Critical Role - The Snipping of Shears | Critical Role | Campaign 4, Episode 3 | Part 2

Episode Date: October 28, 2025

Part 2 With the true source of the Candescent Creed's magic revealed and the search for Occtis pressing in from all sides, lines of trust must quickly be drawn amongst the allies... Use Code OVERTURE for one month free on Beacon! https://beacon.tv/joinNew Episodes Release Weekly on Thursdays.Learn more about Campaign 4 at https://critrole.com/campaign4/   GET MORE CAMPAIGN 4 WITH BEACONWe'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 CASTGAME MASTER Brennan Lee MulliganLaura Bailey as ThimbleLuis Carazo as Azune NayarRobbie Daymond as Kattigan ValeAabria Iyengar as Thaisha LloyTaliesin Jaffe as Bolaire LathaliaAshley Johnson as VaelusMatthew Mercer as Sir Julien DavinosWhitney Moore as TyrannyLiam O’Brien as Halandil "Hal" FangMarisha Ray as Murray Mag’NessonSam Riegel as Wicander "Wick" HalovarAlexander Ward as Occtis TachonisTravis Willingham as Teor Pridesire CREDITSProduced by Maxwell James, Steve Failows, & Kyle ShireEdited by Taylor Burke and Emily "Stevie" StevensonVisual Effects by Christian BrownGraphic Design by Aaron Monroy & Jordyn TorrenceMiniature Painting by Payton Keo LacebalTheme Music by Neal AcreeCharacter Art by Loren HontanillaAdditional Art & Design by Hannah Friederichs 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. Everyone says stuff right before we come back, and they're all in trouble. And I'm keeping a tally, and the tally is running. Tick-tock, all you motherfuckers. If everyone's awful, no one is all that.

He's a snitch. At the very bottom of the cascading falls of Dolmachyar, where the river of Roche lets out into Lake Nadami, as the city and its tall spiring towers begins to fade into the nearby woods and the highway taking off to neighboring towns deeper into the land of Cahad. We see here at the base, the tall spires of Dolmachiar,

this city that was the shield of Cahad during long centuries that stood as the shield to the Orkish homeland against the mountain dwarves to their east, to the humans to their north at a time ruled by the shapers. Now it beholds a metropolis, a place where all peoples united in revolution and rebellion against the gods can sing and trade,

dance and perform magic. And when we speak of perform, place of performance, for at the very base of that city, surrounded by the woods at the very edge, we see an ancient place with a brand new wooden sign, leaning against a massive stone entranceway and we see some boots approaching that sign. And Liam, what does it say on that sign

that now waits with so much potential there by the one? Oh, with lumber still off to the side in a pile, the sign reads the hallowed round. Before you, you see an ancient Dithyram, an amphitheater, this place can fit thousands. It is truly enormous. And at its center, there is a stage. And that stage, ancient sort of stone,

you see there's some ruins and collapse around. You see various members of your theater troupe that as you approach with Tysha and Shadia call out, Oh, how? It's hammer, ding, ding, ding, ding, wood, putting stuff up. You see some tarps covering some things outside. And I'd like you to describe if you can

any of the environs and also the stage in particular for us. It's going along, isn't it? It is a massive place, and in Tysha and my youth, it was much wilder here. The place has been in disuse for decades, for centuries before the fall of the shade, This was a place where our god, our shaper, would sometimes appear in the heavens above the city

to witness his people, exulting in ecstatic, fervent ritual unto our keeper. And from the vantage point that we're at, you can actually see for miles the city is surrounded by evergreen forest and from this vantage point and we're at the top looking down to the bottom of this amphitheater and at the center of the amphitheater is a massive gnarled twisted cedar tree that is extreme looking but beautiful in this rugged landscape and it's hard not to come here and not imagine this massive

being lording over our city which was the purpose of this place but again long out of use forbidden for decades and only now in the last handful of years has that begun to change although you have heard me talking about this for many many years and there it is still more work to do we're getting close I know what we're gonna start with we just have to get all our mag pies in a row and it's almost time. This is incredible. And Taisha is wrestling.

We've talked about it and went back and forth in letters and correspondence. It's such a fraught place that your desire to reclaim it, well intended though it is. I think there's just that little bit of her that like can't quite get comfortable standing here. You see that, like, standing here, she had no struggles, like, walking up, but she is going to reach towards what looks like a little dagger in her belt. It's all metal, like a little horsehead at the top, and she'll, like, wrap her hands around it and cast her druid craft into it and turn it into, like, a horse-headed cane to walk down to view more of this with.

there is something about this place that makes her want to sit in her power as a druid, as we move through a space that was so compelled and held by the God we destroyed. And Hal is just admiring his best friend in the world striding down this hill into the center of this ancient place. And I think by the time they get to the bottom and they're on the edge of the performance, performance area and you can see low wooden buildings that are you've never seen before off to the sides and you can see performers and and construction workers moving in and out you can tell that they're going to be used as like backstage and storage and the tree is now high above us down at this this vantage point and as

we turn to look back up from where we came I said I say once we came here to celebrate to God, now we come to celebrate each other. Hell and you, I should never have doubted. This is amazing. Well, don't be too hasty because the government is falling apart. Whoa. I can't nail down what we're allowed to do. We've got centuries of tradition and smoke and mirrors

to do everything we do, and one day we're allowed to do one thing, allowed to do one thing, and then three days later, it sounds like it is off the table again, and I'm not really sure whether to shit or go blind. I know it doesn't always go well when I offer this, but you know my family has resources that you can lean into whenever you want. If you need things to go a little more smoothly.

I've gone over with Olka, I think we're in the plan. Okay, okay. Thank you for showing me this. And I'm gonna lean over to Shadya and be like, Okay, what are those buildings? You see she looks over and says, so these are going to be, you know, this place was a place where we had to propitiate

the god of war that kept us captive and, you know. Yeah. But that's going to be a concession stand. And we're going to have fruit leather and we're going to have, We're going to have, oh, and we're going to have the sweet, that gourd, you know, that sort of squash bread? We're going to have that. Also, if you look at this, and you see she starts to show you these hooks that the, what was a broad amphitheater is being kind of separated into boxes.

They're just putting up. So, like, there's, like, cool woodwork going on where the benches are still stone, but you're, like, looking at why they're being sort of partitioned off. And you see there's partitions because there are, you see, Shottie starts to explain, because, it's outdoors, but it's raining a lot in Delamacier. And, you know, people used to just get wet, but you get sick. So you can pull the covers up, and you see she does this big fabric,

and you see there's like a waxed, beautiful, and they're all like multicolored. And you see that some of them are like harlequin pattern. Some of them are tasseled that sort of come up and make this little rain roof. And she says, and you see that she takes out, she sort of throws open a crate and you just see like 30

little silvery filigreed they made of tin or something kind of cheap but they look beautiful there's a lot of like showmanship kind of like troubadour stuff where it's like it's beautiful it's very cheap it's beautiful she's giving that explanation

Hal wanders away from the both of you like 50 feet away and he's standing even further at the base of the tree now and he doesn't shout but using thaumaturgy, he just speaks calmly and his voice carries all the way to you and beyond and says, it's everything we've been talking about for years. You see the work all stops and everyone turns around, and you see nearby there is an ancient orkish man. He's got one of the ugliest crocheted hats you've ever seen. He's like

patched, he looks like, he just looks like an old quilt monster that was out of the bed. and he's got this ancient little orcish drum that has like a triple-headed wand to play it with. And you see he goes like, what's everything we've, what have we been talking about? Stop the work. How are your knees today? Oh, bad as can be, it's going to rain.

Mm-hmm. Bad, bad, bad. You see, it says, is that Tysha? Oh, you have an age today. Thank you for noticing. You see, you see, He turns. You look as youthful and vital as ever.

You see, he smiles. So Uli, you know, is 85 years old, which means that Uli remembers before the war. He's one of the few orcs who's here, who remembers before the war. You see sort of bunt-th-da-dum-dum-bhits the drum. I want to slide over to him. So what do you think about all of this?

Sorry, what do you think? How do I whisper to you? message. What do you think of all of this? The round? We'll be wonderful. We outgrew the rookery for a while. That stage is best used for students anyhow.

They need it to practice and grow and train. And then Bollaire has been kind enough to let us play at the Lyceum at the Arcanade for quite some time, but, I don't know, folks from Caravan Hill and Frey deserve a show, too, I'd say. What do you mean, what do I think about all this? Yeah. You remember before.

When I was a young boy, my older brother, went off to join Revolution. I whispered at Tisha, Settle in. Oh, God. He went off to join. Oldren, you know, he was always a whippersnapper and he had a fire in him. I mean, that's the thing, you know.

You lured over a people, tell them that we are meant to cover all of Aramon and conquest and victory. And he tells us to be brave, fear, Nothing. March forward, though the blood rings in your ears. How old dead Osgra thought he was doing anything other than training us to do what we did, I'll never know. My brother, he came home one day and he told our mother, there's some, some wise old smiths up at the top of the city. and they've said they found a secret buried deep in the earth.

We don't have to be afraid anymore. We don't have to, we don't have to cower and we don't have to feel the heat of the fire behind us and the sharpness of dwarven steel in front of us. We can be free. And my mother said, who you've met are lunatic. and you must ignore what they've said.

And he said, I think they're right. They're gonna make a sword that can kill the tyrant that dwells at the center of our land. And those were called the Lois. I don't know if you've heard. Hi. The city does a good job of reminding me, but it's nice to hear it.

But, but taking this place, this place, the bad places are on the other side of those mountains. The top of the peaks, the blood running down into the valleys below. Here in this place, I remember when I was a boy, propitiated the shaper. Of all the shapers and all the people of Aramon. He told us to serve him, which all the shapers did. We were the only people that knew we were doing it without a reward. The land that was promised to us after death was the same as life, just more suffering, endless wasteland choked by ash

and fire. But what he didn't know is that there's no way to look up from this stage at the sky and not see something more beautiful. And that's our city. And you look up and see all of Dolmachiar spreading up. I know now that those who sang songs in this place, even if the words were meant to soothe his wrath and keep our lives in propitiating his fury, the melody, the dance, the fury and the passion that was, that was always for us. I step up next to him and put a hand on his shoulder

and look to Shadia and say, but in the past they used this place, This place we know, this place was to grapple with who we were, and today we'll use it to figure out who we are and who we will be. The bins are for umbrellas. That's right, the bins are for umbrellas. And there's something. And there's something in listening to that story and listening to, especially listening to Shadia, that she feels that itch under her feet.

And she kind of shifts and where she's standing and just a little pulse outward under her. The grass is a little greener and the soil is a little darker. Where she stands, the earth is improved as it remembers itself. But our home is beautiful. And this gift isn't for here. So it's, with a little wistful sigh that she goes back and nods about the umbrellas and asks a thousand more follow-up questions.

Shadia takes your hand and says, I'm going to show you, I think a part you'll like the most. Oh, yeah. It takes you up to the stage past this sacred cypress tree and looks out, and you see right behind the back wall. And then you see they're building a backstage area and it's kind of built into the old stone and then expanding with wood and new construction. you see the Tintazi wood, and there's just this beautiful Kahadi forest, this just small little wild place on the shores of this massive lake that the waterfall of the city

goes out into, and she just looks out and goes, I just think it's so special that through, I mean, like, I don't, you know, I've only had stories about the wood. To me, you know, I just think, You know, I was a kid when the Falconer's rebellion ended, let alone the Shaper's War and, you know, I know they, I know that the ancients, they had to rebuild the city after the Shaper's War, but this forest survived everything. It just makes me think about, um... I hug her.

I really miss you. I miss you so much. And I love you so much. And it's so lovely to see the person you're becoming. I'm sorry. I hope I'm becoming someone that. You see she struggles in this moment to say what's on her heart. I don't press.

I don't think I deserve to press. So I just kind of rub her back and look at the trees. Al's allowing himself to block out the last few weeks of uncertainty and anxiety and fear. Just to enjoy seeing mother and daughter together. daughter together with the expanse beyond them. Give me, if you'd be so kind, an insight or a persuasion. I'll actually say because you don't step forward. I'd ask for insight instead of persuasion as you rub her back.

Oh, thank you. 22. Bless you, bless you. breathes, energy reaches into her and she calms down. She looks up, tears streaming down her face. I know how special you are, and you can see the person I'm becoming. I feel like I can't see her at all. And I sometimes get mad at myself because I feel

Like I don't want you to see the person. I want you to see the becoming. I just, I don't know, Uncle The Ozzie's dead. And every time you go, I know that I'm really scared about Al-A-Gar. I am too, but. We were shaped by a God that told us not to fear and keep moving forward. And it's not fair to carry that forward.

But there is subtle wisdom in it. You can't live your life afraid. And Al-A-Gar is his. mother's son and made a choice to protect this world with his blade. Just as you and your father are protecting this world by protecting and creating the stories and songs of it. You make the joy that all of the wandering

and all of the fighting and fear are worth. And I know that's not. I know that's not. I know that's not a comfort. Not really, but it's what I tell myself at night when I miss you most. She leans her head against your shoulder and goes, you make joy.

You're my mom. I love you. I love you so much. I love you too. I'll keep dancing and keep juggling. And it'll all be here when the world is healed. And until then, I want to look out of the trees and in Druidic.

Just ask this wood to watch out for my family. And I mean those that I'm connected to by blood, but also all the people connected to them and all the people that come and watch them and all the people that they go home to as I try to remind myself and remind these woods that we are all connected. And if there is magic in the asking,

I ask that the trees offer shade and protection and oxygen in life so that this world is good too. The wind ripples. Shh, God damn it. The wind ripples. As it does so, give me a nature check. You can do so with advantage.

Oh, thank you. Oh, no. Yeah, I know. 16. 16. You look out, you hear the wind rustling. A flight of some nearby magpies. This forest is telling you something.

Something soft, and that would bring you joy. On a 16, you can't hear it. Because you hear the song of a nightingale calling you from the city. Trundling up to the hallowed round howl you look, and see a gray carriage arriving with the symbol of the Arcanade on it. Talison, I believe we see Boler arriving here

at the hallowed round. Were they a quite large carriage? The very large carriage with a, actually, I want to check. How big is the crate that I have brought? The crate that you brought, you've brought, You brought the shipment all fits within a single carriage. Okay. Quite packed and heavy on its wheels.

There's about six crates in total. That's a lot. Okay. I hop out of the carriage. Clear-eyed and bushy-tailed if I had eyes or a tail. My word, it is looking lovely, and everybody is working, and it is just delightful. Why are not more people working right now?

That's, are they turning that into a concession stand? I see you way up at the height of the amphitheater and using thaumaturgy again. Again, I don't shout. It's just say, oh, you saved me a trip, and it comes out clear as a bell to your ear in the last row. Ah! I'm on my way! And I'm hopping up there at full speed. As you were hopping up there, Belair, you descend.

And I actually think that you have, with you, I think you have Spiro and Rosadella here, who are two of your archivists to sort of help unload the crates. Just some, you know, we're finding some help from the museum looking out and saying, Master Belair, happy to help, as they start unloading it. Is there anything you would like to do skill-wise

that Belair would have wanted to know before arriving here? the, oh, I would have tested a sample of this stuff to make sure that it is not harmless in any way, and I know what I said. Yes, go ahead and give me an Arcana check. All right. Do we get a liquor license?

Working on it. That's okay for me, a 21. Uh, on a 21. On a 21, you know, thinking about like your work today before arriving here with the sort of delivery for Hal, you have a, you know, under, at your table with all of your fine tools and instruments, the magnifying glass, everything like that.

All of this is, you would swear, it all looks like pentevral work, the actual substance of the materials inside. It is, it has faint residue of, like, it's thick with illusion, which makes sense it's paint, but there's a little bit of like a hint of conjuration under it. The paint itself is a like,

don't you look confused. Deeply, it all looks, like looking at it, but you're like, is this a, a, like what is this? What is the spell on this? And on a 21, you double triple check. There is no spell effect. There is no magical aura.

So you're like, where am I getting this residue from? Did a lot of magic happen around this? Did it happen? And I think on that 21, you're looking at it and being like, was this, like the answers run all the way to the very grim, which are like, this is, it's either magic you've never seen before or this was sitting at the back of a,

a workshop at the Pentelveril for too long and got weird. And he wouldn't have given it to me to give to him if it were dangerous. I assume it's just safe and sorry. It doesn't strike you as dangerous. There's no, you can tell that everything about, there's nothing like coiled within this necessarily. Trust nothing right now. And you will say you do examining the amphora's,

which are completely mundane, that actually is an easy one where you do get a potter's mark, like an artisan's mark on the bottom of the amphora from a potter's gallery in the fray, which is not too far from here. Well, that's nice. Okay, so worst case scenario, there is someone to interrogate if we have to.

But yeah, howl you see these big amphora as a paint coming down into... So they're barren for us all to see on the back of this. Or the crates are coming down, and if you choose to open them, you would see them. Okay. And I'm just giving some slight instruction before I go, well, I was going to say to put them in the back of what is now the concession stand,

but clearly that is a terrible idea. Let's just put them here for now, and we will figure out where they're going to go. Old Good, who you've worked a lot with when you're running at the Lyceum, says, what do you have against fruit leather? We got to keep the, we have to run this place. I mean, you know. We're running a business. Here, there's two places to get money.

Aristocrats and selling fruit leather. What do you want us to do? I will not put anything that has the word leather in my mouth and swallow it. That's disgusting. Well, you don't know how to have a good time. We're planning on... Plenty of you people in this bloody city who would disagree with that.

We were planning on swinging by later to find you. You've saved us the trip. What is all this? Well, and why are you in this mood? Oh, it's so good to see you. Hi, that sounded insincere. No, I always sound insincere. No, no, it is lovely to see you. And this place just brings out the best in me.

It's beautiful. I will, at this point, lift one of the lids off the crate and see it's clearly paint when I see it. Yeah, there's like a little bit of staining from the paint, and it's many different colors. And the amphora are huge, these big double-handed ceramic jugs that you can see have essentially within them a, I probably like multiple gout, like each amphora have

has, you know, how would we say, 30 gallons of paint within it? Yeah. Well, as soon as I see paint, I've been thinking of the Ozzy's words since he said them to me, and I am seeing his words, like, come to life in front of me. So he freezes and then puts on a smile. You know what, this will be better in the back. Could we wheel it around past the concession stand? Bless. I was hoping we'd say that. Boys put it back on the cart.

You see old good looks and says, paint. I hadn't put the order in yet, because we're not there yet, but we're getting, plus I was gonna probably order it the day after. You know, I meant to tell you about it. Just let me, we'll discuss. Yeah, you got this? It's special paint.

It's leather. You can eat it. What? Doesn't that sound delightful? Hey, amazing. Why don't we just? I don't know how hard you think a museum goes, but I'll tell you what, buddy.

I'm from Caravan Hill, and I'm I've seen a thing or two. That was supposed to be a gift shop, not a concession stand. Gift shop museum ass. Oh. Shaddea, we're moving. Come on. Don't eat the paint.

Walking home. You head down with Blair to like a backstage area where you see, looking around how there is a lot of, honestly, decorative work that has to happen, primarily because for better or for for worse, and probably honestly for better in a lot of ways, there was a lot of stuff here that during the Shaper's War had to be defaced. There were holy symbols to Osgra that were easy for him to cast spells through.

There were like a lot of things that had to happen to come in and shatter a like version of his holy symbol that was like casting bane on everybody within a hundred yards. You know, like there were, but within that, so in other words, there's a lot of work that you have to do to kind of like make this place inviting and showroom. Right, because it was vandalized to shit in the decade or two after the gods fell. While we're walking before you say that, I hip bump your hip and just smile.

Do you want any help with Buller's paint? With just enough emphasis that you mentioned that very quickly when talking about all the things that the Ozzy said to you in those last moments and she remembers. Yes, I do. Okay. She's by your side. Okay. Absolutely. Like you're taking point and your baby mama, just back up right now. All right. So I'm killing for you. I'm making sure that we've moved this cart and I gather Baller's assistants are along for the ride, but we are moving away from the company off beyond the concession stand and several barrels of fruit leather. So we can talk in private. Yeah, my My archivists, my two archivists who worked for me, so.

We're a start. First, thank you for coming yesterday. It was good to have a friendly face at my side. It felt like half the people in that room wanted to put a knife in my brother's back, and it was just good to have friends. It was somehow even more insane than I thought it would be. That said, in his final moments, my brother very feverishly told me that you had pain for me. Pain for me. You have pain for me.

It was waiting for me when I got to the museum waiting for you. I am as shocked as anyone. I'm usually aware of everything that comes in or out of your wing. This has just appeared. Is the lid of one of these things easy enough to pop off? I've checked it. It's safe. What is it? What is it for? I don't.

Anything that comes to the museum should be checked to make sure it's safe. It wouldn't be there if it wasn't unusual, and it is unusual. There is a letter, if I recall. Oh, there is a note from how they said, like with love. And you've given it a once and a twice and a thrice over?

Five times at this point. And I hand the note. This is highly unusual. Give me, Tau, I'll ask for persuasion or deception. Give me an insight, Hal, and Taisha. I'll give guidance for you. What question in particular? Absolute dog shit.

That's not going to help. The earlier statement as well, just as a sort of general vibe from Boulare talking about how unusual all this is. The circumstances by which it showed up are definitely unusual. Sure. That's what I will say. And I get to, so.

Oh, guidance. Okay. I bet you do better than that. We're gonna have sage the set. Might not. Might not. No, I feel it. What the hell?

It's all the same. So I'll say 19. 19. I rolled a two, so with the modifier and the bump from guidance, it's a nine. I agree. Your lovely friend, Bollaire, seems as perplexed. And I think there's a question hanging in the air

air about Theazi telling you in his last moments that Belair had something for you, it's unusual. You didn't, I don't know, what would, did, does Hal know that Belair and Theazi? As far as he knows, we've met once at your house. So I think that on a nine, you don't see anything, there's nothing, Belair's not acting strange at all, but there's just a question hanging in the air of like,

like, why did Fiazzi? Yeah, it doesn't make any sense. I'm just kind of nonplussed and just staring at the paint. I'm not sure what to make of it, because it is clear that you didn't expect it. No, not even a little. So what was my brother doing? What do I get for my natural one?

I think you're, you're looking. You're looking, you're looking. Boler, I will ask you at this moment too, As you open the paint, looking at how, who's looking a little bit perplexed, I'd like you to give me a perception check. Oh boy. And I'd also like you to give me

a Constitution saving throw. Yay, perception check. I'll start there. Did you taste the paint? Is there a lead-ed-up? I have absolutely tasted the paint. Perception check is 14. 14.

Constitution saving throw is 13. Looking around in a 14, I think you are, looking out at this place where a god would demand tribute. And on that perception check, I think you just feel the nascent magic in this place of something bubbling, something boiling. There's something under this city that's running hot. And on a thing 13 Constitution save, the feeling of that magical energy, I think you feel something turn and slither

in a way that makes you feel illities. Have I noticed this since specifically in this place? Do I feel that it is connected to this place? I think that you don't feel that the discomfort is due to this place. Actually, maybe the awareness of the discomfort is being caused by this place. In other words, some clarity has been added in this moment. Excuse me, hi.

Are you okay? Just a bit unsettled. If you want some fruit leather, it will soothe your stomach. No, wine. It's morning. It's morning somewhere. Here now. Using the theater cantrip, using the Thumbetergy Cantrip,

you see that someone from the stage call, you see Old Good gets someone to do it for him, and he says, we have wine, we sell it by the box. It's for parties. You like boxed wine? Yeah. I think you very well know the answer to that. With that, we move from this scene

to Caravan Hill, where where a dwarven woman is marching down the street and turns a corner to see a group of arcane marshals walking down the road, Azunay, as you've been marching, go and give me a perception with advantage. Okay. Oh, look at the tone. Come on, make it better, make it good.

Okay, well. Make it good? It's not right. Make it good. That's the name of this episode is that it's not great. 13. 13. How that's Louise?

13. On a 13, you have been patrolling the neighborhood. You, nothing unto war. No one sent up a big arcane flare. Nothing wild has happened that you've been. You're aware of the perimeter you're keeping. And I think because you're actually successful in keeping a wider perimeter, you don't even hear like glass shattering as an elven pallidon leaps through a window.

Okay. However, looking around, you do see a Dwarven wizard turn the corner, and Murray, you look up and see Azzanay in front of you. What are you doing here? Where have you been? I've been working. I didn't see you last night. Why didn't I see you at the funeral? Where was there? Where were you? I got there late. Well, I got their own time. Well, I'm sorry. Look, we need to talk.

There were so many damn carriages from so many damn numbers. Noble's coming, like, ground the streets. Yes, yes, there was a lot of people there, but look, we, it's, it's, it's wild running into you like this. And on my attention. What do you mean? It's not that wild. I work here. Where are you offended?

Because, I need, I need you. Okay, give me a second. We need to find someone to talk. Okay, alright, all right, all right. And, and my focus right now was so split because I'm, I'm running in my mind. I do still have pieces of theasi. It just like flashes of,

of the last look on his face and his body, but I also have now this Lord Knight that came to speak to me at the Brethren Hall and the look behind his eyes and that intent and his voice and that hunger and also glad to hear that I'm not picking up on any sort of arcane signatures. Leaving this place as a part of my patrol, knowing that at least those of the Caravan Hill

are covered. If there's any magic happening there, then there's no one that's gonna report it. But I find that as I'm getting caught up in this, I need something else that's also part of my routine. When I patrol the city, one of the things that I'm also looking for is I'm looking for moments between the people that live here in this city that's become my home.

Yeah. The first home I've ever had. Those moments that are hiding in plain sight that pass between people, a moment of kindness, a whisper, a laugh, a joke shared, a soft touch, because that is one thing embedded in my routine, in my patrol, the very thing that I'm looking for that matters to me more than any arcane signature

that pops up. And whether I saw it or not, or whether I was blind to it, I find that I'm now in the presence of one of the few people in this place that I call my friend. And I reach out for your hand, and I grab it. Just come with me. All right, all right.

Where can we go? And I just pull you. You like pull Murray into an alley. You see the Inquirer Horace goes, got a bus. And just stays on the corner. It's like, I'm going to move along. And there's one guy like 80 feet away.

He's like, me? He keeps walking. Do they think you're about to get lucky? Is that what that was? Yes, that's exactly it. Oh, all right. Now you're flustered. Why?

Okay. Let's hope we are lucky, actually. Well, why are you looking for me? Why are you flustered? What news do you have? This whole god's damn town has gone like cat lady crazy. Ever since everything, what happened to the execution? I thought you said you were going to try and do something.

I was, but wait, look, I'll catch you up on that. And then I just start to, I'll move further away from the arcane marshals. I feel so out of the loop. And the portion of this conversation is actually the rest of this conversation. Nobody tells me anything. In message. Yes.

Yes, we had a plan. It went south. We found out. Did no shit. Yes. Yes. And we have, there are people that are on it that are searching for the people that may have caused it to fall apart. But that's something that, look, that's not as important right now, really.

Because there's nothing you and you and I can do about that right now. Yeah, he's dead. Yes, he is. You notice that. Yeah. Look, the noble houses are closing in on us. And I know that they're closing on the Pentebral as well.

They're going to be closing down. Well, I just had a meeting with a Lord Knight Ein Fasen. He's one of the houses here. And, uh, um. They're gonna be choking us, and the pentebral, I'm assuming, is under fire as well. Yeah, guess who just walked into my office? Actually, it technically was in my office. It was Dean Tall Barrel's, but he walked in.

It was Primus, Lord Primus Taconis. Okay. He's overthrowing. He's overthrowing Tall Barrel. I think he wants to overthrow me as well. I think, and I don't know who to trust. I think Tom Barrel is in his pocket. Yeah, they're trying to find the people that they can control that are in the positions

that they want to have the most influence in. For now, the archangue marshals appear to be safe. We do things that they haven't quite figured out how to do themselves. The next thing is that they're going to install people that are going to be their puppets so that they can be in complete control, which I'm sure is what they're doing at the pintero.

You have to find that deeply disconcerting, right? Of course I do. Of course I do. I mean, the moment that any of us are no longer useful, we will see the bottom of their boot, just like everybody else. I will never not be useful. Never. You say that now.

Don't you understand? Azune, this is all connected. They are trying to get more people into my school to choose. to train your replacements. You get that, right? Do, of course I get that. So what do you mean you think you won't one day be useful? Because I will find a way to always be useful.

But then you are falling into their scheme. You know the antidote, right, about the frogs in the pot and boiling water. Do I have to explain this? I think you do. What? All right, you know, if you're a pot of boiling water, throw a frog in,

Frog's gonna jump out, right? Because the frog's like, oh, it's hot, it's boiling water. It doesn't die right away? Well, don't get focused on the details here. But if you put, it's a story, if you put a frog in a cold pot of water, you can turn the heat on, and it slowly heats up. Over time, frog won't jump out, right?

Because like frogs, their physiology, they're like, they're cold-blooded, right? So they're gonna heat up over time. Now I'm getting caught in the details. Look, the point is the frog, we are those frogs in that pot right now. Right, right. They're turning that heat up.

It's slowly gonna get hot. And the next thing you know, we're gonna die because we're gonna be boiled to death. Yeah. Do you get it? I do, I get it, yes. I don't think you're looking at me like, you don't get it.

I just was wondering if the story was done. No, yeah, it's, what I'm trying to say. You know what we need to do is we need to find. Frogs? Shit, no, now you're confusing me. What do we need find? Well, I was on my way to go to, well, I was gonna end up,

at Boller's. Yeah, I was with him all night. I haven't slipped. You need to do something about that. Yeah, I think wine. Wine would be good. It'll make you sleepier, wouldn't it? You need some coffee or something.

You don't know me here. Okay, uh, Murray, I'm gonna- Octus, yes? I'm gonna need- I'm not direct on this. I'm not in this, okay? I'm a different guy. I'm on the other side of the fourth wall.

Yeah, I was I saying? You're gonna do it. Go ahead and give me a Constitution saving threat. Difficulty 15. Why? Why? Oh, I know why. I don't sleep. Because I'm tired.

You're fine. The Constitution. I got nervous for myself, but I slept. No, you're the frog. Nope. Nope. Nope. You take a level of exhaustion.

Okay. Oh, wow. You have to go to sleep. Yeah. But yeah, as you're saying Octus, you just feel the acknowledgement of your tiredness wash over you. Octus, if I start to see you sway, I will like go to kind of help stabilizing.

Look. All right, there we go. Is they gonna, okay. It's clear we're not really getting anywhere, just the two of us. After Octus, Primus came in to the office looking for Octus. I know where Octus is. Do you want to find them with me? Yeah, we should find them before they do. Then let's go. And I will start to take Murray towards Caravan.

I mean, we're already in Caravan Hill, but I'm going to take it towards the tavern that I'm assuming they're... Murray just loosens her corset a little bit. I need more oxygen in my bloodstream, let's go. You guys get it, as you're adjusting yourself, you get to the front and you see that Horace says, time to roll out.

You're in charge now Horace. I'm going to begin the other part of my job. I've got a couple of maintenance issues that I need to take care of with the Pentebral. As you can see, I'm working with someone from that. You look at this guy who's looking at you. You guys stormed off into an alley and then silently stared into each other's eyes for about five and a half minutes. And this guy's like, I don't know what freaky shit this is. This is her corset walking. Yeah, adjusting my corset, I just dab a little bit of sweat off my bosom. It's just there always, though. It's summer. Horace looks at you and goes,

I also, it's interesting when you can't touch. Totally over my head. I don't pick up on it. You guys head off into Caravan Hill. We move from there to, the Merconad Couturier. Oh, yes. Oh, Dior, baby.

Let's go. Teor, with a wonderful, with a wonderful sort of like a bunch of coin at your side. You walk into the marketplace. You enter this beautiful Couturee, well-appointed, delightful. You see an older man who's sort of similar

to Bollaire's hair, but he has a beautiful platinum rolling curls of a wig. rough around the neck, turns to you and says, Sir, welcome to Mercunard Coutureer. How may I be of service to you? It is my first time being here, but I've been sent to acquire a bit more fashion from the candescent creed.

You've been sent by the creed, perhaps our most notable client. Well, we are delighted to be able to serve you. Wonderful. The time of day is it. It's like late afternoon, I think, at this point. This is establishment above my means. Typically, I am quite parched from my journey. Do you have anything that I could have to drink before we begin?

I can search for something. You see, he goes over, he says, I'm afraid we don't have anything by means of water, but we do have some sherry and brandy, if you'd like. Lead away. You walk into the back sort of fitting, you're looking back to the fitting room. And there's another, walking into another area,

you see that he has what looks to be a twin brother who is wearing a sort of golden, shimmering long wig, rough as well. You see, he looks over and says, My brother, Calastro Mercant. And you see that the brother says, Charmed. some sherry for the guest. And you see, pours a beautiful gem-cut glass

and hands it over to you. That's amazing. Twins are rare. Walking in this place, can I just do a perception check for anything else that might be standing out? And I would also like to use, I think that lets me detect

Fé Feene or Undead in a 60-foot area. Incredible. Go ahead and give me a perception check. Divine sense. Thank you. I was looking for it. Can you divine sense this fucking non-Hollister music? This is what they're playing at Abercrombie at Fish. The nostrils are boned out already. 17.

17, got it. 17 perception, you look around. This place is very visually confusing. There are many different clothing racks. There's lots of bolts of fabric. The rugs are very thick. There's incense hanging in the air. Your nostrils are filled with incense, but there's also brandy.

The fruit is a little bit old, so there's a rich fruit smell nearby. And there's also some chimes ringing in a corner. It's sort of a sensory overload being in this place. As you go to Cast Divine Sense, they don't register as, as anything like they're not celestials or fay or fiends. That incense, there's something about that incense

that feels the smoke. You smelled that. When did you smell that? A nine-pointed star burned onto a battlefield. Uh, Sherry? Yes. Anything for you? For me? No, of course. Not at all. This is for our guests and clientele. Such a signature aroma. What do you call this?

The incense? Yes. Well, this is another than sapphire orchid. It's a beautiful scent. It is. I'll put the drink down. I have to admit that this is unusual for me. What could someone of my station expect to get from this establishment?

The... Your station... I'm afraid I don't have as much information as you perhaps presume. Have you been sent here by the Creed? Am I feeling weird? Smelling this. Ascent. Physically. Physically. Yeah. I'm gonna, are there any windows in the room?

There's some out in the other front room. Where is the money on your person? Typically, you would tie it just a leather strap from the belt. Just loop it around real quick. So it's just on there. I'm gonna say it's a difficulty 10 to observe that that satchel is on your belt. They are each gonna add a plus six to their perception rolls to notice that satchel.

So they need to roll, these need to each be a three or under. 14. You see that the Colastro's brother, whose name you did not get, looks and says, oh, the creed has seen You meant you here to be outfitted, gesturing to the satchel on your belt. Yes, by the Fautarch herself,

with Sir Follonius's blessing. Well, for the photarch, only the finest work is reserved. Lovely to see. Every time we can find white velvet, drool begins to emerge from his mouth. I'm going to need you to make two wizards system saving throws with disadvantage. Let's go.

Why are you? This is like every time I get out an avocado be a bitch. This is normal. Yeah. Oh, oh, a six. What? Six.

Yeah. Well, wasn't it disadvantaged? It was just two separate roles. No, no, it's two separate roles, each with disadvantage. Oh, Jesus. Okay. A six and that's two natural one.

Oh! Oh, shit. What? Hey, what's up with this fucking table? It's bad here. I want to go home. Good take. Good take. There's not enough. I love it.

A young DM and an old DM. A young DM and an old DM. Oh, God. Thank you. I got you. I got you. I got to maybe. You see in this moment that you are hit with two hold-person spells

at the same time, one of which you fail critically. As your body seizes, and the divine sense still lingering, powerful fiendish magic surrounds you. You even hear one of them go, shalai, as it reaches out. and as you go paralyzed, you see that the older, one of them with the sort of white hair. It goes, exemplary.

Machias, brother. Oh my God. And we're going to leave this scene. You're going to the ass lamp? Oh, no. You got to get silence in the lance. We're going to do that. Um, um, um, um, um, um, um, um, um, uh, walking into the mercenade cutte. Um, uh,

some hours, uh, some hours later, um, walking into the mercenade cuturier, um, uh, walking into the mercenade cuturier is, uh, none other than Wicander, Halovar. Oh, and Tyranny, your, the carriage pulls up. It is night as you arrive. You walk up, the market is closed down. You wait, it was late at night that you got down there. The market is closed by now, but you see that there's a small candle lit within the shop of the Mercantau-Couturee.

Quick sidebar. Yes. Okay, so no violence, right? This is gonna be on you to talk your way through this. They have to listen to you. Violence is, I would never resort to such horrible. Absolutely. I agree. No. But in this, in this case, remember that everyone is connected to your family. They all know what's going on, but they still have to listen to you.

Of course they have to listen to me. I'm the sign of House Haylevard. I'll walk in there, demand to know what has befallen our friend Teore and they'll tell me. And maybe you have explicit orders to deal with him yourself. Tyranny, I am very grateful for you looking out for me. but my name carries great weight in this town. I'll be fine. All right, Angel Boy, let's go. I will simply ask them what they know. They'll tell me, and we'll be on our way.

It's fine. Go in ahead of me and announce me, please. Oh, God. You guys are like scrabble, and we're playing D&D. I want you to know. Your character's fate is no longer in my hand. in my hands, right? Sam and Whitney.

You walk up. There's no door. There's no door. You walk up. It's all beaded curtains here at the Mokin-O-Dot-E. Aramon has no door. Aramon has no doors.

You knock on the door. There's a long pause, and you see that walking forward, is someone, I think you have maybe run into before like doing errands in the city. This is Rulius. Rulius Murganod, one of the twins. You see he walks up, as he opens the door,

he looks at you. Go ahead and just give me, even just being here, persuasion with advantage. All right. Let's fucking go! Oh, okay. Six and an 11 plus So 11 plus 7, 18.

18. He opens the door, you see he goes, Aspirant tyranny. Rulius. A pleasure to see you. You look well, radiant. Ever bright, ever right. May the beam reach you.

I have a bit of urgency for you, my dear. The House of Halivar has sent Cyan Wick. I believe you have guessed. Ah, yes, he won't be ready until tomorrow morning. No, no, no need. He's here imminently, in fact. I'm here to announce him. He requires counsel with Teor before he gets outfitted.

Teor, the guest's name is Teor. The guest's name is Terror. And... Ah, well. Fuck. Um... You've come in the nick of time. Good, good.

Um, uh... I will bound in after. You walk in. Oh, you see... The light is all. Hello. Dean is bound. My Lord Halevar.

Oh, please. Your radiance is fine. Your radiance, you honor us with your presence. We are absolutely delight. to have you. As am I. Wow, what a fine arrangement of fabrics. Delightful. Is that satin over there or silk? Isiri satin, the finest? I knew it. I knew it.

Hi, how are you? Has business been good? Is everything all right? Business is booming, busy, busy, busy. That's wonderful. I don't know if my aspirin told you, but we're looking for a friend of mine. Taller gentlemen, hairy, rugged. Quite handsome. I was told handsome. Oh, oh, oh. A friend of yours.

Your uncle sent him our way. I'm sure he did, yes. And we're here to retrieve him, fetch him back. Is he arrived yet? Is he around? I'm going to just do a quick scan, see if I can see anything. Give me a perception check. Okay.

Oh. Oh. One. One. A do, but do, but do. Three. Nine. This place is gorgeous.

It's, it is fucking beautiful in here. It's, it is fucking beautiful in here. Is that a super long vest? Wow. Wow. The vestal gown. Would you like to see? I think I, you know what?

We're here on business. But I would. Could you just sort of keep that aside? Oh, we shall put it in the back room with your name on it. Thank you. It will stay there until the end of time. Oh. Wonderful.

Thank you. You see that he goes and takes it. See, he's delightful. Uh-huh. You see he looks and says, and delighted we are to have you and the aspirant tyranny here as well. It is a marvel what the light can reduce. can redeem.

Yes, yes. So true. So you see he closes the door behind you and ushers you further in. You see, he says, I want to be as clear as I can. The guest will not be ready until tomorrow morning. We understand. I would like to suggest. I don't understand. Okay.

I would like to suggest. I would like to suggest. You understand. I understand we have orders from up top to fetch our guest and deal with him ourselves. What she said. Great. I'm going to need a deception check. And it's going to be opposed.

This is it. Go roll it somewhere else. I'm going to roll this. I'm going to roll this in front of the board. And it's going to, I'm going to add a plus four to it. There's a 14 plus four for an 18. 15 plus seven. Yes!

Let's go! Woo! As you look, this is an extremely sure. I'm going to say, as you look into this man's eyes, you recognize when someone is breathing and talking without a soul. You look into his eyes and the emptiness you see there, you see that you see that that the light being reflected in the room from his eyes has to be recreated with illusory magic

because under normal circumstances, his eyes would not reflect the light of this world. So looking into this soul, listening to his eyes, and you know where his soul is. You've seen it yourself. He looks and says, Ah, it appears that there's been something of an error. Errors happen.

They do, and it is only for us humble servants to address them immediately. I am very glad that this could be caught in time. Me as well. You see, he moves from here and says, Do you wish for us to produce the guest, or would you be able to give us a hand? It was quite a challenge seeing the guest

to the fitting room. I understand. I believe the guest will come willingly. You'd like us to produce the guest such that he may arrive of his own volition. Oh, my God. What are we talking? You see, you see, he says,

he says, Calastro, brother, we have business. And you see that, you see that, walking at the stairs, you see that there is a dull red glow, and this sort of powdered white sort of like rough wearing silk shirt wearing guy walks up and you see that there is a light casting a red fiery light casting behind him that vanishes as he puts his wig on as he walks into the room he goes you see that he's sweating his silk shirt is drenched you see that he has a pair of shears in each hand and he goes brother you see that you see that Rulius goes, there's been an oopsie. And we're done. We should go get our guest and make sure

that he is returned because we're going to 86 the procedure. And you see that Calastro goes, really? We were so close to being ready. And you see that, he says, yes, all done, let's go get our guest. You see that Clastro goes back downstairs. See Rulius walks into a corner,

and you see gets a sort of thick woolen, this like red sort of sound dampening fabric, opens it to reveal a flail, a shield. He goes over to a small box in the corner, and does it with a key, and takes a little white pouch of corn, hands it to you, tyranny. Thank you.

Can I have that flail? Uh-huh. Oh, it is the guest. You may do it as you will. Thank you. You see that, you see, he goes, so these are his effects that were going to be discarded, and that was on its way back to Sir Philonius.

But of course, given that this is all gone higgledy-piggledy. You're doing amazing. amazing. Thank you for the compliment. I shall treasure it forever. You see that he walks out. And you see, Teor. You see, coming downstairs and throwing the golden wig to the side, you see scratching a head that moves from skin into, like, crystal with a a fire burning in the skull is this tailor who looks around and says, you're a very lucky man.

And you are suspended with arms over your head in manacles in the center of a massive nine-pointed pentagram in the basement of the tailor's shop. And you see the shears were cutting your shadow into pieces and you see that he, whispers a word in fiendish. Your shadow reconstitutes, and he says, you would have had quite a ride come sunrise.

And you see, he scuffs the circle. Where do I? He scuffs the circle with his foot, undoes the manacles and says, oh, you go. Did they take the ball gag out? It's a stone. You are fully, by the way, under the poison. poisoned condition. It's disadvantaged on everything.

You're poisoned, but you can move. Okay. I drop to both hands and a knee and just try to. Thank you. And just start to crawl my way out of the room if I could. Crawling your way. Not now. Teor?

Teor. Teor stumbles obviously altered by whatever this incense was. Oh, my word. Hi, big guy. Are you all right? Come here. What has happened to this man? He had a glass of sherry.

Oh. Oh, he's, oh, he's had too much to drink, as he? Please, come, come here, Teo. Please, please, give me your hand. Oh, oh, oh, oh. Give me out. Sure, certainly, certainly. May I say thank you so much for the hospitality,

and we'll all just forget this happened, and we will make sure Taylor feels very welcome. Very welcome. I won't forget that this happens. Okay. What do you mean? No, no. Not without that vest.

Oh, you could. And you see he goes and tosses the best to you and says, we have fun. We do have fun. Thank you so much. Come, Taylor, come. And as we walk out the door, I'm going to just say, the light is all and pump lesser restoration into

My hands will glow, the tattoos on my face will glow. This should help with your drunken state. Does it help? You are no longer poisoned. Are we outside? Yes, you see that they walk to the back of the shop, or Rulia stays to see if you need anything and looks to you, but you are welcome to, you have all of terror stuff,

you can walk right out the door. Thank you so much, and I may the beam reach you. And may it reach you as well. Okay. and the door. Thaumatergy, eyes black. What the fuck are you thinking, dude? These are your enemies now.

What are you doing? I told you, we could just go in there and talk to them like nice people and they would give us tail of the dead. Do you remember like three hours ago when you said that your mom was going to kill this guy? My mom was, my grandma was, but these are just friendly tailors.

They were cutting my shadow into pieces. Can I make a quick, can I just make a quick, I know that you're the big boss, okay? I know, you're the boss. Can I make a quick suggestion? Yes. You need to figure out really fucking fast who you can trust and who you can't.

I'm gonna say, now that you have directly gone against your family twice, you're gonna be able to trust them very much. So that includes everyone who your family knows. Hey! Hello, dear Reney, if I may make a suggestion, we should leave now. Certainly, may I make a suggestion if we're all making suggestions.

You shouldn't drink that much. Oh, my God. Oh my God. I eat Wick. Yeah, thank you. Provide the comeback to you. Incredible. With that, to make that suggestion to Taylor,

you get up on your feet after one of the most harrowing experiences of your life. We are going to move back from this table, and we need everybody else, full swap. Everybody out in, everybody in. All company's foot. All company's white. I'm trying to someone like a scene from Mandy.

This is the Joker Holly Quinn I've always wanted. Yeah. Bruce Willis was about to ride it out on a motorcycle. It's dead. They have chains on. You hear about a leather suit with a zipper for a mouth? Yes. Oh, my God, I'm sweaty.

Awesome. Awesome safety. energy separate. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. Woo! Looks like it's made out of steel. It looks.

Yeah, can look at it. Where are we going? Are we going three up or two up? Where are you going? Wherever. Smack down in the lip basket. Okay. You can also take an end?

You want an end? Do you have an end? No, I'm okay. Yeah. Yeah. Get a handsome Sam. Handsome sand. You have a little finely?

What happened? Okay. So if we do this really quick before Brennan gets back, folks, it's be fine. Welcome back. We're back, baby. Hell yes. What a hoot.

What a hoot. What a hoot. What a hoot. Some abs, sometimes you get to get real freaky. Arriving back from Caravan Hill, it is late afternoon, Julian, waiting outside, upon arriving at Hal's home, you find an older, orkish warrior,

Inez Roundtree, who is essentially just keeping watch over the home while Fiazzi is in sort of, you know, reverie or in memoriam. She informs you saying, I'm sorry, my friend Hal and Tisha are out on business. I think they're either headed to the Argonaut or perhaps down to the hallowed round. but they should be back presently, I imagine. How presently is presently? I do think it was just for a short time to go. Can I offer you some Yardras? No, thank you. You said they were going to...

Which places? It was the... The hallowed round, the Arcanade, the Arcanade. But I imagine, wending your way over here from the Palazzo de Vinos, your late start to the day, you see walking up the road behind you, does Octus still have his disguise on? If it's been less than an hour, yes. You see Thimble, chiefly among them, but Thimble, Cattigan, Veil. L.A.L. and Octus all returning to the home, walking up the street. For those of you here, Thimble,

you see Julian DeVinus, who you have not seen in many years. This pretty boy. What are you doing here? I have business. What are you doing here? I guess I live here now. Do you know where Hall is? is Laetia?

No. You're of no use to me. It kind of acknowledges you as you approach. Mr. Elf, I am sorry to hear that you've lost something important to you. Seems like it's been going around. Thank you. Hey.

Hey. What? I come up close. He didn't deserve it, you know. All the shit you gave him. Just smiles and kind of waves you off and keeps walking. Yeah, keep running, like you always do. You may have everybody else fooled, sir, Julian.

He stops. I would ask you kindly to reconsider your tone in the face of your betters. I know you're not my better. I see you. The flutter of my wings is very loud against your ears as I fly away. You go to fly away and the gauntlet in hand moves rapidly from underneath his cloak and goes to grab the back of your wings to hold you in place. Give me athletics versus acrobatics. The motherfucker, if you fucking damage my wings, you piece of him.

27. Hold on. The confidence. Confidence. Okay, technically, for me it's a 22, but I have my tactical-mind fighter ability to burn a second win to add a D-10 to that role. Okay.

Which I will do right now. So we're gonna need a six or higher, so there's 50% chance. That's a 10. Oh! No! Three of you watch as a gauntleted hand clasps Thimble's wings. Absolutely not. Let her go.

I will in a moment. However, society works in certain ways, and riffraff should learn to show some respect. You're a piece of shit. You always were. You always were. At least I'm in good company. He flicks you off. Give me perception with advantage.

It's an 11. Great. On an 11 perception, what do you look like right now? If it has been less than an hour since the bar fight, then I still look the way I did. But the voice I used. used was Octus's. I think even on 11, the voice doesn't match the body.

And I think that Octus was, you were not at the funeral at the same time. No, because you were at the funeral at the same time, correct? I believe he saw me, yeah. Saw him, but we didn't have much of an interaction beyond that. You heard his voice in the corner, I think. All right. Kind of give a keen glance off of this heated exchange. Lérylis, was it?

Yes. Have you seen the Toconis boy from the event earlier? I can't say that I have. Hmm. Now if you do, there's got most importance that we speak. He, amongst many others, may be an immediate danger. I will make sure to send him your way immediately.

Thank you. Julian, where do you head off to? Julian's gonna go ahead and turn and go heading towards the, uh, the argon. As you go to head off towards the arch and I walking down the street, Octus, Julian DeVinus is someone that you know. He's older than you, considerably. And I think, as he says, Octus is in grave danger. You see him walking off the coldness and casual cruelty in his demeanor. makes what he's saying seem very true.

These were not honeyed words by a long shot. Yeah. Um, did he say I'm in danger? That's what I heard. Okay. Great, good. I don't know what that's about. Other than the fact that my family did all of this

and I've been actively working against them, but other than that, I can't imagine why they would be mad at me. Do they know? that I didn't think they did. But I'm gonna take that as a guess that they do. I've rounded the corner and attempted to kind of square around the other side, unseen. Give me stuff.

I mean, I kind of figured they might figure it out, which is why I've been kinda, you know, and then I hear's the wrong voice when you got grabbed. Well, I'm sorry about that. Look, he's nothing but a liar. He lies about everything. You don't have to be. believe him? Maybe you're not in danger. I mean, why would he say it? If, I don't know, okay, well, we got it, we gotta, we got, we got, we got, we got, we got a fine. We got, we have a job to do. We gotta, we gotta, we can deal with me later.

Octus, do you want to talk to him? Who? Him? Oh, God, no. Should I? I'll back you up if you want to. I will too. Yeah, go on, do it. Everybody's in danger all the time. And I give him a slap on the ass, pushing him toward where he took off to. Okay, weird.

And I'll start heading down the street. You begin to head down the street. Julian sort of managed because they put Julian, you hear Octus heading off on his own. I begin to block back in the path where I took so I can kind of head him off at the pass. hopefully unseen by the rest of this truth. You head off.

As you do, Cadigan, you look and see Thimble here outside the home where Theazi still lies. You have no idea, Thimble, and neither do you, Cattigan, where Teor is. And Vales, you, as you have for long centuries, putting one foot in front of the other, now know that the state. of Night Song has passed beyond the reach of the thief who took it from you.

Shit. I don't know what to do. Hmm. I don't know what to do. You watch Octus walking away, and you see that little dead fox that's buttoned eyes walking behind him. Now that I'm getting a better look at this creature. Can I sort of walk up to it and get a closer look? Yeah, give me investigation.

Investigation or religion. Okay. Okay. Okay. Great. 21. That was so definite. 21 on religion and investigation.

Religion. That little thing with buttoned eyes is unnatural. It's a spirit of undeath. You are one who but for injury or catastrophe will never die. You see that fox turns around, looks at you, cocks its head. I cock my head.

It smiles. A little twitches its whiskers and heads off. The young Taconas boy who walks away from you is of a family that for generations, even when the god of the sun still lived, they were a family of shadow. The Hale of ours were the priestly family of flame,

the Taconas, the priestly family of shadow, of the journey through night to the next day. They were gifted with the rights of funeral, cremation, of moving from one realm to the other. And though that young man is not a sorcerer, he has wielded a strange gift to make a little dead creature that regarded you with kindness.

Is it possible that dead things can still love us? Octus. Yeah? Yeah? Did you make this creature? And he looks down and goes, Pin, I told you you were supposed to stay. Yes, I made him, and he has a hard time staying in the dimensional pocket that I put him in.

It's something to do with the fact that he's made out of different pieces. It doesn't really weigh. It's coated to one part of him, but the other part you might get his hand out. I'm sorry, yes, I did make him. How did you do such a thing? I got a, you know, there was most of a fox, and then I talked to some people, and I got some pieces of other fog,

and I just kind of, I put him back together. And brought it back to life. Yeah, that was the part with the magic that brought him back to life. Yes, I did do that. And then, you know, it was kind of thing where I was supposed to be making like a fearsome thing that would fight. And then he didn't.

Have you done it before or since? Yeah, all the time. Insight check. Insight versus deception. I think at this point. Oh, natural one. As you get, hey, Valis, this kid does this all the fucking time. And I think at this point, you're just in terms of

of how long it takes to get from Caravan Hill. I think your disguise self fades. And Julian, you emerge sort of intersecting with Octus. Valus, you've moved a little bit away from Thimble and Cadigan. Oh shit, wait. Octus. I'll fly up.

Veilas, are you going with him? I'll go with you. Okay, yeah, sure. I mean, I just guess I'm talking to the guy. She's a total badass. She'll keep you safe. Yeah, I saw earlier. destroyed that man oh hey i gotta go find tayor okay yeah that makes sense it's good to see you

i'll talk to you again yeah yeah yeah i'll i'll protect him okay i'll see soon yeah yeah don't take any shit from julian i'm not gonna i mean i'm absolutely going to he's he's scary I'll pat your cheek. Okay. I'll see you later. You gotta be super excited. It's just you and me now. Come on, Kattegan.

As Thimble and Kattegan walk into Hal and Tysha's home, you see Innes herself, a veteran of the Falcon's rebellion, looks up to you. Kat. It's good to see you again. You want to sit in a room with a dead friend, I've been doing it all morning. Child.

She passes out some Yarraz. And Thimble and Kattegan walk inside. Octus, you walk outside with Veilis, looking at this little undead creature you've made and you are talking to someone who, again, just every step is so purposeful. Everything's so graceful. Why are you asking this about him?

And I just put him back in the pocket, imagine. You're supposed to stay in there. I just think it's beautiful and fascinating that you were able to build such a thing. And as I tell you, that is not the response I thought you were going to give. A lot of people don't like him, they get weird about it, and I just thought, you know. Can you bring him back out? Just on the shoulder. Yeah, he was supposed to be like, you know, scary, and then I made him, and he absolutely was terrible at it.

And so I just bent some things and, you know, we have familiars and, you know, spellcasters and whatnot. And I was like, hey, I can do that. And so I did that. He made him that. There's so many bits and pieces to him. Yeah, I had to work with what I had. It's easier when you have like a whole thing, apparently. Like a whole body?

Yeah. Could you do it with a whole body? Octus Deconis. I'm here from behind you. Hello, hi, yes. I un-click my sensor. You keep strange company these days. I mean, look at me.

I guess it does run in the family. I've been looking for you, and I do not believe I'm the only one. That sounds terrible. Why? It seems there are a number of roiling events as of late, and there are quite a few interests, beginning to crumble. Okay. You are a name that has come up as of late, possibly tied to a dangerous crux.

Your family, you have not spoken with them recently, have you? I haven't seen my family in at least five years. I was at the Penteveril, and then the last six months I've been traveling. So you got out? Yeah, I just didn't say anything. It just kind of walked out a door. Strange, they know what that's like. Perhaps we should speak some more private.

I have some questions to ask if you would be so kindest to do me the honor. Sure, you're being weirdly nice, but sure. I will come along as well. Certainly. I'm going to find the nearest kind of just side alley or shaded corner to have just a very quick and close conversation. It has come to the attention of House Devinos and House Royce above it, from Erinessa, Lady Aranesa herself, that a plot had been hatched to rescue the RSI. Do you know anything of this? No. Do I believe in? Insight versus deception.

Hell yeah, let's go. I'm bad at this. I'm not terrible. That's okay. I'm really bad at this. Ah, that would be 21. That's a three. For the best, because it seems many individuals

are looking for those involved. Apparently it did not work, of course. Yeah, he's dead. Indeed. But from people I trust implicitly, You seem to be tethered into this. I mean, my family did want him dead. And I guess that's what they got.

But I mean, I did know him and he was nice to me when I was a kid. Your family is searching for you. Okay. Right. The worst of your family is for you. is what I can gather. Ha. Right.

Um, okay. Is there any reason why there would be and why this has come to the attention of my lady? I honestly couldn't tell you. I don't know why they would want to see me. They sent me away. They didn't have any use for me. Then would you be so kind as to speak,

the Yarnessa? Sir. We need to get you somewhere safe. They can't find you, and we can figure out what's your place is in this before it ends up costing you or other lives. Okay, yeah. I can go talk to her. Good. Come with me. Oh my God, okay. Julian, you take off with Octus and Valis. Do you follow along? I follow along and if PIN is still out,

I'm sort of just, I've picked him up at this point. And I'm just petting it. And I think too, feeling Pinn in Vales' arms, you know that even if there's some distance created, you'll have that connection. As you head to the Palazzo Divinos, I'm going to ask Matt, Alex, and Ashley to step out. step out. And I'm going to ask Sam, Whitney, and Travis to step in.

Sorry about that. You master. You know, I'm supposed to be hard to catch. Just because it's happened twice. Don't let this be a precedent. Actually, let me get Liam and DeBria here as well. You got some. It's a skewerch him over. Can you go?

I know what's that. I don't know what's that. Paul? Oh, thank you. I think we're going foursies because Robbie's supposed to come more. Robbie's four on that side, three on his side. Do you want to be on the bed? Thank you.

Hell yeah. Oh my god. Right in my ear too. A.S.M.R. A.S.M.R. treat for me? Hell yeah. Um, hell yeah. Um,

um, uh, Hal and Tysha, I think you arrived back, um, you arrived back, uh-t-da, um,

from the hallowed round and a lovely day there, you depart from, uh, Belair, and the paint is all set up, and safe and the work continues, and there'll be people there all night watching and, you know.

But, you know, sunset comes and you arrive back at the house to find Cadigan and Thimble at the house waiting. And I think, you know, in the hours since then, having no idea where Teor could be, you've flown around, you've asked people, there's just no clue where, you know that he had a meeting at the Via Aurora, but after that, he's in the wind. But I think by the time you guys have circled back

to Hal and Tysha, or to Hal's house, as Hal and Tisha come back. Oh, are you taking me up on my offer? Stay awhile? Maybe, probably not, maybe. Have you seen Teor anywhere? No, he's hard to miss. Have not.

Are you good? Thanks for the steak. And Kattigan is pilfered a bone-in rib-eye from their cellar. And he's got it over his shiner that he's nursing from the bar fight. But he's also eating it at the same time. That's raw. You're really in. I'm all right. I'm feeling good.

Fresh and young, yeah. Is he going to die of this? That's just a black eye. I think your sense for nature of him eating this raw steak is that the immune system is being so bolstered by the yard grab. If you keep it off the kilter, it doesn't know to kill you for this. Got it. Arriving back, there's some people you can reach out to to see if anyone's got a bead on Teor. Uh.

Hold on. You left with two. Yeah. Where's Octus? A piece of shit, Sir Julian. Came searching for him. He said that, um. And you let him go?

No. Because Valus went with him. She is. Why do you think that's better? No, because she came and saved us. So listen, we went to the Crowkeepers. It went so bad. Look at his eye.

Yeah. And Vailas came in, cracked the brace. She fucking killed people. Pretty sweet. We just wanted to talk. There's so much happening. Illots our political intrigue. Every piece of metal on her is beginning to go red-hot.

I'm really sorry. Um. Is he safe? Yeah. Yeah. Are you sure? Yeah, of course. Maybe.

Totally. Sort of. No. Leaves Russell, the trees, like branches, sway. Wait. There is a wolf in front of you now. Before you go crazy, like you always do, Sir Julian said he needed to talk to him.

He said that, well, this is kind of worse. He said that Octus was a great. I'm going to jump up. and snap at you, not trying to hit you. I'm gonna darn, I am so sick of people trying to grab me today. I mean, I might be able to everyone else are. Why do they want the boy?

I don't know. They said he was in trouble. Julian said he wanted to talk to him. Julian never wants to talk to anybody. I figured it. And what's the tailor of it all? We were betrayed, right? You know that.

Right? I've taken off. I'm gonna go, fine. Octus is scent. She's so. You take off, give me survival. You can do so with advantage because you are in a form that has scent.

And she wonders why I didn't want her to come with us. Not that it would have mattered. Actually, she probably would have helped. Yeah, you think. I'm a wolf. 19. 19. You pick up a cent and take off into the city

as fast as you can. Incredible. As you take off, I think, Arbria, thank you very much. Yeah. We're gonna clear. Bye. Wolves don't have milkmaker.

My best friend. How? Working as best you can't. There are people you can reach out to. I mean, I know a third of the people in this neighborhood so I can send a runner. You send a runner just word for Teor. Has anyone seen anything?

As night falls, a runner comes back saying, I haven't heard much, but there are some people on their way here, and I would like Luis and Marisha to come out. Whoa. We're running it hot and out of here. Murrayman? Maherty-ta-ta-ta-ta. I'm unprepared.

Unprepared. I'm prepared. I know. Ha-swapping. Ha-swapping. We get scooch. When are we ever prepared? The writers are just going crazy.

You got all the fronters? Go crazy, going crazy, crazy. A moment later, Murray and Ozeney, visiting the Guard Tower, you found the place deserted, but a quick survey of the neighborhood. Valis killed two people in there. She killed the guild master and she killed one of the journeyman thieves there. You know for a fact that the thieves guild's not going to make a move on someone that had that much arcane potency,

but they're just going to go either, they know how to use the systems of actual control and authority because people. So they're going to go to whatever remains of the Revolutionary Guard or the Council and let them know that there's a dangerous elven murderer. All that it needs to be is that she's wearing garb of like, or if she has any sign of being religiously affiliated with the dead shapers, that's all the Revolutionary Council is going to need to be like there's a dangerous,

immortal walking our streets. Okay. And gather that from... From canvassing. Like, talking to people in the neighborhood that like this words all... The crowkeepers are in the neighborhood. And they'll, they describe Veilis to a T. Any sense of where they left-headed to if she's so obvious?

Hal and Taish's. Great. And I think you guys arrive. 100%. He killed Salomon. Salomon. Salomon? Salomon. Salomon? Salomon. Salomon. Salomon. Taramon?

Too much of the hotlands wake up. Finally. I'm just saying. He was one of my guys. Oh, my guys. It makes you paranoid, God. Exactly.

I don't know what you guys are, and I don't know if I want to. So, Azzanay and Murray arrive at the house. As you see, the sort of people from the neighborhood are coming and like Thimble, Cadigan, how you're like corroborating stories. Someone says they saw him get to the Via Aurora. Someone else says that they saw him leave. He was headed maybe about.

maybe back for your house, but he was taking the bridge, like he was taking the Mid-City bridge from the marketplace. That's like the last place you've kind of gotten that maybe he was in the marketplace when Azanae and Maria arrived. Wait, sorry, that's the bead on.

Teor. Teore. Teore. Yeah. Not Octus Teore. This is a lot to keep up with. I feel like my brother's death has set off a lot of dominoes falling

and I can't see the board. I mean, I, I commend. And I, what's the atmosphere in the space? Who at the table is there? It's not us. Not the two, okay. Just as, and Travis, Taur is not here. Literally.

I think I'll go to Thimble and I'll say, well, I saw the work that was done over there. It was Casimir. It was. Yeah. It was Casimir, and Sid walked in and Casimir chased him. I don't know. Sid wasn't involved.

That's a relief. Yeah. It seems like it's a very down atmosphere here. What have we missed? We're trying to find Tayor. I want to get out of town. I want to chase him down. You have a lead on that?

Yeah. They're going to some new things. Some new stronghold in Gormley. He used... He sold everything. All of the shit the Ozzy and I had. He sold it all. So you had a plan in place,

and one week, Link, sank the whole affair. Yeah. It was a small chain. You hear noise of footsteps approaching. It's gotten to later hour. It's been night for maybe a little more than two hours at this point. And you see Teor's frame stumble into the home

along with the Lord Wicander Halavar and the aspirant tyranny. Do you have anything to drink? Damn. Maybe not, Sherry. There he is. Hey, just looking around. Does anybody here like you?

Yes, Hal does? Sure. Oh, look at that. Oh. I'll fly down. Taylor walking. Is he stumbling? What's happening?

He's sort of wobbling side to side. The poison's been removed, but you know, getting your shadow cut will fuck you up. I'm gonna fly and I'm gonna grab his two braids in front of him and like steer him. as I'm flying backwards and like try to get him to a chair and sit down. I take a knee by the chair. I'm sorry, we have either Yarraz or I have some wine.

It was in a box, but not, not. Does you have water? I have water. I brought it in a flask. Hello. What are you doing here? You remember Rikander and Tyranny. I don't remember you actually.

No, we haven't. Hi, you're so little. Hi, I'm Tyranny. We just rescue. No. I don't know, I'm sorry, I've never seen. We just brought your friend back from Imminent Doom, so you didn't do this to him?

No, it's true. I went through their house to try and follow up on how he was reacting last night. I was sent, thank you. It's very good water. I thought he'd lap it up. I kind of wanted him to lap it up. I was sent to go collect something for the kandescent creed.

I tried to learn any information I could. I was sent to go get vestments and clothes, and I was drugged and almost tortured within an inch of my life. And these two, these two came and saved me. You know he's with the kandescent creed, right? Yes, I'm horrifically aware of him. Not really.

How many life bets you are at this point? It's a long list. I'm afraid to ask, but do you know if you were followed? Oh. I didn't look. Did you look? I looked. Give me a perception. Give me a perception check. A what? A perception check. Yes, sir. Perception. God damn. Roll high, roll high. Seven. Hey, Tierney, you were not followed.

It may be very well known, but the Kandeson Creed is not what it appears. The people in that house, the people that worked for them, are some of the darkest people I've ever met. Don, what are they doing here? I have... Is what he says true? Hal, I'm so sorry about your brother. I'm so sorry I couldn't do more.

And I've learned some things in the last few hours that I... He's right. I thought this was common knowledge, by the way. Are you guys all just getting up to speed on all this? I, well, there wasn't common knowledge to me. I mean, I'm not here. What's your name?

Oh, wait. Oh, I remember him. Keep going, I'll put a pin in that. I have recently learned that my entire life's a lie and everything I've believed since childhood has been a string of delusions and manipulations to, I'm having a very bad day.

Okay, so yeah, that's why we, Hey, I'm gonna ask for a little compassion here. This guy, this noble man, just really risked his own hide to save you. I do not know why his family is trying to kill you, but that has put us on a list of persona non grata to his very powerful and very scary family and also my very scary demon family.

So I would love to hear why you think they wanna kill you. Well, I came looking for information for my brother, Sid. We have that. You do? Yeah. Casimir betrayed everybody. He's the one that broke into the hideout.

Casimir? Yeah. Sid chased him down. Sid wanted to know why he didn't show up and he stole a deed. He stole a deed to a stronghold, and Kazimir chased him out. I think Sid is on the run from him.

My brother stole the deed and is being chased by Kazimir. Yeah, and all of his crew, I guess. We have to chase him down. Yeah, objectively, she's got a tiny brain, but she's super smart. It's really big for my size. Yeah. Yeah, it feels proportional.

It cannot be overstated that these two risked their lives for me. So wherever we go next, they are not safe here in Dolmachiar any longer. I have been told several times in the last few hours that I'm in very, very bad danger, and I'm starting to believe that to be true. What has changed? Well, I guess if you anger my family. anger my family. They try to kill you, and I think I'm probably angering them a bit. How spins around, goes up the stairs, leaves. I'm going to make my way up to the roof and look around the neighborhood.

Yes, I've made my way. Do I see anybody that looks like a problem in the vicinity of the building if I walk around the top of the roof? Give me a perception check. Guess it wasn't that interesting to him. How have you been, by the way? Awful. Yeah, it's fair. You look great. 13. 13.

You look shadows on the city. Downstairs, there's Cadigan Vale, who has an open Shiner on his face from a bar fight where two people were murdered. There's Thimble, who is a wanted criminal accomplice, who was left for dead in Theossey's hideout, Teor, whose mentor just headed west this morning,

and who himself was marked for death by the Halavar family, who are here in the city knowing that they did that. And then there's Wick, someone that you knew had a reputation for straight dealing, in a family that had a reputation for love of power. Now you're hearing that there's a malevolent, magical dimension to the Hail of ours, previously just corrupt, noble, evil,

you know, malevolence. And you also know that, according to tyranny, if they have already, it was already bad before he moved against his family, and they just went and lied, or did whatever they did to free Teor, in contradiction to the family's wishes. And then there's Murray and Azunay,

who, to everyone else's knowledge, have just yelled at a noble and put his subordinate officer in an awkward position vis-a-vis a patrol. So you've got two friends downstairs that have day jobs and are okay, and everybody else stinks to high heaven. Okay, Shadia is with her friends with the company.

Hero is with her mother in the best part of town. I'm going to go to my study and stare at my brother's sword on the desk while they all mull this over. You look at that sword. It's a small symbol where the fuller of the blade ends right before the tang enters into the hilt of the sword, where it goes from having the sort of indentation. And there's a maker's mark there,

but you see it's, it sort of looks like a half of a mask, but that half, the middle line where the other half is not there is broken by a smirking kind of tongue that comes out of it. I'm looking at the deed for the land that my business venture and the hallowed round is on and it's everything I've worked out for years. And it is not important

right now, it just feels like the world is tilting sideways and going down an incline. I haven't held a sword, a real sword with purpose since I was a young man. The only blades I've held in my hand have been stage props for several decades. I pick up the weapon and it is heavier than a stage prop. And I heft it and hold it and hold it

it in my hand and take a couple of practice swings with it, which I can do believably. I don't know about effectively, but believably. And I just think of my brother and I'm staring at that face on the sword. What the fuck have you gotten us all into? I'll just stay there with it and do it. You focus on the sword. You. Does the sword.

Yeah. You begin to focus on the sword, as you do. You never fucked a sword before. You see from another angle that sinister thing of a half mask with a tongue coming out the side of the mouth. Oh no, no, no, that's a face and profile and it's someone smiling and sticking their tongue out a little bit like playfully.

It's not actually that bad when you look at it that way. And you begin to look at a sword forged for a long ago war by the Loy family. This is the Liar's Blade. Your brother wielded it well. If you're lucky, maybe you can too. to. Downstairs, all of you begin to feel movement in this space. I think Cadigan, you know that this, if it had happened weeks ago, it would be a foregone conclusion, but it seems like this

happened yesterday. If Casimir headed north towards Timmyr, That's the direction you've just come from. Yeah. Those of you gathered here, I think look in this moment. As in A, I think you also are looking at the events that have been described. You know that words gotten out from the crow keepers. No longer safe in the city.

No longer safe in the city, no longer safe in the city, longer safe in the city. And for these two, though you don't know them well, what they're describing, it paints a very clear picture to you. This is a very interesting gathering of people that don't seem to belong here anymore. Did you have a lead on where Casimir was heading? Yeah. North. Yeah. You know, I've got some contacts still in the Thieves Guild.

I know, well, you killed some good ones. I'm not going to lie. I didn't do it. I didn't do it. I was just going to chop somebody's balls off. Okay, it doesn't matter. You're implicated in all of this, clearly. So you were there anyway, but I could still, like, chat around a little bit and see where the money may be flowed.

You know, you've got to follow the money, but honestly, I don't think it really matters at this point. I think you guys know where you got to go. Dimble. Where else have we to go? I told Daz I would make him pay. Let's go make him pay. Damn, he was another good contact too. He had the best skulls. Ah, assholes. I'm starting to think that we might not be able to sleep in the villa tonight. We might have to find a hotel or some sort of stuff. Oh no, fuck that.

Cattigan has sort of been like, above table, this is not a good look. He's on the outskirts of the party, sort of wandering around the perimeter of the group meeting, just kind of like dancing quietly to himself. Sort of like step touching around, but watching, and what you think you're seeing is, is, a fool and maybe a part of him is but he's listening to him all and listening to

where they have to go and that foolishness starts to fade away and instead of being on on the outside of the group he slowly fold himself back into the circle and at the mention of sleeping in a hotel he just says I'm gonna go up north I'm I have to sleep outside. Oh. Hey, you've just slept outside before. I'm sorry, what's up north? Camping.

Camping. Hi, I'm Tierney. All right, Tierney. Lovely to meet you. Oh, everybody has really big and rough hands except for you touch us. There's salt as a lamb's ear. Oh, my God.

Salt is a lamb's ear, and I would know. I feel it, I feel it. It's just a little chilly in here. Okay. Up north, I'm not familiar with that area. We're gonna fuck off, right? I'm sorry? You fuck off out of the city?

Yeah, we're gonna fuck off. Fuck off with us. Oh. All you two like new friends or something. We all know. Oh, really? Of course. Wick, um, I think now would be a really good time

to exhibit one of your teachings, which is humility. I think it would be a really great time to extend a thanks for listening and a plea because now we're in trouble and we're going to have to keep this act up. Maybe we need to find a way to say that we killed this guy. I don't know. People are gonna be after us and we need help from friends. Right.

So if you have anything going on in there. Right. Yes. Yes, if we need, If we need help, there are people in this room who could extend it. Yeah, maybe you should ask. Yes. Well, in this wonderful house owned by a great man, in the shadow of the death of another man,

I humbly ask for protection, shelter, friendship, Loyalty, love, and I don't know where to go or what to do. I don't have anyone, and I'm very scared, and could someone take care of me for a while? Okay, you're so, you did great. You did. That is a noble list. I can tell you that my life will be in service of yours until my debt is paid. Howl's at the base of the stairs now? Whoa. Whoa. Really? Is that true? Is that true? But the love and the cuddling and all that shit. I don't care about that, but that's a huge thing. Thank you. That's a huge thing, Teor.

He saved my life. They were cutting my shadow into peace. Yeah, what does that even mean? I don't know. Can I just, um, I'm trying to get your, you're flitting around so fast. Can I just say something? He's a full idiot, okay?

I can tell. But he is the only one in his family who has actual ethics. He's the only one who gives a shit and does not want to be manipulating the masses, okay? You can trust us. How's at the bottom of the stairs.

There's a sword strapped us back now, a scimitar. Are we even safe here? Is my family safe here? Nothing I did. Everyone in the city knows that that the Aussie kept you safe, Hal. What about now? You might make some good use of that sword.

You can't go hell. We got work to do. We got to stay here. And here is becoming a lot more dangerous. And my young Lord, if you are fleeing because your family now is what is putting you in danger, we must know what that is. Because the houses of the Lords, they're

taking advantage of the Ozzie's death in there, taking action and quickly. I feel like it might just, it might be more than taking advantage, right? My family was directly responsible for this death and possibly responsible for this Casimir person? Yeah, so you know, it might just make me feel better. So if you wanna just humor me, maybe humor her,

maybe add an apology to that long list of yours that you just rattled off. Might make a lot of us feel better. Because look, I'm a little new here to all this information dump going on. So I'm not entirely sure while we're protecting this little one. But you know what? Good luck on the road, baby boy.

Thank you. I believe that there is good and there is evil in this world. and if my family has contributed to the darkness. Take out that if right now and then we'll be square. My family cast as much shadow as it has light and I must, I must burn it away and rectify it. And I will not stop until I do so. I apologize to you.

for your brother, and all of you for the danger you've been placed in. And you for, well, I don't know what, but you hate me, and that's not good. Yeah. So I'm sorry, but mostly I'm sorry to you, tyranny. To me? Why? You've been stuck with me. Oh boy. This is not your choice.

and I'm sorry. Listen, I hate my family too, all right. We'll get into it on the road. I think that we, so you guys are aware, we're gonna keep this act up. Pious, demon, charming leader. That's not really an act. Give me a history check with advantage.

History? History. Not great. Eight. Oh, do you with advantage? Oh, with advantage. Even worse. Even worse.

Gorgeous. There was something that Thimble said before, that some word that she said about a place that just sounded familiar to you. You see place names all the time, paperwork, the holdings of the Hale of our family, and there's just something she said that sounded familiar. Oh!

Was it in the north? What did you say before? Stronghold and Gormelay. Gormelais. Gormelais, I think I actually did write that down. We have, the Halevars have temples all over the place, and we ship filament. In our faith, we believe that the universe is a river of light,

and we are all ready. I don't care. There is a treasured liquid that we ship around. and what kind of liquid. You might not believe me if I told you, but it's very powerful, magical. And some of it has been shipped up there, and we may have.

So you have a place there. So you have a stronghold in Gormelay? I don't know if it's stronghold, but we do have. Because Casimir had a brand new deed for a stormhold in Gormelay. Did he sell of all of our shit to your family? Oh, dear. I mean, we do buy things a lot and sell things.

How can it be so evil and you have no idea? Insight check, I don't believe in. Give me insight. Hey, wait, give me, Laura. Give me that with advantage. 17. persuasion. That's very good. 20.

I think Thimble, you look and see behind Wick, the person you loved is laid out on a table covered in treasure. The Aussie believed in two things. He believed, above all, that despite all of the darkness in the world, there was always hope that people might turn and choose a better path, even if it was hard. And he also believed if you had a rich kid in your pocket to help pave the way, that is not a ticket you throw out. Thayor is one of the most honorable people I know. And if he says he's got your back, then I do too. What about you, big boy? You got my back?

With that voice. Oh, jeez. It's your back, your front, your son. So you want to go take care of business before we head out of town? What's that then? Azzanay, if these guys need to get out of town tonight, you know where you can get them horses to get out of here. The questions that's running in my mind right now is whether

I choose to go with them. I'm watching the three people from the Falconer's Rebellion that I just reunited with, and now they're getting out of town. And I just started remembering all of this time that we spent together, and now they're leaving. And I haven't had much time with you, even though we were in the same city, working for the same person in a way, but I didn't.

But if you need to leave tonight, then I can help. Hasn't I? We're gonna make them all pay, yeah? I wanna go. You have more pull in this city than any of us combined. Well, except for maybe that shit. Doesn't seem like he has much pull anymore.

And as I look over, I see how, who I realize, maybe a part of me subconsciously in the last 24 hours I've been avoiding. and I see you with a scimitar, a visage of a warrior that was never meant to be. And I turn back to you, Thimbole, and I say, make them pay for me too. You need to hunt down everybody in this city

that had a hand in it. And you know who they are. Seek them out and take them down. Yeah, yeah, listen to her. That armor looks so big and sturdy, I bet your balls finally dropped, haven't they? Boy. I puff up my chest a little bit at that,

but I see the glint in your eyes and that smirk on your face, just like I remember when I first met you. Some of you hasn't changed at all. I will do what I can't hear, and I will look after the rest of the people here that I care about. I see, Ozzy? Yeah. Cadigan settles in by the fire, knowing we're going and wanting to grab this last little moment of comfort. It's so rare in the wild, and he lights up a little hand-rolled cigarette, and it's probably not anything.

that should be smoked. So you're gonna go up north? Yeah. All the mirth and good humor that's been in him in this evening fades away and it becomes deadly serious. City folk. All your drama, all your interpersonal workings.

Then he's... I'm here you've been in the wild lately. Because let me tell you something. It's normal you think. Or just came from Timony. Not for three nights ago. Then you had better prepare yourselves. I am so excited to find out what your deal is, man.

Can I just say really quick? Quick, Hal, I don't know if you remember me or not, but I'm such a big fan. You gave me some fruit leather one time when you were helping him with his diction and his public speaking, and it was so good. Do you have any more of that? And could you also say, why do people pretend

to be other people? It's so crazy to me. To find the truth. How, you have some costumes here, right? You have a couple cloaks at least. Or Brennan. You should cover them up. Your robes are pretty noticeable.

Costume cloaks are easy enough to acquire here in the home of veteran, actor, and thespian. Your final moments are shared here in Howl's home. He wears the Aussie's sword on his back. Your final moments with the Ozzy, who if You ever return to Dolmokyar will be in his final resting place. Are there any final words shared here before the night welcomes you? As they're about to leave, I catch thimble by the door and low with reverberation to his voice.

He says, find him. Find him for our brother. And take a bardic inspiration with you as you leave. I'm gonna say with, with Fiasi sword on your back at the threshold of your house, the iron nail of the Loy family overhead, that bardic inspiration that you take in that moment will not diminish no matter any amount of time

and will increase, even if you hold on to it, as how works for the goals set before him here in this city. You bid farewell. Parting is such a sorrow. I think the silence says more than any words could. At the top of the city, bidding farewell to Theazi, Katakin, the stables of the gray tower

stand beside an open balcony high above the waterfall. And you look and see a falcon's nest nearby. You draw five horses out here at the falcons rest. I don't need one. Is there a carriage of some sort? I'm afraid not. You could ride side saddle. I will, yes.

They don't know what the Falcons rest is. I take my Falconer's Rebellion folks, and I point out Falcons rest. This monument to those fallen of Dolma. of Dolmachiar in the Falconer's Rebellion. Around the pillars by the balustrade, no names written on where the hands rest. The names here in this monument seem almost hidden under shadow.

As though in remembering them, Dolmachiar still had to hide some shame that they did not lend their full support when the falcons cry rang out across these lands. This is one thing I would like to do as I, as they start getting ready to leave. I will start to recite the names of those that fought alongside us in the Falconer's rebellion

that did not make it through. And I will keep that going as they ride off off. Five brought together head north. A brother in danger, a life turned into chaos. And maybe, if you're lucky, vengeance. We'll see you five at the soldiers table. Farewell. Farewell. Farewell. And for the rest of you, I'll say farewell as well, although we will be seeing you next week.

I need Matt, Alex, and Ashley back here. Oh! You know that? Yes, I am. Incredible. How did that happen? I'm real boy. Hello.

I don't know. Swappadoo. I don't put your wings on. Whatever you want to sit. Yeah, you might. You two probably have a better energy shoulder to shoulder. shoulder. All alone.

The Palazzo de Vinos. Gorgeous, lit with fairy light, dancing wisps of magic. As Julian, Valis, Octus arrives, Phelis, I believe you were trailing some distance behind with pincushion in your arms. As you walk through the gardens here at the Palazzo de Venus, you hear the rushing of the river, the plato abuts, the river Vrosch on the far side.

Gardens here are beautiful. Some of these trees aren't from this world. Seeds from far ferry Teotrhusel. Lands beyond grow in this place. Trailing vines. As you arrive, the doors open, your father, General Raymond. Julian, I... Well done, my son.

I am General Remand Davinos. You are Octus Takonis. Yes, pleasure to meet you. I believe we have some things to discuss. I've been told. He enters in. Veilis, do you approach with him to enter the manner, Or do you remain in the garden?

I lean over to Octus. Mm-hmm. Would you like me to come with you? I mean, I have no objection, but also we don't know each other, so that's up to you. You can come if you like. With all due respect, Valis.

It is a bit disquieting to leave you to your own devices on our personal and we are not fully understood of how tethered you might be to this plot either. I would humbly request your presence in this conversation as well. Of course. So yeah, come on. You enter. Cordia's abound. They're getting ready for a big gala tomorrow night.

So you see that there's sort of some festivities around. People are decorating garlands of flowers on the gardens. on the gardens, you enter and see the Lady Aranessa Royce, who you saw yesterday at the funeral. She says, Julian, thank you. Octus. Good evening. Good evening.

Good evening. Maybe there's a good quiet place for us to discuss. There's a room. higher in the keep or if you prefer an additional layer of privacy, we have a bedroom that you're welcome to stay in while we're figuring out. Whatever you prefer, I'm here at your disposal. Up to you. There's a drawing room with a fire

just up there on the upper balustrade, or if you'd like a place to, if you'd like us to show you to a room because we think it might be good for you to sleep in a place that nobody knows. that nobody knows you stay. I understand you're a student at the Penteverell. Yes.

You should know that your father visited the Penteverell earlier today. Okay. Then I accept your generous hospitality. I will stay here for the time being. What is going on? Well, I believe General Raymond wishes to speak with you, Julian. You see that Erinessa looks and says, My lady.

Hello. I'm Lady Aranesa Royce. Welcome to the Palazzo da Vinos. This is the house of my vassal lord Raymond. Hmm. I'm Vailas. Vailas. Apologies for how we met earlier.

Of course. Of course. You see that she looks to you and says, I'll show you to your chambers and we can discuss. Thank you. She begins to walk upstairs with you and says, how you found your studies at the Pentevereal? Oh, fine. You're studying. I know that your family is gifted with sorceress ability, as mine is.

Yeah. You know, being the eighth kid and all, it didn't quite get to me, you know. She looks at Penn in Valas's arms and says, or it did in its own way. I kind of had to force it. She smiles and says, let's discuss. She walks with you.

You see Raymond looks at you, Julian, and says, we have some things to discuss with my son, and they walk up to the side. They get up as they start heading up. Bayless, I think you, as you're walking up with Aranesa sort of takes Octus's hand. I can stay. I don't need to.

I don't need a rope. You see, she smiles and says, and you sort of remain down here. down here in the hall, looking at sort of courtiers gathering around. Go ahead and give me a perception check if you'd be so kind. Oh, okay. 21. 21. Looking out, this palazzo is beautifully appointed. You see, there's a lot of open sort of like bay doors to the gardens. You look out and see servants moving in from kitchens elsewhere.

It's just beautiful and very open. Wind sort of moves through the palace. You hear a noise on a 21 distantly. You hear a wolf moving swiftly. Somewhere far away, your ears are powerful to detect it. It's not even on the ground, but it is approaching. distantly. Something wild and magical is moving on the face of the world. And you almost hear the call of a nightingale.

I look around and just anywhere to try to see if I'm actually hearing this or if this is just in my head. none of the humans here in this room are reacting or can hear what you can hear, but you hear it coming from the gardens. I watch Octus as he goes up with Lady Aranesa and I will. Am I still able to hold on to pincushion? Yeah. Okay, so I'm going to put pincushion on my shoulder and I'm going to walk out to the gardens. You walk out. You see a distant bridge. a wolf running across a bridge, crossing the river. You hear Nightingale song. As you walk through the gardens, you see Jasmine growing.

That wolf needs to get into this garden. The walls of the palazzo are closed. You need to make sure that that wolf can get into this garden. You need to make sure that that wolf can get into this garden. Get in. And when I see the wolf, do I sense? I don't know. Abria, you want to come out?

No? No. Oh, shit, shit. It's the wrong wolf. It's the wrong wolf. Wolf down. Wolf down. All right.

All right. Glitter ate my knee on the way in. We're doing great. All right, I, so. So coming over the bridge towards us? Yes. Okay, so I am going to. You look, and I think, Tysha,

you hear the song, powerful, beautiful, but it's a word of warning. Something magical is happening, and you look across the bridge as you are crossing it. You can feel Jasmine heralding your approach. You look across at what can only be described as one dedicated to the memory of a shaper that took the world of nature for her own

and bent it to her will. And you look across and in this moment, know that doom will befall your world if you cannot find her spirit in your own and she yours. There is a moment of eye, contact and just unbidden a howl rips from her and it is long and mourning and then she just returns her gaze to you and she has stopped and gets low it's something

between a pounce but it's not submission it is what is about to happen next and she just waits and watches you I think hearing that valis hasn't had this feeling in a long time, almost as if her heart has, it's beating again for the first time. And hearing that morning howl, something gets caught in her throat, an emotion, something. I will start briskly walking towards the wolf. I approach at the same speed. You, the wolf, vanishes. You are separated by so much distance,

but in this starlight here, it's an unusually clear night for Dolmachiar. Connecting over this vast distance, the wolf continues into the city, and you walk forward seeing multiple small gates in the walls of the Palazzo, manned by guards of the Divinos. By whatever measure necessary,

you know that a door must be left open for that wolf. as certain as you have ever been about the magic workings of this world. I will cast command. You walk up and you see a guard looks over and says, My lady. Open the gate.

He goes, yes. And you see that just opens it as the other guard says, Devin, do you, and he says, yes, my lady. And you just see, is crying without knowing why? It just opens it and you open the gate and stand in the open doorway. I stand in the open doorway and I put a hand out to sniff. We move from there. You wait. You can hear the wolf approaching.

It will take time for the wolf to go through the city, but this door will be open when that wolf arrives. We move back into the Palazzo. Aronessa arrives up at your rooms, beautiful little appointed. It's a table in the center of the room, off to a doorway. There's a little bedchamber. She looks and says, Octus, have you done anything that you should not have? To what are you referring?

I'm sure I have... Your family believes that you were involved with an attempt to rescue my husband. My late husband. Oh. Why would they believe that? Can I insight, check? I know she was at the funeral,

and I know she knows people that I know. I'm terrible at this. Absolutely not, a two. Our processional caravan behind us was stopped, at the eastern edge of the Tvallmar Pass. Do you know why? Um, look, I'm just, I've been out of town for the last six months.

I only came back because we heard he was being executed. Octus, the doors to ferry closed. because the realm of death is so choked with souls that cannot move to an afterlife because we killed the gods, that that energy burst into our world and almost struck the heart of fairy killing it forever. Your family and my family each have a castle,

not in this world. And I don't think many common folk know that. No. My family has a castle in the golden orchard halfway between our world and fairy, and it is dying. Your family has a castle in death. It's...

Doing both, honestly. It's getting more powerful. And with every death. I know. I know. Your family's looking for you. Yeah. Yeah.

Thiasi was collecting things towards the end. I believe he was collecting. He asked Tysha and, by extension, you to collect something. to collect something. Yes. What was it? A box. Did it have any connection to,

I was not able to be granted audience either by your family or the Halovar. Do you know anything about what his intentions were with the box? I do not. I only know that we were supposed to bring it back here to him. Obviously, that didn't happen. I believe, to the extent of my knowledge,

Tisha still has the box. Octus, why is there an elven warrior downstairs? That is so complicated. I don't know. We should apparently your late husband stole something. from her, and she's here to find it. That is the literal reason why she's here, but the reason why she followed me here,

I can't say she's very confusing. But she's here to protect me. What did he steal? A stone. Yes? You see that she goes and says, your bedclothes and goes to move to the door. We move downstairs. General Raymond is down there.

Nowhere from the carriage is at the eastern edge of the pass. The Chaconis are moving. Their forces in the city are maybe triple what we imagined they would be. Oh, so this is fairly grave then. What is going on, Father? I don't know. I don't know why the Lady Arana. I don't know why the Lady Aranesa was not met.

I don't know. Do you know anything about a, a stone, a missing stone? Julian's kind of head flicks over his left shoulder and list in the direction of the entryway to the plazo, looks at his father. No, I don't. I suppose I owe you some thanks for retrieving Octus.

At least you can follow that direction. Some of your courtiers, your consorts, I believe, are waiting upstairs if you wish to help yourself to some of the cormoray wine. He goes to speak up for a second, his body kind of tensing for deflating a bit. Just father one more look and just kind of leaves the chamber and heads out to where he last saw Phelis. You head out. As you approach, you see Veilis, or where she must have walked out to the gardens. You see some friends of yours back from the Golden Orchard, Jahar, a broad-shouldered, muscular man, goatee-shaven head, Elandria, who looks as ravishing as ever, her hair tied up in a massive, messy pile with golden chains and small glowing jewels,

and Mardinus, who is his impressive shoulders bare for all to see, wearing only a vest, and breeches with seven league boots. Look to you and say, you see, Jahar goes, Julian, I can't believe it. You had work today. Jahar, it does happen on occasion, We've cracked into some of the finer stuff,

not that cormoray garbage, but the real Davinos. Save some for me, if you don't mind. My workday is not yet complete, believe it or not. Alondria says, You break my heart. Oh, don't let me break it for too long. It won't be the entirety of the evening, my dear. But there are things afoot.

If you just give me a bit of patience, please. That's all I ask. You see that he, the three of them say, have a doorway, Julian. You walk out and see Vailas out in the garden standing in the doorway. Still standing there and I just am waiting with a hand out. Vailis, what are you doing? Waiting.

Four. You'll see. His bravado crumbles a bit as he gets lost in thought and approaches and kind of steps up beside you, kind of just shoulder to shoulder. I don't like the feeling of being overwhelmed, but I feel like the tide is rising and I don't know why or how. I have a bad feeling about tonight. Do you get bad feelings often? Yes, but it's usually easy to drink away. But now this is something's happening. And I haven't grown up under the golden flicker of

the House of Fame Magic to not recognize shifts. Is ethereal winds. as omen. You've come here looking for something. This boy is being hunted. My lady is shaken. And from what I can tell a bit in his eyes, I think my father is too. And I don't know why. But the part of me feels like I can trust you.

Hmm. I believe you can, too. And even though you seem a little bit of an asshole, I feel I can trust you. What are you waiting for? A wolf. Valas, you feel your divine sense pulsing within you in this moment. As Julian says he has a terrible feeling,

you have an ability based on your connection to something profound and magical to reach out a supernatural awareness in this moment, your divine sensibility. You feel it pulsing within your chest as you await the wolf. Give me a perception check. Oh, that was almost so good.

14. 14. 14. Unless you use your divine sense, on that perception, all you get is there's something deep about Julian's shadow. Something a little bit thicker and more obscure about it. You have the ability to reach out to your divine sense if you so wish. I would love to. Julian, as you reach out, Julian's cursed.

And as your divine sense reaches out, that curse is not the most troubling thing here. This garden beyond Julian is filled with hundred. with hundreds and hundreds of spectres of the restless dead just on the other side of the veil from the living world. Walking out on the steps to the garden, you see General Raymond looks out at you.

Julian. I wanted to say that a hand from an invisible figure reaches forward as the invisibility is dropped, and a black-clad member of House Taconas reaches their hand up immaterially through the skin under his jaw, reaches inside his head, and pulls his skull out of his head immaterially, letting go, it becomes corporeal again, and suddenly the upper half of his spinal cord and skull is out in front of the flesh of his head, and he dies instantly collapsing to the ground.

Upstairs, with a knock on the door, stone. Aranesa opens for the servant to bring the bed, clothes, the door creaks and suddenly stops creaking as a silence spell fills the room. You see six black-clad figures wearing Taconas symbols. As their heads rise, you see the vacancy of six ghouls, full undead, gazing out at you. And in the midst, you see here your brother, Ethran, casting a silent spell, holding in his hand, a perfectly spherical black stone wings surrounding it. He looks speaking in silence. No sound travels, but his lips mouth the words,

which is enough for the undead that he commands. Put him on the table, open him up, and we'll put the stone where it belongs. And that's all for this episode. No, what? Actually, no, no. No. Don't turn the camera off.

And that's all for this episode of Critical Role. We'll see you all next week. We'll see you all. No, like, take on it. His dad's a head is gone. What? Wait, we won't. And we'll see you all next week for another episode of Critical Role.

No, no. If you don't say it, we have to keep playing. And I'm sorry for not saying it last week. Huge faux pot on my part. I won't forget this time because Matt's right here. Is it Thursday yet? Oh, that's not. 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 Role 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.