Critical Role - The Unforgiving City | Age of Umbra Episode 6 Part 2

Episode Date: July 22, 2025

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

Hey there Critter Podcast listeners! We have a special new membership service at Beacon.tv where you get early access to all new podcast episodes including Critical Role for the first time ever. Beacon members also get things like live event presales, merch discounts, access to a private community discord, and new exclusive series like Critical Role Cooldown. Think of it as our digital Critical Role land. Head on over to Beacon.tv to check it out for yourself and start a seven-day free trial. Thank you so much for your support, for being a podcast listener, and for being a part of our community. Hey there, Critters! This is Ashley Johnson. And Tellus and Jeffy. And we're popping in

here to talk about our new podcast on Beacon, Weird Kids. We're covering so many topics like antique toys, taxidermy, Japanese pop culture, and honestly anything else we come up with. Weird Kids is available exclusively on Beacon, but good news we're offering a one-month free trial on beacon.tv so you can take a look before you become a member. Just use the code weirdos at beacon.tv to start the trial. You can also find fellow weirdos by following the series on our at the weird kids pod Instagram and using the hashtag weirdkids.

So to all the misfits, outcasts and weirdos out there, come take a seat at our table and celebrate all things unconventional, nostalgic and wonderfully weird. Welcome to Weird Kids. New episodes release every Tuesday. Hey there, Matthew Mercer here and you're listening to part two of this episode of Age of Umbra, a dark tale and campaign setting from our recently released tabletop RPG Daggerheart from Darrington Press. If you haven't checked out part one yet, pause this now and head over there first.

Otherwise, let's return to our adventurers striving against the darkness in part two. And welcome back. So, charging into the inner sanctum surrounding the Athenium, the sky gets darker still as you push forward. The sound of heavy impacts, footfalls and growls in the distance. The calls of many impacts, footfalls, and growls in the distance. The calls of many of the surrounding entities. The fiends that hunt and search are aware of your presence.

And they're coming. As you get close to the outer walls, you can see torchlights lighting along the wall, and voices starting to shout, Hey, Walgoth! Gather to the front, weapons ready. And you start seeing many of the Guardian soldiers along the top edges of the fortress walls arming themselves, as well as, in the Spindofir. But you don't have to. The arch you all went through blasts open from behind a few hundred feet back and you watch the

terror gut. SAM and MATT and TALIESIN and MATT make gurgling noises. SAM and TALIESIN, in background, say, Oh no. It's chasing us! Help us! Help who? We're from Desperate Look! Please! We're survivors! Enduring! We're the! They're still like, Enduring! We're the enduring!

We're the enduring! I'm a fellow pyrekeeper! Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, good call, good call. Matt, Matt, Matt. All right, I'm gonna need you to make a presence roll for me. Okay. As the current shift guard on this side of the fortress

is the one with his hand up. As you glance up and see in the light, he's about to let loose a barrage of arms against you. Before they see me, do I have a moment to adjust my appearance? I'll say I'll allow it. Okay. As you start noticing them take notice of you, you can make that shift. Yes, I'm going to

make that shift back into... Okay, do you have to roll for it? I do not. Yeah. So you just go ahead and do Yes, I'm going to make that shift back into. Okay, do you have to roll for it? I do not. Yeah, so you just go ahead and do that. I'm going to use. Describe, by the way, what they see as you change. Are you going back to the previous form you had?

I'm going back to some of my previous young woman, dark hair, brown doe eyes. So like Laura Bailey? Laura Bailey. Okay, cool. She's still here with us. Yep. Yeah, she's still here. I'm going to use my dedicated order born ability

to use one of my values, one of my tenets, to help with this presence roll, which I haven't used this one yet. No one dies alone in the dark. So as I shout to them, please, it is your duty! Protect us from the darkness! We don't want to die like this! Do you have advantage? I don't have advantage. I'm just using a d20. I will spend a hope to use one of my experiences, Lending Aid Unnoticed, and I will, at your feet,

cast a little divine light so that there's this underlighting of divine light underneath you as you shout out. MATT and SAM and MARISHA and MATT and SAM and MARISHA and MATT and SAM and MATT and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and

MATT and MATT and MATT and MATT and MATT and MATT and MATT and MATT and

MATT and MATT and MATT and MATT and MATT and MATT and MATT and MATT and

MATT and MATT and MATT and MATT and MATT and MATT and MATT and MATT and

MATT and MATT and MATT and MATT and MATT and MATT and MATT and MATT and

MATT and MATT and MATT and and MATT and and and and

and and and and and and and highlights. to my investments. Come on now. Come on now. I'm going to roll the... Yeah. We're cooking, baby. We're cooking with death.

There we go. There we go. Okay, so that is a 17 for my hope on the d20. So 17 plus four from the help, so that is going to be 17 minus one from my presence, plus seven for the fear dice, so that is going to be 27 with hope. 27 with hope. As you're running and the ground beneath you lights up as you're rushing, hearing the gurgling behind you, you hear the voices above the wall go, Did you see that? She carries the gift. Let them in! Let them in! Open the gates! Quickly! They're closed behind them! No, they think I can do what you can do, and I can't. Oh no!

You all hear as the nearby gate shifts with the pulling of heavy chains out of sight. A light crack opens across darkness as the warm interior of the fortress, Athenium, opens. You rush around the corner. The sound of the whip slashing and breaking stone and wall behind you. You rush around the corner as you hear airs being loosed, tearing into the fiend charging behind you. Another volley!

You hear a dark shape miss the fiend and crashes as an off-site catapult launches a massive boulder towards the behemoth. It ducks below, looks over towards it, keeps lurching forward. You all come charging into the gate as you rush in. Light and warmth hits you, and as your eyes adjust from the darkness, you just see dozens of faces looking back as voices shout, close it, close it, close it! Shhh! Shhh! Boom!

Boom! Ugh! The wall behind you and the gate lurches slightly. And slowly, you hear it. Here, you stand within the stronghold's entry atrium from this side. Many other armed, enduring themselves, heavy cloaks across their shoulders, tattered and worn, dirtied.

Many of these soldiers are unkept and haggard, the ones that keep the frontmost gates. But beyond just their immediate presence, all the other faces you see and focus on, you realize that you have just stepped into a massive, cramped neighborhood of wooden shacks, tents, huts, large levels of scaffolding built onto the

atrium wall and ceiling of what was once a grand college entry chamber. Now, a clustered settlement built throughout the halls that remain standing. You see across multiple chains hanging from edge to edge, lanterns that glow gently, little symbols of faith hung amongst them like trinkets or reminders. You see amongst the soldiers, civilians and families

of all ages, elderly themselves, wrapped up in heavy robes or blankets in the process of cooking on kettles, distributing what foods and breads can be kept. And indeed, you smell, for the first time since you began this journey, the smell of fresh food. And everyone's looking at you with a tension, with an expectation,

like any minute you might lash out, before a soldier comes rushing through. It's all right, she carries the gift. And you see a few faces look up. The soldier steps forward. You see now the hood being pulled back. You see an elven man, probably in his early 30s or so. Multiple scars across his chin. One eye looks a bit clouded on the right-hand side, but

besides that, rather handsome fellow with long brown hair that goes past his shoulders, his pointed ears there. One looks like it was cut along the side there, and there's a gap, but other than that, looks like a strong soldier, and the one that you recognize is the voice shouting at the top of the wall. Steps forward. How you are. Quite lucky that we caught you when we could. If it's all right, I'd like for you to stay here

to ensure that we have clearance to allow you further within our domain. We've not had the best of luck through the generations of strangers being let inside and for the protection of all within. I trust you respect that. Of course, we have similar protocols and desperate luck. We understand.

Are we, by the way, are we carrying Taliesin's dead body right now? I have 100% of his body over my shoulder. His upper thorax. Yes, yes, he did lose his leg or two. Which, you realize, is the other reason everyone's staring. You rushed in your strangers and you are carrying a charred half-body.

Yeah. The soldier looks at you. Is this... We lost a friend. Two. We lost two companions, and one is missing. I'm sorry to hear that. Do you have a place here to have a proper burial?

We've already burned him. He's not at risk of unlife. There is a courtyard of the Athenium. It is quite full, but we're digging levels lower where we can entour those who pass and have been freed from the soul blight. I will inquire if we have a chamber there, not quite in capacity.

It's understood. A few moments, please. What was your name? I must speak to Nosperior. Sir Derenthal. Sir Deren? Sir Derenthal. Derenthal. Derenthal. SAM and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and Derenthal.

SAM and SAM and MATT and SAM and Derenthal. I will speak to my commander. She will likely be the one to help you or send you on your way. You said Desperlok? You said, Desperlok? Yes, we've been sent by the Triarch to reignite our pyre. You've lost your pyre.

It has been extinguished. It's desperate times and a few parties have been dispatched. How long ago? We've managed to seek aid from Volkoro. We've passed through there. It's honestly been quite a long journey. Only a few days, but as you can imagine, we've endured heavy losses.

Of course. I just heave August's body over at him now, just cradling him. Take a knee and just rest him in front of us. How long since the pyre was lost? Just a couple of days, but we don't know when the umbra will come, so we're in a hurry.

We are on a journey to find a blessed branch. Aren't we all? on a journey to find a blessed branch. MATT, It's Tess Perloch, so I know not what time there is. But I'll speak to my commander, Kieran. She'll be able to help you more than I could, I'm sorry. Your hospitality is already appreciated. I'm glad you could be so convincing. It's not often we open our gates for strangers. If there is any way that we can return the favor, we will. We are gracious here in the Athenium.

It turns around and everyone's still, there's what were now dozens of faces. There's now 30, 40, maybe 50 civilians that have all quietly gathered and are standing shoulder to shoulder. There's now 30, 40, maybe 50 civilians that have all quietly gathered and are standing shoulder to shoulder. You see humans, orcs, elves, dwarves, halflings. It is just a smattering of the peoples of the domain

who have lived here for generations, who have traveled from afar to seek the safety of the Athenium or fled from other homesteads, that themselves fell to the darkness, you don't know. But there are degrees of squalor, but everyone seems at least healthy. And they're all just staring.

I've seen these types of looks before. healthy, and they're all just staring. I've seen these types of looks before. Some questioning, some hopeful. Can I do a quick scan for the thing that I'm looking for, which is not wonder or quizzical or hopeful, but disdain or contempt amongst the rest of the faces. Yes, make an instinct roll for me, if you don't mind. That is a 17 with fear. You glance through the crowd, MATT and SAM and LAURA and MATT and SAM and LAURA and

You glance through the crowd, and while most of the eyes are tense, at the very least just waiting for something to happen, you see there are a number of faces, those that seem to clutch trinkets around their neck, even one that wears vestments, an older, more portly fellow, who has long balding hair, gray, and wears it, a chin beard, who looks upon specifically your troop,

with a smile and is muttering under his breath, like a silent prayer. Beyond them, you see two of the soldiers of similar station and decor of the one who was helping you who walked away. And they're both talking amongst themselves and just keeping a dark eye on Brixton. Can I go on to mark them in my mind? Just to, can I just remember what they look like?

Yeah, you might. One you see is a younger male halfling who has a scruffy beard that's unkept at all, and his hair is a big mop. Dark brown eyes, and he just wears a scowl. The other you see is a very thin female woman, shaved bald head, one massive old white scar

that carves across her darker skin. It goes over across the face and over the head, where she must have suffered some serious wound and somehow survived, and it healed a little wrong, so her head is slightly lopsided at where that mark is, and they're both just looking towards Brixton with disdain. But I spend a fear, and immediately they catch your glance and then turn and disappear into the crowd.

Yeah, motherfucker, I saw you. SAM and MARISHA and SAM and MARISHA laugh. And who were they? Just... I was clocking, I was looking for people that weren't curious or hopeful or full of wonder at someone saying, she has the gift. I was looking for people that were dogging. After the soldiers leave, and a few moments pass,

the crowd begins to move towards you slowly. People begin to step forward from the crowd, about a few moments pass. The crowd begins to move towards you, slowly. People begin to step forward from the crowd, about a dozen or so. Someone's saying, "'You're here to save us, aren't you? You carry the gift that God's crushed." No, please, it's not safe. I'm sorry, our friend fell to a terrible ailment. Please, we would. "'Please, we are starving. Whatever all the gods can bring, the blessings and miracles you can bring upon us. My child, my child is sick. You have to help my child. I understand. Please, keep your child as a... Please, I'll start reaching out and grabbing and reaching towards your armor.

I'll step in between, Brixton. Please, please, I will step in front of him. Give her space. There will be time for all of your questions and anything else. We are on a mission of great import, and believe me, we understand how you feel. The more that you can help us settle in, the more we'll be able to help you in return. A soft apple hits your chest plate and splatters, arced across the crowd, and you glance past, you do not see the source of it.

Everyone kind of, I said they were hungry, they're wasting their food. I don't even know if Brixton caught people saying like she has the gift, she's touched. So I think Brixton is just a little, doesn't fully even understand what's going on. The idol turns around and goes, they think you're touched, they think you have the gift. Okay, okay. I am going to play a relaxing song. And you and your allies within close range clear a hit point. So if you have a hit point, clear a hit point.

Oh, sure. Yeah. But I'm just trying to sort of... You're the band as the Titanic is sinking. Yep. I can't even heal anybody because we have 30 plus people watching us. Yeah, I just want to just try to calm everybody down.

Describe to me, Misty, how this song is played in your current form of a normal human being. Just describe to me, how does it sound to the folks around? Is it possible to, because I don't, since most of the music comes out of the wings and body, is it possible to make on top of this an illusion of a little violin?

Sure, I'll allow it. To pretend that that is where the music is coming from? I'll allow it. So you release some of your musical aether weave through the wings, a pinched tone that sounds like a soft violin as you make the motion. And indeed, as it washes over, many people begin to perk up to it.

Like many of them haven't heard nice music in a moment or two. People begin to sit up. They're still looking towards you, those that came towards you and were pushed away and intimidated by a idol, they still sit where they're standing and begin to build a circle around you.

And as you play the music, more begin to come. This drawn. Please relax. We have all been through so much. We have lost friends. Please give my friend a moment. Some of the children remain sitting and listening to the music, looking up at you.

This little, like, maybe three-year-old, four-year-old is just sitting and looking up. This very waifish young boy who has scraggly, dirty blonde hair and bright, vibrant blue eyes, just dirty smears on his cheeks, is just listening to you and goes, Ah. And listens and just sways with it.

Two other kids come up and listen and you start like pipe-pipering a small troop of kids that you wonder if they've ever heard music in their so far short lifetime. Come on, bro. Oh, bro, be harsh. You then hear the shifting of metal plates and people begin to depart from the crowd.

As soldiers return, amongst them, you see a stern-looking older female fawn, two large curved horns that go back, her hair cut very short, silver-white across the top. Her adornments match the coloration and symbols of the scavenged armor that you wear, Brixton. Ooh. A dark green, forest green cloak

that's thrown over one shoulder, and she has a well-kept looking axe to her side. Yeah. Let's go. And steps forward. I am Commander Kiren, Kieran Tullis. You have met my subordinate and he's spoken on your behalf. For the time being, you are guests of the Selzian Council.

And within the Athenium, you will find Solace, recovery, and should you have the means to barter, materials. We do not have room amongst our halls for more civilians, but you can stay till you can be on your way. That is more than enough, more than we need. And we do have things to barter for certain, yes. Yes. This is very generous, it is very appreciated.

We are very stalwart on our mission, so we will not stay long. Come with me. And she turns, and the crowd parts behind her, expectant of you being escorted by these soldiers into the actual proper Athenium. The back of the entry gate still behind you. You haven't made it more than 10 feet

into the stronghold until this moment. You begin to step and lockstep. The warmth of the interior and the flames beginning to crackle. You see hearths and small fires around that just warm the interior. You see hearths and small fires around that warm the interior. The crowds that part watch you as you pass. Brixton, you feel many hands reach out and brush your arms.

Many of the townsfolk of the Athenium are trying to grasp the one who was touched with the gift. She has the gift. I try to reciprocate in a very gentle and benevolent manner, but also I am deeply uncomfortable. You hear a heavy, and all the hands pull back, and Commander Keynors turn around. Do not mistake appearances with miracles.

They are our guests briefly, and they will be on their way. Expect nothing more. And she turns and continues to lead you through the crowd, which now, the commander's voice, they respect, though still locked upon your troop. You're led beyond the entryway into what is now the thriving heart of this community. This monstrous college has been completely converted into an interior village. Each classroom, each hallway,

each portion of this structure that was used for higher learning in the old world is now small homesteads in shops and alleyways. You can see multiple layers of even homes built up into the tops of the high arched ceilings. There are rope ladders and pulleys that people utilize to get around to the multiple tiers. There are open archways that lead to the interior courtyard

where you can see fruit is being grown, where small farmsteads are being expanded upon. This is a self-sustained community, and you can see why it is so fiercely guarded, not unlike Desperlok was. Even just looking past into the courtyard, you can see the bright flicker of the Sacred Pire from some tower high out of sight,

just barely reflected through some of the low tree boughs. But it is here, within the Atheenium, that you have a chance to rest and to maybe seek whatever aid you need for the journey ahead. SAM and MARISHA and SAM and MATT and SAM and do you think that a cappella group over there would help us?

Or are those two guys playing hacky sack in the quad? I'm the a cappella group that the sign says City Boys with a Z. Yeah. That's terrible. We don't have a meal plan, so I don't think we can. SAM and MARISHA and SAM and SAM and MARISHA and SAM and SAM and MARISHA and SAM and SAM and Are these the gardens like Aliana talked about in her letter to me?

They are similar. Hers is more humble, I think. It is. Much more humble, but yes, it has the beauty, the same sort of natural softness of hers. If this is the type of life she is living, it is well-earned. Yes. Wow. Um... What do we do? I mean, first of all, what do we do? I mean, first of all, what do we do with August?

Well, I think they were going to check if there was space. In that courtyard. Should we take off some of his stuff? We should. We should. Let's just get to maybe a safe spot. Sure, sure. Before we strip him naked. Yeah, we can dress him, yeah. Uh-huh. Commander Caren Tullis leads you to a small chamber

that when you approach, realize it is often utilized as a hold, you know, what was once a larger storage room that's been affixed with bars. Drunk. Yeah, it's used as a temporary prison if needed, but it is also a space that feels safe and within the proximity of the rest of the Aethenium guard

to where you may not be bothered, unwantedly. So it's left open, they aren't locking you in, but you are given, this is your private space for the evening to return to as needed, and you have the walk of the Athenium base floor. The upper floors you are not given permission to explore. SAM and MARISHA and SAM and MARISHA and I know.

Well then, in our privacy, our moment of privacy, we'll gently lay out August's body, maybe wrap him in one of our sleeping bags. Yeah. body, maybe wrap him in one of our sleeping bags, and gently and respectfully loot his body. Okay. The effects that he carried with him, his needle. The wand, right? The wand. Yeah, so he has a wand, he has a grappler, which is like a sword thing? SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and MATT and SAM and

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

and and and and and and and and

and and and and and and and and wants his wand. He also has some fucking amazing armor. Fucking amazing armor. Which you should probably take. If I take the, because it is, I have a lot of stuff, but also I would get rid of my round shield,

which is just a plus one base of armor, and I would get rid of this Guardian's Crown, which is decreasing my thresholds to just do the armor. So if anyone wanted a round shield, there's this Guardian's Crown situation, which allows you to wield a two-handed weapon and something else, but it decreases your threshold. Not interested. Not interested. But I might take the round shield. Do you have, what's your armor?

My armor, I currently have full plate armor, which gives me. Not interested. I mean, I'm sure it's good, but it probably slows you down. It gives you minus two to evasion, so that's why my evasion is shit. So this would boost my evasion, boost my armor, boost my thresholds. Do it, fam. Yeah, it would boost my agility. Do it my armor, boost my thresholds.

Do it, fam. It would boost my agility. Do it. But also, unless anybody else wants it. No. No. Because you're rocking bare body, right? Yeah, I got bare bones.

You got bare bones. Do you want the shield? Nope, I can't use it. I got a two-handed weapon. But you can use it if you have this. But it decreases your thresholds. That's the only catch about that. Not fam.

I would be decreasing to increase. I can use the round shield. I wouldn't have a long range weapon though, because you use a shield as your secondary weapon, right? Correct. Could I just wear like aesthetics though? Because I want, like my armor is so much a part of my backstory, but like use the chain armor

almost as like a base underneath and still have the breastplate for aesthetics. Yeah almost as a base underneath and still have the breastplate for aesthetics. Yeah, you can wear it and still carry the breastplate as just the adornment beyond the actual protective measures of the armor, not allowed that. Unless you want the armor. The full plate?

No, thank you. No, nobody wants it. Oh, the chain armor? I mean, of course it's amazing, but you take so much damage for other people, you should have it. MARISHA and SAM and MARISHA and SAM and MARISHA and I think I've taken more damage for Ashley than for myself. I think you have.

I think you have. Okay, okay, okay, okay. So I will. Before you equip everything, because decide what you want, or what you want to trade. Yeah, we can trade the crown. We can get rid of the crown. We can trade the wand and the grappler. Do we have other items?

Yeah, we don't have any other items. I had a... I don't think. What did I have? Well, we have the, oh no, that's that. Is that like a sword or something? I have my greatsword that I also found that I'm not using anymore,

so I can give up a greatsword. Okay. Or is this how much is reasonable, Matt? Hmm? I guess however much we want to give. However much you want to put up for barter. Are we going to have to barter again? I don't know.

We don't know. We might not be alive that long. Barter like there's no tomorrow. Are we still to go through this in a bar quarter? Yeah. Barter like there's no tomorrow. Oh my god, this is so exciting. Barter like there's nuts in my room. Oh my god, I'm so excited. This is huge for me. You can change stuff.

So, crown, wand, grappler, greatsword. Anything else up for barter? Yeah, my halberd, my original halberd. Gotcha. I could ditch the scepter of Elias. Oh, you know what? I had a crossbow that I'm not using anymore. I could get rid of that.

Yeah, Scepter of Elias was in a big-ass lead locked case. I'm sure it's, well. Valuable. I have old Gambison armor that I'm not using. Okay. Are you keeping the scepter or are you barging it? the ambison armor that I'm not using. Okay. 28. Are you keeping the scepter or are you bartering? I keep it for now, just in case I need it for reasons.

Yeah, it's fair. Yeah. Okay. The guy who owns it might want it. Who is helming the barter with the community of merchants and keepers of goods and traders. I have presence. Minus one to my presence.

I would have advantage to negotiate with criminals, but it depends on who we're bartering with. It does depend on who you're bartering with. Are you, you have some presence? I have presence. If you want to look for a criminal element, you could. What do you have for presence? Zero.

Okay. But I do trade a lot, so, you know. And usually criminals got that, they got that good good, you know what I mean? Yeah. I feel like you're gonna be good at this. I can certainly try. Yeah. Okay. SAM and LAURA and SAM and LAURA and SAM and

So are you bartering with the above-level merchant tile here, as opposed to looking for the underground merchant tile? You get advantage? I get advantage when negotiating with criminals. I mean, that's pretty good. I mean, either way could have benefits, but it's up to you which path you want to take. I mean, basically, I'm better.

I think we should go the criminal route. Yeah, I think so. Just so you guys are aware, if you go the criminal route and you roll really poorly, you may be immediately discovered to be in league with the criminal element after just arriving at the Stronghold. But the benefits could be much bigger.

So. The choice is yours. Did you just offer me hot sauce for my taco? Yeah. The answer is yes. Yeah. Yeah, let's do that. Yeah.

What? So we're going for the criminal element. Any objections? No. Let's do it. No. Okay. We can boost it up, right? We can give him advantage and shit? Yeah, well, he gets advantage.

He gets an advantage. You get advantage already. Okay. Okay. So, Eidol, after you've had a moment to rest and someone was sent to go look into the expanding catacombs beneath the Athenium, to look for a place where you can entour and give your respects to the friend you've lost that's present

and possibly the new friend that you've lost and isn't. You walk through the crowds, and there are looks of a lack of recognition, people that see a new face and follow a little bit, and once you make eye contact with them, they back off and leave. There's just, a lot of it's based in curiosity, some of it's based in mistrust and concern.

But you can't help but draw an eye here and there. Asked a few couple questions. Eventually, there's a certain look about someone that tells you they might be a little more into the idea of doing what's necessary to get the upper hand in life, a life that doesn't normally give you much to work with. And you see a dwarven woman with a knotted tuft of a beard right at the end of her chin,

who has two other straps that hang from under her hair a knotted tuft of a beard right at the end of her chin, who has two other straps that hang from under her hair from a headband. And for what she wears, has very, very nice rings on one hand and looks to be sitting back and the best way you could describe it is casing a thoroughfare. Can I... I'll ask for just a minute,

and I will go over and approach. But I won't walk directly up to her. I'll stand maybe 10 feet to the side and just turn and look in the same direction she is for a few seconds, and then slide a couple steps closer. Is anybody watching her or myself? No, at the moment, no.

Take another step closer. An incredible refuge you have here. You're a new face, ain't you? We sure are. And one that'll probably be gone before the sun rises. I couldn't help but remark on the beauty you've collected in such dark times. You got keen eyes. That extend to your wanderings beyond the wall?

Only if I'm lucky. Turns their head towards you, makes eye contact, and you're piercing emerald eyes meet yours, and there's a bit of a grin to one side. Give it a little wink. Yeah. Well, before you shove off, what y'all looking for? Hopefully the best that this pyre has to offer.

We can only offer what we came in with, but we are motivated to stack the deck in our favor. I hate to negotiate against myself already, but we are motivated to stack the deck in our favor. I hate to negotiate against myself already, but we are desperate. Oh, you can earn your way right quick with a new community by throwing one of their bits of the underbelly to the dogs, can you? Are you trustworthy?

To a fault. Roll a presence roll for me, with advantage. Come on, come on. With advantage, okay, come on. This is it, this is it. With hope. Do you have any experiences you want to add to this that would apply or not?

Probably not, but just checking in. Reading between the lines? Oh. How would you want to apply that? So in taking stock of her body posture, but also trying to keep a low profile at sort of the edge of the city, keeping all of her marks in front of her, but also still wanting to be noticed

by wearing the bling on her fingers. She's not wanting to disappear entirely. So I think she wants to be recognized for the work and station that she's built for herself, but not too easily, only recognized by those that know. Okay, if you want to spend a hope, you can add that experience to the roll. I'll do that, yeah.

That is 10, 15. 16, 17 with hope. All right, 17 with hope. Take that hope back that you just spent. Okay. That's good, that's good, that's good. She gives you a look. Puts a finger up, licks it, and does a little rotation in the air,

and you notice the six other figures that were scattered amongst the crowd that you didn't even pick up until now that were watching this whole exchange, that all nod and scatter. She goes, follow me, I think we can procure quite many things. And she steps away from the wall and back into the crowd. I think we can procure quite many things.

And she steps away from the wall and back into the crowd. You follow her, and we'll say for the purposes of brevity, I mean, it's a pretty decent roll, and with what you have to offer here, I'll say you can choose. Yes, I think we offer the crown, right? Two wall. You're offering the crown, yeah?

Yeah, which is quite a bit, pretty much like, honestly, whatever you can carry from these lists. Oh, what? What is all this? This is all better stuff. These are the tier two improved weapons. They're not crazy, but they're a bump up

from your level one equipment. All that is could be scavenged by them for the bulk of what you've offered to trade. If you only want a few items, we can pull it one by one, but if you give them all that you have up for trade, you can have your run of the lot. Because you rolled pretty high. Wow.

Whoa. This is sick. Disgusting. I think very close. Well, you might be able to get better shield. I know, I'm going to trade the shield too. Oh boy, well this is the rest of the episode. Can I ask you a question?

When I walked in, because this is the first time we've been in a population with a large swath of people, the Bonehooked Glaive, did that gather a lot of attention? Were people averse to it, or did they recognize that as a weapon from the Umbra? Did it have a little bit of a bad vibe with it? I'll say, they were more entranced with the expectation of a divinely gifted arrival. Sure, a few folks probably gave you a solid look.

It didn't help that you're strangers and that mistrust already bred, and those that looked at you with mistrust, you couldn't tell if it was because of just you being strangers let in or the weapon you carry, but it's certainly not an inviting weapon. Yep. I would just get a plus one,

but the cool thing about the Bone Hood Glade is it's scary and on a successful attack, which I've been doing, the target must mark as stress. So maybe I should actually use my weapon correctly first before I upgrade shit. I think I'm doing the Targetless Mark of Stress. So maybe I should actually use my weapon correctly first before I upgrade shit. I think I'm gonna stay. Okay. With this, are we able to also request any type of?

If you look, there's also armor on there and stuff like that, so. But I do, I'm bare bones, baby. That's right, you're bare bones. No armor. My armor that I just got is sick. My armor that I just got is sick. I think I'm going to upgrade my returning blade because it can add a plus three.

So that would give me a plus four because my last one is a damage. Is it also possible, since we're hooking them up, to request any type of information? I especially wouldn't mind the information, just once again for the sake of brevity, from Commander Kieran on information about this armor that I have to just learn more about it.

And or any potions they might have. Potions would also be sick. Or could spare in lieu of a weapon armor or... Right. Yeah. The rest of the hall that they're able to acquire for you, I'll give you in just a moment. Okay. Okay. I think I will take an improved Greatsword because now I do, it has plus six to physical damage.

So it's 2d10 plus six, and I still would roll through damage. Yeah, crit with that sucker. So I now have a Gilded Falchion, if anyone wants. A Gilded Falchion, I guess. What's the, it's melee? It is melee. I'm very close, dog.

So the armor that you found, back in Desperate Lock, you're referring to, the armor you started with. Yes, the one that I'm still want to wear. Correct. I still am wearing it. It's very important to me. It's my destiny.

That information comes from just somebody looking at the symbols on it, and indeed, it was armor of one of the High Guard of Amber Reach. Somebody that was likely higher ranking than the standard captains, probably worked closer to the core of the very, very upper levels of the Basilica Quarter, close to where the God King's throne was. Which means this is armor of somebody who had a station. So it had visible importance, and the markings and connotations of it denote that. Any other information you want to find?

I guess we got a decent amount of information on where we're going towards the burrows, or to the barrow, but any other potential information on what we can expect on the rest of our journey. Okay. You learn that the astrofoundry has been dark since the apostasy.

There are rumors that there are lights that occasionally at night can be seen in the distant bits of glass and windows that remain, but the astrofoundry is more of a landmark for your journey than a necessary destination. those that remain, but the Astro Foundry is more of a landmark for your journey than a necessary destination. You're welcome to enter it if you like. Because it's just south of the Barrow of Blind Repose. Correct, but that's just a point that you then use to or it.

Right, which the wilds are referred to as the Orumwield. The what is it? Orumwield. A-U-R-U-M-W-E-A-L-D. The Oremwild is a dense wood of strong druidic history. A powerful nature spirit has long taken up residence there and had a vast community of

revered and respected druidic Aethereweavers who worked in Lockstep with Ophidius' council. Oh, shit. To protect the nature and wiles that surrounded Amber Reech and beyond. Since the apostasy,

that union crumbled, and a curse took up the woods. Some say the spirit still wanders, and most avoid it for fear of those that attempt to bypass it sometimes are never seen again. But certain scouts that keep to the higher peaks sometimes see something shifting in the wood, tall enough to be seen pushing through the boughs and canopy.

And that's where we're, so we basically like, avoid the Astro Foundry, but we will have to go through the Orum Wild. Well, we're using the Astro Foundry as like a marker to head towards, and then we're going north. Like, hit the Astro Foundry and straight up till dawn. Okay. Oh, Billy. Anything else you want information on, possibly, while you're here? Where else we know we're going to hit on the way out of here that we need to? SAM and MARISHA and SAM and MARISHA and SAM and

where else we know we're going to hit on the way out of here that we need to? We're going to go around the Cinnabar quarter. We're going to hug the water and head up towards the Astro Foundry. We know that that's the best way to do it. It seems like we're here and the Astro Foundry is here. And the Cinnabar is just off to the side if we can. Stay to the outskirts. Okay. Yeah, I guess we could ask,

is there a more safe passage? Clear way. Over water or something? Toward the Astro Foundry? What you hear, all paths that get to the wood from here through the Cinnabar Quarter, are either hugging the inside wall of the quarter, or just running straight through. Speed is of essence, if you're ever found or discovered,

because the Damascus Queens definitely call that region their own. What's the name again? Damascus Queens. Damask Queens. And there are factions within the Queens, each with their own queen leader. Oh boy. Yeah, sure, Damask Queen.

The two to look out for are Yuri of the Emerald Crown, who is a duelist and flamboyant showman who certainly loves to talk, loves the theatricality of cruelty. That's who took Adelia's family. Mm-hmm. The other one is Farah of the Ruby Crown.

Bold and energetic dominatrix of a captain. Her sadism knows no bounds, and the queens that work beneath her enjoy the slow challenge of how long they can stretch an enemy's torture before they expire. TRAVIS, SAM, and TRAVIS, as Veth, as well as the rest of the team, so you really win, either way. Yeah.

Yeah. That's good. Great. I feel either way. Yeah. Yeah. That's good. Great. I feel fucking energized. You could probably pass right by them. I'm ready to go. Yeah. Excited. Can we also get some Pop Tarts before we hit the road? Sure, go ahead.

To that point, S'mores Pop Tarts. They do manage to scrounge for you two health potions. Yes. Just basic health potions. Three stamina potions. Can I have one of? Just basic health potions. Three stamina potions. Can I have one of those too, since I can use most of my healing on someone other than myself?

Yeah, take one. I don't need stress. You guys take the stress. You also get two varic leaf pouches. What is that? These are extremely rare treated like bay leaves that have a historic connotation for ritualistic use.

And they're often, they're kept and grown here in the garden for ritualistic use and for keeping the higher command of the guard spry and ready. But they manage to steal a little bit without anyone noticing. And so you have two uses of this. You eat them to immediately gain two hope.

Whoa. Oh. You have two of them. You can eat these pear leaves to immediately gain two hope. Okay, we'll leave them right here. Okay. Yeah, come here, sir. And one little piece of crystal

that, when you shake it, it almost seems to glow briefly from the inside, a piece of crystal that, when you shake it, it seems to glow briefly from the inside, and it's cracked in places. It looks like it was just a shard of a broken crystal sculpture of some kind. If not for that slight faint glow, it is an unstable arcane shard.

You can make a finesse roll to throw it to a group of adversaries at far range. And targets you can see to get to take 1d20 magic damage. Damn, he gave us the holy hand grenades! One of us. In one time use kind of a thing? Yeah, both of those are good. He's a good thrower.

Cool. I am not good. What would that be under? That would be? Strength? Maybe agility? No, it's finesse, it says that. Oh, finesse, like it says on the card. Yeah. Duh.

I'll take one of those extra stamina potions, if that's finesse, it says that. Oh, finesse, like it says on the card. Yeah. Duh. I'll take one of those extra stamina potions, if that's okay. I already have one, so you guys can take. I don't need a lot of stamina stuff. Do you have a stamina potion? No, but I don't need. But do you have one?

I have one. Okay, I'll take a stamina. And then I took an extra. You should take one, so that way we all have a stamina potion. Yeah. You're gonna at least take one of the health, and then who else?

You wanna take one since you're always getting hurt? It's a Stamina Restore. Yes. Stamina for clears. One of the four threats. I can at least, I can hold on, I'll mark it. And then we also still have one extra, I gave one recovery salve to Amelia. What's that do?

When you rest, you can use it to get one additional health or stamina. She's dead. Well, she died, but I have one more. Okay. I have one additional one still in my inventory. It is what I beat. Because we had gotten two of those in the past. Okay. is what I'd be, because we had gotten two of those in the past. SAM and MARISHA and SAM and MARISHA and

Okay. And then I'll, yeah. As per use, we can always pass them all over. And Matt, we're allowed to take one of these things, or two, or what's the? Depends on what you want. It depends on what you want. Like if you'd.

I'll take an improved gambeson armor, and an improved glowing rings slash boomerang if I'm allowed both things. You guys traded quite a few things, so you have all this at your disposal. If I wanted armor, I know I'd have to like get rid of one of the changes, but I don't know if we're leveled up again, so I can't. It's too risky. It's too much exposure. one of the changes, but I don't know when we're level again, so I can't. It's too risky, it's too much exposure. Yeah.

And I'm taking an improved Greatsword. Is it okay if I also take a returning axe just to have in my inventory in case we get? It just costs the stress to switch them. To switch them in case we get into some like flying bitches again. Yeah. It's the worst in flying bitches.

It's the worst. The actual worst. Oh, those flying bitches. How they did plague our heroes night after night. Bitch after bitch after bitch. MARISHA and SAM laugh. Is there anything else you seek before you take your night's rest? Is there anything else you seek before you take your night's rest?

Anything else we should seek? I don't think so. We got directions, we got info on the wilds, the Aurumweald. Well, wow. Excuse me. There's a ghost over there. We traded up.

We got potions. We're gonna take a long rest tonight, overnight, before we head out. Sure. Let's do it. We're waiting on the courtyard, yeah. As you finish up your... One more thing.

Yeah. Items, weapons, armor, the finest I've ever seen. Nothing is as valuable as a favor. If I could, could you keep an eye out for us? We've been getting a bit of the stink eye since we've been here. And if you and yours could just keep your nose to the wind,

I'd make sure it's worth your wild on our return. MATT, looking over, now that you've finished your trading, she gauges, I've seen your face before, so, now there's a chance you'll be back. I'll put it on the tab. Just know we don't forget.

Thank you. She steps back, and you are given one guard of their type. You know what? Describe for me the guard that they give you. Very unassuming, older gentleman, very live, needs a cheeseburger badly, very baggy clothes, but within those clothes are contained all manner of blades and weapons and a wry muscularity that is fast and lethal. And he walks with a limp and in an unassuming way and never comes any closer than 15 to 20 feet of us.

But just always seems to be at the periphery. Cool. As he approaches, he gets to that proximity and and grins with a toothless smile. And just keeps watch. Eventually, you're notified that they were able to find a corner of the catacomb in which you can entour your friend.

And you are led below the gardens, through the wine cellar, beyond the deep basements, and the now vastly expanded caverns below, through the wine cellar, beyond the deep basements, and the now vastly expanded caverns below, where you can see some have been sealed off. Who knows why in the past, and others have been spread. And you're led into a small, newer excavation. The small alcoves off to the side, some are reburied,

and you can see stone plaques with hand-carved names in them, in memoriam to people who have been lost, whether buried here or just placed in memory. But you are given one alcove. Have you done a funeral before, either? Anyone here? Thank you. Been present for many.

I've never led them. You lay them to rest, and usually someone says something. I put him down, yeah. I lay his body down. I hand the top hat to Misty. Oh, thank you. He would want you to have it. Thank you.

Before we leave him, I would like to remove bits of him that were put on him by the Queen Mother, so I would like to try to un-sew the moth from his back and free whatever is left of his body to be back to himself in some ways. Okay. back to himself in some ways. Okay.

As restful an expression as you've ever seen on August's face. Fix his coat. You'll sell him within the alcove, and then step back. Brixton takes a little bit of the soot that is constant on her. From her time working the pyres. She brushes some off that is built up over time,

off of her vestments. She takes and she marks across his forehead just a little bit of a blessing from a sacred pyre. Just a little bit of a blessing from a sacred pyre. This isn't just to August, but also to Adelia. Yes. And blessings to Screeve, wherever he may be. Their valiant efforts will be remembered.

In the happiness, in the tears, in the good times and the bad. From the sanctity of Desperlok, and the outer reaches prolong beyond. For just because many in our settlement may not know their names, does not mean that their efforts will not be felt. We can only hope for generations to come.

SAM and MARISHA and SAM and MARISHA and SAM and We're good at this. You are good at this. Beautiful words. Better than we deserve. Beautiful words, better than we deserve. Many years of listening to the ramblings of the other Pyrekeepers and the Imber Wardens. I guess it's rubbed off on me.

Maybe you do have a gift. The gods are really smiling on you. as a gift. SAM and MARISHA and SAM and MARISHA and hopefully a bit more so in the days to come. That was a rough day. Yeah, we're going to need all the blessings we can get. We should eat and drink before we rest. Do they have wine here? One way to find out.

Oh. The gravekeeper who led you to the lower house takes his shovel and withdraws it from the ground. This man in his mid-30s, a little hunch, his head forwards, his, death is but a duel. To suffer is the journey. We are the enduring.

And we do what we must to endure. And begins to fill the grave of your friend. To the enduring. To the enduring. To the enduring. You settle off, and through your... contact, nothing but another that overheard you approaches as you go to rest. Another one of the grave diggers who is nearby

approaches, a young girl of 16, who offers a bottle of wines. I was keeping it for a special occasion. Just... Please, save my brother. He's quite ill with a fever. I cannot accept this gift in good conscience. Please, please.

That is not a promise I can make. Please, I... I cannot. I know what you can do. Please. She leaves. Oh, boy. I can help.

I can help. Let me go. I don't want you to reveal yourself. I've been hiding for years. I'll be better at it. Plus, you've got to watch. They won't be looking at me as closely. I'll blame it on a potion. Tell them a prayer has been said in their honor.

I'm gonna fucking bottle of wine now. Can I run after the girl and ask to be taken to her brother? Of course, yeah. This way. Is she... She has gifted you with a very rare relic, a potion that may cure your brother's ills. But we can only find out one way, and please, keep it to yourself. Of course, of course.

And she hurries along, leading you through alley to hall to a back tent where she and her younger brother, probably no more than 13 or so, lays in a cot, sweaty, feverish, under a blanket. It's like, cough, cough, cough, coughing under his bed. She's like, can you help? I can.

Give him some space, though. I don't want you to catch the same fever and close the door. Yes, yes, and she leaves and looks back one more time. Just a moment. So I don't want you to catch the same fever and close the door. Yes, yes, and she leaves and looks back on it one more time. Just a moment. And closes the flap. I'll shut the door, make my way over to the boy, feel his head, hot?

Extremely hot. You see his darkness under his eyes, he's sunken, he's sallow, he probably doesn't have more than a week or so unless treatment comes. Young man, you are in dire straits. I have something special for you, and I'll take out an emptied health potion bottle

that just has water in it, an Unstopper it, to your health, and I'll tip it to his lips, but I'll put my hand under the blanket under his arm, and I will use a Sparing Touch to heal two hit points or two stress from them and infuse whatever divine light that happens under the blanket with my back to the door and tip the water into his mouth. MATT and SAM and MATT and as the glow emanates from below,

he goes, his eyes go wide. better? He has a slight cough. He has... Keep the faith. No, no, no. It's just the bottle. Keep it.

As a memento. He's still lying back. He grabs it. And remember, it's important to look out for others besides ourselves. The old gods might be gone, but they're not gone, gone. I don't know what that means, but we're the best that can be put into the world.

So return the favor, will you? Yes, of course. All right, now stay, rest. I'll tell your sister to come back in, and I'll go to the door. You turn and your arm is snatched from behind. No. You turn around and he is sitting up and grabbing your hand,

his eyes unblinking, staring into your face. The void will take you. Faceless. The darkness will swallow you whole. She is not to be breached. The angels will consume all that you see. You will be darkness. He passes out. And that's where we're going to finish this episode. How the fuck did you do that? Why'd you do that to me?

Oh my god. Something wants you dead. I'm back! Something wants him to come to darkness. I don't like it! I was not ready! We'll pick up there next episode. Thank you for joining us. Love you very much, and is it Thursday yet?

Good night. Oh man! And we finished up this episode. Thanks for coming along on this wild journey with us. If you liked the adventure, consider leaving a review on your podcast platform of choice. We're always looking for new critters to share our stories with, and your review may help a new batch of wayward adventurers discover the show. See you next time.