Critical Role - C3E85 Intense Interrogations

Episode Date: February 22, 2024

Bells Hells question their captured enemies, but their search for information is interrupted by the pursuing hunt from another foe... 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, Hexany Audio, Ghiya Rushidat, Karam Salem, Neal Acree, and Colm R. McGuinness"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. Once upon a time, a group of curious storytellers breathed life into epic tales set in the wide fantasy world of Exandria. This is Liam O'Brien, here to welcome you to Critical Role.

We'll dive into the story in just a moment, but first, a few notes. This is the audio-only version of our broadcast that streams Thursdays at 7pm.m. Pacific over on twitch.tv slash critical roll and youtube.com slash critical roll. If you subscribe to our Twitch channel, you can watch the video on demand immediately after the broadcast. And it's also available Mondays at 12 p.m. Pacific on YouTube. And of course, for all you wonderful podcast listeners, freshly minted episodes release right here on the Critical Role Podcast Network one week after our broadcast on Thursdays. With all that said, let's get into the story. Hello, everyone, and welcome to tonight's episode of Critical Role, where a bunch of us nerdy-ass voice actors sit around and play Dungeons & Dragons.

Yes. Before we get into our episode tonight, we do have some announcements to get through, beginning the sponsor tonight, which is One-Shot Wonders. Sam? One-Shot Wonders. One-Shot Wonders is a collection

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Instead, I actually use this. It's sort of like a nicotine patch, except that it feeds me. This one's beef stroganoff. It's savory, actually. I can really taste the meat in my arm. Dang it, I thought I smelled beef. They taste me an hour every day. An hour? What? I'm so busy, I need extra two hours a day. So I do the mill patch thing, too,

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That's small potatoes. I'm so busy that I know verbs. It means three hours of time every day. Hold on, hold on, hold on. Wait. I've got to parse this out. Are you saying you stopped saying verbs to save you three hours of talking time? You went right, Liam. In a language. It's like the Beast Chamber. Pretty good. Now I'm hungry for beef.

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Matt, Matt, to you. Thank you, Sam. And thank you, One-Shot Wonders, for sponsoring the show. Marisha, you got some announcements, right? Yeah, so yesterday was the season three premiere of Mystic. This season has everything. Reality bending fold terrors, crumbling economics, new unhinged leaders, haunting pests, and a new manhunt through the cosmos. We can't wait for you to see what's in store for Lark, for Mockweep, for Phineas,

and finally answering so many lingering questions. So many lingering questions. It is truly a podcasting listening experience unlike anything you've ever heard. This is it. This is the season, you guys. Gotta get caught it. Gotta watch it. Episode 1 is available for everyone right now on YouTube, and of course, where you get your podcasts. And subscribers at mitts.co can now enjoy the first three episodes, and you always stay two weeks ahead of the free feeds, so you can lord that

over all of your friends and feel elitist. Anyway, your subscription also gives you behind the scenes bonus episodes with the narrators, music downloads, I spit on myself. Yeah, you did, I saw it. And more. It's so juicy, it's making me salivate. It's great. Plus, in a way to celebrate this new season,

merch, merch, our Minced T-shirt and pin are currently on sale. Nice. Check them out in our U.S. Critical Role shop. I know which one it is. And for Valentine's Day, which is, guess what? Was it today? Is today Valentine's Day? Yesterday was Valentine's Day! Yesterday was? Yeah. That's why you Yesterday was Valentine's Day! Yesterday was? Yeah. That's why you're wearing pink. Did you get anything for Q? I definitely did.

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Guess what? We get to keep these ones, so if you want them, Ashley, or if you want to give them to Q's hand. Oh, for yesterday? Yeah, because you didn't get her anything. Yeah, she won't notice. I love a pin with a chain situation. She won't notice.

Here's your belated Valentine's Day gift. That's a from Crystal. So cool! It's Canadian Valentine's Day. Yes. Fantastic. Is that it, Laura? That's all I have. Okay. Stop looking at me, swan. Did you have the gilmore in here?

Wow. Thank you, Laura. Thank you, Laura. It doesn't work with this flannel. Let me see. I don't think it works. It's cute, but it does need to be buttoned up. Yeah, yeah, it needs to be buttoned up. That's okay. Okay, Laura. It doesn't work with this flannel. Let me see. It looks like it works. It's cute, but it does need to be buttoned up. Yeah, yeah, it needs to be buttoned up. That's okay. Okay, okay.

Yeah, but not on a nice blouse. Yeah. Well, while Ashley buttons up her collar, I think it's time to jump into tonight's episode of... What are we doing? Critical Role. Critical. Critical. It's Thursday night.

One by one we climb until we reach the top. Two by two we fall. Will we meet our end or meet our destiny? Hold your breath and roll. How do you want to do this? It's Thursday night All ye critters come join us it's time to continue our play There is magic and mystery who knows what will happen

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 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 say goodbye. And welcome back. So, last we left off, Bells Hells had finally climbed the Bloody Bridge from the Malleus Key to the surface of the Red Moon of Il Omen, Ruidus.

Upon arriving into a bit of a dangerous scuffle being pursued by some stragglers, you manage to escape the outpost and head in any direction to try to get to safety. After stopping through the middle of the storm and taking cover, you dove into your own visions and connections with what seems to be Prydathos's power and other Ruidus born in the region and seem to triangulate a location

where they are converging. Focusing yourselves in that direction, you begin to head that way, trying to avoid any dangerous weather patterns, learning a little bit about the strange alien landscape that you're still very fresh in arrival to, and then eventually stumble upon a little place called Resora, a little village. One of the mountain ranges along the path,

not too much of a divergence from the direction you were taking. And there you went to investigate. You encountered some new creature types that you were unfamiliar with, denizens of Ruidus, the Bormodos and the Scytas that have a symbiotic relationship. You befriended one of the Bormodos who brought you

to one of the village elders known as Elder Barthy. After some discussion, a bit of convincing, you seem to have presented yourselves as allies to those who do not wish the Imperium's rule to continue to press down upon the Free People's Abruedas. As such, the Elder seemed to take a liking to you, though warned of it being a dangerous place to flaunt that sort of allegiance,

the Imperium taking no quarter. After some lore being spilt, some information about the essential capital of the entire Ryloren society, the Kraviris Imperium resides, the core of it, in the city of Kraviris, which you assume to be the location that you are heading towards.

Also, a caravan seemed to be coming by. About the time that this caravan arrived, an entity with the title Willmaster came to the door of the elder. The elder seemed surprised, and it took notice of the strange individuals in vanguard garb within the abode, one transforming into mist and others seeking

to immediately make friends by failing to cast a spell upon them. Hey, it was a good shot, and if I had succeeded, it would have been a very different outcome. You can only try. You can only try. Indeed. However, this led to a bit of conflict. A battle here in the middle of the night

in the streets outside of the Elder's Abode led to the Willmaster taking all the minds of the surrounding villagers and pulling them in to protect them, as it looked like a few vanguard members flanked this Willmaster, young and a bit spooked by the sudden violence. As they were exploded with a fireball,

a bunch of loud noises and detonation cracks sent nearby beasts of burden into a frenzy before they broke free of their pen, causing a stampede through the center of this town. A number of these figures were either slain or knocked unconscious, and we left off as you had pulled them into the House of the Elder.

Imogen, still a wisp of cloud from Keyleth's spell, still clinging on for another four to five hours of length, as you all assess how to deal with what comes next. So as you pull the bodies into this abode and plan out what you're going to do, Bells Hells, what are we doing? Am I still above? Am I floating up above?

Unless you said you were coming back. Which I didn't. Can I see how close any of the other guards are to the... Is anybody running this direction? I assume, yeah. I mean, make a perception check for me. Yeah, that's a three. It's a three?

I mean, there's a lot of commotion in the town. There are people moving around in the streets, so you're uncertain if people are coming towards the location where your friends are, if they're just investigating. Don't see anything! Before the battle kicked off, I was looking for the door, the trapdoor on the floor. Could I run back inside and try and find and lift the door

that Elder Bartha was talking about? Sure, Barthy. And are we freeze-framed in having drug all bodies unconscious indoors, or are we in the middle of that process? I mean, since we ended last time, I'd say we're finishing that process. Okay, so still in the open. Still grabbing corpses and unconscious bodies

and pulling them back. So you're just now starting to finish up that process. I will fly down and go back in the building and try to... Unfart. Unfart. Can I plant myself against a wall or something so that if anybody barges in, I won't be out in the open farting.

Sure. You pick one little alcove behind one of the shelves where there's a couple of collectible knickknacks that the elder had are present, and you can shift off to that side and begin to transform. While this is happening, Dono has left. Dono, as soon as the violence ended, just went away.

The elder is getting back into the household and is like, Well, that's a real... It's the most exciting and terrifying evening we've had here in a long time. What are we to do? We're in a lot of trouble. We need to find that trapdoor you mentioned before. Where is it? Yeah, it's lot of trouble. We need to find that trap door you mentioned before. Where is it?

Yeah, it's right over here. Let me show you. I kind of want to go over there. Is there enough room to open the hole, by the way? In here? Inside. Inside here? Yeah, you can move one of the tables to the side. All right, we're setting this up.

I'm so sorry, sir. This is going to get a little weird, durr. And we're opening up the hole while you're looking. Are you good at tracking the time? It's been interesting. Of course, I've got an internal clock. It's been one week. Yes, Ben. It's been six seconds so far.

Can the egg timer go off in 10 minutes? 10 minutes? Why? What happens in 10 minutes? The bag is 11, isn't that it? No, it's 10 minutes. 10 minutes. So nine minutes on your egg timer. Once we close it. They'll die in nine minutes. Nine minutes, we need to open it's 10 minutes. 10 minutes, so nine minutes on your ice timer. Once we close it. They'll die in nine minutes. Nine minutes we need to open it.

All right. But it's only once I close it. So as long as it's open, we're fine. Once it's closed, then we have a time limit of about 10 minutes. Fresh cut Lexa set timer for 10 minutes. Nine, nine minutes. If that's not somebody in somebody's house, I want to hear about it.

You take 20 points of psychic damage. Although, Fresh Cut Grass, Alexa pack? Voice pack? Oh my gosh. Smiley, dang it to you. Oh no. So cute. No. I'll just try to keep track of the time. I have no special skill that does that better

than anyone else, but I'm confident. We're throwing everything we can in here that's a problem, I assume. Yeah. The elder is currently writing his furniture. Just in case the basement is tiny or something. Yeah. And you look over at his shoulder,

you see Chew is just staring daggers at the rest of you. Did you recognize those guards or were those brand new people? Well, I didn't recognize the robed figures that were moving alongside with them. You did take out Hedmuda. Oh, right. Confirmation. I believe I was sighted amongst the rest of you.

So if you do speak to them, I would recommend you, or I will say that I was put under duress and was about to scream for their aid because I cannot be affiliated with the violence that you have wrought here in my home. Hopefully no one will know about this violence because we'll just say it was a big stampede and lots of chaos and we had nothing to do with anything.

And to be clear, we plan on lying going forward. Do we want to come up with a story for if anyone saw a large blast of fire from a distance, what that might have been? Well, if they didn't see it, they certainly heard it. Yeah. Twice. Two explosions. Just start noodling on an excuse.

Am I still Cass? You and me. Come on, put something. About now, you've reformed. I'll figure out the fireball. Do y'all have anything in town that would make an explosion? Welcome back. Thank you.

I'm sorry. Oh, you're here! I'm so sorry. What are you, all right? I'm so sorry. Not in particular. We're a farming community. We don't really keep those sort of... Like a fertilizer situation?

What about Woo Kor Pu? Doesn't it, it causes a... It certainly burns, but it's not really an explosive material. How about me? How about me? You say it was me. You say I'm a new piece of farming equipment that you just have been developing

and you were demonstrating it and it made such a loud explosion. I malfunctioned and made such a loud explosion that it caused the Wukor to stampede. Oh, I love it. And I can shoot some fire out of me. I've got flamethrower. Sure, maybe we can,

can you put some char marks on you? Okay, but what was your purpose? Is this really an idea? Yeah, trapdoor. Trapdoor. I'm a pet grass. Trap door. I'm a cat trap door. You found it and pulled it open. I'm a lawnmower.

And indeed, there's like a s- Oh, I'll put it on my saw blade. What is an adult doing right now? There is a set of maybe six feet down of carved steps into the ground that leads into a storage chamber beneath. You can smell herbal smells. It's some sort of a storage space

for whatever sort of processing of local kind of odd, hardy flora would be, as well as some of the dried foods and stuff. That's it. It's maybe like a quarter full. The space down there, having seen the hole open before, could it be open down here in this space or is it too small for that?

I would say it could be done if you were to move everything out of it, but it's too small currently. Up and out of it, not shove it to the side. Yeah, it's about 10 foot by 10 foot. Stick my head back up. Stop making up for the hole, so we'll get everything in there now

and we can fold that bitch up and come down here if we need to. If the door knocks, we'll just pull the rug, fold it up, and run down there. I take some of my black, ichory goo and I smear it on FCG to look like an oil leakage, and then I head towards.

I'm a lawn mower. Are we taking the ruby? I feel like this is how we got into this problem. Orym's on the window, just looking out. Are you still taking off your ruby vanguard outfit? Because you're dressed like... Take it off. take it off. I'm just a bit, I'm a machine.

I'm a machine. Yeah. Oh, I'm just a fucking wolf. Oh shit. Don't sound intelligent. Don't speak. Don't speak. But who do you belong to? We have an outside observer.

Does any of this sound credible to you, sir? Right, who do you belong to with your farm equipment here? You're a traveling salesman. You are showing me to the farmers here. We got this, it'll be fine. We can sell it. I'll be entirely honest. You're all trying to stand out by nature before we'd met.

I'm here to go down into the basement with Chetney. Well, we're going to start sliding the bodies in first. Yes, we've been doing that. Okay. You're looking out the window. Yes. You do see out the window. Yes. You do see a larger shape that resembles the hulking appearance of a juggernaut

and a couple other figures walking alongside, coming and inspecting the recent scattering around. So there is an investigation actively happening 15, 20 feet from the front door. Would we know if anybody in? Let's get it downstairs. On the moon that's a salesperson? Wouldn't they be aware?

We were just developing it ourselves. Just get rid of them! Any non-essential lying personnel should get downstairs stat. Down. We hit the hole, we go down. Who's we? I'm going down. I'm going down.

I'll go down, too. I thought you were a good liar! I'm shit at lying, but I can really persuade someone if I need to. But so can she. Persuasion can be a form of lying. You can Guidance. I can. I can Guidance. Okay, I'll stay up. Guiding is also very visible when you do it,

unless you do it right now. Guidance. So I'm not really a talented fibber, you would say, so I should not take point? No. I can just sit with you. Definitely not. If you want. Sure. Unless you and I?

I should be present, definitely. I should be present. I'll crouch down like I'm trying to work on you. Anybody got some equipment, like tools or something? I go for my scissors. Scissors. Oh yeah, wait. I got a hammer. I got a... Oh shit.

Take your scissors. We're downstairs. Sit with me, sit with me, sit with me, sit with me. I lie down on my back. Oh god. Nobody say shit. I take some of the ichor and I wipe it on my face. Oh nice. I'm going to just sit and drink tea.

The elder comes over to the door, opens it up slowly. And you see there is a Ruby Vanguard figure you don't recognize sitting at the door. He takes a step back and you can see there is a figure, definitely a juggernaut, but a juggernaut that itself is in a thicker piece of armor on each shoulder, doesn't enter the abode, and a third Re-Vanguard figure that steps forward that you do recognize.

Oh fuck. You see the same vanguard robes, but the relatively frustratingly pursed expression of Hydroga of the Heartmoor Hamlet, whose museum you had Oh my god. Wait, right. tooled through.

He's Vanguard? We pissed him off? No, he's just Vanguard. No, he just happens to also be Vanguard, apparently. That POS, does he know us? He knows us very well. Did we piss him off? No, he's just Vanguard. No, he just happens to also be Vanguard, apparently. That POS, does he know us? He knows us very well. Did we piss him off? How did we leave it?

Did we piss him off or he just knew us? We won. He knew us. He hired us to break into his. It was a contest. It was a contest. And we won. All right. It's okay. Hydroga was his name?

Mm-hmm. Evon Hydroga. Evon Hydroga. Wow. Oh my god. Oh, quiet. One of the figures says, Hello. You are the elder of this village, yes?

Yes, indeed. I heard some loud noises outside and a bit of a scuffle. I went and fled with my companions here, also of your particular faction and interests. So we were just in an immediate. That noise was us. Sorry about that.

I'll look over. It looks past. You can see that the figure stepping in is a very gaunt elven, almost a pale, almost translucent skin. You can see blue veins that curl up the sides, almost. Very powdery skin. He doesn't know that we're not in Vanguard, right? Yeah, no, he doesn't. No.

He steps in and looks at the rest of you. Hydrogo walks in afterwards, well, and goes, Oh, interesting. So the noise was you, but you also blew up the outside and... Wait, don't I know you? Yeah, I know you. When did you get here? Oh, I've been here for the better part of a couple weeks.

But you, I... You're that lot of strange individuals that I hired not long before. Interesting, I didn't know that you'd join with the vanguard as well. You didn't know you had such good taste? Make a deception check. Here it is, here it is.

Probably have guidance on this one. Oh, sweet, here it is, here it is. Probably have guidance on this one. Oh, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry. Okay, okay, okay, okay, okay. Let's go. Okay, so that's 17 plus nine, 26. Ooh! That's a lot. 26. It gives you this intense stare,

as does the companion who hasn't entered the chamber, who's just arms crossed and looking at you in the interior here. Hydroger goes, Well, isn't this just good fortune for us all? Well, I certainly am happy to have you amongst our... How long have you been here, then? About a week now. About a week. I'm happy to have you here as well. How long have you been here, then? About a week now. About a week.

I'm happy to have you here as well. How long have you been here? You said a couple weeks. A couple weeks, I'm sorry, that's all right. That's all right. So you've come here more recently. Sorry, your hands are shaking. How are you doing?

How are you doing? If you've come. This is what you do with hands, right? If you've come here more recently, if I might inquire, did you bring any fun, Exandrian supplies? Any bits of home to keep yourself? Well, I brought this thing. Oh, right. You remember it, right?

That strange and unique automaton. Just not moving except every once in a while. We've had a bit of a malfunction, hence the kerfuffle outside. Interesting. Back to the matter at hand, like anything from home? Nice blanket. Biscuits.

In his head, he hears, Homesick? You hear back in his head, This place is dreadfully bland. I don't know how they live here in such squalor. I hate it here. I can't go back, but I hate it here. It feels right at home to me.

Mm-hmm. Give it time. Give it time. Can I ask a question? O but I hate it here. It feels right at home to me. Mm-hmm. Give it time. Give it time. Can I ask a question? Orym is being silent. I'm up here, but just acting like her guard. You said that one of these people is a stranger with pale, translucent skin?

Very, very powder, pale skin. What color is their hair? Oh, no hair, just a hood that's just up over the pillow. Are they by any chance reminiscent of dusk? No. No, not the same sort of fey look. Not like super exaggerated fey features, just elven,

but just looks like they're either sickly or never went outside a day in their life. Okay. The elvish figure steps in after Hydroge and goes, Hydroge, are these friends of yours? He says, yes, sir, we're quite acquainted. I hired them quite a bit back, and they were impressive. I give them a solid B, B+.

So I think they are indeed a grand addition to our merry band, so much so that I think it would behoove us to go and check in back home to see what more they can bring. The figure shakes their head. We're on business, boy. In Hydroga's head, are you part of the caravan? Hydroga responds, yes, we bring supplies. It's great. I get so close to home and have to go away again. I'd love to join you.

Really? Yeah. All right. I don't know if we have much room, but as long as you're okay with walking on foot for days at a time. I guess. Get us out of this city, this town. There's got to be better stuff around here, right? Make a persuasion check. Come on. Come on.

Okay. 22. Let's go. 22, okay. You hear back in your head. Are you sure you don't have any little memories from home? Give him some. Don't you have the bag of Holy Fruit? Yeah, in terms of biscuits or some shit.

I mean, not on me, but my friends have plenty. Pastries. Maybe on me, but my friends have plenty. Pastries. Maybe on the way. Hydra turns and goes, How about they continue with us, Entra Graveras, and I could introduce them, perhaps to some of our compatriots. They would likely have better use there

than they would here in this little podunk. As he looks over at the elder, and the elder's like, I had no offense, we like the podunk lifestyle. At this point, you can see Chuu crawling up the shoulder and looking out towards the hooded figure and is like, looking out at the rest of you. I'm going to stare at you.

Is he going to rat us out? Can I speak to him and his brain? You can certainly try. What are you thinking? He looks back at you. Just looking out for my special someone, you know? Making sure you're not going to go ahead and pin this on him, you murderers.

I was a cloud, darling. The only way to get us out of your hair is to let us go in peace, all right? Your buddy will be fine. I'm keeping him safe. You should, too. Make a persuasion or intimidation check, your choice. Make a set.

24. 24. You see Chew buckles back into part of the cloth robes around the shoulder shawl of the elder and just peeking out goes, We've all just been sitting here playing little games. Having tea? Nothing weird about it? Oh jeez.

He curls back, bundles inside. The elder. Hooded figure goes, Bell, if you were the source of the noise, have any of you seen the Will Master? And looks straight at you. I believe I did see them. I didn't say any words.

They left shortly after the stampede. Come on. Make another decision. Let's go! Come on! Let's go! Nothing to it, nothing to it. Easy. Easy. 28. Unstoppable, unstoppable.

Unstoppable, unstoppable. Is this going to a Sia video? Apparently. I legitimately said that at 25 as the climbing DCs of him, just not... Hydroga is more of a pushover in this circumstance, but this figure is not having your bullshit. Through force of personality, confidence,

and the inability to confirm or deny information, the figure seems to relax the tension, but still keep their eyes trained on you. Very well. You'll travel with us. We leave at first light. Oh, wait, wait, wait, wait. What's your name? We didn't get your name. If I decide you're worthy of it, I'll tell you.

Wow. On a related note, it's been way longer than a minute. Using Know Your Enemy, how much of a heavy hitter is this person? Total class level is higher than Orym's? Class levels, this figure would be a little bit higher than Orym's, yeah. How about HP?

HP? I'm at 130. That's right, because you get to hit with your feet. Not quite as high as your hit points. Thank you. Dang. The figure leans back, and you see the massive Ryloran figure

that stands behind and steps behind it, and then just turns and walks away. Hydrogo goes, Well, that seemed to go well. Well, this is nice conversation for the trip. Normally it's so quiet and boring and... I'm looking forward to this. We'll talk.

You should grab some of the teacups. Oh, yes, yes. I hate it here. Well, we're going to go first. He goes and puts his hood up and goes, Oh, wait for me! Leaves out into the evening, and the door closes behind as the elder shuts it.

Quietly coming up from down below, and I'm spreading the hole back out so that we have, they get air in there. Oh, that's right. Yeah. Don't throw me in there. Is anyone digital and conscious in there? You had one job!

It's been five minutes, maybe? Yeah, I felt that. That's what I felt like. Make a wisdom saving throw. Oh no. What? Oh no. That thing is awake, is it awake down there? Is it awake in there?

It was, just unconscious. A few minutes ago. Right. Yeah. Yeah, it's been. Remember, all you got to do is pull that thing. Oh, I want some save. No. You put the hole out and just white.

You all watch Ashton immediately stand up. Eyes go white. You all watch Ashton immediately stand up. Eyes go white. Take the hammer. The closest to you, I'd say, given the fact that you were the center of the conversation, is Imogen. I need you to make a full round of attacks on Imogen. Oh, full!

Wait, how many rounds? Huh? Just a full round of attacks. I thought you said four rounds of attacks. Rage first. Wait, what? Rage first. Wait, wait, wait, wait. Can we kick the hole closed? Can we kick the kid when this happens?

He's got to freak out first, I think. Yeah, this happens right now. Like it's. Yep. So I attempted to save and boy, did I fail. Rage first, so that's attack number one is 13 to hit. Oh, misses. Attack number one is 13 to hit.

Oh, misses! You rolled 13 to hit. I rolled a three. That's amazing. That's so good. All right, cool. That's really lucky. Second attack. 24 to hit. Mm-mm. All right.

Take a little bit. That's, and I'm so sorry. That's six, seven, eight, nine. 21 points of damage. He's going to kill me. Well, that's it. That's his two. That's my turn. Okay, that's it? That's it?

I was right behind her. Can I bait and switch right now? You can. Okay. Add five to your AC for this split second of time. Okay. Can I? I'm with Chetney. We were right next to the hole.

Can we immediately throw it through the hole? I'm going to jump in that bitch. All right. In the hole. I know, I was going to jump. Okay, so. Oh, yeah, he has one HP. Now we're going to keep this into a,

we don't need a battle map necessarily, but let's go ahead and do some quick initiative on this. I was going to jump in there, too. I was going to think of it. God. Fucking damn it, that was super fast. I mean, you could get in there and you can close the hole.

Cool. All righty, 25 to 20. Oh, we're all rolling? Anyone who wants to take an action? 15. 25 to 20, anybody? 20. 20? Thank god.

Okay. I have 20 here as well. Okay. Okay. Fuck. All right. Every barbarian's worst nightmare. 20 to 15. Okay. Fuck. All right. Every barbarian's worst nightmare. 20 to 15. 17. All right.

Orym and then Chet. 15 to 10, okay. Chet, 10 to five? Chet was 11. Jumped in the hole. Did you already jump in the hole or are you basing that on initiative? Well, I'm waiting.

I have no idea. FCG, what'd you got? Seven. All right. So as this transpires, Imogen, you're up first with Fearne on deck. Can I see in the hole, or I just saw Ashton immediately attack me? You can't see into the hole.

Ashton just rushed you and just swung once and you barely dodged it, but you just momentarily spun around again and it hit you right upside the shoulder. You felt it pop almost out of the socket and it throws you almost to the ground with your force of it. And you both are in a burst of pain

and a newfound respect for exactly what being on the other end of that hammer feels like. I'm going to... I'm going to use Mage Hand, just Telekinesis, and try to throw the fabric to shut the hole. To shut the hole? Yeah. Okay, let me go ahead and look.

There's the specifics of this hole here, just to make sure that that's something we can do. I'm going to cut off this hole on him. Maybe. It is a different dimension. Yeah. It should be okay. Oh, like how heavy the hole is?

Mage Hand can only grab 10 pounds of stuff, right? Yeah, but I'm not trying to throw the hole. I'm trying to throw the fabric, like the corner of the fabric up. Yeah, it's an action to unfold. So you're using action as part. Does Mage Hand cost an action to cast? No, it's just my telekinetic ability. Oh, well, hold on.

To use it, though. Mage Hand is an action to cast. Yeah, as an action. Yeah, so you create the hand, then you have to spend an action to spend it. So next round, you'll an action to spend it. So next round, you'll be able to do that. Can you quicken it?

I can, but... You could quicken it and then use your action to do that. Yeah, I just didn't know if having actual telekinetic, I guess that is just a chance. I'll also say that my move is next. Sure, I'll quicken it to make it a bonus. Yeah, that'd be the way to do it. Okay. Okay.

So yeah, so you go ahead and you pull the whole clothes and it rolls up and furls up and wrinkles. Then I'm going to try to get up and skitter away from Ashton. Okay. Is he still controlled? I don't know yet. Yeah, the spell wasn't broken.

You're right to get away, but you'll lose that AC when you get a few feet apart. But you're also getting away. Oh, well, if I'm standing behind you, maybe I'll just roll behind Orym. Okay, so you use Orym as a guard, which is like using a small chair as protection. You get down below.

Perfect, so that finishes your go, Imogen. The hole has been pulled away from its opening. The eyes are still white on your friend here. Okay, so hole's shut. He's still the Tremor Hunter? Correct. They're still the Tremor Hunter. Fearne. All right, I'm going to. He's still the Terminator? Correct. They're still the Terminator. Fearne. All right, I'm going to go finish picking up the hole.

Okay, you go ahead and you grab the hole. Finish pulling it up. Pull it up into this little bundle. Yeah. Okay. Is anything happening to him? Doesn't appear to be changing his perspective currently. I'm going to start railing on people. You're going to start railing on me?

Yeah. Open the hole. All right. Yeah, we should get the hold on people. You're going to start railing on me? Yeah. Oh, because we're old. All right. Yeah, we should get up and get up and get up. Sorry. It's now the Will Master's turn. I know, I was hoping you would bring it. It's not present. It's now Ashton's turn. Okay, well, I'm going to do this.

Ashton stands still, eyes still white, and does nothing. Oh. Okay. Oh. Oh. Okay. He needs to be commanded. Yeah, so he can't do it because he's in another dimension.

It's the end of my turn? Nobody has an AC here. It just didn't break it. So the Wheelmaster is after Fearne. Which means if the- Because he can't access Ashton. No, you do not get a save. Which means if the hole, I can't help, nevermind.

I've got to, I'm out, I'm not going to. Ashton, after the swing, as soon as the hole gets pulled up, you watch Ashton just go, and just stand limp, like there's some statue. As if there was any part of Ashton that could possibly be limp. Yeah.

So wait, we can just wait it out for a minute. Chetney, you're on deck. Unless it's like a tent. Can we put Ashton in the cellar? Can we close him in the trapdoor cellar? And then open the hole back up? Is that open? There's a trapdoor open in the room?

Yeah, it's still open. Yeah, we came up through it. Okay. All right, so since we're theater of the mind here, how close are we to that hole? I'm right between these two. It's not a massive interior here, so you're about 10 feet from it.

All right, I'm going to attack. I'm going to make it use Ashton. Okay. Non-lethally. I'm going to make it a pushing attack. That is a 19 to hit. 19 to hit, Reysi? That hits. All right, go ahead and roll damage. Okay.

He's raging, so it's half damage. Okay. And you have to make it's half damage. Okay. And you have to make a strength save, which I know you're likely to do. He has advantage on those, yeah. Oh, awesome. While raging. But I can't physically do anything,

so I don't know if that would apply, if I'm not. That's true, the rage is technically dropped. Oh, the rage is dropped? It is, because you didn't attack since, you didn't continue. Yeah, I had is dropped? It is, because you didn't attack since, you didn't continue. Yeah, I had a full round without an attack or being attacked.

Yeah, and you're not resisting it, because you're standing there. No, there's no resistance. So just. It's 10 points of non-lethal damage, and you have to make a strength save, unless you're saying it autofails. I don't know what we're saying yet.

I think it might autofail. I'm not doing it, and I'm also not raging anymore. Yeah, I'd say make one with disadvantage because you're just standing still. It's less about you trying to resist it and more just if the strength of the attack can push you back based on just. Strength save with disadvantage.

Correct. Because you're just standing there and your physical denseness deflecting this. That's 17. Beats it. Fuck. Okay, so as you strike, it skids back a little bit, but just his sheer stone form

seems to be hard to push. However, because you took damage, you do take another wisdom saving throw. Oh, I get a wisdom save from that. Oh, that's so nice. I'll also do it again. Oh, that's a 20. 20 succeeds.

Make another attack. Yay! Okay. Ow! He's back, he's back. Ow! I don't think I remember what that is. Oh, Ashton's back.

He said before you took the save, he was going to make a second attack, so your eyes blink back, just as the second razor-fast strike of Orym comes in. That was a 15, that's not going to hit, but for the third attack, it is 19 again. That hits, okay. What the fuck? Going for a third attack?

Yes. Just for the fuck of it? Yes. I'm pushing him in the hole, because I would have just gone at it. I wouldn't have necessarily realized. Yeah, he attacks really fast, and he comes to in the middle of it, and it's just like. So 17 points of non-lethal damage,

and then also you would make a strength save, probably just flat roll, since you're not out of it anymore? Flat roll for this one. Flat roll for this, yeah. Yeah, because there's no advantage to not raging. I kind of want to push you in the hole. Well, you'll be happy to know that's a 12 to my strength save.

Okay, so Ashton leapt up, Ashton Orym leapt up off of Ashton's knee, smacked him in the jaw with the flat of the blade, rebounded and tried to do it again, and you dodged the last second. The last time, I just hit you with the pommel in between the eyes, and Ashton has just stumbled back into the hole.

Ow! Oh, it's open. Into the portable hole? No, the basement. The basement hole. The basement? No, the basement. He's not in the basement hole. The basement stairwell. The basement. Yeah, that wouldn't have actually hurt that much.

That would've just been shock. Ow! I'm just going to lie down there for a second because I do not know what the fuck just happened. Sit in the corner. So it's awake again. Yes. So we could open the hole back up

and try to knock it out immediately now that we know what's going to happen. Yes. This basically holds initiative, right, Matt? No, initiative's done. There's no immediate threat. Initiative's done. Okay. I do have a silence spell.

I could cast it so that if we open the hole and... It's probably a mental, not magic. Oh, no, but like... She screams for help or anything. I don't know. I don't think it's anything. I'm just slowly crawling up from there. Are we able to open the hole

and just let Chet go in and do his thing? Yeah, they're really hurt, so just pile drive them. Knock them back out. But as soon as we open the hole now, we'll restart the process, so they'll cast on somebody. Yeah. I'll go, I'll open the hole now, we'll restart the process, so they'll cast on somebody. Yeah. I'll open the hole, they can cast it on me, and then you can be right behind me, ready to pounce.

I'll take it. But you got a buzzsaw. You got a buzzsaw. Take all your weapons off. I'll take all my weapons off. Well, wait, didn't you say you could, theoretically, be the one to, like, cleanse somebody of this? I have Restoration,

so I could undo if someone gets hit with this. Yeah, but Chet's going to hit him right away. Yeah. So there's an Exalted down there, too. Fearne, you were saying something? If you're in the hole, can you see out of it? When the hole is completely unraveled, then yes. I could darkness again.

Can you do it? We should just open the hole and three people jump in. He can only charm one. The other two can. Can pummel them. That's what I think is okay. And then we deal with whoever gets charmed. I'll stand on the edge from a different angle

and then Chetney. I suggest it would be melee people or somebody that's got a good elbow. Ashton, Orym, and Chet? I will not be as dangerous next time, but that was not fun. Okay, if you're up for it. Yeah, just be on standby with a rest zone.

I'm ready to restore. And ladies be ready to take out or manage any of us who get whammied. Yes. All right. The plan is to open it. You guys are going to jump in the hole right away. We open the hole and we'll jump in midair, like three ninjas.

Freeze frame. And just punch whoever you find. Right? You know you know. Okay. Yeah. All right, so who's going in? We're looking for a right hole. All right, we're backing up.

The hitty guys. All right, punch all of them. Oh boy. Because that Exalted will probably be dangerous, too. Yep, knock them all out. Okay, so we get the portable hole almost all the way flat. Right. And then we just

wait to lay that corner down until the count of three. We have Chet, Orym, and Ashton all on the edge. Okay. We're like, one, two, three, we'll jump in the air, and then they flip it over. Okay, so you jump in the air, holding your action. As soon as it opens, you watch as the black cloth mask, immediately goes like,

and just in an instant, suddenly, it's like someone had pulled the blinds up or something, and you can see the interior of the hole. We are staring up at you, its cold, angry eyes, bloodied face. You can see the Will Master, the Ryloran Shark, eyes looking back up at you as it pulls back its hands. But you're holding your actions.

Each of you get to make your attacks on it. Come on! If I'm holding, I get two attacks, right? Get some recovery. Non-lethal. Non-lethal. But I get two. Okay, I'm going to start just. Just pull QM.

Just billiards. Yeah, okay. So just attempting to clock on the head, nice and gentle. Go for it. And I'm. You could flick him, basically. Yeah, and I'm, you know. With your granite. Rolling, because I don't care if I have disadvantage on my attack.

A flick would definitely do it. That's a 27 to hit. That hits, go ahead and roll damage. And again, this is nothing. I'm doing nothing. That's 18 points of damage. As soon as it looks up at you angrily, you watch in slow-mo the hammer.

And it just rapidly on the ground, the two of you go. And there's a second one, fair play. Yeah, where's the kid? Is the kid still out cold? The kid's still unconscious. Okay. Or is playing unconscious, you don't know. Oh, maybe's the kid? Is the kid still out cold? The kid's still unconscious. Okay. Or is playing unconscious, you don't know?

Oh, maybe clock the kid for good measure. No, because that could have been the killer. I think we can find the kid. Is it unconscious, or did that do too much? I was trying to be really gentle. No, I mean, gentle as it can be. He probably broke something, but he's not dying. Okay, can I take a second to check the kid

and make sure that the kid is still breathing? Yes, make a medicine check. Okay. I bet it's second to check the kid and make sure that the kid is still breathing? Yes. Make a medicine check. Yeah, okay. I bet it's hard to do this when the kid is still breathing. It's a one, which I will reroll. That is a 12. 12. No, 14. 14.

Kid is still breathing, and you catch the corner of the eye closing. Slinger. Why would you plot the kid? I'm going to go over and hogtie the kid, so I get his wrists and ankles together. Ha! 4.3 seconds.

Okay. The kid does not react to any of it, but you can swear with your past perception to hear the faintest bit of soft whimpering. Aw. Just lay there. You'll be fine. What are you doing with the Willmaster?

I'll tie him, too. Is the Willmaster unconscious and stable, or is currently dying? Unconscious and stable, because there wasn't an intent of lethal damage. If people continue to fumble, then it would be a different story. I say we get him in the siphon right now.

60, oh, we're in the siphon right now. A blindfold might help. Yes, so she doesn't know what's going on. Hands are one thing, but eyes. Here, I'll throw some ribbon into the hole. Oh, thank you for, why am I talking like that? Probably grab the blindfold around his eye. Did you turn back into a wolf? I've just been this way, it lasts for an hour.

I thought you changed back into... He was contemplating turning back, but I don't think he ever did. I actually can back and forth. Really? No. All right, so are we binding the Wheelmaster as well? We're binding him,

and I think we're blindfolding both of them. All right. Because I don't think the kid should see what we're blindfolding both of them. Right. Because I don't think the kid should see what we're about to do either. Can I see the little tether on the kid? Like, can I see the red tether going? Do you want to try and concentrate on it? Yeah.

Okay. As you step into or get near the kid, you can let your eyes get out of focus a bit and you can indeed see that red tether brighter than the one that connected you to Fearne, but present. The Fearne from, I mean the Fearne, fuck. The tether from Imogen to the Willmaster stronger?

Not the Willmaster, but the... Unwanted boy. The un-exalted boy. Yeah, the young, exalted boy. This Ryloran has nostrils or something like it, right? Yes. So we're going to stuck just a little bit of a muffle in the mouth as well. So ribbon, hogtied both of them, and then just.

Okay. There is also the third, now that you get a better, closer look at them, the unconscious half-orc. Ruby Vanguard figure, the third one that you get a better, closer look at them, the unconscious half-orc, Ruby Vanguard figured the third one that you took as unconscious. I actually forgot. I forgot about Andrew. Do we have more rope?

I might have some. I have more rope. Or we can always just do the easy thing. Is he unconscious against the wall? Oh, that was good. He's not moving yet. But breathing. Give me a rope. Here's 25 feet of rope.

Oh god! I could have saved us this, but that's okay. I'll, are you tying, are you binding their legs and their arms? Yeah, I was going to do the... Okay. Okay. Cool. Tie me!

Ha! 4-4-1, you beat it! Woo! Golly, give me the belt buckle! Why am I using that voice again? Fuck! Cannon. Just been faking the deep voices the whole time.

It's a whole time. Smell's voice gets higher when he turns into a worm. It's one of those worms, I swear. All right, so all three of Hogtide, both the exultant boy and the Will Master have been blindfolded and partially gagged. Aw, poor kid. The elder is over by the table,

just whistling quietly like, Y'all planning to stay here tonight, or you got other plans? I think we're going to be out of your hair in a little bit, I promise. You actually probably don't even want to watch any of this. We can just go downstairs and let you know when we're done with this.

As much as you need. He hobbles over to the side, sits down and starts whistling nervously. Hey, Fearne. Yeah? Toss me the funnel. Here we go. Okay, wait. What? Fuck this voice.

We're sure we're going to do this. It's just 24 hours. No, no, no. It's actually just one minute. We'll remove his, her magical abilities and give them a temporary buff. For 24 hours, they'll be removed. Yeah, unless you want to hold it on them for an hour, and then they're destroyed and you get a permanent buff. But I think we should at least remove it,

remove their abilities for that one minute, and then we should interrogate her. That's quick. Yeah. Yes. And then maybe take it from there. Yeah. Vinyl for one minute gives you 24 hours. You want to wear it?

Wear it to Ganaboon? Yeah. It's magic stuff, though. Anyone can take it. You can take it? Anybody can take it. I can take it. Doesn't say anything like that. I'll take the leg.

Nothing on this card says anything bad will happen or who could take it. I'll be that guinea pig. I'm a little more concerned about what we're doing after this step, but let's do this step. I get it, I get it. I'll just start forcing it on. Yeah. I'm just cinching it down.

I guess I'm confused what our plan is to do with them after this is done. Oh, did the elder leave? The elder is sitting in his room, but he's just facing away and whistling. Okay, I'll go up to the elder. Elder Barthi, if we had, hi. I know it's been wild and wacky stuff tonight.

Yeah, real interesting 15 minutes. We apologize so much. You'll be able to break for commercial soon. But before that, if we had, we don't want to cause more harm than we already have. If we had a prisoner or two, do you guys have a prison, a place where you could stow someone safely

and out of the way for a couple of days? Or can you strap them to the back of a Wukor and send him off into the desert? We're a farming village. You don't have prisons? Our penitentiary is slightly underfunded. The punishments in this region usually involve a brief lashing or a harsh talking to,

and then if there's anything more severe, then we send them to Kraviris. So the rightful action would honestly probably put them on the caravan that you're looking to go on, which I don't think is going to work out, given the circumstances. So I could probably hide them in a storage bin somewhere

and feed them on occasion. I don't know. I'm not used to this sort of thing. Yeah, that could work. That could work if you have some sort of corral or something you can lock them up in. Well, I can keep one in the basement for now, I suppose. But what happens when I release them? I'm now made of a...

Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. I'm an accessory to this, if I agree. We're all getting ahead of ourselves. I agree with what Ashton was saying. What do you think? We just need to interview this Will Master. And we'll figure out where we go. And then we'll figure out, depending on what she says,

if she's like, oh, you attacked a Will Master that is punishable by death, and I will murder you and everyone that you ever known, then we'll take it one way, and if she's amicable, then we go another. Let's start this process now. I don't want to deal with if the middle one's the right way. People down here with three potential magical possibilities.

One time a day, right? Huh? The siphon can only be used once a day. No. The person can only use it one time a day. Oh. Mm-hmm. If you do it.

You can use it multiple times in a day, but if it's used more than once in a 24-hour period, there's a 20% chance it'll break forever. So why don't we just use it on the big problem and go from there? That sounds safe and boring. Or break to the point where it'd be fixed again, which was an extensive repair last time.

Once. That Newly Exalted is making quite juicy. All right, why don't we move on to the Newly Exalted? Can I look down at the kid? Yeah. What's he doing? Well, he's hogtied and he's blindfolded and he's gagged. So he's not doing much.

Can I see him moving at all? Like, is he... Yeah, he's occasionally like... In his head, I'm going to say, you can hear everything we're saying, right? I can hear. I don't hear anything. We still have that scroll on us that blocks. Oh, well, that just blocks scrying.

Oh, yeah. Are we speaking to each other in our heads? Yes. Oh, we've been in our heads this whole time we haven't been saying that out loud? I've been saying all my verbs to you in our heads. Oh, okay. Which makes me switching voices even straighter. I mean, yeah. I assume that a lot of your conversation right now

is telepathic, except for when you're talking to the elder or talking about things openly, which means the elder's getting very interesting spaces of all of you quietly looking at each other. Got it, got it, got it. Reacting and doing things. But also, he works with Ryloren of the Imperium, and that's the usual thing a lot of the folks here

are used to. Yeah. You heard a little bit, but verbal communication is common for most folk who aren't Ryloren of a certain rank or above. And at a certain point, people just quietly talk through their minds. Got it. Amazing. It's a lot of meaningful staring.

Yeah. Yeah. I'm normal here! Except for Laudna, who is still just as animated in her handspeak, so she's like. I'm excited for this. And I hit Orym in the back towards the Willmaster. The funnel has to press against the Willmaster for a minute.

That's how it works. So you attach the harness. The funnel comes off the base of the neck. Where does it attach to on the Willmaster? Somewhere she needs to hold it against the funnel. Like press her face into it or something? I don't know, I'll just strong arm the Will Master's lip body and just

light up against Orym. As soon as you hold it against the funnel, you watch that arcane flicker begin to build up within the funnel. You feel this odd warmth, but also cold feeling, like an icy hot sort of energy that's right at the base of your neck and shoulders.

It's my beef patch. All the various tiny little runes begin to light up around the harness once more. As it does, the weight of the Willmaster begins to vanish, and it becomes held aloft, slowly rotating about two or three inches away from this funnel. I'm just going to push the kid five feet away from it,

if I can. Into one of the chairs. You hear. You can't move. Your chest is locked in place. There is an odd... As part of this moment, you are currently bound to this process.

Well, it doesn't feel great. As it gets warmer and warmer, time begins to pass and you watch as energy begins to seep out of parts of the Will Master's form, just some sort of magical energy just into the funnel, and you begin to feel that sensation.

30 seconds, 40 seconds, 60 seconds, a minute and a half. Oh, a minute and a half. Oh, yeah. You pull away from that point, and you feel the strange surge into yourself. You feel like a part of your mind grasps the threads of others' willpower and a way to pluck at them as you please.

Until your next long rest, you can cast Dominate Person once. Yeah! Oh! Shit. Once within this 24-hour period. Okay. Until your next long rest. But it's not permanent, right?

It's a temporary. It's temporary. Yes. And after we've pulled the Willmaster off, what does the vest look like? Is there a power down period, like a cool down? Or does it just. As you pull it off, you now have control of your body in space, Orym.

You watch the runes slowly darken. The energy spiral that comes out of the back of the funnel begins to subside and then it becomes inert. I'll help you with the vest and take it off. What's Wilmaster doing? The Wilmaster. The Wilmaster is currently bound and gagged and not moving.

Unconscious or? You have them bound and gagged and blindfolded. Yeah, they're not magical anymore, so you should be able to interrogate mentally or... I'm going to pull the gag. How do you feel? God damn. And just so we're clear, don't yell.

It'll just make us close this again, and then if something happens to us and we can't open the pocket, you're just going to suffocate, and I genuinely would feel bad about that. That is not the intention. Just gritting its sharp teeth. Sorry about that second hit, too,

but taking over someone's body isn't nice, but I think we're even now. Someone's playing proper. Still just ignoring you from under the blindfold. Get in there, get in there. I cast Unsettling Presence on them. They can't see. Still makes you get giddy.

They don't know. They feel it. Oh wow. Okay. As they're blindfolded, they look away, and they're gritting and essentially holding an intomical position here on the floor that they're tied down, and as soon as you focus on them. I'm going to make my face look gaunt, and chunks of my flesh are falling off

from my form of dread. look gaunt and chunks of my flesh are falling off from my form of dread. My eyes turn into empty sockets, like a far-decayed corpse. And I lift up her blindfold and I say, you're going to answer some questions, or else we're going to send you to a place far worse than your grave.

Take it from me. Make an intimidation check. Come on, come on. With advantage. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. That combination of things, yeah. Okay. That is a 27. Woo!

Okay. The somewhat furrowed, mostly bone brow that sits atop the Will Master's head softens, and you can see the cartilage pop as the eyes go wider. The gritted teeth turn into a bit of a grimace. Don't feel any magic running through your veins, do you? So you best trust me when I give you this warning. But if you answer all of our questions

and you're a good little girl, then maybe we can make a deal. Understood. You start now by answering questions. That was the first one. You see it trying to, its expressions shifting. Oh no.

It can only communicate telepathically and we took away its powers. We might have opted the ability to do that. Well, somebody has telepathic ability. Hey! Oh! Oh, okay, okay, okay. Maybe they just don't speak much. You get the sense that this is, it's like having to remember how to talk with its mouth.

I... I will talk. Good. I think first and foremost, we would love a little insight into this little plan you dream weavers have. What do you aim to do with the one who sleeps? sleeps. Do we

wake it? Make sense? What are you waiting for? SAM and LAURA say, SAM and LAURA say, SAM and LAURA say, SAM and LAURA say, SAM and LAURA say, You see it contemplating carefully. Orym speaks and says, Tell us all your secrets, and I cast Dominate Person. Oh, right away. Just use it.

I don't know what the DC is, because I'm not a wizard. The DC would be... I'll say, which is of your highest stats? Intelligence, charisma, or wisdom? Intelligence, wisdom, or charisma? Yes. Wisdom.

Wisdom, what's your bonus? Plus three. Plus three, so it'd be eight. Eight plus your proficiency modifier, plus your wisdom modifier. Okay, eight plus four plus three. Yeah, so 15. Okay.

All right. As they're contemplating, they look you in the eyes, and the eyes go white as well, like yours once were. Them jaw goes slack. You've never experienced something like this. You feel like you're in yourself, and inside, its mind. Its mind isn't open to you. It's not like you're in yourself and inside its mind. Its mind isn't open to you.

It's not like you can see its personality, but it's almost like you can feel its limbs just be on yours, like putting on gloves that'll control them. Like you can ply and pluck at them. And they seem to... You feel a sense of trust coming from it towards you. And he'll think quickly,

what do you intend for Predathos to do? Tell us everything. Predathos is the heart of our people. Bredados is what has made us into what we are. We are its children, and it wants to be awake. It wants to feast. And when the gods are gone,

the world, the Blue Promise, will be ours. What do you intend for those who live on the Blue Promise now. Well, there are not many of us and many of them. Some would like to

live in harmony. Others know the nature of violence that others like you carry. We are not all that different. So perhaps we carve a place that is ours, and then we talk. Why are you waiting for Predathos to awaken before you? Before you come over? There's a bridge right now.

So much of the strength of your world lies in the divinity and the power granted by the deities. If they are gone, the playing ground becomes more even. You should answer the pretty lady's first question. What are you waiting for? What do you need? What's the final key to releasing Predothos?

That many person lasts for one minute. Oh no. Your connection fades on the entity. The eyes come back. You can see there's an immediate look of spite and frustration that comes over their face as they realize that they were forced to speak in this manner.

It grits its teeth once more, looking at the two of you. You'll find out soon enough. You see, that was not part of our original plan, our original deal here. We said you would answer all of our questions, and then maybe we would make a deal. What benefit to me is that? My life does not matter.

Do you know what she is? You are one of the exultants, yes. Then you walk the path as intended. You'll know in time. You want to know. But I'm done talking. These lips are dry and I hate your words in my mouth. I honestly can't argue with her. Okay.

Should we talk to the boy? So what do we do with him? Yeah, what do we do with any of them? We can talk to the boy. I what do we do with him? Yeah, what do we do with any of them? We can talk to the boy. I feel like he's more reliable. Yeah. Has something to live for, maybe now. Everyone's watching.

Yeah. Best I got is fast friends. I have a feeling the boy has more to live for. I might just want to talk. Correct. Can we lift him up and out of the hole? Get him away from the wall? Yeah.

Shut the hole temporarily so we can speak in private? Sure. So with this cone, Yeah. there is a cumulative 20% chance each additional use that it breaks. Correct. 20, 40, 60, yep. Is that a d100 roll? Correct.

20 or under? 20 or under, and it breaks. I don't want to risk that. I got better plans for this thing than this kid. I don't want to risk that. This kid will go down fast, he's not. I know, I just want his juices. Can we, well.

Can we pull him out? His youthful juices. Let's take him out of the hall. Can we pull him out? Chet, can you lift him up and out? Above the table, it's essentially a single spell slot. Was that really necessary? Also, now he's unconscious again.

I'm just going to try to drag him. If you kill him, I'm going to be unconscious again. I'm just going to try to drag him. If you kill him, I'm going to be very upset. I'm just going to drag the boy and sit him up. Sorry, they're a little rough. We should be nice with this one. I'm still more or less in my form of dread, so as soon as he opens his eyes. I'm going to go kneel in front of him.

I'm not out of the hole yet. Is the Wheelmaster still in the room, or you put the Wheelmaster back in the hole? He's in the hole. The Wheelmaster's still in the hole. Okay. put the Wheelmaster back in the hole? He's in the hole. He's in the hole. Okay. Maybe we let Fearne take care of this one, because she can be nice. Oh, sure.

Oh, I mean, you can, too. I'll stay out in the hole with the Wheelmaster and the half-orc. Oh, it wasn't going to be me. Oh, okay, okay. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You have a mean face on. I always have a mean face on.

That's not true! I didn't say it, she did! D'oh, d'oh, d'oh. Resting witch face? Yeah. Okay didn't say it, she did! Joe, Joe, Joe. Resting witch face? Yeah. Okay, you do it, you do it. I am going to stand behind Fearne, though, and just be a little intimidating presence behind her.

Just a little intimidating presence. 15 feet behind the chair. Did we blindfold them? Yeah. He's blindfolded. Okay. I'm going to start taking that blindfold off. Blindfold off. You see he has shaggy brown hair.

As he pulled the blindfold off, he's got dark blue eyes, a little bit of that mustache scruff, that first time trying to grow a mustache. You can see the blindfold's a bit soaked with tears. Dirt and dust smeared. As soon as the blindfold opens, you can see him trying to hold his eyes shut.

It's okay. I'll fix his hair a little bit. Sorry, before you guys start, I'm going to sympathetically bind to both of you, and you two. Yeah. And I'm going to, who's talking to him first, you? You two? Yeah, we're going to talk. She met him recently. I'm going to give,

whoever's going to talk to Shemant and Lysa. I'm going to give, whoever's going to talk to him first, I'm going to give you a d6 to roll a Bonded Blessing. The big thing we're missing, right, is what do you need to release for Dothos, right? It's the big piece of the puzzle. He might not know that. He might not. Because he just exalted today.

Yeah, well, I'm just. Take the, because you're. But he's also been palling around with the Wheelmasters, so who knows? He might hurt something. Might not know it all, but at the very least, what are your higher-ups telling you? Yeah. What are you waiting for?

But also, do we need to, we know the destination of this caravan. Is there anything else we need to know about defenses or distance? The city? The city. We know it's a couple days. Yeah. You know? Yeah.

Or if we leave them here, I guess we already have an invite to go on the caravan, right, so we don't need anything there. All right. Honestly, I'm looking for an excuse to keep them alive, because at this point, it's more dangerous to keep them alive. Mm-hmm.

Okay. I'm going to wipe the tears off his face. Mm-hmm. In his head, I know this is scary. I'm sorry. You exalted today me, are you? You exalted today, didn't you? I did. It's only happened two times before.

Oh, it's happened to you before? Just when recently, moments, emotion, I just kind of do these strange things. You're very powerful. It scares me. How long have you been here? Oh, I just got here not but a few days ago.

Really? And this Wheelmaster, Edmund, did they find you right away, or did you get assigned to them? I was sent here with the caravan to be greeted by them and then brought to the city. So you're part of the caravan? I was brought here with it, yes.

We all were. We were all new recruits to the vanguard. Right. How did they find you on Exandria? Where were you? Please, please don't kill me. Honey, I don't want to. I make my, like, some wispy-smokies

just billow up as I'm behind them. Make a persuasion or deception check based on however you're going at this. You don't have to tell me. Okay. 30. Oh my god. He goes, I just started having dreams.

Like, a part of me was being called to Marquet and I worked hard and saved up money and I got ship passage and I found others that were traveling like me in Ank'Harel and I met members of the Ruby Vanguard and they said that I was following my destiny and they brought me to the key. It was there I met the Rylorans,

these strange, wonderful creatures, but the kinship, I can't explain. I said I was to be brought to the Weavemind for exaltation, that they could teach me how to control this. Yeah, it's scary. It is. I had the same things, the dreams. You did? Yeah.

It feels really wonderful to be here, doesn't it? Almost like you're finally at home. Yeah. Yeah. Can you feel them talking to you, too? Maybe. I'm scared to listen. Me, too. Listen.

It's all very confusing. And we're trying to do the right thing, obviously. I want to get to Berdothos as much as the one who sleeps. As much as you do. We were thinking about traveling with the caravan for a while, doing the same thing, but I need to know we're safe.

I had... I... I... I was traveling under the Will Master's protection. Right. I'll protect you. What's your name? My name is Petrov. Petrov. Petrov Godot. What's your name?

Imogen. Imogen. Imogen what? Temult. Temult. My mom is here. I'm coming to visit her. Does it look like his name rings a bell to him?

You see he's been searching for something, like a thread that's loose, and when you say Tymalt, he's like... Have you met my mom? No, but I feel like I've seen her in... In your dreams. When I got here. What was she doing? She was telling me to get to join them.

Good. I think the Wheelmaster was doing something bad. How so? was doing something bad. I saw. When my mom talks to me in my dreams, she was telling me that Will Master Edmundo was betraying us. Said we had to do something to stop him. Make a deception check.

Come on. Come the fuck on. Let's go. Paint that picture. Okay, okay, okay. It's not bad, but I'm just going to roll a 17 plus nine, so 26. Okay. It's not bad. Oh.

Oh. So you are still of the vanguard's will? Of course. Oh, I was so, oh, I was so confused. The rest of you are just watching them stare at each other and he's just going through this whole range of facial expressions.

Oh. Oh, okay. Okay, I was afraid that I was in trouble. Not at all. But. I'm going to give you was in trouble. Not at all. But. I'm going to give you another d6. Oh, thanks. But it's imperative we don't tell anyone

what happened here. I don't know how deep this this traitorous scheme goes. What do we tell the caravan? There are other vanguard traveling with us. Tell them Wilmester ran away. There was a stampede and they disappeared in the fray. Okay.

We all saw it. Okay. Okay. All right. I'm going to unbind you now. I just wanted to make sure. Okay. What about the other one? The other guard that was with you down there

in the hole. I don't, were they close to Willmaster? Verdo? No, just another, he's one of the others that I met in Ankrel before coming here. A new recruit? Yes.

All right. He's a bit gruff, but he's not a bad person, just a bit guarded. Got it. Harder to convince from play. I'm going to relay everything that we've been talking about to the rest of the group so that y'all know. But I'm not sure what to do with Verdo.

Or the Wheelmaster. The Wheelmaster's got to go. Like, as in... Yes. But we don't kill people, we're the good guys. Sure, and that's the bad guy, and they are going to tell everyone what we did. Can't we just put them on an animal

and send them off into the desert? No. That's killing someone. I can send messages miles away. You think they can't either? Not for 24 hours, they can't. 24 hours is not enough time. We're going to be here for at least three days.

We'll blow our cover on this whole operation. Well, I mean, if we're going to be here for at least three days. We're going to blow our cover on this whole operation. Well, I mean, if we're going to do that, we might as well just suck out all the juices out of the grave. I agree. We have to find another metaphor for that, because that's really starting to bug me. Yeah, Matt, could we, so would that 20% of the table, would it count if Orym picks up where he left off

and went for the full hour long? We'd be using it again. Hour long, sucky suck. That's an interesting question. I'd say if it's the same vessel and the same figure, it would continue the same ritual. Okay. All right, all right.

Good enough. Good enough. Since it is a continuation. I understand all on our heads. I understand, Fearne, but also, even if we try to leave the Wheelmaster here, that will only implicate Burfee and the rest of the townspeople.

They would face the retribution, not us. There's a part of me that feels weird people, they would face the retribution, not us. There's a part of me that feels weird about using this thing that Ludinus created, the way that he intended it, which is to kill people, because then I'm like, how are we any better than him? I'm just putting that out there. The kid wouldn't be alive. But I still want to see what happens.

What did you say? I said the kid wouldn't be alive. What kid? The one that, the other one, the one that we've been talking to, that you've been talking to. I'll also say, if the Wheelmaster wanted to live, she could have done an awful lot

of anything right now to actually defend herself. She has just given herself to something bigger and that's the end of it. There is no negotiating. Can I ask a question, Orym, thanks to the group? While we're weighing our options here, if we wanted to, can that staff be used to send this kid and his buddy

to the Bloody Bridge? Can you use it to teleport people away that aren't us? I don't think that's how it works. I have no idea. I mean, it might, but. It's a teleport spell. So it might open it up without. Doesn't it have to go with?

You end up to eight willing creatures. Oh, so yeah. So you'd have to go. Plus, I don't think this kid wants to go anywhere. No, no. So we're talking about the kid lives. The Will Master dies a horrible death where we suck out her life force and her magic

until she withers away. Or if you prefer. And this other random innocent person we're just going to slaughter. Well, no, we're going to have a conversation with them. We're taking this a beat at a time. I'll say we don't have to slowly suck out the power of the Will Master. We could put her on a beast and let her slowly starve

and die being beaten by sands for a few days, if that makes you feel better. It's the cliff problem. It's not you pushing them off. It's the stop that really does it. If we're playing that game. Or the Will Master could decide to have a deal. And the minute they start talking,

the minute they decide their life has worked anything. The Will Master had a deal and chose to not take the deal. Matt, since I'm sitting down there babysitting our friends, I have the harness still waiting. Yeah. Waiting. Can I use, having seen it light up and do its thing, not with a fork this time, can I use Grim Psychometry on the harness? Oh, whoa.

Thinking if maybe I can figure out how Ludinus might've used it at some point. Go ahead and roll. Woo! Cool. Come on. Come on. I go to stop you and then stop

once I figure out what the fuck you're doing. Play the slots. Big win. It says it's a history, but I think that's only a certain thing, so it's just a straight A. 16 plus three, 19. 19.

While they're up there having these silent-ish conversations, you hold. It is advantage to recall information about a darker past surrounding an object you are touching or a location you are present in. Correct, so go ahead and roll again. Just in case it's higher. Yeah.

No. Okay. As you clutch the harness in your hand, you can see the spaces and the gaps where the arms would come out and where the head emerges. It's just the empty vessel. You blink and then in just a brief minute, you can see a figure in there.

You pull back and you look around you and you're no longer in the hole. You're in a tower. You're in a chamber, this massive, beautiful arched roof. As you look down towards the harness, it's not there, it's on you. Uh-oh.

You see the robes billowing from your arms. You see the chains that pull down from the ceiling, and you see the faintly glowing, beautiful, struggling fey creature, this winged entity of beautiful butterfly wings, these curls of hair that tumble down its back. You see it's like an air nymph type of a creature that is currently bound and held there.

You could see it trying to scream through its binds, but no sound emerges, its eyes fearful. As you see yourself pouring through the book, you see a couple of servants running around and asking questions, but you don't hear their words. You're just in this visual vision. Conversation around, you slam the book shut, and you feel a sense of hunger.

You approach as the servants pull the chains and hold the figure taut, as you turn around and back into it and feel the runes light up and warm up. You feel the torso begin to vibrate with energy and you can feel the screams of the creature as it feels its life force being plucked from it. As it does, like a charley-horsed muscle,

you can feel this lump at the base of the neck, where the funnel is mixed with the skin. And you feel it thrum with the promise of power. And as that silent scream echoes and bounces through your minds, you come back to the inside of the hole, clutching it in your hands. You could have that bow.

We already knew that Ludinus was obsessed with faith. It did break at one point, though. Yeah. No matter what we decide to do, though, Lawmaster is not. Will Master, yeah. Will Master. Wow, I'm just, I know where I am right now. That's a good one.

Wrong game. They're not going to live through this, one way or another. It doesn't have to be one way, but, and honestly, I think that's up to Orym in the end. Well, should we at least talk to the other fella? Oh, yeah. Sure. What's going on over there?

What are you thinking? I just want to make sure it's not calling out to him when we use it. It's been broken, right? And we fixed it. We don't know what any of that stuff means. I just don't want using it to be like, boop! He didn't invent it, did he?

Yes, he did. From scratch. Wasn't that in the notebooks that he drew it out? You saw the designs in some of the tomes you recovered. Can I take out the monocle? Sure. Sitting down here, all by my lonesome, just wishing I could eat me some half-orc, and can I?

I'm sitting down here with you. Oh, thank you. I'll find my lonesome. I thought you were up there with us. No, I'm sitting down as double check in case one of us is in the room. He's just hopping in there. Yeah, no, I was. Feet over there. You said I was

staying down there, so there's two pair of vines. They can easily split audiences. Can I use See Invisibility and just see if anything's going on with this? I mean, it's dormant now, but. Okay, yeah. You put the lens up and as you glance through, you don't see anything revealed.

There's nothing invisible around its form or nature that you can tell. Well, it's on next time. I'll look at the Worldmaster and the Hathorc folk as well, just because I have it on. Yeah, fair enough. No, everything here seems pretty by the book. Fair enough.

It's interesting because it broke, and we know that this was basically one of his prototypes, right? I think so. So we can assume that he built another one, not to say that this still won't connect to his Bluetooth. Yeah. Yeah.

All right. I'm going to send Petrov back down into the hole and bring Verdo out. I'm going to let Petrov know, I need to ask Verdo some questions and make sure he's not working with Willemaster. All right, yeah. I thought you were going to say Willemot.

Yeah. She's just happy with her job. Full freedom. All right. I'll help Petrov back down into the hole very kindly. Thank you. Thank you. Everybody's looking very intently at Petra. Yeah, yeah, you're welcome.

Is Verdo awake or asleep? Verdo is conscious. I will bond with you again, and also, as my trusted companion, I will give you a bonded blessing of another d6. Oh. All right. Can we get Verdo up and out of the hole?

Yep, get Verdo prepared. Can I soften the blow? Sure. The hole's open with you in it, right? We're not closing up for privacy or anything. No. It's all mine talking. Jesus.

It's just the way he did it, too, you know what I mean? Holes open with you in it. Yeah, sorry. All right. Sorry, Rowan. It's way worse now. Or I'm going to call it out. I don't know how many hours is pretty good.

No, no, no. All right, so this half-orc now sits in the middle of the floor, still bound, gagged, and blindfolded. Anybody else want to take point? Oh, I'll let everybody know. I told Petrov, you know what I told Petrov, right? Yeah, yeah, yeah, you told me.

All right, go, go, go, go, go, go. Should I just try the same shit on Veradar? Well, let's see. No, this is, I think, okay, so we know Will Master's tough and doesn't give a fuck. I think you talking to the kid was the right approach because you have the soft touch, but we know that this guy is not.

We don't know. The Will Master will see us dead. But I do think we should keep up this ruse that the Will Master was a traitor and we were in charge of taking them out. I think because the best-case scenario. Did you guys loot the bodies before they went in the holes for rings, pendants?

We have not looted them. No, they're all in there. They're all wearing their own stuff. We haven't taken them out. Yeah, no, they're all down here. Best-case scenario is we convince both of these two to go along in the caravan, because if we end up having to ice the new guy

who's all mind-talked, then we have to, that might shake what we've got going with Petrov. Right. So we want to try to replicate what happened with the last conversation. Or at least convince him to go AWOL and eat. Yeah, that works, too. What we used to do with fuckers like this

is you just come at them from the negative point. We start with the interrogation of, were you working with him? What did you know about what was going on? Like we're internal affairs? More or less. We know that the Will Master was fucking corrupt, and we think that he's in on it.

Yeah, your mother's name seemed to hold weight with Petrov, so maybe we just start with that, lead with it. He had an accomplice, maybe it was him. That's a good idea. Or he's seeing you in his dreams, too. Yeah. Yeah. Can we pat down the bodies for rings, necklaces, pendants,

pat down whatever they got, Just do an inventory check on. Sure. I'll say amongst the bodies that are there, you get about 163 gold. Total stuff there. You find a little bit of jewelry. It's like two silver rings and a gold band amongst them. As well as on the shrikes, they have all manner of chains.

You can see, now that you get a close look, the chains here, metal is rare on their armor. It's mostly bone and other hide-like materials that you don't quite recognize. But the chains that they keep mixed in are metal. So you have these rough-looking, jagged sets of chains. but the chains that they keep mixed in are metal. So you have these rough-looking, jagged sets of chains. There are arm blades, any of the other weird jewelry elements that adorn them.

That's all present. And you can see there's, a lot of the jewelry is bits of bone, bits along a metal chain, and occasionally that same glass, that odd deep blue turquoise glass. Okay, so Verado. I'll do the same thing and pull his blindfold off.

Verado, was it? Yeah, you can see his pale, green to gray gradient on him, a heavy widow's peak that comes down pretty deep into the forehead. Also pretty youthful, probably in his mid-20s or so. Not quite as young as Petrov, by any means, but still in that youthful phase.

Hair is a bit curly, ends just past the ears and has some buoyancy to it, though. There is a bit of a blood smear across it on one side. Has these two tusks, one that looks like a slight band cap over it looking at you. I need to know. that looks like a slight band cap over it, looking at you. Mm-hmm.

I need to know. You're new to the vanguard as well. How close were you with Wilmaster and Munda? They met me at the bridge, but we've traveled and not spoken much. They're just our guide. I can look into your mind if I need to. You weren't part of their schemes? What schemes?

Well, Master Edmundo was going to betray us. Why? Why do they do anything they do? Make a deception check. Okay. Okay. Oh, uh-huh. Okay. 14 plus, wait, nine is 23. 23, okay. He's like, I don't know anything about that. We were just taken and brought in the caravan.

We were supposed to be told more when we arrived at the big city, so I don't know anything about that. I give you another d6, and I wobble and clutch my head. Oh gosh. All right. I'm stressed. I'll bet.

I'm glad you're here. I'm glad we get to go see them together. We're going to join the caravan with you. Keep you safe. But if you see anything, any traitorous behavior, you come to us and you let us know. We don't deal kindly with those that betray our plans. Make an intimidation check.

Ooh, wow. Okay. Can I give her advantage by standing behind her and looking spookies? Just by being? Just by being you. Still a form of dread. I'll say, here's what I'll say. Not advantage, but you get to roll Intimidation on your end as well.

Okay. We'll take the better of the two. Okay. Okay, I like that. Okay. Okay. Okay, 22. Great, 16. Okay. Of course, I'm still figuring things out. The robe's still fresh, though I may need a washing. I think I might have sold it.

Anyway. Yes, whatever you need. We're here for the vanguard. I am sorry you got caught in the fray. I guess that's the danger of these times, yes? Yes, whatever you need. We're here for the vanguard. I am sorry you got caught in the fray. I guess that's the danger of these times, yes? Yes. Whatever the martinet needs for his vision, we are here to help.

Let us awaken him. Yes. You do not see that same kind of energy tethered to this gentleman. I, I, I. You're basic. You're basic. You get the sense that, that Rude is Born are rare, in general, Exalted are extremely rare,

but a lot of the Vanguard are just people that have joined the cause. Oh, and he might just be a person? Yeah, like, that's what, In general, exultant are extremely rare, but a lot of the vanguard are just people that have joined the cause. Oh, and he might just be a person? Yeah, the numbers of the vanguard have grown quite large after all the propaganda movement post the solstice, and you get the sense that he's one of the

standard vanguard supporters. Got it. Laudna pops into Imogen's head. Yeah. I would love to know more about what he knows about Blueness's plan, but I don't want to reveal that we don't know. Are you able to push into his mind?

Say like, you know, you've got to make sure you're telling the truth, just protocol. Sure. Also might be able to get that out of them on the road. Yeah, but also, I don't think they know very much. But I can push in if you think it'd be wise. I don't know, grasping at straws, but...

I think this is a good end. I think just having some friends is a good idea, especially if they're not in too deep and don't know too much. So don't push in. No. Not yet. All right. Unless, could you do that on the Wheelmaster before?

Oh, I could, yes, I could do that. Let me see what I have. Yeah, I could do it. Okay. All right. It's what's planned. Well, I like this story. Yeah.

Wheelmaster was a traitor. Can roll with that. Sure. Is this key okay? Let's take both of them with us. We haven't convinced him of anything yet. We just said that the Wheelmaster is a traitor. Sure. And we're joining the caravan.

Okay. So we are releasing them. Verdo. Do not speak of this to anyone else. I don't know who on that caravan is a traitor. Of course. We'll seek them out, though. If I hear or see anything, I'll let you know.

Thank you. Discreetly, of course. Of course. You and Petrov, I believe, can head back to the caravan. Very well. If anyone asks, Will Master disappeared with a stampede. Right. Asks Willmaster, disappeared with a stampede. Right. Do we need anybody to go with you?

Maybe. Do we have any healing? A little, yeah. Wouldn't hurt to kick them up. They do look a bit fucked up. Yeah. Kick them up a notch might turn into a bad idea. They're fairly bloodied and beaten.

I have one spell that I'd like to use on one of them. I can do some. Sure. It might be good to not send them back looking like ass. I... I'll heal this guy. Cure wounds, level three.

Level three, go ahead and roll it up. 3d8. Right before he reaches his hand out to heal him, I grab F. Surgey's hand and I just lean in super close to this guy. Ugh. You're talking to the daughter of Lilian Tymalt, one of the highest ranking people in the vanguard.

All right. If you betray her, if you betray us, we'll know. Okay. I lied, I was just joking. Okay. Now I light up some jams. Okay. Here, let me heal your wounds, sweet, sweet child. 15 points of healing.

15 points of healing, got it. Thinking over. That was from Verado. Verado. It's a shame they got caught in the stampede. Petrov, what level are they? Sure. They heard an explosion.

Let's see what I got. Then came over and saw Cadillac. Let's do third level. Okay, so 3d8 plus a thing. Go ahead and roll that. As you heal both Petrov and Padova up, their wounds look a little roughed up, but not more than heavy travel would be.

They look around and Elder Barthi comes over with this scraggly-looking towel. It's made from some sort of a sponge, and hands over and goes, Don't worry, we'll go ahead and get you cleaned right up. He goes ahead and starts wiping them down a bit and helps get them to look good, and pull on their robes and tuck them in.

Like that older paternal figure of a community that's used to trying to make the kids clean up a little better. How much do you owe him for? 18 points of healing. 18 points. Okay, great. Okay. All righty.

We return to the caravan, then. Yeah. We'll see you all at first light. First light, okay. I'm going to say in everybody's heads, should we send them alone? Should I go with them? I think we should. What do you think?

I think we can go with them just to get a look at where the caravan is, I guess. Sure. Let us know if anything's weird. All right, I'll go with them and just to get a look at where the caravan is, I guess. Sure. Let us know if anything's weird. All right, I'll go with you. You need a second with you? What if we can't trust them alone? We can't trust them, period.

I think I should go with Fearne. That's fine. Just in case something goes wrong. Also, I think they're going to kill the Willmaster, and I don't want to be here for that. I don't want to be here for that. I don't want to be here. I mean, I'm curious. I'm going to come with you.

Okay, okay, okay. Okay, so the two of you are coming to escort. Yeah. Okay. All right, so you go ahead and take the two boys and they lead you out of the chamber. You come back to the exterior of this and you can still see there's the ruined gate off the side, the chaos of the stampede,

the crumbled stone ramp that you had crafted previously. You can see some of the lanterns out. A lot of the folks have come out, just like curious folks do, to check in on the commotion. And while the energy has died down a little bit, you can see a lot of the farmers

are out in the corner talking to each other, arms crossed, and just pointing things out and looking in the area. This is definitely some of the more interesting news that has struck this comparatively remote portion of the surface cultures here. You begin to walk back towards the southern side of it, and you can see there are other Ryloran guard

wearing the signature Imperium armor, the Kravirus Imperium gathering towards the seven carts, heavy carts, some covered, actually enclosed, and some that have a heavy material drawn over them. You can see that a lot of the folks are setting up tents on the outside of it, where there's definitely commotion and conversation.

Actually. I don't like these rolls. What are these rolls? Okay. I don't like these rolls. Make a these rolls? I don't like these rolls. Make a perception check for me. Us? Both of us? Oh god, what if Odohan's here already? We checked the ball, mama.

I did check the ball not too long ago. Odoha! The thing's only like a couple. I rolled a natural one. Natural one. Okay. You walk up with them and you can see the conversation happening.

There's a couple other vanguard figures here that are in mid-conversation. As the two children and you arrive amongst them. I'm trying to keep covered a little bit. I understand. One of the vanguard figures goes, Ah, right, so there's two of them. The others we're still looking for,

but we haven't seen anyone like that. And. Are they pointing at us? Pointing at the two boys as they're approaching. And the other voice goes, but I will keep my eyes for them closely. A voice that you both recognize. Oh no. As you see talking to the two of them,

the crimson cloak that runs off the shoulders and the tightened curls of gray of Otohan Thule. Shit, shit, shit. They're standing about 15 feet from the both of you. Fuck, shit. Shit. Shit. And that's where we're going to take a break. No!

Fuck! At least we know. This shit is serious. At least you know. I just want to nap. Oh, damn it. You got your back up ready. Fuck! I have one spell slot left. Oh!

No, we can't fight her again. Not right now. Not right now. So we'll be back here in a few minutes. We'll see you shortly. Oh, we can't fight her again. Not right now. Not right now. So we'll be back here in a few minutes. We'll see you shortly. Oh, we're still rolling? Thank you for listening to the Critical Role Podcast Network. This is Marisha Ray, Critical Role's resident creative director, with a quick reminder for you. We take the last Thursday of every month off

from our typical Campaign 3 adventures. Some months we'll enjoy a short rest, and others we'll 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. So, here in the shattered mid-evening across the Red Moon Ruidus, in the Razora Outpost,

fresh cut grass and Fearne. What? Dressed in the garb of the Ruby Vanguard after the chaos that ensued about an hour or so ago in the middle of this village, you walked two youthful recruits you walked two youthful recruits of the vanguard of your allegiance to them and sent them to return to the caravan and escorted them.

Upon arrival at the outskirts of the caravan's current place on the southern edge of this locale, you heard a familiar voice, and now, Nottbutt, but a few feet away from you, do you see Otohan Thull, the Legend of the Peaks, conversing with a couple other members of the vanguard as they refer to the two compatriots that you just brought to the caravan.

What do you do? Okay, before we, what do we do this, can you just describe, are we near structures? Are we in the open? Is this, are we on a hill? Is there, are there trees? There's no trees. There aren't trees, but there are bundles

of that cultivated red moss-like growth that has been brought to feed both the locals and a lot of the livestock as such. You can see these large bundles. You can't tell if they're just piles of it or where its source is growing in these large masses. Like hay bale size? Like 15 feet tall piles of it or where its source is growing in these large masses? Like hay bale size? Like 15 feet tall piles of them.

There's two of them to the right of where you are. There's one a little to the back. You can see there's multiple carts and caravans on wheels that are all set up in a line with tents being constructed on the sides so the encampment can set up at a space that's not built to take this many passengers. There isn't an inn in the village or anything.

There are some huts and abodes of local villagers, about 20, 25 feet in any direction. There are some fence lines for other areas where beasts are being kept for the night, about 30-ish feet to each side of you, as you're walking down the center of the street with them towards the caravan. Would you like me to show you a layout? Oh yes.

Yes, we would. Yes. Okay. I don't know if this is an encounter, but first encounter on the table by Bells Hells, now you can own your own Broomstone Embedded Hovering Horror. but first encounter on the table by Bells Hells, now you can own your own brumestone-embedded hovering horror. Order your Shade Mother today at whizkids.io slash Shade Mother.

Shade Mother. It's a whole variety. This is an approximation. Still got my chameleon. You wait, an approximation. This isn't to scale? So the two of you. Oh no.

Beep boop beep boop beep beep beep beep. No, no, don't be that far. Wearing cloche. Oh, I look so big. You shift it a little bit. They look miserable. You look so big. Wearing cloche.

Figurine make me look big. That's all right. Flask review. The figures that you have been walking with approach here. Oh god. And you can see there with approach here. Oh god. You can see there are... We're so fucked.

No, they're fucked. We're all right. Oh, those are the boys. The boys, the boys! These are other boys. My boys. That's where I'm from! Vanguard members here. Oh no. Demortalized. Otohan Thule, about 15 feet from the other.

Oh! Wow. Look how passive she is, though. She's running that way. Look, her cape is blowing because she's running. Yeah, she's running that way. Yeah, she is. Focus on that. Does she, is she paying attention?

Does she see us? Yeah, that's the next question. He just said that they pointed towards the boys. Towards the boys. So she's looking, she's about to turn in your direction. You recognize her as they're having this conversation, so you have a moment to do something before this all transpires. I forgot my purse.

I'll say to the boys, be right back. Oh. No? You're just going to turn around? I'm going to fucking 180 and turn around and try to go around that red floof, the bush, right? What are you doing? At a normal walking speed? Or hurriedly?

Yeah, do you? What are you doing, FCJ? I will, hearing her say that, I'll say, me too, and as I say that, I'm going to cast Misty Step and I bamf behind that. Yes, sir. That right here? Yeah. Okay. I'm going to Homer Simpson

into that thing. Okay, so you turn around and start walking away. Are you? It certainly doesn't look like a tongue. Stop, stop. Are you trying to? It does not look like a tongue. Put it away. No, it isn't. In times of great need or dire.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. You got to put it, you need your emotional support tongue. We're the only winners here on the podcast. You turn around and start walking away. Are you just playing it nonchalantly? Are you trying to get into the shadow? Trying to get in the shadow nonchalantly.

Yes. Yes. Yes, I am. You are a seven-foot-tall, curvy, Yes, I am. You are a seven-foot tall, curvy deer goat woman. Correct. So you're trying to not walk like me and just not make a... How are you going to walk then?

Just really flat and straight. Make a deception check for me. Oh, damn. Important roll. Do you want to roll on the tongue? No. Do you want to roll on the tongue? No.

You can drop it down there. Okay. If the roll goes. It's a one. Oh. It's stuck. That's the dumbest thing stuck up in there. That is.

That's what he does. It's going to choke on the tongue. Okay, okay, okay. I'm going to stop. the dog. Okay, okay, okay. The tongue provides. All right. Don't listen to them. Okay, deception, you said?

Deception. 22. 22. Do-do-do-do-do. Didn't you have a d6 from him earlier? Can I guide myself? I can't guide myself, because that'd be the problem. Didn't you have a d20 from stuff in here?

A voice rings out. You there. I want to ask you some questions. You hear behind you. What are you doing? Keep walking. Should we go back to the boy? I'm just going to keep walking. I'm just going to keep walking around the bush.

Oh, she's going to keep walking. Because I don't think she's talking to me. I'm going to send a pretend I don't even hear her. Yeah, yeah, oblivious. Oblivious to it. You hear this. I get 35 feet. What am I doing? I don't have anything to do.

I have one spell slot. I've got to save it in case something shitty happens. It's a war. Your news is war, huh? Are you going to go anywhere? There's a fence line there? Yes. We still have Cloud. No, but that takes a minute!

Fuck! You think Otohan can't walk over there in a minute? I'm still keeping the bush between me and Otohan. I'm going to just continue on to that fence. Okay. And get as far away as I can. The way that we came. Yeah.

Over here? Yeah. Just try to get as far that way. I line mine. Shit, you just broke me. Has to go to the hospital. Oh no, it's a sign. You just keep walking. And if I can try to make eye contact.

Just keep going, just keep going. She's just looking like she's walking, so I'm just going to walk with her, I guess. Okay. You both wheel up alongside Fearne. She just falls out of the air, having leapt over both of you and. Wow.

Oh, that's right. Wow. Where's she at? Right in front of us now. She's just wire-workier. Leaped in front of you. What if we just keep walking and pretend like we didn't see her?

Yeah. General Saad hopped over that bush. You both continue to walk. No. The first thing that stops you is the sharp pain at your neck as you realize she's held both blades out to each of your throats.

Please, sit a moment. Oh my god, what are you doing here? Otohan? Oh, you know. That's your boy. You both are extremely familiar. You are familiar to me, too, and I can't quite place it, but I have to.

I left something where I was before this. What are you doing here? I'm looking for some individuals. Oh, who? Can I help? There were a few Exandrians who were not invited here. Cos Dorrakis. Shit. Do you know any of those?

Anything? I'm sorry, Exandrians? The dreamers? Yeah, the dreamers. I don't think so. What do they look like? They look a little bit like you. That's crazy.

She gets that a lot. She actually looks like a lot of people. I do look like a lot of people. A lot of people are always like, you look like my cousin. Famous performers. You look like my sister's friend. Sweet. You see three other shadow versions of her

Oh my gosh. appear behind each of you. This is quite the meet-cute. I think we have to go in. I'm dividing the space there. Yeah. I'll just throw this one there for now until I repair it. Holy shit.

Ah. What? I thought that was an animal. It's a person. Yes. I was like, oh shit! I got so excited. That was like something out of a man's labyrinth. Yes, it was. That was great.

So I was like, it's not going to be like an animal? Yeah. It's the same height? And it's wearing clothes. Okay. There's no need for any violence. We're not going to fight you. No, no, no, no. No.

We came to deliver a message to you. Yes, we did. The one that you seem so keen to meet with, Imogen, she wants to talk to you. And she sent us to arrange a safe time and date for such a meeting. Make a deception check. Fuck, I don't know what I'm saying.

Oh no! Pull it out. Yeah, that's a 12. Curious indeed. And where would Imogen be? Oh, she's... Bloody Bridge. By the Bloody Bridge.

Back at the bridge, you say? Yeah. If she's still there. She's mentally gifted. She knows many Rylorans. She's related to both Liliana and Lily Tmult. She will blend in. You'll never find her. She could be anywhere on this whole moon.

You need us to find her to bring her to you. Yes, you need to keep us alive to find her. That's interesting, because the whole reason I'm here is because I could feel where she was. Or maybe you thought you could. Maybe it was me you felt, because. Because she's also a Rude As Born. We know you feltogen, you failed to write on me.

You are Rude is Born. Oh fuck. No. No, no, no, no. I just was, I just have been. You're the one he spoke about. Uh-oh, no. Wait, what? Oh no, no, no, no, no, Uh-oh, no! Wait, what?

Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no! Okay, we got to get out of here. That's who he is. So we just try to poo for two clouds. How wondrous are these flammeley reunions at once. This is a fortuitous day, is it not? Well, I cannot harm you, because you're important to everything we're building.

You we can do without. And she immediately goes into a series of strikes on you. You. I, can I have a reaction? Roll initiative against her. Fuck. Cool. Awesome. That's 25 against her. Fuck. Cool. Awesome.

It's 25 on her. Roll the natural 19. I got a five. Great. I had a nine. Okay, so first. That's not a great roll. So the first attack is going to be an 18. Yeah, sure.

Wait, that's my armor class. So it does hit you. Oh. Okay. So you take 13 points of slashing damage. Sure. Which is going to spend a bit of a psionic strike. A bit of a psionic strike?

Yeah. Okay. Psionic. It's a tad, just a skosh. psionic strike. A bit of a psionic strike? Yeah. Okay. Psionic. It's a tad, just a skosh. Psionic strike! You take an additional seven points of psychic damage and make a strength saving throw for me. You're so strong. You have a tongue. Burn it.

Burn it. Burn it. That was a natural one. You are immediately knocked prone and thrown back 10 feet as she darted in and then jumps and lands on the other side and is going to take the other two attacks on you while you're prone on the ground,

which would be, that would actually be advantage. Oh, it's disadvantage. No. Not melee, it's not. That's going to be a 22 to hit? Yes. Okay. You take, that's 13 points of slashing damage, plus an additional nine points of force damage because you're prone.

Then the last attack on you with advantage is going to be, that's going to be the same, 22 to hit. Yeah. So then you take 15 points of slashing damage plus nine points of force damage, because you're prone. Okay. She just does a rapid slice to the center, sends FCG skidding before you even blink.

She's in the air and landing, strikes twice more with the blade still stuck in his chest and is just looking at you. Stop, stop, stop. Remove your blade, please. Where is she? In the city of Creva, whatever the fuck the place is called.

Crevarus. Crevarus, she's there. Make a deception check. Come on, bish, come on. Now you're persuasive. Persuasive, I'm not deceptive very much, come on. You got this, you got this. Roll like a killer.

Okay, okay. 19. 19. And what is she doing in Kravir, or whatever the fuck it's called? I can't tell you that, but if you take me with you, I will take you to her.

I think you can tell me that. She's going to take three few more attacks on him. Well, that's your turn. Have you done anything to react to her on your turn or not? React? Like using a reaction? Meaning it's your turn. Oh, it's my turn. You weren't jumping in,

so we just paused at her go. Now her turn is, I'm going to say, ending on this conversation, because she's immediately taking the impetus on this, but you have not done anything. We don't have, even if someone were to peek out the window where we are, we don't have sight lines on this place, right?

It's too far away. You'd have to roll a super high precision. Are we, we're still mentally connected to them? Yes. Yes. By an infinite range? Miles. Yeah, the same round. Okay. What are you doing?

Then I will spend my action to tell the rest of the group. Otohan has us run. Okay. All right. Yeah. You can say that quickly. That's a quick thought. You can say that and still take an action. We can't fight. We can't fight her.

If I could try to get away, she can. We're not going to get away. Just to refresh my memory, when she came in front of us, landed from the sky, was that, did she jump? She was like mega-lose. You didn't see in that moment, but you've seen her leap massive arcs before.

Like, yeah. So a barrier would not hold her down. On her murder day, she bounced all over the place. Yeah. I don't have anything that can hold her in place. And I don't have anything that can hold her in place. And I don't have anything that can get me out of here. I could try one thing, but she also probably has Counterspell. Have we seen her use Counterspell?

I don't think so. We all got that psychic message. That's what just happened. You did. With a 26 after hearing that, do I have eyes on this running to the window? You do not have eyes on this happening. All you know, that vision roll, you can just see what you saw before,

which is the caravan, which is the direction they were going. That's all the information you have. Yeah, so no idea, really. But you saw them leave for the caravan. Right. She has multiples up? She has three echoes out currently.

How far off is the caravan from the Elder's Hun? Do those work like gesture duplicates? Like I might hit one of them if I go for it? It's about 200 or so feet. They can do damage. I don't know if it's quite the same. No, they're not duplicates. No, it's like she creates a secondary person,

a third person of what we can do. Now, what you do recall from the previous fight with her is they can be dismissed and destroyed pretty quickly, but she can bring them back pretty quickly as well. She's got that Boba Fett jetpack thing. She got it marked. Yeah. Well, it depends on if she wants to kill him.

I will. I have one spell. We can't fight. I can't get away. No, we can't fight. Can you do anything to not die? You got a banish? I have banish.

That's the only thing I could try. But what else are you going to fucking use? I will use a 6th-level Banish on her. Big swings, big swings. That's all I got. Big swings. Okay. You can't Banish yourself. That would be a 14.

She's going to use Legendary Resistance to succeed. Oh! I'm allowed to target up to three things with Banishment. True. You can't target yourself, can you? Can I target me and Fearne? Hold on. Hold on. Interesting.

I don't know why not. One creature you can see to another plane of existence. And it sends you back to the plane you came from. Well, we're on the same plane. Oh, it's the same plane. It holds you there. But it holds you for a minute. If it's native to the current plane,

then you're just sent to a harmless demiplane. I have never considered casting it on yourself with the rules. That's like a super blink. For a minute, you could transform into clouds while you're banished. Is that true? Well, we'll see.

Yeah, why not? We're crossing streams. Absolutely true. So both of us. Yeah, this is exactly it. Do you choose to fail the saving throw? Yes. If I feel a pull from FCG, I'll just be like, fuck it, whatever you're going to do.

All right. I'm down. The minute you begin casting the spell, because it is a verbal, I'll just be like, fuck it, whatever you're going to do. All right. I'm down. The minute you begin casting the spell, because it is a verbal, somatic, and material, which by the way, the material component of this is an item distasteful to the target. To the target? Yeah, now mind you, you can also just use your holy symbol,

which is your, I think at this point, it would be your coin, unless you had an item on you that you think she would find distasteful. Is it your dice tower? Is it your flesh and tongue? I mean, everyone finds my wooden feet distasteful. Fair enough. I'll throw them at her.

You hit her in the face. She pulls the blade up and is about to bring it down, and then suddenly both of you are finding yourselves drift in this gray space. Together? Yeah, you both got sent to. Start cooking, baby. Are we dead?

Go, start cooking! Go, go, go, go. Clouds, clouds. Holy fuck. Okay, so both of you are now floating in this ether, and you can see little stones floating by and cracking into each other. We all turn into clouds? And you are all, well, so what are you viewing?

He gave, he told us to run. He gave us, told us to run. He told you to run. We should at least turn to clouds and then we can maybe go and see if we can find them and follow them. Tough shit, I'm going to pull the fucking, the hole off and tie it up.

We don't have time to deal. Wait, on the baddie? Yep. Nope, no fucking time. No time. Well, wait, wait, wait. Just cloud it up. Nope, going. Cloud it up. Are we all clouding?

We have to come in? Yeah. Yeah. Okay. I tell the elder, and that is the method in which we kill the Will Master. Mm-hmm. She shouldn't go to waste. And I am going to do Hunger of the Shadow on her. Okay, here's the thing.

So notice, you all can talk to each other. You cannot talk to them because we're on a different plane of existence. So you're doing what? Hunger of the Shadow on the Will Master. Before I... Oh. Okay, I was... Before we go.

Yeah, if you're doing a thing, I'm just going to run over to the elder while you're doing your shit. All right. We got to go, y'all. The minute FCG said it in our head, we start misting. All right. I run to the elder. He's like, sorry about this. If they ask, I'm just going to tap,

and I just give a little thunk to the head, just enough to leave a mark. I'll... Sorry, I'm sorry, fuck. And I'm, yeah, I'm going. You do that, and he goes, No. You're going to have to do it harder than that. And I'm, yeah, I'm going. You do that and he goes, no, you're going to have to do it harder than that. You're going to have to knock him out. He's like,

I hate that. I hate it, I hate it. You see, Chew goes, see, I knew I was going to bring the bad stuff. They were going to go ahead. All right, so you all start doing this. Natural 20.

Ooh! Oh! What? Roll damage. They were already pretty smoked, right? Yeah. They just came back from unconscious. They're one point. 15, 35. 35 damage, necrotic damage.

Ooh. Ooh, ooh. Mm-hmm. Ooh, ooh. What? What did you just do? You hear the creaking of branches. And a shadowed memory of a dead tree crawls past your shoulders as you feel the cold, but somehow welcoming presence of Delilah Briarwood

fill your spirit as your claw reaches out to grasp the front of the Willmaster. You watch as the entity looks towards you, coming to consciousness just long enough to realize what's happening. For a moment, you almost pity it, but so much stronger than the pity is the hunger. You watch as the deep red, pinkish tones

turn to a dull, ashy gray. The eyes go pale, snow blind. I just say, right before she retires, I just say, your power should have been mine and not gone to the halfling. With that look, her body begins to disintegrate into dust and ash.

You feel that beat once more, and you hear the inside of your ear and mind. Very good. Very, very good, my dear. Now, onto the next. It's time to go. All of them are already turning into gas. Grab the holding up.

Yep. All right. You all take a minute to transform. You both transform just as the banished spell vanishes you both right into place where you were. Here you can already hear the scattering sounds vanishes you both right into place where you were. Here you can already hear the scattering sounds of different nearby figures chatting and yelling.

There's already a search party scattered. And where you stand, two echoes remain locked right where you vanished. The minute you appear, they unleash on you. I thought you poofed. You were not poofed? They're poofed. Is it one to one?

The poof doesn't make you invulnerable. Oh. Wait, what? What do you mean? Who's getting hurt? You can still get hurt while in a mist form. You just have resistance to physical damage. Wait, who's attacking? They're going to be fighting.

We're going to get shacked in cloud form. These two, Otohan's shadow clouds. We bamfed back in from being banished as poofers. Delilah took over. All right, that's going to be a 20 and a 25. Okay. Yes. All right. You can't fight back. You can't do anything. You can't do anything.

Okay. So you take, ooh, 16 points of slashing damage reduced to eight because your physical damage. Actually, these are magic weapons. So no, it's full, 16. Okay. 16 points. Ooh boy. Then you, that is going to be

12 points of slashing damage. Okay. Mm-hmm. What are you both doing? I guess we're squid flying away from here. All right. As soon as you leave the attack range of both of them, they can take an opportunity attack. Otohan can use her reaction to attack one of you

as if she was in the echo space. Even if she doesn't know? Oh yes, yeah. Well, she can sense through the echoes. Nice bargaining, though. Thanks for looking out. She's the one that she's hit the most. She's going to try and get one of you down.

Of course. That's going to be an 18 to hit. Yes, hits. It does hit you, okay. That's going to be... 14 points of slashing damage. You both rocket up into the air. You have a speed of 300 feet. Oh shit.

In this form. As you both shoot up in the air, you see a flash of light and metal, and you see Otohan leaping after you. She can see them? She can see them? She just fully sees? You're not invisible in this form. Yeah, I know!

But here's the thing. You are both faster than she is in your current forms, and you watch as she tries to catch you. She just arcs below, frustratedly. How high did she get? Close to 100 feet. Whoa! Shit!

Oh, I hear you. As she drops down, and you all both coast up into the air, the rest of you shooting over into space, you can now see the chaos erupting. You can see a bunch of the lanterns lighting up around. You can see the caravan, and you can just take some moment

to focus on where your friends are, because they got up there before you did. You both wait for the rest to arrive. But from your vantage point, indeed, with the knowledge you have, you can see Otohan just standing in the middle, looking up as her echoes all dematerialize, and she just watches.

What are you all doing? Are we all together again? Yeah. Yeah. What the fuck? We can talk to each other mentally, right? Oh my god. Where are we going? What are we doing doing? Are we all together again? Yeah. Yeah. What the fuck? We can talk to each other mentally, right? Oh my god. Where are we going? What are we doing? That was lucky. That's an unlucky time.

Start heading to the city. We make a plan while we're on the move. She's going to follow us to the city. She can see us, so why don't we fly off in another direction and circle around? Let's start going that way, though. We're just going, going, full speed. Maybe we can find the rebels.

They mentioned being outside the city somewhere. Maybe we could just circle the city once we get there, fluff around and find out. And we need to rest, so let's beeline away from here, go as far as we can and find somewhere safe to land. Or at least somewhere slightly off the road. Road, whatever. Yeah, fuck it. Well, she's going to trail me.

No, but you've got the thing on. Then how come she said she could sense me? Is it because I pinged? Or maybe she was lying. Maybe it's because she feels you, but she can't find you. Because she would've come straight to you if she could feel you. That's true.

Maybe she felt you because you did something, because you reached out. Because you did sending. Also, above the table, I was interpreting that that she's like, no, I can normally sense her. Yeah. And I can't now. Above the table, she didn't know you were here,

didn't know where you were, but she knew the general direction that you seemed to be traveling, which leads you to believe that something clued her that you were somewhere in this direction. Because I chimed in to Credanthos, yeah. So maybe... So we just ziggy-zaggy and head in another direction.

Serpentine. Yeah. Yeah, but where are we going? I don't know, we got to find another city. Towards the city that we named to her? Mm-hmm. There's only two places on this planet that we would go to. We'll be in between A and B.

And we just left A. Yeah, yeah, yeah. We left A and B. And we're heading towards B. And if we're a little closer to B, we're going to be beeline off to something else that looks safe. Once again, unless we feel like we've done a pretty decent amount of recon, then we should get the fuck out of here.

I know, we could just head back to the Bloody Bridge and go. We haven't accomplished our mission. Well, we sort of have. I think we need to make contact with the Rebellion. We could look for the Rebellion. I think we need an ally on this planet. I think finding an ally on this planet is a great idea.

Find a toy. Berthy said that the rebellion is doing scouting and attacks on the city so that they must be nearby, close enough. They must have hidden encampments within range. We can't get all the way to the city in Cloudform, right? We don't have enough hours to do it. No, no.

You can get most of the way, probably. We'll go off the beaten path. Can we just try to go and search for a place to sleep? The rebels? Get as far as we can. As far as we can, rock the outcrop, rest, and then start looking, and then no more check-ins with Sleepy Daddy.

Yeah. That'll keep you off the radar. That's a really good game. Yep. All right. Sleepy Daddy? For the first hour of travel, now that you are heading into the open territory, somebody want to go ahead and roll a d20 for me?

It was almost a 20! That's a two. That's a two. An hour into your travel, the heavy, billowing, familiar sight of a massive dust cloud begins to encompass what little bit of the horizon you can see here in the middle of the evening.

As it begins to get close, you are uncertain the safety of maintaining this form and speed in the middle of this storm. What do you wish to do? It's approaching rapidly. Go to ground or? Yeah, do we see anything? Yeah. Are we above

soil, sand, dirt, or are we above mountainous region? You've bypassed the mountainous region in the first hour. Now it's just a cracked open region before you, but you don't have a lot of light to see. Are there cracks in the ground that I can ascertain with my halfling eyes? That's not that great. That is a... You do not have advantage because it's dark and it's night and you do't have a lot of light to see. Are there cracks in the ground that I can ascertain with my halfling eyes? That's not that great. That is...

You do not have advantage because it's dark and it's night and you don't have darkvision. I have advantage because of my shield. Correct, which would mean it was just a single roll. Oh, a straight roll. Then I'll take the... So I have disadvantage or a straight roll? Just a straight roll.

So just re-roll once. Oh, re-roll. Okay, that's 21. 21. You can make out the pathway seems to climb for a bit, like a slowly rising plane, and there's a shelf drop off. Then it seems like it continues on

for a little bit at another slow, steady incline, but that's as much as you can see before the storm's going to consume your path. We can get over to the other side of the shelf. Yeah. Take shelter against it. I think that's a good idea. All right.

Okay. You all coast down into this cliff edge and as you dart down, it is a 40-foot, 50-foot wide cleft in the ground, but you have no idea the depth of it. Even just glancing beyond your visual range, it looks like it just continues to go into darkness below. What do you want to do?

Can I go queefing down really fast to just see how deep it goes, see if it's safe? I'm in the fastening cloud. Sure, yeah. I'll do that. You dart down, and within a matter of a few seconds, you reach the bottom, 230 feet below. It looks like it ends into a fine point. What you do notice are a handful of clusters of bones

that are gathered and wedged at the bottom of this crack. Along the way, you do see there are some little clefts and alcoves. Nothing super, there's no cavern that you can see in the immediate vicinity, but there's shelves maybe 10 feet in that you could all uncomfortably stand on. How is the wind down here?

The wind cuts off here. So maybe we can just move through this if we just keep a general track. It is mostly parallel. Or sorry, no, perpendicular to the path that you were taking. That we had. We would be taking a left or a right.

Well, since we're going to be moving some direction anyway. Yeah, distance. Let's just make distance. Okay. That's true. And just take our, yeah. Until we find something really cozy. Okay. Always the left. Always left. Always left. You follow it to the left. Left is the left. Until we find something really cozy. Okay. Always to the left.

Always left. Always left. You follow it to the left. Left as the devil. You follow it to the left, and you watch as it gets a little bit deeper, a little bit deeper, and then at about 350 or so feet down, you begin to hear a new sound.

The faint rush of water. Water on the moon? Oh my god, it's so cool. It's built for Alexandria. Let's go. Yeah, let's have a looky-loo. Yeah. You come over to this area,

and you can see there's one part of this massive crack that falls inward, and there is a rushing underground river that's just scooting by. You will only see about 15 or so feet of it exposed, where it's just coasting past quickly. You're uncertain how wide any sort of cavern below is, but the water surface is reaching

where that crack is open. There's only about maybe a foot and a half of give. So that's all you can make out from it. What you do see in the surrounding rock that cracks out from it is just spiraling and spreading outward are all these various odd-looking roots and what looks like a handful of small trees that are growing upward, their branches continuing to split and split and split into the tiny, they look like capillary networks, to the point where the branches get impossibly

hair-like thin at the end. There are no leaves on them. Take a chisel and I'll just go to one of the tips of the capillaries. You're still a cloud. The cloud. Nope, never mind. But you can continue to look for the surrounding area. Make a perception check for me.

Still just a straight roll. No, that is a 17. 17? Okay. In this proximity here, you can make sense. You're not too far away. 70's not too bad. About 40 feet above this, there is one opening that's only about four feet wide and about five feet tall, but it looks like it goes deep.

Horizontal? Sorry, it's four feet wide and about five feet tall. It's just an opening in the side of the cliff that just goes in. Like a door? Or like a barrel? Like a tiny little cave entrance or a little break in the rock. Cheers to that. Check that shit out.

Although we have no light source, so. We can make light. As a cloud? Not as a cloud. No, we would have to be cloud. As clouds, do we have darkvision? The ones of us who do have it? The ones of you who have it

would keep your vision status, I imagine. Who has dark vision? How are we going to stay together if we can't see each other in a dark tunnel? I know. I guess we can all cloud up. We can feel each other. Can we feel?

Yeah, because we're tangible enough to be hit. I assume that we have enough, like, I assume. I don't know. Yeah. We just all fly in tandem? Yeah, if you want to. Sure.

We're going inside each other? Yeah, all at the same time. It's just that spot we did with the stolen pajamas. Where's the... That's true, we could all just make a little, grab each other's feets, like they do and cave divers do. Does anybody have darkvision or anything, by the way?

All those videos end well. Oh yeah, you do. If that has darkvision, Laudna has darkvision. You both are. You both have darkvision. Okay. You can hold onto your cloud feet. Okay.

You can follow each other in a chain pretty closely. Who's leading this charge? You're going in? Chet and I. All right. No. So you all enter this interior, and it is pretty tight, and it continues to stay that roughly five by five

cavern tunnel that continues to carve inward for about 60 or so feet before it opens up into a disc-shaped entryway that's at an angle. The actual ground itself seems to be at an angle and you can make out the textural on the walls are sharp. Like there's a bunch of jagged points along the edges.

Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, maybe, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. Maybe we get out of here. Wait. Because it's sharp rocks? What if it's the worm? Yeah, I think. What if we just flew into the worm?

Or? Like flew into the worm? Or it's the worm's cubbyhole? Does it look? Or is it like we're in the worm? Is it obviously, well, I can't see, so I'm not even going to ask. Yeah, you can, you know.

What do Chet and I see? Make a perception check. I'll assist you. Ugh, weak sauce, 15 total. 15's not too bad. This isn't a massive cavern. The full disc side to side is about maybe 60 or so feet. It's a little oblong, so it's about 70 on the far end, and it's about 15 feet tall at its apex in the middle.

It kind of has this kind of frisbee-like shape to it at the side. Looking around, it looks like it's not perpetual, but there are crystalline textures in the walls. It looks like you're almost hitting the center of an oddly shaped geode. Cool. Okay, so nothing organic, nothing that looks like a petrified world. You do not recognize anything organic in here at the moment.

Okay, never mind. Okay. Is there a way out? Are we just in here, or is there anything else going on? I can't see shit. It is rather peculiar. Somebody with eyes say something. There's no objects? I can't see shit. It is rather peculiar. Somebody with eyes say something. There's no objects? It's just...

It just seems crystalline on the inside, but we went 230 feet down and now we're inside of a cave. So if we rest here. Something lives in here, probably. I don't know, I mean, maybe, but. But if we sleep here, how the fuck are we getting back out? We won't be clouds.

That's a good idea. Unless we find a way out, we really should brave it above. Is there another way out of here? Maybe we just keep moving along the crevice. Do we see in the cavern any trail of water coming from the roof cavern? Make a perception check.

Natural 20. Natural 20. Glancing around and doing a coast over it, there is a moisture to the chamber and it looks like there is a faint gathering pull on the lower slope. It looks like there is a faint gathering pool on the lower slope. Natural 20.

Total of what on the natural 20? 21. 21. Yeah, so what you can tell is it looks like there is water seeping into this room. It's 20. Give it to him, Matt. I gave him some solid info for being no light source and a fart.

We can trip the water back up, but without a light source, it's not really going to make much. If we go back. Can we move through cracks? Like super, super thin cracks? If we can find the crack, we can at least see how big it is. Yeah, we can move a tiny little bit.

Even a crack's going to have water in it. We're not going to displace water. We're just going to go through cracks. We're mist. We're mist. We can go through an inch hole. Can I try and break off and locate the location or the source of the water coming from the ceiling? If you want to transform into your physical self,

you can do that. As a mist, you can't interact with anything. I mean, we can always just- But we can look for cracks and try to get into a crack, you can't interact with anything. I mean, we can always just. But we can look for cracks and try to get into a crack, right? I'd say with the natural 20, you can see a place where there isn't an overt crack. There's a thin, a hair-thin line that's like.

Yeah, it's not workable. Um. I don't know, maybe just keep moving. Yeah. Did you say there was a back to this Frisbee-shaped area, though? Or have we done it? Does it just keep going back?

I know! I want to know what we found! With a natural 20, I'll continue it because you are scanning the space. The end of the slope where the water pools, it looks like there is a, for the amount of water that's dripping, the surface level continues down below for a small bit of cavern

that continues beneath the water surface. Can we go in water as our little gassy forms? I do not think you can, but you can physically swim if you want. Oh, that's true. We could transform and then transform. Yeah. How many more hours we got on these?

Like four days? Right now, after this travel, you'd be at three hours, yeah. We could try. Two minutes to go see what this thing is? Who can swim really well? It's the constitution, right? I'm a robot with a wheel. Oh yeah, it's your constitution mod.

Don't hold your breath. Constitution mod is, it's one plus your constitution modifier, I think, for how many minutes you can hold your breath. And also I don't need air. Yeah. So I could hold my breath for five minutes because I don't require a lot of oxygen. Me too. You see, you do.

Very slow heart rate. That checks out. Why is that? Death. Definitely on death. Yes. Duh-du death. Yes. Death. Yes. Should we all transform for a second?

Sure. Should be here now, since we are in a cavern. Is it sharp ground, or is it just the walls that are jagged? The ground itself is jagged. It's the interior of a geode, so the whole surface of the interior is crystal. Oh, we're in a geode. Okay, let's transform and take a look around, I guess.

The inner trachea of a man. You going to go see the man? Sure. Do we have light? Prestidigitation for diet light. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'll also turn on my light idols. That's right.

We get light. Okay, so both of you transform back. Yeah, I think all of us. All of you do. Yeah, we all transform. Okay, so all of you return back. Yeah, I think all of us. All of you do. Yeah, we all transform. Okay, so all of you return, and it's a little rough stepping here, because it's like stepping across a jagged field. It doesn't hurt you, but it just makes it,

you have to be careful as you step. But you all are there at the edge of this water surface. Who's going in what order? Dancing Light. We got purple balls running in. Yeah, I got purple balls. I'm going to send the purple balls underwater. I have light, too, so. I know, but I'm going to send mine underwater. I'm going to send the purple balls underwater. I have light, too, so.

I know, but I'm going to send mine underwater. I'm going to go off of here. You guys might need some. I know. I think she wants to see if anything fights. Yeah. I prepared, just in case, because since we're on the moon

and I didn't know all of our different terrains, I prepared water breathing. Oh, what? You did? I did. Very smart for the moon. I knew there was going to be water here. We saw it. We did see it. We saw what? You did? I did. Very smart for the moon. Well, I knew there was going to be water here. We saw it. We did see it. We saw it.

We saw it over here. Yeah. You're so smart for a moon. Well, he's been talking about it and all the different. Look at her paying attention. I love this. Remember when we've, when we've. Holy shit, you've got water breathing.

Yes, I do. Holy shit. I mean, I think I've heard it. Side note. Hang on. Me. We haven't rested in seven years, so I'm going to finally burn my second wind just to get some hit points back. Yeah, go for it. I'm still hurting.

Got it. Yeah, I got it. Okay, so you cast Water Breathing on the troop. Woo! That banishment was the fucking craziest. That is fucking... You guys would have been dead. You would have been dead. Ever. You would have been captured.

I had, yeah. You would have been dead. I would have been dead. Ever. We would have been captured. I had, yeah. You would have been dead. I had an idea. I had an idea. Ooh. But that was a bad idea. I had an idea in case it all went to shit. I'm not going to tell you this. She's going to explode you.

I was going to kill you. Save her before we finish. That was rough. All right. Oh my god. You all feel the magic pierce your lungs and that warmth of perpetual air billows within your chest. As you all submerge, with the courtesy of your lights ahead,

the pitch black space begins to take on a little bit of an aquatic shimmering shape. The order of this, you said, is FCG at the front? Oh, sure. Yeah. Then who else? I'll go right behind, looking for shit. Okay. And then... I'll go behind. Yeah. Then who else? I'll go right behind, looking for shit. Okay. And then? I'll go behind. Okay.

I'll go behind for him. All righty. And then I guess I'll go next. I prepared it because remember on the- Chetney and London? Caboose. Yeah. Caboose, you got it. They had all been talking about

all those underwater rocks. Oh, you're right. And I was like, what's going to come up? And before we go in the water, just a sniff of the cave, because smells on the move. Yeah. Make a perception check. So we're swimming. Still psychically connected, correct?

Yes. I've attached my propeller hand. 70. Go, go get your underwater propeller. Great. You smell in the space here. The surface is alien. Here, it's more familiar.

Like a bath toy. That earthy, mineral-rich, still water smell is very, very strong in here, as well as this oddly sweet sense of plant life you don't recognize that wafts in from the occasional air from the exterior. As the wind blows past, you can hear the faint whistle of the storm from the outside.

No overt sense of decay or anything like that around? No decay in here, no. Okay. Let's go. In the water. All right. Skadoosh. Skadoosh. Goosh. You all now begin to swim through,

finding your way, pushing through the subterranean water caverns. Hitting the ground as we go. Come on. Using your lights to filter through. Maybe just start making sonar sounds. Go for it. You wind underneath,

and then it quickly begins to come upward before the water surface meets with an open area, maybe a foot above you. There is an area with air there as well. And the current is moving slightly to the right. Out of my back comes a little periscope. I feel like you're against the current. I'm a yellow submarine.

You're just, aw, that's so cute. So we went under? We went under and came up? And then came up and you've breached another surface point and there's a low ceiling and the water is shifting to your right. Does it go back underwater or are we,

I mean, is it going to force us back underwater or stay above? You don't know yet. Are you going to follow the current this way, follow this way, or go straight? What are you doing? You just meet the ceiling and you don't see walls around you yet. I don't know if I went well. I don't know if I went well.

I don't know, I want to... So current would probably go down. Yeah. Yeah, probably. We'll find a way out. We knew there's a bunch of underwater tunnels and passageways. It could dump us into one. Against the current would suck.

This might not matter at all, but when we enter here, if my arm is the current, are we hitting it like this? If your arm is the current, you're hitting it this way. Okay. You can either turn left to go against it or right to go with it or fight it across. Fight it across is my call

because going with the current leads to a waterfall. Okay. You continue to swim along about, I'll say 90 or so feet along the surfaceway. You eventually see the ceiling come in and begin to force, you have to force you down below. But you can see the water, like the current is slapping up

against the edge of the ceiling. All right. It's not like we can't breathe under there. Just leave us. Yeah, let's go. Oh, right, let's go down. I guess it's still me. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Go.

Ba-ding! Ba-ding! With the current or against it? One point. Against it. So going through at least a dead end, and it's still ultimately going against the wall. Yeah, it's still pushing this way. So two choices.

All the current, right? I think so. We got to go with the flow. Wait, it's still pushing this way. So two choices. Oh, the current, right? I think so. We got to go with the flow. Wait, so there's nothing when we went forward? No, we ran into the wall. The change bringer tells us to. She doesn't know. She's not here on the moon. Well, she, well, easy.

She's everywhere. But she presents us with paths and it feels like we're being guided to this one. So let's go with the current. To the waterfall. Can I go down a little bit and see if there's anything lower? Into the waterfall? Yeah. Make a perception check.

I'll send a little light. The lights go down? Okay. Why do you have them go upstream? Scout Cone. Uh, perception. Where's my perception? 19. 19? Yeah.

Looking below, it looks like the water in this particular chamber is pretty deep below. It goes down, I mean, relatively deep. It goes about 60 or so feet before it reaches the bottom. That's pretty deep for a whirlpool. Yeah. For a diving whirlpool. Yeah. And there's nothing that she sees?

Not beneath it. You can just barely see where the bottom is, but you'd have to swim down there. Because I'm freaked out. It's dark. It's dark. I can't see the bottom, really. I'm going to keep the lights down below us,

knowing now how deep the water is. That creeps me out. Actually, Orym, because your passive perception is so high, technically you would hear this. You can, yeah, you can, what is it now? 31. Jesus fucking Christ. Next level, I think about 33. Yeah, see what I'm doing.

You can hear the faintest sound of rushing, like splashing water. Oh. In the direction that the current's coming from. Oh. Where it's coming from. Oh, the waterfall just. Oh, that could be cool. So should we go that way?

Is there a cavern behind the waterfall? Well, no. Against the current. No, I'm just like, I'm just in another waterfall. Right, so the left, the current's going this way. You hear it coming from the direction that the current's coming from. So hearing it crash down. So even if we went that way,

we can breathe underwater. It doesn't mean we'd be able to swim up a waterfall. No, but we'd be able to see what it is that's making the sound. Because it's right there. We might as well just go see that side. I'm not leading the way. Go. Relay.

Hard to port. I'm going to keep the dancing lights below us at a depth so that Orym can see if anything is coming up underneath us. Okay. So you go ahead and dive underneath the water as you once more into the depths below, swimming through here, fighting against the current.

I will say, just make an athletics check for me, if you don't mind. Everybody? Everyone or me? If everyone's going with him. Yeah, we're all going. Yeah, it's a group athletics check since you're fighting the current. Group athletics check.

Connect. Not very athletic. Very athletic. That's small. Athletics. 27. Five. 15.

One. Oh. 13. 12. 22. We're a weak-ass group. Okay. You barely fucking nudged. That one 12. 22. We're a weak-ass group. Okay. You barely fucking nudged.

That one almost fucked you. Barely did you pass. It's not an extreme current, it's just a challenging one. So eventually, you all... I mean, I'm a goat. It's like me when we did scuba diving. Yeah.

Whales aren't supposed to swim. You can be a dolphin! You push against it, breaking out. And as you breach the top now, the ceiling is not supposed to swim. You could be a dolphin. You push against it, breaking out. As you breach the top now, the ceiling is not even in sight. It is somehow, it is now a much further open cavern, and there is about a 15-foot-wide waterfall that is just splashing down about 20 feet from where you are.

You can feel the spray of it hitting. It's just pouring out of the ceiling. From what you can see, yeah. It's just like, you can't see the ceiling, though. You don't know where it's coming from. Can we climb it? You want to send one light up there? Sure.

This is not Breath of the Wild. You do not get to shoot up the waterfall. As the, which is pretty great, the light drifts up, and as it does, it follows the water. And along the way, you can see this natural cavern that's formed around it, this massive, almost odd liverbeam shape to it as it comes around. There are structures jutting out of it that look carved, manmade. At the very top, as the orb goes up to the top, you can see what looks like a part of a partially crumbled

temple? Or a building? This is part of the city that got sent here. 100%. This is not going to make it. We're heading the fuck up there. Pretty high perception on you as you, Clencenton, you've seen this before in your travels as well.

This is definitely the elven make. Oh. Yeah. Does it seem? But it's a very old elven make. Can I get a good look at the architecture and see if it means anything to me? I mean, it's probably about, the lowest chunk of it's about 80 feet up.

Okay. And the one at the apex of the waterfall is roughly 150 feet up. So at this distance, you can make out any detail. Is there anywhere to stand in here, or are we just kind of fucked at the moment? I'd say you look around. There are, on the edges,

some areas that aren't like platforms, but you can sit out of the water for a bit and get your knees up. Take some rope? Yeah. Yeah. You take me like a Yoda backpack? I rolled a minus three on my last strength check. Is that a no? Yeah.

Just, I'll get you. 80 feet, you said? But she's going to climb up. I'll catch her. I'm going to cast Spider Climb on myself. Okay. I will climb up with the, I've got the rope. Actually, yeah,

there's no way you can take my hammer up there, too, is there? I got an immovable rod. I'm already on it. No, whatever the fuck. I will, yeah, climb up the wall. If we need two extra 50 pieces of rope, you know, it's in the hole on the dead bodies.

Yeah, I assume I already got it back when I turned one of them to ash. Oh, yeah, you did that. Yeah. So yes, I'm climbing. Okay. So you up the side and walking along. It's beautiful, serene in that moment in time

forever frozen, forever locked away. This place, you get the sense, hasn't been seen by eyes in a very long time. Amongst the bursts of crystal that emerge from areas of the cavern, you can see greenery. The first sign of any green growth here. There are unique little sections of garden,

enchanted garden as part of these ruins. We live here now. That give off these gentle green and blue glows from these various small, smooth orbs that are attached to it. This area looks like it, there's no sunlight. There's not a lot of air,

but something about the enchantments that remain have maintained the growth in this space. But it is indeed empty. No sign of people. Make a perception check. Or any type of animal life? Make a perception check. Okay. 18. 18. As you get to the top of the waterfall

and get to the temple-like structure, as you approach, you can see the tall, open archway that's at an angle. It comes to this very high point, this incredibly gradual point to where it eventually ends in an off-kilter hanging, it looks like a lantern that ends in a dagger point, and it flickers, changing the light occasionally.

You do see bones. The remnants of You do see bones. The remnants of bodies against the walls, almost like they were locked in with the stone. Not scattered or open, but like fossils. Humanoid. Just captured and lost a time in whatever moment they were pulled from. So I went up this wall.

Is there a ledge or something to where we can walk and explore for a little bit? Once you get to the top of the waterfall, there is quite a bit of walkway. You can see it's broken and off-kilter, and explore for a little bit? Once you get to the top of the waterfall, there is quite a bit of walkway. You can see it's broken and off-kilter, but there are smoothed, large stone flooring arrangements. Looks like you are now

entering a section of a building that is just locked here. Take out the rod, fix the rope, and toss it down. The rope hits, and you can all climb to follow suit behind. One by one, you all clamber to the top to meet up with Laudna and take in these same sights,

beautiful and sorrowful, glancing around this beautiful seed that has grown to the vibrant, elvish culture that is known today across Exandria. Prototypical in its simplicity. As you step past the waterfall itself, you can see the rushing river that's pouring through here.

You can see the areas where the floor are cracked upward to guide the water, but you can walk along the edges at a slight angle and you can see broken pillars and remnants of benches. Once again, no open bones, but in certain areas of exposed rock, you can see sections of fossilized bone and body. Dozens and dozens of people.

Now that I'm up here, does any of the architecture tell me more of the where and the what? Roll a history check. And the when. Shit, roll. 14. Pretty good. Shit, roll. 14. Pretty good. 10 plus four.

Four plus 10. Your guess is as good as anybody's. All you can make out is the cultural source, but nothing beyond that. So I need writing. Any writing on the, carving, carving, writing? No. Okay. Just design work. Simple, but beautiful, elegant. Can I go over to one of the areas of bone

and put one hand on the ground and one on the bone and use Grimm's psychometry to see a picture of this place? You can certainly try. Okay. 17. 17, you settle in and concentrate. And it's like grasping for a fleeting memory that's just beyond your mind.

You see images, flashes of a blue sky that goes red. Fear. Acceptance. But nothing beyond that, just feelings and emotions. The rest of it just slips away. Too old or too alien for you to grasp. We can take a look around for a minute,

but we really shouldn't stay here too long. We can take a look around for a minute, but we really shouldn't stay here too long. We don't want to get stuck. I'll just stay here forever. I take out the trashy scryball. Nothing. Cool. I don't know, I like it here. Holy shit.

Matt, does it seem like it's like, A, we just happen to hit a little bubble? Does it keep going all the way through, or we're just in a pocket? It keeps going. You're just walking through it now. The river comes from somewhere. Let's keep going. I want to keep going.

We can always go back into our cloud forms and zip through. Yeah, we'll probably have two hours and 40 minutes, two and a half hours. We still want more. Yeah, we probably have two hours and 40 minutes, two and a half hours. Yeah. We still want that. Yeah. Poofies? Come down, Poofies. Wait, can't we just walk further? Or is it a long, long way?

Just figure and maximize our time. Sure. Unless you just want to take a little casual stroll. I just don't know how far, we can't see very far in front of us, can we? If we do want to, if anything, we'll have to drop out. Also, can we keep our light sources with us

if we turn into a cloud or not? Yeah. Okay. It's concentration. Yeah, I don't know if distance serves us. Let's take a few minutes. Yeah, I guess. We walk. All right.

Continuing to snake along what elements of the ground you can step along safely. There are elements of dark gray rock that jut out in places, part of the collapse or part of the crunch, I guess you could say, of when this place was folded on itself. You can see, at one point, there is this tiny little garden

that's surrounded by eight little alabaster little pikes. You can see there's these gorgeous looking red berries that still succulently remain on this bush. To the right of it, you can see this delicate, just faintly painted, not porcelain, but very, very well-crafted doll. It looks like it has elven features, not porcelain, but very, very well-crafted doll. It looks like it has elven features, but just no nose or mouth,

just these gentle eyes and long ears and golden hair that's been affixed to it that curls into a matted cluster. You can see what looks to be a slightly disheveled blouse dress attachment element that's wrapped around it. Looks like it was made for a child. How big is the doll?

Oh, it's about maybe that big. Oh. These people were very small. Oh. Oh, you very small. Oh. Oh. But I did get... I need you to tell her. You want to take a doll?

I love dolls. I know. Looks like the perfect little haunted doll. It's a pretty doll. Look at her little empty eyes and her broken nose. Don't! What about those berries? Do they look familiar?

Make a nature check. Sure. Guidance. 15. 15. You do not recognize these berries. Want me to eat one? I'm immune to poison.

Yeah, eat one. I guess, what would that tell us? I'm resistant to poison. I'm also resistant to poison. Do we still have Heroes' Feast? Oh yeah, we're all resistant to poison. We do. Yep.

Does that mean that we're? You're all immune to poison. Yeah, so I want to go for it. Yeah, but how many are there? How many berries are there? In this tiny little miniature garden, probably about 40-ish that can be picked off of it. What do you want? See if you get x-ray vision.

Fearne. Fearne just popped it. Oh, both of y'all. Pop it. It is delicious. Oh my god. Succulent, moist, sweet, but not overtly so. You heal a hit point. Oh, it's a good berry. It's a good berry.

Oh my god. It's a good berry. It is quite good. We should take them. We should take them. But isn't this a final resting place of some? I don't think so. Clearly not, it's a lodge.

It's just a garden. It feels really still growth. It's just like picking poison berries. But the whole place is frozen in time. It's from people who... I pluck five good berries. Yeah, but it'll grow. I'll just pluck them.

Okay, I pluck your good berries. Of the 40 you pick, if you want to, how many do you want to take? I'll show them. Okay. Berries regrow. Some. Yeah. Okay. You just tookgrow. Leave some. Yeah. Okay.

You just took five, that's 35. These good berries are in the middle of this garden? The garden itself is like a few bushes surrounded by this. They're clustered together, and there's 40 berries that can be picked from it. 40-ish. So how, this garden and this doll, this garden was sitting in front of what I assume is a wall. Does it seem like it was sitting in front of what I assume is a wall.

Does it seem like it was sitting in front of a structure? Like this was in front of someone's house? It was sitting in a... Or like a courtyard? Or are we inside some building? I'm trying to get a sense of it. It's hard to tell, if only because the rock of the cavern is so oppressive.

It looks like... It's interesting. It looks like parts were crushed and parts look like the rock almost merged with it. Like it's... Like the mirror dimension? Kind of, but you can also tell in some places, like the way the surrounding geode areas

and the things around it. Make an intelligence check for me. Who? Anybody that would like to. I'm the smartest. I don't know, I'm pretty smart. I want to, too. I'm a good idiot. I'm pretty dumb. It's the most impractical thing.

Uh-huh. No. 14. 14. 30, 20. 30, 20, okay. I can't find good patterns. I can't either. You get the sense the pattern is here.

There are areas that feel almost like they're protected to a certain degree. That's why a lot of this plant life still seems to be alive and kept here without needing all these various means of living. There are areas beyond those boundaries where the rock looks intensely pushed together and you see signs of the faintest veins of glass,

like something superheated caused elements of glass, like something superheated caused elements of dust, sand, and fine stone to melt. Wow. Glass is just from there. What color? Is it just regular glass? It's mostly above the ceiling, not in the vicinity area, so you'd get close. It's called a slag glass,

kind of natural glass. Feels that way, maybe. But you're taking berries, you're moving on, what are you doing? Yeah. Yeah, hepauline. Okay. Can I keep a course? As long as at some point we are, you know.

Yeah, I think so. How about Sol's going to find this shit eventually, anyway, if we all don't die? So these berries do act as the Goodberry spell. They last for 24 hours. They have to be eaten within 24 hours. Oh. Oh. What do they do?

They give you one hit point each. And they taste fucking great. I'm just going to pop them. They're great in a pie, but the pie expires in a day. Thank god, most of us. It's an action to eat one berry, though, so you can't eat 20 in one action. It's one hit point for an action.

Oh, right. Are we taking a short break right now? If you want to. Oh, well, then I'm going to take those back. I didn't eat those berries. You can't take a short rest. That's an hour. Oh. Yeah. We're walking. We're walking.

Okay. We don't want to, this is not where we deal with our other. Yeah. But. We're walking. We're walking. Okay. This is not where we deal with our other. Not here. Not here. This person. Not here. Continuing along the path, eventually the stone crush around this ruin begins to fully consume what's exposed. The water trickles, now the source of the water

trickles down a few little steps of a waterfall before vanishing into a massive crack in the wall where it looks like you could try and swim against the now very strong current, which has no headroom on it. It's the spout where the water itself emerges. But the cliff face above it continues to climb with a number of odd little handholds and outcroppings.

Up and out, probably. But you said that spigot of water does look, if someone tried to fight up through it, they could get up in there? You could certainly try. Could you send one of your lights up there? I'm going to stick my head into the flow of water since I can breathe it.

So it's coming into it this way because it's pouring out of the rock and now it's water falling down into forming this river that pushes down into the waterfall. I just want to see if I follow Imogen's little purple ball of light. Make a perception check. I'll say with disadvantage,

so it'd be just a straight roll for you. That is a 20 for me. Okay. It looks like the water just continues for another 40 or so feet to wherever the source of it continues to pool from. I'll beat up that, okay. I mean, I can crawl up there and drop the roof again.

Up through the flow of water. Is it cut off? And then there's a cliff face that's going off. Yeah, I wanted to see if there was anything worth pursuing up the actual mouth wall. Interesting point, which you would acknowledge now as you see how this flows. As far as you know or what you've experienced or seen,

there is no rainfall on Ruidus, so this water has to be sourced from somewhere. That's not coming from the surface. There is no rainfall on Ruidus, so this water has to be sourced from somewhere. It's not coming from the surface. No, it's coming from some sort of dimensional hole or big, underwater spring. Magic hole. Maybe the same thing that's keeping the plants alive. Underground.

Is it coming out of the portal? Yeah. Yeah. Maybe a portal got pulled up here or something? that's keeping the plants alive. Underground. Is it coming out of the portal? Yeah. Yeah. Maybe a portal got pulled up here or something? It's pretty wild. There's been a portal to Ruidus in the center of the ocean somewhere this whole time. You know, should we find it and go through it?

Like we have a secret backdoor to Ruidus? No one knows? Should we just take us to some sort of water dimension. I think that there's no giant tidal sinkhole. I mean, if it's a water plane, that's not super. Use hole? No. It's just more water all the way up. It's fresh water, right?

Yes, it is fresh water. There's no saltiness to it. I think we can breathe. I really want to know what it is. So wait, you said it goes up? It goes into the wall at an upward angle. That's what he's looking into and fighting the current to look into it.

Oh, I see. So we'd have to swim against? We'd have to swim against a hard wall. It's like swimming into a pipe. Yeah, it's a hose. All right, that's not going to happen. How wide is it? It's about eight or so feet wide and about maybe three to four feet tall.

Can you turn into a salmon? Yeah, I know, go upstream, bish. Do we want to take a minute to do this? I feel like we've been here before and we accidentally bamfed into a water plane. Yeah. We definitely put Fearne as a frog into the, yeah. Wasn't this another cube and sent her to the water plane last.

Let's do it again. Yeah, then I got that. That was when we first started hanging out together. We're so much stronger now. But this time she's a salmon. I mean, that was a cool thing. That's totally different. Yeah, it's totally different this time. Didn't we tie a string around her legs as a frog?

She swam into a jug of alchemy or something. Yeah, she did. I kind of want to, okay. She's looking at a fish. I did, there was something that I wanted to do. Okay, but I don't know if I would still have the same abilities as a salmon swimming upstream. But what kind, what would you want to be?

A leaf-sheeped sea slug? With the powers of a salmon. Yeah, I'm a salmon, but I'm giving it flair. Right. That I look like a leaf sheep, sea slug. That's so hard to say. Leaf sheep, sea slug? Leaf sheep, sea slug. Okay, cool.

Look how stinking cute they are. Leaf sheep, sea slug. But they can swim upstream. Okay. Okay. Oh my gosh! Guys, guys! This is so cute!

Wait, let me see. All right. Oh my goodness. Oh, look at him! He looks like a little cow! I know! That is pretty cute. Sure. I watched a lot of Animal Ducks,

and I saw him, and I was like, oh my gosh. I want to turn into a cat, but have the powers of a helicopter. Travis. You know us, you know all of us. Here, I'll say... I mean, I can also turn into a salmon if I was just giving it flair.

That's cute. Let's go. Let's make it fun. That's what it's about. The salmon is boring. All right, so this will be you fighting against the force of the stream. Now you're aerodynamic, I'll say, in the force of this magic. Yeah.

So you'll have to make a strength check, which would be an athletics check, in this form, which I'll put it at a standard... Given... Okay. Yeah. Roll with advantage since going up. Just do it. Yeah, go upstream. Go upstream, go ahead and roll with advantage

and just add a plus one to the roll. I love this. Got to beat a 14. Do I, what am I adding to it? I'm adding a one. Plus one. But I might also. Athletics? You just have to beat a 14. Athletics?

Okay, so I rolled a 16, plus one, 17. Okay, yeah. But my athletics is a minus two. Well, it's the form of your creature's athletics. Oh, yes, yes, yes. So you actually don't take a penalty a minus two. Well, it's the form of your creature's athletics. Oh, yes, yes, yes. So you actually don't take a penalty. It's better for you in the salmon form.

It's better in salmon form. All right, all right. So true. So it's a slow push. It's a slow push, but you go. You go and you go, and the darkness is going to, you know, Even all the leaves?

Doing the best you can to push through. Sending light Up the tube. You progress a good solid 80 or so feet up this forceful exit before suddenly the forces no more and you're just Oh. She's doing it again. In water. Again.

A little bit of a faint light source above. Like a lake that's spilling. All right. Water plane doesn't have lights on top. She's reached an underground lake or something. If this is a fast door to ruinus, I'm going to die. You. Looking around, it's a car drives by.

You're in modern day. We're still mentally connected. Looking around, it's a car drives by. You're in modern day. We're still mentally connected. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay, okay, I went through the hole about 80 feet. Can we hear her? Yeah, yeah, we're mentally connected. We're on the same plane.

Intelligent? Well, no. No. Druids keep their mental stats. Druids keep their mental stats. Yeah, wizards go dumb. You push up, push up, and eventually break the surface. Looking around, you are in a large lake

on a cloudy gray day in a space you don't recognize, surrounded by lush green forests with faint bit of snow melt on them. Can we hear her when she's talking to us mentally? Or is she on another plane now? With snow? We can? This isn't from, oh my god. Wait, so, sorry, the question was?

Can we hear her? If she thinks to us, do we hear her anymore, or is she broken to another plane? No. Ah! She said, she said, I love you. Hot dog. And that's where we're going to go ahead.

Oh! We found a flat door, baby! A flat door. What plane is she on, though? What plane is she on? Is she in the Fey Realm? Is it Eorze? She's in America. He said it's the Snow Cat. He said it's the Snow Cat.

Snow Cat Mountain. New York City, 1973. Keanu Reeves is there, I see. It's beautiful. Wow. Yellowstone. Salt Lake City. Does it look anything like a postcard

that my parents sent me, slash Nana? The Aeor postcard or Isocross, whatever? No, it does not. Okay, okay. Oh my gosh, oh my gosh. It is huge. It's so good that we didn't go back to the Bloody Bridge. We broke the fourth wall. It was there we broke it.

Always look behind the waterfall, always. Well, nevertheless, we'll pick that up next time. And with your now, we'll say, two and a half hours of time on this thing. We don't need your goddamn Bloody Bridge anymore! Ah, we have to go. Oh my god. Shit. We don't need your goddamn bloody bridge anymore! Ah! We have to go. Oh my god.

Are we still on the air? Yes! What if we just keep playing for like 10 minutes? But thank you for joining us. Aw, dang it, I thought it was going to work. We'll pick it up next time. Thank you so much for joining us. We love you very much.

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