Critical Role - Escape from the Reach | Age of Umbra Episode 7 Part 1

Episode Date: July 24, 2025

Part 1 The group carefully navigates the dangerous domain of the Damask Queens and confront the dangerous guardian of a verdant home... DAGGERHEARTDaggerheart is OUT NOW! Visit https://daggerheart.com to learn more. Purchase your copy at friendly local game stores, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other bookstores, or Critical Role shops:US: https://shop.critrole.comUK: https://shop.critrole.co.ukEU: https://shop.critrole.euAU: https://shop.critrole.com.auCA: https://canada.critrole.com AGE OF UMBRASmall communities hold fast against the darkness of a dying world in Age of Umbra, a dark, survival fantasy 8-part Daggerheart mini-series with Game Master Matthew Mercer and players Ashley Johnson, Laura Bailey, Liam O’Brien, Marisha Ray, Sam Riegel, Taliesin Jaffe, and Travis Willingham. Death lurks around every corner, but five characters of the small community of Desperloch must band together to fight for hope for their community, risking it all for those they love. BEACONCurious what happens when the camera turns off after an Age of Umbra episode? Watch the Cooldown episodes with the cast discussion after each episode, exclusively on Beacon! Start your 7-day free trial today at https://beacon.tv/join and get unparalleled access to the shows you love completely ad-free! You’ll receive NEW Beacon exclusive series, instant access to VODs & podcasts, live event pre-sales, merch discounts, & a private Discord. CREDITSKey Art & Character Art by Anthony Chong Jones | @robotpencilPlayer Miniatures by Hero ForgeSpecial thanks to Solar Simon DMMain Theme Song by Omar FadelSet Design by Shaun EllisSet Fabrication and Production Design by Noxweiler Berf Due to the improv nature of RPG content on our channels, some themes and situations that occur in-game may be difficult for some to handle. If hearing discussions of 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

Hey there Critical Role podcast listeners. We have a special new membership service at beacon.tv where you can get early access to all new podcast episodes, including Critical Role for the first time ever. Beacon members also get things like event presales, merch discounts, access to a private community discord, and new exclusive series like Critical Role Cool Down, where we riff after the show.

Think of it as our digital Critical Role land. Head on over to beacon.tv to check it out for yourself and start a seven-day free trial. Thank you so, so much for your support, for being a podcast listener, and for being a part of our community. From unraveling our eccentric upbringings to embracing all the delightfully odd interests we still have today. We're covering so many topics like antique toys, taxidermy, Japanese pop culture, and honestly, anything else we come up with. Weird Kids is available exclusively on Beacon.

But good news, we're offering a one-month free trial on Beacon.tv so you can take a look before you become a member. Just use the code WEIRDOES at Beacon.tv so you can take a look before you become a member. Just use the code weirdos at Beacon.tv to start the trial. You can also find fellow weirdos by following the series on our at the weird kids pod Instagram and using the hashtag weird kids. So to all the misfits, outcasts and weirdos out there, come take a seat at our table and celebrate all things unconventional, nostalgic and wonderfully weird. Welcome to Weird Kids.

New episodes release every Tuesday. Hey there, Matthew Mercer here and you're listening to the podcast version of Age of Umbra, a dark tale and campaign setting from our recently released tabletop RPG Daggerheart from Darrington Press. You don't need to know anything about the rules or system to enjoy the story, but if you're inspired to want to play along, we have several short how-to-play resources we lovingly call Get Your Sheet Together, available to watch right now on Beacon.tv and youtube.com slash Critical Role.

This is part one of the episode right now, and part two arrives the following Tuesday. If you'd rather get instant and ad-free access to the full episode, consider becoming a Beacon member where you can watch bonus content like the cast discussing each episode in Critical Role Cool Down, receive Critical Role Shop discounts, including on Daggerheart, and much more. Sign up now at beacon.tv. And that should cover it. Now, let's dive into the adventure. Hello everyone and welcome to tonight's episode of the Age of Umbra. Age of Umbies. Before we jump in, we do have some announcements to get through.

Solar Gardens is a new Darrington Press board game that embraces the power of creativity and optimism. In this tile drafting game, players take on the role of a visionary architect specializing in carbon neutral engineering to build a rooftop garden in harmony with nature. It's beautiful, it's wonderful, and you gather points by building things like solar farms and windmill systems to create tranquil garden environments. It's a very cozy board game experience. You can pre-order Solar Gardens now at Critical Role shops, releasing July 31st at Gen Con, Darington Press guild stores, and other friendly local game stores. Plus, alongside Solar Gardens, we'll be releasing a Darington Press promo pack celebrating Critical Role's 10-year anniversary.

It will feature exclusive promo cards for six of our games, including Solar Gardens, art cards, alt art cards from the Menagerie for Daggerheart, Noor Queen by Midnight, Bizarre Cards, and more. So get them as a gift with purchase only at Gen Con and Darrington Press Guild stores. I think that's all the announcements we have for tonight, so let's go ahead and jump into tonight's episode of The Age of Umbra. I'm going to go to the So I'm going to go to the beach. The End Hello, and welcome to the Age of Umbra. Last we left off, our troop had trekked

beyond the Amber Gate, survived, jumping across the drowned sprawl, casting away spirits of old trauma, and began to ascend the Ashcall region of the city. Upon climbing it, you were waylaid by two terrifying creatures that called the exterior of the Aetinium home, and in that fray, lost two of your companions.

Adelia and August, both falling in the battle. In the middle of the trauma, Screeve charged into the night, vanishing into shadow, and has not been seen since. You shouted for entry into the Athenium and through a convincing display of what looked like divine magics, you convinced the guard to allow you entry. And for the night, and the first in a few nights,

you prepared for an evening's rest near the safety of a sacred pyre. You made some contacts within that had more dubious fingers in the local merchantile and did some heavy trade for some new upgrades, some items to help you on this last leg of your journey, little bits of information. You had drawn some attention as the one that had claimed

or shown to have had this touch of the divine gift, which made quite a stir with some of the civilians locked here within the stronghold for generations. You had decided to speak on her behalf and go help heal a young boy who was apparently suffering. Stealthily gave a divine healing, more or less imparting this magic within his body to rid him of this disease.

And in doing so, received a terrifying interaction. As he grabbed your arm, he began to speak of things beyond either of your understanding before passing out into his bed. And he would return as you just absorb the moment. Standing within this tent, and him now fast asleep on the bed, he'll... in this tent, and him now fast asleep on the bed, healed.

I'll go to the bedroom door, open the door. Is his sister still outside? Indeed, the tent flap. Oh, thank you, yeah. It's been a minute. The flap opens up and she's, is he all right? He's fine. Your brother doesn't ever pretend to speak

in other voices, does he? No, not that I'm aware of, no. Why? Is he okay? Oh, he'll be fine. Funny sense of humor, that one. Keep this to yourselves. I don't want others knowing that a little bit of favor

was shown this night. You get some rest, and I'll head out of the tent. MATT and SAM and MATT make a quick pass. Head back to the chamber that you were given for the evening's sleep. The rest of you have begun to give in to the exhaustion of the past few days' journey. As you arrive, you can see everyone's in the process of setting for an evening's rest, or possibly even just passing out in the middle of whatever action they were taking.

How did it go? Great. Little boy seems to be on the mend. They were very thankful. Wonderful. Well, we have some wine for you, if you'd like. Some wine? Yes.

That sounds great. That sounds perfect. Yes. It's a little vinegary, but it's, you know, there's not a lot of functional wineries here in the domain wastes. SAM and MATT and SAM and LAURA and SAM and MATT and SAM and SAM and LAURA and SAM and MARISHA and the rest of the team. We should be on our way in the morning, first light.

And Matt, remind me, since I put on new armor, does that automatically refill my armor slots to what the new armor is? Well, did you take new armor or did you take over somebody else's armor? I took Taliesin's. I took August's. I think it's once you rest and then you fill up the possible slots.

If it's a new armor that you've purchased and donned at a rest, I'll allow that to carry over. If it's pristine armor. But this armor you received was already pretty wrecked. SAM and MARISHA and MATT and SAM and MARISHA and MATT and SAM and Yeah, it has three slots off of it. Yeah, so you begin with three slots. Used on it.

Three slots used, yeah. Okay. All right, so as part of your restful sleep this evening. Does anybody need me to clear their stress, or two points of their stress, so you don't have to waste that in action? I can do it before we go to sleep. Sure.

I have three points of stress on me. I also have three. Oh, you guys are, I can clear my stress. Okay, Rochamba. Rock, paper, what is it? Boulder paper, Boulder parchment. Boulder parchment, cheers! Boulder parchment, cheers! What Boulder parchment. Cheers. Boulder parchment. Cheers. Boulder parchment. Cheers.

What are you doing on a floor? Boulder parchment. Boulder parchment. Cheers. Okay, you're good. Okay. Well, then I will go up and do healing hands and do a spell cast roll. Is this a long rest?

23 with hope. I'll Mark of Stress and clear two of your stress if you would like. Yes, thank you. I'm going to repair my armor. We pick two things or three? Pick two. Two. But because it's a long rest,

you clear all slots of that type. Right. Or you can prepare if you'd like to. That was the closest I got to a death roll last time, man. I didn't like it. If you didn't do I was your shield, I'd be rolling. Really? Oh yeah.

Oh yeah, you were, yeah. That was it. Someone need to, is this a keep watch sort of a situation? No, you are near a sacred pyre, so no one needs to keep watch. And we've got a little under city watchful eye on us as well. If that's the case,

can I go back in time and have you, Travis, knock down her stress? Can I go back in time and have you, Travis, knock down her stress? I don't really need it. Would that help you? Stress is my main mechanic for I Am Your Shield. And would that allow you to do some other actions tonight? Well, the only other action that would be on the table would be, I've got one hit point,

but I can deal with that. The only other thing would be if we wanted to prepare. You also have to do armor. I'm doing armor for sure. So I could either clear my stress or we could prepare and gain hope. But you can do the same, because how much hope do you have?

One. So you can do the same thing. I need hope, for sure. So, because is hope your mechanic? I use both equally. Then why don't you keep your stress cleared. I will clear my stress by what he did, and then you can prepare or do whatever. Yes, of course. Paradise.

Four and two. Thank you. I could just give you four hope right now. For free? No, not for free. What would I have to do for you, sir? Whoa. Dance.

Do it slowly. Dance. Do it doucément. You're like, you're going to go point-andcément. What did I say? Take it up slowly. Are you gonna give me four? Oh fuck it. I'll give you two hope.

You said you need it, right? I'll give you two hope. Two hope. Okay, don't waste it. You said you need it, right? I can also prepare. Does anyone else prepare? I can prepare with you. Let's prepare together. Okay, let's prepare. Yes, we're going to prepare with each other by praying together.

I only needed to use one of those to clear stress. How do you two both prepare together? We prepare, describe how you prepare the next day's adventure, then gain a hope. If you choose to prepare with one or more members of your party, you each gain two hope. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Do you wanna pray together?

Is that how we should prepare? I think that would be wonderful. Okay. Maybe what I will do is, I will just play music. Oh. While I pray. I think at this point I have dropped my appearance,

and I'm just back to my stone self, and I will just try to play some relaxing music for us to try to rest and sleep, and knowing that that was also used to, it was some form of prayer at one point in this body. Yeah, yeah. I will be inspired by the music and also say a quiet prayer to Tyrus,

not really knowing what he is or they are, and express my regrets for the actions of the day, and I hope that Screave, Screavin' forgives me, and hope that he finds his way back to us. I actually wrote a prayer because I botched the last one so badly last time.

What's your prayer? So I wrote, in dream I saw the pyre walk Through ash and flame and veiled talk A gift the world should never know A heart that burns where God's nair go They hide their light in humble shell To keep the pyres from ringing bell But even quiet fires glow

bright when stars are known by absence of night. That was so beautiful. Oh god, Tary. When did you do that? Did the... did... do I get... Marcus Streps. Sucks. This time, yeah. Marcus Streps. Did the, did, do I get hope sucked this time? Mark of stress. I didn't like my nursery rhyme last time. I did not like your nursery rhyme.

I liked it. That was beautiful. I thought that was quite lovely. Wow. Nothing happens. You find, especially in the day's events, and for some of these evening's events, your shaken resolve settles into a kneaded slumber.

As sleep takes each of you, you reminisce on days of distant travel, the exhaustion and the purpose, serving the needs of distant others for reasons never understood, and now instead serving a known purpose for those that you give care for. You dream of the one who pulled you from the darkness

and the sacrifices he made. To be freed from endless shadow. And now see the light of day, the light of flame, and a second chance at an impact on these realms around you. Though you cannot see it where you sleep, you sense the proximity of the pyre. And in that imagined or not warmth, you slip into memory

of how much kindling you've watched and guarded. Of those you kept safe, and those you intend to continue to keep safe. You can't get the look in his eyes out of your mind. A glare from something not present. A memory that speaks to uncertainty as to whether that actually happened or it was all in your mind.

Was he possessed? Did something speak through him? Are you going mad? He seemed to rest so easy so quickly. These visions continue to follow. Are you broken? Are you destined? You don't know the depths of the old faith and the new,

but something calls you forward. And something has special plans for you. Oh, wow. The night's rest is a welcome one. In the morning, you assume, comes as your chambers here do not see daylight, but the hustle and bustle of the next morning definitely rouses you,

and your sore bodies sit up and prepare for what you need to do in the day or days to come. No bad dreams. Just recollections, and maybe a renewed resolve. Oh, figures, they'd be early risers. Ugh. Oh, Misty.

Yes? You might want to cover yourself. Thank you, yes. I take a full fear on this because I can. Wait, wait, wait, why? Because it's long rest. I gain 1d4 plus the number of players. That's right, because we haven't taken that many long rests.

Even in the minimum roll, that would put me at max fear, which is how I love to start my day. I'll use Adjust Appearance again, so we can get through here. You got it. Eventually you make enough sound that one of the soldiers that was set on patrol, not far from your sitting, steps forward and is like,

I'll start your working. Should I go fetch Commander Karyn? Yes, I think it's time. Yeah. Right, they stay parked, they go wandering. Blocks off. A short time later, the well, the stoic, well-armored fawn returns.

Thank you. I hope you did find your rest comfortable enough. Lest you require my shells from our community, I understand your journey is one of haste. It is. Yes. Thank you for your hospitality and protection. We won't forget it soon. If you ever find yourself near Desperlok,

you can ask the same of us and it shall be returned. If that is the case, might I ask your names? Yes, I am Idle. My name is Misty. Brixton. Snicks. You notice a secondary soldier behind her out back is scrolling into a small leather-bound booklet or journal. Closes it. On your return trip, and I do hope there is one, you can find Haven once more within the walls of this stronghold, success or not. Just ask for Commander Kieran.

Thank you, Commander. We will wish for success. Perhaps on my return, I could meet the other sacred pyrekeepers and see the sacred flame for myself. If indeed you return with such a branch that you seek, I'm sure they would like to see you as well. Give them my regards. Of course. they would like to see you as well. MARISHA and SAM and MARISHA give them my regards. MATT and MATT of course.

And before we leave, you had mentioned that your spotters were tracking the Umbral Winds and that it seems to be moving to east. It's heading south at the moment and it might move east thereafter. But it is imminent, regardless. The wind is always imminent,

and sometimes moves erratically, and with Nalis. So... Move swiftly. Heard. Move swiftly. I know you're a goat. Yeah, I thought you were calling us together. Yeah. All right, well. You'll be escorted out, safe travels. Be mindful of those that would like to misuse your gifts, should they be true.

those that would like to misuse your gifts, should they be true. Thank you for the advice. It's hard out here for those of us who are touched. I've crossed many an aether weaver in my days. We are a hundred years past divinity. Whatever is claimed to be touched by the gods more often than not is proven to be something else entirely. I would be careful where your

inspirational dreams take you. Yes. Heard. Heard. She looks to the rest of you. Be careful. And walks away. Other soldiers step up to escort you back

towards the gates where you once entered. Okay. I'm sorry for the charade. I think a little deception can sometimes work in our favor. Yes, I am more than happy to carry this burden. It's very convincing. Thank you. Many holy people have,

our martyrs have to carry a great burden. Maybe this will help you get to sainthood or whatever. Just so we have further blessings from the gods. Yeah. Perhaps, perhaps if I walk like an aether weaver, talk like an aether weaver, talk like an aether weaver. SAM and MARISHA and MATT and SAM and MARISHA and MATT and That's silly. Anyway.

As you are escorted through the winding and crowded streets of the community of the Selzian Athenium, the people begin to notice you walking back through and once again, leaning into the prospect of these strangers that blew in and seem to be blowing out so quickly thereafter. As you begin to exit, you hear whispers behind, where are they, are they leaving?

Who are they, are they friends? I don't trust them. Why don't they kiss my grandmother? It's just all these strange little rumors and phrases and conversations. Some of them just odd creations, others concern, others worry. But you watch as two, three,

five people begin to follow. 10, 20. By the time you come to the gates about to leave, the soldiers step to the sides, you turn and see 50 plus people are all there waiting, clutching their clothing, many of which you had seen upon entry and other new faces that are all looking expectantly, all at you, Brixton.

In that pause, one voice pipes up. You're not leaving, are you? The divinity of the miracles that seek our calling unfortunately means we have to press on. No, no! Stay, stay. Keep us safe, please. Find strength in one another. We are the enduring. There is no greater miracle than the community you all behold underneath the sacred pyre. Do not put your faith in strangers. We are kind and grateful.

That does not mean that others hold the same intentions. I've seen how glorious this community is in such a short time. Have faith in that. have faith in that. Hopefully we'll see you all again." She just kind of tucks her head in. The gates that have somewhat opened are the outside. You turn as you turn and leave, you hear feet shuffling. The voices go out,

Don't, please don't leave! Hands start rushing, you hear soldiers say, Stay back, stay back! You hear like shields hitting people. The crowd is starting to crush and push towards the gate. Arms are reaching for all of you. You feel fingers grabbing at your elbows as you pull away. The guards end up pushing onto your shoulders

and shove you out the gates. As you push by, you hear, louder, no wait, why are they going to stop us? Behind you. In silence, as you now stand in the daylight hours under the clouded gray skies alone outside of the Athenium. Yeah, it can be like that. and it can be like that.

So many people in such need want and have so much help and hope. And they have a pyre. And they have a pyre. Yeah, our people are going to be far worse very soon. Yes, we should stay focused on the task at hand. That was very sad. All right. Onward.

Onward. Snicks, show us the way. Sure, sure. I'll lead the way, using all of my different techniques. Do you eat as you go? Do you just eat stuff? I've always got a mouth pouch of grass going. Yeah.

Just always kind of chewing, chaw, chaw, chewing a chaw. Always be chewing. I'll test the wind. It's this way. MATT and SAM and MATT laugh. Indeed, you lead the rest of this troupe in a northward direction,

heading around the exterior perimeter wall beyond the portcullis that is partially left up with guards on the upper edge of the wall holding the lock to the chain. And as you step beneath it, it closes behind you. In here, you now stand on the northern rampart edge of the Ashclaw Quarter.

Looking down below, it is 80, 100 feet drop from where you stand into the rocky depths below. You see the edge of the base of the Isle Hollow Mountains. Below, streams and rivers pouring down through rocky and wooded segments of the western mountain range and beyond. You can see the arcing points, these curved spikes that push up out of the range like this massive crown of teeth on an impossible scale

that surrounds the valley to the north. And you glance ahead and beyond to the familiar cinnabar quarter. You can see the surrounding gates that rise up even further, that climb up this mountain range to the next segment there before you. You walk along the top of the rampart, the winds picking up, blowing your hair,

blowing your cloaks to the side as you bundle up a bit, the chilled air tearing through your body for a moment, causing you to shiver as you continue to push on forward. Going to spend a fear. I'd like you all to make a strength reaction roll for me, please. Whoa. Because the sun is shining so warmly

that you're afraid we'll get sunburned? Is this wind knocking us off or something? No. Standing on the edge of the Grand Canyon. Okay. This is a reaction roll, you said? Yep. I thought that was a ten. 21.

21? Sorry, I got 30, 14, 15, 16. 10. 15, I think I misread that dice one time last game. Ooh. In a good way or a bad way? I'm going to write the wrong number. All right, well, you rally yourselves and hold strong.

The chilled wind not cold enough to cut through your physical constitution and you push onward. Ah, scampering further beyond the Athenium, you can look to the right-hand side and see the rest of the Ash Call below, the multiple layered levels that continue downward. And here, in the brightness of day from this perspective,

where the mist hasn't quite grown as thick, you can see the droves of shapes that move through them, the hordes of creatures and undead and fiends and beasts that stalk below, all waiting for something to breach within the Athenium so they could storm the inside and devour every soul that you walked past the night before.

and devour every soul that you walked past the night before. And ahead, you see the perimeter gates of the Cinnabar Quarter. You can see this beautifully crafted Gothic architecture surrounding the wall and the gates as they rise up to these fine points with iron-rigged rods that protrude with an X affixed to them. The symbols of the elite houses of the Old World

still on display, rusted and brown. The painted stonework, once probably a vibrant crimson in places, much has been scuffed away with weather and time, just revealing the grays and whites of the stone beneath. But what catches your attention, more than anything, is amongst the beautiful, partially cracked or shattered stained glass windows,

the balconies that protrude from this perimeter wall, and the impressive, unique architecture that denotes this shift in cityscape, of the dozens of spikes that protrude from it, and the skeletons and rotted corpses that hang from them as a warning. And we have to go through it, right? We can't go around.

We've got to go around. You can certainly try. It's a sheer wall on one side, and the rest is to go back down to the Ash Call. I think inside the inner wall was what we read or learned. Okay, I'll do that. Their door? No, there's a gate. And you approach.

Oh boy. You stop for a second, because you hear a sound. A far off, distant, high-pitched screech. Like a held note of a broken bassoon that gets higher and higher before it breaks into multiple tones. The sound of the umbral winds, sourceless to the south.

The umbra's moving. The sound of the umbral winds sourceless to the south. The umbra's moving. And as you get out of the light and into the shade beneath the gates that await you, you can see the doors are ajar. Flucky. Our fortune is turning. There are smears of blood, old blood across them that read, SAM and MARISHA and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and

MATT and SAM and They party. They party already. You step into the quarter proper and are immediately met with an opulent neighborhood of wealthy homesteads and mansions that greet you. The cracked and broken, but still relatively well-kept in some places, cobblestone roads themselves greet each footstep with a heavy click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click many of the buildings, the dark and broken windows just litter the ground

around them with a smattering of broken glass. Indeed, more bodies remain affixed to the outsides, whether they be warning or celebration. Too far to know. You can see this once luxurious class of affluence in the Old World has been long missing. And those that have taken up residence here are still enjoying wringing all they can from it,

and those who wander through. You see the occasional structure show some fire damage as well. You can see some structural trauma in places, roofs that look partially normal, You see the occasional structure show some fire damage as well. You can see some structural trauma in places, roofs that look partially pushed in, some buildings that have a collapsed secondary roof inward. While some of the streets continue to get better in care as you step in quietly,

you can see jagged wood barricades built into some edges of the road from shattered furniture quietly, you can see jagged wood barricades built into some edges of the road, from shattered furniture or pulled parts of structures that have fallen or possibly from areas beyond, where it looks like these piles of debris have been set up to either protect or hold firm some sort of defensive position,

or others to surround glass-strewn campsites, now abandoned. Fire pits, long extinguished, leaving rings of black and soot, where travelers or damasque queens have set up for a night's rest or a night's revelry. Welcome to the Cinnabar Quarter. The bodies that are on the pikes and posted inside the living areas,

are they in various states of decay? Are they mostly long decayed or recently? As far as the buildings? Yeah, all the bodies that are. Oh, the buildings? Yeah, all the bodies that are. Oh, the bodies? Glancing around, the majority of them are long decayed. They've been here. Not due to contribution.

They've been here a while. You do see two of them. You live in the Halcyon Domain. You're all fairly familiar with the rate of decay. Yeah. There are some here that look like they've been here for a few weeks. Okay.

I guess keeping an eye out for any familiar bodies as well, like a certain shadow stalker, Screev. Sure. In case he fell into the wrong hands here. Go ahead and roll instinct for me. In case he also pops out of the shadows to try and. SAM and MARISHA and SAM and MARISHA and SAM and MARISHA and SAM and MARISHA and MARISHA and SAM and I didn't realize I did it for a good reason. You were. I don't know if reason is in his vocabulary, though.

You said instinct roll? Okay. 17 with fear. Okay. Go away. That's your fear dice? Going away, it's not anymore. It's not anymore.

It's not anymore. Okay. Fuck that die. Keeping an eye out, you're thankful that this first leg of the district that you walk through, none of these corpses catch your attention as familiar. Like I said before, most of them have been here for quite some time.

In some are just remnants of bone. What may have been a corpse or partial corpse before has since long fallen and crumbled, and there is just a segment of a vertebrae, or half a rib cage that still remains. I'll take their luck. You do, not walking through the center street, coast from building to alley to building,

you pass by two of them, and the doors are left ajar, and you glance within and you can see that they've been somewhat ransacked. You see bookcases have been toppled. You see shelves have been pulled out. Drawers have been yanked and emptied on the ground, and all manner of goods have been searched or pulled, and some.

But also you look inside and see that some nice things are left as well. Fine bits, you can see fine clothing still hanging in an armoire with the doors open. Looks like whoever may have come through some of these homesteads either have particular interests in mind or just had a unique taste they wanted to appeal to.

But also, this district has fallen over time. The apostasy led to most of those who lived here to close their doors, to lock their families away, to use their long-gained generational wealth, and in many cases, extreme affluence compared to the common folk of the city, to keep themselves safe for as long as they could while the rest desperately tried to survive in Squalor.

This was during the Apostles' Eriads? This was thereafter as well. Thereafter as well, okay. And for a long time, this district closed itself off and kept itself siloed from the rest of the world's suffering. It's a gated community. And even then in time, some of them ran low on their monetary funds.

Golf club. And those they paid to keep watch, eventually wanted to, wanted the rest of their bill paid, or take what they wanted to fulfill that debt. And that was where a lot of the Damascus Queens begun. And this is, does the Cinnabar quarter still, is it still granted a little bit of safety

from the pyre, from the Celcian? Or no? We're pretty much at a wild west. The pyre is pretty proximity-based. Yeah. What's in here, you do not see at the moment any roving beasts or monsters, or hear sounds that remind you of the Ash Call.

Part of that, you imagine, and you probably know a little bit about this too, is because the queens also keep the area clear for themselves. Right. So they are keeping the area safe, relatively, for their particular troops. But then, those that aren't must join. So less kept safe by a pyre and more of a Last of Us community

with just people with guns and on patrol. It's a good way to put it. Yeah, okay. But these wealthy homesteads might carry shreds of history, clues, useful artifacts or possible bits of information to help you prepare for what might be encountered, should you choose to search. But you can continue to move forward regardless.

It's yours to explore or yours to sprint. But I am going to spend a fear. Oh boy. As you walk by one chamber and glance into the somewhat sundered living room area, the door half torn off of the hinges and watch as a person walks out and looks at you. At me or us?

At you. Ah! And then walks through a wall. SAM and MARISHA and MATT and MARISHA and MATT and MARISHA and MARISHA and MATT and MARISHA and MARISHA and MATT and MARISHA and MARISHA and MATT and MARISHA and MATT and MARISHA and

MARISHA and MATT and MARISHA and MARISHA and MATT and MARISHA and Well, that's different. Yeah, did you see that? Did anybody else see that? Did we all see it?

You're the only one that caught it, and then when you glanced back, there was nothing there. What did you see? There was a person, but they walked through the wall, and it was like, but it wasn't like the ghosts from the apostasy riots. It was... I kind of just like peer around the corner to see if I can see them. It was coming from inside the house? Yeah. Do we follow?

Maybe we should check inside the house and see if there's anything weird in there. Just give it a quick over. Did that person, their garb, did it look more current or was it reminiscent of? The apostasy, right? Yeah, like the olden times. The clothing you saw on them did not look tattered and dirty. Okay. Okay. Interesting. Yeah, they looked pretty cleaned up. Should we take a peek?

Maybe. Yeah, quick peek. If our friends were still here, you know they would want to. That's true. We'll do it for them. All right. For Adelia. For Adelia. For Adelia. For Screa.

For Adelia. For Violet. Yeah, for Violet. Who wants to go in? You want me to go in? You guys want to go in? We'll go in. You'll go in?

Yeah. Okay. Go for it. Okay. We'll be right behind you. Okay. All right, for it. Okay. We'll be right behind you. Okay.

All right, Misty. As you step in and begin to slowly check the interior of this ransacked homestead, you can make an instinct or knowledge roll to see if you can learn any history about the denizens or discover things within that could be useful or informative. Okay. I just or informative. Okay.

I'm going to say something. No. 13 with fear. 13 with fear. Okay. Oh. You look around and find that indeed, this place was torn apart, but you don't see any signs of physical violence.

There's no blood stains. There's no carving into the wood that feels like it was in the throes of battle or defense. There's a few marks carved here and there, but it's most like initials or a happy face. People have come through here and just decorated in their own unique way, but there's no signs of murder that you can tell.

Safe to go in? I think so. Okay, we'll go in. Snip around. Oh boy. You step into the building. Or we just leave, or we just leave. I don't know.

I think that's fine, might as well see inside. And you hear, ever so faintly, from the outside, somewhere in the city enough where your ears just gently pick it up. Hehehehehe. Mines fan. I know. Hello?

Just someone laughing. Don't call them up for them. They're probably just going about their day. They're laughing and having a good day. I feel like I'm being watched. It's weird. It must be. Yeah, these houses have been picked clean.

We can give it a quick once over, see if there's anything that'll help us and then we'll be on our way. Faster as we're in, faster we're out. Is there any desk, shelves, papers, books, scrolls, maps? Artifacts, relics? Daggers, papers, books. Scrolls. Maps. Artifacts.

Dagger, gems, coins. Artifacts, artifacts, relics, old relics. Well, you've expended your search of this locale. If somebody else wants to make an Instinct or Knowledge roll, you are welcome to try. Wanna get it? Instinct or Knowledge? I can certainly do it, or I can help someone. Go for it. My stats suck there. SAM and TRAVIS and SAM and SAM and TRAVIS and SAM and I saw. All right, I'm searching. Garbage. MARISHA and SAM and LAURA and SAM and LAURA and

SAM and LAURA and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and

SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and

SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and

SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and

SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and

SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and and SAM and and

SAM and and and and and and and and

and and and with fear. and with fear. and with fear. and with fear. and with fear. and with fear.

and with fear. and with fear. and with fear. and with fear. and with fear. and with fear. and with fear. and with fear.

and with fear. and with fear. and with fear. and with fear. and with fear. and with fear. and with fear. and with fear.

and with fear. and with fear. and with fear. and with fear. and with fear. and with fear. and with fear. and with fear.

and with fear. and with fear. You walk and you hear the floorboards creaking with each footstep, but it's a slight creak with the impact of the hardstone beneath it. As you're stepping around, you hit one that doesn't have that hard base floor stone beneath the wood, and it has a bit of a hollow clop to it. SAM and MARISHA and SAM and MARISHA and SAM and MARISHA and SAM and All right, I'm going to throw my head straight down and try to bash through the floorboard with my horn. I will say, easy enough for you to do. Wham! You slam into it. The wood splinters once. Do again. It splinters up and leaves a small and awful

warm place that can pass through. SAM and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and SAM and MATT and SAM and SAM and and SAM and MATT and SAM and SAM and MATT and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and

and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM What do you see down there? What do I see? Yeah. Who gets a gem? I get a gem. I'm explore, what? Mm.

You mean weapons. What do rich people hide under the floorboards in their house? Yes, it's just gold and weapons. And pollution board. Tung the Porg. I would say that it's some sort of ancient, not ancient, it's like a larder. SAM and LAURA and SAM and MATT and SAM and SAM and MATT and SAM and SAM and MATT and SAM and and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and

and SAM and MATT and SAM and and SAM and and and and and barrels of things and maybe a couple of shelves with a couple other boxes in it. You find a subterranean storage room. It looks like it was maybe once used partially a wine cave, partially other bits of storage.

Most of it is spent. There are still some elements that still sit around, but a little bit of grain-held sacks there. Looks like bits of fungus are growing out of them, like they may have gotten wet at some point, and then suddenly begin to just spoil over time. You turn and find there is a door that is latched from this side,

like a wooden board had fallen and locked it in. Like it was barring something from coming in? And entering your room from beyond it. Oh, well, I will throw off the beam and unlock it. It pulls open easily, and a musty smell comes through, and as you glance through, getting your torches ready inside,

you see a family of four, long, decayed, skeletal, well-dressed, in an outfit not too different from the one that you heard Brixton describe pass through the house, that had been down here for some time, waiting out whether it be the riots or the growing unrest amongst the city,

and then at some point accidentally locked themselves on the other side. SAM and SAM and MARISHA and SAM and SAM and MARISHA and SAM and MARISHA and SAM and MARISHA and SAM and MARISHA and SAM and MARISHA and

SAM and MARISHA and SAM and MARISHA and SAM and MARISHA and SAM and MARISHA and SAM and MARISHA and SAM and MARISHA and SAM and MARISHA and SAM and MARISHA and

and the rest of the city. And then at some point accidentally locked themselves on the other side. SAM and MARISHA and SAM and MARISHA and SAM and MARISHA and and the rest of the city. SAM and MARISHA and and the rest of the city.

SAM and MARISHA and and the rest of the city. SAM and MARISHA and and the rest of the city. SAM and MARISHA and and the rest of the city. SAM and the rest of the city. SAM and the rest of the city.

SAM and the rest of the city. SAM and the rest of the city. SAM and the rest of the city. SAM and the rest of the city. SAM and the rest of the city. SAM and the rest of the city. SAM and the rest of the city. SAM and the rest of the city.

SAM and the rest of the city. and the rest of the city. SAM and the rest of the city. and the rest of the city. and the rest of the city. and the rest of the city. and the rest of the city. and the rest of the city.

and the rest of the city. and the rest of the city. and the rest of the city. and the rest of Yeah, I'll crawl down. Wow. What environmental storytelling. Whoa. That's great. You sure can find them, huh? You guys are moving down underneath. I'll go ahead and bring the lights to a fitting subterranean space.

Jump down there as well. And somewhere altogether, at least. I'll stay up just in case, but my head kind of, I'm like prone on the ground looking through. I'm going on the ground looking. Looking through. MATT and SAM and MATT laugh I'm going to spend a fear to advance the crowned approaches. While you're all going down there,

you hear that same chuckle and three other chuckles distantly. It sounds like figures are wandering somewhere in the surrounding neighborhood or district. TRAVIS and SAM and TALIESIN and SAM and MARISHA and SAM and the Emerald Crown, Farah of the Ruby Crown. MARISHA and SAM and MARISHA and Whatever you're going to do, make it fast. Okay.

I've only done this a couple of times and it never really worked out. I'm sure this one will be different. Yeah. Nine, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15. With hope. Is this a spell cast? It is a spell cast.

Cool. 15 with hope. That is a success with hope. Success with hope. The corpse answers up to three questions. That ticks the progress down twice. That's progress, that's good. That's good. Okay.

We get more, oh, I didn't notice that there was one up. Okay, okay. Progress, consequence. Right. I reach out and I put my hand on the, are we asking the largest one? Is it a... You see a...

Man woman sort of situation? A man woman in what looks to be a bit like a teenager young adult. Is it a man-woman sort of situation? A man-woman and what looks to have been a teenager young adult. So two adults and then two teens? Is that what you're saying? Two adults and then teens. Okay, gotcha. Who do you want to talk to? This is your family, you found them. This is not my family!

Mom or the dad? Mom always knows more than dad. I'll reach out and I'll put my hand on the upper breastplate of the mom and I'll... And you see this wave of light travel down my arm and you almost see a light emanate from within the withered ribcage, just like... And the back arches and kind of sits up. I'm like, a ah! Stay, stay! Okay, first question. SAM and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and

I'm asking questions? I thought you're the spellcasting person! I'm a vessel, baby! Oh boy. I guess, what were you hiding from? What happened here and what were you hiding from? Oh, yeah. What happened here and what were you hiding from? Brixton, what happened here and what were they hiding from? What? What? This is the scariest part of the entire thing.

It really is. What am I supposed to do? Okay, well you said this was after the age of the apostasy. This is collaborative, baby. This was after the apostasy? Yeah. From what you've seen, a lot of, like, the district lasted for quite This was after the apostasy? Yeah. From what you've seen, a lot of, like the district lasted for quite some time

after the apostasy, it just dwindled over, whether it be through, you know, solitude, whether it be through bad deals or eventually lack of funds or resources. Okay. I'm gonna say what happened here was the youngest of the child started showing signs of being touched and having similar abilities

that we have seen Eidol have as well. And this soon in this current, after the apostasy riots, that was even more controversial than what it is even now. And the parents did everything that they could to try and protect their youngest from the marauders and the people who were coming to prosecute the youngest.

Indeed, as the body begins to express this information. How long we kept ourself safe. Our friends would come by and drop goods. For many years we could not be anything but alone, and free in our darkness. But all luck runs true and dry. We have been forgotten. Until now.

You stay there. You'd be surprised. Second? Well. Anything to know about this area as we head up towards the Aurum Weald? Sure, yeah, go ahead. Yeah, something about the... Anything they know about the path through the Aurum Weald. Aurum Weald.

Is there anything you can tell us or that we should know about the path from here up towards the wilds of the Aurum Weald? Is there anything you can tell us or that we should know about the path from here up towards the wilds of the Aurum Weald? Any dangers we should know of? Ashley. LAURA and MARISHA laugh. Are there any boons or dangers beyond the corrupted curse and the thing that stalks that you must be looking out for

as you pass through the woods? Well, yeah. All of it. The corpse takes on a whole new. Yeah. Bro, it's crazy over there. That shit is crazy out there. Out in the woods, there's a huge dick.

It's a huge dick. A huge dick. Yes, there's, I know this is so stressful because I don't know what you have, you've planned for creatures. Guess what? Yes. Whatever you do. Here's the cool thing about these games.

Everything adjusts based on what everyone does. So whatever you say becomes canon and I'll tweak it and push it into what makes sense, within reason, of course. The path, since there seems, since when you were talking about it, you were saying it's dense wood of strong, georetic presence, I think. It was, yeah.

So, the earth on the way there, all of the stuff that you walk on to get there, everything, thank you, thank you. I mean, everything is alive in a way and plays tricks on the mind. Mm-hmm, okay. Interesting. Yeah.

The very land itself is shifty. Yes. Once on the mind of its protectors, but as the land grew cold, so did its will and humor. It now just twists. Oh yeah, cool, good. I should have said like, it's a smooth path,

it's smooth sailing, it's so the nicest part of whatever you've been traveling. These people are of the godly world, right? The world, potentially, yeah. I don't know if this works, but why don't we ask them if they recognize the statue? Why don't you show them your form and find out who you are. That's cool.

Okay. I will drop my appearance. Okay, make room for you. You fucking, don't you do anything. Do you, for your kin, recognize a statue or entity like this or anything like it. The jar hangs open, almost completely dislodged

on one side. Not this one, but others like it. The vessels, the vessels, they went quiet. You are not empty. You are not hungry. What are you? You are not hungry. How many questions do you have to answer? Three.

Was it up to three or at least three? It is three questions. Oh. Clacks back into the pile of bones. What's your biggest regret? Oh. I feel like, that went really well, by the way. That was cool.

We make a great team. Very impressive. I feel like, because you said you saw something, we should try to put them at rest. Maybe we bring them upstairs and then we just set the house on fire. What do you think? Sure. Great idea. Yeah.

It'll certainly maybe cause a distraction, I'm assuming, at the... Ooh, yeah. The best queens, what kind of... Are you kidding me? What the hell was that? I thought I heard a voice over here. Alert, alert. Oh, oh, get down here.

Are you crazy? You hear things again? No, no, I heard a voice, I heard someone call out. I flopped down into the hole. You hear the Pup, pup, pup, brrr, pup, brrr footsteps over the wooden boards above.

The floorboard? Yeah. Oh shit. I very gently try to scratch the floorboard. You sure about that? You're losing your mind, friend. I ain't losing nothing. I heard what I heard.

These fucking ghosts know what they're doing, but this wasn't a ghost. I don't think I know voices between ghosts. I know what they are. Fuck you. And you hear other voices shouting. I bring her out and sit up here for the night. Looks like it's nice and clean at midnight. Fuck. There's a crown coming. About 20 minutes behind. MATT and SAM and MARISHA and the rest of the group are like, fuck.

The crown coming, about 20 minutes behind. She's being pulled in her steam setup. It's her birthday after all. Your other shouts, scraping sounds, looks like this troupe of the queens is building a camp in this section of the neighborhood. Oh my god. Okay, I have a proposal. Okay. We lock ourselves in, we just die together.

Oh god. Yeah, yeah, round two, baby. Let's go, we'll just join the family. We take our torches, we set the house on fire, we go out the back way and hope it's a distraction. We're under the house right now. Yeah go out the back way and hope it's a distraction. We're under the house right now. Yeah, well, we climb out first.

So we set the floor above us on fire? Yeah, you set the floor you're in on fire. You never set a fire to the house you built in? But we're in a dirt basement. Yeah, you climb back out. But that's where they are. Is there another way? So how did they get down here? No, they were above you. Oh, you mean the bodies? The bodies.

This is their house. They hid down. They hid down here. They hid down here, but now they will accidentally lock themselves in. But was there access to it? There is an access towards the chamber that you were in. Yes. Okay. But there's no, like, I think what Ashley's getting at, there's no cellar door if we like kept going.

On the outside, no, it leads back up into the house. Okay. I did spend two fear to count down the consequence time whereby two. And did we hear the footsteps leaving the main floor that we were at? Correct, they left back out into the street. So as far as you can tell, looking up and hearing,

they're not in the house right now. They're just in the road or the street outside of the native. Yes. Burn this motherfucker to the ground. May you rest in eternal peace. Get upstairs with the torches and stick it under the nearest piece of furniture and push it against the wall.

While they do that, I'm going to skitter to the back of the house. Is there a back entrance, a window, something we can sneak out the back inside of the front? There is a somewhat crowded and debris-filled kitchen right now, where you can see it is already partially burned, but it looks like it may have burned

either in wetter weather or at a time where it couldn't catch the entire household. But you can see the upper wall shelves are partially out on the side. There is a window that is barred that you could try and push through, or a back door that looks like it is currently braced from the inside.

Okay, while they do that, I will try and... I'm gonna try and take the hilt of my Greatsword and see if I can wedge open this door. Let's start with the door first. Sure, yeah, all right, go ahead and roll a strength action roll for me. Just burn a hope and use my experience, open the fucking door.

Yeah. I know. Honestly, a great experience. Yeah. I was like, oh, I'll use countless hands, I've got no hope, I've got no hope. There's no hope left. Wait, what?

Oh, duh, what? Ugh! 69! Yeah! Oh man. It's a crit in our minds. Yeah. Okay, so it's going to be 18 with hope. Yay!

18 with hope? I got a hope! You got a hope pack. Guys, feels good. Isn't that? An 18 with hope would be a success with hope, which ticks this down to zero. Okay.

So as you set this house aflame, Okay. the fire begins to catch and curl up. Vroom, vroom, vroom, vroom. Smoke begins to build out right as you, the door opens about a foot before it catches. It's nothing you can squeeze through into an alley behind the household. MARISHA and SAM and MARISHA and MATT and SAM and MARISHA and MATT and MARISHA and

We got an exit. Let's go. This thing's only going to go up faster. All right, and as that, you push around the corner into this alley, and as you dive around the edge, you begin to hear the sound of voices go, hi, she knocked something over in there, with the house on fucking fire. Ha ha, cool. Gonna stay warm tonight, children. Ha ha ha.

Fucking beavers in butt head over here. She begins to catch flame. You dart away from them them noticing your exit. Who's leading the next bit of you stealthily traveling through the neighborhood? Next. Sure, I'll lead us through. Stealthily, okay.

All right. Now, if you're going as a group, we'll make this a group action roll, because it's fun. I'd like everyone to make a finesse roll first, and then you will finish it. Mm-hmm. Oh, crap it's fun. I'd like everyone to make a finesse roll first, and then you will finish them. Oh, crap.

All right. Is this with hope and fear as well? This is reaction rolls. A reaction roll. Yeah. Okay. Crit, baby! Ooh! So plus one.

Uh-huh, or plus zero, oh sorry, I know what you're doing. With my armor, I get plus two to rolls to move silently, can I use that? Yeah, why not? Okay, so, 15. Okay, that's just what you needed, plus two. 13. Plus one. So now, Snix, go ahead and roll, finesse roll, and add plus one to whatever you would get.

Wait, I have one more,. Doesn't matter, though. Yeah, still got it, though. Am I allowed to use my Path Forward Wayfinder ability to have advantage to find a place I've previously been? Have I been through here before? Or can I use my Experience, Well Traveled? You tell me. Do you think you would? Or can I use my experience, well traveled? You tell me.

Do you think you would? I can use my experience, all traveled. Let's do that. It's less about you traveling through this part of the district, but you've heard enough about it and you've been around the outskirts of it that at least you know generally which parts of the roads and the layout of these upper layers, too,

to where you can best keep out of manned thoroughfares. SAM and TALIESIN and SAM and MARISHA and SAM and MARISHA and Oh. That was fair. TRAVIS and SAM and MARISHA and We will never know hope again. Hope has abandoned us. It's completing.

You all continue to push through this part of the district until eventually you come to the next intermittent wall. There are one or more district breaks with their own gates that push through. And as you step to the edge, this next you look past and notice the portcullis that is up. There are, sounds like multiple footsteps passing through.

You glance around the corner and see two figures stepping through with, they have leather harnesses on with clumps of fur, spikes that come off the front, leather masks on their faces and tattered hair around that dangles side to side. Both of them carry this massive chain across their shoulder and they're just like,

Ugh, ugh. Then two more behind them with another chain. Ugh, ugh. And then two more behind them with another chain. Six pulling, ugh, and then two more, eight. I think it'd be two more, eight. MARISHA and SAM and MARISHA and SAM and MARISHA and Yeah. And then behind them, you see this

mostly beautiful, little ragged in sections. You thought maybe a cart at first, it is a carriage built for horses, but no horses reside in this city any longer. And you see dangling from it as it goes, like as it wheels, it shakes a bit at the top, and all these little trinkets jangle and move as it slowly pulls through. Oh, you can see all of them are jawbones,

jawbones that are hanging on little chains that just tink, tink, tink, kink, kink, kink, kink. It's very pointed. It's very specific. Yeah. The windows, you see their curtains are closed and there is a door on each side as it just pulls past. And then the porcoous seals behind it.

What do you do? With us inside? Yeah. Huh, yeah. You then watch as two figures throw, or you can see now there were grappling hook ropes that were dangling from the walls that you noticed before until two other masked figures rappel down from the top of the wall,

yank them down, and then leap up onto the back of the carriage and hold on as it begins to pick up again. Just peeking, are we able to peek inside the carriage from afar and get a glimpse if there's any type of emerald or potentially ruby crowns? Feels like ruby. Yeah, it does. You can go ahead and make a presence roll for me,

if you don't mind. Sorry, an instinct roll to see if you can make out any details from the curtained windows. Okay. Guys, we're doing great. Instinct, you said? Yes. 19 with hope. 19 with hope, that's great.

Really good. Okay. You see this glimmer inside of a face peering through, holding on and clutching the curtains. see this glimmer inside of a face peering through, holding on and clutching the curtains. A smaller, squat-looking halfling woman with black makeup around her eyes and down her nose and down her chin and across her cheeks that seems to outline a dark coloration across her lower jaw.

Across her jawbone. She just holds on and looks out with a smile. Oh my god, dude. It's Farah. It's gotta be Farah, right? Yeah, it is. Is she going away from us? It is moving away from the parapet.

She entered the city or is leaving the city? Is entering the district that you're from, from the district beyond that you are traveling. We're traveling towards. The creatures that are pulling the carriage, do they have any similar rings and things like screes? Some of them do. Okay.

Smaller bits. Smaller bits. You see the exposed arms, there are all manner of scars and designs carved into it that have since scarred over to create shapes and various, there's a lack of interest maybe in tattoo work or ink with them. Instead, they use a lot of scarification for insignia and self-expression.

And you see amongst their shoulders and parts of their necks even, you see bits of metal, whether it be crescents, bars, or rings, are threaded through the skin. Oh my god. Okay. He did not enjoy his time with this person. No, he did not want to, they're not going to want to contact her.

Win his favor back by maybe taking her out? We're not going to do that, though. That's crazy, that's crazy. I mean, I was thinking that too, but I don't know if we have the time. Also, Screeve isn't here. Right. Also, Screeve isn't here, so he wouldn't know.

Yeah. We don't even know if he's alive. Are we trying to get direction-wise to the other side of the porkless that she was traveling from? Correct, that was the direction you were going towards that outer wall, and then as you approached it, the porkless seemed to be already open, and then as you approached it, the porceless seemed to be already open,

and then as the carriage came through, it closed behind. And how high is the wall that we saw the figures rappelling down from? About 20 or so feet. 20 or so feet. Wow. Well, I mean, we have 50 feet of rope, but I don't have a grappling hook or anything.

Well, August did. He has a grappling hook. Do we give it away? We take it, we give it away? We take it and give it away. Fuck. That's all right, one of us can fly, right? Fuck. Fuck.

Where are we trying to get? Up to the? I think we're supposed to get up and up outside of where she just came from. Was that where we were going? Yeah, that was the direction you were coming. You were kind of like passing each other around. I can go to the top of the roof.

You can? At the top of the wall? Probably. Because that's probably where the portcullis controls are. Once per day I can move anywhere within far range. Is that within far range? That would be, yeah. Come on, mountain goat.

Find those impossible footholds in the wall in the vertical wall, don't I make sense? When you see them and they're like. They're standing on the dam. the vertical wall. I don't know if that makes any sense. When you see them and they're like... Standing on the dam. Yep. Like assault. Like, how are you doing that? Is that what we're doing?

Yeah, but you'll be up there by yourself. We've got to find a way to get the portcullis open or... Do I bring a rope up there? Or take a rope just in case. Yeah, take a rope with you. I can take a rope and then let it down to you guys. Yeah. You have to tie it to something.

Can you make a distraction so they don't see me? There's a house on fire right now. Oh, that's true. Okay. And it's her birthday. It is her birthday. That's really sweet. It's fair.

I don't think I've ever celebrated a birthday. All right. I don't even know what they are. Yeah. If we get through this, we should all celebrate our birthdays. That's a great idea. Fuck up there.

SAM and LAURA laughing. Okay. Okay, I'm going to use deft maneuvers. Muscle for a rake. To mountain goat my way up, finding little bricks sticking out. So you run towards it, because you're still in the alley

where the wall meets some of the nearby buildings. There is quite a gap between the building and the wall, but you get enough of a running jump that you leap onto and catch one of the stones that sort of protruded, basically like goat parkour off of it towards the other roof on the other side, and leap once more until eventually clomping back on top of the central divider wall.

You catch yourself and stop and glance over. I would like you to make a finesse roll for me with disadvantage. Disadvantage. To see if you are noticed arriving onto the wall from the birthday troupe that is passing through. Would have been such a good roll except for the disadvantage part.

17. 17. Wow. With fear. With fear. I'll take that fear back. 17 is a success. So as you leap there, you turn around and see the troop, and you see one of them looks over in your direction, and you catch them just in time as they begin to peruse the top of that wall, keeping a sentry watch, and you get low, and there is about two feet of stone. SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and

SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and and SAM and SAM and MATT and SAM and SAM and MATT and SAM and SAM and MATT and SAM and SAM and MATT and SAM and and SAM and MATT and SAM and SAM and SAM and MATT and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM notice of you. Up here, you see there are two winches rounded of chain with handholds on four

spokes on each, that if they are pushed, it'll lift the portcullis up. SAM and MARISHA and SAM and LAURA and SAM and MARISHA and SAM and MARISHA and SAM and SAM and SAM and MARISHA and SAM and SAM and MARISHA and SAM and SAM and MARISHA and SAM and SAM and MARISHA and SAM and SAM and MARISHA and SAM and

and SAM and and SAM and and and SAM and and and SAM and and and SAM and and and SAM and and and SAM and and and SAM and and

and SAM and and and SAM and and and SAM and and and SAM and and and SAM and and and SAM and and and SAM and and and SAM and and

and SAM and and and SAM and and and SAM and and and SAM and and and SAM and and SAM and and SAM and and SAM and

and SAM and and SAM and and SAM and and SAM and and SAM and and SAM and and SAM and and SAM and

and SAM and and SAM and and SAM and and SAM and and SAM and and SAM and and SAM and and SAM and

and SAM and and SAM and and SAM and and SAM and and SAM and and SAM and and SAM and and SAM and

and SAM and and SAM and and SAM and and SAM and and SAM and and SAM and and and SAM and and and SAM and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and Good thing you took some rope up with you. I did, I did. I'll lash the rope around one of them,

or if there's any other thing to tie it to, and then throw it down to my companions. Okay, I will spend a fear here to instigate an imminent chase. So both of these will start at four. Your progress is to escape the periphery of the birthday girl before drawing the attention of this crew,

in which case they will be wanting to find out who you are and if you want to join the party. TRAVIS and SAM and MARISHA laugh. We like to party. If you jump to the rope party. SAM and TRAVIS and SAM laugh SAM and LIAM and SAM like to party. If you drop to the rope, I'll give a shot at going up first, just in case I'm successful, it can help lift. Can I try and climb the rope? You can indeed, so you get the rope down,

do you just hold it yourself? No, I'm going to either lash it to one of these big winches or to the footing of it or something like that. Yeah, you can go ahead and tie it around one of these winches. All right. Okay. Three, six, 16 with fear.

Okay, that is a success with fear. Both of these count down one. So your progress and your consequence both are getting close. As you pull up, you do indeed get up to the top of the wall and arise to the top point. And as you do, you realize that you're a thicker fella. And as you, you know, your muscle is quite dense

and you carry quite a bunch of equipment with you. And as you rise over the top and release the rope, you hear, as you would, the top and release the rope, you hear the volume of weight and strength of you lifting up had just lifted the portcullis about a half an inch. And then as soon as you release the rope, it backs into place. And you both get down, and you go, some other folks look back. You glance over at the stone wall after hiding. You can see the crew is indeed forming a party brigade in the middle of this district. They are pulling furniture out of other houses and throwing them onto the burning

house to turn it into a bonfire of epic proportions. Go Lakers! Do you want to adjust that? I could, if you guys are coming up. Or are we still gonna open the gate? You and I could try to open it, if you guys feel confident making similar strength or agility rolls to climb the rope. For this rope, it would be strength.

Strength. How's your strength? Not great. How's your strength? I mean, I could. Or finesse. I could try to just wait at the door until, and then we can like, open it and then. All right, I'm gonna climb the rope, climb the rope. As long as you don't ruin it for everybody.

There you go, make a strength roll. Just try and brace it so that maybe it doesn't look the purple. Can I spend a hope? Oh yeah, yeah, we'll kind of pull back on it. Can I spend a hope to help her up, so she can, because I'm so tall. Yeah, and so you go ahead and give it. She can also use. Kind of boost her up, give her a little tall. MATT and MARISHA and MATT and MARISHA and She can also give boosts and already give extra.

I perch on her shoulders, cheerleader style. I put my wings up to give a little extra. Okay, great. I give myself just a little bit of a vault fitting in, 20 total with hope. Nice! You're a hope factory. Definitely a success with hope, which counts this down by two. You have one more on the progress clock to avoid being discovered and escaping the periphery of this Damascus.

Let's try it. Yeah. Okay, wait by the door. We'll try and lift it. Should I stick my fingers underneath to try to help? Seems like a good way to lose your fingers. Yeah, yeah, yeah, okay, okay. Brixton and I will give the porculous.

All right, so this is gonna be a group action between the two of you. Who is helming it and who is helping? How about I'll burn three hope to make this a combo. Jesus. Let tag team? Let's go, all right. So we both roll. You both roll and choose which of the two rolls

you wanna take. Okay. Okay. Okay, okay. That's so cocked. That's so cocked. Ooh, hope yours is good. It is, a strength roll. 22 with fear.

I rolled a five on the dice, so that's eight with fear. So do yours. Success with fear counts this down by one to a two, but counts this down to a success in the progress clock. The birthday girl. I bet she's fun, though. As you both work together, slowly raise the porcelain just enough so that you can squeeze through underneath. You do so, and then slowly lower it. The chain gets someone's attention. You hear a voice go, hey, can you hear that? And they turn, just as you lower it, and you see some of them begin to walk over to inspect it. You all quickly dart off into the next section

of this district and head towards the northern side, which you had noticed from above the top of the wall, through some of the alleyways, and some of the nearby neighborhood will lead you to an outer gate on the northern side of it. As they begin to approach, you're already too far away, and as they begin to argue about one of them, being like, you can't keep hearing things, man.

We're gonna think you maybe get a little off your locker. And the guy is like, maybe I am, maybe I am. As you dart off into the shadows, you can hear the distant laughing and screaming of what sounds to be the beginning of a celebration. As you head towards the northern outer gate, avoiding the various other Damascus patrols that seem to walk along the rooftops,

keeping sentry over the coming celebration, until eventually you come to the exterior gate. But it's closed before you. And we're going to go and take a break. Oh man. One roll. Oh ho! Hey, we rolled good. We rolled good. We rolled really good. I've. Oh ho! Wow.

Hey, we rolled good. We rolled good. We rolled really good. I've filled some of my hope. Yeah, you did. Wow. Yeah. It feels nice. It feels nice without the other people here.

All right, we'll be back here in a few minutes. Nobody died. That's a wrap for part one of this podcast episode. Part two will land here the Tuesday after this episode at 5 a.m. Pacific, and we'll pick up this story right where we left off. Until next time, keep the Umbra at bay, and we'll be back for more of this adventure before you know it.