Friends at the Table

• Perpetua 01: The Shadow of the Dragon Tower Pt. 1

  Bastion Blaque, battle-hardened ranger and erstwhile captain of the Sonnerian royal guard. Canary Shye, Placid Guardian and master of the Cyclic Hand School of Combat. Quarter Tomm, high arcanist of the hundred burroughs and virtuoso conductor of the elements.Powerful alone, together they were the famed adventurers known as the IRON TRIGON. Which is why, Vinnor Jekk, heterodox cleric of the Way of Fearless Truth hired them when he needed protection for his would-be-protege, the girl of prophecy. Setting out from Verus, capital of the Holy Protectorate, they eschewed train and carriage, traveling surreptitiously across the savannah, hidden in mountains’ shadow, towards the seaside village of Salann where their wide-eyed charge awaited  And as they learned, with ward in tow, she was not alone in awaiting them. Just halfway to their destination, in moonbright night, AMBUSH. Exhaustion. Blinding light. Confusion. Blades unsheathing. The sound of shouting. Magic unfettered. A poisonous air. The cry of death. Was it simple luck or evidence of the prophecy that the young novice they were sheltering escaped that night? That she stumbled forward, alive, into the warm dark. That her protectors had not failed her, in the end, and that she moved now towards new bodyguards, unlikely bodyguards. Not quite heroes, but fellow travelers, if from worlds so unlike her own.  And with death behind her, and rendezvous with a fated future ahead, she wondered if that wasn’t better, maybe? To spend some time not with champions of virtue or mythic figures, but with regular Perpetuans just like her.  This week on Perpetua: The Shadow of the Dragon Tower Pt. 1 Perpetua Guide [In Progress v.01] Hey everyone, we made it to release! Welcome to this new FAQ for Perpetua. Because the site’s system is Biased towards walkthroughs that are A) oldest B) most updated, I’m releasing this guide on day 1 even though it’s pretty slim right now! And unlike some other FAQ writers, I’m not just copying whatever they say in the “official guide.” So that means you can actually TRUST what’s here. Anyway, on to the good stuff! Playable Characters - Western Scenario [PPCW] Elena Millefiori (she/her) [EMPC] Identity: Megadungeon Hostess Theme: Tourism Origin: Passika Megadungeon Rillspur Classes: Chanter, Spiritualist, Elementalist Stats: DEX 6, INS 10, MIG 6, WLP 10 The Prelude did NOT make me think that the Passikan dungeons had "hostesses" but whatever! Elena is the western party's de facto combat mage. Don't be fooled by her looks, she's one of the hardest hitting members in the party for SURE. Yes, she has those bard-like chants, and those are cool, but let me tell you, her elementalism spells pack a punch. Starter Tip: Her BARRIER spell is essential in the early game before you start to get better armor. Always keep it up! Jonathan (he/him) [JNPC] Identity: An elderly Terrapine gear-head Theme: Curiosity Origin: Clay Ridge Classes: Tinkerer, Loremaster Stats: DEX 8, INS 10, MIG 6, WLP 8 Remember this guy from Prelude!? Everyone was debating whether any of the demo characters were gonna show up in the full game, and basically NO ONE thought about the weird turtle man. But here he is! He's a "gear head," which means he can make magical gadgets and devices. Yes that means to use him right, you really have to learn how to craft and how to manage your IP. BUT if you do, it really pays off.  Starter Tip: Jonathan is MORE THAN JUST HIS MAGICANNON. Yes it's powerful. But his Magispheres are great too. Remember to use Acceleration! "Uncle Nicky" Nikolas "Niko Da Shark" Dashiell (he/him) [UNPC] Identity: Redeemed Scoundrel Chef Theme: Anger Origin: Sonnerean Classes: Dark Blade, Gourmet Stats: Dex 10, INS 8, MIG 8, WLP 6 I have to say I did NOT expect this guy’s backstory (mobster turned traveling chef? Cool!)! I also really didn’t expect how much his unique cooking mechanics change every layer of the game. Unlike in the East scenario, traveling with this group always has a benefit because you’re constantly finding new ingredients. He’s also definitely the best physical damage dealer this party has. Plus, the way he gets furious in combat is hilarious.  Starter tip: Give him the best armor you can, because even though he isn’t a tank, a lot of his abilities are based on getting hit. Veile Lynndel (she/her) [VLPC] Identity: Chosen Priestess Theme: Duty Origin: Pastoral Chapel of Salann Classes: Orator, Entropist Stats: DEX 6, INS 10, MIG 6, WLP 10 I guess I can’t say for sure, but this “girl of prophecy” is definitely one of those high potential characters who will get way, way better as you level her up. That doesn’t mean her starting skill set is weak, it’s just that she’s very support focused in the early game. Interestingly: She has the same starting stats as Elena—and I think it’s funny that they keep having scenes together where they’re sort of compared/contrasted. Starter tip: The ability Lucky 7 is BROKEN. Don’t forget that if you have a low number “saved” in your Lucky slot, you can use it on a great roll just to cycle it out and put something better in!   Hosted by Austin Walker (austinwalker.bsky.social) Featuring Janine Hawkins (bleatingheart.bsky.social) Sylvi Bullet (sylvibullet.bsky.social), Ali Acampora (ali-online.bsky.social), Art Martinez-Tebbel (amtebbel.bsky.social), Jack de Quidt (notquitereal.bsky.social), Keith J Carberry (keithjcarberry.contentburger.biz) and Andrew Lee Swan (swandre3000.bsky.social) Produced by Ali Acampora Music by Jack de Quidt (available on bandcamp) Cover Art by Ben McEntee (https://linktr.ee/benmce.art) With thanks to Amelia Renee, Arthur B., Aster Maragos, Bill Kaszubski, Cassie Jones, Clark, DB, Daniel Laloggia, Diana Crowley, Edwin Adelsberger, Emrys, Greg Cobb, Ian O'Dea, Ian Urbina, Irina A., Jack Shirai, Jake Strang, Katie Diekhaus, Ken George, Konisforce, Kristina Harris Esq, L Tantivy, Lawson Coleman, Mark Conner, Mike & Ruby, Muna A, Nat Knight, Olive Perry, Quinn Pollock, Robert Lasica, Shawn Drape, Shawn Hall, Summer Rose, TeganEden, Thomas Whitney, Voi, chocoube, deepFlaw, fen, & weakmint This episode was made with support from listeners like you! To support us, you can go to friendsatthetable.cash.  

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• Perpetua 00 - Character Select

  The gale of history rattles across vast Perpetua today. Skyfairing armadas glide towards battle on warm winds. Lines of succession are cynically drawn in breezy, courtly halls, while an ill, stagnant air settles onto once vibrant arcanic academies. It is the year 401 BE, just over four centuries BEFORE the END.  But the skies remain blue above Perpetua, and today’s wind also carries new heroes into history’s current. Heroes drawn up from across the wide world, bringing their unique knowledge, skill, experience, curiosity, passion, strength, and spirit with them. Heroes who carry the best qualities of their people—and in some  cases, their most desperate hopes! After all, regardless of what the wind carries, it flows in one direction, as it always has, as—it is said—it always will..  Despair. Authority. Hunger. Grief. Violence. Inevitability. Malevolence. Doom It is in the face of these that our heroes yet rise on the air. In fact, it is towards them which they fly, riding Perpetua’s cyclonic winds! Lifting up from Grand Sonnerie, from the Hundred Burroughs, from ancient Rilspur and blustery Bilough, from the simple seaside town of Salaan… and even from the dark underbelly of Calstega Bay. Drawn together by something not yet clear—freedom or fate or intervention into either—but held together by their own bonds, growing ever deeper, even as the clock ticks towards a final confrontation. Hosted by Austin Walker (@austin_walker) Featuring Janine Hawkins (@bleatingheart) Sylvi Bullet (@sylvibullet), Ali Acampora (@ali_west), Art Martinez-Tebbel (@atebbel), Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal), Keith J Carberry (@keithjcarberry) and Andrew Lee Swan (@swandre3000) Produced by Ali Acampora Music by Jack de Quidt (available on bandcamp) Cover Art by Ben McEntee (https://linktr.ee/benmce.art) With thanks to Amelia Renee, Arthur B., Aster Maragos, Bill Kaszubski, Cassie Jones, Clark, DB, Daniel Laloggia, Diana Crowley, Edwin Adelsberger, Emrys, Greg Cobb, Ian O'Dea, Ian Urbina, Irina A., Jack Shirai, Jake Strang, Katie Diekhaus, Ken George, Konisforce, Kristina Harris Esq, L Tantivy, Lawson Coleman, Mark Conner, Mike & Ruby, Muna A, Nat Knight, Olive Perry, Quinn Pollock, Robert Lasica, Shawn Drape, Shawn Hall, Summer Rose, TeganEden, Thomas Whitney, Voi, chocoube, deepFlaw, fen, & weakmint This episode was made with support from listeners like you! To support us, you can go to friendsatthetable.cash.

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• Perpetua Prelude 06

  With the information they need secured, the adventurers sent by the Hundred Burroughs begin to gather together and make their final survey of Perpetua’s western continent before returning east. But some of the most dangerous creatures (and people) are yet to be discovered.  This week on Friends at the Table: Perpetua Prelude 06 PERPETUA PRELUDE - GUIDE Random Encounters - [PPRE] If you’ve reached the world map, you know that during travel there’s always a chance of hitting a “Journey Event” (aka a random encounter if you’re using regular words). Most of these are just fights against the enemies tied to that area (go to ‘Enemy Locations [PPEL]’ for more on that), but there’s a low percentage chance that you’ll get either an NPC dialog encounter, a mini-location/dungeon, or a special fight that’s different than the normal enemy ones. We haven’t figured out all of these yet, so make sure to add any you find on the pinned post on the forum! Dog Chase [REDL]: I don’t know why it’s called this given that it isn’t really a dog at all, BUT it is really a chase. If you’re trying to trigger this event, try to stay near the plains or hills, and MAKE SURE your party is led by someone with high Dex so that you have a good shot of succeeding. Hexcloak Interrogation [REHC]: This can happen even before you make it to their secret base. There are a TON of random questions they can ask you, and I’m still working on building a guide for all the answers. The short version is that you should always choose the options that admit that you’re a little bit guilty of something. If you try to plead innocence, it’ll turn into a fight EVEN IF YOU ARE INNOCENT! But if you tell them you’re a little guilty, you can get out of the encounter with just a bribe or even scott free. BTW: Arley cannot trigger this event, maybe because he’s an elf! The Clock Tolls [REGC]: At the end of every week when traveling near Grand Sonnerie, the bell attached to that big clock they have rings, and there’s a random buff or debuff applied to your WHOLE PARTY. You can get various elemental resistances or weaknesses, debuffs like enraged or confused, or even major boons like being fully healed. Be careful though because there’s a really small chance that one of your party members will just die. Hosted by Austin Walker (@austin_walker) Featuring Janine Hawkins (@bleatingheart) Sylvi Bullet (@sylvibullet), Ali Acampora (@ali_west), Art Martinez-Tebbel (@atebbel), Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal), Keith J Carberry (@keithjcarberry) and Andrew Lee Swan (@swandre3000) Produced by Ali Acampora Music by Jack de Quidt (available on bandcamp) Cover Art by Ben McEntee (https://linktr.ee/benmce.art) With thanks to Amelia Renee, Arthur B., Aster Maragos, Bill Kaszubski, Cassie Jones, Clark, DB, Daniel Laloggia, Diana Crowley, Edwin Adelsberger, Emrys, Greg Cobb, Ian O'Dea, Ian Urbina, Irina A., Jack Shirai, Jake Strang, Katie Diekhaus, Ken George, Konisforce, Kristina Harris Esq, L Tantivy, Lawson Coleman, Mark Conner, Mike & Ruby, Muna A, Nat Knight, Olive Perry, Quinn Pollock, Robert Lasica, Shawn Drape, Shawn Hall, Summer Rose, TeganEden, Thomas Whitney, Voi, chocoube, deepFlaw, fen, & weakmint This episode was made with support from listeners like you! To support us, you can go to friendsatthetable.cash.

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• Perpetua Prelude 05

  With new knowledge about the state—and future—of their world, the group of travelers take up their exploration again. Some learn first hand about this continent’s fauna—majestic, mighty, and mystifying. One finds more evidence of the Valte Empire’s violent search for their own answers. And some, in search of peace and quiet, finds himself facing evidence not of some dark future to come, but of a puzzling past. This week on Friends at the Table: Perpetua Prelude 05 PERPETUA PRELUDE - GUIDE Enemies - [PPEN] Valte Soldier [ENVS]: You’ll fight a lot of these guys. Depending on the 3d model they’re a bat or a dove, but at least in the demo, that doesn’t seem to make much of a difference. They’re flying, so you have to knock them down before you can do melee damage to them. Basic grunts. Valte Commander [ENVC]: The Valtese (Valtean? Valtican?) Commanders are a lot of tougher than the basic grunts are, and unfortunately, they can also summon the regular soldiers too. Knock them out of the air and then try to stun or debuff them quick! Mysterious Seaslimes [ENMS]: I love the way these enemies are actually each a SWARM of little weird gecko-y slime guys. They focus on debuffs like Slow and Enraged, so be sure to have Tonics on hand when you’re passing through their forest. The Dragon-Fish [ENDF]: I can’t stress this enough: This is an optional boss in Prelude, and it’s hard as hell. Maybe in the full game you can beat it or maybe there’s a quest related to it, but for now, it’ll just kick your ass. Someone on the forum claims they beat it and only got like 5 XP and a quest item called “Strange Scale” that you can’t use anywhere. NOT WORTH IT. Lobble Traveler [ENLT]: Just kidding. But I DO wish you could fight this ANNOYING freak. Hexcloak [ENHC]: Did you know that if you grind in the southern tip of the demo, there’s like a .5% chance you’ll run into a Hexcloak? You learn their deal towards the end of the demo, but this is the only way you can actually see them in action. They’re strong, but if you’ve maxed out your party (or at least hit the level 10 max in the demo), you can probably win this fight! And if you do, you’ll get a random elemental cloak drop from them. Of course, if you can win this fight, you probably don’t need better gear anyway!   Hosted by Austin Walker (@austin_walker) Featuring Janine Hawkins (@bleatingheart) Sylvi Bullet (@sylvibullet), Ali Acampora (@ali_west), Art Martinez-Tebbel (@atebbel), Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal), Keith J Carberry (@keithjcarberry) and Andrew Lee Swan (@swandre3000) Produced by Ali Acampora Music by Jack de Quidt (available on bandcamp) Cover Art by Ben McEntee (https://linktr.ee/benmce.art) With thanks to Amelia Renee, Arthur B., Aster Maragos, Bill Kaszubski, Cassie Jones, Clark, DB, Daniel Laloggia, Diana Crowley, Edwin Adelsberger, Emrys, Greg Cobb, Ian O'Dea, Ian Urbina, Irina A., Jack Shirai, Jake Strang, Katie Diekhaus, Ken George, Konisforce, Kristina Harris Esq, L Tantivy, Lawson Coleman, Mark Conner, Mike & Ruby, Muna A, Nat Knight, Olive Perry, Quinn Pollock, Robert Lasica, Shawn Drape, Shawn Hall, Summer Rose, TeganEden, Thomas Whitney, Voi, chocoube, deepFlaw, fen, & weakmint This episode was made with support from listeners like you! To support us, you can go to friendsatthetable.cash.  

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  1:43:43
• Perpetua Prelude 04

  With supplies in their packs and an increasingly detailed map, the explorers travel further through Perpetua’s western continent. While some learn more about local nature and culture, others stumble towards larger truths. A star descending from the heavens. A fleet across the blue. The striking of a clock… the ringing of a bell… This week on Friends at the table: Perpetua Prelude 04 PERPETUA PRELUDE - GUIDE Factions - [PPFC] Not much is known about these groups because the demo cuts off so early, but between some dialog, that one cutscene, and some screenshots, here’s what I think is going on with them: Grande Sonnerie [FCGS]: That’s the big city at the end of Prelude. It’s a big city but also maybe a kingdom? Not sure if it has other cities and stuff, but it definitely has the four big districts (including the root magic school). Seems like a traditional fantasy kingdom, but I don’t know if it has a king or a princess or what. The Elevana League [FCEL]: This is where Arley is from originally. It’s like a bunch of elven (stupid) city-states (cool). One for each element/god. Not clear if they get along or not, but they do have those special warrior mages.  The Dragon Watchers [FCDW]: The demo basically starts with these guys. They have both dragon “squires” and dragon “scryers,” and I know they worship the dragons, but it’s not clear what that means. I hope they can ride them and that you can recruit one, but we’ll see. The Holy Protectorate of Placidia [FCPP]: From what I can tell, Duriel, the one arena-based god city, is tied to this faction. Maybe they worship the gods? I remember an interview where someone said that the full game has a whole story about a prophecy, so maybe they’re tied to that. The Hundred Burroughs [FCHB]: Even though Prelude sometimes says “burroughs” and sometimes says “burrows,” I’m saying BURROUGHS. Harlow sucks but he isn’t a mole or something, so why would it be “burrows”? Anyway, it’s all schools and stuff over there. Again: they say it’s magic but neither of the two characters we’ve seen from there (from the Prelude or in the screenshots) actually USE MAGIC so wtf? Valte, the Winged Empire of the Blue Hour [FCVL]: These guys are my favorite. Why? Three reasons: 1. They can fly. 2. They have cool military stuff. 3. They’re basically the ONLY ONES actually DOING ANYTHING about stuff. Yeah, yeah, they’re probably the “bad guys” but the coolest characters are. The Passikan Remnants [FCPR]: There’s that one water dungeon in Prelude that’s tied to them, but that’s IT. I don’t know what their deal is at all, but it’s probably cool because the dungeon is cool. The Ennead [FCEN]: Okay so I think those are the “The Ennead” which is a word that means “a group of nine gods.” I’ll be honest, I TOTALLY missed them but JesseSetGo pointed the word in the background in Duriel out on the forums, and I went back and looked and saw it not only there but also in Grand Sonnerie, so it’s not just the same church as the Placidia or whatever.  Hosted by Austin Walker (@austin_walker) Featuring Janine Hawkins (@bleatingheart) Sylvi Bullet (@sylvibullet), Ali Acampora (@ali_west), Art Martinez-Tebbel (@atebbel), Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal), Keith J Carberry (@keithjcarberry) and Andrew Lee Swan (@swandre3000) Produced by Ali Acampora Music by Jack de Quidt (available on bandcamp) Cover Art by Ben McEntee (https://linktr.ee/benmce.art) With thanks to Amelia Renee, Arthur B., Aster Maragos, Bill Kaszubski, Cassie Jones, Clark, DB, Daniel Laloggia, Diana Crowley, Edwin Adelsberger, Emrys, Greg Cobb, Ian O'Dea, Ian Urbina, Irina A., Jack Shirai, Jake Strang, Katie Diekhaus, Ken George, Konisforce, Kristina Harris Esq, L Tantivy, Lawson Coleman, Mark Conner, Mike & Ruby, Muna A, Nat Knight, Olive Perry, Quinn Pollock, Robert Lasica, Shawn Drape, Shawn Hall, Summer Rose, TeganEden, Thomas Whitney, Voi, chocoube, deepFlaw, fen, & weakmint This episode was made with support from listeners like you! To support us, you can go to friendsatthetable.cash.    

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