Critical Role - The Lost Monastery | Age of Umbra Episode 2 Part 2

Episode Date: June 17, 2025

Part 2 A desire to both protect and to learn has led to terror in Firmament's Harrow - but can that terror be contained? DAGGERHEARTDaggerheart is OUT NOW! Visit https://daggerheart.com to learn more. Purchase your copy at friendly local game stores, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other bookstores, or Critical Role shops:US: https://shop.critrole.comUK: https://shop.critrole.co.ukEU: https://shop.critrole.euAU: https://shop.critrole.com.auCA: https://canada.critrole.com AGE OF UMBRASmall communities hold fast against the darkness of a dying world in Age of Umbra, a dark, survival fantasy 8-part Daggerheart mini-series with Game Master Matthew Mercer and players Ashley Johnson, Laura Bailey, Liam O’Brien, Marisha Ray, Sam Riegel, Taliesin Jaffe, and Travis Willingham. Death lurks around every corner, but five characters of the small community of Desperloch must band together to fight for hope for their community, risking it all for those they love. BEACONCurious what happens when the camera turns off after an Age of Umbra episode? Watch the Cooldown episodes with the cast discussion after each episode, exclusively on Beacon! Start your 7-day free trial today at https://beacon.tv/join and get unparalleled access to the shows you love completely ad-free! You’ll receive NEW Beacon exclusive series, instant access to VODs & podcasts, live event pre-sales, merch discounts, & a private Discord. CREDITSKey Art & Character Art by Anthony Chong Jones | @robotpencilPlayer Miniatures by Hero ForgeSpecial thanks to Solar Simon DMMain Theme Song by Omar FadelSet Design by Shaun EllisSet Fabrication and Production Design by Noxweiler Berf Due to the improv nature of RPG content on our channels, some themes and situations that occur in-game may be difficult for some to handle. If hearing discussions of certain episodes or scenes become uncomfortable, we strongly suggest taking a break or skipping that particular episode.Your health and well-being is important to us and Psycom has a great list of international mental health resources, in case it’s useful: http://bit.ly/PsycomResources

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So to all the misfits, outcasts and weirdos out there, come take a seat at our table and celebrate all things unconventional, nostalgic and wonderfully weird. Welcome to Weird Kids. New episodes release every Tuesday. Hey there! Matthew Mercer here, and you're listening to part two of this episode of Age of Umbra, a dark tale and campaign setting from our recently released tabletop RPG Daggerheart from Darrington Press.

If you haven't checked out part one yet, pause this now and head over there first. Otherwise, let's return to our adventurers striving against the darkness in part two. And welcome back. So, Velk has fallen cascading down the cliffside to his doom. A few of you have managed to avoid crossing into the next realm.

Exhausted and taking a breath, you find yourselves now here amongst the temple exterior ruins of the larger monastery itself here. The shreds of moonlight that still push through the clouds. Eryn peeks around from the side. Is it done? Y'all okay? I think so.

Are you okay? I'm fine, I did what she told me to do. I just ran and hid. You did great, you did great. Anyone want to fuck up a statue? Wait. I'm going over to the statue. All right. And I, Brixton prostrates herself onto the ground.

As you duck down, you can see there is like, on top of the fact that inside this chamber, there are ceremonial adornments on the ruins around here. You can see there's ceremonial weaponry, there's armor set upon his decoration. There is a small stone case, like a reliquary case of some kind of the base of the statue as you kneel down. Oh.

Should we empty the other brazier before you do that? Yeah, I think that's it. Sure. We can all, we can all, together, teamwork. Even you, man. Okay. One, two, teamwork. Even you, Ares. Okay. One, two, three. Grrr!

The coals come tumbling out and the flame is... Grrr! Just kidding. Brickston just gives a little prayer. We have punched Vellk for his transgressions. Please, Aratu, grant us your favor. Watch over us. And I'm going to check out this little reliquary. Okay. You go to lift the lid on it, and it holds tight. I'm going to take a look to see if there's a mechanism here, and just see what kind of lock it is.

Sure, make a knowledge roll for me. All right. It's stone or the Quilling? Yeah, there's a stone lid, it's a small case. It's actually in the statue, it's carved from the stone with a lid on top. 12 with fear? 12 with fear?

Yeah. Looking at it, it's a stone case. You can see there's a lip where their lid would come up. It's not a carved solid piece. There is a container of some kind, but it is holding closed. There's a lock on it? The best you can tell is there is a small,

not even a keyhole, but a pinhole in the stone. Don't you have a pinhole in the stone. Don't you have a long pin? I do. And you're made of stone, can you talk to it and tell it to open? I can, I can. I would love to go look at it for just a moment. And is the face, the head still on the ground?

The head's still attached to the statue, it head still on the ground? The head's still attached to the statue, it just has massive gashes across its face. The veiled mask that sits in front of it, it just has this... Can I just look around and look at it and see if it is something familiar to me, and I just sort of want to look at the god's face?

The face itself is obscured as is the nature of the Veiled Gods by the mast and veil that kind of covers it. The visage that you carry is an echo of the imagery of the Veiled Gods. The vessel that you hold was once a messenger to them. So in a similar way, there is a veil, but there is a mask adorned on top of it itself that denotes something beyond humanoid, something divine and inhuman in its design. Beyond the scratches and gashes, of course. Is she relative of yours?

I don't think so, but I do believe this body was probably saying many songs to him. Oh. Should it be prepared or something like that? Any of this stuff worth anything around here? Maybe what's in the box? What's in the box? Need to open it?

I do. Okay. She rustles in her and pulls out her pouch and has a couple of long metal tongs and picks and hooks and says, I made you get around here. Can we check it for? I sort of did that. You did? Okay. Suck. Yeah, do your thing, kiddo.

Sure, anybody else? I'm gonna step back. I'm gonna step up close, just close to her to protect her. I might, I'll flank. Yeah. She gets down, watch and learn. Goes and starts fiddling with it, the little pinhole, she gets two little long pieces of thin iron,

one of them she bends a little bit, tempers it, looking at it, gets it inside. Okay, yeah. And she finds a bit, I think I got a tug. The lid opens like a spring, but dust like out of it. She's like, look inside and you kind of glance over

and look within from above, kind of lording over her. And inside this little box is what looks to be a skull, an old skull, polished sutures, almost have a golden coloration pushed into them, but where the jaw is, there is an iron band bolted across its mouth, sealing it shut. Oh, cool. And is it like an art piece, like a carved idol,

or is it a human skull or a humanoid skull? It is a humanoid skull. Cool. It has been polished, prepared, and set within here for some purpose. Its mouth sealed with iron. There's also a very, very faint glow kind of almost emanating from underneath it, like it's underlit, even though it's within a shadowed box. What do you think this is?

Marcellus Wallace's soul. Brynn backs up. I've done my business. Y'all picked it up. I opened it, but this is a bit creepy for my liking. Press the digitation up into the air. Turn it slowly on a couple different axes. You lift it up, and as you do, TALIESIN and SAM and MATT and TALIESIN talking at the same time. LIAM and SAM and MATT talking at the same time. LIAM and SAM talking at the same time. MATT and SAM talking at the same time.

LIAM and SAM talking at the same time. MATT and SAM talking at the light protruding from within. It's like, as you turn it, eventually it tumbles out. It is a small orb about that big that itself is giving a faint golden glow. And it's like, ding, ding, ding. Can I grab that? I put the skull down and I bring the orb here. It has a faint magical orb to it.

Some sort of, you don't know if it's an enchantment or a blessing or what, but there is something magical about this aura. Well, life is short. We should keep both, right? Of course. Would I know anything about any type of I'll grab this skull. rituals from the old world

and anything about binding binding of family. Make a knowledge roll for me. A knowledge roll, can I spend my one and only hope to add historically inspired? Yes, you may, of course. Okay. Plus two here, come on. Oh, I thought it was gonna be a creep, but it's not.

It should actually be three. 19. With hope? With fear. With fear, okay. Nott, I'll worry about it. Sorry about it. I fucking hit the microphone. Not a worry, sorry about that. And I fucking hit the microphone.

You have seen one of these orbs before. It is embedded in the breastplate that your ember warden has worn since the day you met her. They are rare relics used for protection from the old world, used by generals and high clerics of Amber Reach. Their creation, or the secrets to it, are apparently lost to time, but many of them that were cached at that era have since been disseminated in the post-apostasy era. They're known as Valor Stones.

Valar Stones. You can attach the stone to armor that doesn't already have a feature on it, and then it gains a new feature. Are you getting it for sure? Are you getting sure you're right? I'm really not sure. Sheen a good idea.

Before you mark your last armor slot, roll a d6 on the result of six, reduce the severity by one threshold without marking an armor slot. Wow. So it gives you a lot, every time, if you burn all your armor, you have a one in six chance of just not spending that last armor. This is a Valorstone.

Oh boy. Is it a sign? Everything is a sign. I was about to say. I mean, you've got. When the Aether Weave courses through. But I mean, the armor, the crown, now this, it's like you keep finding blessed objects.

I think you are chosen. It means something. Sure. And we know which deity this was? Aratu, this is the Veiled God representative, also known as the Dawning Zaro. So whose skull is this? You don't see any markings on the stone case.

I read, I could try and read it. Oh, there are no markings. Oh, there are no markings, nevermind. TALIESIN. I read. I could try and read it. MATT. There are no markings. TALIESIN. Oh, there are no markings. Never mind. MATT. Sorry. TALIESIN. Clearly it was someone who needed to shut the fuck up. Who needs a Hail Mary? will indeed be six, reduce the severity of by one, through shoulder, by one, through shoulder. Because you're separating power from the veil of gods. So it's definitely Hail Mary, you're gonna want a six chance of it even popping off. So it'd be someone with low armor, so.

From this area where we are, now that the danger has passed and we've opened the reliquary, does the path continue on, are there more stairs? So, where you stand, you can, I mean, in this night, you can barely make out the shapes of the rest of the Greif Cleft Mountains beyond each side, rising up in their hooked spires. You can see the mists that hang down into the valley,

the jungles that you had traveled from below. You can just faintly see the flicker of fire from the sacred pyre of Desperlok down below, and that orients your position. You are indeed in the middle of the rocky outcropping. There's the Firmament's Harrow. And beyond this temple, this half-collapsed roof of this temple portion, the rest of the monastery sits.

There is a massive double door that is closed. The wall sits up, and you can see there's that extremely tall, pointed, vaulted roof, and you can see the edge of where the cliff had slid down and where the ruins had partially fallen from the monastery to create where Desperlok was set is around the way. But the rest of the monastery sits in front of you.

It is just the doors to it are closed. Now, it would be perfectly understandable if folks wanted to return. Wanted to, we've done our job. We were here to get Velt. Velt's gone, we're done. I'm gonna peek over the side of the cliff and fly over and see if I can see the body. We've done our job. We were here to get Velt. Velt's gone. We're done. Yeah. I'm going to peek over the side of the cliff and fly over and see if I can see the body.

Go ahead and roll an instinct roll for me. Instinct? That's 13 with hope. 13 with hope. Take a hope. No sign of body from up here, because there is no light. It is pitch black into the jungle below. TALIESIN. Actually, if it was pitch black, would I have an underborn advantage on that roll? To

have advantage on rolls to hide, investigate, or perceive details when I'm low light to heavy shadow? MATT. I'll say yeah, take advantage on that. It's a Roll a d6, because you are very well adapted to. 14. Unfortunately, no. You do see, I will say, you do see on some of the more ragged bits of rock along the sheer cliff face, you do see signs of bloody trail

of where Vellk had likely had a rough tumble. And would I know from my ranger's focus if I still have a connection to him? There is no connection. You're pretty certain Vellk has passed. You have put to rest the restless spirit that was taken by some dark power here. And you're right, we would be well within our reason

to go back and let them know what happened to Velk, or we could seize on this opportunity and push further than anyone has before, and when we return, we would have a lot to bargain with. That's true, Rkeloed really hates somebody else were to push deeper into the monastery, wouldn't he? He would be very upset. I feel like he very much wanted to be here,

but that doesn't seem to matter to either of your faces at the moment. He's kind of a dick. Okay. And also, we kind of earned it. I mean, there were half as many of us and we've pushed further than anyone else has before. What are you hoping to find in there?

Glory? What do you need? Power. Answers? To questions that are for you? Well, yeah. The gods have left, and there are some of us that have almost divine powers or gifts that I don't understand. And where I'm from, those powers are not welcomed. I'm not from Desperlok. Where are you from? Another town. I left my mother there. The people that see these sorts of powers, they're haunted almost. It's like a sign that the gods haven't left or that the power structures that have risen up since

are gonna be tumbled. So I would love to know why we have the abilities that we do or how these things still exist and are the gods really gone? I mean, Velk was dead set that they were not gone, that they were hiding and still in wait, or could be communed with, or... I don't know, but if there's some place that's gonna have the answers we're looking for, it feels like this is it, and I would really love to continue going with this hall pass, instead of asking for permission from a group people that are going to look at us like a bunch of outsiders. I mean, you know, I'll go where you go.

As long as you'll fucking have me. All right, that's fair. We've witnessed a miracle here today. Did you not see? Which one? Oh, the statue of the god. Whether you could consider that a curse or a blessing, that was an enactment of divine intervention from one of the veiled gods themselves. Bureaucracy holds no bearing on the choice we make here and in the now. We must push forward. Don't you hear that?

SAM and MARISHA and SAM and MARISHA and SAM and MARISHA and What? That is destiny calling. That was mostly a sigh, I think, from... No, you can hear it whispering in the winds. Okay. Look, I'm not keen to keep going forward, but I'm also sort of not keen to go back by myself. So if you guys are moving ahead,

I'll be behind you a few feet, but I'll stick around, I guess. It's very fair. Very wise. Also means whatever rewards happen, you get cut in. You guys keep promising me rewards. Is there anything around here that's valuable? We got a skull. There's a crowd.

Along the walls of here, there are ornamental and ceremonial weapons and armor, pieces of holy decor that were put on the walls that look like they were made from fine metals and such. In fact, while some of them have withered over time, there is one beautiful-looking falchion that looks like it's pressed against the chest part of a stone entity that is carved in the wall, like some sort of holy warrior, but it is not itself stone. It is just set within the grip of this stone figure.

Does it have a yellow eye in the middle of it? Weirdly, it does not. Like, it's something that could be plucked and capped? You could certainly try. Just because we can, I have a thing I can do. Where is it? A depth where I can utilize an experience and mark a stress to use it.

And I have a prestigitation to repair a small object. If I have a way of using my experience to add that repair a small object to try and fix the face of this statue, would that be reasonable? Certainly try, yeah. Okay, I'm going to try and fix the face of this statue. Would that be reasonable? Certainly try, yeah. Okay, I'm going to try and, I'm just gonna crawl up and try and magically

undo some of this damage. Sure, make a spell cast roll for me. All right, I'm going to add more hands, make less work, because I'm sort of trying to weave. Because you have lots of hands? Yeah, I have a lot, and I can move the web with it. I can burn a stress instead of a hope for that, and that also means I get to double it.

So that's, what kind of roll would this be? Spell cast, so just add your knowledge. Okay, so that's four, six. Ooh, six. 22 with fear. Sorry, guys. No, it's okay. However, you do manage to sculpt

with your hands and a little bit of silk that you're pressing around it, you maneuver and almost magically connect with the stone. The aether weave that flows ever so faintly through the realm that you've attuned yourself to enough to know how to pluck and pull it. You weave it through the stone and then just tug on the stone

until it fills the gaps that were once carved. Then you break away the silk that you had laid as you maneuver, and as you pull it away, the stone looks like it was unscathed. Just picturing the nun that did the restoration on the mini-page. I was thinking it too. I was thinking it too. If you had rolled poorly enough.

Wow, that's great, August. I'm going to try to remove the falchion. Yes. You can roll strength or finesse. Finesse. 15 with fear. 15 with fear. SAM and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and

and MATT and SAM and and and and and and and and and that it was placed in and probably locked with a stone cap on top to keep it there.

Within the monastery, no one would attempt to take it, especially at this distance from the majority of the outer domain. But here, you manage to crack that stone seal on top and pull it from underneath, and the falchion is free. SAM and SAM and LAURA and SAM and LAURA and Ooh! Okay. Okay.

There you are. Gilded falchion. Strength to use it. It's powerful. SAM and MARISHA and SAM and MARISHA and SAM and MARISHA and SAM and MARISHA and So! Wow. That's very loud. What is this? Read, that's deep. And a success point, I believe. Glancing around, you also, the other thing that catches your eye

would be what looks like an art piece above the double doors shows like a sun ray or like a spread of various sun rays and color with a golden hue to it, and it looks to be the image of an angelic figure standing with its arms out. But where its torso is, the armor that's there is three-dimensional.

Oh, three-dimensional armor coming out of the relief. So like a breastplate. Like a chainmail set of armor that is either so intricately carved and painted that it looks metallic or it's real and set into it. And it's up on something? Yeah, it's about 12 feet up. I can leap up there and do it, or you can fly.

No, no, no, this is... Far more fraught with peril. Yes. I'll leap up and try to pull it down. Grab it, and it's like embedded in the stone. My legs are just kicking. You can try and kick off the wall and give it a shove if you want.

Sure, I'll try that. Okay, go ahead and just roll a strength. Uh-oh. That's a four with fear, negative one, makes it a three with fear. Three with fear. All right, I'm gonna take that fear and immediately spend it. As you tug and pull, the chainmail does come free. And you fall back onto the ground, and part of the wall tumbles out as well, and comes spinning down.

I'm going to use my grapple to pull this one out of the way, if it's possible. Right, yeah, you grab the grapple and throw it around him just as the stone falls on him. Gah! And you pull him out like a cheese grater from the stone. Fair enough. You take a stress. Okay. And two points of physical damage. It wasn't enough to crush you, but definitely enough to

grind him windy a little bit. I'm out of stress! I mean, I'm full! My stress is full! You are vulnerable. Oh boy. Y'all think maybe we should take a break or something, then, if we're feeling a little wrecked? Might not be a bad idea. What is that armor out of curiosity? The armor? I don't have armor

Hold this down That's a good weapon, but I like the reach of the other reach I'll use it for now if you change your yes Yeah, because it's a little bit better than the one that I have but not By much soft and it doesn't do it doesn't slow you down or anything The additional damage does it's. It's just chamber. That's amazing. This is good.

That's amazing. Read it out loud! That's so amazing. The gods have smiled on us this day. Oh no! Climb aboard! It's happening! Oh, he's beginning to believe. This is just, this is direct intervention from an unseen force from beyond. This is anointed chain armor. It's

just very good armor. It's stunningly good armor. I mean, anyone could use this. It doesn't slow you down. It doesn't have any negatives. It's just positive. Thresholds 11 and 20. It's just positive. Oh. Thresholds 11 and 20. It's just positive. Like don't forget, yeah, armor in this, y'all can use any sort of armor,

just certain armor heavier has penalties like evasion and other attributes. Bloodied by the corrupted heart of Elkay, yeah, okay. Oh, I felt good. Yeah. No rebel criticals has to clear an armor slot. Yeah, that's pretty cool. That is very cool.

That's pretty cool. You can also just hold onto it if nobody wants to use it. I mean, if no one else is using it, no one wants to use it. Because that's pretty insane. Yeah, it's pretty insane. I'm gonna clean the blood off from the splatter.

It's a nice chainmail. I think it can go under the shirt and I think fits on. Are y'all taking a short rest or are you pressing on? Yes, please. Are we? Short rest. Yeah, can we?

You can, yeah. Cowards. You're out here in the middle of the night. Yes. Oh wow, this is about to get real crazy. Here we go. Hold two. I'm gonna clear stress.

We can do things we did last short rest too, right? So I'm gonna repair all my armor. SAM and MARISHA and MATT and SAM and MARISHA and MATT and SAM and Yes, so my short rest can be a long rest. So I can do... Remind me of that ability again, just for... Yes, when you take a short rest, you can choose a long rest move instead of a short rest move. That's awesome, yeah. So... There you go, armor's all good. And long rest, I get two of the following moves.

Is anybody taking watch? I will take watch. All right. And I will leave my straight stun cleared. Changing armor, do I get leave my stress uncleared. Changing armor, do I get all my armor slots back since I'm changing the armor I'm wearing? Or no?

No, not in this instance. Okay, that's just dangerous. But the thresholds have changed, and next time you want to, you can use a downtime action to return that back. Okay, that's fine. What kind of a roll do you require? Just roll a d12 for me. Just one d12?

Yep. And then tell me if you want to use your roller mine. I'll use yours. What'd you roll? Five. I also rolled a five. Oh. Rollies?

The air grows ever colder. Oh no. The shadows in the absence of the fiery braziers grow thicker. You all feel the chill wash over you as the hair stands up in the back of your head. And once more, that shrieking echo on the distant horizon of the elemental death known as the Umbra

seems to almost get louder. Oh boy. Two. Oh boy. I gain two fear. Also, Erin's now like, I'm sorry, I just need to take a little moment to sit down here for a second. Are you okay?

I'm okay, her brow is sweaty. How long has that cough been there? Well, I just, I gotta ask him that dust, you know, from when we opened it up, but. Oh shit. From the reliquary. I have to say, she's been coughing for a while now. May I check you? And she vomits a little onto her chest.

She's like, I'm so sorry, this is embarrassing. Can I come over and just out of panic and concern, can I use Sparing Touch to place hands on her and pump some divine healing into her? Sure, yeah. It'll clear two hit points or two stress from the target. Okay, so she'll go ahead and clear stress and hit points, and she's like,

thank you, thank you, I appreciate that. You can see the dark under her eyes a little bit. Oh, jeez. Should we move it on? Have you been this far before? No one's been this far before. Just thought I'd ask. That's what's so exciting about it.

It's really gonna be this all around. Ask a little. August, is she becoming an undead? Do we have to kill her and chop off her head and burn her body? Not yet, from, I don't know. Should we just in case? That might be the only way.

All right. No, just. That's. All right, if you were going to lead us on, which way would we go? going to lead us on, which way would we go? I figure we probably can try and pick through this door here. I think it's probably too dangerous to go around. The sides were collapsed, so if we can go through the door. May I go over to her and take the throw-up off of her shirt?

Just see what it is? It looks like a bit of bile. A thick grayish viscosity to it. None of us know anything about this stuff, do we? Wow. She walks over towards the door and is like, All right, so I think. And walks over the stone bits that you had plucked from the top

and that part of the surface wall that crumbled down. This is definitely locked by some key. SAM and TALIESIN coughing. SAM and TALIESIN talking. It starts getting down to take a lock. I know. At what point does it... Do we have to turn back and take her to a healer? Take her to what's the same two?

Truval. Truval the Hedge? What is the keyhole that she's operating on? What does it look like? It's about an inch and a half tall, thin. It's just a small opening. And she's currently trying to bend that long, thin piece of iron by looking inside

to match what she imagines the interior mechanism is. She's taking it, has a small hand tongue that bends in and is like, right. Can I reach over and grab her arm that she's working on it, and can I just take my two fingers and wrap it around her wrist

and feel what her heart rate and pulse feels like? First thing you notice is her skin is burning hot to the touch. Shit. The second thing you notice is her pulse is woof woof woof woof woof woof woof woof woof woof. Aaron. Yeah? I know this is the last thing that you want to hear. MATT and SAM and MARISHA and MATT and SAM and MARISHA and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and

and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and

and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and We're so close. Can you imagine what's inside there? I can't. It's not worth putting you at risk, though, and everyone will know that you were with us when we made it this far. I am sure the scholars and the vigils will all be clamoring over themselves to recruit you to their service. You promise you're gonna tell them how much I help? I promise.

Okay. Maybe we don't tell them when we get back and we can come back tomorrow and pick up. Sure. I think that sounds like a great plan. I could also take you back home. Alone? Well, I don't know.

I do not think that she should continue. I'm sorry. Yeah, I'm definitely gonna take her back. If you wanna push on, you can. I'm sorry. Yeah, I'm definitely gonna take her back. If you wanna push on, you can. I'm good. We know how to get back to this place. We might as well all go back, rest, recover. I don't hate the idea of letting them know that we need further investigation and develop,

maybe keep some of what we found here to ourselves. So that we can just come back after we've dropped her off. I agree. How's? Maybe even a handful of us can just still camp beyond the outer walls. How's stress HP, like how's she looking? Like just like, is this just beyond that?

This isn't damage. Okay, this is something else. This is infection or disease at this point. Some poison, you're uncertain. Like you can see like her, the eyes are getting dark around there, the sweat, the high temperature, it's like she's running a fever.

Sick. Something's causing a fever. She's got black mold. We said it. She's beyond our care. All right, let's go. All right. I'm sorry.

No, nothing to be sorry for. We wouldn't have gotten into the reliquary with you or found this place or done any of these things. We'll just keep the skull with us us at least. It's worth something. Of course. Let's go. Would you like me to carry you? Yes, please carry her.

Don't, don't. I'm fine. Just a little piggyback. I'm fine. Piggyback? Thank you. Okay, she climbs up onto the wings and kind of drapes her hands over and you kind of hold on. And you all delve back down the stairs

into the caves of the Luzal vaults. Quietly keeping watch in case anything else still lurking here in the darkness decides to assail you unexpectedly. Blue torch is still aglow. Blue torch is still aglow. The door, the gate itself still openable. The gate guardian, seemingly thoroughly destroyed by your second bout, and the final boomerang blow that was dealt, its crown missing, its blade taken.

What? You asshole. Where did you get that? The boomerang store. We've got to see if it actually works. You asshole. Where did you get that? The boomerang store. We gotta see if it actually works. Sure. Is it really?

Boomerang, boomerangs are awesome, boomerang. Stealth challenged by the heavy cough that echoes through the hall about every 30, 40 seconds that only seems to get more and more thick. Can we put an iron clamp on her jaw? Yeah. You want to try? No.

Touch her forehead with the skull. Every few moments. She keeps apologizing, keeps apologizing until keeps apologizing, until she can't, because she passes out. Can we dump a healing potion in her mouth just to try and stave off whatever is happening with her? Sure, if you want to spend one.

I've got a magic thing. I'm going to use Mending Touch and just try and add a hit point. Actually, if we want to do both, I'll just try and put a hit point into her. Okay, you put a hit point into her and she... Actually, I can even do... I'm sorry, I'll pass that to you in a second. I can even do two.

Don't fall asleep. Okay. I kinda need you. Okay. I'm good need you. Okay. I'm good, I'm good. And she just keeps holding on, and kind of holds a little tighter, too. You did give a little more strength to her,

and she's now like kind of holding onto your wings. I need you to protect us when things get bad. Of course, of course. Yeah. Your pace quickens again, and you exit the vault back into the jungle. I hope. Is there a reason why the iron band

is over the mouth of the skull? Like, was it coughing and spreading something? Like reason why the iron band is over the mouth of the skull? Like was it coughing and spreading something? Like, could we put the band over her mouth or? Well, the band's on a skull, so clearly whoever the band's on did not do well, you know? It's a... Maybe we can get the band off and look at it or something.

Not yet. You do have an interesting point, though. Perhaps we should maybe wait outside of the walls and someone should go and bring Druvo out, just in case there's any type of plague or sickness that could spread to the rest of the world. And that little gold orb that was like a ward or a protection, right?

We shouldn't be like putting that on her, right? Or like have her hold onto it till we get there? It does stuff to armor. But I mean, we could, but it seems like it does stuff to armor. Maybe she can just hold it till we get there and see if it helps at all. Can you link with Truvo or Norrin,

or you have to be able to see them? Okay. I can, on the other hand. Cast Telepathy so I can, as long as they're awake, I can hear their thoughts. Oh, of Arren's? Yeah, of Arren's. Sure, yeah.

Actually, I'll make sure I can do that, yeah. As you step out into the night jungle, again, the direction of the flame, the Sacred Pire, that denotes Desperlok's position, pushing through the heavy sound of nearby jungle insects and creatures. You can hear Eryn's inner monologue just going, just don't blow this, don't blow this, don't blow this. You can sense she's scared, but you can also sense that she's holding herself strong. She doesn't want to embarrass herself in front of idols.

She doesn't want to embarrass herself in front of the rest of you. And she just really wants her dad. I'm going to tell you a secret, Miss Thay and her head. We didn't find you. We didn't find your father. We were running. We ran from something scary, Misty and I. Sometimes, sometimes you have to run. I think each and every one of us

is running from something scary from the day we're born to the day we die. So let's keep running together. It's gonna be okay. I'm gonna move her to the front. Okay, she does not give any resistance at this point. You just kind of hold her. Just so she doesn't have to hold on anymore. As we're getting closer,

can I take the skull and just kind of look at the band closer, like is there anything other than just the markings and gravy? It is very well made. The band itself has no markings on it, but if you pull it back with a little bit of light, you can see on the inside of the skull, the interior of the bone,

the inside open space where the stone was is just completely covered in script. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. And the iron band is attached to this goal? Like, can it be pried off? You can certainly try. I will definitely try. Make a strength check for me.

Let me spend a hope to. Sure, give advantage on that. Awesome. Sure, I can run. Kick ass, 12, nine, 21, 26, 26 with fear. You dislodge the metal band. Nine, 21, 26, 26 with fear. You dislodge the metal band and it is like, it is bolted into the skull. As it breaks, the bone of the jaw shatters with it.

And as you pull it off, you can see all the teeth were already removed. And the areas where it was pushed in and bolted, there's also a script carved into the bone above where the teeth were. So it looks like the skull was heavily treated with some sort of a ritual, some sort of a holy means. You're not certain necessarily what the script is, though you have had, I will say, if you'd want to,

if you'd like to mark a stress, you could delve into whatever power touches you to try and see if you could suss the nature of this. I'll take that stress. All right. You close your eyes and try and reach into those visions, those dreams, these strange little moments where you feel like some divinity out there that still lingers

in the domain has found you. And while you can't read it, you sense that this skull belonged to something heretical, and it was placed there to seal it away. It doesn't mean that it held power, necessarily, but this skull is not a saint. This skull is not of a martyred figure of renown. It was put there to be forgotten and protected.

Cool. The inside of the band that's covered in the runes and the markings, do I recognize any of it, know anything about any of it? The inside of the band, as you look at it, is also covered in script. Like every part of this was designed to,

whether it be symbolically contained or actually magically contained, whatever was there, you sense no power in the skull anymore. Like there's nothing like, it isn't a charged relic. Make a knowledge roll for me. I'm just gonna make this a reaction roll. No hope or fear gained on this one.

This is just a... 17. 17. The best you can tell, even just from the little bit of scraps of research you've pulled from the scholars in your hope to figure out the nature of what has found you through the Aetherweave or Divinity. These were funeral rites to seal away somebody who was deemed

evil by the church. You're uncertain if this wasn't something that was put on them in life. This was definitely a final rites. You come to the outside of the slag walls and you can see the burning glow of the sacred pyre just above in the distance as you approach. The vigil shout out from atop the hill, Halt!

It's us, we've returned. Let Rascallo know that we've returned. We need a healer. They look to each other, they glance over, hold their torches free. The horns blow for a second, the front gate, not far from where you are, pulls open. We cannot go in. They need to come out. I'll go get them. Please, quickly. All right.

So you go ahead and dart off inside, heading towards the interior of Desperlok, charging through. At this point in the evening, it's midnight-ish at this moment, and a lot of the village is going about its business. That would be up this late. There are shifts of people, vigil firekeepers and other folks who can't sleep due to the nature of a challenged life. But you push through over until eventually you find

the exterior of Truvo's tent, and as you push inside, you see his massive Galapag form sitting on a chair, currently pouring himself a cup of tea into a small stone mug and looks up to you, quickly, oh, well, hey. I need you, we need you, sorry, there's someone who's very hurt, sick, poisoned, we're not sure. Oh no.

We don't know if it's contagious, though, so could you come out to the gates to make sure that this person. Have you been in contact with this individual? I stayed away from her. She was grossing me out. You made me cover your face. I did, I stayed pretty far.

He reaches over and grabs a big bundle of cloth and wraps his face and head around it until it's just his eyes peering over his turtle head just barely coming through the top of it. It's like a reverse ninja turtle. He takes his bag and sets it onto that long table where he initially treated you, and starts plucking all manner of small vials

and herbs and ointments, and is just grabbing anything that could possibly help. Some medicinal cloth and stitched gauze and wherever he can, puts it in his satchel. All right, take me to them. SAM and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and SAM and MATT and SAM and SAM and MATT and SAM and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and SAM and SAM and MATT and SAM and SAM and MATT and SAM and SAM and SAM and MATT and SAM and SAM and SAM and MATT and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and MATT and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and MATT and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and TRIMBLE are looking at each other. SAM and TRIMBLE are looking at each other. SAM and TRIMBLE are looking at each other. SAM and TRIMBLE are looking at each other. SAM and TRIMBLE are looking at each other. SAM and TRIMBLE are looking at each other.

SAM and TRIMBLE are looking at each other. SAM and TRIMBLE are looking at each other. SAM and TRIMBLE are looking at each other. SAM and TRIMBLE are looking at each other. SAM and TRIMBLE are looking at each other. SAM and TRIMBLE are looking at each other. SAM and TRIMBLE are looking at each other. SAM and TRIMBLE are looking at each other. until eventually you come to where the gates are still open and you see the vigil. Now, the vigil have come tight to watch because to leave the gates open is incredibly dangerous. So right now, as the gates are only open wide enough

to let a person or two through, the vigil has congregated to keep watch. They have crossbows, they have weapons at their ready, and they're all just torches free, looking out into the shadow beyond you, so nobody is opportunistic in this moment. As you rush up and while you're waiting for this point, Erin is eye-lulling a little bit.

Wake up. Can't fall asleep. Oh, you're right, I can't. Eventually you see Snicks and behind Truvo approach and says, oh goodness, it's Aryn, isn't it? Oh, poor girl. Takes her and sets her down on the ground, lays her out and starts inspecting her,

taking her pulse, and takes a small wineskin of water and pours it over a cloth and puts it over her head to try and cool her down, and more or less starts going through a book and checking things. There's about a good 10 minutes or so before he like... And we say, like, there was a, we opened something, there was an aerosol that came out. This is likely some sort of infection.

If indeed this was from a long, untouched patch of sealed air or a space, various molds, various things can grow in there that can be very dangerous to younger lungs, especially. But however, such infections are treatable. They just take some time to recover with proper materials. I can definitely treat her. You just have to, someone will have to keep

an eye on her overnight. But I'm glad you took her here immediately. This is rapidly growing, so if you hadn't done so, it's likely she wouldn't have survived the night. So you've done good. Glad you're here. I will watch over her, for sure. It is not infectious, either, from what I can tell. It looks like this is just an inhaled spore,

some form of infection, so... Would one of you want to keep an eye while she stays in my tent for the evening? You want to keep an eye on Alga? I can keep an eye. Get Garrick? Yes. All right.

I'll stay with you. Pick her back up. As you pick her up, he goes ahead and says, all right, dear, I need you to just open your mouth a little bit, I'm going to pour you a little sour tasting liquid here. And she's like, her breath's starting to get a little labored and he pops this vial and puts this thicker herbal liquid in and she coughs a bit,

he's like, you did good, you did good, and he wipes her brow. And then she swallows it and sinks into you a little bit as you hold her, and Trubo smiles through his, pulls his cloth back now that he's noted that it's not contagious, and looks at you and says, get her to my place, come on. At which point, you all step into the settlement

and the rest of the visual look down upon you. Do you all stay outside or do you return to Vespalock as well? Well, we're going to stay and watch, I think, because I'm going to stay with you. We might as well come inside. Are you taking her to Truvo's place or to just staying outside? No, I'm taking her to Truvo's tent.

Okay, so everybody's just going in. I'll go to Kerrek's and let him know that we're back and she's back. Okay. While you all step inside, people looking about, a little bit of whispering, some panic, some people curious as word gets around that. I'm covering her with the wing so no one can gossip and gawk at her.

And in doing so, the curiosity spreads, but confirmation of who or what does not. But people also instinctually keep a distance from the eight-winged angel that walks among them. You come near the comforting hearth of the Sacred Pire near the comforting hearth of the Sacred Pire beyond the Forum to the tent, where Truvo runs his herbalistic skills. Set her upon the table.

He takes her big, great cloak and swaddles her with it and sets her down, renews his cloth, and sets it upon her brow, and begins to progress his development of whatever treatment he'll have to apply to her throughout the night. You go ahead and retrieve Garrick, who immediately is like,

what happened to my girl? We were out trying to find Vell'k. We told Erin to stay, but she followed us. You know how she can be, and she got into something. Truvo has her now. I know what she can. Why don't you come with me, and we'll go be by her side. All right, all right.

And he puts his coat on and follows off after you. But Truvo finishes his treatments for the night. The people begin to die down, their curiosity, as it seems the tension begins to subside. And eventually, with a bit of conversation, a bit of cool water renewed upon her brow and body, she goes to sleep and settles into a rest. Truvo nods and,

SAM and LAURA and SAM and MATT and SAM and SAM and SAM and MATT and SAM and SAM and MATT and SAM and SAM and SAM and MATT and SAM and SAM and MATT and

SAM and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and

SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and If you don't mind, I'm going to go get myself a drink and then return to keep watch. You're staying to keep an eye. Yeah, absolutely. I think few of us will be.

Very good. If anything happens, I'll be at my hovel at the back. You know where he lives. He's off and there and asleep. Every now and then, the cough comes through, but it's not as bad as it was as you were getting close to Desperlok, which is comforting.

People are going to want to know what we found, what we have, what came of Velk. Should we try and hold on to some of that information until we can venture out again? Should we share with the scholars? If the scholars see what we have gathered, they will assuredly take everything off of us. They will claim it as importance to the Luzon. But might they have information? I mean, shouldn't we share this knowledge with them?

We can hide the stuff. I can just go take it and stash it somewhere if you're worried about losing it. We should definitely hide what we have. They'll take it one way or another and they'll tell us nothing, you know? They might. I don't trust them. They might.

Maybe if we leverage it, like there's more that we could share and that this is just an initial offering of our findings. If we ask for a partnership of sorts, that we'd be part of the next wave, we can lead them to the things that we've found and help them avoid the things that have been perilous. We could ingratiate ourselves to their efforts. Even though Valt's dead, we can still go up and try and get the body. Well, if we're worried about talking to the scholars, I mean, I'm friendly with one of them, with Halloran.

He's not one of the current scholars. He's retired, but he wouldn't take any of this stuff. But would he know, maybe, some of it? The script on the inside of the mouthplate? He would, I think, if he would know everything. some of it? The script on the inside of the mouthplate? SAM and SAM and MARISHA and SAM and MARISHA and SAM and MARISHA and SAM and MARISHA and MARISHA and SAM and MARISHA and MARISHA and SAM and MARISHA and SAM and

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

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

SAM and some of the, I pull out two bottles of sort of vinegar-y wine. I deliver this to him about once every couple weeks, and he's a nice fella. He wouldn't care about stuff, he just wants booze. That might be a great place to start. If you ask him if the scholars would care or be willing to share, he could also say, whatever you do, don't tell them. They'll never let you.

He might not even remember, honestly. Might not even remember. You have a sense of their disposition, at least. Do you know where he is? Sure, I mean, I've got a delivery for that I'm supposed to do. Probably haven't told Sunup. Just me, or you guys coming?

You tell us, he's your guy. Knowing him, he's probably awake still. Sure. Yeah, come, or some of us can come. Somebody's gotta stay. I can stay. And I'll give you the skull and the mouth plate. I'm not gonna touch that stuff.

You take it, I don't wanna touch it. I'll come with you. All right. And then I also take out my robes, my vestments of the Pyrekeeper, cover my armor, cover the swords, cover everything that we have, and I'll go with Snix. Are you coming, or are you going to stay with the kid? I'll come with you for this, right? Bye, August.

Misty. I'll be right back. Okay. Please be safe. I'm not going far. Good night. SAM and MARISHA and SAM and LAURA and SAM and I've already grown attached. I've already grown attached. Yes, godspeed. All right. So you two are staying behind. And you three head off with Snick's leading them. All right, so a little ways off from where the Praxis Collective does the majority of its research work here in Desperlok, the homestead of Halloran.

It was, at one time, a nice, quaint homestead for a very vigilant researcher. But you know, it's fallen into a bit of disarray and he's become a bit of a hoarder. This home, as you begin to approach, you can see the windows are completely blocked, and outside on the front, you can see all manner of broken junk that he's amassed.

Things that were discovered to be of no necessary use to the scholars, relics of the old world that were just discarded pieces of garbage that he has snatched up and built this little junkyard around this little hovel that he lives in. You can see the faintest little flicker of lantern light from what segment of his window is still not fully plugged, and you can hear a hum coming from within. I will go up to the door and knock four times, boop, boop, boop, boop, and go, hoo-wee-hoo!

I was wondering why you were gonna come around here. All these locks get down the door before, and you see this old, it's rare to see somebody this old and haggard who survived this long here in the Halcyon domain these days. You're not sure if he is very old or just life has been hard enough

to where he looks that way, but he is just missing a majority of his teeth, patchy, scraggly, chin-white hair that looks like parts of it have either stopped growing or burned off at some point. Long, matted, curly hair that pushes past his shoulders like a really down-on-his-luck Gandalf. As soon as he speaks through the door, it says, hi, Snicks, glad you made it. The smell of thick alcohol is just, it clears anything that might have been caught

in your sinuses. Oh boy. My friend. I sure did, friends. I sure did. Yeah, yeah. They're cool. They're with me. We've been...

They're cool. They're cool. They're messengers in training. You bring drink? I always bring drink. Friend and I pull out two bottles of... You're all friends. Come in. SAM and MARISHA and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and and they're all friends. MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and

and they're all friends. MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and and they're all friends. MATT and SAM and and they're all friends. MATT and SAM and and they're all friends. MATT and SAM and

and they're all friends. MATT and SAM and and they're all friends. MATT and SAM and and they're all friends. MATT and SAM and and they're all friends. MATT and SAM and

and they're all friends. MATT and SAM and and they're all friends. MATT and SAM and and they're all friends. indeed stacked wall to ceiling with maybe some old books, bits of oiled rags. You can see clusters of boxes and crates that may or may not be full. Indeed, the smell of rotten food and refuse sits all throughout the chamber. You can see there are paths in this hob. It's only about 15 by 20 feet, this entire homestead, but there's only maybe about 10 feet of actual walkable space. And it's very much, you know how Scrooge McDuck has worked that loop into his number one dime? That's how you have to walk through the house, where he's created these grooves where you can barely get around to where this pile of cloth and rag where he sleeps, a little table in the center and the rest is just stacked garbage. What was his name again?

Halloran the Sot. Halloran the Sot. S-O-T-T. S-O-T. Halloran. And he pops open a bottle immediately and starts pushing through one of the piles, like, where are my cups? And pulls out a few cups that look like they haven't been washed in a while, and he goes, oh, excuse me. He gets another rag and starts cleaning them. TRAVIS and SAM and LAURA and MATT and SAM and LAURA laugh. He poured a lot more into his than yours. He slides him forward on the one table and is like,

welcome. SAM and MARISHA and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and to your health. To my health. He's got drinky breath. Downs it, goes to Phil's other one, goes, oh, oh, right, sorry, reaches back and his arm vanishes into one of the nearby piles and pulls out a small satchel that got a handbag and opens it up a little bit, rides into it. What would he have traded that alcohol for you? What would you have asked for?

SAM and SAM and MARISHA and MATT and SAM and MARISHA and MATT and SAM and MARISHA and SAM and and I don't think he has money, per se. Is there money in this world? I mean, there is money, but it only matters to a handful of chunks of society to this day. Most people, it's just for trade of use. I do trade with some of the, what is it, the people at the works? Barrel spear board? Oh yeah.

I trade supplies and stuff, nails and screws, bits of leather, if he has any building materials, anything like that. I also trade books, scrolls, people seem to like that stuff. So anything he has that might be of interest. Being a scholar, he has books, but he does not let them go. But he does indeed bring within this thing

a large cluster of old iron materials, things that were probably used in construction and then have been since scavenged and recovered that can be re-melted down and re-used, much like they do for the slag walls on the outside of the city. All manner of nails. There's actually a pretty decently kept

thick band of leather that's wrapped on itself that can be used for all manner of nails. There's actually a pretty decently kept thick band of leather that's wrapped on itself that can be used for all manner of stropes. And basically gives you a few things in trade. SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and

and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and SAM and MATT and SAM and and SAM and MATT and SAM and SAM and MATT and SAM and SAM and MATT and SAM and SAM and MATT and SAM and SAM and MATT and and SAM and SAM and SAM and MATT and SAM and SAM and SAM and MATT and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and MATT and SAM and and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and SAM and because something we would want from you tonight is actually not things, but information, if you got it. And if you do, I can bring twice as much hooch next time. ORION and SAM and LIAM laugh. ORION says, I'll see what I can help with.

MATT and SAM say, yeah. MATT and SAM say, yeah. You see one of the teeth on his lower jaw, it looks like it's a little loose, and as he talks, it flaps a little bit against the lip. Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh!

Oh! Oh! No, no, no, no! Do you? No, no, no, no, no. Slap. Do you? An extra arm comes out and slaps your hand down.

Yeah. Let me just. Is that True Lies moment where you envision the whole scene in your head, and then it cuts back, and you've just been sitting there the whole time? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. You're a thief in your mouth. I know you don't like to talk about the vaults too much.

I don't know anything about them. Well, I mean... Of course not, but if you did... Of course not, but if you did... We hate to pry, but... We need help. We need your help. Lidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidlidl perhaps you might be more informed about some of the ritualistic rites from the old world. You don't need to tell us much about the vaults, just maybe some information about the past that you may have come across.

SAM and SAM and MARISHA and SAM and MARISHA and SAM and MARISHA and SAM and MARISHA and SAM and MARISHA and SAM and MARISHA and SAM and MARISHA and SAM and MARISHA and SAM and MARISHA and SAM and MARISHA and SAM and MARISHA and SAM and MARISHA and SAM and MARISHA and SAM and MARISHA and SAM and MARISHA and SAM and MARISHA and SAM and the vaults. Would you be able to tell us their origin and what they mean, where they're from? SAM and MATT and SAM and LAURA and SAM and MATT and SAM and LAURA and SAM and LAURA and SAM and

MATT and SAM and LAURA and SAM and LAURA and SAM and LAURA and SAM and and SAM and LAURA and SAM and LAURA and SAM and LAURA and SAM and LAURA and SAM and and SAM and LAURA and SAM and LAURA and SAM and LAURA and SAM and and SAM and LAURA and SAM and LAURA and SAM and LAURA and SAM and and SAM and LAURA and SAM and LAURA and SAM and and SAM and LAURA and SAM and LAURA and SAM and and SAM and LAURA and SAM and LAURA and SAM and and SAM and LAURA and SAM and LAURA and SAM and

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

and SAM and LAURA and SAM and SAM and and SAM and LAURA and SAM and SAM and and SAM and LAURA and SAM and SAM and and SAM and LAURA and SAM and SAM and and SAM and SAM and SAM and and SAM and SAM and SAM and pull out the skull. It's okay, he's dead. Long dead. Who points to the table? I press the Digitation Head over. You bring ace of weavers into my home. Is that a bad? I don't know if I trust your friend. I, is that a bad, is that a bad?

I don't know if I trust your friend. I was almost killed in the vaults and they saved me. I take my wand, and I stab it very gently into the table, and I let go. You gonna fix that? Yes, of course. As soon as we leave, I can literally fix it. It's no problem.

That's a expensive word. And I'll owe you favors of any kind, you know? Okay. He takes the wand and starts prodding around the skull and starts giving it a look over. While this is happening, we're going to come to the two of you. Is there any conversation you wanted to do, any sort of elements, or you just want to wait

for them to return? I think we're just kind of watching. Yeah, I think just waiting to return. I think I'm going to just kneel before her at the table and just hold her head and I'm just watching her. Guilt amok over here. Guilt amok. And just making sure she's breathing.

Okay. And just watching her. She's breathing. Okay. Okay. That's how he looks at someone. Best I can tell, a lot of these markings represents the ordinance binding rituals. The user seems to be against the underlying

shadow currents of the domain, spirits that would transfer dark powers and enduring wills and intent that would and enduring wills and intent that would lock themselves into a relic or a spirit or some sort of dark umbra, even. We saw some shadows. This is before the umbra was unleashed, and there are all manner of dark spirits that were anathema to the Veiled Gods in the ordinance,

so they had ways of dealing with them. from Enethelmo to the Veiled Gods in the ordinance, so they had ways of dealing with them. But none anymore. This is, I don't know if these seals kept after the apostasy, hence why so much has run amuck since they went away. We saw shadow blobs moving from darkness into living creatures and making them

empowered like liquid shadow. Not any of you. No, no, no, no. We killed one of them. Its mouth was banded closed. Why isn't it anymore? I don't know. We were curious. And there was a stone.

I was curious once. What happened? He pulls back the cloth, and just reveals peg leg. I don't go prying anymore. Drinks again. Whatever that is, give it to me. We're still under the sky, there's even make it their problem.

They'll buy it? Maybe. Oh, okay. Whatever was in there has not been held for a long time. And if you killed this thing, there ain't nothing to worry about anymore. Well, it was glowing. Wasn't it?

Well, you said it was a darkness, though. I'm assuming that darkness is what came out of the statue. That's... I don't know. That's a lot of assumption. Do we have the crown? Yeah, it's on my head. Oh. Want to show them that? It's my crown. Sure, just show them.

Come back. He doesn't know, man. This came from the vault. The Aether bestowed this crown upon me. Of course he did. You are the chosen one. I am. I believe it. It also, if I'm not overstepping, looks very nice.

That is very kind of you to say. Do you want to see my crown? Is it also a bearer of shadow of ancient curses? You tell me. I'll take a look. Someone was wearing it who was infected with darkness, but again, we killed that one, too. We did a lot of killing. This is of holy make. This is a protective element empowered by the divine. This, um... This bears the mark of a rat, too.

This is quite the relic. Oh, okay. Scarlet's obeyed quite a bit of evidence. I'm going to unbutton my shirt since we seem to be doing this. We're not that close of friends! There's J. Mel underneath. This came from the same temple. Where'd you find all this?

In the vault. In the vault? We made it all the way to the doorway to the... Fromimant's Hollow. No, past the Fromimant's Hollow. Doorway to the... or what was next? The observatory. The monastery.

The monastery. You made it to the monastery. I mean, yeah. We almost made it to the monastery. Go to the door. I think we're renewed. The scottish are going to... Shh. What are they gonna do if they knew?

What would they do? How would they react? They would be excited. And shower us with rewards and praise? Perhaps strike a deal. Maybe. Allow us to keep exploring them, monster. Take everything they have. Maybe. Or would they take everything we have?

Could be. If you were, what would they? Who'd you trust then? Some of them. Who? Uncorks the second bottle. SAM and SAM and LAURA and SAM and LAURA and SAM and would you trust them? Some of them. Who? Uncorks the second bottle.

Fallia, if any. Were there any consonants in that word? Fallia, if any. Fallia, if any. Irdrova is forthright in her intent, though willing to do what is necessary for their means. Thalia seems clear of mind and heart, young as she may be. SAM and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and If you were us, would you keep pressing further into the? SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and Puts the skull.

SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and That's even even too far. In for a copper. I just hope you truly did kill what Eldar Shadow you speak of. Think so. I mean, it wasn't moving. He's the only two bottles he got. I have not touched my cup, so I'm just gonna slide it back. SAM and MARISHA and SAM and MARISHA and SAM and I have not touched my cup, so I'm just going to slide it back.

I pour my cup into August's cup. That rag did not look clean. I want to scan the books on the shelf to see if there's anything that catches a young scholar's eye. Make an instinct, will you? Instinct? Not a knowledge, okay, that's fair. No, there's no difference between getting a good look and perusing and analyzing the material and just looking about and seeing if you can make out details. Very fair, and I'm so sorry, everybody, if I scroll this.

Hey! 11 with Hope. 11 with Hope, take it home. You're hard pressed in this low lantern light and this cluttered ass mess of a homestead to make out anything beyond the occasional letter that isn't covered by rags, dirt, or spider webs. What else can we glean from this gentleman? We've got a name. We've got a name. We've got a name. Anything that we can say to Thalia to butter her, she, up?

I don't know. My friend? We never got close. She came in right about the time that I got out. But she seemed like she had a good heart. She had a good heart. And kind of thinks for a second. I know she's got a soft spot for us, Cass,

so she might like you just how you are. And if you don't mind, what did you see in there that made you not want to go back? But I know they were injured, but what did it to you? His eyes start going wide and distant. In the vaults down there, there are a great many beautiful things. there, there are a great many beautiful things. Bronzed halls of worship, catacombs of holy warriors of

old, those that fought beside the greatest of ordinance and feraled the most dangerous of evils in the old world, to bask in their glory and learn of their true color as something astonishing. But with the gods gone, the devils play in those shadows and dance on the graves of those that nearly cut them down before. And there they cackle, there they feast, there they wait and tear and teeth and bite. I can't go back. I can't go back. I can't go back." He starts pushing back into the various clusters in his room. I can't. I can't. I can't. He starts going into a full panic attack, pulling away from you. Stop. Stop. I can't, I can't, I can't, I can't. He starts going into a full panic attack,

pulling away from you. Stop, stop, stop, I can't, I can't. You never have to, ever. Go, get out, get out of here. Go, and he grabs the bottle that's still open and starts tugging it, and just pushing and shooing you out of it. I grab my wand on the way out

and just fix the table as I leave. And put it away. Same store bind. That could've gone a bit better. I just fix the table as I leave and put it away. Same as the door behind you. Okay. That could've gone a bit better. Could've gone worse. The two of you, while this is happening, Trubo comes back and you see he has a glass vial

and he's like, don't mind if I talk to you for a second. I just don't want her to hear. Of course not. Absolutely. I don't mind if I talk to you for a second. I just don't want her to hear. Of course not. Absolutely. I'm going to pose you outside of the tent and hold the vial and it's like, I'll be running a few tests back in my abode here.

She has an infection from what I can tell, and while the treatment's staunched and briefly, this is something more than just a standing mold infection. It's... Well, look, and he holds it up, and you can see the liquid has a faint pale blue to it, and there is a red droplet of blood that sits on it, and you watch as the red is slowly turning brown, then black,

and then the blue liquid just turns black around it. He says, that's not natural. I'm afraid that whatever has got Erin is... I'm afraid she's got a bit of the umbra on her. What, um... Have you seen this before? Not like this kind.

I mean, we all carry a bit of this old black with us. That's just the curse of the Enduring, but like, this acts like a disease, but it is, it's more of a curse. Something on, placed upon her, something that found its way. I'll continue to do my best, what I can, but this might be beyond my capabilities. Have you ever heard of anybody being

healed from something like this? I mean, the Elm Row itself is... It is the final death. It is the judgment from the gods upon us when they left. But there are rumors. There are rumors that in the faints that still hold against the dark, the places across the domain that even the Elmer can't step. That there as a healer, I can't guarantee anything. But I don't know anything in Desperlok that can help her. How much time does she have? I don't know. Days.

And then what? Then, we do the honor of not letting her be desecrated by the umbra when she passes. But she is my friend. by the umbra when she passes. But she is my friend. This is also part of just

how things are. You said in the veins of the umbra, we'd be looking for healers that have had success or areas outside of Desperlok where a remedy might exist. Humbra, we'd be looking for healers that have had success or areas outside of Desperlok where a remedy might exist. There are a great many secrets that were kept by the Grand Ordnance. In the cathedrals of Amber Reach, there are scriptures that were scattered and lost across the domain

from the Old World and beyond, is what our very scholars are hoping to ascertain, the way to turn the tides against this trodden path to oblivion we all just slowly step towards. Do you think they are on to something, anything? Maybe. I hear tale from those who have traveled from beyond. There are places where nature still stands untouched.

There are spirits of the wilds that still keep the dark at bay. And there are miracles still, though perhaps not sourced by the Veil of Gods themselves. So there's always hope. I just don't know if it's here. Thank you for telling us. Of course.

Thank you for telling us. Of course. Smoke begins to fill the Forum around the tents. Black smoke. Ffff. Just begins to billow and swallow the central Forum and trip us down. I go back to Aeron's body and just sort of hover over. You step back into the tent and and swallow the central forum and Truba's tent. I go back to Eryn's body and just sort of hover over it.

You step back into the tent and Eryn is gone. Fuck! Fucking! The three of you begin to return, just as you see this black smoke begin to billow and just completely envelop the center of Desperlok. What? I look up at the pyre. the billow and completely envelop the center of Desperlok. What? I look up at the pyre.

You can't see the pyre, the smoke is completely obfuscated at the center of town. We should have brought her in here. What are you doing? I'm gonna run to the pyre. I fly up above. The pyre is what's supposed to keep us safe. What can I see above?

You fly up and there's just a cloud of smoke that has filled the space. Around a central point? Around the Forum, the center of Desperlot. Which is where the pyre is? Correct. So I can't see the pyre at all. Does it feel like it's emanating from the pyre? It feels like it's in that general vicinity.

Fuck! We're rushing towards it. You all charge in as the smoke begins to dissipate a little bit. Here amongst the nearby homesteads and the northern portion of where the Forum sits, there is the massive column of black smoke where the Sacred Pire once was.

What? Oh shit! It extinguished the pyre? Is it out? It's out? Across the ground of where the pyre once stood, you see the bodies of Desperlok folk and two robe-adorned pyrekeepers bisected and their blood spilled across one of the only things that can quell the flame of these sacred

flames. And there, standing facing the smoke, a small teenage girl turns and smiles. And that's where we're going to go. No! No! I have Goosebumps! Fuck. Never trust a teenager. No! So, Romand is fucking bisected, dead?

Corbin is dead? We'll come back when we find out. Oh shit! Shit. To quote Ashley Johnson, I'm already attached! Yes! Sorry, it's only been two episodes. Oh no.

We're so fucked. We brought her in! We're so fucked. So, we'll see you guys next time. We love you very much, and is it Thursday yet? No, it's not! And we finished up this episode. Thanks for coming along on this wild journey with us.

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