Critical Role - Visions of Shadow & Stone | Critical Role | Campaign 4, Episode 16 Part 1

Episode Date: February 26, 2026

Part 1 While searching for Alogar, the Seekers stop at Shadowlight Waypoint, where they learn of an unearthed prophecy and those who hold fast to its meaning... New 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 ShireSet Designed by Shaun EllisProduction Designer: Noxweiler BerfCharacter Art by Loren HontanillaEdited by Taylor Burke and Emily "Stevie" StevensonCritical Role Announcement Playhouse Editor: Vinny CelestiOpening Title Editor: Paul FoyderOpening Title Colorist: Peter KoocheradisWindow Effects by Christian BrownGraphic Design by Aaron Monroy & Jordyn TorrenceDol-Makjar art by Daniel Jiménez VillalbaMiniatures Painted by Payton Keo LacebalOpening Title Theme by Neal AcreeCampaign 4 Key art by Hannah FriederichsAdditional Art & Design by Hannah Friederichs Episode QC by Catherine Zimmerman & Paula FloresAssistant Editor: Gianna GencarellaPost Production Coordinators: M Swing & Bryn HubbardClosed Caption Editing by Margaret Dill, Nikki Kindelberger, Courtney Knewtson, Danielle Lackie, Eleanor Smith-Dufresne & Alice TsoiPost Production Supervisor: Tal Levitas HEALTH & WELL-BEINGDue to the improv nature of Critical Role and other RPG content on our channels, some themes and situations that occur in-game may be difficult for some to handle. If certain episodes or scenes become uncomfortable, we strongly suggest taking a break or skipping that particular episode.Your health and well-being is important to us and Psycom has a great list of international mental health resources, in case it’s useful: http://bit.ly/PsycomResources Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Why, hello there. I'm Brennan Lee Mulligan, and welcome to Campaign 4 of Critical Role. Thank you for joining us on this journey as we explore Aramon, a world of fractured kingdoms, tumultuous rebellion, and sorcery that rises from the graveyard of the gods. You're listening to Part 1 of this adventure, with Part 2 arriving this upcoming Tuesday. Our episodes typically arrive on the Critical Role podcast network a week after our initial Thursday night streams, on Beacon, YouTube, and Twitch. But if you'd rather listen to a full podcast episode of Campaign 4, right when it airs, without any ads, consider becoming a Beacon member.

You'll receive access to exclusive content, discounts at all our online Critical Roels, pre-sales for live events, and so much more. Start your seven-day free trial today at beacon.tv. Now, without further ado, let's begin this episode of Critical Role. The King's Highway through the Cavrosi Mountain. You have been traveling through Timeney, back now into the mountains that housed Dolmachyar,

where our adventures began. And here in a small little hamlet clinging to the side of a cliff, your group, carting in a carriage, the petrified body of Talcedemir Pride Sire being secreted back has been given a plan of action. Thimble, when you arrive closer to Dolmachyar is to a light takeoff and land.

land, getting Belair Lafalia's attention to find a secret way to get this body where it needs to go. The mountains around you, capped in ice and snow, look out from a cliffside tavern. This is a sort of lovely little shepherd's tavern selling hearty homebrewed ale. The edge of the tavern actually has those stilts that goes over the cliff's edge and stilts back down as it sort of hangs off, precariously, this tavern is called the Callers Perch. Oh. And you sit in piping some refreshments as food and tack are acquired by your fellow adventurers for your mounts now that the,

you know, long journey up the mountainside. Now you have an even longer journey heading back down. You're probably now within striking distance, like end of tomorrow's journey will get you back to Dolnockyard. Seated at the table, tyranny. Jasavi's knife, the beautiful knife that Kattegan took rudely and abruptly from you after you rudely and abruptly stole it.

I could not. It was rude and everyone was rough. Shimmering, silvery, reflective blade, the steel, polished and well cared for. Even the parts of it that are scratched, seemed to be scratched, telling a story of the love that was used in its many years of faithful service.

And the handle dyed pink with crushed rose petals, bone taken from the shrine of one of the hounds. You see there are still polished and made into a working handle. There's been some care and love put into this blade by Cadigan. But even holding the bone in your hand, there's so many things. things at work here, rose petals and the sweet smell of flowers, the nourishment of a gift given to a faithful hound, loyalty and love, looped back over and over and honed like a smith

working at a blade. You look into the sheen of the knife and you see a beautiful woman. She's all and fair and you see her in something like a, give me a perception check actually as you peer at the blade. Four, well, yeah. Minus one. Holding the blade, you get a three and the image fades abruptly. She's hot. She's really hot.

She turns with a kind of relaxed, a blissful exhaustion that marks her as a parent. You see that she looks out in the last moment as the vision kind of fades from you. You see her turn around and for a second, as you sort of lose the vision in this moment, you hear her go, Esme? Did you?

And the voice is gone. Kattegan, you hear nothing of the sort, but just see tyranny, I think, staring into the steel of this knife across from you. Not bad, right? I mean, I don't know you had such an eye for design. I'm like three Yargaas shots deep right now, and I don't know, my eyes are, I think, playing tricks on me.

How did you find time to do this? Oh, you know. Lowe, you tend to go to bed a bit earlier than I do. And you're right, I do have an eye for design. I saw you. Pink, handle, pink. Yeah. Yeah.

It's pink, and I'm pink. Yeah. You got it. You got it. This isn't a romantic thing, right? What? No. Okay.

It's not a romantic. You know, it's funny that, you know, you really feel like I could have used this knife. And it's really beautiful, and I love it. It's the only time anybody's ever given. anything, really. When I look at it, I'm like, wow, you're such a bad person. Me? No, me. Oh, you. When I see it, because it reminds me of the bad stuff that I did, but I love it. And so it's like, wow, this is such a beautiful gift from a friend. And I'm looking at it, and I'm like, wow, you don't deserve anything.

That's, is that, I don't know. I feel. Are you asking me for some sort of advice? No, no, you already, listen, I feel like the knife is a symbol of like, you know, just remember to not be, not steal so much and hurt people's feelings on purpose. But I don't know, it's just, it's so beautiful.

It's such a beautiful item that you made. And it's crazy that every time I look at it, it hurts my feelings about myself. But please don't regret it. I love it. It's a great gift. Obviously that wasn't my intention. No. But you're, how do I say this,

you're allowed to feel how you want to feel about it, I guess. Yeah, sure. I mean, look, I made it, but it's for you. It means whatever it needs to mean to you. But, um, For what it's worth, I haven't known you very long, but I haven't seen you do anything terrible, I don't think.

Okay. I mean, a little nasty, a little weird from time to time. Eating and sniffing and finger eating and all the dirty stuff is not quite for me, but I get it. It's your whole deal. You can be whatever you want to be. I don't care. I will decide to have complicated feelings towards this knife because it reminds me of my friend Kattegan

and it also reminds me that I have a responsibility to not hurt people who are nice to me. Cattigan, what are you thinking in this moment? Women are tough. Tyranny, you hear Cattigan say women are tough as loud and clear as a doubt. Yeah, yeah. What? I'm so tough.

Oh, was that? Was that out loud? I'm a woman. I'm a woman. Yeah. And I'm tough. And I'm tough. Thank you so much.

Good. Are you tough though? Where is Wick? I don't know. Where is Wick? Go ahead and give me a perception check if you'd be so kind of cat again. Okay, cool. And...

Hey, you and me are equally in our cups, apparently. Perception, a nine. A nine. You look around, much like they did way back in Ty Brees Lee, they took, he and Teor are off trying to acquire some amenities somewhere. And I think tyranny, sort of looking around and being adrift here, give me a perception check if you'd like, but you can also give me an insight check at the same time.

Both great. Both great. 11. 11 perception, and then give me an insight check. Two. Two. On that insight check, Kagan, as you look for WIC, what are you thinking?

He's with Teor? He's with Tehr, yeah. I probably haven't thought about WIC in a hot minute if he's with Teore. I think that's like putting a child with your most trusted character. So as you make the perception check, what are you actually kind of like looking for?

I mean, obviously immediate vicinity, first of all. Definitely not with us, but we have the previous knowledge that he's out about in town? Out and about in town. You look out, this is like a very, this is on the King's Highway, but you're into the little hamlet off the road a bit.

So all you're seeing are common shepherds and like herders and things like that. Yeah, he's all right, he's with tail. It'll be fine. They'll be back when they're back. What is it about being without him that makes you so nervous? I feel like he's gonna,

I feel like he's gonna make things so much worse for himself. I mean, I just, Trust hair, I think he's gonna be fine, but he needs me. He needs me. I invented this new drink, by the way. You take a shot of Yargaas and you drop the whole glass in an ale, and then you have to drink it before the ale curdles.

Do you wanna try it? You definitely invented this. Yeah, no one's ever done this before. Ever in my entire life. Boink, blank. On that 11 perception as another shot goes down the hatch tony, you look down at the knife, and see within it,

Teor's reflection right behind Cadigan. And you see Teor and Kattegan, but in this reflection, Cadigan is like much younger, and you see Teor picking up Katagan in his arms injured. And there's a moment of something they share, badly injured, but like a laugh

or a joke, something along those lines. And it's, again, you're looking at it, like as you're holding the knife in your hand, like, you know, when you can catch a little bit of sunlight and kind of direct it with a knife, but it's so hard to have the dexterity, to catch it perfectly to send it where you want to send it. That moment of Teor holding Kattegan,

as clear as day, like your own reflection in the knife's blade, you lose it again. I gotta be subtle about this, okay. Kat, Katagan. Do you and Tay are are boyfriends? What? I don't know, I just had this thought about you guys holding each other.

I don't, that came out, I don't think about you holding each other, but I think about, do you guys have some kind of history? Yeah, we're, are you asking if we're lovers? Or we've been lovers in the past? No, no, I don't think I am, but were you? I don't believe you. What else is boyfriends mean to you? I don't know, boyfriends, girlfriends,

You're just friends that are boys and girls. You can just be anything. I mean, what I guess you could be? You tell me what you guys were to each other. You guys clearly, like, there was something. Because Wicc and I came in, and there was already a dynamic at play. And I'm just trying to get, we're going to be working together. I'm trying to get a sense of.

We are, we are battle buddies. Is that what you call it? Come on. Tierra. You do this stuff on everyone. Give me a perception check with advantage. Battle buddies. Six.

Oh, wait, with the advantage. Perception. What? So it was actually a four, not a six, because it was a minus one. So I am, listen. You are drunk as can be. So all you see is you look,

and the blade is starting to sort of, honestly, fuck up a little bit. It's like, you like, You're getting weird scrambles of things Cattigan is not saying out loud. You're really altered. You look in the blade and you see Cattigan and Teor embracing each other very sensually.

You don't think this is a, you think you're kind of inventing this in your minds. I'm watching TV. You're watching TV. But you do see. Sorry, I gotta watch my show. You do see that Teore set, look, in your vision, this you're having in the knife,

looks and goes, Categan. And you see that Cadegan looks and goes, Marien. Oh. Ha, yeah, yeah, yeah. Do you see it? Hey, look at this. You remember the knife that you got me? Do you see anything?

Do you see anything in here? Is there anything that's happening? Yeah, yeah. I'll got a little bit of glue when I put the tang. It's full tang. No, you're not like seeing visions in the knife. You're not seeing a beautiful stage play. I'm not quite that fucked up.

Yeah. Marian? Oh, I said Mariana. Mariana? Mariana? Mariana? Does that mean anything to you? anything do? Well, before I say why I know that name, you tell me because I think that you're

not seeing what I'm seeing from this knife. What did you hear that name? Just now. Is it, okay, I hope that you believe me. This is a crazy thing to say, but you gave me this knife and I can like see stuff in it. It's like, I saw the, what I think is the woman who, who was married to the guy that I stole this from, sorry to him. And then I saw him looking for the knife, and then I saw you and Tehrugging, and then I heard the name Mariana.

Cattigan goes to grab the knife, but he doesn't take it. You could, yeah. Is this thing on? Cadigan. Do I see anything in this knife? Cadigan, you do see something in the knife. I do. Okay. Give me a perception check.

And we're gonna roll here, and I want you to roll two dice, but we're gonna take the one farthest from 10, so it will either be very good or very bad. Okay. The furthest from 10, seven and 12. Seven will be the furthest from 10. You look at the knife and you do see something. very haggard staring back at you.

You, oh, Brennan. And you see a little bitch. Oh, fuck. That's really savage. You got me. Oh, fuck. You stare into the knife. Whatever magic is of tyranny does not avail itself to you.

Whatever speaks to her does not speak to you. and the things which used to speak to you are gone. If I hurt you in some way by saying that I'm trying really hard to not to, sometimes things are just happening with me. I'm just trying to understand for a minute. I'm just trying to understand. You said you saw a woman in the knife? Yeah, I saw a woman in, but.

What does she look like? She's tall, beautiful. And I think that she seemed a little, a little tired. I think she was a mom. I think it might have been the mom. Was that Marianna? Because Tara was the one saying Marianna.

Could you just not say that name for a moment? Sure, I'll say, mm. You don't have to make up a name. Did she have freckles? Yeah, so many. Cattigan just starts to sort of devolve in and shut down, for lack of a better word. I don't know what to do with this information.

Tyranny, you're always of sitting people. Thankfully, you've gotten yourself to a level of inebriation where escape is closer by mouth than by foot. And tyranny, as you look at Cadigan, who you, daughter of the Prince of Suffering, cannot seem but help to hurt those close to you. The last thing we see here in this moment

is you feel a sudden nuzzle of a wolf by your side as wolf-rick noses at the knife. And that's all for this moment, which will continue this adventure on another episode of Critical Role. Finally, finally I learned something about your ass. Finally. Hello friends and welcome to the Critic Role announcement playhouse.

Wee. We're very excited to announce our collaboration with Steady Hands. Steady Hands is known for their wearable fandom designs. I'm a huge fan of their stuff already and so I'm so excited we've partnered with them to create a very special Mighty Nine Tribute Collection. Each item in the collection references a different party member. Oh, including subtle pieces like the Frumpkin and flame patterned Caleb one, or a much more direct reference like the cardigan version

of Molly's coat. Look at this. They're so soft. There's so many. And Jester gets too because she's special. The collection is now available at steady dash hands.com. Boom! Very cozy.

They're so comfy. They're so comfy. Is that a cat? And that's really, really. Oh, get territorial. Don't get a gritorial. All right. It's so soft.

We also just announced Darrington Press's new game, A Familiar Find. It will be available April 7th on the Darrington Press website in Critical Role Shops and at Darrington Press Guild stores. Guys, this is really fucking cute. A familiar find is a lighthearted card game where you play as an animal companion, racing across all corners of Exandria to gather magical ingredients. But you're not alone.

There are rival friends. familiar's looking nearby, attempting to set traps and sabotage your plans at every turn. And packed inside this, a travel-sized game box are poker-sized cards for easy game play on the go, 13 location cards with various effects on the game, and 10 familiar character boards, each with their own unique abilities, including one from the first three campaigns of Critical Role, Trinket, Mr. and Pate. So a familiar find was designed by Ian Zhang and with art by John Ramsey and Svetlana Kucharevenko. And if you grab your copy from your local Daryton Press Guild store,

you'll have a chance to receive unique location promo cards with your purchase. For info, head over to Darytonpress.com slash A Familiar Fine. It's really cute. And fun. Yay! Ashley, you got something to talk about too. Hello! All right, so CRF's 10-year anniversary auction was bonkers and more than any of us could have imagined. So thank you so much for all your support.

And we hope that all who won are enjoying your cruise. Critical Role relics and treasures. With that said, it is a new year, and we are hitting the ground running. So this month, the Critical Role Foundation is highlighting one of our long-term charity partners First Nations Development Institute. Yay!

So this means that all donations and CRF merch purchases made in the month of February will be set aside for this organization with a mission to uplift economies and lifeways of Native community, the money raised goes to programs that focus on agriculture and food system investments, stewardship of native lands, and advocacy for native economic justice. And you have until February 28th. So if you are able to donate or would like to learn more about the First Nations Development Institute,

or if you just want to learn more about CRF in general, head on over to critroil.com slash foundation. Yay! Thank you so much, Ashley. I forgot to show this one off, too. This is a yasha hoodie. Show the back. I'll show the back. And then we got...

Bowding, roll. We got a skeleton wing and a furry wing, or feather wing, not furry. Whatever. That's fine, we got there. We know. Okay. Travis.

You're up, buddy. Oh, yes. We have something very exciting to show you. It is something some friends of ours have been working really hard on, and now it is finally here. So please take a look. Oh.

Draw your weapon. The tabletop role-playing show where the players literally draw their weapons, among other things. The players will all be recording the moments of the game sessions through hand-drawn depictions of the action and role play. Let's meet the team that will be making up our adventuring party. Rishon Mady Scott, Sean Glaze, Heather Mahler, Jason Charles Miller. And the game master of Draw Your Weapons, Josh Knapp. Without a word, just scowls and slaps you across the face. I slap her across the face.

And a special guest this episode is, What do you think he has in store for our party, Blaine? We're about to fight it out. Oh, God. A match of a twin. Yes. Holy shit. Critical hit.

Let's go. Do you weapons. I can't wait to see who spills first blood. Amazing. Can't wait for you guys to check it out. Draw your weapons is a new actual play with our friends. at Tipmouse, and it is coming to Beacon. Episodes premiere at 7 p.m. Pacific Standard Time

starting February 25th, only on Beacon. Don't miss it. Woohoo! All right. And with that, I think it's time for us to jump back into Aramon. To tonight's episode of Critical Roll. Last we left off, our adventurers had made their way to Castle Torch, borne aloft over the skies of Helva, by the Eagle Altradler in a sky carriage taken

from the Druids of the Schoongarten, your allies in that elder of the Circle of Seasons, Amida, as well as the Druids of the Circle of Stone, the Circle of the Hunt, accompanied through a massive fight across the sky between spirits of the dead and the weather itself, lightning called down, by Hannan, Elven Dr. in the form of a mighty hawk.

Flying through the night, you arrived outside of Castle Torch, Gherwin, the far east of Helvar, quite close to the beginning of the Barodell, a land cursed by the destruction of a god. Castle Torch, you discovered many former paramours of one Julian de Venus. You discover. Business companions.

Business, these are my, if I hear you call me a business companion one more time. But if you do it in the accent, I'm kind of fine with it. Yeah. Don't know. Dura. And you spoke to Captain Luca Fadrin, who discovered there in the room with you at the top of this Palisade Castle. You discovered that the Barrow including young Aligar, had been sent out with head ranger Biersa Kagrakowalek into the Eternal

Knight, given a missive by Petra and Raya to Conis that was told to Dame Gaia Saromaii was a missive from the Revolutionary Council. So a little bit of confusion and muddling between the authority of the sundered houses and that of the Barrow Guard and its proper authority in the Revolutionary Council atop the Grey Tower in Dolmancyard. Dame Gaya seemed dishonored and ashamed, did not tell her commanding officer

where the command had actually come from and was relieved of her position and placed under the command of Octus Taconas. You also parted ways here with the Lady Aronessa Royce. who bid you all a fond farewell as she headed north with the Half-Oark Knight, Sir Tonneveld Cozingblad, who journeyed north with her to find what fate

had befallen the Golden Orchard, the seat of House Royce. We also had, I think, a lovely point of connection in the night between Phyllis and Octus, flying aloft over the skies, and beautiful parting words between Aranessa and Tysha, her sister still, who knows that you now go seek her nephew, your son, Aligar Fang, out there somewhere in the wastes. What? Trini.

Also an accomplished drinker, which you also didn't know hearing about. Yeah, that's right. That's right. Mother should be proud of their great deeds. Your horses spur now forward from Castle Torch towards the shadow light waypoint, an area that is held by the circle of ancients, by Tysha's order of druids. We return now to Helvar in the world of Aramon

as your horses speed in the direction of a cursed land in which you must not travel yet will. As you approach the shadow light waypoint on horseback, you see that thin band of nighttime sky that hugs the horizon. It stays thin for quite a while until suddenly you can feel sort of the road bending,

There's a moment where you enter into a sunset. Sunset comes sort of fast. Rather than the sun moving suddenly into the Western sky, you actually see that the sun begins to sort of fade or peel north. It moves as you are traveling each step of the horse, the sun almost in that way where at the very end of the day, the sun seems to move so rapidly

that you can almost watch it moving with the naked eye, where there's enough humidity that looking directly at the sun no longer hurts your eyes. Traveling on horseback, the sun moves almost as swift as if you were tracing your finger in the movement of an arm towards the north, and you hear the busy noise of a campsite up ahead. The sun moves almost to the part of the horizon.

It would be if you were in the busy noise, the far Arctic or sub-arctic reaches of a planet. That in other words, it hugs a hemisphere as though the equator has moved farther away from where you are. You look out, see Torchlight. Here, sort of loud, gregarious voices work. There are some wagons being packed.

You look and see a druidic encampment. This place is, filled with canvas tents, but also you see that there are less supplies than you would imagine for an encampment of some 200 strong. There is a massive banquet table piled high with Kahadi fruit and produce.

There's just open food resting out in the center of the campsite. There are a large number of wild animals here, some that can be considered perhaps wild shaped druids, others seem to be companions, and you see a number of orkish paladins. You would recognize these, Tysha and probably Julian

as well from serving in combat, as members of the Order of Roses. You see that towards the front of the camp, directing one of the wagons, is a tall, broad-shouldered, handsome, orkish paladin. He has a few sort of levels, of scrub or facial, like a very thick mustache, little bit of a goatee that's grown in,

and then like a five o'clock shadow where he would normally shave, shaggy black hair, pointed green ears. He is wearing a set of full plate mail that is constructed partially of Delmachiar steel, but also partially of wood. You see that the plates that are set into it cover sort of the central areas of the wood,

but around the edge of the plates, you see that there is painted wood where they're set in. So it's sort of this armor, all the good, it looks incredibly light on his body as he's wearing it. And where the wood touches his skin, you see that moss grows into his body, and there are small snow white blossoms that run throughout the joints, that it looks like he is truly wearing,

a shirt and breeches of moss under the armor. With a... Does anyone else want flower pants? I want flower pants. I want flower pants. You also see that he has his halberd as a thick wooden haft that you can see is green with life, living wood that grows into the head of a halberd

only the very outer cutting edge and the top spikes are made of steel. The rest of the weapon seems to be made of living wood. And behind, you see he's got a big flower tucked behind his ear, as many of the paladins here seem to be decorated or adorned with flowers. And you see that unlike one that is being kept or suddenly wilting, the flower actually extends past his ear,

twined through his hair with roots growing into the moss that is set into the breastplate of his wooden and steel armor. You look over as you approach. You see he's directing some of his order towards a set of wagons. You see there are these enormous ridge-horned water buffalo that are pulling these large sort of caravan carriages. He turns around to see your approach,

and you recognize this as Sir Obza's He turns around to behold you approaching, looks over and says, Sir Divinos, do we have some word from Castle Torch? Sir Clah, we have some word. There is many strange things shifting on the wind as of these recent days, but we would ask for the time being for at least a moment's respite,

as me and my companions here are too concerned. continue heading east into shadow. You see that as you approach, he looks and beholds Tisha. Tisha, you clearly have met Obzaz before. Do you think you, how well would you know someone running the Shadowlight waypoint? I honestly think that she probably has

a pretty casual relationship, so it's almost familial, but for the sake of whatever good vibes I have with Sir Julian right now, you can see She's like holding back the urge to like little cousin, a full paladin heart at work, and she's just like, don't auntie, no, no. You see that he holds a fist to his chest and says, my lady, Tisha.

And I send a little message, how are you? How is your mom? She's doing okay, she's better now. Great. You see that he turns. You need to shave. What's that? You need to shave.

Why? Have you touched your face lately? Well, your rose is about to get shredded by whatever this is. He looks at and says, you know. Welcome, welcome. He looks and says, welcome to the shadow light waypoint. I am Sir Obza's claw. This is you've come at a time we're probably about another day or two

away from heading out to Venatus. Didn't you just come back? Just got back? I will let Sir Julian explain. Well, as much is needed at the moment, my first question is, have you heard anything from Kagra Kovakowalak and their troop that I believe was sent out towards Vanathis not too long ago?

Yes, they came through about 180 strong heading towards Tanisar. Has there been any sight or word from them since? You see, he says, T'da-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta. Shrugs and says, it was supposed to be a short-range mission, but we've had no word back. Very well.

We are to. Something that large, they weren't gonna move fast. I assumed that there was a large number of them, far more than a scouting party. Indeed. The pretense of their travels might have been dishonest. And so we are to seek on behalf of Castle Torch, the Druidogorders, and other perspectives

to see that they are hopefully safe and returned for both political and personal reasons. Yes. So for that, we graciously would ask for a bit of rest within your encampment, perhaps any supplies you may additionally require. for this venture and any suggestions or recommendations for what to look out for beyond the casual trainings,

understanding of the path to van others. He looks to you and says, perhaps it would be best for you to speak with Masha. He sort of walks into the camp and says, by all means, supplies are yours, if you wish for them. We're guarding this. We're quite busy. I don't know that we can spare any manpower

to come assist you. We are accompanying a caravan of the candescent creed to Venatus. There is a shipment of filament moving to a number of gardens. I think we need more individual speeders of the essence, and I think we travel fair speed swiftly as we are. You walk over, anyone that wants to, if anyone's making any checks as you survey the camp,

see what's going on, go ahead and give me perception or insight. 21 for perception. You see that Masha, who you know well, elder, orcish woman, she is a member of the Circle of Ancients, is speaking to Hannon over in the corner. Seven. Seven. You don't see shit.

You don't see shit. Yeah. There's something like my aunt. You also look over and see that there is a young halfling woman with spectacles who is wearing a kind of scholar's gown, a buttoned up sort of vest with puffy shoulders, who is surveying a number of artifacts that are getting loaded onto a wagon of the order of roses. You can look at her and you see her looking around and saying,

This all needs to be packaged more carefully. The translation of the term indicates that to the degree that the stars are present in the sky, star light can sometimes also mean the ability to reflect starlight in the translation. You see that someone goes over, obses sort of rests of chin on his hand and looks over. New prophecy.

of prophecy. So, uh... From who? Well, this, uh, you see, he says, Doctor, we're like to come meet a member of the Circle of Ancients. You see that, uh, this young, uh, halfling woman comes over, uh, and goes, oh, pleasure to meet you. I am a Dr. Amri Talter of, uh, the totality. Uh, it's pleasure. Hi, Tysa Loy. Hello. Uh, thank you so much. And thank you for your orders, aid and help. Uh, this is, are you, are you, are you, are you, are you, uh, the

the additional support that we requested? I'm not. Oh. But I was just curious about new prophecy. Yes. Well, hardly new, ancient, actually. But new in that it is untested. Deep breath.

Sorry, it may prove to be the winning. She goes, you see, she opens her book. She says, it was discovered in an expedition from the totality to ferret, actually in an area that had been largely reclaimed by the Barrowdale there, but we had a venture in and found the text. The translation, obviously, it's an ancient text, but the language has changed somewhat, but we believe the translation is, when the sword of sparrows is raised by the son of mercy, then shall the reign of the bloody king be ended, and the sun return.

Abzaz looks at you and says, the sun will return. Thank you, Dr. Talter. I'm taking them to speak to Masha, but appreciate your, and he walks off with you and just looks and says, it's a 600-year-old prophecy. Great. Look, it's not like any of my people, our people, have figured out a better way to run at this, so good luck.

The totality is helping. So. Yeah. We'll try it. He just looks over at you and speaks a little bit of broken druidic where he just goes like, this is the eighth prophecy they've brought from this expedition. At least this one mentions the sun.

Definitely laugh and then try to shrug it off. We're gonna have to find something new. I just don't know how to explain to an order. to an order that is trying so desperately to remember its roots before the shapers. I don't think the past is gonna save us. He just pick a little bit of moss and make the flowers perk up a little more.

He smiles. Thank you. And turns and says, Travelers, what hospitality might I offer to either of you here at our waypoint? This is a place of expedition, and peril, but what generosity we have, we are more than glad to offer.

Oh, I don't need anything. Right, I appreciate that. I'm fine. Thank you. Additional torches, please. We need light at all possibilities. He knows what we need. He says, all right, torches. He says, where are you heading in,

you're heading into the night just the four of you? Nice. And you see he looks over at Gaia behind you, the night of Sarah Mai who's traveling, says, five. Five. She has not spoken, she just stays at the ready. He says, all right, torches, provisions, everything we can.

Are you headed into Venatus? If you wait another day or two, you can travel with us. No, we need to follow the 180 as soon as possible. They, to my knowledge, were not headed to Venatus. Yeah. We're going where they went. That is dangerous. We live in dangerous times.

Torches. Yeah. Torches. He looks at you, Tysha, and just sort of goes. With three humans in your company, torches will be necessary for the more dangerous parts of your journey. To the degree, especially when you are under the open sky, that you are able to travel by Starlight,

I recommend that you do that. Do you have lantern and lantern oil? Yes. He says, write me your list of the supplies that you wish for, Sir Julian, and we'll see you outfitted. He just looks at you again and druidic. Just goes like, bad time for lit torches.

And brings you to an older Orkish woman. You see that Masha, sits on a stump, sort of smiling and nodding at Hannan, who is speaking to her here in this place. See, Masha's got this crown of beautiful, like flower braided hair. That's like some braids in an otherwise overwhelming mass of beautiful curly hair that comes down.

She has some crow's feet around her eyes, but also many signs of youth, as Druids sometimes do, of just living in peace with the natural world. She sits there, big green flowing gown, and you see that she has a, you think of it as some sort of like druidic focus for a second because of how she's holding it, which is a turtle shell,

until the shell opens up and an actual box turtle looks out for a moment and then closes again. And she looks up and goes, I understand. It is well said. She turns out and says, Tisha. Sasha. Good to see you again. I rush up to embrace her. But also, can I make an inside check just to see if Mosh's...

If that turtle's... I don't trust that turtle. Fuck that nerd. I just want to check to see if Hannon went full snitch mode and Masha's eyes moved naturally towards Octus. Give me full snitch mode. Same, 21. Oh, sorry, 19. 19. Her eyes darted to Octus.

Yeah. And I just give Hannah the dirty luck while going up to hug her. She gives you a big hug. It's good to see you. How fair did you you were hurrying back? Young man. We didn't get a chance to say much of a greeting

the last time you came through here, No, no, we didn't. Hello. How are you feeling? Fine, I'm okay. I give you just the little look. That's the eye contact with Hannon and then back. I, it's new, but I'm all right.

You're venturing to Tanissa. Yes, my son is there. I did not have time to see the young lad, but I know that you, were venturing after a treasure for his uncle, yes? Yes. Oh, that was returned to Dolmachiar. The orders that sent him and the other near 200 that he was with were given under false pretenses.

We need to go make sure that they're safe. Very well. Obaz, if you would help Sir Devinos, gather his belongings. Tasha, I'd love to speak with you on some matters that concern our order. She sort of stands. I would like to introduce you to an associate of mine.

Valis. Hello. Pleased to meet you. It is a pleasure to meet you, Veilis. You have been to the eternal night before or no? No. Yes, I have. Hmm. This isn't my first time. Well, we welcome you.

And if there is any service I can provide for you and your time here, please do let me know. Thank you. That is very appreciated. Um, she turns. You see, I think, Phyallis, Hanon's eyes don't leave you in this moment, but that. This guy's brancid. My rancid.

Hands and his eyes don't leave you in this moment. I think you see that there's a, if you have me an insight check. Yeah, actually. I'm just not even going to think about it. I'm just going to roll one. Okay. That's not bad. That's all it takes, I guess.

18. Just roll higher. Actually, he just go out to see you're in the D&B. Just don't give a shake. You just pick and roll it. You can't let the dice know you want it real Yeah, yeah, I don't care. I don't even care.

Roll whatever you want. I don't get them a little bit. They like that. They like that. I think you see that Masha, the older druid of Tisha's order, is offering a lot of kindness and generosity in this moment.

I don't know how much interaction you've had with druids of her order, if at all. But I think that there's a, there's a kindness that people extend when they anticipate that they maybe won't receive it in return. And I think you sense some of that. It's not a coldness, it's just a druids of her path don't have nothing that you believe impacts them.

You know what I'm saying? It's just about the fact that she is wondering if you feel the same way, right? Yeah, I think I haven't spent much personal time with Druids of this. I mean, listen, but I think I'm definitely putting off the same sort of vibes that probably she is. But I'm also, it's the fact that the fact

that she is being nice and trying. It registers and it means something. It surprises me a little bit. She stands up to go speak with Tisha. Obs has looks at you, Julie, and says, let's get you out for this. Better know, the middleist. And leaving Hannan here with Octus and Vailas

as he stands up, You see he's got this like violent shock of red hair out from under that like beaked helm, and his skin moves from like a light blue around the center of his features, and everywhere it gets close to like a hairline, it goes darker blue into like violet as it approaches the red hair.

He just looks and glowers here for a moment. I'll just glower back. How are you looking? Me? Yeah, just is Octus comfortable, uncomfortable? He's probably, he's standing here watching you go, two of you go and being here with Fahley, it's probably a little uncomfortable,

but it's just kind of starting to accept that that's where he lives now as far as being this thing. So he's just kind of like, kind of just shifting back and forth between the two of you watching you glower in each other. I think I look back one more time, and I'm gonna summon Hala and leave Hala by your side. Can't give you like a little like,

in case of emergency whistle, so have an entire deer. So how long have you and Tysha known each other? You see he looks and says, by reputation, I had heard of the young druid of the Loy family, yes. I met her there in the Shongarten, the same night. I met you.

Oh, you didn't know each other. No. What are you walking in this world seeking? I don't think I know you well enough to tell you that. You wear a veil of mourning, funeral garb. Strange to see one of the sisters of the shaper doing anything other than weeping for a world good and truly gone. We do a lot more than just weeping.

And I think you know that. You're coming to this place is a presage of ill omen. Why? Where you walk. A viper sits coiled to strike to return us to a world of darkness. I need not know you to know what is in your heart. You have garbed yourself in it.

In the things you hold to be true, you've let the world know that this all of you have. of this is a terrible mistake. Yes, it is. Terrible mistake. And we can see it. He looks at the strange and permanent night

sitting like a thick fog unmoving on the world and defiance of the celestial heights. You feel a coldness here in this place that can only get so much sun on the border of this place. You see the trees have changed to almost strange unnatural colors, things that should have bright green leaves instead have warped or twisted into having almost like a blood red underside to them as eternal and profane night hangs here forever. It is wounded. It is wounded because it was

struck. It was struck because it dared to be free. You look at the injuries of those who were wronged and call it proof that those who harmed them were right. Disgusting. That's not what I said. It is, is it not? No, I think it was a mistake, but I don't blame you for it.

I don't think what happened to you should have happened to you, but a choice was made. He stands. She has not moved from your side. Very often, has she? Well, difficult when you're traveling. with someone. He turns and walks off into the dark. Do you want to?

I need a few more drinks before we have that conversation. I don't know if we bonded that much. Masha walks with you, Tysha, and just says, wish to walk into the eternal night accompanied by a sister of Slandry and the young Tacomis, who is being sought by his family. Yes. Octus is a friend of mine and is willing to help me find and protect my child.

And there is no safer place for him, I think, right now, than at my side. He is not only sought by his family. And there's just a little glance back in Velaus's direction. I assume Hannan told you. The circle of ancients cares most of all for the healing of this world. That is what we are here to do.

That is why we are rallying our forces to march to Venatus once again, to hold a loft what we believe might be the sword of sparrows. Tasha, I will not meet this moment of fear with more fear. Whatever threat is posed by the dead walking Aramon, the young man in your company does not seek to claw and fang at all living flesh.

He does not march with the hateful spirit of a shade or wraith. But he is a dead thing. His time has come. He is a dead thing. But if his time has come, why is he still here? Why is he himself still? These are worthy questions.

I will not stop a sister of my order from what she believes to be right, but I hope you have answers. Do you? This has happened within the space of a week after losing a man who is, for all intents and purposes, he was a brother to me.

It would be irresponsible of me to not own that I made, whatever choice I made in the place between places, out of emotion. But if we trust anything, we have to trust our instincts, and it felt wrong. What choice did you make in the place between places? I saw a young boy torn apart to get off of the path and go back. Somehow he managed. Somehow he managed to do so. Had you shepherded him fully down the path

that his soul might come back to no new life in this world, is it possible that we might be safer from the machinations of the Taconas than we are right now? Whatever felt wrong in him continuing down the path was not just the loss of a friend or someone who was still so new to this world that his passing seemed an injustice.

The manner of his death was strange. It was a part of a plot from his family. And I have to believe that some part of me that cried out to him to go back was to sabotage a plot that I still don't understand. I think the world is safer because he is here, and Primus Deconis is farther from whatever goal he holds. We do not know the goal that he holds,

but in Tanisar, the dead have been walking more than usual. Deconis have been active there. You may be walking into a trap, but you may also be walking with one of the only ones who can provide. If the Taconas were busy with their magic doings there, perhaps he will see what we cannot. I see wisdom in doing what you must do, especially while it is safe. With 180 Barrow Guard there, it will be held and be safe when you arrive in Tanisar. But Taisha, the wheels have begun spinning in what you have done. Could you stand before our circle and say that it should be will

that those called to the beyond, when the time was unjust, must all be reversed. I would never say that. But you said it for him. There was something different about that moment. I cannot explain it. And life and rebirth,

the cycle that we protect and uphold and shepherd. It is still sacrosanct to me, but this was something different. and if only because I know I have stepped to the very edge of our path. I still walk it. I still walk it.

This world is changing. And we keep looking back to the past for sparrows swords and nightingale stones to save us. New choices. Maybe new answers. I will stand in front of any and all

who would ask my truth and my belief of me and defend what I did, but it does not change what I believe in my core. You will not have to defend yourself, Tasha, but you will have to explain. And if in wise counsel it comes to pass that your vision of the world cannot reckon with what we hold to be true,

then you must do what is honorable and right. And if that means you leave us, then you must leave. I do not ask you to wish harm upon one you love, and I do not know the circumstances which prompted you to make your choice, nor will I say that had I been there, I would have had some character,

some purpose to make a different choice. But what I know is that while you wear the garb of our order, you will be called sooner rather than later to explain to someone why it is right for them to accept what you would not. She gives you a big hug and an embrace. and says, I wish you the best. Take care on the road. Yes.

Julian, walking with obsa, with a very logistical thing to do, he looks out and says, what do you require? I think for the purposes of this, we need four oil canisters, approximately 50 feet of chain, if you got sparrots and grappling hooks,

at least, three lanterns, we'll say six torches, just to be ready. I don't know what awaits us, but a place of shadow. It's good to have access to a bit of fire, yeah? Certainly. It's like wrapping some of the chain around his arm so he can get the length in his kind of eyes or just kind of staring off in the distance, kind of lost in thought.

He begins to prepare you guys. You see he also gets some extra thick wool blankets on some of your horses and starts to add some stuff He says, yes, I would gear up. It's freezing. Good to know. And looking out, he just sort of says, if you don't mind my asking, it's quite a,

are you traveling under the authority of the council or under the Circle of Ancients? We're traveling under the authority of revenge. I just go back to continuing to wind my chain. He sort of smiles and says, fearsome indeed. They are a monthly crew, but they are still useful. He says, he also looks and says,

I appreciate the use of the term, sir, when addressing me, but it's also not necessary. You're a knight true of House de Vinos. Of course, but what is it between nights if not pomp and circumstance? I keep moving oil canisters. Virtue, dedication,

honor, commitment, joy, faith, belief in some intrinsic soul that every one of us that has a soul has a small drop of a larger ocean that we will one day have the honor of returning to the whole? Good for you.

Here's the thing. Virtues hold well until you lose what keeps you virtuous. Right now, you have no idea what I've lost. And to be perfectly honest, I still don't know all that I've lost, but I've lost a lot. So I have no interest in your virtue, in your roses. I appreciate the cantor, and I appreciate the assistance.

But I'm going to write into the darkness. And that's that. We lose everything at the end. We lose it all. It's an honor to have ever had. It's only ever a time. You see that he picks a flower off the sort of nape of his neck growing from the moss

and hands it to you. Thanks. You're welcome. And he has the... instinct, like as he kind of turns away to like that moment where his body almost goes the motions of throwing it on the side when he's not watching, but he kind of catches himself and just kind of tucks it into part of his armor, continues packing. You guys finish for that day, I think Tasha, you rejoin your companions here.

I think at this point, Hall is just constantly like headbutting and like nuzzling here. Stop, what? What? What? See what? She doesn't stop. You guys get a small, a couple of tents and a small fire here. You can also rest. Tanisar is close enough, but you'll have to rest in the Eternal Night at least once before making it there. But you guys have your gear and everything like that. Is there anything you guys do before?

the next day before heading out. So, going into the night after your son. Yes. Thank you again. That wasn't what I was going for. I just... I'm allowed to thank you. Have you, Julian, have you been there before? I've been on the outskirts as part

of the training at Castle Torch, but my main purpose at this point is to oversee soldiers, to keep the borders safe. I do not myself have extensive experience within the boundary directly. Okay, you're gonna get it. Yes, we all are. We've been.

And you have? Yes, mostly before it was like this. Oh, so you haven't been. You've just been in this part of the world. I've been through, I've been through it. But there's still lots I haven't seen. But I have seen it like this. It's not my favorite place I've ever been.

It's a fair assessment. The scars left. This shaper. It feels like a parting shot. One last little act of violence. Feels like they all did that. Does I feel fair to you? In your last moment, do you think you will curse this world?

It doesn't feel fair. As someone with experience, I wasn't really thinking about the world, what had happened. A little more thinking about the immediate situation. But yeah, it's when you die. Not that I've unraveled everything yet. You just kind of get, you have a snapshot of the last thing that happened. And then there was a confusing middle bit. I haven't fully figured out yet.

I think it's only a middle bit because I woke up again. But the actual leaving of this world is abrupt and sudden, and you're gone. Did you see anybody else when you were there? Other? I don't know what was actually real in that other part, the place I was. Or what I was seeing was a construct of my mind dealing with the transference between life and death.

What's the difference? Well, what's the difference between actually something that's tangible and real versus a hallucination? I think people's thoughts are as real to them as the things that they touch and experience. Are you scared? Yes, I watched my brother open my whole chest open

and take my heart out. Well, five ghouls held me down. Are you still scared? Difficult feeling. Doesn't feel the same. No. It's interesting. When I was younger than you,

it was my first time seeing war. And in that time, I watched many soldiers, someone's young as me, many decades my senior. Carved and bleed in the battlefield. Years of training, honor, bravery. And almost consistently in those moments, you always see fear in the eyes before they go. I don't know if it was that way before the gods were dead.

Because who knows what awaits on the other side if they aren't embraced by the great druidic path. But if you have come from death, you're not afraid anymore? They may be ready to keep going this path here. I will offer a caveat that it might be that I'm not scared anymore because I'm incapable of feeling the feeling. That is also helpful. Hold on to that. I don't know how things work anymore. Nothing works by instinct anymore. I have to consciously activate things. So I haven't figured everything out yet. We'll see. I have all the time in the world to experiment.

You do? I still don't understand how you were able to stop him from where he was going. I don't think I stopped him. I don't know if that was real or not. It's very strange that you and I would experience something close enough to the same thing and not call it real. Well, I just been like, I...

Was me seeing you while I was crossing over a hallucination, but now that I know that you were, Or dying. At the same time, that makes it seem like there is a place where there is an actual path, which is a whole thing I knew as a concept, but like actually seeing it, you know. That's quite funny. Not to think about.

Your family's dedicated to the passage. Well, they were. They still are. They just like controlling. I think they just like the road leads. The one end. They don't really care about the journey anymore. But to answer, Valis, I don't think I did anything

speak to him and tell him to choose something else. The choice was yours. A quick hypothesis. You reminded me that I had a choice in the matter and broke me out of the predetermined. pathway that my spirit was taking to a place it was supposed to go or was being forced to go.

And you allowed me a moment to consider other alternatives. Joyce is good. Well, that's the whole point of my path. If we could force people down it, we wouldn't have a problem in Venadus and other places with the undead. people who have believed their entire lives, that they are still owed in afterlife

from shapers that no longer exist. And their souls clinging to that belief, even past the point of the existence of their minds, send themselves to where there is no door, and then they come back here, hungry and howling. There's always a choice. So we're going somewhere nice. Yeah.

Sorry I've assumed, yes. Yeah. This talk of prophecy earlier today. Right. God, what is a Sparrow sword? Well, I'm so tired of birds. Shit. This seems like a bird and metaphor going on in our lives.

Golly. As a druid? Me saying I'm kind of tired of birds is crazy. Yeah. It's the, in that prophecy, is that the king they were talking about, the one of the falling. The person falling. Was that the...

I assume it's a shaper. Yeah, I think it was your shaper. Probably. Or, Tonsu. Ain't mind that this bullshit. I just, I mean, it is... You make a thousand prophecies. A few of them are bound to be close to what happens,

and they only remember the ones that are close. I don't disagree with you. The rest just become mythalic. But we do live in a world where, like, people can write things on paper and it's magic. So anyone who wants you can give me an Arcana or a history check. Wee.

I got excited, but I'm not playing a wizard, so I don't know why I'm excited. Oh my God, this is so much. That's going to be. Natural one, got that on the one. Oh, no. Natural one as well. I got a splinter my finger.

Natural one as well. 24. 27. Let's go. I forgot I minored in nerd. Octus, as you begin to dig into what this could potentially be on a 20-7. Archana. By the way, what would that have been

on a history check if you'd done it? On a history check, it would have been a 20, what'd I say, 27? It would have been a 25. 25, catch it. How is Octus feeling about this prophecy that he heard right now? On a certain level, the idea

that a sword itself could dispel this darkness seems a little bit far-fetched, but then again, there is very powerful magic in the world. and if they're, the sword may not be a sword, but a key to reintroducing or bring the life back to the land, using a sword as a metaphor for, you know, fighting back the darkness.

Mm-hmm. On a 27 arcana, you think like, okay, like, wait a minute, is there something, is there something here? Hearing 600 years ago, I think that, you, it would depend, like, you would need to see the text that the prophecy was written in to really understand it? Yeah, it's just all hypothetical with what I overheard, but if the prophecy is speaking about the shaper of the orcs,

that would not be referring to this specific place geographically. This was the shaper of the elves here, Correct? As you are hearing about the shape, so this were the old Obridemian Empire. These were human lands. This was human lands. Okay, yeah, sorry.

And I think on the 27 arcana, as you recognize that the doctor from the Tocetia of the Halfling Doctor had gotten it from Farad, which is the old gnomish homeland, far to the northwest, and you suddenly think 600 years ago. And on a 27 arcana, you go, what was going on 600 years ago? And you do remember here, reading an ancient history pre-Shapers' War of a King Casarvis, who had a 12-year reign as a gnomish monarch, in which his reign came to an end because he had used weather magic to make a long winter happen.

There's like a three-year winter that he made happen locally. You think this prophecy actually already resolved. You think that this... Hold on. I'm... I think the lovely professor. I'm remembering something I read and I think they're on the complete wrong track. I just realized that there's a thing

that is already completely, within history, completed itself, and this was a prophecy regarding that 600 years ago and it doesn't matter any. It has nothing to do with the shapers. I'm not one to kill hope, but they are venturing in into danger off of a expired prophecy? Oh my God, do you want me to do something? Am I supposed to say something?

Yes, help. Oh. All right. I'm supposed to explain that I noticed. You go over, or rather if you do, you go over and see the Halfling Doctor is over near the lead carriage. She's consulting some other books looking around, and you see that she's reviewing this word

You see that she's talking to what looks like a young, sort of gnomish sailor who's looking at her. And he's got this ancient, rusted sort of sword that you can see is partially destroyed. And it's got this, it does, you see, it does have a pair of wings on the cross guard. This young gnomish sailor is looking at it going like, right, but if I were to actually take that, so I, would I just display it? And she's like, well, you know, then the, the, it is raised, raised, raised by the Son of Mercy, which means raised in combat. So Sir Abzaz is going to, at the dueling grounds at Venatus, or is near to where the god of the sun we believe was slain.

Um, I, sorry, I don't mean to interrupt. Hi, hello. Hello, I'm Dr. Talter. Yes, uh, uh, Octus. Octus. Oh, Octus, uh, my Lord Taconas. Yes, it's fine. Um, yes.

Are you, are you, uh, a company, us on the... No, I just... I overheard the prophecy you were speaking of, and I do have some knowledge in that regard. What was the name of the king, you said? Casarvis. Casarvis.

I may be wrong, and this is just a hypothesis. You get headbedded by the deer. But would this prophecy be referring to King Casarvis? I just rolled in that 20. She looks to you, she looks at you, goes, kinks. Oh, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Oh, no. Oh no.

Headbound again. You see, I just, I was just thinking when I overheard and then I realized I read something a long time ago and I think that this prophecy is towards that and it's already resolved itself because that all went away 600 years ago. She goes, yes, the first of winter, the, the, the sun, It was the sun, the sun, just they meant the sun, the sun has a connotation,

the sun returns in spring. It never actually. Because he made the winter last a long time. You see this nomin, sailor looks around and says, right, what's happening? Am I? I don't mean to throw a wrench into your whole plan, but I don't want you to go out there and put yourselves in danger for absolutely no reason. She looks over, she looks at the young gnome and says, and then just, uh, and, and, and walks away. The gnome looks up, the gnome looks up at you,

and you see he goes, are you like a wizard or something? Yes. My mom's name isn't actually Mercy. Her name was Mercedes. And she just got called Mercy. Okay. So when they said them the son of Mercy.

Oh. No, it doesn't matter. It's nothing to do with you. Okay. Good. This didn't feel right. You seem like a very nice man and that's nothing to do. Trying to help. Yes, no, I appreciate that.

Are they gonna be okay? All right. All right. Do you know if I, are they gonna take me back to Emery? Oh, I have, I don't, I have no idea. Could you ask them? Sure, what's certain. I am happy to help. They said that maybe I was gonna help.

Great. And bring the sun back. And I said, I don't think I'm gonna bring the sun back. I'm not, honestly, I don't think you are either and I'm sorry, it's not, I'm smirching you in any way. I just, I will ask if you can get a ride home. What's your name? Clive.

Clive. Clive Mercedes. No, no. What? Clive Fisher. My mother's Mercedes. Oh, okay. Sorry, sorry, sorry.

Clive Fisher, I will ask around. I'm gonna try and follow the professor for a minute. You follow the professor. You see that she is weeping in front of Masha right now, who's looking very concerned at her. Yeah, sorry. Masha looks out and says, Ah, my Lord Toconos, yes.

I think I caused this. The young Lord Toconis brought up an excellent point, which is that actually from the time period that the prophecy was in and given that the prophet, It's likely, to my credit, it is a true prophecy. Yes, it is. It just happened. It did work.

Just a long time ago. And you see that Mashlicks and says, Oh, well, we'll jot it down. That's fine. Great. Well, you know, we're in a stage of just ruling them out, mostly at this point, so. I just thought it would be a waste of resources and people to possibly go somewhere dangerous

you didn't need to. Masha looks out at you. Go ahead and give me a persuasion check here. You have natural advantages against persuasion for Druids. You're good. Not this time, I'm 12. 12.

She looks at you and says, well, I think that we have saved ourselves a trip. You see she looks at it and says, we still have to accompany the Creed's shipment of filament to Venatus, But, Dr. Talter, you are free to go. And we thank the totality for its efforts in this regard. And should you procure any other prophecies at all,

please let us know at once or any other means of testing. We appreciate all of your help, Doctor. And you see that behind you, Clive sort of. Also, there's a poor man they have come. Clive, who we were going to, Clive, we were always going to take you home. And you see, she turns and says, thank you for this is a kindness. Thank you, Dr. Talter. And you see that the doctor just nods silently and walks off and just starts very softly putting her tools and instruments away.

Doctor, I, please, I am so sorry. I didn't mean to step on your toes or academically. I just... Well, it's all right. You're very kind. This feels bad. You ever... There's just so much chaos.

And you ever find something and you think maybe this story is about... I just thought I was going to help. I understand. I get that feeling. Um, but, uh... In stories, there's always only one clue. It's because it makes a good story.

Well, I hate them, and I wish there was a story about whatever I've been doing. Keep looking. Doesn't mean just because this one wasn't the one there isn't a different one. I can't go back, not like this. Oh. I don't frame it different. Just think. New information has presented itself,

and we have to go a different direction. They're gonna laugh at me. They're gonna laugh at me. It's all right. It's all right. It could be part of your comeback story. I don't know, I'm trying. You fail here and then you come back up

and you do succeed at the end and it makes a better story. I will have to go back and explain that I did not connect the prophecy to the historical precedent of, God, they call I'm the bloody king in that poem. Fuck. Yeah, they do.

Oh, thank you. Thank you. It would have been, it is good not to waste the time of these noble knights and of the wise circle of ancients. And if there's, if you ever find a prophecy, come see me at the totality, I'll be, um, I'm sure in the archives, sorting texts, because they're never letting me come on one of these again.

I appreciate you very much. If I do find a prophecy, I'll make sure to request you specifically. It's not even actually my, the, it's not even my real area of study prophecy. It's an offshoot because of this find in the, in Farad. What do you really study?

Oh, the, the, the, the, um, well, the totality, as you know, are those dedicated to reviving the magic and wonder of clerical studies with a direct connection to the domains of the divine over which the shapers proved themselves as intermediary. Right. Uh, and our work there is tackling issues. of faith academically, and that it is possible to have just as strong of a connection to the numinous and the divine and those domains of the celestial spheres through the lens of study as it is through faith. Does that feel moving to you? Well, actually, from personal experience, is, while different, I have

walked a similar pen. I had heard a rumor in the totality that a member of the Sundered Houses had sought study at the Penteroa. Yes! This is the great college of wizardry in Dolmachyar. Yes. Yes! Well, there's a lot perhaps to be shared between the totality and the Pentevral. Obviously, the

penteveral arcane in nature and us divine, but yet we are scholars all. In terms of my clerical gifts, you see here she does a small sort of clasped her hands and there's a small, very weak, thunder clap distantly. Oh, wow. There you have it. And then she, Yeah.

And then she, gasped on canvas. Have it. She turns to see and says, my area of study was on the actual biology. Biology is of course a terrible term. I actually think zoology is more correct than biology, but the study of Celestials. Ah, I see.

And their composition and their nature and the, and why the shapers saw fit to create essentially what are constructs. from extraplanar material. Is this like creating a being via this extra planar material, but then infusing it with their own personal essence to make it sort of a sub-creature of themselves? Well, historically, there is some evidence

that the creation of these constructs was learned from the purpose. primordial partners of the shapers. Interesting. The, the, that, the shapers never produced mortal offspring. Although some say that, some say that it's actually possible that some of their celestials did,

which is scandalous thought. But, however, the original spirits of service to the Great Shapers were actually the original gene and a feat of the primordials. So the, which we have some indication actually predates the earliest fossilized records, the remains of Celestials and those we've been able to find or potentially harvest. But it's a fascinating and and And so there are a lot of secrets in how the original Celestials were constructed by those, by the shapers and a lot of indications that there may have been forces that the shapers

were relying on to be able to make those constructions and this whole fascinating field of study. Yes. Which I will be returning to. I would take it as a good sign. There is, oh, you have found a way even in what you just showed me, that there is a way for you to connect to these divine powers, even with the lack of the shapers, even to some lesser degree. But there is a path there to be found, and there is evidence that it exists.

She nods in this moment and just looks and says, there is a path. There is. Do you venture yourself with the caravan to Venatus? No, I'm traveling with a different party to somewhere else. We're just stopping by. She nods. I just happened to overhear everything and thought I would help. Well, that's extraordinarily, that is extraordinarily kind.

Your house enjoys a profound reputation as patrons of various areas of study, and I know that we've been very grateful for the help that House of Conis has provided. She looks and says, and to be honest, it's a pleasure to meet you, because House Taconas has in some ways been actually an area of interesting study of my own. How so? Well, that Taconas comes from the same root word, or essentially that the name Taconis as, bearers or guides, guardians from one to the other, which almost every other shaper saw fit to bequeath that responsibility to a celestial. And Tansel alone wished that the psychopaths of his domain should be a living house of humans. And it is the only shaper to have bequeathed that responsibility.

to a house of his followers rather than to a celestial. So House Taconas, sometimes in my head, I think to myself, how interesting an anomaly? It is interesting. It was a great honor bestowed upon my family. Thank you for the kindness. I can't imagine that was easy to say. And if you ever, what use could I be?

Thank you very much for your kindness. You have left quite an impression. and I will remember you should I need any help in areas of study that I do not know. You see that she reaches into a, she reaches into a little satchel and she takes a little piece of parchment and writes her name, Amri Talter,

and writes an address located at the totality in Hargood. Do you like me? Do you like me? Yes, no. I will thank you very much. She smiles and says thank you. And gathers her belongings and heads out. You can come back to everybody. That was terrible.

I leave the vision of my dear. Wow. Rough. You're fired. Kind of, yeah. Great job. What? Don't encourage that. No, I mean, like, they were banking everything

this thing they had figured out, and I just walked in and went, what if I knocked down your whole thing? I mean, what does she want to do? She could still go on the trip if she won't. She didn't make me feel bad about it. I just feel bad that like, this was their first time out from like their thing

to like prove themselves, and I just came by, I went, Buh. She can go and be like, we tried, it didn't work. They would just kind of get this guy to like hold a sword up. You probably get me a sword boy home. Yeah, he's getting sent home.

They're giving you a ride. You probably saved him. a lot of people's lives out there, you know? Yeah. We're still doing the full escort mission, though. They are. Julian, you see the Creed wagons over there and recognize some of the locals.

Sorry, Creed wagons. It's very funny. Creed wagons. Welcome to, hey, hop on the Creed wagon. No, no, no. Can you sit a here on me wagon? Can you take... I can't afford that.

I can't afford that. I can't afford that. Three seconds is fair to use. You look over and see a local, the lux of Garouin helping sort of load the wagons up and getting them ready to head out towards Venatus here.

There's a little bit of tension in the camp between the cantescent Creed being present here at this circle of ancient's waypoint. And looking around, if there's nothing else, I think you guys be able to head out. Go ahead and grab the supplies that I've been kind of bundling and disseminating about.

So you probably noticed since we've gotten here, pretty much since traveling from Castle Torch, Julian's a pretty terse and to himself. And as soon as everything's ready to go, which kind of meets up to everybody. Anything else you need or shall we be on our way? How did you go? I don't know if I have,

I have extra rations that I'm not using anymore, so if anyone needs anything, still in my pack. We'll keep that in mind. Look, there's every possibility that we're gonna run into another member of my family or more than one. I'm counting on it. I know.

The sun returns. Look, I understand, and I'm not saying you're wrong, Julian, in your actions. It is still a little weird. for me. This is my family. And while I don't get along with them and they obviously don't like me very much, I did grow up with them. It's weird. This is a good question, actually. As we are about to, I was going to say losing daylight, but we'll be losing it entirely shortly, before we step into the shadows of the Berodel, shoulder to shoulder towards a possibility

of death or re-death, if that's a thing. I think it's good that we establish why we are doing what we are doing, because we've been running from things for so long. We are now running towards something. And to be perfectly honest, I still don't know a lot about each of you. You more than most. I know why you're on this for the most point. And we have shared responsibility in your son. Yes. I have responsibility to Algaras, well as a number of other soldiers of which I was their mentor. at one point or another. And through this tangled web, they have been sent to their death for whatever purposes

in some worship or form, tangential to the fall of my own house. Yeah. Now you two. Let's start with you. There, Liz. Why are you coming with us? You have your stone? Yes? Yes. But you step into the darkness

on the whim to save a bunch of non-believers in the old ways of the shapers for what? What do you gain from this? I don't believe it's a whim. Then tell me, why do you follow? What do you want? Look this. I want to hear her say it.

What do you want? I want to know what he is. Why? Because I don't know what he is. Why do you care? There are many mysteries in this world. There are many mysteries in this world, but if he could be brought back, say it.

You wear the mourning of a dead god. Just fucking say it. If he could be brought back, do you know what that means? I could bring back maybe my family, maybe, maybe I could bring back salandry. There it is. What assurances do we have that if this House Taconas is responsible for this very thing, that you would not give all of this up for their secrets to bring back your God, and we are led to the slaughter?

Why would I do that? Are we more important to you than your God? And if they can offer you that knowledge? I wouldn't do that, and I know you don't know me, but I wouldn't do that. Why would we believe you? You... You can't. You don't know me. Just as I don't know any of you. You know what we believe.

You are so stuck, mourning your God and the life that you lost. What would you put on an altar of sacrifice to get back what you have lost? So many people have lost so many things. Myself, for stars. I would put myself on the block before any of you. Do I believe her? Give me an insight check. I cast guidance.

Ooh! Ashley, give me a persuasion or deception. You don't have to say which one. Okay. I gotta stand, I gotta stand. I'm just gonna take one. Okay, it's not terrible. 16.

18. 15. Fine. No, sorry, 17. Very close. Still got him, though. On a 17, I believe that, Vailas, you have the ability to invite Julian

to read whatever you would like on your face. What does he read in this moment? I think from the only being able to see her eyes in this moment, I think you feel you feel an immense amount of pain. And I think it's heavy, but from what you can gather and just feeling, it's she's being true.

Yeah. I think from being one hard wall of emotion facing another, seeing that bit of deep pain peek through kind of catches him off guard slightly. And even for a moment, you see Julian kind of, I am an instrument of war. I've been raised to be and honed to be. My effectiveness is only based on the information I have.

That's how I make tactical choices. I ask these questions so that I have information. I understand. Not to judge you. but just to ensure that I can keep myself safe and those I trust around me. So I appreciate your honesty as much as we can get. I don't know if I'm gonna offer any insights

into that particular problem, especially with Cylendry. I don't. I brought a fox back to life. What am I gonna do, bring a god back? Do you miss being alive? Terribly. What if your family could, offer that to you?

I don't think they would. Why wouldn't they? You seem very useful to them. They seem very focused on you. I think they wanted me dead. And they didn't work out. Perhaps they want to change the plan. I'm just offering possibilities here,

because that's what I do. I understand, Julian. I would have you remember maybe once or twice that I technically am a noble of a house, and you do speak to me with a lot of lack of respect. I speak to the entirety of your house with a lack of respect. I didn't kill your family, nor did I have a partner. I died along with them.

Not knowingly. And while he kind of catches himself a minute and readjusts, I still have a lot of processing to do myself. I understand. And I do know my tendency to lash out. I, it is my firm belief that whatever my family was planning required my death and specifically my heart, which they took. My death was prevented, but they still have the peace of me that they needed. I don't know what that means or what they were doing with it, but they wanted me dead.

And while I technically am, I don't think they were countered on me still being awake. I don't think them bringing me back to life is part of the plan. Nor do I think I ever will. And if their plan is foiled, they have probably making a new one. Probably. We don't know what that is.

We don't. So I do not fully know if any of us can truly trust each other. And as long as we understand that, then at least we are level and we are open. We have all the people. information and we can make the right tactical choices according, right?

Yeah, I agree. I will ask that, just to be upfront, that if I speak to a member of my family, when we encounter them, it is not that I am trying to stop you. But I will be trying to get information and I will be trying to see where every other possible member of my family is aligned in this situation. So it does not mean I'm trying to betray you by any means. Of course. We lack information. Just putting it out there.

You understand. But there is a line. Of course. Just don't cross it. I'm sure I'll find it. I don't know if I can ever. Could or would. I don't know.

It is a completely ridiculous prospect. The idea of bringing not only someone fully back to life, but someone who wasn't even a person. I don't know. Could. It was never something I thought about it until you brought it up.

Primarily, if I ever even got close to anything like that, the priority would be bringing myself back to life. Of course. But let's see what happens. This study is going to continue because it brings me closer to understanding what I am. If you want to help you help you, to help me until then.

I'm not going to stop you. And I'm not doing this to try and disobey you. I've given you no orders. But you have been looking. And you've known what I do for a long time. What do you do? You, I've had PIN since you've known me. And you know what it is.

Yes. And just because I came back to life and defied the laws of your order, and because I was a little uppity with your other druids, you've been giving me looks. You spoke to Julian a minute ago about respect Ode. I'm not disrespecting you by any means. I'm just saying. You described your own behavior as epit.

Am I not allowed to be defensive of my people? They were going to kill me. Your father wants to destroy our order. Destroy the path entirely. I would not have let them kill you. Yes, I believe you when you say that. I don't know if you could stop them. Trust you entirely.

You are a singular person who can only do what a singular person can do in a situation, and if three powerful druids want to kill me, they'll probably just end up killing both of us. I think you confuse my order with your houses. We're not as impetuous as you, tend to be. But I understand your concern.

We'll see. This is good. A few more cards on the table? I feel a little more confident going into the end of times with you. I'll put one more on the table. I was listening through Hala, your new friend, the good doctor, who studies celestial anatomy. What's the Stone of Night Song made of?

It's not stone. It isn't. Do I know? We, yes. Wait, yes, we did learn this. Mozor said it's not stone, it's bone. That's right, that's right. The bone of a celestial.

Yep. That's right. Do I know that? Does Valus know this? Yes, Valis knows that. Yes, I know exactly what it is. And I've always known. I've read it.

All right. Mm. No, that did not slip my mind when I was speaking to them. There may come a time where we do ask them for help in that area. But I didn't think offering up that information immediately apparent to someone who does not know the situation was a good idea. I also still don't know exactly how I react to either its closer proximity or further proximity from my body.

We may all die trying to save it. my son, she may die heading back to the totality. Mm-hmm. You don't get a lot of second chances. Travel is not easy. No, but if we die saving your son, why do we care what happens? The world remembers.

I have a contact information in our location. Okay. Should I think that's a good idea? It's not only your decision to make, But I understand. But I understand. It's just a little bit of a sensitive subject. At this point, if you were having this last little bit,

Julian jumps onto his horse, like, so, into the Eternal Night or what? We should go, yes. How long do I think the escort mission to Venatus is gonna take? If I had to like just spitball. How long it will take for them to reach Vanadas? Going slow in a caravan, like probably three or four days.

I don't like the odds on having to track her down later. One thing. I'm going to go find the doctor. Hell yeah. You get on your horse. Oh. You see, Dame Saramai gets up on her horse as well. She looks to you, Octus, and gives you a look of deep concern.

What's something's going to say? Under her breath so that Valus and Julian cannot hear it as Tysha goes to get the doctor, she looks and says, my Lord Toconis, you have been killed by your family. Yeah. You are surrounded by the night of an enemy house, the servant of dead gods, and one who walks a path that would see you destroyed in your current state. This mission such as it is is doomed, my lord. True.

She stands up, or sits up straight around her horse and looks ahead. I appreciate your directness and your candor. I have no interest in... Oh, God. Look, I know you didn't do what you did on purpose. It's an unfortunate situation that you've put yourself in, unbeknownst to yourself. But unfortunately, one of the people that you sent off is

Lady Tasha's son. and there is nothing in the world that will make her angrier than if you endanger one of her children. Give me a persuasion check. 21. It has occurred to me, my lord, given that you have been slaughtered by your family,

that I should leave this place forthwith and betray you to your house at the nearest possible convenience. Correct. Are you going to? Whatever enchantment has, has been placed to bring together those you travel with, my Lord, who seem moments away from tearing at each other's throats. Rightfully so, the pillars of a shattered world who stand tall only in and of themselves

and not in relation to each other, then let me add myself to the mix. My loyalty is as confounding as the devotion of your companions. The world is mad. Let us be madder still. I will add to that. I appreciate your loyalty. And know that I am already dead and you cannot kill me.

And therefore, if you try, you will be dead. Tisha. Crazy. You walk up to Dr. Taltor. You can see has a bag packed and there is a small donkey-legged. wagon. You see that she's sitting on the back of it with a suitcase. And next to her is this gnomish sailor who has an apple.

Oh, good Cahadi apple. My God, look at the sizes, the size of your head. And you see that she looks over and says, Yes, Clive. The apples are large. It's an effect of the Barrowdale. The Orchish Barrowdale is a region of incredible lush and vibrant life. The only positive Barrowdale. Some have positive. Oh, hello. And you see this. Except as you approach. Dr. Talter, can I speak with you for a moment?

Yes, I'm very sorry. And you see she gets off with her suitcase. It says, yes. And I'm going to go, like, as much into my, like, circle of ancients bag as possible. I think it's just druid craft that, like, the ground becomes a little more verdant and the smell of, like, grass and distant ocean

is kind of carried on the breeze, just trying to flex a little bit. Yeah. I love stories. You were speaking with my companion earlier. All the best fairy tales begin, the best adventures begin with the wrong turn. I acknowledge I have wasted the resources of your order.

Okay. I'm in trouble. What's happening? Not at all. I think, It wasn't about a sparrow sword, but I think you were meant to be here. And I think it is a mistake for you to leave now. I think you just took a wrong turn,

and now you are on the adventure. What? It is unfair of me to ask you to put yourself in danger, especially when your original reason for doing so is no longer valid. But you said it yourself. In stories, I only give one clue. I think you need to find the clue.

The, find the clue. All right. This is very kind. And... You came all the way out here. You risked everything to try to bring the sun back. Thank you.

It's okay if you want to go home. Where else would I go? I failed. I have nothing else. Left to. I think this is just the beginning. The group you were going to go with is still headed to Venatus. You are different than the soldiers

and worshipful members of the candescent creed that are going there. You can see things that others wouldn't. You might catch the clue that others will miss. On the road to Venatus? Should I ask Masha to come along Regardless. I think that's your call to make.

All right. I'll talk to her. It'll be another day or two before the caravan's ready to travel. Whatever you decide, you're not a failure. Thank you for trying. You see, as you turn to leave, she goes, I struggle with mysticism.

I struggle with it. We're looking for something for people to believe in that won't have to be cloaked in poetry because the shape of the shape of cloaked themselves in beautiful songs to the point that we couldn't see what they were doing to us. And so we are trying to bring the light of

clarity and truth unshrouded by... I don't believe in the thing past the gods such that they were. I believe in people and I believe in you. No poetry. I'll speak to Masha. Masha. Thank you.

I'm sorry. And good luck, good luck to wherever you're traveling. Yeah, thank you. Are you headed in the direction of Venatus or no? Tenazar. Place of wings. Say more. You see thunder rolls in the distance,

and her eyes glow white, the place of wings. I think I found the clue. Oh, God. And that's where we'll go. And that's where we'll go to break. And that's where we'll leave our story for now. Part two of this episode of Campaign 4 drops this Tuesday. Thanks for listening, and we'll see you soon for more Critical Role.