Critical Role - C2E90 Bathhouses and Bastions

Episode Date: January 16, 2020

The Mighty Nein continue their research and relaxation in Rexxentrum before returning to Xhorhas in hopes of convincing the Bright Queen to parley...Watch Critical Role live Thursdays at 7pm PT on https://www.twitch.tv/criticalrole

Hello, spellcasters, sages, and spectators. I'm Ashley Johnson, and you're listening to the Critical Role Podcast Network. Tap into our magical narrative by watching Critical Role as it airs on Thursdays at 7 p.m. Pacific on twitch.tv slash criticalrole or youtube.com slash criticalrole. Twitch subscribers can watch the video on demand right away, or you can catch it the following Monday on YouTube. As always, Critical Role will be available right here in podcast form on Thursdays, a week after the initial broadcast. And now, let's scry into the story and see what mysteries it holds for us, shall we?

Hello everyone, and welcome to tonight's episode of Critical Role, where a bunch of us nerdy-ass boys have to sit around and play Dungeons & Dragons. We play Dungeons & Dragons! We're the winners! And we're the losers. We are back! We've missed you guys. Hope you've had a decent break.

We have mostly rejuvenated with what time we had. Hopefully we'll catch up the rest before the end of the world. But we've missed you, we're happy to be back. Before we get into tonight's session, we have some announcements to go through, so we'll go ahead and jump in with our first of two sponsors tonight, Skillshare.

Sam. Goo Goo Gaga, it's me, the cutest green guy in the galaxy, Baby fucking Yoda And speaking of stars I'm the fucking number one celebrity In Hollywood Who would have thought a 50 year old man baby

Would be the toast of this town A couple of months ago I couldn't even get an audition for NCIS New Orleans But now my phone's ringing off the fucking hook My agents, Joel and Barry At the Death Star, sorry, CAA, got all kinds of meetings. Got all kinds of meetings lined up.

They're like, oh, Yoda baby, NBC wants to reboot ALF. Kevin Hart is asking you to play his brother in Jumanji 3. And we're trying to get Scarlett Johansson to co-star in a sexy remake of Look Who's Talking. But I'm like, come on, fellas. Do or do not, there is no try. Meetings don't pay the rent, you know? We need to put the green in green lit.

So I told my agents to book me some commercial work to tide me over, which is why they booked me on this dumb show to read your fucking ad. So here we go. Our brand new sponsor this week is Skillshare. An online learning community with thousands of classes covering dozens of creative and entrepreneurial skills for the curious mind. A premium membership gives you unlimited access to all of Skillshare's

classes and everything from personal productivity to in-depth courses on art, animation, photography and more. Classes, huh? Hold up. Note, pitch remake of Legally Blonde about a baby Yoda who gets into Harvard called

Legally Green. Skillshare Skillshare is also incredibly affordable who gets into Harvard called Legally Green. Skillshare. Skillshare is also incredibly affordable with annual subscriptions starting as low as $10 a month. And for yous critters, Skillshare is offering a special two-month free trial when you check out their classes at skl.sh slash critical role. Don't forget that URL.

Don't forget that URL. Don't forget. Hold up. Note, reach out to Keanu to do a remake of A Walk to Remember called E-Walk to Remember. Oh, wow. Oh, God. Hey, Baby Yoda says, thanks to Skillshare for joining the show.

Now get my agent on the phone! Oh, hey, I'm a child! Why does it look like you shoved your face in an airplane toilet? I was told this was green. I may have been misinformed. They were colorblind. Baby Yoda out, back to you, Matt!

Welcome back, Sam. Happy to have you back. That was my least favorite ad you've ever done. Wow, really? I'd like if you had been worse. Oh no, I can definitely think of worse. It's baby fucking Yoda, guys! You guys don't love, who doesn't love baby fucking Yoda?

You need a Stogie. I do need a Stogie. Next time, next time. This is straight out of Supreme Ledger of it. Don't say there's a next time. I mean, Ewoks to Remember might be your best choice. I've been, and I want that movie. Can we make it? Don't say it too loud.

We're making enough new Star Wars content, it'll show up on Disney+. Thank you, Sam, and thank you, Skillshare, for your fantastic sponsorship. Our second sponsor tonight are our returning friends for the entirety of campaign two, D&D Beyond. For those of you who have, like that.

Those of you who have, no, no, it's great, no. Fanfare is good. Those of you who haven't had a chance to check it out, D&D Beyond is a fantastic online digital toolset for creating player characters, NPCs, keeping track of monsters, spells, campaign notes, the whole shebang, it's great. They have bundles for D&D books out there

and just a great community for homebrew content as well. Go ahead and check them out at dndbeyond.link slash Critical Role. And thank you guys for supporting our show. Really appreciate it. Yeah! So as a heads up, too, a couple quick announcements beyond that.

Critical Recap, our episode-by-episode breakdown of our campaign has moved to written form now. So easier for you guys to watch at work, actually. So check out Danny Carr's incredible summaries every Wednesday on critrole.com. Yay! We also wanted to take a moment to bring awareness to two major emergencies that have happened recently

and encourage all of you guys who have the opportunity and the capability to do so to support reputable organizations that are doing work to help people in Puerto Rico who are suffering from the recent earthquake, people who are in Australia that are currently dealing with the terrible fires there that are still ravaging it. It's been a massive effort for people

both helping communities in both places. And if you are able to, please go ahead and attempt to make a donation to one of the many non-profit organizations that are helming a lot of the positive aspects of recovery in these places. We've done a little post on the CritRole Twitter outlining one article that has a good example of those there,

so check it out if you don't have a source yet, and if you have, thank you very much for your support in helping these people. I think that's it as far as announcements go. So with that, let's ring in 2020. We're in a book. Come back in a minute. With tonight's episode of Critical Role.

Oh! Roll, roll, and critical. Roll, roll, and critical. Roll, roll, and critical. Roll, roll, and critical. The adventure begins, they were always beside you Your nerdy best friends, And the DM to guide you, and they rise from the flames for the battles ahead Villains beware, cause you're about to be dead They got magic and flair, they got falchions and cunning They don't see over there There's a monster incoming Inspiration is waiting

Rise up, don't think twice Put your fate in your hands Take a chance, roll the dice Roll the dice Critical Roll the dice Critical Roll the dice

Critical Roll the dice Critical Can you answer the call? Digging deep in your soul And welcome back. SAM and LAURA And welcome back. Yes! The year has begun. First point of 2020.

First point of 2020 goes to Liam. Goddamn it. It was more the unexpected volume, I think, that got me more than the content. Yeah, it was aggressive. It was very aggressive. It's about quantity, guys, not quality. That's very not true.

Slap. So last we left off, the Mighty Nein, after foiling the plot of the Cult of the Angel of Irons and its unknown following of Therizdun, had found themselves uneasily drawn into the throne room of King Dwendal himself. During this time, your involvement with the Kryn Dynasty

during this war between the two nations came to light, and you were asked as part of essentially proving this supposed loyalty that you claim to have to the Empire to reach out on their behalf to negotiate or to convince them to come to some sort of a parlay, a negotiation to possibly bring this war to lesser terms or to an end. You are at your own pace on this,

after being assigned under Martinet Ludinus Deleuth, the head of the Cerberus Assembly, and was said, whenever you need to, but the longer you wait, the more tension lies behind this temporary ceasefire between the two nations. You had a run in with Trent Ikithon, confirmed that it seemed that they had

an additional beacon that, from your research, you found seemed to have actually been uncovered out near Pride's Call, and were planning to return this beacon to the Dynasty as part of this negotiation, while seemingly keeping one for themselves, possibly. You decided in your break time to make some purchases, make some orders, get a bone flute,

order a bone harp, order a jeweled chalice, and get involved in some underground fighting in which you put some money down, Beauregard beat up an older gentleman. Yeah! Two paladins went head to head, and it did not end in Fjord's favor.

Yasha worked through some physical therapy. Oh! I forgot about that. Yeah. That's good. Bloodied and sore, your friends picked you up, and we left off as you made your way out of the butchery that hides this underground fight pit, made your way back to the inn to wrap up the evening

and get some rest to recover and lead to the following day, to whatever your endeavors may be. So is there any business you want to deal with when you return to the Camaruth Cottage or do you want to move on to the morning? Um. I'm going to fall asleep and just lick my wounds. All right, you guys all head to your,

you'll have to be respective rooms. I think you really shouldn't lick them, though. I thought saliva was quite clean. Yeah, like sterile? I don't know what they say. Isn't that like a dog? You're thinking of Yoren. Oh yes, definitely pee on your wounds.

But don't lick them. Yeah, if you can pee on them, I don't know, it might be difficult, but. Unless you have a dog to pee on them? Or wait, no, a dog to lick on them. Dog pee is not sanitary, no. But a dog saliva? Good night, everybody!

But you can use urine of a dog for a jellyfish bite. You can use people pee for that. People pee as well. Why, they bite? Yeah, they have teeth. Holy shit. It's a whole jaw system that's underneath.

I haven't studied much, Margo. What is this? What is going on? Is this something? It's the anatomy of a jellyfish bite now. What? I'm terrified now. Parroted clawed, fanged teeth. There's a whole face underneath.

You know, they lift it up and... It's kind of cute. I'm going to go to bed. Same. You guys, those who are messes, clean yourselves up a bit and head to your... Head to your rooms for the night to rest. Stretch it out for us.

That's the existential dread I'm here for. Wow. Yeah. Yep. It's just, it was in the rotation, Matt. You're still doing this! I can't. You're still doing this! I'm still doing it. You're still doing this. It's in the rotation, I can't change the history.

That was from the old studio. Yeah, that was like two years ago. Wow. I don't even know anymore. Is that a box, a closet of our sort of stuff? I have four drawers of t-shirts. Four drawers of Matt. Four drawers of Matt. No, not all Matt.

Some are me. How does Q feel about that? She doesn't need to know about those. Have a hidden trap drawer? Life's a lot. As you guys make your way to your rooms to rest for the night, you find yourselves resting carefully.

You awaken the next morning, recovered and ready for the day. Breakfast is prepared and purchasable, should you wish. That was not part of your terms of staying here under the Assembly in the Kingdom. But for the majority of you to eat for the morning, it's not too bad. I'd say,

I'd put you to about four or five silver for everyone. I got it, the Chester's got it. Chester's jumping up. Do you do fasted cardio in the morning, or is it like eat and then work out? No, no, no, no fasted cardio, absolutely. We just ate? Yeah. You were working out before this?

You skipped a day. Yeah. Got it, okay. Just make sure you let me know. Okay, okay. Sometimes I'll just do some pushups in the room. That's just what I do today. While you still have dragon breath? God, I never thought about that.

Maybe I should ask the girls if that's a problem. I mean, it's... Is it a problem? Right now, yeah. I'm just letting you know. Maybe brush your teeth, then work out, then eat. Thank you for telling me. Not a lot of people would. I'm just very honored. Okay.

Okay, sorry. Do we own toothbrushes? It doesn't say in my equipment on the TV and beyond. I don't brush these! You go to a blacksmith to get some toothbrushes, possibly. Charcoal paste. You hear all this dragon appeals to get to the actual story.

So, meal's had, day is yours. What would you like to do? How long was it going to take for the chalice to be made? I think she said a day or two. Two days or something. Okay. So we should go talk to, what's his butt?

She has forgotten everything! What, Ludinus? Yes. Is it time to liaise with Ludinus? I don't think so. About what? I think we're supposed to go to the Right Queen, right? Yeah, on our time, we make our way to the Dynasty. Yeah, I think he had sent you to the Dynasty to check into this and then return to him

once you had informed him of what the decision was. Dude, add a couple months to that. Uh-huh. Why I never know what the fuck is going on. You're hitting the head a lot. It's almost like a normal D&D game. We were wasting two days of time here in Rexxentrum for reasons?

We're making a chalice. That's it. Making a chalice. That's it. And before you do a speech. I have something that I'm going to pick up at the store as well. Oh, well, should we go, is it day three now? Should we go pick up these items?

No, it's day two. I mean, like, are they ready? Is it day two? Well, since the order was put in, it's been a day. Oh, fucking shit. We've got one more day. Should we go check in? Maybe they finish early and they just give that leeway time.

Maybe. Do you need more arrows made or anything? Are you all right on your rolls? I'm good. All right. Hmm. I mean. What are we going to tell the Brite Queen?

That's a good question. Because that is not the stolen beacon that we saw. Oh. I mean, they're all stolen, aren't they? Not necessarily. I haven't told you guys this because I rushed back from the library because we were going to go kick some ass.

Okay, so I did some crazy amount of research at the Cobalt Soul, and I looked into that Pride's Call thing with an archeological dig, where they were saying that, that Trent was saying, yeah, that he dug up the thing. That's actually legit. Oh. That's true,

because the Cobalt Soul has tapped into a lot of the archeological digs in order to try and keep them as neutral or as Cobalt Soul involved realistically as possible. So they actually did uncover another beacon at Bride's Court. Oh, so they're not telling the truth.

No, they're definitely not. And that makes sense, because, yeah, not, you went up to the beacon that we took a look at. It seemed legit. Yeah, I touched it. But did it look different? There's no way it is. It can't be. Did it look different?

Did it look different? Oh, he said it looked the same. He said it looked... It looked fairly similar to the one that you had previously had. Like, you didn't have a basis of comparison side to side to see if they were the same. The handle work, I believe, on it looked different

than the one that you were carrying. Slightly smaller. Slightly smaller, but overall, it had the same power, the same general shape. Come on, the Brag Queen is going to be able to tell the difference between her stolen beacon and the not-stolen beacon. She can probably tap into its energy and some shit

and just sense from afar and read it and be like, that's not it. Yeah, well, as soon as she tries to tap into it, it explodes and kills all of them and us included. I mean, that's all I feel, yeah. Well, no. To examine it quite carefully. Well, from what I researched,

the sinkhole at Bride's Call, it's from these old ruins from a pre-calamity city called Shottongrod. Oh, fuck yes, it is. It's like a book over here. Wow, you went like full Tetis Preston Esquire there. Really? I feel as if I'mdio Arloga.

I can't remember what we said. This is dynasty side or over here? Over there. This side? This is near Komorda. So one of these things was dug up in an archeological dig? Yeah, and it had a tie-in. Supposedly, there have been two

that were taken from the Dynasty. Right. One of them you returned. The other, they're saying they're willing to return. Right. And she's uncovered that there is a new one that has been recovered by a dig here on the Empire side. Yeah, so Schottengrad, they were super into arcane weaponry,

and that's a lot of the stuff that they've uncovered in this archeological dig. And this was uncovered a couple weeks ago or something. The one that we were shown? So there's two. So there's now a third one, the one we recovered, the one that's missing, and now this one. But we don't know where the third one is.

No. No. It could be in Pride Rock, whatever it's called, Pride's Call. No, because they got the one from Pride's Call. Yeah. And I will say, I was paying attention to that guy, and he was telling the truth. Trent? Trent Igithon

was telling the truth? Very carefully. That was someone who was really thinking about everything that they were putting forward. That was nothing idle about that guy. So far, all of my research has told us that what Caduceus is saying is correct. There are three that we know of. Yeah. There's probably more. There's probably more,

based on what I could recover that far. Also, the fact that one of them was recovered here in the Empire says something about the nature of these things, if they predate the Calamity as what we have uncovered. From what you've researched in the religion and the Luxon's presence, they predate the Pantheon. Whoa!

So they are not something that are, you know, it's the Dynasty's bag, but these things are not exclusive, right? It's not something that they forged or created, it's something that they found. And more are still being found. Yeah. It's like maybe the earth grows them.

Maybe. Well, look, I don't think we try and knock it all out in one trip. I mean, I think we need to go and obviously share the information, because she has a bunch of powerful fucking mages that will make sure we're telling the truth, right? We got that impression the last time.

But I think we share. She probably looks at us like we're crazy. We tell her to believe us, and we go from there. We tell her about the one that was uncovered? Yeah, and then we probably get locked up. And then they let us out and they're like, are you sure you're telling the truth? We're like, yes, and they lock us up again.

And then they let us back out and she's like, are you sure you have time to think about this? And we're like, no, yeah, we're telling the truth. Many things. I mean, we are all worried about the idea that this is an ambush of some sort, and we've tried to mitigate that by putting it in a neutral location, but we obviously need to be on guard about this.

A question I have, I don't know the answer to yet, is whether we are going to be completely honest about that fact. Well, I think that's my ultimate question. Fjord is saying, yeah, you mean to the Bright Queen? Yeah. Yeah, Fjord's saying, you're talking about which part? Well, I would like to

ease tensions, and part of me feels like the best thing to do is to be completely forthright with her, but that hardly seems like it would broker a peace. No, you're right. I don't even know if... It might ingratiate us to her, but that does nothing for the conflict. I mean, I suppose it furthers the conversation,

which I think is the part I'm most interested in. It doesn't seem like they are speaking at all, yes? Dynasty doesn't trust Empire, Empire doesn't trust Dynasty, and they're not talking, they're just fighting. So maybe at least the conversation, if we can bring them to the same place, bomb in tow or not, maybe at least a dialogue could happen?

I mean, they've got to work together, especially with evidence of larger things afoot. I mean, if they knew that Therizdun was out there, the Chained Oblivion had shackles in the Empire, I'm sure there's one in the Dynasty and all these other places. I mean, we need to find a way to put petty shit, you know, continental shit, but petty shit aside.

Make a history check. Beauregard? Not me. Hi. All right, all right, it's fine. 18. 18. It doesn't come up often, but for more of just your passing knowledge

and study that you recall on terms of warfare and such, even through conflict, it's not uncommon for there to be emissaries that do meet at times to attempt to weirdly work out aspects after battles or see if there are points that can be discussed or tension can be loosened. That's not always the case,

especially if tensions are very high. You don't know if that's the case here. You do know that how this was presented to you is not because there hasn't been communication, but because of the relationship you have with the Bright Queen. The king believes that you might have a better chance of bringing it to a serious parlay as opposed to just a conversation between emissaries.

Send in your second, see if they can set the record straight. Yeah. I relay all that. But Daleth was sweating in that room. He was on edge. Nothing should be taken at face value. Does it seem reasonable to,

at the very least, air our, I don't want to say concerns, necessarily, but our, just say what we know, say that we don't know, if there's more that we don't know, but it's worth a cautious optimism? I think so. I think so, too. It's a low possibility of success,

but I think we go into this and be honest with her, even about our doubts and suspicions with the people that we are representing, and forthright with our hope that, despite possible subterfuge, that there could be positive benefit gained here and it could be a start.

We also need to get our hands on the delivery and do our best to inspect it. I think that's one of our... I mean, Vary showed it to us once. Do you think Trent will let us see it again? We're going to go steal it? We can go steal it. Me and Nott can do that.

Oh my god. That's what you're pulling out of all of this, the most chaotic possible thing. and Nott can do that. Oh my god, that's what you're pulling out of all of this, the most chaotic possible thing. That's what we do best. Steal things. Steal things and solve mysteries. Mm-hmm. Get in and out of the house without a trace.

Exactly. No lives taken. No lives taken, no holes in the floors, no... things on fire, nothing. Yeah, no, we're fine, we're good. We have time. We'll pick up the items here. We can also pick up your braziers and jewel hearts. We can talk to the Bright Queen and then figure out next steps

before your event is coming up, is it not? Traveler Con 3000. Wait, when did 3000 get bought? That's new, right? The 1000's here. It's extra special. Oh, 836. Soon.

Is it the 3000th one? Yeah. 3000 is just so you guys know how cool it is. Oh, it's like a hype number. It's like Andre 3000. Yeah. Yeah. Got it. That does make it sound so much more cool.

Right? Yeah. Is it the third Traveler card, or like the 10th? Yeah. Do you guys have Roman numerals? As far as I know, I mean, this is the first time we've ever done this. The inaugural? Yeah, I mean, you know, I didn't even know that a lot of other people

really knew about him outside of me until we were traveling around and stuff. Oh right, your pamphlets, yeah. Who's going to do the keynote speech? Me! It's got to be you. I mean, yeah, I'm the most special follower. Do you know how many, roughly, you can expect to travel a con?

Is it like 50, 100, 200? Well, how big is the volcano, because we have to fit inside of it? It's pretty big. No, I know the maximum, but what if we show up and there's only eight people there? Well, there's definitely going to be at least eight. It's not an active volcano

that you have to be inside of, right? A dormant volcano is still all right. I don't know much about this volcano, specifically. But your patron has not given you a sense of. My god, you mean? Patron means god. Oh, I thought it was just a person that gave you money. I thought he was patronizing you.

Oh, he really did. I mean, that could also be an act. I thought I was just a person that gave you money. Thought he was patronizing you. Oh, no he didn't. I mean, that could also be an item. I thought I was confused, now I'm really confused. Pick context. What about him? Has not given you a sense of how many more. Patron's a person that arrested us. You know so many things through him. He gives you such fantastical abilities.

Yeah. Has he imparted what to expect, or? He said that, that, no, he hasn't told me much about it. But gods are mysterious. But he said he, like, I helped him choose what it was going to be, you guys. That's a very important position, then.

I mean, like, I'm basically his right-hand man. Yeah, yeah. We can't, we have to show up. I mean, you're essentially the bridesmaid. Obviously, which reminds me, I think I need to talk to Orly or something, because we need a boat there, a ship. Like a normal ship, like the Bolleater,

or a larger ship? Well, it's got to fit us. Just for us. Oh yeah. I don't know how the other people are going to get, oh god, should I be organizing transportation for other people? If he didn't tell you to do that, then no. I'm going to pull out my notebook

and make a note to ask the Traveler later if I should ask for transportation. A per diem? Or some sort of petty cash system? I feel like that would be useful as well. To decorate and stuff? Yeah, absolutely. Well, if you don't know your duties,

I mean, you might be responsible for decor, flowers. I should definitely, I'm definitely going to write a speech just to be sure. You might. Because I'm probably going to have to make the like. Lanyards, you know, like special badges. There's so many things that I have to do. Sunday only, nobody wants those, but I mean.

What happens at a Con 3000? Do people come and speak or do special things? I mean, like, people come and they People come and they'll probably be like, oh my god, Jester, we've heard so much about you. Because Traveler talks about you all the time and stuffiness, so they'll probably be really excited. Is it like food and events? I don't know for sure.

I think we all will get together and then we'll be like, oh my god, let's all talk about how great the Traveler is. And outside of that, they don't really know what to expect. What if they bring weapons? Do they have to, like, do they get the little orange markers on them to show that, you know, they're not dangerous? Or they are, though? Like, yeah, zip tie them to the people's belts?

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Maybe I should get some zip ties. So many questions. So many questions. I should really talk to the Traveler about all of this. Maybe it's a leap of faith he's expecting you to take. Maybe you should make a performance with your bone flute.

Mm-hmm. Oh. That'd be so good. I mean, I can do that. I was saving that for something else, but we could do that. Maybe we should practice together and then we can play together. There's going to be a harp, so that'll be okay.

And then he plays the flute. I think we should practice a song together. I could play piano. I have to get the piano there. We could provide the music. You're going to get a piano in a volcano? Maybe we could paint the piano as soon as we get to the volcano.

Oh, like painting it and it will appear. Save a lot of terrific. Are you able to conjure up a lollipop? Or can you make piano? That's a really good question. Maybe I should try. This will be the first performance of Yasha and the Orphan Makers. Should I try?

Yeah. Okay, I'm going to try. Maybe you guys could play Jester out as she comes out to do her keynote speech. Yes, we could give you a, what do they call those? Barking? A patron.

No, like when someone's coming into a room and you say, Barking. Please command. A Barking. A Barker. A Barking. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. We can play a song for you to come into the room to meet the Traveler and everyone. A barking.

It's just a dog. Oh no! Well, we got really distracted from our plans of saving the world. I'm going to cast Spiritual Weapon, and I'm going to conjure a piano. All right. As you focus, what level you cast it at? Second. Second level.

I don't want to have to do this. Just pinkish energy swirls and sparkles into this little toy piano. Oh, I thought we never wrote it. In the air. You went like this much. It's about that big. Cassiopeia one style. What color?

Pink? Pink and pinkish purple. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Can I try playing it? I'm going to try to play it. Jazz number one. It's weird and material. It's not the best sound. It's not tuned well.

Make a performance check. Dungeons and Dragons. That and the skull whistle is going to be a fucking thing. Oh, I'm going to sound so good with this. Ooh! 18. You know, as opposed to being a nightmarish, discordant toy piano being tussled with by a kid

in the back of the antique store. It's more like your cute pixie manic girl on YouTube who decided, eh, not an ook today, toy piano. It's got a charm. It looks like there are buttons, too, for drum beats or something. I know we got sidetracked, but do you have an expectation? Do you have a goal or a hope, a wish coming out of this?

I got nothing. All I know is that he told me to be there, so I got to be there. You're a holy man now, Fjord. You understand that when your god asks you to go somewhere and do something for them, you just do it. As long as they're not a giant sea snake that's asking you to... Catawba. Oh, Catawba.

I mean, we don't even know if it was a Sneasnake. All right, it was just because. Sneasnake? What's a Sneasnake? Sneasnake 2020. Yeah, it is a creature. A Sneasnake? You tell me. Is a Sneasnake different from a Sea Snake? It is, yeah. One is venomous, one is not.

He's a snee-ture. A little bit like a sneeze-tack. And the other one has a sneeze on his face. Well, good night, everybody. Day two. Is it morning? Wait, was this morning, or are we still talking in the hall?

It is now late. This was breakfast. Yeah. It's been broke, so imagine all that, but half-chewed food and half in the hall. The whole breakfast talk. This was breakfast. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's been broke, so imagine all that, but half-chewed food and half of the words. We're waiting for a chalice, we're waiting for a hop. We've got to waste a fucking day again. So what are we doing?

We can't just say we want a day to go by. We have to wait a day. We can say the day passes. Unless we want to do anything. The only place that we could possibly go is to visit Astrid. Why wouldn't we do that? Because for him. We haven't done it yet. We to do anything. The only place that we could possibly go is to visit Astrid. Why wouldn't we do that? If we haven't done it yet, we should do it.

Or go to Pride's Rock and see what... Pride's Call. That's far. It's far? Yeah, we'd have to bamf there. We have teleport. I think that's why we were taking the time. I don't know if he has a circle to go to Pride's Call. Yeah, let's go to Pride's Call!

Wait, what? No, wait! How? Can't you teleport us there? No, he can't teleport us to a random place. Can't loot Nist'Alef or somebody? That feels possibly overcooked. Well then, a day will go by. Well. Patriot.

Hang on, I could go back to the library, I guess. Oh yeah. What? The big one? Just the Empire? Huh? Give that a reaction. Yeah, yeah. But we need to, we can only return here.

And Daleth is not, I don't think, going to send us to go sniffing about where they found one of these things. No, probably not. And what are these things? Yeah, what are they? Me and Caduceus were talking about it. They're either A, homegrown from the land,

B, fell from the sky, C, made by somebody a long, long time ago. D, I think this is the best answer. They're poop of some kind. Yes, but like, god poop, you know? Like sometimes, I'm sure the gods have to poop. What, that's why they all look different! I would not want to pass one of those stones.

No, but gods are really big. One day they had a lot of meat, the other day lots of veggies. One is from, you know, like... One day they were on a protein picture. The one is from Kord, and the little one is from Ivy. When I went up to the last one, were there little bits of Korn in it?

Jesus. No. Great. I don't think it's poop. Well, it's an option. What do you mean, fell from the sky? I don't know, they fell like meteors or something. Well, bodies of material do, on occasion, fall from the heavens.

I don't know how they would get the handles, though. Well, no, that's something that the Dynasty has provided. I think, I've thought the very same thing, that perhaps they are. Maybe they just come as the stone and then people have to make the handle so that when they touch them, they don't instantly get in.

Because right, when you touch it, you go in, right? So do you think we learn something if we figure out how deep into the earth they had to go to retrieve this thing, or if it was only just underneath the surface? I have a weird thought. That sounds normal. This is, you know, it's a little more serious.

So they found this thing underground. It's been there for a while. And the Bright Queen said that they use this as sort of a, like, I don't know, like a place for souls to reside, I guess, or some such. Oh, yeah. So what's in this one? What's in there? What's evil in there?

The Uncovered Beacon? Yeah. I actually. Oh, it's like fresh. It's like old. Do they all do the same thing? I think so. Pretty sure.

I mean, I don't know. We do not know. There's one way to find out. What if we go in this? We have a day. We could just sneak in and do some experiments on it and then sneak out. Without getting killed. Did you see that place? What if Trans-Ikidan was like,

what if he stole souls from them? What if that's one of the bad things he was doing? I'm not even sure he knows that they're in there, really. I think he does. We should be talking quieter, then. I think it's safe to assume that the Assembly, or at least Trent and Vess Stragna, that's Antiquities, correct?

Correct. They would have done as much research and homework as possible. I think we should assume they know what it does. Bless you. The Traveler blesses you. What do the two of you need to break in? I'm about this plan.

I'm either, I want to either break into tomorrow and just magically make it tomorrow, or go somewhere and break into tomorrow and just magically make it tomorrow, or go somewhere and break into something. Anywhere. Well, I mean, I thought we needed to do some research to this. You already got some hats for us. They're really nice, by the way.

Tiki, tiki, tiki. Um, what? That was very weird considering that she wasn't wearing a hat when you did. You just tugged on a horn. Eh. But we could go check out that place if you wanted to. They teleported us to that prison.

Oh, that's right, but he knows where it is. No, you don't know where it is, do you? Do you know where it is? Caleb? Pride's... No, no, no. The place where they're holding the beacon. I mean, I could walk. The terrible, creepy-ass place surrounded by iron gates. I would think that I could walk

if I were back there. The compound. Sargeson Sanatorium, you could. You know where it is based on your training with Trent before you were placed there, and then when you escaped it, you had to, on foot, head through the woods southwards. How far is it? I mean, you've walked it.

Pull up the map, I'll show you. Oh, it's map. It's not just like in Rexxentrum. No, it's outside. So we have over here, we have... Oh, it's really far away from Rexxentrum? There is Rexxentrum. Rexxentrum's right in the middle.

There we go, thank you. It's right up in the mountains here. Oh shit. In this region, the Curlbome Wilderness. So it's through the woods, about a day and a half travel, two days travel. Can't do the woods. If you know where to put there.

I do not think we should try to break into there. I had to kill a man to get out of it. It will mess with our timeline for what we are planning to do with Bright Green. It doesn't seem like an opportune time, and that place is as hard a nut as you'll find to crack. Well then, let's take a mental health day,

and then tomorrow we do stuff. I mean, yeah, Caleb, if you want to go with me, I don't know what you're up to today or if you're going to be aloof again, but I was halfway through some research, but I was running out of time and didn't find much. Maybe you could help me. Yeah, of course. I went to the library one time.

I will go with you twice. Dope. Dope. I'm going to work on this beard. I'm going to grow a beard today. I'm going to grow a beard today. I'm going to grow a beard in, yep. All right. It's a choice. Sure. Go for it.

I'm going to go sit outside again somewhere and try to continue reading my book, which I have 17 hours left. How's it going, by the way? How's that reading? It's pretty good. It's a little bit dense. Yeah.

But I got to some parts that seemed kind of weird. but I got to some parts that seemed kind of weird. Like it was a little sexy. Really? Yeah. Sounds interesting, I wonder. It was like talking about exercise and then it was like other forms of exercise. And then there were these drawings.

It was a little strange. It was like... Were they spotting each other? Like making sure their form was correct? Yeah, tell was a little strange. It was like... Were they spotting each other? Like, you know, making sure their form was correct? Yeah, tell us all about it. Yeah, it was like, it was talking about, you know, two people working out, and then how they were getting very sweaty.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. And then spotting each other, and then... Tell them the best part, though. Well... I still have a lot more to read. I stopped right at the part where the guy was pulling off very tight pants. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

They were getting in the way when he was squatting? When he was squatting, and they burst open. Yeah. Are you talking about perennium sunning? Say again? Perennium sunning. What is perennium? Perennium sunning?

They do this in Nicodranas on the coast. Yeah, I've read about this, yeah. What's a perineum? Is it perineum, perineum? I read about it in this, yeah. Sunning. You can read about it in this, there's this elven woman named Gwyneth Paltrow.

You can read about it on our blog. It's your asshole. No, it's not. That is what that word means. And then you put the sun on it, apparently. It's supposed to make you feel really good. It's a thing they do in Nicodranas, for sure. They put sun on their buttholes?

Well, they don't put it on, they just expose their buttholes to the sun. You can't put sun on your butthole. That makes sense. But that's such a strange position to achieve. Of course. You get your butthole. That makes sense. But that's such a strange position to achieve. Of course. You've got to get your butthole as high as possible and then expose it.

Yeah. Have you ever asked a cleric that question? I'm just saying. I mean, Pelor clerics have their own unique ways of praying to the Dawnfather. I object. You absolutely can put sun on your butthole in Dungeons and Dragons.

Let me show my piety. Yoga, that sounds like monk shit to me. Yeah, it is interesting how the drawings are so different, though, you know? Mm-hmm. Yeah, that's what that sunburst is right there. Oh, it's not a sun. Wait, and that book helps with your intellect?

It helps, well, no, it's for fitness exercises and things. But he has a little bit of a tent in his pants here. I didn't think about, I mean, I'm sure whoever was writing those steamy sections didn't think about the fact that it would add to your time of reading. Well, I do think that, you know. It is a form of exercise to have sexual relations as well.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's a good exercise. Yeah, that is true. Yeah? Yeah. Anyway. How many more hours do you want to spend reading? Okay, 17 hours left. You did get a night's rest, so you did manage to rest off your point of exhaustion.

I did, okay. Boy, I guess I want to get this finished, so how much can I read if I have 17 hours left? A full 17 hours will put you back at 5 a.m. the next day. Yeah. You can do it, but you'll be off the other point of exhaustion if you go straight through.

Give it some time, Yasha. Yeah, I think I'll read maybe half. Eight-ish? Yeah. That's okay. Eight, nine hours? What time is it now? Go for nine. I'll go for nine. Yeah, just so you have eight left for the next day. Yeah. All right, so that'll be

your thing for the day. You're going to research, the two of you? Yeah. Anyone else want to go? Library? Caduceus? You know what? Jester? Ooh, ugh, ugh! No pressure. I'm going to come to the library. Yeah, I'll go

to the library, too, okay? Are you feeling pressured because Caduceus said yes? Well, I'm just wondering if there's books on tarot reading or anything. Smart. There probably is, yeah. Yeah, I'm going to go. I don't need it, but I just thought that maybe

it would be good to learn from somebody else, maybe. Nott, what are you up to? I'm going to just do some shopping. Go to a stationary store. Cool. Hey, if I give you some money, will you see if you can buy me some darts or ninja stars or darts? Yes, of course.

Or just something that's cool to throw at people. I will take your money and I will return with weapons. Thank you. I give Nott... Come on. Wait, let me see. I give that 40 golds. That should be enough. So reading, researching, researching,

shopping, researching, researching, bearding. Yeah, but I'm going to go get maybe a facial, you know? Like something. It'll be a spa day. Yeah, take a little self-care. Fjord's spa day. No, too late, you're doing your something. It's spa day. Yeah. Take a little self-care. Fjord's spa day. No, too late, you're doing your shit. No, but. Spa for Fjord. I already did.

I wanted to go to the spa, but I have hair oil. Wait, from that creepy place? Hey, Matt, it's been doing some good things. Look how long my hair has gotten. I figured we'd do the spa tomorrow, right before we left, would be the way to just wash the direction truck. Let me try the spa first. Kill me!

Shut up, shut up. You want it? No, no, I'm fine, thank you. Tonight, perhaps. I'll just sprinkle. I'll double up on the treatments. Okay, okay, okay. You do find yourself in the Shimmer Ward. There is the Silvered Sunset Oasis, which is an actual bathhouse where you can pamper yourself.

Depending on how long you want to stay there, how long do you intend to be pampered? I mean, what sort of packages do they have? I mean, I have point to be, I didn't get a tattoo, I'm fucking loaded. Silver Sunset is Langford. Let's call it four hours. I'm going to get a full, yeah, that's right.

Four hours worth of treatments. Okay. Maybe a massage. I might get my feet trimmed up, my toenails are scary. You're being better to yourself on graph paper than I was over the entire Christmas break. Do something with your teeth? Sorry.

What are you doing? Like, help them grow more. Oh. God, sure. That was an entirely weird way to phrase it. I look for a facial and a haircut. 15 gold. Oh, that's it?

I just gave Nott 40 gold. I'll tip them five to make sure they take extra special care. Wow. Oh, he's going to be handsome. Oh, debonair motherfucker coming out here in a few hours. He's all buff now, you guys. He's just like, haughty for it.

All right, you were going shopping? I'm going to just stop by a couple places. In halfling form, I will go shopping for, first I'll start with some throwing weapons. Darts, throwing stars, any sort of blow darts. How much are you purchasing? Well, I'm going to see what they have, and I've got 40 gold to spend.

I mean, pretty much any of the weapons that are basic or martial are available here. Mech's Determinant's a huge capital. Most supplies of any kind can be found here through some searching. So if you're looking for darts or dagger, I mean, darts are five copper pieces apiece. They're super inexpensive. Daggers are two gold apiece.

Anything else you're looking for? Ninja stars. Ninja stars. They don't really have ninja stars here so much. There aren't really ninjas in the Dwendalian Empire. Can I go to the blacksmith and describe it? Yes, you can. All right, and is that something that would add more fucking days to our waiting in Rexxentrum?

Yeah, don't do it. They'll be custom made. Don't do anything. It'll take custom made. Don't do it. It'll take about a day to custom make them. I'll flash order. How many do you want? Two. Two? You can get two done in like an hour. Okay. Cool.

You hate this city like Trinket. Five silver per custom ninja star. I want them inscribed. Okay. Or stamped or something. I want one to say pop Okay. Or stamped or something. I want one to say pop and the other to say pop. Okay. So both say pop.

Yeah. They both say pop. You got it. That'll add an additional gold to it. Yeah. I thought that was it. So you get really good at throwing them? Yeah.

You're going to hit people and they're going to be like, Bob, Bob? Bob? Bobby! Bob! Bob, Bob. All right, so two custom ninja stars. I will also go to a, like a stationery type store,

a papier. Yeah, parchment of all different qualities is available here, yeah. I'd like a stack of hard cardstock of some sort. Sure, ye olde FedEx office. You know the good shit. Yeah, yeah. Okay. Think parchment's easy enough to come across.

Just smallish, and then I want two big poster boards. What is? Are we going to a sign fair? There are wooden slats that can be painted on that's usually used for signage. Not so much in the Roma poster board. I'll take that. All right. So let me see.

So six gold for the two custom ninja stars. We're going to Minecraft, basically. Yeah. Two of the signposts would be about three silver each, along with the stack of things, I'll put an additional gold in that total, so that'd be seven gold. Seven gold, we got 33 in October.

If there's anything in the off-season Harvest Festival section that looks really nice, it might just boost up the- Shut up. Stop it. Pouperine. 75% off. That's it. All righty. Metal Harvest Pumpkins.

It's really nice. All right, those who are researching, make your way to the Rexxentrum Archive of the Cobalt Soul. What is it you would like to research while you're there? Okay, so I was actually starting to research anything that might mention multiple beacons or where these things actually came from.

And of course, the furthest that I got was that they were pre-calamity and no one really knows how many there might be. The other thing that I was wanting to research, and I ran out of time, was other shackles of the Chained Oblivion and where they're located. Well, she says all that. Caleb had been going into his bag to look at

his notes and his research on Nott's problem. Yeah. But as Beauregard's talking, he's looking, he's looking, he's looking. Can I peek over? Where did I want to peek? Well, he's not opening anything up. He's just preparing to do it. The more you talked, the less he looked, and then just started listening.

So he veered over what you're talking about. Oh. Did you want to, were you like, look? You can do your own research. No, no, this is more interesting to me today. Perhaps we can find. What was that? What are you doing? It is spell research, spell work.

Oh. Always. Yeah. But this is more pressing for today. What did you want to find? You know, it's complicated. I'm trying to help Eonaut with something. All right. No. Beacons.

Task at hand, stay on task, Widow guest. We should see if we can find any mention of objects or anything from the Heavens Falling in different parts of the world outside of Jorhas to get an idea of how widespread they are as a phenomenon. Maybe we'll find nothing, but it's worth a try. Cool. Maybe I can go back through all the

archeological records that the Cobalt Soul is researching and see if anything pops up. And if you want to do the find, hit the books. Okay. All right. Ready, break! Break! Wait, hang on, hang on. Put your hand in like this.

Okay, ready? And then at the same, we're going to be like. Put your hand in like this, okay, ready? And then at the same, we're going to be like. And what? We're going to be like what? This is the, ah! I don't know this thing. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Did you find where the tarot cards were? Oh, right, never mind.

No, no, wait, come here, come here. Then you can go find, ready? Caduceus, Caduceus, come here, we're going to do a thing. Caduceus is gone. Caduceus. The library, shut up. It's my library! That's right! It's not my library. It's not my library.

You look up and see Udallafon looking over the railing, then they go. Say, yeah, yeah, yeah, I was just, yeah, okay, right in. And break! Break. All right, so you're researching what? I'm going to check the archeological dig records, maybe talk with Udalla, see if anything,

as far back as I can go, might match a beacon. All right, I'm going to make an investigation check. Fuck that dice. Lucky Jade. Does it count? It's out of the box. Yeah, I mean, I don't know. But it's a roll. Yeah. All right, all right, all right.

It's on a squishy surface, but flat on it. Yep. 25. 25, okay. Looking through the archaeological records that currently reside under the scope of the Cobalt Soul, dealing with any pre-calamity, arcanum digs, ruins,

even some mentions of things off-site, like Issylra and other excavations that have happened. Nothing catches your eye of any previously excavated beacons. Talk about many relics and something called the Vestiges of Divergence and something referring to relic tech, almost like the magical artifacts on a larger scale that were created by some of these older mage-based, mageocracies that ruled

during the Age of Arcanum that waged war against each other and some of them against divinity itself. But in those regards, none of the excavations and any of the relics that have been categorized, that have been studied, that have been made record of resemble what was recently found in Shattengrott. And how many years back did I go?

Was I able to go? Well, the Empire's only been around for maybe three centuries total. what was recently found in Shattengrott. And how many years back did I go? Was I able to go? Well, the Empire's only been around for maybe three centuries total. So... Yeah. A little longer, I think, actually. But...

You can go back as far as maybe two and a half centuries, 250 years. So in 250 years, one has been found in the Empire. Correct. And there are no records from the Cobalt Soul for other continents here of the Archeological Dig? The one things that you've read there don't mention anything of the object you're seeking.

In the other ones? Nope. All right. Okay. Fucking nothing in 250 years. Just the one. What about you? I don't know, I haven't rolled yet. What are you researching?

I want to look through the histories of the Age of Arcanum specifically for any unexplained things found, anything related to astronomy, meteorites, things falling from the sky, things that even then, and this is long ago, so it's a long shot, but things even they did not understand. Certainly, go ahead and make an investigation check.

Am I alone or with lots of people around where I am? The library is as busy as it normally is, which isn't a huge crowd. There's a handful of individuals that are here on their own research. Maybe, I'd say a dozen people total in the library that aren't themselves of the Cobalt Soul. Then maybe, from what you can immediately look around,

there are 15 or 16 members of the actual archive that are visible in this chamber. And I am in view of those people as well? Yeah. All right, never mind. It's open. 18. 18, okay. There are records of things falling from the heavens,

you know, referred to as meteors. Iron and metals that have been made and crafted into sets of armor of legend, you know, old generals of wars and forgotten ages that use the star metal as the basis of their weaponry. As brutal as it began with enchantments, itself became extremely strong and resilient, and in some cases, able to absorb enchantment quickly.

There's talk of what was thought to be meteors, but instead happened to be residual elements from perhaps our cannon weapons that were jettisoned into the sky, returning hundreds of years later, that then just impacted into the ocean and were lost. There's talk of a meteor that crashed not but 10 years before into the Siren Green Forest, just above Diastok

that vanished, though the impact destroyed a portion of the forest. There's talk of... Mm-hmm. Most of it's a series of different impacts that all have led to recovery of just material. Most of it seems to be iron. Some of them are various odd metals,

and a handful of them have been very odd metals that have been since grabbed by whatever group or political faction was in charge of that recovery process, and then the records either vanished based on who they were sold to. There are some records of supposedly some of these recovered meteors going up on auction in different auction houses.

So it was the auction house in Port Damali twice in the past century. Such rare odd metals that have been recovered from some of these impacts have. Many people believe, there is a prominent belief, superstitious as it is largely considered, that most of these meteors that do come through in meteor showers themselves are parts of Ruidus,

the distant moon breaking apart and making their way towards the planet. Some believe because it's decaying and just showering, it's decay upon the planet in clumps. Others believe it's supposedly distant warrior spirits that themselves are returning to the planet Others believe it's supposedly distant warrior spirits that themselves are returning to the planet after being lost on the battlefield.

There's all sorts of strange religious phenomenon based around this celestial activity when it does occur. Lots of strange things, but not really what I'm digging for. Not what you're looking for, yeah. Okay. Fuck. Any other time to research where the chained oblivion and other

shackles for it, maybe? I believe the research has already been put into this. Yeah. Okay. Yeah, it isn't like you just keep banging your head against the wall until more information comes out. You've expended your research in this topic here, and what you do know is that the shackles

are a very largely guarded and largely forgotten secret intentionally, so people cannot research them in the library, because that would make them very easy to find for people that don't, you know, don't have good intentions. That makes sense. Well, nothing.

Boo. Well, you have to try. Yeah. How much time did we just spend doing that, would you reckon? Half the day. Half the day. I'm going to go back. I got another two people researching here. Yeah!

Come to you guys in a moment. I've got a, I'm sitting at a table. I've got all of the cards pulled out, and I'm looking at them. I am looking for a book on tarot cards as well so that I can study them. At the same time, I'm looking at my book and see what I can learn. Go ahead and roll an investigation check.

I'm prepared to talk a lot. Mm-hmm. Okay. Seven! Seven. You get a little lost in your research as you come upon what are drawn studies on the human body, in which the musculature, and there's a lot of nude drawings in there.

I bring those to the table. So you get distracted for a while. You do eventually find one book that is a very simple study on prominent and easily found use of tarot cards, largely based around the Moonweaver. You sit down and you open the book, and with the cards sprawled out,

you start going from chapter to chapter, and none of the cards are the same as the ones you found in the book. I can, yeah. I can add to this, if you like. Yeah, go for it. There is, specifically when dealing with oracle cards, do you mind if I add a little canon?

Go for it. Just keep in mind if I add a little canon? Go for it. Just keep in mind, she rolled a seven. Oracle cards vary from region to region and religion to religion. They tend to have unique properties depending on what culture and what god is being worshiped of how they're developed and how they're built.

Moonweaver cards specifically, while there is a general build, the Moonweaver encourages creativity and deceit. So Moonweaver decks tend to be all over the fucking map. And this is definitely a Moonweaver deck. Yeah, and to that point, and correct me if I'm wrong, a number of the cards in the deck that you have are blank. Yep.

How many? There's like, so there's a collection of them that you've noticed, and then there's off, like just sort of on the edge, there's a bunch that look like they're kind of old and fucked up and hard to even read anymore. And then there's another collection of them that just have a couple little sketches

that just seem like they were stopped, and then a whole bunch of blank ones that are just ready to be filled. You get the sense that this was an ongoing art project, and that this was not a bought deck, but a made one. Oh my gosh. Yeah. Oh, I, oh. Jester just starts crying.

Oh. Because she's realizing, I mean, that's amazing. She's looking at Molly's art. Yeah, there's a, yeah. It's not as good as your art. No, but it's so good. And I can finish some of it. Yeah, those little black cards could use Happy Beans. Well, obviously somebody's going to get dealt

the Happy Bean. Oh no. It just keeps getting worse. Okay, well then, okay. There are, like, the only obvious card since you rolled a four would be the moon card, which is... I rolled a four would be the moon card, which is... I rolled a seven, thank you.

Okay, so there is, inevitably there's always a moon card. There's also, each card is built so that there's a word at the bottom and a word at the top, so that when you flip it, there's a word at the bottom and then some new word. So it's a different, so each card can be two? Each card can be two, and the moon is a beautiful,

large moon in a night sky over this crystal clear lake. And when you turn it over, it's called the Mirror. And when you look in the reflection of the moon in the lake, there are two moons. Like balls. And one smaller, reddish-purplish moon sitting right behind the big, normal white moon, which is not actually in the sky in the moon card,

it's just a single moon. So for your half day of research into this, you spend half of it looking through naked pictures of people sketched in the air, and the other half learn nothing about tarot cards beyond just looking through the cards that Molly had left incomplete. And yeah, that's about it.

But it was time well spent. Oh, very much so. You don't always learn what you want, but you learn what you need. I remember when Molly read My Fortune a couple times, I pulled the card out myself, or did he pull the card out for me?

Do you know what a force is? I don't, don't you? I'm asking for Jester's sake. With a seven? No, no, okay. So. You pulled the card. I pulled the cards. Yes. Okay. Okay. That's why I. I pulled the cards. Yes. Okay. Okay.

Bless you. I need to remember how to read other people's fortunes. So I'm just going to try to do it the way that Molly did it for me. All right. Okay. Yeah, as we keep going, I'll describe cards as they pop up, so.

Caduceus. So yeah, I'm keep going, I'll describe cards as they pop up, so. Caduceus. So yeah, I'm going to go find help, because I don't understand anything that's happening here. Is there a help desk? There is a central clerical round table that sits hollow in the center, where two individuals sit at facing outward

that are there for help. Since you are with an Expositor initially, you are not immediately assigned some person to be your escort. However, once you break away from the Expositor, you are under supervision. They don't want anyone stealing, running away with any of the books

or items that are brought here. So any person who's here that isn't a part of the Cobalt Soul is constantly under supervision. So as you're wandering around, you eventually turn around towards that table and you can see there's already an individual arms folded, just looking at you. Oh, this is great.

I could actually use some help if you don't mind. They approach, you see, appears to be a male half-elf. Undetermined age, youngish, but hair is cut extremely short. The eyes are like a dull amber color in the iris, and Kendritch leans forward. So how can I help you? Hi, I'm so sorry, what was your name?

Who is? Oh, Vessand. Vessand, hi. What is your Caduceus? All right. What do you need help with? I've never been in one of these before, really, and I've never actually had to look anything up before.

What is it you came here to seek? I'm looking for information on a lesser-known deity, or I'm supposed to be going to a festival for this deity called the Traveler. I've got a date for the event. I don't know much about what should be expected, and I was curious if it would be possible to maybe get any information about what I'm walking into.

I cannot say it comes strongly to mind, but I can help you in looking for some research. I've got some basic description. I've got the date of the celebration. I don't know if it has significance or anything like that. Go ahead and make an investigation check for me. Oh boy, he's not going to help? Okay, that's okay. This, all of these searches involve help

with the library if you need it, but this is more of your ability to describe elements of this. Natural 19. Okay. Which means 18. Wow. All right. With help, you do find some books

specifically about strange occultism. All right. And what are referred to as, what would be the phrase? It would be rural hearsay of neo-religions and folklore. Okay. I'm a slow reader. In which, and it does, it takes you four hours to get through, this is all you get.

Yeah. But you acquire information that the Traveler is essentially a rumored figure that has begun to show up in rural areas very selectively, all the notes, and you do notice, because you are an insightful individual, that the ink that is written about the Traveler is very fresh compared to the rest of the book. That's pretty fair, so I know for sure.

And most of it speaks of worry of it being either some sort of devil masquerading as an entity, discussion of it being a mass hallucination, of it being just a person who is convincing people of itself and it's just a big illusion, and some people saying that it's just heresy, you know, and people are worshiping something much darker

and are using this as a front and they explain what it is they worship. It's fresh enough, and most of these things were referred to only in recent decades. All right. And then the Traveler Con is happening on the 26th of Undelar. A decade, maybe. So is there anything special?

Were you asking is there anything special about that day? If I was tracking a farmer's almanac about the 26th of Undelar, if that's a decade. No! It wasn't for anything. Oh, the 26th of Undalore. If that's a dead end. No! It works for anything. Oh, the 26th of Undalore? High magma. That is the Zenith.

Oh, so we're having Traveler Con on the Zenith. Zenith. The highest point during the year of the sun's placement in the sky. It's considered to be the center point of summer. It is generally one of the hotter and central brightest days, and it signifies that midpoint between the depth of winter

and the other side of the calendar. That's the best day for it. Gotcha. Our butts are going to be so tanned. Our anuses are going to be. I never thought you laid on your back with your legs up. I thought they were doing like, It's a real thing.

I thought they were doing like, Epi Baby. Upside down Vs. Yeah. The whole squadron. So that's your research, could do. That'll do. I'm good. The squadron.

So, anything else you'd like to accomplish today? No, we go to sleep and wake up the next day! All right. That makes you look ridiculous. The cat herding continues. Yeah, it's hard. I didn't want to learn. First day back. I know, that's how it is.

We're going to shake off the holidays. So it's been another evening of rest. Next day unfolds before you. You gather your stuff is probably available, given the scenario. Is there anything else that we should be done with the day? Well, if we're just going to go through that quickly, which is fine.

Well, I was asking if everyone was done with the day, but if there's anything else you want to do, what is it? Same fast forwarded as. I did. I did. Caleb will, in the evening, in their room, will lay out all of what he has figured out so far for Nott's problem,

and come over here, look at this. Okay. I have started. I have not made much headway. I did a good bit of work yesterday. I have not forgotten. It is going to take time for me to understand this, if at all. Is there anything I can do to speed up the process

or clarify things? Do you want to have a look at it? Sure, yes. I cannot solve this. I don't know what this means here. This symbol inside these two circles. Let me take a look. I've been around some books.

So do you guys spend the remainder of the day together? I would say like nighttime, stay up a couple hours. Not even a ton. Okay. So either you can both make arcana checks or one of you can make it with advantage. Your call. Both. Both, yeah. Why'd you use that luck?

14. 17. 17, okay. With Nott's help, you do break past that one barrier that's been keeping you from advancing on one of the broken elements of this extensive equation. With the loose improvisation, you are such a structured-minded individual that it's through Nott's haphazard barreling through it that it ends up teaching you a bit of going with

the natural flow of this equation. And in doing so, you do advance it quite a bit. I'd say by the end of the evening, both of you working together, you're making some good headway. You don't know how long, but how much more time you would need, necessarily. Of course, if this was all done in a research facility

or a chamber that was designed specifically for the inscribing and creation of arcane scripture, if you will, inscriptions and designs, this would be a lot quicker, but you're doing this in the midst of a room, so it's taking longer than anticipated. But you're making some decent headway. It's starting to take form, and you're starting to see the patterns taking shape,

and you're getting excited. Thank you. I was being a little too literal, a little too straight on. Well, I helped Yazd with his problems sometimes. Always good to have an extra set of eyes on things. Yeah, always. Lucky man, he'll get you back to him.

I hope so. You still feel okay being in this town, near people you used to know? Um, not really. It is hard to be here. There's many things I like to see here, but all of it's tinged with a bit of hurt, so I'm looking forward to leave.

You don't want to go talk to Eadwulf and, oh, I don't know, what was her name? Astrid. Oh, yeah. You don't want to go talk to her? I'm not exactly sure what I would say to either of them. Mm. I'm not exactly sure what I would say to either of them. I don't have a good sense of it. Some wounds heal, some don't.

Yeah. Well, if you wanted to go visit either, I'll, you know, I'll back you up. Why don't we... Maybe we turn in and get a good night's rest and try to do something useful tomorrow and maybe when we return. Good night.

I pull her into a slow, awkward hug. I pull her into a slow, awkward hug. I hug back. Thank you for coming with me so far. Well, thank you for going this far. I know it's hard to be here, but I'm proud of you, you know? You won't ever get fully better

unless you confront these things. So it's a step. You should be proud of yourself, too. So it's a step. You should be proud of yourself, too. What about you? You still want this? This road? Of course. Of course. No, I know this. Oh.

But everything else. Yeah, I mean. All of this travel and danger. The danger and the travel, it distracts me an awful lot, which is good. So it's either, it's either I find the distraction at the bottom of a bottle, or in adrenaline-fueled danger,

or I have to go back and in adrenaline-fueled danger, or I have to go back and think about it more. And if all of this works, that will change things? I guess it will. I'll be happy. Insight check. Oh. Can I just ask while the insight check is happening,

has this whole conversation been happening while you guys have been hugging? Yeah, yeah. Okay, I'm just making sure that you're still really close. We're sending out our buds. Yeah. I'm just trying to get the visual.

So, you know. Catching moonlight at this stage of the day. Is that real, too? Why can't I roll that high before? That is a 27. Cool. I mean, I think you get a sense from Nott that she is very scared of what

the future may hold for her if we continue down this path. Well, pulling out the silver thread, good night. I return in. Me too. Okay. You guys all rest for the evening. Take the fourth day since you've left the throne room of the king.

I thought it was the third day now. I thought it was two. I thought it was just the third day. You guys took one day to talk to Ludinus before that and everything. Second day was the day leading up to the fight. Third day was yesterday, it's the fourth day. I believe I had that math right.

I don't know, it's been since the holidays. So you guys, if you want to, you can go ahead and retrieve from the cryptic collection in Keon of the Keen, the jeweled chalice of which we had ordered, as well as your bone harp, which looks delightfully intimidating for being in harp-like instrument. It's jagged at edges.

It has this natural curve that hooks around. Yeah. And it's made out of a spine? Yeah. Killed somebody with that shit. I had to find a special case of scoliosis for that one. I can relate. Yeah. Not that that means...

I think I was going to say, I don't know how you're going to say it. I haven't spoken in a while. Can I give it a little... Tickle the... Yeah, what do you say? You've got a heart. I don't a little, tickle the, uh... Yeah, what are you saying about a harp? I don't know. Tickle the strings? Tickle the strings? Pluck them?

It's not tuned. And you get the sense that this was built as a collaboration. There is the bone work and the craft work to the actual harp itself is very much in line with a lot of the other sculpting and designs of the chamber that you're in. But the strings and a lot of the more instrumental part of it have a more delicate touch in their design.

And Keone even mentions to you the fact that this was, the music element of it was, an actual musician's barando. It's not tuned. It sounds beautiful. Haunting, almost. And there's an interesting element, because some of the bones themselves are hollow.

Some of the notes that you play, it gives this resonant vibration that completely bores through the entirety of the harp and gives this weird reverberation to the sound that normally wouldn't be there. It's almost ghostly. Mm-hmm. This is one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen.

Well, I'm glad to hear that. You really just went above and beyond to make this just such a beautiful instrument. Make me proud. I'm going to Pretty ass hands. Do you want to try playing it? You probably already have. Oh, I have.

Can I hear? I'm bashful about it. I understand. But your chalice. Thank you. Mm, that's so fancy, thank you. Could you imagine her getting ripped out of that cup?

Yeah. Go. What else are you going to do with that fancy-ass chalice? Ice cream's in, so what else? It's essentially a pimple cup for you there. Jester's got a pimple comp, it's pretty great. I'm going to eat ice cream out of it.

All right, so you go ahead and. It's perfect sundae size. Fuck, you're right. You find an ice cream-esque rexentrum treat, which is challenging, given the current gray, cold weather that seems to have taken most of the environment, but it's available.

Is it in a little cart vendor, or is it a store? You actually have to have taken most of the environment, but it's available. Oh, is it in a little cart vendor, or is it a store? You actually have to have requested. It's more of just a frozen cream that someone has to repurpose for the specifics of what you're requesting. It's just cheese. Kind of, kind of.

Nice cheese. Put it in here. But don't take it, I'm going to just... There's another phrase that's never been said. Mulvih. Fill my chalice with ice cheese. I have scoops. Six scoops. Thank you.

Well, it's a big chalice, it feels, you know. Best use of a jeweled chalice. Is there anything else anyone wants to accomplish in the morning or before we go? Hey, how was that spa? I mean, I feel like a new half-orc. You want to go to the spa? Did you still want to do that? Before we like, spa and then go? Do you want to go read at the spa?

Yeah, I could go read at the spa. I mean, do I? Your skin looks quite beautiful. Right? You're glowing. Your haircuts. It says a globe. It looks like you've got a little bit of a stubble coming in there. No, it's really nice.

They have like hot towels and it's nice. Wow. Yep. All right. Like mud baths and things like that? I did not ask. Ah. But I bet they do. How hard could it be?

I guess anywhere could be a mud bath. Is that a spa treatment? Yeah. Oh. I mean, it was where I was from. You paid for this? Yeah, we would just roll around in it, and it's supposed to be really good for your skin. Weird.

Let's try that. You're going to go back? Spa day number two. Look at my beard! I mean, it's... I thought it was called... A stretch. I mean, look, it's really, it hurts, right?

I mean, it's really there. Actually, you got a dry patch, thank you. Yeah. Sponsor girl. Yeah. With that, I think we all made it far there. Before we go, I wanted to share my ice cream with the Traveler and ask him about Traveler Con, if I could.

All right. Do you wish to, like? I'm going to go find a nice, quiet patch on the grass or something if we're out, and I'm going to sit down with my ice cream, and I'm going to. Just wander off mid-walk, sitting apart. We're talking about the spot. Jess, Jess.

I'm going to concentrate on my symbol and say Traveler. Well, wait a minute. I got some ice cream for us. If you want to talk about Traveler Con, because there are some interesting questions coming up and I realize I don't have the answers, and so, you know. You guys all wait and stare at Jester?

Yeah. Let's just let this happen. I'm going to sit and tinker with the harp. Play some Hot Cross Buns. Yeah, make performance check. Ooh, maybe it will inspire the Traveler. Oh, natural 20. Ooh! Yes!

Oh shit. Plus your performance. Fuck yeah! Performance probably is a minus two. It's 18. Okay. But natural 20. For skills, natural 20s aren't really a two. So 18. Okay. But natural 20. For skills, natural 20s aren't really a thing. Lies. No, handbook.

Damn. Handbook is just a lie that's been written down. Never be above 18 in performance. But I take it for the cool factor of it, I take it on account. So even though you've never, and correct me if I'm wrong, really spent time with a harp previously,

an instrument that maybe from afar you've appreciated, you kind of, while not really finding a melody, the sound itself is clean, and you tune it as you go, the best to your ear, and while it doesn't necessarily produce a consistent melody, the sound itself is still clear and beautiful.

And even as you guys wait, you are taken off guard by the sight of Yasha, this powerful, dark figure that has gone through and endured so much in recent time, sitting here amongst the edge of the grass in Rexxentrum under a faintly cloud-covered sky and just improvising this beautiful sound from this instrument.

As Jester watches her ice cream slowly melt into a cup, as the rest of her friends stare impatiently, waiting for her to join them. He doesn't come? No. He's lactose intolerant. Oh no. Oh no. The Traveler.

You okay? I don't think he likes ice cream. Who doesn't like ice cream? I don't. I've never met anyone. Maybe he's busy making lanyards and curiosity. Maybe he's so busy. Maybe he's mad at me because it took me so long

to ask him these questions. It's also like a biggie park. It's a busy park. I'm sorry. Knock the bubbles loose. Okay, Sneasnake. I saw that, yep, yep. Yep, yep.

Yep, yep. Just walk right by him. Oh, man. Free Toadsie. Ooba dooba. That's me. I'm sure he likes ice cream. He just, you know,

it's not hot where he is or something. He's normally here. He's normally here. It's wherever hot where he is or something. He's normally here, he's normally here. It's wherever I am, it's the same where he is. Well, Caduceus, correct me if I'm wrong, but sometimes, I don't know what I'm talking about, the gods reveal things, and sometimes they wish their flock to find the answer. Also, I have read.

I would. Maybe he means for you to find this answer yourself. Or maybe you don't have any responsibilities at Travel Con, he wants you to just be a guest. And enjoy yourself. Yeah, because you're so special. And be surprised. Or maybe the answer will reveal itself

in a hot tub at the spa. Maybe he wants to go to the spa. Spas are dope. Okay. He's trying to watch his figure before the con. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. That's a lot of dairy. That is a lot of dairy.

Yeah. Yeah. That's going for my cow. Okay, well. Now it's six scoops of melted cream. I'm just going to sip it as we go to the spa. Yeah, you should definitely eat it. I bought you a present. You did? Yes, I bought you a present. You did?

Yes, I bought you these cards that you can turn into tarot cards. Thank you, Nott. Well, you know, I don't know how many you need, so I got like 60. Wow, I don't know how many you're supposed to, you know what, I bet I can cut them down. Because look, these are the ones that Molly had.

They're a little smaller, but there's, you know there's some blank ones in here? I think Molly was making his own deck. Well, maybe you could make your own deck. Well, maybe I can add on, and maybe we can have a joint deck. I wonder how many cards there's supposed to be. I think it's the more the merrier with tarot.

Probably, right? I think you should have as many as you can. Like, just keep adding to it over time and then? As many as the human condition. That's so smart. Well, I mean. Maybe you should read. That sounds really like, you know, you have a natural inclination to being able to read people. I could help you with it if you'd like.

I would love that, Nott. I can at least come up with some imagery to put on them. I love that, thank you. All right. I've read everything. You guys make your way towards the Silvered Sunset Oasis. Along the way, a voice calls out from amongst the kind of decent bustle of the streets here in Rexxentrum.

It goes, Hey! Hey! the decent bustle of the streets here in Rexxentrum. He goes, Hey! Hey! Bored was it, huh? Oh shit. You turn around and see Darrow Alok running up to you. Yes! Yay!

He goes, Hey there, friend. I am so happy to see you. I just have to tell you, like, that was a good fight. I feel kind of bad. That was a strike of luck. I mean, I'm not going to lie.

I've done quite a few battles in my day, and that was, whew, strike true, right? Quite the blow. Indeed. You took it like a champ, didn't you? Yes. No, not so much. I mean, I stayed up.

A champion stands up, am I right? That's important, yes. That was great. You really let me have it. I mean, that sucked a lot. I understood, and I am just, could I, like, I don't know, buy you a corn dog or something to make it up to you? I've been thinking about it for a few days,

because you're nice people and everything, and you're strong, and it was a lucky shot. We're going to buy him a massage. We're going to the spa. Going to the spa? Checks through his coin purse. He's not bad, he's not bad. You can go buy him one. Yeah, you know what? I've earned it, too, why not? checks through his coin purse. Is that bad? Is that bad? You will be good by then.

Yeah, you know what, I've earned it too, why not? Yeah! I appreciate the invitation. What a good idea. Okay. You okay, Fjord? Is this a new friend of yours? I didn't see the- This is Darrow. This is the gentleman who-

He kicked his ass over. Sparred with him the other night. I decided to see the fight. I heard it was a rousing fight between two equally matched combatants. Yes, precisely. Some tricks up his sleeve. And now you guys are friends? We've been friends since before.

Great admirers of each other's skill, at the very least. Yes, indeed. Sounds great. Well, maybe we should let them go by themselves or something. No, fuck that, I want a massage. Let's go. Yes, please join us. It would be an honor. It was a fantastic fight.

I learned quite a lot from you, I have to say. Well, if you insist. I can only hope to mimic that same sort of skill and encounters ahead. Please join us. I was there yesterday. I heard someone went there yesterday and the services are supposed to be next level.

I'm not going to lie, it's been probably about two years since I've had a good proper pampering. I couldn't tell you the last time I've been. Please, shall we all? Yeah, let's do it, come on, show the way. So Darrow, the last time been with the Sovereign Socks since we've seen you last, as we're walking? Yeah, it's been all right.

Mercenary work has been paying fairly well as the conflicts rise. Doing a bit of bodyguard work here and there. Found ourselves in Rexxentrum, got a new client, and been trying to keep ourselves busy. New client? Yeah, who's that? Not really allowed to tell, it's part of the... Oh, come on, but we're friends, though!

No, but seriously, no, I don't know what that is. Oh. But no, it's been good, just keeping the time, keeping people safe, earning coin, and occasionally getting a little bout down there, so you know, and that's where I saw you guys again. Anything weird? I mean, you know, our line of work,

we can see quite a few weird things, but anything out of the ordinary? Something that you would call remarkable or a good story you could share? How long have you been here? Four days. Five. Five days. Like three too many, we're trying to leave.

Since the crazy. We had to wait for this chalice. And now we're just waiting. Do you want to dream? Hey, where's my ninja stars? Oh. So good. You mean these ninja stars? Pop, pop! Ow!

I throw them at her. Ow! That's a lot going on there. It's a lot of cream. It's good. Yeah. Thank you. You're welcome. His face goes. Oh god.

Conjure EpiPen. So, strange things. There was this crazy moment in a storm about a few days ago, I think. You may have been here. Suddenly the clouds opened up and this beam of sun came through, and I felt the presence of the Dawnfather. There with us in the city, in his light and his glory,

I knew it was a sign. It was a sign that we were to gather ourselves for battle. When we got there, we missed it. It was already over and they were cleaning it up. It was very disappointing. Somebody defaced the Chantry. What? All of the stained glass broken everywhere.

What a douche. He was beautiful. I mean, yeah, I heard it was so beautiful. We were going to go look at it. We were going to go check it out. Yeah, we heard there were all sorts of creatures. Yeah, there was a Dynasty attack as well, same time. Man, stuff's been crazy since we got here.

It's been wild. I mean. No other Dynasty attacks. Not specifically here, but now that we know they can burrow, I mean, they can come any time. That's true. Kind of brings it to a point of appreciating them, you know. Carpe diem, as the old Xemniems used to say. I don't know. Vox. You don't read ups?

Vox. I don't read ups, look. Wait, what? I was a street kid, I was not the... God of Carpaths? Yes, yes, probably. I like you. What's your name? Oh, Caduceus, hey. Caduceus.

We met last night. Last night, just very briefly. You did very well. Right, right. Two nights ago. Two nights ago, wow. Time flies. It's all crazy. Anyway, is this the place? Yeah.

2020. You do get a group rate. Oh, yay! So that's, I'd say, 12 gold a person for the same four-hour spa experience. Four hours. Are we going to do four hours? Maybe we should only do two.

Yeah, she's going to be like, fucking get out of here! This is like when Dorothy gets remade, you know? Oh yeah, yeah, yeah. And all of a sudden has curls and stuff. Can you dye my eyes? Match my gown? Mm-hmm.

Wizard of fucking Oz. What? I don't think that happened in that movie. Don't Google that, John. Dorothy goes to the spa, and Wizard of Oz. Meanwhile, I threw two throwing stars at Beauregard. Oh, fuck. I thought he did it.

They just been sticking it out of her cheeks. He was waiting for it. Trying to pull, but it's still in the. Looks like someone named Bob really doesn't like you. Jester, will you get him? Will you get him out? Oh, but they got to pull it out in order to heal. One, two, three.

Ah! I thought you would catch them. You have, like, you catch missiles. Yes, you did, with your face. I didn't say deflect missiles, so it didn't happen. I thought you would catch them, I'm sorry. Why do they say Bob on them? Don't know what they say, hold it upside down.

Uh-oh, that's good. Yeah, that's good. You're bleeding out of your face. Thank you. This spa will fix it. They say Bob when you look at it that way, because when you turn it right up, the Ps are backwards. Thank you, thank you, I was really hoping. That's all I wanted.

Oh shit. That's right. That's all I wanted. Thanks, you, Matt. It's like a bad tattoo. You have to hold it up in a mirror. As you get off of the path. Duh.

But you find yourselves, are you paying for the two hours or four hours? Four hours! Four hours! At least they don't say dad. 12 gold! True D&D choices to make. Ugh. I'm not going in. What? But why?

There's water in there, fuckers! There's mud baths deep. I'll do that. Okay. Okay, that's a viable option. Okay. All right, so that's 12 gold each, for those who take it. And you spend four hours conversing with, loudly, the boisterous,

charismatic, and in spite of his forceful personality, just a likable guy, Darrow. I really do like him a lot. He's a fun guy. Nice guy all around. He's a fun guy. During the thing, I'm going to try to ask you one more time who his client is, maybe in a moment of bliss when he's just relaxing.

Make a persuasion check. I'm good at this, guys. Five. He goes, He's like, Ah. Nice try. Ah. Big arms you got there.

Oh, I know. All right. I'm going to go back to my mud pit. On the way out, is this the type of spot I have with the little complimentary toothbrushes? No. What kind of toothbrushes? No.

Well, now we're going to be thinking about it, aren't we? Really self-conscious now. They probably have them for sale, though. They're not complimentary. Do they have them for sale? They have mouthwash, though. Sure. That's the world. They're not complimentary. Do they have them for sale? They have mouthwash, though. Sure. That's the world.

They got mouthwash. Guys, guys! What? I was just contacted telepathically by the Bright Queen. She wants us to go to Xhorhas right away. I'm handing out toothbrushes to everybody. You're not saying that out loud, right? No, no, no, just to you guys. Darrow's gone.

What? Wait, what's going. Just to you guys, Darrow's gone. Wait, what's going on? Nothing. Fuck off. Fuck off. Okay. No, Darrow. By the way, Darrow, before you leave, are you staying in Rexxentrum,

or do your adventures take you elsewhere? Do you have plans to leave? I have to check in. We've only been here for about a month, I think. We've all on the Menagerie Coast. We've only recently come here, and I think we're probably heading back. Nice.

Well, safe travels if we don't see you again. It's been a pleasure. Thank you. You as well. Keep it up. I'll be in touch with you. We can be friends. Sure, yeah. Feel free to write a letter. We move around a lot, so it might take a while.

Don't worry, I'll find you. That sounds ominous. Stay safe, friends. He gets his equipment and weapons and makes his exit. That was so nice. Do you want to be turned into a chimpanzee or something? Oh, I don't, you taught me a good lesson. I mean, if I can do that to someone else,

I hope I've served its purpose. He wants to kick their ass? No, no, no, he's very nice. You can definitely learn to kick someone's ass. Being around him, if he actually was genuinely nice, or if he was trying to like. Make an inside check. I'll go on that.

I think you can get a fine. I like to think I have a passive inside check on him. Oh. 22. I got eight. Guys, Skillshare offers a bevy of classes you don't have to be a Baby Yoda to enjoy. It's not called Baby Yoda. Sorry, Baby Yoda.

Yoda Junior? Planet Earth is voted. They voted Baby Yoda. The child, the as Planet Earth is voted. Yeah, Planet Earth is voted. They voted Baby Yoda. The child, the ascent, whatever you want to call it. You can find out what it's called. Maybe take a class at Sculpture. I like him.

Seems like an all right guy. Cool. In those four hours, I'm going to read. Okay. While in the water. So I have four hours left? Yeah, you can spa read. Spa read, easy enough to do left? Yeah, you need to sparring. So all right, easy enough to do. Nott, you said you got a very important message.

Yes, I did. That we should move along. Away from this, I'm lying. We should leave. We should go. All right, I think we're ready. Travel or are we going to? We can foomf. We have to foomf. We should go. All right, I think we're ready. Are we going to travel or are we going to foomp? We can foomp. We have a foomp.

We can go to foomp. We can foomp from right here. I said foomp. You said foomp. Whatever. Correct, so it's foomp. Do we want to go right from here? I think so. Let's go. From the spa.

I mean, we should. We're alone here. In our robes. We should go get our things. Yeah, let's put our clothes on. All right, all right. We can keep our robes, because it's that kind of spa. Eh. Because it's that kind of spa. No, you can go get them.

It's full of gold, man. Yeah, that's true, they didn't. How much more of the toothbrushes? Did you get toothbrushes for everyone? I did. Five silver for the batch. Five silver. And a giant. Which is pricey.

That's a lot for a toothbrush. That happens when you buy them out of the spa. They're also apparently- Wow! That egg's a gift shop, man. That's where they get you. Where else are you going to go? You're all relaxed. Those damn candles.

$65! It does smell nice, though. And it's wrapped in bark. This is the evening everything's wrapped in bark. I've seen those fucking things. I'd be more impressed if it were wrapped in plastic. What else does this do? Is this some sparkle or some fuck?

This is the quintessential experience of a person that has been to a spa once in their adult life and is like, what is this place? I don't belong here. Can I get some ice cheese, please? Do you want it in a bowl or a cone of bark? All righty. So, are you teleporting from the spa?

Did anyone leave anything behind? No, we got all our stuff. Do we have all of our stuff? Yeah. Yeah. Sure. I'll allow it. Yay. The spa journey. We get all our stuff.

Okay. I begin to draw a circle here on the floor of the spa. Some amount of time later. That's all. You know, okay, can I just point out? Jesus. We're in the spa, so if we took the ropes with us, they wouldn't know.

They wouldn't know, they would just think that we disappeared. I didn't change. I said I'd grab my stuff. I did not specify that I'd change. I am bamfing in this robe. All right. We're going to steal the rope. You guys are about nine minutes

into the ritual preparation, which I believe is 10 minutes for it, right? You hear like a. One second! I'm not decent! Naked. Very, very naked. Your time is about up.

Yeah, we got like a minute left or something. Would you like some towel service? No, we're okay right now. We're still, all of us, we're naked together. All right. Just throw the towels through the door. Don't look, though. Okay. Make some steam.

Make some steam. It's all right, there you are. All right. Would you like some tea? How are they, Laenysel? They're pretty perfect. Take them. They are coming with us. We need them for the Jor House.

As you finish your circle, the arcing energy erupts from the circle as all of you in your various freshly laundered spa robes and cluster of stolen towels rush into the central teleportation circle. Vroom, vroom, vroom, vroom, vroom, vroom, vroom. And the towel slipper things? Yep, I got those, too.

Yeah, nice tarry cloth front, too. One giant aasimar hand goes. As you all emerge on the other side, beneath the Lucid Bastion. Oh shit. The basement beneath the central cathedral. Oh yeah. Of Rosanna in Jorahas.

The guards turn immediately in their, you know, creen royal guard attire and armor, spinning, spears at the ready, looking upon you, recognizing, and then heads turn curiously. I'm holding slippers. Bathrobe, bathrobe, and book holsters. Covered in mud. Yeah. You're supposed to wash it off.

I don't like the water part! As you're dragging your armor over his shoulder. The guards just witnessing this bickering in the spa group as they show up. over his shoulder. The guards just witnessing this bickering in the spa crew position. They rotate back into their position, but keep a curious eye on all of you as you pass by. So, yep, you are leaving a slight wet foot trail

through and up the stairs into the central region of the Lucid Bastion. Do you wish to head to the Jorahouse, or do you wish to go straight to the Bright Queen? Let's go to the Jorahouse. Yeah, we should check in. We should go change. Okay. We'll get into our formals.

My feet never fit in these slippers, so I'm putting my clothes back on before we walk through the city. I'm always cramming my feet into the slippers right before my heel. Yeah, I feel like even my robe would only come up to here. Oh, yeah. Yours is just below the dangle.

Yeah. Like, it's a little. Mushroom tip. Yeah, you're Peter Panning it pretty hard right now. My mushroom tip is so appropriate. Yes! The tiniest little kimono. Sorry. That was so appropriate. Yeah, it is. The tiniest little kimono. Sorry.

Get a sexy bathrobe. Fjord gets dressed while the rest of you, not following his lead, make your way through the massive stone and marble archways of the echoing interior of the Lucid Bastion. Oh, you idiot. Going past various guards and figures, stately members of various dens of the Kryn Dynasty,

all walking by and curiously turning their head as they watch you pass. I cast Seeming on Fjord so he looks like he's in a robe. Good news for the day. Good news for the best in the world. We're both in the wrong. Capital, capital. But everybody else looks dressed in their ring.

Just as you step outside of the basket. But the thing is, he doesn't notice at first. Yeah. Oh my god. Good day. How are you? Good, well. Partway through the stares and glares that now seem to be averting your friends

and more focusing on you, you look down upon yourself and notice the bright terry cloth presentation you're currently putting before. Which one of you fuckers did this? Wasn't me, I don't know that kind of magic. It definitely wasn't me, either. Caleb wouldn't do that, either.

He's a good person. Are you sure that you changed? Yes, it's a good person. Are you sure that you changed? Yes, it's not real. I can't get it off. But it's not real. Caleb is watching in his fine Kryn garb and enjoying his naughty bits just free in the wind. As you all slowly walk towards the prominent obelisk

that is the massive lit tree that now still looms over the surrounding neighborhood here in the Gallimaufry district towards the Xhorhaus, returned in proper attire. And we'll take a break there. We'll return here to pick up from there. Over a short time. I missed you guys.

We never return to our conversation about the Bright Queen if we're going to tell her. You can continue that in your moment. All right, so before we go to our break, we do have our Wyrmwood giveaway. First of 2020. The classic Purple Heart tabletop dice trade, the Scanlan special.

It goes to one lucky winner in our chat. Tonight's keyword is recovery. Recovery. Once and only once in the chatroom, more keyword is recovery. Recovery. Once and only once in the chatroom, more than once, you'll be disqualified. Once again, only U.S. and Canada, excluding the beckons, stupid giveaway laws. And we'll be back here from the break

with one lucky winner. We'll see you guys here in a few minutes. We interrupt this Critical Role Podcast Network broadcast to bring you news of dangerous treasures that lie sealed within the Critical Role shops. Only the heartiest of adventurers should dare seek them out. In all seriousness, though, I'm Matthew Mercer, and we've made some very cool things that we really like and hope you will, too. If you'd like to support the show, please consider visiting any of our Critical Role online shops through the shop tab at critrole.com and see if anything catches your eye. Okay, back to the show.

And welcome back. So we have our winner of the giveaway, our Braggs giveaway of the Wyrmwood Purple Heart tabletop dice tray is Noble Kuahara. Noble Kuahara, congratulations. We'll contact you and get that sent off ASAP. Well won. Brother of Noble Kuahara. Indeed. We'll contact you and get that sent off ASAP, well won. Father of Noble Kulwhara.

Indeed. All righty. They sound sexy. Look at that. Congratulations on two points. Power of a dice track. Indeed. So, arriving at the Xhorhaus, entering through the front, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding.

You return to a home that is as you left it. Housekeeper now missing. Oh yeah. But does not appear to have been entered or altered since you were last here. I'm going to check for traps. Yeah, it doesn't appear to be. I'm going to check for signs.

All right. Coming in. Investigation check for you. You're looking for what? Signs of foot traffic or people. 30. 30, damn. Dusty Footprints. All right. What, investigation?

Hmm, it'd be investigation, yeah. Dusty Footprints is really hard to get off. 21. All right. Nothing out of the ordinary and no traps are found. It is as you left it. We're good to go. Hey, Yasha.

Wow, I haven't been here in a while. You're back. I'm back. Have you been here before? Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, you were here. It's just hard to remember. But she hasn't been here since, you know. I know, I know, I'm sorry. I'm going to go up and see the mural again.

Okay. As you guys enter, all of a sudden, Yasha pushes past and. You rush back into your old room, and the mural is as beautiful as you remember. Oh, I still can't find the dick. I go back and yell over the stairs. It's still beautiful, Jester.

Oh good, I'm glad you still like it. I'm going to go upstairs and change into something less comfortable. We'll be right back. Less comfortable? Well, yeah, because we're in robes. Will somebody please drop this for fuck's sake? Sure, just a moment longer.

It takes a while to undo magic, Fjord. I guess I get dressed, too. We'd make him look like he's wearing anything, huh? Next time. As you guys all get changed, you still, you visually are pure in your attire, and it feels strange to get dressed into an outfit that you already look like.

Just sinking in. Yeah, it takes a little bit of coordination to get it right, but nevertheless, you all manage to achieve it. I thought that's true, you couldn't tell if it's actually buckled or if it's not. God, take care. It's loose, but it looks right.

Video game graphics. Kind of, yeah. Doesn't quite fit the model. Yeah. What time of day is it? It's challenging to make female models in games, you know. Just pick one. Well, it's nighttime, no matter what.

Oh yeah. Yeah, and the time difference, I'd say it's a little later in the day. So it would be the equivalent you would surmise at this point after your spa day experience. Probably late afternoon. Oh shit. Good time to drop in.

We should announce ourselves. Should I send a message to her or Essek? Like maybe he should tell her that we want to talk to her. That would be the way to go. That's probably proper protocol, yeah? That would be what I would do. Okay, I'm going to send a message to Essek. All righty.

Guess who's back? We're back at the Xhorhaus. We miss you so much. We need to talk to the Bright Queen. Are you around? Oh my gosh, you have to hear about everything. That's one word. That, there you go. Welcome back.

It is good to have you returned. Give me just a moment, please. And as you guys gather yourselves a bit, it's a patient 45 minutes or so before Essek makes his way to your door. You have 45 minutes. Four to five minutes or 45 minutes? 45. 45. It's a power move. Seven to five minutes or 45 minutes? 45. 45.

It's a power move. Seven hours left on the Seeming spell. No. You haven't dropped it? Not yet. Okay. Ah, who is it? It's the Shadow Hand. Still a cool title.

I'll use my Mage Hand to open the door. It opens and drifts in. Yep. Thank you. Well, you all look well. Sorry, if it is the wrong time, I can't come back. No, it's not real. I... It's... Well, now I feel bad.

Well played. Are you okay, Essek? Ah, yes. You can't take away, he looks a little sleep deprived. Like he's looking a little weary. Everything okay here in Rosohna? Well, everything is all right, I suppose. The assault on Rexxentrum

that's orchestrated over the past few weeks was set upon the city until this arrival of a Tal'Doreian dignitary came and invoked your name within the bastion. I take it you know this individual? Elora. Right. And she corroborated your concerns regarding the Angel of Irons cult.

And based on that, and based on my backing up your word as well, the Bright Queen recalled the attack on Rexxentrum. Why had the attack been launched in the first place? Well, it was believed that perhaps this missing beacon of which I'd sent you to seek itself was somewhere within the city, and the attack was sent to draw attention away

from the district and where it was initially placed. This was all orchestrated by Tascand Adin Tasth. Tasithar? Abden Tasithar? Adin Dazel. I, yeah. Abel Dazel. Mm.

Adin Tasithar. Was pushing for this timing to coincide with the lull following this harvest festival. Since then, we've investigated the Dean, found him already halfway across the Ghostlands on his own, shrouded and seeming to attempt escape. Wait, what? He was part of the Angel of Iron's cult.

He was part of it. We ambushed and retrieved him and have spent the better part of the past day interrogating him. Oh, wait, wait. Is that why he looks so sleepy? There's been a lot of work to be done, yes. So he, was he the source of the intelligence

that the beacon was in Rexxentrum to begin with? It appears, as you say, that Dean was part of this cult, the Angel of Irons, and was working directly with someone within the Empire. In these chambers, we found traces of these pink crystals. Were part of these devices, one that you had first brought before the Bright Queen. And we managed to push him to confess he had a correspondence with this Vance figure

that you had spoke of, and this Obann that you are chasing. Oh, he's Obann the Punished now. He had a change in position and title. And then a nice, good squelching. Yeah, he's dead now. got a change in position and title. And then a nice, good squelching. Yeah, he's dead now. Or I guess eternally fucked? Eternally fucked. So you've managed to exact your vengeance, then?

We have. That's greatness. Took a while, sorry about that. It's all right. We did it. Big things like this do take time. I mean, we didn't, like, you know, end everything with a cult, I'm sure, but a big, huge part of it.

And Vance is also on the run now, on the other side of the conflict. You should also know we uncovered a shackle, one of the things keeping the Chained Oblivion at bay. This is what the Selora had said to the Bright Queen and had made the request for this temporary ceasefire. Also, as you had inferred to me, this other individual that may have been working

within our midst to provide the beacons to the Empire, Aideen also confessed to secretly trading away these beacons. He must have been very high up in the hierarchy to have access to these things. And why haven't we heard of him before, if that's the case? How did we miss this guy?

There are many dens. You've only encountered but a few. How long have you had him in custody for questioning? Two days. Any idea of, hello, any idea of accomplices? We are working on that at the moment. He is currently imprisoned and is being held

awaiting judgment from the Bright Queen. Once we've exhausted our interrogations and find no more purpose, that is where he will go. Traded away beacons. What did he get in return? That is something we are currently seeking. It would seem perhaps access to this Empire figure, perhaps something to do with the cult itself,

we are not sure. Which Empire figure, Fentz? Possibly. Do you know how many beacons, or just one? The two that we were originally missing. Fuck. That is going to be a conversation. I have not yet informed the queen of these findings,

as this was a recent acquisition. You've had him for two days, though? We've had him for two days, but? We've had him for two days, but we've only recently been able to get this information out of her. So she doesn't even... She's about to.

Well. We have some information for her as well. Maybe we should lay it all on her at once? Yeah, yeah. Very well. When are you ready to speak with her? I mean... Is there any reason why you haven't told her yet? Very well. I will know you're ready to speak with her. I mean.

Is there any reason why you haven't told her yet? Are you trying to confirm or gather, or? I was, if you're going to, in a point of extreme tensions in warfare in which the queen is impatiently waiting for any sort of concrete proof as to why the ceasefire was necessary. We wanted to make sure that we presented it

as an entire package as opposed to a piecemeal. It is better and also we need to cross our T's as well in the instance that perhaps any of this information is incorrect. You've done very, very well by us. Would you care to hear what we would have to say now so it doesn't catch you by surprise? Please.

We can confirm that the Empire does indeed have one of these beacons. We've seen it. Mm. Whatabouts is it located? North of Rexxentrum. Outside of the city. We don't know the exact location.

They kind of teleported us there. Right. Is it a place that can be accessed, perhaps? Maybe via Purple Worm? Yes, but you may not need to. They've agreed to give it back. In exchange for what? Peace talks? A meeting.

Supposedly to perhaps ease tensions between the two nations. And we are as skeptical as you seem to be now. But it still seemed like an opportunity. Indeed. Curious what it is they want, or what it is we're not seeing here, but if it stems the spilling of blood for the time being,

it should at least be entertained. Hopefully. We have suggested to them a neutral location, neither here nor there, just so that no one would unduly have the upper hand. We are cautious, though, and are loath to bring any danger here.

It seems like a difficult path still, but we would like you and the queen to entertain the idea of easing tensions here. I know how hardline she seems to be and it is not unfounded, we understand. She has seen a lot of bloodshed in her years and I understand where she's coming from.

But I think it's worth a conversation. Mind you, for such a negotiation, there would be no personal appearance by her. There would have to be proxies and emissaries and probably speak via mirror or some sort of distance conversational point at the place. At least these negotiations have agreed upon, these transferences could take place.

Like a FaceTime talking to another FaceTime? I don't know. Like that? I assume that is something of a similar thing as the mirrors, but probably. We just were holding up two porn books, by the way. I'm not judging. FaceTime is a great series. It's a lot of mouth stuff.

It's in the YA section. You mentioned crossing your T's. Oh. You mentioned crossing your T's. I wonder if perhaps, would it be foolish of us to think that an audience might be had with your prisoner? We were firsthand with more of these Angel of Iron cultists. I wonder how they might react to knowing that

prominent figures have been dealt with, done, squandered. That could probably be done. I have to pull some strings, but it could... It would need to be just a... Oh my god, do you know what else we could do? What? Oh my god, okay, okay, okay. 50-50 chance, this is ridiculous. What if one of us could make ourselves look like Vence?

Uh-huh, uh-huh. Like we've been caught, and you could throw him in the cell next to your guy and leave them alone a little bit so that they could talk to each other. Maybe get some more information. Do we know how Vence talks? We saw him in that vision once

and he was talking to a FaceTime. Did he ever send you an answer? Someone was sitting on his face. I believe he did, yes. We can certainly try it, but we have to do it soon. He's supposed to be given over for a... If your guy has talked to you, Obann, maybe one of us could make ourselves look like Obann.

We know what he talks like. That's also possible. How would Obann get down in the cell? That's true, that's stupid. But Vence is a good idea. Okay, okay. Yeah. That's a very good idea. Make it so that it looks like his throat has been slashed

and he's like, that is raspy. It would be much easier to bring one person into the prison than seven. True. Agreed. So who would be the one to make this attempt? I mean, I can change how I appear. Probably Fjord is really good at sounding like other people.

That would be my second choice, yes. It has been your specialty in the past. Yes, yeah. I don't want to do it. I could also. He might have to shave your beard, though. No, no, no, he can't. I can make myself look like other people.

I could always come in and punch him in the face, too. Trust me, there's been plenty of punching for two days. I do not think that you would maybe hear. But do they have magical punches that make people talk? We have magical means of forcing the truth, if that's what you're talking about. Whatever. Yeah, let's do this plan. Yeah.

That's a good plan. I need to know everything about Fence. How tall is he? What did he look like? What did he sound like? I tell you exactly. I draw him in my, like, my most photorealistic way of drawing. Ooh, we know what he wore.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. There's a swath of fabric that we had. I will give you my, oh wait, you got to change. I could give you my armor that can change into any, oh wait, we're going to change your appearance, we're fine. We're fine, we're fine, okay. Could you make yourself look like him for a moment? Could I make my, oh wait, we're going to change your appearance, we're fine. We're fine, we're fine. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Could you make yourself look like him for a moment? Could I make my? Oh.

Oh yeah, that's a good idea. Yeah, I'm going to go that, disguise myself as him to make height, everything absolutely perfect. Great. This is what I look like. My name is Vance, I'm an idiot, I am a cultist and stuff. Oh, that's nice. I don't actually sound like this.

Did he have his Indian accent? Yeah. He did. Yeah. And his boss is Ludinus. Ludinus. You have nachos written in your notes. Yeah, yeah. It was blood.

It was the shard sticking out of the weights. Oh yeah, the barbed fields, yeah. What was the word? I'm blanking on it for what Vence was. He's not in succession to be part of the Assembly, but he's one of their right-hand people. It was a word. Correct, correct. I'm trying to remember off the top of my head.

It's been a while. Hang on, wait. It's been a while. I also broke down the entire conversation somewhere in here. Fuck. It was one of those. Goddamn it, so much. Because I take such brilliant notes,

your prisoner's name again is? The prisoner's name was Tascand Adin Tassithar. Tassithar. Did you say Kaskand? Tass-canned. With a T? T-A-S-K-H-A-N-D. Tass-canned.

Adin Tassithar. Tassithar. Tass-canned ass pants. And I was hearing gas can, all sorts of shit. If you are to attempt this, I would recommend doing it soon. No. No longer this information stays unspoken

to the Bright Queen, as well as your own concerns. We should do it right away. The more tenuous the ceasefire becomes. He fled. The forces that were withdrawn from Rexxentrum are still beneath it. They did not return. Oh! Oh shit. They are just awaiting word to continue.

Oh. Yeah, they're still in place. They're still there. Yeah, they're waiting to strike. The purple worms are still under the city! The Tascan, when he was ambushed and taken, was he given reason for his capture? Does he know that an operation was thwarted, or they were on to him, or? All of this has been given elements of it

to attempt to force them to fill in the blanks, to prove our... curiosity and let them prove that they were involved. Has he done the normal thing of holding his tongue, or has he been forthcoming? Do you know? Long threatening to not know what we're talking about, and let them prove that they were involved. Has he done the normal thing of holding his tongue, or has he been forthcoming? Do you know? Long threatening to not know what we're talking about and demanding to be released,

but upon magical inquiries, forcing of one's will, and through physical persuasion, he managed to excise the truth, and the taskhand has given his hand, if you will. I have friends as a cantrip, but I've never used it. How the fuck does that work? You can cast it. You can't cast it when you're in there, probably.

Oh, I have it, wait, hold on, hold on. Yeah, you have it, I don't. You use it on the person? You cast it on the person and it gives you advantage on charisma checks. It's good self, I cast it on myself. Oh. Yeah, it just gives you advantage for charisma checks.

Yeah. Okay. If Aedir could use Seeming on you, and then you'd be free to cast spells. Yeah. Yeah. That's what we should do. For a different type of deterioration. I can do Mask of Many Faces

without knocking out a Concentration spell. Oh, okay. What's that? That doesn't work, because I need to Friends is, you have it? Yeah. It's one minute. Oh, right, right.

And I believe at the end of the minute, they know that you've had a spell affect their mind. Oh, so I have to? Yeah. It's one minute. Oh, right, right. And I believe at the end of the minute, they know that they've had a spell affect their mind. Oh, so I have to come back. I'm going to give you Enhance Ability when you're about to go in. That gives you advantage on charisma checks for an hour. Oh, great. And maybe Caleb, you could give him an extra

stroke of luck. I'm planning to do that. Okay, I found my notes on a conversation that Jester was relaying when she was scrying on Vence. They mentioned, he mentioned that he had the emblem, that he wanted to meet at the Overcrow, mentions a female's paranoia. I'm assuming it was that old woman at the...

Cardinal Ruscio? I don't know. Maybe, maybe. I'm assuming it was that old woman at the... Cardinal Ruscio? Maybe, maybe. I actually don't know. He was reading a book entitled The King That Crawls, which we know. Oh, and then he signed off with Angel's Eye. Ooh, that could help. Yeah, yeah. That's interesting.

At which point you see Essek is in the process of drawing a quick glyph in the air and he recognizes a sending spell. And Jyn, you speak Undercommon? Yes, I learned it. It's my most recent. There you go. Speaks through the sending spell, basically saying, please move the prisoner

to one of the binary paired cells. This is what Essek says? Yeah, the interrogation is to continue. One of the primary prepared cells? Binary paired cells. Paired cells. Yeah. Got it, got it, got it, got it.

Was it the Chantry of the Dawn? The one with the shackles on it? They call it the Chantry. What was it, the Chantry? Chantry of the Dawn. Chantry of the Dawn. And the Bishop. Of the Dawn. What was the Bishop's name?

The guy, the fucking dude that was up at the altar? That was doing the stuff at the? Cardinal Respa. Cardinal Respa? Yeah, and it was a she. I'm assuming that's who he might've been referring to. Might've been. Okay. Plus you've got Obann you can throw into the conversation.

You could talk about the Laughing Hand, you could talk about the Orphamech. Yeah, and what did they call Therizdun anything? No, they didn't know who they were following. They didn't know who Therizdun was. I don't think anybody. It's just the angel.

So, are you ready? Yeah. Do you want anyone to go with you, invisible or anything? I would not recommend that. There are wards against invisibility within the Dungeon of Penance. You would be revealed upon entry, and it would not aid you in that instance.

Understood. But we should travel. Will it show that he's disguising himself? It shouldn't. I can provide a buffer as we pass through. Okay, good, good, good. We should travel with him to the prison's entrance. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Up until where he won't see us, and then he'll go on alone. Very well. So you are coming with to the exterior of the dungeon? Yes. This is exciting. How long, once you get to the dungeon, how long to get into the cell? Five minutes.

Okay, okay, good. Then come quickly, let's do this now. You are led back to the Gallimaufry, to the tunnels and staircases that go below into the fields of subterranean farmland that provide much of the food and growth that feeds the people of Rosohna, until eventually you come to the familiar exterior

of the Dungeon of Penance, where you had previously found Yeza, as well as interrogated a captured member of the... My brain is not working. The Volstra. As you reach the exterior, Eska turns to the rest of you and raises a hand and looks to you, and is currently like, reaches over

and grabs just the back of your shoulders a bit. Looks down. Can you provide, perhaps, any sort of visual of irons or chains? Sure. Yes, I'll make myself look like Fence, and then I'll use... You could borrow some if you'd like.

Yeah, we actually have some. We have some. You can do that if you want. Yeah, I'll take out some of the manacles. We have two, three pairs, two? Okay. So many. So probably the manacles, you wanted to cast this? Yeah, I'm going to go up and put my hands on either side of Fjord's face and cast Enhance Ability,

Eagle's Splendor. Yeah, so you get advantage on any kind of charisma. I mean, you'll be a smooth talker, you already are, but you'll be an even smoother talker, okay? Sure. You should be able to talker, you already are, but you'll be an even smoother talker, okay? Sure. You should be able to trick him better. Should. You can do this for it.

Yeah. Yeah. And some injury to your throat, maybe. So that your voice. Yeah, make it look like you were cut or punched, like a bruise or something, like you're strangled, so it makes sense that you wouldn't sound exactly like yourself. I'll think about giving myself a rope burn, like a terrible, terrible rope burn

that started to scab up a little bit across my throat at an angle. Okay. Fjord, come. Hold the pearl up to his forehead, and you see some geometric halos of white for a moment, and I've cast Fortune's Favor, so you have a luck roll, essentially.

Ooh. So any shit roll I can only roll? Yeah. Okay. Fjord? If you do well in there, I'll give you a button. A button? A button, but it's not just any button.

It was discovered on Buttonbeard's ship. That's all the inspiration I need. Truly a grand gesture, Nott. Thank you. I'm ready. Why'd you ever offer me a button? Very well. There's no such thing as a button beard. No.

Essek grabs the front of the chains. As part of the shackles, there is a lead to the front and pulls you in alongside, and you guys watch as Essek takes Fjord in illusory form into the Dungeon of Penance proper. You can do it! Be careful, Fjord in illusory form into the Dungeon of Penance proper. You can do it! Be careful, Fjord.

Immediately as you step into it, that disorienting effect hits you. As you step deeper and deeper into it, it's either like gravity pulls at different spaces or there's something about it that just makes you a little dizzy. Your eyes have a hard time focusing. You recall, as the times you've been here,

there's some sort of enchantment within here that is designed to ensure that you and possibly other people who step through these halls have a hard time really remembering where they're walking or keeping tabs on the layout of the interior. As we're moving, I'll whisper to Essek, how long will I have? Well, I don't know.

It has been a very thorough investigation, and whatever information you might get could be filled with lies, could be that they are confused. Just don't make it too forceful as to gather attention that would make this a curiosity. This is off the books, as you would say. Black Bag, like it.

Leads you down a few more corridors, a long staircase that goes to a floor that you've not been on. Eventually, you come upon, there are two cells that are next to each other, separated by a wall, and in the center of the wall, there is what looks to be a small window of bars, intentionally placed for prisoners

that have some means of interfacing. You are thrown into the chamber. Ugh. means of interfacing. You are thrown into the chamber. Ugh! As it floats into the shadows, one of the guards at their post stands there and waits, but off to the side. As you're tossed in, you get a quick glance in the corner and you can see there's a figure curled up across

the stone bed platform, I guess you would call it. It's not made for comfort by any means, but in tattered, ragged, Rossona-style clothing, very affluent at one point, probably, but now torn and dirty, do you see a drow mail curled up on the edge. As you impact and land, the figure stirs slightly. Then you're inside the chamber now.

Is this square between the walls small, or is it large? It's small, it's about that big. I'll stand up and head towards the doors and shout out after the one that threw me in, in a better Zimnian accent than I can do, You can't keep me in here! No response. I'll go and I'll walk by the square. Is he looking or going back to sleep?

Or are his eyes open? The figure is glancing up and looking in your direction, but hasn't got up yet. I'll clear my throat. A few moments pass. Eye contact at all. You're looking up through it now? Mm-hmm.

About a minute later, the head shifts again, and from what little bit of light there is from the dull torch sconce across the way, you can see a little bit of a flash of wet eyeballs that look in your direction. I'll look away and move away from the square. You very faintly hear the shuffling. I'll wait for a minute.

Does it sound like he's moving any closer? You've heard movement. I'll wait another minute. I'll get up and walk to the doors, look around, shuffle back towards the square, and just do one eye to look through. Mm-hmm. What do I see? You see a male drow face.

Bloody, one eye is swollen, nearly shut. Hair tattered and matted, and is just breathing a little heavy. You're looking in my direction? Yeah. Angel's eyes. You're looking in my direction? Yeah. Angel's eyes. Why do I know you? Shh. I'll move away from the window.

Sit back down. I'll wait two minutes. Okay. And without making myself visible through the window, I'll say, What do they know? They've... They've pulled me from my station

and accused me of things. But I did them. But I don't know how. I know you, but I don't know how. I feel like I'm going crazy. Our time here will be rewarded. Stand fast. What are you talking about?

We succeeded in Rexxentrum. The Angel of Irons is one step closer to being free. I don't know this angel. No, I do. How? Who are you? Your fence. Why do I know this? Shh.

Cardinal Respa sends his regards. Her regards. The head comes back up and looks at you, and the eyes are wide. It's the one that isn't partially swollen and tense, and there's sweat currently mingling with the blood that was partially dried and caked on that side before that you can see. It's like,

I don't know about what you're talking about. Very good. Very good. Your delivery is successful. I don't know why I did what I did. It doesn't make any sense. He pulls away from the hole, and you hear the body scrape and slide

against the other side of the stone wall. And you hear crying. Why? He traded for the beacons. Why not? What he traded for the beacons. He traded? He traded the beacons. Find out what he traded for the beacons. He traded? He traded the beacons for something to... To...

Does that really fit? That's what he's trying to find out. I don't remember that part. That's what we're trying to find out. Is it? Yeah! It's fine. We talk this shit out at home. We can talk it out. Talk it out! Now, why did you?

Really? It's a D&D game, talk it out! What were you given in exchange for the beacons? There's a long silence. And the sobbing continues a bit. And then through the sobbing, you hear, I will never, I would never give away the heart

of our city, but I did for money. Why? Nothing makes sense. Nothing in here makes sense. Yeah, you're going to do this. Nothing makes sense. You smash it in its face. Stop, hold, hold.

At which point, it exhales, and you hear nothing for a moment, and you hear nothing for a moment, and then always fucking knocked himself out. Hey, hey. Hey, Taskhand, you with us? Hey. Hello.

Hey! Shit! That accent. I'll walk over to the bars and be like, hey, guard, come here. Come here! The guard looks over. I can't see, I can't see you.

Is he passed out? The guard just stays at the station. Essek, as you get up, Essek is still in the shadows about 15 feet back against the wall and turns and looks in the other direction. I mean, I'm just, I'm worried about President Welfit. It sounded like he was hurting himself.

I'm just making sure he's alive. Essek slowly drifts to the edge and looks over. He's asleep. Oh, that's good. Thank you for quieting my concerns. You know, I think I would like to confess some of my crimes. Perhaps I can do that to someone of a high station.

I'm ready to leave. Very well. Opens the door, the guards help, takes the chain and leads you out. Closes it behind you. Ah, you bastard! You're so strong! Shh! You're overselling it. You'll never take me alive!

You're overselling it. You floating fuck! Shh! What was that? No, I take it back, I'm sorry. Don't oversell it. And drags you along slowly through the interior of the Dungeon of Penance once more. So weird in here.

By design, friend, by design. Pulls you outside, you guys watch as Essek emerges, holding the chain, pulling behind the rugged-looking events. We all cheer. Yay, you did it! What'd you find out, all the stuff? Well, I totally didn't forget to ask what he traded for the beacon delivery, thank god.

That's good, that would've been an important question. He seemed to be quite disoriented. Oh, no, the other guy. Yeah, the other guy. Yeah, the other guy. I was worried about that. I don't think he chose to do what he did. It sounds like he was under some sort of control, mind control.

Is that a real thing? Yasha! Yasha was mind controlled, we think. Did Zach? Yes, not. But did you, you knew that it was not you doing those things, right? Or was it confusing at times? Yeah, it was very confusing at times, but I mean,

I knew that I was a puppet. I mean, I didn't have control over the things that I was doing, but I knew I was doing them. It could very well be a similar type effect. I wonder if Vence was also a puppet. But you knew the source. Yeah. Yeah?

Imagine if you didn't know the source. He acted as if he didn't know why he did these things or why he seemed to have taken money for the delivery of the beacons. He didn't know why he did these things, or why he seemed to have taken money for the delivery of the beacons. He didn't know why he did that. And then he smashed his face against a wall several times. He's dead now. What? Yeah, it's just

a horrible tragedy. Oh fuck. No, he's alive. Oh. He seemed genuinely confused. He seemed to recognize Fence's face, and also the greeting, Angel's Eyes. Angel's Eye? Yep.

I might have made it plural in the room, which might have been what the look was for. Why I had an S, I don't know. It was your first time playing that character. Yeah, I mean, honestly, I didn't get a rehearsal or anything. Sneaky, you know. It was your first time playing that character. Yeah, I mean, honestly, I didn't get a rehearsal or anything. It's just Actor's Nightmare, straight out on.

Yep. You have to make strong choices. Yep. Imagine if you were told not to think about what you did. I mean, is memory modification a thing that happens? It is? Yeah. I mean, I can do it. I can, you know.

What do you do? What do you mean? I can do stuff like that. Like, I could make you think that something different happened and happened. It sounds very similar to what Yasha went through. All the time, or just once? Well. It is a very dangerous magic for someone to be playing with.

I haven't ever played with it, but I know that it's, you know, important. Speaking of which, your abilities are very strange compared to the Empire. I mean, just being in here is sort of nauseating. Does the beacon or your practices allow anyone to control the mind of someone else in that way? Dunamansi does not work in that way. There are many sorts of magic and arcane spells

that can alter one's experience or memory from what I've heard, but that does not fall within the purview of Dunamancy by any means. I mean, it's no short spell. He would have had to have been under control for a while. Gain access to the beacons, make these exchanges, deliver them. To be fair. This is true.

He would have been the fourth person that we knew that was under a constant, longstanding control within the Sculpture. Yasha, the task hand. The Laughing Hand. The Laughing Hand, and the Unbreakable. Inevitable End. Unbreakable Face.

Who knows with, um... Bruce Willis. Who knows with people like Vence or Cardinal Respa or maybe anyone else? Oh my god, what if they were all under his spell? We've already learned from what we've researched with the Chain Oblivion that he was guised under this cult of the Angel of Irons.

It seems more righteous than what it is. It's all manipulative to get him to rise under some other form of a deity that's false. So his entire- To bring about absolute destruction of everything, so I would imagine, yeah. It's a solid logic. Do you have a mark on the back of your neck?

Did it leave a scar or a fur? Oh yeah, the thing. Can I look, can I look and see? Give it a look. Is it still there? There is a brief mark there, the termination of what was there, though it has begun to heal.

Essek, Essek, Essek, come here, look at this, look at this mark. I show exactly what it looks like. You should see and see if that guy has the same mark and then you know that he was mind controlled, maybe. I will inspect. Give me a moment. If it was not his choice, you know,

I know it's hard, but maybe he shouldn't be punished quite as harshly because, you know, maybe he... That is not for my judgment to make. Well, if, I don't know, if there's an emergency, I could also speak to him in a different way from someone who has had a similar experience to him. Oh, yes. If violence is not working to

get the answers that you need. Maybe I could try relating to him. Well, we have the answers we need, but what answers are you looking for, Melodas? Well, maybe, I don't know. Who was doing this? I don't know who was doing this. I don't know. Yeah, sure. I wonder if Obann got it.

It just indicates it's somebody besides Obann. That's true, or if he had any more connections here. Maybe Obann was one of several generals for the Chained Oblivion, you know, in a pyramid scheme. Oh shit. So if it wasn't Obann that mind-controlled him, then who was it? I think it was probably Obann that mind-controlled him. It was probably Obann that mind- him, then who was it? I think it was probably Obann that mind controlled him.

It was probably Obann that mind controlled him. I think the question really is, if he knows that he was mind controlled, maybe he can start saying if he talked to anybody else. Well, let's have Essek look at the back of his neck. That'll be first thing, and then we'll get more answers from that. Chester, you should know, he said he hated weasels.

Why? I don't know. Did he say when he was controlled he hated weasels, or was it normally? Outright, they wither and die if not left out into the wild. They are not pets or... Oh. Sprinkle? Is that true?

Sprinkle says he's real happy don't think it is. Please? Sprinkle says he's real happy. Exactly where he is. She's crazy. Let Essek check, and then perhaps, if it turns up what we fear it does, then a new line of questions is in order. Not why have you betrayed your people,

but how long have you been experiencing this? Do you remember meeting anyone? Do you remember a trigger? Yeah, if, I don't know. If there's any other answers you guys need. Stiff as a board. Like a cat scratcher. Oh my god!

I'm going to say, so we can. He's not dead, he's not dead, he's alive! Stop it. I'm going to open the door! He's bloated. He's just an airplane pillow now. Eat it, eat it! Wait, wait, one second.

Shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh. You're terrible. He's alive, he's alive! Move, show them. Move? See? Show them you're fine! Does he move? He did, he bit my finger, okay, he's fine.

Good morning to the bitch. Show them you're fine. I'm fighting every urge to make a cannon, but I'm not going to do that. He's not dead. Just think of it like, any time he seems like he's a little bitten, I give him a little healing spell.

He's okay. She's just weak ends at burning him at this point. Oh, he bit me! Ow, that's very naughty, Sprinkle. I went to the other side 12 times. Stop it, he's alive, stop it, stop it. It's not canon, he's alive, stop it. He's alive.

It's just so good. Keep it up for CPS. Welcome to the Bates Motel, Sprinkle. Maybe we could, you know, if we find a very beautiful place, we could let him go into a forest. Are you talking about the prisoner or the sprinkler? No, I'm talking about the sprinkler.

Sprinkle? Sprinkle wants to say, you know, I asked Sprinkle if he wanted to go hang out with, what's his name, the guy, the guy that likes the animals, what's his name? Yeah, the guy that's like, the wizard, the wizard man. Yeah, yeah, yeah that's like, the wizard, the wizard's man. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

I have a drug problem, so good. Hormon cast. Hormon cast. And Sprint will come back to me, okay? He didn't want to go to Hormon cast. He wanted to stay with me. You all, all of us. Mother? Mother, can you hear me? Here.

I'm staying the fuck out of this, man. Essek, go check on the guy's neck. He's already gone. Okay, fine. No, I can't see straight. Oh man. That's amazing. Wow. Oh, wow. Essek returns a few moments later and says,

What does the light mean? I did not see any mark on the back of his neck, but. Insight check. Make an insight check. He's in the truth. 18 plus five! Ooh, I'm so insightful. 18 plus five.

Whispers for Nott! Oh, dude, I didn't realize what you said! Skillshare is a wonderful app. Don't talk through your whisper. Don't talk through the whisper. Take the whisper. Oh my god. That is a wonderful app. Don't talk through your whisper. Don't talk through my whisper. Oh my god, this is the funniest shit. Ethan! I nearly passed out. Oh my god, Jester. I nearly passed out.

Pickle's dead. I'm getting tumbled. Dead for weeks. No! He's sitting down on the hall. Just completely mouth agape. In a bit of expression of terror. Oh look, he's eating.

Bip, bip, bit, bit. He's very picky. Nope, not right now, yeah. He's been dead since the Underdark. So it is curious, if this is the assumption that perhaps this Obann figure had him under his control, there would be this mark, you say?

Since it's not there, it's a possibility that either it was removed, or perhaps there was other magic involved in erasing a trace. Could have been something else. Was the mark forcefully removed from you or anything? Oh, it was, actually. That could be the difference.

Oh. Hmm. But. Certainly explains a few things, though, doesn't it? Does not seem to be in a physical state for future interrogation, necessarily. And time draws short with the Bright Queen, so if we are to make our cause there,

we should definitely get on our way to the Bastion. Okay, okay, okay, okay, okay. We're going to talk to her. While we walk to the Bright Queen, because I want to keep this going, have we scryed on Vence here lately? Well, he's got a thing. He's got protection again.

I can try it, but it would be really, really hard to scry. He's got a thing like he's got a sword. The only way he would not have it is if the Empire has caught up to him. Yeah. So he is either off the grid or... Like, it's impossible to scry on you. It doesn't sometimes work and sometimes doesn't.

For him, I think it is impossible, because he is most likely traveling alone. I am a bit compromised, because you are all not protected like I am, so. Should we always stay a little bit away from you? I hope not. Hmm. Could scry on Darrow to see who his client is.

I was thinking about that, actually. But that's not urgent. You know, because he's not going to tell us. We could just find out on our own. Yeah, fuck that guy. No, fuck that guy. I mean, fuck him if Fjord doesn't like him, but he's pretty nice.

I thought he was funny. How long was he down there? In the prison? Prison, from what you hear, roughly two days. Or no, four. Oh, four! Fjord was gone from you guys, I'd say for about altogether

15, 20 minutes. Far a little longer than that. Quickest prison stint ever. Yeah, that was a short time. How do you feel being locked up for so long? Churchman. You go up in the sky in black. Scared straight.

All right, so are you stopping to scry on anybody, or? Oh. You want to try it? No, we should do it now. That's low priority. Let's get to the right way. Let's get to the right way. Yeah, let's do it. Okay. You make your way back up to the surface of Rosohna.

At this point, it is evening, though the light has not changed throughout the sky. You make your way to the Lucid Bastion and along the escort of the Shadowhand Essek. Bled within, some of the guards give some odd looks, recognizing your arrival not long ago in very different attire. Well, we look the same, just four, really.

Well, not all of you got Seeming immediately. That's true. You made a little ways through the Lucid Bastion before the Seeming was applied. And then changed for some reason. Yeah. But you are, there is no wait period, actually. You are brought to the antechamber

where you had previously had to wait, but there is immediately, as Essek pushes forward, escorting you, the doors open into the interior of the Bright Queen's chamber. The glowing white orb of light above the chains still holding it affixed, arcing at an angle to all the far corners

of the climbing, crystalline interior. You can see the climbing stairs that lead to the various members of the dens that comprise the council around the Bright Queen, and the conversation is all about, let's see, two of you make a perception check. Not me. I'll take one. I'll do it.

Oof, that's not my best, but that's okay. Ooh, I got one. Okay. Unable to make out the details of any of the hushed conversations and arguments that are happening. You hear the din around you, but the wide expanse that is the interior of this chamber

causes a little bit of an echo and a reverb effect, and you're unable to make out the specifics, but it seems to be heated, and as you approach, dying down a bit, as attention begins to come to you and Essek as you approach. Really? There you can see, atop the throne, the Bright Queen herself stands as you approach,

and Essek raises a hand and then kneels before the Bright Queen. You all kneel as well? Yes. All right. The Bright Queen looks, places her staff to the side. The echo of the impact on her. What is she wearing? I know, I was going to say the same thing.

What is she wearing? She looks fabulous as always. Given the recent events, you can see beyond the dress when you first made her appearance, this one falls more in line with the more armored attire. The dress portion of it is shorter, just going just past the floor and ankles. This one falls more in line with the more armored attire. The dress portion of it is shorter, just going just past the floor and ankles.

The armor itself, similar to the one you saw her last adorn with. You can see the same crest of horns, but as opposed to a crown. It's a little more of a helmet with these sides that curl out a bit. And she looks like she's a little more stepping towards a battle-ready persona.

Oh shit. As she looks out amongst all of you, goes, Mighty Nein, welcome back. You have been quite the topic of conversation recently. And gives a motion for you all to rise and approach. A friend of yours recently stormed our own doors claiming manipulation in the name of an unseen enemy,

a name we recognize, though seldom more than a fairy tale. To her credit, she holds no benefit, I can see, in meddling in the affairs of our continent, and staked your names on this warning, which was a persuasive appeal, enough to stem the tide of blood where it might have been earned. So, our distant ears tell a tale of a battle

of another kind beneath the city, one that you all seem to have survived in Rexxentrum. Well done. These same ears have also heard of your arrival at the Imperial Castle. A strange destination for such self-proclaimed expatriates. Explain yourselves. Expatriate? You should take care of this.

Probably. Do you want us to come? Oh. I'm not even from, well, all right. Well, neither are we. That's fair. Maybe that clarification is more or less it. We can understand your, the way this may have looked.

I'm sure it's certainly quite confusing. We've been on the trail, as we've said before, of these cultists of the Angel of Irons. Our search led us to Rexxentrum, back into the Empire, where we thwarted our foes in their efforts to break one of the shackles that was holding a far greater foe, the Chained Oblivion.

We toppled some of our quarry and have uncovered a bit more about your previous inquiries, beacons, the Empire's involvement, their knowledge of your Luxon. We had reason to believe that this beacon is being held by the Cerberus Assembly within the capital of Rexxentrum. Have you confirmed this with your eyes, then? No.

We've confirmed that it is not within the city of Rexxentrum. Essek immediately takes her gaze, and Essek goes, My queen, we have, as you know, arrested one of our higher dens, and you see he makes a gesture towards one of the empty chairs within the chamber. Whoa. Oh fuck.

And the interrogation has been fruitful, as much as it hurts us to admit our very own Taskhand Hadeen has admitted to the deed of both giving aid and progressing the interests of this cult of the Chained Oblivion and was responsible, it seems, for giving our beacons to the Empire in the first place.

The room immediately goes into whispers and pearl-clutching gasps. our beacons to the Empire in the first place. The room immediately goes into whispers and pearl-clutching gasps, and the Bright Queen immediately slams her staff twice in the ground to silence the room. Indeed. Well then. That reckoning will be something to deal with.

Whoa! I say, tell, may I speak, Your Majesty? Please. The Angel of Iron's cult is well known for mind control. It's one of the tools that they use the most within their ranks. And we have reason to believe that some of the people that were doing deeds for them

didn't even do it by their own fruition. Then, Braytel, who is this individual who might have been responsible for influencing the mind of one of our great leaders here? Well, there was a man working named Obann who was a very high up, I think he was a devil? You had mentioned this figure before. Yes, yes.

He could disguise himself as other people. He was controlling people that we know to do terrible things, and some of his followers were not by choice. If it's possible, he may have come across your task hand and done the same to him. We have reason to believe that your ally was at least under some sort of mind influence.

And you had been seeking this Obann, yes? We have for quite a while. He's a really bad, bad guy. How close are you to bringing him to justice? That guy's sloshed. We are happy to report that Obann has been dealt with quite handily. He has failed at his task

and has not only been punished by us, but also the god that he serves. Including some of those that he had control over, breaking free, turning on him, and helping us to destroy him. And these individuals that have been broken free, they renounce the things they've done. I don't know anyone who didn't. I'll step forward I was one of those people

and I should hope that if I was ever in the position of judgment that I didn't choose to do the things that he had me do. But we took care of him and he is now a blob. Come closer, please. Step closer. Do you believe you are redeemable?

I should hope so. Well, my judgment will stand as it will be, based on what arises. I thank you for your counsel. As we have no Obann to punish within Rosohna, punishment must still be dealt with a terrible deed that has been done against us and our people. The woman sitting in the chair next to the Bright Queen, who you've seen before, quiet, armored, terrible deed that has been done against us, our people.

The woman sitting in the chair next to the Bright Queen, who you've seen before, quiet, armored, very much a, what you would assume to be a military figure of very high station, steps forward. Another female dragon goes, My queen. The room gets quiet and people turn to us. I implore you to listen

and keep your temperament outside the judgment of law. Please. This is an insolent thing. In the chain of royal command, this would be easily punished, and the other court in the Breaking turns and softens and goes, Of course, it will.

So, Essek, the prisoner will be ready for judgment tomorrow, I hope, if not sooner. Because yes, my queen, the prisoner is in a difficult physical state. Tomorrow would be best. We can continue our interrogation, but the confession stands.

But hopefully, mercy can be considered. Looks about very well. If we may, there is another issue to be reported. Yes, we have a further development. You will be interested to know. Then please, share it with us. As you know, the Empire is in possession of another one of your cherished artifacts.

They would like to return it to you. That gasp and hush sound is replaced with an absolute still silence that hangs and hangs and hangs. Surely you're jesting. Ha. Surely you're jesting. We have had an audience with Dwendal. As you know, we are not operatives.

For the Empire, we stand between two nations and still desire the very same thing we told you before. Dwendal and the Assembly are offering to return a beacon to you. And I must confess, we have our suspicions about their intentions, but I would beg you to delineate between

those running the Empire and its people. We are here to represent the people of the Empire, and we would like to seize this opportunity to make amends, not for everything, not for all the wrongs done to you and yours, but a start. And we must tread carefully, Your Highness, because those at the top of the Assembly, especially, I fear are trying to bend the situation to their will

and gain the upper hand against you. And we do not want that to happen. We want to use this to end the violence against their will. I do not serve you. We do not serve you, and we do not serve King Dwendal or the Assembly. There is something far worse, something far greater than a nation

coming for either of your peoples. Tharizdun is coming. And Caleb puts his hands down and his head down and gets as supplicant as possible. I beg of you to see the greater threat to this world. Make a persuasion check. I want to say it's cock, but it's mostly that. So it's low.

It's a low cock? It's a low cock, it's a nine. It's a nine. Oh, perfect. Yeah. As you prostrate, she slams the staff on the ground. Please, no need to lie there before me. I beg to differ.

He stands. I cannot lie, I am very curious as to the circumstances surrounding this sudden offering. But I'm also not interested in discarding an opportunity and retrieving it. I don't know if I necessarily fear this shadowed name you invoke

more than I fear the violence of man. But we want what is ours. Do you have any idea what they wish in return for this beacon? Talks of peace. That's what they say. They were also coming to terms with treachery within their midst. I think both of you have that in common at the moment of how this cult has manipulated events.

Aedan has his own counterpart on the Empire side by the name of Vence. I believe we've mentioned him to you in the past. Essek raises his hand and goes, This Vence they speak of is, I believe, closely tied with the martinet of the Assembly. So while we are uncertain how deep that hole goes, the treachery runs to the top within the Empire as well.

They suddenly find themselves not knowing how much they don't know. They're afraid. I think now's the time to talk. You make a persuasion check. Come on, Caddy. 22. Woo! Woo! Woo! Woo!

Fear is a powerful motivator. And always interesting when it's something that two peoples have in common. She looks back again at the captain, who's standing behind her, and the captain puts her hand on the shoulder and gives her a stern look. And where would you like this mediation to take place? We're thinking at sea, actually. A neutral place,

away from both the Empire and the Dynasty. Such as? Well, there's a lovely cove that we could launch some ships from in Nicodranas. Nicodranas. It's wonderful this time of year. Beautiful city. Yes. We would look to probably bring our ships to the Lucidian Ocean,

maybe by ways of the Whitetone Lagoon. We could meet somewhere in between. What do you mean, somewhere in between? In between? The lagoon and Nicodranas, you mean, somewhere in between? In between? The lagoon and Nicodranas, you mean? Yes. Just somewhere on the Menagerie Coast? Oh, we don't want this as the Menagerie Coast map. Wrong map.

There it is, there we go. Move down, move down. Where's Rumblegoss? And we assume that you would not go in person, your highness? Of course not, that would be sheer folly. But we have. We may need to report.

You got fancy mirrors. Who would go? We have means of communicating, and I'm certain the High Royalty and the Kings Court have such artifacts also at their availability. So we'd be bringing a few artifacts out onto a boat and the artifacts would talk to each other? Along with some dignitaries, I'm assuming.

Some small groups. Some people. Or would it just be the artifacts? We will meet here along the southern edge of the Menagerie Coast. Neutral land, non-war-bearing ships, them to bring their mirror, we shall bring ours. Representatives at the ready to begin negotiations. The beacon is to be brought as well,

to be transferred upon agreement only. We can have the meeting aboard our ship if we have to. Yeah, we have a really nice one. It's called the Ball Eater. That was not necessary. It's not a warship, though. We will bring our prisoner, Oh.

this traitor, and should they catch this Vence, they bring theirs. Maybe somewhere in between, we could learn something. And what if they do not find Vence? Or is that a non-negotiable? Then the negotiation becomes strained,

but not impossible. No arms at the immediate table. Any signs of challenge, strangeness, dubiousness from the king and his people. If we feel this talk is unsafe for my men, women, it is off. If we feel this talk is unsafe for my men, women, it is off. And while I appreciate what you've brought here

and the information you've provided, you will not be necessary at this negotiation. Aw, man. It's sort of our thing that we're here. That was a request at the behest of King Dwindle. We are your liaisons that Allura mentioned would be reporting to you. I'm afraid we are tasked to see this to the end. And we are unsure of the Assembly's intentions.

You should not be unsure about ours. I think you want us there. I really do. We have skin in this game, so to speak. We would not put your men or women in a treacherous position if we are right alongside them. Make a persuasion check, Beau. Yep.

Did you get an assist from Fjord? Let's say you get an assist from Fjord on that, so you have advantage. I get an assist? Yeah. That's strong. Thank god for that assist. 18. Wasn't that from one assist. 18 was enough for one of the other.

I'll consider it. It is a strange request. I did not see you sellswords and denturing types interested in the details of political negotiation. But if that is your prerogative. interested in the details of political negotiation. But if that is your prerogative. It's not. We mean to lend an air of accountability. Our objective is our own, and always has been,

as Mr. Widogast has just previously stated. The soul of the Empire is at stake. As is the soul of the Dynasty, and perhaps the world at large. We mentioned this when we spoke in the past. Nothing has changed. If anything, all of the information that has gleamed in the past several weeks

has proved what we tried to warn months ago, that this war was staged by greater forces. You certainly surprise me, Mighty Nairn. Very well. Take this word back to this king, see if they find this scenario accommodating. One more, just one more detail. Would you prefer a specific date,

or should we leave it vague for security reasons for now? We have means of communicating once you've made this contact. I believe it is the personal touch that ties the threads of this at the beginning. Essek, you have means, I can communicate with them while they're on the road, and they have one who is eager to communicate,

regardless of the circumstances. Unlimited calling card. Good. Notify us of the response from the Empire. From there, we'll handle the details. We'll let you know when the date is struck. And... Thank you and good luck.

I do have a question. When do you plan on... When is your prisoner plan to be put on trial? This changes things. This individual that we have, this traitor, none of this changes things. This individual that we have, this traitor, might be a useful tool in this negotiation. So for now, judgment is state.

And can you promise to maintain the ceasefire until these talks? As long as the Empire does, of course. But if I hear word of any Kryn lives lost, any Wastefolks slain until this date, we commence. Yeah, that's fair. Of course. You have our endless gratitude. We thank you for your patience.

She sits upon the throne, and that powerful, hard, driven persona that you saw when you first arrived and have seen since these escalations drops once more into a softer smile, one reminiscent of when you first delivered the beacon. She sets the staff aside and places the hands crossed to the front of her knees. You're the youngest. You are unique.

Now go. Do you know how to reanimate a dead weasel? Yes! Stupid! Transfer it's soul into another weasel. Yes! Give it solely to another person. Stop it! Give it life from your beacon. Essek gives O'Neil a turn. We bow, we leave.

You guys make your exit from the chamber back into the center of the Lucid Bastion. Once you pass by, the antechamber door is closing behind. Even Essek's like, Oh my gosh. That went really well.. That went really well. That actually went really well. Even by the standard, I mean,

I know that we set the bar a very, I don't like saying it that often, but like, wow. We normally fuck things up pretty good. For a normal bar, that was pretty good. Thank you, Caduceus. Yeah. I had a good feeling about you in this one. I didn't want to say it ahead of time in case I was wrong. But I had a feeling that you would be the one

to push us over the edge. But, as a straight-up says, but let us all take a moment to appreciate the contributions of everyone brave enough in that room to step up before that council and speak. I myself am still impressed of what you managed to push forward. Whew.

Well. Thank you as well. I say we would not have had as much sway here without your assistance. Of course not, and strangely, neither would I. So. Do you need a lift back to your home? A lift?

To the Empire. Oh, oh, oh, no, no, we can do that. We're actually okay. Oh, all right. Sorry, I just assumed it's been a little weird. You've done so much for us. What were you saying, Caduceus? Well, Yasha's got some shopping we should pick up

before we go. Yeah. Bracelet. So we could sleep in our beds tonight. We probably have to get it tomorrow morning. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah, we'll sleep at the house and then we'll head back, is that okay? I can send message along that we've had talks

and that, you know, we will be arriving tomorrow. We should do that and reassure the ceasefire and make sure that no one attacks anybody. Yeah. Because fuck. We should send a message, too. Probably Ludinus says. But not tonight.

No, no, no, I should send them a message tonight. Yeah, as soon as possible. Yeah. If anyone kills a Kryn soldier, we're fucked. Yeah, yeah, yeah, all right, all right. That is a good idea. Let him know. While we're walking, I'm going to send them a message. Nope.

Oh my gosh. Wow. We just talked to the Bright Queen. Things are looking good. Maintain the ceasefire, super important. We'll be arriving tomorrow to talk. Matt's impressed. We all are.

I mean, efficient. That was informative and concise. Yeah. That was good, I don't care what he said. Everything else, the hack tomorrow, today was good. Because we rested yesterday, because we went to the spa. Responsible.

Still care. Well done. Thank you. I assume don't care. Well done. Thank you. I assume we expect your arrival soon. Oh, I was just talking out loud to him, talking to me. What'd he say? You expect your arrival soon. Okay, okay, okay.

That's it, he said we'll come! Great. Yeah. Great. No fighting, right? It was like responding to a voicemail. Oh, thanks. Shit, what did he say? Keep the ceasefire super important. Yeah.

I was counting words, I wasn't listening. Yeah. Essek breaks rank with you to head towards his business. You make your way back towards the Xhorhaus. Bye, Essek. You can come by tonight and get some dinner or something if you want to, we miss you. We haven't done any shopping or anything. Yeah, it's pretty empty in there. Bye, Essek. You can come by tonight and get some dinner or something if you want to, we miss you.

We haven't done any shopping or anything. Yeah, it's pretty empty in there. I appreciate the offer. I have my own work and research to continue, but well done. Impressive work. Just hope it sticks. And he drifts off.

Cool. I like drifts off. Cool. I like him. Yeah. Wonder what work he has to do, it's so late. I don't know, I don't know. I mean, maybe he's got to go torture that guy some more. That's true, yeah. Could have a second job. I mean, you know, people have two jobs.

Who knows what the Shadowhand really does? I mean, that's probably. You guys have arrived at the Xhorhaus by now, if you want to. So you're in your private space. Do you think he's a family man? Think he's a kid. Have we ever asked him about himself?

We don't know anything about Essek. Have we been to his house? What's his mother's name? What's his mother's name? Good question, nobody knows that. Does he have a significant other or anything like that? I don't know. I feel like we tried I feel like I asked if he was single. Yeah, and he was like,

ooh, I'm aloof, I'm essek. Should I call him and ask him? No. He should send him a message right now. He hasn't even gotten that far. See if he was lying about working. If he just actually had to go. Jester, you know what you're going to do.

Okay, I'm going to send him a message. Just say ASL. Please, my destiny. Essek. We don't know anything about you, I just realized. We should really hang out more. Are you single? Do you have kids?

Swipe right. Swipe right? Also, mom's name? Social Security number? Viggen? That was quick. I'm not particularly interesting. Don't like to talk about myself.

Don't worry. Just happy to be around. Cat person. He's shy. He says he's not very interesting, but we know that's a lie. Yeah, anybody who says that is super interesting. Didn't answer my questions at all.

So what are we supposed to do tonight? Night in Xhorhaus. Xhorhaus, Xhorhaus. Xhorhaus and the dictionary. Xhorhaus and Xhorhaus. Hey, Yasha? Yeah? You're definitely redeemable. Thank you, Jester.

I think so. But I don't know. You just never know for sure. Anybody who plays harp as good as you? Well, that was just one time. We'll see. I'm going to try to get better, though. That's a good point.

We haven't heard the bone harp and the bone flute together. Oh god. Should we give it a go? I mean, we can. Maybe, you know, we can make a cocktail, do a little, like, you guys do a little jam sesh for her. I'm going to toss a spiritual weapon up.

Yeah, yeah. We could practice, you know, for your entrance. Yeah. I'm going to put a fire on. I'm going to go get the booze! Summoning pumpkin. Okay. I'll go over to Caleb. Caleb, before we hear this delightful music,

which I'm sure is going to be amazing, Essek seemed okay with you today, right? I don't know. Are you guys hugging as you're having this conversation? We're private and we're spooning. Our legs are on the air. Goddamn. Yeah, our anuses are focused on the sun.

There's no sun here, we can't do it. That's true. So this SPF is useless. Moon charge. That's all you need, man. I'm going to use Create Undead on the Weasel. Oh! Where are my money? Shh. It's been a while since we've seen Essek,

and so I don't know. Yeah? He just seemed a little funky back there. I, yeah, maybe I could have woofed that as well, but I don't know what is bringing it about. We owe him favors. We owe him everything. And he has not asked.

Worth it, though. What do you think? I have... I'm a little bit worried. Tell me. Something in the way he was behaving when we were at that prison was funny to me. Do you think it would be a terrible idea,

because many of my ideas are, if I asked Jester to scry on that prisoner? Well, the prison is pretty well guarded from that sort of thing. And if it weren't, I would agree with you. I want to be wrong so badly, I think I'm just still paranoid, but I have not let my guard down entirely for him.

But maybe we are assholes, so. That is true. Tanned assholes. Not in these climes. You were amazing back there, by the way. It occurs to me that you've walked into that palace, that throne room twice now and offered them a beacon or the promise of a beacon.

They must think you are fucking god. She did not look that impressed with me, to be honest. She looked pretty impressed. I was impressed. I hope we are doing the right thing. I hope this... This is our biggest con ever. I hope it pans out.

Oh yeah. Not at risk. Well, do you have any cotton? I do. Can you shove some in my ears? Shots, shots, shots, get ready for this. Shots, shots, shots. What even is this?

I found it under the sink. Okay, we'll hand it to some cotton. This is cleaner. All right, let's hear it. Spiritual weapon. Is this all, by the way, that it can do? Yeah. Okay. Well, no, it is a flute in the sense that it has, there are means you're learning as you're finding it.

There are certain places you can change the key, but the sound is pretty consistent. Always going to be in the frame. Yeah. It screams of different tonalities. I'd like you all to make performance checks, please. Yes. Is meowing really loud.

Yep. Cat meowing. Oh no! Yeah, yeah, yeah. Good man. Oh, dear lord. Give it to him. Yeah. What'd! Yeah, yeah, yeah. Good man. Oh dear. Oh, you're a dog. What'd you get?

10. Five. 12. From 13. This is... Back when we were young. Oh no. They don't do this anymore, I don't think.

But every now and then, there'd be a day of school in elementary school where they would pass out recorders. Yeah. And that first moment, any kid in that class got a recorder, it was about 30 seconds of before the teacher had to shut everyone up.

This is a grand orchestra of that. Echoing throughout the Xhorhaus, peacefully quiet, dark, and empty in this little nestled neighborhood in the Gallimaffry district of Rosohna. As we pull back through the windows of the interior soft glow, the lit tree that looms over the house

above the entirety of the neighborhood, the epic muffled but ever-grating sound of coffinous, can't even really call it music, emanating through the streets as neighbors walk through the night road going, It's like the burbs. Yeah. And that's where we're going to end tonight's episode.

Oh, yay! That's when the music teacher brings out his special thermos. Mm-hmm. Yeah, yeah. His special thermos, yeah. We're back. Happy 2020. We missed you guys. Missed you guys.

We're going to pick this up next Thursday. I think I've earned about 400 calories when Sam said the sprinkle was dead. Dead for four weeks. Eat it, Jester. Eat it! We're going to meet the Tal'Dorei Council, and Jester's going to step forward and say,

I have brought you a most special arrow. A boomerang. Yep. Holy shit. Oh. Something in my brain cracked. Yep. Oh, it's ears and talons and, oh.

Yeah, that was not okay. I haven't seen you break on a camera like that in a long time. I can't remember the last time I broke on a camera like thatin's, oh. Yeah, that was not okay. I haven't seen you break on a camera like that in a long time. I can't remember the last time I broke on a camera like that. Oh god. That was amazing. That was rough.

Anyway. I couldn't shake it for a while. Oh my god. You're a trigger! Well, we love you guys very much. Have a wonderful week, and is it Thursday yet? Good night. Yay, happy 2020! Happy 2020!

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