Critical Role - A Very Special Six-Sided Dive | 4-Sided Dive | Episode 14: Discussing Up To C3E64

Episode Date: July 18, 2023

All of Team Issylra is back together again and they’ve got a whole lot to discuss! In this episode of 4-Sided Dive, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Emily Axford, Aimee Carrero, Taliesin Jaffe, Liam O’Brien, and Marisha Ray take on the Tower of Inquiry and play a deceitful game of One Night Werewolf. 4-Sided Dive airs one Tuesday a month on http://twitch.tv/criticalrole and http://youtube.com/criticalrole Twitch subscribers gain instant access to VODs of our shows like Critical Role, 4-Sided Dive, and Exandria Unlimited. But don't worry: Twitch broadcasts will be uploaded to YouTube about 36 hours after airing live, with audio-only podcast versions of select shows on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & Google Podcasts following a week after the initial air date. Twitch subscribers also gain access to our official custom emote set and subscriber badges and the ability to post links in Twitch chat! "Let's Roll (4-Sided Dive Theme)" by Peter Habib and Sam Riegel Original Music by Omar Fadel and Hexany Audio Additional Music by Universal Production Music, Epidemic Sounds, and 5 Alarm

Welcome to Foresighted Dive, Critical Role's monthly talk show featuring a roundtable discussion about the events and characters of our current campaign, alongside a heavy helping of hijinks. Foresighted Dive airs the first Tuesday of every month at 7pm Pacific on Twitch.tv slash Critical Role and YouTube.com slash Critical Role, with the VOD available on YouTube the very next day. And of course, each episode releases right here on the Critical Role Podcast Network one week after the initial broadcast. Let's dive into the chaos. No, no. You said it. You said it. I said it.

You said it. You said it. So as we all know, we're not touching the table. It's not touching the table because that thing is wobbling and we're very, very concerned about it. I can see it moving now. Do we have rules for if the tower falls and it's all of our faults? Then you all have to do the consequences.

Wow. And you have to apologize to me and Kyle specifically. I hate apologizing. It's coming down. 100 times, in cursive. So what we're gonna do is we're going to roll the dice very far away from the tower. Wow, okay.

The show will be far more entertaining if one of you three becomes the host, so please do that. Well, this is an opal dice-ish. Here, yeah, no, never mind. Yours is more open. That one looks good. I think we all roll in the tray.

If we don't roll in the tray, it's going to knock it down. Oh, wait, so do we get rid of these, JVs? Let's remove the extras. This is just noise. I hate this. Do it at the same time? Wouldn't it be awesome if these dice brought the tower down? This is all I want now.

All we can hope for. All at once? Yep. One, two, three. It's gonna be a mess, it's gonna be a disaster. Mine is not even on the table. Oh. Wait, who?

Yep. Is that you? Fuck me. P-Dog. The awesome thing is mine was one higher than that, but the rolls knocked into my die and fixed it. Then you have to do it with me. This is called a chuck check.

Congratulations. That's so dumb. Way to go. Fuck. Ladies and gentlemen, our host for the day. Fuck. Whoa. Wow.

I'm gonna replace every word in the opening with just the word fuck over and over again. Just like my character. You can do it. All right. That's the inside part. Move to the sides, everybody. Out of the way, out of the way.

If I'm gonna die, I'm going to die alone. Hello, hello, hello, and welcome to Foresighted Dive. I am Say Your Name, and I, oh, I am Taliesin Jaffe. This has been a while. And I will be your 14th tavern keeper, tasked with guiding you through yet another installment of the internet's most unscripted, unfiltered, off-the-rails TTRPG AP aftershow. And to celebrate the conclusion of Team Issylra's journey and the reunification, fuck my life, of Bell's Hells for this ice-cold prompter read, fuck all y'all,

we'll be doing, yes, you guessed it, improvised prop comedy. That's your specialty, Taliesin. I hope you can feel the stare through the prompter. Yeah, it's playing right to your face.

You know, bored or sudden, but inevitable betrayal is a lot like this balloon animal I'm about to make you. Whoa, you have to make one? Yeah, this'll be a... Oh, cool! Oh wait, but you can do this, right? Fuck no. I thought, but you're a circus man. I'm a circus man who actually has a mild fear of balloons.

Circus man! You snapping a rubber strap feels really natural, though. It's the only part I can do. These can be hard. These are hard to pull. How do you do it? You pinch the top? What do you do?

I think you gotta normally... Wow, I can't believe Bordor ended up betraying Team Isilra. Ukarsh played that so well. I had no idea he was a secret member of the Ruby Vanguard, let alone that Landa would straight up kill his ass. At least we still have Denise in Prism. Sort of have Denise. I wonder what hijinks Prism, Frida, and Deanna are going to get into at the Starlight Express. Damn it. I mean Starpoint Conservatory. Hold up the sh- Yeah! Oh, no, no, no, you're rolling too low, you're rolling too low, they,

they, they, no. I'm so glad Bell's Hells are finally back together. And with the teleportation staff Imogen has, they may be able to stop whatever Ludinus is planning. Oh, wow, I look good at this angle. We should bring back Danny Cam. Oh, I just hope that's not too complicated for Max Shapiro. Oh, he just got married.

I should send him a bunt cake or something. Oh, ask Sam where he got that really nice bunt cake he completely ruined. Who am I kidding? I'll ask Kyle. Block, block, block, everything is black, black, black, except the moon it's red. Oh God I'm so depressed. Oh, Taliesin is finishing their ice cold prom to read. I should really pay attention. I'm told wow. I think this must be the most off-the-rails ice cold opening we've ever done. I assume they're just updating this in real time. It's amazing. Don't go anywhere, because in the spirit of werewolves and betrayal, we'll be playing One Night Werewolf after the break.

Welcome to tonight's six-sided dive. Let's do this fucking show already. Welcome back. I feel like that opening went pretty well. I feel like I pulled it together. You really did. I think that was our best. Yeah, it might have been the best. It definitely, off the rails, but we went with some really interesting places. Let's begin our night with the open discussion segment. What the fuck is up with that?

What the fuck is up with that? What's up with that? What is up? Fuck is up. With that specifically. Yeah, and. Ugh. And murderer. Murderer! Mordor! Mordor, that. Yeah, and. Ugh. And murderer.

Murderer. Murderer. Mordor. Mordor got Mordor. Mordor. I didn't even kill your friend. Wow. I didn't even kill your friend.

You punched me to death. Yeah, after. And then you finished the job. You hit me with a lightning bolt. We're not dancing around it, we're just going right to it. We're dancing. Right to it.

There's no blame, take responsibility. No, no, no, leave it down there. It belongs down there. We've gone off on a hill. Taliesin, what was it like coming into CR? Well, I've got to say I had a lot of expectations. I was a little nervous about it, but I felt very welcomed by the group, and I feel like it was a good table for that. It took me a little bit to warm up to you, but yeah.

Yeah, thank you. I'm learning the rules. So yeah, everybody else, what was it like coming on the CR? Some of you stayed a little longer. Some of you stayed a little shorter. Some of you died, but you all brought it while you were alive on the show. You were dead. I mean, you say some, but it was one each. I am kind of dead.

You're all right. But I think... I've just been waiting to jump on forever. I love Matt, and I love you guys, and I'm a huge fan. And right. But I think... I've just been waiting to jump on forever. I love Matt and I love you guys and I'm a huge fan and I just wanted to come so bad and I'm so glad I got to do it. And then just to be a part, just to see you guys do scene work together

was incredible, honestly. That was one of my favorite things. I hope it's okay to say this. We would have a moment or someone would do a scene and Ukarsh would look over at me and he'd be like, damn, that was good. That was a good scene. Hell yeah! Incredible character work.

That was impressive to watch. You're improvising high drama. We're gonna get this done. We're gonna do what we always did. Not breaking eye contact. Just riveting work. And I'm sitting there like, oh, we're not making people laugh.

We're like actually like in the fucking world. Good job. Given circumstances, everything. You know those people who go down into like an underground bunker vault

and they're down there for years and they don't know anything else? That's us. That's true. Amazing to watch. What about you guys? I mean, Amy has been on EXu of course you and ever since it was like the first taste is free like you know i got hooked immediately and then i was like well

what made me on my next fix um and like i've just i just love you guys i'm a fan i'm a fan of cr and i was waiting by my phone for two years. Was this your first time at the proper table? Yes. You had to play at our like, well, I guess we're doing our very, our best. Our best, yeah, yeah, pandemic table. Well, that was, yeah, I mean,

that was like the only thing I'd ever done, but I'd never been at the actual tub. That's right. And it was so great. And like, just seeing, getting to play with Marisha and Taliesin, because Liam and I go way back, was really cool. And I'd watched, this is the only campaign that I've seen from the beginning because I came late to the CR world.

So it's been really cool to, you know, it kind of fucked me up in the beginning because I was like, oh my god, this is happening to this character? But you kind of have me up in the beginning because I was like, oh my god, this is happening to this character? And blah, blah, blah. But you kind of have to get over that. And then get into play with these two. Foodcarsh, I've known. He helped me move! All years ago. Yeah! Really? Ten years ago.

I didn't know that. My friend Alex was like, we're helping my friend Amy move. And I showed up at her apartment. And moved some boxes. And he helped me move. How sweet is that? Wait, have you all kept in contact? See each other every few years. Yeah That's how you got this Yeah, man every time I come on I'm always like I want more I want to do better than watching this girl fucking Play like yeah, it's too much. Oh boy.

Ultimate expander. Like, you know you see people and you're like, oh wait, no, that's how, I want to do that. I want to do that. What, can you please teach me how to do that? So I made a flow chart, I made you look at it and everything. It was a really good flow chart.

It was a good one, thank you. It was an impressive flow chart. Yeah, Emily's, like your knowledge just of the game. Same. So it's your knowledge just of the game. So it's like the knowledge of the game paired with like how dedicated you are to your characters and it is kind of intimidating. It's a little intimidating.

It is intimidating, yeah. It's a little scary. Us too, like I'm at that table for eight fucking years. I'm like, how are you on top of your shit? You guys are very much on top of your shit. Yes, I don't think that. But I also would like to know. Do you teach a master class?

Honestly, my class is just like, read your spells and then think of like, think of like, what would be a cool scene in an action movie and try to do it. Pretty much. That's natural talent right there.

And also like a love for novelty, right? Like I've never liked to, I obviously sometimes you do the same thing twice, but like you always kind of go into every battle being like, I want to use something I haven't used before. Yeah, how can I mix it up? Yeah, yeah.

I fell in love with wizards with our last campaign so to watch you come rolling in here just effortlessly. Just fucking. Working that spell book, man. It was good. Have you played a wizard before? Only like briefly. It's like, it kills me because it's my favorite class like by a long shot.

Really? Because it's just the most spells which means the most novelty the most like Permutations of cool shit that could happen. Because I know you had like a long-running druid. Mm-hmm, right? Yeah, long-running druid. As part of NADD pod. Yeah, and then I've played a ton for dimensionension 20, but we play those for short stints. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You handle business. You handle fucking business. My turns would be like 45 seconds,

Amy's would be like 90 seconds, and then yours would be like 45 minutes. No! Oh, no! Well, yeah, she'd be like, I'm gonna do this, my book is gonna do that, my bird's gonna do that, then I'm gonna flip over here, give this person superpowers, and then I'm going to be invisible.

Not a single ummer like in all of it, too. No. That is not true. That is not true. Very nice. I know how to get all the blood out of the stone. Yes. Incredible.

Well, I think when you're talking about coming into CR, I came in being like, kind of ironic how it ended, but I was like, I can't let any of these fuckers get killed. I can't be the guest that lets one of these fuckers get killed. Do you know Ashley Burch? Have you had that conversation with her? No.

Oh boy. Did that happen? Yeah. Wait, what? Ashley Burch. It was, uh... Yeah. No, I mean, like, I don't know the context for that, so I wasn't trying to reference that. She just happened to be there when one of my characters died. was, yeah. Yeah, yeah. No, I mean, I know, I like. I don't know the context for that, so I wasn't trying to reference that. She just happened to be there when one of my characters died.

Oh, yeah. He made a narrative choice, which was the right choice. Absolutely. You're the one who actually fucked up. I actually technically killed, yeah, I was the one who fucked up. I walked into that trap.

I remember that, I didn't even see that episode, but I remember I was working with Sam on Elena of Avalor at the time, and he came into work the next day, and he was like, we had a really big thing happen. Is this a prop comedy, Sam? No, yes, yes.

Same Sam, but like a different Sam. You know what I mean? Because he always walked in really ready, like so happy. In his little button-downs. In little button-downs and tie, and he was just really affected. And then went on Twitter and looked it up.

Oh god, what happened? Did your grandmother die? Are you sick? And then poor Ashley Burch, it was like four or five years later, I get text messages of like, I'm on the train to Comic-Con and there's a Molly Mock cosplayer,

and they're looking at me real weird. Oh no! What do I do? That day always sticks in my mind, too, because that was the day that Ronan was born. Oh! Laura and Travis's son. And we were crying because she had Ronan,

like an hour before the fucking game, and we were all like, oh my God. And then you died. Yeah. In a fucking while. Cosmic. Was this the first time we've killed a guest on camera? I'm trying to remember.

Yes. This is the first time we've killed a guest. For sure. Okay, that felt much better then. That was like a really positive. You all did kill me. Emily punched me while I was already down. I watched.

There was no need. And then Marisha finished the deal weeping. You didn't have to do that to yourself. It really made me laugh because I thought for sure I was going to fail. I was fucked up about it. I honestly, I was like, fuck, maybe I shouldn't have. But it also just like, I didn't really think I was going to hit. But then I also just like, I didn't want you to do it alone.

Yeah. That's like too, that sucks if it had all been on you. So I'm glad that we shared it. It was great. In my mind, I was covered in blood and blood dripping out my mouth going, do it. Do it. All of these people, they just stepped back. They didn't stop.

No. Liam for sure was like, I'm not trying to tell you what to do, but. You nodded. It's honestly. No need. I thought about it to tell you what to do, but. He nodded. Correct. It's honestly. No need. I thought about it. Can you really say that? And I know there's more questions.

You did a bingo. Yeah, we're here. About this topic. I know there's more questions about this topic. I'm just pulling tanker questions out of their little ball, out of their little tankers, and it's fine. We can. We're just coming to it organically. But you know what? You had the cojones to do what a lot of people wouldn't do,

coming on as a guest and being kind of like the sleeper sort of. It was a long con, for sure. Yeah. It was not easy. You waited to the last possible second. It was either the last second or the first second. I was like, I'm either going to go vitriolic sphere on everyone from Jump Street, or I got to play dumb for the whole time.

Oh, my God. And then right at the moment, I was like, oh, I'm going to get to that portal. I'm going to turn around and burn these fuckers. And then I'm going to jump through the portal. And then get out. And bam. Yeah. Instead, you put me in an arm bar.

I sure did. And I have no athletics check. I was like, zero. Now I've got my arm behind my back, and I've got no other option. What made you want to come in doing such a bold choice by being, like, maybe a secret baddie? This is actually a question on here. It's like, yeah, what was the character notion? Well, we had, like, a sit-down with Matt Matt and then he seemed really excited by the idea

Yeah, and so then he helped me sort of build the character and I was like, oh cool How are we gonna do this? So like? He was sort of like side barring with me and he was like hey just so you know when these people meet you You know that cart and the clothes you're wearing are from a farmer that you murdered. And you threw your- What? Oh! What? Why did that come out of your little notepad? I forgot. I fucking forgot!

That's so juicy. He said that to me right after. He was like, you just killed this dude, you burned his body, you burned your clothes, and you put his clothes on. So we were fucking scrying on a dead man's house? Yes! Oh my god!

How did this not go down? That's what you didn't know, Yes! How did this not go down? How did this not go down? Token of your brother on you. That should have been a real... That's why I was like, there's no way I can last this long, but you guys just let... I grabbed an angel's head and melted his brains and you were like, oh, I guess he still doesn't know what he's doing. He summoned a demon! There's a giant rock guy. What's crazy? That's what I chalked it up to.

Yeah. But in character, in hashing out the character, did you propose to Matt saying, I want to be like a dangerous person to these people? Well, we gave it an option, right? We were like, here's somebody who God had given up on, or had felt that God had given up on them. And if he felt so inclined to join the group, to share his past, this is what happened. I was in the Ruby Vanguard, because there was that one moment

where we fought the wood lady. What was her name? Not Addison. The giant? Abilene. No, that was my family. Abilene. Abilone. No? Abilene. No, that was my family. Abilene. Abilone. No. Abilone.

Wait. We didn't fight her. No, no, Abidina. No, we fought with her. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. And there was that soldier that she sort of spared. And she was like, you went the wrong way. And I was like, I could go.

He could have gone that way, right? He could have been like, okay, guys, like the dead lady and you guys, you've shown me the righteous path, but then I wouldn't have gotten to use the vitriolic sphere. Use that BS baby. And that's really what it was all about, guys. After you did it, you were like, I couldn't wait to use that.

It's true! Every day I texted Matt, is it time? Is it time? Should I do it? He was like, that's up to you. I was like, you're not helping. Did you feel like there was a potential path for Bordor to change and come around? Yeah, well, I mean, that's why there was a moment, right, when I did the thing before I was about to die, where story-wise, you're like, oh, this is about to be so dope. But me, inside of me, I was like, maybe they'll spare me. There's a chance for this to go the right way.

That's why I was like, in the moment I start backpedaling, I'm like, oh, just do it. I try to get your pity. I'm like, oh, God, just kill me. Everyone's gone. And I was like, there's no way she's going to kill me now. I'm on my knees. I'm crying.

It's not going to happen. I also thought, like, mechanically, mechanically, the fact that it made me take more damage, like, I died, then came back, made me take more damage on, like, I died, then came back, and then took more damage. Yeah,

yeah, that was fucked up. That's not on me. That's good game mechanics to be like, nah, I'm still pissed. Yeah.

What I liked about it is that, is that in the run up to it, in the games leading up to it, we had great moments. Like, you were very vulnerable, and were just, you seem like just a

guy so that's much more it was a beautiful thing too when you gave me the the pipe and this is something matt and i discussed after he was like you know what was so good about that is you had this moment of righteousness with everyone and they all think it's about them but it's about the fact that you infiltrated the group and now you and now you gain their trust that's your proudest moment as a lower level member of the ruby vanguard trying to gain favor with ruidus who probably is like walked by me twice you know what i mean like i probably have i'm not like a higher up at all but now i'm in and i can bring them you guys right who killed everyone yeah yeah that vitriolic sphere was going down and i had a poison dagger i wish i could have but now I'm in and I can bring them you guys who killed everyone.

Yeah, that vitriolic sphere was going down and I had a poison dagger. I wish I could have stabbed someone in the neck with that. So that pipe moment was actually the moment that started tipping me off. Oh. Yeah, because my head, I was like, oh, he's going to smoke this pipe

and it's going to show Borador being a hero and having this kind, heroic moment by leaning over his sick brother's body, patting a cool, damp cloth on his head as he's doing this honorable thing of taking care of his sick brother. And then you were like, oh no, it's this moment. And I was like, weird. I, oh no, it's this moment.

And I was like, yeah. I was like, weird. I don't know. I don't know. Something about it. I was like, okay, I don't know. Maybe. It worked on you. It did.

Hee hee. It was good. Well, I also. I died. I got killed. There's so much to unpack. But I also am so curious about Denise and Prism. So, yeah. God, yeah. So what was the notion? but I also am so curious about Denise and Prism.

Yeah, God, yeah. So what was the notion? Let's start with Amy. Okay. Yeah. What was the notion? I know that this was a character that kinda sorta existed before.

Yeah, so when I was first approached about Critical Role in 2019, I guess, I built a character with Matt. Like, we did it on a character sheet at, like, a diner in Burbank. And she actually looked really different. Obviously, there was no Dariax. It was, like, a very different... I think she was, like, a halfling bard at the time.

And then I tried her out for EXU, and then I just felt better doing Opal, so we did Opal. And then we did Narrative Telephone. I just was thinking about something that would be complicated. I wanted to tell a very complicated story and add an accent on top and then have

the reveal be that she is Dariax's ex. And so it came from that. And then I was like, this is my one chance to make Denise canon. So when I was like, this is my one chance to make Denise canon. So when I was asked to come back and I asked Matt, I was like, do you want Opal? And he was like, no, I think we want like a new character. And I was like, ah, Denise.

And I wanted to have a connection to some connection to the group. And that was just kind of where that came up. But I also like, i don't know i mean you're so accomplished in this field everybody here is um but like i with opal like i wanted to play a character that felt like someone i could play which was a fucking like new brand new person in the world you know what i mean like didn't have a lot of knowledge didn't have any wisdom about how things worked um and then with this character i wanted to explore a different side of like what happens when someone's just really fucking tired of this life and just wants to settle down netflix and chill with their like partner and wants to like hang up her like thieves tools and uh just have a really boring normal life that you probably

wouldn't want to watch on Twitch. You know what I mean? And so that I just felt like that was worth exploring and I didn't know where it was going to land. I didn't know. And I thought it might be cool if like right before she was shunted, it was like, you know, what happens when your plans are thwarted at the very last minute? Just as a weird addition, multiclassing?

You decided to multiclass? It was like a... Well, because how I usually, well, usually twice, come about like finding the class is that I'm like, where does this, what is this character good at and why? Like with Denise, I had it that she was like on her own at a really young age, probably learned to pickpocket. I asked Matt what the Exandrian equivalent of like Atlantic City was or like Reno or Vegas

where she would learn how to do stuff like that. And so we've settled on Kaimul. And if she was going to be like really good little thief, then maybe like a rogue would have been. I want her to be like kind of also like a tough broad um and then that's where the barbarian came in and because i played opal and i had such a hard time with the spell mechanics i also knew i didn't have that much time to explore denise so i just wanted to do something that for me felt a little simpler it

turned out not to be that but like having no no spells, like, oh yeah, she just gets in there and fucking whacks people, that's great. And so that's how we ended up with that brew. I love that she built your character on top of the lore of the past story. It's like the Carrero cinematic universe over on this planet. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And it is wild, like I was thinking about this, because yeah, you were supposed to be,

Denise was almost a part of campaign two, and that didn't happen because the pandemic happened. Yeah. Literally right before Amy was about to come on, we had to shut down the studio. I'm lucky I got to be here with you then. Oh, I'm lucky I got to play with you. And at that time, you guys were super high level.

I don't know. Imagine, like, baby Amy, like, not ever having played, like, coming on to play a bard, like, with all these fucking spells at level, like, 14 or whatever you guys were at the time. Yeah. We were getting high level. That would have been, like, really hard. So I'm glad it worked out that way. But, yeah.

Very happy to be here. I didn't remember the narrative telephone, which I loved in the day when it happened. I didn't remember that at all. So we had that campfire moment. Great scene. I didn't remember. I wasn't pretending that I didn't know who Denise was. It was not on my radar.

Good, good. When you dropped your name, that was Liam, not Orm. I'm going, what? Yeah. Yeah. And I like the idea of exploring like the character or I personally love

moments in movies or TV where you know a character for a certain amount of time and then some new character comes in and tells you all this new information about the person you know and love. And I thought it would be like, what if Derek, I mean, Derek's just like so lovable. He's so lovely. What if he fucking left some bitch like high and dry,

owing money and breaking up with her, ghosting her? What would that be about? Here's the scumbag side of this. Yeah, right. Getting to see this one side of that guy. I love. So fucking great. What about Prism?

So Prism. Oh, Prism. Honestly, Prism, I pitched so many fucking characters to Matt. You just have them in your fucking little arsenal of characters. No, I've wanted to put a necromancer forever and I've never found a campaign where it makes any sense. So I pitched him a lot of necromancers

that didn't really work. And then my first reaction, I remember I was going to be a woman who got shunted in the middle of her wedding ceremony and didn't find out. and you were in a wedding dress showed up in a wedding dress but then i was like i was like it was a little tonally different so i was like let's not go there but then i honestly i looked at your guys's party composition and like where you were at and i was like they need information so i really just wanted to be like

a plot hound god you're so fucking smart like so great i want. So I really just wanted to be like a plot hound. God, you're so fucking smart. So great. I want to take this class. I want to give you money to teach me how to play this game. I mean, it's literally just simply being like, I just took someone who would have good history, arcana, religion,

so that you always had someone who could potentially roll, investigate, identify, gather information. So helpful. But the other one, gather information. So helpful. So helpful. But the other one, it was down to two. It was down to two characters. So it was like this like kind of like

long suffering PhD student. Actually, I originally conceived of her as being more of like, more of like an Arthur Dent from Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. I was planning on her being like just wanting to go home but then i just like battle went really well and then and then when we went to camp i was like planning on being kind of prissy about it but then i was like i'm a fucking elf

i can just trance right camping is fine so i was like all right i think i I think I like the adventuring lifestyle after all when you rolled like 7 20s in a row I really feel like it was the dice being like hey do this I think you're gonna like this I do remember the other character that I it was down to two and I was like here's a

plot hound and here's just a weird one and Matt chose the prism. But I had also wanted to play, and thinking back, it would have been insane at the table. I was going to play a paladin of the betrayer god. I asked him for a really stupid betrayer god. He gave me all these cool betrayer gods

and I was like, no, no, no, stupider. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And then he gave me- Is there one? It was going to be. I was going to be a paladin of the Lady Vesh. The bloody siren. And I was going to be like erotically obsessed with.

She's like basically like this, this betrayer god who has like annual orgies and then kills everyone but one person and mates with them. That's Cash's wife. Oh my God. Wow. I was the only one who laughed. I really just wanted to be like, it's my dream to succumb to the

love and guilt of the lady fish. There's always EXU. There's always EXU. Dude, that's fucking amazing. Also, knowing how intense your guys' characters, like, what an intense face you guys were if I had come in and be like,

do you ever kind of want to fuck your god? Bring on the blood orgy. Like, why not? You kind of got a little bit of that in with Prism because one of my favorite things about Prism was, like, when she did something like incredibly violent she was like excited about it. Yes. And I just fucking

love that. I love that so much. Yeah. Can we just quickly talk about the what was it? 149 points of damage doing the blade. What was it? Steel wind strike. Steel wind strike. Yeah. That you rolled a 20 Strike. Steel Wind Strike. Yeah.

That you rolled a 20 on. I crit twice. Hell yeah. Of the three attacks. Of the three. Yeah, so it was just. First time in the battlefield. It was insane. That's what I'm saying is like,

I went in being like, I'm going to play Arthur Dent if he was played by Melanie Linsky. Just like a girly little girl who just wants to go home. And then I just crit so much that I was like, I don't want to go home. There's nothing there for me. I don't want to finish my PhD.

You started at R32 and go to R34. Oh, I love that. Oh, Lord. How did it feel for you guys having like, you know, 50 something episodes behind you of like and landing into this side of things with like three. It's not just that either, because Matt in the game before for us, because we, we,

we went away while the other team went, but the game before this event happened, Matt paid off a seven year long game. Yeah. And like broke. I couldn't think for the last 10 minutes of the final the final game that we played together we paid off this long game story beat that tied so many freaking things together marisha and my character from each campaign were within 100 feet of each other

and it was like this cathartic overload and then we were flung apart and then always with guests like the rules kind of go out the window because the people are coming in for the first time you cathartic overload. Yeah. And then we were flung apart. And then always with guests, like, the rules kind of go out the window because the people are coming in for the first time. You want to be, like, inviting and sort of meet them where they are, but also honor what happened. So it was like this weird little tap dance. We were all kind of shell-shocked, I think.

Oh, man. So it worked out okay, because we were just, all right, this is happening. Yo, it was so heavy. Because I remember... Right? Yeah. And then we're over there cracking jokes, like,'re just, all right, dark. This is happening. Yo, it was so heavy. Because I remember. Right? Yeah. We were over there cracking jokes, like, we shouldn't be here.

The guys were like, oh. Because I remember you being like, damn, y'all got some baggage. That's what he said. The air is thick. It would have been like if Hamlet had just seen the ghost on the wall and found out that his uncle killed his father, spoilers, and then a guy came in on a unicycle with a horn going.

Happy birthday! Exactly what it felt like, for sure. Do you guys not like the horn? Yeah. Can I ask you some questions? I think everyone knows how I feel about prop comedy now. Raven and the book were enough. Put the horn, the sentient horn away.

Horn's name was Daddy, I assume. Oh my God. Yeah, your guys' scenes were all like hushed whisper acting. I don't know what we're going to do. This is tough. And we're, meanwhile, we're like, I don't know. Everyone thought I was a border collie. Everyone thought I was an actual dog.

Did that ever cross your mind? Wait. Oh, no. I actually wanted to ask this. What was your real last name? Was it Dogson? Collie. It was a border cat's pop.

No. No. I didn't thought. No. I asked Matt. I was like, should it be a completely different person? He's like, no, you're that guy. It just, life went a little different for you.

Okay. Yeah, because you didn't want to do artwork for another character. We should have just stood around your body and gone, hold on, hold on, he's going to turn back into a dog any second. Any second. There is precedent for that.

We did have a duck on the show. That's true. Really? Yeah. We want novel ideas, though. It's been done. It's been done. It's been done. A novel idea.

God. It's amazing. That was such a good decision to just kind of peace out with that character. I love hearing that you were wearing the murdered farmer's outfit. That's really good. That shit is so good, and I'm so mad it didn't come up.

Well, I knew also as a new player my lack of expertise would throw you guys off the scent too. If I spend so much time as me being like, what the fuck do I do? Which is true. Genuinely. You guys aren't going to think that I would be capable

of such murderous intent. No. There was a lot of weird stuff but you're right. I was like, well, I don't know how he, I play this game all the time. And you don't. How would he come back? He's just, you know, learning rule system and spells and stuff. But then it was sort of like, I accidentally

did really well in the battle at the castle. Like I stabbed her in the throat and I was like, you shouldn't have done that. And I'm throwing blood and I'm like, how we gonna explain this I put my hands on an angel melt the fucker's head I'm like this none of the how are you supposed to uh how do you want to do this was never supposed to be attached to my character so I'm sitting there like there's no way you know what kind of covered your tracks I think was like the fact that at the beginning when we first met you you immediately attacked us and you're like

well, I don't know where that came from. And so I sort of bought like, oh, well maybe he's got this new power because of the solstice. But that was contingent, I was hoping praying for a low roll. Because if I roll big, then like, we're in a battle. Like, I have done critical damage and I got a

vitriolic sphere right off the bat. Oh! I'm out. I gotta sphere right off the bat. Oh! And you got a whole new character. I'm out. I'm going to turn into a hummingbird. I would be so funny if you killed everyone before I ever came on. Yeah. That would have been amazing.

I would have tried. But then I purposely also made my hit points super low. No armor, so they wouldn't be like, this guy's powered up. He's invincible. I had to at least like... And it was plausible, too, because we're dealing with magic being Fakakta. Yes. So.

Yes. Totally. I think I mentioned this on the last Foresighted Dive. So I might be a broken record here for the audience. But now that you guys were here, I talked so much about how I don't think I've ever heard such incredible descriptors

when you guys were introducing your characters. Because it wasn't just about your physical traits. You talked about with Denise, the woman who pushes effeminate and femininity. And the male-dominated. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Women and male-dominated fields. Well, you learn from your first time around.

One thing that I find with this game is that I can think of, like, really complicated things for my character or whatever, and then, like, it gets to me, and I'm like, it's like you just, it's like math kind of disappears. So I actually, like, right before we all came on, we were all like, should we write? Think about something. Should we write? And then we're all, like, furiously, like, writing. I mean, it's so good.

I'm just an improviser at heart, so I'm just always going to shoot from the head. You said you're like a lady cop with acrylics. Yes. And I immediately was like, oh, yeah, me. Yeah, yeah. You talked about the emo girl who has, instead of song lyrics, tattooed their, like, runes.

I think I had, I wasn't sure if someone was going to ask me, so I, like, came up with all these platitudes about death. I saw you. You were sitting next to me in the dark talking to yourself. You were for sure practicing. I was, like, really having fun with the idea of, like,

really, like, bleak sentiments about death, because Prism was from Shadowfell. Oh, I love that. Or the Shadow Realm. You just really like bleak sentiments about death because uh prism was from shadowfell or the shadow realm you just like had your own like my chemical romance yeah i was like trying to like think of like i was trying to think of like but i don't remember any of them now i was like thinking just trying to think of like things akin to like you know uh you know like i don't know just like some kind of platitude about death that also sounds like an emo lyric.

For sure. They're gone for time. They'll be back after the show. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And then, yeah, yours was like, oh, he looks like

he's made of paper and he's wearing like a sack, a potato sack. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, it was just all like so like tangible and evocative.

Yeah, the personalities were evoked right about now. Yes, immediately. It was awesome. It felt, I'm glad to know that you all talked about it, because it felt like you were all trying to one-up each other. Yeah.

Oh, actually, we did. I wanted us, in our first character meeting, I wanted us to play triplets, but only two of us were identical. Right. I remember. That would have been so good. That would have been so fun. Wait, what happened to that idea?

Why didn't we go with it? Imagine now, like, the scene that we came into, the, like, such heavy emotions and catharsis, and we're like, hi, we're triplets. And they're identical. Guess which one? Make a perception check. Yeah.

Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh. That's so true. So many paths of possibility here that are just so dark and strange. That would've been, yeah, that would've been.

Yeah, it would've worked, it would've worked. You guys would've made it work. You guys would've made it work. The tables, you can go as dark as you want, but you can also ride that unicycle with the horn. Yeah. The core story was so grounded that we were always marching towards something, which was super helpful. Yeah. You kind of knew the vibe you were coming into, right?

Yeah. Okay. We'd caught up or watched up to, watched like up to, you know, a certain point. Yeah, yeah. Because the other ones had an air... Yeah, I think like the other party, so I kind of went in not knowing

what the other party was doing until the week after or something like that. But, um... Yeah. But yeah, I just think... I didn't want to know what was going on

with the other party. Right. Because if they're having, like, contemporaneously... Yeah. Man. No, I wanted to know. They had such a different vibe.

Yeah. I noticed when I came in for that last one and they were all warmly hugging goodbye, and I was like, we killed one of ours. We killed some shit. Yeah, we killed one of ours. We went full Donner party. How was your weekend at Bernie's?

For sure. We didn't need each other. They literally, they had a menage a trois. We just murdered a man in a six inch puddle. And stole his shit too. You did, you took everything. Well, how much of it was yours to begin with? For sure, the immovable rod, Which I didn't get to use

I kind of wanted to keep it It has been removed It's gone I've got the immovable rod One of the best items I think the dagger was the only thing We buried that with you It was cool you know there was like a

And then I dug it up What was that like for you Because you had a real emotional moment Yeah it and then I dug it up oh you did oh what was that like for you because you had a real emotional moment I mean it was yeah it was really I felt it yeah I mean it was um man how where do I even start I mean we all you know you get so invested in your characters and they really do become like a second part of you. Like they're your own kind of phantom limb. And so you do kind of eat, sleep and breathe and just kind of live in these characters that you build. Of course, we've now been doing this for years in Laudna for, like you said, 50 some odd episodes.

So it was just a range of emotion of marisha not wanting to do the murder but also trying to be incredibly realistic about where ladna was at the time and her mental state and also the fact that like we've had other people betray us and she like she was already hanging on by a thread so marisha didn't want to do it. I knew I was about to go. Cause I was like, I was like, man,

I've really actually liked Bordor. I know. And Uthkars. I know. But there was a chance for redemption. There was a chance for redemption. Yeah. But then also,

um, you didn't have to do it. Knowing I didn't, but then also going through that emotional moment of knowing that this is about to be a pentacle, incredible dark place and dark moment for Ladna. Yeah. And being like, I was feeling like horror and tragedy both in game and on a meta out of game level, if that makes sense. But then when you learned that you released the Dark Phoenix, so to speak, were you prepared for that? Did you know that was coming? I knew that that was coming. I knew that that was coming.

Oh. So I was thinking about all of that, about like the fact that my, the rest of the team literally walked kind of through hell and back. We're at our lowest point in the story. Yes, too. And they did, they sacrificed a lot of themselves to help lock away my patron, this woman.

Dang. And I was like, but she would be in this moment of themselves to help lock away my patron, this woman. Dang. And I was like, but she would be in this moment of a total loss of control and losing herself. And she is in a dark point, so she's just acting, she's feral. She's completely lost control, even though in her head, in her moment, she feels like this is the only way she can maybe

harness what little bit of control she can grasp onto. Yeah. And I just think it's always better to complicate a narrative. I think that's fucking rad. If it's that, too. I really like it. Yeah, you don't wrap it up with a bow. No. Now it's fucking rad. If it's that, too. And it's the thing, it's like, you know, yeah, it doesn't, you don't wrap it up

with a bow. No. Now it's fucking complicated because they've sacrificed to, like, lock this bitch up and you thought you were, like,

it's like, you know, everybody chipped in to get you through rehab and then you're like, but there's a thing right there. Six months later, you're like,

oh, for fuck's sake. It's actually very interesting you said that because when we left that game, Matt said, I actually see a lot of allegories and lines between like Laudna and someone struggling with addiction. Interesting. Yeah. Which of course wasn't.

Yeah, because there's a sense of control. Yeah. Did you guys know that she had let the beast out when that happened? Well, I would say Orym would understand. We haven't seen her go that awful in a while. And so- Because Orym kind of gave her the extra push there. Which is also super fucking tragic. Yeah, you did.

Did I really have a chance? I was looking at them for reinforcement. When it came out that it was Ruby Vanguard, my brain was like, I'm going to have to kill him. I could have survived, gone back to Ruidus, rejoined his ranks, and we could have fought later. Ludinus. Ludinus.

Ruidus is the moon. Ludinus. We can call him Rudinus is the moon. Ludinus. We can call him Rudinus though. He would have killed you for fucking well. The one guy typing, I can't believe you said that, go fuck yourself. Really? But you know what? I don't know how.

One guy. I don't know how you really could have unless you were only in the Ruby Vanguard. unless you were only in the Ruby Vanguard, unless you were only in the Ruby Vanguard because you just wanted to fit in. Yeah, totally. It's because the family died. Like the QAnon people that are like,

I don't know where else I can go. I mean, go be racist, whatever, like that. But if you actually believed that the gods had to go. I think he did. I think he 100% believed it because of what they did to him. It feels like it would be one of those things where you couldn't

just turn the switch off and be like, okay, well now I'm going to join these people and try to save the gods. But we did go against the gods in that fight. Yeah, we did.

So we kind of did do a battle for your cause. Right, right, right. So you killing an angel was kind of like a... Matt gave me that opportunity when he's like, the angel looks at you like you too

Yeah There's a moment here where he might be like I think I've switched but then No vitriolic sphere Honestly I'm sorry guys It all comes down to that I threw story out the window

There was a moment to like give in and be like I'm sorry You're right I messed up. I can't imagine a better moment, a better finish to the tour with you guys. One of my favorite lawn moments in the entire campaign. And echoing what Amy said, sometimes the better choice is to complicate it. And you were breathless.

It was amazing to watch you do that. Speaking of complication, I think it's time for a Tower of Inquiry. Oh! Okay! Gonna fall. That means somebody has to pull a block. It's time for a pull for folks that are new here.

The tavern keeper has someone pull a block from the tower and read the number on it, and Dani reads us a question that corresponds to that number. And if the tower should fall, terrible things ensue. A counter quench box. That tower is fucked from the last episode. Oh, you guys don't reset that shit?

No. Oh, it's just there. Who's car? Why me? Volunteering me. Yeah, no one likes a snitch. Get up. Oh shit!

I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to leave that way! Consequences, so shameful that they made our producer Thanks to Snitch. Get up. Oh shit! Consequences so shameful that they made our producer look up the word embarrassing in the thesaurus and none of the synonyms really were good enough if we get to that. This is gonna fall as soon as it does. Yes it is. Can you just grab them from the top? No, there's a rule.

Put your goggles on. It's three levels down. Can't touch. So you gotta go four down. Okay, let me try and assess the structure. One, two, three, four. No, no, you want this to go poorly, believe me. Whoever helps her will go next.

No, Emily, no. I didn't help, I didn't help. Just be very careful. Go to the middle! What's the number? Oh, 14. Now you gotta put it on top. You gotta put it on top. Yeah, you're not out yet.

It could fall now. Oh shit. I'm now the one who's going to knock it over with just my mere presence so number 14 from Nick Johnson with all of the stressful grand machinations and world altering confrontations

what do you think has been your characters most relaxed moment in their existence on or off screen in their whole existence in their existence was the question good question don't really have a lot of relaxed Oh. In their whole existence? In their existence was the question. Good question. Don't really have a lot of relaxed.

No. Yeah. None of you guys are like particularly relaxed. With the campaign or just? On or off screen? On screen. Nick question from Nick Jonas. We have to answer it. Yeah.

Smartly. Yeah. God, I mean, honestly, the night of the what the fuck is up with that was about as close to rely. And that wasn't super relaxed. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, any type of like chilling around the campfire. We got to do that again at some point.

Yeah, we do. Yeah. I'll echo that. Yeah. That was it. Or sad orm. Yeah. Most relaxed moment.

So sad. If in campaign the answer is going to the fair in Byroden. Yeah, that was fun. Eating a lot of pie and watching his friends be entertained. Great episode. Yeah. It's my favorite episode. And you played one of the most fun, like, that lady that was. Yeah, that little Irish lady who was, like, competing with the that lady that was yeah that little irish lady who was like competing with the old

lady she was like fuck it i'm gonna give it my all that was amazing yeah that was fine i was just handed a piece of paper with a name and that's where the character came from uh and then out but in his whole life probably like you know in the years leading up to marriage and falling in love and and learning uh, uh, the, how to, you know, learning his craft from his teacher and his father figure. And,

um, you know, I would say his wedding, but you know, you get real, you get jitters on your wedding day. So that's not too relaxed. No,

nothing's relaxing about it. And then obviously he was a virgin on the wedding night, so he would have been really nervous. They defiled all the hills in Zephra. Wow. Should we do another poll? Is that a thing? Well, they haven't answered. Oh, well, that's true.

You guys have pulled out the information. Yeah, it was only a few days, but come on. In their existence. Oh, in their existence. It doesn't have to have been on stream. Probably, I mean, probably there would be some fun times in the Shadow Realm for sure. Like I was talking about the Night of Ascension.

Maybe that's not relaxing, but I don't know. Sometimes there's relaxation and having a really fucking good time. And I feel like probably there was probably someone who calms by reading,

so probably just some real deep concentration with some books. Yeah, that sounds great. Respect. Would be some relaxing moments. Like a nice novel for the third time in a bath, and you're just like, yeah. Yeah, you're rereading it all the time.

She would never get the books wet. No, no, no. You get one of those little trays. Yeah, tray. I don't have to wash my bits. No. Can't. Can't stay bits. What about you? Turncoat?

I know. In game, it was curling up with the wind cougar. Yeah. For sure. Solid, solid. But then like the deep thing is probably in death. He's probably like at peace with his mother and his brother and his father. And he probably honestly like, they're probably like, hey man, the gods were right.

They've been taking care of you the whole time. And even though you were misguided, welcome back into the fold. I was thinking about that after. I was like, he probably believes now. He probably was like brought back in by his God and he's feeling warm and loved. It would have been the matron and the matron can just be kind of mean anyway. The matron just might have gone up going, yeah, good try, buddy. I know they're terrible.

I feel like you're bringing your personal experiences to bear there, my friend. Yeah, fair, fair. Okay. I think with Denise, it's like, you know, anytime she like gets home after, like this bitch can get shit done. But when she gets home, it's like takes the brows off, you know, because they are painted on. Of course, of course.

And it's just like in the little things, like having like a dairy axe like rub her feet or making him dinner or even just being by herself alone, quiet with her things. I think that, you know, finding it in the daily life. Yeah. Taurus energy. Simple life. Yeah, big Taurus energy.

Orm was very curious about Denise's lifting regimen. Oh, well, some of that is genetic. Okay. For sure. But I think that she would, you know, take time. Because doesn't Aurum also get up and do, like, morning workouts? Yes. I think, yeah, she makes time for it. She knows

it's important. She eats her proteins. You have a high strength score, right? Wasn't it high? It wasn't higher than my dexterity, but it was high. I mean, yeah, they were pretty high. She's a tank, for sure. But I think that she's like, you know, she's like a lady cop. Like, you know, she likes the things that you think that she wouldn't like, she's kind of like into.

You know what I mean? She probably, you know, loves getting her nails done or doing them herself. I don't know where that lands in the lore of Exandria, but it's a cantrip. But yeah, I think that just kind of like... I love that, the idea of a character who lives in the mundanity, sort of little things. It's the dream.

Stuff you don't want on Twitch, you guy in the chat, go fuck yourself. Yeah, yeah, go fuck yourself. No, no, enjoy. The rest of you, thanks for standing up for us against that one guy. Good gosh, he's had his first experience of commentary.

I watched Twitch once and I got burned. They're rough. What's a cantrip? That was the best moment I think ever on the world. I fucking loved that so much. I died.

Trying to fool them. And also, didn't know what the cast member looked like. That's valid. Do I get to sentence one more person to the possible? Yes, one more, one more. So, of course, if you wouldn't mind. Yes. This is gonna fall.

He's trying to pass it off to me. Yeah, no, no. You killed me once. I have to see her again in the near future. Lukash is moving up, but he might not. He might not. I'm gonna stay over here. No, it could go either way.

Yeah, he might, oh, he's going straight. Oh, he is. You got a trap, you got a trap. He's gonna be fine. But like, the first break he went to. Yeah. That was really good. There's no earth, oh, nope.

Oh shit. He's committed and he's doing it. He's gonna make it. Wow. Playing the game right. I'm gonna kill him all over again. Yeah! Damn, what's the number?

Wait, it's not over yet. 34. 34. That's the strategy that I was supposed to have done. Yes, tap it. It can still tip. Oh, and putting it on the corner like a, oh, yep. Come on, guys.

Make it real hard. Yeah! Man, take that. Incredible. Thank you for teaching me how to play Jenga. Holy shit. There's one where you only have to use your feet if it's on the ground.

There's so much potential energy stored in that tower. It's gonna come down. There really is. So from at Smoople on Twitter, how does your character differ from the ones you've played in previous campaigns, and what inspired you to explore this new territory? We're doing the round here.

Yeah, I'm very interested in this, actually. Yeah. Tell us. Mine's obvious. Well, very interested in this, actually. Yeah. Tell us. Mine's obvious. Well, I just wanted to, um... I kind of, I, uh, yeah, I kind of wanted to play someone who is just kind of rolling with the punches this time. Like, especially coming after, like, Keyleth, who had such high, like, legacy stakes,

and then Beau, who is, like, so driven by, like, the pursuit of knowledge and proving herself, I really would just, this campaign wanted to play someone who was just kind of like going with the flow, which is hilarious. Yeah. Considering what's happened to her.

That's what I, sometimes a flow is a raging river. Yeah. You did go with the flow. All right. Or then you hit the rocks. Yes. Again.

That's what was super fascinating about this chapter, like your life in this chapter was, you were clearly just trying to keep it together. Yeah. The whole time. So it didn't really feel like going with the flow. It felt like keep it down. Just keep it down.

Compartmentalize. Suck it in. Yeah, very fun to watch. I also loved how much of a secret snob Laudna was. Yeah, we were like, let's get out of this hometown. She hated it. I loved it so much. Well, there's some baggage there.

Yeah, the witch who used to live in the woods is irritated with the small, hick-ass town. Yeah, I think, yeah, I mean, I kind of talked about it in game. It's just that like, you all think your problems are important right now? You have no fucking clue. Yeah, yeah.

It's just that irritation of the. But that was so cool. We'd all be like, yay, we won. And then the three of you would be like, but. But at what cost? Yeah, that's true. No, actually we did. We all feel worse.

Yeah. And I'm like, oh, okay, it fucking sucks. It just fucking sucks. I was at a party when I was like, woo, we rocked. Nope. Just a bunch of Debbie Downers. Nope, nope, nope, nope. Yeah, Ashton had that moment of like,

you should open up, and then like three lines, like 30 seconds of conversation, she's like, no, you should hold that all in. You know what, tighten that up. Tighten that up, we're cool. Just be yourself. Cool. Not like that, not like that. Not like that. know what tighten that up tighten that up we're cool just be yourself cool not like that not like that whoa whoa whoa whoa don't breathe utk utk utk i played uh hitch with matt earlier who was like a rogue super charming and could do all i mean not a lot of cool stuff but

enough cool stuff you kind of knew his way around the room so i thought it would be fun to just lean into the sort of confusion sort of like like going with the flow like actually just being like just you don't know anything which is true and then that made it sort of like fun to play because every move you saw me look at matt and be like, oh, fuck. Because I was like, is this going to give it away? Is this something the evil me would do? Or like I'm constantly behind a mask, which made it really fun. I thought it would be just challenging.

And it was. It was a good time. Yeah, it was. Oh, man. It was. Every time I was like, ah, fuck. It was like ah fuck was like here it goes the jig is up so many time bombs we were just a series of time bombs yeah yeah i i mean just i know i've said a couple things about ashton before but like i i love i love playing characters that have you know a little bit least, to do with whatever emotional damage

I'm currently processing in therapy. But I had kind of gone through the gothy kid and the little weird circus carny kid, and I was like, I haven't really done punk yet. Oh, I love that. Well, and it was very much like, what does punk even look like in a fantasy exandria? It's just, it's so different that like, what would you respond to?

Like, what would make somebody just have that low level anger and just real, it's not even, just be upset with where their life is taking them and how chaos is treating them. It's true because punk is at its core counterculture. Yes. Just rage against whatever. Yeah. And, you know, traditionally it's all about how unfair and how stacked the world is. Right. It's a lot of dealing with that feeling.

And like, you know, Molly kind of had a bit of that, but was like, I'm just going to be happy and drunk and great. And this is usually the other end of that of like, fuck. Fuck the system. Fuck, fuck, fuck. And it has worked really well in this campaign. It really has. So I definitely now know what I'm angry about.

Yeah. I'm just so curious. It's like where your character, like what answers you're looking for. I never know. No, but you do. I mean, I did like multiple

I feel like I did I prompted multiple like just arcana checks on you. Yeah. I was like, what's this guy's deal? Yeah. If I crit,

maybe I'll find out. Yeah, yeah. It's been it's been an awful it's been a like a never ending life of like Getting attached and Vulnerable and connected to people

And then having that blow up horribly Over and over and over again And now it's just in like I cannot believe I'm doing it again I cannot believe I'm doing it again This always ends poorly This is always a disaster Fuck I don't like you fuckers Yeah it's just terrible again, this always ends poorly. This is always a disaster. Fuck. I don't like you fuckers.

Oh! Yeah, it's just terrible. Yeah. I like you fuckers. It's just terrible. Oh, yeah. Yeah, yeah. You could tell.

Yeah. You were not enthusiastic about how much you loved them. Yeah, no. Yeah, you're committed now, so now everything is going to inevitably go wrong. Caring for people's grade

comes with problems. Yes. Comes with trouble. Oh. It comes with trouble. Oh, I- You've played a lot. Yeah, I've played a decent amount of characters. I think this one is probably more like, maybe a little more like type A or prissier than I'm used to playing, maybe like a little girlier

than I usually play. Yeah, yeah, that's probably it. But I mean, at Dimension 20, we play a lot of different characters, so I've fucking been around, dude. I've been around, man. I'm fucking telling you. It's the ultimate flex to be like,

no, I played a lot of characters and just this one out. So good. You got a really thick little black binder. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm just saying, i feel like it's like hard to it's like well you know some maybe but i i definitely think this was like a little more like um like i've never played a wizard for dimension 20 and i've i haven't played too many wizards so like this i it was fun to play just a real classic more like type a wizard because that

is just such a great fantasy archetype. Yeah, 100%. So good. Well, I've only ever played Opal and Denise, but like I said before, with Opal I kind of really wanted to explore, like, A, cover my ass because I didn't really know the mechanics of the game, and she kind of would be like, you know. I was very curious as to, like, what happens when people's,

because this was not my experience, but, like, someone who is brand new, the opposite of an old soul, because I feel like I'm very much an old soul. had to grow up really quickly and so i was like what would that be like to be like the whole world is at my feet and then you like have your first fall and then your second fall and then your third fall and like how that affects you as a how that builds you up as an adult really so opal was younger um and then and then that and like the the spell even though i was like a warlock had

like two fucking spells but i was super confused by the spells and then when we had our uh session zero with matt about like the themes of this sort of where we were in the campaign and like uh people that were very devout or versus people that weren't and like it was time for a change or whatever i thought like what if somebody was totally ambivalent about it because the gods have never fucking helped her ass and she's not she doesn't really care about like the the the you know raging against the machine she just is like everything sucks everyone sucks you have to do it yourself the people that don't suck are the people you love and you take care of them and you take care of yourself and make the life that you want as best you can and

then you die and like I just thought that was really because people do live that way and I sometimes I'm jealous of people that live that way that it's like I'm just gonna you know be in my bubble and take care of my own and um and with Denise I thought that was something that I'm as Amy I'm curious about exploring like someone who is further down in her life further down in her career you know I mean not to like invite you into my therapy sessions but you

know like truly like you know yeah I'm at the point in my life where I'm like oh maybe my career isn't everything like maybe I should invest in other things, you know? And so I thought it would be curious to play a character who just didn't give a fuck.

In fact, she does her job, she does her career because it's the only thing she knows how to do, but she's desperately seeking something else, something richer. I find it fascinating that our two characters started in like a very similar reality and both had fuck off. Yeah, right? In their character design.

That's so nuts. You said the earrings. I'm like, oh no. Because I mean, I've seen Campaign 3, but I don't think I ever caught on. Because you don't call it fuck off. No, it's not the name of it. Yeah, yeah. You see like the little band.

Right, right, right, right. I love that. So good. Do you, here's like jumping off of that. Do you feel like you learned anything from Denise or like gained anything. Do you, here's a, like, jumping off of that, do you feel like you learned anything from Denise? Or, like, gained anything? Like, you, Amy? Yeah. I mean, as a player

or as a person? As a person. Yeah, I mean, you know, you don't really see Denise get what she wants. But it was interesting to play a character that doesn't say much, because Opal says so fucking much. And has a lot of like main character energy like it's all about me

and I think with Denise it's like she'd rather it not be about her even though she is like loud and her you know she has a very loud look about her I think what I learned is like it's okay to want smaller things you don't need to be you don't need to change the world

you know I just want to go home go home beat my man's ass smaller things. You don't need to be, you don't need to change the world. You know? I just want to go home. Go home. Beat my man's ass and live happily ever after. Take my eyebrows off and watch some Netflix and then maybe have a little sex a few times a year.

Yeah. That's it. Like, that's what, you know? A few times a year. I mean, a week, I'm sure. But, you know, she's dealing with, like, I know that dwarves age differently.

Aim higher, Denise. So, like, she's, like, middle-aged at this point.. Aim higher, Denise. So like, she's like middle-aged at this point. I want more of you. She doesn't want much. That's what I'm saying. That's the whole point.

Like, what is it when you want something that it's like, you know, as actors in LA or just performers in LA or whatever, it's like,

I always tell people like, you know, like how do you deal with a rejection? And I don't. Well, but I think that like, I try to remind myself

that it's like the job. Yeah. I think I try to remind myself that it's like the job. Yeah. I think I remind myself that it's like like the Olympics. I'm not athletic in the slightest but it's like if you are athletic and you're trying to go for the Olympics it's going to be fucking hard. Yeah. You know so what if it's what do you what do you play here. It isn't it doesn't want that. It's like dream big

versus just dream full. Yeah. Right. Oh beautiful. Dreamful. right. Ooh, beautiful. Dream full. That's good. Do you have a quick roll or a view? Yeah, I mean, I've talked around this a bit. Vax was like a,

sort of a follow his nose asshole, right? Like he just, hm? What? Follow his nose. Follow his nose. He jumped into danger. But the words nose and asshole were together. Unless they were perfectly put together. Knowing you perfectly put together.

That was some peace puzzle. There we go. He just threw himself into danger a lot. And he was also in this, like he was touched by fate and was like the, you know, the puppet of a god in a way. Oh yeah, he was the puppet of Matron of Ravens. Yes, it was very central. Matt sent me, the reason that I had a backstory is he sent me the clip of you talking to the Matron of Ravens.

And I was like, who is she? Who is she? I love this bitch. She's pretty great. Love this bitch. Pretty cool. In campaign two, I wizarded it up and had a really intense plan and machinations

and was very cerebral about it, and it was intensive. And this time I wanted to play a different kind of character. I wanted to be, I've said this before, play a kinder, sweeter, someone who held on to his heart still. I was like, just a guy. Just broken. Golden retriever.

I didn't want any wings or magic powers. I wanted to just be a guy. And I wanted to be like the sidekick or the right-hand man to great people. And like spotlight uh people too like i'll just i'll just help you be fucking awesome um so i'm enjoying just playing you know someone who's trying to have his heart in the right place the whole time in your visit he's starting to like sort of like break like a broken fabergéé egg. That's so fun to watch.

Yeah. I kind of enjoyed it. It was like the more energy that you put off of like, hey, I need to keep my distance, the more I wanted to. Oh, for sure. I chased you up in a tree. Gotta hang out.

Yeah, that was great. I should say that we should thank Nick Johnson and Smoople for those wonderful questions. And if you have an evergreen question for our Tower of Inquiry, I think I said that right, you can enter it at critrole.com slash tower exclamation point.

Nope, that's just with enthusiasm. I keep saying that every time. That's for you. CritRoll.com slash tower. How was that? Very enthusiastic. Tower? Smoople.

Smoople. And with that, let's slide into deep dive. Dani, help, there's supposed to be things for this? Thank you, I'm so chaotic at this. I'm impressed, I can't even read those. That's amazing, because I normally need glasses. I wear contact. You own this couch. You own Barber Town.

We're going to take turns pulling questions from our tankards. Sharing that with those two. Right. And uh. Shares these. Yeah, yeah, it'll get passed around like the conch. And since I'm the tavern keeper,

I should probably start this off. You're gonna go first? I'm gonna go first, yeah. You match your cup today, Taliesin. Oh, thank you, no. Yeah, you do. Slowly changing the hair, that's a cool story. All right, Ashton believes that they were judged

and that the gods don't care about them. How does this color their anger and his feelings about the gods and Ludinus' plan? Oh, boy. Why'd you look right at me? Oh, yeah. That's right. Not to give away too much that's supposed to be in game, but yeah, life gets really interesting.

As someone who's really had a bad time forever, it's really interesting when suddenly someone points out that maybe there's somebody to blame. Wow. Which has kind of been the whole point of that cult is a whole bunch of people who've decided that there's someone to blame. Yeah.

So. It kind of also mirrors, I know, kind of what Bordor was doing. No, Bordor. No, absolutely. I could have. You're going to step in, bro? Yeah, but you done fucked with me and mine. Aw.

Literally, literally, if you had just come out and said it, I would've let you. You survived the saving throw. I was the one who was like, no. You liked her a lot. Well, I didn't even kill your friend. It is part of, I'm a big believer in creating rules for a character of how they react to things.

I love that. Just like a little, I'll say it because I'm at Ponce, little Comedia del Art bullshit. Yeah. Of course. But one of the things is. I went to Florence, I studied. You've got the vibe. You want to touch fish?

Show me your lotsies. Look at my lotsies. Lotsies? Where are lotsies? That's what they're called. It's mask work. Oh, don't worry. I went to Florida International University. I don't know what any of that is.

Yeah, okay, good. I'm so lost. I studied religion. You broke one of Ashton's rules, which is that whatever's happening right in front of you is the most important thing. I love that. So in that situation,

the higher philosophy didn't matter you were the bad guy so cool so so cool thought more about it once it was all over stick to it i love it yeah uh uh lewdness is still a problem i'm not going to pretend that like yeah yeah lewdness lewdness is is still a problem i don't know about the rest of it. It's starting to get really complicated in an already complicated way. Questions of faith abound. Watching your campaign before and knowing how you guys...

There are some characters that do not fuck with the gods that much. You know what I mean? How's that going to end up? I have this sneaking suspicion that this campaign is about to go into some pretty intense, maybe inter-party conflict. Yes.

That we haven't maybe, Mighty Nein had a little bit of it. I mean, all of them have a little bit of it, but I don't know, I'm very curious. I mean, we already saw a little bit of it in our last episode where all ten of us were at the table where it was like... And sitting there hearing Denise

or not Denise, Deanna, talk about how she feels. And then just kind of... And then with Denise being like, no, fuck that. It's gonna be... It's like we're breaking one of the big rules of like proper society discussions, which is to not talk about politics and religion. And we're about to be like, what if we do both?

This was the first character I've made that didn't give a fuck either. Every other character I made was invested in one way or another in the gods, either against or for, and this was the first one I was like, eh. We were basically sitting at a dining room table together. It's Thanksgiving dinner. Yeah, it's like, yeah. And that's, I mean, like, hats off

to Matt. That is something that we're all trying to process as a society without trying to get to whatever about it. Of course it's going to bleed into role-playing games. It's bled into everything else like you know what i mean art is a reflection of what we're all sort of like anxious about and that is something we're anxious about i tried to come in with a character that had that wasn't really decided um and kind of just take the take the experience as it was coming to us. And I didn't really walk away with the information I was given.

I didn't really walk away with a ton of tenderness for the gods. No, me neither. Cobalt is a religious institution, but very gently. Oh, really? They're very gently. The Prism's background is in the shadow realm. That's her complicated religious past. But like, I think that I wanted to be like, okay, I'm on the fence and I'm going to let the story like push me one direction.

And the story that I was at the table for kind of made me not being like, yay, gods. Yeah, I don't think we ever had a Cobalt Soul member who was like really faithful. It's like going to Catholic school, but because the education's better than public school, not because you're actually Catholic. But isn't also like with wizards, I could be wrong because I'm new at this, but isn't it with like wizards, it's like they get their magic because they're studying and not so much because they're like devout to God? Yeah, it's the intellectual notion. So maybe it's that too. We don't need them, we've got our own. There's a disconnect, too, of like,

well, I can just study my spell book and I'll know, you know, I don't have to, like, pray to a god to get me the power. Campaign's getting so heavy, man. It is. But in this world, our group, our group was definitely, I think, like, lent towards the,

what if no gods, though? Yeah. You yeah put the agency back in the hands of the people yeah whereas I think the other group having like three religious people part of it it's like getting contacts and getting like the change bringer stuff

yeah kind of had a different just once again a totally different message that they walked away with. It's going to be wild. It's going to be wild. It's going to be crazy. We'll see.

Yeah. I will say, normally we go clockwise, so let's... We'll have Uthars pick for Emily. Or just pull one out and see who... Oh, yeah, right. Let's just do chaos. Chaos. We're the randomized.

Amy, what tipped you off about Bordor and his shady shenanigans? Ooh, I love the alliteration. It would have been, oh, I just had this thought. I just had it in my head because you said it was

the vision. Oh, I know. It was when we scryed on your brother and it wasn't that. And it was like there were no good answers like, is he dead? Is this the house he died in? Or why don't we see sick shit everywhere? There's no tissues. There's no tea.

What the fuck? I think that was it. I like how you looked away at the end and you were like, hmm, wasn't this brother's house? Yeah. I was like, well, the episode's over. That's the thing that tipped me off the most because also as a new player, like I don't really know the rules about, like maybe I would have been tipped off by like,

where are his powers coming from? Like maybe I would have gone down that rabbit hole, but I didn't. I was like, I just accepted that you just had these like new powers that you didn't know how to control. So that was the thing that tipped me off. Yeah. Did you steal something with sleight of hand? Yeah, I stole your slingshot.

That's right. And then I dropped it or something. I had this whole thing in my head. You gave it back, didn't you? I did, but I was like, I gave it back. And then I was going to ask you all these questions about your brother and then something happened

I think the episode ended or something I don't know we often have great ideas that just get swept down the river when something else happens

you gotta fall out of love with a lot of your favorites because they're never going to fucking come up every one of them I walk in with to-do lists that just get scratched off you did a lot

you make another cool shit yeah pull another let's see what we got. Emily! I'm a good picker. What inspired you to make Prism from the Shadow Realm?

What interested you about that area as an upbringing? So, like I said, Matt had sent me the video of the Matron of Ravens and i was like oh this is really cool and then he told me more about the shadow realm and i i wanted to be someone who had a complicated past with religion and i liked the idea of her kind of being like because the shadow realm is like not a good place it's like a fringe realm it's very dangerous and so i liked

the idea of seeing all these people who are devout in their suffering like their suffering is some kind of devotion to this goddess but then sitting there as a little girl and being like you're preaching death and fate and you decided that but that doesn't count for you like you're saying you have to surrender to death and fate but you precluded yourself from it so I had like this whole story in my head that like I was like that at one point when she was a little kid, she was like she like had this dream that she would find all of the Matron of Ravens clues to her ascension and and like and mass produce it. And then everyone would live forever and there would be no more death. So then there would be no more Shadow Realm. There would be no more suffering because basically there would be no more shadow realm so there would be no more suffering uh because she basically she's just

like the shadow realm sucks and everyone acts like it's an like it's penance for it to suck i think that it should be good i want it to be better um but then obviously once she got to the cobalt soil i think she like wised up like that was like a very like youthful fantasy and then she's like okay that's not the way to do it but um so I think like it's kind of like she like both admired and respected the matron of ravens but didn't wouldn't surrender her worship to her so I felt like I liked I liked that to be on the fence of like I like your story I don't know that I can worship you. And like, let me see where this story like makes me land. Never thought of the matron that way.

That's really interesting. I'm like, that's going to. She is. Wasn't the matron like a mortal first? Like she was just a regular ass bitch. One exception to all the gods. She was a powerful wizard. And then kind of fought the god and then became one.

Yeah. So that would totally vibe god and then became one. Yeah. So that would totally vibe with what you're saying. For sure. But to kind of be devil's advocate for the matron. Oh, you absolutely can be. This wasn't me, Emily, being like this is what I think. Oh, no, no, no. I just want to throw something out there.

Fun shop talk. If you've, you know, gone through this process and the whole situation is that you have said no to death and you have said no to fate but then you realize by becoming the goddess of death and fate that you were on the path the entire time and if fate is predetermined

then it was fated for you to become this goddess and that by taking over as the goddess of death, you didn't avoid death. You devoted your life to it. Surrounded yourself with it. I think for Prism, she kind of was just like,

at some point was like, at some point was like, okay, first off, this is definitely the beginnings of an evil wizard plan. I have to wise up and be really careful because mass producing, because eradicating death by mass producing the key to immortality is definitely someone's evil plan. That's Lich Bane.

But maybe Ludinus' plan. Is that what your thing is? No, no, no, no. I just meant. Oh, okay. Boy, I can hear Percy's response to your little conversation in my head so clearly. Oh. But I think, but then I also was like,

I think she would also wise up and be kind of like, I think that she also wised up and was like, maybe the matron by being like, by being immortal, like maybe it's not this awesome thing. Maybe she is in service of death itself and it doesn't feel like a immortal ascension. It feels more like a servitude to a cause

she believes in. Matt has portrayed her like she, in one of the scenes with my character Vax, when he got to meet her, she took the mask away and suddenly she was

her human size and he saw her face. And the way Matt described her was looking extremely lonely. Yeah, yeah. So I think that on Prism's journey it would be kind of like,

okay, maybe I'm being naive, but I still am not convinced that what's going on in the shadow realm, that they need to be suffering as much as they are. There is a difference. I feel like one of the big themes of this campaign has been there is a difference between what the gods do and how their followers interpret it.

And what the people do with the, with gods who are no longer interacting with them. That's so interesting. I wonder where Matt got that idea. I know. Interesting. Maybe arts and how they imitate each other.

So weird. Also, I just thought it'd be fun to look goth. Yeah, fair. I still think you should, you would look so good with prisms, like little French girl Bob. Yes. Oh, no, we were.

So cute. I mean, it's just, it's made for you. It's made for you. What are we doing? I had to pull it that you look like a different color shift option for Lala Orange of Strawberry Shortcake. Oh, yeah, you do.

Oh, my God, yes. Rainbow Bright. That's so true. I was like, oh, God, with yes. Rainbow Brite. That's so true. I was like, oh god, with the beret? Yeah. That's true. I want Caleb and Beau through the Cobalt Soul Connection

to work with Prism. Ooh. Oh, that'd be cool. Caleb's a wizard, too. Yeah, he's. Ooh, imagine two wizards. Mm-hmm, mm-hmm. I do, often.

Caleb's a bad guy. Imagine two wizards. That's where the statement ends. Four, often. Caleb's imagined two wizards. That's where the statement ends. Can you imagine six wizards? Guys, have you imagined dragons? Yeah! Wild. Dragons are bad ones.

Dragons, paw. Liam, I believe it's your pool. Oh, all right. We're going clockwise. All right. What do we got? Is that Liam's little coaster? This is the moon's tattoo on his arm.

That's very cute. What does this say? What was it like for Oram to see the tomb of Omadua, a Gaudra Shawi ancestor of the Ashawi? I think he was just looking at something that he knows to be so old, the foundation of the people that he comes from. And when he sat down on his own, when he did walk off to contemplate that thing, I think he was just thinking like, how did it all get so fucked like this? Everything seemed to make sense when I was younger as it does for all of us

and it's all just coming apart in like world ending ways it feels like how did we come to this point but really having watched Calamity it's just cyclical and it just keeps re-fucking itself yeah

we didn't start the fire it's a little bit burning it's a the fire. We have lawyers. Of course I'm a diver. Sometimes burning and every now and then it will turn. You can't think of keeping me dry. That was an easy one. Next. Who's next?

Guess I'll go. Yeah. Cool mug. Thanks. Are there any? Guess I'll go. Yeah. Cool mug. Thanks. Are there any? Cool mug, cool fans. Cool smug. We did that one, kind of.

Oh, okay. Damn it, I tried. I'm going to move on a little bit. I might come in. Yeah, Laudna has reunited with Imogen. What was it like to be parted from her for so long? And how is she feeling now that they're back together? Kind of feels weird, man.

I got to tell you, I actually was really worried about you having to tell your friends what happened. So I really tried to lead with I killed Border so that you can decide how much you tell and when you tell. Yeah. It's going to be weird. So sweet. It kind of feels like, you know, when... Sometimes guests have your back. It's like the romantic aspect.

Like you leave for summer break and your parents are like, hey, you got to go to summer camp and then your best friend goes away to like, like a two month long vacation and they go have their own journey. And then you come back and you're kind of different people now. Like even her, you know, Imogen having that tender moment with, with Frida, Christian, and being like, you know,

her full Dorothy, I loved you most of all, Scarecrow. And I was like, what the fuck was, what the fuck is this? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Now you come back with a new best friend? Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm traumatized.

She went to Europe and you went to some shitty fucking camp. Yes. You went to like a lake camp where you had to do work. A hundred percent. She went to Europe and you went to some shitty fucking camp. Yes. You know, you went to like a lake camp where you had to do work. A hundred percent. She went to Europe. She went to Europe. For sure. I didn't go to my grandpa's funeral.

You got a summer job. You got a summer job. I had to stay and work at McDonald's. Yeah, yeah. On the flip side. You went fucking gallivanting in Spain with your family. You got a boyfriend and you fell in love. And she missed you the whole time.

Bullshit. And then you lost your virginity. I heard you were virgin. What is this? I fucking stink, man. I can't wash the grease out of my hair. Do you see that? On the flip side, though, you have to

have a talk with her to be like, remember how I was in that totally toxic relationship with that dead lich lady? Exactly. I might have just texted her. Because you were gone and I didn't have anyone to text. So that's what it kind of feels like. She was there for me. Imogen is like 90% of my impulse control. That's hilarious.

You had your Zuko and Sandra Dee summer. Summer night. Summer fucking night. I watched Macaulay Culkin get stung by a bunch of bees. Wow, that's a deep cut. He can't see without his glasses. Oh, it hurts. He didn't have his glasses.

Wow. Boom. I guess weep without his glasses. Oh, it hurts. He didn't have his glasses. Wow. Boom. I guess weep. Truly. Oh, Dan Aykroyd, great dad. All right. You've got to pull for yourself now. Yeah, it's time to pull for you.

Pull for you. I did find one. Wow. How? You mentioned on the stream, I already did this. Tell my backstory. That was the, I killed the guy and burned his clothes. Here's another one for me.

Is there any chance that Bordor could still be a polymorphed Border Collie? Interesting. That question was for me. You know what? That's fan theory I had no idea But I do think That I should come back As some sort of

Great Dane Or something Yeah yeah yeah Later on Lassie A dog just Comes out of an alleyway Just a dog

That's Vitriolix It's fear It would be so cool I was thinking like Vitriolix fear Is kind of like A wet dog shaking off It's so cool. I was thinking like, Vitriol Expeer is kind of like a wet dog shaking off. It's so cool.

All right, we're going to try for a speed round really quickly. Here we go. Ashton, oh wow, this is not a fast one. Ashton took time to comfort both Laudna and Prism after everything with Bordor. What do you think protecting, why do you think protecting comes so naturally to them, and why did they want to ensure that Laudna and prison

were okay? It was an interesting mix between, this was your first murder, and definitely, like, first one's the hardest, and maybe I thought, like, maybe if we walked you away fast enough, it wouldn't scar

you for life. I thought it was really cute when you were like, no, no, you don't want to watch this. Turn her away. And I was well aware that there was no stopping you, but I was also well aware of what this was going to mean. And so there was a little bit of like, hey, I know you just saw your ex and saw your best friends in Europe

and they've been texting me and not you. But you really got to clean the bathroom. Sorry. It's your turn. Yeah. Do the bathroom thing. It was definitely like, now that there's like,

okay, now that I care, there's damage control that has to happen. Sure. So never ending. I do think, like reflecting on it, I like, Prism punched him when he was down. There, Laudna just turned to like a very dark, incredible place, but there was also this,

one of the fucked up parts about all of it, the more I keep thinking about it, is the two of you and like, especially Aurum being like. Yeah. Yeah, that's what, there was sort of a feeling of like, hey, I'm not gonna do it, but I'm not gonna stop you. I'm not gonna stop you. Well, he said that out loud.

He goes, I'm not trying to tell you what to do, but. It's war. Do it. Uh-huh, uh-huh. So there's like, you're all, like, you're complicit in all of this. I already had one and was not okay, because I had that thing happen right beforehand. So I was still not ready to do that again.

Yeah. But I understood that it had to be done. I was ready. Yeah, it was kind of your turn. Emily, Prism referred to Orym as her best friend. When did she decide that he was the person she was closest to in the group? You dick.

It was this really funny moment because it was like, for some reason, the new group was really suspicious of me. And I was like, fuck, I have to, in like 20 minutes, try to win these people over. And Sam was like gonna can i trust you with with this person that i'm dating and i was sitting there being like i'm not gonna be able to get him to trust me but i'll like offer him in exchange and i was like who's the funniest

for prism to say right now it's oram saying oram right now would be the most unexpected and he's the only one who wouldn't care if she didn't say his name. God, I wish that were true. It's 100% true. Because me and you looked at each other like, what the fuck is happening right now? Were we here for the past six weeks?

Is there some weird off-screen shit that just happened? Oh, I love that. Hilarious. Are they giving each other back rubs? What the fuck? It was also probably, to your point, if you want to get the other group to trust you. It was the right call.

Did you say, like... I can pick another one. Sorry, Marisha. No, no, it was good. But yeah, you say to the most trustworthy guy. Yeah, I think I did. Thanks for being there for did. I think I was like I was like, okay I'm gonna go offer him I'm gonna offer

Sam's character and exchange like I'll be like like I know I can't win you over right now But like hey you look I look out for your person if you look out for mine like we're both invested, right? Yeah, so then I just had to be like who's the funniest for me to say right now? Your instincts are great. Okay, I answered the first part, but I have an interesting one. So how did Denise and Opal compare and contrast in your eyes? What was it like interacting with Oram as someone who wasn't Opal but still knew of the Crown Keepers? Do you know how they compare?

As far as interacting with Oram, I didn't know if we were going to have that moment or get to have it and I'm so glad we did. But it's interesting how much Aurum has sort of changed me as a player coming in not necessarily as a character but like you know Aurum was always you know like you said kind of the team leader as far as like

don't go crazy whatever and now having him sort of need the comfort of somebody else was interesting for Amy, the player, to watch as you play Aurum. What was the question? Oh, that still knew the Crown Keepers. Well, you know, she didn't know about, I don't think Denise knows about Opal

except for she's seen the mugshots and she's probably jealous because she's like oh for sure they're fucking but I just think that maybe Denise is like a better listener than Opal so I kind of got to listen to what Oram I don't think Oram would ever be like Opal I feel so small you know what I mean he oh he really needed it

too yeah keeps his shit to himself he doesn't he doesn't like initiate talks with people really. My other characters would a lot. And Orm just sort of shoulders it on his own. But needs it. And so it was the most welcome thing just to have someone

lend an ear and be kind. Can I just brag about how difficult it is to have restraint as a performer? And you were the culmination of a performer with restraint. Because even when I was like, do you have somebody? You could have launched into the whole fucking story about your husband or even about, I don't know.

And you just chose to, which is a character choice. And I just think that that's really powerful. And you're the best you're wonderful it's really hard dude to not spit out your whole fucking backstory because you don't know when you're going to have a chance to do it again or if ever and I think you're

an inspiration for sure when it comes to that yeah don't hide I mean you guys all are amazing. Yeah. I just think to play a character like Orym is difficult. Yeah.

You know, because you so rarely get to be shiny and, you know, kind of, you know. You know what I'm saying. But I do. I do. And I take, and I, like, I enjoy the moments where I get to shine. Yeah.

And I'm enjoying playing, I am enjoying playing, like, the quiet bedrock who's kind of crumbling a little bit right now. But I've really enjoyed this campaign. You get to retort a lot. It's really. Retort? He's like a lean-in kind of character. Yeah. Things happen and then there's, like, the reactions.

Like, one thing's, you know, that you were always fascinating and weirdly the healthiest in the group probably. It's so horrifying. But when characters like that kind of break down, it's so compelling to watch because they've just built it up for so long. They're like, oh, this is gonna be good. So, word, the three of you. Silvery barbs.

Yeah, silvery barbs. Silvery barbs, that was so funny when you just tried to cast it. You never know. Matt's like, do you have silvery barbs? You're like, no. Big sorcerer energy, though. Let me just try.

Go for it. Is it me I pulled? Real quick, you two. Alright, real quick. Orim gave Laudna a nod to show his support for her killing Bordor why did Orim agree that death is the answer and how did that nod make Laudna feel as soon

as Bordor indicated that he was from the Ruby Vanguard that changed they just sealed your fate indicated that he was from the Ruby Vanguard. That changed. I mean, that just set, they just sealed your fate. Like, Orm would have killed you and not in a big raffle,

ah, fuck you way, but I think Orm's a place where he knows that the Ruby Vanguard has people. There was a, in the episodes leading up to the big one before we met up with you guys, it was very obvious that people in the Vanguard are like,

there are some regular folk in there and people have what they think are valid reasons for doing what they're doing. And other people feel abandoned by the gods like Bordor does. But they're killing a lot of people to get what they want. And they killed the people most dear to Orim.

And if we let you go go I think Oram was just in the mentality of and that's why I said it that we're we are unfortunately in a war right now and if we let you go you will go you potentially will go back to doing the same things that you have done and other people have done so

you have to die and once I saw her turning into a haunted tree, I didn't want her to back down. It had to be done. Yeah. It was so fucked up. It was awesome.

I don't think we've let a single one of them who've seen our face live, so it would definitely been like, yep. When I think, I mean, I kind of was actually, we were just touching on this, but like, you are supposed to be the healthiest, most level-headed one. So when the most level-headed one, who's also like watching, like I said,

it's like literally watching, you know, like, I don't know. Like if you ever, I'm just trying to picture myself, like if I ever saw one of my friends that I know is about to like slip into their darkest moments and perform like a horrible act, literally murder, and you're just like... Just this once. I'll allow it.

Yeah. Like, is just dark. And I mean, I think... It was scary to be on the other end of it. Yeah. It was just like whoa it's all about the well yeah I thought for sure I had a chance and then I saw him I was like I'm done it's all about the stakes

it's all about the stakes of where they are right now um well you really brought the weight of what you guys have gone through just back home. Like, you don't need to know any, you don't really need to know any of it, just, like, the reactions from the three of you.

Yeah. It's like, that's enough to know. I'll make it even creepier for you. I think that Orm has an inkling that you were opening the door for Delilah by doing that. And part of him is like, yeah, we're going to need that. I definitely, definitely was like like if it's gonna happen eventually I'd liked it to start here as opposed to somewhere worse

I also like as like hearing your story like I didn't want to say this because it felt too sinister and I know I was straddling that line but like when you were like

oh like we sealed her part of me was like maybe you just need to let her lean into it you know like maybe by suppressing it it's getting, maybe you just need to let her go. Lean into it. You know, like maybe by suppressing it, it's getting stronger. Maybe you gotta.

Sure. Get a lance to the wound. Yeah, lance the boil. The boil. I'm the worst host ever because I let these things go, but they're so interesting. There's no not deep questions. No, I think we're interested.

All of them are deep. And kind of jumping. It's a long episode. It's a six-sided dive. Six-sided dive. That's fair. It's okay, just chat. This was going to be my question.

Laudna has likely woken Delilah back up. How is she handling her descent into darkness and the possibility that Delilah is back? Yeah, I mean, obviously, it's so complicated in processing it, but yes, also, I've kind of gone down the same, the same thought process is like This might be

like add to the means to the end to an end and maybe I need this and Which is really fun narratively. Yeah It's very but even just like I'm like Laudnazar like leaning into it, she's obviously currently feeling deeply guilty and troubled and conflicted that everything happened, but it is almost a little like, kind of a borderline Hulk moment where it's like, is this good for Bruce Banter's well-being and mental health? No, not really.

Guy in the chat, fuck off. Banner. Bruce Banner, though, turned into literally an upstate idiot in my head. That's just because I'm taking TV work. We feel good.

We heard it wrong. We all know that you know the jailing. Yeah, but yeah, it's a little bit fucked up when... The finger licks. There's something kind of inherently fucked up when the rest of the Avengers are like, we need you to go to this dark place right now. Can you?

Yeah. And so it's a little bit of that. Yeah, it's just dark. And now you got to explain to your, or you may or may not explain to the rest of your friends that you did it. I did it. And then you guys have to explain that you let her.

Yeah. Which is even wilder. I just tried to buy you guys time, right? Yeah, it's like you, yeah, it's like she like, you know, was sober for a long time and then you guys let her. Yeah. It's less she was sober for a long time, and then you guys let her. It's less about sober as hadn't committed murder. It's like even more than that.

Yeah, yeah. I don't mean to trivialize it or put it together, but it's the same thing. It means so much to that person to make sure they keep. I haven't committed mass murder in a long time. Yeah. None of us get out anymore, let's be honest. I mean, today's your chance.

In front of all these cameras. Here we go. That was really good. I'll actually... Should we go? You have the last one, don't you? Yeah. What was it like for you to play the long game with Bordor,

knowing from the beginning that he was an enemy in sheepherder's clothing? Nicely done there. Were there hints that you dropped that no one noticed? Starting off with the lightning bolt, first and foremost. And then, yeah, it was nerve-wracking. It was fucking terrifying the whole time. I hated it. I would never do it again.

Really? No, I didn't like it at all. You fucking nailed it. I have to say, I really loved playing with you guys. And my natural inclination is to be sort of that border collie. Like, let's do it. Let's have fun. Let's be jokey.

And then knowing that if I went too far with anything, it would just be revealed. It was like, and then I'd go home and I'd tell my wife I'd just been lying to these people that I really like and I feel really bad. My people pleasing got all fucked up. Yeah, I didn't like it at all. Me personally, I would never do it again. Then I was like, I don't think I could do real acting.

One of those Jeffrey Dahmer type roles, it's not for me. I think I'd get fucked up. It was very scary the whole time. And I thought when I melted the angel's brains, you guys would let me go and I could vitriolic sphere you guys and just fucking run away. You thought we were gonna be like,

why did you melt his brains? You so didn't wanna reveal it. Well that's why I kissed his forehead and went, enough. Cause I thought, why would Bordor say that? Yeah, but like, I don't know. You did such a good job throwing us off the scent constantly that I was like, oh, he's having a moment of like, I don't know, he's like loving him, you know, leveling himself up.

I don't know. Part of that was just confusion. And the constant fear and the puking and the shitting and everything. Yeah, that really did. It was so endearing and like, lovely. First battle, I was like, you better lay right the fuck down. Show these people that you are not a threat. Oh my God, it made me so happy.

Because you guys killed his friends. He literally was shunted right after watching you guys murder all of the people he loves. It's such a great image, too, of them pulling two dead colleagues, compatriots out of a hole. Dude!

That's right. You're just watching guys maybe you knew from afar or maybe you worked with we don't know now I want to I want to watch it knowing and I'm not super strong

right I'm not like high up in the Ruby Vanguard but I know you guys are super powerful so I don't know about you but I can't fuck with you well you did try to kill me

I can't at the very end when I realized you know well I'm even thinking you and I were the closest. It really is. We're going to have to go back and watch it.

We're going to have to go back and watch it. Because all the conversations, there was the time where, like, Laudna was so concerned about you judging us and the rest of us for living murderous adventurer lives. Yeah. And there was, like, the time where I was like, are you, does that, are you judging us? The first tip was when I didn't give a shit

about the reindeer. I don't give a fuck about the reindeer. Yeah. You don't have to go get the reindeer. Yeah. I don't know her. Or when you said. That should have been a good clue too.

When you said, I can stay up. I have really good hearing. I work with sheep. Sheep. Dude, that's a bad one, too. That's fucking rough. You know what? The one that cantrip is honestly the best fucking thing you could have done, because no one was going to think you were—

So scary. You know what I mean? No. No one was going to think you were trying— Every time I looked at Liam, I was like, this guy knows. He's right through me. No, I thought something weird was going on, but I'd never guessed Ruby Vanguard. So scary. Well, now I have to betray the group myself

because it is time for another pull from the Tower of Inquiry. Whoa! Patriotic fear. I'll go. They really want it to fall. I don't want it to fall. Denise! Oh, sorry.

I believe in you. You can see my mind. I mean, I kind of, I mostly believe in you. Go for the middle one. That's what I learned. Amy, can you reach the top of that tower? Oh, sorry. I believe in you. You can see my mic. Let's go, Denise! I mean, I kinda, I mostly believe in you. Go for the middle one, that's what I learned. Amy, can you reach the top of that tower? Oh, you! No. I can't.

You're flying an apple box, sorry. That's the only joke I'm making. All right. Oh. That's not the one. No. Bottom. Wait, wait.

Ooh, they are in there. Sometimes it takes a little bit of flunking. We're not going anywhere. Takes a what? It's expense music. I know. This music is very soft for this moment. Yeah, I know. Very hopeful. It's all gonna work out. This is

menu selection in an RPG right now. Yeah, it is. It's all going to work out. This is menu selection in an RPG right now. Yeah, it is. Character creation. Character creator, exactly. He's going to die in character creation. This is not good, you guys. What the fuck is this? Just put on your safety goggles.

You should surrender to your fate and just kick it. No, no, yeah, well. I mean, it's an opposite. I want this one. I want this one. I think that's the only one. But I don't know how to get it. It's really lodged.

Go, Iowa. Go, the Eds. Go, Hawkeyes. I'm not even fucking from Iowa and I'm wearing this shirt. Also, this can't be easy with nails. No. Wait, this is like wasting time here. Should I just?

No. No, this is great. Do whatever you want to do. Commit to something. Do your best. No. No, this is great. Do whatever you want to do. Commit to something. Do your best. Answer another question while I do this. Dispenses, well, we're not gonna be paying attention

to the answer. No, we're watching you. Oh, that's coming. It's coming. Oh. Amy, you can do it. Holy shit. I believe in you.

Ooh. There she goes. Oh, oh, oh. Wait, hold on. Oh. Just be, yeah, now's the hard part. Straight. I'm going to keep pushing it from this side.

That's where the nails come in. Hearing the nails, it sounds like slowly removing the rock. She's like a miner, 500 feet down. Whoa! Ding ding ding ding ding! Whoa! No, you're fine, I don't care.

This is genuinely killing me right now. This is horrifying. This is not good. You're committed now. Yeah. Oh, I know, I know, I know. I'm just fortifying my, this is probably against the rules, but.

I'm just terrified it's going to fall on you. Oh, it's fine. It's my only. No, just jump back. Just would. Wow. In reasonable shoes. I've been to Dominican hair salons. My scalp is used to anything. You guys, this is fun!

I believe you. All right, my fingers are not long enough. It's the nails, man. Good thing I'm wearing the nails, though, because they really wouldn't, it's a two-finger hole. Don't mind me, just trying to bring these blocks. That brings back it. Using a little nail. Suddenly you need a dragon's claw.

The pulling is fucking me. You can't pull, huh? It's almost out. It's very close. There it is. There is so much innuendo floating around this house. Has no one thought about the worst part of this? Wait, you hush your mouth.

Don't jinx me before it's done. Okay. I know. I know, I know, I have to put it on top. I know I have to. Yep, yep. Got it, you got it. Oh! Holy fuck.

Wait, that's just half the job. Okay, but that half of the job was masterful. Yeah. Now you gotta, now you gotta... Yeah, that's why I put it on the edge. Yeah, no, you were very smart. Oh! I want to see it happen.

Can you airdrop it? I'm scared about the airdrop. Okay, so since I'm short, can I use this? There's no, we're Air Bud rules. It's not in the manual, do it. None of these rules are written down, girl. You do what you gotta do. Oh my god.

This is Galvan Ball. Snow White says you can't have a dog. Mein Gott. Oh my god. Jesus Christ. I know, it's just killing me. You fucking badass. You're good. If this were me, we'd be dead by now.

Sweating like a fucking animal. Okay, here we go. That's it. Nails. Yeah That's it. Nails. Yeah. Tap it. Dink, dink, dink. Yes. Oh god. Yes! Incredible job.

This might be the most precarious tower. Crazy. That was crazy. I'm gonna throw up. That was a lot. Oh my god, I don't feel okay. I think I have a new fetish. Just Jenga edging.

Yikes. She's got a microphone right in there. Oh! Tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick. Not yet, not yet, not yet. Oh my god. That's some ASMR right there. Get it all the way in.

Tick, tick, tick, tick, ding, ding, ding. Use the dragon. All right. Hit us. All right, we're done. From Hero, if you had to pick, what is your favorite city in Exandria and why? What was the first part of that question? If you had to pick, and because he's asking you, yes, you have to pick, what is your favorite city in Exandria and why?

I build. I cheat. Of course. It's kind of the same for me. Me too. Pyra. Pyra? Same thing, Pyra.

Zephra? Yeah, Pyra. I also built Pyra though too. Okay. Pyra and Zephra. Mine too. Whitestone, baby. We have Whitestone too.

Whitestone's also in the top three. That's my hometown. For sure. Byroden, Texas. I mean, yes. Yes! You and Aabria gave Byroden, Texas. I mean, yes! You and Aabria gave Byroden its soul, and I love it. Absolutely.

I do love Rexxentrum, but the answer is Zephra. Yeah. Have to agree, it's Zephra. It's a bandwagon. All good memories there. Close second. Zephra and Whitestone are it for me. Yeah, yeah.

Who's picking the next block? The last one. No way. There's another one? Yeah. Right? Do we do? That was our third.

You want me to do it? I want you to do it. Bar. It's only fair. No. Poor Liam. But you can't kick it like you did that time. No, I'll come by the failure honestly.

The last time I did this, I punched it. You're the one who killed it last time. Oh, now I feel a little better. You kind of only have one option here. Yeah, you can only have one option. What do you guys think is the one option? It's the green. Middle green.

Yep. Is that one? He's trying to tap. No nails, no tap. Oh. What is this method? This is the whole thing is like diagonal shifting. Now the guests use two fingers.

Yeah, I used two fingers. I don't. What was that? That's not going to help. What did he do? He gave her like the double ear. Nope, nope, nope. You know what?

I mean, you guys, it's going to fall. I think it's the green up top. I think it's the green up top. I think it's the green up top. Oh, yeah. I want to believe. I don't know. I think it's the green up top. Oh, the one that's to the left?

Yeah. It's not a middle piece? It's not a middle piece. It's not a middle piece. You're right. There's a green right at eye level. I mean, it's going to come down, guys. What about?

Woodpecker. Nail tap. What about that green right in front of... No, that... A little late now. The green on the other side. That's just as... But there's a green on this side.

No, there's a green on this side. I think it's that one. This? Yeah. I don't know about that. That's just as fucked. It's just as fucked. Yeah, no, you're already...

It's a bad tower, guys. It's a great tower. Oh, sheesh. No, it's coming down. Danny, why don't you back up? Oh, I'm back. Oh, sheesh. No, it's coming down. Danny, why don't you back up? Oh, unbox. Oh, God. I want to see you make this work.

I do, too. Just pull it. Yeah, you may have to. The final corner may be a Mr. Wizard, but we'll see. Magic trick. No. No, it's too tight for that. I'm still standing.

Come on. Oh, my God. tired for that. Come on. Oh my god. It might work. Oh! It's not going yet. It wants to stay. It does. Let it live, unlike Bordor.

Just a nod. I nod to the tower. Ooh! I'm not trying to tell you what to do, tower. Dude, are you fucking kidding me right now? This is crazy. Oh, wow. This shit falling off the side.

Push it back. Maybe that one goes. I don't think I'm supposed to push it back. Yeah, I did it. I mean, again, there's no reliant. Yes, just tap it. But you might as well pull that one off the side then. This is a chenga tower.

I know, I know. Do this one. Do it. K.O. Pull that one off the side then. This is a chenga tower. I know, I know. Do this one. Do it. K.O. Headbutt in the head. Headbutt in the head. You went. I didn't headbutt it, headbutt me.

You leaned into it. You're 29. 29. 29. Oh, that was good. Oh my gosh. And I have to get a nice one. I was gonna say, I feel bad that we doubled you now.

Trash with a name on Instagram wants to know, what three objects would your character choose to have if they became trapped on an island alone? Go to the consequences box while they answer. Wow.

He really would. Please, put me on an island by myself for days. I'll say my handy rock chisel that I have in my hair. Oh yeah, that's so rad. I've never seen you use that. A little bit, yeah, it's mainly just accessories. So good.

Is this stuff we have access to or just using our imaginations? I mean, it says what three objects would your character choose? Well, the red ribbon and pate. No. That's it, I'll have pate. I don't have pate.

As a wizard, I'd probably have to like, whatever. This looks bad. Don't you worry about it. Don't you worry about thing. I pick people, I pick mom, dad, brother, easy. Oh. Oh. Isn't that objects?

What? Objects? Objects of my affection. Have you taxidermied your family? Yes. That's how we make this work. Wait, were you saying as a wizard? Oh, as a wizard, maybe I would go,

I would probably look into whatever spell components were needed for some sort of creation, fabrication type spell, so that I could be self-replicating the spells to then create whatever I needed. It's like asking a genie for unlimited wishes with your one wish. Yeah, I'd probably try. Loophole! I'd probably try to loophole it.

Denise would be thrilled. If she couldn't have Dariax, because he's not an object, Denise would bring, Denise would be thrilled. I think she, if she couldn't have Dariax, because it's not an object, she would bring the tuft of hair. She would bring like her cooking tools because she needs to eat. And I think she would bring like a bathing suit. Yes. Yeah, this like is Denise's green.

I'm here by myself, but no way am I going in the bath. No way. Yeah, likewise, I would bring Caleb's components for the tower, because that is a tower full of spectral cats that would feed me and entertain me, and there's a library in there. Yeah, exactly, right? Everything.

Don't need the bathing suit. We've seen that Caleb swims naked. What else? I guess I'd bring the beacon with me to space out with. And what else? A teleprompter so I'd always know what to say. That's fair. I was just going,

Ashton would take any collection of booze, music, and book. And your hole. Yeah, and the hole. Fill any collection of booze, music, and book. And your hole! Yeah, and the hole. Fill the hole with booze, music, and book. See, that's a loophole. A teleportation scroll would be pretty great. No one thought of that. We're like, oh.

I did, but I thought it was cheating. It's such a great band name. I'm going to say thank you, Hero and Trash, for those great questions. Remember, if you have a spoonful of sugary sweet evergreen quandaries for our tart and tangy tower of inquiry, you can pump up those

juicy jams at critroll.com slash tower! Pump up the jam! Rock you by WizKids! I got it! Yeah, why not? That one? That's a freebie.

We're going to take a quick break, but don't go too far, because when we come back, we'll be playing One Night Werewolf while we answer some leftover tankard questions. Maybe. Maybe, if there are any left. And, Lucrez, you're also going to be taking off, so

this is your final. Do you want to say anything to everybody before you go venture out into the world? What's a cantrip? Yeah! Yeah! We love you, TK! Love you, TK!

What indeed. The one and only. We'll be back. That's it for the podcast version of this episode of Foresighted Dive. In the video version, we wrap up each episode by playing some games, which don't always translate well to an audio-only format. Honestly, it's mostly yelling, truly. So be sure to check out the rest of the episode via the VOD for the full chaos.

If you've enjoyed this deep dive into the campaign, be sure to drop us a rating and a review on whatever podcast platform you're using. Your thoughts may just encourage a new critter to take the plunge. Foresighted Dive airs the first Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m. Pacific on twitch.tv slash Critical Role and youtube.com slash Critical Role with the VOD available on YouTube the very next day. And of course, each episode releases right here on the Critical Role podcast network one week after the initial broadcast. We'll see you again next month. Bye.