Critical Role - Complicated Questions | Critical Role | Campaign 4, Episode 27 Part 2

Episode Date: June 9, 2026

Part 2 Thirteen voices rise as the three groups reconvene to seek each other's aid as the Houses tighten their grip on the city...   New Episodes Release Weekly on Thursdays. Learn more about Campaign 4 at https://critrole.com/campaign4/     GET MORE CAMPAIGN 4 WITH BEACON We're excited to bring you even MORE Campaign 4 with a Beacon membership! Get access to exclusive shows like our behind-the-scenes Critical Role Cooldown and ask the Campaign 4 cast your burning questions directly through our LIVE monthly Fireside Chats. You'll also receive NEW Beacon exclusive series, instant ad-free access to VODs & podcasts, live event pre-sales, merch discounts, & a private Discord. Start your 7-day free trial today at https://beacon.tv/join and get unparalleled access to everything Critical Role!   OFFICIAL CAMPAIGN 4 CAST GAME MASTER Brennan Lee Mulligan Laura Bailey as Thimble Luis Carazo as Azune Nayar Robbie Daymond as Kattigan Vale Aabria Iyengar as Thaisha Lloy Taliesin Jaffe as Bolaire Lathalia Ashley Johnson as Vaelus Matthew Mercer as Sir Julien Davinos Whitney Moore as Tyranny Liam O’Brien as Halandil "Hal" Fang Marisha Ray as Murray Mag’Nesson Sam Riegel as Wicander "Wick" Halovar Alexander Ward as Occtis Tachonis Travis Willingham as Teor Pridesire   CREDITS Produced by Maxwell James, Steve Failows, & Kyle Shire Set Designed by Shaun Ellis Production Designer: Noxweiler Berf Character Art by Loren Hontanilla Edited by Taylor Burke and Emily "Stevie" Stevenson Critical Role Announcement Playhouse Editor: Vinny Celesti Opening Title Editor: Paul Foyder Opening Title Colorist: Peter Koocheradis Window Effects by Christian Brown Graphic Design by Aaron Monroy & Jordyn Torrence Dol-Makjar art by Daniel Jiménez Villalba Miniatures Painted by Payton Keo Lacebal Opening Title Theme by Neal Acree Campaign 4 Key art by Hannah Friederichs Additional Art & Design by Hannah Friederichs   Episode QC by Catherine Zimmerman & Paula Flores Assistant Editor: Gianna Gencarella Post Production Coordinators: M Swing & Bryn Hubbard Closed Caption Editing by Margaret Dill, Nikki Kindelberger, Courtney Knewtson, Danielle Lackie, Eleanor Smith-Dufresne & Alice Tsoi Post Production Supervisor: Tal Levitas   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.

Hello again, it's Brennan Lee Mulligan, and you're listening to Part 2 of this episode of Critical Role. If you haven't checked out part one yet, pause this now and head over there first. What are you doing? Otherwise, let's jump right back into this adventure and the world of Arama. When there's enough of them, I can't hear what they're saying. We return to the home of Howland Hill Fang here in the rookery as a group of magically significant, heroically minded folk. prepare to part ways. One such group, Halandil Fang,

Tisha Loy, and an old companion of theazis who I don't think is too particularly close to either Tysia or Hal prepares to head out with them to the V-A Aurora, partially because you're one of the only people in this group who's got a clean name and a face that no one's

going to pin on anything. Yeah, I just directly needed space away from McKend. Hey, Levin. Before you go, Hi. Oh, hi, you're still here. Yes, hi.

I wanted to catch you all before you left. It's true. Hal, you're going to take these folks to see my grandmother, yes? She requested it one-on-one. She's been hounding me for days since you left. I just wanted to prepare you all. I don't know if you had heard that she had

faked her death or something and been fake resurrected, or it's something that you might have heard, so you may mention it upon meeting her. It's obviously not. True, but just so you know. Just be wary. These tattoos that I have, this is filament. And if you see this or anything like it glowing,

that means that magic is being cast on you in the room. So just be mindful of that. And I just want to say a quick prayer for you and may the light protect you and surround you. And I will cast aid on all three of you. And I'll give you an extra five. I give you an extra five hit points, just in case anything happens.

She's not to be trusted. Thank you. I have only heard, as we've all gathered back here, what you must have gone through in the last week or so. I think we've all gone through a lot, but I probably went through the most, yes. He's painfully annoying, but I do think at his core, he's fucking alright.

I've heard versions of that statement like 20 times in the last couple of days. I think it's not a compliment. It is. Just because I'm not good at it, doesn't mean it's not true. You're a good guy. Your heart's in the right place.

You're kind, you're sweet, you're soft. I don't know what I'm doing here. Anyway, just keep being you. You're fine. What we're meant to do with your grandmother? You want us to kill her? I think that's a bad idea. for many reasons, but mostly because I think she'll kill you

so quickly and badly that you won't even know what happened. Doesn't sound like a compliment either. The monster angel is in the basement. Yes, but maybe don't mention that. I think that's pretty much a secret. Also know that if there's a big guy near her, it's Philonius. He's the head of security. He's got big dogs.

Dogs. I'm trying to think anything else I can... When you greet her, say, made the beam reach you. That carries a lot of weight. Okay. Do you need anything from your house? Oh. I left in quite a hurry. If you, if you pass my bedroom, if you could get me some extra clothing and some socks, I don't have... Not a fucking jazz. I didn't pack, I didn't pack enough socks. No. Okay. You need to keep your head down because she has been after me to get to you. And now I have to lie about having Not seen you. So don't leave us out to dry.

Go fucking put your head in a hole. I will. I will. Good luck to you. And you, and I'm gonna pat you on the shoulder and cast guidance. As you depart too, similarly outside, Teor getting ready to head out with Wick,

Tyranny, Boler, and Julian headed to Knife and Palette. I think as you're out by the wagon getting ready to head out, an apparition appears, Alex. Um, your, you feel a weight on one of your shoulders. Uh. A small and you, You see a turtle's hoping. A little undid fox standing on your shoulder

and has something in his mouth. And I say, um, Teor, was it? Yes. Before you go, I just wanted to, I'm very sorry about your brother, and I know that it is my family that did that to them. So I want you to have this, and in Pins' mouth is a vial, of liquid.

That is a, if you drink it, if you encounter the basilisks again, and you drink that, if you are hit with the petrification, that will stop it in its early stages. That is incredibly generous. I think that will come in handy. By the way, this family of yours, I believe, and I'll reach under my cloak

behind my back and pull out the blade of Ceramai. I believe this belongs to your house. I don't know if you are handy with the blade, but... Not specifically, but... Thank you. It's a blade of my vassal house. I assume you had trouble with the water you were on your journey. Yes, that blade is a bitch. Thank you. I'll see it won't be used against any of us.

But I am sorry again. And I want you to have that in case they come looking for another lion. Thank you. It is an interesting meeting, somebody like you. I can agree with you. And I don't know how to meet myself at this point. But be safe. And thank you for everything you're doing. You exchange these items. You, Tayor, getting too bas-like-a-venting. And you taking this...

It's taking this ancestral blade of House Saramai, and I am going to say that our Fotark crew departs, along with Teor, as Octus heads back inside. So we'll swap out the five of you. Octus remains, and let's get Azune, Thimble, Murray, back at the table. Here we go, we're re-rolling ones, but we're rolling new hit points for level five.

Two. Two. We're up. That's okay. What is your new point to? That's going to be, let me see. So that's plus my constitution. So it's going to be, is a lot.

You have a high con? I do have a high con. Dwarf, baby. So that is going to be, unless I am missing something, I was at 29, plus two, or sorry, 39.

40, 41, plus three. So I should be at 44. Your old was 39 and you just rolled a two. Plus three for my con. Plus three for your con is five. So plus five would be 30, would be 44. 44. It's apparently 44.

Unless you have some other thing that gives you hip points. I don't think so, but D&D Beyond is weird. And I don't understand it, but it's 44. So we're going to go with 44. Beautiful. Cool. Ew, yeah, it's probably set to a different. Octus, walking back inside Azunate,

as you see a group head out with Wick and other very recognizable people hugging the shadows headed south for the Tanners. And Hal, Tysha and Kattegan. So basically your three cleanest faces head to the Via Aurora, right? Tysha, Hal, Kattegan. And then Wick, who cannot be spotted,

and Julian who's supposed to be dead, and this whole other, and Tayor, who has the creed, looking for him, all hug the shadows and head after the rookery. You are all left here. No, I get an extra hit point per round for Dwarven toughness, is that correct? I think so. So I am at 45.

I am at 45? Hell yeah. Did I have been doing that right? It doesn't matter, I'm a 45. Great. Azine, you wished to speak to a smaller group. I did. Mary Thimble, there's another item on my list

that I didn't know how to get to in front of everybody else, but Einfossen is demanding that I present my case against Taconas to him tonight. And he's made it very clear that the physical evidence that I've given him plus the testimony of Grotto is not gonna be enough. And Murray, I don't know how to do this anymore. I feel like I've been lying so much,

and it's starting to really weigh on me, so I don't know how many more lies I have in me. So I need help. I mean, I'll do anything that you need me to do. I need Demetis to come with me. I said I would do anything he need me to do. I know. I don't really feel super great about volunteering the child.

Is his written statement not enough? I don't think it will be, but I, I'm in a bind. I have to go and going with Grotto alone. It is as if I was going by myself. And I don't want to go by myself, Mary. Please don't make me go by myself. Okay. Okay.

You understand the implications of what you're asking for. This could ruin this kid's life if he still has a life by the end of this, right? I know. Could they kill him? Yeah, they could kill us all. But I have been very careful and very meticulous in communicating to Einfossi in a curated case that helps him see Taconas as an not fully collaborative

participant amongst them. And he's been taking it very personally. I think it's working. Why now? Why is he? They're trying to- Because he knows that they're up to something tomorrow. because the theories that we have are right the sundered houses

we're supposed to be collaborating working together to do something tomorrow but Taconas has deviated from that and the more we set Taconas up to believe that he might be going after them at the very least it's going to buy us some time if we can make

enemies out of them I don't know if we can but if we make them suspicious of each other but I mean, aren't the enemies at this point? If Taconas is going off on his own, he's going against their plan, right? Right. But I have been painting the picture that Tacunus went after Royce

because it was the priestly houses that are now coming after the rebel houses. At the very least, it's Taconus that's been using them, tricking them, because they're not, the score isn't settled to their liking. and I've been planting some things. I want Eiffossen to think that maybe he's next. I'd be willing to wager that Ayn Fawson is playing a game of 4D chess here and that this could be a ploy.

A trap. It could be a ploy for Eyn Fawson to try and wipe Deconis off the map to make it easier for whatever machinations that they're trying to pursue. I don't know that's bad. Let them fight each other. Let them reduce each other's numbers.

We did this. Already, Murray, we did this in the sewers. I know. You're talking about a kid. And you have to keep lying. You can't undo these lies right now, Zunei. You have to, you're gonna have to clench your butt cheeks, sucking in your balls, all right?

And you're gonna have to like... I don't know how to do that. You just... You can suck in your balls through your butt cheeks? I don't think you... I can try. Do I hear any of that? You've walked in on for this conversation, yeah.

Yeah. What does that have to do with telling the truth? I, it's a bet. Why do people not understand, like, metaphors here? I'm just saying you're gonna have to like, you have to keep up with this, Azune. You cannot break now, okay? Okay.

You are so good at this. You are so good at this. I'm not. Azune. Just think of it like a battlefield, right? It's not the same thing. You know, you talk about that, we're talking about these like components.

you know, spell components that you use up to make something incredible happen. And we're thinking about the paints and the stone of Night Song and these are components for something. And I think I've learned something else that there's a different. Sometimes you make some really hard choices and it uses up your innocence.

And I don't know how much of that I have left. Breathe. Breathe, you're having a panic attack. Just breathe. I don't wanna do this anymore. Hey, hey. I don't wanna be this anymore. Hey, Azune, I reach up and I just like,

rub your earlobe. Breathe. Take a breath. Okay. Zimbel, do you remember when we first met? I don't remember everything about the people where I come from, but I do remember some stuff. And I know that we believe that people die

multiple times and that the final death is when you've forgotten. and I want you to remember me like the boy you first met. I want to be remembered as who I was before I killed anybody, before I became a liar. I can't do this alone. Do you want me to come with you? I don't want to take you now with me, but Octus can come with me.

You said that very quickly. Why are you putting him on the... His name. He could prove everything. If I come with you, I expose a lot of things, including everything we're doing. If I, if they realize that I am still around, that's a lot of problems for us with the Togonis.

Listen, I don't know you well. Just met you a little while ago. Then stop, stop. The answer's already no. You don't have to know. I don't want to hear it. I don't want to hear it. I don't want to hear it.

The answer is no, and that's enough for me. I'm not asked. I'm just going to say that in my position as I currently am, I will not die of old age. I will continue living. We will not forget the good person that you are, as you currently are. Remember you.

Uh-huh. Azunei. Why does that hurt? You've always been a Boy Scout. That's why you're so good at what you do. do here. You have a trustworthy face. You do still have that innocence. You have the literal sunset in your eye. That light isn't fading. It's just right on the horizon. And it hovers there, all right? As Marie mentions your sunset eyes, you think about the fact that a mere 12 hours

ago, you saw those eyes looking up at you from the ground as your sister bled onto the floor. You saw how withered she looked. What has she led a life doing? What have you led a life doing? She looked consumed, like a bag of components used up for the casting of great spells. Not helping.

Once again, we are recording this, so I do. Look, we're gonna get through this. You have an incredible support structure around you. We are all implicated in this scheme together. You do not have to shoulder any of this alone. And I promise you, I promise you, if we get through this, I will take you out for pizza and an ice cream party just like the Boy Scout that you are. You understand? What kind of ice cream? What kind of ice cream? What's your favorite? All of them. I will buy you. An ice cream cone? Stacked up.

I will buy you every carton of ice cream that is in this Godforsaken city right now. You understand? Establishing so many things. Thimble. I actually want everyone other than Azune and Murray to give me an insight check. Vailas as well.

I assume he was hearing this conversation distantly. Yeah. Wow. And I'll say that Thimble, I'll say that Thimble, you can roll here with advantage because of your history with Azune. That's terrible, but this is okay. 18? 18.

15. 15? 18. 18. 18. Vales, I think on an 18. Or actually, Azune, go ahead and roll a persuasion or a deception with disadvantage because you're just in a heightened emotional state. Two-19s. Two-19s. Two-19s, hell yeah.

Oh, persuasion? Persuasion. So that's a 25. 25, hell yeah. I want Murray to give me a persuasion, persuasion as well, if you'd be so kind.

18. 18. Azune soldiers up. As Murray gives the command, suck it up. You know Zunei joined the torn banner when he was 12 years old. He was starving on a street corner, and Thas found him. And I think on that 18,

it's not high enough to get past a Zunez guard. He is, the moment of vulnerability you've seen is quickly brushed away by a lot of competence in a man that needs a mask to survive. But I think on an 18, which meets Murray's, Velaus, you are able to perceive in what Murray is saying, some degree of insight into her. What is Murray feeling that Vailas can hear

in her voice right now? Guilt. Guilt. Horrible. She hears what he has to say, but it doesn't matter right now. And I think it doesn't matter what Marie says. She knows the Zune is right.

I think Phyllis, you hear that loud and clear, and I think Thimble on the 18. You hear that, and the word that rings in your ear is alone. You and Thaz had each other. You lived in this city. You've worked with the Zunei countless times before. long years of living in Dolmachia. Azune was your man on the inside.

He was the person that Piazzi relied on to keep him apprised what was going on with the Revolutionary Guard. And I think when Murray says, you're not alone, you realize you have no idea where Azune lives in the city. You don't know who he sees at night. You don't know who he has dinner with.

You don't know what he goes home to. I would like to walk up and sit directly in front of a Zune. I don't believe we've probably met. I know we haven't. We have something in common, and I can smell it all over you. What could it be?

That's the hardest sometimes. How do you do it? A choice. And sometimes, to protect the ones that are left behind, you have to do things that don't feel very good. Yeah, I want to do that. I reach into my pocket, and I pull out. Wipe your face.

I'll talk to Demetis. Let me talk to him first. I have the best relationship with him. I fought for him to even have a place at the penthouse. Kid does ever send to his name. I'll talk to him, but under one condition, I will be in that room with you. I can be invisible.

I can be nearby. I can listen in. I can plant a bug. I can do whatever. I don't even have to be physically seen or present, but I cannot let that kid that we rescued

cold and dying out of the sewers from the croak keeper's grasp and walk him right back in to a worse lion's den than he's already in. You understand? I do. But you gotta go there with me with no trickery. They're gonna see right through it. It doesn't work for them. And you have a right to be there.

Deal. When you talk to Demidas, he should still make a written statement. He should make copies of it. I don't know where I already has him on that task, so I'll make sure of it. And if there's a way I can help without putting me in front of people that... Can you give me back that letter that you snatched that in my hands? Yes. You hand back the letter.

Murray, it's probably one third. in the afternoon, and this is your last day. It's, you know, you have King Gus to go speak to, and now you've added Demetus and potentially the Einfossen to that list. You're on hour three of a lunch break from the Arkanad. If Dean Cora comes by and asks where you are, times of the essence, what happens?

Well, you were meeting with him tomorrow morning, right? Didn't you go to meet with him tonight, but I can. I'll just send word to do it. There's time. We're going to need time. I need a time. I'm gonna need a glyph, and I'm gonna need a couple of those crystals.

Which cliff? Just a blank one. I gotta write a spell on it. It'll help me. Take whatever you need from our group stash. Okay. I toss on the bag of our bowl on you so you can take it. Now we'll take what I'm looking for. Great. You grab some of the Meta-magic jams,

and you grab one of the blank spell glyphs. Not so much of my chips. Hmm? They got so much shit. They got so much shit. Uh, I gotta go talk to Gus. All right, everyone. We need to, we need to move.

Okay. We're losing daylight. Okay. The day we met, we realized we both left things behind, right? Brand new world. Yeah. For both of us again. Right?

Adventure. All right, everyone. Get the molasses out your ass. We gotta move. If the Einfossi meeting is happening tomorrow and Murray's gonna talk to Demetus first, Azzanay, you see that they're about to head to speak with Gus. I walk away for a second and I take a breath.

Wipe my face. I love you. I just stopped crying. Get the fuck out of here. That's better. Varon looks at you about to head out. to go run down what he's running down, and looks at you and says,

he basically says, should I come with you? Are you going to go speak with His Majesty, the king? He looks and says, I think it might be, the king owes Murray his life, but he owes it to you and the others that were there that ran into the room. He just doesn't know it. He doesn't.

What I would say is, depending on what the professors, professor who's going to speak to him about. In a worst-case scenario, we're all in a lot of trouble, but in a best case, he is a military man. And knowing if he has someone who knows what the city's resources are, it's a helpful thing. Okay, you're right. I don't know how to stand up for myself against this guy.

He's scary. He looks at you, you see he looks at you and goes, well, for a lot of us, it's easier to take an arrow than a harsh word, but body's made of stern stuff and he slaps your shoulder. Just spirit needs to follow. Best luck, Lieutenant. Um. Is he convincing Azuna to roll with us now? Yeah. Yeah. If you'll have me.

Let's go, baby. Besides, he's hot for teacher, so I think it'll be all right. Great. And I'll excuse you guys from the table. Let's go ahead and get, uh, let's go ahead and get Liam, of Rita and Robbie in here. My friends, you approach. This magnificent estate erected very quickly to the might, splendor, and majesty of the candescent creed. Tysha, you were probably like a four-year-old girl

when they broke ground on this cathedral. And it has this whole, you look around, you haven't been in this neighborhood in a minute, But, or I should say you have been in this neighborhood recently, but it's on the opposite side of Mearsash, which is the neighborhood you grew up in. This all used to be orange groves. This, there's a 10 block radius that is Crete.

Cathedral via Aurora. There are holdings of House Halivar here privately. You see that there are rows of, rows of houses that have the lintel piece in marble with the Candescent Creed carved into it, like on private housing. It has just spread like a campus here in this place. There are street preachers out here that you can see people calling out. And as you arrive, white gravel courtyard doors open.

And looking out in this place as you arrive, you see that there are some soldiers approaching, and you see Sir Follonius Halivar look out. Who knows? Sorry, really quick. Before we would have gotten within visual range of anyone important, are we all walking in? What's the plan?

I don't, they have a monster in the basement. I don't really like the idea of going inside the Vatican on my own. But that means we need to explain. our trio. Well, I'm kind of asking if you want person, friend, or I can be a second dog? Double dog? Double dog?

Double dog? Your call. Dog? Man. Dog? Maybe dog. Variable. Oh, well, I actually think you're easier to explain than must be a failure.

Yeah. I wasn't sure if you were expected to be alone. I probably was, but, um, We're civilized people, more or less, some of us. I'm just gawking at everything that's I've never been in a place like this before. Right, right, right. I think the angle is that you and I are family.

Fair. We're no secret in this city. And this is an old friend of my brothers who I am trying to learn things about my brother's past. Well, it's not even a lie. It's just truth. Yeah. Yeah. It's easier to.

You're my guest. You're my country mouse guest. Okay. In the event, we get separated, and I think I just flick my wrist, and slithering down my, like, Loy staff is just, like, a jet black snake that looks like it's got oil slick on the scales. And I'll send my familiar with you. You can wear it as a belt. I don't know. Just we need to get in contact. Oh, yeah, sure. I'm trying to hike my pants up. And also, Brendan, before we would have gotten that close, almost there, but I think I turned put my back. to the Via Aurora and look at you.

This is gonna be fine. Yeah. Tell me you love me and everything will be fine. I love you. Everything's gonna be more than fine. And so it will be. And that word vibrates through my skull and I cast enhance ability

on myself. Charisma. So I am always at advantage with deception thanks to the Liars play, but now I'm also at advantage with persuasion. Oh, let's go. Incredible. Um, Abria, can you roll a luck check for me?

Why me, Brennan? Because it concerns you. You don't want a one through ten. Okay, it's a 14. Great. Thank you for being in Marisha's seat. She rolls good and I'm using that. Level five. Yeah, help, I'm only level three.

Oh, sorry, by the way. I'm a liability. Oh, my. You walk past here. And as you turn a corner begin to walk approaching Sir Halevar, you see a figure that you've seen before walk past, and you see that a beautiful antlered demon turns around and goes, welcome travelers to Via Aurora. Where do I know you from?

Oh, gosh. Who could say? Around the city Hi Blessings of the light be upon you What do you say? Is this Enmini? No.

This is cruelty. Cruelty. Yeah. Nice spellwork. She goes, Oh my God! What are you doing here? We already said we're sorry!

I live here. Oh, okay. Hold on. Are you trying to get revenge? We didn't even kill you. You tried. Sorry. Is there a problem here?

We're guests of the photo. Well, we're old friends. Why else would you come back? You were in a different whole city. We're already in trouble. Oh, man, you're in trouble. You're in trouble. You sound like, again, that's the most effective thing you did

while trying to kill me, was not hurt my feelings. I'm gonna put those handlers on my wall. I'll find you in trouble. Give me a wisdom saving throw. Oh, no. Oh, okay. Hold on. Oh, mom, this is great.

No, I need saves. I'm brand new at this. 22. What is on your surface thoughts? Surface thoughts are like just laughing, remembering all the times I don't on her. Yes. You see she goes, there's something in there

that'll hurt you and I, don't make sight of me! And you said she just rolls off into the gravel and rolls under a carriage. Was that a spell? It rolls away like a poltergeist? It rolls away like a little exorcist girl, and just rolled under a carriage.

And you see that Sir Philonius from the steps says, All aspirants are required at afternoon prayer. Oh, that's the word. I was saying astringen. We're gonna use the carrot and not the rod when we go inside, so... I like her a lot. That's the thing. Philonius says, Welcome to the Via Aurora. My apologies for our aspirin.

Their piety and fervor in worship often makes them speak in tongues that sound like full sentences. It's all good. I'm fairly decent friends with Wicander from the family. I've spent a bit of time with his aspirants. Ah, we were anticipating you, Mr. Fagg.

Of course, I wish you a blessed and luminous day, for I believe it was your gala last night that received the miracle of resendent. I know. I arrived a little too late to witness the miracle for myself, but the entire museum... In your heart, you know it is true. I have learned a lot from Wickander, and I know there's more to learn. Yes, well, the Lord Wickander is indeed very important in the coming and goings to the light, and he is still not sent word from us on his missive if you hear of anything from him.

Please let us know. Hello. Hello. Well, you can have a life is right here. You see, he opens the door and goes, is the wolf also coming? Is a pet-friendly church area? This is the via-roids my family's home.

Right, right. But we did make it look like a church. Are they dogs loud? You tell me. And you see that, Wrath and judgment, these two sort of like celestial hounds that are the size of fucking horses just look out and cones of light come off their eyes and detect magic.

Are there any active spells? Do they see Enhance Ability charisma? Yeah. You see, oh, is he good boy. And you see that Philonius says, do you have any magic active one? Well, I've just come from my theater. and we are, in fact, practitioners there

on a friendly level. Helps with performance, anxiety. He nods, he's gonna make a little archaun check. Give me a deception roll. Roll's a billion days. It's a 19. You see that he goes, Oh, I see this, there is sort of theater magic on you.

Yeah, some of us go to the people with fictions and fabrication. and others bring the truth. I was beginning to cast speak with animals and then stop just made, are we not allowed to? I just wanna say hi. Oh, do you wish to speak to my hounds? Sorry, they're just so cute.

I spin my hand on a little bone floats over my hand. Oh boy. It grabs the bone and sort of slaps, snaps. Well, he grabs air. Yeah. You can cast people with animals. Yeah, I'm gonna. You do so.

And you see that, Flanis says, Are you a wielder of arcane magic? I am a druid of the circle of ancients, and I will speak to all dogs. Give me a persuasion charm. Uh-oh. It's a three on the dice. I don't think it's going to matter.

Six. He goes, Ah, a druid of the circle of ancients. We welcome you to our home. You are welcome here. I, okay. That's a, that's a fun look. I come bearing a belated candle feast, blessing. Happy candle feast.

Please do not cast any magic on premises. Wrath, judgment, continue your patrol. Now, and you see they go, and run off into the courtyard. I have a snake in my pants. I do as well, what's that? Is it magic? No. Oh, I'm sorry.

I take it back. I don't. It's not a magic snake. I mean, kind of, but... No, now don't be down on yourself. I'm sure it's a magic snake. Come with me. Elias and Kattegan are best friends.

Yes. You are, you guys are brought. It's a little magical, but shish. Oh, sorry. I thought we were being honest. No. All right. Two truths and a lie. You guys are brought in a lie.

You guys are brought into the Via Aurora and find that there is a smaller chamber that nevertheless is built like a throne room. There is a hushed chapel, stained glass of gold and cream and teal and sort of translucent diamond white transmutes the gray overcast light of Dolmachiar into a panoply of color on the ground as you look out and see raised only three or four steps up, but on a magnificent white throne that gleams with light. You see Yenessa Halivar, who looks out.

There are, this room is filled with about like a dozen or so attendants. There's a small desk off to one side. People are bringing her papers to review. You see that an attendant is speaking with her. She also has her son Goddard, you see, is enormous broad shoulders. He has sort of a hunched back blindfold on

here behind him. Enmody is on the other side of him, and you see that Yonessa looks up and says, I am so glad to receive you. Welcome, honored guests, to the Via Aurora. I understand, Mr. Fane, that you have brought a woman that I know to be actually your love, yes? She's family, yes. family. I see she says, welcome, Miss Loy. The name of your family

rings with honor and pride here in the city of Dolomakia and we honor you and the path that you walk as well. Though we are sisters of different faiths, there is no path to which the light does not reach.

And we honor you. And of course, for your family's sake as well, Well, Dolmachia, the... She says, there were none that blasphemed against the light so greatly as the shapers. On this, we absolutely agree.

Belated happy candle feast. You are aware of our holy days. A belated happy candlefish to you. Would you like some of our luminous cookies? That sounds delightful. It makes ever so many. May I. I say, may the beam reach you,

and what a pleasure it is to see you so healthy and hail after last night's excitement. You see, she smiles. As you say, may the beam reach you, go ahead and give me a persuasion check. You want cookie, and get cookie. Smile. It's 26.

26. She says, may the beam reach you. Some attendants bring out these little white sugar cookies with some, they're sort of that creamy, like, off-y they've caught a little bit of, like, of the my yard. reaction in the oven, but they had this pure white confectioner sugar on them that are brought over to you. And you see that, she says, may the beam reach you, Mr. Fang.

And your companion, this is a member of your troop? This is an old friend of the family. My brothers, to be specific. I'm showing him around the city, and he's helping me get to know the man my brother was. Awkward bow. What is your name, traveler? Cadigan, Vale. Katagan Vale. Yeah. Welcome to the Via Aurora, Mr. Vale.

Honored to be here. It's quite an astonishing place. May I say, Mr. Vale, you bear a weight to your spirit, and I want you to know that nothing is truly lost. Everything that is promised to us waits for us in the light. Promises are meant to be broken, or at least that's what my dad always. always said. I'm a sinner though, so maybe I'm in the right spot.

God, that's so sad. We all are, Mr. Veil. Even you? Of course. To walk perfectly in the light? You see, she gestures to enmity and says, the purpose of the light is not to cast judgment upon those who stray or err. The miracle of Our aspirants is proof that even those who are born from the pit itself know the touch of the light. Whatever mistakes you have made in your life, Mr. Vale, they do not define you. I wish for your spirit to know lightness and freedom. It's nice to hear. She says, if you have wished to speak to someone, know that the creed is here for you.

Is it smart? Do you ever feel lost or alone, know that we are here for you? Thank you. And then courtesy nod. And I'll just sort of turn my back away. You see that she says, Mr. Fink, we need speak of your theater. May I invite you into a circle of trust?

I think with the patronage you've shown the arts, I'm based off my excellent relationship with your grandson. I welcome it. My grandson is the matter of trust that I now bring to you. I believe that my grandson has been captured against his will. Speaking of those who sin, I and my family have engaged in a line, pointed on truth. We have been sharing publicly that we believe we candor to have been on a mission and to have simply slipped in remaining in touch with us.

This is a lie to which I will have to beg the light for forgiveness. as we all can. We told it because we did not wish for the people to panic. Wakander has become a symbol, a symbol for a bright mourning at the end of so much darkness. The shapers were thrown down and all were promised freedom, and we have endured nearly a century of war. Wakanda was to be a symbol for an escape from that. The true delivery of the promise of freedom.

And yet, he has vanished and gone missing. We believe that he has been captured by a seditious agitator, a former rebel of the Falconer's rebellion, with a pointed agenda to ponderous, to punish those sundered houses that merely wished to restore order and law to these lands. We believe this individual may have even been present at your brother's funeral. We believe that Wakanda Halivar has been captured by a rebel traitor known as Teor Pride Sire. Oh, your perturbation must know no bounds. What is at the heart of it?

There was rumor of his mercenary company working in the far east, past the old fallen empire of Obridemia. We believe he may have been present in the city because of your brother's passing, and it may have driven him over an edge into grief and madness and lashing out at those that he perceives as being responsible.

Of course, if I had my way, Mr. Fang, there would be no punishment in death. in death, there would be only reverence and acceptance in light. But we believe that this pride sire is dangerous, and he may mean harm not only to us, but to you as well, anyone that he perceives as being against him. Well, it is no secret that my brother had a very checkered and turbulent life, and it grieves me to think that my brother

to think that any harm would come to Wickander's head. I said goodbye to him at my door. I bid him farewell from my brother's funeral. He did stop to pay his respects and give out him out in the world. Your grandson means well, but he is as, I don't mean to insult him, but as innocent as they come.

You are not wrong. This wicked world has a way of sullying pure things. And if you will return to you, You would show mercy on him. Wiccander? Yes. If you were returned to me, I would weep for joy. Wiccander has done nothing wrong that I know of.

Have you heard differently? No. No. No. Go ahead and give me a discussion. While he's doing this, is Edmoney in the room? Yeah. Can I try to give the help?

by like drawing enmity's, like, I'm trying to take attention off of Cadigan. Yeah, yeah. What's that? What's that? Could you read it for me? Oh, but, yeah. Thanks so much. Oh, yeah. Oh, that's a natural one.

Thank you. It's the thing. I wanted to have it. You actually, no. Maybe don't have it. Maybe don't have it. Hmm. Mr. Vail, have you come into contact with my grandson?

If I kill him, he'd you. All these motherfuckers talked for a lot. Like two hours, you talk for five minutes. I believe you. I just thought if family and you thought he was taken, you would be mad at him for allowing himself to be taken and family as prestigious as yours would certainly want a more capable young man and perhaps you would be mad at him.

If I were to allow myself to, as a young child, to, fall into such perilous circumstance, I certainly would expect my family to be upset with me, and I would expect that they would show mercy on me. You know, I will say this about Wiccander. Against his own better judgment, he was attracted to danger. He was beyond fascinated with the men of arms

at our house that night. He seemed, in fact, with anyone who wore a blade at their side. And I think, I mean, as long as I've known him, he has longed for adventure, which I know is an odd pursuit for one in his role in this city and within this hollow place. Go ahead and give me persuasion or deception. They're the same, baby.

Let's go. That is, that is, that is, 21. 21, hell yeah. Yeah. You see, she says, you may well be right. And, and,

and, I met in ReasonGerdel, yes? I had not intended to bring it up here. Well, and when we spoke, you said you were. The photarches. I'm so sorry, you have met one of our aspirates. I didn't want to, interrupt your conversation. But yes, I was in ReasonGirdle recently, and I came across aspirant enmity shortly after stopping in and paying my respects to the Einfossen, who I believe

were hosting some of the heirs of House Taconas for Candle Feast. They were hosting some of the House Ticcunus were celebrating Candle Feast. I believe so. It was around the time. Yeah. How unusual. I did not know that. them to be of the faith. Well. Your reach is far on wide. Well, you see, enmity, you hear a voice in your mind

from enmity saying, the less said of our failure, the better or make it worth your while not to share what occurred on the Hakwilin Book. You're really gonna want to make it worth my while. Make a persuasion check. I'm following Whitney's lead about what demons are like. You, you see that as she says, well, enmity,

you must tell me all about your meeting with our friend, Miss Loy, as soon as you can. And you see, and he says, of course, your radiance. You see, the photograph says, but we have not come here to speak of, we are here to speak. Your play, your play, your play, your play. I'm running in a thousand different directions this week, especially. We are on the verge of it, less than 24 hours away. Well, I have some changes.

We were able to get a script from Wicander's belongings and things. Yes. And there are several things that we would like to alter if we can. There is an element of... I love creative collaboration. We feel that when the play ends and Asgra is still dominant. Osgra wins, the revolution failure, the rebellion fails. And it feels like it's going to be an extremely tragic or somber or unfortunate ending.

we would love if at the end, yes, Fokion dies, but if he were to die and merge with a universal force, something that would show that his life, his rebellion was not spent in vain, but rather that in struggling and failing, his soul was actually redeemed and rewarded. I am.

I'm with you. I'm with you. I think I would like to suggest that that is implied. Let's make it explicit. And further, I think there are some moments of comedy that just don't hit in the first act. The, I think there's an element that we would like to bring as well of Vokion communicates a lot towards his people. He keeps bringing it back to the Rungiani. But of course, there will be many in your audience that are not themselves Rungiani. Perhaps if there was something that he referred to that he felt that there was a spirit moving upon him, something that he almost didn't understand why he was doing what he was doing, but there was something communicating to him.

The yearning for freedom. Yearning for redemption. Yearning for salvation. Redemption against what? Redemption from what? We are all sinners. Sure, but is that the focus? I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

This is your play and my people's history. So you guys can keep, that's fine. I understand that these are some quite large changes, and I know that you are going up tonight. So, you're she going up tomorrow night. You see, she says, I understand you are going up tonight. So I would be more than you are going up tonight. So I would be more than you.

more than happy to, you know, there's big changes very quickly. Do you feel confident that you can make those changes in time? Yeah, I think I can. Do you have any edits we'd like to suggest specifically? Anything on Facebook? She snaps her fingers, and you see that there is an enormous pile of pages that are moved towards you with tabs sticking out at little angles with Candescent Creed stationary on it. with long cards filled with notes.

I think I can take these under consideration. Wonderful. If you have creative issue with anything, your lease is very clear. You are not, you are a free man in the free city of Dolmachiar, and your business is your own. If there are things here that you feel warrant further consideration or that you don't feel positive about,

I want you to know that we are absolutely happy as part of the body that granted that lease to delay opening night until we can arrive at a middle ground? No, no. I think that we can make this work. I'll take those suggestions, and you come tomorrow night, and you will be pleased.

I want to be very clear, Mr. Fang. I have no issue with... Opening night being a week from now, a month from now, a year from now. It's important, Mr. Fang, given how excited and a buzz the city seems to be, that we get this right. We do have momentum on our side, and I would hate to ruin. Collaboration between Halevar and Fain. She smiles and says, very well.

I also understand that your dramatist arcane is under house arrest. Yes, yes. And fortunately, we were able to work out an arrangement with his age. He's a gentle old soul. I'm very glad to hear that. And let me just say, I understand he's put a tremendous amount of work into this play. I would be so happy to make an advisement to House Einfossen on his potential release based on all this business with Obermus Manor and everything else.

Or, if you prefer, we have our own skilled luxes that could help with any lighting effects you might need, which I understand as much of what he did. Well, it's part of it. There's also a good bit of illusion and shadow. What is illusion, but a sallying of the light? I would prefer, if you permit me, to earn your good grace. I think I know precisely what you want to see. You do?

I've spent a lot of time with your grandson. He talks a lot. Well, then when may I come see it? I'll save a seat for you tomorrow. You're having the dress rehearsal. Oh, I thought you were going up tonight. You're going up tomorrow? Ah, yes, tonight we are just...

Well, the dress rehearsal is probably tonight, yes? For sure, but we only have a handful of hours and I don't know that I can have the troop be off book in time. Oh, with the new changes? Yes, yes. Well, then let's delay opening. So much time and effort has gone into this moment tomorrow night. Is there anything I can offer that would satisfy your need?

I've taken great pains to write them all down, and she points at the script. Can I make an insight check on her? She's so weirdly insistent on delaying the opening. Go for it. Give me insight. I'll give you the number you're trying to beat. You are trying to beat a 20. I don't. Shit.

Well, is it that you need to see a run through first? Yes, that would be delightful. All right. Well, maybe we can meet in the middle. Why don't you come and people will be a book in hand and we can give you an idea of how things will be, then give my folk a good chunk of time to digest, and then we'll be ready to go.

She looks at you and says, I'm so sorry. You can imagine that there is a great deal of tumult, given the recent miracle. I will not be coming myself to... With tremendous respect, I do not think it appropriate for someone of my calling to be in the theater or the marketplace or these areas.

But the Lady Iris will be by to see this run through and make sure that the changes have been adopted. Understood. I am nothing, if not pliable. Pliability in the hands of the faithful is simply surrender to a higher order. You are a man of good heart and conscience. Pliability in the face of the light is simply acknowledgement of a greater truth.

Thank you, Mr. Fang. I take heart from your illumination. May the beam reach you, I think. She looks out and anyone who wants to give me an insight as you leave the room. 23. Insight? A natural 20.

Two modes. Kattegan. It feels right. You look up, as you are leaving this chamber, You look up and see the photarch smiling right at you. And she doesn't look at Hal, doesn't look at Tisha. She looks right at you, smiling. And in your mind, you hear, I'm here if you ever need to talk.

Does Katagan turn to accompany Hal and Tysha out of the room? Say that again. Does that you, do you assume you follow Tysha and Howe out of the room, right? Yeah. As you turn around on a Nat 20 insight, You feel the photarch's eyes remain on you. Kagan, you spent a whole life in the wilderness. Your body has an instinctive reaction

when a predator has started hunting you. You are marked. And on a nap 20, the most powerful woman in the world wants you in her jaws right now. In this voice in my head, in this voice in my head, is there the sense that she can read my thoughts or only send it one. Only sending it right now.

Okay. On that 20 insight, you don't feel that you can respond, that you're having a conversation or that she can probe deeper into your mind. Okay. You exit out of the V-A Aurora. The moment we hit anything, I assume this place is full of light. It's very cathedral-like. The moment we hit anything close enough to a dark corner,

I'm gonna have my familiar slip off of you. And he's gonna get as far as he can get. I want him searching for that angel basement. Wasn't here for weird conversation? Oh shit, I thought you were here for weird conversation. Unbelievable. I love after every one of these scenes that I have a little section for what the fuck happened.

And this one just says, Cadigan fucked, Snake. That's how I take notes. Incredible. Out on the street, once we're like a few blocks away, Hal's quiet as they walk away from this place. And eventually he just like stops, puts his hand on a building and just sort of bends over,

laughing silently. I have so much work to do. Are you gonna do it? That old dried out husk can choke on filament. I gotta go to the theater. We gotta prepare some bullshit. and then they can fucking choke tomorrow night. I've never loved you more.

Hal, you rushed at the theater. It's time for dress rehearsal. You're producing a play. I got to pass out pages. We got to put on a sham tonight. And tomorrow we go forward as planned, script untouched. Fuck, yes. All right.

You guys are good to go. You guys can swap out. Let's go ahead and get the group headed for Knife and Pallet. Incredible. Zipzaps, all this. Zip. Crazy eights. Crazy eights.

Final boss is Sisko. Balear. Heading out from Hal's home, you went your way back down to the Tanners. A neighborhood that Wick, even living for most of your life in Dolmachiar, you have, I mean, traveling around and everything like that, but you've certainly never been here. Tear, the last time you were here was,

this is the same neighborhood that Fiazzi's hide out where you rescued and saved Thimble's life. That's where this happened. Awesome. Around this place, it is an industrial neighborhood. It's called the tanners because there's a lot of leather tanneries here, so there's like sort of industrial sewage flowing out

over the cliffs down into Lake Nahami. And you arrive at a little cobblestone road, big squat buildings. See, there's one that has like a doorway that's been bricked up. You see like sort of covered. And across from that small little window and a small door that has a,

you recognize a sort of braided, rope tool on it, which is for halflings and gnomes to easily open doorways that are built for larger folk. Belair, you approach the apartment across from knife and pigment. And she specifically asked to meet me. Yes, unless there's another person with your name. No, but did she give any indication of why? Well, I got the sense that perhaps she was very attracted to you.

I don't believe you. Yes. I didn't get that sense because she wasn't there. I was just going for a shot. I got the sense that it could be anything. Well, is there anything we need to know about Hollis Kenywater before we walk in? Is he... Is there any information that we need to know? Is that a he?

Just anything. Yeah. What I will say going in here, they are very criminal, not to be trusted. Okay. I really, what little I do know of them is because we have seen each other in the same deeply unscrupulous circles. And there's every chance that one could think of that when they see you, Teor, they might shit themselves. Why wouldn't they see me?

Well, it's just you have quite a reputation, apparently. And... Well, what's the over-under on them selling us out? This guy's kind of a hot commodity right now. Eight out of ten. Okay, so should we keep this disguise on? I think he's fucking with us. I'm really not actually at this point.

I think it's more than likely that this is going to go completely tits up if they say, if you know. Well then maybe I'll keep my disguise on. Keep it. I will also disguise myself. Julian? Yes. Anything around us that feels off? What?

In these circumstances, probably not. I'm gonna go ahead and just search the perimeter to see if we're being followed or if there's anybody lurking in nearby shadows might be of an issue. Do I know that guy? I'm not sure. What are you getting off of him?

Give me that one more time, Matt. Keeping an eye out to see if we're being followed or anybody is. Give me perception. It's going to be 17. On a 17, you do not clock yourself as being followed. So, is it familiar? His hair does.

I feel like maybe at one of your parties. I feel like I've seen him cry. That is entirely possible. You were at a party together at one point. I think so far. Give a little snap to the bra on your back. And then I knock. Cross this clear for now.

Thank you. Although, I would, Teor, did you see anything? What do you mean? Are we being followed? I don't. I didn't look. Okay. I think Tear is here in case everything goes tits up.

Apparently I'm very intimidating. You are. But I can search for, you know, like fiends and celestial. Any of those around? Can I do a little? Do you want to put your divine sense on? Yeah, sure.

How long does it last? This place is pulsing. Fiendish energy. We are fucked. Pulsing. It is radiating bitches in here. Just all sorts of. You sense across the street.

Coming off of the door in front of you, there's fiendish energy. across from you, through that brick doorway, the one that has no door in it, you sense multiple sources of fiendish energy and one that is pulsing with a power that is provocative in a way that is hard to describe. Listen, I know I said I would tag a log on this one,

but I am assuming you have some idea of what you're walking into because there are fiends. literal, strong reading fiends here. How bad is it? Like, their fiends are like, eh, there's too many of them will never make it. And there's like, oh, this one's the boss,

we should be careful. And then there's this thing that I'm doing. Okay, it's a bit more than I was expecting, but I was expecting about somewhere around here. So we're still going in? Yes, I suppose. You have a better idea? Well, I just want to know what kind of part is.

Why are we handing WIC to this person you've never even met? What information could they possibly have that could benefit us? Why in darkness are we here? Because this is the sort of information that's going to tell us whether or not we are going to put the play on.

And honestly, I have faith in you, Wigg. That's enough, that's all I needed to hear. Let's go. Very manipulative. Your life is safe. Let me put this very clearly. I underestimated you. And being underestimated is an extremely powerful weapon

if you're willing to wield it. And I think you are willing to be better than people think you are. Before we go in, you gotta think of a different name. Nick Falcon. Okay. I'm sadly all right in that. The door opens and a ghostly paper white little halfling

looks out who's got a glove with different sort of metal fingertips that he's tapping. And he goes, hello. I've alerted my mistress that you are all here. Are you Hollis? I'm Hollis. May we come in? To my apartment?

If that's all. All right. No, no, it's all right. You all right. You all had a conversation outside my door. And I'm, I've established that I am specifically a watchman. I kick it in front of that window all day. Waiting to see if people come up. And you guys walked up here and then started to talk about how, I'm assuming you are Wakander Hill of our into start. I thought you, I thought you looked around the perimeter. Here, the perimeter is fine. I live here. You came to me.

You came to where I live. I knew that he was here. I was just worried about other people. Well, you've... It's the wrong route to go with. You have passed the test. It's going to be absolutely fine. Almost everyone who's done one of these.

Please show us to the mistress. Yes, you passed the test. Excellent. Splendid. Can you pick me up? Pick me up? Pick me up. I want to caress your face as I say this. All right.

Go ahead. Halfling. You need not fear. You need not fear. Will be explained in time. Put me down. He said that in half-liff. Is this a he or she?

Are they? It's a he. A ghostly little half-ling that you can see has pulsing Finnish energy, but not as a feed. You believe him to be a warlock of some kind. And he said that in half-ling? No, no, he is a half-ling.

He said that in Rignani. Oh, okay. Oh, good. Was there any odd odd hand movements or anything going on there. Not that you could see. Okay. He's tapping. He's tapping.

He's still doing his tap. He's still doing his tapping. He says, right this way. And you see, he looks and he says, are we accompanied by an aspirant of the Candaccent Creed? At your service, I'd like to do a quick little check to see if I know who his patron is. Give me a, this would be, this is very high D.C.

Just to look at him and know who is patron is. But go ahead and give- Or if there's anything kindred. Give me, give me an arcana about, give me an arcana check about him. Or you can do insight if you'd like. Well, cocked. 16. 16 is not high enough for you to tell just by looking at him, but you know that he is a fiendish warlock. You see, he looks at you and says, I can, I don't know if you can tell by this rotting bag outside, but I celebrated candle feasts not too many days ago. I'm a proud member of the creed. All right, it's wonderful to meet a fellow believer.

I can confirm. And an aspirant. Boleir, you've done exceptionally well. I love bringing people together. Uh-huh. We were lucky, you know, just to get Wicander, but the mistress would be absolutely abhorient that an aspirant has come.

I'm very excited that she's in fact home. I thought I was going to have to be all subtle about it and go, hmm, perhaps there she is in fact actually in town. This is so much better. I want to be clear, your whole operation should absolutely be tightened up. But in this instance, your blatant lack of subtlety is going to yield absolutely enormous evidence.

I worry for you in the future, but for now, smooth sailing. And you see he walks across the street to the brick doorway and says, welcome to night. and pigment, we produce the finest paints in Delamakia. Cassau!

And the door bursts into flame and he walks through the fire. This way! Hot, hot, hot, hot, hot, hot, hot. We traveled these two. Demons and fools first. I have. Is it always like this? Mostly.

Entry through, I think also is a moment two of Julian and Teor. You guys, I think, fought against each other Like on the same battlefield in the Falconer's Rebellion? Yeah. I don't think, I recognize that. No. I saw you fight Theazi, right?

I was there for the... Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's going to be fine, boys. Security detail, tighten up, man. You guys move into a... Uh, da-ta-ta... You guys move into a sweltering, hot... workshop, bubbling vats of enormous,

sort of like pigments, boiling, you see that there are fires lit. Shapes are flitting around that look like bats, but constituted of smoke, so they're partially sort of ethereal or not here, carrying small things of powders to drop into these boiling, bubbling caulders. The pots themselves are, some of them,

are like a hundred gallon pots of paint, bubbling, boiling. You look around, you see there are a number of figures walking. Some of them have burn marks on them from having been burned in here. Probably about a dozen or so workers. As you walk in, no one seems perturbed that you have entered. It's not like everything suddenly work stops, but you see a couple of people look over and some see you tyranny and react absolutely like shot. Everyone that you see here, by the way, does look like a humanoid for the most part. It looks like some humans, some orcs, some halflings, some gnomes. Moving through the space, you look out and see that there is a young woman.

She has a sort of covered in, so her arms are caked with vibrant different rainbow colors. You see that she's testing things out on this huge thing of butcher's paper. You look out and I think you ping her immediately with your divine sense up as a fiend. She is in disguise as a humanoid. She looks up, you see that her teeth have all been filed into pointed. All of her teeth are pointed. And she looks up as you approach going, and then looks up and goes and begins to weep and rushes out of the room.

She's on her period. Is that normal response for you? I've never. People are really looking at me specifically. You guys have noticed that? Yes, yes. It's like you are of a striking image in most places. Hmm.

Fascinating. Mistress, mistress. You guys see an enormous pair of, like, in the way that workshops will have like barn doors that sort of sliding doors come across on a rail. One of those opens revealing, this all looks like a wild, this is like one massive ember red OSHA violation out here. And then through the barn doors,

what is in there looks like something out of like a necromancer or infernalistry. There's like a pent, like, seven-pointed pentagram on the ground, a staircase ascending with different cubbies that have like snarling fiend gargoyles, gleaming weird arcane light

and a massive desk. It looks like some sort of study or arcane sanctum. And you see an old woman hunched over wearing just the most fetid hanging rags, steps out holding this enormous cane that you realize is a warp. At the top of it has sort of like bleeding, sopping, wet hairs and it's an enormous paintbrush.

She steps forward and goes out. That is the signature. She's stepping out of there. Why are you reacting that way? Faint, fain. Fade. What did you call me? Is that right?

I love the vibe in here. Can I just say the pentagram, the lighting, all the bubbling stuff, it's so cool. And I love your paintbrush. Am I to understand that I speak with the aspirant in this moment? One of how many? Three.

Three? Oh, I think there's four, actually. There's four. I'm not on there. You see she goes, Catch yourself. You see, she looks out and says, and you refer to me as a fiend?

You'll have to forgive our compatriots. No, no, no, no, no. You misunderstand. Oh, you're the one that Hollis has dealt with down at Potter's Field, yes? Yes, of course. Welcome. I've been wondering if I could ever expect you

in my humble hall. I'm so sorry, it's so rude. Who, are we, are we so delighted to meet? You see, she goes, well, given that the cheek is up, I find these disguise is rather genius. A 12-foot-tall figure appears before you. She is still hunched, spines coming from the middle of her back along her vertebrae. Her enormous head is a tiger.

jaw and snout with a wasps compound eyes and antenna with ram's horns curling off the side. You see upper body, these huge blood-soaked tigers claws that go down. You see enormous cloven hooves that are hoofed in iron. And you see that sort of coming off of, she has an enormous sort of prehensile tail that has that sort of tiger striping to it. And then a pair of Bat wings extends off her back. She is a fucking mess. I want that tattooed on my body. Yes.

Sulrexy. Sule-Rexie. Sule-Rexie. Sule. Do you want me to spell it out for you? Yes, maybe yes, actually, yes. Solrexy. T-S-U-L.

Apostrophy! You see a thing of paint. Shoots out. R E. It's I. Ah, a fellow Welshman. Arthur, that's my joke. You see if she looks and goes. I'm so glad that my name can be whispered in these delightful halls.

You are responsible for so much beauty in the world. Thank you enough for the compliment, my good friend. Your reputation is as prodigious as it is mysterious. Yes, time after time, I've asked Hollis to track you down and find out who you're getting your spells from. And I keep drawing. I try very hard to maintain a bit of mystery. And then again, having a lock on something in this town is difficult to have, and I have needs. I would have approached you, but my understanding is the museum you work in is all about our story to past, and you're not looking for new works.

Well, time as being what they are. Things have been shifting in the cities, I'm well aware that you know in my museum seems to be undergoing a few changes, so that may be I'm thinking about diversifying into more modern theater. Kind of the theater, are you?

That is my true love. Well, friendliness goes a long way in this town. She produces an enormous coin, a coin that is about the size of like a hubcap and goes and spits a rainbow phantasmagoria of flam and blood on it,

and hands it to you. Cool. A token of my favor for the promptness and kindness that you have shown to me by bringing young Wakanda here. Anything I should know about it? It represents a debt of favor.

Master Lethalia. Absolutely don't know what to say. That I... You honor me. You have produced. a prodigious young noble for me. In time, I hope I can produce something for you. I've produced a conversation at the very least.

I sadly can't necessarily say I have to. I am capable of leaving him here, but if you decide you need a bit more, I'm sure it can be arranged. While this is happening, I'd like to just take my knife out and give it a little looky Lou. Just like a check of the phone. Hell yeah.

Just see if there's anything that pings. It gleams. As you take it out, you see that Seul Reckshi whips over to you and goes, fascinating, what is that thing? I was just checking my lipstick. There's a mirror. My girl, your lipstick is flawless.

Are we having a moment? We can. Okay. What is your name, little aspirant? I am tyranny. Tyranny. Yeah. Pleasure.

Interesting, not a Not a true name of the pit, not a name of Nahavri, but a name in the common tongue. Mm-hmm. It was given to me. By whom? By my father. You should know who that is.

Would I know your father? Do you know Shari? Yeah, I know Sharivi. Yeah, that's my dad. Do you get to know him well? You know, I'm waiting for my time. I'm waiting to really spend some quality time at some point. Give me an insight check.

Okay. Inside? Terrible. 17? Inside is minus one, though, I think. It's plus one. Oh. No, minus one. Who? 16. 16.

You see, she looks at you and goes. Let me, I'll roll for her. She looks at you. You just look at this. It's hard. She's this big wasp compound eyes and this slavering tiger's jaw. She just looks out and goes, Sharavi, he... Sharavi crafted you.

Mm-hmm. And he did a great job. Did he do it with help? What do you mean? I'm asking if he did it with help. I don't know. How old are you? How old am I?

Yeah. Here on the planes, I'm like six months old, but I'm also like 400 years old, depending on how you. you ask. I've been around. Prior to your journey here into Aramon, were you conscious in the pit,

or were you in substantial waiting to be formed? That's a really personal question, but because I feel like we are having a moment, I would say that I was in sort of an observant stasis. I didn't have a body, and have this rock and bod that you see before you. Oh. Yes. We all have bards that rock differently. So true. So true, queen.

We're gonna read with all those eyes. Did I see anything at my knife? Are you attempting to use one of your knife's abilities? Because you haven't identified it. I haven't identified it, but I just wanted to see if it picks. I know that it is, it's wife knife is rife with magic. And I want to see. You look at your wife knife.

And you are, as you look at it, you, I think, peer and see that someone in it is, someone is gazing at you longingly. And you realize that your knife is not showing you a vision, hidden in the shadows, that weeping worker who went away is hiding and spying on you from the shadows. Well, that's weird. You see that Sula Rakhshah goes,

Oh, sorry. And you see that, she goes, Arach. Come here. And you see that the glamour fades. And you see this withered, skeletal hunch demon covered in probably over a thousand, like, indigo spines that come into a darker, like, shade. And then into a lighter purple or violet around her face. So she's like a weird violet into indigo.

Comes over. She has a sort of simian form, and you see has nine. searching out behind her, the end in these barbed, spiny lashes. Damn, I coulda look like that. You see that her, for what it's worth, her face is very, her human face is very beautiful, mouth filled with fanged teeth, multiple rows of them. But she looks out, and you can see that in her eyes

are sort of swimming pupils differently in these, like, indigo eyes, and her cheeks blush terribly red, almost like luminous glowing. luminous glowing. She goes, she goes, I'm sorry. Just there. Does it hurt? Do I know you? I know you. Okay, I don't like that. Does what hurt?

And you see Seul Recki goes, enough of that shit. And swats her away and says, It's not real, Arach. And you see that she wimpers. and you see looks at you, give me another insight check. And Wick, you can give me one with advantage. God. Do you know that person?

Do you keep your senses open if they start to congeal? I got a seven. I got an 18. Wick, you'd recognize a true believer anywhere. Oh, sure. You look at Arock. You believe that Aurok fully believes that you've been saved.

That you've been saved. And she is weeping and looking with a yearning and a devotion. So not a friend of yours, but someone who. A fan. A fan. Is that you the first fan? Not my first.

For sure. Not your only fan. You see, Seul Rexy goes, It's a fascinating little blades you carry. Thank you. That's a fascinating big paintbrush you carry. Well, we do paint here. So, you two are awful quiet.

Well, these two are here. It's a sense of just... Do you serve the light? Oh, no. In a way, in a way. He serves those who serve the light. In a way. The light takes many different forms,

fills all sorts of spaces. What a worthless pile of gibberish. Running your mouth said absolutely nothing. Describing what light does to me, that pisses me off. Fine. You don't want to be pals, you can just stand by the sidelines. You see that her head turns owl-like and fully rotates,

and you don't hear any bones breaking at all. Just a free-floating head. You see that she turns out and goes, What about you, pretty boy? Made the beam guide us all. I don't like that shit. I don't like that shit at all. Arach does because something's wrong with her.

To be honest, I'm kind of over it myself, so it is nice to speak freely in a comfortable space. Yes, well. Turn over, Dimbled, like, what the fuck kind of friends do you keep? Friends is a very complicated word. Just be nice. It gets you very far.

Catch more people with blood in sinew than with honey, apparently. So, Reckshi. Yes. If we're correctly on the level, you are not a believer of the level. the light. I'm not going to go into my personal beliefs as it's not relevant, but what would you like with the radiance, Lord Wickhander, as someone who is not a believer? Let's get down to Brastex. Lord Wickhand, I never thought I'd get you. Well, you don't, you're not getting him. No, I just mean, I never thought you'd stop my. I didn't see how I was going to make it happen. I have to keep a low

profile. I get it. I love that you ask something from me. Being asked for something is always just such a delight because then you can give someone a gift. It's true. Like the company of fellow, just delightful people. We're demons here, but we play it on the level.

We're a legitimate business. She gets it. Anyone who says we are a legitimate business is definitely one. Lord, Candor, you are such a special, special young man. and I'm so interested in you. Do you know that you are currently a missing person?

I do know that I'm estranged from my family at the moment, yes? What have you heard? Did they say anything? Have they put out ears everywhere? And 20 of those smoke bats fly out from under her rags. Oh, I was really expecting ears. That's nice too, huh? You see that she looks and says,

What? I'm just so interested because I've been in Dorn Malkia for some time, and I pay attention when the composition of a portrait changes. And I notice that we're getting a lot more in Paul Gestalt. The white space is expanding, things that used to be rather vibrant and multicolored, condensing prismatically into call it just a shade of white like fresh canvas. The light is coming. When I heard you went missing, I thought, now there is a crack in a perfect prism.

And I became so interested, and I was wondering if I couldn't impose on you to have a polite conversation, and I promise I'll make it worth you a while. There are some stipulations that we have before there is a yes. We all agree we're walking out of here, unharmed. harmed. We, Mr. Lethalia,

are a workshop of artists. I only say this because I know that my compatriots are nervous, and I want to give them as much of a sense of safety as inhumanly possible. And we also did agree that we get a bit of information about our current

troubles, which honestly I think are your current troubles as well. How familiar you are you with old laws, Lathalia? How old? Older than the world. I strive to know much, but there is an infinite amount of ignorance in the world,

and please illuminate me. I vow this, in my domain, these walls, with those to whom I have exchanged the power of the pit. No harm will come to you or your companions, less harm you visit on our heads first. No captivity shall be visited upon you. At any cost, I loathe captivity.

As do I, with all of my heart. O laws, question for question, answer for answer. These laws I did know, and I am so excited to see they stand. Do you wish to exchange one for another? Or shall I go first and you keep the tally of what is owed after? I think that is up to you. Other than the origins of certain paints, I don't know what else we would need to ask this.

That is very, very astute of you, actually. So that point, we will go back and forth because often answers lead to more questions. You don't need to qualify it with an actually. He's an educated man. Thank you. We'll go one for one until we run out of questions. Young Lordwick.

Halevar, priestly house of Dansoul, Shaper of the Sun. In the absence of a shaper. What'd you call me? Nothing. Just hot in here. In the absence of a shaper. How did your family retain their sorceress abilities? Am I to be honest with this person?

I think... I would recommend as much honesty as you can... produce. Also, they're from the pit. They know Charvey. I'm sure that they know pretty much exactly what has been going on with your family. Yeah, you can be honest, I think.

Listen to tyranny, Wakanda. I know much. Honesty makes friends. You might give me an answer I already have, and if you lie, I'll know you're lying. Well, it seems everyone is. Everyone here knows a lot about my family, but I didn't until recently.

However, I've found out recently that the source of our power is not divinity. It isn't. Well, not in the way that I thought it was. Our faith is not the source of our magic. It is instead inherited or rather injected from the blood of a celestial being of some sort, who has been tortured and drained of his life force.

And that fluid has been converted into filament, and filament has been tattooed on my face. You're going a bit off track now. Let's try and keep it simple and basic. Sorry, sorry, sorry. You're just like practically know what. She looked at you, the angel stuff, angel stuff. Is that, you're lying? Is that for real?

Wait, you said that you would be able to, you said you would be able to, see if I'm lying. Give me inside check. You see she goes, give me inside check. That's 20. She goes, that's fucking crazy. I thought you said. I know a lot. I don't know everything.

Why would I hold you here to ask questions if I knew everything? Use your head. But you see, use your head. You also said, you also said you could hear if I was lying or not. I'm lying or not. I don't know, man. You see she goes, okay, eat blood.

Wow, wow, wow, okay. So you see the sort of honesty on your end that we are hoping to ascertain. Yeah, now it's our turn. What's up with the paint? Can we, well. That's a question. We make all sorts of paint.

No, that's not our question. That's not our question. That's not our question. Specifically. All right, all right. I'll let you do a take. Take back, see, but I'll let you do, you know how I do this one. You know how I do you.

I know how I have to do ya. I know, I know, demon stuff. Now listen, listen here. Here's what I want from you. I'll let you do a take back, see, but can I have a drop of your blood for a test? I'm not gonna own your soul or anything. A hundred percent no.

No. All right, then that's your question. Uh, the paint's here. There was a point B to the paint. There's a specific paint. You said what's with the paint. What's the deal with the paint? What's the deal with the paint that is being used

to paint the hallowed round? That paint. What's the deal? Master Lethalia, are we allowed to use ellipses in the question ask? May. Just to draw, is that terrible? May I, may I be so wrong?

As concerned, Considering the company that I have brought and I'm aware that the lengths of which I had to go to make my other compatrients comfortable with dragging this young man into the depths of, what is this delightful place. May I be the teacher and then everyone can filter their questions through me. No dice. I want them to fuck up again. Listen. Listen to me. Listen. How about this? Drop of blood. Give you the tape taxi. And I'll tell you what I discover. You did this to yourself, I reckon.

We're a democracy. How, am I doing this? We're not a democracy. It's your blood. One drop. No, do we have, I mean, that's just one for one question. She can give her bullshit answer about what the paint is and then we can get into specifics if you have any more.

Well, it's going to be the difference between a drop of blood or another question that's going to fulfill everything they need. So we will eventually. I thought we were in cahoots with these guys. She seems totally cool. She is, but there is the game. game is played. There's no sense of, this is not about a friendship right now. They are delightful, but the game is the game and you have to abide by the rules. Cut me, Teo. They have to try and be

tricky and so do we. Press it right into his palm. You see that she takes out a thin sheet of almost translucent parchment and puts it there. And a pentagram. turns into a beautiful tree of interconnected rooms. Feathered wings spreading from it. Who? Vanishes. Well, my word. Don't ask a question.

That'll count. I'm well aware. You see, she looks at you and says, I promised I would tell you. You don't get your power from filament. The filament is that treated substance in your tattoos. See it on the faces of luxes all throughout the realm. Yes.

Your power does come from the blood of angels. But that blood is your blood true. There is a word for what you are. Asim. Yes. Oh, do I know that word? I have only heard of them in legend. I was wondering.

She looks and says Does Wick know that word? I don't think Wicks heard that word before. Oh my. You see, she goes. Oh, my. She says, You are only partially.

I don't know if it was your father or your mother, your grandmother or your grandfather, or what it would have been. But somewhere in the past, someone used one of the soldiers of the shapers for something they were not intended for.

not supposed to do hanky-panky with the constructions of the gods? And yet they gave them the parts. It's really honestly, it was attractive asking for it. Okay, the sidebar, I'm not gonna say, I'm not gonna say a question. No, just as long as it to me. But we should, why does she want, why is she want, Wick? What does she want to know?

Already we started. You did say that out loud and I'm going with it. No! No! No! We still had the dot, dot, dot, dot, I call sidebar. The dot, dot, dot, that dot,

that's a dot, So we're allowed to call sidebar. That's the new rule. She did not call sidebar. I'll call sidebar. They still have. I'm looking for a level plane. We are still owed.

We are still owed a dot, dot, dot question. Yeah, because of the blood. We are still owed that. Yeah. Fuck. You've got my boy. Fuck, you are the blood of angels. Sweet fuck.

All right. The paint that currently coats the theater, the one that was given to me in, in theory and brought there, what is its intended purpose and what is its composure? What is, what is it? What is it? And what is it made manifest for?

We know there's blood in it. A client delivered an artifact of the shapers to me. a profane artifact. One. You see, she turns to Hollis, who's been standing by, silently, one that deserved to be. You see, Hollis goes,

ruined. You see, she says, one that deserved to be unraveled in that which had captured to be liberated. The paint is derived from the blood of the river, the Gavzidra.

Gavzidra, the river of blood first flowed upon the face of Aramon when Asgra the conqueror was first wounded by his siblings as he sought to bring strife, conquest, and war to the face of Aramon. His dream did not exist in harmony with theirs, and therefore back did they drive him to the lands of Khad, where he bled And from his blood Did clouds of ash

And lands of choking soot flow forth And his people did he gather To him. Gavzidra Is the river Through the underworld That passed through the

Tenebri reaches To the dying fields of Skratuluk It was The means by which the souls of the foreign Rumiani were brought to their afterlife. Blood of the blood of the gods of war. Now, it is said

that Asgra, in his greed, condemned the blood of his people to flow through the River Galv Zidra, that his first injury would be their injury eternal. The paint was rendered. And the question asked was, what is the deal with the paint?

I cannot say to what purpose my client intended the final product. That is a separate question that you will have to ask if you wish. But what I will say is my intention, my deal with the pain. The souls of the Rumiani deserve freedom. As all demons are, I was forced at the dawn of time to destroy one thing. We seek always to bring low the tallest tower of any age in which I am fortunate enough to draw breath. It delights me that we have so much in common. She smiles at you.

I'm glad as well. And I do want to find out your secret. Maybe I should use one of my questions on that. I would be curious to see if you would be willing to waste it on that. You see, she says, open book, I am. Maybe we have a long flinchier bed of us. I would really hope so. Although if you are successful,

I imagine not quite as long as it could be. You see that she smiles and says, I do not know what came after it, but I can say that my efforts were successful. Took that. Asgra, that, that debasement. The everflowing font of Gavsitra. This place did no form, but something endless cannot simply be unmade. Energy cannot ever be destroyed, and so new form need be given to it. To unmake the evil that was, action does not exist. Something new must be wrought in order for that thing to cease.

It's transmutation of, of, of celestial powers. You, and here, you're a very, you're very, you're a very, you're a very, very powerful. My next question. You see, she looks over, he goes. Wait, you already asked me about my dad and if I know my dad, so. Are we allowed to do retroactive questions? I mean, you did that, right?

From where? If you are indeed as in the blood of angels flows in your veins, then yes, your sorceress ability is obvious. There are some Many thousands upon thousands of luxes of the candescent creed. I've seen them cast spells. Even an angel doesn't have that much blood.

Where are they getting their power from? What do you mean? Where do the luxes of the candescent creed draw their strength from? How are they gifted? You're not going to ever convince me that the creed is fucking real. You see, in the corner, Arach goes, She says, Arach, I've made my feelings clear on this.

Told you what I knew. They get their power from the filament. Do you believe that to be true? I do. Oh, well, I think you're wrong, but it's an honest answer. You see that she sort of huddles up and says, Oh, I don't know what I wanted to ask you.

All right, next question. Who's got it? Before we ask, we could ask about the client, who this client was. We could. We could ask what this artifact was, or we could ask more about me. I think we're going to get to you eventually. I think... Was it the artifact the Aussie? Well, I believe that the... I'm pretty sure that the other day was the...

The client? Yes, the fact that they're not saying it, though, indicates that maybe it was more complicated, or it might just be a ruse to get this to... I'd waste another question. I appreciate you told us so much about this artifact. You got to see who you'd gotten this artifact. I think the client was someone else. He would have gotten it through me.

Well, this one he didn't get through me, to be honest. If only we could ask someone a question, you might get an answer. You have to be very careful when asking these questions. How was your client so capable in obtaining an artifact such as this, and also to know that you had the ability to rend it as you did.

And in this case, were representatives of an organization. Oh boy. Which had made contact with me. Many years ago, I first came into contact with the cloak. A group interested in matters are keen. As a demon of anarchy, they thought fit to speak to me about the pit. They were interested in realms beyond.

They were interested in matters concerning, I believe, the burgeoning underworld and the problems that it poses to mortal kind. The cloak seemed to me to be, despite all their shadowy ways, rather naive or optimistic. Regardless, I was put in touch with two men. members of their organization, one Thiazi Fang, and one Mara, the wing, who rested their chalice from, in terms of your question is how they were able to rest it. My understanding is that the cloak monitors the activity of House Taconas very closely. Fascinating. And that they

They are something of, you know the birds that hide their eggs and at the bird's nests? Cuckoo. Sorry, I'm on this bird thing recently. Cuckoo. A cuckoo. They're sort of like a reverse cuckoo. The cloak is very strapped for resources. So they wait to see what these large houses with all of their vast sorceress might.

They wait to see what they're chasing. Believe that Toconos had been digging up a holy site in the endless night for some years. and the moment they excavated it, my understanding is that the ASE and Mara swooped in to see what was in there and were able to find a font of the river Gav Zidra that they'd been searching for for some time. Those fonts are few and far between post-Shaper's War.

They are, as you can understand, horribly profane and blasphemous, their anathema to the old path, and so therefore, they went in, found the working font, and performed some magic. Mara as a proficient druid and was able to hallow that unhallowed place long enough

for Mr. Fang to get the chalice and bring the headwaters of the river Gavsidra, headbloods. Well, that is an awful lot. And my, just steering it back to me for a second, what was my, what did you detect in my blood? What sort of ancestor? What sort of type of blood? Osama was my answer.

But we can get into that later. I have books for you. She owes us a question. No, no, no, we are. No, no, we are. No, no, she asked us, what is the bird called that lays eggs in another person's nest?

Holy boar. Angels! You're so fun. I'm gonna put you in some. No, no, no, I don't believe in captivity. I'm not gonna do that. Old abbots, listen. Um, you do.

So, you. Your question was about... Is there a type of... A type of... Be this Asimar blood. Celestial, demonic, fiendish... The registry of your blood was not only celestial,

but specifically a celestial of Tansul. Tansu. One... The registry of it... It seemed to be an angel. What is it? What's the one that looked after the house of flame?

Um, Ethion. I've heard that name, yes? That's what Yenessa said, your grandmother said that, yeah. Ethion, yeah. So that's my guy. We can, we can do, we have reading that we can do with the museum. All right, back to me. Yes.

Where is this angel you are bleeding dry? I can't be certain he's still there, but he was last seen in the, sort of the basement, of the Alamo, the... The... Of the... ...the basement of the villa... ...the...

...theirah, yes. Wait, what for real? He's here in Dormacia? Yes. Just off answering questions. Oh, shit! So bad it's leave! Julian!

So... You can ask one. You can ask one. No, no, that's the rule. He established it. You got me, so it has to be your question. The pool of sweat that's been slowly creeping down Julian's armor. You'll be fine, just don't fuck this up. What would occur should the river of Gavzidra come in contact with the fabric of the old path? I can tell you what did happen. Along with the Azi, we're able to perform

magic together. It is the blood of theasi's people that flows captive in the river Gavsidra, and with a druid of the old path, were they able to liberate that river? They brought it in the chalice here. The chalice was filled with the first blood, Osgras blood, that blood of a shaper that kept captive for the blood of the Rionni. Demons are not anathema to the old path. That demon kind and fairy kind and primordial Titan touch therein is born a world like a beautiful flower that blooms. To know life and creation is to know destruction and chaos.

And as one who walks the world of Aramon under the shadow of the sundered, houses. I think you'd be well aware, Sir Devinos, that some things are worth destroying. And she looks down at the rapier at your side. So, seeking a demon, they asked me to destroy an order that should not exist. The order of Asgra, a lingering curse on the river Gavsidra. Now, for their purposes, I know not what. It does not dwell on me to worry about the safety of the souls or what comes after they are liberated. That seems to be the cloak's objective.

I saw a jailer's cell, and I broke it. And I was proud to do it. I rendered it into some extremely beautiful paints. What delightful talent. I have a question. Right, because that was the one that, because I fucked up. Yep, yeah, go for it. I'm gonna ask in demonic.

Yeah. Crandt! Well put. Great, you guys go for it. Thank you. What do you ask? Oh, I should say. What is it just Jane Roos or what a tearing you say?

I said, Sister of the Pit. My lot is to protect the angel that is next to me. Do you have anything for me as I walk a very dangerous road that is going to be caught between my nature and my lot in life? In demonic, destruction, and she reaches out of hand and casts identify on your knife. Ooh.

You are here to hurt. people. No. Young tyranny. There are people worth hurting. And if you don't believe that, you're a bigger fool

than the angel you're here to protect. This isn't dynamite. Did you just follow him a fool? She goes, that knife you wield is an artifact. It is new and yet very old. I do not even fully know what it means,

but I know this. That you have to cast what you choose to wield. It will give you give you insight into people's hearts. I believe that that knife was created to punish those who have harmed those who love them. Indemonic. Thank you.

You're a real one. Love her. I am a real one. And so are you, sister. Hmm. I think that was three, if I counted, official questions that weren't part of a tit-for-tat, which I think is the classic number, unless anyone else.

Should we wrap it up? How do you feel about the game of three as I call for the end? She says, Game of three is fine, Mascle Athalia. You have my token and you, your knife. Tyranny, you attune to your knife in this moment, and as you do so, you level up to level five.

Oh, ha! Um, Um, her head's, spin the right. Oh, it's a spray. It's a spray. Oh, yeah, sorry. Did you see that?

Did you see that? You need a lozenge. Yeah, thank you. She turns around and says, and if you see your dad, tell him I said I. Will he know you? Oh, he'll know me. Are you my mom?

Do I have a mom? What? I don't know. Sorry, we're not doing questions. Hey, sister, if you don't know if you don't know how I'm supposed to know if you have a mom. He says, no, your father is one of those who remained,

is all I'll say. Huh. My dear, while I will not offer such as a boon, you have my friendship and I will always help in a time of need. A word of advice though. By all means. The light is about to shine very bright,

a light that will burn. if you have a way of any help that you can be in what is to come would be good for everyone involved. I don't believe any of us are going to be satisfied with the outcome if the church does what it hopes to do. She looks to you. I've been hiding in this city since before the shapers fell. I'm very excited for a show. I hate when things are boring. You come back any time.

Love you. Love your ancestor, dad, who knows? Evian's boy, and he's here in the city. Cobalt blue, cadmium red. Let's get to work. That's, um, and you see that she says, To-de-lou, game of three. Keep a hold on that knife, sister.

Yes, ma'am. Teoran? Did you want to ask anything before me? No, we should leave. No, we're going right now. Do you want me to die your mane? Yeah. I kind of do, but now it's...

What would you, what color would you choose? Gray. You guys head out and you see Arach, that spined demon, just whimpering in the corner, looking at you. May the beam reach you, sister. She grabs your hand. Oh my God, okay. Please, please, please.

Please what? Let it reach me. I don't know how to be worthy. I'm, hope you go ahead and now. Give it a second. Sister, the beam comes within. Where's that written? Uh, you guys.

From, did I say it to me? From within. From within. Is it from or come? Am I from and I coming? Help me! We're already out of the door! Great! It's mysterious! It's mysterious! And we are going to switch out. I know that we're running along, but we're going to do, we're going to get, I want to get three for three. So let's please get those headed to the Beausprit banner to King Gus.

That went rather well. Great fucking job, guys. Holy shit! Gang, you guys head out together. It is mid-afternoon, this is the same time period that they're going to the Via Aurora and our other friends are going to Seul-Rexhs. You guys head towards Bozbrit Manor. This is a beautiful merchant's manner in Shafira,

which is a neighborhood we haven't been to so far, but Shafira has a lot of people from Esri, or sorry, from Ezeri and from Beladrian from several other places, that you walk through, the houses here are beautifully appointed, like almost, you know, they're smaller, but there's something like townhouses, but just like gilding up on the walls,

and there's some small marketplaces, and you see there's like a small little coffee shop and there's a guy walking with a samovar giving like fresh squeezed juice from the collateral orchards around the way. You see that there's like a, some sort of musicians and buskers. It's a thriving, neighborhood up above the rookery, and you walk to Beausbrit Manor, which you can see has two

large hound statues outside of it. You see actually that this has a small, the resembled you'd recognize, a wanderer's shrine, a hound's shrine. So it has the little place, and you see that there are some sleeping dogs there. Walking up to the door, the door opens, and you see there's a sort of walrus mustache, older timonish merchant who looks up and says, uh, Professor Magnuson, yes. Oh, yes, yeah. You knew I was coming. You see that inside there are two hounds of the Kings,

large kind of bruiser-looking hounds. He says, His Majesty awaits inside. Walking through the door, you can see there's another driver's gate and a coach house, and you entered this courtyard area where carriages and there's like multiple carriages here. So this small townhouse actually opens up, you realize, and this guy has the whole block,

but just doesn't look like it. So it's the same. This thing where it's like, this guy's got way more money than he's presenting at this little narrow townhouse outside. You walk inside and out under a garden, you see bandaged up with his druid beside him that you recognize from the assassination attempt.

Martin, you see seated there at a small table having their tea outside. There is a beautiful sort of older human woman, like sort of 50s. And she appears to, you see a family resemblance to Gus. She, or she not, 50s is probably wrong,

maybe like 40s is more accurate. She, um, uh, there's a young boy with her there who's sort of dressed like a timonish noble. And you see, uh, King Gus,

who stands up. Uh, Martin the Hound says, presenting, uh, Professor Magnessen of the Pentevril and, uh, You don't have to do all that.

Well, I do. I don't work for you. As well as Lieutenant Azzanay Nayar of the Revolutionary Guard and others. Hello, others. You see, King Gus says, it's all right, mate. Welcome to Bosprit Manor. Professor Magnetian. Who are your friends? I hope you don't mind that I brought some compatriots. I think they'll aid us in our discussion that we're going to have.

This is Vailis. Hello, sir. Last name, Focavano? I don't believe in her time that it was common to wear one's family name. Oh, so valis? And then you also have Thimble over here. I met some of your hounds. They were super cool. They are, aren't they?

It's very nice to meet you, Thimble. It is an honor, as always, to treat with the fair folk. They said you were cool. I knew you were gonna be. Who said? Well, everyone... Someone put my name in him out when I'm not right. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah.

Lots of respect. You saw Morgan. She's a right. Yeah, yeah, yeah, she was fine. She is wide. So helpful. And you saw Hawkins as well, yeah? She is.

Did he try to show off? Yeah, well, he killed a guy in front of me. Drown him. How the fucking young guy? Yeah, yeah, stood on top of him. Good grief. It's gruesome. All right, well, they're good.

I mean, it was a bad guy. They are honorable knights. Yeah. Sorry, there's a kid here. This is, just disguised as a member of your guards. Okay, this is a young protege of his own age. This is an archaim marshal in training.

This is Sebastian Novell. You see that Cavalier, the Greyhound that you saw in that combat that was by the door, says, Sebastian, is that your name? Yeah. Sebastian, why are you dead? And you see Martin tenses up and the druid puts a hand on his staff

and a bunch of knights. There's probably about like a good ten knights in here. I let the disguise drop. You see, Gus looks and says, Who are you? Okay, okay, okay, okay. I'm sorry. I swear to God that'll be the last little disguise,

but we knew that this was gonna happen. Martin goes, we're a little on edge, as you might imagine, given the assassination attempt at the previous evening. I apologize. It was necessary for me to walk through town. My name is... I am so sorry. I apologize.

I have to retcon that. You're wearing a walker's ward. I am wearing a walker's ward. I fucked up. I totally forgot that you're wearing a walker's ward. None of that happened. Sebastian, take it away. My apologies.

Oh, shit. Sebastian, take it away. In my head, I was doing divine sense, but you have the shit that you need. You're good. Oh. Oh. Oh.

Blu-da-b-b-b-b-b-b-p. Cool. You see Gus just looks out and goes and says, Sebastian, welcome. Thank you. That was about to be really bad, huh? Oh, fuck. Murray just like blinks as a divination wizard.

You see it all in a time. Oh, gosh, I cannot piss this guy out. This all happened in your head. He looks out at you and says, Welcome, then. Professor Magnesson, we are to depart this evening. We don't wish to stay one more night in D'Omakia if we can't help it. Honestly, I do not blame you, but I do hope that we can leave this building, and at least you can leave D'Amakia knowing that you do still have allies within the city walls.

I know I do. What you did was reckless, wild, and heroic. heroic. You saved my life. Thank you. I'm sure you might know more than we do, to be quite honest. But me and a lot of my compatriots as well as 350 hired swords. Honestly, hired is a pretty liberal term. Passionate swords. You see, he says, you command 350 soldiers of the Revolutionary Guard, Lieutenant. I would say we collaborate with 350 ex-revolutionary guard.

Interested individuals in the right people of the city thriving. And they are interested in perhaps a new revolution. This is why we are all banded together and hope that maybe we can leave with a handshake, with Timony as well. I've helped rebellions in the past. I know you probably not want to get your hands dirty, especially when it comes to meddle in with the centered houses. Unfortunately, I don't think you have a choice in the matter,

and I think you know that too. I think it's already reached you. News of this miracle, the people are going to be even more amazed. They need answers, the dead walk openly. People don't know whether to mourn their family members or if they've passed through the old path. Even in timid, we've done everything we can to encourage people to wish their loved ones feel well,

but that dream of an afterlife still holds, and that's what the creed's offering. Do you believe in the miracle that you witnessed that day? I believe in the power of old Obridemia. Perhaps she had a healing spell or something that, you know, I don't know.

Maybe she has the power to bring herself back. If I told you that she's a big, fat liar, would you believe me? And I have... I don't have proof. I don't have proof. I just know, I just know, and you have to trust me. Give me a persuasion check.

It's still a long day. It's still a long day. Guidance. Okay. And remember, four-tent is after the roll. It is after the roll. I keep forgetting that. That's a four. I like that. 18. 18 persuasion? 18 total. I'll take it.

Especially because you went, You believe in destiny, Professor. I believe it's healthy for people to believe in destiny. I don't think destiny is rooted in any type of notable or actionable reality, but I think it's a great sentiment. I've thought about it a lot. Aramon is a big world with a lot of history. Very few boys.

that grew up with fleas in their hair sleeping on the floor with dogs grow up to become kings. And very few professors wade into the thick of combat. Undo enchantments that have been placed on druids of high circle. Find a way to dispel and unmake. If you tell me that you can't prove it, but that your gut is telling you that the photo, talk is a fraud. My gut told me to raise the banner of independence. Guts go a long way as far as I'm concerned. So yeah, if that old huckster is a fraud, I'll buy what you're selling. Do you believe in destiny or do you believe that you worked your fucking ass off to be where you are today?

Nothing was given to you, was it? Nothing was granted. I was the bastard. I was the bastard son. I was the bastard. of a noble. The man whose seed created me, not my father. Was that, you're laughing at seed? Yeah, sorry. You're my type. You see, looks at you and smiles and says,

The man who sired me believed that he had visions of the shapers after they had died. He was a cruel, egotistical, a monster. And so the midwife got me out of the room and I was raised by the Lord's Kennelmaster.

I thought I thought my surname was Kennel for the first 18 years of my life. That's a key last name. Gus Kennel, not a bad name. When my father Halloway and my uncle's Charlie and Casper were, when my true nature was discovered,

I took my father's life and I inherited his throne. Did I work to inherit noble title? No, I did not. The work comes and goes, but fortune or destiny plays its part. And you see that he taps his shield with three red hounds on it

for his father and two uncles. You see, he goes, but I'll take your point. Perhaps the greatest destiny is wanting to work, to see a better world. And I want that. He's so hot.

He's so hot. I haven't introduced him, by the way. This is my sister. I thought it might be his wife. You see, he goes. Could you imagine? Does Fimble say that out loud? Yeah.

She goes, she goes, I, this is my sister and her son, my nephew, is my heir. I'm not the wife-taking type. You see, you know, he looks out and says, another source of contention. In the ancient age of Timony long before, it was actually more common for king's nephews to be their heirs. Yeah?

Yeah, who knows who a man's heir is? It's much safer to say, we know who my sister's eldest son is, that should be the king. It makes more sense to do it that way, I think. But I'm trying to reinfigurate that, same tradition along with

druidicism and our independence and the hounds and the shrines I understand that we have made the people swallow a lot of change I do understand that we have asked for a lot of change in a short amount of time and when you do that some people embrace a wonderful brave new world and other people flock to the candescent creed and call you a tyrant

and your lords conspire openly against you And is that why you came here to confront the Kandescent Creed? I came here to ask the Revolutionary Council who the fuck is at the wheel. They're not. No. We know. They are asleep. And I mean, my knight, you see that there is a night beside him who, you see, has, you know, it's gleaming armor, locks tied back around him deep, dark, dark skin and you see a sort of beard that comes down

with a little bit of gray in the bottom. He says, I am Sir, Zavisi, Hune. I was Car Brady's partner in all things. We fought in each other. We're side by side. And you recognize him as the night that you were fighting in the battle. You see he looks and says, you did well.

As is often the case. We've all lost friends. I did my best to explain to His Majesty. into his majesty. And you see that the king says, I was too terse with you the night before as a representative of the guard, my Sir Hune, how you charged the gate.

And it was your skillet arms and sorcery that pulled those other assassins off of the main detail. I don't deserve all the credit. We've been collaborating quite well. as best as we could. I was getting ready to come here and stand up for myself, but now I don't have to. And that's quite a relief.

You've got to be quick to say when you're wrong. I say it all the time. I've gotten a lot wrong in my time as king. I never wanted to be a king. You know they make you a king if you win a revolution? It's the worst part of the revolution. I said, down with them, down with Argosia, down with the king. We won our independence.

and they said, you're in charge now, and I said, ah. Is it really all that bad? Because you strike me as a man that has a dream, a vision for a future for your people. I thought dreams would be a lot more popular, but people kind of try to kill you for them, I've found. Speaking of, would you like some information on those people that tried to kill you?

Or do you already know who they are? Sheat. I mean, I have my suspicions. I mean, was it, was it Gormelay or who was it, I don't know who it was. I pull out my notebook. Oh my God, you got a list. Duh. As Ney loves lists.

We tell them everything. Yes. I basically already came prepared with a copy of this information and I just hand them that handwritten copy of what is already in my notes. Hell yeah, does that include the letter? No, no, no, no. No, this is all the information about the poisons and the Assassins Guild from Argosia. And it appears to be obviously some sort of master plan with House Halivar obviously making some sort of elaborate ruse

and also probably cannot confirm nor deny some sort of involvement from House to Conas. How do you know? I saw them working together. I mean, I know they worked together. I mean, I know they work together, but I mean, with this one, the only thing we know is what Lanastrosa, who would go work for anybody that had money?

If I'm going to run this down, I'm going to need. Here is what we understand. The sundered houses are making power plays, but they also have this, a dream of their own, which is more like a nightmare. And part of that was to manipulate an easy way to take over, or take complete control over the Revolutionary Council. You were not meant to survive,

because your land has an important landmark for what they're planning. The sea of life is. I think I do hand him this letter. I can't stop you in this moment. I'm doing that without getting here. If we want to make an ally, then we need to show our cards.

Be forthcoming. He seems like, write this. I reach out. I reach out. Mm-hmm. Octus? Shut up. I don't say that.

Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, I don't say that. I don't say that. I didn't. No, no, no, no, no. That's not what I want to. This is not Sewell-Rexie scene. Don't worry about it, yeah. That's not what I want to do.

Yeah. Sebastian. I look at Octus. Yes? And the second you do that, I don't force it. I knew that. I knew that, I knew that, I knew that. I knew that.

You got it. You got it. You got it. It could be his building. He reads it and says, A great deal of this is gibberish to me, but I do recognize the words timinish king. Only been one of those so far.

Deconis, legible. If someone would have cast a divination on this, they would be able to verify that this is their writing. It is their writing, right? We understand that. Yes. May I have this? All right.

Will you consider after it has served whatever use you have to bring it to Timmons Rock? Wait, do you just need enough of it to be able to cast divination on it as proof? Because I don't need the entire thing. I just need the part that says that it has a Tacona's handwriting that they were coming for me. The rest of it does make my balls shoot up into my stomach and feel like I'm about to vomit. What target the path, the orchard, is House Royce all right? I don't know. Oswald has fallen.

That can't be true. It's true. And we have confirmation that there was an attack on the golden orchard and the golden orchards as well. The connoisse has took it over. What's happened to the fairfolk there?

Most of them made it out. He looks over at Cyrus and says, do we have the... We have a seat, yeah? And you see that the droid says, Malige, precious few are left. A seed? A seed.

You see, he says, produce it. You see that he hands it over and says, I'll make a trade for you. Give me the part that references me. I'll give you this. Yeah, you rip it in half. I don't want to rip this actual thing. Do it.

You rip it. Do it. Don't know. Yeah, do it. Go for it. It's fun. It's a physical prop. There you go.

Oh. You take that part from him. He looks at it. My paper. Matt, you said out loud. He says, they're coming to take over control of the barrel guard, remove the chain of command. And I'm afraid that this is just the start

of their master plan. In fact, it seems like something big's gonna go down tomorrow night. You see, he looks at you and goes, understood. He looks to you, Thimble, and says, When you were with Morgaine, did you travel with her? For a bit, yeah. Anywhere special, anywhere interesting.

We went, yeah. We took the back road that wasn't seen very often. We passed by a big water wheel. Oh, you've been on the miller's road? Yeah. This is the seed of a cherry tree that grows beside the old mill. The old mill's not in this world, wheresoever you wish.

Yeah, he goes, if you have traveled the miller's road, it is yours to plant, and you being of the Fairfolk, doubly appropriate, as far as I'm concerned. Plant that, and it is my understanding that the Miller's road

will run to she who is true of heart in this instance. Not all can travel that road. My hounds can, Fairfolk can. It will be a safe way. to travel and place it where you will. But who can't go? What's that?

Who can't go? Those who the hounds, the fair folk, I'm afraid normal folk will not be able to see it or find it without being guided on it. It's for Faye eyes. Faye eyes, yes. He says, the Faye can travel it and the hounds can travel it. Some druids, yes, some who walk the old path can as well.

You see he looks out in the same way. says, but I have this, the rest I would not wish to keep, because that, again, is the stuff of nightmares. If your people need homes, we will find places in Timeney for them if we can. That, I promise you, if Royce has fallen. Does that extend to potential refugees of Del Marquayar? Refugees of Dolmachiar? We don't know what the next few days will bring. But I don't think it's gonna be good. There is a non-zero chance that come tomorrow night

this city is going to be swarming with undead and demons of the like if we fail. I've already told my lords that I'd like to establish a parliament of all calls and that I want to admit more to the...

Yeah, sure. We'll open our doors. Of course. I mean, they're already trying to kill me. What can they do? Kill me twice? Oh, all right. You feel Octus next to you like tense for a second?

As you like the one person who could be killed twice. He looks and says to you, days cannot remain. I won't let them, but look at that sword on your back, you want either. You have 350. They're not, they're of the God, but not still. Oh, that's a long story of how that all went down, but...

Einfossen has been cleaning house. They have all been cleaning house, and we've been trying to... I guess, staunch the wound is what I keep saying. Desperate times... One man's treasure. Wow. We try to make sure that they don't become so desperate that they forget themselves, because I think that's what they're...

That's what the powers that be here trying to make us do. Trying to create us, make us so desperate that we become easier to control and we forget what we're really here to do with each other and for each other. And we gave them hope. What's made them desperate? They were dismissed and threatened. And these sundered houses are flexing their power in a way where they're trying to make us believe that we are nothing compared to them. Cockroaches. and they're starting to stomp on us.

Yeah. Break your ribs while you're on the floor. I know that. So that... 150 men is not enough. And an army marches on its stomach. I'd like you guys to make a persuasion check for me. Yes. I intentionally was about to make a bid.

Do you mind if I'd guidance? Yes. Go ahead. Go ahead. As I was anticipating. Guide yourself. What is this persuasion check for exactly? I think Azunay, who was just speaking. We are. Oh.

So like I'll have you roll, Asune, you guidance yourself. Uh-huh. Let me know what you get. And Murray, you're watching this, I think, as well. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait.

Wait. Wait. Wait. I'm gonna spend a luck point. Let's go. And roll this. At advantage. My God.

What's that? Well, I hate that. A three and a two. Three and a two. So the total is. Can you run a room? No. I'm like this.

Not like this. You can't use portent here? I don't think so. I thought it was like for me or an enemy when they are when there's an di-testmateberry creature that you can see with one of these. Oh. He is a creature. I guess he is a creature.

Yeah. Ha-ha. Ha-ha. What do you want me to do for you for this? Murray, I think you look at Azune in this moment and can see him bringing up these soldiers. And you look at Augustus. Augustus has attempted to create a parliament

where peasants could elect all calls to come and speak to each other in Timon's Rock, resolving like a peasant business together. He's tried to get his lord. to agree to that. So rather than going through the Lord, they would be able to come and speak to him directly.

He, and you see him, he's like, they just tried to kill me. I gave swords and stuff to, like, I helped the Falconer's rebellion and the Falconer's fucking lost, and I lost a lot of standing. I've constantly tried to be idealistic and do the right thing,

and I was poisoned on the ground, crawling on my stomach, getting stabbed with swords. Like, you see a guy running through that as Azzanet rolls, that you see the strands of fate of Gus being like, how much more can I fucking risk? But the idealist is still in there somewhere.

But there's an idealist still in there. Fucking speaking exactly to Murray's beliefs and bullshit and what she tries to do. Fuck fucking good people, bullshit, fine. You rolled a 19. That up then is a 27. A 27. Murray, you reach out and see. I'm like, oh, he had to go off and talk about poor people.

Does it just do the reverse of what he rolled? What is it? How does it work? It just is... Oh! You alter fate. You alter fate. So, Murray, you use one of your portents on a very significant day. On a very significant day.

It's very portentious day. Very significant day. You come in, you roll that roll, and you see Gus, as Gus is sitting there, looking at his sister, his family, his knights, he's just lost one of his knights. He's thinking of every reason. It's the pragmatic, frozen calculus, logic of politics. He, you can see, he has a fire in his heart just like you. He saw you on

that battlefield. He saw you in that banquet hall and you were kindred spirit to him exactly. But he has the voice in his head telling him, don't you owe it to people to be ruthless? Don't you owe it to people to be pragmatic? Don't you owe it to people to be reasonable? Are these ideals worth it? Can you truly protect your people if you're standing up for this? Is it true? And you can see that two and three hanging in air headed for him about to make a different call. I think I just see him and I see him wavering. And as Murray taps into like the split timelines, she's fully observing.

Nothing is realized unless it's observed. She is fully seeing this and it's like the split problem and she sees him going back and forth. Gus, what is destiny? But hope realized. As you say that to him, you look back and see through time as your gem teeth vibrate, you see a broad, brawny, powerful young man as those exact words echo through time as you see him young in a moonlit grove, another man embracing him and holding him as they can. kiss and look at each other up at the moonlight as this night looks at him, a night that he lost

in his war for independence, who looks at him and says, as this hope is your destiny. And the words echo through time as tears, as his eyes well up, wondering how you could possibly say that if you didn't know. But of course, Murray feels and experiences time throughout. out. That's right. It's stomach. You need food. You need money. We do. You need swords and armor and weapons.

And we need a road to carry them on. Lieutenant. And you see he smiles a sort of devilish grin at you and looks at your eyes and says, you can count on timony. And if you tell a song, I'll kill you. And that's all for this episode of Critical Role. A pair of glasses appeared in my laugh. Let's get everybody to fit the cool down.

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