Critical Role - C3E81 The Eve of the Red Moon

Episode Date: December 28, 2023

Bells Hells ponder fey bargains and prepare for their dangerous race through Ruby Vanguard territory... Twitch subscribers gain instant access to VODs of our shows like Critical Role, Exandria Unlimited, and 4-Sided Dive. But don't worry: Twitch broadcasts will be uploaded to YouTube about 36 hours after airing live, with audio-only podcast versions of select shows on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & Google Podcasts following a week after the initial air date. Twitch subscribers also gain access to our official custom emote set and subscriber badges and the ability to post links in Twitch chat! "It's Thursday Night (Critical Role Theme Song)" by Peter Habib and Sam RiegelOriginal Music by Omar Fadel and Hexany Audio"Welcome to Marquet" Art Theme by Colm McGuinnessAdditional Music by Universal Production Music, Epidemic Sounds, and 5 AlarmCharacter Art by Hannah FriederichsAnimated Introduction by Kamille Areopagita, Kevin Areopagita, Mark Adams and Peggy Shi Due to the improv nature of Critical Role and other RPG content on our channels, some themes and situations that occur in-game may be difficult for some to handle. If certain episodes or scenes become uncomfortable, we strongly suggest taking a break or skipping that particular episode.Your health and well-being is important to us and Psycom has a great list of international mental health resources, in case it’s useful: http://bit.ly/PsycomResources

Here at Critical Role, we love telling stories and making narratives come to life, which is why we're so excited to share that we're bringing a new semi-improvised fiction podcast into the Critical Role fold with our show, Midst. Journey to the small desert town of Stationary Hill on the planet Midst and follow the intertwined lives of three complicated antiheroes as they deal with unsolved murders, cult brainwashing, supernatural darkness, and, oh yeah, their moons suddenly falling from the sky. Ugh, freaking moons, they're so unreliable these days. The story's created by an extremely talented group of friends known as Third Person.

These playfully omniscient, fourth-wall-breaking narrators describe all the action, play every character, and take an unorthodox approach to storytelling that really makes the experience come alive. Look to the Midstle of the Week, that means Wednesdays, for new weekly episodes at midst.co, your favorite podcast app, or Critical Role's YouTube channel. We hope you enjoy this amazing story as much as we do. Hello, spellcasters, sages, and spectators. I'm Ashley Johnson, and you're listening to the Critical Role Podcast Network.

Tap into our magical narrative by watching Critical Role as it airs on Thursdays at 7 p.m. Pacific on twitch.tv slash criticalrole or youtube.com slash criticalrole. Twitch subscribers can watch the video on demand right away, or you can catch it the following Monday on YouTube. As always, Critical Role will be available right here in podcast form on Thursdays, a week after the initial broadcast. And now, let's scry into the story and see what mysteries it holds for us, shall we? Hello 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. Oh yeah! Dungeons & Dragons! It's our last episode before the holidays. Woo! We're getting comfy. At least I am, and I'm glad everyone else is, too.

That was such a good idea. We're so mad we put on PJs. You still look comfy, though. I am. It counts. Yeah, you look great. I count, too. You're a good idea. I'm so mad I didn't put on PJs. You still look comfy, though. It counts. Yeah, I count too. You're a knitwear. Well, before we get into our session tonight, our last session of the year,

we have some announcements to get through, beginning with our first sponsor, which, well, Sam, the last sponsor of 2023 is Meta and their new action role-playing VR game exclusive to MetaQuest, Asgard's Wrath 2. Got anything special for them? Boy, do I ever, Matt. Asgard's Wrath 2 is available now only on MetaQuest and free when you buy MetaQuest 3.

Travel across vast realms to battle gods and monsters in pursuit of the trickster god Loki, who threatens to undo the threads of the universe. Alongside Egyptian gods, you'll fight deadly warriors and mythical creatures, convert loyal animals into your own warrior followers as you explore a massive free-roaming world and solve god-scale puzzles. What?

And experience gameplay like never before with groundbreaking VR. That was actually quite nice, Sam, but I thought you mentioned you had something particularly special for them. Oh, that's right, yes. As 2023 draws to a close, we've made so many wonderful advertising memories together.

Some made us laugh, some made us cry, but all made us want to buy things. So thanks to Asgard's Wrath 2, let's take a look back at a magical year of sponsorship. Okay, then a song plays. Okay, okay. Or not, if the editors want to fuck with me. Maybe this is still going right now. I don't know. Remember the memories Cherish the memories

Of 2023 Three Remember All of the memories Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh

Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh Remember all of the memories Oh, wasn't that lovely? That was so nice. Please. Wasn't that lovely? That was memorable. Whoa, so good. Thanks. I'll never forget it. Learn more at Asgard'sWrath2.com.

See child safety guidance online. Meta accounts are for 10+. Asgard's Wrath 2 is for ages 17 plus. Bundle offer ends 1-27-24. Terms apply. Thank you, Meta, for sponsoring this episode. And now, Matt, happy holidays and wrath to you. Thank you, Sam. Stop at the end. I didn't mean it.

I just wanted to know what the intentional thing is. Did you have to say Asgard over and over again? You say Asgard instead of Asgard? Oh, is it Asgard? Well, it's not Asgard. Asgard. That's a completely different product. It's like an Ascot, right?

It's like an Ascot you put on. I don't know anything about anything. I'm a bad geek. Indeed, and our next sponsor is Verizon. Want to score big for the holidays? Verizon has the perfect deal for you. Now until December 31st, 31st of December, you can get a year of Netflix on them when you purchase an annual subscription of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate through Verizon Plus Play. That's a $275 value. Apparently. There you go, Ashley, asking the right questions.

Play hundreds of your favorite games like Starfield, Halo Infinite, Forza Motorsport, and more on your console, PC, or cloud. But again, this deal ends on the 31st, so go check out vz.to slash Critical Role for all details. Thank you, Verizon, for sponsoring this episode. Woo! Hey!

Marisha. As Matt has mentioned, I think, like three times now. As Matt. As Matt. As Matt. As Matt. Uh-huh, as Matt has mentioned, this is the last show of 2023. Next week, we're on break for the holidays, so episode two of Candela Obscura,

Circle of Tide and Bone, will actually air on January 4th. And then we will return with Critical Role on January 11th at 7 p.m. But yeah, as always, keep up with our weekly programming schedule that you can find on critrole.com. And now that it's the holidays, you can use this time to catch up on Bell's Hells. I've heard of them.

Or Mitst, which is great cozy fall vibes, I feel like. Check out Mitst or Candela, previous chapters I've heard of them. Or Mitzt, which is great cozy fall vibes, I feel like. Check out Mitzt or Candela, previous chapters, or even one-shots like our Red Nose Day one with Tony Hale and Sam Richardson. Woo! Speaking of Red Nose Day, Ashley. Hey, there we go.

In the spirit of the holidays, there is still time to donate to our CRF campaign helping to end the cycle of child poverty worldwide. Yay! So, if you have the means, your donation can make a huge difference. Getting lower and lower. So.

No, look at me. So please visit critroll.com slash rednoseday for more information and to donate until December 31st. Thank you, Ashley, and thank you all so much for supporting this Red Nose Day push. Laura, you're up next, I believe. Hi. Guess what? I have this. Ooh! It's a bust of Caleb and Percy, which I think is a really great pairing that we don't

promote enough. We don't promote enough. Yeah. We don't talk anymore. No. I mean, back in the day, we were like, hey, you're titled, I'm titled, who are these people? To be fair, you two are still thick as thieves

in Campaign 3, at least on the scale of political machinations. Right. Anyway, check this out. It's a Caleb and Percy bust. It's the last in our series with Dark Horse. Hey, you started the Vox Machina Origins Cominix. Yeah!

Cominix? The Cominix. Yeah! The Cominix. Guess what? I can highlight details on this, like the names engraved on the list. Ooh. Check it out. That's actually really cool.

Also, there's an Easter egg of a Sun Tree. Oh, really? Yeah. Oh, cool! Oh! That's pretty cute. I like the spilled wine. There's little white stones somewhere right here. Oh, really? Yeah. Oh, cool! I like the spilled wine. There's little white stones somewhere right here. Oh yeah, in the back.

Oh yeah, the spilled wine. And the spilled wine I love. The little spilled wine on the back. It's just so great. Anyway, don't miss out on assembling this legendary collection and preorder now exclusively at darkhorsedirect.com. Hell yeah.

Yeah. Fantastic, thank you so much, Laura. You're welcome. And in case you missed it, the team over at CritRollStats announced that they'll be sunsetting their site on January 1st. Oh no! Hi, Dani! Hi!

Had to be part of the shout out to CritRollStats. Of course. I love them. It's important. So we all here wanted to give a special shout out and a huge thank you to all the lovely folks over there for their tireless efforts over these past eight years. They've been here since the very beginning. Pretty much, yeah. I think August was when

they started because I could tell that by their Twitter. Boom, there you go. For those who don't know, from character sheets to damage counters, dice roll stats, live tweeting, so many more things they have been putting out there for the community to enjoy and keep track of

and be on board for. So you, Kurt Olsats, you've all done such incredible work and you've been such an invaluable community resource and we will be eternally grateful for you. Excited for all of your future endeavors. And to you, Andrew K., Singing Badger, Lauren K., and Catherine K., thank you so much for absolutely everything.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for everything. Sincerely. If you haven't yet or want to go, now again, go visit critrollstats.com for more info and of course ways to support them and all the things they have going forward. So we wish you all the best, all the love, and we'll see you around.

Thank you, Dani. Thank you, guys. Thank you, guys. Thank you, guys. And with that, I believe that concludes. Who wants this in front of them? Who wants it? Our end of year announcements. Oh, oh, oh.

I'll take it, I'll switch. And with that, children, let's go ahead and jump into tonight's episode of Critical Role. critical it's thursday night one by one we climb until we reach the top two by two we fall will we meet our end or meet our destiny hold your breath and roll How do you want to do this? It's Thursday night All ye critters come join us It's time to continue our flight

There is magic and mystery Who knows what will happen Be my 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 There is magic and mystery From darkness our friendship will rise When one thing's for sure, we never give up on the fight.

Oh, get ready. It's Thursday night. And welcome back. SAM and LAURA And welcome back. So, man. Do you want? No, you keep. Just get us out of this here. I'm trying. We're so close. We're so close, Travis.

Oh boy. Last we left off. Bells Hells, after volunteering to be the recon mission to Ruidus while the rest of Exandria prepared for a possible incursion or an assault upon the Red Moon, had some inner turmoil. In doing so, had to regather themselves, rebuild some trust, and in doing so, had to regather themselves, rebuild some trust.

And Fearne, who particularly had been emotionally wounded in this endeavor, wanted to revisit her Nana Mori. The group went to the Fey Realm, back to Ligament Manor, where some reunions with your parents also came with some revelations about your true nature. And a number of group-building exercises were developed via an Annamorian FCG

in which you all proved yourselves to be on the path to recovery. Some work has been done with some work still left before you, but feeling a little more confident about your troop, you've returned and decided, well, you decided, Fearne, to take the spark of Ravshan into yourself,

and through the ritual's completion, you embraced the fiery shred of the ancient primordial fire titan, and upon making contact with Ashton, awoke the shard within him. Two of you now coming into full realization of the power and the spiritual essence that you both carry and have bonded to,

you rushed out of the garden at the top of Ligament Manor while the rest of your group were left to ruminate on what they just witnessed. And that's where we come back in as you watch the fiery spirit Fearne and the, I'd say, trying to find a word to use the years,

I mean, something sexual about. We would never. Never. Cut her. That's really good. It's cut her. I know. No, the... I'm going for Fearne. Ashton leaves with Fearne. I'll leave it there.

He's like, I'm not going to say swollen. No, I'm not going to say. Oh, yeah. It goes. But as you stand in the middle of this garden, the nearby protective field having dropped and Allura taking in what she had witnessed as Nanamori grins off in her awkward way

towards the prideful vanishing flame of her granddaughter. What would you like to do? Well, tomorrow we're doing it, yeah? We're heading out? Yeah, that's the plan, yeah. Time bends the way it's supposed to. How did I just see your shirt just now?

Oh my god. That shirt's dope. That is a really cool shirt. Can we have that shirt when you're done wearing it? Okay. I like that shirt. It's amazing. You're done wearing it? Okay, great. I like that shirt. That's so neat. Anyway.

Sorry. Nannamore will send us back to Exandria and then straight on? Yeah. She can send us right to where we're going? To the place? I believe part of the reason that I'd come along was to assist in that. Oh, that's right.

You're going to help. Sorry, Allura. That's all right. But Nannamori can help us make sure time doesn't get weird. That's entirely. Yeah. I certainly hope so. All glances over, Nannamori is stumbled back towards the descent into the tree,

clapping excitedly after Fearne. Maybe we should follow? Oh, yeah. Or do you think they want, I don't know, some... Some Titan alone time? Yeah, some emperor and empress privacy. Maybe they're making some lava. Some steam? Or stone and empress privacy. Maybe they're making some lava. Some steam.

Or stone and fire. Sure. Magma. Do you think that the stones merged with them in a way that would change their personalities at all? Or do you think it's just about physicality? Oh boy. Or do you think it's just about physicality?

Oh boy. I know that's why Fearne was a little nervous to take it to begin with, but I still feel like that's on them, right? That they have control over that. Maybe. I don't know, this is old stuff, right? What if it does change them? But you know what?

We all just got through a big thing where we're going to be honest with each other and forthright and reach out to each other if we need help. So maybe if it has changed them in any sort of negative way, they'll tell us. Yeah. What if every once in a while, though, like an old stone titan smashes through Ashton's head

and he's like, oh, the ancient times. I mean, that's cool, too. That would be awesome. Oh, the ancient times. Like a Kool-Aid man? Yes, but in flashes. Are you okay? Yes!

You had some Delilah stuff going on. Yes. Are you talking about people having things in them that changes their personality? Are you the same? I don't know. I think so. Maybe it's an exercise for all of us.

To just be self-aware? Mm-hmm. Okay. Do you get urges to do things? Yes. Like what? Like bad things? Like kill people? I had to be away from the shard

whenever it was out because I kept having this impulsive urge to just reach out and grab it. But now it's in them, so are you going to rip them open to get it out? Don't look happy about that. No, I didn't think so. I think now that it's formed with their essence, I don't think she wants it.

That's just a guess, though, right? Yes. Okay. Yes. Is anybody making a wish before we leave? Making a wish? Yeah, with Nannamori. You'll be requesting a favor from Nannamori? Yeah.

Are you going to do that? I mean, I was thinking about it. What are you going to wish for? There's so many things that are not wrong with me. It's hard to decide. To look young again or to be young again? Didn't you say that? Probably that one, yeah. Well, yeah, but then we also learned

all about your family and stuff. Yeah. You seem pretty convinced that they're not out there, but what if they are? I don't know. You're just not into them? Yeah, kind of. It's been so long, a couple hundred years.

Also, they left him. That's not what family does. I think they just were trying to cover their asses. A big red dragon running across the countryside is pretty terrifying. But it was secrets. So I decided to share. Well, yeah, but you're thinking about it if it's in there.

I had to dig deep. I think he's telling the truth in that one. I don't think so. But what if I could be young again? I have a whole head of hair, a different nose. Did you have a different nose when you were younger? Yeah, I've broken this one a lot. Oh.

Can't you tell? I mean, well, now that you point it out, yeah. You've broken it or others have broken it? Ah, that's the question. I don't know, I just want to know. I mean, Fearne, you've seen your Nana. Is she gone? She's not here. Fearne's down.

Shit! Fearne. I don't know, just thinking about it. Being young again. Well, sure. But what if it's like, you know, like a trap? Yes.

Awesome. I'm so near the end of the road anyway, I'm up for it. You wish you'd be young again, but she physically bamfs you back 200 years and we lose you in this fight. Yeah, but in the meantime, you get the sexiest son of a bitch

that's ever lived next to you that whole fight. What if you? What if she instantly bamfs you back? What if you lose all of your memories because it also sets your brain back and you're a dummy? What if you're not too specific and she makes you a baby and then we have to take care of a baby? I thought you were trying to talk me out of this.

There's also an argument to be made that we already have the sexiest motherfucker on the planet walking around with us. Well, I don't know about that, guys. I'm just... Might just be worth the ask. When it turns you into a baby, but you can still talk and think like you are now.

Boss baby. Boss baby. Yeah, like boss baby. Just turns into Alec Baldwin. I might be here for it. Nobody suspects a baby. They don't. It's true. It's true. But you still get, you don't have

full body function like a baby. You know, like. It's complicated. It gets weird. You're all cross-eyed and wibbly-wobbly. Details. There's only really one way to find out. Nana Mori, make me boss baby.

Make me baby. Oh my god. How does I wear that Nana Mori could just grant wishes? Really, because either way, Nannamori, make me boss baby. Oh my god. How was I aware that Nannamori could just grant wishes? Really, because either way, I'm going to end up in a diaper pretty soon. Full circle. They talked about, Fearne's talked about, am I remembering this wrong?

Deals, granting deals? Well, yeah, I knew she could make things happen, but I didn't think she could just grant wishes. I don't know. I don't know. But. Maybe I'm wrong. The folks upstairs in the topiary garden? Or are we upstairs now? We're upstairs now. We're still up in the garden.

We're standing next to them. Those ones over there. Everything's upstairs to you. Which you look back and you know, there are a handful of the ones that were closer to the center part of the garden that the leaves have burned away and there's just remnants of charred bone left behind.

That could be you, Chet. Or any of us. Are any of those bones intact? Are you saying that in a bad way or a good way? I don't know. You're just taking bones? These are good bones. These are good bones.

They are, look at them. This one's got good bones. Well, don't take the whole body, you know. Leave some of it for Nannor. I'll put that one back. Yeah. That's good. While you're collecting the rest of your bones,

the two of you darting down into Ligament Manor, what are you doing in your current realized transformation? I am just trying to skate through the earth at full fucking speed. It's great. Okay, I have an idea. Should we see if we can make lava? I heard it, too. I did, too. I heard it.

Okay, fuck it. Yes. Okay. Let's make lava. I love it. Oh, I didn't realize that. I just got it. Okay. I'm going to,chilled. I didn't realize that. I just got it. Okay. I'm going to, what should we do?

Should I shoot some fire at you and see if you turn into lava? I mean, we can try. I'm also, I just kicked into rage just because I was curious, and I hit number three, so I'm just going full speed, and I'm, yeah, I'm very fast right now. You are a living very fast right now.

You're a living rock slide right now. Oh yeah. So, fire away, and I'll see if I can, I'm going to try and use the friction. All right, Scorching Ray. Yeah. I'm going to start with Scorching Ray. At 9th-level.

Don't do that, I'm kind of into it right now. I'm just going to do it at 2nd-level. Okay. Okay. First one is 13. Good boy. That doesn't hit. 16? Doesn't hit. I'm going to...

There we go. 26. I'll take that, yeah. So in this instance, like any other creative combination of abilities that you wish, as you blast the side of his shoulder with the Scorching Ray, those veins that once glowed orange

when he was in the process of his first aborted transformation, essentially, a light with renewed fiery orange power. You can feel the heat emanate as you swing your hammer, and as it does, the edge of the hammer blasts with a burst of molten rock that seems to extend into shards of hot spikes before it crumbles away.

So, you know, like any cool creative use of combined abilities, there could be some interesting creative possibilities and outcomes. That could be cool. Holy shit. That could be some interesting creative possibilities and outcomes. That could be cool. Holy shit. That could be fun. Oh, we're going to have to fuck around with that. Oh god, what else can we fucking do?

Well. Oh man. Fuck around and make lava. That's cool. Well? Should we head back to everybody? Or do you want to keep playing with our powers? Let's, I'm not quite, let's fuck around a little bit more.

I'm not really. Yeah, so you're running through the tree. It's a massive structure, and there isn't any unworked stone up in the tree. Everything up here has been smoothed, chiseled, and built into place. So you eventually exit the base of the tree itself and come to areas of the forest floor

where it's still heavily overgrown, being the Fey Realm, but there are some areas with broken shards of shale, and you can step into it, and that sensation you briefly felt when you were in Whitestone, that sense of stepping into a warm bath, your foot touches it, and as you will it, you just sink into that section of the ground, and you watch as Ashton in his transformed state

just vanish. I come up right behind you. That is a very cool trick. I'm very amused by that. Are you in control of it or you just stepped on the stone and you just went to a puddle? I'm falling back, vanishing again, and popping up right in front.

Oh my god, I love this. No, this is pretty good. This is pretty easy. Wow. Are you, like, is she solid, just on fire? Or is it more like that weird flame that is slightly, you know, just a flame and not really a body? Got you.

Best that you can tell, just looking, it's that Human Torch sort of, you know, it's that human torch. You see solid in the flame, but the heat warps everything, so it's hard to really tell. I don't think I can drag anybody down there, but I'm just going to, may I? Yeah, let's try. Let's just see. I'm going to hold your hand and just try and see

if I can drop somebody into the earth. Okay. You vanish into the rock, and your hand hits the ground where it was. Dang! Damn. That would've been really cool. That would've been really cool.

That's all right, maybe we can still futz around with that and see if we can figure that out somehow. Yeah, and I can also, I think I can keep tempo. If you run around, I'm going to try and keep tempo and see if there's a way to just constantly be a moving shield. All right. Yeah. I'm just going to try and keep tempo and see if there's a way to just constantly be a moving shield. All right. Yeah. I'm just going to start running then.

I'm going to try and see if I can just maintain speed and see if there's just enough of you that you can not quite fire through the rock, but actually use it as a moving stone wall. So the area here, because it's fairly overgrown, you do notice in the first couple bits of movement that you do, the various thick roots that grow through it impact you like you're running into a root.

It's only the actual loose earth and rock that you can just drift through. Anything that's not stone or earth that you impact would be just running into it as you go. So you get the sense really quickly that the Fey Realm is not, at least the area you're in right now, that's heavily overgrown wooded area, is not the most conducive to this sort of experimentation,

but you do get the sense that you can move pretty quickly, like at your normal speed through the stone. Is there an area that I know of that's more of an open area, sort of like a meadow, where it doesn't seem that the trees are dense? You do know of one older ruin. In fact, it's the basis for the ruin

that you all recently competed in. That was, you know, it was loosely based on this, though not well kept and presented. It's a few miles off, but it can be gone, too, if that's of interest. All right. We could go back to the ruin if you wanted to, to just see how deep you can go.

I mean, I don't even know if I need to breathe. Let's find out. All right. Laura's barely keeping it together. That one was for her. Yeah, you got it. Yeah. Yeah. Just want to see how deep in there you can get. Yeah. Okay.

I'm so sorry. No, no. I'm so sorry. Yeah. Do I need to breathe when we're, yeah. You still have to breathe. Okay, Jackie. But it's to breathe. Okay, checking. But it's like holding your breath through water. Okay.

So there is a limit. There's a limit? Yeah, if I don't actually, I can't apparently breathe in rock, which makes sense. Oh, that does make sense. How far down did you go? I got probably about 60, 80 feet.

I was going full speed until I was like, I don't like, I hit my halfway point and went up for just comfortability. You can hold your breath pretty long with High Constitution. So your modifier's four? Three. Three? I got, yeah.

Yeah, sorry. No, I'm not. So you can hold your breath for about three minutes, which means you can go pretty, pretty, you can go down breath for about three minutes, which means you can go pretty, pretty... You can go down rather far into the rock. Then you've got to give yourself time to come back up. Yeah. Or if I'm just running just below the surface.

And you can just pop up? Yeah. And then I don't have to spend time to get back up. I can just have three minutes of just running. God, that's so cool. What a cool shard. I want to try, oh, I've got a great idea. Okay.

In an emergency, I can go halfway into, god, yeah, I can go halfway into the ground and actually just run people. Can I run up rock? Or is it, do I, can I, if there's a stone column, I'm going to try and see if I can move up and down, like Kitty Pryde phasing. I will say, in this area,

most of the worked rock is natural. Anything that would be a column would be worked, which means you wouldn't be able to transition into it. Yeah, makes sense. But as you're moving through to this space, because you're both heading to this open field, right? Yeah. Yeah. Okay.

You, in traveling, you're having to pull out of the ground at times and have to continue trekking on foot because there isn't any sort of open earth that allows you to travel in that sort of way. But there are times where you're having to climb up rocky hills and cliffs to get there. When you do, you glide into the rock

and transition up, almost like you're riding up a waterfall. That is so cool. I bet I can take someone with me, I bet. Try. All right, I'm going to run. I'm going to grab and as we're coming up, I'm just going to try and grab on. Like an elevator?

Yeah. You grab onto her hand and carries you up about 25 feet to the top of that cliffside, and you're continuing on the path. Amazing. Wow! All right, so we know that now. Cool!

Your turn. What the fuck can you do? It's just more fire. It's just more fire, and I'm resistant to it. Like, if it comes around me, I'm probably not gonna do anything. And then there's some other stuff,

but it's only like a one-time thing, and then I get really tired, like exhausted for a couple days. No, no, no, you're okay. So I don't want to do it right now. Well, I mean, Lord, let's, fuck it, let's, well, I also know we're not going to, we're getting this one round without killing,

yeah, this is the free round before we go. Yeah, this is the play around transformation. Yeah, we don't have to pay the price yet. Okay, well. But like, no, I mean, you're on fire, like, let's get weird, what else can you, like, I don't know. Well, well, I mean.

You're on fire, let's do something. I feel like I can put out a little extra fire if I do any fire attacks, I feel like I could probably bump it up a little bit. You feel that? Yeah, I feel that. I can't. And I feel like if someone hits me with a weapon, I feel like I could do even more damage to them with fire.

Wow, you have specific feelings. Yeah. I don't know if there's a way for me to practice like you are, unless I am really fully in battle. What you do notice is notice as you're traveling, you're floating above the ground by about a foot. Yeah. Oh. And all the rough terrain,

all the challenges, other than having to climb and actually go vertical, because you're not actually flying, you're just floating. Wait, I'm floating. Am I floating? I was trying to walk you up to it. Okay, I think that's part of it now.

I can just coast. Don't be intellectual about it. Really, what feels interesting? All right, I'm just going to float around on difficult terrain. Yeah, you bypass any of the roots and rocks and elements that would make it to where you'd have to almost hop carefully through these dense portions

of the jungle, you just scoot along. Does it look like I have a ghost? It looks like you're a very dangerous ghost, or honestly, a forest fire, but. Great. I got to create, you know breadcrumb trails, right? You know about that story. Of course, where there's breadcrumbs

and that takes you to a house where you get eaten or something by a monster. I knew you knew this story because it feels very pertinent to your reality. Just run and see if you can just touch the ground. See if you can actually, as you're going. Like on a tippy-toe? Yeah, I know you're floating,

but see if you can get down and try and scorch the earth a little bit. I'll set fire to anything. Okay, okay. Just a run, and each time I touch, it's just a little bit of fire? Yeah, or you can even just drag a hand or something, I don't know, while you're floating.

Ooh, all right. Okay, I'm going to run, or just float around, and then just put one of my hooves out. Okay. Just try to go in a circle and make a little circle. You got it. Almost like you're intentionally ice skating through a densely overgrown portion of this

mid-fae jungle. As you dart through, you leave this black scorch mark as you rapidly. It's like a little bit of a dance, like Roxanne in Moulin Rouge. Just dancing around the trees and making flames. As you do with each portion of nearby root, wood, bush, or even just exposed ground,

you leave these quick little black scorch marks, these which leaves a trail where you've been. It's almost like you're drawing a weird improvised sigil on an open space. Wow. That's fun. That's really fun. So you got to like.

All right, all right, we can get creative with it. Is this technically, is her attack technically a magical effect? Would it work with the hammer? In what context? Well, the magical ability that the hammer has to split magic. Oh, I mean, this is more of a directed spell.

But you know, be creative, we'll see. Yeah. That's an idea. All right. Yeah, I don't know how this will be done. If it doesn't work, it would be ridiculous, but we could try something interesting. Okay, we've tried. All right, take a shot.

You've got that scorching. Yeah, yeah, you want me to take a shot. You've got that Scorching. Yeah, yeah, you want me to take a shot? Take a shot at the hammer. I will swing and let's see what happens. All right. I've never actually gotten this to work before. I'm very excited. Okay, what are you utilizing?

I'm going to do Scorching Ray. Scorching Ray, okay. Where is it? Yeah. So you also have to make an ability check using your spellcasting modifier. DC is equal to six plus the spell's level. Okay.

All right, well, the first hit would be 28. It's only one hit, so. Oh, it's only one hit, okay. Yeah, so you focus the spell. He's not trying to dodge. You're just firing directly into it. Got it. But, so you get six plus the spell's level,

which is two, so eight. You deftly complete that. So what happens is you fire these three scorching rays into the hammer, right as Ashton swings it, and as the hammer slams into it, the bit of prismatic particulate that he had embedded into it, that he retrieved while they were over

into the other continent of Assylra. Bad times. The three rays hit and then fracture and divide and fire out into six. End up splitting and hitting the ground, causing these blasts of flame that burn the nearby brush, one of which slams back into you for no damage. Yo. Oh!

Shit, are you? Oh, yeah, no, you're- No, I'm totally fine because fire. Holy fuck. That was amazing. That was so cool. Okay, wait, wait, wait. I know, and I'm trying to think. Anything else, or should we start heading back? I feel like we should probably start heading back, but.

I got it, I want to, there's one last thing I do want to try. We're not that far, no. All right. I'm going to try and, it's like, I'm going to take a couple steps back and I'm going to try and physically end the effect. So.

Okay. So you watch as the massive rock expansion of Ashton's body begins to shrink down, but as it does, the exterior of their body also changes coloration from a jagged, dark gray, mountainous rock into a very angular, smooth, rough-cut gemstone. Rough-cut gemstone.

Uncut gemstone. More or less. Yeah, so cute. That one, sex jokes are satisfying. That one I take umbrage with. Finally found the line. Basically diamond-ish at this point. More or less, yeah.

Wow. Oh my god. It's really weird that you're taller than me now. Well, I've shrunk a bit. You've shrunk a bit, but still. A little bit for now, because it's almost like all the rock that he expanded into being is now

pulling itself in to further its density. Yeah, I'm a little tall. I'm ready for that to end. This is... Do you still hurt? Weirdly, no. No? No. No, this is...

I mean, even the hand got strange. The hand doesn't hurt. The arm doesn't hurt, but it also is kind I don't know, it feels like it's wrapped in a really thick glove. Everything feels like it's just out of reach. I don't know how else to put it. It feels strange to touch things. It doesn't feel like mine. But right now, no, right now, it's in there, but it's... Everything feels like when I'm fighting, when I get hit really hard or when, you know,

that doesn't hurt in the same way. That just feels like a punch normally. That's not that weird scraping. We'll say it's about that moment. Since it is a temporary transformation, you watch as the gem-like exterior cracks and then falls off in waves of light dust, and there behind, Ashton has returned to his natural state,

still with the new arm somewhat lumbering in comparison to the rest of his proportions. To you, you've never truly experienced a moment without the majority of the pain you've lived with for so long, and to have it return is almost welcome. I feel like me.

That's, that was intense. But yeah, it was the same way that when I'm getting hit, it doesn't, it's not even when I'm getting hit, it's just... Sometimes it's worth it, honestly, and sometimes it just requires... I don't do well when someone's ginger, I guess. Sorry, Marisha. You're welcome.

I knew you would. You and everyone else on the internet. You want to go to that chair? I wasn't expecting that one. Yeah, I mean... Yeah, just... It's better if someone's a little rougher. Yeah, that's also, I mean,

honestly, why you wind up knowing a lot of punks is because they're just people who are totally okay with, you know, running up and... Punching you, or? Or even just like, here, and I just, I'll run, if you don't mind, I'm going to run up and just do the big fucking, if you don't mind, just, yeah, so, you know, just.

But not to you. Not, you know. But to me. Yeah, I'm just sending it down. Here's another. Oh! Yeah. I'll say, go ahead and roll fire damage. Yeah, I'm just sending it down. Here's another. Oh! Yeah. I'll say, go ahead and roll fire damage. Yeah, I'll take it. Roll fire damage?

Okay. Do I just add my? HB under the ability. Yes. Once one technically hits you in melee. Yeah. Oof. That would be 27.

Wait, but my, sorry. Sorry, I think it's a d8? I'm so sorry, I was rolling. No worries, it's all good. One. Okay, a gentle flame, but nevertheless. Even just a brief physical impact, like with any sort of force against Fearne,

there's a flash of fire, that backlash immediately that singes. Oh no. Well, maybe I'm going to need some ginger touching instead. That I cannot help you with. Marisha, get in there. Because I might just end up hurting somebody. Good luck.

I don't know how else to... It just comes with the gig. All right. It's okay. It's just life now. It's just what we have to accept, that we're just, we have to accept our greatness, basically. I'm...

I will accept your greatness. Okay. How about that? I'll accept both of ours. You can have greatness for two. Okay. I'm just going to do my best to keep everybody okay. Me too. Me too. Me too. You look really cool.

Thanks, you look pretty cool, too. Thank you. Yeah. I think these shards look pretty good on us, if I do say so myself. You wear it well. What happens if you chill out? You're going to go for it? Chill out? I mean, you know, really, you know, let You're going to go for it?

Chill out? I mean, you know, really let go. Let it rip. I love you. You're so good. Oh, yeah. I'll back up a bit. Wait, no, I can't really. I have to wait until I'm in battle. Okay. Yeah, I'm going to wait. This is a freebie, though. I mean, yeah, you don't have to, but. No, no, no, I'm going to wait. You're going to wait until I'm in battle. Okay. Yeah, I'm going to wait. This is a freebie, though. I mean, yeah, you don't have to, but.

No, no, no, I'm going to wait. You're going to wait? All right. Because basically, I can explode. I got that vibe. And do lots of damage, but it's, you know. There's also a lot of stuff that would probably catch fire out here. That would be a lot to deal with right now.

Yeah, I know, I feel like that would be a lot. I don't want to burn everything down. Because I think I could burn this entire forest to ground. I believe that. Yeah, I don't want to do that. This is a little bit of home. But shall we head back? I mean.

How about we take our time? All right. And you are on fire still. I am on fire. Mm. I don't know why I'm laughing. I'm going to throw one more hug, just because thank you so fucking much.

Okay, I'll return the hug. I will take my fire damage now. Well, just a hug. You notice it's not that, she's hot to the touch, but it doesn't like... I don't know if I could take it. I mean, like, I'm, you know. Yeah, it's not enough to deal fire damage

unless it's almost like a reactive protection impact causes the flames to burst back. I would have, you know, not like heavy, but yeah, I don't, I'm not soft about things. Okay. Okay. Thanks. I am.

Thank you, not really, not me. You both gingerly begin to make the walk back through the fey forests that surround the outside of Ligament Manor, eventually arriving to the exterior of the massive tree. The creepy sounds, the various twilight predators that fly through the region, calling and calling to each other.

It's home. It's a welcome home. Right as you begin to approach, you feel the flame begin to die inside as your feet, your hooves, clack back on the ground. The fire subsides, and you return to your normal fern form. Though, there's still just the tiniest little speck of fire in the middle of each pupil,

if you look hard enough. Just this minute little flicker of flame and just the most gentle drift of black smoke that seems to just faintly billow from the tips of your ears and your fingernails. Fire starter. In the dark, you look like two cabins that are very far away.

Oh! Well, welcome back. Welcome back. That was exhausting. Yeah, we'll explore a little more. Yeah. In time. Yeah. In time. Yeah.

Okay, the rest of you, anything else you're wishing to do before the evening comes to a close? You've never played patty cake. I have, but my metal hands hurt the people I play with. He also forgets to take the bus off, so. Oh, you know from personal experience? Yeah.

Howdy! Ah! They used to be six foot three. If I get my wish. Wish, you going to go do it? Are you going to do it? Oh yeah, do you think she's home? She was here. She was clapping.

I'll go ask. I'll walk over to Nani's. I ate one of those strange fruits out here, fucked up my throat. Oh, buddy. Do you need help? I got it. Can we watch?

From afar? Yeah, okay. Okay, that's fine. You do know that after they left, Nana Mori singing to herself in this terrifyingly off-key, nondescript tune that she harmonized between her guttural mouth and her primary one, I guess you could say, or accompanying one, eventually danced her way up to the collection. And so within the massive, enclosed structure

that sits on the far-off, gnarled branch of the Ligament Manor, you can see the somewhat terrifying doorway that sits at the front of the collection, the bones and skull fragments that form this odd face as you approach and you knock a few times as some of the bones shift. And almost like the, what looks like a scattering of corpses

that have been stylistically and beautifully placed to be artistically balanced, like a unique tile design across the front, all shift and crack towards you as it seems to open to a mouth and a voice goes, Hey, what do you want? The door does? The door, yeah. Whoa.

I was wondering if Nana or you might be accepting visitors? I guess I'll ask. The bones sink into the door and it becomes a weird, muddy, like a frozen morass texture on it. Then you hear muffled on the other side of the door. Hello, Rascard.

Morrigan! You got a tiny one asking about you outside. There's this pause before the bones emerge on the side facing you again. She'll be right there. Oh, thank you very, very much. I didn't catch your name. I am the door.

Of course, how stupid of me. Doors don't have names. Well, I guess not here, where I'm from. Everything that's made of wood has a name. The bones creak slightly. Like what? Like Dorian. That sounds like a lame name.

It's too on the nose. Shit. You got shot down by a door. How about Bordor? Oh, that's good. Hold the boor! Boordoor. Still a little too close to home.

I mean, I feel like it's a... A play on the word. Yeah, twice in a row. What else you got? Doors can only be our guest characters. They're your enemies' ones, not your friends'. Not for long. Artax.

Artax. You know, that sounds interesting. What do you know that's named an Artax? Shit. Just yourself, fucker. You know, it's the name of a great noble steed who came by some very good fortune. See, steeds, steeds, they get names.

You said things that don't get names get them where you're from. Give me a name of something that wouldn't have one normally. A name of something that wouldn't have one normally. A name of something that wouldn't have one normally. What does that even mean? Well, I name some of my instruments. Sometimes I pull out my wood chisel.

Yeah? Yeah. Sometimes they get little names of affection. Like? Well, they're not very cool. Do people knock on you more? Do they ever push? Do they ever kick? Pull?

Kind of a spectrum, really. Depends on where you were raised, I suppose. What about push-pull? Push-pull. I'm sorry. Hmm. Push-pull. Sir Push-pull. I'm sorry. Pushbull. Sir Pushbull.

The bones wrist into the door and you hear Muffled, Moerigan! Do you like the sound? Pushbull! Sir Pushbull! You hear Muffled Voice go, Why are you asking me this random question? Apparently in some places, doors can get names.

How come I don't have a name? Well, you never ask. I love the song, though. Can I have a name? Please? Fucking door's open. And you want the name Sir Pushpull? It's not that I want it.

It's what I was given. Then be my guest, Sir Pushpoo. Awesome. The bones. Back out, all these skulls turn to you. You may enter. And it opens up on this side. Thank you, sir, Pushpull.

The pleasure is mine. You step back on the inside of this collection, this massive dome of full branches and twigs that pulls up to a seemingly dizzying height for a moment. You can't even get perspective on how big. At times it looks massive, at times it looks small and close by, but you can see all these shelves everywhere

with little cubbies and tiny little pull-open doors and barred gates and cages hanging with critters and creatures. You've gotten a glance at this your first time you're here, and now you're standing here alone for a second, and your eyes begin to shoot around, taking the possibilities of everything here,

but the light's so low, you just see shadows and things shifting and skittering within these various different hidden, closed domiciles and cages, shoving points before a shadow cuts off your attention, and you look up and just see the massive shape of Nanamori right there as the head slowly descends down,

like it's detached from the rest of the shoulders, down to meet yours. Can I help you? Wow. It's quite the atmosphere in here. I had a question. I hope it won't be offensive. I heard that some people refer to you

as the Fate Stitcher? Nah, it is a name. Hmm? You seem to have a fascination with names, as of late. I do. I love wood and nicknames. Everyone needs a hobby. I do. I love wood and nicknames. Everyone needs a hobby.

I agree. But I have a question. The people, the things in your garden, are those... Are those individuals that you've done a deal with previously? Her head gleams in really close to yours. Some do not uphold their side of the deal.

There has to be collateral. You could become wood. It's your dream. Oh shit, it's an arm horse! Oh, there you go! Oh no! Chetney's heart rate just starts to quicken a little bit. Sublime!

Sublime! I just happened to notice that you are, of course, very powerful, and Fearne is herself extremely powerful. I was wondering if maybe there might be an arrangement that we could strike where I could be, I don't know, imbued with a little bit of some of the powers that you have, maybe in exchange for my exerting some of your influence

in the realms beyond this one? As her eyes look at you, you feel what little flames of lanterns that glow in the space begin to flicker out one by one until the entire room goes dark and the shadowy shape of her that seems to consume most of your vision suddenly consumes all of it, except for just the sinking little beads

of glowing light that mark her pupils. That's a thing. As they pull back a bit, a lantern flickers on in front of you, and you're no longer inside the collection. You're in a black space with what looks almost like a table set before her, where she sets the lantern down before leaning back into a chair.

What where she sets the lantern down before leaning back into a chair. What is it you want? Specifically, tell me your dreams. Well, I would love to never die. Oh god. But that seems a little much. So in just talking it out. It's not an uncommon request. Oh, yeah, I guess that makes sense. That doesn't make it very special, though.

You're basically right. It can make you very special. I mean, look at one of your companions. Oh shit, right, Laudna. I was wondering if, do people ask to return to their youth? Oh. Yet another not very uncommon request, yes.

Oh, I'm not judging you. I'm just saying it's been considered and granted before. Interesting. You wash from dream to dream. You had to come in here with one singular burning hope. One fire that virgins and forces itself to burn, leaping from your chest, from your bones, to consume you. What is your passion?

Toys. to consume you. What is your passion? Toys. I want to be the most famous toy maker the world has ever known. Now that just requires a little bend of fate, doesn't it? As she extends her hand, you see this weird golden thread that now draws from your chest. It seems like it drifts into the shadow in both ways.

Not towards her. It just pulls from one end of the darkness to the other. You watch her reach her finger forward and tug on it. As it does, you feel this cold sensation rush through your body. And what will you give me? Oh. That room we were in before, looks like you have a lot of stuff.

What would you want? Hmm. Bring me a piece of what you hunt. Bring me a piece of the God Eater. That's such a good ask. I'm not even mad about it. A piece of Pridathos. Mm-hmm. That sounds impossible.

It does. But you all seem to be on the path to doing the impossible, aren't you? We are. Well. We do some simple arithmetic here. It's a deal. You watch as she puts her hand over the lantern

and the flame, you realize at this point, it wasn't a yellow fire. It was almost like a colorless flame like you were sitting in a space of monochrome light and as she runs her hand over the lantern the kind of whitish fire carries over into her palm and she extends it towards you

and as she clasps it her fingers wrap around it and almost clamp back over her hand with how long they are compared to your tiny gnomish clasp. As it does, you feel this cold flame touch your palm and that golden thread, the only source of color in the space, seems to twist and tangle a bit. And she withdraws her hand.

Very well. Make me proud. And you be notorious. Notorious. I feel taller already. Good. She leans back and as you blink for a second,

the minute you open your eyes, you're back in the collection. Like you just washed back and you're just standing there. Mm. Well. Get out. Oh, sorry. Sir, Sir Pushball!

The door opens up. The door is P.O.P. Oh no, the door is P.O.P. Well. How'd it go? What happened? You don't look younger. She loves me.

Oh yeah? Sure, sure. Is that what you wished for? Yes. Ned? Oh, if I heard love you. Well. Oh. But you know, it's the rule

when you're blowing out a candle. You don't tell anybody your wish. Oh. Right or it won't come true. These are specific rules. Okay. But isn't this more like a deal? A what? A deal? I don't think so.

Can you tell us what you offered her? No. All right. Is that part of the deal? I don't know, but the room that I was in changed and got real weird and scary. I wish I had asked for a little bit more of a detail about what might break the deal.

I feel like letting you guys know what I'm supposed to get might jeopardize that deal. Well, based on the last couple days we've had together and how close we've grown, I can only imagine that what you asked for was something for all of us to enjoy or something for the betterment of the world. I mean, learn that we don't keep secrets from each other.

That we gain strength through honesty and trust. No, this was just for me. It was selfish. Honesty! Yeah, no, it was just for me. That's good. It was a personal goal. Look, it's working. Also because I think, I mean, from the garden,

if I don't deliver, then it just affects me. It doesn't affect everybody. That would be weird if I negotiated on. If we lose you, that affects us, too. I would reincur your debt. Yeah, but you're not going to lose me. Not to this. Did you wish to never die? Is that why?

I actually brought that up. It's fairly common. Oh, yeah. That makes sense. Which made it a little less desirable. I wonder what she would do, because usually when you make a deal like that, they take what you ask for and they twist it, right? Is that what they usually do?

Well, that's what the old stories tell me. What are you talking about? I never heard that. I just heard they grant deals. No, don't you ever hear, if you make a deal, remember, Laudna, we talked about this, with the witch in the woods, don't you ever hear, if you make a deal, remember, Laudna, we talked about this, with the witch in the woods, then usually you ask for something and they'll give it to you,

but they'll give it to you in a way that actually hurts you or is not what exactly you asked for. Like if you asked to live forever, maybe they would turn you undead or they would turn you into a vampire or something like that. So you wouldn't live forever.

We're not talking about a witch in the woods. We're talking about Nannamori, our friend. I know, she's a friend to us and she's wonderful. Oh, hey, welcome back, Fer. Thanks, thanks, thanks. What Imogen is trying to say is, this is how these tales come to be, as people interpret our beloved Nannamori.

And as they tell and share these stories, then it gets, ah! You know what it sounds like to me? Holy shit, did someone make a wish? I did, yes. Oh my god. They'll sound like haters, just to be honest. You made a deal with your Nana. Oh, great! Right?

Great! See? All right. More like we were just talking about the breadcrumb thing. I feel like this is a perfect, yeah. As long as you deliver, and as long as you stay true to your word, it'll be fine. Because if you don't, no.

What happens if you don't? Boy, probably lots of bad stuff. Lots, or you just end up in the garden? Yeah, maybe. Oh, okay. I don't know. There's various things. God. Yeah, yeah. These are bad deal bones. Well, no, maybe not. Bad deal bones.

I don't know, I don't know. She's being so cussed. She seems like she has a sense of humor, though, so I'd be really worried. I don't really know how she goes back on her deeds. Well, great, this is what I'm here for. You get to know. It'll be fine. It'll be fine. Have you ever heard her

take something that somebody asked for and turn it? Turn it a little? Turn it a little wickedy. How much is it? Well, I'm just asking. You want to know what you're doing with it? Yeah, I mean, maybe.

Maybe. Okay. Maybe meaning yes? Yeah. I mean, I'm just asking. You want to know what you're doing with that? Maybe. Maybe. Okay. Maybe meaning yes? Yeah. I mean, I'm not really in on her deals a lot, but I could see her doing that. Just being funny. Should I make a deal? Maybe. Oh no.

Let's see how this one goes first. You all can make deals. It's fun. That's fair. That's fair. No offense, this one's low stakes. Like you said, he's going to die anyway, so. I feel like every day is a gift. I might not even make it to the delivery period. It's true.

Sometimes you just got to say yes to stuff, and how often do you walk by a Fate Stitcher? I love it. Yes, love that. Say yes. I support you and trust you. That was really good. It looked clammy, too. It's moist here. Needs circulation.

If you wished for this thing, it must be something very important to you, and I support that, too. Thank you, FCG. That means a ton. It's only something that I would not be able to achieve by my own means, despite having tried my hardest. Ascending the stairs nearby, Allura goes, Am I hearing someone made a deal with the Fate Stitcher?

Yes, it's hilarious. Yeah. Guess which one? We're leaving in the morning, right? Yeah, we're going to have a quick nighttime treat Guess which one? We're leaving in the morning, right? Yeah, we're going to have a quick nighttime treat and go to bed. Yes. Wonderful. This has been a delightful distraction.

I hope we've received what we're looking for. Appreciate your family for their hospitality. Ah, you're so welcome. Greatly look forward to leaving. Appreciate your family for their hospitality. You're so welcome. Greatly look forward to leaving. So I'm going to go to bed. Good night. See you in the morning. Good night, Ellora.

Jesus. Oh, it's starting to get cold already. He's already getting younger. Introduce me. Well, we have a big day tomorrow. And she leaves. Well. Hi. We have a big day tomorrow. We should go to bed. And we have to sneak onto the moon, y'all.

We got to be sneaky. Because we've got those scrolls. We've got two scrolls of mass non-detection. Yes. Which I think turn us invisible people of scrying for like an hour. Or is it an eight hour period? I think it's an eight hour period of time

that you cannot be scryed upon. We have to return to where everything went wrong. Are they scrying on us now? Oh no. Can we be scryed on here? We're in a different place. They would have to be, if I recall, in the same plane. In the realm.

Yeah, it's multiple, yeah. Before we go to bed, I've been cooking. I pull out a tray of Hawaiian rolls. Yes. Hawaiian. So good. The greatest. Hawaiian. What? Orym doesn't know. Oh. So good. The greatest. Hawaiian. What?

Orym doesn't really know. They're like wine, but Hawaiian rolls. Hawaiian rolls. Put a little drop of wine in your drink. Like a shot of wine. H apostrophe. Yes. Hawaiian. Hawaiian. Fucking love Hawaiian rolls.

I thought we could, I made these in a magical tray. Little ham, little mayonnaise. A little fairy dust, little change bringer divine energy. And so we can have a hero's yeast. Wow. Jesus.

Thank you so much. Hum, hum, hum, hum, hum, hum. How many people confused? This is delicious. Have they ate? Well, let me look. I've never done this before. I think Allura said she wanted to go.

Aw, let me go. Also Travis. Emergen-C exit that just never hit, really? What? Door names? No. Emergency exit? That would be so good. I'm just, okay, I'm just sorry.

I was disappointed. Emergency exit. Carry on. I mean, you were great. So good. So sorry, I was just like, it was there. Now your science project is better than mine. That was just a moment of Percy. Carry on. No, it was great. Percy had a head.

12 creatures. Oh, we got to feed Allura. Allura, get back down here! Allura! Yes? We got a line roll for you. Here, have a line roll. It'll make you magically powerful. Oh, I know what you're doing.

Well, appreciated. Won't be too far from the front lines if all goes well, so all defenses are welcome. Thank you. Sure. That gives us bonus HP, right? Oh shoot, I should look. I have four more. Can Mister or any of your weird creatures?

Ooh, Mister and Pâté? Do they, are they creatures? No, probably not. Technically, yeah. They could get temporary hit points. Temporary hit points? Sure, why not? We don't want these Hawaiian rolls to go to waste. No.

Okay, so 2d10. Hit point maximum increases by, and you're calling for all of us, that's how it works? Yeah. By 13 points. Ooh. Max goes up. These aren't temporary. They bump us. Max hit points. Ooh! Max goes up. These aren't temporary.

They bump us. Max hit points. Keep tabs on what your hit points are now, just what your max is normally, so we can make the adjustment. Okay, so it's a temporary max. Does it have a temporary max? Oh, got it, got it, so it's a temporary bump tip.

Temporary max. I feel like this is why it always fucks my shit up. I'm over 100, yeah! So just make a note to yourself what your current max is, and then you can make that adjustment. Got it. What else does it do? The Hero's Feast.

Creature is cured of all diseases and poisoned. Does that affect anyone right away? Not at the moment, nobody's poisoned. Becomes immune to poison and being frightened. That's just me all day, baby. Makes all wisdom saving throws with advantage. That's pretty huge. All righty.

On the hit point maximum. Immune to frightened? Immune to frightened. I'm adding this here. Immune to poison. That was frightened. Perfect. Frightened, I've put it on my little list.

You can... What else? No, for your wisdom saving throw. No, and advantage. Waste. Immune to poison or resistant to poison? Immune. So that would be immune to poison damage.

Okay. All right, good night. Do we want to check in with anybody? Scry in on anyone? Are we going to bed? Before we check in on dreams? We talked about dreaming, but I could be. Yeah. Oh, you were going to give in?

Yeah. Yeah. That was the, kind of the... Yeah, hell yeah. Who's normally on your dream quests with you? I don't know. Can FCG do it tonight? Look. I'm looking. Usually it goes sideways when there's extra people.

That's the only thing. People got stuck there, hurt. Go sideways on you if you're alone. Sure. Yeah, I can do it. Do you want to do it? If I can. Okay, who wants to go with you?

I'll go. I'll go. Okay. I'll just get out my lavender and blue lotus and just sprinkle it on you. This is a thing. All right. For promotion.

No. This is a blue lotus. Good thing I'm super tired already, so I'll just... We are tired people. Shit. I'm trying to find the wording of this stupid thing. Too many spells. Okay.

At higher levels, you can cast a spell using a spell slot of third level or higher. You can choose additional sleeping creatures. So if you wanted to, I could bring five people with you into the dream. Oh my god. I mean, that's all of us. Including you?

Yeah. Okay, so that's. Five including you or five? Read it again. God, so that's. Five, including you, or five? Including. Read it again. Goddamn it. Oh. One more second. Before long, right? Somebody stays behind.

Yeah. Slap us all if we go. I'm going to give you back your ring. All right. Yeah. Because I don't need it. Yeah. Because. You're immune to fire. I'm immune to fire.

It does give you a little extra AC, but I'm going to give it back. All right. Okay, I can only bring four people, including me. Okay, so who's staying behind? Hopefully you. I'll stay behind. All right.

Who's going? All of us, except for Chet. Four people. Including him, so two have to stay behind. Oh shit, I'll stay behind. Are you sure? Yeah, well, should you stay behind? I'm fine. I know I'm being...

You can't scry through dimensions, right? Rollies? You know, let's do rollies, because I was going to say, maybe I could be helpful in there. Oh no, I think if you try. I think you should go in there. I'll go. I'm okay to sit it out. Okay. Yeah. Who's going?

I'm going to stay. Okay. I'm just going to relax you. All right. Massage your shoulders. Okay. Get you in a good spot. All right. Massage your shoulders. Okay. Get you in a good spot.

All right. Nighty-night. Night. All right. Okay. So who all is going? Total. Do one, two, and then three more people.

Yes, that's it. Okay. Chet and I will hold down the fort. Okay. Because you're not doing it to me. Oh, I assume we had a short rest since the last. You don't have to. To me, you're going in my dreams. Since the last insanity? Yes. Right, okay.

We had a short rest between this and the last insanity, right? We could save each other. Sure. That's not going to do it to me. Hey, hey, hey, don't get lost in there. Don't get lost in there. If we do, just slap us silly.

Yeah, right. Kick us. Yeah. Hey, kick us. Don't, you know, get distracted by blue eyes over there. Old blue. Old blue. I'll be sure to take a long rest while y'all are over there. Boy, it's bad wolf every time. All right.

So as you lay down to rest, push through the anxiety, and eventually find your mind slip over to the other side of consciousness, you've conducted your ritual and connected the other three of you to the dream side of consciousness. You've conducted your ritual and connected the other three of you to the dream to come. So you're going to bed with an intentionality

to this dream. Yeah. What is your intent? What is your focus? I want to... I want to take the Bloody Bridge. Okay. So you're going to get help soon. Glad you're treating this with the respect it deserves. And?

And see... see what happens. You got it. You feel yourself glide past the clouds You feel yourself glide past the clouds into the starry sky. You feel the shift of color from black and white to red, to black and white to red,

and you find yourself almost in a corkscrew, the stars swirling around as you continue drifting, looking outward. You can see what looks like a distant comet, just leaving a tail behind it. As you follow it, you see these four other flickering lights that seem to follow behind you.

Their presence is warm and welcoming, and you recognize the sensation of your friends. The rest of you feel yourselves drift into this dream, being pulled through a starry expanse, but you also feel that vibration of energy. but you also feel that vibration of energy. As you all glance upward, you can see you ride along this

impossibly distant tether of red, piercing energy. Just flickering as it goes. As you glance up, it almost feels like it curbs up into the massive red orb that is the Moon of Ill-Omen, Ruidus. You feel as you glide along one of these pulsing sparks, races past and almost catches you,

like your force of will now finds purchase on the momentum, and you find yourself being dragged like you're one of the gondolas in Jrusar, just shooting along at this beam. The rest of you feel yourselves being pulled along, dragged by some invisible chains, tethered to Imogen's spirit, drifting through this dream. As you glide faster and faster, like a roller coaster,

you drift to this faint upward curve. Everything is slightly changed and warped. What should be a straight beam itself seems to have a roundness to it. The moon itself seems impossibly large, then small and distant, but then it's there. Before long, you untether from it and drift faster towards the surface of this moon.

Faster and faster, you can see the swirling of dust clouds gathering and tearing into the countryside. You can see massive mountain ranges that burst through in places. You can see what looks like chasms that crack into its surface. And the closer you get, you can see almost like slivers of silver

that seem to carve through parts of landscape. You get pulled into the storm as it does. The red dust completely fills your periphery and you find yourself once more brought to the familiar, terrifying center core familiar, terrifying center core of the ruridium storms that have haunted you since childhood. Here, in this lost space,

the heavy sounds of wind starting by, you look about you and you have no sense of up or down. You just know you're in the storm. You just know you're in the storm. You just know you're lost. What do you wish to do? Can I try to open my mind? Sure. You let loose on some of the still-sounding boundaries that sit on the outside of your consciousness,

and as they open up, you feel like you're tapping into a larger consciousness for a brief moment, like thousands of voices sit just along the periphery of your capability to grasp them, like background radiation that just flickers beyond reach. You do sense the ground not far below. Lie down and land. Your feet touch the ground and gravity sets in.

You feel your hair drift down across your shoulders. You feel your outfit in the stream escape fall to your sides. You glance back up and you watch as the storm kind of dissipates in an upward eye of a hurricane. And you can see the stars once more straight above, the columns almost a half mile high of the storm

just swirling around. And you can see the beautiful blue and green glow of Exandria far above. That single red shoelace tether, straight as an arrow, just keeping it bound there. As you stand here on the surface, to your feet touching the ground, as you look up to the world

where all of your life has been known, you feel that like a bassy vibration once more course through your legs, through your chest, through your very essence. There is a... that calling again, that feeling, that beckoning.

I'm going to sink down to my knees and reach my hand out and touch the ground. The very ground itself feels like it's a thunderous vibration, like a stampede unseen is perpetually plowing by. You almost see the stones that are barely visible beyond the choking of the storm itself kind of jittering, dancing around from the impact. As your hands touch the ground, the ground is warm.

If I drift too far, and in my head, I'm going to think and send out a thought through the ground. I'm going to think, bring me home. Do you fight this beckoning? I don't. Like a metal latch that holds the edge of a cord,

the only thing that's kept you dangling above an abyss, you allow it to snap. You feel yourself tumble into the ground, drifting into darkness as that black warmth envelops you. The three of you feel yourself pulled to the ground and through it into the same darkness, but it is rough. It is jagged.

It is scary. You see nothing and feel nothing except for dread. An alien presence that washes over and through you. And you feel comfort. Sensations of running into your mother's arms when you were a child. Memories of hugging your favorite horses. That sense of belonging.

You think of what it's like to fall into Laudna's embrace. You think of what it's like to fall into Laudna's embrace. All these things that you want, all these things that make you feel right, they're here also. As you tumble, you pass through flashes of lightless rock, like a ghost. You drift deeper, feeling the pull strengthen

as these lights pass by, these flashes of color, and you know they're caverns, networks of endless caverns that dig deep, snaking like a labyrinth beneath the crust of Ruidus. You see glimpses of teal glowing crystal and subterranean rivers, water, oceans of water that exist beneath the surface and odd, weird, alien red life that swim through it

and take a glance at you with just an instant. Weird alien green eyes that open just as you pass, drifting into the next wave of rock. Then darkness still. Your descent begins to slow. And for a brief moment, a distant voice calls from above where you once were. Wait, Imogen, no.

And it's gone. Your descent slows to a stop. The three of you detach and drift into suffocating darkness, and Imogen is gone. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Me too?

The spell ends. Oh! We wake up. You wake up. Oh. And she's still asleep. Imogen. Oh.

Here in this darkness, you sense a presence unlike anything you've ever experienced. It is so immense that your entire being vibrates with unbridled power. You worry as it suffuses you, you might be pulled apart. That white flash you saw when you screamed at the stabbing of Laudna, these moments where the world seems to rend itself

around you now, that same power pulls to rend you from all sides, yet you belong here. You are home. This is the womb. And you wish nothing more than to return to this place with your entire core. And you wake up. Hey, you okay?

How much longer was she asleep in real time? About a moment later. Okay. It took a little longer than us to get back. A little bit. I thought we got separated again. Yeah, lost you in there. Or pushed.

Yeah. Was that you that sent us back? Um... Yeah. Was that you that sent us back? Um. I don't know. I think so. You okay? Huh? Are you okay? Yeah, I'm fine.

Insight check. Ooh. Natural 20. Ooh! I want to know if she looks distracted, disconcerted, or if she looks like she's masking, guarding. You want to give him a whisper? Ooh!

Unless you want to roll a deception or persuasion. Whisper. Cast Whisper. Oh, she's doing a whisper! She's doing a whisper! She's doing a whisper! What is she saying to him? I'll never know. Does that mean?

I don't have a whisper ad. She's saying, this whisper is brought to you. I'll just have a resolution then. Oh god. We have more time for TikTok time. Are you all right? How did that feel? I mean, it felt like...

It felt good. It felt good. It felt good. It felt good. It felt good. It felt good. It felt good. It felt good. It felt good.

You think it'll help us when we go up there? I mean, we did see a whole lot of... There's water. There was water and a lot of caverns and some sort of rock. I remember seeing like a teal or a light blue sort of rock. I don't know if that matters, but it seemed like it glowed at us.

Did that teal glow remind us, me, of anything? I don't know if it... Oh. How long do you think? I'm trying to think. It reminds you of things. It has, in the brief flashes you saw, it had elements of crystal that reminded you of possibly Brumestone or other certain things,

but it went by so fast and it had almost, Brumestone has almost a milky quartz opaqueness to its glow at a certain depth to it. This was almost like a teal glass crystal in places. And also, make a history check. Orakana, your choice. I'll do, they're both the same. High stakes.

High stakes. Seven. Seven. Yeah, crystal man. Pure zirconia. Uncut. I feel like we got a good glimpse of what we might be in for.

Yeah. That was pretty terrifying. Terrifying? Getting pulled through the darkness, not being able to see you guys, and we didn't know where you were. I was right behind you guys. Right? Up until the end. Right, I felt you guys drift away, and then Up until the end.

Right, I felt you guys drift away, and then I came right after. Yeah. It's good that it felt good, right? This is what we talked about. Embracing it. Yeah. Yeah, it's true.

Yeah, I mean, we've all been pushing away the things that are inside of us that make us questionable or dangerous, but now. I feel like you were side-eyeing me a little bit. Well, no, me too. I tried to kill y'all yesterday. That's true. So like.

For only the second time. Yes. Yeah, yeah. But if we focus in on those dark places and try to expose them or tease them out, maybe that's the best way to do it. Yes. Sunlight is the best disinfectant. So.

That's a weird metaphor. Moonlight probably works the same way. Yeah. I don't know. Do you feel like that happened? Like you embraced it? I don't feel any different. I don't feel any different.

No moon powers like Fearne or Ashton? No, no, no, no. Already has moon powers. And Matt, Ashton? No, no, no, no. Already has moon powers. And Matt, did just Imogen hear Liliana, or did we all hear that sifting through? It was just Imogen. Okay. Does the tealish crystal that we saw,

does it remind us of the teal color of Imogen's? Or they're more purple. They're more purple. Never mind. I don't know about this colorblind. I never knew. They break their legends. Purple!

Ooh! If anything, it was, they were flashes of unique color, striations and patterns beneath the surface of Ruidus that alluded to it being unexpected vibrance beneath the surface of Ruidus that alluded to it being unexpected vibrance beneath the surface. What's that thing? Well, my hero's yeast is only going to last

another 23 and a half hours, so we should probably get some shut eye. Some real sleep. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. All right. Does anybody need to watch you when we really go to sleep?

I don't think so. I think, how often do dreams hit twice, right? It's just, let's see. I mean, me all the time, but that's weird. So, and you'll have Laudna, you'll be fine. You'll scream bloody murder if something bad happens, right? Yes. Okay, and you'll have a lot now, you'll be fine. You'll scream bloody murder if something bad happens, right? Yes. Okay, thank you.

I'm a very light sleeper. Or if something really good happens. That's... I'm going to put on the the Monocle of true essence. Fog the fuck out of it. Hold on, I did that in the wrong order. Excuse me. Can I use see invisibility

to look around the room and see if Imogen's dream has attracted anything that wasn't there before? That's valid. Placing it on and watching your vision. It's interesting. You just unfogged it, put it on, and when you initiate it, it almost fogs again.

But as the fog parts rapidly within, there's a new gossamer sheen on everything in the room. As you look about, nothing that seems to catch your attention. Did you do it? I can see all of you naked. Yeah, you can. Yes, you can.

On the inside of your eyelids, we know. You don't wear clothes. Yes, you do. You have a coat on now. Oh, that's right. I've got my character art. Looks good for me. All right, good night. All right, good night. All right, good night.

You all head to your respective bedchambers for an evening's full rest, preparing for whatever comes in the morning before you. Matt. Yeah? When he's sure that everyone is asleep in the middle of the night, Orym knocks on Nottamore's door. Ooh!

Is he also going to make a deal? Ooh! Is he also going to make a deal? No way! The way Orym's deal is going to be there. So you gently tiptoe down through the tree, hearing the sound of thousands of gentle crickets just clicking away

throughout the boughs and the leaves. You get to the edge of the collection's door. As you're about to knock, you hear a distant voice further down the tree go, You're up and around. You turn and look, and right back where you tiptoed past, without even hearing her approach,

her lumbering footsteps, always a sign of her arrival, she is just standing still at the base of the branch that leads out to the collection, arms folded in front and just looking right at you. Not often something sneaks past my attention. That's impressive. You are in my domain, after all. That's valid.

I actually was looking for you. Whatever for? Well, the way I understand it, from what Fearne tells me, is you can help people. I can. You make deals? If it suits. Okay.

Well, my friends are all pretty amazing. The things they can do, they can't even fit it all in my head. And I can't even fit it all in my head. And I mean, I'm really good with a sword, but I'm a little nervous I'm not ready for what we're about to do tomorrow.

None of you are ready for what you're about to do tomorrow. The point is, I feel maybe the least ready in our group. And I want to see this through. I want to get it done, what we're setting out to do. And I want to get them back. Fearne, I want to get Fearne back. Of course.

And all of them. So, if you can somehow make me better at protecting them, or stronger. Strong's not the right word. More capable at what I do. I might agree to a lot. Her attention drifts from your eyes past your shoulder to look beyond.

I would follow that. You turn to look, and as you turn, you see her now standing on the opposite side of you with a table set in front of her, her hands clasped as she places a singular lantern upon the table, a flickering white light within, and the glow of the tree, the interior of the manor itself fading to black all around

until it's just the two of you face to face. Your passion is to protect your friends, yes? My friends? Your granddaughter. I don't know if there's a friends and family discount, but. And what do you have to offer, little Ashari? Well, if I see them all through

and we get it done, I'll serve you. Hmm. You hear her sniff through the alien lack of true nostrils. As she does, you feel these leaves and vines As she does, you feel these leaves and vines that you didn't even notice had grown from your armor detach and float through a breeze towards her. She goes,

You smell the touch of divinity. That makes you enticing. Well. She glances around into the shadows surrounding. Now that Fearne's all grown up and might be finding her own way, it does get a bit lonely here in the manor. Maybe it'd be nice to have a caretaker.

These have to be worded just right, Imogen said. That's if we see it through. Everyone at Bell's Hells makes it back, and we see it through. That's an easy trade. Every one of you makes it back. And you see this through. Back alive.

Happy, safe, and healthy. Well, you have to start happy to return happy. And I think health is in varying states. Return at least as you are. Return alive. Very well. Her hand flickers across the lantern, carries the flame with it,

and extends it towards you. My payment is in advance. How else am I to ensure you uphold your end of the deal? I want success as much as you do. I also like a little business on the side. He reaches his infinitely tiny hand up into her massive one.

She clasps around it, and you feel your feet are pelt off the ground and dangle for a moment as she lifts you up. The cold flame against your hand seems to shrink into your skin, and you feel that cold sensation snake through your veins like someone had just run freezing water through them. Your entire body shivers.

You feel what hairs you have stand up on end, and you can't make a sound as if you feel like a brain freeze sensation crawl over your mind. She releases your hand, and in that moment, you're standing back in the warm interior of Ligament Manor, just in front of our newly named Sir, what was it? Pushbull. Sir Pushbull.

She steps back. Well, I wish you the greatest of luck. And I look forward to our future together. and I look forward to our future together. I hope we hope to see that day. Just call upon me when you need some help. Night. Good night. Good night.

And the worm will go find Fearne and try not to wake her and curl into the crook of her goat leg. Okay. Daring degrees of a night's decent sleep find you all, but you do get a long rest. In the midst of that cold but safe space, imagine you can't help but keep hearing

the sound of your mother's voice. Thinking back to that sensation in that core of the moon and missing it. And that's where we'll go to break. Oh! Oh.

Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy. What happened? Oh boy. Oh boy. High stakes. Making deals. Totally normal things. Totally. Deals? Deals. High stakes. Wowzers. Seven.

Bad idea, damn, finally broke. Apparently. Yeah, just all of it at once. Okay, then. You led the way, you led the way, Ashley. Apparently. Straight down, and now everyone's like, well, it couldn't be worse.

All right, so best toy maker in the world, and... Alive. A chance to help your friends and keep them alive. Moe, so you want to be the best toy maker in the world or the most famous? You just said famous. You said the most famous toy maker in the world. There's only one best toy maker in the world.

All right. Back here in a few minutes. We'll pick it up from there. We'll see where this goes. Oh boy. Thank you for listening to the Critical Role Podcast Network network this is marisha ray critical roles resident creative director with a quick reminder for you we take the last thursday of

every month off from our typical campaign three adventures some months we'll enjoy a short rest and others will air a one shot or just try something new since this here podcast feed is on a one-week delay from our initial broadcasts, that means the first Thursday of the month may look a little different around here. To stay up to date on our latest programming happenings and when our shows will air on Twitch, YouTube,

and here on the Critical Role Podcast Network, check out our weekly programming schedule published to critrole.com every Monday at 10 a.m. Pacific. And now that you're sufficiently reminded, let's get back to the show. And welcome back. Ten years nearly I put up with you guys. So. With the morning greeting you, supposedly, in a realm in which there is no true sunrise,

in perpetual twilight of the Fey Realm, the interior of Ligament Manor greets you after a, for most of you, a welcome rest. As soon as the weight of the day and days before you sink in, what would you like to do? I'm alive. We should get going.

Yeah. You're alive, for sure. Two zeroes and a seven. Nice. He skirts it. Double O's. He skirts it! Two zeroes and a seven? You double O seven? You bonded this? Trip zeroes, what I'm looking for. That is it. Nice. He skirts it. Double O's. He skirts it! He skirts it! Two zeroes and a seven?

You double O seven? You bonded this? Tripped zeroes all the way before. Gold bond. Yeah, let's stop putting this off. Let's go. Yeah. Wait before we leave.

I also want to talk to Nann and Morrie. Everyone just sticking off to make their own separate deal. Yeah. Nann is like, this is the best friends ever. Nannamore, I've come to bargain. My investment in Fearne is finally coming to bear. I want you to get the stone out of your granddaughter's chest and put it in mine.

Waking up and gathering your things, the sense of the coming exit by the companions and denizens of the tree can be felt as you, Fearne, emerge from your personal abode. Ah! And you find... I am Right, Mayor Snow White. Yep, you find peepers, Dr. Nesbitt, all manner of the various creatures

and critters that have been with you through the years, all waiting on you by branches, and as you emerge, you see peepers bound up a bit and glance at you with his odd ears as Dr. Nesbitt says, Good morning, Fjord. Good morning, Nesbitt. I heard that you'll be leaving us again. Yes, I believe we'll probably be leaving today.

Oh. Yes. So, I will miss you, but I'll see you again. Make sure to tell everybody I say hello. I will. Give Kathy say hello. I will. Give Kathy a squeeze. I shall. Okay. Might I have your room while you're gone?

Of course you can. You all can. You heard her, Phoebus. Well, make sure you share. Make sure you share. Of course. And if Bombers wants to come in, you know, let them all have space.

We'll make sure to leave Bompers wide-breed. Okay, great. He's a big boy. As you head down, you can smell morning breakfast cooking, and a goodbye breakfast feast has been mostly prepared by the Calloways. As you head down, you can see Olly's down there setting this table, this long stretch of cloven blackwood that is warped and curled at the edges, almost like the fungus-ridden bark itself gives these bulbous textured corners to it, but it's been planed and smoothed and stained.

It is a magnificent piece of woodwork. You can't help but smile and maybe be a little jealous upon it arriving at the table. Oh, fuck it. But Ollie looks up. Oh, good morning, friends. Glad you could make it. But Olly looks up. Well, good morning, friends. Glad you could make it. We're hoping to see you off nice and proper.

So have a seat, have a seat, I believe. You ain't going to poison us or anything, right? Just kidding. She's gotten better at her cooking. I'll go check in and see if she needs me. Technically, you need to poison us. I was going to say that. Oh my gosh, that's right! Yes.

You're burning the back of her like, Well, if it's poison you want, I can go ahead and put her in there. No, no, no! Kid, just joking. She comes in, she has the apron on, and she sets these dishes out. It's,

I'll help. You help out. Yeah. Oh, thank you, dear. You all sit around the table and eventually hear the lumbering steps of Nana Mori. She approaches and takes her seat at the end of the table. You watch as she steps to the edge of it

and her massive, high-backed chair seems to almost grow to catch her. She sits into it like. Well, this is a fine morning to share before the rest of destiny takes you. Please feast. Ooh. This looks delicious.

Birdie, who's standing by, taking her mittens off, goes like, Well, I certainly hope it is. I've gotten quite good at this over the years. Make it with a little bit of love and just a hint of nutmeg. Ooh. Swallow's me, but if I'm not making everything.

My gosh. Bestie. Oh's so sweet. That's two. Oh, yeah, no. Mm, thank you. That's all I say, just, you know, eat well, eat up, maybe your last, so it, oh, yeah, that actually, never mind. Sausage?

Just going to let that roll. Sausage? Lead with the protein. Yep. Yep, nope. Aw, we need some metal for FCG. Preferably silver. I do like silver.

Mm. All right, you're a unique one. I've got something special for you, my little collaborator. She stands up for a second and looks past her long neck, stretching up, and as she lifts her finger this way, you watch this massive bright red and green pattern moth flickers from nowhere above.

As it comes down and die bombs the table, it drops it, and that rolls over, and you see it's this silver sphere, about two inches across, that has these beautiful, intricate marks around it. As it rolls to stop not far from your plate, and you go and inspect it, it has what looks to be faces pressed into it

or sculpted into it, like a bunch of different expressions on all sides. An emotion egg. Do I eat this or admire it? Why not both? Have you seen Hellraiser? Great play. Is it something I should keep?

Is it an item of import or value? No, no, not at all. Insight check. Make an insight check. Low key on the Morris book. Insight check. Where's my insight? Oh, 14. 14.

She seems to honestly not care about it. It seemed to be tossed by your plate to be eaten, so. Okay. Orym, throw it in my mouth. I'm looking at all the faces on this ball and thinking of the topiary people. It's fine. Is it the same face over and over again

making a different expression, or different people's faces all making different expressions? Or are they like little smiley faces, like emojis? No, they're like simple carvings of like, scary people. It's fine. Is it the same face over and over again making a different expression, or different people's faces all making different expressions? Or are they like little smiley faces, like emojis? No, they're like simple carvings of like, like a face, you know, out of the silver. They're all about maybe half an inch in size,

and they're kind of patterned in different positions and different expressions. Some look happy, some look frightened, some look neutral, some look sleeping. It's the Phantom Zone. Yeah. Okay. Well. Learn to draw a comic. In for a penny, in for a pound. It's the Phantom Zone. Yeah. Okay. Well. Learn to draw comics.

In for a penny, in for a pound. Going to taste rum. Four. Clunk! Terrible throw. You catch it and it comes to rest inside. Like those things at the airport?

Yes. Yeah. I also have a claw in me. Yep. Oh my god. Comes to rest inside. Yeah, that was from fine, fine silver. No other changes to my disposition?

Bugger, bugger. No! Those fucking dimples are going in. What? That's why. Dimples! No, but a moment later, you do feel this, like a, you do feel this

like a, you've never felt a real belch before, but there's a pocket of air. Do screaming souls come out of his mouth? Screams do. Oh! Wait, really? Seven or eight different voices just go in your mouth for a second.

What? And then echo and fade into the tree. What? What happened? Soul food. Oh. Oh. Yeah.

Boom. Oh. Boom. No. Oh, yes. Yes. Thought we didn't even try to identify it before. I know, why didn't we look at it?

Why didn't you look at it? You have goggles. It's food! Why didn't you look at it? I have to reattune to the goggles just to see what it is. You did nothing wrong. You should pass those out to somebody else. Seems like the souls are free now. I eat plenty of things with faces.

I don't see what the problem is. Yeah, you did a service. You could do it. You did. You have an extra attunable item, don't you? I do. You could wear some goggles that would let you identify things. Goggles? They're like twice the size of my face, though.

They're magic. They shrink down to your head. That's ridiculous. That doesn't mean anything. You just use a little thing on the back, you pull it,. They're magic. They shrink down to your head. That's ridiculous. You just use a little thing on the back. You pull it and it shrinks. For flavor, they're not actually goggles. It's just a lens that pops out. Magic items that shrink? That is the silliest thing I've ever heard of.

We live in the real world. This stuff does not count. You're welcome. He says, well, at this table with these people in this location. There are limits to, yeah. Don't insult my intelligence, give me the lens! Okay, I'll see you in 20 minutes. It's twice the size of my head.

As you finish up your meal and it comes, there's some banter, there's some laughter, there's some awkward pauses. But as the meal finishes, and Birdie finishes and pulls her napkin out from her cleavage where she tucked it in and finishes, wipe her mouth and looks over, and sets her down.

Well. We're going to hang back here for a while and readjust to life, and maybe not always on the run, until we get our footing again and find a new start, should all you succeed in what you're doing, and maybe set your tether free a little, too, but. And you both will be safer here, I imagine.

I imagine so as well. She looks over, Ollykin nods. Whatever happens, you know, we're thinking fondly of you. We're sending all our wishes. I mean, all this is over. I think we both agree we'd like to get to know who you've become a little more.

I would like that very much. And I would like to get to know both of you a little better. Me too. I wanted to ask you, have you had any visions or anything? Not really, unfortunately. The squint has sort of left me since this whole Argyll Isle, Apogee Solstice.

Apogee Solstice went on, so I've been a bit hazy. But if it ever kicks in, I make sure that Morrigan knows, and she can let you know, I think, right? And she goes like, Well, whatever's done, you're going to be amazing. You and whatever weird fire goddess you've become.

Whew! Yes, we'll see. Certainly made a splash in the surrounding swamps. Most of the folks around here can't stop talking about it. Oh, really? Oh, it's been a talk all morning. All the bumblebirds. Talk of the town.

Well, I mean, I'm sure towns have heard of it, too, but more of the treetop villages and swampside bustles evolving just a buzz with the new fire spirit in town. Just proud. Thank you. But y'all better make sure she gets back okay, or I'll fucking kill each and every one of you.

Oh, okay. That's fair. That's what I'm talking about. It's fair, it's fair. Yeah, probably. I figure. We'll get her back. See?

If they don't blink anymore at that sort of talk, that means they're tougher. I like it. It's true. Well. Shall we? Yeah, of course. If you're good to go.

I'm good to go. I think I'm good to go. And Nenna, you said you could maybe do a little time. Of course, I didn't follow for a second there. Yes. But if you don't mind. And she refers over to the far corner

where Ysiela has been quietly eating and just goes, Right, eye contact, wonderful. Of course, if we're all ready and we have our things, I can go ahead and return us to the proximity of our destination with fair chance of success. And I believe with your blessing, to do so with little time wasted, correct, Morgan?

Correct. Trust me. You'll feel my tweaking. You'll know it's working. How close will we be to the side? Well, we're not going directly to it. That would be following, but we are heading towards the west side encampment. It's where a number of my compatriots

and a number of the alliances of those who have mustered forces into the Hellcatch have situated. There are two main encampments, the western and the eastern side, but this is where the individuals that I know of and have been preparing for your arrival lie. So hopefully rather close to there. If not, we'll make the distance rapidly as well.

All right. I'm wondering if we should use the scroll of mass non-detection before we head out, or if we should wait until we're at the encampment. I imagine we could. It's an eight-hour spell? It should be, yes. What do y'all think?

I think at the encampment, personally. Yeah? Mm-hmm. All right. All right, take us away. Very well. She stands up and kind of... I believe in you, Allura. Mm-hmm.

Guidance. I appreciate that. I'm going to give a quick hug to Birdie and to Olly. Aw. They both take you in and the three of you form a triangular hug together for a moment. It's nice. As they pull away a bit, you can see Birdie

quickly tries to wipe the dampness from her cheeks, as does Olly, to a lesser degree. But they both step back and take you in, taller than both of them. And just a vision now of all sorts of strange powers, a confluence of chaos through and through. You come back now, right? I will.

And you be safe, both of you. We will. I'll keep him safe. Okay. You want to tell us stories now? All right. The rest of you tell us stories about how cool she is, too.

Well, yes, of course. Good. Love you, Nenna. She smiles. Love you, too. She smiles and rises up from the table and comes and joins the rest of your troop. She extends her long arms in each direction.

Can you watch as all these little fireflies descend out of the weave of roots and branches that makes the ceiling of this eating region of the central base manor. As they swirl around, they all begin to dance and land upon your shoulders. And Allura begins her incantation, pulling out a singular rod that you can see has a carved spiral of

color in it that sits in a deep cerulean blue, like a veined corkscrew through an iron rod. She takes a bit of dust and throws it upon the rod, coats it for a second, and then holds it aloft with two of her fingers. She looks at the rest of all of you, looks over at Nana Mori, and Nana Mori takes her hands and clasps them together in front of her.

And as that happens, all the fireflies swarm to the center and surround this rod. As Allura begins muttering her incantation with her breath, the fireflies begin to vibrate. As they do, Allura's spellcasting gets slower. For a brief moment, it's like the second goes on for an hour. You're trapped in an uncomfortable instant.

With that, suddenly the fireflies scatter off in all directions, and you feel all of you tumble in towards that direction, like you're falling down a well. Ass over tea kettle, just falling into this dark expanse before suddenly you all find yourself now, once again, on hard ground, your boots colliding with rock and earth.

You glance around and see yourselves now in the familiar expanse of the Hellcatch Valley, you see the open desert hills, the dusty dunes, the parched trees, and the somewhat clouded sky. The difference here being that there is a very, very strong reddish hue The difference here being that there is a very, very strong reddish hue to the entirety of the landscape around you.

As you peer upon the horizon, you can see the interesting shift in topography. You can see the... You can see what looks to be maybe a quarter mile away, a ramshackle fortress, or like a fort, like an exterior wall with all manner of structures and vehicles or what look like war machines of some kind buttressed around it. You can see a cloven chasm not far from it,

where it looks like a skyship is currently grounded and hidden within. But as you look off towards the horizon, sweeping across the direction, you can see the beam of the Bloody Bridge, thick and sparking as it fires off into the sky. And there looming, whether it be a trick of the light to the atmosphere or what,

larger than you remember it being, the burning red glow of Ruidus, ominously silent, consuming the air above you. Allura steps, All right, very well, we've arrived, and it, yes, is as welcoming as I remember it. Well, how are you all feeling?

I'm trepidatious, but ready to be on with it. Mm-hmm. Do you want to relieve you? Is this normal? Help me. What's happening? I pick up some sand and throw it at your face. Thanks.

Yeah, now. You made his voice all sexy, though. Traveled. It, now. You made his voice all sexy, though. Graveled. Horrible. You like slowed down records, do you? Just a little creepy. I know. Screwed. I'm not going to do that.

Big Floyd. So they're miles and miles off from the Titian Excavation Site, where the Malleus Key and the base of the Bloody Bridge currently resides. But you can see the rocky hills around. As you begin to walk with Allura towards the west side encampment,

you can see there are whole legions of troops, hundreds and hundreds that gather at different points, some marching around, some keeping a perimeter. You can see within the makeshift walls and around the exterior of them, there are signs of battle. There are some bits of wreckage that have been mostly scavenged.

You can see signs of destroyed skyships scattered around the surrounding battlefield and beyond. There is a sense here that there's been warfare, but nothing all in. Just skirmishes, both sides testing boundaries, both sides setting up walls and holding them. There is a very air of held breath and waiting

as you approach the outside of the encampment. You can see amongst the battlements here, there are numerous war mages that now currently work to magically sculpt the battlements. You watch as parts of the ground shift and build columns of stone. You can watch as druidic powers grow trees from what you assumed would be rather barren land

that rise up and wrap over the stone to further barricade the exterior walls. You can see among these defenses, banners and colors that are a mix of Marquesian and Isilrin and Tal'Dorei factions. The war engines, as you get closer to the exterior, some functional, some in disrepair, some utterly obliterated, are massive war rams

or carts with ballista, multiple ballista affixed to it. Some just natural, powerful, massive siege weapons, some enchanted with some level of arcana to enhance their capabilities. You can see everyone here, as you begin to see faces and energy,

looks over to take you in and then quickly just goes back to their business. There is definitely a worried glance and an expectation to defend or engage before they see Allura, and they go back to their training, they go back to their waiting. But there is a palpable anxiety in the air. As you enter through the front gates, Allura waving her hand as they open the front. These massive stone doors that pull back. You hear the ratcheting of chains. The soldiers on each side crank them open.

You enter the interior of the encampment and you can see the multiple makeshift barracks that have been sculpted from the surrounding stone. It has this natural... It's almost like someone grew a mountain to serve this purpose, and looking at those that are currently processing it, that's literally what happened here.

You approach and can see there are a number of figures that begin to walk up towards Allura and your troop as you arrive. Most of them flanked by or being followed by at least 15 soldiers each. You see one figure. It looks to be a male orc man, thin, very handsome,

with this well-kept, chin-strapped beard that comes to two points at the edges of his rather chiseled jawline. His dark hair quaffed up in a curl before the gray sides come in. You see his tusks on each side have rings that are embedded in them. He wears this long red and purple robe

that is intricate designs all across it and a number of rings on each finger. One of the other figures that approaches a little bit behind, you see, is a female silver dragonborn who is missing an arm. She is armored with a massive chest plate, long cloak, and you can see

is wearing upon the tabard in front the symbol of the Council of Tal'Dorei. And then beyond them to the right, you see another figure, an elderly human man of dark red-brown skin. His colors of gray, balding hair and beard make him look old at a distance. As he approaches, you can see as he walks with this large cloth mantle across his chest

and you get glimpses of his arms and his chest, he is massively ripped. He is just the most muscular old man you've ever seen. As he begins to walk, you see the soldiers that walk alongside him themselves also wear similar red and white-colored tabards and robes around them, and they themselves are also extremely physically fit.

Like a Silurin? The colors of their banners do have a Silurin textures around them, and they themselves are also extremely physically fit. They look asilran? The colors of their banners do have asilran textures to them, and you can see the Stormlord symbols adorning the horse. There we are. Yes. Felt that coming.

Allura says, Just a moment, please wait here. I need to make a move. Wait, are you going to go talk to them? I'm going to make your introductions. Oh. Make your introductions now. Okay.

So she steps forward, and you can see them all talk a bit with haste, some of them looking past and taking you all in, some with mistrust or confusion, some just general curiosity. Many of the soldiers just staying at the side, but you can see them all. It's interesting.

They don't see you as strangers. They look to you with an expectant curiosity. After a brief discussion, Nilla returns back to us. But to that degree, I would like to bring amongst our council here back to us. But to that degree, I would like to bring amongst our council here our volunteer troop of experienced adventurers

at the behest of the Council of Tal'Dorei, the Arcana Pansoffical, and the Chamber of Whitestone. Bellshells, please. Clap ourselves. If I might introduce to you, we have amongst you from the hearts of Aeshanador, myth-taker Ki Mandozi,

and refers to the orc man who first approached, who gives a nod with a keen grin. Ki Mandozi, and refers to the orc man who first approached, who gives a nod with a keen grin. Key Mandozi. Yeah, Key Mandozi, Q-I. Oh. Yeah, that makes so much more sense. Key, let me do a fucking, yeah. I'll just K you, bye.

Yeah. The heraldry of the Tal'Dorei Council, guardian Topher Bratoris. Oh! Topher! And of the Vasselheim Bastions, here representing the Dawn Marshal, Earthbreaker Gruun. Yay! Let's go. They look to the rest of you.

Topher Bratoris. Not taken. Well, we've been made aware of your soon-to-be-received arrival, They look to the rest of you. Topher Bertoris. Myth-taker. Well, we've been made aware of your soon-to-be-received arrival and have been told of your capabilities, so we are eager to see what you're capable of. As the silver dragonborn nods, the silver dragonborn, the orc character, the myth-taker, Key Mendoza, goes, Myth-taker?

Well, it is quite curious as well to see quite a motley crew brought to be the gatherers of such. Hop on, Key! Sorry, I had to put it out there. Keep going. Just because of his accent? Yep. Cool. Keep going. Just because of his accent? Yep. Cool. Keep going.

Caught out, we see it. She said that in character. You all heard it in your mind, all at the same time. I have heard some tale of your abilities, and I'm very excited to work together to bring all of this to a positive and brisk end. We're a little rough around the edges,

but people tend to underestimate us and we have firsthand experience with the folks we're fucking with, so. You hear the voice go, Underestimation. That is a powerful thing. You hear the low, guttural rumble of the gentleman introduced to you as Earthbreaker Gruun

and steps forward a bit. And of all of them who carry a charisma or presence to them, Earthbreaker doesn't, he's not a massive man in as far as the space he physically takes up, but the force of his presence seems to almost carry a weight 10 to 15 feet out in all directions. This is an individual that walks with the strength

of the gods and a history of not being fucked with. Now that we look at you, we can see why you hold the key to what we need. Because we're underestimated? Yes, that is exactly what I'm referring to. That is what I just said. But indeed, we're happy to have you among us. And you are Bellas Hells.

Bellas Hells, happy to be here. What'd they say? Smiley day to you. That's us. Happy to be here. What'd they say? Smiley day to you. That's true. I'm Fearne. Fearne. Fresh cut grass, Laudna, Chetney, Imogen, Orym, Ashton.

Smiley day. Topher looks over towards Allura. You seem to dabble quite often with Mordalika. Gathered crews, don't you? She comes out and says, Well, they seem to be capable of getting a lot more done than some of your suggestions. Damn! Isn't that correct?

Damn! Fire! Oh shit! Wotover nods. Happy to have you among us. Well, into the war tent, then. Oh yeah. We get to go into a war tent! I'll have a war tent.

This is hot. We are the war tent. First we were in a war room, now we go in a war tent. Following them across the entryway to the... Something about the hat that makes that even better on you. I know. For some reason, A war link?

You've almost got like the J of J and Silent Bob vibes for some reason. Wartead. It's just so fun. So many things you can do. As you're all walking through, you're walking through the rough courtyard, I guess you could call,

or the open central space of this battlement towards this one of a number of large tents that you can see throughout the space. The soldiers giving you an escort, closing around you, and you can hear their armored footfalls stepping alongside you, this unique din of feeling protected

by multiple factions. There's a level of sweeping importance that seems to just wash over you as you do that is both interesting, but also a little terrifying. As you're walking, we'll say, Fearne. As you're all walking,

everyone's walking towards the tent. You glance over and watch as the one who introduced himself as Earthbreaker Gurun is just looking at you. And looking at Imogen. And back at you. And then just keeps walking. A stare that seems to...

You know that feeling your parents give you when you've done something wrong? It feels like that, but you don't know why. You're like, I swear I haven't been drinking. Yeah. And you haven't, but for some reason you're acting weird that you do seem like you're drunk. Double gang or doppelganger.

Yes. Double gang. Kind of, yeah. And immediately you're acting weird, that you do seem like you're drunk. Double ganger, doppelganger, doppelgangers? Kind of, yeah. And immediately you're like, I didn't do anything wrong. In your head, you hear. Yeah. What? Thanks for knowing I wanted you to get in here. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Did you see that? See what? That guy, the one that's super ripped. The old guy? Yeah, yeah, yeah. How does that even work? Well, I don't know. But anyway. He has a really weird look. He was like, didn't like us.

Why? Everybody likes you first. No, no, no, but he looked at both of us. I think it's like. And me too? Yeah. Just watch, just watch. Okay, okay, no, but he looked at both of us. I think it's like. And me too? Yeah. Just watch, just watch. Okay, okay. I think he doesn't like us because,

well, I have theories. You come to the exterior of this large, central-planked tent, and as the doors are opened and you are ushered in, the majority of the soldiers stay outside, except for a few hand bodyguards that stick with some of the other prominent figures. You enter this chamber,

you can see there's lanterns affixed all about, as well as two glowing orbs that are hanging from chains in the center that give a midday light to this that knocks away the red glow that continuously swallows the landscape around you. It's a welcome sight to what you've been under since you've arrived here. As you

watch as the figures you were introduced to enter with you, you also see on the opposite sides of the table, sleeves rolled up, a set of goggles on the head with various lenses and dirty, and is seeing Lord Percival, who has a number of sketches just out across the table, and behind him, looking up with a smile, towards you in particular, the voice of the tempest. As you enter the chambers and the tent flaps close behind, Keyleth stands up tall and taps Percy on the shoulders.

What? Oh, hmm. Rather rapid, I suppose. Allura, you said you were taking them somewhere. Yes, we had a very, very brief excursion. Therion. Fae Roam. He watches both Percival and Keelthu Shilling go, Ah.

Well, I'm glad you've made it. And once again, we're all very thankful for what you've agreed to. We all here are paragons by some in our particular cultures or homes. We are also prominent in our capabilities, our interests, and in doing so, are very carefully watched. So what you bring to the table here,

to some, would be seen as insignificance, but we've seen what you can do. What a compliment. Maybe anonymity is better. In the sense that you have not yet shown the world what you're capable of, but you've shown us.

Because so few know, for now, that gives us all the strength in you seven. Allura comes to the table and sets her pack down. Now, what we have before us in this short time is a bit ramshackle, but I think it will do for what is necessary to get you to the Bloody Bridge and beyond.

That should be your autobiography title. To the Bloody Bridge and Beyond. Yes. I like that. Where are we sitting outside of our current situation, she says to the rest of the councils, and Mythtaker Key says, From what we hear, there are a number of signs, words going about speaking of,

more, for lack of a better term, doomsday cults arising, embracing these times as a sign of the end, which creates its own anxiety and unrest in the peoples of our world. That, unfortunately, feeds the malcontent with the various temples, the gods. It's at an all-time high, and at which point across the way,

the guardian, Bertaurus, pipes in, and the Ruby Vanguard influence, through information and conscription, continues to swell because of it all. So, we are being assaulted at home by ideals as much as we're being assaulted here on the field of battle. Percival clears his throat

and takes his goggles off and sets them down. Yes, and that is why we've got you to do this. The plot of distraction that I've outlined here, and he rolls out the sheets, and you can see all manner of brief sketches show these various, some of them are just regular travel carts, some of them are just regular travel carts.

Some of them are military war wagons. Some of them are damaged war vehicles and engines that have been altered and changed. And now you see the sketches, you can see a number of these you witnessed on the outside and being built within the walls of the Stronghold. These are, they call them the Butcher Wagons. Oh, that's a great name.

That's a real good name. Butcher Wagons. Illusions only go so far. He points over, looks over towards all the rations. Unfortunately, yes. We're fighting our individuals that are looking for magic falsities. However, nothing quite changes someone's mind

in the warm splash of blood across their face at the signs of something being slain. So, Mr. Laura here and Mr. Mandozi here will both be accompanying these wagons under the guise of an assault. Beasts of them, some construction. I don't quite know what they have planned, but that's not my prerogative.

I have been tasked with overseeing the building of these butcher wagons. They will be cloaked within these illusions to assault from the northwestern side of the Malleus Key site itself. So we will have them attacking from an illusory site, looking to draw most of their defenses in that direction. They will mountainous counter-assault against our approach,

at which case the illusions will show themselves being destroyed. These beasts, creatures, whatever it is you've thought up. And when they do, we also detonate these wagons, spraying the front of their lines with crimson gore. So whatever sort of immediate assumptions that this being a distraction or some sort of an illusory advance would be dispelled long enough

to double their efforts to defend. That'll buy you a little bit more time. The good news is the smartest amongst them are currently up there. So. That will give you, we hope, 10 to 30 minutes to infiltrate. Say it one more time.

10 to 30 minutes to infiltrate before they either force us to withdraw and keep them under the assumption that they've succeeded, or they realize that this was a ruse and they begin to search for why. In which case, hopefully, if all goes right, you will have already crossed the bridge and be on your way to vanish up there

to find what you seek. And is the plan for us to slip in through the south-southeast while they're going in the northwest or whatever? Or are we riding the bottom of these boom-boom wagons and jumping off in invisibility and slipping in before they detonate? Percy goes to raise his hand,

but you hear the voice of Garun and Sten fill the space. No. You are to enter from the southeast side, wait for the sounds of conflict, then slip in unnoticed. Now. Their ability to dispel invisibility remains disabled, I believe.

He looks towards Allura. Indeed, it seems that your last incursion assaulted that and they haven't quite been able to get things back up and running to that degree. Okay. However, the Rylora seem to be able to sense nearby mines. We got a lot of them on the ground? They are the bulk of their forces, if you will.

Good. Allura goes, But I have provided you with scrolls that should be able to keep you for a period of time, unnoticed by them. It's like a scroll that does what my circlet did for all of us. Great.

Did we already pop that off, or are we going to do it now? We're going to do it now. Okay. We've got to get a little closer. You're constantly keeping an eye out to make sure they're not scrying currently, right? Oh, this entire tent is barred

from any sort of exterior magical intrusion of that kind, and I'm always keeping an eye outward. I've lived this long because of it. Groon clears his throat and closes his eyes. My men will be helping at the front line of this assault as well. The Stormlord is with us.

We will find glory enough to let you in. Do not let our sacrifices be in vain. Oh, a diversion. Yeah, we got a diversion. We got to play our way in. When do we strike? When you are ready. Percy goes, Well, actually, give me about, We're in? When do we strike? We knew already.

Percy goes, Well, actually, give me about, I need at least another hour, hour and a half. Test a few things, make a few final adjustments. I just want to ensure that things go off. Look. Hour. Give me an hour. Well, we've got some, how long will it take

to cast those spells that we need? Instantly, right? The scrolls? Yeah, the scrolls. I think they're just very entertaining as the double chat. Do your best not to be discovered. If so, leave no witnesses. Oh. Leave no witnesses.

Allura goes, Well, a number of these people are victims, brainwashed or misled. To clarify, he goes, whatever that means to you, if that means silencing them or taking them with you and ensuring they cannot give you away.

There is too much at stake. This is war. It does me no pleasure. But this is about all of us. All of us. As he says that, his eyes go white and his voice bellows outward and you hear the crack and roll of thunder in the distance.

Oh, awesome. Oh. We understand the assignment. Allornaz, we hope to do our best to give members of the vanguard that we feel can be given opportunities to amend their ways in the future, have that opportunity. Redemption?

Yes, if possible. Is there a threshold in terms of certain people? You know, probably the leadership, probably beyond redemption, but maybe the peons? You watch as Keyleth, her smile when you arrived fades into a more cold expression of realism. She doesn't even make any eye contact. fades into a more cold expression of realism. She doesn't even make any eye contact. She just looks past everyone and goes,

That is for you to decide. Save who you can, but do what is right. All right. When you launch the attack, is she looking at you like that? No, no, no. It just feels like a lot of responsibility.

When you launch the attack, I assume these vehicles move quickly, so we should already be all the way around on the other side, right? Yes, yes, of course. We'll be simultaneously setting up both sides of this, both your point of intrusion on your own. We would be able to, I, how are we doing that?

He looks to the rest of the room. Teleport us over there? I don't think that's a good idea. No, you don't want to teleport in right there. Keyleth goes, I can guide you to that point and keep you unseen, but then you're on your own. I do need a bit of time to prepare the skies.

Sick. Hot. It's like, hot. Hot! She looks at the person and says, One hour? He nods and says, One hour. She goes,

I better begin. How long will it take to get over to the Nias Key from here? At my speed, pretty quick. All right. All right, let's go. We're going to need a little bit of supply before we do this, if possible. What, because you used all of the supplies we just got?

Yes, just now. We do have so so what do you mean, more supplies? Do we have some cloaks, something that looks desert-y? We have the Ruby Vanguard disguises. We still have the Vanguard disguises. Are they, well, yeah, the Ruby Vanguard disguises are good. Are they going to be able to hold up,

do we need goggles, anything like that for up there? We have it all from the last time we were here. Orym still has a full goggle circle over his entire face. Is the Shrink trunk at all? I'm waiting. That's in your head here. That's why he was looking at us. Where'd?

Oh, it was his face. Yeah. His face. I'm going to walk over to Earthbreaker Ground. I'm going to open up the hole and start organizing things. Open up the hole? Yep. You've heard me. Stop it. I'm going to open up the hole and start organizing things. Open up the hole? Yep. You've heard me. Stop it.

I know exactly where you went. Stop it. I knew before you got there. Stop it. Stop it. As you're walking over, Earthbreaker Gruun is speaking to the table still, and says, There is always a chance you may be followed even under the best of circumstances,

so covering your tracks upon arrival to Ruidus will be imperative. And you hear Allura say. What'd he say? Chance my god. All I heard was it's imperative and then missed. The important part. I've got a plan for that.

When you are on Ruidus, learn what you can. Who are these Rylora? Ultimately, what do they want? See if there are any leaders or figures we can attempt to parlay with or negotiate away from the vanguard's plot under Ludinus. Where is Ludinus? What is his path to victory there?

How much time do we have? What dangers or challenges awaits in all that assault on the Red Moon? Any of these questions and more, all of these are extremely helpful for what we are plotting and preparing for on this side. So however you can, best that you can, to the point of where you feel it is too dangerous

and you must return to us, please do. You have that staff still? that you can to the point of where you feel it is too dangerous and you must return to us. Please do. You have that staff still? Yeah, we got it. When you do cross over back to the bridge, it will drop you right back into the center of that excavation site. Ensure you have that staff at the ready, because that will be your ticket away. Sure.

Sure. Yes. Yes. It's attuned, right? It's attuned. All right. You walk over to Earthbreaker Gurun. Yeah.

Psst. Hey. His head slightly turns your direction, his eyes still just this kind of clouded white. What were you looking at us? What were you looking at me like that for? Like you were all mad or disappointed or something? These eyes do not look anywhere.

I sensed you. Okay, what did you sense? You are Ruud isborn, both of you. He looks over towards Imogen and you watch as Topher and Key and other figures at the table that you assume didn't have this information before suddenly glance over uncomfortably. Are you saying we're sending Ruidusborn

to Ruidus to handle this for us? Towards Allura and Keyleth. Keyleth puts her hands up. Look, these two are not bound by that same draw. They're here, aren't they? These two are not bound by that same draw. They're here, aren't they? They're not part of the vanguard in whatever they're trying to do. No.

We didn't ask to be born under the Ruedas moon. Topher leans in and says, We tried working with Ruedasborn. Where are they now? Her dragonborn eyes glance up to the sky. What happened before? Well, at a certain point, they just forgot what we were doing

and joined their new friends. Well, that's not going to happen with us. We very recently went under a really close, tight bonding situation and we're all devoted to each other. We hold each other accountable. Yep, and we're devoted to the cause, and I can vouch for all of these folks with my life.

Wake up, Chet. Yeah. It's not going to happen, is what I'm saying. This is extremely irregular, and if I'm going to be perfectly honest, it fills me with a sense of malcontent with this plan for going to send. Do you trust these two? Yes?

Their ties to the moon would have allowed us to get as close to Ludinus' plots as we have. Allura nods. Indeed, there is already a bit of information that has saved many lives of those you brought here from these two. Yes, they have a strong connection there, but I think that is also what makes them so dangerous,

both unseen and more capable. So. Very capable. So. Very capable. Absolutely. Do you trust me? Do you trust the voice? You're asking us?

Well, I think she's asking them. Oh, okay. They all fall quiet for a second. I want to hear their totally regular plan that they have for this. They clearly have a very regular plan to deal with this that they're very excited about. Sorry, yeah.

Groon looks over. He hasn't really broken his blind-eyed contact from one of the two of you as he darts back between you both. He speaks once more, his voice carrying with that resonant bass of a power beyond himself. I trust they are capable. For they know that if they turn,

the storm will find them. But you are of the storm, are you not? I am the storm, baby. Hmm. You're a person of faith, right? You hear a couple of chuckles in the chamber, and you guess, one would say, maybe.

Well, that's all we have to rely on these days, is our faith. And I have the utmost faith in them. Maybe you could spare a little. It seems your friends may have more faith in you than perhaps you carry for yourself. Be prepared to rely on them when the time comes. Orym locks eyes with the Tempest.

We have this. We've got our heads straight. We've been preparing. We're as ready as we're going to be. Choosing us isn't a mistake. There isn't a thought in my head that says this is a mistake. You're at the tip of the spear. We are everything to follow.

We just need you to guide us. No problem. Good. There's this warmth through her voice, but you can't escape the fact that there's just this fraction of distraction in the back of Keyleth's presence. It's oddly familiar to look upon your faces and what's in front of you.

I believe in you all. She looks to Percy, smiles, and wipes a little bit of dirt from his cheek. Why does it always take a bunch of assholes to get anything done? He likes us. Very well, let's get our preparations together. Mm-hmm. Whatever else you need within the hour?

Yes, an hour, thank you. Please leave, I need to finish. Everyone looks around. Myth Taker Key nods. Well, it is a pleasure to meet you all, and I look forward to making your acquaintances further should you come back surviving. We will.

It'll be Key, Kiki, we, going to the Malleus Key to see what we can see. I like this one. I like this one. I like this one. He's going with a bunch of jokes, like me. I love this one. All right, we'll talk more later. What is, your name is?

Fresh Cut Grass. Fresh Cut Grass. Even the name is a joke. I love this guy. Okay. Great, great, okay. I'll go decide what crazy beast to cook up. Laura, come find me when we're getting ready for time, and we will make such a show.

And he steps out of the tent. Great. Why are they giving us shit? All these people are fucking crazy. Yeah. It's like they've never met a fucking crazy person before. Seems like they have to deal with so much red tape. Percy's like,

why does it take a bunch of assholes to get anything done? I'm pretty sure it's because we have no oversight. I think that's it. This looks so boring. No. Yeah, yeah. Motley Crue, like they are. Oh! I mean, what was he doing?

The big buff one looking to you. Yes. Oh my god. Like it's our fault. I don't like that. I don't either. That was a threat. He's threat. No, whatever the fuck you brought to that, holy shit, more like, oh my god.

If they're going to trust us, we have to give them a break, too. They're trying their best. They're just nervous. I guess that's fair. Just couldn't help but notice a bit of a... Judgment? Yes, and seemed a bit hypocritical to think that

we could save members of the Rudas vanguard, but then they didn't want to trust Rudasborn right in front of us. Well, when they get to know you, they'll trust you more. To be fair, y'all, that pull is strong. It's real strong. To the moon.

Yeah. Do you need a word, a safe word or something? When it gets too much? What can it be? Help me, it's too much. That'll work. Something pithier. I don't feel a pull at all, so I'll be fine.

Oh yeah. Is the pull more since your dream? Yeah. What if you get up there, though, and I don't want to stand between something that you might really want. What if you do want to go with them? What if that is your calling?

Well... I'm not gonna lie, part of it feels like it is, but... I'm not blind, y'all, I know. I know what's right. Even if, even if my heart would say otherwise at some point. Just, you know, keep me present.

You've got her, and You've got her. You've got us. That's enough. Yeah. Reaches up and gives her arm a little squeeze. We're just the tip, guys. Just the tip of the spear. That's the safe word, just the tip.

Just the tip. There we are. There it is. In and out, and we're done. Just the tip. In and out. Let's not, oh no. In and out, though, yeah. Yeah, yeah, in and out. Just a good plan.

Put your wagon at the Bloody Bridge. Just the tip. We are done. Where's Keyleth? You're welcome. Most everyone has left the tent. Yarr. Where's Keyleth? You're welcome. Most everyone has left the tent at this point. You look across the way and you see Keyleth is talking to a couple of the Shari defenders, members of the Blades of the Tempest.

I just awkwardly start hovering nearby. Step away and you watch her sigh deeply, her lengthy coat of- I just circle around until I'm in her periphery. Oh, hello. Hello. Sorry, there's a lot going on. Oh, yes, yes. So no one else. Laudna. That's crazy. Yes, there's a lot going on. Oh, yes, yes.

I know who it is. Laudna. That's crazy. Yes! Oh my god, you remembered my name. Of course. You're very pretty. I just couldn't, I noticed you seemed kind of distracted. There's a lot going on in the world, right?

No, it's crazy. Are you distracted because you like looking at us, like, oh, nostalgia, and thinking of fonder times? Or is it because that feathered man who turned into a marble? She glances by, and you can see now the direction that she kept glancing off is the direction she looks and it's directly towards the red beam of Malleus Key.

You see as she looks off and takes a deep breath without looking at you, she just says, We have to set him free. Is that why you volunteered to come with us? We have to set him free. Is that why you volunteered to come with us? To escort us to the base of the bridge? No. Insight check. Oh, sure.

A gas. Bad. Bad, five. Five. She makes eye contact with you and says, Because it's my responsibility as a protector of my people and the people of this world, I do this. And in doing so,

I hope to maybe help him, too. He's being used to power the bridge, yeah? Yeah. We assume. They all keep saying we need the bridge to return. Is that true? Or is there another way? As far as I know, all the great arcanists have been thinking just on this problem for a number of weeks now, and the bridge is the only connection we have to Rhodas.

No teleportation, no divination, no magic seems to cross that threshold. The bridge is the only thing that gets there. That's why Ludinus made it. That's why you need to take it. That's why it needs to stay until we're all done. But when we're done, we set him free. So you're escorting us, but you also get to check in on him a little bit?

From a distance. I just wanted to ask, I hope I wasn't prying. Maybe when we're up there and we're scouting, we discover the source of why things are so limited in traveling there. Can add that to that incredibly long list that I tried to jot down of all the things we need to find out, and I'll add that to that incredibly long list that I tried to jot down of all the things we need to find out, and I'll add that.

I appreciate that. Okay. Well, I know there's so much going on, so I'll let you do it. What? I'm sorry. For what? For everything.

You see a wave of remorse cross her face as she nods and walks away. Well, that was unsettling. How's it going over here? Pretty good. At 49 minutes in, I'm going to ritually cast something.

When I find what it is, I will tell you. Also, wasn't I using this to identify something? No, it's just because you have an empty slot. It's attuned to a. Because I'm sick of seeing your eyes. Now you can't see my face. It's the front side of my head. I'm going to ritually cast Telepathic Bond.

Ooh. Nice ritual cast. So we can all talk to each other. Quietly? Hell yeah. Smork. I have organized the portable hole as best I fucking can. Everything is findable.

Just spread open that hole. Ah, it's, stop it. With the telepathic bond letters, is it just one big conference call with all of us? It's a big gaping conference call. Party line. It is a party line? Party line. There's no...

Unless you have an intelligence of less than two. Then what happens if you have an intelligence of... Doesn't work. Okay. So there's no aiming a thought, an individual. You hear it in your head. Do do do do do. What are you doing? Like a United Nations conversation.

You know what's interesting, though? We'll have a telepathic bond with each other, but then the scroll is going to negate... What does it negate? Nothing, it just makes it to where people can't scrawl on us. Okay, but we can still talk to each other telepathically. Yeah, we can talk to each other telepathically. It's just we control.

If it works like my circlet did, we would control who's able to talk to it. Okay, correct. Yeah, the intent of it is to prevent scrawling and like Intrusive. Intrusive attempts into the mind for eight hours. All right. All right, as the butcher wagons are set up,

there is an odd scent over the exterior of this encampment from a lot of older meats and buckets of various... Beets. Older meats. Creature blood that has been gathered. Ooh. How you doing, Chetney? Good smell?

This I'm actually used to. Oh, okay. Me? Blood. Oh. After a short time, the voice of the Tempest approaches, says, I've been gathering a few things,

and then we'll be leaving here in just a moment. She walks off. There's a moment where you feel a hand on your shoulder. The minute it does, your vision goes white and you see this flash of a face in the clouds before you feel the grip of Earthbreaker Gruun on your shoulder. Unimaginable.

He's threatening you? No, we don't know. He's a vibe checker. Damn, protective. Yes! In his head. Can I help you? You hear back in your head,

not even his voice, but a voice. Sourceless, growling, and echoey. You have my eye. There is greatness in you. Do not let us down. I won't. us down. How long? He releases his hand,

and that image of a face pulls away, and you hear the roiling. You look up in the sky, and there's no clouds, like no thunderclouds, just the gentle, drifting, gray, soft bits that have been there since you arrived. Gruun just looks at you, through you,

and gives a nod. Throws the shawl back over his shoulder and steps off towards his awaiting monks. Keyleth returns. You see she's changed out of her ceremonial garb into more of a gentle leathers. Still, you know, definitely have them, within them, intricate scrolling. They've been designed as a gift or probably with some kind of ceremonial decoration

to them, but much more functional for travel. The cloak itself, the long dragon cloak, you watch as it pulls itself up into a smaller, almost tapered half-cloak to her back. She clutches her staff at her side. Is everyone ready? Yeah, let's do this. Oh, my jarmer.

She looks off. You watch as she nods and Percival gives a nod back. All right, let's take him out. And he goes ahead and lights some sort of object in his hand and a spark, like a flare spark, kind of flares a little bit in the air. As it does, all the wagons begin to go into motion, and you hear them pulling out quickly. There's no beasts of burden pulling them.

They're moving under their own power. And as they continue to rock outward, kind of going across the landscape, you watch as Allura and Key flank the sides from a distance. They both look back. Allura, hands together, gives you all a nod from across

the central open way of this stronghold. He goes walking with them. Key looks back at you all. And goes and joins. Keyleth looks at the rest of you. Get close. I pull out the scroll, and I'll use that before we head out.

All right, you go ahead. It's magical words that we'll never use a sword or thing for. I'm using an action. Yeah? No. That was accurate. I'm using an action. Yeah? Fear departs your code. That was accurate.

It was scribed in Sweden. You finish the incantation. All of you suddenly watches this dome around your crew of slightly mercurial, reflective energy just swirls around. Then it encloses in like a specter of a bubble that suddenly closes. As it washes through you,

you feel this faint chill across your mind. As it fades, you get the sense that there is a protective enchantment that sits within you for quite some time. The scroll itself burns away in your grasp as it completes. Keyleth gives a nod. Okay, so this might be a little strange, but go with me here.

She closes her eyes and focuses, holding her staff in her front. As it does, the wind picks up around you, and all of you feel this accompanying tingling sensation, and you watch as your legs begin to slightly drift apart into a mist, and within a moment, all of you become these cloud entities. Do you remember when Keyleth is this?

You ask stupidly, remember? We were just two for no reason. Now she's using it for the right reason. That's so cute. That's her now. All of you, including her, become these clusters of faint mist that now can travel at an incredible speed. 300 feet is your flying speed with this. Damn.

And all of you just following her lead take off into the sky, blending in with the slight plumes of dust and cloud that come through the ever fluctuating winds that blow through. You all begin to fly off into the sky. An incredible sensation for many of you the first time, not being on a skyship, but being free on your own,

like a bird at a speed that a bird can only dream of achieving. As you coast through, you get an aerial view now of the surrounding landscape. You can see the Tishton excavation site. You can view the glowing pulsing of the red light that emanates from the base of the powerful Malleus Key and the Bloody Bridge firing up

and where it hits the clouds themselves. What ones have gathered there faintly are separated around and vanishing into the sky above to the moon. You see the dots of the butcher wagons moving out and suddenly, they're no longer butcher wagons. You see this dust cloud begin to brim out in front of them

and this distant rumble of hundreds of footfalls. You see a charging wave of armored beasts, gargantuan and lumbering creatures that would stand 20, 25 feet tall, four arms each, stepping forward like armored, massive gorillas. You see what looked to be rhinoceros-like armored riding beasts coasting between them. It's an entire frontal assault

that is now moving in place of these wagons. You see, coming up out of the dust cloud, these fire-encircled ember rocks, their flaming wings stretching end to end for dozens and dozens of feet, screeching out across the horizon, the merry delusions of these two arcanists now enshrouding the advance

with a much more terrifying and dominating presence. You all drift quickly over to the southeastern side, about a quarter mile or so from the actual exterior of the excavation site's pit. As you all drift down to where the landfall is, your bodies reform the back of this rocky outcropping that's about 15 feet tall and about 30 feet wide where a couple of partially dried trees

skeleton upward like withered hands reaching for the sky. You all come to rest there. The wind itself is blowing a bit. Sorry, I didn't mean to do that with my hands. No, it's okay. Winds are blowing. This one's blowing. Keyleth stands there,

the wind picking up the back of her cape a little bit. Handler's strong, you see her looking off back towards where the bloody bridge is. She holds her staff up and concentrates. She says, you have a few minutes to gather your thoughts and then be on your way. In the moments that pass, you watch as the elements of soft clouds grow thick and dark.

You watch as flashes of lightning begin to flash outward. The entire skyline over the Hellcatch within 10 minutes suddenly begins to take on that of one of the worst thunderstorms you've ever seen. Like a hurricane has suddenly now splashed into the center of Marquet. No raindrops fall, but a heavy wind

that begins to pick up a roaring dust that surrounds nearly everything around this excavation site. You reach into the bundles that you were given as you left, and you see vanguard attire given to all of you. And as she's concentrating on this, her eyes themselves now aglow with a soft golden energy. You see as she raises her hand, and with each slight shift of her wrist,

you watch as a cloud suddenly grows thicker and more dangerous. Occasionally, she'll pluck it as a bolt hits a cliffside that breaks and tumbles. You can see right now, from this distance, you, Orym, with your perception, can already see the number of perimeter guards just outside of the excavation site beginning to double.

The attention is beginning to be drawn. On the opposite side, right? Well, right now, everywhere. Everywhere because of the storm? They just see the dust clouds picking up and this sudden storm rolling in. Keyleth, at this point, is now growing a bit nervous, and you can see the beads of sweat

coming down her forehead. All right. Let me know when you're ready. We all put on our Ruby Vanguard robes over top of each other. Pass without a trace. Sweet. Imogen, I will hit you with a Death Ward. Oh, thank you.

Any invisibility we want to drop on ourselves? Probably. Let's see. How long does it last? We want to wait until we get closer to the edge. It lasts an hour. Then let's get a little closer to the edge, I think, before we...

We got a minute. Can we all be invisible? Wait, two of us can do it, right? I think I can up the level. Third level or higher, you can target an additional creature for each slot above second, but. That's not all of us. No, that wouldn't get all of us.

But we have Pass Without a Trace. That does a lot. Sick robes. She goes, The Cloud Form lasts for eight hours. It takes a minute to transform and transform back, which means it can't be used for the infiltration. You are a sitting duck while you make this transition. And I do not know if the Bloody Bridge

would scatter you in the process, but when you reach the other side, it may be of use to you to get out of there quickly. So keep that in mind. Thank you. Of course. Let's forge ahead. Yeah.

We're how far from base camp, from ground zero? From this point in ground zero, you can pick up the, it's about a quarter mile or so. We should start walking, right? I think that's a good idea. Let's do this. Yeah, yeah. Okay. So she was saying drop Cloudform before we go up, right?

Yeah, we're not Clouds right now. Yeah, yeah, yeah. We're not Clouds. We should not be Clouds. We should not be Clouds. When in doubt, don't do it. You'll be the ones. Mm-hmm. When in doubt, don't be slow. As you step forward, entering these heavy winds that suddenly engulf you, marking the direction you have to travel,

you continue to move ahead. Who's leading the charge in this to keep you on task? I will. Okay. Yeah. So for you, it would probably be, actually for this, it would be a survival roll. Survival. Since this is about keeping track of the terrain

and maintaining direction. Okay. Aren't you very survival-y? I have really good survival, actually. Oh, okay, then I'm going to scooch you before I'm actually going to nudge you in the room. What, what, what? I can't see through all of this.

Okay, I got it, I got it. I'm just rolling a guidance. All right. All right. All right. Okay. And? 29. Whoa! Before the windstorm swept around the excavation site, you helped, between the two of you,

to get a good look of all the different landmarks and slight changes in topography for the direct line to it. And once you immerse yourself in this mist, in this clustered dust cloud storm that surrounds you, you've never felt more confident in anything in your life. I know where to go, just follow me. Covering your mouths, trudging forward through the storm, you push on.

And before long, you hear the crack of thunder get more and more prominent and rapid. With each successive blast, you begin to hear horns sounding from inside the excavation site. As bits of the storm begin to break and you get close to the exterior, carefully heading forward, I'd like you all to make a group stealth check.

Okay, okay. You do have advantage because you are in the middle of this dust storm. And pass the plunder. And pass that attrace. This is going to be a great battle. It's okay. It's going to be great. Let cake. That would be great. Nice.

Let's get rid of that one soon. They do have very high perception guards watching, so. And we're also dress-like guards. Yeah. Okay. 30. Oh no. Oh buddy.

31. Oh. It's happening. 35. 27. Okay. 21. Okay. Oh. It's happening. 35. 27! Okay. 21. Okay.

25. 25. Oh wait, I'm sorry. Okay. No, you didn't add your 10, did you? I didn't add my 10, so 29. No, what did I just say? You said 21. I said 21.

31. 31, thank you. Sorry. Okay. Jeez Louise. 37. 37. Roll a nap line. Whoa! That's the latest. 37. 37? Roll a nap line. Ooh! Oh my gosh. That's pretty good. So, as you break out of the bulk

of the surrounding dust storm, you hear the horn sound again, and you watch as skirmishers begin to ride out of the sides of the excavation site. You see dozens of them just pouring out, and you watch as many of the more assault-based skirmishers, the massive tripod skirmishers

beginning to, the ruined skirmishers, also emerging from the outside. You watch as dozens and dozens of Ryloran warriors, juggernauts, the ones that you fought a handful of at the side of fake Ludinus, charging in behind them as handfuls of other Rylorans hover in the air and drift in pursuit.

Right as the opposite end of the dust storm breaks, you watch the entire assault begin to collide with the exterior. You watch as the ember rocks swoop in and unleash gouts of flame downward, and you watch as explosions of fire hit some of the nearby watchtowers on the outside. This is an illusion, but you quickly grasp

that spells are being flung from within the illusion as well to continue its buy and to damage the nearby sentries. You watch as the war beasts begin to charge forward, right as some of the Ryloran war machine begins to assault from a distance. You watch as cannon fire and exploding payloads are thrown over at heavy arcs that detonate in the center. And you watch as the illusion seems to react in time,

as some of these war beasts themselves skid over and plummet and explode on the side. As it does, you see a spray of crimson gorge out from an interior, from inside the illusion. For the time being, it looks like it has begun. In that moment, you all swallow hard, gather your nerves,

and head in towards the nearest side of the Tishton site. That's where we're going to end today. Oh shit! You can't end the game like that! Yes, I can. Yes, I can. Good call, because it's going to be all elaborate and shit.

He's wearing a bathrobe. He can do whatever he wants. It's going to be elaborate. It'd be fun to not break it up at this point of the tension, and to give Travis's voice some rest. We're going to have to text. We're going to have to text some plans. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Oh my gosh.

Actually, it wouldn't hurt for me to show you a little visual perspective of the thing you're going to likely arrive at. This combat cam will be brought to you by WizKids Minis, first encountered on the table by Bells Hells. Now you can build your own brumestone-embedded hovering horror. The Shade Mother is sure to turn a few stomachs. Let us know, wizkids.io slash Shade Mother. Look at those little hands! First foray into it. Oh, look at these.

And from your distance, the only immediate shape that you see is this. Damn! A friend! So this is to get to the gate. Yeah, this itself is the actual lip of the pit of the excavation. So Bloody Bridge is that way. Bloody Bridge is where I'm standing right here.

That's the edge of the Grand Canyon, sort of, smaller. Yeah, further back than me. Instead of those little binocular quarter things. What is that little thing? You don't know. It's a robot. It's a little sn The little snitch? Yeah, little buzz ball.

As you get closer, you might make up more details of the environment, but we'll get to there next session. So. Amazing. That all being said. It really does. Yeah, I was just having a. Welcome back to the side of the Malleus Key. Woo!

And the road to Ruidus. And now we're back. Bloody bridge. Yeah. All righty. Well, set up for the next session. Good year, good year. Wow.

Wonderful happy holidays to all of you. Thank you for joining us. We'll see you in 2024 for what is to come. Oh boy. But thank you all so much for joining us. We'll see you in 2024 for what is to come. Oh, boy. But thank you all so much for joining us. We love you very much, and it's a Thursday. Good night.

Thanks for tuning in to this episode of Critical Role. If you enjoyed the adventure, please leave a rating and review wherever you stream the Critical Role Podcast Network. Your story might inspire another listener to join the journey. Be sure to tune in to the next adventure. Until next time, this is Taliesin Jaffe. See you soon.