Critical Role & Sagas of Sundry - Vox Machina Ep. 69 - Passed Through Fire

Episode Date: January 10, 2022

Vox Machina return to Whitestone in a desperate attempt to save Percy, but there’s far more waiting for them than they bargained for.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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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. Tova forms an unlikely friendship with their crumudgeonly Marcellus, whose remarkable intelligence leads her to a life-changing discovery. Watch remarkably bright creatures with your remarkable moms this Mother's Day weekend, only on Netflix May 8th. Welcome back. Before we begin real fast, I've been notified that I guess Twitch is having some audio sync issues. Recommendation has been said that you try and switch between the Flash player or the HTML5 player on Twitch. That seems to be fixing the issues for a lot of people out there.

So if you're having issues that reloading or trying that switchover, should fix the audio sync issues if you're having any. So without further ado, last we picked up, Vox Machina, who had been traveling to collect the vestiges of divergence, artifacts from an old ancient time to gain enough power to combat the chroma conclave, a group of Cromatic Dragons that assailed, ooh, pardon, Taldore, and led by Thorac, the Sunder King. You know, when you get nervous, you get the burps. I feel like, Robert.

Oh, the Kraft. No, the Jinks. Robert Kraft, the honor of the Patriots. You, in searching these artifacts, found that one in the city of Encorel had been taken up from under your nose by a long-forgotten NPC named Ripley.

Well, she wasn't forgotten. You know what I mean. You gave chase down to the Glenshore Island of the Hespet Archipelago. And upon storming the beaches, destroying her ship, you walked into the jungle where an ambush turned into folly.

You charged into what appeared to be a couple of illusions as the floor detonated beneath you, setting you across the ground and starting an encounter with snipers in positions. position at half health and below for most of you. You gave a very, very good fight and still managed to push through. Unfortunately, Dr. Ripley, with the reveal that she has now bound herself to Orthax, the shadow demon that once plagued Percy's inspiration and nightmares, bent on vengeance, managed to take him, slay him, and leave him cold on the ground. As a group,

you did manage to dissect Dr. Ripley very aggressively and get vengeance back for your friend. But where we left off, you just let the adrenaline and the shock of the moment hit you as Ripley's breath expends, and a tiny tree begins to try and break and grow from her corpse on this parched land. So, what do you want to do? We have no idea. No, no. Yeah. Wait, did she originally take Percy's gun?

Was that what she was using? I don't think so. She drew Percy's gun into the pool of us. Should we collect her gun now? We should collect. We're all extremely emotional, but we need to move quickly. Yeah, fast. We need to collect all the guns.

Collect her guns. We need her other hand. Oh. And we need the vestiges off of the of her fucking body. Well, let's collect those quickly. Grog. Yes.

You do the honors of taking her other hand. I would love to use my teeth for that. No, I'll use the X. All right. Swack with a heavy thud sound. Her hand is jettisoned from the wrist. Her left hand as it scatters across the broken glass floor of the center of the jungle here in Glint Shore.

This one, right? There's only one. Oh. So yes. Okay. That's the one. Bag of coldy. Fair enough.

Kynan is still kind of standing there, kind of the adrenaline wearing off of him, and he's at a good 15, 20 foot distance from all of you, just standing. I forgot, are we killing him? Hold on a second. I walk over. Do you have the blade? Uh, um, he kind of looks down, and he seems to have dropped it after everything that transpired. And he picks it up and just kind of holds it. I've come a long way for that. Take it.

And he kind of throws it. to your feet. It spins and scatters and comes to a halt at the tip of your boot. Here a moment, please. I bend down, I take the knife, and I walk it over to Keeleith and put it in her hands. And I walk back to him. How? I didn't mean for any of this to happen. How? There are people behind me who want you dead, and I cannot blame them. How? I wouldn't blame them either. Look, after we met, I... I was hurt. I was angry. I knew I could be someone, despite what you told me, and I could prove it, prove that I was worth your attention. And I left Iman in my home to seek that destiny. I'm sure many of you did the same. Do you know what shape Iman is in right now? And this is what you choose to do with your time. You don't know what I've been through.

What has that man done to you? What has she done to you? What have any of them except for me done to you? And what have I done except be an asshole? Look, when she picked me up in Kymel, she taught me a lot. I learned a lot. She also told me that you weren't who I thought you were. When everything went down at Imman with the dragons,

I mean, she said you did that. summon the dragons. You were responsible for it. She had me listen in to a conversation where you admitted that it was your fault. To make an insight check? Go for it. He seems emotionally on the brim of a complete nervous breakdown,

but he's holding his ground. His hands are shaking in place as he stands, staring at you with the look of a man on the precipice. I don't know. What am I to do with you? We'll deal with him later. We'll deal with him later. The heart from your ribs, I ought to cut out my own.

Is there anyone else here now? Is that it? I mean, we went back to the cavern to set up, but you got here too quickly, and so we had to... How long have you been here? Only a few hours. Was all it took for that. Are there more of you?

We have a few people on this ship. Listen to me. I don't know what's going to happen in the next 24 hours for you. But the best thing you... you can do right now is help us. When anyone asks you to do something, you do it. I would ask for a chance to redeem myself, but I'm also beginning to understand what I've done.

I accept whatever judgment you see fit. Just know that I've been very confused. Look at me. Kynan, look at me. Right now. Put all that out of your mind. Right now, you help. Can you do that?

Just do whatever we ask. I think you, I don't want me to tell you. I know a little bit. but anything. Just let me know. We're going to table this. Just be Johnny on the spot right now, all right? Grog. Can you pick him up?

Percy? Yeah. Where am I taking him? I have nothing left. I have no way to get us out of here quickly right now. Can I ask, is Orthax still here? That's who that was, right? Yes. Orthax could have his soul for all we know. Do he sense he? him is Orthex around. Can you sense evil?

Yeah, I could, yes. Okay, so you sense as part of your, was it your paladin ability? Yeah. The divine sense of Leibor is, right? 60 feet, demons, celestial, stent. All right, so yeah, as you guys are kind of going through these things, you do sense there is

a pulse of fiendish energy emanating from somewhere near Ripley's body. Near Ripley's body. Near Ripley's body. How do we destroy him? I think we can. He's just a shadow, isn't he? I think we have to go to him.

I was gonna ask, like, the question of, could he help us with Percy? Poor facts? Yeah. I mean, honestly, right now, I think, it sounds crazy that I'm saying this, but we have mutual interests with him. It might not be the worst idea.

Who's inspecting Worthy's body? I will, I guess. Yeah. Okay. A few things you find, as you've emerged through. You find about a thousand, fifty-one gold pieces. And two weeks of ration, some of which appear to have been dampened and got soon. You do find the cloak, the dagger that kind of used to still lays to the ground.

Oh, it's handed to you, so you have it right now. There is what appears to be a small polished gray stone with everything. a couple of runic symbols carved into it. You also find what appears to be a small leather case, like a long, thin case about that long, that is latched up. And her gun, which is similar to Percy's pepper box, but thinner, longer, more refined.

It's a deep gunmetal gray color with brass sections and would appear to be portions of white stone built into it. As she pulls the gun out, you immediately know that's the direct source of the fiendish energy. Okay, put that down, please. Put it on the ground. It's in the gun? It's in the gun. Just like that time.

So we drop it and ice it again? That didn't kill it, did it? Just got it out of the gun. What if he has, Percy? Oh. Well, let's try and get him back first before we get upset about it. Yes, yes.

How do we get him to White Stone? Yeah, how do we move? We have an airship. That's too slow. Maybe it can take us somewhere with trees. Somewhere with a tree. I need to rest. How long?

I need to sleep. This tree is stunted that's coming out of Ripley's. body. Yeah, it's a slow growing tree. It's only about six feet tall. It wouldn't be large enough to use her spell through it. This is the remnants of the fendth of death. There are a few large jungle trees that I mentioned before that have managed to find root and grow in this jungle. It's maybe like one healthy living tree for every 50 that are burnt, charred, and

petrified. So, I mean, there are trees available in this jungle that in theory could be used for that spell if you had it available to you. I don't remember, do we have a way to call, Pike? We have the stone. Wait, does that send one of us back to her? Potentially. Just one living soul, holding a dead soul? Or could we bring her to us?

I could try and scry her. Let me see. I could try putting Percy in the necklace and... Going through. Yes. Wait. But what if you can't get him back out? I don't know.

Living and willing, right? I mean, yes. You don't want him to get stuck. Is that correct? But he's an object, I mean, no disrespect. He's an object right now. So if one of us used the stone holding him, it would be carrying him,

carrying him like a sword. Yes. It would go through. He'd go through. Take an intelligence check. Do good. Plus two because of your track of all trades. Oh.

And your intelligence modifier plus two. Okay. 16. 18. That might not work for most spells. Shame intelligence. It's still considered a creature. She's a dead creature.

Okay, so we rest. We need to sit. And then we go to White Stone in the morning. Can you do the mansion? Is there in a mansion, Scanlon? Are you tapped out? I could, but... I can't believe that there's nothing we can do right now.

Yes, I could. I mean, we can stay here. Technically, I can. I still bring Trinket out of the... Out of the necklace, and I cast Kirwan's on him. Okay, yeah, as Trinket emerges from the necklace, his unconscious form hits the ground, just kind of laying on the side, as you walk up and place your hand, and still breathing.

breathing, and the warm touch kind of presses across his fur and the breathing kind of inflates into one deep breath, and then you leans up and the head just kind of curls over and begins to lick in your hand as you finish the casting of the spell. Go ahead and roll hit points for free day. I'm also going to give him a butt scratch and do lay on hands and give him another five hit points. Nine, whole points. Plus five. Plus five. Plus five. You also do notice Bex on the gun. It has across the handle, the bottom of the handle, the name of the weapon, which is named animus. Anemis?

And across the barrels, you now see there are three empty barrels and three that still have names. Can I read the names? The names are Richter Wells, Osgrud, and King Bertrand Dwend. Oh, my God. Richter Wells. Richter. Oz Grood and King Bertrand Dwendle. Apparently all people that replayed some racehip or form felt vengeful towards.

Wow. I'm going to walk over and pick up the false arm that I hacked off. You put this in the bag. Which one? A regular bag. Regular back, yeah. Big old arm, yeah. Oh, can I look at the, can I see the little stone

with the ruins on it? Why don't we ask Kynan what it is? Maybe he's seen her use it. Kahnen, what is this? That's what she used to listen in on you guys. Hang on, wait, let me see it. Does that look like the other scrying stone that we have? No, it's a very different enchantment.

This one looks a little simpler. And upon looking at it, there's no magic left in it. You did disenchant the other side of the enchantment of our old gun. The one of the little latch box that's closed. This was the other half of that enchantment. Yeah, open that little box. I open the latch box. She opens the latch box. I open the latch box.

Just rip everything out of my hands, go for it. Simultaneously tear it open. We all are. Okay, as you open, open the cap on the edge of this leather casing. You pull it open. You see it's essentially a side scroll case. On the inside there is a single tightly wound piece of parchment.

The smell immediately is very musty and old with a hint of kind of burnt wood. And yeah, there's some sort of parchment that is tightly coiled in there. Can we take it out and take a look? Read that. Have you seen him messing with that, Kynan? Um, that was something you found in the cave when we got here. But she quickly grabbed it and put it away and went and tell us what it was. Is this cave? I only got to the outside of it. I was standing guard.

You haven't been inside? No. How far off? Um, maybe a couple miles. It's at the base of the mountain. I don't know. It might be. What if that was her escape room? What if there's a way out? Yeah, it could be. It's possible. I'll open it and look it over.

Okay, making an inconture. on a counter chair. Give me to back you up. Be careful, Scanlan. Not good. Do I add jack of all trades? You got a thing now? Okay.

16. We add ability checks and skills that you're not proficient. I am proficient in. Yes, you're not. 14. That's fine. It's not enough. Yes, it is a scroll of gate.

A gate's one. Oh. Good thing. Oh, we just got our ticket out of here. Here. The scroll allows an arcane caster to use an action to cast the ninth level spell gate. Do we have an arcane caster? Is that you? Scanlan? Okay. No, I am an arcane caster? You are an arcane caster?

Consider, this is an extremely powerful spell that has a lot of various uses. So consider just so you know what it's capable of, when I read you some of the spell here. Also, I might not be able to do it because it says level nine. The spell is higher than the spell. the level the caster can use, they must make a spell casting ability check to succeed. Yeah, you'd have to try and check. Okay, just cut off your foot as like a tithe. So, Gait, just so you know, you conjure a portal linking an unoccupied space you can see within range to a precise location on a different or the same plane of existence. The portal is a circular opening, which you can make five or 20 feet diameter. It lasts for up to a minute.

The portal has a front and back on each plane where it appears. So it would be between planes, essentially. I would say if you wanted to use it as you, you would use it as just a minute, you would be front and back on each plane where it. just a teleportation circle, but it's a waste of a ninth level spell. But it's a waste of a night bubble spell? Comparatively to what, like, she can do with a tree stride and other things like that. You could totally use it. Deities and other plan or rulers can prevent portals created by this from opening in their presence. When you cast the spell, you can speak the name of a specific creature,

like a pseudonym title or nickname doesn't work. Specific name of the creature. The creature is on a plane other than when you're on, the portal opens and pulls them through to you. Oh, shit. That's useful. So it has a lot of various uses. We could bring the Rockshasa through. Yeah, we could.

Or go to a dragon. We stole it. You can bring a lot of things through on that instantly. Or. That's pretty. Aw. For better for worse. Deities could cancel it.

Potus, Orthax. So that is how it's different. Who knows anything about these? We could use this to go save our friend, too. No. What do we know about these healing spells? No. are worth it?

What even, Bell? Well, what we need to do, what we need to do to Percy, how long do we have to get him to someone? I have a feeling the longer we wait, the harder it will be. And we rest now, yeah? Hard choices, and we have to help ourselves

if we plan to help him. You said the gate spell could theoretically bring Orthax back if we might need to, who knows? Orra could bring a huge, to us right now. I say save it and rest. It's my vote. How long has Percy been dead?

At this point, maybe 20, 25 minutes. Voice your opinions now. Do it. I don't know how death magic works. I don't either. I don't know if eight hours makes a huge difference, or if it... It depends on what you're trying to do. I have one ability that I think.

could use and I have to do it within 10 days, but I'm not necessarily comfortable doing it regardless. I don't know. I've never done it before, and I don't have the ramifications. I'd prefer to get them to pike. Then let's summon the mention and do this. We have to collect things first. We do? We need all the guns, even the broken ones. If anyone finds any of these, they could be retrofitted or used for evil in the future, and that's something that Percy would not want ever. I'll go get them because I'm still doing pretty dandy and I'll absorb all the glass shardies from walking around. I need to go find our dog. He probably won't be able to be found, but he could be somewhere. And I feel like we should look in this cavern,

don't you think? We could go. I'll stay with Percy. Someone has to stay with him. Okay. If you two want to check the cavern, I'll collect all the guns and check the bodies of the people that are down. All right. Can we have taken a short rest to heal a bit before we You can do that. Just half an hour to an hour. You can do that. So you guys take a short rest now to use any of your head dice to go ahead and heal up.

And if Scanlan's giving some rest, so you get an additional 1D12 to each one of you guys on top of whatever you're healing. Sure. Keelith takes Percy's body and I drag him over to the table and I lay him out and I just start cleaning him and cleaning his wounds as best as I can. It is a bloody mess, but at the same time, there is a strange look at peace in his face. It both comforts and upsets you, and you have a hard time kind of concentrating on the face. You just focus on his body as you clean him and make him look as good as you possibly can. Using drew a craft and spells at your disposal. Guns and bodies.

Make an investigation shot. Nice. Oh, minus two. 15. 15. All right. You find, let's see. You find 620 gold pieces total across all the bodies. Okay. You find two pistols, two rifles. There is also a long barrel of bad news-like rifle that was discarded across the battlefield by Ripley earlier in the fight. Okay. It's kind of busted. There is a great sword, and a set of full plate that were on the Goliath that you battled.

Full plate? Full plate, yes. Oh. You find a total of 185 rounds of small ammunition. Okay. For the pistols? For the pistols. And about 26 rounds of large ammunition for the rifles. Got it.

26 rounds. You find a potion of superior healing. Okay. on the smashed corpse of the wizard that didn't get a chance to use it before it fell to its horrible guy Superior that's really good that's really good one A set of bracers of defense plus two which I think you've encountered previously I have um so you can write that down okay and uh yeah that's all you find on the corpses those braces braces of defense need to be attuned it's a plus two they didn't need me

in tune i'm pretty sure yeah we can double check pretty sure they do um Yeah, and you have the cloak and you have the dagger at your disposal as well and the gun if you don't want to take time to inspect them during the short rest. Okay, so while he's doing that you guys go off to the cave? Yes. Okay. Okay. Traps the entire way there. I'm gonna ride my broom there so I don't get any damage walking on the glass. Okay. Is Cangana staying behind with you guys? I can keep him and help. He can help me look for the dog. Yeah. Okay. Go ahead and make an investigation, Jeff. Make one, two? Easy. 30.

It takes you the better part of 30 minutes or so, but the needle in the haystack was not as hard as such as you thought. And you find it wedged between two branches, back in its hard onyx form, unscathed, seemingly from the explosion. Scratch him behind his ear. Say, sorry, maybe we'll do more next time. You guys, you're going to check for traps as you go? Yeah. Go ahead and roll an investigation.

18. Making your way through, there don't appear to be any traps in your way, and as you wind through the path, and there is a walked path following the tracks of the people who had set up the ambush for you, and aiding towards the mountain were kind of pointed earlier. You do eventually, and also watching your sister above,

and you can see the entrance to this. There was a large kind of volcanic mouth cavern at the bottom of the mountain, before it meets the edge of the jungle. You get to it, and it's about 40 feet by 20 feet initially, and it quickly funnels down. All the rock in here, by the way, is very dark, broken, porous volcanic texture. It looks like this mountain at one point in time

may have been volcanically active, or at least may still be, and there isn't a sign of any recent activity. There's no smoke. There is a heavy sulfurous smell as you get close, and actually begin to enter the front of the cave. Do you guys continue forward into the cavern? Is it dark in there? Yeah, there's no light, there's no light.

You guys can still see up to a certain distance okay without light, so... Could I... I'll check for traps again. I'll pull up the flame-tongued dagger to get a little more light. A little bit of that torchlight from the plane... I set fire to the tip of an arrow and shoot it using Oracle shot into the cave. Okay, so go ahead and make your investigation check.

One. Okay. As you instead are distracted by the flaming side of the arrow, her lobbing it, and suddenly her eyes just glazing over white. It catches you off guard the first time really seeing this happen, and so you aren't even paying attention to the rest of the cavern. You all of a sudden are having an immediate first-person view of the very front of the arrow tip, just coasting through darkness.

The fire itself kind of crackling around you, like you're wreathed in flame. I can hear the flame looking past your ears almost whiff. as you pass through the wind of this still tunnel air. Eventually, coming down, you could see the tunnel condenses and then turns sharply right, and you scatter against the rock, fall to the side. We'll see where it lands, actually. Okay.

You hit the ground, and ahead, you can see a little light that the tunnel splits into two. But there is a, what looks to be, there's detail to the walls that doesn't look natural. there is some idea of construction here. There is structure. Someone has refined elements of the interior of this tunnel. That's the best you can make out

with just the arrows placement. You're right? That's cool. It's a fucking tunnel. There's maybe something in there. I don't know what we're doing. I don't know what purpose it serves. So sorry. I walk in.

Okay. As you guys continue following the path that the arrow did, the tunnel kind of winds back and forth a bit. It pinches and then curves quickly to the right in where you find the arrow kind of still lying there. Stealth, please. A little stealth check. Can I check for anything that looks out of place, any danger or anything? Traps, if you will. Make an investigation check while you're stealthing. Um, 11. Seems sick.

Seems so safe. Are you stealthing as well? Sure. Still. 20. Okay. Two of you pushing forward, the cavern divides to the right and left eventually. To the right is what you got the glimpse at.

To the left, it just continues the same kind of porous rock. And it's like a volcanic tube that has just general erosion built up a floor that's a little less wide compared to the walls, which are kind of spherical and shape. So on the right it's more natural. And the left it's more altered. Other way. Other way. So one is natural, one is touched. To the right.

with the tunnel curves off, you can see what appear to be smooth over walls where it's been just either ground down. They're not perfectly flat, but there has been some effort putting and making it more of a smooth wall structure. That same kind of burnt sulfur smell is stronger, the deeper into the mountain you go, but not to the point where it's forcing you to cough, but it is kind of, you do feel a little bit of burning in the lungs just from proximity. Are there tracks at all in the cave? There are a few footfalls that you see going through the dust. Very hastily. They're jogging. paste footsfalls. And even just from some of the tracking you've done previously in the day,

some of these footfalls are of the people that you encountered earlier, including Ripley. I feel like they've already been in here and she took what she found. Let's be sure. I'll take point. I start walking down the altered. Following the path that we see her footsteps in. And carefully stepping forward for the next 10 minutes or so, it goes from a slightly curved and bunched rock formation into a singular long tunnel that has been pushed into the mountain itself. And it abruptly comes to an end. In here, the soft kind of ashy dust that once formed the floor has been given way to crunching of thousands and thousands of tiny bone shards.

And you see before you what appears to be a cluster of hundreds of skulls that are built up into one altar-like platform. Everything here is burnt, and there are many elements of this looked like a large, fiery event transpired in here that destroyed much of what once was a more structured interior. And this altar, while it remains in place, it looks like it suffered severe damage at some point in the past. The skulls and rocks that are there, most of them are broken and cracked and thrown against the walls. Does this look old? This looks very old. It looks like this place hasn't been touched in a very long time. Anything that looks like a teleportation circle or anything?

Investigation check. Natural one. I got a... I got a... I got a... It's just going to get filled up. 20. You don't find anything that resembles a teleportation circle.

What you do find is in the altar, it appears that there was a compartment that has since been opened up that has left vacuum. vacuous and empty. It appears to have been recently disturbed. This is what Ripley took. This is where she found the scroll. And once you get looking at the little bit of ashy soot that was on the outside of the scroll, you do get the sense that that was probably what was taken from this altar. Do we waste our time with the other passage or do we go back? Let's go back. Eventually you guys make your way back to the rest of the camp. You've cleaned up Percy the best of your ability. You've gathered all the materials from all the other corpses around the battlefield. you in kind of return with your Onyx dog. What are you gonna do?

I'm super restful, just the most restful sleep. It's gonna be a great night. Hang out, tell stories about Percy. Cry a bunch. Not yet. Yeah, yeah, you're right, you're right. What time is it? How long have we been awake? Should we let the airship know so they don't just keep hovering?

Yes, I'll fly over to them. We have flares. Yeah, but they might not understand what it means. I'll just fly over to them and then tell him what they can go. Well, we don't, I mean, I guess. Yeah. Yeah. Is there anything we need from them or any...

They can bring the arm back to Ankarelle. Weren't we supposed to bring her arm back to Enkarel? But there wasn't a time limit on that. We can do... We'll nail it? We'll just hold on to it for now. Okay. Yeah.

So I'll fly up. to the airship. Okay. And it's a little way south of the island, but it was at the ready, and all of its various arbalist setups are still ready for war. They're basically just waiting for you guys in order to come and attack. As you come to the edge, you see Captain Damon, immediately where step goes like, we saw some sort of explosion on the island.

Is it everyone all right? Immediately his expression drops, and he kind of steps under the back of his heels and drops his hands in front of him in a very business type set of an iron. I'm sorry. We're going to find another way back home. You can take the airship back to Encrevelle if you want. Where are you going? Somewhere with clerics. I don't know.

I don't know. I guess if you need me and my crew, come find this in Encrell. Safe travels. Crew, and you start shouting out to the rest of one on the deck. As you kind of co-stop, you hear him shout out. in a distance over the wind. We're going home.

Whatever that is these days. You hear the flare of the various magical crystals kind of being the vibration increase. They glow of bright or blue as the ship turns around. Oh, shit, I go back. Do you leave your purse? Yeah, I'm all in my wallet. No, but I do. I go back up and I say to Captain Damon,

Are you willing to join a fight? Explain. Those dragons destroyed our home. We could use an airship in the fight against them. We're outfitted to take down relatively dangerous prey, but knowing... We're fighting alone. I mean no offense here, and the honorable goal is fantastic. fantastic, but I also have a prudiff.

Of course. There's a lot of gold there. A lot of riches. Exception, uh, a persuasion roll. I've been rolling so well tonight, so... This is the one. Twenty? Well with the details later, but

I'm happy to help. Commencing them take some coin, but where would you like us to go? Do you know where Whitestone is? It's not been there, but I can figure it out. It's in the mountains. It looks over and... and you can see Tira, who is the halfling, the rotted teeth, comes up and goes,

I know that's by the alabaster, Sierra's. I can get us there. I'm trusting you with that location. Bowser head and backs away, uncomfortable with the tension of the situation. She goes, we'll meet you in my soon. Safe travels. You as well.

The ship continues making its way. southward turning around slowly to start turning more northeast direction. You guys watch as you see the ship go overhead from the island and heading in the opposite direction of Encorel and eventually next makes her way back to location on the island. How to go with Damon? We're getting married. It's wonderful. I knew it. I knew it. They're heading to Whitestone Are we not supposed to tell anybody about white stone? I know, I know. Like some blood packed, don't ever say the word white stone?

We did. Also, isn't it invisible? It is. Great. All right, well, maybe they'll find it anyway. Shall we? Can I do the thing, Scanman? Sure, sure, sure.

I'll house it up. Okay. As you go ahead and summon Scanlan's magnificent mansion. You all come to a familiar space, spectral servants waiting to wait on you, but the somber atmosphere still remains. You find your way to your respective rooms, and if there's anything you'd like to do before the evening's rest, now's the time to speak up.

Hey, just an idea. Everybody remembers when they were kids putting blankets out in the living room and sleeping. I don't really want to go back to my room. You want to camp out in the den together? You can make a blanket for him. Sounds good. Yes. Didn't you ever have blanket for, Scrogg? I didn't have blankets.

We'll show you how it's done. Where do we put Percival? With us? Yeah. We're still a team. That's also weird, you guys. Well, we're not gonna let him sleep alone. We'll put him on a table.

Just put him on the table. We'll all sleep around him on the floor. This is super weird. I'll reach into the bag of holding and I take out one of the 10 expensive ass bottles of wine. I take out two of them. I decork two. I hand one to Vex and one to Keyleth. It'll be a hard night but you both have to sleep.

Drink this. We will attempt to remedy this when we wake. The best thing you can do for your friend now is to sleep. So do that. Save your tea. for later. He was also pulls of X. I take out the dagger. And I hand it. I'm sorry. No, thank you. You said it's mine. It's mine.

It's mine. Is it a dagger? I take one of the blankets and I cover up. Curseey. Put them currently to rest on the ground. Kynan is still kind of by the door. Come here. Two things. One, there's blue people all over the place in here. Don't pay them any mine. Yeah. And stay in the room, but we give us a little bit of space.

Of course, of course. I... Of course. Have faith. Go back to the group. And we sleep. I drew it craft little fireflies above us. We make it all pretty to sleep too. You guys take an evening's rest from the mansion. You recover half of your hit die.

Like whatever your maximum hit die is, you recover half of that evening's rest. Your full hit points and your spells are returned to you. What? Yeah. We're normal again. Thank you. Well, that's debatable. You're already level 15, so you would have, you would get back eight of your hit dies that you expect.

This. Morning comes. What's the plan? Well, we're recovered. How do you guys sleep? Everyone sleep okay? Not great. Mm-hmm. Can we chase strife, Keyleth? Can we go? Yes. Let's go. As you guys make your way to the front door, you see kindness kind of leaning against the wall of the front, against his knees, kind of pushed to his chest, and he hasn't slept. He's big bags under his eyes. Just staring at the floor.

Or? Kynan, is it? Do me a favor. Sulk around this group a little bit later, otherwise I might kill you right now. So fall in line and pick your chin up. It's not reacting. I'll give him some water.

He acknowledges as you place it down. He doesn't drink any of it. You get up. We're leaving. Are we bringing him with us? Yes. He stands up slowly and kind of just follows you like a ghost right now. What's the plan?

Got to find a tree. Go to a tree. Go to sun tree. Find a tree. And where are we going? White stone. Whitestone. Okay.

Closest, biggest, fattest tree. Okay. It doesn't take you long. You've seen a few that'll work in your initial travel into the jungle here. You find one thick jungle tree that's probably 35 feet up, slightly curving at the top. One of the few living trees in this forest, and it's like a little bit of a little living trees in this forest. and it's a nice wide, solid trunk, so it's perfect for you to do this. As you all gather around, making sure you have everything you need,

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Inside, you can see that brief, kind of hazy glimmer of a cloud-covered day of Whitestone. You all quickly rush through one after another. Port closes behind as you all stand now leaping outside of the sun tree in the center of the main town square and White Stone. It is getting close to... It's just now the sun is setting. It's later in the afternoon evening.

Do we see anyone around? We get Pike. We go to Pike. Pike immediately. All right. There still is that faint shimmer on the sky above you. I have Percy over my shoulders. Your shoulders. As you guys arrive, a number of people who live in White's Zone. Like around your net like that? Not like Yoda or anything.

Oh, fireman care. As you guys begin walking away from the Sun Tree, you can see a bunch of townsfolk and some guards begin to walk up to greet you and like, you've returned. Immediately the energy is felt and everyone kind of steps away and gives you space. So he'll begin to see the limp body of Percival being held over Grog's shoulder. Someone should get Cassandra immediately.

Tell them we're coming. To prepare quarters. Right away. The guard rushes off up towards the Castle White Stone. You guys walking towards the Castle White Stone as well? That's where Pike is, right? Is it the temple? Is she building a temple here? There is a temple being built here, yes. Yes. In the castle or? No, the temple would be within the city itself. And that's where she was last seen. Can we try the earrings? Does Pike have her earring on? Yeah, she's got her earrings, right? Pike, can you hear us? Pike, you who have been suffering a very sleepless night, feeling some amorphous heartbreak that you haven't been able to define yet that has prevented you from closing eyes of the

spells of sudden anxiety and sadness, hear the voice come peeking through, and the immediacy of Vex's tone is both comforting and immediately confirming a terrible fright that you've had lingering at the back of your mind. Vex? Where are you, darling?

I'm in the temple. Where are you? I know something's wrong. We're coming to find you. Okay. To say, I know, simple. You guys, beeline there. And the temple is still under construction, and construction's been slow due to the scenario

that currently exists on Tal'Dorei, many folks that are putting a lot of energy toward defenses and training in case anything bad happens in white stone. There are a few worshippers that have converted to Sarenrae and are helping, but Pike is still the central place of what is a basic stone structure that is slowly being out of it. As you approach, it's pretty much a hovel but is making its way.

But as you approach, you can see the front door open in there. Pike's form long kind of silver and gold-colored evening where just her hair kind of tussed around her face. The little bit of wind that's blowing through, causing it to kind of tumble against one chin, and she looks out to the rest of you with sadness across her eyes.

Where is he? Do you bring him inside? You all make him? your way into this room, and there are two other people that are kind of helping around. They're general townsfolk. They're not heavy into any specific use, aside from cleaning and helping construct. But they go ahead and they bring a large table out, and you guys set Percy on top of it. Can you do something? Can you help him? I'm good to try. We're here with you, Pike.

Whatever we can do to help. We just knew we couldn't do this without you. Okay, I'm going to cast resurrection on it. Resurrection? What does that do? It just brings it back? Does resurrection just bring him back? Yeah, there are two spells at your disposal. There is resurrection, which is a seventh level spell. It costs a diamond worth 1,000 gold, which the spell consumes. Or there is raised dead, which is a fifth level spell, which consumes a diamond worth 500 gold pieces. but the target has to be dead no longer than 10 days.

Okay, so we could do that. What does resurrection do? Same thing, but the person could have been dead for up to a century. Is there a better chance with resurrection? It doesn't change the... I would say, being a seventh-level spell, I would give a very faint modifier, depending. I don't know, Rex, we could say 500 gold. I bring out the best diamond I have. Okay, okay.

There's a, I got a whole bag of gems. You do. What is that, Ash? What is that, Ash? With rings dead is there, what is my question? How old does he come back? With both spells, he comes back, whole. If it works.

Well, we could save a little money. No, pipe. pipe. Oh, how grief does strange things to people. Oh, we can buy him a better tombstone if we had the extra money. His glasses are broken, we can fix his glasses. Yeah. All right.

This is Percival, Frederick Stein von Musal-Kowalski, Dorolo, the third. He needs a large-ass diamond. Pull out the biggest one. I've got a thousand-dollar diamond. It's actually listed in my items. A thousand gold diamond. Let's do it. He's a Dorolo. He deserves the best.

Okay. Pike, you begin to set the stage for the ritual. You begin to pull out the sage. You begin to... This temple, as simple as it is, but simple as the nature of serenry, one who does not have much worshiping influence in this world. And you know that she requires just enough

and the faith is stronger than the presentation. But you pull out the best you can. All the offerings that are necessary. You scroll out the various divine runic symbols that represent healing, that represent connection to one's divine entity, that represent stalwartness and strength of heart, that represent love and family.

Everything you can think of that really binds this ritual to the moment. And as you guys are kind of sitting around and prepare, you begin the in. incantation of the ritual. The first stage allows you to reach out and make contact with the spirit wherever it is. After five minutes of searching, you have no way of locating the spirit. Currently, something is blocking it. Is it orthodox? Like, you know it's out there. You can sense that there is essence of person. but it's like it's blurred and there's something blocking it and you can't the ritual's

unable to reach out how do I find out what it is there way to find out what it is this blocking it he may have to can I have to think about it and I can I can I am facts it's orthax I pull out Ripley's gun yeah I was gonna say yeah Her bleeplea's gun. And I hand it to Pike while she's still in her ritual and see if that has any effect. Okay. As Keelef hands you the gun,

that strange blockage becomes crystalline. What was once a dark spot that was just preventing you from clarifying your vision is now a clear patch of shadow. Having seen this once before, Orthax is indeed blocking the ritual and is currently, hungrily, feasting on the soul of Percival. In the gun?

How do we draw him out? Do we try and destroy the gun again? Do we do this again? What if we carve his name back onto the barrel? What if we use that scroll to go to him now? We can pull him up. Percy? We can pull Orthax.

We can pull Orthax through the game. Or kill him on his home turf and kill him for real. He's a shadow fiend. He's a shadow fiend. Does that mean we have to kill him on his own turf? Do we know? Do we know? I would say, Pike, go ahead and make a religion check

and go ahead and make an intelligence check. Can I make a religion check? Actually, yes, you can as well. Check, check. 21. Ooh, that's good, that's good. 11. Okay.

Okay. Holding this, the essence of Orthax, a shadow demon like this, Orthax was not destroyed and sent back to his plane. Orthax cannot be sent back to his plane when it's bound to whatever its cruxes. Whatever object that Orthax has used as its focus holds it in this plane and it cannot be destroyed on this plane while it's attached to that object. So the gun right now is essentially the anchor that Orthax is using. So we need to destroy the gun.

Destroy the gun or find a way to break the connection. Didn't you detach Craven Edge from me? Didn't you sever a thread? Didn't that happen? Yeah. Can you do that? Yeah? Say, ma'am.

Yeah. Pike did that, right? How'd you do that, Pike? How'd you do that, Pike? I'm trying to remember. I'm trying to remember. I'm trying to remember. remember and it happened to me.

Um. Well, you were dead, aren't you? This is true. It wasn't it like a something evil spell? Can we throw the gun into the... The little hole under Whitestone Castle? There's also still acid. Yeah, yeah.

What if we brought the gun just in front of the circle? It cancels out the magic of it. Like throw it in the circle? Or just bring it there? But is it like an arcane magic? an arcane magic like that? I don't know, but we could try. There is acid here. We can just do the same exact thing. Yeah. Just repeat history, Scanlon. How?

Like, do you're... I think it was greater restoration. That was right. That's what's ever did. Do you want to try a greater restoration spell? Is that what you're saying? On what? On the gun. Can you do that to an object? Yeah, that's what she did for, uh...

Okay. Because there was a, there was a... she could see it. a thread that was connecting us. Sure. Okay, okay. What are you doing, Pike? I mean, to the gun, is that even gonna make any sense? Pike, I can try a greater restoration if you want to save your healing magic.

Yeah. Do you want me to try this? I mean, in case this doesn't work, I'll try and recreate what Pike did to grog. Okay, so you take Anamis from her, the pepper box, and even holding it, there's like this dark weight to it. feels like it's lead and coal in your hands. As you concentrate, channeling the divine druidic energies that you currently are focusing into it, your vision comes to a similar dark, shadowy mass

that Pike had seen during the attempt at the resurrection ritual. You can see there is indeed a connection. There is a tangible gateway between this weapon and Orthax, the shadow demon. and they're enveloped within the darkness. You can just sense in your heart of hearts. That's where Percy lies.

As you begin to focus on greater restoration, you begin to feel the nature of the curse that binds him to it, and you reach out in this space. And you guys watch as Kilth just reaches out into the air of nothing. But within your sight and your vision, you can see that thread, and you grasp it, and as you hold it with your fingers, you feel it fight, and turn, you watch this Keel's hand bolts around,

with nothing in her grasp, and you hear the voice whisper, No. And with that, you snap with your fist. The shadow screams and vanishes, and there you see a brief glimmer of light, the remaining spirit of Percival as it drifts off into the astral sea. I just scream, Percy! The spell finishes. The gun itself, you guys see a flash of shadow around it.

around it. Pike, go! All the names in the side vanish as well. The barrels are now clean. Pike, do it. Can I, I continue working on the resurrection spell. Okay. As you go back into this ritual, that blockage is gone now, and you can see clear the

somewhat tattered around the edges, but whole an existing soul of Percival, and the ritual makes connection. And with that, that coldness becomes a warmth and a familiarity as you reach out and implore the spirit to take your attention and come back. Now, who wants to aid in this resurrection ritual? Who has something to offer as part of this skill challenge? I would like to inspire her, at least. Is that something that will help? Inspiring whoever wants to be part of the ritual, yeah. So yeah, you can go ahead and inspire Whatever's gonna be? Can I reach forward and look in Percy's coat for that white stone, that condensed white stone that he carries?

Sure, go ahead and make an investigation check. Hey, Vex, will you look for that raven skull that he gave him while you're at it? Sure. Um, 25. 25. You start imaging through his coat and you find, um, you find his gun retort. court, you find a bunch of random bullet casings and bullets, you find a cluster of papers and notes that are folded up in a small book, and what appears to be a partially sealed letter

with no name on it. You eventually find some of the white stone glass, the green glass that you guys had kind of flashed around in Encorel. Does he have the raven skull on him that gave him? The raven skull is still on him, yeah. He hangs on his neck, yeah. Okay. What is that? It's, um, he says it's supposed to amplify magic, right? Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.

Um... So I, um, I put it on his chest. Um, what do you want to offer to the skill challenge for this event? Something, something that you as an individual bring to this and bring to the connection to Percy to try and... I say, uh... Percy, I don't know if you can hear me. but that day in Singhorn was one of the best moments of my life

and not because of what you think it wasn't because of my father or the title it was because of White Stone it was because of you you allowed me to be a part of thing that you hold dearest and I was so proud

but I don't want to be here if you're not White Stone still needs you darling I still need you here and I lean down and I kiss him and I say I should have told you it's yours persuasion rule natural 20 I trust you okay okay okay who else wants to add something to this ritual would I Matt would I inspire Pike or Percy or who if you want to inspire Pike Pike could attempt to bring something into the ritual and then could use your inspiration die on top of what her check is. I see. I see. All right. I'll inspire Pike then. I assume she's going to bring something to the ritual, right? I assume.

Okay. So how do you inspire her? I inspire her the only way I know how, which is being an ass. So I'll inspire her with a shitty limerick. Oh, don't. I know a gunman with a white quaffa, who acted evil and had a bad cougha. He learned that someone had possessed his big gun, so I threw that shit in the lava. All right, so you have a D12 inspiration, Dypike. What do you want to try and bring to the ritual on top of your casting the spell to draw him back?

What skill, what type of, what do you want to bring to the ritual? I just, I mean, just, the love that we have for him, I don't know. This is just the rest of it. No, I know. You being the pious woman you are, you have, what you've used in the past, religion has been optional. Your connection with Sarah and Ray, and this is important. There are other skills you can think of that you'd want to bring to this as well, that you're good at. that would fit the circumstance.

You can try anything. How well it fits will depend on how high the difficulty class is, so. Right. I mean, I think, clearly I would hope that Sarah and Ray would come in and step in and help in this. Can you sing? Can you sing, Pike, like you did for that little boy. Percy joined you then?

I could. Didn't you have that thing that brings your God to help once, once a day or something? Divine intervention or something? No, divine intervention. I don't know. Can I use that along with it? I'll let you, yeah. You will help.

Heck yes. All right. Roll a D-10. Let me know what you roll. First. What'd you roll? I rode a three. Okay.

Sarah Nray is with you, but the intervention. The divine gate that separates the gods from the prime material plane still stands, and she's lending what energy she can in this moment. imploring to her in the connection you do have

through the divine gate, I want you to go ahead and make a religion check. Roll D20, add your religion modifier. 18. Okay. Do you want to add your D12 inspiration from Scanlon? Yes. That's 10.

It's a 28. So what did I say? 28. 28. All right, gotcha. All right. One final skill challenge check to make. Who wishes to add to this?

Here you. You know. Is either you. I grabbed the skull from around his neck that gave him. I say, Percy, we had many conversations about life and death. And in many ways, you were my total opposite. But you are also my best friend. And even though I told you, that day that I gave you this, that

We're all gonna die and that you can still be saved from yourself. It was clear the journey was far from over and it still isn't. And then I'm going to cast conjure within beings and I'm going to have a barrage of crows come from around me. And I'm gonna tell him as much as you might think your journey is not over. Just because yours might be, Ours isn't.

It means we need you. I need you. Shoot out the wings and lend them to Percival like the crow he is. I'm going to say between the two of you on that, I need you to make a charisma ability check. Oh.

With advantage because of Vax helping you. This is a particular a challenge for you because persuasion's already been used. You as your point of leadership and strength of character. you're piercing through the veil and through the ritual to appeal to him as a person to another, through sheer force of charismatic persuasion. We're with advantage. Adding your charisma.

Just the gold day. 19. 19. You feel, Pike, the ritual begin to culminate. The divine energies lent to you by Sarah and Ray, fill your form. And you watch as Pike's physical form now seems to overlap her divine form. you've had at a distance. She is just this radiant golden image of herself, the same golden wings flaring up around her. And you watch as Percy's body begins to rise off the table, the arms

and legs just limply hanging underneath, the chest rising up. The light from Pike begins to create a small well of divine energy that spirals down into his chest and blasts through him the table. The table itself cracks beneath him, yet he still remains aloft as the energy hits. The energy fades. The ritual completes the room, grows still and cold and dark once more, likes divine form, disperses into golden feathers that just drift and disappear across the wooden floor. Percy's body slowly lands onto the table. Stillness, stillness. Thilness. Breaths begin, fill his chest once more, unconscious as he is. Life is slowly returning to Percival, as is color. His pale skin, pales it's ever been, but now slowly stirring.

Make sure that just everyone knows. Talison, get your buddy. He's so quiet. We should just let him sleep. Percy. This is too fucking much, man. Mike, you're in a temple. Don't curse. I don't care.

Percy? Holy moly. He said he's still unconscious? He's still unconscious. Well, I cast Leon hands and take him out of that right away. Okay. Plenty of points. Percival. Back in your chair. Get your monkey!

Get your monkey! Oh! But... I've been watching South Park. I don't know about this. No Hamlet death for you. Alright, let me tweet out the photo real fast. The same die I said, the same die I've used for every resurrection roll. Take our break.

I'm going to throw up. Actually, this would be a great time to go ahead and take a break. Welcome back, everyone. All right, so, diving right back in. Percival, freshly breathing on the table in the partially constructed small temple to Saran Ray in the city of Whitestone.

Apparently successful, the spirit restored. You come to consciousness as a tiny hand is smacking you in the face. It's like that little doll hand on S&M. Can I, can I, can I use my missile grab again? Yes, you can. I do not open my eyes. I'm glad of missile.

He's awake. He's alive. Ow! And I slap him in the face. His reflexes are working. His reflexes are working great. Welcome back. Where are we? Your home, our home.

White. Oh shit. Can you see, are his glasses broken? Uh, then his glasses are cracked. But I can see fun. Okay. I'm near side of his body. The reading.

I don't feel well. You want to feel better? Yes. Ripley is dead. Thank you. Deter than dead. She's torn asunder. We have parts.

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. 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, the show that jumped started all of our love of true crime? I'm Ellen Marsh And I'm Joey Taranto And we host I Think Not A True Crime comedy podcast covering some of the wildest stories

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there's only one part we need well two two do we keep both her hands we did we did I thought one was a fakie I'd like to see it okay all right It's a weird request when you just wake up. Not now. Yeah, your sister's going to be running up in here very soon. Oh, God, no. I'm going to lie back down. Percy. At which point the door slams open.

Oh, God. And Cassandra's there with what appears to be Segrasum and a couple of the cards from White Stone. Where is he? Is he all right? I'm going to throw up. Oh, he's all right. You scared me. I heard he was... Everything's fine, dear.

She walks up to you at the table and kind of just leans over and... Stop getting into trouble, brother, please. Well... Just a few more dragons and I'll take a break. It'll be fine. I'm tired. She runs her fingers kind of through your hair a couple times and looks down. Her stern expression kind of melts into a warmth and appreciation.

And she kind of feels the coldness of the body and kind of goes... You can see her putting together the setup, the ritual. your all emotional state and the many damp cheeks, and she looks over to her dewpike and just nods and says, Thank you. Some food in you and stop being so bloody useless and kind of slaps you outside the face and turns around and leaves the temple. Everybody have just slapped my face while I was damned.

That would have been so much more convenient. Who says we didn't? That wasn't the worst of it. No, it was really not. I'm very nice. Very tired. Well, you spent last night on a table, which is much beneath a man of your station. Percy, you were gone for quite a while.

How long? A day. 24 hours. Only a day? Yeah? How long did it feel? I don't know. What do you remember?

Nothing worth repeating. I beg to differ. I wanted to use a gate spell to save you instantly, but everyone else in the group said no. They wanted to save it for something else. I stood up for you when you were down, and they turned their backs on you. I think you're a big hug, and I say,

I think that entitles me to one of the guns that we found. Just one of them, the smallest one. You can teach me how to use it on weekends. Awesome. We'll discuss this. It's a hard yes, I'm expecting. Lafters, laughter's back. Oh, it was not pleasant. Thank you. Thank you for...

Thank you for what you did. I saw what you did. What do you mean you saw what I did? Ah. It was the only thing I saw. Did you hear me yell for you? No, but I saw your hand. Thank you.

Percy. Yes. I'm glad that that's not waiting for me anymore. Is... are you sure? Is he gone? Do you still feel him? I haven't felt him in a long time. Ah... I stopped feeling him after you did what you did, and then there was nothing.

And then there was nothing, and then I was here. But in between, I did feel him quite a bit. Rather than I think about it at the moment, I'm... You should rest and get better. I think I'm going to rest. Hello, Pike. Hi! I don't suppose you've had time to read any of those books.

All of them. All of them. Just and and just I've had lots of time in my hand. I want to insight check, Pike. Roll an inside check. Pike, roll a deception check. There we go. Would you roll?

Eleven. All right. Pike, would you roll a deception check? Of course. She's lying through her fucking. teeth grow. Mike! Hey, it was a joke, all?

Trying to make everyone laugh. You just lied to me. I'm so proud of you. I'm learning. I'm so proud of you. I was very clever, pipe. You should do that more often. I'm...

A big hug. Oh. Please don't do that again. Oh. I can make no promises. Oh, that hurts. hurts. Hi. Did you thank her for the necklace?

Thank you for the necklace. That was, uh, that was... Not enough. No, apparently just enough. Because here we are. And she's been dealt with. So it was just enough. I'm very tired.

You should sleep and we'll talk more tomorrow. I'm going to not sleep in here. wherever this is. No. Get to the castle. This is still a construction zone. Is this what you've been building? Yes, it's, I know, it's still needs some work.

It's not very cozy yet, but it will, it will, it will come in there. I don't know if cozy is really the, the point. I'm going to lie down somewhere soft. You should all go back to the castle there. Yeah, okay. I'll go and dump a few healing spells and stuff into them. Okay. Let's get you to.

guys. You're going to heal them up. You guys make your way back to the castle. The guards are there waiting. As you enter, you can see there sitting in the kind of foyer talking and discussing is Jarrett and Gilmore, who both look a little kind of nervous and kind of intense about, apparently just recently hearing what happened. As soon as you enter, Gilmore turns, Take that as a good sign. He's standing.

I am literally using my gun as a crutch. Oh, come here, you white-hand fool! And he runs forward and kind of gives you, lifts you up with a hug that hurts so much. Not really... But he kind of holds you up for a second and set you back down. I know that hurts. And what did we learn? Don't get killed again. So it's the charm, in theory.

Should we show them what we've got? What do we have? Sure. You heal 48 hit points, by the way. Thank you. I don't even know what hit point level I'm at. You get one. I'm at 49. Is this one of mine?

Yeah. Just yeah, whichever. What do we have to show them? We have two vestiges to show them. Oh shit. I haven't even looked at the cloak. Or the, well, I just tucked it away. We have two vestiges. I pull out the cloak.

Okay. Get it identified. Uh, go on. So you've also been prolific. Here, let me have a look. He takes the cloak and, uh, he's kind of folding it over his hands. You'd see the sparkle, the energy, through the blue inside of it. He's like, very interesting.

Ray puts his hand over it, and his eyes kind of flare with arcane energy. This is indeed Cabal's ruin. Vestages of divergence. I'm specific about this. Once attuned, whoever is wearing it, you have advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects. She's a pretty badass if I do say so myself. Also, when you're hit by some sort of asshole spell out there, you can use your reaction to have a cloak swallow part of it. You have the damage you take from the spell, if there's any damage. to be taken, and the cloak gains a number of charge is equal to the spell level of the triggering spell. The sarkane terminology is fascinating.

The filter of game rules. You don't get a vestige now. You get Wispir, Kilo. So, yeah, essentially what this does is you can use your reaction to swallow a spell if you're hurt by one. Even if you're not hurt by it, you can still swallow a spell, and you can only use it once per short rest. but it does half damage to you and Excuse you And it gains a number of charges equal to the spell level that you absorb

Up to a maximum of six charges can be stored in the cloak That's a lot So up six charges if you have the cloak on and you hit with an attack You can expend any number of charges from the cloak to deal an additional 1d6 lightning damage per charge So you could do an additional 6d6 lightning damage? Yeah, onto an attack that you deal with the cloak. Wow. So that's what Cabal's ruin does.

Does it have to be a magic user to wear it? No, no. In fact, it doesn't channel through spells. It channels through like physical attacks. Mealy weapon attacks is how the ancient works. So. Hey, a question, would the go through like. Groggy?

No. Percy? A grog and a cloak? Do, yeah. Percy, you look pretty. You want to go grab it? Oh yeah, sorry. I just imagine me lighting someone's bonhole up.

I would. I mean it was being... I already have a vestige. I do. No, Groggy. No, Grogh's passing it down. This is gonna, I mean, this is gonna David Bowie you up. You should wear it.

It was worn by the woman who tried to kill you. Oh. Pretty cool. What about the other vestige? Whispur. Whispur. Whispur. How are you doing, Sean?

What do you mean? I'm doing fantastic. fantastic. How are you holding up? It's a little rough, but it's okay. I'm doing my job just as you are. I mean, you all look tired, exhausted, and emotionally drained. So, uh, I think we're all doing our part.

Your parents are lovely, by the way. Your parents are lovely. Ah, yes. Thank you so much again. We gave them a bunch of water. And did you give us something to give to them? Did we do that? We did.

Yes, we gave them what you told us to. The locket. I appreciate that. And they're doing good. They're doing great, and we told them that you were doing fantastic and wonderful and successful. Well, thank you. And when all this is done, I should go visit.

It's been a while. It's been a long time. Very proud of you. It's taken a while. He told us you weren't party trained until you were sick. Is that true? Shut the bed on. Give me your dagger.

He takes it, kind of runs his fingers on the blade. The kind of slight curvature to it out there to the point. So he does his identify. Forged with a mercurial metal pulled from the far elm. Light dances and shifts across this curved blade. It has a plus three bonus to attack and damage rolls made with the dagger. It also deals an additional 1d8 psychic damage on a head. Wow. Whenever Whisper is thrown, you can choose to transform into shadow and merge with the blade, teleporting instantly to wherever the blade impacts.

Yes. Which means you can teleport as far as you can throw the dagger, which is the max range of a dagger. Right. But yeah, so 60 feet you just whatever it throws to. If the target is a creature, you emerge adjacent to the target in a space of your choice around the creature. Whenever you critically hit a creature with an attack with whisper, the target has to make a wisdom-saving throw against the DC-18 or become frightened of you for one minute. Well, it's either pike of me. I think Kila.

I think Kila. It's up to you guys. Well, me. You're gonna fight with a little... You wanna? I've been practicing my juggling, to be fair. Could use it in my knife juggling. Yeah?

Yeah. No, what am I gonna do with it? I honestly would like to make a case for you. Okay, make a case for it. Just consider one thing. I chase people around the battlefield. He really does. And I really have a hard time getting to them sometimes.

It'd be really great to travel 50 feet and then throw another 60 and then be right on their fucking asses. Do they happen in the same turn? You happen in the same turn, yeah? Yeah, the minute you throw and hit something, it immediately teleports you. If you choose, it doesn't have to happen. You could just throw it, and then it hits the ground,

and you state where you are if you want to. But if you choose, you can travel with the blade and essentially appear night collar style and shadow next to whatever you hit. This knife is so sexy, though, and you are so invulnerable to everything. I'm just saying, just for consideration, and obviously daggers are your bag, baby.

It also means you can escape things very easily. What if? You arm wrestle for you. No. I think he should. What, give him this? I'm considering giving you my cloak instead. Which one?

Haste? No. Your armor? No, my cloak. Which one's that? Displacer cloak. What's that too? Makes you very hard.

It's hard to see. Yeah, but Crow doesn't need that. He doesn't need anything. He's got a thing. That was like. Be attuned to this to whisper? Yeah, all of these. You have to be attuned to whisper, yeah.

Somebody else can have it. Don't. I don't feel like anything else you need me to look at. I'm fastening my life, but I'm keeping. So you're not going to use the cloak anymore? I will look at someday. Simple tricks. Anything else you want me to look at before I go to bed, because it's late.

You've already looked at the baby. Wait, wait, right. At this point now the sun has gone down. It's like, say, nine in the evening. Nine. First of all, you should go to bed. Does anyone else want to drink? Wait, I have an old music box. Can you look at it and see if it's magical? An old wooden music box?

Yeah. How do we have to have a talk? Serious talk. Hold on, hold on. I do. I, yes. I'm not quite ready to sleep yet, but yes. No, it's an impressive music box.

It's just a music box. Just a music box. Lovely. Hey, you read Markation. It plays turned out. What do it? The language of Marquette. Arquesian.

Marquesian. I got this book. Found this book in this shitty casino office. It's written in Marquesian. Don't pronounce it, please. It's offensive. It's offensive. It kind of blushes a little and closes it.

I think it found the right owner. Oh. It's a porno. It's an instructional guide. guide. It's an instructional guide? Excellent. I can't read it though.

How will I learn? Maybe you start taking classes in Marquesian. Are there any illustrations? Yeah, pictures. You like pictures, Scan them. Are there? You scan through real fast, and yeah, like, you only got a little ways into the book

when you first looked at it. In the center, there's probably a good 30 pages of really beautiful, old, it's essentially the Kama Sutra. I think that one folds out. That's quite nice. Oh, it's a pop-up book. Oh.

Scanning, isn't there anything else you need to deliver to one of these two far gentlemen? H-ham, ha-h-h-h-h-h-m? No, I believe there is something you acquired for one of these two gents. Ixnay on the ice bay. There are authorities around. Why are you calling Spice Ice Bay?

ice page. Grog, if someone hears you talking about this shit, you could be in deep trouble. I literally am the law here. I'm literally the living embodiment of law and justice. Jared. Yes, I'm glad that everyone is doing okay and it's good to see you here in one piece.

How was your journey? It was great. Spice. Right, a great time. Jesus, I'm a response. If you brought some, yes. I like the way you look. I give him one bag of spice.

The way you look. That is a lot of Frusaka. Thank you very much. That lasts a long time. He spent 50 gold on it. Payed 50 gold for this? For the pair, for the pair. Oh, you got swindled, my friend.

I appreciate it. It's very thoughtful. that she went ahead. It was worth it to see the smile on your face. Oh, well, thank you. You need this bag, if that's all right with you. Of course, of course. I've grown quite accustomed to the stuff.

It's really quite lovely. It needs a specific, I'll give you some tips on how to prepare it. But you know what? I'll cook a classic Marquisian feast in the coming days for all of us. And thank you for the spice. Thank you. Oh, Charit. Yes.

This is Kynan. Oh, shit. It's just been like ghosting you guys the whole time. Oh, that's you. That's what we said to do. Kynan has been telling me that he wanted to help protect White Stone. He hasn't anywhere to live. He needs something to do with his time.

And he has a fire in his belly and wants to serve. And all right, well up. A friend of you is a friend of ours. And you, able-bodied. Kynnan is just kind of taken it back by the whole thing, his eyes are wide, still just kind of staring at you. Slowly he starts talking at the side of his mouth to, Jared. Um, yes, yes, anything. Whatever I can do. Jerich kind of walks up and puts his hand on his shoulder, goes, well first off, you need to be more assertive. You are talking like a sniveling coward. You need to

project your chest, shoulders back. And when you speak, you speak with intent and, uh, ah. It's late. We'll work on it tomorrow. I may have a thought of the boy later. Oh, before I forget this came, for you, Kieliff. What now? A letter came? A letter? Letters. We got letters. We had traders came in.

A parcel in your name. Don't know who it's from. What did they look like? How did they get through the invisible wall? How did they know my name? I don't know. They were sent from Western, I think it was. Oh shit, open that.

What is it? It's got something thick in it, which isn't. Could be a seal. Oh, jeez. Read the letter first. Ah, read the letter first. It's in Marquesian. It's long.

There's beauty pictures in it. Caliph, I write to let you and your companions know that the repair of Western is proceeding well. I will not bore you with the deed. suffice to say that our children are well-fed and safe our elderly and infirm are cared for and comfortable without the help of you and yours this would not be the case the folk in charge argue constantly but that is to be expected and it is no bad thing they all want the same good things in different ways I listen mostly and do what I can to make sure that they listen to each other without listening nothing good can happen the town When I say the repair is going well, it is a hard thing for me to talk about. I am not a particularly clever man, and much of this is new to me. When you make a mistake with metal, you can melt things down and start afresh.

It is irritating, and it costs in time and soot and sweat, but it can be done. There is a comfort in iron, knowing that a fresh start is always possible. But a city is not a sword. It is a living thing, and living things defy simple fixing. Roots cannot be reforged, they scar, and broken branches must be cut and sealed with tar, and this makes me angry, as it always has, and my anger has no place to go. It was easier when I was young. I could use my anger like a hammer against the world. I was so sure of myself, and my friends, and my rightness.

I would hammer at the world and breaking felt like making to me and I was good at it and while I was not wrong neither was I entirely right nothing is simple I do not work in wood I am not brave enough for that

there is a comfort in iron a promise of safety a second chance if mistakes are made but a city is more a forest than a sword no it needs more ten than that. Perhaps a city is like a garden at them. So these days it seems I have become a gardener. I dig foundations in the earth. I sew rows of houses. I plan and plant. I watch the

skies for rain and ruin. I cannot help but think that you would be better at this. But circumstance has put both of us in our own odd place. You are forced to be a hammer in the world, and my ungentle hands are learning how to tend a plot of land. We must do what we can do. Did you know that there are some seeds that cannot sprout unless they are first burned? A friend once told me that. She was a bookish sort. I think of gardening constantly these days.

I wear your gift, and I think of you. And I think it is interesting that there are some living things that need to pass through fire before they flourish. I ramble. You have the heart of a gardener, and because of this, you think of consequence and your current path pains you.

I am not wise, and I do not give advice, but I have come to know a few things. Sometimes breaking is making. Even iron can start again, and there are many things that move through fire and find themselves much better for it. afterward. I have enclosed a gift. Once it was a sword, but it has changed. It is a small thing

and silly. Please forgive an old man for his foolishness. Still, I hope it brings you some small comfort. Kindly. Care. Shit. I don't know what to say. Is he proposing to you? He's got branches on it. It's quite beautiful. Does it say something? I have passed through fire. Wow. Motherfucker, that's cool. God. He's right.

This is a lot to deal with right now. We have friends. Yes. I have a friend. You're becoming a wonderful leader, Kiebeth. And as kind as his letter was, I think something's wrong. And I think there's more to his message. Um,

Vex, maybe you? He scribbled out some words. Let me see. And speaks vaguely in areas. Around, but then. Can't tell. Those are called words, grog. I don't know.

Maybe he just didn't like what he wrote. Make an insight check, Vex. Joe 20. Just just looking at handwriting and the way it's scribbled out, The scribble is hastily, and little bits of text that comes through. It appeared that they were just thoughts that he may have felt uncomfortable putting in the letter after writing him out, and then just scratched him out.

It doesn't appear to be any serious agency or danger around them. You sure? Yeah, I just, I worry. Perhaps bear his heart a little too much. What do you mean? Maybe he... He said things he thought. better of.

No what to say. It's really comforting to know that not everyone hates us. Speaking of, I did have Captain Damon bring his airship here. Is that stupid? No. No, that's not a bad idea. We need a better way of communicating with them. And I'm rethinking, did you collect everything from the...

Welcome to Mick Unplugged, the number one podcast for self-improvement and modern leadership. I'm Mick Hunt, your host, and I'm here to challenge your why and fuel your because. This is where leaders, entrepreneurs, and go-getters come to level up. Each week, I bring you unfiltered conversations, game-changing strategies, and the kind of motivation that transforms lives and legacies. I've learned from legends like Les Brown, Damon John, and Robert Irvine. And now I'm bringing their lessons, along with mine, straight to you. From modern leadership tips to creating unstoppable momentum, this is the podcast that redefines what's possible.

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casting what-ifs, backstage stories, and much more. Listen to Happy Sad Confused on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Battle? Yeah. Good. That is a discussion we should have in private, downstairs. Perhaps in the morning. Bring everything downstairs and have a discussion.

Cassandra, and anybody we trust. We just sort of woke up. What time of the day is it right now, is it? It's getting later in the evening, close to. to like 10 p.m. comparably, even though you guys woke up maybe three hours ago. Oh, jet lag man. Get ya. I don't know what to do. We can have this conversation tonight. I'm going to feel miserable for a while.

I don't think it's a rise idea. Yeah, we could certainly let you sleep. You have to start planning for the next leg of our journey. It's true, but a person needs to go the fuck to sleep. Seriously. I will admit I fear sleep at the moment. How about some coffee then? I'll jack him up first.

I'm, how am I physically at the moment? Physically, you're sore and you're drained. The essence of the ritual and the following healing spells, you're physically whole, but there is a very physical toll on you from the ritual as well. you... So I'm not filled with holes or anything. No, but you feel like a walking bruise. And every movement of your body is fraught with such physical exhaustion that you haven't felt. And only time's gonna take care of that. I mean, you're effectively at minus four to any D20 rolls you make until you rest, and

then it comes to minus three, and then a ninth's rest becomes a minus two. So you're in a rough spot for the next few days, unless you're resting consistently. Well, we do have to have a conversation about all that. We either have an hour later. Take a fucking nap, man. We'll convene in the morning. You're outvoted, Percy. Go to bed. Literally just rose from the dead.

I'm going to need new clothes. Nobody wants to talk to you right now. We want you to go to sleep. We're going to go have a drink and have a fabulous time. Yeah, I'm going to find some strange. See you in the morning. Right. I'll see you in the morning.

I'm gonna go up to my room and pass out. For the brief moment, you have consciousness as you enter the room. It is a wondrous, welcoming sight. And you have just enough time to get that thought across before you face down in your bed and are right to sleep. Clothes still on, just face down from the corner of the bed. It's a terrible sight, but you don't care.

The rest of you, what do you wish to do? I give Pike a huge hug. Yeah. I give everybody a big hug. Yeah, little five. With my gauntlets on, so it's a big bear hug. It hurts a little, and you're proud of her for it. Yeah, I'll give her a fist bump with the gauntlet, standing in the knuckles.

It actually causes like this strange collision shockwave, pushes you back a second, which is too much strength in one fist bump. Oh, Pike, you're getting too strong for your own gun. Oh man, should we all have a drink or something. Jarrett, Sean, can you get away? Sean goes, I, I mean, for a moment maybe. I should probably rest as well, Jared. You know what? Yes, the ring sounds nice.

It's been a while. Good company. Kind of, come on. And still kind of in shock and nods and kind of slinks. As he walks behind, he walks with his head low, and you can see, he kind of averts his gaze towards the ground, kind of just watching where he's going to be walking. Gilmore kind of individually kind of gives you all a brief hug or a handshakes. I'm sure we'll talk more tomorrow. I'm going to go join Percy's plan of action in my place. All right.

Can I walk over to Vax? So I'm assuming you're taking this little chick under your wing. Well, I'm not taking him with us to Draconia or anywhere. No, no, Belak. You're sure he's clean? Uh, I might like to have Pike take a look at him in the morning, but I think so. He's pretty spaced out. Why doesn't Pine look at him now? Are you tapped, Pike?

No? Who is this guy? You recognize him, Pike? Pike, as you say that, looking at him, though much more harrowed, a little more built than you last saw him, but this is the young man who is waiting for you guys outside of Grey Skull Keep a few months back asking to join, who was bright-eyed and inexperienced. I clocked him. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.

Hi again. Hi, and he's like, it's one of the things where he's always kind of looking down, but you just step into his field of already being shorter than him, because you're kind of looking up at him with your gauntlets there at your side. He's looking at you, but he's also not wanting to look you in the eyes a little bit. Hello, Pike. It's good to see you. Good to see you. Park, do us a favor and just give him a once-over and make sure there's no funk on him.

He was traveling with Ripley, Pike. He was probably one? He was traveling with Ripley. Oh, no. Ah, I kept. She froze. In a weird position. She's thinking about it.

Welcome back. We had a bit of a technical difficulty there, but apparently we're back up in streaming and everything's good, so we're going to jump right back into the story where we were. I'm currently holding Gilmore's severed head in my hands, right? Yeah.

Bloods, so dripping. Goutes. of it, anime style, like this North Star, just spraying. And Percy's dead again. He died, yeah. Yeah, he's gone. Another two times. I've cried eight more times. My bad, sorry.

We need to resurrect him, ready? One, two, three. Oh! Oh! Thanks, Bash. All righty, so. We're having Pike check. So having Pike check, Kynan's kind of looking at you, Pike.

What are you going to do? I'm going to detect evil. Okay. As you looking over and you finish the spell, there is no sense of evil from him. Just shame. Make an insight check. I'll say with advantage because of the nature of the spell, because why not? Yes. Yes. Yeah. Because you all powerful

and you can do that. Boss advantage. Because he's a broken man standing before you. Ooh, that's good. Ooh, that's good. Yeah, you don't sense any evil in the sense of what the spell would gather. You do sense, just from looking at his expression, his reaction, and what bit of information you have. This is a person that's been heavily brainwashed, and their idea of what the world was, or as it was, has been broken probably many times. Yeah, Kinen's in a rough spot.

And the guilt is weighing so heavily on him right now that probably best that somebody keep an eye on him. Yeah. I put my hand on his shoulder and I was wondering about that. You say, Klin, you look like a man who feels like he's made a mistake. And you just need to turn that frown upside down. soon.

Wise. My grandma Ernest. Looking down at your smiling blue, gnomish eyes, this broken boy of a man does mutter a slight chuckle in reaction and catches himself and nods. I have a lot to think about. I have a lot of penance to deal with. Thank you. You're welcome.

Maybe a drink would help. Of course, that always helps. Jared, kind of smacks some shorter. All right then, let's get this pub trashed. Follow me. He leads you down to one of the two taverns. The one that had been destroyed as part of the initial battle here in Whitestone

has been constructed. The roof's still mostly missing, but they have a covering over it, and it doesn't appear to be a rainy evening, so it should be fine. but it's a handful of folk in having drinks. Jared treats you all to a round of finer ale of Whitestone brand. They don't have like a large selection of great imported drinks here, but it's enough to at least get the job done. Anything you guys want to do specifically why you all have a drink?

Jared, while we were in your hood, I acquired this delicious little bit and I pull out the sand cake. Oh yeah. This is called Seraph's Swamp. wine swallow, and I'll pour a little into a glass and I'll hand it to him. I'm not familiar with this. You say this is from Ankarao? Yeah, yeah, and it's all in, just all in one. Just hit the back of the throat and swallow it just all in one. Wait, wait, wait, wait.

To friends? Yes, to friends and to health. Friends. To survival. Maybe just sip it. Don't do it. And to Foucaza. Sukasa.

Yeah. Mikaza. Make a deception check. 14. Ooh. He gives you a keen look, looks to vex, kind of nod. To friends and trust.

Oh, no. It's so worth it. I take his cup, I pour a little, and I'm like, okay, let him take this ride by himself. I pound it as well. Make constitution saving through all. Oh, no. That's not great.

Thank you. The fiery rumble in your stomach is matched directly behind by the heavy flow of numbness that fills the entirety of your chest, jaw, and tongue. Yeah. And Jerry goes, that was very strong. I think so too. You fucker. Sam, I'm going to drink the same guy's down.

Well, I'm not going to have any conversation for a while. He'll talk is really funny. Let's break each other's hair. Please don't. I think that far more than you do, and it's too short anyway. 58 with your tank. It became Castilian suddenly.

I get three drinks at the bar, and I walk past Keyleth and just leave one on the table by her and go and sit down by Kynen. I want to show you something. I bought these months ago. And I rode around in my pack and I pull out the three finely made daggers that I bought. They were expensive. She's right. They were expensive. I'm actually not going to give them to you tonight because you're worrying me a little bit. But in a day or two, these are yours. I bought these for you months ago. I looked for you. I visited the butcher shop and I missed you in the very sorry. Sorry about that. I wish that this had not, I wish this is not played out the way it had. Me too.

You can atone. It is not too late. I see the look in your eye. It is not too late. He keeps looking over at Kieleth and you see like every time he sees her he has that kind of spike of guilt in his heart. Yeah. You fucked up clearly. Big time. And you can either curl in on yourself and rot in a bowl. Or you can make up for it. You know what's going on in Taldore. You know what's going on. I spent too much time looking inward. It's pointless. Be of use. Persuasion check. Use luck. That is a 17. Most of this conversation in his eyes have been kind of darting away from connecting with yours.

The evasion has been persistent. But as soon as those words finish, his eye finally lock with yours and stay with you. and he kind of just takes a beat and goes, I know what I've done. And there's no way I can express how sorry I am. The woman I followed, she was confident, she was persuasive, and she picked up where others wouldn't, and I bought into that. And that just shows once again

that I was never ready to begin with, like you said, and I appreciate that wisdom in hindsight. I'll do my best. I can't make any promises. My best. That's all any of you. of us can do. You're battered. You're not broken. Do better. Drink up. Share a silent drink.

I just kind of shoot him daggers whenever his eyes meet in mine at one point. And he immediately goes back to his drink. It takes him... Oh, SIRME! We're living in the broken future of technology. Thank you for your patience. So, um, as kind of avoiding eye contact with Kiel is getting progressively drunk as the evening goes on, on occasionally you see him smile hearing other bits of conversation and the positive presence least of you guys being somewhat forgiving in the moment and the

fact that Percy did come back alleviated some of his guilt he's still you know he's doing better than he was earlier definitely but he's still very inward Jared is having hilarious conversation with grog as it progresses It was great to have all of you back. And I hope my hometown was very kind to all of you. I do miss it. And perhaps when all this is setting done and I can get a proper, maybe a rate of approval

from the books here at White Stone. Maybe they could absolve me of a couple of things on the books I'd like to say goodbye to it. I can't just stay at least time what I'm staying. I'm what where did you get this? It is the best. Pretty great. Oh, bud, Mike, you have to try some.

Bye, do you want a little bit? You have to have some. It's serious, Pike. It's not very tasty. I'll tell you that, but let me tell you what it will do is this. You don't drink alcohol for the taste. Yeah, it is my moonstad. I'll pour a little glass.

All right. Do you, do down the shot, Pike? Well, yeah. Make a Constitution saving throw. Constitution. I saved the party? So go ahead and roll Constitution Saving throw, Pike.

Oh, boy, oh, boy, oh, boy. Here we go. Turned down for Pike. That was the widest drop-in of the people ever. What did you roll, Pike? 15. 15?

He's a skull horse. Pike downs it, it burns in her stomach, and she takes it. What? Seriously? Spike, you're such a badass. Yeah. Well, how do you feel, Pyatt? I feel like it didn't taste any difference than what I usually have.

I just thought I have another one. For another one. All right, make another saving throw, Pike. Oh shit. She's crazy for a brisome. I just throw my . So, Pike takes the second shot, slams the drink down on the table.

You feel the numbness hit your lips pike, and you feel a little strange, a little sparkly and numb for a second, and your tongue isn't quite functioning, as you would hope, as everyone's looking towards you. A second or thought, that's obviously very brave of you, Pike. Yes, he's got quite the tolerance. Well, I thought I would have, I don't even know what it is.

And with that, Pike face plants under the ground. Oh, no, Pike. Mike. Oh my God. Mark. I got you talking. I got you talking. I know.

I'm trying to pick her up by her collar and trying to like just hold her up. She's just limp. She's just limp in your grass, man. She's snoring loudly too. Well, that's one way to go for the night. I think this is an important lesson for all of us that, at least the two of us, no more of that. No, no. I put it in the bag of hold.

Did you know it comes from like a venomous part of a big animal? You sort of presses that before we had the drink. Did I say that? No. Oh, that was my fault. That's fine. Too late now. I go, like, lay pike in a booth or not. She's just slumped over it to you.

All in her own work. Anything else you guys wish to accomplish while drinking, or do you want to talk about our plans, or are we waiting for Percy for that? Well. Wait for the brain. I know, right? I'm over here.

I'll pull Jared aside real quick if that's all right. Can I check out that, um, That letter that I found on person. Oh, my God. Yes. I'm gonna fucking kill you. I will. Well, while she reads, I pull Jared aside,

and I say, listen, I know you've had legal troubles before in your homeland, but we're buddy buddy with the leader now. In fact, I have this symbol that he gave me. He, she, they gave me this symbol. Look, Scanlan. I've known you long enough. to know that you are a master of tall tales. This is the God's honest truth, man.

This is a real deal. This is diplomatic immunity, man. I can get you off. I honestly, don't even know if you're real right now. I am so fucked up on this. Jared, I listen to him, and it's not very often any office to get people off. You're telling me that you've made friends with Jean-Mont-Flowered.

We met them in their... in their palace and we're pretty tight now. So I bet I could get you free and clear. Then please do. Will you do something for me? If it is within my ability as your employee, of course. You're a man who knows things, knows how to get things. Depending, maybe.

I was a little disappointed with the samplings in your home. I was wondering if around here you couldn't find me a little... S'-uh-s-uh-uh-uh? What? A little pick-me-up, a little ride. A little dipsy-doodle. Drugs, man, drugs. I want drugs.

I want you to go find me drugs. Listen, I've had a really rough time. I saw my friend die. We found the body of another friend. that I don't really deal with these things. But you know people who know people. Not here in Whitestone. I'm gonna get you cleared of murder, man.

Look, if you wanna get some food, go down to like the Thurth Fields, or maybe over in Kymol. What were those words? The Thirst Fields? The Thurth Fields, south of the Alabas, the Aalbassas, the Ayerid. There's too many asses in what you just said.

Looking for drugs, yes? Yes. Get some food. Some food? Food. I don't know what you're saying. Spell it. You spell it, spell it.

S-U-D-E. Food. Sued. Yeah, food. What is that? Is that a place? Is that a person? No, it's a drug. Oh! You didn't even know what you're asking me for.

I don't. I don't. I don't know. at all? You confuse me, no. I'm confused, too! Look, as your employee, this is a very uncomfortable conversation for now. It does not affect our professional relationship one bit.

You have my word. I can send a choir maybe, but like, that's a very highly illegal stuff. Mind you, to be fair, the prison where they put you is currently being sat on by a giant red dragon, so if there was a time to buy, this would be it. There you go. Um, I'm in charge of, well, that,

and you look over and now, Kynan's, like, face down on the table, just trashed. They charge of that now, apparently. Still training along with cash, a bunch of people. I cannot do this myself. It would not behoove our current state here in White Stone. I could ask around, maybe send somebody. It'll be a while.

I can't get his suit here in Whitestone. It's okay. It's okay. Just try your best. I believe in you. Thanks. You're the best. Now you're just making fun of me. No, no, I'm gonna clear your name, man.

I'm your ticket to freedom. I'll go and get you some food. Thank you. You're welcome. That would make me so happy. That's all I want. Be pleased. Meep.

Facts paid attention to that entire kind of scene. So, so sad. I'm missing this. So eventually, Jared, all right, I need to sleep this off, whatever this is. Good night, everyone. See you're in the morning. Good night. And he kind of stumbles his way out the doorframe into the hoistone night. Anything else you guys wish to accomplish tonight?

Are you going to go ahead and get your sleep? I was looking anxiously over at Vax. She was... Oh, this? Yes. Oh, it was, um... Well, I suppose I'm a horrible... person, so you might as well be too.

What, you read it? This? Yeah. Mm-hmm. What is it? It's a letter. It's a goodbye letter from Percy to us. Oh, what?

Terrible people. Um, I... I feel like it's a bit of an invasion. I probably shouldn't have just done that, but... It's weirdly Patrick Rothfuss's voice, though. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. Dear Vox Machina. It's me, Percy.

Are we all reading it? If you want to. You should read it out loud at that point, too. Yeah, I mean, I'm the only one. Only those of you who don't care about my privacy. Tell us, would you like this to be in your voice? Yes. Oh.

No, it was never supposed to be in my voice. I didn't record. My friends, I have just taken an audience with a Raven Queen who has snuffed any hope of my redemption, which I am truly grateful. With new clarity, I can finally see my life is a series of compounding poor choices. There was nothing I could have done to save my family yet I still sold my soul in search of vengeance. Later I allowed Ripley to leave knowing full well she was a greater threat to the world than the Briar Woods would ever be. I traded the world's safety

for the belief that I could murder my way to peace. That if I could be a greater horror, it would bring my family back. And once this lie was shattered, I scrambled to find a solution to make a deal to undo my mistakes and balance the scales. I now understand that there are no scales. There is no redemption and no ledger that judges me good or evil. I am free to simply be myself and live with the terrible mistakes I've made. Tomorrow I start upon a new path beyond the gods and demons who have tormented me and it's your friendship that makes this possible. Though a shadow lingers, the need for vengeance is gone. I will try and do my best for you all. I will strive to buy the future more time free of my legacy.

I will stand against the children of my madness in hope rather than in anger. And if you're reading this, then my travels on this path have come to an end. Scanlan, thank you for destroying my gun. Do not let the weight of life's consequences crush your bravado. It is your greatest weapon. Grog. Grog. Yes. Remember that your compassion has brought you this far, not just strength.

For the record, I would have wiped the floor with you that time. Vax, you often remind me of myself, and yes, I know that that is a bit of an insult. Stop indulging your desire to sacrifice and try being the man these two women seem to think you are. They may actually need you one day. Vex, you often remind me of myself. and that is the highest of compliments. Oh, true to form, Percival, true to form. I hope you free yourself of whatever voices haunt you.

Also, since I'm gone, you're the clever one now. Still the clever one. Keeleth, don't let the world break you. Learn to forgive it for not living up to your standards. We promise to try harder. Smart ass. Yeah. Pike, it is wonderful to have you home.

You bring everyone close to you. to their best selves, and I can only imagine what a burden that must be. Oh, she's out. Allow yourself some vice and failure, done and done. He'll still love you just the same. All true. As to what must be done, I'd be content to be left in a ditch, my weapons and notes, burnt and broken.

Fucker. But I imagine that would upset Cass. If you can take me home. If you can't, I understand. She knows where to find the rest of my instructions. Times being what they are, burn my work, or bring it home in the hopes of aiding in the defense of Whitestone. I leave this judgment in your capable hands. Please find Ripley before she does too many terrible things

and erase my legacy wherever you find it. That silence would be the greatest eulogy I could ever hope for. Oh dear. With eternal gratitude. Percival of Oxmachina. I'm gonna kick his fucking ass. Why? He didn't mention you, did he?

Yeah, he did. He said he could have worked the floor with me. Well, I'm sure it was a joke, friend. Yeah, that's a very highbrow kind of humor. It's hilarious, I promise, it's hilarious. It's hilarious. It's really funny. Yeah, it means stuffy.

Boring, boring. Boring humor. humor. Do you're still out? You're still out. You're done for the night, part. Plan. I should not roll a perception check?

With disadvantage. Well, you should not have taken that note. Well, I know. I was searching for something important and... You're passed out. You don't hear anything. I just realized I still had it is all. So do we plan to act like we didn't read it, or are you going to try and slip in the

back in his pocket without him noticing. What do you guys think? That's a good point. That's a good point. I balance a tray on top of Pike's prone form and put some cups on top of it. Should I pretend I didn't read it? Should I pretend I didn't take it?

Was it sealed or anything? No, it's just folded. Yeah. Try and sneak it in. All right. Yeah, I put a tray on top of the cups, on top of the first tray. But now we go forward just with the knowledge

that we know Percy was anticipating dying? Well, aren't we all anticipating dying? Yeah. And I mean... Technically, we should all write these letters. I mean, that's Percival up and down. There's nothing really that surprising in the letter, really.

Don't know if we all need to write. Grog, you can draw some pictures for us. More cups on top of the second tray. The fact is, we all might die at any point. No, that's true. And it would be terrible, and we should enjoy every day that we have together. That's right, third tray. Yeah, make it dexterity checkbacks.

No problem, 24. 24. The stack is beautifully balanced. It's like retaining a little bit. You better hope she doesn't move. I just stand and admire my own way. I walk up and shove Vax into the tray. As he's admiring it, you get a sudden push forward and clashing.

All the trays and glasses fall and hit the ground. You hear the metal and the brass, king, tang, who, whoa, whoa. Did he wake her up? Pikesters, I never say. You wake up, still trashed, Pike, and still your lips numb as ever, but you're back to consciousness now,

hearing all this clattering around you. Hey. Hey. Did you know that I'm... What? I was trying to stealth. You are drunk. You are very drunk.

We should... We should head back to the castle. Yeah, Grog, you want to pick up pickle and let's go get some sleep. Pike, what did you do to all these cups in trays? Did I do that? Yes? Oh, no. I'm very disappointed.

You should apologize to the owner. I'm sorry, no. The older former one in the corner runs the bar. It's fine. A flipper a gold coin. She watches hit the ground. Thanks. Welcome.

All right, let's go home. All right. I'll pick up, Pikey. All right. You guys all find a way. You guys find a way back to White Stone Castle. Do your respective rooms? Oh, no, I sneak into Percy's room.

Okay. Make a self-check. You down for what? Stop white people. I'm sorry. Do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do do. Hey man, we've got a legitimate rapper in this room. 79. Yeah, no. Percy does not see nose. He was just snoring loudly face down in his still set bed, just in the bed itself. The room is dark, but you can still see fine.

Can I not even shove it in his butt? Can I try to reach under and get it into the pocket and the coat that I... Yeah, go and make a slight a hand check. Sort of reaching around? Yeah, yeah, yeah. I love you all so much. Flight of hand. Yeah. 7 plus 15 is... 22. Percival, I need you to go ahead and roll a perception check. With disadvantage. Yes. Full disadvantage or the new disadvantage.

You're essentially a dead person. You are in the sleep of the dead right now. So you're rolling with disadvantage and whenever you roll, minus four. Minus four. Oh, right. That's... That's a... Perception? Yes. That's 13.

A couple moments that snoring kind of, can you stop? Wait for the breathing to continue and you find the coat pocket where you found it. Gently slip the letter in with the notes that you found it with. Step away. Gently close the door. Cucumber sandwiches. Oh, so this is yours here. I don't need it anymore. All right, as you guys go to rest for the evening, sleep takes you. Eventually, some of you longer than others, just because you woke up, not too long before, but sunrise comes in Castle White Stone. Once again, the previously somewhat cloudy day is now a very gray sky day. There is a slight mist in the air and looking out over the forest from the windows. You can see that the forest itself is a very thick, low.

fog and mist that does cover portions of it. It's a cold, cold morning, and it's kind of a brisk way to wake up. As you guys all begin to come down, you know, eat your meal for the morning, as the guards go out of business within the castle, seeker assume, and comes into the room with you guys. I am sorry to intrude. There is some new information while you are you all. while you were gone that I would like to discuss with you. When you're finished eating, we'll meet in the war room. I'll be waiting for you. I need it leaves looking a little.

That's ominous. Let's just throw it back and go. Yeah, let's chug and go. Okay. You guys finish your meal, as fast as you can, you head up and meet in the war room. The war room and down by the little, the circle, by the orb. No, no, no. This is actually like a meeting room in the castle that has been converted into a war room for planning and such.

It's not the secret, secret room. Yeah, this is where you've met with Sandra and Alura and people in the past, you just have to discuss about important matters. It's coming to the room. There's the big kind of window facing out across Whitestone on the second floor for this room. There's the table in the center, and as someone sitting there, kind of fingers steepled,

kind of looking at the table. Thank you, please. Come in, close the road behind you. I think we should have some privacy for this. Very foreboding, assume. This is an important conversation. Should we have this downstairs then? Or to have it here in private.

So as you guys can assume, kind of stands up for a second and goes, thank you for coming. I think it's time we discuss something of extreme importance. I want an inside check. I agree. Go for it, inside checks. He hasn't even said anything. I don't care.

He's not, he's being really shifty. 27. Ooh, no, no. Whispers. Also 27. Ooh. Oh. Look at the big brain on bread.

Oh, check out all the big brink. Hello. I am loot crate. Please buy me. Oh, hold on that's going by. That's just got really awkward and really weird. Don't you think? Ashley, I think we should go down to the orb.

Ashley, I think you should move to Los Angeles. Ashley, come home. Come home, Ashley. Come home, Ashley. Ashley, we all died. It's just you now. You versus the dragons. So, uh, assume stands up, kind of hands on the table. Assume, I'm sorry. I don't mean to be insistent here, but if this is as private of information as you seem to be making it out to be, maybe we should go to the room where we know we cannot be spied upon.

I assure you this room is safe. It's going to be a brief discussion. I would feel more comfortable. downstairs. We talked about this. Before I continue, hear my words. Think before you act. I implore you. Understand that not all is what it seems, and I come to you as an ally. Assumes eyes flash, a vibrant green for a second, and then become yellowish reptilian orbs. You see a hint of green scales kind of curl across the face. Now please, let us talk. Violence will not end in your favor.

You have no plan, no trap. I am smarter, more prepared, and more powerful than all of you. I know of Whitestone, I know your tricks, and I know your weaknesses. If I wished you destroyed right now, I could have done it a thousandfold already. So consider the fact that we're even having this conversation. Is me putting forth a lot of effort and intent to have this discussion. No rash actions. Noted. Now let us put our cards in the table, shall

we? I, as I'm sure you've noticed, Risham, it is a pleasure to meet you in person. the hope devour and the iron storm. I need your help. Wish to kill the Cinder King. And that's where we'll end tonight's session. Welcome to Mick Unplugged, the number one podcast for self-improvement

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