Critical Role - C3E54 Treacherous Toys

Episode Date: April 13, 2023

Bells Hells' Team Wildemount tangles with the pasts of some of their own through enigmatic dreams and illuminating confrontations... 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. 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! "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

Hello, spellcasters, sages, and spectators. I'm Ashley Johnson, and you're listening to the Critical Role Podcast Network. Tap into our magical narrative by watching Critical Role as it airs on Thursdays at 7 p.m. Pacific on twitch.tv slash criticalrole or youtube.com slash criticalrole. Twitch subscribers can watch the video on demand right away, or you can catch it the following Monday on YouTube. As always, Critical Role will be available right here in podcast form on Thursdays,

a week after the initial broadcast. And now, let's scry into the story and see what mysteries it holds for us, shall we? Hello, everybody, and welcome to tonight's episode of Critical Role, where a bunch of us nerdy-ass voice actors sit around and play Dungeons & Dragons. We're playing Dungeons & Dragons! Oh, we're doing great!

That was a lot. Yeah, so welcome, glad you could join us. Before we jump into the next episode, we'll do some announcements to get through, beginning with our first sponsor, Nobody. Finishing with that sponsorship announcement, Marisha, Sam! Oh my gosh!

Yes. You guys. Yes. We're super excited to announce that next week, on Tuesday, April 11th. 11th! 11th! It's a one and a one.

April 11th, we will be launching a new narrative podcast that we're bringing under the Critical Role banner called Mitzt! Mitzt! Mitzt is an immersive semi-improvised story, campaign, saga, epic tale, I don't know. It's told by a trio of mysterious narrators called Third Person, and when Marisha and I first heard it, we were super duper instantly hooked.

It's so good, you guys. The story is incredibly cool. It's set in this space western town of Stationary Hill on the Islet of Mist. Mist, it's fun to say. It's very fun to say. Which floats in this sea of otherworldly fog called The Fold. Then it mainly follows three characters, which are a crotchety outlaw, a struggling cultist, and just a diabolical bastard whom I love. Their paths all cross and intersect in really bizarre and fascinating ways.

The world is brought to life by three very strange narrators, and the storytelling is totally unlike anything you've ever heard before. It's super cool. Yeah, it's actually one of the things that we fell in love with the most. It's the way that they deliver this story,

and we're so excited to be working with the creators who honestly remind us a lot of how Critical Role got started, because it's just a group of friends who wanted to tell a cool story together and turned it into a show. Now, Mitzt is a podcast, as we have mentioned, but. But.

We've also given each episode a visual spin with lightly animated scenes to accompany the audio, which really just helps plunge you deeper into the world. Plunge. So, join us on April 11th. No, that's not. Oh! 11th. No, that's not. Oh! You could just do, that's four.

For the first three episodes of season one. The first three episodes of season one will roll out for free for everyone to check out, and paid subscribers can experience the first five episodes instantly. Yeah, going forward, look to the midstle of the week. Yo, this must stop. It's got to stop. Wednesdays.

Wednesdays, for anyone who didn't know. New weekly subscribers, or sorry, new weekly episodes happen on Wednesdays. Paid subscribers will always have two episodes ahead. Don't yell at us, Marisha. have two episodes ahead of the free feeds, as I thank you for supporting these fresh, new, innovative creatives. Find Mitzt at mitzt.co on your favorite podcast app and on Critical Role's YouTube channel. Welcome to the fold! Thank you! Super excited to have Mitzt in the state over and over again. Midst. It's fun to say.

Midst. Exactly. It sounds German. Anyway, Laura, you got some merch stuff. I do have some merch stuff. Marisha, this is in honor of Marisha murdering people at Creator Clash. We now have a Pop Pop! Do you pop! And it's raising funds for the Critical Role Foundation. Oh, really? Yes! Pretty cool. And you can get it in time for the Creative Clash on April 15th, if you order now.

Awesome. By the way, this is U.S. only. Sorry, folks, don't at me. All right, get on out of here, you guys. Okay, okay. This one will be available worldwide in all of our CR shops, and these are our Ashton workout leggings.

Yay! Oh, those are right. Or not workout leggings. You can just wear them to go around. Look, they say just don't. Oh, that is at the Ash, right there. Well, yeah. That's Ash, so if you're doing a yoga pose,

someone's just looking right at that. Just don't. Because I'm probably going to fart on you. Yeah. Yeah, because I'll text you down the cab. That's awesome. They're really cool. That's awesome. I've worn them to the gym, and I got many compliments,

and nobody knew that they were CR. What compliments? Wait, what? Excuse me? Anyway, both designs are by Jordan Twain. They're really cool, check them out. Da-da! I like the Just Don't answer to the Juicy brand.

Yeah. Juicy, Just Don't. Fantastic. They're great. I think that concludes our announcements. So let's go ahead and jump into tonight's episode of 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 He might But one thing's for sure We never give up on the fight

From the healer To the renegade We all share the same goal Adding more allies Taking more chances Hold your breath and roll You can certainly try It's Thursday night

All ye critters come join us It's time to continue our fight It's Thursday night, all ye critters come join us, it's time to continue our fight. There is magic and mystery from darkness, our friendship will rise. But one thing's for sure, we never give up on the fight. Oh, get ready. It's Thursday night. And welcome back. So, last we left off, in the wake of the strange cataclysmic event

that seemed to occur in Marquet at the behest of Ludinus Delef, Bell's Hells has been divided and suddenly scattered to the four, suddenly scattered to the four winds of Exandria. No hesitation. With FCG, Chetney, Fearne, and Imogen finding themselves in the Crystal Sands tundra, journeying towards Uthodurn,

where they gathered two new friends, Dana and Frida, some with some history, with some of the group they encountered. And upon returning to the town and beginning to figure out that other strange enchantments and magics have been altered about this solstice and still continue to reveal the impact of this event,

one of which happened to be some sort of incursion or attack at the depths of Uthodurn itself with the gathered soldiers, glass blades, and royal sentinels at the ready, they closed the massive gate to protect most of those that could escape, including the king and queen. And you all, rightfully, without a second thought,

jumped in after your heroic, heroic armitage here. Rightfully, interesting. Interesting choice. Yeah, yeah, that was an option. That was a good choice. You got to do it, guys. Trekked into the Citadel itself and encountered the terrifying, massive, bull-like beast

that had been freed from its longstanding, petrified prison. And after a brief absorbing of its terrifying attack brunt, and then mainly you, Fearne. You eschewed combat and instead attempted to contact this entity and ascertain what was agitating it. After managing to calm it down and convince it that you were not enemies,

you walked it through the center of the Augur Trail in front of the Populus of Uthodurn and set it free once more into the open air of Exandria in search of the forest from where it once came many, many years ago. Most of you, at least. You stayed behind in the grown room and stole a bunch of shit and then escaped through a tunnel,

covered yourself in blood shit and then escaped through a tunnel, covered yourself in blood, and then gave yourself to the protectors of the realm within the city to help bind your wounds. Oh yeah. I need a sentence! So, the rest of you, after watching this entity slowly trek on

into the dark expanse beyond on the horizon, you turn around and a number of the glass blades who are stationed on the outskirts of the entrance of the city, you notice they're all aghast at the sight they just saw. Upon meeting some of your gazes, look away. Some give a little bit of a clap, others give a nod and a respectful salute. And as you turn back into the city, you track back into the sounds of cheers, roused voices as much of the populace that seemed to have followed behind you, as well as a number of the glass blades

that were also keeping the peace in the populace, but also trying to keep an eye on what the hell was going on here, greet you within the entryway with laughter and calls and whoops and cheers, and many individuals start rushing up to you. Kids and dwarven mothers rushing up. Who are you? Where are you coming from? Oh goodness! What was that? Are you a saviors? I got to say, if you're looking for a sponsorship here,

me and the rest of the general store will be like, and then people just start swarming around you. There's voices all over here. What are you doing? I just dip out. Yeah. Is this normal for your folk? No! Nope. No!

Are we heroes? Apparently. What? How can? Should we look into these sponsorships? Don't even have an agent or anything. In the midst of this conversation, one figure pushes past the rest of the crowd. You see a young elven boy in probably his 20s or so.

His hair is slicked back, but it poofs at the edge, giving him this awkward high schooler look, even though he's a little bit older than that age. Dressed in very, very nice attire with a tabard in the front that's tucked into a nice belt and what looks to be some sort of adornments coming off of the slight pauldrons that you can see pushing up from underneath, approaches and goes,

Excuse me, I've been sent here. I'm Ser Ludin. I'm a royal page for the King and Queen. I'm here to let you know that- What was your name? Ser Ludin? Ser Ludin. Ser Ludin? Ser Ludin.

Ser Ludin, okay. Yeah. Yep, keep going. You're doing great. I meant to notify you that the King and Queen are thankful for your timely aid in this strange occurrence amongst many. While they are attending to the aftermath and reclamation of the Citadel,

they would request your presence tomorrow in the noontime for a formal recognition. He looks at the paper. That's all of it. Thanks, and then darts off. We say yes! You have to. Do we need a piece of paper to get in?

Yeah, okay. No, they know us. He just runs off. They know us. Look at us. Wow. Wow. Are we celebrities? I think, yep. All the city. Hi, hi.

The whole city's here, yeah. We're kind of famous. Wow. That was some... We did it. I feel like this is the first time anyone's ever looked at us and liked it. Yeah.

Really? That's not true. We looked at you and liked you. Quite dangerous, but we liked you. It's about this moment you see this older dwarf woman who's clutching her grandkid off to the side. He goes, I bet they brought that in with them. It's a dope.

Yeah, there's a bit of sense. That feels a little bit like home. That's my Puerto Rican grandma, right? Well, wait, that's tomorrow, though. Yeah. What do we do now? It's evening, right? Is it? What time is it?

Well, when you stepped out, when you guys arrived the night before, it was pretty late in the day, and you hadn't fully rested. You got in about nighttime. So right now, it's pretty, pretty close to midnight. So we should probably go to bed. Yeah.

Should we check in? Where is Chet? No! Oh, Chetney! Good call. Is he still invisible? I just assumed he was here. Chetney? Just invisible. Wait, Chetney! Good call. Is he still invisible? I just assumed he was here. Chetney! Just invisible. Wait, Chetney.

We can't send him a message, can we? Because of the disturbance? I mean, maybe if it's closer, we can always give it a try. I'll try to send a message to Chetney. Maybe it'll work over less distance. All righty, what do you say? Chet, are you...

Where are you? Is this working? We're at the... We're heading to Deanna's house. Mm-hmm. Which we know where that is, right? Mm-hmm, I pointed it out. Okay, roll a d100.

Oh! Fucking hell. Fucking hell, Jogren. Fucking hell. Fucking hell, Joghurt. Fucking hell. Fucking hell. A little healing word. Your hair falls out. Fucking hell. We are fifth.

89. 89. The sharp pain strikes into your mind as you attempt to reach your consciousness outward into the wide expanse of weep of magic and arcana that spreads across Exandria to deliver this message. It instead is sent right back with a screeching white pain.

You take five points of psychic damage and the spell fails. That was your bagel you gave me. Oh. Oh. Well, that's good. That was great. The bagel helped. I could feel it. It absorbed the psychic.

It didn't? No, I don't think it did. Okay, I will scan the surrounding area and see if I can spot Mr. Pockabee. Yeah, go make a perception check for me. Seven plus 11. 18. Seven plus 11? Seven plus 11 is 18. 18.

Yep, you got it. Esoteric math, always. That's a good segue. So after you are being tended to by this middle-aged, like young, we're talking, I want to say the Thing era Wilford Brimley. Big old walrus brush mustache,

tiny round spectacles, and this mushroom poof of hair that's a little bit too long to wear. It makes him like an aged beetle in their earlier mop top era, who is leaning over you with his massive dwarven shoulders like, Hold tight, I'm going to go ahead and wrap up your wounds.

Oh, you got the strongest hands. What a musk, my goodness. Do you think I'll make it? Hey, looking at this, a lot of these wounds aren't, a lot of this blood isn't even yours, it looks like. Oh, what could that mean? Thank you for your prompt attention. Were you down there when the beast was unleashed?

No, I was just called down here to help out with any survivors. Oh, bless you. I could really use some assisting at skidding back up to the top desk. I don't know if I can make it up my own. He lifts you up and puts you back on your feet and gives you a pat on the shoulder and goes,

I think you can make it. I think I can make it, too. Bless you and your household. I can't even watch over you. He cocks his head to one side and looks to one of the other nearby aides and is like, Ah! Ooh!

His voice just changed. Oh! Ah! nearby aether's like, he's forced to change. Oh! Ah! I'll start working my way back up to the Catari. All right. Jesus. Now, there is definitely a unique energy to the crowd as you push through.

Depending on how well hidden do you want to stay? Shit. You have been cleaned up. You have been cleaned up. Okay, cleaned up. I'll pop my hood up on my cloak and just keep my head down as I head up towards the Volition.

I will definitely steer clear of old cars and probably the broken stone. Okay, got it. All right. Easy enough to do. I won't even say any to roll a stealth check on this because a lot of the crowd's energy is still in this intense conversation and banter

about what just transpired, who's okay, who fell. Someone said, like, the King and the Queen were in the middle of the street. That doesn't happen very often. There's just a lot of snippets of conversation as you find the dark shadows to keep alongside, listen for anything of interest, but eventually begin to curl your way up

through the central disk and up to the very top once more at the volition disk. Beautiful. Once I'm up there, can I just gently ask, did anyone see where they took the beast? Was it all the way up and out? Yes, they took the beast and they delivered it beyond the cities,

outskirts of Offwood, beyond to send salvation to the people of this realm. I need your blood. SAM and SAMRAM go, You're simple. Actually, I'll head that way to the entrance just to see if I can find any trace of my friends before I try to find a place to settle in for the night, because this is a big fucking city. Make a perception check.

And a weekly top four here. Do I still have disadvantage? Yeah. Yes, you do. It doesn't matter. It sucks balls. That's a seven. That's a seven. You don't see anything. You see the crowd has gathered definitely in a certain direction. There's a large chunk of the populace is seemingly throwing a makeshift celebration or a party in one of the main,

actually the secondary intersection of the Augur Trail and one of the larger neighborhood main streets. But you don't see anything of, anyone in particular of interest in that space as you look around to see if there's any sign of your uniquely looking friends. You see a hooded Chetney Pock-a-pee just running in circles, practically,

looking around, a bit aimless and tired, exhausted looking. I run up on posts every once in a while and I'm like, Ah! Guys, I think Mr. Pock-a-pee... Look over here! Oh, now that I can see him,

I'm going to try to connect with him mentally. Okay. Chet? Oh! Does it work? Yeah. Oh! Oh! Imogen! Are you all right? I am. Where did you go?

I gave my body for the cause. I was stuck down in the throne room and I made out like a bandit. I got rescued by this handsome dwarf and we had a romance, a quick fling. Oh wow. Don't tell Deanna. Anyway, where are you? Right over here.

Look to your left. Your other left. What? Stage left. Hi. Where? Hey! Oh shit! This way, come over here. I had your business. There is definitely a...

You know that person that comes to the party and the energy just changes? Yeah. Everyone goes, what happened? Suddenly every drink is just a little more sour and no one knows why. For all the roused excitement and bubbling energy of the folks that are still enjoying staying near and watching you all, the awkward

sudden celebrities you are and talking amongst themselves, as Chetney storms through the crowd, some of them begin to scatter a little bit. You guys want to hear a beatbox? No? Okay. Chetney, you missed a lot. The five of us are now heroes of this place, and we've been invited to dine with the king and queen. I don't know if it's dine with them, but they said we would.

It's the noon. If they don't have food, it's very rude. I think probably awards and things they give us. Have you ever seen the end of Star Wars? I read the manuscript, yep. What? It's a novel on my head. Anyway, we're going to go to the King and Queens tomorrow. Tomorrow.

We are going to. You weren't technically invited. I guess you could just come. I could be a page or a squire. They have a page. His name is Sir Ludin. Oh, that's right. How did you get out of it?

The page isn't a sir? The page is a knight? Yeah. He seemed like a page, but he could have been a... Oh, that's true. Maybe spelled differently. It seems like a weird, but he could have been a... But maybe his first name was just Sir. Oh, that's true. He spelled differently. It seems like a weird reward system. A little early.

Anyway, we were going to go to Deanna's house. Oh! Yeah, if you want to stay. Yes, I would very much like to. I've been getting lots of offers for dinner or drinks, but I would be happy to join you. Thank you for deigning to stay with us. You're welcome. You know. Kindle, knock on the door.

You don't want to shack up with that dwarf you met? I didn't need that long. Oh. Whoa. What? It's the fact that he said it. Yeah. I don't know why you tell on yourself. All right, two-pump chump, let's go!

Let's go! Two-pump chump, let's go! Let's go! Two-pump chump. So people are gathering. They're gathering at your abode? At the Deanna abode, yes. All right, so as you lead them to where you stay, please describe to the players what your abode looks like. Yeah, it's definitely a smaller sized home,

single floor, scaled to gnomes and dwarves. So the ceiling's probably only about seven feet tall. So I think everyone in here can fit without bending, but you definitely feel that struggle of scale of everything just being tiny and cozy. It's incredibly cluttered but warm. There are blankets and tapestries all over the wall. All of the furniture is overstuffed

and in shades of cream and peach and apricot. And the only place that's kept sort of immaculate is the kitchen towards the back. There's two bedrooms. Frida has their own bedroom, and I stay where the master, which is only slightly larger. But it's small, and it's very clearly

the starter home you get for the beginning of a family. Mm-hmm. What smell greets them when they enter the door? Oh, I think there's a bunch. Yeah, she had some weird dye experiments for some of her wool, so it's that sort of vinegar and dried flour. Perfect. Like flour, so it's almost good,

but still a little funky. A little tangy. It's a little tangy. When you dye Easter eggs and you're like, the smell in this kitchen isn't great. but still a little funky. It's a little tangy. When you dye Easter eggs and you're like, the smell in this kitchen isn't great. Perfect. You all enter. You probably light a few lanterns

to light the space inside, but it's warm, it's welcoming, and definitely an enjoyable place to settle down after a long day of travel and later in the day tussling with a terrifying entity. I wonder if Prestidigitation can like, Oh, yeah. Just get rid of it. Yeah, sorry, I can do that, too. Oh, no, no, no, no. I'm just going to go

and figure like. Fantasy Febreze. I was doing it subtly. I didn't want, you know. No, it's okay. I can also smell this. We haven't been here for a couple weeks. I'm so sorry. I would have tidied up, but we had a giant bull that tried to kill us.

Your house is wonderful. It's so cozy and beautiful. Are the blankets, did you knit all these? All of them. There's plenty. Ooh, how am I going to fit all of you? Okay, you can. I can stand.

That's fine. I don't need a place to lie down. I have a bed I never use. Whoever wants to take the bed. You don't use the bed? Well, no, I stand and power off. I'll take it. I just need, we've had such a couple of rough nights. I really need somewhere soft to sleep. It's all yours, friend.

Thank you so much. I might cuddle up with you. Yeah, Deanna and I will cuddle up. Wait, did you just say that you guys will share a bed? What? You guys are going to sleep in a bed? Is that awkward at all? No, I just assumed.

So your prior relationship? Well, I just figured same size, you know. And vast age difference? Yeah. Well, it's really just a number. A couple hundred. Mm. I am going to, and I think Deanna just walks out

for a minute, just hyperventilates outside. Yeah, just on the front door. Just on her. You made her uncomfortable. I did? Yeah, listen, you just need to tread gently, okay? I will, but what did I do? I don? Yeah. Listen, you just need to tread gently, okay? I will, but what did I do? I don't know.

Listen. Some people are just sensitive. Some people are just sensitive, and... You should sleep in the same bed with her. Those two bits of advice. I'm going to follow the end outside. They didn't really match up, like the piece I thought of. No. I'm going to follow Dan outside. They didn't really match up, like the puzzle piece I thought of.

No. I'm going to go somewhere else with that, and then I... As you're having this conversation, Dana, as you walk outside to process the moment. It's so warm in there. About a minute passes before Imogen slowly emerges to join you outside of the house. Hi. Hi.

How you doing? Good, it's been a lot of a day. It's a lot. Yeah. It's a lot. I'm sorry. What? Why would you be sorry? Oh, I, mm, I don't know. I'm nervous. Are you okay?

Yeah. I mean, actually. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, all of us are in a little bit of a loop right now, right? Yeah. Yeah. I mean, all of us are in a little bit of a loop right now, right? Yeah. I just, I've seen anxiety before, and so I thought maybe...

Yeah, it's weird, you know. Yeah. You know, we can make Chet sleep outside. No, no, it's fine. Seriously. He can. If I could Chet sleep outside. No, no, it's fine. Like, seriously. He can. Uh, if I could stay in the room with y'all, unless there's a thing happening. Oh, not at all.

Of course. Should we stay in your room, maybe, and then... Yeah, we'll stay in my room, and then they can stay in Freda's room. Yeah, that sounds great. That sounds good. Of course. Good idea. Yeah.

You know what's really crazy? I, like, don't really recognize him anymore, if that makes sense. He's completely different. Like personality-wise or just in this? Kind of watching y'all work has been wild. You seem like you do this kind of stuff all the time.

Really only in the last few months. But it's been a lot in these last few months. Certainly never expected it. You kind of, you adapt, I guess. Well, how are you adapting? Still working on it. Okay. What was Chetlock before?

Very... talented and sort of a force of personality. We met in just some little vacation town on the beach. And when you're on vacation A force of personality. Yeah. We met in just some little vacation town on the beach. And when you're on vacation and sort of on pause from your life, anyone that's driven and focused and kind of has their shit together kind of hits different, you know? Yeah.

So maybe I never really knew him that well, but... You knew Vacation Chet? I knew Vacation Chet. Wow. Passionate. Don't mean that in a weird way, but I think he always loved what he did. And it's hard to not want to be the object of someone with that much focus's attention, you know? Yeah, I do. object of someone with that much focus's attention, you know?

Yeah, I do. That was so long ago. I haven't looked into his mind lately. It's been kind of nice, not going to lie. But I'm used to the thoughts that I see in his eyes. And I know you hold a special place for him. Really? Whether he'll admit it or not. Oh yeah, yeah. That's very nice.

Thanks. Never really felt special before. You're so special. Coming from you, that means a lot. I think you're the most interesting person I've ever met, other than Frida. It's a good group. Thank you for allowing us to stay in your home.

Oh, absolutely. Anything you need. And I like the smell of vinegar. I don't want you to think I like the smell of vinegar. No, well you know, you just leave a thing out and you're like, I'll clean it up when I get back. Yeah, exactly. And then you meet a whole bunch of people

and you're like, oh, you're in my house? And I didn't think about that part. I can go, it's late, but if you're hungry, I can whip something up. Not at all, let's go to sleep. Let's get some rest. Yeah, yeah. Thank you for checking on me. I appreciate it. Can I hug you? Is that weird?

Yeah, it's cool. Thanks. So all I'm saying is if you guys interlock your fingers, you could form Voltron. You should just try it, like a hug. If you've been trying it, it's not, I don't know what you mean. It's from the same Star Wars novel that you read.

Yeah, I mean, you seem to be made of the same stuff, which is incredible. You should try to like. You know, I was, not to take your inane rantings seriously, but I was actually going to talk to Frida tonight about, I'm quite surprised that you're able to dream. You said that you were able to dream?

Yes, I have the same dream that's expanded a bit every time I power up. I've never been able to do that, and I was wondering if you wouldn't mind interlocking hands together with me, and maybe I could, if it's not too personal, I would love to take a glimpse of what that looks like. I have an ability where I can see your dream,

but I don't want to, it's really an imposition. I just thought that if I see how you do it, maybe I could learn to do it. Okay, so what you did with Imogen, you want to go into my dream. Only if it's okay with you. Only you, or are we taking a group? I mean, just us, if that's okay.

What is the, if you don't mind me asking, Deanna, what's the sleeping arrangement? Oh, we figured it out. You two are going to be in your room. We're going to be in my room. You're going to sleep on the couch. Couch is money. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

Miss Calloway? Yes? Fresh cut grass. I'd like to show you to my room if we're okay for the evening. Oh, I'm going to sleep with you tonight? No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Girl's room. My room. Okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay.

Okay. Fresh cut grass. Aeormaton room. Sure. Couch. Couch. Room for? So yeah, so the two Aeormatons will be in Frida's room. Not using the bed, though. No. That'll just be empty, but you'll be on the couch.

Couch. Holding it down in case anybody gets in. Love you, babe. Cool. Excellent. I don't know, I don't know. Well, Fresh Cook Grass, I'll take you to my room when you're ready. Dreamworld.

I... Dreamworld? Good night, everybody. Good night. Oh, good night. Have fun dreaming. Good night. Wait, do you need anything?

Do you need anything to help? I think we're okay. I think we're fine, but if you want to be there, you would notice. I'm excited. Yeah. Yeah. I've never had anyone in my dream. Your first time? Is this your first time?

It is, it would be. It would be for me as well. I mean, I'm not in another In another Armaton. Aeormaton. So you can't dream yourself, but you can enter other people's dreams? I can't, and I'm so curious. Do Aeormatons dream of electric sheep?

Or like, how does it work? That's not a real thing. I've never seen. Okay, start. Okay. I could tell you what I dream of, but I think it's better if you experience it. Can I insight check you?

What is the vibe right now? If you want to, you can insight check, and you can take a deception or perception, a deception or persuasion check. Your choice, don't say which one. Get those out of the way. I know. It ain't good. Please.

Plus nine. 16. You said insight, right? So that's a plus five. Or excuse me, it's a five. Yeah, what does she read off of you? She reads that I am nervous to bring... I don't think Deanna has ever really stepped foot in my room since I've occupied that space. And there's probably a bit of anxiety about that. And then also, I've never been so close to someone who is like me, and it feels like an opportunity to learn more about who I am and where we're from.

So fear, but excitement as well. God is funny. Are you nervous to be alone? I'm nervous to be in my flames. Are you? They can see your hands. But you don't know. FCG doesn't know what this means.

No, it could mean anything. I just got something right here. Perfect. All right. So A-Team, I guess, goes and heads up to Deanna's chambers for an evening's rest, while the remainder head into Frida's chambers. Well, not through a painting.

That's right. Indeed, on the couch. There you go, there you go. My apologies. Maybe when we're done with the dream and we come back, we can invite Mr. Pock-a-pee to sleep in the bed. I think that would be fine, yeah. I mean, he does snore quite an awful lot.

I don't know that I wouldn't notice. Has he woken you from your charge? It's remarkable that even in your shutdown state, you will still hear it. That's incredible. Yes, even though all of your sensors are completely powered off, it's impossible to hear. He really is an animal.

He's an animal, yeah. I've just been so, I'm grateful already, but, you know. I've never met another like me, but also you're so interesting and so confident and you've got legs and, you know, you know how to use them. I was hoping. Me too, me too. In battle, you know, you didn't seem afraid.

I'm just so intrigued, that's all. I think. I really like you. I really like you. I think that appearances can be very deceiving, and as I say that, I'll open my door and hesitate for a moment. And what you would see is papers and charcoal strewn out on the bed. It's pristine because I never use it, but there are sketches on the bed, on a little desk, sketches on the desk. And they are crude sketches, someone who isn't a little desk, sketches on the desk. They are crude sketches,

someone who isn't used to drawing, but they progress. You can see they've gotten better. There's one that is in the middle of being worked on, on the desk. You can see that it's a picture, a drawing of Deanna and I. I'll go up to it and grab it. She doesn't know that I'm making this for her. It's just a gift. I just wanted to, I don't think she knows just how lovely she is. And it's important for me before whatever happens, you know, that she understands that. Oh, are you enamored by her?

No, well, I am in love with who she is, yes, but I don't think it's romantic, no. Oh. And you'll also see that some of these sketches are, and I'll point them out, these are sort of what I see in my dream. And Fresh Cut Grass, it's Exandria. From a distance, it's a globe.

I don't understand. It'll all become clear, but that's just one of the things that I see, and then I'll point out another one, and it's my Aeon. Well, these are fantastical. And bizarre. Is that really how you see the world? I see the world as it is.

What do you mean bizarre? As a circle. Oh. Wow. We've been all over the place. We've actually been to multiple continents now. And it is just the same. Have you flown? It is just flat.

But you've flown? Yeah, we flew, yeah. On an airship? Skyship, yeah, we saw it, we, yeah, and it's, yeah. Still flat for you? Still flat as far as you can see. Then of course, there's like a radius after which no eyes can see.

Can you move right here? So it just sort of falls off. Fresh-cut grass, do you mind just waiting one second? I'll be right back. Sure. And I'll go downstairs and I'll find Mr. Pockabee. Mr. Pockabee. Yes? He believes the Earth is flat. It's a whole fucking thing.

I don't know where it came from, but sometimes you just gotta let these people come to their own conclusions. Okay. Yeah. Okay, good night, and I'll go back. Sorry, fresh-'ll go back. Sorry, Fresh Cut Grass. Well, I've never, how does this work? Oh, well, I usually do this with

heartbeat-type people. Right. But I guess I'll connect to you, and as you enter your rest period, I'll cast to you, and as you enter your rest period, I'll cast my spell, and I should be able to see what you're seeing. Okay. Okay, okay.

And you'll be safe? I hope so. I just, when you did this before, there were other people with you who could help. True, but Imogen's dreams are a bit more dangerous than the ones you've described to me. Sounded like it, yeah. So I think we'll be okay. Okay.

Will you take my hand? I trust you, yes. Yes. All right. I'll grab your hand and I'll power off and you see the eyes glow a dim white and power down. All right. I will cast my dream spell. You can do that.

Okay. Yeah. You complete the ritual and feel whatever you've come to understand to be your essence, your soul, as it's been called, your own interpretation, whatever it may be, and feel the darkness of sleep, that liminal space between consciousness and subconscious that you've come to experience through your friends here

is familiar. And as that darkness sets in, there's a warmth that begins to take over, like wading into a hot bath, if you've ever had one. It's hard to describe with your personal experiences. Someone threw piss at me once. That's true. Freshly.

Nicer than that. But... Eventually you feel that same tugging sensation, like you're being pulled along, like you're being tethered and dragged. And as that warmth becomes a light, you just see clouds drifting past. And it's this heavy mist, cloud of fog

that takes you a moment to gather your senses. And what you see before you is a glowing shape, a warm light being that is just drifting through the clouds. You don't see any detail, just like an incandescent figure that you are being pulled behind. And it doesn't take long for you to recognize this essence, though visually at this point,

not distinctive to how you've met them thus far, that this is Frida within their dream. And Frida, you are very familiar with this sense of freedom and flight. You follow the urge to climb as you do numerous times. And you can just gently acknowledge that additional presence behind you.

I mean, it feels freeing, in a way, to have this acknowledged. And if you can see me, I'll smile at Fresh Cut Grass. It's amazing. As the being looks back and continues to push forward, the clouds begin to break. For a moment, you can see the sky, not blue in this vision, but golden and white. It has this very sepia, almost like the first light of the morning through a windowsill, but it's across the entire expanse of space around you.

You can just make out the faint image of Catha in the sky. No red moon in sight. And down below, indeed, you can see the whole glassy orb-like beauty of Exandria. Clouds through the atmosphere, the greens and blues and browns and grays, just the true immensity and expanse of it,

the perspective on the oceans and landscapes. And you can see in this instance, in this dream, the rift of the aurora that still hangs above. This is a safer Exandria for the time being. And it's spherical. Sure. Sure. Within the dream.

Yeah. You looking upon the familiar immensity below you and glancing upon your hands, seeing the metallic sheen of the Ormaton armored plates that make up your limbs, stretching out, feeling the strength and the vibrance, the near vibration of life that sits within them. I'll wait for Fresh Cut Grass

to pull up a little closer, and they'll see. It's beautiful, isn't it? Do I hear words and stuff? You do. They're just ever-present echoing. Beautiful, isn't it? Isn't it, isn't it,ing. Beautiful, isn't it? It is.

It's amazing. And you can see this in your sleep. Yes. And then I see my hands. And then I look down. And I'll look down. You look down, and in that cloudy space that sits still drifting around,

you can see the extension of your legs where the skin of humanoid legs rest beneath the sand smoothness to the texture and color. And then I see these. I don't understand what this means. You. I'm going to look down as well

and see if I can make that happen, or if it just is there. What you see from your perspective, as you look, is still the entirety of Frida standing there, Eormaton and all. still the entirety of Frida standing there, Eormaton and all, but there's that liminal cloud gather,

and there's this apparition of a child. Where they are? Sitting right in front of, and almost overlapping with them. So not the same being, but with them? Mm-hmm. Whoa. I don't know what it means. Is it part of you?

Is it yours? Is it you? I've heard people who have lost a limb in battle, memory that I can't quite place. But the dream usually ends shortly after this. Can I? As he's talking, you can see that apparition of the child

partially embedded, almost like it's protected partway within the shell of the energy of Frida. You can't make out any details. You can see towards the legs and the feet, there is that skin coloration, that youthful vibrance, but then it becomes ephemeral up to the point where you just outline the shape of the child's form.

Maybe I could help you or something. I'll, I don't know if I can cast spells in here, but can I just touch them by the shoulder and just sort of, I don't know, instill confidence or guidance or something into them to try to hold on to this moment and see past it? What do you see when you look at me? I mean, I see, in this state, I see you,

but you're a little bit more glowy. Okay. And a child? And a child. Is that what you see? A child, no. I mean, I can't quite see it. I feel it. A child.

Oh, you just see nothing? No, I see human feet when I look down, but a child... I haven't thought about that in a long time. Oh. Are you all right? I don't know. I think I would like to,

I think I would like to wake up now. If that's okay. Yes, yeah, of course, this is your. I need to, I need to. Draw it. Yes. I'll try to remember it, too. I'll just, I just wrap myself around Frida and try to wake us up with a squeeze.

Okay. You go ahead and wrap your arms around the torso of Frida, and metallic as the exterior shines, it's like holding a warmed blanket. it's like holding a warmed blanket. Both of your spiritual selves colliding. And as you concentrate through the grasp,

you can look down and see that outer outline of the child as it looks up at you for a moment, and you see the eyes glow ever so faintly before you both get pulled out into coming back into the point of consciousness within the somewhat dark interior of your room. Are we still holding each other? I'll say as part of casting the spell,

you reach over and grab, and as part of your waking up, you're not sure what transpired, but you are both holding each other as you come to consciousness. Sorry. Are you all right? Well.

That is very personal. Oh yeah, yeah, I'm sorry. I didn't... No, it's... I don't know how to explain this other than to say it feels like you were supposed to be there. Oh. Um. I should... You should draw what you saw, right? Yeah. To remember. But I, can you tell me what the child looked like?

Sure, I'll describe in as vivid detail as I can remember what I experienced. And as I'm sketching, as I'm drawing, and you're describing this, I think you, I think it's unlocking a memory that I couldn't access that Deanna was able to give me a bit of with her laughter. Oh. I think before, I was meant to protect this boy.

And his laughter was pure, unadulterated. And I haven't heard that laughter in a long time. I don't know what happened to him, or why I know him. I think maybe it has to do with my responsibility as an Aeormaton, as a ranging Aeormaton, as a ranging Aeormaton. You feel this faint itch, almost like in the back of your head, like within you, just this little itch that's just settling there. The memory of him is in there somewhere,

but also I've seen you play back recordings of things that you've heard. I wonder if somewhere deeper inside of you, there's a recording of that boy. Maybe if you could access it or find it, or if I could help access it, we could figure out how to play it back. I have spoken to Deanna many times about living in the past.

She had to watch her entire family grow without her. I don't know how helpful that would be. Well, you won't know until you try. Why do you help always? I mean. We should have fought that beast, and we didn't because of you. Oh, well, I mean, We should have fought that beast, and we didn't, because of you. Oh, well, I mean, it was a team effort, right?

I mean, Fern was doing some stuff, and, you know... Every one of us had battle on our mind, I think. I saw it in everyone's eyes, except you. You saw an opportunity to turn an enemy into a friend. Well, I mean, enemy and friend, you know, both feature the letter E. So, you know, there's a lot of commonality there. I think N, N also, E-N.

Yes, there's an E-N. Rinden Stone. Maybe we can... Nne. No! Nne. You can't spell animal your friend without the Nne. That's true.

This is a lot, so maybe we could- Yeah, maybe we'll just sleep on it, but if you want me to help or to try to delve deeper, or, you know, I probably understand your circuitry better than most folks, so if you need, maybe this is something we could also have Jacoby take a look at? Oh, Jacoby, he's lovely. You're going to really enjoy him.

And yes, I think I'll explain to Jacoby what we experienced here together. Until then, should we get Chetney back in here? I would, if you don't mind, Until then, should we get Chetney back in here? I would, if you don't mind, I would like to just stay with you. Yeah, I'd like that. All right. So.

Pillow fight! As you go to power off the evening, Frida, that little itch, that new itch just sits remaining somewhere in the back of your mind. Yeah. All right. Many of you are very tired, but a long rest is achieved.

Oh my god, you motherfucker. What? What? Turn for fire. That was a hate crime. That's way bad. I don't know where the hell you got that picture. Is that Albert Matthew Mercer? There's some family.

Yeah. Look at his face. He knows that somebody close to him has betrayed him. That was the birthday where I was too old to have a birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese, but I went anyway because they had the Jurassic Park shooter game with the hydraulics that you could play at the time.

I didn't give a shit. I want to play that game real bad. You're sweet. Out with it. Did you be the babe? Oh yeah, twice. I like the parmesan. That you beat it? It's a boy. Twice. Good. I like the parmesan. That's my favorite. Big parm energy.

Big parm energy. Big parma! Good. Big parma! No, I can't get behind big parma. Big parma? No, I hate big parma. It's a problem. Big parma. Not parma.

Oh boy. FCG suddenly dies in the middle of the night. It's a tragedy. No! Aw. Shit! It's getting hot in here. Here we go. What the fuck did you do?

It's getting so hot in here. It's so hot in here. Oh, that's, yeah. Wow, what a great picture. This is a high quality picture. High tops the show. It feels like it's hurting your n what a great picture. This is a high quality printing. High-tops-the-show. Plastic. That's hurting your nipples, let me admit.

It feels like they glued paper to my chest. It's so shite. I love it so much. That looks like it came off a home printer. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Someone's Epsom. Before you do whatever you're going to do with him, allow me to leave the bedroom.

Okay, no, fair enough. What sound do you think you're making? Oh, that's not. Ah! Where? You know these t-shirt companies, man. They got a wide variety. Oh god.

Okay. Thoughts and prayers, bro. Yeah. Big farm. Love it. I I love it. Okay. Thoughts and prayers, Brett. Yeah. On a big farm. I love it. I do want it. Some people get a full night's rest. Yeah, some people.

Some people get five levels of exhaustion. No way, that will not be for sale on CritRole. It's going to be a foul. Foul people. But all of you eventually rouse in what you assume to be the morning, though there is no sunlight when you're beneath and within the city of Uthodurn.

However, the lanterns along the street, which many have been replaced now with oil lanterns, are in the process of being changed out. It is lighter than you previously recall. You're starting to retake the road since the mass disenchantment of a number of the Permanent Baubles and have temporary solutions for the time being.

But the other thing that catches your scent is the smell of food being cooked and snuck within the kitchen before you all manage to rise and shine. You see Deanna over there in the process of prepping a breakfast. She's in a full sweat. Out of nowhere, there's that hair glow light

of the dawn as this is her worship, is her care for people. And there's pancakes and sausage and eggs and coffee and juice. Someone threw her 200 gold the day before and she has spent a good amount of it trying to treat y'all to a bunch of food. Oh my gosh.

So there's a buffet being done. I'm in the zone! Whoa! Fluffy riddle cake. Good morning! Oh my goodness. They're burnt on the edges, the little crisp of the pancakes. Mm-hmm. Woo! It's real. Just a little bit, right? Pancakes? Mm-hmm. Woo! You too. Dibba dibba dibba dibba dibba. Ah!

It's real. You've outdone yourself. Thank you. Oh, there. Oh my god. Faking. You had a smell. Yep.

You tripped and it was it? Yep, legs are just left out behind. Dozies. Fresh cut grass. I know we can't partake, but I... And I'll pull out, not enough to look valuable or seem valuable, but just bits of precious metals that I've collected since I've been in town.

And I'll hand you a little bit of a ruby, really small bit, and I'll take some and I'll just... I'll put a little maple syrup on mine. Why are you eating the rubies? It tastes so good. It tastes better than copper. Right, but those are so valuable. Not very much. Would you like it?

Only if you can eat it. Yes. No, you get pancakes. Okay. Thank you, Miss Kellan. You're welcome. We've got a whole mine over here, so you know, it's just rocks. Yeah, give it a try.

Ew! Oh god. Why does he have it? It's not an interesting way to eat. Jack will be with him. That's going to kill you. This is the day. It is a delicious smorgasbord, and a welcome meal, given the rations

that have sustained you for the majority of your recent journeys. But the day is yours. What would you like to do? That is the best meal I've ever had. How much time do we have until we have to be at the Citadel? Citadel?

We've got the whole morning. It's earlier than you think. It's hard to know because there's no sunlight down here, but we have time if you wanted to go to Jacobey's or Catelyn's because your coat's still ripped and you have to fix that. Oh, yeah. We could do that on a different day. That'd be nice to freshen up before we meet royalty.

Oh yes. Oh, and we have to go back to the woman with the hair. People. The pompadour. Get our research that we paid for. And also stop by Ulgar's chest. No, that's not. Oh yes. We do, though. It's part of who you are. Don't you want to at least just check up on them?

Have someone go in? Maybe your trusted ally, Deanna, can go in and just sort of see what- No offense, it's like an X's. Like, you don't want to go in there. I mean, I guess the Cruel could roll through. That would not be bad. The Cruel? The Cruel!

Listen, you're a hero. I thought he was calling you the Cruel for a second. Yeah, that's my nickname. Wow. You're a hero! Deanna the Cruel. I'm not going to bother that. Walk that dragon.

Yep. I'm going to. Yep. I suppose we could, but there's also many stores to visit. Instead of going to Oldgore's Chest. It's on the way. Have we heard of Oldgore's Chest. It's on the way. Have we heard of Old Car's Chest, DM? You have. Yeah.

You have not, because it is not called that anymore. Right, okay. Motherfuck. What? I'm okay. Yeah, but listen. You know how when you go back to an X and you're like, look how great I'm doing? Oh. That's kind of where you're at. You know and you're like, look how great I'm doing.

That's kind of where you're at. You know, you've saved the whole town, so it's the perfect time to go see. Is this where I'm at? That's what I said. Roll in. Yeah, just roll right in. Confidence. You're the one who always teaches us confidence.

I wish we actually had pancakes right now. Yeah. I wish I had a disguise, though, or something that could hide my face a little. Can't you turn invisible? Fuck. Or can't, Deanna, do you have any wintery ski masks that you could put on? Yeah, I think that will give a different impression

than you think. You mean like a dwarvish beard? Yeah. Just a scary a dwarvish beard? Yeah. Just a scary little man in a sea mask? I can! He takes off and is now making one of those very silly little, like, witsy beards.

I've never seen my hands work so fast. I'm drawn to those craftsmen. Can you melt it so it looks more real? Yeah, you can also, after you've woven it, you can go ahead and tussle up the outside and make it knotted, and then it actually looks like a full-on scraggly beard. Oh, this is good, I love fiber arts.

Beautiful. Meal is easy to complete. For the hell of it, go ahead and roll a d20 and add your, I'll say, dexterity or intelligence modifier. Guidance! It doesn't matter, it's a natural one, I can't. Shit! That actually, that's just right.

Isn't it bad? That's just right. You feel like, having not made a beard before, this isn't bad for a first beard. You think it'll work. That's some Wish.com shit. Yeah! Nice knit pubic mane. Yeah.

I made you a beautiful merkin. A face merkin. It's in a weird V-form. Okay, I'll rock it. It's okay. It was good. I did good. So is that where we're headed? First?

What? No! Should we just, I mean, it's on the way. Listen, just in case I open somebody up, we should do all the other important things that we need to do first. What else there is to do? Is Jacoby's close by? Jacoby sits downstairs, so to speak.

Yeah. All right. All the good stuff's on the liver dist. Jacoby might open us up, too, so that might take some time. Well, then we should go early. Yeah, we should go. Or late. You did it! After the meeting we should go early. Yeah, we should go.

Or late. After the meeting. After the meeting. No, let's go before. Okay, Deanna. Because if it doesn't, if it does take a while, you know? And maybe you'll get legs to walk into the King and Queen and be like, what's up?

Could you imagine? Well, I kind of like the wheel. I like the wheel, too. I like the wheel, too. I could the wheel, too. I could do both. Sure. The tangle before. No! Like three legs? Like three legs.

I can give a different impression to people, but yeah, I like it. Maybe they can make it so where it tucks in. It's like a tripod. Come down if you want. Oh, that's kind of cool. Can you show us how that works again? Yeah, one more time. So you're walking, you're walking, or you're like, my legs are tired, so I'm going to take It's like a tripod. Come down if you want. Oh, that's kind of cool. Can you show us how that works again? Yeah, one more time.

So you're walking, you're walking, or you're like, my legs are tired, so I'm going to take a break. You're going to have to clean that up. You got anything else? I don't know why that felt bad. That felt dirty as hell. We're just going to pixel it in post.

Dirty as fuck! We're not allowed that. That was a certain country, so we're going to pixel it and post. Yes, fuck! We're going to yaw a lot. That way, in certain countries, I'm going to bleed the whole screen. Bust out all the way up. It's the legs of the wheel. Yeah, I'm right there with you. Why did the sound effects make it all worse, though? It was so aggressive, too.

It's toe jam and oral physics. I'm right there with you. It's great. Phoenix. Worth a shot. Perfect! Worth a shot. Perfect. Worth a shot. Jacoby's, old car's chest, steeple. And the clothing place for your coat.

Oh, yeah. And you're all, my coat can wait, we live here. But you guys. Let's do all your stuff. Yeah. Old car first? Yeah, fuck it, why not? I got this great pubic mane, nobody will notice a thing.

In fact, people will probably look away from me. All right, so we're going to Olgar's first. Yeah, it's on the way. Or what else? Yeah, that's where we go. Okay. Okay. Peer pressure. We're running into the danger.

We're going into Olgar's first. The one, sure. What if he gets, like, arrested when we go in there? I'll swing it, I'm not going back to jail. I have to admit, I don't quite know. I've been here for about two years and I don't know what Oltgar's is. Oltgar was a brilliant master craftsman,

a producer of incredible fine wooden toys. I worked with him for years. It was his toy shop, I was his second. There was a son of a bitch elf named Drixlix that came in and fucked everything up. Drixlix? Drixlix? Drixlix.

Drixlitch? Yeah, Drixlitch. Like a cow. Good old Dixlix. You know, like Dixlix. You know, Dixlix. You just say it real fast, Drixlix. Drixlix. Drixlix. You just say it real fast, tricklish. Tricklish.

It feels like you're having a little stroke. Do you smell toes? What do you mean? I'm sure I'm not. I forgot my long wrist. I'm alive. Okay, good. I made it.

Winning, baby! Trickslitch. Trickslitch. Trick Slitch. There's an S. No, it's an X in the middle. These are the people you stabbed, right? These are the people you stabbed? Jesus son of a bitch. It was all about metal toys. It was totally forsaking the craft,

the time-honored tradition, what we had spent so many years on. Overnight after drinks, he sabotagedage the whole thing and you sold away part of the toy store and my future with it. Wait, what happened to Orkar? I stabbed him in the hand. You stabbed him in the knee or you stabbed him in the hand? In the hand. Who was the second?

Drixlix. Drixlix? Then the meniscus with a little turn. Oh! Yeah. You can't just go in and out. That's some basic shit. You got to get in there, work it around a little bit, apply some leverage, you know, up to recovery time. It's called D&O's now.

Oh! Is he still around? Is D drinking? D&O's! Oh, right, right. What's called D&O's? Nothing. Oh.

An acronym. Okay. That's disgusting. Wait,? Nothing. O. An acronym. Okay. That's disgusting. Wait, who's the O? Oltgar. Oh, I thought that was a U this whole time. I thought it was Oltgar this whole time. Oltgar.

You mean there's an ampersand in that fucking name? Yeah, could you imagine? The goal. I've got it. You've got to go now. D&Os. Mr. Pock-a-pee? Yes? If anything happens in there, I got your back.

Inside out is what I want. Inside out, backbone on the outside, ribs splayed outward. Yes, sir. Okay. Yes, sir. We're making a blood eagle of a toy maker? That's as long as on the outside of the rib cage. Oh, I'm so sorry. That's okay. Deed-table moment.

Dun-dun-dun-dun! I'm sorry. That's okay. Deceivable moment. Dun, dun, dun, dun! Okay. I've got this. Sure, let's just go in. I'm going to, mm. You don't want to go, it's okay. You can tell us. Do you want a little safe word?

Are you going to stab someone if we go in there? Are you going to stab someone if little safe word? Yeah, cool. Let me take your weapons? No, no, because we're on some higher shit. We're working on some world-level stuff. My petty issues are not important right now. But if I see Drexlitch in the streets, you've got about one second.

It's on sight. To stop. On sight. But in the store, you're going to be okay? We'll find out. Shit! We got to have a safe word. Do you remember the old one? Oh god. Oh boy. Is it still macaroni?

It is. If I hear macaroni, we're getting you out of there. Does he... Imogen? Yeah. Does he get angry and turn into? Not usually, no. Just, if he gets angry, he just turns into a son of a bitch.

Oh, okay. He's kind of a son of a bitch already. Well, just wait. Okay. All right, so you are now. Parmesan. It's Parmesan! It's Parmesan! Parmesan! Just wait. Okay. All right, so you are now. It's Parmesan! It's Parmesan! Parmesan! Redcon, it's Parmesan.

All righty. You're my favorite, Nessia. All righty. So, leaving the warm, welcoming, lovely, breakfast-scented abode of Deanna, you return to the office. Can we just stuff all the leftovers in our pockets just so we have it for the day?

You got pouches if they're ready for travel, yeah. You just never know. Pocket bacon. You can heat them back up inside a food cooker. I've got a microwave. Oh my god, that's right! Should we just put it all in your belly, just like it's a Tupperware? Yeah, I'll put it on.

I'll put on, keep hot. Nice. Oh my god. Is that what it was like, 7-Eleven, like rollers? Yeah. If you put a wet paper towel in there, it keeps everything from drying out. Yeah, yeah, that's valid.

Perfect. All right, after setting up your- Oh, that was it? That was too far? Your fantasy healer companion cleric slash food processing unit, you return to the Augur Trail and begin your descent deeper back into the central deliberation disc of Uthodurn.

You return to the familiar center of the marketplace and just beyond it, where to the right, you recall seeing in your brief passing by the day before, and you knowing its presence there, what is now known as the D&O Toy Emporium. Oh. Fuck! It's got franchises, too. Oh. Fuck!

It's got franchises, too. Ooh. Does it look different than when you were here? What you see as you glance over is a impressive base floor made of well-cut and cemented mason stone. A second story above that, built of the same material, but the roofscape themselves, these long plates of metal and iron that curve up at the end, almost giving this presentory, majestic, magical look to it. Everything is curved into eyelashes that come off the edge of the roof. You can see there's

numerous smokestacks that plume up, but the smoke vanishes. The smoke doesn't gather well here unless it's properly given the means of escaping from the city Uthodurn, but this magic seems to be illusory. It vanishes after a few feet. There are lights strung across the exterior and it is painted in vibrant turquoise and shades of purple that scoot between to where it has almost a half carnival invitational vibe shuttered. The front door is closed. And with a large sign is present, you can see there's a handful of figures that are just settled and gathered on the exterior of the premises.

Like waiting for it to be open? You see two younger dwarfs that are dressed in simple cloth attire, aprons with simple dress shirts that are rolled up a bit in the same turquoise and purple vibe. It's very like those weird blueberry Pop-Tarts that have the turquoise and purple coloration. It has that kind of vibe around the exterior between the dark iron. So spot on. So spot on.

So perfectly evocative. Yes. Wearing similar colored attire, and they're gathered next to a, looks to be tall for a dwarf, broad-looking dwarf gentleman with a bald, smooth head on top with a cloudy billow of white hair

that rests about the shoulder, who is dressed in a large leather apron and a coat that they've placed over, like a big elbow patches that are worn through a little bit, and a deep red coloration. They're all looking towards the complex in the stillness.

Is this what it looked like when you were here? No, it actually had some respect before. It went all cray. No, it did not have these newfangled metal whatever-they-are coming off of the roof. It was only one story. It was open most times of business. I change my mind. I change my mind. I can't go in. If you want to go. But there's people here.

You hear on the door, and one of the people goes up and puts a key in it, unlocks it, and lifts it open. The door immediately slams open, pushing that individual back onto their ass as a burly-looking, six-and-a-half-foot-tall orc in full armor, showing a singe mark. Marks across the fur trim of their armor and part of the face darkened in black soot. And you see smoke emerging from their singed hair. As they emerge and close the door behind,

holding what looks to be a large axe in one hand, they emerge and go, Put it out! Put it out! Put it out! And immediately, they start wrapping him in a blanket for a second, and he falls to the ground and rolls around for a second as they put out little bits of lingering flame on him. As the people nearby start to look over

and muttering amongst themselves of what's happening, he stands up and goes, Fuck this, I quit. I didn't know it was going to be this kind of a deal. Get out of my face! And pushes one of the, what you now gather, the employees of the Emporium out of the way and just stomps off in your direction

before pushing past your crew. You can immediately smell that pungent scent of burnt hair. Just. Celestial Fool, take two? Uh-huh. Uh-huh. What happened? I don't know. We didn't have any flamework inside. That's unexpected.

But that's another disgruntled employee. Maybe it's not going so great in there. I don't think that was an employee. That looked like, I don't know, someone, the employees hired. That looked like muscle. Are the employees outside? Why would a toy store need muscle?

Sir? What were you doing in there? He's off. Damn it. He's not even listening. The two other employees are talking amongst themselves, looking a little bit nervous, and you can see the burly dwarf figure. Now as he turns around, you can see the long,

well-groomed white beard that settles down to the middle of his stomach, almost can see the long, well-groomed white beard that settles down to the middle of his stomach, almost right where the navel is. Gray leather pants and thick work boots on it. His hands, he looks like he's dressed underneath the jacket and the apron, a nice button up, almost like a silk dress shirt.

Rosy cheeks and a little nose. Like a cherry? Like a cherry, yeah, just a little round nose. Does he have a twinkle in his eye? You're not close enough to see, but roll perception. Can I assist with the twinkle check? Natural 20. With a natural 20, you can see as he looks over, the concern on the brow towards you,

and you distinctly see where once there was a twinkle. Aw! Now there is a dull lack of spark. Oh! The spark, it's gone. He's lost the meaning of Winter's Crows. Well, that's certainly going to be a big problem.

Wow. I don't know what we're going to do about this. We have to help him. We have to. I don't know who he is, but he seems... No, he just looks sweaty and frustrated. I recognize him. Yes! I'm invisible. You vanish, and indeed,

you see Oldgar Dregadon. Dregadon? Degreedon. Degreedon? Yeah, sorry, Dredagon. Dredagon? Dredagon. Did Travis come up with these impossible names? Jesus. That's Travis.

He sounds fine as hell. As Oldgarde. Who the fuck's going to? Oldgarde goes ahead and sits on a nearby stool and just rests and takes a scarf out and wipes this wet from the brow and goes, Oh, I don't know what we're going to do. Sorry, friends.

Let's go ahead and take a break. There's not much business happening this way. Chet, what is it? What? What's what? Where's Chetney? I'm here. Are we going to help him? He seems like he needs help. Should we see what it is? Go ask him if he needs help.

That's what you should do, ask him. Fearne, you're nice. Hello. Oh. Hi there, little miss. Oh my god! I'm sorry, we're not open for business today. We're having a bit of a pickle.

Oh no. I can't. Well, I just, I, I, I, what's wrong? What happened? He looks about at the rest of your crew and goes, Well, I mean, we all know things have been a bit loopy these past few days, a lot of failed enchantments, and well, we've taken on a lot of failed enchantments and, well, we've taken on a lot of businesses of late

in the means of magical trinkets and bubbles and gifts that the kids seem to be into these days. Enchanted toys? Some of them, yes. I don't deal with a lot of those. I'm more of a, deal more on the business side of things. That's more of Drix's side. But well, see, one of our best sellers were the These little cages. They were these... You can see he gets lost in the thought for a second, and there's this cold sadness in his eyes for a moment.

I don't know much about them. They're just these enchanted cages that my business partner would have imported. And they were utilized to contain Pyme and Firebugs, and the kids seemed to like to have them as nightlights, and it kept them contained and safe and all together a fantastic bit of joy for the whole family. Well, the whistle cages lost all their magic, Setting free, the Paimon firebugs all throughout the inside of the shop as of the past day or so,

and they've begun multiplying and taking over the store. Well, Drix is a little worried. At this point, you hear another voice from around the corner say, Drix is worried about what? Oh. Amused. That's fine. That sounds like a villain. That sounds like a villain if I've ever heard of him. Drix is worried about what? That sounds like a villain. That sounds like a villain if I've ever heard of him.

Maybe it's a misdirect, we don't know. You see, stepping around, a tall elven gentleman, looking young to middle age, blonde, curled hair, and a long, pointed nose that comes out in an almost Ichabod Crane-type presentation, dressed in ostentatious clothing, like a snide Willy Wonka, along with the odd top hat, walking with a cane and a slight limp. Yes, as my esteemed business partner has presented before you, we are in a bit of a pickle. My apologies. My name is Drexlex O'Varna, owner and purveyor of D&O's Toy Emporium, alongside the esteemed Urgar right here.

Oh. So you're the one that makes the, who makes the toys? I'm the majority owner of the business here. The toys are made by Altgar. They are outsourced to many extremely talented creators, crafters, builders, by my designs. Oh, so it's not locally made? Some things are locally made, but why would we not allow ourselves

to enjoy the brits of talent all throughout Exandria and Wildemount itself? After all, a growing business does need to expand its horizons, isn't that right, old guy? I was like, yes, of course. And now you're having problems with your inventory, is that right?

Yes, of course. Unforeseen circumstances. You, looks over at you, and takes a look and goes, seem to be not the average wanderers of the city. What? You're not the average wanderer of the city. What? I mean... We can do magic.

Well, it seems there's a vacancy. Are you looking for work? Well, I actually was just looking for fine, for fine, very fine, masterly crafted wooden toys. Oh, well. Should you be able to help us in our predicament or know somebody who can help us?

We'll pay you a finder's fee, and when all is said and done, I'd love to show you our back stock of such fine wooden crafts. Do you happen to have anything along the lines of this? Something so rudimentary. Let me see. No, no, no, no, no. I'm going to show it to Altgar. He goes, MCL.

Like this? That's fantastic work there. It is. Anyway. You needed help? Did you do that yourself? Did I? No, no, no, no, no. I hired somebody to make this. Very, very masterful craftsman.

Wow. That's fine work. Yes, I'm sure it is, but you know. Still, antiques are quite the rage in some places. Cool. Oh my god. But nevertheless. What sort of favor did you need?

I mean, we were just shopping, but you seemed to be in need, and where are the helpful sword? We were trying to get the aid seemed to be in need, and we're the helpful sort. We were trying to get the aid of some of the local glass blades, but they were a bit preoccupied as of late with the events in the Grand Disclos, and had a hard time getting a few of them

to return my summons. But we're in the lookout for mercenary work. You have firebugs? Yeah. We've got firebugs that are dangerous, and also, I have a... I have a pet. A pet? I have a pet. This could become dangerous.

Should it be continuing too long? What? What kind of pet? All cargoes. Drexlich here happens to be an appreciator of rare creatures. Oh, what? He took up as our recent mascot and takes a rock and chucks it up, and you can see the sign where it says, D&O Toy Emporium, and beneath it you see this adorable-looking worm with a cartoon face that's smiling. It looks like a glow worm. It's just like,.

Like a trolley worm with the sour gummy worms? Yeah. Indeed, crascolids are an incredible creature. In their larval stage, they remain in most temperatures. Unfortunately, where they reside, usually in much higher temperatures, they naturally go into their pupal stage and then their final adult stage, which is far more dangerous. Has it gone into its larval state yet? I haven't been inside yet, that's why we need mercenaries to go ahead

and take out these pime and fire bugs before they get to my pet and make things exponentially worse. How big are these full-size wormy bugs? I don't know, I've not seen one. Don't yell at us. I'm not yelling, I'm just very overwhelmed.

It does seem like some of us would want to go in there and look around and see what sort of chaos is. I mean, it seems like your fortunes have been up, but now they're like the down of the whistle cages. Oh boy. Wow. What? It's real bad. You okay? What time is it? Does anybody know what time it is?

How much time have we got? Well, clockwork timepieces are relatively common for homesteads here within Uthodurn, and so you would know it's probably about 8, 39 a.m. Okay, so we got a few hours. A few hours to take care of this. That's nothing. Yeah. Did you keep these little creatures

that you like, your pets? Are they in cages? I just have one! My room resides on the top floor. This is as the majority stake owner in the business. You don't have to keep saying that part. We got it. I'm just letting you know,

this is very important to me. And I am, Both of us. And unfortunately, some people whose responsibilities was to keep things safe and contained dropped the ball. So now I have to clean up this mess. And I would like to offer two individuals that you might bring upon as mercenaries to this endeavor

a fine payment of 500 gold pieces for a job well done, and a possible sponsorship from D&O to Emporium. I would request not to have all of the firebug slain, if contained possible, as they are a valuable asset to our business to be recontained. What if the magic never comes back? How are you going to contain them? Magic will come back. There's still magic throughout the city.

We just had a brief hiccup. You said it was 500 gold apiece? That's what he said. 500 gold. For two pieces. Just for two persons, though. Right, you said, right? I mean, for how successful you all are, 500 apiece really is not that much to ask. Make a persuasion check.

Yeah. Got it. Quick draw. Dirty 20. Dirty 20. Did you add the d4? Oh, I got it. You can't get Gav's guidance. Why not? She's just pinging out the butt like, You got this!

Don't forget to guide yourself. I can't guide you, I guide you. I love the idea of like... You're fine. I mean, of course, for other people, There's visual and somatic components to the spell. We're all going to the spell. We're all going to die. Well, I understand this is a discussion that can

ongoing, and Olgar goes, five minute apiece. I think that sounds like a viable option, should somebody help salvage our business, which is only growing more and more dire by the minute. Yeah, I mean, from inside the shop, there's definitely arising such a clatter. We should really just go inside and see what's the matter.

I greatly appre- we greatly appreciate it. Mr. Dicklick, is your bedroom locked? It's Dick's Lich. Dick's Lich, I'm sorry. It's all right. Is your bedroom locked? Do we need a key to get into anything? Yes, actually. He pulls out a small key ring.

This one, and hands you this small silver key that has D and O put into it. Got it. Of course. That should let you into the room. So are you to take this work out on your own? Yeah, yeah, I know. I mean, we're strong, capable. Very well. Magic.

Well, as we prepare to follow him, I am going to try and, because I can't see Mr. Pockaby, but I feel like I can feel his hatred in the air. And I like Mr. Pockaby. So I am going to try and do two things at once, Diem. I'm going to kick the cane out from under him in a way that would appear as if it was an accident. And then I'll try and hold him up, and while I do that, I would like to steal the key rings. Ooh! Yes. All right. May I assist?

Like all the other keys? Yes, yeah, I will allow you to assist, because this is your game. All right, so he goes, Well, allow me to briefly open the door. It is unsafe, so I recommend a rapid entry. How big are these creatures? Oh, they're very small.

Oh. They tend to swarm. Got it. Can I step back away from the group and out of his line of sight, can I run my chisel across my palm and have ice shards do a little crimson right and just have it run up the blade. Will that drop my invisibility?

I'll allow that. Do I stay invisible or does it drop? It is not an attack. It is technically not a spell, but it is a magical rite. It's a challenge. I will say it probably will. Okay, great. I'll drop and just stand there with my chisel behind my forearm and just watching what's happening. Okay. So he turns towards the door, at which point you approach

and see the proper opportunity. Oh, it's unsafe. I should probably... Go ahead and make an athletics check for me. Guidance. I love this. He has disadvantage because he's an natural two. 16. Okay.

Oh! Oh! Oh! Are you okay? Oh no! I'm sorry. No, I'm sorry. It's an old war wound. Oh, right, war. You're so brave.

An old one. I appreciate that. Let me just help you up here and I'll... Make a steady hand check. As you go ahead and help carry the back and draw the attention and start talking to him as he gets looked back up. So...

It's advantage. Can I? Yeah, okay. 19 plus four, I believe. Sleight of hand, you said, right? 19 plus four, 23. That's right. 23, yes. Yep, you've used it.

Okay. Why is it so embarrassing? Sorry. That's right. 23? Yes. Yep, you've used it. That's right. Why, it's embarrassing. Sorry, it's early. I haven't had all of my oatmeal. He just had some of his oatmeal. We need a pancake for anything we got, that's true. Quite fine, thank you. Oltgar, do keep watch. I'm going to go finish my oatmeal.

Puts his hat back on, grab a piece of his cane, and walks off. You clutching the ring of keys, palms into your pocket. As he starts walking, can I time a group of people coming along the street? I'm going to try and walk along next to him,

and I'm just going to run the chisel along the lower back of his calf and cast Brand of Castigation on his leg. Oh no! And then land into the feet of the people walking. Yes, you may. This is so petty. So he's walking into the road, and you see him like... Once he's not in visual range of other people, you can see he starts showing a little bit of frustration and reaches

into a pocket and pulls out what looks to be a small herb. Werther's. Yes. Yes, it is. It is the Uthodurnian Werther's. As known as a withers. Is that erupted from you? Pops it into his mouth and is like, I do love that hard caramel flavor. Yeah! Nasty-ass grandma.

As you get him up from underneath, you go ahead and, you only have to roll to attack. You just like, and you go, No! Ghosts Under, go ahead and make a stealth check to try and dodge into the crowd. No. Come on, come on.

Levels up. 24. 24. Oh! What's he doing? What's he? Caw! Chup! Like, hits this 12-year-old kid.

He was playing with one of those cup ball things. He goes, watch where you swing that! You rippable brat! Ugh! Ugh! Ugh! You ruined my pantaloons! And continues to walk off on his way.

You feel a little bereft of attention. FCG, can I get a little to-go plate? Oh, yeah. You want to just reach in there? Yeah, let me just get in there. I want to offer Olgar, just, hey, why don't you just take a seat out here

and have a nice breakfast? I didn't want to assume, I just maybe thought that was armor when you first approached. I've not been fed a meal out of another person's stomach before. That's a new experience. Well, I've been told it's all pretty good.

I can't say it to myself, but I made it last night. Or no, you made it. I kept it warm. That's teamwork. Teamwork. Mm, that is quite delicious. Thank you. That is so pleasant. The owner of this place is really something else.

He's a... Detectives. He's a... Oh, too fast. Too fast. He's a unique individual who has a good mind for business and has been spearheading the steady expansion of our trade after many years of not finding

quite the approval and audience and community that we have been hoping for. Oh, you're so sweet. The surface thoughts are, this fucking son of a bitch. SAM and LAURA and LAURA and LAURA and LAURA has crushed the spirit from me and every maker beneath me.

I can't wait to go home and drink my sorrows from my poor choices. Aw. Ready. Ready, ready. And I'll find someone's eyes just across the street and be like, Let's go, in your head.

Yeah. Let's get the fuck in. I'll walk around Altgar's field of view and just wait for the door to open and look at her stomach. Okay. Yeah, all right. Well, yeah. Good luck. Thank you. Don't get in too much trouble.

If it gets bad, you go ahead and rush out here and let me know, I'll open the door, all right? Oh my god, the sweetest man. Thank you. Thank't get in too much trouble. If it gets bad, you go ahead and rush out here and let me know, I'll open the door, all right? Oh my god, the sweetest man. Thank you, thank you, Oglia. Oh, thank you. Keeps eating off of the plate. Ah! Go in, how bad could this be?

You open the door and immediately the smell of burnt wood and hair hits your nostrils from the darkly lit interior. You all enter the chamber. Yeah, so wait, is Chetney with us? Yeah, he was waiting for us. I'm going to slide in amongst everyone else. Okay.

You're just going to sort of... I just jump up and clutch to Fearne's inner thigh. Stay there. No one's coming yet. Actually, no one's in here. You can get off my leg. Okay. Got to calm down real slow.

Crazy. Oh boy. All right, as you all enter the D&O Toy Emporium, closing the door behind you, the shadowed specter of what is likely a lively, child wonder-filled interior now sits somewhat soot-filled, empty, and tense. Let's run and take a break. Ooh! Yeah!

We'll be back here in just a moment to see where this takes us. But yeah, we'll see y'all here in a few minutes. Oh, hey there. Laura Bailey here to tell you all about the glorious goods we create inspired by our stories. Our stores are filled with the basics like character inspired T-shirts, dice sets and pins, as well as more specialty items like fancy jackets, puzzles featuring gorgeous artwork, the comfiest joggers and pajamas ever, and much, much more. There's also a few special items that support charity efforts, like our dedicated Critical

Role Foundation merch. You can check out all of our regional online stores by visiting the Shop tab on critrole.com, or head straight to the U.S. store at shop.critroll.com. Every purchase helps support our shows and the stories we tell. Speaking of which, let's get back to the story. Wow. We're late on the draw there. Welcome back. Suddenly. Little back. Suddenly.

Little cockapaws. We are unhinged tonight, ladies and gentlemen. And everyone, light from between. We're ready, Matt. Are you? Hard-hitting Santa mythology. Give me that deep Kringle lore. Give me that deep Kringle lore. Give me that deep Kringle.

No, deep Kringle. The kid. Oh no! That's why that woman wanted to kill him. That deep Kringle. So. Santa slays, you know what I mean? I see.

Mm. Wow. You close the door behind you as you're now essentially latched within the D&O Toy Emporium. Mage Armor. Mage Armor on yourself. Any other preparation that wants to be done?

Did you hear that shit? Primary owner, he just practically forced him out. Can you believe it? He rebranded the whole thing. He was evil. By the way, Oldgar hates him. Oh? Can't stand him.

Yeah, you can kind of catch that vibe. Oh, did you do it? Oldgar seemed okay, though. Why did you stab him? Did you check him for an enchantment, a possession? No. Then you don't know. Boy, you're pretty worked up. I will sympathetically bind to you. I want to know that you'll be okay.

What's happening? What are you doing there? I will sympathetically bind to you. What is this? I'm going to sympathetically bind to everybody, except for you. Aw. Bum, bum, ba- you. Aw. Aw. Bum, bum, ba-bum. Hey, Mr. Pockabee? Yes?

I did a thing. Oh. I felt sort of guilty, but Miss Calloway helped me, and I'll throw you the keys. Incredible. That was really beautiful sleight of hand work, I will say that. Well, the more he spoke, the angrier I got. Yeah, oh my god, I was feeling that, too.

I was like, I'm just going to kill him at any minute. I was feeling for Mr. Puckabee. You should act on those. I didn't even see you take them. Yeah. I didn't even see you take the keys. Miss Calloway assisted in a lovely bait and switch there. Righteous. Amazing.

I also have his room key right here. Oh, wow. His room key? What? I'll trade you. Room key? There you go. We can search everything else. If there's any chests. I saw you guys conversing,

but I don't exactly know what we're doing. Are we burning it down from the inside? We have to take care of some bugs. Swarming bugs? Are we getting rid of the bugs? But I don't know how to catch swarming bugs. He said don't kill all of them. As long as they're not Pyme and Fire bugs,

we should be okay. No, they're, ooh, why? That's exactly what they are. No. Why that, though? Oh my god. Oh no, he's going off to his mind palace. Of all the centuries of my past,

the darkest foe, I don't fucking, I heard it over, I have great ears. Okay, shut up. I was ready to go with you. We're all here! We go back into the past. Six hundred and one. All right.

So where are these bugs? So as you're now within the main entryway to the chamber here, you see there's a clerk table at the front with a chair. There are all manner of small knickknacks and metallic toys and creatures that are set up on the display up front. You can see there are hanging lanterns that the oil has burned out at this point. There is a doorway to the right, and there is, to the right and left of this central clerk

chair, a large archway that leads into a wide hallway into the back of the shop as well. But hanging all around are strings of cable with small glass shapes on them, like animals for decor. You can see there is, now that the smell of burnt hair and soot has passed you, there are nice, almost candy-like smells that seem to just occasionally drift through the air. Good on you for calling it out. You can see there are shelf units on the

sides and little tables and platforms where beautiful little carved mechanical clockwork bears and animals seem to sit at rest with large winding keys that protrude from their back or side. You can see there are music boxes. You can see there are glass orbs with small miniaturized displays within them. There are all manner of beautiful little things you would would purchase, whether passing through or living here for a child on all manner of days or a purveyor or collector of rare, well-crafted modern toys. Modern.

Do you like anything here? Is this well-made? Okay. I don't even want to steal anything. Whoa! Can I see, is there a really beautiful metal toy sitting on a shelf or anywhere? Oh yeah, there's a number of them.

There's one that you see that looks like it's a replication of some of the large craft cranes that are utilized in the assembly of some of the large craft cranes that are utilized in the assembly of some of the larger homesteads that drift up on the sides and against the ceiling of the interior caverns of the city. Wow. That one is really beautiful, Chet.

Which one? I'm just going to take my mage hand and smash it off the top. King thing. That one, Chet. Thank you, Abadjet. I'll pick it up and eat it. It's disgusting.

Thank you, FCG. I feel like I'm in the middle of something. I feel seen. It's really good. I'm going to shake some and eat some, too. Okay. Hold fart, Gav. Oh god, I forgot who he was. Hold fart. Hold fart. I'm going to shake some and eat some, too. Okay. Hold fart, Gav. Oh god, I forgot who he was.

Hold fart. Hold fart. Hold farts. Hold fart, Nicklick. Hold fart, Sombabitch. Oh no, it's perfect. Hold fart, Nicklick. I forgot what got him here in the first place.

Tried to adapt. Lost his way. What got him here in the first place. Tried to adapt, lost his way. What got him here in the first place? Wouldn't you all use craftsmanship? But I don't understand. He seemed kind and worried about his business. You painted him as some sort of monster. Oh. I don't want to hear any of that. Oh. Look, he want to hear any of that.

Look, he taught me a lot about wood carving. I love working with wood. But then he forgot all of it. I understand if the shop might have fallen out of favor, and I understand if there were, you know, less customers. But sometimes you got to go down with the ship. You don't change and just forget everything that you've been working for the past 250, 300 years. Well, Mr. Pockapie,

Catlin, the woman who makes my clothes, she told me that the jacket I was wearing used to be in fashion 100, 150 years ago, and now it's back in fashion. And so I imagine this might be an opportunity for reconciliation between you and Old Fart. Huh. If we can help him and find a way to dispatch of Dick Lick.

Like woodmaking his comeback around? Yeah. dick lick. Like wood making has come back around? Yeah. It might. Like my jacket. Maybe children want to play with something more quality rather than quantity. Yeah, they want to play something that doesn't have magic, that just kind of sits there. My little girl Marnie loves, loved puppets.

Did you just say your little girl? When she was little. Oh. Yeah. Love Mary Mouse. Don't look at me like. Oh. Yeah. Love Mary Nance. Don't look at me like that, Chet. I was just kidding. That just sits there. No, it doesn't.

No, no, Chet made me a horse that moves. That's right. Sort of, kind of, not really. Which is so hard to do with wood. Do you know how many hours? The actual hours that took? I know, it did take so long. You are grateful.

It took you so long, and it's beautiful. It is the most beautiful horse ever. It's about this point that you see this. This spurts like great mortal peril. Oh my god, run, horses. Sounds like a dolphin. Eh. Yeah! We got it!

We got this! Yes! This warm glow seems to curl from underneath the doorway that leads to the right-hand chamber of where you are. This faint buzzing sound, this low and immediately you watch as these glowing beetles swarm into the space where you are and swirl in the air for a second before,

beautifully drifting there, slowing down, just glittering. Oh, okay. Oh, they're nice. Should we capture them somehow? What are we going to capture them in? Inside FCG. Don't they explode core or something?

I don't know. I don't know either. I mean, if that's where you need them to go, I'll try. Wait, do we have the hole? We can't have them in high pressures. We don't have the hole. Ah, damn. The hole? Yeah, it's a big thing.

We can just throw things in it. Catch one. They wanted them alive? Individually about how large are they? About the size of a coin, gold piece. So are there several dozen, or like a swarm? This one swarm you see there is probably about maybe close to 100 or so.

Oh. Do these count as beasts? These count as... Yes, possibly. Can I try to use Speak with Small Beasts? Yes, you may. That's okay. may. Sweet. Okay.

Buzz, hi. Hey, hey guys. Okay, a little vibe, this is nice. Actually, kind of nice, this is great. What, how, can we agree to maybe everyone just sit down on this table and we'll all just gather here? Make a persuasion check.

Guidance? I can't do that. Thank you! Can I assist her? Because I can also speak with small people. Oh, that's right, because we're like that. Okay, okay. What am I doing, animal handling? Mm-hmm. 21.

Oh, hold on, not right now. Dang. 24. 24-hmm. 21. Oh, hold on, that right there. Dang! 24. 24. Ooh! Damn! Yeah. They glide, and as opposed to landing on the table entirely because it is a large swarm, some land on your shoulders.

And some land on the table nearby, some land on your head. And as they land, you can feel this radiating warmth from them to the point where in their resting state, it's not uncomfortably hot, but you definitely can sense that, who knows what happens in a state of agitation. Coffee there.

Hey, FCG, can I have a pancake with some syrup on it, please? Pew, pew, pew, pew. I just wipe syrup on my armor to keep them happy. They swarm onto the syrup, and they're now like the ones that are on the table. You're that beekeeper that's wearing the beard of bees. You're just now swarmed in firebugs, and you are glowing like a weird mantle halo around you.

We got to get them contained. How do we get him out of here? Is there anything around that's a large box? Inside voices. Is there a box? They can't understand us. Both of you make perception checks for me. Perception check. 23 over here.

12. 12, all right. Point of order, because it is dark in here, have any of you created a light source to look around? I glanced. I probably assumed that would have happened probably early in, so cool. No disadvantage on your perception roll.

You glance around and there looks to be a small wooden container at the bottom shelf of the nearby area. The lid's slightly off. Looks like it's either been an emptied or is mostly emptied storage bin for something. Like a chest? What about a metal chest?

Something that's not wood. Wouldn't they just catch the wood on fire? That'll superheat the metal, though, too, a little bit. Maybe if it's closed, there won't be enough oxygen to... Little glass? Anything with glass? Oh, let's try. I'm going to go get that one, just so we have something, and gingerly slide it open. Oh yeah, maybe we can put the glass. A little glass? Anything with glass? Oh, let's try. Oh, yeah. I'm going to go get that one, just so we have something,

and gingerly slide it open. Oh, yeah, maybe we can put the syrup, can we put some syrup and pancakes inside of the box? Let's just do that. Great. All right, let's give it a go. I think I have one more pancake. Yeah.

Okay. Maybe. So you head and... Ooh, it's warm in here, it's warm in here. And it is, you're sweating. It's almost to the point of pain discomfort. Yeah, we're good. I'm having a great time. You toss it into the box,

and some of them head inside. There are some that still remain along the mantle, but about half the amount of the swarm is now shifted into the box. Try to maybe ask them if they want to go in. Yeah, hey guys. The rest of you maybe want to scoot on into the box. Thank you so much, this is so lovely.

I am pitting out. Make one more persuasion check. Do we have any idea what hymen firebugs love to feed on or enjoy? Make a nature check. Yeah. That's going to go well. She's a little natural fucking twin.

Oh! 23. Yeah. Sugar and wood. Oh! 23. Sugar and wood. Oh. As you say this loudly, the ones that are on your mantle start getting hotter. Oh. And hotter. Okay. And hotter.

Okay. We're great? This is good? So good. So this box isn't going to do it, is it? No. I can, I can. Okay, I think, I think I can make a bubble of air

and maybe put them in there. You can do that? I think so. Try. Try. I'm going to find out. How do I get them in there? Just get at least the half that, can you only do it once?

Hold on, will a swarm? Okay, I have a question. Do you think a swarm would be like one entity or would it be like a bunch of little entities? It's considered a singular entity. Okay, then I am going to try to use telekinesis and force all of them together to try to use telekinesis

and force all of them together in a ball. Even the ones off of Aabria's? Guidance! Bust! I just wanted to tell him, hello! You leave my titty bugs alone! So go ahead and make an ability check with your spellcasting abilities. A d20, adding your charisma. Okay.

I mean, that would be amazing. Right? Oh, I do have a penis. What is this? 22. Yeah, they got a four. So as these bugs are buzzing and spreading out when they're getting brighter and brighter around your neck,

suddenly they all are scraped off, and once we're in the box, are all pushed into one contained sphere. Now's the time. And they're getting brighter. They're now agitated, but they're stuck there. What is this thing that you're doing? Is this a bubble that can pop,

or is this an indestructible bubble? I'm not sure. Okay, I hope it's indestructible. Interesting. In a cast air bubble. Okay. It's a real thing? Yes. Okay. I don't know if I could use it in this way,

but let's find out. I've never heard this spell cast before. What level is it? Second, but I can cast it higher if I, I can make a couple more if I need to. It's next level, bro, it's next level. I got to go look at the spell here. I think you can use it as like a...

I love it. You know, like a scuba helmet, maybe? But can they pop it from the inside? Does it pop? You know, because it's a bubble. It lasts for 24 hours. Amazing. There's a spectral globe around the head

of a willing creature you can see within range. Willing, shit. Well, I already cast it. Well, here's the thing. Here's the thing. I'll say, given the instance that you are trying to make this a containment element, go ahead and roll a d20 and add your wisdom modifier to it.

Come on. Here we go. I will say for this, because it is a challenge to attempt the spell, it'll have disadvantage. Okay. Oh no, I rolled a one. So as you push them into this bubble that Fearne has created,

they are entrapped within, and they rest for a second, the buzzing muffled. Got him! I got him! Woo! That was easy. That is great, Fearne. Oh god. I need you guys to roll initiative. Oh!

Are they still held in my belly? I knew I shouldn't have rolled that one. I knew I shouldn't have rolled that one. So in ten minutes. I felt it again, I knew it was held. This Insect-based combat is brought to you by WizKids. Ready your paints. The newest set of pre-primed minis from WizKids are available at your local game store.

Check out the entire Critical Role collection at wizkids.io slash CRminis. Whoa! This is beautiful! It's.io slash CR minis. Whoa! This is beautiful! We're bringing back memories, Chet. Let's burn it all. Okay, if anybody would like a particular or different placement as to where they are. I would like to be on a different map.

Sorry, that's not going to happen. But. Okay. So where would anybody else like to be placed? I was near the box of bugs. Right, which anybody else be placed? I was near the box of bugs. Right, which would likely be over here, probably towards this side. Yeah, you entered from this side.

This is the entryway that the bugs came through underneath and left it open. Yeah. I feel like I'll go over by that opening over there. Right here? Yeah. Okay, so you were holding it here. I think maybe I'd be in the doorway there. Right here? Yeah.

Maybe across it. Okay, so you moved into here? Yeah. All righty. Ranger. Ranger. Everyone else good where they are? Sure. You want to move yourself out? That's great.

I'll be over by Imogen near the other, yeah. Okay, there you go. So as you're telekinetically pushing it over into that space, let's see. So it was restrained until the end of your next turn, and then you can use your, you continue to use your action to try and contain it if you'd like to. Yeah.

But we'll see how that initiative works. So, oh, there you go! Natural 20 on their initiative! Why? Good! Damn. They have disadvantage. No, they don't. It's okay, it's one of their only decent stats. All right, so, 25 to 20.

Bugs. Looking real good here. Cool. 20 to 15. 18. 18. 16. What's your dex? Rollies.

14. 13. Oh, so close. FCG, Imogen. Frida. Frida. 15 to 10? 10.

10 to five? 10. 10 to five? Six. All righty. Cleric energy hits. Damn. Ooh, I'm on my pike bullshit. I'm with Frida at 16. Okay, gotcha.

Who had the higher dex? I think you. I believe I do four. Okay. Yeah? Yeah. Got it. So. The swarm is right there next to you, Fearne. They swarm around and contain you. They can do that? They're not in a ball?

No, because you can hold them until the next turn, which was what you used to push them in there. Okay. Then they burst free from the bubble, which means on your next action, you'll be able to try and contain them again. Okay. Boy, I thought that was going to work.

It was a great idea. I think so, too, but... They didn't. They didn't like it. They did not, too. But... They didn't. They didn't like it. They did not, unfortunately. But they're going to go ahead and swarm around you and do a swarm of bites against you.

That's going to be a 20 to hit. Ooh. Does that hit? Yeah. Sorry, sorry. All right. You take five points of piercing damage. Okay. And four points of fire damage. Okay. And four points of fire damage. Okay, that's not too bad.

Well, can I use Living Shield to impose disadvantage on that? Is she close enough to me? Unfortunately, she is. No, you're in the other room over there, so you have to be right next to them. Right there, five feet. I'm sorry, and that's actually

an additional 11 points of piercing damage on top of that, which I forgot about. It's okay. Damn it. But now it's just swarming around you at that point in time. That's going to finish their turn. FCG, you're up with Imogen on deck.

I will cast a spell. What are you going to cast? I'm going to cast this fourth-level spell, Compulsion. Okay. I don't know if it shall work. It's a wisdom 15 saving throw. Creatures of my choice must make a saving throw

or else I can tell it which way to go. Okay. Wisdom save. 21. Oh, wow. With a natural 19. Oh boy. Sorry. Wise bugs.

Wise little bugs. Very driven bugs. Yeah. Well, then, in that case, I don't have much I can do. I will, because I have bound myself to Fearne, she's having some issues. Who's up next? You are.

I will... Six of them can add to a single attack roll. You don't do attack rolls, you do spell shit. I am going to have an ability check, probably. I'm going to give you a bonded blessing. All right. You get a D6 added to whatever kind of roll you want to do next. Oh, sweet.

On your next turn. That's my bonus act. On my next turn? Yeah, on this turn. Okay. Or whenever, no, whatever you want. It's like inspiration, sort of. Okay. Kind of like that. And I'll just move out of the room. Which way you going? Past Imogen.

You got it? For back further, or? No, that's good. Okay. Anything in that room that I see? Any other bugs? Make a perception check. Oh god. 18 plus stuff.

18. As you back into the chamber, you can see there's scattered toys. Parts of the table have been burned and eaten away in the middle of this chamber. The far shelves, you can see, also have damage from flame. Looks like a battle or a swing of an axe or some sort of weapon has shattered

some of the shelving units there. You do hear behind you. Oh boy. No! As a glow appears from around this side of the corner. Oh god. All right, that finishes your go. All right, Imogen, you're up. Frida, on deck.

Okay. Can I try to bring them together again and force them up? Yes, you can. Go ahead and make another ability check. You're at a 14. That's a 22 again. 22 again, indeed.

The swarm around Fearne gets contained into the sphere and lifted up into the air. So they are essentially now up above you and unable at the moment to swarm you until they can break free at the end of your next turn. And I'm going to hold them in as tight of a ball as I can.

You got and then sound like just this bright sphere of light as they're now burning angrily. You can still feel the heat from it and you can imagine being in the center of that right now would be very bad. Point of order. I did not give you a bonded blessing

because I had not bound to you. Oh, so you can't. That's right. I can't, so I will have passed it on to good old Frida instead. All right, so Frida, you got a d60, you can add an attack, ability check, that kind of thing. An attack roll or damage? Attack roll or an ability check or saving throw.

You got to look at the details on that one, but yeah. Okay. So you got that at the ready. Stay put or you want to move? Oh, I'm going to shout out. I'm going to shout, if we can find any of those cages, that'd be real good right now. They don't do anything right now.

But we could at least shut them, lock them or something, get them in the cage and then lock it so they can't. The whistle cages? Yeah, maybe it's made of metal or something. Okay, okay. All right. No bad ideas. You're going to stay put? This guy.

Yeah. You're going to stay put? I'm going to stay put. All right, you got it. Finishing your go, that brings us to Frida with Chet on deck. That's going to be the thing that fixes this, you dick. I know it, you wonderful person.

You dick lick. I will bonus action hide behind that corner there. All right, so go ahead and make a stealth check for me. Yeah. Eight plus 12. All right, so you feel pretty hidden at the moment. Okay. I will burn a grit point and use Dazing Shot as I take a shot at the swarm. Okay. You duck and hide into the shadow and then reach around the side of the entryway and fire at

the currently contained swarm. As you blast, go ahead and roll an attack roll. I will give you advantage on this because it is currently held in place and is not able to really defend itself. Nice. It's a... It is a restraint. It's 12. 24. That definitely hits. Go ahead and roll damage.

It's a 2d8 plus six, and I get sneak attack, right? You do indeed. Mm-hmm, 2d8. Let's see, plus d6. Seven, six, 13, plus three is 16. Plus six. So 22. 22. 22 points of piercing damage to it. You blast into it and you see it light up angrily.

As it hits from the impact, it gets suddenly brighter than you've ever seen it for a brief moment, and the air around it gets extremely hot for a moment. All of you wince before it returns to its central state. Immediately, them taking damage seems to anger them more than anything. They do take some hits, though it is difficult to shoot into a swarm with the same effect as a singular creature.

So you still do damage, but it doesn't have quite the impact you're hoping. Con save? 16. Con save, 16. Natural fucking 20. Damn! Of course my fucking swarm is rolling great. My bull dude's like, ah, I fell out of the gate and I'm going to talk to you for an hour.

That's cool, that's cool. Being a GM. You can always lose. Yep, yep. I feel you. You know, you know. I feel you, bud. Okay, so I noticed Fresh Cut Grass go into that other room

and I'll use the rest of, or all of my movement to get into the room with Fresh Cut Grass. Indeed. If I can be within five feet of him, I will. What's your movement speed? 30 feet? 30 feet. 25 to 30, that's as close as you can get on movement there. Am I within five feet of him?

No, you're about 25 feet of him, unfortunately. Okay, no problem. Yeah, that's my turn. Okay, that finishes your go. I have Fresh Cut Grass. Chetney, you're up with Fearne on deck. I unleash the crazy scythe and I utter the word, Done! and it transforms.

I'll look through the two doorways and I will cast Shatter at the second swarm that's two rooms away. Oh shit, okay, all right. Is that a constitution save? It is. That is going to be a 10. 14! All righty.

Let's go! Where are all my fucking d8s? No, don't use mine. My dice are not good. Eight, two, three, 16. 10. 26. 26 points of thunder damage.

You all hear this heavy impact of thunderous noise and force just blast on the far chamber. Bits and pieces of chunks of wood and metal and all sorts of now completely destroyed trinkets that once line some of the back chamber go flying in a spray up towards the front. S.G.G., you feel towards the back of you

as you get showered with the detonated collectibles that are now scattered. Oh no, the sword! You see the swarm of firebugs. Only maybe a third of it remains, and you can see the heat and light about it is heavily diminished. Ooh. Oh, no!

It's still your turn. I'm going to move. I'm actually going to run into this room and run along this wall. Okay. Yeah. Tickety-tock to 35. Yeah, easy enough to get over there if you'd like. Great.

All right. That finishes your go. Fearne, you're up with Deanna on deck. All right, I have an idea. What you got? So I have a question. If it doesn't work, I have another idea if this doesn't work. Okay. I'd like to try to use Snare. Okay. But I don't know if I can make it look like a really large butterfly net thing.

That I can just, the ball that Imogen has of all the firebugs, if I can just, a really large net, just try to snag them in there. Okay. Yeah. Okay. I'll allow it. No, okay.

So you create, essentially, this illusion of a butterfly, sort of, magical glyph on the ground, is that what you're saying? Like a butterfly net. Got you, okay. So a large one, so I can bring it up to where Imogen has them all tightened. Okay, so you create it on the ground of the floor.

She'd have to bring it down for you, but you can create that on the ground below it if you'd like to, sitting the trap ray, a vibe. All right, Imogen, if you'd like to. Kind of setting the trap, Ray. Kind of a vibe. All right. Imogen? Would you be able to move them into this net, or should I try to get the net up here? I think I can, yeah. All right.

So it's just a really long, wooden pole with a really large net at the end of it, even though it's not real. All right, I'm going to put this right here. All right. So you finish casting this incantation and the vines extend out of nowhere and create the handle of this long pole

that then splits off into this net-like box. As you set it down, you watch as the magic creates this gossamer, semi-ethereal net that hangs below. As soon as you set it on the ground, the vines disconnect from your hand and it clatters gently to the floor beneath it. Such a clatter.

All right. Does that finish your turn? You want to move or stay put? No, I'm going to stay put. Okay. Finishing your go. Deanna, you're up. Okay. Eyes on the prize.

We're trying to keep some of them alive. Can I move into the other room? So I've got, I just need to be within 30 feet of the second swarm also. I only have 15 feet of movement. I'll get 15. I'm not a blood hunter. You can get about that door,

and you are within five, 10, 15, 20. Yeah, you're within 30 with that. Perfect. Then while using my 30 with that. Perfect. Then while using my Speak with Small Beasts. It doesn't have cover, but yeah. That's okay. Sure. While using my Speak with Small Beasts

to just be like, everyone needs to calm down in my mom voice, I'm going to cast Blindness on both swarms. Ooh! Yes! Select. Easy 17 con save. Gotcha. I love your brain, Aabria. If I could all just sit down!

So it's one creature normally for blindness. Right, oh sorry, I'm upcasting to third level to catch second target. You got it, all right, so con save, right? Yep. All right, so the one that's currently held up in the air by Imogen's telekinesis is a failure with a 12. The one that's partially damaged by the shatter

on that side is also going to fail at another 11. All right. Let's go. We're good. Beep. Just, hey, I know it's dark. It's okay. Just chill out. Don't hurt yourselves flying and you can't see. Just sit down. Both of them are like,

you can hear the buzz getting louder as they're now adapting to the loss of sight, one of their main senses, and acquiring the information around them. They look agitated, but definitely directionless. This may not have helped. We've kicked the hornet's nest. Woo, that's my turn! All right.

Those blinded animals, they always calm down. Finishing. They're air guys, so they're like, if I can't see, maybe I'll just sit quietly. Nothing bad will happen. All right. In the turn, it comes to the pun and bugs, the firebug's turn.

The ones that are still contained by your telekinesis cannot do anything. They are still restrained. Nice. They have no ranged abilities, Nothing bad will happen. All right. In the turn, it comes to the Panem Bugs, the firebug's turn. The ones that are still contained by your telekinesis cannot do anything. They are still restrained. Nice. They have no ranged abilities. They're currently being held aloft of the snare beneath you. The ones over here that are partially diminished are going to angrily swarm into the one nearest to them.

They're going to make a perception check to see if they can even figure out where anything is. They're just hearing noises going from that direction. That's actually not great. I'm going to use my old school Warhammer scatter dice to see where they go. Yeah, they full on... This direction. And they swarm you, Frida.

Fuck you, Warhammer! That way, and they just begin to swarm around you. Dude, I don't have my glasses on, so those look like little pizzas to me. I couldn't tell what they were. They do look like little pizzas. Yeah, they're a little like coin bugs. I have only so many swarm creatures. All the rest of the ones I have are all like rats and shit.

So just deal with them. Use your imagination. No. No. No, they're pizzas. That's going to be a 20 to hit you. They have disadvantage on their attacks because they are blinded. That's true imagination. No. No. No. No, they're pizza. That's going to be a 20 to hit you. They have disadvantage on their attacks because they are blinded. That's true, they do.

Which would bring that to, instead, a 13. That does not hurt. They swarm around you loosely, but they seem to be focused more on one of the nearby sconces in the wall, and are like, and trying to burn the metal. The metal is heating around it, but you're not immediately in the sight of their anger.

Turn to the side. None of us have cold powers, do we? Other than Chet. You do? From down the stairs. Wait, there's another one? A third swarm comes down from the stairs, from the upper floor. Bitch!

And immediately rushes over towards you. FCG is the closest one to it. I cast Raid at knife level. Raid! On your turn. It's a 19. A 19 to hit you. That hits! All right.

As the swarm scuttles around you, biting as much as they can, that brings us to 13 points of piercing damage and six points of fire damage to you. Ouch! As you are now completely consumed in this small whirlwind of angry, brightly lit firebugs. I don't blame you! It's your nature! And it is your turn, FCG, with Imogen on deck. Amazing, amazing.

It's your turn. Oh, it's my turn? Yeah. All right, I'm going to do the same thing I did last turn. I'm going to rotate around them a little bit and then cast Compulsion on this group now. Okay, so you're going to whirl out of it? I'm just going to rotate around because they need to move horizontally from me, and I're going to whirl out of it? I'm just going to rotate around because they need to move horizontally from me

and I want them to move towards this snare thing. Got you, so right in that corner. Horizontal means they have to move this way from me, right? Well, vertically it's up and down. Horizontally is away from you straight. Oh, I thought it meant if I'm facing this way, they have to move that way. I don't know how shit works. So I just, it just- They just go away from you straight. Oh, I thought it meant if I'm facing this way, they have to move that way. I don't know how shit works.

So I just, it just. They just go away from you. Oh, okay. Well then, yes, I'll move to the other side. Oh yeah. And that would be perpendicular. Anyway, I'm going to try to force them to move that way. Okay.

So you guys are going to try? Final actor. Compulsion. Wisdom 15. Careful, that's half the cast. Say it wasn't the fuck I said. Fair enough. All right, so command, sir? Compulsion again? Compulsion.

Compulsion again, sorry. Wisdom 15. Give me those 30 minutes. That is going to be a two. Yay! Woo! So I will compulsh them. That's the word, right?

Yeah, but they move full movement? They'll move full movement just away from me, through that door. I'm trying to get them over to that snare. It does say, let's see here. What does it say? I think it can use its action before it moves. Just going to say that.

It can take its action before it moves. Mm-hmm. Okay. All right. But didn't it already use its action? It did, but I don't know how this... It says it must use as much of its movement as possible to move on the next turn. It doesn't move yet.

So you cast it on it now, and then it is currently on its next turn. It will need to do that. So I'm going to go ahead and- But it can hurt me again first. Right, I'm going to go ahead and set that as the compulsion marker there. So it can do its other action

if it wishes to on its turn, but then it has to move away from you. Yes. That's what it does. Got it, cool. And then bonus action, I can give five temporary hit points to Frida from you. Yes. That's what it does. Got it. Cool. And then bonus action, I can give five temporary hit points to Frida. There you go. Frida, take your five temporary hit points.

What does it look like? What does it look like? It looks like just FCG's hand coming and just sitting on its shoulder. That's so fucking creepy. She's like, feels good. Yeah. Exactly.

Perfect, does that finish your turn? Yes. All right, finishing up your sheets, go. Imogen, you're up with Frida on deck. Yeah. Slam it down. It does not need to even make a resistance check at this point since you are already taking control and it's restrained.

You slam down into this net as you're concentrating on it. As it does, the magic of the snare that you've set wraps around it and is currently held for an eight-hour period of time within the snare that you've created. Let's go! Nice.

That's not bad. I forgot about that part. For now, this red mark means that it is ensnared on the ground right here. Great. Can anything break that? If you lose your concentration or something? It can continue to attempt to break free. Oh.

Well, good god. For me, it helps. But, but. Would it have done any kind of, if I slammed it down hard enough, would it have done any bludgeoning damage to it at the same time, like a Flasswater situation?

Up ten feet, you could do a d6 if you want to. Four. Four points of bludgeoning damage to it, which is reduced to a two. A swarm is resistant to piercing, bludgeoning, and slashing. However, as it strikes, it's going to go ahead and, as a reaction, do embolden, which is when it takes damage. It does a burst of flame to everything around it. So Fearne, two within ten feet of you. That is going to be six points of fire damage to you. That's fine. I'm doing great. As it slams in, flames emerge around it as Angerly takes the hit,

and then the snare wraps around it. Oh, sorry, Fearne. It's fine, it's fine. All right, do you want to stay? Do you want to move? I have a flaming monkey, so I'm used to it. I'm just going to turn around. There's another swarm right there.

There's two of them in the other room over here. Oh gosh. Okay. Oh, okay. I'm going to use my bonus action to move. Can I move? No, I can't move FCG five feet away from it because there's not really a place to move him. But I'm going to try to move the swarm

five feet away from FCG so it can't attack him before it's compulsed. Thank you. Which direction are you sending it? Just that way. to move the swarm five feet away from FCG so it can't attack him before it's compulsed. Thank you. Which direction are you sending it? Just that way. Five feet that way, horizontally. So it is now up onto the table

and circling that space over there. I don't get an attack of opportune, do I? No, it doesn't. It's forced movement, unfortunately. It doesn't work that way. All right, does that finish your turn? Do you want to move? I'm going to move back into this corner so it can't attack me on the way.

I don't know how that works. You got it. Let's move over there. You're still concentrating on Telekinesis because you still have that spell up. Oh, but they're ensnared? Yeah. Currently, you don't have to worry about them, but you can use your action next turn if you want to.

To shift it? To shift that or focus on something else. Great! Stelekinesis is, you can maintain concentration for a period of time. Oh, stop. Nice. Nice. Okay. You can't do

multiple snares, I assume. Up to 10 minutes. That's awesome. That's awesome. What is it, concentration, though? All righty, finishing the Imogen's go. Frida, you That's good spell. Concentration, though? All righty. Finishing the Imogen's go. Frida, you're up with Chetney on deck. I will, if I can with my movement,

I will put myself between FCG and the swarm that's on top of that table. Okay. Do I have enough movement to get there? You do. And the swarm does get an attack opportunity on you as you, between FCG and the swarm? Yeah, I just like to circle around and put myself.

Definitely do that. The swarm that had struck out is going to try and strike you, but it is blinded. Which, natural 19, but it has disadvantage because of blindness. Which, natural two. It completely misses you. It's attacking the walls.

It's going after this tattered tapestry that's now up in flames. You can see things are starting to catch fire as you dart by and get in between this current swarm and FCG. Sure. Fresh cut grass? Are we sure we don't want to kill these things? Go ahead, be my guest.

Okay, my eyes will flare up and I will cast Guiding Bolt. Oh, good luck. Go for it. We already have some alive. All righty. It is a ranged attack in melee with it, so we'll have disadvantage on the strike. I have Sharpshooter, right?

Then you don't have to fucking worry about a goddamn thing. Well, I don't know. Three plus 12 is 15. Plus my d6 from my friend, FreshBread Brass, is a six, right? Yes, that's right it is. What? Actually, no. Sorry, Sharpshooter doesn't...

Half cover. It's half cover. There's another one that gives you the, I think it's... Adept Marksman, which I also have. What does that one do? Let's see. Ukulele. Ukulele? No, Adept Marks gives me, the trick shots. Okay, I think you're right.

If you want to, you can fire before you move in between and not have to worry about that. Crossbow Expert, I think, is the one that does the... The one where you can attack and melee without having to do disadvantage. I have Crossbow Expert. Oh, then you're fine, never mind. I said nothing.

Well, I'm learning to. Fighters and their cluster of feats. Yeah. So that hits, because it was three plus 12, 15 plus six, 21, right? Okay, so that hits. And that's 2d8 plus six. This is the one that got shattered earlier,

so I'll give you an O. 13 points of damage. 13 points of damage. 13 points of damage. As you rush over and pull, your arm opens, the gun's right there. Boom! Guiding bolt. What's that? Guiding bolt. Oh, that's right, guiding bolt.

Oh, so it's not 2d8, I'm sorry, it's 4d6. Indeed, sorry, I'm, you're right. That's my bad, my bad. No, I'm just kidding, I read the damage roll and was like, right. My bad. Five, eight, five, eight, 10, 14.

14 points of damage. Nice. Plus 10. You beat a sharpshooter. He did lose a sharpshooter. Plus 10, 24. Ooh! Is that true? Sharpshooter? Did you use sharpshooter?

Isn't it minus five to your attack? No, I used the other one. Well, we just went through that. Oh, never mind. It's all good. I said nothing! Well, you call Sharpshooter before the attack rolls, so you know what's going on.

No worries. It's still enough to destroy the swarm. Excellent. As the gunning bolt splashes into it, the energy causes it to brighten extremely brightly. You're not sure if the extreme flash is from the actual firebugs or the spell, but once the flash subsides, the swarm is dust scattered across the table

before it is gone. Are you okay, Fresh Cut Grass? Oh, I'm fine. Thank you so much for worrying. Well, thank you for the extra hit points. Well, no, thank you for being such a Johnny on the spot. Well, thank you for being so complimentary. Welcome home.

Ah, more! Chetney, you're up. Can I peel through this door near the top here and make my way into the third room? Yep. Yep. What kind of room am I finding myself in? You're finding a bunch of fallen furniture, and this is a further back display

and sales area of the shop. What you know used to be the workroom for this shop has now been converted into an extension of the shopping and sales area. Son of a sacrilege. Can I keep using my 35 feet to move further towards that back room in the corner, and can I get to the bottom of the stairs? Indeed you can. Can I see into that room? You can. That is now a small storage room off to the side. Make a perception check.

That is a 13. A 13. Not great. And you don't have a light source with you, right? But I have darkvision. Oh yeah, you're fine. Looking inside, you don't make out a lot of detail, but this looks to be just a cluster of storage. You can see there's boxes and crates and shelves. It is where everything is held, if it's not on the actual shoreline floor. With that cracked door,

can I see that teal chest in the corner? Does it look to be wood or metal? It looks to be both, wood and metal. An unholy alliance of materials. Can I use my action to go up the stairs? Yes, you may. Going upstairs. Yes, you can. Make sure there are more of these fucking swarms upstairs.

Oh, there's a second floor. This second floor is brought to you by WizKids Minis. WizKids.io slash CRminis slash second floor. Ooh, that's cool. Whoa, excuse you. Oh, but they're secret. Oh, they're secret. I feel like I'm playing Sims right now.

Up to the second floor. In that step period there. Put them all in the pool and take away the magic. There is another pair of swarms. Oh, a pair! Up there. Jesus. Up in the air, and as soon as you enter,

they both notice your presence. Cool! Pouring out of these small nests that are starting to be built in the corners of the room. Oh no! Well. Well. That's my action and my bonus action and my movement,

so, you know. That's my bonus action, too, right? Well, it's your movement and my bonus action and my movement. So, you know, that's my bonus action too, right? Well, it's your movement and your action. So with my bonus action, I'm going to turn into a werewolf. What? Werewolves are notorious. Because I'm about to get my girls.

All right. Oh no! Where is Glasses? Where are his glasses? Where are his glasses? Did you ask him about his glasses? Whoosh! You tear out of your small gnomish form into your woven...

It's actually quite polite. I zipper my sternum. Pull my tit lapels open, and I shake off my Chitney suit. And then I pop it over my own wolf there with a slug. Are you saying you cocoon this? I do. Yes! It's worse than the Chitney.

Speaking of Brimley. Good, oh man. Two Brimley references in one episode. I'm happy with that. Perfect, awesome. Does that finish your turn? It does. Fearne, you're up with Deanna on deck.

All right, I think we got them all. Sure. Right? Is there any more? Sure. Upstairs, you hear. You do hear heavy buzzing right behind you, up in this corner. There's some right here, actually. J.K., I totally hear them.

All right. Should I do another snare? I mean, we got two other batches over here, and I don't know what else to put them in. You could also just look for a box or something, but I don't know. I'll throw out another snare. I'll throw out a snare on the floor in that room.

We've become the Ghostbusters. Aw. Aw. Okay, where are you putting the snare? It's touch, so it has to be a place that you get to. All right, so I'll just turn around, and since I see them up in that corner, I'll just, same thing, put it up. Move into here? Yeah.

All right, and you place the snare beneath them? Yes. All right, so there is a snare currently on the ground. And since they're on the, are they on the ground? They're up in the air, swirling in the space. You're like,. That was going to make this one look like when you have an outdoor picnic

and you have those netting things that you put on top of your plate. Okay, okay. I'll do that, I'll try that. Okay, so you set it down. It's almost ready to be sprung and reverse its way upward. Okay, you got it.

You go ahead and magically release this. The vines weather out and go ahead and make this weird netting-based trap beneath it as it's drifting with fey energy and ready to be. Gingham checkered. Ooh! Cute. Oh, it's so cute! All right, that's situated there.

Deanna, you're up. Those are the ones that attacked Frida several times, right? Or tried to? Yes. I don't like those wands, it's the problem. Thanks, and I'm just going to reach out and inflict wounds.

Ooh, you're going to walk up and inflict wounds? Yeah. Stick your arm right in the- Into the swarm? I just make sure to give it a little space. One sec. They are blind, so you have advantage on the roll. Yay! Nice.

Natural 20. Yes! Do it! There it is. All right. Boom. I wanted a natural 20 on Inflict Wounds for an entire campaign. 32 points of necrotic damage.

32 points of necrotic damage. Yes! 32 points of necrotic damage. As you reach out your hand, you recall how they swarmed around your collar earlier. You take a bit of that syrup and hold it outward. As you do, as blind as they are, they all gather onto your hand. There's a slight layer of divine necrotic energy that protects them from actually stinging

and biting your hand. As they all gather in, you just release the pulse and you watch as the swarm suddenly expands for a second and a majority of them just gray and fit away in the dust. There's maybe about two dozen left that are just encircling where your hand was. Sugar is a lot. They're looking real rough. And then just leaning in in that same small beast speech,

not them, we don't attack them, and then keep walking. Okay. So you got 10 more feet here. I have 10, you get under the table. Guys, I've never moved so fast in my life! Mom's hauling it. Perfect. That's it. Got it, all right.

Now it comes to the pine nut bugs. Going to try and break free of the snare that you set there earlier. The natural one, they're not going to re-free that one at all. So the ones over there are situated. The ones that are above the snare on that side, angrily, though heavily diminished,

are going to attempt to swarm you. Yeah, sure. So they move away from the snare on that side, angrily, though heavily diminished, are going to attempt to swarm you. Yeah, sure. So they move away from the snare. No, I'm dead! Oh god. And swarm up where you are on the table. There we go. That's going to be an attack on you with disadvantage, because they're still blind. Actually, to that point. I was going to say, they can make con saves to try to shake off the blindness.

At the end of their turn. Yeah, okay. Actually, they would have made it last turn. Yeah. Which they failed, so no worries. But this one, I'm going to say, which direction did you go? Oh no, it's going to have to you, Fearne. All right. That is the line is pointing this direction,

and so they actually swarm to you as the nearest thing that it knows to go ahead and attack. But did they pass me? They don't leave your attack range. This isn't the set that I've compulsed, right? No, they were killed by Fy'ra. Do I get an attack of opportunity since they left to go to Deanna?

They did not go to Deanna, they went to you instead. Oh, when they left. I just rolled to see which direction. Because they're blind and I'm rolling to see which direction they go. So they go after you. However, that is a 13 total to hit you. It doesn't. So they're just

the space above you. That's it. Up here, though. Oh no. Oh snap. Uh-oh. It's fine, there's no one up there. Yeah. We don't even. Sweet like sugar.

As you are swarmed by two masses of Hummin' Firebugs, that's going to be 19 and a 25. Oh, 19 hits. They roll well. So both 19 hits. They both hit. They both hit. So both hit you. Mm-hmm. That's going to be... All righty.

13 points of piercing damage. Okay. Reduced to six. Okay. Plus four points of fire damage. Yep. And the other one is going to be... Okay. 14 points of piercing damage, reduced to seven. be 14 points of piercing damage,

reduced to seven, and seven points of fire damage, so 14 total on that one. Ah! I lost my haste there. I'm taking it. You're playing. There it is. All righty. He's still got a little bit of damage.

He's taking his flea and tick pill. Oh no. That's going to finish their go. FCG, you're up with Imogen on deck. Is that swarm over there hovering just above the snare? It is, yeah. Okay. I will bonus action,

Spiritual Weapon, if you will allow it, not to cause any damage, but the Spiritual Weapon will look like a flash water and will just try to push down. I don't know if you allow spiritual weapons to do that. I will allow a spiritual weapon to not do damage. That be your choice.

Yes, so it appears in that space. And swat. Go ahead and roll an attack for me. Terrible. 13. 13, that misses, unfortunately. Oh no! Woof, whiffs.

No impact, this water is a present, but can't seem to find any of the bugs because they're so thin now. This worm is so heavily damaged, it's just whiffing through it. That's my bonus action. All righty. I will use my movement,

hearing the growls from upstairs, I will use my movement, hearing the growls from upstairs, I will use my movement to go to the stairs. 30, right? Then I will dash up to Chet'Ani. You emerge at the top and just see Chet'Ani just swarm to this massive amount of fire. I found more.

What happens to my spiritual weapon if it's more than 20 feet away from me? Does it go away? You can just move it with you. It just pulls along with me? But I think it's a bonus action. It's a bonus action to move it. So you can remember to be like, come join me, and it can move 20 feet, I think it is.

Yeah. You have to ask politely, though. Come join me, please. Please, please, please, please, please, please. Please, please. Please, nice water. Please, sir. Follow me. All right, is that finished yet? Is it mine? Yeah, I'll be set back. All right, Imogen,

you're up with Frida on deck. Oh, wait. All right. Oh, oh, eh? That's your movement, your action, and your bonus. Did you roll a natural 20 in the last turn? I did. Technically, I have advantage on my attack roll then. That's true, because you do have that ability.

That's right! Stop! I'll just put these here to remind myself. So just in case. Just in case. Come on. It's a natural 20. Oh! Oh my god.

So swap. I'm going to remember your shit. Indeed, go ahead and roll your damage. No damage. I just wanted to see it now. Oh, that's right. No, no. That's right, no damage on this. So yeah, with a natural 20, definitely. Incredible! Crack! You go ahead and the swatter whips around

and then does a huge sweeping, gather them all up into it, swirls through it, and then whack! Slaps it down. Immediately, your set up snare of the weird gossamer net goes and wraps around them and then hangs from the ceiling. It's like a reverse mosquito net that's now hanging. And they're all

all 14 of them at this point. But they are currently now ensnared within there. We're the Ghostbusters. Hey, hey, hey, nice shooting, Dex. Awesome. All right, finishing FGG's go. Imogen, you're up with Fr shooting, Dex! Awesome. All right, finishing FGG's go. Imogen, you're up with Frida on deck. All right.

I'm still standing. Well, since all the ones are taken care of on this level, I'm going to start walking towards the stairs, but as I do it, I'm going to walk through the room and say, Hey, Deanna, you want to move a little faster? I would love to. I'm going to telekinetically pick her up. Oh, thanks!

And bring her 30 more feet towards the stairs. Indeed. Y'all are so cool! That's 30 feet there. Uh-huh. Can I get her on the stairs? That's going to be telekinesis. Yeah, you can get her right up there.

Oh, god. This is the fastest Deanna's ever moved. Like, her cheeks are flapping in the wind. Yeah, so you just like, scoot her up on top the wind. Yes, you just like scoot her up on top of the steps, and you're like, whoa! Thanks for the skates! You're welcome, and then I'm going to use my bonus action

to gain some sorcery, to gain a spell back. You got it, go for it. All righty, finishing your go, Feeder, you're up with Chetney Undack. I will call across the room to Miss Calloway. I say, Miss Calloway, that is very impressive magic. And I will... Thanks.

You're very welcome. Bonus action, dash up the stairs. All right. 30 feet, right? Can I grab my friend Deanna? Yeah. And make my way... Making my way.

Making my way with the rest of the movement into the upstairs. Your movement is 30? Yes. That's as far as you can get on just 30 feet? Right, but bonus action and then. And then actual movement? Yeah. All right, so picking her up, yeah.

I'll say it reduces it, she's pretty light, so I'll put it like a five feet reduction. So yeah, you get up right at the top of the steps and realize there's not much more you could go because there's FCG to your immediate left. Nice! There's a massive double swarm encased werewolf that is just glowing and flaming up the top of this staircase. You're like, oh shit! There's not really anywhere to get around.

Is that Shady? Ah! Guiding bolt. One more time. I'm going to draw. All right. Guiding bolt to one of the swarms? Yeah, I'm just going to center on, yeah. Sure, yeah, yeah. All right. Roll high.

Anti-histamine is the name of the spell. Let's go. Yeah. Well, I don't know. 11 plus 12? Yeah. That'll definitely do it, yeah. Okay, cool. And that's... We'll save the one on the north side there. That's wrong. It's not plus 12.

11 plus 7, because it's guiding. Oh, so 18. 18, fair. Yeah, that still hits. Okay. Hey! I have 12 in my hand. I need another d6. Mmm. Three. Yes! four, five, eight points of damage. Eight points of damage. All right, the next attack against that one has advantage. That one there has advantage. It is glowing. One section of the swarm is now brightly glowing

from the Guiding Bolt, and the next person to strike at it has advantage. Oh, the north one? Right. Yep, over there. Just blast it. It takes a little bit of damage. It's still holding together, but the swarm is definitely angered

and still focused on the werewolf for the time being. Can I use whatever little movement I have to place Deanna down? There's nowhere to place her. You're right at the top of the steps. Can I put her on my? Yeah, I'll say you can put her on your shoulders. Cool, got it.

All right, finishing that go, that brings us to Chetney's turn. Fuck! Ah, shit! Can I get a swing through so I stay and melee at both of them, but I'm on the other side of the? Yeah, you can do that. I'll take two swipes with my acclose

at the one that Frida just tagged. You got it, first strike has advantage. Advantage. That's 24 to hit. That definitely hits. The second one, it's just that first strike that has advantage, right? Correct.

Second one is an 18 to hit. 18 still hits. Amazing. Santa Claus. Left balls. Six, ten, 17 points of slashing damage. You got it, slash it. And can I use my bonus strike

for a third strike with the claws? Sure. That's a 21 to hit. Yep, that hits. Great, there's no Crimson Rite on my claws because I'm lazy like that. That's nine points of slashing damage. All right.

So as you're slashing through and slashing through, it's cutting through and killing them, but it's like attacking a waterfall. Like, you're still hitting, they're still splashing, but it just keeps pouring. The swarm's still around you. It's not as effective. Got it.

Uh, uh, uh, uh, uh. But they are starting to look pretty rough. You've definitely taken some of the numbers out between your strike and yours. What do you want to do? I'm going to run. What? I'm going to take two, nah, I'll stay. Nah, run, dude! Do it! Yeah, yeah.

Hurt me. I'm going to run back here because I see a chest over there, but I see a partially open door, and that could be the source of these things, there could be more. Okay. Need to know. Yeah, so I'm going to come that way

and take both attacks of opportunity. Okay, so both of them swing at you. You're going to miss. That's a 14. Oh, that one does miss. And a 17. Oh, it misses. Yes, that one.

You duck below and they both just try and strike at you, but you're too quick and you dart by to the door. You go to the door and you can see it's like, it looks like it's been partially pushed open, but there is a barricade on it or some sort of a lock on it. You're not sure, you don't see a barricade, but it looks like it's locked.

Oh, like it's been pushed out towards me, but there's something on the inside keeping it, okay. Cool, that's the end of my turn. Okay, got it. The genchennies go. Fearne, you're up with Dan on deck. All right, well, we took care of it? Yeah.

All right. I think there's stuff upstairs. Yeah, maybe he found stuff. Should we just look around down here? I mean, well, we have time. I'll start heading towards upstairs. I'll just use my full turn to get as far as I can. About 30 will get you about there,

at the base of the stairs. All right. You still have your action. If you're not going to do anything else, you can use your action to dash if you want to. Yeah. But you look up the stairs and you can see, it's pretty clumped right now.

All right, let me just look around and see if I can. Bless you. Bless you. Bless you. Bless you. There's a chest in there. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm going to, if there's, can I look around and see, can I look in a chest or just search for something? Yeah, there's stuff all around you. This is the toy store.

I'm not going to go upstairs. There's so much down here. I'm going to just start, I'm going to go, I'm going to to go upstairs. There's so much down here. I'm going to look into that. Is there a little chest over here? Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm going to start rummaging. Okay, I mean, you can use, yeah. Where you are at the table,

this is your full movement here. There's a lot of action. You could dash in here if you want to, or dash partially upstairs. I'll start in the room that I'm in and just start looking for stuff. Yeah, pocketing, looking for papers, looking at everything.

Yeah, there's no papers, but there's plenty of trinkets and weird little knickknacks. Great. Collectibles. Going to town. Little gear-based figures. Ooh! You got it, all right.

So you start grabbing things, pulling around. You got it, that's your turn. All right, Deanna, you're up. Cool, cool, cool. Criming in the lake, so there it. That's your turn. All right, Deanna, you're up. Cool, cool, cool. Crying in Italy, so there's still two swarms there. Correct. What if I stood up? Oh, interesting.

No longer a light. Oh, hello. Cool, hi. Um. Boop, boop. This is such a little room. Can't do the thing. I can't curve it.

Yeah, I guess I'll just reach forward. Let's go, since we're in melee, I'll just reach out and cast another second level Inflict Wounds on the swarm right in front of me. All right, there's the two here. This one is looking pretty, well, it's taking some hits. This one is untouched.

Let's hit the untouched one. Can I see the nest that they came out of in the room, too? You can make a perception check if you want to. I didn't think that. Do you see the nest that they came out of in the room, too? You can make a perception check if you want to. I didn't think they'd do that. No, I didn't see it. I've never seen anything. I just attached it in front of me. No idea. All right, go for it.

Three on the die. The one that hasn't been hit yet. Go for it, roll for that. Cool, all right. What a nightmare. That's a 17, though, it's okay. It definitely hits. Yeah, it hits a 26.

Let's go ahead and roll damage. It's a 40, 10, right's okay. It definitely hits. Yeah. Is it 26? Let's go ahead and roll damage. It's a 4d10, right? 4d10. Oof. Jesus. 4d10? Yeah, that's just a second level. It's okay. Okay, 18. Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh! 23 points.

23 points of necrotic damage. Yo! Once again, you reach out, and as they cluster in around you, you just release that burst of necrotic energy. As they retract, you watch a bunch of them just crumble into dust around there. More than half the swarm has been scattered to the ground and bits of crumbled insect residue.

What'd you call the cast? Inflict wounds. Damn. Just some little shit. Can I just try to intimidate them and be like, how many of you have to die before you all just sit the fuck down? Because you can speak to animals, roll an intimidation check.

Thanks, please, no more dice, it's so bad, please. No. It was so close. It was close to being anything good. Eight. Eight? The remaining stragglers of the two swarms just brighten with fury in response.

Nice! They definitely drew their attention. Cool, okay, well, I didn't do a great job. I just get behind you. Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry. Excuse me, sorry, excuse me, sorry. It is their turn. Great.

The two downstairs, I'm going to roll for them to see if they can escape the snare. That is going to be a 14. No. And a 10. No. And a 10. No. So now they're not escaping it below. The two up here are both going to

swarm in towards you, Deanna. So while they're on your back, they just swarm in the space with both of you. And are they attacking Deanna alone? They are. I will impose disadvantage on them. All right, because you can do that, indeed. So there's disadvantage on each strike against you as they both swarm you. I noticed they disadvantage on that. All right, because you can do that, indeed. So his disadvantage on each strike against you as they both swarm you.

I know to stay close enough. Ooh, that would have been a 23 and a natural one. So one of them just ends up scooting past you and getting lost in the middle of the stairway. The other one is going to be 14 and 11. So both of them just scooting around you, but you are swiping at them and managing to get your coat wrapped around

and protecting the both of you in the middle of the stairway. No thank you, no thank you. Awesome. All right, finishing that go. Now it is FCG with Imogen on deck. I'm going to, it's not a weapon, so I don't know how it's going to work,

but I'm going to take off my hand and hot swap it for my propeller. I don't like the way it's attached. Oh shit. Yes. But instead of blowing, I'm going to suck. I'm going to suck them in and try to slice them up. All right, make an attack roll. Three.

No! Can you add anything to it? Nope, it's not a realia weapon. What? Is that love setting on the house birds? So you equip it into your hand. You grin, knowing this is going to be fucking awesome. All the bugs are swirling around Deanna and Frida.

All of a sudden, one of them turns and looks at you. The swarm is like, focus, and you go. It's jammed. It's not meant to go the other way. Oh! No, I'm jammed in! The bell is like. Oh. Oh no!

That's such a cool idea. I know. Terrible. Um, my spiritual weapon's all the way downstairs. It'll never get here in time. So who's up after me? I mentioned it's not even on this floor. All right. I can get up. Wait, can the spiritual weapon go through floors? No, but I can recast it. Yes, it can. Why not? It's not even on this floor. All right. I can get up there. Wait, can the spiritual weapon go through floors?

No, but I can recast it. Yes, it can. Why not? It's like spectral. Oh boy, I don't know. It can probably just go straight up. It can go 20 feet, but I don't know if it can go through things. Is it spectral or is it physical?

Because it's been cutting a lot of people. It is spectral. It's spectral. There you go. Let's go. A floating spectral weapon. It's a ghost weapon. Can it go through the floor?

Do you want to use a bonus action to try? I will try to have it swat up through the floor. If I can fly swat it in the butthole. No selection. I'm guessing where on the floor it is. I don't really know. It's 15 feet. It goes straight up to the ceiling and appears right here. Five more feet of movement and you can move it in. Shoo!

So what? Yes! So what? 11 plus seven. That hits, good roll damage. Woo! 1d8 is a four plus three is seven. Wait, we never really decided.

Do I get to use my divine thing on this or no? No, it's only against your actual attack. Okay, so seven points. Points. Seven points. You give them points off of them books. Seven points. Ooh, he pulled the book out.

This book reference is brought to you by vengeance bidders. I was like, he pulled out a little face! Oh yeah, it's my propeller blade. Yeah. Wait, wrong one. Yeah, a head of creature with a weapon attack. Technically, this is a spell attack. Even though it says weapon in the title!

Hey, man. Hey, yeah, I get you, man. I and Jimmy Crawford. I forgive you. I and Jimmy Crawford. All right, so seven points of? Seven points of something damage. All right, so it strikes through the swatter,

like smashes about half of the existing swarm left. There's maybe about 11 of these firebugs left. They're looking pretty rough. All righty, does that finish your turn? It does. You can move if you want to. Will they attack me? As long as that one, you don't leave its melee, it will not.

I will leave its melee. Which direction? I'm going to go straight to that chest across the way. Okay, from there you can definitely get up to the chest, and that one does attack opportunity against you, which will not have disadvantage, but it will roll a natural three. Great! Yeah, that's a nine.

Yay! Are we in the open? All right, that finish should go. Imogen, you're up with Frida on deck. Okay, where am I in regards to? You're right there. Can I make it up the stairs? You can.

30, you'll get pretty much right up to where he is right now. So you are essentially right behind, sharing the same space with Frida. Okay. The swarm is all pieces together. And there's two little baby swarms left? Yeah, right at it.

And both of those are two little baby swarms, or what? They're both fairly hurt, yeah. They're both looking kind of hurt. Okay. I love this corner right here. I know. Yeah. Okay. Let me see. I'm going to use... Okay. Because when I sit in it, you won't see me. I'll disappear into the dark. Hold on. Sorry, I just got to check

and figure out if I can, how far. You know when Adam's Fiend really is when Wednesday paints herself? Yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah, like the wall. The movie holds up well. I love that movie so much. I just see how long it takes for someone in both.

Both of them are so good. Oh yeah. They're both so good. Oh, Julia. Do I, is there an object around, like a big, anything big and long? Oh, there is, this over here is a long, both on both sides, big, long benches. Great.

I'm going to telekinetically pick up the big, long bench. Oh yeah. Bring it up to the ceiling and slam it down on the bugs. Yar! Bench, please. Because of the size of the bench, I will allow the attack on each of them.

Oh, nice! Because it is a very long bench. We'll line them up. Let's cover all those little bugs. So go ahead and roll an attack. Okay. And it'll be against, actually roll for both. Roll two attacks? It'll be an attack against each of them, yeah.

You're mushing those pizzas. Natural 20. Yeah, there it is! And 13. 13 just misses. One of them whips, but the other one does get smacked on top. I'll say, because the movement you move there, it'd be about 20 feet to get it there. That'll be 2d6 bludgeoning damage, multiplied by two. Jango, let's go. 12 points of bludgeoning damage. 12 points of bludgeoning damage. 12 points of bludgeoning damage. That'll do it on one of them.

Whoosh! So the bench entirely smashes the remainder of one of the swarms into the ground. It is gone and ruined. The other one, it's like swarms around it. Holds itself together. Your turn, you still have bonus action if you want. I don't know what I can do, so it's a yes.

All right. Rita, it is your turn with Chetney on deck. And there's a few left in that other swarm, in the last swarm standing? Yeah. Okay, so I have the coat bundled up around me and Deanna, and I will let the coat billow behind me as I raise the arm gun. Cool.

You got us. And I will take two shots. That ain't gonna hit. That's a three plus 12, right? That does hit. Oh, 15. 15? 15 does hit. Oh, okay. Their AC is only a 14.

Two Z plus six. I'll shoot a bug with a bullet. 10 points of damage. 10 points? When you say that, I'm sorry. 10 points of piercing damage? 10 points of piercing damage? Yes. 10 points of piercing damage.

Okay, so it fires through. Once again, have as much damage as you would like, but it's still hurting your arm. They're just so small, and I will bonus action reload and take my second hit. You got it. Yeah, I'm going to reload. They're so so small, and I will bonus action reload and take my second hit. You got it. Yeah, I'm going to reload. They're so small.

Yeah, that hits, 11 plus 12. You got it, go ahead and roll damage a second time. Hollow point. That hits 16 plus six. 16 plus six is 22. That's 11 points of damage. How do you want to do this? Oh!

There we go! Yeah, so I will let the cloak fall down and I will shoot the first one and it goes a little wide and I will reload and as I'm reloading, I will focus and the eyes will glow a little brighter. Maybe a hint of red in there and I'll focus on the eye of the swarm there and I'll release the Blunderbuss shot. Great, all of us.

If it happens in slow motion, it would hit one and explode. Yes! With that one flash of powder, you watch as the remainder of the swarm, as it was gathering to be one continued assault against you, scatters. There's shredded wings and bits of chitinous form thrown against the surrounding wall and floor, aflame and living no more. Is everyone okay? That was awesome.

Check the bodies from Lute! Lute was! I've never been able to do that before. That was very, very fun and cool. I'm going to try to open this crate over here and see if it budges. I'm just going to go around and decompose all of the... Oh, that's nice. Decompose all of the corpses that I can find. Okay.

No need for bugs. All righty. It is locked. Oh, I'm going to come up behind you. Oh! Jingle, jingle, jingle, jingle. Check for traps. Oh!

Okay, that's very scary. Open word, this is much different than before. How? I didn't see the first one. Can you check for traps, Chet? He's over there doing it. I'm on some other shit. And I'll take the scythe,

and I'll take two swipes at the door to try and open it up. We have keys, Chet. We have keys. You're also not checking for traps? No. Now, yeah, go ahead and roll two attacks. Okay. Do you need some backup?

23 and an 18. Both hit, go ahead and roll damage. Nine, five, 14. Uh-huh. Nine, five, 14, 14, five, 10, 24 points of slashing damage. Yeah, you go ahead and, as opposed to striking the main door, you can see the slight gap of whatever is holding it in the middle.

There is a bolt in there that is currently holding the door against some sort of pressure. You carve down once and you see it buckle almost to the point of breaking, and in the second swipe upward, the doors burst open as you pull back with the scythe yanking from the opposite side, and the doors fly open to a disheveled bedroom. A nice canopy bed with a desk and an armoire and some shelves, but it's all shunted to the sides, moved around. In the middle center of the room, attached to part of the bed, it looks like all of this congealed matter,

like an odd nest of thatch and organic shine. Uh-oh. In the bed? Like the, it's the worm. No, on the ground next to it. But it looks open. Like it's been pulled open. You can see a gap in the center there. Oh.

Like this is... That worm turned into the fire worm. Oh, it got worse. It cocooned and turned into his pet. The crasculid. Yeah. Oh, his pet. The Kraskalid. Yeah. If it wasn't trapped,

do you guys want to come in here with magic shit and check it out? Yeah, sure. And I'll walk over to where FCG is on the chest and look for traps on that so he can use it. Okay, I'm going to make an investigation check. The rest of you, you see the open doorway and the sundered bedroom in there.

About four teeth. Does it look, without going in, does it look like there was an escape vector for this? Like, are there windows? Make a perception check. Please stop making me roll. Okay. Bam!

Natural 20. You did it, thank you. Okay. It was all me. It was all you. Indeed, there are two windows. They were barred from the outside, but they look unbusted, if you will. May we see the room, Matthew?

Yeah, if you want to see the room. I'm just going to do a little look at that desk. So that's a gross thing on the ground. Another set of doors. I'm going to bamf out Mister. Okay. It was a 21 for investigation on traps on the chest upstairs. Oh, great.

Okay, 21. No traps. Just locked in. Mister and I were downstairs making dolls have sex. Making dolls have sex? Yeah. Nice. Are you going upstairs upstairs or are you staying downstairs? Just a quick question. Now that we know it's kind of bad, do we really care about preserving?

We don't have to find, can I just do something real quick? Yeah, of course. I'm going to cast Dawn inside that room and just light it up. Yeah. Dawn? Yeah. 30-foot radius, 40-foot high cylinder of bright light.

Every creature inside it makes a con save. Sure. That is a big nest. That is a big nest. Just a little. It's a big dawn. Don't roll damage on that. To whom it may concern. Yeah.

I'm searching for the key for this chest on this key ring that we stole. 21 points. It's as fast as Rhaenys. Okay. So as you walk over, look into the room, explain to me how this dawn apparates. Yeah, okay.

We don't have to go in it. I'm just going to... I got this. I think, peeking into the room, this is the most magic Deanna's ever cast, and I think her face just goes bright like the sun as she reaches forward and into the room. It's like her hand is reaching out into noonday sun

as she just reaches up and pulls the light, that cleansing, burning, radiant light of the Dawnfather down into the room. Okay. Dang! You walk up and put the hand up, and as you reach your hand up to the ceiling, you look into a series of glass-type surfaces, like shines, almost like a series of glass domes.

As you watch the light begin to fill this darkened space, as you call the Wrath of the Dawnfather upon this chamber. The light fills the room and now you see the massive insect-like creature that is affixed to the ceiling above you. Oh, it was up! We didn't look up! Its numerous spider-like insectoid jagged legs clinging to the top of the ceiling, the small grabby claws that extend from the center of its torso, and the numerous orange-like eyes that appear across its surface

as it begins to detach its legs from its resting place in the ceiling before, the room ignites with bright light, and you hear, some above before it hits the ground. Out towards you. I need you all to roll on this one. Oh! Oh no!

Oh. Oh wow. Okay, oh god. Ooh. Holy balls! Oh my god! What the fuck, bro? It's enormous! We should have fought the bull.

Oh my god. We should have fought the bull! Oh my god. We should have fought the bull! All right, 25 to 20. I got a 20. Natural 20. Me, too. What? Wait, no, I didn't get a natural 20. You got 22. I got 20.

Save the high five. I'm not getting a high five, then. I'm so mad that I root. I'm like, never. I would never. High five that. Could you imagine? Good news is, you can shoot this thing. So 20 to 15.

19. 19. Dang! What's that? What's your dexterity? A lot better than mine. Plus what? Plus, mine's plus zero. Aw.

All right. So Deanna, FCG, and then Chetney with a 16. Wait, I want to roll these. We're going to roll these. Yeah, do it. Oh, okay. Do it. 10. 19. No to roll these. Yeah, do it. Oh, okay. Do it. 10. 19. Okay.

All right. What are you rolling? I love it. That's going to be Deanna. Yep. Chet. Chet. Yep. Boy, more fighting.

All right, what'd you get? 11. 11, all right. Uh-oh. Oh no, my fifth level spell. Are you? No, I'm good. How's your emotional state? Oh, shoot.

The creature now lands on the ground. You can see the divine energy and the light from the incident room begins to subside as it angrily begins to clatter and pull itself out towards the now-opened doors. As Tiny Deanna, you are just skittering backward. Oh fuck! Close the door, close the door, close the door.

Fearne, you're up first with Imogen on deck. Ah! All right, I'm going to shoot a Scorching Ray. Scorching Ray at second level? Let's do... Oh god, are you upstairs now? I am. Yeah, you've all had time to get up there.

Okay. Let's do another level. Got a lot of room to maneuver, though. That's cool. I'm going to, yes. Let's do... Oh my god, it's huge. Let's do third level. Looks fine. Jesus. No, let's do a level. Looks fine. Oh no, let's do a second.

Okay. We keep the doors shut. All right. Let's do first hit. That's why you don't heat up the worm. They're so cute when they're larval. Don't heat up the worm. 20. 20 hits, yeah.

Cook without fire and you will not evoke the worm. Yeah. 20 again. Thank you for giving me that. Both those, yeah, hit, hit, and? Nice. Natural 20. Fuck!

Hit, hit, and a crit! Okay. I love that. So 2d6, 4d6, and then the last two 2d6 are crit. Jesus. You don't like those? I got my little teeth. Okay. Hello? So 2d6, 4d6, and then the last two 2d6s are crib. Jesus! You don't like those? I got my little teeth.

Okay. Wait, how many are we rolling at? So 4d6 normally, and then 2d6 are doubled. Okay. How do you read those? I know. The question we always ask Ashley. Ooh!

How do you read that? I don't know. Oh, I don't know. It's hard. It's valid. Okay, 19 for the first two. Plus Mister's out, so I also get an extra. That's true. Uh, but, but, but, but.

Yeah! Carrying on the legacy. Thank you! Only one of us looked up how to make an actual monkey sound. The other just screamed on camera. Honestly, we're all that close anyway, so. Yeah. Even just riffing it feels right.

Yeah. Just feeling it in space. Where's my daggum D8? Here we go. Daggum. Okay. Sorghum. Okay, so seven for Mister, an extra seven. So that was...

19 plus seven, 26. 19 plus seven, 26. And then... This is fucking piece of shit. Those were such a bad roll. Two twos, so four, eight. That's okay. That's great. That's okay. All right, all right, that's fine, that's fine.

That's still 34 points of fire damage on a second-level spell. Why didn't I roll my teeth? She just. All three blasts impact the creature. SAM and LAURA, SAM and LAURA, Oh god. It looks like it did not enjoy that at all.

All right, but also, bonus action, Mister gets to throw some flaming shit. Do it, do it. So. Shoot that shit. I'm going to shoot that shit? Shoot the shit. 13?

13. Throws it. Aw. On the wall. All right, and then what I'm going to do is... Still down. Still down. I'm going to move, I'm going to stay there.

I'm just going to back up against the wall. All right, you go ahead. Just a little bit, just to... Mister going to stay there, too? Mister's going to stay with wall. All right, you go ahead. Just a little bit, just to. Mister going to stay there with you? Mister's going to stay with me. All right, so he moves with you against the wall? Yeah. Perfect. You got it. Finishing that go.

Imogen, you're up. FCG, kind of on deck. I'm going to. It technically goes before. Fearne, Imogen, Deanna, FCG, right? Imogen and then the creature and FCG. I rolled a 19 initiative. That's a higher dex than both of them.

Okay, I'm going to scooch out so I can get a visual on the creature. You move five, 10, 15, 20 there to get a view on it. You see Fearne back away after blasting it and going into the wall. Oh shit. Oh, that's huge. Oh, that's huge. And I'm going to the wall. Oh shit. Oh, that's huge. Disney boy! Oh, that's huge.

I'm going to lightning bolt it. Okay. Let's go! Fourth level. Yeah, I'll say, technically. If I can aim above Deanna? I'd say you can aim just past, because it is five foot wide.

So you suddenly smell this weird kind of burnt battery smell, like that sense of an electrical fire just hitting in the nearby chamber, that sort of smell, though you wouldn't really understand it in the world. That's what you pick up before you fart. This bright light passes by you

and you wince out of the way as a bolt of purple lightning arcs out of nowhere just past you, barely getting close to singeing the left side of your face. The creature making the dexterity saving throw. It does succeed a natural 19. Dang it. But go ahead and roll your damage on the lightning bolt. All right.

You have to take a moment to try and control it as it arcs through and tears up along the side of the wall on the opposite side. Keeping the Ghostbusters theme down the slope. We all know the bit we're doing now. Exactly. I'll look in the trap, Ray. Don't cross the street, thanks. Good safety tip, right?

22, 24. More Ghostbusters coins. Oh, that's a game. Yeah. It's slime. That's great! 32. Actual physical contact. Can you move it? 32 points.

Nice. 32 points, awesome. Cats and dogs. 16 points of lightning damage as he arcs through it, darts to the side just as you throw it, and it still strikes it, but it clings onto the wall before it begins to crawl its way forward. Crawl its way. You still have 10 feet of movement.

I'm going to move away from the group of people. Away from it? Yeah, around the corner, can I move? You can get here, and then there is something in the way. Make an athletics check to see if you can climb over it. No, be like, like slam your knee into it, like, Oh fuck! Can't quite get over it, so you're right there.

It is now the Crasculid's turn. Whoa. It is going to, since it's on the wall from the lightning bolt, Crasculid. Oh my lord. Climb up to the doorway before landing here in the middle of this space. since it's on the wall from the lightning bolt. Climbs up through the doorway before landing here in the middle of this space.

God, it's taking up the whole thing. Oh boy. It is definitely not designed for the tight quarters, but it is spreading out within the space that's possible there. It is immediately going to make three attacks. It's going to make a bite strike against you.

Oh noes. Are we still in melee? Yeah, you are. Yeah. That's going to be 18 to hit. Nope. Nope. Ah, yeah. You put your shield up, just in time, you feel its weird arachnid-type teeth

scraping against the metal to no avail. The weird orange eyes are darting around and looking in different directions. This is going to make the claw attack forward against, I'm going to say, Fearne. Two of them against you. All right. That's going to be a 22.

Yes. And a 22, I'm saying. Yes, both hit. Yes. All right. You take 18 points of slashing damage. All right.

And 19 points of slashing damage. I'll take half of that second one. Okay, so that would be, instead of 19, that would be nine. For nine. You take it. Yep. You hit a new point there. And I need you to make an athletics or acrobatics check

to see if it does try to grapple you within its claw. Oh. Nice. Specialty. Natural one. Oh no! You are currently held within its claw as one grabs and crushes you and pulls you in. You see

it's now holding her almost alongside its jaws, snapping at Dana. Then it's also going to take a leg spear strike at you, which is a 10-foot range. That image is a little sweetie. Yeah, what did I ever do with it? Why would you try to hit a sweetie? Whatever's nearby, it's 29 to hit. 29?! little sweetie. Yeah, why would you try to hit a sweetie? Whatever's nearby, it's 29 to hit. 29?!

She is within 10 feet of you, unfortunately. So with that. But I have my mage armor up, so. You do, that's true. Oh no, I heard the way that felt. 17. 23 points of piercing damage as it strikes through your mage armor, hits in the torso area,

and the magical arcane shield deflects it for a moment and then shatters inward and it pierces as you deflect it and scrapes off your clavicle. Okay. All right, that finishes its go. FCG, you're up with Deanna on deck. I will, first bonus action, hit it with my Flyswatter spiritual weapon, which is right there.

Move 20 feet up here and hit it from up there. It floats up. 17 plus seven is 24 to hit. That hits. Go ahead and roll damage. That's a d8. Five plus three, eight points of damage. Eight points of damage. Flyswatter. Then I will hot swap the propeller with my bolt thrower. Go for it. Fire a bolt.

This has a very low likelihood of hitting. 18 plus four! That hits. That's a 22. Let's go. Five plus the nine points of temporary damage I absorbed from Young Miss, plus another divine... This is a weapon strike, right? So another d8 divine damage?

Let's go! Another six! Yeah! For a total of? Six, five, nine. 20. 20. Thank you. 20 points of damage on it. You release your bolt thrower

and the bolt strikes into one of its eyes, and as it hits, this flash of divine light, and you watch as one of its weird bulbous eyes just splatters at the impact, and it pulls back. A bunch of baby Cressblitz come pouring out of its mouth. Oh no! Kill it all!

Yucky, why? Why would you put that? Why would you put that in the world? Is that it? All right, finishing off your cheese go. Deanna, you're up with Chetney on deck. Okay, I want to skirt around it to get to the front of it. You're going to get to the front?

Yeah. Okay, you are full on. What am I? It's fine. It's bad in every part of it. It is. You're moving by with the shield still up, like it's pushing against it. I'm so sorry, so sorry. Thank you very it. It is. You're moving by with the shield still up, like it's pushing against it. I'm so sorry, so sorry.

Thank you very much. Bonus action. We're going to drag the dawn to catch the back half of it. Drag the dawn. Because I can move it up to 60 feet, but I don't want it to hit me or my allies, but try to keep its ass meat in the sun. I took it.

We're going to keep some shine on this boy. Hernium something. Okay. Yeah. So you blasted it back here, some shine on this boy. Hernium something? Yeah. I heard it's good for you. So you blasted it back here, the far wall, to try and capture the whole room. Yes. Right?

To move it forward, you'd have to move it slightly this way and you would just, yeah, I think you can do it and just catch it, but it's like right on the cusp. Nobody else can move into that space that are gonna take it as well. Yep, totally fine. No one go back to where it's, the more of it is. That feels like normal to do.

Don't be there. And then with my action, since we're still in mate. Pump things up when they're in the light. Yeah, if it starts its turn or ends its turn there. Anything or just enemies? Anything. I'm going to say it's essentially right there. Damn!

It's right in that space. I can't pull it a little farther just to get this part of it? Any further here, because the center of it will go beyond the wall there. It can't clip through? DM to DM? DM to DM.

Why are we observing physics in the game with our pretend brains? With our pretend brains. With our pretend brains. Totally fine. And we'll just... Move it up to 60 feet as a bonus action on your turn. I'll say it is a column of light. Since it is a column and not a source, I'll allow it.

Oh, you're very nice, thank you! Well, no, it makes sense when you think about it, because it is just an apparated bit of holy light that just blasts in, so there you go. It makes sense to me. So we're sunning for a neo. Straight up. All these poor motherfuckers outside are just like,

. Anywhere outside, absolutely dying. We'll get to that later. Yeah. Oh no! That sounds like not a me problem right now. It's 40 feet high, so. I'm flying a flag.

Chain link, man. I think it's going to blow! Whoa! Sarah Connor's. And then in the front, let's hit it with a 4-level Inflict Wounds while I'm in melee. Do it! Roll. 18 plus 9, 27 to hit. Go ahead

and roll that. Level 4, you said? Jesus, level four. Level four, oh shit, that's 6d10. I rolled like shit, don't worry, it's fine. 24 points of necrotic damage. That could have been any amount better. That could have been, but still. Still 24 points of necrotic damage

as you reach out and strike it with your hand and as it has the terrifying blast of radiant Dawnfather vengeance that is striking through the stone like a waterfall of sunlight burning across the back of its abdomen, you reach up and grasp one of its tusks that it tried to bite you with earlier and pulls through it. This angry bit of necrotic energy as you watch that one tusk suddenly turn gray and crack and crumble into stone and dust underneath your grip as you shake it free, shield up once more.

I think Deanna's just a tiny little Dawnfather at this point, again, just sun for a face. Oh my god, yeah, so the light begins to glow from beneath your knitted shawl that you have on. Yes. She's turning into one of those. Meemaw's mad! She's turning into one of those moths. Yes!

I love it. All right, finish it. Is that your turn? That's it. All right, Chet, you're up with Frida on deck. I will run not into the room that looks like it's a holy inferno, but back around the corner. Can I use my 35 feet of speed to get within melee of it?

You can get beside Deanna and like... You can get beside Deanna and you can. By dog, can he jump over me? I'll say he could. In order to get into melee with it, based on everyone else's position, you'd have to get into the light of the dawn. Don't touch the light. Do not head for the light. But you, well, I'll let you figure it out. What do you want to do? I'm a dumb animal. I'll run into the light.

Bro! So you get in there, that's five, 10, 15, 20. Go ahead and make an athletics check for me. Okay. That thing is so big. Five. That's so big. 30.

Natural 20. Nice! Oh yeah, you vault over the lectern and over Imogen, land and rush up to it, entering the burning bright sunlight, and wincing on that side. You can still assault it with 10 feet of movement left. Yeah, I'll take two swings with Turmoil.

Go for it. First one is 22 to hit. That hits. Second one is 26 to hit. Both hit. This one is. Ah! No! It's too bad. Eight plus five is 13.

13, nine. That's 16, seven, oh, and 19. 21 points of slashing damage with two points of crimson rank damage. Got it. Oh, 1d8. Thunder, because of the turmoil. Thunder! Five points of damage. Thunder. Thunder.

Did you just say all thunder? Thunder. You strike up with it. A massive blow with turmoil. Seven more points of damage. Seven more points? Because it's each hit on thunder. All right, so you did all the damage together.

You got it. All right. 15 seconds. Both impacting it, and you can see it. It seems both terrified, and at the same time, extremely angry and hungry. Both strikes lead to a scattering of deep green,

angry blood on the ground. Okay. It is now bleeding. Do you have enough movement to get out of this owner? I think I have enough movement just to get in. Everyone within five feet of it, which would be you, you, and you, now that it's taken a certain amount of damage

with each of those additional strikes, its blood, its dark green blood as it splatters out, seems to be a boiling consistency. Oh, thank you. It spatters across you like hot oil. You all take five points of fire damage. Alex! And then an additional four points of fire damage.

So nine points of fire damage total on all three of you. I don't like that. No, thank you. Negated because I have wolf pelt? No, no. You still have Tempity Movement, though. Wolf, what's that? You still have Tempity Movement. Oh, I do! no. You still have 10 feet of movement, though. Wolf. What's that?

You still have 10 feet of movement. Oh, I do! Oh. You do have to take the donkey, which is because you're in the turn inside. Because I end my turn inside of it? Well, if I have 10 more feet, I'd bounce out and take a... If I run and I'm like,

I'd take, I'd use the 10 and get out. Okay. I'll take Attack of Opportunity instead of sitting in the Pillar of... It's hot. Might be a good call. You're good at cons. So you take 10 feet out of it, which means that you're just going to

attack Opportunity against it. Okay. Oh god. My con's gone. All right, so with that, that is... I just got Resistance. Oh! 26 to hit. That hits. Whoa! Jesus! All right, so you're going to take a bite attack from it

as you try to pull away from it. He's within five feet of me, isn't he? He is now. Which means he'd be leaving the range. Do you want to? Yes, if I can, I would impose disadvantage on the 26. I'll allow it. Unless you roll an old d10 on that thing.

I ain't going to roll one. That's such a cool roll. Yes, we have it. That's going to make it cool move. He has to react. He's very cool. That's going to make it a 16. To hit? Yeah. Oh, he misses. Oh! Dang, Frida!

As you move past and it tries to bite towards you, go ahead and push Chetney's wolfenform out of the way and essentially, using the rest of your coat spin, deflecting it and taking it on your shoulder, but you push it off the way with no impact taken. That's awesome. Cool, cool, cool, cool. All righty.

Finishing Chetney's go. Frida, you're up. I'll use the momentum of my coat, so I'll take it and distract it and turn back around. And as I turn back around, DM, can I use a disarming shot to get him to drop Verne? Yeah, I'll allow that. Okay, I'm going to...

Now, wait a minute. Do I like Ver her? No. She's sort of annoying sometimes. She do be stealing. She do be stealing. Okay, I'm going to call Sharpshooter. You're still snared. Okay.

He called it. We heard it. I'm going to say you put Miss Calloway down. Okay. Yes! That is a 16 plus 12 minus 5. Oh. Oh. 16 plus...

28, so 23. Yes. Still hits. Excellent. So plus 10 to damage, 2d8. Boom. Boom. I didn't know we were all going to do a thing.

Four plus six is 10, plus 10 points, 20. 20 points of piercing damage to it. Bonus action run, though. Okay. So he's gotta make a con save on that. Con save? Is that true, con save with the? Indeed.

Ah, that's gonna be a 21. Golly! National 19 on the con save. So that hits. Always! Second attack. Go for it. Can I call Sharpshooter more than once in a turn?

Yeah, any attack on Sharpshooter. It's just minus five to hit, which is a challenge. Yeah, yeah, we're gonna try again. Sharpshooter on the second one. That misses. Action surge. Yeah, let's go, Frida! So with the action surge, do I get two more attacks?

Two more attacks, but you have to use one of them to reload. Right, so just one attack. One more attack, yeah. That's good. Go for it. 13 plus 12 minus 5. 25, so 20 still hits. Go ahead and roll damage. Yeah!

And I will use my last grip point to try and get Miss Calloway to- Another disarming shot? Yes. You got it? Okay. Okay, okay, okay. Dropper, dropper, dropper. Plus six, plus 10. Nine plus six is 15, plus 10 is 25. 25 points.

26. 20, whatever Laura Bailey says. Wait, what? It was nine plus six is 15, plus 10 is 25 points. So 25 points of damage, that's 45 points in that round with the action surge. It was nine plus six, 15, plus 10 is 25. So 25 points of damage, that's 45 points in that round with the action surge. Let's go! With one miss.

And did he drop her? Then that's going to be a nine on the con save. Yay! So 10 feet away from me. So she's dropped and pushed 10 feet away from me. Okay, that'll push you into the corner. Oh no. But there's no room for it. It can't be, it can't, where am I?

Because you're right here. Oh, okay. That's okay, you're no longer grappled. That's fine, that's great. So you can't be pushed further in, but you're no longer held by it. Ugh. Yeah, because the idea is when you shoot something out of the hand, it gets blown backward.

But with this, you shoot the claw, and the part of the claw cracks open, and you get dropped to the ground, so you're now free to move if you want to. Great. So instead of reloading, what I'm going to do is use Crossbow Expert, and I would have shot the blunderbuss. And because I have Crossbow Expert, I can just use my bonus action to pull out my crossbow and take a shot, and that's what I'm going to do. Well, you had two attacks, right?

Yes. In the first, and then... In the first round, but it was attack and reload. Attack, and that's what I'm going to do. Well, you had two attacks, right? Yes. In the first. In the first round, but it was attack and reload. Attack, bonus action, reload, attack. But then you can reload and then attack, and you missed on the second attack. Yes. Action surge, reload, and attack. So you're out of actions and bonus actions.

Okay, cool. But good looking out. No problem. And then that is my, where am I? I'm going to... I'm going to move in front. I want to be in front of the monster. In front of Chet, so that I'm five feet. Oh wait, I push Fern back, right? Yeah. Can I try and get to Fearne and stay within its range

so it doesn't attack me? It's tough because this is all so cluttered right now and it hasn't moved on its turn. You could get up to here, right in front of Chetney, but that would still be 10 feet from the creature. Or you can move here and get within five feet of where Chetney was. It's Fearne and then Imogen. No, I'll stay within five feet of Imogen. Okay, so you can still stay within five feet of where Chetney was. It's Fearne and then Imogen. No, I'll stay within five feet of Imogen.

Okay, so you can still stay within five feet here. You're just within five feet of everybody. That's great. I'll stay there. Okay, so you're in the middle of everybody preparing to hunker down, if need be. All right, finishing your go. Top of the round, Fearne with Imogen on deck. Okay.

I have an idea. Finish him! All right. What I would like to do is to polymorph it back into a baby. To what it was. Okay. And here's the deal.

It's going to change back in an hour when Drix comes back in here and go to bed, so he's going to have to deal with it. This is so wrong. Okay. I like it. What's the save on this? 18 wisdom. 18 wisdom, okay. Wisdom, it is supposed to do one wrong. Okay. I like it. What's the save on this? 18 wisdom. 18 wisdom, okay.

Wisdom, it is plus two, one, ten. Chaos. That's a 16, 14 plus two. All right, so I'm going to reach out and try to put it. Oh, it's cute! It's so cute! Shit. Instantaneously, the entity is reduced to this tiny little larval worm,

about a foot and a half long, that has this natural smile and these tiny little sleepy-looking eyes, and it is fucking cute. I get it, I get it. This is going to be like this for an hour, so we got to go, and then Drix can come back and deal with it.

I'm going to put it back in. It's going to kill Drix. I mean, it's going to kill him. That's okay if it wasn't that. It'd be me. Ooh. Okay. I'd search this place, find anything. Want to turn off the dawn thing?

Oh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I turn off dawn. Well, do we kill it? Well, does it? We can create it. No. Well, do we kill it? Well, does it? We can create it. Won't it? No. No? Won't Ogar just get killed by it as well, potentially?

Say again? Well, let's find out what's going on first. We have some time to make some decisions. Yeah, we've got an hour. We've got an hour. Here, I'll slap you with a, I'll slap you with a Cure Wound. Oh! I'll drop my wolf form back to

background of Chetney. You got it. Can we start searching his desk and stuff for papers to show that he's stealing from Old Fart? Yeah, make an investigation check. I'm just trying to keep baby happy. All right, so there's an advantage on your investigation.

What do you think that baby likes? I'll give you a chance. The five S's? Natural 20. Yay! For a total of? I mean, I'll give you a chance. The five S's? Natural 20. Yay! For a total of? I mean, I don't have a good investigation. Oh, 24.

24 is pretty good. That's not bad. Okay. To thoroughly search, it will take about 20 minutes. All right. 20 to 30 minutes. So as long as you're okay to. Okay, so with the rest of this crew looking through here, you find a number of ledgers and receipts that essentially tie

D&O Toy Emporium to, one, a number of children within Shadycreek Run that are building and making a lot of these toys. No! This is child thing. That's fine. Sweatshops. We should kill him.

Wait, Shady Creek Run. Knew it. That's where the Lorenzo people were, right? Yeah, Shady Creek. The Iron Shepherds? Yeah, there are a number of various families that work at Shady Creek. The Jagentoths? Jagentoths are one of them. There's the Oodalots. There's a bunch of various families that work at Shadycreek. Yeah. The Jagentoths? Jagentoths are one of them.

There's the Oodalots. There's a bunch of different families. Okay. Ophelia. Child labor. Ophelia is part of the Mordune. That's horrible, he says on his iPhone. Oh no, I'm so dumb. Okay, cool, child labor, that's fun.

I'm going to go put the baby. Drake's Lux needs to die. Yeah, I'm going to go put the baby. Drake's Lux needs to die. Yeah, I'm going to go put the baby back in his nest. Okay. Their nest, I'm sorry. I'm going to put it back in and. It's like, fighting and trying to angrily attack you. Yeah, I'm going to swaddle it with whatever the nest is and then give it a.

Oh my god, I just want to hug it. I'm just it a... Oh my god. I just want to hug it. I'm just going to tell it. Give it a squeeze, give it a squeeze. I just want to hug it. I'm not going to damage it. I just want to smooch it. I know, well, it's little and smooshy. Okay.

It tries to bite you, but it's just a little suction pull on your cheek. It leaves a little line of slime. Hey, DM, is there any quality wood in this place? Up here? I mean, the furniture is decently well made. So all of the furniture that Imogen may have broken, I'll start picking up pieces of wood. Okay. And gathering them. Okay.

Did y'all search everywhere, including the office? He said one was the child labor stuff, so I felt like there was something else. Oh, there was something else going on. You know, a lot of them are just the expansion attempts that it's made into other parts of the city and beyond. A lot of them are debt ledgers, about the borrowing that it's taken

from a number of other noble houses. This is fun. There is also documentation. There's also documentation of... You can, with your investigate, fucking natural 20. You can see that there are some documents that have been forged in Oltgar's name that are situated, they were hidden away and haven't been processed yet, you gather, but they're eventually going to be bequeathing the name of the company over to him in the case of his

untimely demise. Ooh! Oh my god. This guy. We could certainly leave the worm in his bed, but I think we've collected enough information to give him the strong arm. I mean, this little baby's about to go off. It's like a bomb that's about to go off. But he might survive.

Oh, you're back to normal? Yeah, yeah, I saw him come back down. What do you want to do? Do you want to take over this place? Do you want to burn it down? Do you want to? No, no. And I think, unfortunately,

if we leave the little baby, it could harm not just Trixlitch, it could also hurt Olghar, it could get out of the building and hurt the people of the city. So maybe one of us should take it up to the entrance and let it out into the wild, let it do its thing.

I'll outyong her. No, you can run it out pretty quick. Okay, I'm going to take it. You're shaking the baby. I'm going to swallow it. I'm going to swaddle it and just hold on. Just hold on to it. We'll figure it out, we'll figure it out.

We've got 30 minutes to figure it out before. If you want to take it up to the entrance, we'll wait for you back down here, but we're going to turn this place upside down for a second. Also, there were no traps on that chest, and you had a bunch of keys, and you were about to open it. Yeah, yeah, yeah. If you take it up, I'm going to try to open it.

And then Godzilla fell from the roof. Before you leave, I'm going to cast a Mass Cure Wounds for this class. Oh my god, thank you. Yeah, yeah. Cool. God, this happened. I don't know what I've done. Leave it, stop it here.

I don't know what I've done. I don't know who I hurt. 16 points of healing for everyone. The people outside the building, that's true. Yeah. I rolled two ones and a two on the dice. Oh, girl, I'm so sorry. Thank you, I appreciate 16 points.

I'm sorry, it couldn't have been good. 16 is great, though. That's a lot. No, it's great. That's... 16 is great because you are designed to do this. Yeah. Yeah. All righty, it's great. 16's great because you are designed to do this. Yeah. Yeah. All righty, so you take your 16 points of healing for all those who need it.

Are there any thing in the chests that we can open up? Yeah, you go inside and there are all number of raw materials, metal ingots, tools, what looks to be some... Some... What's the word I'm looking for? Some prototypes. tools, what looks to be some... some... What's the word I'm looking for? Some prototypes of some upcoming mechanical toys, some clockwork-based creatures,

like clockwork parrots that themselves look a little busted with springs free that have been sent and submitted by outside interests to possibly push into this space. Grab those. Even the Tickle Me Ulgar? Yeah. Especially that. Burn it, burn it.

I'm under the bed. You're Beanie Babies. Anything under the bed, underneath, not just the desk, but the drawers, just turn in this room upside down a little bit. Make an investigation check. Beanie, beanie, beanie. Done.

We have such brain rot at this point. 21, 21, 23. 23. Yeah, you find, not underneath the bed, but in a small hidden compartment underneath the right-hand chest of drawers that sits to the side of the bed,

what looks to be an enchanting kit designed for small-scale enchantments and magical use. Some of it's missing. It looks like it may have been a gift that was partially used and left behind. It doesn't look like it's seen a lot of use. But there is a pair of these fine gloves, these fingerless leather and scale gloves

that go about mid-forearm that have some sort of a nice stitched scrolling on them. I'll take those. I'll just tuck them into my waistband. Okay. Here's the plan. We're going to go outside. Can I feel where Drix Lich is?

Oh right, because you. Yes, you can. About a mile and a half away. Perfect. Going to go downstairs, look for anything else. I'm going to find O'Garr. We're going to have a conversation. How do you feel about helping me with that?

Are you going to kill him? TBD. I don't want to help you kill him, but I'll help you talk to him. I thought you were going to go up there. He's going to turn back, Fearne! Don't get out! It's only been like 10 minutes.

He's going to turn back in like 20! You got 20 minutes to get to the entrance. I was going to give him back to Drix. No, Drix, no. We're not going to do that. That's not the plan. I was going to say, take your baby back home. No, that's, and then. But the home's here.

This is bad. Well, I'll be right back. Okay. You got to jog. Okay, I'm going to go out and try to drop off. This better be a whole home we're bouncing upstairs. Are you dropping them off where? Gates of the city?

Just outside. We're far enough out of the gate. Just outside, okay. While the rest of you are here, you go into a light jog, because it will take you about 15 minutes at a brisk pace to get to the entrance. So you're holding this and rushing through the city, and some people just. I gotcha, I gotcha.

Who's that? Strange woman. Is she holding a baby? She's holding a baby! Did she steal someone's baby? I don't know. And they're like, Oh!

Oh, that's a hero! That's one of the heroes around! You're just charging, charging. Just saving all your pets. That's all I'm doing. It's squirming in your grasp. You have to catch it a few times. It hits the ground and

So slippery. pick it up. Eventually getting back to the staircase that leads upwards to the entryway that exits this side of the Aug that leads upwards to the entryway that exits this side of the auger trail out into the open. At this point, your eyes adjust as you come out to the bright snow-capped mountainside outside of Uthodurn. There, looking above, there's a gray cloud cover. There's no snowfall. It doesn't look like there's any threat of a storm, but it's a bright

whiteout day as far as the sheer volume of life that is bouncing off of it. I can't see! The glass blades see you as you approach and walk by. They're watching you awkwardly as some traitors go by with their horses and donkeys. She's just going to throw a baby. You walk past the outer gate, and there's just a cliff and the forest below

and the Alps around you. What do you do? 300. You gather, as the one that cast the Outer Gate, and there's just a cliff, and the forest below and the Alps around you. What do you do? 300. You gather, as the one that cast the spell, you have maybe a minute and a half. Okay. It's just a straight cliff? I mean, it's like a 15-foot cliff that slides down, and there's trees and the valley.

Okay, great, so I'm going to try to Plinko him down. Like, just slide him down. You're sliding along the cliff face? Slide him! That is the most brutal thing! It is way worse! Why do you like this? Than just letting it go for once!

It's going to, okay, okay, okay, okay! 15 feet is the first cliff, and then it's all a descent. So as you let it slide. Oh, I need you to go full NFL Combine. Fucking yeet this baby. It's 15 feet, and then? It's a 15-foot cliff, and then it's a slide

down into the heavy forest. Okay, wait. Because I'm me, I can jump. I can do a mirthful leap down to that part. Yes, you can. I'll go down to that part, and then I'm going to plinko drop it in to this part. Okay. What's that lady doing over there?

Oh my god! She did a mirthful leap off the cliff. I jump down and then just try to slime it down. Okay. It's the waggle for me. Can I do that one more time? Yep. Slithers down the snow,

slides into a snowbank and vanishes underneath the snow. That's nice. Do you stay and watch? Well, I'm going to jump back up to the top of the cliff. You leap back up, and around that time, the snowbank explodes and the creature has now returned to its side. Immediately eyes towards you and turns.

Oh god. Means to climb up the side of the cliff towards you. What do you do? I'm going to run. All right, movement speed is? Oh god. We have an attack on. 35 feet. 35 feet, it has a climb and movement speed of 40.

I'm going to double my double it. You're going to double it? It's going to do the same. You're running, and it's slowly gaining on you. Over the gates! Over the gates! You're just running from this mass of. Behind me! You run towards the gates. They start moving closer, it's gaining faster. Faster, faster, go faster! At which point,

and see it pulls back. And the glass blades have these large ballista and many of them that are pointed up with heavy crossbows. Caleb! As you're shouting this, they just they pelt at people. No, no! And they're going to. SAM and LAURA and SAM and LAURA and SAM and LAURA

and SAM and LAURA. You hear the sound. You hear the. The onion music kicks in. It's like. Mom! Oh, please! The angry dove's flying behind it. No! Mom! Oh! The egg jumps flying behind it.

Yes, definitely. Boom! It's a John Woo movie. You hear. I'm a terrible person. I'm going to start walking back. Okay. As you walk back nonchalantly,

back towards the entrance of the city, you hear the glass space like, What the fuck was? I have no idea. That's not where we're supposed to be here. That's from... Wait, who's she? And you descend into the city.

Close the gates! Close the gates, close the gates! All right, I'm in the other room. You walked out with a baby and you've been chased back by a monster! I'm going to make my way back to the toy store. Okay, you're going to make your way. All right, the rest of you in the interim, I feel like you've, aside from all the various trinkets,

and there are things within this bedroom that you can take if you'd like, they will likely be discovered as taken. So mainly just collectibles and hygiene products and all the various things that Drake Slish would have within his... Does he have a good curly shampoo? Because I have a lot of texture.

Yeah, yeah, you can find one. Yeah, I'll take that. All right, cool. He's not going to need it in super jail where we're going to put him. In super jail. I want the chair. I'm going to walk out the Super Jail, where we're going to put him. In Super Jail. I want the chair. I'm going to walk out the front with that emerald green chair.

You're going to walk out with the chair? Oh yeah. Don't pay me gold. I don't need gold, I want the chair. Scraping across the ground as you push it. But hold on, I'm going to... No? Make a few rolls here for the snares. Because've been going up for a while here. Goddamn, they can't roll worth shit. DC is 18 still, right?

18. Yeah. All right, yeah. I'll say at this point, you have enough time to find other means searching about to try and capture them. See this cage right here that looks like a nice cage. Those are the cages they used to be in before the enchantment was broken on them, and they were able to just escape through the holes in the side.

If the chests are mostly metal, we could use those. You do find up here, and within here, there are metal boxes that you can go ahead and take the snare, and essentially, within a short enough time, because I think I'll do one more roll. No, double fours! Fuck me. Okay. It's fine.

Those snares held really well for a first-level spell. And with that, and with the help of your telekinetic abilities, you manage to push them, the remaining elements of these firebugs, into these metal containers and close it. Now, rapidly upon closing it and latching them, they begin to heat up. So you're having something to hold them

from a distant handle or put ropes around or something to hold them at a distance or it'll begin to burn your hands. But eventually you do emerge from the front door, not unlike holding the smoking trap outside of the hotel, holding two metal boxes that are glowing and heating, smoke rising off of the cables and constraints. And you see the rest of the group are like people in the neighborhood who are hearing all the commotion

and watched a woman run out with a baby. They're like, walking out, stop, stop. They're all whispering. We came, we saw. We kicked its ass! As Old Gar stands up. My god, you actually did it.

That is incredible. My goodness. Sir actually did it. That is incredible. My goodness. Sir, go ahead. So, thank you so much for your diligence and... You cheery son of a bitch. Oh. Chetney Pockerby. He immediately lifts up his left hand and looks at it,

and you can see there's a notable scar on the back and the front of the hand. Why don't we step inside and talk a little business? He glances about at the rest of the troupe, make a persuasion check with advantage, because he did just do a gig for him. That's not a performance. 14, 15. Kind of clenches his fist and sets it back

on the side of his hip. Well, I guess since you've already done me a solid, let's catch up. I open the door. Okay. Steps inside, looks around. Oh no. You can inside, looks around. Oh no.

You can mend. That'll mend right out, don't worry about it. And just reach up and start doing little mending, some of those horse marks. It's fine. Thank you kindly. Yeah, I got it. All right, here's the score.

We left on some pretty rough grounds. I might've stabbed you in the hand. I don't know if you remember. Stab stabbed you in the hand. I don't know if you remember. But listen, I guess I'm sorry and stuff. But not really. I'm kind of sorry. You taught me a lot. Those hands are capable of making some incredible pieces of art, but I was really

upset because you forgot that. You forgot that what we do is rare. It doesn't matter if people don't love it, things come back into fashion. And sometimes you just have to be patient. And Drixlix is a son of a bitch, Dixlix. And I just want you to know that he is screwing you over. And we produced some of the documents.

Yeah, I'm gonna put the documents on the table in front of him. You're doing great, Jenny, keep going. Now listen, we both know you didn't have much of a mind for business while you were doing this. You're an artiste, okay? Well, you're all wrapped up in some dark shit. The kids are working on stuff in Shady Creek Run

and there's some debts in there. And I think, back me up, Imogen, it looks like there have been some forgeries where he was going to try to and take over the whole shop and all of its assets. I'll back him up. He's telling the truth. Now, here's my suggestion.

This isn't you. I know you love making toys, and I know you love filling children's heart with joy. I do too, but now you're in the shit. My suggestion would be to give him the shop, sell everything to him, and then go somewhere else and start somewhere new. He's not going to be able to climb out of this,

and he's only going to take you down with him or kill you to get there. You could go anywhere and people would love the toys that you make. You could have a shop an eighth of the size and people would come from all over because they're things of beauty. He slips down onto a stool,

kind of listening to this, pulls out his scarf and then wipes his sweaty brow. You got that laugh that everybody likes. You always like to tell kids whether they've been shitheads or... They're okay. He looks up at the wall of the shithead and okay list and goes, The parents really seem to resonate with this one.

This keeps getting longer and longer. I hope I was okay this year. But my advice would be to get as far away from this place as you can. Drix let you have some stuff coming to him, and I don't want to see you pull down with him. This is also your only warning. I'm going to ask you, though,

you didn't know about this stuff, did you? Were you aware of the kids in Shady Creek? And I'm going to cast Detect Thoughts as I ask him that. Okay, are you just getting surface thoughts or delving deep? I'll, I'm going to delve deep. Okay. That's a 19.

Ooh. Steel trap that is Oldguard's mind keeps your prying will at bay. You do see a glint in his eye as he takes notice. But goes, This is the first I've heard about it. I'm genuinely heartbroken to know that the name that I've worked heartbroken to know that the name

that I've worked so hard to build after all this time has been used for such terrible means. Does he seem honest? Make an insight check. Assist. Guidance. Terrible. 10. Sometimes it's just word bombing the thing. I don't want to do this.

Yeah, do I get any, I don't even get surface thoughts. If I tried to delve deep, I don't get anything. Surface thought is, maybe dive deep, like surface thoughts you can gather are kind of just gauging who the hell you people are and why Chetney has returned so forgiving. As he's like, like absentmindedly rubbing the scar on his hand.

Would you roll for seven? Yeah, it's crap. Okay. 11. Well, I... I've had many years to look at the mistake that I made in wandering from the path of the true craftsman. This is a terrible, metal twisted temple to that mistake. I lost my way. I don't think there hasn't been a day in recent times that I don't look at this scar you gave me

and don't think that I deserve it. I think you're right. I haven't been happy here in a long time. And honestly, neither have our employees. He puts his hand on the papers that you set down and goes, Maybe it's time I let them know that their skills are better earned elsewhere. Maybe I pick up and find my own path.

I think that would be wise. Also, you can have some of this stuff. You show them the prototypes. If it's interesting, I know some of this stuff can be replicated with wood. If the person knows how to use it... Are you saying you don't? What? Huh?

I was just thinking you meant the horse. It moves, okay? It walks. Okay. I'd certainly try and take inspiration from some of these, but... I don't know, I've had some ideas in the early morning. Things I wanted to apply to a nice block of boiled mahogany or, I don't know,

maybe some fine polished tiger wood or... Keep going, Danny-o. I've lost my way, Chetney. You have? That's like music to my ears. Reaches up and grabs your tiny hand and this massive dwarven mitts and goes, I am so sorry. You fucked up.

I done messed up. Yeah. I fuh, I fuh. Don't. I haven't earned it. Maybe in time. Fair. About the suspense.

I'll say about this time you return. Baby's dead. Well, after all that. What? It's a good thing, it's a good thing. Don't worry. It was not a bad baby. Probably best I don't know anymore.

Tried. Okay. Well, let me pass papers again. Do you need me to take care of this, or? I think we can take care of some of this. Just make a deal with Drexlitch whenever he comes back. I will be keeping an eye on him. You have two days, and I want you out of this city.

Make an intimidation check with advantage. Yeah, let's go. Guidance. Oh, I'm not 12! Yeah, four total of. Guidance is a d4. 24. 24.

Two days. Two days. Well, how much did he promise you? 500 apiece? Mm-hmm. We don't need it. We're fine. We're fine. Do not listen to them. I just want the chance. It's his money,

and he was like, he's not going to come and do it. He's going to come and do a fair amount of money. He's going to sell the rest of the store, so we should take our cut. Yeah. Well, I'm not taking it from my cut. And he wanders off behind the clerk desk and pulls himself out a key and unlocks

what looks to be this hidden alcove underneath with a lockbox chest where he goes ahead and opens it up and starts rummaging through and counting out coins before handing over. He's like, Well, uh... 400 platinum for the lot of you? How, what? 400 platinum. 400 platinum? Yeah. 400 platinum? That sounds great.

He's going to buy you some nice clothes, I reckon. Goes and tosses the, that's 4,000 gold total for you to disseminate. That's a lot. So 500 gold each. Oh, is it? I mean, it's more than that. Yeah. 4,000 gold total for you to disseminate. So 500 gold each. You're bad at math. I mean, it's more than that. Yeah, he threw in an extra 1,000. What?!

Hey, are you being kind, or are you just incredibly bad at math? Who knows? Oh, you little cutie. Grab him by the extremely rosy cheek. You have some left over, right? Oh, these, this is the shop's money. Won't be my shop anytime soon, so put it to good use.

Do me a favor, go up to the gruff side livery at the top of the disc, maybe get, I don't know, seven or eight goats and a used sleigh, and just make sure you get your ass out of town. Maybe a ninth, but make sure it knows its way. Get out. It's foggy out there. Foggy's fucked. You have to leave. I hope you get off the shit list, sir.

I think I'm going to do that. Mm-hmm. I don't know. Maybe it's time I didn't settle down and wandered and made toys for all the kids of Exandria. I mean, you do you. That's a bit of a fucking reach, but I'm not going to put any ideas in your head. Why don't you go north? Just go way north. Why? What's north?

Oh, just a bunch of calm, unsettled land. I hear Isocross is beautiful this time of year. Ooh, I don't not like it there. He runs his fingers through his big white beard and goes, Hmm. Cold? Yes. Solitary? I hate it.

This is so important. What do you call your friends? Oh, we're the Bells Hells. Well, Bells Hells, thank you for all you've done. I guess I have two days to gather my things. He stands up and leads you all outside. Well, I wish you all well.

And to well, to all, a good day. No! No! Well. Guess we got to go, too. Yeah. Can you do me a favor? I think we're going to take these documents

and we got plans for Dregsledge, but can you burn the desk that it was in? Ah, we're going to burn the house! Or we'll let it cook a little. It's really fine wood, it's unfortunate. Do you smell that? That is lacquer free. That is just it in its purest form.

Really, some of the best stuff you can have. It's good for your skin. Smells great. Do you want me to burn anything else? No, just that. It's actually starting to spread. Would you mind? Put it out? Yeah. I don't know how.

What are you talking about? Your monkey, wait, what? The tavern's starting to burn. Oh, wait, wait, wait, wait! I just started to do this stuff. The blanket, putting it out. It takes you a few minutes. I saved you some, and I'll open the jacket jacket and there's some pieces of good wood in there.

That's very thoughtful, Frida. Well, you reconciled. I feel myself struck by inspiration tonight. This one has your name on it. I'll put it in my harness. Took him a really long time to make anything for us. I just waited. He said he was going to do it, and he just didn't for a really long time.

You don't rush shit, Imogen. 666 gold each. Oh, that's a nice honor. 666. Here, you take mine out. Really? Oh my god. I'm keeping mine. Uh-oh. Why not? What if you get hungry?

Someone gives me some. Okay. Well, come on, Imogen. On Frida. No. On Mister Infern. On Chetney, on Deanna. What?

On myself, we'll watch it burn to the bottom of the citadel, to the top of the wall. To the sweat drop stand. Oh! Oh my god! Yes! Yes! Yes!

Yes! Not where we're supposed to go! As you all scoot, scoot, scoot your way down the Augur Trail. Oh no! Your brief venture here at the heavily damaged Dian O'Toi Emporium, you begin to trek deeper, deeper within the mountain

to your noonday gathering with the king and queen of the diarchy of Uthodurn. We'll pick up there next week. Oh! Oh! Yes! Yes! This episode releases in December.

Yes. If only. Woo-hoo! Oh. Oh yeah. You and your school of fun. Okay, let's do it let's go awesome

that was fun pick up here next week thank you all for joining us we love you very much and is it Thursday yet? goodnight thank you for listening

to Critical Role we hope you enjoyed that exciting adventure and want to come back for more. If you did, well then please leave a rating and review wherever you stream the Critical Role Podcast Network. Word of mouth is the best form of advertising, and maybe your experience will encourage another listener our way. Well, see you next time.