Critical Role - C2E61 Agreements

Episode Date: May 9, 2019

The Mighty Nein conclude their business with the giants and head back to Rosohna, as Fjord deals with an unexpected development in his relationship with his patron...Watch Critical Role live Thursdays at 7pm PT on https://www.twitch.tv/criticalrole

Hello, bees! This is Laura Bailey, here to welcome you to the Critical Role podcast. If you'd like to tune into the show as it airs, you can watch Critical Role Thursdays at 7 p.m. Pacific on twitch.tv slash criticalrole and youtube.com slash criticalrole. Our lovely Twitch subscribers can view the episode on demand right away. Or you can find it on YouTube Mondays at 12 p.m. Pacific. And of course, for all you fantastic podcast listeners, Critical Role episodes hit feeds on Thursday mornings, a week

after the episode first airs. With all that said, let's get into another episode of Critical Role. Hello, everyone, and welcome to tonight's episode of Critical Role, where a bunch of us nerdy-ass voice actors sit around and play Dungeons & Dragons. We play Dungeons & Dragons! That's a lot.

All right. Before we get into tonight's game, we have a few announcements to get through. First and foremost, we have two sponsors for the evening. Our first up is our longtime friend of campaign two, our returning sponsors, D&D Beyond. The great thing about D&D Beyond, everybody, is it's all about accuracy, right? They can handle the stats for you, they can handle calculating damage, adding bonuses, ability checks, all that stuff. It's super-duper accurate, something that I, Sam Riegel, as a candidate for president, am hyper-focused on, accuracy. But a couple of weeks ago, my opponents, O'Brien and

Johnson, said some slanderous things about me that were not accurate, and I wanted to set the record straight tonight. Ashley Johnson said that I had lily white hands that had never worked a day in their lives. Inaccurate. It's at least not the whole picture. The whole picture is my entire body is as doughy as Val Kilmer in a funnel cake factory. She accused me of looking like a donkey wearing a Jeff Goldblum mask. Also inaccurate. My face is much more like a Steve Buscemi Halloween mask that has melted in the backseat of your Kia. Oh, yeah. Johnson said that my smile made you want to drown yourself in hot goat piss. Not accurate. It's

my voice that makes you want to drown me out with a stereo mix of Limp Bizkit and Michelle Wolf. Oh my god. The members of the O'Brien Johnson campaign build themselves as honest, nice D&D players, but if we're being accurate, Liam isn't nice. He's an authoritarian party pooh-pooh herd whose characters are darker than the last episode of Game of Thrones and sadder than a double feature

of Flight 93 and Requiem for a Dream. His voice is so shrill it's like listening to an ASMR video of someone sandblasting a litter of puppies. And Ashley. Her character is, I mean, does she even know? She's missed so many games, it's more games than Michael Vick and Tonya Harding combined. But hey, at least she missed them for a good reason. Her hit show Blindspot is seen by literally hundreds of people every week. When does it air, by the way? Is it still 3 AM Wednesdays between infomercials for eyebrow implants and a towel that absorbs solid waste? But I'm not here to roast Ashley. I mean, let's be honest. She is America's sweetheart. How could anyone dislike someone who has more

oshkosh-bogosh overalls in her closet than Michael Jackson did? Oh, no! No! No! No! No! No!

Wow. Liam, on the other hand, is totally fair game. His character choices are so emo, Damien Rice called and said that they were too heavy. His monologues are more emotionally depleting than the discography of Dashboard Confessional. Liam could have single-handedly funded our Kickstarter if he didn't have so many traffic tickets from searching himself on Tumblr while driving. I only killed one kid. But as Danny Carr always advises me, I don't need to go low in

this election to win. No, I'm going to win the way I won my Emmy, by porking an executive at a trophy company. And that is accurate. Thank you, and god bless Samerica. Oh my god. Oh, it hurts. Okay. Oh, it hurts. Okay. Oh, it hurts. No shame. So what about D&D Beyond?

Oh yes, oh sorry. Also, D&D Beyond wanted me to tell you, this is an ad. D&D Beyond wanted me to tell you that they're going to be hosting a great charity livestream for Jasper's Game Day. All proceeds are gonna benefit the American Association of Suicidology and you can tune in May 9th to twitch.tv slash dndbeyond.

There's gonna be completely random character gen and donation goals to cause even more mayhem. Special guests include DM Satine Phoenix, Patrick Rothfuss, et cetera. Don't miss it, May 9th. That's it. Yay! Thank you, DM.

Et cetera is such a hit artist. I love et cetera, so up on camera. And thank you, DMDB on us. Second album was made. Our second sponsor of the evening, returning once more, our friends at Idle Champions. So if you guys aren't familiar with Idle Champions, The Forgotten Realms is a strategy video game

where it brings together a bunch of iconic D&D characters from the novels, from the adventure books and modules, from popular shows. They actually added the most recent champion is Spurt from our campaign. They added Spurt the kobold as the most recent. He was only alive for 20 minutes! Yeah!

That's all it took. You can keep him alive for even longer, maybe. And you can unlock him for the next 11 days by playing the latest event called The Running. It's what he would have wanted. It's what he would have wanted. But yeah, so each new champion adds Completing Death to the Gameplay

as you quest through hundreds of adventures based on existing D&D books and adventures like Waterdeep Dragon Heist has a whole adventure point there to move Annihilation, Curse of Strahd, all those classics that have come out in the previous years. All those things can be found in elements throughout the game itself.

It's available for PC and Mac on Steam and on web as well as Xbox One, PlayStation 4, iPad, and on all Android devices. Wow. For more information, check out www.idolchampions.com slash Critical Role. Thank you, guys. All righty.

Beau. Beau. So, our good friends at 826 LA, who have been along with us for the entirety, pretty much, of this journey at 826LA, who have been along with us for the entirety, pretty much, of this journey we've had here, they have one week left to go in their Kickstarter campaign, perhaps you've seen a few of us tweet out, to create the Time Scouts Handbook, which is a time travel handbook created to help you

unlock your inner time hopper. So make sure to check out and join their campaign at timescouts.com slash Kickstarter. And join us next Tuesday at 4 p.m. Pacific here for Maindrop, featuring retro games from our main cabinet, as well as, well, hosted by our classic Taliesin Jaffe. Classic. Eternal.

Eternal. Yeah. I'm dying. Continuous. Eternal Taliesin Jaffe. Crystal Taliesin, which is very popular now. Crystal Taliesin. It's more of a Phantom Doom Taliesin, which is very popular now. Crystal Taliesin. It's more of a Phantom Doom Taliesin. Oh. Yeah.

Sucrose is weird. Yeah. Yes. It is a weird one. Anyway, I believe that's the end of our announcements, so with that, let's go ahead and jump into tonight's episode of Critical Role. Critical Role. Critical Role. Critical Role. Critical Role. Critical Role. Critical Role.

Critical Role. Critical Role. Critical Role. Critical Role. Critical Role. Critical Role. Critical Role. Critical Role.

Critical Role. Critical Role. Critical Role. Critical Role. Critical Role. Critical Role. Critical Role. Critical Role.

Critical Role. Critical Role. Critical Role. Critical Role. Critical Role. Critical Role. Critical Role. The adventure begins They were always beside you Your nerdy best friends And the DM to guide you And they rise from the flames For the battles ahead

Villains beware Cause you're about to be dead They got magic and flair They got falchions and cunning They don't see over there There's a monster incoming Inspiration is waiting Rise up, don't think twice

Put your fate in your hands, take a chance, roll the dice. Roll the dice. Critical. Roll. Critical. Roll. Critical. Roll. Critical. Can you answer the call? Digging deep

in your soul as the legend unfolds. Now it's your turn to roll. As the legend unfolds Now it's your turn To roll And welcome back. Cool. So, last we left off,

the Mighty Nein here in Xhorhas, having allied themselves for the time being with the Bright Queen and the Kryn Dynasty, you took on a possible contract under the Professor Wako, who a kooky half-orc professor who works in the Marble Tomes Conservatory within Rosohna,

the capital city of the Dynasty, to go ahead and inspect the steelworks at the Deep River Mine, which seemed to have been overtaken by some giants and had halted production on a number of very important war machines that she had designed that were to help with the war effort against the Empire. Upon traveling there, you spoke with some of the figures,

you embarrassed the foreman at her request, and then went on to meet these giants, combat them briefly, make friends, and then actually traveling with the Landspeaker, seemed to be the spiritual head of their troop, head back to their home, the Bronn, that existed in the mountains, which seemed to have been overtaken

by some sort of strange demonic incursion. Wandering through the halls, you began to watch as some of the dead flesh of her brethren that were left behind began to be borrowed by some of these demonic entities and rising to fight you along with other creatures that were tearing through familiar portals, seemingly connected to distant abyssal areas.

Upon traveling through, defeating these creatures, a few of you nearly having your life siphoned a few times, manage to carve your way to the top, seal the portals, discover the source of these portals in a second device, the second you've discovered that seems to be some sort of an abyssal anchor that creates or begins to loosen the veil between the realms the longer it resides in those spaces.

You also burned a goblin. You did. Clear the room! Let it go, man, just let it go. Fuck, we're in peace. After a hard-fought battle in freeing the Brawn of this terrible demonic presence, the Landspeaker Sorna and the rest of you took an evening's rest before journeying back

to complete this particular quest. In that evening's rest, the storm had come in that had long been looming as the days of travel had guided you here. In the rainy evening, Nott and Jester waited out by the door as they watched Yasha make her way into the storm in a series of attempts to connect

with the mysterious Stormlord that seems to be occasionally wandering into your dreams and speaking in riddles, the entity that pulled you from a dark place long ago. In your dreams that night, you seem to make some connection and some imagery, some questions, some moments of reflection

that you get to now unravel as the morning comes to find you. So, as you all slowly come to consciousness in the morning, still raining outside, the storm, while not as roaring as it was the evening before, does seem to be at least simmered down to just a mild, consistent rain. Yasha, you're cold, freezing cold and soaked to the bone,

but you also grew up in these environments, in some cases, unable to locate the warmest of fires, and you're used to this harsh lifestyle. So it doesn't bother you too much, other than maybe you have a runny nose starting. The rest of you come into consciousness within the brawn, shake your head awake. Most of you soar from the previous day's battle,

gathering your supplies, and the morning is yours. You guys are soggy. We're soggy? They went outside. Oh no, we're not. We're totally dry. We went outside last night. Oh. With Yasha.

Camping under the stars? Yeah, yeah. Just getting the lay of the land and seeing what was out there. We danced in the moonlight. Danced in the moonlight. Screamed up at the sky because it was fun and stuff. That was cool.

Yeah. Did you see the moonlight? Felt like it was fun and stuff. That's cool. Yeah. Did you see the moonlight? Felt like it was raining all night, super cloudy. I saw a little bit of the moon, but mostly just some thunder, and just wanted to go outside and see some things. Hey, Jester, can I talk to you for a second? Yeah. Come here.

Okay. What is it? I was you for a second? Yeah. Come here. Okay. What is it? I was awake for like half the night. Okay. I'm just thinking about everything. Wait, oh, is this before or after I gave you a massage? Were you up after that?

Well, I fell asleep a little bit, and then thunder would wake me up a little bit, and then my brain kept going. This fabric swatch. Mm-hmm, it's really pretty. Right? Mm-hmm. I feel like I've read of a spell that can help track down owners of items,

if you have things like a... Ooh. It's like a skein of... Scrying, I think. That's it? Yeah, yeah, yeah. The's like a skiing, scrying, I think. That's it? Yeah, yeah, yeah, the Traveler was telling me about it. Okay, so you know how to do that? Well, not exactly.

I would have to talk to him, you know? Okay. And then I would probably be able to figure it out. I'll hold onto it. Okay. Until, you know, until we're ready. Okay. For that, if that's okay. Sure, I'm just going to go talk to the Traveler

and see if I can figure it out, okay? Okay. And maybe he can give me some guidance. Do you want to? You can take it, you can take it. Okay, cool, thank you. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I just walk away, rubbing it on my face. That's all. And then I sit down and pick my spells,

and she's crying. Okay. Oh, Traveler, teach me how to scry, I really want to learn about this thingy. All right, so you pick your spells. Yeah. Anyone else need to prepare anything for the morning? I feel so much better after that rest. Oh yeah, you were rough yesterday.

Yeah, half a man. Half a man? Half a, well, yeah, you were rough yesterday. Yeah, half a man. Half a man? Half a, well, yeah, that's true. Were you able to make the trip back? No, I feel great. Whatever was abated in the night, I'm ready to go. Back up to full half power?

100%. That's great. Full, yeah, half of, yeah. That's great. Full, yeah, half of them. Yeah. That's great. Well, what's the plan? Do we want to get our animals? We have to go, yeah, we have to rustle up the animals and go back to Awako, right? What do we get?

What's our treasure, what's our prize? We did the thing, right? We should probably escort Suna back to the mines. Back to the mines, make sure that everything clears out appropriately. They evacuate. And I'm sure to the mines. Back to the mines, make sure that everything clears out appropriately. They evacuate. And I'm sure just let the camp know that we've taken care of it.

Yeah, didn't we have that shitbag's personal, what was it, letter, picture? Yeah, his little secret affair little situation. Oh no, what was his name? Yeah, well that was, oh. Daryl? Looked so... Daryl? That was his name. Looked like a Daryl.

What the fuck was his name? Dermond. Dermond. Also looked like a Dermond. Also, while we go, or at some point, did you have the idea to introduce us to? Fjordman Boat. Fjordman Boat. Fjordman Boat! Fjordman Boat! That poor dead little one's skull.

I figured we'd do it by the end of the night. I've got just no sense starting the morning with bending the laws of reality and nature and save that for the evening, just in case. Do you want me to do this before we labor? Do you want me to do this later? Oh. How long does it take you?

I don't know. You want me to try it? Yeah! I'll sit it down and I'm going to cast Scrying. Okay, you're going to cast Scrying. It's your first time scrying. Yeah. So it takes 10 minutes to prepare.

Okay. Sorna, at this point, has come to consciousness and leans in as you're preparing the circle and drawing out the space, scoots in and looks over towards you. What is the blue one doing? She's trying to ascertain possibly the people who are the names and identities

of the people possibly responsible for this mess. Taking some pretty crystals I got from underground and then putting it around it. She reaches into a pouch and pulls out these dried, crushed leaves and sprinkles them over Jester. Goes, to bring good luck. What you hear is,

MULTILE. What she said. What did she say? Oh, she said, for good luck. Oh, thank you. How do I say thank you? Thank you. Oh, oh. Cluck.

Cluck. Yeah, yeah. Cool. Don't try that again. All right. So you're concentrating on the material. Yeah. You don't know who this belonged to, so whoever it is, they get a pretty... But I got a possession or a garment.

You do. They get a bonus to their saving throw and they get a penalty to the saving throw. Okay. So we'll save this one. Yeah, no, that's a fail. Yeah, I rolled a six. Yay! So.

LAURA and LAURA and LAURA and LAURA and LAURA I'm going to use my scrunchie like it's the fabric. Okay. All right. Good prop work. Thank you. As you set the piece of blue fabric down in the center of the circle, and then both your hands grasp the symbol of the Traveler. Your eyes close, do you feel a warm sensation

on the outside of your knuckles where you feel two additional hands reach around and clasp your grip. In the bit of your left ear, you hear the familiar voice of the Traveler say, Well, let's take a trip, shall we? You okay? As you open your eyes, you're no longer within the brunt.

In fact, you don't know where you are. All you see is mist and cloud rushing past, a sourceless movement, a speed you've never traveled with, whatever the space or location you might be a forceless movement, a speed you've never traveled with, whatever the space or location you might be is, in the sky, in another place, you have no sense of up or down, left and right,

just movement. Is this how it's supposed to feel? Okay. Trust me. Then the mists part. Your eyes clear, revealing a dark-lit den with a carpeted chamber decorated with fine furniture. Standing by a cabinet that remains open to one side,

a figure wearing a long blue set of fine wool robes stares down into an object that is holding it. Masculine in frame, you see golden blonde hair and a soft curl that's combed back to the shoulder behind the ears. A stoic expression sits on his clean-shaven face as he speaks into a stone in his hand. You have not to worry about that.

She is paranoid enough in the widest sense, but I know her blind spots. Yes, I have the emblem. Waiting for a window, but let's plot for next grison, shall we? Next grison? Six days. Six days. The week after that.

Six days, the week after that. So. The week after grison. That'll put 13 days. 13 days. At the Overcrow? Hm. At the Overcrow.

The figure stops and looks over back and forth around the room. In a half-dally too long, Angel Xyfriend takes the stone and places it into the cabinet, closes the door. Six of five. The figure then looks about, checks the curtains,

goes and checks the door, makes sure it's locked, sits down at the desk, and pulls out a book from underneath, opens it, and begins taking notes and reading through. Make a perception check. Mm-hmm, mm-hmm, mm-hmm, mm-hmm. That could have been so bad. 18. 18.

In the brief moment that the book is open, the text is too small on the inside for you to make out any of the contents, but all you catch is the title of the book. It reads, The King That Crawls. The King That Crawls. For the remainder of your time, of this scry, it's just this figure

quietly going from page to page, making notes, and occasionally stopping and listening. Are his ears pointy or human-y? They appear to be human. Okay. The ten minutes continue. Does he pick his nose at all? Is he composed? Is he just writing? He seems good. He's composed. Does scratch and flick something out pick his nose at all? Is he composed? Is he just writing? He seems good to compose.

Does scratch and flick something out of his ear at one point. Okay, he grabs that. It's the most amusing hygiene-based gag you're going to need to uncover during this important parts of a scrying attempt. Is the book old? Does the book look old? The book appears to be pretty old. It's not falling apart by any means,

but you can see just from the pages appear to be stained and weathered. The outer leather binding itself appears to be frayed and rubbed at edges. It's not a new tome by any means. Do I hear anything coming from outside of the room? Does it sound like outside noises, like a city or a blacksmith or anything I can hear?

From this position, you don't hear anything. I'd say roll a perception check. Why not? Just in case. 23. 23. I'd say with the last few moments of the Scrying Spell, try and desperately to focus. The ward that you've placed here

is very limited in what it can maintain, but all you do manage to catch is the hint of a horse whinny. Okay. Muffled from the exterior of this chamber, which does cause him to pause for a second, get up and check the window, and sit back down and go back into scrolling his notes.

He's kind of skittish. Did you say he was clean-shaven? Clean-shaven, yes. Okay. Then. No, no, no, no! The vision is pulled back. The clouds continue. You come back into your body. You're present once more, eyes still closed.

Now you can smell the cold, moist air from the rainfall here in the stone fortress among the Penumbra Range. The warmth from the grasp of the Traveler's hands on yours begins to fade, and you open your eyes just in time to see the spectral hands on yours pull back and then fade away. Yeah.

That was crazy. Did you see him, did you see him, did you see him? No, but your eyes went all white. And you keep. Rapid eyeballing. Did you hear me talking? Because I was talking. You were mumbling. You're drooling a little. You snort laughed a little bit as well.

A lot of words. I thought they got it. Other side. There. Okay, so, this is going to be, how do you remember? I thought it laughed a little bit, as well. A lot of words. I thought I got it. Other side, yeah. Okay, so, this is going to be hard to remember. There's a dude, and he had blonde hair, and it was kind of curly, and he looked like, you know, but he was wearing the blue robes,

and he looked really fancy, and like, you know, like he was rich and stuff, and he was at the cabinet, he was looking in this little ball, and he was talking to somebody through this little ball. I know, and he said, no, she's paranoid enough already or something, and then something about grist and six days, and then 13 days, and then he said angel's eye,

and then he said... The emblem. He said something about an emblem, we have the emblem, and then he went and sat down at this book that said The King That Crawls, and then he's, did I get that right? Mm-hmm. And then he was writing shit down for a while,

and then he dug something out of his ear, like earwax, and he blinked away. It's so awesome. And then this horse we need, and he went over, and he was like, oh, no, no, no, what's going on? And then he went back and he started writing again, and then I was gone. That's a lot. I think that was everything.

That was a lot. That was very impressive. Holy shit. That's incredible. What is the king that crawls? What is that? Didn't somebody else talk about something that crawls? Yeah, that sounds familiar. If anybody would like to make a religion check. Yes.

All of us, anybody? I'm trained. I'm just going to do it. Fuck. 12? Five? 23. I did it. I'm just going to do it just once. Fuck. 12? Five? 23. 16. Yeah. 10.

Okay. I'll say the 16 and the 23 were both enough to peer through on this one. The King That Crawls, it's reminiscent of a secondary title of one of the Betrayer Gods known as the Crawling King, named primarily as Torog. What? Torog? Torog.

Torog. Torog. Torog is the dark god of endless tunnels and caverns beneath Exandria. He's considered the patron of torturers and jailers and those that wish to rob others of freedom. My god. I feel like we've heard of him before. Yeah, me too. We have.

I thought we have. In passing. Yeah. But the Crawling King, King that Crawls, seems pretty similar. Yeah, I mean, I've heard similar tale about one of the ancient deities, right, but on the bad side, like a dark individual. Always represented with endless tunnels and...

Massive, hungering worm. Actually, the imagery as it's described, and there aren't a lot of sketched representations. In some cases, it's considered a taboo to put into books, a full representation, but they speak of, supposedly in the physical form of this betrayer, a taboo to put into books, a full representation, but they speak of, supposedly, in the physical form of this betrayer, God, during the Calamity, resembled a large,

bulbous worm-like creature with a human face and multiple arms just screaming as it tore through under the earth. Wasn't one of the three a worm? I mean, yeah, we've already encountered worm. I think that's not a different thought. One of the three things on that day. One of the three titans, yeah.

Oh my gosh, what if he's like best friends with your deity thingy? Or in conflict with him. Katah. Katah. He could be like a business partner, right? This could be like a casual acquaintance on the dark side. Oh my gosh.

What were the three icononics? Black and purple phoenix. Phoenix. Okay, that is the other one. His serpent. And this ender worm. I don't know if it's the same one, but. Probably. You would say from the imagery

that was carved in the cave, it seemed to have a toothy mouth that, of course, the front scaled folds, and then a tongue that curled out that had three eyes at the tip. Right, which is different than a human face. It's fairly different from the descriptor of Tuorog in the classic books.

We bet we're fine. There's some similarities, being large worm-like creatures, of course. But it's not funny, it's associated with torture and misery and, you know. Also, the guy said something about the Overcrow or something. The Overcrow? What about it?

I don't know. Does that sound familiar to any of us? I just remember he said, he said, location, the location was the Overcrow. How's the Overcrow? Have any of us ever heard of a tavern or a legend or anything called the Overcrow? We hit the Overcrow? Meet at the Overcrow.

You haven't. Oh. But that word she said, Krista, Grista, Grissn, that's a day, right? Grissn is a day of the week. Next Grissn. Next Grissn. And that's six days from now. It was six, but then it was turned to 13 the week after.

13 days later at the Overcrow on Grissom. Okay. 13 days. You said angel's eye? That seems like a... Something like angel's eye. Like it was a greeting or something. It was a greeting or a saying under his eye. Now, did he see you in this, or?

No, he didn't ever look towards me, so I would think he didn't. I mean, I wasn't like there, there, there. He was wearing the same colored robes and everything? And you guys didn't see the Traveler and he was there with me, so I would think he didn't. I mean, I wasn't like there, there, there. You guys were wearing the same colored robes? You guys didn't see the Traveler, and he was there with me, so then the guy probably didn't see me. You just talked to the Traveler just now?

Well, yeah. All the time? Well, yeah. That's very impressive. Yeah, well, he likes me a lot. I'd like to meet him someday. I would like you to meet him someday. Does he ever talk about others like you? Well, he says that, you know, that we're going to have a gathering sometime.

Hey, do you guys want to be his disciples? Ooh, uh, hmm. I don't, no, no. Because I bet, okay, here's the thing. We're all going to go, you know, all of the people that worship him and do the things for him, we're all going to go. And I bet if I came with all of you

and you all, like, I had converted you, then I would be the coolest one there. VIP everything. Like, totally. I don't think anybody else would be as cool as me. Could it work in Tears, though, so that we are your disciples? You're his disciple?

Pyramid scheme? So we're followers. Of me? Is there bottle service at this get-together? Maybe. Can you ascribe to more than one god? Does anyone know that? Can you be like, yeah, like both gods? Yeah, sure.

I don't see a problem with it. I already have the Knowing Mistress. They might be a little jealous of each other. Depends on the gods. I don't know. I with it. Zekhan already has a knowing mistress. They might be a little jealous of each other. Depends on the gods. I don't know. I think the Traveler's pretty friendly with everyone. We do have faith in you, so you have faith in him. Wow. So yeah, so you'll be a follower of the Traveler, too, then.

As best as you can make out, there are people that believe, or at least, you know, sometimes pray to different gods based on what they need. You know, some farmers will pray to, you know, Evandra for a good journey. Some people will pray to the Wild Mother for a good crop. Some people will pray to the Stormlord or, you know, the Wild Mother again,

if they're making a journey across the ocean. But, you know, to truly become like a proper disciple and acolyte. That type of worship tends to be pretty singular. Or jealousy can factor in. That's as much as you can ascertain about that nature. I would think it's in all of our interest to know more about him because he helps you help us,

and that is a good thing. Right, he helps us a lot. Jester, you've been talking to him for as long as you can remember, right? Yeah, I mean, we hung out when I was little. He started, I mean, I remember before he came, it was really lame, and then he started showing up more,

and it was cooler, you know? Did you actually see him? Yeah. What does he look like? Well, before, he was a little kid, you know? When you were a little kid? Right, so he's my age. So he took the place of a little kid

when you were little to be your friend? Well, I mean, he would just kind of show up in my room, you know, he's a few years older than me, but he's still a kid to you. But he's a god, though, he's god, right? Yeah. So he probably just took that form to be able to relate to you, maybe?

He's a god, but you've not met anyone else who follows him yet. You know, I have, I have, I have. Remember, we met an old guy. Ah, yeah, one. Yeah. Has he ever asked you to do anything, like, bad, like hurt anybody, or? Oh, like violent or something?

No, no, no. No, he mostly just is like, hey, go tie that guy's shoes together and watch him trip. I did that to go dance, it was a little good. Or like... Does Yorgod ask you to do bad things and hurt people? Is that why you're asking? No, no.

Take it easy, I'm just asking. What about Yasha? Does Yorgod ask you to do anything bad? Yes. I remember on the ship, Yorgod ask you to do anything bad? Weird? I remember on the ship, Yorgod turned into some sort of lightning beast, and then you had to violently fight him. I had to fight it, but I don't know if that was him,

and something, you know, he sent something to fight. So he's pretty, I mean, that seemed aggressive. I have a feeling he might be pretty aggressive, but I mean, I still have so much to learn. This world is chock-a-block with beings far more powerful than any of us are. So, have you talked to Yor since you were a kid, too? No, I only started to really

follow and know about him not that long ago. Oh, really? So as a kid, you know, we didn't really have anything like that in my tribe, other than the matriarch of our tribe. Was there a particular reason y'all started communicating?

Yeah, he found me. I guess I found him. See, that's not happening. Were you lost? Were you wandering? Yeah, yeah, I was lost. I was lost. But you were with people first. Then you weren't.

Yeah, I... Why did you leave? I... I left... I left my tribe because... It's a sore subject. We do not need to push it. No, it's... Yeah. Some of them know and we've discussed, but I was...

I was married at one point. And in our tribe, we are chosen a mate by the Skyspear, and I married Skyspear. Yeah. She is the head of our tribe. But, yeah, who I married was not who I was supposed to be with.

And we got in trouble and well, if you disobey your Uh... Well... If you disobey, your punishment is death. So I ran away. I mean, yeah. And that's when your god, the Storm Lord found you? Yeah, there's some time that I'm missing. You left your wife?

I did. They had captured her and I... I ran away. Oh. You're missing time, though, you say. A gap in your memory? I am missing a gap in my memory. How long?

I don't exactly know, but... What? Weeks, months? You have a gap in your memory, don't you? Molly had one, too. Don't you, too? I do, as well. Well, I remember everything. I do, too. I don't really remember anything, but that's normal.

Do you ever think, Yasha, about going back and seeing what Zoralla's doing, if she's okay? I don't think she's alive anymore, because when I left, they were executing her. Did you see her die? No, but I know it was happening. And I just ran because I was scared and I am a coward.

No, you're a survivor. That's one way to put it. I'm sorry for your loss. It was terrible. Well, yeah. So there you have it. But, um... Sometimes I think about going back and

turning myself in, I guess. But I guess there's also a part of me that is upset that I wasn't able to be with the person that I wanted to be with. What about revenge? Well, I think about that every day. We could go with you, we could kill them all. That sounds like a lot of fun.

But that's not something, I don't know. What? Was that not what? I don't know, I don't know. What? Was that what? I don't know, I don't know. I think... I don't know. Do you think your murderous revenge could wait 13 days? Yes.

Because maybe we could follow this clue and find out where the Overcrow is and meet up and rendezvous with this person in blue. Yeah. And figure out what the fuck is going on. Yeah. And figure out where the Overcrow is. I mean, can't be too many Overcrows, right?

Well, we will start by going back to collect on our bounty and ask around the city, and hopefully we will have curried favor after this. We might have yellow parchments or something that we can just flip through. Yellow parchments. Yeah, you know. Sometimes have that. I'm going to go in the bigger cities, little parchment. Yeah, you know. Sometimes have that.

Bigger cities have those. Yeah, you're right. They're starting to expand into rural areas. People just throw them out, though. They don't even really understand the value and the work that goes into it. I downloaded the cantrip. It's pretty easy.

Shit. I wonder if I could scry on that place or something and figure out where it is. It's so cool that you can do that. I mean, I want to do it all the time. It's pretty rad. So you zoom in and you see the person, where they are and what they're doing.

But you need a thing? You need an item? Or apparently if I know the person or if I know a lot of details, I don't necessarily need something of theirs. You can just creepily watch them? I could watch any of you, any time. You could be watching Caleb at night?

The more you know about a person, the easier it is. I've tried to study this, but I have not cracked it yet. I know a lot about you, Caleb, so I could scry on you. You know that I smell. You know that... Oh, and the guy! He sounded kind of like you, Caleb, so I could scry on you. You know that I smell. You know that. Oh, and the guy! He sounded kind of like you, Caleb. He kind of had a Zemnian accent.

All right. At least I think you did. Do you know any, what did he look like, blonde, you said? He was blonde. You know any blondes? There's some. He was human, and he had really beautiful blonde hair that came to about his shoulders

and it had a little bit of a curl to it, and it was combed back. He obviously cared about the way he looked. He was very clean-shaven. The only thing that I could think that would be would be one of the paintings at the Academy. I'm going to draw a picture. Oh, you know what I'm going to do?

I'm going to disguise self, and I'm going to make myself look like the guy. Okay, there you go. I'll do what he was doing. Legit, legit. I'm going to sit, and I'm going to start writing and picking on my heir, and then I'll turn on him. Do his robes look familiar to any of us? Any uniform? No.

The robes don't appear to be a uniform of any kind. Okay. And the individual does not appear to be familiar to any of you. Make a history check. Caleb and Beauregard, if you don't mind. No, I'm not going for that one. I'm going to please roll over the garbage.

In fact, it's in the garbage. You're doing a dance, as this guy? Yeah. Was he dancing in your room? No, but I'm going to please roll over the garbage. In fact, it's in the garbage. You're doing a dance as this guy? Yeah. Was he dancing in here? No, but I'm going to make him dance around. 20. 14 total. To jog some memories. Okay. Unfortunately, neither of you are able

to pick out the individual. You don't think you've crossed paths with them, or there aren't any discerning elements. They're youngish, meaning for somebody to be wearing such fine clothing in the way that you were describing in the den that they were in, they probably look like late 20s or so.

We all know what they look like now, so if we run into this person, we'll immediately know. He was speaking into a sporely, sphery glass bowl. It wasn't a glass bowl, it was a stone. It was a stone, I'm sorry. It was about that big around, smooth. Does it look like this one?

It looks similar. What is that one? Is that one, did we find that? What is that? Did you always have that? Did we find that, we found that, right? It's a trans-weirish stone. No, it's not.

Talk into it, say something. We got this thing Zadash. And we don't know where its buddy is, right? It's a talking stone. It's for communicating with one other person, whoever has it, and I've just been carrying it. But you haven't talked into it. No, because we did not know who was on the other end.

Do you want to try? Of course, before we do that, was there anything Zadashi about what you were looking at? Yeah. Anything that was like, you know, the zip code was on the, anything like Zadashi? There's a horse in the ink. Was it a Zadashi horse? It sounded like it sounded

Zadashi, like a Zadashi sort of accent on the horse. Was it, did the room look like anything like the Lava Chateau or anything, was it that nice? No, it looked like it was well. What was it called? The Pillowtop. The Pillowtop. Oh, the Pillowtrove, you mean? Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Richard's Pillow. No, it didn't look like the Pillowtrove. It did look like a nice den with fine furniture, more than your standard, you know, merchant or noble level, at least. Okay. And it looked like his house, it didn't look like a room he was renting. It seemed to be well-lived in.

Okay. At least, yeah, it resembled to be in a boat as opposed to like a stay at an inn. Well, let's go embarrass this fucker and go collect. You're not going to talk into the stone? Well, here's the thing. This belonged to that merchant, and we fucked his life.

Don't you remember, there was the judge and the wealthy merchant, and we burned both our... And we took his stone. Took the stone, but if we fucked his life up. Remember, he almost died in that rug. That was so sad and that was weird. That was a good day. Starting a fire in a closed cave.

I think perhaps this is not the place to. Well, we didn't start the fire. Was it always burning? Since the world's been turning. Get out of the wall. Never mind, never mind. The land speaker stands up and goes, are we ready to go?

All right, let's go back, let's go back. This is not a good look for the Empire. In terms of if this is the person who had the many stones. Look, Empire, I haven't smoked good in a long time. That was a lot of hair. That was a lot of very blonde hair. All right, let's go.

As we leave, I just give Yasha a hug on the way out. I give her some pats on the back. So first we're going to the fort, right? Oh yeah, to drop off the giant. Drop off the giant, make sure everybody clears out nice and orderly. So you guys exit out into the stormy day, the dark clouded sky above you.

You put up your hoods and your cloaks and bundle up. Now, you had taken the moorbounders. We left them. Oh yeah, we did. We took them as far as we could go. As far as you could go up to the mountain pass and then left them outside. Yeah. So as you step out to where you left them, you don't see them.

Oh shit. Oh no. Yarnball! Call out for them. Yarnball! You can make an animal handling check. Yannick! Yannick, come. Can I try to give a really loud battle whistle

to see if they come? Sure, make a performance check. Performance check. I'm going to attack your ass. 23. It's a negative two for performance. 11. Okay.

Between you whistling very loudly, you calling for your moorbounder, one by one, they begin to emerge from the base of the woods. They were pack hunting, and as they come up and merge, you can see chunks of stringy spider flesh in their jaws. Good for you.

Oh, yumba. They all come bounding up and leap and skid to a halt, stumbling in, knocking Jester off onto the muddy floor and begins licking your face. This long streak of spider blood left on the side of your cheek. Careful, you're going to have the runs for days.

Out. So weird. Yarnball, speak. Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, You head back to your riding positions, I assume. The Landspeaker leads on and guides you back on the path where you initially came. Heading down the mountainous journey alongside this part of the Penyrhynba Range, trying to keep from getting too waterlogged, but the rain is pretty intense. Eventually, you come to the base

of the Vermaloc Wildwood. Very plain to see the path, once again, that the giants took to rapidly escape from the incursion at the Brom. You can see the branches still broken and pushed in. There is a makeshift tunnel that has formed that you initially took here, and so you just, pardon me, get back on your path.

Trying to hold it back, but it caught up to me. Apologies, everyone. Continue onward, making your way back towards the Deep River Mines and the Icazran Steelworks. For the most part of the journey, you still see the webs are still burned away from the first time you came through, and the Landspeaker, once again,

creating the same ball of flame, which resists the rain. You actually watch as this coat of mist and steam continues to drift off of the rolling sphere of fire as the rain that seems to be coming through the canopy, splattering against it, causes this cloud to emerge and then dissipate around it. The rolling ball manages to keep most of the side spiders that you see still wading up in the boughs of the trees,

skittering and pulling away. Not being much of an issue on this journey. Continuing onward, eventually you see the familiar and comfortable sight of the high exterior walls of the Deep River Mine. You approach, the side gate is still closed, but a Landspe speaker leading the cause comes up to the outside and shouts out in giant,

Open! We've arrived! Holds her staff up over the edge and glances over the wall. You hear a couple of heavy footsteps. Shifting of wood and a creak as it pulls open and there's two of the Stonet giants lift and pull both sides of the gate open to the interior of the Deep River Mine.

As you all wade in, the mud clomping beneath your feet. The temperature's cold enough to where you can see your breath a bit as you travel. Coming inside, all the giants are there, still armed, still with their patchwork metal armor they've borrowed from the vicinity, and immediately they begin to question

and speak with the Landspeaker. While most of you hear a bunch of giant speech back and forth and calls and questions and responses, the conversation seems to be them saying, So, what happened? She explains what transpired and speaks on your behalf. We all look a bit surprised, nod. They say to her once more, do we need this anymore?

She says no. So they all begin to tug on the rope that they had used to affix all these metal plates to themselves as armor, and they clatter to the ground in these big piles of scrap, going back to their more natural state. One by one, they all walk up to each of you, looming still, anywhere between 20 feet tall,

including the main champion, the one that had guided you in the intense conversation around the bonfire the night that you went and partook in their spider meal. Kind of gives a nod and, Brunga. And begins walking, which you know means respect. And so my one, the giant,

begin to grab their things, they grab a few things from the mine, just whatever they happen to find that was interesting. Trinkets, some of them you can see have begun to make and weave from materials they found to create small art pieces and dolls. There's a through line in the culture of the stone giants from the time you spent both with them

and in their previous home of craftsmanship, particularly stone working, but they seem to be grabbing errant pieces of whatever's around that might be useful to them. They've filled up small sacks and made their way back towards their home. Finally, it's just the Landspeaker left, looks over you all and gives a quiet nod,

eyes closed, turns back to you, Caduceus, and she kneels down to where, still all the way down and hunched forward, she's just now catching you at eye level, maybe a little bit above, and says, You have a heart that pierces truth. Never ignore your instincts.

Your companions are lucky to have you, for most are lost in a crazy world of dreams without someone to wake them. Thank you for your wisdom. Good luck out there. You as well. I hope you find your interests. She stands up,

huffs his stuff. Mm-hmm. You know what the crime is, right? She laughs. Clucked. Clucked. Clucked. There you go. With that, walks away.

The footfalls getting fainter and fainter as you see the last of the stone giants making their way towards the west to the home that you helped free for them. Until eventually, the mine and steelworks are yours, open and empty. You've done it. Let's steal everything and run! Wait, we get to keep

the whole mine? Well, no, no. We're going to be giving it back. You don't want to mind. Do we live here now? It's ours. I call this room! Are there piles of armor on the ground now, or is that just sort of?

It's scrap. It's scrap that was tied together to form a makeshift scale mail. All right, do a thing with me really quickly. Yeah. I'm going to just start taking cantrip potshots at these things and banging them up real good. Make it look like there was a tussle.

Ooh, yeah, me too. I'm going to use my axe and hit a couple. What are you hitting? The armor. Oh. Banging a few things up. Banging them up. Leaving a couple burn marks around. Okay.

Making the fight look a little bigger than it was. Fair enough. Should we break some windows and doors and things? Yeah, run over. Someone's going to have to fail, never mind. Jester just runs and fucking destroys two windows. Ha! That girl with the BB gun.

How about I just get it out of her system? It's kind of great. It's like watching somebody, you know, deface the outside of a condemned building. The whole place is just in complete disarray from the fight that took place originally when they arrived. But you have indeed added to the chaos. I say we just head back and

tell them how easy it was at this point. Yeah, where are they all hiding out, all the human people? Back that way, spell. Okay. The makeshift tent city on the outside of the Vermaloc. Anyone want to take that locket and do anything with it? I could do a dramatic reading of his letter.

Ooh, that is nice. That's a good idea. Maybe, do you have any magic that could make it, you know? I could disguise myself as the girl in the locket. I could disguise myself as Bodo or something. Like a dumb show. This feels complicated. Yeah, well, the letter is right.

What if I make myself look like the girl, and you make yourself look like Bodo? I'm sure. And then we just like, in front of the girl. Yeah, yeah, just, yeah. You have Thaumaturgy in my voice, so it's like, super loud.

I don't think I can do that. Where's that dollar? What? That immersion just went off. No, don't do it again! You almost just touched it again, like, say sorry. Shoulder. I'm good, we're good. We're good here, everything's good.

Fire. His arm's on fire right now. How are you? So you can't do that? I can do that. Yeah, you're thinking of Mr. Clay. I can do that. Fjord, do you do disguise self?

I forgot. Yeah. You know, I think he's a better body type. I'm going to be Bodo. You're going to affect your own voice. Not somebody else's. I can't do that. You make yourself look like Bodo. You be Bodo. I'll be the...

And then you guys can simulate, simulate making out. What are we doing? Just in front of everyone. Just simulation, you're just going to act out to go with the story. Just do a badass Bodo. Junior high school theater. And Beau's going to narrate? Like an interpreted letter? Yeah, yeah, she just going to act out to go with the story. Junior high school theater.

Beau's going to narrate? Yeah, yeah, yeah, she's going to narrate. Yeah, yeah, yeah, we'll act out the letter. All right, I don't know if I understand, but I guess I'll just follow your lead. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Follow her lead. Save yourselves, because I can change the way everyone looks, so if we want to do a whole...

No! The director's not even paying attention. So now, just say, I'm back, and then you're back. I can make everyone look like anything you want. So if you want to have multiple people as part of your production. Well, yeah, just make half of us look like the girl and half look like him.

Wow. That feels like it's taken it to a really good point. And then you can do the choreographies. Or just do a dance and then have a party. Let's get a little Caligula out here. I feel like we don't quite need that much. If there are more players in the story, as you read, maybe you can decide

and just bamf one of us in. Okay. That's a good idea. You know what? We don't need to talk about this. We should just do it. Yeah. Yasha, can I get up on your shoulders so we have a bit of a stage?

Yes. Thank you. Come on, let's do this. Do you have the letter? We're making this up. No, we're making this up. You get to read the letter. Because I didn't think this would be a thing. Great idea.

Great, guys, all right, so. Let's take it back to the tits. Riding your moorbounders through the Vermaloc eastward, through the beautiful red and deep burgundy leaves, the dark purple smoothbark trees, you find the paths that led you initially to the mining camp, and as you exit the tree line, you can see about maybe 10 minutes due north

of where you're currently standing, the same tent city that you originally encountered upon your arrival. Making your way in that direction, as you get closer and closer, you can see some of the, the camp has just been in a holding pattern and most people are sitting around on stumps or on boxes and crates with card games

or whatever else they can do to pass the time. Some of them are just taking naps midday. But nevertheless, you approach the same tent where the foreman had previously come to greet you. Does not appear to be there immediately, but as you approach, one of the guards, one of the Aurora guards comes up to you.

Now, are you all just yourselves right now? Yeah. Yeah. one of the Aurora guards comes up to you. Now, are you all just yourselves right now? Yeah. Yeah. All right. Approaches and, uh, right, do you need the foreman? Yes, please. Very much so. Virebac turns around,

tells the other guards to scatter a bit, him and one other head inside of the tent, and the foreman comes out, pair of glasses on the end of his nose. He's currently in the process of going through a piece of paper and scratching things out angrily. It looks like he's been in the middle of a meeting. He's like, well, what?

What, if I might ask, is this problem? Right, right, so you've returned. Very well. How did it go? We're all here. Problem solved. Giants are kaput. Really not that big of a deal, actually.

Well, that is very impressive. I certainly hope you aren't pulling my leg. Oh no, we had time to sit around. We actually took a nice long nap afterwards. Maybe even found some stuff. Yeah, we got to search around. Well, that's a day of productivity that we've lost, then, if that is the case.

Nevertheless, let us go ahead and get everyone back to work! And he shouts out, everyone! Aren't you? Everyone? Everyone starts scattering up and hearing this. Gather around, we have an announcement to make. He's like, yes. Everyone, please, I need your ears.

So. It seems. It seems. It seems. Seems. And Caleb casts Steaming. And Caduceus and Yasha and Jester look like the woman in the locket, and Nott and Caleb and Fjord suddenly look like bodo of different sizes.

All right, now he's currently not looking at this. He's looking out towards the group and goes, It seems that these fair mercenaries have been able to remove the giant problem. And as such, it is time to return to work within the steelworks immediately. Please grab your stuff. What are you laughing at?

It appears removing problems is a reoccurring theme from you. He turns around. Did you? Oh, what happened? It looks like he's seen a ghost. I would say a ghost, but I'm not sure. Attention, workers of the mine.

We have a very important announcement and news from the mining front. It appears. He's trying to hide you. The three of you, but there's too many of us. It appears your wonderful foreman, Bodo, is quite the poet. And has a mistress.

A poet? Poet, the Bodo-et of the poet. We shall be reenacting such poem for you all. I hope you enjoy this wonderful performance. We give you the bodo players! Everybody, everybody. Everyone's like, they're in, and he's like. Bodo, your art deserves to be shared.

Just let it happen. If you go to stop it. My dearest Lorna. That's me, and her and her. Just as your namesake suggests, you Lorna in my loins. Oh. Ooh, wow.

Night after night, as I lay underneath the stars in this encampment. Crumples to his knees. The only encampment I can think of is the warmth of your embrace and the soft, supple bosom that you have invited me into. I grab Nott's little bodo and push it against my body. As I snuggle this lambskin,

I think of your curly hair. Oh shit. Laying on the depths of my stomach and loins. He's crawling towards you in the mud, the rain just completely soaking him. Please, please stop. I think about the time that I confessed to you of my romance indigestion

and the nervousness that you alight in the depth of my bowels. Oh, that's lovely. I thought my turgy fart noises. I thought my turgy fart noises! But you held my face and told me, I love every scent that comes from you. I do that before this phase, and I me, I love every scent that comes from you. I grab Fjord's face and I say,

I love every scent that comes from you. Kiss him, kiss him. And I don't kiss him. He passes out. No, no, no, no, no. Yay! Just out of the mud. It pretty much, it's not as fun

when he's not here to hear it. Anyway, it pretty much just wraps up and he talks about how he dreams of her and he gets a little flowery some more at the end. Regardless. But yeah, that's the story of Lorna, everybody. Oh, regardless. Oh, regardless. Oh, regardless.

More clapping and cheers. You see a lot of the folks seem to be particularly enjoying this entire display. That was good, they think we succeeded. Yeah, yeah. My second career. We're having this discussion all in disguise now. Yeah. Yeah. One of the second command goes,

Right, so anyway, gather your things, back to work! They all start gathering their supplies and they start taking down the tents and it seems like the encampment is starting to make its way back towards where it originally belonged. I think that's pretty sufficient. I feel it. Yeah, it works. Probably, I tell it out here.

You guys got it from here? The guards have lifted him up and he's like, like groggy. Best thing I've ever done to somebody I'm not related to. Pretty mean. Drag him off into the tent. Yep. All right, back to the town?

Yep. Yeah. More bounders! I made myself a present. Away! Away! A few more bounders, take off. We're heading southward. Pretty terrible. It was bad.

Just as embarrassing for us as for you. Yes. I don't know what you're talking about. I have no shame. All righty. So heading southward, you eventually find the original path that had led you up to this area. As the day presses on, the sun begins to set

just as you begin to see the shapes, the jagged outline of the ruins of the ghost lands ahead of you. So, do you wish to camp for the evening on the outskirts, or do you continue and press on through the night? We press on through the night. How much longer of a ride is it? You're looking at another six hours or so.

That's fine, that's fine. Let's do it. Okay. Yeah? Yeah. Okay. So yeah, making all your journey there, from your first day journey there, and then making your way, yeah, for the sake of brevity,

you make your way back towards the roads through the Ghostlands. During the day, still a low mist that hangs through most of the broken stone and barely recognizable shades of what were once structures and temples and buildings and domiciles and squares. Using your imagination, imagine this place a lively, if violent, locale

but a millennia before. You see some shapes shift in the mist and it seems the process of your first arrival and travel through the Ghostlands, you begin to think, whatever haunts this space doesn't wait till nighttime. But pushing on, you pass by a few of the Aurora Watch that are watching the road as well,

stay clear to the center, and making your way through eventually, in the early, early morning hours, I'd say around 2, 3 in the morning, you begin to breach the outer wall and find yourself in the Corona of Rosohna. So the city itself, sparser at this time of night, of course, but there are still various people

that live here that do most of their work night as well, especially when the day-night cycle itself is a little more fluid, it seems, thanks to the enchantment that's placed above the city and the surrounding region. Stepping through the muddy streets, the storm still raining upon you, you hear the first crack of thunder

since the night before echo off to the north side. You continue onward until eventually passing through the Gallimaufry and then making your way to the abode you had previously stayed down the Dims Inn. It is practically empty, aside from, it looks like Gavin, the person who runs the establishment, is,

seems to be resting, eyes half open, looking towards the front. One patron, another drow elf, is passed out on a far table. Tankard's still clutched in the right hand. But as you step in from the rain, pushing through the interior and dripping, holding the reins on your respective moorbounders,

he watches, Gaben shakes back to Lucidity. Oh, welcome back, you've returned, how nice. It is late, but do you require your animals taken care of? Yeah. All right. Could you help with that? Yeah, I would. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. You see him nervous and uncomfortable

around the moorbounders. The moorbounders sensing that nervous energy, taking an immediate interest in him. Yarnball, don't eat him. No, no, no, no, no. He keeps a wide berth and eventually lead them to the back of the establishment where there is a small storage area

where he seems to be keeping them overnight. He doesn't have a place to put these creatures, but has found a makeshift space for them. While they're doing that, I'm going to run upstairs and see if Yeza's home. Okay, you come back to the door. You just throw it open. You look on the bed, suddenly a figure leaps

from the blanket, kind of. Oh, hi, no, it's me, it's me. Your wife, who's a goblin. Right. Hi. Oh, it was funny when you guys were going to come back. I'm sorry it took so long. No, it's okay, you okay? Are you okay back. I'm sorry it took so long. No, it's okay. You okay? Are you okay?

Did anything happen? Did you have to kill anyone? No, no. Good. Did anyone visit? Did anyone knock? No, they just heard. Did they bring you food?

We arranged for them to bring you. Yeah, you know, there was food. It was decent. I heard footsteps back and forth whenever they did, I'd hide, you know, just trying to keep a low profile, like you said. Was it fun a little bit? It was for the first day or two.

Sorry. No, no, it's fine, it's fine. I mean, it's far better than being down in the dungeon, you know, I'll take that. Sure, sure. Hi. Hi. He gets out of the bed and comes over and gives you a hug and pulls away. Are we staying here much longer?

I don't know, we have to figure out, my friends have, they're sort of on, trying to figure out a mystery of sorts, figuring out what our next move is. They'll be up here any second now. But we need to get you to a safer place and we need to find Luc. Yeah, I'd like that. Mm-hmm.

I'm worried about our boy. Anyway, welcome back. It's good to see you. You wipe some of the crust from his eyes. Are you going to come to sleep? I mean, yeah, sure, whenever you're ready. Sure. I'm going to go back to sleep. Okay, I'll be in a bit.

Okay, then he wanders back, still a little sleepy, and curls up in the bed and passes right back out. Eventually, the rest of you return back up to the secondary floor of the Dim Zin. I'm not going to go to sleep quite yet. No worries. Well, you guys are gathered, though, so. The best reunion ever.

It was pretty nice, yes. It's good, yeah. He only screamed a little bit, so that's good. That's progress. Yeah, totally. Yeah. It's good, yeah. He only screamed a little bit, so that's good. Yeah. That's progress. Yeah, totally. Yeah. But I don't know what's next. You know, we have to do something.

We have to do something as a group, but then also I have to figure out what I'm doing. What do you mean? Well, I mean, he can't stay here forever. Are you going to stay here? I don't know, are we going to stay here? Are you going to stay here? What are we doing?

By here, I mean like with us. Are you going with him, or are you going to hang out with us some more? I don't know. I don't know, what are we doing? What's the object? We've only been here for a few days, and we haven't even been here for those days.

We have to go check in with professionals. Walk-ons. We have a whole laundry list of things to do. We need to collect on our bounty. We need to make sure I need to do some homework. I need some time to study so that we can get Jester the ability to visit her home, and so that we can get to your boy.

And I would like to visit the libraries here and we want to continue to ally ourselves with these people and gain their trust and we're not going to stay here forever, but we have, you know, we have a purpose here, don't we? I agree. At least for two weeks until we figure out what the deal is with the Overcrow. But I agree also with Nott

that your husband can't stay here. It's too dangerous. We can't keep him locked in a room. Are you thinking of sending him to be with your son? I can't send him. Well, if Caleb keeps doing some research, then yeah, you can. Don't we have a way of possibly moving people to that?

I'm close, I just need time. I need sleep now, but I need time. I need about a day. Oh, I'm sure you can wait a day. Also, the Bright Queen has a teleportation thingy. Maybe if she likes us enough, then she can use it, and you can send him with that. Mm-hmm, that would be good. Also, I'm curious, Maybe if she likes us enough, then she can use it and you can send him with that.

That would be good. Also, I'm curious, do you wish to, at some point, get into contact with your higher-up? I mean, yeah. We could use her. Everything has changed since we spoke to her last. We have so much more leverage than we had before

and we could do something together. We could do something together. Yeah. The lot of us. Mm-hmm. Well, but tonight we sleep, I suppose. Yeah, we have to think granule, granule, bit by bit. Granularly. Granularly. That's not right either, actually. It's hard. It's hard with, bit by bit. Granularly. It's hard right either, actually.

It's hard. It's hard with the accent. Yep. Granularly. Granularly. We need to do one thing at a time, so we should all go to bed, probably, and go collect. And then we pick which of the things

on our to-do list is next. I could borrow Ms. Beau for a moment outside, just for me to finish up a quick thing. That'd be all right. Yeah, whatever you need. Perfect, I'm going to hand you a shovel. Oh, okay. You'll like it. I'm going to go out back and set up a little goblin body

on the back wall in the rain. You did get a hole for me. Wait, is this the burnt crispy one? You dragged a burnt crispy goblin body eight hours across? I carefully carried a goblin body for eight hours across the ghost. Yeah, I'm surprised it still has all of its limbs.

That was very gentle. That's, I was surprised it saw all of its limbs. That was very gentle. That's, I was wondering where that kind of smell was. Anyway, let's do this. And while she digs, I'm going to set up everything I need and I'm going to cast Speak With Dead. Ah, okay. Ooh, good, good, good, good, yeah, yeah.

Okay. Awesome. So the incense, you have to cover with your hand a bit because of the nature of the rain. I've got the cloak up. You've got the cloak up and you cover it there as the incense fills your nose and burns your eyes a little bit. They tear up, but it's not unpleasant, necessarily.

As you're digging, you're just soaking in the rain, you look over and you can see the glow of the embers of the incense lighting up the bottom of Clay's face. For as sweet as a man as he is, it looks almost ominous in this one visual representation. This is not really something we're supposed to do very often. You complete the ritual, and as you do,

the tiny charred goblin corpse is gently propped up against the side of the outside wall, against the, the bones clack a bit. One of the hands reaches up towards its throat, and you see the chest move as if it inhales. I take the spade and I hold it. And just holds the breath in the chest and looks towards you. Hey, it turned out real bad,

but we're going to do right by you. You're going to be given the most proper burial we can, but in the meantime, would you mind telling us, what were you doing in that cave? I lived happily in the bone pit. Glandless. The pit had scraps always.

No predators. There was a device with crystals and a globe in the bone pit. Did you see who put it there? Something rushed through the bones one day in the dark. I stayed still, not seeing. Human, it was. Hid shiny thing down there,

tried to chew it but broke teeth, so left it to no bother. That was very, very smart. Human, are you sure it was human? What could you describe the human or anything you noticed about the human? Too dark, too covered in bones hiding. Did not want to be found.

Humans make goblins dead. Two more. Did you, did the human seem to move magically fast, faster than a normal creature would? Did not seem too scared. Maybe not see it, too scared. Maybe ask how long ago it was. Did it fall in love before it died? None of you get to, only you,

you're the only one there. I don't know why you ask. Okay. Maybe ask him how long he was there, if he started dealing with the invasion. How long ago did that happen, would you say? 17 days, maybe. Rest.

I don't want to put it in the hole, cover it up. And then you, aw. Now we know it works quickly. Yeah, lines up with exactly what the giants were saying. Yes. All right. He wasn't in there, that was just the moment. No.

It's just flesh, not a soul. Not anymore. Catch Slayer, NPC Slayer. Just making me talk, man. So you go ahead and enter the charred goblin corpse, pat the mud and dirt down. The rain hasn't let up, and it's getting colder and colder. This early, early dark morning hour,

your breath, with every exhale, seems to emerge in this early, early dark morning hour. Your breath, with every exhale, seems to emerge in this little space between buildings. Eventually, you guys make your way back up into the inn, to your rooms to dry off a bit and shake off the weather. We're walking back up. Hey, Caduceus. Mm-hmm? How do you know if you're special? I don't understand the question.

Well, you all have gods who have taken an interest in you, or some weird phenomenon that's happened, or... I mean, I live my whole life in pretty much less than a small square shard of land. Everything's interesting at this point. I don't really understand what you mean. Well, you're interesting. You know that, right? Thank you.

I didn't, that's interesting. The things you can do, that's... Sure. Plenty of people in my family can do things like this, or do this, or have done this. I'm pretty typical. Mm-hmm. Can you follow a god if someone else tells you to? Or they say, this is what we're doing now? So that's all the monks did to me.

I think you can. I don't necessarily think that that's the, I don't think that that is necessarily the best way to unfold one's destiny, if that's the sort of thing that one is looking for. Feels like fighting against the tide, if you know what I mean. Seems like the gods all chose you.

I, I wasn't chosen. But you believe in destiny. I do. Very much so. But my family came to this through... Through destiny. I was born into it through destiny, and I continue to live through it through destiny, I was born into it through destiny, and I continue to live through it through destiny.

I mean, the question is, where do you think you're going? Where would you like to go? I get to choose that on a day-to-day basis, and that's what makes me happy. Well, that's part of what makes destiny work. There's a lot what makes destiny work. There's a lot of free will involved. I don't like that. No?

Let's go to bed. Before they come in the room, I'm alone, right? If you choose to be. I mean, in our room, I was only rooming with Beau, so. That's true, yeah. I'm going to cast Descending on the Gentleman.

Ooh, okay. Hi, Dad, it's Jester. I know it's been a while since we were in Zadash, but just thinking about you. I miss you. You miss me? You miss me? Mm-hmm.

There's a pause. Then a somewhat tired voice responds. Ready in the morning. Yeah. You're being ridiculous. I'm not your father, but I'm glad you're all right, wherever you are. Come back sometime, I've got more work.

More money to be made. Love you, bye. That's as much as he gets out. Yeah. I send a message. Okay. To my mom. Okay. Hi my mom. Okay.

Hi, Mom. I'm really far away. It's been crazy here. I love you, I miss you. Do you miss me? No. We fought some dead giants. I talked to Dad.

I talk. Another moment passes, and another tired voice comes through on the opposite side. Jester? Oh my Jester, I'm so glad you're okay. How far away are you? Are you coming back soon? It's been very busy. Giants, that's impressive, I'm proud of you.

I send another one back. Missy, Missy, how? Yes, I'm really far away, I'm in Jorhas, but don't worry, everything's okay, I'm okay. They think we're heroes, but don't worry, I'm still alive. MATT and LAURA and LAURA and LAURA and LAURA and LAURA and LAURA and LAURA and LAURA and LAURA and LAURA They say,

The Gold Chain Mercenary Company has come through recently to help with the war, and a lot of patrons means I'm busy. But I'm proud of you, my little sapphire. Oh! Okay, that was better. All right, I'm going to go to sleep now. I'm going to hold my necklace as I fall asleep.

No. I'm going to, if I can, I'll, well, do I have, yeah. I'm going to cast one last spell before I go to sleep. What are you going to cast? Commune. Okay. Ooh. The Gold Chain Mercenary. Okay. Ooh. The coaching mercenary.

All righty. So you sit there, pulling out a little more of your incense. A little bit of holy water. It's water actually pulled from the pond. From the pond. You have quite a collection of it that you took before you left, just to ensure. You take a bit of it and spritz it on the incense,

which causes the steam to rise, and the smell reaches your nose, and you concentrate. As the warmth of the chamber fades, temperature seems to have no impact in this dark moment before it looks like a sunrise rises out of the darkness darkness and that color and warmth embraces you and on that light, on that gold and red and oranges begin to fade to a blue and green

spectrum of morning colors, you can see the light gently topple down into strands of hair that seem to lift and drift. You can barely make out what looks to be the essence of a face, a matronly woman's face. The eyes just opening like two small stars towards you with a smile, lips not moving, but you hear the familiar voice fill your soul.

Hello. Hello. Hello. Is the Overcrow within the city? It is nearby, yes. Okay. Does this threaten the people of this city? She seems unclear of the question being asked. Does the King that Crawls threaten the people of this city? The King that Crawls is far beyond any of us.

He is of no threat to the people of this city. Hmm. This might be a lot, and I understand if it's vague. Why did they stop expanding the city while I built the wall? They expand as needed, but they expand into lands treacherous, so mind is paid.

I will continue to walk your path. Rest well, my Clay. And the sun sets. Okay, go. I have one line of bit of fluff. I say Caleb stayed in the common area, just looking for notes, and over the books that he's collected,

and once everyone has gone to bed, he travels up to the second floor and looks at the different doors that his companions are staying in, and hangs for a moment, and pauses on the door that Yasha's sleeping in. And then over to the one that Nott and Yeza are in, and he's got his luck stone in his hand, over to the one that Nott and Yeza are in.

He's got his luck stone in his hand and he's just sort of twisting it, and not as long as before, but maybe for a minute just stares at that door. Then goes to his room and takes out the silver thread and methodically starts surrounding the room while Frumpkin bothers Fjord and he gets ready for bed. All right.

Everyone else just go in to find an evening's rest? I've still got two rhino sex potions. Roll with advantage. Oh, shit. Let him know. Probably pop those. One for each partner. Oh my god. We're going to have a low price.

Can we? We're not getting our deposit back. Okay. Generation. Dude, don't we have to tell them that these are placebo? We're still not getting our deposit back. Okay. Next generation. Didn't we just tell them these are placebo? We're still not getting our deposit back. So wait, do you wake Yeza up? You know what, I'll just cuddle in next to him. If he can roll for it, if he wakes up naturally,

well, we'll see what happens. But if he seems like he's asleep, that's fine. You're pretty stealthy. Are you trying to be stealthy? No, no, no, I just plop down on the bed hard. See if, do you slip in the digit? No. Shh!

My digit is bony with a razor-sharp claw. Oh no! Oh my god. I feel so uncomfortable. This is a whole new level. He doesn't awaken, but he seems to just rustle around a minute and pull the blanket close.

I'll just spoon him. Okay. That's all. All righty. Then evening's rest. So Fjord, you can do something weird. That was weird. That was weird, right? We're sleeping.

That was weird. Somebody's got to keep the standard. There you go. All right, so each of you get to sleep. I mean, some of you pretty quickly, but by the time Caleb gets to rest, and probably you, Nott, and actually probably you as well, Caduceus,

you begin to sense, maybe it should be sunrise right about now, but it's just weird to be in a space where there is no sunrise before you drift off to sleep. Like hangry, weird. Yeah. Yeah, it's weird. I like it. Like angry, weird. Yeah. Sure. Yeah. It's weird. I like it, but it's weird.

I really like it, though. Fjord. Oh! Yeah! She is weird. It did get weirder. Yeah. What?

Fjord's getting a dream while Nott's thinking about boning Yeza. Am I in the wrong bed? This isn't Yeza! And dream by jerk. Then hotel walls. The sound of the rain gently lulls you to sleep. You can hear the water colliding against the wood

on the outside of your chamber. As you come to sleep, you can feel the rain on your skin. Ooh. You feel the water rise above your ankles, to your knee, to your torso, and it's freezing cold. As soon as it hits the torso, your chest seizes for a moment

and you have to catch your breath. It rises higher and higher until you're fighting to catch your last breath of oxygen and inhale before the water level escapes and continues up into the lightless darkness. You swear you see something move in the water and you glance to try and catch it and you don't see it. Something shifts this way and you look

and you try and swim to gather it, but nothing's catching your eyes. Where? Where? The eye opens up before you, the light, golden and yellow, just completely enveloping your body, nude, swimming through the dark water. Reward.

Reward. You feel this little heartbeat in your chest. You look down, you can see against the dull gray skin of your chest, there's a yellowish light source, the same light as the eye before you, pulsing. Oof. Oof. Oof. Boom.

A searing pain shoots into your chest and you look down in the space where it's pulsing. The water gets clouded with darkness, blood beginning to pour through and seep from your sternum. You reach and clutch for it, but it won't stop bleeding. You start coughing and inhaling the water and you feel yourself drowning and drowning

and coughing and coughing. Punish. In those throes of your body, it's shaking. The light begins to fade and numb and drift in those throes of your body, shaking. The light begins to fade and numb and drift as the darkness takes you and you wake up coughing in your bed, seawater, and a familiar display sputtering out of your mouth

onto the edge of your bed. Then you hear the clatter of metal. Cling, cling, cling, cling. I reach around in the dark for the sound. Okay, your falchion is on the floor. Are you okay? What? Yeah, nope, sorry. I just

was, yes, sorry. Go back to sleep. Everything's fine. You can still hear the rain outside. You have no idea what time it is. Can I hear Caleb breathing? Make a perception check. Nine. You can hear breathing, it's fine.

I just wanted to make your roll for it. Does he sound like he's asleep? I did not go back to sleep. He does not? No, and I rolled a 27, deception check. Okay, he's asleep. Let's make an insight check, make an insight check, actually. Got to be a 27 on that.

10. Yeah, he's asleep. The falchion is not normally just out. Can I try and bamf it away? Mm-hmm. You focus on the falchion, gripping the handle, and close your eyes to will it away,

but it remains. Ooh. Oh no. Oh. Do I have any idea what time it is? How long I've been asleep? Is it bright or darker? No, it's eternal nighttime here in Rosohna.

You have no idea. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Just sitting alone in your soaked bedsheets, clutching your sword, confused in the darkness. I will get up and gather just, you know, shoes and basic garments, and I will try to quietly exit the room.

Okay, make a stealth check. Nine. Okay. You grab your things, shuffle and stumble into a chair. Fuck. Grab your bag, and as you step, does he set off your alarm spell?

No. Because he was considered an ally. From now on, I watch him go. Okay, he watches. Fjord steps out of the chamber. You think it's closed, and you push, it goes, like, shit! Is there more light in the hallway?

There is, there are three low-burning oil lanterns that are affixed to the wall. Can I walk over underneath one of the lanterns and look at the falchion? Does it look the same, different? Is the eye still there? It looks the same, the eye's still there, yeah. Is there anyone in the hallway?

Right now, no, not at this hour. Can I conjure up a ball of eldritch energy in my hand and see what the eye does? You look down at your palm. Nothing emerges. Ooh! You concentrate and focus, and all you can see after a minute of trying

is the sweat beginning to form in your palm and your forehead dripping off your nose. I hustle down out of the dims and into the street. Can I find a corner, like an alley, or just a closed space where no one is? Yeah, it takes you a moment because you're kind of in this half-fugue state, not concentrating, more kind of stuck internally in your thought process. You push out of the cold rain without even feeling it takes you a moment, because you're in this half-fugue state, not concentrating, more stuck internally

in your thought process. You push out of the cold rain, without even feeling it on you. You push off to the nearest alleyway to the right, which is similar to where the Moorbounders are brought. You find one little subsection there. Puddles, are there puddles? There are puddles, yes.

Can I find a puddle and look in the ground, and I will use Mask of Many Faces to make myself look like Caduceus. Okay, you look down in the water and all you see is your face. Oh no! Shit! He's just a guy. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. No, no, no, no, no. Okay. Right, right, right, right. Okay. Fuck. It's all right, it's fine, it's fine. Um. I will take the sword back inside and walk back up to my room. Mm-hmm. And try and quietly go back to sleep.

Okay. You, here, Fjord, step back in, breathing heavily. Crawl back into his bed and lay down. Go ahead and make a wisdom saving throw for me. 21. Okay. Amongst the adrenaline pouring through your veins, the thoughts rushing through your mind, you force yourself to find a center of peace

on the inside of your consciousness and do manage to find sleep once more after about 30 or so minutes of silently panicking in your bed. Eventually, you all begin to rouse from your slumber and we'll return there after our break. Ooh, Matthew Mercer! Oh shit!

That was dope as fuck. Oh no, Travis, you have no powers. Oh no. Oh no. I break it. Oh no! No, don't listen! You got muggled.

Oh! Oh! Oh no, Squib! You're a squib! Oh no! So before we go to our break, we do have our Wyrmwood giveaway from our friends at Wyrmwood.

This is amazing. Dice Trays here tonight is the Lacewood Tabletop Dice Tray. Oh, I love it. Awesome. It's like a leather, almost like a dragon skin texture. Leather inside there. This goes to one lucky winner tonight in our Twitch chat. So for those of you in the Twitch chat room that are of the U.S. and Canada,

excluding Quebec, because of stupid laws, the keyword tonight is storm. S-T-O-R-M. Enter it once, more than once, and you'll be disqualified. We'll come back at the end of the break with a winner to announce. We'll see you guys here in a few minutes. Why, hello there. This is Critical Role's

resident art dad, also known as Liam O'Brien. We are continuously amazed at the artwork this community creates. That's why each Thursday at 8am Pacific, we share a curated gallery of submitted fan art over on critroll.com. If you'd like

to submit your art for consideration, visit critroll.com slash submit. And thank you to all of the incredible artists who share their talents with us week after week. And welcome back. So before we get into the game,

we do have our winner of our Wyrmwood giveaway. Congratulations to Kitty Cat Paddywhack. Whoa! Kitty Cat Paddywhack, we'll get that sent out to you ASAP. Well done. Y'all take care. This dive box will be sent to your home. So.

That's what I wanted. The morning comes to all of you. Consciousness presents itself. The rain itself still beating at the outside of the inn. And you all gather yourselves for the day's journey. So, what would you like to do? I think that we should just take care of business, yeah. Finish Wacko first.

Wacko, we're not saying that, right? We should not call her Wacko to her face. We should, yeah. I mean it. Is it just going to be you guys going again, or are all of us going to see her? I think just us. She was sort of an odd duck, and I don't know that she,

I think we should just keep it us. I mean, I guess if one, if a few more would like to join, if anyone wanted to talk to her. I feel like one or two more, but not the entire group. I mean, she knows what we're interested in. She's a tinkerer, right? She's not a magician or anything, right? She's a...

No, she deals in the arcane, but she is crafting it towards their military and towards destruction. And it seems to be like a war scientist. Well, a scientist. So if anyone has need of science. Seems something like Yeza might actually be able to have like really great, boring conversation with.

Would you like to come meet a powerful scientist of the dynasty? Sure. Is it okay? Would that be all right? Yes, but did any powerful Dynasty scientists torture you or anything, or is it a? I don't know, it was very dark. It would possibly be worth noting that perhaps

one of the conversations you're going to have when things turn to the future is how dangerous it is to send people back across the border, and either there's an argument for being checked out to be okay, and there's an argument for knowing too much to leave. Doesn't sound like this wacko person can give us too many state secrets, right?

Or no? Well, let's just go ahead. This was our first test that we had in this city. And she was what? She's an ogre or an orc? She's a female orc. She was pretty cool. She had crazy, wiry hair, glasses.

How did she feel about, you know, how did she feel about you guys as humans? Well, she definitely gave us the look down. So you think coming in with two humans and a halfling would be better than going in with two humans and maybe a half orc like Fjord? Maybe Fjord should come, because he's got that orc thing going.

He could speak her language. Fjord, you guys have been having this conversation while Fjord has slept in a little bit, as Fjord did not get as much sleep as anyone else. You come to consciousness. You are alone in the room. I'm alone in the room? Yeah. They've all seemed to have congregated downstairs.

Where's the sword? It's still resting on the bed in front of you. Can I get dressed and, is there a mattress on the bed? Yeah. Can I slide the sword under the mattress? Sure. Slip it in there.

Is there like a, can you see or is it local? The mattress is fairly lumpy anyway. It doesn't seem to be extremely noticeable. Solid frame to the mattress? No, no, it's a cushion mattress, not the most comfortable. There's a frame to the bed, but it's not Tempur-Pedic. Okay, I'll exit the room,

and on the way down, before I see the group, can I just see someone that works there, whether the tavern keep, just somebody that works? Yeah, you see one of the various in-hands come by, some of the folks that normally serves food. Hey, hey, hey, hey. Do not service our room, okay? I don't want anybody fucking going in where we stay.

Is that clear? That's very clear. Repeat it back to me. You do not want any fucking anyone to be in your fucking room to clean it, yes? That's right, and I'll give him the silver. Oh, thank you. Get out of here. Darts off.

How do? We were just talking about going to see an orc. Oh good, sorry. Sleeping Beauty? Yep. You look like shit. Speaking of, who wrote dicks in this page of my journal? Yay! Oh, damn it.

Is that a real question? There are dicks in my journal that I did not draw. Yeah. This is a genuine thing that happened both in real life and in the game. It's a question and yet not a question. I don't know. Well, why don't you two go to Wacko, we'll bring Fjord for the orc of it all,

we'll bring Yeza for the science of it all, and then I'll come for the Yeza of it all. Okay, so am I staying in the room, then? No, no, come. Okay, go. No, no, I don't need to go. Yeah, you do, but here's the thing. Yeah, like, I don't know, I mean, no offense, you guys, you're really cool, but I'm afraid that she might look,

you know, because it's two humans and a halfling, like, it would probably be better if somebody, you know, that wasn't human or a halfling. I think we are. Well, half orc. Yeah, that's what I'm saying. And me! I know, and you, you're really, you're really. I mean, she already gave us the job. Yeah, Devil's Advocacy saying. And me! I know, and you, you're really, you're really. I mean, she already gave us the job. Yeah, devil's advocate.

Continuing something that has already begun. I feel like we made a good start of it. Yeah, I feel like we're pretty cool and then we killed the giants. We've done what was asked. I mean, no reason to bring new partners into a transaction that they've clearly handled very well. That is what I was saying.

So you don't want to go? I mean, I'm fine to go. I just, I think they've got this. I was just laughing if anyone wanted to meet her because I thought she was going to go. I want to go. Okay, yeah, all right, I'll, wherever. Nott, should I call you Nott?

No, it seems weird coming from you. They can call me Nott. I agree. Veth, yes, the four of us. I don't want it to be too big, I don't want to. How much goodness do you have? You want one? I want one. It's RP right now.

No, it's fine, share your cookies. I just don't want to spook her because I am trying to accomplish more than one thing. We are going to collect. We also need to decide, I think we are agreed, we are not taking the coin, the jewels, we are going for these items that she has. That's right.

It was either 8,600 GP worth of gems. That's great. That's a lot of gems. Which could give us some dope tattoos once we see Orly again, right? We need like $2,500 worth of gem dust. What is a dollar? That would be three tattoos.

Yeah, we could get three tattoos. I think it was 2,500 gold worth of jambas. She had a staff that maybe could work for anyone, but I think is perfect for Caduceus, a staff of withering. She had a cloak. What did that cloak do again? What was that robe? It was a robe, right?

Yeah, there was a robe, right? Yeah, there was a robe that when opened, it had the ability to, apparently, possibly frighten and throw off an attacker. Okay, so a scary robe, and then there is a ring of evasion, which would be good for Yasha or myself, because I could be knocked down by a rabbit. I got to say, I really feel like

I really feel like Caduceus was kind of our MVP this trip. Mm-hmm. Aw. That is true. That is true. That's nice. I will say, so I'll put my vote. If we want to go with one of the items,

I think you did a good job, man. Thank you. I'll also say I always think craftsmanship is worth more in the end than just raw material. Gems will come and go. We instantly thought of you when we met us. I'd be curious, I think this might be, things are getting tougher,

so maybe it's time to toughen up a bit. I'm also not against gems, I just want that to be known. Is that staff worth the same amount as the gems? Because maybe you can ask her for a couple more things that would be equivalent in price. I bet the staff is worth a lot more. A lot of money? We could make this simple.

Show of hands, who wants the items over the coins? Over the jewels? Wait, who wants the items or the gems? Items or gems? Over, over. Items, hands up for items. I want Caduceus to have a staff. Items are always better. All right, so we are agreed.

I like shiny gems. Let's see if we can get some more gems, though. Maybe we can get some gems as a tip. Yeah, bring somebody with you who's really good at talking people into things. I mean, we really humiliated that person. I'm pretty good at talking when I am on my game. Yeah, we weren't really on our game.

We're fine, we're okay, we're fine. Let's go. All right, so we have these three and Yeza going to the Marble Tomes Conservatory. What are the rest of you doing? I wonder if I could, I mean, you don't have, you guys do not have to go, but I would like to maybe see if I can buy some bracers or something

to make myself a little bit tougher on the outside. Yeah, we can go see if we can find like a cool store or something to make myself a little bit tougher on the outside. Yeah, we can go see if we can find like a cool store or something. I don't love shopping, but I'm nervous to wait to see if I find something somewhere and maybe die in the process. Yeah. Do you have anything you need doing?

Otherwise, I was just thinking about maybe having a look around, maybe figuring out a gentle way to see if this, what was this, that over... Overcrow. Overcrow thing or not. Yeah. Oh yeah, we should find the overcrow. We could look around for that.

We can do both. If we happen to find anything. Let's just roam around and see what we see. Let's sightsee in where we are right now. Do you want to meet up, or do you want to take two different, you want to find a store and then meet up? I would also like to see if we could find the Overcrow. Yeah, let's wander out and find the Overcrow and look for stores on the way.

You're going to go shopping? We'll meet back up for lunch. I write a little laundry list out for Yasha, specifically. I'm going to write that now and text it to you. Paper. Okay. Paper, paper, ink, paper. So the four of you, including Yeza. I went Y-A-S-H.

I was like, why isn't it coming up? That's pretty fun. New phone. We've gone too deep, guys. Oh! It's like, why isn't it coming up? That's pretty funny. New phone. We've gone too deep, guys. We've Mazes and Monster'd this. So the three of you, plus Yeza, make your way from the Galanathri to the Firmament to the Marvell Tomes Conservatory.

Upon stepping in, Nott and Yeza, both are, you and your husband are taken aback by the structure. It's beautiful. It's elegant and ominous at the same time. It's still strange to have it still dark even though it feels like it's morning. But the glowing green lantern light and the bits of flickering internal firelight

that shimmies through some of the windows, just, it's a beautiful display. They take point and as you approach, the guards walk forward, the Aurora Watch that are guarding seem initially flustered by the arrival of these strange humans. One of the guards puts up a hand to the others. I recognize them, it's okay.

Have you returned to talk to the professor? We have, we've returned quite victorious. And you bring with you? Our compatriots and aides in the fight, in the fight, in the fight against the big biting giants. I thought you were cool with that. And the halfling is part of this how?

He is an expert in things alchemical. He's an associate. Very well, this way. And the guard leads the four of you into the main chambers, up the staircase, to the second floor off to the side, and to the familiar exterior of Professor Wako's study. The door itself is closed and the guard approaches.

Yeah? Professor, you have guests. You hear things unlocking from behind it and the door opens up for a second. The metallic chains on the inside of the door cling against it from the impact or the force of it being opened and brought to an abrupt halt.

You see now Wako, her head poking out, the same eyepiece, protracted quite far, looking out, the singular tooth poking into the cheek, looking out at the monk's face. Oh. Hi. So what's this one here? What's this business here?

Oh, oh. Oh, look at you, you're and plump, aren't you? No, no, he's not plump, he's fine. Oh, you're right, actually. He's kind of shallow for a halfling. Sorry to mean any offense. This is weird, I don't know you. Are these friends of yours?

Yes, they are clever minds. I thought they would be interested in meeting you, and you might be interested in meeting them. All right, well, I am Professor Tuskwalk. Oh, what's your name? My name is, it's complicated, but you can. Complicated, pleasure to meet you. All right, and this halfling here is?

It's Yeza, he's a scientist. I'm Yeza. He seems to like to take it back and goes, Yeza, oh, are you scared, boy? Is that what's going on? Don't be scared, I'm just a professor, and leans in real close there, bouncing a bit from our physical movement,

leans back. You know what, it's a pleasure to meet you. Does the hand out. He does the alchemy shit. Yes, like us, he is a special guest of the Dynasty. Grabs his hand and pulls him in and inspects his hand, and goes like, yeah, I see some chemical scars here.

Alchemist indeed. Sets it back to him. Well, all right, you're here. I assume that means either you succeeded or you failed. So good news, bad news, come on in. Follow them. Opens the door and leads you guys inside. You come in and the smell immediately smells of burnt turkey

or some sort of a, something it's something burned in here. And in fact, on the far wall where you saw one of the tall windows that has all these panes in it, the wood on that side that had been laid to kind of set the wind in there is burned black and there is like a burn charm mark across that side of the stone. But the rest of the room looks the same as it was left.

You see there's a set up on the far desk. She immediately grabs a blank and throws it over, hiding a bunch of the things that she's. What was it? What is she trying to hide? Can I get a quick? Make a perception check. See something cool. See something cool. Oh! Why is this the story of my day, of my weeks? Something cool.

Why is this the story of my day, of my weeks? So good, and then... Six. Six. Unfortunately, you were focused more on the char marks in the wall before you realize the blanket being thrown. It's too late and it's already covered whatever's there. The shapes that it's covering looks to be some sort of, it could be a chemical set,

it could be a contraption of some kind, whatever it is, whatever this workbench desk on the far wall is, it's currently covered. But she turns around and goes like, So, what's your business? How'd it go, how'd it go? Did you get the giants? Did you do everything fine?

Did you fail, did you fuck up, did you lose friends? What happened, tell me. It's expected that we have taken care of you and it has gone optimal. Your rival? Oh. Utterly humiliated. Oh, tell me, I need all the details, please. The force is clear.

Oh, hold on, hold on. She grabs a few chairs and scoots them up to you. Goes over and grabs her chair, scoots it up, sits down. Now tell me, please, I want to hear all of it. Do you want it chronologically, or do you want the highlights? No, no, no, every detail, please. Well, bottom line is that there is no longer

a giant problem. Good, good. Okay, so that is clear. That's fantastic, all right, we're back in business. Everything on Mac to Steel works, we're good. All right, I'll go ahead and send some specific orders, get some new designers to start on, and the next wave is going to be almost ready.

This is perfect! Your timing is fantastic. I'm really appreciative. So, and about the foreman. Is it better to retell it or to give him the letter? Yeah, well. Give her the letter? Let's just say there was a dramatic reading.

There was a performance. A lot of thought went into it. I actually learned talents from my partners that I didn't know exist of this. Ah! You willing to make a deal with us, though? I already made a deal with you. Which will you be willing to talk?

Talk about? Further negotiations. We had a deal here, Missy. Don't come in here and try and renegotiate the deal we've already made. I don't work that way. The professor doesn't work that way, okay? I'm not trying to renegotiate the deal we made.

Just express my interest in future ones, perhaps. Oh, more work? Sorry, my misunderstanding. We also just believe you'll be thoroughly impressed because he wasn't slightly embarrassed, he was utterly humiliated. And we do accept tips. Great, tips.

Oh, oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh, no. Oh, his wife's going to love this. We left him passed out in the mud in front of all his workers. Oh, do go on, please. Well, he passed out.

From embarrassment? Yeah, in front of. I didn't know that was possible. Yeah, me neither. In front of all the workers. There were two separate days. Day number one, a friend of ours who is not here very successfully dressed him down in front of his men,

and we thought that was probably enough. It probably would have been, but on the way back, after your giant problem was taken care of, there was a bit of a dramatic reading, a bit of a performance. He's also really shitty at hiding letters. That was not even hidden, it was just out on the desk. He really brought it on himself.

Well, I will say, one of my favorite traits in another person I work with is overachievement. So I am very happy. May I keep this? You may. All right. He tucks it in this heavy robe and has to open up to a third pocket on the inside

and stuff it in there. So that's our little gift, our little tip. Wonderful. If you will. Don't you get what I'm saying? I don't know if you really get what I'm saying. Wonderful, wonderful. If you will. Don't you get what I'm saying? I don't know if you really get what I'm saying. Okay, okay. So, so, if I recall, we had some possibilities here. Gems, right? Gems.

She goes over and starts pulling out the materials and grabs the sack of gems and hits them on the arm. Some of them scatter a bit out. All right, so how much would you like, or? We may be more interested in the items that you had. Right, right! You may do that one. All right, fine. Takes the gems, creeps them in.

Takes them all away. Maybe we can do a little of Colvay. A little bit of Colvay. Maybe, maybe. They're really nice. All right, all right. Well, I'll leave them here on the plain side. And I'll go ahead and she goes and reaches over into the chest on the side of me and is pulling

some of the items and objects from the inside, procuring the robe, the staff, the ring, amongst all the other pieces like brass and things that she's like, ah, no, you didn't want this, no, you were just interested in this. Basically scatters them out onto the table to the right of her and goes, so what'd you want? What'd you want, you want some gems, you want some items,

you want all the items, all the gems, what'd you want? We know specifically that we want that staff for an associate of his. All right, all right, well, here you go, staff. That's one. And what else do you want? I am particularly interested in that ring Beauregard. Would you be all right with that?

Yes, I think I would approve of that ring. Is that the only other item we get? Well, there's that flashy robe once. There's the ring. Two items, that's the deal. We discussed three before. Well, there was two items, and then because you have so thoroughly done a fantastic job

embarrassing the foreman in front of, well, pretty much everybody he's ever cared about, especially once I delivered this note. That was the third item. That is so, at your choice, would you like the robe, or would you like some of the other pieces of pottery here? There was a blade, wasn't there a piece of blade? Why, yeah.

If we wanted to substitute the third item for gems, how many would that be? Uh, she's going to do some calculations in her head. Put like, let's call it 3,000 gold worth of gems. Your call. That's pretty good. It's enough for a tattoo. That's enough. For a start of a tattoo.

Or this broken blade, it's up to you. What is the broken blade? It's some sort of a keepsake. I'm still trying to ascertain what the basis of its enchantment was, but it's a... Caleb is very smart about these things. Does it look? I'm also quite smart. Does it look anything close to the broken blade

that we already have in our possession? Make a perception check. I hope. I've been rolling so terribly today. But not this time. Ooh! 19. Perception, not in the first area? Perception.

Because from this point, you look over and you glance and you take in the break of the blade. It's also part of that, I'll consider, recollection and tying the two together. It looks pretty similar to make. What are the odds? It's not, there are no odds. It's not a coincidence.

There will always be coin. There will always be gems. She's holding the blade and looking at it and going, Ooh. King, king, king. Would you be adverse to me taking a moment? Oh, take your time, that's fine. Yeah, no worries.

All right, I take it. I just sit down in the middle of her floor and plant it on the ground and pull out my book, and I'm going to cast Identify as a ritual spell right in the middle of her room. Okay. You complete the spell, take the blade. The spell's not taken.

Something about the fractured aspect of it is preventing you from playing with the energy. A broken blade doesn't seem like a lot. Maybe, I'm just throwing it out there. Broken blade plus 1500 of the gold of the gems. It's a broken blade, what are you going to do with a broken blade? Seems he didn't really read on it. Kill half a person? Can't do that.

Make a persuasion check. Oh, I'm good at that. There you are. Come on. Four. She goes, mm. Minus. No, no, five. I got a plus one.

There you go. There you go. I will say, while it may be broken, there is some possible cultural significance here, maybe like in a museum, or if I can find a way to extract the basis of this enchantment, maybe to translocate it to another object, which is something I have done in the past

that could also be useful. So I'm going to say no. You choose the item or you take the gems, your call. You are hanging on it, yeah? Yeah. You should trust your instinct. One, the sword? Yeah. You should trust your instinct. One, and a sword? Yeah. I mean, that's...

Tarzan sword. Tarzan sword, right? I'm not making eye contact. Tarzan sword! How about this? We'll take the sword, and you give us 90 minutes

in your awesome library in the special book section. I was going to ask for unlimited access. Unlimited access. Yeah, you see, that's the thing. The library here is only really open to members of the conservatory and its staff, so unlimited access is not viable. 90 minutes. But 90 minutes.

How about a day? How about a day, and I'm holding up the medallion given to me by the Empress of the Dungeon. Because he's holding up the medallion. Medallion. Persuasion check. It's a medallion check. That's not great. That one's copped. Yes, it is copped.

Oh, did you see that? Why does that always happen? It's the same roll. Seven. Seven. Wow! It's almost seven. Wow! I'm sorry, certain things are off limits,

and there's a good reason for that. I mean, no offense, and you've all been very, very useful, but there are things that are best kept under lock and key for those who have long-term proven their association and loyalty to the Bright Queen and all that we hope to achieve here at the Marble Tomes Conservatory, so. Can I make you one more offer?

What is your offer? I'm a lowly adventurer, but my husband here is a fantastic mind, and if you have any need of any alchemical knowledge or expertise, I bet he could help you out. You're talking apprenticeship? What, you want an apprenticeship? No, not an apprenticeship, no,

just like one little piece of advice. If it's a problem, puzzle you can't crack, something you've been working. An apprenticeship could be awesome, especially if we're going to be here for some time. What would it entail? Well, first off, we'd have to get it clear, because we haven't really had a halfling here.

So there'd be a period of time in approving of his presence to ensure that there isn't any sort of, you know, empire interests or muck in the behind the history there. After which, we'd have to go ahead and get approvals from Den Thalys. Then we'd have to go ahead and ensure that he works under me for the period of the internship,

which can mean, depending on what you're looking to learn and what we're looking to mutually do, two, three years, up to you. I mean, I guess. He was just like, what about our son? Yeah, yeah, yeah, we're not going to do that. Don't worry, we're not going to do that. Okay, well then, no worries.

But if there's a singular question you had or puzzle to solve, he might be able to aid. Wonderful, and if I think about it, I'll contact you. I do have a question for you. We will take this sword fragment and the ring. There you go. Like throws it down haphazardly, kind of on the edge of the table

and you kind of have to catch it. But I have an honest question for you. What's your question? As proclaimed heroes of the dynasty by the Lady of Kryn herself, what do we need to do to further establish our trust with you specifically and the Marvel Tomes? Because we are willing to do it.

Well, for one thing, our trust with you specifically and the Marble Tomes, because we are willing to do it. Well, for one thing, I would say maybe continue doing great little favors like this. Continue to help us with our war effort. Continue to prove through actions and not just words that you believe in what we're trying to accomplish. But we have supplied you with many actions. You have. And a few words as well.

I understand your position, and we are eager to show our use to you, so I hope you will continue to allow us to do that. Of course, and I will, based on the information you've given me today, I'll check in and see how well things at the Steelworks are going forward. If indeed, things

are moving as well as you're saying, that gives us maybe a few weeks before the things that we were in the process of creating should be ready, finished, and shipping out to the west. In which case, in the meantime, I'll start looking for more jobs for you. Excellent. Plenty of weird things happen around here,

so I'm sure we could use your help. Also, if I may, check in with the royal line as well. Ask about us. I think you might be illuminated by it. Okay. I also want to let you know that to show just how graciously they've accepted you for whatever great thing you did for them,

you're both alive in the middle of the capital of Xhorhas as a couple of fucking humans. So let's just say that that's also part of the gift and favor you've been granted. Now, we made a deal, I've paid you fairly, and then some for what you've done. I don't mean this as an offense, but I mean, you come in here and start squeezing my balls on this.

I just wanted to, you know, make it a fair, but fair transaction. We are grateful. We know our worth, but we are very grateful, thank you. Hey, I don't hold the tomes, all right? I'm not going to put my neck out there to go ahead and get a, no offense, a couple of humies in there to read some of our special shit.

I got to be careful and watch my own back. Keep working, maybe we can pull some favors in time, and I'll see what I can do. I understand. All right, me square? Me square? Me square, little guy? He's just like, all right, get up! Bye! Bye.

Da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da. He called, she? She? She called you humies. It's fine. Yeah, it's fair. It's offensive. Accurate. We humies have also done a lot of offensive things, so.

Well, we go back to our friend. All right, you guys are escorted off the moor. They're off doing something. So while you guys are doing that, you guys are in the process of searching for, what, the Overcrow, you said? Yeah. Gently. Gently.

Yeah. All righty. So still trudging through the midday rain, you begin to ask around, who's helming this? Who's asking the questions and trying to get a bead? I'll do it. If you guys are looking for a shot, then I'll, yeah. Well, I'm saying that one of you has to take point

in the attempt to look. I'll take point if you guys want. Or unless you want to do it. Oh, I can not. You can choose to do either investigation or persuasion, your choice. Definitely persuasion. Okay.

Not a good investigator. 14. 14, okay. Yeah, that's right. Oh, investigation or persuasion? Yeah, your choice. Oh, never mind, that's much worse. I'm sorry, I hit the wrong number. Oh, you're bad at both.

Oh, I am. That's eight. All right. Goddamn it. Oh, you're bad at both. Oh, I am. That's eight. All right. Goddamn it. Guess I should have been doing that. Yeah, you should have been doing it. So for the first three hours of your travel through the Gallimaufry, you stumble upon heavy working ogres and goblins

and ornery bugbears transporting goods and resources from one side of the city to the other. You can see various beast folk children and waste folk children running through the streets and screaming. And every time you try and start a conversation, people go, and ignore you.

It's weird, I don't know what to do with my hands. Never had that happen. Do you always think about that? Do you always think about where your hand, because suddenly I'm like, just all I can think about is, are they supposed to be able to put them in your pockets? I mean, because it's cold out.

This is not really getting us anywhere. Maybe I could give it a try. Oh yeah, no, absolutely. You are, if you don't mind. Okay, can I go up and? You can try it as well, yeah. Investigation check. Or persuasion retries.

12. Okay, okay. Takes you another 20 minutes or so, but eventually you're trying to find somebody who looks both knowledgeable and not in the middle of something that would be willing to engage. Especially with the downpour,

folks seem to be a little more shut off than usual. You, uh... Sorry. It's like your hand is just nowhere to be, I don't know. You are eventually told to make your way towards the Coronas, which is the outermost edge of the city. We're going to get through there? Correct. And so you're sent to the Coronas,

towards more of the western side of the city, maybe a 15 minute walk on the south outer edge from the western side of the city, maybe a 15-minute walk on the south outer edge from the westernmost road that exits into the Ghostlands. Walking past this neighborhood, there's all manner of, it seems to be stacked shanty towns. You can see, especially more the goblin districts here, there are shacks and homes that are just pushed on each other.

Some of them look a little ramshackle and ready to slide or crumble, but yet still seem to hold together, whether that be a quirk of goblin architecture or just over time learning to find a proper balance of things that are placed. It's impressive and also you keep to the center of the road in case anything slides off.

It's a little precarious. Eventually, making your way through the crowds, try not to call too much attention to yourselves, though there are a few eyes that stare at you, Yasha. And a few at you as well. You guys do catch a little bit of attention, less on Jester and Fjord's route, but you do have a color scheme

that is not common amongst the city. Well, no, I've, I've, I've, We went shopping. We went shopping. I'm Blendy. Well, no, I've, I've, I've, We went shopping. We went shopping, I'm blendy. Oh, fair enough. Yeah, that's right, you dives your ass in clothing. You do as well, but you are still, yet, a human, but nobody seems to be following

or just gruff and snarl a bit or seem to not want to engage, take a wide berth around you. Eventually, you come upon a narrow but tall two-story structure with mismatched roofing, lengths of chain running along the edges of the roof where lanterns and knickknacks hang from it.

You see a single wooden sign that hangs over the top that says, The Overcrow Apothecary. Oh! It's an apothecary. Oh shit. Interesting. Nice. Yeah. As we've been making our way

within the ramshackle areas, do we see other things, like other markets, or stores, or temples, or anything like that that stands out as a structure that's dedicated to something specifically, besides lodging, or? You, as you're heading from the Gallimaufry to the Corona, to the Coronas, it's, there are places of business.

Most of them seem to be general goods, food, knickknacks, handmade, you know, little carts on the side that have handmade goods and jewelry. Most of the shops here appear to be not geared towards the more noble dens of the city, tend to be more for functionality and general use. No temples, most of those seem to be gathered towards the center of the city in the firmament,

in that area. But are you looking for any particular shop? Just curious what we saw. center of the city in the firmaments in that area. But are you looking for any particular shop? Just curious what we saw. Okay. You do pass by the... There's no barracks or anything, or there's a collection of guards or other things that would... Not that you've come across yet, no. You could look for one if you'd like,

but you don't see that here. No. You do pass by the Hammered Call, which was the armory where you guys had been previously. Was that where Wursh? Wursh the Tapper was, yeah. But you did pass by there, but beyond that, there's been no other places, unless you're specifically looking for a particular

type of business that catches your eye. So you're standing outside the Apothecary in the rain. I mean, should we go in? Well, I mean, this was the location of... That's where they said they were going to meet. So let's just- They were going to meet. They weren't going to place another thing here, were they? Or we're not sure.

They were meeting, I think. So let's just go inside, maybe try and buy some healing potions and just. Average patrons. Just nothing fancy. Let's just get a lay of the territory. Get the vibe. Okay. Before we go in, I'm definitely going to cast Detect Magic.

Okay. So you cast Detect Magic. You get a very faint magical essence from inside the building. You guys ready to go shopping? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay. Let's shop. All right.

You guys enter the chamber, and on the inside of the apothecary, you surprisingly sparse display of herbs, ointments, oils, alchemical supplies. For the interior space, like I said, it's thin but tall. The shelves here seem to be a little more barren in comparison to some of the more cluttered herbalists that you've come across in your past.

But they do have supplies on display. You do see, however, a lot of oily blankets and piles of empty wooden crates scattered everywhere in a semi-hoarder atmosphere. This entire room is a fire hazard. Just the smell in it, but between the various herbs, there is definitely a heavy, flammable oil scent in the air, akin to someone spilled gasoline in your car.

There's just that smell that's present, that's soaked into the area. Keep going. You see a rickety spiral staircase in the far right corner that seems to go up to the second floor. Across the room from you, you see, clipping toenails with a small knife,

this young goblin with her legs up on the edge of a desk table arrangement. You can see these long nails curling forward that are darkened on the corners, and she's cutting it off with a blade, like you'd cut a pear's outer edge or skin an apple. No. You just hear a,

Yeah, come in! Come in! Can I help you? Mm-mm, uh-huh. We're looking for possibly just doing some comparison chopping, healing potions. We're also looking for like ink and parchment if you carry such kind of things or otherwise.

Ink's not really a specialty of mine. Parchment, I guess I can get you some. Ink's not really a special to you, man. Parchment, I guess I can get you some? What's your special? As she leans forward, you can see there is a faint underbite and a row of sharp teeth that hook forward from under the upper lip. The ears chewed a bit on the sides.

This goblin's seen some tougher days, but seems to be positive and smiling in your direction. These very bright yellow eyes, which leans forward and goes, Uh, just patch my ink without anything else. What's his speciality? Yeah, you mentioned specialties. Well, we got them! We. Well, we got oils,

we got things to help with your cracked skin if you work it out in the sun. We got things that'll make your cheeks nice and flush. We got things that'll help with digestion. We got things that'll help you grow better hair, like silky and shiny. That's cool. Am I getting a Detect Magic off anything in the room?

There is, in the back of the chamber behind her, there is a slight magical essence in the corner, but you don't see anything there. This is a beautiful shop. Is it just a? Why, thank you! I appreciate it! God, you're a little disturbing. What's your name, handsome?

Fjord. Fjord? Leans Fjord a bit and thinks, My name is Morrow. Morrow, it is a pleasure to meet you, and thank you for welcoming us into your shop, Morrow. Morrow, do you live here? I do. Is that your house upstairs?

It is. Cool. Just you? It is. Cool. Just you? Just me. All of my lonesome. Okay. For now. Mm-hmm. Well, we are certainly in the market

for some of that oil that you mentioned that would protect some of our friend's fair skin. Ooh! How much is that also, the one that grows pretty hair? Well, for the skin cream and oil, you're looking for a single bottle last year, probably about a month. That one will run you about five gold pieces,

but it'll last you for a long time! Mm-hmm. Now for the shiny hair one. Pulls up a small vial that fumbles. Come on, son of a, there! It has this weirdly viscous, yellowish-brown tint to it. Just put a couple of drops into your morning coffee or your tea.

So this baby will take it for, that's 10 gold for the vibe. 10 gold? But that'll last you for a long time, so you could. That's a lot. That's a draw. Can I open it and sniff it? Yeah, smells fucking awful. Ugh.

Is this specific to goblin hair, or is it for all people hair? I haven't heard any complaints yet! Hmm. Okay, I'll buy it here. You get both of them? Or just the hair? Just the hair. All right, Tingle, thank you very much!

I appreciate the patronage. Tell me there's more where that came from. Tell me you got more. Oh yeah, I got whole bundles! Talk to you about that. She pulls up three more of them. Are you storing up for the holidays? That is great. I think what our friend was also asking

is if you have anything particularly special to show off. I mean, something rare, something unusual. Always. Maybe. I sure would like to see whatever you consider your speciality. Well. And she goes and takes out the small glass jar.

You can see there's a burlap pushed over it with what looks like a piece of twine wrapped inside around it. She opens it up. This is my special healing anti-chafing balm. Put it on the edges of joints, your elbows, your knees. Also backs up as in the lubrication. Oh!

But it'll just, it'll get you nice and greasy. Cocoa butter? That's the special, speciality. Why, are you looking for something else? Well, I mean, I just, we've heard so much about your establishment. What have you heard? That there were wonders to behold,

and the only way to find out exactly what they were was to come here in person. Make a deception check. Get it, get it, get it, four, get it, four. I have no powers, that's a natural one. Oh! She gives you a weird once-over look and the expression drops a bit.

Sorry, that's all I got! You know, I have forgotten my money pouch. I think you guys should just collect as much as you can, and I'll lean over to Jester and go like, I will be over at Worsh's place. I need to ask him a few questions. You guys got this. Are you sure? Yeah, no, it's fine.

And I'll head out. You come back! Thank you for your time. He's been off all day. Yeah, and he seems a little off, right? Yeah, just a little off. And I'll head back towards him. That's weird.

I'm going to go follow him. While I'm going to give Caduceus a little eye. Oh wait, I don't even know that you saw anything in the back. Hmm. Davinae, do you ever deal in healing potions or anything like that as well? We've had a goodness. I think I've got maybe a couple, let me check.

That takes a lot of time to make them. I'll tell you what, we'll probably come back anyways. We've got a lot more shopping to do, but it's good to know that this place is here and I think you'll be seeing more of us. What do you have in all these boxes and crates and stuff? You know, just for the shipments we get in, for supplies and you know, just in case.

You never know when you need them. That's true, that's true. Right, right? Okay, well. Pleasure to make your acquaintance. Thank you for my hair oil. What's your name? Clay.

Clay, what's your name? Fanny. Fanny, pleasure to meet you guys. Come back anytime! Legs go. And you know, sort of, and is now going back to this ingrown toenail. Something in the back couldn't really make it out, but.

Oh, you should have told me. I could have tried to distract her while you got a better look. There was no way I was going to get a better look. All right, maybe some other time. Maybe some other time. I did get this really cool hair oil, though. I can going to get a better look. All right. Maybe some other time. Maybe some other time. I did get this really cool hair oil, though. I can't wait to start using it.

I'm looking forward to trying it. In the meantime, while you guys are having this conversation, you've rushed outside into the rain, and a few moments later, you hear the pacing of Yasha following behind as you begin to beeline. I'm closely trailing him. Okay. Not letting him. Do I, have I noticed that he's unarmed?

He's usually unarmed. You are usually unarmed. He summons his sword. You summon your sword. His sword lives in a pocket space that he made it back. His sword knew that. Inside of him. Okay. So you're falling forward,

are you just keeping a distance to watch? Where do you approach? I'm going to approach. Okay. You hear Yasha come up from behind. I have to go there, too, I'm sorry. But I'll give you some time if you need to. Do the horses? Yeah, I just want to ask him

about making something for me. You mentioned bracers. Yeah. Yeah, he looks like he makes good stuff. You wish to go there. Okay. Let's go there. Yeah. Yeah. Okay.

You guys exit, and you can see, kind of back where you came, Fjord and Yasha are quite a ways up, but they're heading in the direction of the Hammered Call. As we're walking, do we see any temples in particular? Make a perception check. One. 20.

20. There are no temples or any structures that seem to mark any sort of denomination. You do see small shrines. You see on the mantles and above houses and left by rain collection barrels, there's little shrines that have makeshift dodecahedrons. Then a few other have a few other strange sculptures

that you don't necessarily recognize. Make a religion check. 12. 12. You're not sure what the smaller idols and clay and matted sculptures are. Arcanography. It all seems pretty crude.

Okay. But it seems to be held, or at least placed in the same reverence, or not necessarily next to or sharing space with, but you see a couple, largely in the goblin cluster home establishments. Okay.

But they are definitely placed in a religious way. Great. You approach the exterior of the Hammered Call, and as you stop, you can hear on the inside the Ting! Ting! Ting! You can hear the inside, the ting, ting, ting. Well, after you and I'll hold out my hand and I'll try and cast Minor Illusion,

just make a little bird in my hand. Okay, concentrate on your hand. Nothing. Little bird. Oh! Oh your hand. Nothing. A little bird. Oh! Oh, wait. Oh. Well, that was nice. Wasn't it?

It really was. I am glad we are here. After you. Hello. So you enter. Hello. So you enter. Yes. You can see the heavy-muscled shoulders and back of Wursh. He's sitting there hammering.

He's taking the metal back, and actually he's not hammering now, he's holding it in the forge, and you can see the metal lighting up brighter and brighter orange. With his other hand, he sets down the hammer for a second, rubs his chin, looks over. Hey, what can I do to help you? Yes, I'm wondering if I could have you

make something for me. Maybe. I'm looking for bracers of some sort for, I'm looking to up my armor a little bit. I mean, I've got all kinds of armor I can sell to you and make you. Bracers won't do much to protect you alone. Okay.

But if you're looking for armor, I got breastplates, I got a splint mail, I got ring mail, I got chain mail, whatever you're asking for. You just let me know. Oh, hey. Hey, Wurst. Fjord, was I right?

You got it. Good to see you again. You too. I wanted to thank you for your words the last time we met. I, um... Sets the metal aside, kind of letting it cool. I confess, I have a bit of a temper

when it comes to people talking about our kind. It's okay, our kind has a temper. Yeah, I've fought against it my whole life. You caught me on the spot. I haven't ever talked about that sort of stuff, nor have I been around our kind that much. Do you mind if I ask you a personal question? Looks over to Yasha, looks to the rest of the empty room.

As soon as Jester and Caduceus step into the doorway, he goes, Brandon? Yeah, if it's a bad time and it was just. I'm going to step outside. Okay. What are you? What is going on?

We just, I remembered, we should, I wanted to show you guys something else. Okay. Yeah, all right. So the three of them leave and it's just two. I grew up around humans and half-elves mostly. You said you grew up with more of our race, is that right? Yeah, I'm a rough guy. Were they accepting of you?

Welcoming? Our kind? They had to be when I got to a certain age. He cracks his wrists. He goes, but even I wasn't as big as some. They were accepting. That's why I stayed in for Ophkara.

They were proud people. Good people. But we weren't the only orc clan in the Wildlands, and others tended to lean into their violent side. Yeah, I only heard stories about that wild side. It was what most people expected my reaction to be, one of anger and rage and violence. I'll tell you what.

I've been to a few Empire establishments. I've been making my way south, looking like the way I do. I've seen some orcs do some terrible things. I've seen them be violent and angry, unfair. But hell, if I haven't seen plenty of humans, dwarves, elves, half-elves be the exact same. It's all perspective.

It's all about the other. When they look at you in that way, granted you are a fucking 10-ton truck. What do you do? Shake it off? Give him a look? Both. You pick and choose your fights.

Me, best not give in to a man I can crush with one hand. Right. Besides, most of them are just bluster. But the ones that draw blades, you can see the ones that mean to cut, and you just keep on moving. Are you happy here? For now.

Been here long enough to say at least it's comfortable. I like being able to do my shopping and walk through the streets without too much of a hassle, but don't know if I take too kindly to this intensely religious atmosphere. What do you mean? Around their thing? Yeah, it's just not my speed.

They don't push it on you, but it's annoying. They talk about it all the time, or just fervent worship, or? Yeah, just checking to see if you're interested in coming to one of their little gatherings. What kind of gatherings? Oh, the firmaments by the very, high glass temples and such.

They hold regular meetings? Well, not regular, but, you know the shade above us? Yeah. They let that slip every now and then. They do. Let some sunlight in. Those are the holy days. Well, what happens when the sun is let in?

Everyone comes out and takes their time in the light. Let me tell you, it's kind of funny seeing a bunch of them dark elves out there and forcing themselves in the sun for some whispers and worship, all bleedy-eyed and dirty, but it's part of how they do the prayer, I guess. Bet that's good for life, yeah?

It is, but it means something to them. That's fine. It's not for me. Do they do that every few days, once a week? Do you know? I haven't paid too much attention. Weeks, months. All right.

Depends on the clouds. I mean, the storm right now, probably wouldn't happen anytime soon. Sure. I appreciate you extending a kind word. You didn't have to do that. It's been a while, so thank you. Sorry for calling you run. It's apt.

Present company included. Do me a favor, take care of my friend outside. She is a gentle giant. Well, send her back in and see what I can do. Oh dear, I'll go out and... Hey, Yasha. Yeah? I think he's got some good stuff. Okay. Thanks for giving me a second.

Yeah, of course. Okay. You guys all come in with Yasha? Yeah. You come in as well, or you stay outside? No, I'll just stay outside. You can stay outside for a second as well. Okay. So Jester and Yasha come in. He looks over to you and goes, Like I said, I can make you bracers.

I'm not going to do much to protect you without some of them fiddling magic stuff, but at the very least, they'll be nice, and they might suit your toughened wrists. Yeah, I'm trying to think if that's enough. I'm trying to think of what I can wear. You know what would work? I've heard of rings that help protect you.

It's like a shield, almost, an enchanted ring. Yeah? Yeah, I've seen them before, but. So the bracers aren't considered armor. They do not improve your armor class, but they're there for show and as part of your, you know, just to have for flavor. Oh, they're enchanted.

But you can have them enchanted to be more protective, should you find somebody who can do that and you pay them to do so. Gold piece for the bracers. Well, I don't know if those are what I need, gold piece for the bracers. Well, I don't know if those are what I need, then. Well, you can always take the bracers and maybe we can find somebody. Yeah, how much do you charge for that?

A gold piece? Bracers are a gold piece. A gold piece? I just told you, yeah. Oh yeah, I'm so sorry. It's all right. Yeah, I will buy some of those. And maybe see if I can... Let me go and take some measurements. She comes over and measures your wrist It's all right. Yeah, I will buy some of those. And maybe see if I can... Let me go and take some measurements. And he comes over and measures your wrists

and your forearm and it's like, pretty meaty for a human. I'm all due respect. Well, I work out a lot. Come back in the... Give me a couple hours. Okay. I should have something fashioned up for you by then.

This is just a piece of practice material. I can fashion you something nice. Thank you very much. No worries. You want anything? No. Okay. What were you saying to our friend?

Were you being nice? We were having a frank conversation, passing it by, why? I was just wondering. He sometimes, I don't know. He hasn't really been around a lot of people that are like him, so. Well. I hope you're being nice.

I'm being me. I don't know if I was nice or not. That's all I know. Okay. Just got a good heart. I know. Careful. Good hearts don't do well in times of conflict. He takes the metal prongs and starts heating it

in the forge once more. Okay, we'll come back then. We'll come back. A few hours, it'll be done, I promise. Okay, thank you, Marge. Did you see his abs, though? He's mean. What do you mean?

There were so many muscles. Right in the middle. A lot of them. I have to go to one more place for Caleb. Do you guys mind if I need to go to a dress shop? He needs to buy a dress? No, I just, or clothes, you know? I mean, it's cool if he does, I just didn't know.

Is there a clothing shop nearby that I can run in very quickly? Not immediately nearby, but after a short, you know, 20-minute search, you find the place that sells, you know, standard garments. These aren't fine upper class garments, but these are general clothing and pieces of attire. Okay. What does he want?

Well, he gave me this list. Show her the parchment. What does it say? Um, do you want me to read it? Yeah, you sure. Dark muted purple coat that's fur-lined. Whoa. New boots. New boots.

He could use some. That are dark, a charcoal gray. Okay, okay. In Kryn's style, breeches and shirt. Whoa. And these are his exact measurements. Oh, good to know. 36, 24, 36.

He's also 5'3", this is crazy. Thank you, thank you. One second. So for the sake of revenue. Sake of revenue, okay, yeah. So for those custom outfits, it'll take a few days. Okay. I'll say for that full ensemble there,

it'll run you about 10 gold pieces. Perfect. Okay. But with fine materials. Okay, yeah? I guess, yeah, that means that we were going to buy some stuff and. Oh, you did? Yeah, but I mean, they were being custom- guess, yeah, that means that we were going to buy some stuff and. Thought you did.

Yeah, but I mean, they were being custom-made, too, so they're probably only getting ready about now. Yeah, been a few days. Sweet, so we'll pick up our stuff then. All right. So do you guys go and regather? I've been giving him the eye the entire time, but yeah. Okay.

What? All right, you guys make your way back to gather at the Dim's Inn. Ooh, I'm wearing my new coat, my new dress, I'm spinning in circles so everyone can see it. As you guys meet up inside and gather and discuss what happened, a voice from the head of the inn goes,

Well, it seems to be saying that you've done very well lately. You turn and look and there you see Shadowhand Essek, Daelys, is there in the doorway, goes, Well done, you have done quite a nice thing. Well, I apologize for the intrusion. Do you have a moment of your time, please? Of course, Lomo. What was on your mind?

Well, let's just say that we've been very happy with what you guys have done for both the Bright Queen and the good professor. I hear that it fared well. Because of these deeds, under the light of the Luxon, I don't think that Den Thalyss has not noticed this. And we would not dare have you stay as friends of the Bright Queen in such a,

leans in away from earshot of Gaben, such a lowly establishment. So while you are gone, we have secured for you an abode within the firmaments. It's already furnished and ready. Is there even a pen for your beasts? Really? That is very generous. Is it like an Airbnb or something?

Like, do we have to pay for it? No, no, it has been provided. That is most unexpected. You guys are giving us a house? Well, you've given us hope and helped lessen the terrible impact of what the Empire has wrought on us, so it's the very least we could do. That is most welcome.

And very generous. Yes, thank you. Thank you. Would you like to see it? Yes! How about we just go upstairs and we just gather our things and then, okay? Yeah, we'll just grab our stuff real quick. I'll wait for you outside. Okay.

He drifts out of the inn. How does he do that? And he's wearing wheels. He's got wheelies. He's got a segway. Can I run up the stairs to the room real fast? Yeah, totally. And as soon as I get in there, can I try and summon the sword?

Take your finger out. Can I make it go away? Yep. Oh! Oh, he's fucking with you. He's fucking with you. Oh no. You know he can fuck with you. Ready to go.

Yes, he's like, we have a house here now? I mean, we're not going to stay for very long, but for right now, I don't know how to get us away from here. Oh, no, I know, I understand. It's just, wow, it's a lot. Yeah. Crazy things happen with these guys.

Apparently. All the time. You've made some unique friends. That you have. I like them. Yeah. Who's your favorite? Oh, I don't know, they're all pretty nice. They're really not.

I kind of like the tall guy. He points over towards Caduceus. He's mysterious. Certainly not. I like the tall guy. He points over towards Caduceus. He's mysterious. Yeah, and wise. His energy's more palatable. Mm-hmm, mm-hmm. Less, less.

Okay. He'd fit in right in Felder when he would. He would, except for the tall thing. Well, I know, it's fine. Anyway, let's go check it out, and you know what, a safe place to just sort of wait. Also, maybe tonight before bed, we can ask Jester to check in on the boy. I would love that, can we do that?

Okay. Okay, but I don't have anything, what am I saying? I'm good to go. The rest of you guys gather your things. I give Beau her new clothes. Ooh. Yeah. It's one of Avantika's coats. Got fur-lined.

Does it look good? Does it look like a killed pirate? It looks pretty much the same as her coat before, but now it's warm. Pretty cool. Yeah, it's very dashing. Thank you. Thank you.

Still smells like her a little bit. Oh. Oh, weird. It's nice. So as you guys are exiting the inn, Gavin in the back goes, so you're leaving us, if that am I to hear correctly? Well, it's been fun.

Yes, it's been great. Goodbye. Thank you for being so gracious with our animals. And I place five gold on the counter. Well, I appreciate your patronage. And paying me. For once. Oh, are we behind? I'm sorry.

No, it was being paid for by the Denkreen. So it's fine. It was a fail. That's my get 10. I won't tell you. He scoops the 10 gold. It was a fail. That's my good turn. I won't tell you. Appreciate it, thank you. He scoops the 10 gold. Puts it away. Humans. Would you like a tattoo as payment for my room?

No, I'm fine, thank you. I'm sure the Bright Queen would appreciate it if you would take my favor. I would think not, but I appreciate your being so generous. All right, I'll let her know you denied it. You guys exit out, and you retrieve your moorbounders, and waiting for you, standing in their wide

shoulder mantle, cloak swaying. The rain seems to fall, but you never see it scatter across the Shadowhand. It seems to drift around. He stays dry amongst the storm. That's so goth. I put that on the camera. It's like water that's moving around,

moving slowly, or is it just moving around? No, it's just like. I put the collar that I bought around Yon-Ball. I had the dressmaker make a collar that matches my cloak. There you go. Oh, also, bring the staff. Oh yes, yes, items, items! As we walk and hand it to him.

What about the sword thing? We have that in the back. You want to hold it up to the sword? Well, let's get to our new digs, and I slide the ring on. We got some stuff, and among the stuff was there a sword thing. God, I hope that stuff is good.

That ring is pretty good. Are you taking the ring? 1d6 halved. Of course he's taking the ring. What about Yasha? 1d6 halved. As far as the recharge regaining? Yeah. She's in the front of battle all the time. She also has a much lower AC than you.

But you know what? She doesn't. Yes, she does. That's incorrect. Caleb is very, very, very incorrect. You are misinformed. I'm wrecking the Mount Microstorm. What's your AC at? Yeah, we're good, yeah. 14, 11.

Ooh! She needs it! He needs it! Don't you take it away from my Caleb! It's his natural bar! She goes raging and has all damage. Leave me alone, I'm a wee bab. We'll figure it out.

Yeah. Can I have your flashlight thing? You have the goggles. I want the flashlight thing. Give me the goggles. No, fuck you. Well, fuck you. Hit him in the shoulder.

Let's go find our new fucking house. Yes. Lead on. This way. And glides off to lead you. I'm looking at love, trying to get the look. Make a perception check. Oh god. Is it like a centipede? Like there's a hundred little legs? Certainly.

Perception, perception, perception. 18. 18. Following below, it's hard to see because the cloak almost meets the ground, but looking below, his feet aren't touching the ground. Holy! He just drifts down. By delight. but looking below, his feet aren't touching the ground. Holy! By the light. That guy, by the light.

By the light! By the light. Oh my god. By the light. Wow. So, leading you through the Galmafri, back to the Firmaments, across the way from where the Marble Tomes Conservatory is

and hidden amongst the various other temples and large structures of worship that reside around the core vicinity of the city, eventually you are brought to the exterior of a two-story mansion that is paneled in Vermaloc wood, painted a dark maroon color with a lighter stone foundation. Ooh! The roofing is dark, near-black clay tiling

with a single balcony on the second floor. It appears to have a short tower built into the back right corner of the home that raises to a third story. Two stained glass windows installed towards the front are similar to what you've seen in the Lucid Bastion. As you approach and take a moment to look over at Essek, he goes, for as long as you'd have need,

this home is yours under the direction of Den Thalys. Make of it as you will, and enjoy, friends of the Bright Queen. There will be more to be done soon enough. He hands the keys over. Can I ask a question? We ran into someone who mentioned that they have gatherings over in these areas of worship in the Firmament.

Regular displays of letting the sun in a bit. Right, that is correct. Is such a display scheduled to happen anytime soon? That is not up to me. I am not one of the priests of the Luxon, but usually when the weather is right and it's been time, and when they decide, then yes. Do they send out a communique, or a call, or a horn?

You'll know. Right. Because the sun will come out, which is rare in this town. Now I'm saying it out loud, I feel kind of stupid. It's all right. Anyway, enjoy your abode. Thank you. If you need anything else.

Thank you. You're welcome. Power move. That's a power move. Make a persuasion check. That's such a power move. Wow. Drink that hug.

Oh! 24. He goes like. And ever so slowly, just drifts. I give him real good, and I hold it for an awkward amount of time. Give him the Molly Shannon. You're welcome.

Thank you so much. Yep. Anyway, I'll take my leave. Well, there's your home. Oh, oh, that's the footprints! What? Fuck! We have a house! What? Holy shit. Oh wow, this is so cool. That's big. So you guys get to decide whose rooms are where

and what you want to outfit it with. Also, essentially, depending on what you guys want to do, you have a week or more of downtime. Yeah. So start thinking about what you want to do in Rosohna with that time. Are we doing a jump cut? We're going to be next session, as we're about to finish up here,

because I have an early morning. We're going to go ahead and start working through the things you guys want to accomplish and figure out what your next plan of action is. So this way, at least you'll have a week to start planning that out, figuring out what you want to do and what your next direction may be.

I'm taking a picture so that we can send this out and we can claim our bedrooms. Okay. We haven't done this since Grayskull! I know! Where's the tower? What's the tower? There's three towers.

Oh wait, that's the tower. That's the top tower. Oh, okay, there's the top tower. That's the second floor of the basement. You know who hasn't seen it at all? The people on this side of the building. Is this me? Yeah, it's weird that it got sent over here, isn't it?

Isn't that weird how it feels? Yeah. Is there room? That is color. Oh! Anyway. Oh no. Oof! Ew.

We also have to aim at the keep that is not copyrighted like the last one. I was going to call it Winterfell. Got a basement. He's at the White House. The White House. I was going to call it Winterfell. He's from the White House. From the White House. As you take the keys and open the front door and enter the dark, but comparably warm

and dry interior of your new gifted home, courtesy of Den Thalys. I'm going to carry Yeza across the threshold. Okay. As you step in, we're going to go ahead and end our session there tonight. We'll pick up there next week on Thursday. Can't forget about the sword situation.

Oh, that's about game. I know. I didn't do the sword. We're doing an elapsed time, like I want to do this, this, and this. Yeah, and we'll do whatever, you know, our quick elements. If there is a role play or a social encounter or any sort of challenge involved with these,

we'll go through those as we do. Yeah, as we did in the past. But yeah, you guys have a week to start figuring out what you want to do for the time period. What your next path is. How excited is the dig though, this map? I don't know, it's pretty good. Sorry, wait. Hey, hey, hey.

Focus up. Sorry. We're choosing a vendor, guys. Just wait a second. I'm trying to decorate here, what the hell? That's okay. Is there room for a training pit? If you want to clear out one of the rooms, you can. We'll talk about it. Yeah, we can move beds around, it's cool.

You know, the Empire could have had us on their side if they just gave us a house. Just like a condo. It's a gilded cave. Yeah, whatever you want to say. It's crazy.ilded cave. Yeah, whatever you want to call it. A gilded cave. It is crazy. All right, go on, Matt.

Sorry. No worries, we will be back here in a week to pick up from where we left off. We love you guys very much, and is it Thursday yet? Good night. Oh hey, Ashley Johnson here, and I sure do hope you're enjoying the adventure. Remember when you first found out about Critical Role?

Was it through a friend or a family member or maybe even through the words of a stranger in the review section of our podcast? Many listeners find our show through word of mouth and recommendations. So please consider rating and reviewing our podcast because each review makes an impression that may just inspire someone new to give our show a try and that more than anything helps to support us thank you for joining us on this adventure and until next time let us try to leave the world a little better than we found it