Critical Role - C3E4 On the Trail of a Killer

Episode Date: November 18, 2021

Determined to avenge a tragic loss, the group takes to the streets in search of answers, but their probing into Jrusar's secrets could have dangerous ramifications...Due to the improv nature of Critical Role and other RPG content on our channels, some themes and situations that occur in-game may be difficult for some to handle. If certain episodes or scenes become uncomfortable, we strongly suggest taking a break or skipping that particular episode. Your health and well-being is important to us and Psycom has a great list of international mental health resources, in case it’s useful: http://bit.ly/PsycomResourcesWatch Critical Role live Thursdays at 7pm PT on https://twitch.tv/criticalrole and https://youtube.com/criticalrole. To join our live and moderated community chat, watch the broadcast on our Twitch channel.

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

Hello everyone, and welcome to tonight's episode of Critical Role, where a bunch of us nerdy-ass voice actors sit around and play Dungeons & Dragons. We play Dungeons & Dragons! Oh, yeah. Before we jump into tonight's session, we do have some announcements to get through, beginning with our first sponsor, Fantasy Flight. Sam?

This episode is sponsored by the latest Terranoth Legends board game from Fantasy Flight, Legends in the Dark. Ooh! This cooperative dungeon-crawling board game from Fantasy Flight, Descent, Legends in the Dark. Ooh! This cooperative dungeon-crawling board game franchise lets players quest along an unfolding campaign while venturing across a vast realm. For one to four players, this installment features

a fully integrated companion app, opening an unforgettable journey as you explore high towers, dismal tombs, dark forests, encounter terrifying monsters, and unlock new skills. And speaking of integrated companion apps, they're all the rage right now. So I took some petty cash, I hope that's okay, Travis,

and I paid a team of 14 programmers to develop a Critical Role companion app. And I installed the beta on each of your phones without you knowing. What the fuck? Wow. Wouldn't we need our passwords to do that? You said it, Taliesin, so whip out your phones

and I'll demo some of the features. First off, when Matt changes the lights on the set, our companion apps from our phones will let us know so that we don't miss the majesty of the transition. Go ahead, Matt, trigger a light change. Okay. Holy shit, holy shit. Matt Merker is changing the lights.

Holy shit, holy shit. That seems kind of distracting, don't you think? You said it, Liam. Another cool feature, when the app hears key phrases that we say in the show, it will interact with the screen in real time. Ashley, oh, I should have prepped a prop. I'll just do it here.

Ashley, say this phrase on this piece of paper. Okay, but I'm going to read it up here, if that's okay. Fern makes her way into the battle. Make up my way! Oh, wow! That was very loud and annoying. You said it, Ashley. And lastly, the monster button is a feature

where the user can activate a ferocious monster roar to accentuate big boss battles. Go ahead and press that button right now. And in post, they're going to add sounds. Oh, okay, wait. So it's happening. We'll cut this part out. And then I'll say,

wait, no, that's a glitch. This doesn't work without the sound playing. No, that's a glitch. It should be a scary growl, not the sound that we're all hearing right now. Don't stop doing that. No, it's not supposed to sound like this! It doesn't work with that sound!

Two steps forward, one step back. We keep moving our heads as every post is so stupid. Keep mumbling it, and then you're going to put in a sound that's supposed to make me go crazy. Oh, stop it, guys, you're ruining everything! Anyway, with 46%! You're ruining everything! Anyway, with 46 pieces. We're ruining everything! Let's give production more work.

And then bitch about it. Oh my god. With 46 pieces of 3D terrain Oh my god. With 46 pieces of 3D terrain and 40 striking hero and monster miniatures bringing your game to life, Legends in the Dark really is a beast. Oh, stop it, you guys! Just stop.

Check it out now at bit.ly slash CRDescent. Matt, back to you. Expertly done. Well done, everybody. Are we using that? We're using it. I don't know what we're going to put in. Or maybe we'll just leave it silent.

I know, I kind of want to just bail on it entirely. The audience will never know. It's really a great game. It's really fun. Oh my god. Big fan of that monster button, though, I tell you. Oh yeah. Whatever sounded plain was really funny, maybe? Thank you so much for joining us

live on Twitch and YouTube. Join in our live and moderated community chat by heading on over to our Twitch channel. Ashley. Hey! All right, so earlier this week, we launched a special campaign in honor of both past and current members of the military and their families with our longstanding friends

at Operation Supply Drop. Woo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo! All CRF donations raised until this Saturday, November 13th, will benefit Operation Supply Drop. Since 2010, OSD has supported over 1.5 million veterans, active military, and their family members through award-winning programs, including Games to Grunts, 76 Operators,

and Operation Supply Drops, the original gaming care package. Please consider sharing and making a donation, if you are able, at criticalrolefoundation.org. Yeah, awesome. Thank you, Ashley. Awesome. That was awesome. Laura, you're up next.

Yay! That was good. That was really good. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. I still got a little fuddled. No, you did great. The bar was low. The bar was low. Yeah. Like, really.

Here it is. Hey, guys! Oh boy. The holidays are fast approaching and we have a bunch of holiday-themed merch to celebrate. Yay! So get ready. Here's some of the items.

Laura practiced, too. Maybe she shouldn't. Hold on. These holiday items are designed by Grace Berrios. Now we have, where do I, I put it to you, the holiday ugly Krimis. Oh my god, it's so cute! That's really ugly. That's ugly, actually. It's actually an ugly sock, too.

That's just right. Oh my ugly, actually. It's actually really soft. That's just right. That's just right. Merry Christmas! It does! Oh my goodness. Next up, we have our Winter's Crest stocking. Oh! And it's big. That's awesome. It's big enough to hold a lot of presents.

You can even wear them like socks. If you want to. And then last but not least. Can we emerge about she wasn't putting her arm through it. You know, you're sitting around your holiday stuff and you want to sit in front of the fire and be all comfy cozy. We've got our ultra soft lounge.

Hold on, here you go. Okay, I'll hold this card. It comes with a shirt and a pair of real, real, real sweaters. They're so cool. Really soft. Is it a sweater shirt? I know. It's thick. Yeah, it's thick. It's like a sweater shirt, but it's thick.

Yeah, it's thick. It's like winter. Are they live? Are they live? They're just really soft. I'm going to send it over. Here, here, here. I'm keeping this.

It's so squishy! Yeah. And the top has got... It's really comfy cozy. Whoa, this is late. Double fit. I love this. But we made the top short sleeve because it's thick,

so I wanted you to be not too hot, you know? So anyway. All right, bring it back, you guys. Bring it back. Bring it back. Also available right now, we have holiday wrapping paper, Marisha. Wait, don't give it back. I'm keeping that. Yeah, so pretty.

Look at our, look. And our Winter's Crest stocking looks really great with our look. With a purple. With our look. I love that. And there's two separate things. I forgot we're on different screens, but you know. And we've also got washi tape.

Washi tape is what you use to wrap the wrapping paper? Yeah, you use fancy tape to use on the wrapping paper and it matches the wrapping paper and it's extra decorative and pretty. I also use it for snail mail. Also for snail mail. Oh, yeah, just adding a little extra. And then we've also got these logo ornaments.

We got logo ornaments! Cool! Those can go on your tree or from your rear view mirror if you want to, I don't know. And then also, we have an updated version of our Mighty Nein's weapons short sleeve shirt. You're holding up Robbie, I don't know. And then also, we have an updated version of our Mighty Nein's weapons short sleeve shirt. You're holding up, Robbie. I don't know how to do this. Yeah!

It's designed by Jan Helton. And so our last one was made of polyester, and this one is made of cotton. Ooh! Yay! And some spandex, so it fits better. Oh, that's nice. The other ones are still good, too. The other ones are great. These ones are fits better. Oh, that's right. The other ones are still good, too. The other ones are great.

These ones are just better. If you got the last one, screw you. If you got the last one, then you got the limited edition version. Yay! That's what's up, limited edition. Oh, updated materials and size specs for a better fit and feel, that's what I said.

Okay, so this is important information. We expect shipping timelines to get more and more unpredictable as we enter the holiday season. You know things are crazy right now. So we recommend ordering before Black Friday for the best chance of getting your items on time for your holiday gift-giving reasons. I screwed up that line on the screen, but I got it out.

Yeah. You did great. I understood. Thanks. Order soon screen, but I got it out. Yeah. You did great. I understood. Thanks. Order soon. Shop early. Shop early. Shop often. All the places we left the screen at, that was the least worrisome. So yeah. So nice.

Oh god. Do you want, yeah. It's so soft! I wanted to dye my hair to match it. Oh. It is a great color. I like that Tari graphic. I love it. Wait, look, I got to get a it. It is a great color. I like that Atari graphic. I love it. Wait, look, I got to get a light.

Back to you, Matt. Yes, thank you. All right. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I believe that concludes our announcements, so let's go ahead and jump into tonight's episode of Critical Role. Ah!

Critical. Critical. It's Thursday. It's Thursday! It's Thursday night! And welcome back. Last we left off, this group of adventurers had come together, spotted for their skills and unexpected camaraderie in the middle of a street battle

with furniture by Sir Bertrand Bell. Brought you to a previous employer of his, Lord Eryx Estoros, who decided to take you under his wing, as possible mercenary clients. Sent you on your first adventure to look into some thefts under his wing as possible mercenary clients. Sent you on your first adventure to look into some thefts that were happening in one of the textile warehouses in which he had interest. Looking into it, there was an individual

who looked a bit shifty and following them, as your group scattered into four plus different directions, you found that they nervously ran to the Weary Way Inn, eventually making your path to that same place, avoiding the phrase I was afraid was going to happen. Sure. You made your way to the Weary Way. Weary Way!

Just in time to hear a scuffle behind a room in which Dunas, the gnome you've been following, was killed by a strange, gaunt, pale, dwarven individual, and apparently a number of odd creatures that you had referred to from previous experiences, shade creepers. That's exactly how we referred to them.

Exactly. Sh shade creepers. That's exactly how we refer to them. Exactly. Shade creepers. You battle within this room with this dwarf able to escape, but you had proof and information of who was responsible for these thefts, or at least who within the company was allowing them to happen. With the body of D'Nass, you returned to Lord Eryx

and completed your mission, though sad at the life that was lost. Celebratory evening was had, you were paid, and a possibility of future work was set before you. You retired for the night back to the Spire by Fire Tavern. Amongst drinks and food, you all went to your various places that night to rest. While Sir Bertrand Bell, riding the high

of the first victory in a while, wandered the night, found himself joined by an unexpected individual in the alley. As he lay there, left bleeding and alone, Imogen, a familiar nightmare came to you. In the midst of that dark red hellscape, you saw the shadow of a man, not unlike Bertrand, stepping into nothing.

And that's where we left off. So as Imogen, do you feel the dream is enough to wake you, or do you ride it through like you have before? I feel like I would have woken up from that. Okay. So in your room, here in the windowed wall, not that far from Laudna, since there's not a lot of space in the place you're currently staying,

you immediately wake up. Laudna. Laudna. What? What's wrong? Are you all right? It's another nightmare. Are you okay? Yeah.

Something happened in it, though. I saw someone else. I think it was Bertrand. Um. I saw someone else. I think it was Bertrand. I don't know what it means, but it's never happened. What is the feeling that you got from him? Do you have? I don't know.

He looked almost like he was at peace. But I don't understand how that's possible. Laudna, I swear that storm is terrifying. I know. Nothing would be comfortable there. I don't know. I just grab her hand. Whatever it is, there's an element of truth to it.

Yeah. It's got to mean something. There's no element of truth to it. Yeah, it's got to mean something. There's no denying it. Should we try and find the others? Do we know what time it is? I peek my head out, and does Shadana have a little clock or something or what I know? No. No.

I look at the moon and the sky. Make a nature check. Nature or survival, your choice. Nature or survival. What is my nature at now? I'll do survival. Okay, I rolled a two, so four. You have no idea.

You're still in that weird blinking-eyed, darkened state of barely out of dream. There's no windows in this room, either? In this room, no. The windows are just at the front of the abode. I'm just going to... I'm just going to... I don't know, check on him.

Should we check on him? Should we go back to the tavern? I'd be up for a midnight stroll. All right. I'll just get dressed, just quick, throw on. So closer we can get out. Okay. I'm going to grab a cup of water, bring it over to her.

Here, drink. It's probably nothing. I just feel like it'd be good if we at least went there and made sure, you know? Of course. Okay. Throw on clothes really quick. Throw on a shawl, throw it over my head.

You gather your things. You carefully step out into the main chamber. Sedona is not to be seen, probably asleep in her room. As you step beyond the front door, down the various steps and winding pathways that lead between the clustered neighborhood that is the windowed wall. You come to the main street here in the Core Spire.

And judging by the absence of people, it's probably fairly, you'd say, late in the morning or late in the evening or early in the morning. It's in that weird liminal time space where you might be right on the cusp of sunrise. You're not sure. All right. Let's just head over. Back to the tavern.

Yeah, yeah. Retrace our steps. Worst case scenario, maybe we can go and find Fresh Cut Grass and Ashton. Yeah, and just knock on his door, at least. That's true, that's true. I think the other group stayed here as well. Yeah. All right. So we'll head over to the-

Okay, so you head back to the Spire by Fire. I thought the Weary, no, Spire by Fire. Spire by Fire is where they're sleeping, yeah. There's a lot of taverns and inns in this town. It's a large town. Too many Starbucks in this block. Right. So you head to the Spire by Fire.

It is fairly dead for the night. While it is open, you can see that the usual patronage is done. There are a handful of people that are the really, really, the non-functional alcoholics that are here at that early hour or work during the day, or work during the night and then finish off their shift at this point and are just in the process

of dealing with their life choices. The usual individuals that you're used to seeing here are not around and you see the different shift worker at the front of the tavern bar is an older human in his mid-60s or so, thinning gray hair that is greased and combed straight back. He looks like he himself is probably making a pass for a nap here

before you step inside and you go, Oh, welcome. Hi, sorry. What time is it? It's probably a few hours from sunrise. All right. I'm inquiring about Mr. Bertrand Bell, who was sleeping here last night?

We were with him earlier. I don't know if you remember. I do not recall, but. Older gentleman, ostentatious clothing. I think it was reds and, yeah. Vaguely, yes. He has a tab here, and he put a few other people in his room.

Could you maybe tell me what rooms those are? Let's do this. He looks down, you can see he's checking tabs and nodding and correlating the existence of a Bertrand Bell, but when you start asking him for the room, he looks at you oddly. What business do you have with Mr. Bell? Well, you see, What business do you have with Mr. Bell?

Well, you see, I don't want to gossip, but he has quite the problem holding his alcohol, so we just want to make sure he's not passed out or in a compromised position. Make a deception check. Come on, come on. Here we go. Come on, come on.

Here we go. Come on. Here we go. Cocked! Cocked! I love shouting that. Damn, is that real bad? Should have been cocked. Should have been cocked. Six. I rolled a three. My apologies, but we are not allowed to give out

the specific information for tenants who are staying the night for security purposes. Of course, I understand. We'll find them ourselves. Thank you so much. All right. Let's just head up the stairs and... Gosh, I feel like I remember them shouting a room number last night, but I can't remember.

Can we? We didn't get can't remember. Can we? We didn't get a long rest, did we? Did we get a long rest? Not yet. Fuck! That's amazing. Finding a hotel room. Bertrand!

Bertrand! Bertrand! I make sure that it's loud enough that the person downstairs can hear us shouting for Bertrand. If we had your room, Bertrand! But please, could you not do that? Sure, if we had his room number, we wouldn't have to shout, you know. You can wait till morning and when he's-

No, we can't, sir. We really can't. Well, good luck with the tenants then. He just goes back to the desk and is going to let you go. Can I check room four? I feel like four was the number that I heard. Go knock on four.

Bertrand? Bertrand? You hear rustling. Oh, oh shit. Fearne? Maybe it's Fearne. Bertrand? Fearne, Ory over. Bertrand. The door opens and you see a heavyset elf,

hair all a mess, looking like giant bags under their eyes, just go, What? You're not Bertrand. I'm just moving on. Sure. Room three. We're doing it! We're doing it!

Oh yeah. 15 NPCs, get them ready. There's a brief pause, and you hear some whispering. Who is it? Oh, that's not. Never mind. Do you need a change of sheets? Never mind. No.

Room two. Yep, while she does two, I go to five. Okay. Room two. Yep, while she does two, I go to five. Okay. Room two, you knock. Bertrand, are you in there? Fearne, Orym? Orym. Dorian? No response on room two.

Tung, tung, tung, tung. Bertrand? No response. Room five, you being the most perceptive of the group, suddenly jump awake at the sound of heavy knocking at the door. Hello? Oh! Yes!

Oh! Yes? Orym! Orym is Ladna! I... Did you ask him in what room Bertrand's in? Orym, what room is Bertrand in? I think he's two down from me. Seven or? How does it work? How does it work? How do you do every other one? two down from me. Seven or? Is it? How does it work? How does it?

How does it work? How does it? Every other one? Two down from you. Orym comes out into the hall, just in his breeches. What is going on? It's the middle of the night. The two of you have begun to rouse and wake up from the.

We're looking for Fjordren. Did you see him go to? For what? Do you know what time it is? No, actually. I come out holding Mister. And his little bow is all smushed His little bow is all smushed. My hair is all smushed. Look at this cutie. What's happening?

Are you okay? What's the matter? I don't know. It's complicated, but we have a bad feeling. Imogen has a- This is so dumb. It's okay. It's not dumb. It's not. I just need to make sure he's okay, it's not dumb. It's not. I just need to make sure he's okay.

Who? Bertrand. Who's? I walk down to the door that I know that he's in, which Liam doesn't know. Yeah. Is it two? Is it two? No, it's seven. Oh shit. Who's going to be your eventual choice?

Mr. Bell, I'm sorry. Bertrand? No response. I get out my lockpicking kit. Oh, okay, yeah, yeah, yeah. Are you proficient? No, we've been through this. Yeah, that's right.

So just go ahead and roll it. My apologies. Just a dex. Sorry, I didn't mean to sound shit. No, that was amazing. Just a text. Just text check, yeah. 10. Does not picket. Nah.

Did anyone see him go to bed last night? Wait, wait, what is this feeling? You said you had a feeling? What are you talking about? I'm sorry. I had a dream about him. You're not here. Yeah, but Sam is. Imogen,

she has these senses, and they tend to not steer us wrong. I mean, yeah. I've just, I've had a dream for a very long time. A very long time. And while it morphs and grows, it never really changes, if that makes sense. And tonight was the first time I've ever seen someone else in it.

And it was Mr. Bell. And I don't know, I just... I don't know what it could mean, but it makes me nervous for him, if that makes sense. Do you feel like it's a premonition of sorts? I genuinely have no idea. I'm going to go right over the door and rattle it and knock again. Bertrand!

I mean, I left him with you last night. When did you leave with him? He was with us. He was drinking a lot. What did he do? I saw him right before he went to bed, or I thought he was going to bed, and I stayed up. I tried to take him upstairs.

I tried to take him upstairs. He was very drunk, and he said he was going to look for you. For us? Something like that. He said he was going to try and find your home, or I don't know. He just said he wanted to.

Why would he need to find us? Well, we were supposed to meet up right in the garden. He insisted. He said he wanted to go for a walk. While they're all arguing, Orym pats back into his room and comes out with his blade and,

Get out of the way. Did you see which direction he walked your way in? I'm striking the latch off of his door. Go ahead and roll an attack. It's a 19 plus a 25. Go ahead and roll damage. This is what we should have been doing with doors this whole time. Just slashing them. Just slashing them. Nine.

Who needs a roll? It takes you two hits in succession, but very quick succession, and the knot just falls and hits the ground, and the knob just falls and hits the ground. The door opens up in front of you. Bertrand? Bertrand. With the impact, you hear Mister go, .

It's okay. Creep in. He doesn't like loud noises. Oh, I think he's just nervous. Looking around, the place is fairly undisturbed. Is he in bed? Room's empty. No one slept here. Is his cane here? His overcoat?

Nothing. Fuck that. I'll roll the place. Okay, make an investigation check. That is, for me, that is... 14. 12, excuse me, 12. 12. 12. Looking through here, the place looks like it had been recently cleaned,

though they don't clean a lot. There's still dust gathered beneath every surface. Is the bed made? The bed is made and has been, looks untouched. I mean, he said he wakes up really early, but I think this might be a little too early, right? No, he wasn't here. I fast walk back to my room and I grab my cloak,

my outer cloak, and I put it on and I'm walking down the stairs. Yeah, I'll follow you. Wait, hold on, hold on. I mean, this is Bell we're talking about. Maybe he's just carousing. Sure. Maybe.

I don't. I'll get my stuff. Yeah. Same. Did he say anything to you? Anything weird? I'm sorry, you guys. No, no, he was happy. Be sorry. He was happy, he was fine. We sang songs, we laughed, we drank,

and then he just said he was go- I shouldn't have left him. Hey, this isn't your fault. We'll find him. Ready? Which direction do you go? Well, if he was looking for you guys, maybe we retrace our steps to wherever...

Did he know where they lived? I don't think so. Well, we were all going to meet, yes, at that. Yeah, it was the windowed wall, so he would head in that direction. We were all going to go to the Vertical Gardens, if you remember. I think he took off this way,

and I'll point toward their place. Okay. So as the five of you trek out into the darkened streets of the Core Spire, wandering through what you assume to be the path someone like him might take. Is it still very dark? It's still very dark.

I mean, it's a relatively clear night and you can see Catha is partially, not completely full, maybe three quarters waxing. So you have a decent amount of white light that's hitting the stones of the street and framing some of the buildings. Okay, I'm going to hold up my hand and three little flickering spheres of lightning energy

are going to come out of my hand and cast a purplish glow wherever I send them to see in corners. Cool. You see a couple of dirtied miners that are making their way from the Smolter Spire react to the sudden flare of energy and take a wide berth as they walk past the group, but you continue forward. If I could have each of you in the group

roll a perception check for me, please. All right. Jesus Christ, that's such dog shit. 22. 20. Shit. 22. 20. 20. 19. Wow. Okay. As a group, especially when you're driven

and working together, you can pick up a lot of detail on the environments. You come upon one person you see slumped at the edge of the gutter, and as you approach nervously, they react and turn and look, and it looks to be a person who had a long night at one of the taverns, and it's definitely not Bertrand.

Going on for a bit, you begin to second guess whether you're worrying for no reason, until you're the first to see, in one of the alleys to the right, what looks to be a dark shape left about 10 feet back on the ground, vaguely humanoid. Maybe it just means he's shady or something. I don't know if I trusted him.

Hold here for a second. I'm going to creep into the alley. As you approach, going through the motions of stealthy arrival, you feel your heartbeat begin to beat faster and higher up in your chest. Your throat begins to close slightly with the eventual reveal of familiar details.

As this is indeed a person lying on the ground, they're not moving, but it is indeed Bertrand Bell. lying on the ground. They're not moving, but it is indeed Bertrand Bell. Y'all just see Orym turn back to you all. I send my lights over. I start to slowly walk over. I'm going to stay back. I'll rush over to Orym.

With the lights, the crackling, purplish-pink energy that lights the space, it is definitively Bertrand, and that brief little glimmer in your mind of maybe he just got drunk and fell asleep sinks into a deep, fearful sadness. As you can see, the pool of still wet blood that has encircled him

and the numerous puncture wounds that are visible on the chest. Oddly, serenely smiling. Ooh. Fuck. Careful. I just start scanning the area. Perception check, or anything? I'm going to go over and try to cast Cure Wounds on him.

Okay. Go ahead and place your hands, and as you touch the body, the first thing that catches you, even though you're still going through the motions and reciting the incantation for the spell, cold to the touch. As you release that bit of magical energy,

no effect. I put my hand on Dorian's shoulder. I turn and I grab Imogen's wrist. I don't know. Can I tell how long he's been dead? Roll a medicine check. You got to be fucking me. Natural one.

Oh no. Don't shit today. I think you keep rolling that. He looks just like me. We'll switcheroo. We'll go reverse. His complexion looks better. Cleared up. Yeah. It's hard to tell, numerous reasons.

I mean, you gather it's relatively recent because you saw him earlier and the blood is still wet, though a bit coagulated. I'm going to check his pockets. Just, I'm going to take whatever's in there. Okay. I'll have Travis text you whatever Bertrand had in his pockets.

And I got a 19. You just got all of his shit. Scoping my area. Well, one man's trash. Still warm. Still warm. Still warm. Still warm. Not warm, thankfully.

Just a pocket full of Werther's. Yeah. 19. Yeah. All right. Just next to us. You do look around into space. You do not see anybody paying attention. But we're in an alley.

You are about 10 feet into a dark alley. Yeah. Okay. But there's nothing, no, any telltale sign or track or anything. I don't think I'm going to find anything, but I'm looking for anything left behind by whoever did this.

The only thing that's visible here is Bertrand and his wounds. While scanning every inch that I can see in the really dim light that Imogen is providing, I sweep across them at the end of the alley and clock how bumped Imogen looks. Then I go back to searching, even though I feel like I'm not going to find anything.

Just keep at it. So if you want to roll a medicine check, if you want to learn about the specific wounds on his body. 19. Damn, okay. These are, they're definitively five, six punctures, actually.

Six. Six. Six. About half of them are from a stiletto-type knife. About half of them are from a stiletto-type knife. The other looks to be some sort of a rapier. The weaponry you immediately connect is very similar to that which you saw being wielded by a pale dwarf figure earlier in the night.

Okay, the one who poked me full of holes. Yes, you know those wounds because you bore a few of them. Bunch of shallow stabs and one not so shallow. Are you getting anything? Came back to finish the job. This was done by the dwarf we found. How can you tell? This was done by that dwarf we found.

How can you tell? He lifts up his shirt and you see the barely closed wounds on his belly. It's the same kind of wounds. Can't be a coincidence. We can't leave him here. No. But, if we take him somewhere,

then someone's going to know that we found him here. So is it better to just leave him here? I feel like that's terrible now that I'm saying that out loud. Yeah. How far are we from Lord Eshteross's? Yeah, that's the way to go. Probably about a 10-minute walk.

We have to take him. We have to take him. Okay, I'm going to try to lift him up. I'm going to use, just in case we run into some guards or something, I'm going to press a digitation. This is his clothing, so there's not blood all over it. Okay. All right. Take his cloak and cover it up

so he just looks like he's sleeping. Okay. We're not far. Let's get moving before it gets too late. Why don't, uh? I'll snuff out my lights. Fearne, Dorian, do you want to bring him? Then we can make sure no one else gets too close.

Yeah. Put him on our shoulders, make him look like he's... Drunken night out. We can hit Bertrand. We can. Oh, come on! Bertie. We can do Bertie.

Yeah, that's better. God, that's so good. Oh, shit. Okay. What did you, by the way, what did you find? I found so many things. What pieces? Wild.

Okay, well, he had lots of things on him. Maybe some of them could be clues. This looks like a 30-year-old condom. We going through these? We got some peanuts. No, we're not. We're not. We want two choices. Give me a peanut.

It's a peanut. No. Delicious peanuts. A TV collection. I mean, like, the Icy Hot. The Icy Hot. TV Guide. The TV Guide. Is that a good? I'll leave the rest.

Yes, there's good articles everywhere. Asshole. Yes, definitely Werther's Originals. Werther's guy out in the Dondalian Empire. What is it like on the set of The Golden Girls? What do you want to know? Oh my god. That would be awesome. So the two of you are propping him up

and the rest of you are running interference as you make your way towards Lord Esdras's place, correct? Yeah. While you two still sleep unaware. And get a long rest. And get a long rest. Yeah. So eventually, you come to the exterior of the Eshteross estate, knock on the door.

After a prolonged wait, you see a very, very tired Evelyn open the door, nightcap on. Hello, can I help? Sorry. We need to see Lord Eshteross. He looks past and sees the both of you. Right, right, come in, come in.

Leads you inside. This place is already pretty dark and creepy when it is prepared for arrivals, when it is lightless in here. It definitely has that haunted house vibe to it. Nelvin has a single, looks like a handheld candle, but the light itself is just a glowing orb. It is a magical candle which she uses to light

as she continues past. Go ahead and wait in the study. I'll retrieve him for you. Have you been in the study before? The study's where you fought him. Great. You go in there. It is dark beyond whatever light

you decide to bring within. I'll send out the lights again. All right. Should we set him in a chair? Maybe lay him on one of the tables. This is the second body we've laid on this table in 24 hours. It's a different table.

Oh, that's right. It's so dark in here, I don't know. Yeah, we'll set him on the table. Maybe, Fearne, you could, maybe the rugs, yeah, those rugs look nice and soft. I don't know. Maybe you could light a fire in the... SAM and LAURA:"

The fireplace catches. There's no that warm crackle in here. Eventually, you hear the door open to the study as Lord Eshteross comes in, heavy nighttime robe, himself having one of those long, Dickensian nightcaps over the shoulder, rubbing his eyes a bit as he puts his spectacles on.

So, Evelyn told me, looks over at Bertrand's body. Right. We had no other contact. You're the only other person we know who knew him. This was an entanglement. It came from the job we did for you. I am sorry.

This is gravely unfortunate. What are the thoughts running through your head right now? I'm trying to think if this, if whoever is responsible for this is indeed based on the job you did or something mayhaps he was tangled with before. No, I don't think so. Our friend here found something.

The person we all tangled with found him later in the same day. Like it was nothing. Who's to say they're not going to find you? Or any of us. Or any of us. Well, in that case, it would do all of you well to not travel alone. In fact, I would recommend

as much of your group as possible. I would perhaps find the other two as soon as possible. Let them know. But we do not know what sort of danger they are in either. This is presumptuous, maybe, but at least tonight, would you permit us to stay here? Yes. I apologize, but you must give me a moment

to clear a room. Of course, thank you for allowing it. Good thinking. Do you know of anyone who would take this personally? There are many who would take this personally, but I do not know what sort of interpersonal struggles or enemies Sir Bertrand would have made outside of our brief dalliance in which he was mostly engaged in running.

I'm curious about your enemies, not his. I have many. It's about your enemies, not his. I have many. This is an in-concept. I mean this with all due respect to the dead, but if someone is trying to hurt me through Bertrand, they are a fool, and my enemies are not fools. Well, we stumble onto something at your behest, but we stuck our noses into something,

and whoever this individual is, whatever he represents, didn't like it. And maybe Bertrand is somehow wrapped up in something, but this ties right back to the warehouse. So if Bertrand's involved, it's a coincidence. I'm wrestling with my own frustration and regret for intentionally causing this by getting you involved.

It was him that requested work, but none of us knew this would be the outcome. I've seen many in my time pass. Some horrifically. Some by my hand. So maybe I'm a bit numb to these sort of things, but that does not mean the loss is lost on me. I could look to arrange

something of your preference for those that knew him. None of us knew him very well. Well. Speak with Aveline. It would be a shame to not give him a proper send-off. As to whatever this business is, I do not wish to pull you further into such danger if it makes you uncomfortable. I could look into hiring others to follow this thread

with less heat. I feel like I would like to see where the end of this thread goes now that we've pulled it a little bit. Yeah. I don't want whoever did this to Bertrand to get away with it. Neither do I. What would come for us? I don't want whoever did this to Bertrand to get away with it. Never do I. Or come for us.

I scooped him up. We had his things, and I grabbed his cane and the gambler's blade. I've got it in my hand, and I'm, Bertrand put up a fight. I think I'd like to as well. And I'm going to give the king. Takes it and holds it in his hand a bit.

Turning it in his palm. There's a fight we shall have. Rest here for the night. Take the time you need in safety. Then, well, follow what leads you wish. Thank you. I can keep the rooms here for as long as you need. Taverns are not safe for whoever this is still about. I have many

allies that whisper through these streets for me. If anything comes my way, speaking of this individual, I will let you know. But you are welcome to search as well. Some of us should go get Ashton and Letters. Let them know. I don't know where they're staying. Does anyone? I remember which rooms they were in. I can go.

I thought they were, they there in the down below. The Crook House. The Crook House? It was the Crook House. Yeah, that's right, maybe I got it. Crook House, that's right. I don't know where they are, actually. I forgot where I was. Would Imogen and I know where the Crook House is?

Having been here a little bit? You would know where the Crook House is. You would know where the Fon'c'h Hollow is. Fon'c'h Hollow, you might know. Which you heard them mention. And so you can go there and search and ask around until you find it. We were going to also meet up together at dawn.

Yeah, I think maybe the best bet, oh god, I don't know, it would be to sleep and meet them when we're supposed to and let them know what's happening. Let them get a full rest. As you're having this conversation. Let me touch the button, let him touch the button. I know. I just want to touch the button. The monster button?

Yeah. The Lord Eshteross steps over to where you've laid Bertrand on the ground and kneels down, holding the cane that you handed him. Just gingerly places it into his hand and closes the fingers around it and pats it before standing back up and still looking down. There is too much injustice.

We're not pushing back hard enough. He turns and leaves the room. I'm going to go over to Bertrand and kneel down next to him and just I'm going to look at his face really closely, stare at it for a while to see if there's anything I can see on him that would connect him to my dreams. I'm going to lean down very close

to where my face is on the side of his and just try to see if I hear any noise. Looking over him, nothing looking over him, nothing strikes you as a direct connection to anything in your dream. You contemplate and you focus. It's just quiet. I go stand by Dorian.

I put my head on his shoulder. It's not your fault. I know. Do you? Mr. Clem's over her shoulder and onto yours and pushes against you. I'll give him a scratch behind the ears. I'm going to say into Bertrand's head, just mentally,

I'm glad the noise has stopped for you. I'm glad you're at peace. I'll go stand by Laudna. Just give her a big hug. We've got to figure this out. I know. I know. But... I just wonder what kind of gifts

are truly rolling around inside of you. Haven't even begun to scratch the surface. I'm sorry. I wish this gift would have shown us something sooner. I know. I know it's a burden. I know it's a burden.

I get headaches just from listening to people chatter out loud. I could only imagine the dumb shit people have rolling around inside their heads. Bertram was full of a lot of dumb shit. He was. Yeah, he was. Imogen?

Hi, Fearne. Hi. Have you been to that place before that you see in your dreams? Yeah, yeah. Yeah, I always, I'm always at home in my dreams. And then,

and then a storm comes. Have you ever... Not to... Sorry if this sounds rude, but have you lost anyone that you're so personally connected with? That's the thing, like... Um, I mean, no. Not really.

I've told you. I've told you about how I hear that voice speaking to me, and I've always just... I don't know how I know, but it's my mother, you know? voice speaking to me. I've always just... I don't know how I know, but it's my mother, you know, helping me. Like I always imagined it was her, and I don't know, speaking to me from another realm or something, leading me away. It was hopeful. But now that Mr. Bell has passed away

and he was in the dream, too, what does that mean? Does that mean... It could still be a sign of hope, or at least a warning to keep you from getting in the same danger. Yeah. That's probably what it is. Through all of that, all of that conversation,

Orym has been silent the whole time on the other side of Bertram, mostly not wanting to speak out of turn, just listening and looking at Bertram. It's really subtle, but he's struck by the fact that two days ago, no one in this room knew each other. And he can feel them leaning on each other a little bit,

and just notes it and tucks it away. I'm so exhausted. I'm so sorry we interrupted you guys' sleep. No, this was very, very important. And you know, sleeping's for the dead. Oops. I just have really great timing. You hear this odd noise echo from somewhere in the room.

Pyrr! You all hear it loudly upwards, and you look to the ceiling above, and you see blades in an awkward pattern, all suddenly jutting about an inch or so out of the wood and stopping, and just almost laying there, like this spread of sharpened points.

Oh no, is Mr. Eshteross? Did he, did someone else die just now? One of the blades gets pulled out, and there's a slight bit of light that comes out. Sorry, I'm just clearing the room. In the next one, in the next one. I could help you patch that. All right.

Sure, go for it. Start mending and patching. How are you on the ceiling? Do you just climb up like a pig? Like a pool of mud or something? Or goopy hands. Yeah. Eventually, the room is ready,

and Evelyn lets you know, whenever you're looking to rest, it is yours. We should get some sleep. I know FCG and Ashton are going to be meeting us early. Yeah, we should get as much sleep as we can. You all right? I'm all right. Tired.

Sad. Yeah. Get some sleep. Everything is better after a night's rest. Or a nap. It's going to be more like a nap. A long nap. Does it add up?

Does a long rest, is it a cumulative? I'll say it doesn't have to be, like if you all of a sudden wake up in the middle of your eight hours, it doesn't reset. Okay. Say between the two, you can eventually get another three, four hours of sleep or so and complete your long rest.

But yes, you eventually awake after a long, drawn-out evening, physically and emotionally. Two episodes. They're killing me. I just have this notification on her screen. I just wanted to click it away for episodes. The dismiss? Yeah.

It's been killing me. You cookies. We let a lot of emails sit, don't you? Yeah. You can delete them off the read. Oh! That's the weirdest care to death I've ever had. Well.

So, night's rest. Both of you, in the Consciousness and the Clubhouse, as you do, the morning sounds greet you as you begin to pour over the events of the previous day, the successes that you saw and the events that you have before you. As you begin to rustle and gather yourself, Annie pokes into where you're sleeping and goes,

Annie! Hey. Hey. So, did you get work? We got work. We got work! We sure did! We got work. There's money coming in. I've already dropped some with Milo.

I think, I feel like this is going to be an ongoing gig. This feels, this has got a feeling. It's got a feeling. Doesn't feel like anything to me, but it sure could. They know, they've got a feeling. But yeah, we're going to have. That's great. I love it. can I have some? Yeah, fuck.

I'm going to throw... What do I got? I'm going to throw 100 gold in. Whoa! I'm going to throw 100 gold at Annie, because. Annie goes, Holy shit. It's a good gig.

Yeah, keep doing this. We're not necessarily going to be around a lot for a while. Let everybody know, let Milo know. I think we're going to be having to pull some all-nighters. I'm going to get a new outfit and instrument for the Dreamscape audition. I'm looking forward to it. How goes the rehearsals?

They're fine. Yeah? You ready to show us anything? No. You sure? It's better to rehearse in front of an audience. That is patently not true. I do most of my work away from everybody. Okay, that's fair, if that makes you comfortable.

It does. I appreciate the attempt. But you will have to play in front of others at some point, and so it's better to do. Yeah, when they pay for it. Okay. Oh, I will be so happy to pay to give you my honest opinion of what you're working on right now. It'll be great. I cannot wait.

Me neither. Thanks, Eric. You know how to find me. Let Myla know they know how to find me. Have a smiley day. Oh, every time. Smiley fucking day! Adiana just walks away, both middle fingers in the air. She likes you. Yeah.

Let's go meet the new coworkers. I think we were supposed to be there closer to dawn, but knowing these folks, they're probably not even there yet. We're still going to be the first. I got an idea. Let's make some friends. Let's pick up some sandwiches on the way.

Let's get some breakfast sandwiches. I got a place down here. Trust me, they're great. I do trust you. You still have some funds left over for me. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I've got some stuff left. You're so generous this morning. This is amazing. When you got it, you got to use it.

That's true. Dive with it. What are you going to do? All right. Lead the way. I'm going to go get some breakfast sandwiches for, let's see, one, two, three, four, five, six breakfast sandwiches. Okay. No, no, Bertram can buy his own.

Nice. It's fine. Okay. We'll say that puts you back three silver for the full match. I want a runny egg. A runny egg? Yep. Some avocado with pepper and salt and vinegar. We'll start.

All right. We go to the meetup at? Window to wall. Yeah, there's the arch you guys talked about. Going on the vertical part. The rest of you wake up, briefly caught off guard by the unfamiliar space, that moment of when you wake up in a hotel room

and you're like, where am I? This room is extremely dusty, and you can see in the floor the shredded parts of the rug as part of the entryway to it, where the blades were set. While the floor is repaired, the rugged stuff is still jacked up a bit.

Glancing at that, you can look up and see there are all manner of hidden spring contraptions. You get a little sense of the seriousness that Eshteross lives under day to day. Glad it was dark in here when we came in last night. Yeah. Okay. Well, let's go find our friends.

Good news, I didn't dream about them, so they're probably still alive. Mm-mm. Hey. Hey. That's good, that's good, that's good. You gather your things and head out into the morning light here in Jrusar. The evening mist that had gathered

around the base of the jungle still sits heavy over the vistas before you, and you can barely see the jungle. It looks like you're sitting amongst these mountaintops high up in the sky, there's just clouds beneath you. But you know in the next few hours or so, this will burn away into a verdant junglescape. Have the birds started yet?

Yeah, the birds have begun to take to the skies and the familiar distant chattering of thousands upon thousands of jungle birds can occasionally waft through the air around you. Orym gives Joram just a little shoulder check, like a little bump. Morning. You okay?

I feel good. I feel a little angry. I get that. Yeah. I want to get everyone together. That's where we're going, right? Do we know how to find them? Yeah. You know where we're going?

Yeah, we're going to the Vertical Gardens. Oh, that's so nice. What did you look down and say? I just look away every time I say it because it means so much to me. That's what I thought. I'm just really practicing that kind of acting where I'm speaking to the person I love.

Oh, you look at the person you love. I'm like,. We all love waiting for Gaffman. We just love waiting for Gaffman. Oh, I just aged when you said that. He's been giving me extensive notes on... So you two have been waiting there for quite a bit, holding a handful of sandwiches

and dodging the occasional cluster of birds wandering overhead until you see the rest of your troop approach. Oh, you're awake. Okay, that's good. I have food for everyone. We can start out fresh. Everybody, their sandwiches. Good morning.

The veteran's dead. Sorry, I probably should have. Dead tired? Well. Dead. Now I feel bad for not getting him a sandwich. Is it because of this stuff or is it other stuff? Is it old age?

No, it was old stabbing. New stabbing. Hasn't changed in 2,000 years. Put old stabbing. It wasn't because of what happened last night, right? That wasn't, was it? Talk to Orym. Orym thinks so.

Yeah. It's pretty clear that he had a run-in with same kind of weaponry that jacked me up. Fuck. Are you all okay? Were you involved at all? No. Just?

Well, we found him. I think he was out for a walk, maybe. And we think that they found him. The ones that we fought? Yeah. Imogen had a nightmare in the middle of the night. Clued us in. Is that, you do that?

That's a thing, okay, I'm putting that away. Apparently, that's a thing I do. I don't know. Well, often. Nightmares? Very often. Premonitions? Yeah. No.

No. No. I got to go back and think about all the dreams I've had to see if anything... I don't think so. Has anybody else thought about the fact that that means that we might be on a list somewhere? Oh yes. Oh yes. Okay, good. So we're all going to figure this out, right?

This is what we're going to do. Yes, Lord Eshteross, we went and saw him last night after we found him. We didn't know where you guys were, otherwise we would have gone to you two immediately. Oh, I'm so sorry. We live in the Crook House, which is in the Fonzie Hollow.

I'll write it down. The Fonzie Hollow. We just figured by the time we found you, it would be time to get up. No, I'm happy for the sleep. But Lord Esros has kindly said that we can stay at his house for as long as we need to to keep safe. All right.

Well, that's mighty kind of him. Is everyone all right? You know, a shock like this can be traumatic for folks like you. Does anyone need to talk about it or cry or anything to get it out? It's not the first person I've worked with who's died before.

I mean, this is a thing that happens in this field, right? And really, that's the dream. Old and in shape, that's when you want to go. I mean, it's practically a win. Or in the long run of things. In the short term, we have targets on our backs, probably. Asteroid thinks we should stick together

for the time being. I think the question is, do we want to sit and wait, or do we want to figure this out? I want to go back to the hole. The hole? Where the shade creepers came out. The way we're in. Oh, yeah.

That's right. I agree. The weary way. Why did you look down when you said that? It's dramatic. Sure. It's nostalgic. I'm glad you're being here for three weeks.

Oh, Fresh Cut. Have you ever had a Werther's Original? I haven't. Is it? Where are you going to put it? I know you only have copper, but I feel like it's the same type of thing. It's true. I'll try one.

Goddamnit, Travis. If this breaks them, I'm going to be so upset. I will mash it around in my jaw area. Do I get any nutrition or any flavor from it? Break a metal cog. Even if you weren't automaton, no. Oh, Sam! Please, Swats, save us! Wow!

That's not true, they are very tasty. You just burned the Werther's Bridge. That's fine. Should we have a feud against the Werther's Bridge? No! The best thing that ever happened to us. Everyone loves feuds. We already pissed off Tootsie Pop Owl guy.

Next up is Werther's. One by one, we're plinking them off. Somewhere there's a fellow with a straw hat going, Oh! Why do I hear my Twitter going off? No one's tweeted Werther's since 43. To that point, Dorian, your sandwich is gone. Whoa!

What a tangent. Dorian, your breakfast sandwich is gone. What happened to it? Did I eat it? No, you took a bite. I'm just dissociating right now in a really big way. You took a bite, and listening to this conversation, you realize it's gone. Oh.

What happened to it? You look down on the ground, there's Mister sitting there with crumbs on his mouth. Just like. Mister! Do you know if he actually even gets anything out of that? Doesn't it just burn up? Oh! Ash and smoke come pouring out of his mouth.

I mean, I give him treats all the time. That's why he's gotten so round. He's just, he's my little roly-poly. Do you think Mister would like pâté? I think he would love pâté. Okay. Mister, come here. I think he would love pâté. Okay. Mister, come here. I have a friend for you.

Oh, oh, oh! He watches this monkey bursts into flame and it's this small, elemental beast of fury as it goes and grabs a flaming pile of mister. Yes! And has it at the ready. No, no, no, no, no!

Can you believe this, Pate? I know, so rude! I'm going to give Pate some pets. Hello, Pate. Oh, you're so sweet. Pâté just nuzzles on. Drops the flame seed and then comes over and pushes Pâté out of the way

and gets under your hand, jealously. Okay, okay. This might be a bit much. I'll put him back in under my care. Oh, just want to be friends. The flames eventually subside. Actually, later. It's okay. If I may, I've seen people grieve in a lot of different ways,

and this is just a little bit new to me. Are you okay, both of you? I think so. Oh, I just... This is just how I am. All right. I pick up Mister and put him back under my cape and nuzzle him back in.

Orym looks up at Imogen. This 24 hours has a lot of range. Yeah. No. Mm. Well. I can't give you the rest of my sandwich. It's too good. Mm, me? And then Jannari shared, but then she unshared.

She gave, and then I reshared. Yeah. Okay. Well, I just gave you the whole thing, and I was just, I still, I know, I know, and then I- This is why you get an extra sandwich. I knew I should have gotten an extra sandwich. Thank you. You're welcome. Thank you.

I'm not going to finish mine, either. I eat like a bird. Why does everyone think I need so much sandwich? I was just, you've been through a lot. No, we've all been through a lot. You've got the hunger guilt. Orym has the bottomless stomach in this group. That was one time, thank you.

I saw what happened to you. I hand half of my sandwich up, as high as I can. It's probably not quite high enough to mist her. Here you go, buddy. Here. Get in there. Here. Takes but a second before it's snatched from your hand. Just a hand popping out of your face?

Yep. The rest of it just pulls it under the cloak and you see the cloak just moving. Thank you, Arlo. I'm three foot three. I break my half into quarters and I put one into my hand. Oh yeah, that probably, that sandwich is probably so good.

Yeah, when I got it, it was like, whoa! It's like a subway breakfast. It's a week's worth of food. I know we're going to Denny's, come on! All righty. Oh no. You've had your breakfast? Where are you off to?

Everyone had a plan. Somebody had a plan. We're going back to the Weary Way Inn. The hole. The Weary Way. Yes, we are. Okay. Return to the scene of the crime. There you go. It's always a smart. You head back to the Lantern Spire

into the Weary Way Inn, and it's early in the morning. It's busy, but mainly just patrons before they head off to work, just getting their day started. A lot of hangovers, but the place is yours to explore. As we walk up, can I look up at the balcony to the room that we were in?

You can. That was on the back side of the structure and the alley behind it, but you can go ahead and head around that way were in? You can. That was on the back side of the structure in the alley behind it, but you can go ahead and head around that way if you'd like to. I'll just take a peek up in the balcony, see if I see any change. Okay, make a perception check. New customers.

Goddamn it, I've never rolled above 10 in the whole game. 12. 12. Glancing up, nothing seems out of the ordinary. Okay, I'm going to go meet back with the ordinary. Okay, I'm going to meet back with the others. Okay. You head inside, and there you can meet the same

female orc tavern keep who runs the establishment. Hi there. Morning. Morning. What do you need? You know, we stayed here recently and... Yeah. Okay. And then we tried other places around town and we didn't like any place as much as we liked it here. That's what I like to hear.

We're wondering if the room that we visited is available now. It was just perfect. It was in the back, it was private. We have an old friend reunion and we're just looking to get away from the crowds. What room is that? It was room beep.

I feel like I was like, man. No, I said this earlier. It was clearly room beep. Mm-hmm. 11. You describe the space and recall the number of the room. Yeah, it was on the back corner. It was right on the corner.

Balcony outside. Still currently occupied. However, whenever they check out of the room, you're welcome to pick up from there. I see, I see, okay, okay. We'll probably stay somewhere else for a bit. Thank you. Yeah, no worries.

What are you called, by the way? Oh, me? I'm Kamala the Maven. Kamala the Maven? That's cool. How'd you learn that name? The Maven part. By taking care of folks as they come in here and get fucking drunk. Okay.

Well, pleased to meet you. Just call me Kamala. It's good. Yes, pleased to meet you. Just call me, come on. Let's go. Yes, ma'am. So we can't go up there? Is that it? I don't know. I'm just going to go see if they're going to clear out soon, you know? I mean,

they said it was still occupied, but it was occupied by the people that we know. We know, let's go outside. Let's go talk, yeah, yeah, let's go. Figure out where we're going to stay next. I'm going to go up to the outside of the room. Okay. I'm away from everyone else and just,

oh god, don't fuck me again, please. I'm just going to open up my mind outside of the door and see if I can sense anyone in there. Okay, go ahead and make your saving throw. Saving throw. Saving throw. Self-inflicted wounds. Okay, good, that's great. I definitely pass. I rolled a 15.

Yeah, you're fine. You can sense a few minds in adjacent rooms, but that room is currently empty of any sort of intelligent mind. Great. The rest of you sit or coasting around the back alley. Sure. Oh, yeah, sure. I'll meet back up with them.

Okay. Is the door as busted up as we left it, or is it fully mended? I forget if Laudna fully mended it or. You mended it enough to close it, and it looks like it's left as it was. Can I just see if it's unlocked? You go ahead and push for it,

and it appears to be unlocked. I'm just going to go in and walk straight out onto the balcony on the backside. All right. As you all curve around to the back alleyway, looking up, you can see the door open onto the balcony, the one on the right, and you can image it. Someone's there!

Kill her! Just kidding. It's left as it was. You can still see the burned scuff marks on the wooden floor where the shade creepers had burst into flame and then turned to ash. The ash pile's still left in those little scarred spaces where you've tossed in the furniture's been ruined

and destroyed and the cabinet that was bashed into pieces still remains left as it was. This room is as you recall. Wow. All right. You guys can come on up. I don't know. Can you hop up? Orym does a little bit of a squat

and a flea goes. One arm catches the bottom of the balcony. Then you watch as he grabs and then flexes his little tiny abs and he just rolls up and stands next to it. That's really amazing. Shoes. Shit. Wow.

Do you mind giving me a lift again? I'm just going to keep a lookout and make sure there's no guards visible watching us do it. Yeah, is anyone on the street down with us as well? I'll just look around and see if there's any folks watching. I only rolled an 11. I rolled an eight. The rogue one travels over the railing down to the ground. Oh, see if there's any folks watching. I only rolled an 11. I rolled an eight.

The rope unravels over the railing, down to the ground. Oh, well that's convenient. I'm Princess Flying Laudna up once again. Oh! Did you say you dropped a rope? Yep. Okay, great. Okay.

You all, those who wish to, make it up onto the balcony. I'm going to do a mirthful leap. Go for it, he's in. Yes! One big jump. Glancing about, you do not see anybody specifically paying attention to you, but there is the sound of bustling

and businesses that are adjacent to the establishment that are now coming to life as the day continues. I'm going to tie the rope and I'm going to pull it back up so we have it there. Yeah. Okay. We're going to investigate? Yeah.

Go back to the lab. What happened here? It was under that desk in the corner. Yeah. As you spend a moment in here, you can see that some of the furniture has been moved. The broken things have been sifted through. When you were leaving, it was as the sound of individuals making a path

to the room you were at from hearing the scuffle. So you do get the sense that this room at least has been discovered in disarray, though nothing's been done yet. Which leads you to believe that you are essentially in the middle of a crime scene. Great. But looking over to the space

where you saw the original opening, that similar pathway that descends in between the walls still remains, about a foot and a half wide, and it curves into the wall and then drops. Oh, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. I'm just looking. Can't see much.

Do you want to hold onto his pant? Need some light? Yes, please. Okay. Oh, you got it Do you want to? I'll hold onto his pant. Need some light? Yes, please. Okay. Oh, you got? No, no, after you. If you, please, feel free. I want you to do your special things. No, I want you to do your special things. I only have an item,

but it's probably not as cool as what you were doing. Mine only goes 120 feet. That's pretty good. I'm just going to light up my balls. Set them down the shaft. The classic hand trick, Imogen's Ball. This is the high fantasy you've tuned in to. They drift inward, and where the space is between the walls,

with the light in there, and you glance down, you can see the space is very tight. You could fit in there, uncomfortably so, and drop down. Then you can see where the in-between space hits the floor. Oh, it's tight even for me. Mm. To get between the two. You're basically between the equivalent of drywall.

There are two wooden elements to the chamber below, wherever the rooms are below, and there's a gap maybe about that wide. And so you're having to, like, for you to drop down into it if you wanted to. So no one's following me if I go down here. But wasn't the dwarf that we were fighting, wasn't he bigger than you or him? Yeah. Yeah.

But we just saw the little creepers. The shadows were coming out of the creepers. Oh, I understand. The shade creepers could fit in there, probably. With the light, you can make a perception check, actually. Double 18s for 22. All righty. Looking down, amongst the center space between the walls,

the basic stone floors that they're set and built upon, there is a section of stone a little off to the right of where you're looking down that looks like there's a burrowed hole or an opening that descends deeper past the foundation. So structure and then something burrowed up into the structure. Correct. But no one's getting down there except maybe me.

Maybe, yeah. Orym? Shit. Does it look like it could connect to the outside wall, to the foundation we tried busting through from the outside? It's kind of, I pull back out of there. It's kind of hard to tell. None of you guys are getting in there, not even you.

Maybe me. It's tight. I could go down and see if there's another way to get to it. I could tie a rope around my waist. What if this is okay? I've seen you do some things where you've crickled and crackled

and made yourself into a certain way. I've got really terrible joints. Yes, do you think you could... I just don't want you to go alone. I've seen you do things where you turn into other things. Oh yeah, a crab! Oh, well. That's true.

That's true as well. Or your snake. Slither right on in. That's true. Or you could send Pâté. Hmm. Pâté can't get further than six inches from my fingers. Gotcha. Not yet. Under a dream, or?

I'm working on it. What do you think? Is it worth it, Orym? Is there anything down there that makes you think, I don't know? Might as well try. I don't know. Might as well try. I don't know, but you guys strike me as a pretty formidable little group.

You'll yank me up if you need to, if I have Fearne with me. Sure. Yeah, I'll go with you. If I have Fearne with me, it should be all right. Yeah, of course. Here. It's just a spooky hole that creepy monsters crawled out of. Pretty powerful little guys take this. What's that? It's my rock chisel.

Oh, from the computer. Wow. Nothing fancy, but it is designed for chipping through rocks. Suddenly, Laudna's got like. No, no, no. Sure, we are interested. That's more appropriate. There's your face. Take this, too.

Bing! I'll flip you my Coin of Delving. Whoa. It shines just a dim light within five feet of you. Oh wow. If you get to a deeper hole, you can just toss it down and it'll make a sound that gives you an image of what's. Like a ping? Yeah, like a ping.

That's cool. But then I don't want to lose it. Oh, it's fine. Okay. I mean, money means nothing to me, so. And, you know, if you find something of value, knowledge, in the first few minutes, I'll be able to tell.

You can let me know. Oh, okay, right, because you're you. Yeah. Okay, so I take the sash from around my waist and I put the coin here and I wrap a couple of times so I have a little light. Fantasy headlamp. Fore light. Fantasy headlamp. Forehead, headlamp.

Awesome. That's pretty cool. Tie it tight and I've got your hammer and I get the rope around my waist. I feel silly. Let's go ahead and do this. You look silly. What are you going in as? Yeah, I'll go in as the snake.

I'll just drop. Okay. Then float up. I'll just drop. Okay. And then float up. You've got it. So, are you sticking to Orym, or are you going seven? I'll just hit him with a quick Guidance. You first or me first, what's better?

You go first. Because I feel like you can communicate. I just can listen, but I can understand. I'll go first. I'll hit you with just a little guidance and wish you well. I hand the rope to Ashton. Got it.

Okay. Here we go. Good luck. That's the last thing I saw, and I... He's doing Mime Escalator. We'll never see him again. Like the Haunted Mansion, it was like, oh god. So as you squirm your way in between the two walls

and slowly get to the floor with your feet, finding purchase on what is the foundation of the chamber, you're about a foot and a half to the right of you, is where the continued burrow hole goes downward. Are you going separately or along with Orym? Along with Orym, but just a little behind. So I'll stick my head down and then realize I can't really do what he did,

so I'll just wiggle the rest of my body over and just Not enough to do damage, you're light enough where it wasn't an issue, but you do a little clumsy, but nobody saw it. You're fine. No. Boom, boom, boom. I'm just thinking, Imogen,

I don't know if you can hear this. I can. Oh, okay. It's a big molehole down here. All right. Anything dangerous? Not as of yet. All right.

I'll go further. Okay. So you go and approach the edge of this hole. Mm-hmm. It does look roughly carved, burrowed to a certain extent, and if you want to make an investigation check to look over its make.

Sure, fine. Stay close. You can also use a bonus, too, because you're still a fiend. You do have Guidance. How long does Guidance last? I think it's a minute. So Guidance is a? Extinction d4.

d4, I'm going to need it, because that was a low roll. Seven to investigation? Yes. Mm, shiny balls. That is an eight. Eight. Hard to tell. It's smooth, bro.

I mean, it doesn't look smooth, but you can't really make out what created it, how long it's been there, like none of that. It's just hard to make out. Talking to the snake. Came this far. Do you want to go further? Flick once for yes and twice for no.

Yes. Yes. Yes. Okay. Hit the boss. And start to move down the burrow a bit. Okay, the burrow goes straight down. Oh, straight down.

Yeah. It's in the ground, like it's a down. Okay. Imogen, tell Ashton to get a good grip on that rope. Ashton, hold on tightly. I am. I know you are, if that was coming straight from Orym. I am. I know you are. That was coming straight from Orym.

I believe that you. Don't backseat rope hold. I apologize, Ashton. No, no, I'm angry with him. It's okay, not you. Fearne, I don't want you to dump down this hole like you did down here. Why don't you wrap around me like a belt?

Oh! Aw! Could have been an necklace. Yeah, I'll just slither up. A sash. And go around him a few times. You got it, Sander. And then maybe up.

Put my head up on his shoulder. Oh! Okay. She's massive. Yeah. Yeah, too. I look like the Michelin Man. Yep, yep. Okay, I'm going to start to... This is very like...

Lower it down a little bit at a time. It's very Ray Stans in Ghostbusters II. Yeah. Yes. With his shining coin. Yep. As you begin to descend the rope, the air in here, I mean, all between the walls in here is pretty stale, for the most part, untouched air.

There's no draft. Within this hole, there is a slight temperature change and just a faintly warmer, and the smell is... It's earthy. Make a perception check for me. 18 and a 19 for a 23. That was really good.

There is also almost like a charcoal smell to this space. Oh, miners, he keeps talking about miners. But it's still just a passage down. Yeah. There's nothing up here. Straight down. As you begin to go, how long is the rope?

50 feet. 50 feet. You get about 30 feet down, and it's still just dropping. It's still dropping 40 feet, and then you get to the end of the rope, and there you are dangling, looking down into this abyss, about two feet wide,

that just continues to descend. It still walls to my left and right, so it just keeps going, going, going. It just keeps going straight. It hasn't opened up, okay. No, it's just going down. I'm going to slither down his body and wrapping my tail around his ankle so I can just get a little further to see. Okay. Try to see.

Make a perception check. Angle my forehead down. Yeah, with his headlamp, it does help. Head coin? I use mine, right? Yes. Okay. Oh. Okay.

Nobody else can see it. I know what it is first. Yes! 23. Oh. What's that? 23. 23. And I have blindsight. Yes, you do. Oh, cool.

You see very clearly that this just continues on to the very edge of your visual range, straight down. With your perception as well, you can see on the walls around you, they look broad and carved, but you can see all manner of claw marks, like these have been climbed and skittered up through.

Oh. Numerous times. Blah, blah, blah. Um. You okay, Fearne? I'm going to get close to the wall and taste a little bit of the claw marks. Try to see what I can taste. Taste the claw.

Using the same perception roll, it tastes like the edge of a dirt wall. You don't pick up anything specific. The palate isn't so strong that you would pick up anything particular. The palette isn't so strong that you would pick up anything particular than just the makeup of the wall itself. But you can now say you've tasted a clawed wall. Yes.

Kind of slither up and come back to a shoulder. How did you? You said the coin. Yeah, if you drop it. You said if I drop it, it gives a visual? It will make a sound and tell you exactly how far, how deep. Like that. Oh. Okay, yeah.

Well, shoot. Big bye. All right, stick in close, Fearne. It's good, it's good. I'm about to lose visual. It's good, it's good. I'm about to lose visual. You drop it, and looking down, you can see the glow of this tiny little bead of light. You see it shifting slightly as the air shifts.

You can see the tunnel turn slightly, and so you can't see it anymore. There's some sort of a shift or a curve to the drop, but you still don't hear anything. What? What? And you went, just out of view, but you haven't heard it really impact anything.

Okay. Okay. I don't know what I'm looking at here. It just dropped Letters Coin. He's looking because he's going to tell you when it's going to drop. It's going around a corner? All right.

And you wait. Bing, bing, bing. I spoke too soon. Okay. Bing, bing, bing. I spoke too soon. Okay. Wait. The magic of this lets any creature who hears the chime determine the distance it was dropped based on the coin alone.

So you and Fearne immediately, magically understand that coin dropped about 1,200 feet. Oh! See, that's why I started talking to you, because it just kept going on and going. But anybody that heard that sound also knows how long it dropped? So if there were any creatures 1,200 feet down

that heard it, would have known that something was in the tunnel? Yep. Or at least something dropped and made a noise. Okay, what were you saying, Orym? I don't know if I'm talking. Yeah. Yeah.

Fraggles? Whoa. That would be the cutest thing. That would be, yeah. He just came up, stirring up the walls and Little dozer. Devoured Fearne and Orym. Yeah!

Death by Muppet. Oh man. That's the worst way to go. Okay, tell Ashton to start hoisting us up. I think they need help coming back up. Fast or slow? Fast or slow. Slow to medium is probably fine. Slow to medium, he said. Yeah, just doing slow. Fast or slow? Slow to medium is probably fine. Slow to medium, he said.

Yeah. Just doing a nice hoist. At the size of your friends and your strength, you don't even have to roll for it, you're fine. You manage to guide them back up through the wall. You scuff against one of the edges and you can see this awkward iron nail that's sticking out from one of the wooden walls that almost catches you and you push away.

Then you get lifted back up and then out of the hole in the side of the wooden walls that almost catches you and you push away. Then you get lifted back up and then out of the hole in the side of the wall that delves into the wall and you're now back amongst your friends. Welcome back. Okay, I thought maybe, I don't know, underground passage or sewer system. I'm new here.

It just went forever, well over a thousand feet. I lost your coin. Oh! Okay. You said it'd be okay. Yeah, no, it's fine. But it is okay, right? It's totally fine. Yep. I feel like maybe you're not okay with it being gone.

No, I'm fine with it. It was, it served its purpose, so it's good. I'll drop one. Oh no. Was it a special coin? Did it have sentimental value? Oh, I mean. Was it from a dead friend?

Was it from one of your other dead robots? It was from the- Sometimes it really is from somebody that's dead. It was from somebody who's dead, yes. Oh. A dancer gave it to me, but it's all good. It's fine. It's fine. We'll find it again.

It's interesting. I've never seen them make this face before, which is amazing because your face can barely make any face. That's really impressive. It's fine. It's fine. We'll find it again. It's interesting. I've never seen them make this face before, which is amazing because your face can barely make any face. That's really impressive. You do look sad. I'm fine. I'm fine. I mean, we're all a bit grieving right now from Bertrand's death, right?

Yeah. You all are feeling sad about that? Yeah. Okay, good, good, good. I didn't get that impression before. Yeah, we're feeling sad about that? Yeah. Okay, good, good, good. I didn't get that impression before. Yeah, we're feeling sad about it. Well, this is one other thing to be sad about. Well, if we ever go down there, we could find it. Absolutely.

And, you know, keep it. Now we just have to get down there. Yeah. Orm just starts rifling through his packs and pulls out a little sack. I don't know how much that is worth, but it seems like the sentimental value must be high. This is, here, take 200 gold if you're hungry or if you need to buy something to replace it.

No, I'm good, thank you. No, honestly. I really insist. I really feel bad about it. It helped you down there and it was for your safety and I'm happy that you used it. That's what it was for. We needed to use it, for sure. Not even kidding. All right.

Do I know if the Lantern Spire is hollow? Like, what is inside the Lantern Spire? Make a history check. MATT and LAURA make a call. Nope. That's a, god, I should bring my glasses more often. That would be a thing to do. That is a, gosh, I should bring my glasses more often. That would be a thing to do. That is a six. A six. You have no idea.

I don't know what's inside the- You do know that there are carved tunnels through most of the spires? That is how the sewage itself is channeled and then deployed at the base. Sure. In muck piles. I know the core spire, the Lantern Spire is not really.

Yeah, you don't spend a lot of time in the Lantern Spire. You've been through a number of times and you've done some business here, but nothing particular. Did anything strike you when you were exploring? Well, it's completely dark down there. And those things clearly dug their way out. They must be able to reuse it.

I think they might have dug it. It just dropped for an impossibly long amount of time and then curved. Your coin must have just swung around. I don't know how that thing works. Did you hear it hit solid ground or water? That sounded like stone, yeah. Well, we wouldn't know.

It would have been a ting, so it wouldn't have been water. It hit something solid. What if... It did feel like the wind just took it. Like there are drafts down there? Yeah, so maybe if we jump, we'll just get into a draft.

Oh. I was going a totally different direction. Oh, okay. I don't think that's a good plan at all. No? Okay. I mean, maybe if we had some sort of mountain climbing utility, you know, we could... There is also, I'm sorry.

No, go. No, go. No, I don't want to interrupt. I've already been so rude. You have? I'm not impressing you about your dead friend. It's what you do, it's fine. How did she die? She was eviscerated by an unknown monster.

Oh. Yeah. Right. With your other? Yeah. Wow. It was impressive. Horrible. Yeah. Horrifying. I really think you should take the 200 gold. I mean, I feel terribly. I don't buy things.

It's fine. I thought you, like, it's metal, right? So they're just going to give it to me. It doesn't matter. I will just give that to you. Will you hold this 200 for them? Fuck yeah. Will it make you feel better? Yeah. Fuck yeah.

All right. Okay, win-win. What I was going to say was, Imogen and I know of another entrance into the Shadecreepers' lair tunnels. Oh, really? They were different. They were different. Laer tunnels. Oh, really? They were different. They were different. They looked alive. These ones are less, you know, explosive.

How do you know about that? Well, when we first met Shadana, our Laenor. That's our first night here. Our very first night. She kept having issues with creepy things in the middle of the night, stealing things and tenants complaining about weird feelings and nightmares.

And we discovered a similar hole like this behind one of the beds in the guest room. That you could fit into? We couldn't fit into it, no. We never went down it. Okay. But it's still there. We've blocked it off, is all. Got it.

But we know where it is. What'd it smell like? Would we remember what it smelled like? You didn't really delve that deeply into it at the time. It smelled a lot like charcoal or something down there. Really? Yeah. Charcoal? What is it they mine here? I mean, did they mine the Lantern Spire?

I thought it was mostly just the- Lantern Spire, no. The Smolder Spire is where the majority of industry of that kind takes place. You know the Smolder Spire because it's the one that emanates numerous streams of black and gray smoke from different buildings and operations that tends to mingle with the mist sometimes and cloud other districts,

and people complain about it constantly. Yeah, this is like a tourist district. It just don't come here. Is that visible from every spire? For the most part, yeah. Yeah, okay. How, I mean, these spires are so tall. This one's not. How tall is this spire?

Which one, the lantern? The one that we're in right now. Yeah, the lantern spire is the shortest of all of them. I don't know. Laura doesn't know the math of what feet equates to tallness. Like, 1,200 feet is fucking really high, right? Yeah, yeah.

That's probably, for this spire in particular, it's near its base, if not deeper. If every flight of a building is roughly 10 feet. But at night, it's got a big seven-story tall flame. It's like a giant, giant fire. Maybe all the spires are connected. I mean, yes. Or that could have been an old poop chute

that just they used. It's true. What do they burn? Do we know what they burn? I don't actually know what they burn here. They light the spire? You don't know? I don't know. You said if it is a coal chute or something.

Maybe we head to the base and then we see what we can find. What are our leads here? What do we got? Did we already search this room last night or yesterday? I agree with Fresh Cut Grass. I feel like we should understand. It blows off the tongue. It does.

I'm not certain what our goals are here. I mean, the shade creepers, these creatures that you know, do people in this city know of them? Are you the only ones that know of them? No, people know about them, but I'm Are you the only ones that know? No, people know about them, but I'm telling you, these ones that we saw, they're not like the other shade creepers. Yes, it's that, right?

They're not. Yeah, you haven't. What you know of them and heard around, they're a nuisance, almost like a fey myth of thieves that come in the night. Some people use them as a way to scare children, but rarely are they ever seen. The first time you've ever. I mean, they exist in other places in the world,

in Marquet as well, but what you battled the other night was a whole different experience. Yeah, these are special ones. That hole must have been where they came from. Well, it also seemed like the dwarf had some sort of control. Yeah, absolutely.

And finding that entity is probably more important than finding his little minions, right? Right, I just thought maybe if we find the minions, we find the master. Possibly. Possibly. Do we know much about where the dwarf, are there other dwarves like him here? So we swept this area, right?

I mean, we can look again. Did y'all look at the area where you found Bertrand's body to see if there was any clues or? Yeah, I searched pretty extensively. Okay. Did we look for footprints leading away or anything? Yes.

And Lord Estros said that he was going to ask around, right, but we don't know what that's going to bring us. Yeah, that's really all we've got is him and these creepers. And the fact that somebody also made living furniture yesterday, which may or may, or two days ago, which may or may not be related. Yeah. Yeah.

And we saw the dwarf. He jumped out of the balcony and fled on foot. So we know he had to have. We didn't see him go. He just jumped over the balcony. Because it didn't. He might've jumped up onto the roof. So like you said, it didn't see him go. He just jumped over the balcony. Because it didn't. He might've jumped up onto the roof. So like you said, it didn't feel like he could fit in the hole, right?

He had a good chance of getting stuck in there. It's a pretty wide, dwarves are pretty stocky, and this guy was thin for a dwarf, but still a dwarven structure. You got a good look at his face, pale, gaunt, Apache beard. Not like Udumon dwarf. No, no, no. Okay.

I think maybe he could have fit down the burrowed hole, but not through the walls. Fearne and I could barely get through there. Maybe we just do a little bit of a perimeter search around here. I'm going to go out onto the balcony and look up. How high is it to get up onto the roof from here? There is a third floor above.

And so it would be a bit of climbing past a third floor. Is there another set of balconies above? There is, yeah. What's the room above? Yeah, maybe we go and look at the room above. If you want to. See if anybody's staying in that room. They do that. I'll go down.

Go down where? Oh, to the alley? Outside to the alley. I'm going to check. I'm going to help you. All right. Okay. Ashton, is there anyone who might know, anyone in town who might know more about that type of entity or person?

I mean, that's getting out of my wheelhouse, to be honest. If it gets to it, we can... I mean, I know how to get in contact with unscrupulous people, but I don't know if they're going to know anything about any of this anyway. Okay. Well, that's good to know. We saw him jump.

We know he went to the balcony, right? Yeah, but we don't know up or down. We don't know if he went. Okay. Okay, so you two are going down to the street. Yeah, check the perimeter. I don't think anyone else wants to join. Are your shoes good? I can't remember.

Are they, Liam asking, are they limitless, or is it? Yes, yeah. But I'm not great at it sometimes. Yeah, they're not reliable, but they're limitless. Yeah, it took me a second. I saw you're so short, but they're limitless. Yeah, it took me a second. I saw you're so short. All shoes are limitless. Well, I can get up there.

You can get up there. You can bring somebody up there. It's at least three of us. I'll come with. Okay. Need some help? Want to hitch a ride? Sure. Okay.

What are you going to do? There is a limit. There is? It's four hours total throughout a day. Yeah, oh yeah, that time limit. Yeah, yeah, oh, okay, yeah, yeah. But you're still within that, yeah. Yeah, absolutely.

Thank you. No worries. You coming with us? I'm coming with you. Okay, Ashton down, FCG up. All right. Doreen up, yep. I'm up. Right. You're up.

You get yourself up? No, but I'm the one that thought of it. up, yep. I'm up. Right. You're up. You get yourself up? No, but I'm the one that thought of it. Sure, sure. Well, you can just take two quick trips. Up and down. Yeah, trips. All right, I'll grab you like a little teddy bear and float on up. That was fun.

All right, one by one, you manage to get your team up onto the, was it the roof or the next balcony? We'll start balcony, probably. Okay. The patrol creatures that we encountered the first night on the warehouse. The Simurgh? The Simurghs.

Are they out all the time? Generally, yes. They're not directly above every building, but there are, at any given point in time, somewhere between 20 to 40, just in the skies above Drusar, across all spires. Just doing patrols in the air, keeping eyes for any scuffles or issues.

I'm technically trespassing right now, so I suppose we should be careful. Oh, okay. We'll look around real fast and see if anything looks out of the ordinary or it looks like somebody maybe jumped up and ran or any of the, is it shingles on the roof? Is it, I don't know what kind of rooftop this is. You haven't gotten to the roof yet,

but if you want to say. We're just in balcony. Oh, we're on the third balcony. I understand, for some, yes. Is anyone in that room that we're now creeping on the outside of the? Okay. Natural one.

Oh boy. It's hard to tell. The curtains are currently drawn over. The curtains are drawn? Yeah. Yeah, that's great. Then we'll just go straight up. We'll be quiet on the balcony and we'll keep going up. I understand if you were in the room.

I like it. I like a challenge. I have a question. Yeah. When we went into the walled area, was it open? Could there have been other rooms that we could have visited? Matt, one lick for yes and two for no. Oh my god.

She's like, that's it, so sad. That was so, so sad. Because it makes it weird. That's why. I mean, you could continue to the right and left in the middle of the wall area, but there were no other entrances or exits that you could see. It was just a tight in-between space between.

Okay. What are we talking about again? I don't know anymore. Crawl spaces. We were in the crawl space. Crawl spaces. Indeed. But, so at the balcony. Yes.

Anything you want to do at the balcony or continue onward? I think we wanted to get rooftop. Okay, so you get up to the roof. Up to that point. I mean, unless we see footprints on the rail of the balcony. Do we see footprints on the?

You do not see footprints on the rail of the balcony. Getting up onto the roof. Pardon me. There aren't necessarily shingles on this rooftop. It looks like it is instead a raised wall barrier of just continued plaster-like material. And over the lip beyond there, there is a slight dome-shaped at the top.

And once again, just covered in bird shit, some earth shit and everything else that flies up there. Smart. Let's look around, see if we can see any disturbances or. Trash or something. Yeah. One of you can, at least two of you can make investigation

or perception checks, your choice, that are on the roof. Oh, oh, the perception. Oh wait, I'll guide you. Will you? Okay. You'll be guided. Birdshit, birdshit, birdshit. Smirk shit, smirk shit, smirk shit. Somebody else going to do it as well, or?

Oh, I will also look if you don't want to. Looks like he's got it. You can guide yourself. Well, I didn't. 14. Okay. Looking around the lip of this space, the first thing that catches your eye, and you both see this, is

not too far from where your balcony was, you can see footsteps, recent ones, that have pushed through some of the fresher bird poop. Based on the gate and the scrape of it, only because you rolled pretty decently on that, it looks fairly recent. That's as much as you can make from it. You're uncertain if it was this person's boots

or somebody else was escaping to the roof or excited to rush off across it, but. Someone was up here. Do the tracks just continue on or do they walk, walk, walk, and then stop because they got lifted up and carried away by a bird? No, you don't. It's not like they kept making tracks.

You just see a couple of two or three footfalls that pushed and scraped into where it was once like a dried bed of just white. And you can see where someone was pushing off hard and as they did, it scraped past and that's where it left the marking. You see a direction. Yeah, you see a direction,

which is just towards the other side of the roof. If see a direction. Yeah, you see a direction which is just towards the other side of the roof. If we go across the roof, yeah, is there anywhere they could have jumped to? You look on the other side and there is a series of long pipes that are part of the rain drainage that can continue off either corner. Then looking over the top, you can look down

into a few other balconies and the very front of the tavern that continues into the main street. You see people walking past, carts, business folk. The city is alive before you three stories down. How close is the nearest rooftop in that direction? In that direction? Yeah. It would probably be about 15 or so feet.

15. Pretty far. 10 about 15 or so feet. 15. Pretty far. 10 to 15. 10 to 15. Orym heads 15 feet back, and then you see him go and he leaps across to the other roof. I can, with a running start, do a 15-foot long jump. Yes, you can.

Are you fucking kidding me with this guy? Just make an athletics check for me. Cool. Sure. Oh, I said one, but I'm a halfling. Oh! And that's a 20. Oh! Oh my god. I love it.

You can make the jump. This is more about the grace of the landing. Yeah. And this is full-on Captain America, like shield down, catch yourself on the opposite side and stand up. It's more of a. Fair enough. He's so graceful.

Okay. I want to see if I see those footprints pick up on this side. Okay, make a perception check. Oh, not good at all. That is just a nine. No sign of any further tracks, no direction. Okay. Okay.

Well, I guess we're back. I know we went up. Yeah, that's all we know. We just know we were looking in the wrong direction, basically. Maybe we should tell the others so they don't waste time. Yeah, yeah. The rest of you, what are you doing? Looking for signs.

Can we see them on the ground? Make a reception check. 12. Oh, sorry, you're on the roof looking down. I'm just, yeah, I'm just looking down to see what's down for you. Yeah, yeah, you're on the roof looking down. I'm just, yeah, I'm just looking down to see what he's got for you. Yeah, yeah, you're on the Yeah, you can see them. All right, then I'm going to just...

Hey, he was on the roof for sure. We should head to the roof. No, no, no, don't come up here. It's a dead end. Yeah, we should, we'll meet you down there. Orym just checked out another roof, but based on the fact that he's doing this, I think he didn't find anything.

Nothing disturbed in this alley? Nothing weird? Nothing beyond the ordinary. Nobody sleeping in this alley? Anything weird? At the moment, no. Okay. Dorian, can you help us down? Sure.

First? Sure. Okay. Makeian, can you help us down? Sure. First? Sure. Okay. Make our way down. Tell them what Imogen told me. You regather the base of the back alley behind the Weary Way. All right. So not much.

We can either go down a super long tunnel of doom or go talk to somebody else? Did it look like he just jumped off of the roof? Or is there anything we could follow here on the ground? Well, there are these two drainage paths that he could have slid down, potentially. But to the front of the building. Right, the front sides of the building, right?

Yeah. Mm-hmm. Yeah. He did rent a room here. He was in the room. Do you think he rented the room that we were? Sure. I mean, someone had to rent the room, so we could go ask the proprietor

if they know who it was who rented the room. He wouldn't use a real name. I've heard crazier ideas. At least we would even have a fake name, which is better than no name. That's true. Or we could just go back to Eshteross. Hmm.

Feels like we either, oh, go ahead. I was going to say steal the logbook, or at least make a bit of a distraction while one of us takes a peek. Or we could ask him, if it doesn't work, then we steal the logbook. Or at least make a bit of a distraction while one of us takes a peek. Or we could ask him, if it doesn't work, then we steal the logbook. Yeah. Does no one bribe anymore?

Is that just a thing that fell out of fashion where you just bribe somebody? Oh. That's just, that, isn't that just the easiest way for everybody? You do have 200 extra gold. Why don't you show us how that works? Do I know?

SAM and LAURA laugh. Do I know Kamala? Do I know Kamala? Kamala, Kamala the Maven? I mean, not very well, but you've been a patron here before and probably gotten a scuffle or two in the past. Do I know?

I swear you guys were playing cards. Whether I'm hot or cold on this particular person's... Am I a nice sight or an ill omen to this person? They seem to appreciate a bit of boisterousness. And the Weary Way is known to be a little rough and tumble, especially this part of the Lantern Spire, so you're not on the Maven shit list. What room was that?

Where we just in? What was the? Oh, right. I would have totally remembered the number. We would have looked at the number straight through. I'll just say it's 10. 10. Sure. It's room 10. Would you like company? Or do you want to go alone? Let me try this alone. It's room 10. Would you like company? Or do you want to go alone?

Let me try this alone. Let's see what happens. All right, I'll be right back. I'm going to walk in, go straight to the bar. Okay, you can see that the Maven is currently in conversation with her patron and glances over as you approach and say, Hey there, can I get you something? Ah, Kamal, right?

Kamala. Kamala, Kamala. I'm normally really a little drunk when I'm here. I need a favor. So friends and I got into, well, I would say it was a scuffle, but it was more like somebody jumped us last night. It was not pretty, it did not go well. This person was staying in this establishment.

Huh. I was hoping that maybe, very quietly, I could just get a name and I could make sure that whatever conversation I have to have with this person, once I know who they are, happens far away from here. I'm sorry, I'll come back here in a minute. I got to have a conversation here. A stone of 10 gold over.

Honey, I'm extremely appreciative, but I run a very stern business here. Going to grab 10 more gold. It's a 20. Make a persuasion check with advantage for the second part of the round. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Come on, come on, come on, come on.

This is not my forte, so let's see how this goes. Sounds like fun. Oh wow! 17, which for me is amazing. Okay. That's amazing. Well, let's just say, depending on what room they were staying in, I might have some information.

I don't like other patrons being brought untoward violence. Might have been a dwarf. Might have been a bit of a problem in the last couple days. Right, we heard noises and there was some busted up furniture in that room last night. They hurt one of my people real bad.

Real bad. All right, yeah. I think I know the creep you're talking about. Weird looking fella. Yeah. All kind of pasty, clammy skin. Very pasty. Yeah, bribing! Yes! We're learning as they answer.

Dugger. Dugger. Dugger's the name. Wait, what was it? Dugger? Dugger. Dugger? That's all I got in the book here. I've been renting that room out for about a month now. Ooh.

Off and on. They're not there often, but they've been paying steady. Well, I should warn you. Digger. Digger. They were making a little noise about having a secret hideaway in there. I think they might've been stashing something

a little illegal. I don't know what, I'm not into that, clearly. But. I'm going to go ahead and have a look at that. Just letting you know, and I promise the next time I come here, I'm going to get so drunk that I pass out before I break anything.

Thank you. Appreciate your patience. Yes! You know, and I promise the next time I come here, I'm going to get so drunk that I pass out before I break anything. Thank you. Appreciate your patience. Yes! Goes and takes the bar towel and starts wiping the counter, and then sweeps the rest of the money off to the side into a pouch and keeps cleaning up.

I'm going to skip outside. Fucking got it! It worked. Yeah! We learned something here today. Oh, it's just, oh man. What happened? I did it, I was like, I put the money out, got the name, got a little bit of flavor to it.

How did you do it? What did you say? Just relive the whole moment. Yeah. I want to hear it. I don't know, I was really cool about it, though. I did have to, I doubled the money. I was really cool about it, though. I did have to, I doubled the money. I was really cool. Oh, cool, cool, cool.

That would have been really impressive to see. 20 gold. 20 gold. Did you get to do that, like, the cool push? I did, I did the second time. I did the push. It was really cool. Cool, cool.

That's nice. Ah, yeah. What'd you get? Ah, fuck. Hold on. Dugger, Dugger. Dugger! Dugger. Wait, don't say it so loud. Dugger. Dugger.

Yeah, apparently been staying there for a month on and off. Oh, wow. So I think he may be using that little tunnel to meet with these creepy, creepy, shadowy fucking things. If he was staying here on and off. On and off.

I wonder if he had other drop points in other rooms that he would rent at other taverns across Jusar. Maybe. And we know that he was compelling Danas to get stuff for him, right? Yes. This brumestone stuff. Yes. That stuff is serious.

That's no fucking around. So for the last month or so, he's been coordinating to get smuggling illegal brumestone powder or something, and then also coordinating with strange little creepy things. We don't know if there's any connection to the Ivory Syndicate for this yet, do we?

You do not. Okay. That would be a line of... Query and investigation. Yeah, that's, like, I just like this. This is a lot of intense shit, so. Well, it seems quite unlikely that Danas was their only source and contact. They must have others,

and this has to be a whole operation, right? That area that the textiles warehouse was in, that's a factory area, right? Or a warehouse area? It's an industrial space, yeah. Must have been some sort of important operation and important enough to kill Bertrand for it, if it was just petty theft or smuggling.

And Danas, they killed both of them. Your turn, Sam. Well, we could ask around about the name Dugger, or we could ask around about who might be interested in buying or selling Broomstone. Broomstone? Why would buying or selling Broomstone? Why would we be buying Broomstone? That's crazy.

Do they mine Broomstone here? Where do they find it? Yeah. I would say make a history check. Ooh. And... Oh, don't worry. Yeah, don't you, Dorian.

Don't cheer too loud. That would be an ocho, eight. Eight. Yeah. You're not that familiar with Brumestone. For most of you, the only thing you know is that Brumestone is carefully lotted and controlled by the Alsfarin Union. The Alsfarin Union? Mm-hmm.

Is it a guild out of Ank'Harel that is the only place that builds skyships in Exandria? The guild again? The Alsfarin Union. But you're uncertain about the sourcing. You don't recall or experience any, or come across any information about how the brumestone is gathered, where it's gathered,

how much there is. Like, you just know you've only really seen it as part of a skyship construction. Well, they must have union representatives here, right? Maybe if we go to the Ares Spire. I hate to say it. Oh, that's where they land, right? Maybe if we go to the Ares Spire. I hate to say it. Oh, that's where they land, right? Mm-hmm.

We've got a lot of loose ideas here, but it really feels like we're in over our heads. We could take this name to Lord Eshteross. Mm-hmm. I would think Eshteross is our best bet at the moment. He's seeing out of other little birdies out. Yeah. Maybe they found something by now.

All right. I think so. I have a good feeling about him. I don't mind taking him in confidence. He seems earnest and sad. Yeah, lonely, for sure. Yeah. Great baker. Pretty good.

The frosting. The frosting made a big difference. It made a big difference, yeah. I don't know, maybe see what leads he can throw our way, and then we keep our eyes and ears open for all these things that we're talking about we don't really know how to pursue. Yeah, maybe on the way back to Lord Esparos' place,

any taverns or inn we see, any inns, let's just go ask if Dugger's staying there. Okay. Not bad. Okay. So with a description and a name, you begin to journey back towards the Eshteross estate with the intent of seeing what threads can be plucked. And as you begin your journey that direction,

we're going to take a break. It is time for that. We'll be back here in a few minutes to see where this investigation leads. See you shortly. Ashton with the brow. Why, hello there. This is Critical Role's resident art dad,

also known as Liam O'Brien. We are continuously amazed at the artwork this community creates. Hello there. This is Critical Role's resident art dad, also known as Liam O'Brien. We are continuously amazed at the artwork this community creates. That's why each Thursday at 8 a.m. Pacific, we share a curated gallery of submitted fan art over on CritRole.com. If you'd like to submit your art for consideration, visit CritRole.com slash submit. And thank you to all of the incredible artists who share their talents with us week after week. And welcome back. So, friends, you have some leads.

Oh yeah, yeah, yeah. And you mentioned as you were heading off towards the Estros Manor estate, you were looking to possibly stop in a few places. Oh yeah, any taverns or inns we see along the way, just to go in and ask if, uh. Okay, yeah. Don't know if we can stay in there.

Well, the one that's closest to you is the Weary Way. Well, yes. We'll let that one out. Okay. I would say beyond that point, probably getting to the Core Spire. Along the way, the next one would be the Spire by Fire. Yeah.

How convenient. Which is the path you guys, you guys are jumping between these two spaces, between the two spires, and so you're just going to hit the same places often. Haven't been too much wandering throughout the city yet. But yeah, so who would like to helm the process of asking around? I haven't been too much wandering throughout the city yet. But yeah, so who would like to helm

the process of asking around? Who's good at this? Do we bribe again? I could go in. You're a charming sort, no? Are you? He's very charming. Can be, I suppose. Shall we go in together? You and I? Yeah.

I mean, I'm pretty good at knowing. I'm pretty good at talking. I'm pretty good at talking. You're pretty good at knowing? So should I be the talker? You could be the talker. I'm the talker, is that right? Sure. I'm scared immediately. Let's do it.

All right. You guys going in solo, or is everyone going in? It's up to you. I'll stay outside. I'm going to stay out. Maybe it's just less of a... Inspeculous. Hoo-hah. That's not what I meant.

I have to do. Sorry. Here? Sure. All right, so the two of you head into the Spire by Fire. How do you go about inquiring? Asking questions around, approaching? What do you do?

What do you normally do? Normally do? Well, don't you have people you talk to in these establishments? I don't spend a lot of time in taverns. We've been on the road for a long time. It's usually best to find someone who wants a little bit of coin.

What? But not necessarily a bribe, but people don't just give up information for free. All right, you talk to someone who wouldn't normally give up information for free, and I'll talk to the barkeep. We can split up. Sure, ask around.

Okay, sure. And I'll start very uncausally milling about the bar, like a bad patron. In his head, he's just going to hear, I can tell you're very good at talking to people. Thank you. Yeah. All righty. If you would like to,

go ahead and roll a persuasion check through general rabble-rousing throughout to see if you find somebody that might, as opposed to role-playing, talking to every patron in the bar. 10. 10, okay. Three.

So what information do you drop as you begin to ask around? I have to talk too loud. Oh! Oh, Dugger, you old dog. Can't believe you've jilted me again? Well, look around and see if it's the same. Make a perception check.

Hey, 18. Oh! 18. Finally! Come on. As you say the name Dugger, nobody seems to pay much mind, but you do see one scrappy, young-looking, this would be a tiefling with a dull blue-gray skin. Humanoid, but with these horns that curl

out of the front of the brow and off to the sides a bit. They have a messy brown hair that goes just past the ears and the shoulder. And they sit there, they look over at you with a glance of recognition, and then when they notice you looking, they just go back to their drink. I'll saunter over there and I'll swipe a half-drunk tankard off of a table

and walk up and be like, Hello, how are you doing this evening? Um, I'm okay. Okay, aren't we all? Are you by yourself tonight? Why are you asking? I'm new in town, just sightseeing, looking for some company.

You know how it is. Okay. Takes the sip. Slide it into the booth. So, you know, as I've been in town, I've been gambling a little bit, and a few nights ago, I met this dwarvish guy who was very funny and a little creepy when I first met him,

but we started playing cards, and then the next thing I knew. While he's doing this, I'm going to cast Detect Thoughts on this person. Okay. Ooh! Nice. Here we go.

Dump, dump, dump, dump, dump, dump, dump, dump, dump, dump. That is not a success. So the next thing I knew, I had worn a few hands, and then maybe I was a few cups too deep, and I turned around and think, gone, just gone. Jilted me on my bet. I'm not a local, but I know that's bad form. It was somewhere in a bar around here.

Have you ever heard of someone like that named Dugger, by any chance? Yeah, yeah, I know Dugger. Hi. I mean, he's always been an abrasive shit, but he was always down to gamble a bit and had a decent sense of humor, so... I haven't seen much of him as of late.

Oh. Which is for the best. You know, he's fallen into some tough times from the look of it. From the look of it? What do you mean? Well, he wasn't always this creepy, weird look. He's a fucking wasting away, pasty, damp look to him. I didn't know he looked like that.

Recently. This look, this pasty look, it's just something that you noticed quickly. Yeah, he just looked like a normal dwarf before that, and then, I don't know. So looking over you curiously. Make another persuasion check. Oh fuck.

Oh boy. I feel it going south. Am I catching anything? Am I catching anything at all? Baby boo, that's a one. Oh! Whoa! Oh, doody poo-poos.

You watch as, initially, this open physicality begins to tighten up a bit. He goes, yeah, he's just weird now. Probably, you know, maybe sick. Who knows? In your head, Dorian, you're just going to hear. Maybe ask him if he knows where he's been staying. With your powers, can I answer back?

I feel like I'm losing him. Just ask. Don't have a lot of coin. You don't happen to know where he's staying by any chance, do you? No, I haven't seen him around in quite a while. Are you sure? I'm going to slap my hand on top of his,

or theirs, on the tankard, and I'm going to cast Charm Person. Oh! Okay, he's pulling out of the fire. All of it. No! All or nothing, all or nothing. Here we go.

So that was, well, no, they roll. Oh yeah, yeah. Second throw on you. They failed. Oh! Yes! And so this immediately closed off. I mean, watch as you put your hand down and they begin to pull back. And then there's this moment where the pupils

dilate massively and then re-correct. And that intense look of like, get the fuck away from me becomes this bright smile. You know, I hate... And you're, like, even during this conversation, been reading up on this, too, initially, a lot of the thoughts were, who the fuck is this guy? Why are they asking?

The dog is a fucking weirdo. I barely, I've seen him in a while. What did he do? I'm not part of this. It was very much like a protective, I don't want to in a while. What did he do? I'm not part of this. It was very much like a protective, I don't want to get into trouble if he's in trouble type of scenario. And then as you begin to delve deeper, the spell takes effect and both of you,

he has an open book at this point. He just goes. Yeah, no, the transition started about six months ago, I'd say, you know. He was a carpenter years ago, but he closed up shop and he'd been making decent money for the past couple of years without his business, which means he's probably up to no good.

If I'm going to be honest, I think my guess is he's probably running with, I don't know, Syndicate seems to be a bit too out of his space. I'd say maybe the H'buck Corsairs is likely. The Syndicate seems to be a bit too out of its space. I'd say maybe the Hubak Corsairs is likely. Oh, what was that again? I missed that. I'm sorry it's so loud in here. The Hubak Corsairs. Oh, and who are they again?

They're a tough, up-and-coming crew of ruffians and thieves. I just wouldn't say competition to the syndicate, but they tend to focus on the Mahan and the shitty guild leaders and guildmongers, so power to them, I say. But let's steal from the rich and redistribute. How can I get in that way?

Right, we hate the rich, don't we? Ugh, horrible. SAM and LAURA and LAURA and SAM and LAURA and SAM So... Ugh, horrible. So well. Does he know where the guild is? Where the corsairs are staying? Are you saying that to me? Into your head, yes. Do you know where the,

you seem to know a lot, by the way. Well, I just pick up things here and there. I'm so sorry, remind me of your name again. Then gives you a squeeze of the hand as you have the hand on top. Janiyah. Janiyah. Janiyah, I'll remember that.

Whatever you did, Dorian, this is all you hear in your head. Whatever you did, it is fucking working. One last thing, one last thing, you've been so helpful. Yeah, yeah, of course, anything. Do you know of anything, a substance or something, that would make a man like that, living a normal life, sort of wither away?

Oh, there's plenty of substances that can do that to you. A person I used to run with years ago got heavy into the brown suit and just withered away. But you know, there's all sorts of things. Bad stuff you can get mixed up in and just, you know, takes over, rots you away. Right, right. I don't get involved in any of that stuff.

I got my preferred party favor. He points at the tankard. I'll cheers him. And while I'm cheersing him in my brain, I'm going, I'm running out of script. Is there anything else we want to know? Maybe if he knows if Dugger had any connection to Brimstone.

That's a really big stretch, but maybe. Brimstone, all right, all right. I'll try to work it in, I guess. He doesn't have to be subtle. He loves you right now. All right. Hey, what if I said one word to you? Ready? Guess what it is, guess what it is.

Yes. Broomstone. Okay, not what I was expecting. What is it? You're asking me? Am I getting it? I'm like, he knows nothing, right? He has no idea what the fuck we're doing.

Doria is totally blank. He's totally blank. He's got no idea. But it's just deeply invested. Yeah. Like, what's it mean? Is it, is that common? Is that a different language? Oh, it's primordial.

Oh. Yeah. Okay, okay. I'm empty. Do you want anything? How's your cup. Yeah. Okay, okay. I'm empty. Do you want anything? How's your cup? Yeah, fill me up. All right, I'll be right back. So pretty. How lovely.

Masterclass. Bloomstone. I say we get out while we can. Before they notice. Sure, let's go back. I mean, unless it seemed like we were running them dry. That was about it for me. Yeah. All right.

No, no, just ghost. Just ghost. Oh, no, no, no, no. Just ghost. Wait, wait, wait. He grabs his drink and begins following after. Where are you going? Oh, my. We'll be back. We'll be, I'll be, we'll be,

I will be back, I will be back. That's a promise. Okay, well, you know it, finally. Oh. Bye. Okay, well, you know it'll find me. Oh. Bye! Perfect. Oh my god. Hip corn.

Going to end so poorly so soon. He's going to be pissed. Yeah. Well, that seemed like a lot of really good information. Oh, I did not think that would work. Herb bought Corsairs and guild leaders, I don't know why that's all up there. Brown soot is some sort of drug, I think. Yeah, it's a drug or something

that could turn you into a creepy person. Mm-hmm. Something with germ. Do you remember? You were in my brain. My brain, your brain is better than mine. J'ni'ah? J'ni'ah. That's right. Should we go tell the others what we found out?

Sure. All right. Yeah, we'll fill them all in on the way to Lord Eshteross' place. Eshteross. Eshteross. Eshteross. All righty. You return to Eshteross' estate,

are brought into his study once more, and you can see in the side of the room, though a bit macabre, you can see there is a blanket, and it looks like Sir Bertrand is being held and cared, having passed. But he's not going to do anything with the body without your approval or permission.

He's just keeping watch. Okay. I just roll over and touch Bertrand's head and that's it, just to feel his brow. You got it. Are there, DM question. Yes. Like traditional funeral

or like death rituals here in Jrusar that we would know about? This is inside the study atmosphere. I mean, it depends on where you're from and who you follow. The various deities have different funeral rites, different cultures have different interpretations have different funeral rites, different cultures have different interpretations

of those funeral rites. Within Jrusar, which is very much, it's one of the two major open skyship nexuses in Marquet between Jrusar and Ank'Harel, everywhere else. And the few other sky ports in this continent are pretty closed off. So because of that, they're both cultural mixing pots. And this place probably even more than Anqueril.

So there's no definitive or singular rite that comes to mind. I mean, he's got this pin on him. You know, he talked about Vox Machina. Maybe we can send him back to Tal'Dorei where he said he was from? Yeah, to his friends. Lord Eshteross, is it possible to send a body?

He's currently like, he has a small stack of books up to the side that he hasn't touched in a little bit, and he's going over some notes against his glasses. He goes, If you think that would be best, we can certainly arrange for him to be transported, yes. I wish there was a way we could tell them that he's coming.

We don't even know where to send it or who to send it to. Maybe it's easier to just send his personal effects back, but we still would need somewhere to send. It's easier to just send his personal effects back, but we still would need somewhere to send. Well, if that pin on his chest is legit, there are a few places to send him. You could send him to, if you have the means. The Prudaj estate does hold specifically a skyship I have at my disposal. Or I will when it returns, but

it can be arranged. I could either send him to Whitestone. Or to Zephra. Both back in Tal'Dorei. Hmm. Is Zephra where you're from? Mm-hmm. Why? And you think he would,

someone there would care for the body? Well, the symbol on his chest. You know, he's a colorful guy. I didn't know what to make of it, but he's wearing a symbol connected to people in Whitestone and where I'm from. What if it's a fake? Bertrand did like to tell tall tales.

That's what I'm saying. But it's either that or we decide and do something here. I don't know either. I don't know him. I don't think any of us know him well enough to know what his wishes would be. Well, he was quite the adventure. I mean, we're going to speak with the dead.

Just kidding. If you are inquiring about the legitimacy of his claims, as I do with everyone I do business with, I look to see what their history might have. Not terribly deep for each of you so far. Mostly. But I can say that there was a thread of truth, the extent of which I'm uncertain,

but the paths have crossed before. So if it brings peace of mind, at the very least, I think he will be recognized. Well, Whitestone has always been a friend to the dead. Okay. Lots of tombs, he could have a proper burial, I mean. Well, that sounds nice. I don't know. Sure, Whitestone.

But like, dear Whitestone. But like, Dear Whitestone, here's a body. Hope you know what to do with it, sort of a thing? It's actually a really nice card. I would be very impressed. I would be honored to have that. Would it be like a card with a set up and a punchline inside? How do we know who it is?

I'll win it to you. She will ride it to Vianne to? No, if we're going to Whitestone, it would be to the Lord and Lady of Whitestone. We would, I guess, send a message saying that we have a wayward member of Vox Machina. Unless you think it would be better in Zephrah. Seems like you have a higher connection there.

That's true, although I don't know that it's better per se, but. I heard the person that's in charge of Zephra is not very powerful. She's a bitch. Easy. Easy, easy. I heard the person in charge of Whitestone

is way more powerful than the person in charge of Gemstone. That's just what I heard through the grapevine. This isn't even metagaming. I don't know what this is. We're inceptioning at this point. Please stop. Nosebleed. In this instance, I think Whitestone

is the way to go. I was going to say the same. If he truly is. Do you know these places, too? No, but we went to Zephrah with Orym. Oh. And I mean, I think they would know what to do with him there,

but I don't know if he has any connection there. What were you going to say? I don't know much about lords and ladies, but he is Sir Bertrand Bell, a knight. He would be known. That's true. That is true. Whitetail, too. I wonder if he was.

Sure. Was he a knight of Whitestone? Not what I heard of. He was, sure. Was he a Knight of Whitestone? I'm wired up. He deserves a knight's burial, regardless. I will have the papers written up. Oh, that's way better than me, right, man? Unless you would wish to. No, no, no, no. You are way better at this, I'm sure.

And when our skyship returns from its rounds, I will send him to friends. and when our skyship returns from its rounds, I will send him to friends. Other business. You've come here for other reasons, I assume? Yes. Yes. Yeah. I think that,

well, we're still really concerned about trouble coming back to bite all of us in the butt. Butt. Butt. Butt. We've discovered a name, a lead. Have you? Yes. You two know?

Well, we discovered that his name is Dugger. Dugger. Dugger? Yes, and? He used to be a commoner, a carpenter, and um. Much different than he is now. For the last six months, he's been wasting away, becoming darker, separating himself from people that he once knew.

Hmm. He was real creepy. So you continue to tell me. Yeah. Pasty and damn. But not in a good way. In a creepy way. He said that he had an association with the

huge, huge Corsairs. Yes. Do you have a particular opinion on that group of people? I do. Sure. To be honest, I have been wanting to try and reach out to them. Partially to get a read on their personnel

and their, well, stalwartness in the message that comes to my ears about their work. They seem to be driven against similar corruption in some ways as I am. And what they steal from what at least has come known to me is often gifted to the less fortunate of Drusar and the Wilds Beyond. Oh. is often gifted to the less fortunate of Jrusar and the Wilds Beyond.

Oh. Which I find amusing. And it gives me faith that perhaps they are not in the same league of misuse and abuse that other such individuals might be. But those are just the myths and tales I hear spread amongst the streets. I do not know what their true business

or how dark it may be. And you've not heard of this group being particularly violent before? Oh, there is violence where there is theft, but if they are bringing violence to the innocent, they are very good at keeping it hidden. Whereas the Syndicate seems to run with impunity. What I do know is the Syndicate and the Corsairs

are very much not allied. A lot of the violence that I have heard of has usually been when the two overlap, whether intentional or not. Well, I think we don't want to wait. For our lives to be over. Oh god, lots are coming. That's my point exactly. For trouble to come find us.

Agreed. We'd rather to figure it out proactively. I think we all understand that we need your help to do that. On what abuse of us? Who do you know? Who are you trying to contact? I have not been trying to contact, but I have had emissaries I have hired to look into it. Either they did not return because the amount I offered

was not worth the work or danger they perceived, perhaps, or they were paid off to not return, because when a powerful lord, such as myself, an individual of means, is not perceived in the best light by their values, I cannot blame them for wanting to not reciprocate my attempts at communication. Do you know where the Corsairs are located?

I do not. because if I did, surely so would their enemies. But my profile is much higher than yours. And the people I have to work with at times are strange bedfellows with perhaps not hearts as strong as yours. I can continue to look and ask around, but I cannot say I would fare any better with my distant means than you would directly,

but I will try. Might, I don't know, might not be a good idea for you to continue to reach out in that way. If they are made up of desperate people or on the fringes of society, then maybe we should start at the fringes of society. Fair enough. If you do find any individual

who belongs to the Corsairs, be careful. And... if somehow, in the future, you gain the trust or respect of one. Maybe speak well of me. I'm eager to expand the influence of what Goda were trying to do.

It is difficult to do so from inside this house. So the more like-minded individuals I can connect with, the better. Aside from just wandering around and asking at taverns, is there any specific place you think we should start our asking around? If indeed you are looking for where the Riffraff specific place you think we should start our asking around? If indeed you are looking for where the Riffraff would congregate,

well, there is the Hollow. The who? The how? The Hollow. The Fon'C Hollow. Oh yeah, yeah, yeah. We know that place. There is also Elder's Post. Elder's Post.

Is that just a guild hall or something? It is a collection of tunnels deep within the Lantern Spire where many individuals go and set up shop where many individuals go and set up shop or homesteads temporarily. It's a bit shifty. How deep is it?

That's where we were, right? The Lantern Spire? Mm-hmm. How deep down does it go? Not terribly deep. The tunnels that lead to it are surface level and maybe 100 feet or so below that if you follow the curvatures, but. Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.

Yeah. It's mostly shopping. So Fancy Hollow, Elder's Post. Any place else, or is that about it? I would say begin there. Those are the, well, if you want to go to the steps of Dusar outside of the city, that is where you will find a whole different spectrum of individuals.

Those who have either wished to free themselves of the confines and chains of the city's business-based prerogatives, or the outcasts who are no longer allowed within the city's halls. That's what we passed through on the way, the way into town. Mm-hmm. Yeah, they didn't seem very friendly to roamers.

No. All right, it's been a big help, thank you. Of course. Lemno, please, stay together until this is sorted out. Can I do an insight check? Ooh, thank you. To which regard?

Just if he's being sincere in his concern for us. You may, go ahead and make a... Jeez. That was almost a nature. Yeah, I was distracted by this, and I got a one. Oh, I thought you were a professional. My dice was distracted by that. His general nature is pretty guarded,

and it's hard to see past his walled exterior. His face gives very little micro emotion. All right. Lord Eshteross, I have one question that's been bothering me. This Dugger person who killed our friend and killed your associate, stole from you,

extorted an innocent person, would they really be a part of a group that steals from the rich and gives to the poor? Something doesn't fit for me. It is not for me, either. It could be that they're not. It could be that their intent is kept secret from Associates.

It could be they are no longer a part of it. There are many possibilities, but this information is new to me as well. Thank you. Of course. I actually have a question that maybe you might know. Yes. Do you happen to know what they mine

in the Smolder Spire? They mine a whole number of things. Precious metals, fuels for lanterns and oils. Anything that can be mined from the grounds of Exandria or pulled from the spire underneath. One word. Brimestone? No, no, no.

Brumestone is taken far off from here. Oh. I do not know where. That is kept by the Asfaren Union directly and guarded jealously for that reason, and so on. That makes sense. Do you know if there's any mining going on on this spire? In the Core Spire?

I'm certain there isn't small scales, but the richest spire when it comes to minerals and materials is the small dealer. There are operations here and there, but. Insight check. Go for it. Sure.

Sure. Is he telling us the truth ever? Who knows? 19. Ooh. Oh. She knows, Oh fuck. That's how you ask about Brumestone, right?

Are you doing a whisper? You have to make that face when you ask about Brumestone. Everybody. Oh yeah. Yeah, from now on. Everybody. Descent. Descent, Legends in the Dark

is a wonderful fantasy game from Fantasy Flight. It's actually really good. It is. Yeah. That box that I held up. It's our copy. It belongs really good. It is. Yeah. That box that I held up. It's our copy. It belongs to Matt and Marisha. Yeah. They use it.

Yeah, don't drop it. I didn't drop it. I build all the terrain carefully. The minis are bananas. Seriously. They're like mini bananas? Seriously? Yeah. Just like a Game of Outs.

I got to watch a game about bananas. Descending into a pit of bananas. It was bananas. Oh. hmm. Is it interesting? Is it good? I think he's telling the truth. Okay. Are we still in the house?

I'm telling you that we are. Yeah, we're still in the house. Oh yeah, of course. That's why I'm asking you in your head. What time of day is it right now? It's midday, though the stars are up, and this is more for the fire effect and the darker interior, but yeah.

All right. Pretty well. Good luck. And if I learn of anything evil. Before we depart, I'm sorry. I just feel like, I just feel like we should say goodbye to Mr. Bell. You know, I mean, I assume you're going to wrap him up or something, or put him away, or?

No, what you say is true. If you would like to take a moment and give your regards to the deceased before I ensure his final destination. I've said my goodbyes already. Well, I'll say something, then I'll just go over next to him and say, Mr. Bell, we didn't know you very long, but,

and you sort of, it felt like you were fibbing a lot to us, but, you know, you brought us all together and that's important. That's something positive. And it seemed like you were out to do good in the world, You know, you brought us all together and that's important. That's something positive. It seemed like you were out to do good in the world, which is also positive. So for that, I think we just say thank you.

They say that the word goodbye is the hardest word to say, but it's not. It's Worcestershire. That's the hardest word to say, but it's not. It's Worcestershire. That's the hardest word to say. It's okay, please don't have to say that sometimes. So goodbye, and we'll always remember you. That was beautiful. That was lovely. Lovely.

I'm going to go over to Bertrand, put my hand on him, I'm going to go over to Bertrand, put my hand on him, take out my shears and just cut a few chunks of his hair off. Tuck it away. It's a very useful substance, hair. It can be used for many things. No, it's good. It's a part useful substance, hair. It can be used for many things. No, it's good. It's a part of him.

Yeah, and it's a part of him, yes. Yes. I'll follow Laudna and I'll, with my hand on your shoulder, just lean in and I'll just say, I'm still working on your song. Well, I'll walk over and pull out some extra ribbon,

tie it around his wrist with a... an oleander flower. Hopping in. Oh, birdie. Listen, I really didn't trust you. And I heard that you didn't like jazz. And jazz is chaos. And I just, I don't know how you can't love it.

But you're an old boy, and... Maybe wherever you have gone, you have learned to love jazz. I lean over and kiss him on the forehead. Fine. Hey, so... I guess in just a couple of days, you will have been gone longer than I knew you. Thanks for the job. days, you will have been gone longer than I knew you.

Thanks for the job. Ormis looks up. Mister. Do you want to say anything? Good boy. That was so sweet. Lord Eshteroth looks around and goes, You'll be taken care of. Good luck.

He really did bring us all together. He did. You are very right, man. Yeah. Yeah. That's quite wonderful. It was a gift. It is. Literally the only thing he did,

literally, that was it. He was present in some of our skirmishes. Can you prove it? He stabbed you? He stabbed you? Well, I stabbed him. That is being involved in the skirmish. He threw a glass at you?

He did, he did. He was feisty. He threw a glass at you. He did, he did. I saw him. He was feisty. He bought you all drinks, reluctantly. I wonder what happened to that tab. And rooms, he gave you rooms. He's also the reason that we're all here now, instead of just bouncing off each other and heading on our own separate ways.

I actually don't know, Mr. Esros, if our tab was paid for, I actually don't know, Mr. Esros, if our tab was paid for, because Bertrand put everything on his tab, so. because Bertrand put everything on his tab, so. He left a mountain of debt, there's no doubt. Well, they are more than welcome to find him and make him pay. That's right. All right, we'll get out of your hand. All right.

I give Bertrand one final pat on his, I don't know, his feet, maybe. Perfect. All right, with that, Evelyn sees you out of the estate. Orym wants them all all fall out of the room, but he doesn't leave. Okay.

Oh. Lord Eshteross, may I trouble you for a private word? Sure. I've come a very long way, and I'm looking for someone. Those people on Whitestone, those people in Zephra, people in Zephra, are relying on me to figure a few things out,

and I'm looking for someone. And you seem to know a lot of people here, and I've been hesitant to ask. Have you ever worked with anyone named Brescio? Ashad Brescio? You mind to sum as the anger? You are an agent of the Ashari, then? Yes, sir.

To have been sent by Zephrah. I have not worked with this bodyguard, but I know of them, and I know the Mahon house that they were assigned. Mahon house. And I assume your business has to do with the attack on the family. I think so, no. I assume your business has to do with the attack on the family. I think so, yes.

Hmm. What is it you wish with this anger? What happened with the family here is reminiscent to something that happened from where I come from. And I'm just here to see if there's a connection. Very well.

Well, my connections to the Mahon House Lumis, which was the target of the attack, are somewhat strained, but not impossible. I'll begin seeing what I can do. From what I understand, this Roshad you speak of is still recovering from his wounds. I will inquire, and should you stay safe enough,

perhaps I can arrange something. That is deeply appreciated, and I don't need to rush it. We have our hands full here. You do as well, but it's deeply appreciated both by me and the Ashari as well. Hmm.

Well, it is always good to hold tighter to your allies, new and old. Especially as days grow darker. Well, thank you. I don't want to leave them waiting. I'll head out. Of course. On the way out, I stop by Bertram and thumb the pendant on his lapel.

Safe journey, you sly old fox. I head out. All right. We're Chestershire. We're Chesters? Worcestershire. Worcestershire. Worcestershire. Worcestershire. Worcestershire. You're right. We're Chestershire. We're Chesters? Worcestershire. Worcestershire. Worcestershire. Worcestershire.

Worcestershire. You're right. I mean, it's spelled so differently than the way that you actually say it. Worcestershire. Yeah. Nailed it. Nailed it, hashtag nailed it. Directly for the Corsairs,

it's always been through an intermediary. I wouldn't actually have a direct contact with that. You would not. I would have to go through my normal system of book. For the similar reasons that, you know. I'm not a member of anything. Exactly. In fact, what you do know,

all the speak of the Corsairs has been from those who have been arrested and never seen again, or just whispers in the streets. They're considered a mythological faction of only the recent years. They're not a large, long-time installation here in the city. But yeah, they're spoken of in a very Robin Hood sense.

Some folks are like, well, they're here to make change. And some folks are like, I don't trust anyone who's going to use Break the Law to help us. There are people who are like, what is a law anyway? What is law? What is break? What does the mean, really? Exactly. So there's a lot of discussion. There's a lot of theory, but it's very much

a thing whispered in tavern rooms and in excited conversation. I'm sure down where I live, too. Yeah. I'm going to try and corral Fearne a little bit while we're waiting for Orym to come out. What's up? Do you think he's talking to Lord Eshteross?

I think he is. And I think it might be our best bet in finding out some information. I think so, too. Mom knows what he's doing, I trust him. I do, too. I do, too. We'll see what he says later.

Okay. Having reconvened, the city is yours. What would you like to do? So much, so much. So much. We're still selling the replacement coin. No, it's fine. It's really not, it's fine.

I've seen them hold grudges for months. It's got to happen. Slowly, slowly taking their revenge in subtle ways that you're not even aware of at the time they happen. All right, I'll sleep with one eye open. Oh, you best have both eyes open. Three, if you have them.

Do you have? You don't, because you dropped it. Oh. What do you think? Start at the Elder's Post? Oh yeah, so Elder's Post is tunnels. The thing is, Ashton is familiar with the Hollow. I live in the Hollow. We could go there.

I mean, we probably would know more folks there and it would be less dangerous. That's a quick jaunt. And also. Elder's Post has tunnels, which seems pretty convenient. Pretty convenient. Maybe somebody in the Hollow will know about it. They're technically both underground.

Oh. It's a thing that happens here a lot when you have these big mountains and you put enough stuff on the top of them that there's nowhere to go but in. So a lot of stuff gets built inside. All right. A lot of stuff that doesn't really fucking matter.

We can go hit up my people real quick and then jaunt over to something a little more, and I do stress this, a little more fucking dangerous. So. Sounds like a good idea to me. I mean, I know we want to find answers, but we also don't want to stumble blindly into the den. So we should start with what we know.

You should also figure out where the two of us live so that if you need to find us or crash somewhere that's off the radar, you know where to go. Are we going to stay at Eshteross' place for now? This is, things can happen. Sure, sure, sure. Better that we know than we don't know. Sure. And better to have

a second location. You always should have a second location to go to, just in case. When we first met, didn't you say something about, so much has happened, a market, somewhere we could shop? Markets are always good places for information. Well, that will be stop two.

So yeah. I'm looking forward to seeing what you think of the next of the place we go after this. Let's go down into the Crook House. Okay. So you follow, and for many of you, this is your first time entering the depths of the Core Spire.

The center of it, which is largely hollowed out into a downward wide tunnel that as you're led through walkways and it drops below, you can see just endless paths of scaffolding and ladders and stairs made of rickety wood and whatever else materials can be found and roped together to create platforms

and means of climbing down. Within, it is an odd vertical tent and cave city of all people, artists and castoffs, to be forgotten, to people who prefer to live outside of the light and outside of the law to a certain extent and just worry about themselves.

It is just a wonderful patchwork of odd people that either society has pushed away or they themselves have pushed themselves out of society. No one gives you an odd glance because they're used to it, but as you begin to walk through and following Ashton's guidance, head down a number of levels of platforms until you come to the outside of this

darker building front built into the side of the rock edge of this open, descending cavern. There is, you can see a couple of windows put with some very colorful, bright purple drapery that is pulled along the front of one side and a door that, as far as you can tell, looks like it might function on the hinges, if not occasionally just lean open at the angle

that the whole front's leaning towards. It's very, very interesting. Are there a lot of people down here? Is it very crowded, or is it? It's not crowded. Most folks stay to their spaces, unless they're having to travel in and out. As such, at any given point in time,

you can see a few dozen people climbing at different levels and hear shouts being shouted across. You can see all manner of long banners and ropes and bits of just aberrant material that people are using to decorate the interior of this otherwise lightless space that has all manner of magical and oil lanterns and things that give these little beats of light,

but also create these long shadows that cast like spider webs across the stone walls. It is unlike anything you've experienced here in the city, let alone probably elsewhere. Weirdly welcoming as much as it is oddly terrifying and mysterious. I'm going to take everyone back to my little chunk of where FCG and I have been crashing

for the last few months. As you step into the chamber, the first thing you hear is what sounds like metal pushing onto metal, and a faint grinding sound. As you, and the rest of you, walk in, you can see this odd makeshift workbench that looks like it was once a desk that has since been plated with different shades of semi-rusted iron

over the top of it and a whole manner of tools that are currently affixed to a leather tool belt that has been bolted into the wall above it. Within this chair, you see a humanoid figure, human specifically, currently facing away from you and is in the process of doing some sort of business before they stop, place one of the tools into one of the slips in the wall,

turn around, and you see them smile. They're smooth beige skin, large glasses, and this cap that's on right now that has a heavy set of magnifying glasses that are placed right in front that make their eyes massive as soon as they spin. Oh, I didn't realize we had guests. Hey, everybody, they're Milo.

Hi, Milo. This is Milo. Milo, this is everybody. I told you that I was doing some work with some people. Yeah, are these the people? These are the some people. Hi, people. Hi. I'm Milo. Milo, this is everybody. You know, I told you that I was doing some work with some people. Yeah, are these the people? These are the some people. Hi, people. Hi. I'm Milo. Welcome to the Crook House.

They might be wondering. How you doing? You fixing something cool? Trying. I'm just experimenting with some smaller critter recreations. Figure, you know, if we're going to have enough rats here, let's go make him some friends that can do some interesting things.

Hey, that sounds great. You're making rat friends? More or less. Do you know that, Pate? Who are you? Oh, I'm sorry. I'm Laudna, and this is Pate DeRollo. Nice to meet you. Your friends are so cool, right?

I know, I don't know how it took this long. They come forward immediately and look at it. That's not entirely a rat, that's a few things. Yes, that is accurate. I can do that, right? It doesn't have to. Yeah, you can mix and match. What else?

I mean, that's the fun in life, right? That is delightfully fucked up. I'm excited. Screw the rats. I want to make a bunch of things in one. Yeah. Okay, okay, okay. Always an inspiration. You always are.

Just wanted to make sure that you saw these faces just so, you know, if you see them wandering around, if something goes wrong, you know that these are, they're allowed to be going through my shit. They go ahead and take their goggles and put them back on and walk up first, straight to you, Orym, and you just see these bright eyes glancing over you.

Hi. They don't really respond, they just continue to scan. Right? There's a sense of photo memorization and taking in a person's stance. You're being read thoroughly by a person in a matter of seconds. All right.

Oh, you're tall. That tickles. I don't know how, but sure. It really does tickle. Gives a pass over Laudna, right? And you're a fancy boy. Hello. You got people for money.

Yeah. Not for money. Yeah. Not for long. All right, well, great, welcome. Find a chair. If you can't find a chair, make one. Steal one, I don't care. I'm going to get back to work. Got two things for you before you go.

I'm not going, I'm back to, yeah, what? Be on the lookout. We apparently have run into some problems with some guy, it's a dwarf named Dugger. I don't know if that name rings a bell. I don't know a Dugger. Also. Nope. You need to get ahold of somebody from the Corsairs.

I don't know. I knew you were going to make that. What are you getting mixed in with? Ashton, what? Come on. Some shit's been going down. It's why I'm going to be not here for a few days, maybe longer. I'm going to keep my shit out of your shit.

Your fucking quote is, keep your head down. Like, what the? Well, the head got up and the head got hit, and now we've got some fucking problems. Yeah, apparently you took quite a hit on it. Hey, look, all I'm saying is, if you're going to get involved with stuff, don't bring it back here, please.

That's why I'm getting out. It's just, I know you know everybody, so you must know somebody. If you know somebody, figure out a way of letting them know that I'm looking without letting them know that you know that I'm looking, so you don't get in trouble with it. There's got to be a middleman somewhere who can do this.

The only person I could think of would probably be Advik. You know Advik. I do. Thanks, Advik. You know Advik. I do. Who's Advik? Tell us everything. No. That's a whole other thing that we will get into. Who's Advik? Advik. That's a problem. We'll get there.

Okay. Advik. That's, uh... No, no, I get it, I get it. I'll be back with money. All right, all right. Well, pleasure I get it. I'll be back with money. All right, all right. Well, pleasure to meet you. Don't be trouble. Bye.

And they turn back around and get back to work. Okay, that's something. That is something. Let's try... So that's good. That's a wheel in motion. Let's... Let's try Advik?

Let's try, let's actually, let's go somewhere else first. I think that might be the best way to do things. In your head, you hear, who's Advik? I'll get to it. No avoiding the question. I'll fucking get to it. God fucking damn it, that feels really weird.

Detect Ops. Ah! See the people around it, don't want to get you back now. Yeah, you know what? So, do you know we're going to Eldritch Post anyway? Fuck it, okay. Oh. Fuck it what? Fuck it what?

What are we fucking? What are we fucking? Oh yeah. Advik. Advik. You're fucking Advik? What's happening? Never fucked an Advik before. You look like many years. Advik. Advik. You're fucking Advik? What's happening? Never fucked an Advik before. You look like you fucked an Advik.

That's weird. Sorry, it's too weird. Is Advik near here? No, they're in... They're in the Elder's Post or something? He's in Elder's Post, probably. Maybe, possibly. Oh, there you go. Okay.

It's going to be weird. Okay, that's cool. Why is it going to be weird? Please. Milo, that's cool. Why is it going to be weird? Please. Milo, that turning around, this is the shoulder. You can also ask Effid. Effid. Effid.

In Milo's head. Who's Effid? What the fuck? Effid is not trustworthy. I can't get into it. All right, I'm just going to. Okay, Advik it is. Advik's going to be a little weird.

They're a little... I don't know if it's somewhere. You might like trying to clean their ear. Yeah. Effid, fuck you for Effid. Okay. Just tell us now. Why are you being so weird? Well, people have interesting...

I have a lot of relationships in this town, and some are better than others, and some are okay, and sometimes I don't really remember where they stand, and we find out. Oh. So. That's exciting. So you potentially have beef with Advik.

Or is it like a kissing relationship? They potentially have beef with me. Did you kiss them? Did you kiss the beef? My god, I hope not. Are you too upset to do this? Is this going to cause you pain? I was just hoping this was going to be easy.

This is okay, this is okay. Do you need help? Do you need us to do the talking? Are you all right? We'll see how it goes. You know what? I'm excited to bring everybody to Elder's Post. Let's go see somewhere really interesting,

see some good shopping. Don't get your shit stolen, okay? Right. Okay. I don't have my shit anymore, because it was lost. I'm just messing with you. I'm messing with you. It's all right, I deserve that.

No, you don't. I'm being silly. I did what I thought was the right thing to do, but it was clearly the wrong thing to do. Listen, of all the cities in the world, generosity is the capital of kindness. I'm still not used to the fact that you are shiny and chrome. It's so...

I've never met anyone like you, let alone the fact to offend someone like you. You haven't offended me. No. I'm just poking you. Are you sure? Yes, it's fine. Can I try to pick you up? I don't see why not. Do it.

How heavy are you? I'm falling apart! How heavy are you? I don't know how heavy I am. I never weighed myself. Do you want to try and pick him up? Yeah. Good roll strength check.

I'm so strong. Minus two, nine. You get him a few inches off the ground, but you are fairly dense. I mean, you are constructed of some sort of collection of metallic alloys, and you are very heavy. You weigh twice as much as you look like you should. Like a kettlebell.

Yeah, you're very heavy. What do we do? We're going to go in the kitchen. But you're strangely familiar to me. Oh? I don't know. Just my skin or my body or? I don't know. I just, I like it.

Well, feel free to pick me up whenever you wish. Well, I don't think I can, but I clearly am not strong enough. Or just put your arms around me or whatever. Okay. Okay. Okay. Maybe, well, I wonder if I could pick you up. Let's try. Okay. Royal Strength check.

Yes. That's a 16. 16, yeah. Yep, full-on hydraulic lift. Just go under and pick me up. Oh, and I'll roll around a little with her. I'm going to put my dress over his head. Okay.

Whoa! I can't see! I can't see! Whoa, whoa, whoa! I can't see! You end up running into a piece of lower-level scaffolding, which then begins to shake, and somebody about 15 feet up is like, whoa, what?

You see it shake for a second before they have to grab on, and somebody about 15 feet up is like, Whoa, what? You see it shake for a second before they have to grab on and it eventually stops. That could be fun for later. Okay, okay. Suddenly Fearne is Esseking around the room. Yeah. We'll use that. Okay. All right.

Where you going? I think Advik's probably the chiller of those two options, so I think a trip to Elder's Post is. Okay. Yeah. All right. So. You travel at Ashton's behest,

beyond the Core Spire, back to the Lantern Spire, but as opposed to heading into the main streets that begin to wind their way towards the peak of the spire where the Prakash Pyre and the Dawnfather Temple that surrounds it currently sits. You head into this side alley that enters a carved archway within the rock itself and deep into the lightless interior. Lightless beyond the occasional lantern that is giving off a faint, pulsing, magical glow that is affixed to the ceiling about every 10 or so feet

to ensure that you at least can see shadows and make your way forward without bumping into things and feeling lost. Also, just to clarify, we've just gone from the Core Spire to the Lantern Spire for the 17th time. Yes, you guys have just been. Lots of walking. Yeah. Our eye-th time. Yes, you guys have just been. Lots of walking. Yeah, getting those, yeah,

you are burning some calories and earning up those frequent flyer miles. But this odd network of winding tunnels continues to burrow deeper into the rock, where you can see now dozens of carved abodes that line the edges of this much less precarious Fonzie Hollow. A similar visual, but as opposed to being within

this massive open cylinder space, it is just a winding path that occasionally branches off. But following Ashton's lead, you know where to go. You continue down this patterned line of pathways until you're met with the bustling sounds of raised voices in Marquesian, the music of buskers, and the smells of fresh, wet earth

mingling with steam and cooked goods. The tunnel then opens into a communal cavern keyhole space filled with carts, tents, standees, and platforms where all manner of everyday goods and collectibles are hawked. You can see tents of all colors. You can see strings of lights. You can see people playing music and shouting. A couple people on the far end that you can hear

about about to get into a fistfight. It is just a mingled mass of humanity. And it's a different flavor than what you're used to in the streets here in Jrusar. Well, I had no idea this was down here. Oh yeah. Every spire has an awful lot of its own flavor. This can be good.

Again, watch yourself. This gets very sketchy. Just going to keep my hand on my... Very sketchy. I'm going to tuck my coin purse into my belt. You got it. Okay. Yeah, that's a good idea. Same. Secure, secure.

Tuck it in. Looks good. Okay. All righty. If you see anything in the stall that you're interested in, let us know. We will stop, but we are heading to Ambik's place. Every time it sounds like something

from the microphone is shutting down. It's like your phone is on zero percent and it's like, oh, it does sound like that. Yeah, or like that coin you threw down the cavern. No one knows. No one knows. So. What are you doing here Yes! No words, no words. So.

What are you doing here in the Elder's Post? Well, I'm looking for a magical light source in this shopping area as we walk through. I am trying to stay away from the crowds as much as possible. Okay. I'll stick next to Imogen. You've got it. You move through and every person is in the process of going about their business.

A lot of them carry bags. Some people are bringing little hand carts down with them and they're gathering what looks like harvested fungus. You can see some people that have farmed vegetables that have signs that are like, from the Talon High, that have signs that are like, from the Talon Highlands, and some that are like, brought from the far north of the wilds.

People at least claim to bring a lot of goods from far outside of the city and mark up the prices for it. You're looking for Advik. Advik does not have a stationary space here in Elder's Post and is a wandering merchant of the space. You do recognize what you see as a tall male elf, You do recognize what you see as a tall male elf,

looks like in 30s or so. Dark, handsome figure that has this heavy gray pattern, thick wool cloak across the shoulders, completely shaved head, and just these... Kind of just looks like Lance Reddick, to be honest, as an elf. Cool.

Hmm. Bless him. You know it as Ifrid, also known as the Shadowbreaker. Oh, Ifrid. That's different. God, for fuck's sake. There's Ifrid and Ifrid.

Yeah. Ifrid. Ifrid, this is somebody totally different. Oh jeez. Go fuck right out. Hey! Hi. Hello. Hi. Weird running into you down here. This the fucking run. Hey! Hi. Hello. Hi.

Weird running into you down here. This is fucking crazy. What are you doing down here? What I always do, sell my wares. I have new friends, by the way. I've made friends. They're great. Do your friends have coin?

Couple of them do. Turns back in a stoic look. Just like the eyes catch you, this deep, resonant brown, and you just feel like, oh, this chill hit you, this powerful creature has taken an interest. Jingle, jingle, jingle, jingle. Keep going, keep going, down the line, down the line.

Just make your way all the way to the bottom of the line. He pulls open his cloak, and you see on the inside, there are all manner of pouches. Within each one are just colorful, wonderful-smelling baked goods. Oh! Look upon the work of the Shadow Baker. The Shadow Baker.

Ooh, he's got branding. I appreciate that. Shadow Breaker down, man. Shadow Breaker! Do they do anything magical, or? Try one. Only way to know. I couldn't possibly. I'm going to try your baked goods.

Depends on what you're looking for. Can you sample them for free? Make a persuasion check. Please, please. Uh-uh, seven. No. No. What do you recommend?

Gives you a very curious look. Can I throw my scarf around? The three silver reaches in and plucks out what looks to be this round cinnamon roll that has this odd purple icing around it with little dashes of bright orange. It looks like one of those weird Pop-Tart flavors that shouldn't be eaten, but it's still intriguing.

He's like, Do you trust me? No, I don't. But I'll do it anyway. Three silver. Are you marking the price up because I'm me? No, I'm marking the price where it should be because I'm good at what I do.

Yeah, that's fair. Mark off three silver. It smells sweet. You said it's got purple sprinkles or something? Mm-hmm. Ah. You taste this, it's very sweet. The scent and bit of flavor that you capture

has a blackberry, but with a bit of a citrus twist to it, even just a bit. That took you on a ride for just a brief touch of the tongue. Maybe this guy earned his name. It's very delicious. Mm. Holy shit. Really? Really good. You tried this?

Did she actually take a bite? She took a bite. I did. Give it a laugh good. You should try this. Should I actually take a bite? You did a bad? I did. Give it a laugh, now she'll try anything. Yeah, I was going to say, girl. Oh my god, that is so good. Is it really good? It's better than the carrot cake. I'm not telling you. It's way better. It's way better. The carrot cake is not even

a real baked good compared to this. You should not be a baker in the shadows. You should just get out there and tell everybody who you are. I want those that need what I have to offer to find me. I would like to find you. Can I have one, too? Which one would I get? Torian, try this.

Okay. He looks back and pulls out what looks to be this bear claw-type pastry, but it has a bright pink coloration that matches your hair color. I want it. As he's passing that, I'm going to try to- Three silver on that as well?

You're going to steal from him? Mm-mm. For you, three silver. All right. Thank you. Thank you. What were you saying? As he's passing it, I'm going to try to,

like, the bottom corner, I'm just going to try to grab one. Make a sleight of hand check. Come on. Come on. This is it. Nope. 15. 15, okay. What's your passive perception?

My passive perception is 11. Yeah, no, you're not. No, I don't. You pocket something. How much is this one? Can I just have it? I'll give you something in return. What will you give me? What do you want?

A ribbon, a poisonous flower, flaming monkey shit. You are a strange one. A poisonous flower I will take. Might be something to be done with that, perhaps a unique flavor. I give him a hemlock. Hmm.

Very well. And with that? You don't have any pies, do you? That seems like a big ask for your coat, but. I am not a maker of pies. I am a curator of fine pastries. Worse than I do with fresh cat grass. What kind of riffraff do you bring to me, Ashley?

Pies. They're new here, and. The lowest pastry. Guys, pie is better than cake. Shh, shh, shh. We're trying to do a thing here. This is Liam. It's going to ruin everything. The Shadow Baker, in Marquesian to you, goes,

Really? I wouldn't bring them if I wasn't desperate. In Marquesian, I wouldn't do it if I wasn't desperate. I absolutely need a baked good. I understand, I understand. And some information. All right, information, I can help you with that. And a baked good. need a baked good. I understand, I understand. And some information. All right, information, I can help you with that. And a baked good.

And a baked good? What information do you have? What are you paying? Those of you who don't speak Marquesian are not hearing any of this exchange. I'm clocking it. I'm clocking it. I...

Pretty words. I'm in bad with a dwarf named Dugger. I think that they have some dealings with the Corsairs and I need to get a hold of the Corsairs somehow. I need to get any kind of contact there because I'm pretty sure there's no way they could be in with what this guy's into. It's just some bad shit, all right?

Make a persuasion check. That goes well. It did last time, I suppose. Let's find out. Six. Six. Do you want to pay for this, or do you want me to just give you a bank code and some information? Are you going to tell me what it costs,

or am I going to have to make a guess? I like to know what my clients are offering before I can negotiate. Fuck. Pull out five gold. Snags it and says, Approach the dark feathered ice furrow called Heron within the Root Trader alcove

on the other side of the post. Tell them you come for the laughter. In your head, you hear in Marquesian, for the laughter? You see the eye twitch a little bit as it glances back at you. Oh. I appreciate your generosity.

I appreciate your friends not prying. Closes the cloak and walks away. You're amazing. Just vanishes into the crowd. What was that name again? Ah, Heron. Heron. Well, that definitely could have gone worse.

I feel like that was a win-win all the way across. You got some information. We do, we have a place to go, and it will probably be good. There's some information. We do, we have a place to go, and it will probably be good. There's easily an 80% chance that that is good information and not going to fuck us somehow, so that's pretty cool.

I felt pretty good about it. Anybody get a bad read? I don't know. I'm bad at that. I didn't do a particular read on him. I got distracted by the baked goods. I did as well. You seem like a cool fella. Uh, very intense.

Yeah, I got that. In the shadows, he rises. Let's, um... That's a lot. Fucker. Where is Boyardee? To the Root Trader Alcove? Let's find our way to the Root Trader Alcove. To talk to who?

Heron. Heron. All right. As they walk off, Orym to Dorian is like, the thing with pie is there's either fruit, which is fruit, or there's vegetables and meat. So you're getting a baked good, but you're also getting sustenance from it.

I think he was sensitive. I think technically pie is a pastry. Is it? I'm not sure. I'm no expert. Is pastry a pie? Is pastry a pie or is pie a pastry? We use pastry to like... Make a pie. Make a pie. Yeah, not all pies are pastries,

but not all pastries are pies. I mean, I'll eat cake. I don't know. Fuck. I'll eat it. Damn. I don't know. Damn. Question for the ages.

I'm a real weirdo. I've specifically not thought about it because of that guy, too. So I really have never given this the slightest bit of thought. I do love a good meat pie, so find any of those. I would consider that a pastry for the record. It's savory.

Savory? To the Root Trader alcove? Root Trader! At this point now, you guys have meandered through the crowd, carefully watching your coin purses. I dare you. Until you come to what, you've passed it before, though you've had no reason to stop here.

It's called the Root Traitor. You can see it's this odd, triangular crack in the rock that has been excavated and then a shop front has been built there with rickety wood that's been gathered and put together and then painted over. It gives it a unique earthy texture because it's ramshod nailed and then painted over. It gives it a unique earthy texture because it's ramshod nailed and then painted over.

But as soon as you approach, you can already smell a cavalcade of different herbs and fresh leaves and faunas and all manner of just, it's like a fantasy Sephora. It's a lot. And while the door is not entirely closed, it's slightly ajar, it doesn't look like it's very busy interior at the moment.

Approaching as you step through the door, it makes the classic creak sound, which gets the attention of two individuals within. But before we get there, as you enter inside, you can see along the walls, shelves that are lined with all manner of hanging plants and herbs that have been dried and gathered

and labeled with prices. Some of it appears to be just cooking spices. The front bit is for the standard caretakers, but you can see there are a number of other pieces that are labeled as Heartmoor Take, which, those of you who know, the Heartmoor is one of the lowest points in the wilds here in the jungle,

where a lot of the water and runoff creates this boggy center. It is known to create and give life to a lot of very rare medicinal plants, but because of that, it's also very carefully guarded and is a dangerous space anyway. So seeing some heartmour stuff, that's probably where they make a lot of their money.

Is it plants that come from that area or is it dirt that comes from that area? Well, the biome there gives life to a lot of these very specific plants that have generally heightened medicinal properties, some used in alchemy, some used in enchantment, some that are just utilized as a means of healing over time.

But you have not been there. You've just heard about it. Oh, I just meant on the shelf. It's like bottles that just are labeled that, or it's like? They're just loosely hanging and gathered and just dried and kept there. Oh, got it, like? They're just loosely hanging and gathered and dried and kept there. Oh, got it, okay. There isn't quite that level of refinement

within this establishment. Okay. There is no front table or bench. You can see there's a small stand and a high chair with a backless chair that's situated as a stand in front of it. It's a weird, open, inviting business presentation for as rough and slapped together a lot of it seems. The smell in here now has gone from that strong herbal scent

to now more of an earthy minty, almost, as you approach. And you can see now, there are two figures within here. One is holding court in the center of this. You see a female brass dragonborn, heavyset, big smile, who is dressed in a nice blouse and a long, tied-over skirt. A nice blouse and a long, tied-over skirt. Then off to the side, you can see a male Icefura,

which is the birdfolk here, all black feathers across. They have what looks to be a fold-over leather breastplate that is maybe not as designed for function as much as it is for style. They have their arms crossed and they look. They're having a bored conversation before you enter and both turn and look. The woman goes,

Hello, so good to see you. Welcome, welcome to the Root Trader. What can I get for you? What are you looking for? What is your interest? Am I doing this, or does somebody else want to do this? We're looking for a heron? Yeah. Heron, you have visitors.

And turns over and the bird's like, I don't know why. What do you want from me? We're here for the laughter. What was that? We've come for the laughter. We're here for the laughter. What was that? We've come for the laughter. We've come for the laughter. Both look at each other. Huh.

Well then. Follow me. You watch as the female dragonborn stands up and goes across the room and closes the door. Heron goes behind one of the large racks that you could see are holding all manner of dried brown and twisted and braided, it looks almost like jungle vines

that have been made into these long, almost leathery strips, takes the rack and shifts it to the side. And behind it, you can see there's a door that is normally tightly held. They go ahead and unlatch it and step inside. Yeah, all right, I'm doing this shit.

Fuck it. Before I go in, I'm going to send just a mental message out to the Shadow Baker. Okay. If he's still within range. Just a mental message out to the Shadow Baker. Okay. If he's still within range. What's the range on that? A few miles. Oh, yeah, yeah.

I'm going to say, I know you weren't a fan of my prying, but we do greatly appreciate your help. And I'll walk on in. Okay. As you all follow suit, if you follow suit. We do. Okay. It leads into a roughly hewn, tight,

spiral staircase that goes up into the rock. It is a little claustrophobic, and you, arms aside, pulling yourself up as you go. It is a unique challenge for you, Fresh Cut Grass. Oh. I need some help. I'm weak as hell. We should try to each take a hand.

I can literally just drag the handle of the hammer behind me so you have something like that. There you go. Slowly, the spiral staircase continues upward. Like a suitcase. Yeah, like a heavy carrier. Heron gets to a point where they stop and you see him put his hand up

and reaches and grabs something, turns a latch, and then a hatch opens up above, and he steps up and out into a chamber. Each of you exit thereafter, and you can see now you're in a very low-lit room. There's a table with a single low-wick lantern that's just like, it's that low-witness where it flicks because the fuel's about to go out.

Right into the lion's den. As, you know, Heron sits there, arms waiting for you all to get out, and is waving you in as you each step out and gather around by the hatches. Orym will be here in just a second. I think he went to go take a piss, but. Fair enough. He'll be coming on up.

There he is. Welcome back. So you have followed Heron Cool. into a hidden passageway. You got to go, you got to go. Yeah? Yeah. And now, up this spiral staircase, Heron opened a hatch.

We led you all up into this low-lit chamber with a single table and a low-wick lantern. You don't see walls anywhere, necessarily, right now. It's very low-lit and tight in this space. Who has darkvision, if anybody? Used to have something. Oh god. Really? None of us have it? This is the opposite of the last campaign.

I'm so happy. Goggles, lionettes. Ooh. There's a reason. I have a little lantern. I'm not doing that again. Kind of 100%. You can pull the lantern out if you want. I'm going to pull my little lantern out.

Yeah, I'll unsheathe my scimitar. I got 15 feet, I think. Yeah, moon touch scimitar. A little bit of light. As it fills up, you can now see vaguely, and you saw this when you first stepped in there, this room is about 50 feet by 40 or so feet. It's tall. It looks like it would be a storage space.

You can't make out much more detail because there's a lot of cluttered barrels and small boxes and things off to the side, but there are numerous figures in the room. Oh. Lining the wall. What's it smell like in here? It smells like sweat. It smells like ale.

It smells like mildewed wood. But as you, as Heron closes the hatch behind, as you all take in the space and start getting that nervousness curdling up inside your stomach, other lanterns begin to alight and underlight faces from below. You just see all these faces grinning in your direction, about a dozen or so and many more beyond them

that you can just see the outer outline of them, probably close to 30 or so individuals lying in the interior of this room in different spaces, and they've left the center of it open for you. Heron goes, These folks have come for the laughter. And steps aside and joins the edge, and you hear different laughs and chuckles

beginning to slowly spread throughout the room. You watch as one person strides forward from the group, sending his lantern along the ground and gingerly twirling a scimitar in his hand. You see a tall man of smooth, sepia brown skin sending his lantern along the ground and gingerly twirling a scimitar in his hand. You see a tall man of smooth sepia brown skin and striking light brown eyes and a tangled mop of dark roguish hair,

wearing a forest green leather chest plate and braces over a sleeveless Kurdish shirt of a very, very light beige color. Leans forward, Marquesian, towards those who can understand it, scimitar at the ready, pointing towards you. This, friends, is certainly not your luckiest of days. That's where we're going to go ahead and end.

Oh! No! No! Fuck the Tartar! Fuck straight into it. Damn pie fucker. Wow! Fucking pie fucker. He sent us up to Greek.

Are we in the Court of Owls right now? This is very Court of Owls. The low persuasion check plus the mind probing. Woo! That did not go well. That could have gone one of multiple ways and that put him in a, nope. Well, he didn't probe his mind.

Well, you know what I mean. Yeah. Yeah. I just tickled his gooch, that's all. Yeah. Fuck, fuck, shit, his gooch, that's all. Yeah, he's a little hoot. Fuck, fuck, shit, piss. You're the right height. I would vomit that on what they were saying out loud. 30. 30 people!

It looks like it, yeah. Starting in the room. So how did he? Go, go, go, go, why? I only did that after he already gave us the information. It's me. Shit. In general rule, I probably should point at people

and then other people should talk to them. It's a shame because that coin that I had paralyzes up to 30 people. Wow. In an exactly 40-foot square, food-free area. 40 by 50. Food for exactly 40 by 50.

It's wild. No save roll. Just happens. Yeah. So yeah, they're all clustered and 50. It's wild. No save roll. Just happens. Yeah. So yeah, they're all clustered over each other's shoulder. It's very much like all of a sudden you see a wall of individuals around you in a small personal arena space. Well, man, they're dorks.

They're just sitting up here looking spoopy, waiting for someone to come up and be spoopy. It's hard to do our story. We'll have a whole week to plan it over text. Yeah, yeah. I looked that coin up. It also lets you reroll ones, which is pretty cool. I hate it, and I'm glad you got rid of it.

All righty, we'll pick up there next week. Ah! Thank you all so much for watching. We love you very much, and is it Thursday yet? Yay! Justice for Bertrand! Bertrand! Never forget!

Oh, hey. Ashley Johnson here, and I sure do hope you're enjoying the adventure. Remember when you first found out about Critical Role? Was it through a friend or a family member or maybe even through the words of a stranger in the review section of our podcast? Many listeners find our show through word of mouth and recommendations.

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