Chasing Shadows | Critical Role | Campaign 4, Episode 28 Part 1

Summary

Critical Role: Chasing Shadows | Campaign 4, Episode 28 Part 1

Date: June 11, 2026
Main Cast: Critical Role Ensemble
Game Master: Brennan Lee Mulligan

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Overview:

In “Chasing Shadows,” the Critical Role crew resumes their campaign in the city of Dolmakyar, navigating the fallout of recent political aid, magical intrigue, and revolutionary performance. The party splits to pursue crucial tasks: cementing alliances with King Augustus Valian, preparing a subversive play under threat of censorship, interrogating the past with magic, and risking dangerous truths for a chance at justice. The episode pivots on tension between revolution, legacy, and danger, as ancient powers gather in the background to change Ahriman’s fate.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights:

1. Departures and Political Alliances – Bowsprit Manor

(Starts ~05:00)

• King Augustus Valian of Timony pledges ongoing support, entrusting his contacts in Dolmakyar to aid the party in his absence.
• Gus: “I need to return home but you can rely on my man Bowsprit here...direct from Timony, my man Bowsprit can cover the bridge.” (06:30)
• Harving, Gus’s merchant, is authorized to employ local adventurers.
• Murray and Azune/Octys interact with Gus, shedding light on arcane politics:
  • Sorcerers vs. wizards: the value in teaching magic to all, not just the ‘innate.’
  • The Pentivrel’s mission: knowledge for the many, not the privileged few.
  • Murray: “Knowledge should not be siphoned away from the populace. And you are happy at the Pentevrel?” (14:30)
• Gus lightly offers Murray a job as court archmage, which she respectfully declines for now.

Notable Quotes:

• Gus (to Murray): “If you ever find yourself in need of other work...I’ve heard tell of great kings who had court magicians.” (16:55)
• Murray: “My students need me now more than ever. And currently, my heart resides at the Pentevrel.” (18:40)
• Murray recommends her gifted student, Demidus Blick, for future service.

2. City Tasks & Splitting Party: Plans in Dolmakyar

(Approx. 25:00)

• Players plot routes—some must choose between magical investigation and preparing for the revolutionary play.
• Thimble observes guilt and stress in local allies after dangerous magical events.
• Octys and Azune share private magical insights, warning to be cautious when warping fate:
  • Octys: “There’s a completely, totally separate reality where [Gus] is not our ally, and we are much worse off without it. So be careful.” (46:00)

3. The Hallowed Round: Theatrical Defiance Under Threat

(Begins ~1:02:00)

• The acting company faces demands from the ruling Candescent Creed to censor their revolutionary play about the Shapers’ War.
• Hal addresses the cast, urging them to fake compliance for the authorities, but promising the true play will remain.
  • Hal: “If we do that, opening night proceeds as planned. When that happens, we will return...not a word changed, because fuck the Candescent Creed.” (1:12:30)
• Shadia (cast member) rallies the troupe, Nevada (director) further encourages subversive resistance.
  • Nevada: “We must now learn to communicate falsehood through fiction. And then immediately after go back to truth through fiction.” (1:18:15)
• Emotional, defiant scene as the company prepares for both oversight and potential reprisal, underscoring the costs and courage of art in revolution.

Memorable Moments:

• Shadia: “Fuck the Candescent Creed. We know the path we walk.” (1:14:20)
• Father-daughter connection between Hal and Shadia, with Hal urging her to look after her siblings if danger comes. (1:21:30)

4. Grave Matters: Magic, Memory, and Interference

(From ~1:30:00)

• Tysha, Thimble, and company journey to Thiazi’s grave to cast Speak With Dead hoping for insight.
• Complex magical attempts reveal Thiazi’s soul is not accessible; a hostile presence from across the veil interrupts:
  • A vision of skeletal arms, a white translucent face—Tysha recognizes her own ancestor Nullus Taconis.
  • Nullus: “Bring him to me.” (1:49:15)
• Thiazi’s spirit seems to be in hiding, protecting itself from being trapped or used in dark rituals.
• The group shares emotional frustration, but uncovers hints about the Taconis’ ongoing schemes and the shifting threat.

5. Recruiting the Witness: Preparing Demidus Blick

(~2:05:00)

• Murray and Azune visit Demidus Blick to persuade him to testify against the Taconis before the Einfassen.
• Murray is blunt about the dangers: “One wrong move and they will kill you on the spot, Demidus.” (2:15:10)
• Demidus overflows with anxiety, gratitude, and nervous energy, but ultimately resolves to help, touched by the group’s trust and honesty.
• Murray arranges for Demidus to be sent to Timony as a mage in service to King Augustus after the trial.

Notable Quotes:

• Demidus: “If I wait for there to be no danger to smile, I’ll die frowning. So I understand. And I am taking it seriously.” (2:19:55)

6. Reunions and Survival: The Statue is Revived

(~2:32:00)

• The group regroups at the museum; Teor’s petrified brother Sid is revived using a Basilisk antidote.
• Emotional reunion, detailed safety measures taken against magical and physical hazards.
• Sid provides critical intelligence:
  • Captured by House Taconis, Sid overheard the plan: the “Hall of Mercy” on an island in the Sea of Lapis—a mythical afterlife forum for non-human spirits.
  • The Taconis need “47 lords,” seeking not just any remains but ancient ones; they were thwarted by missing reinforcements after a mysterious battle.
  • The Taconis are gathering “others like me”—those with unique magical heritage or potential.

Memorable Quotes & Revelations:

• Sid: “There’s many others like me...they were headed north.” (2:44:15)
• Sid: “The Saramai...they were disappointed, expecting a bound Celestial to arrive at this battle and it never did. They panicked and launched the attack without it—and they were massacred.” (2:47:10)
• Sid confirms that the Taconis’ plans rely on very old souls, dangerous rituals, and that timing and reinforcement failures have delayed them.

7. Tensions & Trust: Interpersonal Strife

(Scattered between 2:00:00–2:30:00)

• Julian and Wakander face off in a tense moment of physical and emotional boundary-setting after a string of supernatural incidents.
  • Julian: “If you want to assure me that I don’t put you on the list of people I’m going to cut down...then I recommend you don’t tell me how to calm myself.” (2:12:25)
• Wick’s attempt at humor and compassion, staking his place in the party as a wildcard.

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Timestamps for Important Segments:

• 05:00–19:00: Bowsprit Manor—King Augustus’ commission, magical politics, and Murray’s cross-examination.
• 30:00–48:00: Acute magical perception, advice between Octys and Azune.
• 1:02:00–1:22:00: The Hallowed Round—Play under threat, cast’s resistance, Hal & Shadia pep talk.
• 1:30:00–1:52:00: Thiazi’s Grave—Failed Speak With Dead, supernatural interference, the ancestral Taconis threat.
• 2:05:00–2:23:00: Demidus Blick’s conversation, the importance and danger of testimony.
• 2:32:00–2:54:00: Sid’s revival, intelligence on Taconis plots, revelations about the Hall of Mercy.

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Notable Quotes:

• Hal, to cast: “When we spin illusion, they will hear truth. We’ll figure it out together. There’s no one I would rather do it with.” (1:21:45)
• Sid, on smiling in danger: “If I wait for there to be no danger to smile, I’ll die frowning.” (2:19:55)
• Octys, warning about magical perception: “If someone’s paying attention, they might see it. So be careful.” (46:00)

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Tone & Atmosphere:

• Balances wit, urgency, and the familiar camaraderie of Critical Role. Bannery, warmth, and open emotion fuel the party’s serious work: taking risks for one another, and for strangers, in darkening times.
• The specter of larger cosmic and political games hangs heavily—the episode is shot through with the sense that something ancient is stirring, and that the party’s actions matter beyond the scope of the city.

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Summary for the Uninitiated:

This episode sees the cast weaving through clandestine plots: defending revolutionary art, seeking magical justice for slain comrades, and arming themselves with knowledge against looming threats. The stakes rise as supernatural interference and ancient enemies reveal their hand, while the party’s allies must prove their courage and conviction. Poised on the brink of chaos—both in art and in battle—they set the board for what’s to come.

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Next:
Part Two of Chasing Shadows arrives Tuesday. Revelations and retribution draw near in the world of Ahriman.

Transcript

[A]

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Between your breaking news with me, the Geico Gecko, here are some things you ought to know today. People who switch their car insurance to geico save about $900 a year. Experts are calling that nice to know. Also, plants can hear when bees buzz. My ficus just heard that. And finally, animal experts have confirmed that goats have regional accents. I'm getting a hint of Irish there. It feels good to get. It feels good to Geico. Why hello there. I'm Brennan Lee Mulligan and welcome to Campaign 4 of Critical Role. Thank you for joining us on this journey as we explore Ahriman, a world of fractured kingdoms, tumultuous rebellion and sorcery that rises from the graveyard of the gods. You're listening to Part one of this adventure, with Part two arriving the this upcoming Tuesday. Our episodes typically arrive on the Critical Role Podcast network a week after our initial Thursday night streams on Beacon, YouTube and Twitch. But if you'd rather listen to a full podcast episode of Campaign 4 Right When it airs without any ads, consider becoming a Beacon member. You'll receive access to exclusive content discounts at all our online Critical Role shops, pre sales for live events and so much more. Start your seven day free trial today at Beacon tv. Now, without further ado, let's begin this episode of Critical Role. We return to the lovely courtyard of Bowsprit Manor as King Augustus Valian of Timony has just told you heroes that you can count on him standing up. Gus looks out and says, all right everyone, let's not stay a moment longer in Dormachia than we need to. Carriage is up, nights together. I need to return home but you can rely my man Bowsprit here, He's stationed out of Dhonmarkia, and until we can find out how best to get you what you need, direct from Timony, my man Bowsprit can cover the bridge. And you see that? The merchant says, oh, your majesty, I can. And he says, harving, are you my man or not? And you see, he goes, I am your man. As always, her majesty. Happy? Should I see to hiring some extra security for caravans coming into and out of the city? And you see Gus looks over at you, Azane, and gos, you have my blessing. And you see, Gus says, well, anyone you have that's looking for work, go ahead and let Harving hire him. You got it. And you see that? Bowsprit says, yes, indeed. In the wool business, there is a great need for hundreds of armed guards, not thousands. He goes, thousands, my liege, not thousands. And you see that? You see, Gus says, harving, I'm gonna make you whole, my friend. I'm not gonna put you in the pocket. It's just a bridge. While we're taking a week or two to travel north. All right. And you see that? He turns around. Octys. I believe you requested an arcana check. Yes, I did. Oh, against me? I'd like an arcana check from you if you'd be so kind, Rollies. Good. Oh, my God. Okay, wait. Proficiency. It went up. She leveled up. What are you rocking now? Plus 11 to Arcana. What? She. Yes, sir. Powerful, natural one. Damn. 26 octus peering out. Poetic. You perceive, Marisha, what does octys as the glimmering green pallor behind your eyes focuses in. You see borders between realms. And the border of a realm you've never before even heard of appears around Murray. Marisha, what would octus perceive on a 26 arcana and you with a natural one as you interact with the strands of fate throughout the cosmos? How would it look like to somebody looking in? Well, it would be hard not to notice. Murray's eyes go a little cloudy. There's a little bit of a fog that fills her eyes. But then beyond that, it would almost feel like gravitational lensing around her when all of those awesome NASA photos right now of galaxies warping the image of light around these black holes so it would almost look like light just kind of bends in a weird way ever so slightly around Murray that you probably wouldn't even notice to any untrained eye. Artis, you behold all of that. Gus turns over to you again, Murray, and says, professor. And as people Are going. You see, the knights are going. Carriages, you see? Martin says, all right, everyone, we should try to head out, if we can, before sunset. The gates will be absolutely slammed. You see that? Gus looks at you and goes, what you said. Destiny's hope realized. Has anyone ever said that to you before? No. I'm just an incredibly charming and intelligent person. He narrows his eyes. You are very charming. You are. You said you. Yeah. You'll have to forgive me. You're not a sorceress, are you? No. Everything I have, I've worked my ass off for. I wouldn't have known that. That's not true. But you must forgive me that I'm not well acquainted with matters arcane. What are you if not a sorceress? If I might, if I can ask. I'm a wizard. And one that specializes in more spells and science around divination. This is the. There's a school here? Yes. Yeah. Pentevral. Well, I grew up sleeping on the floor with dogs. I had to sneak into the upper chambers to learn my letters. So it's been a long journey here. But I had always assumed that wizards was another word for magicians in traveling performer. Any wizard I'd ever seen was only able to make some baubles, a little bit of glimmering shining dust. But what you did in that battle was extraordinary. Does your school train wizards? We do. We try to help people. Some who might have magical abilities that are innate to their person and some not at all. But there's great powers in this world, and I've always held the strong belief that it should not be reserved for a single class of people. And there's a lot of. There's a lot of people trying to dismantle that belief around the Penteco right now. And I am trying everything that I can to hold the line against that. Because knowledge should not be siphoned away from the populace. And you are happy at the Pentiverel? Is he trying to poach me? Let's find out. You see that Martin, his chief hound, is looking over at you and chimes in and says, professor, forgive the intrusion, but the Taconis walk openly in Timony. The Khormre trade far and wide. The sundered houses, having lost their ancestral lands, enjoy manors and mansions in every nation of Pasatar. Because their arcane might is unrivaled and unquestioned. In seeking protection against arcane forces, one must rely on arcanists. I would say, this moment, just the people that are not engaged in this. I Think Azune and Murray are right up front. Fimble, Octis and Veelis, give me insight checks. Okay? Okay. 24. 24. 18. 18. Nah, nah, damn. Fimble, I think thimble on that 24. You look and see the druid, who looks like a young man. He's got the shaved sides of his heads with the stag antlers tattooed, is observing. He's attending to his king. And he's observing this conversation. And you see on the 24, a degree of shame and guilt as his head hangs low. You see that Martin says there can be no. No doubt. If anything, it is a racket. Like criminals, like common criminals, the sundered houses sell their protection against the arcane forces that in many cases, they themselves wield. And yes, if the gift of the arcane. We are proud people, hounds and man alike. And all the other races that call Timony home. But great spells, the druids of the circle of the stag found a way for the souls of loyal knights to return in this form. There are many great miracles they have worked. But with respect. And you see, he turns to look at the druid Cyrus behind him. None of us were even aware that a compulsion or charm had been placed on our druid's head. And even if we were aware, what could we have done? We do not know how to fight such magic. First and foremost, I really hope that Cyrus and Azvizi. Azvizi. Who was that? Hune. Oh, yes, Sir Hune. Sir Hune. His first name is Savisi. Yeah, Savisi. Savici. Savisi. I spelled that wrong. I really hope that Syrus and sir Hune do not hold themselves of any other guilt. I think you are absolutely correct in the level in which these sundered houses are operating are beyond many comprehension, including my own. With that being said, I don't know if you were trying to make a proposal to me to come and work for you. I am Teacher Murray. Teach him. Make him powerful. Well, if I may speak to what you've done for me, Marie. It's because of you that I'm able to wield magic the way that I am. She's taught me. Yeah. Garst looks at you and says, you are ever insightful, Professor. I don't know what the Penteco pays you, but if you ever find yourself in need of other work. I've heard tell. So hot. I've heard tell of great kings who had court magicians. No, no, that's not right. What's the word I'm looking for? And you see that Martin turns and says, I believe archmagi is the term you are looking for. And you see, says, we got dogs in the castle, and it's a small kingdom. I love dogs. I am incredibly flattered by your offer. And maybe in time, this might be something that I would be willing to consider. But I hope you understand that my students need me now more than ever. And currently, my heart resides at the Pentevral. I cannot abandon them now, not at this hour of need. With that being said, if the dust begins to settle, I know who to call. I would, however, like to maybe nominate an alternative. I trust your judgment in these matters more than my own. Obviously. You've got it. And, hey, you just told me that your whole city might be overrun with demons tomorrow night. So the offer stands. If you need to get out of town in a hurry. I have a young student. His efforts are still needed right now in Dolmak Yar, but I do think that he's gonna need an out in a very hastily amount of time. His name is Dimitus Blick. He is one of my most gifted students. He could be a good place to start, if you wouldn't mind me sending him your way on the morrow. Demidis. Blix. Does he have a. The name Demidis just sounds very fancy. Does he charge a lot? This kid doesn't have two pennies to rub. This kid doesn't have two coppers to rub together. Yeah, they don't use pennies anymore. You see, Gus looks. Looks and says, very well. He's young. He's a bit energetic and easily influenced. But you already sold him. Don't undersell him now. Don't take the deal away. I think he could be exactly what you need to start. Gus nods. He says, very well. I've taken enough of your time. It sounds like you're very busy. Yes. He kneels down, gets on one knee to be at eye level with you, and says, may I embrace you, Professor? Oh, God, yeah. He gives you a warm embrace. He goes, thank you for what you've done for me and my people. Oh. Touching the back of my head, right? Does he like it? Okay, insight. He. He looks unsurprised, but. And he's, like, very flattered. Very flattered. Natural rhyme. Natural. You see that? He gets out. He's like. And we're good. And we're good. Thank you. And he turns and says, Lt. Harvin will get you equipped, and I'll look out for what you might send in terms of supplies needed. You Know what your city needs more than I. All right. Understood. Thank you for your help. Well done, soldier. Best of luck in the battles to come. Your Majesty. And I'll float in the air and do a curtsy. Once I plant your seed, how long will it take for it to grow? And also how long will it take for you to get from Timney to here on the Miller's Road? The Miller's Road is borne by the heart of the traveler. My understanding is even a week away in Timmins Rock. Fairy or a hound. It might be only a day or two of travels on the rock to be here in time. And of course, the faster the rider, the faster the journey. If you know any fey riders that are particularly swift, they might be able to make the journey in even faster time. You see? He looks out and goes, very well. I wish you all the best. And he turns to you specifically and says, plant it well. It is an honor. And if I see more gain, I shall tell her that you are in good health. Oh, please do. He turns and says, was there any. Were there any other journeys left in Timni? Or any others that I should look after in my time there? I know that you. If you met Morgaine, I don't know what business brought you to my kingdom, but I hope all was well there. Oh, man, there was other stuff that was happening. Um. There was. Well, the Taconuses were doing some shit. Um. I think we heard that one of them, Captain Lantry Ferris, I remember, was somebody we wanted to look into in Houndsport. Is that in your area? Houndsport is in the far north of Timony. It's a city on the coast. It's our largest port. Maybe we'll be going back that way. All right. Well, if you head back that way, feel free to stop by Timmins Rock. Come to the castle. I shall present you a royal feast. He turns, he smiles and nods at you. And I think the druid steps over to you. Valis, you see, who's looking a little bit bashful and just says, my lady, I recognize you by your garb as of the Mourn Vale. I have not had a chance to introduce myself, but I am Cyrus and a servo. I am a Druid of the Seven Tynes. I know that you walk a different path than me, but if you wish for safety and company on the road, I know the Mournvale lies north across the sea from Timoni. If you wish to travel with us, I would be more than happy to welcome you into at least my portion of our caravan. That is very kind of you, Cyrus. Thank you. I just remembered something else. Yeah. See, the king walks over and is about to go do. He's talking to Martin. Wait, was Sloke and Timini. Oh, yeah, there was so Sloke. So we took out some. So we. So there's a new person in Sloke that is in charge. The lady of Sloke now. And I know that that area was really kind of downtrodden and the castle was going to shit. Every region of Timmini is beautiful in each their own unique and lovely way. And I have not one sour word to say about Sloke. Well, it's now being run by. By somebody who's lived in Slope their whole life, and they want to take care of the people. Gontry Tolkeep appointed a new baroness. No. So there was this jerk named Kasimir who kind of took the Lordship away. And so he was living there, but he was there for a day, and then he kind of got killed by somebody. And then that somebody put. Put a new person in charge who's actually really cool. But they need help, so if you wanted to help them. What's that name? It was. I know. Oh, God, no. Is it, though? My notes? No, I have bellows fever. I think you do? Nope. Brala Dawson is the owner of the tavern keep. Let's see, lady, you. Nope. That's a Taconus. Is it mean for me not to say it? Am I being mean and not saying it? I mean, it's funny to watch her sweat just a lip a little bit. I swear I wrote it down, but I don't think I did. I wrote Baron Kasimir the shit I wrote, sir, gully breeches is dead. Gully breeches? Lord Dossett's note. That's Daconis. That's gully breeches. No, I didn't. Nope, didn't write it. Dame Winifred Cosgrove. Yeah. Oh, I did write Dame Cosgrove. I thought that was one of the dogs. Dame Codsgrove is her name. She is now Baroness of Sloane. I'm afraid I don't know her. Oh, she seemed really nice and wanted to help everyone, so I hope I didn't say something I wasn't supposed to just then. I cherish your honesty. I shall make sure Sloke is not far off the path back to Timminsrock. I shall make sure to visit this new baroness. And she was given title by. Yeah, yeah, she has it. She actually has the paper. Great. I'll go take a look. Thank you very much for informing me about what's happening to the nobility of my kingdom. I would like to. To sort of just have a slight bow and you seem like a very good king, and I hope your reign is long. You see, he smiles and says, I appreciate your kind words, sister. I saw that my druid spoke to you, and you are welcome to travel with us if need be. I don't know what business keeps you here in this godless city. I obviously aim to walk the old path when I die. But I. Wish you light and peace on whatever path you take. I wish you the very same. Very well. And you see that? He says, you'll be hearing from me. Wagon Zoe wheels up and he walks off into the courtyard. And we will continue with this journey. On tonight's episode Critical Role. Let's all go to Timothy. It's not a key. Fuck the lockyard. She's mad here. Why, hello there, friends, and welcome back to the critical Role Announcement Playhouse. Before we get into Armand tonight, let's go over some quick announcements. Travis, you want to talk about something? Please? Yeah, sure. Hey, you guys, he's bullying me. The Legend of VOX Machina Season 4 is available to watch right now on Prime Video. This season we find ourselves a year after the chroma conclave Vox Machina has separated, searching for love, family and purpose. But as always, the call of adventure is a breath away. When a long slumbering evil awakens to threaten the realm, they must reunite to take on an epic foe. New episodes drop every Wednesday, so tune in and buckle the fuck up because shit is getting crazy. Plus, take a peek behind the scenes of our talkback show Inside the Legend of Vox Machina. 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We are going to return to walking away from the Via Aurora Hallendil Fang. Tysha Loy and Cadogan Vale are moving away, but I'm interested in who you left behind, which is a snake. Yeah, Hala, your animal companion in snake form. Correct. So I'm desperately begging Cadigan to let me use Wulfric as a seeing eye dog as I warg into the snake trying to look around, would you be so kind as to give me pass without oh sorry, no. Give me a stealth check. Yeah. Oh no, without anything good Stealth check for the animal. As you guys are also walking away here, I believe it can't be 1111. Okay. And it's your fault as you are working on an 11 Hala. It's the middle of the day and it's extraordinarily busy. Hala basically gets pinned down under a desk as feet are walking back and forth and warging back into you. Basically has to be like I either stay here until People leave or I move and get spotted. What should I do? Yeah, absolutely. Stay. Hala's up until the end of a long rest, so. Okay, gotcha. So in that case, Hala just stays pinned down. Ta ta ta. That brings you back into your body. Walking away with Hal and Kataka. I don't know. I don't know. We have to put the show up, but we definitely can't do it because it's too dangerous. But there's no way we're not going to do it because we can't not not do it. He's talking to you. I don't know. Is that actor thing where they're talking to the internal monologue? Yeah. Yeah, we could do both. What are we doing? Huh? I don't know. Scary lady. The scariest. Maybe you and I could work together, do a little elocution. Elocution? Do you know Misner at all? Meisner? He was a dwarf. That's a shop on the Rooker. It's a tough one. Yeah, I'm always doing business of some sort or another. Anyway, your shirt is red. It looks great. Ty. I'm gonna have to talk to the company pretty soon, so I'm trying to decide what to do next. I could either head that way now. Sorry, I'm in a fog. No, no, you're good. I think my plan is maybe one you're gonna to want to skip. Phelis has the ability to speak with dead. And we have a lot of questions for the azi. Oh, do you want to come with? Are you going there now? No time like the present. All right. I haven't worked out what I'm going to say to the company yet, so. Sure. Oh, let's dig deep. I would say as the day is growing longer here, Hal, you may not have time to both go to Thyazi. Thyazzi's grave's all the way up on the mountainside. Just think about the size of the city. Tysha, you going to Thiassi's grave. If you rush that, you will be getting back to the Arcanade around midnight. It's like a steep climb up the mountain and everything else. Right? Which for Clary was when they said would probably be the time. That would probably be the time. But you have no time to waste. And that would mean that, Hal, you would basically miss stress rehearsal. Well, I can't do that because we have to get the show done. But we can't do it. But we have a lot of work to do to get it done or not. Scratch that. Catch me Up. That's maybe a little too raw. Anyway. Okay. And he just wanders out across the road, muttering to himself as he goes. Please stay with him. You want me to go with him? You can do what you want to do. You're a grown man. But please help him. Sort of. No, I'll go sort of. I look at Wulfric and ask him, can you take care of them both, please? He just sneezes at you and follows that count. Cadigan follows after Hal. Tysha, you head back, presumably to Hal's house, I think. Yeah. I gotta go find Vaelys and everybody else. Yeah. Leaving from Shafira, you guys are a short walk. It's just the neighborhood over from the rookery. Thimble octys, Vaylis, Azune and Murray. Azunae and Murray, you have something that's gonna take the whole rest of your day to do, given how far away it is in the city. If you're gonna get to the Arkanaut around midnight, I gotta pick one. God damn you. I'm sorry. I do pull up beside brain and go, you did something in there. You changed what was happening. How did you do that? I don't know if it's necessarily changing. I think that there are many disparate timelines active at any given point, and all I did was nudge a direction. Very good. That was fascinating to watch. What are you talking about? Magic. How do you know? I just saw what you were doing. Your eyes went somewhere, and I saw the light bend around you. And really, I couldn't see what the effect was, but I saw you working. What are you talking about? It's not important. It's just. It was great. It saved us a number of times, but Gus was wavering. There is a completely, totally separate reality where he is not our ally, and we are much worse off without it. But it does give me a thought that if someone's paying attention, they might see it. So be careful. All right. And the same goes for me, right? Yeah. You're very wise, Octus. Nope. You're so wise. October. Super. Not. Why was that rejected so fast? There's a difference. I just have an obsession. Clink. Why is everyone so obsessed with me? No, it's just. I've been working, thinking, and it was just. Yours works differently, and it was fascinating. Yeah. Maybe I'll teach you a little bit someday. Maybe. Been gone for a while. I have. Maybe I can teach you some things. Whoa. Who are you? Azunay and Murray. Wizard flirting. You see the sun, his teachers. I will While Murray is in this sort of. I don't know, moment. I will message into your mind. We've gotta go. Shit. Tycha wanted me to grow with her to go talk to. Talk to. I talked to her the other day. She wants to try and go talk to. Wait, should I even say this? Is this my shit to say? I don't know what you're saying. What is it? I think she wants you to go try and have a conversation with Yazzie. Oh, using the stone. That's a fantastic idea. There's too much shit to do. But I can do. I can prep Demidus if you need to be there. Fuck. All right. Is there anything you want us to ask him? Yeah, ask him. What the fuck, man? Well, of course we were gonna do that. What? I mean, obviously it's. Having any insight into what the hell he had going on. Yes is better than none. So. Yeah, and only as far as I'm aware of how the magic works. Is really only one person who kind of gets to talk. So it's not like we can have a whole hangout. We gotta go talk to Dimitas. I cannot leave that kid. Lurch. Aaylis, this conversing thing that you do with dead. Do they speak words into your mind or do they give you images? Do you hear them? Yes. Does everybody hear them? It's. Yes. It's an ability that I have because of the stone. It's new, but it's. Would you like to come? Yeah. Yeah, I would. Thimble. I would, if possible. Would love to know if Thiazi could somehow what his hope was. What does the day after the play look like to him? In his mind? We buried him up on the hillside. Fucker has the best real estate in all of Dulmachia. You can't miss it. You guys have your plan and part ways? Sorry, Tash. No, it's okay. As you guys head off together, we are gonna run through these one at a time. Profession checks. Profession checks. You have to work again. Every day. You have to work every day. Murray basically has a Ferris Bueller level trap of a dummy in her office right now pretending to work. Well, here's the thing. Azun is working right now. This is you're doing your job right now. And Marie, theoretically going and advocating. Actually going and advocating for a student. Carter's has your family covered for every summer. First first steps, first swim lesson or first sleepover. Our clothes help kids and parents have their best summer ever. Thanks to comfy design and easy dressing details, generations of families have trusted Our must haves for babies, toddlers and kids designed to shine season after season. Visit Carters.com to shop the latest styles or find a Carter's store near you. Hi, I'm Angie Hicks, co founder of angie. One thing I've learned is that you buy a house, but you make it a home. For decades, Angie's helped millions of homeowners hire skilled pros for their projects that matter. Angie the one you trust? Define the ones you trust. Find a pro for your [e-mail] at DSW, we ask the important questions like what shoes are you going to wear? Whether you're prepping for wedding season, festival season, or just planning the ultimate vacay, the right shoes can make or break an rsvp. So own the moment. You've got big plans and we've got just the shoes at the perfect price, of course. Get ready to get ready with Designer Shoe Warehouse. Head to your DSW store or dsw.com today and let us surprise you. In the US there's a break in every 26 seconds. But when intruders step near Simplisafe, home security steps up. Stop. This is Simplisafe. Police are on the way. Using AI alerts, US based live agents help deter break ins. SimpliSafe. No long term contracts. Save 50% on your new system with professional monitoring at SimpliSafe.com sxm or with promo code sxm Outdoor deterrence requires a Simplisafe Active Guard Outdoor Protection plan starting at $49.99 a month. Visit simplisafe.com licenses for alarm license information. Tennessee 2012 yeah, I'm making a house call, baby. Making a house call. Flowers. We are going to move first to the Hallowed Round. Hallowed Round. Actors are excited. The different stage manager and stagehand. You see Oldgood going around. See Oldgood's reviewing, getting sort of griddles and things ready at the concession stand. You see he goes, yeah. You dip over, you take the corn. When the corn pops, you dip it in some chocolate or some syrup. And that way it's not crunched. You don't have to hear people grazing in the crowd. And you see that looking out and around, you see Nevada says everyone. Troupe gather. Our brilliant producer, our fearless leader, Helen Dlfang is ready out to speak before our dress rehearsal. Now, I just want to say, as your director, I would like to say one quick word. Time's at the essence. We need to get this play up on its feet. This is a triumph. Opening show of the Hallowed Round we have come together in this place to turn the page on a new chapter for the city of Dolmacha, the city seat of revolution, where the revolution of the Shapers war succeeded. But to honor those that paved the way before us. The Shapers won many great battles, but they only needed to lose once. And we'd like to say thank you to the Loy family for their patronage as well. And you see, she looks out and says, no, I won't lie. During the first two months of rehearsal, I thought we were headed right for the mountainside. Absolute garbage. I have three of you in mind right now. Crying they know who they are. They know who they are. Clay is a. All right. It's extremely complicated. At any moment, a hundred things could go wrong. But as long as we stay focused, keep our eyes on the prize, remember our training, and as long as everything falls exactly in place, we. And as long as we dedicate the next 24 hours to getting every last piece of this right and polishing every last corner with. With no distraction, we just might pull this off. Oh, my God. Mr. Fang. Thank you, Nevada. Thank you. Hal takes a moment to look out at the beehive of company members. That's my director. Not dead. Shadia whips her hand and says, shut up. Hello, everyone. Thank you for taking a minute from your day. He looks at Nevada, Still building for this moment. I'm building. I see all of your hard work. I want to thank each and every one of you. I know the time that you've put in. Thank you. Thank you. I'm afraid I have a bit of tough news, however. Every one of you feels the pressure in this city. The temperature change. All of us, from the Pentevral to the Gray Tower. The entire city. I know you know how stifling it has begun to feel in the past few weeks. And we've danced between the raindrops until now. And here we are in this hallowed place. But I'm afraid it might be our turn. Earlier today, I was summoned to the Candescent Creed to meet with the Fo Targh. You all know that the Haylovars cut through a lot of the red tape to allow us to be here in this city. Today we celebrate them for their patronage. Thank you, Haylovar Poo. It was made known to me today that they may be wrapping things back up in that selfsame red tape. Unless they have a request, they'd like our play to be more illuminating. Candescent, even. These are a stack of edits to Kotherai that they would like to see implemented. Watermelon. They are shit. They strip down our history. They defang our play. They are a shame on Dolmakyar, our company and all of you. Total silence from the cast as something is said. This definitively what I would like you to do tonight. All good. Mr. Akarot is going to disperse these pages amongst the company in a moment. I need you all to take these pages home tonight. Familiarize yourself with them, absorb them. Tomorrow, early in the day, a representative from the Haylovars will be coming here to vet a walkthrough of this new version of our play. I want and need you all to sell it. Think of it as an acting challenge. You are going to give this woman from the Candescent Creed the greatest infomercial for their religion they have ever seen. And if we do that, opening night proceeds as planned. We have our show. When that happens, we will return to Kothairai as conceived and written originally, not a word changed because fuck the Candescent Creed. Liam, I'm gonna need a persuasion check from you. Let's. That is a dirty 20. You see the cast looks out on a 20. They turn and you can see all of them are terrified. All of them have been speaking about the. They believe that the contestant creed were patrons, benefactors in this moment of wavering. You see that Shadia stands up in the middle of the cast and goes, fuck the Candescent Creed. We know the path we walk. And you see that she reaches down and gets a very small little fairy door and runs up, cartwheeling up the voms, up the stairs and places it at the public facing entrance. And you see, Olga says, exactly right. Except don't do that right now trick tomorrow. Then do it before we got listen. And you see, he says, we got it. Heart's in the right place. You heard the boss man. I'm getting these pages. Where's it. Where's a. I need a cantrip. And you see, he goes over and starts to get the pages together. And you see that the cast gets up and just starts to applaud uproariously. You see, Nevada says we have all learned to communicate truth through fiction. We must now learn to communicate falsehood through fiction. And then immediately after go back to truth through fiction. Everything I said before about how tenuous our grasp on this play was, was a lie. And I don't believe it. We can absolutely pivot, pull this off tomorrow and remember the rest of the real play. I believe in all of you. Where's the yardrass now. I don't know what's going to happen next. Probably this theater will be shut down. Maybe I will be thrown in irons. Or maybe this city will hear your voices. And when we spin illusion, they will hear truth. We'll figure it out together. There's no one I would rather do it with. You see that? Your cast stands up smiling. Some of them are crying because they don't know if they're gonna be out of a job tomorrow night. They don't know if you're going to be put in jail. They understand the heaviness of what's just been proposed here. But you see that all of them, they're sort of seated in front of the stage. Turn around and see the mural of Vulka on Murzot, the one right in the front and center, in front of the stage. He stood up and faced down the God of war. What's a little creed to a troupe that believes in each other this much? You see in this moment that your cast gets up, steels themself and gets to work. The pages go around. They start to. You hear Lash go, it is I, Vokion Murzhot. And I have seen the light. And they begin this fake play. Shadia runs over and starts reviewing it all the people Nevada goes along and says, remember, the people that will be watching the fake play are priests. Subtlety is not your friend. I catch hold of Shadia and pull her a bit off to the side and just like hand on her cheek, brushing away a hair on the side of her face, just smile at her silently for a moment. I'm not gonna lie to you, kiddo. It's pretty bad. But I got you. You got me? I got you, dad. You always got me. And remember, if things do go sideways, you find your sister, you find Elodie. You look after them, then look after you and figure it out. All right? Like we always do. I know. I love you, dad. She gives you an enormous embrace, Katigan, as you look over and see you've been here the whole time. You've also been here. You see lashes. Is he doing this? You see that? Lash, the lead of the play, looks over at you and says, so are you understudy or. Wow, this is wonderful. Just look at them all living truthfully under imaginary circumstances. I don't know anything about that. And you see that. You see walking past you, cat again, a tall, muscular Orcish woman, beautiful, broad shouldered, long hair tied around in a thick braid down her back. Walks over. This is Inez. Inez Walks straight up to you, Hal, and goes. Word from Romina. She didn't say anything to me, and the less I know, the better. She said your friends that you had been talking about are in town, and they are excited for meeting up at the Via Aurora tomorrow at sundown. I don't know what that means, but she said you would. Okay. Is your sister all right? She's okay. Okay. She's okay. You ever work with this character over here? How's it going? What's your name, friend? Got again. Nice to meet you. Hello. Hi. I'm Inez. I'm our fight choreographer. The what? Fight choreographer. Do you know what that is? We have combat in these plays, and we try to have fight moves, you know we do. I thought you might have crossed paths in your previous life, but. Oh, where would I. And you see that? I don't know if she fought in the Rebellion. I don't know if she was in Torn Banner, though. She looks out and says, I don't think I recognize you. No, no, wait. Go back to the. You can choreograph a fight? Yeah, yeah, for sure. Like, you pretend fight, but you try to make it look real. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. How's this happen? How's it work? Who does it? You do it. Well, you see, she looks out and says, actually, with these changes, do you. Could you. Would you mind being. What is this? A demon of dimidness? What the fuck is. Make me a double D. Do anything you want. A wooden spear off from the side, and I plant it in his hands. All right. She's like, look alive. Quack, quack. And starts to go in and choreograph the fight with you. Hell, yes. Great. We're gonna move from here to the mountainside. Tycha, Thimble Veils kid stays in the picture. Let's go. Let's go. Octis, the grief again. It is sunset, and you guys get up to the mountainside, and you behold a grave. Two, actually, beside each other. You see Zhurek Fang, a veteran of. I believe, actually a veteran of the War of Axe and vine, right? Yes. Yeah, yeah. A veteran of the War of Axe and Vine. And the Azzy Fang, his name, there amongst a symbol of two trees and a path moving between them. You see his name. There are still some fresh flowers around the grave. And Tycha, you would be aware you successfully completed a funeral. A farav for Thiazi. It is possible that he is already reincarnated. However, the Circle of Ancients does know that people leave memories of themselves. They ripple out through the world after their passing. The Ancients, the far distant ancestors of your Druidic tradition, have a beating heart that moves throughout time and space. So even though their souls. You think this will go very differently than it went with Passgard? Because it's possible. If the funeral was done correctly, then all that will be left are strong feelings and moments of thiazi. Do you explain that to us? Yeah, I think. Yeah. There's a lot of just. It's very focused on you. I just want to manage expectations here. He's moved down the path already, so I think at best we will get whatever part of him is in his body and in the ground. It's like an echo and not the thing where did his other stuff move to. It goes down the path and becomes something new. Okay. Hopefully. Yeah. I. Sorry. I'm not trying to. Thank you for being here. Thank you for letting me come. It's the best we can do. And thank you so much for doing this. I have some questions on my own. Yeah. So the spell is going to be centered around Velis. They are going to activate it, but they can somewhat include us in part of it. But if things work even kind of as they have before, you'll be able to hear. Okay. Okay. You got this. I'm sorry, Thimble. I don't have the same feeling towards him as you do. I know. Or any of you. That's fair. Um. Okay. How is he? How are we? How. Where. How. Where is his body? His body is interred in the grave. The moment you look down, I'm like I'm digging him up. Okay, we're not touching bones. I will allow. In this world, when someone is interred correctly, I will allow speak with dead to also be cast at their grave site. Okay, great. Just being at the grave is haunted mansion kind of situation. There's very much a, like. Oh, yeah, just area. Okay. Okay. General. Okay. Okay. And I will sit next to the grave. Or sort of hunch rather, cast. Sit on your shoulders. Yeah, I'm going to have to just. Okay. I'm cast. Speak with dead. That was my boob, but okay. Tycha casts guidance. You reach out with the stone of Nightsong, as you did in Tanasar. And again in the endless night. Reaching out. Mist, cool darkness of the underworld. You reach out. You're looking and waiting. This is the first time you've done it without a body present in front of you. Both times, Pascard and Tertia, their remains were present. This should work. At the grave, however. But you're not seeing him right now. Tycha. Something's wrong. How's it. I'm not connecting with anything. I don't feel anything. Did he already pass on? Did he already move on? Are you sure this is the place, Tycha? It's possible that a sister of Salandri is just not able to wield the magic. It's possible that the Farov made this impossible. But there should be echoes. There should be a way to ask for echoes of the life that was lived. Ahriman keeps the memory of the lives of the ancients even as their spirit moves onward. So you're not sure Even if she's not seeing him. Something is strange. Is there anything I can do to see? Just something magical to see if you're hitting a wall or a hole. You have guidance. Both of you guys. Give me an. Give me a religion check. Religion or nature? Oh, thank God. Religion or nature? Sorry. Can I make. Can I look for any magic that I would recognize? Give me Arcana 18. 9. 9. 26. 26. 9. Religion. Wrong. This is wrong. But also, you're holding the Stone of Nightsong. You can only. You're supposed to speak with dead. Because the stone is supposed to whisk elven life off to Faerie, to the land of Salandri's husband. Elves aren't supposed to die. You've seen so many different psychopomp artifacts, that coffin of the halfling Celestial, all this other stuff. But the Stone of Nightsong is not supposed to be used so often because elves are supposed to live forever. It's supposed to be a very rare thing for an elf to move beyond the veil. So on that night, I think you're just waiting for the azi on an 18. Nature check. You're looking and going. Did he take all his Thiazi was a thief. Maybe he stole all his memories from the world and took them down the path with him. You don't see a path on a 26. There's a missing component here. You feel. You feel that there is a gaze moving broadly over the landscape here. I think they're watching this spot. Who? Who do you think? But did they take his body? Is his body still here? I don't know. That would require, I think, physical evidence. The gaze exists purely on the other side of the veil. I'm going to start digging. They're watching. I don't think he's here. Right. They're watching on the other side. For either. I don't know. Either for him or for anyone trying to contact him. Brandon, I want to level Up. That's right. Hell yeah. Do you want to level up to four or do you want to level up to five? Give me five, baby. Hell yeah. Here we go. Go for it. You're jumping to a level. We're jealous. Yeah. I know it's gonna take an hour, but I wanna use a new ability I have. We're calling the corners. Okay. Call em. What? Oh, yes. What? I'm going to gently grab your hand. And I think the moment I do, like, I'm just like, your hand touching the. Like. Everything in this area suddenly goes green in that way where it almost smells like it's rotting. Like everything is hyperverdant. I immediately. And it's just hands into the dirt. And I'm just going to be speaking Druidic and calling out to every other person in this cemetery that has walked the old path. We are all going to find who is looking at the Aussie and where his soul is together right now. Incredible. You reach down. Plants, souls, roots, they reach down. In this moment, as the roots begin to reach down, you feel roots grow. The bodies of those on the old path are interred not to be within a coffin, but rather to be prepared in a shroud such that their remains can exist within the earth and replenish the earth. Roots reach down. As you level all the way up and call down here. You feel the roots touch Thiazi's chest, where Thimble slept the night of his funeral, and reach further down past his tunic, down to his solar plexus, hidden by his shirt and a deep scar all the way along his stomach. As you do so, you hear Yassifang. Everyone seeing this sees skeletal arms stretching across the sky. On that 26th, you see distant, distant, distant. A white face, translucent. The last time you saw it was the night you died. And you finally recognize it. Last time you saw it, you were just a little boy. You barely ever got to interact with him. Grandfather looks at you, Nalis Taconis, who looks out and goes, bring him to me. You saw one of these arms stretching across the sky? Over a dozen Titans, arms skeletal, dripping with necrotic blood, reach over the sky. Vaylis, can I. Oh, it's Thimble. Yes, go for it. Can I just reach over? Does Tysha. Is she a woman of what's happening? Or is she. She's warging into the ground. Right now, I'm just pulling on her collar and hitting her as hard as I can to try to make her get out of it. You have to get out. I think you are Hitting petrified wood. At this point, she is lying. I unclick my sensor and put my back to Tysha. You put your back to Tysha. In this moment, Tysha, I am going to need a wisdom saving throw from you. Oh, God. I'm gonna dash over to Tysha and I'm putting my hands on their back. Yeah, and I'm just going to try and sort of pump power into Tysha. Hell yes. You will roll with advantage. Thank you. 22. 22. You guys watch. As you pull your sensor out, these arms come snaking in. And once again, you hear Nala say, bring into me the arms come snaking out of the sky on a 22 Tycha. Arms the length of a dead shadowy sky reach around Octys puts his hands on you. A voice of the dead echoing your own. Vines and roots grow around you and shine with a power as deep and old as the life of Ahriman itself. These titanic arms dash against the wooden sphere around you, shattering into pieces. As Nullus howls. The speak with dead spell is dispelled. And you are standing at the grave. What was that? What happened? That was my grandfather. My things last a while. Am I done too? You are still reaching down. Thyazzi's soul is nowhere that can be reached. Okay. Do I have the sense, at least, that it still exists? It's taken, not destroyed. You heard what Octus heard Nullus saying. Bring him to me. So he doesn't have him. Yeah, okay. He's hiding. His soul is hiding. Where is he? He's on the other side somewhere. I'm starting to think that he went the wrong part. Purpose. I think whatever part of me can, like, speak into the place where we talked before. I just yell across that old wood, I will find you. And then, like, shake and come back. Tycha, did he have a similar. Was that cut. Is that. Yes. Like his. That takes something to. None of you are here. Wait, what? Did they do something to him? Did they do something to his body? They tried to mark his soul. He found a way to run away, which is better. But his soul is missing right now. It's okay. Better missing than taken. I think whatever plan he was doing, he might have meant to go there. Are you guys okay? My. I saw my grandfather's face on the other side. Your grandfather? He's. Yeah. Is he the one that. Can I have a name? He's what Nullus noted. Thank you. He's. The hands that we saw, those are from him. I think. He's been dead for a while. And I think he just stayed powerful for a dead guy. I saw hands. Oh, did I see hands? Yeah. Oh, yeah, I saw hands. I was the ground for a little bit, so I don't know what you said. Sorry. I think him and my father have been working together for whatever plan they're doing. But I'm starting to think the Aussie found out and has been trying to disrupt it. And that required dying. Okay, look. If Pascard was smart enough to mark his soul with a warlock pact to keep it out of Takona's hands, Thiazzi was certainly clever enough to hide himself away. Where could he be? The woods are deep. Look, I've only cut a path. The Sea of Lapis. The Sea of Lapis. The woods are deep. That's why we get a path. Unfortunately, that line is too hard. And we do have to end the scene there. We are going. I think you guys spend as much time as you need at that grave. But the answers you sought from Thiazi, you cannot have. But the answers that you gained from those who seem to also seek Thiazi are many. I think we can say he's not working with them. Yeah, fuck you, Bolair. A big middle finger in the direction. We are going to cut over to. Ser Ogremok's marketplace. Yes. We are gonna cut over to Rosagar. Okay, Murray. That's awesome. Murray and Murray and Azune. You guys arrive at Bolaire's lovely apartment in the marketplace. Okay, Are you gonna do the talking? I'm gonna do the talking. He trusts me the most. You're kind of like stranger danger for him. Let's be honest. Yep. I don't want to lodge in on him. You're sure you need help? I need him. I need everything. I trust you, Azune. I know. I know. You're my best friend in this whole cursed fucking world. If you ever do anything to betray that trust, I swear to God. There you are again, talking to me like that way that I told you you do sometimes. Like I'm a part of something that you know I'm not. Trust keeps trust. Keeps people in danger. If you say no, I won't take. You'll help me get him out of the city after this. I will. Promise? I promise. Skepticism keeps people alive. Let's go. Give the gentle knock. The door flies open, revealing Balare Lothalia. Why did you just open the door like that? I'm Balare Lothalia. You're not. I work at the museum. You are in hiding. And you just open the fucking Door without any questioning. I live here. I usher us inside. As Murray's racing, the illusion comes off and he goes the door behind me. Am I allowed to leave? I've been here for like a week. Please, God, let me leave. I've reorganized the fruit bowls like a hundred times. It is a miracle from the fucking shapers that you are even still alive. You understand that? It's not a miracle from the shapers. It's a miracle from you. Thank you for saving my life. Am I allowed to go? Oh, I wrote down everything. I wrote down and I made it in triplicate. Here. It's the case. I did all the stuff you asked me to do. I did it all because we're gonna get these guys and we're gonna take them to jail. And they do owe me a couple hundred gold pieces. So we're gonna get that too. I'm looking through those pages. Copies and copies and copies of his statement. He has it all written out. He goes, and if I deliver the statement well enough, right. I'll get to go back to the Penteveral and then I can start studying again. Because I There. I've been reading these books so many times. I've read Visitors of creation like three times. I've read everything. 100 million jillion jillion. Hey, hey, hey. Sweet honey bear. That's done now. You understand that, right? What? Listen to me. You are going to be able to get out of this apartment. I've got a plan for you. Tomorrow. You're gonna go away. Tomorrow, I need you to pack all of your bags. But we need. I don't have anywhere to go. You do now. But we need one more favor from you. You got it. Whatever you need. What's your name? Okay. I approach him. And I recall exactly how Hal spoke to him when we rescued him. I put my hand on his shoulder exactly like I saw Hal do. I crouched down exactly like I saw Hal do. Demetus, we need your help. We need your word, your testimony to get them. And we can't do this without you. Are you brave enough? Yes. To be with us? Listen to the full proposition. I thought you were done talking. Agree to things. This is how you got into fucking trouble in the first place. Sorry. Wait. Let me. Okay. I know it's dangerous. Squeeze his shoulder just a little bit gently. We need you to appear and make your testimony heard in front of the Einfassens. I would love to appear. Something like Smoke or. No, it's not. No. Magic. None. They cannot have anything but truth. There okay. You have to testify in person in front of the Einfossen house. They need to hear your account about what happened at the Palazzo Divinos. They need to hear it from your mouth. Okay. Do you understand what he's telling you? And do you understand the implications around this? Yeah. The Einfassen run the Revolutionary Guard, right? If we tell them that the Taconis are bad, they'll arrest him. He has to know. I can't trick you into this. I can't let you walk forward into the lion's den as cullable as you are and as easy it would be to take advantage of that. One wrong move and they will kill you on the spot, Demidus. That is why I'm asking, are you brave? Are you willing to put your life on the line, potentially, to speak truth to people who look down on us and want to squash us? But your word can help be a shield for everybody here. Give me persuasion or give me intimidate. Give me persuasion to commit some. Him to do it, or give me intimidate to. Like, if you think he's already convinced to do it, Give me intimidate so that he does it carefully. I think it's. It's persuasion. Yeah, I'm. Let me see if I have any luck. Points left. I think you do. I do. I do. I do. I got it. Okay, now I'm going to roll this with. Yeah. Okay. That is 17. He looks and goes. You need my word, right? Absolutely, we do. Words of power. I'm not scared. Just the truth. Your account as you saw it, I know it'll match everything in here. I've written this three times. I know it's exactly what it says. I'm gonna need more than three copies. Oh, yeah, I'll do that. I can do that. Do you want to make sure. You want to take a look at that and make sure that I'm okay to say everything in there? Because I'm not great with filter. So if there's anything I shouldn't, it'd be better for me. I'm going to take those copies and I'm going to look through them for sure. But I'm looking at Marie and knowing what I'm asking, I'm going to take this moment to step away and let them have some time. Gotcha. You're going to do this. It's going to be tomorrow morning. Yeah. You're going to say your piece. You're going to immediately get your naive ass into a carriage. King Augustus of Timony is looking for a Mage to sit on his council. He's agreed to take you in. This is a good opportunity. Demnis, you have a job. You're going to be advising the king of Timony. I. Okay. Am I gonna. I'm like not even 20% into my thesis. Is that not gonna. If I don't, how am I gonna graduate if I'm living in Timony? You're not gonna graduate. You're done now. This is your graduation. Fuck college if you have a job. Right? It seems like if a lot of people believe that all at the same time, it would have some long term deleterious effects on society. Okay, yeah. Well, I have a. Wait. Like a job? Like, wait, am I gonna get paid? You're gonna get paid? Hell yeah. Shut the fuck up. Oh my God. What's the offer? Is it like. How much is it. How much am I making? Stuffing sorted. I'm in. Tell him I'll do it. I'll tell him I'll do it for a food. Food and a bedroom. Don't tell them that. You'll get food in bedroom and then you will get a salary. But listen to me. Do you. I'm gonna cut. I have to turn away from this. I'm reading with my back towards them. Yeah. Oh, man. Whoa. Hired out of school. They said I couldn't do it. Like three different people said I couldn't do it. Yes. You're making me break out into a sweat demodis. You have to. You have to stop. I get it. I get it. It's serious. I'm serious. Do you. Listen to me. Listen to me. Wipe that fucking smile off your face. All right. It's not. He points a finger at his face and a big frown appears. Can I use like a mage hand to it off tong? How did it hurt? That's amazing, Murray. Professor Magnes. You can call me Murray. You're not a student anymore. That gets to. I. You guys saved me. And that wasn't even the first time that I've been dragged away. I'm a gnome. I live in the marketplace. I live in the school. Before I was good enough at magic to turn invisible. People would just grab you, move you out of the way. I got kicked me one time just because I was standing in a door for way that he wanted to walk through. I. I'm not. I don't do jokes like this because I don't get it. I do jokes like this because I do get it. No, kid, I get that it's scary. My. And I'm. I don't know everything. And I know I wasn't gullible or whatever, but. But I do know I have a pretty good read on. You know, I read a lot. I. And I've read a lot of history. And it seems like there's been bad people running things pretty much forever for a long, long time. So if I wait for there to be no danger to smile, I'll die frowning. So I understand. And I am taking it seriously. I really am. I wouldn't have written all this out if it wasn't. So you got it. And thank you. And thank you. Don't thank me yet. Let look at what I wrote and let me know if there's anything I shouldn't say. I've. Yeah, I don't know how I remember. What's your take? Give me investigation. Okay, I will guidance myself because I'm definitely intentionally going in to that. I don't know. I think the darker relaxer. Oh, wait, wait. 1313. You're looking through investigation. You're looking through all his stuff. You see the stuff with Lieutenant Junaeus. There was something that Ophelia. This was like all way, way back. But basically all the things he witnessed that night, all the stuff about what he did is all significant and above the books. The interesting part on the 13, on a 13, I can't point anything out to you in particular, but you're looking at stuff like they gave him pieces of cake to eat. Someone was told to go look for any scullery maids. Right. He overheard conversation with Junais where Ophelia Saramai told this captain, they'll give you the scar for this. And you also see him overhearing about an Argosian delegation arriving at the Stahlkeep. You'll be giving this presentation at the Stahlkeep tomorrow. And the last thing you see there is Trimus Taconis speaking to Ophelia Saramai saying. Or sorry, Junais. I believe it was Junais saying, the falcon has just been delivered to Obramis Manor. Does that mean anything to you? And Ophelia Saramai saying, yes. At least one thing has gone right tonight. At least one thing has gone right tonight. I mean, all the shit about the Anfossons and the Soul Keep should probably be redacted. I think so too. Focus only on what happened. And there the Taconuses. Anything that implicates Einfassen, strike it. Everything that sounds like things went wrong. Emphasize that. Do you have time to rewrite this a little? Yeah. Can we write it? Do you have time to give me a history lesson. History lessons. I need to be well read on the relationship that different people have with mortality. The Fae infernal. Sure. I'll talk to you about anything you want to talk about. Am I staying here tonight again? I think we'll come and collect you in the morning. Okay, you got it. Um, The. The. The whole thing with the. The. I'll. This was all one conversation where the stuff about the Stahlkeep was said. Should I leave in the part about them bringing the Falcon to Obramus Manor? Cause that was part of the same conversation. If they're in on it, then they already know that that happened, so that won't be news to them. And it might be nice to see their faces when they read it. But if they weren't in on it, then that's good for us. Remember, we already know Takona's estate, so that doesn't also necessarily implicate the Eimfalsen's with him hearing that. Correct. Obradis Manor is Takona's. Takona's estate. In Dolmak Yard. In Dolmak Yard. If anything, that could insinuate non bias on him. Yes. On his part as well. Keep that. Okay? Keep it. I'll see you guys tomorrow morning. Okay. As you guys prepare to head out. As you guys prepare to head out, do you go back to the Arcanade because you have some spell book stuff. I have some spell stuff to do as well. I can do that at the Arcanade. I can hole up in Full Air's office. There'll be equipment there for you to do that too. Great. And if he's handing me material to study, I'll take that with me. Or if he's going to make up a report about what I asked for, then I'll pick that up in the morning. Cool. You got it. You guys head off and we're going to swap tables. Bring in everybody else. Let's do it. Everybody. I love him so much. He's the best. Exiting from knife and pallet pigments, you find yourself returning to the outside street across from Hollis Kinneywater's apartment. Hollis escorts you to the street and says farewell. My mistress bids you all good fortune in the portentous days to come and goes into his apartment. Spooky guy. Delightful. Every time I think Julian's just going to walk away at a continuous pace and then duck into an alley. Oh, our bodyguard. Give it a moment. Where do I know him from? I grab the back of your bra through your dress again. And go snap. Yep. Horrifying. There we go. I knew it was in there somewhere. No, you should have seen it from my perspective. He doesn't know. I doubt it. He disappeared like this often? No, but nor way. He's not that bright. And honestly, he's a bit limp in the brain, as it were. He's a crier. He's sensitive. We. You should go reach out to him. Definitely a crier, Julian. You walk around the corner and have some privacy. I sit there and stare into the void and process what the fuck the last few moments were and wait for them to eventually walk by or continue their trek before I. I am very quietly going to make my way and I'm gonna hide my face to make it a little less disturbing. Yeah, but I'm not changing what I'm wearing, Julian. I put it away to make things a little calmer. Are you all right? What the fuck was that? What was that? That was a paint company. No, that was not a paint company. I've been to all kinds of paint companies all across the realm. What the fuck was that? You don't strike me as a paint company sort of man, but I'll take it. I think Carthage and shit. For the family. What? See this guy? You look. You act like you've never tried to take a demon's bra off before. Oh, look, there's a big difference between what respectfully you are and whatever that was. What do you mean? You are very. You know. Mickey, that was extra smoke show, right? Damn. All right. Tough but fair. So your family, their name keeps coming up with the Taconis. Are they working with them? I don't. I don't know. Are you working with them? Definitely not. No. I, I, I. You just happen to have a celestial angel in your basement. And also through your blood, apparently you can make wings and shit. Listen, I've been. What the fuck is going on? That's what I've been asking all week. Right, but without cursing. Right. Breathe deeply. Count to 10. If you can remember how to do that, you silly boy. And remember that we've spent an awful lot of money supplying you with distractions and drugs, which I would like you to think about where they come from for a moment. Cause you have never bloody asked. I didn't know to keep you away from this. Are you on drugs right now? No, he is not. Which is part of the problem. Yes. I could even go back in there if you like, and get you some. Where do you think these things come from? You don't need. You don't need that sort of thing. One moment. He Focus on your. On your inner strength, your inner light. Julian, calm yourself. Don't you tell me how to feel, you child. I'm not telling you what to feel. I'm just telling you you're going to. You have it within you to be. Be whoever you want. Wish to be. I punch him in the face. There. Hey, whoa. Shh, shh. We're all about to learn a very, very valuable lesson. Listen, the anime block. Yeah, Let him get me. The attack roll. Oh, yeah, go for it. That's gonna be. I'm sure it is. I don't know. We'll see. Oh, no. 18, I think. Gloved hand or non gloved hand? Oh, this is non gloved hand. Okay. I would be stopping if it were. I believe, for sure it hits. Yes. And that would be three damage. That's. That I was hoping for. I'll say. As he's holding, carrying through just a crack across the jaw, following through with it and pushing Wick up against the wall. Now the gauntlet up on the front of his chest, on the clavicle and shoulder. As he's clutching his face and saying, look, I have lost nearly everything that is important to me in just a matter of days, all right? I don't need you to be telling me how to calm my emotions, all right? I know that you probably had some sort of severe fuckery happening to you as well, or else why would you have been pulled into all of this? All right? I. I just want to know if you and that one have had anything to do with what has befallen my house and those I care about. And after what I just saw, I'm even less sure. So if you want to assure me that I don't put you on the list of people that I'm going to cut down in the time to come, then I would recommend you don't tell me how to calm myself. You're lucky Teor didn't step in to stop that. I think a good setting of boundaries is fine from. From time to time. The truth is, I don't know if I've had anything to do with what you suffered. And I probably deserve what you just did and more. And I'm sorry. I don't know how complicit we are in all of this. Am I bleeding? I lick his. The blood off of his nose. Salty. I'm sorry. As you lick the blood off his nose. This is a perfect time, Whitney, for you to roll new hit points. Would you roll a D1 for me. That was extra. Hit him again. What is a demon for? I'm not lapping up angel blood, you know. Is there a chair in this alley I would really like to cut? Chair for? What am I rolling? Roll a D8 for me, if you'd be so kind. You're gonna roll? Oh great. Yeah. I rolled a nine last time. That's right. Trixie dice. Trixie dice. That's a D10. That's a D10. I have too many dice. Thank you. No such thing. Yes, there is. That's a two. And that's just your new hit points. So you're gonna add your constitution modifier to that. And what is your constitution modifier? 4. 4. So go ahead. And you're gonna add six hit points. So your hit point total is now, I believe. Yeah. Or you've already leveled up. We'll determine your hit points. Figure it out later at break. Julian and Wakander tension in this moment. Teor. Somewhere in the city. Your brother is made of stone. And you see that the hour is growing later and later. Sir. Julian, I think you will find that as naive as our compatriot here may be, he knows very little. And he has a very rare quality. Unbridled optimism. I don't think I like either of those circumstances. But since you are my a voice of pseudo reason and seemingly non dubious contacts lead the way. I have a few questions for you myself as we walk. Could we get back to my brother now? I was hoping you would never ask. Lead on to the museum, Julian. That was called for and I'm glad you did it. But I would like you to remember what the two of you have in common. Because it's going to be important. Both need to grow up. And I start walking to the museum. Hey, watching you take that hit was really cool, by the way. I didn't step in because I think that it's part of your new bad boy identity. What is it? Nick Falcon? Yeah, Nick Falcon. I think that that's it's going to be crucial to. That was a Nick Falcon thing? I think so, yeah. All right. Because you bounced back so fast, I'm not even going to heal myself. Good. You journey in hiding across the city. I heal myself. All the way to the Archonaut. Arriving at night in this vast museum, as you enter Bolaire, headed towards the not deeply private office, but just your office. Approaching you is hero Divyan, who walks up and says, Master Lothalia. You guys see a young half orc woman, probably looks like sort of Penteveral college age walks up, pair of spectacles on. She's got these intense thick leather gloves that are a little bit singed and smoking. And you see that she has this bubbling venomous green bile potion. And she walks up and says, Master Lothalia, I followed the instructions to the tea and the serum is ready. Excellent. You are a lifesaver. Grab whatever. Grab some basic countermeasures so that we have some ways of protecting ourselves if something goes wrong. From the upstairs lab. Since we will not be using the safe room for this. It's a bit private. We're not using the safe room. I don't know. Okay. There could be some shard spray. I don't know if the. Why you are not going to be in the room. Okay? You got it. I'll go get some protective gear. Thank you, darling. While they head off, I'm going to turn to Teor. So I have at least an understanding of how most everyone else in that room was connected to all this. What is your business with this mockery? I came to pay my respects to Thiazi. Found I was too late to do so like so many others. And then found that my brother has gone missing. We located his body as a stone statue by way of Basilisk. And now we have come back. And during our journey this Nick Falcon has proved himself useful. And a surprise. He is some sort of unknown integer that I would like to keep close. He has more power than I think even he knows. And yet he lacks any sort of wits to focus that power. Which makes him even more powerful. Dangerous to fall into the wrong hands. I see your point. Could be under pressure. He has been surprising. Good to know you. You say you came to pay respects to Thiazi. What is your history there? I know you, Sir Julian. I served with Thiazi in the Falconer's Rebellion. Did you? I did. I saw you were a little spat. Julian steps away and joins the rest of the others in the troupe. I want to have a quick sidebar with Nick. Nick Falcon. Hey. I just wanted to get a quick temp check. You're still wet. Yeah. Okay. Do you Just throwing this out there. You know that at any time you could sell all these bitches up the river and go back to a very comfortable life. I'm just. I just wanted to tell you that I wouldn't respect you any less if you decided to do that. Not saying you should, but I wanted to, you know, see how you were feeling. Do you think that we should. I have no thought. I Have not a thought in my head about it. You can't tell me that you're not affectionate towards some of these people. No. Yeah, they're great. They're great. I am concerned about you as always. And I'm just noticing that we're in for a very hard road and some very tough fights. And if you want to to resume your mantle as the fanciest boy in the world who's the chosen scion of a power that has seemed to clinch in Dalmachiar, I wouldn't blame you. And I kind of miss foie gras. I appreciate that, but. Ah, just kidding. I'm just kidding. You are? Yeah. You have a very dry sense of humor. It's very hard to tell sometimes. No, you would never. You don't want that, right? No. Okay. Yeah. Just checking. Just kidding. I step up to you belair as they're having their conversation. Lingering off of that chat. So this brother you think is to supply important information? Honestly, I'm as out of my depth as you are at the moment. There's a lot moving around and this is not my world. But I can only trust the people who are being trusted by people. I trust you. Being out of your depths is oddly comforting. Thank you. I do know this is hard for you. Don't patronize me. I am never. I respect the mess that you have been. I like it. I enjoy it. You know damn well we have had our times. And I may regret a bit that I was an enabler of your Morcephe's destructive habits. I was in a bad place myself. We all have our ways of passing the time. Yes. Speaking of which, I have an idea that might help you. Help you? With the people that you've surrounded yourself with. I know that people are your least favorite thing, especially people this odd. I disagree. I happen to like people a lot. You should just a lot of people into the surface. Well, I'm quite the opposite end of that. And I certainly can relate. You should talk to the lovely young tyranny woman. I think you two have more in common than you'd think. And I think you could do with someone a bit on your level in the best way. Where do I know her from? You should ask her. I think it would do you well. Really, it's not my position to talk about, but you should absolutely take a moment. In the meantime, if you'll excuse me, sir. Teor. It's a pleasure to properly make your acquaintance. I know this is not the best of circumstances. We're still Setting up everything to make sure that if something goes wrong it doesn't hurt us. You see? Hiro is lugging a large dolly with a wooden shield wall on it. What are you doing? Magic can be temperamental. And we don't want anyone losing a limb or getting a mask grasped to their face or sucked into a box. Or any of the other brilliant things that can happen when we're poking at magical objects we don't understand. Oh. A lot's been going on. What can you tell me about your brother? I would like to have some first hand knowledge. In case he's acting oddly or in case there's something in him that isn't him. Telsy. The mere Pridesire Blackfarer. Very headstrong. Stubborn. Was working closely with the Ozzy. I understand it has an affinity for bird watching. That's useful. I would like you to think about something only the two of you would know. We're going to be dealing with very very clever entities that may have laid traps for us. Think about private things. Quiet things. Things that wouldn't. Things that other forces wouldn't even think to interrogate him for. Pets. Quiet moments. Especially private. Only between the two of you. We were brothers. Something from our childhood Perhaps. Tell me. Nothing. Tell no one. Any of it. In case they're reading minds. I'm not using Divine Sense. But there are glowing eyes coming out of a moving mask. It's very strange. Do I detect anything? Do you activate Divine Sense Or. No. No. Give me perception or insight. Nine. You see a gentleman with. There's obvious magic for a mask to be mobile like that. But you look at how some of the other. When you were walking in. One of the archivists upstairs had a ceramic and leather gauntlet that the ceramic plates moved around on. Someone else had a bad burn scar that had a sort of glass like volcanic glass casement over the scar to stop it from spreading. Like there were a couple things. It seems like people get weird magical injuries here. Bolair's mask is not. It would make him the most injured person you've seen here. Yeah. There are people missing limbs. There are people. But a lot of magical objects making up for what are. Clearly things went horribly wrong because this is always dissecting landmines you find from World War II. I like it. Take whatever precautions you need. I will stay as close as I can. Watch everyone. Because I will not be able to. It's possible this will. So many things can go wrong. I'm not afraid. Hero lowers a welding mask and has A pair of tongs around the potion. Oh, and goes. I overheard that this is your brother. Would you like to do the honors? Sort of like midwives sometimes let the dad cut an umbilical cord because they're close to it. Actually, that's a very good idea. I've never had the honor. I. Yes. She says, okay, take the tongs. I need the tongs. Yeah. And then if you. I would administer the serum. Actually, if you don't do it on the head, start at the back of the neck so that it gets to where the spine would be. And the serum will start to work in that way. Look for anything that doesn't feel like your brother. Do not. Do not allow yourself to be fooled. Okay. Pay attention. And the reason we're going to be behind the wall, because most of the time, records indicate that when petrified is reversed, it is a natural organic process. But there have been recorded or reported, I should say, instances of the person having the stone cover explode out in all directions, or they can panic very quickly on occasion, crash out. I've seen one of those things before, so I'm prepared. It's good because we look for action poses. Like, if he got mid swing, he would probably continue to go. We can go into the particulars later. But I'm so glad you've done the reading. I'm very impressed. Thank you, Master Lothalia. Are you going to stay and watch or are you going behind the shield? You are allowed. You are going out. No, please, Uncle Belair. Come on. I'm sorry. I prefer to use Uncle Belair at work, but. Come on, Uncle. Oh, fuck. Fine. Don't tell your father, okay? Yes. And you see that she gets out a notepad and is eagerly watching with the welding helmet. Behind the shield. Behind the shield. Popping a little welding mask over the top. Are you ready? Always. Let's let it happen. All right. I'll take the tongs and lift up over the back of the mane of the statue. Your brother, even though he's your younger brother, he's about same physical size to you, Maine is a little more full. But you see, in this pose, he's been covered in a stone robe which he never wore. And he has sort of a regal, aristocratic pose, but there's something horrified in his face. You remember in the castle that they were getting them into these poses to look like normal statues rather than people cowering or weird warp shapes that you wouldn't make a statue to be. The serum touches the back of his neck. And you see the robe goes from gray stone to deep purple magenta Black fur goes through the torso. Suddenly buckles at the waist. Stone head and suddenly stone paws hit the ground. This organic new here going up the back. Embrace. Heaving sobs. No. No. He holds your face. Are you Isis? Are you dead? No. I am here with you. Among the living. We rescued you from the fortress. You were captured. Turned to stone. What? Yes. What? There are many of us. We. We. We came to your rescue. Do take a moment if you need it. What is the last thing that you remember? Oh, yeah, yeah. Sorry. Oh, my throat. They haven't given me water. Where are they? Are they around? We're in danger. Who is they? Your captors. Captors? The Knights of the Knight of Sarah Taconis. We are in danger. They are nearby. No. We slew them. They are. They are defeated. They are not here. You are safe. You came to find me. How did you know? You. Where were you? The last I heard you were in Baladri or Selmur. Far to the east. Have you. Taylor. My God. I'm rescued. We need to run. Where are we now? Are we in. We are back in Dolnakiar. We had to leave the city to come and find you. We brought you all the way back here. These are friends. This is Bolair and this is Rukander. I'm gonna pour him a glass of water and take it over to him. Thank you, Sir Dior. Be trusting, are we? He turns around and goes, this asshole. What the fuck are you doing here? No, he works with it. He's sundered. We have dealt with it. And you have not done what is necessary yet. When we were children, before we would go to sleep, what would our father say to us every night? A story, a poem or a tale of what tomorrow would bring. And you see here that Sid repeats back to you the words that your father would speak. These words were important to him. And I think that looking at your connection in this moment. Cid responding in kind. What do your companions hear from Cid's mouth? The poem that our father read to us, or recited to us was when dark night silence falls and hope seems gone. A deeper roar still carries on. It shakes the stars and it splits the night sky. For at least in me and will not die repeating that poem together. Sid looks and says, I. I cannot help but believe. How did you find me? You were half a world away. I am very talented. You pale. This. No. Put me back in the stone. I'm just saying, you see. He looks over and says, I. I. I did the. The I can't believe it. Where is Loza? Here. No, Loza went on. I think. I think their time has. Has come to an end. Plus the heat. This is truly remarkable. You. You have been on the cutting edge of this with the AZI for how long? Cutting edge? I mean, I, I, I was Thiazi's eyes and ears in the revolutionary council, you know, I was a cab driver. I was driving carriages for the great tower. I spy. But it's. It's getting stronger, you know? Don't you know? You can feel it, can't you? And you see, he looks down at the wooden lion's head, at your belt. I've. I have felt it. Tayor. I came looking for you. Cause I didn't know where else to go. I. Azmir. Kazimir. Kazimir betrayed us. Kazimir is dead. We've been very busy. I'm sorry. We didn't leave any story. His older brother made it. I was gonna get his ass. I stole the deed. I was gonna go tell. He didn't tell the others. I clipped his toe. So you can you hold on to it as a keepsake? The little pinky toes, the fucked up one he always uses the dagger to pick the out of. Yeah. Look, I, I. The whole thing. Theazi. Is he, he's, he's gone. I know. I mean, the carriage never arrived and that was the hole. But the. Look, the, the. I grabbed the deed from the crow. I knew that Kasimir was running with those fucking crow keepers. I grabbed the deed. I ignored thinking. I don't know. I'd heard some things in the council about this Gus of Timony. Maybe he wants to know that a turncoat trader is about to get a strong home in Timney. And by the time I got up there, no. The Taconus were chasing me. Everything had fled out of. I just thought I'd get on a ship and head east to find you. I was out of options. With Thiazi gone, I thought Thimble must be dead as well. They were talking about in the guard tower, the crow keeper's tavern. I heard them laughing. That thimble had dropped through it. Thimble? She had been captured. She is fine. She's alive with us. And Takona is the only ones that sort of betrayed you and captured you. There was no other families, no other sended houses. Taconists didn't betray me because Takonis don't owe me anything. I'm just another commoner scum to them. But I know the Taconis Were I snuck up on the tavern where Casimir was speaking to the Crowkeeper. He was settling his debt, and they were asking how he had possibly gotten the money together. And he said, you know, I will be working with House Taconis from now on. So I knew that they were in on whatever happened to Thiazi, and that they had reached. Kasmir was the weak link in the plan. So that's where they hit. And they gave him all the money he needed to turn his back on us. And this cause, I mean, he was always. You know, the city was getting to him. The Fiazzi asked a lot of us, not more than he was willing to give himself. But I was living on a cab driver's salary. I wanted to find you. I wanted to. I had this thing in me. I started to be able to see fairies and demons, and it was like something was coming back. There had always been pieces during the rebellion, but not like this. Something pushing out. And I looked through, and I said to Thiazi, I think there's something here. And he said, we're going. When this is all taken care of, he says, I'm going to get you and Teor, and I'm going to find a way for us to explore this. But for right now, the council, you know, he saw parts of the tapestry that I couldn't see, and he said it was safer for me not to see it. And I. He had his head in many parts. I think maybe too many for even him. And you were doing this alone? I have. I have many people with me. I could not have done any better than you. And you were spending your time on a noble cause. There is nothing to be ashamed of. But when we found you again, turned to stone. The knights of Saramai, did they mention anything, why they were doing it? They had posed you in a very regal pose, which I knew was bullshit, because you never fucking. You don't. No, no, no, I've never. I could tell. I mean, it was awful. I mean, I was on this table in a dungeon somewhere in Timony, and the fucking ropes were pulling my limbs apart, and they got this freaky lizard with glowing eyes all over my basilisk. Are you injured? Do you need healing of any sort? He looks down, and you actually see there are fresh wounds on him. He's got blood on his claws. He said I injured some of the guards when they unmanacled me to get me in the right pose. But is it all right if I heal him? That would be. I'm quite wise, to be honest. I'll gently touch him and pump in a cure wounds. Yes. Thank you. What is your name, my friend? Nick. Nick Falcon. Let it let truth sit. For this one, I don't know how he feels about our family. Well, you're about. The less that we give him, the less he has to pretend he doesn't know. Very fair. He looks and says, all right, Nick, thanks. He says, yes. This. You didn't. With this guy. No, no, no, no, no, no. Not with. Not with this. The strange bedfellows. Am I all right? I don't. Is he working with them? You. I know you probably hate those of the Sundred houses, but for the time being, there is no house that I am vassal to. So at the moment, I am as lowborn as the rest of you. Give me persuasion. Can I add to that? Sure. Ser Julian here actually was instrumental in saving your life. Give me persuasion. With advantage. To take that as a help action, Huh? That would be a dirty tween. Hell, yeah. He looks and says, I trust my brother, and these two are okay. Nick and just a demon hanging out. I come here sometimes. That's your cover story? For me to trust anybody? I don't know, anything would be better than a demon hanging out. Bollair's got all sorts of freaky little freaks hanging around. Welcome to your bedfellows. You best get used to them. They were of House Halovar. They are on the run, just like we are. He turns, he says, all right. Yes. The Saramai, they were dragging me. There were days they had to go to this castle in this rainy part of. Of Timony. They were dragging me. I was asleep. I was bound and gagged on this, like, this tavern floor. And there were a couple days. They didn't want to turn me to stone until they were set up, because they didn't have the means to drag me when I was that heavy. So they needed to carry me conscious for a while before they were set up to do the petrification. But I overheard, and they were just talking because they think I'm going to die. And so I don't know why they want to turn me to stone. None of that. But they are talking about, where do I even begin? Okay. There's this sea. There's some. I don't know the geography, but it's the Sea of Lakris. Okay. This one. Yes. There is an island there in the. This sea, which is. They call it the hall of Mercy. The other word, The Saramai. The knight calls it hall of Mercy. But I hear the whisper girl, the fucked up skull tattoo one, she called it the fora crucialma. Fora crucialma. It's on an island in the sea somewhere. And she's talking about it. She's explaining it to her brother, who's the pretty boy, the one with the rapier, kind of like this one. And she said to him that back before the shapers die, they have these afterlives and you just go there, right? But the shapers each have a people. But she talked about this place called the hall of Mercy where you can petition your case. If she talk about like dragons and giants and all sorts of monsters, that there are many creatures that have lived in Ahriman that have a spirit, but they are not of the shapers. So this place, the hall of Mercy, if you are devout, but you are a monster or some other creature, you can go and plead your case here for to be accepted into an afterlife if you are some other kind of being. And she said they're going to go here. And that she talk about when they were looking at me or just room to me, she kept talking, we need more, we need more. And she say, two score and seven lords. Two score. Score is 20, right? So that's 47 lords. And she talk about they're going to go to the hall of Mercy and they're going to raise banners there or something like this. So the. Oh, and they were looking for. When you talk about the lords, they talk about somewhere they met up with another wagon. When we get to the big city to where the castle is where you rescue me, they dump a sarcophagus on the side of the road because she says it's not old enough. She says, the Lord who died there, she said, no, this lord, she said, you can see from the coffin the sarcophagus that is only 50 years old. She says it's not old enough. And they needed older bodies than that. There was a specific time they needed them from the. I don't know what it is they're gonna plan there, but they've raised gobble on the last night before we got to the city. And they say to the end of the path. And they raised their glasses. How big was the sarcophagus? Out of curiosity? Normal. I mean, big, because it's made of stone. But it was for a human, I think. And the body was too young. The sarcophagus was too young. The body was too young, yes. They get it from a mausoleum or mortuary somewhere in Timony, but they were looking for specific grave sites. Things like this. And then. Oh, right before. Sorry, they mentioned this place called the Arex Nocturnus, which is somewhere else, maybe near Sea of Lake, I don't know. And they said they needed many more like me. Interesting. You see, he says, but the last. Oh, right before. This is not about whatever else, but they were really disappointed. Right before they got me, the Knight of Saramai was speaking to one the of the sergeants. I think that they were expecting a big reinforcement that wasn't going to come and they were going to be delayed and they needed to meet the rest of the fleet. They kept saying we need to meet the rest of the fleet. And they said our voyage is going to be delayed significantly because there was a battalion that was supposed to come from the endless night that had not been able to send a pigeon to them. They were were waiting on reinforcements from their house that they said were not going to come because something had gone wrong or gone missing. And there was another one. They say that there was a battle at an orchard and that this one they were expecting many more to come. They were expecting, I think, some of their cousins, some of the cousins of Docetin and Univere to come. But they said that they were waiting for a bound Celestial to arrive at this battle and that the bound Celestial never arrive. And they panic and launch the attack without it. And they were massacred, slaughtered. They said that one of them, a cousin named Koral, who escaped barely with their life is the word they received. And that Koral had. There was something about the Corales skipped with a gem of some kind. A stone? Not a stone, but like a real gem of some kind. But a gem is a stone. Oh, okay. Forgive him. He has been stolen or sold. But not a gem. But not a gem. Interesting. But the last thing they say is something alike. We're going to have to cool our heels for a long time before they can join us. So we're going to have to wait to meet the rest of the fleet. Did they say where they were going to be hiding or waiting? No, they did nothing in front of me. But they were headed to it on their way. What they did to me was a stop on their way. So they were journeying somewhere north. North. There were others like you? There were other statues in the hall. We could only take you. Did you see others being bound in the same way you were? I heard screams. Others and then gone. Screams end fast. But the. But the. You see? He says but they. I know. They are gathering others like me. There are many Others like me. And they were headed north. And what happened to the others that were frozen like me? I want to try something. Hold still for a minute and I'm going to say, warrior, reach your senses. Tell me true. Did the dead draw near? Does anything happen to. As you say that to him, he goes, what the fuck am I supposed to do? You want me to? You sure do. You see? He goes. And you see his eyes don't go white, but you can sense that he's doing what you do, which is divine sense. He looks around and says, okay, demon getting something from you. But something good? Sort of. Yeah, I guess. Good. So it feels celestial or something. Sorry, I went to. Forgive me. I'm so sorry. Going to get into. Well, when did you start getting these powers that you have now? During the rebellion. Oh, just. But I didn't. I haven't been. You know, if. If no one gonna train you. If no one gonna help you understand what's happening to you. It's just sort of a hobby. Yeah, just something we do in our own time. It's not something that's always been around, but. It's funny. It matches stories from our youth. Things we would heard from our father. Very useful. When you order a statue, they would say this phrase and the eyes of the statue would glow. We think they were setting up some sort of a ward or perimeter. I think that's what they were speaking about. When they say the destruction of the path, what do you think they mean? That is a good question. We are working on that. You don't think they're gonna turn the Druids to stone or something, do you? Well, suppose we're going to find out, aren't we? You need rest. I'm sure. And the meal. I'm so hungry. Do you have food that is not weird and fucked up? This is a museum. All the food is weird and fucked up. But yes. No, we actually should already have some food prepared because this is very typical. Hiro says, I'll get the food laid out and we should have guests. Yeah. Hiro, actually, if you could take care of this delightful veteran and make sure that they are given every comfort while they heal and are also kept safe from prying eyes. Oh, yeah, I'll do that. We're giving you a lot of responsibility. And I warn you, it is a dangerous moment. And you're going to have to be careful because if you're not, you're going to get hurt. You could get hurt and your father will kill me. So keep me safe, please. I'll keep you safe. See, there is a lot going on. I want you to rest and we will come back. I will check in with you before anything else happens. But. But. But you're here. I am here. And it is good to see you again. I'll reach out my hand and in my paw is sort of clasped a small dagger just so he has it. He takes it, he goes. They are other people like us. That's who they were going after. That's. I think we might be the only people who know that this is happening. If we don't do something. We have to stop them. We are spreading the word. We are mounting an offense. It is coming faster than you know, maybe even as soon as tomorrow. But trust me, there are those with much bigger brains than ours that are on it as well. All right, let's get some food. I. I'm grabbing a couple books off my shelf and grabbing a couple other things and throwing them quickly in the bag. That's not true. I am not feeding any of you. I have a quick errand to run. But in the meantime, I think that most of us should head back. I agree. You see? Hero says head back. I think people are just starting to arrive, Master Lothalia. Excellent. And that's where we're gonna go to break. My brother's alive and he's not a host. That was fun. That was very fun. I love how much the. And that will go to break there. We'll come back and see that part. And that's where we'll leave our story for now. Part two of this episode of Campaign 4 drops this Tuesday. Thanks for listening and we'll see you soon for more critical role. And now for a bit of breaking news. Between your breaking news with me, the Geico gecko, here are some things you ought to know today. People who switch their car insurance to geico save about $900 a year. Experts are calling that nice to know. Also, plants can hear when bees buzz. My ficus just heard that. And finally, animal experts have confirmed that goats have regional accents. I'm getting a hint of Irish there. It feels good to get good news. It feels good to Geico. Hi, I'm Angie Hicks, co founder of angie. And one thing I've learned is that you buy a house, but you make it a home. Because with every fix, update and renovation, it becomes a little more your own. So you need all your jobs done. Well. 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