Critical Role - C3E1 The Draw of Destiny

Episode Date: October 28, 2021

Disparate souls collide in the mountain spires of Jrusar when three different groups of adventurers meet during a battle against an unusual array of enemies...Due to the improv nature of Critical Role and other RPG content on our channels, some themes and situations that occur in-game may be difficult for some to handle. If certain episodes or scenes become uncomfortable, we strongly suggest taking a break or skipping that particular episode.Your health and well-being is important to us and Psycom has a great list of international mental health resources, in case it’s useful:http://bit.ly/PsycomResourcesWatch Critical Role live Thursdays at 7pm PT on https://twitch.tv/criticalrole and https://youtube.com/criticalrole. To join our live and moderated community chat, watch the broadcast on our Twitch channel.

Hi there, this is Matthew Mercer, resident Game Master here at Critical Role, to welcome you to this podcast version of the show. If you'd like to watch the stream as it airs, you can catch it Thursdays at 7pm Pacific on twitch.tv slash criticalrole or youtube.com slash criticalrole. Twitch subscribers can access the video on demand immediately after the broadcast, and it also becomes available on YouTube Mondays at 12pm Pacific. Podcast episodes land right here on the Critical Role Podcast Network on Thursdays, a week after the initial broadcast. Okay, with that info dump out of the way, let's dive into the story.

Hello everyone, and welcome to the first episode of Campaign 3 of Critical Role, where a bunch of us nerdy-ass voice actors sit around and play Dungeons & Dragons. Woo-hoo! Dungeons & Dragons! Wow, after a brief hiatus and some getting to play with some new friends, we are back for Campaign 3,

and I'm super excited. That's a real thing. Yeah, so hello, everyone. Thank you to come join us, all the Critters who've been with us for short or long periods of time, and welcome all the new Critters that are here for the first time. But before we jump into tonight's episode and kick this campaign off, we do have some announcements to get through. Bear with us.

We're going to get through as fast as possible because it's been a while. It's been a while. But let's begin with our sponsor for tonight, Hit Point Press. Sam. The first ad of Campaign 3, so buckle up. Here we go. Want an adventure where fun is guaranteed and death is very likely? The folks at Hit Point Press have the campaign setting for you. Shut up.

Based on the popular YouTube animated series by Dingo Doodles, Fool's Gold Into the Bellowing Wilds is a high-level jungle-themed setting in which you can uncover the mysteries of the world's deadliest jungle. Face new monsters like sheep and ducks and tinker with new alchemy

to create over a million very questionable potions. It contains heaps of new content, including an adventure module for new and experienced adventurers, plus materials to use in your own campaigns. Check it out at foolsgold5e.com. Wow. Wow, well done.

That was a speed read. Is that it? Is that the entire? For people new to Critical Role, sometimes I do wacky, zany ad things for the sponsorship, but tonight, stick into the script. That's it. Really?

No, Matt, of course not. I wrote a Broadway musical that the sponsor did not ask for and has never seen before. And I'm going to perform it for you guys right now. Oh, God. What's happening? What's happening? Get it! No, no!

Honey, it's three in the morning. Do you still have writer's block? Yes, dammit. Unless I finish this commercial, I'm never gonna make it. And you'll never respect me. Oh, can't you just get a job at the factory like the other husbands? What more do you need? You know what I need. I need the greatest gift of all. I need someone like them. When I'm feeling down in the dumps, life is dishing out its lumps. Our stomach's only full of butterflies. No food, no hope, no motivation. A big heart. But no creation.

My mind is crying, dying to advertise. A big heart? I swear that there's a ton of products I can sell So come on, what the hell? Just take my hand and hear my honest plea And please sponsor me What's this? A telegram? It's from Hit Point Press. They want to buy commercial time on the first episode of Campaign 3. Honey, you mean...

That's right. We made it, baby. We're gonna be okay. Grab a hold and don't let go Cause there's a sign and it's shown That baby, we don't need to get divorced No, we don't The ad execs open their doors. A love way more important

than yours. Your multinational company endorsed. They chose to sponsor me. Sponsor me. Spent their commercial budget properly.

Please be sorry. I've finally broken through and earned some validation From this fine corporation They called me up and chose to honor me Honor me Now someone sponsors me They took that chair again They sponsor me You'll see that there's a ton of sponsors I can lend So come on, take my hand

Cause Shelly paves the road to prosperity Now sponsor me I don't know what to do Gotta be a little bit longer Gotta be a little bit longer A little bit longer Okay Got a little bit longer. A little bit longer. Okay. Was that too self-indulgent?

Yeah. Okay. I'm sweating in my jacket. I love you so much. What the fuck, Sam? How did you keep that a secret? My face hurts. Back to you, Matt. No!

Oh, special thanks to Mary Elizabeth McGlynn. Yay! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! And composer extraordinaire Neil Acri for doing the... Oh!

Yay! Yes! You guys are ridiculous. She didn't say shit! She's good, she's good. Thank you, Sam. Thank you, Hippopress. I guess, here we go. And the excitement I had mentioned,

new set, by the way. Oh, yay! Super excited to be here. Wanted to thank all of you for joining us live in our Twitch chat and on YouTube, but if you want to be part of the Twitch chat, you have to come over to our official Twitch channel.

And I think that's all I have for that one. But, yes. I got lost in the page there. I know. And that's it. I thought I had more. But yeah, thank you for joining us in Twitch chat, I guess. There you go. Marisha, you have some.

Oh, yes. Hello. I'm Marisha Ray, the creative director of Critical Role. Here are the few FYIs for those who are joining us for the first time. See, now it has context. Yeah. VODs for each episode of Critical Role are available immediately after the broadcast here on Twitch for our channel subscribers, of course. And will be available on YouTube.

YouTube. Mondays. YouTube. That's mobile. Mondays at noon. My favorite Pokemon. Also, a podcast version of episodes will be available a week after the initial broadcast. So that means you can find this episode as a podcast

wherever you enjoy podcasts on Thursday, October the 28th. And then starting in 2022, this is important, we'll take the last Thursday of every month off to give viewers extra time to catch up, Matt extra time to prep and plan, us time to maybe sleep, and then probably actually not do those things and air a bunch of new content instead.

Yeah. And then you can stay up to date on our weekly schedules. Check out our programming posts every Monday at 10am Pacific on CritRoll.com Fantastic.

Ashley Johnson, president of the Critical Role Foundation. Okay. Yeah, that's fair. No, don't make it a thing, don't make it a thing. Hello, I'm Ashley Johnson. President of Critical Role Foundation, our 501c3 nonprofit.

Woo-hoo! Yeah. I think it's that one, okay. We'll see what we look here. Well-oiled machine. Split the dip. So, hi, we, all of us here, we just want to thank everyone who has donated to our Shanti Bhavan campaign.

Yes! With your help, we are funding a new girls' dormitory and finishing funding for their music program at the Shanti Bhavan School to help build an enriched life for students from India's lowest socioeconomic class. So to learn more, it's amazing. Go check it out.

And to learn more about CRF and our mission... Yeah? No? You're killing it. To learn more about CRF and our mission to leave the world better than we found it, check out criticalrolefoundation.org. Yeah, actually. It's not criticalrolefoundation.com,

but it's.org. You did it, you did it. Woo! Proud of you, proud of you. Rusty! Laura. Thank you. Your turn. It's-a me! No!

That's right! Okay, okay, okay. I'm gonna bring you merchandise announcements. Ta-da! Okay, wait, I'll just tell you what they are. First thing up is our Campaign 3 commencement hoodie. Yeah! Yeah, that's great!

Well, I'll show just the front first. Alright, here's the front, because it's straight forward. We don't have an intro yet. The action's in the back. Yeah. Oh! Oh! The adventure begins! So yeah, this is available right now.

That's what it says. It's from our artist, Jordan Torrance. She's amazing. It's available in our US and CA store? Canada stores. I thought California. I was like why is that separate? California. So yeah, this is available right now. It's just like our other hoodies. It's great. Okay Okay, okay, okay, I'm excited about this, but I'm also excited about this. I haven't seen this, what's this? This is like a surprise, you guys. Some of you have.

Oh, yes. It's a dress, it's a hoodie dress. What? Inspired by Vex'olia. Oh, that's cool. That is so cool. It's got thumb holes. Oh!

It's got the best magician's assistant ever. Anyway, it's by artist Adrian Helton. It's got a Vex patch on the chest. Nice, that's great. Stop hiding the patch. Sorry, it's got a whole bunch of stuff. It's available at our US, UK, Australia, and Canada stores.

Check it out. I'm excited to have a dress in this store. And, okay, I don't know whether to say this next or the next part next. I'm going to say this part next. We watched a whole bunch of shit when we were on break, and so I'm going to run through some of it right now because I didn't get to talk about any of it, and I'm so excited about a lot of it.

Okay, first up, let's talk about this shirt shirt it's a Henry Crabgrass look at that and it goes so well with our fjordy lounge shorts which I passed over to Travis to hold up so soft so soft they're great they've got pockets. It's got pockets. And your buns on this side. We also have, oh, pet bow ties and handkerchiefs. You can also wear them yourself. You can totally wear them yourself, and I do wear them myself. Bow ties?

Look how cute they are. We've also got, oh, Chaos Crew scrunchies. Ah. So you can match your dog. That's right. These ones have a critter pattern. Boy, we're a little rusty. Oh, is it?

Yeah, I think. Right, which I might be able to. Chaos crew. Save one for me, because I'm probably gonna use it tonight. And then, oh, we have face masks that came out that are great for Halloween-y. Yes, not the brave.

Not the brave face masks. Yeah. Adult sizes and total sizes. And kid sizes, too. Is that everything that I had? I think that's everything that I had. I have the Brie masks in adult sizes and total sizes. And kid sizes too. Is that everything that I had? I think that's everything that I had. There's also more stuff, check out our shops.

And last thing that I'm gonna say, a lot of people have been hitting me up on Twitter and hitting up us on Twitter, and I know that you guys have wanted a European store for a long time and I wanna let you know that we're in the works of the European store. Let's go. That's pretty great.

That is great. It's in the works. It's coming soon. That's all I got. Thank you, Laura. All right, with that, I guess it's time. Let's go ahead and jump into tonight's first episode of Critical Role. Critical Role.

It's Thursday night. I would like to welcome you to Marquet. The year is 843 PD, or post-Divergence. A landmass once marred by a vengeful god during the Calamity. The staggeringly twisted mountain ranges created in its wake divided the regions that have now developed into a varied and beautiful continent. The epicenter of this ancient destruction created the Rumadam Desert, a vast expanse of sand dunes and rocky landmarks that encompasses nearly a third of Marquet. Dotted with oasis townships surrounding the central city of Anquerrel known as the Jewel of Hope Here the long living ruler J'monsa Ord

and their hands of Ord keep the peace and prosperity of their people protected Beyond the Rumadam Desert and its sister desert the Penigryph Sands to the south lies the gloomed jungles of Aishenador a shaded territory of treacherous wilderness

and careful guard by the historically orcish Erudite society of Eishenador, a shaded territory of treacherous wilderness and careful guard by the historically orcish Erudite society of Eos. Here, many skilled dreamers seek the Marquesian peak of collegiate study and social influence within the political powerhouse of its ruling council, the Court of the Lambent Path. To the southwest, a towering range of mountain spires climb into the clouds known as the Talon Highlands, where massive shelves and plateaus scattered among the peaks are home to elevated valleys abundant with agriculture

and rural life, before reaching to the apex, where the military might of the region is held by the Stratos Throne. Near the center of this continent, the rugged badlands known as the Hellcatch Valley acts as the roadway nexus between the cage-like mountain ranges of Marquette, where numerous independent villages and cities

survive among the harsh, dusty canyons and compete for dominance. The history of Marquette is filled with vibrant culture, incredible discoveries, political intrigue, and inter-region warfare that recently culminated two decades back in a years-long conflict known as the Apex War

between the Stratos Throne and the Court of the Lambent Path that left both sides exhausted, expended, and without victory. This truce has continued to this day as both factions continue the slow work to rebuild their societies to their former glory. Our story, however, begins to the northwest of the Hellcatch Valley, within the natural boundaries of the Serpentwine

Peaks, where the lush jungle valley of the Oderan Wilds thrums with life and mystery. Here, among the vines and mists that choke the uncarved paths of the rainforest, howling beasts in long, dormant shadows are rumored to hide among the lost relics of ancient days

Here, the dense jungle canopy is home to numerous towns along the Honored Trails Where travelers and traders trudge through the dangerous wilds to seek their fortunes Here, from the central jungle floor rises five tower-like mountains that reach for the heavens Where upon their rocky exterior, numerous streets and urban districts have been carved into them to form a singular city connected by bridge and cable. These spires glow with the thousands of lights and lanterns that mark the Oderan Wilds capital city

of Drusar, home to the Chandei Quorum that oversees and controls the larger populace of the region. The spiraling streets bustle with life and chatter beneath the cloud-dappled blue sky, where the innumerable birds fly among the Simurgh riders that keep watch. Here in Jrusar is where our story begins.

I would like Laura and Marisha to remain at the table while the rest of you exit, if you don't mind. Oh! Go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go. Oh, my skin is instantly clammy. Oh, fair. Okay. Have fun, I love you, don't die. I clammy. Oh, bad. Sure.

Okay. Have fun, I love you, don't die. I love you, okay, okay. What if we die before you get here? Okay, bye. Don't die! God, I got to get a page. So.

We begin with the rocking sensation of one of the various engineered cable cars making its way, dangling from one of the many cables that connects the five different spires of Drusar. As the two of you now ride up within, just the two of you for now, the rest of the interior appears to be empty at the moment. But as you coast along the way, it's shifting

and rocking, the small windows outside giving you a beautiful view of the jungle mists that are just beginning to slowly return after being burned away by most of the midday sun. You glance at each other as you head and climb towards the Aerie Spire. To that point, Laura,

if you'd like to describe your character. Oh gosh. Well, all right. Oh gosh, okay. I'm a young lady with long, light purple hair, a yellow scarf around my neck. I look a little bit maybe shy, like I'm trying to hide myself from other people. A light blue dress.

Just keeping myself tucked back a little bit. And looking mildly uncomfortable. just keeping myself tucked back a little bit. And looking mildly uncomfortable as we rattle along. I'm going to just hold onto your arm, Laudna, if that's all right. You feeling okay? Little sick. I just, you know, I never get used to these things. Human, correct?

I am a human. Parallel. Yes. Now, Marisha, if you would like to these things. Human, correct? I am a human. Parallel. Yes. Now, Marisha, if you would like to describe yourself. Oh boy, all right. Oh goodness, don't fuck this up. You see a also youngish-looking woman, not as young as Imogen over here, long, scraggly, dark hair with a shock of white going through the top of her bangs.

She has it pulled back into a half-up bun with a rock chisel holding it up. Her skin is pale and her eyes are big. A little bulbous with dilated pupils, almost doll-like. Her lips are dark and she's wearing tattered, scraggly clothes, a black skirt and a blood-maroon blouse. You can see she's very thin, gaunt, and around her belt, with some tools and odds and ends, is a dead rat with a bird's skull.

I made them myself. Gross. Now, you've been here in the city for a short period of time, a handful of weeks. As part of this journey, you, Imogen, you went to the Ascension's Rise University, seeking to see if perhaps there was a way of utilizing their extensive library

for research materials. You have yourself something you're looking into, but the university itself only keeps its grounds for those who are enrolled there or have approval. So instead, you went over to the Starpoint Conservatory, also on the Eyrie. They gave you pretty much the same answer, but said you may submit a formal request, and you left behind and have heard nothing for two weeks. Now, as you climb up higher and higher to check in to see if perhaps there's been any movement within the conservatory, you can watch the edge of the air go closer and closer as the shifting of it begins to clatter

with some of the slight imperfections and the metallic cable pulling you forward. Some of the nearby birds that have roosted on the cliffside as you get towards the spire edge itself scatter off upon approach. Hmm. You'd think they would get better cables with as often as people use these things. Maybe in time. Are you feeling pretty good about your little essay that you wrote?

No. I liked it. I thought it was pretty good. They'll give us the time of day this time. Sure. Just a little nudge, maybe. Well, I guess let's find out. I forget, is the...

Is the Eyrie Spire quite as crowded as the Core Spire is? Yes, let's find out. I forget, is the, is the Eyrie Spire quite as crowded as the Core Spire is? Not by any means. The Eyrie Spire is the tallest and technically smallest of the spires. It is more of a thin peak amongst the other four. But this is where a handful of upper Mahon houses or nobles live, but it's largely consumed by these two different, the Ascension's Rise University and the Starpoint Conservatory,

as well as a handful of other guilds that use the space predominantly for their business. But as you come to rest at this point, you can see the massive construct that is responsible for winding up the cable that allows the car to descend upon its track and return. It finishes its work, locks it over, and then goes into a stasis mode. you see right there looks to be a small, dark-skinned halfling who's wearing one of the general dark greenish and gold-trimmed outfits of those that run the various cable gondolas throughout the city. Wordlessly, just waits for you to exit.

Thank you. Thank you. Closes it. Are you supposed to give tips here? Is this a typical culture? I hope not, because I'd never. We haven't been doing that. No, no. It's fine.

Continuing the familiar path along this extremely high portion of the city, it is unnerving the moment you step off of this, as you're about 15, 20 feet from what would be a drop for hundreds and hundreds of feet into the jungle floor below. The mist actually obscures a majority of the jungle floor from here, and you can see the faint detail of the canopy below

as hundreds of birds occasionally dot aspects of the misty landscape below you. Still adjusting to the heights. No, I love it once we're off those cables. Yeah. It's beautiful up here. Continuing to follow the stone pathways you've traversed once before, you bypass the massive and almost gaudy Ascension's Rise

University and make your way instead to the multi-level courtyard that surrounds the exterior of the conservatory. Here you can see each large platform step get smaller and smaller as it rises towards the massive, double, almost gold-plated doors with the handles up front. They sit mostly, readily ajar for at least two people

to walk in shoulder to shoulder. The 25-foot wide doors themselves stay that way unless it's closed for the evening. As you carefully step in, passing by the gardens, beautiful fauna and the torch-topped pillars that guide you into the entryway, you hear this gentle sourceless music that just apparates in the air around you. Calming, if a little unnerving, that

you do not see where it comes from. Like they just have ambient music, just atmospheric? Just gentle atmospheric music as you step in. How do they do that? So calming. There at the front desk set up, you see in a massive circular position as it climbs up to the sides, and on each end, you can see statues of previous tutors that took up residence here in the conservatory. You see a female halfling looking towards you with darker hair,

an olive complexion, these shaded glasses that sit at the edge of her nose, these green eyes that peek from above the lenses. You've spoken with this individual once before, and you recall her name to be the Asgorethore Kunthia, Asgorethore being her title. Asgorethore Asgorethore. Kunthia. Kunthia. Kunthia.

Kunthia. Kunthia. Okay. Asgorethore. Something. Asgorethore. Asgorethore. Okay. Esca-something. Esca-tore. Esca-tore. Esca-tore-cuntia. Immediately looks up and makes eye contact.

Hello. Might I help you? Do you remember me? We came here a couple weeks ago. Right. Have you not been contacted? No, and I just figured, you know, the windowed wall is such a packed-in sort of area

that maybe you got our address wrong and you have been trying to contact us, and I just wanted to make sure. You knew that we were available for an appointment whenever you needed. Allow me to inquire beyond the doors and see if there has been any sort of adjustment or change in your request process.

Thank you so much. Excuse me. Thank you. Steps down and begins to make her way out to a side chamber and you hear the door. She hates us. I can tell, she just can't stand us. There's nobody within the room,

but these marble halls are spacious. You can hear your voice echoing and bouncing a bit amongst the long marble flooring. At first, you think you're being un... You feel like you're not being watched or attended to anybody, but... Laudna, you do glance up and can see what looks to be these two stone hawks

that sit at the top of these pillars. And as you kind of look up and glance, one of them kind of shifts its head and glances in your direction. Hello. Hello. Hi. Look at the bird. Oh.

Oh. Is that where the music's from coming from, dear? Oh, it's also a speaker. Oh. The door shifts open and you watch as Kunthea steps out, carrying what looks to be a small piece of paper or an envelope or some sort of folded thing. It goes, Ah, this was intended to be delivered,

but could not find your abode, but... See, I knew it. I knew it. It's going to say, Miss Imogen, Temel, that's me. I'm just going to open it up right now. I hope you don't mind. Because I would love to find out when we finally get to come. Because, you know, we came really far to be able to do this. Miss Imogen Timmelt, you spelled my name wrong, but that's all right. We are appreciative for your inquiry regarding our internal collection of tomes and historical records.

Unfortunately, much effort has gone into the acquisition of our library for studious purposes, and at this time the conservatory cannot allow individuals not enrolled within the conservatory, nor granted approval by either the Gouraud Cotier Coterie? Coterie. Coterie, or

the Chanday Quorum. Entry to our... Okay, cool, fine. Yeah, that's great. My apologies. Have a good day. No, no, no. I actually have one more question.

How would one get approval from the Guru Kotori. You would have to have somebody on the Kotori speak on your behalf. Great. How do we talk to them? Yeah, do you know anybody? Family, friends?

If you already have your connections, then you can utilize them. If not, well, then I cannot help you. It's just, you know, it's really important to us because, you know, it's been kind of hard for both of us. We've faced a lot of adversity coming to see you. You know, we heard wonderful things. And so it's really hard to find out that, you know, all we want to do is learn.

All we want to do is find out some information. My feet, bloody, blistered on the bottle. That's not what we're... From walking here. Yeah. So far. We don't need to learn about her feet, necessarily. They're really gross.

Trust me, you don't want to see. Make a persuasion check. Okay. Start again. Persuasion. Oh, God! First roll, first roll! First roll the campaign.

Don't fuck it up. Okay, okay, okay. Don't fuck it up. I'm just gonna choose this one. Yeah, let's do it. Okay, okay, okay. Don't fuck it up. I'm just gonna choose this one. Yeah, let's do it. Okay. That's great. Persuasion.

Setting it off. Oh, you know what? No, that's still pretty, 12? 12. It's not as bad as it could have been. She listens to your pleading, lingers a bit on the detailed description of your bloody feet.

I'll see you right now. Before glancing back to you. Your best bet, if you do not have a connection to the Kaltree, would be to appeal to the Chendei Quorum, and whether it be through deeds or goodwill, have them speak on your behalf. Send a letter of recommendation.

All right, an appeal. And where do we talk to the Shanday Quorum? Where do we find them? Well, if they're meeting on the Core Spire. Specifically. Specifically, it would be on the Chande Chambers, which are on the very top of the Core Spire. Chande Chambers.

Right, yeah. However, they are carefully guarded, and you require appointments to speak with anybody to give information. The Chande Quorum is anonymous, so to speak directly is impossible. Do you know anyone on the Chande Quorum? Nobody knows who was on the Chande Quorum.

That's what anonymous means. Yeah, but I thought maybe it was anonymous to the public, but certain people knew, you know? I'm certain there are people who know, Nobody knows who was on the Chantycoram. That's what anonymous means. Yeah, but I thought maybe it was anonymous to the public, but certain people knew, you know? I'm certain there are people who know, but I am not at that station myself. Yeah. I'm sorry, I wish I could be of more help.

How long are these appointments usually backed up? I could not tell you. Days, weeks. I have no doubt. Best of luck. Thank you. Great. Do you work here all the time? I am not the only eschatore,

but I do handle this shift. Okay, thank you. How often is the Conservatory open? Is it an all-day,, all night sort of situation? Outside of members of the conservatory and the student body, it is only open during the light of the day. All right.

Students have access to it at all times. Great, maybe we should just become students here. Yeah, I could go back to school. That would be fun. Oh. I have to get to business and make some tea, but thank you for your time. All right, thank you.

Yeah. How do we enroll? How do you become a student here? I don't know. I always felt like this was always for the fancy and rich people who could, like, afford. This looks like an expensive sort of place. It does look very expensive. But I don't know.

Maybe they have grants. You know? Programs we could get into. Yeah. Yeah. Financial. Can I just, like, open up my mind a little bit and see if I can just hear the thoughts of Miss Kumpthia? Certainly, are you using a spell slot

or just your features? Just opening up my mind. All right. Wisdom saving throw. As you... Oh, did I have to roll? Did I have to roll? You will when you use this. Oh, did I have to roll? Did I have to roll? You will when you use this.

Oh, okay, okay. But first, as you kind of step just beyond the range of your awareness and this capability of creeping in and seeding into someone's mind, you are met with an obstinate willpower and a figure that has likely been trained due to their station to be somewhat resistant to such prodding.

That makes sense. However, you do still have to make a saving throw. Oh no. Yeah, that'll take me out. It's plus my, what is it? The DC would be 10 plus the number of people in the space. Yeah, no, 100%, don't reach that. Okay.

While her voice does not seem to connect with your extended will, a number of other whispers begin to cross paths as you exit the conservatory, make your way down the conservatory steps. Other students that walk by and employees of the conservatory, make your way down the conservatory steps. Other students that walk by and employees of the conservatory, you can hear their voices all

creeping in, and it's starting to give you a headache. It hurts a bit. Imogen, wait. Before I leave, Kuntia! Darling? Yes?

Do you have like a pamphlet or something? Like a little introduction to the school, in case we consider enrolling? You know, just doing a little campus tour trip. No. Oh! Wait, how do you even fucking enroll, then? How do you get into this place? Do your research. If you're just wandering off the street without doing the research, well, that does not bode well for a student's inquiry, does it?

I find that quite ironic, considering I came here for research, so. Good day. Thank you. Miss Imogen? As you head off and step down the stairs, you can see there's two cats that are probably conservatory wild creatures

that wander about. They both stop and turn in his statue as you walk by. And they rush off into the bushes. conservatory wild creatures that wander about. They both stop and turn in his statue as you walk by. They rush off into the bushes. Darling, you all right? No, it's fine, it's fine, it's fine. Oh, well.

Let's get out of here, it's getting crowded. Yeah. I promised Shadana I would stop by the market and get us some eggs. She's out of eggs. All right. Let's pick up some tea on the way, too. Oh, that's smart.

Okay. Returning to the Wiregondola, relatively soon after you disembarked, you pay the fairy cost of one silver each. And those two universities are the only ones up here. Correct. The high-end universities.

There are other places of learning, but they're not as lauded nationwide as much. Okay. Okay. It's your Ivy League. One of them. If Ivy League's even that great. Oh, right, it doesn't just, okay, wait.

And 10 silver make a gold? No. 10 silver make a gold, you're correct. But you ride the gondola back down to the Core Spire. Descending as the afternoon gets later, you immediately step off and enter the main thoroughfare here, bustling with people of all walks of life. You hear the heavy footfalls

of a figure that kind of pushes past, kind of hitting your shoulder a bit, Imogen, and you watch as Pakidon, the massive elephant folk, kind of step by, holding a large kind large netted cluster of gathered fruits and vegetables. One arm goes, I'm sorry.

It's fine. And continues. I just interlock my arm around Imogen's. I mean, are we ever going to find out anything? Maybe we should just leave this place and go find another city. We always have that option. I know.

I felt so good about coming here. Like it was, you know, the first... We'd be interacting with civilization in a while. I had high hopes for it, but... We've done well here. We really have. We have. Yeah. Honestly, I'm... anticipated.

Somebody running me out of this city far sooner, so the shoulders and it goes around the mid-back or so with a very light kind of tan fur coloration on the face thinner fur Katari approaches with a colorful blouse on what looks to be a small kind of hand-carried cart with all manner of jewelry made of nuts and pieces

of wood have been carved and he goes sorry to bother you but I had to say this would look incredible on either one of you and pieces of wood have been carved. And he goes, sorry to bother you, but I had to say this would look incredible on either one of you or both of you if you're interested. You have some great sense, but you know, accessorizing is what it's all about. I'm just saying. I'm just going to hold on to my coin purse. Yeah.

Any interest? That's a special price this afternoon. Like it's locking eyes on you and starting to scoot a little bit away I think we're fine you sure it's special five copper for this beautiful beast necklace

kind of clatters together it looks okay I think we're fine very well continue on your way, if you'd like. Takes it and places it back in his cart and quickly picks it up and moves off. Oh, excuse me, miss!

Just kind of already skitters off to the side. It's at this point, Vanya, you notice there's a pair of dwarven children that are kind of off the side of this small alley that are just kind of staring right at you. They both kind of get spooked and retract, but not completely out of the way. What do you see?

There's two gates. A little spooked, it seems. Where did they go? Are they still looking? They're still looking. They feel like they hid, but they're still peeking around the side of the corner. I'm curious. Hang on. I'm just going to go over.

They both immediately go and try to hide further down the alley. As you step off to the side, you can see bits of shattered cloth that was part of an archway that's been left to slight ruin down the path. It goes about 15 or so feet. You can see leftover rotted bits of wood,

empty boxes that have been placed there for storage and forgotten. You can see a little bit of the stonework in the alley itself has slowly eroded over time. There's a patch of mud there. And right around the very, very back where you see where those boxes are, both children just.

Are we playing hide and seek? They both look terrified. I jump out of high bounds! They both scream and run past you. One runs through your legs, they both scatter out into the street. You know, I don't think it goes over quite as well as you think it does.

I just love kids, though. Laudna. Do they love? Laudna, no, they don't. Oh, fuck. They're like, you know, fun scary, like. Fun scary? Yeah. Okay, I am fun scary.

Laudan, you're scary scary. I'm scary scary? Yeah. Oh, my God. But in a good way. Thank you. Yeah. Comes in handy.

I kind of want to just talk to the kids. I feel like maybe they know something. They know something what? Like how to get into the, you know, maybe they could. Maybe they could sneak into the conservatory. Yeah, maybe they know. Like kids know stuff like that. Like weird little sewer entrances because they're tiny so they fit in small places.

We could get into a sewer in the spire and go up through the sewer and come up out in the middle of the library and the conservatory. You know, I wonder what those shadow creepers, what they were doing and if they have any paths up that way. That's a good point. Children! Children! I don't think it's going to work, Laudna. Do I see the kids? Make a reception check.

It's not good. Eight total. Those children are gone. They're gone. They have scattered to the four winds and likely have adopted a new nightmare. I'll find more children. You can visit them in their dreams tonight.

You can see there's an older woman right off the next lot and hears her say she'll find more children and goes... Oh, fuck! Let's go! You can visit them in their dreams tonight. You can see there's an older woman right off the next lawn at the Ares' Her Stay. She'll find more children and goes. Oh fuck, let's go! Let's get out of here. I got to get eggs. As you both begin to wander off to find one of the larger marketplaces here on the Core Spire,

I would like to ask Sam and Taliesin to come to the table, please. I'm ready. I am so ready. Oh my god, oh my god. like to ask Sam and Taliesin to come to the table, please. I'm ready. I am so ready. Oh my god, oh my god. Oh my god, it's you. Oh my god. Oh boy. Hi.

Hi. Ashley. Your eyes flutter open. The air, familiarly stale. You slightly feel the hint of a hangover, but as you rub your eyes and sit up, you are on your standard sleeping cot here in the crook house, surrounded by the what would be considered destitute interior by anyone of means,

but to you, it's colorful and it's fun. A lot of cobbled together, half-torn tapestries and colorful strings of gems and beads of no worth that give a character to it. The place has a very vibrant, whatever you find at the bottom of the gutter and polish off feel to it. But here in the Croke House, it's home.

You're not sure what time it is. It could be four in the morning. It could be four in the afternoon. No light makes its way down here. It's the odd nature of being here in the Fonzie Hollow in the center of the Core Spire. This empty cylindrical space that resides

in the central area of the Core Spire where many of the folk go to disappear. Disappear intentionally. To be away from the streets and find community amongst the other the others who don't want to engage too heavily with society, for all of its good and bad.

The inside of the hollow itself is this hundreds and hundreds of feet of climbing ladders and walkways and rafters and just a mass collection of odd pieces of bamboo and metal and wood and cables that are strung together to create a net network of climbable space to reach any of the numerous tunnels that exit from the center of the spire out to the many streets. People come here to be forgotten, or people are thrown here to be forgotten,

but you call it home. If you'd like to describe yourself, Ashton. Ashton, he, they, he, they, are an earth genasi with green stone skin and dark purple crystal hair on the shorter end of things. They're wearing an awful lot of leather that looks like they've been wearing it for a very, very long time with red fabric lining it. They've got leather pouches, a bit of everything to keep little bits and pieces together.

Some piercings made mostly of nails. And very obviously, a giant hole in the left side of their head that has been filled with slag glass. And beneath the slag glass, there's a little bit of an opalescent brain that can be seen through. One of the eyes on the cracked side is milky like a tiger's eye gem. The cracks run most of the upper left side of the body

and have been patched together with what looks like slag melted gold to piece everything together. They also have on the back of their very hand decorated jacket the words, just don't. And a big glass hammer that they carry around that very, very gently, just around the base of it, says,

Fuck off. So that's Ashton. As you stir for a moment and sit up, your bearing is a familiar voice goes, So when are you going to wake up? You're being lazy. You hear Milo from around the corner. Fuck off. What time is it? It's afternoon.

Fuck. It's right. Okay. At this point, you begin to take in the smell of some sort of cooking meat that's filled the room a bit. And as you push past the hanging lantern to your left in what looks like a makeshift cloth bed that dangles between two portions of the room, you can see on the workshelf to one side and the metal iron skillet placed upon a little heated device that Milo has created. You see Milo.

Now, Milo, to bring us over here. No, no, it's all good. He's a non-binary human, kind of early 20s. He's like funny beige skin, large glasses, and a knitted cap. And they're in the process of cooking up some food and says, as soon as you're ready, there'll be food. It's almost done. Oh, that's fucking brilliant.

Ah! Shit. Scrapes it off onto a piece of sheet metal, puts a couple small bolts off and places them back in a shelf that they keep. Could have used that, but that's okay. Have you seen fresh-cut grass around? You motherfucker.

Hey! Letters! Letters. As you are just kind of milling about, taking in the space, impatient for anything to happen, but not quite ready to do anything on your own, you hear Milo shout out and the rousing sounds of Ashton around the corner, if you would like to describe yourself.

Sure. Wheeling into the room is a short automaton with yellow metallic skin, a cute little backpack. He's got, he, they, has two big blue eyes of different shapes. He's got a wheel that he rolls around on. On his chest plate are four stripes

that look like blades of grass down his chest plate. And yeah, he's a robot. As he wheels into the room, well, smiley day there. Ashton, how you doing? How was your stasis? I've been sort of waiting here on standby, waiting for your designation.

Are you almost ready to go? The stasis was short. Protein is incoming, protein is incoming, right? Protein is ready. Fuck. I'll hand it over to you. Short? I mean, you had to be out for at least 11 hours. Like, is that all? Do you need more than that?

Oh, I could have done with 14, 15, easily. Wow. Are you hungry as well? Oh, I had some bolts already 14, 15 easily. Wow. Are you hungry as well? Oh, I had some bolts already. I'm good to go. Thank you, though, Milo. And thank you for patching up my whole thing over here. I appreciate it. Trust me, my honor, as a person who dabbles in

automation on a lower arcane level, it's not every day you get the option to work with something quite as deep as you, I'd say. Well, I'm very pleased that working on me gave you value. Anyway, I'm going to get back to my work. You doing anything today? You just lounging around again? I thought I'd head up,

maybe show fresh cut grass around a little bit, see something. Unless you've got something that needs to be picked up, any work, I could certainly use the work, if you have the work. I think it really hits your specialty. I've been doing some minor repairs around the windowed wall for a bit.

Okay, because I'm bored, so I'll do some stupid shit right now. Honestly, we could use a little bit of excitement around here, so stupid shit away. We're doing stupid shit? I figure that's the best way to spend a day. Or what's left of it. Feels like we've been doing a lot of stupid shit

since we got here. Hey, you're catching on. That's good. All right. That's good, you're sharp. So I guess after you finish up breakfast and maybe tidy up yourself? Nope, all right.

We'll just go then. Let's go see what's happening upstairs. All right, so as you climb this multi-leveled, truncated hovel that has odd stairs and ladders that lead you up to the area where it exits out onto the side of the wall of the center of the hollow. You pass by Aniata. You see the half-elf, half-orc, kind of young performer,

kind of looks to be in her early 20s, kind of sitting down with this, for as rough as her clothing is, this really nice-looking lute that you're uncertain if she saved up for it necessarily or got it off the back of somebody's cart who knows but sitting there in the process of just quietly practicing and as you begin to propose glad you both finally decided to do

something today oh fuck off you fuck off please tell me you have something that needs lifting oh please do you have a show? Do you need something carried? I just want a little cash. Nope, sorry.

I'm practicing for an audition because I want to actually maybe get a spot in the Dreamscape Theater for Steuvaan, and that would actually, I don't know, earn us a little money in this household. The Dreamscape Theater, did you say? Yeah, earn us a little money in this household. The Dreamscape Theater, did you say? Yeah, Steuvaan's Dreamscape Theater.

What's that? What's that? Well, what's that? It's a performance auditorium. It's where people of all sort of believed skill sets go and try and wow the crowd. I mean, that sounds amazing, and you're hopeful to perform there? It's amazing, depending on what you consider art.

Some of the music I've heard there is pretty... It's pretty iffy. Maybe you can raise the bar. Well, that's the hope. Do you actually have to perform for Stevan, or no? I actually don't have an audition yet, but I'm practicing for when I get one. Oh, heaven help you.

God. Well, I guess just out there. Unless you need us to go find out when auditions are being held or anything? What do you want from me? They're very friendly. I don't know how to turn it off and stop that part. I hate it.

I keep being told it's going to grow on me. Ha. If you hear anything, just let me know. I'm just going to stay here and practice. Well, look forward to the new show regardless. Keep it up. I'll let you know if I can pull myself together for some sort of a performance anytime soon.

I believe in you. I believe in you as well. That makes it worse. They're not joking, though. I know we just met, but I definitely believe in you. Get out. All right, fuck off. Please, yes. Fuck off. Good morning!

Oh, I mean, tuning and adjusting a bit. Stepping out into the hollow, you immediately see this large cylindrical space that climbs up in a mostly vertical way and descends for another 100 or so feet. It looks extremely dangerous, if not for the hundreds of various cables and ropes

that are carved from wall to wall and attached to pittance and other kind of anchor points everyone can kind of pull their way up and climb these endless pieces of scaffolding and ladders that just make their way all around this inner space you can see entranceways and doors and tunnels to all

little homes and cavern nooks where people have essentially set up and squatted. There isn't a lot of oversight to the Hollow necessarily, so it's great for those who want to be off the grid a bit. So leading your way through. Well, I figure we've seen a lot of the underground of the Core Spire.

Why don't we take you upstairs and actually see some sky for a change? Oh, I mean, that sounds lovely. Do we, we don't have a job yet, though. I mean, not yet, no. All right. I'm working on it. You can work on it, too. Sure, I'll ask around, see what I can.

Actually, that might be better. I tend to, I've kind of figured out who I'm already working for in this town. I think getting new clients is not my specialty. Oh, well, don't sell yourself short. I'm sure you've got, you know, you present yourself as rough around the edges and brusque a little bit. Yeah.

But I feel like there's a heart of gold down there. I just need to stick on my miner's cap and get a pickaxe and dig real deep, you know? It's been so fun having you around for the last few weeks. I've really enjoyed it. I appreciate that. Although it does kind of sound like there's a but or an end of that coming, but...

Maybe there is. You know, I'm not entirely sure anymore. Anyway, that's topside we go. Yeah. All righty. Climbing up a number of stories to one of the various tunnels that exits the Hollow and makes its way towards one of the main streets

of this region of the Core Spire, you eventually emerge. This would be on the edge of what's called the Prism Emporium, which is one of the general wares repositories and shops in this region. And at this point, it's mid-afternoon, a nice warm day with the sun kind of pouring through, and it's a beautiful view as you as you step into the main road, fresh cut grass as you glance by.

You can see a flock of birds going through the gentle clouds and hear the sounds of people taking care of their business throughout the surrounding bustling thoroughfare. Somebody dumps a piss bucket out the side of their door and just coats you. Sorry. Fuck off!

Sorry, I was in your way. I apologize. Man, we got to work on that. Fucker! It's really no skin off my teeth. I don't have skin or teeth, so it's really fine. All right, let's take a little stroll, see a few sights. Have I taken you to Spire by Fire yet?

No, but it rhymes, so I'm in. I knew you would. Let's head to Spire by Fire. Let's see if we can rustle up a little work. Okay. And I'll give you a tour. It's pretty nice. Okay. It's, I'd say, about a 20, 25-minute journey from where you currently are to Spire by Fire.

The city streets of each of the main spires is a gradual spiral that heads upward with various stairways that wind to shortcut between the different levels, as well as pulley evaders that are pulled up by chain cable, and if you

have the money to spend, occasionally a few other more expensive means of jumping between, you can hire Simurghs to go ahead and ride on. If you know where to go to one of their spaces, there's Simurghs which are these kind of deep red, crimson-looking, massive hawk-type birds with

heads of like a wolf-dog like creature, native to the wilds here, and are considered dangerous if spooked out in the wild, but there are Simurgh riders here that are trained as part of the Wilders. Wilders, which is the colloquial name for the wardens,

the guards of the city that work for the Chandei Quorum. So you see them keeping an eye up above and are considered the law enforcement to whatever your perception of that may be and or the Quorum itself. But occasionally there are some that are trained, and their trainers utilize them to ferry people from spire to spire and level to level.

But on foot, eventually you make your way to the Spire by Fire Inn. What you see before you is a monstrous six-story tavern that looks like a labyrinth built into the edge of the rock of the spire itself. You can see it's climbing up like a makeshift stronghold more than an inn, though there are a number of

balconies that kind of emerge from it. And if it were freestanding on its own, it would look like a mess and probably crumble, but because it's built into the rock, they got to be very creative with its layout. There are all manner of torches that burn throughout the day and night here and kind of give it a warm, welcoming glow at all points of the day.

You can see there is a very unique mix of clientele here. There are people from all different walks of life and colorful, wealthy outfits with fine silks and accessories. There are some more ragtag, rough and tumble folks that come in here for their drinks. It is a mixing pot here in the center of the Core Spire within Drusar. And immediately, it kind of just, it draws your intrigue as to

what adventure might be found in this space. Ash, you want me to do the, or you, Ashton? Well, let's take a look around. Let's see what's here. I value your input. I'm going to see if I know anybody. I think between the two of us, we can probably wrangle something.

Sounds good to me. Yeah. All right, let's roll on in. All right. Or walk. We can do both. Stepping inside, Yeah. All right, let's roll on in. All right. Or walk. We can do both. Stubbing inside, immediately to the right, you see there's a table where three figures are in the process of playing a card game. You can see, looks to be an orc

with very intense, greasy hair that almost gives a frond-like look to it, with a nice billowed sleeve, piece of dress, like a nice shirt who is currently holding a hand at their front. You see what looks to be a gnome, older, wrapped in scarves and bundled up a bit, with their upturned nose that probably was adorable in their younger years, but they've been going on it for a bit, and now it's just, well, it's adorable in a different way, I'll say. And you see a massive Pachydon who is at the table,

big, long, draping ears that go past the tail, a trunk that is curled around and kind of up against the chest, tusks that are adorned and carved with designs, and you can see them holding their cards in their tiny little hands, keeping a watch as they lean deep down to get close to the rest of the table. You know this individual to be the towering Kallian,

who is loosely the bouncer of the establishment. And as you walk in, Kallian goes, Ashton. Kallian? Is Bashir here? Ashton? Allian? Is a Mishir here, or? Right over there, if you're looking. He points over to the front, and you can see

while not at the front at the moment, there are no patrons at the central barkeep table. Beyond the door, you can see there is a chair in the corner, and beyond that, you can see a male Qatari of lion descent, orange brown fur, and beyond that, you can see a male Qatari of Lion Descent, orange-brown fur and a dark, dark black mane

that is braided tightly and goes past the back shoulders. More of a tank top than a tunic or shirt. Well-built and seems to be eager to show it off. But is arranging and organizing things back there. Doesn't seem to notice your presence yet. I'm going to walk out and take out a couple silver and

slide it down the bar and I'm just going to keep sliding it down the bar making as much noise as I can. As soon as the coin hits the wood and the textures begin to scrape a bit, you can see one of the ears turn off to the side on his shears. Hey!

Sorry, I was running a business, but I heard your coin on the table. What can I do for you? Something for breakfast. Whatever breakfast beer you have would be great. Breakfast beer. And also, just to put into your mind, imagine how much drunker I would be right now

if you knew a way for me to earn some money. Okay, okay, well, for a breakfast beer, is this your protector? One of those arcane guardians, whatever they're called? Seen a couple of them come through here, but this one's quite small. You might want to get your money back.

They're complicated. This is fresh cut grass, please. Smiley day to you. It's a lovely establishment you got here. Is this owner-operated, or is this your place? It is, yeah. Be careful what you say. They're very vicious.

Fantastic. Fuck you up. The ambiance is really nice. The clientele looks buried, and I'm impressed that you're so busy midday like this. Thank you. Yeah. I thank you.

No one seems to appreciate the hard work I've put into this place for the past 10 years, and it's nice to get a little acknowledgement from a stranger. That's right. Yeah. I thank you. No one seems to appreciate the hard work I've put into this place for the past ten years, and it's nice to get a little acknowledgement from a stranger. That's right. Yeah. Yeah. Would you like a breakfast beer as well? I would not.

I can't drink it. Oh. Right. Should have assumed. Sorry. I'll say a heart more brisket beer. I'll get it for you. I'll get one for myself as well.

He goes ahead and fills up two and hands it over to you. Good idea. He gives you a drink of it. And down. So what's your deal? What's your deal? This is fascinating. He grins with the sharpened teeth of the heavy canines appearing.

A bright smile, but you can definitely see they're confused. My deal? the sharpened teeth of the heavy canines appearing. A bright smile, but you can definitely see they're- My deal? I'm here to assist and be helpful to Ashton in all of their journeys and travels at the moment. All right, all right. Well, you good at lifting, arranging? Lifting? I mean, I can lift something, yeah.

Are we less of a lifter and more of a thinker? And a bit of a doer. And honestly, just lightens the place up. Ledger work. Ledger work? How fast can you do my taxes? I have not done taxes yet. I do more things like when people are injured,

I make them less injured, that sort of thing. Oh, well, stick around until past sunset tonight. There'll be plenty of injured people, probably. Oh yeah? I'm also keen to meet people who, well, have a lack in their life and try to figure out what it is and see if I can help them fill it.

Okay, now it got weird. Oh, sorry. No, no, it's just... I just feel like there's a lot of broken people out there and I can do a lot to help them, that's all. You're going to be real busy, friend, let me just tell you. Can't wait.

Right, right. Sure you don't want to be here? No, I definitely don't. All right, fair enough. If you have some scrap iron or any chunks of metal back there, though, anything in particular you'd be looking for? Any alloy, anything really. Oh, you're serious?

No, I'm dead fucking serious. Goes ahead and takes the silver that you brought over and changes it out to a couple copper pieces and slides them over. Copper pieces? Ooh, this is a conundrum. I want to eat those. Yeah.

Ashton really likes money, so. Copper's not really money. Really? Copper's more of an insult. You can totally eat that. All right. You sure? I feel weird about this. No, no, no, do it. Do you want to turn away?

No, I'm good, I'm good. You're real weird around money. You love it so much. I also really love watching you eat, though. You know this. All right. Ashera is just completely enthralled and watches. I'll put both the coins into my mouth and just. Okay, I will admit that does hurt a little. That is amazing!

That's amazing! Yep, never gets old. I can't taste. Totally. Tell you what, you want to come by about once a week, twice a week or so for the nights, and you want to do that for money, you'll entertain the different patrons around here.

You can make a little cash. It means nothing to me, but sure. If Ashton wants some cash, sure. I'll also say it'll keep you put together. I know that, you know, we have a funny feeling we're going to need to patch you up every now and then. Am I going to be a regular at a tavern? If you like.

Will they do that thing when I roll in where they all go, Fresh Cut Grass! And everyone's just happy to see me? Keep this up, most likely. All right. Quite possibly. We might even get into a bar fight. I knew that would excite you. This is amazing. Yeah, it's good times.

Work for you. Your skill set, not quite, but I'll keep an ear out. Please, please, please, please, please. Well, in the meantime, finish your breakfast. Are you sure you don't have anything for Ashton? He, they would really appreciate it. I think, honestly, between Meera and Calia, and we got all the physical stuff taken care of

for the moment. We'll try back in a week, maybe. Well, and if you hear anybody needs anything around, you know how it is. I know. I'll keep up with her. Not feeling very particular right now, either, so. Good to know. Open options.

Very open. Only got a couple hours before the mainstays start coming through here, so either stick around and be ready, or be scarce to leave open tables for paying customers, if you don't mind. There's a few people who probably won't be that happy to see me anyway, so. Okay, well, stay for now. Finish your beer.

And pleasure to meet you, Fresh Cut Grass. Fresh Cut Grass. Hmm. Bring him around more often. Yeah, yeah. All right. They're sticking around. Ting! Flicks you in the head for a minute.

Yeah, that's me. Fascinating. Rude. Definitely a little rude, but I'm drinking, so. Meanwhile. Mm. Oh, okay. If I could please have Liam, Ashley,

and Robbie come to the table. Oh shit! Travis changed his name to Oh! Oh shit! Travis changed his name to Robbie! Oh shit! Hey! Hey! Hey! Holy shit! Who is this now?

Matt, you lied, this isn't your basement. Basement, schmates, it all worked out fine. So now, the three of you have been set on a trek, specifically tied to the Ereshari, when a call was made to you after returning to Byroden with the rest of your found friends.

You are given a task by the voice of the Tempest, Keyleth. And as part of this journey, Wait, what? You were told to bring two friends along the way. At least two could be helpful in this. Opal had to stay behind, still figuring out kind of where she stood, both with her sister and the newfound vestige

that lies upon her head. And Dariax wanted to keep an eye and be there to support and help her figure out what the next step was to be while the two of you were asked to attend or imbibe for this. With that, Kilh transitioned you via tree to Emon to bypass the challenging mess you had left behind

in some of the streets. What on earth do you mean? And enough money to afford yourselves a skyship across the Osmet Sea. Like that they own or rented? No, a one-way passage on a skyship. It's mine. Now, as you come towards the end of this multi-day journey,

the three of you glance past the edge of the skyship, holding on to the far railing as the clouds and mist begin to dissipate beyond the front of the ship. As you look past the bow, you can see, beginning to emerge from the clouds and mist below, the five different heights of the rocky spires that mark Jrusar. Oh. heights of the rocky spires that mark Jrusar.

This is lovely. They're so pointy. Are they pointy? One of them is. One of them is so pointy. Now, for those who have not watched Exandria Unlimited, Ashley, would you mind describing

Fern? Yes. Fern is about a six-foot-tall fawn. Very, very long, sea-fo foam green hair. And is just covered in all bits and baubles and lots of flowers and toadstools and moss on her hooves.

And she has a little friend, Mister, and he's a little monkey. That's all. She has a little friend, Mister, and he's a little monkey. Mm-hmm. That's all. Are you drunk right now, or is this it? Always. Okay. Glancing over the side and spilling your excitement out to Orym,

if you wouldn't mind, Liam, describing yourself. Sure. Orym, if you wouldn't mind, Liam, describing yourself. Sure. Orym is a halfling. He's three foot and change. Shock of short brown hair. And he's wearing a little bit of brown leather armor, mostly a breastplate. And these leather boots that have

round green stone rings that are laced into the shin guard of each one. He has a short sword sheathed on his back, an ivy adorned shield on one hand

and the armor and the very well-worn sashes that are tied around his waist and hanging down have um woven patterns of ivy and flower on them and they're beautiful but they're they're not fancy they're just well made and well worn and um he has a full sleeve tattoo going up his arm that is all clouds from the wrist all the way up onto his shoulder and then disappearing under his armor onto his chest. And the two moons of Exandria are right here.

Catha is a white crescent, and Ruidus is a smaller full moon, cradled within. And he has very fine features. He's really ropey muscles and slender, like a dancer. Okay. Glancing past the edge of this wonderful vista before you, as the city grows closer, this is the first journey

any of you have taken in a skyship, but it's certainly not the first time that you've been here, Dorian. This is an odd, if conflicted, return to a continent where you began your journey a long time ago. If you wouldn't mind describing Dorian. Sure. Dorian is, for all intents and purposes, a normal bard.

He's just in traveler's clothes. But if you were to first glance at him, what you would notice is how uncharacteristically clean he is. No mud on his boots. He has a large winged sort of armor plate that you can't really tell if it's ornamental or functional. And there's not a fingerprint on it. It's perfectly shined.

And he's wearing a long cape that has sort of a sunburst ombre that goes down the back. He's an Ergenasi, so he sort of moves with a lightness, and you might first mistake it for confidence, but it just seems like it's part of who he is and not so much what he wants to project. And he has long black hair that goes down into a white ombre, and he's got sort of a topknot man bun here, also very pristine.

And, yeah, as he sort of looks out over things, he feels comfortable in the sky, but this is a wild experience. Yeah. And he's enjoying it a lot. Slowly, the skyship begins to grow closer and closer to dock between the five spires of Jrusar, heading towards the Eyrie Spire, whereupon you can see from this distance these massive structures, these clusters of towers that draw high and thin. You can see mass halls made of marble with open windows

and crystalline art pieces that are almost like these murals that the sunlight catches and creates a prismatic like refraction across the concrete ground on the exterior. What you do also see are the two other skyships that are docked on one large, protruding skyport. You can see they have different designs than the one you're on, based on where they were built, whatever union or guild or individual had conscripted or ordered their construction. While they're all a similar layout for the most part, each seems to have a little bit of flair

from wherever its home may be. And you watch as one initiates its takeoff, heading more in a northeastern direction and one that is just currently locked in at the dock as you get closer and closer and closer. Some of the other people who were staying on this trip and mostly kept to themselves, you could see, gathering their belongings

and preparing to disembark upon arrival. You have about a minute before you touch down at the skyport. This is easily one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. I agree. How do you suppose it stops? Like, I think I've understood how we've been going,

but how does it stop? It looks like we're going too fast. Does it feel too Like, I think I've understood how we've been going, but how does it stop? It looks like we're going too fast. Does it feel too fast? I think we crash. What? I'm sure they've got it worked out. All right. Beautiful, beautiful, very beautiful.

Look at that city. It's huge. Wow. You watch as the two prominent blue rounded stones, about 10 to 12 feet in diameter, that are affixed to the front of the ship, referred to as broomstone, which has a natural arcane ability

to remain aloft in spite of gravity, and that maintains a skyship's movement, begin to glow brighter. And as they do, the ship begins to come to a slower and slower speed until eventually it descends rather suddenly, and everyone kind of gets that sudden drop in their stomach as the butterflies creep in

until you feel a... It impacts on some sort of dock and you can already hear chains being pulled down from below, a few shouts, people shouting in Marquesian phrases, go over here, quick! Why have we got a lockdown? You guys, who do not speak Marquesian,

just hear shouting. I do give Dorian just a little soft fist on the hip, as I see. Fine. Thank you, Everything's fine. You'd think I'd be better at this, wouldn't you? Clapping from the pilot? Two of the other people watch and clap,

not wanting to feel left out, and they gather their belongings. You can see there's an iron gate at the edge of the skyship edge, and now as it begins to open up, you can see other people walking towards it. And there is a staircase that has been affixed to it

that leads them down one by one as you gather your things and exit the skyship yourselves. Well, shall we? Yeah, let's get a feel for this place. Don't need to rush into things. All right.

Thank you all for traveling. Welcome to Drusar. I am the port captain, Teng. Thank you for flying. And you look over. You glance over and off to the side, there is a heavy station in the center of the sky part, which has multiple outcroppings.

It looks like it could hold, at any given point in time, simultaneously up to eight different skyships comfortably. In the center of it, there is kind of a small tower, and you see there what looks like some sort of a vocal extension horn, kind of like a cone, if you will, shouting out what looks to be a humanoid birdkinfolk, which you know is referred to as an eisfra. And you can see this kind of beautiful kind of ivory feathers

that kind of eventually transition into a dark brown at some points and then over the shoulders, it's a heavy brown coloration, but is wearing a uniform and a hat, and seems to be very excited and proud of their position. With that, you exit, following the rest of the folks that are disembarking, and make your way down into a central street here

within the airy spire. Just dive into the current of it and see what we see, learn by walking. Okay. Just like the last few months, right? Yeah, you're just one foot in front of the other and you move forward. That is exactly how you walk.

Yeah. Let's hoof it. Let's hoof it. Continuing on, you watch as part of the crowd splinter off, send them ahead towards some of those larger tower-based structures that you saw. A small crew of them begin to progress to what looks to be

some sort of a two-story structure where a large, heavy tower that has a metal ball at the top and it looks to be a cable that descends out of view. You know this to be one of the various wire gondolas that connect elements of the city. As folks go up and begin to pay an individual that lets them onto one of these gondolas

that is ready to make its way downward, he looks over you all expectantly with his hand out. I give him a... slap. Thank you. Are you taking passage? Oh, are we taking passage on this thing? Yes, we are.

How much? I start pulling on a change purse. One silver per. I got it, I got it, I got it. Are you sure? Sure. How much? I start pulling out a change purse. One silver per. I got it, I got it, I got it. Are you sure? Sure. Okay. This is on top of the low five she gave you. Thank you.

Goes ahead and opens the door, lets you in, and it's now the three of you and what looks to be one other large pachydan priest figure, looks younger, massive elephant folk, who is wearing this roomy, cream-colored robes and sleeves that drag past the arms. Looks like they have a long earring chain that dangles down to the mid chest, and you can see them clutching it with one of their hands and rubbing it, almost like it has some sort of personal meaning. And this individual you saw briefly get onto the skyship as you originally took off and then was unseen until you arrived. And they fiddle nervously as the doors close and it jerks for a second, and

you feel the gondola descending. While the interior is largely closed off, there are a few windows, and there is an element, as you can't help yourself but peek through, where you are looking down hundreds and hundreds of feet to the faintest texture of a mist-covered jungle below. You know, for some reason, this doesn't bother me like the ship did. Really? Yeah, I'm all right with this. Yeah, I think it's the wire.

It feels like we're connected, we're safe. Yeah, we're real safe, just on a string. I didn't say string. It's much more safe. When we were on the ship, it didn't have that sort of sway to it. Oh, it made me so sleepy. It was very relaxing just being on the ship,

just the light sway, you know? Suddenly it lurches midway down the cable and comes to a stop and sways. What's the weight limit on this thing? I nudge the guy next to us. Pachydon. I'm sorry, excuse me. Just a joke. Joke.

How were your travels? Nervous. He continues again. You see the Pachydon like. You get the tummy flutters. Every time. Yeah. I'll never get used to it.

He glances back out past the window. Now you can see you're heading now towards the central spire of this city. Of these five that are there, the middle one is not the tallest, but it is definitely the largest. Along the spirals here, you can see all smattering of neighborhoods,

like this massive dreamlike quilt of colors and structures. You can see one region looks like a neighborhood that is just encompassing and swallowing almost like an entire fifth of the side of this spire. And it looks like all these almost vertical buildings that are just locked onto each other and are connected by these tiny little ladders and pathways and walkways, and it's incredible.

Beyond that, you see a smaller spire kind of to the northwestern side of it that is a little smaller than the others, though almost as tall as the core spire, where there are what looks almost like factories, a more industrial landscape there,

and about a half dozen or more plumes of smoke that rise from different exhaust ports or holes within the rock itself. It changes the colors of the mist that gather around that particular region. I squeeze in between Fearne and Doran and look out. Boy, a city this big, all we gotta do is find one man.

Easy. Yeah, that sounds very simple. Not today, though. We should take one night to sort of, you know, get rid of the jet lag, right? Yeah. Don't want to walk into trouble. Well, hold on to your purse.

I spent a night here, just one. Stayed at a hostel and woke up and my purse strings were cut. So, just be on your guard. Okay. I'm going to step over to the one with the earring. Is he still on that? Yeah, and he's edging his way towards the door that'll open and exit

as it's just come to rest at the bottom of the Core Spire exit. I really like your earring. Oh, thank you very much. I reach out and I just touch it. He does a flinch, but he allows it. It's a symbol of the Allhammer. One more time.

It's a symbol of the Allhammer. The Allhammer? Great deity of skilled crafting. Oh. How interesting. The brief glimpse of a smile that had curled to his lips begins to fade and just starts fiddling with it again

and turns back to the door as it opens and then just steps out and immediately kind of. As he starts to step out, I'm going to try to swipe it. I'm going to try to take it off his ear, grab it. Because I like it a lot. Make a sleight of handshake. Been here five minutes. She's the one we're supposed to be looking out for.

Hold on, let me move my scrunchie out of my dice tray. Oh, okay, that's a natural 19. Uh-oh. Oh! Plus two, so. Wow. Exits briskly, making a, for such a large, beastly-looking entity,

the steps are quite gentle and quick as he exits. A moment later, you can see Fearne in her hand clutching this gathered chain of gold and silver with a particular symbol on it that looks almost like a metallic hammer with faces lightly carved on the edges of it.

Firm? Mm-hmm. We talked about this. What? I know that it works most of the time, but that is going to get us in trouble. I told you a story about someone picking my pocket 30 seconds ago,

and then you pick someone's pocket? That was a priest. I just said, don't get on my ass about it. All I was, you, all I know is that it's pretty easy to do here. That's all I took from what you said. Right.

Oh my god. It's beautiful. And it's for the god of arts and crafts. I think that's what he said. Just a little stuff. Skills. Put it away, put it away in case he comes back, please.

Okay. Take it easy. As a note, this is about two and a half feet long. It's much smaller on the ear of its previous carrier. On you, it drags your ear a bit, but it looks cool. I pull Dorian over a few feet away. Listen, I don't think she's going to stop, and I think the only way that it is going to stop

is if she steps on a rake, do you know what I mean? Of course, but she's not going to step on a rake. She's going to step on our rakes, and those rakes are going to hit us. Just give us a second for... How do we keep her under control? We don't. How's that gone the last couple of months?

Horribly. Alright, just... Stay on her left, you stay on her right, and we'll do a sandwich. We'll just be more older than usual. Okay? She took it so fast, I couldn't do anything. I know, I know, and it's so, I mean, it's amusing,

but we've got to tamp it down, if we can, and eventually it's going to, you know, bite her in the ass and all of us, but... All right, fine. All right. Agreed. All right, we're done talking in front of you. Let's go. I'll be more careful, I promise.

It was just so beautiful. Yes, yes it is. I don't do that to everybody. I don't. Let's keep going. Five is not that many, come on. Where are you off to? Well, unless you guys have any other ideas,

I think just finding a place to eat and stay for the night. And I don't think we should rush into this. Yeah. I mean, you would know, I know that you haven't been here much at all, but you'd know better than us, certainly. Make a history check. History check. Huge roll.

Natural 20. Oh! Oh! First natural 20. Trap memory! Yes! Yes! End the show right there. Thank you for joining for campaign three.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's it. One roll. You stayed here last time. That's how you, it's a natural 20. You know it so well because you've been there. In the Core Spire, one of the affordable, interesting, filled with colorful characters, and, you know,

not too far from where you currently are right now would be the Spire by Fire. Well. We've got a little spending cash, right? A little slush fund, but we've got a lot to do. And it's our first night. I think we should be frugal. There's some places around here.

I didn't stay here, but it's called the Spire by Fire. Yeah, it's got a nice name. Catchy, yeah. So go there, check it out, get the lay of the land, maybe find a bed, two, three, whatever. We can all sleep in the same bed. Sure. And...

Save money if we're trying to be frugal. You're really tall. You're really small. We'll figure it out. Everything rhymes here. And if I recall, it was this way. Okay. All right. All right, so taking the lead,

you continue to guide your other compatriots towards your destination. As the sun in the sky begins to slowly make its way towards the horizon, the sunset imminent, the oranges and purples beginning to take the blues that have been familiar up until now. Laudna. Hi.

Imogen. Yes. You've been going about the market, gathering things and eggs, you said. I had to get some eggs. Anything else you're looking for? Shadana's out of eggs. I've got a Rubios here.

I've got an Earl Grey. That's great. I've got a chai. Probably some leeks or, I don't know, onions to go with it. She said she wanted it for breakfast or something. I don't know. All right. Veggies. Sure.

We got a basket full of fucking food. Fucking food. Grab all of the teas, variety. All right. Feeling confident in what you've sought to acquire, you begin to make your way back towards the Vidun Devar, the windowed wall, where you are currently holed up with the elderly compatriot who is granting you space

in the room where her husband once lived. Shadana! Well, you haven't arrived there yet. Just practicing. Shadana! There you go. Was that good? I'm sure it was good. Yeah, that was good. That was good.

Oh, Shadana. Shadana. I'm going to be scared of you soon, I know it. But in heading back and walking through the street and making your way towards that destination, the streets are busy as the individuals who are finishing up their work for the day or their various errands for the afternoon

are heading back to their abodes, whereas the night crew, as some people refer to it, those who either work during the night or definitely play during the night are beginning to make their way out into the evening air. You hear this strange, you specifically, Imogen, feel it. This,

this odd, low, bassy rumble. and feel it, this odd, low, bassy rumble. And right as you hear it, you see it, this dull blue flash that emerges about 30, 40 feet ahead of you off the side of the street. You glance over in that space, and you can immediately see what looks to be a cart

being pulled by two of these seal goats behind it. As it seems to be this small arcane sphere that emerges from it, flashes for a second, both of the goats rear up and rush into a charge forward. As they do, the cart seems to dislodge and splat onto its side, crashing into the street. Boxes scattering across the center of the road. People around, oh god, looking at each other

and checking to make sure it's okay. The boxes hit and break open. As they do, it looks like utensils and furniture and bits of decoration scatter onto the ground. What looks to be a small kitchen knife begins to glide into the air. A table that was hurting its side, the legs bend. The table seems to be moving of its own accord. Are you seeing this?

A broom suddenly begins to whip up into the air. A sword scattered to the side begins to drift up with no wielder. Oh. It looks to be a rolled up rug that had spilled open and begins to wrinkle and pulse. Oh my gosh. You hear this commotion outside, both of you.

What's that? Is that a party? Let's find out. All right. I'm not even putting my drink down. I'm going straight out. Okay, you two rush. The three of you had just begun to make your way

the outside of the Spire by Fire before you watch this sudden minor cataclysm to this cart occur and these objects beginning to move under their own power in the center of the street. Do we see any people nearby? There are many people nearby. Some of them are curious, some of them are frozen in place,

a bit spooked, and some are just running. I'd like you all to roll the shit. Oh shit! What? What? This shit is the first half of the first episode! Oh shit! What is happening?

Okay, okay. What is happening? How do I do this? Howdy dowdy do dis. How do I do dis? What? What? Oh! I'm touching it! I'm touching it!

I'm touching it! I'm so close! Look at the rungs! Whoa! The rungs! Wow. So. Awesome. What? Okay, okay. So here, sorry about the mic there. This is the sword that is drifting. This is the knife, this is the rug,

this is the table, and this is the broom. Those are our enemies? We're fighting Arjun! Now, if I could have Imogen, Laudna, whereabouts would you be standing? Which way were we coming from? You guys would be walking this direction, so you would likely be over in this path.

All right. Back up. Back up. One for me. I would've stayed towards the side of the street. I want to stay away from people if I can, for the most part, whichever is for me. Sure. I can work. Keep me by her.

Yeah. So about there? Yeah, that looks about right. All righty. If I could go ahead and get Ashton and Fresh Cut Grass. You guys were stepping outside of the front there, and the cart is right there. I'm going to get used to it. Ever.

Ever. Smiling? I haven't yet. Look at those minis. That feels about right. Oh my gosh. Look at you guys. Just step out in the front there. You're so wee. You're so wee! about right. Oh my gosh, look at you guys. Just step out in the front there. You're so wee. You're so wee!

All right. Now, the rest of you who are It's a big rug. just arriving as well, we're stepping across this side of the road to approach the front. So that is where you are currently placed. So, getting my initiative sheets out here.

20 to 15. 18. 19. 17. 22. 22. Whoa! Dang! You did it! Oh! All right. That was terrible.

23. Hey! Whoa, that's a hell of an initiative! Staring at you like that's a hell of an initiative! That's some kind of freak. You just got to put it! All right, so Dorian up front. Oh no.

Then following that, we have Fearne, and then Orym. I say Orym would probably go first because of his dex. Dex, right. All right. I want my dex. Then who had the? You had 19? 19? 19 here.

19? Fresh cut grass. 18 was? That was me. Wow, you guys were really, really good. And 17 was? That was me. What's your dexterity? Mine? Yes. Oh, it's plus two, 14.

Okay. Uh-huh. Who's right? All right. Sorry. You're the only one left. Where'd you go? 13. 13, okay. Not terrible in a normal world.

That would have been not terrible, but these people, for some strange reason, I don't know. Okay. And then... We have Ashton. All right, cool. So top of the round, Dorian, as you're stepping in and you see these crates open and these objects

beginning to just shift in the air and move around, people you see scared and are now starting to run in front of these blades. The sword itself seems to right itself in one of the direction around. People you see scared and are now starting to run and running these blades. The sword itself seems to right itself in one of the direction. It looks like it's going forward. The knife is now starting to make its way towards one of the nearby people.

It looks like these are not just enchanted objects. They are currently looking to make a mess. What are you doing? Whew. With Orym undone. In any sort of conflict, first things first, I'm going to look straight to Orym. I'm going to go, correct me if I'm wrong,

but it looks like those pointy things are pointing at those people, right? Yeah. I mean, doesn't change where we are. All right. And I'm going to sprint toward that sort of longsword headed for that poor guy with the bag. I'm going to make half the distance, though.

I'm just going to half the distance. You've got it. And while I'm running, I'm going to, on my hip, I've got a hand axe, and I'm going to unclip it from my hip, and I am going to attempt to throw it at the sword that is going for the guy

in an attempt to divert it. Go for it. So you go ahead and throw the axe. Roll on attack. 19. Hell yeah. Plus five. Yeah, 24. Yeah, that definitely hits.

Go ahead and roll damage. Sweet. I'm glad Dorian's at the table with us, you guys. By the way, these are the dice you gave me. So I don't want to give you all the crown. I want seven. Seven points of damage? Yeah. All right, so as the axe hits the sword, you watch as they both impact,

and it seems to hit the ground for a second. You're like, oh, you took it out. Then it rises, and then seems to the metal itself vibrate in your direction as it's getting ready to reassess its direction. Oh no. I'm... That's your turn?

That's it, I'm frozen, that's it. Okay. I'm terrified. Finishing Dorian's go, Orym, you're up. Fearne, you're on deck. Okay, the boots on my feet sort of tighten around them. The leather straps tighten around his feet, and I get a running start, run about 10 feet,

and then spring into the air, flipping over the sword. I can make it 10 feet into the air, and Orym is going to thrust down, swing his sword down and knock it towards the ground if he can, and I'm going to use a goading attack. Go for it. That is a wisdom save for the sword. Striking down as you feel the gravity

pull you to the floor. That is terrible. So I am going to use an action surge and attack again. So I take two swings and the second connects because I rolled a 19. Great. So DC 14.

DC 14. Wisdom. That's a fail. Okay, so if that thing tries to attack anyone else but me, it's going to be at disadvantage and it takes five plus, so it just takes seven points of damage. Seven points of damage, got it.

As you strike down on top of it, it once again clatters to the ground, and you feel like you pinned it to the floor, and it's kind of hitting into the stone, and you feel it fighting. It's weird. You've never had a weapon fight on its own against you until eventually it slides off onto your blade

and rights itself. You can see it's looking a bit scuffed, and it's looking a bit damaged, but it is still intent on massacring whatever's in front of it. Well, that's new. I'm going to just wait for the next thing. All right, finishing that, Fern, you're up. Okay, I'm going to take my thorn whip off of my hip.

Okay. And I'm going to look over at this rug and just try to snap my whip around it. Go for it. All right, go ahead and roll for your thorn. Okay. 14. 14 does hit.

Okay, nope, 13. 13 does hit. Okay, okay, okay. It's just teensies. Four. Four? Yes. Four points damage, all righty. Am I able to hold onto it and keep it from...

So this is the thorn whip cantrip is what you're doing? Yes. All right. It isn't going to do this at a higher level. If it's a cantrip. Well, it's a cantrip, which is what it is. Yeah, I just want to keep it there. So yeah, it takes the damage, and it is large or small, you can pull it 10 feet closer to you.

So yeah, it's brought a little bit closer to you. It's not grappled and eventually fights its way off the whip, but it now is pulled in towards where you're standing. Okay. All right, that's your action. That's my action, that's what I wanted to do. Okay. I'm just going to hold onto it.

Okay, you got it. That finishes your go for it? Yes. All the people are now going to start fleeing and running off to the side. Everyone starts screaming and charging out of the way, getting off the road as best they can, and running and fleeing.

This cart runs, charging off the side as these Silgoats that are pulling it continue yelling, as they flee off the board, off the board, running. Run away! Running away! Running away! What in the world is going on? Fleeing this way. This guy's going to be like,

No! He's going to run that direction. Got that. This guy's going to run this way, over here, down the alley, this way to escape, and this individual's going to run on inside of the inn and vanish. They all dress like they can handle some shit, but when it really comes down, they're all taking it.

It's just cosplayers. Just cosplayers. They have conventions in Berserk sometimes. Don't hate. The hammer's made of PVC pipe. Indeed. Finishing their go, Fresh Cut Grass, you are up with Imogen on deck. The item in front of us is what? The item in front of you is a broom.

It's a broom, okay. It's just like. I feel like Ashton's got this. So I will turn to Ashton and focus my eyes on him and just say, believe in yourself. And I will do Sympathetic Binding with Dan. Oh, we're going there, right?

All right, so Channel Divinity, Sympathetic Binding. Yes, and I guess as my bonus action, I could do the feature of that, but instead, can I cast a spell as a bonus action? Yeah. Okay, I'll do Shield of Faith, or as I call it, Shield of Help. So Ashton, you, in addition to being just a fucking badass, you now have a plus two to AC.

Ooh! That's concentration, so I have a concentration marker. That's great. And then I will, just to get out of the way, I'll use my movement to take off my right hand and just start to put on, I have a saw blade attachment that I'm going to start screwing into my right hand socket.

Oh, you don't. Yeah. Oh my god. What is it? What do you have? What's this now? I'd accidentally snap the mini, but that's okay. Is that mine? Yep. Amazing! That's okay. We have a casualty. It's you.

It's all right. No! Oh no, that's a sign. You're going to die today. That's okay. I'll take that. There he is. We'll get some Superglue over here in the interim. So where are you going? I'm not going to move.

I'm just going to attach my saw blade arm and maybe just tuck behind the box. Behind the box over here? Yeah, sure. All right. There you go. Just being drunk on a plate. There you go.

That's my fault for holding it too long. All right, that finishes your go. Imogen, you're up. Okay, I have a question. Yeah. I want to try using Catapult and focusing my energy on the... Is that a dagger spinning around?

What do we got here? We got a- That is a dagger right now. A little, some sort of, looks like a kitchen knife. It's just spinning in the air on its own for a second. It hasn't chosen a target. Okay. Can I try to use Catapult on that object? Because I can use it on objects, but I don't know about...

These are technically animated, so it wouldn't work. Okay, then in that case, I'm going to cast this at second level, so I can pick up something that's 10 pounds. Would I be able to pick up that box that that robot thing just hid behind? I would say that box, the contents of that one is too heavy,

but this one here that's been partially broken would be about 10 pounds. Sure, I will pick that up and throw it towards the rug that just moved. Over there? Yeah. You got to go ahead and roll for an attack on that one. Okay. How do I do this? This whole fight is brought to you by West Elm.

I'll say this is a great barrel of fish. Oh, wait, no, I don't make an attack roll. Oh, is it just? You make a save. Save? Okay. Yes. Cool. That would be dexterity? Dexterity. 12. Yes, so it works.

So yeah, it takes 3d8 bludgeoning. Oh, wait, 4d8 bludgeoning, because I cast it at second level. Nice. Ooh, that's nice. Nine, 11, 14 points of bludgeoning damage. Ooh. Caster. Very nice.

Click. The rug is currently wrapped in the thorn whip and being pulled over towards this strange faun character over there who's smiling oddly through the whole experience. As you lift up, concentrating your mind on this box chunk, it lifts and then rockets with incredible speed. You watch as the rug seems to push, like something had punched,

almost threw it on the other side, and it comes inches from your face before crumbling back on the backside. The rug, you can see some of the threads are now torn and fraying. You're going to stay put, or? I think that's, yeah, I'm going to, yeah, I'm going to stay where I am.

Okay, you got it. Patient defense. All right, it is now the rug's go. The rug is going to go ahead and- The rug is more dexterous than I am? That's bullshit. That's how it goes sometimes. The rug is now going to attempt to smother.

That's an 18 to hit. Does that hit you? Yes. All right. It's okay. So you watch as the rug now whips around and begins to surround you and tighten and pull and crush you, all you cannot see.

Not even certain yet if you can even breathe, but everything just goes dark as you feel your body now completely held against itself. I grok this. So you are grappled. Everybody stab it. You are restrained, you are blinded. Set it on fire.

Okay. All right. So we're going to go ahead and say, the prestige. If he sets it on fire, I will. I think he's going to pull out a lighter right now. Okay, okay. It's true.

All righty, that finishes its go. It is now... Let's see, Laudna's go. Imogen, the objects have gone postal. And I turn into a form of dread. I start to transform. Let me mark it off. Wait for it.

And my bones start to crick and crack, and you see Laudna starts to extend, even lengthier than she was, and even more spindly, and her fingers start to stretch and drip as a dark veil comes over her face as black tears start coming out of her eyes. And... The fleeing folks that were heading this way

run past you and scream even louder and run even faster. Don't worry, I've got you! Keep going. I'm here to help! And I start echoing cacophony of whispers, and I cast Bane on, I'm going to go for Bane on the rug. Bane on the kitchen knife, and let's do Bane on the sword. All things that feel more deadly.

I was born in drugs. Rug fails. I was working in Drow. Blood fails. I was working on this. I felt it coming. Failed. I had to get there first. And which one, the knife you said? The kitchen knife.

That does succeed, I think, with a 16. I can't curse a knife. Sorry. It's a fucking all right. I just reach down and pet the back of her creepy head. It's okay. But those two, you can watch pet the back of her creepy head. It's okay. But those two, you can watch as the parts of them that are a bit frayed and damaged begin to almost unravel or begin to crack and break on their own

as the magic seems to siphon away some of the enchantment that holds them aloft. Does that finish your turn? You can stay put. Do you want to move? No, I'll stay put. All righty. That brings us to the table's go. I forgot about the table.

Yeah, the table's going to do something. The table's, you're right there. The table's going to go ahead and back up. And slam into you, full force. It's going to move. It's going to attempt to, actually, you know what? No, it's not, yeah, I can do that.

Let's table this for now. Yeah, you can attack opportunity on it as it backs away from you. Oh, is it relieving? Sure, absolutely. So I'm looking at a sword spinning in front of me. Hear the and just pivot and swing down. Give it a quick stab. That is a, what do all my things do? 13 to hit.

13 misses. You swing wide and it hits the wood, but it just hits wood. It just cuts a little scrape through it as it backs up 20 feet. And just comes full blast, slamming into you with a charge. Slam attack. I'm a sword expert, not a table.

That is a 25 to hit. That kind of hits. What the hell? Whoa! I can't put the side of a board. We all die in the first episode by tables and rugs. Campaign two. Campaign two, chairs. Campaign three, tables.

Campaign four, wardrobes? You take 18 points of bludgeoning damage. Ooh! Yes! As you are almost knocked off your ass. Then catch yourself and the table seems to be getting itself ready for a second round.

That finishes its go. Now the sword's turn, which is already right next to you, and goaded in to attack you. Oh god. Sword does minus four from its attack, though. So that brings it to a 16 to hit. I parry it off.

Nice, nice, nice. That's good. Oh, the bane? Bane. Ah. Loots. The broom. Oh boy. It's going to swoop in towards you and swoop up in direction.

That's going to be, there we go. That is 17 to hit. That is my AC. You take. Even with the plus two? Even with the plus two. Okay. Five points of bludgeoning damage as the broom cracks you in the jaw

and you feel like, ah, that bit of pain hit, but you like the pain. Ugh. It hovers there. Because if a broom could be angry, it goes. I do. It finishes its turn. You're up. Yeah.

So I'm going to pop my hammer on the ground real hard, and I'm going to rage. Yeah. And I'm doing the gravity build, so. Okay. Here we go. The crystal, it's the glass inside my head starts to get a little dim and light just seems to get a little dimmer around me.

There's just this strange. The broom immediately begins to almost like, can act like it's being pulled slightly towards you. So I am going to just try and stomp it, flip and hit it with the hammer on the ground. Go for it. That is a yes to hit. That is a 23 to hit.

23 to hit. I saw the broom actually has multi-attack, so it attacks again and hit you previously before that as well So the broom actually got two hits on you The other one would have been four points of bludgeoning damage Okay, so that's before That would have been before the rage Okay

Broom's a dick That's fine Sweep the leg So I hit Rolled a hit I rolled a hit and I did hit Yep I'm also going to, just because this thing's pissing me off I'm going Rolled a hit. I rolled a hit and I did hit. Yep. I'm also going to, just because this thing's pissing me off,

I'm going to burn a chaos burst into this because I don't like this. Cool. A little force damage. Fundamental chaos. So how much damage? That's going to be, let me do it all together. That's terrible. Ten points of normal damage,

of just the normal stuff, and... Oh, that's better. Eight points of force damage. Nice. So after you take the clock twice in the face by this broom, you pull back your weapon, and how do you want to do this? Hey!

Do we get shared damage or no, by the way? I can absorb some. Okay, so you haven't, that's fine. No, I haven't. I am going to just take the edge of the hammer, I'm going to stomp the broom down on the ground, I'm going to just take the edge of the hammer and I'm just going to come down and break it right in two.

Ooh. It snaps and immediately just goes limp onto the ground. Fuck you! And I'm going to look up. I still have my movement. You do. Let's see. What'll be fun? I'm going to move...

I'm going to move towards that fucking table. Move to the table? Yeah. Up there? Yeah, whatever will flank with the little guy. That would be the flank there. Yeah. All righty.

Spring cleaning will be more severe. All right, that finishes your go. That brings us now to the knife. The knife immediately moves 10 feet towards me. A knife? The knife is adjacent to you. Okay, never mind. Yes, no, it's a good call to know. All right, so the knife is now going to

continue to swing towards you, since you were the one who. Sure. Actually, no, you're next to it now. It'll go after you, because you're the one who's now within its space. Doesn't have a lot of intel. Ooh, not bad. That is going to be 21 to hit. Oh, that hits.

You take five points of piercing damage, reduced to two. All right. At this point in time, you can see now people are beginning to scatter. Another figure seems to be charging out from inside of the inn that you both have been coming from,

shouting out into the fray. Travis, if you would like to say something. Oh! Make it go, you guys! Still there, you guys. Let's go! Get in here. Let's go.

So how do you enter into Huwimran Scrimming yourself? Uh, ah, yes! For the good of J'Saar! I will enter the fray with you! And you see a gentleman in his late 70s, early 80s. With beautiful, silver-trimmed facial hair. A good receding hairline going, and a nice ponytail pulled tight in the back.

Is it cool, Grandpa? Nice purple refinery, and a nice coiffed collar, and some burnt orange underneath. And he has a very elegant-looking walking stick in his hand, as well as a very beautiful-looking rapier on the other hand. It's because he's dignified,

not because he needs the stick. No, that's right. Where would you like to, well, first of all, initiative, if you don't mind. Oh, oh, oh, yes, that thing. I have a bonus to my initiative, so 12. I got you, got you. That's a first.

Okay. Cheers. I didn't know it could do that. Wait, you didn't have initiative? No, I had advantage. You had advantage. Okay. So top of the round, Dorian, you're up, Orym, you're on deck. All right.

All right, so two of my friends are jacked up side by side. I'm going to rush toward Fearne, use my movement to get all the way over to her, wrapped up in the rug. Okay. And bewildered, I will attempt to grapple the rug and try to pull it off of her.

You're going to try and pull it off of her? Yeah. Okay, I will say, go ahead and make an athletics check for me, contested with the rug. I am strong boy. Oh, damn! Fucking kill it! 25.

Oh! What the fuck? Strong boy. What? Are you, what? Yeah! It's real. All right. As you grab this rug and you can feel it, it is in the process of attempting to smother and crush Fern, and as you get a hold on it, you put your foot up

the one space where you can see the top of her hip is, and pull away, and it rips off with a terrible tearing sound and is no longer grappling you. Who did that? I can't see. It was me! It was me! Oh, thank you! Some biceps hiding under that pink leather. All right, so that's your action.

You still have a bonus action, if you'd like. Do I now have the rug grappled? You have not grappled it, necessarily. You've tried to free her, you see. So those are two different actions. Okay, got you. I will say, okay, rug's gone. Do your best.

And I'm going to give her Bardic Inspiration. Oh! So a d6 for her? Missed. Was it d6, right? Wow, yeah. Little check, yeah. Yes. Pretty sure, yeah. So you take a d6, you can add to an attack roll,

saving throw. Let's check something out. All right, cool. Finishing Dorian's go, unless you want to move still, Gustav? I'm missing rug. You tap up on the tussle. Orym, you're up for a neuron deck. Okay. Okay, I'm just wrong. You're just tapping up on the tussle, or you're up for a neuron deck. Okay.

Okay, I'm going to use a bonus action to make a feinting attack, another maneuver, and go to the left, and then instantly... Fall on the table. It is a feinting table. I'll juke to the left, and then instantly back to the right, and once the blade goes for where I was,

I will spring up into the air, and I will just repeat what I did before and try to smash it down with my blade into the air and I will just repeat what I did before and try to smash it down with my blade into the stone. Go for it, roll an attack. So it's at advantage because of the feint. That is, that hits, that's a 20 to hit. And that's a total of five plus 67, 15.

15? How do you want to do this? Oh! Orym jumps 12 feet into the air, flipping. And cracks the blade from the hilt on the pavement board. It snaps and scatters across the stone. Broken and unmoving. Tatal, shit.

And I just stand my ground. All right. My ground's going to hurt me. You got it. Fearne, you're up. Okay, am I still blinded? You are no longer blinded. No longer blinded. The rug isn't pulled off of, the wool isn't pulled from your eyes, proverbially. Oh!

Okay, so I see the rug in Dorian's hand. He's grappling with it, and I'm gonna just look at him and reach out my hands and put my hands on it and cast Burning Hands onto the rug. Okay, yeah, let's do it. Am I still holding the rug? You can, I will allow you to let go as the flames are going past your hands, not directly.

Oh, you should let go, okay? Yeah, yeah, yeah. All right, easy enough to get the rug without having to worry about anyone else. Let's see, that's a dexterity saving throw? It is. She's effective. You just gotta be careful around her. Oh, okay! Go ahead and roll

full damage on it. Nice. The rug is still being held by Dorian before you let go at the last minute and then. Okay, well, not amazing. Can I use my extra bardic inspiration for... Not for damage. Not for damage. Okay, so this is pretty awful.

Five points of damage. Oh, five points of fire damage. I should have rolled my teeth dice. No worries. As the flames tear across the rug, the rug seems to almost attempt, if a rug could tuck and roll out of the way, that's what it's doing.

It's like, no fire! It singes the outside and you can see a lot of the exposed fraying edges curl back into a black matted mess, but it's still spinning in the space, getting ready to prepare for its next round. Do you want to stay put? Yes. Okay. I will stay put? Yes. Okay.

I will stay put. The machine confirms. Drop and roll. People start fleeing further. I've defeated so far a sword and a broom. Wait, as a bonus action? Yes. Can I summon my Wildfire Spirit?

What do I do? It is an action to summon a Wildfire Spirit. It's an action, okay. Off the board. Big dice. We'll premiere Dawn on the third day at Ikea. Swing. Go in a section and make him do something. All righty.

Fresh cut grass, you are up. Imogen, you're on deck. Jesus. All right. I don't know how many. Never gets old. We'll see. I'm going to... Wow, we really will.

We are only two hours in. We really will. This is a unique experiment. I'm going to move in closer to the kitchen knife. Is that what that is? It is. Aw. Aw. I don't know if I can get... I'm going to fix that at the break.

I don't know if I can get all the way up, but if I... Five, 10, 10. Yeah, you can get right up to it if you want to. Okay. We'll fix it. I will... I'll activate my handsaw. You hear this loud whining sound as this metallic disc

attached to the edge of the arm... It's a spin-up. And I'm going to try to... Try to slice it. It's a going to try to try to slice it. It's a blade on blade action. Yeah. Are you flanking? Flanking or no? Technically, no. Okay.

Okay. Here's just a simple attack. I rolled a four. Yeah, that tracks. You just sharpened it. So that's a seven. That misses. All right.

You go and it just darts out. It's very small and very nimble. It's hard to catch a blade that's only about that long and it's going through the air like an angry bee. Well then, frustrated, I will, as a bonus action, cast Spiritual Weapon. Okay. And I will make something

that most kitchen knives can't stand, which is a tomato, because it's just really hard. It's so hard? It's really, yeah. It's operated, so. There you go. So a tomato will attack this knife. We'll say a spiritual tomato apparate.

I don't have a tomato mini, my apologies. It looks really close to one. That's as close as I can get there. I'm sorry, Travis! Time off? God! Go ahead and roll your attack for your spiritual tomato. An apple, real nice. That's a five.

That's a five. Plus five is 10. That misses, unfortunately. Oh no! It's all right. The snipe was ready. It hates tomatoes so much, it doesn't want to be in the artwork.

It's a Santoku. They can do anything. Can I finish your turn? Yep. Oh no! Let me just hear us. All right, I'm going to step forward a bit. So I'm a bit closer, maybe 10 feet forward. You got it.

And I want to be, as long as I'm within 30 feet of what's happening. 30 feet of a lot of it. You have to get a little closer if you want to get near the table, but. Okay, I'm going to step forward 10 more feet then. All right. All right, and I'm going to spend a sorcery point.

Okay. And I'm going to hold my hand up, and you're going to see these lightning flares that are on my arm start to get a bit brighter and climb up my arm a bit. And I'm going to use Twin Spell. Okay. And I'm going to cast Witch Bolt

at the kitchen knife and the rug at the same time. You've got it. Okay. Roll for an attack for each. Twin Witch Spell. Oh, cool. A one and a 20. That was great. Which one was for which? The 20 was for the knife and the one was for the rug.

Okay, you got it. Whoa, that's nuts. So the rug, at this point, ducking out of the way of the flames, also ducks the way out of the bolt that you were mostly focusing on the knife, since that was going to be the hardest to hit. So that witch bolt goes wide

and just strikes the stone for no reason. However, the other one directly impacts the knife as it tries to duck out of the way. You see the knife suddenly surrounded by this purple, flashing electric aura of energy. Go ahead and roll damage and double it. Wow. 10 times two. Ooh.

I saw the one figured out, it was like, one. Two. How do you want to do this? Yay! Fuck that knife. Just for a second, my eyes. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Don't do that.

Don't do that. It's on small print on the packaging. Just for a second, you see my eyes flicker pure white. Critical roll endorses knife fucking. No! Story at 11. And a lightning bolt is going to come out of my hand

and just turn the knife bright, bright, bright white and just kind of, I don't think I can crumble it, but it's going to turn the knife completely black. Okay. As the arc hits it, you watch as it dissipates, and the knife hits the ground, clink, and just bends on the impact. It's so heated by the impact

that it's just completely bereft of enchantment. Ooh. Nice. Oh, wow. That finishes your go. Uh... Eeeeee. You know what? I'm going to use my telekinetic shove,

and I'm going to pull this little robot dude. He seems like he might be struggling a bit, and just pull him back five feet away from that man. You got it. Telekinetic what? You don't know what happened, but you got dragged back across the ground as you look around.

All you see is this woman, hand out, staring at you. Shiny day to you. Oh, me too. Oh no. It is now the rug's turn. The rug, the rug, less worried about the fire, more worried about the one that pulled it off of its previous quarry is going to go after you, Dorian.

Not bad, not bad. Oh, it does have bane on it. It's minus one. Not too bad. Oh, it does have bane on it. It's minus one. Not too bad. Puts it at a... I see you went to Wayfarer. 16. It does a nat, yes.

All right. How dare you. You are now wrapped in grapple by it. Unable to move as you now pulled tightly with it. No sight, nothing, and you can feel the bones in your shoulders starting to get ready to pop out of the socket with the force that it's crushing on you. It's damn sad. It's not fun.

It's crushing. Finishing its go. Laudna, you're up. All right, so we have the rug and the table, right? Some chairs, we can have a hold on. The rug, I almost have a picnic. I'm going to fuck the rug. It's horrible.

It's horrible. Yeah. It seems like more of a problem. Eldritch Blast to the rug. Eldritch Blast. Oh, 14. 14 does it. All right! So here's a weird one.

Okay, all right, that's fine. Nine damage. Nine damage, how do you want to do it? Yay! Well, I was going to say, because of my Form of Dread, it would have to make a wisdom saving throw or be afraid of me, but since I kill it. It's so afraid of you, it's dead. Yes, I just, I look into the rug's eyes

or where I perceive its eyes to be its tassels, and I just look deep into it as I just coat it with black ooey. And I go, yes. It falls to the ground and slowly begins to just turn into this like crimson sludge. I wanted you to know it was me. This crimson sludge that just sloughs off of you into the ground.

You glance right up at this terribly frightening black-veiled creature. Hello. Hello. Hi. Pleasure to meet you. Nice to meet you, too. Oh, this is fun. It's so much fun.

Did you just do that? Yes. Okay, thank you. He shouts from 40 feet away. Yes! Thank you! All right, that finish your go? Yes. You want to move or stay put?

No. All right. I'm quite comfortable. Your turn, sir. I'm immediately quite concerned about the creepy-ass bitch 40 feet away dripping with goo. But I think she's friendly, so I will, what's left?

The table? Table. Yeah. Table. I will unsheathe my Gambler's Blade rapier and rush towards the table and take a mighty strike. A fucking laugh. And I will wager a plus three to hit on you. All righty, go for it.

That's a 22, 25 to hit. Whoa! Still got it. I better learn. I still got it. With this pencil. Three, eight points of damage, of slashing damage. You got it. As you cut through the table, a deep cut.

That table looks cut. Probably have to knock a price off of it in the window. Fire sail. I think you get a second slash, yes. You do. Okay. At your level, you do. Oh yes, beautiful. That's a 26 to hit. That hits. Roll damage the second time.

Rolling the thing. And seven points of slashing damage. Nice. Twice carving into it as I spray my map. Thank you, sir. That's it. You don't have to say anything, but I saw Laura go. Drink of my blood.

It's going to be on the big screen. Yeah. Oh god. Slow-mo. Sorry. Anyway. Look at the first three. Three, two, one. Splash Zone! Splash Zone.

Sorry, everyone in the first three rows has ponchos. Two deep gashes in the table. Good job, your turn's over. First three rows has ponchos. Two deep gashes on the table, good job. Your turn's over. It is now the tables go. Oh no. Oh, this guy's, both of these guys are run. They are way out of it.

The table is going to go ahead and, wow, the deep gashes is going to turn on you. Ah, wait! It's got disadvantage. It does, because it's within. Yeah, it's within 15 feet of me. That's true, yeah. Ooh! 15 feet of you?

That's a lot of feet. It's 15 of them. Still an 18 on its lowest roll. Oh! Might we parley? That is 19 points of bludgeoning damage against you. I will see this happening to this old geezer. Okay, I'm upright.

And I will transfer half of his suffering to myself. Okay, so you're going to use that reaction ability. Okay. So half damage to you. Bless you, small creature. Oh, it's my pleasure. All right, so you take half that damage. Great.

So I get nine, he gets 10, or he gets nine, I get 10? I'll take 10, you take 10. Yeah, so he takes 10, and you have nine temporary hit points at the moment from that. So I cut off. Great. Amazing. That finishes the table's go,

because it's not going to move from its space. It's probably going to come around. That brings us to Ashton, you're up. I just watched lightning come out of this purple-haired woman and fry the knife I was about to fuck with. So a little put out. I'm just going to take a big spin

and see if I can knock the feet out of this table. Go for it. I have advantage because it's flight. That's a natural 20. Oh! And I'm putting a chaos burst into that. Go for it. Because, you know, that's fucking awesome.

So let's add some lightning damage to that. All right. Hammer's going to crackle a bit. Get going. Oh, this is, it's done. Oh my god, it's done. Okay, that's seven points that don't get doubled. Seven standard.

And then 18 doubled. Wow. So 18 and then double. And then double the 18 and then add seven. I didn't want to do this. Yes! I am going to spin around, knock all four feet out, flip over, crack it in half,

and then just keep hitting it until it's powdered. The table snaps with a loud cracking noise, and then smash, smash, smash over and over again. This table just eventually is reduced to a pile of splinters. I could probably recycle some of that. Okay. That was very well done, all of you.

That was very impressive. That's quite the hammer you have there. Thanks, old person. Yeah. What the fuck was that? No idea. Oh, yeah. No, do was that? No idea. Oh, yeah. No, do you need?

Oh. No, I'm okay. I'm okay. Hit me next time. I'm all right. I'm all right. You do take the nine damage. Oh.

That was, that was, does that happen here all the time, Ashton? I've, I've broken a lot of furniture in my time and I've never actually had any fight back. So this is new. Maybe it knows. Who it belonged to. Thank goodness all y'all were here.

Where the fuck'd that cart go? I'm going to run towards where the fuck that cart went. Where the fuck'd the driver go? There was a big flash of blue magic energy as it happened. So I feel like somebody said it all. Hi. Oh yes, hello.

Yeah, Orym's just looking at all these strange people. I'm sorry, do you all know each other? I know her. Uh-huh. I know them. I know them. I know them. We're like a trio, sort of.

Yeah, it's a lot of fingers. You worked remarkably well together. I have to commend you on that. It was almost as if you were moving in concert, a great deal of talent on display. It was just improvised. We just fought a rug. Yeah.

There's like three words in one. It was really scary rug. I mean, in- I was going to try to save it, but you know. Yeah, I saw. Are you from Juzar? No, I'm not. Are you, by any chance, looking for more of this sort of work

or just passing through? Is there money involved? Is there clout involved? Clout? Yeah. Yeah, would it get the attention of maybe, you know, the, what were they called? The Shanday Quorum. Yeah. Oh, I think there could be plenty of clout and money.

Do you know them? Money, I'm in. Do I know them? Yes. You're in. My dear. I do. Is there a place to train to show you how to fight furniture properly? Yes. Yes. In a city such as this, I do. Is there a place to train to show you how to fight furniture properly? Yes, yes. In a city such as this, of course.

So this is what we would be doing? Mm-hmm. I'm sorry, who? This was probably just a training exercise of some sort. You're right, this is terribly rude of me. I was just so excited seeing you all. My name is Sir Bertrand Bell. It's a pleasure to meet all of you.

You're a knight? Are you a noble? Not a noble. A knight is generous, but it was a title bestowed upon me and I didn't show it away. Who bestowed it on you? Are you familiar with Vasselheim? Oh, you're not going to answer my question.

I'm so sorry. Did you? Who bestowed it on you? I don't know if you would. That is... Oh no. I mean, we knew that already. Jeez. Have you had that over there? That is so cool!

I really like it. Where did you even? Ow. What the fuck? What? I was just getting a sip, guys. It's really cute. Just a simple home game.

It actually is very cool. What does it feel like? It looks like it's at a Borderlands or something. Yeah. It's cool. What do you have on the front? Oh! Yeah.

But it was a brand new, clean container when you started and you just gussied up the outside, right? What is that? That's right. You're drinking out of it? Oh, yes. It's really cool. Did you get that at the Warner lot? What is that? That's right. You're drinking out of it? That's really cool. Did you get that at the Warner lot? What is that?

I mean, if you're going to derail, this is the best way to derail, let's be fair. Cool. Sorry about that. I'm sorry, you said Vasselheim? I'm not familiar. Are you familiar with the Dawn Marshals in Vasselheim? I've been around.

Tal'Dorei, Vasselheim, Assylra. It doesn't really matter. The important thing is, you all displayed tremendous talent, and I know someone that would pay well, perhaps, for services that you might render. Will it be an emotionally enriching experience? Yes. I mean, all things in life are.

Have you heard the name Lord Estoros? Have we? Have we? Make a history check. Those of you who have been in Marquette for some time, I'd say probably Fresh Cut Grass. Ooh, a history check? History check.

19. Oh, much better. Two. 15. 15. None of you have heard the 19. Oh. Two. 15. 15. 15? None of you have heard the name? Oh, actually, zero.

No, we've never, I've never heard of him. I know this all seems a bit strange, not uncommon for someone of my decades. I've seen stranger, but if you would be interested in hearing more, I would love to treat you all to a drink, perhaps some food, and maybe talk it over a bit more, unless you're more interested in finding out who let the furniture out.

Are you paying? Yes, yes. We literally just got off a ship, but food sounds good at the least. You clearly need a drink. You clearly need a drink. You clearly need a drink. Absolutely. Your fingers were dripping.

You clearly need a drink. Oh, I'm so sorry. Oh, actually, about this time, I probably shrink down to my normal form. Sorry about that. No, no offense taken. What was your name? Fresh Cut Grass. All right.

Fresh Cut Grass. You heard them. That's right. You smell a little bit like piss. Oh, very astute. Earlier today, a gentleman threw piss at me. Oh. Why?

Well, I didn't get a chance to ask him, but I think he didn't want it in his house anymore. Ah. Oh, he was throwing it out. I'm so sorry. I lack the ability to smell, so it doesn't really bother me, but if it bothers you, I'll get tidied up right away.

It absolutely does not. Oh, well then, piss it is. Well? Oh, what was your name? Oh, my name is Fearne. You're very tall. Yes, I am. And what brings y'all to,

it's you three, right? What brings y'all to, it's you three, right? What brings y'all to this neck of the woods? Sightseeing. Which sightseeing? Insight check. Make a deception check, make an insight check. 22. Ooh. 17 and four, 21.

Oh! 17 and four, 21. Oh! So close! You catch just the faint hint of a nut, entire truth. That's it. That scene sounds great. You know, I can pretend I'm much more interested if there's food and beer in front of me.

I think that we should take this all inside. Are you in fresh cut grass? Can you help? No, they're fine. They're fine. They're like that all the time. It's kind of cool, really. Wow. Free to look.

It'll be a gold piece, but you're free to look. I'm good. That's great. Some people stare inside and they see hell itself. It's absolutely true. May I try? Yeah.

Here's a gold piece. Thank you. Sometimes it takes a while. It's mostly just a sparkly opal in there. I am going to try and pickpocket her, though. Okay, go for it. Oh! I'm going to slide a hand check.

Key meets key. Oh! You can roll to slide a handshake. Game meets game. Oh! And you can roll a perception. Or no, what's your passive perception? Okay. You got it. 15. Natural 20.

Oh! So that is a really, really cool view. You can see this sparkly, opalescent interior beyond this dirty glass that fills this broken gap in the head. Go ahead and deduct 12 gold. Oh, I know what I'm going for. What are you going for?

For the fucking earring. Oh, even better. That clearly does not belong. Fair enough. The two-foot long earring. Just wrap it around my waist like a fucking belt. Yep, nobody even noticing. Nobody even noticing. Damn. I don't see hell.

Well, you know, heaven to some, hell to others. Wow. Wow, thank you. Some of the folks are starting to return to the street and just check in to see what happened. Let's make ourselves scared. Mr. Bertrand, would you, is it possible to get a table

that's a little more isolated, maybe? Yes. Something away from the crowds. An easy task for one such as myself. Your name was? Imogen. Imogen, very nice to meet you. You as well.

Follow me, if you would. Of course. I'll lead them to the nearest place. Orym lags just for a second, looking down at the rug. We really tied the room together. You can hear somebody on the side, one of the street musicians with their French horn go, .

They're practicing for a busking performance. Going to clear it up. As you all follow Sir Bertrand Bell into the interior of the Spire by Fire Inn, we're going to take a break. Yay! First break of campaign three! That was so much fun. We'll be back here in a little bit for the second half of our first episode.

Oh, man. And we're off. Okay. All right. We'll see you guys in a little bit. Hello, Critters. This is Ashley Johnson, president of the Critical Role Foundation, our 501c3 nonprofit organization, with a mission that might sound familiar, to leave the world better than we found it.

We partner with other nonprofits to raise funds supporting causes that mean a lot to us. And we allocate 10% of all donations to an emergency relief fund that allows us to provide immediate assistance in the case of natural disasters or other unexpected emergencies that require quick action. To learn more about the Critical Role Foundation and to donate, visit criticalrolefoundation.org. And welcome back. So, last we left off, this motley crew of strange traveling individuals that gathered for an odd occurrence in the street, cut down some wayward enchanted utensils and furniture pieces, and in doing so, caught the eye of an older adventurer

named Sir Bertrand Bell, who is currently leading you on the invitation of a meal and drink to discuss some possibilities. You all follow him into the Aspire by Fire tavern, manage to procure a table in the back elevated platform in this little side nook. Not quite a booth, but at least away from the main crowd, which is starting to build up for the evening. Food is ordered and is on its way. Drinks are passed around as you all sit and figure out what exactly this is about.

Does everyone have something to satisfy their appetites? Are we far away from other patrons in the tavern? I mean, say, 12 to 15 feet from the nearest table, but around the corner slightly. There is no private area here, necessarily. It's not one of those establishments. Is there a good thrum of conversation all over the place? Yeah, there's a bustle about the room.

There's chuckles and whispers and conversations. So you can feel, with a lowered voice, you can be fairly discreet. Do we seem to be drawing anyone's attention? Your entrance definitely drew some eyes. Yeah. You're a fucking nightmare. What are you talking about?

I'm having problems, too. You have grudge over here. So you definitely drew some eyes, and every now and then you do catch somebody just glancing over, but there's nobody that you've noticed stooping close yet. So you live here? I do, for the moment.

About how long? Oh, on and off in the summer months. It's so beautiful here. One of a few destinations I choose to frequent with my time. If you don't mind me asking, because you all don't seem entirely familiar with each other, some of you said you were passing through. Tourists? Definitely. None of you have any outstanding entanglements with the law, warrants, anyone chasing you?

Definitely not here. Nope. Oh good, all of you? If I could just get a single yes or no from each of you, please. What do you mean, what exactly do you mean, Bob? Is anyone hunting you? Is there a bounty out on your head? Are you criminal folk?

Do we have to answer all those questions, or just one? Is that one answer? Just a general yes or no. I think you get the question. I'd say not that I'm aware of, but you know, who can really say for certain if anyone is being hunted, right? How could you really know unless you are the hunter?

Fair, I would know. But by the way, at any time, you can feel free to investigate what was happening outside. I don't mean to pull you away from anything that might be of interest to you. But if you are interested in perhaps a little bit of employment, I happen to know a gentleman named Lord Esteros

that employs very talented warriors such as yourself, and I would be keen to put in a good word for you if an introduction to an estate of that esteem would be in your interest. Do you do a lot of work like that? I do. I do. I've spent the last few years really building up more of a consulting service. As you can see, I'm a little later in my years.

I still have a bit of spring in my step. But really, it's the wisdom I want to share with the next generation. So are you like a talent agent? Well, more of a... A manager. Always out for a finder's fee, if I could say so. So a manager.

But I also recognize opportunity. A middleman. Opportunity. Did anyone see who was driving that cart? No. No. I didn't. I just saw a big blue explosion, like a ball of energy.

So Bertrand, you're like a talent scout, correct? Oh, you could say that, among other things. Who just happened to be here at this event, right? No, in this very tavern, enjoying a cold drink. Do you do magic? No. Insight check. Make an insight check.

11? Hard to read, seems to be on the up and up. To be fair, I've been accused of magic by some, but not of the variety I think you mean. Card tricks, shit like that? You're like a kid's birthday party magician kind of thing? I have no arcane abilities. Okay.

So. But, if you wouldn't be opposed to it, I think perhaps this gentleman and his lady would be interested in meeting with Olive, even. And you said he has a lot of influence in the city? Yes, Astaroth's Manor. You ever heard of Astaroth's Manor? Have we ever heard of A, Estros Manor. You ever heard of Estros Manor? Have we ever heard of Estros Manor?

We did a check earlier, and you do not. Oh, we did, yes. Is that on this spire? Is it on this spire? It is, yeah. It's on this spire. Oh, okay, so it's a cool spire. And this gentleman would want to meet with potential employees immediately?

I think so. I owe him a favor, and it'll be good to catch up with an old friend. Besides, it seems since you're new in town, it would be a great opportunity for you to then network through Drusar. I mean, Ashton and I set out today specifically to find something to do for money for you. So, I mean, that's- And then a mop attacked us.

This is exactly the sort of thing that I was trying to convey to you, just the way things happen in this city. It's a wild place. It is. It's nothing else like it. I mean, this is a pretty good tour for a first day. I'm quite pleased. So we would be employed to take care of unruly furniture. Oh, I don't want to speak to the manner

in which you would be put to service, but Lord Estros is a bit of a philanthropist. Philanthropist. He's very old. My dentures get loose. Teeth stop moving halfway through. And the good part, the good part is that he is really interested in preserving

the good folk of Jusar. There are some shady characters in every city, but here in particular, he seems to really want to do good. Insight check. How many is that? Natural 20. Tell him the truth.

Oh. You know, I kind of agree with Fern, was it? Yes, that was my name. I'm really distracted by the angry furniture. How often? Have you gotten attacked by a broom before? You act like it's a thing. I've been attacked by a broom before? You act like it's a thing. I've been attacked by a broom before.

This is true, but it's been normally in the hands of somebody else. This was the first time it was really independent of any other circumstance. Is this normal? I've never seen anything like that before. Was it... Why did they attack us?

Normal. I mean, this shit's got some nuts in it. I just want to say, even just this group is... But, you know, we're... I mean, I guess we have seen a few strange things, just in our time that we've been here. Yeah. I mean, that's pretty weird, though.

Did you have anything to do with it? The furniture? Yeah. I mean, that's pretty weird, though. Did you have anything to do with it? Yeah. The furniture? Yeah. No. That's a good point. Hmm. Furniture attacks us, and then a strange old man comes and offers us a job. I mean, it seems like a pretty cool day.

It is a very convenient day. Regardless, I think I would like to meet with this... I can't remember his name. Esdras. Lord Esdras, that's right, thank you. And what... Eh, never mind. We'll find out.

Let's go meet him. Is everything okay? I'm sorry. I just wanted to make sure that this isn't something that'll, like, wear off after a minute or something. My appearance? Do you want my face to wear off after a few minutes? No, no.

No, it's fucking awesome. No, yeah. No, I just wanted to be sure. Oh. Pleasure to meet you, Bertrand. I don't think I got your name. Ashton. Ashton.

Actually, yeah. We should go around. Sir Bertrand Bell. Bert, yeah. Dorian Storm. Dorian Storm. Fancy. Ladner.

Hi, I'm Fresh Cut Grass. What do you mean? I'm Fresh Cut Grass. That's your name? That's what I'm called, yeah. Like your first name, or is Grass your middle name? Or your last name? Or Cut Grass.

Yeah, I'm just called Fresh Cut Grass. I don't really distinguish between a surname or anything like that. Did you give yourself your name or? No, no. My former associate gave me my name. She named all of her creations after her favorite smells. Hmm. Oh, that's lovely.

There was a bunch of us. There was me, there was oatmeal, there was apple pie, there was pussy. There was a bunch of us. Wow. It's so nice to see other people having to hear this. It's really just bringing everything into sharp perspective. This has been a day.

That took me a bit by surprise. This has been a day. You, what was your name? Wow, it was just thrown out there so quick. Did you say, said, help? My name is Fearne. Yeah. I get so, I've heard of creatures like you.

Oh, you have? Have you ever met another automaton such as myself? No. But you've heard. I've only met the ones that my former associate created, so I haven't gotten a chance to talk to many others. So if you ever hear of any, I'd love to meet more. I will make sure to let you know. Thank you.

What's your name? Oh, I'm Imogen Timmelt. Imogen Timmelt, okay. Nice to meet you. Like what you did with the lightning, that was pretty cool. Thank you, you know, I've been working on it. Thank you.

She's quite naturally talented. Very gifted. Clearly. Fresh, was your associate also from the Talon Highlands? No, she came from Basuras. Oh, all right. Yeah, that's where we originated and went out on our journeys and adventures.

I was part of a group of adventurers of all sorts of different, exciting folks. Yeah, we worked out of Basras. Where's Basras? Is that here in Marquet? Yeah, it is in Marquet, in the O'deer and Wilds. Oh! We passed by. That's what I said. Entsaways.

Is that far away from the Talon Highlands? It's loosely between the O'deeran Wilds and the Talon Highlands. It's a central nexus point between many of the different regions of Markeia. Where is your former group? Oh. They're not around anymore.

Things went a little south in a... Oh, I'm so sorry. ...job in a silver mine not too far away. You don't have to get into it if you don't want to. No, it's fine. It's better to confront tragedy when it happens and sort of admit it. Yeah, they were, they didn't make it.

And I was unable to heal them. Oh gosh, we're sorry. How long ago was that? When did we meet? That was a couple months ago, I got to say, at this point. Not that long ago. Time moves very weird when there's not a lot of sun down, sun up. How did they die?

We were... No, it's okay. I would like to know as well. Okay, yes. I feel like I'm taking up a lot of the spotlight here when we haven't even met this little fellow over here. I'm warm. I'm good. I'm curious, too. Go ahead, please.

Well, yeah, we were on a mission in this silver mine, hired by a family to clear it out because there was monsters in there. We got as far into it as we could, but we met with a lot more resistance than we expected and had to retreat, come out, make camp and sort of rest for the night. Well, I was in a stasis mode, which is what y'all call sleep, I think. And when I came to, they were all deceased.

Very deceased. Tragic. Yeah. Ashton came upon me some time later. I'm not quite sure how long, but. In theory, a few days later, I got paid to go see what the fuck had happened. Letters over here was the only survivor.

Yeah. I didn't mean to pry. No, no, it's fine. It's best that we all know everything about each other. Did you keep their corpses? Yeah. Well, you know what? Just saying they're a great resource.

You know what? I actually did keep parts of them. Really? Not their corpses. It's not morbid like that, but a dancer, my former associate, she had made some other automatons. Gizmos and gadgets, some that were pretty sophisticated and some that weren't. I grabbed a few of their parts that I can use now. So I pull out the saw blade

and the bolt thrower and a hammer tool that was attached to something else at one point. Very resourceful. Yeah, but I left the bodies. We covered them up as best we could and gave them a proper-ish burial. It did its job.

It's heartbreaking when a soul touched like that passes away. And it was wonderful that Ashton came along when they did. Soul touched? Oh yeah, that's folk like you, with souls. You don't have a soul? I would assume not. How do you know?

Well, I can't do a lot of the things that you can do. Were you sad when you lost your group? I imagine so, but that could have been something that Dancer sort of made me think. Well, I think only souls can be sad. I hope you're right. I don't see how that's possible, but all right.

I was built out of parts. Yeah, but anything's possible. Technically, we're all built out of parts. Yes. Very fair. And technically, we don't know if we have souls, either. Hmm, that's a very good point. Very sketchy on my end. I'm pretty sure you got one.

You, you were very adept with that sword, and all of the acrobatics reminded me of myself 50 years ago. You're pretty good out there, too. Thank you. What's your story? Well, I'm from overseas. Where overseas?

Tal'Dorei. Oh. Oh, wow. That's really far. What parts? All over, really. I was quite the traveler. Originally from Whitestone, but that was a long time ago.

What sort of place is that? A shitty one. And you? Oh. That's not a very interesting story. I've been living in this city for quite a few years now, just picking up odd jobs, living in the Core Spire. Got a nice place, got a nice life.

Beats anything else I've found so far. And your name is Ashton? Is that right? Yes. Ashton Greymoore. Ashton Greymoore. Ooh. Ashton Greymoore. Yeah. Still local. I like it here.

It's fun. We saw. So y'all reckon we all want to go meet this lord? Damn it, I keep forgetting his name. Eshteross. Eshteross. Yes. Sorry, I fell asleep. How soon would you be wanting us to meet him?

I mean, my time is your time. Do you need to take a nap? I just took care of that. Is this, are we talking about tomorrow, or? No, what time is it? The sun at this point is close to set at this point, and it's turning to nighttime. Oh, yes, yes.

Tomorrow will be fine, first thing. No time like the present, except not the present, the future present. Hmm, all right. Well, I imagine we should get eggs back to Shadana. Oh my gosh, the vegetables. The vegetables. Shit.

Does this place put you up for the night? They do, as far as I remember. They can, yeah. They have rooms. This place is great. How far are we from here from Estros Manor? You're probably about 15, 20-foot walk from here.

Oh! It's how far? We're right, we're basically. Did you say 20 feet? We're here, we're right. Sorry, 20-minute break. I was like, it's next door. Sorry, 15 to 20-minute walk.

Got it, got it. My bad. Sorry, just minute walk. My bad. Sorry, just woke up. I'm breaking. We certainly could stay here for the night. Do you need to meet with someone? Oh, well, we have a place over in the windows. The windowed wall. Meet us in the morning.

Sure, yeah. What time were you thinking? Oh, first light? Oh, no, that's not going to work for Ashton. I mean, if you don't mind waking me up, I'll just, you know, get a couple drinks to me and fall asleep as quick as possible. You're very, very cranky, though,

and not, I mean, not pleasant at all. Am I not cranky and unpleasant? That's true. Thank you. That's true. This would just be the same, but earlier. Yeah. All right. I need the money. I'm not going, but earlier. Yeah. All right. I need the money. I'm not going to pretend I don't.

All right. First light, then. We have an accord. First light. Room's on me. Wait, what? Very generous. Well, of course.

I appreciate you putting yourself out there like this. It's very admirable. Do you want a room or do you want to go home? I mean, we're here. Fair. Yeah. Yeah, it'll be much easier waking up if we don't have to walk here. That's great, I'm into that.

By all means, how many rooms? Any roomies? No, let's go nuts. Private rooms. Oh, I mean, I don't need that, but sure. You know, whatever you need. Just go for it. Just paying.

Private, one for each of you? It matters to me, yeah. Nobody wants to... Okay, okay. Not a problem. I'll be back. Got to go to the ATM? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Drinks are on me, top shelf, top shelf, top shelf.

So you walk over to the side as she is over there finishing the conversation with a couple of other clientele at the bar. It's like, that's when... I'm going to help you. Rooms for the evening for one, two, three, four, five, six, seven days. None for us. We have a place.

Oh, great. For six rooms. Oh, we can do six rooms for the night, you said? I'm going to quietly try and signal to Ashir that this person's got money. Let's go with one gold a night per room. Nice, fair, you know, friends and family discount since you got a friendly face.

I do, I do. And for the six, could we call it maybe four gold? Make a persuasion check. Oh, god, that's balls. I think that's a seven. You're going to let out that squeaker. That's terrible. What's that?

It's less, it's a six. I understand where you're coming from. Like, you've got to, I'm running a business here. Sure, yeah, six gold. I'm going to walk up behind him. Wait, is there, were we trying to figure out rooms here? Right, well, this. Yes, this is one of our parties.

Six rooms, just paid for. Let me get the keys for you. Oh, did you get a discount or anything like that on account of us helping the town and everything? And saving your establishment from rogues and tables? Oh, I heard something about that tale out there. Yeah. Get on you, I guess. Would you want to give a little discount?

I'm going to try to persuade him. You make a persuasion check. Okay. The higher DC. Stand by. I intentionally made this very hard and I'm quite pleased. Yeah. What am I?

Persuasion. Persuasion. Persuasion. Is that pronounced? Oops, cacked. Cacked. Kicked. Nine. No.

M's my rates. Okay, well. It's really no trouble at all. Okay. Did someone say negotiate? No. Keys are passed out for the rooms that are necessitated, six rooms.

One, two, three, four, five, six. Very well, here you go. Have a good night. Thank you. Grins. All right, well. Pointy, toothy grin. I'll stand up, Laudna.

Yeah. Get our basket of food. Till tomorrow. It was really wonderful working with y'all. Mm-hmm. See you in the morning. It was fun beating the shit out of people with you. Or things, things. It actually kind of was. It was fun. It felt good.

Sleep tight, Bertrand. Bertrand hears in his head as we leave, thank you so much. Ooh. And we. Who the fuck was that? Who the fuck was that? Who the fuck was what? You guys are going to kill him.

That heart attack. And they exit into the now darkened night sky. Oh, oh. Ooh! The moonlight breaking down from above, lighting the stone across the streets. Not as busy as the day was, but still folks wandering through,

but you have a straight shot onto the windowed wall. The rest of you have your rooms about you and at your disposal. How are you feeling about everything? I feel fine. That was a little overwhelming. It was a lot overwhelming. That was a lot of people. Yeah. But, I mean, it was really interesting to see a whole bunch of people that, you know, kind of do the same thing that we do.

I agree. Were they in your heads at all? Did you get any... You know, after what happened over at the conservatory, the whole rest of the day has just been a bit of a cacophony. So I didn't really hear anything particular. It was kind of hard to hear the conversation at the table, to be honest. But, yeah, I mean, everybody seemed real nice. Yeah. Maybe this could get us that recognition. That's what I'm hoping.

I mean, if we can get enough notice, then maybe we can get, you know, somebody to pay attention to us and then we can actually get in. And if this goes horribly wrong, we could always leave. Sure, we have that option. Yeah. And worst case scenario, I mean, make a little coin, get us some money so we can actually travel in style. That would be nice. Yeah.

I've grown to like Shadana, though. I really do like her. I hope she doesn't mind that a few of the eggs got cracked. I just blame it on the broom. Yeah, she's never going to believe this. As you both approach the outside of the windowed wall, you can see at the base the massive neighborhood that is slowly curling up in

different shapes against the rocky exterior of the Core Spire base. These hundreds of abodes and homes of different colors painted over the rock on the outside to stand out against the patchwork neighborhood. In front of you, you can see all manner of platforms and stairways and ladders that lead up to different portions of it. And at this point in the night, you can see a lot of the porches that are built out front of these are filled with families and folks that are sitting out there and kind of looking at this beautiful view. Because from upward, more than like 30 or so feet and beyond, up windowed wall, you get a beautiful view just past the ledge of the roads on the outside of the

spire and down into the dark jungle below. As you eventually climb your way up, and it takes about ten minutes or so to get up to where she lives, as I tingle on the name, you approach the door and you can see the door is partially open. There's a little warm light coming from inside, and you hear what sounds like scrubbing. As you glance through, you can see the older woman, her stark white hair is currently let down past her shoulder. She's wearing a comfortable robe,

a softer robe for the night, and she's in the process of finishing cleaning out dishes. Doesn't even notice your approach. Shadana! Shadana! Oh, you've come. You will never believe what happened to us today in the market.

Now, we got you the eggs that you wanted, but a few of them cracked. Sorry about that. That's all right. Just still be good for tomorrow. I could cook them up now. How about up? Well, tell you what.

We had a really nice meal already. Crazy story. But we're going to be getting up first thing in the morning, so maybe a nice breakfast? All right. I'm more than happy to do so. I hope your day in the city was enjoyable. It was fantastic.

Let me finish these dishes for you. Here, you go. Sit down. Sit down finish these dishes for you. Here, you go sit down. Sit down, Shadona. Please. Very well. She walks over to her little Ottoman cushion that she sits on when she does her knitting or reading a book, and she stretches out her feet a bit

and slips them into her slippers and looks back. Shadona, have you heard of Lord Escheros I have oh you have I've not seen him but he's certainly one of the one of the odd

recluses of the city have you heard good things bad things I've heard good things, bad things? I've heard strange things. Great. All right. Oh, we're strange recluses. It's true.

Caught from the same cloth. What was it he used to work for? There was a... What was her name? It's a very nice woman. Mistress Prudage. That long time ago lived in that house, that estate. But when she passed, Lord Westeros took over. How long ago was that?

Oh, maybe 20 years ago. Okay. Wow. Would you like me to get some of your knitting? Oh, I've got it right here, actually. She leans over and pulls out some of her stuff and says, I'm thinking about making you a pair of socks. That would be just wonderful a pair of socks.

That would be just wonderful. Color of preference. Oh, well, you know what? How about a nice color that matches this scarf? Very well. Thank you. She begins, quietly adjusts her glasses and focuses on her work at hand as you finish doing the dishes. We tell her all about the broom and the everything

and the craziness as she continues to eat. She's like, that sounds wild! Like, half-interested and also really focused on her work. The rest of you retire to your various rooms for the night. I'm going to get out into the hallway and find Bertrand's room. Give it a little gunk, gunk, gunk, gunk. First ship, right?

Yes? Bertrand is naked. I'm sorry, it's 7.30. Were you asleep? 7.30 in the morning? No, it's still, it's barely. We just saw each other 30 minutes ago downstairs. Yes.

I'm sorry. Were you? I feel really. Oh, yes. No, no, no. No, no. I remember. I'm sorry. Who are you? I feel really... Oh yes! No, no, no, no, no. I remember, I'm sorry. I work a lot during the day. How can I be of service? Gosh, this is stupid.

You said that you know a lot of talent here in town. You help hire or find people for the type of work you're talking about? Well, from time to time. I've made quite a name for myself in various cities, and so my name carries a certain weight. And I know that for a fact, this Lord Eshteross is in need of people.

And for the moment, it seems that talent is sparse. So people know you. Do you know people? I do. I do. Do you know a man by the name of Brescio? Oshad Brescio? Bresciad Brescio? Oshad. Oshad Brescio.

Does that kick anything around in the old noodle? Roll a history check. Hold on to your butts. Nine. Nine. Nope. Rashad Brario. That's your final form. It's like a snapshot of the future.

It's a dark mirror. There you go. Richard! Brodeboro. What about... Richard Benson. I'll just try one more. What about somebody named The Anger? Does that mean anything to you?

The Anger? Yeah, I know it's a long shot. No, I do feel like I would remember someone just. Yeah, it's a pretty specific name. Someone here in Jrusaj. Yeah, a friend of a friend of a friend, yeah. Saddler. Oh.

Okay. A friend of yours, though, not? Not of mine, just someone I know is here. Somebody capable, like us, maybe more so. So I thought you might have crossed paths. Well, I mean, if his name is the Anger, I mean, is it worth bringing him in on our little venture? Would he be of asset?

Maybe. Got to track him down first. Ah. Perhaps, just perhaps, we could arrange this introduction first, and then we can bring him in on our merry adventures. Okay. Yeah. All right, cool.

Sorry, didn't mean to wake you up. Really good sword work out there, though. I look up and down the hall. It's okay. Did you need anything? I take him by the finger and I lead him over. I think it's time for a, this is, I'm going to go. See you in the morning, Orym. You got it, Bell.

Good night. I shut the door and just soak that really bad interaction in for a second. Fuck. I walk down the hall and I find Dorian and Fearne. Come with me. We show up at your door. Can we talk in your room for a minute? Yes, yes, come in, come in.

I kind of want to do this thing, but I didn't want to speak for the two of you. Who? What thing? What this guy Bella's talking about. I don't even know really where to start. And this seems like it's probably a dead end, but it know really where to start. And this seems like it's probably a dead end, but it's at least a start.

We were just pointed in a direction. How we achieve what we're trying to achieve is up to us, I suppose. We don't know anyone here. Yeah. Are you okay with it? I'm along for the ride. I know we have things to do, but I... I know you don't like to take the lead on,

but this is your choice. I think it's stupid. I don't think it's going to work, but there's something biting at the back of my brain. I feel like we've done pretty well with stupid so far. Yeah. Okay. Well, stick with what works, I guess. Okay. You feel okay about it?

Yeah. I'm not going to figure it out all at once. This is just day one, not even. Is it okay that we take this detour? Will she be okay with it? I think so. If we're lucky, it's not a detour. Probably is a detour.

Just a little one. We could take a little detour. Yeah. And this is quite a fun group. Yeah. Yeah. Well? I don't think I'm quite ready for bed. Oh!

I'm gonna go down and see what the tavern has to offer. Once again, you don't have to follow me. You're the leader. Go down. Have fun. You're the leader. Go down. Have fun. Fair enough. Bye. Friend? I did kind of want one more glass of milk and whiskey.

One, just one. Yeah, yeah, yeah, let's go, let's go. Come on, come on, come on. We'll definitely sleep better. Yes, okay. Is Kalián playing cards? Currently, yes. Have you guys got any two rooms?

I'm with Ashton, so if we're still down, I'm still down. I dropped my stuff off and went right, I was going to go right back down and have some drinks and play some fucking cards. I'd be looking downstairs for anyone who looks really, really tipsy, like super tipsy or drunk. Is there anyone?

At this point in the day, there's one person really drunk. It's like 8.30-ish. Oh, it's still early. Well, I ain't going to stay down there until I see someone who's really, really looking bad. And I'll just kind of watch Ashton. Okay, we'll stay between these conversations and such. About like 9.30,

me pushing 10 or so, you guys get down there. While you have been... I saw that there's a card game going on, and I'm going to bet against the tower. Okay, so you're just carousing. Oh, yeah. This is good fun.

I got some money in my pocket, so I'm going to go with it. Roll a 20 for me. How much are you into? I rolled 10. How much money are you into? Oh. You know, I got 10 gold How much money are you into? Oh. You know I got 10 gold in my pocket to burn. Sure.

You lose five of it. Fair. Was that just, was that Rollies? Did we just play Rollies? Just played Rollies. Rollies. Seriously? Oh my god, I'm going to be so addicted to Rollies!

Guys, Rollies is the greatest game that we invented. We'll tell you about it. It's pretty exciting. You heard it here first. Rollies. Darn good book. Oh man. While Ashton's playing, I'm going to roll over

and just say, Ashton, hey. Yeah, yeah. Can I just pick your brain about something real quick? Yeah, yeah, yeah, no, no, no. Yeah, so these new folk that we've encountered, they seem very interesting. They do. Are you okay if one of them lied to us a little bit?

Don't look at my cards. And a half-giant is inside the table that you're in between. Oh, sorry. We all know your cards are shit. You've got such a fucking tell. that you're in between. You have the wheels, the handbag, you have the chain. Oh, sorry. We all know your cards are shit. You've got such a fucking tell. Fuck you. Fuck you. Honestly, if one of them's lying,

I kind of like them better. All right. I just wanted you to be aware. I really appreciate that. I mean, clearly we've got to know. I trust you. I trust you. You would have no reason not to. No, definitely not.

So how do you feel about this group? Oh, I'm really interested in digging in with them and seeing what they got going on, because there seems like a lot of backstory there. This is why we're friends. I can't wait to see what sort of shit you uncover. I'll turn to the half giant or shit?

Yeah, go ahead. I apologize, I did see all of your cards, so you might want to just reshuffle and redeal. They're very poor cards. You have a tell. Sure. In folds. Roll again.

Well, first of all, you roll. You still have five more gold. You said you were ready to burn. Are you putting that up or anything? Yeah, I'll put that up. Actually, yeah, I'll put another five. So another 10. Rollies! Roll 10. Rollies!

Rollies! One. Oh! Oh! No! 10 gold guns. Burn it! No!

Best game ever, y'all. We'll release the rule book later. We're game-defining geniuses. You can tell it's real close. We need some play testing before we do that. I'm gonna saunter over. I'm going to go see, I'm going to help Ashton just a little bit.

Sure. Happy with your drink? I am. All right. One second. Barkeep, what was your name again? Look over at the individuals there at the edge. Ashir.

Ashir's my name. Ashir, nice to meet you. My name is Dorian, and I am a bard. I was curious if you had any entertainment for the evening. Yeah, let's see. Gives you a real, it goes from the smiling, you know, patron walks up to a fucking musician, kind of a glare, and gives you a look over, make a persuasion check.

That would be a seven. Seven goes. We don't have entertainment for the evening. If you want to play, do it near the front door. That way, if it goes poorly, it's quicker to kick you out. Deal, and listen, I work for tips. Good luck. And I'm very happy about it now.

I'm going to say so much. Cold in here fast. Where a bouncer normal would be, I'm just going to set up a little spot for me. I'm going to... You go over and as you start setting up, there's a nearby table of three kind of soot cover, hand cover, almost minor types.

You see one that's a half-elf, probably pretty deep into his cups. You see what looks to be another human who's kind of youngish, kind of thin, but scraggly, like scratching his neck. And a half-orc who's kind of youngish, kind of thin but scraggly, like scratching his neck, and a half-orc who's in the process of gargling a drink, and all of them look over at you,

sit up, and go, oh, fuck. And I'll sit down, and I'll pull my lyre out and tune it, and wing, wing, wing, wing, wing, not quite right, and it tunes for a little bit too long.

And then he looks over at the half-orc and goes, what's your favorite song? Jordan, Fetch My Whiskey. Don't know it! And I just start playing. Make a performance check. Oh my god! Is it a one? Tell me. That would be a one. Make a performance check. Oh my god!

Is it a one? Tell me it's a one. That would be a one. Yes! Plus seven. Natural one. Natural one. You get that grin on your face. Holy shit.

And people are starting to lean over in anticipation for like, this guy's got some bravado. He's got some confidence. And there is an air about you of like, you don't know what you're in for. Ping! String breaks.

First strum in. Immediately. Laughter starts picking up around the space. I immediately sink into myself. Put my lyre back., quietly pick up my things, accidentally drop one of them, pick it up again, and walk back over to Fern. Not my bad. Are you Dorian Storm? No, no, no, no, no.

Oh my goodness. Please, please, please. You are incredible. Wow, can you play us another song? The great orange storm feared by all twingy things. Oh, he's amazing. You have no idea. Destroyer of silence is what I add.

All right, I'm going to, fuck, I'm going to unclip the handle of my axe, which is also my flute. Oh, shit! And I am going to try one more time to play. This is my favorite instrument that he plays, actually. Please, please, please, please. I can only performance check.

It is a higher DC, because it's not turning into a tough crowd. Oh no! That'd be a six plus seven. 13. 13, 13, okay. Everyone's waiting for this to be a disaster, but it's actually decent. To the point where people aren't cheering,

but they've lost interest in focusing on the music and just are letting it be background now. They've gone back to their business. You do see one... It's one of these flutes, not one of these. They've got to be clarified. One of these. You see from the back room,

a younger dwarf woman walks up. She has a leather vest over a elbow cut sleeve. Her hair is slicked back and short. She has what looks to be a gem that is embedded in her cheek. You see over one shoulder she has herself a lyre.

She walks up and tosses a gold and goes, It's a tough crowd, honey. But you're doing the work. Hoot. Thank you. And she exits. So you make a gold. Yes!

I'm another musician who felt bad for you. Thanks, Byrne. Pretty good. I'm going to post up just laying back against the bar behind the guy that Ashton is playing cards with so I can see his cards and try to communicate. There's two people playing cards with Ashton. Okay. There's the half giant

and then there's the large pachydon who normally guards the door. Okay, so I'm just going to try to stand between the two of them so I can see their cards. Okay, make a perception check from that distance. Actually, make two checks for me. Make a stealth check and then a perception check. And I'd like to just see if I notice her doing this.

Okay, make a perception check. I'm making a stealth check, okay. First. 12. Okay, what'd you roll? 17. You definitely see her doing this. Okay.

And now what am I, I'm rolling a, what was the other thing? Perception. Perception. Okay. Oh no! Caught? 10. 10. The Pachydon, towering Kaleon, as you know,

kind of twitches over the shoulder and shifts the cards closer to their chest to where you have no opportunity to see. The half giant is now like scratching their head on the cards and completely oblivious. You can catch out like two of the cards, but not the full one.

I'm going to cast Detect Thoughts on the player who's going, the P the full one. Okay. I'm going to cast Detect Thoughts on the player who's going again, the pachydon. Okay. What's the DC? 13. 13? At first, you just get a brief hit of soupy thoughts, things that involve, Oh, what's my play?

What? No, I feel like we're being surrounded. I certainly hope Ashton's not trying to play me. That would make me angry. He's not thinking about his card, though. Damn it. And then goes, Well, if I drop the two stones card,

draw, that might... I think I've got a decent chance. Okay. Okay. I'll roll on over to Fearne and sort of try to whisper. Hello, Fresh Cut Grass. I think he's dropping a two stones card and sort of trying to whisper. Hello, Fresh Cut Grass. I think he's dropping a two stones card

and drawing something else. Okay. Okay, let's just- Take that information and do with it what you will. Great, great, great. I just look at Ashton. I'm going to say eight more gold on the pot.

The pachyderm says, and then Janya goes, Do it for my taste. He goes out and starts gathering his things. Now it's just between you and the tower and Calianna. Fearne, what are you doing? Hmm. I'm just standing back here, just looking at him,

just trying to let them know that I am halfway seeing some of the cards here. I am so focused on this shit. I ain't seeing it. I am deep in my weird card playing showdown fantasy. You're weird. Motherfucker. Yep.

Eight more. Roll. Roll ease. Rollies. Rollies. Four. Oh shit! No! No! Rollies is the hardest thing to master.

It takes a minute to learn, but a lifetime to master. Calion collects the money. Always a pleasure playing with you. Fuck. I'm going to get a drink. He gets up and heads over towards the bar. That guy, addicted to rollies. Well, thank you for trying to help my friends.

We can work on it. We'll have to to help my friends. We can work on it. We'll have to work on some communication. We can make a system. Yeah, I think they weren't even looking at me was the problem. I don't think they were. I'm going to wander back to the bar. Well, I'm going to go to bed. Good night.

Oh, good night. Sleep tight. Good night. I clock the earring around his waist before I go to bed. Do you make any sort of, do I notice that you clock it? I'll make a perception. Perception, perception, perception.

Wow, I'm going to put this one away. I got a four. Counterperception. I'm going to say, you're too frustrated, but also the thrill of losing. Sure, no, I'm into four. Count it for a second. I'm going to say you're too frustrated, but also the thrill of losing. Sure, no, I'm into it. It's a good time. Yeah, you definitely clocked.

Okay. Sleep well, you two. I don't sleep? I'll come with you. Yeah, yeah, that was fun. I'll not with you, with you. I'll go to my room and you go to yours. Okay, okay. Was it one of these two that was fun. I'll not with you, with you. I'll go to my room and you go to yours. Okay.

Was it one of these two that was full of shit? Once they're gone. One of these two that was full of shit? Yeah, yeah, it was the very clean one that was full of shit. Oh. Huh, I wouldn't have pegged that. Interesting. Yeah.

We'll just keep our eyes on him. Yeah. Oh, what time is it? At this point, you're getting closer to midnight, I'd say. Got to wake up soon. Fuck work. Okay. Time for bed. Before I head up, I'll find the drunkest person

in the place and give them my room key. Okay. The drunkest person is passed out on a table. I will try to help them up, the drunken person is passed out. I will try to help them up to the room and put them to sleep. Oh. As they pull their face up, you see a half-orc with big, bushy sideburns

and a receding hairline. Looks like they're wearing an outfit of one of the Wardens or the Wilders, the guard that maintained the city. He looks like he's a little rag and had a rough day. He's like, It's all right, you'll be fine tomorrow. You just need to sleep.

Here, take this bed. Okay, weird thing. I definitely exist. This isn't a dream. Ah, weird. He just goes along with it. Doesn't even argue. game. How weird. It just goes along with it. Doesn't even argue.

Sometimes I do that after these games when I get home. How weird. All right, does everyone go off to bed for the night? Long rest. All right, long rest. Oh, so many things night? Long rest. All right, long rest. Oh, so many things. You guys, first long rest of May 3rd. Oh my god. First roll.

First long rest. Bertrand's had like four, though. I wake up at 5 a.m. naturally. Eventually, you all take your mornings and gather on the outside of the Spires by Fire Inn and collect yourselves to meet with Bertrand onto what your plans are for the day. Bertrand, as you see them assembled, the day is yours.

Ah, sleepyheads. About time. Morning. Okay, Bertrand, as you see them assembled, the day is yours. Ah, sleepy heads, about time. Morning. My third bowl of grape nuts, don't I? How did everyone sleep? Fine, fine. Fine. Like a baby. And ladies, your travel was uneventful, safe?

Yes. Yeah, same as it always. Well, should we get some food in our stomachs and be on our way? I'm sure Lord Eshteross will be thrilled to see all of you. Oh, I already ate, but thank you. Very well. Anyone else? I will definitely take some food.

I'll grab and go. Yeah, we can grab and go. My little friend, is there something that you would care to eat? I ate some nails last night, and I am fine now. So thank you for asking, though. How often do you have to eat nails? Just when I need to just prepare myself.

And it's not always nails. It's whatever I need. That's fascinating. Mm-hmm. Insight check. Make an insight check. I don't even know why I'm rolling. 11.

I need to eat nails. Or other pieces of metal. That's an interesting thing, though. You eat the metal, and then your body just repairs itself. It's a very complicated system that Dancer sort of made for me. And yes, it's a self-repairing system. I didn't design it, so I don't quite know how it works,

but it needs raw materials to operate. It's just amazing. Is there any sort of, I don't know how to ask this. Waste. Byproduct? Oh, that's a fine question. Sometimes I have to consume rocks that have metal in them, and the rock part that I don't really need,

the minerals that I don't use, I just sort of... Oh, you puke it back out. Like an owl. Yeah, yeah. Or a... Mm. Oh, interesting.

Yeah. Sometimes it takes a little while to get it up, so if you hear me go, . I can't look at that. Sometimes it takes a little while to get it up. So if you hear me go. SAM and LAURA, SAM and LAURA, I can't look at that. That's why. I almost started. That's why I'm doing that. That's why.

Yeah. I was wondering how long it was going to commit. No, no. Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey. Thank you. That was just in 5.1 surround sound. Do you have control over when you regurgitate, or is it just whenever the spirit moves you?

No, I can control it. If it disturbs you, I can do it when I'm alone. Honestly. I mean, no, it's fine. I don't mind it at all. It's strangely calming. I like you so much. You hear his shudder from about 20 feet back go, I don't mean any offense here, but if you're going to go ahead and continue

this sort of sounds amongst my other breakfast-eating patrons, I'll ask you to do it outside if you don't mind. Absolutely fine. Thank you. Maybe we just grab and go. We're good to go. I'll just wait outside of the tavern today. I'm not going to go in. Okay, so you grab yourself some food. You're paying for it?

Yes. Put it on my tab. You don't have a tab. Okay. Four silver for everyone's grab-and-go meal. No tab, Joker. Let's go! Oh, I'm leading the way!

Yes, I'm sure it's this way. Follow me. Oh my gosh. Start making our way towards Esthteross Manor. We're going to get lost, aren't we? No, no, no. Sir Bael? Mr. Bertrand? You can call me Bertrand.

Bertrand. How long have you been an associate of Mr. Lord Eshteross? A few months. Oh, all right. Have you been in the city that long or longer? Oh, much longer. Jrusar, in particular, just the past few months. Oh, all right. Haven't been in the city that long or longer? Oh, much longer. Jrusar, in particular, just the past few months. But I try and visit all the beautiful areas

of Marquet that I can. So much to take in, so little time. Very little time. Yes. Hmm. Yes. But he's a wonderful man, as is his lady, and I think you'll find him very entertaining.

He has a strange manner about him. Great. What does that mean? He can be a bit mysterious. He has an interesting charm. Hard to pin down. We'll see soon enough, I suppose. How was y'all's night? Expensive.

Oh, really? I thought Mr. Bertrand was paying for... Oh, I played cards. Oh. You know, I'm real good at cards. Really? Mm-hmm. We should play sometime. I would be delighted to lose money to you.

You definitely would. That's not an impressive feat, if that means anything. We, if you don't mind, I did an awful lot of talking about myself yesterday, but we didn't really get much about you. And Laudna? Mm-hmm. Why are you two strong individuals

moving about the city? What are you out for? Oh, well, you know, we just started, you know, Laudna came through my town a couple years back and we hit it off real well and just decided to start traveling together. And, you know, we like to tour around Marquette and just kind of see different. So you're like backpackers?

A bit, yeah. You know, we came to Jussard because we heard it had a wonderful, you know, just all these different like restaurants and places. You know, I'm just not real good at this. We're going to the conservatory. I just really wanted to go to the conservatory. We're looking for answers. What's the conservatory? Answers.

Oh, let me just tell you, the Starpoint Conservatory actually is this really uppity university, school that has apparently a wide range of books and things that you can research if maybe you go there or pay tuition or whatever. And it's just real hard to get in

and we've been trying for a while, but apparently, what you need is clout. So hopefully we'll get something to that. Of course, the Starpoint, I actually sponsor a section of their library. You do not. I do. Well, we don't even have to fight. Can you give us access then?

Yeah, could you maybe write a letter of recommendation or walk us in? That would be the most amazing thing. Yes, not a problem. How serious? Insight check. Listen, can I reach out? Natural 20 serious? Insight check. Natural 20. Make a distinction check.

I'm going to just cast Detect Thoughts because I want to hear it right away. Six. Can I cast Detect Thoughts on the first turn? That's an expensive private school. I want to know if you actually have connections to get here. No, there's a lot of people around here right now. I'm going to cast.

You guys use a spell. Let's go ahead and make a, is it a charisma saving throw or a wisdom saving throw? That would be, I don't know. Is that a second level spell? Motherfucker. It's a wisdom save. Let's make a wisdom saving throw.

First wisdom saving throw of the modifier, zero. Get on the train. Woo, natural 19. Oh fuck! Mine like a steel trap. You don't carve too deep into his mind, but you definitely see a bit of bullshittery. Huh.

So you just want to go to school for the glory of education? No, I don't care about school. Or is there something specific you're trying to focus? It's a fancy fucking school. It's just really hard. You're very gifted. You are very gifted. You're both very gifted. Thank you.

But no, yeah, it's just a means to an end, if you will. What's the end? I just really want to learn about just different things. I would like to know where this stuff comes from. Focus on things that were one said. This stuff? Oh, magic. Sure. Have you tried applying as a student?

They were very enigmatic about how to apply. Oh, well, it's all about who you know. Like any sort of application, you can just run it up the chain. Yeah, so they keep telling us. Yeah. Yeah, you should have your parents write you a letter. Hmm.

Yeah. This would be an excellent start for that. I'm sure the lord and lady put it in good word. I mean, that's what I am hoping, sir. If you say so. All right. About this time, you come upon the exterior of an impressive estate

of deep red rock and teal stone accents throughout it, framed with wrought iron. It is beautiful and what looks to be at least three stories, not built into the rock, but emerging a bit from it, with a courtyard and a high metal fence around it. You can see the massive, almost patinaed wooden door You can see the massive, almost patinaed wooden door

that sits at the front with what looks to be metal bars across the front. Not from an actual barring standpoint, from a design standpoint, with a beautiful brass door knocker on the front. Okay. We're here. Just follow my lead.

Keep your chins up. Stand up straight. Straight. Straight, Ashton. That's good enough. Keep your hands to yourself, don't touch anything, and do as I do. Nothing to worry about.

Bertrand, do they know we're coming? What kind of question is that? They expect me at all hours. Make some brief pauses. Frau Bruka. The door opens slightly, and there you see, standing in the doorway, what looks to be a middle-aged elven woman

with light auburn hair, bits of lighter color near the temples. You see she is wearing a shawl and has a simple but well-made dress of black and silver. And she peeks up around the door. Hello? Sobel.

I'm uncertain the masker was expecting you. I believe he said to drop by whenever I procured additional talent. Just a moment. You have so many servants and whatnot. It's hard to be on a first-name basis. Sure. The master will see you.

Come this way. I will ask to follow me and follow me directly. Do not wander at your own safety at hand, so be careful. You enter the interior of this chamber, and it is very, very, very low light. You can immediately see it's a beautiful interior of dark wood halls,

and it looks like a staircase that descends upstairs. It looks like there are a number of decorative statuettes placed on small tables, and intricate inlays amongst the marble, like almost gold leafing in the corners. It is a very, very amazing, old, beautiful house. It all looks extremely dusty. And there is, other than a handful of lanterns,

all the windows are closed. There's very little interior light. She leads you to the right, down the right-hand hallway. And then eventually, partway through that hallway to the left, there is a door that is partially open. She goes, The master will see you inside his study. Thank you.

What was your name? I'm Evelyn Ress. I am the caretaker of the masterer, Lord Eryx Estoros. Everyone be calm. Sure. Here we go. Push the door open. All right. As you all step inside the chamber,

immediately you see the crackling fireplace across the room that is one of the only light sources in the interior space. You can see torches on the walls, magically lit, that just slightly crackle. All you can hear is the snapping of wood across the way. With what light that goes across this, and it's a long study, it's just open, ominous space.

Across the floor, you see two fur rugs of massive beasts. Looks like a tiger and a bear that have been laid out in the center of the chamber for decor. You can see shelves of books on both sides. Looks like a desk and decorations and banners hanging from the walls. And across the way, facing the fireplace,

away from you, is a tall back leather chair. As you all into the chamber and Evelyn kind of steps in behind you and just stands in the doorway. There's a pause. And a voice goes, Sir Bertrand, There's a pause. And a voice goes,

Sir Bertrand, it has been a moment since you stained my abode with your empty bravado. Did anyone see you enter? Ah. No, I can't imagine anyone would be looking. see you enter. Ah. Uh, no. I can't imagine anyone would be looking. We came early. And why do you return?

Well, Lord Asteros, I know you have a keen eye for talent and for those that might assist you in your endeavors, and I know it's been a few months since we last were able to work together, and I must say, I don't know if you heard of the dust-up yesterday in front of the Spire by Fire, but these individuals here handled the situation marvelously.

Word has come to my ears of this... event. You seem to speak highly of these individuals. How long have you known them? Oh. I just met them yesterday. But I've seen more than enough to know that they could handle anything that you threw at them.

Evelyn steps around and heads to the chair and grabs the back and pulls it with a little and begins to arrange it as a figure stands and turns. And you see, standing about six foot two, broad-shouldered in a deep crimson burgundy robe, the high collar, what looks to be some sort of a scarf that's just laying around the shoulders, wider neck,

an older, full-blood orc, sort of a scarf that's just laying around the shoulders, wider neck, an older, full-blood orc of grayish skin. Looks to be a pair of spectacles that are affixed behind the ears. A well-trimmed, almost like a Van Dyke-like goatee and beard, balled on top. And you can see,

with a little bit of light catches the side of the face, old scars. Turns around. In his left hand, you can see there is a solid metal cane with a heavy ball at the end that he clutches that hits the wood with heavy impact as he spins. Evelyn pushes the chair back in behind him, and he sits.

She returns back to the doorway. He goes and rests the cane beside the chair and leans forward. With a little bit of light that's crackling from the torches on cane beside of the chair and leans forward. With a little bit of light that's crackling from the torches on the sides of the walls, you can see he's in his later years. But that doesn't mean there isn't a power and a presence to him.

Do you lot feel as confident? Do you believe that you have much to offer? Because it depends on the context. What do you want? Oh, in general, or... That's a very large question. You're a fool, Butcher. No, my apologies, my lord. They seek coin, and merely the opportunity to prove themselves to you

and to make a name for themselves in Jrusar. I assured them that you were the ideal person to do such a thing. So you come to my abode to prove yourself. In a manner of speaking, yeah. He gives a nod and Evelyn steps out of the room and closes the door behind her. He sits there and places his hand on his cane.

Did she lock the door? Make a perception check. 14. 14? You faintly hear a. He stands up out of his chair. Unsettling. Then show me. Oh shit.

Throws the cane up in the air and catches it. Oh. And rushes. Ah! Ouch! And that's where we're in the episode. Oh! Fighting old men. I'm so hoping we got to fight an old guy.

This is great. Next episode, you may, you may. This campaign is about silver foxes only. I'm here for it, not gonna lie. Battling furniture and old people. It's that high fantasy that everyone wants. Oh shit. It's going down.

I don't want to wait. Omae wa mou shu! This is over! That was too easy. Gross. Well, there you go. We're off. Wow. First episode in the campaign.

Oh my god! Third campaign! Woo! Woo! Oh, the set looks amazing behind you right now. It's so beautiful. Everyone did such a fine job. The queues all look so good. Everyone did such a good job.

So many people worked so hard. Thank you. Thank you, production team. Yeah! Production team. That's amazing. That's it. Thank you all for joining us at home and at large.

We get to pick this up next week and see where this goes. But one, so happy to have you join us, Rob. Love you! Dude, Robby, I'm so glad you're here. It's a pleasure. Yeah. Thank you for joining us

and it's a Thursday up. Good night. Bravo, Robby! Thank you for listening to this episode of Critical Role. If you've enjoyed this ever-weaving story, please consider rating and reviewing our podcast.

You might just inspire someone new to hop on the wagon for the journey. We have plenty more stories to tell. Stay tuned, and we'll see you next time.