Critical Role - C2E94 With Great Power...

Episode Date: February 13, 2020

The Mighty Nein take stock after their tangle with a dealmaker but their arrival at a new destination holds unexpected answers...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 voice actors sit around and play Dungeons & Dragons. What is it? Dungeons & Dragons! Fuck! Before we get into tonight's session, we do have a few announcements to get through,

beginning with the first of our two sponsors, beginning tonight with Skillshare. Sam, if you don't mind. Back this week is Skillshare, an online learning community with tens No with thousands of classes on creative and entrepreneurial skills for the curious mind Premium membership gives you unlimited access on classes from everything from personal productivity to art animation photography Skillshare is affordable with annual subscriptions starting as low as ten bucks a month

And there's a special offer for you creators, two-month premium membership, free! Free! For the first 500 people who sign up now at skl.sh slash CriticalRole2. I don't know why, it just is. The word two or the number two? The number two. It's on the screen. I checked out their classes, and I noticed they don't have any classes on the one skill that I'm best at,

being a corporate shill. So tonight, tonight I'd like to offer a class called Online Advertising 101 with Professor Sam Riegel. Greetings, class. In this seminar, I don't know how to hold a pipe. In this seminar, you'll learn the fundamentals of satisfying sponsorships of tabletop RPG streaming shows.

Harry Potter! There are many ways to do and add, but to be a shill for your sponsor, you must master the pinnacles of the form. Raunchy poems, cheap costumes, and fake movie scripts featuring 90s sitcom icon Gale. Right, right. Lesson one. Fake.

When brainstorming, always begin with the MAT system. That's M-A-T-T, it's a mnemonic, a mnemonic. M stands for music. Buy a cheap rhyming dictionary and compose a masterpiece like this one. Pull up a deck chair, pluck out your ear hair, sawyer underwear skill share. Woo! That song cost them $700,000. A of the MAT system stands for accents. Foreigners love being made fun of. For beginners, try

Italian. A, I'm from Italy. I own a Vespa and eat the gelato. I love the Skillshare. Buongiorno! That was better than a lot of the other ones. That was better than a lot of the other ones. That was pretty good. It's a video game. T of the match system stands for, oh shit. Shit. What? Shit. What? I was supposed to have a prop.

A prop is what? I forgot it. Max! Max! No, you're supposed to keep going. I'm just going to keep going. I'm just going to fake it. I'm going to fake it. Okay, what is it?

T stands for terrible food. When in doubt, just be gross. I'm going to fake it. Okay, T stands for terrible food. When in doubt, just be gross. Like this, what was supposed to be a cup of beer and ranch dressing. Maybe it is. Oh thank god it's not here. Skillshare. That was so much better, please forget things.

And the last T of the mat system is time. People love long advertisements. The audience tunes in to find out what will happen after their favorite character tricked a witch with a cupcake, but you, the shill, must stall as long as you can with ad copy that seems to go on forever like this one. Well, that's lesson one.

Future lessons will cover how to piss off the crew with technical requests. How to deal with an irate sponsor who hates your underwear song. And how to make Laura Bailey regret sitting next to you for two years. Until then, Skillshare. One of the finer. I didn't get to drink the beer in the ranch dressing room.

Oh, no. We're so sad. I thought that would've looked like. That was like seeing little women again. There you go. Thank you, Sam. I hope to be all right. And thank you, Skillshare, for your patience.

Oh, god. Wow. Our second sponsor tonight are our returning friends for all of campaign two of Critical Role, D&D Beyond. D&D Beyond! An amazing online tool for digitally keeping track of your campaigns and or D&D characters and all sorts of rules and content.

They are amazing. If you haven't checked them out, you can go ahead and do so at dndbeyond, that's dndbeyond.link slash Critical Role. Dr. Perfect Warlock. That one. Thank you, Ashley, for your support on that one. The spirit moving you, it's moving you. Let it go, let it move through you.

You got to let it carry. It is. But it's the lyric, and I love that tune it carry. It's the lyric, right? It is the lyric. It is. It's the lyric, and I love that tune even more. It is. So, next up, we announced today, as part of uploading our new handbooker helper for the Monster Hearts 2 game.

Out of the blue. Yep, out of the blue, that's what we do. For those who aren't familiar, Monster Hearts is a great game system that deals with the angsty teenage experience, but you're also secretly monsters. It's really fun. It's a really unique form of

really narrative heavy role-playing game. We put up our new handbook or helper about it, and we are doing a Valentine's Day one-shot that'll be coming out next Friday for you guys to check out. Super excited about it, at 7 p.m. here on our Twitch channel, and then it'll be available on our YouTube shortly thereafter. But for those of you who are either staying in

for Valentine's Day or want to go and check it out over the weekend or thereafter, looking forward to it, it's going to be a lot of fun. I'm the master of ceremonies for it, the MC, and we have a wonderful cast that includes, right here, our wonderful Taliesin Jaffe and Ashley Johnson. Joining us, we have our longtime friend and amazing person, Eirik Ishii.

And joining for the first time in the Critical Role family, our friend, Ali Beardsley. They're an amazing role player you may know from Dimension 20, as well as College Humor. They are fantastic, and we're so happy to have them aboard. So check that out next week at 7 p.m. on our Twitch channel here on Critical Role. Marisha, you have an announcement.

Speaking of content, if you want more of Sam aimlessly talking into microphones, you need to watch All Work, No Play. Liam is there, too. You need to take that back. Yes. I do need to take that. I'm an independent creator, not a corporate shill. So. You need to take that. I'm an independent creator, not a corporate shill. So, I'm sorry, I don't have a polished language.

I produce art. Like all work and no play. So yes, the first episode is available right now on YouTube, but Sam and Liam made Shade and Soul. It's so good! Shade and Soul funny. I have the same reaction watching it that I did with our earliest podcast episodes,

where when we did it, I'm like, this is not that good. And then I watch it, and I'm like, it's pretty good! It's good! Well, Julie Nathanson really steals the show. She kind of makes it. Definitely carries it. Her muscles, anyway. Linda Hamilton arms. Fucking arms, right? Her in that purple tank top. Oh my god.

I immediately started doing pushups while watching the episode. Sarah Connor level. Sarah Connor level. Yeah. And bullets. Before I objectify my good friend Julie Nathanson, yeah, you should catch it right now,

and the next episode will air Tuesday, February 18th at 4 p.m. Ooh. That's not this upcoming Tuesday. Not this Tuesday now, and the next episode will air Tuesday, February 18th at 4 p.m. That's not this upcoming Tuesday. Not this Tuesday. It's the next one. The next Tuesday. Gotcha. Thanks, Marish.

Was that your Italian accent? Couldn't you tell? Oh, hello! Five years later, still fresh off the noggin. What's going on over there? I'm a little worried about Italy now. Just like, everybody okay? Oh no.

What sounds so weird? I think it's a Tuesday. Let's go. All right, moving on. Laura, Laura, you got some announcements too. Woo, me too! Oh man. First of all, we got new stuff in our stores, the U.S. shop and the U.K. shop.

Let's cut to this fabulous keychain. Yeah, I think they've got it on the table so that you can get it better. Oh, look at that. I don't know if it's on the, I don't know. But yeah, it's this beautiful, and it spins. Yeah, do the demonstration. Okay, I'm going to take it, I'm going to pull it out.

Take it, take it. Cut to the other side. There you go. I'm going to take it, look, the other hand. There you go. I'm going to take it. Look. Ooh. It spins. Whoa! Well, this one isn't. You're making spinners, y'all.

Hold on, I'm not doing it very well. You're blocking me with your thumbs. There, shut up! Anyway, it spins, and it's got this fabulous copper finish. Anyway, I like it. Wow. There you go, there you go. There it is. Our other item. It's copper-styled. It's copper, there you go. There it is. It's copper style.

It's copper style stuff. It's copper. Copper style. Oh! Oh! Oh, nom nom noms. This is, wait, where's the logo? There it is.

This is called Bailey's Dice Bag of Hoarding. It's the size of your head? Dee dee! It's bigger. Yeah, so this was a bag that was inspired by the bags made for several of us. I don't know if she's made every one a bag, but only the ones that she really loves. Christina Allrens, I hope I'm saying your last name right, she's on Twitter at MaraJ33082, and she's wonderful. So she does custom bags and everything, so other people do custom bags as well.

But ours. Now we do custom bags. Well, ours is not custom, but it's beautiful, and it's got these fabulous lining. Anyway. Oh yeah, the lining is so cute. Is it Windy Doodles? The little thing in the middle that you can hold it up to. Yeah, and it's got a wonderful bag, hold on, look at this.

And it'll hold lots and lots of dice, I know, because I put everything from my dice bag in here to make sure. That looks super durable. Can I use that for all my hardware needs? Oh, that's right. Fellas, you could keep nails in there. It's got a super sturdy bottom, though, so it won't lose its shape. Screws and nails.

Anyway, I love it. Check it out. And also, for anybody that's going to C2E2, people have been asking me if our merch is going to be there, and we're not going to be selling it personally, but a lot of our stuff will be at the C2E2 merch booth, so you can go there and get some. The C2E2 merch booth?

Did I say that right? Yeah, is that right? Yeah, it's at the C2E2 merch booth. The actual convention. Yeah. And still, Laura, my insecurity on camera. Yeah, it's pretty cool. There's a merch booth. The actual convention. Yeah. And still, Laura, I'm sorry, I've never heard of such a thing. Yeah, it's pretty cool. There's a merch booth there? Cool. Yeah, they sell

the con stuff, but they're also going to sell our stuff. They also have their big booths, where you can go, shut up. I don't know things. I've got a lair. I'm debating, I don't know whether to keep it in my custom bag or put some in my, maybe I'll just put the ones that are in my other bag

in this one. You have plenty. You can get smaller dice bags to put inside. Did you hear that? Someone besides me, speaking truth, slinging it. What'd you say, Marisha? You don't have to fill it up. Nothing, I didn't say anything, it was Travis.

Travis said everything. I quickly, the laser beams. Matt, I think it's back to you. I think it might be. Thank you, Laura. Thank you, Matt. And I believe that marks the end of all of our announcements, and as such,

let's go ahead and jump into tonight's episode of Critical Role. Critical Role! I'm sorry. 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 Roll the dice Roll the dice Roll the dice Can you answer the call? Digging deep in your soul As the legend unfolds Now it's your turn

To roll! You guys are so late on the draw by time. Welcome back. So, last we left off, the Mighty Nein, in discovering that the curse that still holds Nott in her goblinoid form after her initial transformation years ago, remained and apparently was still held

by the same magical woman that had originally imposed this curse upon her. You traveled your way through Kamordah, had a tense experience meeting the Lionett family, who also has attachments to this entity. You came to discover was named as Ashanai, the Prison Sage, who lived to the northern forest marshlands amongst the bases around Mount Mentiri.

You traversed this dangerous landscape, dealing with various pockets of unleashed, acidic moisture and steam bursting forth from the geothermal ground itself. You lost a few horses and let the others wander. You made your way through swamps and got lost, got exhausted, dealt with fighting a few gorefeather harpies,

and then eventually found your way to the base of Mount Mentiri to the exterior of the abode of Isharnai, just as the sun set. Upon looking around, you eventually discovered this creature invisible on the roof, watching you all as you were

just investigating her homestead. After which you had some conversations with her, discovered that she could offer many things, and just like she has in the past, in exchange for a touch of your own fortune, seemed to have thrived on misery for those who asked for too much. And after some very emotional conversations

and thoughts about what some of you are willing to sacrifice to trade for this curse that's thrown at you or not, Jester bamboozled her and me through a clutch combination of Dust of Deliciousness, a random magical item I made up and gave you back in episode 30. And used it to modify the memory of her, to convince this crone-type creature

that she had such an amazing time and you guys bonded so quickly. In this time, she just was happy to release it for your companionship, and you left, walked outside into the dark night as you were all tired and wondering what happened, to have Jester go, Go, we have to go, now.

So as you all were quickly ushered off the somewhat moss-covered darkened hut, the dull interior candlelit glow that pours through the partially-ajar doorway, you all spearhead downward back into the swampy valley that awaits you, as night has just begun. And that is where we left off. So as Jester is quickly ushering you down into the darkness,

what do you do? Quickly, quickly! Why are we getting into the heaven? Cast Find the Path! Oh! I don't have that repaired. Okay, great! Okay.

Let's find the path. It's a spell so I can find the path. Oh, I don't know. But I thought, you know, she'd be dead, and we wouldn't have to be hurrying or anything like that. Makes sense. Caleb, Caleb, just teleport us away from here. Oh, I, oh.

What happened, though? What happened? You were saying this as we were walking, right? We're going through the brambles now. Wait, no, no, because, wait, though. What? Wait, the what? Oh yeah, what happened? Are we okay? Kill her and everything's fine.

Did you give up something? Eh, something, yeah, like the real special. A real special? Eh, something, yeah, like the real Sprechel. A real Sprechel? Yeah, it's a real Sprechel. It's like... It's Sprinkles, maybe. It's a Indian dish.

Sprechels are the best. You made a Sprechel out of Sprinkle? No, Sprinkle's fine, look. Oh. What's a Sprechel mean? I guess. He has no hair, Jester. What?

I'm going to just get some food out and just beef sprinkle as we talk. He's eating, he's fine. It's like beef jerky, it's fine. He's so dry. You going to go down? This is a show about a weasel. Wait, are we in danger? Do we need to run?

We are moving at pace, aren't we? Yeah, we are moving at pace. You are. Maybe. I'd rather not say this right now. Like, you know, I gave away something really special and shit's fine, it's fine. We should just go, because I don't want to, like, I don't want to be here. Is Nott good, though?

Yeah, are we taken care of here? Yeah, everything's fine. Nott, your course is broken. Is my brother good? What do you mean? She said she, what did you? I don't know, I just have questions. No.

Then your brother's fine. Well. Right? Uh, what, what do you mean? What do you mean, your brother? No, Then your brother's fine. Well. Right? What? What do you mean? What do you mean, your brother? No, just keep going. Okay, so we need to go, it's fine. Nard is good. No, get walking! And Caleb, you said,

oh, earlier to the teleport request? No, I did not, I do not have that ready. Wait, oh. Okay, oh. Can you, do you find the path? Can you find us a path? No. I can definitely not do that. You found the path before. I did, but. Okay, oh. Do you find a path? Can you find us a path? I can definitely not do that. I thought you found the path before.

I did, but you know, I kind of prepare some spells at the beginning of the day, and I didn't prepare that well. I'm going to turn around and look to see, yeah, I'm going to look behind us. Because I thought we'd be fighting, and so I prepared a heal spell instead, because, you know, I heal. We have a certain way of doing things.

Normally we raise things to the ground, so I did not think that we would need to escape in a hurry. Yeah, no, that's true. So I came prepared to fuck shit up, but I cannot get us out. Yeah, you know, act as if, basically. We just walk like you traded something that she loved. I did. And Nott's fine,

and we're going to make our way out of here. Like we did before. We're walking away confidently and happily, and knowing that. The deal is closed. Why do we need to rush, though? Well, um. You hear the nocturnal creatures are starting to come out. The night has definitely claimed the dense forest

as you guys feel the ground beneath you at this point beginning to turn a little softer, feeling the moisture of the swamp approaching. You do not see anything immediately behind you beyond just the occasional dark shadow of some sort of nocturnal flight, bird, or predator finding its way out for an early evening bite. I just, the thing that I gave her, you know,

I've never actually given before or used, so. What did you give her? I gave her, you know, I've never actually given before or used, so. What did you give her? I gave her. Did you kiss her? Yeah, I gave her a real big smooch, and she loved it. She was like, oh my gosh. I don't believe you, Jester. Will you tell us what you gave her, please? I hadn't even gotten to that.

I gave her a cupcake. My last one, I gave her my last cupcake. What did you really give her? I gave her a cupcake. And that was enough? That was enough, yeah. How could a cupcake possibly be enough? I don't feel any different. You're telling me that the curse has been lifted on me. Do I look different?

I was in the room, and the whole room went dark, and she waved her hand, and she said the curse was broken. The whole room went really, like, magically dark, you know what I mean? And I believed her. You believe her? Yeah. Yeah. Well, thank you.

Well, I suppose if it's not true, we could always double back. What? It's fair. Why don't we just make the hat or something and- Oh, finish the job? Yeah, it doesn't seem like a deal would be concluded with a cupcake. Maybe we should take care of this ourselves.

Well, let's... You don't trust me. I trust you. No, I trust you, I just don't believe I have. Let's get as far as we're comfortable tonight. You just don't believe me? That I have. You don't believe me that I would know the difference?

Sleep on it. Of if a curse was broken and a deal was paid? See where we're at. How would she break a curse that's been hanging over Nott for years over a cupcake? What flavor was the cupcake? I think it was blueberry. I mean, I'll do a lot for blueberry.

Okay. It's been a minute since you've gotten any new cupcakes. How old was that cupcake? It's pretty old. What are we missing? The frosting was like, real stale. I tasted it. To be fair, she probably frosting was like, real stale. I tasted it. To be fair, she probably eats like, you know,

earthworms and fungus and stuff. This is all very confusing. Plus it had some of that stuff that Pumat gave us. We need to get somewhere safe so we can talk this out. Wait, what was that last part? You know that stuff? No. The dust that we remember we talked about

in mixed food, food is really good? Oh, that, oh, that. Yeah. Oh, that, oh. Mm-hmm. Oh. So it made it taste good. We have pretty damn good. Can I look behind us, is there anything following us?

Make a perception check. I'm joining you, I'm just going to keep doing this. I don't care, I'm going to look anywhere I get. 27. Ooh, he's all way more than me. 17. 17. For the time being, no, you don't know

what's sitting behind you. The air is cold and the mist is rising in the swamp as you guys begin to now hit the elements of the mud and water that you're now angled deep and you can hear the. Guys, this is probably dangerous to traverse in the night. Should we go in the hut and just sort of camouflage ourselves?

Well, it's soggy. Maybe. I don't really know if there's... We'll find solid ground first. Let's find somewhere to put the hut, maybe off the beaten track. What do you need to do the ritual for Nott? Oh boy, it has been a week, you guys. Do we need to start collecting clay?

Yeah. Not that ritual. No, no, no, no. What? She is talking about Nott's ritual, but. No, that takes like an hour. We do that at home, I think. Yeah, let's make the hut.

Not while we're running, no. What if it's not broken? Well, we can come to it. It's broken, Beau. How, though? I'll tell you if we get the hut up, okay? I'll talk to you guys in the hut. Well, let's find a bit of dry ground if we're able to.

Okay. 10, 15 feet. Make a survival check. Survival. You're a survivor. Just me? Did anybody give me guidance? Ah, yeah, you did, yeah. Any advantage, because people are also, ooh.

20, what is that? 23 plus a d4. Damn, Jester. 26. Jesus. 26, okay. That was one hell of a roll. All right, you go ahead and it takes you about an hour,

because you either have to get really far off the beaten path, or you have to push forward. And you're like, going forward, there's a chance you might find, it's easier to find things that break the surface when it's not as shallow, but also you're off the beaten path and you know where you've traveled

and that's the safest, or at least the most immediate distance between where you are and where you're going. It takes about an hour before you find a patch of land that is mostly above water and can probably fit the dome in it. you are and where you're going. It takes about an hour before you find a patch of land that is mostly above water and can probably fit the dome in it. There is one issue, as a quarter of it would be filled

with part of a fallen, rotted trunk of a tree, which means you'll have to be pretty tight in there when you sleep, but it's doable. Which is a shame. So the dome would be around the tree trunk? Yes. That's fine. Unless some of you want to sleep in the water. All of that tree trunk? Yes. That's fine. Unless some of you want to sleep in the water. Hollow down tree trunk or solid?

Is it a straw, a fun straw into our home? Uh-huh. No, because the dome would go through the hut, right? Go through the trunk anyway. The trunk would be inside the dome, as far as getting enough ground that itself is open and not underwater. And under the actual marsh water,

but it is not hollow, and it is rotted. You go to inspect it and you pull it, and the jagged parts of it just peel off. Do we just move the trunk? It's rooted in the ground. You can try and move it up if you want to try and tear the trunk out. Just sleep around it.

It'll be uncomfortable, but safe. Okay. Haun, does it take for you to cast try and tear the trunk out. Just sleep around it. It'll be uncomfortable, but safe. Okay. How long does it take for you to cast it as a ritual? 11 minutes as a ritual. 11 minutes as a ritual. Should we try and push the trunk for 11 minutes? Yeah, for 11 minutes we'll try to move it. Okay, go ahead and make a, who's helming this?

All the girls are doing it? Yeah. Two are strength based. Yeah, so both of you guys make strength checks. And I am there for emotional support. I'm watching for anything. That's a 20. Oh shit!

And I got a 27. Oh! Thanks, I'll die. Wow. Damn. 20 on perception, too, just keeping an eye out. Fair enough. She's the splinter maker. As Jester and Yasha reach,

both getting their fingers into the ground, and it's easy to get a grip because the soft earth gives way to your fingers as you push and find a heavy handhold on these deeply sunken roots. You both count to three and then lift at once and you hear as it tears up out of the ground. You can see some of the roots just splinter and break,

and some just pull up right out of the soft earth as you both lift and give it a shove, and it floats out over the water and sinks halfway before it finds enough soot and muck underneath to come to rest. She's a brick! The mist has come in quickly in this space,

which, by the way, if you could, Caduceus, roll again, because it would be at a disadvantage with the heavy mist around you. Oh, that's fine. There's an aphid, just go. That's even higher, so 20 is still the roll. The splash hits, you're about maybe, that took no time, you guys took maybe two minutes

to get that thing out of the way. So you're still partially into this. Right as you guys are getting excited about that, you see something, like a shape of the way. So you're still partially into this. Right as you guys are getting excited about that, you see something, like a shape in the mist. What does it look like? What's the shape look like? Looks like a person. Is it a ghost? A person, it looks like a person.

It looks just like a person. It looks like three more. Are they floating? How far away? No, they're just shapes in the mist that you can barely make out. You guys can't even see. You're the one who's pointing originally. Jester, you can just make it out a little bit.

Cast faster, cast faster! Cast faster! Six minutes, five minutes, I don't know. You see a shape come out of the water, not too far from where you are, on the edge of where the trunk of the tree had hit the edge. You see a shape, a person rise up out of it.

I move closer and start prepping. Caduceus, tell us what these are. I'm checking, I'm doing the, are they undead? I'm doing the... You're doing which one? The Eyes of the Grave. Eyes of the Grave, what's the range on that? Range on that is 60 feet.

I know the location of any undead within 60 feet that isn't behind total cover. Okay, cool. You got about 15 that suddenly show up. And it's undead? Immediately around you is undead. I'm going to turn undead. Are you going to do the same thing?

You first, or do you want to? Well, first, let's go ahead and roll initiative. Oh! Oh, I should've known. I'm not going to leave the side dry! You got a bite. My body's happy! Last week was just a sample.

It barely counted. You charge right into the depths of the swamp and right as the knife kicks in and make a lot of noise. How about Dwarven Forge, dwarvenforge.com, Dwarven Forge, Dwarven Forge. What are we going to do, camp outside of our hut? Yeah, we can. Must be done.

That was the best. That was a good initiative. Oh no. Oh, initiative, I knew I forgot something. Roll well, roll really well. Balls. Balls and anus. You know, everything is all right. Balls and anus.

Balls, balls, and anus. Love that. Parents, if you want to win against, we apologize. Nothing wrong with balls and anus. Those are medical terms. Those are medical terms, exactly. So you got them. In between us, Mr. Grinch.

As far as you know. By the way, our new book is going to be in stores soon. Everyone has an anus. I mean, it's true. With little decals and file stickers. All right. Oh god. Me and Yasha would be standing next to each other

because we just did the trunk. Aw. Me and Yasha would be standing next to each other because we just did the trunk. Oh, yay. You guys would be in a good time. All right, and so. That's so cool, though. Come on. That's so fun. Trees!

Wow. Look at the log and the fucking moss. All right, I'm going to chill. Not that this is not being recorded, but this is really cool. I've got to make sure somebody sees this. That's like, yeah, you fucks. You should have seen my map last week.

Yep. Not that long ago. Oh god. Oh god. Yep. Oh my god, he's got a lot of minis. There's 15 of them, yeah, there's a lot of minis. Minis. Three hit points of them, yeah, there's a lot of minis. Maybe he has three hit points. Meet me in the garden. Ho garden.

Woo hoo hoo hoo hoo. Throw that. Maybe some glowy, glowy fisties? Glowy fisties? Say that out loud? Yeah, I got it. Did you just say glowy fistie? Glowy fisties, Caddy. Glowy fisties.

I may not have it. Oh wait. If you do, but. Glowy fistie night, eh? If you doies! I may not have it. Oh wait. If you do, but... Glowyfisty Knight, eh? A couple of me out there. If you do that. I may not have it. I won't be able to do. Yeah, I may not actually have Glowyfisty right now. Wow, Matt is setting up a lot of miniatures. I actually don't have Glowyfisty right now.

Oh god. All right. Oh. Oh, and lightning change? Come on. Holy shit. As you make that point, and you guys begin to see these shapes move and shift,

you see the one that comes out of the water nearby, right over on that side near Jester and Yasha, the trunk that has floated out in that direction, you see it rise up and go, That's a scary one. You see they're humanoid, though largely their flesh is bloated and sloughing off their body in places.

Swollen and green, this horrible, toxic zombie-type persona, and it looks like it will move really slow, and it goes, No! Oh, stop! Rushes with a speed faster than any sort of zombie you've seen in your time. I hate bad zombies.

Initiative, please. If anyone hasn't rolled yet. I rolled shit. I did too. I rolled shit. I rolled average shit. He's rolling really well. Natural 20. Oh!

That's the opposite of what I rolled. All righty, so 25 to 20. 20! Oh shit! Yasha's going with that. Yasha! Ashley Johnson? I'm doing slow-mo on the smoke.

All righty. 20 to 15. 15. 18. Oh shit. All right. Nott, you said 16. 18. Oh shit. All right. Nott, you said 16. Caduceus got 16? Then Beau, all right.

15 to 10. 12. All right. Just a kid. 10 to five. Eight. Is this all the same day? Oh, I guess it won't affect us too much,

but we're all exhausted. Yes, you all have a point. Well, most of you have a point of exhaustion. I rolled a one. Ah, Fjord's up there. Okay. I basically didn't even notice anything. So.

You guys get all excited. Yasha, what's your dexterity? My dexterity is 15. I'll let you go first, then. Oh! Okay. Okay, so. Who's nearest? who's nearest? Who's nearest?

You have these two that are almost equidistant. This one's probably closest to you there. Okay. I'm going to go over there. I would like to rage. Yes, you would! All righty. Drawing which blade?

Which blade? My Sking gorger. You got it. You charge through. Now, in this space, your movement is halved because you are in pretty heavy swamp around the space of where you guys are currently located.

Okay. But you get there without an issue, so you rush into the first one who's there in front of you. Now, as opposed to just an undead and a zombie that's falling apart, you've encountered a number of those in spaces. This reminds you of some of the zombies

that you've seen in Elements of Xhorhas that are usually curse-based husk zombies, or they're created by Nurgleids, similar in ways to the ones that showed up at the carnival when you first met up with these people. They are faster, their fingers are bladed, and they're all around a little more volatile than your standard lumbering undead.

But nevertheless, in that moment of recognition, your blade is out, what are you doing? Okay, I'm going to attack. All right. Go for the head. Yeah. That would be a 28 to hit. That'll hit. Yeah. That would be a 28 to hit. That'll hit. Okay. Because it's so rusted.

That's what you have to be careful of, not the blades. That shot is an edge, too. It hurts, like, two to eight. I'm going to roll those again because of... Yeah, I'm going to take that hit. Let's see. Oh my god. 12, 13.

23 for the first hit. 23 points of damage? Yep. Nice. Thank you, I'll use it. You hack through, carving through, and you see its body open up a bit. As it does, as opposed to the black coagulated blood, moss pours out with the wound as it opens up.

The arm itself splinters a bit, but holds in place, and then. Oh, that's gross. Okay, second hit. Oh, same, 28. That'll do, roll damage a second time. Okay. I'm going to roll again.

Okay, same. Five, five, five, six, seven, eight, nine, five. I don't know what we got. Okay, same. Five, five, five, six, seven, eight, nine, 10. 12 points of damage. 12 points of damage. Nice. Second strike. Carves through and jams partway in its torso and gets stuck.

The creature bows for a second, like it's about to collapse, and then back up at you with the blade still stuck in its torso. As you pull it back, it lurches forward towards you. Now they're all going to go. Hey, Matt, before you go forward, can we add my resonant echo to the map?

Oh, good call, because you do still have it. How long does he last? Eight hours. Would you like him to go? I would have had him be a lookout, so I don't think he would be right with us. Oh, there he is. It with us. Ooh, maybe there. Oh, there he is. It's the nigger Caleb. Yep.

Could I put him standing under this tree? Sure. Because he doesn't have to worry about swampies. You got him. Okay, cool. So now it's their turn. Oh god, they're so fast. They are very fast.

Even with their reduced movement, they are much quicker than any zombie you've encountered. Although, you know, you've encountered these once a long, long time ago. It's like when they remove frames in a horror film, and they just, you know? Yeah. Yeah, we didn't go further than that.

Oh, I hate that shit. That's like, I have nightmares like that. For clarification. Yes? I rolled Savage Attack on both of those. Savage Attacker, but that second one that I rolled, I rolled the same both times. So I just realized, I was like,

wait, I think I can only use that once per turn. That's all good, but thank you for being up. Just so later people are like, you did it wrong. I know I did. I'm letting you know I know. Yeah. I'm letting you know I know. Realized. It's a side roll, it's a Fred Savage attack.

It's not the same thing. It's a Savage attack? Yeah. So the one that you've jammed and the blade is nearly dead, it goes, looks at you, and you watch as its chest pulses and inflates. It bursts into a spray of toxic, visceral liquor. Make a constitution saving throw.

Oh my god. Sheesh! Mayer-y. Mayer. Constitution? Constitution saving throw, please. Change his thing. Ooh. Seven. I mean, 10. 10, that is still a failure. You take 18 points of poison damage.

Oh! One hit? Yes. As it explodes, it is destroyed, but you are coated in this horrible poisonous liquid that scars the flesh a bit, and it's all in your eyes and your mouth, and it burns, and it's awful. Doesn't happen to hurt the gentleman next to him, does it?

He doesn't seem affected by it. He's going to attack him twice. Oh my god. Oh shit! No, don't look, you guys. Two 18s. Literally, in a row. That hits. Two 18s. Yeah, so that'll be a 23 each.

All right, your take. It changes the whole thing. Oh. Turn Undead might be bad. 17 points of bludgeoning damage, which you are raging, so that is halved to eight, I believe, eight points of bludgeoning damage to you. Okay.

All right, that's two attacks on you, just, well, that's four attacks on you from two of them. That's a little low to me. Yep, because there are two of them. Let alone me? Yep. There are two of them that currently rush in towards you. I'm going to block for you. Okay.

All right, that's one miss, that's cocked. They rolled really bad. The highest one is a 15. Oh. Armor class? Yeah, they just rush in in striped position. Their fingers are clawing and you're holding up your shield and one gets close to you and you bash it away and it backs up again. About to double back and go in for the assault

a second time. Caduceus, you have one that rushed up to you and is going to attack you twice. Twice in a row it rolled. 13 out of 13. No, and I'm going to use Shield of Retribution. Okay, go for it. So misses with a melee attack,

I can use Remind to Black them with Arcane Force. They suffer 4d6 force damage. And they also have to move 20 feet away from me. Woo! Tight. Shield of Retribution. Whoa. Oh, 14. Those dice are beautiful. 15, 16, 17, 18, 19.

Whoa, that was a good roll. 19 points. 19 bites of force damage and 20 feet back. So it runs towards you, leaps in the air, and as it goes to strike with both claws, you hold the shield up, take the blow, and then shove it off as a blast of energy. Fires it, throwing it back 20 feet. It lands and then jumps up with an unexpected speed

and is getting ready to come back next round. Whoa! These two are going to go after your echo, Caleb. Uh-huh. It's four strikes against it, the first two. He's hot! Whoa! These two are going to go after your echo, Caleb. Uh-huh. It's four strikes against it, the first two. He's a tank, he'll be fine. 13 and a 14? No.

No! They don't hit! Hey! It doesn't have mage armor on it. I don't have mage armor on it. I have elven chain and that. That's true, yeah. So there you go.

So both those miss, and the other? First time for everything. I don't have Mage Armor on. I have Elven Chain and Ten Ages. So both those miss, and the other? First time for everything. Really? Two more strikes against you. You're just a mime going. That's 21 and a 21. Oh, yeah, that was it.

Okay. He's gone. For a while left. Are those against your shadow? He's a confetti-filled balloon guy. He took them all. 13 points of bludgeoning damage. Wall-up. He's like, are those against your shadow? He's a confetti-filled balloon guy. He's like, seven. He took them all. 13 points of bludgeoning damage.

Uh, oh. No, he's still up. That's from both of them? Yeah, one of them missed two attacks, and the other one hit twice, but didn't roll super high on the damage. Oh. Are you low on health already?

No, this is his shadow. It's his shadow. Yeah, it's, it's, it's, I've never used this spell, sorry. Good. That's four attacks. It's still up! Yeah. Shit. There you go. Congratulations!

Dang it! That's four strikes against you, Fjord. Yep. Oh shit. Ooh. That's a good sound. That's what you want to hear. Yeah. A seven, an 11,

a 17, and a 19. 17 and 19 hits, the last two. Okay. So that is 14 points of bludgeoning damage to you. Okay. As both of them go just raking towards you, bashing into you, trying desperately to get through. Then the other strikes come through

and they slash into your torso and the side of your head and you go like, ugh, go forward. You can feel the warmth as the blood is pouring through the scalp already from where it slashed to the back of your head. That is going to finish that one there. There is now one against you, Caleb, with two strikes. The 14 points of damage

were the last two strikes combined? Yes. Okay, gotcha. I didn't make sure there was no extra. So there is now one against you, Caleb, with two strikes. The 14 points of damage were the last two strikes combined? Okay. Yes. Okay, gotcha, I didn't make sure there were none extra. So it's two strikes against you, Caleb, from the one that managed to squeeze through to get to you. Ooh! That is a 23 and a natural 20. Those both seem to hit for some reason.

Cancel the natural 20. Ooh! Yes. Did you use your reaction to your shield? Oh, I don't know if the shield counts as a reaction. Hold on. Yeah, it will hold safe. Yeah, that's my reaction, fuck.

Bring it on. All right. That is a... Seven points of slashing damage to you, Caleb. Yeah, okay. No, I didn't. And then they crit. I don't think I did. It wasn't hard.

10, 13 points of slashing damage on that one. Oh! That's not bad. Not too bad. Two attacks against you, Beauregard. Yeah. This is the last of their rune. That's going to be a 13 and a 20.

20 hits. 20 hits. You take seven points of slashing damage. Okay, that's fine. That is seven points of slashing damage. Okay, that's fine. That is the rest of their turn. Next up comes Nott. Nott, what are you doing? There's a lot of attacks. You go from just a couple of shadows in the mist

to suddenly being swarmed by this horrible sound of sucking, terrible undead voices, and you're just swarmed. You hear an explosion and a scream off to the side. Your friends are being assailed by them. What are you doing? I feel like. There's one over here that didn't move.

Oh, thank you. Thank you for that. That's not an undead. That's just a survivor. How y'all doing over here? The gentleman, what are you doing here? Actually, these guys couldn't attack, but they could still at least get up in the mix,

which they would anyway with their dash action, so there we go. Jeepers. Actually, this one would probably get behind Yasha there, so we'll go with that. Janky. Okay. So, what are you doing, Nott? Ooh, she's right next to me, huh? I'm sorry, I fucked that up for you.

No, that's fine, it's fine. I feel like Yasha's okay. I feel like Jester's going to do some magic shit. Fjord, I don't really care about. Beau, Beau's fine. I'll be fine. I got to protect Caleb. I will shoot the one engaged with Caleb.

Right here? Yes. Go for it. Okay. Roll for an attack. Four. Plus 10, so 14. That hits. Hey! They are very easy to hit. They don't try and dodge. They don't try and dodge.

They don't have any armor. Whoa, that was a good roll. Yes, it was. 20. 32 plus six, 38. 38 points of damage. 38 points of damage. It is done. Ooh, does it explode or is it okay?

As you strike it on the back of its head, it falls forward onto its knees and its body. Oh no. First, I need Beauregard, Caleb, and Fjord to all make constitution saving throws, please. Nice. No one's going to have it. We're just going to take some distance.

Okay. 24. 24 is success going to take some distance. Okay. 24. 24 is success. You take 12 points of poison damage. 20. 12 points of poison damage. Caleb? So I have an F.

F is the problem. I got some distance. I'm, does my- 18. 18, 12 points of poison damage. Does my immunity to poison change anything? Huh? My immunity to poison change anything? Huh? My immunity to poison change anything? Immune to the condition?

Is it, this is your... Monk shit. I think, I think. My monk shit. I'll double check here, but I'm pretty sure you might do nothing to it. I'm just going to double check real fast here with your... Yeah, monks are pretty great. They're awesome.

You're immune to disease and poison. Yeah, nothing. It hits you and you just. Listen. Nothing. Your friends are dying. Look at my guns. I look good now. You are a Gandhi.

Fuck you. And then I will, that one's within melee of me, so I will disengage. All righty. And, oh boy, there's nowhere to run. We're surrounded, but I'll just run away. Okay. Your movement is 35?

Yeah. Yeah, I'll run back that way, yeah. 25, 30, that's about as far as you can get. That seems good. Actually, you know what, you were on the point there, so you can actually get a little further if you want to, like over this way. Just because you were on the section

that didn't have any swamp, and then you moved into the swamp. There's a guy over there, I didn't see him. Well, you do now. Oh shit! Okay, that's it. All right, Caduceus, you're up, Beau, you're on deck. I'm going to cast Bless at the fourth level.

Ooh! On everyone but Beau. Damn, boy! Everyone gets an extra d4 to attacks and saves. D4. Confidence. Has he had that much confidence in me? So yeah, if you have to roll a save or if you roll an attack, you can add a d4 to it. Come on.

Hashtag West. Spell. On me as well? Yep. Oh, okay, cool. Everyone's got a d4. Wait, on me as well? You as well? Yep. Oh, okay, cool. Everyone's got a def- Wait, on me as well? You as well. On little old me? Even, yeah, everybody. All righty, that's your action.

That's my action. I'm like, this is where I am right now. Oh boy, am I not engaged with any of them? You were, and then you blasted them back with your shield. So you are not currently engaged with any of them in combat. Okay, I'm going to break off from the group a bit. Okay. Because I've just figured out

that grouping is a disaster. I'm going to try and get to the other side of this trunk over here, if that's okay. 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30. It's as far as you can get. On the other side of it, if possible. How long does it last? Until I lose concentration.

I'd say because you were in there, I'll give you another block, but that's as far as you can get because this was the other side. There's no way to get through there, yeah. That's also rough terrain because it's a bunch of bunching, so I'll beat you about there. I'll get in there. You are like,

partially engulfed by a bush. There you go, you're good, you're good. Here, there we go. We're there, too, that works fine, sure. Wherever you want to go, Caduceus. That's right, I'm trying to be a backup against that. All right. There we go. That's real stuff. There you go. Oh boy.

Yeah, I don't think I have a bonus action, so yeah. Beauregard, you're up. Caleb, you're on deck. I have Zombie Jesus here. Zombie Jesus? Sure. And then that guy? Yes. I'm going to elbow the guy behind me and then give a nice roundhouse to the guy up front. then give it a nice roundhouse,

so the guy up front, I don't know. Go for it, so one attack to each? You got it. Wow, wow, that's real bad. That rolls. Real bad, 13 and a 15. Both hit. Wow!

Anyone can hit these guys. What did you roll? Awesome. I rolled a three and a five, and I still hit both of them. Wow. What was the total? Pop, pop, 13 and 15. Okay, okay. It might be a lot of the fluff. So that's going to be eight to the guy in the back.

All righty. Ten to the guy in the front. All righty. Still standing? What was the second damage, it was 10? Eight and 10. Yeah, both still standing, no issue. They both take hits and they're like. Doesn't seem to be that much of an impact on them.

Oh, no, I've got a bunch of them. Pardon me. As long as I don't die. Nice. Oh! I'm all right. Whoa! A triple sneezer?

They're usually triple sneezes. So it might, yeah. Got a triple sneeze. What doesn're usually triple sneezes. Got a triple sneeze. What doesn't seem to, okay. Okay. Lucky. Why don't you brag about it? Flurry of blows.

Flurry of blows, all right. Same thing, one each. You got it. Both hit with a 15 and a 17. Yep. Oh, those are better. 18 to the guy in the back. Nice.

And no, sorry, sorry, let me rethink that. 14 to the guy in the back. 14 to the guy in the back. That's eight plus six, right? Yes. Yes, and then. To zombie Jesus? To zombie Jesus, and then

12 to the guy in the front. All righty, crack, crack, you hit them both again. They both bow back, and they're looking hurt, but they're still standing angrily, growling at each side of you. You do, however, get your Extract Aspects on them. They are, surprisingly, immune to poison and being poisoned. Hmm. Makes sense.

That's not surprising. I know. They're immune to the shit that they throw on us. They're immune to poison, I say to everybody. Tell me what to do. All right, that's my turn. You got it, Beau. Caleb, you're up. Jester, you're on deck.

So the Nega Widow guest pulls his hands apart and a giant fireball opens up in his hands and he chucks it over to here. Over in this direction so that we can hopefully catch opens up in his hands and he chucks it over to here. All right. Over in this direction so that we can hopefully catch himself and these two buddies and this one here. Yeah, you can get all three of those. And himself. And himself.

He will disappear. It's a firebomb. Yeah. Let's go ahead and roll damage on that. Yeah, where's that thing? Where did it go? There it is. For him, that's a fail. I am Werner Herzog, and you are all listening. Don't care, don't call me roll.

That, I got to re-roll it, because it was, these dice, I can't do it. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight. Here we go. Yeah. 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 21, 27, 17, 21, 27, 33, 34.

Plus the, plus the, plus the, plus the. Just shift your position. Plus the... Okay. 34. 34 points of damage? Yeah, high rolls. That's actually really good.

The two has a, so yeah. Caleb, the Echo Caleb releases it and just scatters into shadow and is gone as the flaming blast lights up the space around you in the middle of this dark, barely moonlit center of the swamp. As the zombies themselves take the flame and scramble for a minute,

caught off guard by the blast. They all get back to their place. This one here looks hurt. The other two are almost destroyed. Their whole, whatever flesh that was soggy and green is now black and crispy. They've lost most of their facial features and they're just like,

but they're still standing. And also Caleb turns into a giant ape. Oh, okay, that works, too. Okay. Turn into a giant ape? Yeah. Woo! We're monkeying. Yeah.

All right, so with that, you are now a blessed monkey. Hashtag blessed. Hashtag blessed. And you get shunted out to this space. Since you cannot occupy this space, the rest of your group is there, and you are a giant monkey, that's your action. All righty. Is that your turn, you're going to stay there?

Yeah, you got it. Jester, you're up, Fjord, you're on deck. Okay, I am going to... This is it. I know. I'm going to reach into my bag and pull out the diamond that Caleb gave me that I used to incite greed and I'm going to hold it high in the air and I'm going to cast Incite Greed.

Okay. Incite Greed. Any creature that I choose within 30 feet of me, which should be all of them except for that skeleton and this guy over here, has to make a wisdom saving throw. Correct. So those two on the outside are exempt. That guy there.

Failure. Two next to Fjord. They call it that. 16. Fail. Fail. 17. Fail. 17 he needs. All right, so this guy does succeed.

Okay. Just note that he is fine on that. The one next to Beau, fail. The two next to Yasha, fail. No, he succeeds. He rolled a 19. Okay. They have a penalty, but they're still rolling pretty high. So this guy, this guy, and those two are unaffected.

The two that are next to you, Jester, fail. And fail. What? What happens? They have to use their entire turn to do nothing but move towards me. If they are within five feet of me, it can't do anything but stare greedily at the gem that I'm holding up.

They all want this gem very badly. That's concentration? It is. All righty. And at the end of their turn, they get to make a wisdom saving throw. You got it. Okay. Good to know, Jester. Thank you.

Fjord, you're up. That's amazing. If you guys hurt them, it ends the charm effect. It's like a charm. So only attack the ones that aren't charmed right now. Got it. Wow. Can I use my bonus action to put my Hexblade's Curse

on this individual over here that has the very large zats? Yes, thank you. You got it. And I will take two swings with the Star Razor at that unaffected gentleman. Right there? Yes. Go for it. Two strikes at that one? Yes. All righty.

And I'll use the word to make it glow. So the runes light up, the blade gives off this bright, radiant light that just emanates from the edge, and you swing. 27. That hits. Second one is? Come on, Fjord. Wow. 28 to hit.

Both hit, go ahead and roll damage on that one. I didn't even roll the fucking plus, whatever. 10. 11 points of damage and 19, so 29 points of flashing damage. 29 to the one that was un-wounded right there. Yes. All right. Unaffected, but.

Both strikes carve through, where the blade carves into its flesh, it opens up and you can see the radiant energy sears through, there's no roughness to it. It's just almost burned straight through, like it was just an incised laser had carved. It's still standing, though really, really badly hurt and barely holding on.

That's your action and your bonus. My bonus was the Hexblade Curse. So you're going to move or stay put? Yes, I stay put. All right. Top of the round, Yasha, you're up next. You are currently surrounded, though one of them, who's behind you, went from like to

and just staring over towards Jester, while the one that's immediately in front behind you, went from like to just staring over towards Jester, while the one that's immediately in front of you is still thrashing towards you. Okay, since he's distracted, I'm going to go for the one in front of me. Oh zombies, I have a very pretty gem. 17.

17 hits. Okay. Butterflies. First hit, I'll take that. Bluebird. All right. I'm 11, 21. 21 points of damage. 21 points of damage.

Nice. Pulled up a deer. Second strike. It's going to explode on me. Zombie deer. Zombie deer. Deer's like. 12. 12 still hits.

It does? 12 still hits! All right. You don't have a great armor class. These guys suck. Okay. Shut up, they're a bunch of guys. I'm going to try rolling this again because I'm on the last one.

Go for it. That's the same. Okay, so five, 12 points of damage. 12 points of damage, all right. You attack twice and then carve upward and you actually carve through the face and then the head splits a bit,

but one of the eyes comes back to you and it's shambling towards you, almost like the face, and then the head splits a bit, but one of the eyes hits you back in the ear, and it's shambling towards you, almost like the second T2 reference, like a T-1000 split open, coming in your direction. Oh yes! She's like, You still have your bonus in your movement if you want to do anything or it gets day put.

Okay. Oh, you know what I'm going to do? What are you going to do? Is... What are you going to do, Sylvana? Okay. I thought you were about to say, what are you going to do when you get out of jail? I'm going to have some fun.

I'm going to use Zealous Presence. Ooh, yeah. I'm so curious. And it's a bonus action, it's for everybody. I'll unleash a battle cry on up to 10 other creatures. Ooh yeah. I'm so curious. And it's a bonus action, this is for everybody. It'll unleash a battle cry on up to 10 other creatures. Whoa. All of you guys. You gain advantage on attack rolls and saving throws.

Whoa! For the next round, right? Until the start of your next turn. Right, until the start of your next turn. Until the start of my next turn. Awesome! So you strike twice, the guy doesn't go down and begins lumbering towards you angrily. You just go and just give out

this piercing fallen angel scream that echoes through the middle of this swamp. You guys hear this, as the echo, you hear a stormless sky, yet you hear thunder rolling and a flash in the distance as the storm lords power you and your friends. I thought it was going to be.

It's within 60 feet. That's everybody. That's everybody? Okay, great. Finish your go. That'll be my go. All right, it's their turn. That's real good. This guy's just going to run right over and adjust her,

and this guy's going to stay put. I forgot about that. This guy's going to... I think this guy moves in and tries to push past. Oh my god, this is terrifying. It's as far as he can get there. Like the visual. That guy is.

That one's unaffected. No, he's not affected, but the next, yeah, that guy is. Do we get attacks of opportunity? That guy was affected. But we can hold it if we want to. Yeah. Yeah. If you hit one, it doesn't drop on all, does it? No, it just breaks into one,

so you're not giving it an opportunity. I'm going to listen to... One, two, three, four. Yeah, you can get right there. What about that little guy over by the tree? Right here? Yeah. There you go. Ah!

Four is as far as he gets there. All right, so they just all move forward. All of a sudden, those two are unaffected. So three of them are unaffected currently. So Jester, you watch them all swarm and you hear this whole chorus of You look around you and they're all just glaring in your direction, some with both eyes, some with the one eye they have, some with no eyes,

but the very force that holds them together through necrotic, arcane, terrible magic that rocks into this swamp is still looking right in your direction and it's not fun. The one that's still upon you that's pulled apart is going to go ahead and strike you twice, Yasha. Okay. Natural one and an 18.

That hits. All right, so you do take five points of slashing damage, reduced to two because you're raging. Tight. Fjord, two attacks against you. All right. This one's going to move in a bit to about there, to fill the gap between the three of you.

And, yep, it's going to take two strikes against the three of you. And, yep, I'm just going to go ahead and take two strikes against you. All right. Okay, there we go. An eight and a 21. 21 hits. Oh, that was a cocking round. Ooh, eight points of slashing damage on that one.

And he will take seven points of radiant damage as the sword bursts with radiant energy each time I'm struck. As it hits him, he rushes past. The impact of that radiant energy burns up the back and you see the neck itself snap from the tendons that are no longer holding it up. Its head dangles there and the mouth goes.

It's hanging on by a thread. That's so cool. Then this one here is going to rush over to you, Nott, around the corner, and make two strikes against you. No! Oh shit. 20 and a natural 20. Oh!

Both good. Damn, you're ruling them. I can counter the natural 20. Oh! That was good. Damn, you're ruling them. I can counter the natural 20 on that one, though. So now I have reaction. New turn. You do... Now you do, yes. Yeah. So no natural, no crit on you. Give me a snap.

There it is. It's not your turn. Technically, you would've gotten your reaction back because you got your turn. It was in the same turn, the last turn. No, you're right, you're right. So the, yeah, I was making sure. Anyway, it's fine, you can your turn. It was in the same turn the last time. No, you're right, you're right. So yeah, I was making sure. Anyway, it's fine, you can do it. So it's just two damage.

We're straight. Let me mark that. That is 11 points of slashing damage to you, Nott. For both or the first? For both. Oh, okay. Not as much because the crit got canceled by Caduceus there. That finishes their turn.

That brings us to Nott, you're up, Caduceus, you're on deck. Oh boy, I'm stuck in front of this fellow. I don't like it. Well, I can't do what I wanted to do, so I will say, Fjord, cover your eyes! I will fire through the one in front of me at the one engaged with Fjord. Okay.

What'd you roll? 15. 15, that'll hit. Go ahead and roll damage. As it shoots through, not only are you pushing past Fjord, but you're also waiting for a moment where the giant gorilla that's slamming towards it brings the fists up and you streak past. It still manages to hit the creature.

Like a million points. Oh my god. It had one hit point. You hit it. What a waste of all those moving balls. It collapses and falls into the swamp, unmoving. Then its body swells. It explodes and poisons all around you.

I need Beauregard, I need Gorilla Man, and I need Fjord to go ahead and make it. Not Beau. Not Beau, yeah, because you're fine. With advantage, entity four. Yep. Oh, with advantage? With advantage, entity four.

Way better. 25. 25, nice. So you take eight points of poison damage. 20. you take eight points of poison damage. 20. You take eight points of poison damage. There you go. Climbing is an action, or is it a movement?

You can climb a certain amount with half, your movement is very minimized, but you can attempt it. Hmm. Hmm. Ah-hmm, ah-hmm. There's a chance. I will disengage with the one in front of me. Okay.

And I will run and slide under, like between Cape Lip, Cape Lips, legs, like between his legs, just to. Cape Lip? Cape Lip. Just rush through and come to the other side, you mean? Yeah. Yeah, that's doable. So you run and come to the other side, you mean? Yeah. Yeah, that's doable.

So you run and you slide, and because it's all slick marshland, it slip and slides, you through the gorilla's legs and out the other side, catch yourself and look up. Oh, I went over a rock! Yep, you almost got four-headed by the monkey wang. All righty, that finishes. Did they all make

saving throws at the end of their turn to see if they broke the? We should do that now. Yeah. All right, so those, him? We're going to do that now. Fail, him? Fail, him? Fail, him?

Fail, him? That's cocked. Succeed. Oh! He is free. I'll go ahead and mark that just so I have it. That one. Patriarch of the Society of Zombies. Fail. Fail. Wow.

What? They really like the diamond. They really like that diamond. They have a shitty wisdom saving throw. What's up with this one? Yeah, I don't think Matt can see that one. Can you see this one behind a tree? Oh shit, yeah, I'm blocking by myself. Do what I've done. I was blocking myself. As well. Can you see this one behind a tree? Oh shit, yeah, I'm blocking by myself. He would have gone up there.

I was blocking myself. As well. So just to mark that off there, Caduceus, you do have two attacks on you from the one that you blasted back last round that did catch up. Thank you for the reminder. I was blocking with my own terrain.

Too much terrain. That is a cock number. 23 and a 20. Those hit. All right. You take 12 points of slashing damage. As the one you blasted back now scoots towards you really low to the ground, and as it comes up,

it just rakes you twice upward with these rising claw strikes. Awful. Awful. Awful. How am I? I'm in contact with, oh my god, I've got a lot of them around me, don't I? Yeah, a lot of them just rush past you

and are staring at Jester, but one of them did manage to come into you. One of them, I'm engaged a lot of them around me, don't I? Yeah, a lot of them just rush past you and are staring at Jester, but one of them did manage to come into you. One of them, I'm engaged with one, then? Correct. Okay. All right, so that brings us to Anunnaut's turn. Caduceus, you're up. Beau, you're on deck.

I'm trying to take a look at what's going on. First thing I'm going to do is I'm going to take my movement. I'm actually, yeah, I'm going to take my movement. I'm going to come as far out this way as I can. Like, that's as far as you can get to there. Next to the floating stump, you're up to waist-high in water.

Cool, cool, cool. Wet one that just attacks you, does get an attack opportunity against you. Does get an attack opportunity. And rolls a natural one. So it goes to strike towards you and just slips and then falls into the water and spends the rest of the next round of actions just trying to get out

of the muck. What are you doing? Are we doing a thing? We can do with a thing. Mm-hmm. What's the thing? I'm going to hold Turn Undead and I'm going to wait for Jester's signal.

Okay, you got it. So you're holding Turn Undead as an action. That finishes your go. That brings us to Beauregard. Do I see any of this signaling happening? Right now, you are. Do I have any clue, huh? They haven't made a signal towards you? No. Probably not.

All right. You are standing in a straight line. The zombie Jesus and the guy who is next to me, I'm just going to keep wailing on them. Go for it. Do I have advantage on attack rolls? You do, yep. Okay, first one. 21.

With it, yeah, that hits. Second one. Ooh, 13. Both hit. I rolled a natural one and a three. Natural one misses automatically. No, but that was split. No, with advantage. Oh, with advantage, that's right, yeah.

So both hits. Yeah, one to each. Go for it. First one. Did you say something about advantage on attack rolls? Yep. Yep. So wait, you get to reroll it if you don't? No, attack rolls, not damage. Oh.

Yeah, yeah. Not damage, not damage. Correct. Attack rolls and saving throws. Correct. And saving throws. You don't really need. Okay, 11 damage. Correct. Attack rolls and saving throws. And saving throws. You don't really need. Okay, 11 to Zombie Jesus. Zombie Jesus falls. Zombie Jesus!

Oh! And the other one? Are you killed? He'll rise again. Oh, okay. And the other one is not. Don't let Zombie Jesus fall, because he'll knock the other ones.

We got three days. The other ones aren't affected by the poison, so it's fine. They don't take damage. They don't take damage. Okay, good. They're killing themselves't affected by the poison, so it's fine. They don't take damage. They don't take damage. Okay, good. Control themselves. So both of those, you punch, and as you hit them,

like pinatas filled with toxic juice, they both just explode, scattering venomous liquid across the field around all of you. And then just for a second, it goes slow motion, and Beau just like flash dance, like bates in the goop. With your friends behind you screaming in pain. Yes.

Yes. That's amazing, it's very metal, very metal. To that, I need Jester and you, Monkeyman, to go ahead and make a constitution saving throw with advantage. Yasha's a big screw-up. I also had to make a constitution saving throw because I was attacked and I have a spell up,

but I just rolled a 20. Everything's fine. What if you throw this diamond and chase it away? 19? Okay. Oh shit. Okay, that is 20 points. Oh wait, I would add a d4 to that? No, that's just for saving throws.

Yeah, so I would've rolled it at a D4. Oh, so what did I say? 19, 20. So 10 points of damage. Go ahead and make a constitution check to see if you can maintain your spell. Constitution saving throw also has advantage in a D4. Yes, it does. Okay.

Ooh. Ooh! 17 plus three, 20. 20, okay, so you maintain concentration on your spells. The other blast, I'm going to need Nott, just Nott to go ahead and make a constitution check. You have to roll as well. Yeah, I'm sorry. 21.

21, so that's another 10 points of poison damage to your monkey. And you also have advantage with a d4. Oh yeah, you get advantage. And a d4 added. Oh, that's slightly better. Consti- Yep.

You've got your d4, too. Plus a d4, not real good. Right now I'm at a nine, and now I'm at an 11. That's still a fail. You take 16 points of poison damage. I'm going to use Uncanny something? No, it's an area effect. Yes, constitution damage, not dexterity.

Evage. Actually, no, it's for half damage, right? I'm going to avoid the air! Let me check, let me check. We'll check how. Dancing between the raindrops. Kind of check how. Dancing between the ring drops. Kind of, yeah. Double check the warding on the robe.

Ability here. You can jump underwater for a second. Sure. No, I can't. I don't like that. Well, you could. You also have a ring. That's 30 saving throw, this constitution, so it is unaffected by evasion, unfortunately. 16 points. 16 points of poison damage to you.

All righty. Does your ring make it so that you can run full speed on a... I have been running full speed, but I don't know if that's because of the ring or just because I'm awesome. Oh, that's fair. Well, because of the ring, you don't have to worry about the train.

I'm going to go with this. I'm drinking chai. That is now from, now Beau's turn to Caleb. Caleb, you're up, Jester, you're on deck. So this is a whole crowd of them still staring at Jester, and this one in red is the one that is active? This one in red, and this one,

and the one that's still attacking Yasha over there. Those are the three that are currently unaffected. All right, well, while the monkey is looking, he can see this one who is red and turns over and sees it snarling at Jester. He is a monkey, he goes forward and pounces it into the ground. We'll have to move over here to make space for it.

Maybe throw him away from me? So go for it, make the attacks. Let me see. What's his intelligence? His intelligence is seven. That is exactly what he does. Yep. Okay, so that's 3d tenacity.

Who's fucked? Okay, just checking, just checking who's fucked. The first is 24. 24 to hit, all right, that hits. And then 24. Both hit? Yeah. That's the attack or the damage? That's the damage. Both hits?

I should probably roll to hit. And it's an advantage, right? Correct. With a d4. With a d4, so. The first one is? 10, 10, 10 is 19, plus a four, okay. That's a 20.

That's a 20, yeah. Oh no, that's an advantage, yeah, okay. That's a 20. That's a 20, yeah. Oh no, that's an advantage, yeah. Yeah, that's a 20. Wrong one. Well distracted, yep. No, you're good. It's fine. Roll the second attack to see if it hits. Okay. That is only a 11 plus two is 13.

Both hit, all damage is there. Even without the critical hit, that was enough to kill it. Okay. Yeah. That one explodes once more. This time, as it does, it sprays an upward geyser of greenish, brackish liquid, and it rains down on the immediate vicinity

around where it was. I need Jester and yourself to go ahead and Yasha to make a constitution saving throw. That's a d4. Scratch. Oh shit. It's a d4 to this as well. Yep.

12. 12, you just barely make it. You take 10 points of poison damage. Okay. 10. 20 points of poison damage to you, Jester, and I need you to go ahead and make a constitution saving throw with advantage. And a d4. Mm-hmm. 10. 20 points of poison damage to you, Jester, and I need you to go ahead and make a constitution saving throw with advantage.

And a d4. Mm-hmm. 18, you take 10 points of poison. Yep. Ooh. Oh, that's nice. Yeah, that's good. I rolled 19 plus three, so 22. Yeah, so you still managed to maintain your concentration. Yeah, you're fine. All righty, that finish your turn, Caleb?

Yeah. All right. Also, I think, because you took the damage, you took 10 points of damage. I'm trying to think. You still have to make concentration checks for the Polymorph form. Just make a couple for me real fast.

With advantage, you need a four. It's already an advantage because I'm Correct. Valkesta. Valkesta. 16. You're fine. Yeah. It's already at advantage because I'm Wocaster. Wocaster. 16. You're fine. Yeah. Can I go one more time? Yeah, since she cast his brother.

That's good. 13 plus 20. Just making sure we were keeping track of it as we go. All right, cool. Finishes the Cale, let's go. Jester, you're up. Fjord, you're on deck. Okay, I'm going to I'm going to Dimension Door. Okay.

This is new. I'm going to Dimension Door right here, next to Caduceus. Okay. This is right next to him. And I'm going to say, this is a signal! Got it. All right.

You release Turn Undead. Turn Undead. All righty. Which, yeah. It's checking the entry. Depending on what level they're at. That's what I'm saying, depending on the level here. All right.

Second or lower, I believe. Yep, second or lower. Okay. Here we go. Turn Undead, come on, baby. That's everybody in that radius. Yep, yep, 30 feet. Oh.

17. That one? The DC in this is 17? I believe it's 17. Wow, he succeeds. Wow. I think, it's my spell DC, right? Yeah, 17.

Pop. Yes! Turns to, like the splashes, the poison splashes and it turns to dust. That one over there, same. Pop! You watch them as Caduceus focuses and releases this energy outward,

as opposed to a shockwave blast, the energy just all of a sudden drifts up off the ground, like this firelight sparkles lift, and then bursts like a thousand tiny fireworks across the way, and as they come around the undead, it goes around you guys, and it's just this warm wave that passes by. As it explodes near them, you watch it explode.

Their body scatters outward and then turns to ash, but the poison still splatters. That one there. That's okay, they're all clumped together. They're away from you. Fail. That one. Yeah, that one there. That's okay, they're all clumped together. They're away from each other. Yes. That one.

Yes. Turn down the what? That one. Beau just three-point lands in the rain pool. This is how it's done. Music video moment. Tim Robbins and Shia LaBeouf. Oh, I was thinking Tom Holland dancing. Tom Holland!

Okay, sorry, you guys got it. Han Fallon. Yasha and Caleb, I need you to make another constitution saving throw with advantage. Or like step up two or step up three to you when they did the dance in the rain. Step up, step up two. Basically any dance sequence with a rainbow.

With advantage, yeah. Jesus. And then, Jesus, you're fine. Oh lord de-hold. Jesus. Okay, so. Jesus, you're fine. Oh lord. Oh lord, oh lord. Just say that number out loud. 29. Eight points of poison damage.

15. 15, eight points of poison damage. All right. Oh, and I lost the lipstick. So one Shmeasel skeleton left? One skeleton left, or the, yeah, this lasting husk zombie. My siren's cape crashed. That's okay.

It's easy enough to get back into battle stuff. You know how it goes. All righty. That finishes. Oh, yeah, that was your action. There's only one left? There is one left at the moment. Turn onead Man.

For my bonus action? For my bonus action? That's the cleric thing. Oh, wait, no, never mind. Because you did the spell. That was a good call, though. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. All right, that finishes your go.

Fjord. I'll rush over and take the last remaining undead piece of shit, two swings. Go up for it. That's crap, 15? 15 hits. Yes. All right, second one is 21. Hits. Yes!

All right, all right. 10 plus nine, 19. 21 points of slashing damage on the first one. Nice. And 11 plus, 13 points of slashing damage on the second one. You're adding the d4 to those? Yes.

For the attack or the damage? For the damage. It should be added for the attack, not the damage, and the plus. Right, my fault. So 11 points on the second one, and only 18 points on the first one. You got it.

So as you rush up, strike once to the midsection. It holds up in place, the impact causes its back to seize. The second strike carves back through its leg and its leg folds and splinters, the bone breaking in two pieces. The head bends backwards in an unhealthy way and the tongue lulls open.

It's still standing and it's real angry. It's still standing? it's real angry. It's still standing? Yep. You didn't what? I didn't roll an advantage. You should roll to see if you get a natural 20 on either of those.

It's true. Yeah, just two more rolls. Two rolls to see if it's a 20. Okay, good enough. All right, Yasha, you're up. Okay. Well, I mean, I don't think I can get over there. Can I get over there?

You can certainly try. I can try. You can make it! Five, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40. Yeah, you can. Okay, okay. All right, so I take a swing. Big old swing that's cocked. It's cocked again. I think I have advantage.

Oh wait. You do not have advantage anymore. That was a natural one. Unless you, oh. Yeah, you do not call. Unless I what? You didn't call reckless attacks before. Oh yeah, no, no, no. The first one misses.

You go forward and as you go to swing, your foot catches one of the swamp roots, and you almost fly into it. You get your blade up in time before you stumble into its flayed body, and it manages to block you with its weight. As you catch yourself again, its head is partially pulled back,

goes like, biting over the edge of the blade as you retract and get yourself in a ready position. Second attack. Okay. You have a d4 on that, too. I do? Okay, let's see. I mean, I don't necessarily want to see that.

Yeah. Okay. 19. 19 damage? Yeah, 19 to hit. 19 does hit, go ahead and roll damage. Okay. Nine. 16. 16 points of damage. 16 points of damage.

You stab it with the second strike and actually bisect it. Its torso falls to the ground and the legs crumple into place and you're waiting for it to explode. Wait for it. Instead, the legs get back up and the torso climbs up onto its legs.

Wait, so what? It's still alive! It was the one that made its undead fortitude save for this entire fucking fight. Fucking die. So it remains at one hit point. I'll take it personally. All right. Okay. That finishes your turn, I believe.

Can I try, yeah. I feel 14 points because the hex blade's cursed target died. Ooh, you did. Call that. You hear additional moans come rushing out of nearby walls. No! We're alive! We just, what do we do? How do we get out of here?

You guys were over in the space. These guys rush in here. They're just going to keep coming. Should we run? These two come and walk around. I feel like that's the only other part of the spot. I have to start over. And this time, as Alduin's been falling and fighting,

these all rush forward, and as they're getting towards you, and they're rushing quickly, as they're getting near your bodies, you watch their bodies swell. Pop, pop, pop! They're not even going into combat, they're just detonating around you. Isn't it, if they were within 30 feet

when it hit that, would that have been a? They were out of the range, and it just rushed in, because you guys moved to the outside that realm. So I need Caduceus and Jester to go make this over here. Caduceus, you make two saving throws for me. Okay. They don't have advantage anymore.

No. More advantage. Okay, that's all right, I got a d4. Constitution saving throw? Mm-hmm. 25. Okay, eight's all right, I got a d4. Constitution saving throw? Mm-hmm. 25. Okay, eight points of poison damage. That's, Jester, you got mine? 12.

Eight points of poison damage. Second one against you, Caduceus, go ahead and roll again. I mean, I'm just going to keep going? Yeah. 20. 20, eight points of poison damage. Jester.

That's better. I definitely saved. Okay, that would be 10 points of poison damage. And Caduceus? Oh, I was. No, you're on against the third one. I was doing a, I was rolling to maintain concentration. Another one?

You made two, right? Yeah. Sorry, you're fine. I'm okay? Those are all the ones you guys have to worry about. And then I rolled to maintain concentration and rolled like a 25. Okay, good, good on you.

Nott, twice for me, if you don't mind. Sure. Oh shit. With advantage? No. No. But then one was a plus or minus four. You should just roll again, because they hit each other, it was a thing.

And then plus or minus four. One with a 20, it shouldn't. Well, now those are terrible. Oh, sorry, well. Thanks, Laura. Doesn't matter. It's like single digits. 14 points of poison damage. Sorry. Cool.

Can I evade one of them? Nope, it is not a dexterity-based. Oh, you mean your Uncanny Dodge, you mean? Evasion's only against dexterity saving throws, unfortunately, and evade, I think, has to be in... Hit. They're both bets. Evade is against an attack.

This technically doesn't count as an attack, so it's not an attack. I'll just take it. It's fine. Uncanny Dodge, it hits you with an attack, so it is not a hit an attack. This technically doesn't count as an attack, so it's not an attack. I'll just take it. It's fine. Can he dodge? It hits you with an attack, so it is not a hit or attack. So you take, for the second one,

I throw a little reaction. Oof. 19 points of poison damage. Outsies. Yeah. And the one that's currently between Yasha and Fjord is going to go ahead and strike twice, once at each of you.

Okay. Gets you, Fjord. That's going to be a 14. That's a miss. Yasha, that is a 16. No. It strikes out and both you guys just manage to push it away. It's barely holding on, its upper torso kind of runs, or its upper torso just climbs on top of its legs,

leaps and scrambles towards Yasha. The leg's just standing there on its own, using its own body as a catapult. You push it off onto Fjord, and Fjord, you catch it, and you throw it back on the ground. That's their turn. Have some dignity. Not yet. I mean, are they going to keep coming?

Should we run? Do you want to take your action to look around? No, I'll shoot the one between Yasha and Fjord. Go for it. Just take it off the 24. That hits. A million points of damage. Yeah, we'll see if it makes its,

does not make its undead Fjord to save. I need Yasha and Fjord to make another constitution saving throw without advantage. With advantage. Without advantage. Without advantage. Without advantage. We've got to stop. Let's stop killing. Whoo! 21.

We have to run away. We also have to stop killing. 20 total. They're next to people. Seven points of poison damage to each of you. Okay. Okay. What are you guys doing? Fucking moving.

Where do we go? Keep moving through it? Or try to get back to the hat? I'm going to do a Detect Undead really quickly again. Okay. 60 feet. 60 feet. Within that radius, you sense no other undead in your immediate vicinity.

So there's nothing in 60 feet? Nothing yet. Now? Do you want to build? That will last for a little while. Yeah. That will last for a while? There's nothing around us right now.

It lasts for how long? Let me tell you. How much damage did we just take? Lasts for a minute. Turn Undead lasts for a minute. This is, oh, turn Undead is also still up. Is turn Undead concentration, though? No. No.

Hold on, I'm looking. Eyes of the Grave is until the end of my next turn. Okay, so it stays up for the next round. So the second, if anything, comes into the next round, I get an instant warning. Turn Undead is... It doesn't say anything about concentration on here. I don't think Turn Undead is concentration.

No, it is turn for a minute, it doesn't last for a minute, meaning if they're turned, they aren't. If they're turned, they're out. That's what I thought. It's an instant move, and the fear that you put in them can last a minute. Okay. So does that mean you can't detect things right now?

There is nothing immediately around. What are you guys doing? You're all covered in gunk. Your body itself is burning from the poison that's now seeped into the outside of your exposed flesh and begin to found its way into your armor. It'd be better to save mass heals for when someone goes down so it gets them up

and kills everybody, I think. If we're quiet, we're here. Should we just try and put the hut back up? For the comms, we run. 11 minutes and then the other half of us stand watch. Ape-lib, cape-lib? They're not going to stay awake for 11 minutes. I am keeping a very sharp eye out for anything.

We should just keep going. All right, let's keep going. Up to you guys. You guys are still going? Try to get out of the mist. So was the mist, did the mist cover the whole forest? Yeah, I guess. We don't know. Well, since you began to enter the forest, the mist was slowly hanging around the hut anyway,

the house. It's just been getting thicker as the night progresses and the temperature drops. We got to hut it. There's no escaping it. We just keep walking through the night, no? With exhaustion already, I think we're just going to make more noise. You should chance it

for the 10 minutes for the hut. Let's do 10 minutes. Okay. I'll jump up and down and start signaling to Caleb. And I'm going to keep Turn Undead prepped for if anything comes near us, I'm going to keep Turn Undead prepped for if anything comes near us, I'm going to immediately cast Turn Undead. Okay.

If I see a feather move in the forest, I'm going to immediately do Detect. Magic! Okay, you got it. You guys. You smart arson! Gorilla goes. You know, I can understand the thing that you're saying.

Oh, we didn't have to talk to you like idiots. Okay, so. You say a total of seven. You go back to that little patch of land you had situated in the middle of this battle, and you begin the 10-minute process of preparing this ritual a second time. Who, I would say all of you guys,

everyone make a stealth check. Ooh, fuck. Oh, wait, that fucking trunk probably attracted them. The trunk sound is what you think attracted them. They weren't drawn to you until they heard the loud crack and the splash in the water. Oh, I'm giving myself a d4 as well. 21.

21? Eight. 15. 29. 19. 18. Nine. Wait, these are still at disadvantage. At disadvantage for anybody. Yes.

Oh, it's anybody's exhaustion. For anybody who has exhaustion. Eight still. And mine was a natural one. Exhaustion? No. Oh, your first one was a natural one? Yeah. Okay.

Do you have a point of exhaustion from last game? I don't think I do. No, you weren't exhausted. Okay. But I have a point of exhaustion from last game? I don't think I do. No, you weren't exhausted. Okay. But I do have reliable talent? It does have conditions of exhaustion. Oh, then you roll. So yeah, roll again. So yeah, that would be a 10, plus whatever bonus you have.

23. 23? It's still nine. Yeah. Yeah. I have a 24, too, so. Wait, what are these stills? Yeah. So what'd you say? Nine still. Nine still. 17. 17, what are these, stills? Yeah. So what'd you say?

Nine still. Nine still. 17. 17, okay. You guys begin guarding the space and keeping a lookout, you two in particular being ready and watchful. About five or so minutes into this casting, you begin to see a few more shapes emerging from the mist,

seemingly still drawn from the nearby sound of battle. They look a little confused, meaning they're not coming directly beelining at you, but the sounds of combat that recently happened here, they've been moving in that direction, and you guys haven't moved away from your position, so they're just now catching up to you. They're about, let's say at this point,

you can clock them at about 50 feet from you. I will cast Major Image and put a giant, thrashing, young blue dragon 120 feet in that direction. Okay. As you guys see this and you're beginning to prep yourself, all of a sudden you hear this the cracking and breaking of trees.

You glance over and you see a fucking young blue dragon just land in the middle of this swamp and begin growling, its mouth crackling with electrical energy. You watch as these undead immediately, their heads turn and begin running in that direction. He's back, he's back. No, it's me, it's me, it's me.

I did it, I did it. That's me. How's me, it's me, I did it, I did it. It's me. How long can that last? That's amazing. 10 minutes. 10 minutes. Oh. Okay. You then sit there and wait and watch

as the loud noise that that major image is creating. Two more, six more, a dozen more. You eventually, probably in the period of time it takes for you to finish this ritual, watch somewhere between 40 to 50 more of these undead come out of the mists from different places. The shadows just rushing through, once again, at a sprinting speed

for a zombie-like creature in the direction of this dragon that's thrashing around as they're just walking in and out of its space, not intelligent enough to really discern that it's an illusion and just confused and frustrated that it's not having any effect. Some of them are popping and exploding in the hopes of taking this down,

this thing that doesn't exist. Parkour. But it's a large, large group of them now, probably about 30 or so are just there, nestled around this dragon illusion as you finish creating the dome. Swoop. It is green and brown mottled color,

and it is less moist inside than out, except for the ground. Okay, do you guys all step inside? Yes. I will drop it and step inside. Drop it. Okay. Ooh. They're all going to just come out and like, is he having a match or a pound of this? I will drop it and step inside. Drop it! Okay. Ooh!

They're all going to just come out and like, is he actually just going to pound on us? Well, here's the thing, we're going to give it some time. Well, they're not going to see us. They can't hear us. If they come back, we can just turn undead and just keep turning undead until they all go away. Okay.

I can still do that, you can still do that. We'll be fine. I don't think the goop will get through the thing. And they can hear through the? Yeah. Okay. So we just have to be as quiet as possible for a while. Caleb is picking little insects

out of the damaged tree that was pulled up and is just feeding them to Frumpkin. There's plenty. Oh, I take after that. I start doing that for Sprinkle, too. Okay. You stop yourself a couple times before feeding it to Sprinkle,

because the toxic poison that was thrown all around this area where you guys are planning to sleep. She gives it to Sprinkle. Go to sleep. Go to sleep. Oh, that's good. Shh. I'll take a few minutes.

I welcome. Just to help everybody heal overnight, I'm going to take a few minutes. I welcome all. Just to help everybody heal overnight, I'm going to take a few minutes to do a Prayer of Healing. Okay. We all are very, very, very quiet until, you know, hopefully the zombies start to like... Yep. So as you all get quiet and kind of rest

and begin setting up your space here, and you're doing what? Prayer of Healing for 25 hit points to everybody. All those that need to cast? 10 minutes. 10 minutes? Okay. 25 points of healing. So the illusion drops before you finish casting your prayer.

So as you're quietly muttering the incantation, I would like you to make a... Bless you. Bless you. Just a general stealth check for me. All right. I don't think I can do that. Can I guide him in this moment? You can Blessing of the Trickster with him

if you want to. What does that give me? Advantage. Oh, so it's just a straight roll, I don't have disadvantage. That's cool, that helps. 16. 16, okay. You manage to speak the incantation loud enough

that it manages to maintain the spell itself, but not enough to draw the attention. In that little bit of crossover time, you watch the dragon that's just thrashing and growling and making noise in the middle of the swamp here suddenly vanish. Right as you're getting towards the end of your spell, you begin to see some of the shapes wandering

from where that cluster of zombies were. Right as you finish the healing effect, it flashes, and it heals you all for how much? Everybody for 25 hit points. 25 hit points to all of you. Yes, sir. I say, quietly. But the light does not emerge

because the dome manages to remain obfuscating the interior, but you all watch quietly, intensely, as over the next hour or so, they begin to scatter out a bit, and others that you didn't notice walk through the mist behind you. Night here is a very dangerous thing.

Wow. At least in this particular part of the swamp. What did this place used to be? Why are there so many dead people here? We're whispering all of this, nothing above a teeny tiny whisper. Both of you guys can make history checks if you want to. You might make a history check.

Yeah. Okay. The two Empire kids might. What I know, being close, nearby, raised here. That's what this roll's for. Oh wait, I don't have advantage. Also because you lived here, close to here, sure. Roll advantage, finally. They were both, but I'm also exhausted,

so I'll take the lower of the two, which is 15. 15, okay. 18. Wait, 15 is what I rolled, but with a history check, it's 23. 23, okay. During the time of the Jeweless Dominion, during the time of the Jeweless Dominion, before the Dwindling Island Empire

and the Jeweless Dominion had their fight, there were certain sects of people that lived in the, what is now the Truscan Vale and around these mountains, that had built an entire colony based around this, what they proclaimed to be a godlike creature that existed in this mountain. They referred to it as the Twilight Phoenix, and they would burn effigies to it.

They have this longstanding belief that this mountain was its home, or it's what it became when it eventually laid to rest. That's why they explain all the geothermal activity around here, they say it's just a remnant of it. We did see a purple firebird down in that temple of Katoa. But the people that worshiped this, the people that worshiped this creature,

this entity around this area, also made a lot of enemies. The Jeweler's Dominion itself, though they were within its terrain, at some point, they were hunted down and killed in their homeland, pretty much just wiped out around the base of Mount Mentiri.

I have a question. Yes. That when you were seeing that vision of Uk'otoa, and he showed you something in the mountains or something, like a location, are we near that? No. Would you know? Yes. Okay. No, it's closer to the Menagerie Coast and east and inland, just a little bit

before you get to the gate that leads to the Empire, if I remember correctly. You are correct. Okay. I remembered correctly? You did, Mr. Stone. Whoa. Right. Nice. Whoa. So you...

Whoa. Right. It's always a good D&D game when peaches comes up. Come on, call it. Oh. You are all day. It's like you're met in your phoenix. Yeah, I know.

Lore. Lore. Peaches. I'm not complaining. It's true, right? We saw tapestries in that temple. One was a purple like... Yeah, yeah, yeah. Does that sound about right?

Is there a roll to see if that sounds relatable? I mean. Can I roll for relatability? No, I mean, your history check was, you don't have anything that directly connects those two, but there was a mention of a phoenix, and this was a historical phoenix in this region, if it even existed. Like I said, there were a lot of entities

that were worshiped that were just landmarks, that were just giving a persona and a divine essence to what is essentially a landmass or a natural phenomenon. This is not an uncommon thing. But it could be, who knows? Especially then if the worshipers were hunted down and eradicated.

Yeah, I mean, if you really want to get crazy, if Uk'otoa had three temples, then I'm sure the other two entities might also have... Three temples. Right. Don't know if there were any, you know, forgotten to time temples around here, do you? Well, I know that this was also a big battleground of the pre-Clamity.

She's whispering. Don't know what I'm whispering. Do I know of any weird temples around? Like, ruined temples around these parts that would fit that description? Is this a legend of a temple? No, based on the history check you rolled, not really, none that you know of.

But I know that Pride's Call is not far from here, and that's where they found the other beacon. It's just north of here. Right. Yeah, on the other side of this mountain range. That's interesting. Not that this isn't the most comfortable place

we've ever been in, but now that we're in here, Jester, do you mind telling us what actually happened? What the fuck happened in there? Okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay. As I'm talking, I'm just going to be watching from the direction that we came and see if anything's coming out of the mist towards us or anything.

You got it. Well. Okay, so do you remember when I told you guys that I could maybe do some spells that would maybe affect people's memories and stuff? No. Don't remember that, but. Wow, you're real good. I don't, well, no. I told you, I don't know, was I around everyone?

We were talking about it with Essek, right? Anyway, yes. So I sort of altered her memory just a little to where she was like, oh my gosh, Chester. I made her think that she really liked me and we had a really amazing time hanging out. We braided each other's hair

and she just took an immediate liking to me. Maybe she saw a little bit of herself in me. I don't know, you know? And so, and then she was like, oh my gosh, I just like you so much. What can I do to make you happy? And I was like, oh, change, you know, help Nott out and change that, and she did.

And it just worked? Did she realize what you had done? No, and she did. And it just worked? Did she realize what you had done? No, but she did seem a little confused at the end. And you know what? I don't know if that's normal, because I've never done this before, but just in case, possibly, that it's not normal,

I just thought maybe it would be smart to leave. Sure. But you know, that is incredible. If it did work and if it does stick, then you know, I have a really cool, powerful, good friend who likes cupcakes a lot. I'm going to send her some for sure. Seems only fair.

That's very resourceful, Jester. Wow. Amazing. Yeah. Wow. Were you nervous at all? Oh, well, of course. She's really scary looking, right? You seem a little nervous now.

Well, yeah, because what if she comes after us? I mean, all of us were nervous speaking with her. At least I was, I don't know about you. If it didn't work, what were you going to do then? Ooh, like run? If it didn't work, what were you going to do then? Ooh. Like run? Maybe like dimension door out of there, if I could.

Or like, um. We would have thrown down. It would have been a throw down, probably. Or maybe, no, she probably would have been real pissed if she'd figured it out. It would have turned into adown, probably. Or maybe, you know, she probably would have been real pissed if she'd figured it out. It would have turned into a fight. Who knows? She might have killed me. Anyway, thank you for getting the job done.

Yeah. Yes, I mean, I don't really feel any different, but I guess I am now. I believe that she broke it. It really was, like, super creepy magic stuff that she did. So I think she broke it. But... That's just, I mean, I have so many questions.

But like, so if that's true, then I could just change back whenever, I guess. I think so. Yeah, we would go again. That's great. But what about Beauregard? What about you? What about me? Well, I mean, didn't she affect your family somehow?

I mean, here's the thing. If she realizes that, you know, I did something, then it's possible. But I mean, even if she doesn't realize, it still could affect Beauregard, right? Because you have this, your father did something with her?

Don't worry about me. Or mine. Don't worry about you? But. I think it's possible that if we killed her, the next day, all of your father's grapes would have died. Honestly. Even though it's true. Or worse. That's probably what would've happened.

But you're not worried about your family or your safety or anything? About what? She said that there's a price to be paid, right? A price to be paid for what your father got. Right, what are you driving at? I don't understand what you're...

Aren't you worried about anything befalling? Yeah. It doesn't matter. Don't worry about it. Should we have killed her? No. Not at all. I don't think it's a price on the family. I think it's a price on him.

Maybe? Well, I mean, if you're going to maybe things, you could maybe anything. Maybe there is no price. Maybe it's a price on everyone who works there. Maybe it's no price at all. Maybe it's just 10 bottles of wine. Maybes are not useful.

If it was made so long ago, I would be afraid it would unroot quite a bit. Maybe you're the price. I thought I was. I'm glad you're not. Oh, no. I thought you were still here. Maybe it was his fear and not being able to.

Oh! Ooh, that's deep. Thank you. Wait, what was it? His fear was the price? Yeah, like what if, you know, he made his entire life so miserable because he was seeking this rich goal

that he ended up making himself miserable and Beau miserable and all these people around him miserable and that's what she was feeding off of. That's the price that he paid. He didn't get to live a happy life with his wife. He lived a very sad, sad life. And drove his daughter away.

And now he has a son. He'll do the same thing. Maybe. Aye. Or maybe the price has been paid. Once done is done, you can't turn back time. True, and it doesn't seem like it's something that gets fulfilled. It just sort of seems to keep going.

Is it? I don't know. I like having you here. She said the more, the better. Yeah. What do you feel like? Do you feel like your life is being siphoned away? Do you feel happier right now? Happier? Yeah. Do you feel like somebody's sucking your life force? Iiphoned away. Do you feel happier right now? Happier?

Yeah. Do you feel like somebody's sucking your life force? I feel like there's a- I don't feel that someone's sucking my life force. I think it was a different deal. There's a maximum level of happiness possible when you're ankle deep in Swamp. I think this is lowering the baseline at the moment.

I honestly, I feel guilty right now. Guilty, why? Because we all went in there, well, I don't know, I mean, you said that you offered to go away from us and live a life of solitude in order to take this curse off of me. I mean, that was very brave of you and... And very not okay.

I mean, it was amazing. No, I don't think it was. I disagree with that entirely. What are you talking about? It was a sacrifice for her friend. It would have been a sacrifice for her and for everyone else. Beau, you wouldn't have just been

making yourself miserable. For her, mostly, though. We would have been... We would have, no. We would have been... We would have been miserable. We would have been so sad. But she would have been even more so. I mean, we still would have lost a friend in the end, so. I think the hag pushed us to a lot of ultimate decisions. Beau was ready to move away from everything.

You were ready to entertain war between nations. I know, that's what I'm saying. The thing that I was a coward. I was a coward. Sorry, sorry. You all get quiet for a minute and you watch as two of these zombies come lumbering through the swamp, waiting.

I open the door to the hut and I just throw one of my ball bearings. There's no door. Oh, I just reach through and I go and toss a ball bearing. That's the south, there's a screen door. Yeah, whatever. They're both and one of them finds the hut

and is scraping against the exterior. Oh. They both and. We don't deal with any distractions right now. Hey, Keyleth, can anybody scry on us in the hut? Well, we are packed pretty tightly and no one can scry on me, so probably not at the moment. Okay.

Just making sure. Why? Don't go. Well, I mean, this isn't going to last forever, right? So if. It doesn't mean you pull the pin on it. Follow your own advice. Don't go. I know you think you're done.

I understand. You're not done yet. How do you know? I know things. Okay. That's not an answer, you know that. All right, I'll answer it. You're young, you're full of life.

You hook up with anything that moves. You haven't even begun to live your life. I'm this much older than you, and you're ready to quit and move on from everything that's good in your world? There's a greatness in you that you've maybe known three months. This is just the beginning. To think that you've peaked is insane.

Well, what are you going to do? What are your goals? To stay with my friends, to see what happens, to watch over you. You've watched over me as I've explored my past. The least I can do is return the favor. I'm invested now. I want to see peace between these nations.

I want to see what this green cloaked figure is that Jester keeps talking to. I want to see Nott get back what she wants. Yes, the Traveler. All right, it's fine. We owe it to each other. Yeah. Nott doesn't seem to care about me,

but I care about her, it's okay. I care about you, Fjord. Tell me again. I care about you, Fjord. I care about all of you. You all would have sacrificed so much for me. You did. You risked your life in there. She could have seen through your little spell

and taken off your cute little head. Well, she would have taken off my cute little hands faster. That's bad, too. Yeah, she would've taken off my cute little hands faster. That's bad, too. Yeah, we would've come running in at the first yelp. If we could. We're not done until we've saved each other. I don't know what's going on in that hut, you guys.

Why would we have come running in at the first yelp? Adults are crazy. Thank you. Why? Why would we have come running in? Because we care about each other. Oh fucking shit, we do? Amazing. Does that apply to you as well? I don't know.

No, I think it does. Don't do that again. Don't you care what happens to Nott? Don't do that again. I guess. Just Yasha, this one, most of all. I love you guys. We did really good.

That was crazy. You should have seen her up there on the roof. Bitch had four elbows. It's not normal. I saw it, like literally, I have to do a poop check. I want to do it here, but we're all trapped in this bubble. Nott still has poop on her leg from... Where was that from again?

From seeing the hag. Oh. Yeah. I don't want to look, I don't want to break the seal, and we'll all be fucked. Anyway, we just got this one back. We don't need to lose one. Nobody goes. Okay.

Okay. Okay. Okay. Good. Do you think my brother is destined for a life of misery, though? Well, maybe you can break him from that. Maybe there are other ways. I mean, yeah. Like how? Do you want to kidnap him?

No, but. I was thinking about it. You could have brought him to the kitchen. Wait, did you say kidnap him? No, but I was thinking about it. You could have frozen your kid. Wait, did you say kidnap him? Yeah, we were just saying take him. Well, Beauregard said something interesting. She said, oh, Luc and my brother, what is his name? JT, TJ? TJ.

TJ. Thoreau Jr. And the dead scat ego. Luc and TJ could be friends. What if we just went back and kidnapped your brother and took him to live? What if we go up there, I Dimension Door in, snag him up, bamf out.

Maybe TJ is going to reach an age that he'll reach out and you'll be there to get him out of a bad situation. Nothing makes siblings connect faster than shitty parents. It's true. Plus, I have a good way of talking with angsty teens, so. Just have to wait 10 years and...

Yeah. You really connect. And he's probably safer there than, you know, taking, we can't take a baby on the road with us, you know? He's with his mother. Ciri turned that way, okay? He's behind sh baby on the road with us, you know? He's with his mother. Ciri turned out right, okay? He's behind shatterproof glass. Is your mother caring at all?

She's walking around telling people to go fuck herself. She's caring when she... She's caring, yeah. She cares. I bet when your dad isn't around, your mom's cool. That's kind of exactly it. Yeah. What if when your mom's not around, is that okay?

I think it's a little different. If you're talking about yourself, it is 100% different, and do not fucking compare yourself to my parents. Well, I'm totally absent right now. But there's a difference between pursuing the things that make you happy and showing that and being an example to your kids,

and then just totally fucking being so self-absorbed in your own damage that you just transfer all of that and neglect them. That's very well put, actually. That's really well put. What were your parents like? What was your mom's name? Wow!

Chef's kiss. I had lovely parents. Yeah? Ashley was her name. Everyone write that down. It was easy to remember. And your father? Travis.

Wow, these sounds, those are the most, those are great names. Really good names. Strong, strong names. Glorious names. I had three older brothers who I didn't get along too well, but my parents were loving and kind. My parents would take long, long trips.

Well, yeah, okay. How did you cope with that? Very well. We had a close family and pilgrimages and leaving home to check in on other people was pretty common. They'd be gone months at a time sometimes. Your parents? And my aunt.

Not all at once, obviously, but eventually, every now and then, some of my siblings would go, too. I would have eventually gone for things longer than two weeks to get supplies, but. Was it lonely? Did you miss them? Oh, I missed them, but it wasn't lonely. How did you know that they still loved you

while they were gone? Absence isn't the opposite of love. Plenty of ways to show someone you don't love them that don't involve not being there. Being off and doing good work was important. That's what we did as a family. They were being their best selves. My dad wasn't around, and he was off doing good work.

And while we're still here. He was doing work. But he was very successful at the work he did, no doubt. Yeah, and you know what, though? My mom always told me if he could be here, he would. And that if he knew me, he would love the shit out of me. She didn't say it exactly like that. But, you know, your husband is telling your son

how much you love him. But I could. He knows. But I could be there. I can, as soon as we want. Yeah? That's true of anything. That's true right now. You could have been there this whole time, no?

It's true a month ago. It's pretty obvious that Yeza would accept you as you are. You're also making like, boatloads of cash, which can totally go to a great scholarship and retirement fund. Braces are not cheap these days. Absolutely.

Fjord knows. You don't want Luke filing down his own teeth. That shit hurts. No, I don't. They look good, though. They're looking real good. Thanks, Jester. But what if when I change back,

what if I don't want to stay with you guys? Then you don't have to. You don't have to, that's okay, but just make sure you're doing it for the right reasons. It's important that you know that we want you to, but your decision matters the most. And if you don't stay with us, you will know you love us?

Mm-hmm. Just thinking about going back home and having a family life, is that an exciting thought to you? Yes and no. I mean, yes, of course, I want to be with my family. They need me. I need to be with them. It's all I've wanted for so long, but just to go back and to be a

supporting player in my story. Doesn't seem... I don't know how I would feel about that. I mean, we've had so many amazing adventures together. You tried to kill me. And that's crazy, that's exciting. Did I? Not, I didn't.

Well, I mean. You've tried to kill me a couple times. I almost did kill you. Yeah, you've tried to kill, you've actually, I think you stabbed me a few times. Oh, I'm sure. Beau has shot me in the ass. I'm sorry, Nott has shot Beau in the ass.

Yeah, you've shot Beau. My Beau? So I'm exhausted, literally. Literally. Sorry. I throw another ball bearing. Shit! You meant that the wrong way?

That's fine. I just don't know how to manage it. Not knowing the most deadly thing? I do want to be with them. Of course I want to be with them. I'm worried that when I get to be with them again, I won't want to leave. If I do, I'll feel shitty about it.

When I'm with you, I'll feel great, but I'll also feel a little bit shitty. When I'm with them, I'll feel great, but also a little bit shitty. I'm not brave enough to do either. I think, I've been thinking this for a while now. There is a truth to the idea that you could have gone back at any time. Mm-hmm.

Have you ever really taken some sober, quiet time to think about what it is that you actually want and not what you think you should want? Sober's not my thing, really. If it's possible to just sit and really try and clear your mind and figure out what it is that would bring you the most peace.

I've never really been religious or anything, but do you think I should sit and? Pray to the Traveler, definitely. I was going to suggest maybe some quiet meditation, but. Is that something that you can do without believing in some god thing? To just sit and be quiet? Only have to believe in quiet? I could teach you that.

Oh yeah? Yeah. I mean, I- It's like monk 101 shit. A Skillshare class? Yeah. It's like monk 101 shit. A Skillshare class? Yeah. It's like 75 gold. You only have to believe in yourself. It's a subscription service. I thought monk 101 was horse ass slapping.

That's another Skillshare course. You learn a lot in 101. Yeah, yeah, my first year as a bitch. Backpack's super heavy. Fucking kobold. Class load. Jog a mile first. All right, maybe if we have some time,

I mean, we're in the Swamp of Doom here. We can't do it. We're also pressed like sardines because we don't have, oh, no, we cleared it, we cleared it. We cleared it. It's pretty tight. Right now. But we're really close because we don't have, oh, no, we cleared it, we cleared it. We cleared it. It's pretty tight. Right now. But we're really close because we're whispering. I would have made a little more of a...

Meditation is about blocking out everything around you and your head, and just... All right. I can help. I'll just, yeah, I'll just poke. I'll just poke Nott the whole time. That's like high-level meditation. That's like a challenge. Should I get drunk first?

No. You really shouldn't. That will make it hard. I appreciate that sentiment, and I know where you're going, but no. Maybe you should skip that flask for a few days and think about it. What is it considered,

does it make you wise when you are meditating? Do you want to try it with me? Am I about to lead the group in a group meditation? Fuck yes, let's do that. All right, all right, who wants to meditate? I'm ready. I'm always ready. It's a yoga class in a zombie field.

This is a first, this is a first. Mind you, the space in here is very much like a zombie field. This is a fuss. This is a fuss. Which, mind you, the space in here is very much like a sleepover. You all are tetris-ed in this interior space. I'll also say that we all are exhausted, so this is going to be really hard. Everyone's just going to fall asleep. Yeah.

But I'm going to wait before we do this. Do we need a word? Like a chanting word? No. That's a monkey chant, that's different. A monkey chant? Yeah. Good callback. A monk, apostrophe Y, or a monkey chant?

No, like a monkey, but I appreciate that as well. But isn't it, I've heard, I've read or whatever, don't you have to say a word over and over to lull yourself? I think that's called something else. That's something. I mean, there's many ways of meditation. There's no real right way, you know?

It kind of depends on what works best for you and your inner peace. Take us through it. I'm going to, hold on, before we do this. I'm going to cast Enhance Ability at third level. On which? On Nott.

Guidance. And also myself, because the whole time we're doing this, I'm keeping an eye out for anything coming through the mist. Yes, I did. Watching as well. Enhance Ability on which ability? Owl's Wisdom. Okay, Watching as well. Chance ability on which ability? Owl's Wisdom. Okay, you got it. Fucking deities.

Make a perception check. Advantage. Mm-hmm. Guide me! Woo-hoo-hoo-hoo! That's a good. Uh, 25... 25. 25. You're keeping watch on him.

The heavy cluster of these undead that had found you, it's taken a long time, the past hour and a half or so, you guys have been waiting and talking and catching up a bit. They've been slowly dissipating. There's maybe a handful that are visible, about maybe 100 feet away or more, and even then just barely through the mist,

and only because you rolled so high, but you don't see any immediate danger, you haven't drawn any immediate attention, and for the time being, you feel safe. Okay. Are you going to guide them through meditation? Everyone lay on your back. Oh, we're laying down?

I'm going to do that. I'm going to sit. I'm going to sit until I can keep watching. Close our eyes. Close our eyes. Close your eyes. Just begin to focus on your breathing. I feel itchy. No, don't. You push it out.

You are the worst. Of your brain. Try not to move. Try not to touch anything. Just try to release. I am thinking so many things now. Shut up, Caleb. God fucking, all right.

No. Ignore the fucking undead, okay? Sorry, sorry. Well, there. This is the perfect place to meditate. Yeah. I don't know what it looks like, but with my eyes closed. This is so great.

You see it from 500 feet, and there's just, they're closing in on this little human. This is the weirdest 28 Days Later reboot I've ever seen. I'm going to play it on the bed. No! We'll say, we'll say, yeah. Can I lead them through a guided meditation? You do, and you know what?

Who here doesn't have a point of exhaustion? Doesn't? Yes. Does not, right? I do. You do, all right. I don't know where I came from. Caleb and Jester, it is a very nice guided meditation. It is weirdly calming for you, very challenging for you

for the continuous amount of information that's going through your head, but you do find a few moments of clarity. You finish the meditation, you both open your eyes, and that was really peaceful. Everyone else is dead asleep. I'm okay with that. I'm all right with that. Did your spirit animal come to you?

Did you have a vision? Did you? Who are you talking to? We're all fucking out. I was talking to them. Well, I guided the meditation, so I'm assuming I am. That's a Martian, I was out. Yep. Tickles.

Because you know the space well, you weren't taken by the meditation to put you to sleep. Ah! Nice cover. What was that sound supposed to mean? I'm tickled. The meditation successful was nice. Eventually, you find yourselves

to a comfortable rest for the night within the safety of this dome. Hopefully, for the length of time that it remains, as it is an eight-hour dome and you've spent the first two hours of it talking and going through this meditation. But that should be fine, as you find yourselves asleep in the middle

of the dark and mist-covered swamp. One last thing. Yes? As we're going to sleep, I just want to apologize, Caleb. I mean, I just want you to know that I would never use anything to modify a memory on you or Yasha or anyone that we know, you know, I know what it means.

Well, it's a tricky thing and it's all about what you do with it, really. Yeah. And you did a good thing. Yeah. You made her a good thing. Yeah. You made her happier? I think so.

It sounds like you made your new friend happier as well. Yeah. Okay. I just wanted to make sure. Good night, Jester. Good night, Caleb. Under the dull moonlight,

it's the now relatively still marsh waters that rest around here, the darkened dome visible. You all find a nice rest. We're going to take a break. the darkened dome visible. You all find a nice rest. We're going to go take a break. Long rest, baby! Give me that! You did, you guys have a long rest. I think knocked over, there it is.

My information sheet for the giveaway tonight. We have our giveaway tonight from our friends at Wyrmwood Gaming. We're giving away the Valentine's Day Vault, which includes a custom transcription in Quenya Elvish. So we got, I guess, two of these to give away tonight, which is kind of rad.

You can order it now until February 8th, so very soon, little window, at WyrmwoodGaming.com to receive it by Valentine's Day if you're looking to give one of these out to a present, a special someone. So you got two days to get it in time. So we're going to give you the keyword, but remember, you can only enter it once in chat.

Entering more than once will disqualify you guys. Once again, this is for U.S. and Canada only, excluding Quebec, because of challenging laws. Okay. But yeah, the word tonight is cupcake. All right, go. C-U-P-C-A-K-E, cupcake. We'll be back here shortly to continue our story.

See you then. 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. Welcome back. All righty, so we have our two winners for the two pieces in our Wyrmwood giveaway with these two Valentine's Day inscripted bits. The winners are Thin the Veil. Ooh! Congratulations, Thin the Veil.

And GamerJazzmania. Ooh! Congratulations to the both of you. We'll get those pieces sent out to you ASAP. All righty. Wow. Mm. So, Mighty Nein, after a long rest is acquired,

the points of exhaustion, of which those of you who still maintain them, if you have just one, goes away. I believe you all just have one point each. But you awaken just as the dome itself vanishes. You're awakened because as soon as it does, the warm, comfortable interior and the not as terrible smell suddenly vanishes,

and you find yourself immediately exposed to the elements of the swamp, and you all wake up as the cold air and the mist still burning off in the early morning around you, greets you to the day. Early to bed, early to rise. Okay.

None. We're good. For the time being, at least. Bah bah bah bah. We should get out of here. We should get out of here. We should get out of here. Caleb. Yeah? I'm picking my spells.

Can you teleport us out, or do I need to find the path? I think so, but I don't know that I can draw upon the ground here. All right. So we need to walk a little bit. Hold on, hold on, let me see, hold on. Don't they have a shape? You could paint a ground.

I could paint a ground on the shitty ground? You could paint like a breakdancing cardboard piece. Like, you know what I mean? I do. How much space do you need to make a circle? 10-foot diameter circle. Big breakdance. Well, I could stone shape a couple times.

Or we just walk. Or we just walk out. We walked in. Maybe we walk until we get to ground that you can drop on. Where do we want to go again? I don't know. You going to spec the way we came?

Well. Do you think our horses are still alive? How do you think WCG knew where it was doing? No, we sent them home, remember? I know, but do you think they made it? No. Me neither. Not a fucking chance.

Oh, I'll just stay under this tree at night. They were disguised as Morb,peth after just dancing around like horses. Oh yes, that's true. Yep. For how long? An hour or something. No, it was eight hours. Eight hours. Seeming. Eight hours. Yep. Concentration.

Seeming lasts a while. No, not concentration. We can head that way and see if there's anything left. Something's a scrap. They were, or they got killed when they got into town because they were like, ah! They made it all the way back today! Beasts!

That is so true! Also fair. Buttercup? Oh no! It's okay. All right, let's move. Take advantage of the light. They'll be fine.

Do we have to move quietly? Or just go as fast as we fucking can? I kind of wanted that to be a reality. Just because it's so funny. Are we casting your Path Locating spell, or just taking it? Man, I guess I can prepare it. Give me a second. If you're continuing to traverse here,

we will begin doing a skill challenge. Oh, that's right. If you're walking the rest of this path. That's why I was saying we should teleport. If something, we can't draw it. It's up to you. Find the path. We'll help reduce the number of successes required to make your way out.

We are done with your family. You don't need, that's it for now? Yep. You don't need to go back? For, I have no answers. To kidnap your brother? Not yet, I don't think. I have nothing else to report.

I don't think. Okay. Nothing I can't send in a message. I can send a message. She was gesturing to you, so yeah. Yeah. By the way. Then yeah, I could send a message. That meditation stuff,

I mean, it felt a lot like sleep. Yeah, you fell asleep as well. I didn't, I stayed awake. We'll try again when we're not so tapped. Okay. Yeah. Maybe for the time being, you just practice being sober. Okay. How has that been?

Because I know you were doing all right, and then like, but I don't know if that's held. I've been sneaking a lot of booze. We've noticed. Okay, okay. No, we know. I mean, it's been going great, then. We can often tell because you get a little aggro.

What the fuck did you just say? I'm just kidding. Is it something you want us to help remind you with, or no? No, I like to drink. Right. Do you want us to help remind you with, or no? No, I like to drink. Do you want us to help you with that? But if I'm aiming for this meditation thing, then I will do my best, so yes, if you catch me taking a little nip,

why don't Yasha, why don't you knock it out of my hand? Are you sure? Yep. Yasha's the only one with permission? Yeah. What if she doesn't notice, and the rest of us do? Are we allowed to tell her? Are you stopping entirely, or are you doing a taper thing?

Why does it have to be broad? Anytime you take a nip, I knock it out of your hand? Go ahead, I give you permission. What about if we go to a tavern or something and you want something to drink? Knock it out. Wait, this counts as taverns, too? Anywhere.

Boozes, boozes, booze. All right. But a lot of taverns have decent milk. I've seen the lumpy shit that you drink. It's like stew. It's like dairy stew. I have a lot of... You can have some tea? I also have some dust of deliciousness left.

Okay, so you can make the curdled milk taste like a cupcake? Yeah. Like butter. All right. New England clam chowder. Okay. All right. New England clam chowder. Okay. All right. A nice shot of New England clam chowder.

What? With tequila. Beer and ranch dressing. That sounds good. You saved yourself and you saved us all. So what's the plan? Are you guys traversing the way back? No, I am going to use Stone Shape. Okay.

And I'm going to look for a patch of ground that is, you know, good, and I'm going to make it nice and flat and drawable for Caleb. Okay, yeah. You can definitely do that with that spell. So you take a little bit of time, keeping an eye out as well,

setting up this stone flatland platform large enough to contain this circle of teleportation. Easily enough it's available to you, you can begin the inscribing on the ground. Destination. Anywhere? East or west? You want to go. I don't care.

The Menagerie. Close to the Menagerie. Well, we can go to Yussa's. Mm-hmm. Do you want to give him a heads up this time? We could actually be responsible for once. Is that, weren't we going to? Caduceus. Caduceus'es?

That would be on the way, that would be the way to do it. On the way, well, I mean, we're like over here. But I don't know if we're going to be here. Yurik is over here. But what he's saying is, I don't know if Caleb knows any other closer teleportation circles past that. But we can go to Rosohna and ask Essek to take us there. Or we can get the ship.

And go to your place, and then go do the meetup. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's a lot of seafaring. That's three weeks of seafaring. Awesome! We haven't been on a boat in a long time, you guys. We're just going to go on a sail for three weeks? Don't we have shit to do?

Why isn't the con coming up? I'm going to send a message to Orly and see where they are. You're right. But we'd be going down there. You told Orly to stay, right? We did. You told Orly to hang around. I think you were like, hey, Orly, don't go.

Stay. We did? I think so. Okay, never mind. I'm not going to send him a message now. Well, I mean, you could. Just to clarify. We're right here, right? Just to clarify. Actually, north of Komorda. You're more up there, yeah.

Okay, and the Menagerie's here? Yeah, but Nicodranas is down further. Yeah. And just so I'm clear, we, who right now are near another destination that we had, Pride's Call. There was another item on the to-do list. No, no, no, that's an old item. right now are near another destination that we had. Which is what? Pride's Call. There was another item on the to-do list.

No, no, no, that's an old item. Sure, sure, sure. But we're going to choose not to do that, and instead decide to go on a three-week-long boat trip to a place that we could get to in one day? Well, we decided we weren't going to do Pride's Call because we decided we didn't need to. Even going to Caduceus's family,

we could get there in a day and a half versus three weeks of boat trip. You mean if we traverse all these mountains and come down this way? No, if we teleport back to Xhorhas and ask Essek to just take us there. Yeah, that's assuming a lot from Essek, though, right? You're just like, what?

I don't know if I want to keep burning favors. I'm happy to just take the journey. I'm a big believer in the journey. I can send him a message and ask him if he can do it. I mean, we did help him make an incredibly powerful spell. Seems to be like DT. I'm okay. I'm personally happy getting on a boat. I think that sounds like a lot of fun.

Either way, Orly's going to have to meet us. That boat is going to take three weeks to get to the other place. Okay, why don't we ask Essek first? That's always the first step, right, asking? Yeah. All right. Something we'll put into practice every time.

I'm going to send a message to Essek. Question. If we needed to teleport somewhere, would you be able to do it, because you love us now? Or is it still, like, not cool-ish? It's hard to count points. I did think I was crazy. Well, that depends on where you're going. Fuck.

If it is a place I don't know, there is significant risk, but possible. We did this before when we were chasing Elrond. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. We just fell through a bunch of fucking trees. That's risky. We did this before when we were chasing Elrond. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. We just fell through a bunch of fucking trees. That's risky. I'm into it.

Right? We're into it. I mean. What do we want to do? It's a great idea. I think it's actually the fastest way to do it. And then we do the stuff for Caduceus. And then? We can teleport to Nicodranas.

And then we take a boat ride for three weeks. And then we take a boat. Well, not for three weeks, just for a couple weeks. We go do the negotiation, and then we go to Trapacorn. Are you wanting to take a boat? I was excited about the boat. Are you excited about the boat because it was going to stall for another three weeks?

I don't know. Caduceus, you're very honest, normally. Well, if we run out of time. I think he honestly doesn't know. I don't know. We could go to Nicodranas, get on the boat, go do the negotiation, go to Traveler Con, and then go do the stuff for your family if you want to delay. There is the negotiation.

No. Have to be on the boat. No, let's do this. All right. Fuck yes, let's do this. Really? Sure. Okay. How much time until Traveler Con? It's about, I think, four weeks?

Four to five weeks at this point, somewhere in that neighborhood. The negotiation. It hasn't changed, or it's in a different direction. I mean, it's only been a couple days. Every time I ask, it's like a day. Yeah. It's always a day. Yeah, it's between four and five weeks, I think.

People come and go so quickly. I have everything I need for, I don't necessarily know what I need to do, but I've got everything I need for. You have completed the visions that brought you to Kravrath, and you have the materials that you recall and the visions that you required for the next stage,

but that's all you know. Okay, yeah. You want to try it? Sure. All right, let's go to Jorah's. Ready? Yeah. Oh, we couldn't tell them. Who will? Oh, shit! We told them one person without the other.

We talked about it. We talked about it. We talked about it. That's the step in the right direction. Yeah, yeah. Baby steps, guys. Baby steps. We're the worst. We're capable of changing our actions.

We wanted to care. Really? We are the worst house guests. All right. You all immediately return to the Lucid Bastion basement. All arriving in the familiar basement. The posted Aurora Watch spin around just to check.

That brief moment of like, and they go back to their post. You walk the familiar crystal-walled halls, of like, and they go back to their post. You walk through familiar crystal-walled halls, head nods of recognition, though it is bustling. You can tell there is an energy here, probably due to the current holding of any sort of conflict.

A lot of people are figuring out what to do, what to watch for, what to be careful of in that time period, as well as preparations for this seafront negotiation, of which, while the leaders will not be physically present, there will be a lot at stake and on the table for this discussion. You make your way into the open Galamafri,

heading your way towards the neighborhood where the Xhorhaus resides. The tree greets you, still glowing in the eternal night that is this city. You approach, the door opens, and your home is as you left it. I'm going to go wash all this poison-y swamp nestiness off of me.

It just occurred to me, we have a lot of money. Should we hire someone to take care of the house while we're not here? Well, we did, but they up and left. I don't even know where she went. She wasn't really hired. Diverage, she's an expositor of the Cobalt Reserve. I don't know what you're talking about,

I'm going to go take a bath. But should we hire someone? No, I don't really care. I think it's quite nice in here. But there's never any food here. When we get back, we have to get shopping. What are Caduceus' for? I guess so, but.

Caduceus, can we heat up the hot tub? Yeah, I can. We can't leave the hot tub. We have to fill up the hot tub. Perth, our servant could do that for us. Caduceus, can I have a mushroom and moss sandwich, please? I can do all these things. It's still relatively early in the day, right? Like, we woke up 7 a.m.

Put some stone on the ground. You did, but you traveled a bit, so you lost a bit of time. So by the time you guys had come to and set yourself up, I'd say you would have left around probably 9 to have gotten your full rest from the time you didn't actually sleep. Getting here, I'd say it's close to midday,

though once again, middle of the night here in Rosohna most of the time. So you're looking around noon. Okay. So you begin to prepare. I'm going to prepare the hot tub and I'm going to make some sandwiches for everybody. Okay, there you go.

Proper moment of downtime. Crust cut off, I assume. What? Crust cut off? No, that's where all the nutrients are, right? You said it's all in the crust. I'm just assuming you're going to be picky. No. Oh, all right. What kind of sandwich is this?

Mushroom and moss. Mushroom and moss. It's an M&M. It's a Caduceus special. Yeah. Working on it. Tiny triangles, tiny triangles. That's an M&M. It's a Caduceus special. Yeah. Working on it. Tiny triangles, tiny triangles. That's very sweet. Like tea sandwiches.

Oh, yeah. Multi-tiered. Yeah. That's cute. Is there anything else? While you're making sandwiches, you guys have the afternoon here in Rosohna, whatever, is there anything you want to accomplish while you're in the city? Anything you're making sandwiches, you guys have the afternoon here in Rosohna, whatever. Is there anything you want to accomplish while you're in the city?

Anything you're looking for? Yeah, I want to go shopping. I have an errand to run. Okay. I want to ask around town and find a magical shop. Scrolls. Scrolls in particular? Yes. You do know, there are a couple of small magical shops.

If there is a place to go to get that sort of knowledge, you can try first the Marble Tomes Conservatory, or you can try and look for a place that's kind of more off the beaten path. I will look, I will go to the Marble Tome Conservatory. Okay, you do know that place. It is a little more controlled. You know, it's definitely more of an established location.

So who knows? I can't remember. Caleb does, but I can't. Is that a shop or more of a library? It is a library and a place of learning. That is where Professor Wokko is, but that's also where you had the Enchanter Yun that made her bracers was.

Okay. So you have a rapport there. Okay. But it is more of a place of learning. It's up to you if you think the rapport that you have. I'll look for the shop. I'm going to go bargain. Yeah! Bargain bin. Yeah! Dining. Make an investigation check with disadvantage.

Let's go. $5 DVDs. Yep. I will say that I was about to drop a fortune's favor on myself before heading out the door. You can do that. Yeah. We're going to make it just situationally here. What property owner is? Persuasion with disadvantage. Persuasion with disadvantage.

Because it's less about discovering the information. The DC is lower, but because you are a lone human in the middle of Rosohna, it is a little more challenging to get information out of people that don't have a rapport with you. So go ahead and roll. I just took out my little dingle dangle. You do. Yeah.

And in some cases, it's helpful. So with Fortune's favor, it's a straight roll. Correct. Persuasion, you said? Correct. Oh! I'm sorry. Bing! Aw.

You spend the better part of the next two hours of people sending you like, Oh yeah, no, go down this road to find this. And you get there and there's nothing there, and someone goes like, Oh, I gave you wrong directions. You want to go down this corridor around there? And it takes you a while in your earnestness to realize you've been fucked with.

And you've just lost a couple hours and you've been even further lost and you found spaces you've never been to. You do come across a very large, almost a hedge maze-like garden on the edge of the Gallimaufry. It's the only thing of interest you come across, but it is beautiful.

There's like a, you see an elderly lizard folk who's out there kind of tending to the garden. That's it, it's the only thing of interest you run into. Job well done, Caleb Widogast. I keen mind follow the trail I took to get to this spot back home. Okay, you got it. Good times. Sorry, buddy. No problem.

Anybody else have anything you want to accomplish while they're in the city? Making a really nice tub. It's going to be. There you go, some herbs. Oh yeah. Flowers in it. Getting a good soak. Yeah, candles. There you go.

I'm going to wander to the Corona District. Ah, yes. And see if I can find a servant for hire. Okay. You have a much better time than Caleb did. Yeah, there is work to be had. You go into there and you can see there are a lot of individuals

that are hanging out in front of taverns. Some of them look relaxing, but some of them, when you get close, with that looking eye, like, hey, you looking to hire? You got any work? You building anything? Maybe. I can help you. Maybe, maybe.

What's your skill set? The man's like, I don't listen to him, he's full of shit. Like, me and Joey over here, we can totally get you covered, don't worry. Joey, eh? Yeah. Well, what's your skill set? I'm looking for a- Jodeck, but we call him Joey.

In home care, home care. Yeah, no, we care about many homes. They're great, Was that right? And he's like, yep. Oh, boy. Yep. More of like a butler sort of a thing. He changes his posture.

Of course, we can help you in whatever you require. Isn't that right? He goes, yep. Perfect. No, thank you. And I'll just keep perusing. Ah, you son of a bitch! And he's just going to scream at you from behind.

There isn't like a housekeeping service, necessarily, but I'll say, in asking around, you do come across this really, really sweet, young, kind of bright-eyed drow girl who has her platinum white hair goes to almost a purple tint at the tips, and she keeps it very well kept in the back

and tied in two places. She's dressed in nice, standard clothing, and you catch her brooming on the exterior of what looks to be a small livery. And immediately, you catch the attention of somebody that looks non-threatening, non-aggressive, and apparently is clean. Hello there, young miss.

Do you work here? I do. Oh, and your job is to keep things clean and orderly? That is one of my jobs, yes. Oh, I'm looking for, my friends and I are looking for someone to help us with our home when we travel. Would you be available to moonlight in that sort of a job,

or are you on salary here or something? No, I am, what are you paying, perhaps? Um, oh boy. What do you make here per day? Well, my standard rate comes to about one gold, five silver. That sounds fine to me. For a day?

Sure. Sure. Jesus. Sounds good to me. Should be better than being that close to a war. Is there a monthly rate, or is it just every day? This is for an extended engagement of business. Yes, we sometimes travel for long periods of time

and we would need to be able to trust you. Can we trust you? Can you trust me? Inside check! Go for it. She gives you these very wayfish, doe-like eyes and this soft smile. 21. 21. I hear a whisper. That's 21. I get a Whisper?

That's right, yeah. I get a Whisper out of this. You notice the hilts of two daggers. Yeah, oh shit. It's the inevitable end. This Whisper is brought to you by Skillshare. Or did I get those? I've got those bracers.

Wait, you have them? She made the bracers. Because you have to have no armor on. I have my Frodo armor. I like you, I like the cut of your jib. What's your name, child? Vidala. Vidala is beautiful.

Unquestionably beautiful. She's like a fucking Braavos blind. What do we have in there? As soon as we leave. A hot tub and a tree. I have this because I know that my friends would not appreciate me hiring someone without at least a negotiation.

So would you do it for one gold for silver per day? I'm just going to bring a fine fist. If that's what you would prefer, of course. You're talking about a monthly rate, right? Yes. We could go for the daily rate, if it is something you're more preferring. For a monthly rate, we could do it for, let's say,

40 gold for the month. Oh! Think that works, sure. Yeah, that sounds great. Let's do it. But you know what? I can't hire you without introducing you to my friends. So could you walk across town with me?

I'm a stranger and I'm a goblin. Shout to me. Zedden sets the broom back inside and goes, Denner! I'm taking my lunch! Totally different. Whatever. What was the, okay. Follow me! Of course. All right, I'll walk her back to our place. Yes. What was the, okay.

Follow me! Of course. All right, I'll walk her back to our place. I'm going to go. This is the beginning of the movie Parasite. Oh my god. Did you watch it? Oh yes, it's on air. Best movie of last year. It's so good.

Anyway, continue. I'm going to go upstairs to the tree, to where we have all of our... Shrines. Shrines, yes. Thank you. Yeah, that's why you've been drawn. And I'm going to cast Word of Recall.

Where do all these fucking spells come from? Massive cleric list. Shit! I'm going to cast Word of Recall on the little shrine I've made to the Traveler. Okay. For the memory of a lifetime.

Oh yeah, well I have. Ah, you designated the sanctuary. Yes. Gotcha. Okay. So you have now, as you complete the spell, you can see the tree itself suddenly begins to drop some of its leaves. These green leaves slowly drift down as they hit the ground, a little green light

under each one. Eventually, they all scatter from a breeze that seems to come from nowhere. You sense the familiar presence of the Traveler smiling upon this particular land. Shut. Awesome. Anybody else doing anything?

You don't have to, but you can just wait if you're not particularly going to something. Beau, you have the plus two bracers of defense. You took them? Those are plus two? Yeah. The ones you have are plus two. Yeah, mine are the exact same. Oh.

Yeah, maybe I can sell these or something. We'll figure it out. I think where you order something online and immediately see something just slightly better. At a better price. Yeah, you're like, oh, that's like $8 cheaper and it has another option. But you can only wear them if you're not wearing armor.

Oh, yeah, maybe I'm armor on. Yeah, you got armor on. I'm not sure. Yeah them if you're not wearing armor. Oh. Right? Yeah, you got armor on. I'm not sure. Yeah, you can't be wearing armor. Or you have to go up to your armor quest. Yeah. No shield, no armor. Can you?

Nott. Nott has armor. Nott has armor, never mind. Everybody's got armor now. Jester, can I play with Sprinkle for a little bit? I'm sure Sprinkle would love that. Don't bite her, okay? Thank you.

He's a little, um... skittish. Okay, I'll be very careful. I'm going to take him and try to give him a little bath and fluff him up in the hot tub. Okay. He's going to hate it. Now, to be specific here, based on recent adventures

and the return from where you were, it very much looks like one of those viral videos of them cleaning animals after an oil spill. It's sprinkled, it's just like. Don't come up here. This is insane, this is not bad. I'm sitting in the corner of the hot tub with my plate of sandwiches.

I didn't give him a bath because he almost drowned, and he's like, no, and I thought maybe he didn't want to be in the water at all. No, no, no, we all were so messy, and I just, I thought you could just, you know, get him all fluffy and okay. He seems like he likes it, so you're doing a good thing. Also, a bunch of zombies exploded acid all over you.

Yeah. He's protected. He was in my hood. Bold move, bathing a dead animal. You have to prepare them. Five cents a day. But nevertheless, you do eventually clean Sprinkle off. It's a good thing you're a Barbarian. Your hands are pretty tough. The sheer amount of bites that would've

definitely hamburgered someone with the softer grips hands. For the price of a coffee. Your thick skin in your mitts, fairly resistant, especially when it starts pissing you off and you start rage washing it. You take half the bite damage from the little weasel. I'm going to tell them off, make them all fluffy. Make them all cute.

Whoa, whoa. Wet weasel smells so bad. It's stinky. Whoa. I want to put a little flower on him, see if it stays. Through the process, roll an animal handling for me. Yes. I'm curious. Oh boy. Yeah.

Raise me one. Well. Yeah. Mm-hmm. What is your one? Well. Three. So when. Oh! No! No! No! No, no, but. Mending, mending.

As Yasha brings you back, you're a sweet weasel. It's less of a presentation and more of a take it from me. It's going It's actually the process of like, non. Okay, okay, okay. Oh, that was so sweet of you, Yasha. He just, he was a little bit of, we all were a mess and. You look so cute now.

He's going to look so much better, you know, on your shirt. He's got a flower on him! Yeah. He's a... It's weird because he's naturally friendly. That's really worked out. Caduceus? Yeah? Do you have any little bugs or pieces of meat

or anything you can give him? I'm going to. Would you like a sandwich? Would you like a sandwich? He calms a bit. Yeah, yeah, he wants a sandwich. Come here. There you go.

You want another sandwich? Come on. Yes, and also for me, thank you. Eventually, you calm. Sprinkle is definitely already reticent around Yasha. Oh. You can work towards it,

but it's a step back in that relationship, I fear. I don't need to, I think. He just was looking a little weird. But right now, it does look like a very nice boa, right now, with the fluffed up red hair. Thank you, Yasha. You're welcome. You look good, Sprinkles.

It looks really good now. It's like a really nice ding-a-ling. A company, a family meeting, house meeting! I'm telling you. Wow. I've got to introduce you to your potential employers. They might have some questions about your CV and your past work experience. Of course, of course.

Not what the fuck. No, no, this is fine. I've brought a young lady here. Her name is Vendetta, if I remember. Vendetta? I don't really remember. What's your name? Your name is Vendetta? It's not mine. It's not mine.

What? She introduces herself. Do you guys have any particular questions? I don't know how much time you want to spend on this. All of it. Oh god. I don't know. Yeah, totally.

I just don't want her to steal things from us. Of course. This could be our person who takes care of the home when we are away. Okay. I know her qualifications are she can use a broom and she speaks our language. Oh, that's wonderful.

Do you steal things? No, why would I steal something? Well, that's excellent. We have the ability to monitor every room in this house. Why wouldn't you steal things? Oh, what do you know? No, I mean, you only should trust someone who knows that they could steal things,

but then also has the restraint and the loyalty to know that they shouldn't. I'm the cast zone of truth. All right, you cast zone of truth. Unlike all of us, as many people that I can remember. Everyone make wisdom saving throws. Oh my god. 10. Natural 20. Oh. 21.

17. I'm just going to lie about everything because I can. Five. So Yasha, Fjord, and Caleb not fail. And so does she. Okay, good. All right. Are you trustworthy? I'd like to think so.

This would be a better job than the one I currently have. How much do you currently make? Currently, I make about four silver pieces a day. Wait! Oh, interesting. No what? No. No, keep going.

I was going to say, wait, that seems low. Horse and morband of manure. Oh. Do you clean houses? I have before, but it's been some time. You guys got this? Mm-hmm. Don't you want to ask for it?

No, I'm good. What do you mean, you're good? Do we all need to be here as we interview the housekeeper? Yes! This is a house meeting. I said house meeting, but that means the whole house. What's your biggest fear?

Do you have any experience taking care of houseplants? No. Do you feel prepared to learn how to take care of plants? I think so. Okay. Do you like me? You seem aggressively likable. I like you. Are you afraid of weasels?

Why? She's afraid of weasels. What's your favorite color? Blue? What's your favorite color? Green. Who are you asking? You. Oh. Oh. Green.

What's your favorite color? Oh, I don't have one. Oh, that's weird. Great, you don't have one? That is weird. I mean, I've known you for so long, that is the weirdest thing. Favorite color? Yellow.

Oh, wow. I don't pick favorites. But how do you see the world? Silver. Silver? Yeah, it's a good color. See, that one seems to make sense. How do I see color? Is Silver. Silver? Yeah, it's a good color. See, that's what it seems to make things. How do I see color? Is that what you're asking?

Yeah! We really have some important news for you to get to, if you know. Yeah, yeah, yeah, you're totally right. Does anybody have a crush on me? Oh. Jester, you know everyone does. What? No.

Okay, back to you, though. What's the most expensive silverware you've ever stolen? I've never stolen. Lies. She's lying. No, she's not. She's telling the truth. You're right, she's telling the truth. What did you tell? What did you tell her?

What are you talking about? Beau, are you drunk? I don't trust her. What are you talking about? Beau, are you drunk? I don't trust her. If you don't trust me, I can go. No, no, no, no. Let's put it to a vote. Yes, let's vote. All in favor? Do you have good intentions here? Do you want to keep a job here?

Are you going to try to do anything shady? Those are like different types. Yeah, but. I would like, I have good intentions. I would like to, you know, live above the current means that I do. If you are people that are very difficult to work with in keep,

then I wouldn't stay in this job. We're not, we're never here. Let's vote. All in favor? Yeah! Hey, you're hired! Congratulations, we're you can sell it. How much do you make right now? We had discussed 40 gold each month for the housekeeping.

Holy fucking shit! That's what I'm talking about! What's wrong with that? That's insane. Is that insane? We have lots of money. Currently makes four silver. Is that high? Did you quote something very high for us?

I have a turnip, give me five platinum for it. I quote better than what I'm making now at the sleep stables. Yeah, by like 5,000%. We'll pay it, you're hired, you start today. Thank you very much. I'll get my stuff. She's a grifter, I can smell it on her. One recognizes one of their own, all right?

You say that about literally everyone we meet. You're projecting super hard right now. Yeah, you're probably right. All right. Take care of the house. We don't have any keys. Guard the door with your life. Am I starting now or tomorrow?

Immediately! Yeah, you can start right away. You sleep in the hot tub at night. And you can't tell your previous employers. No, she's lying. You can't speak to your previous employers. If you do, they'll be killed. That was a joke, it wasn't a lie.

That's not true. Oh, okay. I can't say that. It's not true. It's a very strange house. We're aware. We're glad you're here. Can we go now? Yeah, we're going to Essek.

Oh, to Essek. Are you leaving now? I was just asking, it's up to you guys. I mean, what else are we going to do here? Yeah, let's go. Yeah, we should just go. Thank you, watch the place. There's instructions on how to take care of plants. In the kitchen.

Okay. I have a question. Yes. If I cast something from a wand, do I need the spell components for it, or does it cancel it because I have a wand? It'll usually say for most wand-based magical items without material components. Okay.

I think the wand handles it. I don't think you need the components for the wand. Got it, okay. I think. What wand do you have? I'm pretty sure. I have the wand of the solitary scout. And the wand of smiles. Yeah Scout and the Wand of Smiles.

You don't need the guano if you're using a Wand of Fireballs or anything. It's part of the enchantment as the wand handles it. I'm pretty sure. Wands up. It's rolled in the phosphorus like a churro. I will get my things and begin immediately. We have quarters for that.

Nice to meet you. Yeah, there's an extra room. That makes life easier. What was her name again? You know what I think? What was your name? I don't remember, I'm not sure that Matt does either. I literally said it on the spot

and forgot to write it down, that's my problem now. Vendetta. It's Vendetta. We'll ask her when she gets back. But I can't ask her. We'll ask again later. What was it? I think it's Vidala or something, I don't remember.

I should have found it. Are you usually good about writing it down? I'll find it out tomorrow. I can't ask her, because she'll know I didn't remember, so one of you ask her, all right? Vidala. Vidala, all right. So I wasn't too far off. No one self-named themselves Vendetta.

Vidala. Without issues. Hey, we have somebody working for us. That's pretty cool. You're welcome. Nicely done. That was a really high price, though, because we have people that clean up my mom's quarters and stuff,

and they cost way less than that. Well. I think. I mean, it doesn't matter to me. Because we're all splitting it, so. No, no, we're not. That's okay. Yeah, we can split it if you want. Oh, yes, Essek? Oh, we'll be right there.

It's quite urgent that we get to his place. He's messaging you? All right, let's go. All right. You head your way over towards Essek's home. You're finishing up here. You head to his familiar towers where you had previously enjoyed the cheese and crackers provided to you.

You're greeted by Essek, who leads you back into the interior. Well, I was not expecting you to return to Rosohna so soon. I take it your journey was successful? Yeah. We believe so, yes. Should we try this pelican before we go? I mean, I haven't even really meditated about it yet. Oh, you're right.

Okay. Well, you said you needed to travel somewhere, so. Yes, is that okay? Yes, it's okay. I, you know, it prevents me from some of my capabilities throughout the day, each time I do this. So while I'm here in my home

and things are not requiring me to be elsewhere rapidly, thankfully, this is a moment in time in which I am more useful here in the city. It's greatly appreciated. Yeah. I'm sure we'll find a way to balance the scale sometime. Is there any news on your end? What I know is many of the

many of the elements of the military on both sides are holding hard lines at the exterior of previous battlefields. There has been some small-scale negotiation and discussion as far as preparation for this gathering. Ships have already set out with the prisoner from one of our outposts. It is quite a long trek from our side of Wynandir.

I believe the same is begun traveling from the Dwendorian Empire to eventually find its way towards the Menagerie Coast. Are we going to miss the negotiation? It's weeks. The negotiation is about three, three and a half weeks from now, I believe. towards the Menagerie Coast. Are we going to miss the negotiation? It takes weeks. The negotiation is about three, three and a half weeks from now, I believe.

Okay. So as long as you can ensure your return by then, otherwise it'll just have to continue without you. Wow, okay. Is it that, and then Traveller Con days later? Yeah. That's pretty rapidly after. We'll be close.

That's less than a week after the, where the negotiation is set, is when Traveler Climb's probably going to happen. Yeah, the volcano's out in the water, so. So where would you like me to take you? Caduceus. Oh, we're going to, uh, Vajray.

Yeah. It's a vast space, yes, so someone more specific. Can you describe exactly where we're going? No, I've never been there. Oh. Didn't you say it was near the forest that we have been to? No.

Do you not know where I'm supposed to be taking you? That is impossible. No, we know. We know where we're going. I know the name of it. It was the forest down way. That's the wrong map. Wrong map. Is it this one? No.

We need your help. We have so many maps. It's right there. It's right there, it's right there. Get out the map! Where should we put this one? Yeah, it's, yeah. It's over here. It's right over here. White Dawn Lagoon, if I recall. Is that where we're going? White Dawn Lag's, yeah. It's over here. It's not over here. White Dawn Lagoon, if I recall.

Is that where we're? White Dawn Lagoon, right. Okay. I have not been there, but I know of its existence. That puts us in a possible chance of arriving. Are we gambling with fate by going to this place? Should I scry on the White Dawn Lagoon? Can I scry? I can't scry on the location. I always forget this.

I don't have it prepared, anyway. I don't have it prepared, either, so I cannot. It would be helpful to me to do so, which means we could either go now and chance it, or we could try tomorrow. Let's chance it. Chance it. Chance it. What's life without a little risk?

So much can go wrong with this. Of course, but so much can go wrong with all sorts of elements of magic. Exciting, though, as we've experienced together once before, sometimes painful. Mm-hmm. But if you insist, let us all take hands if you are ready.

Oh boy. Just for fun, I'm going to make a prayer for everything to go well. Oh. Nope. I'm going to cut. The Wild Mother is silent. I'm going to put my hands on Essek's shoulder and I'm going to say,

the Traveler is with you, my child. Thank you, Jester. Yeah. Come, and he glides over into the center of his main chamber. These watches, he moves that over into the center of his main chamber. These watches, he moves that way, the furniture scoots on its own to the sides and leaves the open space, puts his hands out.

You all clasp hands and he goes, White Dawn Lagoon. Fingers crossed. I see Vahd and he begins to finish his incantation, you can hear the voice echoes growing louder and louder. You can see on the ground between your feet, these little light gray lines being connect to you all in the center

as it glows brighter and brighter, and then you feel that familiar scent of you all being pulled into nothingness. I need somebody to roll a d100 for me. Taliesin. Taliesin, yeah. That's 99. Whoa. It is? Is that good or bad? Yeah, it's 99.

I don't know. Hold on. I'm trying to have a divine inspiration that would have been amazing. Yeah. If I rolled that last time, that would have been crazy. I think that's... I think I have to roll 11. Super bad. Not good.

Not good, that's not good? No, actually, it's really good. Okay. That's really good? That is on target. Oh, that's like super duper on target, right? It's one way or the other. You had a 25% chance of this succeeding. Oh, wow.

Because this is only based on a description. He's not even viewed it before. Oh, jeez louise. There's a 43% chance for a mishap on that one. But you rolled a 99. Look at that, that's really pretty. That's a really nice dice you got there, by the way. Yeah. That is not a dice you got, by the way. Yeah.

That is good dice. Good. Really good. So. You all suddenly go from the cold night to the bright midday sun of a bluer sky above. You can see most of the clouds that you're used to seeing in the Dredalian Empire not there, aside from a few small plumes of white across the horizon.

You are partially looking out to what looks to be a green, grassy stretch of hill that then vanishes before you see ocean to the south, the glittering waters of Lucidian Ocean. You look to your right and behind you and you can see the elements of a mountain range that vanish to the north, broken gray rocks and a deep ravine

that begins to carve its way northward from where you stand. It's a number of miles away. It's barely visible on the horizon, but immediately before you, you can see this vast jungle, this dense tropical forest that seems to wrap around and encompass a large portion

of this shore side cliff expanse. You assume that you're probably pretty close to or right at the area known as the White Dawn Lagoon. Essek immediately goes, Ah! Ah, I think this was a success. This looks about right. When was the last time you saw the sun?

It's been a number of, I think probably since the last time I took the sun? It's been a number of, I think probably since the last time I took you somewhere, Mr. Bright. Does it hurt you? It's not comfortable, but it is tolerable. Is this what you are seeking? Does this mountain range look familiar from my vision? The mountain range itself isn't familiar to you,

but the visions you've had definitely, your visions specifically are of an oasis in the middle of a jungle. Sure. You don't know which one or where. So none of this is familiar to you, but you seem to have been brought to where you requested. I get down on the ground and paint a parasol

and pop it out and go. Thank you, Jester. He's so cute with his parasol. I'm going to... That's Dax. He's so into his parasol. He's Mary Poppins, yo! I'm going to sit down, sand out a little.

I'm going to face the mountains. There's a jungle, I assume, in front of us. Yes. I'm going to cast Commune. Okay. I'll sit down often to his right, behind him. Okay.

Kind of lend your presence to the Commune as well. You've got it. Does my destination lie before me? As you focus, all of you feel the still air become a warm seaside breeze, a welcome shift from the colder climates which you've traversed as of late and familiar to those who grew up on the Menagerie Coast. This further south on Xhorhas definitely resembles

the places where you two grew up. As the warm wind blows through, you get a sweet smell, a familiar smell, this sweet, honeysuckle-like flower aroma that reminds you of times in your youth when you were on the right path. And the wind blows in the direction of the jungle in front of you,

the trees swaying inward. Is it under a day's walk? The breeze comes to a still. Still blowing, but gentler. You get the sense that the answer is inconclusive. Is it dangerous? The breeze picks up once more, but is rapidly cold. Not in a way that it denies it, but definitely confirms that there is danger ahead.

About a day's journey. It is dangerous. But we head this way. We head that way. Okey-dokey. Do you know what we're looking for? A house, a hill, a grove? An oasis. An oasis.

Are we walking along the beach, or? No, we're walking into the jungle. Great. You can hear the various jungle birds and wildlife giving off loud caws and crows and distant insects chirping. It's a wild, tangled space. Essek goes, well, that is not for me.

Thank you, Jester, and good luck. He glides over and lands down into this patch of sand and begins to take his finger and carve out what looks to be a teleportation circle. Thank you, friend. Thank you. Of course. Continues his work. Spitball.

The jungle awaits you. Okay, shall we? Thank you for this. You don't teleport to a place like this. You have to make it there. Are we cheating in some way? This is as close as I was comfortable getting. Now we make it.

Now we walk. Okay. All right. You guys begin to trek your initial steps into this jungle, stepping over Mm-hmm. You begin to trek your initial steps into this jungle, stepping over heavy, thick base roots, pushing past all manner of flora and fauna, heavy ferns that rise up to maybe five, six feet, some even taller the further in you get.

The path that you trek is not a path. There is no walked path in this area. You're having to climb over and carve probably the first steps from this point of entry that have made their way from any journeyman. I'm going to try and let as much flora, fauna, and animal life know that why we're here, what we're looking for, and that we're just passing through,

heading to the oasis. All right. The air itself is very warm, which is comforting, especially given the last night that you spent in the chilly mountains on the northern side of the Sirius mountain range. Numerous heavy vines wrap around the thick, thick tree trunks,

a number of which begin to wrap and cluster in front of you, forming small barriers that you have to hack through and push your way around. You find small nests of insects and other small woodland creatures built along bases and the way upward. Some of these trees, very banyan tree type, these thick squat trees with these heavy, heavy

dozens and dozens of thick branches that build up into the large canopy, each one nodding and tangling with the next, forming this network with occasional breaks where you can see the dust and pollen and other sorts of various nature-based clouding material that drift through and elements of light peek in beams

that begin to greet you as you push from one barrier to the next. The smell and the scent is profoundly comforting, though odd. It is nature in a way that is full of life. It's sweet, similar to the smell that came with the breeze of your Commune, but more varied and diverse in the way that it affects

the memories that come to mind that are connected to some of these smells. Who's keeping watch as you progress into this? What is the marching order? Oh jeez. I'm assuming you're in front. I'm in front, I guess. Caduceus is the leader, yeah. I'll be behind Caduceus.

I'll pull up the rear, maybe. I'll go behind Fjord. I'll take the center of the line. I'll go behind Yasha. I'll protect Caleb and Nott. Fjord and Yasha with swords slicing through. Yeah. All right, so you're, so Fjord and Yasha with swords slicing through. Yeah. All right, so you're,

so Fjord and Yasha up there, right there. How hot is it, by the way? Down here, I'd say it's probably, it's not terribly hot. It's mid-80s. Oof, I definitely take off my overcoat. Holy moly. Yeah, so it's not terribly hot,

but given the amount of things you have on and the sense of the clothing you've been wearing for different climates, you're immediately starting to sweat. So Beauregard, you're in the middle with Caleb, you said? Yeah, I'll be directly behind Caleb and Nott, I think, next to Jester. Okay, there you go. Caleb's hair is just getting really long,

so he puts it up. You got it. Nott's not a little ponytail? Which one? Or the little half, the little halfer? No, full ponytail. Full pony? Okay. It's good. Rolled up the sleeves.

All right, so. Have yours wrapped like that. You just tie it in a knot? Yeah, yeah, yeah, just have this ribbon. You just do a little loopy loop. Yours is getting there, actually. Yeah, I put a little itty bitty. It's like two breaks.

On your way to karate class, little boy? Get a ribbon on that, bitch. I pick a piece of grass, turn it around, there you go. Nailed it. Turn around. There you go. Nailed it. Fuck yeah. Yeah. So it's getting mid-afternoon at this point.

When you have time in Rosohna, you're probably a few hours away from dusk. You push for the first hour in. This is going to be another traversing a dangerous element of nature skill challenge. So who wants to helm the first leg of this? I'll do it with just perception and with my sense of where I was being led.

Before we head out, Caleb reaches the pearl way up high, took a deuce at his forehead, and casts for a few moments, and cast Fortune's Favor on you. All right. One luck for the day, whenever. It could be now, it could on you. All right. One luck for the day, whenever. It could be now, it could be later. All right.

Nice. So perception, I'm going to give myself a little boost as well. Let's do it smaller. That's 21, 24. 24, okay. In helping lead the group forward, you find what seems to be the clearest path

that doesn't immediately cause you to slow in your travel through. The earlier parts of this jungle are dense, but it's getting denser, and at least this first part doesn't seem to be as dangerous as you surmise the interior may have been alluded to by your conversation with the Wild Mother Melora.

It's beautiful, it's calming, and for those of you who've never spent much time in tropical settings, in particular, you, Yasha, who of everyone here has probably been the most removed from a lot of these spaces, it is gorgeous. And some of the flowers themselves are bright and vibrant, you can't help but wanting to pick and keep. Caduceus, can I take a flower from here?

Let me know and I'll ask permission. Some of these things also do bite. You got to be careful. Make a nature check for me. All right. I want to reroll that, I'm using my... Even worse. So soon? Already.

That was sad. Four. Wait, what was the other? Eight. Does he get to look at the writing on the spell? It's a luck point, so you can roll twice and take the higher. Let me check. Oh, then eight.

12. Ooh, then eight. Well. Ooh, hot dog. Choose which to use. Eight. Eight, okay. I don't know which ones are. You point at one flower, you think, ah, that's brightly colored, this is probably dangerous. That one's muted, that one you could probably pick.

Not the same flowers. I ask permission, of course, before we. You do, it's more an ask than a say. You really don't know what you're talking about in this particular instance, but luckily, there wasn't a huge issue with this one, so you took the flower without problem. Yeah, you were very lucky.

Oh god, Oh god! It's a kind of, like a teal color that towards the edges of the petals, and it's like a white flower, it's like that big. The edges of the petals, it tends to go to a deep sea blue. It's a frog that looks like a flower. It's very pretty. Stop.

Oh god. There's that, too. But you manage to find the best path forward that does not slow your progression into the jungle. Who wants to helm the next leg of this? I will try. Oh, fuck. Yeah. All right. Sure.

What are you doing to help here? Come here. Mosquito. No, that was just lean. Oh. I'll step forward and I'll say, listen, you fucking jungle, I'm a paladin of the Wild Mother.

You're going to move or we're going to bust you wide open. We're going to wreck this place. Don't make me fucking tell you twice. Can I intimidate it? Go ahead and roll intimidation. I love that you tried to deceive and intimidate.? Go ahead and roll intimidation. I love that you tried to deceive and intimidate. This is not going to go well.

Yes, intimidate the woods, yes! 21. Yes! Okay. You shout out loudly into the jungle, out in front of the group, just yelling. You can see all these birds scatter from above at the canopy. Things start rushing and running out of the space.

Looks pretty quiet. Not bad. I feel intimidated. For sure. It's the hairdo. Yeah. You take a confidence step forward. A massive plant that was just beyond the root you were standing on just devours Fjord, just completely vanishes

inside of a large flytrap-like pod. Use your luck, boy! Oh no! You hear. I try to pull it open. Roll a strength check. Oh my gosh. Giving you a d4. Take eight points of acid damage, F my gosh. I'm giving you a d4.

Take eight points of acid damage for it. Oh! I'm giving you a d4 on that, too. D4, okay. Yeah. Oh, good, 18? 18. You start pulling the pot open.

You're in there, it's not enough to quite get him out, like, you don't pull him out, but the pot is open. You can go ahead and attempt to escape, if you'd like. I would like to, please, yes. I'll play some of the sword, just try and cut through. I'll say it's easy enough. Okay. This plant looks more dangerous than it really is.

Between the two of you, you manage to get him out, and it slowly pulls open. Good job, Fjord, now we know to watch out for those. Yeah, maybe we should be quiet. Just a thought. Sorry. Ah, it stinks. The pod is a purplish color on the outside,

which is very glaring, but when it's open, the interior itself is almost perfectly camouflaged with the extremely green and... So now we know what to look for. Yes. We look for ground that looks like ground. That looks like ground. Smacked.

Smacked. All right, who would like to take this next leg? Oh boy. I'll take it next leg? Um. Oh boy. Um. I'll take it. It's okay. Oh. Okay, well, what skill, what are you attempting to aid this journey with?

Oh, I was just going to do a survival. Okay. You can do survival? Is there a way to do it? No, let me think if there's something better here. Just explain how it pertains to it. It's better than intimidation. If you rolled high enough, I was like, I'll figure out something. It's better than intimidation. If you rolled high enough,

I was like, I'll figure out something. Can I try to look at the path and investigate to see if there's a nice, easy way through? Investigation could possibly, yeah, you can give it a shot. Slow down, Orphan Maker. That's the pearl up to her head. Beep, beep could possibly, yeah, you can give it a shot. Slow down, Orphan Maker. Puts the pearl up to her head.

Beep, beep, beep, beep, beep. It lasts for a whole day. Wow. It really does last for an hour. Hour, yeah. Okay. That means I can reroll? Yeah, right now.

Okay. Oh, it's cocked. It's cocked again, I'm sorry. Throw that thing. Okay, okay, that's better. No, I love it, though, when's cocked. It's cocked again, I'm sorry. Throw that thing. Okay, okay, that's better. No, I love it, though, when it rolls well. When it rolls well. Certainly wasn't the last time it rolled. That was really bad. 19.

19, okay. You do slow the travel of the group slightly, because you're taking the time to be very careful. And this is your, while you're not used time to be very careful, and this is your, while you're not used to jungle, you're definitely used to dangerous marshland and tangled paths through heavy vegetation, though very different kind.

But there are some elements that are consistent through, and Beau backs you up a little bit, too, being very keen in the eyes, but peering through, you find the areas that immediately look like they've been walked a little more by the wildlife, which means they're the ones that are probably most successfully traversed by those that live here often. Following those paths, those trails,

and the signs of edges of trees where you can see darkening coloration from animals that have brushed against it to mark their territory and such, you see the familiar signs of these things and go, this is probably where we should go. You do manage to get on for another hour or so without any serious issue.

Okay. It is starting to get dark. What's the ground look like here? I mean, it's rough. You could take a while to search for a place to set up a dome comfortably. That'll probably take the rest of the time before the daylight closes,

or you can keep pushing up. Caleb lights up his hand as they're walking. You'll have to quite clear an area, too, to make it. Try to find a dome spot. We'll travel through the night again. There are also trees here. I mean, I've heard of camping in the trees. Yeah, there's probably large cats and evil animals,

maybe, that live up there. What are you missing out on? I don't know, the books I read? We're near the Menagerie, which means there could be all sorts of strange animal life. It could be very varied. Is there a tree nearby? There are trees everywhere nearby.

Like tall ones? They're all, from what you can tell, the canopies are low for the thickness of them. They're very squat jungle trees. You're not quite sure how tall, from where you currently tell, the canopies are low for the thickness of them, they're very squat jungle trees. You're not quite sure how tall, from where you currently are, how they are, but some of them are probably a good 20 or so feet up. I'm going to, if I'm nearby,

judge the tallest one that I have and climb it. Okay, this one looks to probably be close to 30 or so feet. All right, climb it for advantage. Okay. I'm going to smack her butt on the way up and say, Traveler loves you! Same. Excited.

You can take athletics or acrobatics, your choice. I will take acrobatics. Half the butt. And do I have my wall run type of situation? My unarmored movement? Yes, you do. That's right, because you can, you can. Run up vertical surfaces?

So you actually probably don't even have to roll for this. Fuck yeah! Fricking monks. This is part of the, there it is. What's up with that? That's an interesting looking die you have there. This is the goldfish. Oh, that's right. Oh, That's an interesting looking die you have there. It's the goldfish. Oh, that's right. Oh, that's awesome. Yeah.

It's part of the slow fall element? No, unarmored movement. Oh, there it is, gotcha. So yeah, with your current movement, you could probably just, you don't even have to roll, you can just run up that tree. Cool, thanks, Traveler, and I run up. You see Beau just gets a running start and

and vanishes. He is. She thanks this to the Traveler, it's just because Jester smacked my ass, though. There you go. Yeah, I'm just very invigorated by that. I respect it. Okay, you head up to the top and glance over,

and immediately your eyes are taken by the bright sunlight. Oh, it's still daylight. Well, you're getting close, you have about an hour or so before you lose all daylight. It's starting to get that dusk color, but it's still setting in that direction, and the bright orange-yellow color of it in that way catches you from the dark canopy that you ran up.

Darken the trees. It's beautiful, though. The view here, you can see the ocean at the distance just past the canopy, and it's thick and it goes on endlessly. In fact, all you can pretty much see is just green and a little bit of blue on the horizon to the south, and that's what catches you at the moment.

I try to blink my eyes to focus. Any clearings nearby? Any patches? Make a perception check. Oh, Vagans. You still have that d4. Yeah, I still have it at d4. Vagans moment. From? Ooh! From the Bless. She didn't burn it.

The Bless just holds until you use it. Oh, you used Bless. No. No, not Bless. It's Guidance. Guidance. Guid Bless just holds until you use it. Oh, you used Bless. No. No, not Bless, it's Guidance. Guidance just holds until you use it. Guidance just holds for a round. I'll allow it, because you ran it pretty quick in one round, sure. Okay, then. I'll allow it.

That is 25. Up to a minute. 25, okay. Yeah, total. Guidance is up to a minute. Oh, up until used, got it. That's right, that's right, a minute. All right, so yeah, you focus your eyes for a second, glance out, and you think you see probably about a quarter mile off

in a southwestern direction, an area where the canopy folds in a bit, what would be a small pocket that isn't completely flush with the rest of the treeline, within your immediate vicinity. That is? Wait, what? Isn't. Isn't. Yes.

It's a little bit. The closest you can think of is a quarter mile west, is that what you just said? Southwest of where you are. Southwest, okay. I climb back down. Quarter mile southwest, follow me. Yeah, not far, like 10 minutes. All right. Quarter mile?

Quarter mile. Yeah. Yeah. 20 minutes. Following Beau's read. Four minutes. And you guys continue to carve through the jungle path. You eventually come upon a small element of the clearing where you can see a tree has fallen.

It was, you know, it was really old, really sick. It kind of collapsed under its arm, right to one side, the roots tearing up on one end. And you can see the inside of where the exposed roots of it are. It's been kind of hollowed out and it's probably home to a number of creatures that aren't currently present.

But it is a clearing where you could place the dome. Relatively comfortably, though, you'd have to clear the floor from some of the nearby ferns and other abbey people. It's out of my imagination that something probably lives here. I'm going to take a look to see if it seems like something big lives inside this tree. Okay, make a nature check.

Oof. My nature's terrible, which is part of the fun of this. 14. 14's not too bad. From what you can tell, elements of this have been carved and hollowed out by probably some sort of a rodent-type creature based on the tooth marks and the scratches. Probably no larger than that size,

and probably a dozen or so have made homes within the base of the tree. How big would I imagine these creatures to be, like this big? Like about as big as I just showed you, yeah. Okay. Bunch of little animals that live in this. I don't know if we should camp inside.

I think maybe off to the side. Sprinkle, you could make some friends. We don't disturb them. I don't think he wants to make them. Maybe he'll want to stay here forever. Oh. Where he can live. Live a life of an animal. For like a day.

Sprinkle, do you want to stay with me, or do you want to live the life of a wild creature? Should we make a hut? Let's make a hut. She doesn't wait for an answer. Just make a hut. You can set up. Okay.

But after clearing the space a bit, and by the time you get ready for it, you were losing the last bit of daylight, so the timing's pretty perfect, actually. As Caleb is preparing, I'll take a little sip of whiskey. No, no. I knock it out.

With what? I backhand your flask. I dodge it. Roll an attack roll. Reckless. Reckless. You can be reckless if you want to. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, of course. Oh wait, what was that?

Oh yeah. 22. Did you? I mean, that hits, yeah. Yeah. Ah! It lands a little ways off. I pick it up. You told me to do it.

I was just sort of kidding. You weren't. No, you weren't kidding. Not at all. We're keeping you accountable. All right, good. We're a tribe now. That was a test and you passed. Okay, well, do you want a sip for being good? Yes.

That was a test. And you played us? I put it in my bag. Beautiful. I love all of this. All righty. You set up the dome without issue. The nocturnal beasts of the night begin to go about their evening hunt

and you can hear the distant sounds of creatures you aren't familiar with. Kind of growling, purring, making calls to each other in the distance. It's unsettling, but you feel comfortable here. Calls to each other in the distance. Hello! I'm just real curious how your gnat's been over there.

It's real heavy over where I live. Do you hear all these bugs? Mom? But who's taking first watch? If you're taking any watches, or if you guys just all going to sleep. You feel pretty comfortable, but it's up to you. I'm going to stay up for just a little bit,

and I'm going to draw, I'm going to take out Molly's tarot deck, and I'm going to draw on one of the cards. I've thought of one of the cards that I want to make. Ooh, okay. What is it? So you know that optical illusion where one side looks like old lady and you flip it and it's like a pretty woman?

You know what I'm talking about? Yeah, yeah. I'm going to make a dual card and one side's going to be the hag, and then when you flip it over, it's the maiden. Ooh! That's hot. What, and that, so that card's called

the Hag and Maiden? The Hag and the Maiden. They each have two names. Like you? That's very cool. Maybe. She may be a little blue color in the foam. That's good, that's good. All right.

I have a quick thing I want to do before bed as well. I'm not taking a watch, or maybe I will, but I get out the ingredients I need to cast Find Familiar, and I place my raven cat down in the center, and mutter a few words and spend the time on it. Oh, it takes an hour. Takes an hour. And 10 minutes. And suddenly I have a small capuchin monkey.

Okay. Little speckled spots all over him. All righty. and suddenly I have a small capuchin monkey with little speckled spots all over him. All righty. Slick, slick, slick, slick. All right. You see Sprinkle try to escape the dome. Yeah, but he does not have the passcode to come back in, so. Sprinkle is hurled up, comfortable in my hood,

a little unnerved by all of the crazy noises. A little unnerved. Yeah. All righty. New development. All right. So you finish summoning your monkey and go to bed. You're finishing the call.

Summoning the monkey? Yeah, all night long. Yep. Wizard shit. Every wizard's early days at school spend a little too much time summoning the monkey. All right. So, Jester, you're taking first watch. Oh, mm-hmm.

Okay. Okay. Everyone else is asleep for the early portion of the night. In that time that you're finishing your card drawing and getting excited, you can't help but catch something in the corner of your eye.

Outside of the dome, beyond the edge of the glade, you see a familiar green robe. Okay. I get in and go. Okay. It's fine, it's fine. They're just going to go fuck in the woods. You step out of the dome and quietly make your way beyond the clearing. What did you do?

The Traveler waits as you come with me. You've always been so quick to learn, so very clever. I grow so proud. I think it's time. Time for what? Do you trust me? With everything in my being. Come. He turns and walks further

into the darkness of the jungle, a faint green glow lighting up the space around him as he walks. I glance back at the dome. I take off after the Traveler. Okay. As he walks, you can see, out of the corner of the green light,

the vines almost expanding and growing more vibrant around him. Flowers as he steps to an area around and flowers. As he steps to an area and puts his hand to one side, you can see one of the trees very quietly bends and moves aside, where a little corner of the jungle is serene and removed from the dense expanse around you.

Wow. Is this the oasis? No, this is your oasis. It's a place to talk. He stands and turns, facing you. He pulls his hood back, revealing his almost elf-like features, the more exaggerated and fey,

his long ears curling behind the head. Beyond any elves that you've seen, his almond-shaped eyes of emerald green and brilliant, beneath, thin, feather-like brows. A voluminous orange-red hair curls down the back of the head like a lion's mane, and he smiles. Jester, you are my first disciple, the first one to truly carve the world with your cunning,

your joy, and your mischief. I trust you, and are you ready for the absolute truth? Yes. I am a Traveler, but it was not always this way. For when I traveled here, it was a world before me where I was without burdens, without responsibilities, and without limitations. I drank deep of the muted colors of Exandria,

straining to exit. I plucked at and knotted the lives of many fools from the shadows, amusing myself by leaping into every whim with glee and purpose. And one day I met a little girl who sought that same spark. A little girl who sought that same spark. A little girl who found joy in exposing life's most subtle hypocrisies.

A little blue girl who lived a life so small, but felt in her heart there was so much more to see. This little girl and I found a kinship. In that childlike wonder, a view so untempered by the sanctimonious morality of man, and she saw me as a god. So for her, for you, I donned the mask of one.

I found that with such pure, absolute faith granted towards me, I was exhilarated. I began to seek others who might be waiting for such guidance to bring a bit of, well, necessary chaos into the world. One by one, I traveled and found more souls who needed direction, who found themselves in our shenanigans.

It was beautiful. He yearns living for only myself. I found a new joy in helping others find themselves in a world cruel and painted in dull, divided pigments. With each new faith, I could find myself, I could feel myself becoming what you believed. Then more came. Playful pranks turned into demands,

prayers fighting for my attention. Freshly freed from previously imposed boundaries, I had managed to fully construct my own. While such faith granted me power beyond what I thought possible, to achieve, I was being spread too thin across those who'd I'd taken under my wing. I thought to bring them all together, to unify their causes and perhaps forge community

under this banner, my banner, our banner. We are weeks away from the gathering of my lost children who have wound their lives around my boons and counsel. The truth, Jester, is that I have no idea what I'm doing. And I need your help. That's where I end tonight's episode. Oh! Holy shit!

Just sit there going, fuck off, David Bowie! Fuck off, no one wants you here, David Bowie! Go back to your home, David Bowie! It's so cold! It's a cult! It is a cult! It is a cult! This was Jester's fault the whole time! Oh my god! You mean about a cult?

Yes! It's a cult. No, now he's going to be a god. There's paper pants, it's a cult. Elven features. It's all again. Totally a dragon! Come on. You're saying yes. Totally!

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah! Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Holy shit. David Bowie. Just David Bowie. I have no idea what I'm doing. Oh no. Honestly, if I were ever to meet a god

and they said that to me, I'd be like, okay, and now I believe that you are. Just got way out of hand. I can tell. Traveler Khan is just Artagan strangling 500 people. Wait, Garmili, Artagan? There was Artagan? Artagan or Artagan? I was thinking Garmili, and then it was like, by name, it was actually Artagan.

Garmili was like the Fawn? Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Oh my god. Oh. Holy. So much of a lot of just. Armillia was just a Fawn? Was that an illusion for him? Yeah, yeah, yeah, it was like his changed shape.

Little trickster Fawn. Yeah. Oh fuck. You did this. I'm so excited. You're a huge review did this. It's so funny. It doesn't necessarily need to be a bad thing.

No, it's not, it's super awesome. It's a clusterfudge. It's a complicated thing, is what it is. It's a club that you started. You started a club. I did. You started a club, maybe you become, maybe. You married somebody and then found

the secret door to their basement. Oh my gosh. No. It's so much more. Oh my gosh. No. It's so much more. Oh, no, this is fine. This is so amazing. I'm okay. It's going to be okay. Yep.

Oh no. It's going to be great. It was the trigger of your trickery last session that he was like, okay, maybe she can help me. Ooh. Oh my god. Holy fuck. I love it. I love it so much. Oh my god. It fuck. I love it. I love it so much.

Oh my god. It's going to be interesting. But we'll pick that up next week on Thursday. Thank you for joining us. Look forward to seeing you guys next Thursday, and hopefully those stick around on Friday, Valentine's Day, check out our Monster Hearts 2 one-shot. But until then, have a wonderful night. We love you very much and is it Thursday yet?

Good night. And this concludes the current chapter of Critical Role. Your essays on the history and impact of the various ages and epochs of Exandria are eagerly anticipated. Just kidding. No homework for you, but if you are inspired to do some writing, please leave us a review. Your words can really

help new folks find our show and encourage them to give it a try. Thank you so much for joining us on this adventure. Until next time.