Critical Role - C3E55 Hope Within History

Episode Date: April 20, 2023

Bells Hells' Team Wildemount meets with the King and Queen of Uthodurn, where insight on Ludinus Da'leth reveals a new focus and destination for the group... Due to the improv nature of Critical Role and other RPG content on our channels, some themes and situations that occur in-game may be difficult for some to handle. If certain episodes or scenes become uncomfortable, we strongly suggest taking a break or skipping that particular episode.Your health and well-being is important to us and Psycom has a great list of international mental health resources, in case it’s useful: http://bit.ly/PsycomResources Watch Critical Role Campaign 3 live Thursdays at 7pm PT on https://twitch.tv/criticalrole and https://youtube.com/criticalrole. To join our live and moderated community chat, watch the broadcast on our Twitch channel. 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

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

Hello everyone, and welcome to tonight's episode of Critical Role, where a bunch of us nerdy-ass voice actors sit around and play Dungeons & Dragons. We're the Dungeons & Dragons! Do it. Do it. Hi, H-Tai. Yeah. Before we jump into our episode tonight, we do have some announcements to get through, beginning with our sponsors tonight, The Void. Thank you for being there in the late nights

while I'm trying to sleep. That's all. Marisha, Sam, you got an announcement to make? Yes, we do. The first three episodes of Mitzzed are out now. Wherever you get your podcasts, you can also get Mitzzed. We hope you have been enjoying this incredible storytelling in this ongoing fourth wall breaking, reality bending, science fantasy, space western,

audio series filled with unreliable narrators and performed for the enjoyment of your mind's eyes and your head's ears. Wow. Wow. It's really cool, go listen. And if you're itching for more, paid subscribers can enjoy the first five episodes on Mitzt.co.

You can also get to check out all of the cool artifacts, the appendices, and the artwork that relates to each episode for an even deeper look at this otherworldly frontier. New episodes are available every Wednesday. If you've listened. Every Wednesday. If you've listened, congratulations.

If you haven't, go check it out. Go check it out. Okay. Midst. Wednesday. It's haven't, go check it out. Go check it out! Midst. Wednesday! It's the Midst all of the week. Oh, you ruined it. You ruined it! I hate it.

Grisha. You guys, I can't believe it's here. Yay! Creator Clash! Oh man! It's going down! It's going down! It's going down! It's going down! Boom! This Saturday! I've been training for six months, almost nonstop. Look at those guns!

Basically, my other guns. Don't show the guns! That's secret! Oh, that's right. She hasn't been doing anything. Don't show them the thunder and the lightning. Don't show them a jab grunt. No! Show him the flash and the horizon.

Yeah, it's fucking this Saturday, which is bonkers, and I'm a little excited and terrified all at the same time. Are you ready? We'll find out. I want confidence from you, Ray! Yeah, I'm ready! Yeah, Saturday is April 15th. I'm still on this one bullet point. I haven't moved past it. It's taking place at the Amelie Stadium in Tampa, which is where the Tampa Bay Lightning plays, you guys. It's fucking awesome. I am facing off against the lovely Hayley Sharp, aka at Yodeling Hayley. She's so sweet.

Bye-bye! I'm sure she's very lovely, or she was. This is for charity. It's for charity! I'm sure she's very lovely, or she was. This is for charity. This is for charity. The charity is for charity. No, she's pretty tough. We saw her fight last year, and she's coming to reclaim that.

She's got scraps. She's scrappy. She's, yeah. I'll let Ashley speak for me. Not scrappy like our babe. As they were saying, this is a charity boxing event, and I am so fucking stoked and proud that the Critical Role Foundation

will be one of several organizations that this event and the proceeds will be going towards this year. So fuck yes. Tickets can still be purchased at thecreatorclash.com. That's both for last minute stadium seat tickets or for the pay-per-view. Pay-per-view!

All for a good cause. You're going to be on pay-per-view fight. You're doing a pay-per-view fight! Blood in the water. It's going to be good. Some of these videos we've seen, my god, I'm always like, I'll be the victim. There are victims in boxing? Yeah.

There are. No, Marisha, no! I feel you. Well, speaking of the event horizon, because, Travis, I know you know the Latin. Ex in feries, I think. There you go. I believe that concludes our announcements. Let's go ahead and jump into tonight's episode of Unlocked. 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 Hold your breath and roll How do you wanna 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 Ye 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 chances hold your breath and roll it's Thursday night all ye critters come join us

it's time to continue our play there is magic and mystery from darkness our friendship will rise when 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, SAM and LAURA say goodbye.

And welcome back. So last we left off, half of Bell's Hells had encountered two new allies, some with ancient histories and some with more ancient histories. But upon searching for means of reaching out to the other half of your unknown troop, magic is changing.

Ancient enchantments seem to have been undone and a bit of disarray is beginning to unravel, even here within the town of Uthodurn, when the flock alps. Upon searching around for answers, you happened to save a lot of members of the town from one such enchantment that held a petrified forest spirit

from the Veth'lyl Forest. And upon doing so, was granted an audience to come with the king and queen of the diarchy here of Uthodurn. In the interim time, you rested for the evening here at Dana's house, enjoyed a fine breakfast, and went to drop by D&O's Toy Emporium, where you had found yourself radically and rapidly hired to deal with other such bits of chaos

that seemed to have gotten free within the toy store. You battled some of these firebugs within and the strangely mutated, terrifying, what's the word I'm looking for? The mascot of the Torrenporium, which had now become a terrifying arachnid-type creature. You did battle with it in the upper region of the toy store,

turned it back into its baby form for about an hour, quickly ran out into the snow and Chalice. Time to die. Left it to be dealt with by the glass blades as you rushed back in. Since then, you reconvened and had a bit of a somewhat conversation of closure with Uldgar,

of which you had previously seen when you stabbed him in the hand and fled from Uthodurn many years ago, sending him on his way to bring the joy of his toys to children around Exandria. Now, nearing the midday here in the subterranean depths of the dwarf and elvish city of Uthodurn, I just realized you have a shrine. Yes, I got to cleanse my die.

Y'all were here the last time when I was rolling, right? Oh, this is a good one. So I went and bought crystals. So if everyone could just reach a hand. A hand? Yeah, everyone reach a hand out. Just send out some good vibes real quick. Thank you so much. We got to roll above a three today.

Let's do it. Okay, thank you. Ah, bless the Lord. Oh no! Do you know what that means? No wishes. I took all the power for myself. Yeah. Damn it!

Not again! Ooh, it smells like candles now. Oh, candle wax. I love it. That brings back memories. Chetty did the temperature play. That was great. That was good. That was good. I'm going to practice.

All right. Do you know what you just secretly told us? Ooh. Oh. Versailles? Only Ashley knows. You're done with us. Tell us, in fact. Well, what is it you wish to do?

Oh, what time is it? Midday. Mid, that's when we're supposed to go. I thought it was in the afternoon. It's at 12 noon. It's at noon, 12 noon. God, listen, my memory's fading in my later years. We should hurry. Within the hour or so,

it's somewhere between 11 and noon, you'd guess. Well, not even guess, by looking at the clockwork that you have, it's pushing just past 11 noon, you'd guess. Well, not even guess, by looking at the clockwork that you have, it's pushing just past 11. We don't want to be late, meet my royalty. Or is there, what if we're late, it's like a power play. Ooh. Do we have to bring something?

A gift, an offering? What? Oh. A present? A house present. Like, I don't know. Well, I don't know. I don't know what the rules are around here. I've never met a king or queen. They need to give us a gift. We took care of their problem.

What do we need to show up with anything for? Well, I know, but isn't it polite to just bring something to, I don't know. I'll work on something on the way. Take out the very nice block of wood that Frida gave. I think that would be enough. Working like a goddamn CNC machine over here, just mind your business.

I'm just going to press a digitation, all of us, as we're going, so I can clean us up. Thank you very much. Yeah, do it now. At least we won't smell bad. Fair enough. Have you ever met Dicky McGraw? Okay.

I think I've only ever seen him in parades before. Mm-hmm. And they rule together? Yeah. How do they resolve disputes? Talking? Isn't that your whole thing? Well, I know, but I mean,

I've counseled quite a few married couples, and there's many times when they don't get along and they go to bed angry, which is fine and normal, and everyone works through their problems, but when your problems could lead to war with a rival nation or something, that could be very, very difficult. They must be emotionally healthy.

Maybe the sex is on point. I don't know if it's that kind of union. Oh. But my analysis of their union is that it's their differences that make them stronger together. Wow. Seems like words to live by. Or they don't consummate their meals?

I'm not sure that they do. They might. Looks like they have. Oh. I don't know, if you just say vibe, you can catch. When you see them, they've banked it out. You know? Yeah. The way they look at each other,

or there's body language? It's like a body language, when you're physically comfortable in a space with someone. You can tell that? Yeah, can't you? Well, then how come you all seem so awkward together? Now, there's banged it out,

and then there's, you know, too much. Yeah, plus 200 years on top of that, you know? Yeah. Yeah. It's like a re-banging it out needs to happen. What? What? Huh? What? Where would you? I'm so sorry. Oh god, it's so loud in this hallway.

We weren't talking about it. Huh! Huh! Wow, there's some, I'm just learning a lot about body language right now. Body language, tension. I'm trying to work, stop distracting me. Where did you get candy from? Would you like one?

Oh. Oh. Actual candy. Thank you. These two adorable dwarven children, one with this deeply smooth brown skin and these bright brown eyes and short black hair and this even a bit of chin scruff for a young boy, but the dwarves, they kick in early. And this little popper-looking girl

with fiery red hair, an olive complexion behind him, and they're both wearing, not ragged clothing, but definitely they look like they've been adventuring for the good part of the morning, lean out from one of the nearby crooks and look over, and the little girl blinks and ducks behind him while the boy steps forward.

Were you the ones with the bull. The bull? Yeah. Yes. Told you. And they just run off. Oh! No, what? Oh, okay. Well, all right.

That was fun. Yeah. You know what I was thinking about, though? The bull had been, what, petrified, right? That's how it was stuck where it was? Yeah. And the magic loss is what released it. So what if Rin, what if Rin got released as well?

Oh, that's true. Yeah. Armless. Very good point. Wait, did we knock off her arms? We didn't knock off anything. A giant automaton being piloted crushed a wall that fell on her. But it was sort of a group plan.

I think you were alone in the automaton when it happened. All responsibility. Yeah, I was trying to rescue everyone. I had good intentions. FCG de-armed a plane rider. Oh. Yeah. I don't know what a plane rider is-armed a plane rider. Oh. Yep. I don't know what a plane rider is. It's a person.

You took someone's arms off. Not intentionally. Just one arm. But you saved the rest of them, right? I don't know that I did, actually. Okay, well, I was trying to find a win here. You don't know. Half of our party is dead. Yeah, no, we don't.

There's certainly one. I was pretty ineffective in the fight, but to be fair. No! Every single one of us was completely ineffective in that fight. I really felt that, too. Yeah, you were instrumental, FCG, I have to say. Still, I feel guilty.

I hope that Planerider Rin is all right. I'm sure they are. I hope they can still ride planes without being able to, you know. I'm sure they are. I hope they can still ride planes without being able to, you know. I'm sure they can. Can it be reattached somehow through healing powers? I mean, if people can bring others back to life, I'm sure that people can regrow arms, right?

No, that's where you draw the line. You can't regrow an arm. I don't know. We should get going. Yeah. Oh yeah, the Ogre. I don't know. We should get going. Yeah. Oh yeah, the king and queen. We're walking. We're talking. Okay. Following the central Ogre trail southward,

past the current disk, through the liver disk, down to the grand disk itself beneath. Now in much better shape than you had previously seen it. Much of the destruction beyond the initial gates seems to have been rapidly repaired, and you can see actively some of the low-level guild mages within the city are in the process of mending some of the nearby damage and stone shaping

some of the things that need to be further reinforced to return to their previous grandeur. As you step into the neighborhood, you can see some of the soldiers in glass blades immediately go to see who you are, just to check to make sure people aren't wandering through the space, especially the space of a recent event, but a day before,

and immediately recognize you stepping forward and step back a bit, give a nod. You see there is one particular soldier who looks like they were wounded, you recognize as the one that you would talk to, who is against the door, who is standing up now with a light bandage and looks like they've undergone some serious thing. They step forward and she glances at the rest of you and goes, I just wanted to say thank you again. You're welcome. They didn't let you get one whole day off?

You almost died. Oh, I was able to get most of it healed, and I wanted to help with the recovery efforts. I'm not doing anything too strenuous, but, you know, trying to put in work where I can. I'm going to cast a first-level cure wounds on her. Sure, go ahead and roll. Help her out. Please, guys, be good now.

What's a d8? Oh god. Oh no. Oh no, I'm fixing to put down. Turned into d9s. Okay, 10 points. 10 points. You reach out and tell her, and she first assumes, as you whisper, just a simple prayer, and as soon as you touch him, the warm glow

moves towards the end of your fingers and into her chest. She pulls away for a second, taking him back, unexpecting this small bit of divinity, and smiles, and as he stands a little bit taller, thank you again. Anyway, good luck to you all. What's your name?

Aswell. Jorina. Jorina. Jorina. You're very brave. Thank you. And you helped us just as much as we helped you yesterday, so thank you. Oh, I couldn't help but disagree, but I appreciate the sentiment.

Yeah, she just laid there the whole time, but you were healing. Yeah, no, I mean, you're not wrong. It's okay, it's okay. Anyway, goes off and wanders back to the rest room. She's the same. Continuing now through the less tense walk through the central neighborhood here,

rounding the left-hand slowly descending rotation in the corner on the auger trail to where you can see once more the Citadel. Now already, many of the sustained damage and the toppled pillars and bits of the archway that lead towards the stair entrance up into the massive, crystalline funnel of the structure are pretty much completely repaired. Once again, a few other guild mages in the process of taking a break or actively mending it. And it has a bustling atmosphere of half construction site and half a place

of politically-centric business having to carry on in the interim. So as you begin to approach, some of the Sentinel guards step forward and look upon you all and nod. You've been expected. And they step aside. This is nice.

One of them lowers his spear right across the front of you, Chetney, and goes, Who are you? Oh, that's right. Oh, sorry, I'm the bursar for this group. I keep records and all monetary funds. I'm just here to make sure that their accounts are accounted for.

He was also helping on the day. He just got separated from the group. He was injured. Okay, make a deception check with advantage just because of that. I'm just, I'm just kidding. No, I know, but I'm going to do it anyway. 27.

You're funny. All right, come on in. Pulls a spear up and steps to the side. Oh, thank you. I was injured by the bones. You ascend the steps up into the Citadel once more. The lack of stillness doesn't pull away from the sound of the echoing footsteps

against the continuously widening halls and winding stairways that go further up into the numerous hallways that the interior of the Citadel contains. But you know precisely the direction it travels since that was where you had previously, nearly, or briefly got into a scuffle. You step up the second flight of stairs

past the first central entryway. The damaged double doors that were left ajar and partially crumbled have been repaired and affixed to the sides and are partially open. You can see there are a number of the sentinels that wear the royal attire with the dirn who step aside as you begin to enter. And as you enter the chamber, you can see the pillars have been refixed. There is still some repair being done on the side. Elements of the room, it's incomplete. It's been less than a day, really.

But rapid repairs for the time given, and it seems that the majority of what damage could have transpired has been prevented, thankfully. But they're in the middle of a discussion and one of the Sentinel guards steps forward and puts a hand out and says, Just a few moments.

They need to finish a current convocation with a guest, just if you wouldn't mind waiting. Liam, I have a question about the space that I've been thinking about since we were in here last. Is the arcane energy amplified in this place? Is the magic stronger in the Citadel, within the Citadel or within the palace itself? Make an arcana check.

Okay. I mean, I saw you arcana, but... 13. 13. You don't gather anything that gives you the impression that the arcana is stronger here, necessarily. You can see that where previously you came in here, there were a number of lanterns and light sources

that were disenchanted, like the rest of the city. It looks like they've swapped those out or managed to repair them to some degree. You're uncertain, but it is better lit than you previously remember, mostly cleaned up. And the room still, it is a grand chamber. You cannot help but feel like this is the place where the center of government would sit

with honor and pride, but no sense of any enhanced arcana necessarily. Okay. So anything you wish to discuss before you approach or the time comes? What do we want? I mean, I know that's a broad question and everyone has to answer it individually for themselves,

but if we get a reward for helping these folks, I mean, I don't care about money. What could help us and what could help our situation right now? And you, too, also. What is it that you hope to get out of this? To help you find your friends. Well, I mean, that's very nice of you,

but you must have your own goals, too. We were quite happy. I mean, we would like to help you all find your friends. It would make us very happy to do so. I think it's like an information share. If they know anything from cities or realms beyond here in Wildemount, since we weren't here before we were all of a sudden,

and then maybe if they know of any means of communication saved for the royal family, or like a means of teleportation or transportation? I don't know. Maybe they do know some druids. Maybe they can transport via plants or something. That's a great idea. And Fearne, what do you want?

I don't know yet. Because you haven't seen the room? Yeah. You've been in there once, what do you mean? Well, I was a little distracted. Multitask. No, I would like to find a way somehow to contact our friends, so.

I just want to make sure they're okay. Can we ask that you not try to steal anything while in plain view of the king and queen? That's the best time to do it. Oh. It ain't even going to be you, okay. We'll see, we'll see, we'll see. I probably will.

If you're going to. Yeah. Let me know beforehand and I'll create a distraction. Oh great. Thank you so much. You're very welcome. This is a true friend. They really are. What about you, FCG? Any ideas, requests, needs, desires?

Oh, no, I just hope that our friends here are taken care of, maybe for the rest of their lives. Thank you. Good sponsorships. Sponsorships? You were talking about sponsorships. Everyone in here has been like, do you need, what does that mean?

I don't know. Do we have to say stuff? Do I have to wear a, sponsor buy a toy shop? I don't understand how you can even be sponsored by a toy shop. Maybe you have to do a couple social posts. What, I have to write something on the billboard? On the billboard.

Yeah, parchment-nated. Yeah, you just nail it on. Hashtag ass. Like a decal on me? Or on the jacket that I can wear for whatever business? She will not sell you that jacket. Yes. We should get the, is that still not repaired yet business? We will not sell you that jacket. Yes. We should get that. Is that still not repaired yet?

No, we need to get this repaired. That's one thing we could ask the king and queen for. It's about this moment that you see there's a troop of two bodyguard figures and one very well-dressed older male dwarf on the rotund side in long purple velvet robes with golden red inlay, gems encrusting every finger ring.

You can see a number of rings with gems encrusted and woven into his beard as he walks past with a bit of importance with a nose in the air. And just steps out of the chamber as one of the guards turns and goes, You're being summoned by the king and queen. That was the prior person they were meeting? Who is that?

That's so fancy. We don't have anything in our beards. You're being called. Oh, it's all right. Okay, sure. Do we recognize, any chance we recognize the guy coming out? The guy was exiting.

Make a history check. Please, guys, be good now. So good. Good night, folks, I'm good. Sure. Four. I don't even. I'm good. Sure. Fjord! I don't even know where I am right now. You do not recognize him.

In the time that you've been with the Durner, in the time that you've worked here, this individual, you gather by their attire, that they work or live in a space that is a little removed from your experiences in the city. Wow. They wear that elite air well. Okay. is a little removed from your experiences in the city. They wear that elite air well. Okay. Take a thing out of his beard.

She's on it. God, I want you so bad. They're walking past. I cast Guidance. Excuse me. Oh my god. We were so close. Excuse me. As the Sentinelinels like... Sorry, one second.

Instigator. One of the bodyguards turns and puts a hand on the side of the sword, looking towards you, and you hear the voice go, Don't worry. I can't help myself but listen to the voice of a fine lass who requests my opinion. He's a great problem lad!

Oh. Oh, what is your name? Lord Decevon Kamash. Lord Decevon. What are you the lord of? Would you like to know more? Absolutely, I will. He puts his arm out.

Oh, are we leaving? Fearne, we got to meet the king and queen. I have to go meet the king and queen, but if you wanted to wait, you can. Look at this glorious beard. Just going to give him a little. Oh boy. He seems, I mean, he's looking up at you

because you tower over his dwarven form, and he shivers a bit as you run your fingers through his beard and goes, I've not quite encountered a fae as majestic as yourself, lass. Do you want me to tell you a joke? Please. Where does the king keep his armies? I don't know where does the king keep his armies? I don't know where does the king keep his armies, Larsen.

In his sleevies. I'm going to try to take it. I'm going to try to take one of his weird ranks. He goes, it's bad. It's a bad joke, but. Oh, I get it. It's armies. Armies. Arms in the sleevies. Sorry, I'm used to being surrounded by folks who,

their senses of humor are a bit aloof. Oh, how sad. Mine's very fully present. Wait, why were you here? I had business to attend. Things have been a bit crazy. Right, right, right. All right.

Well, maybe I'll see you around, Lord Decival. Very well, hopefully so. Yeep. All right, make a slight edge. Let's go! This'll be it. Bodyguards are watching you like a hawk. Oh god. You got this, though, and you do have Guidance.

Okay. Plus 54. Come on. This is the most important thing in the world. Okay. That would be a 26. Oh! Yeah! Natural six and a natural four

for both him and his bodyguards. Even with their very high perception bonus, you are smooth, you are quick. You have to give it a little scritch and pull something from his beard, wrestling it into your fingers. One of the rings comes free and you just pop it. Great, great.

Bye-bye. You can just pop it. Great. Great. You're mine! You just put it on. You just flaunt it! It's a little loose. It'll go under your thumb, probably comfortably. As you put it on, you can feel it has a number of gems embedded within it. It is a very, very nice ring.

I'm going to try to see if I can grow a beard, and then I'm going to put it on there. Amazing! You're being summoned. The guards come in. We have it again. Of course. As you ascend the steps up to the central dais and the second steps that lead up to the dual thrones that greet you at the top, you can see before you

the king and queen. The queen, Simone Furnast. You can see she's the dwarven daughter of the previous queen, Judessa Furnast. She is as beautiful as she looks, also stern and attentive and in control. She has a nice chiseled square jaw with nice rose cheeks.

A smile that looks, at first, focused, like she's pensive, and then upon your approach, it turns into this bright warmth as her dark brown hair itself is tumbled in these heavy curls and she wears the crown underneath. The toppling of her hair goes over the top of the crown

as it wraps into and is woven into her hair. Beautiful long robes that go beyond her legs and pool around the base of the high back throne. She stands with her hands crossed, gives a nod to her left. King Imethon Talviel. You see this elder elf male with long white hair that seems to go almost to his waist, going past his shoulders and his back, where it has a bounce and a curl at the end. It's parted in the center where his crown presents itself upward, a golden shape that looks like trees growing, like branches curling upward for about three inches before they spread

to the top. His eyes are beautiful, deep emerald green. He sits within this long, deep blue robe with silver trim on it, a few rings in his hands that sit on the edge of his throne. He nods as well as you approach. As the guards step to the side and remain attentive to your presence, the queen puts a hand up towards the rest of you. Hello, friends. Thank you for joining us this day.

After all it was you and your doing the day before that saved many lives within the great city you stand in. Now, some of you, I can assume, are from town? Right here, right here. All right, so not all outsiders. Very good, very good. And what's your name, Marth? Oh, Deanna Limmard.

Your eminence. Ah. Oh, the honor is ours, Deanna. You've done a great service for our people and shown in times of tumultuous uncertainty that those who stand up and put their strength to the protection of those who cannot defend themselves, that is where the heart of Uthodurn lies.

And through your display of heroism, you will never quite know how many you've inspired in the days, weeks, and years to come to do the same. So on behalf of Irifying City, I thank you. I'm not sure if we're supposed to bow or not. Yeah, a curtsy. Theodosia's doing it to cover for the fact that she is deeply out of breath. 15-foot, 15 speed.

Slash steps. The Elven king leans forward with a warm smile that curls across his face. 15 speed. It's lost steps. It's lost steps. SAM and LAURA, inaudible The Elven King leans forward with a warm smile that curls across his face and says, It is with our particular appreciation that you have answered to our summons and arrived here on this day. We wish to, one,

thank you for the recollection of the Gracious Beasts and return to its direction of its homestead. You shall be decreed the five, six. He was there, too. He was there the whole time. Oh! The six of you will be decreed as protectors of the diarchy.

Wow. Protectors of the diarchy. Afforded respect and access throughout the city. Granted a reward for your duties and a modest ask of the diarchy. Subject to capability, we are ever mindful of abuses of power and appreciate humility in our heroes. Mm-hmm. Of course. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

In the way that they've been speaking so far, standing, do I detect any body language between them? Get on it. Let's go. Please, could I assist him in the body language? Yeah, roll an insight check. Yes! I want to roll a two. I really want to know.

Yeah, you can have advantage. I rolled a four. Insight, 25. Inside 25. Goddamn. Oh, Whisper! Oh, Whisper, we all want to know. This Whisper. Are you writing in Elvish?

This Whisper is brought to you by The Mighty Night Box Set. It's now available for pre-order. Find these and many more Critical Role miniatures at whizkids.io slash CRminis and your local game store. Hey, hey, nice job, AJ. At your local game store. Way to step up.

I'm proud of you. I pick up the slide, yeah. I just focus really hard, trying to read anything. Okay. I don't mind me. I don't really under, I don't know what I'm looking for, but I also don't know what I'm talking about. Talk of body language, and so I am watching FCG

to see if there's any body language that might indicate that he might like me. We wanted to send you, we wanted to make you. Make an insight check. Oh wait, you're trying to insight me? Yeah. To learn what you learned? To see if I'm liking what I'm seeing?

Yeah. 10. Okay. It's hard to read. This is all new to you. Just staring intently. Your Graces, we wanted to greet you with a gift. A token of the creature that was wooed

and that did escape, and I'll produce a pretty fucking impressively carved bull, very much like the one that rampaged through the town. I'll take a knee. Takes it from you, glances over it with a nod of appreciation. This was a great beast, and hopefully one day, once more, we'll be again.

I thank you as indeed this. The reason for us having it here I thank you as indeed this. The reason for us having it here is a keepsake and memory of where many of us came from. This was one of many spirits of the Veth'lyl Forest that looked over us and the surroundings. We considered guardians of all of the Elves of Molaesmyr. And it was with the loss of our great city centuries ago that we also lost our protectors.

We found the beast in that state, frozen by some ill-fated magic. And we felt that after all the years it protected us, the least we could do is protect it. And so it was here in our throne room that it remained when the people of Uthodon took us refugees in and the diarchy was born. So we had hoped there would be a lack of need

to assault, restrain, or be it send to the next, beyond such a beast. And your deeds have indeed seen that it could thrive in its return. So I and all the survivors of the fall of Millaeus Myr, thank you. Your Highness, are there more protectors here in the city or nearby? In the city, no.

There may be more within what is now known as the Savalirwood. Our beautiful forest is no more and has been corrupted for centuries since. Indeed, I do hope that the Great Beast finds someplace new, a fane that it could bind itself to of health, or should it find other wayward spirits, may perhaps push back some of the corruption

and begin the slow process of reclaiming what was once a beautiful, thriving, living realm. Maybe other guardians were released at the same time. I certainly hope so. Indeed, it has been a strange time for... magic. So you know about the Applebee's Soul Cycle? No, she didn't. Yes!

Long may it rain. Forevermore. Sorry, you just blue screened me there for a second. That's the only thing I'm, that's my time. Time to go, thank you. I'm going to... Thank you. Okay, okay, okay. Crawl, bleed out of that.

Holy shit. Indeed, we've been quite vigilant as a number of our glass blades and a number of mercenaries under our employ have been keeping a keen eye on local dangers and threats that may emerge at such specific times. It is not the first we've been through, though it has seemingly been one of them all.

Ardruis, looking over to the queen, goes, Aye, something about this particular Aperjus Solstice doesn't sit right. We've not seen it have such a profound effect on many of the enchantments within and beyond our city. We've been completely cut off from all of our magical means of communication with allies from beyond. And indeed, some of our more powerful magics have been undone.

You see this look of sadness in her eyes. Many of our fallen in the events of the day before, in which it would be not a terrible right to bring back from the brief thread, it seems that such magics at the moment are... Wait, what? I can't remember. It's not inaccessible. No.

Really? Oh my god. We've looked for guidance on this, but some of the temples themselves seem a bit, the king goes, spooked. So we are reaching out to all of our friends as soon as possible. We've sent our most esteemed practitioners of the arcane arts abroad to gather information

and return once they feel they have something of sizable response. What is their means of travel? Yeah, how have you sent them? These are the ones who are capable of transporting themselves, teleportation, translocation. They can do that? They can teleport? As far as I know, they've vanished.

They've not returned. Have you heard from them? You haven't heard from any of them? Not yet. There's no way to communicate if they... Is anyone left here who can still teleport? have not returned. Have you heard from them? You haven't heard from any of them? Not yet. There's no way to communicate if they... Is anyone left here who can still teleport or use some sort of transportation with plants or whatever?

They both look at each other and the pain goes, Anyone with the capability to do so has been sent away in hopes that we gain some sorts of anchor. We're in the dark out here. No answers, and growing unrest and a very spooked populace. So at the moment, no. But many of them should be returning

within the next week or so. If they were unable to find anything or ran into problems, they were told to return within a week or more. Elbow chat. Ask, ask. Oh, um. Ask what?

Oh, to get a hitch a ride when they get back. Your Majesty, King Talviel, we would be most grateful if, I'm doing my best. We'd be most grateful if. You can beseech the queen as well, if you'd like. grateful if, I'm doing my best, would be most grateful if. You can beseech the queen as well, if you'd like. Yes, your majesty, queen!

Full last. The queen gives a nod. Fucking 10 out of 10. We would be most appreciative if any of those avenues of transportation or communication upon learning of their success were made available to us. We should tell them, right?

I think so. We were on the continent of Marquet during the Apogee Solstice, and we were very close to the event that may have caused all of this. Both of their brows furrow immediately and there's a almost mirrored on both sides to lean forward from their thrones in your direction

as they give you an odd look, like a huh. For sure. Yeah, if they're doing the same motion, that that means anything. Yeah, they're doing the same motion, but I just feel like whatever Chetney's about to say is probably the most exciting thing that's happened to them in years. You can bang badly, but still bang.

All right, all right. We stopped by the Vellum's steeple to look for some research into a member of the Cerberus Assembly, Ludinus Deleuth. We were hoping to... The king sits back in his throne a bit. Insight check. Yeah, insight check.

Ooh, detect thoughts. Did the queen sit back at the same time? Ha! No, she did not. Does the queen make an eye as a Chetney or anything? Ooh! I mean, some things you don't need to roll for, baby. All right, so we have a lot of insight checks

happening here, so. I just want a surface thought on Ludinus. On Ludinus? On him thinking about Ludinus. Yes, I just want to see. Okay. Instant, hmm. The surface thoughts you glean from him is

recognition, kind of accessing old memories, and just a bit of... Hmm. Kind of like a, of course. That's as much as, that's as best as you can get from a surface read. Like a... 30.

Whoa! What? How? What? How? I have a plus 13 for insight and rolled a 17. Why are you always enrolling for insight? Incredible! You have a plus 13 insight? and rolled a 17. Why are you always enrolling for insight? Incredible! You have a plus 13 insight? How do you have that many? Well, I would read a Whisper add here,

but I think she already done did it. Yep, yep. But did she do it well? She did. Okay. Good. All right. I love Ashley. After she gets a successful Whisper,

everything just locks down. Yep. I do nothing! Fault. Poker face. Because I don't have a poker face when I try. Mm. I have to put it away.

I got a 20, do I get a whisper? I'm kidding. Unfortunately, no. Nothing beyond what you even just gleaned at the surface, Thans. We put in an order, a request at the Vellum's Temple. If that could be rushed, expedited, we would be most grateful.

Also, if I may, on a personal note, I personally have been around since the late 500s. I don't think that compares in any way to your grace, On a personal note, I personally have been around since the late 500s. I don't think that compares in any way to your grace, but Malay is mere... I was around when all of that happened. I think we'd be very interested to learn anything you could tell us about the corruption

at the now Savalierwood. But what happened? So as the heroes of this, of Savalirwood. But what happened? So as the heroes of this, you are requesting transportation via magical means when it's available, as well as information on Molaesmyr and expedition of your requests at the Velum Steeple. Yeah, that's fair.

Sure. And maybe also's fair. Sure. And maybe also a change of clothes. Like, you know, just maybe a gift certificate around the discs. The queen chuckles for a minute. If you'd like that, that can be arranged. Thank you. Now's the time, man.

Throw it on. You watch as she gives a nod and sees somebody nearby. One of the lower-level chamberlain scribes begins to draw up paperwork and is in the process of putting together some documentation for you. Bagels for a year. That's right. Oh, I do that. Okay.

I don't know, if your personal royal tailor has a free slot, that would be good. Oh snap. Something custom? Yeah, just like a thing. What's a repair? It's a repair-freetest jacket. It's really just a repair-free-ness jacket. Yeah, that too.

I have many. Trevor Drown. That's not rude. Trevor Drown's pretty great. Sorry about that. Lick it. Lick it. I mean, that's what we call them. No, Drake Licks. Drake's Licks.

Drake's Licks. Oh no. Your Highness, this is probably low on the totem pole, considering what's going on, but there's a gentleman in your city who is committing fraud and taking advantage of his workers

and potentially children, and we discover- At the mention of children, you see both of them grip the edge of their thrones, and she leads, Are you, who is this? I believe his name was Dricklix. He owns, or he's co-owner, soon to be majority owner, of D&O Toys'n'Program.

I believe I know who you're talking about. He's not a good man. Olgar was Sweden. Yes. He didn't know about it. Well, if you have any means of proving these accusations, we can go ahead and have some of our High Magisters look at them and see if this individual can be put to proper just, oh.

Oh, you have it right here, okay. A helif guard or something. They do, and they pass it off. They're like, we'll look over this in due time. Appreciate that information, as such a deed does not go unpunished in this hierarchy. That's very important. I feel like we should let them know

that Ludinus is behind the lack of magic. I think you just did. I could have said that mentally. Sure, sure, sure. Oh, but the Apogee Solstice, it's a pride. I know. Your Honor, King. Your Honor.

How do you know Ludinus? How do you know Ludinus? Ludinus was one of the handful of powerful mages that lived in Molaesmyr. That's not good. Oh. One of the notable practitioners who, upon its destruction, when the surviving members of our people were scattered, fled southward into Wyandere

and has since forgotten his Elvish roots and was one of the founders of the Cerberus Assembly, if I recall. Yes, he was one of the- Talks like a duck and talks like a duck. It's a duck. He preferred to avoid politics in his time there and would stay hidden within his Guildhollow Tower,

focused on his, well, on the past, mostly. Well, rudeness is, I think, one of the main reasons that the magic is failing this particular solstice. Hmm. He sits back a bit and crosses his hands in his lap and his face gets a bit dark. He was always deeply set on his own research. Cared little for the needs of the people

or granting his ever-growing skills and gifts to the aid of others. Continuously sought the nature of the gods and ordered historical relics. They carried an odd, hidden animosity that none of us really trusted. And I think he knew that distrust well, so he kept to himself.

He had a habit of loudly debating the great priest of the city in the middle of those sermons. Ooh. Ooh. Many of the pious leaders and priesthood meant to be limited to our resources, supporting his work, and so he did. And he isolated within his homestead and became a bit of a recluse, which was fine by most. We didn't mind not seeing his face around

and left little impact in our day-to-day society. If you can remember, your highness, did he disappear before or after the tragic events in the forest? I remember it like it was yesterday. It was a terrible tragedy. It was a cataclysm without warning from beneath the city. The city was founded on a powerful natural magic font,

a deep-set well of power which we were in the process of trying to understand. Many researchers were delving and continued to find caverns that went deeper and deeper with each additional step. We were hoping to learn the essence of this, and I believe this is where this cataclysm was unleashed. Fire. This was a wonderful city,

one that defied the Hundred Year Fire following the Calamity. It was there in the Lothil where the stone and wood took shape and the Laeismere was given beautiful form. You see this look in his eyes, like he's recalling fond, gentle memories. It was our finest, the Grand Conservateur, Armand Twestral,

may he rest in peace, that was spearheading this very endeavor to understand the source of the magic. Much was promised to come to light, and it was under the red light of the reddy moon that a terrible storm of toxic shadow engulfed the city, engulfing the many in a mercy while others were warped. Changed. The forest changed with it, ever corrupted to this day,

and our unspeakable home, now a curse and a memory. The arcanist's name that you mentioned, I'm sorry, could you mention it? Grand Conservator Aramond Tuestrel. Does that sound familiar to any of us? It kind of does, but Tu'estral archivist. Eremond? Eremond, yes.

Your Highness, are any of his writings in the Vellum steeple? Terrestrial. Are any of his writings or anything that he may have been working on available? Unfortunately, anything that would have been adhered to his research would still lie within the ruins of Melaeus Mere,

if it hasn't already been picked clean by looters, mercenaries, and other ne'er-do-wells. We do send, at least the Velen Mistyple has been many, many years spearheading endeavors by hired mercenaries, ranged troops, many... many individuals have been sent over the years into the ruins of Belaeus Myr to gather and reclaim

what of our history we can, but it's quite dangerous. Well, maybe now that magic is different, it won't be as dangerous. Or more. Like some of the traps, maybe. That's possible. Detrap. That is indeed possible. It's a bit fresh to know on our side,

perhaps when the next round of rangers go about. How far, just out of curiosity, how far a trek would it be if someone wanted to go kind go snoop around in there? The king goes, Well, half the journey will have to bring you either across the Alps or down the base of it in the Rhine Plains, over the mountains

and Rhine Plains route before you even get to the outskirts of the forest by horses, about four days, by goat over the mountains, three, and then through the forest about another three or four days, or only two and a half if you take the river. What about underneath the city? I got it. You caught the wagon floating, it's like a week.

Got it. Take I-40. Not that far, unfortunately. You've got 20 minutes off the drive. Take the toll roads. Did the fall of Malaes Myr happen during another apogee solstice? Anthony Coldmas, I think. Oh, okay, I'm so sorry.

Everyone keeps saying it so fast. The king thinks back in... Because it happened a lot, right? It happened once every little over 100 years, 130 years, give or take. Deanna doesn't know that. What's time? What's time? The king goes, It may have, actually.

Their frequency is... It tends to fluctuate. I'm not a specialist in that regard, but I do believe it was. He's done this before. The king? Ludinus. Ludinus. Wow.

I don't know what you might do with this information, but Ludinus was hands-on with a contraption that was taking aim at the red moon that you mentioned, Ruidus. And I think his machinations have something to do with bringing down, wait for it, the gods. We don't know what effects it's had or if that affects your business at all,

but if you speak with other dignitaries or such, I would rather you be informed with this information. I don't know how quickly it'll reach your ears. The queen goes, Do you know if he succeeded? We don't. In a moment where we were trying to stop him, we were there on the continent of Marquet

and then we found ourselves to the west of Uthodurn. It seemed, though, that he was on the verge of success and we weren't able to stop it. We were able to maybe lessen his reach. One of the local court members, you can see this berobed figure, an older dwarf woman with thicker glasses and her hair pulled into two side buns

that rest on her shoulders, steps forward and goes, My queen, we have confirmed that indeed this solstice seems to be continuous. It should have ended a day before, but it seems the ley lines still flicker and we've not seen the red moon in the sky since. The moon. It's, by all accounts, perpetual. Oh ho ho ho. He has the moon tethered to a location in Marquet.

The moon sits back and the queen also sits back in her throne. Well, that's disconcerting. Feels like an understatement. That's, um, that's disconcerting. Feels like an understatement. So if Revivify is not working, isn't that a god thing? Yes, it is. Yeah. So if that's not there... Well, I think. But Deanna was able

to heal us. That is a difference. Some things are still working. Can, a couple questions, King Imuthyn, Queen Thimone. Do you? I'm a person, shit. Do you, can you tell us, just out of curiosity, we've heard that the Allhammer Temple

is one of the temples here. What other temples, what other gods are represented here around town? There's a Dawnfather's temple, too. Indeed, Dawnfather of Rathas. There's all manner of temples through the city, should you look around. Keep your eyes abound on the central nepotism,

the liberation and volition discs. You should, if you have an iron memory for divinity, you should be able to locate them. What about the Duskmaven? Matron of Ravens? Is there a temple? There is a matron temple as well, though not as largely represented here

perhaps as some other cities. That is a more recent addition, I believe. And I know that we already asked for quite a lot. The tailor, the gift certificate, the transport when it's available, that kind of stuff. But might we inquire if we could be outfitted with transportation to this Molaesmyr place in case we wanted to go? Goats!

They're faster over the mountain. You intend to travel to Molaesmyr? If we're able to, it seems like that's where this all started, and it seems like that's where. If our research leads us there, if the glory of Uther don't be supported by such effort. Because it's tasting like a little poof of wind today. But also maps and stuff might help us.

But it's true. If we could find something to give us insight into Ludinus' motivations or even weaknesses, if you have any information. Something that can help us stop him. Is there anyone still alive beside yourself that might have known him personally? There's not many.

Not within the city, at least. There are a handful at Baestil, to the southwest of here, north side of the Empire. Maybe some within the Velem's Steeple. They might be ones to ask about the dangers of Molaes Meir, since they maintain most of the studies surrounding it and send venturing interests there on occasion. I will also say, if you're looking to travel there, that

it definitely is across the Alps via goat, or if you wish to do the rammed plains via horse, there is the Odarkar Orc people of Barothkra who exist there as well, that if you wish to do the rammed planes via horse. There is the Odarkar Orc people of Borovkra who exist there as well, that if you tell them you are allied with the Diarchy of Uthodon, they will treat you as friends. However, once you've reawathed in the shadowed embrace of the Savalir Wood, threats grow exponentially.

Be mindful of raiders and the corrupt denizens of the wood. You would take care to traverse the woods on foot, should you be confident in the lightness of your steps. For a shorter journey, you could raft down the Boreal Omen River, but you are at the mercy of the rapids there, and whatever stalks the banks along the way.

But the ruins lie near the crossroads of the river, in the very heart of the Savalirwood. If we could provide them with a means of seeing where they're going, and one of them produces a map. A map! Yes! We produces a map. Oh, a map! Yay! We got a map, everybody!

You have to write questions. Oh shit! Good job! FCG. Easy as pie. Good job, Medoh. Two, three. Uh-oh. Help. Help. What is it?

Oh. Oh, a fairy pop-up. That's great. Flaming monkeys, flaming worm, monkey. I'm sure I'm a monkey. Flaming monkeys. Baby worms. Monkeys. I'm sure I want a monkey. There it is. Is this it? Graying Wildlands.

You will fall in love. This is... You will fall in love. It's somewhere, I'll find it later. I thought it was over with the rest of the maps, and it's not. Sending spells aren't working, but maybe just Scream Girl will be. That's all right.

That's good. That's all right. But provides a map for you for the Graying Wildlands. Where's the map? He just said he couldn't find it. I want it, though! Too bad. Interesting.

FCG, listen. Emotion wheel, bring it down a little. Sorry. I'll go up to FCG and put my hand on his shoulder. I will turn it to tired. Aw. Your Majesty, is there anything about the Savalir Wood

that you're not really mentioning? Not in a bad way, but just, seems like it's a sensitive subject. There's not anything that I'm holding back. I have not returned to this site since its destruction. Dang. As I've had people here to govern, and it's too dangerous for someone of my responsibilities to do so.

Of course. Most of the individuals at the Vellum's people have been spearheading those studies. So I wish I could offer more, but all I have are sorrowful memories of what once was. You know, the warm embrace of a lover could really put those at ease. Kind of gives you an odd look, goes.

In general. I'm long past such. Oh, does that go away? Do I say how my detect thoughts are? Chetney? You do. No. And you see a flash in his mind of a younger Elven man

and you see a flash in his mind that just passes through a younger elven man that just passes through with a sad remembrance. Do we all just take a moment for his love life? Yeah. Yeah, we do that. Regardless. Okay. If you indeed intend to take this journey

and are to return thereafter for your request of transportation once our mages or druidic specialists return, any relics you might find that would be of interest to the steeple or the diarchy, I'm certain will be paid for well. Of course, yes. Sure. Thank you.

What if they don't return? Is there a failsafe? Is there a backup plan? If the magic isn't working, and we know that, your highness, maybe they've poofed into somewhere they're not supposed to be. and we know that, your highness. Maybe they've poofed into somewhere they're not supposed to be. Indeed, and as a failsafe, we've sent scouting parties on foot

to a number of these same allies. Their travel is much more protracted. I will warn, however, the Savalirwood is to the north of Shadycreek Run. There are a number of untoward figures of power and illegal, dire practice within that city. And the Savalirwood is both a place of preference for them,

where they can hide within the shadows of which they crawl from, and where they can steal within the shadows of which they crawl from, and where they can steal and take as they please. It is a lawless expanse. They enjoy that space between civilization. So be warned who you trust out there. How long of a trek is it? Depending on the path you take, a little over a week.

Oh, and you said your people that can transport would be back within a week? The queen goes, a week or two. A week or two. Is what we're hoping. That was, if not sooner. Great. Well then, this will line up perfect, then. You said the clerics in this city, the Holy People, they're spooked?

I understand that, but forgive me, it just seems like now would be the perfect time to have them available to the people and to your highness and to those who are trying to help. The queen can answer. I will reach out and pro-offer then the recommendation. However, in spaces of worship, we try not to delve and push too deep, just as they try to not involve with the politics

of our people as much. But we will meaningfully reach out. I think the people need them now more than ever. I am inclined to agree. I'm not as faithful as I may have been in my youth, at least not for some time. But I would be lying if I didn't say recent days haven't made me feel a bit...

longing for outer comfort. Likewise, your highness. Um, my queen, do you have, is there a temple for the Wild Mother here? Not within the city. Oh. But there is a faint set of stairs that climb about a quarter mile

to the left of the main entrance. If with a keen eye, you should find it, and there is a shrine built atop the mountain to her there. Okay. You may find a handful of keepers that could help you if that's your interest. Oh, I'm not interested at all. It's just for a friend. Great.

Before we leave, I think Deanna's just going to step forward and pick a high light on the wall and cast just a little bit of a ray of sunlight that falls on the king and queen and just cast Bless on them. Well, the Dawnfather, he's still extant. Even if you don't feel him all the time, they're there. Thank you for protecting the city. Thank you for protecting it as well. And to that point, and she gives a slight clap, and you see a figure step forward with a small chest,

and the king goes, One of our sentinels who gave his life in the protection of many of us, the family has requested that his armament be passed on to you as a thanks and a means of keeping you safe in whatever journeys are ahead. And they step up front and lift it up

and begin to produce a beautiful set of half-plate armor. It is metal, so you're not entirely sure what kind, but it is very well made. It looks like it is strong, but light. The plates are thin, but intricately carved, and you can see there are dwarven edges, as well as elvish scrolling across, and bits of chain that connect between the two. It's not a full set, just mainly leg plates, the breastplate, pauldrons, and some arm guards, but the set is set down before you. What, is it just a light metal?

Is it just a light? It looks almost like a shiny platinum with gold designs around it. Looks tasty. No, don't. It's okay. Just, sorry, sorry. It looks like that would fit me perfectly. Oh yeah. It's okay. Just, sorry, sorry.

It looks like that would fit me perfectly. Oh yeah. It's perfect for your character. No, but it could be interesting. On FCG, I agree. Thank you so much. I'll grab it. Thank you for all you've done. And if indeed you take this journey

to many of our previous home, good luck. Stay safe above all else. And when you return, we look forward to hearing of your exploits. If you want to make an appointment, I live up on the Volition desk. Just let me know some free times for your tailor.

Thank you so much. Points over, and the person finishes writing and hands out documentation that waives any cost at the, specifically, Catelyn Delaffyn's Clothier. Oh my goodness. She's very good. Very good at that. She's so good.

Woo! Okay, let's go. Going to Milan, y'all. Thank you, bye! Yeah! With a drink? See ya. All right, you exit the Citadel, like glow and butterflies of the experience beginning to fade as you exit the Citadel. A glow and butterflies of the experience begin to fade as you exit the chamber

and exit the Citadel proper back into the Grand Disc and the city, and the future events are yours. What do you wish to do? Oh boy. Oh my gosh. Wow, that was so cool. Too much. The vellum steeple's down on this map. Is it on the disc above us? It is 1-0. Yeah, it's 1-0.

But so are most of the shibbity shops. So we can stop by the steeple and then... What about going to Jacoby's? I know, we do need to check on Jacoby's. Oh, yes, yes, yes. And then the tailors. Oh my god, we have so much to do. Should we split up?

Is Jacoby on the deliberation disc? Is he on the... I think he's on the volition desk. Frida and I could go see Jacoby while you all go to the tailor. Or do you want to all go to the soothsayer place? The Velum Steeple?

The Velum Steeple. We can just pick up records for that, but who's wearing the armor? I was serious. Oh, I will, can I cast Identify on it? Indeed you can. This is Mithril Halfplate plus one. Whoa! Let's go.

Mithril Halfplate what? Plus one. Use the campaign. There you go. She's gone. Dang. Yep. Does it come in emerald green? Not this one, it's largely gold and silver.

I will clash with your rose gold. Tastes really good, though. Better keep it tight over there. Can't have that. Can't have that. Well, we could stop by the steeple and just collect our things as we move up. Sure. Sure. Is steeple the first stop on the up?

It would be on the deliberation desk, so maybe we could, well, we were also going to ask him about the dangers of melasmir, so. Do you want to split up? Sure. Can I do an insight check on FCG? That was a very specific split up.

He's paying a lot of attention to my friend, and I don't know how I feel about that yet. Okay, make an insight check. You can make a persuasion or deception check. Don't worry, I rolled a two on the dice. What if I rolled a one? You don't know. You're going to know. I did. I did not.

I rolled higher. Hard to read. All right. All right, so the both of you are heading up towards? I think, well, it's up to all of us. Sure. This is a democracy. Sure. Go ahead. Just to be efficient, we have to go to the Vellum Steeple.

At least Frida and I have to go see Jacoby. Mm-hmm. And then. I got to cut open Drixledge. Sure. Mm-hmm. There's clothes to buy. There's goats to pick up. Yep.

That's all in the way of the goats and everything. It's all up at the top. Are we going off today, or are we going to take a day off? Are we really going to the Savalir Woods? Just like, we're just going. I don't know. The faster we leave, the faster we get back.

What do we do in this town? There's nothing to do here. We're just sitting here. Okay, that's a little rude, but not inaccurate. I think maybe if you have something to do, you won't fret as much. And also we could- We all seem a bit stressed.

We are a little tightly wound. Yeah. Hey! We could also stop by the Duskmaven, Maid of Ravens temple and see. They were also focused on that particular deity over by the key, right? That is true.

So I just wanted to see if maybe it cracked or something. I don't know. Maybe there's some... Maybe the matron had some sort of immunity to it. That's dumb, but why would they agree to worship a deity that they knew was about to be devoured? What was different about her than the others? Do you know what her domain is?

What she is the deity of? Death, I believe. Come on, make up. You can't just do that. Please, no. Make a history or a religion check. Two. Two. Just what do I know about? Please, no! Make a religion check. To? To just, what do I know about,

like, is it common knowledge that the Matron of Ravens is a ascended mortal? I think it's common knowledge of people of moderate to high schooling. So the average commoner probably just knows there is the god of death. And those who've attended some level of higher learning would probably have had to learn about it

at some point in history. You can make a history check yourself. History or religion, your choice. I would love, if it's okay with all of you, I'd like to speak with Deanna privately just for a moment. Dine! You want to sleep with Ted? No, no, I just mean I'm fucking with him.

I've never known a thing, and we're good leaving it there. Yeah. I've never had a thought. No, you just know, these places are creepy. Do you just want to put it over here? I don't. Do you want to borrow one? I don't want to make yours bad.

You just, you keep using it. They're all bad. They're all bad. We're just looking for something above a ten, you know? Yeah, I would love to know what that's like. She was saying you wanted to talk to Deanna privately? Yeah, I'll just pull Deanna to the side. Deanna, I know our new friends are stressed, but I know you, and are you okay? Oh, I'm great. I'm doing so good. This is good and not stressful. This is a lot of commotion.

We haven't had this much commotion in a long time. Well, I feel like ever since Eiselcross, which was terrifying. Yes. Every new day has been more terrifying than the last. And you seem so cool about it. And I'm just trying to match your Jill, and I don't have it.

I do not have it in me. Can I share a secret with you? Yes, please. I don't know exactly if I'm feeling the exact feeling, but I think I have a crush on Betsy. I knew it, I knew I felt something. I didn't even know I... I could. Oh my god, that's so...

But the other night in my room, we got very close. Ah! Yeah, it was special. Oh my god, I'm so happy. I'm so happy to just immediately hug you. So, that's wonderful. You're not mad at me? I could never be mad at you. I'm sorry. I just immediately hug you. So, that's wonderful. You're not mad at me. I could never be mad at you. Not for anything.

Okay, because it's not like I'm trying to replace you. No! Or anything like that. It's just, it's different with him. I mean, it's, he understands me in a way that I've never been understood. And I've had all these questions in my head. Why am I here? What am I? And now there's someone that is a reflection of me. And I think I can help him. Yeah. And you should.

Okay, and you're okay? I love you with my whole heart, of course. I love you with my entire core. Whatever you need. And okay, I might be a little melodramatic right now. Don't cry or I'm going to oil. No, I'm not crying. This is a normal reaction to meeting royalty.

If anything happens, I wear Helping Them, but you're so, you're so good at this. And if something happens, and maybe you have a chance to go on a different adventure, just know that you can never disappoint me or make me mad or sad or I can't. Just follow your heart. We only get the one life.

Unless you're me. Okay? I don't want to leave you. I know. But the world's different now. And you'll never really leave me. Okay. And that's... It's a lot.

I just wanted to... I'm holding space, if that's the conversation we need to have later. But you can broach it. You can tell me anything. I just hug you. Don't. Okay. Don't say anything to him. but you can broach it. You can tell me anything. I just hug you. Okay.

Don't say anything to him. No, not at all. But if he does anything mean to you, I'm gonna blast his little ass all the way back to the change bringer. You feel me? I feel you. He breaks your heart, I break his neck. Hey, for the record,

Mr. Pocketpiece a good man. Oh. I think he's moved on. Have you seen Fearne? Have you seen the way he looks at you? Oh. Different conversation, different time. Okay, good talk to you. Good talk, good talk. I love you. I love you.

Oh, oh, oh. Fresh-cut grass. Ah! Where were you? Sorry. If you need a traveling buddy, I'm your traveling buddy. Oh! Great. Is that okay with everybody?

If we just sort of go off to Dacomys? D Jackabees is super boring, we can go do anything else. It's not true. Yeah, if you want to go to Jackabees and we go to the Vellum's Teapel, do you want to meet back at Deanna's or maybe at Catlin's? Catlin's. Sure. I would say we can just message you, but I don't know if we can.

I don't know. There's clocks everywhere in here. Let's use time. Oh, that's a great idea. Sure. Everyone's got two hours. Two hours at? 4 p.m. At Catlin's.

Yes. Okay, great. Cool. You got it. All righty. So going to Jacobi's, where are the rest of you going? The Vellum's Depot. Okay. Let's go ahead and jump to the Vellum's Depot first. So going to Jacobi's, where are the rest of you going? The Vellum's Depot. Okay. Let's go ahead and jump to the Vellum's Depot first.

Okay. So you go ahead and return to the familiar halls of the Vellum's Depot from the day before. They're continuing the business as they were. It still seems very closed off. It's less open, but as you enter the front door, it is not locked at the very least, and it takes you a while to be helped by a clerk.

But in that interim, you do manage to get face time once again with the Scribewarden, Restia, who you've spoken previously, who returns with her pompadour still a bit disheveled from the day's work before she quaffs it back and reenters the chamber. Hello again. I assume you're here to collect your requested research, yes?

Yes, as newly minted protectors of the diarchy. Yep. Excuse me? Yeah, we're here from the King and Queen. Yeah, did we get anything to flash? Like little medallions? You have a decree, like a sealed decree. Yeah.

Ooh, we got to go in the cockpit. Yeah. Well, oh, I'd heard the event yesterday in the street. I didn't realize that was you. Oh, excuse my brusqueness. The day before, I didn't realize I was in the presence of heroes. That's really nice.

You could be nice to anyone. Okay. Regardless, goes through this long stack of papers and leather-bound collections of vellum and notes. They pull one off. It's this thin little bound book about that big with a bunch of papers of different sizes and textures that are all woven in, stitched into a singular book, handed over.

This is a dossier on Lurinus Delef. Wow. Wow. Thanks, and just put it on Imothyn's tab. Thank you. Do you have any information on the Savalir Wood, and particularly Molaesmyr? The fall of Molaesmyr? Fall of Molaesmyr. The fall of Molaesmyr? The fall of Molaesmyr.

We have quite a bit, yes. Why do you ask? Do you do anything in particular? I believe we're going to be traveling there shortly. Yes, the king and queen mentioned that there might be some in the Steeple that were from there or have ranger experience in expeditions in that area,

could provide some insight on what to look out for? I'll be right back. The person you should speak with, I believe, is here today. Oh! She leaves the chamber. She's much nicer now. A short time later, you see an elven male enter the chamber alongside her.

A very dour-looking male elf. Short, dirty blonde hair with what looks to be a bit of a chin strap beard that comes to a fine, almost goatee-like point at the bottom, no mustache. I don't know how else to put it. He looks like Troy Baker. That's a handsome ass elf.

He's just, he's stern and skinny and just walks in, strikes a pose almost as he stands. Wearing travel leathers in here. You have your hair done. Yeah. Have you been working out? Gives you a stern look. Wearing travel leathers in here. You have your hair done. Yeah. Have you been working out?

Gives you a stern look. This is Chief Auditor Kinash Saravoldin, who is one of the researchers of the woodset auditors who specialize in the Savalirwood. I believe you can take it from here. She leaves the chamber, he goes, So I'm told you're going to the Salvalirwood? That's correct, Chief Auditor Kanash Sarataldin. Sarahbaldin.

Are you sure? Uh-oh. Sarahvaldin? Sarahvaldin. Damn it! Got it! Kanash is the first name? Kanash?

Keenash. Keenash. Crosses his thumbs and leans into the back wall. It's like Kanash. Like Kanosh. Is there a vibe here? What's going on? We are. Well, it feels that way.

We seek details about the fall of Molaesmyr. Hit me with that wave. Yeah, I got you. Fall of Molaesmyr, and any insight it might provide on current events. I give Fearne some wind, too, just because it looks good on her. Oh, it does. Oh shit, look at that. Everyone's so windy.

I give a little to Imogen. Y'all get some. We're all just four, like. It's so breezy in here. The need. It's crying out right now. It's growing out of my mouth. It's so cold. All right, well, you certainly look like

the kind of folks who are a motley crew. All right. Do you like that about us? I don't know. What's your experience wandering into those dangerous places in Exandria? We're fresh back from Eiselcross, baby. I've seen some shit.

All right, all right, all right. We weren't in Eiselcross. She's out like a swine. All of us together. All of us were there. I think it's working. The woods are heavily cursed. The very nature of the nature itself seems to be hungry, consuming.

All the natural denizens of a once beautiful place are now themselves swollen with dark magic. They tend to shift, mutate. The line between beings sometimes blurs. The shadows seem to move on their own, speaking into your mind. Yet even the nature of the dark curse that lays there seems to be fluid. Some creatures that were the biggest dangers

but a hundred years ago have not been seen since, and new dangers continue to rise from the darkness every few months. It's always a mix up, so. Kind of hard to know what you're getting into. Are they weak to anything? Other than gruff charm, I guess? I mean, shades and shadows tend to dislike sunlight,

and there are many, many, many ghosts that wander that wood. Cool take. I'm not worried. Let's go. Many have fallen there, many of our brethren, and they were not let the gift of passing beyond the Vale. Their spirits linger and have been corrupted by the curse that passing beyond the Vale. Their spirits linger and have been corrupted by the curse that presides, so.

Oh. Hungry souls wander those woods. Shit. So if you die there, that's where you stay? Well, if you die now, there's no bringing anybody back, so. Yeah, Duskmaidenship. The ruins themselves have been largely reclaimed by the woods as well.

Most of the abode's homesteads and the majority of the structures of Molaesmyr have been reintegrated. And from what we've been able to gather, the source of this corruption seems to dig from deep beneath the city where the, well, some of the final research was attempted before it broke free. Was Malaise Myr on a lay line?

Was Malaise Myr on a lay line? Nice. That was the word they said, right? Yeah. That thing we all know about. Kind of like, because I don't rightfully know, actually. It's a little beyond my learning and experience. When I get back, I'll learn you.

I got to go. I'm done, I'm done. I tapped out. Somebody horny on me. I know, I know. I was trying to match it in. Do we know if the fall of Malaesmyr happened during a solstice? I believe so. I wasn't around for it, but.

That was what the king said. Yeah. During the solstice. It was one of the events that helped reinforce the name Moonavill Omen. Great. What did you say? The Moonavill Omen. Oh, okay.

I heard one name, Moon of a Moon. That's a good name. That's my cousin, actually. Popular baby names of 2024. Moon of a Moon. Moon of a Lomen. Right behind Tinnitus. Number three in Uthodurn. Popular baby names of 2024. Movable Omen. Right behind Tinnitus. Number three in Uthodur.

Just under Liam. Himmothin. Thank you, this will prove, I'm sure, very helpful. Anything else we can think of? Very helpful. Anything else we can think of? Lutinous Deleuth, the Fall of Molaesmyr, the Savalirwood, the corruption, weaknesses. Yep.

Any information on God Eaters? Can't say a thing. Insight check. Yeah, that was weird. Make an inside check. That was a weird reaction. Thank you. That's north of a 10, baby! It was just that die. It's okay, we're going to be okay.

What's a d4 look like? Preparing. Who could have said? Plus nine, 29. Ooh! Yeah! What the heck is going on? Whispers for you, girls! So many whispers tonight. Let's go! I don't know what to talk about, guys. Mitzt, it's a podcast.

It's out right now. You should go listen to it or watch it. You can listen or watch it. Wait, what about me? And also, Aabria's beanie brought to you tonight by my wife, Queen Trim. Hey, Queen! She knitted that.

It works with her hair color, too. It's on brand. On brand. And Travis's beanie, knitted by Adidas. Thank you, Q. It's so comfy. Are you seriously taking this journey, then? Seems like it. We're going to get some new threads first, because if you're going to go, you've got to go in style. Oh yeah, is there anything you would recommend?

As soon as you say that, he leans back a little bit to show off his very well-tailored leather armor. Oh shit. With a nice scarf and everything. Oh yeah. Well, I mean, if you're looking for the best functional and stylish threads here in Uthodurn, Catelyn's is the way to go, if you can afford it.

We can afford her. We are protectors of the city, little boy. Go, go on, get it. She's excited, she's excited. We had a big day. I think this not-very-little-boy will get, thank you very much. Any recommendation of gear or things we need for? You like this! You like this!

He leaves the room with a bit of a huff. What? He's got no game. None. He didn't know anything extra. He's just a weird little guy that survived. How thick is the packet on lewdness? Is it a book or is it thin? It's thin. God!

All right, well, it's something. It's something. Just ask his corpse later. We can start making our way up to Catelyn's and I guess we can just read and peruse the... Yeah, and just to give you a little bit of overview, most of it is threadbare in the sense that there just isn't a lot recorded about his history.

He seems to be rather aloof and his public-facing persona really emerges with the Cerberus Assembly, specifically what's called the Eve of Crimson Midnight, which was an event within the Dwendalian Empire around the time that the Jeweless Dominion still existed. And many of the various noble mages between the two factions essentially began to wage war in the middle of the city.

A number of innocents were hurt and killed, and Ludinus was considered one of the heroes who stopped the assault and through that, used that event to get the king of the Empire at the time to approve the creation of the Cerberus Assembly with him as the head. He did it. He started it. This? Midnight.

It's all red. It's all moon shit. It does talk about his time as one of the lower council members of Molaesmyr. He was respected, if endured, at times. He began a very forthright and functioning member of society and then as time went on, he began to become frustrating for some people.

There was tension with him and the various temples and those of worshipping aesthetic, as you could call it. He largely spent most of his time within the Guild Hollow Tower, which it says was in the northwestern side of the city.

It talks about a lot of the things he's done as part of the Service Assembly, a lot of the laws that he's helped enact, the creation of the Assembly, all the different mages that have come in and out of the structure through the years. It talks about the various conflicts that he's helmed, including being one of the main figures who helped with the completion of the dissolution of the Jullius Dominion and absorption of it into

the Durnalian Empire. It also speaks of how he was recently lauded as helping end the war of ash and light between the Empire and the Kryn Dynasty almost a decade or so before. What a hero. The northwest part of the city of Malaya is married to the Guild of what tower? The Guild Hollow Tower. Guild Hollow Tower. It's only the third time you've mentioned it.

Yeah, his title is the Archmage of Domestic Protections of the Nendalian Empire. He has helmed Imperial tactics during all major large-scale conflicts the Empire has had since the creation of the Assembly. But his presence in public life and politics is very demure, even to this day. Most people who discuss him publicly

say of all the Assembly members, he seems to be one of the more pleasant. Hmm. Yeah, I bet. He seems nice. he seems to be one of the more pleasant. Hmm. Yeah, I bet. He seems nice. I always talk to him, so that's what I'm saying. Ludah! They do also note, apparently,

he immigrated from Issylra originally to Melaeus Myr. It was not his homestead. What the fuck? Issylra? You know, like the first city. Yeah, he's ancient. How, does it say how old they think he is? No, they say when he came to Molaesmyr,

which is where, it says he came to Molaesmyr from a town called Ivedel. Damn, he's dying right now. And from Issylra, an elvish community, but was, seemed to be a young elf from Issylra who came to Molaes Myr to study and stayed there for a number of centuries

before its destruction. Yeah. At least we'll be able to bring up old shit if we see him again. Say again? We'll be able to bring up some old shit, throw receipts. Oh, yeah. We'll get inside that armor, you know,

if we can reach him. I got hands on him, did you know? What? What does that mean? I got my claws into him, I wrapped him up, and his bitch ass threw me over my shoulder and onto a spike, I impaled. He's a handy, handy old ass elf. But you're fine?

It sucked, I'm not going to lie. Okay. Yeah, but. Don't do that again. Round two's Okay. Yeah, but round two's coming. Yeah, get his ass. That's right. I'm like, what's up, Crimson Midnight? That's right. I got your Gil Hallowed Tower here.

Yeah. There was something better there that I didn't quite. We'll workshop it. We'll workshop it. Yeah. Okay. All right, while you're gathering to your next venture, the two of you, as you head upward to the Volition Disk, you're leading FCG to the abode of you're leading FCG to the abode of

Jacobey Lawson. Of Jacobey, all righty. So, passing through the different districts, back up to the Volition Disk, there is a portion of the city not too far from the Topper Mines, which are this massive mining organization that is set multiple times in the city,

but its base operations is here at the top, or at least its original base operations, where it does most of its business and paperwork out of is now here, but its mining operations have scattered a bit. But there's a number of workshop areas and shopyards where building industry and materials and large cranes and things that are used to expand and build the slow expansion of the city reside when they're not in use. And through one of these small districts, there is a rough-shod neighborhood of shacks

and simple abodes, and one particular place that you recognize is the modest home and homestead of Jacoby Mesil. As we walk, I'm just going to look everywhere but at Frida. And I think I'm pointing out different places, like over there, the top of mine, a bit of bartering, and I get a bit of those precious metals

if I want to taste something different. Oh, yeah, yeah. Sometimes you get bored of copper, right? Yes, and ruby is exquisite. I mean, it's a bit of a problem if you eat it in front of people, because they value it, but it tastes good. Yeah, I haven't gotten a chance to really taste a lot.

We, traveling with Bell's Hells, we don't, you know, most of the money we spend or give away, but I don't really get a chance to taste a lot of different things. Wow, look at us, just a couple of bots, just walking along and just looking at stuff and just having a little stroll and a day. Yeah.

This is Jacobey's. Oh, we're there already. Yeah, yeah. Oh. I was, I was... Yeah, we're here. Looking at the abode, you can see it's, it looks like a nice cottage

that has some distinct burn marks on the exterior that have since been shoddily painted over, but you can still see where the color transition from the thicker paint goes to thinner and where it definitely could use a little bit of love. Also behind that is a large, looks like a storage warehouse that the cottage is glued to or stapled to, it looks like.

This isn't a focus on aesthetics as much as it is function. You can see there's two windows that face the front and the domed, almost half-circle doorway that sits at the front with another tiny window in it with cross-set iron bars in the front, but all of them have curtains covering. You can feel a dull light from the interior.

You don't have to go in right away if you're not ready. Oh, no, I definitely want to meet this fellow and get some upgrades and stuff. I just wanted to say thanks for helping us out for the last couple days and being so open and generous with your showing us around. And I don't know, I just feel like it's a rare thing to meet someone like me, like you, and I just,

I'm happy to know you. Like us. Yeah, like us. I feel like I've been so focused on figuring out who I am for the past several months that I haven't really been open to letting someone else get to know me or letting someone else in, I suppose. And it seems like you knew me right from the moment

we started talking. I hope it's not too much to say, but I feel very similarly. You knew me right from the moment we started talking. I hope it's not too much to say, but I feel very similarly. Yeah? If I'm being honest, I've been very angry for a long time about why I was brought back. But meeting Deanna and all of you, I think, and you, I think maybe it's not a bad thing.

Maybe I'm given an opportunity to make a new friend and discover more about myself because I'm discovering more about you. It's almost like we get another shot at living, but I don't know, we get to do whatever we want this time. And it's wonderful to see, I don't know, how you've been going about it. You've got such a confidence and a...

I don't know. I think I wasn't... I think I wasn't afraid of anything, because I'd already sort of imagined the worse, but I was wrong, and I think that the worse would be something happening to Deanna, and now you. You and Deanna are special to each other? Yes, yes, I love her very much.

It's not... No, it's fine, it's, you know, that's your person. No, I don't have a person. I don't have a person. Well, she's a person in my life, yes, but she's not my person. Do you have a person? I had a person. Oh. No, but I don't, I mean, I tried to kill her.

Do you do that often? Good cue, good cue. No, not very often, but it has been known to happen. I didn't kill her. I did kill her pussy,. I didn't kill her. I did kill her pussy, but I did not kill her. Oh god damn, Sam. Okay.

That was another automaton that she had. Oh. Oh, okay. Okay, okay. But no, I don't, the people in my life right now are my friends. You've met some of them. There's others.

What? I have no special person. I don't mean to be too forward, but if I was I don't mean to be too forward, but if I was your special person, would you try and kill me? Of course not. No, of course not. In fact, I think knowing that I had someone would probably make me a little more calm in general. I'm not. In fact, I think knowing that I had someone

would probably make me a little more calm in general. But, you know, we got stuff to do, so we should probably just go do it, right? I'll lean in quickly and kiss FCG. Ooh! Ah! Ooh! Ooh!

Motion wheel! Motion wheel! Yeah, we got motion wheel! Motion wheel! Motion wheel! First kiss! First kiss on Kevin! Is this the first kiss? It is on the cheek.

Oh, it's not a kiss! Yeah! No! It was a cheek kiss? It's just a cheek kiss. I'll give a turn over and meet more Lippie, if that's... Nice. There's no tongue!

There's no tongue. Matt, let him have his art. If my rose gold cheeks could blush, they would be blushed. Okay. With that, I'll just give you a knowing look and... Who is it? Your favorite Aeormaton.

Frida! The door opens up and there you see immediately a male gnome of brown and gray, a wild mat of hair up top that comes down to these two dangling sideburn tufts that are at the sides of his face. This round, bulbous nose and this bright smile, tiny beady dark eyes, who is wearing a standard button-up collared shirt rolled up past the elbows. You can see he has a little bit of dirt and grime on his arms. He goes,

Because I'm for a big hug. Oh, it's been a while. It's good to see you. Wow. Oh my goodness. Oh, you found another. My favorite Aeolotron. Whoa! Hi. He wipes his hands on his shirt, like like big old grease stains. I was like, I'm sorry. I wasn't expecting company. This is, I'm okay. Hi, I'm Jacoby Maisel. I'll shake their hand. I'm a smiley day to you.

I'm fresh cut grass. It's great to meet you. Fresh cut grass. The pleasure is all mine. Well, come in, come in, please, please. Sure, sure. I can say I put some tea on, but no, it's maybe not your thing.

Oh, same joke every time. I'll take it. I'll eat the kettle. I think I got an extra. Come on in. You step inside and it's a warm, welcoming hearth, as much as it is a half-hoarder's abode. There is junk everywhere.

Scavenged sections of clockwork and machinery and all manner of just odd minerals and materials and ingots of all different unique colors and shapes. It looks like he scavenges a lot. But he also lives in an industrial part of the city and, as you know, works often with the glass plates. So it's not like he's scavenging out of necessity, more out of curiosity.

And you can see, having been to Imahara Joe's place, there is a familiarity to a lot of the hanging chains with hooks and guiding grooves for a lot of the equipment that's used for hanging the numerous, what looks like sectional chassis of large excavation equipment and other unique things that are halfway cobbled and welded together that looks a little odd.

But it's familiar in that sense, though a unique and different interior. Runs over and goes, I give me just a minute. Ha, but it's familiar in that sense, though a unique and different interior. Runs over and goes, Give me just a minute! Ha, got it! Climbs up over one of the shelves and pulls down one banged up looking kettle and takes a hammer and

Oh, he was in trouble. He's doing it. Okay. Puts his foot into it and pulls it into two different parts and goes, All right, I'm just going to twists it and breaks it apart a little bit to where it begins to bend and just strip.

It looks almost like a fucked up metal fruit roll-up and goes, ah, there you go. Oh, wow. That's, thank you. Got some for the road, too. Oh, great. I'll just... Ah!

No! Oh, it's like a... It was! It's a different design. Almost like a trapdoor. It's terrifying. Chew! Chew! I didn't know they could unhinge. Tastes really great! A little rust.

That's what I hear. Makes it spicy. Frida, welcome, welcome. Fresh-cut grass, welcome. He goes against his kettle and starts putting water into it and. Frida, welcome, welcome. Fresh-cut grass, welcome. Oh, right, and goes against his kettle and starts putting water into it and starts setting up a flame, talking over his shoulder. So what can I do you for? What brings you back over to my place?

It's been a little bit. Well, my new friend is as in the dark as I was when I first came to you, and you helped me a bit, and we're wondering if you can help him out, maybe figure some things out. I know he wants legs. I mean, legs seems like a tall order,

but we're about to go on a journey, a possibly dangerous journey, and we were just given this, and I'll present the mithril armor. Oh, oh my goodness. This, where'd you get this? Oh, the king and the queen. Mm-hmm.

He's a protector. I need to get out more. Wow, that's, I don't, do you want to sell this to me? No, no, I was hoping that you could, if you're a skilled engineer, like Frida says. I like to think so. Well, yeah, maybe you could integrate

some of that metal into my design and re-outfit me a little bit. Let me take a look at you. Sure. If you don't mind. I don't at all. I'd be a little uncomfortable, as I have to suspend you, but. That's all right.

If it gets uncomfortable, I'll just hold Frida's hand. Okay, all right! Reaches over and grabs some of the chains, the hooks, brings them over and starts, you know, getting that familiar, slightly invasive hooking of the various chains. Begins to lift you up and you get risen about a foot or so off the ground.

Goes ahead and grabs a thick set of goggles and sets them in with multiple lenses that seem to click in and out, puts on heavy gloves, and begins to look about your chassis, your body, your design. He goes, I think I can work with this, yeah. Legs, you said? I mean, that seems like a lot.

I would take just a reskinning, maybe a little thicker arms. If legs can be done, that's awesome. My friend Fearne had this crazy idea where I could keep the wheel, but retract it. So legs sometimes and then wheel sometimes. That's a popping.

I don't know if that's possible. That might be too much. We only have an afternoon, so. I will say, I'm very intrigued at the opportunity to consider developing additional means of locomotion for an automaton of your historical esteem. I can't guarantee it would be functional,

and it may take me a number of days to try and cobble together such a possibility. Maybe we do that when we get back from the trip. Fresh Cut Grass is here with a group of friends. They have been tasked by the King and Queen to go to the Savalir Forest. Oh boy. I know you're very busy, Jacoby, but you are the best.

And I was wondering anything that you could expedite for my friend would be great. Okay, yeah. Okay, you're definitely going to want... I feel confidently that I could go ahead and apply this to your person. That would be plenty. Plenty. It'll take me a number of days to try and do the research

and trial and error on some possible extensions of your person. Yeah, yeah. Maybe you could do those while we're gone. But for today, maybe just the armor. Okay, I'll see what I can do. Thank you. All right, let me go ahead and,

if you wouldn't mind assisting me with some of this. Of course. All right, go ahead and pull that table over there, the wheels, and you drag it over, and it goes and lifts up this leather sheet, and you can see all these manner of tools, these wrenches and spanners and hooks. There's all these very unique industrial tools for tinkering.

Can I eat that one? Preferably not. That one had to be imported from Krakenhammer. But hang tight. I may have a little treat for you at the end of this. Okay. All right. Frida, when Jacoby opens me up and stuff, we just don't, just look at me in the eyes, you know,

I don't want you to like, we just met, so. Would you feel more comfortable with if I was? Oh god, no. No. Just horrifying. All right, to that point, goes ahead and reaches over and finds the side clamps and releases them

as the chassis opens up and your arms fold up. All the armor dislodges slightly and lifts up. Just to check, pulls the one on the front side of the face that you haven't had pulled, and your face plate lifts and comes up again. Oh yeah, just like you. Faithful caregiver. FCG. Huh. That's never happened before, right? My heart is so full. I'm fucking dying. All right. Let me go ahead and start getting this affixed. Locks in a bunch of lenses, gets the apron situated, and goes to work on carefully pulling apart

this enchanted mithril armor in a way that does not disrupt the enchantment and is able to bend and affix it to your aor-matan body. As you continue to work on this and you all begin to gather, let's go ahead and take a break. Oh!

Oh! What? I'm so good! I'm so good! I'm so good! Oh my goodness! Oh my goodness! That's the shit!

Let's go! Wait, so you didn't come up with it, that was you? You did the face? It's all Matt and my son. I think it was a combination of the two. I love it. I'm so good. Oh.

So take that break to consider what sort of outfits you want to pull from. Sitting here drawing shit over here like, what am I going to do? Oh my god, I'm really upset. I really am. Are you? Oh my god.

Zoot Zoot Tales. Honey, honey. We'll be back here in a few minutes. Oh man. Hello, Critters. This is Ashley Johnson, president of the Critical Role Foundation, our 501c3 nonprofit organization with a mission that might sound familiar. To leave the world better than we found it.

We partner with other nonprofits to raise funds supporting causes that mean a lot to us. And we allocate 10% of all donations to an emergency relief fund that allows us to provide immediate assistance in the case of natural disasters or other unexpected emergencies that require quick action. To learn more about the Critical Role Foundation and to donate, visit criticalrolefoundation.org. And welcome back. So, what are you up to? As you are getting fitted, we'll say you all are gathering at Catlin's, I believe, right? Any other business to be attended in the interim,

or are you all just ready to meet up there to? We can meet up. Actually, I try and find Imogen really quick as we're going to Catelyn's. Everything's been so crazy since all this started, and we've got all this info on lewdness, which maybe will help us, and maybe we'll learn a little bit more,

but we haven't even had a chance to ask you about your mom in all of this. I just realized she was there and then she was flying and I know we were kind of attacking from all angles and I know you were calling out to her, or at least I was sort of clocking that in the final moments of it all, but how are you feeling after all of that? It's hard to put into words. The entire time that I've had these dreams

and these abilities, I've heard her voice, and she's always been so comforting. She's always been the trigger, the thing that helps me remember I can run away from the storm. That I don't have to be enveloped by it, right? So it seems so strange that when it came down to it, she was fighting for it. It feels like something happened to her. And I kept trying to wake her up, you know, to who she used to be.

And I don't know if she's not there anymore. She really did help him, you know. She really did help make all of this happen. So maybe I shouldn't have been trying. You know, maybe I should've just fought her right from the beginning and then I could've helped stop it a little more. It's a hard thing, trying to face the one that brought you in to this world. I don't know if we I saw all of the, what were they called?

Red Laura. Rotten by Laura, Red Laura. Thank you. But people at the site, and I don't know if that meant everybody there got turned into it or if they're just gone, like the rest of us. If we do come across her again, just calling out areas of exposure, do you want us to do something? You also don't have to answer.

Just think about it. I know we had talked about it, but... if we're lucky enough to get another shot, Just think about it. I know we had talked about it, but... If we're lucky enough to get another shot, I don't want to miss the second time. I understand. If our friends are gone, if... If what happened...

If Lawdna and Orym and Ash are gone because of that, then yeah, let's take her down. Insight check. All right, make an insight check. You can make a persuasion or deception check and not say which, just tell me the number. 13. 13. Rollies? Rollies. Let's Rollies it.

Three. Oh, 16. She's hard to read. Fair enough. I'm sorry. You were put in the most horrible position of any of us. I think we're all put in a pretty terrible place from this. I'm not fighting my mom. Yeah. Let's go get some new fucking duds.

Treat yo self! Take our mind off it? Yeah. All right, while you head over towards Caitlyn's back in the abode of our fair tinkerer, Jacobey finishes some of his welding and clenching work on one of the sides of the plates. All righty, I think that'll do. I think that's...

What do you think, Frida? I think you look beautiful. You are an expert, Jack. No. Just to make sure to tell the supervisors at the Glassblades next time you pass them by that I am worth an upgrade on my income. I think we could mention that to the king and queen.

They might be able to take care of you. Yes. Okay. Well, I mean, yeah, by all means. You've been busy. Wow. I have one more question, if it's not too much. Yeah. My new friends are separated from their family, and I don't know much about how

clink clink, this works. Uh-huh. I was wondering, in your dealings with the Ormatons, is there a way that maybe you could utilize the arcane core to power other magic? Like a battery? I mean, that technically, depending on the enchantment, that's the nature of automaton life,

I would say, having met both of you. Others would say locomotion. But obviously there's more to it than that, with certain designs and creations. It's not like a general power source for all types of magic. The receptor needs to be designed to receive outside magical power, or certain enchantments may just be ready to receive based on properly applied conductor of such arcana. I have a couple of cables here that I'm not using, just in case you get curious. It runs to the back and pulls down off of this long, barrel-shaped pole that's wedged into the wall

where a bunch of different cables and metallic threads and stuff are laid over. It pulls down two of these. One of them's a little shorter. One's about a foot and a half long. The other is about four feet long and hands them over to you. They're with flexible metal. They look almost like the equivalent of a payphone cable.

Okay. For those of you who need to Google what that looks like, you'll know what it's like. Because I wither into dust immediately. Yeah. Yeah, that's a payphone. Yeah. What's that?

This is usually what's affixed to an interior arcane core for a number of large-scale automatons that are utilized for construction and moving and application of carrying of goods. So if you just go ahead and connect this to a core on one end and then apply it to a properly prepared enchantment, it might be able to transfer some of that power, but usually there are enchantments that are designed entirely

for that sort of reception. It's not a perfect science, and my knowledge of it extends to about there. Okay. I was just wondering if there was a way I could help them contact their friends using the core. That is not my specialty, unfortunately. I have talked to a better major cleric for that, I think.

I don't think there is one in this town, Jacobey. Oh, you are very for that, I think. I don't think there is one in this town, Jacobey. Oh, you are very sweet there, Frida, but no, I'm just a little cobbler of metal things. Well, you were fantastic. Oh god! No! Oh, hold on, hold on, hold on, I need to...

All right, I fixed it back on there. Thank you so much. Lower it down. Sorry about that. No, I'm sorry. I thought I had checked all the various points of entry. You're clamped down properly now and good to go. Okay, thank you. Oh wow, that was embarrassing.

I am so sorry. But the armor fits perfectly, or integrates perfectly, and thank you for the upgrade. I look okay? You look great. How do you feel? I feel a little bit lighter, a little bit more like my joints don't squeak as much.

I think I'll be a little bit stealthier by exactly one point. But without disbanding. That's what I meant, yes. That's great. Well, bring it in, Jacoby. Aw. Are we doing a group thing? Yeah, yeah, bring it in!

Come on in! Ooh! Must kill. Wait, wait, wait. What was that? Hi, Mom. I'll start sketching out some designs. I'll see what I can muster. For, for?

Yeah, for your. For hoofers? Yeah. No promises that this might be a larger project. Sure. I'll, come see me when you get back, I guess. So stay safe. We'll try. Oh, we always will.

Yeah. Good, good. All right. Thank you.. Oh, we always will. Yeah. Good, good. All right. Thank you. Thank you, Jack B. Any time, and pleasure to meet you, fresh cut grass. Do we pay? Do we pay you? Do we pay you? Oh, I think talking to the king and queen.

Okay, okay, you're good. My capability was more than enough payment for this endeavor, don't worry about it. Great, great, great, all right. The king and queen did insinuate that if we got back safely, we would be paid well, and I will come and find you and share some of that with you.

You deserve it. I wouldn't say no to a little scratch. Amen. Can we take some of this metal? Oh, from the, uh... Just for scrap, just for snacks. Well, I'll give you something that I don't intend to use. Thank you.

It pulls small bits of cobalt and a few elements of unique, odd-colored, imperfect metals and some alloys that are just found naturally in different magical sites and makes you a small care package of assorted chocolates. Aww. Puts them together and wraps it up.

It's like lingerie. Here you go. Thank you. Just to keep you company on the journey. Take care of yourself now. You too. All right. These are my favorite. They're a little salty. Letted or unleaded?

Letted. If I see Imogen and Chet veer off to have a private conversation, can I drop back and duck into the light above Sanctum as we cross it, going up to the motion disc? Yeah, yeah, you do. You can do that. So you, as they splinter off a bit,

you head over to the leftmost side of that district head over to the leftmost side of that district as you cross up into that region, and you come to this modest temple of the Dawnfather. It's an open-air, hollow, three-sided pyramid-like structure that has almost this archway opening on each side, and within the interior there is a large relief statue that is an impression of the Dawnfather, arms up in the air holding the mace. Where the head is, it's a glass brazier that contains flames that burn within

to mimic the bright star-like head of this entity, this deity. Within, you can see all manner of jewelry and chains and coins are placed into the nooks and crannies with the armor and the relief, and there are all manner of little messages and prayers that are left. You're very familiar with this site, though your visitation of it varies.

At the moment, there are a handful of people that are in there quietly praying. And it takes you a moment to look around before you see any of the Keepers present, until eventually you see Evadun Leeds, an older human gentleman, short gray hair, a bit of a short beard that's trimmed close to the face, dark skin against the gray hair and facial hair, and just a kind smile and eyes to him. But you see a nervousness about him, a furrowed brow,

and a vein that's popping on his forehead there as he currently goes to some of the people that are praying. He goes, My apologies, but currently prayer is relegated to the members of the Keepers at the moment within the temple, if you don't mind. Thank you. What is that? I'm just going to be in the back,

hopping up a little bit, trying to make herself not that subtly known. Oh. Hey. Excuse me. Pulls the curtains over to the front of the temple and enters in. Bea. Elder Leeds. Hi. Pleasure to see you in these extremely trying times.

What? What's going on? What were you saying about curtailing prayer? What? That's wild. We're, um... Make a persuasion check, actually. Make a what? Bless you! Of course it went away.

This sneeze brought you by seasonal allergies. So come outside and we'll stop praying with you. 17. 17's going to do. We've been talking with a few of the other temples of this district, and we're just trying to circle the wagons a little bit. You're yourself a bearer of the miracle

of some of our great deities. Have you noticed any change in your connection to the divine? No, no, no. Make a deception check. All right. 16. Oh, well, you're one of the lucky ones.

The rest of us have... You can see in his eyes, there's a genuine look of... You can only see it as his fear. I felt a connection to the Dawnfather my entire life. It's guided me through darkness time and time again. And while the blessings still seem to mostly be there, my communion has been severed.

Many of the high priests have been unable to unable to reach out to the ones who've chosen us. We sense they're still there, but they're just sort of, I don't know how else to put it, like they're turned away. I think maybe, maybe our sins are coming to roost. No, no, no, no, no. Why else would?

It's nothing we've done. Maybe our sins are coming to roost. No, no, no, no, no. Why else would... It's nothing we've done. What could... Fuck. Language. It's not that they're afraid. No, it's... They're afraid of something. That's what it feels like to me. Something's coming for them.

And I think in their fear, they've leaned away. I don't... There's something big happening right now in the world. And I heard from the king and queen that resurrection magic is off the table. A few rumors have come across my ears and I hope that they wouldn't be founded in truth. But if you heard this from the king and queen,

that is certainly deeply troubling. Yeah. Okay. This doesn't change much. We serve the people, and whether or not we have the gifts that they've granted us, we can do our job.

We could be a light. Are you okay? Is there anything you need? He looks over his shoulder, and the other Keeper, Keeper Tria is not present, and you see that he's taking solace in that present, that silent space with you. He goes,

What's gotten me through all the troubles of my life up to this point was the knowledge that I was never alone. And in these recent days, it's the first time I've ever felt alone. So no, I'm not doing well. And I'm not the only one. But... We push on, and he looks back up to the statue.

And I think, I think barring this evening gathering of the other priests, I will continue to push, as will the others, to keep our temples open. And in the spite of this uncomfortable period, you're right. There must still be that bastion of openness and goodwill.

To that end, and I'm going to pull out my 500 gold from the job and just press it into his hands. Dan, I don't know where you got this. You... I'm a hero. Do you remember that bowl? Yeah. I rode it. You serious?

Yeah, 100%. Would I lie to you? No. In here? My goodness, you are just ever a cavalcade of surprises, aren't you? I think the most important thing I'm learning now is even if you feel alone, you don't have to be.

There's always someone to reach toward. And if it's not the Dawnfather now, then it's the people out there. I'm going to step away for a little bit, as I want to do. But when I return, I'd like to help more. I think we'd all like to see your face around here a little more, too.

Okay. Before you go, he puts a hand on your shoulder and says, thank you. It's challenging when you've been the one people look to your entire life for comfort. Yeah. And it's, makes it difficult sometimes to reach out when you need it yourself.

Yeah. So. You're a good one, Dan. So are you, Leeds. Hm. I'll see you soon. Real soon, and we'll pay for many meals here in the temple.

Yeah, it was either that or I was going to spend it on a goddamn coat, and I just turn and walk out. You walk out, and as you do, he opens the curtains once more, and the people that were waiting outside look back, and he goes, come on, come on in. And they all start heading back inside the temple. So I hustle over to catch back inside the temple. Sweet.

All right, hustle over to catch up with the squad. Okay. Oh no, I'm poor again. Oh no! Oh, goodbye. All righty. You have my 500. I was hoping you'd give it back.

Yeah. You were supposed to say no, but it's fine, it's fine. This is what I wanted. Eventually, you all gather on the exterior of Catelyn's Clothier, a beautiful two-story boutique that you can see is built from deep. Seen apricot on your pitch?

So strong! Oh my god, I just melted. Come on! Oh god. Talk about allergies. Indeed. Smooth, tufted brick that has all been pressed into this beautiful bricked pattern,

porous from the exterior and the masonry itself, pristine and colorful. The dark gray to pale gray bricks that alternate throughout have a deep red coloration holding between all of them, giving this almost spooky exterior if it wasn't so well lit. All the windows themselves are barred with beautiful gold curtains that contrast from the interior. As you step through the main front doors, these heavy, dark, polished mahogany doors that swing open inside. Indeed, there is soft music playing, and it is well lit, as you can see,

all manner of racks and displays of beautiful, beautiful attire from all over Exandria represents itself. There are some individuals here helping some other customers that are wandering around. As you step in, Your unique-looking troop looks around with eager and awe-filled eyes. A voice around the corner goes,

Oh, I'm sorry, I don't think I've seen your types here before. Can we be of service to you in my clothing here? Oh my god, Calen. You see a female half-elf in her 40s or so, with this, I can only describe, like a Sally Jussie Raphael, like blonde, big, curled wave right there to the side.

Does she have red glasses? Uh-huh, got red glasses, but definitely that square shape to it. Very sharp, with almost a nice business blazer on. She's getting done. Immaculate makeup. So, I assume you're here for clothing, yes? Yes. Yes.

We were sent at the behest of King and Queen. Mm-hmm. And they, yes. We were sent at the behest of King and Queen. And they, yes. It does a snap and you see, what you didn't notice at this point, it's these two well-dressed, bounced-looking dwarves, gentlemen, that are like, sifted off the walls,

begin to step forward a bit. Perhaps this documentation would help. Oh shit, she was telling the truth. I've only ever been able to afford the accessories here. I'm about to lose my fucking mind. Emethyn and Simone, I'm sure, would be very glad to hear that you've welcomed us so warmly. She looks real close at the seal and looks at all of you.

Her whole energy went from like, hello, to like, get the fuck out of here, to like, what the fuck? Yep, takes the seal and brings it up to one of the candelabras that are alit within here and runs the seal across the flame and you watch the symbol glare with gold. Whoa. Dang.

There is a magical element to the wax seal on it that glitters. Looks like that magic's still working. I'll be damned. Well, my apologies for my extremely rude introduction. Not at all! The guy on the left, I would love a glass of champers. Yes!

That's not so bad. Big Dwarf goes like, looks over and says, Well, get her some champers, come on! Well, royal guests are a rare find indeed. It is an honor to have you here amongst my boutique. What can I help you with, and how quickly can we get you all in some of my clothing? You go, you go.

Me? No, please. I'm blacking out at this point, don't worry about me. Well, we have a royal business to attend to and adventuring needs that need to be fulfilled, but we will need to do so in style. Well, you happen to be in the right place as she plucks her finger in the air and you see a bunch of rolls of fabric just glitter and move on their own

and you now notice that she is an arcane-inclined crafter and designer of clothing. Does that mean you enchant your clothing as well? Oh, all of my clothing is enchanting. Oh! Yeah. But I'm not necessarily enchanted. I mean, I just created the magical means.

Sure. That's my specialty. If you want to take it somewhere and get it enchanted, that's up to you entirely. But I have a lot of turn around I have to get through. I've got quite a time to do full enchantments. But regardless, what can I do? What can I help you with?

And to that point, what is it that you want? What outfits are you looking for? Please describe what you want to have custom made. I feel like I'm in the Louis Vuitton store. I know, right? Who wants to go first? Me? You want to go? It's up to you. You go?

I don't know anymore. Well, I'll go. I usually have lots of skin showing, because I like to let everybody check it out as I'm working, but because it's going to be fucking cold for the next titty bit. Just a titty bit. Just a titty bit.

I would like to, perhaps, in my older years, comfort is really top of mind. And so I was thinking if you had some sort of very soft, velvety fabric, perhaps a purple or a blue or a green in the cooler palette, like a velvet tracksuit maybe? Oh my god. That would be very athletic, but also very casual to protect from the elements. I have a tendency to change my size dramatically from one moment to the next. Don't ask. It's

really fucking awesome. I won't ask. It's really fucking awesome. I won't ask. So if it has any kind of stretching capabilities, or durability even, that would be amazing. Claps twice, and you look in the back as this young little dwarf, probably more than 20, 25 equivalent, with a scruff on the end of his chin there. Hair slicked back, has a number of cluttered tape measures thrown over his shoulders, goes, I got it, I'll get into it!

And runs off into the back room. She goes, all right, we'll get you taken care of. Thank you. Anything else in accessories? I don't think so. I didn't think about accessories. I'll think on it still. We'll get to that. Thank you.

Anyone else here? Are you two going to upgrade your outfits? We're just going to say what we want to wear? Good luck, Arne. Mine's not very cold-weather friendly, necessarily. I just drew something that I thought was pretty. That works. Okay, so what I'm thinking is... Now we can insulate it, too, if need be.

We can make it secretly warm if you want to. We'll see how that works. Well, you see I got this flowy sort of dress thing going on. I really like the flowiness. It works with things that I do. So I kind of want to get a flowy dress that goes all the way to the ground, with long sleeves that are fitted. Mm-hmm.

And then underneath it, I want a leather body piece sort of thing. Yeah! And then for cold weather, insulation, I'm going to go with a leather overcoat that's cropped and fitted at the waist, with a cold overcoat that's cropped and fitted at the waist with a cold hood that came over the top. That sounds very cool. That's so cute. I just skirted a shirt. I want it to be super flowy, so when I do my magic, it still flows up.

Love it, love it, love it. Now, do you want the sleeves to be fitted all the way to the cuff, or do you want them to go a bit into the back of the hand? I would like for the dress sleeve to go pointed into the finger, and then the coat sleeve can come just like that. All right. Well, claps twice, and in the back you see this small, really, really crotchety old gnomish woman with this massive bundle of forehead wrinkles that almost becomes the sagging brow that nearly covers the entirety of her eyes, who

pulls out with this Bea Arthur-type hair and clothing attire that goes, I'll get right on it. Sibyl? No, just kidding. My heart dropped. Virginia, nice try! Maybe I can make the coat sleeves removable so when we get in warm weather,

then I can not be too hot. Get right on it! Get on it! Incredible. I want it to be sheer, so I want to see the lightning bolts on my skin now, you know what I mean? Yes. Got it, good.

Coming across the table here. Sure, I think over at Jacobi's, the armor that he plopped on me had just given me a golden sheen instead of a yellow sheen, so it's more of a gold. Gold with silver accents. Yeah, gold with silver accents. And so to keep a little blue going,

I'm going to ask for an inspire. Inspired by Frida, I'd like a long duster jacket. Right, that's what you have? Like this. Yeah, like that, but his is dark green leather, right? Like an emerald. Yeah, I'll have a dark blue leather, if that's all right with you.

That can be done. She goes ahead and flicks her finger and you watch as this heavy roll on the secondary floor drifts over and lands on the ground next to her with this thick, really well-cured, smooth-looking, almost like a deerskin blue leather. Cool. Then goes ahead and causes it to drift off

to one of the nearby tables, where it plops down and unrolls, and some of the other figures start going through and pulling out patterns and getting it ready, while looking over at you and making measurements and cutting it down. Who else? Deanna will step up,

and she takes off her big, cozy sweater thing, and let me be very clear, she's built a Pixar mom, tiny everybody, absolutely dump truck ass. Yes! Yes! A Pixar mom! Yes! Yes!

She's giving a last to girl. Love it. And riffing off of Imogen, like, yeah, can I do a little, like a stretch, green bodysuit under? We're not going to hide our body anymore. We're Renaissance. We're fine. We're showing it.

Yeah, we're showing it. Let's show it. Of course. Yeah. Right on it. She goes we're showing it. Let's show it. Of course. Yeah. Right on it. She goes ahead and puts her hands together and one big clap, and you watch as two small goblin figures curl out with impeccable double-breasted, almost like leather tops with long sleeves

and these nice pants on that are fitted. And one of them has a monocle, and the other one has this really thin mustache that's not been kept well, and it's been penciled in to try and fill the gaps. They both go, We'll help you immediately, right this way! And they pull you off to the side to start measuring up. Did you go? Are you getting anything? She has this coat. You made that for me a while back, and it has served me very well. There's a bit of a rip in it, but

that's not... I was looking. A bit of wear and tear, but that's easy enough to fix. She drifts her hand over it, and all the damage on it just clears up. That was very impressive. If you remember, I had you inscribe a name on the inside of the jacket, Deanna's. Do you mind just, in that kind of yellow, bluish, could you write F-C-G on the inside? That can be done. Not a word. That's all right.

Essentially married at this point. Yeah, I mean, yeah. Oh hi, where are your finest top-shelf fabrics? Yes. Let's go. I need silks, I need organza, I need tulle, I need... What was the word you just said? Just all of it. What do you have? Well, by royal decree, whatever you want.

All right, so. The invoice goes to them. You could take it to the bank. Yeah, yeah, yeah, they're making you want. All right, so. The invoice goes to them as the end of the roll. You could take it to the bank. Yeah, yeah, yeah, they're making sure that they're paying for it. I just start pulling all of the fabrics in a big pile and I put them there. Okay, so I'm thinking even more Rococo,

even more of a corset. It's more of a sleeve here that poofies, and some beautiful silks. Just all over, but legs are, so you can see my legs. Those are warm because they're just all the fur. And got to show the hams, or gams. No, no, no. Got to show the hams.

Got to show the hams. It's a very hams-forward look. My hams, my ham hocks. And then I also... Deanna. Yeah? Would you be able to knit me something if I draw it for you? Yes! Oh, all right.

I want a corset, too. I want a corset, too. Oh, yeah, she needs a corset. I mean, obviously, I want some sort of cinching. Can we get matching corsets? Yes! Oh my god, I love this. Corsets all around! Best friends corsets. Right. Yes, just laces and boobies up to here,

and all the stuff, and... Which I guess to incorporate this breastplate you're wearing, the leather bits. Oh yes, of course, I'm going to forget. Oh shit, right. I also want, for your accessories, I think I want long, tippy finger jewels. Yes! Both hands. What is that? I want long, tippy-fingered jewels.

Yes! For both hands. What is that? Yeah, I'll do, well. We'll make you both and you can decide to wear one of the others. Make me both and I can decide. Make sure we charge for both. Yeah.

Maybe some jewels. Just go to town. We will go to town. Ah, love it. After all, the least we can do for the heroes of the city. Protectors of the city. Protectors.

Protectors. Dialing or something. Yes, dialing. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Wonderful, wonderful. We'll get right on it. And with expedited service, which costs a little extra.

Of course. We might be able to be done within the next few hours. Oh, wow. Do you have any sheer fabrics with embroidery on them? I can add embroidery wherever you like. That would be wonderful, yeah. Very well. Could you also incorporate, I love this cloak,

and it has a hood that comes up in my tracksuit. Could I have a removable or has a hood that comes up in my tracksuit. Could it have a removable or tuckable hood that pops up? I call it a hoodie. That's great. I don't know if I like that word anymore. I don't know, it's a work in progress. Houdai! Houdai. You must be careful. This is the realm of work. Chetney Puckaby is known to look like the dangerous bloodhunter.

Also, Deanna, if you wouldn't mind, I might also ask for a custom, maybe a knitted something that could go around my forehead and keep the sweat out of my eyes, and maybe also something matching from my wrists. Done. Done. This was the best day of my life! Great. Can I have bigger Uggs? More poofy. Okay. Is this something up? Hell yes.

Head connection. Head connection. I know your friends are okay. I feel it. Is there anything you want to get here for any of them? Oh, well. I mean... I wouldn't even begin to know. That's okay. I'll think on it. Thank you for the reminder.

Well, the king and queen are paying. That's true. I look down at my red bracelet. I'll think on it. Can we just get a little bull? Just a little bull embroidered in the corner so everyone remembers where we all got this from? Yes. I would like that very much. Easy enough to do, okay, okay.

Wait, I'm gonna go over to Imogen. Should we get anything for Laudna? Oh my gosh, Afraida literally just thought of that. We should, oh really? Yeah. In my head. Oh, oh, what, Frida literally just thought of that. We should, oh, really? Yeah. In my head. Oh, oh, oh, okay. You guys, should we get something for Laudna? I just thought.

I just said that to Imogen. Frida just said, you guys should do it. I mean, it's like, Orym's the only one that didn't think of it. What is up with that? Orym, that's not Orym, that's FCG. Oh, sorry, I was in the back. I just picked this up for Laudna.

I don't like the way your whole thing. It's a black negligee. It's the only black thing I could find. You know what, though? We are all getting matching corsets. I think it would be nice if we got Laudna a corset to match ours, like in black, because I bet she would really appreciate that.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I love that. Whether she wears it, yeah, you can wear that. That's great. Maybe. Artists at work. One of the artisan assistants just marks it down on the tally. All right.

Yeah, add it to my inventory. In the time waiting for these outfits, you begin knitting the promised things, but you are a consummate knitter. I'm thinking something like, okay, so a hood for sure, but it comes down to a point with a poof at the end. Of course. What color for the poof? Oh god. Like that coat that you got me.

I'm still thinking on color, because I don't know what color the rest of my outfit will be yet. That's fair. Something I'll think about when we start drawing it up, but that's for later. And then something like, you know, my arm can go through, but it kind of also wraps around and goes down. Ooh, we like texture and a little asymmetrical. Oh, that's so good.

Yes, I've been watching Willow. Oh my! One of the characters has a really cool knit piece. Yeah. That's the inspo. Done, done. It's really cute. But I'll give you a drawing. Yeah, of course. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Okay. I'm going to need all of your best alpaca. All the good. I want your best fiber. This is for my friends. That can be done. There are the finest of flot-kept sheep and goat wool that has been prepared for just such an endeavor. What dye, coloration would you prefer?

All of them. I need to have a... You watch as she magically changes the color of all the different clusters. I may die here, I may die in here. Right now. We'll take all of them. Gets you a rainbow spree. I may die here, I may die in here, right now. We'll take all of them. Gets you a rainbow spree. King and Kree are going to be like, what the fuck?

All they're going to be. Going to reign that in. We did a very good deed. Yeah. You did, you did. But quicker than you expected, the outfits are presented. Amazing. Wow. All individually signed in hidden areas

by Catelyn herself. The Delafin mark. FCG, you look great. Why, thank you. How was your date? What? Just hanging out. Yeah, how was it?

Yeah, it was good. Yeah, we just walked and talked and caught up on stuff. I got a little tour of the city. I met Jacoby and, you know, nothing happened. Yeah, nothing happened. Everything was fine. And I walk up and I grab his hand. Goddamn it! Oh.

How nice. In your head, you hear, what happened? Well, more than what happened with you and Pretty. Damn! Oh shit. I don't care, I felt that. You'd see as he was made a little uncomfortable by this, I stand next to him and grab his hand. And pat his butt.

And tap him on the ass. Clink, clink. Yeah. Incredible. I hold his hand. Oh, oh wow. Oh. We don't have to make a big thing of it,

but yeah, I mean, this is happening. Ooh! So, you know. Are you okay? Uh-huh, yeah. How's my stress points doing? You know what? You take one, lose one, then take another.

Oh! Yay! So you're up one. Nice. Sounds right. Yeah, that sounds about right. We should get a rest. Yeah, okay. We should, yeah. Hold on about right. We should get a rest. Yeah, okay. We should, yeah.

Hulk, can't, higher, lower. Higher. And it is like, it's got some room to it, you know? But it definitely has some stretch to give. Yeah. Remember the bottom of the pants is like I can't wait if he turns into a wolf. Oh yeah.

And he's still in the tracksuit. It was designed to grow, much like the Hulk's pants. Yes. A wolf in a hoodie. Tracksuit Mafia. It makes me so happy. Let's fucking go. You know, role-playing games.

There's a small flat in the butt where the tail can just. Oh! It's so cute! Oh my goodness. The waterfall. Well, I hope you're all happy with the work we've done here.

It's immaculate. And should you ever want any updates, upgrades, or more decrees from the King and Queen, with a blank check, please do come back. We are ever happy to make commission work. We're happy. Thank you, We'll be sure to tell everyone. Yes, please do. Spread the word. Are you all drinking in your own clothes? Do you like that bubbly alcohol that he gave you?

The Chambers? Yeah, that and other stuff. Can we have a bottle or two of the Champers? Two bottles of Champers. Yes. Yes, right over here. There we go. I'm done. Great idea.

Oh. Look at that. Very well. I'm out of rest. And then we set off in the morning? I'm out of rest. As we're heading back, I just wanted to ask, though, you guys mentioned that you were in

Eiselcross before this? What were you doing up there? Let's talk about it in the house. Okay. Don't talk. You all gather back up, because it is now evening, as the time has passed with the day of you wandering about, doing the commissions, checking in with people, doing your own business. The sun has set on the outside, but here on the mountain, the transition has gone unnoticed, pardon me, other than the still working lights of the city dimming naturally ever so slightly to

help those adjust to the changing of the time. Eventually, you come back to Deanna's home, the comfortable, warm interior, and begin to settle in for the evening. So, Frida gets dreams, so we were like, let's go find Aeor. And so we went, and it was bad. You got more to add to that? That's Aeor? Eyes will cross. We were trying to see if maybe I could feel some sort of connection or learn more about my dreams, but when we got there, it was crawling with all kinds of bad folks.

Oh. Zorhossian soldiers everywhere and monsters, and it was the scariest thing in the world until we met you guys. Hey. Yeah. So you just went to snoop around, but you were chased away?

Did you get to see anything? We made a decision that we should probably leave, maybe come back at a later time when we were more prepared, because I don't think we could have handled the trouble that we were walking into there. It's very difficult to get to, isn't it? Yes. And yet you said it was crawling with soldiers?

Like hundreds, thousands? Dozens? Split the difference. Hundreds. Many hundreds. Hundreds. Wow. That's busy up there. Huh. They're kind of staking their claim?

Looking for stuff. Powerful magic there, I imagine. You wonder what it's like now. That's a good question. I would like very much to return at some point in the future. Of course. While we're doing this,

we're going to go for the ruins of Malleus Mare tomorrow. This is so weird. Are you nervous, Chetney? Well, yeah. I mean, I don't want to get my new dub tracksuit all fucked up. It's true. Or maybe I do.

I can't tell. But also, this is an upgrade from, I don't know, the previous 400 years for me. Oh, it's not? Okay, yeah, cool. You know? Yeah. Oh, I know, 200 skippets. It's true. No, it's so wild.

Numbers. Time is linear. I think it's worth asking, this is our fight as well, but your fight. Is it okay if Deanna and I join you? Do you want us there? Wait, were we not going to go? Whoa, that's a little bit weird.

Were you not going to go with us? We could have gone with you. Yeah. We could do it ourselves. It could be very dangerous. You could be hurt in the process. Are you sure you want to? I'm very good at not staying hurt. What?

Let me get you some water. Hold on. I'm good at keeping people up. Yeah. And it's more dangerous now if you can't bring people back. Oh shit, that's right. We want to help.

I think it's important, if things get too sticky, we run. We can't bring anyone back, so. Very fair. If we got to get out of there, we got to get out of there. I just assumed, because this shit is crazy, that you guys wouldn't want to come.

What? Do you think we want to stay at home? Sorry. Stay at home here? Not the hell that'd be me. Press the Digitation. Oh, thank you. So cool. So cool. No, you guys are the most exciting thing

that's happened to us since we found each other. Oh, no! I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Prestidigitation. I don't want to talk about it. Prestidigitation. I don't know why I it? Why? Wait. It would be boring to stay here without you all. No, no, no. You're coming. You're coming.

Thank you! We wouldn't be able to. What did we get best friends corsets for? We have best friends. Do you have matching corsets? Is that going to be weird? Matching corsets? No, because we banged in the day. It's true.

I'm just going to pick up the champagne with my mage hand. Oh no, my Jesus. Oh no! Okay. Then it's settled. Oh no, my Jesus. Oh no! Okay. Then it's settled. We all go together in the morning. Yeah. Matron of Raven's Temple before we go,

and then we grab some goats. Yeah. Why are we going to the matron of Raven's? I just want to see if it's weird or broken or cracked. I would like to see if the matron is suffering the same as the rest of the gods. Just because they were all wearing the weird emblems and stuff.

What does it mean if the goddess of death is not around? It might be the same as everybody else. It could be fast, but it's not. Maybe nobody dies. That's a horrible idea. No, I think that's the opposite of what we learned. People die and it could be fast. Maybe nobody dies. That's a horrible idea. No, I think that's the opposite of what we learned. People dying is staying dead. This is very Song Champion. Right?

Where did it go? I'm going to run across the room to wherever Imogen put it down. Nope, nope. I got you. Don't hold it up high, come on! It's going to be an early morning, you know? It's just going to be so... Did we get breakfast round two?

Hell yeah. Hell yeah. This will be my masterpiece. All right, well, D-Team's taking the couch just in case anybody gets a low light. Hi. Oh! Good god. and the body gets a lot of life. Ah, oh! Good god. See, that's where Lesser Restoration

comes in handy as a clearing. 100%. Hangover? Okay. That's why she drinks like a fish. She's like, I've never had a hangover for more than two minutes. No problem.

Take the chambers. Yeah, thank you. I've never had a consequence. All righty. Any business you want to get to before the evening's done? I forgot a piece of jewelry at Catlin's, so I'm going to run out of there real quick and go get it. At whose? Catlin the clothing. Okay. going to run out there real quick and go get it. At whose? Catlin, the clothing. Okay. I just needed some more stuff.

You'll be okay, Miss Calloway? Oh yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. Are you lying to do crimes? I'm not doing crimes. Okay. If you are doing crimes, you should let us know. I'm not doing crimes. I'm definitely not doing crimes.

You got to go outside. I have really bad gas. You don't have to lie. It was the bulgogi. It was the bulgogi. It was the bulgogi. It was the bulgogi. I haven't shopped on the way.

It was good. It was a good takeaway. How close is the Wildmother Temple that you were saying that's the little stairs? It's on the top of a mountain. Oh, is it outside? It's outside of the city, and it's along the mountain, a little bit of a mountain. Oh, is it outside? It's outside of the city, and it's along the mountain, a little bit of a journey.

I misunderstood. It's okay. It'll take you from where you are. Because you're on the top disc where Deanna's abode is, so maybe you'd assume between a 15, 20 minute walk. All right. I'll be right back. I'll be right back, I'll be right back. Okay. So you head out the city, heading up the steps.

The glass blades there recognize you as the one who fled from the terrifying spider creature not but a few hours before. I'll be right back, I'll be right back. Course miss, course miss. You step out into the moonlit night above. You can see now for this evening, most of the clouds have dissipated

and the stars are above, and the technicolor aurora still glides across the horizon in different tethers. You can see the long ley-line strings, not ever-present, but you can visually see where the gossamer threads slightly shift and drift in their place in the sky, all convening at far-distance points that you can't quite make out

in the distance. You can see the snow-covered forest below in the ravine and the nearby other mountains that surround you in the Alps. As you glance beyond the outskirts of the gruffside livery and the entry point to the city, the outer walls and the towers, you can see the stone steps that curl up and switch back up the side of the mountain. Oh, this jamboree keeps you so warm. Okay, walking up to the... You eventually come to an outcropping

that juts out from the mountain, about 20 feet by 30 or so feet. It's simple. There is a small stone fence that's marked to prevent anyone from tumbling off it. In the center of it, you can see there is a small garden that grows beautifully. While everything else around here

still carries a coat of snow, no snow seems to have fallen on the greenery within this small circle. It's an odd little visual here in the midst of the cold night air. The flowers still open like the sun is fully there to receive them. And in the middle of it, you see about a four-foot,

smaller than any other statue you've seen, but a four-foot statue smaller than any other statue you've seen, but a four-foot statue of a relief of the Wild Mother just standing there, her form, her arms up and smiling. All right. I'm going to go up to it. I'm going to pull some flowers out of the dirt and put it.

Knock on the statue. Hey, bitch. I don't know how to do this. I don't even know if you're there. Could be dead. Could be talking to nothing, which I actually do a lot. Never mind. Could be talking to nothing, which I actually do a lot. Never mind. Okay, I came here to say if you're there,

maybe you can talk to my friend Orym and try to just say that we're okay, and we're alive, and hopefully we'll see you soon. I think that's it. All right, well, I'm going to go back, unless, are you supposed to say anything to me? Do I do amen? Do I hear anything? Make a perception check. 23. Okay. 23. 23.

You stand there in the silence, looking over the dark moon-rimmed ravine, a little bit of Cath's Light that gleams across. All you hear is the the cold wind blowing through the mountain range. Maybe that's a sign. Who knows? I think you might be dead. I think you... All right. Well, I'm going to go. Sorry I called you bitch. It was a term of endearment because that's what happens when I drink. I just get really friendly. All right.

Okay, I'm going to go. Bye. You look back at it with the flowers you've left behind and just the welcoming appearance of the Wildmother's Relief and think on Orym and then track back down the somewhat slick and treacherous steps, but thankfully you're a creature whose body is designed for traversing such dangerous mountainous terrain. Really good.

So you leap down a few steps at a time before landing in a soft bank of snow and then heading back into this. Open the gates. Night. Good night, miss! She's kind of cute. Door is closed.

Kind of. Eventually returning to your friends. I hide back. I'm going to go over to Chetney on the couch. I'm going to flick him on the nose. Hey, dumbass. What? If you don't make a move on that woman, I'm going to. Oh. Sorry, I just woke up. Are you saying you want to join or?

No, no, no, no, no. Me, me. Chetney. What? The chemistry, she's wonderful. Totally. You need to... I'm a fan.

I feel like she's very special and I don't think you should pass that up. But if you're not wanting to, just tell me so that I can. Damn. Well, I put the invite out, so I don't want to overstep my bounds. Plus, the Chombers has been doing its thing, so I didn't want to. Ow!

Back around. You hear? That's, trust me, I remember that from 200 ago. It was a thing. On the beach, you wouldn't believe. We got almost arrested a couple times. Really? Yup.

Public voyeurism, it was a whole thing. Wow. Yeah, we'd leave sand angels in the shoreline. It was incredible. No way! Yep, like a rotoscope. You could walk along the beach and just see the different poses. Told a story. Yep.

That is true. The faster you ran, the hotter it got. Just a zoetrope. A zoetrope. Yeah, I got you, I got you, I got you. Thank you, rotoscope. Zoetrope. Conn. It's so much fun. Connick Ford's weirdly tight on this kind of thing.

But listen. Yeah. All's fair in love and war. Yeah. I'm just saying. All right. All right. Game on. I'm going to go up for my slumber party. Oh shit, no. Yeah. Okay.

I'm back. Hi, bitch. Hey. Hey, bitch. What's up? You're cold from outside. Maybe drink this. Ooh. Oh. Yeah.

How we feeling? Oh god, so good. Maybe drink this. Ooh! Oh! Yeah. How we feeling? Oh god. So good. Yeah. What jewelry did you get? I got... I didn't go to get jewelry. I went to

the Wildmother Altar. Outside of town? Yeah. Oh! I wanted to just... Maybe there's a connection there with Orym. I don't know. Oh my god. Just to say we're alive. Did you find something that's more? No, I didn't.

I don't think, I don't know if she's even there, but I just thought it was just... I stopped by my temple when we were walking, and I think there's all of the priests of all of them are like everybody no one's picking up no one's picking up but it doesn't feel like they're gone just like they're kind of like um fucking who's this you're like running away that I think they're really really worried about whatever you guys saw from the...

No, I'm not gonna remember to say it. I don't remember what it's called. The Pridathas. Apogee Solstice. So many new words. Yeah. It is scary and weird. Are you doing all right?

I mean, as well as any of us. It's so strange to not know what's happening and just go about our business and have no way of making sure. Oh, that's because you're in people's heads all the time, right? So you're used to knowing lots of stuff? I am, you know what's funny?

It's the first time I've been in a city in ten years when I haven't been enveloped by everybody's thoughts. It's so freeing. It's like I can finally feel like myself again and it's happening at the worst time. I'm sorry. No, it's...

It's good. It's bad, it's everything. It's everything. Isn't that seems to be how life works where you have really intense moments of happiness, but sometimes they only happen when really bad things are also happening. Yeah, yeah, the sourness. when really bad things are also happening. Yeah. Yeah, the sourness.

It's like when you bake and you make cookies, and you make a chocolate chip cookie, but you put just a little bit of salt on the top. The salt makes you understand how sweet the sweetness is. You know? You should probably give that hint to FCG, because I know he's working hard at figuring out those recipes.

He's doing so good for someone who can't taste a goddamn thing. So good. I know! Wild. The texture is a little crazy, but hey. They're really good at following directions, though. So, you know. I mean, I think it's part of their programming and stuff.

And Frida and FCG. Oh my god, I know, right? What happened? I don't know, but they were holding hands. Are they together in the room right now? Are they just together in Freida's room? Fun fact. That's my kid's room.

I just go and lean against the wall. It's a paper-thin wall. This is a cheap house. You can hear what's in there if you just lean in. All of us. Yeah. All right, so the two of you, what are you up to? I don't know. Ah! Ah!

Laura Bailey! No chill! What the fuck? Equated, I saw it, a legend! Give the people what they want. Metal on metal, just scraping. Yeah. they want. Metal on metal just scraping. Yeah. It's like a metal on metal.

It sounds like a drum set. Yeah, just a jackhammer. It sounded like a fucking derby, just cars crashing into each other. No, but for real, please. What's going on with you guys? That was a lot of stuff today. Yeah, it was a great day, though.

And it's so nice that our friends are so supportive and understanding and giving us space. Kiss! I didn't realize how thin these walls were. Yeah. I didn't realize how thin these walls were. Yeah. I didn't realize how alcoholic that shit was. Don't forget to attach your meat tongue! Oh god.

Do you have a meat tongue? It's weird. It's like a Schrodinger's tongue. It's like, if you try to perceive it, it's not there. You only see it. Phantom tongue syndrome? Yeah. Oh no! It's real, but only in quantum space.

Quantum space. I was going to ask if you wanted to maybe enter my dream again, but I think that would sully what we had today. So maybe we can just, I mean, I've never slept with someone else. Maybe we can hold hands and power up together. That sounds great. That sounds great.

That would kind of be the perfect ending to a perfect day. I like you, FCG. I like you, FrG. I like you, Frida. Oh boy. People caregiver. Suits you. I guess so. You want to give him just a little something? Lean in and kiss and you'll hear the clink.

Yes! Ow! I didn't think my body could tense up like that. Yes! Yes! Oh! Oh my god. Ow! I didn't think my body could tense up like that. Oh! Oh boy. Okay. All right, it's all right.

My joints are a little tight. Maybe you need to, you know, screw me a little. Okay. I fucking can't. There we go. Oh, see? Is that good?

Yep. Oh, yep, yep. Tight, tight, tight. Oh my god. What is happening? I wonder how this is working. You just screwed me. All right.

This is minor illusioning what I think is happening, and it's incredibly graphic. It's really graphic. It's really graphic. It's very graphic. I don't know. Which one? I don't... Do you mind if I... Impressive.

Can I sketch you? That would be wonderful. Like one of your French girls? I didn't say anything. Oh no! I'll just lie down. You can't! I can't. I can't.

With my wheel just seductively spinning. Just going to cycle. Oh. I hear one leg. The fake wooden feet just come out. What? Hellish. Hellish. Hellish.

And the curtain fades to black. Okay. One metal hand hits the condensation on the window. Yeah! What is the moisture? What is the moisture? Oh my god. Wow. Take my breath away.

No! Do you need any time? Oh yes, the meat is gone. The meat is gone. Whoa! Y'all made Exandria a weird place. Yay! This is your world.

I'm playing with the playground mammoths. Indeed, indeed. Collaboration. Storytelling. Collaboration. Any other business before the night is done? Nothing for Chetney, I guess. All right. It's on you, Beau.

Okay. Then the night concludes, and a full evening's rest is had by all. Eventually, the morning greets you, and I imagine, well, depending on how hungover you want to be. Great, but lesser restoration, just, let's go.

A repeat of the morning's breakfast with some changes and shifts? No, we're doubling down. I think this has got to be a carbo-load situation. So we're adding, there's a biscuit moment happening. Okay. Yeah. Biscuits and gravy, yeah.

Okay, okay, okay. What's the gravy base? Yeah, I found some good goat milk. So it's just a very heavy, fat forward. All righty. Hell yeah. Yes! All right, for those of you who can enjoy that meal, it's delicious.

I provided the goat milk. I'm sorry. Oh my god. It's got all the champers in it. There you go! Yeah, my good! That's out. I'll go, I'll go, I don't care.

Too much. Beast shape into a goat. Milk yourself. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. You were saying as if you were goat, goat, milk yourself. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. What you're saying is if you were a goat, would you milk yourself? Yeah! Yeah! Matthew, I'd like to see that. I'd like to identify those gloves from yesterday.

Yes, indeed, yes, indeed. Or the day before, I can't even remember. Yesterday. Those are weave piercer gloves. Ooh. Fun. I got it, I got it. Oh! Oh, that was very cool!

The prestige. Why, did you have something else? No, I forgot about the ring. Oh. Oh! I don't know if it's anything, but some, fuck. It might be, I mean, we can just look at it and see if it radiates with arcane energy.

Yeah, I can detect magic on that. Oh yeah? Sweet. Here. Oh, these are spellcasting focus gloves. That ring is not magical, but it is worth a pretty penny. Nice. I switch from detect magic to a jeweler's lube.

Ooh. Like, okay. You get the sense, depending on who's buying and who you're selling to, a fence or someone won't give you a top dollar, but you could probably sell that for somewhere between three to 500 gold. Oh. Three to five.

If you find a bad fence, though, don't sell this on the Liberdisc. They're not going to give you a good dollar for that. Thank you so much. SAM and LAURA laugh. More Fearne, but I think more you. I feel like fingerless gloves are so you. But let me just say that. They're for either of you, really. Whoever uses-

They're for targeting-type spells. Correct. Yeah, it doesn't affect DC, but it affects the attack roll to hit things. But don't, you do things that, do you use things that use attack rolls, or do you use things that use? Same. A little both. A little both, same. A little both.

Is it attunement? What if one of you each wears a glove? You get a plus one. Let's see. We could go halfsies on some gloves. I would lose my Ring of Protection. So I would lose my AC bonus. I feel like I would lose it.

Also, Matthew, after they figure out that she is on the way to the Matron's Temple, if I can just pick up some ivory strips, incense, some diamond dust, any of that stuff around. Incense, everything else you can find. How much diamond dust are you looking for? 100 gold worth. 100 gold's worth? You can do that.

You can muster that before you leave. Not a problem. Indeed, you eventually find the Matron's Temple, which is, while you don't know the name of it necessarily, it is, you passed it a couple of times, it's hard to see this looming, massive closet of a temple that is dark stone set in the back.

Other buildings, there's nothing built within probably a 30-foot, 40-foot radius of it. It just looms against the back wall. I thought it was a hot topic. Not wrong. The goth club nights on Saturdays are pretty great. But as you look, there are these two solid doors that sit at the front that eventually come to almost a fair point at the top before closing off.

It's like upside-down coffins. Not quite that goth, but that kind of a vibe. And they are closed. Oh, anyone standing up around outside? Mm-mm. Okay. Freya, will you join me? Knock on the door.

Boom, boom, boom, boom. Can I smell, listen, hear all of that? Yeah, make a perception check. I can help. Okay, so deal with the bandages. Uh! Which you do already as a wolf. 16.

16. Eventually, you hear some feet shuffles from beyond the door, ever so faintly, that stop and just stay there. Just a quick question. We're not looking to pray or anything. It opens ever so slightly. It cracks open about six inches, and a human woman in what looks like a black veil with a headband around it, with a central round red gem pokes her head through.

Doesn't make eye contact with you, just looks past you as she goes to the door. Yes. I suddenly feel incredibly out of my depth. You're doing great. We have noticed since the Apogee Solstice a disturbance amongst the Prime Deities. Can you feel the Matron? solstice a disturbance amongst the Prime Deities.

Can you feel the Matron? The Matron remains, though her thoughts are distant. We trust in our plan. Did I just try and peek in through the door to see what kind of crazy shit is in the temple for the goddess of death? The door closes. You glance inside and you can see

there are these dual archways that come to a central point where there are chandeliers hanging from it. And it almost gives the inside of a cavernous ribcage vibe, but they're just these dual arches that come to an end point where they hang and then they continue on back, hanging from it. It almost gives the inside of a cavernous ribcage vibe, but they're just these dual arches that come to an end point where they hang,

and then they continue on back, almost like vertebrae. You get just enough of a glance towards that before the doors close. Do you need to go in there? No, no. Seems like the same sort of answer. All right, let's pick out some goats. Gathering all the materials and supplies

you need for the journey ahead, the week-ish journey ahead should weather and everything else be kind. You bring the last of your necessary seals from the King and queen of the diarchy to the top side where the gruff side livery is and are granted to you six massive Flocket Alp goats.

You may pick of them and I'll let you decide what they look like and what you wish to name them if you choose to. I want the fuzziest one, because I'm going to shave it when we have to get rid of it. What? Oh my gosh. All the good material.

You're going to want Jerry. He points to the back. And Jerry is just like this completely like, just, you can't even see the eyes. It's like that alpaca that's been left too long. You just see the snout and then this massive explosion of fuzz and these little horns that barely poke out the sides. As you look at it, it goes.

Let's go, Jary Curl, you're mine. It is the softest climb. Oh, wow. They go ahead and get, all of them are given means of reins and a saddle and everything, as well as side packs for any of the gear you need. These are designed for trekking across the mountains. They are massive, but they are also well-fitted for long journeys. We got the super fluffy one. What do you guys want? I'm going for the biggest overachieving Summovich ever. Biggest ass goat, littlest ass rider.

Maybe the musky one. Except for Tom and Satan. You going to call him musky? 100%. Well, musk, yes. Musk, yeah. I'm all about that musk. All right, we'll go ahead and get musky for you. Go ahead and bring musky! And this is a very young goat, but it's one of those, you know

how some dogs or some animals, they have that gene where their body creates too much muscle and they just look massively ripped for no reason? This goat seems to fall in that category. It's like . Massive, bulging, square-pupiled eyes. The horns are way too big and they curl inward. It almost has the bulldog walk, which you think would be bad for a goat trying to go down to the mountainside, so we'll see how well it does. But you see they've had to extend the saddle leather twice to get it around its torso. Holy shit. Make an animal handling check as it comes up to you.

Perfect. Eight! Oh no. Oh man. Spits right in your face. Perfect. I wear it with pride. It seems to acknowledge it with a head nod. And you found Musky.

If there's a pretty goat, just a pretty thing with little braided locks or something. Yeah, there's a beautiful white and brown spotted goat. Its horns have been capped, they're smaller. It almost has a luxurious mane of hair that seems to blow with the wind. So when the wind goes, half of it shifts to the side where the wind's blowing it.

Then when it's still, it just billows out to the bottom, almost like a bell-bottom goat, if you will. Oh my god. Fabio. Yes! Fabio. Fabio. Yes! Fabio it is. Yes! That is the greatest thing you've ever done. You've never been more glorious than that. The V-structure you achieved, people.

I don't know what I'm doing up here. Oh, my perfection. Art is what you're doing. There you go. Oh my god. What are you naming it? Fabio. Oh, Fabio. I want a dove gray one

with really, really soft dove gray fur. Indeed, indeed. I want to purchase this one. This one is a little older. It looks like it's more experienced. It's a little like it's seen the Alps for a bit and probably will be the likely to lead the pack because of its experience traveling through this journey,

but still strong and sturdy and willing to go through. You can see it has that soft, deep gray, feathery fur to it. It's lost one horn on one side, partially, so it's broken, but it's been capped and has a ring that hangs from it and has a small chime that's affixed to it, so when the wind blows, it's like ding-ding-ding-ding-ding-ding. It seems to twitch a little bit when it hears it. It's like, where's it coming from? Aw. I'm going to hold onto its horn. His name is Bael.

Aw. It nuzzles you for a minute. I'll find the scrawniest, roughest-looking goat. All right. Looks like it's seen its fair share of winters. You find one that looks like it's seen its fair share of winters, and some of them may be a bit sallow.

This is the mystery ink shaggy of all the goats. Where its hooves are thick, its shoulders are thick, its legs are scrawny, and as it walks, there's a little bit of a shake to it. It's a long snout, and its eyes are just a little bit further apart than the other goats, so it looks a little odd. I'm going to call you Patchwork. Patchwork, Patchwork.

Fair enough. I go ahead and get it saddled up and ready to go. All right. I would like the... I want a round buoy. So I want one that's just basically a circle and then you just see two little feets pop out. You're just a circle. Now, all these goats are, many of them trek up and down these mountains

and they're very athletic and are kept in such order. There's one that doesn't go out very often, and for a reason, doesn't really have much of anyone to pick it up or hire it. So it just stays back and continues to enjoy its sedentary life here in the livery. You see it has big, curled horns. One of its teeth has grown through its lip a little bit,

so it has this one tooth sticking out on the side. Just a big, round, soft boy with a red panda-color fur to it. Big floofs. Big mane around its neck. You wouldn't think it's the mane. It looks like it's just a continuation of its round body, but it just makes it look more spherical. We're going to name him Donny Boy. Donny Boy. Donny Boy. He waddles up to you.

He goes, Hello, you biggest dog. We're going to get a little workout in. Perfect the way that you are, but you're going to get a little bit of an adventure. Yep. Holler in the back. Oof. Stanky. All right. All right, they go ahead. This other one also has to be fitted

with a unique saddle. They all realize, we never done put a saddle on that one. We just made some quick adjustments. And they go ahead and cut out some other, like they have to cobble two other saddles together to make one that fits around Donnyboy. But sure enough, you all gather your things,

your supplies, load up your unique spectrum of flock at goats. And then here in a blue, barely cloud-dappled, clear sky this cold morning. The wind picks up a bit as you all cluster together and begin to head outward towards the Savalirwood. Dottie boy!

Destination, the ruins of Molaesmyr. Ooh. Yeah. And we'll pick up there next time. Yeah! So good! pick up there next time. Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! So good! Amazing! That's awesome, James! This is so cool.

Oh, fuck! Oh my god. All righty. Well, we'll see how the journey goes next time. Yeah. In the interim, thank you so much for joining us, everybody. Love you very much, and is it Thursday yet? Good night.

Yeah! Thursday! And that concludes this episode of Critical Role. If you liked what you heard please leave a rating and review wherever you stream the Critical Role podcast

network. Your experiences and opinions might just motivate someone new to join the adventure. We've got lots of stories to share so please be sure to check

in next week. We'll see you next time.