Critical Role - C3E7 Behind the Curtain

Episode Date: December 16, 2021

After a performance goes slightly awry, the group begins investigating the strange disappearances that have all taken place in and around the Dreamscape Theater...Due to the improv nature of Critical Role and other RPG content on our channels, some themes and situations that occur in-game may be difficult for some to handle. If certain episodes or scenes become uncomfortable, we strongly suggest taking a break or skipping that particular episode. Your health and well-being is important to us and Psycom has a great list of international mental health resources, in case it’s useful: http://bit.ly/PsycomResourcesWatch Critical Role live Thursdays at 7pm PT on https://twitch.tv/criticalrole and https://youtube.com/criticalrole. To join our live and moderated community chat, watch the broadcast on our Twitch channel.

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

Hello everyone, and welcome to tonight's episode of Critical Role, where a bunch of us nerdy-ass voice actors sit around and play Dungeons & Dragons. We play Dungeons & Dragons! Before we jump into tonight's session, we do have some announcements to get through, beginning with the first of our sponsors... Quip, apparently. Sam, uh, yeah, go ahead. Tonight's episode has a brand new sponsor, Quip, the Good Habits Company, and their smart electric toothbrushes. Ooh! These awesome brushes have all the guiding features

of their original brush, guiding, with a new Bluetooth smart motor that connects to the free Quip app, so you can track your brushing, get tips, I don't know what I'm holding up, and daily coaching, and earn rewards for good habits, like brushing two minutes twice a day. Quip has a lot going on, guys,

but the one thing they don't have is a jingle. So I came up with some ideas, and before I pitch them to Quip, I thought I'd focus test them on you first. So be honest with your feedback, okay? The first one has a little modern disco beat. So hit it. Feeling the beat between my teeth. Smart electric toothbrush beep, beep, beep. Shake that booty.

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Mouth, mouth, disco. It's a bristle boogie. Wow. That felt so high. That was my cherry ball. I loved it. Oh, thanks, Travis. But you know what? It's no big. I loved it! Oh, thanks, Travis. But you know what?

It's no big, I've got some more ideas. This next one is a fresh country jam to appeal to a southern demographic. Let's hear it. Hit it. Well, I got a big old truck with a four-wheel drive V8 engine on stack. Grabbing our fishing gear off the extra heavy duty roof rack.

Pull the flatbed down, put the mud tires on, this truck can really cook. And with 1% APR financing, it ain't going to break my checkbook. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Drive equipped toothbrush today. Did you send it? All the sense on this.

I sent it to you. I loved it. Thanks, Travis. Yeah, it was getting late last night, so I might've recycled some older material for that one. But it's fine, it's fine. I got one more for you. This one is, it's dark and beat heavy,

like Billie Eilish or Lorde, all right? Oh, okay. Quip, you vibrate me all night long. Four timed vibrations for each quadrant of your mouth. The first 30 seconds and the 30, 30 seconds and the third 30 seconds and the fourth 30 seconds. I'm done. I hate it!

Well, maybe I'll try again next time. Anyway, start getting rewards for brushing your teeth today. Go to getquip.com. Where did the other thing go? Oh, you have it. I got it! Yay! To save $10 on a Quip smart electric toothbrush

or the smart bundle, maybe this is that, and as a special bonus for every smart brush purchased with code CRITICALROLL, Quip will make a $10 donation to our own 501c nonprofit organization, the Critical Roll Foundation. Yay! Check it all out and make the most of this special offer at getquip.com slash criticalrole.

Terms and conditions apply. Full terms at getquip.com slash CRF. Matt! I didn't know I was going to do that. Brush to you. It's vibrating! Ah! I've lost control. Well, thank you, Sam.

Thank you, Matt. Thank you, Quip, for unleashing him even further into madness. My god. Oh! Don't encourage him! The flak to you? Yeah.

This episode is also sponsored by our amazing partner, The Op, makers of amazing games, puzzles, and accessories for critters around the world. So far, we have released some great puzzles of iconic characters and moments from campaign one and campaign two, which include a collectible oversize 20-sided die featuring the Mighty Nein emblem on the 20 spot. Big boy. Yeah! That's pretty awesome.

Our very own Critical Role Munchkin card game, which is a first to play Munchkin for a long time to love. Based on the adventure of the Mighty Nein, where players relive iconic moments, encounter monsters and allies, and the very fun Critical Role Rubik's Cube, which also features the Mighty Nein campaign. You can find it all now at bit.ly.theop__cr.

And as a special offer through the end of the year, you can receive 10% off your purchase when you use the code CRITICALROLL21 and free shipping for orders $39.99 or more. Thank you so much for supporting us and supporting the show, guys. Woof, woof, woof, woof! Laura and Liam, you got stuff to talk about.

Go for it. We have had so many cool Vax & Vax items that have come out in the last few weeks with our partners and stuff. You might have heard us talk about Kith & Kin, our first novel with Penguin Random House. It is written by the fantastic Marika Nykamp, and you can get your copy right now wherever books are sold

or via criticalrolebooks.com. The audiobook version is also available now with narration by the one and only Blue Boy, Robbie Damon. You guys, too. You had me and Laura reprising our roles of, what are they called again? Vax and Vex. Vax and Vex.

I said your name first. Vox! Because, because, I don't know why I said his name first, from our friends at Sideshow, first of all, Oh gosh. Hold it up, because it's amazing. Get ready for this. Whoa!

Let's go! Woo! So gorgeous! This is going in my house, not the nerd office. Sorry. My house. Yeah, this was the one for the office, but we're stealing it. So you can pre-order, oh, this is beautiful, and it's by Ian McDonald. He's amazing.

You can pre-order the print, or either framed or unframed, and the art measures 24 by 18, just so you know. Of course, we have the Vex and Vex. I put some of the quip gum in my mouth. And you're loving it. No, don't spit out the sponsor stuff! I feel bad chewing gum while I'm talking about things.

It's very disrespectful. Which one's more disrespectful? We also have the Vex and Vex statues from Sideshow. There's so many details on them. Be sure to check them out. I wish I had it in front of me to show you because they're beautiful. You can learn more about all of those items at Sideshow.

At Sideshow slash Critical Role. Make it into your copy. We also have three new shirts available at Hot Topic. Two of which feature art from our Vox Machina Origins comic book series created with our friends at Dark Horse. This is by the wonderful Olivia Sampson, whose book I love. So good!

Her designs, you might've noticed, we're wearing them tonight. Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's awesome. This is actually not planned. We just both wanted to wear them tonight. Is that right? Yep, that's right. For real. You nerds. That's right.

That happens about once a month. In addition to that, we also have a shirt featuring Trinket! No! No! That's so good! You might recognize the design by Jenny Park from our Trinket Chibi pin.

Yeah. Ow! You can find these shirts. This is also a deadly weapon. You can find these shirts in other Critical Merch and Critical Role merch, in select, I'm so bad at scripts, in select Hot Topic stores or at hottopic.com. Welcome to Twincember.

Yay! Twincember. All righty. Well, before we jump in, also, Sam and Marisha. We've got extra medium. We've got something to talk about, too. You guys, guess what is about to happen. What's happening? It's happening. It's happening. Our new opening title sequence.

Oh my god! It's coming. Huge shout-out to our crew, who totally busted their fucking ass to get this thing going. It's epic, love them. And Sam, tell them about that sweet theme. There's a brand new opening theme song

written by myself and Peter Habib, music by Habib, lyrics by me, and sung by the amazing cast of Critical Role. They're all sitting here at this table. And so, I mean, I feel like we should just show it. I think so. I think we should. I can't wait to see it. Me, too.

Then let's do that as we go ahead and jump into tonight's episode of Critical Role. Oh! Critical. Critical. It's Thursday night. One by one we climb until we reach the top. Two by two we climb until we reach the top Two by two we fall

Will we meet our end or meet our destiny? Hold your breath and roll How do you want to do this? It's Thursday night All ye critters come join us It's time to continue our flight There is magic and mystery Who knows what will happen? Come join us, it's time to continue our flight There is magic and mystery, who knows what will happen?

He might But one thing's for sure, we never give up on the fight From the healer to the renegade, we all share the same goal. Adding more allies, taking more chances, hold your breath and roll. You can certainly try. It's Thursday night. All ye critters come join us, it's time to continue our fight. It's Thursday night. Come join us, it's time to continue our fight

There is magic and mystery from darkness Our friendship will rise But one thing's for sure We never give up on the fight Oh, get ready It's Thursday night And welcome back. So last we left off, this troop of adventurers

having lost a friend, avenged a friend, and really setting off to discover what the next wave of mysteries before them are worth pursuing, decided to follow one thread that was mentioned by Lord Eryx Astaroth to the Dreamscape Theater, where apparently a series of disappearances

he had heard rumored were occurring or had occurred in recent weeks around the establishment. Gathering your things, you headed further into the Core Spire of Jrusar to the Dreamscape Theater proper. You acquire tickets, and found yourself a nice box seat on the left-hand upper side of the theater, preparing for a performance of a troupe

referred to as Kendra's Flying Otters. Which, it's great when you make up stuff and then after work you're like, I don't know what I'm going to figure that out. Bring in the otters. But as you all have your seats, it seemed that Dorian was pulled aside. Somebody requested a conversation

in which an individual named Cyrus made themselves seen, and a brief, intense conversation ensued in the stairwell beneath before you returned to the box seat as the show was about to begin. And so here, within the steadily darkening interior of the Dreamscape Theater, you have a few moments to prepare before the performance of the afternoon.

What would you like to do? And Dorian's rejoined, right? I think right now Dorian is returning. Everything okay? Did you go get refreshments? I'm torn. No, I forgot right now, Dorian is returning it. Everything okay? Did you go get refreshments? I'm torn. No, I forgot, sorry, I just. Who was it?

Hmm? Who wanted you to come down there? Oh, that's right, it was a patron. Yeah, it was just someone who recognized me from a show and we chit-chatted for a little bit. I used the restroom and I'm excited to see the Flying Laughters, was it? I think it's Otters.

Like the... Yeah, I think that's what I heard. They just throw them around the stage. No, no, no, no. Let's hope. Quick insight check on that. It's Lauders. In French, you just say Lauders.

Oh, Lauders. Make a deception check if you'd like. Oh, yeah. Nine. Oh, cock. Keok. Oh, cock. Keyak? Oh, fuck. Eight.

Oh! All right. Okay. At this point, the last bit of light begins to vanish and you can see the small cylindrical devices that are affixed to the far upper right and left of the interior walls of the chamber begin to alight brighter.

As you see the stage, the curtains begin to steadily open as the music from the pit below begins to pick up a bit. And with that, you can see the audience begins to hush as performers begin to come to the stage. You can see what looks to be a troop of about six acrobats begin to come to the stage. You can see a troupe of about six acrobats begin to emerge and bow as the music begins to swell a bit. There's a few people with eyes like,

I thought it was going to be otters! Shh. But everyone prepares as they begin to release themselves into a flurry of flips and back handsprings and tosses into the air. A brilliant display of physical prowess. Back and forth across the stage, you're waiting for the moment to they collide

and they do not, it seems, they do not. It goes pretty damn well. There's a few moments where you find yourself clutching the wood on the edge of your chairs, uncertain if this is safe or going to end poorly, but with extreme speed and a practiced capability, you watch as they finish their first flurry of their gymnastics routine.

What you thought was a resonant chant that was rhythmic from an unseen chorus, you notice at this point, is coming from the performers as they undergo their display. As they finish for their bow, you can see their mouths moving in unison as this low chant that's being spoken and sung amongst them is the other half of their performance.

This is weird. Now this feels like they're summoning something. I'm watching the audience, if I can. Make a perception check. Nott. What is it? Nott. Oh my god. It's hard to see.

Really low lights now at this point. Attention's at the stage. Then you hear the pushing of wheels as a large seesaw-like device is brought to the center stage. There you watch as they begin to gather from side to side, where there are now ladders being placed on the sides. The curtains pull back further.

The lights and colors change and shift. As they all begin to take their places at the side, one by one, they begin to leap from the sides onto one side of the saw and catch the other and flip and rotate and catch off of bars that you didn't even notice were fixed higher onto the stage. With that, you watch as the energy begins to rise

and as they're doing this, the song changes. Now they're vocalizing a harmony, and as it progresses, you can't help but feel enraptured by this combination of physical capability and musical prowess. And nothing bad happens. It's going great without it.

The audience is in hushed gasps and whispers and cheering and shh, and just this constant cycling of reactionary sounds and exclamations from the people in the dark shaded space before you. You can see as at one point, they seem to have stopped on the seesaw. Then three individuals climb up and at once leap off in unison and slam onto one side.

The impact of the wood under the stage is so loud that you see people in the front row cover their ears and you're sure some of the wood may have cracked. As on the opposite side, one individual is thrown out of sight, up and beyond the curtains. Oh! He's dead. Where'd he go? He died.

Oh my god. Off the other side and caught by their friends and placed onto the stage, all their voices begin to come to a close as the one that was caught and landed comes out with this beautiful falsetto. All we are. Everyone goes,

okay, that was weird, but good on you. They cheer. When their third act, they pull away this odd seesaw, and you watch as swings descend from above the stage, what looks to be a set of three trapeze. And utilizing these same ladders, you can hear that falsetto voice

that ended the last act is now brought up by the other performers into an angelic chorus. It almost feels like some sort of odd warship-adjacent-like musicality that fills the chamber, echoing and swelling in this beautiful sound that feels almost like it requires reverie, but the energy of them climbing is palpable

as they leap and swing and grasp and spin. Not so great. One of them misses the swing. Poof, poof, poof, onto the wood. There's a pause. The other performers turn and look. They get up into a display, arms out. Ah, big cheers, big cheers.

And as they're cheering, they bow and bow and quietly exit the stage, holding their back. It's a madman. It is. Whenever it's quiet, I'm just wrestling with a paper bag of some sort. Yeah, just that person in the audience. Hard candies?

Yeah. Oh, for sure. Just lots of Werthers in the house. Werthers. Werthers! Damn you, brothers. The performance picks up into this final act for a moment,

but you can see there's a general nervousness amongst them. They seem to almost come to a close of the performance. The musicality of their voices now introducing an element of discomfort and curiosity amongst them. They end it rather abruptly and then leave the stage. There's some clapping. Bravo! Is that the end?

That could have been the end. That's what my hands sound like. Aw. A few moments pass beyond what would have been roughly a 25 to 30 minute performance. You watch as a half-elf man comes out onto the stage dressed in impeccable tails with broad shoulders that come to an extravagant point

that curve ever so slightly at the edges. This deep blue velvet with what looks to be almost like a leopard pattern interior that drifts past the back of his outfit. He has these faintly striped green and brown pants that go down to these immaculate boots. So he dies horizontally or vertically, just for ver- Horizontally die. Okay.

Good smile, good smile. A large smile and this toothy grin that he wears. He has a long and chiseled of complexion that looks to be maybe in his early 50s or so, but handsome and holds onto it well. You see his dark complexion and amber hair that is slicked back slightly to one side and this pencil mustache that glides

just over the upper lip. He steps out. Hello, everyone. Thank you so much for joining us for the matinee. Ah! I don't think you're supposed to talk. Hello. We hope you enjoyed this performance

of Kendra's Flying Larders. There are no refunds, but have a wonderful night, and hope to see you again. A good night. He exits the stage. There's a few claps. It's a weird way to respond. Something happened.

Why did he run? Specify no refunds. He's like, That's very specific. I think the show ended rather early. That's a weird way to close a show. That's weird shit. Maybe that one performer was hurt. Can we look down in the audience? Are the lights coming up at all?

The lights are beginning to come up. You can see the oil lanterns are now being turned up by the ushers as they move through the audience. You can make out the details of people now being able to shift from their seats talking. They look a bit confused. Some folks are leaving, some folks are excitedly talking

about what they had just seen. You can gauge their experience. Does anyone look especially distressed in the audience? Not in particular. Not running off of your... The lights are up now. I'd say roll another perception check. It's going to be bad.

Yeah, this is good. Oh! 20. Oh! You don't see anyone specifically distressed by any means, just a lot of confusion. These are all paying patrons of the arts, and there just seems to be, not unlike some of you up there in the box

that you paid quite a decent amount for, a bit of frustration at the brevity of the performance for the night. But people are beginning to exit and make their way beyond and out of the theater. What would you like to do? Is this standard fare for the theater? I think you said it did feel a little short.

Yeah. You would have been better with otters, honestly. Yes, I do, too. Can you imagine them doing that flippy thing? So cute. I mean, they're really, you ever see one of them, they smash open the clamshell. They can do juggling.

Yeah. I did like when the person fell, though. Oh, oh! It was exciting. Specifically, and was caught, or fell and was not caught? Just fell. Anyway, what were you going to say? What if we could say, having spent so much money on these particular seats, we could say that

we were enamored with the performance and wanted to congratulate the performers in person. A lot of times when people spend a lot of money on something, they're granted extra perks, right? Oh, backstage pass or something like that. Something like that, yeah. I'm sure we could ask. We need to go backstage, I smell money.

Of course, they could have as they say no, right? Let's give it a shot. Yeah, let's do it. And we just do it without permission. How do we do it? Do we go up and be like, ooh, we paid money, demand. We should probably say something,

just because he's the one that asked for the seats, after all. I suppose we try to flag down the attendant. All right. I'm going to peek my head out the curtain and look down the hallway. Do we see anybody around? It's a little staircase, at least, down beyond the box where you are, because you guys are elevated. But even looking over the hallway, do we see anybody around? It's a little staircase leads down

just beyond the box where you are because you guys are elevated. But even looking over the side, you can see there are three ushers that are working their way through, one of which is Siryn, the dragonborn that had previously both brought you to your seats and retrieved you for your encounter

before the performance. We could just say we were offered a backstage tour with the box scenes. Oh. A little bit. You're going to lead with a lie? Yeah. Okay. Pretty harmless. Why don't we all go at once?

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Like a little bit of pressure, that's it. I like that. Who's the most convincing liar? I could try. Yeah. You look respectable. Yeah, I think you do.

You look respectable. Yeah. I take a quick peek over the balcony's edge. Has it cleared out some? It's cleared out some, but people are taking their time. Some individuals are almost hoping that there's going to be an encore performance.

Others probably just have back issues and are taking their, I speak from experience, taking their time, yeah, to exit and then. It's not a night for them. Exactly. Sure. We head down?

Mm-hmm. Yeah. Okay. All right. Walk up to that usher. Okay, you can see her in the process is picking up elements of ticket scraps and other bits of, looks to be almost like now empty, discardable bottles, people that had snuck in.

He shakes his head for a minute before looking up. All right. Hello. We were just wondering what entrance it is we were supposed to use. Oh, the exit, or is that? Oh, not the exit, no, the entrance to the backstage. Oh, there isn't, you're not allowed to go.

Oh, we got special permission on account of being such esteemed patrons. He said, go to the proscenium, walk down the vom, and you'll be right there, something like that. Who said this? What was that? The little one. When we first met. Yeah, I can't remember his name.

Yeah, me either. Describe them, maybe I know. Smallish? Oh, a halfling. Yvonne? Yep. Maybe. That's the one. Stu-von. Oh no, Stu-von's the...

Oh. Oh, you know what? It might've been him, after all. Oh! Yeah. Make a deception check. I would've given you advantage. Oh. But a few people chimed in there

as opposed to just the two of you, so. It was the two faces of the group. Well. And suddenly it was the group. Yeah. Well, that's not. 13. 13. 13? I apologize, but I should.

You need to check with someone. I but I should. Do you need to check with someone? I think I do. All right. Just wait here. I'm going to go ahead and make sure. Was it Stuvaag you said? You know, I can't be sure that's his actual name. No, he was smaller.

You know, she has a bad memory. I forget. I jumble letters together and put a bad line between, you know. It sounds like a halfling ticket taker. Oh, gotcha. Yes, it is. All right. I'll go ahead and check. He exits past you and begins shuffling off to the front.

If you could hurry, because we're on a tight schedule. Then he exits through the exit into the main area there. Well, that could have gone better. Should I just sneak in? Yeah, that's what I was hoping. Yeah, let's just sneak in. I'm very sorry. I thought that the name popped in my head

and then I realized it wasn't it. You did great. Who's Duvon? I don't remember. You've run through them. Duvon's the fellow who just made the speech at the end of the show. Oh, that is him, yes.

Oh, okay, well, that could have worked. That could have worked. Yeah. Well. Okay. So what are you doing? Is there an entrance to that stage? Stage entrance. Is there a stage door? From this point, you don't see an immediate entrance to the stage.

You just go on the stage and go? You can. Yeah, it can. Yeah, you know how it works. Is there anybody in the room? Yes, there's probably about 40 other patrons that haven't exited yet. Okay. Should we make them leave? We can create a distraction.

Oh. I'm sure we can come leave? We could create a distraction. Oh. Oh. I'm sure we can come up with something where I'm... I got it. I cast Thaumaturgy. Sure. Then from backstage, you hear, fire, fire, everybody leave, fire! Oh god. In a literal open theater.

Living the dream. Then thaumaturgy again, you start to smell smoke. You start to smell smoke. Yeah. Okay. Thaumaturgy one more time, looks like smoke. Jesus, thaumaturgy is the greatest spell ever. Shrifts and limits a little bit of thaumaturgy here.

It's a cantrip, but it's enough to get a few people's attention. I take it this is the instantaneous sound. Yeah. Okay. It's not a phrase, so fire is about as much as you can get out with it. So you're fire. Fire!

From backstage? Fire! From backstage? Uh-huh. All right, people immediately begin to get up and grab their things and usher up. So you're on fire. From backstage? From backstage? All right, people immediately begin to get up and grab their things and usher up. Fire, did you hear a fire? There's a fire. They begin to exit with haste.

We should move. We should move. Let's move. Onto the stage and backstage? Yeah. Okay. I would like you all to make a stealth check if you're doing this quietly. Oh god, what are we doing?

Oh boy. This is worthless. No way. Who is it? Nah. 20. 18. Worthy team?

21. Seven. Okay. What is that? Squeaky wheel. We have to lift him up. This is a don't use that dice again, because I can't tell what.

It's a three. No, it's not. It can't dice again, because I can't tell what. It's a three. It's a two? No, it's not. It can't be a three, it's backwards. Why would you use this die ever? Because sometimes it rolls amazing. I respect that. And other times, there's no in between with it. I didn't do it well.

It's a five. Okay, fine. What'd you get, Imogen? Oh, I rolled a 20. A 20? 23. 23? Seven. Ooh. Okay.

Thankfully, there was some distraction in there. Overall, more successes than failures. Even though a few people probably watched you go on stage, they don't necessarily give a shit, because they're either worried about the fire or like, I want to couth and just keep moving. But you do scoot up into the wings of the stage past the curtains and immediately back there,

you can see there is a stagehand there. It looks to be some of the performers are in the process of kneeling and helping get cushions under the one that fell during the performance, who looks like they're injured, but is not grievous by any means. They're just like, they don't notice you.

Do we have a healer? Except for the half-elf man who finished the performance, who, as you come through the curtain, is literally standing right there in front of you as you push through, who would have been at the front of the pack leading the charge into the backstage? I'll go first.

Maybe they lifted me on the stage first, let's say. Okay. So as you cruise by, and into the side, you almost run straight into the sternum of this man. Nobody wants to be first. He stops, puts a hand on your shoulder. I'm sorry.

What are you? Oh, I'm a... Hi, I'm Fresh Cut Grass. You're not supposed to be here. Oh, I was very concerned about your performer who had an injury and wanted to come back and offer my services. I'm a bit of a medicine bot.

A dress for a medicinally trained individual. Costumes are always welcome, but I believe me when I say that we have it under control. And you hear, and you see them helping the performer up and stretching a bit. You can see someone has administered some numbing agent to the space

where they impact it on their butt. Oh, I don't want to disagree with you. It seems like you do have everything in hand, but I think I could help that performer feel better much quicker. He is quite a talented medical practitioner. Take the persuasion check. Sure.

13. 13. 13. The person that you've sussed out at this point is Stuvaan. Gives you a look. Well, I'm certain it wouldn't hurt, at the very least. Make way, we have a curious, self-professed healer who's arrived and guides you past and then looks over at you. I'm sorry, this is not an exit.

You have to go the other way. Oh, of course, we're just, with him, we just had to accompany our associate. Self-professed healer. You really enjoyed the show, too, by the way. Yeah, you're lucky we had such esteemed boxes where we were sitting that we could see the view. Oh, I'm so glad you enjoyed it.

And has forgotten entirely about you and the harmed individual and is now engaged in this like, well, really, any time. There is a membership that you could actually apply that will allow cheaper seats throughout the seasons. What else do you have airing over the rest of the season? Oh, well, I have to go ahead and get my repertoire out of my office here in a bit, but.

We'd love to accompany you. Make a prescription check. Come on, just get one more. One more, come on. Oh, okay, okay. 22. Hey. He looks at you, looks at Dorian in particular

over the dress and goes, certainly that can be arranged. Just a moment, please. In the meantime, you- I'm rolling over and I'll just assess the situation. Is this performer hurt badly? Make a medicine check. 15 plus five, 20.

Mm. Taking a glance at how they're holding themselves, the physicality of how they're adjusting their weight to compensate, you get the sense that probably this might be a fractured tailbone. Ooh. Oh, wow. Oh, end the game. Not okay. End the game.

So not serious, but definitely not enjoyable. By any means. Oh, I couldn't help but notice that you're injured. Do you mind if I touch you and? What are you? I can only help you, I promise. I'm designed to help you. He looks at the other members.

And this up close, you get a glance. You can see that there is a familial thread between everybody here. There definitely is. This is like a family of performers. Steuvaan said that I was welcome back here. All right, I guess, if you can help. This'll only take a second, but I'll have to touch your backside,

if that's all right with you. That is fine. Okay. Just turn over a little bit. The nerves begin to definitely creep up into their expression. You'll be fine. No! I will gently lay my hand on their back

and cast Cure Wounds. All righty. Go ahead and roll. Let's see, d8. Not great. Five hit points. That's not bad. Great for a busted ass.

There is a sound. Oh! Ah! And you watch everyone else all of a sudden reach forward and grab before you, like, what the fuck are you doing? Before they go, Ha!

Ha! Ha! Oh my goodness. That's amazing. Well, there was just a little alignment issue that we had. Apparently. Oh, wow. Thank you, Small Metal Thing. You've been very helpful.

Oh, it was a fantastic show. I'm sorry you took a spill there, but before, you were just incredible, flying through the air like that. Just remarkable. Well, it is a family affair here. We are only as good as we are as a whole. You're all related to each other?

More or less. Wow. I take it there was more to the show? There was, but, you know, we have to take care of ourselves first. So great. How long have you been in the business? And looks over, and you can see

there's the older woman of the troop. Steps forward, you can see she's in her early 50s, but fitter than anyone you've seen in their 20s, for the most part. Comes forward with a discerning glance, and at this point now, you can see the protectiveness, the matronly protectiveness kick in as they begin to look through you

and take in both of you with as much of an instant read as they can. He goes, My name is Kendra, and this is my family. We have been doing this for about 15 years together, and we will continue to do it until I drop or the rest of us do. Wow, so you're the head honcho.

Yeah, I'll look at her, look back at you. Cool. I thank you very much for helping my son. It's my absolute pleasure. And I can't wait to see your next show. And she looks over, and the younger performer that you helped goes, Maybe sooner than we were discussing. She goes, Well, you need to rest regardless,

just to make sure. Anyway, it is appreciated. We could actually maybe use your help for something since we're back here. I'm not sure we could be helpful, but tell me. We do need a little information. There have been some rumors flying around about people disappearing from the theater.

We're just looking into that a little bit. We all glance at each other and Kendra goes, I cannot say I've heard of Schroomers. We've only been in town for about a week. Oh, so you're a traveling show? We are, yes. Oh, how long are you in residence at this theater? Only for two more weeks.

And you've only been here a week? Yes. Oh, okay. On that note, Orym is going to fade back while everyone's talking to them, and just out of curiosity, check out the house again and see if anyone's lingering. You got it, the Royal Perceptionist. Can I also ask where Steuvaan is

in relation to all of this? Because I kind of lost track of all of this. While this conversation in healing is happening, Steuvaan was talking with you guys up until the point where you wanted to reengage, in which case he would have followed. He wants to stay nearby. He definitely seems invested in these sudden arrivals that are going to possibly drop more money

onto the performances. I'll fade back with Orym and just be a second set of eyes with him as well. Okay. So perception check? 22. 22? Okay. Yeah. Assistance. I'm always at advantage.

That's a secret. He's always at advantage. It's a secret. He's always at advantage. No, he's not. With perception in the game and life. You see most patrons leave, but one, who in the far, far back, to the side of the exit, you see one, it's hard to see this distance, but they're wearing in the far, far back, to the side of the exit, you see one. It's hard to see this distance,

but they're wearing a hood indoors, which is... Really cool. Remarkable. Super cool. It's awesome. I wear my sunglasses at night. It's every online role-playing character from the late 90s. Look at the paladna.

Look off in the corner there. Ooh. See that creeper? Spooky creeper. It's right about then that they exit after the other patrons. What do you think? Probably nothing. Shall we follow?

Why don't we put it like that? Let's go. All right. Kendra. As we leave, I just go, send a message. Imogen, be right back. Be right back. And I'll send back, starting a connection. All right, let me know for four minutes what's going on.

Dig-dig-dig-dig-dig. Just go for it. Just hamster dance plays in the background of her messages. All of Imogen's messages are accompanied by banjo playing. Yeah. I'll talk to production, see if we can make it happen. No.

What? No. No. What? No. I'm not even kidding. Apparently not even funny. While that's transpiring, and Stu Vaan is beginning to approach the group, Kendra's talking to him, she goes, Your best bet in asking about any recent things

would be the owner, and points over to Stu Vaan, who steps in and goes, What about me? Ooh. Kend and goes, Um, what about me? Caleb goes, They're asking about, there have been disappearances. And Steuvaan goes, That's preposterous. I mean, there are those people that leave the performances early,

because whether they are unappreciative of the art we present or drunkards, there have been no disappearances. Is there a particular section where people often leave? Maybe that seat in the house doesn't get the best view or something. I'm going to cast Detect Thoughts as I ask that. You may.

Oh, jeez. Jesus, what? That is going to be a 16. What's your DC? Fuck, 14. 14. That's a good idea. Keep going.

You still catch surface thoughts, right? Or is it only the deep death? Yeah, you only roll if I'm prying, prying. Yeah, I'll catch surface thoughts. Yes, regardless. Surface thoughts you catch is an immediate beat of recognition to fear, to curiosity.

And a thought of like, what? Huh. And he goes, Kendra, take your family to rest. You've had a very intense past hour, but well done, well done, everyone. Have a good night. We should talk.

Oh, all right, we'll follow. And your offices? If you don't mind, just follow me, please. Do you want me to take care of the other kids, or do you want some muscle here? I don't think we'll need muscle, but it's up to you. We should all stick together. Well. You having two not here

would be all right. Orym and Laudna are off. Orym's pretty capable. All right. Laudna's got things covered. Off to where? Where'd they go? They followed someone. And I'll just ask Laudna, where exactly were you going?

I saw a creepy guy in the corner. Yes, you have a nice job. They saw a creepy guy in the corner. Just giving him a look, see? Yes. What do we look like? They saw a creepy guy in the corner. Just giving him a look, see? A look, see? Yeah. He's got a nice tie. What did he look like?

Can you ask her what look? What did he look like exactly, Laudna? What did he look like exactly? He had a really cool cloak. What color was it? What color was it? It was hard to see the low house lights that weren't super bright at this distance,

but you did roll pretty high, so you would know. It would've been like a dull gray. In fact, now that the question comes up again and you think about it, it's not unlike an individual that you saw when you had a run-in with the Corsairs. Oh, interesting. Oh, it was something that they saw at the Corsairs. So when I perceived in the wings

the Corsair, was he cloaked? Did he have a hood? Mm-hmm. Okay. Pulled the hood back before revealing himself. Okay. I think we've got a friend ahead. Not a friend. I don't know, he could be friends.

Could be. So you both? I don't think they might be friends. I'm not sure. Unlikely. I saw someone earlier lurking in the wings. Oh. Mm-hmm. You saw lurkers? I didn't know what to think of it at the beginning.

I thought maybe it was part of the act, or... I saw it and it just sort of, I don't know, it's distracted. Anyway, yeah, I think it was someone from the Corsairs. Keep us posted, Laudna. We'll do. We'll do. Kill the puppy.

Man, talking to her just always makes me feel so warm inside. In the interim, while you two are, I would like you both wanting to make a stealth check as you are pursuing this individual. Fail me? All right, all right, all right, all right. 17.

16. 16, okay, got it. While you guys begin to pursue carefully out of the chamber, the rest of you follow Stu Vaughn out of the wings of The rest of you follow StuVon out of the wings of the theater into a hallway, into a switchback staircase that leads to a second floor on the level of where the rafters would have been.

And a little further back, you can see there is a nice dark mahogany door that has these intricate carvings of the comedy and tragedy masks that are mingled in with tree leaves and what looks to be a relief composition of Jrusar's spires in a simplistic way. Following into the interior, it's not a massive office by any means.

It's quite cluttered with the furniture that's there. And you'd see a lot of collected antique furniture that has been used to fill most of the space here, almost to ensure that anybody that's entering and stepping at the edge of the desk to greet him is uncomfortably pressed into proximity. So the five of you pushing in there is very much shoulder to shoulder

as Duvon steps around to the other side of his desk and sits down, crosses one knee over the other, places his desk and sits down, crosses one knee over the other, places his hands on the edge. If you wouldn't mind closing the door for me, please. Thank you. Welcome. So you're asking about disappearances.

Where did you hear about this? All over. Everybody's talking about it. Make a deception check. Just everybody. 12. Really? Everyone? I mean, I don't know everyone in this city. Just, I mean, I think that was more of a general statement.

Where did we hear about it? I can't remember. It's come up a lot. I mean, honestly. The fact that we're even here should have you a little worried. Oh, I'm quite curious as to what your intent is asking these questions. Only to help you out.

Really? Just a few deep-pocketed strangers come and see one of our matinee performances and decide out of the goodness in their heart that they're going to look into some disappearances that apparently have been rumored by everyone. Isn't it? Pretty much. Yeah, wouldn't you be more suspicious

if penniless, desperate people appeared at your door wanting to know about this stuff? So smart. It is possible there are good people in the world. Sits back and thinks for a second. You take in the garish office. You can see all sorts of baubles and posters of performances past

that are plastered along the walls. You can see Esmer and the Child of Light across the Ozmit under a ruddy night. The Calamity, an interpretive dance history of Exandria's greatest tragedy. I want to see that. I want to see that. To Kill a God, the Scanlan Shorthalt one-man show.

Oh! All manner of various performance posters from throughout the years have been collected and are on display. Some seem to have maybe caught a bit of moldy corners at the edges, but nevertheless, it is definitely a collection of keepsakes for one man who is desperately trying to keep this theater

what he wants it to be. You've been in business for a long time. Oh, I've been in business for not enough time, but we're working on it. Look. Not enough time, but we're working on it. Look, I love you. If you are indeed here to help, it's not like you're going to do any more than the Wilders,

Wardens have not done, than to just pressure me with questions. Yes, yes, we've had some disappearances. Don't know why, and I'm a bit frustrated that anyone I've spoken with has turned up with no answers, and a lot of eyes seem to be on me. How long have they been going on? About three weeks ago was the first disappearance

of our previous janitor. His name is Usha Brek. Say that again one more time. Our previous janitor, Usha Brek, a very nice, older halfling gentleman who'd been working here for over 10 years. Quiet, kept to himself, but was a good worker, was... I didn't interact with him too much,

but he just sort of vanished. We thought maybe he'd just quit. Maybe he decided to move on. So we didn't think anything of it. I replaced the position, it was fine. Two weeks ago, we had a performance troupe come through, known as the Diamond Mask. One of the performers, a half-giant actor

who played not the lead, but one of the supporting roles named Cino, then vanished. The troupe began to ask questions. I, of course, have no answers, but performers, they can be flaky. Were these happening during the shows, or? To my knowledge, these disappearances

were not noticed until either intermission or some point after the night's festivities. But two performances is a little odd. Or two disappearances. Um. But. Two performances, Little Odd. Or two disappearances. Within that same week, we had two patrons vanish. Mrs. Eden Caldswell and Mr. Amir Liotto. Both, well, often at the same box

that you currently took up seats in this event. Oh, wow. But they disappeared. No one noticed until their family came around asking the next day, their separate families. What was the second gentleman's name? Mr. Emhyr Liotto. They apparently were last seen here

for our performance for the night. And this was that same troupe, the Diamond Masks, were performing during that time? They did bring the understudy, believing that Cino, the performer, may have just absconded. So they were finishing out their run, and that's when these patrons apparently disappeared

the night they were seeing the show. One week ago, we had an occasional patron named Yarden. I do not know his last name. Not very well off. Occasionally scrounged up the money for one of our backseat tickets. Younger gentleman, he apparently vanished as well, and friends of his began to ask similar questions.

So that's when I really began to take notice. My nerves began to fray a bit and began to do my own internal investigations. But it's very hard to maintain focus while also trying to run a business. It's about this time that word got to the wardens and they began to poke around to no avail other than, well, beginning to make very presumptuous statements

in and at my presence. Well, beginning to make very presumptuous statements in and at my presence. Then three days ago, a young woman who was one of our rotating bartenders here at the theater, named Lydni Osadala, she vanished, and she's the most recent. So we're now looking at a total of six people who have disappeared in the period of three weeks,

and I'm growing anxious and worried. So if you're looking to help, what do you have? Well, first of all, can I just say that that sounds tragic and horrible, and I'm sorry that you had to go through all this, shouldering this burden of guilt and all by yourself. But we can't help. We've been pretty good about finding people

who either don't want to be found or have been lost themselves so far. We're one for one, right? Are you investigators? What is your trade, if I might ask? Um. You look a bit, and I mean this with nothing but the utmost respect, in this light, you look a bit...

patchwork. We are intentionally, as such. We're a jack-of-all-trades troupe. Everyone brings something. Hmm. So what are you looking for? The adoration of the innocence of Jrusar? You're looking to make a name for yourself,

or are you just wanting a payday? Like many performers, we also have a patron, and he just wants to do some good in the world, so we're here to please him. Leans forward, getting a little darker in the face. So you were sent here by someone who sent you, if I might ask. We're not really at liberty to discuss that. I, for one, can say I'm excited to be

a patron of the local arts in any way I can. We're not fully under his wing as of yet. We're not fully under his wing as of yet. So we only take jobs that appeal to our nature. So, just out of the goodness of your own heart. That hard to believe, huh? Sometimes.

But we are purveyors of stories of hope here. And even in this old, long-dragged gut of mine, I would like to think there are individuals out here that wish to make a difference. But you also want money, yes? If it happens, it happens. All of these people that went missing, what type of show was it? A matinee, an evening, was it all sorts?

They all seemed to be evening performances, if I recall. All right. Or at least the disappearances were noticed by the next morning. All right. Any particular nights in general? There wasn't a pattern, if that's what you're asking. It was a bit scattershot in which days it happened. All right.

And just to make sure that we have all of our geese in a row, you didn't have anything to do with it? I absolutely not. I'm too busy to commit anything as foul. Did you build this structure yourself, or do you buy it already after it was built? A little bit of both.

I purchased it in a simpler state and expanded it, unleashing its potential. And do you have an underground storage in this theater? We do. Would you mind if we took a look around there? He glances back at the five of you again. You've been rather quiet. What's your specialty in this strange troupe?

Oh. Humble bard. You know, a few jokes. You're a performer. Are you a performance troupe? Are you trying to use this to get yourself an audition? No, no, no, no. We all come from various backgrounds

and found our way together. Because I respect the hustle. Well, you know, maybe once we've found. I want nothing less than to be on a stage. No offense. Nope. Okay, that clarifies something. I wouldn't mind. Oh, really? Oh, it just sounds fun.

It looked fun. They were all up there getting clapped at and stuff. Well, you know, maybe after all this is done, we can look at Dorian and FCG and Fearne, too. Yes, I would love to perform as well. Ashton? Oh boy. No, no, no. Oh no.

We'll watch from the wings. There. Yes, I will notify the staff that you are here under my business to ask questions. And the staff would probably have better questions, too. Better answers to your questions than I would, since I don't really directly deal with most of these individuals of interest.

Two quick ones, three quick ones, then. Throw in a fourth while you're at it. What do you want? Oh, four, then. Well, first, do you know about any secret entrances, weird trapdoors that may exist in the building connecting to the center of the Core Spire, et cetera? No, the only trapdoors we have are to the stage,

and those are specifically just to go under the stage. We'll keep an eye on Ashton, for sure. Two, is there anyone working here who worked here before you got here? No, I am the oldest one. Three, is it possible to get an- Not to point out, but a lot of our employees are also very young, so.

Sometimes there's someone who remembers something that's way back there. These buildings are weird. Is it possible to get an address for that janitor that disappeared at some point? That would be where I'd want to start looking once we've scavenged the theater. If I'm going to be entirely honest,

I have no idea where he lives. No, that's fair. Maybe we can ask some of the people in front. The staff might know. Yeah, they might. Also, you might want to let your staff know that we are a-okay to be here. I will do so. I'll do it now, actually.

Please exit my quarters. Before we go, just one quick question for me, just based on what we were talking about before. That isn't a costume, is it? What are you? You can see now, he leans in real close and starts inspecting me, looking over the lens-like eyes and like,

pardon me, poking the metallic face. You know what? I don't honestly know, but I think I was built to be helpful. But I was really curious about what you said before. How do you get into acting? Like, do you take a class? Or do I need an agent of some sort? Like, I'm sure you get this question a lot.

I do, please. We know where he comes from. Particularly with the voice. People say I sound really cool, and I think that's all I really need. Get out! I'm going to slowly grab fresh cut grass and drag them out of the room.

Also. Out! No, no, this is actually important. We have a couple of companions who are out right now on an errand, but they will be joining us here shortly, I assume. A small man named Orm, he's a halfling, very agile, brown hair,

and a wonderful friend. Her name is Laudna. She is partially dead. Walking the Diver. Yeah. She can be dead. Walking cadaver. Yeah. She can be intimidating in her presence. Dark hair, beautiful. Fine, great. Gorgeous. Rotting. Has a rat.

I will notify the staff, just leave. Thank you. Orym, Laudna, they're joining us. Very well. Wait. Orym and Gatlin. One more, just for clarification. You said that people wouldn't notice that they were missing until the next morning?

Or sometimes intermission. Or sometimes intermission. Or sometimes intermission. Most of the individuals that disappeared, I actually don't know the specifics. You might need to ask around. The half giant, the performer, was that in the middle of a show that he went missing

or at the end of it? That was afterward. Okay. Do you have a... You run the whole ship. Do you have a stage manager or someone who oversees what's going on? I have two individuals that help me manage

the length and breadth of the establishment that are my right-hand helpers. There's Tefta. She handles most of the business and financials with me. And there is Ocampo. Ocampo? Previously a performer, but has now become one of my stage managers and helps run the ship.

All right. Thank you very much. Of course. Reaches over and you can see off to the side, there is an odd conical device that is affixed to the left-hand wall and leans into it. There is an odd troop, and you hear an echoing through,

and you now notice this is a strange connecting series of audio tubes. A strange troop of seven odd individuals that have my permission to wander the premises. Help them if you can. Two of them are apparently scattered about. There is a small childlike one named Boram. Boram.

And a creepy lady one. I don't remember. Laudna. Please exit. Door is closed behind you. I leave my headshot on the way out. Slide it under the door. Just 17 more questions.

Just 17 more questions. Is your resume stable to the back? It is. Of course. How good the back? Yeah, of course. How are you? Good, good. In the interim. I put it in an envelope full of confetti. I love it. Yeah, you're cold-minded.

Horseback riding's a special skill, thank you. I have my own roller skates. I can twist it. It hurts. Orym and Laudna. Pursue your dreams, everyone watching. Suffer with the rest of us. That's the worst.

That's the biggest sin. No, don't do that. Don't do it. Everything else, give it a shot. The two of you have pursued into the entryway of the theater, the holding entrance where you can see the ticket holders are no longer present, and there are a few people that are lingering and just having conversations,

maybe a half dozen or so that are left in here, but the doors are partially open and people are exiting, and you can see the dragonborn usher is just making sure that everyone leaves. You catch, just fading past into the night air at this time, which it is a night. Oh boy. Buckle up. Oh shit.

You see a similar figure heading off into the night air. I want to get a little air. Huh, sounds good. As we're walking through the lobby, too, I just want to keep my ears open and see if I catch any chatter from the audience. If anyone's like, where's George? I don't know.

What? Fucking George. No talk of George, strangely. Okay. But a little bit of chatter you catch up on seems to be people going, Well, it was a good show. I just wish maybe it was a bit longer. And somebody else is, you know,

oh, I remember when I had a body like that. Many years ago, I could climb and leap with the rest of them, but then I married you. You know? Isn't that funny? best of them, but then I married you. You know. You step out into the night air and... You're exercising. You take care of yourself. And it's the city at night, right?

It is the city at night. You can see the temperature has dropped. I want to know more about that. How did it come to this? The next hour and a half. The temperature has dropped significantly for the night. It is a bit chilly and there is a faint mist that is starting to apparate along certain elements

of the city around you. Make a perception check for me. A little ones. What is that? That's a one. That's not much better. Uh... 19.

That's real good, though. Sure. It's pretty good. The better one. I'll roll two of them. Three of them. Unfortunately, you lost sight of them. Wow! 19. Can I roll? Oh boy.

You know what? Yeah. Of course you can. That's true, because you have advantage on Matthew, so yeah, go ahead and roll separately. I can do it. Let's go, dead girl. Come on! No.

No, 12. I think you went... I think I... No, you went that way. No, 12. I think he went... I think I... No, he went that way. No, I was watching him. He was... I jump six feet in the air and try to look over the crowd and then land back down.

Shit. There's a child about your height who was holding hands with the mom who was in the mid-conversation on the outside, who was just staring at you, and he goes, Cool. Well.

And buries his face into his mom's skirt. Stay away from the theater, kid. You want to go back inside? I guess. Well, that was short-lived. Yeah. Fuck. Sorry. Fuck. Sorry. Rolled really high. Tired time wandering around the theater,

wondering where the fuck we went. All right, I'm going to try the lower men's room. I'll try the upper women's room, I guess. We'll just cross ways again. Right. Okay. Quickly discovered the bathrooms here are unisex, but yeah. It's progressive, it's good. Good for them.

You wander a bit, trying to, are you looking for the rest of the troop or are you doing your own investigations here? I guess we're touring the theater at this point. Until we find them, yeah. Yeah. Well. You should go search. Come with me. All right.

I lead us to the spot where I first spotted the person. I'm just on the off chance that they dropped their parking ticket. Sure, roll an investigation check for me. 17. 17, not bad. They didn't drop anything. You feel confident that you're not missing anything,

but you get the sense that they were only there briefly. All right. That's a big fat dud. Yeah, I'm stumped. You want to talk to Imogen? See where they're at? Yes, I'd check in with Imogen. I'll check in with Imogen.

Oh, well, we lost him. Oh, I see. Right, as you guys are pushed out from the chamber of your conversation, you hear the terrifying whispers of Laudna into your mind. Oh, perfect timing. Bum, bum, bum. Don't do it, don't start that.

Yeah, we don't want to decide that you smelled bad or something. Hey, I'm not the one that's covered in dirt. Yeah, you introduced yourself as being covered in shit, Liam, it's true. Cross-campaign wounds. Go back to episode one. We are about to tour their underground storage facility,

if you would like to join us. Ooh. They're about to tour the underground storage facility. Meet you by the, where are we tour the underground storage facility. Meet you by the... Where are we going? Underground storage facility? I don't know where to tell you, but we'll meet you on the ground level.

Should we do, should we come with you, or should we inspect other areas while you're distracted? No, we've got the run of the place now. So come with us. We could use all the eyes we could get. All right. Let's meet them downstairs.

As you gather up in the main theater chamber, is that where you're meeting up? Sure, yeah. Ground in the main theater chamber, is that where we're going to go? Sure. As you convene there, you see, stepping off the stage, a human man in his 30s,

reddish brown skin, wavy black hair that covers over one eye and goes just past the chin. You can see he has all manner of jewelry that are visible peeking through from underneath the jet black baggier outfit that he's currently wearing over his body. You can see it has a hood that's placed over the shoulder.

Make a history check for me. 10. 10, yeah. You don't pick up anything noteworthy or memorable of this, but the figure steps off the stage. All right, so we're supposed to be showing you around, I guess. I'm Ocampo, I'm the stage manager.

Oh, hi! What are you looking for? We're looking for clues. About? We know there's been some disappearances around here. We're trying to get a bead on maybe some entrances that we don't know about or exits. You know about the disappearances, right?

I'm well aware, yes. How aware? Well, I've worked with a couple of them. Three of them if we include the performer, but that was a temporary time. Yeah, why? I was just trying to figure out if you had something to do with it.

No. Excuse my phrase. I think what she means is, do you have an opinion about perhaps what's been happening? We always ask such specific questions. We never ask the person's feelings. What did you feel happened here? Very, very smart. Thank you for asking.

I mean, look, Uisha was a very sweet man. Just kept to himself. Make a persuasion check. Mm-hmm. Oh, that'd be a 24. 24, okay. Yeah, he opens up to you immediately.

He's like, Usha was a very, very nice man. He worked here before I started. I've only been here for about three, four years as a stage manager. I was a performer beforehand and just stuck around. But he was very nice. He was emphatic in keeping everything clean

in and outside of the theater. He kept the surrounding streets clean. He was just very into his work. Nice, like, genuinely nice or nice, like, boy, I always thought he was such a nice guy, too bad he ate the neighbors, you know? That's a... Did he eat the neighbors?

No, no, no. Never mind. It was very nice, very nice. No weird vibes? No, no, just kept to himself. It was sad vibes, if that makes sense. Seemed a little lonely. Oh.

Yeah, I didn't know too much about Mrs. Caldwell and the other one. You might want to ask Tefta. know too much about Mrs. Caldwell and the other one. You might want to ask Tefta. I know that she had more of a rapport with them. Tefta, in general, had a little more face time with a lot of the patrons here. I just ran things from behind the stage. I feel bad about Lydney, though.

She was very sweet. She'd only been here for a few months. Bright-eyed young woman, wanting to, you could see she wanted to be an actor herself, and this was what she thought was her shoe-in. She mentioned a few times and I passed it up the chain. You know, maybe there was an opportunity down the road to have her in for an audition and then... So if you wanted an audition,

you are the person to talk to about that? No, no, no, no, no. I mean, I can pass it along, but I mean, all of that goes through Steuvan. He's the one with the eye for talent. We're in basement storage, right? That's what we're saying? Not yet. The other guys are

walking and talking as you go. You're getting to that space, as you're pulling out keys and the key ring and starting to situate. Did you see Usha or Lydney the night they went missing? Do you have any memory of it? I did, yeah. I think I did, yes. Do you remember where they were when you last saw them?

Usha was just doing his usual rounds, cleaning the inside, cleaning the outside. It's kind of his business. And Lydney was at the bar? Lydney was at the bar. She was very nice. She's a very quiet girl. Kind of kept to herself on her breaks. Where did she go on her breaks?

I don't know specifically. I think maybe outside. She... I don't know for certain, but you could smell under her clothes sometimes. I think she enjoyed partaking in the burning of various tobaccos. All right.

Usha, the first to disappear, as janitor, did he have keys, a master key? Did he have access to all of the theater? Yeah, who all had keys to the theater? I would be, between me, Stuvaan, and Teth, I would be the only three with access to the entire theater.

Usha would have had access to the front door and all of the central chambers, but the offices and the storage basement, he would not have had keys to. All right. What type of performer did you use to, what did you do? Oh, well, I was a actur. Oh.

And a poet, depending on what was required of me at the time. Wow. Very cool. Impromptu poetry or rehearsed? Oh, I was reading other people's poetry. I guess orator should be the specific term. I did not write my poetry, but I was very good at speaking other people's words.

Like forensics. Sure. Cool. Anyway, opens the door other people's hearts. Like forensics. Sure. Anyway, opens the door and you can see the staircase descends into a lightless expanse below. This is always the creepiest part of a theater. Fuck, I've always wanted to do this.

Goes ahead and reaches up and grabs a lantern and turns, you can see the wick light a bit and pulls the oil lantern down. You're coming? Yeah. Before we plunge, I would like to hang back as everyone's going down and just take one last scan of the house

and anything I can see from the stage and see if I can clock Cyrus. Yeah, make a perception check. 17. Not bad. You do a thorough scan in a short period of time, feeling confident that looking within the inside, no sign of Cyrus.

I get unnaturally close to him. What are you looking for? Oh, Jesus! Um. To make- Did you see something? No, no, I was just making sure everyone made it out safely from the fire. We lost that creepy guy really quick. Oh, good, yes.

Oh no, not, oh. I mean. He lost us. You lost him? Well, in a fascinating way, because it depends on how you phrase it, I guess. I suppose if he was a threat, we lost him? Well, in a fascinating way, because it depends on how you phrase it, I guess. I suppose if he was a threat, we lost him, but if you were after him, he lost you. Oh, makes you think.

Are you coming? Yes. Right. I tread behind everyone in the dark, saying, MacVeth. I attack. You doomed him! What's your theater nerd?

I whistle a jaunty tune. Don't think I didn't think about there being some sort of a curse laid on this theater. So you descend, following into the basement area here. With the light that you can see curling from the lantern, there are large cases, like luggage compartments and locked boots that have bits of costumes spilling out

on the side of where they were closed. You can see there is cobwebs everywhere. This is the graveyard of performances past where props and portions of stage decor and flats are left and forgotten in the far end. It is truly nightmarish without context and still creepy with context to see just this odd arrangement

of nonsensically fit together colors and shapes and furniture and masks and partial creature bodies and crowns and weird human faces that are painted over and all lit by the singular lantern as he passes through and over it. Never been so comfortable anywhere in my entire life. Orm is specifically looking for anything that looks like it's been moved, disturbed,

not covered in dust, and sitting there for 10 years. Is it all right if I help out with that? Of course. Okay. Your crackling lights begin to disperse throughout the room and you watch as Ocampo turns. Oh. Keep yours lit as well, by all means.

Mm-hmm. So here is where we store the things when they're not being used. We generally keep a central pathway here and he begins to describe the... He tries to describe how well organized it is, but the more he describes it, you can see he's beginning to admit that it's not very well organized.

And he's like, I was meaning to change that out. Then he moved. There was a space here, but that fell off the top and we just never got around to it. It's not usually like this. It's not usually like this. It's clearly always like this. Yeah, no one's actually going to do it. But make a perception check for me.

Perception or investigation, your choice. In general, is everything pushed up against the walls or are there openings around where the walls are for fire? No, this is very much not fire safe. Everything is pushed up against the walls. Oof. 21. 21. One to code. Everything is pushed up against the walls. Oof. 21. 21.

One to code. One to code. One to go away. Oh no. Yeah, you can see where certain pieces of equipment have been shifted and moved. It's not like this room is left abandoned the entire time. A lot of things that are put into storage and then brought up for other performances are dragged in and out.

You can see certain regions of the room are left to far more dust and decay, comparatively. And the areas that are closer to the door have a lot less dust, and you can see are placed specifically there because they get the most use. And those involve chairs and tables, generalized furniture that can be utilized for multiple different types of performances,

as well as general costumes. You can see one space where it looks like it has outfits that have almost a Issylra design to them, colder and furred-based. You can see some that look almost, they might lean a little bit towards the Dondalian Empire. You can see the reds and golds. There are all these different cheap versions

of different cultural locations from around Exandria that have all been left off to die in the shaded corners of the chamber. There's a two-person bear costume here. What the fuck is that? Hate to be in the back. But no signs of rocks scattered from shade creeper holes anywhere along the edges.

You want to do a throw inspection of it? I want to start tapping the walls with the hammer just to see if anything gives a sound, things like that. Okay, okay. The crate has been. Yeah. Okay. Going throughout the room, you do not see any sign of such holes or exits

or anything that would be akin to what you had previously encountered dealing with the shade creepers. I try on a hat. It's a little big on you. It falls past your eyes, but it still looks good. You guys see this wide brimmed, dark hat, not unlike what, well, commonly see Robbie wearing. What?

It drifts past his eyes like a child trying on his dad's Woody costume. Guys, look how handsome I am. You look great. Mm-hmm. I'm going to try and gently injure one of the tables or chairs just to see if it reacts. It's not like it wouldn't have helped before. Yeah, you're a real child, it's not true. That't have helped before. You're a real traumatizer.

That's my world upside down. Indra Jallian. Real-time Steve-O. It scrapes across the ground. The table that you smack on the side, you can see it leans to one way and where the table is nailed in, or the leg is nailed in,

it's now bent slightly to one side, but it doesn't seem to react otherwise. Is there a prop chest or a prop shelf? There are a handful of prop chests around here, yeah. I want something. Okay. Go ahead and roll a d6 for me. Let's go, Clefto.

Lobna mends the table that was just injured by Ashton. Snaps back into place. Five. If he just freaked out, you would've been really happy. Okay. You open up a chest, and immediately glancing down inside, you can see piles and piles of white lace dresses. What'd you find?

It's Ashley's closet. It's all over the place. They appear white, and then you get a little closer and look at it, and they've yellowed with time, slightly, but they look to be designed in a way to exhibit nobility, not a Marquesian nature or history,

but from some further off land in Exandria. Definitely theater decadent, where it looks beautiful and the closer you get, you're like, oh, this is meant to function as a costume and just seen from a distance. This is the most beautiful dress I've ever seen. I'm going to take it. Roll a sleight of hand, yeah.

It's got Velcro. Probably not. Nine. Uh-huh, uh-huh. You notice that Ocampo has the lantern facing the other way and is like, I'm not entirely certain what you're looking for, but, you know, take your time.

Doesn't notice anything. Looking in a mirror? Yeah. Nope, does not notice at all. Oh! Oh, wow! Nice! He is not very good at this. Very low.

Wow. I'm going to go up to Fresh Cut Grass. Did you learn anything on what was gone? Any info? We learned that, oh, oh, that's right. You weren't with us. We learned there's been a series of disappearances and there's about six people missing. Six?

They have no obvious relation to each other. No obvious relation. Other than the fact that they all disappeared here, either during or after a show. Also just learned that there's a whole stack of cat costumes back there. Yeah. They look very Jellicle. Wow.

I grab one. Why do they all have little buttholes sewn onto it? They look added later, but then some of them look like they were taken off. That was not my artistic vision. That was specifically Steuvaan's interest to try and rebrand the show. It's not great. I do not recommend it.

Look, this one wears Converse. Oh! So weird. Interesting choice. Well, have you found what you're looking for? No, not at all. We were looking for some sort of entrances or exits down here, but there are none. No, that's where we came in.

Does this cover everything? This is the only chamber down here. There's no other levels, no other chambers? Okay. This is not like a Quorum Fortress. We're a theater troupe. Are there any other rarely used areas? Flyspace, other areas?

Yeah, sometimes, I'm told, in the theater, two performers might become amorous with each other and maybe sneak off to somewhere unseen so they can canoodle. How would you know that, FCG? Oh, this isn't my first day rolling around, is it? To go off your question, you're in that room. Oh. By the way, don't touch that table. That's why it was so wobbly.

No. It looks suspicious. But as far as other spaces, there are rafters above the stage. Tefta's in her office probably for the next hour or so. We should go talk to Tefta. We did want to do a full investigation. Of course, of course, yeah.

Start with Tefta and then fan out through the whole theater. Yeah. Is there a staff break room at all? Green room? Kind of. It's in the backstage. Sure. I'll take you there. Leads you back up, closes and locks the door behind and leads you to a pathway,

a hallway that you didn't see that is to the back side of the theater that leads to the backstage. You can see there is a green room that is literally just the back part of the stage. And there, Kendra's flying ladders are all there with a glass bottle of some sort of brandy in the middle that is half-drinking,

and they're all laughing a bit and telling stories and having drinks. And they're just winding down. You get the sense that most of the space in this dreamscape theater is for the patrons. And everyone else backstage just figures it out with what space they got. It's not bad, but as you approach,

you see some of them raise their glasses over towards you and on the opposite side of the chamber and keep talking amongst themselves. So this is our backstage. This is where the ladders go up to the rafters this way. This is where we control the curtains and any sorts of, well, for their performance, any points where you can see where there are the trapeze

hanging swings and all the various elements there. You can see where the ropes attach and let them down. I handle these along with Tina and Evon, who, after taking tickets, come and help me with everything backstage. What else can I show you? Is there an area that the staff would be able to access to get to a back alley or anything?

There is, yes. Yeah. That is and get to a back alley or anything? There is, yes. Yeah. That is and walks to the back hallway that led you into the backstage and you can see there is a door that exits out into the back alley. It says, this leads into, there's an alley that runs entirely around the building

upstairs in the front here. And you recall, there's the large wall of the spire, not immediately butted against the alley. There were some buildings in between, but there's a lot of dense buildings in the vicinity, and the theater stands out in the middle of it all. It's carved its own little kingly space in this neighborhood.

Can I look around the alley and around the door and see if I can find any areas that, like I see little cigarette butts or anything drop to the ground? You can, yeah. Guidance. Oh, thank you. Okay.

Perception or investigation check, your choice. Okay. Why do I suck? That would be a, oh, Guidance. It's not going to make any difference. That's a four. We'll try it anyway. Five plus four. Nine. Nine, you got it.

Isn't that a nine? No, that's a two. That's a nine! That's a nine. Ay, that's nine plus three is 12, plus four is 16. Whoa! That's a little different. What? That's a motion rollercoaster there. Yeah! Okay. Stepping out. Don't suck.

Thanks, Ashley. You're welcome. The heavy door has a few locks on it, and Kempo opens it, and it leads you out into the alleyway behind. You can see there's a bit of a street divot in the center, so any rain can run itself off into the main road. Brick side elements of the alley. It smells a bit musty,

but like any other alley here in the city. You can see there's some discarded bits of refuse and some construction materials that have been left abandoned from unseen projects there. It looks like an alley. Looking around the space, you don't see anything directly around the door that would resemble any sort of

Tobacco. paraphernalia or leftover materials from a person who is smoking. Okay. Let's go talk to Tifta. All right, I'll show you to her office. Kemper brings you up on the opposite side, what you can sense, as far as the structure is

for the main theater itself, the opposite end of where Steuvaan's office is. There is a secondary office. He knocks on it. Tefta, I have those visitors that Steuvaan said are to ask questions about. And a voice from the side goes, All right, let them in.

Door opens. Immediately as the door opens, you smell this strong, flowery perfume that just, like a punch of Sephora, just hits you as a wave. The door opens up and on the inside, there is an office that is decorated in garish pinks and yellows.

And you can see on this, not even a desk, but a curved table, an older gnomish woman who looks to be the human equivalents of her 50s or so later 50s in this curled, almost beehive hair that looks like it's bright, bright, vibrant red, but you can see it's graying at the edges that you can't tell if that's natural or the dye is fading.

She has these elongated glasses that come to horned edges. And just the makeup is glorious in the extravagant use of blush and reds to match the hair tone. The dress is almost flapper-tastic and the tassels that hang from it. And you can see there's a bunch of books and pages and ledgers and other things around

in what looks to be a collection box of coins. You can see gold and silver that immediately shifts underneath something before turning. How can I help y'all? Evening. Oh, hello. Handsome little boy. Come here.

I'm Tefta. We don't have a name. We're doing... We need a name. We need a name. We really do need a name. That's a side issue. That is a Brandon 101 mistake, I say. What are you going on? Well, we're patrons of the arts

and also concerned citizens, and we understand that there's been some, and I'm sorry if this is a sensitive subject, but disappearances around the theater. Indeed, indeed. Very sad, very sad, very mysterious. Can I detect thoughts? Certainly.

I didn't. I know. You catch waves of curiosity upon the first bit. Then sadness. Then an aroused curiosity, she leans forward and says, Well, we're very lucky to have a bunch of handsome helpers coming through here to discover what mysteries might unfold. See, the theater is full of randy people.

It's true. Yes. Not wrong. I apologize. I imagine that everyone who works here has answered these questions tenfold, but we're really trying to uncover every last stone in the place.

Of course, honey, of course. You got this. You've got this. You've got this. You got this. You got this. It's all in your head. I'm just going to say, keep it going. Bonk-a-donk, bonk-a-donk. Like, wow.

There's so many. Yep. Can you take us back to the beginning of all this? Does anything stick out in your mind? Does the owner here or anyone have any enemies? Make a persuasion check. Not great. 10, even. 10, she goes,

Well, I mean, StuVaun has made number of enemies through the years, usually performers that made promises they couldn't keep and were paid accordingly. You know, no matter how nice some folks try and present their skill, maybe they hold grudges. But anyway. Is it possible to try to probe a little bit deeper?

You may. Ooh. Ooh. She's thinking the same thing. You probe deeper, and the thoughts within her mind go to, This is a strange-looking crew, but if I can pry a little companionship out of it, I'll say whatever they want me to. Plenty of enemies.

That doesn't sound like enough to push to violence. I certainly hope not. I mean, something like that for this long takes talent. Honey, let me tell you, none of them had any. What did you do? Crunch, image, thigh. Did you? I mean, you just, you have such a performer essence. Oh, me? No, I am not a girl for the stage.

I got a mind for business and coin, honey. Oh. Oh, me? No, I am not a girl for the stage. I got a mind for business and coin, honey. Oh. Oh. Look. She's so theatrical. One does not have to be, and I mean this without offense, but. She keeps looking at you. Oh, I can see a performer when they walk before me, honey. But you don't have to be pushing for talent to be talented.

That does not mean you have to push yourself upon other people with your persona to be effective. I'm a true businesswoman. I look past the lives of others and I know how to get contracts situated and set. I make this place money and I keep it afloat. I'm so intimidated by her. She's amazing.

And now you know why I work how I do. Mm. I don't know what to do. You're flustered. It's okay. It's weird. Two missing patrons, that's got to be a problem. Mm, yeah. Well, more than two.

More than two. Three missing patrons. Three. Yeah, he's a curious fella, but if you ask me, it's not entirely unknown that Miss Eden Caldwell and Mr. Emhyr were carrying on an affair. Miss Ed and who?

Eden and Emhyr. Is it possible they went off to have a rendezvous in the middle of the show? carrying on an affair. This woman, who? In Anamira. Mm-hmm. Is it possible they went off to have a rendezvous in the middle of the show? I mean, it wouldn't be the first time. This is where they came to meet up. In fact, often during intermission is when they would go ahead and go someplace no one will find them.

Have sexy time somewhere? No, I assumed it was going to get a drink and talk about their day. Oh. Would that be? Of course, sexy time. Oh, okay, okay, okay. I thought how sexy time usually happens in the storage, not a man.

Oh, they can't get to the storage. They don't have a key. Oh, well then where would they go? I don't know, someplace where no one will find them. On the premises, you think, though? I imagine, but not far from it. So we got to find the place that even the actors didn't know to go to bone.

Right, so we got to think about, we got to get in the headspace of people that need to, need to bone. So we all just have to think randy thoughts for a while. Please don't, please don't. I don't want to know. Around the image.

Yeah. We have to find the bone zone. I don't know how to do that. Yes, yes, yes. Around the image. We have to find the bone zone. No, I don't know. For sure. When you mentioned this Yarden, what was their deal? Eden? No, no, there was another one.

There was an Yarden. There's a young man. Yarden, is that what his name was? Yeah, I thought Leodan. He generally picked up whatever the cheapest tickets were and negotiated his way to a dirt poor seat, but popped on every here and there. At first, we weren't sure if he was just an enjoyer

of the arts, and I think part of it was, but also he got in trouble twice because I caught him selling some kepper dust to some of our patrons. Kepper dust? Kepper? Kepper dust, yeah. Kepper dust.

For those not from the streets, what is kepperdust? I mean, I never had the stuff myself, but from what I heard, it's just something that, it's like a snuff that takes you on a trip for a while. What does it look like? I don't know, I've never seen it.

All right. So Yadn was here buying or selling kepperdust? What does it look like? I don't know, I've never seen it. All right. All right, so Yarden was here buying or selling kepper dust? Selling kepper dust, but he got in trouble. We told him he had to take it off the premises, so. And where would he go to sell? I don't know, wasn't selling it in here. So three of the vanished

were into illicit, sneaky things. What about the others, the performers and the janitor? Yeah, what do you know about Zeno, who came through? Zeno... Look, I don't mean to be a receptacle for so much hearsay, but it does keep me interested amongst business. Zeno was a bit of a drunkard, if you ask me. Showed up to a few performances a bit high on the sauce

and caused a few arguments when they first set up their performances. There was a bit of a scuffle, I won't say a scuffle, but a loud confrontation the night that they finished his final performance before he drunkenly wandered off. Last anyone ever saw of him. Confrontation with who?

The rest of his performers. Who left the theater that night? Possible. The Diamond Mask? What was the name of the crew? The Diamond Masks. The Diamond Masks, yeah. So they were in residence when these disappearances, when Ushua left.

They were here? They were. And did they move on to another theater, or? They did, they packed up their things and left. They figured that he probably left, and after the argument, maybe went and found his fortunes elsewhere. They had an understudy who, to be perfectly honest, was far more talented than that Cino fellow.

Fit the costumes better, too. But once he was gone, they who to be perfectly honest, was far more talented than that Ceno fellow. Fit the costume is better, too. But once he was gone, they seemed to move on quickly, and I don't know where they found themselves here in Marquet ever since. And Lydney? Yeah, Lydney. Sweet girl. They make friends often. Kind of just did her thing.

She was a good employee. You could tell she was still coming out of her shell before she disappeared. Sad. We've got to find that secret spot. Sounds like everyone was loners. Right? Everyone. Sounds like people leaving the theater.

Yeah, they're finding something. Well, you got a lover's tryst, an entrepreneurial spirit, someone going out to smoke, and an actor left and off. Is there a rooftop or a balcony? There's got to be a rooftop. At least there's an alley. But the access to that is backstage, so it wouldn't...

Yeah. When the alley itself runs around the building, people can access and you can exit from that point. We do have a rooftop, but that's inaccessible to anyone who doesn't work here either. Empty rooms, offices that aren't used. Everything here that's not in use is just the open space for the patrons.

It's my office, backstage, Steuban's office, and the storage facility. Everything else is just meant for the performance area. And the restrooms? The restrooms. Oh, and the restrooms, too, but. Where did Ymir and Eden sit, traditionally? Didn't Steu'Von say that they sat in our box?

Our box. Oh, you're some box-spinning patrons, thank you. Well, I feel like we should just look around. We should look around. I think we should check out that alley more. I didn't really get a good look. We should look near the box. Look near the restroom, see if ever.

Is it okay if we give a thorough look around and really put this to bed? Anything you want, honey. Anything. Where would you go in here if you wanted to, you know, engage in a little hanky-panky with someone? Where would you go? You mean where have I gone?

Mm-hmm. Yes, but you can't say the basement. Because that's a given. Oh, honey, how do I narrow it down? I've left my mark up and down this theater. Oh. You cast Blacklight. Do not do that!

Where would you go? Or where would it make sense to? Well, I have access to everywhere, so I'll go everywhere. All right, but meaning if you were, you know, a mere Eden, where would you go? I mean, likely out of the restrooms or elsewhere. There's not a whole lot of places of privacy

around these parts. Restroom. Yeah. Right? Yeah, that's a good place to look. So Yarden, or E- Eod, what is it? Yodan. Yodan. I heard that he came here a lot. Was there a specific place that he would sit? Yodan, he would just take whatever seats were available

and he would negotiate it down, take the leftovers, if you will. Wasn't a young boy of much means. Okay. Going outside and buy or sell product, though, is not insane. Mm-hmm. Right. Selling in the restroom, also not insane.

Also not insane. Should we split up and go scour the theater before the next show starts? How long do we have before the next show starts? She glances over and you can see there's a glass sphere on the edge of her table that you can see it turning to a darker tint to it. I'd say you got about an hour and a half

before we start opening the doors. That's good enough. One more question. Mm-hmm. One word, first word that pops into your head when you look at us. Lucky. Lucky? That's a good word.

Lucky? It just feels like we're getting further and further from a name. Make your right. Make your right. It's getting steered in every direction. We might be in trouble. Lucky Trouble. Truccle.

Anything else I can help you all with? Tucky. Lovell. We'll get out of your hair. Let's just go. Tucky Lovell. Well, good luck, and if you're ever curious about some of our special memberships, there are

arrangeable pricing on certain seats. We'll be sure to keep that in mind. Thank you so much, you've been very helpful. I know I am. Well, good luck, Hope you figure it out. As we leave, I'm just going to go. Turns out you don't need to cast Detect Thoughts to understand what the fuck she's thinking.

It was very thin. Thinly veiled innuendo. But if you do cast it, you get a far more detailed explanation. Oh, really? Were there membership tiers? Is that sort of thing available? She's very culturally confident.

Yes, she was. You know, that's admirable. Yeah. Honestly. It's very healthy. Absolutely. Bathroom, bathroom, anybody bathroom? I've never seen. Really? No, really?

Really hurt? What's one? One specific. It was a general idea of a position, you know what I mean? Yeah. Oh, limbs in places. I feel like you can get more specific. I'll tell you later on. Okay. No much compatibility. It gets real creative. Limbs in places.

Yeah, I thought the acrobats were doing some leaps earlier. All right, where to first? Are we sticking together? Are we splitting up? I feel like we only have 90 minutes now. I'm going to check out the rafters. I'll go near the box. Gathering? We'll check the upstairs restroom.

All right. I'll check the other one. How many restrooms are there in this place? There's two. All right. I guess check the other one. How many restrooms are there in this place? There's two. All right. I guess I'll go with you to the box, or I could check out the alley, maybe get a better idea of the alley. Didn't you have, okay, sure, yeah, whatever you want. Let's do both.

I feel like a stiff wind will knock you over and worries me. Oh, thank you. Is there a pit? Is there an orchestra pit? There is an orchestra pit, yeah. I'll go down the orchestra pit. Okay. Let the bodies rest. Yeah, yeah. I'll go down the orchestra pit. Okay. Let the bodies of the dead. I'll help him check with the different boxes.

Okay. Who's going to the bathrooms? Me and Ashley. All right, so you're going to which bathroom first? Upstairs first. Okay. You head into the restroom? I'll grant, I'll cast Enhance Ability on you

for, let's see here, Intelligence. So I get? You have advantage on all Intelligence checks. Including, I assume, like Investigation? Yeah, Investigation with the Intelligence check, yeah. All righty. You feel this sudden surge of energy within you, and for a moment, your already fairly clever mind

is crisp and picking out details that you didn't initially see. I want to see the corner. Red Bull. All right. Not entirely on the run. Are you heading to the top or the bottom restroom first? Top first. Top first. Okay, you head to the top restroom,

which is off in the corner on the secondary floor. Like a lot of the restrooms here, you enter and there is a seating arrangement, but it is largely just a hole in a tube with a seat built around it. Effective and polished, and there are some flowers in here.

But if you would like to inspect it, you can make an investigation check with advantage, if you'd like. Poop with advantage. It's been a while. Okay. It's been a while. Uh-huh, mm-hmm. I need to see him again.

Oh, that's, yeah, thank god I had advantage. 10. 10. Ew, what? No. Glancing through. I want to ship rolls. It's a small roll. Or it's a small, it's a small roll. It's a small roll. Or it's a small roll. It's a small chamber as well.

Yeah. Nothing catches your eye as out of the ordinary. It's fairly well kept. This one, you know, for a restroom. Looks like this one's probably utilized by more of the upper crust patrons as the direct line from here is the upper boxes. And it's just a single chamber, like a single room?

Correct. Nowhere to hide? No. No way to block the door? Four walls, a door, and the pot. No vent? Vents, yeah. No vent above, which is unfortunate. Yeah. I look down the hole. You made it three times today.

What do you see? What do I see? What do you think you see? Shit. A dagger from Ed Fairey. Deep cuts! Never forget. Never forget. Never forget.

I think I can get it. Oh god! Lost forever. Lost forever. Sorry, Laura. It's all good. Like throwing the sword back at the lady in the lake. Nothing, nothing. Oh!

Just a shit hole. Yes! All right. Cool! Just a shithole. Yes! All right. Cool. Downstairs. Downstairs. Downstairs. This one is not as well-cleaned and well as it can. This is the general public area. This one does have a vent. It does have two different slits in the wall

that just open up to the outside. They're about an inch wide. The paint here is cracking a bit. But similar structure, similar general interior of the two, of the second room is the first. Oh, that's a little better. 13. 13, climbing the ranks.

Good old Climbing the Ranks. I know. My investigation is shit. Okay. It seems to have been recently repaired to a certain degree, but beyond that, it is a bathroom. Recently repaired in which ways? Meaning it looks like you can see

there's fresher sealant in the bottom of where the seat hits the ground. How fresh, would I know? Make an intelligence check. All right. Let's taste it. Just straight intelligence. Yeah. Ooh!

I should have been doing this the whole time, 20 total. Whoa. Wow. It's maybe a couple months old. Looking at everything else around here, it has a layer of age to it and grodiness, but the sealed base around where it is, whatever substance was used to seal the hole to whatever the seat is there,

is a bit lighter than the rest, and you can see it's a bit fresher. I don't know. Tap the wall, see if anything sounds weird. Check the vent. Yeah. Nothing catches your eye, nothing catches your ear. I'm going to look in the hole. It's my turn.

Of course. You find what you expect. A tiny assassin. No. You knew it! It's done! First Ghoulies remake. Tapeworm?

Ashton Fododick, out! Next up. Yeah. Tenny, assassin. Well, fine. I mean, yeah. It is just a hole. Like most of the restrooms here, they are just holes that progress

deep into the rock and vanish. Literally shit out of luck. While you guys are doing that, who's going to the box? I'm going to the box. Oh, you're coming? Yep. You step back up to the box where you stayed. What are you looking for? Uh-huh. Uh-huh.

Okay, so I'm going to look in the curtains. I'm going to look under the chairs. I'm going to look just every possible place. I'm going to look for false panels in the wall or curtain poles that open secret doors or even if you tilt a chair back, it opens like a secret door. All righty. Up above even?

Make either a perception or investigation check. Your choice. I'll go for perception. 23. Ooh! Whoa. Nice. Perception or for perception. 23. Ooh! Nice. Perception or what? Investigation. Okay, let's do this.

15. 15, okay, very good. You do not pick up any sort of sliding doors or interesting panels. It seems like it's a fairly solidly built box. What you do pick up is where you sit and face outward along the railing,

it looks like scratches in the wood, in the interior. But you can see one of them sits between the set of four chairs that are normally arranged here. They had to bring more chairs up to get you guys situated for this box for your group size. Normally, you can see they've taken those away and it's just four chairs that sit in this box normally. You can see between the two sets of two to each side,

You can see between the two sets of two to each side, where the scratches are, you get close, and one of them points outside. One of the scratches points out? Or it reads outside. Oh, it says outside, the word. Whoa. In common?

No, it would be in Marquesian. Marquesian. Outside. Wait, can either of us read that? I can read Marquesian. You can read Marquesian. Okay, great. What does that say? It says outside. Wait, can either of us read that? I can read Artesian. Okay, great. What does that say? It says outside.

Oh, okay. Wow. Touch it, I guess? Maybe? Need you to make a, no, I'm kidding. Just trace it. Yeah, it's gently carved into it, and it's hard to make out unless you're really

looking to see what it means. You know what it means, but you don't actually read the word, but it's just gently carved. But you can see where it is. It's very good handwriting. It's not like a hack job, like you see on a park bench or anything. It's like a quick carving.

Booty call. Yeah. Someone left a message for someone else to receive, maybe? Okay, outside, so maybe. This could be where Amir and Aiden, maybe one of them left a message for the other. Left a message for the other. Yeah. So they went outside.

So they went outside. So from here, let's figure out how they would have gotten outside. Maybe not through the front door. Maybe there's another way from here to get to the alley. Okay, so if I sit here. Get into the headspace of Eden. Okay. Of Eden Caldswell.

I'm unhappy in my marriage. She is an upper-cruster. She's unhappy in her marriage. She's been trying to go on a diet, and so it's making her really cranky all the time. Because as you get older, your metabolism slows. Yeah, she just has to accept that, but she's not. She wants to stay young longer, and so she wants a little spice in her life.

I'm watching the show. She sees the note from her man, from Ymir. Someone scribbled a note on the railing. She reads Marquesian, she can read that it's Emhyr telling her where to go. It says outside. So she gets up. Okay, if I look. Where'd she go? If I look to the outside, which way is the outside?

Well, there is the, off the balcony to the right, there's the entryway into the main theater where most people walk in. From where you are, there's the entryway into the main theater where most people walk in. From where you are, there is the spiral staircase that leads down. It does connect to the hallway that heads towards the back and to where the backstage area was.

Back and to the left? Back and to the left. Okay. Sorry. Let's go, let's go. Let's go that way. Okay. That feels like it's discreet. we're going to retrace those steps. As you guys are making your way there. Come on, Amir, let's go have an affair. You were going where?

To the alley. To the alley. All right, from which direction are you coming? I was going back through the door that we had gone through before, and I was going to try to walk around the alley outside to see if I could find any grates or entrances into the lower level, like the sewers or anything.

Okay, and you're looking into the? You described ladders and ropes going up into the rafters, so I'm going to get a little bit of a running start and start flea jumping my way. Okay. Easy to do. In the time that they've been doing their searching

and stuff and you all look through the box, you've begun heading to the alley. Actually, we'll get to you in just a second. You begin to head up into the rafters and begin your process of searching around. What are you looking for? Give me a little bit of light up here. Oh, sure.

It's not going to hang out very long if I'm not around it, but. Yeah, I just need a minute, I think. I'm going to look for, is there any kind of platforms or catwalks there would be in some theaters? There is. There is what looks to be two different catwalks that go across

the open stage above. You can see a number of ropes that are tied across them. You can see where the trapeze swings are currently held off to the side and latched to the edge with hooks. And all manner of various slideable ropes and sandbags and the general theater arrangement. Okay, so I'm just going to,

I'll scan the catwalks for anything odd. I don't think I'll find anything, but I still will. But I'll also look for any trapdoors in the ceiling of the theater that lead up and out. Good call. Go ahead and make a perception check or investigation. That is 17. 17.

You glance about. You don't see anything that looks out of the ordinary, necessarily, that would pertain to the narrative that you're pursuing, Curly, in this. You do see there is one wooden ladder that descends on the far end of the catwalk that goes up to a hatch.

I'm definitely going to, I'm good. And then I just jog over to it and start climbing. Okay, start climbing up. All right. It slams over with a little bit of a sound, you can shake for a second, but you can look up and you can see the stars, the sky above.

I'm up on the roof. You are on the roof. And I'm just going to look at the streets and get the lay of the land from up here and watch for Imogen to appear because I know where she's going. I'm just going to perch up here and keep an eye. Got it. All right, and you are?

Heading out to the alley. Okay, so they go to the door that exits into the alley, step out into the space. It's about 20 feet across from side to side with a little divot in the road. Where you're looking out, it heads to the right, and then you can see it curves out of sight that direction, and then to the left,

a little bit closer, since you're not, you know, you're more to, if you're looking to the theater from the front door onward, you're a little bit to the left-hand side from that perspective. And that curve is maybe about 15 feet or so to your left around to the alleyway that way. Okay.

I'm just going to, it all seems very private. It seems fairly private. I mean, it looks like there's a square alley. From what you can see right now, you just have visual on one portion of it. Two sides of it. But it curves off and then flanks the two sides of the theater before connecting with the open road.

Are there any areas that have stacked crates leaning up against the wall or anything like that? It's a small end. Which way are you glancing? I'll look to the right first. Okay, so you look to the right and walk down a little bit and look over, make a perception check.

19. 19. Glancing down that way and taking a few steps in that direction, you can see there are some small, long, rotted crates that have probably just been left to fall apart. Splintered wood and bits of rusted iron. But other than that, nothing that would be

sizably barricaded, if any means. Are there any sewer grates on the ground or anything? Mm-mm. The sewage system here doesn't operate like some other standard cities, since it all runs almost like a- Right from the building? Yeah, into the spire itself. And not unlike a, I hate describing it this way,

a terrifying gutter system that all runs through the spire and then is left out into the forest floor. What about if it rains? Where does the drainage happen there? From what you can tell, it drains down the center of the city, or I it drains down the center of the city. I'm sorry, the center of the alley,

and then drains out into the main road. At the very edge of the lips, you can see all the districts that are along the outside of the spire are at a very faint angle. There are areas where the roads come to walls and there are sections where, yeah. When it rains heavily in this city, from a distance,

there's just hundreds of tiny waterfalls pouring down the sides of each spire. That's really fucking cool. Thanks for the shit. Those are interior, but yeah. In that case, I will check the other direction and look for. Glance over there and you can see immediately

as you come around the corner, the alley continues to the street, but there is a secondary alley that offshoots and heads inward, a slightly smaller alley. Goes about 60, 80 feet back and then comes to a cul-de-sac end. Ooh. Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.

I'm going to send a message to Laudna. I found a dead end here in this alleyway. Mm. Could be something. Sounds promising. I'll light up my orbs and walk down that direction. Okay. Ashton. Let's get out of the shitter, head to the alley.

Fuck yes. What are you doing? Oh, I'm down in the orchestra pit, creeping, sneaking, looking for stuff. I've got my scimitar out and trying to see if I see anything. Okay. Glancing around in the pit here,

you can see there are a number of chairs that are just pushed off to the sides. It's not a vast orchestra pit. It can comfortably fit maybe six people and can uncomfortably fit 10, depending on how much they're being paid and how much they need the money. But there is, at an initial glance,

no trapdoor hidden exit that goes under the stage. You remember when you sat down for the performance, the performers actually entered from another space and then stepped into the pit and then sat down there. So they didn't emerge from underneath the stage or anything. Okay. You're glancing around, getting a few, if you want to make an investigation or perception check

to look for any specific details. Yeah. Yeah, let's do that. Let's creep around. Are there still instruments and stuff around or is it pretty cleared out? No, the instruments were taken by the musicians. Okay.

Nah, poo-poo. Eight. Eight. You give it a pretty thorough sweep and you hear this heavy sound, this up above and you glance up and you can see up in the rafters just past where the curtain is, you can just see the shape of Orym

stopping for a second before climbing up onto the roof and vanishing from sight. Wow. I'm going to look around. I'm pretty confident I didn't see anything. I'm going to hoist myself up onto the stage. I think I'm going to make my way up to Orym. Making your way up. All right.

You head over, find the ladder quickly, and begin climbing up into the rafter and following the suit from that point. All right, so you head down the alleyway, lights out. You're walking and as you're approaching, you see there's refuse and piles of rubble and building materials that have been left there. Some look fresher than others.

The alley in front of you is immaculate. Everything else looks very messy in this space here. There's just the initial glance as you begin to enter it. It looks very clean. I'm going to stop where I am and just open up my mind and see if I can feel anybody around me

hear any thoughts close by. Okay. Are you using the open-mind ability as opposed to the spell? SAM. Let me see here. This would be... Unigine's over there.

I can see her doing her thing. Oh yeah. That's so cool from up here. You do sense a presence. A mind, though... From where you stand, you're not certain where it is. There's just something. And you're not picking up anything specific.

It's just static, almost. You're not certain how to even interpret it. And I've never sensed anything like that before. No. You know. I'm going to stop. I'm not going to go down this way without Laudna. Okay. Laudna? Mm-hmm?

Where are you in? We're heading that direction. Okay. Yep, right around this time, you both step out into the alley. You can see now the pink glow to the left where Imogen has stepped off to this side alley, and right about that time,

Ashton and Laudna catch up to you. Oh! Impeccably clean alley. There's something weird. Who keeps an alley this clean? Especially since the janitor's been gone for weeks now. It's very romantic. Maybe?

Yeah, maybe. Maybe. I mean, what's Eden thinking right now? Oh, Amir, my husband is just such a bore and I need some sex. You think it's all about the sex with bore and I need some sex. You think it's all about the sex with her? I don't know. Don't get into acting.

Oh my god. Oh, really? It's a very well done. I'm so convinced. Wow, oh, thank you. I've been really trying to get in the mindset. All right. Okay, this is very clear. I mean, you are a Caldwell, right? So you want more of the- I am a Caldwell.

Okay, let's look at this clean alleyway. All right. What's going on, Imogen? What did you find? I don't know. Obviously seeing the same thing you guys are, but I can hear something. It's just, I don't know what it is. It doesn't seem normal.

You can hear something? You know, like thoughts. Yeah. Can't you do it too? I can. Do you need help doing it? No, I mean, you can. See what you feel. Maybe you can make it out. All right, I will cast Detect Thoughts. So we're in like a dead end. So we're in like a,

it's like a dead end thing, man? Yeah, it's a dead ended alley. Like a cul-de-sac. I'm going to cast Detect Thoughts and see if I can hear or sense anything more than she can. Just some odd static, not unlike you. Like, you don't know if it's from a creature. You know, there's just a presence that's odd.

We got to find the source. All right, let's do this. What do we see in front of us? Where's Orym? Where's Dorian? You see about, at which point you guys have met up now on the roof. I let the lip looking down, watching this performance from above.

Okay. What do you think they're talking about? Definitely cracking the case. Oh, you think they've got it figured out? Probably close. Yeah, probably. I look up. I'm going to give a quick look in every direction

for any creepy creepers or strangers. True, perception check. We're or strangers. Sure, sure. Before coming down. Dang. 16. 16. Nothing catches your eye. Okay. I mean, I could probably hop my way down,

but is it easy for you to get us there? I mean, I suppose, yeah. Would you rather hop or we could? Once a day, I can. Oh no, save it. Okay, I think I, yeah, just in case something happens. How high up are we? This, it's almost two and a half stories

up from the roof here for the full height of the theater. It's a two-story building, but some of the stories are extended just for the, to house the interior of the theater itself. So you're looking at about 25, 30 feet to the floor. I think you could make it. I would probably twist an ankle. I'll go with you.

We'll be down in a minute. Don't go anywhere. What you see in this alley before you is about 70, 80 feet. It just comes to an end. You can see there's the stone building walls and there's the cul-de-sac end where the just comes to an end. You can see there's the stone building walls and there's the cul-de-sac end where the drain comes to an end,

a little divot in the alley, but it's clean. That's it. There's not, really? There might be some secret hideys. Yeah, let's look around for secret hideys. Hollow areas in the walls or the ground. False stones. Touch the wall. I'm going to go to the very end of it. You're areas in the walls or the ground. False stones. Touch the wall.

I'm going to go to the very end of it. You're going to the very end? Yes. You're going to roll an investigation check? Is it like a warmer, colder sort of thing? Does the static get louder if I go to a certain area? I'll roll a few. Get to that in just a second.

Roll better than I did. I did. I rolled a 16. Do as I say. I rolled a 16. I rolled a six. All right. Okay. So you both have head to the edge. Both of you are inspecting the sides. I'm just stepping back and scanning the area to see if I see anything with the wrong color or shading.

Okay. It appears to be weird in the gutter. Okay. As you all move forward, Imogen, you step, and with your mind still open, the static gets a little louder as you begin to step deeper in the alley and flex your eyes for a second and glance up as you see Ashton and Imogen both inspecting the far back wall.

As they're inspecting it, you see the striations of the stone on the wall back split. Where an eye appears in the space. Another section opens up slightly where you can see jagged points within and tendrils. And that's where we're going to break. Oh!

Guys, the tendrils! Come here! It's just a fucking wall that's been sucking people. Just eating people! Whoa! It's just a fucking wall that's been sucking people. It's eating people. Whoa! It's a mimic wall. It's a wall, mate. It's a deathbed that eats people.

It is the death wall. The wall that eats people. The wall that eats people. Wow. So we'll come back and pick up there in just a minute. We'll see you in a few minutes. That's great. It's the wall of the law!

Why, hello there. This is Critical Role's resident art dad, also known as Liam O'Brien. We are continuously amazed at the artwork this community creates. That's why each Thursday at 8 a.m. Pacific, we share a curated gallery of submitted fan art over on CritRole.com.

If you'd like to submit your art for consideration, visit CritRole.com. If you'd like to submit your art for consideration, visit CritRoll.com slash submit. And thank you to all of the incredible artists who share their talents with us week after week. And welcome back. So, jumping into this scenario. Oh, yeah. Let me go ahead and get the battle map ready.

Yay! It's been so long since we were on one. He announced it. He announced it, so I know it's going to be good. Quick, guys. Oh my goodness gracious. They sent stuff. This maybe is what they want me to show. Oh!

Something just the packaging is, you know, super great. They got this. Let's go! Well. Oh no. That's kind of hard to open. There's the alley! You see anything? You think they're going to go pop?

Oh, it's a roper? No, it is Laudna and Ashton right there. That's making fun of it. I can't see. You got to look on the screen. Get them to just go. Shift is embedded You've got to look on the screen. Shift this a bit, I can watch it on the screen if you want to. Does that help?

Yeah, and the other, yeah. There you go. No. That's fine. We're good, we're good. We're flying off the building! I can leave it for the people. No, no, no, it's fine.

I can look at the screen. It's too pretty. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, we can see it's pretty. Perfect. That's good, there you go. Here, look over here. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, we can see it's pretty. Yes, yes. That's good, there you go. Here, look over here.

Hey, I'm so glad we painted the theater. And then we have Fearne checking the walls on this side. Licking the walls. As well as Laudna, you were back here a bit. Yes, I am back there. Sorry, Laudna, you were there. Sorry, Imogen, you were right there. I'm out.

Just walking through theairs and chairs. Fresh cut grass. I said I had stepped back to see colors and stuff, so I'm probably at the, yeah, right at the threshold to the- Threshold, and just joining at the back of the threshold would be Orym and Dorian, right there. So because this creature was unseen in its direction

and the attack was sudden, it does get a surprise round. Fuck. In which case, it is going to attack twice with its pseudopods. One against you. That is a natural one. Whoa! You like, it swings out towards you. That is a natural one. Oh! Whoa! You like, it swings out towards you.

Fuck! You glance up and just now notice right above you, the wall itself is shifting and quivering, and you can see the mouth is opening. I got it right this time. Quiver and shift? Yep. And that is going to be an 18 against you, Laudna. Yep, yeah.

Oh, wait, an 18? Yeah. No. Okay. Because, wait, 19? Yeah. No. Okay. Because AC meets, right? Yeah. No. Okay. I'll take it. Well, the pseudopod flips out and slams into you like a hammer, and you're like, but you're adhered to it.

Oh shit. Yeah, come on. You take 11 points of piercing damage. Yikes. Sorry, sorry. No, so this is the wrong one. I'm sorry, that's my bad. You take 11 points of bludgeoning damage. Ouch. Okay.

Completely different for you, Laudna. You are grappled. Yeah. As you are currently held by it. Do you think wolves feel fear? Probably not. Well, they do get nails nailed into their lobs. They're maybe scared of earthquakes and stuff.

Yeah, that's true. Oh yeah, afraid of earthquakes, yeah. Then it is going to head your way. It missed you with a pseudopod. It's going to try and bite you. That is going to be a 24 to hit. Yeah, that hits. Yeah. You take...

14 points of bludgeoning damage. Fuck off. 14 points? Plus 11 points of acid damage. Oh! What is happening? As the mouth chomps into you,

and you feel your shoulder and almost your neck get completely consumed. That's 25 points of damage. You try and pull yourself out. As you pull your arm out, you feel the teeth breaking away and you watch as the teeth shatter and then more form behind it from where it was. As you pull away, you're like, that hurt.

Then the saliva from the creature is now burning into your flesh. That really hurt. Now I'd like everyone to roll an instant. Oh my god. 30 feet of me? They are, but you do not have a reaction creature is now burning into your flesh. That really hurt. So now I'd like everyone to roll initiative. Oh my god. Are they like the 30 feet of me? They are, but you do not have a reaction

because this is a surprise round. Damn. We have no reactions, that's what I was about to ask. Fuck me. When Laudna took her bludgeoning damage, there was no acid from the whippies? Correct. Okay, just the mouth. Just the mouth. All right.

Now everyone, please roll initiative for me, please. Let's do a big one, let's do this big one. Nope, nope. Doody poo-poos. Yep, that's bad, too. Doody poo-poos. 25 to 20. 23. 22. 21.

20. Look at this, this is something big. Wow. All right. Ding, ding, ding. Hashed in. Hash. Then. Oh, the order, the order! That's awesome.

That's pretty cool. Check. Oh, it's the the order! That's awesome. That's pretty cool. Oh, it's the wall? Fearne. Wow, that really hurt. I think that, yep, that was a lot of damage. I got you. 20 to 15. 15 to 10.

Nine. Nine. 13. 13, okay. What's your dexterity, by the way? 16. Okay, there we go. What's your dex?

14. And you go. Okay. So it's the order over here. Yeah, that's kind of trippy. That's it. Wow. Wow.

All right. Wow! You now see the semblance of the wall at the end of the hallway is shifting away and bending, and there is actually more alley behind it. This creature had positioned itself near the edge and had prematurely become the end of the alleyway, but you see edges of the wall are starting to curve away

and peel as it begins to slither. You see it's actually able to shift slowly in your direction, but the top of the round goes to Ashton with Orym on deck. What are you doing? I am raging. Help. That is not going to be a very helpful rage. We're on the gravity train.

A little decay, which is not really useful here. Not in this sense of circumstance. That's okay. And I am going to, I assume that there's a tongue between, or a thing between Laudna and the mouth that's just connecting right now, like a. Like a pseudopod that's lashed onto her

and pulls her close, but she's right next to it. They're adjacent. Oh, so where am I on the overview? I'm so sorry. Sorry, you are right there. Yeah, okay, so we've got. You're about 10 feet from Laudna. Okay. I am going to try and go over and smash that tongue. I'm going to walk over and give it a good whack

and see what happens. Okay, so are you just doing any damage to the creature or are you trying to free her from grapple? Trying to free her. Got you, okay. Go ahead and make an attack with disadvantage. Okay. Let's see what happens.

Nope. That was a natural one. Oh. Yeah, that's a miss. So I'm going to back up. You actually go and swing and you hit it and it gets stuck to it. You're like, trying to pull it away and you have to put a foot up to try and pry it away

and you pull it away, but now your foot's stuck. You look over at Laudna and it eventually managed to tear your foot free, but your turn is wasted tangling. I'm going to back up a bit then. Going to back up a bit? Yeah. How far back? Like 10 feet, I guess, in the corner.

Okay, it's going to take its reaction to hit you with the pseudopod. It's going to be a 12 to hit. Nope. So it whips out towards you and you duck just out of the way as it hits the wall and you can see where it hits. Some of the stonework next to you cracks

and the stones that it impact pull away and now the part of its tendrils is covered in broken stone and brick. All right, is that your turn? Yeah, it's my turn. All right, Orym, you're up with Imogen on deck. Orym, you're back here. I'm having a little trouble seeing the battlefield,

but I think if I run on a diag... That doesn't help. If I run on a diagonal towards Fearne, can I get within about 20 feet of it? Diagonal of Fearne. If I can just get to her left. To your right. 20, you can get there.

Is that within 20 feet of monster? That is within 20 feet, yeah. Okay, so I grab a dagger out from the back of my boot and run and get in front of Fearne. Does it have eyes or is it all mouth? It has one central eye right now that you can see that's peering out somewhat, and then it vanishes, but it's mostly

this massive mouth now that's just. So I shout, hey, and I chuck the dagger and aim for the eye, and I'm going to make a goading attack. All righty. That hits. That's a 23 to hit. That definitely hits. So damage first. It's just eight, oh no,

eight damage plus the superiority die. 10, and it has to make a wisdom save. All right, so how much damage does that? Eight, 10, 10, 10, 10. 10 damage to it and a wisdom save. That is a 12. So it fails. Any attack on anybody except for me is a disadvantage.

You got it. Sounds good, awesome. That finishes your turn, Orym? That's it. All right, that brings us to Imogen with Fearne on deck. Can I build off of what Orym just did and as I see him fling the dagger at the eye, I'm going to, at the same time,

try to cast Blindness on the eye. Okay, yeah, yeah. Yes. Have a bad day, that wall. All right. That, and it's a? 14 save. Con save. Con save?

14 exactly. Sorry. Good call, though, on that one. So you go ahead and try and you watch as you're about to release the spell towards an eye and you watch as the eye, the blade or the attack that Orym completes impacts it. You see it, the eye close up,

the spell doesn't impact and a secondary eye opens up further up the wall and then vanishes again into the weird, shifting flesh-like stonework. Are you going to stay put or would you like to move? I'm going to back up a bit, yeah. How far back? Just behind FCG.

You got it. All right. Finishing up, Fearne, you're on deck with Dorian. Oh, sorry, Fearne, you're up with Dorian on deck. Okay. So I'm going to put my hand up and shoot Scorching Rays. Okay.

At this thing, at this wall. It's three shots. Three attacks, yeah. I'm going to use my, first one does not hit, my bonus action to convert some sorcery points into a spell. You got it. What'd you roll for the first attack? 10.

10 misses, unfortunately. Okay. That would be 20. That does hit. Okay. Wait for our third one. Natural one. Oh! So one hits. One does hit, so that's 2d6.

You can go ahead and roll for that. 2d6 fire damage against it. Use these two. Ooh! Okay. Eight points of damage. Eight points of fire damage to it. So you lob one and it scatters off the side of the wall. Second one, you throw

in the mouth. Third one, you throw in the mouth. Third one, you try and throw, but as you release it, you release it too late and it hits the ground in front of you. The flames cut. All right, as it hits, Mister's on your shoulder and she goes, I know! I'll teach you in the game in just a second.

All right, that finishes your turn. Are you going to move or stay put? Yeah, I'm going to back up a little bit. How far are you going to back up? I can back up around that corner. Around there? Yeah. You got it. Okay. That brings us to Dorian's go.

Cool. I can't see around that corner. How far is Laudna from the creature she's grappled, right? Laudna is right up against it. Oh. Help, help, help, help, help. Man, that's tough. Right up on the...

Want to give me, give you a... I know, this is a... You can replace it with something I thought would be more helpful on this one. No, just leave it. No, we're actually, bonk. Can we get an overhead? Hey! Hey, there we go.

Zoom in, enhance. Enhance. Is there any point that I could aim at around the creature that's within a 10-foot sphere that wouldn't also hit Laudna? Unfortunately, no. No, the alley's that tight? It's a pretty tight alley, yeah. Okay.

Oh man. I mean, you could hit right next to it here in a 10-foot sphere that explodes outward and maybe dodge, but then you have to go in the far back corner to do that. Yeah, okay. Which is doable. Ooh, I want to run right in.

I'm going to, how far am I from the creature? Yeah, okay. Which is doable. Ooh, I want to run right in. How far am I from the creature? You are about 35 feet from it. 35 feet. Oh no. I can't do a lot. All right, I will... I will run over.

I'll go to Fresh Cut Grass, actually. Hi! And I'm going to- Smiley day to you. Hi, smiley day to you, too. I've got a feeling we're going to be doing a lot of healing and I'm going to give Bombardic Inspiration as a bonus action first to you.

Oh, why thank you. All right. And then I am going to run up behind Orym. Is that who's? It's so hard. Yep, Orym's right there. Run up behind Orym, and then I'll hold my action, I think. What are you holding? Hold me, Orym.

I know. Orym. Slip of the tongue. Or is that Orym's thing? Where's that gnome? I guess it's an attack, I guess. All right, so you're holding an attack for when something comes into reach? Yes, I think so.

Yeah, sort of like a defensive position. Okay, okay. You got it. All right, that finishes your turn. It is now the creature's turn. Goddamn. It slithers upward into the space, holding Laudna there as the wall moves forward.

Travis is ruining the game for us here. I know. Oh no. Stop it, Travis. Travis is... Its pseudopods pull back into its body. The mouth closed. You hear. Uh-oh. Oh no.

Oh no. As you watch near the mouth, it begins to swell. SAM and LAURA, LAURA and SAM, SAM and LAURA, the mouth opens and sets forward this large globule of greenish clear liquid that explodes a little ways in front of it, just past you.

I need Orym, Dorian, and Ashton to make a dexterity saving throw. I have advantage on dexterity. Let's go, Keyleth Dye. Huh? Nope. Oh, fucking poof. Are you not in it? No, I've got to be in it, right? Am I in it or no?

No, it is right over there. This is a short radius. Oh, it's like a aimed globule. I am bleh. Okay. 17. 17. You take 14 points of acid damage. What the living fuck?

Okay. Nine. You take 20, sorry, 28 points of acid damage. Oh my fucking god. Six. Six, you take 28 points of acid damage. Oh my fucking god! Six. Six, you take 28 points of acid damage. What the? I'll take seven points of Ashton's damage. Okay. Right?

Mm-hmm. I will absorb, I will absorb. Ah! Seven points. I would give anybody else, oh my god. Well, I mean, that might. Okay. And keeps shifting forward,

its tendrils now emerging from the front and its biting mouth. SAM and LAURA, SAM and LAURA, that finishes its turn. I wouldn't mind if I can do psychic damage to it. Laudna, you're up with a fresh cut grass on deck. I am up. Who's got a better AC?

Wow, all right. I don't quite know what's going on. Fuck me. I'll... I'll... Bonus action Form of Dread. Okay. To primarily get the temporary hit points here.

Cool, cool, cool, cool, cool, cool, cool, cool, cool. Shit, shit, roll. Okay. Your Form of Dread kind of comes out. Ha! So trapped! Form of Discomfort. Form of Discomfort. Holy shit, this thing has done a lot of discomfort. Form of discomfort.

Holy shit, this thing has done a lot of damage. We haven't done anything to it. Nope. We've done a couple hits. Don't know what to do here. Don't fuck this wall. Oh wow. What you got, Laudna? I will

ffadma. Am I near its mouth? Oh wow. What you got, Laudna? I will. Am I near its mouth? Its various portions of its form shift around. Right now, not necessarily, but you can hope to. All right. I guess I'll just Eldritch Blast it and see what happens. Okay, you have disadvantage on the strike because you are there.

Come on, Laudna! I rolled two on my disadvantage die, so probably not. You go to go ahead and release the blast, and as you do, it, shifting forward, tugs you with its adhesive tendril that's dragging you behind it, and in doing so, the blast goes wide

and hits near a window up above, which the shutters close at the impact. All right. All right, help! Finishing Laud this turn. Freshhood Grassy, you're up with Ashlyn on deck. To put on my, to swap out my hand and attach my Bolt Thrower, is that an action to do that? It would be an action to do that, yeah. Okay. It's not an advance. I Is that an action to do that? It would be an action to do that, yeah.

Okay. It's not an advance. I will spend my action to do that. Okay. All righty. Ready to throw some bolts next time. And then as a bonus action, I know y'all are both low, but to prevent any further damage,

I think I'm going to cast Shield of, not Shield of Faith, but Shield of Help on Ashton, granting them a plus two to AC. Okay. That's good. Yeah, yeah, yeah. All righty. So plus two to AC,

and you are currently concentrating on that shield. And at the end of the turn, I take seven points damage. Yes, you do. Oh god. Push it. Okay. Ah! No, no way.

Single digit or double digit? Okay. Double digit. Did it go before Dorian or after Dorian? After. Just after Dorian. Okay. All right, finish it. Do you want to stay put or do you want to move? Oh, boy, I think I'll tuck around.

Well, oh boy. I want to stay within 30 feet of everybody. So Laudna's 30 feet from me now? Laudna is about 30 feet from you, yeah. And if I tucked around that corner, would I still be within 30 feet of folks? I mean, probably, around that corner, just slightly, but you would not have eyes on Laudna.

I will half cover. Can I half cover around the corner or not really? I think you could do that. Corner cover? I think you could do that. All right. So shift around to that space really? I think you can do that. I think you can do that. All right. So shift around to that space there? Yeah. Okay, got it.

Finishing your go. Ashton, you're up. Worm, you're on deck. Oh fuck, I'm going to run in and try and get you loose again. Okay. So I'm taking another swing. I think I might make it a reckless attack, so I don't have disadvantage anymore.

You can do that, yeah, I'll allow it. Come on. That's a, because I don't remember my numbers anymore, 17? 17 does hit. All right, there we go. It is a wall. You say that.

Well, we haven't hit it yet. But I haven't hit it yet. You guys are rolling pretty shitty, I don't know what to tell you. I'm going to, fuck it, I'm just going to pump a Chaos Burst into this in a desperate attempt to get it to work. So let's do some psychic damage and see how that goes.

All right. So let's, uh, da-da-da-da. Since it did not move into melee with you, you can still throw if you don't want to waste your action. Your call. Would it help the cause of? I don't know what wouldn't at this point. Yeah, let's do it.

Yeah, I'll. Okay, so we'll run his attack and then we'll get to you. Fuck. That's 10 points of bludgeoning damage. All righty. Tripled. And, I wish, six points of psychic damage. Okay, 16 points to it, you got it.

And I still have a little bit of movement, I think? What would I have needed to? You do have movement. Can I grab Laudna and start booking the other direction? So as you go ahead and slam your hammer down onto the pseudopod that's currently holding her, you would have to move around here to do so.

Since she is, as you backed up, the creature moved forward, and it's between you. So you had to move around 15 feet to get to her, slam and destroy it. And I'll say, with that much damage, I would say it's just enough to destroy the pseudopod, which means you are not currently grappled. Ah, ah, ah!

It does take lesser damage because you were focused on setting her free than doing maximum damage to it. I rolled terribly anyway. You do have, what's your speed? 30. 30. You have 15 more feet of movement, and it's, I would say, half movement to drag her away,

so you could move her five feet at most. Your call. I'll fucking take it. All right. Anything we can goddamn do. So you pull back to there and we're probably moving. My hero. Working on it.

No longer grapple with Laudna, and you are now. It's the only way I can tell what's going on. Yeah, look at that one. All right. In a way, everybody, we all have metaphorical walls that we put up. If you'd like me to remove things now. We've had them there visually now. Okay.

If it's possible to just shift her behind me, I would take that, too, but. Unfortunately, no. As a growth ex or something. Yeah, this is meant to establish the visuals, but anything you want me to move away for, I can. You have to take like, boom, boom, boom, for us to see over on the side.

But it looks so pretty. For the home, audience at home, it looks great. This is fine, this is fine. You're taking this and the upstairs. We got it, we got it, we got it. Okay, well, all the finished actions go. Orym, you're up with Imogen on deck. Orym, totally burning with acid everywhere.

We're all at the same table, like, over it. Plants his hand on the wall and just goes, and I'm going to use... He poops. He poops, he poops, Nerf poops. Use second wind as a bonus action. You got it. He toots.

11. Oh, thank god. Well, and I shout out, little help here, and I'm going to step directly in front of this thing and just start attacking it. So. Okay. All right. Yeah, that's a natural one, which I will reroll.

That's a tear I missed, but I'm going to Action Surge and go again. Okay. That hits, that's a 19-plus stuff. That hits. This is a goading attack. Again. So that is, sorry, everybody. Badu, badu, badu. It's the blood.

Come on, six plus low roll. Six plus, okay, 12 damage, and it has to make a wisdom save again. Nice, all right, 12 damage, wisdom save. 15? I think it just matched it. Yeah. Actually, then it succeeds. Yeah, it succeeds. Okay.

That's it, and I'm just standing right in front of it. Oh god. As you smash it and look up, shield in front, you just see the mass of it shadowing you as it begins progressively shifting forward and almost threatening to push all of you forward with it. All right. That's all right. Finishing Orym's go.

Imogen, you're up with Fearne on deck. I'm going to look towards Laudna and see how fucked up she is, and my eyes are just going to flash white, and I'm going to flare up my hands and hit it with a Witch Bolt. Okay. Level one, level two? Level two. Level two.

Go ahead and roll to attack. Witch Bolt, what do you use? Cocked. Ultra cocked. Super cocked. I would like to. Maybe if you didn't have 14,000 on your tray. Shut up. 19 cocked. Super cocked. I would like to. Maybe if you didn't have 14,000 points on your tray. Shut up! 19 plus six. That definitely hits. Go ahead and roll your 2d12.

Yes. Yes. That's my best. Ooh, a 12 and a six. Not bad. Whoa, hey. Nice, 18. 18 points. 18 points to it. As it's shifting forward.

You see, as you're concentrating, the black energy and purple sparks are but that little cluster where it's emanating is just focused and holding. You got it. Yes. Nice. All right. Staying put?

How far can I get from it? I think I have to stay within 30 feet. So I'll stay within 30 feet. Okay. Am I within 30 feet? You would be a little closer to get within 30 feet. I would have stepped up then. There you go. That was it, put you there.

And I'll stay right there. All right, you got it. All right. I let you know! Finishing your go, that brings us to Firm with Dorian on deck. Okay. What size creature is this? This is a large.

Great. Okay, so. You have a point. I'm going to put my hand out and I'm going to cast Telekinesis with my Stonky's Ring. Yes, okay. It's a strength. But that's okay. It's a strength. I'm a little different. But that's good. This dog.

Make an ability check. That's so good. Ability. The creature's strength check, so it's my... Still supportive. Yeah. Uh-oh. Broken map.

I've broken the DM for justice sake. You can target only objects that aren't being worn or carried. You cannot target a creature. This is a creature you can try to move. But isn't he a wall? A huge or smaller creature. Make an ability check with your spellcasting ability contested by the creature's strength.

That is the spell Telekinesis, correct? But the item Stonky's Ring says, you can cast the spell Telekinesis at will, but you can target only objects that aren't being used. That's the letter we had in EXU. An addendum, an addendum! Okay, an addendum, an addendum. Okay, okay, okay, okay.

That is the balance, otherwise that would be a fifth-level spell as well, but I will think it's super powerful. I still got it. That's all good, it's all good. So what I'm going to do then. Curse you, Stonky. Whoever you are.

We trust you, Gil. We trust you, Stonky. Okay, this is a little wild. I like wild. I like wild. Let me just double check on this. Stonky bells. Stonky bells. Stonky bells.

Okay, that was... Let me just figure something out real quick. She's improvising, guys. I'm improvising, you made me improvising. Okay, you know what? Your hair looks really cute. Back off, Laura. Oh, thank you. Give her some space. All right. Sorry.

I'm going to peek under my cape. Hey, mister. Are you ready to hop in? Ah! Ugh! Get in there. Okay, as an action in your mind. You can see the flame in the back of the chest

burning and ready to go. Oh, he's getting ready. Okay. So, nope, that's not Wild Shape. That would be Summon Wildfire Spirit. Yes, indeed. So sorry, I, okay. It's okay, that's not Wild Shape. That would be Summon Wildfire Spirit. Yes, indeed. So sorry, I, okay. It's okay, you had a plan before. I had a plan and it didn't work.

That's okay. So I'm improvising here. All right. All right. So I'm going to have him throw a Flame Seed. All right, so as an action, as an action you- Summon him. Correct. Is that just the action? You can spend one using Wild Shape features, just something. Sorry. That's okay. No, it helps if you read out loud, to him, is that just the action? You can spin one and use your wild shape features. Just something you're.

Sorry. That's okay. No, it helps if you read out loud, but in a mumbly way that no one can understand. It adds to the drama. Yep. I was just saying. What are you doing? I'm going to run out.

Okay, so what's great is when you're reading like that, you're not actually reading. Nope. You're just going, I swear I'm doing something. No, that's what was happening. I was doing that and I'm like, I'm not taking in any information right now. What am I doing?

Okay. What would you like him to hear? All right. So I would like him to get just a little bit in front of me. Up there? Yep. And he's just going to take his flame seed. He's going to chuck it into the mouth of the,

the eyeball of the funny wolf. Is it a bonus action for you to tell him to throw the flame seed? I don't know. I don't know. I'm so sorry. I know, I might only be able to command. Okay, in combat, Wildfire Spirit

shares your initiative count, great, but it takes its turn immediately after yours. Okay, in combat, Wildfire Spirit shares your initiative count, great. But it takes its turn immediately after yours. Okay, doesn't matter. The only action it takes on its turn is the dodge action, unless you take a bonus action on your turn to command. There, so you can do it. Okay, break, break, break, break. Yeah, so you actually create it

and then bonus action to give it. There, stack your bonus action. He's going to throw a flame seed. All right, so you watch as Mister leaps off of her shoulder, as he does, you watch this tiny monkey that at this point, aside from those who traveled here with Fearne, has been just this little furry monkey

that stays hidden in her hair and underneath the cloak and occasionally emerges and screams. Now you watch as it leaps off of the shoulders, suddenly it bursts into flames around it and is now this elemental burning monkey on the ground that reaches back, grabs a chunk of monkey flame and throws it over at this giant mouth-covered wall.

and throws it over at this giant mouth-covered wall. Go ahead and roll an attack for me. Okay. That's unsanitary. Lame and Duke. She's going, throw shit at the wall. Oh! Wow.

Don't you see what's next? Oh my god. Yes, that's exactly what she's doing. Come on, mister. Oh! Oh, lame! That's eight. Eight misses.

Oh! Why can't we hit this wall? This is going very poorly. What is this? We are in trouble. This is a journey. What's more stationary than a wall? A door?

The ground? Oh yeah. The secret enemy? The next enemy is the ground. We're just not going to be able to hit it. It does manage to hit the wall, but this one, unfortunately, was not charged with the elemental fire and is literally just a smear of dookie.

Aw. Just dookie dooks. Okay, I give him a little scratch on his head. It's okay, it's okay, you'll get it next time. We'll kill something later. He's like, he's got aureas in his hand. As a bonus action, can I bring to life my staff? You used your bonus action to let him strike.

That's what I just did. Nevermind, I'm all stay. Are you going to stay there? Yes. Okay, you got it. Finishing your turn, Fearne, Dorian, you are up. Oh my god. That was so melt. We didn't throw your axe last time

if you wanted to, so go ahead and throw it now if you want to before your turn. Yeah, yeah, I think after I see Mr. Fail and I'm like, I'll try to throw something, sure. Okay, it's 18. 18 hits, go ahead and roll damage. Sweet. Hit that wall. Two Ds, or, oh, one Ds, that's faster.

Hit that wall! Let's go faster. Not great, but okay. That's a five. Five damage? Yes. You got it. No, it's more than most of us have done. And is stuck in the wall now. Yeah.

Okay, I'm feeling all right about myself. All I want to do is go help Orym, but I can't because I'm fucked. I am going to run around. Oh, that's so cowardly. I'm going to run around the corner over by Fearne, and I'm going to, ah, fuck, this sucks. Yeah.

Ah, it sucks so bad. Why is D&D so real? Oh, it sucks! I'm going to cast, I'm so hurt, I'm going to cast Level 2 Cure Wounds on myself. On your self. Do it, do it, man. I'm going to cast, I'm so hurt, I'm going to cast level two Cure Wounds on myself. On yourself. Do it, do it, man.

I'm so hurt. Oh, it's eight plus three, 11. That's good. Get yourself for 11. A little bit of respite there. Not a problem. I know, that'll end my turn. All right, it is now the wall's turn. Let's first see.

It does get its spit back. Oh! Oh boy. That's not good for anyone. Oh boy, oh boy. Uh-oh, who's over there? It's going to hork some loot. It goes. I wonder how far I can shoot.

It's right there, it goes. Onto the ground right in front of it. Oh no! Splatters out. I need Laudna, Ashton, and Orym to go ahead and roll a dex save. Dex saves? Yep. I'm going to die.

Aren't you dead? Where are you? That was a lot of dice I just heard roll. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Admittedly. We are not doing that. Save some care woes. 16, how many points you guys have?

And you've got bonus points. I do have 10 hit points. 20. 20? So you take 11 points of acid damage. Okay. Also 20. Also 20, 11 points of acid damage. Okay. Also 20. Also 20, 11 points of acid damage. 12. 12?

You take 23 points of acid damage. 12. How you doing? Are you alive? Just grab the deck, girl. I? I would take half of that, but I'm not allowed to, right, Matt? Only allowed to take up to...

Only attacks, right? Or no, no, no, no. No, no, no. You said it was limited to a certain number of value. Well, no, you can prevent any number of value, but you only get temporary hit points equal to your level plus your wisdom modifier. Oh, is that right? Yeah. It's out of the habit of written now.

Can you do that? Are you good, though? I'll take half of that shot. Okay, all right. Right? Is that how it works? Yep. So I will take the hit points, but I can't dish out that many hit points. Well, she takes half damage,

and then you, up to, and it should say in the ability, up to, I think it's your cleric level plus your wisdom modifier. Which is seven. So you get seven temporary hit points. So I only take seven of her hit points? Or I take 11 of her hit points?

She takes half damage from the strike. Okay. So you take half damage from that. So I get 11 hit points back. Correct. And I take seven temporary hit points. You take seven temporary points. You cannot get higher than seven.

Okay. Thank you. Kept me from rolling death saves. Oh, so you get hit point, you get? I am currently possibly suffering the effects. We'll find out. I've absorbed some damage. So 20 to 11. Half damage, essentially. Correct, yeah. Let me just make sure this is right.

Hang on, hang on, let me reset my ship. It went from 23 damage to 11. I know, I know, but I had temporary hit points and it was weird, so I'm going to take 11 damage. Right, okay, so I have 10 hit points. Okay. All right, I have 10 hit points. Thank you. What does that mean? You have seven

temporary hit points that are just festering around you, waiting to either protect you or harm you. All right, that is your reaction. With that, the creature's going to go ahead. Can't really push forward with you in the way. I mean, it can. I'll say for the size, against your size,

particularly being a small creature, go ahead and make a strength saving throw for me. That'll go well. That's a two plus two, so that's a four. As it begins to push forward, you try and get your shield in the way, and hit it and hold your ground, and you feel your feet just

sliding against it, and so it's going to push you forward as it goes. Are we all on top of it again? Or is it leaving you guys behind? It leaves Laudna's melee space, but it's still within yours. You're not currently attached to it because it has not struck you with any pseudopods.

It's just used the last couple rounds to blast the ground with its acidic spittle. But that finishes its turn. All of you begin to see the tendrils. You see Orym being pushed back, shield in front, partially adhered to the front of it, and there's a little part of you that worries you're not going to be able to pull yourself free of it

now that you've met it, but you haven't reached that point yet. Finishing its turn is now Laudna's go with Fresh Cut Grass on turn. All right, it's left my melee range, so can I move back? You can. I'm going to get back to the back of the alley.

And now fully embracing my Form of Dread, you can see. You now realize that pseudopods have a reach of 15 feet. So what do you mean? Meaning if you want to completely leave that reach, it will get one attack of opportunity on you with a pseudopod. God. Up to you if you its pseudopod. God. Up to you if you want to risk it.

No. No? No. No. No. No, they're just hit really hard. I mean, I want to move back away from it. I want to move back, but I don't want to leave it. That's about it. You can move five feet and stay within the reach of its pseudopod.

Otherwise, it'll still strike you on the way out. Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck. I don't want to die or get grappled. All right, I'm going to stay here. Hex. Hex it, you got it. Without issue. My Bone Destruction,

and then Eldritch Blast. I'm just going to take the shadows from around me and gather them up in the energy and blast it down on top of its head. Fuck me sideways, why? Why? 13. 13?

13? 13 just misses. Ah! That's it. I'm sorry. This is going so poorly. Why? Right? Should I get rid of it? Have you keep using that one?

It's that same one. Did you keep using the same one? This is pretty. It is really pretty. Pretty fucking mean. Pretty fucking shitty. You move around, spin, hex it, and then as you throw the Eldritch Blast, the creature seems to shift

with part of its physical movement forward, and as it does, the blast misses it and just arcs off into the sky. It's a wall, how is it that dexterous? All right, let's say I'm done. Okay. Rock. That's your go. All right, that brings us to Fresh Cut Grass

with Ashton under it. What I'm saying is we all carry emotional walls, and by breaking them down, we can become more spiritually whole. I'm melting! Sorry. All right, I'll lean out and I will fire. I will throw a bolt from my bolt thrower.

Yes! Okay. And try to strike it with said bolt. Cross the bolt. 18 plus two to hit. Nice. That's a 20 to hit. That hits. Awesome. That's a 1d8, which is five, plus I'll pump in the seven temporary hit points.

Nice! Yes! So 12 points of damage to it. Points. Points. We don't lose vowels, you extend them. Hit points. No. There's a burst from the impact of the harpoon,

like a grapple point as it hits, and you see the holding of some sort of strange magical energy, the impact as you release the temporary hit points into it. It is a large creature. You could pull yourself to it if you wanted to. Ooh, I don't know about that. Oh no, this is the Bolt Thrower.

This is not the... I have a lot of hands. Oh no, this is the Bolt Thrower. This is not the... I have a lot of hands. Oh, Bolt Thrower, gotcha, gotcha. So yeah, so you just go ahead and, this is just a bolt. Yes. You hit it with that, you got it. And then with my bonus action, since that was just an action action,

I can cast a spell. Looking over my friends over here, who is dying more? I mean, actually, technically me. Actually, technically me. We're two away. Yeah, I'm in single digits. You're both in single digits?

Barely, almost. Barely in double, and I'm in single. I will throw a healing word at Ashton. Yeah, and let's see. It's d4 plus three. Three plus three, six. I'll take it. Oof.

Sheesh. All right, you rolled six that way. Are you staying put? Oh, the wall's getting close, but I got to stay close to all my friends. I'll stay put and just rock right back around the corner again. Okay. Just shift back over to that spot.

You got it. All right. Let's all just think of this as a metaphorical teaching healing moment for all of us. For all of us. All right, Ashton, you're up. Orym, you're on deck. I am... Just going to take another... How far away am I from this thing?

You're within five feet. You're off to the side. It started to move past you, but it hasn't moved entirely out of your melee range. Okay, I'm just going to take a fucking swing at it. See what the fuck happens. Take a fucking swing. Maybe I'll actually roll decently.

Hey, 18! 18, there you go. That hits. Just because everything sucks, I'm just going to throw a Chaos Burst before I go unconscious. You got it. That's all right. That's cool. Don't die.

You know I'm trying. A fire. Fire, good job. So let's just do... Let's do a... Can't always roll max damage like you did the first four episodes of this campaign. Let's do nine points of bludgeoning. Which is great. He was so upset.

And four points of fire damage. Yes! 13 points of damage. All righty. Slam in with a hammer from behind, you hit it. It's a glancing blow off of what is mostly a wall, and then the flames burn and streak across, but you hold the hammer back.

Travis, stop it. Travis is special. Travis, stop it. I'm not looking. Travis is the worst person in the world. Travis is the other wall. All right. Yeah, and I guess I'm just going to back up another five feet. I'm just going to try and be another.

I'm going to try and get some distance from everybody so that there are. Five feet puts you right in front of Laudna. Right in front of Laudna? Yeah. Can we have a second Twitch stream that's just Travis shitting on the episodes? I'm looking at it. Travis commentary.

Look at these answers. Yeah, sure. Yeah, I'll be right in front of the log now. Okay, you got it. That finishes your go. Orym, you're up. Imogen, you're on deck. Okay, assume I'm affixed with the shield. Is that accurate? I will allow you a strength saving throw right now. Nah, let's say it's affixed.

I'm going to use a Superiority die to feint to the side and make it look like I'm running, but instead I'm going to grip the shield and swing around and try to stab, swing in an arc and try to stab into its mouth. So that's an advantage because it was a feint. Hell yeah. Oh!

So close. Two fives, I rolled two fives. That's a... That's a 12. That's not going to hit. 12 misses. You pull back on the shield, you go to swing towards the mouth, and as you do, it closes.

The blade hits where the teeth come down and actually catches the blade halfway through and momentum stops. You try and pull away and your blade's now affixed to it. You have your shield stuck and your blade stuck. For fuck's sake. My feet are pressed on it and they feel stuck. I'm going to die? I'm going to die. Yeah, I'm going to die. I stuck. For fuck's sake. And my feet are pressed on it, and they feel stuck. I'm going to die? I'm going to die.

Yeah, I'm going to die. I've been accidentally doing my math wrong, and I should have four extra damage at this point against this thing, because I forgot my plus two rage damage. You got it. I believe I've hit it twice. So that's four fucking points.

17 for the last round. Good call. Remember, learning, learning. Yes, there you go. All right, that finishes your go, Orym. I'm like a fly on a wall. Yeah, you are. Four more points. Imogen, you're up. Fearne, you're on deck. Come on, help you go. All right, that finishes your go, Orym. I'm like a fly on wall, fly pick. Yeah, you are. Four more points. Imogen, you're up. Fearne, you're on deck.

This is help. Never going to work, but it's getting closer to me, so I'm going to try to use my bonus action and shove it back telepathically while I burst some more lightning flare into it. Does it affect large creatures? It's all creatures. Okay, and it's a strength saving center.

One creature I see within 30 feet of me, strength saving. 21. Okay. And it's a strength saving. One creature I see within 30 feet of me, strength saving. 21. Yeah. Oh, oh, wait, wait, wait. Because Hex. Does it affect its ability? It checks. Not saving throws.

Never mind. Good looking out, good looking out. But it's strength, it's going to be strength. Okay, guys, so strength ability checks. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Which means any sort of contested rolls to try and break free from the adhering is now at disadvantage on its end. So it still helps, just not in this instance, a strength ability check. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Which means any contested rolls to try and break free from the adhering is now at disadvantage on its end.

So it still helps, just not in this instance, but it still helps. I'm here. Good looking out. Is it within 15 feet of me? Does it seem within a little bit? It is within 10 feet of you, actually. Okay.

It's the tendrils, you're within the reach of its tendrils. You're like, it's coming towards you. Oh, you're trying to get away. I'm not going to let it out. I'm going to burr some lightning into it. You're like, it's coming towards you. Oh, you're trying to do what? I love them better. I'm going to burr some lightning into it. Okay, it just hits automatically. So go ahead and roll a d12.

I have one d12. Just one? It only does the level two at the initial impact, and then it's just a d12 every turn. That's all good. Orym just turns, wait, what? Why couldn't I have used one of those rolls from before? But I rolled again and it was a one.

A one, it takes one point of damage. I'm scared right now. You are, you are. I am so terrified. And so it's real close, and I feel like being closer to the mouth is scarier than not, so even though it could hit me, I'm going to try to back up as much as I possibly can. You could run right into the acid.

You try to move back, it's going to go ahead and. I'm going to try to stay within 30 feet of it, but so I don't break the... 30, that would be it, but it's going to go ahead and try and use its reaction against the pod. That's going to be a 16 to hit? It hits. All right.

You take, okay, 14 points of bludgeoning damage. You do not get that far, because as soon as you try and move beyond it, the tendril hits you and you are grappled. Get over here. No! He's coming at everybody sticky! Why?

Why? I'm not nice. Oh, this family. All of us are real. I can only take like, yeah. All right, that finishes your turn. Burn, you're up with Dorian undead. If you got big shit, use it now. Use all the shit you have.

I'm fine, but I keep failing. Hey, Burn! Okay. I'm a healer. Okie dokie. What we're going to do here. Well, we're going to need a lot. Every time somebody goes unconscious, you're going to need to pick them back up. What we're going to do here is...

Clearly, they're going to get their flint monkey and fire back. Okay. This is an idea, and I just need you to tell me yay or nay. Of course, yeah, yeah. What you got? So with the Wildfire Spirit, I can sometimes do Fiery Teleportation

and teleport in 15 feet to an unoccupied space with my boy, Mister. Mm-hmm, and any creature within five feet of it, which can include Orym. Which would include Dorian and Orym. Will take damage. Okay, let's scratch that. I have another idea of that.

Okay. Okay. I'm going to, I'm going to, oh, I don't want anybody else to take damage here. Is there a way I can sort of get to the left of Orym, your right. Right here, you mean? Yeah. Yeah, you can move over there. I'm going to do that,

and then I'm going to clap my hands together. Mm-hmm. Yes. I cast Thunder Wave. Yeah. Oh! Try to do it that way, so it tries not to hit Orym. No, actually, there's just enough space here to not hit Orym or Ashton.

There's a 15-foot cube right there. Okay, that was the plan. Okay, great. So. Constitution saving throw on its point, right? Ever call? Let's see, I don't know if I've. Sounds right.

Yes, constitution saving throw. Is a 13. What's your spell DC? Come on, come on, come on. My spell DC is 15. 15, okay, yeah! So it fails. Oh boy, oh boy. So go ahead and roll damage on that one.

Okay, okay, okay. You're casting a level one and a level two. Right, right, right? 15. Okay, okay. Yeah, what level were you casting it at? Level two. All right, go for it. Go ahead and roll damage for second level.

Eight, okay, right?s, okay. All right. Okay. I see. Eight, eight, one, two, three, okay. So that's three to eight damage. Okay, that would be 15 points of damage. 15 points of damage, nice. And then, now Mister gets to shh. And it moves him back 10 feet?

It moves it back 10 feet, yeah. Uh-oh. Does it pull our friends with it? I'm on it. Orym does get pulled with it. And what about me and the, am I grappled, too? Yep. Shpoof.

And so it drags them back, but then pulls them with it. Okay, now Mister gets a turn. He does. And he's going to shit in his hand again and throw that Flaming Seed. Go ahead and roll an attack. Okay. 12. Ugh. Dang it.

Oh my god. I knew I shouldn't have used this one. It's a lot of rough rules, this battle, guys. I'm sorry. It is. Man. As it throws another one, this one actually goes wide and splatters on the wall behind

and it's just this flaming turd that's on the actual wall. And she's like, Ah! Ah! One minute. All right. Let's go down together. No. Is that your turn, Fearne? I mean, oh. Okay. Let's go down together. No. Is that your turn, Fearne? I mean, oh.

We all go down together. Yes. Okay. Finishing Fearne's go. Dorian, you're up. All right, I'm going to use my movement to break backward all the way up against that back wall, right down the middle of the alley,

as far away as I can go, yeah. Then I am going to straight down. Your friend's being dragged back by the wall, which is now doubling its force to push back against the nature of fury that is Fearne. Oh fuck. Straight down the chute, I'm going to cast Chromatic Orb.

Ooh, okay. Oh. That's right, because you took that feat. I took that feat. All right, roll a attack. Please. Let's go, natural 20. Yes!

All right. Plus 25, let's go. Praise the rollies, guys. So you roll first to see what damage type it is? Do I roll or do I pick? You choose it. I think I choose it. Oh, you choose it? Yeah, yeah. Yeah, I'm going to choose lightning. All right.

All right. All the way. Bro! That's all right. Fuck yes! 16. You've got a sad one there. I think the way I cast is, I have to have a diamond. So if you were to look closely at my chest plate

right in the center, you'd notice a little princess cut diamond. And I flick it into my hand and catch it. Timely. And it turns into this orb of electric energy. I just give it the old MLB throw as hard as I can, straight down the center. Fantastic. You rolled 3d8, right?

What? You rolled 3d8? I did, and it gave me a 16. So 16, that's with the double? What'd you say? You rolled eight? No, no. I got seven, one, eight, so 16. But you can then double it because you rolled a natural 20. You rolled a natural 20, double your dice.

Oh. So 32? Ooh! Ooh! How do you want to do this? Oh! Oh! What?

No! No! No! Oh my god! Its turn was next, I'm so pissed. Well, just like I said, except 10 times cooler. Yeah, so as you flick up the diamond and grab it and then release the orb,

what happens? Ooh, as I throw it, it just goes from this tiny little thing, gets a little bigger until it looks like just a tiny little orb, and as it shoots forward, it just gets faster and faster until it's almost like a fucking bullet, and it just goes right in between,

right in the fucking iris of its eyes and buries its way into its eye slowly. Ooh! As the wall is standing there, all the friends being dragged in, its mouth open, you can see it's in the process of getting ready to stuff Orym into its giant toothy maw. Yeah!

As everyone has this look of despair and fear on their face, you watch as it spins and crashes right into its eye. As it impacts, the wall seems to lock and freeze. You watch. What seems like time everywhere else slows down, except for the one slight spin of this arcane bolt that begins to corkscrew in and burrow into the eye.

As it does, it tries to close the lid, and as the lid closes, you can see the blue glow behind the flesh of the light that's getting brighter and brighter, at which point arcs of energy begin to shock through it, as blue lightning begins to tear open, gashes and soars across his body.

The bits of wall-like texture and brick you see begins to turn into this odd, gray, open, gashes and soars across his body. The bits of wall-like texture and brick you see begins to turn into this odd, gray, sundered flesh, and the wall begins to just and you see as it begins to vomit a dark, bloody ichor out of its mouth. Other mouths begin to appear in the spaces and then go slack and vanish.

The eye itself closes, tries to open elsewhere, but the pupil itself is disintegrated. As it begins to take a step forward and then another slack and vanish. The eye itself closes, tries to open elsewhere, but the pupil itself is disintegrated. As it begins to take a step forward and then another step forward, your friends begin to push away. You manage to free yourself from the wall and as you all step back to join Dorian at the end of the alleyway against the wall,

you watch as it and collapses into the ground. I know. Two jibbits there for that fucking wall. Two flat walls there. SAM and LAURA, ALL AROUND No, don't make it sound weird. So sweet. No, don't make that sound.

I hope we're really wrong. No. There's a brief moment as you all catching your breath. In the silence of the night, you hear all of your friends around you breathing hard. And Dory, you stand there, clutching the diamond in your hand.

Holy shit. Fuck, I hate acid. Scary wall. That's it. Nice hate acid. Scary wall. That's it. Nice. Wow. Nice renovation. Yeah. Thank you.

Is everyone all right? No. Oh yeah. Wow, y'all took some damage. I think I'm going to sit down. How are you, Fresh Cut Grass? Oh, I'm dandy. Oh, good.

Oh, nice. Who would like a little bit of healing? Anyone? You're the, the, mm. I don't got much. I'll join you. Yeah. I'll go over to Ashton.

Sit here for a minute or 60. Let's just sit. I'll go over to Imogen. How far down does this alley go? Oh yeah, did that leave a hole? You go and look and there's about 10 more feet of alley behind it before it comes to the actual end of the alley.

Is it filthy? No, it is entirely clean like the rest, except for what looks like remnants of dissolved bone. Oh, we hate these folks. 10 points of heat. Can I look around the bone fragments to see if there's any identifiable jewelry or? Sure, make an investigation check.

No, I just want to identify the bodies for their families. So it's anything that identifies anything. What am I doing? Investigation. Oh, that's terrible. It's five. Five. It takes you a long time. You manage to find some coin. You find some bracelets

and what looks to be mostly metallic-based accessories that survived whatever processed this creature. Oh, do you need help? Probably. I'm just going to gather whatever I can find as some sort of identifying. Sift all the bones into my hands. Oh, okay. There you go, thank you.

Are you going to be okay? Yeah, that was fuck. We tease. What about you? That was fun. I feel better after Fearne. Thank you, Fearne. You're welcome. We should do that more often.

Okay. That thing was terrifying. What the? It's okay. What was that? Inanimate objects. It's a conspiracy of inanimate objects. We've got walls. We've got walls. We've got tables. We've got chairs. It's been a fucking wall.

Walls and walls. God, this place is weird. Are you all right? Yeah, Fearne, help me out so much. I bet every once in a while. How are you? Because you were right up there on it. Okay, that hurt. I thought I would die. It really hurt. But I thought we were dead. This little one helped me.

I thought I might die. You look over and Mister has climbed up onto the body and just looks back at you and goes, and then just takes a flaming poop on him directly. Nice. Where was that initiative from? I'm glad you finally hit it. Yeah, good boy.

You can eat it, too. Comes up and climbs back up onto you as the flames disappear and you see the Fuzzy Mister behind clutching onto the side of her hair. He's an attractive animal. I give his little rolly tummy some scratches. I'm just going to scratch it from the kneeling position I have on the ground, reaching up.

You should not be first anywhere. No! No! And this keeps happening. I've noticed. I'm really good at a distance and not been relevant. Rushes around the corner, right? Looks to you, Dory, and goes like, what's all the noise?

Who is this? Okay. Oh, oh. Oh, I think we might've found your patron gobbler thing. It was hard to explain. A wall? Okay, not so hard to explain. It was a wall. It was a scary wall.

Looks over and it's still there. It still has its wall forming places. It's just dead. It still has its wall forming places. It's just dead. We broke the fourth wall. How dare you? It all led to this. It all led to this. Eight blocks.

Oh man. Very experimental. Wow. My fucking god. Amazing. Ocampo, the demon, goes, Fuck you. That's actually pretty good. Maybe I'll use it in auditions.

What the fuck is that? I don't know. I'm going to go get Stuvar. Everyone okay? You okay? No. I'm like, refreshments. I'll ask. Beer, wine, medical attention, anything happens.

Orym is full-on planking face down on the cobblestone. I just need an hour. Hey, what's going on down there? Oh no, who's this now? You look over on the down the other side of the alleyway that leads to the road, you see two armored figures walking up wearing familiar colors and garb of the Wardens of the Wild. Oh, great timing.

Oh shit. What's that supposed to mean? It means to attack. No, it's true. My god, what the hell? It is the wall. Bricks. Bricks in the wall.

Should poke it. We're pretty sure it's dead, but there's only one way to tell. They both pull their weapons out. One of them has this nice, curved saber. The other one has a rather spiked mace in the other hand. They go up to it and start poking it and chipping back.

Fine! Don't do that! Don't do that! Don't do that. Don't do that! Stop it! Shoot! I know you. Yeah, you do.

Go over and start prodding it, which point Steuvaan comes by and is like, I'm sorry, I am being notified that you have apparently, oh my goodness. Is it? He looks over to the warden's, is it? They're like, yeah, it's dead.

Mm-hmm. Good job. Good job. Thanks. Good. Mm-hmm. Good job. Yeah, thanks. So this is what? Well, we suspect, I'll hand over the personal effects that I found. Did you recognize any of these from maybe Lindy

or your janitor, Usha? You can see the male halfling, Ticket Taker, emerges, Siran emerges, all different employees that are still there that were in the process of prepping for the next show all begin to slowly emerge and gather to go look at this spectacle just beyond the walls of their theater.

The wardens begin to ask questions about the disappearances that they've been looking into for a while, and Steuva and Zal. Of course, you've all been extremely helpful, but it looks like we had things taken care of here, have we not? Sure, yeah, yeah.

So this is it. All right. I mean. We think so. It is, but how does a thing like this? Yeah, someone or something may have enchanted it to do this. Yeah. How do you know that?

I don't. A creature like this can't just wander through the streets. That is true. Do you have any rogue set pieces, any flats that have just gotten really, have you scorned any flats? The ones that would be worth feeling scorned by because they were destroyed.

So I don't think that's quite it. Is there a former set builder or something that was disgruntled? I feel like this would have been a stonemason, but yeah. Yeah. Or just someone who was trying to sow chaos around these parts. The male halfling, who's the ticket taker, steps forward a bit and goes,

Well, there was a few weeks back that general street repair that was being done here in the alley. Oh. You look around and you can see the leftover bricks and bits of construction equipment that's just been left in sections around the alley. Those could be evil bricks.

Who was that? Who did that? Who was doing it? Looks over to Stevon's front and is like, Wardens, do you know who was responsible for doing any sort of construction work in the neighborhood as of late? You can look at it. I know.

Any sort of official construction done on this part of the spire is overseen by the Treshi House Masons Guild. Treshi House? Treshi House Masons Guild. Treshi. I don't know. It's an influencer house. So true. Treshi House? Treshi House, Mason's Guild. Treshi. I don't have an influencer house.

It's the worst, but you can talk about it. Do these renovations occur around the same time as your first missing person? So you see Stuban looks over at the tech antagonist. Evon, is this true? Well, I guess so, yeah, but I didn't... I didn't, and Steuben goes, it's fine. Well.

Regardless, appreciate your time in helping us figure out where these missing individuals may have gone. Wardens, I think we have this handled. If you wouldn't mind just writing up a report or do whatever it is you do when you take other people's credit and let your masters know that things are taken care of

and to stop peering into my personal effects. I am not responsible for this. They go, Mr. Say, you didn't put this here. Steward's like, are you? Bring him by. Do your investigation. I have nothing to hide. In the interim, let's have a conversation in my office.

As you all exit, the employees begin to scatter and head back into the building to prepare for the next performance. Wait, I got to get up? I'm going to pick you up. Come on. Come on. No, don't hurt.

Why don't you ride on the back? How does that work? Just get on. I'll wheel you over. Oh my god. I step up from behind and I sort of put my feet, it's a segue, feet on the side of the spokes of his wheel. And I hold onto his shoulder.

There you go. Okay, go slow, I'm really ginger. Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow. You all, now even more of you are here Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow one, I guess, thank you for your curious minds and for being forthright in your intent. Rarity, it seems, in some spaces these days. I would hope that you are willing to speak on what transpired and defend the honor of the Dreamscape Theater for our lack

of involvement directly with the deaths of these individuals? Sure. What are you going to give us in return? We don't need anything, really. We're fine. Reaches behind and pulls a small case that is currently closed and sets on the desk and scoots it across.

I open it. It is filled with a smattering of Golden Fiennes. It says, Consider this appreciation for your hard work and an offering of friendship in, once again, ensuring that those responsible for this are taken care of by the authorities and not my humble business.

I don't think we can accept this at all, can we? Yes, we can. Okay. Wait, but I thought we would also maybe, like Laudna said, get free memberships as well for box seats any time you want to come. Box seats for the season. Box seats and tickets. Season tickets!

Both of you make persuasion checks. Come on! Come on, Fearne! Let's go! To the theater! Let's go to the theater! 20 total. Ooh!

15. Done. I'll have Tefta draw up a membership contract for you over the next week or so. Just come by in that time to fill out the paperwork. We just need to ensure that each one of you signs appropriately, because we need your information to ensure memberships are maintained.

Individually, privately, would have to each one of us. Oh boy. I hope so. Regardless. Can't be worse than getting burned with acid. We can make it out. Not yet. Thank you. Also, would you please not let any of the patrons

coming in for our next showing tonight aware of this? I consider that part of this reward exchange. Of course, it's over. We'll go out the back. What's done is done. Thank you, I appreciate that part of this reward exchange. Of course, it's over. We'll go out the back. What's done is done. Thank you, I appreciate that. Have a good night and get out. That was exciting. That was awesome. And we didn't die.

I really thought we were going to die. Oh yeah. I love the arts. I love what you do. Maybe the theater's not for me. We weren't in the theater. One bad show really is not enough to make a judgment by.

For a show of jitters, that's all. Matinees. Matinees. No more matinees. Let's just agree, no more matinees. Are you guys exiting through the back alley? Yeah. Sure. Okay.

Another wall approaches. Are you passing by the fight you just had on the way out? Yeah. Okay. So you all carefully exit the back. You can see there's now four wardens, or wilders, that are in the process of inspecting it, holding up parts of its weird skin flaps to see the stonework texture and the weird combination of masonry

and creature that this is. One of them looks over and notices you pass by and gives a nod, recognizes one of the ones that approached him. Continues. Could we? I'm sorry, that's mine. I pull a dagger out of a seeping wound. Did you get your? Gosh, and all the gifts.

Yeah, thank you, thank you so much. I'll go right behind Orym and retrieve my hand axe. Okay. Oh, I forgot. I'm going to go pull out a tooth. Okay. I meant to take this. In a really odd display, you expect resistance,

but it just slides out of you. Ew! Oh god. I take all the teeth. Well, I mean, can I take more? In a really odd display, you expect resistance, but it just slides out of your hand. Ew! Goddamn. I take all the teeth. Well, I mean, can I take more? Otherwise they just pump it. You want to.

I'm going to try to take as many as I can. Roll a check. Roll a sleight of hand check. Because there are four wilders that are currently in the process of inspecting it. Bringing it back on the spot. 18. I'd say you get seven teeth

before one of the wilders goes, Hey, hey, hey, hey! This is a crime scene. Yes, a crime scene that I made. Right, but we need to make sure that all evidence is returned to our superiors. You don't need the teeth. You don't need to identify it. You already know what it is. That's not entirely true. We have no idea what that all evidence is returned to our superiors. You don't need the teeth. You don't need to identify it.

You already know what it is. That's not entirely true. We have no idea what the fuck this is. I'm leaving. There are plenty of teeth left. You are magic. As you guys begin to exit the alley towards the, yes. Oh, quick. There were repairs that happened.

Things were replaced. Can I see if there were new bricks, old bricks? What the fuck? Make a perception or investigation check. What the fuck is up with that? I just want to know how much of the creature could we tell when we were fighting it was actually flesh disguised as stone

and was any of it actually stone masonry? If you want to inspect it, you can go ahead and make an investigation check. I encourage you. 15 total. 15 total. Looking around the interior here, there is no fresh masonry. No what? There is no fresh masonry. All the materials that are around are there,

but there's nothing new within this alleyway. Oh no, they died. Who died? Or didn't. Contractors. Or they didn't do the work. Or they didn't do any work, they just put the thing here.

What'd you go? 11. 11? Contractors. The best thing you can figure out while you're looking it over is that... Contractors or contracts? Contractors. I mean, just to? There's contractors. Contractors. Just contractors.

I mean, just to reiterate, you've never seen a creature like this in a real environment. They never actually showed up. You do see... Sorry. Sorry. I'm trying to keep the cross talk to him. I'm sorry.

You do see, affixed to two sides of the creature, small devices that are almost attached. Here we go. What do they look like? They look almost like half orbs, just pressed with little parts that dig into the stone-like flesh of the creature. Have the guards noticed it?

You're uncertain. Can I try to take one of them? Make a side of handshake. Come on. Get it, get it, get it. Come on, blanket. Come on, blanket. 11. Roll the three.

Oh! Whoa! The wilders are still pouring over this and keeping an eye on most of the crew and you manage to just find the right moment. Maybe it's a hint of the extension of your consciousness that just blurs, puts the blinders briefly on before you just grab it and pull. And once again, it looks like it was meant to heavily

dig in and hold in place, but it gives no resistance as you pull it away. It's rather disturbing in a moment, but you pocket it. Comes away with a shivering queef. I'll never live that down, you motherfuckers. Keep talking to the DM, man. A lot more things can spit acid. It gets worse than that!

But yeah, you do find that. I'll just pocket it and walk away. Okay. Pocket it, walk it out. You walk down the rest of the alleyway. The streets, this part, are starting to get a little busy. People you can see crossing the path. There's a shadow at the edge of the end of the alleyway.

Oh? Like a figure leaning against the wall. Same figure as before. Does it look familiar to Orym and I? Make a perception check, both of you guys. Yeah, 25. 17. 17. You both glance past, and though it is mostly in shadow,

with just a little bit of rim lighting from the moon that is coming through from the main street, no, this is not the figure you saw. This is a humanoid figure, but much smaller. Maybe about Orym's size, even shorter. You see a faint hunch to it as it just sits there, arms crossed, waiting. I don't trust it.

Can I send out a message to it? Ooh, is that stupid? If you'd like to. You can see it. Do you need something? Travis, you want to come to the table? Oh! Oh! Fuck you!

Fuck you! Yeah! What happened? What's happening? He just died! Really? And he was trolling us on text all night! My god, he finally stopped texting us.

Jeez. I know, but where'd he go? No more screen drafts. If you'd like to ask the question once more to the target of your message. I don't even remember what I said. Do you want something? Do you want something? You want something?

Ooh. Who is that? Oh no. Who's speaking, please? It's, oh no. Oh no. And I just wave over here. How are you doing that? The same way you're doing it to me.

Mind powers. That's nifty. No, but do you, are you going to, I just walk over to him. Imogen? I jog along. Who's that? Do you know that? That's behind you. He's a slow guy. I power walk next to Imogen? I jog along. Who's that? Do you know that? I'm behind you. I'm a small guy.

I power walk next to Imogen. If you would like to describe yourself, and try to answer signs. Yeah, you see post up against the wall, cloak and hood pulled over his head. You see tufts of silvery gray hair shooting out over his ears. Some silvery gray hair shooting out over his ears. Some silvery gray hair shooting out of his ears.

And a nice little knit beanie cap pulled tight with little ear straps. He's got a leather chest harness and some pretty muscly sinewed arms along with some, looks to be woodworking tools from his hips and waist. And some nicely pointy-toed boots. What's his lineage?

He's a gnome. He's a gnome. Roughly what age? From a visual perspective? Oh, probably somewhere around 100, 120, 100-something years old. What kind of height are we talking about? I'm short, motherfucker. Shorter than that?

I'm 33. Where you at? I think I got you by an inch or so. I'm looking down. Oh yeah. Oh, you're taller than him. I think so. I can't, I'm not sure.

You're not sure? I might be on my tippy toes. Got to put out a different vibe for these strangers. Fair enough. That's where it lifts. Like, just shoes with a quarter up against the wall. Also the heels, I just lift them up and then rest them against the back. So my calves don't cry.

Sick. What? Who are you? Who are you? Who are you? Are you one of the contractors? I see you have woodworking tools. No, I am. I like working with wood very much. No, I saw around the corner,

all of you handle whatever that was. You decided to just stand there and not come help? Well, fuck yes! That thing had tendrils, and all of a sudden, you were there, and you got pulled in, and not come help? Well, fuck yes! That thing had tendrils and all of a sudden you were there and you got pulled in and you got spit back out and then he's fucking face down in the middle of the street. Fair. Fair.

Do you do this regularly? Are you looking for work? No, I'm just kidding. Oh! Do you know for work? No, I'm just kidding. Oh! Do you know a patron? No, actually, I could use some help. Oh, you need something. Well, yes. I need help finding someone.

What's your name, friend? My name is Chetney. I'm sorry, say that again. It sounded like you said chuh. Chetney. Chetney. Chetney Hockipee is my name. Chetney Hockipee? Chetney.

Chetney. Chetney Hockipee. Chetney. Chetney Hockipee. What a great name. Thank you. Two years. You're unusual. Need to hold on to time. Who are you looking for? Shit, huh? Great name. Thank you. Two years.

So unusual. Need to hold him on the tongue. Who are you looking for? A friend. I'm sort of new to Marquet, but I'm sort of all on my own now. It would be very, very helpful if you could help me locate him.

You hear in the back part of the alley, one of the creature's larger portions of the body just sloughs forward onto the ground with a heavy impact and the guards rush back. Get food and a nap first. Why do I already want to roll an inside check? Because I don't... Well, you're in my head!

Shit, I should roll an inside check on you! Inside check, because I don't... Well, you're in my head! Shit, I just rolled an inside check on you! Inside check! I can't. Yeah. Take a peek, see what you like. Clearly, we're upsetting you, old-timer. Are you okay? Yeah. You're very kind.

What's your name? Fresh Cut Grass, pleased to meet you. The whole thing's your name? Oh, no, just the Fresh Cut Grass part. Oh, that's fantastic. What a fucking name. Yeah, I would actually love to come with you, that's all right.

You all seem to be fairly... Are they okay? They're injured. We're not okay, but we will. Oh yeah, that's fine. That's a whole, that's a story that requires drink and games and sleep, and we have to sleep because I'm going to fucking die.

Fire by spire. Fire by fucking die. Fire by spire. Fire by spire. Fire by spire. Fire by fire. Fire, spire, spire, fire. Come to the... Yeah, you're on your grandfather. Come get a drink with us,

if we can, you know, see what you're about. That would be very, very kind of you, yes. All right. Whatever gets us there faster, let's just go. You walk first. I don't go. I go on for dead. You walk first. I don't want to trip on your booties. You see me just.

As the older, gnomish, odd companion begins to dart out into the night before you as your tired, wounded, bruised selves follow suit to make your way towards the Spire by Fire. We're going to finish tonight's game there. We'll pick up there next week. Yeah!

I can't wait, baby. He's back, baby! He's back! I don't know, we'll see. Maybe he doesn't match with the group. We have to find out. Yeah, yeah, yeah. He could also die in three episodes.

Yeah. We don't know the plans. Anything goes in campaign three. All measure up. All righty, well. Travis is like a drummer for Spinal Tap. Yeah. Yeah. Totally!

We had those in three years. Oh my god. Such rage. Oh my goodness. Chet with an N. Excited to have you back, Travis. I had a pleasure to fucking be here. You're going to be Chet in about a week.

Yep. All right. Love it. Thank you all so much for joining us. Thank you. Have a wonderful night. We'll see you a week. Yep. All right. Love it. Thank you all so much for joining us. Thank you. Have a wonderful night. We'll see you next week. We love you very much, and is it Thursday yet? Oh yeah! Oh hey, Ashley Johnson here,

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