Broken Wing | Critical Role | Campaign 4, Episode 2 | Part 2

Summary

Critical Role Campaign 4, Episode 2 Part 2: "Broken Wing"

Episode Overview

The second part of "Broken Wing" (Campaign 4, Episode 2) picks up as the party continues to unravel the mysteries surrounding the aftermath of Thiazi Fang's funeral in Dolmakjar. Characters are scattered across the city, each facing mounting political intrigue, grief, and arcane mysteries. As dawn breaks, alliances are tested, dangerous secrets unveiled, and a new, chilling revelation about the nature of magic and power emerges. The tone moves from somber, intimate conversations to tense investigations and the brink of combat, while the shadow of revolution and the consequences of god-killing loom over all.

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Key Storylines & Discussion Points

1. The Arknod Museum and the Coffin of Olbalad

(01:32-22:28)

• Setting & Historical Context:
  • Brennan Lee Mulligan describes the Arknod – a grand, magical museum in Dolmakjar, highlighting its post-godwar architecture and revolutionary heritage. The group focuses on the Loi Wing, founded by orcish smiths after the Shapers' War.
• Investigation of the Coffin:
  • Bolaire (Taliesin Jaffe) and Murray (Mollymauk Tealeaf) spend the night researching a strange, newly forged silver coffin with ancient halfling plates and a fossilized wooden lining from the Wastes.
  • Murray uses an Identify spell; Bolaire describes the magical and practical precautions in place. Debates occur about whether opening the box is wise or foolish, with Brennan noting, "Truth, at least in the philosophy of the penteveral, requires some risk." (08:34)
• Shocking Discoveries:
  • The box is new, constructed from relics associated with halfling death goddess Rain and the celestial psychopomp Olbalad, whose purpose was to guide souls. The plates on the coffin reroute and distort their meanings, akin to a ransom note.
  • They realize: the gods created celestials, who turned monstrous after the gods' death. Having the coffin of Olbalad (angel of halfling death) is a deeply dangerous, perhaps blasphemous, artifact.
  • Experimenting with the mist inside the coffin, Bolaire tries to probe it: the tool never emerges and the mist seems to be a void.
  • Bolaire and Murray express growing dread:
    • "I'll be a shaper’s anus." (18:49, Mollymauk)
    • "We got a pretty little relic on our hands." (18:52, Mollymauk)
    • "We need someone with a familiar... We need to put something living in there that we can see through." (19:33, Bolaire)
• Lingering Questions:
  • The players puzzle over why Thiazi wanted the coffin, its connection to the Shapers’ War, and interwoven artifacts (elf and halfling relics).
  • Murray and Bolaire exchange confessions about morally gray dealings with Thiazi:
    • "He’s dead now, so I hardly think it matters at this point." (21:37, Bolaire)

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2. Political Machinations: House Divinos & The Stopped Caravan

(25:33-41:54)

• Father and Son Tension:
  • General Raymond Davinos collects his hungover son Julian from a brothel, chastising his lack of propriety in light of recent political upheaval.
  • Their banter is caustic and resentful, underpinned by history of betrayal and resentment for former war hero Thiazi Fang.
    • "How does it feel to be wrong again?" (30:47, Julian)
    • "You did what you did... and it’s like you hate him for it. Why?" (35:53, Raymond)
• The Caravans & Hints of Conspiracy:
  • Word arrives that supply caravans to the Plaza Davinos were stopped at Dvalmar Pass, possibly by a rescue plot for Thiazi. The Taconis family is searching for one of their own, feared involved.
  • Lady Erinessa and General Davinos task Julian with finding the boy and keeping it hidden:
    • "If you find him... bring him here... to understand what may have happened." (40:18, Raymond)
    • Comic family moment as Raymond hurls a pitcher of water in his son’s face:
      • "You are my eldest son. And I love you to it." (41:25, Raymond)

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3. Factional Tensions and the Brewing Revolution

(47:49-61:56)

• Cadigan and Thimble:
  • Cadigan wakes in the woods, broke and hungover, haunted by the funeral and memories of a grief-stricken fairy. A determined Thimble prepares to investigate the Crow Keepers, intent on vengeance.
• Azune & The Revolutionary Guard:
  • Azune begins her day at Brethren Hall, reflecting on her duty as an Arcane Marshal amidst new laws restricting magic.
  • Meets Captain Fazir and Lord Knight Horondus Einfarsen:
    • The latter offers House Einfarsen’s “support” but is clearly asserting dangerous political control, with his "solid monolithic core philosophy: of course I should be in charge."
    • "There's no group within the city that compares to the Arcane Marshal's..." (55:32, Horondus)
  • Azune is wary of being subsumed into the ambitions of the sundered houses, and maneuvers the patrol schedule to monitor the Crow Keepers area herself.

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4. The Pentevral and Suppression of Magic

(61:56-74:28)

• Murray's Shock at Academic Upheaval:
  • Murray learns from Gallant that Dean Ellipides Tallbarrel has been ousted (forced resignation), a move orchestrated by the Chamber of Lords to revoke students' rights to perform magic on campus.
    • "They're coming in and they're trying to shut down the ability to cast magic at a magic school. That's their angle here." (67:21, Murray)
  • The despair and anger are palpable:
    • "If I stay and they revoke the ability... what happens to the next generation?" (68:04, Tallbarrel)
    • "It's just this slippery slope that we have all been subjected to..." (68:58, Murray)
• Murray and Tallbarrel’s Emotional Farewell:
  • Murray confronts Tallbarrel, who confesses that, despite all their studies, he's undone not by magic, but by political power:
    • "I turned around and found that there was a power greater than that. And it was whatever was written in this letter." (71:03, Tallbarrel)
  • They share a heartfelt hug as Tallbarrel departs in defeat.

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5. Dawn at Hal’s House & The Fallout of the Funeral

(75:01-98:44)

• Family, Loss & Moving Forward:
  • Tysha and Hal share a quiet, supportive conversation about regret, unfinished business, keeping their children safe, and the importance of hope.
    • "We were the fallback mechanism. If all else failed, the glyph was supposed to fire and we would get him out and better, alive and in the world and gone." (79:33, Tysha)
    • "We owe it to the world to fix what we can." (84:59, Tysha)
• Thimble’s Vow:
  • Alone with Thiazi’s body, Thimble arranges him with treasures and pixie dust, whispering a vow of vengeance:
    • "I'm going to find who did this." (86:47, Thimble)
• Breakfast Gathering & Party Dynamics:
  • Characters drift together, some suspicious, some tender. Cadigan attempts Spare the Dying on Thiazi’s body, just in case, but nothing happens – Thiazi’s final grin feels as mischievous in death as in life.
• Splitting the Party:
  • Thimble, Cadigan, and Octis decide to chase clues at the Crow Keepers’ haunt, while Tysha and Hal focus on family. Characters humorously discuss who in the group is actually (or "technically") respectable.

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6. Beneath the Surface: The Prismatic Retort and the Angel's Secret

(105:29-eol)

• The Candescent Creed’s Ritual
  • Wicander and Tyranny, two clerics of the Candescent Creed, ascend to a secret chamber – following a disturbing conversation where Tyranny is told to rid themselves of Teor, but is unsure whether that means exile or murder.
• The Prismatic Retort
  • Descending into a vast, underground cathedral, the pair – accompanied by family – are introduced to the secret source of filament (magical light): not distilled cosmic energy, but the blood of a chained, tormented angel locked within a giant iron maiden.
  • Tyranny’s grandmother, the leader, delivers a chilling confession of both love and lies:
    • "The love I hold for you is as true as the foundations of the earth... However, some of the things I have told you in your life have not been true." (116:53, Yanessa)
  • As Wicander and Tyranny open the retort, they are briefly overwhelmed by magical force, before beholding the grotesque horror within:
    • "Within it is a 30-foot tall angel, chained with taps like that that removes the SAP from maple trees, gushing blood out. ... Yanessa turns to you: 'Wiki, I'd like you to meet your grandfather.'" (119:59 - Episode End)
  • The source of the "divine" filament that powers the Candescent Creed’s magic is revealed as exploitation of celestial suffering.

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• On the danger of the coffin:

  • "To have a coffin of a celestial that was supposed to guide you from life to death almost seems like a working of blasphemy in some ways." (13:56, Brennan)

• On political manipulation:

  • "You see a person whose entire core philosophy... is a solid monolithic cube. Of course I should be in charge. And everything else gets built on top of that." (57:52, Brennan, re: Lord Einfarsen)

• On the closure of magic at the academy:

  • "It was the feeling of the Chamber of Lords advisory to the Revolutionary Council that casting magic is not necessary for the study of wizardry." (67:37, Tallbarrel)

• On legacy and resistance:

  • "We started a war that freed us and threw the rest of the world into chaos. We owe it to the world to fix what we can." (85:01, Tysha)

• Chilling finale:

  • "Yanessa turns to you: 'Wiki, I'd like you to meet your grandfather.'" (119:52, Yanessa, revelation of the chained angel)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|---------| | 01:32-22:28 | Museum investigation, coffin lore | | 25:33-41:54 | Divinos family and conspiracy | | 47:49-61:56 | New day: Cadigan, Thimble, Azune’s guard duties | | 61:56-74:28 | Murray at the Pentevral, struggle for academic freedom | | 75:01-98:44 | Hal’s house, mourning, plans for action | | 105:29-eol | Candescent Creed: the true source of light and final revelation |

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Tone and Style

• The episode maintains Critical Role’s blend of earnest human drama, high-stakes political intrigue, and whimsical, sometimes dark humor.
• Many scenes are colored by grief, exhaustion, and righteous anger, particularly as the party reels from the execution of Thiazi Fang and the political aftermath.

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Summary for New Listeners

In this pivotal episode, the group wrestles with the consequences of their world's revolutionary past, government corruption, and powerful new mysteries after Thiazi Fang's emotional funeral. The players investigate a blasphemous artifact, navigate personal and political fallout, and uncover a horrifying secret at the heart of a major religious institution. The story is rich with emotionally charged conversations, cryptic lore, and a sense that the world is teetering on the brink of profound change — or doom. The final, haunting reveal of the "grandfather" angel promises even darker secrets ahead.

If you missed this episode, now you know: the tragedy, the threats, and the secret powers moving in Dolmakjar are only just beginning to unfold.

Transcript

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

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[Sponsor Voice]

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[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

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[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

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[Sponsor Voice]

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[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Hello again, it's Brennan Lee Mulligan and you're listening to part two of this episode of Critical Role. If you haven't checked out part one yet, pause this now and head over there first. What are you doing? Otherwise, let's jump right back into this adventure and the world of Ahriman. Hello and welcome back to the city of Dolmakjar. As we arrive at the next day after the funeral, the wake of Thiazi Fang light descends on the Arknod, a massive museum of many wings that lies in the neighborhood of Lugsash. High up in the city near the headwaters of the river Vrosh. The Archenaut actually can see its expanse buttresses the river. A short cliff fall of about 20ft into the surging waters. The higher up you get in altitude in the city, the more the waters are foam white and sort of immediately deadly if you fall into them just from falling into foam that you can't swim through. You look and see that the Archinaut is this massive spiring gray stone. Like a lot of the stone that was shaped in the ruins after the Shapers war. This stone is flawless, smooth gray, almost polished to the touch. Summoned by druids victorious in their defeat of the gods. For indeed the old Path, as it is called, was very nearly erased from the existence of Ahriman by the gods who sought for their millennia of rule to be the only path by which mortals could access the divine. And yet the old path did survive. And the ancient smiths of the Loy family, a family of orcish smiths native to Dolmachyar, crafted the first of the Pariah blades, those swords that were used to defeat Osgra the Conqueror, Shaper of War. The Loi Wing, so named for that family of orcs, is a beautiful wing of the museum dedicated to celebrating the revolutionary history of the Shapers War. Taliesin Balaire, as the curator of the Loyewing, what do we see as we move into the dusty light? And where do we find Bolaire within the Loyewing?

[Taliesin Jaffe]

Well, it's after hours, quite obviously. It is grand and has that echoey reverb of an institution with far too much money. Each exhibit stands in this large circular or the main room is this large circular room where the sword itself is up in the center, well lit with a series of small plaques around it. It's also every exhibit, I should also say, is slightly magically enchanted so that when you walk up to it you start hearing the audio recording of what's there until you walk away and then it silences itself so that you can maintain the quiet.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Voices that would approach the lights on a well crafted but simple cold iron blade, so dull in its lack of ostentatiousness it is obviously never knew the touch of fire was smithed carefully over time from raw ore through pure effort of metalworking, pounding of hammers again and again and again. It seems like the light from these magical cantrips as it touches it almost sinks into the blade, as though this blade were so common that magical light could not even rest upon its fuller blade or edge. Off to the side in an open door, we see an office, candles burned down to the very basin, and a silver coffin sized for a halfling on a desk. Books and scrolls open. A sleepless Bolaire and Murray here working in this place. You've been working all night. Go ahead and give me any skill checks that you would have thought to make during this night of working to look into this.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

I would have had every filed, indexed, filed piece of paper that we have pulled out just so that we have the paperwork so we don't have to go down into the archives. Everything that exists is a piece of paper. Got a giant pile of those and a few clearly very old books piled up that we're looking through, including a translation, a book for translating some of the text on the coffin. Anything you would want me to pull?

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

Well, I would have done a very meticulous ritual casting of an identify spell. I think you almost see. You see like Marie's got like gloves on and you see something that you might not have noticed before, but she's got this like basically a little monocle that clips to the top of her hat. So it is now very precisely positioned to the front of the of her left eye. She has been using mage hand and taking the tip of her fingernail and almost using it to carve and do a half assed autopsy on a big old box. As she's been kind of doing this all night. So I would.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

Yeah, there is a go ahead.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

Doing a nice little investigation here.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

What are you gonna use investigation?

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

Well, no, I'm using identify to investigate.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

I will say also the object is sitting on a desk and it's illuminated by bright limelight so that we can really see it. It's not candlelight. It is a bright chemical.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yeah.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

It's also sitting on some sigils that are clearly there so that if something goes horribly wrong, it will contain it as best it can.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Question for you. Have you opened the box or left.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

It closed until we know what it says on the outside? I would say not.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

Yeah, I would identify before open Bolaire as curator.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Here you see wizardry at work. This craft of the pentevrul. And I think seeing wizardry here, Murray, without any roles necessary, the ethos of your school alive and well in your heart. There will be limits to how much truth you can glean if you don't look in that box now. It's extremely prudent not to open it. Far be it from me to tell you to open it. And I actually, I would say even above table. I'm totally fine if you don't. But that conflict is here. The conflict of truth. Great. Truth, at least in the philosophy of the penteveral, requires some risk.

[Sponsor Voice]

Mm.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

We're at step one, though.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

Yeah, right.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

Step one. Then we will open.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

Do you have like one of those big flus, you know, like how sometimes you see them in laboratories and they kind of help, like. Cause I know there's a whole bunch of bad myths that came out of this. So I just don't know if there's something like, you know, for ventilation so we don't burn our eyeballs.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

We have that. Yes.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

All right.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

One second. I just open up a. We have a vent System again. Everything that we have seen happen, we build something to try and make it so it won't happen again. So there's. It'll help.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

You have everything set up. Do you cast your identify spell just on the exterior of the box?

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

I hate you so much.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

I'm going to do something before we do this that she will not notice. Yeah, I'm just going to drift into the.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

Says who?

[Taliesin Jaffe]

You will not notice this.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

Says who?

[Taliesin Jaffe]

Says me. I'm going to drift into the black box. Has anything changed? Is there a sign of anything changed? Just a wrist. Just a hunch.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Deterioration a little more rapid than.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

Okay, yeah. Thank you.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Moving through this space.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

We're going to open the box.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

You're going to open the box?

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

Well, we're going to take a nice distance. I'm going to. Mage hand.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

Yeah.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

Open the box. Got all the windows open.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

As you open it, once again, you see mist and have more of an understanding of how to engage in this way. In this moment. Your identify spell moves throughout these silver plates. This is not an ancient artifact. This has been assembled very recently as a craftsperson. What's bizarre is that the lining leaves only a sliver of what the lining would have been attached to because the lining is now just open mist. But you do see enough wood that is well tended to on that identify. I think you can see that that wood actually might come from far up north. Go ahead and give me. This is almost like a tool proficiency check, if you have one. Or you can give me arcana as well. Whichever you prefer. Oh.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

Oh, my goodness gracious. Where's Chetney when you need him?

[Taliesin Jaffe]

I have alchemist.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

That'll work. Okay, go for it.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

Yeah, I'll just do a straight arcana.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

Using a tool is just not great.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Intelligence plus proficiency. Or it might be wisdom plus proficiency, depending on the tool.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

I'll say it's a. Well, yeah, it's a. It's actually the same as my arcana.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

So you did.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

That's 20.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

20. Dirty 20. You recognize this? Having looked over this, the wood, the thin bit that you see is at this point almost totally fossilized. This is recovered wood from the Wastes. Deep within the Wastes, shattered and fallen trees. Trees from the place where the goddess of life, the shaper of the elves, died. Is that the Salandri?

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

Salandry.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

Interesting.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

But the plates are halfling and that identify Spellmaria. As you begin to read the text, it translates all of the Kessian, all the celestial. These plates are taken from being set into a massive. There Are some ancient halfling temples that were dedicated to their goddess Rain the trickster. And they would have been almost in hanging books of fabric or tapestry that in their holy places you would turn for a crowd to be able to read. Almost like a massive storybook in a holy place or in a chapel. The plates have been taken off and affixed to this coffin. So the components are ancient but the coffin is new. The plates reference on that. And with the identify. This is the coffin of Olbalad. Olbalad is a celestial who was sometimes called more colloquially by Halflings, the Sister of Mists. And she was effectively the halfling angel of Death. A celestial that guided them through the mists on their way. So what you identify speaks out in the writing here. Where you realize that some things it's not this vulgar. But the plating is almost like how you construct a ransom note out of pieces of a magazine. It's not that small in places. But the meaning of some of the runes has been changed by how they've been arrayed around the coffin. And Oblad was a celestial that was a psychopomp. Took those that died into the realms of death to their final afterlife. So to have a coffin of a celestial that was supposed to guide you from life to death almost seems like a working of blasphemy in some ways. Which has a very different context in a world that killed its gods 70 years ago. But the coffin of Oblad is what this is now. And it is not ancient. It's new. But that's what is written here. The last thing I'll say on that. What did you roll for your check again? Sorry.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

For my arcana check. 14.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

14. You would know A very simple fact that is not too uncommon for wizards to know. After the gods died the study of wizards concluded that there were beings that were older than the gods. The fairy, the Fae had been around for much longer. Demons had always existed on Ahriman in some way or another. Other ancient beings old and connected to the spirit. They say that giants walked this world before the gods arrived. And the gods defeated them when they arrived here. There are some types of beings that were not here before. The gods were here because they were called or sung into being or came from whatever realm the gods came from. And these were the celestials. Their roles beautiful, ethereal. The heralds and servants and warriors of the divine. Crafted from the power of divine might themselves. And when the gods died the celestials went feral and became ravening like monsters. To see a celestial is to see death itself. And Their presence is felt almost nowhere in the world. For in the aftermath of the Shapers war, to leave one on the loose or running was a death sentence for that region, essentially. And this coffin claims to be the coffin for that celestial oblad. No.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

Whip, I reckon we got a problem on our hands.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

We've got a very, very serious problem. I'm going to get a tool and gently scrape the inside to see if there's any. What would pass for remains. Just the dust of organic dust.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Give me a difficulty 10 dexterity saving throw.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

All right. I also will add I'm not breathing.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

15. You reach in with the tool and get to a point where you stop before you approach the mist any closer. The end of your tool has exited into the mist to the point where it should be pushing out the other side of the coffin. And it is not.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

Interesting.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

Oh, shit.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

I'm going to drop it.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

How long do you wait to hear something before you give up?

[Taliesin Jaffe]

I'm patient. I'll give it 30 seconds.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Oh, we are so. Oh, dear.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

I'll be a shaper's anus.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Fuck.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

We got a pretty little relic on our hands.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

That was disgusting to say.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

What do you think happens if I shove you in that void?

[Travis Willingham]

I was just kidding.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

Oh, no, you were just kidding. I would have murdered you on the spot.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

To each of you, this is a ton of information that now calls out to you in terms of whatever happens next. From here, you have stuff in places in the museum that Murray probably should not go. Murray, there are many treatises and probably people that are worth talking to back at the Penteverel about what you just found out here.

[Sponsor Voice]

Mm.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

We need someone with a familiar, something similar. We need to put something living in there that we can see through. Oh, not a person, but someone who can see through other people's eyes.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

We got a few puppies that I know well.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

Can't make an omelette without breaking a.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Few puppies, I suppose. Let's just go for it.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

Well, all right. Hang on, hang on.

[Marisha Ray]

What?

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

I mean, there are so many questions. First and foremost, what did the Aussie want with this? This was his last d. Dying wish sitting upon us right here.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

Why did he want that?

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

Why did he want this? And also, what the hell? I mean, it is pretty, pretty crazy that we got this, which has some stink of the shapers war. And then we got little angry elf girl over in the other house who also wants a rock, also having to do with the Shapers war. But then this has got some halfling stuff and that's got elf stuff. What's going on?

[Taliesin Jaffe]

I do not.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

What did the Aussie have going on? And did you know something? Cause I know you know things, Bolair.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

On occasion, I would procure artifacts for him and in return it would send me things to look at.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

You just said absolutely fucking nothing.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

I know.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Marie. You look out and see sunlight creeping into the loy wing. Oh fuck.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

Don't you hate it when you accidentally. You're awake all through the sunrise and now it's light again. And now it's gonna throw off my circadian rhythm all day I'm gonna.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

I barely sleep.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

To be fair, I'm too old for this. Not gonna sleep for a week now.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

He would send me very questionable objects and I would do my research. And occasionally I would give them to people I did not know with no questions asked. I did some dirty work for him. He's dead now, so I hardly think it matters at this point.

[Sponsor Voice]

Why?

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

That makes two of us. Look at that. We got more in common than what you think.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

Why do I like you?

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

Just often everybody likes me. Stop talking crazy.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

My God.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

All right, let's go find out some more shit about this box.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

All right, Murray, you head out. Also having like your so funniest to say in a game of D and D a job. You are the purser of the pentagram. You gotta go to work.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

I've got papers I gotta grade today.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

As Murray heads out, Belair, you have your private areas of the loy wing to check. Moving deeper down into off limits areas of the loy wing. Moving past a certain hallway back towards the vault where there may be some interesting objects to peruse or texts to talk to here. And you keep thinking about the fact that you heard Tycha say it. Mask. There was a mask in the box. And you think about how long you waited for that tool to make a noise. As you're heading towards the vault, down a side hallway towards a very special, let's call it cargo area. You see some boxes that were not here when you left for the execution yesterday.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

Crates, I assume?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yes.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

How large?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

About 3 1/2ft on each side. Cubes. Fuck.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

I'm just going to open the crates at this point, not whatever's inside them. I'm just going to take a look. This is as safe a place to do it as any.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

You open the crates, you look inside and what you see are wicker covered ceramic casks. They look like dyers casks. And then you look under the clay lids and see paint leaking out of the top. They're going to be filled with paint and there's just one last note left. Pinned a piece of parchment with a small stiletto dagger that just got left here and it just says for Hal, with all my love, you absolute fuckwit.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

I'm going to reseal it.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Mm.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

I'm going to go into my private office. I'm going to pull up anything I have, which is probably not much on the fate of Termina. Whatever I can find about what this thing might be. I'm going to pull a couple as big a book as I can find. Yeah, I have a little mechanism that will flip the page every 10 minutes and I sit and I become perfectly still and I let the pages flip in front of me for a few hours.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Gorgeously freaky. Elsewhere in the city, in the neighborhood of Rozigar, the noise of horses arrayed in fine line, snow white horses, armored soldiers, polearms on their backs. Soldiers of the House Divinos ride forward. A carriage pulls in front of a building. Emerging from it, golden breastplate symbol of House Divinos. Across from it the house of Royce, their liege lords. Silvering mustache and goatee scars across the cheek, golden helm taken down to his side a broadsword, a polearm astride the carriage top General Raymond Davinos exits the carriage looking at the exterior of the tangled sheet. A house of companionship and warm welcome within Dolmakyar up on the second story. Those who are still asleep in this early morning hear the barking of a general of the sundered houses outside going Julian, Julian. What state do we find ser Julian to Venus in.

[Travis Willingham]

The morning? Rays of light hitting dried cracked lids and lips that are deeply dehydrated. Julian, his hair, dark hair thrown asunder across the wrecked bedsheets clambers up over the voluptuous tan skinned woman and the blond haired muscular young man who began to stir as he steps and scrambles and stumbles onto the floor, grabs a nearby pitcher and what little bit of liquid in there is appears to be non alcoholic. He chugs desperately as he's beginning to realize how hungover he is and the sound of his father's voice is not helping each other.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Appearing at the door, you see. Hold on one sec. You see that Madame Gurlist appears, a sort of older gnomish woman. She has a goblet of wine in her hand. Little hair of the dog that bit you. Madame, you are, I got sense hands it to you says I don't know if you heard your dad's here.

[Travis Willingham]

I heard the whole fucking city hurt.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Well, we are always grateful for your business, sir. Julian.

[Travis Willingham]

Tell him I'll be done in just a moment.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Him no, your dad. Yes, yes, you see that she rushes downstairs and you see, sort of walks out and goes General, good to see you again.

[Travis Willingham]

At which point Julian goes and starts gathering his things, still nude as the day is long, slowly getting himself together as the two other companions begin to aroused from the noise and the chaos. He glances over, appreciates your services and he sets out two sets of coin, studies them both and puts two extra coins on the stack referencing the younger gentleman until next time, throws his capelet over his shoulder and with a deep breath steps into the the center area of the brothel towards his father.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

You step out. As you step out, the guards of house Divinos all gauntleted, hands to their breasts as they bow and you see your father turns around and says don't salute him. And as you step out, well Julian, pleasure to see you my son. Father.

[Travis Willingham]

By what honor do you come on this gracious step beyond your comfort to greet my morning in person?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Well, going to your chambers in the Divinos estate, I presumed I would find my son in the extremely expensive bed that we paid handsome money for where we sleep in a strange city when the husband of our liege lady has just been executed. So I thought maybe you'd be, I don't know, nearby.

[Travis Willingham]

How does it feel to be wrong again?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Your dad goes, raises a hand to you, looks at the gauntlet and starts to take it off and by that time has calmed down. Enough. Get in the fucking carriage. And he gets into the carriage.

[Travis Willingham]

He takes a minute, the sweat on on his brow now as the nausea that he's kept at bay washes over him for a moment, swallows, doesn't make eye contact with any of the men and just enters the carriage after his father.

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[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

He goes in, looks up at the driver. Palazzo da Vinos. Horses take off, soldiers fall in. He stares at you. You smell like the Tanners.

[Travis Willingham]

What's the point of travel if not to engage and enjoy in the local culture, huh?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

I find your interest in local culture bears a striking resemblance to every city and its culture.

[Travis Willingham]

What can I say? I'm a man of the world.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

There's a lot more to the world than brothels, bars and taverns. A lot more.

[Travis Willingham]

Well, maybe one day you.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

You can show me.

[Travis Willingham]

Proud Father.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

The resupply carriages have not made it to the Plaza Davinos. Word has reached us that they were stopped at the Dvalmar Pass. Do you know anything about this?

[Travis Willingham]

Does not seem is part of my purviews or no, this is news to my ears.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Is there anything you heard at the Farav of Thiazi Fang yesterday when you attended in escort of the Lady Erin esra?

[Travis Willingham]

A lot of tears, Small dwarf stories.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Stories?

[Taliesin Jaffe]

You know.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

People that have a very.

[Travis Willingham]

Strong opinion of this man. You know about it? Surprised you weren't there for how well you were. Two friends, huh?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Right. Storied history.

[Travis Willingham]

So gracious.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Two of you. Thick as thieves for so long. Thiazi Fang saved your cousin's life at the end of the war of Axe and Vine. It was a tragedy and a heartbreak that he ended up on the other side of the Falconer's Rebellion.

[Travis Willingham]

Every man makes their choices. I'm sorry that I was the consequence of his.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

My hope for you at the funeral, having spoken to the Lady Erinessa of what unfolded there, is that you see what it means to live a life of honor.

[Travis Willingham]

To answer your first question, Father, from what I saw at this party, was not a man who had dabbled much in honor in many years. There are things I hope Erinessa got what she needed out of it. She deserves at least some closure for what he did to her.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

I have never understood your hatred for Thiazi. You did what you did. You neglected my orders, disobeyed my commands, rode off and captured the hero of the torn banner. Made a name for yourself, brought him in, delivered him to Taconis, Havar, the others. You got your glory, and it's like you hate him for it. Why?

[Travis Willingham]

He sits a minute clenching his jaw even tighter without making eye contact with his father. Do you know how much of your golden path I was set up for? To have you turn away and throw our entire house's name for friendship with that man? The glory was mine, yes, but you. You sullied everything. So I don't forgive him for what.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

He did to you, as much as.

[Travis Willingham]

I don't forgive him for what he did to Ernestine.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Men do make their own choices. And maybe one day you will take an interest in why they make those choices. Pulling into the Palazzo Divinos, you emerge from the King carriage, walk inside and see near a fireplace downstairs in a sort of drawing room, the Lady Erinessa, who looks a little panicked. And she says, general Raymond Deward, you see? He says, yes, Lady Aranesa, and walks in, looking at Erinessa, feeling kind of panicked. Do you enter the room with them.

[Travis Willingham]

Or seeing her face? I definitely would, yes.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

As you walk in, she looks up and says, as the wagons, we've confirmed that they were stopped at the Tvallimar Pass. You see that? General Raymond goes, can we just ride to the pass? And she says, no, the other side. The other side of the mountains before Kavros. They've been behind us. They're days away at this point, you see? He goes, that's strange. Why didn't the rear guard not make mention? He looks and says, looks over at Julian. And you see, Erinessa touches his arm and says, I trust Julian with this information. You see, your father crosses his arms and says, very well, Lady Erinessa, it has come to our attention that there may have been a plot to rescue the Aziz Fang. You see, Erinessa looks at you with a look of like, we know what we heard at that funeral. And that's not.

[Travis Willingham]

Not a very good one.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

You see, he says, disturbing things have come to us. The Taconis are currently searching for a member of their family. Family. One who dwells primarily here in Dolmakjar. If rumors are correct, it is possible that he knows something of this plan, in which case he was acting in direct contradiction of his family. It may be to our benefit if we can find the young boy before anyone else does. He looks at her.

[Travis Willingham]

Aranessa.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Erinessa nods and says, it would be wise. He is, I believe, in danger.

[Travis Willingham]

Then I am at your service, Lady Erinessa.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

You see that? General Raymond nods and says, if you find him, I would bring him here. For the time being, don't let anyone see you bring him here. But we should get a chance to talk with him if we can, to understand what may have happened. And we are not going toe to toe with the Takones. We are just trying to understand what happened and hopefully advocate on the young boy's behalf in case there had been a misunderstanding, which, given the insanity of the rumor, there must be. You see, he says. He turns to Erinys and says, given the gravity of this in the carriages, should we postpone the gala tomorrow night? And you see, she turns and says, no, no. Appearances are everything. Absolutely. If anything, invite more people. We should have it be as much of a to do as we possibly can. Invite, in fact. Julian, are you all right? I'm fine. You see, your father walks over to the mantle and says, julian, are you going to be able to do this?

[Travis Willingham]

Always?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

He says, good, you are my eldest son. And he splashes a full pitcher of water in your face, and I love you to it. Then.

[Travis Willingham]

He reaches and tightens the demigantlet in his left hand. You hear the metal plates clinking and squeezing into place.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Wipe yourself off. You head forth from this place.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

Such a loving observation, as you're my eldest son.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

That's it.

[Travis Willingham]

It's a great family dynamic.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

Yeah, yeah.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Super healthy. Super, super healthy. We arrive in the woods outside of Dolmak Yar. Robbie. Where do we find Cadigan? Outside of the city here, where you'd.

[Travis Willingham]

Find him most nights, he's just sleeping out. Found a little patch where there's a split in the canopy where he's been. And it was a rough night. Sleep, sweat, alcohol pouring out into his clothes that are already well worn. He's got Wulfric underneath the back of his head, arms folded, legs crossed, as that first little splint of morning sunlight comes through. It just catches him in the eye. Oh, God. And he wakes up and starts to stand. And he's shuffling through the memories of last night. And it's pretty foggy. I mean, he recalls there was an altercation. He remembers that he was at a funeral. He remembers why he was there. But he went pretty hard the rest of the evening on the streets by himself. And as he stands up and him and Wulfric sort of, you know, get themselves settled for the day, kind of cracks his neck a bit. And it just. When he moves his shoulders and cracks his neck, it sounds like you're like stepping on empty snail shells. Just everything in him crackles and no cartilage left much to speak of. And he's got a leather bandolier on his chest that's full of tinctures and herbs. And he just takes a little tiny snuffbox out. Wulfric sneezes behind him. And as he's sifting through these memories, he's trying to find that mooring to hold onto about what the night was all about. Cause he's feeling through his pockets and they're empty.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yeah.

[Travis Willingham]

No gold, no food. His water skin's empty, even. And he doesn't know what to do with himself. He's lost again.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yeah.

[Travis Willingham]

And the one image that he is just locked onto, surprisingly, isn't Teora's old battle partner from ages ago or even Azune, who he hasn't seen in a long time. It is that fairy that was so torn apart by the death of this man. And that memory of this fairy tears and really brings all the pieces of.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

The evening back in.

[Travis Willingham]

And he remembers that he was a small part of it. And he starts to remember what happened in that scene of that scuffle. And he looks down at Wulfric and Wulfric looks up at him like a good dog. And instead of saying what he wants to say, he just does a little thieves cant and just does this. Which means find the pixie. And Wulfric just goes. And he's off into the woods through the underbrush. And Cadigan cracks his neck again and.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Goes one of nine.

[Travis Willingham]

Then he takes off after him.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Give me a survival check as you do so.

[Marisha Ray]

Okay.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Not great. 13 on a 13. I think you look up and just see gray morning skies in Dolomachior. You're following Wulfric, who's headed back to the city. Thimble's got to be somewhere in there. As you sobered up a little bit, I think you look and just notice higher up in the city you see a little dot. You're used to looking for the movements of wild things. You see a flutter of wings. And there is a balcony way up high. The highest neighborhood of Dolmak Yar is called Marut. It's near the great tower where the revolutionary council meets. And it looks like there is some monument. Small, humble, but you can see it because it's right. Right against the river. And you just see a falcon descend towards that monument and rest there. Falcons are cliff hunters. They look for places of altitude to look for other birds. And this place is high up. You can see the whole city from there. There's rock doves and other birds that they would hunt and eat. So it doesn't strike you as unusual at all. But I think just the noise of that lyre playing of Hal and his daughter playing Broken Wing. And just seeing Thimble, the quality of light coming off her body almost shifting in that moment of grief. That grief has the power to destroy. And that's the last thing the Ozzy would want. You take off and head towards. Head towards Hal's home.

[Sponsor Voice]

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[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

As you do so you are gonna probably be the first to arrive there to wake everybody up. Luis, really briefly with you too. We are to going to move from. As Wulfric leads Cadogan back into the rookery across the river in Rubblecliff, we see the Brethren hall. The home of the Revolutionary Guard. Those proud warriors defending the legacy of the Shapers war. When all mortals joined arm in arm to defeat, well, the gods, but also a lot of other mortals. When I say all mortals, that's not true. There were plenty of mortals on the other side. But the Brethren hall allied that purpose. This was the war of mortals versus the gods. And seeing the suits of armor gathered here in this place for the Revolutionary Guard Azune, you begin to inside to I guess, clock in. What's the first thing you would do as you enter this chamber here? Well, I think my morning routine begins the moment that I wake up. And as soon as my eyes open, I'm already on the job. As I suit up in my room, I.

[Marisha Ray]

Replay again.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

The events of the night before.

[Marisha Ray]

And in my mind I have the.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Last moments of Thiazi's execution and watching his body hanging and suspended in the air. And I'm caught between the things that I feel like I should do, need to do. The thing that I spend very little time on are the things that I want to do. By the time I arrive officially on the job, I would have already gotten my gear on. I would have already began in my own room. The detect magic ritual. I leave my room with that already activated because that as an arcane marshal is one of the very things that I'm tasked to do. Keep tabs on any arcane anomalies or arcane surges that happen around. And I leave my room with that already activated.

[Marisha Ray]

On my mind is.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

What is in store today. My job usually consists of some administration. There's some permits perhaps for people that are looking to get sanctioned places to practice arcane magic. There is some maintenance that I would do to fix devices that are meant to support arcane research. And then there's the patrol. Yeah, and right now I'm making sure that my patrol is changing. As you walk around, you have your area. The Revolutionary Guard. It was here to protect the city in the wake of the revolution. And then after that it was here to be part of keeping the peace. And then after that, of the different offices here, some have fallen into disarray or disrepair. The Arcane Marshals are still very active. These are the people whose job it is to be able to be warriors that can also detect magic and can keep the city safe from threats of demon or undead dead, and different kind of supernatural entities. You see, as you are getting your stuff together with some notes of notices to the Guard about changing laws. There's a lot of training and notices about the reality of not being able to cast magic in the marketplace anymore, which wasn't the case even a year ago. Walking into the the office of your Captain, Edrian Fazir of the Arcane Marshals, you see that Edrion looks up at you and there's someone seated in his office already. Ser Horondus Einfazen of the Council, or the Chamber of Lords Advisory. Your Captain Edrian looks at you. An older man, big belly, rotund. He's got sort of a strap of white around his chin. Human man. Looks up and goes azure. Good to see you, my lad. Have you met Sir Einfarsen? I turn to take this stranger in. Have I met him before? You recognize him as a knighted lord of the House Einfausen. He looks to you and says, it is a pleasure to meet you. You are Azune Nyar. I stiffen up and become very formal, taking my job very seriously, and I give him a nod and I say, at your pleasure, sir. It is an honor. I understand that you were stationed to the execution yesterday. I was indeed. I understand the complexities of someone who enjoyed the mixed reputation of Thiazi Fang. There are many in the city that were the victims of his criminality, but also there are many who saw within him a hero, especially of this town of which he was born. A complicated figure, I think we can all agree. Yes? Yes, sir. I am meeting with your Captain Fazir simply to engage in the offering of resources. It has come to the attention of the House Einfarsen in its seat on the Chamber of Lords Advisory to the Revolutionary Council, that the public funds have been somewhat diminished of late. And it has the opinion of myself, as a member of the Chamber of the Lord's Advisory, that the Revolutionary Guard has for too long been tasked with the sole duty of protecting the city and its peoples. I would hate to think that your important tasks would go, shall we say, interrupted, or that you would not have the resources you need to be able to do what you must. We are discussing ways in which certain struggling offices of the Revolutionary Guard can be closed to see those resources better served elsewhere. And in my estimation, there is no group within the city that compares to the Arcane Marshal's. Your services are absolutely necessary and vital for the continued safety of the city. I'm glad to hear that, sir. If there is any use I can be to you, you need only call on me and my house. We would be only too happy to serve. A question, if I may? Of course. These offices that you foresee would close, is there whatever little resources have been dedicated to them? What would that mean for those resources if those offices are closed? Those resources would be reassigned to offices of the Revolutionary Guard that are, shall we say, more efficient in their use of those resources. The Arcane marshals is extremely effective at a, shall we say, type of safety of the peoples of Dolmarkia that cannot be easily recreated by any other division. Whereas Gate Guardians or Revolutionary Guard patrolmen, those tasks can absolutely be handled by men at arms of the various houses of the Chamber of Lords. Advisory. And what role will you play in that? Security Overseer. Understood. As a Lord Knight, it would be my honor to join you side by side in keeping this city safe. It will be an honor to work side by side with such an esteemed person. You see that? He snappily salutes a gauntleted hand, bows to you, says it is important work you are doing here. You have the loyalty and commitment of House Einfarsen by your side. I have been studying this man from the second that he has been looking.

[Marisha Ray]

At me and I.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

I smell.

[Marisha Ray]

I'm just suspicious, of course.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

How hungry does he look now that he seems to be positioning himself in quite a powerful place. It's what I'm digging for. Behind his eyes, I suppose. Sorry, what are you looking for specifically? I'm just looking. There's something about people who are power hungry. Yeah. When they finally pulled enough strings and positioned themselves for this very moment, where he just looked at me and said, I'm your new boss and I just want to see how much pleasure there was behind his eyes. Because if there is a hunger there for that kind of power, then it's just tasted something very sweet, maybe. And I want to see if I can notice. Give me an insight check. Great way to put that.

[Marisha Ray]

I just critted that.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Nat 20. There we go. Yes. Different sundered houses move differently. This guy is coming to you with a tone of respectfulness and zeal and flattery that lets you know that this guy's truly dangerous. The Hunger behind his eyes. I think what you see too is there's different. You've talked to power hungry people in the past. Some of them are nakedly contemptuous. Some of them are cruel or bilious. You don't see any kind of arch malevolence in this guy. You see a person whose entire core philosophy, rather than being brickwork, is a solid monolithic cube. Of of course I should be in charge. And everything else gets built on top of that. Okay, Lieutenant Captain, I wish you all the best for a fruitful collaboration in the years to come. And you see, he nods. And you see Captain Edrian says, and to you, Lord Knight, thank you very much for your help in this endeavor. And as the Lord leaves, you see Adrian looks over at you. Well, looks like we're all getting bonuses so long as he finds us useful. I guess the men at arms of the House Einfasin don't know how to detect magic with their eyes.

[Marisha Ray]

Let's hope that stays that way.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Well, let's hope it does, because I think they're also a bit the Penteveral today. I'm not surprised.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

No.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Do you?

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

No privatizing government sanctioned organizations.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

No college needs. Okay. No. With that, so much moves through my.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

Mind.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

As I immediately become concerned for or some of my friends. I go to where the schedule is basically, and I'm eager to leave him there. Kind of spinning on this because I have other matters that I need to attend to and I'm gonna go to the schedule. Specifically I'm going to go to where whoever's in charge of where the Crow Keepers area is, whoever's meant to patrol that area. I'm switching our name so that I'm on that patrol. Hell yeah. Gotcha. You switch your names, you get out there. You will be on patrol in Caravan Hill. And with that you head out. Speaking of the penteveral.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

No.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

A gorgeous series of buildings at the border of the neighborhood of Rozagar and a place called the Embers, which is the dwarven name neighborhood built into the side of the Cavarozy Mountains. That here you see is basically gorgeous red sandstone and then colorful pink quartz from the Sunset Mountains. There's alabaster. The Pentevral is a rare bit of color. And there's also plastered and thatched conical sort of towers or plastered and shingled conical towers. The Pentevral is also much like a campus in a city. It's almost hard to tell you've walked into a college until you're way in it and you're like, oh, this is. There's people that are getting snacks at this little streetcar thing by showing a student badge rather than. You know what I'm saying? So it's like, oh, suddenly it's almost like a secret college that you just. Suddenly you're in. Noted by many covered sky bridges in that kind of almost tam o shantery. Or like. It's like the white plaster and the little moss covered shingles. They are sky bridges that are only about this big across because they are sky bridges for familiars to walk from building to building. So there's tons of little familiar bridges throughout the different buildings of the Penteveral. And you see all throughout this beautiful little glyph with five stations around it, almost like a pentagram. And you are walking through at Murray. And as you walk through, you see that nearby sort of racing past you is a young gnomish lad who's a grad student. His name is Gallant. And you see, he looks over and he's running by with a bunch of scrolls. He looks like he's sweating. He looks over and goes, Murray.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

Yeah?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

What's.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

What's got. What's going on?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

They just sacked Tall Barrel. What? Tall Barrel? He resigned. They didn't sack him, but they fucking sacked him.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

They sacked him. Who did? Is this. These damn houses. Who was it? Which one? Give me names, boy.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

I think Einfausen Cormorate, Ilevar Royce.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

And did I just calm him and start heading.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Boom. You're out of the way. You rush over in a beautiful office appointed with a massive desk, this ancient red wood varnished with wooden gargoyles. You see there's these two panther heads that are a little bit more angular and they have grapes hanging out of their mouths. And up above, you see there are these gorgeous elven muses with flowering plants popping out of the top plant or top of their head. You see there's a weird little tooting, steaming gem bubbling in the middle of a beaker's neck as nothing. There's no water, but it just somehow produces steam from air underneath it. On top of this, this massive desk is a much smaller desk. And at that desk with a small staircase on the side is the halfling professor, or sorry, I should say Dean Ellipides. Tall barrel, slightly pointed ears, white curly hair, white curly sideburns. Look, looks over. Little vest, bare feet and britches. Looks over and goes, murray, what did.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

They do to you? What happened?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

What did they do to you?

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

Why didn't you stand up to them?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

What do you mean?

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

This wasn't supposed to happen yet. I just heard the news from Gallon that you got sacked, that you're stepping down.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

I. Murray, I'm not a liberty. So. I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Murray. I really am.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

You said. You said we were gonna stand up to these greedy ass fucking houses. What are you doing?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

I no longer believe it is possible to do the work that is necessary to do here in this place.

[Sponsor Voice]

What do you mean?

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

Our work is incredibly important.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Of course it is, Murray. Of course it is. I know that. But there. If I had tried to fight them. You see, he just shudders and he puts a sort of paper across to you.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

What's this?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

It's a letter affirming the decision from the Revolutionary Council to accept the advisement from the Chamber of Lords to revoke the license to cast arcane magic on students grounds here. And they're not going to do it if I resign.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

They.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Prefer Cora.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

Of course they do. She's one of them.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

She's not one of them.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

Okay, well, heavier the pockets. That is the snake. I guess she might as well be one of them.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Sir, you have a snake in your pocket.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

No, I'm saying Cora is. She's a snake. She's a dirty little, greedy, groovy backhand alley deal maker. She's got the house.

[Sponsor Voice]

She's in their pockets.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

For the work that we have.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

So wait, you're trying to say that they're coming in and they're trying to shut down the ability to cast magic at a magic school. That was. That's their angle here. That's what they're trying to do.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

It was the feeling of the Chamber of Lords advisory to the Revolutionary Council that casting magic is not necessary for the study of wizardry.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

That is the most batshit thing you hear coming out of you. If they are going to try and push you out, they might as well have been creative.

[Sponsor Voice]

About.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Felt pretty creative to me.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

You think that's creative?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Wha. If I stay and they revoke the ability of the Pentevral to practice actual practical magic casting, what happens to the next generation of students?

[Sponsor Voice]

Mike, I.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

Tall barrel. I understand. What? You don't have to explain to me the ramifications. That is deeply clear. I am upset at. I'm upset and I'm allowed to be upset.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

If you want the faux Turk of the Candescent Creed to walk in here and say that this is how. How it's going to be. Do you want me to say how about. How do you like These lightning bolts and shoot her in the face. Shoot her in the face. I mean, kapow. But you're considering that would have been epic.

[Sponsor Voice]

Yes.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

Look, all right, I understand. I understand. I just don't understand. It's just this slippery slope that we have all been subjected to try and climb for the past months, years even. And it's like they're sitting at the top of it with just soap and water, pouring it down this slippery slope until we all just smack onto our faces, bust our teeth out, and go sliding all the way back down to the bottom, right where they want us to be, which is under their big fucking feet at the bottom of their hill. The analogy got away from me, but you understand what I'm saying?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

I'm still on the snake in the pockets.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

There's no snake in the pockets.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Murray.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

I'm.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

Who's gonna. Who's gonna go to bat for me? You brought me into this. I was just a shitty little squatter dwarf out in the gutters. You gave me a job. You gave me purpose.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

This. This institution was born of scrappy little folks from the gutter. And those original five, the first deans, they were just poets and academics until a couple of little street urchins from the shadows of Dhul Makyar said, well, if these words of creation are written in the foundations of our earth, then let's go find them. It is not lost on me that bravery is the better part of wizardry. But I. I am not a warrior and I'm not a politician. I've tried to spend my days studying the craft of magic. And I turned around and I can speak words that make things that never existed come into being. And I turned around and found that there was a power greater than that. And it was whatever was written in this letter. I'm sorry.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

I am sorry it was so well worded, what you just said, which makes it hurt that much more. Look, you understand what this means, right? This institution that was made and created for those that were willing to pull themselves up by their bootstraps, crack open spines of books and just work hard, no matter where they came from or what wealth was bestowed upon them from whatever silver spooned matron that they came from, it's not gonna be for them anymore. Just like everything else in this city, we're gonna get pushed out of the way for the wealthy, for the noble houses, the sundered houses. And they're gonna continue to push and take and take, just like they took the Aussie. And just like they're Taking you.

[Sponsor Voice]

I'm sorry.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

I haven't slept all night. And now my emotions and my hormones are completely unregulated.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

You see Ellipides just with this half packed bag next to him, looks out and says, I've spent my life looking for answers and today my last day at the Pentavrel. I'm afraid I have none.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

Today's your last day.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

I have to leave.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

I just give him big hug.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

He gives you a big hug. As he does, you hear the noise of boots approaching in the doorway. The shadows grow long, effortless. Magic. Magic inherited. As the shadows lengthen, Marie just cracks.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

Her knuckles a little bit, cracks her neck. And then just looks at Tall Beryl.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Tall Beryl turns, smiles. A woman enters the room ahead. A dwarven woman, much like yourself, clean shaven, platinum blonde hair, Dean's robes, looking very official. Walks in and says, Dean Tolberalderise, someone here to see you. A benefactor and patron. The door darkens and a tall grave figure of sallow skin enters. The Lord. Primus to Konis. I'm looking for my son. I believe he studies at this place and we're gonna leave there and I will ask everybody at Hal's house to jump on in.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

Big tradesies.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Alex, I'm coming for you, man. Oh no.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

What did you do to piss off Daddy?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Drive us to code. Drive us to Konas. Wow, cool. Cool. I may call people in in at a moment's notice. Cool.

[Sponsor Voice]

How hot is your dad?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Do we want someone to jump over the other side just as we're open? Oh, I'll do it. Yeah, yeah, go for it.

[Sponsor Voice]

Yeah, yeah.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Oh yeah. Okay. The morning of the next day, all of you awaken and I'll ask Fimble and Octys, where are you sleeping in the house that night if you sleep at all?

[Sponsor Voice]

I did, but I fell asleep on the azzy, so.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Falling asleep on on the ozzy as you awaken the small mound of pixie dust that has surrounded you, glowing on his chest. I think I.

[Travis Willingham]

Took whatever room that was available for him to sleep in. But Pin stayed downstairs at the feet of the Aussie. And in case Thimble needed anything.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Hal and Tycha. I think you guys awaken.

[Marisha Ray]

I would say that Hal barely slept.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

And.

[Marisha Ray]

Years ago when we had children together, obviously we shared the the master bedroom in this place that we built. But once you left, following your convictions into the world, the room that was your study, your quiet place in the house, I continued to tend and kept it full of greenery and put a bed there not to say that we haven't.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

Say it.

[Marisha Ray]

Enjoyed each other's company on and off throughout the years. It's never assumed. And I've preserved this room for you. And I've barely slept, so I'm coming to this room now to find you.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yeah.

[Sponsor Voice]

By the way, I think Octis. It probably would have been this room. I think we're used to splitting rooms up incredibly early. By the time you leave. Hi.

[Travis Willingham]

Hi.

[Sponsor Voice]

Good morning.

[Marisha Ray]

See you awake?

[Sponsor Voice]

I. I'm still asleep. No, no. He'll be up at the crack of noon.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Are you sleeping in the same room as them or any different? I'm sleeping in the same room as Tysha was in this room. I just stayed in whatever room she was in. We're using that. I think there's a moment the night previous when you're like, I'm gonna sleep in the foot of their room where you see Shadia, who has her whole own room is like, got it. See, she's like. She looks at you and she's like, do I not.

[Sponsor Voice]

I look, I don't know.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

I didn't think about this. I thought, he's not necessarily my type. But I just.

[Sponsor Voice]

No, I. I.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Make a move, girl. Yeah, make a move. He's weird, but it's not gonna make a move. Do something. I'm not gonna make a move.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

Do something.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

He's like your. Is he your protege?

[Sponsor Voice]

No, I did a. I work with him.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

A little.

[Sponsor Voice]

Not that much.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Okay.

[Sponsor Voice]

He's never had sex.

[Marisha Ray]

That's an overshoot up to the roof of this place where you can look out over all of the neighborhood of the rookery.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yeah.

[Marisha Ray]

And the sun is just barely coming up. And there are magpies warbling to each other from different rooftops up here.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Did you sleep? No. No, no, no. God.

[Sponsor Voice]

How are you? There's a lot to do today. I.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

Okay. You look great.

[Sponsor Voice]

Terrible. I'm gonna. I. I'll. I'll take care of it. Oh, let me take care of it, please.

[Marisha Ray]

I am glad you are here. I'm glad you're here. I've been anxious since it happened. Terrified that someone in his orbit was going to try some harebrained scheme to pull him out of that spot. And including you.

[Sponsor Voice]

Yeah.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

You weren't inaccurate.

[Marisha Ray]

Right.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Right.

[Marisha Ray]

And I didn't want my brother to be a refugee and never see him again. And I was convinced. Convinced that I could handle back channels. I had Arnessa. I had the hail of her boy as a fail safe. And it all failed.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

And I'm a fool you're not a fool.

[Sponsor Voice]

You're hopeful. And that's not a bad thing. We were the fallback mechanism. If all else failed, the glyph was supposed to fire and we would get him out and better, alive and in the world and gone.

[Marisha Ray]

But I couldn't even talk at all yesterday and had a thousand thoughts rattling around inside my head. And there were just too many people. And for every person in the house who was there to pay respects and missed my brother, it seemed like there was another person with an axe to grind. And I don't know who to trust other than you love.

[Sponsor Voice]

To be clear, there were maybe a.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

Handful of people who had a word.

[Sponsor Voice]

Of truly bad things to say about your brother. I don't know why Julian showed his.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Face and Vaelys whole.

[Sponsor Voice]

That's fucked. But everyone else there knew him and loved him. And I'm sorry, I will just keep rambling, you know.

[Marisha Ray]

I was in the crowd.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

And.

[Marisha Ray]

Azune made it so that he and I could talk, so to speak, a little. And he wanted to break all these chairs. He saw something at the final moments, out over the crowd. I don't know. I don't even know what.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

I mean.

[Marisha Ray]

He saw something and then he spoke in a fever.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

He told me.

[Marisha Ray]

That I need to be looking out for Marais, the Pentevrel. He told me that Bair has paints waiting. He wants me to look after Fimble. I would have done that anyway.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Of course.

[Marisha Ray]

There's a lot to figure out. And I don't like the way the wind is blowing in. And I certainly don't like it that trouble has washed up at our children's feet.

[Sponsor Voice]

Yeah.

[Marisha Ray]

I don't know where to start.

[Sponsor Voice]

We start with the things that we.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

Know we can do.

[Sponsor Voice]

Let's put your brother to rest and.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

Figure out what happened.

[Sponsor Voice]

Thimble was jumped by a bunch of crow keepers or people trying to pin their actions on the crow keepers. We follow a clue. And look, the Aussie had a lot of irons in the fire at all times. It'll take years to unpack everything he was doing, but it's not on you to figure it all out right now.

[Marisha Ray]

Ty, do you know what he was doing with that box?

[Sponsor Voice]

I. I wish I was the kind of person that asked more questions, but I trusted him. I told him I was on my way to Venatus. I asked him if he needed me to pick up anything for him. And that was the request. I spent weeks walking back with Octis, threatening him and cajoling him and begging him not to open that box. And then I'm the one that did it. I brought danger into your house. I'm sorry.

[Marisha Ray]

Danger has chased my brother around his entire life. Or I got that backwards.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

But we've always worked so hard to.

[Sponsor Voice]

Keep it as far from you as possible.

[Marisha Ray]

Well, we got a lot to. A lot to figure out. A lot of people to talk to.

[Sponsor Voice]

Yeah.

[Marisha Ray]

Peel off a little time for Shadi today.

[Sponsor Voice]

Yeah. She seems.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Mad.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

Madder.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

I understand.

[Marisha Ray]

Just spend time.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

That's all she wants. Yeah.

[Sponsor Voice]

You and Hiro playing that song last night. It made me miss all of the things I missed. So much. But every time I hear you play or I hear your stories, it becomes so clear how important it is.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

To fix this world. Our people.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

Our parents. Parents.

[Sponsor Voice]

We started a war that freed us and threw the rest of the world into chaos. We owe it to the world to fix what we can.

[Marisha Ray]

We do what we do.

[Sponsor Voice]

Yeah.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

One page at a time. Yeah.

[Sponsor Voice]

Yeah.

[Marisha Ray]

Let's go look after our houseguests.

[Sponsor Voice]

Okay. Okay. Okay.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Downstairs, Thimble. You awaken the Ozzie. You have a moment here in the.

[Sponsor Voice]

Morning.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

And this bad dream doesn't go away.

[Sponsor Voice]

I look at my handiwork from last night, and I had spent the night after everybody else had gone to bed, arranging his clothes perfectly. And I braided a couple locks of his hair and made it lay out. He looks pristine. I took a couple of the treasures people left for him. He would have wanted it to go to use. And I said, pixie dust all around him, so he glows. He's golden. I'm going to find who did this.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

As you whisper that promise, the pixie dust ripples with light. A promise from a fairy is no small thing. Even from a fair very so small. At the door, you hear the rasping of claws on wood. And at the little window, a wolf's head pops up and looks inside. Robbie, you want to come out?

[Marisha Ray]

What is this?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Wolf's Continental. Is he the scariest guy or a good boy? I cannot tell.

[Sponsor Voice]

Wait, wait.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

You don't need a scooch.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

No, you need to scooch. Alex.

[Travis Willingham]

I'm sorry.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

We can all scooch together. There's no room on the table. Kadigan arrives at Hal's house.

[Travis Willingham]

So the wolf's head pops up in the window, you say?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yeah, yeah.

[Travis Willingham]

He just sort of. And sort of mousles the windowsill open a little bit and then slinks inside. And then I imagine it's sort of a step up. If there's a brownstone like there's steps up. So all you see are two bandaged hands grab onto the windowsill and you go, oh, fuck.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Ow. Ow.

[Travis Willingham]

He's got a little splinter. And Cadogan just boosts himself up into the window sill.

[Sponsor Voice]

I fly up to the windowsill.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Window sill.

[Sponsor Voice]

As your head pops out. You know, there is a door.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Oh, yeah, sorry.

[Travis Willingham]

I just followed the dog.

[Sponsor Voice]

You still smell like alcohol.

[Travis Willingham]

Then I burp, and it smells more.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

Like alcohol envelops me.

[Travis Willingham]

He slings himself into the room.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Hello. Hi. Hi.

[Sponsor Voice]

Good morning.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

There's a door.

[Travis Willingham]

Sorry. Sorry.

[Marisha Ray]

Hair of the dog. For you and the dog. One sec. I go and I bring out shepherd's pie in the kitchen and some ale and just set it out if it's wanted.

[Sponsor Voice]

Do you want to drink more or not? Be.

[Travis Willingham]

And he just starts eating the shepherd's pie with his hand. No silverware.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Just.

[Travis Willingham]

Just kind of scooping it in his mouth.

[Sponsor Voice]

Timmy, honey, have you been.

[Travis Willingham]

He's scooping it down to the dog at the same time. Dog's eating it out of his hand and he's going right back into the pot. Just sort of looking at everyone.

[Sponsor Voice]

You've been inside, around people?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yeah.

[Sponsor Voice]

He didn't raise you?

[Travis Willingham]

I love people.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

I love people.

[Sponsor Voice]

Great. Okay.

[Marisha Ray]

Place a glass jar of honey down on the same table.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Octis wasn't asleep. He couldn't hear either of you because his consciousness was.

[Travis Willingham]

Was inside pin downstairs all night. So as soon as this starts happening, he cancels it and comes down and.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Sees you eating and goes, Lord, what a way to eat. Yeah.

[Travis Willingham]

Oh, pie's gone.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

That was so fast.

[Marisha Ray]

Morning.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

More? Sure that'd be. Thank you. Yes.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

I got it. I got it, I got it. And you see that there is a.

[Travis Willingham]

Fundamental tension in Taisha that's like need.

[Sponsor Voice]

A thing to do and just starts.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Buzzing around the house.

[Travis Willingham]

Speaking of buzzing, are you airborne or are you. Yeah. Wulfric is just sort of not nipping at you, but you know how a dog gets interested in something in the sky? A fly or anything. He's just sort of got you tracked and he's bopping around.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yeah.

[Sponsor Voice]

And I'm tracking him the entire time.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yeah, yeah.

[Sponsor Voice]

Just high enough out of his.

[Travis Willingham]

It's definitely range. Not that playful.

[Sponsor Voice]

Yeah, No, I can tell.

[Travis Willingham]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Thimble, you know that it's. You know the funeral went late. The amount of time it'll take to get to Caravan Hill, you know that the tavern will be open and the crow keepers will probably be present by the time you get there.

[Sponsor Voice]

We gotta get going. Where are you going?

[Travis Willingham]

Going where?

[Sponsor Voice]

I'm in ahead of the crow keepers.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Oh, crow keepers.

[Travis Willingham]

You ever dealt with them before?

[Sponsor Voice]

Of course I have.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

Have you?

[Travis Willingham]

So much attitude. I don't know what we're doing.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

I'm sorry.

[Marisha Ray]

We didn't even speak last night. Did you leave something here?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

No, no, I just.

[Sponsor Voice]

Oh, yeah. I didn't ask.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

As I come out bringing you more food.

[Sponsor Voice]

Why are you here?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Do you.

[Sponsor Voice]

Oh, sweetie, I got you. Sorry again. Are you h.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

Oh.

[Sponsor Voice]

Are you going to help?

[Travis Willingham]

Yeah, I think so.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

Oh.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Oh.

[Travis Willingham]

Depends on what we're doing, I suppose.

[Sponsor Voice]

He looks creepy as hell. He's perfect for this. You want to come with me? I need backup.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Fantastic.

[Travis Willingham]

Is there any.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

I'll save it.

[Travis Willingham]

And he looks at the ale for a minute, and the minute turns into a real minute. And then he unlocks and leaves it.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

Sit.

[Travis Willingham]

And then. So I'm sorry I missed a little bit last night. I just remember you and your Thiazis brother.

[Marisha Ray]

I see it.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yeah.

[Marisha Ray]

You served together.

[Travis Willingham]

Is this a broad term for a band of mercenaries?

[Marisha Ray]

Fought with each other, fought near each other.

[Travis Willingham]

F. Shoulder to shoulder. He was a bit more of like a non commissioned officer and I was more like in the trenches it up.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

If you know what I mean.

[Travis Willingham]

But he's a good guy all along. I'm sorry, by the way. I didn't get a chance to properly pay my respects. Busy night?

[Taliesin Jaffe]

Yes, it was.

[Sponsor Voice]

Well, he's still right there if you want to cat.

[Travis Willingham]

Oh, yeah. And I'm gonna walk up to him and I'm gonna look at him. And as he's resting in dead. I think Cadigan's seen a lot of death in all of its forms. And when you see a person lying in repose, they have a resting face. And Thiazi's to me, looks mischievous still, as I remember him in my youth. And then while nobody's looking, just out of curiosity, I'm going to say.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Sure.

[Travis Willingham]

I'll grab a little pinch and a little flick to where no one can see it. And I just want to cast really quick just to check. Spare the dying. Because I figure if there's one last gambit he might have in his pocket, it could be that he's not really dead.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Just to check. You cast. Spare the dying here. Give me insight in this moment.

[Travis Willingham]

Like an insight check.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

An insight check.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

Okay.

[Sponsor Voice]

He's been alive this whole time.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Watch up. Now imagine if you called that here. What'd you roll?

[Travis Willingham]

It's a dirty 20.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Dirty 20. You look spare the dying. You cast it. You do not feel the spell take hold as it has in the past, perhaps on Thiazi himself. And you wonder if that mischievous half grin on his face, is that the trick he's smiling at? Is that the life he. He lived led you to believe he might be fooling even about this? Yeah. I think Cadogan looking at his body. Here he is, golden, gleaming, surrounded by treasures from the many lives he lived. It is not an exaggeration to say in the lives of mortals, though he had so much more time left. This is the best you can hope for, to be left like this.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

Yeah.

[Travis Willingham]

Looked at him and just quietly to.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Himself saying, man, it's too bad. Well.

[Sponsor Voice]

Let'S get after it then. While he was talking to him, I'm just gonna be flying next to Octis.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Um.

[Sponsor Voice]

Can you come? Or is that stupid?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

No, you mean to. Yes. Yes, I. I can come with you.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

Yeah.

[Sponsor Voice]

Will you get in trouble? I mean, I don't know how in with your fam you still are. I don't.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

Right.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

I haven't even.

[Sponsor Voice]

Oh, God.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

I can make myself look different.

[Sponsor Voice]

Yeah.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

And hopefully that'll work. Yeah. No, I'm coming with you.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

Okay.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

We gotta go. Thimble, you look Cadence with you. Octis is coming with you.

[Marisha Ray]

I think I'm better served finding Murray and Hazuna.

[Travis Willingham]

Oh, fuck.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

Murray.

[Sponsor Voice]

Wait. Belair. The letter. And I go fly down and I.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Give it to you.

[Sponsor Voice]

Hal, this has to get to them, all right? To Belair, right?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Or to Murray? Yeah, to matter.

[Sponsor Voice]

You know what I mean?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Belair.

[Marisha Ray]

It says Murray on it. Okay, I'll bring to Murray.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

There's a letter that says Belair on it, that the letter says Belair. And Thimble is saying. This is for Murray.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

Yep.

[Marisha Ray]

That tracks for the last 24 hours. I'm on it.

[Sponsor Voice]

He had a present for you. Did you get it?

[Marisha Ray]

I. Yes. Yes.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Okay.

[Sponsor Voice]

Are you gonna use it?

[Marisha Ray]

Give me one hour a week. Um. Be careful.

[Sponsor Voice]

I'm always careful.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Are you, though? Um.

[Marisha Ray]

Listen, I know I'm not my brother, and I'm no replacement for my brother, but I know how much you meant to each other. And as far as I'm concerned, your family. So if you ever need somewhere to go, it's here. And I was able to talk to.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Him at the end.

[Sponsor Voice]

Are you bullshitting me? Cause Izune said the same shit.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

And.

[Sponsor Voice]

Then he said he was lying, so I'm not bullshitting. What'd he say?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

He said to tell you not to.

[Marisha Ray]

Be afraid, and I didn't need him to tell me that he thought the world of you. And therefore so do I.

[Sponsor Voice]

He was always so stupid.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yes, he was.

[Sponsor Voice]

I'm never afraid.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Thimble. Do you want me to.

[Sponsor Voice]

Do you want me to come with you? Or you good with a pair of spooky boys?

[Travis Willingham]

We got this.

[Marisha Ray]

We got this, don't we?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Don't we? Wolf Rick. He's a good boy.

[Sponsor Voice]

I don't know if you need to.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Be in with the thieves.

[Sponsor Voice]

Taisha. You're respectable.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Who said.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

Is that true?

[Marisha Ray]

I don't know what context.

[Sponsor Voice]

I respect you. I respect you too.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

You didn't tell me you were respectable. Okay, calm down. Yeah.

[Marisha Ray]

I like him.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

As Tysha and Hal remain here at home with their daughter. Thimble, you head out with Cadogan and octys. Disguise self before we leave. The house looks shady.

[Sponsor Voice]

Shadier than you already look.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

I don't look shady.

[Travis Willingham]

I make myself look very much.

[Marisha Ray]

Realizing who I'm with.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

An approximation of someone who looks like Cadigan. I'm just nudging the shit out of Shadia. You see that? Shadia goes. It's nice to meet you. Nice to meet you too.

[Marisha Ray]

Nice to meet you too.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

That's good. That's good.

[Sponsor Voice]

Can you make yourself a. Wow.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Is that your real?

[Travis Willingham]

Yeah, it's a musk.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

I feel like that's a waste of magic. As you can set up. Let me know how long disguised self.

[Travis Willingham]

Driving it lasts an hour.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

I will need to duck away at.

[Travis Willingham]

Some point to refresh it.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yes. So you go ahead. I think you get there on a second casting. You'll get far enough in the city that you arrive there. Thimble. As you head out through the city, you see it before you. There is a tavern. A sign. No letters on it, but a sign with just a scrap picture of a tall stone masonry tower. See, this is in Caravan Hill. Caravan Hill is one of the lower neighborhoods of the city. So named because this is where all of the goods and wealth of Kahad, all that orcish food and produce and wealth and abundance goes funneling out into the rest of Pasatar. You see that there is a. So there's merchant caravans and wagons and everything heading up to Ser Orgrimock's market. And the tavern sign swings. There's a sputtering torchlight as you enter. It's always a late morning tavern. Always has a vibe like the circus just left. It's from a guy who used to do opening work at a lot of bars. It's a tough vibe as you approach and enter you walk in and sort of right in this little hallway that leads out to the main where the bar is. And there's circular tables around the sputtering torchlight duel. Makyar is gray enough that some places. Places in some neighborhoods need to burn torches during the day even to have enough light to see and do things. You walk in and you see that there's two wiry looking human. You see a couple crow feathers on a twine earring, and another one's got some crow feathers on the inside of a hood. You walk in, smile.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

Hello.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Welcome. Looking for a drink?

[Sponsor Voice]

I'm looking for any bit of recognition in any of their eyes from me. I'm looking for somebody that looks like they might have been in that room.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

You don't. I don't see any from this person. Or are you here to speak with somebody?

[Sponsor Voice]

Yeah. I fly down and get close to them. Where's Kaz? Where's Kaz?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

You hear a voice from inside say, send her in. In the barn, wearing a sort of brimmed double ridged hat, black felt, long black coat, thin silver chain. It's an older figure. You would recognize this as a gentleman. You don't know if it's his name, but people call him Solomon. You Thimble? Is that right?

[Sponsor Voice]

Sol.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Good to see you, my friend. You too. Who you looking for?

[Sponsor Voice]

I'm looking for Casimir. Has he been around last few days? Last day.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Give me a persuasion check. Go Tinker Hell.

[Sponsor Voice]

Ooh, that ain't good. That ain't good at all. That's a five.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Hey, Laura. Roll Initiative and we're gonna say goodbye. Actually, give me three Initiative rules right here. I'm gonna mark them down. I bet they won't get up.

[Sponsor Voice]

Okay, 25.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

25 for thimble. Okay, 25 for thimble. Damn.

[Travis Willingham]

That is 21.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Oh, my God. Come on. 21 for octis. What do we get here?

[Travis Willingham]

I'm just lollygagging by the ball. I got a 12.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

1212 for Cadogan. Hell yeah. Thimble. These people are not creative. And as many times before, you hear the whistling right behind you of someone with a burlap sack. And that's where we're going to say goodbye. See you guys next time. Can we get. Can we get Sam and Whitney out here?

[Marisha Ray]

Okay, everybody else vacate.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Right. Everybody else vacate. Bye. Bye.

[Sponsor Voice]

Bye.

[Travis Willingham]

That was. Let's go.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Almost first combat. So close.

[Marisha Ray]

How entice. You just making breakfast? Yeah, that's it.

[Travis Willingham]

That's its own kind of combat.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yeah. Great. Bye. Bye. Great boy. I love it.

[Marisha Ray]

Good boy.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Good boy.

[Marisha Ray]

Should we be on different.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

Should you want to be?

[Sponsor Voice]

Should we?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Having been watered and fed, Teor Pridesire has been ushered out of the Via Aurora. And after much business dealing with a quick meeting with House Einfausen and some comings and goings. Sam, what? Do you think Wicander would get up to? That in a normal day? After having signed up for Teor to maybe begin to be your assigned bodyguard, this holy man. But just in a normal day, what do you think you would get up to?

[Marisha Ray]

Oh, well, in a normal day, I would. This isn't a normal day.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Or on this day, would you get up to.

[Marisha Ray]

Yeah, in a normal day, I think I would. I have duties. I have things to take care of at the various temples. And there is the matter of that shipment of filament that was outside. This glowing liquid that was sort of being jostled around. I want to make sure that that is being cared for and delivered to the right place. And there's always the teaching of tyranny and making sure that she is being brought to the light and making sure that she is doing her studies. I don't know if she's with me now or not.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

I believe she is.

[Marisha Ray]

Okay.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

Yes.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

After a long day dealing with the accident, there is a knock at your study door as the sun begins to set.

[Marisha Ray]

Maybe. I'm in the middle of explaining to her. As you know, the Candescent Creed believes that the universe is a river of light. And we are but vessels riding in this river. We have solved the ancient secrets though. And we can distill the light energy into liquid filament. And that filament can be used in rituals and how. It's very crucial to our. To our faith that filament can be used to empower people, to cast magic.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

So you don't know?

[Marisha Ray]

I don't know exactly how it works. But I do know that that filament can even be ingested by people. Why? You see the markings on my face? These beautiful glowing tattoos are actually pure filament. That's the bottled down essence of the universe tattooed on.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

But you don't know what it is.

[Sponsor Voice]

Or where it comes from.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yes, I do.

[Marisha Ray]

It is part of the universe. It is the candescence that we all exist, within and without us. It makes the universe and we are carried along its current. And many say that we can sip of it from the great radiant chalice.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

Okay, I understand. Let me ask you something. What did you think about that Teor guy?

[Marisha Ray]

He was very strong.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

He was really strong.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yeah.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

Yes.

[Marisha Ray]

And sort of had a swagger about him, don't you think? Yeah, sort of confidence.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

Well, let's stay pure.

[Marisha Ray]

Of course, you're right. He seemed to wield the light without even knowing how or what it is, which is rare. Impressive, really.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

You trust him?

[Marisha Ray]

Well, I did, but then my grandmother said to sort of get rid of him. I don't know what that means.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

Your grandma said to get rid of him?

[Marisha Ray]

I don't know if that means usher him out or kill him. I can't kill him.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

You can't kill him?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

No, I can't kill him. I can't do that.

[Marisha Ray]

No. But could you? If push came to shove.

[Travis Willingham]

I mean.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

Yeah, I think so, but I don't.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Think I. I don't think.

[Marisha Ray]

No, I don't want to.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

It's not my job to be up on the politics of your stuff.

[Marisha Ray]

Of course not. But you know, if the fo'tarch commanded us to, I suppose we'd have no other choice.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

Yeah, I don't want to do that.

[Marisha Ray]

I don't want to do that either. Oh, yes, yes. Go to the door, please.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

The door opens. Your father, and behind him, aspirin, Enmity. These two towering figures appear. Your father again, blindfolded, looks to you, weakened, come, and turns to begin to walk away.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

Am I supposed to come?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

You shouldn't. He looks and says, come on now. Tyranny. Yes.

[Marisha Ray]

You should be present for all official. What if I need protection? Yes, yes, yes, Father, we'll join along.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

I want to sidebar with enmity. Really quick. Just get up. Clomp right up next to her and say enmity. What's going on?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

The Frotharch has made a decision. You won't have to keep any terrible little secrets for much longer. You. By the way, Enmity is committing a dimming in this moment by speaking in the language of demons. So that you don't understand that last part.

[Marisha Ray]

Did I shoot them?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

You heard. A little demonic. Yeah, all right.

[Marisha Ray]

I shoot them A little bit of a side eye.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

You see, Goddard, Your father says dawn and points to the staircase.

[Marisha Ray]

Right away. Follow. Yes.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

You begin to walk, Enmity speaking rather than your father. Just goes, my lord Wakanda, your father is gleeful and merry beyond measure.

[Marisha Ray]

I can tell. Yes.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

To show you the inner workings of the prismatic retort.

[Marisha Ray]

Oh, oh. By the beam. The inner workings. The prismatic retort is what we use to change light energy, distill it from the cosmos into liquid form into liquid filament. Its mysteries are unknown.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

If this is true.

[Marisha Ray]

This could be my promotion. This could be the moment I've revealed the secrets.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

Yes, your radiance.

[Marisha Ray]

I mean, I know you're being humble and demure, because that's what you should be, but you could be a little happy.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

You approach at the bottom of the staircase, going down farther. This is now, deep in the rock, underneath the Via Aurora, a massive set of stone double doors, the symbol of the candescent Creed. On them, you can see there is writing, however, here in celestial Ancient Obra Demian. This lost room of this empire of fallen worshipers, of Tansul, God of the Sun. The letters don't reference him, but you recognize them as part of that ancient Alphabet. But, of course, Tansil was a false God. So doors begin to crack open and a beam of light moves through and quickly diminishes. You see within, chained to either side of the wall, are enormous warhounds. You see that each of them, their slavering drool glowing bioluminescently as they. You see that each of them barks. And as they do, you see that you feel a pulse of some kind of innate spell from them. And you feel not harming anything but dispel magic cast over you.

[Marisha Ray]

Do I know these creatures?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

They look maybe of a similar kind to your Uncle Felonious. He has got some war dogs, but these ones are much bigger. And you see that each of them.

[Marisha Ray]

Do not be afraid.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

Thank you. My eyes are locked on Wick, and also occasionally staring daggers at enmity.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

You look at the Wardos, and as you look over their eyes, you see that there are golden plates affixed over their eyes, solid. As you walk forward, another set of doors opens.

[Marisha Ray]

Have I ever been this far? Deep down?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

No. This is all brand new. Oh, my goodness.

[Marisha Ray]

The fourth tenant of the Seven Shining Tenets. The beam is only seen by the anointed. The sacred glyphs shimmer only to the family of flame. They will be revealed to me tonight.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

Hey, can I say something really quick.

[Sponsor Voice]

Before we go further?

[Marisha Ray]

Yes, would you?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yeah.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

I just wanted to say that I know I haven't been really easy to work with these past couple months.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

I mean.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

And I'm really sorry about that.

[Marisha Ray]

Oh, thank you. Thank you for that. You've made great progress, and I'm proud of what you've accomplished. Can't wait for more, Wiki.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

You see, the fo tark is down here. You see that she's dressed not in outer regalia, but a simple white gown. She looks like she's very Comfortable down here. She smiles and says, oh, my little lovey, it's good to see you. Hello, tyranny. Welcome. Behold, candles light in this almost cathedral element basement. Like a windowless cathedral here in the basin. And you see that there is an enormous stone sarcophagus that is set in with these massive fibrous, what look like almost like thread. Massive rods, ropes or threads coming off of it. But you see that they are shuddering and gleaming bright. The sarcophagus is pitched up. It is easily 40ft tall. Overhead, stones and sigils carved throughout it. You see that Goddard is walking over and twisting these places where these essentially fibrous tubes plunge into the sarcophagus and tightening them up. And as he does, you see his hands are smoking a little bit. Yanessa looks at you and says, wakenda, there's no two ways about it. The love I hold for you is as true as the foundations of the earth. And I need you to know that because that love is true. However, some of the things I have told you in your life have not been true. And so I suspect that there may be some. Some points where you feel rattled, unsure, your legs taken out from under you. You see a tiny papery old hand touches your cheek. So the thing I need you to hold onto when everything else goes away is. I love you.

[Marisha Ray]

I love you too, Grandmother.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Your ability to wield the light is.

[Marisha Ray]

A gift from the cosmos itself. Yes. We all must carry the light as clerics of the Candescent Creed.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

It's less a gift of the cosmos than it is a gift of our family. And it's less from any given creed than it is from faith, belief.

[Marisha Ray]

Goodness, justice guarded.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Open the retort. The machine.

[Marisha Ray]

This is the machine that distills the light into filament.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

As you wish, Mother. Goddard goes to undo his blindfold, takes it off. Beams of light emerge unbidden from his lidless eyes. As two beams of light funnel into the base of the prismatic retort. The runes of the sarcophagus alight and they begin to open. Give both of you. I need a string strength saving throw.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

Sure.

[Marisha Ray]

That's what we do. Hey, pretty good.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Dirty 20.

[Marisha Ray]

15.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

15. Tyranny. You stand strong, Wicander. You are thrown back 10ft. Sure. Oh, it's all right.

[Marisha Ray]

I can see better back.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Here I go and I.

[Mollymauk Tealeaf]

A moment.

[Sponsor Voice]

It's okay.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

You look up and as your eyes adjust, you see your father kneeling, reasserting and refixing the blindfold on his face. As the retort opens, gleaming light this is not a sarcophagus. It's an iron maiden. And within it is a 30 foot tall angel chained with taps like that that removes the SAP from maple trees, gushing blood out. As the angel chained with its head against the inner workings, its featherless wings spread out and splayed against the inside of the machine, roars out like a screaming titan as rows and rows of unpointed teeth within its mouth gnash furiously, it blasts forth bilious gleaming blood over its shining body, claws and feet reaching forward against the chains. Yanessa turns to you Wiki. I'd like you to meet your grandfather. That's all for this episode of Critical Role. Wait, no, no, don't go and we'll see you next week.

[Marisha Ray]

No, no, no, don't cut.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Thanks for listening to this episode of Critical Role. If you're enjoying this story, consider leaving a review on your podcast platform of choice. We're always looking for new critters to share our adventures with, and your review may help a new batch of wayward souls find their way to Ahriman, Exandria and beyond. Or, if you want to hear what the cast discussed after the episode, head to Beacon TV and check out our exclusive show Critical Role Cooldown. You'll be right there at the table immediately after we say is it Thursday yet? And experience our cast's post show reaction. We'll see you next time.

[Sponsor Voice]

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