Critical Role - C3E42 The City of Flowing Light

Episode Date: December 22, 2022

Bells Hells depart from their new allies and head to Yios, where they are quickly dazzled by the lake-top metropolis' glamor and gambling... Due to the improv nature of Critical Role and other RPG content on our channels, some themes and situations that occur in-game may be difficult for some to handle. If certain episodes or scenes become uncomfortable, we strongly suggest taking a break or skipping that particular episode.Your health and well-being is important to us and Psycom has a great list of international mental health resources, in case it’s useful: http://bit.ly/PsycomResources Watch Critical Role Campaign 3 live Thursdays at 7pm PT on https://twitch.tv/criticalrole and https://youtube.com/criticalrole. To join our live and moderated community chat, watch the broadcast on our Twitch channel. "It's Thursday Night (Critical Role Theme Song)" by Peter Habib and Sam RiegelOriginal Music by Omar Fadel and Hexany Audio"Welcome to Marquet" Art Theme by Colm McGuinnessAdditional Music by Universal Production Music, Epidemic Sounds, and 5 AlarmCharacter Art by Hannah Friederichs Twitch subscribers gain instant access to VODs of our shows like Critical Role, Exandria Unlimited, and 4-Sided Dive. But don't worry: Twitch broadcasts will be uploaded to YouTube about 36 hours after airing live, with audio-only podcast versions of select shows on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & Google Podcasts following a week after the initial air date. Twitch subscribers also gain access to our official custom emote set and subscriber badges and the ability to post links in Twitch chat!

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

through, beginning with our first sponsor, which is Cash App. Vince McSam? Not me, Matt! Since I tricked the Finger Ladies of Wrestling, the flow, into signing this eternal contract with me, I think I'll have them read the ad copy. Finger Blaster, be a dear and take care of it for me. I didn't agree to this. You did, though. Isn't this your signature? Fine. We're back! The Finger Championship Games, brought to you by Cash App, the easiest way to spend,

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Delightful, delightful. Now you, high five, was it? Make me a ham sandwich. I'd rather rip out my fingernails than do your bidding, delightful. Now you, high five, was it? Make me a ham sandwich. I'd rather rip out my fingernails than do your bidding, sir. Interesting lead on that line. That's what I went with. Deal with it.

And what about you? I'm the thumb. Yep. That's nice, but if you three don't abide by our deal, I'm afraid you'll never wrestle again. Fuck this. You can't enforce the contract if you're going to get knocked out. Let's give them a beatdown, girls. Finger magic.

With a thumb? Where'd he go? They seem mad. But it looks like they won't be pummeling me today. Ah, how wonderful. Relaxing by the fire, using Cash App. You know, you can download Cash App from the App Store or Google Play Store today to create your own Cash Tag. You can share your Cash Tag with friends and use Cash App to send payments with ease. How did he do that?

He can't stay away forever. And when he returns, we'll be ready. Yeah, we still need to work on that one. I know, it's pretty rough. High five. We'll see about that, ladies. This is a dog. Until then, this is the life, and that's money.

Matt, back to you. Oh, yeah, show, you're show. Thank you, Vince McSam. And our second sponsor for tonight is D&D Beyond. If you need an easy gift to give your favorite DM this year, or have a kobold who seems to have everything, give the gift of D&D with D&D Beyond. Sending a book has never been easier.

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There's no other next step, that's the end of our announcements. So that means it's time for us to jump into tonight's episode of Critical Role. Critical. Critical. It's Thursday night. One by one we climb until we reach the top. Two by two we fall.

Will we meet our end or meet our destiny? Hold your breath and roll How do you want to do this? It's Thursday night All ye critters come join us It's time to continue our flight There is magic and mystery Who knows what will happen in life But one thing's for sure

We never give up on the fight From the healer to the renegade We all share the same goal Adding more allies, taking more chances. Hold your breath and roll. You can certainly try. It's Thursday night. All ye critters come join us.

It's time to continue our flight. There is magic and mystery From darkness our friendship will rise But one thing's for sure We never give up on the fight Oh, get ready It's Thursday night Nigh! And welcome back, children. Adults. Professionals.

Dead serious. Last we left off, Bells Hells, heading southward on the continent of Marquet via the skyship that they received, bequeathed to them at the death of their dear friend, Lord Eryx Eshteross, went across the Hellcatch Valley, encountered a few challenges,

delved into the gloomed jungles of Aeshanador, where they encountered, after seeking them, the Gorgine, in hopes of helping Chetney not just learn more about his journey as a blood hunter, but to possibly find a way to curb this newfound, tethered, murderous urge brought on by the flares of Ruidus. After meeting the troop

and brought to their village of Berenak, you were told the safer route for the time schedule that you're on would be to go to the temple of the Savage Spirit of the Forest and beseech them for guidance and perhaps a trial. There, you went ahead and found this long-forgotten temple. You sat there in quiet reverie and meditation and whatever that looks like for Chetney,

if that really was very quiet, who knows. But while the rest of you watched, the spirit did indeed reach out to you just as the moonlight began to peek through, sourcelessly. Upon narrowing its attention on what it thought you were and could become, it possessed you. While the rest of the Gorgine watched,

Chetney, in his woven form, swelled to a massive size and attacked you. Unleashed, woven Chetney, a savage beast, smelling and hungry for blood, went after each and every one of you. As you battled, eventually managing to quell the beast within through a series of quick thinking, quick spells, and your friendship reaching beyond the boundaries

of this fanatic nature within. And of course, blocking the moonlight from the top of the chamber, which seemed to be the tether to this ability. Smart. His form diminished and his brain, his mind was recaptured. In those moments of consideration of the trial,

the Gorgine congratulated you. The spirits seemed to leave, and with this newfound experience, most of you stripped off your clothing and ran streaking into the moonlight. Okay. During which, as you were about to leave, you smelled the familiar scent of your late husband

and turned towards the statue that was in the center of this chamber. Through some strange gift of the Wild Mother and her connection to his life or yours, you were given the opportunity to give your blade over to her essence and then retrieved it, changed, improved. Holding this blade in your hand,

you rushed out to join the rest of your teammates into the evening chaos. That's where we left off. Is there anything in particular you want to do while you're streaking in the moonlight? Can you describe their flesh as they're running through the forest? You get a long rest.

After a night of restful sleep. A long rest for a long, never mind. We'll say after an evening of reverie and exhaustion, both hand in hand, eventually morning does come to greet you. The fog of the gloom forest around you, the smells of fungus and dew, rotting earth, fresh vegetation, and the possibility of a new morning greet you

as you all wake up, a bit tense, a bit bruised, but nevertheless, the day is yours. The rest of the Gorgine have already gathered their materials. You can see they leave one final offerings to the temple within. A few fruits, a few other coins,

whatever they want to gift onto the entity of the spirit within the temple. I feel like I'm in the rainforest having a hangover. I know. Yeah. But for you guys, what would you like to do? Oh, I feel so invigorated. I'm a brand new wolf.

It's the best. I'm 200 years younger all over again. You don't look it. That's fucked up. That's if you could have held the illusion for one second. Let me ride with it. It's okay. There are not even any mirrors around. Fox, actually.

Well, what do we do next? Do you feel like you have more control in the moment? Oh, not anymore. I guess I just have memory loss, you know? I'm just all senile now. Well, I thought that was it. Don't let her get to you, Chetney. This is an amazing achievement.

And she's probably just a little cranky because she was dead a couple days ago. Oh, that's true. I should have consideration. Yeah. Put myself in other people's shoes. You put yourself in other people's dead shoes. Yeah. FCG, that is so wise.

You're right, you're absolutely right. I'm sorry, Laudna. Do you want to try my shoes on? Hmm? I bet they look cute on you, actually. Do you have very small feet? No. I don't know, compared on you, actually. Do you have very small feet? No. I don't know, compared to you, I don't know.

I got some big feet. How big are your feet? Oh yeah. The curls on the shoes, that's where my toes go. Oh, those are actual toes? Yes, it took me 250 years to cultivate and grow. Wow, it's not a toenail, it's your actual... What a way to find out. Wow. Take off your shoes. No, they're your actual... What a way to find out. Wow.

Take off your shoes. No, they're already off. I just bury my toes in the dirt every time we stop. It's like running around in scuba fins. Oh god. Oh my god. No. Are you officially a member of the Gorgine now?

At this point, you hear the throat clearing from not too far from you. You see Annalyn is sitting up on one of the rocks and is currently finishing putting on the rest of her leather armor for the morning's journey. I mean, you've always been a member of the Orders, obviously. If you want to be a member of the Gorginae,

you'll maybe have to come back and train with us for more than a few days. But you're certainly an ally and on a path. It looks like the evening's trial was as effective as any of us could have hoped. I feel like it was less for you and more for your compatriots to know what they're dealing with.

Understand when someone carries something dark within them that they have a hard time fighting. Sometimes the responsibility lies on those who are closest to them to know how to guide them and work with the challenge they carry. So I'd say you all pass the trial. At least you will if you remember this and keep these lessons in mind.

Finishes strapping on her bracer and picks up the shortbow, grabs the hammer to the side as the handlin' looks over and gives a quick whistle. You watch as some of the other Berghinae who had escorted you begin to pull out of the nearby bushes. You see Minott has, looks to be

some sort of an odd forest rabbit, but it has these long curled horns that come out of the front of its mouth and its back legs have these heavy claws. He's hanging as he drags it behind. Is it a were-rabbit? It's not a were-rabbit, it's a breakfast rabbit. Throws it over to you.

Ah! I thought you'd catch it. I didn't, I'm sorry, I didn't. What the hell? I've... You hit your face. I feel like shit. I'm going to...

That was the point. I'm going to look like the one that catches things. You're right, that's on me. I'm going to... Minna just walks off into the forest, super embarrassed. Aw! It's the hot one. Thanks for the rabbit.

We're learning too many lessons too quickly. I think we should just take it a little more slowly this morning. I haven't eaten in 30 years. I should thank all of you. I've never had to be accountable to anybody, and it's a great feeling knowing that you all were looking out for me at the same time.

I won't let you down. I'll give it my best, I promise. Put it to use in a good way. But you know, when the wolf comes out, maybe just a little bit of a wide berth. Unless you're down with that. So it still can come out? Very down with it. Yeah, I mean, yeah.

I think it's something that I'll always have to just... I'll always be a wolf. And it'll always be a point where it could go too far. We'll keep you in check. Yeah. Should we have a code word or something when you get too hungry? Yes. Holy fuck, he's freaking out, is usually, I think.

A code word or some hand gestures. I'm game for either or. Like hitting you in the face? I'll hit him with a hammer. I meant to signal the rest of the team. That you're getting to do that, right? You're going to tell us? Well, I mean, when you feel like

you're losing yourself a little bit. Yeah, yeah. I'll figure something out. All right. If it starts getting a little ornery, it starts getting a little much, not the other kind of it, I'll give you a signal. So far, your signal has been tearing me open.

Yeah. Yeah, yeah. Can we get one earlier? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I'll get you a little, you know, when the theaters dim the lights. You ever been to the theater? Yeah, we all have. I wish we could go to a theater.

It was a great show. It was wonderful. I don't get it. You just sit in a big-ass room and watch people act stupid. I went to the theater just before we met you, actually. Yeah, I was waiting outside. You wouldn't catch me dead inside there. I didn't know you had a thing against theaters. I think we could plus ones with our memberships, actually,

if you ever want to give it a try. Oh, okay, we'll keep it in mind. Are you afraid of the theater? Afraid? No, I tend to fall asleep. Oh. Then I have a glottal stutter. I'm a very loud snorer.

Yeah, we know. I've been twice and kicked out twice. I mean, that's probably just your age. If you go to any matinee, it's like a whole scene. Seriously, and it feels like they're not even trying. Half the cast had changed. There are all these flyers in the pamphlet. I couldn't track anything.

You know, the sleepiness could just be the result of a boring show, you know, if we saw something really impressive. Riveting? Yeah, that would keep you awake. Hmm. Very loud. We'll see. Have a very discerning palate, Vafnir.

I can tell. I can tell. I wonder if I can send a message to the captain and have them bring the ship our direction. So that we don't have to waste as many days traveling back. Although we probably need to go up and get a little above the tree elevation, right? One of the towers?

Right, is this structure hidden away in the trees, or is there? We're on a cliffside, right? It's a cliffside that, there's a number of hills that punch up and the jungle moves with it. There is a minor clearing here, but there are a number of those pockets.

You would probably have to find some way to flag them down so they knew where to go. You can give them a basic direction and they can try and find you, but, you know, it isn't a very easy to spot location unless you have an idea of how to make it stand out. Can't you just go up and make a little flashbang in the sky?

Yeah, like a little fireworks display. Come to show? But we're a day away from them. They won't see it. Well, they could get here a lot faster than a day, right? But would they see it from where they're at? Like, it's out of a message or something? Give them a general direction, and then?

Sure. You guys are about a day and a half to two days from Barnak, and that's about a half day to where you left the ship. So if you were to send the ship your way, the speed it travels, it would get to you in under a day. Great, let's do it. That's pretty great. All right, yeah, then I'm going to send a message. Okay.

And give them, where, how would I give them directions to this area? Do we have a? I give them directions to this area? Do we have it? I would be able to. Are any of the Gorgonay around? Yeah, I mean, they're all around, other than Manad, who's just kind of came back. Gorgonay.

Gorgonay. They would know how far and in what direction we were from the drop-off point. Vagabond. I assume. Captain, Xandis? I don't know. Anilin lets you know. From where we picked you up initially that evening,

it's a bit west, northwest of where we are now. As far as landmarks go, there is a heavier red patch of trees cover a little ways to the west of where we currently stand. That might be visible from the sky. If they just travel due west, west and a bit south, sorry, east. East and a bit south from where they are.

Do you know where we are? It's been a long night and I've been already daydreaming. No. South and a bit east of where they are now. East and a bit south. East and a bit south of where they are now. This is going to go well. We can throw up a fire every now and then.

But also a little west. Shit, stop it. South, no, east and a bit south. God, okay, here we go. I'm going to send a message to Xandas. Y'all can come pick us up. We're east and a bit south. About half a day's journey from you.

Red trees, red trees, red trees. Big patch of red trees. I'll send a flare. I'll send it. I'll send trees. I'll send a flare. I'll send it. I'll send it. I'll send a flare. Me and Nandjie. Oh, good morning. Okay, good to know that.

We'll go ahead and start heading that direction and look for the red trees, I guess. That's it. All right. That seems like they'll definitely find us. What? I just read the very official contract prop. All it says is balls and titties. A thousand times.

Good prop making. Don't let him behind the curtain! Good prop making, guys. I can't, no! This is what fuels it. Balls and titties, balls and titties. Titties and ass, titties and ass, balls and titties. There are no other written words in the building besides that. That's kind of true of us.

We are adults. Somehow. All right. So we just kill some time until we get here? Sure. Sure. Sure. Nottove actually comes back with a couple more

of the jungle rabbits, and a breakfast meal is shared, as he sets them. Are they going to cook them? Yeah, they cook them. I'm going to watch them cook. I want to learn how to cook. I can't eat, but I want to learn how to cook.

Nottove's like, all right, go on, pay attention. You got yourself a small blade? Teach you how to clean it. All right, yeah, just make sure you point it away. Sure. For the bustle? Yeah. Oh boy. It's rusty a little bit.

This is a good hobby. I just, yeah, maybe some better tools. Better tools? Got to get you some tools. Sure. I mean, I'm excited. This is good, it's good for you. Minard shows you the process of skinning your prey and preparing it for cooking

and managing to cook it over a fire and how best to remove the unnecessary parts of it, preparing the meat for food, something that you're not too familiar with, nevertheless. No. But yeah, the process is easy enough to pick up. Can I have a tart? Oh. Is that what that is?

Yes. A little nubbin'? There you go. That's a tart. I get out pâté. I shove it in his ribs. There you go, buddy. Oh, that just woke me right up, didn't it? I just want to know, I don't know if you have one, so I thought maybe you'd want one.

Well, let's give it a shot. Does it work? Just falls out and he's like, Oh, well, it was worth a shot, eh? We'll work on it. No! You're going to smell really, really bad. As FCG cooks and cleans, do his eyes flash red at any point in the process?

Make a perception check. Blood. Fuck yeah. Blood on my hands. Ooh, that was almost a one. A 15! 15. You notice partway through the process of him helping clean one of these creatures

that nothing changes. Should've rolled higher. I don't know, it looks like something's changing. What are you stroking? The meat tongue. I'm pulling off the skin. Oh god. That's not quite me. I'm pulling off the skin. Oh god. That's not quite me.

I'm pulling out the tongue of the rabbit. Do rabbits have toes? They must have toes. Sure they do. Yeah, they could have toes. Tiny little toes? Do you want to sew that up at the end of your bit one? It's so fucked up.

What is happening? Like a tongue chain? All of this. Oh. Orym is going to move off, away from the group. I'm going to move away. He leaves. Orym just leaves. He's done.

I tried. He goes off to the sign and begins to move through the steps of the Zephyrotham with this new blade and gets to know it for a while. He starts slow and then it gets quicker and quicker. At a certain point, his shield hand, he points it out at a small log on the ground and a vine shoots out, Spider-Man style, to the log. What? He yanks it into the air and then slashes with the blade. Even though the log is like 20 feet in the air,

it gets cut in half as soon as Orym swings. No way. Brody got reach. Brorym swings. No way. Boy, you got reach. Boy, you got reach. No! And he's just quietly smiling at his god-blessed blade. He's got how far of a reach?

15. 40 feet. 15, 75. The mine is 20. Okay. Oh, is it different than the spell itself? Correct. It is, thanks. Oh. okay. Oh, is it different than the spell itself? Correct. It is, thanks. Okay. That's great.

I tiptoe over to Fearne. Which, for the record, yeah, you all noticed this cool blade. Awesome. Your blade is cool. Thanks! Fearne? Yes? You know, I was thinking about it, and I'm good at being creepy and deceiving, and I've got a little

bit of little sniper shots. I don't really have anything that can go boom and target just a bunch of people all at once. And so, I don't know, just wondering if maybe you could, I wouldn't mind learning to play with a little bit of fire. Maybe? Oh, I would absolutely love to help with that. Really? Yes. Okay. Ooh, this gives me a bit of a project.

Okay. I love this idea. We can work on it over time. I love this. I think you're going to be amazing at it. I think aesthetically, it's going to be very cool. You think so? Yes. All right. Definitely will add to it over time. I love this. I think you're going to be amazing at it. I think aesthetically it's going to be very cool. You think so? Yes. Definitely will add to it. Okay.

I'm excited about this. Me too. How's it feel being alive again? Sorry, I just jumped right in. No, you did. I didn't know that that was going to happen. No, it's very light and jovial. I was trying to make it, just get it in real quick.

No, it feels, it feels, I mean, it feels incredible, and I'm still, of course, grappling with such extreme lengths you all went to to get me back, but I'm still not entirely sure if there's still a piece of Delilah lingering in there. I don't know, there's certain things

I'm still just unsure of. I'm not easily afraid of things, but I'm still afraid of myself. I understand that feeling. Sometimes it goes well, and other times it's like, oh, oops. Yes. That's awful. I didn't like that woman very much. And I think we can all do whatever we can to keep her away, if the little bit of her is still there. We can try.

But I think you fought her pretty well. From the inside. Couldn't have done it without a view. Perhaps it's a bit like what Annalyn was talking about with Chetney. We just all have to know how to work with each other's strengths and limitations. Yeah.

I... I feel pretty terrible that I flipped a coin for your lives. I just, I'm sorry. I didn't want to make the decision myself, and then it felt so flippant and terrible. That was more of the change-bringers choice. Let's blame it on a god. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Regardless, I support the decision. Okay. Well, I'm very glad you're back. Me too.

I missed you terribly for that moment of time. It seemed like so long, yet I know it was not that long, in the grand scheme of things. Well, I'll think of some ideas. Okay. And we'll just make it fun-dangerous. I love it. Maybe a little chaotic. Maybe a little bad-dangerous,

but we'll see what happens. Okay. So while the two of you are discussing the possible untethered dangers of fire and all of its wondrous pyromaniacal deadliness. Like the one in Butthead? Yeah, straight up. It's real.

Yeah. Fire. Fire. Fire! I love them new stuff. The new stuff's great. Anyway, while that's happening, Uther, the older male Gorgine, who kept up the back of most of your traveling paths,

sees you practicing with your sword and walks up and says, That's a real fine weapon you got there. Your technique is something I haven't seen before. Yeah, it's sort of old and new. What do you call it? Boy, you know, my... husband gave me this sword,

my father gave me this shield. Never thought to name them. Well, if they mean that much to you, you should name them. Well, the gods take notice, yeah. He pulls out a long blade that he has at his side and turns it over in his arm. This? Yeah. The Jawtaker.

The Jawtaker? Named because the person I stole it from, I cut his jaw off with it. Oh, so it's not like a habit. Like you don't collect jaws. No, that would be, it was the one time. It seemed poetic. It's intimidating.

Is it? Should I change it? No! I never, hmm. Puts it away. No, no, can I, are you sort of like a rough and tumble brawler? I was younger, maybe. Yeah.

Nowadays, just, I don't know, trying to do my best to help the kids out before I run out of steam. Where you hail from? Oh, well, it's originally part of the Clary Orders up in Wildemount a while back. Wander in the Savalirwood. Never been.

It's colder, much colder. So oddly, the jungles here have a familiar shadow to them, so that's nice. Little part of home, but with a better weather pattern. I get that. I get the Traveler life. It's nice to have a home finally after traveling for a long time.

I hope you and your friends don't travel too long, and you all get to find a home, too. Or return to what you got. I'll think of a name. Do that. Pulls out his sword again. Bloodsplash, I don't know. He walks off, muttering to himself.

It's a good name. Bloodsplash. That was Uther. He walks off, muttering to himself. It's a good name. Blood Splash. That was Uther? That was Uther, yeah. It's the thing you take one jawbone and then you just start getting gifted them all the time. It's the jawbone person. Yeah, it's just, didn't ask for it.

So the skyship begins to become visible on the horizon. Oh. After you've been here for a bit. If this is any business you want to maintain while on the horizon. Oh. You've been here for a bit, and this is any business you want to maintain while you're here. Now, if you guys have been practicing this whole time, is this something you wanted to pick up? Yeah. Sure.

Yeah. What'd you do? We're in the forest, so, you know. This jungle's wet. Yeah, it's wet. Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's all right. Let's see. Let's start small. Just how do I manifest?

So, usually what I do, I just kind of rub my fingers together. Okay. And it gets real hot. And then in my head, I just- I do have good circulation. I got a point, it's like, they're a little cold. That's right.

Well, don't, are you, oh, you're flaking a little bit. Oh. Some pieces are coming up. It's been, the jungle's not been good for the. So just maybe do this little action. All right. And then think fire in your head. Like, see it. See the big flame, just ready to fucking burn shit. Then you blow it

out to your fingertips, and then you should get some fire. Just a little start. All right. Okay, oh my god. I'm so nervous. All right. Don't look at me you've got this. Don't look at me, look at me. You want me to look away? No, no, no, look at me, look at me. I need to, I need to. I could probably hear, I could see the, I could see. Okay, all right. Where are you looking? Well, I was looking at my fingers, so I guess.

A batch of dry leaves over there. Face of a tree. There's Chetney whittling. Come on. A little bit to the left of where Orym was practicing. There's some leaves over there. Face of a tree. There's Chetney whittling along. A little bit of peace. A little bit to the left of where Orym was practicing. I have an idea, I have an idea. If it's not too late.

Maybe you just try it at me. Oh! Oh boy. I can just keep, it's fine. I can take it, because it's just a little heat. I can take a little heat. Well, you're a fire special, right? Can you maybe catch it?

I've never tried. Let me heat. I can take a little heat. Well, you're the off-fire special, right? Can you maybe catch it? I've never tried. Let me see if I can try. Mister climbs into your shoulder and goes like, gets excitement in his eyes. He's into it. Is it all right? What if I hit Mister? It's fine. He ignites in flames.

You're such an inspiration. Oh my god. Just, okay. I'm going to think about Mister. Okay, I'm going to try to think about catching it. As you imagine in your head, this small flicker, the start of a match, the crackle of a fire as it begins to burn

into a furnace, an inferno, a raging forest fire, a molten volcano eruption, just all the elemental imagery of what fire means in the history of Exandria. As you blow, you open your eyes just in time to see the very tips where the connections of your fingers are. There's this faint orange glow between them.

As you separate them slightly, all those little tips of glow fit into one small little bead, and you blow it, and it drifts like a fast-moving mote on the wind. Oh, it's tiny. Over towards you, Fearne. Oh my.

It's a little one. Oh, mister, just grab it? He chomps on it. SAM and LAURA and SAM and LAURA and SAM and LAURA An explosion of flame completely engulfs both him and Fearne in a 20-foot radius. Oh! All the nearby trees that were covered in morning dew and mist

are now scorched, and there is a vacant spot where the warmth has completely eliminated the surrounding mist and fog. All the rest of you hear a It's okay! I up the trees in the treetop so I can spot the skyscrapers. All right.

Oh. It's happening again! Oh no! Oh god! It's all right. Oh, is everything on fire, or was just a foof? Are you on fire? Everything is scorched, but there are no flames catching. Thankfully, it is a moist enough jungle, and the flame is immediate enough that it can catch.

However, you do 8d6 fire damage to Ferdie. 8d6! I thought we were just going to start small! Let's go. You're a practice sorcerer. There's no dialing down a fireball. And just for a bit, you talked about it being like an ember.

Of course. It's the little purpley and glowy, like those deep, you know, the center of a dark ember. Oh god. You did a chair? I did... 12.

What'd you get on the chair? Yeah, four. Two legs. 12, 14, 16, 18, 25 damage. 25 damage. 25 damage. 25 points of fire damage to you, Fearne.

And Mister, I believe, is immune to fire? Probably. It makes sense. I'm going to try to pick. And you hear this explosion, you glance over, and now you're used to the bright, vibrant oranges and reds of natural and nature-based fire. This little seed of, this little mote of energy

as it comes towards you, the red ember turns to a dark purplish color, and as it detonates, the flames that surround you in a flash are a deep black-purple coloration. This is a different kind of fire, pulled from a different kind of energy, from a different kind of magical, pulled from a different kind of energy, from a different kind of magical source. Oh!

You caught it! I did. Huh! Fearne! Whoa! That was... Is that you? Yes. Y'all all right? Yes, yes, everything's fine. Are we attacking each other again?

Why did you just come? No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. We were just having a lesson, and turns out Laudna's very extremely powerful and good at it already. Oh, oh goodness. That was amazing. Thank you. Well, you're an amazing teacher.

I didn't even know I could teach. I didn't even know I could teach, and I feel like I love it. I mean, you're so inspiring. Oh my god. Okay, this was so fun. We should do more classes. Okay. Okay.

Maybe the next lesson could be in an open field, though? Are you all right? Sure. I mean, that definitely hurt. Do you want me to heal you? Can we go a day without killing one of each other? Sure. I'm going to take a little bit of a nap on the ship. It's fine.

A little bit of a nap? Your hair is It's fine. A little bit of a nap? Your hair is all gone. That is not true. Well. I see it here. Your eyebrows are gone. It's just the back of it. It's all gone.

The front is, well, it's a little patchy back there. But I'm going to take a nap on the ship. It's fine. Speaking of. The thing is, when you teach, when you're an amazing teacher, you do know that sometimes you're going to take a little bit of the heat.

So wise. If you have an amazing student, I mean, what are you going to do? It just goes with the territory of teaching? You're just going to take- It's fine. I'm just going to take a nap. I'm just- Are you going to sleep it off? I'm going to do? It just goes with the territory of teaching? You're just going to take? It's fine, I'm just going to take a nap. I'm just. Are you going to sleep it off? I'm going to sleep it off.

I'm just loving this warmth that I'm working with. Should we call you Professor now? Yeah. Professor Fearne. Professor Calloway. Professor Calloway's way better. Class is in session. So you're sending up? Presentation, just to hold back.

Presentation to create some sparks and things. All right. I would've taken a second. Was it Fressio who had the big hammer? Which one of the? The hammer is Annalyn. Oh, it was Annalyn. Yeah, the leader.

I would've hunted them down. Okay, yeah, she's not too far. Especially as they're preparing for the gathering, they're getting their materials up, and Annalyn's putting out the fire that was used to cook lunch, would it be at this point in time, and kicks the dirt over and notices you approaching. So.

I'm really bad at this. Yeah, you've seen, you've met our friend now, and you see what we have to deal with and what we're going to be dealing with on a day-to-day basis with that guy. I know it very well. He's a lot. I was watching you practice. Would you show me something?

I don't know. Not that I'm really... I mean, I'm really fucking good with this thing, but I saw you doing some stuff when we were, I mean, I don't think you were showing off. You might have been showing off, but it was pretty cool. If you got a second, I'd love to learn something. Her tense brow turns into a side smirk

before giving a nod and a playful sigh. Of course, we have a little bit of time. Come. Yeah. Takes you off into the clearing and begins with just a gentle sparring, just getting a feel for your technique and begins to give you notes.

It's a bit untethered, unfocused, which could work to your advantage. I think what could really work to your advantage is to know how to focus, how to maintain the discipline and switch off between the unknowable kind of chaotic technique that you utilize with bursts of discipline. Then you keep them guessing.

And as far as your friend goes, sometimes you have to knock some sense into them. Just go for the, there's the right part of the temple. Not too close to the center where the eye is, because you can do permanent damage, but right above and to the side. You'd be surprised how heavily you could clock someone and send them sprawling for a time to regain their wits.

Right about, and they glance over to the hole on the side of your head. It's right about there, actually. I'm pretty familiar with that one. Good. Yeah. Just imagine that hole in their head and aim for it. Right. Let's do some rounds, if you don't mind.

So yeah, just spar. Yep. Fine and focus. Y'all begin to hear the cracking of hammer on hammer, the occasional whiff as a large weapon is wielded through the air, cutting through. Occasionally, a tree trunk takes the impact. It sounds like the distant rolling thunder of an oncoming storm off on the horizon

as the both of them just end up sparring through the nearby grounds outside of the temple. It's about this time, and the skyship begins to close in. Both you and Anduin finish up the session. She's breathing a little heavy. Not too bad. I think you might have some talent within you. Thank you.

I appreciate everything you've done for my friend. He's a fucking mess. Yes, he is. But we all were. She looks at some of her compatriots. We all are. Look forward to making our way back here one of these days. I hope so.

Lugs the hammer up onto her shoulder. Walks over to you. As you begin to see now, the skyship has found the space and is circling over, and you can gather off the side. You can see some of the, you can see Kaleel is shouting over the side, We're coming around, going to put down the ladder. Prepare, gather your things.

Everybody finish your rabbit. Well, there was rabbit? Oh yeah. Oh fuck. It's just been sitting here. There you go. Did you make it? Yeah, I made it, but I don't know what to do, so I just left it there.

Did you cook it enough? This is so greasy. How'd you handle it? I tried it. You left a little bit of the hair. It doesn't taste like much. Oh, is the hair all supposed to come off? I thought that would be good to,

you could grab onto it a little easier. Oh boy. No. It's certainly an option. I'm not going to tell you how to eat your rabbit. It's really good, FCG. I'll work on it. Anilin approaches you

as everyone's preparing for this and just stands over you for a second, hammer still on the shoulder. How are you feeling, Pokopie? Oh. That sounds so weird. Dignified. Dignified. I feel good.

Invigorated, inspired, but also a little, I don't know, maybe a little more anchored than before? Maybe more worried? I think I just enjoyed the wild nature of what was inside, rather than really weighing the consequences of what letting it out might be. But that's probably a good thing.

It's a necessary perspective. It is very intoxicating, what it offers. I think the key is learning when is the appropriate time to let it take over. Yeah. And letting them know. Yeah. Letting them know. Yeah. What we carry.

We go, we carry. He's super old. So old! I felt so young this morning, they allowed to fuck me up. What we carry is heavy. Those of us who lose the strength to do so, often it's because we try and carry it alone.

If they care about you, then they offer, but then they'll be carrying it. I know, but it's so much easier just to try and do it yourself. I know. Trust me. I know. Thank you for this opportunity to learn.

I'll come back if we ever catch a break in the action, but it's pretty nonstop with these guys. I understand. Well, you know loosely where to find us, or at least how to call us, if need be. True. Now we know what your sound is, so. Our sound, the collective sound?

Yes, your howl was the best, though. Thanks. I have a was the boost, though. Thanks. I have a question. Mm-hmm. I just saddle up to her knee. Uther, was with the Claret Order? He was before he had.

Do you know why he left? Best I know, he left a wound on his past. The place he once called home, he... He did enough damage where it was no longer home. There's a recurring theme in our kind of nomadic misfits. Part of this journey is learning how to stop, pardon the, turn of phrase,

shitting where we sleep. Wait. Guess it only, only matters if you care where you sleep. It's kind of new for me. Okay. Thank you. Of course.

Remember, runes, clear markings, intersections. Embody what you want to prevent, embody what you want to instill, embody the pain you want to drive in, and mark accordingly. Yeah. I'll keep practicing. All right.

Now get. While you're all about to head up and the ladder is now dropped and people are starting to gather up, Fearne, you hear Manad's voice. Fearne. Yes? Just wanted to say good luck to you and Manad's voice. Fearne. Yes? Just wanted to say good luck to you and your friends out there.

And I don't know, you know, just... You know, just... Sweets all over her face. Yeah, crisp sauce. You left the straightener on too long? Yeah. Smells a little weird, but I don't think that's me. I just wanted to tell everyone

for us, good luck, and you know, you're always welcome to come back and visit Banach any time. Oh, I will, I will. Is the invitation just open for all the time? Well, I mean, for training and sharing stories about the world and adventures. We don't really get too far out of the jungles.

It's just nice to know. You folks have a ship, so you're getting around a bunch and you're caught up in some weird stuff. Yeah, yeah, just any time you want, come on by. I can get some more rabbits. All right. That sounds like fun. Great. Okay.

Then he just darts off. Bye, Minard! Did that just happen? Oh, uh. Bye, Chetney, good luck. Thanks. That really didetney, good luck! Thanks. That really did just happen, holy shit. Well, we're welcome back here any time.

Are you? What did she write? Just, mana. I didn't finish my sessions yet. You were like, circling it over and over. Are you making a kill list? Are you all right? Because it looks like, is that part of the burn,

or is that just the reddening of your flesh there? What is that? Oh, it might be the reddening of my flesh. Because of the horrific burn you received, or? Maybe a little bit of both, you know? I don't know, I don't know. I don't know. You are the most chill burn victim I've ever met. Well, I'm just really proud of my student.

I don't know what to say. Just, I mean, okay. Well, I'm going to take a little bit of a nap. Sure. Yeah, you need some rest. Yeah, I'm going to take a- bit of a nap. Sure. Yeah, you need some rest. Yeah, I'm not taking it. Sleep off that burn. Mm-hmm.

So if you need me, come get me. Sleep off that burn. Yeah. If that works. If that works. No! D&D. I'm just going to check it out.

We're going to go to the hospital and see the people sleeping off their burns. So you all clamber back up onto the skyship. The people got weird. The Silver Sun clamber back up onto the skyship. The Silver Sun. You're greeted by the crew and, of course, Captain Zandis. Welcome back, glad to see you're all

in one sort of pieces, mostly. Oh, you had a morning. So I guess we're going back towards Eos, right? Where we're heading? Back on the main path. It is where we're off to. All right, looking, weather's looking pretty decent. We're outside of the Hellcatch,

so about a two days or so journey, looking to make itself around that place. I guess buckle up. Pretty close. Go ahead and takes to the wheel, and they pull up the ladder, and then the skyship begins to curve back in a southern direction.

As you all feel the ship begin to crest away, you glance over the side and can see barely the shape of the cliffside temple as it begins to peek through part of the canopy and the handful of distant faces of the Gorgine looking up before they charge back into the jungle. You can barely hear the echoing distant sound of as they just go rushing.

Oh. Just gently on the side of the ship. Yeah! Come on, close your eyes. Oh, cool. But we have two days journey. Like someone rolled a 20 for the first day. Start this side. Where were we?

Or were on you? I think it was me next. Get it. As we're flying, what'd you say? Roll a five. Roll a one. That's what I want to play. It's a natural 20. Fuck you.

It's actually not a one to five anymore. One to five is over the Hellcatch. Oh! Oh, shit! Now it's 15 to 20? Hmm? We don't know, we don't know, we don't know. It's like one to two.

It's much lesser. That's why the Hellcatch was so dangerous. As we're flying, I'd love to find Denalia the cook. Yeah, yeah. And grab, if I could, who has Eshterosh's recipes? Recipes? Doesn't everyone have the recipes? I think so. Recipes was brought up.

No, this is not. What is this? They're the shame person. Yeah. Yeah. I raided the spice cabinets. What's the, oh, Eshterosh's? Eshterosh's. Well, that'll help. Who's got, oh, ashtaroshes? Ashtaroshes.

Well, that'll help. Who's got the book? I had the recipe. We've got Schultz. No, he had the recipe. Shinaman. I have this can of what I thought was just Play-Doh, but apparently it's some sort of sourdough starter or some stuff.

It's been sitting there for a while, but it's been sitting there. I'd love to work with Denalia and try to prepare some of these. Well, of course, I'd be happy to. That's what he gave us. I'll try to work with Denalia and try to prepare some of these. Well, of course, I'd be happy to. That's what he gave us. I'll try to make some cookies. Yeah, no, I haven't made cookies in a while. Denalia takes the recipe, looks over.

Can you teach me how to do it, too? What? Can you teach me how to do it, too? Of course, yeah, just follow along. It's not hard to do, come on, come on. I just can't, you know, I've never been around food before, so I don't know anything about nothing.

Treat me like a total novice, all right? Of course, yeah, no, okay. Just keep your ears or whatever you got there perked up and we're going to make some cookies. Okay. Come on. It's him and Eric Kirk. Come on. Oh my god.

Great. Have we heard of him? Denalia? Very briefly. Oh wow. Oh yeah. So Denalia, Very briefly. Oh wow. I feel like I've never heard of that. So Denalia, this sandy-haired bugbear, just body covered in fur, long arms, and this almost little...

Just this little formal dress on that looks a little tattered and worn that she just wears every day. Love her. Brings you down and brings you step by step in the creation, the re-creation, I should say, of this lauded and worldwide, unappreciated, untested, untried

recipe of Lord Eshteross's Maple Ginger Cookies. But yeah, so you pick up the gist of it, and so if you ever want to make them on your own, we can roll some checks to see how they go. That's amazing. Oh, but the d20 was 20. Yeah, yeah, no worries. Which, fair weather, just as Cap Mzandis

had originally described. Even the mists of the jungle seem to be relatively thin, and you have now a beautiful overview of the many multitudes of textures and colors that move through. You can see glimmers of the Chalkstep Road that carves through the north side. This is the road that connects the Hellcatch Valley

to the heart of Eishenador. Eishenador. You also look down and you see what looks to be along this road, another village below. It's intersecting with the road and built in the middle of the jungle. As you glance over, you can see

it looks to be of a moderate size, maybe a few thousand people call it their home. You can see there are heavy walls and a couple of watchtowers there, holdovers from the last military re-encampment of the villages during the Apex War. But there are folks around there that have cultivated and cut down some of the land, turned it into farming land,

and there is a bustling society beneath. What city is it? Do we know? Make a history check. No, I don't, because I've been spelling it wrong this whole time. Would it be at advantage because it's an area that I'm familiar with, or no? No, you just have a lower DC

because you are from the area. It's a little wide. What's wrong? Fuh-fuh-fuh. Or? Yeah. Unfortunately, you're not certain what this is. Growing up in the part of the Talon Highlands you did,

there wasn't a lot of conversation about the specifics of the geography of Eishenador. You've never traveled here nor had much of a reason to look into it, but you're welcome to ask. Kevyn Zanis easily goes, Oh, that right down there? That's Qoreo. Qoreo. Q-O-R-E-O.

North Qoreo or South Qoreo? Damn it. Every time. Two seconds. Two seconds. Q-O-R-E-O. Q-O-R. Coreo. And just because Marisha doesn't know how to take notes,

how do you spell Eos? We got it already. Dani just told us. It's Y-I-O-S. Yeah, it is not at all how I ever spelled it. I've been spelling it with an E. Yeah, me too. I like E better. I'm going to just keep spelling it.

No, I like it with a Y. It's cool with a Y. No, I'm doing Y-E-O-S. That head. I've been spelling it with an E. Yeah, me too. I like E better. I'm going to keep spelling it with an E. No, I like it with a Y. It's cool with the Y. No, I'm doing Y-E-O-S. That's what I've been doing. Y-E-O-S is pretty. Yos. Yos. Yos. Welcome.

Hey, you're carefully cultivated there. Fuck that. Oh no, he's rolling. He's rolling! Oh no! I haven't heard of that city before. How long has it been here? That's been down there for a long time. It's just one of the smaller outposts, this part of Ashannador. Most of them were all fitted out to be extension strongholds of Yos a while back, but now they're just acclimating over the years,

not being quite as stuck up. What were they supposed to be counteracting? What was the, why were they, what were they fighting off? That would be the Stratos Throne to the west. Okay. There was quite a bit of bloodshed back in those days. They had a lot of incursions from both sides.

A lot of spies and kind of espionage going on as well as distant aerial combats and some real bloody scuffles before both sides called it quits. Not really making for lots of the money

and the happiness of the peoples that are in them. So,uce, still going, I suppose. Oh, and look down over there, it's the Habalon River. Habalon? Yes. You look over and you can see there's this massive river that's carving from the northeastern direction that is winding through the jungle. It splinters off into smaller rivers at certain points, but it maintains this one core thread. It, heading in that, from where it is, heading in a southwestern direction,

it begins to curve into a straight south. So that there, that's going to interact towards where we're going. So right now, for me at least, I'm following that river. Comes over from the Panagryp Sands that far. The Panagryp Sands. Geography is not really my thing.

Do we have a map of this area, or are we outside of the map that we have? You do not have a map of this area. We got to get a map of this area. I guess. That'd be pretty cool. But that day goes without issue. An evening goes by, and your last day of travel,

possibly, unless someone rolls really bad, towards the city of Eos is encroaching. I need somebody to roll Elastic Detonator. Before we fight a dragon, potentially. Next morning, hey, Chet. Hello? I don't know if you remember. Wait, can you uncuff me?

Having an awakening, Chetney. Hold on. Do I have keys? They're under my body. All right. It's Velcro, you just pull. Don't stickle me! Keeping it together, Popeye.

Oh good! Take a hot take. Sorry, I don't know if you're going to remember, because you were 25 feet tall and trying to kill us, but I made this for you, and I hold out this same crude little wolf that was three quarters done 36 hours ago, but now it's done.

It's not amazing, but it does look like a wolf. I also bought a wolf to give you at this table. A real wolf. A real wolf. But, this is Liam talking, but it came and it was much nicer than the wolf you then brought out a few weeks later. I was like, well, I can't use that now. I overshot.

I overshot. You could have just fucked it up. I should have fucked it up, right? It's okay. Just tie it behind your dog. I'll go run over to the parking lot a few times before our next game. That's the point, dynamite it,

tie it to the string and put it out the side of the window. But anyway, here's this imaginary one. Oh! I'm glad you're here. I'm glad we were able to help you figure things out. I don't love you coming after me so regularly, but we'll deal with it.

Anyway, I just want to say, I'm glad you're with us. Orm, you're one of the bravest people I know. It's incredible. You're so young and handsome. This is truly awful. It's really, really bad. But look, it's the thought that counts.

And if you just stick with it for a couple hundred years, we could refine this into something that could be a paperweight. It's not even paperweight worthy now? Not yet. We're not going to show this to anybody because I don't want to affect your ego, okay? But listen, it's the gesture.

And you and I, we can cultivate this. It's a good starting point. Plus, you're working with, like, I mean, you're basically trying to use an axe on a finesse. I'm using a short sword. It's really hard. It's hard. Did you cut yourself a lot? Three times last night. I tell you what.

I take out one of my finesse hook chisels. This one is good for both curves, a little indentation and pressure work, and just an overall shape. Now, wrap your thumb while you're getting used to it, because usually you can ride the blade on this just a little bit. So try not to do that and see where it takes you.

Plus, if you don't want to roll in somewhere with your big short sword, you can just keep this in your hand and then open somebody's neck up, and it works it takes you. Plus, if you don't want to roll in somewhere with your big short sword, you can just keep this in your hand and then open somebody's neck up and it works a lot easier. I was going to ask, how many people have you killed with this thing? I mean, you know,

I'm not so great with counting that high. Wow, and you're 100. No, I'm just kidding. I'm just kidding. I'm just kidding. No, I haven't killed anybody with this one yet. Okay. You're giving it to me?

Is this a loaner? Yeah, I mean, I have a couple of them, but this is a basic all-around chisel. It's good. All right, well, I'll see if I can get up to paperweight status on the next one. But this stays with me. Only because we don't want anybody else to see it. It's true. I don't want the others to see it.

This went about as well as I expected it to. Good. It's good. Did you sign it? Should I? Well, yeah. You gotta leave a mark or initials or something. Oh, man. It doesn't have or initials or something. Oh man. It doesn't have to be letters, it could be anything. Everyone's telling me to name things lately. Look at my sword.

I pull it out and there's just vines, tendrils going all up my forearm, holding it in place. Look at this thing. I have a, it's, the gods are watching. Did that change? I cover his face like Spider-Man in Vine from seven feet away, and I pull him in close.

Yeah, it does all kinds of stupid shit now. The gods are watching. After you guys left, the statue of Seratani, of the Wild Mother, Ceritani started to glow. I don't know, I just got a feeling from it. Fearne saw it, I asked her. And she gave me a blessing, I guess.

The statue glowed just when you were there. And were you imbued with an animal spirit? What did you, what happened? Well, the statue, she was holding a hilt and I just had a feeling and I slid the sword in. I saw what she did. Terrible. I had a feeling and I slid the sword in. I swear she didn't. Terrible. That's fine.

It went about as well as I expected over here. And it's, god bless. That's incredible. You should really name your sword. I did. Oh. I did. Oh. I did, yeah.

Uther told me he had a really bad-ass weapon with a scary name about taking people's jaws off. I didn't feel like that was right for me. You know, the sword already has sentimental value. It was from Will. And I'm never going to let go of it. So I try to think, what is something that speaks to Will and speaks to me and speaks to the blessing she gave?

Anyway, this is Seedling. Aw. The Wayward Pilgrim. by the way, this is Seedling. Oh. The Wayward Pilgrim. Pretty cool, huh? Yeah, that's a good name. Cut myself. Hand wrap, yep. It's going to be happening a lot.

Don't worry, it toughens up the skin. All right, maybe I'll come to you for pointers, too. But I'll start with this. I don't know much about the gods or if they're listening, but if they are paying attention to someone, I'm glad it's you. I don't know, man. I don't know.

I do feel a bit better about our chances than I have in a few days at least. Yeah. Yeah. We're pretty much unstoppable now. It's going to be fine. We're gods. Basically. We're freezing!

Imogen just jumps off the side of the stage. For no reason. She just hit the ground in human shape. Oh wow. Thank you for this. I will keep it with me at all times. Then I tuck it back behind me harness. All right, all right.

I didn't mean to make a whole big thing, but thanks. What are you talking about? Your sword's got a name, man. You've got to live in it. It's great. He kicks his heels and runs off. Okay. All right. So, Ashley, are you rolling the dice

for the final day of the journey? Is it me, or is it going this way? It's you. It's you. Oh. Goodness. Come on, do us right. So, Ashley, are you rolling the dice for the final day of the journey? Is it me or is it going this way? It's you. It's you. Oh, goodness. Come on, do us right. Fuck it up, we want a weird number. Get up to the tempo. One or two, one or two.

11. Useless to me. You're dead to me, you're dead. You had one? All right. While the sky grows a little more gray, it still remains broken to see the blue sky beyond it. The weather is nice, the wind works in your favor, and the day's journey coasts by without major incident. Ugh.

As you glance beyond, you... Go back to bed! Continuing on to the afternoon, you can see in the distance little signs of what you think at first might be smoke from a fire, but it looks to be just little bastions of society, civilization that are beyond your view, just on the horizon.

And then beyond the horizon, too, you can see the mountain ranges that swirl around this section of Aeshanador. And then see rising in the far, far distance near where the southern horizon is, you can see rising cliffs and hills. Areas that the coloration of the land varies and drifts away from the gloomed jungles

and the topography seems to be a little more gray and shale-based, best you can tell. Too far to make out too much detail, but the hills appear turbulent and twisted. And as you're glancing off, taking in the distant horizon, Captain Zanis goes, Now you're looking, all right, over there,

that's the Sala Lands, southern side of Aeshanador. Kind of its own rough and tumble region. Not much trade to do about there. Haven't really flown that far south. Don't really go beyond Eos because not much of a reason, too, but here it's got a whole bunch of

fun elemental crazy magic spattered around. Fun as in fun or fun as in murder you? Yes. Mm-hmm. Hardly have one without the other. But I think what the... Hold on. Goes ahead and clips on the chain that holds the direction of the skyship

to continue forward. Looks over the side and glances. Ah, we're getting real close. You can see as the sun's slowly beginning to set away from that and the coloration of the sky changes, you can see there is a lake, a very large lake ahead of you. That there is Lake Goron.

That's the lake that sits in the center of Eishenador. That's the lake that Eos is built upon. Right there on the northern side of it, we're just going to see it right before we even get there, that has to be Aruwadi. That's the fishing village on the north side of the lake. Aruwadi. Aruwadi.

Oh no. She is, you guys. How do you spell Aruwadi? A-R-U-A-T-I. A-T-I. Ah, I was so close. I was way off. I was way off. I was one letter off.

And was it like Goron, Horon? Koron, K-O-R-O-N. K-O-R-O-N, thank you. I spelled it with a Q, because the other was a Q. Koryo? Got to keep you guys. Koron? Got to keep you guys. You make Koryos with a Q?

Yep. Yes. Fuck. There will be a write-up later. I mean, I just wait for my spelling for the write-up. You should put on a game that's just a Guess Matt spelling game. Spelling game. Spelling game.

Be daring to breath. I love it. I love it. You let the fucker go. Let's build that into the witch-hound. Yeah. Needs more apostrophes. Vowels! Aruwadi is actually A-R-U-A-T, apostrophe I.

Oh gosh, you know. There it is, isn't there? The entire country of Wales is going, What? What's the fucking problem? Well, yeah. But then beyond that, and you can see already, as you get closer and closer to the village,

looking over top of it, there are a number of fishing vessels that are scattered out beyond the docks on the south side of the village as you continue in that southward direction. You can see torchlights are coming on throughout the city as it gets darker and darker. And the southern side of the city,

there is a large bridge that just continues out over the lake. And maybe about almost two, three miles of bridge continues out into the lake before it hits a little hub, a little station with towers, and then continues on still.

Is it low to the water, flat uninterrupted, or is it hop, hop, hop? No, it is a continuous bridge that has elements that go deep under the water, but it is over the surface of the water, like a straight bridge. You can see along it, there are lantern lights that are a glow.

You can see now as they're shifting into nighttime, they're starting to be lit. Their job is to go down and light them in procession. As you continue on, you can already now see the massive cluster of buildings and lights. As Andas goes, Up and there it is. Eos.

Sitio, flow and light. You all been here before? Heard a lot about it. No. Oh, looks like we came at the right time of the day, too. Get your things, this is going to get interesting. As it gets darker and darker, the thing you notice,

and the name begins to kick in, at least the meaning of it, as the sunlight vanishes, the flowing waters of the lake, especially around the edges and on the outside of the city where it's moving, glow a faint blue. Like there's just a natural glowing essence

around the edges of the water movement. Just a natural illumination to it. You get closer still and you can see the city just gets larger and larger as it approaches. And two other bridges carve off to the east and larger as it approaches. Two other bridges carve off to the east and western sides of it. They connect the central city. Eos sits in the middle of this lake,

built on top of it. What you also begin to notice, as you're taking in the beautiful, gentle turquoise-blue light that magically swirls and shifts around the edges of the water, it stops at a dam partway, and then steps down. Then a little ways beyond that, it steps down.

This is a three-tiered lake. Where these dams are set, these massive sluices that are built, there are towers and encampments along these bridges and at these breaks. You can see all manner of boats out and about, but this is a vibrant, unique, fishing-based lake city.

And for a fishing city, it is massive. Are there whitecaps, or is it a still lake? There are whitecaps in places. You can see where these steps are. There is a built dam elements of it, and there are areas where it is white-capped to let flow over into these waterfalls.

And there are, at the very edges, as you begin to go over the first part of the step, you can see there is a boat ramp that actually comes down off the side, where boats can eventually ride down to the lower part of the city. Oh god! Oh no.

You made it descending into the city? Oh. This is the water rioting. It goes lesser. The further south it goes, the lake is actually this shape. And then another lower area, and then a lower area.

The city is built across those three elements. The city you now see is comprised of three rings on each of these levels. Almost the city itself has multiple tiers where these different transitions occur. That's dead. Oh. As you get closer and closer,

you can see where the water is shifting and all that bright blue coloration is moving with it, flowing, swirling, like the entire lake, now that most of the sun is gone, it looks like it's some sort of an ethereal incantation, like magical energy, this arcane soup that surrounds the city that lights it from underneath. You can see all the perimeter walls,

all the docks, the numerous docks that dot the exterior of it, are all gently lit by their proximity to the flowing water. City of Flowing Light. Mm. The City of Flowing Light. Amazing. Wow, Flowing Light. Amazing.

Wow, this is beautiful. What are you, touch down around here, Captain? Right over there, don't, I guess the lights, it's the, which one is it? Right, it's the navy blue one, I think. I'll go with the red, we'll try the red. And as Captain Xehanort is pointing out there Right, it's the navy blue one, I think? I'll go with the red. We'll try the red. And as Captain Xanis is pointing out there and you see them looking,

there are a number of lighthouses around this side of the city, each of the docks. They each have their own unique coloration to help people who are out there fording the lake to know which dock they're supposed to go back to. But there is, amongst one of the higher tiers of the city, what you see to be a small tower

and a familiar construct that resembles a skyport. That's the one! There's the Lake Cap Skyport and Lounge. That's where we're going to be locking up and that's where, while you do your business, I'm going to spend some money. Oh, is it like a casino or something? It's got some games to play, yeah.

Oh. That's fun. Kind of a partial lounge, partial casino, partial inn. Got rooms. There's a lot of trade flies through here, so they got to have places for us to go. We don't come here too often, but when we do, we make a time of it, don't you want to know? All right, well. Don't you want to know? Wait, I have a question. Yeah?

Can skyships also be used as regular ships? I mean, you can, but there's not much of a reason to. No, I know. The water just makes it a little more unpredictable. Okay. I was just wondering. If you want to fish, we can just add more line, and then we could fish, if that was the vibe. Actually, that's a good question.

I haven't actually had to bring it into water before, but I imagine it would work. It's sheer. Woodwork! Ah! Trick it! All right, I guess we're getting in close. Let's see here.

Kaleel, can you go ahead and put our approach beacon on? Kaleel goes out and takes the set of large torches, like lanterns, and lights them and puts them in the front of the skyship to know that they're letting the skyport know that they're coming in. As you slowly begin to drift into the port, to the dock, you can see there are a number of dock workers

that help wave it in. They reach out for the ropes that the rest of the crew throw over to the side to help pull it, and as it comes in and gently hits on the side of the dock, you feel it lurch ever so gently as they go ahead and anchor it to the side of the skyport. Are there other skyships docked here?

At the moment, there is one other skyship. It's on the other side of the dock right now. Looks like it's a little sparse compared to Jrusar. Jrusar, you imagine being more on the intercontinental side of Marquet, gets a lot more in and out. Sandus? Yeah?

Do you know what makes the water glow like that? It's got some strange plankton-type creatures that live in it. Bioluminescent things? Yeah, so when they get touched and moved around, they just glow a bit, you know? They get freaked out. But yeah, it's really beautiful.

What's wild is you should, actually, you can see it from here, and you look down, and through each of these tiers of the city, there are canals that run through them. It gives this vibrant, almost LED-looking bloodstream that just swirls through the neighborhoods as it progresses. So the boats are free if they got room. We got to go on that ride.

That's pretty cool. Yeah. I wonder if you drink the water, your pee glows. What? I don't know. I've never tried that. I can think of at least four reasons why it wouldn't do that, but you're welcome to try. Well, you did say it was arcane soup, so. Did he say that?

Well, somebody did it and it went. Oh no. I don't know whose voice that was. Well, welcome to Eos. I guess we'll go talk to the dogmaster and figure out how much you owe them for how long we're staying for, and then... Okay.

Let's go ahead and find ourselves, well, we'll find ourselves some rooms. You don't have to stay at the lodge, you can find other places, but let's go! Oh. What are we doing here? Well. I don't get situated.

What does that mean? where are we going? Somewhere to get situated. The seminary, I imagine. Okay. But it's late. It's late, right. So maybe just. There should be a place to stay. Let's just find somewhere nice. A new place. I'm just so excited.

Oh. Have you? Yeah. Yeah. So do you guys want to stay here, where Xandis is staying, or do you want to walk the city for a little bit? Do y'all want to get the fuck out of here? I don't know what the rest of you want to see.

I would like to see the water up close. Yeah, it seems so. I've got new play synergy. I'm large as hell, let's go. Same. We can't trip at the seminary at this hour. I mean, I don't imagine. All right.

The Starlight Academy was open all night, but. We'll get ourselves one night. Yeah. One night. Wait, does the Starlight Academy also have one of those things where you can look up? Telescope? Yeah. I don't remember. You didn't peruse the entirety of the Academy, so you're not certain. You saw the library,

so as far as you know. They were very snobby. Yeah. Didn't want to let us in. Oh. I know. It was one of the things that Estraras helped us with. Oh. Yeah. Maybe if you showed your friend the big red thing that came out on the ship.

Did we talk about that? Because that was... Not in depth, no. We don't have to. Not in depth, no. We don't have to. I just, it was so interesting looking. And I think if they saw that, they'd be like, you can go anywhere in here you want. That's true. It might be a little intimidating,

because from what I gathered, that thing attacked anything that was around it, including me. Yeah, it might seem like a hostage situation or something. I don't know. Maybe that's extreme. Who knows? Maybe we find a room. Yeah.

The rest of the crew of the Silver Sun gathers their goods. For those who are planning to disembark the ship, you gather your things, step off of the Silver Sun, feet hitting the heavy, well-reinforced wooden skyport dock, glancing just over the edges to see the multitude of colors and the gentle blue glow of the surrounding horizon

around you. We're going to go to break? Oh! Come back. New place, new place. What a new place. Region Ola. We reached Starlight, what do we call it?

Star Point. Star Point? Goddamn it, Star Point. Star Point. Every time I said it, every single time, Star Light. I have it in a fucking Star Point Academy. I have it on a fucking book. It Point? Star Point. Star Point Academy. I have it on a fucking book. It's on your book.

Star Point Conservatory. Star Point Conservatory. Yes, there you go. Starlight Academy. It's it. That's the sequel to the Starlight Express. You'll probably do correct me. It's their college years. Any time I do that.

But they're extra horny. Somehow more horny than Starlight Express. Trains fucking yell. All right, on that note, we're going to have a break. We'll see you back here in a little bit. Extra horny. Somehow more horny than Stalact Express. Train's fucking y'all. All right. On that note, we're going to have a break. We'll see you back here in a little bit. 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. That's why each Thursday at 8 a.m. Pacific, we share a curated gallery of submitted fan art over on critroll.com. If you'd like to submit your art for consideration, visit

critroll.com slash submit. And thank you to all of the incredible artists who share their talents with us week after week. Welcome back. It's so true. It's because we love you so much. I know. That's true.

From my heart. That was for us. And our goochers. I know. So. Returning to where you were, the fresh evening air in the city of Eos, here in the center of Lake Huron. You've disembarked from the Silver Sun

in the Skyport, far above this part of the city, and watch as Zandis and crew go ahead and engage with what appears to be the, there it is, the port captain of this portion of the city. the port captain of this portion of the city. As you begin to step along, you can see there's not a whole lot of business happening.

The one other ship that's docked has probably been long docked here, and other than a few individuals that are keeping looks out, and a few armored figures that are just guarding the upper portion of the skyport, you do see a female half-elf that comes up, dressed in what looks to be a nice light blue robe

that flows behind as she approaches, platinum blonde hair that almost forms a bubble helmet around her head as she glides up to Xandis and the rest of you and goes, Oh, hello, welcome to Eos. Oh boy. What's your business here, and how long will you be staying?

Oh my god, oh my god. I love her. It's a personal attack on me and my home state. Ah. Smiley Dainty, what's your name, young miss? I'm Port Captain Leerios. I'm looking over the port as its captain. Leerios or Lerios?

Leerios. Leerios. Once again, I ask, what is your business here and how long will you be staying? And Captain Dennis goes, I imagine we're probably not staying too long. No, I don't think we will be. Oh, well, we were hoping to

just do some learning at the seminary. Do you have an approximation as to how long your ship's going to be docked in here? A few days, I think, right? Weak at the absolute maximum, but probably not even near that. Well, we have daily rates for dorking here in this skyport, and we also have a weekly rate.

So if you want to pay in advance, it's cheaper if you get the entire weekly rate as a bulk, and we could take it day to day from there if you think you're going to be staying around long enough. Otherwise, you look at it about 10 gold a day dorking fee, or about 50 for the entire week. Can we up the week before the end of the first week and just get weeks in a row and just keep stacking that,

or does it just go daily after the first week? No, if you come and make sure that before the week is out that you want to go ahead and re-up for a secondary week, we can go ahead and make the adjustments accordingly. Okay. It's good to know. Let's just go for the week. I think so. Yeah.

All right. All right, and who's the captain of this ship? Captain Zandis. That would be me, but they're the owners, so the money's from them. Very well. I will accept your 50 gold purchase of your week-long time docking here in Yos.

Here you are. Thank you kindly. You got all of it? Sure. Dope. Thanks, Imogen. I mean, thanks. Without a port, Captain begins to assign a people to go ahead

and watch the ship to do a quick look over of the immediate contents to ensure nothing gets taken. Everything stays in check as they go ahead and do their own passes on it. With that, Zandis walks past. All right, I guess the night is ours. So you haven't been here. Let me take you into the lounge.

Come on, let me show you. With that, Zandis, head glowing from the nearby torchlight, from their smooth, tiefling head, the horns curve behind, leads you down what looks to be a domed entryway that leads into a staircase below the Skyport top. Upon walking inside the staircase, you can immediately smell a mixture of lavender perfumes and a bit of pipe smoke immediately hits you as you begin to traverse below.

You can already hear the sounds of chatter and conversation, laughter, and it sounds like music from the interior. I slowly just start hanging back, walking slower. Okay. Heading down to the interior of the lower chamber within, you can see now there is a low-lit sitting area. The top of this tower, where the Skyport is built onto it, has a number of windows that overlook

the beautiful city around you. And there are tables that are pressed up against them to the sides. You can see there are large, heavy, cushioned sitting spaces and there are tables everywhere. And already, you can see there are a number of musicians set to different corners, just taking on their own little moods.

People can find the space that best befit them. It's a very nice interior in here. It's probably not the least expensive place to stay, but it definitely has one of the best views you can imagine, even just glancing out the sides. And just looking about the clientele here, there is definitely an affluent air to the inside of this chamber.

Nobody seems to pay mind to your arrival at the moment. They're too busy with their own business and conversations, but you do see a handful of tables out there where there is a deep red texture across the top, and you can see there are dealers set up for various games of chance. There appears to be a bar towards the back end where there are two individuals who are wearing these similarly colored light blue and gold trimmed vests as to the port captain's attire that are in the process of serving individuals as they come by. Probably about 20 or so

people in this lounge at the moment. And it looks like it does spiral down to a lower floor. There's about 12 or so up here. And there is a spiral staircase that descends to a lower part of the tavern, which you can look over into the inside, and that's where the rest of the lounge continues, deeper into the tower.

Did you say, apropos of nothing, is this tower that we're on, the Skyport's on, are we in the lowest tier of the lake or the highest tier? This right here, from what you can tell, would be the middle one. The middle one, okay. Yes. It's called the Lakeport Skyport? The Lakecap Skyport.

Lakecap Skyport and Lounge and Casino and Tavern. Those are insinuated in the title. Turn to Imogen. This place is really fucking loud. Do you want a drink? I'm going to get a drink. Yeah, I'm just going to be over. How heavy of a drink? Not.

Oh, I'm going to do a thing, okay. Are you all right, darling? Of course, yeah. We just, I can't help but, the moment we landed, you've been a bit listless. Oh, well. I mean, you know, we've been out in nature

for quite a while now, so it's just, it's strange to come back into something new. You know, and... Yeah, I mean, my mom could potentially be here. I just, it's strange. The city's just so beautiful, and I... I just feel so scared of it. Well, you got some company.

Yeah. And, you know, I'm not going to stop being afraid. That was a moment, but do you want to reach out to her again or maybe wait until we know more about what we're doing? Maybe when we're not here. But yeah, I think I probably should. She might not even be here. She might not even say if she is, you know?

Plus, we have the seminary to look into. Which she's been to? Yeah, that's how I found out she was even connected to all this. There was an essay written by one of the professors there that included her. Then maybe answers are right around the corner for you. Yeah.

I think it's smart to be cautious. You know, it's easy to get charmed by appearances, but to your point, we know what's going on. Speaking of folks who we don't know might be here, do you want to check that orb? Oh, yes! Pull it out and look under the orb.

It appears dark. There is no sign of a glow nearby. I hate not knowing if she got rid of the tracker. I've rated it. I come up with a tray of various glasses and just start handing them out. There's a big, frozen, weird copper thing with ginger for you.

Something they called a corpse reviver. I don't know, good luck. Whoa! I just bought a- What if it works? What if it works? What if it works? We could have gone here the whole time! A weird little cup of apparently what are some chips you can use in these things,

but they're made of metal, so here you go. Hey, thank you, Ashton. I don't know, but it's got a straw that does some weird shit. Oh, what a fun little thing. A weird little lavender martini thing with a, I don't even know what kind of fruit. Well, it was apparently a very nice pale ale,

and then I just asked for something that tastes like liquor and leather, and this is apparently what it is, and it's up there. Ashton, this is so thoughtful. Smell it from here. Thank you, Ashton. Yeah, no problem. I needed a drink, and since, you know, went in.

Aw, been softy. Where'd Zandis go? Oh, you heard? Zandis is currently off the side of a table and is playing what looks to be a dice game with their large, over-the-shoulder sack onto the side of the table where they're at, and they're currently engaged with three of the people

at the table and the dealer. Does anyone fancy a game of gambling or whatever? Yes! No, I mean, no, no. Well, we should try, right? Uh-uh. Well, I don't know. It can be a very... I'm guessing we're staying here.

Are we? It seems like we're staying here. It feels like it's easy. Yeah, why not? Stay at the lounge. All right. Anything looking interesting about these people? I don't know, I was going to take a look and then I didn't. Ah, woo! Ah. Woo!

Oh, woo! What about? I meant to say, and I just had an ear. We, woo! Yeah. Orym only sips at his ale and is definitely looking for a fuckery. What if there's a, are there any games that are around

that, where there's lots of people congregated that maybe we could chat up and get some information about the place? Yeah, plus if you spend enough money, sometimes they comp you a room. Hook you up with a dope-ass suite, give you all sorts of shit, get you all liquored up so you spend more.

Of course Chetna would know about casinos. Of course. Not allowed in some places. We know. What's your talking about? Of course. I'm not allowed in some places. We know. What's your name? What's your card? Anything with dice or colors or cards. That's all on my face.

Yeah. Is there something that smells? I assume that would be your thing, too. I don't know. Shit. Yeah. How can you count cards by smelling them? I've never tried it. That would be awesome.

First time for anything! First, you mark them real quick and then slip them back into the deck. Yeah, get the cards on the table. Oh, okay. You just give a little squirt to each one. Oh, it smells like a 16. There's no 16 in the deck of cards.

This is Andrea's. Oh yeah, you are. Are we being low-key? Are we making a splash? What's the plan? We're spending money. I think it's good to make a splash anywhere. We can fix things the way they are.

All right, so. I think we should maybe get something to eat, share a drink, and then we're staying, we're going to lodge here? Sure. Sure. I'll look for a back table that's away from the crowds for Imogen. Okay. And, you know. Easy enough to find.

It looks like this place is designed to house upwards a healthy 60 to 100 people at peak party atmosphere, and there's maybe about 20 total, so it's a little sparse at this hour. Okay. Get a table in the back. I'm going to make Pâté just hold the fort for us. Don't worry, I'm watching it for you. Good boy.

Everyone will sit at this table. Does it look like there's anyone to worry about in here? Pay perception check. Oh, two sixes, and a 15. Not that great, 15. 15. Glancing around, the clientele is quite varied. You can see there are some in various elements

of Marquesian garb. You can see some folk that are wearing clothing that they probably are from either Isilra or Wildemount. They're definitely not from around here. Everyone here is dressed well. There's definitely an air of presenting their wealth, whether it be through jewelry, attire, both. And as you, especially with your passive perception,

which is now 29, you catch all manner of scents through the air. You can, there is definitely a battle of the perfumes and colognes within this chamber. And the scents very much befit the ostentatious presentation of each individual as you pass by. But you watch as many folks who are playing games

are also very much keeping tabs on each other. The air seems to be both jovial and with a subterranean layer of business and gathering the essence of the others in the space around it. Some rounders in here. You do also see there are armored guards, four of them within the chamber,

two at the top, two in the bottom, that are keeping to the back. They look like they have heavy maces that hang from belt loops on one side and a round shield on the other, just a small arm-kept one. They all have these light half-cloaks that go over the shoulders that have the same deep blue with gold trim coloration as to what you saw people here wearing. They're keeping an eye, making sure that nothing untoward happens in the space.

Logan's run vibe from a lot of this. I'm excited to actually see a little bit. There's so much flowy pale. Another table erupts as someone throws down a hand and people bang the table, laugh, clap the shoulder of the winner, and they go back into the next set up. There's stairs going up and down, aren't they?

Yes, there are two floors to the lounge. I'm going to go to the floor, too, really quick. Just check it out. Anybody want to? Yeah. Oh. Oh. Oh. Ah. Yeah. Oh, oh, ah. You can both. We'll both go join you.

One or the other, I can't take both. You guys going to be okay? Everyone's got such serious faces. We're just going to be real quick. We're going to check it out. We're great. Go. I'm going to order some calamari. From a casino?

That's one way to go. No, Shelton is great. Didn't we just get overly negative one to all your skills? You really just want to go right back to that. Right back to that. Maybe they're a lake squid, I don't know. Get some breakfast sushi while you're at it, Jesus.

We're going upstairs with Ashton. Downstairs or? Downstairs, I mean, it's downstairs. You guys are upstairs, they're going downstairs. We're going downstairs with Ashton. Istairs or? Downstairs, I mean, it's stairs. You guys are upstairs, they're going downstairs. Going downstairs with Ashton. I'm going to be a little inappropriately fast on those stairs, because that's what stairs are for. Okay, yeah.

You're going to clamber down. You're going really fast. Yeah, I just hop over everyone, you know. Yeah. The lower floor's a little more dense. There's maybe three more people here than there were above. But being closer to the base of the tower, there are a little more dense. There's maybe three more people here than there were above. But being closer to the base of the tower,

there are still little ways up. There's probably a number of floors below you, but the lounges are very much the apex before you get to the Skyport. You can see there is one table, actually, there are two tables that are people playing cards, card games. There are three tables with some sort of a dice game,

and the rest of them are just open tables, or folks that are in the process of having a conversation while sharing drinks. It's just more of the same, I suppose. You want to play something? Downstairs? Do they have dice upstairs, too, or no? They look like they have, yeah.

Like, it varies. I'm saying that it's a little more crowded. This is just a bit more people. We want to, we're trying to keep it low key, right? It doesn't matter. We're in a totally different city. I mean. Well, let's hop upstairs and play some fucking dice.

Okay. Too many people. Carry me up the stairs. It's easier. I just pick him up. All right. See? Drag him up the steps with you. Do you want to fuck with him?

You got that? Could I? I, well, yeah, but maybe give me a second. Yeah. Do you need a distraction? Just got to take a piss. Can I? Yeah. Just got to take a shit.

All that can about it. A little pellet trail leading through. You can see one. Burn, no! Can I look around and see if there's anyone watching us? That's a good call. Make a perception check. Okay. Come on, Fearne, big roll.

Cry. Natural one. Oh, damn it! Get out. That's what happens when you demand it. You have never felt more stealthy and unseen in a public space before. You could accomplish anything and nobody would see you.

She's standing in the middle of the room, spinning in circles. Yeah. She's off to the table. She's taller than everyone else. Mm-hmm. Ma'am, you need to get off the table. Yeah.

You look like a deer in a candlelight. What's going on? A deer in a candlelight. Well, there's no headlights. I had to do something. That was great. I was just looking around, and I don't think anybody can see us. Yeah, maybe.

Yeah. I'll go with it. Be yourself. Do your thing. I mean, nobody's paying attention to us. So what do you want to try? Well, I don't know. I don't know if it isn't the time to play the game. I just want to make sure that maybe we all, should we all stick together?

I think we should stick with you, yes. Well, should we go back upstairs and play the game, or do you want to play the game? I think you just cut loose. What happens in the Lake Cap? Oh, you came down here, too? Skyport Lounge stays in the Lake Cap, Skyport Lounge. And Tavern.

And Tavern and Casino. Et cetera. I mostly just want to make sure that everything was, you know, there wasn't anything weird going on here, anyone would recognize anything like that. Play a game! Oh, we can play. You want to play a game? Play a game! Well, we can play. You want to play a game? Play a game!

Well, just hold your horses a minute. Should we just, you know, get a lay of the land here? Let's do a little walkabout. Let's do a little walkabout. Okay, let's do a walkabout. Let's do a walkabout. Let's do a walkabout. We're totally nonchalantly, we're going to walk through and I'm going to try and squeeze through the crowd.

As we walk around, I'm going to detect thoughts. Just general. Hell yeah. General detect thoughts. General vibe, okay. Okay. Focusing on the players at some of the tables. I'm going to be muscle. I'm going to look like muscle.

Okay. So as you walk through, you can pick up surface thoughts and bits of conversation that are too muddled to really pick up with your passive perception, but you pick up the thoughts of the mind. One person's discussing and saying, Stevens is complaining about something haunting the depths of the Wine Pebble Shore,

scaring off all the fish and wrecking their yields. I personally wonder if it's an excuse for poor effort, honestly. You drift past another mind. New task has been added to your mission. Another mind says, Oh, the solstice is coming up. I've already arranged a viewing party for our friends at the estate. Another mind says, Oh, the solstice is coming up. I've already arranged a viewing party

for our friends at the estate. Another one says, I heard there were Strato spies caught outside of Dome. Such intrigue. Let's keep an ear out and see if we can invest in arms and supplies, just in case. It makes for a good opportunity.

You're getting this smattering of thoughts and people having conversations. Definitely there's an air of societal presentation and business wheeling and dealing outside of the mindset of just playing games. Okay. That's all I'm interested in. Those are all thoughts we're picking up.

I'm going to go take a double-digger in a bathroom. Double-digger. Shouldn't have had those oysters. But yeah, there are. It's three-tiered like. Yeah, double-decker is the first and second tiers. You got to do it. Yeah. In the back, in the front, and on.

Oh shit. Oh my god. Oh my god. Damn. Oh, this's rolling everything. Oh, he's rolling. I didn't want to get that person over there. Oh, he knocked the gate off!

Jeez! Strato spies? What are you talking about? Sorry, I'm listening to some thoughts. Oh, shut up, Zayn. So the Strato's Throne, I thought, rules this area. So why would there be Strato's spies here? Strato's Throne is the Talon highlands to the west.

They were at war with Aisha, I believe. Oh, got it, got it, got it. So is it still just tents, then, maybe? Yeah, it's often on tents. It's been 20 years of a truce. I'm going to saunter up to one of the guards. Oh boy. Go ahead.

You approach a half-giant wearing the shoulder pauldrons, bit of chain mail visible from beneath, and of course the half cloak over it. The helmets here are interesting because they're almost like skull caps that curl up past the ear and they have these almost tusk-looking blades to mimic tusks on the head itself. You can see a lot of the...

The majority of the guards themselves, you can see the four that are in here, two of them are full orc. One of them looks to be a hardy-looking dwarf and the half-giant that you approach. You stand on their barrel chest, a bit of a wide torso, squat thick legs, armored up and gives you a glance as you approach.

Hi. You go. I'm new to town, and I just wanted to see if there was anything I should watch out for, anything going on that you're like, oh my goodness, you being here alone, you should watch out for, anything going on that you're like, oh my goodness, you being here alone, you should watch out for it. I mean, you should always keep a hand on your coin purse.

Sure, sure, sure, sure, sure. That's where people take stuff all the time. If you're looking to charter a boat, maybe take a few options and then choose the cheapest. Oh, that's good advice. This time of year, I would maybe avoid the oysters. Shit. Okay. Too late. Too late.

We asked you about the summer. Do I hear you in my head? No, I'm just next to you. How about the... How about the seminary? Is it... The Adinlin Seminary? That's one more time? The Adinlin Seminary.

Yes, that's what it was. I was just making sure you were thinking of the same one that I was. You're a student. You're here to learn. I'm a professor. Oh, my apologies. That's okay. You are a professor of the seminary.

Well, no, I'm a traveling professor, and I'm here to go to there. Make a deception check. Oh, that was amazing. Oh, that was amazing. Oh, that was amazing. How did I not go to there? Roll deception, Liz Lemon. What am I doing? Deception.

Low rolls are for school. 10. 10, okay. He goes, Okay. Well, you can, you're welcome to go to the seminary. Do you know where to find it? I, no.

Where do I go? It's in the Dominion Ring, the northern most ring. Dominion Ring, I see. Kind of to the southwest of the Seat of Valor. Oh, okay. The Dominion Rings. What are all the rings called? It's so clever that they named the Calamari

the Dominion Rings. We're above the Endeavor Ring right now. The Central Ring. Oh, wow. It's the more business-oriented portion of the city. Merchant island, marketplaces. It's the more business-oriented portion of the city. Much in Thailand, marketplaces. There's the domineering to the north, and to the south is the venturing.

There's the more heavily urban neighborhoods, fishing docks, and the large harbor that goes to the Lapis outlet and off to the ocean. But welcome. Thank you. to the Lapis outlet and off to the ocean, but welcome. Thank you. Professor. Thank you, Calloway, Professor Calloway. Professor Calloway. Yeah.

Dark arts. Where did you get your hat? And it begins. They're part of the century uniform. It is given out at the end of training. It's a century within the city. Oh, okay. So it was gifted.

It's part of my job. Oh, so you got it. You didn't have to pay for it. You just got it for free. Correct. I do not actually own it. The city owns it. I'm merely borrowing it as a filthy position.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. But if I work at this long enough and retire, I think I do get to keep it. That's pretty cool. That's a nice gift at the end of thanks. All right, well, I guess that's it. That's all I was thinking of. MCG, what do I say?

I actually, Professor Calloway, if you don't mind. Oh yes. I'm going to, hi, I work for Professor Calloway. I'm going to have a lot of free time while she's busy with her work. You work for the professor? Moir's lifting things, moving them, I'm well aware. Is there something fun to do in town

that's a little more or less this? Something rough and tumble, a place that absolutely cannot be missed? I don't think I'm ever going to be able to get back here again. That's why I took the trip. It's crazy. Make a persuasion check.

All right. You're asking the cops where to go? Yeah, fuck. that's why I took the trip. It's crazy. Make a persuasion check. All right. You're asking the cops where to go first? Yeah, fuck yeah! Fuck yeah, I am. Where can I go to get in trouble? I don't know if I can decide. It's not even trouble.

I just want to know if there's fucking fun. Where do you get your perps? 14. 14? Yeah. There's not many places to get into rough and tumble, if you're asking. I'm just not stuffing. This is a place of learning.

This is an illuminated cityscape. So a good view, then. Just something I can take home. Steps aside and gestures to the window about five feet from him that overlooks a beautiful view of the city. It does look, yeah. These people just making a little stuffy.

Okay, okay. Can you step outside? I'll just make it a little bit higher.. Okay, okay. Can you step outside? Absolutely, goodbye. Excuse me, where do you get your drugs? Actually, it's a few spice. All right. We did great, we did great. Yeah, yeah.

Good luck, Professor Galloway. Thank you. Kindly. I wish I'd named. Calloway. Thank you. Kindly. Oh, Shaggy. Yeah. Do you plan on gambling? I've already lost 100 gold. Oh!

Well, I have an idea of how to maybe make that back. I'm all ears. You see, I'm not really. I love games, but I haven't really gambled much, because most places I go into, if I ever tried to gamble, they'd be like, ah, hag, get out, blah, blah. But.

There was a hag in there? Right, well. Hag? Okay. Yes. Yeah, there was always hag. There was always hag, yeah. But you see, Pate. Hi, Pate. We've been chatting a little bit.

Because he's got a little special ability where he can go invisible. And I can see through Pate's eyes, and I could send you messages. So just to know if there's anything in terms of looking at other people's cards or looking to stack the deck, as they say in the gambling world.

Do they say that? I don't know. But I'm really excited. I'm sorry. Is anybody listening to us talk? Yeah, I know. As you say that, I'm going to say in Laudna's head, maybe you should talk a little quieter. I say, I'm here at the bottom.

Just throwing it off. I'm in. How long does Pate stay like that? I believe. Turn invisible. Staring at the table for a second. Oh. Until he attacks anything.

So he just stays like that. Oh, he just disappeared for a while. That's great. What about the talking? Can you make sure he doesn't do that? I think we can communicate. Well, he doesn't have to talk at all. He just has to see. Okay, let's do it.

And then I can see through his eyes. Although, you know, I just, I'm mindful of getting kicked out the first night, the first hour of us being here. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. So we just can't get caught. Yep, pretty much. Well, it's up to you.

The option is there. Imogen and Orym are halfway into a game of Dots and Boxes, just listening to this conversation. Yeah, listening to everything happening. Just shaking our heads in unison. So Orym, you do note, with your passive perception of infinity. That she's cheating at dots and boxes?

Yes, there is that. Son of a bitch! It's only because I can read his thoughts and know exactly what he's going to go next. You are one of the worst people to play those sort of games with. Oh! Go on ahead!

Got you through school, it was real popular. Yeah, she would just read thoughts. Yeah, she would just kill her. Yeah, I was going to say, but. But yeah, the two sentries that are keeping guard here are definitely keeping an eye on the strange crew that just arrived and they're bouncing around. That's you. Yeah.

They're not aggressive, but they're definitely like, they're looking over the room and then checking in on y'all. Looking over the room and checking in on y'all. You're the new kids and you don't really dress like a lot of the other clientele, so they're just keeping an eye. I write that above the dots and boxes game so that Imogen knows.

Mm-hmm. I will tell you this, most gambling, it's usually against the house and the dealers, they don't really know what they're even playing with. It takes the human factor out of it. So unless we sit down for like a... Like a long time. Yeah, some kind of a game that's against somebody else.

In your head, you hear, just so you know, I don't think it's the smartest idea to cheat. Maybe tonight, just Orym has let us know that the guards are definitely watching us. Whose head are you in? Laudna's. Apparently, we're drawing focus.

Let me know if someone is disappearing. No, hang on. Hold, hold it's a good disappearing. No, no, hang on. Hold, hold. I love the enthusiasm! Love the tenacity, you're so good! Maybe it's a bad idea to cheat tonight, but maybe tomorrow night. It's on. All right.

Once they're more used to us. We'll scout for some marks. I like it. Yep. I assume we're coming up by now. Sure. Guards are dicks. Just saying. At any point while keeping a one eye on the guards, have they been speaking to each other at all?

They do. No. Okay, they're just both eyeballing us? Yeah. Okay. They're just mindful of the new clientele. Doing their job. Yeah. So we're not playing anything? Is that what's happening?

Oh no, go play. Go play, play a game. We're here for the night. I mean, we will be once we get a- I want to hit some dice. I'll play a round of something. I've never done this ever. What kind of games do we see? The two games you see available here,

and there's a few tables to run on, there's Griffin's Wall, which is a dice-based game in which the dealer and the player roll 2d10, and they can hit and roll another 2d10 to try and see who gets the closest to 21 without going over. Oh. Nice. From the payout.

And there's Fork of the Storm, which is a variant of the Gambit of Ord, which is a card game in which the dealer and players all roll a d8, but keep it hidden. They then get to allow a raise, call, or fold. Then everyone publicly rolls a d6, can go another round of bets, and then whoever's still in then publicly rolls a d4.

Final betting round, and then everyone reveals the d8 that they originally rolled, tally them up, and the highest number wins the round. Doubles on any of the dice get to roll an additional d4 at the end and add it to the value. Doubles on any of the dice? You mean like you got a six and a six

between the different dice? And where are the slots? The unicorn slots. Enchanted Unicorn, Wheel of Fortune. Right, those are the loves outside of Reno. We're Wolf and the Witch. Ghostbusters. Chet and Yitro spends the next seven hours going,

Come on. Come on. You son of a bitch, hit! Big old plastic bucket just filled with coppers. I'm going to put it on three of these! That's Reno right there. I could get down with Fork of the Storm. Yeah, let's go fork some storms.

Maybe I'll give us a salmon sandwich if we all sit for a minute. Lake Salmon. With cream cheese, baby. And cucumber slices. So Fork of the Storm, Griffin's what? Griffin's Wall. Griffin's Wall. Griffin's Wall. And then what was that one? Fork of the Storm? Fork of the Storm. Fork of the Storm, Griffin's what? Griffin's Wall. Griffin's Wall. Griffin's Wall.

And then what was that other one? Fork of the Storm? Fork of the Storm. I think I've got the brain for Griffin's Wall. Which one is the more complicated? Fjork of the Storm. Fjork of the Storm. Fjork of the Storm, yeah.

Fjork of the Storm. Two, please, for Fork of the Storm. Three, please, for Fork of the Storm. The dealer at the table, this nicely groomed, maybe early 20s human man, very, very short, dark hair, somewhat tanned skin,

wearing the similar attire as the other dealers at the table as he looks over. Ah, of course, that's a 50 gold buy-in each. That's really high. 50 gold, bam! This is a very expensive casino. I don't have any money. I got it, I see a giant book! So 50 gold, 50 gold.

All right. Do you want 50 gold? I go back and sit down and finish Dots and Squares. Actually, can you give me an extra 25? What? Yeah. Sure. Thanks. Wait, I kind of want to buy in, too. Feel free. 50 gold.

I'm going for it, because I don't understand how this game fucking works. All right. Drink my Corpse Reviver and watch. Think about achieving. So now, everyone, take out your d8s, roll them, and then cover them with your hand. Okay.

Right now? Yep. Secret roll. Secret rollies. Secret rollies. Who wants to raise, fold, or call? We're going this way? Yeah. Call. Wait, is there an ante? It's 50? The ante is 50.

A check, essentially. I'm going to take my other 25 in chips and hold it in my hand. Changebringer, what should I do? I'm going to cast Divination. What the fuck? It's a fourth-level spell. Oh my god. Consumes 25 gold pieces worth of

money. Oh my god. Bam, Otohan crashes through the skyline. Not in your doubt, this is not a new house I can't live in. All right. Hold on. No, there's no doubt. No, there's no doubt. All right. Hold on. This is just the chaos. Okay. You feel the coins evaporate in your grasp.

They're the component? Yeah. Amazing. What do you want to rank them? Amazing. I don't know. I meant to tell you, there's a 20% big on this investment. Money means nothing to me. 30%.

Okay. Changebringer. I rolled a three. What should I do? What should I do? The whispered winds of the changebringer drift through your mind, and you feel a calm summer breeze

that drifts through the fields of grass. The grass that freshly cut reminds you of your namesake. The sound of the wind goes, . The sound of the wind goes. I'm going to fold. Does that mean I get my finger back? You can just check. No. I'll just check. No one's raised yet.

Okay, I'll check. Ignore the change bringer. Hey, change bringer, suck it. Let her ride. Call a raise. I would like to raise. Oh shit. How much do you raise?

25 gold. All right. I'm out! Not yet, it's only your turn! No, shit! No! I'll use this to cover it for now. All right.

You. So? Dealer puts another 25. Matches? Matches. I'll match. Now? No, not yet. Yeah, now you're just going to do it now. I'm folding!

Praise be. All right, everyone roll a d6 publicly now. Dealer has a three. Let's see what I would've gotten. A d6 publicly? Mm-hmm. A five, amazing. Ooh.

A five. Okay. Three on the dealer's side. Six. All right, so call, raise. A check. I raise. Yes, you do. Okay, how much do you raise?

25 gold. Okay. I'm going to get an even high. 25 gold! You got it. I think we saw a tell just now. The dealer. Chaos. Straight a ghost! You got it. I think you saw a tell just now. I know. The dealer.

Chaos. Straight fire. Uh-huh. Dealer meets it. Ball still. I'll raise 100 gold. Oh! Whoa!

Big dad. This is such a tension. This is such a tension. Shit. Help me right now. There's only big dogs at this table. Arf, arf! Oh, are you just a puppy?

I'm a little wolf over here. Nailed it. Well, I... would like to try... Turned it off the table! Stop standing in the boots. I would like to try to Slide of Hand. Okay, okay.

And put my eight to an eight. My die. Oh, the first die? The first die. Trying to fudge the number. Roll a sliding contact. I would like to fudge the number. Roll a sliding hand check for me. I would like to fudge the number. Come on, come on.

At the table that the dealer's sitting at, and the pit boss is right there. This is a relatively high challenge. Well, this is the end of us. This is the end. We're going to put the DC of this at a 22. 22? Because you're right there in front of a dealer

that is literally watching your hand as you do this. Nice. So I would have to roll. We're getting fucking rolled out of here. Hold on, hold on. Watch this. That would be, that's only, I would have to roll a 17 or higher.

Okay, I'm going to leave it. It's doable. It's doable. Don't you guys taunt me like this. Do it, do it. I wish I tripled. 10%. 10%? I wish I could do guidance. I don't know if she's doing it. 10 plus triple? How dare you. Okay this. Do it, do it. I wish I could triple. Is it 10%? I wish I could do guidance. I don't know what she's doing. 10 plus triple.

How dare you. Okay, then I do it. Okay. Okay. It works. I rolled an 18. Okay. So do you an 18. Okay. So do you? Monster. Wow. Do you meet his raise, or do you raise yourself?

Oh yeah, he raised 100. Two platinum. Oh! Thank you, change bringer. So it's an extra 20 on top. So you meet his and do an extra 20? Mm-hmm. Okay. Oof.

Is the dealer matching? The dealer matches? She said two platinum. So she said 25, he said 100. She threw down two platinum. What does that mean? 100 and two platinum. She's up, did you meet and then raise another two platinum? So 100, 25, 120.

That's where we're at right now. I'll call you. I'll see that action. There we go. So you put another 20 into it, got it. You don't want to put another five gold in to make it an even 200 at the table. Is that what's missing?

Five gold, five shmeasly little gold. No, I like these numbers. We were 440 in the pot, apparently. Dog. All right, everyone. Roll your last die. Just want to see what it would've been. It's a four, it's a d4.

d4. Oh, d4. Yeah. That's a d4. Gilder's at a two. Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow. Four. Damn, Jett's rolling real good. No, he's rolling real good.

One. Oh fuck. 50. Oh no. I still might not make it. Okay. Number one reveal. All the dice? Yep. What's the total number? He rolled a three star.

Eight. Oh, balls. Dealer rolled balls. Whoa! What'd you get, Chet? Wait, what was it? The best you can do. That's the best you can roll? Max? You got Max? You got Max.

Shit. Into the spider's web you play. All right, so that puts you at 18. I know. 16. 16. That's the history of the show. Dealer is at an eight, but Doubles gets to add another d4.

Which is at a two, so it's a 10, which is Doubles gets to roll another. Wait, what? Why is he going to? Oh, that's a crazy d4. Wait, Doubles gets to roll more? Doubles gets to add d4s at the end, so there's a chance to continue to explode at the end. I forgot about that part.

Oh shit. What did you get total? The total would be 11, so still no gold. Oh! Wow. So Chetney wins. Good game. So that's 635 gold. Good game. In the pot total.

Because everybody put 50 in. Yeah, that's from you guys. Three people put 100, three people put 25, and three people put 20. Yep. Well, how much? 635 gold. 635. Now mind you, you get 80% of that.

Oh, yeah, I'm going to get one. I'll come out with that. All right, money puts in this way. That puts 508 gold back to you. And the rest goes back to the house. I tip the dealer. Two gold. This is an expensive fucking game.

I don't know why we kept it in the high rollers section. Yes, it is. 50 gold buy- ain't fucking. Maybe that's why the top level is a little more sparse than the bottom level. Can we get a salmon sandwich? And maybe some margaritas? I want to see what that can do.

What was that? That's a good idea. The dealer goes and calls everyone on the server. Chocolate martini. Sends out for some sandwiches and some margarita. How much gold? That was, oh, total? You put in 170. some sandwiches and some margarita. How much gold was it? That was, oh, total? You put in 170. Sandwiches and margaritas.

195. It's fun, I like it. For the 20 minutes we have. I guess I should go get us a room, but we'll probably need the Presidential Suite. Are you talking to me? Do you not give out the rooms, Dealer? No, I mean, I play, I run the games.

I can go ask. Talk to Freya. Freya downstairs could get you rooms. Oh shit, we want to find Freya. I'll go ask. Okay. You keep playing. You're on a roll. Yeah, hot hand. I know, that looks really fun.

I really want to play it. Let's go! You want to go play it? Now we know the rules, it'll be fast, come on. Come on. I'm into it. All right. Let's do this shit. The big time or the other game? Everyone's going to do the big time.

Yeah, we could find the Harrah's instead of the 50 gold. I'm finding a way. Matt, are you cool with just seven more episodes of this card game? One more round, just one more round. We'll call it one more. Sam's Town. Do you want to do the same game or a different game? Griffin's Wall is just like blackjack with dice.

That might be a lower bound. It is, 25. I'll wander down to that. Which one, the other one? But I'm not playing this anymore. I haven't gotten a single box, and I'm usually so good at this game. I want to play Griffin's,

I want to play Fork of the Storm. I want to play Fork of the Storm. Okay, so who's, okay, we'll say for the purposes of the narrative here, we'll do one round of Griffin's Wall and then maybe one more round of Fork of the Storm and then we'll. This is our show now. Yep. Sorry, it's really fun.

We're quiet, it's really fun. How'd it happen? It's a really fun game. It's our game to have fun. You made it fun. Uh-huh. Hey. Okay, which one are we doing? I thought you guys were here to watch, but we're going to play Griffin's Wall. Okay, so Griffin's Wall, you do d10s, and then what else?

It's blackjack. Two d10s. Blackjack. It's 10s. You just got to get close to 21. As close to 21 as possible. How do you get 21 with two d10s? Grab a d10. You do two d10s. You roll those, and then you all take a round of bets,

and then you go ahead and roll additional d10s for each round that you bet, trying to get as close to 21 as possible. But if you go over 21, you lose. You bust entirely, yeah. Then you're forever 21. Oh. Yes.

No one will ever be that far. That's the worst joke ever made on this show. We reached it. That's the limit. What's the pie in here, Chappie? 25? 25 gold for this one. That's not fair. You rolled two d10s at the top?

Imogen wouldn't play, but Laura really wants to gamble, so we're gambling. Come on, Imogen! Listen, you really got to take your line off your bar. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Don't worry, y'all, I'm in, I'm in. Okay, you rolled both two d10s up top. You bring money to these places to give it away, to lose it.

All right, so you're going to mark down 25 each. Oh yes, you pay for fun. Once and then you're out. So how many people are playing? One, two, three. I mean, I'll play that, too. Yeah, go ahead, sorry. Okay, so five folks.

That's 125 gold in the pot currently. Okay, so 25 gold to buy in. There we go. So, first to 10. Rolled publicly. Yep, dealer is at a seven. 11. Terrible.

Total garbage. Oh wait, no, no, that's not good. Roll a two and a three. So leave the d10s there, and then we're just going to add them as we go. Are we rolling out here? Yes, or wherever is publicly. Okay.

All right, so. Yeah, I can't read those. 14. Wow, you got a 10 and a part of an egg. And a four. Ain't no little booty time for me. Do you have to pay for additional d10? No. We can hit. We can hit.

Ooh. Oh, a 10. That's 21. No! Oh! Stop it! What the fuck? The dead is on fire!

This game, we're only playing against the house. We're not playing against each other. Correct. You got a 10 and a 10? I've got 11 and a 10. Okay. That's a good 11 and a 10. It's a 3-2 buyout,

so for every two you put in, get three back if you win. All right, so what'd you get? I have a 12 now. Yep, are you going to hit? Yeah, I'm going to hit. Oh, with a five, so that puts me at 17. Mm-hmm. Fuck, that's the worst!

Yeah. You got to stay. You just got to beat the dealer, you're good. I'm sure I'll stay. Why did she spend 25 roll to pass this? Oh, she's not fucking up to other people's gear on this world. Yeah. And you didn't hit, so we can hit and roll another d10 on our turn?

Yeah. Okay. Yeah, okay. You just keep going until you stop. Okay. Okay. I'm going to hit. At the very end, the dealer goes. Okay.

No, 21! Yes! Okay. Nice. Orym. You're at seven. Yeah. That's fine, I'll try. I need a d10. Where the hell did it go?

Got some d100s. Just roll another one of Laura's. There it is, it was hiding. Six. All right, super low. So what do you roll? A six, so now I'm at 11 total. Oh, so roll your hit again.

Hit again? Yeah. Or, I mean, it's up to you, or the dealer could go bust. Go for a 10. It's a Yeah. Or, I mean, it's up to you. Or the dealer could go bust. Go for a 10. That's a 10. 21. Oh!

What the hell, y'all? Hell's rolling in. Hell yeah! Let me end this streak real quickly. This'll be the end of it. Here we go. 21, Jesus. What did she get?

Nine, six, and six. Oh my god. What the hell, y'all? This is wild! Not so risky. You should try it! You're the only one! You're the only one! You're the only ones!

I got to try it! You got to try it! Okay, okay, okay, we got to try it. Come on. Four, four. Give me a four, give me a four! Come on! Two, three, let's go! Now I stay, now I stay.

Okay, you dealer. What is it? All right, it's, three, let's go! Now I stay, now I stay. Okay, you dealer. What is it? All right, it's a three, it's a 10. Okay. Rollies is the best, you guys. Nine. 19. And you got to hit it again? You have to hit it, yeah.

Yeah, it's a bust. That was so dumb. I feel like we all went to Vegas together. Yeah, like, right now. I was so dumb. I feel like we all went to Vegas together. Yeah, me too. I was so dumb. What the living? Let's all do some blowjob shots. It's my bachelorette.

Okay, so all of you that put money in, you get back an additional 12 gold on top of that. Ah. I have to go. I'm almost at 12. Do they have glasses shaped like troll daycare? You gain 12. If you hadn't gotten rid of it, you gain 12 more gold. All right. All right.

I'm going to ask Freya for the best suite in the house. Okay, so you head down, outside of the casino, down into the top of the, and there are two layers to this. You look around and see, and there's a small little map on the side of the casino, down into the top of the, and there are two layers to this. You look around and see, and there's a small little map on the side of the wall that shows there is, the spiral staircase continues down,

and you can see as the tower expands, there are numerous floors. It's thinner down below because it's more of a central staircase, and all the rooms surround the outer portion of the wall as it goes. But it is all just a long, cylindrical, ever-expanding inn to the bottom of this tower.

Freya, you approach, and it is a female dwarf, probably looks like in her 30s or so, dark green-brown hair over a light olive skin, and interestingly, a chin beard that looks like vines that curl and entwine together and finish in a little ring with a gem in it. Overall, a very green aesthetic to the hair and skin. Are they actual vines?

Or is it hair tricked out? Hard to tell. Okay. But Freya's wearing this almost too loud, but not quite yellow dress with really nice necklace chains around the neck and turns to you and goes, Oh, hello.

Smiley, evening to you. Looking for a room you're looking for? Oh, yes. I'm with some high-rolling friends who are upstairs right now, and we wanted a big, fancy room. How many are you expecting to stay? There are seven people with us.

Well, six people and me. How many are staying per room? Well, if you have some sort of big suite. Chetney was very, my friend Chetney, he was very intent on getting some sort of big suite or some sort of, he really wants to swing a big dick while he's here and so. Something ostentatious and.

Let me see if it's a, and she goes back and opens this large, this beautifully intricate leather tome book. Just goes on the table, scanning through and checks to see. We do have one room that could comfortably be considered a suite for the night of, for you and your compatriots. That would be, must everybody, 12 gold for the night for you and your compatriots. That would be, must everybody, 12 gold for the night.

I think he was very intent on getting it comped because we just won a bunch of money or are spending a lot of money upstairs. She just lost some, actually. Well, yes, I did, but. A lot of money is flowing, and I think he was implying that because we're spending a lot,

we should be treated as some sort of royalty or... Make a persuasion check. I wonder how FCG is doing out there. Oh no. Fast friends. Ooh! What? Wow. What is that? I love the intent on that.

All righty. So cheesy. So poorly. Save it for later. A me three. Beat it. A natural 20. Oh! I'm not even joking. Oh no, this is bad.

It's okay. Well, if not for comping and things like that, what about for professors of the seminary? Oh god. Oh boy. What's this?'m looking for other. It's a 12 gold filled room for the night. And there is no flexibility.

This is not a bartering or trade-based system. This is not a negotiation. This is the price of the rooms. If you wish to stay here, you pay for the room. One moment. Chetney's going to be very upset if we don't get this room for free, so could we? We could.

We could pay for it and then lie? And then just tell him. Lie and say that we got it for free? You hear upstairs, 21! Yeah! Woo! Maybe we could even tip her so that she could lie for us and just tell him that it was okay.

Yeah. I don't have any money. I have money. Okay. How much did you say the room was? 12 gold for night two, the group says you're speaking about that. Okay, here you go. And, um. Oh, she's gone. Oh! She's gone.

That's nice. I'm sorry. What do I give for a tip? What, another dustbin. Another three, maybe? I don't know how money works. I don't handle money. I don't really know how to do tips. What do you give for a tip?

What would I give you extra? How much tip would you want right now? That is entirely up to you whether or not you enjoyed the service, I assume. Well, I don't know if I enjoyed the service because you didn't comp our room. No! Shit. Jesus.

The... The attemptedly pleasant exterior of this dwarven woman begins to fade as the jaw begins to clench a bit, and the nice hand gesture of openness and presentation makes the shift into a bit, and the nice hand gesture of openness and presentation makes the shift into a folded arm and goes, I apologize, but if you're not interested

in getting a room for the night, you may have to ask it to leave. Well, no, no, no, I gave you the 12 golds, and for your troubles, here's another five. Wow. She looks down and raises an eyebrow and gives us an eye. Tell you what, I probably should accept it.

Hey, if our friend, he's little, he has hair in his ears. Pointy, pointy toes. He has pointy toes. If he asks, could you just tell him that the room was complimentary? Looks down at the five gold tip. That can be arranged. Thank you so much, Freya.

You're such a good egg. Thank you. You're welcome. Is there a key? Yeah. She looks down, and as you were conversing, as she set the book aside, she had placed this beautiful-looking golden key. It's about that long.

The handle of it, it's a bit of ivory, but it's not actual ivory. It has a look to it, and there is a number in it, number 14. This is actually right outside of the first turn down the stairs on your left, room 14. Thank you. Enjoy your stay. She immediately turns back around and goes back to look busy at other things,

even though there's nobody else at the desk. Tomorrow, we see a tick-tock, a fern berating the person. Chariot Watch 2022. He's over here like, No, it's all right. I'm trying to get you a room for you. Oh my god. Hey, room watch.

Okay, we got the room. We did so good. We did a really good job. Back up sticks. Yeah. All right. People said they wanted to We did a really good job. Back up sticks. All right. People said they wanted to do another round of... Yeah. All right. I want to do the fork of the storm.

Fork of the storm. Yeah, I would, yeah. All right, so 50 gold buy-in for everybody. 50 gold! And that one is a d8, the first one up? Indeed. We'll take this here. Let's see where we go. We start with the d8, right?

Indeed. Nope. Are you not going to do it? I'm not playing. Okay, good. All right. Or I'm already feeling the ball. So, those who are in. Check. Check? Check. I'm not Or I'm already feeling the bond. So those who are in. Check. Check?

Check. I'm out of playing. We don't look. You look at yours. Oh. But you don't look at each other's. I'll raise 50. Ooh! Y'all being, you don't need to do nothing.

All right. I fold! Ooh. That was a really shitty dash. I also fold. Finally. Okay. You're going to try and read my mind? That won't go well. You know that.

Sorry. I didn't say that out loud. Just reminding. Reminding Laura. Just having that. You're going to read my eyes? I know, right? You said that out loud. This is just having that. Piffle, you got any reminds? Yeah, I know, right? You said that out loud.

This is just Inception. The rest of Bray's driving you out. Can I try to use my telekinesis to just shift my dice? Oh shit. Damn! I would have done that, but I would have done that as soon as it rolled.

I would have tried to shift it and just give it the little nudge. Yeah. Okay. Telekinesis, casting a spell, has verbal and somatic components. No, no, it doesn't. Not mine. My Mage Hand is completely.

Mage Hand is different from Telekinesis. Right, Telekinesis is a huge spell. My Mage Hand is a telekinetic feat. Gotcha, gotcha, gotcha. I see. It uses nothing. It's just brainpower. I'll tell you what. Is that random reroll? I'll tell you what. Is that random rerolling?

I'll tell you what. So you're just trying to nudge it into a different number of roll? Yeah. Anything different than what you've got or a specific number? I'll try to nudge it and see what happens. Okay. That's not bad, huh?

All right, go ahead and roll a d20 and add your charisma modifier. You have to beat an 18. I beat it. Did you? I rolled an 18, so plus my charisma. Okay, so re-roll the dice. Oh no!

It's okay, remember, doubles can add at the end and it can explode if you need to. No! Yes! Then my dice is just going around the table as I reroll it 100 times. Nope, it's still bad. Okay, it's bad.

I fold. You fold. All right, so it's between you and the dealer. It's that bad. It was so bad. The dealer meets you. All right. I can meets you. All right. Fucking hell, yeah. All right.

That's a four. Four. Okay. Raising another 50. Ooh. I'm detecting thoughts on the dealer. Okay. I hate this job. I can't wait to clock out these fucking assholes.

That's a fail. Do I get anything? Or is he so professional? Not even professional. The dealer's just like, all right, bets are in. Goddamn it, he's not just repeating the number in his head. No, they have no stake in the game. They do this all day.

They didn't come here to gamble. This is literally their job. They don't win, 100%. I really want a coffee. Coffee and a muffin. But you do start getting glimpses of childhood, like their father taking them to a local carnival. Fishing at the carnival. Then they're like, mom made them cry, but then apologize.

You're getting all this, like, I went too deep, I went too deep. All right. That scene in Flash Gordon. 24, mama. That's a four. I'll hold. Oh, but he got doubles. Okay.

That's going to be, Dio's going to go ahead and raise another 50. All right, oh. I'm eight. Oh, okay. Okay. This is dirty. And reveal.

Dirty. You get to roll again, Matt. Huh? I do, but once after you reveal. Oh, I see. Oh, you got an eight! Shit. You got an eight of two. Doubles at another four.

Oh, what? Which explodes again. So that's plus 20. And roll for a four. 25 total. Oh god. I'm out 200. I win. Better luck next time'm out 200. I win.

Better luck next time. Dealer takes it in. Dang! That was a fun game. That was a fun shit. It was so fun. I would be doomed if this was for real. I know, that was really fun, actually. I feel bad.

That was 200 gold. Yeah. You gave him 200 gold. Well, they won 200 gold. I didn't give them 200. Don't worry, though. The room is free. Oh, FGG for real.

For real, free, free, free, free. Oh, that's fantastic. Gratis, my friend. Insight check. Insight check. Because you spent so much money. I mean, that's actually quite bizarre. It's usually after you lose a lot of money. We've just been taken under the cleaners. So that's incredible, you got the room for free.

We know you're lying. Yeah, you know you're lying. It's up to you what to do with the information. Wow, that's great. That's amazing. That meat tongue turned into a silver tongue. Take your tea, your key. Ah.

It's right around this time that you see one gentleman who's on one of the tables, and you've noticed one of the folks just keeping an eye on you in the corner of one of the rooms, saunters up to your group and goes, Well, I have seen a majestic display of all sorts of gambling insights and, I don't know, just a radical energy of joyful friendship

you don't see too often in these spaces. As he approaches, he sees a man, Unia, looks like an elf orc lineage, handsome, rakish, with long, curly auburn hair that drifts past his shoulders. Almost looks like a Newsies cap, but it's a little bit wider and like a... Wider than a Newsies cap?

Yeah. Wow. It drifts over the back of the head a bit. A frill-trimmed long vest and a tusked smile that grins beneath the smile, clean-shaven beyond the curly hair. I may have apologies to intrude here, but I may apologize to Ensword Trude here, but I may be wrong to assume that you are from out of town, yes?

Yes, we are. Well, what a wonderful coincidence. I'm from here. Are you after any sort of business? Anything in particular you're doing? Anything you're looking for? Any experiences? Any joyfulness?

Any connections to make? Insight check. Are you a tour guide? I am a host, meaning I can guide you around the town. I can help introduce you to many of the wonderful sites. I can show you about the circumstances, make business introductions if they are necessary.

I am at your disposal for a small bit of change. So you know, inside check. That's cocked. Does anybody? 20. Thank you. 20 balls. Ooh!

Guys, this is not supposed to be read right now. It's only for battle. It's a battle thing. We're not, this isn't a battle, this is not supposed to be read right now. It's only for battle. It's a battle thing. We're not, this isn't a battle, this is a whisper. So I'm just going to say that I love you guys. Aw! Love you, too. I'll read this one instead.

We've never been to Vegas together. Balls, ass, and titties. Oh, okay. We've never been to Vegas together. I don't think we've never done a Vegas trip. Some of us have been to Vegas together, but not this group. I hate Vegas.

You can't go to Vegas with Laura. She tells me to leave. Don't offend. She's just teasing. She's like, off the table. Every time you come to the table, Warner of Vegas, I start losing. Okay.

If you leave, I win. Wow. You come, as soon as he stands over my shoulder, the table goes to shit. I'm clearly a cooler. Moth. shoulder, the table goes to shit. I'm clearly a cooler. No. Just for me. Some people just got it. Just for me.

He's great at poker. What's your name, friend? Thank you. Oh yeah. I am Mr. Landon Kreshall, guiding hand to Eos. Landon... Kreshall? Kreshall. Creshall, guiding hand to Eos. Landon? Creshall? Creshall.

Creshall. Creshall. Creshall. Amazing name. Do you have a card? Oh, I am the card. This is my card. Ah, incredible. Oh shit, handshake. You just stay here at the Skyport and offer your services to incoming tourists?

Well, occasionally throw a little coin onto a table, but also looking for individuals who might be needing help and at certain hours of the night. I'm not the only guiding hand, but sometimes I'm the lucky one to get to them first. So happy to make your acquaintance. You are? Baleshales? Baleshales?

Baleshales, that's your name? It's our collective name. We each have individual names, but that would take too long. You are a collective. What is your business? What do you do as a collective? We're a traveling performance troupe. Detect that. Make a deception check.

Fuck. This'll go well. I'm not so bad. It's all right, it's all right. Action check. Fuck. This'll go well. SAM and LAURA, ALL AROUND SAM and LAURA, ALL AROUND It's all right, it's all right. Natural 20. Black roll! Table time! Table time! Ooh!

This is the Sommatley presentation, says traveling performer, so sales traveling performance, obviously. That is incredible. Please tell me, what kind of performance do you do? Orym starts doing Cirque du Soleil shit with his sword. Oh, c'est normal. This is wonderful. Oh, people would be fascinated to see what you have to bring.

I do puppetry. Take out Pettay. Hello, I'm a puppy. Can't you see me? He's like, I don't even see puppetry. Take out Pâté. I know, I'm a puppet. Can't you see me? He's like, I don't even see a mouth move on there. My petriloquism, it's... It's incredible. I have another question.

Chocolate martini! Chocolate martini! I got it, I got it. We were having a good night. Salmon sandwich, Jason! I have a sandwich sandwich. As soon as Laudna slurs her speech, Orym shoots a vine up at the ceiling

and starts to do silk work. Oh god, right here in the casino, huh? Yep, absolutely. The nearby tables are stopped for a second, looking over, and some folks are hand over the back of the chair like, Huh? What the fuck is this bullshit?

This is crazy. I didn't him doing performances in the casino. That's amazing. Yep, wrapped around his leg. He's hanging, not using his hands. You can see some of the sentries are trying to gauge whether or not this is something to get involved with, but they're just watching.

There's no aggression coming from it. I just do, I smile upside down at them. As everyone's going about doing about. I'm on my recorder. Grass buns. It's a classic. Exandria over. It's a classic for a reason. This night is crazy.

You've been in town for maybe a half an hour. Maybe. Clearly we were a half an hour. Maybe. Clearly we were a little wound up. Imogen, you were casting Detect Thoughts. I was casting Detect Thoughts on Landon. She's our mind freak. I know. Really? She's illusionist.

Come on. Really? Please leave the table. Wow, Laudna. So, I mean, it's... I, this is the second Chris H. reference we've made in CR content in the past month, and I'm uncomfortable with it.

Chris, if you're a critter, I'm sorry. You're fine. He's totally a critter. As he cries somewhere. Did you learn French lessons? Imogen. In school? Imogen! Imogen! Imogen. Yes, Imogen! The surface thoughts you gather

are those of extreme curiosity and awe. This Landon figure is certainly taken aback and intrigued, and the thoughts are like, I would never have expected such a colorful night. What colorful possibilities. This is exciting. I'm glad I got them first. You know, that sort of a vibe.

Okay. You just stay there? Do you delve deeper? Are you, how long have you been a guide for the city, Landon? Oh, I've been a guide about five or so years, ever since we finished college. And what made you decide to pursue this as a career?

I just wanted to meet new people all the time. As you're still detecting the surface dots. He says, you know, finished college. He's like, finished college. And all sorts of interesting people from all over the world with their own stories and life experiences. It's just something that intrigues me.

And who knows, maybe one day I find someone who's in a business that intrigues me more than this, and I maybe make friends and follow them. And the service thoughts you get are, some people are suckers, some others are not, and some are worth more as friends. All right. Hmm. Hmm.

Hmm. Hmm. What did you go to college for? Tour guiding? No, it's not really. That's more of just personal experience. Growing up here on the city, I went to college for construction, carpentry, and the building of

detailed furniture. What material do you most like? I switch my detect thoughts over to Chetney. All you hear is, under the table. Wow. It's more like. He's just with his little feet swinging. He's got it.

You still have to take thoughts up. The carpentry, he's searching for terms. Not sure how honest he is. Well, as it turns out, we are in need of well-guided, well-skilled hands to navigate our way through this new town. Eos now hosts Bell's Hells, and it is the better for it. You can find us in the presidential suite.

Yeah. But it is a president. That's why we're staying. We got carved because we were crushing it up here. Oh, congratulations. Thank you. That's how normally it works the other way around. Are you staying near here?

We don't need anything this evening. I stay in the vicinity. Is it true, yeah? Tomorrow, we're probably going to head down to the Dominion Ring. Is that where the... Mm-hmm. Yes. So maybe around breakfast, if you're around.

What? No, we're not doing it? Oh no, it's fine. Maybe if you're around here around breakfast time, we could just check in with you and see if you want to accompany us. I can meet you here first thing in the morning and show you around at your discretion. What kind of rates do you charge, Landon?

Well, for a half a day of guidance, it is a five gold fee. For an entire day, we put it at an eight. And if you want me to show you around for the better part of a week, or put me on retainer even, I am at your disposal for whatever you need, and my skill set expands from there.

I am quite a multi-skilled individual. It's pretty fair. He winks at you. Mm-hmm. You should have him meet us in the morning. Yeah, in the morning. We'll see you then. Of course.

Well, Bellis Hands, it is a pleasure, and I look forward to showing you the majestic sights of this majestic city. Sleep well. And he exits. Oh, that hurt. No, that's fine. I do all the time.

I don't even know how to get most of my bruises. Bruises pat the edge. I like Landon. Listen, I know he seems like he's a bit of a leech, but. No, he seemed quite charming. But we really don't know anything about the city and maybe he could at least guide us around. He seems harmless enough.

Mm-hmm. Doesn't seem like he's going to rob us or anything. He didn't seem lecherous. Truly. I don't think he's actually a carpenter or anything. He didn't seem lecherous, truly. I don't think he's actually a carpenter, though, Chet. I hope you know. He's dead. Well, is there a code that he violated?

I mean, you don't claim to be an artisan of a skilled craft like woodworking if you're not one. What if it's what he really wanted to do? Aspires to be. Yeah, and he didn't get to, and that's why he's- I'll give him a test tomorrow. If he fails... You'll kill him. He's dead.

He loses. Well, maybe I need to up the penalty. That's something less for sure. He dies. He's probably harmless. Probably. Probably. This was a great night. You know what would make it better?

A shrimp cocktail tower! Wow. Get us one delivered to the room. I saw on the menu that they do them in tiers to represent the city. Yep. Will Joe talk to Freya? She's our personal concierge assigned to us

and she only handles us now. Boy, you. We are killing it tonight. Yes. Yep, we'll talk to her. It's wild how my left eye just started twitching when that came across. What's our room number?

We're in Proxill Tower, so we can all shit our brains out. Welcome to Eos. Iodine Fountain. City of Flowing Ono. That's why the light glows. It's just saturated with chlorine. Anybody that comes through the legs, like,

weird stuff. Oh! You do head back to your chamber, and they are very nice. There are only five beds within the room, but they are very nice. There are only five beds within the room, but they are very nice. The equivalent of a queen-size bed versus the casual cot or average,

moderate comfortability of the standard tavern or inn that you would pass by. There is one window that has crossbars in it and glass set into it that overlooks what looks to be the eastern or southeastern shore. You can see the glowing waters in the distance, as well as the torchlights along the eastern bridge that extends out towards the jungle far from here.

You can see the stars peeking up through the sky and a little bit of cloud cover that's slowly drifting across the skyline. Can we see where it is? From where you're sitting, no. You do see that Katha slowly drifting across the skyline. Can we see where it is? From where you're sitting, no. You do see that Katha is up in the sky because you do see the moonlight hitting some of the trees in the distance.

You don't see it on the edges of the water. You only see it towards the center where the glow isn't as strong because there isn't as much turbulent movement. But nevertheless, while Katha's out of view, you do see the presence of the White Light. But the room is beautiful. The furniture is quaint and very well made,

very well carved and oiled and tended to. There is an armoire. There are a number of places to store your things. Looks like there are foot lockers at the bottom of each bed to keep your individual wares safe, but the room is yours. This place is nice.

Holy! Is there a little balcony? It's not a balcony, it's just a window, but it is a wide window. You get a decent view. All right. Tile floors or carpet? Jesus. The floors here are stone,

but they do have rugs across them that match the decor. Watch out for those. This is nice for you. Very nice for you. So we're getting some shrimp delivered. Why? I also have a charcuterie board.

By yourself? No, delivered, To be delivered. Oh, I thought you were eating it already. I was going to be very upset because I'm not having a shrimp. Why aren't you going to have shrimp? I don't like it. The shrimp doesn't agree with me. Aw.

Does it not? Doesn't agree with your temtem? No, no, it gets very weird, and you do not want to see what happens when I've got issues. City of Flowing Shite. It's gravel. Gravel pit. Just gravel.

Sandblast. Gravel. Kashaka. What are we doing? What is happening? What are we doing? Stop! This is a battle. Why do you do this to me? It's the most beautiful location we've been building to come in here,

and we can only make the most foul puns and gamble wantonly. We're at the Skyport. We're at the Skyport. You haven't even touched the fucking city yet! Hopefully we'll have our shoes covered. Where's that casino on the way to the Shrek? You can't give us a casino, man!

You guys! You can't give us a casino! You're still in the terminal! Yeah. You haven't left the airport! You're in the mirror! This city is great! Thank you for the shark. You're an asshole. Maybe we can see a timeshare.

It's got a Hudson News here? Is the window open? It's been a long week on Earth-1. We just needed to unwind a little. Is the window open in our room? The window has crossbars in it, and it is glass-covered. It looks like it can slide open.

Well, not slide, open from the inside out, yes. Yeah, can we open the windows out so we can hear the sounds of the lake? Yeah, you put it out there. You hear the distant rushing of water, both alongside of the city itself and through the canals below. You can glance down and see there's one canal

that snakes around the exterior of the tower, and you can hear the water just coming through. The occasional bell from the various ferry boats as they come through. You also hear the sound of, it sounds like seabirds that may have come up from the far south and have just found life around here occasionally.

Through the night as they go to roost for the evening. How far from our window to water? Probably about 80 or so feet. Cool. I want to go to there. Hey, Imogen. Come on in. If it wasn't for your deeply intense personal issues, I would never have gotten to see this,

so thank you for being a bit of a mess. This is great. Well, you're welcome, Ashton. Oh, it's so good. Anything for you? I would hope so. I slide him a water. Oh yeah, good, good.

Although, technically, it's not just me that brought us here. Orym has a plethora of issues as well. That's right. Sure do. Fuck, two issues. You don't cheers with water. That's really bad. Here's my drink. Two issues. two issues. You don't cheers with water. That's really bad. Here's my drink. Two issues.

Two issues. Two issues. Two issues of what? The Hudson News? To the Hudson fucking Donald. Oh, sorry. I came out. Where's a dream?

I mean, he said that. You're so. It's a gas leak episode. This kind of service is intolerable. FCG, you let him know. I'll cast Sending, and I'll send a message to Freya. Okay.

We're being the worst. Why about this? Please, please send shrimp to our room. We will pay literally anything. Just don't tell. Just don't tell that we paid for it. Anything. It's just 25 anythings.

Weapon of Shrek. Weapon of Shrek, but it's tiered. Oh yeah, and then three tiers, room 14. Oh my gosh. The charcuterie plate shows up before the shrimp. But nevertheless, a small wooden cart does eventually arrive with a haphazardly constructed three-plate arrangement

of spiral-adjusted shrimp to the center under a bed of leafy greens with some sort of a cocktail sauce and a brass bowl. It looks beautiful, if a little rickety, as they push the cart in. It's beautiful, if a little rickety, as they push the cart in, it's like, as they set it down and look around. I will walk over. We should tip.

I will just very gently put ten gold down. It's free, but the tip would be appreciated. Very nice of you. Yeah, ten gold for the tip. These little plump prawns, they're delicious. You got good ones. Life is short. I'll... Is that okay? Is that good?

They just shake their head and slowly emerge. It's 10 gold for fucking shrimp. Fuck you! $3,000, I'm true. Yep. Oh no! We got some shitty pie-billed shrimp. That shit is purple.

Could've bought a high-end laptop, but no. You got shrimp. The true cost is just being assholes. We're at Lake Elm, right? I mean, I know there's a lake, but we're not near the ocean at all, right? Hiding in the ocean. The lake eventually lets out to the ocean to the south. Oh, okay, okay.

So it's not the worst threat. It's probably a pretty good threat. Well, I mean, there's a river. The lake goes to a river and then goes to the ocean. Okay, okay. They're crawfish. They're crawfish. They're crawfish.

We're ready. We are not this bad when we stay in a hotel. This is pure fantasy. Was the shrimp guy also filming us? Is this a secret? Oh god. Hashtag 10-gold tipper. Oh god.

Okay. One day, these people might save the world, but tonight, they're getting the shrimp squirts. Okay, okay. Focus up. Serious RPG. Let's go, let's go. Orym resorts going to town on the travel. Yeah, it's a fair amount for seven people.

You can finish it at your own despair, but is there anything else you would wish to use? Chocacha's so good. It's delicious. I'm not saying it's not delicious. I can eat a whole thing myself. I'm going to use my Mage Hand to dip some in the conch shell so good! It's delicious. I'm not saying it's not delicious. I'm going to use my mage hand to dip some in the conch sauce and drift it over to me across the room.

He's flying around the room doing his own thing. Why, is he bothering you? I mean, just, I was curious if Pâté was around. I don't know, he's exploring cabinets. He's actually attached to the ceiling right now, just staring right at you, just, hey. That is so funny.

Hey, hey! You can talk to him, go make friends. That is so fucked up. Hey, hey! You can talk to him. Go make friends. This is important. Okay. He swoops down and then latches onto your shoulder and looks up towards you. He'll look at you, like the skull with the eye socket

just glaring in your direction with the faint little spark of life in the deep canal of it. I just wanted to say that when we took the Laudna Head vacation, we saw the beginning idea of you, like the baby idea.

And we really care about her, and it's important to keep her safe. I agree. Yeah, and I know you're going to be a lot of help there. Yeah, all costs. Going to keep her safe, keep her alive, keep her kicking. Yeah. She goes, I go.

Well, yeah, and I'll just say, just so that we're all clear, and I'm really happy that you're going to be helping. Aye, I'm real happy that you're happy. Well, since you appeared at a rather interesting moment in our reality. If that's you in there, Delilah, I swear to fuck that I will murder you if anything happens to her. And I'm watching.

What? Are we clear? Okay. All right. Otherwise, we're good. Just thought that should be there. Protect her. Yeah, I will. I like you. Spencer, were you, what the fuck was that?

Your friend's fucking crazy. That was probably quiet enough that no one actually heard. What? That was probably quiet enough that I was trying to keep that a little in the corner. He's threatening me. He's threatening you?

Oh, that's how Ashton makes friends. They're very friendly. It's just how they say they care. I'm going to make you a fancy hat. It's going to look great. Apology accepted! Do not! You look so stashing that! Crawls back under your hair.

Is it all good? All right, yes, it's good. Should we use a little shrimp tail? Do you want to play dress up? I mean, you made me. Yes, you do! I'll do it. Oh, okay! Go out of the way.

Okay, use some little shrimp tails. A little shrimp tail crown. Beetle juice. Yeah. Whoops. Oh, it's beautiful! I feel like the king of the sea! This is really good. Yeah, let's take some of this leftover charcuterie and make you a meat dress.

Mm! Look, I'm ready for an award show! Exactly! You can't believe it, oh my goodness. Does this fancy room have a water closet or a big tub or anything like that? As you inspect the room, on the far end of the chamber,

there is what looks like, first, a tapestry, but as you approach, you can see it's a curtain. It's just a very, very detailed curtain. You push past, and indeed, there is a washroom with a clawfoot tub on the inside and what looks to be a large basin of water that can be heated underneath and then turning a small knob on it,

it will go ahead and fill the tub with heated water. Can I go over and turn it on and start heating the tub and say, Imogen! Look, I know you're in a different place, but we should really enjoy the room and it feels like you could use a soak. Oh. Oh. Thank you so much, Jett.

Yeah, I mean, look, I don't know how long we're going to be here, but tonight was fun. We should enjoy it. Relax, it'll be all right. Thank you. Yep. Okay, get out, then. Oh yeah, yeah, no, I wouldn't dream of it.

Two on one. Vatay can scrub your back for you. No, that's all right. I'll go into the washroom. Okay. As soon as I shut the curtain, I'm going to leave it open just a little bit. Okay. I'm going to look out into the room.

I'll step back a little bit and I'll shut my eyes. When I open them again, I won't be there. What does that mean? I'm going to cast Invisibility on myself. Okay. And I'm just going to step out of the room. And I'm going to jump out of the window. And as I jump out, I'm going to cast Fly on myself. Okay.

Make a stealth check for me, with advantage, because you are invisible. 19. 19, okay. Amongst the din and everything, everyone conversing, settling in, the sound of water. Did you leave the water gently running into the tub? Okay. It's a bit noisy. All I ask you to come back. You, being you,

catch a small sound of something landing on the windowsill. You go and glance over, but there's nothing there. As you look over at the windowsill, you'll hear in your head, I'll be back. Water? Water. As you just dive off the tower

and see the beautiful landscape beneath, the hundreds of people that are walking through the streets, the various arcane glowing lamp lights that line elements of the walking paths and the various buildings with long flags and banners that hang and blow gently with the breeze that pushes through. It's quite a breeze, actually,

that continuously kicks through the city streets, adding this continuous hollow almost like a multi-tuned, faint wood instrument that just drifts through the city at different times. As that sound reaches your ears, you plummet towards the bottom, seeing the canals and the stonework and the people below catching faster.

Your invisibility fades as your flight kicks in and you drift back up in control of your plummet. I'm going to fly up and go up above the city and look down at everything. Look down at the lake and take in the lack of sound in my head. And I'm going to cast Sending and try to contact my mother again. Okay. I'm in a yose. Are you here?

I know you want to stay distant, but please. I need guidance. Please. Please. It's 45 grueling seconds of silence before your mother's voice comes back through towards you. If you're there, then you need to stay there. Stay safe. I understand the need for answers, but it's a real dangerous journey.

She casts Ending towards you. Ooh. I love it. I've given up so much to keep you safe. Towards you. Ooh. I love it. I've given up so much to keep you safe. At the end of it all, it's all I want. Please. Please. Mother, this storm is coming. If you keep running from me, I'm afraid I'm gonna get swept up in it.

I know I'll find you in the end. If you keep running towards me, you'll definitely end up swept up in it. Imogen. Run. Run. Run. Run. Run. Run.

I don't respond. I don't respond. I don't respond. I'm just gonna stay up above the city for a while before I fly back down. I'm just gonna stay up above the city for a while before I fly back down. I'm just gonna stay up above the city for a while before I fly back down. I'm just gonna stay up above the city for a while before I fly back down. I land on the windowsill.

In your head, you hear, Can you turn off that water? I'm afraid I might have overflowed the little washroom there. Make sure that no one's paying attention and slides in behind the curtain. Stops it just before it overflows. It's right on the cusp, too. The steam is rising and it's just a little bit,

it's just about to blow over the edge. And just slinks out like a centurated door. Yeah, I'll hit invisibility on myself and head back into the room before I come back out again. Okay, I'll see you come. All righty. So the rest of you go ahead and, unless you have any other business to attend,

bed down for the night in probably the most comfortable quarters. Not only you've slept in it a long time, but for some of you, probably ever. Most of you, probably ever. In fact, for all of you, probably ever. It is just garish enough to be wonderful. And pleasant dreams come for all of you.

Eventually, the cold lake air of the night gives to a warmer, fresh sunrise morning into a new day, a fresh day. Really, truly your first day here in the City of Flowing Light. Having arrived in its evening glow, it's almost comparably disappointing to be met with just a standard flowing lake, but that doesn't diminish the beauty of this city.

With this, the numerous sea and lake birds all have gathered along the rooftops and tower tops, and you see them flying in flocks and cawing and speaking over the air and the sound of the rushing water of the canals. You can see the people below that are bringing renewed, lively life to the city streets. And someone's likely going to show up soon to turn on your bed.

So what do you want to do? What do we want to do? I know we're going to the seminary. There were some other things, too, though. I wrote down, Lord Preston lives here? I don't even know who that is, but I wrote it down. Lord Preston Drodelon. Oh, the one from the dance.

Mm-hmm. Did we meet him? Yeah, the one that was in love with Fearne. Where are we at now? Everybody loves Fearne. We're just dropping bodies. Drodelon is also the former. What can I say?

Yes. R rip display. The seminary has ancient texts that we need to investigate. I was also told by somebody that people here could maybe know about me or my insides. Then there's also the Grim Verite. Is that also at the cemetery? We're specifically looking for Ebenold Kai.

Ro Astani gave me a letter of introduction to meet Ebenold Kai, who is part of the Grim Verite. In the seminary? Yes, it would know about Balin and Zayar at Lumas. Lumas. Professor Khadija Sumal is the one who wrote the essay about my mother, who's also at the seminary. Well, then we got to go there.

And do we want good old Landon Crescio to help us, to walk with us? I mean... Why not? Okay. Sure. All right. We are going to promise a bonus at the end Why not? Okay. Sure. We are going to promise a bonus at the end of completion. Oh, we are.

It's a better way of making sure that there's more money in getting us what we need than robbing us along the way. Get there, and then maybe we send them off on an errand. You can go find Lord Dodelon. Someone who's seen this crypt. Orym finishes a massive set of pull-ups from a vine, clinging to the ceiling, and then heads off

to the bathroom to unleash the shrimp shitstorm. Clear out, clear out, clear out. Let the lava flow. I got enough of those thoughts from Orym. We should not be in this room. All I eat is protein, guys. Get used to it. All right. To the seminary! With the day in full effect,

you head down the long, spiraling staircase past the many chambers and side rooms that contain, or side platforms that contain desks and sitting lounging space as you continue down the ever-widening tower of the Skyport Lounge, until eventually you come to the bottom floor, in which there is a second desk, as well as a small bar,

and there, sitting in a chair, that immediately sits up and puts the hat back on, is Mr. Landon Cashaw. He's like, good morning, friends. Spare cells. Happy to see you up. I assume we are still good for our arrangement today? Yes.

Spare cells? Oh. Happy to see you up. I assume we are still good for our arrangement today? Yes! Spare cells. Yes. Did he just say spare cells to us? Bells Hells. Oh, Bells Hell. I thought it was a greeting. I thought so, too.

We had the shrimp tower last night, so auditory response is a little delayed this morning. Oh, you had the shrimp. Really? Yeah. First order of business is your guide. Maybe try to avoid the shrimp. It's not really shrimp. Too little, too late.

It's not really shrimp? Not too little. Did you hear what I say? It's more of a Lake and River crawfish. We were going to make our way into the city, and we thought that your services might be helpful. I'm ever at your service. To the seminary, please. The seminary first?

Yes, while pointing out any landmarks or places of note on the way. Of course. Interesting shops of strange curios, magic, magic shops, anything similar to that. Yes, please, this way, this way, come. And you notice they look over and glance, and the person, the clerk at the desk goes, Landon, take your compatriots and leave, please.

Of course. Come on. As you exit out of the street, the scent of the watered air, Of course. Come on. As you exit out into the street, the scent of the watered air, the lake scents are a combination of fresh and also slightly lake-like. There is different points of the tide beyond to the ocean area.

A faint mixture of soft earth and drudged lakefront that also meets with the clarity of the wind that comes from the fresh jungles that surround the lake. But the city is at your disposal. Laenon immediately says, I mentioned the rings before. You are heading towards the Dominion Ring.

There's the Venture Ring, which is where the Radiant Harbor exists. This is the central harbor of ships that travel to and from the ocean, beyond and southward to the Lapis Channel. This is the outlet that eventually gives way to the city. I'm sorry, the ocean beyond, the Peros Seas to the south. But that is not what we're traveling to.

Also, it's probably the most, say, residential and not as a beautiful comparison to where you are and where you are going. Here in the Endeavoring, there are all manner of things. There is the Tri-Bridge Plaza, which will go by on the way, which is maybe what you're talking about. The Tri... The Tri-Bridge Plaza. The Tri-Bridge.

Come this way, and begins to lead you along a path in which you start winding through streets. You can see now the way the city is built, you're used to cities that have a manner of very rigid structure, or at least to some degree, have a grid-like pattern. This, you get the sense that whatever landscape or hill that the city was built upon

that existed here in the middle of the lake, this is an odd topography. As opposed to bending the land to their shape, they built to match the shape of the land. And in doing so, the neighborhoods have this quaint, twisting quality. Everything, a lot of the streets curve around and everything has character to it,

which is a loving variation from what you're often used to. And no gondolas dragging you from spire to spire, which is also a joy. Keep those silvers in your pocket. Indeed. But you do occasionally see from some of the nearby canals that go through, there are small boats that are ferried through,

and there's an individual who rows and keeps the rudder in the back. You get the sense from where they go, there are some that travel, that are separate from the rest of the heavy water flow that carry through the city on an even bit of height. And there are some that are rushing a bit, and you can see it travel for fast movement

down to the lower portion of the city. So there are canals for traversing across the city and some that just move within the ring itself. But they're also very crowded. Most people here take the ferry if they're available, and they have to go across. So as you're looking past, you're like, oh, these are cool.

Oh, that one's... I see what they mean by they're free, but if you can find a space for one, they seem to be fairly busy. But as the landing pulls you through, he explains everything about these canals, how when they were introduced, initially it was just for getting straight

throughout the city, but then eventually the fairy guild, as it arose, run by Ser Boondin, began to build these ships. Through dealing with the Court of the Lament Path, they were able to grant upon him the organization of and maintenance of these fairies. As such, they have transitioned away from pure trade and now into moving individuals out of the city.

They've expanded and built more upon them. It is beautiful. Sometimes it can be equally frustrating, and in times of heavy rain, it can also lead to some minor flooding. But today, the weather has been fine and has been for some time. But, follow me.

Leads upward in the northern direction. Sorry, as always, Orym's head is on a swivel. Understood. Make a push check for me, go ahead. Thank you. 21. 21, okay. Keep an eye out. Guiding around, he pushes onto this one portion of the hill, because it does rise up. You see,

while it is tiered, here in the Endeavor Ring, it seems to climb up and there is this unique, almost like a switchback climbing hill spiral of the streets that climb up and again and wind up and around. It's this climb up the side of this hill that is the central part of this ring that eventually glides up and leads to the Dominion Ring. There are numerous staircases that wind up. You can see underneath these large staircases that climb to the upper area, there are these holes in them where the canals slip through underneath and carry people down below. Everything has this almost like MC Escher vibe tocher vibe to it in the way that the architecture looks like it shouldn't function,

but upon taking a moment to take it in, everything is designed specifically to function exactly against each other in a way that looks almost dangerous, but seems to work okay. And the people that live here, or at least are used to it, seem nonplussed by the sometimes rapid movement

of these ships and what you would expect to be somewhat nerve-wracking appearance of these low arches and thoroughfares that it immediately cuts around underneath. Some of these canals do dip underneath and briefly vanish beneath certain parts of the hills into emerging into the lower bits. It's almost like a gentle ride.

Cool. You do see people that are in these ferries are holding onto bars that are into emerging into the lower bits. It's almost like a gentle ride. Cool. You do see people that are in these ferries are holding onto bars that are latched into the wood sides of it, so they aren't being knocked over the edge in case there is a bump, because they do occasionally happen. Heading up these stairs,

you can see all the beautiful colors and banners. There are these long strands of painted banners that flap in the ever-present wind. You do have to, your hair gets blown to your face a bit. There is a continuous gust that builds and then fades with time, but the wind does carry through here pretty consistently. As you come upon this climb,

you do see one collection of storefronts and buildings. There are carts lining the streets as you begin to walk up the different staircases to the different areas of this massive hill. You can see there are large two, three-story buildings that are built into the back of it that themselves have signs hanging out front. There's smells of food

and all sorts of unique construction materials that are being wheeled out to build extensions to it or being rebuilt. You do notice that there are some buildings that look much older and others that look very recent, next to each other. As you begin to notice these details, Laenon goes, I see you are picking up on the variations.

Some of these buildings were damaged during the Apex War and we've been continuously, I say we, meaning the city, have been renovating and getting things back to how they once were in the wake of such. For the most part, many of these buildings you've seen have been rebuilt over the past two decades or so to, in my opinion, even more spit-polished prominence.

How old are the oldest? The oldest are probably about 250 years. A bit longer than that, maybe. Anyway, he seems a bit lost in his questions. He seems a bit embarrassed he doesn't have the specific number being your guide, but anyway. As you can glance up here, this is the Tribridge Plaza we are climbing towards.

You see, the reason it's called the Tribridge Plaza is it's built, this hill really sits in the center of where these two side bridges and the north bridge all point in the middle of the city. Here, you can hear all sorts of laughter and music and just bartering, people chatting and talking and living in the moment of trade and trying to discuss a social means of agreement.

You can see there's blues and greens and golds on these different banners as you come into the Tribage Plaza. There's a newish-looking statue that clambers in the center of it. It stands about 15 feet tall, and you see an orcish warrior in regal armor, flowing tassels that are affixed to the metallic sculpture.

They stone and metal around it, and there is a sword and shield that it heals. It's holding above the entire district there. He goes, ah, this is a statue of exemplar Mani Drogodon, who is a hero of the Apex War and is currently a semi-retired seneschal within the Court of the Lambent Path. Is that a full name again?

Mani Drogodon. Mani name again? Manny Drogadon. Drogadon. Drogadon. The statue was erected as part of that Phoenix project. I was telling you, the rebuilding and... Beautification. Beautification, thank you very much, of Eos in the wake of the conflict. Much of this plaza was damaged,

but much better than it is now. This, I think, would be of interest to you. Glances over and says, This is Trudge the Glimmer, Antiques and Imports. Part pawn shop, also somewhat rickety seller of knickknacks, decor and antiques, occasionally rare and interesting things.

Oh, pawn shop. Could be. There's also, at the top here, I'll show you in a second when we get there, but there's also Traverse Rarities. This is a specialist collector of foreign goods, rare curios, depending on what you're looking for. That place is a little more expensive, has been around for quite some time,

and has passed through many different hands over the years and has known to be an Exandrian-wide collector of odd things and findings. Wow. Hmm. Traverse, yeah. It'd be interesting to see, just to see it. Oh yeah, always.

What was the name of it? Traverse Rarity. And Trudge the Glimmer? Trudge the Glimmer, yeah. Trudge the Glimmer. That's a good band name. Mm-hmm. All right, guys, see you later. I'm going to go Trudge the Glimmer. That's a good band name. Mm-hmm. All right, guys, see you later.

I'm going to go trudge the Glimmer. Take some extra toilet paper. Continuing on to the seminary. Boy. Very well. Boy. You climb the stairs taller and taller as it goes. You can now see the full height of the tower that you stayed in last night.

And it does stand out prominently here in that district. But it's beautiful. From what you can see now, especially knowing that it's yours, you can see your skyship up there. And it's a unique new perspective of this gift that you were given. Climbing up into the next section,

you come to this upper platform. Indeed, you can see now the dam-like cliffs that break up the lake to each side as you're climbing up the steps and looking out at the distance. There are sections of carefully cultivated waterfalls that just fall down. You do see a couple of platforms,

and you swear you see a ship that's being carried up from a lower platform on a large stone slab, with just a faint bit of sigil glows around it. It looks like some sort of arcane lift that is lifting larger boats from lower parts of the water to the upper portions of it as it slides back into the water and the boat takes to the lake and finds its way down there.

So they get to water slide down and those arcane elevators up. That's awesome. That's badass. That's cool. Make sure you're here. Kind of, yeah, that you put it that way. Now coming into the Dominion Ring. That's the upper?

This is the upper northern region. Upper Decker. Yes, indeed. This is certainly considered the most erudite portion of the city. It is the governance of the entire region of Aeshanador. At this point, you're used to the bustling mix of people in different cities.

Exandria is definitely a world of, for the most part, sharing of cultures, and central cities seem to have a fair mix of the nearby cultures. This city is predominantly orc. I'd say probably a third of the people that you've come across, if not more, are pureblood orc or half-orc, or some Unia variation,

almost bordering on half of them. And looking around a lot of the architecture, looking around a lot of the statues of founders of the city and previous historical figures that are being held here as important points of memorial, are, for the most part, also orcish, or of orcish blood. So you see as you step up into the Dominion Ring,

already on each side of the main staircases, there are these massive 10-foot tall statues of one is a male orc, the other is female, and they're both in big, long, almost Roman robes over one shoulder that drift past their feet and female, and they're both in big, long, almost Roman robes over one shoulder that drift past their feet and dangle off the top of the steps, all carved from stone.

The man you see is like, one arm is behind the back, and the other one's holding this sprig of some leaf in his hand. The woman across the way is holding a sword that is facing down in front of her with the same arm behind her back, and they both overlook the lower rings of the city. Within this walkway, they can already be taken aback

by the numerous towers and structures, these large domed buildings, and bursts of garden throughout the Dominion Ring. This is definitely where the affluent might live, but this is also where the affluent might live, but this is also where the larger places of study would reside. At which point, Mr. Landon Kreshov says, So this, on the far northern side,

you see that massive palace up there. That is the Seat of Valor. You glance at it, look, and you can see it is built central, this long walkway, this wide, thoroughfare that carves the entirety of the Dominion Ring to the far inside. There are numerous small benches and carts and small buildings along the side, but it is comparable to the rest of the dense sides of the ring's structures and buildings. It is left a nearly open path to this gargantuan palace

of turquoise and bronze domes of different height levels. You can see rising white towers and pillared walls. And even in just this distance, the glances you can see, it's beautiful. If, you know, something intimidating. This is the home of the Court of the Lambent Path. This is the court that maintains, oversees,

governs all of Aeshanador. Over there, and to the right-hand side, there is a massive rose-colored and white-marbled amphitheater. Just this large circular amphitheater that is going to open to the sky. That is the Rose Marble Amphitheater. This is where major events, contests,

presentations, debates, philosophical discussions that are not specific to any of the various colleges transpire, as well as fill the very, very rich weddings and parties. I've snuck into a few of them, and to be honest, it's a bit too much space, unless you invited the entire city. But anyway, onward, we're going past,

this is the Eos Library of the Cobalt Soul, here to the left. This, ah, glances up and you can see this incredible... It's like a magnificent towering structure. It's architecture in sandstone-colored pillars with gilded edges. There is this...

What was my point there? Sorry, trying to get the description here. You can see here the massive campus of the Adinian Seminary. This cloistered section of the central building this cloistered section of the central building surrounded by a network of garden walls, stand about maybe three large,

imposing college buildings of uniquely different types of architecture. One is a massive, almost like a stronghold of halls and classrooms that itself is topped by a number of small towers that all have different heights and give this unique, I want to say almost castle aesthetic, though it all matches that same

dreary light blue-gray coloration to it. Inside the courtyard, there are numerous sprawling gardens and hedges, and you can see students wandering through, having conversations, maybe from class to class. You can see there, the two other large buildings have, one has a dark maroon coloration, one has almost a faint lavender, purple color to it.

But they're all connected by a series of walkways, like diverse overlapping skyways that move between the buildings. Throughout this courtyard, there are freestanding stone archways that are just there for decoration, walking through. There are numerous statues of different figures from the history of the seminary.

You see throughout this continuous banner that you assume would be the seminary seal. Most banners are burgundy with the symbol of a blossom growing from and entwined with an empty nautilus shell. Oh, cool. Mm-hmm. The front building, you can see the prominent entrance, the main central structure,

sitting above a set of about 50 or so stairs that slowly pinch inward towards the front, where two sets of large gold leaf, red-colored wooden doors remain partially open, each flanked by armored sentries of Eos. As you ascend the stairs with Landon explaining about the seminary and how long it's been here and how it is in a unique,

let's say, a strong rivalry with the Tatriel Conservatory, which is in the endeavoring which we came from. There are three colleges as part of the city, but the seminary is certainly the crown jewel of learning within Eos, and probably one of the finest colleges in Exandria. It is the strongest rival to the major college

in Ank'har El, as well as those abroad. In fact, many of the top scholars of these colleges often get together at certain points during the year to have competitive debates and to both express their work and their study and tear down the others with logic and whatever else bullshit that individuals do that make up their lives in these halls.

I wouldn't know. I don't go there. Do they study magic there, or is it just science? I'm certain there are magic studies there as well, but like every college, there is a wide spread of interests. But magic and the creation of internment is a very important part of both city maintenance and for the power of the seat

of Eos and the Shenandoah of the world. So I'm certainly very eager to maintain an ever-consistent, growing new class of powerful mages to lift up the national banner and, you know, make it so we don't have to pay too much to move around. So much information. I know. What's the focus at the Tatriel Conservatory?

It is more of a, as you say, like a less expensive, more accessible college within the city. It's where I went. And it was more based in the historical philosophy aspects that when the city's first was created. It was the first college here in the city, which holds the point of pride,

even though the seminary has risen more extreme prominence, but has a widespread of different disciplines to be learned. I will say that the majority of the city's engineers tend to come from there, but I don't know if that's because they have better engineering and mathematical programming or if it's more affordable to people

and so people tend to be more interested in doing so without settling themselves with extreme debt. But. He is such a good tour guide, by the way. He knows a lot. I know. I told you, I'm good at my job. I was not about to let you down, huh? Yeah. I'm actually pretty impressed. Just for my sake of visualization,

did you say he has longish hair, like shoulder-length hair, or did you say it was short? It's kind of longish shoulder, lengthish, about there. Yeah, like a bit longer. How many Mercers long is it? Is it like your length? It's about a Mercers long, but it's like it's wavier and a little more body. Yeah, like a double hat. How many mercer's long is it? Is it like? Is it like your length?

It's about a mercer's long, but it's like, it's wavier and a little more body. Yeah, there you go. Does he ever wear it up in a top knot or a half knot? You've only seen him wearing the hat, or when he took the hat off, it was just down, so no. Okay. It's not a mercer right there.

It's a 1.25 and a half long. I got it. It's lower scapula. Mm-hmm. But alas, here we are. I do not think that I can show you inside the building. You have a bit more of your own journey to make.

But if you know how long you'll be here, if you'd like me to continue to show you around, or if this is your destination, I could always. Do you know exactly where we're going? The Observatory or the Labyrinth? A lot of times, places like this. The Omen Archive? Right.

A lot of times, well, at least at the Starpoint Conservatory. Hold on. Oh. They don't allow you to just waltz in. You have to have a letter of recommendation. We have a letter, don't we? I believe so. Letter of introduction, yes. Yeah, great.

So that's wonderful. I have an old guy. So yeah, do you happen to know where the, I don't know, would it be the admissions building? We're not going to go here. No, but the offices. Administration? Yeah, that's what I'm saying. Student loan office?

Administration. I don't know. I'm saying. Student loan office? Administration. I don't know, I didn't go to college, so I don't know what the fuck, but you know what I mean. You win for a semester. He gives you a look. I've not really been in the halls here, but I imagine if the top of those stairs within the main entryway, there's probably clerks

that can guide you to what you're looking for, I imagine? Thank you. No worries. You'll wait here? You're still on the clock? If you need me to wait here? As long as you need. You have not paid me yet. I don't have money on me.

I do. I do. Boy. Weighing you down a little? How much did he count? Yeah. I just got a limp on one side. The bulge and this right leg.

What did you say, five gold a day? Five gold for a half day, eight for a full day. That's right. That is correct. So this would be a half day, or you could pay me eight and keep me entertained after the full day. Do we need to send him on any errands?

Does he need to go find Lord Darnallone? One more time, please. Lord Darnallone? I didn't quite catch that. I don't think he goes on. Any errands? Does he need to go find Lord Doledon? One more time, please. Lord Doledon? I didn't quite catch that. I don't think he goes on, do you go on errands? I'm not much of an errand page. I'm a guide. He waits here.

I think all day is probably a pretty good idea. Yeah, it's great. Why not? You've been so helpful so far. I'm just going to throw the eight down. Actually, I'm just going to throw 10 gold down. 10 gold down? Jeez, thank you very much. Well, you know.

Really appreciate it. This is ludicrous. Yes, oh my god. Since we've been walking with Landon for a few hours, are his HP way lower than Orym's? Does he seem like a regular fellow? Yeah, they're way lower than Orym's? Does he seem like a regular fellow? Yeah, they're way lower than Orym's. He's a brass dragon.

He's like, he just asses and stabs me in the back. 345 HP. Way out of your league. Well, for that amount, I will stay here, I guess, amongst the garden until you need me. Perfect, and yes, I figure that's an appropriate bonus because we can be very obnoxious and difficult to wrangle.

What? You heard me. Yeah, you're right. Thank you. Okay. You all begin to ascend the stairs. Yeah, we'll approach those big old doors. Okay, you ascend. Direct approach. Climbing up the stairs.

Midday sun coming out. Big old swinging doors. There's a sound that pierces the stairs. Midday sun coming out. Swing and a-dolls. There's a sound that pierces the air. Oh no. Wait, what? I shit in. I'm going to glance up, and there's these gargoyle creatures

that are built up on the side of the front of the building, but they're perched up. In the back of the shadow, you see some sort of avian creature that begins to curve its head out of the shadow. You see this long, hooked, somewhat scar-narled beak, cloudy eye, patches of missing feathers. You're inside right now. You know what's wrong!

This is not real. It immediately trains in on you. What? Inside of you. No! What? That's where we're at. Yes! It found me, shit!

It found me! Oh my god. So I can run. That's the only way you could end an episode this ridiculous. That's the real part of your backstory? It felt like it. Is this legitimately?

Not FCG, but Sam really was digging into my forearm. Shit, it found you. Found you. It's been tracking me for thousands of miles. You shouldn't have flown so high. This pigeon is going to fuck you up. Two dollars. I want my two dollars.

Oh shit. Yep. What a perfect episode. What a perfect episode. That was great. That was so much fun. That might be one of our greatest episodes ever. That was an absolute fucking blast.

Lake Seven, I don't know. Apologies for the chaos, for those who couldn't follow, but god, we were having fun. Yeah, I got wonderful energy. Not a shopping episode. No. But something else. Something else it was.

Slow the girl. Something else it was. Not quite a heist. I believe we'll pick up from there next week, which I think will be our last episode of the year. Oh! No, no. That'll be our holiday send-off. Are we all wearing ugly sweaters? What are we doing? Oh yeah That'll be our holiday. Our holiday's enough, but.

Are we all wearing ugly sweaters? What are we doing? Oh yeah, we should definitely holiday. We'll coordinate, we'll figure it out. We should be all in pajamas. Yeah. These are sweaters. We'll figure it out.

Travis wears a t-shirt. Yeah. You know. Like a t-shirt with a Santa Claus on. No! Yeah, best of. Yeah. We could just attach the reindeer between them and you can pretend to be Santa Claus. Just fantasticos. No! No! Best of. Yeah. That's great.

We could just attach the reindeer between them and you could pretend to be Santa Claus. That's true. That's a reuse right there. That's a nightmare is what that is. Yes. The worst. But yeah, we'll call it there.

Thank you so much for joining us for this absolute batch of chaos. We love you very much, and is it Thursday yet? Good night. Good night. And this concludes the current chapter of Critical Role. Your essays on the history and impact of the various ages and epochs of Exandria are eagerly anticipated. Just kidding.

No homework for you, but if you are inspired to do some writing, please leave us a review. Your words can really help new folks find our show and encourage them to give it a try. Thank you so much for joining us on this adventure. Until next time.