 1:37:54 Gameplay ends at 2:53:35 Ending donos at 2:55:18

[@wolfybat3335]

Mark's been playing the long game on that,.. but Qillek's vision of the eventual (albeit expedited by starvayne) entropy of the entire multiverse was crazy

[@dumbguy1007]

I feel like lucius should have to instinctively announce his secret base whenever under a zone of truth

[@wierdpeopleotherdude1422]

Is it really a secret base now?

[@suntiger745]

@@wierdpeopleotherdude1422 World famous secret base. ;)

[@wierdpeopleotherdude1422]

@@suntiger745 ah yes the secret base poster that is on every tavern wall

[@o.d.d.5437]

Nova just became my favorite character in this episode. Love how she openly speaks about her naive side and thought the situation of Vortinsta would be simple but apparently not and she’s now experiencing the dark truths of the world and society not from other people but from her own people that she grew up with and admired. Theory: Are the genasi people of Genas responsible for Hadar’s way of being able to influence the societies outside the far realms where he was exiled to. Is this why the genasi people are so loyal to Kallus because they look to him as a solution to repent for their ancestors’ sin. Episode 42 canon info that Vortinsta in the past that was on Genas made contact with Hadar when dabbling with planar magic. Lost Lore of Aerois Part 2: The Sin of Genas (still thinking about what to write but the canon info from episode 42 at 34:50 where Nova talks about a scholar’s warning message written in blood “Void hungers” is on it and will post on High Rollers reddit today later or tomorrow)

[@shadowrealm4206]

Ok Starbane, that was a funny April fools joke! You can stop the joke now, please... please stop the joke now

[@Blasted2Oblivion]

Well...that is a hell of a twist. It is nothing even close to what we expected but still makes perfect sense.

[@ashmedlin7377]

I expected it..I knew some would side with him especially the ganasi. I mean they're not even from this world so of course they did they just want to go home. and I knew the world engine wouldn't work either I couldn't figure out why they hadn't asked the eye that question already. But I do think that they should have told her about valla being the goddesses daughter too. Being a true divine.

[@Crescent-Adam]

My half-baked theory is that Callus during his long wars against Hadar became Hadar touched himself. Through his actions he's been basically consuming the multiverse either through outright destruction or assimilation into armies that eventually get sent to be consumed by Hadar by "fighting it". Callus is unaware of that effect. Siaska realised it and stood against him which is why he tried destroying her.

[@Blasted2Oblivion]

I dont know what qualifies it as half baked. It makes a lot of sense. It could also explain his laser focus on HIS method of killing hadar.

[@danielbaskins6601]

I have always thought he was Hadar touched!!! It would make so much sense

[@king_beowulf3964]

That would simplify the situation immensely if true. It would change it from rejecting the enemy of our enemy into fighting an enemy 3 times the size. I do wonder, though, if we would prefer that outcome. I feel that the question of methods makes Callus a more engaging as an antagonist than he would be as an out-and-out villain.

[@HawkUnleashed]

I think he is just desperate at this point. All gis other methids failed including his attempt to save his own planet. In his mind this is the only thing that works. He isnt really hungering for power or greed just desperation. My take on it at least

[@ashmedlin7377]

@@HawkUnleashed he is hungry for power and greed though by the way that he is constantly taking over planets and things like that like just look at his empire he takes over the planets has destroyed multiple planets and then forces its people to be part of his empire he doesn't give them a choice it's either join or die.

[@imsoarty]

>watched the whole episode, tense af >refreshed youtube accidentally >"DO YOU BELIEVE IN D&D?" I love you Mark lmao

[@Im-Not-a-Dog]

Quill: "Your Gods are fake." The Crew: "Weird flex, but ok."

[@matthewward1346]

"I believe it is... operational". Me: "So are you saying this is a.... fully armed and operational Battlestation?"

[@sarahkittle]

Every time I think this campaign can’t get more epic you guys hit me with something like this. Absolutely insane and I’m kind of dreading the day I catch up on all the episodes bc I won’t be able to binge them 😭

[@sylvnfox]

that look on Marc's face just before break... ahhh I know it well. nothing better as a DM than to drop the bomb in the players lap and watch. Marc I salute you! 07

[@manbonk]

i legit cannot wait until we have Starbain's full backstory it sounds really cool

[@gyrrakavian]

He's let his grief and his hatred fester for a thousand years.

[@jeanniefrisbie6102]

man, Mark gets so emotional in these recent episodes, and it's making me cry.... great job Mark!

[@ashmedlin7377]

I absolutely love how involved he is in his own stories and the emotional response because that just shows you how real it truly is to him and to all of them. you absolutely see parts of themselves and each of these characters and I think that's why we all enjoyed it so much because they really bring them to life.

[@justafox5356]

Holy shit. That last minute “let’s save the eye in case some big question comes up in the meeting” was clutch as hell.

[@mikewithington4755]

Tom Hazel: "You helped us" Me who just enjoyed watching their content: "no need to thank me"

[@meph2473]

The answer to Quileks question was ... THE MOST EPIC THING MY MIND HAS EVER RENDERED! HOLY SHIT! I MUST GET IT OUT SOMEHOW! I CANNOT DRAW! HELP!

[@Calleponken567]

Spoiler!... (Maybe?) Why did Sentry not ask Qillek to send a message to Herald about telling the guardians to gather at another place again? Sure they might still need to save some, but at least divert the stream and reduce the potential casualties...

[@lilz3337]

This is one of the best episodes of any campaign High Rollers has done so far. I'm so excited to see where this ends

[@GeneTay07]

"Let me just add this episode to the list of episodes that are nothing short of amazing" Great one as always, now let me go and stress out over this revelation for 2 hours. 👍🙃

[@Ryquard1]

SPOILERS AHEAD "Starbane has no clue what he is doing" Qillek Ad Kholar this broke my sides

[@gray9818]

I love how Mark was just subtly hinting that Tom should use the eye to ask if the plan would work throughout their conversation with Danica and then finally just outright had her straight up ask him.

[@16Rover]

Now you got time to cast that permanent teleportation circle :D

[@Random_Kelsey]

I'm almost caught up! Finally 🤣 I'm also so glad Mark prompted the question about if the world engine would work against Hadar. I was freaking waiting for Quill to jump on the chance as soon as Danika wished if they could simply only know if Callus's plan would work or not, and I was about to flip when it went over his head 😆

[@endreverland811]

Mark Hulmes, you brilliant son of a gun. This masterful weaving of plots and fates left me covered in goosebumps. This is one of my favorite stories to follow. The world, the plot, the telling and of course the players. Thank you all for this glorious piece of artful story.

[@Barkeep014]

Amazing episode, the perfect twist that you didn't see coming but makes complete sense. Would love to know what the other options in Quill's dreams would have been.

[@yayeet8761]

Who remembers when Lucius almost died and cried and he mended Novas staff

[@reversed8479]

I mean, it's hard to forget since it's part of her official art now

[@JosiahIronclad]

I think you’re confusing Nova with Jiutou

[@garlicbreadwarlock6054]

@@JosiahIronclad no he’s talking about when the spear got cracked and they used the sequester spell scroll

[@JosiahIronclad]

@@garlicbreadwarlock6054 exactly spear, not staff.

[@yuzik01]

2:16:33 "We don't need to tell every single person on Aerois. We need to tell HIM." Chills

[@WindOWinter]

I thought the discussion with Danika around questioning Siaska's judgment of not letting Starbane use the world engine as a weapon during the break was an interesting one; if anything, I think the party has very legitimate reason to question Starbane's judgment after the scene between Siaska and Starbane they saw a while back. There's good reason to believe that the world engine was only being considered as an option out of desperation because Starbane didn't want to sacrifice Siaska. Of course, in continuing watching, the Eye answered whether or not to believe Starbane more thoroughly shortly thereafter.

[@ChaoticSpectator]

I mean, I dunno. This episode is good, but I can't help but remember that they (quill specifically) have learned so many specific and crucial bits of Intel that they just don't remember. They know that Starbane has a central base on the dead sky island, they have a way inside where Vallah is kept, which is also a vital location of his. They even had learned that the World-Engine isn't the only anti-Hadar option. A divine can allow mortals to enter Hadar's realm, and Siaska proposed that and Starbane refused, which is a vital bit of info that can make his entire case fall apart. They know all of this, or they should. I'm a perfectionist with a very long memory, so I can't help but get caught up with these thoughts...

[@TitaniaBird]

The moment when you're singing the first few bars to "Under Pressure", and then Kim *also* thinks of the song several seconds later/days before.

[@bryan__m]

Oh man as someone who jumped in part-way through this adventure I'm glad the PC's are recounting everything out loud instead of just saying "I tell them what I saw". Also, this was the most tense episode of actual play I've ever seen.

[@arcticwiz2249]

Why the fuck is Starbane's master plan literally yeeting the World Engine into Hadar. I thought he was gonna make a superweapon out of it, what the fuck is this man doing.

[@TortillaBill]

Mark Holmes consistantly proves he is in the top 5 Dm's in the internet

[@ashmedlin7377]

I 100% feel he's the best DM in the world.

[@GreggFieldsonWriting]

Mark's writing advice is good and meaningful, but I think he takes for granted his ability to synthesize story principles. I teach writing, and some people do better with a bit of guidance :) He's amazing and inspiring.

[@GreggFieldsonWriting]

This was such an amazing episode. The vision of Starbane's failed plan was so powerful.

[@teelehansen4995]

OMG, Mark, you're killing me. Thank all that it's spring break here so there were no teachers hearing me shouting at thin air while I cleaned. Wonderfully amazing.

[@delliott828]

Oh my god! This episode is amazing! Massive props all round, these sessions are the ones that make table top RPG's the best!

[@dwrash21]

Dude just threw the World Engine. He didn't even tape a fuse to it

[@roark914]

God damn. SM7Bs for the whole gang? That's awesome.

[@CeyasStuff]

That thread of violet magic in Quill's dream? Valla. He could've seen Valla and nothing can convince me otherwise, because Valla has violet magic.

[@themugfinman4323]

Hail Hydra, I mean Praxis Val

[@stevenbeagle7040]

We did it boys we aren't on the dragons shit list anymore

[@Crispi1260]

Absolutely amazing episode. RP is incredible. Storyline is brilliant and terrifically engaging. A must watch.

[@Piman1607]

Only 90 or so videos to go, congrats on the finale. Hopefully I can keep up with campaign 3. Thank you for all the entertainment and joy you bring.

[@TheBiggreenpig]

Love how the stakes have been raised to epic proportions.

[@Starlink28]

I feel so anxious just listening to this

[@TheBaldParakeet]

What a bombshell of an episode. Well done

[@Zoonay]

"He won't believe us! He's an ASS!" idk why I find this funny XD

[@micromonkey13]

Did anyone else see giving the world engine (an endless source of creation/power) to something that uses matter to expand and grow, to gain power, an extremely bad idea?? Just me, okay

[@ashmedlin7377]

SAME!!! I've been saying this since the begining!!!

[@Markcrazeer]

yes that is what i was saying the entire time. because of course that is going to happen there is no way in hell its not. that plan was moronic from the start. kalus valkyrean is a desperate idiot. it is almost like Wheatley made that plan its so bad.

[@Dedmanbonez]

Anyone else envisioning Nova screaming. "You were the chosen one!"?

[@Rasofcreation]

I can't stop thinking about what if Quill saw Starbane succeed. That would've been such a complicated stand to take arms against him.

[@MystLunarabne]

3:04:55 I'm pretty surprised people thought it would work too like obviously, it had a chance, but I was pretty sure the odds were against it succeeding and that's now pretty much confirmed.

[@ashmedlin7377]

I def never thought it would work, but I didn't expect it to release him.

[@sanddry738]

SPOILERS I had a feeling THAT would happen if Kalus succeeded. WTF do you think will happen when you throw a world at something that eats worlds?!?! Still it’s insane to see how *catastrophically* it fails.

[@marshkid6102]

What’d

[@miluiel_92]

Saw this live. it is amazing

[@Markcrazeer]

is no one going to mention that kaluses base of operation on aerois is a derelict skycity

[@sixthballad5531]

Spoilers Golly gee whiz this episode was INCREDIBLE. VOD squad here, chat was going insane when the meeting went south. Cheers to Mark for making everyone shocked haha. Keep up the good work :D

[@nonam3party]

Oh man what an incredible and epic episode. I can't belief. how cool this story is! :D

[@ollieb.21]

the entire time they were discussing using quill's eye before the meeting, Iwas thinking "You should ask if starbane has any spies" and yep

[@thatlycantomboy]

man, the theory of Starbane being hadar-touched... it would make that Hadarbane bit when the group found Root even wilder.

[@matthewward1346]

Yay! Was having a tough day, glad you guys upload so early in the day over here in the US! High rollers crew rock!

[@Trigun99]

Really Fun Awesome Episode! Spoilers below on how certain things made me feel... . . . . . . . . . . . In the first half when Starbane calls in, I don't know why but it reminded me of Final Fantasy 15, when you are driving around then the ships appear and start dropping troops in certain locations. Then in the second half with Quill's vision, it strongly reminded me of one of Chrono Trigger's ending where Magus goes to fight Lavos alone. Just the idea of a really strong magic user going solo against an unknowable devourer is really awesome imagery!

[@thestormwizard6447]

Gee, now I want the final showdown with Callus to be backed by Battle with Magus

[@PaulStarhaven]

It's taken me over a week to just try to get through this dangit cause emotions are runnin' high every five minutes!!

[@Avedominusnox8311]

Got the notification and dropped everything to watch. Love you guys keep up the great work. 🎉❤️

[@Z8llama]

Same

[@matthewward1346]

Right there with you guys

[@Blindy_Sama]

27 minutes late to the party but fashionably late I concur :-)

[@noof7436]

I’m just gonna stick a cheeky 2:11:53 because that bit blew my mind so hard I had to watch it three times.

[@excusemeprincess8252]

Thank you so much for that time stamp :)

[@eman7blue]

after starting lightfall in 2019, im finally caught up. and what a way to catch up. see yall Sunday and praxis val ;)

[@TheChefEgg]

I am slowly realizing that my big bad guys in my campaign are way too similar to the valkyrians lmao

[@ryanhale6339]

That's not a bad thing. There are no new stories, just new combinations and twists on a theme. Mark admits that he stole it all from many sources - Final Fantasy, Transformers, StarWars, etc. So steal from him and others. Steal it all.

[@go03ert41]

As long as your players don’t watch High rollers and won’t get spoiled on it then your fine. Just do what’s fun

[@kellygingrich4302]

The beginning bit in the apartment - I want to see a series of episodes that's just the Stormchasers going about mundane life, like a sit com as roommates

[@Ozisl]

HOLY SHIT MARK. You are twisted and brilliant.

[@Link-cb5ro]

I finaly got my art cards from you guys and im so happy with them!!!!

[@robmb1ind]

46:14 Welcome gathered representatives and noble leaders of Aerois... Starbane sends his regards.

[@warforged79]

The rains of castmere start to play.

[@nopethnks]

Dun dun dunnnnnnn! Absolutely epic. A story for the ages.

[@chintex_]

I did not expect that we would deconfirm the world engine plan. At least they dont have to feel bad about fighting star bane.

[@DavidMusic5885]

katie is a top tier dnd player

[@glennjamessephton7593]

'A good wizard always uses protection'

[@glennjamessephton7593]

'But the Best wizards don't need it'

[@joris3193]

Lucius ciaska 2:08:50 World engine 2:12:10

[@fenrirssons4016]

Omgggggg I don’t think I’ve ever been this shocked!!!!!!

[@zacharylord-rule5368]

Man this episode is soooooooo HYPE!!!!

[@justinnorth3814]

Mark puts on a master class in NPC’s in this episode. So so good!!!

[@Blindy_Sama]

I don't really want them to rush through the next year and game time I rather would have them play that out actually.. but that's just me

[@SherlockHulmesDM]

Then we wouldn't see the year in-game of cool stuff happen. 3 years of us actually playing has amounted to about 4 months of in-universe time. :P

[@Blindy_Sama]

@@SherlockHulmesDM this is a very valid point. In that case then I totally understand why you're doing it didn't think about it from that perspective lol. Also love the nights of evening Star campaign that year running as well. Yes, I also watched the lightfall campaign and and also watching the CLS campaign. I haven't been able to play a tabletop game in a long time not just because of the pandemic but my eyesight makes it very difficult without people helping me. But I love TableTop games from what two reasons I love listening to various campaigns while I'm exercising :-). Keep up the awesome work love you guys you guys are awesome :-)

[@lukeamparo6586]

Sentry, the living coffee machine.

[@errantvenatus6732]

I still totally want to see Sorc sparring between Danica and Lucius

[@SpaceDogLaika]

Why do they ALWAYS forget to say Valor is also the daughter of CIASKA

[@little_lilac3262]

Honestly i toughts i would be less stressed because i have a few weeks off of school THEN Y'ALL COME AT ME WITH THIS??

[@mme.veronica735]

Trott, didn't we talk about not making the sponsorships better than the show? You made a full fledged documentary, aren't you going overboard?

[@silberhornj]

You know, Mark is a pretty damn good storyteller.

[@Voxildan]

I love the ff8 reference one of best games ever made. When u mentioned it was first thing I thought of as a visual.

[@Felixjaeger1985]

It just dropped on the App Store as well.

[@ChaoticSpectator]

The Stormchaser team works in perfect harmony to be the collective WORST speakers in the entire multiverse. My JEEZ, that was about the worst meeting opening I have ever seen

[@kyraevermoon5544]

After binging the first 100 episodes I stepped away for like a year. Glad I came back. Nova is still the best

[@godfreemorals]

I can't believe that Mark has made D&D: Brexit.

[@aedanryder6864]

That was an incredible episode!

[@jamesmaceaveli6679]

Mark asked the question in the break of what my Areois character would be and I think I'd be the bard of the group.

[@ashmedlin7377]

100% would do a rouge/ monk muliclass!!

[@catswithlasers]

This episode feels a lot like Fable 3. The idea of jumping around to the cool parts of over a year before they have to combat Starbane and Hadar is a lot like how you had a time-skipping year to prepare before the Darkness attacks in Fable 3.

[@salamanda550]

Tom Hazell Bedroom Voice is something I didn't know I needed in my life

[@ashmedlin7377]

Not gonna lie,Katie and rhi get me... I've shipped them so hard from my first introduction to them!! Lol my lesbianic wishful thinking!!

[@JollyRanchersxx]

The adds this week were phenominal lolol

[@alex16cole]

Mark has ... lost it. In a oh my goodness my plans have finally come to fruition way. Which is nice. All good. Amazing show.

[@adamyoung976]

plot twist: Calus has been under Hadar's influence for ages, perhaps since the fall of Alfhime (spelling?). Hadar has been subtly influencing Calus to bring it the world engine. That's why Calus wouldn't listen to a god when she told him this plan would fail. It fits with Quill's vision since the world engine allowed Hadar to grow immensely powerful and break its bonds.

[@xxRikuKHx]

Time stamp for myself 3:00:42 so I can remember the books recommended to me (vivtsya) in the donos.

[@jimmyst44]

this was the best episode so far.

[@Robert-bj1ee]

I had to pause the video for 30 minutes and go on a full on rant to an imaginary council pretending to be nova and ranting about kallas and ciasca