Critical Role & Sagas of Sundry - Vox Machina Ep. 70 - Trust

Episode Date: January 10, 2022

Vox Machina make a deal with a treacherous foe, and prepare for their confrontation with Vorugal the White Dragon!   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Hi. He lives! Oh, my product. Before that, we'll get new keynote. Apparently, this is the night where we all wear the same shirt, because that happened. Also, three of us may have gone to a church's concert on Monday and are obsessed with them, so there's that.

But anyway, let's go ahead and jump in here. Let's go ahead and jump in here. First and foremost, tonight is our fantastic sponsor returning as often as they do, and thank you so much, Lou Crate. Sam, yeah! Lute Crate. The theme of this month is horror,

and I've been dabbling in the hip-hop world lately. So I've prepared a little rap to, it's pretty street, guys. Oh no, I know you are not doing that right now. It's gonna be pretty hardcore, so buckle up. You've never looked older. Maestro, I need a track. Yeah.

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Okay. I got a hip. So in conclusion, oh. So we can... So in conclusion, listen up, G, I'm down with Luke Crate and with OPP. Their swag is the bomb and their threads rocks. You want horror, player, it's in the box. Word.

Oh wow. Thank you, Sam. Sure. Straight out a regal. That makes me sweat. Oh, man. That went really well. That did not at all set hip-hop back to 1991.

I think I saw that in my dare class. Thank you, Luke Crate, for allowing us week after week to have Sam do this. Thank you, Sam. Also, lutecrate.com slash critical role now goes to a custom critical. roll page within loop crate.com. And you should check it out. Love you all. Words here, mama. All righty.

Oh, my good. All right, so next to hold the list. New this episode would start in tears. Because we'd start it again. Lord, do you want to talk about merch stuff coming up here? Merch stuff coming up. What do we have here? The pre-orders are still going? Yeah, the pre-orders for the hoodies are still going on, aren't they?

Yes, they are. How about that, guys? still happening, you can still order those. I think a whole other week. Get them hoodies. No, am I wrong? Are you striking out right now? I'm striking out so hard for another week. Continuing the 1991 trend.

All right, and the next thing we want to mention as it is tis the season of Halloween. We are announcing tonight leading up until the end of the month. We're having a critical role Halloween costume contest. Oh! If any of you guys are dressing up anything critical role-related whatsoever, go ahead and tweet it at us or Instagram us with the hashtag critical costumes together. We're critical costumes. We'll have a winner and a runner-up. Prices are to be determined. Sam is dead set on giving away a bunch of his old shirts. That might be one of them. We'll figure it out. It's going to be a Halloween treat. We don't know what we're doing yet. No. I also didn't tell Geek and Sundry we were doing this. No, we may have been a little drunk. This is a geek and sundry contest. This is our time. We got a little drugs. We're doing this with you guys. There was wine. We will

be figuring out cool prizes but yeah so hashtag critical costumes I'll have to the end of the month up until Halloween proper and we shall determine when and runner up excited to see what you guys do um Lauren Travis you want to talk about a project another episode of another project you guys are working on? Yes I will so we're both in telltale's the Batman series which is great Laura plays Catwoman and I play Harvey Dan. What? And episode two released last week or the week before I think it was just last week and it's really It's really great. It's on major consoles. PS4 or Xbox One. You can get it on your phone now too.

So check it out and watch us be part of the Batman Rokes Gallery. Super villains. Yeah. And save Harvey Dent. Don't worry about Catwoman. She's a piece of cat poop. There you have it. Straight from the... That's a line straight from the game. Yep. You can look forward to that kind of writing. Spoilers.

In addition, though, to Batman, the Telltale series, Gears of War is launching on the 11th. We just On the 11th, we just did a big live event yesterday. Here's a wolf. And if you got the ultimate edition, you can download it and you can play it early. As in tonight, which you shouldn't do, you should be watching us, but you could do it after you're done watching us. It's pretty sweet. I played it a bunch more.

It's really good. That's fantastic. War harder. War harder. Okay. Other couple announcements. Really, really amazing, Iometric RPG. That's me and a few of the other guys have probably, like Leamy worked on it.

Sam, did you work on Mascarato? Which is what? Mascarata? Nope. Me and Liam. On Masquerada, it came out last week on Steam, and I believe it will be available on consoles later in the year. It's super pretty. It is a great story, incredibly well written, fantastic cast, and I have a very fancy in it.

Yes. Such a fancy man. Yes, you were. I highly recommend it. I'm really proud of the game, and if you're like really good narrative stories and great character development, I highly recommend it. So check out Masquerada on Steam. And coming up towards the end of this month, to Titanfall 2.

Yeah. Your trailer looks so good, dude. That's sweet, sweet, swingle payer, baby. I play the protagonist in the single-player mode. Nailed it. And check it out. You get to have a fun buddy cop experience with me and your Titan. So check that out in a few weeks, guys.

That's all I'm allowed to say. I also play a guy. Yeah. Okay, that's it. That's as far as it goes right now. That's all I'm allowed to do. As far as we're like to. We're basically in all the video games, you guys.

I'm not in that one. No, no, apparently not. Yeah, well, Matt, are you in Blue Robot 13? Yeah, yeah. Are you in Verdant Lightning? Yeah, well. Are those real games? They're not real games.

They could have been, though. I was like, nodding it. Oh, yeah, Vergenit's lightning. I would tip start with it. I have that. A couple other than quick announcements. Me and Talasin, not this weekend, but the weekend after, We'll be in New Hampshire at another anime con.

We'll both be doing panels and signings and fun stuff there. Yeah. So those of you guys in that vicinity, come say hello to us, bring things in books to sign, and bring questions for our panels, because we will be lonely otherwise. And then it would be a great time to meet you. So make a way to another anime convention.

We'll be doing these accents. The entire time. That's your New Hampshire accent. This is what they sound like in New Hampshire. That's correct. All right, and last but not least, guys, please don't forget to vote. Yes. Register.

Register to vote. We still got some time. Voting's later. Deadlines for most states are coming up pretty soon. California has on October 24th is deadline to register, but please register so that you can go out and vote. It's so important, you guys. Must do. Oh my God. Seriously, like we're living in an Orwellian fantasy right now.

Please vote. We'll be there. We'll be there. We're meeting in lines at public schools just like everybody else. Yeah, we're going to come to the line that you would go to if you vote because we just know which ones you're going to be at. We'll shake your hand. We're going to be there for each one of you individually. Like Santa Claus.

Travis will be there at each individual one. My voting center actually has a tank out front. It's a national guard center that we play on the tank. Oh, a tank? There'll be a picture with me with a tank later. That's great. Yeah, that's nice. And unless we have any other announcements.

Oh, God. I think it's time. We can't stall. More announcements. It's down to tonight's episode. of critical role. Hello, my daughter.

What's he doing now? I just got to put something on the bottom on the thing. Hello and welcome back. So, picking up where we last left off, Vox Machina, our band of adventurers, had been collecting the vestiges of divergence, a series of artifacts to prepare for their coming encounter with Thorac the Cinder King

and the rest of the Chroma Conclave, a group of evil ancient dragons that banded together to tear across and dominate the Tal'Dorei countryside. During their most recent journey, they were tailing what appeared to be a competitive group searching these same artifacts, led by a forgotten villain of the past, and as Dr. Ripley. They were led into a trap, and a heavy battle took place, one that claimed the life of Percival. The party retrieved his body, took it back to Whitestone, and threw a series of very lucky roles, and imploring his soul to return once freeing it from the devouring jaws of Orthax, the shadow demon, he was restored to life.

Celebration was short-lived thus far after an evening's rest. They were asked by their old ally, Seeker Assum, to meet them upstairs in Castle Whitestone in the war room for a very important meeting. Upon arriving around the central table, Assum revealed himself to actually be Raishan, the Green Dragon and member of the Chroma Conclave, that you have not seen since the original attack of Imam and left you last with the bombshell bit of information that Rashaun's here to make an alliance. And as you are as well,

Rishon is interested in the destruction and downfall of Thodak the Sinder King. And that's where we're going to go ahead and pick up. So having just revealed through the somewhat transatlantic somewhat transformed eyebrows, eyes, and upper face of the hairless tattooed and scarred side head of Sikkar Assum. You can see the reptilian green scale spill about and the glowing, yellowish reptilian eyes peeking through. The voice modulates into more of a deeper, but thin, reedy hiss after Asum looks to you all Azaraysham and says, I wish

to kill the sinner king except my alliance. That's it, that's... We're just supposed to trust you? No, I assumed you'd ask questions. What do you require? And the fuck should we trust you? You shouldn't, to be perfectly honest.

I am a being that hides the line between what's true and what's false and I know your research has spoken the same. However, strange circumstances make for strange bedfellows. and circumstances as they are, I think you have very little choice. As do I. What do you claim your motives to be? Listen for a moment, and I'll tell you a bit about the history of this green dragon before you. My home is south of here, within the jungles of the rife and mist peninsula, along the southern side of the storm crest.

That is where I met the cinder king nearly two decades ago. when he encroached upon my territory. We battled then, an exhausting struggle over days. Thorac is keen of I, however, and older than I. He held as assault. He saw me, and he saw my disease. I was cursed a half century ago, when I infiltrated and toppled a temple of Melora

that was being built by a druid for her roving peons. As I consumed her last follower, broke the druid upon her altar, she gave her dying breath to spite me. Sickness that she imparted was merely an inconvenience. But as the years wore on, it spread and worsened. I left my pursuit of base interests and began to obsess over a cure for this before it took me. I burned through servant after servant to find anything on such a disease. my ailment. He said, you are unwell. A rare malady upon you. It will claim you in time to burn it out of your system with a fire you will never find. I've done it before.

The worst of illnesses. Now, I am a creature who can pierce any lie by nature. Oh, in my heart that he spoke the truth that day that Dragus really wanted him return. Your servitude. We made an agreement. He would return once he marked his domain. We discussed the terms. However, he did not return. I grew furious and sought answers, only to find that he was brought low and sealed away by some assembled others. Some fools from him on. It took me years of seeking,

but I found his whereabouts. I was not going to let my chance to strike away this bloody curse slip. from me. So I met him on the fire plane. For years, I saw his swelling, his pained form. He spoke of plans, his ideas for vengeance and domination. But he would not relinquish the sequence he promised me until I released him. I proposed the conflict.

I assembled the others. I negotiated the agreements. I corrupted the binding stone. I prepared the Pyra Gate. I did everything. Thorax clarity muddled. It seemed his bindings, the power that he was absorbing, he was beginning to drive him mad. We did not have any more time.

I needed to initiate the escape before he lost enough to forget our agreement. It means to even fulfill his side of the bargain. The most celestial solstice is planned, but Winter's Crest would have to do. Amitho Dac freed, the conclave assembled. Taldore was raised, divided. He still withheld his words. He laughs at my requests. I see now that he does not mean to tell me.

I never really did as his mind began to go. He enjoys his seat of power over all of you, over me. I want him dead. Chimply torn apart. I want to see his eyes go cold. And in that very moment, and bind his word to tell me how I can save myself. Thurak will experience all of those things.

He will burn and he will suffer, and you will not be there to watch it happen. You want to feel the burning inside of you? You will feel it, Raishan. But it will not be from Thorac. Or whatever proposed cure he made up. The burning you feel will be from the souls of 10,000,000 fire of Shari as they sear your flesh. And the last thing that you will see will be my faith. You watched you as you watched a quarter of my civilization burn!

I commend you before you give in to such base passion. There is much to be gained by us working together and so much more to be lost. Oh, you commend me for bravery? Oh, Ryshan, for someone who is supposed to be so smart, I am not afraid I know what you are you are a parasite you walk around calling yourself a magnificent ancient dragon you are nothing more than a leech you consumed the energy of my people for years and we're supposed to just trust me call me child one more goddamn time I move behind Kaileth a single one of your people no Thorax release destroyed the top of which you did. You unleashed the mad dog, you bitch. This is your fucking fault. He's just a mad king.

As you said so yourself, you're the master planner. But your plan backfired, didn't it? So now you've come to us, and you think that you can formulate some other master plan that's still going to somehow get you what you want. You dumb fool. When will you fucking learn? Not mistake, my grace in this room, nor a full-hearty wish. I think I may be so bold as to tidy up what Keyleth is trying to drive home here, is that from all intents' purposes from this side of the table strike me as a desperate creature,

who's pretending that he has a choice to be here and has brought... She, excuse me. That is another conversation. You've brought very little to the table. We are not impressed with your notions that somehow we can work together. You need us, and this is all you bring. I bring information.

I bring knowledge of Thor Dach. Where is Assume? Where is Assume? Let's start with that. Let's start pretending you have a choice here. The one you call Seeker Assume is alive. In Eamon, still working amongst the clasp. The story I gave you was mostly truth, peppered with necessary,

deceits to place me here amongst you for the time I needed. He is there to secure cybers, survivors against Odak. I infiltrated the rings of the clasp, gained his trust, which allowed me to find your whereabouts, and so I came. He sent me on a mission to notify. on a mission to notify you of his plans, which, by the way, along with Bratore's gold hand and the clasps' cooperation, they have a plan to strike at Cinder King. Side check.

Slippery dragon. There's no reason you'd believe or disbelieve. It's just words to you right now. What's their plan? One that'll fail, of course. You see, they put their knowledge in what a red dragon. is capable of. They believe that by quelling the flames or stoking some nature of the crystal in its belly's magic, there would be a way to stop with them. And there is a path to be

taken there, yes, but their knowledge is faulty. They don't understand the nature of the enchantment. And should they attack, they will burn in the flames of their own righteousness. What's your illness? Until it's. And you watch as assumes form grows a little more green in places. The scales unfolding, and as the image, though still in the half-ling form, where the scales rest, you can see a series of deep, purplish, black veins that kind of ride up the side of the throat and across the chest and the arms, and they just

kind of pulse with each heartbeat. It withers my constitution, weary, and I've sat with this for nearly a hundred years. My brain is not dull. But I wish not to have this brilliant intellect waste away into ash because I couldn't find an answer. So you come before us and you tell us you're weak. Oh, meet by my standards. You're weak by mine too. If we were to work with you, and that is a massive fucking if. If we were to work with you and Thorac were to fall.

Paint us a picture. What can we look forward to after that? What happens to you? Where do you go? What happens to tell Dore? I have no interest in this masqueal domination. Most of these petty creatures that you call your brethren and live amongst their cities and that's fine. My happiness lies from returning to my home in the rifle mist, where I can pillage the eastern southern coasts, where I can ride out amongst the Viridian Ocean and steal what is necessary to survive and enjoy my network.

of followers and spies far away from where you live if that's uncomfortable I can find a nursery rhymes sounds like a life happily ever after if you're uncomfortable with my proximity post the fall of the king I will happily take my presence elsewhere gather my people my belongings and find a roost somewhere across the osmet perhaps I'm comfortable with that being a conversation that happens later? Well, obviously, but I don't believe anything she says. So it hardly matters. You're sure that Thoradag has a cure for you?

I have spent many years' eyes. I am certain there is a confidence with knowing and withholding that is stronger than a strongest of loves. And I've seen that confidence in the cinder king, a cruelty, in that knowledge, that smugness. Is he still insane? My most standards has been for some sort of love. time but it continues to slip his narcissism brosed danger is bound before we would agree or even consider any terms before we would consider any terms we would need

the white dragon removed from the playing field could be a good way for you to show us your loyalty even though you but no Reishon whatever deal we strike does not end in you leaving my sight You're going to die, even if I have to die doing it. They're amusing. Really, this is a conversation about whether or not we wait to try and kill you until before or after the Sintagin. That's fair, I think. You think because you took surprise upon Andrusil, the brute, this inferior intellect that you would have the opportunity to strike me down.

You have no idea what I'm capable of. No matter what malady festeres with. within me. Oh, we know. This is your home right, Persil. It is. It would be a shame for it to suddenly no longer exist. Can we please just fucking kill her now?

I am not, Kielith. Your threats. They won't bend me because I believe you. I believe that you would rend this entire city asunder. That's why I'm at the table. I am conscious of where we are. Greetings, Adventurers. Spring has spring has

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Now available in Canada, too. That's Q-U-I-N-C-E.com slash critical roll for free shipping and 365-day returns. Quince.com slash critical role. I'm conscious of who you are and I'm conscious of what you need. I'm just trying to make sure that everybody's clear that the minute that red dragon dies, As all bets are off, you know it as well as I do. And you should be wary because only one side of this table is underestimating the other.

Which side is? Thank you, Grog. Can I do a perception check to make sure that this being is actually in the room and is not just some sort of phantom? We've seen this before. It's an insight check. Over here, take it. 17.

Oh, my, wait, my vision. No. No, 19. 19. Okay. The entity you see before you does appear to be physically present, as to your knowledge. No one's touched it or attempted to do,

but does seem to be present with you. Okay. Oh, I love a good story. So, do you have a plan? One step at a time. White dragon. Borogol is a beast, simple of mind. Eager to kill, eat, sleep.

That's about the extent as long as it's given enough land and cattle to devour it seems happy. It enjoys the hunt. It enjoys the challenge. How willing do you feel to be a participant in his demise? A lot better if you'd be willing to shed a bit of blood. Get your hands dirty. Oh, she's already done that. Our agreement should this go forward.

It does not end when the cinder king dies. I demand the opportunity To converse with the spirit from the corpse All your rug out from under me, if you will. Best of luck Well, I assume once he's dead, either you'll turn on us Or you'll run away. Either way, works for me.

Yeah, yeah, we're getting a bit ahead of ourselves. Are you going to scrap of the white dragon with us or not? Can you talk him into... flying off, leaving everyone alone. No, I want a dead dragon. You see, whereas I... I have the aptitude to know where my alliances stand, Vorogorz,

of the entire conclave, the closest Thorac has to a lap dog. So, dead then? Probably the best bet, yes. Yes, Grog. I have a question. Do you want to talk to Thorac's dead spirit?

Are you after the like big shiny jewel at the middle of his chest? I have no interest in whenever a champion shackles him to his insanity. I merely wish to draw from him the secret I've been promised. Insight check to see if he's lying. Ditto. Check. Both you guys. That was not bad.

Oh, that was terrible. 18. 13. Seems to be telling the truth. Yeah, sure. Well, yeah, sure he does. She does. He's telling the truth.

She. She's telling the truth. So, once the white dragon's off the board, then we will hammer out whatever promises can be made, but until then, there's just too many players on the field to say one way or another. Have you just been here, as assumed, this whole time? What have you been doing?

Gathering information like I do. What do you do, sleep in his room? Like a halfling? Yeah, do you like wear his clothes and, like, use his soap, and like brushes with a toothbrush? No, I moved down to the stables and find a soft bit of hay. Yes, I sleep in his bed and his clothes. There's a lot of attitude on this one.

I think it was a simple question. It's gross. It's pretty gross. It must be so humiliating for you that you need to turn to us for help. You do have my pity in that regard. It is in the most optimal circumstance, but... Treat you such as you. I think you both have much to gain.

Why do you think Thoradak is the only one with knowledge of? on a cure. Because everywhere I've sought the information seems to have been destroyed by Thor Dachn once we made the accord. If you tell us what the disease is, because that puny little druid that cursed you, don't forget you're dealing with a puny little druid right here. I could take a look if you like, but I myself not know its nature. Have you tried greater restoration? It seems to be the solution all wrong. The chicken soup of the D&D. Chicken soup for the D&D soul. Feed a curse.

Star of Perma death. Star of stone's skin. Will, uh, have no, please, God you continue. Yes, I have. What was the question? I've tried all forms of cleansing magic. I've bent many diviners to my aid, and all have failed.

This isn't a simple, magic. This was a spirit curse. This was something... This was something far more powerful. Sounds like a job for me. Come on. You don't have to. The spit smells funny, you know. Is it two days until the White Dragon?

How long do we have? Wait, we'll Thordag know if we do something, Tivore ago? Of course. slightly, very quickly, yes. What? His close watch of his subjects, he's paranoid, and requires us to continuously check in, which I have been.

You've been checking in from where? How? How have you been checking in? Here. Means in my room, yes. Does he know where you are? No. As far as he knows, I'm currently somewhere in the outskirts of Western

attempting to forge some sort of vengeance for what happened to. Umbroseil. Terrible. If he did find out he was here, it would be very easy to turn the two of them against each other. So when Vorogel flew over, did he not sense you? Very good at avoiding the sight of those who would seek me if I wish not to be seen. Was he seeking you or was he seeking Whitestone?

Based on the correspondence that was put out by Thorac, it was very perturbed at the death of one black dragon that you slay. as such sent a rather large assortment of his and Vorogal so I've an army to sweep the entire Middle Eastern sides of Daldore in search of you, I presume. Thankfully, your allies put up some sort of illusory barrier, one of which I did not disturb during that time. To whatever consolation that is to our agreement, It is of great consolation.

In fact, I would go so far as to say that I'm willing to say that these talks will continue post the destruction of the White Dragon. So long as these talks take place in Whitestone. We won't have much time to talk after the destruction of the White Dragon. We'll have enough. And if there is no white stone to hold talks in, there will be no talks.

This is true. One moment. Just game. this out for me, friends. If this is all bullshit, and Thorac has sent this little lady here to trick us

into traveling with her to draconia, where Thorac is lying in wait to kill us the second we get there, well then if we're making a deal for this little lady to kill on our behalf, why do we need to go?

Can we just stay in White Stone and you go kill the White Dragon for us? You're powerful, aren't you? Why do you need us? You see, if I were to utilize my full potential, which would be required to fell Voragal's idiotic as the creature is, still a very dangerous and cunning foe. For you, you're so clever.

You can just pretend to be Voragal's something pet hamster for a while until you kill him in his sleep. Maybe I overrested. your intelligence. No, in doing so, in doing so would immediately paint Target on my back from Thorac, I think it's best that I remain in his good graces

as we all flank up unexpectedly when the time is right. He is correct. I would also say that... I'm really enjoying that. I would also say that if she wanted to set a trap with the three dragons on us, they would just all be here right now. Also, we could have just, they could have avoided it entirely and just waited for us to go to draconia,

as opposed to just having someone come by to remind us that we were going to draconia in the first place. It just seems like an awful lot of work. I still don't really know why we need her to begin with. I think we're powerful enough. Why don't we just kill her now? Honestly, because it would damage the castle.

No, don't provoke. What is that, she's really? What does that move? Don't do that. It would damage mine. You inviting? And there are civilians. There are civilians.

I'm saying the choice is yours. Don't do it. Either we work together. Come on. One dragon, let me talk. Even more simple minds sees the advantages here. Kielaith, all we're debating is the order in which they die. She was first on my list.

The only reason I'm stopping you from doing this, and I swear this is the truth, is because this is my home. But this could be your best chance. There would be no chance. Nothing left. Keith. It would be the easiest. Tough elf. Thousands were dying.

Look at me. She's right in front of me. Your world view is clouded by optimism that does not belong in Exandria. There is good, there is evil. But this world has been remade many times because life is destruction. You should know this as a purveyor of life. of life in its own right. The cycle lives on. The chaos perseveres. Everything grows, eats, then dies, or is eaten. You can put whatever fine dressing on it you like.

Yeah, yeah, shut the fuck up, sick bag. Would it be enough to watch him? He says she's not making this easy to walk away, you guys. Percival, Percy is right. He is. people of White Stone to fall like the people of the Ashari. More deaths do not make it right, Keeneith. Not right now. You're gonna get yours.

You're gonna get it, just be... To tell me if you've not claimed a life or two in your time. Do you think your goals and your attempts to save those close to you have not been wrought with bloodshed? With the consequences of every step of my actions. It is you, Raishan, who did you. not realize that biggest consequence is standing in front of you right now. Do you think you've not stepped on an ant-hill to get to your destination?

I don't give a flying shit. I merely stepped on an ant-hill to get to mine. You're just fucking winding her up, man. Understand, there are different levels of thought, intellect, and intent here. I come to you because we have much to gain together. or lose everything by not listening to what I have to say. We'll join us in the fight against the White Dragon. I will.

If you promise to let Thorax soul be mine. No, that's not the deal. We're talking about a second round of negotiations. We will consider your offer once the White Dragon is dead, not a minute before. This is evidence of your goodwill. This is everything of a negotiation. you fool. What am I getting out of this thing? Your life. An opportunity to prove yourself to us. A cure to yourself. It has to take down Thorac. You said yourself you can't do it on your own.

And yet again... ...dance with a dragon that now stands breathing. Your desperation is so obvious. We walk away and you die. We stay... I age you. Tearing of Voragal has a show of goodwill. Yes. In response, you keep my true... nature secret between those in this room. Oh, oh yeah. That's fair. That's fair.

You maintain that I have access to the length and breadth of white stone. Wait a minute. Why the length and bread of white stone? Largely because I have interests in deciding my plan against Thor D'ODak. Let's just say some of it may include a trinket or two that have come in your way in your travel. your way in your travels. Are you like fully aware of what lies beneath White Stone? Would you like to see it?

I have seen it already. Have you? You've been down there? Yeah, what is it then? I've been here for some time, my dear. Then why didn't we meet down there? Why is so scared of it? Yeah, if you've seen it, tell us what it is.

I know. Of course. You say it first. I'm not telling you anything. How big is it? If you've seen it. If we are indeed. Describe it.

One dead white dragon and then... Oh! Oh, geez, but does that. Ryshan snaps her fingers. You see a spark and... Notice a brief burst akin to a minor illusion. No sound, nothing, just the image

of a tiny black orb. Yes! That will do. She's seen it. One dead white dragon and then negotiations continue. We will speak to no one of what you truly are, although we may caution others that we are looking a bit sideways,

said Speaker, As soon. I would recommend none of that. Any suspicion means I'm being followed. If I'm followed and feeling threatened, the person you told may not survive. We do not want that, but I'm going to look out for myself. It's fair. So anyone you tell, you're putting in danger.

It's also fair. Anyone you touch, you are then putting yourself in danger. If any of our friends wind up dead, we're looking at you first. Fair enough. Have you done anything with the rest of our friends? Nothing. Where's a soon? Do you ever you cover that?

I was very angry. I was very angry. I didn't know a whole lot. White Stone will not fall. If White Stone falls, all deals are off. If White Stone is attacked, all deals are off. are off, you keep it off the radar. It's already off the radar, I just will not touch the radar.

That will do. What is radar? I don't know. What is the room? Do you never go into my room? Do you never look at what I'm working on? What are we, what room are we in right now? This is the old war room, which is kind of upstairs facing the front. How big? Because we moved the new one down into the ziggurat, and she didn't respect that.

Nope. That's it. For many reasons. For many reasons. So let's... How big is the room? It's about, I'd say, close to 30 feet by 60 feet. How many entrances?

There's two doors that enter and then two windows that face out. Are you going to attack her? I mean, are you going to attack her right now? We should probably just kill her right now. She's going to Alice in Wanderlanders out the windows and doors. I agree with that. Can I do a scan of the room, like a perception check to see if I noticed anything. She is here because she is weaker than us.

Or anything weird set up? Make an investigation check. Investigation. If you're looking for traps, it's an investigation. Is there anything off? Does it look like there's a opening? She's weaker than us. Make a general perception check.

We can kill her whatever. Exactly. I'd be used her one. Uh. General perception, 21. 21. Dancing about the room, it does not appear to have anything that you notice different.

It's the same. It has like the two banners and the side walls. It has the table in the center with some chairs scattered about. There's the two windows opposite. She is entirely. One window that I currently assume is kind of right to his or. or Rajan has to her back. It's just a attack her. I don't think Scanlon is wrong.

I think he is weak. However, she will try to destroy as much as possible out of spite in her death froze. Thus also exposing the city, we will be attacked. That will be the.

the end of this, of Whitester. I walk up very gingerly to Keyleth, and I grab very, water pylinders very gently, and I say, look, if you want to go, we're with you. But if you exercise a little patience, I think we'll get more out of this, and you'll still get yours in the end.

It is, that's very important. That's so extreme. Yes. He's a man of peace. I mean, don't give me one. I want to crack it open. right now, but like we're getting more later. He's learned a lot.

I guarantee you the complete lack of satisfaction that you feel when she's finally dead will be just as potent two days from them. Did Thorac tell you about the trinkets of ours that you wanted? Beke has no ideal in lies beneath this city. He's too obsessed with himself. About what we have, I mean. Don't... Is you referring to your...

Friendship. and she knows. She does. She does. You can hold me everything. You can inform me of your entire. I know, I know, okay? Because we're really smart and we totally...

We knew it was you all alone. The whole time. I wanted to know what you're up against. That's right. Of course you did. Taunting you all along. In two days. She was assumed we talked to, she knows.

Right, right. She knows. We told her everything. What does he want? Because using the crystal to slowly build a volcano beneath him on, to turn the surrounding city and the countryside into a new mountain of his visage. How long until that happens? I have a hundred years before the entire mountain is complete, but the physicality is already adjusting. The molten rock begins to swirl and flow beneath the cloud top district.

Well, you said he's building a volcano. Oh, the volcano is being summoned beneath him. Such as the nature of the crystal he carries. The energy he absorbed from the fire elemental plane carried over with him, and it's still hungry. That's why he swells, that's why he's in pain. But he just laughs instead, as it also gives him extreme power and nigh invulability. And you said you knew Thordeck before he was trapped in the elemental plane. Was he in any way on what is now known as Glintchor before the elemental plane?

It's possible. What do you know about the Briarwoods? No anything about some Briarwoods. Really? What do you think about the walls surrounding that beach ball down there? It's a little creepy down there, isn't it? Itself is a little off-putting, yes. You expect us to believe. You know nothing.

As smart as you are. You know nothing of what happened there in the months past. I know what I've been told. Are you sure you're not trying to summon something awful. Do we know, do we remember? Do you think I wish to have another creature that I pay some servings to?

Maybe if you can hear you. Do we know, because Vecna, right, is Melora an enemy of Vecna? Do we know that? We've heard of Malora, of course. I mean, essentially, you know, allura is the goddess of the wilderness in the sea, very nature, life,

elemental base deity. Vecna is not a god. Vecna was very powerful. Wanted to become a god and was bulked and scattered. Supposedly destroyed a long time ago, but the cult still endure, infiltrate and wander in various parts of Alexandria. What do you want to do with that thing?

It pertains to what I think is a sound plan to bring Thorac down to our level. Or tell me a little bit more. I will tell you once we finish this next link. of your journey since you're so eager to have made the agreement. Makes sense. I think you're lying through your teeth. I think you want something you're not telling us about.

But I do want the White Dragon Dead. And we can work on it later. Let's all agree that this is definitely bullshit. I actually, no, I'm going to disagree. I think that everything that she said is the truth. And I think that she's not saying an awful lot more. Ception is far less interesting if you're not telling the truth off the time. And I think she's telling a lot of truth.

Not nearly all of it. Lies of a mission are a tricky thing, aren't they? Far more tricky than simple lies. And I think that we've heard an awful lot of truth. I'm confused. So yes, I'm willing to work with what we have. Do you have any ideas on how to defeat Barragal? Well, for one thing, I will be peripheral for the battle.

I will aid you, but I cannot be seen on the battlefield. Both what I would know immediately there has been a tone of allegiance. Looks sense. So what good are you? What can you do? Can you shape-shift into other beasts? I can change my form into a number of creatures and be of assistance in that way. I have a series of arcane talents that I can bring to the battlefield as well. I needed a beast to bait Borogol with.

I have an idea with that. I believe we're all on the same page. as a way that stacks too. Go ahead. Or do you want to save it? If we're in this together, can I just say it in front of her? Sure. No. Don't. Well, she'll need to know at some point.

At some point. Once we get that. Even if she's not in the room, we should just assume she can. I say we agree on principle. We agree. Yes. Yes, we agree. Yes, we agree.

And? What do we agree on? I don't know. To fight with Rajshund. I'm in this far. You don't need our votes. It's already decided now. You're not really wish you would vote.

You really need to vote. Voting is important. Is voting this time important? Particularly? Yeah, this time it's really important. Just on the carpet and go killer anyway. Yeah. Can't I, if I don't vote, won't someone else just vote for me?

No, no. You actually sway the vote in greater ways and you can put it. you can possibly imagine. Very important. I don't even know how. Is it easy to find out? I'm sure the internet has all your answers. I should just go online and find out how to register. It's never an easy choice, but you have to fall down on one side or the other scammer. Preferably one that doesn't rely on hate as a message.

Okay, okay, we've gone far enough off the track. Okay, reeling it back. All right, let's kill the dragon and feel that burn. Chris Hardwick is going coming in in Chesa for the ballinical joke. Oh, alright, I'm in for now. You don't have to be in. That's just sully the story. Sully did so terrible. Kielis holds her hand out to shake her hand.

Drawing a blade behind my back. Soon walks around the table slowly. Just making eye contact with you with those yellow reptilian slits for eyes. Quite a bit in just these few moments, young Kina. I heat up my hands just a little bit with my flame hands, or feel the burn. When? Stands there keeping the grip,

and then releases your hand. Very well. So, what's your plan? We need a moment. I feel like the emotions in here are a bit raw. Can we please? We will reconvene tomorrow for back to play of the track. for battle plan for travel. Tomorrow morning. Tomorrow morning to arrange travel

and the battle plan towards Chicago. Shouldn't we keep an eye on this one all night? No. We haven't kept an eye on her the whole time. I know, but she could be sneaking around, creeping into rooms and... That she hasn't already creeped into. I can guarantee you.

You're not wrong. But I have been and I will regardless of what you're trying. She could come into my room at night and do things to me that I don't want to be done. You don't want to be done? Let's be honest, there's nothing. Nothing. to be done, let's be fair.

You're giving her ideas right now, aren't you? I'm not changing her status in the castle. You don't want to scratch that one up? She has seen as many languages she had before. There's no sense in changing them. Nope. I've got to have sex with every beast on every continent.

Thank you, Captain Kirk. A kitchen. Oh. I'm content with this. Very well. I'll go check in with the boss, if you will, and alleviate any concern on his end.

Thank you. You shall meet tomorrow. Yeah. We'll see you tomorrow. And thank you. Can I get an inside check on that, you know, check in with the boss? Sure.

See if she's going to, like, turn around and tell him every thing. Natural 20. Come on, natural 20. You know, it wasn't bad. It was a 15, so 26. That's not. That's not.

Whispers, whispers. While you're whispering, Sam's got a little another rap for you. Okay. Oh, do I? My name's Samo Lago. When I want to go to the loot. Great, somebody kill me now because of the embarrassment I'm experiencing live in front of the internet.

Hey-oh. Oh, shit. I was alive for that. I was alive for that. I didn't have a sideways hat. I didn't have a sideways hat. You might? The glasses didn't know either.

Oh, my God. I am not. What is this? Maneer movers of America. That's my hat. The feather shirt really adds the whole. Yeah, boy! A shot looks very confused.

All right, let's go. Very well. See you tomorrow. The image of the veins, the scales, everything, reverts back to normal. Seekerasm. Nods and. leaves the room. Downstairs to the real room, to the real room. Downstairs to the real room.

To the real war room? Yes. Yes. Magically incapable of... Okay, but wait, before we go down there, two things. Kielith, can you scry today? Yes, I can. So there's, we could check in on Voragall. Make sure that Voragal is actually there. Don't actually look at Voragol, look at something near Voragol. Just to make sure of Oregal is in town and not here. Two. We could look into Raichan's room right now and watch how it describes, I mean, it communicates with its boss.

Absolutely do not think that's a good idea. Why? Why? She'll go down to the war room. She'll go out of shit in what? So we'll kill her. Warroom? We're better than she is.

She's? We're really not. Obviously hiding ship from us, and if one of us goes and pokes on. moves in there. She's going to start a draw right there. Are we in the war room? Can we go down and talk about the zool room? We're down in the room. All right, so you guys make your way. I have already been walking and talking. White Stone through the tunnels to the location of the Ziggurat. The war room is a series of tables and chairs that have been

assembled on the top of the ziggurat near the spinning beat of beat of death, as you call it. But yeah, it's makeshift, it's functional. There is currently nobody else in here, even though there are a couple of guard station to make sure that nobody comes in here without approval. But you are currently stepping up at the top of the Ziggurat, and there it rests still spinning silently in place. Drop it on them. I sit on the table. So what's going on? No, no.

Keelith screams her head off for a second. Oh. I know how hard that was. You did well, dear. I know how hard that was. And I wish I could say I did as well as you did when it was my turn. I don't think I understood until that moment's what you did. You'll have your day. Absolutely. We can't, we can't spy on her.

We have to be very, well, we can't spy on her, but we have to be careful. We shouldn't spy on her when she's speaking to Thorndtac, because Thorndact might see it, which would mean that plan and no plan everything would be. ruined. If Thorac, senses sees any one of us in the same place as her, he will go mad. Terrible. And then if I were her, I would destroy this city and all of us as quickly as possible and run. Jeez.

I feel like she needs to talk to the spirit because she's going to try to absorb his power or something. She's a fucking idiot. She's a fucking idiot. What do I know about Malora and this curse? Because there are a lot of druids who worship Malora. Make a religion check. Do religion checks. You know that Malora is a, is known to, is worshipped by by druids of nature, hunters,

societies that exist in a more natural setting as well as ship captains, oversee merchants in hopes of getting good luck and getting across large parties of water and weather. She is considered by some to be good, some considered to be kind of in a neutral space and more of like a Mother Nature type entity amongst the Pantheon here, if there was one. And as far as curses go, I mean, you don't have too much experience with curses outside of like the minor ones that you've seen used or have yourself at your disposal. But even just from the few of you, Sam especially, Sam, go ahead and intelligence. check.

Oh, me? Yes. My thing. Hold on. Intelligence, straight intelligence. Yes. 16. You get to add your plus two.

18. And if you wanted to add your... I will inspire myself. Which is 12 now, right? Yeah, take 12. Big money in a ways. Mm. 26.

Okay. Wow. That escalated fast. Yeah. That's what you can do is. apart. It's pretty rad. So through the two of you kind of conversing over this, there are simple curses that can be imparted for temporary period of time, usually as some sort of a penance to someone who slighted you, some that are part of a corruption on the land, a blight, if you

will, that spreads to a life source. And there are soul curses, usually where someone feels so wronged in their final moments that they basically burn their soul and any possibility at the afterlife purely to scourge whoever was responsible for their pain. Yeah. It's rarely ever done because it is essentially accepting oblivion. Your existence is done.

The gods don't hold any sway over your immortal soul. There is no afterlife. However, you die knowing for whatever that means in that brief moment that you have scarred the individual in some degree for possibly the rest of time. So, do we know anything about how it can be reversed or undone? No, you have no idea. You've heard of it in, like, stories.

And as far as you know, it was mainly a folklore element, and you're like, okay, no, I've kind of heard of this. Massage. If there was anything, this might be it, but... I worry about her intentions with this thing. Help me remember, when Pike has spoken to dead things, they cannot lie. That's true.

Yeah. So she wants to talk to Thorac's spirit. She wants to hear. She presumably cannot lie, right? Yes. Which could mean the cure to this disease. It could mean something to do with that. It could.

It also, and this is a third option, Thorac could have tasked her with bringing us to him in a way that he feels comfortable with and only then will he cure her. I believe he holds the cure as sway. This whole thing maybe you plan. Which means that we do have an ally for defeating the white dragon.

And should use it. And should use it. But then right after. If the opportunity presents itself. Or shake her. If the opportunity presents itself to kill her there in a way that is fitting and where we have advantage, then yes.

But if not, is he in draconia? We never mentioned Jamon Sa'Old when we got back. So Assume does not know about that, or Raichon doesn't know about that. She was scrying on us, which is highly possible. Which is highly possible. Do we have no way of having knowledge when someone scrys on us?

I mean, they can do it. Sometimes we can notice, but often. I would have to have a super high perception in order to maybe sense it. It's generally, if someone were to scry on you and you were to succeed in your sense, saving throw, they would fail to scry and you'd have some sort of inkling. That's something weird is going on. If you were a person who's capable of casting the spell like you are, you would

be like, okay, someone's trying to peer through the veil. So can I... So you would know, she would know if someone was trying to scry on this. Unless they were, unless she... If she picked up on it. She picked up on it. You know, and I've never... You've had no recollection of that happening. Is there a way I can start looking out for that? You can be very, very conscious of that possibility and keen on intercepting should be like that courage. The other thing that can happen is we can set different forms of attack when we find the go against Thordeck so that we have our mode of entry in the way that we are going to be moving that attack forward and make sure we have secondary lines of attack that she will not be knowledge of, she will have no knowledge of, that we will keep separated from her. Is there any way to move White Stone, to reinforce White Stone, to get something here to protect White Stone.

A bit. But not a lot. There's just not enough time. How many vestiges are left? Two? Two. Is that it? Speaking of vestige, this is part of the plan.

Yeah. So, the Spire of Conflux was born from Allura. So I'm wondering. Yeah. What? The spire of Conflux was... That's why we've heard of her. Yeah.

Shit! Oh, I've been thinking about that. So we need it. I'm wondering if I can get the staff quick enough. It could be the key to really... Where is the stuff? It's resting in the belly of a terrible beast in the abyss, right? Correct.

So, gates grow. Yes. And Voragal loves something to hunt. What if we bring it through? Let it fight Voragol. Get the staff. Kill Voragol. Get the staff.

Kill Voragal. Get the staff. kill Rishan. I like this plan. I mean, not like anything can go wrong with it, but... It's a good start. It's brazen. I like it. There's no easy way to do this.

We don't know what that thing is that has... What the beast is? Apparently, it's a goristro. What's a goristro? I make a history check. We need to know the... It's a barista? There's no defeating a barista.

And she's really angry because it's fall time. And it's just not cool to ask her out. I mean like you're way. No, I would say this would be a religion check. Not, not history. It would be religion. I got this. On what a, on what a Goroastro is. Let me double check just to be sure.

I'd love to do history. But if it's like a teeny beast. This is the knowledge of fiends is what this is. Well, apparently his name was yank. Y-E-N-K. Y-N-K. Y-N-K. Y-K.

All those yanks. All those yanks. One day There will be a creature whose name we don't make fun of No. Not this day. Not this day. Not this day we mock.

And every creature you make fun of is just going to hurt that much more when it kills you. We are the Peter Parker of this game. We just walk around mocking things till they're angry. It's great. It's so wonderful. It's just there's like the seventh ring of hell where they're all hanging out going, and then they call me Purvon. It's pronounced Pervin.

It's so much better. better. I'd say, I'd say honestly, like, I might give a religion check or we might go straight and like... You're not gonna let me do it. It's gonna be a hard DC for anybody who doesn't have any specific knowledge or training in anything. This is religion?

And anything fiend-centric? Agoristro is a fiend. It lives in the abyss. Most things in the abyss are fiends. I'm gonna just go for it. You said religion? It said possibly religion if you have it trained. Oh.

No, profession. If you're proficient in religion in my life. 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. Welcome to Mick Unplugged, the number one podcast for self-improvement and modern leadership.

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because your next breakthrough is just one episode away. This is Mick Unplug, the voice and face of modern leadership entrepreneur, and self-improvement. Let's get started. You can go ask her? Oh yeah. Yeah, let's go out. That's right. I'm gonna have one of the guys, I'll send one of the guards to go bring her in discussion.

You wait about an hour or so and Pike is. Fuck more. Jogs up, you hear the clicking of the armor as she ascends the steps. Come, Cigra. Hey, guys. Hi. Hi, what do you need?

I barely heard you coming that time. Oh, thank you. Get much better. Frog. Oh, guys. Have you ever heard of a garistro? Garistro named Yink? No.

It's a fiend in the abyss. Anything about a garistro? Feins are bad, but I don't know anything but a gristro. Gristro. At least you know how to pronounce it. Gastrope. Can we... Do we have a library to consult?

Yeah, library books? You do have a library. was summon a name? What if it's really bad? I think it's a great idea person. It's a worst thing that happens it's going to have to fight two dragons. It's a cool idea but I don't think we can. We need to know the beast

that we are summoning. Yank. You have its name. Yeah, we know what it is. Why don't we go and can we go to library, like find a picture? Well, Laura, maybe O'Lora knows. Where is it? We haven't seen her in forever. Wasn't she? She's out. She's a dragon.

You can't all be dragons. They're all dragons. I have something to confess. I fought him. Just none. Yeah. Does the little black orb just suck and absorb that? This is gone.

And suddenly the demon portal hell opens. Like, oh, that's all it took. Of all that things. What do you guys want to do? I'm going to go research. Yeah, can we go in the library and look in the books? Sure. We can split up a bit too. Okay, so who's going to the library? Okay, those two. What's everyone else doing? I need to talk to you for a minute. Okay. I stare blankly into space. Okay. Roll for perception. No. I see everything.

Rock Skinner, what are you guys doing? Nothing for us to do. What are you talking about? We're the masterminds of this portion of the adventure. Right, you're right. What do you want to do? I don't know that. Is there anybody else religious? Is there somebody religious outside of Pike in the city? Yes, of course. There's two different.

There's two two different. Oh, yes, no. Cash went up to. Cash is gone. Cash is in Baselheim. But we do have priests. We have two priests. You have Keeper Yenon.

Yeah, it's come about a giant fiend beast. I'm sure they know all about it. All right. Rog and I will go talk to Kuiper Yenin about Yank. Yeah. Okay. You could also always pray to the Raven Queen.

Oh yeah, you do have a shrine after all. Yeah, that's true. So, we'll go with your guys' conversation for a Yeah? Max and Keel. That was like surround some. Come on, that's a good idea. Let's go to the temple.

You know, I have been thinking a lot about your longer life. You told me about. Once you're leading your people, you have come into your own, yeah? I live past killing these dragons, yes. Right, right. A thousand years or so, yeah? Now, I've thought a lot about that. And I think we should make a point of seeing that it happens.

Once you come out the other side of this, I want that for you. What do you want? I have a... born duty to my people that's hard to escape. We're all alive in a month. We can work that out. Cross that bridge when we get there. In the meantime, I want you to have this.

I undo my cloak and shove it into her hands. I only have one made from the... It's the dysplasia cloak. You know, I'm so used to you smashing across our enemies, shoulder to shoulder with grog. I get complacent. so strong, I know that. So much more powerful than I am.

Kind of lulled me into a forced sense of security. But I can't have you gone. I need you here. So, you know, anything we can do to stack the deck in your favor when you fell yesterday, it shook me. Seems to be a trend. Watching all of us fall. Will you wear that?

You have to tune to a short rest, but you can do that. To the Ravens. Okay, well you guys doing that, Percy and Vex. Could you guys go ahead and roll an investigation check each of you? Percy minus three, because you're still suffering resurrection. Issues. An investigation?

Wow. Wow. Oh, oh, no, this has nothing to do with Draghi's. It's okay. You're fine. Ten. Percy did? I did.

Did you get a 20? The golden snitch. Does it still count as a 20? Yeah, 20 is a 20. 2020, it's just minus 3. What's your total? Investigation? 21.

After that minus 3. But this is a natural 20. 10? All righty. Natural 10. Natural 10. Natural 3. Oh, great.

You guys spent the better part of the next two hours or so pouring through the various libraries. You know them very well. You've read through a lot of these growing up anyway. There aren't a lot of tomes or books that deal with anything terribly. fiendish. You do find one that deals with tales of

the betrayer gods. It's more like a it's got an old history tone that deals with pre-divergence. It deals with the founding, which is the first era, the age of our canon, which is the second era. This is all pre-diversions. And it speaks of the betrayer gods and many of their

creations and their followers that begin to essentially lay waste to civilization and begin to enslave the creators of those that remain on the side of light. You do see mention in there of various fiends and demons and princes of evil and it's all very kind of thick religious texts in it speak, but there is one big, that has artwork on it, sketched and simple. But it shows a strange, almost long, live vulture-like creature with wings and clawed hands and like a beak-like mouth, called a vrach. You see another section that has a, what's like a woman, but the lower half her body is serpentine, like a snake,

and she carries, looks to be six arms, carrying six different blades. It says, Marlith. And behind them, you see a looming creature of hulking fur and muscle, with fists like battering rams, turned up pug-like nose with a toothy jaw, the giant horns adorned with brass rings that curve forward. I don't know that it says, Coristro. Did you find it? I think this

Well, that's intimidating That's enormous I think the dragon will be pleased I hope the dragon kills it I'm fine either way Well, that's helpful Very helpful Whoever survives

We kill them No problem Anyway And I leave We should probably show everybody what we found. We should show everybody what we found. Yeah, probably what we've been. The awkward pause dissipates you both bumble your way out of the library to find the others.

Both out the door at the same time. Sorry, let's stand out, please. Grogg Scanlan. You guys make your way over to... We are the worst people for this mission. mission. We got this a lot. Keeperianen there with his small temple to

Arrathas, I believe, and there's nobody in there currently. It's basically just empty, and he's sweeping up with one of his assistance that's helping keep the place clean. She's like, shh. Tallyho, Keeper Janin. There's been some time. I'm glad to see that you're all

safe and sound. Yes. Yes, well, we come seeking knowledge that only you have. Maybe. I'm, and that's your service. What can I do? We needed some information about something that is beyond our scope. It's, uh...

Wait, wait, wait, wait. I don't know if he's cool, man. Maybe you should check him. Check him? Yeah. All right. I'll check him. I don't know. What? Jenin, you keep your hands where I can see him. This is very... Just keep them where I can see them.

I go up and... I'm going to slowly touch his arms, make sure he's real. Your hands meet, cloth, and somewhat wrinkled, older gentleman's skin. I'll pat him down. Make an investigation check. 19. Find a small pouch that seems to contain a few coins. What appears to be a somewhat stale piece of half-eaten bread.

It looks to be a couple of unlit candles. That's about it. I sniff the bread. He's clean. All right. As you were. Most unusual. Don't worry. It can't be too careful. There's dragons around.

Yeah. Right, right. That's all right. He picks the bread up off the ground and puts it back in the dark. Sorry with that. We're actually hoping you have some information on a fiendish beast named Lucas. Nope. Nope. a name... Yank.

Yank. Yank. Yank. Yank. And he is a... What's the type of beast? A goristro. A goristro.

His name is garrispros. I have come across texts. I speak of a goristro. I do not know of one named Yink specifically. Well, it's very important that we know his name accurate or her name accurately because, well, for many reasons. But we need to know its true name. Is there any texts you can point us to? Or tell us what you know of Gourish Rows. There were dangerous front-line behemoths when the fiends attacked these lands.

The pre-divergence era, they were 20-plus feet tall and living battering rams that tore through stone like it was paper. Force is there weapon, not fire or any magic? I don't know the specifics, but the texts I have read speak of it, just being the whole fist and service of the Dark Princess. Right. Now, we are totally up to date on how to fight these things, but we're also part of a group that's making sure you are at your best in case they come around here. If I were to ask you how to fight one of these things, what would you bring? Everything.

An interesting answer. Might you be a little less vague from my simple friend here? Do they have any resistances, acid, poison, fire? I have no idea. Unfortunately, I'm not extremely well-versed in English planes. I know a bit off-end from just my teachings. That's a very specific kind of knowledge. I expected more, really. I did.

I mean... Are we going to play Bad Grog Good No? I don't know. I mean, I just don't even know if it's worth it at this point. I expected more. Oh, you're going to guilt it out of it. Yeah, I did. I'm not withholding any information.

I just genuinely... I mean, you want to protect Whitestone, right? See its people to prosperity. That's what I'm doing. All right, then maybe you should learn more about hellish fiends. We've rebuilt half the city. I mean... Wrong, I don't think I can...

Okay. I'm just emotional for thinking of all the people in White... who are gonna die. Look what you've done. I just can't keep it together. Is there any information that you might know that can save your people? I don't know. And he rushes off towards his room. You start hearing him turning over blankets and things coming out on the ground. He's currently just tearing through his room in the back of the temple. Oh, don't, you're gonna lick your fingers and then like, wait. Yeah, yeah, yeah. About ten minutes go by before he comes out just sweat pouring down his face and he's like,

I have nothing. I'm sorry. It's all right. We all have room to improve. I suppose we know now where yours lies. You have your orders. Don't make me tell Percy about this. You're going to go back to his room and flagellated. We're shaking down our friend. We're shaking our friend. He goes,

Yes, of course. I will further my research and perhaps I could send someone to scour the rubble of the cobalt reserve and must or something. Not a bad idea. I'm so sorry. Not a bad idea.

You've done a lovely work in here, by the way. here, by the way. The rebuilding effort looks great. Thank you. Just like to see that passion in the rest of your projects, that's all. Is there anyone else who has knowledge that you can think of that we should speak to? Not us still lives in the city, unfortunately.

You're in the service of the greatest minds of our city now up in the castle. I'm just trying to put homes up for those who need them. Yeah. Thank you for your service to Whitestone. Awesome, thank you for yours.

We've had a weird, rough week, so. Sorry if we... Apparently, now so have I. Oh, God. Terrible people. Just curious, like, do you need any money for these homes or anything? Cassandra's taken care of. Right. Shit.

Sending up materials from the toast fields. You should know we've been taking surveys around the town, and we're like, ABC, people most important in the rebuilding of Whitestone and, like, role models, and you're always, like, the first name is in that right, Scandling. I don't think we can talk our way out of this girl. I'm just trying to make it feel better. It's you. You're top five in Whitestown, for sure.

Maybe he likes mayonnaise. I appreciate me. It's very, very kind. You're doing good, you're doing good work. All right. Keep seeking. I have a lot of sweeping to do if you don't mind. Sure, sure.

We must be asked. We did a good thing in there, Grog. Yep. Yep. Shh. Shh. The assistant is just over there wide-eyed watching this whole circumstance, like, young, maybe a 17-year-old boy,

just in the similar robe. He's just, Sebastian, stop staring and helping clean. Yes, sir. And they both start sweeping the rest of the temple as you guys walk out. It's going to kill you something. We clearly got the most info out of anybody. I think we got all there was. High five.

Yeah. All right. The two of you finally make your way to the recently constructed temple of the Raven Queen that Percy had. built. What would you like to do? I want to go in and have a moment and pray. So I will go in and kneel down where Percival showed me. Stay quiet for a few minutes. Ask a couple. We haven't. I haven't spoken in a while. I'm trying to grow stronger whatever it is you need. And maybe it is selfish, but I seek vengeance.

against my mother's killer. And once I have it, I will go to the ends. This world for you. To help me go stronger, is there anything you can tell me about a fiend named Yank? You need to use it. You can do it. I'll stick with that.

No, I'll just, no, I'll stick with that. 21. One. One. The door still left a jar to the temple as Keyleth walked in earlier. A bit of a breeze kind of swirls in for a second, carrying a few leaves, scatter around and come to rest.

The candles flicker for a moment, and the light dims ever so slightly. Nothing beyond that from your perspective, Keyleth. You, Vax, you feel a familiar, It's interesting. It's chilling and causes your skin to goose bump, but it's still comforting. And while you see nothing within your closed eyes, you can sense a pair of cold lips to your left ear that just whispers towards you. Is herne? Take this with your eyes. Some have already found secrets.

I can only say that the path you walked to the same. to the Sphinx. Gave you what you need. And you feel the lips fade from your ear. Warmth comes back to your sides, and your eyes flicker open knowing that her presence is no longer there. She told me something, but I didn't too stupid to understand. That's true.

God's really enjoy being vague. What'd she say? She said that the path to the Sphinx told us everything you want to know. Which Sphinx? We've seen two now. Didn't say? Oh, damn it. Why do they have to be so cryptic? Because they can.

Oh. That's uncrooked. They'll wear it as well as you. It's a little baggie. It's to a thousand years of you. That made me a little nauseous. Let's go. Let's go back. Okay.

As you guys all go to convene in Castle Weistone to discuss the next length of your plan, we're going to take a restroom break. Oh! See you guys back here in a few minutes. Uh... Thank you once again. Luke Creight. being awesome and our sponsor. Thank you guys for you doing around.

Good great. And yeah, see you guys a minute. Is it Thursday yet? Did you almost say, is it Thursday yet? Welcome back, everybody. From the break. Before we get started, I wanted to bring this up in case you guys weren't aware.

I was made it aware of it the end of last week. But they announced Twitch Prime. Yeah. And what that allows is for anybody out there that has an Amazon Prime account, you get automatically one free subscription to a Twitch channel of your choice. So if you are not a subscriber

to consider to use Twitch to help support the show and you have an Amazon Prime account, you can do that now, free of charge. You'll be in the chat room, you get all the goodies. With the goodies, you'll have access to the BODs immediately. You don't have to wait for Monday for the YouTube videos to come out for the episodes, and it is of no additional cost to you.

All part of your Prime membership. So I just want to make sure you guys wear that because I was just recently made aware of that. One of Us. Cool Beans. Become one of us. Alrighty, so picking up we left off, the rest of you guys have done some research,

gathered some information that may or may not be helpful. What do you want to do for the rest of your preparation for whatever you wish to do going forward? This is before Betty Buy time? Yeah, you guys are still. I have a few things I think we should do. Okay. I think there's a lot we need to do.

First, I think we should brew some tea and not drink it. Oh, it only lasts for how long? What? The teapot? Minimous tea? It'll probably last for the day. All right, yeah, it lasts 24 hours. So wait, you want to make poison and not do anything with it?

We'll keep it, just in case these. In case someone comes over for tea? Emergency poison. Great. Just in case. We need to just make it in front of her and then it's way less. That's true. In front of...

Then why are we not making the tea? Let's make some and put it in a flask and then we'll just... Are you talking about feralt? No, just to have some poison. Poisonous dragon. Just to have some poison in general. Not necessarily for Ryshawin. Fine. Maybe we'll make it in the morning.

Maybe an enemy will come over, you're right. Maybe an enemy will come over. Just have tea at the ready. As a specific master of dragon and dragon knowledge, just so you're aware, green dragons are poison by nature. I don't think this is for Rishon. Okay, just making sure you're aware.

I was actually thinking it would possibly, if we had a bit of poison, if we could get it into the system of one of the larger creatures at some point, a big pot of poison. Maybe. I knew you didn't think it was for Roshan. Rishon's not going to drink tea and die.

Right, Internet? We knew it wasn't for Rishon. All right. So, I want to go downstairs and look at the gun. Well, I suppose I want to see if Grog will give me all of the guns to go upstairs and look at our giant cache of guns that we suddenly have. All the guns. All the guns.

That reminds me. Yes. On the walk home with Grog, I turned to him and say, O'y Grog, Yeah. Got any of those guns? I do. How many?

Like, two pistols, two rifles, really long, long, skinny guy, and I got a great scorn. Great scourg. I should personally have all the fun. What say, you and me take a pistol each, just as a backup plan, an insurance policy.

I don't want a pistol. about you take one. Take two. You don't want a pistol? No. You'd look so cool. It's not as intimate as what I do. You are about

the personal touch. I need the connection. What are the actual chances that he will even... You're not here, shut up! I'm not talking to either of you. I'm talking to the powers that be. That's a good question.

It'd be like a little G.I. Joe handgun. You want a pistol? Do you have any ammo? I do. I have... 185 rounds. Holy shit. Yeah. So I take out one of the two pistols.

Did they look the same? They look comparable, yes. Which one? Is there any blood on either of them? A little smattering on each of them, yeah. I'll give you the super bloody one. I want the bloody one. Yeah, toss it to him.

And I'll give him... Six ammo. Fifteen rounds of ammo. Thank you, Grog. Thank you very much. I don't know what to do with this, so I'll just pocket it. I'm pretty sure if you look into it. Don't, don't even encourage that in the game. I've seen Percy do that a lot.

Stairs right down the barrel and make sure it's working. Yeah, that's where the question comes from, right down the barrel. Don't do that at home kids. Don't do that. Don't do that. Just don't do that. No, don't do that. All right, so you go looking for Grog, who is not around the castle, and eventually as you step out,

you notice Scanlon and Grog both walking up the pathway to the front of Whitestone Council. Oh, good. We need to go through the guns. We need to see what we have. We need to clean them up. I've got a plan.

Yeah, right. Yeah, we need to... You need to clean up the guns. I do. I need to clean up the guns. Who has those guns? You have those guns. I have the guns.

You do. That's right. It's right. You were very clever. What you have? I have a book. It's a very good. Very nice book. I have...

Are you joking? No, no, I have a cloak. Would you like a cloak? For what? The guns. I thought we were making a trade here. I just assumed you... Yeah, no, we are.

All right, do you want a cloak then? Festage. He wants a... No, I've just got a cloak. It's a cloak. What does it do? It looks smashing. And it's quite warm.

It's a cloak of smashing? Yes, it is a cloak of smashing. Deal, all right. All right. I'll trade you that for the long barrel thing. I'll need them all. In a minute. No, no, I need the mall.

I really don't have anything else. You don't have any guns? What happened to your guns? Well, no, I need to clean... What about your glasses? I sort of need those glasses to clean the guns, yes. Give me your glasses. Just let me hold them.

Show some faith. We're all friends here, right? Do it. Is everybody here? Is everybody watching... I was really... Just the three of you guys, and the three guards back by the...

In front of the castle. I don't know. what he's doing, I would not trust him. And then again, you don't have a choice. I don't trust him either. I have, you know, I did have siblings, I'm aware of how this happens. How many fingers am I holding up?

Four. Was he right? He was right. I don't know why you need the glasses. I need the glasses because I can't see things that are up close. I can see things that are far away perfectly fine. How many fingers am I holding up? I don't know. Is he right? He doesn't know.

Very well, you pass. And I'll give him the two rifles. I need, he also has Ripley's gun, yes. I need, why don't we come inside so I can explain to you my plan so that you can feel good about this. Oh, this is very important for me out here. I have a position of power

and I'm not about to give it up. What else you got? I have a title, I can title you. Oh, oh yes, title him, title him. Just man. Would you like a title? Just hand him out on canvas. Take notes, Scanlon.

this is how you get shit done. I'm listening. All right, I will title you if you give me everything currently that I need. I need all the ammunition, all the guns, especially the complicated guns. I'm going to need everything. Yeah, I have one other pistol. I have 170 rounds for the little bitty guy, and I've got 26 rounds

for the rifles. All right. You want the full plate arm and the great sword too? No, plate arm and the great sword are completely up to you. Okay. I'll give it all. What's my title? Grand Puba de Doinck of all of this and that. Grand Puba de doink of all of this and that. Of all of this and that.

That sounds amazing. It comes with no money and no land, but it is a title. I'm unfamiliar with protocol. A grand pooh bar, how do you address them? Is it a your majesty, your highness, your grace? No, it's hey you. over there. Hey you guy. Hey you guy. Hey you guy.

Yes. Old Bean. My humble servants. Sweet chestnut. Are those all official names? Oh yeah, they're used in very different ways. You have to use them. Well, look, let's keep it on the low, low, right? I don't want to meet people getting jealous. Oh, no. Only in private quarters will you address me by my

official title. Okay, all the shortened versions there are up. Yeah. Yes, of course. Which I look forward to learning. No, you will enjoy them. I'm sure you will all enjoy it. This is a great day. It is. It is, right? Yeah. I just keep coming up in the world.

Coming up. Just against all the odds. You started out with nothing. And now you're here. Eight mile, bitches. Let's go inside. Didn't even bother an inside check, did you? That's great.

That makes me so hard. Percy, don't forget, you promised me one of those guns. I would actually have to teach you how to use it. You are aware of that. Maybe you can teach me first, and when I've learned, you can give me one. Maybe we'll have. have that conversation. I'm going to take a look at their various

levels of repair. I want to take a look at how they look, how many of them need work, how many of them are at least functional. I mean, most of them need work. A number of them backfired during the actual battle, and the other ones were not taken very good care. So you're probably going to need to run a few repair checks on that. You have the materials of your disposal. You have your workshops. I'm going to do this not in private, but I'm going to be

and then I want to look it. Okay. You take a good, solid look, animus. Get a feel for it? Oh, I got it. Oh, thank you. Thank you, Travis. Oh, my God, really?

Okay. Or a Bailey-esque. Can I find Vax while he's looking for the gun? Yep. Yeah, I want to go find Vax and Keith as well. I'm sorry, I met Vex. Oh, me? Yeah, you.

You want to find me? Yeah, you. Hi! Hi, what's up? Hey, so, like, remember when you showed me? your boobies doing the fight with Kern. It's pretty mean. Oh, you saw them.

Wow, really? Out of the peripheral. Okay, yes. I wanted to say thank you on a very delayed timeline by giving you this potion of superior healing. So much, Grog. Yeah, so if they ever get jacked up again, heal them, because I fought better with boobies around.

I'll remember that. Okay, cool. All right. Deal. Thank you so much. This is mean. That was spectacular. I just missed it.

I just miss everything. I'll watch it on the preview because this is a... Isn't it breast cancer awareness month? It is right? Now I'm aware. Check your boobs, ladies. And vote. It's important. It's important.

Don't know. I'm getting checked up. I don't want him to get checked up. All right. I'm going to do my best to clean and work on these guns tonight. And at some point, I'm just going to send a guard to find Vax. Okay. Well, Vex, you've gone and look for...

Vax and Kieleth. Yes. If you guys had your conversation about everything, they're off the business, eventually you catch up too. Are you guys still together? Are you off? Yeah. So you find the two of them. We're walking back. Hey! Did you find anything? Sort of, I wanted to talk to you and probably Percival as well, but you as well.

Yes. Well, I spoke, I, I communed with my deity. The Raven Queen. The Raven Queen. Yes. That's the one. for one. And she said something that I don't know what she meant. Okay.

She talked, I asked about this yank and she said that everything we needed to know we saw on the way to the sphinx. Which one? That's what I said. Okay. I'm drawing a blank. I don't know. Everything we need we saw on the way to the sphinx. So I remember the more recent trip better. What happened the first time? We, we... Well, I mean it's here. It was under the slayers take. No.

Oh, right. Yes, under the slay's take. But there was a ziggurat as well. Yes. And then the second time, you know, that whole shift is certain chants. We went down a cavern and there was a name. Right, how to do the whole name trial name. So one.

Shit. The first one was near where the cinder grove is. Right, and she worshipped the goddess of knowledge. Oh. Ocissa was her name. You just. spoke to her. She was the call.

Ossesia was the Guinness who works at Slater's take. The goddess that she worships is Ayun. Ayun. So maybe we need you to talk to Ayun. No? Maybe. We just talk to a god.

That's like kind of impossible unless you're a champion. I just did it, yeah. I didn't understand what she told me. So, you're worthless, really. Six or one, half a dozen of the other. Yeah. That's a nice cloak you have there. Kilieth.

A little baggy. Yeah. But thank you. You were cloak ones and you stopped using it. This is all too useful. This is true. Yeah. It looks lovely though, stacked next to the rest of my clothing.

What would you drop? Do you want it back? No, I do not want it back. He only gives cloaks to those who really, really cares about Keene. Really cares about. It's true. This is really awkward and I'm going to walk the fuck out of the air. Good night, ladies.

I got a wink from Vex. I'm standing right here, too. I go off looking for Percival. Good man. They're sure they're awkward smile. You find Percival down in his workshop currently, repairing weaponry with Ripley's Gunge kind of placed down its own out in middle of a table.

Hello. Oh good, it's you. Mind. Not at all, I was actually hoping you would stop in. Good. Hi, Percy. Gods, what does all this shit do? Um, mostly break.

quite successfully. Just like us. I just broke in the temple that you... I assume it was vague and unhelpful. It was. Excellent. First, I don't think I ever officially thanked you for it. Welcome.

Thank you. Try. How you feel, buddy? I'm terrified. But other than that, I think I'm good. I came here for a reason. You're the brain. You're the one who hangs brain.

And I don't know what to make of my conversation with the higher power. She, I asked about Yink and I asked what we should do when she said, what we should do when she talked about the Sphinxes. She said that everything that we needed to know we learned on the way to the Sphinx. I don't know which one. I don't know if it was the Gino Sphinx or the not Gino Sphinx. I would assume it was the Sphinx that was guarding her treasure. Oh, you should take a look at this, and I, not even, I just point at the open, at the open book with the picture. Look what we have. That is our friend. Oh, is that? Is that Yank? So, so the book says.

Well, it's one of Yank's brethren. Did you follow me down here? I said I didn't fucking want to. Well, obviously, Keel is there, so I figured I was too. I thought you were working kind of in the middle of the room. My door's open. I'm in my thing that it's open, and I've already sent people to send. I said hi, Percy.

It's not my fault no one notices I'm around. It's not my fault I'm a fucking wallflower. Scared the shit out of me. This is some nasty business. This is what we're dealing with. Yes. And if all goes well, which it never does, that will be fighting the white dragon

and possibly the green dragon and one of the two of them will kill the other and then we swoop in and clean up what's left. I don't know if it's smart but I'm really curious. I know. I understand I feel the same way. It's probably not going to work. It's probably going to go terribly but that's all right. I'm feeling good about that.

Do we even know how to use the gate scroll exactly? Scanlan has to use it, right? Yeah, the little guy could pull it off. It's gonna have to be other Scanlan or me, but... Hey, guys! Hey! Hey! The door was open, I just thought I'd come in.

Grog's right outside in the hole. Hey, Grog! Hi, Grog! Come on in! Have you ever been here? Look at all this fucking esoteric bullshit. Wow. It's crazy.

How to brain in a jar? No. Yes, that is something in a jar, though. It's not a brain now. What's there a picture of? Oh, that's the gastro. What are the other ones? One is called a snake lady, a Merrillith.

Oh, are they all together? Is it we just got the one guy? I think it's just the one guy. Hopefully other things can't come through, can they? Read that scroll again, Scanman. What? My gate scroll? Yeah, see how it works. Yeah, well, so I left that at home today, but I think that it just calls the thing that you call for.

call for. You give it a name. It goes, it grabs it, it brings it in. It doesn't bring other things through, doesn't leave the gate open? The gate does stay open for as long as your conjuration, which is about a minute. So other things could come through. Yes, that is true. But you can close the gate once it passes through. I could drop it, yes. However, this is a tricky spell for me because I am not, I, as much as it pains me to say this, I am not, I am not, good enough to cast this spell. What? You're selling yourself short.

I'm really good, but I'm not quite that good. So I can cast it, but it carries a risk. If I don't, if luck is not on my side, it will not work. Well... Like it burns when you pee risk, or it's gonna fall off in three months? Like it just won't work forever. I get one shot. If I don't do it right, it's gone forever.

We're talking about your penis still? Yes, my penis will fall off. That is terrible. However, I don't, I'm not giving this thing to Rishan. But you have me clean this one later. But do we know anyone who is at a slightly higher skill level than maybe we could possibly bring? Also, Kima wanted to come with us to fight the white dragon, remember?

Is she not a keen castor? She says, not, but if Kima is going, then maybe a would want to go. But where are they? I don't know. Where are they? We can't bring them, we'd have to tell them that Rishon's with us. No, we wouldn't.

Yeah, it's a speaker of a soon. Rishon will be in disguise. Nice. Rishon is that everyone fooled for a long time, though. Do we know where Kewan and Loura are? You haven't checked in to see if they're here or not. Oh. Oh, they could be in the castle.

Maybe we should go look. Little bit in the castle, they stay at one of the houses on the northern end of the city. I thought they were out of town. So I call for a guard. Call for a god. Grogh! There's one really, literally just down the hole. Oh.

God. Hi guys. Who has now arrived? Yes. You called Grog. Yeah, no, please don't use my official title. If you would, could you go see if Lady Kima and Lady Elora are around? I do wish for me to fetch them.

Yes. Go forth quickly with him. Hello. Let me rushes off. armor and chain mail clinking in the distance. What time is it? It's like mid-afternoon. You guys have spent the day doing research and checking things out. You know, you woke up in the morning when you had your conversation with Rishan,

so it's like two, three in the afternoon. I have another question. How far are we timeline in the year? How close are we getting to Winter's Crest? Oh. You are maybe close to three months past it. So you have a ways to go before it's winter's crest again. When's the next solstice?

The Celestial Solstice? Yeah. You're not sure, actually. Make an inch check. I mean, there's not like a summer solstice and winter solstice? I mean, there are solstices, yes, but the... For a year. 24.

24. 24. The next solstice is going to be in about a month. Roughly 28, 28 days. Not I think that has. I'm so none. at all. Well...

No, I see what you're getting at. Thorac was busted out on the Reddus Crest Solstice. Right. Also, the Briar Woods were rushing to try and get the Ziggurat up and running

in time for the solstice. Right. Important days, that? Very important days. Nature and stars tend to align and planes can blur a little bit. Can I ask just a quick question. I really like this plan to use the gate thing

and then go attack Vorekall. I don't even feel like we need rush on for it. Shouldn't we just lure her away to somewhere and then just fucking kill her? This is luring her away somewhere. Sooner she dies, the happier I'll be. So we get her over that and then we kid her out. And if everything goes...

No, I just feel like... If everything goes horribly wrong, then she's on the frame. And she's on the fringe, because remember she's like just barely helping out. What is she gonna be doing to help us anyway? We haven't decided. She was gonna be, I thought she was gonna be like another magic user, like dressed as a human or something.

Arcane knick-knacks, I like tricks, but Ripley got us pretty good, and I don't feel like walking right into another trap or a week before another fight. Hmm. I think better to get Rishan away from here. Yeah. And in that fray, she might not be touched, but she might be whittled down a little bit,

a little bit, and that's better than nothing. She'll spend some power. We have to get her away from Whitestone. We have to. I guess we couldn't get her anywhere with like a low ceiling. A dragon form doesn't have such an advantage. I think the ceiling would give. No, no, I mean like a cave or something.

We could do that. How? I mean, Borgoe lived in a cave. Yeah, but like a little cave. He just follows into this cave over here, I swear nothing. A cave that assumed would fit in, but... All right, that's your job. It wasn't a cave, it was in a cave, it was in

inside the chasm. Yeah. I mean, the giant ravine. I think out in far away on another continent is a great idea. What about the little cave and glitch or? I'm happy just to take her to, she's going to follow us already. Well, here's my question. I'm sure she's anticipating us turning on her, train her.

What would you do if you were a grand dragon anticipating people turning on you? Turn on that. No be surprised. Well, it depends. You ready to flee. If I needed them, I would put myself in a position of safety, make myself useful, and then make sure that I would back somewhere where they would not attack me as quickly as possible. If I didn't need them, I would just turn immediately after the fight.

She's going to put out the barest amount of effort to help us from behind. If we die, her plan foils, if we do not feels she put in enough effort, her plan are so foils. I just picture Thoradot going, Roshan, use your treachery and intellect and go kill box, bocky does. My feeling is use your treachery, where are we, where in my shop right now?

Okay. Yeah. Keep that mind we can be in spite. Can I do it, because are we getting watched? You have no sense of being watched by any exterior voice. Also, we know we're walking into the shit. That's no surprise.

And our plan doesn't necessarily have to be Kill Voragol turn and kill Rishan right there. We can keep playing with her for a little while longer. We could... She can sense lies. Which is why I think... So can I. All right, so we just...

We buck up. No, you can't see. We go through. We go through with it. We made an agreement. I say we honor it until such point as it is... All right, fine. I'm not.

I'm down. Can I go find Zah? You can, yes. That's your boy. Arguably so. Your boy. I'm thinking of creating a company of shot for the castle with these guns.

Do you think that would be a position that would suit him? Guards that would be forbidden from carrying these weapons outside the walls. Outside the walls of the walls of the the castle itself and would arm the parapets if there was, a an attack from a dragon? I don't know how good a judge of character I am. Probably a better judge than I am.

You know, I have face planted more than any of you, maybe. And I have with that boy, and I can see in his eyes. We're up to our elbows in blood. There has to be room for a little bit of redemption in this world. I'm a big believer in second chances. At least I am now. That's a good idea. I wanted to check with you.

I thought this was something that I assumed you would have some insight into. Do we have time to teach them how these things were? He may already know a bit. He spent some time around them, which was also why I thought it might be helpful. You and I... Well, I figure we would talk to him. I'm still.

Still not 100%. We are going to be fighting these dragons, and I am not at my best. Well, you probably need to get to bed, but why don't we go find him before a crew is too late? I'll continue to work on these. Bring him down when you find him. I will. Thank you. I'll head up.

Okay. Percy, I want you. Sorry. So real fast. Can you make three tinkering checks for me? Tinkering check? Yes. Three.

Help that. He said three. There's three. There's three. There's one. Where'd all my dice go? There's two. Okay, apparently I have three.

Your old twenty twenty, is your dice right away? Dex proficiency, if I recall? Yes. Okay. That's a 29, 27, and a 13. Okay. Rudimentary in their design, but functional, you managed to clean them all and, you know,

repair the ones that are heavily damaged earlier, and to make functional again. Not an issue. During that time, Kielith, if you mentioned something you said. And Zara. Right. Right. Your Honor Zara. What did you say about Aynne and why is Iyne important right now? I mean, Ayun is a god of knowledge and sprouting of knowledge. And was what the temple that Ossisa watches beneath the Slayers Take is based around. It's also what the Ziggurat beneath the city used to be.

a temple to ion before it was corrupted by the Briarwoods. Scanlon, do you still have those ion stones? I have an ion stone. Okay. Was Raven Slumber the name of the temple? That's my necklace? Yes. That's your necklace.

That's your necklace. That's got trinket in it. When he's, you know, when we're not in the city. He's out of the necklace. It's been in every scene. Yes, he's always around. What if we go back? And do what?

Max is gone right now. I'm also gone. She's been helping me clean, so. Never mind, just keep going. I'm just trying to figure this out. All right, next. You go ahead and you find Zara who's in the process of still researching in her room, trying to, her main set, with her and Alura,

while she was focusing on the, um, the Zygorot and the S&7. So you find her and she's tomes are kind of spread out and she's actually kind of fallen asleep on her desk in her room. Puts her wand out, right? In your direction? Darling, I'm so sorry. Are you? How are things?

Tiring, if anything, and she kind of wipes this bit of drool from the side of her chin. Immediately sits off right in her chair. I never noticed the drool, don't worry. Good. Just trying to figure out what we can from these siphons.

Anything interesting? Not yet. Though it's been a lot of fun throwing things into them and watch them go away. Speaking of, you've been very busy, I know, with all of your research, but do you remember what we spoke of before we left? Mind me.

Arrows of dragon slaying. Oh! Yes! Yes. I was able to muster one. Okay, that's wonderful. One is better than none. But that is all I'm able to get there at that time.

Of course. She pulls up a small case and opens it, and it looks a little... Rickshaw not quite as perfect, but she says... The enchantment took. Wonderful. Um, this is costly.

What do I owe you? Oh, for this. Let's find out. That one. That would come to roughly... Hmm. On the market, about 30,000 gold pieces. But she made it, so that's not how much it would be.

Right? Zara said it wasn't that much before. It's, um... I mean, it's mostly done. I could keep working on it if you like, and make it all done. Oh, okay. But that's 30,000 gold pieces? Well, for costs and time, I'd like.

put it more about 12 for a friend. Jesus, great. Man. Better make it work, then. Better wait. I'll wait. You just keep making this awesome. Okay.

Sorry, dear. I haven't had a lot of time. No, no, no, I know you're so busy. Oh. Romance is over. Wow. Mark it back down to one and my... It's all right. You're amazing. back ones and shit.

Ficious. Oh, that's great, super cool. We're going into battle pretty soon. You know, these fuckers are pretty dangerous, so I'm just, I'm concerned. So should I... ...should I... ...falk on the research and focus on... Keep doing what you're doing if you find the time.

Noted. Mm. Thank you, Zora. No worries. I should make some tea. She kind of rubs her eye a little bit. Gets up. Have a good night, thanks.

Walks by, she exits the room as you're going to stand there. Her tail, kind of whips you in the back. I deserve that. Venus. Mary said it was only five, okay? Mary says a lot of things. The Akeem-in-a-lure show bit. The world of Sonic the Hedgehog

has been thrust into a not-so-dark, not-so-stormy, hard-boiled detect. story that probably nobody saw coming. Follow Sonic and the Intrepid Chaotic's detective agency as they take on their biggest case yet. This high-flying action-packed adventure will take them across the world, fighting for every clothing and fire. It's one heck of a tale,

which is good, because this story might be the only thing that can save their lives. Well, if that's all, I can just dispose of you. Wait, what? All will be revealed in. Sonic the Hedgehog presents the Chaotics Case Files. Listen now, wherever you get your podcasts. When the Chaotics are on the case. Oh, please, not that music.

That music gives me nightmares from my childhood. Could we get something a little bit lighter? here. Are you a fan of true crime TV shows? And what about Unsolved Mysteries? The show that jump 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 from your favorite true crime campy TV shows all the way to Unsolved Mysteries. Baby, you will laugh, you will cry. You'll think about true crime in a whole new way, and you'll also ask yourself, who gave these people, mics. New episodes of I Think Not are released every Wednesday with bonus episodes out every

Thursday on Patreon. And every Monday you can listen to our true crime rundown where we go over the top true crime headlines of the week. So come and join us wherever you listen to your podcast. Kema shows up. Kema shows up. Yes. Kema. And she kind of walks up, it's, you know, midday. She's not armored at all. She's just wearing a standard linen shirt. It's kind of, sweat through. It looks like she's doing some sort of physical labor work and she kind of comes up with the dirt smeared in her face. Crog, it's been a while. Watsh. Wach. Bad ass.

You big badass. So, what can I do for you? Where's... Oh, yeah, the thinkers are inside. Where's the Laura? Do you need me to get her as well? Well, yeah, the guard was supposed to get you, but... I'll be right back. Guards.

She leaves for a bit. You wait a little bit longer. Eventually, she comes back with Laura. Laura, not quite as dirty as chema. They both arrive. Hello. I'm glad to see you returned. Can I help you?

Yes, I don't normally need to ask for help with Mandrake, but this gate scroll that I have here, is this something that you can do? Do? This is beyond my magic. Forget I ever showed it to you. It doesn't exist. No, this is incredible. This is very powerful magic. You shouldn't know about it. It's bad news.

I think it has quite a bit of utility, to be honest. Well. Do you need this? Could I... Oh, no, I do need it desperately. Yes, it's very vital to our mission. All right. Wait, do you have a use for it in mine in particular? Well, I, I mean, this is the kind of spell that I could copy into my spellbook, and once I'm able to utilize it down the road, it would be at my disposal.

Would that make this scroll inactive? It would destroy the scroll, but I would be able to utilize the spell a few years, maybe. Wow. How long does it take to copy down a scroll, like a couple seconds? Yeah, but it destroys us. It takes a few hours, maybe. There's this voice I'm hearing. I just wandered back.

I'm done talking to Zara. Hey, the door was open. You keep it, you keep it. Be careful with that. From what I can glean from the enchantment, it offers you quite a, quite a chance to pull pretty much anything to your side, but no real bindings on what you pull through. Yes.

Anything I, well, I think I, I think I, I think, I think I understand how it works, but I don't know. I just don't know if I'll be able to do it when the time comes. No bindings on what comes through. Like, you might give more than you bargain for. There are many a mage who ended up trying to bend something to their will, and... They won't see ever again. I think what she's referring to is, once we pull the thing through, it's...

It acts of its own volition. We can't tell it what... do. We stay clear. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Not like it and its friends come through. Probably not. Probably is good enough for me. Once we pull it through, I mean, how do we keep it in place long enough for... We don't. We pull it through right in front of... How do we get in front of... I can be invisible.

Laura, thank you so much for your time. Please don't let us disturb you any long. No worries. I'm just, I'm about already continuing to strengthen the veil with Sean. Also, I don't know if you'd heard, but Tiberius fell. I'm sorry to hear that. These are dangerous times. I've got somewhere I've got to do. Stay safe. Be careful with that. She kind of walks out of the room, a little dazed and kind of rubs the top of Kima's head. You don't watch her leave. How is she? She's stretched a little thin these days, to be honest.

You're in Gilmore both. There's a lot going on, and a lot needs to be found, and a lot needs to be done, and there's just an ever-ending barrage of responsibility. Which, where are you guys off to? Something you might enjoy, actually. Really? You see this big, toothy grin curl across her face, and her fingers kind of twitch him. So? So?

You like killing a dragon. Oh, I was hoping you'd say that. Let me get my armor. How soon? When? Pretty soon. We only save you for the big fights. All righty. Stay right here. I'll be right back. And she darts off with a spring in her step and a little chuckle as she had some of the hall.

Oh, quick before she comes back. No. Well, it'd be the best bag ever. Come on. Would she ask why Assume is with us? Yeah. Maybe not. Who's my thing? She's gonna find out eventually and then what do we say when they all know we've known them?

Look, when we start attacking Seekir as soon, then we kill Kima? What? She's probably a dragon too. Shit, I just totally did that, didn't I? But she wanted to come and fight the dragon. I'm an idiot. Look, we don't have to tell her. As soon as we hit Roshan, she'll reveal herself anyway.

That was our agreement, not tell, right? Yeah. But then what happens when Kima goes, did you guys know? no? Yes. Yeah, she didn't ask. Paints us as pretty shady folk. These are the people we need

to trust us. They're our allies. She has kept secrets from us, and we have a perfectly legitimate reason for not telling them. That was also for protecting her. No, we have a very, that was fine. We still have a perfectly reasonable reason for not telling anyone, which is that if we tell people,

the city gets destroyed. And they get destroyed. You are welcome to tell her, and then we have to deal with the city, Look, Kimo is a total bash brother, and if she gets to find out she gets to kill two dragons instead of one, I don't think she's going to be upset. No. I don't know, we're putting her in a lot of danger. Yes, we are.

As opposed to staying here. And we were aware and we could have told her she's going to be angry at not telling her the pulper remedies. She will. Did you see her though? She's like sweaty. She's like working on outside of houses. This is not someone we want to lose our trust. Oh, but she's like doing stucco in a field.

She could help protect the city. She's a soldier. They're used to not being told things. No, she is not a soldier in our manifested army. She is our friend and ally. There's a difference right now. This is a different duty and relationship. I feel like I got us into this and I'm really sorry about that.

We can get her out of it really quickly. You can tell her not to come. I can just tell her that it never happened. You saw how excited she was. It's her choice. If she's our first. friend and ally, let her choose. She'll choose a fight every time.

Yeah. But she will choose a fight unaware of exactly what she's getting into. Well, we can make that clear then. We'll tell her that there are aspects of this fight that sadly must remain secret. It's far more dangerous than we can possibly even explain. Yep, well he said.

And that things may go completely to. This is Lady Kimo we are talking about. She is one of the most hard-headed people we know. She is going to push her. until we tell her what happened. Even if we tell her the truth, she's still going to want to come. So then either we tell her the truth

and trust that she can keep a secret or she doesn't come. She's going to find out, and I don't want to lose her trust. I don't want to tell her. Percy? Oh, no, I'm happy for her not to come because I don't want to tell her

because I don't trust... I don't trust anyone who now. I barely trust us to keep this secret, let alone another person. Oh, my God. Honestly, all right, to a vote. What are we voting on? Whether we bring Kima or not.

She's going to be mad at us either way, so it just depends on if she's mad at us now. I don't care. She can hit me. I want to fight a dragon. All those in favor of Kima not going to fight a dragon, raise your head. All those in favor of Kima are going to fight a dragon, raise your head. Well, this isn't an idiot. You're doing. It's not there.

I'm not here. Oh shit. I grab my earring on my back's world. I'm sure I'm more than 500 feet away. Yeah, I'm fine with her. Fine. Well, look, I mean, she's then going to wonder why we uninvited her. We are lying to her no matter which way we take right now.

If you want, I can wipe her memory. I'm just going to unfriend. Oh, my God. If she finds out, she's going to be really super pissed. I'm okay with this plan. Yeah, yeah. Removing an ally from a fight. I feel like she should come.

I'm okay with that plan. Taking one of the guns and just going, nah. Remember. Want that gun to trust me. Double dragon. Look, I want her there more than anything. I just don't want to lie to her, and I also don't want her dead,

and I don't want to, like, drag her into a situation she could have known more about. I defer to the grand pooh-bah's will. I will change my vote to yes. There could be ears listening. I know. Don't worry, I'll wipe their minds, too. Let's bring her.

Oh, my God. You really won't. Let's do it. So we bring her? Yes. Now what's our plan? Do we go to sleep and wake up and go? Yeah.

How do we get there? Keylet. We go in the morning. Yeah. How are we getting there? Tree's dried. We're going to burn her spell in the morning to get there. Shouldn't we go now, sleep there?

No, I was assuming we would go there tomorrow, set everything up, and then have it happen the day after. We can go camp in our house, deep in... With Rishan? In my house? Rishon's not getting in the mansion ever. By the way, that two-week time period that we had from the... How far into that are we? We're getting there.

Two days? Yeah, you got like a handful of days left. Okay. We'll start here. We set up, we go there, we set up. Rishon can handle herself. Fine. Let's just go.

We're going. Well, you know what? I got to handle something first. Oh, boy. Well, this is happening. Vax. Eventually find your way. to the kind of makeshift training

barracks that are established kind of on the north-eastern side of the city where Keshaw was earlier training recruits. You can see now amongst this late in the afternoon, most of the training has come to a halt, but Jared is still in the process right now of constructing Kynan. Kynan has been given more standard

white stone armor to get rid of the kind of kind of dark, roguish look that he had before, partially because kind of a, to help him just mentally feel like he's in a different place and have a sudden connection to the city. But Jared is in the process now of working him through some sword play as you approach, the two of them kind of stop and Jared looks over towards you.

Ah, thanks, it is good to see you. What can we do for you? Uh, well first, how's he coming along? He's a bit rough around the edges, but he's actually a pretty, uh, pretty decently trained fighter. Yeah, I agree with that. Kind of just, like, quiet and... I'm on, uh, sort of on some Dorolo business right now. Can I borrow? Follow the boy.

I don't know. What do you want to be borrowed? I suppose? Did I do anything? No, you're fine. Will you take a walk with me? Sure. head back to the castle. Let me just, he hands the blade over to Jerr who takes it and kind of sheaves it and aside. Jared, he'll be back tomorrow for a little more, all right? All right, now we shall prepare. Don't do anything, stupid boy. He kind of kind of smiles and comes up and starts walking with you, but he's still keeping like a good foot and a half,

two feet between the two of you. He seems to still be putting a boundary there. I wanted to give you a little more time. I wanted to. And I wanted to. And I I don't think we have it. Things are moving fast. You didn't know what was going on. I don't fault you. I fought you. That day you showed up,

I had a point, but I made sport of you while making it. And that is on me. And I'm sorry for it. I'm sorry, too. I should have... I should have taken it for the lesson it was. I was too...

I was too dumb and young to let it get through my thick skull. Amen. I'm a little bit older than you, but I'm a massive fucking shithead. I make plenty of mistakes. And I only knew how easy it was for shit to blow up in your face. And now it has. Percival and I want to offer you a means of squaring yourself off.

What do you need? This city is in danger. And it needs people watching it, and I know you're training. Percy, uh... Sorry, Percival has a task. for you and I think it's well suited for you. You're around Ripley, you were around her other men. You know how to use a sidearm.

I've toyed with it. I wouldn't say I'm a great shot by any means. Sure, but the number of people who know how to use those things, I can count on two hands here. We have guns now. We need people to use them, so I want you to come and talk to Perlowe. I want you to come and talk to Percival for a bit and we're going to work out a plan for you to show some people the ropes. All right. Okay.

This is your second chance. I don't doubt you are going to make the best of it. I truly do not. And again, I was going to wait on this because I can see the pain in your eyes, but there isn't time. And I want you to be well equipped, so I want you to take these. and I hand him two of the three daggers that I bought that day, and I take out the Keene dagger, which requires attunement. He's mine, and now the yawes. Water under the bridge, and I don't want to hear a word.

Just walk with me to Dorolo. Thank you. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. It walks along with you, eventually leading you back to Percy's workshop, where the instruction is given for the... for the weapons, anything beyond that he doesn't understand about the rifles and nothing in construction, but just general outfitting.

He seems to be more of a dept student than you expected. He's got some intellect to him at the very least. He can pick up the details pretty quick. Quick learner, and he puts his mind to it. About this time, as you're having this discussion, you hear the bounding of armored feet to and bursting through the partially open door you see fully armored, eager, hair pulled back, and a tight braid. Big old mall kind of scraping on the stone behind her. All right, so, when are we doing this? Tomorrow.

Tomorrow. It's not to be tomorrow. Why, what are you doing tomorrow? It's really quiet here. I'm getting extremely bored. Oh, you want to go now. I mean, whenever you need to, I'm just saying, Could go now and... Now!

I'm ready. That'll give Kika chance to replenish. Yeah. It's true. I don't see any difference in Ryshan being able to kill us in our sleep here or there. She could stay in the shittiest room in the mansion. She's not getting in the mansion. She can go sit in the fucking snow and go to sleep for a while like that.

I'm very confused by now. Oh. Do the thing. But it's only 10 minutes now. It's only 10 by the minute. The whole shebang? Just what we just said right now. Just what we just said right now.

Just what we just said right, great, great. No, wait. Might as well test the waters. Okay, yeah, good. Nine minutes and counting. Okay, whoa, whoa, whoa, I need some clarification here. The hammer slams down. One of the stomer.

She rests her hands at the door. Lock it. This is not how I wanted this to go down, but apparently this is how. What's happening, wait a minute, is. Good job. Your boy's gone by now, right? We sent him out to.

He's gone. No, you guys were teaching him about the guns when she came back. You never know when it's out of character or any character. Find you. He just seems largely confused and doesn't know what's going to know what's going on.

I'm going to go take the boy for a stroll and show him how this is going to work and explain to him everything. Gentlemen, you actually plan how we're going to kill dragons, Excuse me. Excuse me. Give me strength. All right, quickly. Kima, we need to talk to you about something very important, and if it doesn't go well, Scanlan's going to erase your memory, but... Excuse me? I can do crazy things. We're in a bit of...

No, no, no, nobody's doing that to me. Of course not, of course not, because you are so cool. This is going so well. We're in a bit of a predicament. We are going to draccom. So that you can fight not one but two dragons. Here's the thing. One of the dragons is here right now is coming with us in disguise. Immediately the mall gets crowded.

Here? No, I think you're doing it wrong. I think you're doing it Scanlan. That's all right. We got eight more minutes, eight more minutes. No, we don't. Lady Kima, we, in order to kill one dragon, are entering into a deal with another before we kill it.

But then we're gonna get a- You crazy! Oh no, that's what I said. Just pure stupidity. Obviously, yes! Hear him out. Hear him out. If we do this...

If we do this, it could help us kill the dragon that killed Tiberius. And you think you can trust this dragon? No. No. We're banking on being a little bit less... Come on, guys! All right, look, the dragon is actually poisoned by a curse. She's very, very weak.

Great! You don't need to go... Perfect! We plan to take advantage of that. Why don't we kill the dragon here and then kill the other dragon there? Let's not fuck up Whitestone. We're just worried about the punish. We have to get away from the city.

Lady Kima, we have, you're looking at a group of idiots who have felled dragons, killed beholders, negotiated with sphinxes, gone to other realms and other planes, and somehow managed to get out of it more or less alive. You are a lucky bunch of sons of bitches. That I'll give to you. Do you know what also this is like? I'm keeping an eye on the time. I don't know, I'm actually, she leans on her hammer now.

This is what this is like. This is just like the underdog with one exception. We worked with that fucking asshole thinking he might have some, some redeeming qualities and he didn't. He turned on us, right? And who told you that? Who told you that was going to happen? Who at the very first moment you showed him to me,

said, this guy is gonna try and kill ya. Well, but on the side, he helped us get as far as we did, but then he got shot to the heads. But this water under the bridge, of the bridge, it's water on the bridge. This time, this time we know that we're dealing with a fucking piece of shit. Hollis is her holy symbol. We're going to turn on the piece of shit and kill her. The whole plan is to get them all to turn on each other and then we mop up the messy bits afterwards. Seven minutes. One dragon or two dragons? You want to play? Let's

play. Or you can let us go into this without you and probably all die. Yeah, I. You're all gonna die. Oh. You were ready to run with us, girl? Oh, I'm coming with you because I'm not gonna let you die. Oh, you are. God. Stupid bunch of gits, I swear.

Bombat, are you serious? Yeah. This is ridiculous. I'm not gonna tell anyone that you made this plan until it's done. Thank you. Because this is stupid is shit. It could be. But with you by our side, it has a slightly better chance

of going correct. Yes, it does. Kimmy, can you be cool? Please don't call me that. Look him, look him. Can you be cool? Where's the dragon? It's in draconia. Six minutes.

What about the one that's here? We're about to currently unknown. That one is going to show up after the fact in draconia. So this whole deal, you just don't trust me enough to tell me where the dragon's sleeping in our place right now. You know, I think is very weird. We made a deal. We made a deal. It's for your own protection.

We can't tell you everything. What if you go running off? What if you go try to kill it in here and White Stone gets destroyed? Please. It's a temptation. Believe me. It is very tempting.

Trust me, yes it is. But I'm also not stupid. After all we've been through, we've all almost died like a hundred times. We're asking you to trust. We're asking you to trust us blindly in this scenario, and I know that it's not ideal, but we have saved you before. And Kima, please just remember, between me and you, of all people. Before we trusted the Illithid, we trusted you.

Well, we trusted her. You didn't. You're right. I didn't trust you. I was about to say. Wow. This is just fucking. I didn't.

It's like a... I'm getting to my point. I'm getting to my point. But we grew past that. And now I trust you more implicitly than most people in this world. Good. This is precisely why you people need me.

How much longer do we have? I think all these words are fucking up. She seems down. I think we should just get it on. Here's the thing though. You have to pretend like you don't know. It's super important. Right, can you be cool?

You're asking me to lie. Well, pretend. She's a holy person, isn't she? I'm not real good at mine. How about you just don't say anything? That I can do. No, okay. Perfect. And don't attack.

Four minutes. Should I just wipe her memory? No. Why me easier at this point? No, because... We're good. You come near me with any sort of magic mumbo-jumbo-jum. I'm gonna clock you in the head, scatling.

Maybe Kima, I've... I don't know what you're talking about. I... Oh, God. I love you. I'm going to clock you in the head. If you try and wipe my memory, little gnome. Kima.

We've got three minutes left. Kima. To what? He can choose any ten minutes he wants, right? That's true. You know our mind. You know what our plan is. Fine, yes.

You're kind of a firebrand. Do you think it might be better for you not to know? You know now, but to not know going in, and then you just kill everything on something. I have no idea what you're talking about, and this is really starting to frustrate me. Are we gonna kill a dragon? Yes.

We're gonna go kill two dragons. One to two dragons, yes. Great, okay, what's the plan? We're gonna... We leave tonight. We go. Sure, let's go tonight. If we go where the dragon is, we're going to release bait.

When the dragon is done with the bait, we go in and kill the dragon. Yep, pretty much. And then another dragon. Maybe a third after that. If we're totally weak though, we can't fight this. though we can't fight the second dragon right away. We have to save up our strength and then fight it after, so we don't die.

I'm not gonna lie, I admire your drive in gusto. Be smart about this. Look at that, she says she can't lie. And that she did it so well. Thought she were gone. I'm listening in to this whole thing for the earphone as I'm talking about. I keep telling you how long you have,

is because I'm laughing so much. All right, well then. I'm gonna go talk to the Sun Trey. I'll see you guys. We're going. We're leaving now. Just gather your shit. I'll meet you there.

Where? We're lost on the tree. She's our ticket there. Oh, great. Don't talk to anyone, Kima. If we're leaving soon, I'm sticking with you guys. I'm going to let's assume in on our plan so that she knows. Scanlan.

Oh. Could you wipe Kynan's memory, please? Kynan? Yeah, this yet. Kynan didn't barely hear anything. No, he, I left with him. You left with him? You took him.

I haven't been in the room because I took him away. I would just been... Yeah, that's way. That's way. I see, I see. I was focused on the fire. Oh, no. I've walked Kynan to show him how I would like things to function with the new product.

And as you're listening, you gave him all the instruction. He takes it in pretty well. That was a conversation. Yeah. Jerry catches up with you and you both kind of coordinate with that. All right. You headed the Sun Tree, all the rest of you gathering the rest of your materials and supplies. Oh, I'm going to, well, we have time.

I want to attune my cold snap armor to me. Okay. So I'll probably not have my bracers attuned. Okay. That's two damage off of any of your range attacks. Right. So keep on to that. But I get what cold resistance and added AC or something?

Yes. Okay. I'm going to attune, oh, animus. I'm going to attune animus. drop the gloves and missile snaring for this fight. Okay. Free wet willies. Wow.

As you attune the weapon, there's a brief, familiar dark glow on the weapon, and all the three names that exist in the barrel all dissipate. It's now a clean barrel. Is it all right if I let assume know what

our basic plan is? That we're leaving now. We're leaving now. Yes. We'll be heading this. there, the fight will be tomorrow. There will be a creature that we will lure and bait the white dragon with. We will attack at the end. We expect to see her participation. If we are not acutely aware of it, all deals are off. Sounds good to me. I relay that information.

Okay. Do you go to a sims room? Um, I knock. Knock on the door. Assume. A so we go. A voice goes, shh. And you hear lowered voices from the other side of the door for a moment. I walk away, assuming that, assume, will know where to find me. That's it. We'll go back to just gathering my things,

going, pulling powder and armor out, powder and shot out of what was necessary. About 10 minutes go by, and as you're gathering things, assume approaches. I'm sorry, Percy, I was indisposed. I apologize. I hope I didn't disrupt anything important. No, I was keen enough to cover,

but both the cinder king in the frigid dune are under the impression that there is no mounting danger. Tonight, we go to Traconia. Very well. Tomorrow, fight the dragon. We will bait him with another creature of great strength since he is a counter. A creature of great strength you intend to bait Voronga with?

I don't think anything you've ever heard of before. Try me. I pull out the book and show him the picture. Sorry, thank you. I keep doing that. Well, it's a assume right now. It's a lot of gender issues in this. Itching into the abyss.

That's curious. I figured that quite possibly in private, you and I have the closest disposition. I could see that kinship as well. Once that fight is concluded, we mop up whatever's left. We expect to see your participation in some form. I understand if it can't be direct, but... I can be evade. I just have to be...

I have to remain inconspicuous. I cannot be seen to be part of this confrontation. Obviously. and all shall be fine. We may have some extra people with us as well. This was not discussed. Who would you intend to bring into this deal? That, sadly, I cannot inform,

although there will be draconians. They are disinterested in our politics. And disposable? I would hope not, but. I understand your point of view. I will say for the sake of this encounter, our point of view will be dominant, but I understand and respect yours.

When dealing with aunts, you must respect the needs of ants. Surely you understand. I follow. All right. So there will be that. We will have a couple of company members as well, But since you're staying hidden, it shouldn't be a problem.

I would recommend not showing up in this form at the very least. Oh, in this form? Oh, I have many forms I can take. I have an idea. Very well. Fetch me when you're ready. We'll be leaving on our own. You will have to meet us there.

I'm sure getting to draconia shouldn't be too much of a problem for you. Then I'll travel with you and your band. That seems like a waste of magic. It does, but sadly we are trying to keep our own reality, quiet. Needs of that's. And also, they don't want you around. They don't trust you. I don't trust you.

If you're going now, it takes me at least three, four days of travel over the ocean to get to draconia. Surely you can find a faster way. You got here very quickly. You so rarely lie that I'm... So fascinated that when you do, I think I'm starting to get your tells. Just a bit of them. A funny little man. I take that as the highest compliment. Oh, then. I'll see you tomorrow.

See you tomorrow. Endosome turns around and exits. I head back to the... I turn the corner, get far enough away, and just drop to my knees and breathe deeply for a minute. Head to the sun tree. Have some, hmm. All right, you guys make your way to the sun tree. Kieleth, while you walk in, Keyleth, you head there as well. So anything you wanted to do before they arrive?

Yes, I want to go underneath in our little Sun Tree cave that we carved out. Okay, so you go beneath the tavern into the basement, down the little tunnel beneath leads to the Sun Tree's roots. Yeah. And I cast a commune with. nature. Okay.

Oh, yeah. You know. There's something pressure on this. I don't think about. Is there a way I can kind of almost like put my hand inside the Sun Trey? Uh-huh.

Oh, wow. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, it's less of a merger and more just like as you touch and connect to the roots, you, your consciousness in the century's consciousness. You're holding the roots.

Good mind. Dear, die. And today I touched the Sun Trier Sun Trey. It was so turgid. Turgid. It was appropriate usage of the word. Very well. Okay, I'm going to cast commute with Nature.

Enjoy and connect with Sun Tree. Oh, I love the Sun Tree. You grab the roots and you feel the warmth flow through your hands, and there your consciousness connects with that at the Sun Tree, and you are both present in that same plant space. I feel a conventry. All right, all right. Sun Tree.

Hey, Keylet. Fuck, damn. Hey, Sun Tree. Hey, Keylet. Can I just, you know, without burning a question, can I just personally ask you, just how you doing, man? Doing all right. Yeah. A little cold, but...

Sure. Why stone? Hey, Suntree? Yeah, Keel. You're kind of over top, all these arcane laylines across the whole. across the whole globe, right? I've traveled a lot of places here lately. Are all the cities

that the other arcane laylines fall across? Oh, rightly, no. Can I, like, sense it through the sun tree's roots? I want to kind of... Which, as he converses with you, he says, I've been here a long time. Don't really get around much being a tree. But you do sense, around this area,

and you do feel like this kind of light, fuzzy, blue, almost like a mist energy, like a particle energy that is coalesced around white stone and above it, and it shoots off in like six different directions, some that curl up northwards, some that curl out over the ocean, and you see them spider out in places and then go beyond your peripheral. It only goes, the Leylands only spider out past the Alabaster Ceres. You can't see much further than that. Are there any cities, any places of interests that I can see that we've been through before, where they happen across? I'm going to see if I can use the sun tree to extend my vision a little further. Unfortunately, this only lasts for about three miles.

Yeah. I want to extend a little further. You sense that, yes, these late energies do travel much further and are surrounding the world in a network of various magical pathways. magical pathways, but unfortunately the Sun Tree and your vision right now doesn't go far beyond White Stone. Yeah, there's a lot. Um, so the Ziggurot, the spinning orb of death that happens to be right underneath you, are you in touch with what that might be feeding? Can't say I do.

God damn it, Sun Trey. God damn it. Keith calm down. I'm happy to answer your questions. Invite you to my son, space just because I'm not an all-seeing tree don't be angry with me I'm not angry with you Sun Tree I'm just frustrated angry in general just chill it's really easy for you to say Sun Tree okay yeah it is okay okay okay all right Sun Tree yeah Keylet you're a tree from Peiore yes more of less have there been the attention of any other gods on

white stone right now, that you can sense. Or can I sense? I'm kind of asking the sun tree out of humor, but can I sense it? I mean... I'm assuming the tree doesn't actually know fucking shits. The tree may know a lot, just the right questions need to be asked. The sun tree says, to be perfectly honest, Kuleth. I mean, even Pellor's grace left this place hundreds of years ago. His presence is here bits and pieces, but when I was first taking seed,

the gods were much more present, much easier to read. Kind of lonely nowadays. I don't know, Kieleth. You got me, Sun Trey. I'm here. Shouldn't be lonely? You around, Kieleth.

Nobody can be lonely. He's saying that as you're holding onto his roots. Don't make it weird, Laura. It was weird five minutes ago, Matt. Okay, Sun Trey, I don't really have much time left, but, you know, is there, is there anything that you would just, you know, you said you're lonely, so I just want to say, if you ever want to talk, I'm here, you know, you can confide in me, if there's anything you want to say, I'm all yours, you know? I appreciate that. Yeah?

You gotta kinda come to me. Sure. But when you do, hell yeah. You know, I didn't really get any of the things I was looking for, SunTree, but I still feel a little better. Thank you. It's all the matters, Keelew. Yeah.

You're cool, Sun Trey. You're cool, too, girl. Oh. Not as cool as you. Probably. Yeah. Okay. I'm gonna be walking through you here in like a minute,

so I just want to let you know that there's gonna be like eight people going through, just so don't feel alarmed. Oh, boy. It tingles a little. Oh, okay. That's all right. I'm sorry, I'm not gonna stop doing it, but I'm sorry. Take it all, bitch.

I appreciate it. Okay. All right, bye, Sunbury. Bye, Keyleth. Has anybody seen Keyleth? As you go up top, the whole group is gathered there currently. She's downstairs with her wood. Way.

more relaxed than even an hour ago. You smell of pine. Yeah. And sup. Yeah. I'll have whatever she's having. Are we ready to do this? Yeah.

Sure. Seven in. Before we go, Lady Kima, when the gnome hits your eye like a big pizza pie, you've been mind-melded. I'm gonna, I'm gonna wipe her mind. It's too risky. It's too risky. of the whole conversation. It's too risky.

Okay. That's a lot of mind. Nope. It's a 10 minute conversation. When he wants it. Oh. All right. What's your spell DC on this? 21. Well, you didn't have a hand cone out though. Oh, you're gonna bust me on that? 19 then. Came his eyes, bling for a second. Didn't I warn you scan that short heart to try and wipe my mind?

Ah! She's taking a hit. Oh, shit. Natural 20. Right there. Okay. This is how I die. I'm okay with this. I was feeling relaxed.

Like 35 points of damage. Oh! What is good? 20, 27 of it blunt damage from the actual impact of the hammer, and then the actual impact of the hammer, and then the the Earth's Thunder Damage. Oh, shit. As her holy Thunder Mall slams into the side of your head

and sends you skitting 10 feet across the ground. She's coming into a hall and she was, that felt fair. Well, he kind of deserved it. He really had. Damn right he did. But, you know, he had good in, you know, there's a lot at stake.

So, bad idea, but for, just, let's just, how about we just get through the tree before we talk anymore? I love you guys, but. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Oh, no. He had that coming. It was a good swing.

Thank you. I've dreamt about doing that for so long. Hence recently, anyway. I pull the gnome up and cast, lay on hands and give him 10 hit points. Oh, alright, buddy. Oh, man. She, uh, passed the test.

Pass the test. You're worthy of coming with us on the tour. Great. I can only apologize for him so much. This is true. Shall we get on with it? Yes. Yes.

You're hopping in a far. far enough away that, right, in the tree grove up above the chasm? It was that sideways tree? No, no, it was a tree above. Oh, no, wait, wait, wait, wait. You found a tree above that you could get to you. Yeah, yeah. And I, like, grew a tree, right?

Did I grow some trees? Yeah. Yeah. I pick one of those trees. Okay. You finish your transfer be a plant spell, the portal opens. You all begin darting through, keema, darts through.

Who's the last one out? I'll be the last one out. Make perception check. Ah, ha, no. Levin. 11. Okay. You dart through the portal. Portal closes you all emerge from the other side. The cold, snowy ice hits you.

There is actually a bit of a snow storm that is blowing through right now as you come on the other side. Immediately the wind chill hits you, and it just gets extremely cold. It was darker in the day. It was starting to get later in the afternoon. Here, it is night. It is just blustery, like not quite blizzard, but definitely a heavy snow, you know, decent wind night on the bluff right outside of the ravine that dips down into the remnants of draconia and the small, icy throne that Boragall currently calls home.

It's find a place to hide the mansion and sleep. What time is it here? It's night. You don't know an hour, but it's like black night. I can ascribe once we get in the mansion. Yeah. Can you set up? Sure, yeah.

I'll proof the mansion. Okay. Also, just quickly, I have a tuned whisper, and I have changed the Death Walker's ward to cold. Okay, good to know. What's my armor class now that I put the Cold Snap armor on? You had your arm on before, right? I did, so is it up two points from that then?

The armor was plus two, right? Okay. Was it? You have the item card for it? Yeah. Yeah, it would be arm in class to be up by two. Okay. Okay.

All right, so you guys enter the mansion. Kima comes in, kind of looking around. Well, that's pretty damn swanky. Alright? Yeah. Shut the door. Shh. I was just gonna show you to your room. No, no, no, no.

All right, well then you can sleep in the fucking living room. Fine, I've slept at worse. Great. Servants, don't help her. I don't need any help. She goes ahead and leans up against the side of the foyer wall and like just starts taking her armor off a little bit and is kind of just keeping an eye on scaling the whole time. Kim, with his extra rooms upstairs.

I'm good here. Are you hungry at all? Actually, I'm pretty hungry, yeah. I'll find some food for you. I'll go for the kitchen. Thank you. Um, those you guys want to get done in preparation for this? Do we want to, uh, uh, Have a Heroes Feast because of the terror that dragons inflict upon all those who are

expensive. So what? Is it prepared? We can prepare it rather. What else are we saving it for other than this? No, I mean, it has to be, she has to prepare it ahead of time. Can I cast it ahead of time? Sorry, sorry, can I cast Heroes Feast at a higher level?

You can, yeah. But do you have it prepared? No, I brought Transport via plants. I can do it in the morning. But it uses one of your spells. Is that all right? I mean, it's pretty important. It is pretty important.

Can I do it as like a ritual spell? I don't think it works that way unless it's a ritual. Sorry. It's not a ritual. See, I've never prepared. You can do it tomorrow morning or not at all? I'm going to scry. Okay, what are you going to scry?

I don't necessarily scry on Vorigal, but can I scry in her... She has gods. Also, we have the leader of the dragon's born. What do you mean? We can see where he is right now. Instead of spying on Borogel? Who? What? Wasn't leader of the dragonborn female, first of all?

Was she? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, she was. Borrigal's a male. Tuma is the leader of the, and they're not draconians. These are the Ravanites. Draconians were essentially wiped out. were essentially wiped out.

Ravenites currently hold the ravine. Scry on Tuma. I can scry a few times. Okay. Just so you're aware, you can only scry in something in the same plane of existence. So you have to step outside of the mansion to cry. Oh.

I'll step outside the mansion to scry. Okay. I step outside the mansion and I take a good, hard look around. I'll sit in the door and I'll keep an eye on it. Okay, but if you guys make perception checks. I'm also going out there with them. Okay. I'm gonna go to.

Natural 20. Hey, you. 14. 10. What's the total on that then? For you, Vex? 33. Okay.

You, you know, even when it's the dark, what distance that you can see, there is no light visible down in the ravine. It is black, pitch black darkness. You can see around you, there are the trees that you guys came through, a couple of other kind of barren, broken trees that have just been another long dead or at least leafless for a while, kind of slowly curling over the edge of the ravine.

Like either the land is eroded over time and they've just kind of slowly begun to move with it. You don't see anything else in the immediate vicinity. It is freezing cold though. You're doing okay because of your armor. You're a little chilly and you're kind of shaking naturally from the wind chill as you're preparing the ritual and begin to focus in the scrying. So who you're scrying on currently? First, I want to scry on Tuma. All right.

As the cold begins to hit your, hips your fingers, begin to go a little numb. You finish the ritual, your eyes, glades over white, and your vision suddenly projects itself into the darkness in front of you. She rushes down like a sudden drop-up rollercoaster into the bottom of the ravine and is rushed to the side, inside the warm interior of the wall

on the western end of the ravine. Darding through a number of familiar tunnels, you find yourself back to the small, village that was built by the Ravanites through the central circular opening where the small fountain was and you're thrust into the tent where you first met Tuma and there you see upon the throne is Tuma with four guards around just currently draped over and asleep just slowly snoring as her head droops and what's going on around her do people seem to be preparing for

battle? You can't really tell. You can only have a focus on her. You see very, very fuzzy things. There's no lot of action around you that you can tell. I'm gonna do it again. Okay. Scribe finishes, your fingers are now getting more and more cold.

Take the cloak and kind of wrap as long as I can. You kind of put in your flame hands to warm yourself up a bit. Now I'm going to scry on just that kind of outside entrance to Vorogal's layer? Well, Vorogal's layers is in the open of the ravine. It's just a little ways up. Yeah, I remember it's that raised, like, ice platform. Like, like, you know, we guys are at the top,

goes down into the ravine, and the ravine curls through and, like, splits off in the direction of the center of where a lot, like, a section of the ravine forks off. In the center there is where there's that cluster of ice, all the spikes off of it over on top of the rubble of one of the central islands of draconia, and that's where Voragal was currently living. Okay, because we were in there. So can I just scry on the location?

Uh... ...and to focus necessarily on Varigal? There will be guards at the guard stations all around the outside, that might be far enough way to see him, but not enough to... Certainly a particular creature you can choose from, I can let you try and scry on the location, but it'll have to... have to make a roll for it. I feel like that's dangerous.

Scrying on the dragon or the location or both? Both. Anything near Vorable, I feel like it's... like it's dangerous. I know. Plus, knowing could be more dangerous. Yeah, but Thorac has those scrying balls within, or the communication balls in the location. So if you...

Did Borogal have any other allies or do you remember? Is it the guards? Just the guards and it's not really allies at all. Everybody will turn the moment it looks. Are they listening in? All right. I abandon the campaign and go back inside. Okay.

I can guess it. Anything else you guys wish to do to prepare for the evening before the morning comes? Oh, I'm going to try to load the gun. Okay. Go ahead and make a dexterity check. Add your dexterity modifier to D20 roll. 16.

16. You take a moment and kind of take one of the pistols and the little barrel kind of clicks out. You're like, oh, and you take... That's your dext save, not your dexton. fire. Thank you. Eleven. Thank you. It's all these long

kind of tunnels. You've seen Percy load a bunch of you go and you take these small bit of powder and put it in and put the bullet inside and it slides in and it seems fine. Okay. That's it. Okay. All right. Anything else, guys? I have to sleep it off. I feel

terrible, so I'm just going to sleep. Okay. Where exactly are we going to, do we have a plan on dropping this beast? No. I'm going to tell, Tuna to tell the dragon that they found something to kill and to take them out into the wastelands where they, where they, where they, where, we're going to release it. Should we go try and talk to Tuma now? We could send, I would say, Fack's or. I think Scanlan, Pollymore, something very teeny.

What's going on? We're gonna go talk to Tuma? I'm just let it know the plan of releasing. Yeah. Oh, okay. You leave the safety of the mansion. You have the chance of being ambushed at any time by a fucking dragon.

Can we all go as a group tomorrow, no? No, not. We can't wander on down into our goals territory. How far are we from Tuma? Very close. That's why I said if you polymorph into like a little teeny flying bug. Fly there, I can polybor a few.

All right. You can be invisible as well, and I'm, very year. Yeah. You can fly. Dragon sea a lot. A lot. A lot.

Well, the dragon would know if I was really a mouse or not, though, as well. We're not going near the dragon. We're going to see Tuma. Pretty close to the dragon. Yeah, kind of in the same area, I think. Cautious, but not terrifying. Maybe a half to quarter mile away from the entrance of Tumas area. You got that area?

tracelessness. Grog? We can fly in as little birds or something. Stay low in the ravines, out of sight. I don't know how to un-polymorph myself. One of us has to talk, and you'll do the talking, yeah? Yeah. I can draw polymorph as long as you guys keep me in contact with the earpieces.

We'll be out of the range. Hit us with the dust of tracelessness. You turn invisible, and we'll hook it. Sure. Sure. Yeah. All of us. No.

No, just them. If they run into a problem, then we'll shit out of luck. I think your piece is going to stay in range? Of each other. Probably not. Not in a quarter mile. Be safe. This is dangerous.

All right. Oh, okay, hang on, hang on, hang on, hang on, they don't work from within the mansion to outside the mansion also. Oh, that's true. So there's a different plane of existence, technically. Then I'm going to go minxie form. I'm going to go my white snow tiger, saber tree, mountain tiger. And I will stay within earshot range.

That way, if anything goes bad, I can let the rest of the group. On top of, how are you going to stay in a shot? Earpieces. Just from the top of the cavern, just I'll follow as far as close as I can to make sure I stay. With dust of tracelessness. It should be fine. Hit us, Rob. Why don't you guys go without having some sort of...

You know, the dust of tracelessness you sprinkled behind you. Yeah, it just gets rid of tracks. It makes it hard to track. I can cast past without a trace on you. I can make us both invisible, so we'll be plenty stealth. And just real quick, we gotta tell Tuma that we're coming. You don't think if we start attacking our dragon, they'll be like, oh, it's those fox from two weeks ago. We're not attacking the dragon.

No, no. I mean... That's true. If we just bust out the thing and then... And then... Well, better than two men have people are prepared. Yeah, and we don't... Yeah, and the whole thing is...

We want them to stay clear, to not attack this thing, if they can help it. They've got to tell so many... Also, they might be able to tell us where we should release the beast. Yeah, I was going to say they would know they've been tracking down animals for it to hunt for a while, so... It's a worthwhile risk we should go. They have to tell them where to find it. Yeah.

Go get them. Go get them. You go there right now? Yeah. Gather up. Terrible. Keel and Skell in here. I don't know if pass that a trace works

if I'm not near you there. I think it's a self. You have to cast out of yourself. So he's invisible. We'll be invisible. It'll be fine. We're the best in the business. It's a horrifying.

We walked around here completely without any stealth protection last time we did fine, and we didn't even know anything about the culture or the people. Yeah, but there was no dragon last time. I can enhance one of your all's abilities, so that you have, you know, advantage on roles and a stat. I can do that to one of you.

Maybe you should enhance my stealth ability then. That's kind of what I was thinking. I'm going to cast enhance ability, and that's a Dex thing, like Cat's Grace or whatever it was, right? That would be good. Great. Cats grace on Scanlan. I'm going to turn into Minxie.

Can I do the same? Does that stuff stack or no? I could cast Bless. Do the same thing, help with saves. Yeah. I mean, I bless the three of us. Oh, thanks. and I will give us both invisibility, level three.

Invisibility. Okay, so both of you go invisible. You turn to Minxie. What are you doing? I'm gonna stealth as far as behind of them that I can. You guys are all stealthing along the top of the ravine? Yeah. The top of the, yeah, in the ravine, right?

Sure. How are you getting down? Oh. It's deep. It's a cliff. It's a cliff. It's Grand Canyon. I guess the top of the ravine,

I shoot out the wings, and I just glide Scanlon and I invisibly down at the bottom. Okay. You guys disappear down into the ravine. You lose eye contact with them and outside of 120 feet of you. I'll just kind of stalk the top of the ravine

and keep an ear open. Okay. And keep an eye out for anything that looks horrifying and bad. Okay. Make a... Horrifying. check. That's saving throw.

Make perception check. Who, us, that her, everyone? Either of you. 16. Perception is it? Yes. 18. 22.

22. All right. You glide down and it takes you a moment, but you do, over the next like 30 minutes or so, it takes you to finally find the area that's familiar to you in this dark

that is where you guys previously were. Like, you're having to look around for quite a bit. And it's a lot of, like, having to go back up again and glide around. It's a big space, and in the dark, in the middle of the night, it's very difficult for you to really figure out any sign of where you previously tread. You do manage to find it, but you're now looking around. How long does the invisibility last?

One hour. Okay. So you guys are about halfway through the invisibility's functionality. And halfway through flying. Through your flying wings. Marcia, go out of make for a... This would be... What hell of that makes us?

Survival Wilderness Check. Scanlon, you smell like the churley. I want to sit on the door like keep. Yeah, kind of like a stoop. Man musk. What do I use? Just my nature? This is wisdom survival.

15. Okay. Best you can, you begin to kind of follow the edge of the ravine and try and do your best to think of the, remembering the path of the ravine based on where you were previously and kind of taking in what sort of outcroppings and structures were familiar to you. You think you may have found over time something near the entrance. You're not sure. All right.

Best you can do right now. You guys eventually find the entrance where you were led in by the rest of the Ravanites. You zip through and it begins to open up into the subterranean. It is very quiet. There are a few walking appear to be sentries, haphazardly, you know, armed and armored. But it seems like majority of those here are sleeping.

I don't want to scare the shit out of everybody get attacked. No, should we become visible or wait till we get right up next to Tuma then become visible? I think we go visible now. All right. Okay.

Yes, let's do it. I'll drop invisibility. both of you guys appear do you begin to walk towards the central yeah so there are anyone awake sleeping people now no we just see a quiet underground tunnel with a bunch of like huts and and tents and small abodes that are all just silent

there are two what you see wandering sentries that are armored and as soon as being walking through they're both kind of turn and look and see you hi hello spears out it's fine Yes, we're friends of Tuma. We've come to Parlay. Put two weapons down. I have no weapons.

I play fiddles. I see a sword at your side. Would you like me to drop it to the floor? Yes. I'm already being asked to take off my belt. Yes. You two. We're friends of Tuma.

We have an important... She's expecting us. Mission. Eustration check. Twenty-two? The other guard walks off. There's like an awkward three-minute beat where he's just kind of staring at both you intently

with the spear out. Eventually, the other guard comes back and talks back to him in the language you don't understand. Yeah, the guard is. It is a strange hour to drop by. Atuma will see you. Leave your weapons where they lay. Take good care of them.

You're going to leave them there? They will stay where they lay. And both of them stand behind you guys, spears to your back, you know, nudge you to continue forward. You guys make your way to... Welcome to Mick Unplugged, the number one podcast for self-improvement and modern leadership.

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much more. So whether you're into superheroes, prestige TV, or just the coolest actors and directors alive, you're going to learn something in every episode. Listen to Happy Say I Confused on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. The four guards inside are there with their spears at the ready. Two of them have shields and they're all not an aggressive stance, but definitely alert and making sure that you're aware by their physicality that they're paying attention to you and are ready to deal with anything you bring. Across the way, there's a small fire in the center of the room like a small fire pit that is largely burned out now to just small embers and the kind of smell of smoke and

sage is very prominent and strong in the room. Tuma, you can see, is now cupping what looks to be a small goblet made of simple wood and I see steam rising off of it and she's just sipping. I'll leave this up to you, Mr. Reynolds. Lady Tuma, sorry to wake you out of your slumber. It is a very strange hour. Well, where we come from, it's a totally different time. We've come to complete our promise to you.

The fact that we are here should give you at least some confidence that we are men of our words. It was close. As a show of good faith, could you please instruct your guards to go get our weapons and bring them close to us. Not for any use. We just want them close by. And not among enemies. Your weapons will stay where they are while we speak. We really would like them close to us. You should leave. All right. Then we'll leave. And the dragon will torment your people forever. That is your choice. The whole fucking plan. You want to hear about it?

We'll love to hear about it, but I do not talk to people who stumble into my home before the sun rises with weapons and arms at their side. We are not trying to have weapons by our side. We just want them close at hand. I don't trust them with people. I don't know. It will not be touched. Everyone is sleeping. Bullish gnome. We came to report and we'll get out of here, all right? Fine. Here's the plan. We'll be quick so you can get back to sleep. Tomorrow morning we're going to release a beast that will, we hope, lure the dragon out of its lair. We want you and your people at the ready to attack. Can that be done?

That couldn't be done, yes. And where would you recommend we release this beast? Eyes kind of curl up with a slight, slick sound of older, not as moisturized, lizard eyes. You see the side lines kind of click across as she thinks. Across to the northern side of the ravine. You will see what looks to be a circle of stones.

A hundred feet across should suffice. Make it. 16. 16? Who will talk about loot crate? And so many good things about loot crate. about Luke Crate. It's a horror theme this month, you guys.

You're a fan. Friday the 13th. Box full of stuff. Halloween. Nightmare on Elm Street. Texas change. And I will never wrap again. The dice tonight.

I'm a Halloween fan myself. All right. Is there any particular time that the dragon would be hungry for a hunt? The dragon is always hungry for a hunt. It's hungry now, I'm sure. Sure. And once this hunt happens and hopefully weakens the dragon, will you be ready to pounce?

You will be ready. How do we get word to you that we're in position? We'll be ready. Anything else? The thing we're going to release is kind of gnarly, so give it a little bit of space. I will tell my men. Right, good chat. Scanlon, want to head back to the pad?

Unless you'd like to talk about anything else tonight. Please leave me. Not a, not a morning person, evening person. Hey, let's go get our shit and get out of here. Person, person, all right. Grab by the scrub of the neck and just start pulling out of this one. Okay. You guys leave the tent. Tedgeway back. Your weapons are out where you dropped them. Freaking out.

and bring your weapons into a front room. I'm so sorry, Simon, I should never have left you away. Your make way out towards where the cavern opens into the ravine itself. The snow is still about a good foot and a half up now, the ravine. How long has it been since I've bumped out the wings? I'd say it's getting pretty close. You're not quite sure of the exact time. just start going up towards the...

I hope this doesn't fall, make us fall. Right. You take the wind, cold wind hitting the wings, even though they're an extension of the armor, it's still kind of, you feel this twinge of cold. Thankfully, you have your resistance up,

so it's helping with that. And one more invisibility for both of us. All right. It's important. I don't do it. It's important. Thank you for noting that. This is in.

Tent. His hand was like, all right. in very four-tenth. You guys invisibly coast up through the ravine. Did you hear the garment of the Reaper as he just walked past you? Thank you for no cheek, back. Making your way up onto the top of the cliff side, into a soft bank of snow.

Um, Kielith, you do hear the f-ph of several footfalls, maybe 40 feet to the left of you. And you look over to see what looks to be an indentation in the snow. I just start pacing that way, assuming it's them. Okay, you guys watch Ming-Seek emerge from the darkness and snow. Let's go the fuck home here. Hi, random cat, who is definitely supposed to be part of this landscape. Let's go. Can we get it? I mean, like, I got this form from being in the mountains of my hometown, so yes.

You hear... Mow-wh-la-l-w-w-l-w-ha-w-w-ha-w-w-ha-w-ha-w. Can we ride you? Yeah, can we get a lift, I was about to ask. Uh... I can probably, I'm little. You both could write me, see. Massive, aren't you?

They can ride me? I mean... I'm that big? Not like full... They were like... They could both be on your back and you'd be like, Carry him along, yeah. Back hurts, come on.

You eventually bring him back to the outside of the door with Vex waiting for you on the stoop. Go back. You guys make your way into the warm interior of the Schenl's mansion where Kima is currently de-armored and snoring leaning against the foyer wall. You guys prepare yourself for an evening's rest for tomorrow.

You battle one, possibly two dragons. And that's, we're gonna go ahead and leave the session for tonight. Dump, bum, pump. We're back here next week for whatever this chaos is gonna be. Oh, God. Are you ready to rumble? Yank the Goristro coming in, versus Voragal, the Frid Doom.

Versus Ryshon. Versus Rihon. Versus the Hocchon. Versus the Ravenites. The diseased Deceiver. The diseased deceiver. Ooh. The diseased deceiver.

Well, we can trust her. I don't want to write that down. That's a cool name. Nothing is going to be. to go wrong. Everything is great. Everything is great. And we set ourselves up for it. I think we've got a really solid plan.

Three massive enemies. And an army. Also, there's a really good chance that I won't be able to summon that thing and then we'll just have to improvise. Well, I can turn to move you with that as much as I can. Don't roll though. Yeah. Don't roll though.

Oh, Sam, please don't roll low. That would be so bad. Or so great. Or so great. Can I use enhanceability to help him out with a spellcasting? The thing that has a DC, a very high DC. It's, I mean, you're probably pretty good because you have a high enough charisma. For you, enhanceability.

Let's see. Can you inspire yourself? when you're casting a spell? I don't know, can I? Can I? Let me look at the rules for this. It should say I'm the scroll, so you have to roll to me. I didn't bring any of my stuff tonight.

Bring any of my stuff tonight. Yeah, I had to break this out. Actually, enhanceability might help with that. It does give advantage on checks to the specific ability that's there, which would be charisma. However, there is an eagle splendor. You would get advantage on charisma checks. Eagle splendor.

Yeah. They've got fancy names for each one. That's cool. Like cats great. Eagle's splendor. So in theory, that could help. We'll define it more when I look at the ability, look at the scroll I wrote up and look at the roll

with As I make sure we confirm that before next episode, but yes, that probably is a possibility. Wow. And as it is an ability to check, you could also inspire yourself with your D-12. Oh, see? Honey Badger's Fock is that you said. Yeah. Anyway, start, start a roll.

Start thinking how you're gonna handle this next week, so you got a week to pull this together. Planned strategy here. We can talk all we want. In churches. Yeah, we can talk this time. Sure. We're in the mansion.

Yeah. Yeah, you guys are having a whole night where you can work this out. Okay. Yeah, and I'm, damn, I'm annoyed that I know what that perception check is about and that I, that Percy doesn't know, and it really annoys me. You don't know? Yeah, I don't. I hate you. Anyway, guys, well done.

Great game tonight. Thank you guys for watching. We'll be back here next week on Thursday. Is it Thursday yet?