Critical Role - Call of the Wild Hearts | Age of Umbra: Sallowlands | Episode 4 Part 2

Episode Date: August 11, 2026

Part 2 After escaping the Tower of Oxudos, the travelers continue across the Sallowlands, where they encounter a thriving community devoted to a new spreading faith... DAGGERHEART: HOPE & FEAR Explore new Daggerheart content seen in Sallowlands with the first expansion for Daggerheart! Hope & Fear comes out August 25th and features new classes (Witch, Warlock, Assassin, Brawler), transformation cards, adversaries, campaign frames, and much more. Visit https://www.daggerheart.com/pre-order to learn more, or head directly to Critical Role shops to place your pre-order! US: https://shop.critrole.com  UK: https://shop.critrole.co.uk  EU: https://shop.critrole.eu  AU: https://shop.critrole.com.au  CA: https://canada.critrole.com AGE OF UMBRA: SALLOWLANDS A group of outcasts and survivors brave blasted lands in search of answers in Age of Umbra: Sallowlands. This 6-part Daggerheart mini-series features Game Master Matthew Mercer and players Laura Bailey, Jennifer English, Abubakar Salim, Vico Ortiz, and Zachery Renauldo. They’ll form an unlikely band of companions, who venture off the beaten path in search of answers in the Sallowlands, a new region of the Halcyon Domain filled with cracked badlands, dangers, and awe-inspiring secrets. What fragile hopes dare they cling to in this story of desperation and survival? Learn more at https://critrole.com/umbra BEACON Curious what happens when the camera turns off after an Age of Umbra episode? Watch the Cooldown episodes with the cast discussion after each episode, exclusively on Beacon! Start your 7-day free trial today at https://beacon.tv/join and get unparalleled access to the shows you love completely ad-free! You’ll receive NEW Beacon exclusive series, instant access to VODs & podcasts, live event pre-sales, merch discounts, & a private Discord. CREDITS See full cast and crew credits at https://critrole.com/sallowlands-credits/  Starring: Game Master Matthew Mercer | @matthewmercervo Jennifer English as Dillywin Hellekin | @jenniferjenglish Abubakar Salim as Mercy | @abubakarsalim Laura Bailey as Sister | @laurabaileyvo Zachery Renauldo as Alphonse | @zachthebold Vico Ortiz as Cagauma | @puertoricaninja Art by: Key Art by Daniel Jiménez Villalba | @Danieljimenezvillalba Character Art by Strange House | @strange_house Sallowlands Map by Marco Bernardini Miniatures Painted by Keo Lacebal, Angela Basset, and Erik Lonnquist Main Theme Song by Omar Fadel Set Design by Shaun Ellis Set Fabrication and Production Design by Noxweiler Berf FOLLOW CRITICAL ROLE! Website: https://www.critrole.com Newsletter: https://critrole.com/newsletter Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/criticalrole Twitter: https://twitter.com/criticalrole Instagram: https://instagram.com/critical_role TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@criticalrole HEALTH & WELL-BEING 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 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hey there, Matthew Mercer here, and you're listening to Part 2 of this episode of Age of Umbra, Salo Lands, a tale of an eclectic mix of misfits, outcasts, and survivors, seeking answers in the dangerous, blasted lands of a dying world. If you haven't checked out part one of this episode, pause this now and head over there first. Otherwise, let's return to our adventurers striving against the darkness in part two. And welcome back. So, the swarm of beetles goes scattering around, swift... filling the area around all of you,

you're gonna click in the impacts across the out. I immediately spend a fear to spotlight them as they rush in. And spend a second fear to have them do a massive, like, spinning, aggressive swarm attachment to each of your forms and begin chewing and biting at your armor. I need all of you to make an agility reaction roll. Is the rain done?

The rain's done. The rain's done, okay. Not like this. Okay, great. Oh, yes. Oh, my, okay. I mean, it's a reaction, though, isn't it? Yeah. Yeah.

I keep rolling fucking prits, brats. Oh, fuck. 19. 19, all right. Great. 17. Great. With, oh, never mind.

18. 22. 22. You managed to knock them away, dart out of the process, like shake them off your body, and try as they might to burrow into your, like, defensive armor and physical body up top. You managed to shrink them off.

Spotlights back to you. I have some AEOE, if you want me. Yeah, yeah. I throw them off of me as I run out from under the rock cover, and I'll say, everyone get out of the way. And I will throw, I put my hand open as you see, like the tube releases blood that begins to form in the air, as it begins to sort of swirl around into a ball

that you see hot steam is coming off of it. I'll snap my fingers as it heads towards underneath the rock as it explodes, as this burning blood, kind of surrounds the area. Then I hope it hits him. Okay, I'll mark a hit point though. Oh, I got it on a success, and I'm mine. That looks like a credit's not.

All right, no. Was it a nine and a six? Yep. Was it a 69? Yeah. Oh, taste. I have to do the math, I'm sorry. That's okay?

I feel. 18. 18 meter to 12. That's success. I'm fair though. But I will mark a hit point to do so as I use my life force to do this, giving me a trigger on power through pain. I'll mark a blood

token there. And then everything of your ability sounds like a metal, man. Oh yeah. That's because it's killing me. It's good question. I've already ruled. I've already decided doing this. Is it too late for me to say

that I did crimson right to like add that damage and stuff. Crimson rights on your weapon, which is an effect. Great, great. Yeah, okay, great. Oh, wait, do I roll something else? Sorry. Sorry. That's okay.

Oh, they just instantly mark two hit points. Do. Fuck me. If any of them die, then they all mark two stress. Yes. As this swirling sphere of ignited blood goes from like a deep red crimson, as it seems to like almost twist her out into a sphere,

filling a good portion of the swarm, and then burn to a bright red and burn off around them. You watch as about a good solid third or more of the swarm. Just crumbles the ground, just sizzling from underneath. The rest of them scatter for a bit and then reform. It was with fear. We're gonna go ahead and dart off towards you

who had just released this. Are these behaving like a, like, a single entity or are they multiple targets? Just so I. They're acting like a single entity. Okay. However, six to hit. They shoo-d-do and try and go around you.

And right now, like I'll say the release of the blood that was burning, it kind of still has this residual kind of heat that comes off of you. And as they swarm towards you, they kind of deviate off, not able to get close enough comfortably. Spotlights back to you. Inspired by Alphonse's, our blood magic of sorts

and feeling much more rested after last night and remembering that time that they used magic to to hit in far range. They're going to attempt to do a bolt beacon at this cave filled with this nasty skull beetles. So let's rock and roll. Oh, okay, it's 9, 10, 11 plus 13 and 13, with fear. With fear. That does it succeed, go ahead.

Beautiful, and I get to have a token now. Oh, I love tokens. So roll damage? Yes, it's the eights, right? It's 2D8 plus 2, right? Plus 2. It is 9, 11. I'm getting something better.

Math. The major wound on this formats. Two more hit points. It's like, you see now as you release this blinding flash, this energy that you haven't seen come from Cuagama before. The rest of the Beatles now are covered in this sparkling glitter that seems to emanate its own light, making them temporarily vulnerable. So now all the rules against them have advantage. I'm useful. I'm useful. They unable to find purchase on your heated space, turn and convert over to you, Dillen.

For this, I'm going to go ahead and roll there. That's gonna be 14. Ooh, I'm at 14. That hit. That just hits. Okay. So from there. First I'm being hit.

Second time. Okay. Go ahead and roll a D4 for me. A D4. What does it do? A two. A two. You mark one armor slot as they begin to chew through

your protective layers and swarm. To the point where if you run it of armor, they just go straight to hit points. But they go through their armor first. I want to eat the material before they eat the flesh. That's my spotlight's back to me. Can I see the beetles that have burned on the ground and the ones that have fallen to the ground lit up as well?

And I'm going to swirl my hands and bring those ones to life in a new way. They're lit up and fiery. And they're going to attack the beetles that are attacking Dolly. Oh, I love it. And I'm gonna conjure swarm myself. Oh, yes! Fantastic!

Swarm on swarm violence, I'm here for it. And you got advantage, by the way, on them, right? Because they're vulnerable. Yeah. 15? 15 with? Here. That's a success.

Okay. I maxed on a . Okay, I'm spending a hope to do my damage, which is interesting. What am I? 2D8. Did I give away my eights to everybody? Do you want some eight?

Good, I've done. I'll take your eight. Okay. You have to roll a hit and spend hope to do it? I know. Interesting. Yeah. That's 13, 14, 15, 16 points.

16 points? How do you want to do this? Yes! Okay. Yes! Oh, we're so good. We're so back. As the Beatles that I've conjured

start to set aflame other ones, those ones turn and become mine as well, until the entire swarm is on fire. and as soon as that happens, I release them and let them die. Whoa! The entire swarm ignites in one final crescendo at the behest of Sister, and then all tumble into the dirt and surrounding dust. Just these little smoldering specks,

these little burnt skulls with twisted legs and destroyed wings, just hundreds of them now left twitching and gone. Sister, that was so cool. It was brilliant. Brilliant. Thank you. See, Mercy, like, fucking. You're still fighting yourself. Mercy, don't worry, go on.

You don't have to fight him anymore. Nothing there. It's all right, brother. Oh, like, tap. We're going to. Yeah, booing. Yeah, booing too. Gosh, yeah.

I don't know about all of you, but I feel rather excited after just this short paddle. and I want to keep going. I'm actually pretty exhausted. We should rest for a second. Looking southward, you are just a short jaunt away from the thread bears.

And from here, the twisting, rocky mountain peaks and jagged hilltops that seem to carve up in odd directions, almost like fingers from multiple clawed hands, all finding different points in the sky to reach toward. And for those of you who traversed around this, area. They are classically dull brown and gray. This is a lifeless expanse. Yet there is patterns of green woven through them. There is fresh forest growth, rapid and expansive.

Forest growth, verdancy that has not been seen in this realm for some time. There, this is a unique site. Could I use my nature's tongue to talk to the forest green? You can when you get there. You have a little bit more trekking to do. We'd like to helm this next one. By the way, the spending a hope to hit the target is because you can hit a bunch of targets. If you succeed on the spellcast,

you use a hope for every target you want to hit. It was just the one swarm. Okay, gotcha. That makes so much more sense. I was wondering what the payoff was for that. I think I can say with confidence that the feral call may play some part in whatever it is about this city. I have never in my times in the Salo lands have seen vegetation grow so naturally.

That's what you said, right? Yeah, okay. Or maybe the new city has had an effect on the forest. Perhaps that's why there are now pilgrimages and monks reaching out. Maybe they have a new faith that they didn't before. Elphan takes that information. He's really trying to fight the idea of any hope that that is true because he does not want to get his hopes up.

So he'll give you a slight nod and keep heading forward as he throws his rifle around his shoulder. Can I use my knowledge of the way Moss grows in abundant forests and help figure our way through this area. Sure, go ahead and make a knowledge roll then, if you'd like, to see the less ominous aspects of this range and its growth to walk towards. That's a crit.

Oh, my God. It's like a 12-12. Oh, my God, clear all your field, take it off. That's how it works. You seem to hit a flow state as you walk. The rest of you are tracking, but you almost see Sister gliding with her footfalls. The landscape before you as it gets rougher and rougher

nearing the base of the thread bears, you seem to just gently drift over them. The wind kind of pushes gently as you begin to see the sway tops of trees, a sight that for some of you is not just rare, but possibly the first time you've seen it. The trees in the rust saw stand firm amongst the thick brambles and density that they're not pushed. This has that softness of a breeze that only dense foliage can carry, and it's like a jungle woven through. this broken, arid mountain scape.

You spend the next couple hours getting closer still and the air smells sweeter and different. The massive, shadowed shape of the central mountain now just filling a sixth of the horizon before you. You're not too far from the city now, and the immensity of it really begins to take form at this proximity. Glancing up amongst the dense clouds, you can now see, indeed, this kind of faint green shimmer across the rock, almost like the curling of the gentlest of propane flame, just green and tracing a pattern across the massive spire.

Now, from the vision you've seen, you keep an eye out, and indeed you see two floating, ships. You see the decks. and the Zeppelin-like expansion above that carries them as they drift and pass around out of sight. You can now at this point see the three, or from this perspective, two of the volcanic tops. And you're close enough where you can see the trails of molten rock, the trail down, the occasional strike of distant thunder that rumbles.

That's such a distant. That one was very loud. It's on a randomizer. And you can see the peaks of dozens, hundreds of structures reaching up a varying architecture, some with massive Gothic pointed spires, others with more blocky and grounded,

construct, a variety of architecture. And a little divot between this mountain range, a little further to the west from where you're approaching, you can just see the reflection of a watered surface, that inlet lake that you had noticed from that higher place on the Tower of Oxides. And as you approach the base of this mountain, the majority of those details vanish over the range itself

and the approaching shadow. of the forest. There is an entryway, it seems like a fairly walked path that leads into this region and that immediate glance what looks like little buildings, like tents or hot structured on the side. There are some massive, it looks like an ox at first at a distance, and when it turns around, you can see the face of it. It's swine-like, but it has maybe eight or nine tusks that jut from the front of its mouth,

like massive conical blades that all point in odd directions out. Where the top of its head would be, you see numerous eyes bulging out in different directions, and along its thickened hide, other spines seem to protrude at odd angles. You see it has a leather harness on it, and it's attached to a large, like a carrying cart

with all manner of materials that are covered with a thick piece of hand-woven cloth. And you see kind of struggle against the and as you can get a new approach, kind of like get a new approach, kind of like, gets down in like a protective position. Is there anybody around it? You see these hats there.

There's nobody walking around them immediately. And in the tree line at a glance, you can see there are a few shapes of figures walking. I look to you, Daly. Yeah. We'll have a little chat, won't we? Tell you what? You tell me the questions and I'll translate.

What I kind of look and like, And what community are you when I look back on? Do my instinct, go for him. 14 with fear. With fear. Not max fear? Let me sit over the edge there. You lean forwarded this entity.

And if you can have been speaking to it, the magical connection there. You see as it gets down in its eyes, kind of like, I'll look at you, but also look at other areas. And its jaw itself is kind of twisted to one's side. into one side or one of the massive tusk kind of curls out, and it turns defensively towards you, and once front claw begins to dig in like it's about to rush, and then when you get speaking to it, it kind of... Don't worry, friend. We're safe. We ain't going to arm you. We just have a few questions for you.

Now, tell me about what kind of community you're from. We're the Nova. Dova. Dova. Dova. Dover. Dover. Dover.

Dover. Dover. Dover. Are you? Dover. Ask them, are they friendly? Yeah, ask them what we need to do in order to not be attacked in this community. This Dover community you're in.

We don't want to cause no arm. We just want to know. want to know how we can get through there safely. Is there anything we can do to make sure that we're not attacked or nothing? You're welcome. And kind of gives this kind of squealing bellow sound and some of the figures in the wood kind of glance out and start talking amongst themselves. And two figures emerge. You see one is this very tall, for lack of a better term, swollen-looking ox-man. He is about your height, mercy. Humanoid, bipedal, with an intense form of musculature that is covered in spines and odd, like hook growths that push

out of it. The massive horns come out in multiple places, and the face itself seems to be a bit malformed and rough looking with big tusks that come from underneath, but is wearing a sleeveless robe that drifts past the torso and flows behind in like a faint green blue coloration with details among it. They step forward with what looks like an axe on one hand and a cluster of wood under the other. To the right of them, you see a feminine line. but with a bear-like body, thick matted fur and different patchy colors, with also these, like, tooth-like horn protrusions projecting out in places. One arm seems larger than the other, and she has this, like, large, like a thick piece of detailed cloth that's wrapped around the torso and tied on the side, and there is a basket attached to it that is filled with all manner of herbs and other picked greens that have been collected.

And they both kind of approach. The ox figure goes, Hello, France. You've made your patronagee here. Whom do I speak? Who's got the most presents? Because I ain't got it. I have one.

I have one. Zero. But I do have voice of reason. So perhaps. Yes. Hello, friend. We seek passage, a safe passage. We mean no harm. Seek passage to venture to this new city.

Hmm. Nods to the other. The bear goes, Well, then you will. Then you will treat with us. Come. Come. All are welcome here within the Dover.

And turns and kind of gestures, and the ox goes over and like pats the massive like swine beasts. It just kind of settles in, and they both kind of begin to walk away and look back to you. Come, come. Matt, how this, these tusks and this, a bunch of eyes, and they're kind of, does it, is that normal for like Umbra, like corruption? Is this just like I wouldn't really even pay attention to this?

But it seems to be a similar theme between these. Umbra corruption, it definitely takes many different forms. Swelling and mutations are not uncommon, but usually things that are covered by the Umbra are also wildly violent and mindless, or at the very least driven by intense, base emotion and violent need. So there is an odd incongruency here. And I would say there are things that remind you of Umbra corruption, but you don't see any of like the telltale signs

of, you know, ghastly spectral twisting and like the baleful shadow that sits within their presence. It's reminding me a little bit of mercy. Yeah, that's what I feel almost slightly comfortable. And as like they beckon us forward, I think you all notice that my gait is taller, almost slightly more confident as I kind of walk in and follow. You follow past the thicker tree line here,

and as your eyes kind of adjust the shadowed space, there is a temporary community here. There are three other carts like the one you saw pulled by similar beasts. There are those two tents out there like they are unoccupied as most of the inhabitants are amongst here gathering fruit and flowers and the abundance of this sudden forest

that did not exist here but months ago. Yet it looks like it's always been here with the scale and scope of it. The beasts all turn and look to the strangers that have arrived here in some kind of wave. Others just kind of nod, curiously, and continue about their work. All themselves, beast folk of,

to your experience, having seen them traversing these spaces, not dissimilar to the shape and lineage of the feral call, though not quite as altered. Can I use my knowledge to see of this nature that's here right now is different from the one that I remember when I was two? Sure, you don't even have to roll.

Your memories and experiences this, it's not dissimilar from the lands of the old world, in the lush realms which are untouched by the slow decay post-apostasy. This is an odd sight to see. As you step in and the green shadows have it called over here in the inside. The peace and calm here in itself is unsettling

because of how settling it is. Two other figures bring about chairs from one of the carts and set them down in a table. And you can see there's these like iron cauldrons over small fires set to the set to the set. and someone goes to me and preparing some tea into the water, and somebody else begins to gather up some of the recently brought fruits

and setting them on the table as you're walking along. They're preparing to host. I kind of look to. When I see this, this is the black guy me kicking in now. Sorry, but I'm just like, As I walk in, I'm just like looking around, and I look at you, Alphonse.

And I'm like, I can tell that probably there is this shift of like, something's off. So can I like roll like maybe like an instinct? Yeah, make an instinct. Because this feels. No, this is exactly what instinct is for. I can't give you my experience, but I have an experience called something's off. So I'll give them a hope for advantage. to look around myself.

Because I will look at you and I will read that look on your face. And I will be like, I will spend a hope and I will roll D6. There's a moment of comfort and then suddenly as I see them all sort of try to get us like everything together, there is this moment of just like, what?

Okay, yeah. I'm having spent time with you, I see it. Okay, 16, yeah, 16. Plus three. So 19. With hope. Right, take that hope. As you're walking through and everyone's looking over,

there is a genuineness in the welcoming. You sense that they are happy to see you. The very nature of what they were before from what you've heard versus the proximity of where you are to this city. Something is off, definitely. There is a layer here that you're not picking up on. but you don't read that these individuals have,

are hiding a violent secret. They seem to be overtly curious in you and eager to have you here. Again, that side of me is like, yeah, okay, Mercy's like, probably like, this is amazing. And the boo's like, yeah, are you happy to see us here to eat us? Or like, what are you like, what is there?

Anyway, there is a voice. Dillon. You turn to your left. Could you please describe for me one of the lost elders that vanished on the day of your village, losing its people? So it says this, this Simian and he's like, he's like,

three foot tall, and like got this long gray platted beard right down to his toes. And like, similar to me, like, like, this outfit made of leftovers, but this one's like made of leaves and bark. And he smells a bit musty. Bit musty, as well as his large back hunch that has swollen on his left-hand side and an arm that is about a foot longer than the other with claws that are longer than you remember and it kind of drags behind

with small little spines that protrude from parts of his body, one eye that sits a bit larger than the other and a little lower than where it was. But other than that, he's smiling right at you. What do you call him? Grub. As Grub goes,

It's been so long. Oh, what a sweet face. What a welcome face, dear, and leans forward and, like, runs the thumb across your cheek and, like, just looks at you. Oh, I know you'd find us eventually. Mr. Grubb, what happened that night? You all just left, and I thought maybe I'd done something bad, and you were ashamed of me and you all ran away. And I've been looking for you ever since with my friend Mercy, but I thought, really, you were all dead, but I wasn't quite sure. I'm so sorry. Shh, calm down, sweet dear. I'm so sorry.

Sorry. It's hard to explain, but sometimes in life you find a calling unexpected as it is. Something so important, something so strong. Something that fills your heart with light and you have to follow it. We didn't mean to leave you. We just had to leave. But you're here now. You're here with the rest of us. They're all back at Hookborough. Oh, they love to see you. Why did you get the calling? And I didn't. I don't wait now.

He tries to think for a second. All the rest of us were outside. I think you went off crying, right? Doesn't matter. You're here with us now. Oh, look. Looks like you're meeting, meeting with the expanse elders. They'll talk you in. or making you some fine foods too.

Come, come. As the people start stopping their business, they start putting things down, and everyone kind of gathers to you all the newcomers. The table is now set, and chairs have been brought up, and across the way the ox and bear figures both sit across, and they have a large pot of tea,

and they pour amongst all these cups, pouring all of yours. They both take sips, sit down, begin taking out of some of the nuts and various berries and say, please, please sit. The bear kind of looks the rest of you. I am Radun.

And the ox figures, I am Addomna. Adonna? Adonah is the bear. Addomna is the ox. And the first thing? Radun. Radun.

Radun. We are of the dameh. over, once of the Fannari wanderers under the Pharaoh's call for quite some time. Survival, as you may understand, is challenging. And for a while, I'm ashamed to say we were driven by the basest of instincts for the survival. We took our great Ember Toll out and called those to join us and took what we needed and killed those who disagreed. But we've, they look at each other and smile. We're a family now born off the city of Morning Star.

And under the great Grim Hunter, it is her children that found us on this path and gave us renewed purpose. The bear goes, the great call chieftain has been to the city. They have seen the grim hunter themselves. They can answer your questions. Does everyone around here have like the same elongated features or tusks or nails or? Different variations of some sort of,

some would call it situational swelling. Others would call it mutation. Others would call it. Situational swelling. I'm stiff as a board as we said down on this. Mr. Grub. Yes, love. Why do you look like that now?

He don't mind. He's used to me. It's fine, it's fine. Well, there is a beautiful thing becoming part of the hunt of the Dover. A great gift given to each of us. A great beautiful thing. We connect to her and the Dover,

and we become part of the wild ourselves, as we all have. Mr. Grub, why didn't you take it me with you? Kind of things for a minute, like he's trying to grasp a somewhat faded memory. Because the sound was hard to resist, the call. Can I use my experience of you smell like?

Because Did he know something's not right? This isn't quite the grub that she remembers. and she wants to use her instincts right now. Spend that hope and use. Go ahead and roll instinct on this. 17 with hope. All right, take that hope. There is an earnestness in his eyes.

There's nothing sinister in his voice or an engagement. If anything, it's a love and a longing. Like seeing an old friend. And unexpectedly, but there's definitely a change. There is a, you remember him being a crotchety old guy, as much as you loved him. Mr. Grubb was a cranky, lovable little uncle to parts of that community.

You've never seen him quite so soft and jovial. And that's odd. Can I ask, when I ask, when I, When I look around at all of the people here, is there an underlying familiarity with each other, coming from a community that communicates almost as a hive? Oh, yes, about the pleuribus of this? Yes.

Welcome, everyone. Yeah, have they been affected where they, does it feel like they're all connected? I'll say without having to roll here. They're conversing and going, often doing things and sharing information in whispers. So there isn't like a psychic connection or anything like that.

They're still their own entities. They just have a strong community. Okay. Please sit. We're happy, happy to answer your questions. There is quite a lot that has happened as of late, and I can see the fear and concern mistrust in your eyes. It is understood.

Is the grim hunter responsible for this voyage? Yes. Her and her hunt and the magics of Morning Star. They are changing this land. Is she a god? One of a few, the new ones. A new god. I can't believe it had worked. They were all right.

It was worth it. I take a cat in the hindale. I was like, oh my God, it was wrong. That's crazy. Are we sitting at this table yet? Are you? Did we decide that? Yeah, yeah, yeah.

I'm sitting. I'll sit. I'm gonna keep standing. Okay. I've sat. I've sat. Is there a way I could sit with such a demeanor I'm clearly like, we are in over our head if we don't.

Like, I wanna be over-eager to sit down, something that is out of character for Alphons. Sure, great. You sit down, they've poured your tea, they have food in the center, they're drinking of the same tea, they're eating of the same food. I'm not trying to look offensive as I don't sit down. I'm gonna distract and look at the nature

and feel the grass and that's the trees. What are the intention? of this grim hunter for the rest of the land, including Amber Reach. I do not know what there. I cannot assume to know the goals of a god. But what we know is that here, we once again wander like our ancient brethren.

The land grows in new, and we are too. We are to share this family with all. How does one join this community? Well, you have an audience with the called Chieftain of Hookborough. And you are ceremonial brought before the Amber Toll and embraced. I understand you said before you were the Venari. Yes.

Fenari, yes. I heard. I heard rumors that the Venari used to hunt, Huckborough. Has that changed? We've always hunted. But now we do it with purpose beyond survival. And we have more to hunt from and further to hunt. What is it that you hunt now?

Well, we hunt for food. We hunt for expansion. of the green. We hunt for new community. I'm sorry. I kind of stand. This is a different feeling. I'm just going to walk. Just look around people. We want to see, again, there is this, I guess there is this feeling of, not necessarily mistrust, but shame that I think I'm feeling and I'm trying to understand. As you get up to leave the oxen felix, why do you walk away? Why do you show concern in your face? I kind of stop and I turn.

For the years I have been traveling, every community has met me with disgust. And yet I walk here and you treat me as an equal. And perhaps it is from me from me. is from my experience that I do not trust. Why? And it makes me feel shame. They've really leaned forward and put their hand on yours.

I'll flinch slightly, but I let them. All belong in this. The Dova, the Dova is your home, if you will have it, as it is for all of us, wayward creatures. You should meet the chieftain. What happens to those who don't have it? But do not claim this as their home. Do you let them pass? The choice is yours if you wish to embrace the Dover and join the hunt or not.

I just would wish for you to know what it is you give up if you say no. The grim hunter, such a dark name. for a benevolent god. I've... Yet I'm called Mercy, and you look at me. Most people see me as a monstrosity. What do you mean by that, Alphonse? I've never looked at you

and thought that your name wasn't fitting. And in the small time, I have known you, Mercy. I think that name is a very fit. I think it is, I think, I think maybe we're learning something new. I have only known gods who look for our atonement and judgment, divine law. You ask us to break bread at a table without any of it. For what do we have to deserve these gifts?

Perhaps a bit of faith. Come, meet the chieftain. You mentioned ceremony. What does that look like? Everyone gathers at the embuton. What is that? It is our sacred relic. Oh, wonderful.

Will my family be there? They look over in grab us. Are they all there here? I love to see you. Mercy? Yes. I thought, hope you don't mind me saying this, Mr. Grub. I'm really confused about my feelings.

You see, all I've wanted is to see my family. But now I've been told they're there, I feel this funny feeling inside, like uneasiness. Mr. Grub, it's nice seeing you. you again, but I'm not sure it's you anymore. Oh dear, dear, dear, sweet, sweet Delwyn, I've never been more sure of who I am before.

He smiles with a grin that only goes half up on one side. Delwyn runs over to mercy and sits on his shoulder, mistrustful. I kind of press my hand on you. We will see your children. They handle his family, but know this are a family. And if there is a feeling of threat, we protect our family.

Mr. Rune, the bear figure, excuse. Of course, you make your choice, but you must see what it is you decide for, before you decide, yes? Yes. Good. Bowen and behind you all. I was like, are we doing this? Are we going with them? Can I, while everyone's talking, just be like,

I should take my gloves off, and can I go and grab to see if that relic that I have, to see if it feels any different now that we're here? It's a finger in a jar. Don't worry about that. It, as you kind of open your coat a little bit, it does have a faint luminescence. Oh, gosh, sorry. I'm actually kind of cold right now.

Above the table, do we want to go? Because I kind of want to see what the last violence was here. Yeah, right. So I am. But if Dillie wants to see their family, I do not want to intertrued us. Seeing your family. Is there any way we can be honest with them

and be like, take a little moment? Can we take a peeksy without committing? Once we enter that area, is it gonna be like, I just feel like something's gonna affect us. Can I, I wanted to, while the talk was going on with Grubb, just to plant my feet into the ground and try to talk to the fungrel network in the wood.

There is no fungal network. This. That is all the answers that I needed. I would like to use my ability of voice of reason to give you time to figure out what happened here before. In one sense, sorry. Like talk to the oxen here and just be like, Sure. Yeah. Thank you so much for hosting us with so much care and so much understanding of our situation.

Very true. When I lead my head down and I rip the tube off my head. Let the blood just go out onto the ground and grab the seat. And I just really concentrate on my breathing as I try to see that. Go for it. Okay. Let me. Can, is there any, is that reaction? I don't think I can use, can I use my experience something's off to give plus two to this. Oh, absolutely.

I'll like that. You're leaning into the sensation of the very vibe here, countering comfort, and leaning into that to bring that from comfort to violence. I crit. Yes! I crit, dude. It's two nines.

I thought it was another six nine pause, but I crit. Oh my gosh. Gane a hope. To hear that stress. Soilent green is Umbra. Oh, my gosh. So you lean down and as the blood hits the green grass patch and your hand touches it,

your fingers almost seem to sink into it like it's light mud. There's no passage until your arm is partway in there. And it's almost like you're being pulled into the ground before your vision shifts again. And here, through a dark, kind of ruddy filter, You see a much smaller wood, maybe like the trees, much younger. And you see a handful of the feral call,

or as they now call themselves, of the Dova, walking through carefully and quietly before a battle cry and about a dozen armored exemplar soldiers. charge the wood and slaughter them. They fight back valiantly and roar with a monstrous strength, but it looks like at least the tower has sent soldiers this way not long ago to inspect this city. And as they do often, they hold no quarter for anything they deem

unholy as they finish carving through six of these creatures, less gnarled as than the ones that you've met upon arrival, cutting them down, wiping their blades, and cleaning their maces. They gather and continue marching in the direction of the shadow. of the city's mountain. Then you pull away. Did I notice any of them be like a large oxman or like a bear woman

or anything like that? No one you recognize. But no one else had the demeanor of those two? That maybe the... They all seemed to walk. They were like carefully walking. The forest was still kind of growing. It was partway in its rapid advancement,

I guess you could say. And they were dressed similarly and then they were assaulted. I come back to, I got way less information. I thought the veil would just break away. Oh, I lean back up, and I attach the tube back up into my arm. I guess I will do, as you're talking,

I will do a quick glance to both of you, just to like kind of read both of you guys, and I think you're still in kind of that back and forth, and then I will glance to you, sister. And how would I even, what would I do? I'm just going to look at you and shake my head, like, I don't fucking trust it. So you know.

I'm going to speak to mercy in his head. Oh, wow. Suddenly I'm like, I'm getting a message from the Grimm, given Josephs. Can I feel someone's there? Mercy. The cycle is not natural. You cannot feel any of the, I see.

This is not the magic to bring home. I will not turn my sisters into nothing. Well, I'm chatting with the ox here. I notice exchanges happening, and I start to tense up, but I keep my cool. And you have all been so kind, and we are so deeply appreciative of being amongst your presence. I'd like to stretch our legs a little bit. We are overcome by being here, and it would be a delight. to perhaps take a gander as family.

You wish to have you walk about. Before we go, does Dillie smell any fear from any of them? No. As what I need to. As the next is all going, I kind of continue the connection, and I say there was something that Alphonse said when we were resting. this idea of one religion being, belief, uniting each other. What if this is it, sister?

What if this is? I kind of look around. I am. You said it yourself, I am part of this. I should not exist in a time like this. And yet, here I am because of what you. You and your sisters have done to me. What if this is the future?

If the future exists with nature such as this, then our time has passed, mercy. And we will fade. Humanity can be as one under this, and we will not be part of it. It's not the cycle. Look to Dillie and kind of give you a smile, but I still maintain this connection with you.

And I say, but sister, I would like to see. Then we shall see. We should go for a walk. Of course. I stand up. Yeah, me too. I like the smell of the air.

It's sweet. I haven't smelled it before. I'd like to feel that. As Dillie would say, you smell anxious. Yeah. I'd agree with that. Come. Maybe we just start walking around.

Where are you walking? Yeah, I think it's this sense of like from, I think I'm curious to just see the community a bit more, you know, and just see like how they're behaving. The children, if there are children here. There's no children in dispatch. This looks to be a hunting or gathering pack. Right, right.

is hitting one portion of this region. Are they trading? Is there trade going on? Do they have things that are, you know, like I guess it's that thing of, I think in my eyes or in my sense, I'm seeing whether they are, what are the customs?

Right, yeah. So looking at there, there are a few that are, one of them is doing some fletching, pairing a bow and arrow. You can see there is a number of hairs that have been killed or hung up, hares don't live in this region. This is a new, restored wildlife

to this part of the domain, it seems. It's just the trees growing, but all manner of wildlife returning here. Who is a hunter, if not something to hunt? And you see, beyond that, there are barrels of gathered berries and fruits and nuts. You see, there are strips of fronds that have been pulled and set aside for weaving.

There are all the facets of a gathering aspect of this community, and they are conversing and laughing and gathering a few things. There is a kinship here. There is a gentleness amongst each other, and all are deeply curious about all of you. As you walk around, you can't help but notice all of them looking over, but a different kind of look and glance

than many of you are used to, as they are almost like a turn in a smile and a nod acknowledgement, or once again, another wave. I kind of leaned at the civil world and as we're walking, I'm like, how strange it would seem that the journeys we have faced have hardened us. Can dilly smell the fact that there are no

mushroom, there's no fungal network here. I'd say taking a minute and kind of sniffing around, you know, most wilds that exist in the domain themselves are, their biomes are clinging to the cycle as facets of it have been in slow decay. There is no scent of that here. There's a vibrancy, but indeed an odd lack of fungus within this area you're in?

Can I ask our community would keep in touch with other communities? Was there a community within this area that I had been in touch with, that my sisters had been in touch with? There are bits and pieces maybe throughout the thread bears, but there aren't a lot of of anchor points amongst, you know, sub-lakebed blasted land.

So not a whole lot out here to connect with. Okay. In a hush tone, I'll lean into you all. I've seen a vision. Templars running through these woods before all of this. They slaughtered. They slaughtered these people. Well, not these people.

It didn't look like them, but. what I thought were the feral call. I look over at Bowen. Did you see them rise again? It ended before that. Couldn't smell fear on any of them. There ain't been no time since I've been alive where I haven't smelled fear.

Not unless they're umbra, you know. They smell really bad. But never on a living. thing or disgust. That ain't right, is it, sister? I can't say if it's right or wrong. Do you think it would be worth meeting this as chief? I'm worried it'll be the last person we meet. But if you end in true peace and happiness, is it such a bad thing? Bowen types up, and says, as a person who's... Push through fractured faith for so long.

I can say that I have a strong scent for unhealthy belief. And something about this makes me feel greatly at unease. Say we go to the city. We continue our journey. Mercy, all by my family. Dili do not wish to speak. I don't think this is your family.

I say that as one who knows how much you wish to see your family. Don't think this is your family. Right, mercy. Because you see, all this time, I thought, well, I hoped in a strange way that My family had been killed because the alternative is just like that. They left me. They forgot about me. And to be honest, they didn't really like me much.

But you, you seem to like me a little bit. We make you a great deal, Dilley. We choose you guys. Let's go. Do we see where maybe the chief would be, or... How far awake is such a day from? You are far from the city. You don't see a city. You were just here in the wild.

Oh, the chief's in the city. Oh. The chief is. The chief is in the city of Hookborough. Oh. Oh, okay. Okay, okay. They're saying come with them to Hookborough.

Oh. Oh. No, no. No, no. No. No. It's a city adjacent to. It's the village of the Farrell call.

Right. Okay. Yes. Yes. Yes. So if we went to the city, right. I'm going to leave the city. Is that what we are? Is that what we do? We just go to cities and just like ruin everything for everything? Isn't the metropolis affecting all of this?

If we go to the metropolis, we're still going to, we're still going to go to the source of whatever is happening. So might as well just cut to the chase and just get to the source. Meet the Grim Hunter, maybe. In the big city. I guess so. Right. They said that Grim Hunter was one of a few gods.

Oh, I forgot about that. Shona. What's everyone's instinct, by the way? Two. One. Three instinct? One. Dylan, as they're having this conversation,

you notice some of the community has begun picking up their setup, some of the tents, and they're preparing to travel. The others have begun kind of slowly building a perimeter. Oh, the trappin is in here. We're sacrifices. Oh, no, dude. I see this. I point it up to you first.

You ain't see shit, maybe. I didn't see shit. Actually, I'm kind of coming around on the idea. I kind of like that. Adonah and Radun begin to approach from part of the perimeter. He says, you seem to be in deep conversation, and we're about to head on back soon. So we would like to escort you so you might make your choice from an informed place.

Oh, feel free to move ahead. Dillie is an excellent tracker. They look at each other. We really feel it's important for you to make this choice, and we offer this choice to you. But you cannot choose unless you know what you're choosing between. Yes? Yes. I'm sacrificing. I kind of look and I'm like, come with you. please lead the way.

And I kind of interact on like they outnumber us. Sister, we have been through this before. Yes, and we took care of them before. Trudev and the Bergos. We do not wish to impede your journey to the city thereafter, but there are many gods. And we wish for the hunter to show you her kindness First, before the others attempt.

You see like a flash of jealousy in the bear's eyes when it mentions the others. We got a bad God. I kind of like in my head, actually maybe the Grim Hunter was actually a probably good call of you? The vindicated once again. The rest of the folk still smiling all kind of, as you begin to walk with them,

kind of come in as well, and just kind of act as more or less like an escort. How many surround us at this moment? Right now it would be 12. It's just going to get more. Should we cut and run? Grub comes up. We are going anyway to the main city, right?

We just want to skip Hugborough. Is that what it is? Oh, the land of sacrifice and kill up. Yeah, they want us to, they're taking us to hook up. Yeah, but we want to skip. Not go to this land of sacrifice. No. We don't want to be turned to the,

yeah, before we're in a new sacrifice base. Rub comes up alongside and goes, Oh, I'm right, happy to hear this you're coming. They're gonna be so excited to see you. Oh my. Pardon me, I believe there's been a bit of a misunderstanding. Oh, geez. We are so very grateful for your attentiveness.

to our party over here. We desire to, from one old fella to another, I have been traveling for so long. And I just want to get to the main city, no more journeys. I just want to shortcut to, to, to,

remember. Let us just make it there. Make it. Make a presence roll with disadvantage. What's the word. Voice of reason. So reasonable. That's so reasonable.

My voice of reason. I'm going to use a fear. Oh, no. Wait, why disadvantage? Does my voice of reason cancel the disadvantage? So what is your voice of reason say on the car? It says you speak with unmatched power and authority. Okay.

And you have an advantage on actual rules that to de-escalate violent situations or convince someone to follow your lead. Oh, you see? All right, so yeah, so roll with advantage and then roll with a disadvantage. So you roll a D6 to add it and a D6 to- There we go.

Okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, one second, one second, okay. Okay. I started loading my gun. Yeah. No, you're talking my arm. We know what happens. Uncle bud. I was actually counting right next to us.

And we're just loading. Yeah, you're just going to be sure. I can do reassurance on myself, right? Yeah. And then maybe we can give you. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Assurance, say an ally or yourself is an ally. Oh, that's right.

It's okay, it's okay. It's okay, because I have, several things can happen. First of all. Okay, advantage. Okay, that was the disadvantage, I think. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Whatever. What was it the first time?

It was three. Okay, but I also have a prayer. Oh, no, hold up, I have this, I can use a token. Okay, math, and I have a prayer. So one second. 13. It's 12. 12 total.

12, 12 total. Plus your presence. Plus my presence, so 13 total. Yeah. And then I'm gonna use a, a token, 14 total, and I'm gonna make a little prayer. Um, okay. Mercy's just warming up, just like, stretching.

We're stretching next to a tree. I'll know over a stretching. You can see, although this is happening, and Guatemala is sweating a little bit, because they can feel that they're not, they're really nervous. So in their mind, they're like, OSHA, please, we just need to make it, we just need to make it. Okay, so total now we're at 15?

Yeah. 15. With fear. I'm doing deep slots. Take a token, I take another token for later. So she kind of like, you know, touch the chest and there's this little like shell that she kind of fidgets with her hand and goes,

What do you say? And Draydun goes, It is important that they see it. And with that, Uh, Atomna blows into the shell as the others step back. And a cloud immediately and rapidly fills the area where they've kind of corralled you. You all try as you might to hold your breath or pull back.

It almost seems to seep into the skin. I need you all to make a presence roll with disadvantage. Presence reaction roll with disadvantage. Okay, I'm gonna mark a stress to give myself advantage. as an elf trait. Okay. Seven. So I will, that's, yeah.

Crit! Ooh! Crit! No way. 13. Four. Crate was, do we still do disadvantage if it's a crit?

Huh? If it was a crit, do we still... No, it's just that's a success. Yeah. Let me do my math again. 11. 11, 12, 13, 13, 13, 13, 13, 13. 17.

13, 13. I can't do bad in English anymore. badly in England anymore. I was like, I can't. 18. You, you and you fall unconscious. Right. The two of you are like coughing as your eyes are blurry. And they just go, as you're still at this point

lucid at them. It's like, they lean forward and kind of touch your shoulder like, you will have the choice, but you need to see it. You need to see it. The others start picking up your friends and like dragging them along towards the carts. I'm going to hoist of dread into their head, the one that touched me. Okay.

And you just hear an eruption of screams. Let's rock, dude. What? Go ahead and roll for me. Oh my God. This is so bad. It's bad, but I don't want them to touch me. Okay. 17. With hope.

That's a success. Go ahead and roll damage on that. Excellent. Excellent. I am like, ow. I'm showing Bow is out as well. Actually, let me walk for Bowen. Sorry, I'm so focused on the story, you guys.

It's like, that's right, I'm right. Bowen. Bowen, Roll the six. Okay. They're going on the cart, dude. They don't take damage. They're simply frozen in fear. Right. Spotlight's still on you.

Spotlight's still on us. I'll do something else if you are. I could vicious entangle and restrain them. so they don't go and get people. Yeah. It's actually sure. How many? Is it just those two of them in front of us,

or is the whole group? Oh, they're all, and then right now, there's five of them preoccupied carrying your friends off, and there's another seven or so that are right around you. Oh, my God.

We're not going to defeat them. Yeah, yeah, yeah, there's just two of us. If we just run away, though, and like sneak. No, obviously not. We would go in and try to save them if things like that. Okay, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

I just want to get it. Obviously not. No, you and I are just like, whatever. I love you guys, you ain't firstly. That's a good idea. I, who's close to me? How many people are close to me? Are close to you?

Yeah. I'd say four of them. Okay. I will try to terrify them. I'm gonna try to terrify them. I'm gonna try to terrify. So I've, voice of dreaded who? Adomna?

That was Adomna, yeah. I'll try to terrify Gridun. Do I do? Let's go for it. Can I add an advantage? Can I help? If you want to spend a hope to help, yeah. Yeah, I want to spend a hope.

How do you help to terrify them? I'm on sister right now. Like I've climbed up. And what do you do to terrify them? I look up at them and just like suck in so like all my features become like pronounced in the veil of like terror that they see on my face. And I just, I grimace.

And then I scream in their face. Cool, I'll grimace and then have badger on top of my head also grimacing with his fangs. And I've got no pieces and teeth. Just like a totem of grimacing. Yeah. Perfect. 21. Plus three. 24, that's success with?

Fear. No. But let's see. On a success, on a success with fear, the target also becomes temporarily vulnerable. All right. So they're vulnerable right now, but they mark 1D4 stress. Oh, wow. Good. And also, Adomna also marked a stress from the voice of dread. Yes. And they, ooh, three stress. Nice. And they have to flee away from me.

They go just charging the other directions. And goes running away. Everyone else is confused at this cluster here. So that's the two that were directly in front of us. Right, one of them is like, restrained at the moment. So he goes, we have to bring them along. Run.

And the other. I think we take off running into the wood. Yeah, let's go, let's go. All right, they're going to rush in to try and grab and restrain you. Yes. So the group kind of charges in as it starts rushing towards you to grab a hold, I'm going to go ahead and roll a D20 and then add plus one for each one of them.

Oh, God. That's going to be, I'm going to say it's four on you and three on you. Okay. I will spend a fear to activate both groups on you, so I'm not going to count that one. So plus four on you, that's only a 10. I need to make a strength reaction roll and beat a 10. And for you, God damn it. That's going to be a seven. Have a beat a strength reaction roll of seven. Can I do agility and just jump out the way?

Yeah, I'll allow that. Thanks. Nice. If you prefer agility as well, you can do that. Okay. Okay. Okay. Wait, let me think of if there's anything I can use for this.

This is not like, would I get advantage to, this is not hiding? Okay, everything's fine. Oh, great. Can I add, um, can I add, um, An advantage on agility roles that involve balancing or climbing. This unfortunately would be. No, okay, but. 17 with hope.

Well, no hope on this, but that is definitely a success. You dart out of the grip and then dart off and you go rushing southward into the wood on the decree of your agreement as you go running and running. Would you roll? Go, Dillie! No! No!

What do you do, Dylan? You just track them from the tree tops. No, no. That way you're not taken. Oh. Run. Okay. Fine. I don't want to. As you turn back, you watch as they begin to dog pile on Sister, and one of them throws one of their gathering sacks over her head as they pull her back. Oh, not my head. That's a big set.

It is. They're big beasts. I'm like over the top like a little wizard hat now. Yeah, like a beret. Like a beret. You watch her get dragged and pulled back while your other friends are being pulled and put onto the wagons. As you begin to dart, a few of them kind of give chase and you kind of hide off best you can,

and they're searching and searching for the next five or so minutes. They're looking intently, but you managed to stay out of their range. Unseen. How many people are restraining sister right now? Right now, five. It's too many. Could I try from the tree tops?

To attack him. You can, it will reveal you. No, no. Okay, fine, fine. You're right. You're good. At least one of us will be sane. Okay.

Eventually, the search party begins to pull away. Oh, God. And as you hide in the brush, my lordly, Daly. You watch as the carts begin to push the massive horned swine pulling them up the trail in a southeastern direction towards somewhere in the mountainous woods beyond,

with your truly. as you slowly trail behind and hopes that there's something you can do. That's when we're end tonight's episode. Oh, no! No! Oh, shit. You'll be so... There was that shortcut.

We should have started swinging. We should have started to mowing them down. Do you know what we are? We're the pain of oxytose. Oh, God. All righty. Well, we'll pick up from there next time. Thank you, joining us. We love you very much.

And is it Thursday, good night. This episode is at an end. Thank you for accompanying us on this voyage. If you liked the adventure, consider leaving a review on your podcast platform of choice. We're always looking for new critters to share our stories with, and your review may help a batch of new adventurers

discover the show. Until next time.