Critical Role - C3E27 A Race for the Prize

Episode Date: July 21, 2022

Bells Hells tend to their inner relationships before returning to the Seat of Disdain, but a surprising face in Paragon's Call rattles several members of the group... 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/PsycomResources Watch Critical Role Campaign 3 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. "It's Thursday Night (Critical Role Theme Song)" by Peter Habib and Sam Riegel Original Music by Omar Fadel and Hexany Audio "Welcome to Marquet" Art Theme by Colm McGuinness Additional Music by Universal Production Music, Epidemic Sounds, and 5 Alarm Character Art by Hannah Friederichs Twitch subscribers gain instant access to VODs of our shows like Critical Role, Exandria Unlimited, and 4-Sided Dive. But don't worry: Twitch broadcasts will be uploaded to YouTube about 36 hours after airing live, with audio-only podcast versions of select shows on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & Google Podcasts following a week after the initial air date. Twitch subscribers also gain access to our official custom emote set and subscriber badges and the ability to post links in Twitch chat!

Hi there. This is Taliesin Jaffe, and welcome to the podcast version of The Critical Role Show. If you would like to watch the stream as it airs, you can tune in on Thursdays at 7 p.m. Pacific at twitch.tv slash criticalrole, or at youtube.com slash criticalrole. The video-on-demand versions are immediately available for our Twitch subscribers or on YouTube the following Mondays at 12 p.m. Pacific. Podcast episodes are right here on the Critical Role Podcast Network on Thursdays one week after the initial broadcast. Now that you know all that, let's head into today's adventure. Hello, everyone, and welcome to tonight's episode of Critical Role, where a bunch of us nerdy-ass voice actors sit around and play Dungeons & Dragons. Yeah! Our first sponsor is Quip.

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I didn't know about that. Oh. They put him on top. For ice cream? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, the time life. Well, thank you, Sam and Ashley and Kripp. It was so good. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

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We have our first in-person event with all of the lovely critters in almost three years! Three years! I know! It's been a long panini. On July 23rd at 5PM Pacific, we're going to be doing a panel at San Diego Comic Con! We're back, baby! The amazing Christian Navarro will be moderating, and for our far away critters, the panel will be available on our YouTube channel at 10 a.m. Pacific on July 28th. Oh, Laura.

We have a shirt. The terror. We have a new logo shirt! Yay! It's called our Critical Role Gradient Logo T-shirt. Cool. It's called that. It's on our website.

Check it out. Gradient Logo. It's got our logo and it's a gradient and it's really pretty. It looks like our sunset setting on the set. That was the inspiration! You guys! That's so goy. What? Anyway.

I think with the arrival of our fantastic bards at the end of the table. Holy shit. I didn't think I could crush on you harder, but. Well, you know, I just. It got me. It's pretty good. It's really something else. Just Dallas is a.

It's a thing. Sorry about that. Well. I believe that finishes our announcements. So let's go ahead and jump into tonight's episode of Critical Role. Critical. Thursday night.

Critical. Thursday night. It's Thursday night. One by one we climb until we reach the top. Two by two we fall. Will we meet our end or meet our destiny? Hold your breath and roll. How do you want to do this?

It's Thursday night. All ye critters come join us. It's time to continue our flight There is magic and mystery Who knows what will happen He might But one thing's for sure We never give up on the fight

From the healer to the renegade We all share the same goal Adding more allies, taking more chances Hold your breath and roll You can certainly try It's Thursday night All ye critters come join us It's time to continue our fight

There is magic and mystery from darkness, our friendship will rise But one thing's for sure, we never give up on the fight Oh, get ready, it's Thursday night! And welcome back. Some folks were a little late on the draw that time. So, last we left off, Bells Hells here in the city of Bassuras, on the central southern side of the Hellcatch Valley,

have come at behest of Lord Eshteross to hunt down and return Lord Amon Treshi, who is responsible for much of the chaos in the city of Druessar. Upon arriving, you've gotten some interesting revelations Lord Amon Treshi, who is responsible for much of the chaos in the city of Druessar. Upon arriving, you've gotten some interesting revelations through meeting a new friend who themselves have lost some of their memory,

but have unique ties to the past of Fearne Calloway. Fearne, in reaching out to your mother, realizing that they're not that far away and in fact should be coming to Bassuras fairly soon. to your mother, realizing that they're not that far away and in fact, should be coming to Bassuras fairly soon. Upon trying to find a way into or decide how to get towards Armon Treshi, who is currently confirmed to be held

within the Seat of Disdain by the Paragon's Call faction of Crawlers, you have plotted some possibilities. In preparation for one of these possibilities, the event known as the Deathwish Run, the terrifying, deadly race that is utilized as a means of celebration or conflict management, or just searching for glory or death within this city could be a means of getting in

with the faction of the Paragons, calling it closer to your goal. You went and spoke with the resident chief engineer, Imahara Joe, who apparently does a lot of the repairs and construction of the automatons and the crawler machines throughout the city and beyond. And through this conversation, one began to commission one of these skirmish crawlers to be utilized

in such an event with the possible lien that if you appease one of the factions, or at least beseech them for membership, and this is your test, they might give you a loaner or two with an emblem that they would give to you. Imahara Joe also took a glance over here at FCG and seemed to be quite entranced by the history that you may not have been aware of,

the seeming possibility that you were not built by Dancer, but indeed may have been something much older. Speaking of Dancer, also found out that Dancer is still alive and had passed through town a short time ago. This bitch right here is beautiful. I'm sure there's a reasonable... But as we finished up,

as with a lot of these events stacking around the corner, you all decided to find a new place to sleep, given that the previous one was found after you were followed by the Paragon's Call and began making your path to... Making your path. Yeah.

Can't even dodge it, can't even avoid it, fine. Uh-huh. Towards the Undercarriage, which is more seedier elements of the city there, this specific Caravan Sarai, of which Ashton had memory of. And we're headed there when we've finished. So picking up from where we left off,

you are trudging out of the nighttime streets of Bassuras, pushing through the crowd of strangers and individuals that, peering eyes, might be hopefully not seeking you for their own particular mischievous reasons, heading towards the Caravan Sarai itself. What would you like to do? We could pick up upon you arriving and gathering rooms, if you'd prefer,

unless you have something to do on the way. I think that's a great place to start. Okay. So arriving here at the Undercarriage, this element of the city, the buildings are quite close together. There isn't a central city street as much as there are extensions of the alleys,

and it's a maze-like walk network. Knowing the city well, Ashton, you also advise everyone to stay close when you go through here, and to make sure you're holding onto your coin purses. But upon turning a few corners, you come to the exterior of the undercarriage, which is a clustered series of platforms,

a number of large standing ladders that connect to catwalks. Upon these upper catwalks, there are networked platforms between them that, where they intersect, tents are set up. The individual rooms themselves are scattered little bits. It looks like a smattering of nests

that are built atop this strange, awkward, positioned structure. But there's also rooms underground, too, in addition to these? Indeed. From what you can tell, most of these tents are shops. These are not the various inn-based rooms here. That's so cool! But as you approach, you look and see what the lights are,

and people are climbing up and around, and they're going from little shop to shop, a little tent, and set up distribution sales points. Then towards the base of it, within the walls that surround it, you can see there are openings and stairways that curl below where you assume is where the rooms for the night reside.

I want to go to there for real. That sounds so cool. If only. You are there for real. I am there for real. Okay, okay, okay. Acquiring some rooms here, relatively inexpensive. How many rooms are you needing for the night? Four would be a good call.

Are they rooms or are they tarp-walled hostels? No, these are underground. These are, it would almost be a dungeon if it wasn't furnished a little better. So, you know, it feels like a series of cells underground, but they're closed doors and they have means to rest. They're rooms with a dungeon theme.

Yes, yes. Do they have a solid wall on all four sides or is one side bars? No, it is a solid door. Okay, cool. One side's glass. Don't worry, nobody watches you sleep in a creepy way. Yes, exactly. Are we sure we want to do four rooms?

Because I feel like we always end up in a couple rooms. We can do a couple rooms. I'm pretty easy. I mean, four is good, you know, just in case anybody wants to celebrate anything. No, three rooms. Three rooms, then two rooms. Okay. All right. No, she makes a good point. Three rooms, two rooms, maybe two rooms.

I don't know how many beds are two a room. Let's split the difference and do three rooms. I think three rooms is a nice middle ground. Yes, please, three rooms. All right, thank you. Not a huge issue. Three'll save for the night stay. Yeah, they tend to pile up together. Three silver.

Oh wow, okay. Big spender. Exactly. The somewhat thick-shouldered ogre that is currently running the front area glances across the rest of you. There's a big cloven gash across the lips where you can see, even when the mouth is closed,

the teeth peek through ever so slightly and there's a continuous little dribble, heads down the chin, looks past the rest of your group. Okay, you got room. His lips whistle a little bit as the breath comes through as he closes it, hands over a few keys. Each of the keys, you can see, has a tag on it,

some sort of a cloth tag that has a number on it that designates to which chambers you look for. You don't get them back to back. There's two that are next to each other, and then one appears to be three numbers later, so there was a slight difference. I'm in room one, you in chest. Oh, okay, okay.

But you descend upon the stairs into the dark earth underneath. It is quite chilled down here, especially the night that is far below where the sunned surface of Vast keeps a decent warmth throughout the early portion of the evening, so the chill immediately hits you,

especially since you've probably been sweating through most of your clothes, and that dampness immediately begins to grow cold in this temperature. How far away are we from Allmine's Burns? I'd say you're about a 15, 20 minute walk. Okay. From Allmine's Burns?

And we came in the dark, right? Yes, and the night has come. Yeah, other than shopping and a little bit of drinking, not particularly good drinking, which is surprising. This is just a good place to chill out, not be found, and maybe solidify the plan for tomorrow, which I feel like we're reasonably solid on at this point. Yeah, at this point, all we can really do

is talk to that dwarf guy. I want to just show up and be myself. Then you show up and say, we are recruited to work for General Ratanish. Where is the dwarf guy? Then if all goes south, then we challenge him to a race. That also may be, there's a couple ways

that this may end in race, in the cars and death, but that's okay, it's going to be fine. And then once we're in there, then that's how we gain access to finding out where Treshi is hidden, right? I mean, it's easier than sneaking in. Or going in where we're like, we challenge you to a race for Treshi.

I think they would actually just kill us at that point. I think this is the nice middle ground between sneaky, which we're not particularly good at, and intense and straightforward, which we're also not particularly good at. Are we good at anything, really? Yeah. You're good at woodworking.

Well, sure, that's obvious. You're all very attractive. We know. I'm good at carnal pleasures. I'm also very flexible. Are you? Yep. Like going with the flow or in your body? Both. I did miming back in my hundreds.

You did? Yeah. Could you do? Oh, you're going. I'm sorry. Wow. Insight check. I demand, and I have to demand a performance check on that. Why do you even need to ask for an insight check? What the fuck?

To see if there's actually glass in front of you. I demand a performance check. I have feelings about mine. Is this like some kind of illusion? To cast glass? Like a shield? Is that a rope? Yeah, like spectral rope or something?

What's that fierce wind blowing in? Did somebody use Gust? Wow. I think he's a bit rusty. Hey, Chetney, roll a performance check. Hey! First one on the camera. Oh god. Oh man.

I've never looked at this down before. It's a four! All I wanted. Well, it's probably, yeah. Even the illusory rope looks like the t-shirt that Laura's held up in previous post things. It just doesn't quite fit and shakes in place. I know what you're talking about.

Those t-shirts are amazing. Oh, what are you bringing that out for now? I don't know what you're talking about. I know. They're not supposed to see that one yet. Completely sequined? Oh no. That invisible box is a little wet.

I feel like you're pressing through it a little bit. Too much. It has been a couple hundred years, but you know, we're all onions. You just have to peel the layers to get to the good stuff. You know, Chetney, I don't know if I've ever asked exactly how old you are. You know, I stopped counting

after the three somethings. Wow. Because then you're just fucking guessing. A couple of hard nights of drinking and other stuff, and you wake up after a certain birthday, and you're like, shit, which one is it? You think you're worth a four? Probably.

How old do gnomes live? I don't know, I guess we'll find out. Woo-hoo! Hey, Travis. It's been a minute. Roll that d100. Oh shit. How many years I have left? I'm old.

No, this is the day. Oh! Yeah, one out of 100, I just. Ah! Oh! Now I have to. What happened to your hands? What's going on in this studio? I tried to write something,

and I didn't realize this is filled with liquid. You guys can't come straight to the game after trying to rob a bank. You've got to separate it out. Oh my god. It's a curse. I have to remove the ink packet.

Oh man, pencils over here. Basically, we know the plan. The plan. So that, we know the plan. Yeah. Mm-hmm. The plan. Right. So that's it. Yes, I know the plan for sure. Are we all nervous that if we're recognized, Treshi bugs out of town?

Sure. There is a risk, right? That Treshi will catch on. Yeah. Well, we were all at that, I mean, we all had a pretty reasonable excuse for being at that party in the first place. I was working. Clearly you all were working. He didn't necessarily have to know that we were working the fuck with him. No, but you were there, Ashton, and you had a mask of the Nightmare King on. I did.

He's the reason that Treshi had to leave town. That's true. That's also assuming that Treshi actually talks to Ratanish and shares those details and blah, blah, blah. Tanish ain't going to say shit. Right, Ratanish don't care, but I don't know. Honestly, if Treshi sees us out in the courtyard, honestly, that's just really bad policy,

letting someone that you're actually guarding be out in the courtyard. This is why we're diversified in our approach. Do we know that they're guarding him? I mean, that's what they would be paid to do, I suppose, since they are hired muscle. Did it seem like he had guards with him when you were watching him smoke?

He had two escorts with him, and he seemed really jumpy. Escorts. I mean, he could just be jumpy because he's on the run from a lot of people. Not just us. Could be, but we were in the place where he was, and now we're in the place that he is.

Yeah. So only the people that he was around and saw through the ring fiasco, they stay behind, everybody else goes in. And you're going to do the talking, Ashton. I mean, you've been doing a bang-up job. How are you sweating ichor right now? I'm trying not to lie.

You have a big tell. I'm aware that this is definitely a flaw in the plan, and I'm hoping I can communicate in our base language of punching people, and I feel like we have a little bit of a rapport in that direction, and maybe it will go in that direction. Can you make him better at talking before we go in there tomorrow?

Maybe. I don't. I think I can, yeah. If we have a little heads up, yeah. Is there some sort of, I have to take, some sort of classes on how to be proper or anything like that, or is this just one of them? I sense a montage! I don't montage.

The rain in Spain. I place a book carefully on the top of his head. Going to need a little feels. To me, we should be ready to brute-fort this. Brute-force this if we have to. Brute-fort also. Brute-fort. Bruce-fort, actually. We've got to be ready to Bruce-fort this

because if Ashton isn't able to shout our way in, first of all, if we do get in their good graces and we go in, we're hoping to fly under the radar and get near Treshi, I think it's going to go south. If it does go south and we see Treshi, are we trying to grab him and yank him out of this place? What do you mean, when we're in there, working for them?

What if we walk up and it all goes south? He's right here. Okay, so so remember how when we had that amazing plan the other night and then the next morning it all went to shit and we just adapted to it? Maybe we could do that. I'm always a fan of that, to be honest. Who has the little bubble bead? I think I have it.

Oh no, I actually still have it. I have it. This is what happens actually still have it. I have it. This is what happens when we keep stealing from each other. I'm listening. Did you take it from me, Fearne? I probably did. I'm going to open up my pockets and see if I actually have it or if she has it. Yeah, she has it.

Fearne! I actually don't remember when I took it. I was just keeping it for safekeeping. Do you want it? Yeah, I would like that. Let me just... Oh! Where did she... Oh my god. I think it's in my everything.

It's a good question. I've been interested to find out as well. You had it in your ear. Well, just for safekeeping, because it sticks. Oh, that's true, yeah. I never noticed you have a little... Yeah, there's a little spot for stuff. There's a lot of pouches.

Well, pouches are everywhere. You just wouldn't even believe it. I guess that's why you weren't responding to our questions half the time. Hmm? So sad. Go ahead. Who was not a part of the ring fiasco?

Dusk, Chetney, Laudna. Put your fucking hand down. I wasn't a part of the ring f. 100%, you were dancing with him. Jesus. You danced with him. The first ring, I thought we were talking about at the store. Although I was a loud asshole at that party,

let's be fair. That's true. That's okay, but they know your face. I understand we were talking about that party. Can't you be like a quokka or something? I mean, I could. I could turn into something and hang out in somebody's pocket, or, you know, there's multiple possibilities.

I could shave my head again. I mean, it's growing back so nicely. So that he wouldn't recognize the purple hair. Wait, didn't you have, weren't you blue? Or weren't you bald? Was I blue at the party? No. No, that was after the party. No, after the party, after the party.

I was just normal me with a mask on there. That's all. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Metaphorically, but yeah. If everything goes to plan, which clearly it won't, going to go in there, say we're looking for a little work while we're in town because we're filling out some of our own contracts in town, which if I have to get called on it,

we'll talk about your parental issues, and that we need a little extra cash on the side. He said call him up when we're in town, and we're in town and I'm calling him up. But we do need to be prepared, right, to get Trushy? That's what we're saying? No, we're not going to do that. No, if we come across him inside, we're not going to make a move.

We're gathering intel, getting close. We're rubbing elbows. Unless he makes a run for it because he realizes it's us and then we strike. Sure, but if something weird doesn't happen, we get to walk in and out of that place just when we'd like to, if we're just getting a little bit, if we're doing contract work.

Right. So no one's going to look twice at us going in, and if we're very clever, which clearly we're not, no one will look twice at us leaving. I mean, it could be, it's almost a good plan. It is so close to a good plan, and it's the closest we've been. And then we say,

Death Wish! If anything goes wrong, we say Death Wish very loudly. All right. This is great. Wait, so the race that we're going to be in, that doesn't have anything to do with Treshi? Not yet. Not yet. That's just for funsies?

It's just a fallback. That's just the emergency escape. At worst, we've got a vehicle to use. I'll also say, since only so many of us can be on that vehicle, it also means it's a distraction if other people want to go in and take care of that shit. There's a lot of options here. It's very flexible.

It's very flexible. It is. This is very loosey-goosey in a way. Yeah. All right. All right. This is playing to our strengths of chaos. Plus, we're getting to know the city better. So, yeah!

It's a little nicer than when I lived here, I will admit. And there's so many of these things. So the inside team that's going to be like, hey, we want to be a part of your cool gang, is going to be Ashton, Laudna, Dusk, Chet. Fucking no. So great. Our best talkers are going forward.

Yeah! Yes! Just the people that. Calm, level-headed negotiators. I'm quite charismatic. Going to just be picking up some work on the side. We're not joining the gang. We're picking up some work on the side. They're not even listening.

Yeah, it's real. We're just basic thuggish, thuggish-ruggin' it. Like, that's just, you know. Thuggish-ruggin' it. Like, that's just, you know. We're just doing it. Thuggish-ruggish. Thuggish-ruggish. Stone! Is that how it was? I was waiting for it.

90s, woo! What have we done so well already? Okay. So that's what we're doing. We're going to wake up and do that. Head straight over. Yeah, well, I'm going to grab a drink on the way in, but yes, that's the plan.

Great. Breakfast drink. All right. Good job. Unless they ask us to sleep a drink on the way in, but yes, that's the plan. Great. Breakfast drink. All right. Good job. Unless they ask us to sleep in the barracks or whatever, we'll come out afterwards. Okay. You look very distraught, Orym. Yeah. With an edge of pensive.

No, it's going to be great. Mm, I believe you. We can just stand outside and have an anxiety attack together. I'm just going to be ready to throw down. It's going to be great. What should we do? We should have an emergency thing to yell

if everything goes to shit. The outside team? We could always go eat or go see a show. Other than help. Yeah, that's what I was thinking. We might just go get something. see a show. That's what I was thinking. We might just go get something. Although I suppose that would work. Don't we have to pick up some items? Oh yes, we have to get our...

We have a surprise. Did we tell you? You guys like, we told you. We told you, we told you. We also have, I pull out the dynamite sticks. We have these, too. Those are dangerous to, Yeah. You just. Yeah, oh, and?

Constantly remind me why I like you. I'll high five. I'll high five. Oh, yes! Fearne, if you do your flame hands thing, try not to be holding one of those until you're ready for it to go boom, because the fuses probably go fast.

Yeah, don't slash and put your hands in your pocket when you're doing that either. That'd be real bad. I feel like I'm going to, who wants one? We have fives. We have one for Dusk. Maybe you should take one. I mean, if they would want one. I'll take it.

No offense. Laudna. I'm perfectly comfortable. Holy shit. Laudna. So strange. My name just changed suddenly. I'm not playing. Ashton, would you like a dynamite stick?

I'm going to dance on fucking dynamite. Sure. One, two, three, four, five. Oh wait, you passed out all of them. Yeah, you don't have any. Well, I can do it myself with my hands. I mean, maybe not, well, we'll see what happens. It's okay.

If I need one, I can take one from you guys. Okay. I mean, not maybe not, well, let's see what happens. It's okay. If I need one, I can take one from you guys. Okay. Dino might. Whee! Five feet. Were those shops open when we came into this place? Handful, definitely. Handful. At that moment, I'm going to head back up

and just pretend shop and see if anybody, I'm going to spend 15 minutes seeing if anybody is staring at this place or if I recognize any of the people from. Sure, no perception. Yeah. That's 14 plus, I don't have my shit open. You didn't even have your thing open.

I think it's a 19. Let's say that. I rolled a 14. Come on, Big Whammy. Nope. Nope. Big money, no whammy. Come on, Big Whammy. Come on, Big Whammy. Come on, Big Whammy. Come on, fail.

It's a 20. It's a dirty 20. Dirty 20? Okay. From what you can tell in the time that you're up there, glancing around, some of the shops are selling some oil for lantern maintenance. There are some that have some nicer incenses for those who want to rent rooms that maybe don't smell as good when they first enter them.

Minor tools, some simple weapons. Essential oils? Yeah, there's a whole essential oils thing. But you do not see anybody specifically who is wandering strangely or is familiar from your previous encounters, so you feel fairly comfortable that you're not in immediate danger.

Okay, and oil for what? Lighting lanterns? Yeah, lantern oil. I'll throw some silver or gold down to get a little bit of that. Sure, I'll say two silver for two vials of lantern oil. Okay, flammable material, thank you.

No worries. Should we pick up our, is it time to go pick up the piece? It's not time right now. No, okay. All right. You all open. Do we want to see if there's a hidden puzzle in your postcards.

We certainly could. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Put them all out. Imagine that. Oh god, craft time. Just go ahead and have a look, see. It's not craft time, it's puzzle time. Two very different things. I have string.

Okay. I lay them all out. Okay. Are there dates? Is there an order of? Different things. I have string. Okay. I lay them all out. Okay. Are there dates? Is there an order of? There aren't dates set to them. They're just, you are given them over a period of time at different intervals. What does the handwriting look like?

It's all consistent handwriting. Okay. So there's no variation, but it looks like handwriting. Kind of nice if a little chicken scratchy at times, but it's consistent. Who gave you each card? These were from my parents.

Yeah, but. So I would get them, we would get them, I guess, in the mail at our home, me and Nanna, and sometimes they would come on my birthday, sometimes just out of the blue, and just a surprise. Do you know how they were delivered? Do you ever see them get delivered, or?

I don't know how our mail system works. I think it's something to do with probably someone walks them from a place. I really don't know. Do I know how the mail system, the postal service of the Feywild Works. There isn't so much a postal service, more than there are quarriers

that work for the different courts. So various fairies, pixies, fey, whatever the case may be. And is there a lot? Another quick fey, in fact, quicklings in particular, which are a call from campaign two. Is there a lot of mail that goes back and forth between?

Not often. It's usually political missives. Occasionally letters. There's a pixie that just serves people. Bam! Meet you in the Seelie Court. Oh! Got another one. Sorry, sorry.

Had to get that out of my system the minute it got in there. There it is. Dun dun dun dun dun. The defendant is dope. I would wash the shit out of that. I would! So it is plausible that there would be mail within?

It's plausible. Okay. Yeah, like letters, missives, all those things get passed around. Some of them magically, some of them by hand by very fast fae. Like I said, specifically the quicklings, if it's really important, they travel extremely fast. Who's going to be trying to find the pattern,

I guess, in these things? I figure if we just stare at it. Not that I care, but are there any markings on these that are inked on, that are not writing lines that don't necessarily connect to the information. Before y'all leap in, who's going to be investigating this so I can help? Yeah, who's got a good investigation?

My investigation's not great. Mine's not awesome. We have a five. Yours is a six. I have a five. Anybody got a five? Is Chetney? I think Chetney is the closest we have to a monk character.

All right. Don't look surprised. Wise as fuck. Wise as fuck. Yeah? Yeah. All right. Wise or intelligent? He's still intelligent. You don't know?

Okay. We know. Well, I'm going to enhance your ability then. I'll give you Fox's Cunning. I remember that from campaign one, but I don't remember what it is. It's temper. I'll give you Guidance. Advantage.

Advantage on intelligence-based checks. Is Fox's Cunning? Yeah. Okay. And you have the d4 that you add to that. I believe, yeah. Yes, and Guidance as well. All righty. So with these all spread out in front

as you're all gathered, Chetney, you begin to go into full modern Sherlock mode. I stretch first. I really get my ankle behind my head, get the hammies loosened up. This is a much better mime than before. Slap, I take out the wood chisel and I slice down my palm.

Oh! I wipe it down one side of my face. No, this is his art. Let it happen. Does that help? It's been proven through the centuries, okay? I open my view, looking for patterns, anything that jumps together, anything that's consistent among all the postcards.

I tap into a drench. He's got blood in his eye. He's got blood in his eye anything that's consistent among all the postcards, I tap into a drench. He's got blood in his eye. He's got blood in his eye, that's why. That's what it is. It does sting a little bit, yeah. Sting, sting, fuck! Down to one eye. Which is all I need.

Perfect. So go ahead and roll Investigation for me with advantage and then add a d4 as well. Yeah. Lazy. Yes, sir. D4, that's going to help a bunch. Wait, what? It's the one that looks like a triangle.

Get it. 20, 25. 25. Ooh! Wow. Whispers! Oh my goodness gracious! You got Whispers! Just in time to find out that if you become a D&D Beyond subscriber and unlock exclusive monthly perks,

this month, unlock the Clockwork Digital Dice Set and the Vecna Dossier to add Vecnas to your game. To add Vecnas? Add Vecnas to your game. Multiple Vecnas? It says Vecnas with a possessive Vecnas, so it's Vecnas something. Maybe it's Vekna's smell? Vekna's...

Eye, hand. Vekna's something. Vekna's dice. Vekna's dice to your collection. Okay, good. Sorry. My god. Where did you go? Did you know that at the beginning of time,

there was only Chetney? And then, fuck. You know, it's strange, as I gaze upon this beautiful collection of postcards. Fearne, these must be very, very dear to you. Very, very dear. How? Did you receive them your whole life? Like, at random birthdays?

Yes, random birthdays, random times of the year. Just, you know, I think, you know, whenever I would ask about, think about them, they would just show up. It's amazing. Yeah, and you've had them for all that time. Oh, yes. I mean, they've, for, you know, the past,

I mean, since they left. 90 years. Yeah. It's just so strange, because all of the, you know, the corners seem to be what I would call in mint condition, almost, and there's very little wear and tear. It just seems strange for something that's 90 years old or even half that long.

They just seem so mint. Well, I take such good care of them. I mean, I think they're the only things I have of my parents, so. We should pick one. I was ready to bid a gold that you had nothing. I'm really glad I didn't do that now. What is it? I have to hold pause.

There's multiple reasons that this could. There's one way to find out. You just said, what did you just say? That you would just think, whenever you would miss them, you would think about them and then they would show up? Well, I mean, you know, I would, I think about them often, but definitely for birthdays, something would show up

or just, you know, when I would reminisce with Nanna and we would get to talking sometimes. It's like maybe they heard, maybe there was some type of connection. There's another thing, Fearne. These postcards, I can tell the mass-produced shit from stuff that's handmade. Nothing like it.

The art on the back of these postcards is beautiful, but they're all one-offs. They look like one-of-a-kind paintings of location. FCG, could you do a Detect Magic on one of these things? I feel like we're being led somewhere. We did. Oh, we did identify.. I didn't identify. Wait, wait, what if...

Are you sure it's been 90 years? I'm pretty sure. I mean, around that, I think... I mean, it's been a long time. I mean, it feels like 90 years. I mean, I know, I think I'm 112, and I think they left when I was three?

12? I'm telling you. I don't know. It's so weird. Time is so weirdy-weird. What if when you came over or something, what if it's only been a little bit since they left? Is that strange? Is that possible? I think that would be a wonderful thing.

The only reason I say that is because I don't know why they would stay away so long. You know? I mean, I know they had a lot to do, but I imagine if you have somebody in your family, you probably wouldn't leave them so long. So maybe it's just been like a year for them or like, you know,

just like a couple months. That is so. I'm pretty sure I've only been here a couple of months, but then all again, I didn't know where in time or location they got dumped out. I'm going to see them in a couple of days. You might've gotten dumped out and it's only been a couple months,

but for them, it's been 90 years. Well, to Chet's point, too. What? What did you see, Chet? What? Did you see something else? I saw really nice artistry. That means they're in such good condition.

Normally, you know when things go through post, they get a little beat up. Wear care. That's just the person, though. You've been holding these things for your entire life. Oh yes, I keep them very good care. How often do you read them? Your entire life.

I read them, I don't know, a few times a week, just checking in on them. They're meant to be. But I mean, I open them in my, you know, my shoe. I mean, to, I don't mean any offense. Yeah, you're a bit of a messy bitch sometimes. I know, and I totally understand. I, for some, I think just these,

I've just tried to keep really clean, but I mean. We may also have done you a disservice not asking you more about Nana. Have you told us much about Nana? Well, I mean, I can. She's wonderful. Is she also from the Feywild? Mm-hmm. That's her painting skills.

All these birdies. What an amazing painter. She was an amazing painter. Oh. Do you know what her handwriting looks like? Her? Huh. That is something I didn't

quite think about. Um. Oh. Oh. I don't think these are from her. From Nana? Are you sure? I mean, the writing is similar, but also my writing is similar to hers.

You know? Who was the one who told you? Because if you were so young when they left, did your parents say that they were leaving to go save the world? Or was that told to you by Nanna? Well, I remember they told me they had to go. I remember giving them hugs.

And I was very sad, of course, but very happy to be with Nanna because she's one of my best friends. How are you related to your grandmother? She is my... Huh. I think she's my mother's mother. She's my mother's mother. She's my mother's mother.

You think? I feel like I've forgotten now. Fearne, I'm just going to say it out loud. Do you think there's a chance that Nana was protecting you from what your mom and dad might have gone off to do or had been doing? Well, I, maybe that's possible.

I mean, in theory, we're about to all meet Birdie and Olly. Pretty easy way to get to the bottom of it. Yeah. I'm sure there will be some explanation that we'll get to, you know? If they didn't write the postcards, then I mean, it's very possible that it was Nana,

or maybe they would tell her and then she would pass it along. Maybe, yeah. But we'll find out. We'll talk to them, we'll see. I'm sure there's, of course, answers all around. Well.

Well. We love you. Okay. Very much. I love you guys, too, very much. And whatever comes out in the wash, as they say, you have us, and we're here for you. Yeah, yeah, for sure. For sure.

Wow, I feel so weird. I feel like. How do you feel like? I feel like I feel very confused. Like my brain is a jumble jumble. Oh. Do you need a moment? No. Do you want to send it?

You want to try to talk to him it? I don't want to. You want to try to talk to them again? I think I'm just going to head to bed, maybe. We'll sleep on it. Yeah, I'll sleep on it. Good night's rest for the plan tomorrow. Yes, very wise. Things are always clear in the morning.

Yes, we have such a big day. We just have so much to do, so we should all get super, super rested. Don't be down. You guys all seem like you're so sad. It's fine. We're going to figure this out. I just think, yeah, it's totally fine.

It's totally fine. It's totally fine. Yeah. Yeah. And we're going to see them in just a little jiffy. In just a little jiffy. We'll figure it out. It's going to be great. All the time in the world, the cat trap.

Yes, I think it'll be wonderful. Okay, well. Wait, are we at the? We're in the hotel. We're in a place right now. I'm going to go to sleep so I can get an early head start. You guys all sleep great. All right.

Turn those frowns upside down, and we're going to get to it tomorrow. Yeah. Unless I should do a watch. I'll stay up with you for a watch. Okay. Just because it's the first night at a new place. Sure.

Don't want anybody getting a sneak on us. Uh-huh. I'm going to pull out the pencil. Mm-hmm. My tot pencil. Tot? And use my mage hand to float it over in front of Laudna. I'm just going to write on her notebook in front of her, can we talk?

I just nod. I'm going to get up and walk out of the room. I follow. Before you go, can I grab you for a second? Oh. Just really quick. Just really, really, really quick. Yes. Really, really quick. Yes. Okay.

She'll be right there. You didn't see that. Oh, right. So... So... Do you want to go to dinner sometime, maybe? To just get to know each other? How do you mean?

Like, uh, yes. Hmm. To get to know each other better, just you. Would you? Oh, you would? I mean, we could just go as a group, too, if there's a big bonding, is that what you mean? Or like, eh. I have the fact that maybe you like me,

because I like you, and I asked Imogen, because it seems like there was some sort of tension between you two, and I asked her and she said there really wasn't anything between you two, so maybe. She's just like, Ooh! She was like, okay, yeah, I did tense vibes when I asked her.

So, do you? Is your ass like a date? Yeah, I'm good, I'm just, um... Oh god! There's something in the back. No, it's fine, it's fine. Oh, that's just pate. Oh, okay.

Oh, wow. This hasn't really happened to me before. Wait, really? I'm sort of, you know, off-putting, I think, to people. You know, being like the whole not fully alive thing. So I need Hey. a moment.

You're awesome, and you are funny, and you're friendly, and you have great hair. Do I? Yeah. I pull another chunk of it out. Oh, see? Well, This says, I have to go and I leave. Oh. Just left her a parting gift of a chunk of hair.

Yeah. A little troll. Hold this. Yeah. All right. Bye. You know, I've received worse. Frazzled as you are, you dart out of the room and follow suit to where you...

Yeah, I'm just standing in the hallway. Hi. This has all been a lot, but you. No, you. I told FCG he could help with this, but I just don't know if we need, if we sh- I'm sorry. I don't want to fight anymore. I don't either.

I miss you so much. I miss you so much, and I don't, I know, I know that you didn't do that on purpose. I know that that fucking- She's crazy. And she's in your head. And I don't know what's going on. Like, it must've been so crazy. And she's in your head. I don't know, it's going on. It must have been so scary to have that happen.

But what's more terrifying is feeling like there's a rift in our friendship, and that's more scary than anything. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Yeah, okay. Thank you for the pencil. Oh!

I got you something, too. Really? I'm going to pull out the ring that I bought. It's two snakes and a ruby. Oh my god. This is a lot better than a pet song. I just, it reminded me. I don't know why.

It's kind of like us. Yeah. The ruby reminds me of a- Well, a rock coming between us, but it's not going to. It's not. No more rocks. Between us, at least to. No more rocks. Between us, at least, there are more rocks.

It's felt so weird with this thing going on and we can't talk to each other about it. It's been so much and we just haven't stopped going since we got here and then Dusk is here now. Dusk is here. And I think she just hit on me. She did? She did ask.

I got the impression she was interested. What do I tell her? What do you want to tell her? I don't know. I've just been so... Really just wanting to make sure that we were okay. Yeah. And just, you know. I think I haven't accessed that part of my brain

in like 50 years, so. It would be strange. I know. To access that. I don't want to hurt her feelings or anything either. She seems sweet. They seem sweet. Yeah. But that's, yeah.

I had another nightmare, yeah. Oh my god, and I'm sorry that we couldn't talk about it. Tell me about it. I had FCG Draw as, it was, I wasn't in the field. I was in the middle of the storm already. And there were, I looked around and there were people in front of me and they talked to me.

They, she talked to me. She talked to me. The figure? The figure. And she said, oh, this is interesting. And there were people around her and she was wearing armor. She said, this is interesting. She said, this is interesting. She was looking straight at me and she had gray hair.

She didn't look like anyone I knew. And then she lunged at me. And then I woke up and Laudna, I went to the window and the moon was flaring, it was all orange outside. And there were other people looking up, like other people who were aware of the flare. And I felt like drawn to it. And it was weird because at the same time I was like scared,

but it also felt like something was right. And I don't know, maybe that's more scary. That's crazy. Why is it where your hair is missing? I, I... Several angst, it was a... Why are you wearing white? It is a very, I didn't want to...

It's been a lot since we've got to this godforsaken city. Orym? You're all right, it's all right. You're okay, dear, you're okay. Orym didn't want me to look like me, so he bought me this white linen button down. Your black is just coming straight through it.

It's all over. I know. I know, and I'm just sweating ooze. It's fine. You look fine. You look great. Well, the moon is flaring. That's got to mean something, and it's continuing to make its way, making its way up to the sky.

Self-made. I'm going to do it. Self-made. I'm sorry. Inparity. Inparity. And they're very aware, whoever's in the dream, whoever's in the nightmare is very aware that I'm there. That rhymes. That rhymes.

They're aware that you're there. Yeah. I think, I think, you know, FCG wants to try this thing where he's like watching us sleep and on a creepy way. No, yeah, but it feels kind of creepy. But he says that maybe if he sees when I start to dream,

he can try to like access my mind or something and maybe he can be there, too. But I remember at one point when I had the stone, I had it in my dream, right, when I was holding it in my hand. And I talked to you about this before, and we just haven't been doing it. But I really think maybe I should just hold on to you and then-

Maybe I could be there. Because what if it's real? And I know we've said this before, that we think maybe it's more than just a dream. But that feels, if they can recognize that you're there. And it's weird, because every time that it starts, it's like I forget myself, I forget anything I can do. It's like, it's so scary that I can't remember.

Your magic. Yeah. To try anything, you know? What if this is, what if you're tapping into an actual event that's happening right now, like in real time? There's people up on the moon just standing in a swirl. It sounds crazy. And every time I dream,

I'm teleporting there. I don't think that's happening. What if that's happening? I don't know. There's no people on Ruidus. What if there's people on Ruidus? We should go to the moon. How do we get to the moon? I would have no idea.

Allie? Well, I'm glad that everything's okay. Everything's okay. Yes, yes, just, you know. You know what? Maybe we can pretend to still fight and we can let FCG work us through this because I know it would mean so much to them.

Yeah. Like, it would make them feel so good to think that this was because of them. Yeah, and especially finding out all this stuff about Dancer. I think they really was because of it. Yeah, and especially finding out all this stuff about Dancer. I think they really need it right now. They've got to be going through something. They seemed, if they could be pale.

Maybe we could let them sort through this and then we can also help them sort through their shit. All right. Okay. All right, I'm going to go and act like I'm, should I act like I'm really mad when I go in? Oh no. When I go in and I'm mad. And I can come in and I can just be like,

All right, open the door. Okay. That did not go well. Oh no. Are you okay? MCG, I need your help. I'm here, I'm here. What do you need?

Can you please come out into the hallway? I open the door and I go, that's what I think of your stupid rock! Oh no! I need your help. Okay, okay, I'm coming, I'm coming. I'll storm out. Escalation. Okay, as I leave,

I'll just hit Laudna with a quick Transfer Suffering, just to absorb some of her stress. Calm, calm, calm. It's going to be okay. It's going to be okay. I'll hit her with Calm Emotions as well. It's going to be okay. Ooh! Ooh, tingly fingers.

Just try to keep it together for just a little bit longer, all right? Ooh, tingly fingers. Just try to keep it together for just a little bit longer, all right? All right. I'll go see what's going on. Okay. I'll go out to the hole and try to track down Imogen. Before you do that, I'm going to walk up to Laudna. Nice ring.

Who gave it to you? None of your business imaging. See? She gave you a rock. It's all good now. Shut up! I'm always right. I'll go. Oh my god. I'll go out to the hallway. Oh my god. I go out to the hallway. Imogen, what happened? Oh no, it just didn't go well. I just really wish we would've had you out here.

I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking about it. I'm sorry, I was distracted. Oh no, you're so distracted right now. No, I'm. FCG. I should have been there. No, you shouldn't have, no, you didn't, no. Oh god. Oh no, this is backfiring.

No. Big time. I know we have to do so much. You know, we have to get out of the city. We have to get Cyrus out of the city and it's, you know, He's a dancer and a FCG. What? Cyrus? Wait, Cyrus? What happened with you?

What happened with you and her? Are you okay? Are you okay? Are you okay? Yeah, I'm fine. Do you need me to do the thing? Are you guys, is this just you or am I no joke? I'm going to cast Calm Emotions on FCG. Okay.

Are you all right? Maybe, maybe. It's been a jewel. Are you all right? Maybe, maybe. It's been a hard day for you. Well, you too, apparently. Well, look. Now that you're here, I think everything is going to be just fine. Well, you had a bad dream, you know?

And that could really mess with you, right? Yeah. You need to figure out what it is. I'm going to hold his hands. Do you want to talk to Dancer? I do, but what if she doesn't want to talk to me? Then she's a dumb bitch. Well, that's not nice.

FCG, you are special. Apparently. What does that mean, though? You're a good person. I know, apparently I am, but what does that mean? Like, why did she go away? like, why did she go away? And why did...

I'm sure it was a genuine mistake. But also, what was I before? Like, all I've wanted this whole time is to have friends and experience things and have a life and have successes and failures. It sounds like I had all those things and I just can't remember any of them.

Maybe you were... Maybe you were freshly born back then and you didn't have any experiences. Maybe that's why everything feels so new. You know? I mean, it's a possibility. Yeah, I don't know. Didn't sound like it, though.

It sounded like I'm from a place where there was lots of people like me and I never got to know any of them. Or maybe I did and I don't remember them. I just feel like if I can find her and talk to her, she'll be able to explain, you know, what's going on with me or something. Yeah, we should definitely talk to her.

Maybe she didn't have the answers and that's why she stepped away. Maybe she doesn't know you're alive. Yeah. Maybe she has a clue about your past and we can research it that way. You know, Joe said other people were waking up like you. Maybe we can find one of them.

Yeah. Yeah. He seemed to know some leads. If we could find someone that was around at the same time as you, maybe from the same city? Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah, she'll know, right? She might.

And if she doesn't, we'll make it our mission to find out. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm, yeah. Yeah, okay. Well, if I don't, if I can't,

if she doesn't answer me, would you reach out to Delilah for me? Delilah? Dancer for me? Why did you say that? Oh, Laudna, come here. Are you all right? Yeah, I'm fine.

I feel like something's going on with you, FCG, like deeper than... deeper than you know. Maybe. FCG, you don't look good. I'm pretty sure I look the same as always. Well, it's about your disposition. Your metal looks paler than usual.

I don't think that that's possible. It is, it is, it is. You've got a flesh tongue. I mean, maybe you stick out your tongue. My optical sensors are saying that it's the exact same color as it always is. Well, maybe they're acting up, too. So.

Still no taste. Your tongue looks pale. No taste. You know, FCG, there's been moments where you've had these little brain lapses. Can you remember when those happened? like these little brain lapses. What? Can you remember when those happened? I don't know. I don't know what she, I mean,

it feels fine to me. I don't know. This dancer. Mm-hmm. I think you should just prepare yourself to expect that she's maybe not fully who you thought she was. Well, I... Okay.

I don't know why. I mean, she seemed like she was... Okay. What did Dancer look like? Well, she was furry. And tall. She was furry. A little fur.

Like a fur? I mean, no, not the sense. Just sort of like a light fur, I guess. All right. Had little floppy ears. Was she very tall? She was pretty tall. All right.

I mean, taller than me. She was riding a horse at one point, like through a field. And she had, or was it blue skin? Oh no. I think it was a horse. And yeah,

and she had a moon tattoo. A moon tattoo. A moon tattoo. No. Like Orym? No, no, that's Orym, yeah, no. She was tall and she had a light sheen of fur. You can't remember what she looked like, can you? No, that's what she looked like, can you? No, that's what she looked like.

She had blood coming out of her. She looked scared. She had blood all over her, all over her hand. FCG, you do so much for the group in terms of taking on a lot of our emotional stresses and protecting us from our own mental traumas. That can wear on a person, too.

You know, you just said Delilah. And Cyrus. In reference to Urim, you've been in a lot of our heads and we've been in yours and maybe you're... I don't know. It's a lot to take on. Yeah, maybe.

Maybe I just need to take a nap or something or shut down for a bit. Yeah. Sorry, I'm sorry. I should be helping you right now. Oh, no, look at this. We're great, we're good. Oh my gosh, just talking to you.

But you were just having a fight. No, but you know what? Coming together over you is really so, so cool. She really was upset. She was so upset. She was pouring out her heart to me. She was. I believe you. You were pouring out your heart?

She was, yeah. And she was as, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Thank you, FCG, for helping us. You don't have to do that just for me. I'm sorry. Thank you, FCG, for helping us. You don't have to do that just for me. I mean, you wanted that rock, and she broke it, and you shouldn't have.

I shouldn't have. But she felt terrible. Yeah. You're right. You felt real terrible. I felt horrible. All right, You felt real terrible. I felt horrible. Yeah. All right, apology accepted. And? I'm sorry that I reacted the way that I did.

You were very warranted in your reaction. Thank you for your help. Okay, good. You're okay, then? I'm great. We're good. You're okay? We're great. Okay. FCG!

FCG, come on, come on. What? Shit, you look pale. I don't think that's physically possible, but all right. Come sleep. They have to sleep. You have to sleep.

All right. Who's taking first watch? Hold on, I got to sleep. All right. Come on. Who's taking first watch? Hold on, I got to rewind. Mm. All right. During that whole conversation, as soon as they left, Orym looks across at Dusk

and sees her looking a little out of sorts and walks over. You all right? Yes! Yes. Thank you for asking. Sure. Can I ask you a question?

I may or may not answer, but yeah. Okay. Well, you're really good with that sword. I've never seen anyone fight quite like that. Did you pick that up in the Feywild? As far as I can imagine, before I was in the Feywild, I was a fighter of some kind? Zero recollection, though.

Hmm? Zero memory of that either. It's a really unique style. I have different flashes, right? Zero recollection, though. Hmm? Zero memory of that, either. It's a really unique style. So I have different flashes, right? So I remember being a kid running around by an ocean. But when did that happen, or where? Don't know. I remember training

with a bunch of other teenagers. But I don't know if it was in the Feywild or somewhere else. Do you remember any of the kids you trained with? Hmm. Not by name? Not... Do you think that we could have trained together?

Is that what you're driving at? I mean, I would remember. I'd remember you. I also have a very different technique. Look, I'm a little stressed out. Yeah. Yeah, are you okay? I'm fine, I'm fine.

I'm far from home. I'm not optimistic about tomorrow, but that's fine. I just want to let off some steam. You want to fight? Oh my god. I hold out one of the toy swords from the taste of tea. Oh! Yes, I do.

Okay, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I pull out the other one. Maybe not in here. Let's go up top side. Okay, cool. Okay. Amazing. All right, I'm leading out with two toy swords. Okay, as you're having a heated conversation,

we'll say there's a brief moment where you both stop and watch the two of them exit quickly back up topside. Hi! Hi! Sorry. Dusk, hi, hi. Then you continue with your conversation. The two of you head back up. This is stupid.

This is stupid. Hey! I'm so excited for our fight. So there would. I don't want to hurt you. I don't want you to hurt me, but maybe we could just try to... Just a little bit, though,

because we don't want to get too worn out for a time off. How about best... Let's do first one to score five hits. Okay, all right. That work? Yeah, sure. All right, I'm going to take 15 paces back. Okay. Okay. And then I also take 15?

Oh no, no, we take 15 paces back and then like. Okay, you guys are standing as you emerge from the upper staircase. You're standing in between this small open dirt patch between two of the large, rising clusters of scaffolding-looking structures where the upper tents and shops glow above you. There are a handful of folks out here

that are just walking past, and as you both begin to square off with wooden weapons drawn, some folks usher out of the way quickly, while a few others begin to lean up just to watch, curious as to what's happening. But in this moment of tension, you take paces apart from each other.

I say, this is going to be awesome. Oh, and you don't have magic, right? We're not using magic? Orym's hair blows with awesome. Oh, and you don't have magic, right? We're not using magic? Orym's hair blows with wind. Oh, cool! He spins his sword, and I fucking run at you. All right, roll initiative, y'all. Exciting!

Initiative. Okay. Oh shit, we're rolling? Oh my god! Rollies, motherfucker. Oh no. It's time for rollies. 10. We'll go for rollies.

You do not truly know someone until you fight them. Until you've tasted their wood. 19. All right, so this halfling, with a burst of speed, rushes before you are properly ready and you get to go. Oh shit! Oh my god, it's been so long since we fought. You remember what she does, right?

It's been a while since we had a fight. Okay, so I am attack attack. I need to tell you. All right, so I run at her, straight at her, and swing the wooden sword up in a sweep and try to knock her toy sword out of her hand with First Blow.

All righty. That is a 19 to hit. Does 19 hit? Yes. Okay, so you strike the sword and you're attempting to? I'm using one of my battle techniques, disarming attack.

You have to make a strength save, DC 16. Oh god. That's... 16. Ooh, DC 16. Oh god. That's... 16. Ooh, that's cut! Fuck! Oh no! That would've been... Oh!

The ledge! What the shit? You got some daring dice. Did you all see that? I did. It's right at the jump. I did. That would... I can't figure out how to make it do the thing,

but that's a two. Straight. So in but a flash, there's the sound of heavy wood on wood, crack, and your fingers let your weapon fly as it arcs and lands on the ground about 10 feet from you. You are currently disarmed.

Ah! I'm not done, and then I just roll under their legs and swing around and swing in the air and whap them in the butt or attempt to. Whap in their butt! That is cocked, yes. It is cocked. That hits, that's a 27. Yep, yep.

27. Oh my god, you get right between the clasped sticks there. I'm like, oh my god! Like a locker room rat tail, on your butt, and then I keep rolling and go another 20 feet away. That's a hard locker room hit. Come up to position, blade in hand,

shield up, wooden toy sword at the ready. All right. It's your go. The blade is about 10 feet from you, in the other direction, and he's about 20 feet from where you're standing now. So it's 30 feet between the blade and him. Okay. What's your speed?

Okay. 30. So you could not get your blade and walk to him in the same round. So the blade is between the two of us? No, he rolled away. It's actually behind you. So you're in between the blade and him.

Okay. Oh. I turn around and book it towards the sword. Right, so it's 10 feet of movement. He's now 30 feet from you and you have 20 feet of movement left. What are you going to do? I'm going to Ready in Action and to Dodge. an action to dodge.

Dodge action, okay. Okay. You watch as she goes into a fully defensive position, glaring back at you with a grin. Okay. Or you're quite a bit taller than me, eyes you up and down, looks at your stance, tries to figure a little bit out,

and then runs at an, runs, shit, I'm just coming at you. Wow! Runs at you. Yes, yes, exactly. You do hit. Bob-wee, Bob-wee. Hits you in the face.

I'm going to, oh boy-sies. Oh boy-sies. Oh boy-sies. Okay, I'm going to run at her and barrel roll again and try to swing the toy sword at her ankle and try to knock her down with a turn attack. So with the disadvantage on the attacks

because they took the dodge action. That is an 18 to hit. You got me. Oh man. Wow. You have another strength save, 16. So strength save, 16. This is the first real hit. Because you disarmed, but you went for the blade.

Unless you were going for the blade. Oh god. In the first hit, were you going for the sword, or were you going for her? I'm going for dusk. I'm trying to get my five tags in. Okay, so this will be the second tag. Yeah, I rolled a five.

Okay. So, I'm going to show you. Yeah. Bah! Ah! She's like, oh, I'm going to be deer ankles! Then, with the boots of striding and spring, I pop 10 feet up in the air.

Here's the point, you were holding your axe. No, you dodge. To dodge. You dodge, right, yeah. Nevermind, go ahead. All right. He flees up, and I'm going to land one foot on either side of their body and try to bring the wooden sword all the way down and stop with, I'm going to come within

an inch of their face. Okay. And if I fuck it up, well, let's not fuck it up. Oh, I fucked it up. It's an 11. 11. So what happens then?

Well, that's a big thing. So you try to. I'm just trying to tag you. So he's coming down and you know the movie's going for. How do you react to get out of the way? I grab the blade and try and flip it. Okay. So you go to strike downward.

You notice as Dusk barely dodges out of the way, paring with the hand, and then as it strikes the ground, grabs hold of it. So for your turn, you can try and disarm him if you want to take your action doing that. Yes, I do. So this is going to be a contested strength. My strength is balls.

Oh god, same. That's... Oh, okay, 18. Would you call that cocked or would you call that 16? That's a 16. Would you go 16, too? You can definitely read that 16. Yeah. This is a...

Strength. Just, it's not a save, so that's just a straight 16 for me. 18. So with that, your blade is pulled from your grip. Pull it. I reverse it. Point up towards your neck and go, Is your flimmin' in between yet?

Yeah. Technically, it would be down towards his neck. That's true. Technically, it would be down towards his neck. That's true. Oh, I'm on the ground now. It's true, but you can use half your movement to get up if you want to, because it's your turn now.

Okay. No, from, yeah, okay. Yeah, I get up. I flip it, roll to the side, and hold it up to his neck. Okay. All right, so now you have no weapon, but you have your shield, you have his weapon,

and are holding it aggressively. I have an offhand weapon as well. What's the offhand weapon, a real weapon? No, the sword that I picked up. So Dusk has picked up both swords. Both swords, yeah. Okay. All right, so it's your go. Okay.

Sword for a face. Uh, I'm going to... So the one blade that you got pointed up, I basically monkey grasp the stripper pole and bend backward and try to rest it out of your arm. No, I'm doing this and I just throw my body back in an attempt to rest the toy it out of your arm. No, I'm doing this, and I just throw my body back in an attempt to wrest the toy sword out of my hand. We've been paying attention to the world.

Okay, so you're attempting to. I'm just trying to pull it out. Not the sword, or are you trying to take Dusk and pile it? Just trying to take a sword out of Dusk's hand. Okay, gotcha. So go ahead and take another, this is a contested strength roll. I let him, okay, what'd you get?

19. I let him take it, and I fling it. Okay, so. Are you going to try and backflip away? I'm assuming my action is just to take the sword. Exactly, yeah. Because it's an action to try and do it, unless you have special ability,

like what you have with the sword. Because you grab it, because it's an action to try and do it unless you have special ability, like what you have with the Desolation Shroud. Because you grab it, assuming that I'm going to also grab it. Mechanically, is take the sword from you. Okay. Flavor-wise, I threw myself onto my back to try to lever it away more,

and then as soon as I know that I have it, I'm going to flea jump away. Okay. As a note, there was no resistance in the pull, which does set you a little off guard as you end up striking the guard. Look, no major issue there other than just caught off guard, and you can attempt to flea jump away.

Okay, so roll roll. Okay, you do get an attack of opportunity as part of the strike as he darts away. Finish him. Love him. Holy shit, dude. Finish him! Love him. Holy shit, dude. Not great. So bad. Nine plus.

Oh, well, that's bad. Is that with dex, or? With this weapon, it would be strength. Okay, then that's a straight nine. Straight nine. Spirals away into the air, lands. Swish! Three-point landing with a shield face down on the ground. Blade up.

That's the end of my turn. Okay, now your go. Um. Put him in the body bag! Oh wow. Four folks are starting to gather and watch over the side. Some chuckles and some whispers.

Are you tied right now? I have three. You have three, I have one. I have one. So tied. That's what that means. I take a run at you, sword outstretched, and I leap and jump over you

at the last second. Okay, make an acrobatics check for me, if you don't mind. Mm, I got bunny habits. Parkour. 12. Parkour. 12, okay. I'm very short. He is very short, so the DC wasn't super high.

All right. So yeah, you leap over and land on the other side. Boom. Back of the head. All right, So yeah, you leap over and land on the other side. Boom. Back of the head. All right, roll an attack as you try and strike from behind. Yes. Come on, come on, come on. Fjord, are you serious?

Strength 10. I throw my shield onto the back of my head, sensing it's coming. All right, that finishes your go. Unless you have a bonus action. I do not. Okay, you're up. Okay, pivot around with the shield in place,

drop low and roll under them. Okay. And try to stick them in the back twice. You got it. Stick them in the back. Stick them in the back! First one misses. Both miss.

Oh. Three and a two. You are now prepared, no longer caught at the jump, and with the roll and the strikes, you're starting to glean the technique that Orym seems to be utilizing to his advantage. In doing so, you just dodge out of the way, quick parries with the sword.

That's got to be face shit! MATT and LAURA and LAURA, man! So... I step over, because you're still a bit of a- I'm in range. You're in range. I step around and do,

god, what is it called? Fuck. BB dance. Yeah. Flurry of blows. Yeah, the BB dance. The, the, the, so it'll tap your side. Got you. To bypass the shield? Yes, yes, to go under shield. A nine.

Good lord. Ugh! She hits a roll of shit. I, instead of flaking it off, I hold it there for a second. Yeah, all right. I smile at dusk over the top of my shield and I jam a toy sword down into their foot for a 21.

Oh fuck, yeah. It hits the toe, the sting hits, that little throb in the foot. And then I lean away from you since you're leaning into me. I pull the shield away and pivot a bit so that you fall forward a bit and try to spank you as you go by.

That is a 17. What's your armor class? 16. I... Is that an awesome? Is that like a... Fuck. Fully, I...

Do I? Let's see if I roll. Let's see if I make the roll. Yeah, okay. I make, so I go over, I crouch into a tumble and spring up, but before that, you get me full on the ass. Like, full, you hear, like, you can hear across the courtyard,

everybody else in the underground bunkers. About five or six voices in you just go, Ooh! I'm really sorry, that's a little more than I meant to do, and I start gusting to cool the schmack. You guster us? You cool the schmack? Cool the schmack. Cool the ass-mack?

All right! Is he a guster? I lean the full three inches because you're so much taller than me and help you back up. Sorry. Rousing. Thank you.

No, thank you. It really is not like anything I've encountered before. I'm tempted to say fey. Probably. Well, thank you for helping me discover a little bit about myself, both about my style and about the tenderness of my, you know. Anyway.

Would you mind giving me some pointers? Yeah. I mean, I've never taught anyone. But. You schooled me already. Pretty good. Tell you what, if we make it through tomorrow, absolutely. What are you doing tonight? Oh, um.

Sorry. I don't know. Sorry. It's fine. It's fine. It's fine. It's fine. That's okay. It's really complicated. Yeah, okay. You're gorgeous. No, you don't have to justify it. Okay. We're fine. You're gorgeous. No, you do not have to justify it.

Okay, we're fine, we're fine. This fucking scattershot. Oh, it's so good. I mean, I only like guys. So it's not a, and it's more than that. It's complicated. I just start walking away, with a grin in the face.

It's all right. Do you want to talk about it? I mean, no harm, no foul here, right? We're good? Absolutely, absolutely. Rain check. Okay. Yeah. Dusk's so good, very bad, Chani.

I love it. He's really blushing, like, intensely. You can keep the sword. And he just awkwardly walks back towards the lodgings. Hold on. I get a sword and a hank of hair, and I'm like, There's a lot of tokens. Tokens of rejection.

Yep. Make a little shadow box. My summer. Holy shit! Oh, that was good. Bye! Is there any other business for the evening? I don't think so.

No, just going to walk back to the room with you and just open the door and... Damn it, that's what I wanted to add back to that moment. Who's taking first watch in that? We are. I think I am, yes. Chet and I. Can you, oh, are you, okay. Well, if you're...

We will do everything that you need us to do. I get it, for sure. If you're taking a watch, if you're really watching. For sure. Can I request, and I'm just going to lead a refrain, can I request that you keep a close eye on FCG? Because I just feel like they're, I just want to make sure they're okay

and I don't know what exactly is going on. Yes, I absolutely will. Okay. Just make sure that this is watched. Okay. I know what that sound was. Okay, okay. Sure, Fearne will be responsible and communicate to me whatever you just told her. I will, I will.

So that we can both do our job. In your head, I repeat what I just told her. I will, I will. So that we can both do our job. In your head, I repeat what I just told Fearne. Oh! This is why I don't... Huh? My offense. Did you need to say it again? Go ahead. Oh, do it! Why do I? All right. Oh, I'm dying! Fly away!

All right. As we go into the room, I am very, very exhausted, and I turn and I get way up close to your face. If anyone ever makes you feel bad, I'm going to fucking kill them. Ooh. I believe you.

I really do. You're the best of us. Sleep well. Fucking kill them. The most ominous compliment. You're the best of us. Sleep well. Thank you, my lord. Perfect.

This is what you picked up in the fucking mind. All right. So you guys take first watch? Yes. Yep. Roll perception checks if you'd like. 18. Perception, what is it? That would be, it's a 21. 21. Hi. Perception, is it? That would be, it's a 21.

21. 21, okay. Your watch goes by uneventful, thankfully. A relaxing evening. Everyone else is taking the rest. Some pushing through levels of anxiety, others might not be as strongly steeped in, but nevertheless, you. I wanted to show you the progress on the music box.

Yes, show me, I was going to ask. It's got really brilliant filigree around a nice cursive font that says, To Mama Birdie and Papa Ollie. Perfect. Yeah. Pretty good, right? That is incredible.

Oh, it's not done. This is just a work in progress. Oh my gosh, already it's- I just wanted to make sure we were in the right direction. Absolutely. I didn't know you could write like that. It's so swirly. I'm a wonder with my hands. I really bet you are, so I can see that.

But such untreated wood is usually good as is, but I just wish I had something to add, just little flecks of color in some of the indentations I've made. I just don't have any paints or anything like that. Oh. Oh, well, I don't think I have any either, but I think it's beautiful,

just the natural quality to it and when you carved in it, it changes the color of the wood. I think it's perfect. Do I believe her? Make an insight check. You can make a deception or persuasion, your choice. I see.

Ooh, that's not bad. Based on what your response means to you. Natural one. 23. 100%. You do not have paints. Loves it. I want to know if you have paint or not. Oh, you want to know if I have paint. Any paints, anything like that.

Let me look at my trash keys. That is like a 200-page fucking book. Yeah, that is the biggest. There's one page that I haven't written down on. I'm not going to read through this one. It's one. Paints, paintbrushes. I don't have any.

You checked the index. I don't have anything that I think could work for paints. I'm wondering if I was to ask you, of course you fucking love it. Yeah, it's amazing. Need to roll for that? Oh, I thought, yeah, no, it's wonderful. How about that FCG thing?

What do you think she was talking about? Do you have pants? I don't have pants. I have, um... I don't think she painted it. That FCG thing? Yeah. Well, what about it? Well, what do you think is wrong with him? How he mentions saying something's wrong. I mean, he's probably just tired.

Like, he's fucking been a busy day. Yeah. You ever stayed up really late, and you haven't eaten anything, and your blood sugar's fucking, meh! Yes, and you just plummet. Your energy is on top. A term I coined

like 300 years ago. Angry. Hungry? You're hungry and you're angry. What a good coupling of words. I've never heard it before. Mm-hmm. Wow. But sometimes you also just have to understand

that you got to grab your circumstances by the scruff. You got to find your circumstances by the scruff. You got to find your inner alpha. Because RTA. Right, you got to recognize it. Find it within. I got to recognize mine. Oh yeah? Yeah.

I'm going to walk over to FCG. What are you doing? I'm just checking on him. Oh, okay. I'm going to put my hand on his forehead. Their forehead. It's cold metal. Well, he doesn't seem to have a fever.

Do you think he'll get a fever? Well, I don't know. He's sentient. So maybe he could get sick. I'm going to open the eyeless. Oh boy. There's no eyeless. There's no eyeless, that's right. Just like. Wait, so your eyes just open?

Yeah, but they dim. I think they jam. That's right, that's right. It's like you're scratching glasses. What do you have on your face? What do I look like again? Flesh tongue and flesh eyelids. Yeah.

Oh no! No! No! No! All of a sudden, he's like, I'm so scared! So he can do that thing where he puts leaf blisters on his face.

No! No! No! No! No! I hate it. Not canon. Nope, continue.

I love that slowly over time, you're just going to get covered in skin. Someone's going to make a snapper. I'm going to lean my ear on their chest. Okay. You listening? Yeah. There's a very, very low, low hum, if anything, but yeah.

I don't know what I'm trying to accomplish right now. You had a plan, or you know, form a specialty in, I don't know, machinery? I do, but I just, I just was wondering if I would maybe hear clanking or something falling apart on the inside if he's not feeling well. And if you did hear something, do you think you would be the one to fix said falling?

Yes, of course. I mean, I don't have that much experience, but I feel like if it came down to it and I had to sort of fix FCG, his insides, I probably would know how. I'm sorry about your postcards. Oh, there's nothing to be sorry about. I think I was really glad that you were able

to glean some information from them. Okay. Is there anything else that you got? No. No. Okay. You know, everybody here cares about you a ton, so I think they just hate to see you hurt, but it's also okay if you want to, you know, everybody here cares about you a ton, so I think they just hate to see you hurt, but it's also okay if you want to, you know,

tell us anything. Well, I mean, I guess I didn't tell this anybody. Pull out a little gem, a little green gem. Um, my nana gave this to me so that if I found my parents ever, that this was a very important gem that I had to give them when I saw them because it would help them save the world, I guess.

So this is a very important piece of the puzzle. That's incredible. What is it? I don't know. Make an arcana check if you'd like. Sure. More excellent mind work. You know it. I saw the gem, I saw it.

19, no, 18, sorry. 18. When you look through it and move it around, it plays on the little bit of light that was in the room in an odd way. It seems like some of the shadows flatten a bit, just slightly to the point where you're like, this isn't just glass or a gem.

There's something special to it. Looking along the way it's cut, you can see there's faint grooves along the edges of it. It's about that big. The grooves in the sides look like they are built to carry some sort of enchantment. So it definitely seems to have some enchantment within the gem.

This is amazing. Isn't it beautiful? Yeah, I mean, can I give it a sniff? Of course. Any kind of a scent trace, anything that's new? Where were you keeping it? Nature's plan. Between my belt and my dress. anything that's new. Where were you keeping it? Nature's blood.

Between my belt and my dress. It smells very much like sweaty fur and a little scent of everywhere. It's so decadent. Um, mm. This is amazing. You should guard this. It clearly has some magical properties that I don't understand. I think so, too. I just...

Your Nana gave that to you to give to your parents? Yeah. Your Nana was also from the Feywild? What did she do? She's a powerful sorcerer. Did she rule anything? Did she make stuff? She's just my grandmother.

I mean, she's very artistic. She's an excellent cook. But you know, we live away from everything, and we live a pretty nice and quiet life. I very much enjoy her company. She is one of my very best friends. She's the only one who's really taking care of me.

So I know her so much better than I know my parents. But I wonder if they'll remember. Boy, I hope they do. You do, too. Don't worry, if it gets weird, we'll fuck them up for you. Okay. Where are your parents?

Oh. I haven't thought about that in a long time. Oh. It's been a couple of centuries, at least. I left pretty early, because I knew I wanted to go into the trade, but I jumped around a lot. It wasn't until a long time later that I came home

and they were gone. Your parents, what do you mean? Well, I had a couple of siblings and they all scattered too, but they just never really stayed in one place. So when I went back home, they were just, had moved on, didn't really leave word. Oh.

Oh, it's not a bad thing. It's kind of common. Oh, it is? Yeah bad thing. It's kind of common. Oh, it is? Yeah, we didn't have a tight-famed familial thing or anything like that. Oh, okay. Yeah. So you guys just are raised and then you're thrown out of the nest?

Not thrown. Just curiosity takes hold and you just find a passion and follow it. Wow. Yeah. I meant to go back earlier and I just find a passion and follow it. Wow. Yeah. I meant to go back earlier and I just didn't. Hurrying on. Do you want to go back again? No.

Oh. All right. I'm all about life's, you know, what happens the next day. Yeah. Just moving forward. Kind of like you. Yeah, absolutely.

I go with the flow and just keep on going. Yeah, the flow? Yeah. Listen, I meant to give you this. You know, it's not the right time, but I made yours first. If you ever want to roll with the flow, this is for you.

Oh my goodness. Oh! Chetney. Yeah, you know, sometimes you got to take a ride on the wild side, so, you know. The invitation's out there, but there's been some personal shit tonight, so it feels a little tone deaf.

Oh. Feels like the punchline to the longest joke I've ever heard. I think that this is just the way to make things better. I honestly just feel so much better just because of this. This is probably my favorite thing I have. I know. Just remember, when it feels like you're getting moved

around by life, just grab it and let it know who the elf is. Okay. Thank you. You're welcome. Well, I guess I'll wake up who's next. No, no, no, yeah, I got to keep working on this music box. You just keep an eye out.

Okay, I will. I just sit next to FCG and just play with the three sprigs of hair. Okay. Sprigs of hair. The head cables. The head cables. Now it's hair, it's canon.

Yeah, gross. Stop making this the most nightmarish Pinocchio story ever. Just some cadaver hair that's big. I hate it. What if every bit of lore that gets dropped about FCG more human parts appear? Where are you, Candy? I hate this. You're stroking the headcables. Every bit of lore that gets dropped about FCG, more human parts.

Where are you getting these? I put them in a braid. Okay. At the end of the campaign, they're just Leatherface. Kind of hard in the direction. Really. They have elbow skin all of a sudden. Like jacket patches.

There's elbow patches. Yeah. Elbow patches and a pipe. But it's waddle. We'll see, for the sake of brevity, that the remainder of the night's watches go without issue. And seeing as how we should probably

get to a brief respite ourselves here for a minute, we're going to go ahead and take a break. Hey! The long night, first half of the session here. Oh, don't apologize to me. This is all. Yeah, this is all. Don't apologize to me.

My last episode was a lot, and we all had to process. Exactly. Yes, yes, we had a lot we needed to discuss. Trust me, it's easy on me. I don't have to do much when you guys talk to each other. But yeah, we'll be back here in a few minutes to pick up in the following morning and the events that may transpire thereafter. So see you in a few minutes.

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. Thank you. And welcome back. So, the night not completed, the morning is yours. The sun rises across the Hellcatch. Oh boy. Your plans for the day of Vassarissa before you, what would you like to do? To the...

I guess we should just head straight over, right? We're supposed to check in, so this'll go. This'll go great, let's go. Can't dance around forever. Yep. So we're going to make our way. We're going to make around forever. Yep. So we're going to make our way. We're going to make our way. Thank you. To the Seat of Disdain.

Seat of Disdain. All right. Early-ish in the morning, we'll say you arrive probably two hours off of dawn. As you approach the familiar outer walls of the Seat of Disdain, following the paths where you had previously cased the location itself, there is a front gate and a back gate. Which do you approach, and which of you are doing so?

Oh, right. Yeah, we've gone over this. We should have. Yeah, we are, too. We're hanging back. I think the back gate is funnier. Would you tell? Funnier? Yeah, the back gate.

Okay. You mean back door? Well, that's funny, too, but I. Why do you call it a back gate? No, so you head to the. I'm in with some weird people, apparently. So we're just going to be stuck outside. Open your back gate, baby. Should we not go in at all? We're not going to be stuck outside? Open your back gate, baby. Should we not go in at all?

We're not going to go in at all. We're going to stay outside? Just try and stay nearby. Yeah, move! Or if you want to come in, you can turn into a little mouse and be in my pocket. What do we think? Do we need extra backup? I mean, I think more hands in here.

I think we might need more backup. Let me, okay, start planning and I'm going to turn into something. Druid panic. I recognize it. How are we going to bust that door open if we need to get in in a hurry? I mean, how are we going to bust that door open? I have an item on order.

We can go over and pick it up. Oh yes. It's a Breacher device. So we just breach on in. If something goes south, just fully create some sort of event. It would have to be very south. All right. It'd have to be very south.

We got a big fall. Yeah, let's stop by there before we head over then. Pick up the boom boom. All right. We got a big bomb. Yeah, let's stop by there before we head over then. Pick up the boom boom. All right. Okay, so before heading to the exterior here, you instead go to Finders Takers to meet up with Esmer. Yes, that's who's building our bomb, yes?

Indeed. Yes. You approach and it is currently not open. Or at least it hasn't yet opened. It's still an early enough morning for Esmer. Well, you all go ahead and I'll wait here. I'll wait here until we get it and then I'll... Were you going to go in? Well, yeah, this is where the object is.

No, I mean, were you going to go in with me? No. All right, all right, all right. I feel like I'm going to get something from there, though. Something else. Just shopping? Yeah. I think probably you bought everything yesterday. Well, I just really wanted

a tiny pepper box for little Mister, because I feel like my monkey needed a pepper box. You want to give the monkey a gun. To put his seeds in. I've read that issue of Hellboy. Like a little pepper box for him. I can order one for you because she'll probably have to custom make a smaller one for the little hand.

Yeah, little hands, flaming shit goes inside, and then so something that will be okay with heat. Sure. Okay. Yes! My monkey just needs a pepper box. Okay, I'm going to turn. I'm just going to do my regular, I'm just going to be a little rat.

Just get in your pocket. I hope your rollover's proud. Rollo is spinning, spinning constantly. It's generating electricity for all of Whitestone, just spinning. Before we leave you here in your head, are you sure you're all right being by yourself? Do you need company? If I'm not, oh, you hear in your head back,

if I'm not, I can reach out to you. All right. All right. Wait, you're going to be alone? Oh, I'm just going to wait until the store opens, then I'm going to follow up and come over. Okay. What if you're abducted?

Yeah, I was, yeah. Kidnapped. Robots. That's true. I'm going to stay with you. Okay. Yeah, robot-napped. I'm going to stay with you, and I'll meet up. There is zero reason for us not to wait until the store opens,

get what we want, and go out to that place all together so we are all ready to deal with whatever comes. Well, that sounds very complicated. Oh. We don't know when this store's going to open. She might not open today at all. Is it a tent or is it a little store? They're going to come to us.

It's a building. Is there a sign on the door that says what time they open? Do they know where in the city we are? You go and check and it just says closed. You glance around and there is another sign that's scrawled on the right-hand side. It's a little off-kilter, but it says,

opens when I feel like it. SAM and LAURA, SAM and LAURA, That's the spirit. That's a good way to get the thing that we want. No response? Is there an apartment above the, no, it's a tent, never mind. No, the roof is blackened in places

from fires and or explosions. That's fair. Ashton mentioned that they wanted a breakfast beer anyway, so we can go get some quick breakfast. Oh, thank god, go get some quick breakfast. Oh my god, my head is killing me. Yes, that would be great. Come back, and then go.

For the ease of the narrative, you go ahead and acquire a breakfast beer. Yes. Catch up a bit. We are wasting time. Now's not okay. We need to kill some time. As you arrive, say about an hour and a half later, the shop does appear to be open now.

It's adjusted. All right, let's get it and go. Okay, you walk inside, and there you see Esmer is currently in the process of snacking on some sort of a heavy breaded sandwich. It's mostly just bread with some sort of a heavy breaded sandwich. It's mostly just bread with some sort of slop or a thick sauce in the middle

that's soaked into it. You watch, she's currently reading, looks like a small ledger and breaking off parts of it and just chewing on it before glancing up. Smiley day to you. We came for a hi. Hello, good morning. Hi.

Are you open yet? Yeah, I'm open. Well, we're here to buy our item. We were here yesterday. Picking up our explosive. Okay. Some people don't come back and they just get to keep the money,

so just making sure. Not today. So it's not the most inconspicuous thing, but it will definitely do the job of which was promised. She goes around and opens up a case and you watch as she stops and then carefully and gingerly pulls this thing out and sets it onto the edge of the table

where she was sitting. What you see is a, it looks like a leather backpack, but it is packed to the brim. As she releases it and carefully opens the front, on the inside, you can see a similar material that the dynamite's wrapped in, but it is wrapped in a spherical shape around this oddly...

It would be round if it weren't so bulbous in places. It looks like a whole manner of contraptions and heavily packed explosives have been placed within this device. She shows in the front, now I give you a fuse option, as well as an arcane detonation option. So you either can just light the fuse

or for a little extra money, you can take this and it'll light the fuse for you anywhere between five and 10 minutes. How much is that little extra bit? light the fuse for you anywhere between five and 10 minutes. How much is that little extra bit? Additional 20 gold pieces. I'll throw that cash down. How delicate is this?

Quite. I mean, you can carry it fine in the backpack, which is why I placed it where it is, but you don't want it to be jostled too much. You definitely don't want to get it near any fire. Definitely don't want to, just don't do anything with it, really, except for move it.

All right. How much for the case? That's part of it, I assume. The case comes with it? Yeah, the backpack is part of it. That's how you would carry it. Well, I mean, the backpack was in a case that you pulled it out of. Oh no, I assume. The case comes with it? Yeah, the backpack is part of it. That's how you would carry it. Well, I mean, the backpack was in a case that you pulled it out of.

Oh no, this is my storage case. All right, okay. 20 gold, all right. 20 gold? All right. So, and you watch as she shows you this device. It's a piece of polished stone, almost like a river stone. But on the front of it, there is a small,

almost like a secondary portion of the stone that you watch as she rotates it and turns it. As it does, these little lights blink on around the outskirts of it. You go ahead and set it. It's one minute per one of these little notches, up to 10. It'll count down, and then you go ahead and stick it,

and she pulls back the opening once more, and you can see where there is a fuse insertion point on this device. Place it on here, and it will ignite when it counts down. All right. All right. Who wants to wear an explosive backpack? We do have a magic black hole.

You're going to be an animal. I We do have a magic black hole. You're not being an animal. I'll do it. Is it okay? Is it too big for you? Is it too big for me? Uh, no. Some of his nimbleness? Your strength is? 10. 10?

I mean, it's not comfortable, but you can carry it. I'd say it weighs about 35 pounds. So you can carry it, but it definitely, if you were to stand up straight, you would start to fall back a bit, so you have to compensate by pushing a little bit. But you can do it. Well, it's...

We're... Because it gets jostled. Jostled. Well, we want it for the outside crew, yeah? Yeah. So we can use it to get in. So maybe FCG wears it. Sure. You have a pretty smooth gait.

Or can you put it on? I do. I already wear a backpack, so I'll just swap it out. Things start to melt inside of you. What's in your backpack now? Should I carry your backpack? Yeah. Okay. I'll take FCG's backpack and put it on, and then you can put on it.

Great. All right. Well, it's been a pleasure doing business. Yeah. Okay. I'll take FCG's backpack and put it on, and then you can put on it. Great. All right. Well, it's been a pleasure doing business. If you come across Dancer at all, tell her I say hi. Yeah, yeah. I'm going to reach out soon. Okay. Oh, well.

You said it was inconspicuous, so no one would see. Question. You've been wearing that the whole time? Yes. Just now. Okay. Since break. You literally just saw it? Yeah. It's been staring at you

for like eight minutes. I've been in the world! He's the worst! We're terrible, he's amazing. I just thought you were above it. I was like, man. He's just cool as a cucumber. He's like, I'm not even going to address this. No.

Yes, I'm not even going to acknowledge it. This is what you think, you must ignore the title. Yes. What did you want to say, Fearne? I wanted to actually see, do you have baby-size pepper boxes? Oh god. That's the rephrase of that.

My first peppermint? Yeah, almost for a child. It's a peppermint. No. What's the smallest one that you have? The standard size. What's the standard size? Pulls up and you see it's about that long,

thick barrel, big handle. It's a fairly decent size. That's a big shot, huh? Would you mind if my monkey just tried it out? Just to see if it fits his hands, just to see if it's a possibility for him at all? Make a persuasion check. Okay.

I don't know if I fucking know, because DC is weird. You thought Ripley was bad. Because I would want to see what happens. That would be... Nothing good has ever happened to that decision. 28. No fucking way!

I rolled a natural 19. I have a very high persuasion. What? You have a monkey? Yes. Oh my god. Come on. Oh my god.

Okay, Mister, I was just trying to see if maybe we could get you something that you could put your flame seeds, your poo, into, and then you just, pooh-pooh, just shoot it, maybe have better aim. That's not how it works. Hello, monkey. Does it fit his hands?

It's about the size of Mister. It's just slightly smaller. So Mister goes like, and reaches out, and it's like, it's like a baby holding a remote. It's just, it's not, it's not compatible. You like it?

Is it too big? Okay, I'll find you a smaller one, okay? All right, come on. It's a bit too big. Okay, I'll find you a smaller one, okay? All right, come on. He looks back at her. Little flames, like. As the flames rise up off of Mister for a second. Ha, ha, get him out. Okay. Not here.

It's fine, it's fine, it's fine. Not here. Yeah. It points to three different things that look like they could probably be flammable in the vicinity. That's right, it's a fire monkey. Okay, bye-bye. Uh-huh.

Probably the worst combo ever. There's a bomb still on the counter. I think a plane monkey with a gun is a bad idea, too. It's a bad idea. It's a bomb on a CG. Yeah. There's no good answer here. No. Thank you.

Thank you, someone had to say it. I'm glad it was you. Alas. No. Some mage is you, someone had to say it. I'm glad it was you. Unless. Some mage is going to do that monkey with dark powers. All right. Onward ho! On the way out, after everybody's left, can I hang back for a second? Sure.

You knew Dancer? Know Dancer? Yes and yes. Sorry, do you mind me asking, what did she look like? Yes. Does she look like, I'm sorry, I keep... Dark black hair,

kind of olive skin, and a bit of fuzz fur on the edges. Tattoo of a star on the right cheek. You said fuzz fur on the edges. Is she a furbolg? I actually never really asked. That's the kind of question you toss into a conversation. Yeah, you're right.

All right. What kind of relationship did she have with FCG? I don't know who FCG is. Oh, oh, my small mechanical companion. Oh, my small mechanical companion. Oh, right. I mean, she kept them. One of many different contraptions

that she built and worked on, or scavenged and renovated. Did she treat them like they were special? I mean, she was proud of them. Okay. Would you say that Dancer is a good person? Dancer's a complicated person, but I would say,

in comparison to this place, Shining. All right. Thank you very much for your troubles. I'll pass the silver across the counter. All right. All right. Goes back to eating her sandwich.

Well, all right. Seat of disdain, seat of disdain. Oh yes, please. Okay. So as you return to the seat of disdain? Seat of disdain? Oh yes, please. Okay. So as you return to the Seat of Disdain, in the central neighborhood that it's settled in, you can see the high walls and the stronghold itself pushing beyond that boundary

with its own guard perches and balconies. Occasionally, you can see the sentries of Paragon's Call keeping watch and cruising along the parapet with all manner of heavy crossbows and or rifles at the ready. The team that was planning to go forward, you're going to the back door?

Back gate. Does the back gate seem a little bit more subdued, subtle? They're both massive, but you can tell there's a size difference. Does the back gate seem a little bit more subdued, subtle? They're both massive, but you can tell there's a size difference. The main gate itself is 15 feet, 20 feet. The other side is about, let's say, 10 by 15, so it's slightly smaller, but you know.

That'll do, I'll knock there. Okay. I am going to go over to Dusk, turn myself into a little rat, scurry up and get into their pocket. Okay. The rest of you, what are you doing? The folks who are not approaching.

What are we doing? Bet you two twins. Yeah. Huh? Who aren't paying attention? What else are we doing? Bet you two twins. Yeah. Huh? Who aren't paying attention? What else are you doing, Orym? We're talking about this game! We're figuring out what we're going to do. Absolutely, no, I was just asking,

what are you guys doing right now while they're going out? Orym, immediately after we left the shop, Orym immediately fell in next to FCG and is staying within three or four feet of him at all times. Okay. Just as a side note. They're going in the back gate.

Some people call it a back door. Yeah. Should we go in the front? I feel like we should just head to a little cafe or something and chill, so that we can see what's going on, but we're within, you know. Okay. I lead them to the

dilapidated building that Laudna hid out in the other day. You got it. There is no, there's no evidence. Laudna. Laudna. All of them allow smoking on the catios. There's nowhere comfortable. It's because of Laudnum. Yeah. I assumed it that way. I've heard.

Is it Laudnum or Laudnum? I don't know. Laudnum. I assumed that that was why you Is it Laudanum or Laudanum? I don't know. Laudanum. Yeah. Laudanum. But indeed, not so much a plethora of cafes to choose from in the environment, but Orym. It's not just Paris, where you could just sit and have some wine. There's a Panera Bread

like one and a half blocks that way. Yeah, and three subways. There's a little bread station. No one goes in there, man. It's dark. But Orym does lead your troop towards a partially collapsed building of which he had become familiar with the previous day

while keeping an eye on the Seed of Disdain. Great. So while you wait there, first off, I would like you all to roll a group stealth check for those who are heading into that space outside. As we head in, I'm going to do a quick range check to Imogen.

Just send her a message and just say, Imogen, check one, two, check one, two. I am here. And don't go too far. All right. I missed that. 20, first hit. Natural 20. Great.

Nine, just wanted to throw it out there. Before we separate from the other group, I was supposed to, and I will, cast something on you to help you with your persuasion charm, right? I will throw. Perception, persuasion, any of it. I will do a, whatever, Enhance Ability.

And it's the one for charisma, right? Something Splendor, remember? Owl's Wisdom, nope. Eagle's Splendor. Eagle's Splendor, yes. So you have advantage on charisma checks for the next hour. Oh, thank god, because my charisma checks are really, thank god, because my charisma checks are really, really bad.

Really bad. Okay. But nine for stealth. Which makes sense, and you're being very careful with this satchel on your back, but the rest of your group is very, very good at trying to facilitate your maneuvering and getting to a space where you're no longer directly visible by the light.

While the rest of you head towards the back gate of the Seat of Disdain, as you begin to approach, you can see some of the sentries clock you on your arrival and begin to gather along the wall and start talking to each other a bit. Looking down, one of them shouts, Hey, what's your business? Here to see Rake.

Rake sent me. Tanavir. Tanavir, Rake. So what if it Tanavir? Did any of you call him the Rake? He calls him the Rake. I had a fucking newit. He had a fucking newit.

There's a pause, and there's some chuckling and some conversation, and then you watch as a dwarven figure with a mohawk approaches the top of the wall and looks down at you and goes, Oh, I remember you. Hi. Don't wave, what the fuck?

Well, just fucking see me. Told us to come on by, we're coming on by. Why are you looking for work? You said you know, said you know Rhtanish? Yeah, I know Rhtanish. Are we literally going to do this outside, or can we not yell?

Let me go get Rhtanish. Fine. Open the gate. He turns around and some of the folks look at each other. He makes a large rotating arm motion in the air over the side, and then a moment later, you hear and the two main doors begin to shift inward, revealing the interior of the courtyard from this other side.

This is on the back end of the central stronghold of the Seat of Disdain. All eyes are on you. In the courtyard now, you can see, at least what you experienced when you first went through here, the half dozen or so individuals that were here. There was maybe four or five that were patrolling,

and now others are coming out of the Citadel to see what the hell this weird, interesting, unexpected commotion is. As you all step inside, they form a semicircle to the point where you can enter the courtyard, but you get the sense immediately that you're not supposed to step too far in. And one of them puts up a hand. Wait.

That'll get you in the general. How many bodies in this courtyard-ish? Now there's eight of them, and you can see at an immediate glance on the nearby wall parapets, as well as the balconies of the Stronghold itself, an additional five that are paying attention to you. Two.

When I say paying attention to you, it's looking at you, but they're also looking over the wall. They're still keeping, you know. Doing the light from the sweep. Yeah. cool. I was going to say, it's interesting, looking at you, but they're also looking over the wall. They're still keeping, you know. Doing the live permit sweep. Yeah. An awkward two minutes or so of just people staring, talking to each other, some of them chuckling under their breath

while I'm spitting in the dirt, all wearing their casual mismatch of armor. The only continuation you can see between them, now that you have seen more of Paragon's Call and been around, there are themes of gold or brass bands on parts of the armor and things that match that Duskmaven pendant, which you can see a consistency that they all seem to wear.

Eventually, a crew of two more figures emerge from the Citadel. One of them is the familiar visage of General Rotanish, the large, half-giant figure. Bristly walks up and looks over. Hey. Well, this is very unexpected. Oh yeah, I know, I know, it's good to see you.

Quite unexpected. Well, honestly, I have a little work up here and doing a few favors for a few friends and visiting some old haunts. I'm actually born and raised, would you believe? Of course you would believe, look at me. And I figured I was going to hit you up for maybe some, I don't know, if you ever got some smuggling,

some bodyguard work. I figured since I'm going to be up here for a little while, except your asshole over here, Rake, whatever his name is. I'm so sorry, I can't keep these things. What a rake. I know. He kind of interrupted us on our time,

and so I am forced to put this offer forward way before I was expecting to, and make a scene out of it because of this fucker. Make a deception check. Is it deception? Come on. Was I really actually? Well, looking, you're... Actually, I'll say you can choose between the two,

depending on the angle you're pushing. I'm angling for persuasion, not deception, which is good for this natural 20 that I just rolled. Oh shit! Yay! There you go. Best actions ever sounded.

Honestly, there was a tension on the arrival. You could see a little bit of math behind the eyes and a reticence to this unexpected arrival, you can see a little bit of math behind the eyes and a reticence to this unexpected arrival. But they quickly slacken and lean onto the back foot as he glances over at the troop and goes, I'm glad our conversation took root. Oh yeah, no, I was fascinated by what you were talking about.

I mean, when I lived here at Paragon, really, getting out of the town? Well, uh. It's nuts. Trust me, it's been a... Otohan has definitely been changing the way we run business for the better. We are expanding beyond just the dust of the Hellcatch. I can tell you some other people I know in town will be happy that you guys are spreading out

and maybe giving them a little more room, or maybe you'll be holding on to what you have here. Well done, regardless. Who are your companions? Oh, god, let's just a few friends. If we're naming ourselves after the instruments we use, you can call me Chisel. Oh my god.

It's a very, um... It's a finesse tool, but I mean, it could be pretty damaging him in the right hands. I know what a chisel is. Oh, okay. I want to see him use a rake, actually, now that you mention that. I want to really see what that looks like. I'm so sorry.

Denvir, you have a rake? No, I don't. It what that looks like. I'm so sorry. Denver, do you have a rake? No, I don't. It's not what it means. Are you trying to make rake happen? No, it's... Is this a self-proclaimed title? You can't give yourself a nickname. Yeah, someone else has to.

I mean, if you made a crazy-ass rake, then, I don't know, beheaded somebody with it. Fuckily, yeah. He just walks off. Just trying to help. I really, oh fuck. He's all right. This lovely person. I'm Duster. Duster. Duster.

Good alias. Good. All right, so we have Chisel and Duster. And... I'm... Nightmare. I don't have a weapon, really. I don't know what tools I have. I mean, I'm here for you. You are your tool.

I am my tool. Oh. But then the thing is, is that he referred to himself as Tanadir the Rake. I know. So we can't be like, I know they're ridiculous, but I swear to god, I've actually been making a ton of money with these fucking people.

Better money than I've made in a long time. So, okay, all right. I'm just putting it up here. Probably going to be here for a week or two, maybe longer, and. Better go to you guys than Fist of the Ruiner. Ew. Ugh.

Well, I figure since we have history and, you know, this is interesting, it's nice to maybe, I would love to see what it's like to work with you rather than off to the side, if you know what I mean? I'm sure there'll be plenty of time for that in the future. We don't commonly just take passing dalliances at face value.

There is a, and while you and me have definitely squared off in a way that was in line with many of our intense means of judging an individual's character. I am not the person who makes these decisions. Oh shit. At least not when it comes to strangers entering our mists. I have a keen eye, but this goes above me.

Well, I'll say that we're not necessarily looking to join, we're just looking to pick up whatever work you want off the books, which is a whole different field. I'm very, very big on off-the-books work. I mean, look at me. We're contributing to the gig economy. Well, you can talk to her.

Talk to who? To who? To her. He turns around and walks off for a second. As he looks over towards the stronghold, he gives a loud whistle. Some of the individuals enter the stronghold. Why does this make me nervous? Some of the individuals enter the stronghold?

Indeed. Are they flanking us? No, they're still in a circle facing you. They're not flanking you, but they're definitely preventing you from getting closer to the stronghold. They're just keeping you a little bit beyond the gate. A moment later, those figures return, and a woman walks through the front of the stronghold.

You see a... I want to say a dancer's body, very fit and compact, wearing dark leathers, a heavy cloak with a mantle that goes across the shoulders, and it's either a hood or a heavy scarf that buries the bottom of her head and face.

From what you can see, her leather armor goes all the way up to the arm, but then the fingers themselves are exposed at the end. She has a dark, tanned skin, piercing eyes, and short gray hair that's folded to one side of it that bundles a bit to this side and curls under this way.

She steps forward. Now, make a history check. What happened to you? Quick audience question. Has this moved inside, or are we still outside the gate? I can't remember. Oh, you guys are outside the wall.

No, I know we are. I'm just asking as an audience of this scene, have we all moved, have they moved inside? Yes, yes, they moved inside the wall. The gates are open and they're inside the courtyard, but they're being kept just beyond the gate. All right. Great.

This bodes really poorly. This bodes so poorly. Natural 20. Hey! I'm burning them all onto really dumb shit. Holy shit! No! This is not really poorly. This bodes so poorly. Natural 20. Hey! Burning them all onto really dumb shit. Holy shit! No! This is not dumb shit! I'm going to be rolling once for every fight,

not on the wood. This is the right trick! That's hilarious. So as the figure approaches, and you've not seen this figure, but you've heard the name Otohan. So this is Otohan. This is Otohan. Otohan? Otohan.

O-T-O-H-A-N. Otohan. Otohan? Otohan. O-T-O-H-A-N. Otohan. Otohan? Sorry, say that one more time? O-T-O-H-A-N. Is there an apostrophe in there? No. Otohan. Otohan Thull. Ugh!

Thull? T-H-U-L-L. And you know the second name because as soon as this all comes together, you're like, I know this figure. This is, it's been rumored that they're long, or at least long been involved with Paragon's Call for the past five or so years,

but then took leadership and are responsible for expanding its influence beyond Bassuras and the Hellcatch Valley. You also, you've only got fucking natural 20. The reason they have a reputation is because they were a famed warrior in the previous Apex War between the Stratos Throne and Eshenador. They were considered one of the greatest warriors

under the Stratos Throne, both as a general who was a tactician and a strategist, but as- Not the family, but this person? But this person. Okay. And would I have been in this city for all that? This would have been before my time. Stratos? Stratos.

Well, you would have been very young. Okay. You would have been very young. You do not have memory of the actual conflict, because a lot of it did go through Bassuras and a lot of these crawler gangs were hired up by whoever was paying the most money at the time. In fact, a lot of the wealth go through Bassuras and a lot of these crawler gangs were hired up by whoever was paying the most money at the time. In fact, a lot of the wealth and materials they have now is based on what they acquired during the Apex War.

But when the war was done, they just vanished for a while and then popped up here, I guess trying to find some sort of fortune or meaning outside of conflict and have risen the ranks to become the head, the rumored head of the Paragon's Call. I'm assuming Laudna would immediately get a ping that this looks very familiar. I don't know how good that drawing is, though.

It's kind of vague. Great hair, poof on the side. Make a perception check for me. 12 performance check to draw. This is a perception check. Oh no! No! 11. 11? You don't clock it.

I don't clock it? You don't clock it. Not yet. I'm not nervous. No, nope, nope, nope. She approaches, hands folded behind her back as she steps up. Looks, though she's not entirely taller than you,

she still almost feels like she's looking down at you. She leans back a bit, and there is a presence about her. Everyone else goes from this slap-happy, fuck-off band of brigands to still and reverent as she steps out. And you can just sense they take up a lot of space. Holy shit, for real? Like, no.

So Ratanish tells me that you are interested in working with us. Yeah, yeah. Wow. Are you? You're you? Like, oh, holy shit, sorry, fuck, shit. I'm cool.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, sure. Hello! I normally, wow. Yeah. This is deeply impressed. I know. She's a deeply impressive woman. I mean, she's got her leather on.

Then what are your skills? What can you do for us? On the surface, I'm a very, very good brawler. I know how to keep myself together in a fight. Otherwise, I have a lot of experience with B&E, some experience with smuggling, a little bit of bodyguard work, but moving things from one city to another,

very, very high on the list. I've done a little bit of work with the clasp in the back, back in the time. Wow, you are a lot. I'm not normally. Crosses her arms in front. I can tell you I'm not normally a wow. Our friend seems quite starstruck by you. Are you famous?

We're not famous. I was a cheerleader when I was a kid. Holy shit. I make a perception check. 17. 17. 17. From what you can tell, and that you glance over,

on the cloak that she has on, it goes a little bit past the back of the thighs. It's not a long cloak, it's a short cloak. You can see in the small of the back, there are two crossed sheaths that carry two blades behind. With that high enough roll, there's an odd, I don't want to say a hunch,

but there's definitely the shoulders where the cloak is, there's something in the back. Against the cloak? Yes, something within the cloak that is not in line with the rest of the body shape. Cool. Options there.

Well, there are many ways to ascertain the will, the talent, and the drive to succeed in this city. The choice is yours. You fight or you race. Well. I mean, you're kidding, right? I'm a local kid. I want to race.

Very well. Before we choose, though, what does fighting look like, just theoretically? Theoretically. Hypothetically. You choose your two finest champions. I choose two of mine. And we go until down or dead.

Out of curiosity, who are your two finest? That is. May we see them before we decide? No. I'd hate to, you know, remove two of her champions. So the race is probably better. We want to make a good impression.

I've heard a lot about these races. It seems very exciting. To be honest, it's been some time since we've had one, and I've been itching to watch. So, do you accept these specifications? Oh my god, I am a Greymoore. This has been practically my dream since I was five. Yes, I want to do this. This sounds fucking great.

Real quick, any clocking of Treshi? Make a perception check. Thank you. Get it, get it. Assist you. I have an assist. Look around, look around. I've really lost the fucking round now. Jeez Louise. Jeez Louise, nope, that is the worse one.

So 16. 16. That's not terrible. Not too bad. Right now, there are a lot of bodies around the Citadel. Like, there were some that were watching you, but then with Otohan stepping out of the stronghold, it is all hands on deck, because obviously something's happening.

No sign of Treshi, you can see. All right. We're fairly confident that he's not visible. Sure. So just to set some ground rules here, am I capable of looking up a sponsor? Do I have to put this shit together myself? And I have a little bit of time, obviously,

to gather myself and get this shit together and figure out who I want on a crew if we're going to do this. We race at dusk. All right. Tonight? Oh. Part of the resourcefulness is how you can adapt when the unexpected catches you off guard.

Do you have means of racing? The thing about our crew is we are always on our guard. Good. When was that shit going to be ready? That's fucked up, man. That's cool. Okay. That was a couple of days. Sorry. Yeah. Yeah.

At dusk? It's early. We got time. While we're sitting here talking, Max herself, can I kick a big up the air and detect any fey fiends or undead just from her or from anybody else since we don't know who it is? Sure, make a perception check

with advantage. Ah! The 13. 13. Not picking up anything specific. Cool. And what would be our route as we race through the city?

Well, there is one route. It's the route. Follow his lead. He is indeed a local. Yeah. Yeah, you run through the skids, you go into the booby traps of the ravine, the carbine, and then all back to the base of the bone tree.

We've heard things. All right. Do you have means of raising? I think so. I'm going to try and put it together right now. All right. For all of you? Uh-uh. Good, then. You don't? No.

We only have one card right now. We have one card. We have one card. If we, like, we, we, oh, I mean, because of course we do, but if we didn't, what would be our options? Are you really loud? Yes.

She turns around and begins walking off and says, Give them an emblem. She just walks back into the stronghold. Yes! Yes, Fearne? Before she goes. Goddamn it. Goddamn it. What are you doing? What are you doing?

I'm still being a fighter. Yes! Oh god. Okay. Oh god, this is so dumb. Do it now. Show us what you got or something. I am going to crawl out of Ness' pocket and try to,

just real discreetly, just try to run up Otohan's back and just get into the bits in here and just try to see what it is. On whose back? On Mantle, under the cloak. On Otohan? You're going to climb up her back.

This is really stupid. The war hero legend? Sure, go for it. I'm a rat. This is going to go okay. This bale, you're about as big as a banana with a tail. All right. I always like to go, okay. So you're this big, well, you're about as big as a banana with a tail. All right. It's probably going to shoot right up into it. I am so confused. I just kick as this thing runs by.

Roll a check. Roll stealth for me. What color? Are you the color of the ground rat? It's very high risk, low reward. Too late to make that decision. It is, it is. I am just like a, with a little tinge of green.

Oh, okay, cool. You know, with a little ribbon, so definitely somebody's pet. This is far enough that we've already, have we turned around and started heading out by now already, or no? You all exhale right as you just see the periphery of your vision

something skitter across the ground. Go ahead and roll a stealth check using the rat's dexterity check. Fuck boy. Fuck my life. But I thought you, wait. I thought you used your own stats, no? Your own mental stats, but the physical stats are a three.

Five-year-old rat. Did you roll a total of 20? Oh! Yeah! You have a total of 20! Five you wrap. Did you wrap? Natural 20. Oh! Yeah! That's a wrap! For a total of... It's a high DC.

For a total of 20. We're going to have, we're going to have, we're going to have. Sorry. It's a high DC. Sorry, Chad. But still, natural 20. She can't totally fail with a natural 20. Matt can do whatever he wants. Yeah, so.

Like, if you were punching a god. You dart from shadow to shadow of all the people that are standing in a circle. You cruise through, preventing the majority of the sunlight to make you stand out so starkly against the very light dust across the ground. So you just rapidly, before you realize that she's even gone.

As she turns around laughing and says, give them the emblem, you lunge up and then, not going for the armor, but towards the back of the cloak, actually catch the bottom of it and you swing and pull yourself underneath the back of it. And as you're holding on, you're tapping the small of it. As you're holding on, you're tapping

the small of her back where the weapons are on the inside of the cloak. It is just a dark shaded interior with bits of light that peek through as the cloak swings as she's walking towards the stronghold. What are you doing? Okay, I just want to just nuzzle up into this area and just see what she's hiding.

Well, I guess I wouldn't have known that you pinged something. I'm just trying to get a feel of what's going on in her... Business. Business. Make a perception check. Okay. Come on, business rat. Natural 20. Queen of Chaos.

Yep. Breathing deep. I'm breathing deep. The thing is, her shape, everyone can see it's a little odd. You picked up the weapons and the details there. Yeah, 18. Is there a quad too? 18.

Glancing up at the cloak, her body is tightly wrapped in very finely made leather armor. Like layers and layers of very well-made leather with all manner of metal bits that are woven into it. Along the back, from what you can see, there is a strange contraption.

Like a... It looks almost like a very small backpack, but it's got a lot of gold and brass elements of it that are affixed over the shoulders and in the middle of the shoulder blades. It has two cavities in the middle of it. Holy shit.

That's all you can make out of it. You don't know what it is. This is a Mandalorian. She's a fucking puppeteer. Yeah, she's fucking, yes. Okay. Are there any? That's so dope.

That's so fucking cool. Are there any little pieces of metal that I could maybe... Just take out. Oh my lord. Is this so stupid? Did you not want to play with us? No, no, we just didn't want to.

Okay, okay, wait, wait, wait, wait. Okay, okay, let me just. No, no, no, you're doing it. You're doing it. You're doing it. Are you attempting to climb closer up within the cloak? Oh, jeez. To get a better look? Do it, you know that's what I'm doing. I feel like I have enough info.

It's up to you. No. I am going to see if there are wires. I'm just going to peek. Just a peek to see if there are wires. If there are any wires, I'm going to haul ass. Roll one more perception check for me. Okay, okay. We know how she better end Marisha.

19. I'm so excited. 19? Wow! Dang! You are really, really, really good. Dang! Burn all that luck over here. Okay, I got it. Oh! Whispers!

Oh! Whispers! I'm not okay. What is happening right now? I'm so not okay right now. Only... No! I'm not okay. What is happening right now? I'm so not okay right now. If only. Erica's into it. She's going for chaos, everyone. She is purely fueled by chaos.

Oh my god, this is so stressful. This is so stressful that I feel. It's so stressful that I can't find the details of the D&D Beyond ad I'm supposed to read right now, but just know that D&D Beyond exists. I'm staring at it right now. Okay. God, god, god.

Okay. I change things a little bit. She saw four other rats in there. Yeah. I throw them back. They're all in a little wheel. Yeah. You here for the family reunion?

Otohan is actually 87 rats just holding onto each other. Rats in a trench coat. Rats in a trench coat. That's the knocker. I'm going to take a sniff to see if I can pick up on if there are any elements or things

that I can gather. I'm going to put on my best chat. Well, you rolled a pretty high perception in general. I'll say for this roll, an arcana check for me. Okay. Oh boy. That's not my best. No. Nine.

Nope. Seven. Ooh. Minus. Nothing. Nothing. Okay. Nothing is catching your interest or memory. I am going to, since I'm underneath her cloak, I'm just going to put my claw on the cloak and just Ride it down? Ride it down.

Errol Flynn down the cloak? Yes, Errol Flynn down the cloak. And haul ass to Dusk and get back in their pocket. Okay, roll one more stealth check for me. Oh, what are we going to do tonight, Brian? And this was the last we've done. Please, please, please. Trying to break the game.

Ooh. Uh-oh. The streak? This is where? Seven. Oh! Yep, this is where it all goes wrong. Okay. So as you scamper down the back of the cloak, scraping through, you flip out and emerge onto the ground.

As you begin to scamper back to the group, the first thing you see is Ratanish, who has been watching Otohan leave as they all focus over and goes, and immediately clocks you. And gives this snarled look before stepping towards you briskly with the intent of engaging. I just roll on my back.

Okay, you roll onto your back. Yes, at this point, at that low stealth check, yes. You realize that Fearne's gone, no longer in the pocket, and then now see a rat darting away from Otohan That low stealth check? Yes. You realize that Fearne's gone, no longer in the pocket, and then now see a rat darting away from Otohan and Rutan is turning and marching towards her. Poots! They run over, they scoop her up.

What did you say? Poots! Poots. Poots? Poots. Because he was going ready to go ahead and stop it as you ran a rush over. Make a deception check for me. Go on. Don't fuck check for me. Come on. Don't fuck this.

Don't fuck this. Come on, Dusk. Come on, Ashi'i. Duster. You got this. Dirty 19. Ah! Okay.

Retainer, just going to say, it would be preferred that you keep your animals close by, or else they're liable to get squashed. I'm so sorry, we'll never have it again, sir. I nuzzle in and just give all the rat nuzzles and all the things. Fair enough. Fearne! Reaches in, pulls out a small coin

that looks like a pressed emblem of a gold bird skull, and goes ahead and flicks it over towards you. Take that to Joe. We'll give you a loaner. This is everything I ever wanted, thank you. Joe will give us a loaner. Oh. All right.

At dusk, meet at the Bone Tree. Bring your rites. And steps inside. Oh my lord. Everything about this is cool. With that, the rest of the guards glance at you. Yeah, be glad it wasn't a fight. But the last face you ever see, he's not kidding. Honestly, he's ripped as fuck under there.

Fuck shit up. He's got a 12-pack. On a six-pack. A couple of laughs chuckle through. They're not taking you seriously. Yeah, we'll fix it. You'll fit so good. We got a bunch of shit to do, oh no.

What? What's up? You exit the gates. The gates close behind you. And the afternoon is yours. Wow, we got stuff to do. They're taking too long in there. I'm going to set off the bomb. To not imagine.

Oh, oh, yes. No, hold that thought. Yeah, Laudna, what? Yes. All right. We just got out. We're heading your way. Heading our way. Shh, there was my adrenaline.

Adrenaline, what? Very high. Yeah. There was a crazy, bad-ass woman. I'll tell you all about it. Where are you? Are you at the Panera? We'll meet you in the street.

All right. All right. All right. Covertly, you dovetail back into a singular group a little ways away from the Seat of Disdain. As you gather, what do you want to do? As we walk and talk, with the five minutes before we reconnect, I just, Ashton? Who the fuck was that?

Yeah, you got pretty tongue-tied, don't you? Yeah, that was Otohan Thrall, that's like... Is she royalty? Kind of. Back when I was a kid, if you wanted to talk about the most fucked up, crazy, please correct me if I'm wrong, DM,

insane motherfucker in the history of this town who just killed and fucked everything up. This was the person. This was nightmare fuel, this person, and they had been gone for, I mean, they were gone when I was a kid, and what the fuck are they doing back? Like, this is...

Running a crawler game. I'm trying to think of anybody that you would know that isn't a pop culture reference from an entirely different universe and is really hard. They're that cool. This is like, this is a serious person. Like, don't fuck with person.

What's their name? Oh, Imogen! Hi! Hi! Hi! You're the new. Hey, guys. Otohan Thrall. Just on your shoulder.

Thule, Thule, Thrall. Thule, Thule. Yeah, that's right. I have handwriting. Otohan Thule? Have I ever heard of Otohan Thule? Roll a history check. Come on.

Come on, books. Mm, mm-hmm, mm-hmm, 12. No. Nope. Oh, yeah. It is crazy. Morbido. Oh, yeah. It was crazy! We walked in, and there were guards everywhere, and they were like,

ooh, we're going to circle around you. We were like, we're cool. Ashton talked really well. You did a very good job. Thank you. We saw Rutanish. Very good. We were like, Rutanish, what's up?

We want to work for you. Then Rutanish was like, Well, that's not my call, so I've got to call in her. Then she came out, and it was this Otohan Thul woman who had a really nice body. She was very tight-keeping, especially considering how old she is.

Yes. Yes. She said we either had to fight with two of our champions, or do a race. Race! And we decided to do a race. Yeah. And I gave us a token, so we get two vehicles. Oh! Yes.

We can surprise them with our second vehicle, because they only figured we're going to get one. We are walking to Allminesburn at the moment, by the way. I'm leading everybody. We're making Allminesburn? We're not walking to fucking Joe's? You guys can hit Joe's, but I'm going that we're going to get. We are walking to All Minds Burn at the moment, by the way. I'm leading everybody. We're making All Minds Burn? We're not walking to fucking Joe's? You guys can hit Joe's, but I'm going to hit All Minds Burn first. Still, there's some stuff I need to take care of real quick.

Is it going to be fast? Because I feel like Joe needs, when are we racing? Tonight. To the dusk. Why? He needs all the time he can get. I'll meet you guys at Joe's. They were like, take this, then you can have a loaner. Oh, we just had the third one. Ambered up her cloak?

Okay, wait. What'd you see in there? Amazing. Oh my god. Doesn't Joe only have the two vehicles? I mean, he might have some for loaner, but here's the thing. Yeah, the loaner's might be safe. If this is specifically an emblem that Paragon's Call gives,

and we're going against Paragon's Call, don't you think there's a chance that they might give us a shitty one? It's Joe's. Oh. We've already got one that we paid for. I don't think Joe knows who we're going up against. We've just got the backing of Paragon's Call. All right.

No, but you do make a good point. Why would they want us to have an amazing vehicle if they're trying to beat us? Because it's not about the vehicle. Although, wait you do make a good point. Why would they want us to have an amazing vehicle if they're trying to beat us? Because it's not about the vehicle. Although, wait. It's about the drivers. Is that true? Well, if we get a loner, it's going to be shitty. Loners are always balls, but two against one will help.

Well, I don't know if they'll have more than one. They're going to have more than one. But wait, hold up. They're challenging us to a race to decide if we are good enough to hire? Yes. Yes. So if we don't die, they'll hire us. They want us to be more or less even,

so they can judge our worth as wanted? You don't judge somebody's worth by seeing how they do in a fair fight. You judge them by how they do in a not fair fight. Yeah, and to be fair, it sounded like they wanted more entertainment than actual additional employees. Yeah, she was like. Despite that not being fair,

that is fair. Did you clock your man at all? Did anybody check for your man? No? I looked, but it's insane. I got distracted. Also, there's a lot of talk, not just about the vehicles, but what's laid on the road. So that's totally separate.

Which is why I'm going to be going, oh, mine's burning in a second. Also, we should be very mindful of the fact that the four of us were the faces that walked in, so then it's got to be one of the four of us or two of the four of us on the scrimmager. Why? We can fuck around with that. Well, because if it's two other randos

on the scrimmager, then that would be weird, right? We'll be all right. What did you see under there? Okay, so I was a rat and I went over to this Adahan and just crawled up her beautiful, just lithe, very in shape body and went up her cloak,

and she had this backpack underneath. I got in there, and it was two cylindrical, nine-inch holders, and there was a crystal in each thing. What kind of crystal? I couldn't tell. That is not my specialty. That was filling the cavity

or waiting at the bottom? At the top. It was in the outside. So to help explain what you saw. Yes. I'm picturing two Crystal Dildos right now. Well, they looked like crystal or glass containers. Like canisters? Like canisters or vials of some kind.

The cylinder was made out of? Correct. There were two fittings in there, and then when she glanced up within there, there were two of these about that long crystal containers that were embedded or placed up inside. Empty. Oh, are they translucent?

Could she see inside? There was very little light. You just saw what little bit of light was there, showed you some of the shape and the general surface of it, but that was all you got. So it wasn't much, but it was all you got from it. So it wasn't much, but it was obviously something a bit strange. She was, you know,

just a really cool leather suit and like this. She had really smooth tan skin and gray hair. It was all pulled to the side, you know? Wow. Yeah. I'm curious to know what Matt was going to try to tell Taliesin five minutes ago. Who? Tell who?

I was going to note that from your experience of you watching various races in the past, it's generally not a singular faction because then it would be the faction beating the shit out of its own faction. Oh, so it's going to be a bunch of people. It's usually, when one happens, other people who are looking for an excuse

to get some anger out or to work through some sort of a disagreement, people usually jump on when they hear something's happening and it fills out the ranks pretty quickly. Like a noise music club. Okay, I'm into it. Like a noise music club. It's a thing. When they happen, people get into it

because they're having issues. All right. I will meet y'all, unless somebody wants to come to All Minds Burn. I'm just curious, their minds are connected, have mind, to what? Do you know? To drugs. I don't know, no.

You don't know if there's a big insect under the ground or a drug? There is, in fact, a giant, big insect under the ground, but I think it's just there. I don't know if there's a big insect under the ground? There is, in fact, a giant, big insect under the ground, but I think it's just there. I don't think it has anything to do. I don't know what the fuck they're doing, no. It's just drug shit. Okay, no, I'm good.

What do you want to do with them? You always say you're getting mad at your cash. Well, you can come. They owe me a favor, I'm going to take care of it. You're welcome to join in. Actually, on that note, I'm still hyperventilating from that shit. Chet and I are being followed. Are we being followed? As soon as he that note, I'm still hyperventilating from that shit. Chetney, are we being followed?

Are we being followed? As soon as he says that, I start looking around. Perception check. Oh yeah. Thank you. Did they ask you for a fuck? I know that. I have super high perception, so tough shit. 21.

21. 22. Ooh! No! You could hear him making it up on the 22. Two. Nothing clocks, you don't clock anything that sets on your alarm bells, who are you?

Thank you. They owe you a favor, or you owe them a favor? They owe me a favor, and when they do this, I'll owe them a favor. They're friends. They're friends. They're friends. Okay. All minds burn and Joes, or are we going to divide?

I'm going to meet with Joes. All minds burn's not going to take a long time. I'm just hopping in and letting them know what I need and hopping out. Have a hard Joes, let's go! Let's go! Let's go! All right.

Did you need company there, or are you good? I was just offering because I know you had such an interesting time last night. Yeah, but it was pretty fucking terrible at the same time. Yeah, that's why I was offering. Oh my god. To drop a place here. I'll go with Ashton, just because I'm curious

as to what the fuck he's talking about. They'll love you. Are they? They'll love me? Yeah. Then I have to go. Okay, so as you divide here for the moment, most of the group going off to the ends,

to Imahara Joe's, we're going to follow the two of you as you head back towards the palace, or are you going to any other establishment? I'm just going straight to talk to Justy and get her on board. Okay, got it. So at this point, it's a little afternoon. You approach the familiar site of the green glass domed palace,

the center of a lot of the All Minds Burn business network in the city. You continue up the familiar stairs to the open archway and enter the shaded interior of the building. Another smattering of probably eight, no, nine figures are in there in different places. I think they're both 12.

But what would you like to do? As we enter, just taking a look around, see if anyone clocks us. You're going to love this place. It's fucked up. No. Yeah. It's like inspiration for a nightmare for you? Honestly, I think you might be inspiration for them,

but we'll see how it goes. I can be someone's muse. Well. This is all I've ever wanted. There's no someones here. Anyway. What? You'll see. All right. Is anyone clocking us at this point? As you're having this conversation, yeah,

everyone in the room who's in the process of either reading a book or sitting and eyes closed, either meditating or falling asleep, some other individuals, there's an odd hammock that's hung against what looks to be a part of broken sconce to one side that's attached to one of the various load-bearing pillars here.

I don't know, this seems pretty boring. They all immediately glance over as you enter, and then they all begin to relax and go back to whatever they were doing. Just loud enough to be heard. Hey, y'all, I just need a minute with Justy, if she's around. They all turn back towards you again,

like almost in unison. They all look up towards the top and you hear the shifting and moving of something up in the rafter. Then in a large spiral flying down, the red cardinal individual that you know as Jesty, you see a nice furrow of a deep red crimson feathers who lands

onto the front of the steps where you are. You just walk in and they're greeting you right at the front. They land. Hey. Hi. Hi. Thank you so much for the, oh yes. Hello. Hello. Hi. Thank you so much for the, oh yes. Hello. Hello. Oh.

Ooh. You are? You're in my personal bubble. I am Laudna. Laudna. Yes, pleasure. You don't do shakesies, all right. Shakesies. Hey, hi.

You must be Justy. Mm-hmm. That's fun. Sometimes. I'm so excited, my two favorite nightmare fuels in the same room together. I know. It's an honor to be nightmare fuel with you.

You're adorable. There's a singularity forming between the two of them. This was everything I hoped. You were right. We race at dawn. Dusk. Dusk. I'm so used to it. We race at dawn. We race at dusk. There it is.

Shit. Fuck, yes. Any help that you can give would be greatly appreciated, possibly compensated with information, a favor. Make a persuasion check with advantage since you have a positive relationship with Justy from the past, and they do owe a favor. This will determine how far they can go.

Don't fuck with me. That could be worse. Persuasion. I rolled an 11, which means 10. Gotcha, okay. Not terrible. Wowzers, what? Oh wait, do I still have? Oh yeah, that wouldn't matter.

That would still just be advantage. No, I'm sorry, that means nine. Got it. I have a negative two to persuasion be advantage. No, I'm sorry, that means nine. Got it. I have a negative two to persuasion. Okay. What? I hit things, yeah. Yeah. That sounds right.

I'm a lot. You are. Yes. The wrath of Eifr is owed. Aye. We can help. I would deeply appreciate that. And I might have some information

that you might already know, you might not, but if things go well, I might be able to feed you some interesting gossip. Hmm. About things going on at the Paragon. Hmm. Right? Fair trade. Always.

Fair trade. And you hear the voices go, Fair trade, fair trade. In your room. Oh, fuck. Fair trade. I instinct, in the room. Oh, fair trade. I instinctually add to it. She has voices in her head, too.

Ah. Would you? And reaches out their hands to you, grabs your hand, and just holds it for a second and looks you over. What are you about to do? They pull their hands away, and there's a small satchel in your hand,

about the size of a gold coin or so. What is it? You open it up inside and there is a dark, crushed, almost like a slightly earthy, damp powder. We're in a bit of a rush. I think maybe this might be a post-game. Is this for right now? What do you, um?

We are in a bit of a rush. Okay. There is much that are offered within these walls if you join the wavelength. Oh. I've got a few wavelengths kicking in my brain. Maybe we can help. Hmm, I just look around to the others.

Clear the attic. Clear the attic? I don't think you can clear my attic. We'll discuss further, actually. That's not a bad idea. I'll keep you posted. As always, you are such a sweetheart. One moment. Then grabs onto one of the hanging cords from the ceiling, swings back and forth a bit before

scurrying up. Goes from this graceful bird flight to almost like a rapid spider climb up into one of the holes of bundled rags and repurposed bags and burlap up there. It's almost forming a small nest before they emerge and then drop down with almost a full dive before and perching once more before the two of you. And under one arm, you see this bright yellow cloth,

sun bleached a bit, the colors faded a bit. He takes it and tears it in two. Wear this so we know who not to target. There'll be one, we have two vehicles. We'll have one on each, if that works. Good. I'll let them know. Thank you. They know. I will one day get used to that.

We'll see you soon. Thanks, Jasti. Of course. Thanks for the dime bag. All right. Good luck. Yes. That bird used to party so fucking hard. Apparently, I do, but they still do. Well, it's complicated.

That's a very nice thing. You should hold onto that for later, and we'll have a discussion about... They do have some therapeutic pro- Well, we'll get into it later. Just the drugs. Get rid of the dead woman in my head. So make a history or medicine. History or medicine, your choice.

They're both the same, I suppose. It would be local knowledge, so I guess it would be history. It's no advantage on that. No advantage. Just one. No, five. Five, okay.

Best that you know is that this is one of the premier substances that is cultivated and put out by Allmaiensburn. Everyone that begins using it ends up like everybody in that room. Okay, got a feeling. All right. We'll save that for later. All right.

Good bye. Toodle-oo. Back up to the glass green ceiling. We'll head out about two-thirds back up to the glass green ceiling. We'll head out about two-thirds of the walk down towards Joe's. Towards Joe's. Yeah, keep that on you, but don't take that. It's just rude not to take it.

Sure. But it means they like you. It means they like you a lot. Don't take it. Okay. Unless things get real bad up there, but you know. I wonder what Delilah would do on drugs. Well.

Instead, reinforcements. She would certainly find herself going from the mansion of your mind to a cramped apartment complex. With a lot of other people. A lot of other people who are very used to being in heads. Could be kind of funny. It could be kind of funny.

Nah. All right. So you head over to Jost, then? Mm-hmm. Okay. Double dare, double dare. The rest of you make your way to the ends to the familiar neighborhood of all the numerous tinkerers, engineers,

and scavengers that are colloquially referred to as the roaches, to the exterior of Imahara Joe's shop. It's now early afternoon or so, and the front doors are open, the shop appears to be functioning, and you can hear the distant sound of work being done in the workshop. Who wants to sweet talk Mr. Joe?

Well, there's no sweet talking. Well, I mean, he's got to do a lot more work a lot faster. That's true. I have Deception, but I'm not very good at persuasion. We don't want to see him. We can just talk to him. He wasn't called by me, or? Okay. He wants to bone you.

You should fucking talk to him. Is that how it went? Yeah. Oh no, why are my signals are getting so mixed? Hello. Oh, okay. So you step into the workshop. You can see the familiar hanging chains

with tools and pieces of scrap that are either going to be gotten to at some point or are just an ongoing project. You can see there are other people who are actually assisting different smaller projects here. Previously, when you came in later in the day, it was just Joe, but you now see other people who are probably working under him

that are in the process of polishing or scraping or cleaning or tending to the interior space. You do also see the familiar glowing baubles of the various arcane power devices that run a lot of the automatons and the crawler-based machines that are brought here for repairs or built from scratch, depending on what is needed.

As you walk in, they acknowledge you and keep an eye, but continue their work. Then as you go through the back door to the open workshop area that's caged in where you had your final conversation with Joe, you can see now there is one familiar-looking crawler, skirmish crawler, that previously was unfinished, now is on the cusp of completion. Wow. With additional armor plates put upon the front and the front wheel. You can see Joe currently stands atop this,

it's like a raised platform with multiple sets of stairs that lead to the top, and there is a chain device that affixes to a girdle that he wears that allows him to lean really close to the device without falling over into it. Because you can see there are many, many pieces of jagged, pointy metal that just protrude from this device at all angles,

and it would be very bad to fall onto it. He has a large, almost like a welding shield on the face that has what looks to be some sort of a spyglass extension on it, and he's down there with that long device with the pronged fork at the end, and as he's placing it along the edge of the metal, you see this bright arcane spark that flares off of it with this long, drifting blue flame that almost

leaves a trail from wherever he moves it around as it arcs across. As he pulls it through, you watch as the metal fuses, without leaving a trace of it once being two separate pieces. He finishes the work he's doing, pulls back and pulls up the front, looks it over. Face is just covered in dirt and soot and wipes it a little bit, glances over. Oh, oh, hi. Hi. Hi. Hey, Joe.

It's looking real good. Thank you. I take pride in my work and this is going to be functional. Fun question. In how many hours, exactly? Oh, I mean, I can have this done by the end of the afternoon, probably. Oh! Oh! What?

And, you know, fun question for you. It was a couple days for the two. In theory, if you had any loners that we would need imminently for a Paragon's Hall. Oh, so you went ahead and got an emblem. Okay, okay. Would that be ready by dusk? Yeah, I mean, I have a couple loners here that,

I mean, they're not for sale, which is why it wasn't something we were talking about before, but I can get you one, yeah. How do they stack up, quality-wise? They run. Uh-huh. Is there any way to soup them up a little bit before dusk hits?

I mean, I can call in some of the team, but it's going to cost extra. How much extra? Well, what kind of upgrades do you want? Do you want weaponry? Do you want the same armor upgrade that I gave to this device here? Armor upgrade, speed, and agility.

Upgrading a loner, I'm just saying, is normally not done because you pay for the upgrade and then the car comes back to me. Hey, it's an investment in you. I mean, yeah, it's your coin to burn, I guess. This is good for one. The loner. Yeah, one loner for Emblem, yeah.

We could also, we could just pump all of our hopes and dreams into this one. No. All four of us. All four of us have to I understand. have to pull ourselves. We would still take the loner out, but more as a scout, decoy,

defense sort of vehicle, and not as the one that's going to win the day. One that throws the others off. Or we could try to improve both of them, I suppose. What would it cost to do a bump in agility, armor plating? No need for any more extra guns. Armor plating for a loner.

I'll cut you to about 150 gold. How much money you got, Dusk? I got some. I got that. Could we do 100, considering it's come back to you? Make a persuasion check. That's decent. That's a decent argument. 17. 17? Sure, I'll throw in for 100. Nice. Okay.

We'll do it. Okay, I just got to pay the team because I'm pulling folks on their day off to go ahead and get this done in time. And we really appreciate that. No, of course. I just make sure I take care of my team, so. Okay.

So by dusk? Yeah, there's a race at dusk. Oh, and also, I don't know if you charge for this, but how do you drive one? Oh no. Well, there, okay. Oh no. He goes to show you, underneath the main chassis, there is one of the large, blue, glowing,

arcane powering spheres. Same make of a lot of the ones you've seen throughout the shop, but this one's relatively large in size. These larger ones here, we have to import, but this here is what powers the entirety of the device. Here, in order to function, it has to be connected in these certain ways,

and he shows you where it sits within there. For the most part, just don't bother with it once I have it situated there on top, and he shows, because there's two seats. There's the recessed one that sits in the middle of the chassis where there is what looks to be a set of handlebars, like a T-handlebar.

He says, turn this way to turn, rotate the wheel, and this way to go this way. If you go ahead and pull back on it, there is a spring mechanism that can push the front wheel up if you need to go ahead and jump onto a ramp of some kind or to come down upon someone. The backseat here,

and there's a second raised seat portion, is where the passenger sits. This is usually used as a spotter or a gunner or whatever the assistant would like to assist with from the back of the vehicle. There are also a number of points at the front of the windshield, and you can see there's a whole manner of spikes,

almost like a jaw, like a lower jaw that's open with teeth protruding forward. This has a lot of ramming power. I would be lying if I didn't say I have to clean these a lot, because sometimes people get thrown onto them, or after losing, they get thrown onto them and ridden around as a victory lap.

It gets a little brutal around here sometimes. But these wheels are pretty sturdy, but with a proper side swipe with enough damage done, you can probably take out a front wheel. Also, front wheels, when you're moving really fast, if those get destroyed, that's real bad. That means the vehicle's likely to spin out of control and detonate.

You're going to want to abandon the vehicle if you feel the front wheel starting to go as soon as humanly possible, and if you have a chosen prime deity to pray hard. These are all imperfect designs because they are built largely from other devices. So they're, I don't want to say prone, but there's always a chance of a little stutter,

a skip on the function. Very rare, very rare. Very funny when it happens, but very rare. So just don't jostle it too much, I would say. Best you can. How long's the factory warranty on these pieces? Don't, just be careful. Be careful with it.

Is there a way, just out of curiosity, in the back behind the cockpit area, is there a way that an automaton's head could just come out and I knew you would! Yeah. I knew you would! Just be there? Oh, that's true!

I mean, if you're going to be in the back of it, I can go ahead and quickly throw on a little bit of a- We haven't chosen our drivers yet. Yeah, we should figure out our drivers. Fair enough. Then there's the loner, and he points over to the back, and you can see in the corner, hanging on another chain hook, a similar over to the back and you can see in the corner hanging on another chain hook,

a similar chassis to the one that you have, but does not have any of the additional armor. It has a number of scrapes and holes and parts of the sides where you can see it's been brought into a few other races before and taken a few hits. It looks definitely serviceable. It doesn't look like it's

like a jalopy about to fall apart. That looks incredible! But it definitely looks like it's seen a few runs. It shows the wear and tear. But he assures you, he's like, but it will definitely run. Just maybe don't push it too hard. Do you think folks, oh, sorry, Dusk.

Please, go ahead. I was just going to say, do you think if, given what time of day it is right now, which we all know because we're sentient beings who can see the sun, but I don't know what time it is right now. To help illustrate, too, this is actually what it looks like.

Oh! Whoa! What the fakiola! So good. Oh my god! What?! Vahiyola! So good! Oh my god, with the legs in the back. Where did this happen? Recently. Gently. Gently.

If the race is tonight at dusk, do you think folks might already be on the track, on the course, setting traps and sabotaging? How soon was the race set? Today. Like a few, maybe an hour ago, max. Oh, I'm sure word's gotten around. People are probably gathering to pick their places

along the run to set up chairs and barrels, wherever else to watch it from. People are probably jumping into it now, throwing their interests into the ring of it all. Probably over the next few hours. I mean, it's a pretty rapid turnaround, so there's not going to be an opportunity for a lot of setup.

Usually if there's more runway to it, people can really get around planning, but I'm sure folks are going to be trying all sorts of weird last minute shit that's part of the game. If you throw something in from the sidelines, is that against the rules, or? Not really, just make sure whoever it hits,

none of their friends are near you in the crowd. Makes sense. Oh yeah, yeah, okay. And there's crowd lining the entire course, or are there parts where it's more desolate? I mean, it depends on who's racing. We've had a few races where major figures, top-end generals of the various crawler gangs or are there parts where it's more desolate? I mean, it depends on who's racing. We've had a few races where major figures, top-end generals of the various crawler gangs

are going neck to neck, and everyone turns out for that. For this quick turnaround, and no offense, bunch of no-names probably on the road, might be a little thin, but... The arcane batteries. Where are they from? I mean, all over the place. Why? Just, they're...

never really seen things like that. No, I mean, they're all over Exandria. Many great artificers, crafters, mages, they craft and enchant them and utilize them to run automatons, make them run defensive protective magic matrices for larger construction spaces. A lot of these run short-run teleportation circles.

They are utilized in larger ritual magics. They're multi-use and they're very effective. They're just hard to make. That construction process is fairly guarded by a number of interests out there. Is there anything we should keep away from them? I mean, anything really pointy coming at it very strongly?

Because they can explode. Oh. I just realized something. What? One wheel, two arms. Am I a skirmisher crawler? Technically, are you? Like, if you went down,

could we enter you into the race car? I'm going to sit on top of him. It is both awkward and terrifying. But could we technically? Could we technically? I can't sit on the bottom! Yeah, your bomb is scraping the floor as you do this. All right, I'm going to read that.

Just don't jostle the power source too much, but it's like, I mean, it's not like it's lightning or fire is bad for it or something. I mean, it can probably take a little bit of both. It is arcane power. If it's natural fire, probably resist it pretty well. Lightning?

I can't tell you. I know what lightning will do to it. There are some devices that it uses magical lightning to channel through, but there is always a point of it being overcharged and things go south from there. Also depends how old it is and how stable it is. I mean, there's a lot of variables involved here.

It's an imperfect science. Do most of them run on these arcane batteries? Yes, the larger collars may have multiple, but for the skirmish collars, they only need the one. So the best way to destroy them is with something pointy and explosive? I mean, yeah. It's got to be pretty strong, though.

They're sturdy. Okay. We're talking this fellow's ear off. He's got to go to work. Yes, you're right, I do. Sorry, Mr. Joe. That's okay. Thunder Gould? Oh, yeah. Thunder G sorry, sorry. You're right, I do. Sorry, Mr. Joe. That's okay. Hunter Gould?

Oh, yeah. Hunter Gould, yeah. I can, if you guys don't have it in the stores, I can. No, yeah, I'll contribute 20 to that. I'll go with 80. All right, between that, I guess that. Oh yeah, give me about four hours. It'll be, it's not going to leave much wiggle room until dusk, but you can come here, grab them,

ride them over to the Bone Tree, which is usually where it starts. Yep. Good luck. I'm going to get back to work. He pulls the face mask down and calls out to somebody inside the shop. Give me Stanley and Adorna!

And the people inside the shop begin to talk and scatter a bit and shakes his head. All right, let's bear down. Gets back to fusing the heavy armor onto the crawler that you had purchased. Woo! Man, this is going to actually happen.

Should we? What? We're probably already walking. We're probably close to where you guys are because we did not stay at the temple. We got to figure out how to drive, but we can't do that without the vehicle. Right. We could go walk the course.

We should go to the course, probably look at it and check it out. Yeah. We have a bomb we can drop off the back of it. Uh-huh. What other? Or plants ahead. Or plants ahead. We have folks who can be on the sidelines casting spells.

Are we together now? Right? Huh? Have we joined up the group again? Yeah, okay, that's fine. I don't know. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I can ride shotgun and lob stuff. Well, shotgun has stuff to lob. I feel like shotgun should have somebody

with magical spells should be in shotgun. Shotgun is a spellcaster. Right? Yeah. The driver should be super agile or, right? Is it a dex? Someone who's got good hand-eye coordination, I suppose? Driving is mostly a, what skill would you say is most important?

I would say driving with this, you describe to me how you want to apply your abilities to it, and that'll determine what it is. There are all sorts of ways that you can try and drive. Certain things will have higher DCs than others, but if you have no dexterity, it doesn't mean you're incapable of driving. You just have to lean on other skill sets.

Prisma will be a tough one. I think Laudna might want to lob magic. I feel like Chetney, you know, nothing, I feel like you're an older gentleman and there's nothing safe for driving a vehicle. Oh yeah, I mean, just technical statistics. I'm the most lethal person behind the wheel. Yes.

Exactly. I was made for this. I actually think Chetney probably would be really good at driving, honestly. So Ashton and Chetney take the wheel and love Nine-Nine. You guys have to be the ones on the vehicles. None of us can contribute. No, because we all have to prove ourselves. But I mean, we just have to prove ourselves

with the one, right? So the others could be. It doesn't have to be everybody. We can always put on costumes and things so they couldn't see us. Well, we all said we wanted to join, but I guess we don't all have to join. I think the whole point of this

is that rules are very shaky in this particular sport. I wouldn't be surprised if whoever's not driving or riding shotgun has to engage with someone from the Paragon's Call out on the course. Oh. Would I know this? Would I have a sense of whether or not that is a faux pas of pulling,

you know, having, pulling outside people for your team? No, it's not considered a faux pas. As long as somebody who's representing is there, like, it's pretty flexible. Your car has to get there first. Because Otohan is using her champions. There have been instances where people have started shit and agreed to meet on the run, and then they show up

and their backseat person is a renowned fucking runner. And it's like, oh, it's... They paid to win. Yeah, it happens all the time. Awesome. In a couple hours? I say, do you want to ride a shotgun in one of the vehicles?

You seem like you're pretty powerful with spells. I feel like you actually could be pretty good in that. A spell caster would be great. You want to do that? One of the witches. Yeah. I feel like witches on the back of both, probably. As long as nothing bad happens, I'd hate to lose one of you because we crash.

There is a rifle back there in one of them. Excuse me, carbine! Also, do they work for all statures, the front seat? Yeah, you can see that there are adjustments, both belts and elements of the seat that can be adjusted for different types. For smaller folks. That's true.

For smaller folks, if you want to tag along on Chetney's vehicle. That's true. That's not a bad idea. You and Chetney's vehicle with one of you two riding shotgun. That's true. And then Ashton drives. Could you be a hood ornament?

Just in the front? I mean, technically, I've got a wheel, so I could be pushed along in front of the vehicle or dragged along behind on a chain. So here's the thing. The vehicle can fit up to four small folk. Having four people crammed in a space like that, it makes driving challenging

and maneuverability very dangerous. You can do it. Maybe three spells? The more we put on there, the worse we're going to do. Who would be good for a ground fuckery? That's another thing, too. Fearne just had a very dumbish smile. I'm pretty good at fuckery in general.

You are, definitely. Fuckery is your art form. I also had an idea. Maybe if we check the course, I could find a good spot to wait and try to jump on one, take over. Oh, you could jump on another vehicle. Ooh! That's pretty cool.

Because I'm only good at driving, really. I can't really do anything if I'm the plus one. I'm just this. That's up close and personal stuff. You'd be a good driver, though, I mean. Jump on is fucking awesome, I'm just going to say. That's a really good idea. I feel like you could be a good driver, Orym.

Well, let's see if we can get us a third vehicle. Ashton, you've got to be on one. It's your lifelong dream. I'm well aware. You'd also just look. You'd look badass on that. For giving me bad ass. No, thank you. I'm very excited by this. Yeah, but Ashton's good for shooting a car,

being a driver, because he doesn't have any range. Well, that's not true. You amped into fucking portals. Sometimes I am. My range is, what's the word I'm looking for? That's pretty dope. It just depends on what we get on the day, though. Yeah, it's temperamental. Who wants to drive?

Raise a hand. It feels like I could drive. I mean, who wants to drive? Raise your hand. I could drive. I mean, who wants to drive? I say what we do is we have the two vehicles, Ashton, Chetney driving. Chetney and Ashton, pick your seconds. No. Oh yeah. All right.

Do you two want to do the shotgunning? I could do fuckery. I could do fuckery. You'll do fuckery with Ashton. You'll do fuckery with Chetney. You and I will wait out on the course, waiting to commandeer a third vehicle. Okay. Fearne, you wanted to do backup on the course?

Yes, I can just, you know, run around and just do what I can best. Can you be a flying animal of some sort? I can't. I don't know how to fly. Maybe one day. I'm sure one day you can. I think one day, maybe, yeah. I'm going to work real hard on it. You can figure it out.

Yeah, I figured it out. If Chetney's driving one, I could technically fit on that one as well. Maybe next time. You wouldn't have much weight. Fearne. Yeah? You could blast vehicles from the side. You could throw a hole down on the ground.

I mean, I've seen you do some nutty things. Are you saying this? A hole? That's what I'm talking about. To just make a big you saying this is? That's what I'm talking about. Did you just make a big old pothole? That's what I'm talking about. Are you saying you want me on a vehicle or you're saying on the side of the road?

I think you're an ambush squad. Yeah. One woman ambush squad. I have some ideas. We also have a bomb that we haven't used. Which we can toss off the back of a moving wheel or we can throw from the ground. Yeah. We have dynamite. Oh goodness, I have such good ideas.

We have dynamite. If something goes horribly wrong, we'll have you on the sideline to hopefully get there real fast to undo some damage if something bad happens. Or I could ride on Chetney's vehicle. What do you feel like you could contribute on Chetney's vehicle?

I do have some spells that are of a range, a little bit, but I could also heal y'all if you get in trouble. Is Chetney going to be driving the better vehicle or is Ashton going to be driving the better vehicle? Ashton should be driving the better vehicle. It's your dream, right? Yeah, I mean, it is.

I've wanted this since I was young, but still, we've got to be, this is also about being practical and being smart. It's danger zone. Danger zone! Danger zone! Speak of my language. As much as I want to drive, I also want to win. We also don't have to win.

We just have to survive. We don't have to win. We also don't have to win. We just have to survive. We don't have to win. We have to, that's actually really good. I think we actually do have to win. Yeah, we actually do have to win. Yeah, I'm kind of here for that. Winning is actually number one. We really want to win, though.

I like that idea, but. Yeah, no, I mean, surviving, yeah, that's the hope. That's definitely second place. These are your stomping grounds, though. You're familiar. I think you should be on the best vehicle. That's fair. Oh, yes. I do know, I do technically have some idea of the track. You do, and the track is generally divided

or considered to be divided into three major stretches. There's the Skids, which is where it starts, at the Bone Tree, which is a massive 20-foot-tall tree constructed from all manner of bleached bones from creatures that have been scavenged across the Hellcatch Valley that spiders out towards the top. A number of skulls and horned skulls set around the middle of its trunk looking outward.

Let me ask you this something. You can cast Fly, but just on yourself? Mm-hmm. Mm. Let me think about it. While you're thinking about it. So the beginning of this skit, part two is. The robot with the healing spells fly, yeah?

I can make anybody fly. Then you can probably make the robot with the healing spells fly along with the rest of the crew, yeah? We get shot down. FCG would get shot down. It's like a very, very open target. But I could make anybody fly technically. Flying automaton, that's definitely a target.

I would take it down. That's just what I would do if I saw one. So that would be my first impulse. And a lot of people look at him. How high up can you go? It's just more fall. How high up can you go? As high as they want, but it's a 60-feet movement.

He can go pretty decently fast, but not as fast as probably one of these skirmishers. Okay. I say that he goes above the whole course, fly in if anybody needs anything. We can also do that during the match if we need it. Yeah. Yeah. Worst case scenario.

Yeah. Ancient. So continue breaking it down. So the first part is the skids, where it begins and goes through a large portion of the urban environment of the city. A lot of tight road turnarounds, a lot of hairpin turns, a lot of- And that's where most of the movie traps are.

That's where a lot of them are, usually. There are a number that are placed towards the beginning, there are some that are placed towards the end because the book ends at the same location. The bone tree marks the beginning and the end of the actual race. Going through the skids, the main road eventually ends or emerges from the city and heads down into the ravine on a switchback course that goes down the cliffside into the ravine that

surrounds the platform like Mesa, a bit of rock that the city of Bassuras is built upon. Down into the ravine, it eventually goes into a cave network within the rock itself before merging on the other side of this large mountain platform. There it begins to switch back up the side. That's the ravine portion, the middle section. That would be a good place to jump on. With more time, there are people that set traps

or ambushes in there. With this sort of a circumstance, you're uncertain. But there are natural dangers occasionally that are found in that area. If there are flash floods, like if they ever do a run during one of the monsoons that blows through here, that place can flood and be a huge danger. There are all manner of indigenous creatures

that live in the Hellcatch that sometimes call that area home. But when you find your way out of the ravine, what's called the climb, which is the switchback up the side, which is challenging because it's much easier to go downhill than uphill. I can almost see it.

A lot of the race here tends to be vehicular combat, as opposed to just racing. So you get knocked out, you're falling. Correct, and everyone's moving at a slightly slower speed, and so it tends to offer a little more of a moment to focus on your opponents. Once the climb is finished, then it comes to the Carmine Curtain,

which is the giant red walls that surround the city. The Carmine Curtain? Carmine Curtain, which is the giant red walls that surround the city. The Carmine Curtain. Carmine Curtain is the massive red wall that surrounds the inner portion of Bassuras and separates it from the outer skids. This brings you back into the skids and is the second urban part of the race. More dangerous road turns,

but it's a little more of a straightaway, but this is where a lot of the people gather, which means there's also more spectacle and more danger set. Most folks like to set their bigger traps towards the end to try and even the score or to just make a spectacle of the finale. Sure.

So that's what you have to look forward to. How long of a race is it? Like, does it normally take? The full race, we'll say if you're uninterrupted, will take about 15, 20 minutes. Ooh. Okay. Maybe a little shorter if you're rocking it pretty well and the weather's good.

It's a long trek. It goes down into a ravine, through the caverns, up the side, and back into the city. Banana peels. How fast do the vehicles go? Yorda? We don't know. Okay. Okay. Pretty fast. When you pick up your vehicle, you'll find out.

Okay. My proposal, if everybody doesn't mind, is Ashton and Imogen on the good vehicle, Chetney and Laudogen on the good vehicle? Chetney and Laudna on the loner. Orym and I wait in the skids area on a higher enough vantage point to ambush and acquire a third vehicle.

FCG gets slapped with a fly spell beforehand, just in case. Not happening. It only lasts for 10 minutes, so it won't last the entire. I'm not flying, sorry. I'll be on one of the vehicles. I don't want to be in the air. What?

If you get shot down, they fall the whole way. Yeah, I'm fine. Everyone who meets FCG. I want to be close to the people that I need to protect. Also, anyone who sees you, meets you, is immediately taken aback, so we would be putting you in the air like a weather balloon. Mm-hmm. That's true.

It's like a flying target. Okay. Okay. Okay. Then I guess Fearne is running support along the sidelines, and I suppose you can be an animal that's fast enough, maybe, to take on these skirmishers. A rat.

I have some very, very naughty ideas already. So I think... Actually, let me see if I have something that could go faster. Question. As an animal, I can't cast my own spells, right? That's a total. No. That's right, okay. You can cast a spell

and then go into animal form and maintain concentration on it, but you can't cast spells while in your beast form. Yeah, okay. Does that sound good? Do y'all think that's the best place for an ambush as far as jumping onto a skirmisher in the skids? I think you guys should go into clans.

I feel like the ravine is probably right, when it switches over to the ravine, would be a good place to trade. That's almost halfway through the race, though. You think you'll be able to hang on before then? Oh yeah. It's not really half. I mean, it's the first thing out

once you leave the skids. I mean, then you enter the ravine. There's a lot more after that. That uphill climb is interesting, too, if we could blast someone off the cliff. I say we take the ravine. Early in the ravine. I'm just trying to figure out

how to keep up with you guys. Whatever looks doable is, I suppose, what, we'll go check out the, we should head down to the track and check it out right now. You could always be in animal form on one of the cars and then bamf out as you need to. That's true.

That sounds dangerous. It's very true. Hmm. Don't I, once I bamf out once, I don't think I can go back into it. Yeah, no. You'd have to bamf out and then create mayhem, and then you'd be probably where you are.

What if you were the closer? What if you were in the last stretch? You can beast form Trap Crazy and you're there with your portable hole and all of your ideas? You can do beast form twice. You can do beast form twice for rest. Oh, you can do beast form twice. Twice, I did it already.

Oh, once today. Because I was a rat. But it's for short rest, if I recall right. Oh, we can short rest it. Short rest to do it. So you can get a short rest in the interim and you should be able to do it again. It's an option.

The ideas that I'm thinking in my head all are just me, but I can definitely. That's all the ideas I've ever had. So. All right, well. We can continue to chat. Yeah, you can continue to chat. Okay.

I'm getting a plan, but I'm worried. Yeah, I like it. We will say, as you talk and discuss and plot your day, eventually the sun gets lower and lower in the sky. You return to Imahara Joe's, and they're waiting for you. It's the second day. Ooh!

I need a poem! We requested red. We did request red. So... They did not finish the red. No, he said that we could paint it ourselves if we wanted to, they weren't going to do that. He doesn't do body paint. We'll paint you with the blood for it!

But we should put the Bells Have logo on. Oh, stop, stop! We should put Bells Have logo on one of them, at least. Of course! The one that's not the loner. Step, step, step, step, step, step, step, step. One of them has slightly higher armor cost than the other. The one that has the lower one, that is the loner.

Okay. AC 18. What's the AC on that one? 17. That's the loner. Okay, loner. That's the loner there. This one's only 60 feet speed. Same. Oh, okay.

It's 60 feet speed, but if you look, it can bonus action dash. So you could spend your action to dash and bonus action dash. So in one round, you can do 180. Oh man. Oh shit. All right, let's do it. Someday, someday, someday. Oh, I'm going to pass it to the next.

Okay, we really got to fucking think about this shit. All right. So. Do it! Those of you that are taking to the vehicle, you receive them. Imahara Joe shows you the process of how to get behind them,

how to start the proverbial arcane engine behind it and hear the. It hums and growls. It's an automaton. It hums and growls. It's an automaton. Technically, it is a creature. Are you saying these things are sentient? No. Not sentient. But it is technically a creature.

It can be targeted like a creature. Superception? Yeah. Okay. Superception. Yeah. Okay. Mm-hmm. It's not going to fight charisma. Where do we get a charisma bump if we press the digitated red? Only one way to find out. Okay.

It's like a Tesla, it's got cameras in it. You know. Oh god. It can see around it. There you go. You know. Oh god. Good. It can see around it. There you go. You have your vehicles, and getting onto them and feeling that growl, that purr of it, it's frightening

and at the same time, oddly intoxicating. As you begin to lean into the handle in the front, you feel it take off at a faster speed than you expect. From the outside, you can see the arcane battery, the engine-like device beneath flash and spark. Bits of energy arc across it, like little spider threads of lightning. It picks up a bit and begins to carve through the dust.

Takes a second to get your bearings, but you who are driving it, you have enough time to get a little more affiliated with it and take it for a test run through some of the streets. Ooh, nice. However, dusk is rapidly approaching. As you begin to feel the mounting tension, you also see people out in the roads along the path

as you begin to approach the area of the Carmine Skids, where the Bone Tree is supposed to be at your guidance into Hest. People are gathering. Oh boy. Clusters of three, five, a dozen at certain corners and areas in the sides. People are putting up big wooden barriers

on the edges to connotate the edge of the roadway and to both give people a level of protection to stand behind as they watch the race scream on by. You can see there are also dividers that are large log barriers with all manner of spikes jutting out from it. Boundaries as well as possible engagements, should someone be so interested,

as to push it out in the middle of the roadway. You can see folks are mounting themselves up on top of buildings to get higher vantage points upon this race. While it's not the streets being entirely flooded with individuals, there's definitely a growing air of excitement and energy that you haven't yet felt since you've arrived in Bassuras,

though it's something that you are familiar with, but haven't felt in quite some time. As you eventually round the corner, you can see there, along the edge, maybe a good 15, 20 or so feet from the outside wall of the Carmine Curtain, the towering, deep crimson walls of the city. You can see, twisting upward and spreading out,

and then clustered elements of antlers and clawed hands of larger beasts that are all held together with large wires that have been bound through and twisted through hundreds and hundreds of creature bones and skeletons to create this large standing tree of death. That is a unique, terrifying landmark on the outside of the city.

And there, a larger crowd has gathered, all manner of lanterns that dangle from the long stretched cables and threads between the buildings, and large lamp posts like poles that hold on the top, glowing flickering baubles of energy or hanging oil lanterns. Here, you can see in the ground carved

a little ravine, if you will, or a groove in the ground that marks the line where this begins. There, you can already see four other skirmishers that have gathered with a unique array of individuals who have come to embark on this. You see two of the drivers, they're crawlers already side by side,

are in the process of screaming at each other and pointing. They're shouting, angry, curses each other. One of them goes like, Take that, Arad! I'm going to kill you tonight! You fucking fuck fork! Fuck fork? Amazing. That's a good one. That's a good one in our work.

I have to remember that one. As you're saying that, somebody in the crowd next to you goes like, oh no, that's his name, Arad Fuckfork. That's his name, Irad Fok Fok, that's his name. You see one meaty-looking orc, like a dark tan, grayish skin tone, arms muscular and built. They have all manner of bright orange paint that looks like it's been

dragged across their shoulders and arms, almost like a war paint look. They wear on their face a cracked human skull that's a little bit too small, and it rests over the front of their features, their eyes poking through, and they're standing or sitting in the middle of the chassis of the crawler, leaning up and looking over the rest of the crowd,

chewing on what looks to be the remnants of some gamey turkey leg, almost. He's eating it through the skull mask. It's smearing this grease across the front of its bleached white bone. In the backseat, you can see this tiny goblinoid figure that, you see he has this bulbous pumpkin of a nose in the front

and a large underbite that curls outward where these large, pointy tusks stick out the bottom. The long goblin ears fan outward, and one of them you see ends prematurely, where it looks like it got clipped or cut off on his face as well. The same orange spray is pulled across the front of the face to match the theme of his driver. In the back, you can see mounted, he's currently loading, with a large satchel that he's tying on the back,

a built-in ballista to the back of his crawler. Already there, upon arrival, a unique spread of both onlookers and participants in this race. Oh boy. But as you gather your thoughts and prepare for the coming tension, we're going to go ahead and call it there.

Are you kidding me? Yes, so we have some time for you guys to think and plan and figure out what you want to do between sessions. We're going to go watch Daisy Thunder is what we're going to do. Oh my god. We're going to go watch Daisy Thunder. Ooh, I'm excited.

I have ideas. Next time we get to, ooh! Are you going to make a little Hot Wheels truck? Ooh! Flandre cars, a little Hot Wheels truck? Ooh! Flaunt cars, flaunt cars! I got plans. In 60 seconds, all the things. We got to research, you guys.

Maybe we need to research before we go into a go-kart racing place. Oh my god, we should all go go-kart racing together before the game. Just to like, battle solve it. Business expansion. Battle solve it. Go to Malibu Grand Prix. Oh my god, that sounds amazing. Isn't there one in town that actually does Mario Kart, No. Just as a

business expense. We're going to Tokyo! There we go, business expense. Oh my god. All right. I cannot fucking wait. I'm so excited. Furt us. Furt us bad. All right, we'll be back for the next session

to pick up here at the start of the Deathwish run. Oh, boys. As well as the numerous interesting mysteries that are still coming, and shortly after this race, the following day, it looks like we have a possible reunion with Mama Calloway. Uh-huh, uh-huh. So. Wait, before the race?

No, after that. The next day. Oh, jeering. Oh my god. Mid-race. Hang on, Mom! She's on this one! Round two! Ferdie! Mama? So yeah. Good to see you!

Super excited. Thank you all for coming along with us. We love you very much. And is it Thursday yet? No. Good night. Thank you for listening to Critical Role. We hope you enjoyed that exciting adventure and want to come back for more.

If you did, well then please leave a rating and review wherever you stream the Critical Role Podcast Network. Word of mouth is the best form of advertising, and maybe your experience will encourage another listener our way. Well, see you next time.