Critical Role - Good Tidings | Critical Role | Campaign 4, Episode 24 Part 2

Episode Date: May 12, 2026

Part 2   "The Schemers make headway with their own plots, but Thjazi's secrets remain a mystery to unravel...   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 Aramon. We return. Liam said D's nuts right at me. You gave us all almonds. And I'll tell you what, these nuts are delicious. Salty. Salted too. Salty.

It takes a while to treat them. The important thing, that almond skin in the throat. You played yourself. Vamp, vamp. Vamp, vamp. Tell more Holt's jokes. Great.

We return to Joe Mott. I feel like I can always get Liam with a good we return. We return. You got me because you were like a chipmunk had almond drugs on the side of your mouth. We return. So cute.

entry. The following day, all of you awaken in various neighborhoods of the city of Dolomacchar to see, not overwhelmingly, but you go out and begin to see occasional storefronts are people walking dressed in white with small paper lanterns out on the street and some giving these sort of cream white, heavily sugared cookies out to people passing on the street. As you walk by, you see someone with a little kind of white gown on saying, and a happy candle feast to you all. Okay. The Creed is out in force today.

Okay, my portents for the day. Oh no, it's not, okay. Seven and fourteen, sorry, keep going. Oh, my poor tense. My poor tense. I thought it was another one for a second. For those of you who are out today, let's go ahead and give me a profession check for today

as you guys go about your business. Oh, I get to give somebody heroic inspiration. I still have it after having that long rest, Blair. Are you sure? Yes. I get a decent, oh, I can hold that. You get a re-roll. I get a re-roll. All right. And it could be any die. It doesn't have any.

And this is the day of? This is the day, this is two days before the gala. Two days before the gala. Okay. That's correct. Okay. So meaning the gala is tomorrow night or day after. Day after tomorrow night. Got it. Okay.

That was bullshit. Oh ye. That's much better. What did we get here? It is your ability modifier, not With proficiency? With proficiency. Oh, okay.

Well, then I got an 11. 11, a completely average day. This is a day, like, as in everything else, you've been pulling some sick moves and doing stuff, but we've got to catch up on paperwork. There's just stuff. A lot of today is probably just like dealing with Grotto's illness and when he can get back to work.

Great. And like getting him up and back on his feet. You also, Varon is waiting for you at Falcons rest that morning. Yes. He goes, uh, so look, people are eager, they're hungry. Yes. When should I look to heat?

I don't know who the other people in that room were than I think one of them was maybe the Aussie Fane's brother. But do you, what do you need people to wait for? Do you need me to tell people to hang on longer? Do you need an even an answer that is hold is better than just going silent? Here's what we need. Here's what I already have for you.

and this symbol is a good lookout. And I'm going to describe to him this very kind of rudimentary drawing of a bird. Cool. That is easy to scratch on a wall. That is easy to leave as like a marking on a building. Specific enough, but not sloppy so that I can get mistaken for different things. And the phrase, which was. was.

Any good tidings? Any good tidings? Any good tidings? Always for a friend. He says, all right, I'll communicate that out and let people know. And for now, sit tight. Meet me here tomorrow and I will have more for you, more specifics. But those that are eager to move or more desperate,

We need people in position in those hundred houses. If they get employment there, remember that their allegiance needs to still be with us. Their plants, you've got to get the right people for that. At least they'll get a paycheck. You see, Varon nods and says, look, what I have from these people,

as you're nice interest, I'm not in a position of fast commands on to anyone. What I can do is tell you who's still got an overreact. at one of those jobs. I can get a list of those people that, like myself, that were working private security for the Senate houses.

Okay. And I can get you a list of those people that I trust. I'll meet you here tomorrow morning with a list of people that still have a day job somewhere. Got it. And I'll give you that list, and I'll give you the list of the people that I trust, all right? Sounds good.

All right. Let's see what are the professional rules we got? 14 for me. 14. Totally uneventful. Dean Cora is off, but she comes by at one point and says, Gala, Cormorays are going to be there. We want to be there, yes? Absolutely. I'm planning on being there. This is for, it's like a theater thing. Yeah, so I also just inhaled some almonds. These nuts. Good you every time. Van. Vam. Good tidings for these nuts.

Always for these nuts. Always for these nuts. The almonds strike again. Yeah, so grand opening of the hallowed round. It's opening night here in like four days or whatever, but they're having a big kickoff gala. It seems like a lot of people are going to be there. I think it's good to like schmooze.

Just all right, great. We'll make a little appearance there. Maybe we're there celebrating the new internship program because we have the, isn't one of the, one of the, is one of our kids in the internship program involved with this theater thing at all or no? Okay, so you're thinking of Hero. Elid's daughter, right?

Yes. Elody Devion, yes, yes, yes, yes, exactly. So Elody is with, what's his name? Hallandier? Hallandier, Fang? This is the proprietor of the play. Yes. Hero is Helen Deal's daughter.

Yes. Okay. Wow. Okay. Webb. It's an iterated web. Hello, Webb. I know.

All right. Ooh, this is one. Okay, great. Good, good, good. Love this. While I have you, I was just doing a little inventory stock the other day. And I realized that we're actually a little bit low on gems. You know, they're very necessary for the training of our students.

I have a contact. he's got some that's like ready to go. I was just wondering if I could get approval from you to take some of the budget to restock some of our gems. Yeah, for sure. Okay. Make sure, yeah, make sure how we don't run out of gems. The gems are for just classwork.

Classwork, they're really good when it comes to anything involving transmutation or. Yeah, that's great, yeah, yeah, for sure. Okay, thank you. Fantastic. I'm the fucking burser. You see she looks slightly pissed that you talk to her about something

she considers that boring. She's like, you, this is below my thing. You solve these problems. Okay, so as part of this, can I scoop on the books? Like, how much gold should I scoop and leave some gems in the... You have all of those gems in your inventory.

if you would like to forge some company you're buying them from and cash and cash out, you are welcome to do that. As you might be well aware, as you further inspect them, these gems were stolen from the pentevral. So the pentevral has use for them, right? Crowkeepers just robbed the school at some point

and got these metamagic gems and then went, we don't know what to do with this. They're hot. So how many gems would you like to convert? And do you want to convert them at the full rate? Full rate. Absolutely. I want to convert them in the full rate,

which is what, 300 gold? 300 gold each. How many do we have? We have quite a few. 18? 1600 elements. But because we wanna leave a few for, because I wanna make a few, like,

what spells do we have available to pre-load if we wanted to? Shield. Yeah, I also have Shield. Shield's always a good one, because it's gotta be casting time of self, detect magic. I have the one that would.

Invisibility. I have divine smite. And then I have understand languages. Comprehend languages, thank you. So if I did, when if I did, I can just start it off with what? Five gems now to give us 1,500 goals. What's a good goal set for cash right now?

I think four to five ought to do it. Six, six, six. I mean, if each gem is 300, two gems will give us 600. Right. Oh, I mean four to five gems. Yeah. Four to five gems. That's, I think that's a very good amount.

And then that could be what I'm still thinking that we like take some of that and have it as like food coffers. So that like anyone who wants to be part of our cause, they can still at least be fed. And at the end of the week, maybe toss however many people that we feel that are in need. Yes. Five gold. If people need some cash to get them through, they can come to us. Correct.

So I'm going to cash in five gems. Hell yeah. And make up a little receipt. Go ahead and add 1,500 gold to your inventory and get rid of five of those gems. You take care of that on your own. It also gives us some emergency warehouse space if we can. Profession check from Belair.

Oh, what did we get? 21. 21. Incredible. I think the gala is, I think the gala is, is beautifully coming together. Describe for me what we should anticipate being the theme of the Gala. Well, this is, I figure that this is such a grand opening

of a theater with such a grand and exciting play that's going to be performed. I am very excited. And so it's going to be a masquerade, not that anyone knows that yet. When our guests show up, they are going to be handed a mask. I've commissioned each individual mask be just these beautiful, stunning, stunning pieces,

each its own work of art. The name of the gala is the convivum ericchicerum. Sorry, yeah, I think they got that right, which. Yeah, convivum hereticarum, which is Latin apologies for Banquet of the Heretics. Convivum hereticum.

Yeah, hereticum. Heritikorum. Heritikur. I can send it to everyone's Latin. Latin. It's a, I love Latin. Love them or convivum. Each of the masks is going to represent

one of the falling gods and or their family members. And because no one knows who they're going, which God they're going to be when they show up, it's going to be delightfully anonymous. We've killed the gods, now we get to party, because men are now the gods. It's gross, it's disgusting, and these people will love it. Incredible.

How, what is your profession? It's 25. 25! Oh, nice. Thanks higher charisma. Nice. On a 25, spending your day at the hallowed round, mag pies fluttering over the sky,

your own sense of confidence and certainty in what you are doing, tickets are moving, like crazy and the plays coming together. On a 25 profession check, when opening night comes and the big performance check happens, you have that D4, but on a 25 DC, you may re-roll, should you need to.

Re-roll, okay. The whole roll. The whole roll. Do we, any of us want to spend some spell slots today to make a few of these? Oh my gosh, that's a new idea. Yeah, how long does it take to enchant these? rooms. Once they're all prepared, they can be enchanted in a couple hours if you can get access to

the workshop. And I think with that day, we're in the equivalent of a fantasy tech rehearsal. We are doing cue to cues. And I am standing at different places in the amphitheater, listening to the chorus and the cast, use everything that they have learned in our institution to speak in a whisper and deliver to the very Zach Roe. And in that time that I spend making adjustments, making I also spend plenty of time pausing to meditate on these paintings that my daughter has finished, I assume, at this point, and just wonder at what they contain. They look so beautiful. Do we want to take a moment to... Enchant some...

Well, not just if we're going to go and chant a few things, we can also have a quick conversation at the paint. at the... Yeah, we could stop by hand and wheel, do a couple jams, and then bounce over to investigate the address. I like that. And we're doing that before the sun goes down? The notion is lunch break.

If we can get you for one. Lunch break. I'm, you know, I can... I'm managing, so I can walk away. It's much easier than directing. In terms of when you would enchant these glyphs, I think you would probably need a process. I think to get...

It would take your whole lunch break just to get down to the workshop. Yeah, all right. So this would be the evening's work. This would be you guys doing your, your Faye, like the little brownies come out at night and make the shoes while everyone's asleep. So you'd be up all night doing that.

As night comes around, you see, again, the Candescent Creed has not managed to crack Dolmachiar. It's pretty godless city all things considered. But, It is candle feast, which is a big holiday. And the Kandesan Creed obviously has a lot of people around the Via Aurora, which is their big, massive holding up in the mid-city.

So you see that there are candles and singing, and everything like that? Do you guys meet up that night? I would love to have a talk. Yeah, I would love to have a talk because there's a few things that are now bothering me because of this fucking woman. I think it's a good idea.

If you guys do, and it looks like we're already sorting through some potential spell situations. Yeah, and so I got rid of... These are the ones that you sold, right? Yes, I just got rid of five gyms. Okay, in the party inventory. So we should be the way. Okay, I heard they just, I think the...

And you gave one to Orris initially? Oh no, that was one of the, never mind, sorry, it wasn't one of these. No. I gave or, I showed ORIS that I had a blank. I think that was five gems. Arriving at the seven stars that evening, you guys have the potential to get up to your normal

covert shenanigans. You have an address, but you also have spellblanks and gems and everything else like this. What is the plan for this evening? I think for the sake of efficiency. Because I know we have a Gala to get to. Yeah. Do we want to maybe you speak to Elity

and get a little bit of like a food cash for some of our soldiers? Are we committing to that? Do we just wanna hold onto this cash for now? And I'm going to seek an investment. If they need, I almost wanna say if they need it, we can let them know that. Can we let Varen know if they need it?

They need a reassurance. No matter what they're saying, no in my gut that they need us to deliver something soon, and it's going to make everything easier for everybody. We're going to need people to, we're gonna need some other people to work the gala as well. Great, so I can establish that tomorrow morning with him.

So what are we saying we're doing? Well, I could certainly call on El-D this evening if we want to split off, or save that for like me approaching tomorrow because there's one more day before the gala. Is tomorrow the day? No. Day after tomorrow.

Day after tomorrow. Right. And I would love to just know, I would feel far more secure if I, if we had an answer about whether or not whether or not the Azi's paint was tampered with. We're about to find that out. That would make me very happy now.

Once again, I have a theory, but I'm not gonna hold my tongue until we go to this address. So tonight we make some spell, we write some spell glyphs. Right, that's the task address. Make some spell glyphs. Do we, yes or no, on groceries, a grocery storage for soldiers? I think let's do it.

Okay. So maybe you can talk to Elity, how much do we wanna throw for like food so that people can come by almost like a, almost like a food kitchen kind of, or food bank? Like basically make a food bank for these soldiers. But we don't have like, we're not installing a kitchen,

we're saying we're taking a factory and having like non-perishable. basic stuff so that people can come and go. And it doesn't feel like some sort of a food bank with staff. It's not a big line. It's just a secret address. Just so that at least bellies are full, and they know that they can come and at least put food on the table for their family.

And I think that would be a little bit safer than like a mass exchange of a lot of gold. Yes. And are we aiming for one of ORIS's spare factories? Yeah, like a back room in the factory. It would also be a good way of finding out who needs a little bit. of work who can work the gala so that we have some security teams ready to go if they don't mind serving hors d'oeuvres. I can just head that off if that's okay. If in addition to this, that'll cover some of the people that are more in need, if I just get a small sum of gold that will definitely fund this primary assignment. He will be able to, if I hand him just a small bit of gold, he'll be able to hire people and staff, I think, the gala from there.

So let's see, what do we think, like five gold for the gala per person? three gold? Five gold is so much. Five gold is a lot. I think, I even just think one gold for the gala is more. One gold per person for the gala is incredible. So how about I'm going to divvy? How much gold? You've got a chest with 1,500 gold pieces.

About 1,500 goals. You need a dolly for that. You need a dolly for that, yeah. I think a hundred gold worth of food for the warehouse and then give me 20 gold. And we should let, and we should let the soldiers know that if something bad happens, there will be a significant bonus.

So, yeah, sure, yes, hazard pay. I'm gonna give 100 gold, once again, just kind of fact-tracking, fast-tracking a little bit. I'm gonna give 100 gold to Hal so that a hal can talk to Elity maybe, and we can get our food bank. And then I'll give, how about I just give you 30 golds? You know what, I'm just gonna give you 50 gold, just in case.

That's a lot. And then we get all of that in motion. You get 50 gold, Hal gets 100. I think with that, you guys spend that night, and the plan is for you to go to Elity and for you to meet Baron the next morning. The next morning with this one. I think that night with four of you,

you're also getting contracts ready to pay people out of the Argonaut. So I think that night you guys set, all of that up. The one part of this that I think is a conversation is you go to Elity to her beautiful sort of, you know, manor house. I think she's in, where'd my map of the city go?

We have this one. Thank you. She's got a beautiful place in Nearsash where as you open the door, she goes, she goes, oh, Hal, good to see you. Oh my God, how's it? everything but okay. Sorry to not send any advance notice.

No, no, no, come in, come in. Are the girls here? I am so sorry that I wasn't able to make it the other night to just up to Breitbrook and to the cliffside. That's okay. It's okay. It's been an extremely stressful time

for a lot of reasons. I can't imagine. what you were juggling in the city with the shifting sand under her feet. Hey, well, speaking of juggling, it's been really wonderful to have Shadia here. The hero's been extremely happy to have our older sisters. Thank you, yeah.

Of course. Is everything all right? Why don't we sit? Okay. She takes a seat. Um, I'd like to start talking about the future a little bit. Okay. I don't need to tell you, chill, it's in the wind in our home these days.

And the house is, I'm starting to hear things. I'd like you to start thinking about a plan. Should things go so bad, so untenable, that there's no coming back from it. And for all our years together, as partners and friends, you could take our daughters somewhere somewhere, safe. If and when.

I don't know if you'd ever consider going home after a few years here, but I just don't know what's coming, and I would like to just know we have a plan in place. Point to me on the map, the land that escapes the reach of the sundered houses, and I will flee there. That is not the only thing I've come to talk about.

There is, uh, more and more danger circling. I'm trying to help some folks in town who are bracing for the worst. And I am investing a little of the rookery's coffers and we have some other funding in place. But something I want to approach with you, if you're comfortable with it,

is it's getting cold out there and I want to help feed, draw a line in the sand. as business kind of goes south in Dolmachiar. And I don't know if you know Orris Blade with the hand. Yeah, I know Orris, yes. Yeah, he's a new, he's a new friend. And he is willing to give us use

of one of his factories that are not in play at the moment. Yeah. I've come to you with hat and hand. Do you want to invest in the... Do you want to invest in the city's future? Normally I need to see a business plan before I make an investment. Give me a persuasion check.

More party. Yeah, mm-hmm. Money and cents, not good. So 26. You know, which don't people do you. 26? She looks and says, when we first got together, my grandmother, when she was still with us,

made me make one promise. the promise that she asked me to make, she said, Elity, you come from means. And though I did not follow in the family business and I had to build my own merchants company myself, she said, if you're going to couple with an actor, you have to think now about what you're going to say. And I said, Grandma, what do you mean?

She said, you need to think about what you're going to say when he asks you for money. Personal. How much are we talking about? Oh, a few hundred gold. Oh, my God. Okay, yes. And you see that she...

A few hundred million gold. She turns around and says, what are you... You're trying to help people that are looking for the cold food? Seed money. Seed money. Seat money.

Seat money. You see that she... She looks and says, I'd be more than happy to have. help. You know this city, you know it's people. You know who needs help. And the truth is, you're providing a service for me. And you see that she begins to take out a scroll of parchment, drawn it at ink, presented to you, which is a note of withdrawal from her banker's guild, hands it to you and says, you've done me a service because it's worth a lot of money to know

what needs to happen. The less I know, the better. Always. Too good for me. Grandmother was a wise woman. If I see any brand new, very expensive-looking puppets at this opening night, I'm going to get out of those. Puppets are so ten years ago. She says, well, best of luck, how? You see that she's written you a note for 300 gold pieces.

She looks out and says, and I'll see you at the Gala at the Arkinaat. And a mask. You didn't hear it from me. Ooh, all right. You see, she says, well, that'll make things interesting. You got it. Wait, are you going to ask her to get groceries?

Or is that something we're just going to handle? Ask her to buy the food stuff? Yeah, just so she's a merchant lady, right? I'm going to take a big pile of money and I'm going to go make it happen. All right, cool. That night, I assume Murray, you get in touch with Oras about actually opening up these warehouses. But I'm going to say with all of your past effort to sort of set up this network, all of you feel the turning of gears. Money turns to food. Someone who wants to help but doesn't know how has spaces, fighters that don't know where to go, have food and something starts to start to,

spin into motion. I mentioned have to talk to Varan, he spreads the, Veron, he has to spread the word. We'll actually move to the next day. We'll just keep moving forward towards the gala, which is the following day you meet Veron back at Falcons Rest. Yes. And everyone here can roll their

profession check for that next day as well. Oh my gosh, and I have to roll portent at the start every day. Start every day. That's great. Do you still have that heroic inspiration? No, I used it. You used it? Yeah.

Because my roll was crap. This day I'll give it to Murray. To me? That's crazy. What are your porties? My porties are two 18s. Nice. Double 18.

Can I roll with luck on this? Yeah. Okay, I'll use luck. Oh, I'll take that. That is 25. 25. You have a sack of, do you have that 50 gold pieces? I have 50 gold pieces.

That she gave you. You meet Baron at Falcon's Rest. He says, a good amount of news. I'm going to hand him the sack of 50 gold, and I'm going to give him the address. There's a warehouse. There's a backroom warehouse in the fray. In the fray.

That's, that's, yes. So I'm going to give the address to that. Those that are in need, there's a food bank set up discreetly in a back room there. Our people need to know that they're taking care of and that we're looking out for them, and this is just the beginning. So let them know that they, no one here will go hungry. Their efforts will be rewarded.

This gold is for an upcoming job, the gala. This is hired security. So pick amongst those one gold piece for the job per person. He grabs that from you, looks at it. He says, how many do you want me to hire? I think this is a good, proven ground. I like to see how many this

can pay for. He looks and says, this will go a long way. These men all know each other. These fighters all know each other. And some of them have sick kids. Others have problems that need to be solved today and not tomorrow.

Few these gold pieces placed in the right hands. Doesn't just buy us goodwill with those men, but the ones they know as well. I'll get to work. We take care of our own. He salutes, and you see under his cloak, notched into his armor is the small symbol

of the bird being spread. I think at this point, I've notched it somewhere myself and I reveal that. And you see, he says, the phrase was, any new tidings or any good tidings. You see he says, any good tidings? Always for a friend. He looks, taps the side of his head and walks away.

And that's not odd. We're awesome, we're doing it. We're doing it, we're doing it. And you realize as you're like, yeah, that's cool. Also, lots of people can like shape shift and do disguise magic. This is a really good idea to be doing this like check in phrase. Yes. He takes off on a 25% percent.

profession check that day. I think that you, I think you become aware that a couple things happening in the Revolutionary Guard, under Lord Ein Fawson's directive, they are putting a pause into the search for Demetus Blix. They're not suspending it, but they're just not assigning any resources

to actively keep looking for him. They are assigning lots of resources now to the search for Lady Cormoray. Yeah. How many days has it been since I conducted the investigation? The Arcanade. On this next day, you conducted that one, I think, like, you ended that one, two, three days ago. Three days ago. Hmm.

Okay. The, but on a 25, you don't sense that coming from you. since that coming back to you, it's basically just the Sundered houses yelling at the Revolutionary Guard, finder, whatever you have to do, right? Okay. What else did we get on our profession checks for that day? Boler, what did we get here?

I got a 18. 18. Wow. Wonderful smile today. The guest list is coming in on an 18. You see that the Fotarch of the Candescent Creed has marked herself as attending the opening Gala. The Fotark. She wanted to talk to you. She wanted to talk to you for so long.

Fotech of the Candescent Creed has marked herself as attending. and got on the list because obviously it's due to the patronage of House Halavar that this whole deal happened at all. So she was on some kind of missive about the gala and it's one of those things where you're like, well, we're never gonna hear back from her. She's the photarch of an entire religion. Oh, and she is coming and she requested a plus eight.

Okay. Oh, shit. She'll be coming with a red. Vigils deep. She requested a plus eight. Plus eight. Do I have to give her a plus eight? That is some disgusting.

On an 18, you don't like your prospects on denying that blessing. Fuck a duck. Murray, what did you get? Also in 18. Also 18. Delightful. You're beginning to get missives back from your interns of the Arcanot, who are continuing to obfuscate and delay from this Cormoray project, but that's going very well.

The gems went through totally fine and unannounced. And on an 18, I think you also find some workers' tools that you could potentially use to, if you didn't wanna use Orsus's facilities, I think on an 18 you find some facilities at the Penteverel if you wanted to make some of these spell glyphs yourself. I was actually going to ask that, you read my mind. I don't know if like, whatever time I have basically bopping in

and out, still doing my job, making sure my face is seen, look busy, look busy. And then on an extended lunch break and maybe taking like an hour or two at the end of the day when people are starting to thin out, I would love to make some spell glyphs. Some cookies. Incredible, beautiful.

How much time would I have? To make some spellclifts? Or like how many could I make in that amount of time of like a few hours. Give me a, do you have any proficiencies, any like smithing or tool proficiencies? That's actually, so what I do have, let me check. So, because, where did I put this?

Because of my dwarf stuff and coming from... Dwarf stuff. Dwarf stuff. Coming from a family of jewelers. I have stone cunning and I think I have like a jewelers kit. Great, jewelers kit is exactly what you need. Okay, great. So you'll roll intelligence plus proficiency.

Intelligence plus proficiency. In one four-hour block of work, on a 15, you'll make one. On a 20, you'll make two, and on a 25, you'll make four. So it's going to be intellect plus my proficiency. Intelligence mod plus your proficiency. My intelligence minus five plus two, that's seven.

You know what? It's a portentious day. Oh, beautiful. So I'm going to use one of those 18s because that puts me at 25. Incredible. So the way this is gonna work is you have to, you can take,

so here's the question about how sneaky you wanna be. Do you want to use Penteverell gem resources if you're doing this at the Penteverell to make these spell slates? Do you wanna rob the school? I still have all of the other gems. Great. So I put five gyms in like the school cache and I made the paper trail for that.

Perfect. So I'll take three gyms from our combined. combined stash. And remember, it's one gem per spell level. So if you're just doing a shield spell, one gem gets it done. If you're doing a second level spell, it takes two gems, right?

So wait, that gives me three glyphs? Three gems. Actually, on a 25, you 18 plus seven is 25, you can make four spell glyphs today. But you also need the spell slots for them all. So you need gems and a spell slot and that's all you need. Jems and a spell slot.

I mean, I could make four shield You have the spells lost for, right? I have the spell. Yeah, I haven't cast any spells today. I'm real squishy. And they have to be abjuration gems, right? Yes, it has to be jurors' gems, that's correct. Which I believe you have four of. Let me see. What did I get rid of?

I was kind of thinning them out a little out of time. That's the jurors' gem. I see three jurors' gem is on this list. I might have... I think we only had... I might have gotten rid of it. I might have gotten rid of one. If the plan was to make shield,

I'll allow you to retcon that. To retcon? Just because we, yeah, I'm okay with that. Do we want, or I could do three shield gyms and something else, but it's also got to be a spell that I have, correct? Yes. I think we can blow through shields,

even if you, I don't know, can you take one from the stash at the school? Yeah, well, I'll just switch it out, like he said. Great. Four shields, unless, does anybody have any other requests, like a C-in-Vilis. like a detect magic or the other.

C invisibility seems like a good idea. Detect magic seems a little overcooked because everything, I mean like. Everything's gonna ping. It's gonna be a bunch of rich people. And there's gonna be people there. Probably already utilizing that. So either, so do we wanna do four shield spells

or three shield spells and a sea invisibility? I think three and a C invisibility might be a good idea. Yeah. Yeah, that sounds good. Okay, I'll do that. One of us will be the eyes. At this, I'm assuming this is at the gala. Killer.

So that will take three jurors' gem and two of the Viner's gems. And that'll be you done. Second level. Second level. Okay. So Murray, that day you are fucking back like you were when you were a young girl working in your family's gem

mind, just grinding down gems into spelling, going into the tablets, casting the magic into it. It is a day of hard, practical, magical work, all of which you see in your mind as strands of fate and destiny coalesce. I've got my bagpipe jam that I put into my necklace, so I'm just like rocking out to my bagpipe jam as I'm working it. White and sweat.

Sweet Appalachian bagpipe jams. I love it. Sounds like home. Incredible. How? What do we get for profession today? It's a 27. 27!

How are you doing this? I roll 19. Jeez. God damn. Professional is persuasion. I'm not performing. I am managing. Managing.

Are you adding, I've been adding my, my, your ability. My proficiency. Yeah, so is how. How's adding his proficiency? No, not at all then.

Then it's way less. Then it's way. No, no, no. Pificency and persuasion includes proficiency for how. Right? If you're adding your persuasion, And that's proficiency and charisma.

Plus. Yeah. Plus proficiency. Yes. Oh, well then I've been going way under. You have. Because I've only been adding my proficiency bonus. Oh no, no, no, no.

It should be your ability mod as well. And you're, so I would be also adding, adding my intellect as well. Okay, so then it would have been like 23 for today. But I'm doing great. Great. It's fine. Perfect.

How. You add another re-roll to opening night. Another re-roll. You have two now. Time six. too. I would say that I would use this day to go further into producer mode and

again, rather than taxing Elity Devion, I go to the merchant that I already know because of Elodie Devion where I buy food barely above cost for my company of 80 something people. And I take all good with me and we

go and turn that gold over into provisions which includes lots of things like dried venison. Huge sacks of almonds, of course. Dry goods, dry goods, dry goods. And then I task Allgood and a few of the other company members with a pair of wagons to slowly go to an address,

worked out with Orris. Hell yeah. On the outskirts of everything. Unbelievable. Can I request? I wanted to add something since I did so well professionally today. Yes. I asked about when that investigation was

because I want to do something with that. Okay. We have this signet ring from Taconas, and I want to slip it into the evidence of what was discovered in that investigation. For the Lady Cormor. Yes. Incredible. Go ahead and give me either deception

or sleight of hand. And with that high professional, you could do so with advantage. Great. You said jurors, gems, four, to copy them. doing a little maintenance here. So proud herbers. Feel free to tell me no.

This is intentional. May I guidance myself in this? Yes, you may. Okay. Yes, please do. I'll take that four. Woo! And so, oh, okay.

So 17 on the die, this is deception. Mm-hmm. Plus four, 21. 21. Where are you? 27. Yose. On a 27.

On a 27, towards the end of that day of work, Boulogne, you get a message. The Cormoray would love to attend this gala and ask if any of the Taconas are expected to attend. Are the Taconas expected to attend? I imagine they are. Some invitations went out, but you haven't gotten anything back. I'm happy to say I have no idea,

but there are prepared for them, but they are neither expected or not expected. incredible. That night? I had just a minors stendom I meant to get to it. The other thing I do with my own money, I buy a shit ton of sandwiches, and I bring them to the hallowed round,

and with Shottie, I'll lay them out for the entire company, because there's nothing actors like more than free sandwiches. People are psyched. They know this. Crafty, crafty. They know the actors, they're like, people, they're like, they're digging into it. Digging into it, everyone's like, forget off book.

You see people are like having fun with it. They're making like exciting choices. They're rediscovering stuff in the moment. So they're like the ring of those pariah blades keeps coming out. And you can see that like at the end of those sandwiches, you look out and feel the camarader this moment coming together. At the end of that, Old Good comes back from delivering the food to the barracks as people are finishing up the sandwiches.

really good tasty sandwiches and light so we can be up on our feet. You don't want to do a heavy meal middle of the day. No, no, no, no. Ongud comes out and he comes back and says, hey, as your business partner, I got news for everybody here. It's news about opening night.

Folks, we just sold out. Oh, that happened. But all the tickets flew out today. I mean, look, he says, we got fed. is out back, so we're not gonna stop the bargain crews. You know, we want people up against the, up against the links. But all the seats are spoken for as of today.

I grab a fiddle out of somebody's hands and I just start fiddling the fuck away. As you guys laughing, playing, everyone's ecstatic. That night, it's the night before the gala. You meet up and Murray, you come with the sweat of your brow and four finished spell tablets. Okay. Okay.

Who's gonna be our eyes? I've gotta see invisibility here for anybody who wants a little bit of extra visibility at the gala. Belair, I feel like you were gonna be glad-handed. Well, this is, traditionally I'm actually not, I don't actually normally glad-handed these. I tend to sit up and observe, but I will be running around for this one.

Although again, it's a masquerade, no one's gonna know who I am. I mean, I feel like, I have to glad-handed. Huh? I have to-glad-handed. I will be observing, but it turns out I have learned my own way of doing that. I'll take it to no one else, but I can also do it in a pinch.

So, Belair or? I'll take it. You're going to be eyes in the sky? Well, I actually have a plan, but I will be running around, and I will decide who I speak to and who I do not. I give you the C-invisibility, that glyph, and I will give the rest of us a shield. I feel pretty good about that.

Great. Everybody go ahead and just mark a shield glyph down in your inventory. To activate these glyphs. It takes a, it takes the same action that casting the spell does. Got it, okay. I got a, I got a C- invisibility.

So for these shield glyphlets, it's a reaction. It's a reaction. Yeah, makes sense. And C- invisibility is an action. Friends, you better be thinking about your look for the gala. I want to hear it. What? Thinking about your look for the gala. I only have one look. No, no.

No, no, no, no. No, no, no. Having, this is your last night before the gala. Is there any clandestine magpie business you guys want to get up to on this last night before? I want to know about the paint. I want to know about those paints. I want to know about those paints. and if those paints have been tampered with,

I want to talk to, I want to just. Oh, wait, no, I just added a shield to my inventory. You know what it's fine. I'll know what it is. Yeah, I know this too. I'll remember. Yeah. I want to talk to a crowkeeper if I have, if the paint's been fucked with,

then I want to interrogate a crowkeeper. You are a crowkeeper. I know. Uh-huh. I don't know if paint's been fucked with. I think this was the plan. I want to talk to a crowkeeper. Yeah, me too.

He's screaming in you. Do you guys want to head out to the address you have that? Yes, yes, very. Okay. Let's fucking go. Taking off from the seven stars. Taking off from this is correct, good.

My timeline is correct. Managing three various tables. They're just making sure that all the time Lines lineup. Okay. You see, do, okay,

heading out from the seven stars, your normal meeting place, you aware that Varon has his money, that Oris has the food stocks in play, Eladie just signed over 300 gold pieces to you, you have your spell,

glyphs, everything is moving along. You know that this, whatever you're calling this organization with its little magpie symbol, you are at the moment where a small handful of kindling has just started to spark and light. You don't have gold for this to last even more than a week, but it has started. Things that are the hardest step is for a thing to begin to move. As it moves forward, you head off into the tanners. You arrive at 17 Honodrash Lane. Tanners is so named for the leather workers that have historically always been here, and that, you know, the macerating of dead flesh is an extremely noxious business. So this neighborhood smells of leatherworking and industrial waste that sort of oozes

off the side of the mountain into the far eastern edge of Lake Nahami. Lake Nahami is incredibly beautiful, but the fast, clean waters of the River Vroche do land in that lake and then absorb all of the waste that runs out of the city. So what is bright, frothing mountain rapid water eventually enters the deep murky green of Lake Nahami and then perched on the edge. Walking in this neighborhood. Not only is this the place where Azune, you came to find Thimble's body way back on the day of. This is where it was. This is where it was. This is the same neighborhood. You also see perhaps one of the strangest elements of the tanners is the family that chose to build their manner here because up on the cliff is Obramus Manor. Oh, the home of the Taconas.

You avoid the dimly, lit, tall, arching Gothic windows of that manor house. Even absent any present family members, the windows of that place seem like eyes gazing out menacingly over this discarded footnote of the city. Moving through the tanners, you arrive at Honodrash Lane. This lane is a small couple of blocks.

This neighborhood is one of the older ones in the city. It is not built for each. ease of travel. So there are a lot of lane. Hanadrash would be something that no one would know where that was unless you'd grown up in the city. It's four blocks that curl around in a forgotten maze-like corner of this neighborhood. And arriving there, you look and see where 17 Honadrash Lane should be because you see 15 and you see 19. And there's just blank wall. And there is, a bricked up doorway. Blank wall, bricked up doorway. I want to look around. Who'd be willing to bet that there's a secret door somewhere? Mm-hmm.

What else is around here? I know it's, there's a, there's a wall with a bricked up doorway. Are there gutters? Are there, if a cart had been put out outside, where could it be visible from? You look up. We've established that you're someone

with a book of architecture in your home. Looking up at the wall, you see that there are flat white granite lintel covers, which makes you think that this wall is not the wall of a structure, but the wall of a courtyard. Okay. And is there, maybe you said, and I missed,

is there other, anything like across the road from this, or are we in view of multiple vantage points? Across the road from you see there's a very small window with that diamond lattice, thick sort of, almost opaque glass in a small doorway. You do see outside that door, the one that faces this blank wall. There is a small kind of wet

and already disintegrating paper bag with a small burned out candle in it from someone who celebrated candle feast yesterday. Okay. I'm gonna go examine that little area if someone was sitting there, I want to see who lives next door, who across the street from this.

Give me an investigation check. Right. While he's doing that, I'm remembering the safe house that I found Thimbel in and that there was a kind of secret trigger. I'm gonna start to look around here to see if there's something like that. Give me investigation.

Okay. 15. 15. What do we get on this? I got a six. Six. Place is sealed up tight. On a 15 investigation, look at the door and see that hanging from the doorway here

is a small braided cord on the latch that you recognize as a tool that halflings and gnomes often use when they are living in a place that is built for larger folk. So it's like a sort of assistive aid for them to get into and out of where they are walking. So there's a halfling living in here with a small little candle feast thing, which is not unheard of for there to be halflings as part of the creed, but it's certainly not common. And on a 15, you smell coming right of the door incense.

The lights are off. There's no one. There's no candles in the house. There's no. Are off. Give me a history check if you'd be so kind. Don't be a dick. Yay. This is... 22.

You recognize the smell of this incense immediately. They burn this incense in see no evil. In Potter's Fields, the tavern where you traveled to meet Auburist Drime, you know, far earlier in this campaign. a secret tavern where warlocks and demons and other creatures train. And how fresh is this stale incense or does it? Active, burning right now.

Okay. Do we let them know or? Let them know what, that we're here? Yeah, so do we just barge in? Maybe we can sneak in. I think a little sneaky, sneaky is an order. I plant a hand on a Zune's shoulder and Belair's shoulder flanking. Ah, Murray, let's get up to some mischief magpies.

And the word magpies reverberates in the back of your mind. I cast aid, each of you three, not me, you three. Gain that additional five hit points and maximum up five. Mm-hmm, okay. Max-HP modifier. Protect the green bean bard, please. Yes. Yes.

Yes. How big is this building, would you say? This is like an extremely small. Okay. This looks like some kind of retrofitted workshop or something else that's like tucked into this larger squat building across the street. You think this building is no more than 15 feet wide

and probably goes deeper into the plug, almost like those old tenement railroad apartment kind of places. And it probably has something below, is my guess. Yes. I would like to just give a little bit of a disclosure that I spent a lot of energy building these glyphs today, so I'm a little low on my slots, a little low on gas. So I'm just letting y'all know that as we go into this.

I think it's gonna be a problem. I don't think it's gonna be a problem. Okay. What do you guys wanna do? I'm happy to knock on the door, or do we wanna sneak in? Sneak in. Mm-hmm. There's no window?

There is a window. It's just opaque. It's like thick, old, amber, runny glass. Of course. Well, better safe than sorry. I'm going to detect, I'm going to detect thoughts again. You cast detect thoughts, and I believe that detects surface thoughts

regardless of saving throw, correct? Yes, and it also will tell me how many conscious creatures that are, that are conscious creatures that know languages or are telepathic. I don't have to read, but I will know how many are within 30 feet unless they're blocked by a foot of stone, dirt or wood or one inch of metal earth and sheet of lead.

And then I have to be able to see them to get more than there are people. Directly on the other side of the amber glass is a creature. who driving the side of the glass is a creature who immediately becomes aware that you are aware of it

because it's casting the exact same spell that you are. You are suddenly dancing on the edge of the mind of a creature dancing on the edge of your mind through the glass that you should be able to see but can't. It is so close that but for this sheet of glass, you could reach out and touch each other. And all of you watch as from nothing,

a paper pale, anemic and sort of sound looking halfling just is standing, looking out of the very bottom of the window. And in your mind, Blair, as you catch to take thoughts on each other, you hear, belated happy candle feast. Well. Belated to you as well.

Should I set out some chairs? You recognize this face. You've seen this guy at See No Evil before. I don't know that you would know his name or not, but you recognize his face. I think that would be lovely. Yep. There, go sneaky, sneaky, let's go. He opens the door, and he opens the door, and he

you see there is a very small table with a half-ing-sized chair, and he pulls a kind of human-sized kitchen table over it and gestures to some larger chairs that are lined up against the wall. It smells amazing in here, rich incense and deep floral arrangements. It smells so good that it starts to set you on edge because there's only one reason to put this many good-smelling things somewhere. and you wonder what you're not able to smell in this place. I imagine, I'm at this point getting the cursory reed thoughts from him. I just want to see if there's any general ill-intent fear or otherwise. Nothing, again, I'm not going deep.

I'm just, I'm getting a- No. You see that he looks and he says, in your mind, would you like to mutually disarm? Certainly. I honestly, I just want to make sure that you have an opportunity to see that we would much prefer for this to not end in violence.

And I just wanted to make sure that you felt the same. You feel an earnest sense of the same. And a sense that you sense of feeling in his mind of a disruption in a routine that while surprising is not unsurprising, in that he is a guard. He watches that wall. And so this was exceptional. while unexpected.

Oh, well, that's lovely then, and I'm just making sure I don't. Oh, is there anyone else here or is it just us? Just us in this building. I have friends across the way. Excellent, I would hope so. Insight check? Give me an insight check.

It's 16. It seems truthful. It seems truthful. He sits in a smaller half-ling-sized chair, and as he sits, he leans backwards, and coming to a rest, he looks up and his eyes get brighter as his body starts to vanish.

And he closes his eyes and is gone. And then comes back and says, oh, geez, I can't quite stop that, let me. And you see he takes out a small tapping, like a small gauntlet that looks like a fidget where it has like little snapping metal bands in it. And he keeps himself moving. As you get the sensation that if he remains still,

he cannot stop himself from being cloaked in shadow and disappearing. Interesting. Full on invisible or disappearing into? Darkness. Darkness. Okay. Did you learn that or is that inevitable? I was so interesting.

Never look a gift invocation in the mouth. In truer words. I'm happy to meet you all. Have you come seeking knife and pigments? It says knife and palate pigments. Actually, while we are very interested in your business, we were hoping to gather some information about a friend of ours who commissioned a special order

some time ago. I know that's unusual, but we were hoping you would make an exception for a bit of a conversation. I am, as ever, open to conversation, But I understand you are not here pursuing a contract. You are not in the business of buying pinkies. Not yet. Yeah, not.

Not yet. We might be interested. Lovely. Well, what might I adelucidate for you? I can continue on this. And how rude. I am Hollis. Hollis.

Hollis, Kinneywater. Killywater? Kinneywater. Kitty, Kinewater. Kini water. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I know I've seen you around before. We do frequent some of the steam establishments.

Much to my chagrin. We had a friend who commissioned some pigments six, six weeks ago, seven weeks ago. Five or six. Specifically, magically, magical pigment. They brought over something to be mixed into a paint. It was a white paint, if I recall,

with a very complicated, it seems like very little, but it's just a surface read of it. It is actually quite a complex spell underneath it. Cards on the table, since they would have had it. He says, I'm not acquainted with all of the workings of my mistress's endeavors. However, it doesn't sound unlikely situation you're proposing. We have been very busy these past several weeks. He looks over at you and says, forgive the look of recognition, but do I speak to an honored member of the Fang family now?

I was wondering if you'd make that connection. Well, our dear beloved ones do leave a mess when they depart, don't they? I understand now that I look at the bereaved who must be here picking up pieces. My condolences, truly. My mistress is a very private woman. Might I understand that you are seeking more than sense? Simply confirmation that we worked with your late brother. You are seeking to understand, perhaps,

some elements of what that work entailed. Well, I think when we lose loved ones, we often find hanging threads. And I am just trying to know my brother better. You're correct. To speak plainly. But you already knew that, didn't you? How did you come to find things? place, if I might ask. Not even the pixie knew that we were here. Well, you see those hanging

threads if you just give them a little tug. Yes. We're also a delightful mix of clever and desperate. Dangerous combination. It seems that those great powers moving upon the face of Aramon have made the desperate clever and have made the clever, desperate. Well, I would be more than happy to make introductions, but my mistress will be very cross with me if I do not give her ample warning.

Information, as ever, is a valuable currency, and my mistress does not exactly truck in gold. What might she be interested in? He looks around and says, The Merconauts came by See no evil the other night

In search of a Lion Man Yes, that's right How awesome? Terrible. Excellent. I think they've failed miserably. What I would, I don't know if you saw the withered Luminar outside my establishment here. It's important to keep up appearances, you know.

My mistress is not from around here. She is ever fascinated by elements of... She does not truck in gold, but perhaps in introductions, yes. But introductions, do you mean alliances? Well, that's her business, not mine.

I sell introductions. They are one of my favorite commodities. I've heard that a very important, young lord has gone missing recently. Rumor sounds like more than one. Oh. But the one that I'm thinking of is Sion of the House of Halifar. Do you know whom I speak? I believe he played some role in the coming of your theater,

no? It's pretty public, yeah. Well, those Halifahs do like to stand on. balconies and promontories and various lecterns and let their faces be seen by the wide, wide world. I think my mistress would be very keen to tell you everything you might want to know for a very special introduction like that one.

That would be a bit complicated at the moment since the whereabouts. The aforementioned missing, aspect of what you're requesting. Missing is quite missing, sadly. He nods. Well, she will certainly grant an audience. How does he know that?

Yeah, how does he know that? Is he in communication with her right now? Give me Insight Check with Advantage. Is the mistress with us in the room right now? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. That's right. That would be, well, like, insight with advantage.

It's not super great, but that's okay. It's, uh, 12. 12. Uh, hard to read this little creep. Um, are you the broker or are you merely a herald? I'm just a humble doer man. I will pass along your desire to meet with her. And she's indisposed at the moment, but as soon as she becomes available, uh, reach out.

and maybe you can come by and get a tour of our workshop. My last question, a question before we go, that you might be able to answer, is what is the likelihood of something of a commission getting tampered with? Considering that, from what I understand, ingredients are occasionally left outside so that they may not know the proper entrance to this establishment.

Has it ever happened before? and if it had, who would be responsible? Would be quite impossible to tamper with the mistress's goods. Although, I suppose, it's a matter of semantics, some might say that all my mistress has ever done is tamper. Mr. Fang, if I may recuse myself from my professional duties and obligations to knife and palate pig, and speak as a matter of personal favor.

Not all yours. It was never supposed to come to you in the matter that it did this gift. It is my unbelief, having heard it directly from his mouth, that he wished to give it to you himself. He simply ran. Thank you for your frank kindness. I shall endeavor to place you on her schedule at her nearest convenience. But of course, spots do open up from time to time, and for all sorts of reasons.

Well, for this I will happily interrupt many of my duties over the next few hours, and there is a gala coming up, so that is always on the table to be discussed as proper payment for services rendered, if one does desire introductions. Oh, my mistress is in no condition to attend. Tendagala. Oh, she's gonna be a better. Processing what he just said to how, it almost like replays in my mind

as I'm watching him, I'd like to insight check. Yeah, go for it. That moment. I'm gonna use a luck point. Yeah. Look point. 16. On a 16, there's something funny

about this creepy little guy. Definitely. You, there's no way he's embroiled you in his machinations. What he was gonna wait here in the tanners until you guys stumbled by in the middle of the night while he, like, you know, he's here doing something that he's supposed to be doing. You sense a degree of earnestness in the response.

And something foul is going on here, but you also don't know that foul means bad, the foul means wrong here. Yeah. Not all of that is my business. I know that he comes from bad people and we've already discussed bad people. Very, very bad people.

The big question is like, I'm curious. She wants to meet Wakander. I wonder what her allegiances are. It doesn't feel like their allegiances to Halibar are that strong at all if these are not keeping up appearances. Do I get, can I do, while all this is happening, Murray's been pretty quiet. Like, kind of just like scanning the room

and seeing if anything jumps out at me, anything that feels like a point of interest. I know what I'm not being specific on what I'm looking for, but like, I don't know, anything that even just like. Give me investigation or an Arcona check, whichever you prefer. I really eyeball that glove too.

His fidget spinner? It makes a very pleasant little noise every time he taps his thumb. Assuming investigation versus Arcana will give me different answers theoretically. They'll give you slightly different answers. I actually would love to hit Arcana about the glove or about his condition.

Okay. Do that in the outside though, I don't need it now. I'm gonna do investigation. It's a little bit lower, but that's kind of what I'm looking for here. Ugh. Gross. 11. You know what? No, I have to say ahead of time if I'm gonna use a luck point. Do you have a row of inspiration still?

because that will give you a re-roll, and I think I gave it to you this time. You did, I used it at the top for my profession day. Okay. I'll allow you to use a luck for a re-roll here, if I'm feeling, I'm feeling kind. You're feeling nice? I'm feeling nice.

Something about that. Hebe-jeebies. Oh my God. Well, I guess that's a good karma. 12, I rolled a six and then a seven, so 12 on investigations. You look and see a sort of like a humble little apartment. There doesn't seem to be anything.

It's sort of so humble, that it's disconcerting. Little cans of like, see there's like canned fish appear over a sink, some small cookware. It's like a lot of

arrangements of dark red roses and flowers. There's incense burning. A lot of the tapestries is a big healthy carpet that's soaked up a lot of the incense smell over time. A little bit somperific.

Okay. He looks and says and you wanted to make an arcana or not? Yeah, just because this is interesting and I want to figure out if it's him, if it's the glove, like if there's anything going on there because this is fascinating. That's 18.

18? The glove appears to be non-magical. It just keeps him moving so he doesn't start to disappear. God. So it's just a, it's almost a, it's a natural, It's not even magic at that point. It looks like he has a heightened version

of an invocation that you're familiar with, which is to be one with the shadows, but he wanted one that didn't require active effort. If he's totally still, he's invisible, because if he wants to be present to talk to someone, he has to be in motion, be in motion, and the fidget of the glove helps him, keeps it going. Fascinating, that's fucking awesome.

Fascinating. I want his hand. How clever. I want your hand. Who's the freak here now? This guy wants my hand. Do you have any idea before we leave? How long your mistress is going to be indisposed?

Is she away on holiday? She's made a pilgrimage for Candled Feast. Oh, fantastic. You see, he says, her intention was to return. this coming priest's day. How many days away from us is that? The day after opening night. Okay, so...

We need a little day of the week, calendar. You don't have any information about what that paint might have done or what sort of effect it is supposed to have. I can imagine that's very unlikely. Yes, and Hollis. You've been very forthright. I appreciate it.

As a brother, seeking answers. or clarity about a lost loved one. I beseech you, is there anything you can tell me about my brother's business here? Give me a persuasion check and this, I think, give me persuasion check. I wish I could help you somewhere I can. This is phenomenal.

It's good, but high. It's a 19. Okay, that's good. He dark and dismal with the places of this world that your brother tread. Well, you know it. Fearsome things did he see. I am not at liberty to share my mistress's business, which was the business of your late brother. On this matter, were their interests aligned. My mistress, your brother, and those your brother worked with. Know this, or I cannot share what is not mine to share. None of us have sought to put you,

or the people of this city in harm's way. We have ruined something, and the thing we have ruined, deserved it. That is all that has given leave to me to say, but what you fear is ill-placed in this regard. Just know that if he were here, he would tell you all.

He has friends left, aside from my mistress. Mr. Fang, there are other places to look for answers that are not sworn to such secrecy as I. If you have not the patience to wait until the priest's day comes, he turns from you, and on that 18, looks out and says, But you did travel all this way. And he puts a thumb on his mouth and says, So all the soldiers. from the Brethren Hall out clearing the cliffs of falcons nests the other day. Curiosity that. I wonder why.

Goodness knows there's enough pigeons in the city. Can't imagine the falcons were doing anyone any arm. And you see that he gestures towards the door. The Ozzy had a falcon with him. Good evening. Good evening. And next we meet, I'll eat a drink. I look forward to it.

Cheers. The hospitality was appreciated. I'm ready. Yeah, let's go. That smells divine. You guys head out. With an invitation to come back in several days. Nominal.

Mm-hmm. So that's a lead, and the falcons nest's a lead. The falcons nest has been cleared for days. Interesting. Because I noticed it immediately. Yeah, I remember. This happened, right? This happened in game, I remember.

This happened in game. The falcons had been cleared, and I immediately assumed that it was just another, another knife. Yeah, like a symbolic gesture, right? And I didn't call much attention. I was afraid I was being watched, but I, had always had this gut instinct that there must be some evidence there, which I doubt is still there.

I didn't know that he had this falcon companion. And now I'm thinking that that's a loose end that they maybe were searching for. 100%. Well, what happens to the falcons when they're cleared? Where did they go? Yeah, where do they go? Do you know Azunei if they killed the falcons

or relocated them? There is the other Elis. that we were rolling around in our heads, that maybe there was a falcon that was a shapeshifter, and maybe they were looking for somebody. I'll take a look tomorrow morning when I go to Falcons rest and see if I see any leftover evidence, but I assumed that they just killed them.

But I was, it was the day after the execution. I don't think I had my head on right. There was a lot's been happening. Can't catch everything. Look to the sky at the end. Just like your brother. But I mean, I mean, in the last moments. Oh, you mean your brother?

Yes. So many secrets. And we're sure that we've researched and done as much digging as we can in the Aussie's abode. There's nothing left there. I mean, his house was tossed by the crowkeepers. Marie, I think it's possible too that Fimble would know of other places other than his main dwelling place that he might have had hidden around the city.

Fing temple's not here! Okay. So we know that that's the same shit that was going on at Ceno Evil. See No Evil. See No Evil is. also where Teor almost got his shadow chopped up and ripped from his body, correct?

Ceno Evil is a Taylor? No. No, it's a pub, it's a bar, it's a demon bar. It's a demon bar. Did we go there? I don't think we did. This is me talking about a post-tale.

Got it. So we know that it's a demon bar. We know that the halavars have. Sort of their turf in a way. Right, and they have. their, like, yeah, what's the word I'm looking for? What tyranny is? Aspirant.

An aspirin, so they have their aspirants. So this is clearly some halivar shit that's happening. It's a good place to get something done where no one's really gonna pay attention professionally. We know that also, he's burning a fuck ton of incense, probably to conceal the smell of blood and decay. Yes. brimstone.

Just like what we, sure. Do we? Do we go back and do a little, little. Little Pally stuff? Little, huh? Oh, is it too early to smell, sense, palat and sensy? I can't.

I can detect magic, but I cannot. I'm wondering if we go and take a closer look at the paints and do a little, do a little. Divine sense, it's no way. I think we should do the pants. I think we need to taste the paint. I feel we need to drink paint. Do we go huff and drink paint?

It's time for paint huffing, has a bono. I'm going to go on a limb in a way, of course, as we're walking. I think we got a few answers for sure that The Ozzy, whatever happened here with the paints, it was all according to his plan. A hundred percent. And so there was no tampering. No, there was no tampering. It was exactly what he wanted.

The one thing that he didn't get was he didn't get to hand it to you apparently. And explain it. And explain it. But he. All of this was according to, ruined. 100%. They ruined something that deserved to be ruined. Maybe whatever this ritual was that was going down.

We have confirmation that a ritual was attempting to be put in place. We know, so here's my grand theory a little bit going on. Here's what I'm working with. After a little bit of this. We're in. We're in, at this point. What is uncertain to me is,

is how in the know Thiasi was of this grand plan versus how much he may have gotten himself into, if he got himself into a sticky situation, and started realizing it as it was playing out and then tried to pivot. So it's clear from what we know with Halvarn Taconas being frenzies, friendemies. What we know is that there was a ritual attempt that happened at House Tavinos that failed, that Octus was involved in. We know that, sorry, trying to get

out. Okay. Yeah. We know that Thiazzi had beef with the Taconas's. He was clearly confronted by the Taconas guards. This was after. So he put all of this in motion with the paints that are clearly made for some sort of ritual. And then he went to go get that Stone of Night Song. Was he instructed or hired to go get the Stone of Night Song? Or did he start to realize what the larger machinations were of this grand plan? And then he He went off to go get the stone of Nightsong before how Saconis could find it in an effort to try and thwart whatever this plan was.

So that this was all efforts for him to undo what he then learned he was a part of in setting and motion. Right, maybe unintentionally, maybe he got himself into a little bit of shit. That is giving a lot of grace, right? That's giving a lot of grace to him. I hope it's not the opposite that maybe he was in,

instrument in some sort of massive destruction, you know, a grand plan from House to Conis. But we have the Stone of Night Song, which is like anchoring Octus's body to this realm, and he's kind of, he is in between like a realm of death and a realm of life at this moment. We know he was also searching for this casket that we have, this weird box that's got your sister in it. Apparently. That is also tied to, I mean, it's got a trapped god in it? A dead god in it? No idea.

And from my vision, we know that they were probably trying to turn Octus into some sort of, like, angel of death to go. That was the Stone of Night Song's intent. Right, to go and wreak havoc on the golden orchards. on this like, the fairy, on the realm of the Faye. I just think that. Is Taconas trying to bring back a god? Is Triconis trying to enslave and capture him

trying to bring back some God is like an undead god of death that is under the control of Primus Taconas? And was Octus basically meant to to be like a proxy? Was he supposed to be like the anchor, like a sole anchor, like a vessel? Oh no. Oh no. That part seems pretty clear.

Yes, but the paints, how do they then relate to this? He seems like two separate things. Well, because what we do know from my vision that we had on the candle, that was meant to fast track this ritual, but as we've already learned, there is still a way to go about that. Yes.

But it's going to be a little bit more long and complicated. Right. And we know that the theater is, some shit's gonna go down at the theater. Yes. That there's something important at the theater. And we know that there's this, the paints are made of blood as we just saw it in some halveard din of paint and pigment secrecy.

We don't know that the paints are made of blood. I think you're making a big jump on that. You don't. I can do the artists doing the red yarn drawing. of Murray. I know. It's getting a little, I think you're going.

You said that about my other theory, about all of this with the paints and Theazi, and I was fucking right. I just want to tell you. Not about all of it. I wonder if these are two different, because look, here's the thing. Theazzi seemed

to be intent on thwarting what the Taconas family was attempting to do. He has no love for them. He had no love for any of the sundered houses. Yes. It wouldn't carry water for any of the sundered house. Yeah, but what?

He seemed to be helping facilitate the transfer of the paints to the hollowed round. He didn't leave you a message to say, throw the paints out. He said the paints are waiting for you. Literally, apparently is the last act. I mean, what if the Ozzie knew of what this plan was? It was just trying to get there first. Just trying to do it first before it ended up in the hand.

of Primus DeKonis. Also, I think, what do you mean? What do you mean? That does not sound like him. All of you think, especially coming from you, Blair, who fucking hated the Ozzy.

I didn't. I hated him and believe me. I don't know why you all think that he wouldn't get his hands a little bit dirty in the situation right now. All ideas welcome here. Yes. All ideas welcome here.

The casket. I don't know how it changes what we do right now. I don't think it does. I think we need to look at those. I want to go lick paint. You are more than happy to. Let's go.

The casket, though, that does make sense with that, with that in mind, that is what my sister would be for, is binding a God. Yes. To a person. Yeah. That is, that makes absolute sense. This is the Taconas house that we were talking about, right? I don't think it's going to be Lord Primus Taconas himself going and knocking on

the Arzi's door and being like, yo, you want to team up? Like, he could have some sort of intermediaries. Yes. Several intermediaries that made the Ozzy think that he was doing something altruistic. And then as he began to get deeper into this,

he realized, oopsies, I got played. Let's go, like, Pam. I'm not arguing with you. No, no, no, no, no. But I don't feel like that. There's reason for both of those houses to be working with each other. Correct.

I feel like either way, we're going to learn a valuable lesson in the next hour or so. So I'm a big fan of, let's go see what happens when someone licks pink. Let's go do that. Heading to the hallowed round. Yes.

I think I'm just going to add that Hal is listening to these two especially bickering and trying to mediate. And Hal is just sinking inward and missing his fucking brother and doesn't want to hear any of it. And then we go for a walk. Yeah. Go for a walk.

Yes. You go for a walk. I'm going to take a quick little break. A little bite. Yes, go for you. to your thing. Marie, go ahead as you go to the Hallowed Round and see the delightful theater here in the moonlight.

You go to the M4, which still has the paint within it. Tell me what you do. It's definitely lead paint. You are definitely growing a second Pellie button. That's fine. They've got spells to fix that. Magic mouth. M.moo-m-m-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma.

Okay, hang on, let me look at my shit. Let me make sure that I'm not. I'm shaking right now. This is probably a bad idea. Work, work. Well, we'll find out. Working on my shoe. And again, I'm happy to,

I'm happy to ingest some if that would make you. You're not a bio-organic. Your porcelain. No, I'll make him do it. You just, I'll just get another, have you get another body from me. Do you have taste buds? Yes, of course.

Well, I borrow them. Yes, taste. I can borrow them. Well, this is actually, this is an interesting, now, fuck it. This is my thing. Tomorrow is the day of the gala, you guys are heading out.

It's probably like about one o'clock in the morning as you go to the middle of the ground. I'm not going to sleep until I see her look paint. Great. All right, I'll go up to one in the end for us. Great. Take my pinky. Great.

Do a little little. What color do you pick? Cyan, magenta? Mm-hmm. Cyan. Beautiful. Yeah, I'm gonna do a little sniff test and then, and I kind of wanted to do like an arcana check,

but I want to taste it. What does it taste like? Give me Arcana. Do you know what but takes like? Wait a second. Wait a second. I don't know why I even bother. Come here, come here.

I stand right in front of you and I basically just send she to you, right? This is like actor yoga shit. And I just brush away the bad feelings and touch my hands to your temple. I'm not arguing with you. And that burrows into your brain and I cast enhance ability.

And for intelligence, what are you about to do? You're about to do some investigating. Arcana. Advantage on an intelligence checks. Hell yeah. All right. So you're now at advantage to do it. You're at the paints. I'm at the paints.

I also, well, okay, I have one last portent as well that's sitting in an 18. But he also just gave me advantage on intelligence checks. What is? Maybe I should save this in case this goes bad. Portent replaces roles. Right. it replaces rolls. So you can roll and then replace two dice.

And then do it after that. And then if they both suck, you get a third die. All right. I can help too. You're, you, is the paint just right in front of us? Are you? I did a little. Okay, you did.

Okay. I can help too. I'm about to, yeah. Good luck. I'm about to do it. Good. Fuck off. All right.

Here's what I do as you're about to do it. I get right in front of you and I put my hand on your chest. And I say, I'm already, I'm learning about things remember, not just people, but things themselves. And what you taught me about the candle was that as we go back and try to remember the thing that was, we start to tap into the memories of those that made it. And along with that memory is the intention, the hope of what this thing was meant to do. I'm going to cast guidance on you, and you go through a Rolodex of memories that takes you

right back to the last time you were looking at this paint and trying to dive into it. Yes, when I did like my last augury, when I was sitting in here and pulling all of that, I'm pulling all that, so that gives me a D4. Let's go. Roll the D4 first. I'm gonna roll the D4 first. Plus one.

Okay. Lame, but that's okay. Something. It's something. Okay, so that's gonna add a plus 10 to this roll with my, because it's an Arcona check, right? 2D20 with a third if you need. Let's go 20.

Come on, come on. Okay, it's a 16 and a 17. Oh, I mean, don't fuck with you. Good, I'll take the 17, I'll leave my portent in case it goes bad. So that's going to put me at 27. That's very good. Okay.

27 Archana check. Mmm. It tastes like sour patch cats. Oh man. Blue paint, Zaya, mouth, energy from your companions, your fellow magpies. You peer remembering the spell that allow you to the underlying act going on here in this place.

Is it whispers? These are whispers? Hey. What, what, waw, waw, waw, waw, this whisper brought to you by Liam's sense of existential dread. Oh no. Freeze frame.

Yep. So. It's the most this is fine menhap face I've seen you making quite a while. He's just not even breathing. Oh my God. Yeah, no, he'll stay that way for hours. I've seen it happen.

It's like pro-level disassociating. So jelly. I know. You should give workshops on this. Oh, man. When do we start to worry? 2027. When do we start to worry?

Too late. No. Worrying is pass-a. I was in the 90s. It was great. And you were there and you were there. You weren't there. If you need any further context, you let me know. I'm like, I'm shaking.

What? Oh! Pull, everyone, pull up every note you have about the Stone of Night Song. Oh, no, wow, we're going there, are we? Oh, my God. Okay. All right. All right.

Okay, man, hold. Hold. What did I learn about this fucking is, okay, we can, we can look at it. We can look for it. Meanwhile. But the new context is. Context. All right, you see Murray visibly, visibly shaken right now.

She gets that white out look across in her eyes as she's, my voice is shaking, as she's like reaching back and everything that isune just told her in this flood of memory and everything is remembering and remembering and remembering. And so it's like a slideshow just smashes across her vision in her head. vision in her head. This is connected to the Stone Night Song. This, it's got the same, like, buzzing frequency

that we held that stone. The weight, the gravitational weight. Oh, I remember. And as I held it loft in the pool, the cosmic pool on space time, it's the, the same. These paints are the same. It's... Is it blood? No. Are you... But the blood was a key component. It was rendered from blood.

It is no longer blood. But it's like they've rendered the paints from blood to create, to create stories, to create dreams, to create figments, to create things that are not real. And it has the same signature of the Night Song, but almost as if it's the negative of it. Like it's a photo negative energy of the stone of Night Song. Interesting. Does any of this make sense? It's no longer blood, but it came from blood.

I mean, I have a theory, but it's just a theory. Oh. Interesting. Interesting. I'm gonna walk over to the painting. Are we in the theater? Are we... If we're at the...

Where the paints were... Where we're at raw paint? Yeah, you were like in the back of the theater. Then we're not... If we're at the hallowed round, that's all outdoor except for, you know, so like an amphitheater is this big wraparound and built in the... So here's the stage where my hands are. And from the edges of the stage into sort of the sides of the amphitheater,

we have built wooden structures for house. and props and costumes and supplies for the theater. So we're in one of those. Interesting, interesting. I mean, we know that the stone of Night Song was created by the Elving Goddess. It was used in the Shapers' War. This is a very interesting tool.

It's like, and this is me jumping to conclusions, you can feel free to correct me. It's almost as if they have taken celestial divine blood that it was rendered from, that is connected to this, some sort of like elven. We know of course that the elves are one of the longest living embodiments of the shapers. And it's like they took the blood and turned it,

into endless possibility and like the potential of dreams being turned into reality. I'm going to, it's sitting here that's several colors. Yeah. Is there a wall? Yeah. I'm going to dip my fingers in. And I'm just going to paint a little chameleon. on the wall with the ink. Give me a performance check or give me a calligraphy proficiency check. Collegrapher proficiency, so that's a, yeah, that would be.

Come on art boy. Mm-hmm, see what happens. 22. A lovely, a lovely, swiftly drawn image of a chameleon image of a chameleon appears on the wall. And it rests there, nothing happens. You know, the theater is covered with many, these beautiful murals everywhere.

There's a tremendous potency in power. Anyone who wants to give me a religion check, if you'd be so kind. 23. 23? 12. The oldest of your number, and probably the one Clomos closely associated with religion, You, as Murray begins to state,

like this has an energy signature like the Stone of Night Song, but opposite. You think about Hollis's words where he said, we ruined something that deserved to be ruined. The, a, something about blood comes back to you. On that 22 religion check, the coffin of Olbalad that was a half the sister of Miss, Halfling Celestial with Crossing the Vale,

Stone of Night Song, Crossing the Vale, Toconuses, Crossing the Vale. You were built by Halflings on a 22 religion check. What are the other shapers means of crossing the veil? And I think on a 22 religion check, there is something about a river. There is something that you recall, seeing in the museum, about a river. Like, maybe you saw it when you were in the cellular,

Elodyne wing talking to Mok-Maws. And the name comes back to you. And the name that comes back to you is, one second. Gavzidra. Gavsidra. Is a name that comes back to you from this Eladine wing. Gavsidra.

Gavdra. Gavdra. Gavdra. See if I have it in any of my notes. Not popping up in my notes. Interesting. I have thoughts, and honestly, I could, there's a realm where this is good.

There's a realm where this is not. Hal picks up a porcelain mask off of a box and hucks it as hard as he fucking can against a wooden wall, and it shatters and sprays little bits of jagged porcelain cutting his cheek, and he just strides out of the room out into the dark in the middle of the... I'm gonna run, look at a book.

I'll be back. I'll be back and I'll see you in the morning, unless you want to come rifle through the museum and not sleep. We've got a gala tomorrow. I've got to figure out what I'm going to wear. I haven't done laundry in like three weeks. I've already got a mask for you. You'll be fine. And just in case, I'm going to dip a little bit more paint,

and I'm going to paint myself on the wall. Just the mask. You two keep an eye on everything. Mm. Ah. Tune. Wherever he is, I follow. How?

He's right out in the open, in the dark, listening to the sound of the massive tree at the rear of the stage blowing in the night wind. He's just standing. There, arms at aside, staring at. I just walk up right next to you. I watch you. Why didn't he tell me anything?

Why didn't he tell me anything? Did he wait until the city was falling? I don't understand. I'm unprepared. I work in the fucking theater. And you hear that echo through the, I could have done something if he had let me in. If he had pulled me in and explained things,

he didn't have to protect me. I am his family. I'm sorry, I don't know what to say. I wish I could tell you that maybe he intended to, but there's no way to know. All his life, all his life alone. He did everything alone. And now all of us are left to pick up the pieces.

Because not any one of us had the full picture. And now we're all fuck. The trouble with living as a deceitful person as you assume, your lies die with you, but they don't. They just, they move themselves in on everyone around you. Oh, I give you a withering gaze. I have done my best to hold my tongue about my fear. about your brother.

But this, the part of him that he hid from you, this is almost kind for him. You don't have a tongue and you have hit everything from me. Only under threat of him. Maybe Murray's right about everything. I don't know. No. You don't know.

She doesn't know. None of us not. So what now? I'm not there. I'm still in the theater just like, I can hear the echoes of the argument. You would hear like 70% of the argument. You would hear like 70% of the.

because we're in an open-air, uh, colosseum-style stage area, and you're about, from where we were, you're probably like 80 or 100 feet away with an open doorway. I'm, I've kind of made my way closer to there, but I'm not intriguing in this conversation. I'm just kind of listening. How?

In the other room. Whatever it is that he set in motion was a part of setting in motion. This is the place for it. Why here? And I'm now looking at that tree. What is this story again? About this place and about that tree?

That tree is the Rangani. That tree is our people. It is the gods are gone, the Rangani persist. Hit enough clues for us to find on our scavenger hunt because we have 350 swords. Family, an intimate, entire theater troupe, a city full of people. Howl take me to the tree?

Just stride toward it. On my hand along the needles of the lowest branches. Old is this tree? As old as history. I'm looking at this tree, and I'm tapping into the image of the dragon with trees growing out. From Temelow's card, yeah. Yes.

Is there any connection to those trees that I saw in this one that is, standing in front of me. Uh, give me an Arkancheque. I'm gonna use my heroic inspiration and re-rolled. 17. Uh, you look at the tree and feel a sense of exhaustion

wash over you. This is a place that was sacred to a god that was profane to a people that maintained traditions that were in the face of this and tried to find meaning in the dances they did for a being that lorded over them and how do you continue to find meaning when the situation is as dire as this,

but don't you still have to dance and don't you still have to find a way to be there for your family? And is this paint or is it blood or is it a dream and how do we make it mean something when it started as something so very bad? And you are all on a knife's edge, exhausted, pushed to the breaking point.

And I think how you look at murals that were designed by your daughter weeks and weeks and weeks ago. You were always going to need to have to decorate. You were always going to have to put all this together. What a thoughtful gift from your brother. To have taken this one thing off your plate and to have hidden from you where it came from

how significant it might be. Your life's work tampered with by a brother who always had a great idea for what other people should be doing. He didn't give you the full picture. And last night,

you all decided it was safer for nobody to know too much. So maybe you're like him. Was he bad? Was he good? Did he real? that some things were worth the cost, and were you all part of that cost?

What if you were, and that makes him an asshole, but doesn't make him wrong? This is a big fucking mess, and on that role, I can't clean it up for you. Marie still was keeping her distance, but she just, you can hear that echoes of her boots, heels, clacking as she kind of walks on to the stage of the amphitheater,

but she's kind of skirting around the edge, like a dog who knows he's in trouble, just starts slowly moving her way away from this, very little by little. I think all of you take whatever time you need and then part ways. It's an absolutely critical day tomorrow. Murray, you head back to the penthouse rule.

As I walk out of the theater, I turn around going up the voms and out, and I turn around, and I run my nail across my gemmed teeth, and I just tell how I'm sorry. The next day comes. I don't think we make a profession role today. I think today is a day of jitters, where it takes everything you've got just to get through the day.

And I think the gala approaches at night. The work of the day comes. The Lord Hrandes-Ine Fossin is once again busy dealing with house duty. Gala is being decorated. Murray. Penteverel is busy. Cora's going to this celebration at the Arcanade. How?

I don't know how late you stay at the hallowed round, but do you get any of your troop ready do they come with you to this gala the following day? Yes, they've worked too hard, yes. Yes. And I have to keep up appearances. I run a place of entertainment, art, and inspiration. It is wrong for all the eyes that are watching.

As the gala approaches, Varen pulls a list of about 20 people together to come and work the gala, that he trusts. And he gives you a list of about eight names of people that are still working with the sundered houses. That's the list of people he trusts.

It's not a long list. There's more than that working at the sundered houses, but not anyone he can vouch for personally. Does he identify which house they're working for? Most of them are working for vassals of Royce, because he was working for them. But there is one for the cormoray and two for the Einfuss.

None for Taconas. None for Taconas, none for Halivar. As people begin to arrive at the gala, I think actually you guys probably get there before and have a moment of coming together before this with the weight hanging in the air of the visit to the hallowed round. as you approach, what condition do you find each other in as people begin to arrive at the Archonaut?

Well, Hal is, I think, at the entrance greeting people as they come in and he is wearing one of his finer outfits that he keeps in storage for moments like this. It is a very sveled black suit of sorts and it has branches reminiscent. He always has... has the tree of the hallowed around makes appearances in his home and an art in his home and in his clothing.

And he's wearing this black jacket that has silver embroidered branches winding its way out. And he is, since it was, Belair planned a Shaper's gala where we're all wearing masks of the gods to present as Omar the Hunter. I have a silver, silver fox's mask. It has been adorned by the way,

with the image of a golden bird within the pattern for the silver fox's mask. Any of us who can be trusted will have that hidden somewhere on their mask. Fox, an aspect of Omra, the hunter. hunter. Oh, Omra. Omra. Umra. Um, spoke.

I already had you down for that. Umra, the hunter. God of or shaper of the beastfolk, fox mask on your face, greeting people as they arrive. And Boler, I assume you're there early as well, getting ready for the go. I'm also currently not quite greeting people,

greeting people, but I'm getting everything set up, distributing masks to the people who are going to be working and also to the two of you as well. If you didn't already make a request, I've already picked masks for you. Great, I think Murray is definitely the last two arrive. I have Menmare, Father of Wins, enjoy it. I think I arrived, I'm a part of the security.

Yeah. So I think I got there early. and I don't know how to dress myself. We have outfits for everyone who's working the event so that people can actually recognize you. All in the similar... Yes. Well, that's good. And all of the people working the event

are wearing similar, slightly larger than normal, white and black masks that are only adorned with red and gold, and all of them are a different shape and a different pattern. But all of them, at least our people, all have a golden bird worked into the pattern. We all like a, go ahead. I know we all agreed that we were gonna be early,

but Murray is late. She's still early, but she is definitely late. Early for Murray. Early for Murray. And you can like just hear once again, her heels clacking up the street, and she's her arms out this wide. She's just holding this.

massive fucking dress. And it's very like a little Venetian, a little carnival meets Kentucky Derby. So it's like off the shoulders. Her tits are on display, they're out. And it's got like her classic kind of colors and harlequin patterns all on this like layered ruffle skirt. And she has like a bustle that's like on the front

hiking it up. So she's like showing some lag peeking up with some nice little like garter belts and thigh highs. And she's just like sweating in this thing. And she's like, charming. Coming up the street. Any special attention to the beard tonight? Oh, yes. Oh, and that's the other thing.

She has on every piece of jewelry that she owns. Fuck what Coco Chanel says. Do not take anything off. So she has like just her chest is just like layers and layers and layers of like big, chunky jewels from. the Magnuson family jewels. She's gotta represent. And I think she has like,

she's taken her beard in instead of her like singular braid, she has now two braids that are also, she's strung like jeweled beads. On, like throughout the braid, she has put beads. So she has bedazzled her beard. And she's just sweating buckets already as she comes up.

I am. We've also set up one of our security people in the back in the wine room. What I miss. Sorry. Who will be collecting information for anything that are people here. They will tell it to the person sitting with the wine

as they go pick up new drinks. That way there's just one point of contact. Everything works. Do we need cranberry rolls? And if we need new things, we go in there and one of us gets to hear what's going on. Last thing, so rarely you talk about fashion. I would say before people really showed up

how pushed you in. to an anti-chamber, since you're in your uniform. I'm just- He's still managed to find, like a sort of like a half cape that's pinned at the shoulder, so you've just got like down the one side. So you look a little more formal regalia with your normal uniform underneath. But I'm like a father dressing his son

for like first day of school. Is like in a little, pin it in place with a little brooch that Belair supplied me with it has a little golden bird motif. I am of course setting up to make sure everyone gets their mass coming in of all the different gods, different versions of these beautiful handcrafted Venetian versions of classical images of the gods. A lot of imagination.

They're very beautiful and large, and a lot of them cover quite a bit so that people can really decide if they want to be as anonymous as they choose. What mask do you have for me? What did you say you have for me? Oh, yes. I put a side, Mammy, her Father of the Wins. Father of the Wins, jeez.

So you're calling me gassy? Whatever. Well, no, you just do pass a lot of it. I am winded. Right now. She cracks a fan that she bought a little lace fan. Once I give my welcome speech, I am going to go up to the upstairs,

and I will change into something a little more anonymous. Of course it's so tight. Hal spots you, his anger and anxiety from last night are gone. He is a huge grin on his face. I understand you enjoy the magic of being fashionably late. Come in, have a drink. Make the rounds. I just look at his name.

Says he's bad at this. Do I look ridiculous? They look fine, what's his deal? Who's gonna be pissed? The final guest list lands in front of you. And you can see that, you know, there are, that the Hala-Russ are coming, Kormeray, Einfei,

The Lord Haurandes Einfossen has responded and is bringing what looks like a number of people that are visiting the Stahlkeep here in Dolmachiar. The names you see there are Sir Dalbrick Orphaner is one name of Argosia and Lord Minister Gorson Brightmane of Argosia. You... I'll be right back.

I walked all the way across town to be here, I have to pee. Walking into the ceremony, you see Elity walks in with Harving Bo-Spritt and a large, unannounced to what new approaches Boler. You see Elity walks up and goes, Hal, oh lovely, good to see you. Hello, hello, m-mmy. And happy to come here and support.

My friend Harving, who had R-Supied, has had some guests staying with him who are crashing if they can come, which would be His Majesty, King Augustus Valian, and some of his retinue, I understand. Thankfully, I had a sneaking suspicion it might happen. So I've had a couple masks prepared.

Splendid. Outstanding, the more the merrier, you honor us, you grace us with your presence, please help us celebrate tonight. It's singular evening. You know that Gus was supposed to be gone by now. Yes, he was, right? Gus walks up, you see the king, he's got Martin with him, one of his hounds, one of his druids is here as well

of the circle of the stag, a circle seven times. He walks up and goes, Miss Fang, pleasure. You've extended your stay. I have. Is the focus? are going to be here tonight. There is a decent likelihood of that. Good, then I'm not posted my time.

Sorry, I am a patron of the theater as well. I had never intended to stay in this city for that long. I'll take my blessings where I can get them. And he takes a mask along with some of his retinue and enters the... Oh, wow. And enters the Gala. Do you have an opinion of which either, I mean, all across the pantheon, but do you think he had an opinion or no?

Did he just grab one? He just grabs them. Okay. Yeah, amusing. He grabs one and enters the gathering. You see some, that the Lord's Dason walks in and says, Master Lothalia. Have any of the Taconas responded that they'll be attending tonight?

I don't think we heard final word for any of them. They tend to play things close to the vest. Yeah, just follow. If you get a sensation of just pompacity, just assume that you're talking to one. All right. You see, he enters and allows that open, sort of mockery to go unchallenged.

It's a compliment, is it. Oh, sorry. Game me, game. You see pronouncement. You see two massive, massive. gleaming hounds as felonious Halevar rounds the corner and announcing her radiance, luminousness, Fotak, Yenessa Halevar of the candescent creed, lady of house Halevar. And you see, Yenessa Halevar rounds the corner. My eyes are glued on King Augustus as she's being announced.

I want to just try to get a sense of his demeanor. He is waiting over by some of the refreshments and is just peering out. He's got his hounds next to him and is peering out. Just waiting, just having a drink by the table. They're in sight entering this chamber. Fotark! You honor us.

Oh my God. Mr. Hallandiel Feng. It is a pleasure. And you see, she says, except her hand for you to bow and sort of kiss her hand. I do. I do. She says, the fox now kind of leaves a little bit of mouth and chin, a little bit like a Batman gal.

Yeah. She looks and says, I understand that your players, that your troop are performing with the beneficence of our grace as a creed. We would not be here without your family. I can't help but wonder is Wicander with you because he talked about this event and this moment for months. And I haven't heard word from him.

Go ahead and give me deception. You're not saying anything pointedly wrong. So you will allude any magic to the ultra, but persuasion or deception, your call. Oh, it will be deception. We're so good at lying. Why'd you say that out loud? Because it's true.

Oh. Uh, uh, uh. He is staring for a long time. No, I just don't want to be wrong. It's associating again. Quick, quick, cut him on the- Oh, okay. Twenty-six.

Oh, nice. She looks at you and says, it's so funny you mention that. The Lord Wakanda is not with me today, and I had meant to come and ask if you You had heard from him at all. He is a very busy young lad, and it's quite possible that he is off-scene

to one of the many areas of his purview and simply has perhaps, I don't know, had a pigeon go awry. We were expecting him this morning, but we've not seen him. I share your concern. I haven't seen him for days, not since he paid his respect

when we had our evening for my brother. So he, oh, he did, come to pay his... He did, he was in for a bit, yes. He was very kind, had many kind things to say and spoke very eagerly for this night and the night to come. I understand. I'm glad he came to pay his respects.

It is my utmost conviction that your brother is with and within and throughout all the light of our world. I know that he, perhaps was not a devout member of the creed, but I like to think that if it is possible for the light to have reached him in his final moments that it did and offered him comfort and salvation.

Well, he traveled far on wide, but he's with me still. I say, as I feel the liar's blade straps here, hidden behind a little capelet. Back in my outfit. She says, you watch as she moves on from talking about her son and says, and I did have a question as well. Do you know if, have you had any contact with, I believe, a former associate of your brothers?

I don't know if he's a family friend or not, but a gentleman named Teor Pride, Sire. Pride sire? Did you not see him at your funeral for your brother? Well, I was busy making the rounds that night, but no, I did not. Go ahead and give me deception. Yeah. Natural 20 for a 29. Oh, monster!

She looks and says, Damn. Sorry to say that I must add you to my list of trails that have gone cold to lay eyes on my wily grandson. I take her hand and she'll say, sing it's sister. Oh, perhaps I do see what he enjoyed about you, Mr. Fang. Well, I am ever so excited. If you wouldn't mind dropping by the Via Aurora tomorrow, I understand that your opening night is two nights hence.

That is correct. And if you find your lovable son, grandson, we have seats held for him, best in the house. It's only just for all of the attention and support he and your family have given. You see, she smiles and says, she smiles and goes, of course, if I see Wick, I'll let him know. If you would come by tomorrow, I'm interested, as Wicks' absence has come to my attention,

I'm so excited for your opening night, and I just want to make sure that we have a moment before your opening night for me to review the content and subject matter. I'm at your service. Wonderful. See you tomorrow. And she walks into the gala. As soon as she's 20 feet away. Hello, my lady.

I'm so glad you attended. I know that the subject matter of the party may be a little complicated. I did my best. Normally we make you. The guests just dive in for a mask, but I figured, Tansuil? She looks at the mask of Tansul.

Give me persuasion. Doing my best. Tonswell, tons of, trying to find both the most and least offensive answer. Not very great. Come on, buddy. That was persuasion. I was 11.

11. She looks and says, I'll take whatever request you desire. It was just my best gas. I love a theme, but this is blasphemy. And she hands the mask back to you. Oh. Tell no one.

and I pull out, I pull out a particular, and I wasn't going to do it. The blue and silver, not quite as ornate, but it is a very decent attempt. There's no flourish, it's very elegant and simplicity of the correct color and painted lines of their religious belief. She takes it.

She takes it. Thank you. She holds it in her hand, walks away from you, and hands it mindlessly to a servant. She walks into the party. I'm going to kill her. A couple things. Yeah.

I would definitely have had a few of my arcane marshals along for the ride. Yeah. So I'm periodically checking in with them as I have had them go out and do their own part of the security, which is occasionally to detect magic, those that have divine sense, any of that which was already properly in place. And I'm doing, I find this fascinating

the way these people are when they get to gather in this fashion. I'm watching Einfossen, especially when he arrived. Did you have a date? Einfossen have a date. Einfassen brings his wife. Okay. Yeah. I don't know if I've seen her necessarily.

No. But I definitely would have studied her face before she was handed a mask. I'm kind of curious about everything about her. Great. And Philonius. Are you masked currently? I am. Great. So he does not recognize you, otherwise he would probably corner you and talk to you. Yes. You're looking at Katani, who is the wife of Lord Horandis, Hans Fosson.

For those of you gathered here, go ahead and give me any kind of check you would make as you're like surveying the party. But I will say that your attention will probably go towards something that you see based on your last piece of observation, which is Gus is making a B-line for the photarch. Yikes. So we're making a role to see what we can discern from anything, really? Yeah, if you're trying to do an investigation, but you also, I think, just can look up and see that Gus is just making a B-line for her. You see, he walks up as she enters with her retinue.

He's got his retinue behind him. I just want to get nearer to them. I want to hear what passes between them. He walks up, takes off his mask, and walks right up to her, and he goes, your radiance, hello, a word. And you see she looks up and says, Your Majesty, King Augustus, Valian.

It is I. You see, he says, I didn't imagine that you were going to be here at the Galat tonight. You've been in Dormagia for such a long time. I've been here for quite a while, because, it's been extremely hard to gain an audience. But it's my understanding that you were here to attend the gala. Could I have a word with you in private?

You see, she looks and says, well, your majesty, we are here to support the arts. Certainly we can discuss. You see, he says, I have questions about the creed and exactly what you're doing in timony, my kingdom. You see, it gets tense.

in this moment. People starting to look at them? Yes. You see, she says, well, we are ministering mostly to the outbreak of Bellow's fever, Your Majesty. We are, after all, a charitable organization.

You see, he goes, so you know nothing of preachers and what they preach on the street corners there. You know nothing of the Lord of Gormelais. And you see that she goes, well, I'm sorry, I spend my days in prayer for the most part, Your Majesty.

But if any of our preachers have given you cause for concern and their conduct, then we must discuss it at once. You see, she turns to looking around at Hal for a moment and goes, Mr. Fang, do you, is there somewhere

that we might be able to have a private discussion, His Majesty, the King and I? Well, I would have to ask my Calming Beaure. This is gentleman, you... Yes, I normally reserve an upstairs area for myself, since I'm more of an observer, but please welcome to it. It's as private as we can get.

As soon as I hear him say, reserve an upstairs area, Murray is going to start making her way into a private area, kind of heading upstairs, separate of this, and then as soon as I am, out of view from the party, I'm going to cast some visibility on myself. Great. Glorious.

If you would like, I could escort them to them. That would be lovely. I think I've got to go change now that everything's up and running. Maybe we can have someone's supply them with drink or check on them occasionally. Yes, we will have somebody very discreet, bring you anything you need. Your Majesty, your radiance, I shall escort you to this private chamber.

More of a balcony thing. It's a bit nice and quiet. You see that Gus looks out and says, you have something more private, banquet hall, something like that. There's an office, I suppose. I'll take them there. All right.

You begin to lead them back up into those upper reaches. Say pass. I'm going to give myself a wide berth and then follow. I'm going to listen in on this shit. You turn invisible. You see that Azune, you lead them to a small chamber. There are a couple of tables. This is like a retreat sort of dining area

for later in the evening that's not being used right now. And as you lead them there, you see that Gus walks down. The Fotark has a guardian sort of come with her. Gus is accompanied by one of the hounds of the king, and a druid as they begin to walk down. And you see, Murray, you're invisible. You see that two, Philonius goes and motions for a couple of the doors to be closed to this chamber

to sort of make it more private, but there's one big archway. You see two of King Gus's knights post up there as Philonius closes the door and waits on the other side sort of guarding this area. The Fotark turns over and says, Your Majesty, by all means, he looks and says, I want to understand how it is possible for your preachers to preach sedition openly and rebellion,

and for it to not reach your ears. You see, the Fotark looks up at Gus, crosses her hands, and says, says, Your Majesty, each of our luxes is given to interpret the text of our holy book and to make what determinations they believe are right for their flock. I am happy to advise them as I can, but fundamentally, perhaps there is some error of what do they accuse you? You don't imagine it could be about anything to do with... laws concerning, I don't know.

What was it? The Council of All Calleds or something like that? You see that he cocks his head and says, What? What do you mean? See, she says, my understanding, your majesty, is that many of your lords are quite unhappy.

I'm going to, how, what are you up, what are you and Boulare up to while this is going on? Well, the two of you escorted them up, right? I walked out. Pointed me to where they should. I went to change. You guys are separate?

Yeah, I would have changed very quickly, because it's not hard. We're kind of in a similar area because she's the two of them. She's too out though. Yes, I'm invisible, but I'm assuming in the room that they're in. I think I would like to just rewind in time. And it's before you guys split and we see these two important figures

starting to deliberate. how places his hands on both of your shoulders and goes, what the fuck? And I cast aid on the three of us. Great. So at this forward moment, I'm still down in the party and like anxiously keep looking toward where they disappeared. But I'm not running up there.

I'm still keeping up appearances down below. So Murray, you're in the room invisible. Azune. Who got aid? All of us? We three did. Me as well. Yes.

Yes. Oh, one, two, three. Not Buller. No, not you, because you're invisible and I don't know where you are. Oh, you're right. Oh, not me, okay. Boer, Azune, Hal.

Thank you. Okay. D-t-da-da. We are, so Azuna, you escort them up to the upper chamber. Yes. I have just finished changing. I no longer look like me at all.

Okay. I am, yeah, unrecognizable. I would like a perception check from Azune and Boler. I'm meant, no, I won't do that here. I can only feel right about guidanceing myself to a certain extent. Perception.

Like an insight or perception from how? Natural 20. Natural 20. Really? Yes, incredible. Here comes the insight. For insight, it is 14. Insight on 14.

When Gus and the Fotark leave, You see a group of people over with Ein Fossin that you recognize as a group of Argosian knights excuse themselves and head out of another hallway. Argosian. Argosian will remind me that is. You fought in the War of Axon Vine. Argosia is the nation that Timeney rebelled against

and seceded from. Oh, crap. So beef. Beef between King Augustus and them. Yes. And did you say the, that he said, the photogor was like, oh, the council of what?

Did you say? All-C-A-L-D. All-C-L-D. All-C-L-D. All-C-A-L-D. So yeah, that's 24 for perception is 24 with a net 20. On my end.

On a 24 perception, a Nat-20 perception, Bolair, walking, I think you cross Azune just around the corner from the opening of this chamber that Murray is in invisibly with the king and his people. On a Nat 20 perception, you hear the unmistakable click. You heard it all the time when you were fighting in the Falconer's rebellion. The unmistakable click of a crossbow string being strung up and notched in to place just around the corner on the other side of the opening. Who heard it? I did.

Okay, so how close am I to where this just happened? Probably 60 feet. 60 feet. Okay, and I cannot see. You cannot see what it is, but you hear that and have a moment to act. I am going to special. Actually, since no one can tell who I am,

I'm going to start jaunting very quickly towards where I heard that to see if I can make eye contact with whoever it was that just did this. I'm going to need everybody here to roll initiative. Oh, it's happening. Oh, it's happening. I'm going to get everybody here to roll initiative. And as you roll, I'll go ahead and mark that.

And that is going to be all for this episode. Oh. Oh. Give me your initiative. Is 15. 15 for half. All, great. Murray. 16. 16, great.

Azine? Four. And Boler? 13. 13, great. Wow, very mid. Very mid. Very midly.

Okay, so wait, so I had the highest initiative. Yeah? That's, I have a minus one to my initiative. That's funny. Okay. You're all good. Am I had a great outfit too. I'm very upset.

Incredible. Okay, and that's all for this episode. of Critical Role. We'll see you next time. Crazy. King Gus gonna die. And gang, let me tell you, is it Thursday yet? Thanks for listening to this episode of Critical Role. If you're enjoying this story, consider leaving a review on your podcast platform of choice.

We're always looking for new critters to share our adventures with, and your review may help a new batch of wayward souls find their way to Aramon, Exandria, and beyond. Or if you want to hear what the cast discussed after the episode, head to beacon.tv and check out our exclusive show Critical Roll Cooldown. You'll be right there at the table immediately after we say, is it Thursday yet, and experience our cast's post-show reactions. We'll see you next time.