Critical Role & Sagas of Sundry - C2E11 Zemnian Nights

Episode Date: January 21, 2022

The Mighty Nein finally make it into the Tri-Spire, exploring the upper echelon of Zadash and investigating the Knights of Requital’s claims of corruption within the government... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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First and foremost, we have two sponsors tonight. Number one, our fresh sponsor for the evening is the fantastic, I'm thinking of the film by the fantastic, glorious, Game of the Torah, Pacific Room. I got that. Uprising. Pacific Rim Uprising. It's gonna be in theaters, a real D3D and IMAX tomorrow. Friday, March 23rd, my wife and I,

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I just want a Yeager pilot outfit like formed specifically to my body, maybe with some enhancement. So if you work in the effects team for Pacific Grimmond have an extra suit line around, please send them to Piotrano. Yeah, I'll work it into the story. And then like a little kaiju cosplay for Charlie. Oh, gosh. Because we were saying Charlie was what,

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for your DNA campaign, your character. Sam, have something to say about that. For this week's D&D Beyond Spot, I wrote a hilarious skit for me and Ashley to perform together. But she's not here. Aww. So instead I'm gonna soldier on without her

in the spirit of showmanship. Hey Ashley, guess what I'm thinking right now. Well, hey, there's no need for that language. Listen, no, I was thinking how useful D&D Beyond is for tracking your stats. For instance, did you see all the new races in fifth edition? Asimur, I hardly knew her. It would be way better if you were here. Hey, I've got one. How many turtles does it take to screw in a light bulb?

Exactly. Hey guys, the promo code from last week, Invisible Wand is still active for 25% off any purchase from the D&D Beyond store. But Ash, why don't you tell them the secret other promo code that unlocks everything on the site for free? Well, I hope they wrote that one down. Also, any legendary bundle owners who purchased prior to Morden Kynan's Tome of Fos can apply the same code to the new book. Ashley, Morden Kinen, am I pronouncing that right? Well, I don't know why you had to bring my mom into this, but whatever. Anyway, on behalf of D&D Beyond, I'm Sam Riegel.

And as always, the motto of D&D Beyond is, That's the one. Thanks, everybody. Thank you, Sam, and thank you, Ashley. I don't know if it could have been better. I just think. Ashley's part's filled in those few gaps. A little bit, yeah.

Oh man, Emmy nominated, ladies and gentlemen. I know, freshly Emmy nominated, Sam. Thank you. You have that new Emmy smell. I do. A couple of other things. One, we are saying goodbye tonight to a dear friend, our fantastic director of photography here on the program for a long time.

Selena Ruth, she's moving on to much better path. much better pastors. We give all the love and share love as well for the wonderful journey that's before. Thank you. You're amazing. I love your tattoos. You made Travis Crock.

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That's 100 true. She put it on her resume when she applied here, and I was super appreciative of it. Kind of hard to say no to that. Yeah. So check it out, because Danny is awesome. Talks Machina, of course, is every Tuesday evening. 7 p.m. Pacific hosted by our fantastic brand and daubber first.

That's for you guys. That's for you guys. That's for you guys. Yes! Take that gift with you. No, but seriously. Brian's awesome. He hosts and talks about the episode that previously happened.

So turn in next Tuesday to see about this episode and whoever else are the guests on Twitter. I'm sorry, Matt. I'm sorry, we love you. It's okay, it's fine. Oh, hello. Oh, hello. Oh, that's just a one callback.

Sorry, spoiler, sorry. Boom. Stop it. So nice. Podcast of last week's episode, episode 10, is available for download. We're all fine podcasts are downloadable. So if you have friends who are in the audio-only version of the campaign or you want to listen to it while you're on your commute, it's available for download now. Sounds so good, much like our auto guys, I'm just saying. There you go. This weekend is WonderCon in Anaheim.

Oh my goodness gracious. So we're all going to be down there Sunday at WonderCon for our critical role panel in the arena. Same area as last year. Let's see if we can pack it full of critters again. So that'll be 11.30 a.m. on Sunday in the arena at WonderCon. We hope to see you guys there, bring some fun burning questions, and be prepared for the ridiculousness of most of us, but mainly, Sam. And I'm gonna be there on Saturday. That's right, and we have the...

We have the Saugas Asundry panel in room 300B at 2 p.m. at 3 p.m. I think. For some runner. And then after that, we have the women in pop culture panel. Oh. And before all that, I'm gonna be talking about comic books in that same room. At the WANELFELF. Everything's happening in 300B, so if you're like, you know.

So if you meet WonderCon, come hang out. That's basically what we're saying. Nice. Awesome. And in convention news, C2E2 is coming up. Just a few weeks in Chicago. We're going to be there for Saturday and Sunday. It's April 7th and 8th.

So make sure you get tickets. You can buy tickets at C2E2.com. We'll have sightings and panels and fun stuff. So come say hello, please, if you're in the area. Yeah. Let's see. Issue 5 Voxmarking to Origin. If you haven't had a chance to pick it up, I recommend it.

Is there any new updates to Merch, Laura? Oh, just that there's merch in there. There you go. Oh, the CR shirts that everybody the loved are throwback shirts. Yeah. Those sold out on the first night. But it's okay, you guys, because we're accepting back orders right now. Oh.

That's still available in the store. I know, right? They only printed three. Right. One small, one medium, one large. I just didn't think anybody would buy them. Nobody would buy them. Talos and I can't sew that fast.

Okay. So, wait, letting you know that if you order them, it says it on the website, but you can check it out. It says, you know, like they're gonna ship in like a couple weeks depending on when they get printed again. So just know that if you order them, it's a little bit of a delay, but it's fine. You can still get it and put it in now.

That way you can be sure you're getting it this time. Cool, thank you, Laura. Once again, our fantastic charity, 826, LA and all other eight to six chapters out there. They do fantastic work with underprivile kids and teens and creative writing. They have great classes and tutoring programs. If you have the opportunity to go ahead and donate, either some money or your time, if you want to volunteer as well. Highly recommended, please look into it. They're awesome folks.

So thank you guys. And let's see. Last but not least, update or quick re-cover or retooling that I'll be at Odafest in Calgary up in Canada, May 18th through the 20th and Acon in Texas, June 7 through 10th. So come to either of those events if you can to say hello. I believe that's it. We cruise to those, we can't. Oh God, that was fast. And we have further ado,

lest there are any complaints. Let's jump in to the night's episode of Critical Roe. Welcome back. So, last we left off, the Mighty Nine his intrepid adventurers had completed their task they had achieved from the Kings Hall Task Board to eliminate this spider scourge that had seemingly clogged up a portion of the sewers, discovered a subtle passage into the more upper-class

elements of the city, managed to extract some information from an individual they had saved from the webbing there, got your reward for it, had a conversation with Ulaug of the Knights erve of Requital, who had discussed interest in possibly bringing you in for some endeavor. Ulau'llah. You had also, as the evening progressed, to finish your night, checking out the evening nip, a tavern that seemed extremely shady. Having some piss-poor ale, you had just exited

the exterior of the tavern's location out into the midnight evening air of Zadash, still a bit bruised and beaten from the battle earlier in the day, but eager to continue with what your next endeavor is. So, Mighty Nine, what would you like to do? Nine! Nine! I'm tired.

This was a long day. Are you guys going to keep drinking? Well, not in that fucking place. Shit. Somewhere better. Are we making a way back? Yeah, I think so. We're going back.

We just get the little tap. We just go to sleep. We just go to sleep. I guess we won't sleep at the fancy place tonight. It seems like it's too much work. It's a pain in the butt. Also, was there anything special about the room? Nope, it was just kind of fancy.

But just a bed? No treats or anything? No, there was a mini bar. But I think you had to pay a lot of gold for each little thing of it, so. Probably one of those ones too where you pick it up and it just fucking automatically charges you. Dix. Magic. Is that a thing? Yeah, they're little like seals, little arcane seals underneath it.

You just pick it up and try to put it back, but it's the seal gone. The greed of the crown man. Yep. As the evening rainfall begins to fall a bit harder from a soft drizzle to a decent pore, you hear the distant rolling and crackling of thunder as it appears to be a storm front has slowly brought its way in as the night it's progressed. I love the rain. You know, if we're just going back, I might try and...

Pumat Soul, what was the name of his spot? It was... He was... He was... No, that's... That could have been a cool name. The invulnerable vagrant. Oh, yeah.

Yes. How far away is the invulnerable vagrant? From where you are now just exiting the evening nip, it's maybe a... 20 minute, 30 minute walk to the middle of the pent of the market? Is it late evening, like pre-midnight or is it around? It's pretty late evening. It's pushing on midnight, yeah. You know what? Never mind. I'll do it another day. Alright. Should we go to sleep? Let's go to sleep.

Yeah, my not. Yes. All right. You guys make your way back to the leaky tap, heading up to your rooms and eventually find yourselves falling to sleep. However, the distant thunder rolls continue to quake the muffled interior the rooms you're at. The lightning strikes flashing through the rooms that have a respective window and the heavy impacts causing you to have a wake up in the middle of the evening at times, the restless bit of sleep. A faint drip of wayward rain seems to have collected and found its way through the roof of Bo and Jester's room. And the pattering in the corner of this small building puddle causes you to frustrate and go and collect it,

find something to at least keep it from making that noise throughout the evening. You should hold up a blanket and put it under there. It muffles the noise. Okay, that's a good idea. I hate, like, you know, like ticking or like repetitive noises. Like that's so obnoxious. That, exactly like that.

Or like... Yeah. That counts as well. as well. Yeah, but that would be annoying if you didn't like it. I, yeah. With about like... Give it going, give it going. No, yeah, I mean that same umbrella category.

Okay. As you guys were having this conversation. That's a conversation? Loosely, by definition. We just woke up real tight. Okay. You know, mid-wee hours of the morning, you catch a quick glance at Yasha kind of just staring out.

out the window at the storm, kind of quietly sitting on the floor. Oh, Jesus. Yasha. Which kind of glances over. Yeah? I didn't even know you were in the room with this. You're super spooky at night, you know that. Yeah, I get that.

You're like a little pale, so you kind of have this ghostly quality to you. I don't know why I'm whispering. Yeah, we're all awake here. I'll go. I sit down next door and I show her some of my drawings to the traveler. that I did before I went to bed. Look yasha. It's rat balloons. And I show her a little drawing. I did. They really are rat balloons. A little rat balloons, like exploded and then one of them like exploding with like poison coming out of it. You see a hint of a smile at the edge of her lips and she gives a nod. That's pretty good. I can never draw.

No? Do you want me to draw you right now? She kind of pulls back a bit. Another flash. A nearby bolt seems to cause the sky to light up. Yasha's unfazed, and her attention kind of shifts back to the glass of the window again. Kind of a brief moment of trance-like attention before you should try to sleep. You're all right?

She just gives a nod and sits back down, kind of closes her eyes, still sitting kind of in a meditative position on the ground? I draw her lit up by the lightning. Okay. And then I go to sleep. Okay. Eventually, you all come to consciousness again.

Soar from the action of the previous day, but the daylight greets you, muddled as it is, from the darkened gray-raining skies that greet you. The thunderstorm is still passing through. And a quick glance out through the window into the main thoroughfare, you can see the streets are muddied, and some places gathered into small pools and flooded pudded,

puddles, but Yasha's gone. Maybe she was a ghost the whole time. Maybe the lightning exploded her. That's heavy metal. Yeah. Maybe she wandered out into the rain and lost her memory. That's a possibility. Yeah. Doesn't it?

Does that happen? It seems possible. I knew I didn't like the water. She probably just took off to handle some Yasha business, right? Probably. We should ask Molly. Well, we'll ask Molly. Are we still in our rooms? Are we downstairs?

It's up to you guys. We go downstairs. All right. So you all gather in the main area the Likita. I just came to borrow some butter. I was making something in my room. I got Burley just to use a ritual to bring a fronkin back.

I have enough supplies to bring fronpkin back one time. Easy enough to do? What are your hit points this time? This time. I'm not here. Oh, let's find out. Yeah, I would know. That's a three.

Oh, that's better. That is better. That's at least, fucking immortal. Just two times. Yeah. Damn it. Oh, geez.

All righty. So as you guys gather back in the tavern downstairs, you slept in a little later. I mean, I'm pushing like nine or ten at this point. But it is still gray and rainy outside. You can see carts making their way through the muds, some getting stuck and having to pull through the beasts of bird and kind of trying to make their way through.

The tavern interior is fairly light. There aren't a lot of people in there. You folks that are just kind of rushing through to grab a quick bite and leaving or having a drink in the face of a rather dreary day. But the room is yours. What do you wish to do? Amazing parrot, you guys figured out.

Did they say they had more jobs for us to do? I believe there said there would be more. I mean, we don't really have anything until this evening. Remember, there's that meeting that we have. Where is the meeting? Well, it's gonna take place in the cellar. And do we have a plan for how we're gonna, what if they're taking you downstairs

to ritually sacrifice you or something? You guys are gonna join this time. We are all going? Well, you all have to come if someone to stay above, but I just wanted to put the invite out there. We were talking about a couple people kind of watching out front, right? Is that happening?

I'm really good at keeping watch. I'm really good at keeping watch. keeping watch. I will go with you and Frumpkin will go with you. Oh, so I'm going in to the belly of the beast, all right, sure. I'll disguise myself. I'll be just like Ford. They'll think it's Ford down there.

I wanted to talk to you about your Ford disguise. It is just a little obvious. Good, it's really good. It's too good. Honestly, it's very cute. It looked just like him only just slightly shorter. That's the first time I've ever done that spell, so I was very impressed with myself. I would just want to see maybe what your range was in case you

wanted to, I don't know, perhaps make one of our other companions. Or a total stranger would also be very, very useful. Or someone from your deepest imaginations. Someone's short. See, that's too many options. It's really, you know, when you can become, when you can appear to look like anything, that's too, I need to focus, you know, because if I just get lost in thinking of like, like, oh, what nose should I have bulbous or pointy or Patrician nose? You know, like what do you, that could take hours to decide. I mean right there, patrician.

I think, I think, that's a hands down. That's perfectly fair. Right there. So Patricia knows. See, one problem already solved. All right, what kind of eyes? What color? Blue, black, brown, green?

I don't do this. Green's pretty. Green's great. Maybe just one of them, you know. Maybe you've got a patch over the other. All right. Too many new options. A patch is great.

A patch on one eye? Sure. All right, what else do I have? Maybe you have like a cleft chin, you know? Oh, yes, butt chin. Those are always good. Also, those are very attractive. And give yourself red hair.

Red hair, green eyes, big Patricia nose, cleft chin. We're getting into Mr. Potato head, Terra-haired. I think maybe just a simple halfling woman, you know. With red hair and the big Patricia nods and a cleft chin. And a bald on top and red hair on the side. Oh, yeah, very, very, very, very tur. Just down here, yeah.

All right, all right. They're pulling your leg. You know they're pulling your leg, yeah? Overalls with polka dots and a real big bow tie and shoes bigger than you should be wearing. I feel like you're describing a specific person. No, no. That sounds really attractive. Just mold over, add it to you.

All right, all right. I'll think about that one. You're rolling your mind, roll a deck. This is going to pay off at some point. Yeah, Beatrix. Really? Yes? Yes. Yes, she's gone.

Did Yasha take off? Yeah, she did that thing again. She was staring at the storm, and then she went away. All right. Does she sleep? Well, yeah, she sleeps. She's a little creepy.

And like a hot way, but a little creepy. Like kind of in like a protector sort of, I felt safe when she was standing watch sort of way. Yeah, can. Yeah. Yeah. She's like stoned. It's very mysterious.

She's good, she's just got some personal issues that she's going through. It's hard to get a bead on her because she always takes up and leaves. It takes time. It takes time. I mean we all have personal issues. I assure you she's worth it.

But no, she'll be back in her own time. You seem normal. You? All of us. Us? Very normal. Sure. Are you sure?

I mean, you're weird. You're the weird one. Yeah, no, please. Let's not start calling names. Yes, Jess, also, you have a very nice personality, but it is a big one, so. What does that has to do with anything? Well, just what you were just talking about.

He doesn't mean it like that. He just sometimes he's very honest with people. It did seem very pointed and targeted. Yes, because I was speaking to you, Chester, sitting in front of me. No, you know, you made the windows, you know? I used to amorting to open all the windows like this. They all slam open loudly.

I did that. Wind and rain begins to suddenly pour from the side from the wind blowing it through. All of a sudden, everyone, the few folks that are in there kind of freak out. Oh, this storm is so crazy. Domiturgy to close the windows, maybe. Oh.

You see, I'm having a hard time myself getting through to Caleb, so I feel like it's hard for an asshole to teach an asshole. Sometimes having a pupil teaches you something about yourself, just saying. I should punch him in the face. Give it a shot. I'm sitting right next to.

I was having a side conversation. It's a small room. This is terrifying, but I think the three most even keel normal of us should probably go to the meeting. I'm not sure that the three of us necessarily would be an appropriate company. We might stand out a little too much that it would be easy to recognize us as part of a meeting like that. Sure. I mean, you're green, but mostly you look pretty normal outside of that.

You blend. Thanks, Mr. I appreciate it. I want to switch it around then. What do you mean? Well, I will leave, maybe not you go with Jester, you stay up top and I will go to this meeting. And Framkin will stay with you. Sure.

Yes. Okay. That's worse, right? You're not gonna do the cloudy that thing when you're down in the meeting though, right? Because I'm pretty sure. No, because then I won't be able to hear what they are saying or know what they look like.

Yeah, good. I'm just making sure. This one says she wants to punch me in the head, so I don't want that to happen. All static channel on us, we might be in deep shit. You can learn a lot of things for being punched in the face. I have done that. If you want to do what we're supposed to be keeping watch.

I don't know. There's so many options. No. We could find a candy store? Is there a candy store? Is that a thing that they might have? I mean, we do. There are stores that specifically spell sell candy. Oh, there were in Nicodranas. Are we talking about drugs again? We could be?

Never mind, you have a meeting to go to. The rest of us are going to have some fun. That's not until this evening, right? Yeah, that's a big. Yeah, that's a deep. Do you want to go see Enchanter Pumat, Sol? Yeah, I kind of do. I enjoyed his company so much last time. I feel like we got a little more coin to spend.

Might be smart to stock up on, you know, items. Maybe we can also take the day to ask around and kind of get a little bit more of a beat on the opinions of the locals on the current political climate. Yeah. I have to return my key to the pillow trove. Why? Because I have a key to the pillow probe.

They're going to keep charging me a room until I give it back. Oh, I thought your mom was just going to pay for it or something. It's assuming that the money shows up in time. Oh, good point. Well, I mean, yes, eventually she will pay for it, but I don't want to waste all of the money that she sends on paying for the room, you know. That's very smart of you, Jester. Yes, yeah. Trying to be smarter.

All right, should we set out to our various tasks? You're very smart, Jester. Thank you, Bo. Yeah. I will tag along with you again because I still have you. Because now you're a fancy coat. Well, it's functional. All right. So do you all divide into your various endeavors?

Sure. To the fancy place? Oh. No, you go to Pumats, I think. I don't know. I just have been split up with you a lot later. I'm going to invulnerable vagrant. I have not actually seen this Pumont, so I would love to actually take him. He'll love him. He's so wonderful.

You and me. I'm coming with you, Ford. Oh, that's three. Do I hear four? Four. Ten, ten, half, seven, seven, seven, seven, five, seven, five. That's my auctioneer.

Come on. Are you going? No, I'm going with Jester to this fancy place. Oh, you're going to the fancy place. Yeah. Four of us are going to go shopping. Thomas, you want to go with your protege there. He was going with Jester.

Yeah. Yeah, sure, sure. I'll go with you guys. Oh yeah? Okay. Okay, muscle. That's our new bodyguard. You're the muscle. Oh, me? She's the muscle.

You guys are the muscle. I am not the muscle. Okay. All right. So as you guys divide into your two separate groups, scattering this side, these three heading over towards the Tri-Spire, the other three of you guys are heading towards the Pentamarket. Can I grab my Mariners' Stor?

leather armor out of my room and bring it with. You may. Okay. Along the way, can I look for a tailor? Sure. Go and make an investigation check. What can a tailor you're looking for? Just a standard clothing tailor?

Fucking balls. Bals, Taylor. Seven. Just a standard, someone who can just sew me a custom coat or a cloak. I thought you're gonna say it. Or add a lining tool, something like that. I could take you back to where I just bought this cloak yesterday. You want to go there.

It won't take terribly long. I mean, it takes you a little longer, although if you're going to the same place that he's already been to, then it completely circummed. Do they do custom there? You go and inquire, and they do custom work, but it takes a little bit of time, and it's a little pricier, as opposed to just buying one off the rack.

That's fine. Yeah. Okay. So it'll take about a day. I'm going to finish the work on it, and it'll run you about two silver. Done. If you're providing the cloak.

What? Were you having a custom one made? Having a liner put in, or are you having a custom cloak? I would like to take one of their cloaks and have a blue liner put on the inside to make it reversible. Okay, yeah. So full purchase of the cloak in that

will put you about four silver for the full cloak. That includes the work, the lining addition, and the time you're waiting for it. So kind of let go one of those baggyer kind of poncho, you know, coats. One of those. Okay, so five. So a hooded cloak in the front and the back

with slits for arms to come through. Uh-huh. Got it, okay. So you have that order. That is, that is, it'll be ready by midday tomorrow. Thank you. Sir. All right.

You guys are gonna make your way to the pentam market. It is actually at this point in time, it is still kind of a fairly moderate downpour through the day. As you begin to come through, some of the carts are closed in the middle of the market, the ones that are a little more open that sell fresh goods or things that can be ruined by rainwater and don't have quite as strong of a canopy. But there are some that are still open. They have kind of hooded lanterns out to draw attention towards them.

You have barkers shouting out, you know, meats, fresh meats! And trying to get your attention over there, but you guys kind of maneuver through, making a beeline to your location until eventually you come up to the warm-looking darkwood exterior of the vulnerable vagrant facility. It was invulnerable. Invonable. Oh, God. Is it open? It appears to be, the doors are closed, but it is warm.

the inside and upon checking the door it is not locked. Nice. We go in. All right. You step inside the interior and you see there is one other patron who is currently in the process of looking through one of the glass cases in the far end of the room. You can see it looks to be a rather poorly looking gentleman, probably middle age or so. His hair is kind of curled and unkempt but it kind of pulled close to his scalp. His cheeks are ruddy. It looks like the cold weather. has caused him to kind of get a bit flush,

and he's just in the process of glancing over. As soon as you enter, he kind of looks side along as to your troop as you enter and kind of just tries to mind his own business. And there across the room, you can see there are two Pumat souls currently. One of them smiling and looking out in your direction, the other one that is keeping an eye on the gentleman in the corner. The one that watches you enter just kind of gives a big grin. Way, hello there.

Good to see you again. Good to see you again. Boy, it is sure coming down outside. Wish there was a way to dry off real fast. Well, if that's what you're asking, I would be happy to help you. I am. He walks on over and kind of

starts just breathing heavily on you. What does it smell like? His breath is warm, and there are elements of almost like an herbal scent that immediately is overtaken with kind of a... Sour cream, not new chips. Yeah, yeah, it's not entirely unpleasant, but not pleasant either. It's just warm cow breath kind of a smell.

Yeah. You know? Oh, I just want to pit a cow so bad right now. Yeah. We'll see what we can do. But as he kind of just takes a deep breath on you once or twice, you feel your body kind of warm up for just a moment as he finishes the press the dedication can trip and you are suddenly immediately dry.

That is much better. Thank you, Pumont. That is wonderful. It is quite literally the least I can do. I had a question for you. We found this armor down in the sewers and it seems to have some. It's really pretty. Right, yeah. Yeah, no, it's really pretty.

Have you seen this armor before? I haven't seen that guy. I know, but I like the designs on it. It's really pretty. Yeah, here's the thing. I spent a lot of time by the water when I was growing up and when you lived by the water, too much water theme and your design is just kind of overkill.

It's like the person that has the beach house and everything's just shells and water. Yeah, no, that's just our faux pot socially. Yeah, you know. So I feel like this has some unique properties to it. Is there a chance that I could do? I don't know, in some way, transfer or copy some of that onto what I'm currently wearing.

I have just a little bit more intrinsic value with what I have. Let me go ahead and have a look at it. If you wouldn't, mine just, there we go. There's a few other pieces right there. You just want to hand those over. They're not really attached. I'm sorry.

No, that's a full set. I don't know if the shells fall out, so just be careful. I appreciate that heads up. Yeah. Hey, mind helping me, me? And the other man goes, Oh yeah, no worries. Pardon me, sir, I'll be right back.

Uh, me, could you watch him? And the other one comes down the corner. Oh yeah, no worries. Now the third one is into the room and he's looking. This is a very strange sight for Ye who has not been within the store first. I forgot to tell you, there are multiple versions of Pumet. Apparently the other ones are called Mimi. The one was in the back goes, well, we refer to each other as me as we're all technically the same individual.

But there is a Pumet prime, but he's currently not in the main chamber. Oh, I haven't seen you around. What's your name there, fella? Oh, Molly, hello. Molly, hello to you as well. Charmed. Yeah. You see, this is the kind of massive curled hair around the somewhat pointed furred ears that curl back, the large smile into the broad nose. Very... Attractive.

Oh, it's just a pleasant, jolly individual who is massive in size. Even with a slight hunch around the shoulders and back stands a full, you know, seven feet probably. It's all right, I'm going to peruse a bit. Oh yeah, no worries. Just be wary of anything you're planning to touch over there. Oh, and

oh, you're just an adorable little friend there. Yes, it's nice to see you again, Mr. Soul. Yeah. I had a, well, I'll let Ford finish, but I have a request as well.

All right, well, we're going to go ahead and take those in order they've been received, so if you could just respectfully have a moment to yourself, there will help you as soon as we can. Thank you. Turns back around and goes back to the arm. Not in your buckets, all right? Don't worry.

Okay. As the two begin to look over, one of them is kind of inspecting the quality of the armor while the other one closes his eyes, and as he begins to focus, you watch this kind of faint little, it's like flash seems to emanate from the armor briefing. Oh, oh, yeah, no, that there is, that's a pretty simple enchantment right there.

There are limitations based on the strength of the enchantment and how recently it's been applied to the equipment involved. But since this is a simple enchantment, it is something possible to translocate onto a similar piece of equipment. It is a bit, there is a cost to it, should you be willing to pay for the service, but we can probably do that for you, yeah. Is there any chance you could tell me how much it might cost?

Yeah. Well, in just a second. He goes in the back room and you hear these two muffled. He's really very nice. I mean accommodating, doesn't even, extremely accommodating. I'm knowledgeable too about all sorts of things. All of them.

Comes back in the chamber. All right, so to have this enchantment transferred over, it's only going to cast you out about 80 gold pieces. I'm sorry, a little, a D, 80, or B, 80 or 1 8, 18? 8.80 gold pieces. It does require some components to both harness, extract, and maintain the enchantment when it is put over

to the new piece of equipment. Right. Okay, let me think on it a bit. Not, you had a request. All right, we're put a little pin in that one. You had a question there, little one. Yes, you sold my friend a Haversack before, And it has these side pouches. Can you just sell me a pouch, a little side pouchy thing?

You see, unfortunately. Drink cozy sort of a thing? I mean, I can sell you a pouch. It's just gonna be a normal pouch. Part of the Haver Sack enchantment there is a whole encompass an object. But we have others if you'd like to buy one for yourself. Other Haver sacks?

Yeah. How much were they again? For return customer, how much that, did I have the card still in that one? You charged me an additional 200, but that was also giving you the glave. Oh, right, with the charge on it. Yeah, I think the total cost was a little over 1,000 gold.

I got a good discount. That glave was really nice. Thanks, collier. Oh, shit. That's a few hundred, please. I'll have the card in front of me, unfortunately. I have the card, but it doesn't. But it doesn't say the cost.

Oh, it does. 1350. Yeah. Oh, shit. I'm okay then. That's fine. I don't need. I just thought that they could be

sort of broken up and sold in little sets. I mean, we can look into possibly developing a small base enchantment like that. But, I mean, research and development of that does take a while. You'd have to fund the endeavor. But the good news is when it's done, you'd be the first to have an original enchanter Pumat's sole pocket cozy pouch.

How much would that endeavor cost me? I don't know. I'll be right back. And he goes in the back room. Come us back out. So Pumat Prime there says, that for the process of research and development, should it be successful development of the object, it'll probably be about two weeks of time of enchantment, and the cost of the overall pouch,

it'll probably run you about 200, 250 gold pieces. It's a pretty good deal compared to the- But I just get the side pouch. Yeah. I don't get the full thing. But I'm still. What are you going to put in it? So many things.

A lot of buttons. A regular pouch can hold a lot of buttons. That's true. I'll think on it. Can I ask you one more question, Pumont? Of course. You, I don't mean to pry into your personal existence, but there seems to be many of you. And was that a magic? Is that caused by magic? Is that a thought? Did you do that? Is that an accident? Was that a splicing thing? The large looming figure of Pumat's soul, kind of just shades over you.

and slowly comes down under his knees, kind of almost this lurching monolith over your tiny goblin frame. The face gets tense for a second, and then pulls back into this very warm, toothy smile, and goes, oh, I like an inquisitive little girl and kind of pats and rubs your head. The hand is like a giant mitt that almost encompasses your entire head.

It's good, fucking good cushion. So if you look over there and he points on the wall, you see what looks to be a sort of a framed symbol. It looks like three diamond-shundsion. shards that I'll point to the center in like a flux capacitor like design and goes, I'm actually an annex of the Cerberus Assembly. So I get certain favors and I do things for them. So I provide them occasionally with my capabilities and some enchanted objects. And in return, they were kind enough to provide me with, well, me and him and him.

So the Cerberus Assembly, is that powerful with magic? They're about the most powerful, yeah. If I'm here in the empire, yeah. So me and my brother's here. We're actually technically, we're a simulacrum. Oh, that's fascinating. But, you know, we do what we can. And if someone were to want someone with that sort of magical power,

you could not provide that, but the Cerberus assembly could. I guarantee with enough positive reinforcement, with enough friendship attained with certain members, like I have developed over many years of hard work and providing services, perhaps one day you too could be the fine owner of three other versions of your tiny self. That's amazing.

Are they a secretive group? Do they have a business card or anything? Not much of a business card. They got members all over. Most of them are up in the Capitol, but there's one of them that runs that hall of irredition right over in the Tracepire. Thank you. Thank you for the information.

Of course. Happy to help. You know, Pumad, I think I will take you up on that enchantment, 80 gold. It's a bit more than I was hoping to spend. I couldn't overhear you offering a bonus or incentive for being a return customer. And I did enjoy most recently, unfortunately, one of your healing potions. Perhaps if I purchased a healing potion

and the transfer of the enchantments, we could find some sort of a deal. Make it for Swayze and check. Get it, get it, boy. 12. 12. It's not terrible. I respect your candor.

I see that you have a keen mind for business relationships. However, I do have to take to try turn on profit. So I can't do much for you there, my apologies. I understand, and the healing potions were how much again? Those were 70 gold? No, those were 50 gold apiece. 50 gold?

Wow, I got to work on my fucking memory. Great, I would take a healing potion and the enchantment transfer, please. Fair enough, that'll run you 130 gold pieces. That's correct. There's your healing potion. You get your basic one right there.

Okay, thank you. And take about an hour, to transfer this here and jamming for you. So just be patient, come back. About 60 minutes, should be ready to go. Yeah, I take the breastplate part of my leather armor off and leave it with you. Oh, this is, want us to clean it for you? Yeah, that would be fine.

Yes, please clean it, please. All right. It's not that bad. It was starting to, it has a brine. Would you prefer black ice, lavender, or new leather? New leather. New leather it is. We'll get it right to you.

That's amazing. Turns around. I've been doing a perusal, by the way. Is there anything that's caught my eye in this? Make an investigation check. Make an investigation check. It's hard to concentrate. 13.

Okay, I mean, there's a lot of things here. Many, not anywhere near your price range. Sure. There are three that catch your eye that are like loosely interested. loosely interesting, at least, between you and your allies. There is one pendant that appears to have what looks to be a darkened ivory spiral in what looks to be almost like a heart sculpture, but it's kind of roughly sculpted.

Interesting. That is currently labeled with a fine ribbon at the bottom at 150 gold, and it states that it has the capability of, you can almost hear it in his voice after seeing and meeting him for the short time. It's capable of ensuring that if you take too many hits, it'll help prevent you from bleeding out on your own. Also, when you take a rest, you get a little bit of a bonus when healing. Mm-hmm. All right. That's interesting. There's one of them that's this kind of darkened, kind of orangeish, amber-colored,

marble about that big. That is 350 gold. But the ribbon attached to that one states, should someone holding this and have the capability of spinning spells one way or the other, they could probably keep one stored in this thing and release it at a later time. One of those last campaign. That was a ring. That was a ring.

The ring of holding. And the final piece that I noticed? Yes. This is a really, really beautiful cloak that has a kind of purplish blue color to it with very, very fine edged embroidery and gold and silver that kind of just seems to naturally come out of the cloak like it's growing silver vines at the edges of it. It's a very, very fine make. This one's labeled at 800 gold. This one is the donner of this cloak would find themselves largely protected in certain ways from the elements or blows or magics or what have you. It's like a cloak of a

No. Clive resistance. Okay. Protection. Give you some bonus. Yeah, we all do. We all do. We all do.

Super squishy-ass crispy tacos. Just kill all of Pumont's soul and come back and just rob this place. That's a great plan. That's an option. I think you only have to kill the one. Prime. This conversation did not happen. Oh, I assume.

What did we make off, what did we each make off of a Off of a... You should be tracking it in your T-MD beyond. You didn't put that in our... I added my hundred. We each got a hundred. Oh, I think I added. It was 700 gold, yeah.

Okay, so I did. All right. So I can technically afford this. Well, one of them. I'd love to see that heart block it if you don't mind. Did you spin on me? There's the two guys like, sorry, can't help you.

We're in mid-enchantment translocation. Could you help them? The other one's like, no worries. I got you. Hey there, buddy. What's you looking at all? Pleasure to meet you. I was looking at this piece right here. Oh yeah, no, let me just pass you over a little more information about that.

That's a parapet of wound closure. Well, if you're so interested, it both allows you to stabilize when you hit when you hit, you know, stabilize when you hit-dice to heal up, it's a little bit nicer. Is this like if I'm healing him, does he get still the double hit point? Just when it's doing hit dice. Got it into it. Mm-hmm. You cut yourself all the time.

That was very useful. They tend to sort of heal themselves, though. This is a, but this could, mm. This is quite nice. Oh yeah. You know what? I think I'm going to treat myself. I'm going to take it. I feel like I've earned something.

We've had a good run of it, and I have never spent this much money on anything in my life. Yeah, we've got some good momentum. We've got some good momentum right now, right? What could possibly happen? Not gonna lie, really appreciative to have just here in a few days returning customers willing to spend fine, hard-earned gold on some finely crafted and enchanted objects. I pass 150 gold.

Whoa. An absolute pleasure here. You say it was Mali Moop? Just Molly to my friends. Absolutely. Mollie it is. This is wonderful, and I'm gonna add it to my other necklace. It looks.

Incredible. It's found a place. I feel it's right to my heart, right there. Puma, before we go, I wanted to ask you, I know that you're an annex of the Cerberus Assembly. How do you feel about the governing parties here in town? Are you happy with the way things are run? Yeah, I mean, overall, it seems to be as fine as it can be. Right. You know, some folks don't have as much coin as others,

but there's only what can you do to really help them. You know, we do what we can, but there's a lot of dangerous things out there. We've got all sorts of baddies coming over from Jorhas. We've got the possible encroaching of foreign powers, always looking to peek over the mountain range and try and steal some of our hard-earned materials. So I think it's good that keep us nice and safe. And, I mean, I got myself a fine business, too.

I think it's great that you support the barracks. Do they come in for regular purchases every week or every month or find themselves in your store more often than not? And who are you referring to? The members of the Cerberus Assembly. Oh no, they don't come to the store often. They usually send requests.

They make orders and I have them sent on over to either Rexentrem or the Hall if that's where they're gonna be utilizing them. That's wonderful. Well, thank you. Thank you for your time. They're a fine bunch. They do a lot of good. They keep the crown in check.

They make sure there's no abuse of power. And they also have been very, very staunch supporters of helping promote learning here in the smaller, more middle to lower classes here in Zadash. Oh, really? They're not as protective of certain knowledge as other parts of the government might be. Well, I mean, protective of knowledge in this sense. of knowledge in the sense that not everyone can be trusted with knowledge.

And, you know, not gonna lie, some of the things even I know can be real dangerous in the wrong hand, so I think it's important there has to be a certain level of control. I mean, I've seen some really nutty people out there that I can't imagine what would be like if we didn't have some sort of law and order. But they might be a bit more open-minded to people sharing in that knowledge if they were the right type of person, say.

Could very well be. They've been very kind to me. I'm glad to hear that. Not, Molly, you have everything you need? Yes. I, yeah, I've been looking in the little mirror, like trying to get the height right. Did you want to bring the mirror with you? Can I? I don't, I was a joke. That's right. Fine, this is good. Oh yeah. We'll probably be back in like a day. We'll be back. Well, we'll be here. Oh, four of us. All right, goodbye, Pumont's soul. Pleasure to meet you little goblin lady.

Thank you for Mines Prime, our best. I will, right now. He goes in the back room as the other two are still focusing on your armor. As you leave the two that are focusing, you go, thank you. Thank you. Fuck. So you wait the better part of an hour, are able to retrieve your armor, and indeed you know have the Mariners' armor enchantment on your breastplate.

Thank you for not making me stand out in the rain for an hour. Without the top pieces. Thank you. Now, the three of you. Oh. How, so what means are you attempting to enter the Tri-Spires? We go back to the gate, right? Yeah, you know I had that bad time yesterday, so, but probably different guards there, and I have this cloak now, so I'm going to...

You look really, can I, I'm just going to... I'm just going to brush your hair out of your face and like, wipe it any dirt off your face, okay? All the rain is all of your face. You're taking care of the most of that. I know, well, it's washed it off, but now I just got to get the smudges off because it's still kind of there. Thank you. All right.

He's good? Well, you look sparkling clean. You look very dashing. Okay, well. Okay. We'll see if the guards think so, eh? Yes. All right.

Just keep your cloak really tight on you, okay? That's the idea, yeah. You find yourselves to the exterior of the tri-spire, the familiar gate, where you've traversed once before and failed to traverse once before. As you make your way towards the edge, you see the two guards, once again,

step up to the center to kind of prevent entry. As they begin to walk up, you can see three other figures are exiting the district, and the guards kind of stop, oh, give a nod, recognizing the individuals as they walk past, they just kind of move on. They look to be fairly decently dressed, looks to be a male and a female. You don't know if they're married enough,

They appear to be a couple, and it looks to be a friend of theirs off of the side. All cloaks, hoods up, very nice cloaks, thick but very well made, as the rain is still kind of coming down. They're all kind of bundled up stuff, but there is a point of recognition with the guards as they pass by. As they move beyond, the guards once again approach, like, Halt! Oh, hello again. Hello again. Yes. We're just making our way through the Villalrove. That's all. Can I both give a look over the two of you?

Armandle-and-up, belt tied. Looking at the ground. Looking tough. For the sake of this, go to make a persuasion check, Jester. Oh, wow. Okay. That was like not a lot of flourished there, but 17. Okay.

We went back to its home. I know it didn't. All right. Come in, coming. You guys quickly make your way through the open gates under the port-collis into the cobblestone streets of the Tri Spire, and there before you can see, the silken terrace, you can see the three towers

that mark the central part of Zadash. So. Ugh. He made it. It's nice in here. I know, right? I know, right? Should we ask where the Smati shop is that you want to go to?

It has a name. It is called Chastity Snook. Yes, it's right in the name. It's good name. I go back to the garden and ask where the chested is Lucas. All right, so. Oh, well, he gives you this weird look as soon as you ask him.

He's like, uh, I, actually it's right there in the Silicon Terrace to the left of the large bakery. It's the kind of hut looking thing. Oh, no. Thank you very much. I appreciate all of your help. You've been wonderful. Okay, bye. Of course, he says behind you as you rush off. What have you done? and a porn shop, if they find a fight club, you guys are just gonna be orgasming, orgasming.

It's pretty great. It's pretty great. Oh, oh. Bringing an American pie reference, wow. All right, so as you enter towards the Silicon Terrace, first off, I mean the beautiful cobblets in the streets before you are broken up by what looks to be small patches of small fenced in shrubbery and flower bushes.

The whole interior here is such stark contrast to the rest of the city that it is both surprising and sickening, knowing some of the harder lifestyles that exist on the outside of the walls here. You do notice there are a few large sites as you pass through here. There is one of the large towers here you can see is part of the,

the kind of ivory and marble structure that has large blue banners that hang down the sides. The central tower itself just fires up into the sky. This centerpiece, and you've known this, because you've been here before, is known as the Zobra Spire. Zobra. Zobra. Zabra. Z-A-U-B-E-R-S-P-I-R-S-P-I-R-E.

Z-A-U-B-E-R-S-P-I-R-E. The Z-A-U-B-R-R-S-P-E. Zobberspire, it is the central piece of the Halls of Eurydition campus and kind of lords over that entire section to the north side. It's the furthest tower here. There is an area that you've heard of them up into called the Gilded Willows, which is the kind of tree-dappled residential area of the city, and it's broken up into several pieces, but you can see a lot of the tree tops, and it has this very kind of natural, almost picturesque beauty of the interior. Called what again? The gilded willows, and it's kind of the broken residential aspects of this area. Oh, it's, okay. It's Bel Air.

Yeah. Kind of, yeah. There is the Triumph Chime, which is a seven-story temple and belfry that has been retrofitted as the previous, and you would know this also from learning your history lessons. I should make a history check. Okay. Maybe you know it. You might not remember. It was so good, too, almost. You see that?

History? Six. Six. All right, so you know, you know that it's there. You know the three towers, there's the Zobber Spire, the Constellation Bridge, which is in the Guild of Willows,

which is kind of a giant watchtower that overlooks the entirety of the city. And then the last bit, which is the Triumph Chime. that's all you know about them. Yeah, it's like, you know, Zambraspire, Constellation Bridge, and whatever the Triumph Tower is. Chime. I think it's a church, or a cult,

or a church-turned cult. I don't remember. The Constellation Bridge sounds very pretty. It is. It's a good name. Yeah. So, as you continue in the direction of where you were guided, you come upon the very familiar scent

of warm baked goods, both savory and sweet. It looks to be relatively crowded. You see a lot of the folks are kind of bundled up. They have large mittens on heavy coats and cloaks, and a lot of the kind of general elite that live in this vicinity seem to have come here to gather, to pick up warm goods to kind of help go against the cold rain

that's now coming down upon the city. To the right of that, you can see towards the very edge of this row of various shops and market bits. There appears to be a building that is small, They thatched roof, but it looks like it's more for the visual aspect. It's made it look almost like a small country cottage. But it's plainly intentional, and it's just an aesthetic that's been placed onto it to make it look different and interesting from the rest of the... Like a tiki bar. Kind of, yeah, I guess you could say that.

Outside, you do see a sign that is in written in beautiful cursive that's kind of arched over the main door that says chastity's nook. And even just, the doorway is slightly... open and there is a warm light from the interior, there was a glass window, and you can see there are books kind of on display there. But you already see a few people inside. It's not like packed, but there's making business. What do you guys want to do? Just before we head that way, just of curiosity, what is the name of the bakery that is near? You actually can't see the name from the outside. You have to go and ask. I go and ask, I walk it into the bay. Come, are you hungry? Do you want to do you want

something? I'll always am hungry. Okay, I will get us some sweet. If you want. Really? Yeah, sure. Why not? We are flush at the moment. All right. Easy enough to ask.

As you walk inside, you can see there are like a whole table that is set up with warm goods, and you see a kitchen that's constantly going, and there's maybe about 12 patrons in there right now that are in the process of eating or ordering. But it's called the Mealhearth. Hands are going to be all sticky before you handle the books. Yeah. Better than after. Ooh. Aww.

Oh, God. Yeah, if you'd like to, you can load up on. Yeah, what are you in the mood for? Do you want something sweet or savory? Oh man, this bakery that we had in the Godranes had the amazing bear claws. Bear claws. Yes. Well, let's see. Excuse me, whoever's running this show.

In the midst of the chaos, you see a young man, maybe in his late teens or so. with a little bit of like a, I guess, prickly chin strap beard, a very short kind of tattered brown hair. But other than that, Spry smiling, he has an apron on and he's currently putting a small tray on the edge. Hello, yeah, can I help you? Yeah, we're in the mood for some bearclaws,

the kind they have in Nicodranus. Have you heard of these? Do you have them? I've heard, we have bear claws. I don't know if we have any Nicodranus bear claws. We'll take the bear claws, yeah. Yes, and then we can come. pair and let you know. All right, as far as I know, the only major difference is they load it up with cinnamon.

We can do that. We can do that. All right. All right, that'll be done. How many would you like? Probably 10 bear claws, and also, do you have any hot, freshly baked bread? That we do as well, of course. I will take a large loaf of hot bread fresh out of the oven, please. All right, you have to wait a moment. About 20, 25 minutes. We'll have a fresh one for you. Well, maybe we can go shopping and come back. Oh, yeah, we'll return. We'll double back for the bear claws.

So we'll come back for 10 of these and that hot bread. All right, so 10 bear claws, bread, do you want to paint events? Yeah, sure, that's no problem. All right, so for all the bear claws and the loaf of bread. Yeah, right, I don't know. 1350.

Right in you like three silver. Okay. One, two. Three. Easy. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Of course, we'll be here.

See you back in a minute. Yes. As soon as you kind of turn around, somebody else's already kind of pushed past you and gotten in the front, I'd like three of, you know, and you're just like, ah, this place is awful. Come on, it's too crowded in there. Caleb, I'll buy you some porn.

Okay, that's good to know. Okay. I lead the way to Chastardy's not. All right. So as you enter the small shop, the interior is beautiful and surprisingly busy. There's five other patrons that are currently perusing through various tomes and look to be stacks of artwork.

You can see it carries many books and different types of tawdry decor like rugs, embroidered tapestries, candles both scented and knots, and you can smell oils and incense in there as well. It's just kind of mish-mash of sense. It's kind of dark lit in the interior, but as soon as you enter, almost every other person in there kind of glance over the shoulder at you and kind of,

that's much the business. As soon as you finish scanning the room, a voice kind of peeks up and goes, you glance over and see what appears to be a human female in her 40s, kind of mousy brown hair, kind of wild and curly that goes past her shoulders and she has like a heavy sweater on and these big glasses that are right in front of her face.

Can I help you? That is a very handsome sweater you have. Is that from here in the city? Oh, it was a gift. I'm sorry, what is your name? Iva. Ava. A pleasure to meet you.

Iva Dession. And this is my shop. Iva. Dession. Dession. All right. Yeah, you know, I'm new to town and I'm looking for a bit of reading and this place has been highly recommended to me and I'm wondering what, what... A grin curls past her face.

She goes, recommend it. You want to go to the back. And she kind of points, and you can see, and you can see now that she's pointed it out, it's just one long chamber with shelves and like a central table. And the beginning has more of the accoutremaal, like the candles and the various, you know,

and actually you can purchase. In the back, you can already see there are large scrolls that are hung up with, like, beautifully painted nudes. You can see rows and rows of... I made you plan for this. I know you did. Yeah, you did.

Yeah, you did, better. I love of this. There are stacks of books where the covers have their own individual paintings where you can see. Detail. You can see like a portrait of a moonlight painting of a brawny-looking man who's dipping, a fainting-looking woman in like a delicate dress, glistening across the moonlight. It's slightly pulled up, but yeah, this is the... This is the young adult romance section

of any bookstore on full display. And the more you look back, you can see there's a few figures in the process just kind of thumbing through the books, kind of reading them where they stand in the middle there. Are you looking for anything in particular? You know, my tastes, they are very varied. And I'm always looking for something new.

Oh, I have recommendations, if you like. Of course, I'm very interested in literature recommendations. There's Zemnia Knights, very popular. There's the enchanting trist for those who have, want more of a fantastical perspective, centered the sea for the traveler, who enjoys the perusal. That one is outer empire, so, you know,

folks have varying interests. There's Tusklov. That one's a little more saucy. Oh, cool. If you want something more gentle, something that's more of just a classical love story, we have God of My Heart, shallow breaths are a bit more body.

And I want to buy Tusk Love, please. Right this way. And as she walks away from us, you know, I'm obviously here for a purpose, but I like historical fiction as well, and I like when the two things are combined. Do you know what I mean? Sex and history.

She kind of leans in for a moment and gives you a look. Follow me. And she leads you both to the back. She plucks a copy of Tusklove. There's a guy in it. And the whole of Mousel. He's whacking it. I'm following, by the way.

Oh, Skull. Now, what do you say? Now, I define historical. What are you interested? Well, I just like, you know, historical fiction. I don't like shallow, you know, smut. I like to learn something while I'm being titillated, I suppose. Make him pick a persuasion.

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Edubation. Edubation. A squared plus B squared equals C squared. I have rolled a swanci that is 20. Oh, okay. And she was, It's been banned for a past 15 years, but I do have a couple of reclaimed copies of courting of the crick

if you'd be interested. I'm very much interested in this and other books as well, as well, but we will start with the courting up the creek. Okay, well, because it's, and the voice stays very hush and she kind of adjusts her glasses, the closer she gets, because it is technically not supposed to be here, it's a bit pricier. That one runs you about 15 gold pieces for a book.

I'm still interested. I would like to see the quality of the book, you know, see if it's in mint condition. Of course, of course, it's not a word. Flaminators? Just a moment. The other books, the regular books. Did she walk away from you, by the way?

Briefly, yeah. I cast detect magic. Okay. On her? Of everything. Everything. Okay. Okay.

So as you complete your incantation, there is a slight shimmer of energy that expands around the chamber. And looking, just scanning through and across the, the, The books, nothing peeks out at you as magical from the shelves. It looks like there's a lot of the collection of tomes. You get a small blip from the hunched, cloaked figure in the corner that's currently reading through one of the books hurriedly. Just a slain, a very faint source of magic on the person. This is the range, I believe, is 30 feet, if I'm not mistaken. Yeah, it is.

So am I in the center, like how much further, am I covering every part of this door where I am? I just start to browse. Okay, I will say, look at the... If anything looks out of reach of the spell that I have just cast, I will walk in that direction. Right, it means concentration. So you can just kind of go through and pass around, yeah. So as you scan the entirety of the room,

it does not appear to be that there is anything directly magical being put on any of the shelves. It's because this whole place is magical, Caleb. Angels like Jeez. You know, the only blip of magic source you're getting is from one of the patrons. Just one of the patrons. Nothing new, okay, nothing behind any doors, nothing on the shelves.

Okay, I wait for a little bit. Does there appear to be a used book section, like trade-ins? Very. Unfortunately, no. There isn't a lot of business for used books here in the Tri-Spires. I think most folks purchase and like the display on their shelves. It's almost like a symbol of status.

The more books that you have, the more you can display on your shelves. The more well read you are to your guests as you have them over. Sure. Interesting. So yeah, there isn't a big market for returning things you've read. Huh, okay. I can learn a lot more people wrote books. I walk up to one of the other patrons that's hurriedly looking through one of the books. Okay. Well, the one that's closest to you or one of the other ones?

Sure. One that's closest to me. Okay, the one that's closest to you is you approach from behind. He has kind of like a dark brown cloak that's kind of pulled over one shoulder. He's wearing a kind of a sky blue tunic, soft, almost like a silk sheen to it and a little bit of lantern light that's lighting the interior. From the side of his chin, you can see he's got a softer, rounder face, and as soon as you begin to approach, as you aren't the, are approaching quietly, it kind of stops and the book closes back on the shelf. Make a perception, check. Perception.

18. All right, it is shallow breaths. Breasts or breaths? Breasts. Breathing. Heaving breaths. Oh, shallow breaths. That's a good one.

As the guy turns around, you can see him. He's mid-late 30s you would expect. Dark hair, slicked back, kind of pulled. the hair line pulling back a bit, male pattern baldness style, human. And as soon as it's around, he can just, oh, I'm just perusing. I've.

It's not one of your favorites? I've, I don't know. I've not read it, I couldn't tell you. What's your name? I need to go. And he just kind of pushes past you, and as he begins to exit the tame and goes, I'm all right, I'm good, thank you this time, goodbye.

And just like, darts out into the rain. I open it up with the only. How much Hello Breaths is about? It is smutty. It's, yeah, it's, we're talking like, like, Anne Rice, you know, fairy tale book level. Good skirt around that, by the way, all done.

Sky blue clothing sense. Which with the, remember I got really, I really, we were all in high school once, it's okay. I got really into interview the vampire, and then my mom got these great new Anne Rice books, and I was like, oh, these are, oh, she'd made new books about like Cinderella. That's, whoa.

Whoa. So yeah, it's, it's, it's, it's, yeah, it's what you'd expect. It's funny, it's funny. Hey Jester, huh. Do you think that the fact that this place is called the chassis nook gives everyone a complex who shops here? Yes. Yeah. It's really good. At this point, Iva returns with a, it looks to be a book-sized tome that is covered in some sort of of a soft deer skin leather and kind of pulls it open

and shows you the outside of it. It's very, very high quality. It looks like it's barely been read. So this is the piece. That is finally made. May I hold it? You may? Okay.

Which kind of looks over to make sure that they're kind of blocking the view to anybody else. I turn with her so that my back is and I speed read like four pages. Other illustrations? Oh, geez. Interestingly enough, it begins. It begins almost like the Simarillion in the sense that it reads not very flowery, and it's very...

With a hole in the ground. Yeah. It has a very instructional, nonfiction, historical type speech. It begins to talk of early empirical conflicts. It begins to talk of the post-calamity. It begins to talk of elements of begins to hint at the ideas of forbidden romance between sides that were not meant to meet.

But a lot of it begins to be like, and then this person led this army into this place, and these many were slaughtered. And out of curiosity, if I flip through, do I see any boning anywhere inside? As you begin to flip through, she kind of, well, I understand if that was enough of a peak and you're interested, you can purchase?

Yes, well, it's a high quality item. You can understand my excitement. I've been thinking in a space of time that you have left, and while I would like to purchase something here today, I am very low on funds and just the nature of this book and the trouble I could get into. I mean, your secret is safe with me, but it is too hot for my hands.

I was wondering if you had a copy of shallow breaths here. That I'd do? Not to worry. She quickly folds it up and kind of tucks it under her arm and kind of hides it amongst her sweater. Right over here. She picks up the copy, the same copy the gentleman was looking through earlier and hands it to you. Oh, perfect. How much would this run name? Three silver pieces. Three silver, okay. I take out the three silver

silver. One, two, three, three, three, three, three, three. Three, three, three, three. Three, three, three, three. Thank you. Very much. Yes. Did you, uh, did you two want to get anything? Oh, yes. I want to buy the Tusky Love one. That is also three silver pieces. Okay. Secret one, you put it in my bag, okay? Okay. Very, very, very terrible, discreet. handoff where it's like,

she adjusts her glasses once more. Thank you, and it's been a pleasure. If you ever interested, I do my own writing, and I'm in the process of finishing the third chapter of my next series. I would like to see it right now. Well, it's not done. I...

Do you have a sample? What is your niche? Well... She gets a little nervous and reaches behind and pulls out a small piece of paper and says, it's, I need this back because it's part of my manuscript, but you can have a glance over it. Tumblr is so happy right now. What is it? What is it? At a quick glance, it appears to be not very well written.

It's a bit ham-fisted in its analogies and its descriptives. But you appear to have caught the... the middle of a saucy meeting of a strong, strapping farmhand who is currently trying to seemingly work down the cost of a piece of equipment by the purveyor who's, you know, I have enough information to make up a full story, but it's this very much kind of like, how can I get this at a cheaper price?

And the guys look- She's very heavy-handed with her in your windows. Yeah. The salesman's like, well, I don't know, how much are you willing to pay? It's like, well, I only, and it goes back and forth, and you're kind of like, I can see where this is going, but it's not going there fast enough. They keep talking about the heft of his equipment, a lot of reference to his equipment. The gauge of his pipe. Though yeah, it's, do you, do you like it?

Oh, do I? Make a deception check. Fuck. I was thinking of Ford as I was trying to be nice. Yeah, you were doing it. All her hopes and dreams. Never thought I've. It's cocked, right?

It's cocked, okay. Thank you, thank you. Okay, okay, okay, okay. Oh, oh, 18. Oh, good, good. I'm so glad you like. You know, there seems to be a lot of, like, machinery knowledge and like heavy machinery knowledge.

Was that also an interest of yours? Oh, well, it was a family background, yes, before I took up writing, Man, I've never seen, like, engineering and combined. It's rare that I meet people who are interested in seeing that type of initial. Yeah, no. Thank you.

I hope to have it ready for sale, hopefully within the next three or four months, so please do come back again. Consider me interested. Thank you. Is there a mailing list? Yeah, I almost asked. Is there a mailing list?

Oh, well, I, you know. You gotta get the word out. You don't get people interested. It's kind of a word of mouth thing. The clientele prefer a bit of privacy. Sure, sure. While this was going on, and she was distracted. Oh no.

Can I find just one of the books that looks, you know, easily accessible, and I want to open it up and on the inside right, we're watching you. We saw you come in here. you come in here. Someone's paranoid. You grab a quick copy of Guard of My Heart, which the cover of it has the actual Crown's Guard crest printed on it.

It appears to be some sort of a dynamic of honor versus what the heart ones. Make a slight a hand check. Written by Seven Corbo. Oh, that's so good. Plus five, so what is that? 23. Okay, as you quickly whip through the statement, close the books out on the shelf,

no one, anybody else the wiser. You have a sense of accomplishment, wash over you and hear this faint, distant chuckle that seems to be soulless but pleased. So, you have your smut? Yeah? Yeah. What would you like to do now?

Oh, it's probably about time to go pick up the beck-clos. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. All right. Easily enough now, the rain seems to have, It's still raining, but it's not quite the heavy drizzle it was earlier. It's lighting up a little bit. As soon as you step outside, you can see way far off in the distance,

a little bit of blue beginning to break. It looks like the heavy part of the storm front, at least, is beginning to pass. You pick up the remainder of your ordered baked goods, loaf of breath as well. On the top shelf behind you there, what do you call those? These pastries, I slide the smut under a tray of bread. You slide it under a what? Under a tray of bread on the counter. Just in the counter? Yeah. Hide it.

Make a sorry hand check. Okay. Do you learn from the best? That's all right. That's all right. That's all right. 11. 11, okay.

Can I glass of... Oh, that's more bread. Oh, okay. I'll take my bread, please. Yes, yes, of course. Fresh. There you are, sir. Thank you.

Would you like to... to carry the bear claws. Yes, please. Thank you. As we're walking out, you know, I will show you a trick that I've learned, you know, in the past few years. It's very cold out and I pull sides of the bread out.

It's hot and I hand to bread and I hand you a piece of bread and then I shove my hands in. It's warm. Then I can eat it later. Let's go. Oh, Kailen. Oh, Jesus.

You know you can buy mippins. Yeah, there's like muffs, like hand muffs. Hand muffs? Yeah, but I can eat this. Why are you looking me that way? It's weird, Caleb. It's weird. It's not weird.

Many people have done this in this made-believe world and also in America. Yeah. I walk out the dog. Well, it's really good friends. All right. Any other business you'd like to tend to while you're in the Trasper? Are you joining your friends? I think there's a casino here.

Jesus. But we can just go to the pillow throw. You want to drop off that key first? That's why I'm going to the pillow truck. I heard not telling me something. I'm the traveler. I thought we were going to go for Mighty Nine sponsorship at the Nook.

As we walk along to the pillow trove, when we walk by the flowery bushes, I just kind of slowly pop all the blossoms off the flowers as I go. Okay. That one. All right. As you guys make your way to the interior of the pillow trove, the same woman clerk who met you the other day is the in the process of going through and organizing what looks like the last few, the last bit of

information with the few folks who I got rooms the night before. And you see at the top, the split staircase appears to be a female elf brunette with kind of golden eyes, a bit older in the face. You can see some lines along the cheeks that for elves that age gracefully shows a bit of age. You see a very beautiful, laced red dress that goes up to the neck with a bit of a window right there. The arms are crossed and folded in front, and just kind of as you enter, looks down and smiles. The clerk kind of glances up. Oh, hello again.

She's beautiful. Who is that? Oh, that's Madame Luena. Madam. And the woman kind of sends the stairs one step at a time, arms crossed. Hello, pleasure to make your acquaintance. Oh, you too. Can I help you? I don't know, I just asked who you were

because you're really pretty. I am the owner of the pillow trope. Oh! It's beautiful, you did a really good job in here decorating. Thank you so much, I greatly appreciate it. Your dress is really pretty, too. Thank you kindly. So,

I just came to get all my stuff out of my room and then I'm going to give the key back, okay? You're checking out, unfortunate. I am. But I'll be back very soon because I have a package coming. All right then. So be on the lookout for one to Jester. Jester, is that your name? That is me. She takes your hand and just kind of holds it a pleasure, my dear. Goodbye. Bye.

Turnes and makes her way back up the stairs. She's really pretty. She is really pretty. Did you see your eyes? They were golden. Yeah. You want to see my room? Sure.

Okay. Do you see my toys? All right. So you walk upstairs, you find the room in it. It's small, the one that you had rented, but it's beautiful in the interior. The sheets have layered lace. Hi, thread count. It's quite awesome.

There is a balcony, though the curtain's screen. currently drawn because of the rainy day outside. Yeah, it's a very, very nice room. I slide my hand under the sheets and I just feel that thread cut. Your hands are dirty, you're covered in bread. It's okay, it's okay because I rented it. I pull the covers off. Like, lay down.

You want to lay down, you can use it. Maybe if you carried a ruler, you could hit my knuckle sada next time. Would you like that? No. Would you like some mitts? No. You know this is how diseases are spread, right? bread, right?

I like my hand on fire. Okay. Why didn't you just light their hands on fire instead of putting it in bread? I would have burned the bread and then I couldn't eat it. It's simple. It's toast. It's actually really tasty. Well, I don't have the control is a little tricky sometimes. A little off.

Sometimes. Open the curtains up. Yeah, do we get a good view? You get a decent view? I mean, it's not terribly high up, but you get to look down over the end. to look down over the street below you, the cobblestone still slick and the rain pattering on the stonework.

You can see the fences that curl around the exterior of the terrace, or the tree tops are now more visible, and you can see the canopies kind of puffing up behind the larger estates and buildings that make up the interior of the tri spires. You have a pretty decent view of the Zobr Spire from here, and you can see it domes towards the very peak, and there appears to be a glass kind of

cylindrical top floor that overlooks the entirety of the city. Make perception check. Okay. Natural 19. Whoa. All right. Plus three, so 22. Not too difficult for you to see, even through the bit of rain that's up there, but at the very top where you can see the glass exterior,

you see the outline of two figures that are just standing, kind of looking over the entire city from up there. At the top, the Zabra? Yeah. Zabar Spire. Zabba. Zabba. Like sour. Sourg.

Saurah. What do they look like? Do they, are they brain colors? You can make out the full details of them from this distance, but you can just see the basic shape and outline of two figures looking over. I'm dancing around the room while you're looking. Just was just darting around. Literally dancing around.

You're squinting. Just looking, just, you know, people watching. Where are there people? These two assholes up there on the top of the south of them. Spire? Saubr. Saubr. Saub.

Salber. I crawl under the bed. Hey. The whole Cerberus assembly thing. Do you know much about them? I mean, if you're an empire, you've heard of the Cerberus Assembly. Yeah, I know, I know. We're both Empire kids, right?

Yeah. More so than the rest of the nine? Yeah. What do you think about the empire? I mean, what? About the crown. It is what it is. Okay. I think it's kind of bullshitty.

Well, that is also true, but it is also what it is. It's the empire. What makes it bullshit? You're just yourself underneath the bed. What's it bullshit? What are you doing down there? I was just seeing if anybody left anything good here? And?

Did anybody leave anything going on the bed? No, actually, it's pretty well cleaned and maintained underneath there. It's pretty well cleaned though, so nothing is here, that's good. Not even any bugs or anything. I mean, just like, look at this, look at how much money is up here compared to elsewhere. Like, it's a lot of control. Yeah, what are you going to do about it? Are you going to do something, Beau?

I stick my head up. Are you planning a rebellion? No, I just want to make a ton of money and drink a lot of booze. Inside chef. One. Thanks, Pike. I believe you. All right, we're going to hit the bars tonight. I think best we can do is just try and be happy, and as you said, this shitty situation that we've all been granted. Nationwide, yeah.

Yeah. Anyway, should we go? Should we go? Oh, sure, yeah. I crawl out from under the bed. Caleb? Yeah? I got you a present. Did you? Yes. You bought that book? I bought you history porn.

You bought me that book? That is so expensive for this book. This is just smart. Technically you gave me the money for it, so. Is it useful? I don't know. I don't read things like this. And if I pick, take a look at it. Yeah, you'll have it. I'm gonna flip through. Does anything catch my eye based on what I know?

I mean, you wanna sit and read it like full? If you skim through, you just see pages, like, some of it's smutty, some of it seems boring. Okay. You know, the thing is, places like that are like, It's like yard sales. 99% of the time there is just nothing but broken crap. But once, once and I packed the book in one of my holsters, I found something. Is that the one I drew the dick in?

Did you draw the dick next on the friend's spell? You did it. That's the one. Yeah, I found that in a porn shop. Really? Yeah. Are there pawn shops here? Porn. Porn. A porn shop?

Yeah. Yeah, hidden. Oh, okay. Yeah, this reminds me of the stuff that used to read back in school. School? You read porn in school? No, just like old history stuff.

Yeah, it feels like a bored monk wrote this. Real bored monk. Like, if you want to take the time, time to read it, either now or another time I can give you more information, but skinning through you don't see anything that catches your eye. Okay. I might read it later when you're done reading it. You go first, you tell me your review. Oh, really? Yeah. Okay.

It doesn't want it. It's a great gift. Honestly, I was thinking about buying it and then you kind of beat me to it. So great minds. There we go, it was a present for you all along. Well, I wish I would have known. I would have bought you that other shitty book you bought. But I appreciate the gesture because it is the thought that counts. It's the gesture, gesture. That's my name. But seriously, thank you. You're welcome. What's this book called? Does it have a name?

Yes, it is called... A Tale of Two Titties. No. Cording of the Crick. What's it? What? Quoting of the Crick. Cording of the Crick. Good luck adding that shit. I know. Yeah, I'm not going to be able to type that in.

I'll write that down. Bollettos Gate. Ooh. Yeah, but they'll take that. Swinging. All right. So you've bought baked goods, you've bought smut, and you've played in a hotel room. What do you guys want to do now?

I guess we can go back then. There's a casino, you want to go to the casino. I don't want to go to, what? Are there any religious temples here? I mean, you have to ask around. Make an investigation check. That's a shit. You have a hard time finding somebody who can give you any information. Most folks, a couple individuals who stopped go like, oh, I don't know about religion. You can just walk away.

It seemed to be less of an interest in conversing with you. You see why I left this town? People. People. No luck on that, unfortunately. What about in the Pillow Troves? Do they have like a little library in there? They do not. It seems that They're not providing anything simply to read. You probably have to bring in your own or purchase them from the local Chastity Nook. Okay, okay, okay, okay.

I mean, this neighborhood makes me a little edgy, to be honest, I'm done. But I will go with you if you want to go somewhere. No, I think I'm good. Yeah. All we got? Good when you're all are good. Let's go back to the stinky part of town.

Okay. All right. You guys meet up back at the Leaky Tap with the rest of your party. you have already retrieved your freshly transposed enchantment on your breastplate, and you guys gather once again in the tavern to consolidate your plans for the day. Can I pull Molly aside?

Mm-hmm. Hey, I wanted to ask you, sure. When you stopped not from rifling through my shit last night, what was she looking for? I didn't think to ask, honestly. She wasn't grabbing for anything in particular? Not that I remember.

I... Is she going through your stuff too or just mine? Oh, God, no, not my stuff. It'd be ridiculous. All right. My stuff's worthless. Just can't help herself, I guess. Well, you know, some people have needs.

That happens. Just keep an eye on your things and make sure you always know how much money's in your purse. Fair enough. All right. You guys, this point it's early at least. Is there anything you wish to do with your day? Any place you wish to go? Anybody you wish to talk to?

What do you want to do? You know, I'm a little tuckin. I'm going to take a rest upstairs, and I'm going to copy that last spell into my book. Okay. I'll see you guys a little bit, maybe around dinner time. All right, do you guys just hang around until he's ready?

I guess I can go check out one of the temples. I'm going to wander around the backside of the leaky tap. Before you leave, I ask you real quick, Bo asks you if you found any information help while you were in your journey? I didn't. Actually, I happened to ask Pumat Solz, the plural. Yeah.

Right, yeah, yeah, yeah. And he happens to be like an annex shop of the Cerberus Academy. Really? Yeah, assembly. Right, yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm with it. Yeah, so he supplies goods to all parts of the kingdom, but he says they keep like a good balance

and check from the power, the empire. keeps you tied leash. So I didn't ask about any religious uprising or anything, but he seems like such a nice guy and doesn't seem the type to rat. Right. Interesting. Yeah. Yeah, we kind of went to the fancy end of town

where I'm pretty sure just everyone is super into the crown because they are all funded by the crown and they are the crown. So I was like, ah, probably a bad place to start asking political questions. Nobody stopped you, got in all right? We did. Nice. Yeah. We went to a smut shop.

Oh, good, how'd that go? As to be expected. Smutty. Should we, what should we, what should we do? Well, I was just thinking for this evening, like, maybe we should just double check there aren't alternate exits coming in and out of that cellar. Yeah, in case it's a trap or something.

Yeah, that dwarf didn't really give me a very good feeling. Also, I mean, we know that people are looking, for these type of rebels. I mean, if we can see a board ratting people out, so can other people. We don't want to get caught in like a sting operation. For lack of a better term. You want to walk around the back to see if there's another way in?

Yeah. Okay. Can we go around the back so that we keep having, just look for back doors, floor latches? Do you guys want to make separate investigation checks, or does one you want to help the other? I'll help you make it. Okay. So you get advantage on your investigation chart. Yeah. Are you fucking serious?

Which ones did you roll? Wait, are they... That's their both threes. I rolled two threes. Both threes. Both threes. Plus. Four or so seven. Okay. You spend a while looking around the back

of the tavern, there was a back end that leads into the kitchen. It looks like there is a cellar entrance. You're not sure if it goes to the same place where you met or a separate subterranean space, but it is currently locked off chained. Locked off chained. Is this alley, is that a lot of human traffic,

or we kind of on our own? You guys are kind of on your own at the minute, at the moment. I'm trying to pick this. I mean, I have a crowbar. Oh my God. Yeah. I'm gonna stand watch in the opening of the alley. Okay.

I'm gonna, I have a crowbar. So you're just gonna go ahead and pry the chain off of it? Can I try and yeah, pop the lock? Is it like a chain and a lock? Yeah, it's a chain and a lock. It's not as good. We could get knot in here and try and pick it. Just leave it nicely, kind of looks like it's not open.

Yeah, that's true. That is what she does. Yeah. You want to go snagger? I'll keep her eyes. Yeah, yeah, I'll be right back. Okay. Not. Not.

What? I hate to interrupt your dinner. Can we borrow you for a quick second? That was bone, too. So you get lit outside, and the soft risal exterior into the alleyway, kind of feet clomping through the muddy floor. They show you to the outside of what looks to be an angled door that leads to a basement cellar that is currently chained with a lock in the center of it.

Can you pick this? Can I pick that lock? Yeah. All right, keep a look out. Don't quick look both in to the alleys and on the windows or anything. All right, he takes one in, I take the other. All right, perception check for each you guys, and go ahead and make a check with your thieves tools.

Jesus, fucking ball sacks. Okay. Mine's okay. 16. Seven again. One. It's magically enchanted. It's magically.

Ah, my eyes! Awh! Eyes! Eyes! I just cover mouth. Are my thieves tools broken? Pretty bent. Oh, that sucks. Oh, I have thieves tools. Can I try?

Give it to me. Try here. I give not my thieves tools. Okay. Which is good, because your thieves tools currently are not very good. You're down one set, so... Okay. All right, so you can try again. You don't see anybody currently heading down or near the alley at the moment. No windows. No. The windows, there are any windows in the back of the building since there are what looks to be small vents for like kitchen for smoke to filter up, but there's no windows looking out into the alley.

No rooms facing. Better. So do we add? You add your proficiency bonus and your dexterity. 21. 21. Yeah. These tools are so much better than mine.

Yeah, yeah. I stole them off of a really rich guy. The lock just comes straight off. Can I hang on to them for it? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. You can have mine. Actually, you can't. I know I'm nice to keep them.

You'll just owe me later. How about that? Sure. Yeah. So, uh. Yeah, we pull the lock off the chains, open the cellar and kind of look down. It's dark.

There's no light source in there. I have my orc. Put on the goggles. Go for it, yeah. Might as well get you said out. You head down. It is a second seller. It is not the same seller you guys have met with before.

It's not the same seller. No, it looks like this one can only be reached from the exterior. There's no entrances, no secret entrances, no trap doors. Making an investigation check. Burles, don't fuck this up this time. Come on, come on.

You have ten? You would have disadvantage on this because there is no light source? It's cocked. It's cocked. It's cocked. It's cocked. No, I've got to go to place. And he said disadvantage. Because there's no light in there.

So even though you have dark vision, it's still dim light. Well, it's... Okay. All right. What am I doing? Investigation? 11. You don't see any other passageways, no hidden doors or anything. In fact, this one's fairly empty. There's a few barrels in here, like some small crates, but it looks like a lot has either been moved out of here, either because it was recently used or it hasn't been restocked.

Any good bottles of wine or brews went around? Yeah, I'm going to sit down for just valuable shit. Yeah. You find, not a bottle of wine, but you find a couple of heavy jugs of some sort of an older ale. Okay. 23. 23? Okay. You glance around, you find a few odd copper pieces that are kind of in the dust. You do find what looks to be kind of a set of almost like metal bracelets.

They're like little... Connected to each other? No, no. They're just, they're separate. But you do see they're currently resting around what looks to be a skeletal wrist. Is a skeleton out here? Is it a human-sized skeleton? It is a human-sized skeleton. It's been here for a long time.

There's a dead, dead guy. Dead, dead guy. There's a what? Did they just not clean when they bought this place? This was some sort of a dungeon. I come down at the mention of a skeletal wrist. Are there any other bodies in this cellar? Yeah.

That's the only one you find. Do we... Hang on it. No one's around, right? Not at the moment, no. I'm gonna pull out from my adventurous kit and go ahead and light a torch. Because fuck this dark vision shit. All right, so you go ahead and get a torch situated.

It lights up, the room's brighter. No one knows we're down here, right? Doors close. Well, I'm gonna leave since we're all three down here, and I'll go back up to the top and keep an eye. Okay. Okay. Do we look, do we see anything else weird?

More dead bodies, anything like that? No more dead bodies? And even this one you find is mostly, like, it was stuffed behind some of the barrels. Can I tell how it died? You can make a medicine check. Not good. Five. No idea.

Died of a broken heart. It's just a skeleton. No clothes? There's like some elements of cloth on there, but it looks like it's been down here long enough decomposed to mostly skeletal state. So it was probably here a long time ago. And it looks like it was pressed up into this corner and barrels were pushed up against it to just kind of keep it out of sight. Oh, shit.

Okay. Nothing to see. That's really gross. Oh, it weighs in or out, huh? Yeah, and anything else I don't have the light on. I don't see anything. No. Shit.

I take one of those bottles of beers. Okay. It's somewhat cloudy when you shake it, but still full. Close the door up, run the chain back through, put the lock on it, but don't lock it. Okay. Cool. Well.

We're just gonna have to have a good chain of eyes out as we're down there tonight. Do you want to establish some sort of, like if you get in trouble, is there a way to alert us? Frumpkin? I don't know. Not really, because Caleb's gonna be down there with us. I think if we start screaming, or you hear a ruckus. If I'm with you, I can cast message and alert our friends.

See, down there I'm not so worried. It's about people coming in. Oh, well then I'll stay out and I'll I'll message you when. Let's do that. Somebody outside the leaky tap, another person on the inside to run interference in case they need to buy us a couple seconds. Can you message any of you? Any of us.

A couple layers, right. Okay. All right. Okay. Any other prep we should do? No. Okay, let's do this. All right. You still have a few hours till sundown. If you guys want to wait until the evening comes about, you can. Yeah.

Give food. I'll read some of my book. Alrighty. So as you guys rest, the evening's light eventually comes to a darkened sky. The storm slowly begins to pass. While the sky still remains somewhat cloudy, the star is not visible. It appears that the heavy water fall from the air above seems to have come to a pattern to a halt. As you prep for the tension of the evening's choices, we'll go ahead and take a break. You're back here in just a moment, guys. Hi. This is some unique excursions into the city today.

That was, I'm so happy. I remember my 12 and 13 year old excursions into the back of the comic book store into the 18 section. 18 plus, yeah. Oh man. How old are you kid? Oh, pretty old. You probably got a window.

You were 30 when you were 18. So all right, so what are we going to go? While we go to break guys, it'll be our one-word giveaway. This giveaway now is the Cherry Deckbox. Yeah. So you're just kind of a nice word style. You can look inside, you get the fancy interior for your card decks and other things you wanna hide in there.

Ooh, it smells nice too. All right, so for this giveaway, go into the Twitch chat. It has begun. Right now, the offer's only good for residents to the United States and Canada because laws, excluding Quebec, unfortunately. We're sorry, Quebec. But for the official rules, the link will be in chat.

Tonight, the keyword is unrest. U-N-R-E-S-T. So you can enter that in the chat now. Enter it once only. If you do more than once, you'll be disqualified. We'll come back with the winner here in just a few minutes. So see you guys in a minute. Welcome back, ladies and gentlemen. Yeah.

It's a sniper shot. Welcome back. So first, before we dive back in, we have our winner of the evening. It is Oreskee 14. A-R-S-E-R-E-R-E-R-E-R-E-E. Congratulations. For Risky 14, A-R-R-S-E.

A-R-E-S-K-I-14. Congratulations, we'll get that to you, AASAP. All righty. So, as you have taken the afternoon to rest within the Leaky Tap Tavern and the midnight meeting looming, what would you guys, if anything, do you want to do anything or do you want to wait

until the time transpired? Do you guys want to go anywhere? Puma told me that the Hall of Erudition is really cool and has some cool things. things in it if we wanted to check it out, or we can't go kill the gentleman. Go kill the gentleman. I don't know. Is that what we're supposed to do? Kill the gentleman. We're going to kill him right off the back. Kill him!

It feels a little premature. We don't even know who he is, yeah, right? Well, we can introduce ourselves and then kill him! You could have a whole, like, infrastructure of people supporting him, and then they would come after us. All right. I want to know who he is, though. Yeah. Super interested. who this guy is. I feel like we should deal with one thing. I'm super focused on this

current meeting. I am too, yeah. I mean we can hang out in the lobby and in this bar and I can watch every person that comes inside. They can draw their picture and know every single patron that's in here so that we have something to turn into the guards when we rat everybody out. Oh, yes. And I was thinking so if the three of us are down in the meeting. Who's going down? The three of us. If not, if you could be outside, just letting us know if any Crownsguard or other surly types look like they're coming in to raid the place, you send a message, and then you two run interference if they actually make it inside the doors, and in case we haven't made it out.

Just be distracting. Yeah, just whatever you do, buy some time. We're good at that. We can be very distracting. Last thing we want us to take the falls for these assholes, whoever they are. These knights and requital. We will hang out up here and just be weird. All right. So as you guys spend the remainder of the evening waiting for this to transpire, some patrons come in, some leave. You're reading through the book? Read the book, read the book, book, book. Oh yeah, I have the tusks love too.

You go back in front. I read it and I keep looking forward like, oh. And then go back to it. I assume it's about some sort of pork love. It is, actually. It deals with the union of a half-ork and the daughter of a traveling merchant as they meet on the Amber Road up near Druvenload, and it goes into a saucy union between the two, but they can't, because what would the parents think? What's the name of the half-ork? Uh, Oscar. Oscar. Oscar. With a K. Oscar.

What you're reading there, Jester? Nothing Oscar. No, Oscar. Don't worry about it. Oh, man. Oh, as you're reading through the book, it's interesting. It begins to talk about

the conflict between the Jewelist Dominion and the Dundalian Empire. Conflict between the Jewelis dominion? Yes. The Jewelist Dominion and the Duelan Empire. It talks about, in your uncertain, make a history check. Dwyndallian, D'Amp. That's good, that's good! 17. 17, okay. It begins to name generals and figures caught in this political conflict

in the center, but remembering back to your studies, these names don't ring a bell. You get the sense that either they're obscure or fictional for the purpose of the story. Okay. However, it does begin to speak of a a crick assassin that had snuck its way past the borders during the conflict and had attempted to take the life

of a general named Theo. Thio. Okay, snucked by Theo. Thio. Roodleys. Oh no. Oh boy. Oh no.

We're in forever. Snuck by the border and killed a general named Theo. Blamehasa Cosby's for that, I mean. Sorry. You see. The failed assassination attempt led to the capture of the assassin and during what was essentially a test of wits

between the general and this assassin. Okay, the test of wits? The dinner with Andre's style? Kind of, yeah. Well, the assassin's been captured. Removes the helmet. Removes the helmet and behind is revealed to be. The assassin removed his helmet.

The assassin's helmet is removed by the general after being caught. Okay, okay. How many you found. It's out of a me-kew of euphemism. That's the helmet's found in the graveyard. It's not very good smut. It's at least at this point.

Wait, am I writing down smut right now? Yes. Of course you are. In like size 38 font and your fucking notebook. Hang on. Are you going into like how the Theo and the assassin had a thing? Yes. We're getting there. Okay, okay. Keep going. Keep going.

I'm into it though this is important. This has to be important. He's telling it to me. Just listen, just listen. Just listen. The assassin was revealed to be from the Kryn Empire of Jorjas with dark blue-purple skin, gray-white hair, and pointed ears of elvish lineage at scenes.

Okay. No, leave it alone. Stop. He's a dark health, right? Or a drowl? She is. It's a female, a female dark elf. Yes.

The armor, which is described to be chitinous and almost organic and is designed, though metal, you learn a little bit, and it goes into a discussion of the term crick. The term crick is actually kind of a slur against the people that come from the Jorhasian side of Wildmount. It's short for cricket, and it's because,

Supposedly, when the Crinn armies charge into battle, there are designed holes and tubes in the armor that it sounds like a flock of crickets rushing into battle. Sick. That's cool. It's meant as an intimidation tactic. It's like this kind of high-pitched screaming cricket chirp that just rushes in. And so that's where the term crick comes from.

But it is used in a derogatory fashion towards individuals that live within the Empire of Jorhas and Crin. But the book begins to talk about them kind of dueling wits and finding common ground and getting angry at each other and murderous, and then it turns into this like toward love affair and this very kind of Anthony Cleopatra kind of feel to it. But it's very dry. It's an older book. And it doesn't match some of the imaginatory flare of some of the other smut that you would briefly peruse as you were walking in the bookstore earlier. But it, but you glean a little bit of

information, should this be accurate at all, of kind of some of the relationships dynamics of the Empire and the Jorhasian folk that live beyond the border. Would I be able to discern where the assassin entered into the city? Like would, like in time? It doesn't go into, it's not a detailed historical book that like... It's not like by the third lamp post. Remove this brick. Okay.

Cool, cool, cool, cool. There we go. This book sucks. How far in are you? Halfway, maybe. How long have you been working on that? Couple hours. All right.

As the evening clocks in close to midnight, and the majority of the patrons begin to dwindle and scatter into the night air, you watch as Ula. enters quietly, kind of gives a nod of knowing towards the two of you, and then on his own steps down into the cellar. About ten minutes or so later, you watch as Kara, the half-elf girl you had met before, enters, kind of gives you a glance, but doesn't acknowledge anything, orders a drink, leans against the wall, and then eventually disappears down into

the cellar as well. Later on, you watch as Dolan, the human you had spoke with, that seemed to be at least the one spearheading the meeting before enters with another human male. They both kind of look back and forth, kind of knowledge of you guys, and the two of them eventually splinter off to different sides of the room, waiting one and a few minutes later, the other down into the cellar area. You'll be recognized the other human male that he's with? No. Does he seem to be armed or shady or have lots of scars on his person?

Make a perception check. 13. Hard to tell at this distance. You didn't see any very visible or apparent scars or anything that gave you a sense of shiftingness other than just the careful demeanor. But it didn't look to be a face of like a rugged soldier by any means. Like an undercover cop trying to blend in. How are his shoes? Make an insight check.

How are his shoes? It's like nice loafers, where they kind of? 20. Seems nervous, but not in a way that triggers your spider scent, so to speak. Are you guys still up top? Yeah. Okay, I'm going to go over to Ford and just say. You said that one of the members of their group is named Dolan? That's right, yeah.

That's right, yeah. If it comes up, no big, just can you find out that guy's last name? Dolan's last name? Yeah. Sure, any reason why? I know a guy named Dolan Tversky. Diversky? I don't really name Tversky, Tversky, I don't know, it doesn't really mean, I don't know, I've heard a...

Just find out his last name. Sure. Is this guy from where you're from or something, old, old Madyers? No. No, no. I just have something of his. Dabersky? Yeah. Would he know you if I was like, hey, a friend of ours in his name not? Nope, nope, would not know me.

Inside check. Watching miss? Natural 20. 16. 16 total? Mm-hmm. You get no bead on the wild words that are coming out of her mouth. What are, no, never mind.

Yeah, I'll find out his last name. I'm sure he won't. I'll be up here and if I see anything suspicious I'm going to message you. That's right. For now? Grounds guard, rough looking types, people that are armed, right? Don't worry. I'll keep a fucking swim. I'll keep an eye out and I'll be in disguise. And I'm going to cast disguise self on myself, turning myself into a halfling with red hair, green eyes, a hawkish nose overalls. Fitting on top. Two big shoes. It's your best. This guy's yet.

Not? Oh, I'm sorry. I forgot it was you for a moment. Call me a code name. Oh, Tahn. Tahn. You speak. Yes. That's, yeah. No. Tahn.

Tond. Yeah. All right. T'an. My second Tia, silent. I'm going to go outside and just sort of stand at the front door. Okay. Should we be outside too, or should we stay inside?

You're supposed to stay inside. If I see anyone coming, you distract them, keep them. How will we know if you see anyone coming? I will tell you with my message spell. Okay, you'll message us and then you'll message down. I don't know. I don't use it a lot. If you do it twice? I think I can do it twice.

I can do it twice. Well, that'll work then. Then we'll just hang out in here and have some fun. Oh, yes. All right. You ready? Yeah, let's do this. Let's see what they want to do.

Okay. All righty, so who all's going down? Yeah. It's you three. Table one. These three jackasses. All right. So you guys keep watch.

Mm-hmm. Yes. As you descend into the cellar below, you can see there's a table already set up with a few chairs around. There are two oil lamps that are turned low, and the four figures that you saw enter are all sitting around, kind of waiting.

As you begin to descend, they kind of give a knowing nod and, you know, a gesture towards, please take a seat. Is it just the four of them? Just the four of them. Okay. Okay. Yeah, I'll take a seat. Yeah, we sit. It's polite.

Mm-hmm. Right. As you enter, the moment, Dolan, the one who was kind of leading before, kind of sits up and goes, I'm, I'm sorry. What, um... Oh, and with my friends here, they have shared a bit of what has gone on here, and I'm sympathetic. We haven't said too much, but we thought that he might be somebody you'd be interested in. Very clever. Has no love for the empire. Valuable asset. Go with things.

Thought we could let you decide for yourself. Right. I kind of look to each other. Have a seat. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Caleb, this is Dolan. Dolan, this is Caleb. Dolan, do you have a last name? They kind of glance about. Dolan Thrym. Thrym. Thrym.

This is Horace Thryme, my partner. And the man you saw enter earlier. Human mail. Yeah. You know Kara and Ulog. This is, what was your name again you said? Hi, Caleb. Caleb. Thank you very much for meeting us. It's just the four of them? It's just the four of them. So, Ulog has been, and please take no offense,

we're just very careful, keeping a very close eye on your activities since we last met. A bit of a scare as you entered the King's Hall, but I've heard that you've done a bit of business, unrelated. So he speaks to your skill and we may have, he kind of looks nervously over. And Horace leans forward and goes, we've put two months into planning something. And it requires certain skill sets. Ulog, if you'd like to elaborate on this. And the dwarf leans forward, kind of pulls on the lanterns closer, so all your faces brighten up just a bit. And turn

the wake up a bit. So we've intercepted some documents to Lord Sutton, one of the pretty faces and money grabbers over there in the Tri Spire, very politically connected. Apparently he's been doing some business with the low life who's known in the more Crown Bay circles as one of those arrest on site types. So, we believe this individual might be involved with the mere head.

We tried to bring this information to the law master, Oryndia, as she is a friend of Dolan's. However, we were intercepted by the High Richter Prusine. She's about as corrupt as you get in the structure here in the Dash. She intercepted it so that she delivered the information. I've heard nothing since, and a couple of our members have been closely watched by the Crown's Guard ever since.

So you believe the High Richter might be in on it. We've decided if we can somehow turn Lord Sutan against the High Richter and then expose them to the Lawmaster. They're either be arrested or out. or ousted from their positions, which one would be a victory for those who don't want to live under the clause of corruption

in this city, and two, vacates the position of High Richter. And while Horace's practice may have been irrevocably damaged in the public eye, Dolan is a respected member of the society here, the locals at least. And we believe that if not the High Richter perhaps another position as well as things shift. And it would behoove us,

and all puts his hand up, it says, it would be helpful to have at least one of us with an ear on the bead of the inner circle of how law is distributed within Zedash. And while it's not my bailiwick, people seem to trust me. I think it's the most important thing when taking an office.

So we've outlined a means of the means of doing so, and this is where we may need you help. Looks over to Kara and the half-off kind of leans forward. All right then, so the current plan is to infiltrate the Lord Suu Tsunan's estate in the tri-spire. Steal a copy of his wax seal and his handwriting. After we forge a letter of correspondence to this unsavory individual who he was speaking to in this letter,

We make a new one that writes About an assassination of the High Richter Sealed and signed by the Lord Sutton Then we infiltrate the home of the High Richter Tear apart her living space Looked like it's been tousled and tossed Like someone was seeking her While she's out for the night

At a local ball which she'll be one night from here Before she returns to find her place destroyed, we take this letter that we found and left it hidden within her room. She finds the letter, brings it to the law master. And at this point, Ulaug, pipes in real fast and goes, Sorry, misunderstood.

She doesn't get the letter. We deliver ourselves to the law master. Don't trust her to take it. I suck. This is like us plan. You get the sense that they're not the most organized or experienced at this, but they're trying their hand at doing something that changes.

Hopefully the status quo they're used to. So we deliver the letter to the High Richter or the Lawmaster. I prefer the High Richter in front of the Lawmaster. If we can get the two in the same room, so there's no escape. We see her anger infused. then they begin to create turmoil. Then we expose them both, had them dropped or arrested,

leaving the vacant spot and they're out. Well, I just have one question. This Lord Sutan? Yeah, what should just keep the High Rector and the law master from just going and snatching him up and putting him in chains? Wait, from who in Donnottentz? I'm sorry, we'd write that?

Yeah, well, I mean, we're gonna forge this letter from Lord Sutan, right? Saying that there's an assassination, an assassination attempt against the Richter. We go to the Richter's place, we tossle it, and then we deliver a letter from Sutton saying there was an attempt on the Richter's life. So if I was the Richter and I went to the lawmaster,

I'd just go disappear Lord Sutan. Your Richter will stay in his seat, and you'll be short one lord if I'm not mistaken. Especially considering you said the Richter was already pretty corrupted. Seems like assassination attempts in reverse wouldn't be out of her. What do you suggest then?

Here's my question to Dolan. Why do you want, or Horace wants to be in the office? No, Dolan is to be elevated. Doran is kind of taking a back seat. Horace, if you don't mind me asking, what was your practice? I was a physician. As well. We had a practice together. One of us had a practice together.

the fall, and I accepted it myself. Dolan couldn't. Dolan has too much at stake. So Dolan, what makes you think that you can beat the system that you would then be joining? Well, the system's too big for us to de-construct from the outside. At the very least, I could hope to improve it from the inside.

I know the law master is a good woman. They're all good people in there. But if we can root out the cancers, the tumors that threaten to make it, what it is and what it could become, that's something. We have to try. I'm not shy of a conscience. I'm afraid I would need to know a little bit more about this High Richter, Hussein. Hopefully he's a terrible individual. She. She. And yes. She has been responsible, and Oolag at this point, kind of, you see his fingers gritting into the table.

She's the one who put my wife in that blasted prison. I remember you saying that. Yeah, sorry about that. I mean, I hate to say anything else without seeing something for ourselves, but you seem to have a good plan for getting rid of Sutton, but it seems you might need some further measures to get rid of this Richter as well. We've been discussing that if you have any suggestions, please. You could do a lot with a seal from a lord. A lot more than claiming an assassination attempt.

Just thrown it out there. Like? Literally anything else. Do you feel like the empire is or the lawmaster is on to your group, your knights of requital? They know your name. Yeah, you have already mentioned that some of your people were followed and eyed. They've, they don't, to my knowledge, know of the group. Just some of the individuals.

Which one specifically? Well, there's Thamund, but he's left and has not gone with a meeting since he's started to be followed. He was the one who delivered the letter to the High Richter. It was mainly just nothing directly related to our meetings and more just the delivery of our intercepted letter. I have a proposal for you. Are you 100% sure that they haven't heard of your name? Knights of Requital. And how attached are you to that name? Not. It just kind of, it wasn't something we chose. It just kind of emerged from our meetings.

It seems to me if you ever want someone to stop looking for something, well, they'll just stop as soon as they know that thing is gone or dead. So how about we frame High Richter Prusine as the head of this Knights of Requital and let the law handle it the way they will. And we'll take care of Lord Soutin at the same time. They all kind of look at each other, Back. There's a little bit of a smile curls across Horace's face. He kind of nods. I think this is a pretty sound step in the right direction.

I hate to do away with a great name, but you work with what you have. Yeah, I mean, can workshop it. It's all right. You can workshop it. There's always more names. So then do we leave evidence of correspondence in the home? of the High Richter then. Do you have any secret symbols or stamps or seals

that you use for communication that we could plant in the house or the place of dwelling of the High Richter? A ring, piece of jewelry. No, we've been very careful not to do that, but we could fabricate some. There was also the notice on the King's Hall. The King's Hall. The King's Hall.

Looking for y'all. I don't know if you knew that, by the way. I imagine a notice. in one of these people's houses might mean that they have concern of being found. And if we frame this the right way, sure would do a lot for your ambitions to become that High Richter, Dolan, if you were the ones to turn in the evidence. Could win twice. Dolan pipes up.

I'm worried about turning in evidence because there's nothing that could connect it to the spot. However, if we could plan to evidence in the estate of the High Ricker's up, in the estate of the High Richter and convinced the lawmaster. I believe if we speak to her, she would at least do an investigation. And they find this evidence in the home, in the right place.

That could be enough. I think it would be. Now, what's to say? Because the law master works under the High Richter, right? The law master works above the High Richter. Yeah. Then yeah. This'll work.

Yeah. Hmm. You're up. As you look how Oolog has pulled off the cork of it looks to be a small bottle of ale that is just kind of been sitting there for a while and kind of begins to drink. Is I have Kara, Kara? Kara, Kara, I think it's Carl. Kara. I like the enthusiasm you had about your plan. What sort of skills could you bring to this equation? Are you stealthy, sneaky? Honestly, more of a thinker. Ulog, however, She points to the dwarf again, and this finished drink, he goes, I used to run with some pretty, uh, shifty lot. I've done a bit of burglary in my past.

I like that. Tell us about this myriad a little bit. What is it exactly that you guys are so nervous about with these people? We're not nervous about the myriad, other than the fact that the myriad's a bunch of fuckheads that steal and slave and just push all sorts of unsavory business. They're kind of the mirror side to the bullshit the empire does.

Right. So for all that, we want to make sure that if we can connect any of them to the myriad, and Lord Tutant is definitely connected to birds, one stone. But then we have to plant evidence in two. That can be done. Yeah. We have other associates upstairs.

Well, you didn't want to encroach too much on your space. We'd like time to confer with them over the night and perhaps meet again that, well, midday tomorrow. We should find a new spot though. Repetition is a recipe for disaster. Dolan kind of sits back. It's a good point. Any recommendations?

We're actually quite new. Maybe you could provide one. Thanks for a moment through his paperwork. Just consult your paperwork. I want me to collect my additional notes. Shut up. Shut up. Thanks, pal.

How about the song in Supper Inn? Song at Supper In. It's on the west side of Venushead Sprawl. How far from here? How much time to travel? Not far. Maybe about 40 minutes on foot. Fair enough. Shall we call it just afternoon tomorrow? Yeah. What name should we be looking to? for. They all look at each other and Carl leans for and goes, let's say, the inquiry.

The inquiry. It's got a nice ring to it. Thank you. I appreciate that. Well, thank you for trust in us. I believe we can make quite the impact with these movements. Dolan kind of nods and smiles and looks to Horace, looks to the other two. Thank you. We've been needing more than just angry voices of half-enthused common folk. People of action are hard to find that seem to have a trusted heart. I'll give you one piece of advice, Dolan, though. I would challenge you to think about this for the night and think real long and hard. If you're willing jump into the ring, some pretty high-ranking asshole gladiators. Probably be willing to take a few licks. Shut up.

That's old gladiator. You're taking a few weeks. I was trying to go like, you know, make sure, you know, before you jump in the ring with Muhammad Ali, but Muhammad Ali isn't here. You got to look those gladiator asses up. Dolan's stare goes a little distant as he tries to fully comprehend the gravity of your statement before the

slowly nodding. You see Ford and shift his weight. Just, you know, make sure you know what you're getting into. Make sure you know what you're getting into. I will. Powerful people. I will take that into consideration. Very powerful tricks.

It's all. I appreciate that. And you, I guess as we begin to put this together, what are your specialties? Oh, you know I dabble a bit in the arcane. Nothing too impressive, but a little more than nothing. Good. Good. Very well then. Tomorrow afternoon, the song and supper. Would you like to exit first, or should we?

Oolong kind of leans forward a bit, and goes, after you. Much obliged. Make perception check? 17. 17. No strange behavior. That doesn't seem to be any business or activity towards the back or the alley. Nothing that catches your eye to be suspicious or encroaching a point. the meeting below. A lot louder than I thought it'd be. Thank you, no. You can reply to this message. Thank you for keeping an eye of. Would you like to join us inside?

I can't reply. Would you like to join? Hello? Hello? Yes. Yes! You can reply to this message. All right, you all regather.

in the center of the Lakey Tap Tavern. So you come from being touched by some sort of primordial chaos magic, something powerful, something strange, something creative and bizarre. Whoa. You've recently had everything turned upside down, lost, and have started a new path. Yeah. The path you're walking is not the one you're expecting, is not the one you're going to find. It's true, but you are walking towards some destiny.

Does it say which one? Just not the one that you're expecting. This is weird. I only did three cards. These are really, really, really good. Thank you. I mean, that's a good fortune. Hello, strangers.

Give a booger on the tip of your nose. Oh, I'm just a traveling halfling. Oh, I just told a random person they had the booger on the tip of their nose. Yeah, I'm just a random person. To be fair, you would tell a random person they have a bugger on the other nose. You're a random person with a really familiar voice though. You need to talk to Ford and see if you can figure out how to sound different.

All right, alright. Thanks for keeping an eye out. How'd it go? It's crazy. Yeah. You were down there a really long time. What is the benefit for us? Well, so my takeaway is that they want to unseat some of the corrupted seats of power here in the city.

Yeah. If that's true, if there is an abuse of power, I'm all for removing those corrupted seats and putting people worth in their place. But I also am not keen on taking the word of someone else without getting some evidence of our own. I agree. Who knows we can't be replacing someone corrupt with someone even worse? Indeed. We should follow one of them. Yeah, I mean we don't know anything about this Dolan or this horse's motives or their agenda. We don't. And while we're following them, perhaps we should try and find out what we can about this.

Lean in closer. Closer. This high Richter Prusie. Have the Ritinus? Have the room downstairs already left? I have Marinole. At this point you do see Ulaug make his way up and just kind of take a different table at the far corner, and then slowly, over the next 15 or so minutes, the other three exit the building. I'm gonna follow him.

Should we go now? Should we go? I'm going. Well, thank you. Let's say thanks. Oh, thank you. Nice and fronken out to her. I was gonna see as long as we have fronking on.

Make a stealth check, please. It's like a dry skin. You got it, you got it, you got it. Thanks. I couldn't see it. Stemdle roll. With a manage. Ctrol?

Yes. Okay, not good. Worse. 18. Okay. Oh. Amazing. Okay.

Which one are you following? There's the half-off girl. Do I know any of their names? Two human men and then there is the dwarf man. We would have told you the two humans. Two humans. Are they traveling together? Yeah.

Okay. All right. So you follow them for the next 20 or so minutes before they come to a modest home. Looks like a little bit of disrepair, especially in the recent storm. Looks like part of the roof is kind of sinking inward a little bit. They enter, close and lock the door behind them. You kind of glance through the window and you watch as they kind of have a heated conversation back and forth. If you want to listen to make perception check.

Sure. I am also watching and I have a hand on both shoulders. Nine. Nine. Nine. It's going to go over there. It's forever. Yeah, no, it should be every time. Yeah. Let's just get into it. Right. House rule.

Yeah. So yeah. It's hard to hear. It's muffled. The walls thick. It's not argument more than just a lot of passionate conversation back and forth. Some aggressive counterpoints to some sort of the conversation. Until eventually they both settled down with a bottle of line and you kind of glance at the window and you can see the one with the blonde hair is just,

sobbing into his arms at a table. This is a man? Yeah, they're both men. And the other one kind of has his arm around the other and just kind of, kind of consoles him. This episode is brought to you by Netflix's remarkably bright creatures. What if a Pacific octopus held the key to a mystery that could heal your heart? Well, that's Tova's reality. An elderly widow working at an aquarium.

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Book direct at sourcehiltails.com. It's in looking inside, you can see there are a lot of books across the wall. It looks like there are some, and you can recognize there's some alchemical vials, or the things that similar type glass containers that can be utilized for that. Some dried roots and stuff that are not coming up on the wall.

A lot of them appear even medicinal in nature. But after about 20 minutes or so of watching this, nothing strange comes to your eye more than it just seems like to people winding down after a stressful day. Were any of those books of an arcane nature, because I am also looking? I mean, make a perception rule for Frumkin. But I'm looking. Basically, it looks like pennywise, like a teeny pennywise, speaking through their... Yeah, yeah, just as a clown.

Oh my God, it does! Yeah. Just a neat, just a night. Yeah, it's too hard to see from the outside. You can barely tell there are books there. And the very, very low light there is in the inside, you can't make out any details. Okay. It's a single-level house.

Single-level house. Nothing fancy about it? It looks like it might be two rooms. No, it's not quite like impoverished, but it's not... Any papers, any weapons visible? Visible? You do see what looks to be a heavy crook of some kind or like a staff with a big kind of a heavy wooden knot at the end that can be used to defend oneself or as a walking stick You see what looks to be a shillaley, a shillaley if you will

You can see it looks to be a general short sword that has put it on a belt that has hung on the wall, but nothing in there that appears to be like militarized or Okay, all right I can I guess that's all I can glean from this. I'll knock on the door. All right. And then run away before they go. Immediately in the inside, you hear some rustling

and all the lights in the inside go out and it goes dark. You just run away. They're scared. Actually, that was pretty cool. You learn a lot. You learn something. All right, I'll go back and report to my friends. Okay.

And that's what I saw, Caleb. And the others of you who are not my friends, I'll also tell. Just kidding, guys, I love you. You can drop that. This is who I am now. Sure, I'm sure it's run out by now. Well, last for an hour, it's probably run out by now.

Probably. I know we also need. I want some eyes on this, Hi Richter. I agree. We should find out where she lives and how she treats people. See if the stories are true. Maybe tomorrow morning we can go spy on her house. Yeah, maybe we could even split a team.

Some people go a spy on the house. Some people maybe go to the stockade, talk to the people she's locked up. True. We might need to find out where she lives tonight, though. Let's go. Let's go. Let's go. Well, is we log still sent in at the other table?

At this point, he's probably left. Because it's been for an hour since he returned. It's hard to find that out without seeming kind of suspicious, isn't it? No, the High Richter is just an official. No, but isn't it weird to go, where does the High Richter live? Not if you have official business with the Richter. Oh, okay. At this hour? It's a very urgent business.

We could find out how the High Richter treats people by posing as people in need. Exactly what I was going to suggest. Interesting. Let's disguise ourselves. Well, we don't need to, Kayle. As clouds? Yeah. I'm sorry, I did not catch all of the meeting that you went to. the other night, is they, are they paying anything?

Are we doing this for altruistic reasons? That is a very good question. I second that question. I don't do anything for altruistic reasons. I've never done anything for free in my entire life. Has anything been discussed in advance? It's all I'm asking. Well, if this plan gets pulled off and we help Dolan

get in that seat of the High Richter, then we'd suddenly have friends in high places. And I love an owed favor. Yeah, to answer Caleb's question. We kind of forgot to discuss that part. You did? Yeah. I got that, yeah. We're new at this.

We will address that tomorrow for sure before we proceed any further. You're right, there should be compensation. Do you want the rest of us to go tomorrow or do we still need to be lookout? No, I think we should all go. They should get a look at us as a whole, see who they're dealing with,

just in case there's any shady shit. Should we look like ourselves or other people? What would you like to look like? I don't care. It's at your discretion. I'll decide on the day. Anybody feel like finding out where this high Richter lives this evening, do you crap? Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Let's do it. How do we do that? I don't know. Maybe we can ask the owner of here. Yeah. That's a great idea. Let's start there, why not? Gestory.

Yes. Charmin, ask. Okay, I'm going to go ask. I'm going to go ask. Claudia. Claudia. All right, it is about 1. 1.30 in the morning, though. Oh, it's already that way.

You guys met around midnight. So you can go try and wake up, Playa, if you like. Claudia's not awake. Not at the moment now. What about that big white dragon board? Maybe he knows. Maybe the bar keep? Yeah, maybe the bar. Wessek is there.

Wesick is just kind of sitting back. It's very slow night. Yes. Hey Wessek. Hey Wessek. Hello, little blue girl. What can I do for you? How's it going to go?

I'm going with you, it's really late. It is very late. I'm sort of wondering what you're bothering me with. It's like, I'm curious. Well, I just remember that I was supposed to deliver a personal message to the High Richter and I can't remember where they live. Do you know?

Sorry, I don't. Do you know what area of town it would be in? I couldn't tell you. I read this pretty high up there. It's probably like the tribe. Spires or something. It's most likely, or at least somewhere where it's official. Smart case.

Okay, that was a fun conversation. Goodbye. Goodbye. Is the pilate roves still open? The pettrov is in, of course it's open. Could try and ask there. Yeah. Get again would be a little tricky.

You'd have to get by the guards. It's one in the morning. Yeah. Perhaps we should rest tonight and plan this little needy folk charade in the morning. Okay. We can always take the sewers into the trisbire. That's what I was thinking.

We totally can. Yeah. What did you say? I said we totally can do that. Oh, totally. You mentioned you tried to get into the tris fires and you had a disguise on in it. I did not have a, oh yeah, yeah.

There are some sort of wards on the gates there. It's something I've done a hundred times in small towns. I tried to disguise myself and there was nothing there. They saw right through it and they were dicks about it. Do you think it was just in that passageway or do you think it's the entire trispyre area? I feel like that would be a really big enchantment

to be the entire trisperer. It is not the entire trisphire because I cased, no, not, because not, it is not. I cased the smut shop. I looked for arcane things there and did not work. But I was able to use my abilities, so. And that'll be it. We use the sewers to get in, disguise ourselves, avoid detection,

find out what we need to know. Okay. I can work with this plan. Yeah. All right. I like it. Shall we retire for the night? Yes. I'll head up to my room first, and I'll pull Molly up with me,

because I need to have a word with them. All righty. Molly, listen, I can't get over the fact that Nott was going through my stuff. I want to set a little bit of a trap. You want to set some sort of trap or an example for us. I just want to see if she's, you know, learned her less or not. Sure. Yeah, so I'm going to put an object in the middle of the room with our door open.

We're going to hide out of sight. You game? This seems a little unfair. Sure. Great. Right. I'll use minor illusion to put in the middle of the room a bundle of buttons with a tall, shiny, flask covering jewels right in the middle of the room. All right.

If we want to put down some ball bearings, I've got a big bag of them. I mean, I guess so once she's in, we're going to shut the door. I just want to figure out what the fuck she's sneaking around for. That'll do. Okay. All right, so with you guys going, yeah. Stealth check for both of you? 16.

Uh, 11. You have a passive perception of... Like 12 or something. Right? Where is it? Where is it? No, a past perception of... Ten. Ten.

Oh, really? All right. Oh my god, I'm gonna. All right, so as you all go to bed, what are you doing? Sleeping. All right, you guys go to sleep. Wait, I knock on Jester and Bologard's door. What is it that you want knocking on our door so late at night, Caleb?

You've been reading too much light. Too much light. No more Oscar for you. Yeah. What is it, Kayla? I brought my sauce. She's um. You are turning in?

Should I not? No, by all means, but I've changed my mind. I feel guilty for just discarding the book that you purchased for me, and I was wondering if I could read it tonight, but only if you're going to bed. Yeah, see what you can find. I haven't finished it?

I haven't finished it. A little over halfway. Okay. I'm going to read it before bed. It will take me about an hour. Good night. I think he was bragging at you. Good night, Caleb.

I'll give it to him, it's fine. He needs a little self-confidence, a little encouragement. You go reading. Not what you're doing? I feel the urge to go sneak into a room. It's just an open door with a bunch of buttons that are locked. Oh, I'll just push it open and look inside.

What do I see? It's empty, it's dark, except for you see a, actually make a, for, let me tell you. Check one thing on this, just to see how this works in this circumstance. A lot of great shirts in the store. Great shirts. Make an investigation check. Our tarot cards are back in stock. What is this? What is this role?

That is majorly cocked. Okay, good. Ooh. Oh, he should have taken the cocked. Seven. I couldn't even see what I would have. All right. And there you see a shining bag of, looks like glittering coin and what looks to be buttons.

like spilling out of the top of the small satch. Why would this even be? And a flask on top? Yeah. Do I see Ford's belongings over near his bed? Yes, you do. I'm going over there. As soon as she comes in the door, the door slam shut.

Molly, get the window. Right. Oh! I draw my hand, crossbow. Not? Are you an imposter? Not. No, no.

We are going to have a talk. Don't try any funny. business, why are you trying to sneak through our stuff? I was, I would never do that to a friend. Molly told me, Molly told me you were in here rifling through my stuff. I was hungry. There's a definite explanation for this. What were you looking for? Seafood. You must have some on you.

You're of the sea, I love shrimp, and I never get a chance to get any so, so, we're so, we're so landlocked in here, I love the taste of the sea. Do I believe her? You can go ahead and make an insight check. Natural 20. I was not looking for shrimp. Not dear. Why don't you tell the nice man the truth?

Devil's tongue. What does that? What is that deal? What is that? I need you to make a wisdom savings row. That's why I brought you with you. Wisdom. 10.

You are charmed by mong- What does that mean? Charmed. That means you're very friendly and amiable and take his advice and suggestions like a very dear friend. Yeah. I'll probably just tell him what you were really looking for.

I was looking for your letter to the Solstress Academy. My letter? But not. Why? What for? That's fine. No one's in trouble. I want to give it to Caleb. Well, why? What would Caleb do with it? What you would do with it?

Study, learn magic, become more powerful. But you wouldn't want me to have that sort of ability. You'd rather Caleb have it. I don't know a lot about magic, but I know he's. has the potential to be very powerful. You do. And I need him to be. Why not?

Why do you need him to be powerful? So he can save me. I mean, we can help save you. That's what friends do. Any of us who get more powerful can help you. Not. What do you need to be saved from? So much.

So much. But mainly, there's a lot of dangers in the world and a lot of dangers for me. And especially, the closer we get to the north, I think they don't like me up there. You can protect me. I think we can all do that. Absolutely.

No. No. Not, I hope you'll learn to trust us and rely on us like you do, Caleb. We may not be as powerful as he is or has the ability to become, but certainly we can help you. Are you worried about something

or someone in particular finding you? Maybe, yes. There's a few people that I'm worried about. But no one's specific where we're going. I just know that people are always trying to get me. And I will, I just wish, I, I need him to, I need his magic, I need his magic to be there for me when I, when I need safety.

I need him, I need him to live. I understand. I'm sorry if we've upset you. No, you're cool for some reason right now. Yeah, we're all friends. Not for some reason, I'm just cool in general, not. I'm just cool in general not. So cool. That shit is amazing.

Snock from the last. You didn't know that. It's not going to last. Just for now. Well, enjoy while you have it. Promise me that you will not go through my things anymore when I'm not around, that the items that I have belong to me. Would you give me the letter?

I could change your name on it to his name, and then he could use it to get into the school, and he could learn more powerful magic, and then he could change me. Change you? He could change this. I understand. I know what it feels like to be ashamed

or worried about what you look like. I do. But you're pretty handsome, you know, for like a half-monster thing. I think Jester likes you. Think so? Yeah. Well, I didn't always look like this.

What? I wasn't always a handsome half-monster thing. What did you used to be? A kid, just like anyone else. Still a monster thing though? Yeah. Oh. Just a less handsome one.

Yeah. Stumpy, short, big teeth. Were you a fat kid? A little bit. Just sort of misproportionate. Listen, if we get to the- Pictures or? If my MySpace is still up, you can see.

Goes back a tick. Did you ever have braces or anything? No, I did my own dental work. Listen, if we get to the Sultris Academy and that letter doesn't do me any good, I promise you could have it and we'll make sure Caleb has a shot. And will you promise to keep Caleb alive?

Most definitely. I'm gonna try and keep both of you alive. All right. You look out for us. We'll look out for you. Can I ask you one favor? You cannot have my stuff. All right. Never mind.

And remember, no. Next time you try and do this, and if that letter goes missing again, I can do this to you again. I can do this to you again. I give her just enough of a knock on the head to break this bell. Okay, easy, easy, easy. Open the door.

I open the door and I slowly open up. Like trying to get and funnel a rat out of the room. Just like, here you go, here you go. Remember what we're talking about. Reach for the flask. Fuck. There you go. I stick my foot out right when you're on.

Oh man, making an acrobatics check. You should be fine. A grammatics check? 12. 12? That's enough. Yeah. As you're darting through, you see the foot,

and you just kind of leap, tumble, roll, and make your way into the hallway and escape back to your chambers. Man, that was more than I thought. That was very interesting. Oh. What do you make all that? I don't know. People are strange.

Anyone who looks like us, you know, I can collect a few interesting enemies on the way. Yeah. Even at her age. Are you praying over your swords tonight? Of course, every night. Can I join you? Sure. Right. Come on, I'm just putting up the thread.

Come to bed. Come to bed. Do you trust Ford and Molly? No. No, I don't. Me neither. All right. That's so great. It's the most beautiful story, Bo.

Can we go to sleep now? Yeah. You guys. I'll eventually find yourselves to rest for the evening. Awaking in the early morning. The chilled morning air comes through. The sky still mostly gray with patches of blue that poke through. No rain. Still chilled. There's a bit of fog burning off at the time you awaken and look out your room's window.

The morning is yours. What are you wish to do? I go to Jester and Power Guard's room and say, Good morning, sleepy heads. And I just leave the book leaning against the door. Go on back. Kill him one night. Doing. All right.

The rest of you gather. Yep. Downstairs. You have your morning breakfast. Did you find anything good in this? Anything drop out of you? Did I find anything good, isn't it? More just reinforcing.

more of what was there. A lot of it seems to, because a lot of the information about Zherasian society is still largely unknown or uncataloged, you get the sense the more you read and the more the perspectives of this assassins left across the way,

you're uncertain as to how accurate any of it is, but it talks of like a torturous society of bloodshed and bloodshed beasts, kind of a, oh my god, eyelash, that's great. Oh, dear. Oh, that's the worst. There we go. Okay, we're good. Talking of this terrible life of just endless wastes of carnivorous and cannibalistic creatures,

and that the Crick Nation being this terrible place of perpetual inner turmoil and vying for the next position of power over the each that the assassin who falls in this relationship falls into it as a perspective of being saved, of being taken from this terrible place and brought into the good graces of this general and brought into the comforting realm of the empire. However, upon being discovered, ends up being captured,

tried, and killed. And the last part of the book deals with kind of the general going through his own grief in the process, but also understanding it never could be, and was probably for the best. You're kind of left for the unsatisfied kind of feeling at the end of it all. Would you call it, blue balls feeling?

You know, there was a lot more historical fiction than actual pornographic content, I was surprised. Yeah, it doesn't really ultimately matter, but I feel like that was kind of like a toxic relationship. You know, I didn't really feel like I feel like the assassin and Theo should have invited. I mean, he kind of led to her death. And it kind of sucks.

Feels like it's weighing on you. It's amazing what the good book can do and gets its grip into you. Are we a book club now? Morning, Knott. Yeah, morning. What's wrong? Did you guys get into a fight?

Not is just upset because she was trying to do a little reading last night as well. Did you get a book? Not exactly. Here not. You can read this now. Which is this one? That's the Tusk Love. All right.

All right, so we set on our plan, sewers, make ourselves look like poor folk, make our way into the trisbire. Not poor folk, rich folk. Oh wait, no, but we're seeking help of the rector. It doesn't matter. We can't be poor folk. in the Tri-Spire. We have to be rich folk that need help from the Richter. Okay, that's fine. Yeah, because if we come out looking like rats, then out we will go. Upper middle class, lower middle class. Upper middle.

Very high middle, if not low, upper. And we're a family that is down on our luck. Like a warm pink center. What's our cover story? What's the ruse here? We need help from the government because bandits have taken over our house? Do we know what the rickers normally? Yes. How about we have a trading comment? How about some of our wares got stolen

on the road on the way to Zedash? By a group of bandits. Ooh, we know things. Why don't we pose as like Trostinwildwold brewers or something? And our brew shipment got, I'm spitballing, got stolen by someone, and we, We need help getting it back.

Do we know what the High Richter's normally rule on or govern? I was going to ask if the two Empire kids know about that position. You know the High Richter is kind of the associate judge to the law master. The law master oversees very high profile judgments, and then anything that falls kind of below anything that is, you know, very high profile. Sirga judge. Yeah, Sir Good Judge. It's kind of what the High Richter is.

And things go through the High Richter first before they go to the Lawmasters. They're kind of the, they gauge what is important enough for the law masters. and what remains in their circle, which is why you can see kind of the frustration with anything that they tried to bring forth that may have been incriminating to an ally of the High Richter could be easily caught in that net and not brought upward.

I have this inventory sheet that I got from the bomb box. We could use this as claims that it got stolen. And hope for reimbursement. Stolen by someone in the government? Or stolen by the bomb box? I mean, if we do something, that a family within the Tri-Spyre needed representation, right? The law upheld, but the Richter turned an eye

because a more powerful family was winning out than that person's the shit. Because this is like an invoice, it's like an order invoice that I have, right? Could be proof? The order ledger or you mean the letter from? No, the order ledger. From the brewery that we took in Section Zerox.

Right, you're not talking about the letter from Bombach, from the gentleman from the right. But in that, I had an order. order a letter, the ledger. Yes. So we could claim that he never paid due. And we're looking for some sort of representation to try and get our money from the bomb box. That's right.

That's not really good. I don't understand any of that. I have a forgery kids, you guys. What are we forging? I think he would, I don't know if he would hold sway, but if he doesn't pursue justice for someone of the trisphire that should tell us enough, the bomb box are very influential and powerful.

Yes, that's true. We could change the name of the bomb box to something else. We could be the bomb box. What do you think, Molly? I honestly don't understand any of this. Does it say on the ledger, like the company that it came from? Does it say, like, you know, from dryers supply and co.

What accent was that? Dwarven. Me. Me being an asshole. The Timult Storehouse. The Timult Storehouse. The Timelts Storehouse. The Timelst Storehouse.

Timul make hard work? So we can be from the Timmalt's. The Timults. And the Bombbox stole our stuff. They never paid due on the order that we sent them. Do we even know the bomb box are here? They're entrusted walls. They're entrusted wall.

No, I know. Why would we be claiming something here? We need to be claiming from a family that's here. No, they are, Timult is from here, right? Timult is in Stash. They are in Stash. Yeah. They made a shipment order.

If the High Richter doesn't say, You're right, this is injustice, let's take it to the law master. Then that Richter sucks. Does, do they, or do they just? He could just be a lazy, she could be a lazy ass, you know. Regardless, it's just a story so we can get a beat on her, right? Yeah. Sure.

What if we say, we're from the Timot Company, they never paid our invoice, and they stole our puppies? Okay, that's not bad. Interesting. That's not bad. Puppy crime. That's some improv. That's how we would know that it's a puppy puppies, I was a bad guy. Sure. Okay.

So they stole from our invoice and they took all our St. Bernard puppies. Yes, and it was very sad. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Sure. What time is it? It's mid-morning. What time exactly of the day? 10.13 a. It's so hard. It's sad.

Time for this alert. Is it early enough to where on my way there, I can pick up my car? Custom coat. Yeah, you can do that. Okay. Especially since it just rains, so the sewer will be really damp. Oh, God. Are we trying to go through the sewer?

Yeah, we have to. Okay. To get all of us through. To get all of us through. Let's pick up your cloak and make our way. Do we start the writ, or is the writ gone? The writ was retrieved. All right, never mind.

That's fine. But we can still find the back sewer entrance, have not popped the lock, and we know how to go. How don't we try to forge a writ, damn it? Who will can make this guy? for themselves. Oh. I can figure it out. With my coat kind of fish?

Yeah. Okay. Okay. So you guys make your way back to the same sewer entrance and where you originally embarked below. There are two Crown's Guard in the vicinity that are just kind of keeping watch at that intersection, just like they were last time.

They haven't noticed your approach yet, but they are just keeping an eye. To distract them. I could have one of them beat the shit out of the other one. Oh. Let's do that. I have a crown of madness on one of the guards. Well, that's not going to go farly. Yes.

So into this. Okay. Hopefully from an area that they don't see me casting it. Make a stealth check. Oh, no. Let's get the tracer. Advantage. 14.

Alrighty. Oh, I have advanced. None. 14. 14. All right, so as you hide off on the side, you focus on and concentrate on one of the two crowns guard. As the magic begins to slowly filter around the outside of the face, the brief little motes of shadow begin to be plucked from the space and gather around the outside

of its head. Unknowingly, what's your spell DC? That's a 10. It's higher than 10. I'm pretty It's higher than 10, I'm pretty sure. Yes, it is. Yes. All right. Four two. So, all of a sudden the guard kind of, it's in place, and you watch as these moats kind of just faintly around the outside, like this like floating kind of crown around the top of the

head. And you force him to attack the other? Kick his ass, sweet ass. The guard grabs his blade. It runs forward. The other guard's like, I, oh, what? What? Let's do it!

Pulling the shield up. Great, go, come. Get the lock on the sword thing, let's go. Oh, I'm doing something. No, no, we don't have to. It's not locked. What are we doing? I thought it was locked.

It's going to make another save. It's a two. It's still holding. All right. What am I doing? The gate? It is locked. Everyone's attention right now is directly on this.

It's now one crowd is attacking the other. What am I doing? It's a plus six. No. Nine. Nine. It's not coming out. It's not opening, it's not opening.

She attacks the other guard. She's not screaming like, break it! Get help, get help! Break it! No, it's 11. What's your stall D-C? 14.

Yeah, he stole the gate. I'll try it. I'll try it. Make a strength check. Just add a deep, roll D20, add your strength modifier. Oh, 17. They actually break it with your bare hands. The one of opening.

Everyone is now, that's not a scream starting to happen. You guys start running one after another. Guard gets one more safe. You can throw? 13. What's your... 14. 14!

Oh, shit! The other guards now, like, they're wrestling to the ground, and he's trying to hold him on the ground. He's like, what the fuck is trying to! And see her screams going off around now, this ruckus just gathering in the center as people are starting to yell. You can see here in the distance other Crown's guards, like yelling and starting to gather in the middle of this chaos as you all get down in the sewer and pull it shut. That was awesome. That was awesome! That was awesome!

They want you to be quiet in the sewers because there are things down here. Oh yeah, avoid all the rat bullets. They were everywhere, that's time. So you hear all the ruckus up there and kind of echoing down inside and other foot footsteps coming through and you hear this one guy going, I am so sorry, I don't know what's happening.

Oh, that hurts, well, I don't know what's, and he's being held to the ground now and people are shouting and, oh, man. That's probably going to have a good. That guy's going to have a, Bad day. You might get demoted. A couple days' pay.

It's going to be about 12 inches shorter out. Oh, you see. Oh, no. Come on. Go and make self-check, guys. Is this empire? Yeah. All of you guys make some.

Do you still have the blessing? Does anybody else need the blessing? Oh, we're all myself. Apparently he did. 10. 10. 10. 17.

22. 22. At a mass majority, you do slip around the same area where you had the original confrontation. You do see some more of those rats are scattered about, but you manage to quickly dart by. In a few moments, you hear like a turn as they notice something, but they go in the direction as you've already moved past. Some of them shift in where you were, but no longer where you are. The blind rats are kind of going by the sound and being misled a bit, so you manage to maneuver around without any sort of immediate conflict. Eventually, make you way back to where the webs were situated for the phased spiders, little,

domain there at the edge. Still, Tadders untouched from where you left it. You head back to the rung, and there you look up and you can see the entranceway into the Tri Spire District. Did not think about what to do once we got to this part. That's a good question. Well, we need to disguise ourselves. Right, yeah. Yeah. And go up there and then find out where the rector lives and then pitch our really ill-thought-out plan to them. Yeah.

Yeah. This is gonna be great. Yeah. I cast a disguise self, a very long black cloak with gold trim, like a nice trim goatee and slick back jet black hair. Okay. Piercing blue eyes. All right.

White, white, just a nice human looking man. Great. I'm going to take the brown side of my newly purchased reversible coat, take out my brewer's kit that I have and kind of take a few of the leg bottles, kind of fashion them to my little. Gonna fashion them to my waist a little bit. All righty. I'm going, go. Disguide self, same exact thing as Ford,

except longer hair, shorter mustache. Perfect. Pop gold trim? Yeah. Okay, good. Shorter, but female. Just a little outline. Oh, female.

You're kind of like the pallbearer to the undertaker of Ford. Great analogy. That's how we went there. Yeah, no, I did. Anybody else making any effort, just doing your thing? Oh, I'm gonna cast this guy's self, and I'm going to be a tan, short, Elvin woman in a royal blue lace dress, very similar to the one

that the lady was wearing with the cutout. Okay. Oh, all right. And like, soft, medium hair pulled back in waves. All right. I'm just gonna put the hood up and stay in the back. Okay. I make myself look like the male version

of the Elven woman that Jester did in similar black-colored serving. Perfect. This is great. Faded to do well. All right. We're a noble family. All right. So when you climb up to the top, did you leave it locked? Did you lock it behind you as you?

I don't know. You tell me. No, we didn't. I think you left it unlocked. But it wouldn't have been a huge issue. You're not in danger. So we'll say you left it unlocked because you intended posbodies again in the future. You head back, kind of push the two pipes open

and you all climb back into the alleyway and you are now in the Tri-Spire District. Okay, let's ask around, find out where this Richter lives. All right, so walking around the city, you see a few crowns guard wandering the streets. They kind of occasionally put a glance to not recognize you wandering, but don't seem to pay immediate attention. You do see one,

a gentleman in his early 60s or so who's wearing this nice frilled shirt with these heavy brass buttons down the front of this kind of pop belly. It's tucked in with a belt. And these breeches that kind of just go past the knee before his boots hit and he's just kind of walking in the street, kind of strutting a bit, looking out. He's the first person you see that crosses your path that looks like they probably know the vicinity. Who want me to go down? No, no. Hello, sir. Excuse me. Yes, can I help you?

I'm sorry to bother you. We have business with the High Richter. Is there a chance that you could point us in his direction, her direction? Well, there is the High Richter's estate. I do not know if she is home. She may be at the King's Hall. I really don't care. We're just delivering a parcel.

Very well. Well, let's see. Diana's estate is right around that way. Any points you see, he has this like, kind of thin white John Waters' mustache across the top. It turns into this light goatee right at the tip of the chin. As he points over, you can see, right on the right outskirts of the gilded villas.

That one. And he points again. Wonderful, thank you for your time. It's my pleasure. He continues walking on his way. I walk like him. Alrighty. Not your mustache is much nicer. Thank you, honey.

Oh. Let's, do you know what a mime is? Let's just, you just mime this mission. Okay. You know. Oh, there's a fierce wind, but I've got to it. Let's get it. Oh no. Oh, no.

Can you box is getting so? Oh, no. Don't worry. I'll climb out. No, no, no, no, not. Not. Do you know what Ford is implying is, you know, I can make myself look like anything? I'm not an idiot.

Yeah. Okay. Approaching the homestead that was pointed out by that gentleman earlier, you see the homestead is surrounded by a seven-foot tall stone and mortar wall that it tightly crowds the perimeter. There's only maybe like a three-foot space between the wall and the actual home. home. Oh. Okay. But you see the entire home, it's two-story.

It's painted in kind of a forest green color on the outside of the wooden stone built structure. You can see there is a front archway to the door that goes through the, beyond the wall. There is a small gate, and then beyond that there is the front door to the estate where there appears to be a station to Crowns Guard. Hmm. Well. This looks really well fortified. Yeah. Yeah.

We're just gonna walk up and ask for... Don't ask for an audience, yeah. Maybe if we say we were sent by the lawmaster for the High Richter to make a ruling. Should we leave anyone out to just be ready to help if anything goes wrong? It's good instinct. What do you think? I don't know. Caleb, what do you think? Well, you're always good to have hidden away in case something goes squirly. So definitely you. Maybe me as well.

Maybe me as well. Maybe. Yeah. Gestry, I'd like you to come. I want to come. I want to come. Nice. Molly, what do you want to do?

I think I am a very reasonable personal assistant to anyone who's trying to make a deal. Indeed. What would your name be in this situation? We have to have names. I'm just trying to think ahead. Well, Ericson. Lovely. Lawrence is great.

Lawrence is great. Work for me before. Lawrence. Actually, no. Let's do something else, considering I use Lawrence once. It doesn't run its name, if anything. Sorry. I had a terrible night last night. No. How about March? Francis. Francis. Francis. This is a good name, yeah. Francis Titmoltz. Okay. That's great. Timmalt. Timot. Not titmolt. That's much better. You are staying out here with, with Knaut? Are you going to come in? If we make it in.

If you make it in, no, I'm going to stay with Not. We'll be back up. You're a good talker. We don't need two good talkers. What about the cat? Yeah. Oh, cat, how will we know what's going on inside? They don't like cats here in the dry spot. I think that we are just, we're, what we're saying is we're hidden away in case things go bad with the Crownscar. But after that, then they're on their own.

I think. That's right. Oh. All right. Wasteous luck. Let's go. I'll walk up to one of the two crowns guard outside the door. A photo behind him.

All right. It looks super official. Be careful, 20. There is actually only one crowns guard at the front door. And it's behind the gate. And so as you approach, arms cross, just kind of like... Yes, please, look lively. Unfortunately, we've been sent here from the law master.

We have some very urgent busy. with High Richter Proustain, please, if you wouldn't mind, would you fetch her? Make a deception, Jake. That's one like out. Natural Twy. Yes. Glad you'd fix that. The guard goes, oh, um, I, just a second, goes and opens the door and leans inside.

Hi, rector, you have guests out front. And the voice goes like, Telling the wait a moment. I like her already. Moment passes or so. The crowns gar steps out of the way, and you see emerge from the doorway an older female half-elf with dark red purple hair

that is kind of short on the sides and then brush to one side to almost like a point. It has a gaunt angular appearance. and is in the process of putting on ceremonial gold and white armor, similar to what you would seem, the herald of the hall, but a more elaborate design and taking. In the process of buckling together a bracer, and Moksaac goes, all right, now who's here for the time with me?

Hi, Richter, it's so lovely to see you again. I know it's been quite a while. I have no idea who you are. Brantley, we met, it must have been years ago now. You remember the gala. I think it was a fundraiser. Last time you were up for election? Make a deception check.

18. 18, yes, of course, I recall. It's been some time. What brings you to the front of my homestead in the middle of the day, I'm on my way to the hall? I understand. A bit of terrible business, actually. Our family has been, unfortunately,

at the poor end of some corporate espionage. I'm afraid the bomb bucks. Isn't that who they are in Chostin-Wall? The bomb box. Especially that dimidon. He's just a wretched fellow. They've made off with quite a bit of our product, and we have some evidence against them.

Yes. We tried to take this to the lawmaster, of course. We didn't want to trouble you, but. She directed us here. We thought, well, Diana is just so sweet. She would, of course, help us out. Absolutely. Here is the invoice from the amount to do

that they have not paid from the Timmelt storehouse. Yes, and I'm sure Justice will be swift, but unfortunately much of our family's finances are wrapped up in lease. And they took our puppies. I would like both of you to make deception checks, please. Caleb is just turning the diamond over and over in his hand, like a fidget spinner watching all of the sand.

The diamond, right? What I go? What should I roll? What should I roll? I want to give me something good. That's not tomorrow. Fifteen. Six?

She goes, puppies, I'm sure. Well, bomb bark, as you know, is outside of the Zadarsurisdiction, that is Trostenwald territory. I'm afraid that is not something I would nor could handle if I wanted to. If you wish to bring them to justice, either present your evidence to the law

master of Trostenwald or bring Bombok to me. Otherwise, I have no interest. I'm sure you can understand our situation. We have already done that exact thing. We wouldn't waste your time with such rudimentary worries. Then why are you wasting my time right now? Well, frankly, the lawmaster in Trostenwald seemed to show you very little respect when we mentioned your name. And being that our family is so influential around here,

and we've got to be tossed to the wayside if justice isn't found, surely you, I don't. understand that. And of course, we would happily pay you for any type of additional services you might be able to help us out with. Am I step inside, and the Crown's guard steps inside and close through behind, am I to understand that you've come out here and brought daylight to my estate in an attempt to bribe the high Richter of Zedash? Was that what you said? Well, I don't think that's what you said.

I don't think so at all. It was merely a few pennies for you. The war is over and both sides lost. Kingdoms were reduced to cinders, an army scattered like bones in the dust. Now the survivors claw to what's left of a broken world, praying the darkness chooses someone else tonight. But in the shadow dark, the darkness always wins. This is old school adventuring at its most cruel. Your torch ticks down in real time, and when that flame dies, something else rises to finish the job.

This is a brutal rules-light nightmare with a story that emerges organically based on the decisions that the characters make. This is what it felt like to play RPGs in the 80s, and man, it is so good to be back. Join the Glass Cannon podcast as we plunge into the Shadow Dark every Thursday night at 8 p.m. Eastern on YouTube.com slash the Glass Cannon with the podcast version dropping the next day. See what everybody's talking about and join us in the dark. Look, there are a lot of celebrity interview podcasts out there, but there's only one Happy, Sad, Confused. I'm Josh Horowitz, and yeah, I'm the host of the show, so I'm a little biased, but truly, Happy, Sad, Confused is the place for nerdy and intimate conversations with all your favorite actors and filmmakers. From Andrew Garfield and Scarlet Johansson to Christopher Nolan, casting what ifs, backstage stories, and much more.

Listen to Happy Sank and Fused on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Your time. It's open to interpret. Yes, of course. I mean, certainly if you just feel like doing justice as its own, I mean, I always like to see people taking care of that take care of us. So long as it's not a bribe, favors we can do. Of course. I'll see what's possible.

Ask around. I'll take these documents, if you don't mind. See what's. can be mustard. And of course we are always willing to repay in favors. Of course, there are all signs and all types of favors that can be

helpful to the crown and those below. Also, what do you think of puppies? I think the drawl and must be fed to the larger kin. So, are we done here?

Yes, I believe we are. Thank you for your time. You've been most gracious. I'm certain it has been. Raps it up. Can I do a quick glance kind of over her table, over her desk, see if I see any type of being first? This isn't the front door.

Oh, I thought she pulled us inside. No, she pulled the crowns. But since we're inside of that seven foot wall, windows, doors, security measures, how many floors? From the immediate front position, there's the door itself beyond the archway. There appears to be two small windows to each side of it, though they're currently closed, and it looks to be they're bisected with wooden beams between. Shuttered, like wooden shuttered closed? They're shuttered, yeah, from the inside. From the inside. Yeah, so it's going to be open from the inside of bringing light, but they're currently closed. The second floor above, you do see one balcony.

It's a bit receded, and there's a balcony that kind of looks out over at all with what appears to be a second set of doors, but that is currently closed. Okay. While we're bowing on our way out, I'm going to spill my water skin and spill it. Ericson. I'm so sorry, Lord. Every time, every time. As I'm cleaning up, I'm going to make eye contact just briefly. What do I see?

I was just curious what the reaction to this ridiculous creature is spilling shit all over her front lot. That's all. Oh, I got you. So I follow you now. There is an immediate, kind of a bit of a scowl and like this. And I would also ask nicely if you'll stop bringing these demon bloods onto my estate to be ruining. That's what we're looking for, this whole snap. Like the puppy was pretty, not by making his back.

I mean, they're kicking cats in this bitch, so it's not that far. Okay, okay, okay, okay, okay. A thousand apologies, my lord, I'll take your sister and make sure she gets her medicine. Please, you embarrassments. You embarrassment. I look, I look like. How dare you? Please be sure she's beaten as you lead her away.

I apologize for his fuddy-gudiness. It's hard to find good help these days. Thank you for your time. Good day. She just turns around with wordlessly and goes in sighting slimes together. Go, go, go, scoll, scoll, scoll. It's easy ways to find out if people are terrible or not. That was, yeah, that was good.

We walk a fair distance away from the crowd's guard, and we walk a fair distance away from the crowd's guard, and we to see Caleb and Paul Bearer. Did they, oh. Hi, honey. Like a small mortisha adams. The mustache. So we've got it buttoned down. Moustache patterns, yeah?

Yes. Did she offer to kill a bunch of innocents or anything? Well, when she said that dogs should be fed to the larger ones and that. And she said the T-flanks were terrible. Terrible. Hmm. Okay, devil's advocate here.

I really don't like dogs either. Happy's not puppies. Yeah, they make great food. Not. When you're a shout in the woods and that's all that you have to eat, they have very tender meat. And to be fair, Molly Mark is a little bit of,

I mean, I wouldn't trust it either. Just imagine. To trust me. Just imagine. She had gotten her eyes on you. I mean, don't know what she would have done. That would make her the same as 95% of the people in the city. Right, but that means she's gotta die.

Okay. We're not going to bring this woman's life down in her shambles because she is an asshole. I mean, we are assholes. Yeah? For different reasons. We're assholes without power, though. Okay.

And? I don't know, that's less dangerous. I don't know. As you guys are having this conversation, you notice that they're, because the streets themselves have like long silken streamers that are affixed from light pole to light pole, just as part of the decoration along the streets, but you see additional decorations being put up. You see bunches of flowers being affixed at the top of these poles. You can see more streamers of multiple colors being placed around a center courtyard, kind of one of the mid areas

of the gilded terrace. This would be some sort of harvest theme of everything's going up in. Harvest Fest. Is that Harvest Fest? Remember there's like another tournament and stuff that we can enter into. Yeah, there's silken cap, sorry. Is it just the tricepots?

Is it everywhere? It looks like right now it's just being put around, sorry, the gilded willows, which is a little ways further away from the estate as you're kind of heading back. You can see decorations going up, tables being set. It looks to be like a small platform being risen. It looks like there's some sort of event coming up fairly soon. I'm perfectly content making snap judgments of people.

I've been doing it all my life, and it's very rarely stirred me wrong, and in another time and another place, I'd be more than happy to run something. Okay, so let me go over this then. So we have no form of payment of any kind planned in advance. We don't know if this woman has done anything besides being a Snide puppy hater? She takes bribes.

She's a corrupt politician. She has offered her a bribe. I have personally bribed people. I don't know that I would, listen, I do not like the government. I do not like the, I say this quietly. I do not like the empire, but we're really sticking our neck out with very dangerous people, and I don't think we have much to go on. I don't think we know how we're going to be receiving recompense for this.

there's going to have to be some coin. Certainly. Your fears are founded. If there's not enough pay, then obviously it's not worth the risk. But I have to say that even after meeting them for the second time, I feel like these people are good folks. I think they just want to see their city bettered. Honestly, that Dolan fella, I think, would do better

in a seat of power than this current wench. I'm willing to discuss a... our continued involvement once the payment is figured out. I think that's fair. Yeah. I mean, look, people in power tend to get corrupt, they don't start corrupt. In my opinion, it doesn't matter who's sitting there.

As long as we pay from it, who cares? And there's still many things to figure out. We have to look after this Lord Sutan, but first we should see to that afternoon meeting about the corn. We should address that straight out. I guess we have to leave the dry spider then? Yeah, I guess we do. Yeah. Yeah, we're meeting them at the Song and Supperia. What time?

Just afternoon. Just afternoon, you didn't get an hour? I was not specific. We don't have watches. It's just afternoon. Yeah. Don't make me second. Thank you. It's on all our minds. I'm trying about to. Unspoken. This place is giving me a room. trash. Yeah. I guess let's head there.

Meet up with these guys. Okay. It's probably about that time, yeah? Yep. All right. So you guys make your way, reversing your steps outside of the Tri-Spire, making your way towards the western side of the interstead sprawl to the Song and Supper Inn, which is... Before we leave, are there are any benches around just sitting? There are a few, yeah. Can I leave one of...

White painted wood? Benches. I want to leave one of the pamphlets for the travel. for the travelers sitting on the bench. Nice. You sneakly kind of slip it into a small gap, so it's visible but not liable to be blown away. Perfect. All right, so.

Minus one. As you guys make your way to the interior of the inn, it is lively, it is the loudest musically tavern you've seen. And you get the sense both by title and by the interior that this is essentially a perpetual open mic night for any musicians or barbs that want to come and try out their craft. It looks like there are three different bands that are cycling through on the main kind of raised dais to perform. And the atmosphere is lively, and folks come here

for that. It's a poor tavern comparatively. The interior looks like a lot of the paint is kind of chipped and run or crinkled. The smell inside is not the best, but it seems to serve basic food, basic drinks, and at least an atmosphere of music and fun. some focusing along and jump into a shanty or two. And as you come in, you can see both Ulaug and Dolan are currently sitting at table across from each other. As they notice you guys approach, they kind of raise a drink, and you can see the rest of the table they have already

ready for you guys to come and sit. We've dropped our disguises if they recognize this. It's only 45 minutes to one. Yeah, so your spells would have run out by now. And before we walk into the place, I turn my coat inside out. Go back to the blue. Back to the blue.

Are there any guards in the tavern? Not in the tavern, no. There was one outside, but, you know, just following the streets and everything is super heavily guarded in smaller areas like this like that's like. It's just like anybody's looking at, like anybody else in the tavern. Make a perception check. Nice.

Ooh! 22. 22. I mean, no more than anyone looks at you as you enter a room being a blue-skinned teafling. But you don't get the sense of anyone around there is like, I'm just casing you the entire time that you're in there. And it doesn't look like anyone followed us in. You don't notice anybody following you in, no. Okay.

We see a Dolan and Lager there waiting at the table as you come and join with them. Does everybody sit with them? I'm going to sit at another table. Okay. And listen in. Ford and I will go over. The rest of you are welcome. I'll go sit down.

You met with them before, right? Yeah. So you could go over. I could, yeah. No. Let's go join them. Really? Well, fine.

Well, it has to happen eventually. Yeah. All right. Molly, just keep an eye on the room. You go with them at the table, so it's easier. Yeah. Dolan, kind of gives you a look. And this is one of your associates.

Is that a problem? No, I just want to ask your name. Tanya fancy about them. Nice to meet you. Tanya. Pleasure. I'm Dolan. Dolan Thrym. This is Ulaug. So they're just kind of like, hey. They both take a very long minute, just kind of look over you. Hey, friend. Sorry, I'm just being careful. Yeah, we're pretty rag-tag, but they're both very good at what they do. I'm blue. I can see that. People like her make uncomfortable? No.

Sure? What about people like him? People like him make you uncomfortable? I mean only in the sense that they're fresh faces. All right, just checking. I'm giving it clear. Oolag Knoisseen is like, I've watched them a bit. They're all friends. It's fine. Don't want to say.

All right. I want for that motherfucker more often. He's going everywhere. He's been following us a lot. He said he was shifty, a little criminal. He told me this. All right, so we've been looking for an opening. We've been trying to find out.

And we thought it was tonight. But they pushed it back a day. There is a pre-harvest gala happening in the Tri Spire tomorrow night. We figure this distraction would be enough to do any of the quiet infiltrations that were attempting to accomplish. Should you still be interested in coming with us? I know there was hesitation, and I don't want anyone to be coming into this that doesn't feel comfortable.

And to be honest, we want to feel comfortable as well. They know that we're going into bed with the right people. Are there any concerns, any questions, worries? Sure. We did some casing of the Hyrector ourselves. She's not the most savory type, but I believe some of my associates have a question of Well, unsavory topic of payment. Right, I assume that was probably going to be a thing. Me and Horace pitched in together, and we don't have much, but this is too important to not... Me and Horace put together about 115 gold between the two of us

and puts like a small thing on the table, just kind of showing it. He's not putting it out in the open, because he's only be like, can I have a girl this money on the table? We have some. Kara putting 53 gold of her own. Ulaq leans in and goes, 513 gold, 21 silver, 302 copper. Total. It's my life savings. Oh.

I want to see these fuckers burn. Wait, he's 500 from his personal stanch. Just under 700, total. Inside check on that statement. Make an inside check. Boles, total balls. Total balls. Yes, talk of balls. Hard to read. It's about the same as the...

It's a pretty good thing. Hill, tough, hill, fucking, yep, the King's Hall job. Caleb, this job doesn't involve monsters. That's pretty good. Uh, literally, literally no. Figuratively. Yes. The biggest and the badest potential. Would we be all going to this gala together? We wouldn't be going to the gala. We would be breaking in. During the gala. Oh, so no part.

Party after. Party after. Party after. Would anyone of your group like to be joining us, Kara or Ulaug yourself? Ulog and still leaning forward goes, I'd like to. I have the most at stake here, monetary. I've got skills, I think I'll synergize well with the ones you bring to the table.

I'll be coming with you. I tend to believe him just because we haven't seen him. It's pretty stealthy. Dahlong was like, Kara, her skills are more in a personal level, not so much infiltration, and I am... I'm just me, so I don't think I'd be much of help. I take a silver enough... Do you have my potions? Actually, yes. Not many. We have a few left over. Horace should have a few more.

Just in case we get hurt or something. I hope that isn't the case, but just in case. All right, I'll have those sent. I'll send them along with Ulaug for you. Thank you. Of course, of course. Did you happen to draft up any of those Knights of Requital documents I asked for? Symbols. Oh, yes, yes, and he pulls out a small piece of parchment and kind of discreetly hands it to you under the table. You feel it kind of tap your knee. And as you look inside, it's a symbol that looks like an R,

but part of the R extends beyond to produce a K almost. And it looks like a, like a seal that utilizes the title in it. That's a nice work. That is really nice. That's good. I hate to burn it down. You have like a, you could do this in graphic design. You procured this for us.

Created them for us. That's impressive. I haven't used my art degree. You know. Wow. You got there, no one drawing now. Too real. That I have to ask you, because if we're all going in on this,

I have to be absolutely sure. Are you coming with us on this? You can back out. There's no shame in that. But we're not going to go in this without your help as well. That would be foolish. A moment for us to confer if you don't mind. Of course.

We would like to discuss. He stands up for a second. Olock, drink? Sure. They both get up from the table and walk over to the bar to give me the round. I watch you look. I can probe one of them the way I did with Nott last night,

if you like. Make sure we're not walking in anything we don't want to be. I don't get that impression, do you? No, I do not, but. Yeah. Maybe not just yet. That's fine. I like the offer, though.

Yeah. If anything, I feel bad. It feels like they're investing a lot of money on this play. Well, they'll get their return back if he's High Richter afterwards, though. If he's high Richter. And if he's not, then, well, they don't have to pay, because we obviously failed. We're just being paid to empty this.

not to put him in it. Correct. It would just be super unfortunate to see someone else slide in there other than him, but like you said, not our problem. Not, Caleb? No, you had reservations. It's a good payday.

I want to walk away very fast if this goes wrong. Sure. My hackles are up. I does not feel as sure of that as other things that we have done together. But okay. If Caleb's in, I'm in. We'll see what kind of plan we can come up with.

We have a day. You hear thunder. I respect the Squirley, but if you really feel like this is turning, then we'll turn. But there's money involved, so, you know, there's incentive. We have a little bit of time. We can still do a little bit casing, maybe go talk to the gentleman and see what he has to offer in between. We have a day, right? Yeah. Right a day and a night?

Yeah. You have the rest of the day, then the evening, and then tomorrow night is apparently the pre-harvest gala in the Tri Spire, where this is supposed to strike. Jester, how do you feel? I think it sounds fun, sure, why not? Well. Should we order up some puppies to celebrate? Oh, I was just going to turn in the dogs. Never eaten a dog. I feel like I would feel really weird about it. Me neither.

You can call them back over. See Dolan Ulaug, they're having to drink at the bar. They walk and sit down. So, can we count on you? 100%. We're in. The fancy bottom name is one you can trust. You see Ulaug and Dolan like share a look and nod, a smile comes across Dolan's face.

Thank you. You won't regret it. All right. I suppose, prepare whatever you'll need. We'll meet back in the cellar of the Leaky Tap tomorrow at sundown, and we'll take it from there. You can sense kind of this excited nervousness to his voice that wasn't there before as he smiles. Do you have a good way to get into the dry spire? We have a few ideas. Okay. To tomorrow then. To tomorrow.

To tomorrow. He gets up and finishes his drink and kind of like buttons the top button in his shirt. Bless you. Yes, don't die. Sorry. And then makes his way out. Ulog kind of sits up. Goes and takes what swills at the bottom of Dolan's drink and finishes it, then finishes his drink. Pops it down.

To tomorrow. He gets up and leaves. Has anyone been watching it? Social shake. He's hard to read that. That's an eight. Level three, motherfuckerfucker. You don't notice anybody paying attention.

paying attention. I feel like I would have been looking too because I was watching for people at the beginning of night, but. Yeah. The only thing you notice is on the way out, Dolan, as he heads at the door, you see Kara, the half elf, was kind of just waiting at the door and when soon as he kind of comes to where she goes, so, so cool. And they both exit into the main throw fair. I actually like what Molly said. I feel like tomorrow night before we go, you should do your thing on it. Ulaug. I also have a spell that can make people tell the truth.

That would work great. Yeah. And I think they'd understand too. If we did it too early, I think they'd cause suspicion. Sure. After all, we're only trying to make sure that this isn't a trap set for us. Which is possible?

Make you feel better if we had the answer. Yeah. Yeah? Most like. Hmm. What do we do this evening to prepare? Get drunk? Well, I was thinking more along the lines of like checking out Lord Soutin.

Okay. You gotta go back to the Tri Spire. Or no, we can just go to the hall. The Hall of Justice. Meanwhile, at the Zoltress Academy. The King's Hall? The King's Hall. Is that where Lord Souton is?

You don't know much about Lord Sutton. You haven't heard of Lord Soutain. heard his name referenced at all with any of the government. They just left, and we forgot to ask where the fuck he is. That's nice. Shit. Can we run out after? Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

Reception check. Oh, God. Get him. Oh, oh, 15. Get him. 15. You glance through the crowd there, and you can just make out in the distance. The back of Ulaug is just walking down the street, about to turn.

One second. As you catch up, he glanced over his shoulder, the sound of the running, it was like, what, what? You drop this money. Where do we find Lord Sudan? Don't fucking know. His estate, and he's over, he's not that far from where the gala is happening. Just take it and say thank you. Okay, don't worry about it. Shit. What the tris fire.

Yeah. He knows where he lives, that's where he lives. That's it. They know where he lives. In the Tristan. So it's another dancer of the sewer if we want to do that tonight, which we could do. We could. Maybe that guard got his job back.

He respawned. I think that ship has sailed for. I'm sure he's fine. Okay. Well, at dawn we plan? Well, we need to, we gotta get to the, we gotta figure out where Lord's State is, get a wax seal or riding, forger's hand. gorgeous hand.

We're going to do all that during the gala. That's what is. That's what is. That's what is. The purpose of it is. Fair enough, yeah. At dawn we plan. A dawn we plan.

At dawn we plan. And that's what we'll pick up next week. Building up to... So much buildup. I know. That's how we do this. D&D, motherfucker. All right, so we'll see.

We'll see where this takes. takes you guys next week during pre-harvest Gala. We're gonna have to reignite our planning thread. Yep. Yeah. It's just time. It's time for re-ignite. Yeah, dust the cobwebs off of it. Actually come up with one?

No. No need. Oh, man. It's good. We're gonna go full oceans nine, you guys. We got Pumet soul back, man. Pretty Pumet every once in a while. Yeah.

You bought back Pumet. You bought D&D smut. That's right. Oh, man. It's a lot. Bear claws. There you go, bought some bear claws.

Yeah. I got a nifty necklace. You did. It does cool things on D&D when I put it on my character. It did really cool things. Oh, that's cool. On D&D Beyond. That's nice.

How'd you get those? Awesome. Well, we'll pick up for the ensuing tension next week on Thursday. This weekend. We'll see you guys who are planning to come down to WonderCon for our panel. for our panel, 1130 in the morning on Sunday. Hopefully to see you guys there. Until then, have a wonderful night.

And is it Thursday, Ed? Good night. Oh, please, not that music. That music gives me nightmares from my childhood. Could we get something a little bit lighter? Some lighter music here. Are you a fan of true crime TV shows? And what about Unsolved Mysteries?

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