The Royal Librarians

The Royal Librarians is a oneshot performed as a Live Show in partnership with the Chicago Public Library. The events therein take place away from our typical team of heroes, but still within the canon of the overall story. Though the episode falls on a specific point in the current timeline, it is not considered essential viewing/listening in order to understand the full story.

Background
This episode takes place in Arkala, a small island nation to the west of Caerleon. Arkala was formerly a favored nation of the gods before the severing of the planes. It is ruled by three royal families: Astrov, Galatas, and Vassovil. Citizens of Arkala are pledged to one of three houses. Every five years, each of the three royal families puts forth a potential monarch (the Princes, a nongendered term) to compete in a trial to become the next ruler of Arkala. It is said that the first of these trials was made by the gods themselves, as a gift to the people of Arkala in thanks for their devotion. The trial is held at the royal library, the Sovereign Athenaeum, where our one-shot heroes work and commune every Wednesday for their PG-13 Raunchy Book Club.

Characters

 * Mckenzie Wilkes as Simon Sharpe IV (he/him, gnome artificer)
 * Ned Parker as Matt Vasso (he/him and they/them, tiefling rogue)
 * Syd Foltz as Zakara or Za (she/her, half-orc bard)
 * Carly Strait as Laylor Tautner (he/him, elf wizard)
 * Molly Schafer as Oksana (they/them, half-elf monk)

Trivia

 * Though this is the first time the players have been to Arkala, the country has been mentioned before during Providence's first appearance in a conversation with Tempest, as well as several times in the three Rose & Red Dagger episodes
 * This marks the first appearance of the Pantheon member Brilliance.
 * Just before the book club begins their meeting, they are interrupted by Linwood Tonaut, known member of the Trueguard.