Critical Role - C2E87 Punishment and Politics

Episode Date: December 12, 2019

Running on fumes, the Mighty Nein face down the new form of their old threat, but it is diplomacy that proves to be an even greater challenge...Watch Critical Role live Thursdays at 7pm PT on https://www.twitch.tv/criticalrole

Once upon a time, a group of curious storytellers breathed life into epic tales set in the wide fantasy world of Exandria. This is Liam O'Brien, here to welcome you to Critical Role. We'll dive into the story in just a moment, but first, a few notes. This is the audio-only version of our broadcast that streams Thursdays at 7pm Pacificm. Pacific over on twitch.tv slash criticalrole and youtube.com slash criticalrole. If you subscribe to our Twitch channel, you can watch the video on demand immediately after the broadcast.

And it's also available Mondays at 12 p.m. Pacific on YouTube. And of course, for all you wonderful podcast listeners, freshly minted episodes release right here on the Critical Role Podcast Network one week after our broadcast on Thursdays. With all that said, let's get into the story. 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.

Wow. It's been two weeks. Some people are still coming online. We play Dungeons & Dragons. Wow. Read the room. It's been two weeks. Some people are still coming online. It's evening hour. Exactly. Before we get started in tonight's session, we're going to jump into our announcements real fast, beginning with our fantastic returning sponsor.

We have two tonight. Our first one is a NordVPN. Sam, if you don't mind. NordVPN. Flame on! It's the master of the dark net. You know me by my haxer handle, blackwillow73 at aol.com. I just got back from DEFCON,

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Hold on, I'm getting a call. I'll just put it on hold. They're also the sponsor of today's Critical Role episode. Just going to boot up my NordVPN fail-safe disk. Wow. Wow. Yeah! Yes!

That's so cool. Okay, unmapping the screensaver, repatching the Y2K, gleaming the cube! Yes! Cybertronic Override has been iced out! No! Damn you, NordVPN. You've foiled my hack once again. But soon I will defeat you and find the true source of the Ultra Codex. What? Your days are numbered, Black Willow.

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nordvpn.com slash critical role, or use coupon code critical role at checkout. But who was Kryptonic Override? What is the Ultra Codex? Who will get sliced next? Find out the next time NordVPN sponsors this show. Matt, hack to you. Oh, wow. Did they send you those floppy disks, like the AOL, you know? Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. I think this is actually rarities. These are weapons. I'll send you those floppy disks, like the AOL, you know.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, I think this is actually rarities. These are weapons. I think they're kind of antiques. I actually use more VPN, guys. Yeah. Good stuff. My Cyberpunk reboot is weird. Yeah.

Yeah, it's a fun prequel to the Epicom CD Projekt Red game. It's all in canon. I'm pretty sure number X floppy drives are very expensive to look let's not lose those. Yeah, let's be careful with those. Thank you, Sam. Is that what the nuclear codes are on? That's what I heard.

That's right in the back, man. And thank you, NordVPN. Our second sponsor tonight, our friend and returning sponsor from the beginning of this campaign up until now, our friends at D&D VR. D&D VR! Those who haven't had the opportunity yet to check it out,

I'm sure you've heard things here and there. It's a great online tool for creating D&D characters, for organizing your campaign, and it's a bunch of resources for spells, items, both homebrew and official in the actual world of Wizards of the Coast D&D. They're awesome. They allow this man to do other crazy stuff

outside of this hacker booth. And the escalation is scaring me, to be perfectly honest. The heck was Sam all along? Don't use your facial recognition on me! Find out more at dndbeyond.link slash Critical Role. Thank you, guys. We have a few more announcements. Travis. Yeah, I feel like Sam just lost 10 pounds of water weight

in that raincoat dance. It doesn't breathe, it's okay. A massive and huge thanks to everyone that donated for our November fundraising campaign with OSD. What was he? You guys are amazing. Together, we raised over $44,000. That's a hell yeah!

And we were able to help over 1,250 veterans and active duty service members. Yeah! That is amazing. Thank you guys so much. Thank you guys for that. It's incredible. Also, thank you again to Travis Frederick for his generous donations. Yes. It's an incredible

accomplishment, and we are so proud, again, of what our community is able to do in the world. So thank you guys, love you. Thank you guys. Laura, you guys, love you. Thank you guys. Laura, you got a few announcements. Oh, who's wearing them, who's wearing them? We got these badass, is that on? I don't know. No, don't do it.

Put it back. Take that, what is that? It's got Vox Machina on the back. If you want to show them. Yeah, there it is. Look at that. Okay, yeah. Oh, wow. It's in the store now. Go look at that. Look at that. Okay, yeah. Oh, wow. It's in the store now.

Go look at it. All of them, this was by Brian Weiss. He's amazing. And just a little note. If you're buying items for Christmas or the holidays, the cutoff date, if you get regular shipping, is December 8th, and then if you do expedited shipping, if you get regular shipping, is December 8th. And then if you do expedited shipping,

you can go all the way to December 15th. Just letting you guys know that if you want to buy them for gifts and you're like, oh no! So there you go. Perfect. Do it now. Thank you, Lauren. Three, two, one.

Vess? That's mine. Oh, I have the minors of things, just front of the show, Joe Mad, comic book legend, and running the company Airship Syndicate Games. They have a new game out today, Darksiders Genesis. I've been working on Darksiders for a long time. I remember walking into the studio and working on some mystery game and Joe Mad, oh, alarm. Joe Mad is in the room. Anyway, the game's out today. The horsemen are

riding again. That's it. Joe's just a friend, and they make good shit, so check it out. Awesome. That's it. Thanks, Yuletide. Thank you, Joe. And I believe with that, it's time to go ahead and jump into tonight's episode of

Critical Role. Woo! 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 Thank you. Rise up, don't think twice Put your fate in your hands Take a chance, roll the dice

Roll the dice Critical Roll the dice Critical Roll the dice Critical Roll the dice Critical

Can you answer the call? Digging deep in your soul As the legend unfolds Now it's your turn To roll The legend unfolds, now it's your turn to roll! And welcome back. So. Knocked the words out of my mouth.

Well done. Last we left off, children. I know it's been two weeks, but I need your attention. Last we left off, the Mighty Nein, having sought the answers behind the cult of the Angel of Irons, uncovered secretly, the angel does not exist, and the cult is actually, essentially catfishing its members

to the benefit of Therizdun, the Chained Oblivion, one of the most dangerous, mad, hungry gods of the Betraying Gods. Gathering allies, you found that they were getting close to the final phase of their plan and were making their way towards Rexxentrum, the capital of the Dwendalian Empire.

With the aid of Pumat Sol, you made your way there, did a call for friends, put some word out to the Cobalt Sol, but at that time, it seemed, the Kryn Dynasty was assaulting the capital via purple worm burrowing assassins and warriors. In the sense of this chaos, you made your way through the rain

to the Chantry of the Dawnfather, where it seemed one of the shackles that holds the Chain of Oblivion at bay resides. You battled your way through the chapel, through the cathedral, shattered the stained glass windows, freed your friend Yasha from the influence of Obann, and sent him as well as the remainder of his trio below, but not before destroying the now weakened Laughing Hand.

After making your way through the mysteries of the subterranean basement and uncovering the ancient location of where this shackle was located, you did battle with Obann, prevented him from completing the ritual, and left him to die and recover on his side of the plains. But in the final moment before he could be reborn,

the Chained Oblivion delivered its punishment for failure. You watched as his body transformed into a horrible, roiling, pulsing, black, inky mess of eyes, teeth, and tendrils. And that's where we left off. So as you all look in horror upon this transformed mass before you, I need you all to roll initiative. No way. Wait, what?

God, that fucking bastard? Yeah, fuck. I thought that thing was dead! No. No? Yeah, no. Oh, he's a wound, are you fainting? This is what you're fighting now, buddy. What is it? He came back as a piece of Unami, look at that.

Oh no. Oh boy. Toonami? Oh jeez. Oh boy. Oh wait, what's? Unami? Urgent, that's it. Oh boy.

All righty, so 25 to 20. That's a Sharpie. That's a Sharpie. 25 to 20, nobody? 20 to 15. 19. 19. 17. Oh!

Sorry, all right. I don't even know what we're doing. All right. Are we next to this thing? Some of us. Is it you that's next? There are we. 15 to 10. Where am I? 11.

I'm right next to it. I tied with the wizard. When I tie the wizard, I am about to die. 10 to five? Nine. Technically, I'm five. Technically? I rolled a one.

Okay. I'm seven. All right, so it's with advantage. Plus two. Got it. Yasha. Yasha, Jester. I'm going to tie the wizard. Yeah, all right.

Nott, you're up first. Watching it begin to spread out, its body emerging and slashing out, you can see the light in the room itself seems to almost dim in its presence. What are you going to do? I mean, we're killing this thing, right? We're killing it.

I will fire a crossbow bolt at it. Go for it. Is it in melee with anything? It is. Great, that's a 23 to hit. 23 hits. Was it in melee with? All the four of us that were surrounding. Pretty much all of you except for Caleb,

Caduceus, and the Catergast. Great. Oh shit, the Catergast is still here. It's still in the room. Oh fuck it. That's okay, maybe the Keto Geist will help us. Sure. 29 points. 29 points? 29 points of damage.

Keto Geist has to be really pissed. 29 points of damage? Yeah. Okay, okay. Bonus action. Ah! Disengage. Okay. And I'll take my movement to,

out and around, fleeing, as if I can get to that pillar and behind it, that would be great. When you have 30, you have five feet of movement. Five more feet of movement? You're at 30 feet right now, you have 35 as your movement, right? Yeah.

So you're right here, you can move five more if you want to go this way, or if you want to stay behind the pillar. I'll do five, well, no, I'll stay behind the pillar, just in case it does some crazy area effect thing. That finishes your turn, Nott. Fjord, you're up. Yeah, I'm tapped.

I have no more spells or any feature abilities. I will take my chances and run after Nott out and around, same way. Okay, as you rush away, one of the inky whips whips in your direction. 12. Oh, misses! Yeah.

You duck underneath and it slams into the rock behind you, the wall cracks and you watch as stones and bits of broken chamber plummet to the ground. That's very fortuitous. It's a five, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30. Fortuitous? You can get just in front of Nott there if you'd like.

That sounds great, and I will send two Eldritch Blasts in that thing's direction. Go for it. That looks like a custom mini. That's a 24 and a 26. 24 and 26 both hit. Great. 14 points of force damage and 14 points of force damage for 28 total.

Nice. As you launch both of these out, just around the corner of the pillar, both of them plunge into its darkness and you see these dull green detonations of the Eldritch Energy, like depth charges deep in the ocean, but just swallowed by the blackness.

It hit. Okay, great. All right, that finishes your turn. It's bad, we're running! All right, it is now Obann the Punished's turn. Oh no, no, no, no, no! It's going to do a Storm of Biting Shadow. What the fuck? Everyone within 30 feet, which is everyone. Except for people behind the fuck? Everyone within 30 feet, which is everyone.

Except for people behind the pillar? Everyone within 30 feet. Damn it! As he smiles. Biting Shadow. It attacks. So I'm going to go ahead and roll damage on this first. Oh my god. Goddamn it, Sam.

Maybe I should have double dashed out of there. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You got points, too. I mean, we're going to have to fight him in some ways, so we don't know. That's going to be a 24. Hits. You take 22 points of necrotic damage.

Oh my god. Oh no. Beauregard. 24 points. Natural one misses you entirely. Oh my god. Oh no. Beauregard. 24 points. Natural one. Misses you entirely. Oh my god. Oh, they have to target each one individually? Caleb, that is going to be a 21. Hits. Hits, all right.

You take 22 points of necrotic damage. Caleb falls on the floor. Oh shit, oh fuck. Oh shit, oh fuck. What's the whole talk? Oh shit, oh fuck. All right, oh fuck. Oh shit, oh fuck! All righty. Not a good way to start. Nott. 15.

Misses! You duck out of the pillar. He's behind that pillar! There you see, goes well done. Punished at the end. Wait, and do I take half damage? Yeah, you would've had a half cover, you take no damage. Oh, great. But you would've had a plus two to your AC

because you have half cover from behind the pillar. Jester. 14. Whoa! You're really shitty on this. Like three, two. Caduceus. 29.

Oh! Misses. You take 22 points of necrotic damage. That's fair. And Yasha. Natural one. Wow! He's very scared of me. So everyone who is hit, which would be Fjord,

Caleb, technically, Caduceus, you are weakened until the end of his next turn, which means all damage you deal with weapons is halved. With weapons? Okay. Spells, too, or halved. With weapons? Okay. Spells, too, or just weapons? Just weapons. Okay. Is then going to go ahead and attempt to move this way. Oh god. I guess we're good.

Around, which means both Yasha and Beauregard get taxed opportunity. Send no bitches! Actually, it's taxed opportunity, so yes, you do still get it. Because send no bitches no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Actually, it's tax opportunities, yes. You do still get it. Because Sentinel does cancel out if it's for one attacking the other. But you do get stolen.

27. 27 hits. I rolled a 19, so that would be... I still have the skin grower. 27. 27, that hits. 12 damage. 12 damage, all right. And that bitch ain Gorger. 27. 27, that hits. 12 damage. 12 damage, all right.

And that bitch ain't moving. Nope. Wait a minute, and it's a 19, so that's a critical with a Skin Gorger. Correct. Let's go. Let's fucking go. Let's go! Guys, it's two weeks later.

If the effect is still here. Wow. I know this is weird. Are you still raging? I mean, I was. This encounter happened, like there was a brief pause as it transformed, and then. So would you still? I'd say you're still.

Let's go Bruticritical. Bruticritical. Bruticritical. Bruticritical. Go for it. I already did mine. Oh, shit. Yeah, you're good. 12 damage from foul. Okay. We got you.

Breathe, relax now. Where's my fucking things? I was about to say, do people still have blasts, or do we not? This blast is still up, isn't it? I think. Right on the top. Bless would still be up. Okay, so every good. Although you took damage,

so I need you to roll a concentration check. Oh, concentration check, that's fine. You've beaten 11 on the DC. 10. Bless fades. Who'd you have a cast on? Four. No, I had two. Who did you have a cast on? Four. No, I had two. Who did you have?

That's been a couple weeks. I had four people. Chat room! Oh, you had four people? Mm-hmm. You sure it was three and three? No, it was three and four. It was? Yeah, because I casted

a second level for four people. I was not blessed. Because I was not blessed. Oh. Yes, you were. You were blessed. I was blessed, but I don't know how I got it from. Well, if you can't remember, then I'm going to roll.

Yes, you were, dude. Yeah, you were. Okay, so Fjord loses Bless. All right. I feel like I got mine from Cad. I'm trying to find him, but I'm blessed, too. Caleb keeps it. Fjord loses Bless.

Yeah, that's fair. I'll make a note next time. Didn't occur to me that Caleb was blessed. I know, right? Oh. So we'll save that there. All right. I know because I still have my first levels,

but not my second, so I bring the second Bless, which means I get four. Okay. I feel like not Fjord means I get a four. Okay. I feel like Nott, Fjord, and Caleb were blessed by Jester. It's just the feeling I get. Oh yeah, Nott, Fjord, and Caleb. Okay.

So 13 was the total dice roll, plus... A feeling? A point? A feeling, I guess. 13 plus. A feeling you got? Yeah. It was Nott, Fjord, and Caleb. Nott, Fjord, and Caleb? It is who I had blessed. 30 damage. So those are still up. Gotcha. Is that killing you, guys? Yeah. It was not Fjord and Caleb.

Not Fjord and Caleb? It is who I had blessed. 30 damage. Gotcha. Well, there you go. Thank you for following up on that. 30 damage? 30 damage. Woo, nice. We'll check in one thing about this.

I don't know. All right, good enough. All righty, so that means, so Caleb loses it? Well, because he's unconscious, I had him, but. Okay, well, the spell is still on him, technically, I guess. Take it. Technically. So Fjord keeps it, Nott keeps it.

And Nott. Gotcha. Then you lose it. Yes. 34. 34, all right. For Grotad. Whoa, points of damage? Yeah, yeah, yeah. And you roll it. Yes. 34. 34, all right. For Grotad. Whoa, points of damage? Yeah, yeah, yeah.

And you roll the Brutal Protocol. Caduceus, you lose it. The extra damage die? Yeah. Dope. Dope. All righty. Dope. It's an extra d6. Cool, yeah, on your first hit.

Although, is that on your turn? No. Double check. It was a reaction. Right, so double check and see if you do the extra with d6. Okay, let's see. Yeah, I actually didn't want to. I've been in your turn while you were in your turn. Anyway, that Obann cannot move for the rest of the turn,

so he has zero speed for this. That finishes Obann's turn. It's now the Kato guy's turn. No, no. Please, please, please. The Kato guy is going to turn, see this scenario, see you guys in trouble, and is going to go ahead and run this way up the stairs. Okay, well.

Really? Better than. That could have been worse. Yeah. I mean, she has to be super pissed. She was under his control, too, you know? As is she, as she runs by? Yeah. I'm just going to be able to, oh, come on, really?

Not going to, okay. Roll a persuasion check with disadvantage. Fair. Oh man. Come on, two natural darts. That's a six. All right. The kid who guys doesn't even look at you.

Nah. She just flips you off. It glides by and begins to merge into the stairs up here. Rude. All right, Beau, the stairs up here. Rude. All right, Beau, you're up next. Show you a letter. Pop, pop his pustules. Ew. Ew. Your hands are going to sink into it.

Yeah, it's super gross. I'm going to try and avoid places where there are mouths. Good luck. It's just good life advice. I don't have a really good one. First, a T-hack. 17. 17 hits.

Ooh, that's good. It's a large mass of tentacles. It's not difficult to hit, necessarily. 10 damage. 10 damage, all right. Second attack, 25 to hit, and 11 damage. Got it. All right, bonus action. Attack, 25 to hit, and 11 damage.

Got it. All right, bonus action. Then I'm... I'm just going to bonus action attack. Watch out for those mouths. 26, I mean, sorry, 16. 16 hits. Oh, wow.

Nine damage. All right, so as you, each punch, it's like punching the side of a cold, wet sea creature. It impacts and blubbers a bit, but then your hand sinks like tar, and you have to pull back, and as you do, you feel teeth that had since gone around your fist scrape away, and it digs into the skin a bit.

Not enough to damage you, but you're like, whoa, this is horrible! It's terrible! Oh, this turned me into a 90s cartoon character! Whoa! Don't forget to recycle! Oh, wow. As you pull back, the teeth close and pull open and an eye pops out.

Ew! That's your action and your bonus. You still have your movement. My movement. Or you can stay put. You're cool. It's just Regal's face popping outside. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. You know what? I'll back up.

I'll back up. I'll head towards the door towards Cad. Did she get any of this? Did you swipe at her or anything? It's already used its reaction. Yeah! So are you going all the Caduceus or are you going further in?

No, that's good. All right, cool. Caleb, you're on the ground. Why don't you go ahead and make a death saving throw for me? Does Blessing affect this? Blessing will give you an extra d4, technically, because it is a saving throw. Yeah. I think it says.

Well, that ain't going to help. That's a fail. All right, first death save failed for Caleb. All right. Caduceus, it's your turn. I'm going to walk up to Caleb, walk up to him. Thank goodness. I'm going to cast Cure Wounds at level three. Two clerics. So you get 29 hit points.

Oh, right. Oh! Great clerics, man. Not today, motherfucker! If you're unconscious, I don't have to roll. I just do max healing. Oh, that's so cool. It's pretty cool. You are the ultimate defibrillator.

Yeah. Pop off. Ain't done today. And I'm going to use the rest of my movement. I can't really, my bonus action all kind of suck. You move 10 feet, so. So. You have 20 feet left. I don't really have much that I can do

with my bonus action, so instead, I'm going to use the rest of my movement, pulling Caleb further away from this thing. Can I help Caleb up? Or no? I'd say no. You've gone to the process of... Can I take bonus action in the rest of my movement

to pull him like 10 feet away? I'll allow it. All right. You can move him five feet away. Okay. That's as far as you can get. That'll do. I'd say with the remainder of your bonus action and movement. Okay, that finishes Caduceus' go. Yasha, you're up.

Actually, before that, at the end of your turn, Caduceus, let's go ahead and use a legendary action. Okay. To go ahead and do an Inky Whip against Jester. Oh. It's so cute sounding. It is. That is going to be a 19. That's my armor class.

That hits you then. Oh, wait. Wait, yes, I added my shield already to it. Does it have a plus on you? No, mine. It doesn't help unless you last. So that's 12 plus a, you take 18 points of necrotic damage. Mm-hmm. Okay. And?

It pulls you 10 feet to a space adjacent to it, but you're already adjacent to it, so not a big deal. Okay. Is that darkness spell still up? The darkness spell is currently still up, yeah. That was cast by Catergeist. Right. All right, that finishes that legendary action.

So Yasha, it's your turn. Okay. So I am going to use, as a bonus action, my Zealous Presence, which unleashes a battle cry and gives 10 creatures around me of my choice advantages on attack rolls and saving throws. Whoa!

So I'm going to. For the next turn? Forever. Attack rolls and saving throws until the start of your next turn? Forever. Attack rolls and saving throws until the start of your next turn, yes. Okay. That's awesome. Okay, and then I will attack. I'm going to keep attacking him because I'm

Go for it. very, very angry with him. Mm-hmm. Oh, yes! I rolled a 19 again. Okay. That's what happens when you're angry. Yeah. You're really raging.

Are you really raging? I'm really raging. Okay, so. Just to check something real fast. Yes. Looking at the weapon. It's the 19 and 20 critical, I think, is when it's engaged its ability. How long does that ability last for? Well, it's in the Rage Sword. You can use your bone and then draw one, and then all that's left is to fight. engaged its ability. How long does that ability last for? While attuned to this greatsword,

you can use your bonus action. Okay, so while attuned to this greatsword, you can use your bonus action and take a point of exhaustion to empower this blade for one minute. All attacks with this greatsword deal an additional 1d8 acid damage and it critically hits on a roll of 19 or 20. Right, so you just.

Okay, so it's just. So ignoring the fact that that was probably going for previous battles, the balance, the battle would've, or the damage, extra damage would've probably balanced that, it's fine. But just going forward, we'll say it's just regular, a 20 is critical.

Okay. So you hit still, but you don't do critical. So 27, yeah, so that hits. Okay. We'll just call that a wash. I apologize. It's all good. Okay, so plus Divine Fury, so four, five, six, seven, eight.

Bump, bump, bump, bump, bump. Bump, bump, bump, bump. 17 for the first hit. 17, all righty. I will take my second attack. What if we don't kill Obann? Will it reform again? I don't know. We don't know anything.

11 for the second hit. 11 for the second hit. He might have to live out his entire rest of existence. Carves through twice with a blade as it tears through you, watch sections of it fall into the ground and then just dissolve into a black oil-like liquid. Death becomes her.

That's your action and bonus action. That's your movement. I'm going to... I want to stay. You're going to stay? Whoa. Okay. Yasha is mad as hell. I'm so mad. That brings us to, actually at the end of your turn, it's going to use another

legendary action to use Inky Whip again on Jester. It does! Doesn't like other creatures. 24. Just don't know why it's attacking me and not Yasha, so I'm not even hitting it. Yeah. You must really dislike it. You're so cute!

17 points of necrotic damage to you. How much? 17. Okay. All right, Jester, it's your turn. I need you to make a concentration check, by the way. Mm. Natural 20. Okay. Wow.

Bless is maintained. You technically have an advantage on that because of your thing, anyway. So what are you doing, Jester? Oh man. Oh gosh, he's not leaving. I don't know what to do. How are you going to get out of here?

I'll get out. I'm going to back up to the group. Stairs. Oh boy, oh boy. Nicely done. All right, it's been since Obann's turn, so it does get an attack of opportunity on you. Oh. Oh, actually.

No, it hasn't. No, it hasn't been. Obann went after Fjord. He just had legendary accents. Yeah. Obann went after Fjord, but then it was against Nott that it took its reaction. And Nott hasn't gone yet again. Correct, but Obann went after Nott, so technically it would have had a possibility

of hitting you with a reaction, but it didn't. On a creature's turn, it gets its reaction back. It spent it on Nott, who went first. Oh. So Nott went first, used its reaction, and then it came to Obann's turn, so it got its reaction back, and it hasn't used its sense. Oh, oh.

Good to know. But that's a 16 to hit, so it misses you anyway. Ooh! So 15. You know what I'm going to do? Because Yasha hasn't left. All right. I'm going to back up into the inky darkness.

Mm-hmm. Of the dark spell. Into the inky darkness. You got it, all right. You are currently blind inside that shadow. Okay, I'm going to cast, I'm going to invoke Duplicity. Okay, ooh. Before you go in?

No, inside of it. Okay, is it somewhere you can see? Does it say it's part of the ability? Well, I, fuck me running. Spells? Shut up, it's not spells, it's features. It's features. Up to 30, it must remain within 120 feet of me.

I don't think, I can move it outside of where I can see, but I have to cast it within, let's see. The illusion appears within 30 feet of me. It appears, doesn't say in the space you can see. So yeah, all right, then you can create it wherever you'd like. I'm going to create it within the darkness as well. All right.

And I'm going to make it run out of the darkness towards the group. All right. Mm, clever girl. Clever girl. Okay. That finishes your turn, Jester. At the end of Jester's turn,

it's going to use its last legendary action to do Shadow Slip. What is that? I don't think it's good. You watch as the light in the chamber quakes a bit and dims, and the long shadows that are being drawn from the pillars around it, it shifts and teleports over to this side of the chamber,

causing this pillar to break and fall. Jester needs to make a dexterity saving throw with disadvantage. Although you have. Yasha hasn't gone again, so I have a straight roll. You do. You just hear the sound of it. God, this dice! It's gone from 20 to one to 20 to one, so I have a straight roll. You do. You just hear the sound of it cracking. God, this dice!

It's gone from 20 to one to 20 to one, so I rolled a one. Rolled a one, okay. So the pillar does fall, unfortunately, and crack down over where you are. You suffer seven points of bludgeoning damage as it just slams into the back of your shoulders and neck. You fall down to one knee. I don't think you get an attack of opportunity.

I'll roll a concentration check. Which, by the way, the Blesses do fade because you cannot concentrate on, I believe, that. Oh, right, twice, you're right. Do I get an attack of opportunity? You do not, because part of its movement is it does not provoke attacks of opportunity. Okay, so no running.

So its turn is before Nott, or this was a legendary? This is still legendary. Jesus. Three legendary actions. Jesus, I hate this thing. Yep, yep, this is stupid. So Nott, it's your turn. Is it engaged with anybody? It's currently engaged, technically, with Caleb.

Sorry, man. Sorry. All right. I will fire my crossbow bolt at it. Crossbow bolt! I'll aim for one of those mouths. All right. 14. You have advantage. I do? You do,

because of Yasha's shout. Yasha's battle cry in the middle of the chamber and stealing you with inspiration. 20. That does hit. Yes, thank you, Yasha's battle cry in the middle of the chamber, instilling you with inspiration. 20. That does hit. Yes, thank you, Yasha. Whoa. Terrible, no.

26 points of damage. Nice. Oh, hang on. Oh man, my Caleb is right there. How can I get him to safety? Goo, goo, goo. right there. How can I get him to safety? Goo, goo, goo. Well, think about number one first.

I mean, I'm not strong enough to drag him, so... Caduceus, protect my Caleb! I'll fire again and hide behind the pillar. Okay. Natural 20. Boom! Let's go! Rolling for damage. That's nine points of damage.

It fires again. Yes, it does. For a 15. 15 just hits. It hits! Another 11 points of damage. Nice, good round for Nott. I already have four points.

Then I will swing around that pillar and hide there, shakily. All righty, next to Yasha? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. All right, you got it. Finishing Nott's go, Fjord, you're up. Yeah, I will slide back just a little bit here so I can keep my eyes on that bastard

and two more Eldritch Blasts at it. Go for it. The 17 and a 14. 17 hits, so one of them does make contact. Is that both with advantage? No, they are not. Is it with attacks or is it melee attacks? Attacks and saving throws.

Just double-checking. Because that would actually change based on it. Let me double-check. I can get advantage on attack rolls and saving throws. Attack rolls, yeah, so you gain advantage on both of those. Wow, this shout was awesome. That's a 22, and the second one still misses. Okay. I just did one and one and two and two.

That's 15 points of force damage. 15 points of force damage. It impacts, you see it almost swallows it and then on the inside, one of the eyes bulges and then rolls out and splats on the ground. You can see its body is starting to show some tear. It's starting to slop a bit and beginning to come a little part of the seams.

I have 15 more feet of movement. Can I just use it to keep going back towards that back corner? Just try and get as far back as I can. Yeah, sure. Keep doing this? I mean, the spots. I can't run past it, yeah. Feels like it's not going to last. There's some cool stuff I can do,

but if people keep going down. All right. So now Obann the Punished's turn. Cool, cool, cool, cool. Let's see if that does not get its Storm of Biting Rage from any Buddy Shadow back. So instead it's going to make three Inky Wimp attacks. Inky Wimp. Inky Wimp.

It's all right, but Inky Wimp. One of them is going to be at Caduceus. Mm-hmm. That's a natural 20. Ooh. I will cancel the natural 20, at least, as my reaction. Because you can do that. I can do that. All right, good call, good call.

All right, so you take 16 points of necrotic damage and it holds 10 feet adjacent to Obann. It's going to make a strike at... 16 points? 16 points. It's going to make a strike at Illusion Jester and misses.

It's going to take a strike at Real Jester because it has Blindsight. Fuck. Oh, what? Oh, what? Natural one. Oh! Yes.

He's going to use his Jagged Bite attack on Caleb, who is on the ground. Got to. So you watch now as the tendrils start whipping in different directions. Part of the center of its body opens like a weird unfolding mouth with teeth and lunges down towards Caleb. Mm-mm-mm.

That's a 22 to hit. Hits. All right. Caleb, you suffer from the attack. Oh, that sounded like a lot. Yeah, it did. It didn't roll very well, though. Not much.

Take 21 points of piercing damage. Still up? Yeah. I need you to make a strength saving throw. Yeah, okay, hold on. With advantage. Less still, too? No. No. So strength, 17.

17. You are swallowed. Oh! All right, yeah, yeah, now we're killing him. No! Cool, cool, cool, cool. So he watches the mouth, closes around Caleb, and then just engulfs him. Shy S-

Well, watch him with, watch him not bow. First melee attack he made against the elf, he takes five points of radiant damage. Ooh, good call. Thank you for that, the first melee attack you made against him, he takes five points of radiant damage. Ooh, good call. Thank you for that. Good call. All right, that finishes Obann's turn. That might be my favorite thing ever. Watch him numb-numb.

Seeing it come close, and it now showing somewhere in tear, watching you get eaten. No, it's going to try to leave. Mm-mm, mm-mm. Four, get ready. Kale Geist vanishes into the floor. Yeah. No.

Then pops up. Yes! Oh! Oh! Does that help? It's going to go ahead and strike Obann the Punished. There it goes! Come on.

I knew she was cool. Yep. All right. You too. Dead for thousands of years, totally cool. Hundreds of years. Dead for a while? Created by a union between Lolth and Asmodeus.

Totally cool. Super cool. Everyone's got weird parents. Great. Natural 20. Ooh! And a... Whoa.

Yeah, both hit. So the first is 20. Sneak attack. K to right-skip. It does get sneak attack on the natural 20. Which is really nasty. Come on, come on! Just mentioning that. Come on sneak attack on the natural 20. Which is really nasty, actually. Come on, come on!

Just mentioning that. Come on, come on, come on. Shitty roll, though. Aw. Come on, Matt, get a how do I want to do this? That would be great. That would be cool. We all get to tell it to him.

It's like an Ouroboros. We're just stuck in a loop for the rest of the time. 40 points of damage on that crit, which is not bad. Not great, but not bad. It has an immune to poison, so unaffected by that, and its second attack is going to be... Come on, Kato. Howdy doody doodies.

Come on, guys. 11 points damage, okay. That is going to end the Katogeist's turn. That's good. That was pretty good, though. That brings us to, actually, the end of Catogeist's turn. It's going to go ahead and do another legendary action. Now that I've got them all back. It's going to use two of its actions

to Spill Darkness. You watch as now mouths begin to fold in onto all the toothy jaws begin to disappear and eyes begin to emerge where they are, but the eyes are black. Just these black sclera, reflective dark surfaces. As it does, you watch this almost ink-like black smoke begin to pour out of them. Within a 20-foot radius around. You don't see it because you're swallowed. So this entire space here, everyone except for Yasha and Fjord,

you are engulfed in magical darkness. Fuck it! You cannot see. And Nott. Nott is out of the darkness, too. Oh yeah, Nott, sorry. You were hidden literally behind the pillar. You stealthed away from the DM. No! No!

That's going to finish that go. Beau, you're up first. So even with my goggles, it's still dark? It's not standard darkness, it's magical darkness. You are blind. So I have disadvantage on my attacks? Yes. But with Yasha's stuff, it balances?

Balances that, I'll say, yeah. Fuck. But you're a monk. That was going to be so cool. Don't you have heightened senses or something? Can see through abyssal blackness. Fight by the sense of smell? Her hearing is really, really, really, really good.

Taste the air? No, I don't have anything like that. Can we just say that you do? All right, well, I'm going to crack my neck and just close my eyes anyway, because I can't fucking see, and start wailing on this guy. Yeah.

All right, so you're going to move in. Spit out the wizard! To where you saw the blast and try and speak, still inspired by Yasha's scream of vengeance, you rush in and hope you make contact. So just straight rolls. Oh. Oh. 13. 13 misses.

Second. 16. Does hit. These are all garbage rolls, 10. 10 damage, all righty. Bonus action. I'm going to use my last ki point to Flurry of Blows. Okay, two more strikes, straight rolls.

I hope that's not a mistake. You'll find out. Two more hits. Natural one. No! No! 22. All right, so that one does hit. 10.

10 points of damage the second time. So you go and swing wildly. The first one just goes wide. The second one impacts inside. You're like, I found it. You go to punch a second time in the same direction, and you find nothing. Right as you reach in, something closes on your arm. As soon as the teeth begin to pierce the flesh,

you react and pull your hand out. It scrapes, not enough to do damage, but you pull it just as you hear it slam right behind and they get one final kick, and before you're like, but you pull it just as you hear it slam right behind and they get one final kick before you're like, okay, that was bad. That was harder than I thought. I thought I was going to be a badass at that, actually.

I'm not. Finish your turn, Beau? Uh-huh. All right. Caleb. Is Caleb able to cast at all? Caleb, you are able to cast if you'd like. Yeah. You, uh. Can I help roll?

Oh my god. You are blind and restrained. Yeah. Yeah, that's it. Is he able to do somatic or? Yeah, you can. Caleb turns into a giant ape. A giant ape, okay.

Yeah. How big is a giant ape? What if it just stretches around you? Yeah. Okay. A giant ape, okay. How big is a giant ape? Is it large? What if it just stretches around you? Yeah. Oh yeah, this thing doesn't have like bones. Huge.

It's like a ball sack. Yeah. All right. That's a huge testicle. So I'm going to make a constitution saving throw. Make an intelligence check for me. I'll do 20 and add your intelligence modifier. As the ape, yeah? Yes.

Or as Caleb, as casting the spell. Okay. Just straight intelligence? Correct. No, it's a check on us. 28. 28, okay, yeah. You emerge after being spit out into shadow, prone as a giant ape,

which we don't have a giant ape huge mini, because that was unexpected. But for size, we'll go ahead and, here, we'll just use this, so you know the huge size that's necessary. Damn. You are the size of the creature that just devoured you. Whoa!

So you are spit out onto the side. No damage taken, but you are regurgitated. Two? Mm-hmm. I will use my movement to stand. So half movement, you get back up, and you're just blind still. You're no longer burning and feeling a thousand teeth carving away at you from the inside

as you tear your way out of the interior of this creature and now it's just darkness around you. Are we deafened as well or just blindness? Just blindness. Then everyone goes . Oh god, what's happening now? There's another monster! Oh man. Do you stay where you are or do you want to move?

That's my, I use my action to cast. You use your action to cast, you still have your movement as your ape. Oh, to get up? You still have half the ape's speed. Oh, well, I will feel around and try to feel the squish. Okay. And try to tear the thing apart,

which I don't have economy to do, but I'm going to just use my ape fists to feel for the squishy thing. Do you have reach? As an ape? Interesting question. Come on, feel the square. How far can that eight reach? Reach 10 feet.

So yeah, you reach around and you gather generally where it is, and you can hear the sound of it, too. I'm getting ready, I'm pissed off. All right, cool. All right, that finishes Caleb's go. End of Caleb's turn. Just going to go ahead and use another Inky Whip attack. This one's going to be at, let's say, Caduceus.

It's Inky Whip. Watch me, num num. 28 to hit. Oh yeah, that hits. All right. Backing off. 157 hit point healing spell. You take 20 points of necrotic damage.

Fuck you. 20 points? Yep. Oh. You are pulled towards it, but you already are there next to it. Caduceus, it's your turn. So if I have a, well, I have a verbal somatic spell, which is just an action to cast at the creature.

What's the deal with casting that in blind? If the spell says a creature you can see, it's part of the spell. A creature within range, no. Then you can just cast it in that direction. Fuck yeah. Okay. Yeah, certain spells require you to see the target, in which case the blindness would prevent you from doing so. So random feeblement would technically work here, then.

It would, you'd just have to, as it's Ray, you'd still have to roll to hit him, correct? No, it's a con save. Hmm, I thought Ray spells were in it. Yeah, you'd think. Weird, okay. This is a grave cleric thing, too? That I cannot tell you.

No, make a ranged spell attack against the target. It is, yeah. Except there's, okay, because it says attack save con 17. Right, at a ranged spell attack against the target. It is, except there's, okay, because it says attack save con 17. Right, at the end of each of its turns, it makes a save to resist the effect. Oh. Yeah, I remember you forgot that last time.

Okay, okay, okay. So that's a whole thing. Most ray spells, as part of the rays, you still have to aim to fire, so. Okay, well, in that case. But you're right, in front of it, you know he just pulled him to you. You to him. Yeah, but I don't know if that's going to. You still have disadvantage

on the strike. Yeah. Has Yasha gone yet? But Yasha hasn't gone up the end of the train, so you would have advantage, so it would just be a single roll. So, up to you. Fuck, they have to do it. Let's Raven Fugle me, because this will help shit a lot if this works well. What do I add to this?

Is this just my spell, is it? You add your spell attack modifier. So it's just a five. Oh, spell attack, nine. A nine. Okay, there we go. Oh, come on. Oh, you have a spell on your spell. Ah, 18.

18 hits. Nice. So you're half damage. Half damage for attacks that use strength. Strength? You got it. Which I assume these have been using. You'll find out. I will find out. Shit balls.

That is a... I'm just making a big assumption there. Hasn't used its reaction yet. It has not yet. Okay, so I'm still stuck here. Unless you want to risk it. Do it, do it. Where would you risk what you call?

I'm playing the part of Travis now. You are, you're terrible. And I can't use part of Travis now. You are, you're terrible. I can't use any of my other, I can't use a, I can't use a first level spell as a bonus action right now. Nope. I got nothing. So yeah, I'm just going to steady myself and stay in place. All right.

Stay in place. End of Caduceus' turn. Yasha, you're up with Jester on deck. Okay. You just see this wall of shadow engulf that side of the room, and you can see it's swirling. It's pulsing weirdly.

There's a source to it that's keeping it at bay. So you have no idea quite where anything is. You can guess based on what you last saw. Yeah, I'm going to march right in there. Okay. And try to feel around for the squishy. Walking with one hand forward. I'll say it takes all your movement

to get up to it, but you can. Okay. I'll allow that, because you're moving around, feeling out with blade in one hand, pushing past Caduceus for a second, making sure Caduceus isn't a creature, hearing the sounds and following your way there. So I'll say it's half speed to get there, but you do.

So I'd like to make an attack. Okay. Now, are these reckless or not? Because you have disadvantage on this because you are blinded within the radius. But with the battle cry? It's the end of your next turn, right? Or the beginning of your next turn.

Oh yeah, it's the start of my next turn. You are correct. So you have to be reckless to get a straight roll. Otherwise you have disadvantage on the strikes. It's up to you. Yeah, reckless. All right, so a straight roll. First attack was?

Well, I mean, it's shit. Let's see. I don't know why I was arguing for something that's not going to work. 11. 11, Miss Lees. So your first strike goes wide and actually almost goes towards Caduceus.

Caduceus, you hear the wind just miss you by inches. Okay, there we go. 19, 27. 27 does hit. Go ahead and roll your full damage on that, including your bonus d6. Okay. 15.

15 damage, nice. All righty. All right, that finish your turn, Yasha? Uh-huh. Jester, you're up. Okay. Ooh. I'm going. You're inhuh. Jester, you're up. Okay. Ooh. I'm going. You're in double magical darkness right now.

Double it. Yeah. Super blind. I'm going to cast Dispel Magic on the area of effect spell. Yay. Okay, on this one here? On the stuff that he cast. I'm going to step forward, how about that? Okay. I'm going to step forward. How about that? Okay. What are you trying to?

I'm trying to dispel his fucking darkness. But there's two effects going at the same time. All right. So you probably have to move out of this radius. As far as you're concerned, you don't know that it emanated darkness. Right. Because you've been in shadow this whole time.

That's what I would argue for. Okay. Unless you chose to step out of it and notice it, and wanted to do that. Right, okay, I've never seen it. But you've been in darkness for a full round, you don't even know that he emanated that. All right, then fuck it.

I was trying to help you guys, but I can't, so I'm just going to step forward until I can smash into the blob, and then I'm going to cast Inflick Wounds at third level. All righty. Inflick. Inflick. Inflick Wounds. You come out, hearing it in the general direction,

you're like, just rest your hand out, concentrating. You feel the warm glow around your symbol, and that warmth travels up your body to your arm, and then turns very cold at the tips of your fingers as you reach out. Go ahead and make an attack roll with disadvantage. Do it, do it, do it. Adding your spell attack on it.

She still has disadvantage. Yeah. That's funny. I'm going to try with that. You reach out and find nothing. God fucking, why do I suck so hard, you guys? You know, you're actually, your character's pretty great,

and you play her pretty well. I don't know, for a dice mogul, your dice need to be cleansed. I just, ugh! I even went with a different choosing. Why did you choose a different dice? Because it's an old priest and a young priest. An old priest and a young priest.

Well, Jester, as you reach out and the spell fades, you still have your movement, if you'd like to, or a bonus action. Whatever you'd like to try. Gross. I can't tell where I am. How can I use my movement to do anything? I'm just going to stay where I am. All right, Nott, you're up.

Not being able to see anything, I'm going to, I haven't done this, but I'm going to use my goblin muscles to lift up my goblin ears and point them towards the creature, trying to find any sort of sound of movement or grossness. Yeah, I mean, you remember where it was generally. Yeah, but I'm also doing this. Okay, okay.

The second I hear a squishy testicle, I'm going to shoot at it. Uh-huh, stretchy Batwing. I fire shit with disadvantage or advantage? With advantage. No, just disadvantage. With disadvantage, I'll say. All right. 12. I assume that misses Mr. Matthew?

Yes, it does. He's gone. I've lost him. I've lost him. I've seen that demonstration. He's gone. Matt is also DMing. He's double checking if he's dead. Sorry, what was that total? Another game, 12.

Is it handbrake? 12 minutes. Okay, I will reload and shoot four feet to the left. Okay. 22. That hits? Yes! Get that chicken heart. Come on. How do you guard your duties?

Sneak attack? No, because he was disadvantage on the attack. Ah, you're right. You're always right. Sneak up on him, I think. Eight points of damage. All right, Nott, you have your movement still. Would you like to move or stay put?

I can see right now. You can. As far as I know, Caleb's dying in its stomach. I guess I'm just going to stand there because I don't know what's going on in there. I wouldn't go in there. All right, Fjord, you're up. All right, I have advantage, but I can't see in the darkness,

so it's a straight roll. You don't have advantage currently. I don't. No, Yasha's turn, that ability's faded, so you have disadvantage. Okay, great. Let's take two Eldritch Blasts into the darkness. Yeah. Attack, great. Let's take two Eldritch Blasts into the darkness. Yeah. Attack the darkness. That is a...

Where is it? That is a 14 to hit. This is... And a... Yeah. Goddamn. 12. Goddamn. Both attacks just go why. You're not sure if you hit or not.

You just throw them in there and hope they made impact. You hear no sound of any reaction or screech or anything. So disheartening. That is my, I will shift 10 feet to the left. All right, right there. You got it. Goddamn it. Okay, it is now Obann the Punisher's turn. Goddamn it.

Maybe his thing will go away. Maybe he's oozing dark or whatever it's called. Maybe he'll learn the error of his ways. Yeah, maybe. Does it storm a biting shadow back? Nope, it does not. He wants a snake. It's going to, because it is enfeebled,

see how this does, it's going to make three of its inky whip attacks again. One of them's going to be at, one of them's going to be Beauregard, which, because you're blinded, has advantage in the attack. That'll bring to 23. Hit. Say it, too.

Why, though? Okay. It would be 21 points of damage that is reduced to 10. Yay! Go, Caduceus! Oh my god, dude. Oh my god. Deuces.

Deathclaw. Thank you, Caduceus. He's going to go ahead and ink attack against Yasha. So cute. Thank you, Gary. Natural 20. Oh! That hits. You can't see it to wait. How cute. Thank you, Gary. Natural 20. Oh! That hits.

You can't see it to Wraith. How many times do you get to do it? I can't, can I? Can't see it. Double checking, I can't. Can't see it. It's okay. It's okay.

But it cancels out anyway. Yeah, it takes half damage. So for this, it's, oh shit. And it also gets halved anyway. Oh, so necrotic doesn't get halved. Oh, you're resistant to necrotic. I'm resistant to necrotic. So it does. So it does. Wow. Oh, so necrotic doesn't get halved. Oh, you're resistant to necrotic. So it does.

So it does. Wow. Wow, never mind. Boop. Oh god. Oh, you're down. That would be 36 reduced to... 28.

No, to 18. To 18. Reduced in half again to nine. So you take nine points of necrotic damage. Oh! Bullshit. Yeast. Oh!

Oh! Then its final lash attack is going to be at you, Jester. I knew it. Here we go. You're fine. That is going to be a 26. Mm-hmm.

All right. You take 15 points of necrotic damage. It's rolled at 30. Halved. Halved to seven because of. Okay, okay. Oh, okay. Yeah, that's nice. It's going to use its Jagged Bite attack against you, Caduceus. Sure.

Oh no. That's going to be a 24 to hit. Yeah, that hits. All right. But you can't, because you're made of balls. There. Okay. Intimidation. Like actual balls.

Like little marbles. He's the lawnmower man. 31 points of piercing damage. Reduce. Reduce to half. So you take 15 points of piercing damage. Reduced. Reduced to half. 15. Take 15 points of piercing damage. Make a strength saving throw for me, please. Strength saving throw with advantage. Just thought I'd throw it out there.

Nope. Strength saving throw. Come on, if I ever need an Apple 20s right now. 15. 15 is not enough. Goddamn it. You don't add anything to it? I don't add anything to a strength saving throw. You got swallowed. Goddamn it. You don't add anything to it? I don't add anything to a strength saving throw. You got swallowed. Yep, you are swallowed. Not that anyone else knows,

the shadow fades. You all can see again, and as you all get a look around, you do not see Caduceus anywhere. All you see is the mouth going. And Caleb is still in there, and there's a giant ape in the room. Wait, is Caduceus the ape?

You guys now see a giant ape there, like. I know what happened. Caduceus turned into the ape. Well, that makes sense to me. Yeah, that makes the most sense. He can turn into an ape? We've never seen it before. Katergeist is going to go ahead and attack now.

Oh yay! Thank you, Katergeist. Please, please, Katergeist is going to go ahead and attack now. Oh yay! How do I want to do this? Please, please, Catergeist, please. It's going to go ahead and shift below. Oh my god, Christ. Try and hide, and then scoop up on this side. Yeah, take this. It's actually going to drop Darkness at this point.

It's not going to help anybody, really. Oh, I can see! Somehow misses the first attack, but does hit with the second. So it does get sneak attack damage. Hadadadada! Come on. Jeez. That's so many. That's so many things.

Dices. Yahtzee. Jenga. Wait, is this Katogeist? It's Katogeist, Katogeist. Big money, big money. Kato Katogeist. 41 points of piercing damage.

Immune to poison. Oh wow, you're right, your critical was not good if that was a regular one. I rolled really shitty on that critical sneak attack. It was like one, two, two, three, two. I was like, yeah. So that's Katogeist's turn, who's starting to look a little nervous now. Oh jeez. And his eyes,

he's carving in, carving in, stabbing in, vanishing into the ground, coming back again and carving again, and he's looking at the rest of you like, silently, come on. I totally thought he was about to die before. Beauregard, you're up. I said puke up hard.

At the end of the end of the night's turn, he does make a save. Good. I didn't even recognize that. Sorry. Heroic moment. I remembered, because he gets a save against the Reign of Enfeeblement, and does so.

Saves against it? Yes. No longer infeable. That was a 24 check on that. That's a really good thing. It's done, and at the end of the Keto Guy's turn, is going to go ahead and use one of its inky whips against Beauregard. Oh no.

That is going to be a 29 to hit. Yeah. Sheesh. No, Beau. Beauregard takes 16 points of necrotic damage. That is going to be a 29 to hit. Yeah. Sheesh. On the bow. Beauregard takes 16 points of necrotic damage. Is that reduced? Is that a capture or anything? No, because it's safe against it. Take that Nesty Plunge. Yeah.

Oh god! Beauregard gets whipped and yanked to the ground and is now being slowly dragged towards it. Oh! Oh god, oh god. Beauregard, do I make your death save? Already? Because Beauregard's turned now. Again.

What is with the fucking rollback on that thing? It is really bad. I mean, 15 and up, and then it's like, no, five or less. That's okay, dear. Don't go by my dice, but don't go by anything that I say. One failed death save from Beauregard.

Caleb, your turn. It's crazy. Gorilla Caleb is too incensed. He's just wailing on the thing. So first monkey strike is very low and does not hit. Oh, yeah, it's an 11, does not hit. Second one does is a 25 and does not hit. That's a, oh, yeah, it's an 11, does not hit. Not hit. Second one does, is a 25. That does hit.

So that is a 8, 10, six. Oh, good, 18, 23, 31 points of bludgeoning damage. Whoa! 31 points of bludgeoning damage, nice. Help. As you, first one swing, miss the second one, you slam into it and parts of it are splattering. You grab with your big monkey fists and tear away. As you throw down chunks of its weird,

Help. Its lightly corporeal flesh, it splatters into the ground and turns into just a tar-like liquid. It's sticky in your fingers and the anger wells up in you. That finishes your turn? Yeah, I stay right at it. End of Caleb's turn, so go ahead and use

another Inky Mip attack. This is going to be against... It's going to be against Jester, because Yasha just shrugged that off. 14. Oh, thank god. Fuck. All right. Keep the healer up, please. Caduceus, beginning of your turn?

Mm-hmm. Okay. So can I cast... Fuck. So I don't entirely know what to do here. I'm going to... You can feel thousands and thousands of tiny teeth tearing across your body. Tearing across my body. Okay.

What are you doing? Yes, tearing across my body. I'm going to cast, oh, hello, hello, this is interesting. I'm going to cast Vampiric Touch. Okay. Ooh, that could be cool. So go ahead and make the attack roll.

With your spell type on fire, you have disadvantage because you are restrained within it. Wait, can I even cast Fan Traitor? Yes, I can. Okay, come on, let's roll well, because this would suck if I don't. 12. 12. 12 misses.

You try and reach out, and as you put forward, it seems like the mouth around opens up and makes space for the hand, and you make contact, but the spell doesn't seem to tick. Okay, I can't take a bonus action to do anything, really, in here. Unless it's a cantrip. Unless it's a cantrip. Unless it's a cantrip.

And you can see. There's no bonus action cantrips. I'm going to give myself, in that case, just a, nope, there's not, I've got, I don't, no, I can't do that either, because, yeah. Nope, nope, because I can't do that. Nope, never mind, I got nothing. Yasha, you're up.

Just do your own thing. No, that's not a bonus action. Okay. Actually, at the end of Caduceus' turn, it's going to use its last ink whip attack, and this is going to be interesting. Why am I there? Fucking damn it. 17 hit.

19. She's so strong. With her shield? Thank you, Beaumont! I'm dying! Okay, so break this down for me again. Beau is being pulled towards it? Yes. Yeah.

And is unconscious. And is unconscious. Okay, so can I try, I'd like to try to cut off whatever is pulling her towards the- I will say it's more narrative. Beauregard is unconscious. So if you want to try and grab Beauregard and take her far away from it,

it's like I got an action to grab and move after moving and get her away, you can do that. So I am going, say again? Can you heal? It's already used it. Already used it. Okay, so I'm going to turn, look at Beau, and I'm going to pick her up

and take her into that spot right there. This spot here? Yep. Okay. Just a little bit so when she comes to us, she can come back in. You pulled Beauregard out of the range into that space. As you do, it takes a Tackle of Opportunity against you.

Okay, against you. Yasha, that's good. 29 to hit. Yeah. Okay. 20 points of necrotic damage reduced to 10. So you take 10 points of necrotic damage. Okay, and then,

can I, as a bonus action, can I, do I think, can he understand anything, what we're saying? You have no idea. Okay, so. You've never seen this creature before. There's no sign of anything Obann-esque anymore.

Whatever this is, it is terrible. I'm just going to try screaming out in abyssal, drop it! Okay. Drop it! Make an intimidation check. As if to a dog? As if to a dog.

Oh. Nope. Nothing. All right, you shout out into the room. You gather the creature, either it's engrossed otherwise, or it lacks the intelligence or the care to acknowledge what you shouted. Okay.

All right, Yasha turns over. Chester, you're up. Okay. But not on deck. So you can get away from me, at least, but. Okay, I'm going to, well, this is so difficult. Unless he spits me out, I'm kind of fucked.

Do people have healing potions? I got this. I'm going to use Command. Oh, wait, I have a weapon. On it, and I'm going to use Command. Oh wait, I have one more. On it, and I'm going to say, Vomit! Vomit, excellent choice, Jester. And then I'm going to back up.

Sure, that's fun. All right, what's the DC on the spell? 17 wisdom. 17 wisdom. Natural 18. 23, I'm sorry. Okay. It's our luck. Yeah, it's our luck. As you shout the word out to it,

in a similar way as to Yasha's previous yell, it seems that whatever intelligence lies within there has been shattered into a thousand pieces and is only driven to eat and destroy. Okay. Oh. Then I'm going to... Fuck.

I'm going to run around it. Goddamn it. And get on the other side and see if I can block the doorway to keep Beau safe. Okay. I finished your turn, Jester. Nott, you're up. Okay. Wow, this is just insane.

This is just insane. Am I 30 feet or more away? You are not. You are 25 feet from it. Boy, I mean, I'm going to do what I do. I'm going to fire a crossbow bolt. Go for it. 20 to hit. That hits.

With Sneak's, the Sneakies? With Sneak Attack damage, yeah. Yeah. Come on. Come on now. Come on now, get her. Come on now, kill her. Hey, I only got 25. A lot of threes, a lot of threes. That's okay, you got a couple six. Come on, now. Come on, now, get her. Come on, now, kill her. Hey, I want to get a 25.

A lot of threes. That's okay, you got a couple six. You got a six. Hurty-durts. Going to get a six, 75, 75, six, six, six, 75. 27 points of damage. Oof. All righty.

Didn't do it. Is Beau out? I can't hear her. Yasha dragged her into the mist. But Beau doesn't have. Beau's unconscious. Beau's unconscious. And Yasha has no way of healing her? Beau and Yasha are in the hallway?

Yeah. Correct. Fuck. Yeah. Just a little bit. Caduceus is inside of it. I tried. All right, we'll see. We're both. But Yasha has no way of healing Beau. Nope. She doesn't have any.

I already used my healing hands on her earlier. You're nearby. I hate this problem. Ish. That's all of us. Have you used one save? Yes, one. I've lost it. You're nearby. Yeah, why?

You're coming up. No, one. You're nearby. Yeah, why? You're coming up. No. No. I'm not, I mean, it's going to be a while. All right, then I will use my movement to dash towards Yasha and the escaping Beauregard. I'm not escaping, I'm escaping life. Sorry, the cowardly Beauregard. Oh! You're getting medevaced. Sorry, the Cowardly Beauregard. Oh!

You're getting medevaced. Oh, Jesus. I will dash to them. You will dash, okay. You will take an attack of opportunity. No, he already used his Reaction. On Yasha. Oh, that's right, you did. Yeah, so.

All right, so you get a- And I will ready my potion, but can't quite use it yet. You got it. Fjord, you do. Yeah, so. Beep, beep, beep, beep, beep, beep. All right, so you get up. I will ready my potion, but can't quite use it yet. You got it. Fjord, you're up. All right. You want it? You want it? I will run forward by 30 feet, up towards the inky shit.

Just got to wake up to get it. There he gets you right there. Oh, so I'm out of melee, right? You're out of melee. You're standing on one of the ritual sigils with the red carvings and drawings on the ground. And it, even though Obann is gone, the ritual sigils with the red carvings and drawings on the ground. Even though Obann is gone, the ritual is still present,

and it gives you this weird shooting of cold energy through your body. Can I take one step to just see it and then step out of it, just out of habit? I'll look at it, and Tommy Lee Jones and Men in Black will be like, eat me, you piece of shit! You're a taint smear of Faradun's crotch! Let's go!

And I'll fire two shots of Elvrit's Blast. Go for it. I think the text and accent came back on that one. Yeah, a little bit, a little bit. It might have. Force of habit. We'll spin on that one. That is a 24 and a 15.

Both hit. Oh, yeah. Beautiful. Three. Oh no. Both hit. Oh, yeah. Beautiful. Three. Oh no. Come on. Oh no. Mm-mm, mm-mm-mm. I'm not going to just realize how bad things that could happen. That is 12 points of force damage and

11 points of force damage, so 23 points of force damage. She's dead, she's gone. What? You fire both into it. You see it's like. So 23 points of force damage. She's dead. With what? You fire both into it. You see it's like, parts of it are falling onto the ground. It's trying to create more mass within it,

but the shadow continues to, it is so close to fucking die. You almost had it. You almost had it. You were the good one, and we're two. So one of three right now. And it's his turn. I yelled at it, called it a chainspear. It gets its Storm of Lighting Shadow back.

Y'all, this is it. We could fucking die right now. Wait, it gets his what? Oh no. All right. So. I roll the damage first. Oh no.

Oh bad, oh bad. I got remove a fight, but if I go down. You're going to go down. Okay, so against you, Fjord, 29. Oh yeah. 29, you take 21 points of necrotic damage. Okay, good for us. Oh no, you'll get hit of necrotic damage. Okay, could be worse. Oh no, you'll get hit.

And you are weakened. Uh-huh. Beauregard, you fail another death save. Just one? It's not a melee attack. Oh my god, thank god! That's right. If it's within five feet of you, it's a critical hit, in which case it does two death saves.

You, that is a 16 to hit. What's your hits? 12. You take another 21 points necrotic damage and your strength-based attacks, or all your attacks that are weapon-based are half damage. Nott, 29 to hit. You take 21 points necrotic damage. Do I get to evade or anything?

It is a weapon attack. You can use your reaction and take half damage if you'd like. I will do that. All right. Jester, that is a weapon attack. You can use your reaction and take half damage if you'd like. I have stun. I will do that. All right. Jester, that is a 19 to hit. 19. Take 21 points of necrotic damage. I am conscious.

Oh! Oh! Damn it. Jester falls, the illusion fades. Is that real Jester? Real Jester is out. Falls. This is bad.ester is out.

This is bad. This is bad. And Caduceus is inside. Caduceus is inside, Caduceus is unaffected. Yasha, natural 20. Okay. So that would be, on the dice that I rolled there, 22, 22 or 21, I said it was 21.

21. We were just talking about I don't have a backup character anymore. Shush! 36 points of necrotic damage, reduce the half. Ow, ow! So you take... Look!

I didn't mean to. What did it say? Did you say 36? 36, yes, it would be 18. So you take 18 points of necrotic damage. And all your attacks do half damage, too? All of my attacks towards him take half damage. Do half damage.

Do half damage, I mean. Okay. That's going to finish this turn. Catergeist is going to attack. Come on, come on! Yeah, you are. She's got the heart of the Dundundundun! I really don't want to do this.

Yeah, you do it! Do it, just do it! Come on, come on. That's 25 to hit. Come on. But it's not a sneak attack because no one is harmed. Everybody's on. That's 25 to hit. Come on! But it's not a sneak attack because no one is harmed, he's dead from it. What about the gorilla?

The gorilla is engaged with it. 10 feet reach. Technically, yeah, 10 feet. He also would've, he's not going from far away, he's on top of it. That's true, that's true, I'll allow it. Matt's going to kill one of his own characters. Go on.

I'm glad we shamed you into this. Say it. Yes! Say it, say it, say it! How do I want to do this? Yes! Friendship! Friendship! Who was killed with the power of friendship? Ugh!

Yes! Friendship! It was killed with the power of friendship! Ugh! Yeah! Matt, please describe how you would like to kill yourself. Oh shit. As the creature itself is pulling itself towards the doorway, as everyone's trying to find its way around, you watch tendrils pulling it and dragging its form in a weird rolling ball of black inkiness.

As it makes its way that direction, Caduceus inside being torn by the teeth that grind, everyone else knocked unconscious on the ground, eyes rolled back, mouths open, barely breathing, you watch as the Caterge it vanishes into the ground. As it pulls forward. It explodes from the inside. Caduceus rolls out onto the ground,

covered in the black ichor, and there where it was standing, you see the Catergeist holding both blades out, head phased up into it, and burst through from the inside, carving it apart into multiple places. I immediately stand up and bonus action, Mass Healing Word, second I can. Okay, we'll come to your turn,

which will be, in a second, Bogard. Your turn comes up first, next. Oh jeez. Go ahead and make a death save. Right. We're still on initiative? Wait, wait, are those two failures? Wait. Yeah.

This is one roll. It's okay, it's okay. You're good, you're going to do good. You're going to roll a 20. I don't trust that one. Remember what you said. Do that one that's been crazy all night. Why are you doing that? Because it'll work.

This one? This one? Oh god. Don't trust Sam? 12. That's a success. Holy shit. Okay. Just enough.

So now it would be Caleb and Caduceus' turn. Mass healing word. Anyone who's unconscious gains nine hit points. You're holding onto that. Everybody else gets seven points. Actually, it would be six people, so one, two, three, four, five, six. I don't know if it's hand or this.

Did you skip the gorilla, which is totally fine. Oh, I would've skipped the gorilla, I suppose. So it would've been, and I kind of know you're fine. It would've been one, two, three, four, five, and I'll hit you, too, because I was trying to make friends. Sure. So. Okay. Nine for anybody who's unconscious,

six for everybody else. As you all feel the surge of energy from Caduceus, you shoot back to consciousness. Ah, I hate this. You shoot back to consciousness. Ah, what happened? You're going to look at the Kato guys. Can I get a hug? You shoot back to consciousness. What happened? I'm going to look at the Kato guys. Can I get a hug?

You watch and she goes, Not my type of interaction. I got to heal for you when you're ready. I'll be fine. You watch the Kato guys look around at the rest of you. Yeah, we're all doing the end of the musical number breathing. Yeah. Kater guys just sees. Shush, what?

What is this shushing? She just vanishes into the wall. That's okay. She's so cool. I'm all right with that. Did she kill it? The giant ginger gorilla's shoving his head into the hallway and looking in to see Beauregard

being tended to over here. Yeah. The remnants of Obann, you can see. There is still chunks of the body around, but they're slowly just just liquefying. Can I walk in and see if there's anything, heart, anything that seems important?

I'm going to dig through the guts. Caleb! Caleb, are you in there? I'm going to start up a prayer of healing. Prayer of healing. No. Pretty much the same. As you guys are going through, everything you grab and pull, it's like a jello that's been in the sun for a bit.

It's turning into liquid in your fingertips. It's sticky and it's getting all over you. By the time you've sifted through it, it's mostly just now a puddle of black oil tar-like material. I'm just going to stay sitting on the ground watching numbly at everything going on around me. Gorilla lumbers over, picks up Nott by the scruff,

whose legs and hands are just going. She's sitting on his head, 28-ish feet in the air. Oh. It smells like Caleb. I think it's Caleb. Everybody's up? Yeah. Oh god.

Do we even go out and check on Pumat? I'm so fucking spent. We have to, or at least let me send a message. Sure. I'll point up in the direction of Pumat and whisper into a wire, Pumat, if you're alive, please respond to this message. What's the range on it?

I think it's 100 or 150. 100 feet, there's no response. Oh, we're down that far? We're really far. You're a little bit further than that. Oh, I've got a third level left with my... Yeah, nothing. I've got the third level left with my

Pearl of Power. Guys, Pumat is dead. I'm going to cast Sending. Okay. Pumat, are you alive? Is everything okay up there? Please tell me you're still alive up there. You pooping? No, I'm going to sleep.

There's no response. It could be anything. He's no response. It could be anything. He's not responding. Maybe he's still fighting. Let's... I feel like he could respond, even if he was, I would hear him greeting or something. We should go check on him.

Oh no. How? What if there's still all those creatures out there? Maybe, I'm actually relatively okay. Do you mind checking ahead? I'll go with you. Yeah. Because I'm relatively okay. Capelib could come with us.

Can we really fish through that? Nope. Nope. Does anybody want to stay and heal and rest and we can just go look? I'd rather keep everyone up. We should just go up. Why don't we check it out first? Together.

Together. Yeah. Yeah. Hey, Yasha's back. Welcome back. Yeah. Okay, let him carry me. Carry me. Yeah, Caplib. Carry me. Carry me. Yeah. I'm going to walk up to Caplib

and cast Cure Wounds on Beau. Oh. And I'm held by him. Oh yeah, that's the good stuff. He lets go of one side and holds her by her ankle. All right, you're going to make me black out again, Jyn. 15 points of healing. What I have left is rushing to my head. Oh god.

Can't believe I got fucking killed by my own boss. Had to have an adventure. I mean, one of us was going to have it. Played for hundreds of hours. I know. Aw. I just don't want to rob you guys of this. No, no! No, real annoyed. Real annoyed. It was going to happen. It was going to stay for hundreds of hours. I know. I just don't want to rob you guys of this. No!

No, really. I'm so happy for you. It was the best. It was cool. All right. Everyone gets one. Yeah. How did it feel?

What about your man size? It felt all right. It just felt kind of bad. No. It was on the go. You were so close to finishing. I cure wounds for myself at level one for 11 points of healing, PS.

Boop. Before changing back, I cure wounds for myself at level one for 11 points of healing, P.S. Boop. Before changing back, Capeleb puts Beauregard down, and a giant hand, I don't want to do it to you for real, but just way too large, ruffles her hair. Oh man, that's not... Oh! Another death save.

Yeah. No, I'm doing much better now, thank you. I'm okay. Okay, okay. Beware your surroundings. The archway, technically you could fit into the archway, but the stairway would not fit you at all. So you would not be able to,

as in your current ape form, ascend. Cool. All right. Let's go. We have to check on him. Am I taking lead on this? I'll go ahead. I'll take a big swig of booze. We don't know.

And here, I think we're good for now. So what's the marching order? I'm going first. Nott, Fjord, Caduceus. I'll go behind you. Second to last. Nott, Fjord, Yasha, Caduceus. I'll go in front of Jester.

What state could Pumat So be in and not be able to respond? Death. Others, give me some others. Might have teleported out. Too out, yeah. But, give me some others. Might have teleported out. Two out. But they would still reach him. Sending words and words.

He might have blinked into another dimension. Yep. I said second last. Would that still work? Pocket dimension. In another dimension, I think it still works, as long as I know where they are. Seth. You guys ascend the steps from deep within

the hidden chamber of the Chantry Shackle, finding your way up towards the familiar site of the open crypt passageway. Stepping into the crypt chamber, the familiar old, stale air of this ancient, ancient crypt basement finds you. You step out and there's the familiar statue of the Dawnfather atop the central platform.

You can see the same brazier that you once burned to find the switch still burning low. You continue onward? Yes. Okay. You come back up a few stairs into the area where there was the four chambers for the people that keep the Chantry, the long, poisoned bodies still left in their beds.

You ascend the staircase that leads into the cathedral and say... Do you hear anything on the other side of the doors? Before you even get to the doors, you hear footsteps approaching louder. You guys are in front, not in, not in front. Someone's coming, someone, everybody hide, or ready your weapons.

You're like 30 feet up in the staircase, so. And these footsteps are coming down the staircase? Yeah, in your direction. You can see a bit of torchlight coming in your direction. I will ready my crossbow, press myself to the wall. Okay. Go down one knee. All right. As the torchlight comes, the footsteps suddenly

come to a stop, and you hear a voice go, Halt! State your name and purpose or we will attack! Oh god. Oh god, it sounds like gods. You can look up and see in the torchlight that's gathering the person holding it, there is what looks to be a righteous brand soldier and more soldiers behind them,

shoulder to shoulder and pushing down the space. Friends of the Empire here. Please, we're survivors. We took refuge down here. As the danger passed. Just make a general persuasion check. The voice seemed pretty amped. 18. 18.

You watch the one who's holding the torch, who has his hand on a blade, looks and goes, Are you the Mighty Nein? Yes, we're the Mighty Nein. They're here, we found them! Oh. And the soldiers start backing up and heading back into the cathedral space.

Okay. Who's looking for us? Yeah, who's looking for us? How do you know our name? We'll follow. Yeah. You guys continue up the staircase, and it's a lengthy staircase until eventually

you can see the faint look of interior daylight. Though still stormy and cloudy from outside, it's much brighter than the interior of the lightless staircase you've been ascending. Stepping back into the cathedral hall, you can see around you the marble floors are littered with mushy corpses of destroyed demons of various shapes and sizes.

The dark ichor smeared in dynamic sprays against the floors around you, glittering broken shards of multicolored glass window just all over the ground. The looming, charred body of the Laughing Hand still stands atop the central dais, unmoving, like a nightmarish statue of ash, just still there in place.

Immediately searching around for Pumat. Over a dozen or so figures fill the space around you. Some standing at the ready, while others are wounded and resting. You can see numerous crownsguard in here looking haggard, holding their weapons ready, and as you approach and arrive out, they hold their weapons out for a second,

but then notice the relaxed state of the righteous brand that first met with you and go to relax. You can see there are some slain soldiers. A handful of Cobalt Soul are present, as well as what looks to be archivist Cathedoc, the half-orc who you had met when you first arrived here. Dead? No, alive. Oh.

He approaches as you begin to walk out. It's good to see that you're all made it here alive. You were worried. Where's Pumat? Over that way. He points towards the antechamber of the cathedral where you had moved away from. Is he alive? He's alive.

He's barely, but alive. Are you taking care of him? Should we go? Is he in need of magical healing? We come and leads you guys back through the open doors, the two doors that lead into the front portion of the cathedral. Walking by, Caduceus, you notice, as does, actually,

Beauregard and Caleb. Well, no, this would be perception, actually. So it would be Caduceus and Jester. Amber, you guys notice that underneath one of the central towers, the two towers that were in the center there with the balconies, you see a shattered metallic device about two feet or so in width.

A central glass orb has been broken, and the pinkish crystals that were embedded in it in four different places have been crushed. It is just, the device has been completely destroyed. You walk into the antechamber and there, off to the side, you can see there's a few other Crownsguard that are in the process of tending to their own wounds. On the ground, you could see there's one person

who has finished bandaging a very, very hurt Pumat Sol. As you approach, you see him lying on the ground, bandages all over, one eye is covered with a bandage. You can see there's blood spray on him. The eye flickers open a bit and turns in your direction. Oh, hey there. I rush over and take his hand. Yeah, ow, ow.

Oh, sorry. Oh, Nelli, I was worried about you folks. Worried about us? Happy to see your faces. We were so worried about you. Oh, I'm okay. I figured those buggers were coming from somewhere. So seeing them portals in the towers, I just, yeah, I managed to find that metal thingy and smash it.

We're good, too. It stopped coming through. You were really, really big. That was real cool. Would you like a healing potion? Well, yeah, I would not, you know, be against it. I will heal Pumat for... Ooh! Ooh!

Six plus four, I think, right? Nice, 10. Yeah, heals 10. That's a lot of money. He probably made this one. Yeah, he, yeah. Nightmare? You brought him from stabilized and barely conscious to at least somewhat more lucid.

Kind of leans him a bit. Oh, well, thank you very much there, little knot lady, right? It's Knot here. Sorry, I kind of got overwhelmed a little bit. Thankfully, these kobold soul folks arrived and helped me out of a real jam. It was all kinds of close. Did you, you must have killed a dozen or so.

I last count after the first 20. Whoa! That sounds about right. You're a maniac. That's pretty amazing. You're a hero. That's pretty amazing. You're a hero, come on. Yeah, just helping out. It's been a while since I've got the flexy old poo muscles, you know?

The poo muscles? Poo mad muscles. That's not what you're thinking. Just combining the two words, you know? Yeah, no, don't ever say that again. I mean, I like it, but I don't think that that means something. You like the poo muscle?

I think it's a good word. Turn to the field, you got a taste for adventure again? No. Yeah. No, no, I think I'm pretty happy staying where I've been. I'm going to just rest now. I'm just going to go. It's been crazy below. Did you see anyone in charge since you've been up here?

Charge of a... You mean that one? Kind of points over and you can see, standing at the doors where you would exit, you see a half-elf woman, olive skin, dark brown eyes, and short jet black hair, her helmet off to the side. And you see she's wearing Righteous Brand armor,

but the insignia on it, the trim, and the design of the red cape that's thrown over one shoulder signifies a higher rank than a standard soldier. And as Prymjot points, she's in the process of talking to two folks and looks over in your direction and starts making a walk towards you. As that happens, Prymjot's hand goes down and goes like,

Okay, it's sleepy time. That's well, friend. Just goes right to sleep. The guards on that door, we haven't deactivated the mess down there, it's still dangerous. And find out what is going on outside. Yeah. I guess we're about to. The figure approaches

at this point. Talk to, hi! Hi. Hello, I am Marshal Ishmara, and you are under my watch. Cathedoc spoke of your arrival and the plight that was spoken when you came. It seems there is some truth to this,

but all matters, until they've been sussed out, are in my watch and you are not to leave my sight. Do you understand? Yes, I don't think there's any problem with that at all. Quick, what god do you worship? Not one of worship. I am one who works for the Empire. The people are who I protect.

What do you think about the Chained Oblivion? Looks past the mess behind you. Seemingly quite messy. 25. Insight check as well. Make an insight check. 25. 25 insight check. All right.

Oh, whispers! That's right. You're just doing it for whispers. You're just doing it for those sweet dulcet tones. Mysterious whisper. This whisper is brought to you by Dwarven Forge because I forgot to say it when we were in combat. They'll be at Pax Unplugged over this weekend. Go say hi at that die-hard dice booth.

Follow along on social at Dwarven Forge, at Dwarven Forge on at Twitter. A critical bar. All right. Sorry, what was, sorry, we're... You seem all right. We still have a problem downstairs. We got to make sure no one goes down there right now. There's still some bad things down there that...

Jyn Deblivion and some sludge. There's still an active ritual. The Angel of Irons. We can't have anyone go down. There are glyphs. But in addition to that, what of the Krik attack? Oh. Well, the attacks were sudden on the city, but equally sudden was their retreat.

They seem to have pulled back within the last half an hour or so without particular reason. Interesting. Certainly the events that you appear to be tied to, perhaps. And as such, you are to be brought before the Prime Arbiter to speak your case of what you've experienced here. Are we under arrest, Marshall? No, you are individuals of interest.

It is highly recommended that you come with me to ensure that we do not have a reason to arrest you. Is she trying to speak to me in code? Insight check? Make an insight check. Why does she look at me like that? That's the fucking do what I say voice. Natural 20. Natural 20. I won't even whisper, I'll just tell you,

she doesn't like you challenging her authority. It's a tone you're very familiar with. Yeah, it's a tone that I tend to challenge. Before we go anywhere, can we get somebody to, can we maybe dispel that thing downstairs or do something to make sure that it's? Cathedoc approaches this point and goes, We have more coming.

We can take care of the rest, unless you know there is an immediate threat of anything else down there that we're worried would. Unless the Sludgey guy comes back. If there's a mess, I would put someone down there immediately to keep an eye out. Understood. And avoid the circles on the floor.

They seem to be active still. All right. Don't stand on the, yeah, don't let anybody stand on the circles. Don't stand. Don't stand so close to the pillar. Curious warning, but take it. At this point, you can see now

about 20 more townsguard are approaching, and it seems like in the time since you put out your calls for aid when you arrived, now the cavalry's showing up. Is Y'shaimala still watching us? Yeah. Okay, I'm going to do a little walk around and just start a decompose spell on as many bodies.

I'm just going to waft through the church and just tap, tap, tap, tap, tap. The demonic sludge is left behind. It doesn't take to any sort of fungus, but there are a number of bodies that are currently being pulled aside and put in a line of the various cultists just to identify who they were

and as to begin the investigation. Tell me who they were if you're discovered. Oh yeah. Okay. Just ch-ch-ch-ch. They'll smell better. And a handful of, looks like Crownsguard and maybe two righteous brand soldiers that were also lost in the

battle of whatever demons that Pumat was overwhelmed by. So. Do I see any other cardinals or any other people from the church? Make a perception check. Those are still lingering about. Perception check.

Okay, 15. 15, at the moment, you do not see anybody who's wearing the signifying robes of the Chantry. You've only been here for maybe an hour and a half tops total, and most of the people that were probably present in the Chantry were poisoned below. You gather there's probably more members to the Chantry, or if there are, they're just not present at the moment.

We should tell the marshal about the bodies downstairs. There's bodies downstairs. Well done. What kind of bodies? They were members of the church here, of the Chantry. They were, I don't know, they were killed. In their sleep. Oh yeah.

Not by us. No, by these folks up here, the demons. He looks over at Cathedoc. Are you getting this? Cathedoc goes, yes, yes, we're looking into this investigation, it will be thorough. Thank you. It looks like the cultists did some serious defacing on some of the stuff, too.

I can imagine. Such terrible figures would do such a thing. Well, martial, and Cathedoc walks back into the cathedral. Could I make my way over to the corpse of the Laughing Hand? I'm sure it's already been looked, but since it's a laughing hand. No one's gotten near it.

There's a white for a time, we're just like. I wanted to look. Yeah. We walk over and do a search on its, just on its body. I know it's charred black, but anything that sticks out that might have been on it. Make an investigation check. Guidance.

I don't think it works like that, but it's okay, because it's a 22. 22, okay. You step forward and everyone around stops and watches you as you do it. They're just like, oh shit, he's approaching this thing. It's like stepping up to it again, the face is this much higher than you, and it's like, stepping up to it again, the face is like this much higher than you,

and it still has a strong definition, though, it is just black, and it is just all gray, and it looks almost cracked and textured, and as you reach up and grab at the cloak to try and, or the edges of the cloak or the body, you pull, as soon as you touch it, the body scatters into ash, leaving this pile and trail.

Let the winds take you to your place of rest. That's real deep. I hope somebody got the picture. Somebody took a picture, right? Did you just think of that? Yeah, I mean, it just came to me on the winds. Wild Mother Bee up in here. Up in here.

He was probably stuck in there. Did Kathedoc head downstairs? He's gathering the rest of the Cobalt Soul as well as the Righteous Brand soldiers that went ahead of them. That matter of you guys are beginning to head down ahead of the Cobalt Soul. Looks like they're building a small regiment

to now go down and investigate. Does it look at any case, like by my assessment, that I could say something to him on the side without Marshall seeing? Possibly. The marshal's not right there at all times. It's just keeping an eye on all of you

and making sure you aren't going to run off somewhere. Okay. I will then sa't going to run off somewhere. Okay. I will then saunter over to Cathedoc. Okay. All right, we're preparing a thing. So, Borga, did you need something? Just be suspicious of everybody. All right.

I don't know who's a part of all this, but it seems annoying. We'll keep a watch. Thank you. I side all over to Caleb and just quietly ask him if he's all right, if he knows anyone in this room. Have I recognized either the garb of or specific people? Mm-mm.

I mean, beyond the bodies on the ground that are the Chantry's dress. And you can assume his antennas are going. Yeah. By the way, Caleb has antennas, I don't know. He's got them. Yeah, nothing. Nothing catches your attention.

I will ask Caleb, do you think that, do you think I should transform into a non-goblin-y sort of thing, or is that going to take too much attention over here? I think at this point, we're just going to be moving. All right, I'll open. We're here now, aren't we? There's been, you do gather, at the very least,

I mean, there are stairs. People aren't going to not stare at a civilized goblin in the middle of the capital of the Empire. But based on what Kathedoc had said, between Pumat, Kathedoc, you're not unknown figures to the people that are here. As far as on a large scale trusted, we don't know yet. But you gather, while people are staring,

they're not scowling and looking to run up and arrest the goblin. Cool. Is the cloak still on the ground? Or did that disappear as well? There are chunks of the cloak, you can see, but most of it's burned away. The inferno that incinerated Laughing Hand took most of the clothing with it,

and it was just this statuesque figure column of ash that loosely resembled Laughing Hand until it was scattered. I'd like to go up and take some of the pieces of his cloak. Okay. You gather they're small pieces, maybe more than the size of your hand or so, and they're mostly blackened and curled

at where the thick, heavy threads have pulled back from the flames, but you gather a few pieces. I gather them and I'm going to put them in my book. Okay. Close my book and put it back in my bag. All right. Can I go over to the bodies of the cultists

that are laid out? Yes. Can I just take a minute to inspect them, see if there's any type of parchment, any unifying insignias, jewelry, anything on them? Sure, make an investigation check. Boop. Is that a Guidance?

It's a Guidance. Boop is the universal symbol for Guidance. That's how your Guidance is like a boop. This fucking thing. Please don't. I really do. Add a d4. Adding a d4. 17 out of six.

Okay, 16 total. 16 total, which has happened. I turn off the lighting, because we're not in the battlefield anymore. You're black for 14 minutes, are you okay? Ugh. It's Tuesday. You begin to go through the pockets.

You quickly realize that all these bodies have already been checked. The investigation has been underway and the Crownsguard and the Registrar that are around, it looks like they've already gone through and grabbed things for their investigation. Looking at the people, there's no, what you can discern, tattoos or markings

or anything that is unified about them, and most of them just look like people. The ages range from early 20s, impressionable youth, to older, older folks, look a bit haggard and weathered by just time and the elements. I mean, the most frustrating aspect of cultists is sometimes they just look like the person next door.

But I'll look at the Righteous Brand. Okay. Anyone looking shifty? Anyone looking nervous? Anyone looking like they don't want to get caught? Anyone looking like they're too close to the investigation? I've been watching a lot of forensic. Make an insight check. Are you carrying in a crystal meth?

And blood checks? Insight check. Second soldier is clenching real hard. Does it have blue muscles? It has blue muscles. 20 total. 20 total. Beat me to it, by the way.

In the way that you're looking for, no. I mean, there are soldiers that are curious, partially just because the odd company in the chamber, the massacre that's happened, they don't have all the information. They don't know anything about the Chain of Oblivion, they don't know anything about this. A lot of these soldiers just got here

and were given instructions to try and find things and look around, and you can see them shifting the sense that they're watching you intently and they're looking for any other exits and making sure that nobody who's not allowed to be here is entering the scene of this battle, but nobody triggers your brain in the way that you'd be worried about them being

unnaturally nervous. I just look at the ones that are looking at me and just... Hey. Do we have any privacy, or are we? No, I'm fine. Okay. The marshal's like 15 feet from you. Caleb, who is covered in his own blood and lots of ooze and is pretty fucked up,

standing between Nott and Fjord, just is looking at the room and says, it is going to be such an interesting day. There are so many people to meet. Here in the city. I hadn't really thought about it. If we have the chance, would you prefer to not be here?

I love this city. Glad to hear it. I love this city. Glad to hear it. I am a robot. Yeah. Glad to hear it. Are you ready? Yes. So ready. Yes.

Beep, bop, boop. The marshall gives you a curious look. She was hit very intensely in this fight. I can see that. Come. You can see now a troop of about 10 righteous brand soldiers accompany you guys, flanking to the sides and back,

keeping about a five-foot distance from you. They're not shoulder to shoulder, but they're definitely keeping you encircled a bit. You're being herded and led out of the cathedral into the now rainy streets of Rexxentrum. And we'll go ahead and take a break. Oh! I don't want to take a break!

I do. It's okay. Liam runs up the street and burns. Wow. All righty, we'll be back here in a minute and see this next element of the story. In the meantime, we do have our giveaway for you. Oh yeah!

Giveaway! Wyrmwood! This is a Bolivian rosewood dice tray. Leather interior from our friends from Wyrmwood. It's awesome, it's got good function. You've seen this before. That's what I have. What's the giveaway? I think it is, yeah.

I think it's what Laura uses. So one lucky winner in the chat will get this. The word tonight is punished. Punished. Punished. Enter it once, once only. More than once will be disqualified in the chat. And once again, it's for U.S. and Canada only,

including Quebec, because of stupid laws. We'll come back here shortly with the winner. We'll see you guys in a little bit. Yay! Hello, Critters. This is Ashley Johnson, president of the Critical Role Foundation, our 501c3 nonprofit organization

with a mission that might sound familiar, to leave the world better than we found it. We partner with other nonprofits to raise funds supporting causes that mean a lot to us. And we allocate 10% of all donations to an emergency relief fund that allows us to provide immediate assistance

in the case of natural disasters or other unexpected emergencies that require quick action. To learn more about the Critical Role Foundation and to donate, visit criticalrolefoundation.org. And welcome back. So, that's a new one. Velcro taints a new one. Respect.

Before we get back, we do have our winner of a warm-up giveaway. The winner is Snarky Sloane. Ooh! Snarky Sloane, congratulations. We'll go ahead and get you your Wyrmwood giveaway as soon as possible. So, last we left off, you guys have stepped out into the reigning cobblestone streets of the southern area

beneath the Shimmer Ward within the city of Rexxentrum, being led by a host of Righteous Brand soldiers and the marshal. So as Marshal Ishmara brings you guys along, the streets you see in front of you are barren of townsfolk. Most buildings are closed up and silent. It's eerie, but the rain is somewhat welcoming,

and Yasha in particular. Feeling the rain come down, hearing the distant rumble of thunder, it seems to be almost a very cleansing and washing experience. This is the first time you've come out into a storm in a while under your own will. And it feels nice.

I just close my eyes for a minute and just let it fall. Okay. Matthew, are any of the guards halflings? I would say there is one that appears to be shorter than the others to a point where it could be halfling or gnome, you're not sure. Then never mind.

Okay. I won't talk to Beau in halfling, then. You're uncertain. As you're moving through this eerie calm that falls over the city, the intensity that you remember it as you came to the cathedral, the sound of distant battle and screams and shouts just gives way to silence now.

You hear some rapid footfalls and you glance over and see another troop of about 15 or so townsguard rush by, hurried, but not in a breakneck sprint like you'd previously encountered. It seems, while the tension is still high in the city, and from the word that you heard earlier from the marshal, the Kryn assault is not currently a looming threat at this time.

You're brought a little further south, oh, sorry, a little further north, approaching the heavy gates that open through the towering pale walls of the Shimmer Ward. further south, oh sorry, a little further north, approaching the heavy gates that open through the towering pale walls of the Shimmer Ward. You do see two slain Kryn soldiers that are stacked alongside the edge of the street where about a half dozen townscarred bodies

lay piled across the way on the opposite end. Quite a bit of death seemed to have happened in a short period of time. You can see splashes of crimson leaking from each of the stacks, but as the rain falls and gathers with it, you can see it beginning to slowly disseminate and blend in with the cobblestone ground.

Several crownsguard present nod towards the marshal as you approach and lift the heavy steel gates up with a as it raises up. You enter the Shimmer Ward, a sprawling region of vibrant gardens that carve through the streets and neighborhoods like a colorful maze,

encircling massive estates that house nobility and the wealthy elite. It reminds you of the Tri-Spires of Zadash, only on a much larger, grander, kind of oppressive scale. To the northwest, you can make out the rising walkways and ivory halls of the Soltryce Academy, peeking above the surrounding homes and guild halls,

while the north and northeastern skyline gives way to the peaking, climbing towers of the candles. The what? The candles. The eight staggering towers that house the leaders of the Cerberus Assembly, each unique in its design and structure. Some seem to bend in impossible ways, some are beautifully carved to be smooth and stalwart,

some seem to have their own offshoot, separate small towers, each competing to be unique against the others, but lending to this strange series of tall, looming tower shapes that consume that side of the horizon. I just walk up and I grab Caleb's hand and I just say, Hey, we're here with you. I grab Caleb's hand, and I just say,

hey, we're here with you. These sights only grasp your vision for about a moment, though. As your attention comes to the destination, you walk towards the inner walls of the terrace that holds Castle Ungebroch. As you walk to the barrier gatehouse, you look upon the dark stone gothic mass

that is Castle Ungebrok. The central pentagonal stronghold rises up like an intricate, jagged monolith, symbolizing the Empire's power. Numerous pointed spires and battlements surround the towers that peer from the bulky castle keep, housing intricate elevated walkways and tall arched windows of stained glass,

not dissimilar to the cathedral you just left. The central castle curtain wall extends in four directions into the surrounding quadrants that resemble their own separate strongholds that all attach to the main central castle. They encompass the entirety of the inside of this terrace, within the secondary walls that contain it. It's an awe-inspiring citadel of dizzying size. Numerous soldiers rush throughout the terrace,

still driven by the chaos of the day, checking in with each other, taking commands, and doing passes around to ensure that perhaps if the attacks come back, they're ready. You're quickly ushered up to the entrance stairs and through the main gate into the shaded halls of the castle itself. Recurring sconce torchlight continues to create

a warm flickering glow to the tall but thin hallways, and your eyes can barely focus on the details of the stonework, the decor, and the personnel within before you are rushed to a holding vestibule of some kind. Barred windows let in the overcast light of day, while stone benches line the walls of the otherwise unfurnished chamber.

As you step in and are gently guided into the room, Marcial Ishmara says, Please wait here until you are summoned. Two of the soldiers step into the room. Marshal Ishmara says, Please wait here until you are summoned. Two of the soldiers step into the chamber. The marshal closes the door behind her, and those two soldiers remain inside, just flanking to the right and left of the door. The room itself is about 30 feet by 40 feet.

It's quite an open space. The bench is around it. On the sides, you can use to sit, but the space is yours for who knows how long. Oh, we're alone? You're alone except for two. Two random guards. Yeah, these are elite townsguard.

You can see the crownsguard. The armor they wear is similar to the rest of the crownsguard, but much like the marshal, they have elevated signature threads across the cloak, and the armor on them appears to be more intricate. The helmet itself wears almost like a feather-type plume on the top that signifies their elevated status.

I quickly turn to Caleb and I say, we're going to rely on your experience here. Have you ever been in this chamber before? I don't imagine I have. You have never been to the castle? This is like the fucking Pentagon where we are right now. Oh, shit. Do you know where we are right now. Oh shit. Do you know who we might be speaking with?

What if they search their visitors? We have a bag. I don't know who we will be meeting. The only name you heard before was the Prime Arbiter. Right. Is there enough time for a short rest while we're in here? Possibly, you don't know how long until you're going to be called,

so you can begin to try for one if you'd like. Might as well. Might as well. Word will travel fast. Do you guys want to... I'm just going to keep my back to the guards and take my symbol and put it into the Bag of Holding. The Haversack. Good call. I will do the same.

Slowly, we all take a moment to casually walk over and depart. Well, we all sit down in this circle and rest and chat. Maybe I'll just, as everyone's chatting, I'm just going to go around and gather everyone's with my sleight of hand. Yeah, and just put them into the... You could make a purse pile at conventions

when you sit down and you just dump all your bags in the middle and just talk. I'm definitely making tea. Caleb is going to just sink Slide down a wall and pull his gore-covered cloak around himself and see if he can make it through a short rest. I can't remember if we've used, had a short rest,

or if I've had a chance to use Arcane Recovery. I believe you, you may have. So I'm just not going to do it. We did not, because we didn't do it before we went down after Nott. I believe you did take a short rest. I don't know. You did take a short rest in the stairs there, yeah?

Yeah, we did. I think you did use it then. Yeah. While I'm still doing the same action, I'm sinking down in the corner. You got it. I'll try, I guess I'll heal if we're taking a short rest. Assuming it finishes.

Oh, we don't know. Assuming it finishes. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Are we doing a short rest? You're beginning one, but you have the time to talk amongst yourselves and whatever. Okay. Are there any windows in this room? There are. There are five tall windows

on one side of the wall, on the side facing away from where you entered. It's a long chamber, it's 40 feet on one side and 30 feet wide, and these five windows are very tall and thin, and they're all matching about maybe 12 feet tall at its highest peak. They're standard windows. There's no colors to them, they're not stained glass,

but they are designs, the glass itself refracts it, so you can't quite make out the shapes outside, just the light and maybe some shadows. Guys. They are barred. I was super hurt in that fight and I can't get my head straight. Remind me again, we are sent by whom to hear? The guy from Zadash? Cobalt. Cobalt Reserve? Yeah, what's his name again? Cobalt. Beep, beep.

Cobalt Reserve? Yeah, what's his name again? Agrivis Zenoth. Zenoth, that's right, that's right. And that's... Expositor Dairon. Yeah, and he sent us here to talk about stuff. What stuff?

We got permission from the Cobalt Soul to investigate the Chained Oblivion. Chained Oblivion, of course, yes. We have done that great good for the city. What are you question, what? Oh, yeah. Oh shit, you don't even know. You kept referring to this.

What are you talking about? Hey, when did you leave? I'm a part of a huge establishment arcing across the entire globe and network of a monastery called the Cobalt Soul. I don't know if I've ever told you that. You might've just thought I was still a shit kicker when you left.

I am familiar with the Cobalt Soul. Also, you weren't actually following this thing called the Angel of Irons, you were following the Chained Oblivion. Were you aware of anything, or were you just a mindless robot? I was fully aware of everything. I just had no control over what I was doing

and the choices that I couldn't make any choices. I knew that you didn't want to be evil, Yasha. Thank you, Jester. I was on the fence. So, question. Because you don't remember much past when you woke up. You were called the Orphan Maker. Has all of this happened to you before?

Yeah. All of the sort of time that I lost in between, or after I left the tribe, I guess, Obann had found me before, and we traveled together and did very bad things. But I didn't remember until he found me again and a lot of things are still coming back to me now. How did you break free before?

Well, I was... I somehow came upon a shrine of the Storm Lord. I was... I somehow came upon a shrine of the Stormlord. And I sort of... I woke up still feeling out of sorts, but I felt a little bit more me. Wow. Wasn't Obann only interested in individuals who had a prolonged existence, a resistance to death?

And are you immortal? No, I'm not immortal, but it's what he would call his unstoppable family. Why were you unstoppable? Well, I think we can die and come back a little bit easier than other people. That was just innate in you, or he gave that to you? I think it's something that I maybe already had. Wow.

Where'd you get it? I don't know. She's a superhero. Yeah, she's a superhero, just like... Oh my god. No, I mean, I can die, of course, and if I died and somebody left me there and didn't do anything, I don't think I would just come back to life.

I think it's just very easy to bring me back, I guess. Yasha, have you ever had a halo? What's a halo? It's like a circle around your head that glows all the time. Yeah, this girl we traveled with, Reani, she had one. She was a superhero. Yeah. Yeah.

I've never had anything above my head, but my hair and, you know, if things are flying around. Maybe a hat? I don't feel a halo. You have like wings-ish. Yeah? Yeah, but that's something that comes out at weird times.

It's not real. To catch you up, we've been chasing this Angel of Ions, which is a terrible entity called Therizdun, the Chained Oblivion. And we've been chasing that entity because of your mission for the Cobalt Soul, right? Absolutely. Got approval from day one. Yep, okay. Sanctioned mission.

Yep. That is the story. All for the Empire. Yep, I believe. We met some members of the Cobalt Soul. Ooh. Yeah, you did. You did, Yasha. Yeah. That was when I felt like I knew you were either definitely evil or definitely...

Yeah. You knew it was either one of those things. That's a binary choice. Yes, yeah, it was definitely not. Evil or... not yourself. Yasha, did you leave this plane of existence at any time? I know that's a strange question, but did you travel anywhere that wasn't here?

Yes. Do you remember what for? Or where? It was mainly for travel. What you read? Hand me that page, you're up. We just traveled a lot. I think we were.

One thing, we should focus on what we're going to say in there, of course, but real quick. This thing about you being a little bit more likely to become alive again after you're dead. Did something draw you to Mollymauk? How did you meet him? Because didn't he say that the same thing happened to him? He clawed his way out of the grave. Yeah. I mean, I just, I met him because when I finally came to, I came upon their circus, and I met them, and I met Mollymauk,

and the rest of them, and it was just happenstance that I came across them, and he became my friend. Did anything particularly draw you to each other? Other than the fact that they're both wonderful? Well, yeah, of course. Well, I mean, I was drawn to him because he was Mullymuk. I don't think there was any reason

we were brought together, but I'm very glad he found me when he did. Speaking of, check it out, I got this dope tattoo that was very much like his. Yeah, look at that. Yeah. It's healed now. That's a habit.

I do have a question. Yeah, go ahead. Why are you speaking differently? Oh. Right. He got kicked by a donkey in Zadash. Messed up his whole head. Forgot who he was, couldn't walk for days.

Peed his pants, it was a mess. He's just starting to walk and talk again now. That can't be true. No, it is. I don't feel like if you were kicked in the head by a donkey, you would start talking differently. Bent over to tie a shoe, got kicked in the head by a donkey.

Totally different guy. I think I knew a guy in Texas that happened to him. Is he British now? You got kicked up? Yeah. That man's name is Hugh Grant. Yeah. You're not imagining things.

I had pretended to emulate someone I looked up to very much, and I found, while you were away, that there was no point in trying to be someone else. I should just try and live this life as me. And while this voice had not served me very well previously, I've decided to give it a go, because fuck it. Hmm.

Well, this is actually not the way that I talk. What? I was just kidding. Oh! If you have questions. Are the two guards ping pong listening to all of this? You guys are far enough away where, unless they have some super hearing, they can't hear you.

How far away? They're probably close to 30 feet from you guys. I imagine you guys are having this conversation closer to near the windows. But they're less hearing to 30 feet from you guys. I imagine you guys are having this conversation closer to near the windows. But they're less hearing it and more just watching you to make sure you don't do anything funny. Caleb is listening to all the shenanigans around him and has bathed in a total cold sweat.

Okay. But turning attention towards what might happen in there, no mention of visits across the old... I... ...range? I would also assume that these walls have ears. What? The, what, there might be monitoring.

Oh. Oh, okay. So don't fart. For untrustworthy folks, not us. Because people don't like it when you fart in their castle. Really? I've heard. Why arerustworthy folks, not us. Because people don't like it when you fart in their castle. Really? I've heard. Why are you so stressed, Caleb?

Oh, yasha. What? He just really got to fart. And he's holding it in, I can see it on his face. He's sweating because of it. There's so much for us to catch up on. Well, I absolutely not want to judge, so if you need to fart, you can fart.

Perhaps you should do us all a favor and fart, Caleb. Don't do it, don't do it in the castle. You really don't like it. Don't gamble on a fart, Luz. You'll never forgive yourself. There's nothing there. Can I keep an eye on the back of his pants for a little Plinko machine action?

Oh! Don't look at my poo muscles. All right. We have your authority from the Cobalt Soul. We have a symbol that we were given. We have done a great service to the city, so hopefully that is a help. I remember we were trying to

keep an eye on any incursions from the Dynasty into the Empire. Do you think any personnel need be mentioned in this discussion? How do you mean, which personnel? Well, their personnel. What's he talking about? We are sort of suspicious of some of them.

We have names of people who... I don't think so. We're kind of in, you know, the heart of this thing. Is it also just possible that we did a good thing and good things are now going to happen? Certainly. No. Yeah. I mean, I've been, I'm not saying I'm right all the time,

but I've been right before. There is a, if I'm correct, I'm right all the time, but I've been right before. There is a, if I'm correct, I remember hearing about certain abilities that would cause you to speak only the truth, right? So let's be sure that if you are unsure of your truth, maybe don't say anything. Let's just stick to the facts. We're not guilty of anything.

That's right. So don't act like it. I mean. I'm not ashamed of anything I've done. Just don't talk. I'll take a big swig. No. This is the second time we have done this, only now we have no trump card.

Well, we have our symbol from the Empire. One note. Yasha, you've met some of these folks before that we might encounter in there, and one of them took a liking to you, right? Mm-hmm. Oh. You ever see them?

I don't know. Oh. Trent? Ooh. I mean... Why do you think he looks like he's going to fart? No. Huh? Nothing.

Trent. Oh, the door opens. Did he get a short rest in? He didn't quite get a short rest in. Fuck! Eight hit points. The door opens and the marshal arrives once more. You are to leave your weapons within the chamber.

Follow me. Not a problem. Do you have any spells? You should heal Caleb, he's got no weapons. One of the guards comes in, and somebody from behind comes with a small table and sets it up outside of the door, and as you approach, the marshal gestures towards the table to leave your weapons.

That's my name. I will put the whip and the whatever other thing, but there is no sword to be seen. Yeah, that's true. All right. I'll put my crossbow and see if I can just keep the gun tucked away. Roll a sleight of hand check. Oh boy.

You have a gun and a dagger on you. A gun and a dagger, you're right. That is sleight of hand? Yes. 29. You feel pretty confident that you hid both the dagger and the gun without issue. Okay. What good it will do you beyond me?

I bring my fists, because they're always with me, bitches! You have to register them, though, before you go into the studio. You leave your staff? Huh? Leave your staff? Yeah, I'll leave go into the studio. You leave your staff? Leave your staff? Yeah, I'll leave my staff. Okay. Do they have names? I'll get back to you on that.

I'll leave my shield. Are they going to make noise about my staff? Yes. Can I keep my crystal or no? No. All right. I don't know. All right. I'm going to place my handaxe down. Should I leave my shield?

I'll leave my shield? I'll leave my awesome new shield. Do you have your, oh, you have the rod that doesn't look like a weapon necessarily. I can leave it. I've got a couple wands on me. It looks like a princess scepter. Unless you're going to try and hide them,

they're going to want you to place anything. It could be possible. All right, I'll put my one rod and I'll put my Wand of Smiles as well down. Okay. You have two swords. I mean, I'm not going to hurt anybody. Peace.

It's okay. Put the skin gorger down. And? And? That's more of like a walking stick. Just in case. I'm also going to put my old metal orc mask on the table. I'm ready. And...

And some hair oil. Oh, I forgot about that hair oil. And a business card for the hair oil. Slide around, break eye contact. Should I leave my weasel on the table, or just, can I take the weasel with me? He's just... The weasel looks up.

Call the guards! Which would you prefer? Call the guards! I'll take him with me. Make a persuasion check. Call the ASPCI, please! Call the police! I can immigrate to the Empire! Persuasion, persuasion.

Is that a rubber weasel? Is that a 14? I love that. Or a 19? What? Is that a 14 or a 19? I can't see with your fingers in the way. That's a 14. Okay, so that is a 19. Yeah.

All right, you can keep the weasel. Thank you. No! He's trying to slip a note to the guard. My name is Toby! It's desperately doing these things. Call my parents! All right.

Sprinkle. I love, I'm petting sprinkles. With all the noticed weapons placed upon the table and surrendered. It's blinking SOS. The marshal leads you out of the chamber. You are then led down a rapid flurry of turns, each arched hallway bending from the last

until you come upon a large set of double doors carved from a deep red wood, each bearing the crest of the Dwendalian Empire, the familiar owl and wheat over the crown symbol. I'm sure you guessed that right. The symbol. Is that owl? That's the symbol. Fucking owl. What the fuck?

This is the symbol for the Empire? Yeah. Cool. No, you have never shown that to us. Or is this the full Empire, or that's the symbol. Fucking owl? What the fuck? This is the step up of the Empire? Yeah. Cool. No, you have never shown that to us. Or is this the full Empire, or that's the whole Empire? That is the consistent. Can I see it? Can I see it? Sure, sure. That owl was a plant. They give a hoot.

Piece of shit. Wow. Things on that could you turn into dick. I have so many unused owl puns. I got to do something with them. Something. No, save them. Save them for the future. It's true.

The marshal knocks on the door heavily. The resonant booms, boom, boom, boom, boom, echoing throughout the nearby walls. A moment later, the doors open from within. SAM and LAURA, and LAURA, and LAURA, Oops. Then you're brought into an enormous chamber,

the ceiling ramping up towards the back, where the extremely tall back walls bear numerous red banners that hang nearly 40 to 50 feet from the apex, multiples of them. Elite crownsguard are stationed throughout the room, while the back center of the chamber climbs via stair to multiple small platforms, almost forum-like, containing what looks to be

empty high-backed chairs that face inward towards the pinnacle of the rising stairs, where a platform wide on the top holds multiple figures gathered around an incredibly tall throne. It's at this point you gather that you're in the throne chamber of King Bertrand Dwendal. Fuck me.

Okay. You're ushered into the room and led to the stair, climbing them one by one. The footfalls echo throughout the spacious hall. Your ears pick up the sound of your heart beating faster. You can hear the muffled sounds of conversation coming from above. You begin to reach the apex of the climb and tip over the top to arrive at the gathering

of eight figures, all of which are standing but one. Sitting atop the large back throne itself, you see a man in his late 60s, his past shoulder length wavy dark gray hair bunched over his brown and gold noble attire, a long thin beard that crests down from his chin, his tide from beneath, gold noble attire, a long thin beard that crests down from his chin, his tide from beneath, and a crown of gold upon his brow

to the same symbol as the one you see on the bottom of the crest. From artworks and depictions you've seen, you now know this to be King Bertrand Dwendal. Standing to the king's right is an older male gnome of darker skin, white receding hair, and robes of matching colors to the king's right is an older male gnome of darker skin, white receding hair, and robes of matching colors to the king's attire. You two make history checks for me.

Not history, not that one. My hands are drenched. History? Yes. 18. 19. Great. Both of you recognize this figure to likely be Oliver Shryber, who is the retainer to the crown, the direct associate and assistant to the king.

Oliver who? Shryber. Shryber. Shryber. Shryber. Shryber. Like the assistant to the crown, like hand to the king? Kind of, yeah, the retainer. To the left of the king, you see a man of similar age to the king,

though he stands tall and thin from within his immaculately tailored garments of silver silks, jeweled epaulets, and billowing sleeves. His pale skin and very tightly trimmed hair on top of a clean-shaven, if intense and judging, long face. You both know this likely to be Prime Arbiter Sidnok Truskan. Sidnok Truskan.

He is the leader of the noble Truskan family, which oversee much of the Truskan Vale, which is the far west area where Diastok and Kamordah currently are. Yeah. Within the current council that surrounds this platform, you see an agender half-elf of middle age wrapped in the most elaborate robes of the Cobalt Soul

you've had yet to encounter. Their short red hair tangles like a flame while their expression masks their true mood with a neutral smile. Beau, you recognize them immediately by reputation, not by visual recognition, as the High Curator, Yudala Fon, Herald of the Rexxentrum Archive. Yudala Fon? Yudala Fon.

The rest of the group that you're greeting here are familiar to you all. Arcanist Allura Vysora looks at you with a nod. Headmaster Ormyd Haas halts his conversation with martinet Ludinus D'Aleth as they both look your way upon your approach. Ludinus, looking in your direction. How are their expressions when they look upon us,

especially Allura? Is it inviting, worrisome? What do we see on her face? She nodded warmly. She nodded, acknowledging her arrival. There is a figure that, okay, one of the eight figures is a very, very well-armored guard. You do not see the face, and they stay to the side and the back of the throne of the king.

It looks like a personal protector, a guard who is just at all times full plate armor, a tall figure, and with no expression, you just see the helmet itself in dark shadow where the eyes would be, and is just, at any given point in time, ready to protect the king. Is your doll Fon Zadash or Rexxentrum? Rexxentrum. That's right, Valkyrie.

The last figure to your immediately right is the old jaundiced face of Master Trent Ikithon. As you approach, Allura speaks up. Ah, yes, these are the Mighty Nein I spoke of, Your Grace. They are the ones who uncovered the plot by this hidden religious sect. Wormad Hostin speaks up.

Indeed, since our encounter, I've looked into the threads that connect to this Angel of Irons, the disparate records of their doing and the machinations of the Chained Oblivion. The similarities are embarrassing, though have not been caught sooner, my liege. The king sits and leans forward on the throne.

And you know this has not been done by the Dynasty hands? How? The timing of their attack on the capital and this apparent occult event is convenient, is it not? Wait, what are those? They all turn and look towards you as you clear your throat. It definitely struck us as well.

My personal theory, if there's interest, this cult, This cult, this cult, wow, uses a lot of mind control and manipulation. My theory as to why the quick retreat happened, seemingly in an unexpected way, was the, this is really nerve-wracking, was perhaps, I've never heard me talk this loud.

Due to the sudden realization that they didn't entirely understand what their motivations were in the first place. They may have panicked when control over a couple key members was released. I have no proof of this other than just a suspicion in the timing. The king goes,

This is just a hunch, as you would say. An educated guess. You look perhaps not as educated as one would assume. Thank you. Yundala speaks up and steps forward. It is odd timing, my liege, but our operatives have been closely monitoring Kryn movements for some time,

and there is little sign of a larger involvement with this cult. We've numerous expositors who have infiltrated the enemy, and current estimation is that perhaps this cult instead orchestrated their attack in time with the Kryn assault, not the other way around. One such expositor I speak of was part of this troop, Expositor Beauregard. Merkam, if you would speak to our king

on what you've discovered while you were in Shohas. Woo! I don't have to. Yes, it seems there is a very significant evidence to suggest that this war between the Dynasty and the Empire exists no more than personal grudge that has existed for hundreds of years now. You're right, this is nerve-wracking.

It's really bad. for hundreds of years now. You're right, this is nerve-wracking. Really? A lot. While some members of the Kryn Dynasty might have also experienced mind control, we did see evidence that there were portals from the Hells being opened up, or from the Abyss, my apologies, on the Abyss, my apologies, oof, on the Dynasty side,

just as equally as we found evidence that there were portals being opened up. On the Empire side, which, honestly, to my educated guess, leads me to believe that this was some sort of potentially global infiltration that was being planned. Like punching holes between realities and with enough holes, you get a thinner and thinner

veil that's more easily torn. Like termites. Like termites, thank you. She speaks truth. Everyone looks over and you can see Martinet Ludinus Delef in his older, elvish, very graceful form, step forward a bit, his robe straping a bit behind.

There have been a number of these portals discovered across the Empire for some weeks now. Each one seemingly housed by some sort of dimensional anchor. They have been gathered and destroyed. And from what we can gather, these were possibly placed by either the crin or by this cult,

based on the information that has been presented. While we at first thought perhaps it was to scramble and confuse us to enable the ease of attack on our own soil, this dimensional puncturing, as you perhaps put it, seems to lean closer in the direction of what this cult was attempting to achieve. And with all due respect,

lieutenants, we have firsthand evidence that there were other members from the Empire as well who were responsible in placing these devices, not just Kryn operatives. The king at this point has been point is tugging and stroking, listening on his beard down below his chin, goes, As in, please tell us.

We found this device. One of the mechanisms used to open these portals with a piece of this fabric that we traced back and with the help of the incredible cleric Jester Lavorre, scryed and traced it back to an Empire operative. Is anyone shifting? Is anyone blushing?

Make an insight check. I was definitely going to look for that as well. Specifically, we're marking it. 19. 19. Woo! Yeah, boy. Oh my god. This nerve-wracking scene. Brought to you by Dwarven Forge.

I don't know why it would be brought to you by Dwarven Forge. There's no Dwarven Forge on the table, but I have nothing else to say. All tense moments brought to you by Dwarven Forge. Because he took in an actual fucking king. Is Fancy Pants in here? Fancy Pants? Vance. Vance? Vancy Pants?

Vincy, no, he didn't mention him. Yeah. Trying to be very fucking vague, but also. I think we should just say his name. I mean. What else are we going to do? We have identification on the man who we believe

is responsible for placing this device. Can we be sure everyone in this room is to be trusted? Hi, hi, sorry. The king leans forward and goes, You are not a usual goblin. No, I'm not. Curious. Trust is a flexible thing.

Loyalty. That is important. But trust must be earned. Everyone in this chamber, well, you see, looking at you all, and then eyeing to Allura, those who commonly work within this chamber are as trusted as one can be,

which is mostly. But I am where you see me sitting now because I don't trust anybody completely. Why is he looking at me? Because he was talking to you the most. So. Who have you identified? His name is Vence.

The community leans back and looks over towards the Marten and Ludinus D'leth, as well as all the other members of the council all look to him and Ludinus goes, Are you serious? Yes. Yeah. I saw him with me on ice. She really doesn't joke, ever.

Blondie, nice hair, eyes are a little too close together. Works for you. He watches, he brings his hand across the air and begins to draw a faint symbol. You recognize it as a spell that you use quite often to speak with individuals. Mm-hmm.

Vance, where are you? I need you here, in the castle. Vence! He's not responding. Sends off another spell and goes, We're doing an all-point search for Vence. My associate locked down Rexxentrum. Do not let him leave.

I have to ensure that we keep him alive. He also, he has a book, if I recall. Did you scry on him? I did, I scryed on him. I scryed on him when we... You did. When we came, when we landed in Rexxentrum. I, Laura, don't remember, but Jester would definitely.

The last you saw, he was in the cathedral passing over the device to the cardinal. That's right. And the scrolls that seemed to inform the ritual that was to be set. I say that out loud. Okay, so you express all of this. Yes. You can see Ludin is taking it in,

his eyes darting back and forth. You can see a bit of a flush to his face of embarrassment. That's a good sign. Good sign. Ben Snutharius. There is not to let him leave. Extend this message to all points in the Empire, all boundaries, all borders. Frustratingly, I just recently had bequeathed unto him

a means of protecting from divination at his request. So we're going to have to do this the hard way. Turns to look at the king and Yudala and goes, if I might have the assistance of the Cobalt Soul, perhaps, and you Dahlangas. Of course, we will also spread this information in search for this individual. At this point, the marshal steps forward, actually,

from below the steps and goes, We have just come from the Chantry of the Dawn, where it appears that this group, for a point of trusting, did thwart this attempt. They prevented this terrible thing from happening, saved a number of Empire lives, according to the witnesses present. At which point, Sidnok steps forward and goes,

Reports stated the Kryn incursion today rapidly ended around the time that this cult was halted, but yet we still do not have proof there wasn't a sign of collaboration. Nothing but words against words. Although there are steps forward in this. Actually, um... My apologies.

Upon learning of the threat from the Mighty Nein not but a number of days ago, I returned myself to Tal'Dorei at their request and insistence to acquire permission from the rest of our council to reach out. The rest of the council? Yes, to reach out to the Bright Queen on our behalf. The council of Tal'Dorei.

The king goes. Who's the council of Tal'Dorei? The king steps forward. Don't make me roll initiative here. Well, I happen to ask, I'm freaking new here. I don't understand. I don't know what that is yet. I was just wondering for. As Allura says this, you can see she's

carefully choosing the words and seems to be like, in that final bit of the sentence, reach out to the Bright Queen on our behalf, is preparing. The king immediately shoots forward and the throne goes, You parleyed with our enemy without our consent! At which point Allura goes, I did so because time was of the essence, apparently.

Because the Council of Tal'Dorei remains neutral with the Kryn Dynasty, I could claim an audience without conflict. I notified them of all that we had learned, the Mighty Nein, and as such myself, about the seeming infiltration of the cult within even their own midst, apparently. And they seemed to be responsive to trusting the word

of these esteemed protectors. Thus, the Bright Queen agreed to temporarily withdraw their attack, preventing them unintentionally aiding this Angel of Irons cult. There's a pause, everyone looks at each other, looks at you, and some of it's a look of being impressed, some trying to put together what this means. The king looks forward once more.

Intensely, his eyes narrowed. They withdrew on your word. On their word. What have been your dealings with the Bright Queen outside of this, if I might ask, that they would withdraw at the word of a handful of adventurers? Well, we've been working with Expositor Beauregard.

I found, in my line of work, King Dwindle, if you're going to learn about your enemy, you need to get close to them. Luckily, traveling with a band of misfits and goblins and half orcs and Caduceus. Fair. They were the perfect cover to get me close,

without suspicion. You're abusing us. What else have you learned in your time as a Bright Queen? He looks genuinely interested now. She really wants her fucking beacon back. The relic. You know where it is.

Ludinus steps forward and goes, Marleige, times of war make for unique circumstances. If they have indeed endeared themselves to the Dynasty, perhaps we could use them to shift things in our favor. Perhaps to bring an end to this conflict. The king is still looking at you and goes, and how do you propose we do this, Lord Innis? This relic they mention,

Trent seems to have recently uncovered the relic that the Dynasty has accused us of having stolen. The challenges we've had in finding a ground to bargain may be turning in our favor, my liege. Using these nine, seven. Will and Sprinkle. Seven and a half.

Please. Kill me. Using these operatives perhaps as a mediation tool, maybe we can bring this conflict to a close. Allura and the others look about each other curiously. Trent nods with a smile, his eyes falling onto Caleb briefly. Ooh. Oh no.

King Dwendal goes, and the Assembly feels this course is viable. Trent steps forward. And the Assembly feels this course is viable. Trent steps forward. We do, my liege. An optimistic view. Then I shall allow it. You Mighty Nein, you stand on the edge of treason

for your dealings with the enemy, so do not squander this opportunity to prove your worth and allegiance. You will operate under the guidance of the Martinet in arranging this parley. Use your influence to bring them to the table and ensure the return of this relic is received as a token to end this conflict. Should you fail, then I give you over

to the Prime Arbiter for judgment and points to Sidnark Truskin, who is just listening quietly and, while has not been involved in this conversation as much as the others, has been very carefully watching each of you and your reactions. Allura rolls her eyes and crosses her arms in a huff. The king speaks up once more.

I've a people to protect. Innocents and families who suffer at the hands of this unprovoked war. Nothing is more important to me than maintaining the safety and sanctity of the Dwendalian citizenry. If we can end this conflict and keep to our ends of the Ashkeeper Peaks,

since that would be a great victory, yes. Does he seem like that's what he really wants? Make an insight check. Never works anyway for me, because I roll like shit all the time. Seven. And a half. Seven and a half.

You try and follow, but just the force of his presence in itself is intimidating enough that you're not able to get much of a half. Seven and a half. You try and follow, but just the force of his presence in itself is intimidating enough that you're not able to get much of a read. I don't even know what he's saying, you guys. What? We may need some time to recuperate before anything is really... I'm having trouble even following this.

Of course, the Martinet will take care of it for you. See that you do not fail our great empire. Your Majesty, if I may, these dealings, of course, will be very dangerous. I'm sure you can appreciate. Pardon my asking, but your intentions to deliver this relic, if we can secure a peaceful resolution to this war.

Puts his hand towards Ludinus and Trent, and Ludinus goes, Of course, it doesn't serve us any purpose. Now that we've uncovered it, to return it would be easy. And hopefully, if this is indeed their intent, as they say it is, then it will end it. If it does not, that only proves that it will not rest

until all of us are dead and under the ground. I am confident that we will be able to find a way to resolve this. I would only ask, do you have any further terms for engaging in this talk? Does it need to be here? Does it need to be on neutral ground? Is there anything you will not consider? The king leans forward.

Since you seem to be the experts. Negotiate. As you seem to be the experts on the Dynasty, with your dealings, I leave those details in your hands. We appreciate your trust, my liege. Now, he raises his hand in a dismissing motion. The rest of the council around him breaks off a bit, takes the note that this meeting has been adjourned.

The Shriver of the gnome turns and begins to talk to the king quietly off to the side while Allura rushes over to you with a smile. Well done. Everything hurts. Intimidating room. We were apparently on the edge of being traitors, but yes. I guess we did a job well done.

Par for the course. Hello. Hello. Your friends spoke quite highly of you. We managed to utilize their connection with you to look into your well-being. I'm glad to see that you're all right. Well, we'll see.

Hello, Laudra by Soren. Hello. Ooh! Ooh! My name is Yasha. So I've heard. Well, I need to check in, and if perhaps it turns back

and the king can get a deluxus. Not you. Yep. She goes, I've need anything that I can do, let me know. That was very brave what you did. You took quite the initiative. Trust me, I've done far stupider. I believe her.

Things are moving faster than either of these nations can track. If you and the Tal'Dorei Council, whoever they may be, can do anything to stay one step ahead of it, please do so. It is too much for us alone. Understood. Oh, sorry, and if we need a neutral place to meet,

to organize a meeting for these two nations, maybe it could be in your nation? I do not think the king would be interested in dragging this to distant foreign soil. Well, maybe another plan of existence or something. That'd be pretty cool. Sure, sure, sure. At which point, you can see Ludinus steps up behind her. I'm certain you could work out the details

with the individual of which you are charged. Martinet, Arcanist. I got an idea. I'll take my leave. Good luck. Then Allura heads down the stairs. You called him by his first name, you said it by its title, it was pretty cool. Yeah.

Super familiar. What's Ikithon been doing all this time? It's actually about 10 feet behind Ludinus. T-Money. And Trent is in the process of gathering robes over one shoulder and about to turn in your direction. Ludinus goes,

Very well. Reach out to your contacts to aid in arranging such a meeting. We shall convene come the noonday sun tomorrow. I'll arrange for lodging within the Camarouth Cottage here within the Shimmer Word. I will greet you there in the morrow. It's going to be at least tomorrow morning

before I can contact anybody, because I'm pretty spent just letting you know. You look it, but apparently you've been quite busy today, so take your rest. This is a high-end establishment. We'll convene and figure out what to plan in the morning. Thank you. Will we be escorted to this place, or are we on our own?

They'll be an escort. He looks over towards the marshal and the marshal goes, Of course, Martinet. Good, I'll see you then. He turns around and exits down the staircase. As you guys begin to follow, Trent saunters up alongside your group. He stands in front of Caleb.

Yeah, I stand in front of the other side. Impressive business, isn't it? You've come far from simple sellswords and pit fighters. He took him towards Yasha. Especially you, Bren. Then he just continues walking, following after Ludinus. Oh fuck.

Holy shit. I don't like him. God. Should I go kill him? No, no, why not? He can. Just I don't like him. He rubs me the wrong way. I mean, you should act on impulse. I was making a bit of a joke, but.

Yeah. As you guys descend the stairs towards the opening of the chamber, the marshal and the same escort guard, though half the size as previous, just a general escort, less of a herding as it was upon your arrival to the castle, begins to lead you back through the lengthy chambers of the inside of Unkerbruck

and back out to the Shimmer Ward to lead you to the Camerouth Cottage and whatever the next stage in this endeavor entails. That's what we're going to go ahead and do tonight. In the Shimmerwood? Shimmerward. Shimmerward. That's the warden.

Shimmerward. And the castle is the Unkerbroch? Ungebroch. Ungebroch. Ungebroch. Ungebroch. Unge, like Ungebogah. Ungebroch.

Ungebrochen is an actual full German phrase. Ungebroch. I have? Like ungebobka? Ungebrochen. Ungebrochen is an actual full German phrase. Ungebrochen. I have to remember a little bit more. Whoa. I think it means unbroken. Probably, fucking shh. I'll double check again, I'm sure I'll be corrected. He fucking knows.

He knows who you are. He knows. Who's he knows? You've done nothing to him. You've done nothing to him, he's done stuff to you. He ran away. Yeah, that's just, yeah. Killed one of his.

Wait, you killed one of his? Killed one of his, no. Never mind. Oh! Oh, we just got a little story. Is that a slip? No, I think it's a pin drop. Yeah.

So, anyway, we'll pick up there next week. All the details are in the fucking camp brush. Oh yeah. You did yourself well. Marisha Ray. Good job, good job. Wow. Good job, Expositor. Expositor. It's terrifying.

You've been exposited. Oh my god. That was so fucking stressful. Talking to Donald Rumsfeld, and you're like, Sedani, uh... We also need to add the number of words that Caduceus put together in consecutive order to the leaderboard. How loud?

He was having a panic attack, man. He was just like, oh god! Nope, what? Nope, it's happening. Okay. Is this what they call civilization? Yeah, this is a lot. This is a really big room. It's the biggest room I've ever seen. How do you get the ceiling on this?

Wow! Okay. Awesome, we'll look forward to next week to pick up from here. Jesus, that's terrible. Cows. Until then, thank you guys so much for joining us. We love you very much, and is it Thursday yet? Good night.

Thank you so much for joining us on this adventure. To help new listeners discover the show, please give us a rating and review on whatever podcasting app you're listening on. Until next time, is it Thursday yet?