Desperloch | Age of Umbra Episode 1 Part 1

Summary

Critical Role Podcast Summary

Podcast Information:

• Title: Critical Role
• Host/Author: Critical Role
• Episode: Desperloch | Age of Umbra Episode 1 Part 1
• Release Date: June 5, 2025

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1. Introduction to Age of Umbra

Age of Umbra serves as a dark fantasy campaign setting within Critical Role's expansive storytelling universe. Hosted by Matthew Mercer, this episode marks the beginning of an epic narrative set in the Halcyon Domain—a realm once radiant with verdant valleys and majestic cities, now overshadowed by the malevolent forces of the Umbra.

Notable Quote:

"Welcome to the age of Umbra. It is here in the Halcyon domain where we instead come in the midst of a dark night."
([11:35] Matthew Mercer)

2. The Chase and Arrival in Desperlock

The adventure kicks off with the character Snix, a young faun portrayed by Liam O'Brien, desperately fleeing through the dense jungles of Avidora. Snix clutches a tightly wrapped package, visibly terrified as he's pursued by a monstrous, mutated bear-like creature with "seven rows of teeth" ([15:52] Matthew Mercer). Despite an agility roll that results in successfully dodging between trees, Snix is momentarily ensnared by vines, leading to a harrowing confrontation where he sustains serious injuries.

Notable Quotes:

"Snix is saying to himself, oh, God."
([16:57] Liam O'Brien)

"I've got two of them. At least two of them."
([33:03] Liam O'Brien)

3. Healing and Village Life in Desperlock

Barely surviving the attack, Snix arrives at Desperlock, a resilient village within the Halcyon Domain. The villagers, known as the Enduring, are tightly knit, relying on the sacred pyre that symbolizes safety and hope. Truvo, a gentle turtle healer voiced by Marisha Ray, tends to Snix's wounds, emphasizing the community's reliance on both magic and camaraderie for survival.

Notable Quote:

"Let's go ahead and make this a feast... One of the greatest joys and honors."
([45:01] Matthew Mercer)

4. Encounter with Injured Delvers

The tranquility of Desperlock is short-lived as five Delvers—vault soldiers exploring the perilous catacombs beneath the Luzal monastery—return severely wounded. Led by Raskello, a ruggedly handsome Delver, they report discovering the "doors to the Filament's Hollow," an entrance to the monastery's inner sanctums. Among them, Rascalo stands out with a critical wound that threatens his life.

Notable Quotes:

"Raskello... we lost about four down there. We burned the bodies, don't worry."
([79:44] Sam Riegel)

"If you don't think the Triarch..."
([90:23] Sam Riegel)

5. The Decision to Rescue Velk Dravenmore

Faced with Rascalo's dire condition and the urgency to rescue Velk Dravenmore—a respected Vigil member left behind—the group deliberates on assembling a rescue mission. Sam, voiced by Sam Riegel, steps forward, offering his assistance and persuading others to join the perilous quest despite the inherent dangers. The group's resolve is further solidified when Ember Warden Shina confronts them, enforcing the boundary between duty and personal initiative.

Notable Quotes:

"We don't need no money. We do not need monetary payment. Our payment will be an honor. And glory."
([100:40] Travis Willingham)

"You're bound to protect the sacred pyre... Do not disappoint our order."
([104:05] Matthew Mercer)

6. Conclusion of Part 1

The episode culminates with the group solidifying their commitment to the rescue mission. Aaron, voiced by Liam O'Brien, initially resists but is persuaded by his companions to brave the unknown depths of the vaults. The team prepares to depart Desperlock, setting the stage for the forthcoming Part 2, where their journey into the heart of the monastery and the secrets it holds will unfold.

Notable Quote:

"We're going outside the walls..."
([110:23] Sam Riegel)

"That's a wrap for part one of this podcast episode. Part two will land here the Tuesday after this episode at 5am Pacific."
([110:41] Matthew Mercer)

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Final Notes: Desperloch | Age of Umbra Episode 1 Part 1 masterfully sets the tone for a dark and gripping narrative, blending intense role-playing with rich world-building. The characters' interactions and the looming threat of the Umbra create a compelling hook that promises thrilling adventures in subsequent episodes.

Notable Quote:

"Keep the Umbra at bay and we'll be back for more of this adventure before you know it."
([110:41] Matthew Mercer)

---

End of Summary.

Transcript

[Narrator]

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[Matthew Mercer]

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[Ashley Johnson]

Hey there Critters. This is Ashley Johnson and Telus and Jeffy and we're popping in here to talk about our new podcast on Beacon.

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[Taliesin Jaffe]

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[Ashley Johnson]

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[Ashley Johnson]

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[Taliesin Jaffe]

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[Ashley Johnson]

New episodes release every Tuesday.

[Matthew Mercer]

Hey there, Matthew Mercer here and you're listening to the podcast version of Age of Umbra, a dark tale and campaign setting from our recently released tabletop RPG Daggerheart from Darrington Press. You don't need to know anything about the rules or system to enjoy the story, but if you're inspired to want to play along, we have several short how to Play resources we lovingly call get yout Sheet Together, available to watch right now on Beacon TV and YouTube.com criticalrole this is part one of the episode right now and part two arrives the following Tuesday. If you'd rather get instant and ad free access to the full episode, consider becoming a Beacon member where you can watch bonus content like the cast discussing each episode and Critical Role Cooldown. Receive Critical Role shop discounts including on Daggerheart and much more. Sign up now at Beacon TV and that should cover it. Now let's dive into the adventure. Hello everyone and welcome to tonight's episode of Age of Umbra. Before we get into this series, we do have some announcements to give tonight. Daggerheart is officially here, everybody. Oh man, we were. I hope you like it. We've been working really hard on it. Us and the incredible development team at Darrington Press and everyone else here at Critical Role. We're so proud of it. We're so excited for you to get a chance to actually play it, run it, build whatever the hell you want in it. Of course our game is good, but it's actually really good guys. I'm as unbiased as possible. It's really good and you get to see us play it through the series. But you can get your Daggerheart core set in all the Critical Role shops, Darrington Press Guild stores from the local game stores. Soon it'll be available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and even more places from there, so digitally you can also find Daggerheart and cool interactive tools with our partners at demiplane, roll 20 and drivethrurpg. And if you want to get in the game right now, check out Startplaying Games and jump into one of the many launch games that over 150 GMs have scheduled this month for Daggerheart. So for more info, go ahead and visit daggerheart.com Yay. Give us Christians. Laura.

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[Ashley Johnson]

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[Matthew Mercer]

Yay.

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[Matthew Mercer]

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[Liam O'Brien]

What's happening?

[Matthew Mercer]

No, you survived with.

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[Narrator]

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[Matthew Mercer]

Fantastic.

[Liam O'Brien]

Got blood all over this one.

[Marisha Ray]

Aw, come on.

[Matthew Mercer]

Yeah, it is.

[Ashley Johnson]

It works for Age of Bumbies.

[Matthew Mercer]

So for those of you who aren't aware, Darington Press has a very generous community gaming license that invites all to come and play in our sandboxes. And as part of that, there is an awesome new Daggerheart compatible Kickstarter that just launched today. From our friends, we Roll and play press and three black halflings City of the Black Rose is a 140 page horror campaign setting for 5th edition Daggerheart and all fantasy RPGs. That's based on the acclaimed noir adventure audio series from Three Black Halflings, which if you haven't heard it, it's fucking awesome. Go listen to it. And then now you can get the campaign setting book. But survive the foggy streets of Marvros, a terrible tiered city plagued by crime kingpins, unsolved murders and horrifying creatures that lurk in the shadows. And specifically for Daggerheart players, there are pre generated character sheets, theme tokens and even a campaign frame so you can jump right in with your Daggerheart. So you can back it now on [e-mail] C O T B R for City of the Black Rose. And I believe that concludes our announcements.

[Travis Willingham]

So with that friends, you're gonna need a wet wipe.

[Liam O'Brien]

Yeah, maybe.

[Matthew Mercer]

Yeah, seriously, let's go ahead and jump into one. The Age of Umbra.

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[Matthew Mercer]

This is the Halcyon Domain, a once golden realm of verdant valleys, majestic mountain cities and the expansive golden city of Amber Reach, where the seat of the God King Othedius and his grand ordinance oversaw the rule of law, faith and magic under the guiding miracles of the veiled Gods. It is said by many who scrounged the shreds of history that it was the clandestine machinations of the God King and his constituents that sundered the divine laws and caused the veiled Gods to punish the realm and abandon our world. Others speak of misuse of the Aetherweave itself that spurned their retribution. What is known is that the centuries since the apostasy when the Veiled Gods blanketed the lands in shadow before vanishing into the dreams beyond, this realm has been dying. Society has slowly crumbled under an ever desperate populace, the clergy and nobility shutting themselves within their strongholds and cathedrals, while nightmarish magic and heinous creatures arose to feast upon the surviving citizens of the domain. The ashen sea spilled into the valley to leave a sinking marshland host to mutating beasts and horrid demons. Holy heroes and great warriors combated the swelling evils, galvanizing the scattered peoples to defend their villages or found new ones where the burning flames of the miraculous sacred pyres could keep the darkness at bay. Some became great leaders, while others succumb to the howling evil force known as the umbra that now spreads and corrupts the realm. Those that survived despite this divine death sentence now call themselves the enduring. And over these few generations, defined by hardship, survival and a gently kindled hope, new heroes arise to protect their families, to reassemble the truths of the past, to change the tides of fortune for all. Or die trying. The old world is dead. Welcome to the age of umbra. It is here in the Halcyon domain where we instead come in the midst of a dark night, Here in the jungles of Avidora. The sounds of heavy breathing push through the dense hanging vine and canopy tangle. Snix, what do we see as you rush through the jungles?

[Liam O'Brien]

Okay. You see a young lanky fawn, more like a mountain goat, with dirty fur and armor, clutching a wrapped package very tightly. He's got two horns. One is broken off, though. His eyes are wide and darting left and right. And he is running his ass off as fast as possible, looking behind him, looking everywhere, terrified.

[Matthew Mercer]

You feel the breath itself burning, stinging in your chest. You've been unable to catch your breath for half a mile. Mile. Two miles. You don't know how long you've been running. You've been on the road for so long at this point, trying desperately to get back to Desperlock. And it can't be that far. You're out of water at this point. You can feel this burning pain in your shoulder where something might have gotten you while you were charging. But you don't have time to even check or look. But now it's quiet and you might be okay. Suddenly. Oh my God.

[Marisha Ray]

Stop it.

[Travis Willingham]

No. No.

[Matthew Mercer]

Suddenly, blasting out of the nearby brush, cracking into the side of one of the massive jungle trees. You see the hulking form of some horribly mutated bear like creature, massive bone spines protruding out of its furry hide. You see where its jaw was hanging open, this massive, horrifying cracked mouth that curls all the way back to its shoulders. And as the jaw opens up, you see seven rows of Teeth all tangled and jutted out, and it continues charging after you. What do you do?

[Ashley Johnson]

Oh, my God.

[Matthew Mercer]

Seven rows.

[Liam O'Brien]

I'm going to stumble and fall backwards, spilling over myself and not really knowing what direction I'm facing in anymore. I'm gonna just pick one and try to avoid its claws and just dart between two trees that are sort of close together.

[Matthew Mercer]

All right, I'd like you to go ahead and make an agility roll to see if you can dart between these trees with it. Not noticing the direction of your path.

[Liam O'Brien]

As I'm darting between these trees. I am. Snix is saying to himself, oh, God.

[Matthew Mercer]

Oh, God, oh, God.

[Liam O'Brien]

And I'm going to use my experience, spineless coward. To try to motivate my escape and get a little bit farther, faster.

[Matthew Mercer]

Great. So you can spend a hope to do that. Which, by the way, you all started with two hope. And because there's five of you, I start with five fear.

[Sam Riegel]

Oh, my gosh. Look at the tracker. The skulls are covered in blood.

[Matthew Mercer]

First roll of the game. Let's go, snakes.

[Sam Riegel]

Whoa, that's bad.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

Oh, wait, no, no, it's not.

[Liam O'Brien]

It's great. It's a two and a two.

[Travis Willingham]

That's a crit.

[Matthew Mercer]

That's a crit. First one and a game is a crit. All downhill from here. That's phenomenal. So you gain that hope back that you spend in your experience. If you had a stress, you'd clear it. And as you spring off, your fawn legs kicking in this direction, you coast right through this thick V of branches as you hear this massive strike of claws that just barely catch the back of the strands of tattered cloth that mark the exterior of your running ensemble. You feel it tug and pull and tear, and you hear the claws smash into the nearby woods. The woods splintering and the tree further cracking and beginning to give under its weight as it continues to give chase. But you've managed to gain on it quite a bit. You glance around quickly, and you can barely see the flicker of flame, the sacred pyre of desperlock piercing through the distant shadow, the singular beacon of safety that you see before you. You might make it all right.

[Liam O'Brien]

I might. I grip my package even tighter because if I make it and I don't have this, then the whole trip was worthless and I will use my wayfinder ability. Path forward. When you're traveling to a place you've previously visited, you can identify the shortest, most direct path to your destination.

[Matthew Mercer]

Fantastic. Yeah. At this point, now that you've locked down on where you were you recognize those trees you just jumped through and the direction of that flame. You've taken this particular path three or four times before. Even with the dark light here, it clicks in, the instinct takes over and you start darting, which means you're able to keep a pretty fair distance from this beast. It's still gaining on you, especially as you get closer to Desperlock and the density of the surrounding jungle gets thinner and thinner. There's less to keep it at bay and you can hear its breath getting louder and louder and louder as you dart forward. But you're managing to still get closer and closer. You can just barely see at the edge of the top of the slag wall, you see the torches being held by four members of the vigil standing up there. And one of them goes, who goes there?

[Liam O'Brien]

Not knowing if I can make it quite yet, I'm going to. If they shout it out, who goes there? I'm going to shout back, hey, it's me.

[Travis Willingham]

It's snakes.

[Matthew Mercer]

It's me. You know me. You know me. You hear some shouting and some voices and the torches start mounting more. You hear the sound of activity ahead, but it's still. The bright light is so bright against the shadow immediately that you just see these flickers of light and you're just hoping that this is enough to get there.

[Liam O'Brien]

If I can hear it gaining on me, I'm going to cast a spell. I'm gonna make a spell, cast roll and I'm gonna cast vicious entangle, but not at it. I'm gonna try to lead it. So I'll try to cast it right, right where I am currently, so that in a few steps it will hit.

[Matthew Mercer]

That's about the right trajectory. So go ahead and roll.

[Travis Willingham]

Don't die in prologue.

[Liam O'Brien]

Yeah, that's a ten with fear.

[Matthew Mercer]

A ten with fear. That is a failure. Oh, no. With fear you go and cast the spell. In the panic, the trajectory of it was correct, but the vine reaches up and snags you around the ankle and holds you in place. You slam, boom. Face down on the ground, spin over on your back. As soon as you get your, your elbows locked up, you just see the burning red eyes of this creature bearing down on you. It stops above you now, lumbering. It just fills the entirety of your vision with this black shadow with the two burning beads of red. It's going to go ahead and swipe down with its massive scythe like claw. That's going to be a 14 to hit you.

[Liam O'Brien]

My evasion is 13.

[Matthew Mercer]

That hits and that is. Oh, it's 12 points of physical damage out of the gate.

[Liam O'Brien]

That is my major damage threshold.

[Matthew Mercer]

Correct.

[Liam O'Brien]

Does that mean it goes into severe or it stays in major?

[Matthew Mercer]

Well, if it hits the next threshold, whatever, yeah.

[Liam O'Brien]

That's between major and severe. So what does that mean?

[Matthew Mercer]

If it's between major and severe, take two hit points. Well, here's what I'm saying. Is it at the number?

[Liam O'Brien]

It's at the number.

[Matthew Mercer]

Then that would be severe. So you take three hit points out of the gate. Wow.

[Liam O'Brien]

Yes.

[Matthew Mercer]

Yes.

[Sam Riegel]

Refue.

[Liam O'Brien]

I'm ready to eat goat tonight. Can I do anything?

[Matthew Mercer]

You hear nothing but the high pitched whine that accompanies the flash of white, searing pain that curls up through your spine. Your nervous system is shrieking within you and for a moment you don't know where you are. And you realize you're not where you were. The vines aren't holding you in place. It's because you were thrown 15ft feet to the right. Your shoulder impacts against one of the tree trunks might be dislocated. You don't know. The burning, the pain is everywhere. Right now all you know is the beast is it's routing itself. You see its jaw unhinge, its tongue kind of spills out and splits in two and twitches and it's going to rear up to charge towards you for a full on bite. What do you do?

[Liam O'Brien]

Okay, one question. I look down. Am I still carrying the package?

[Matthew Mercer]

The package is still. It's on the ground next to you, but it's right there. You also look down and see just the reflection of thick wet on you.

[Liam O'Brien]

That could be p Also just going back one step. Could I have taken off an armor to reduce the damage down to major damage?

[Matthew Mercer]

Yeah, you could go ahead and mark an armor slot and reduce that to major damage.

[Liam O'Brien]

Armor is damaged, but I took two hit points. Okay, I'm close, but I'm not there. Do you think the slag wall, right?

[Matthew Mercer]

Yeah.

[Liam O'Brien]

Do you think that's within far range?

[Matthew Mercer]

Yeah. You almost got there before your own vine snagged you. So it's just on the cusp of far range.

[Liam O'Brien]

Just as it is about to slash at me or bite at me once per rest, I can mark a stress which I will gladly do to sprint anywhere within far range without making an agility roll. This is my deft maneuver.

[Matthew Mercer]

Oh yeah? Yeah.

[Liam O'Brien]

So I'm going to try to super speed it.

[Matthew Mercer]

You mark that stress, you don't even have to roll for it. You grab that satchel and the instinct takes over once more. The pains besides that so you just go into a full run. You get to the edge of the slag wall. This massive perimeter wall that sits about 15, 20ft up is a series of boulders and chunks of rock, ruin and other surrounding bits of massive earth that have been slammed together to form this ever growing perimeter around Desperlock where molten iron has been poured on top and through to help hold it into one solid piece of wall. You get to it and there are handholds to climb for someone who is such a climber as you. So you've reached the wall. What else are you going to do?

[Liam O'Brien]

I've got Caprene leap as a faun. I can leap anywhere within close range. I don't know what that means. Using normal movement, allowing you to vault obstacles, jump across gaps, et cetera, scale barriers with ease.

[Matthew Mercer]

That is exactly what you would need to do this right now. So you have one ability to up to it and then bound up onto the wall in the air. What was once like the glowing flame is. Time slows as you go up and above the slag wall and you can see the shadows of all the other vigil that are rushing up to the side. You get a quick glance here in this brief moment of breath where you can see bows being armed and arrows being loosed. You can see now Desperlock is here to protect you. As you glance down you can see the massive column. The 15 foot high sacred pyre that burns bright. The symbol of hope, the symbol of life, the symbol of safety. Here. It washes over you as you clomp down onto the wall. Then bounce off into the exterior perimeter. Immediately followed by an impact on the outer wall as the beast that's chasing you slams into it. Dust shoots out and the rocks hold the iron slag itself, keeping it jettisoned. But you see a few vigil on top. Hold on and keep back. Still loosing arrows. And you see two members immediately leap down. One of which you recognize as a renowned figure known as Ghost Hook Brandsyth, who is a heroic vigil figure of limited conversation but numerous victorious wanderings across the domain, pulling forth this massive gnarled looking jagged scimitar and just leaping down.

[Liam O'Brien]

I'll call back to him. I softened him up for you. Go Ghost Hook. He's all yours now.

[Matthew Mercer]

Does not even acknowledge your presence as other vigil jump after. These are trained warriors who have defended this settlement for generations. And after loosening it up with a series of arrows, you eventually hear the lamenting cries of the beast as it succumbs to its Wounds. But it is here now. As you catch your breath and the pain returns, the wounds throbbing. The sound of whispers and other townsfolk of despilat coming out to see what the commotion is seeing. You arriving, you see as a young man who you have not really encountered much in the time that you've been here, rushed off. Are you okay?

[Liam O'Brien]

Oh, yeah, yeah, I'm okay. I just had a little fall getting up there. The wall, that's all.

[Matthew Mercer]

You should get to Truvo. Truvo should pat you right up.

[Liam O'Brien]

Yeah.

[Matthew Mercer]

Oh, God. And now looks at you and you look down and indeed there are three massive claw marks that go from shoulder to torso. And you are just bleeding.

[Liam O'Brien]

Oh, God. Yeah. Can you maybe help me there maybe?

[Matthew Mercer]

Yeah, okay.

[Liam O'Brien]

But just don't tell anybody about this. Just.

[Matthew Mercer]

I won't. And you both stop and look and see the four other people that are 10ft away looking and hearing this whole conversation.

[Liam O'Brien]

Shh. You should see the other guy.

[Matthew Mercer]

And you hear a horn beyond the hall. Another horn that connotates that the current threat seems to have been handled. You rest your arm over this young human man, maybe in his 16, 17 or so. So it's carrying you over as you come through the village of Desperlock, a surviving village here in the Halcyon domain. As you walk into the main central space of it, you can see the beautiful central forum built off of a number of the buildings here. Built off of the ruins of a partially toppled monastery that sits still on this rocky cliff face up on the mountains above. Also the focus of much of the research and delving that happens in the Luzal vaults not far from here. But the ruins that have toppled since the century before have since been outfitted and expanded as the core of this village. And now you can see all manner of thatched huts and wooden log built cabins and scrounged materials and leathers and cloths, building tarps and stretched patterns that welcome you home. As folk begin to go about the rest of their business here. The forum, the central massive tapestry where events and gatherings and judgment is meted out by the tramvit that are voted in as the localized government of Desperlock. No more than maybe 300 people live here, a number that has swelled and fallen through the numerous generations since its founding. As danger is never far beyond. But as long as that pyre burns, these walls are safe. Step by step, pushing alongside, who would be the first to investigate the sound of danger and chaos at the wall?

[Sam Riegel]

I'd probably break out and just head to the front. What Happened. I heard a commotion by the walls.

[Matthew Mercer]

Describe what we see as you rush out to check idol.

[Sam Riegel]

So idol steps forward in some furs and just some basic cloths. But he always drags with him this long halberd, rusted, definitely worn handle with wood and everything. And he rushes out and he's looking for vigils or anyone else that's recently seen action. And he's trying to spot any way that he can help or assist. And certainly any signs of crimson is an early indicator of that.

[Matthew Mercer]

As you rush out, glancing about, you do see that the vigil on the wall have begun sheathing their weapons and setting aside their bows, throwing them over the shoulder. It looks like you came just as the immediate danger has subsided. And you watch as exterior hooks and ropes are lowered down and other vigils step above. You see vigil Ghost Took Branwythe has also climbed up. One of the few vigil figures that you've really built a rapport with who looks down at you and gives you a nod. It has been handled. You see this massive man in his early 40s, but has seen a weather enough life where he looks much older. Older, but he is a shit brick house of a warrior who while not native to Desperlok, coming here maybe about five or six years ago from a fallen settlement far to the west, has become one of the renowned protectors of this space. A man of few words, but a man of ever dangerous capability and the kind of person you want on your side. Steps down from the slag wall and gives you a look. Adal. These woods grow more and more restless. At least when they're being drawn from their nests. And looks past beyond. You can see the outer darkened shadow shape of a hobbling figure being carried across the vision of the sacred pyre behind them, silhouetting them against the flame. You follow his sight and you can see Snix limping in the grasp of one of the other civilians of Desperlock.

[Sam Riegel]

Is he one of ours?

[Matthew Mercer]

Yes. Survived for now.

[Sam Riegel]

If you need anything, I'm never far. Excuse me. I'll try and catch up with Snix.

[Matthew Mercer]

Okay. Ghost took those in turns and begins giving orders to the rest of the vigil. As you dart off into the center of the village. You rush up to find Snax Nix quite bloodied and hobbling as one of the younger civilians that you've come across named Norrin has taken him under his shoulder. Oh, Idol. Nix just got back. It's looking pretty rough.

[Liam O'Brien]

It looks worse than it is. I mean there Were probably three or four of the bear things. I got two of them. At least two of them.

[Sam Riegel]

Wow.

[Dr. Horton Representative]

Yeah.

[Liam O'Brien]

But there was one that I just didn't see. You know how it is.

[Sam Riegel]

Sure. You look like you're leaking pretty bad though.

[Liam O'Brien]

I mean it looks worse than it probably is, but you know, I gotta get some. Just a wrap or something. Some sort of.

[Matthew Mercer]

Truvo will take care of you. Don't worry. Thank you.

[Sam Riegel]

Okay. Yeah. What was it?

[Liam O'Brien]

It's a bear. Thinking, do I know what it was?

[Matthew Mercer]

Every time you go out, what you remember has changed. There is always something uniquely nightmarish about familiar beasts. The landscape seems to not want to be remembered as it was. And you catch yourself from speaking more on it, instead deciding to focus on the matter at hand as the words escape you to even describe it. Yeah.

[Liam O'Brien]

It doesn't matter what it was. It just matters that it's not in here with us.

[Sam Riegel]

Did you hear any voices? Anything speaking to you, calling out while it was chasing you?

[Matthew Mercer]

Did I? No.

[Liam O'Brien]

Then I remember. Why is there.

[Sam Riegel]

Oh, I just heard stories about. It doesn't matter. What's important is that you're safe. Norn will take good care of you.

[Matthew Mercer]

Okay. At this point, Norn takes you to the edge of a familiar heavy leather curtained hut. It's probably a good 12ft or so tall, wider at the base with some interior wooden structure to it. All manner of dried stretched herb and local jungle fauna that is used flora used to mix various possible salves. And healing means you step into the interior very gently lit here, here from the interior fire you can see the flicker of the nearby lanterns and a central cauldron that is burning from underneath. And the heavy cloaked rounded shape turns. And you see there before you truvo the hedge, an older male Galapa, this massive turtle, gentle herbalist, healer of the village. Been here far longer than you have and definitely seen as a bastion of comfort when not having to tend to too many wounded to where he is prone to panic. But for the time being. Truvo turns. Oh goodness. There you're looking a little. You see his face drop a little bit. I'll take care of her. Thank you, Norn. Norn nods and see the face is a little pale now that you have a good look at his face. Wanders off into the night as Truevo takes you and sets you down on this half repaired table that lasts as a place to rest and begin seeing to your wounds. And slowly begins to place some of these thick SAP like substance into the gashes on You. That at least stops the bleeding. Though it does burn at first. It is to hurt if it is to heal.

[Sam Riegel]

Yeah.

[Liam O'Brien]

Just a quick question before you any further. Am I going to owe you anything for this? Is there some sort of trade that we can work out or. I haven't made my deliveries yet, but after I do, I'll have some coin to spare.

[Matthew Mercer]

Druvo don't need nothing from you. Just kind of slaps you in the side of the cheek a little bit. Stay alive.

[Liam O'Brien]

Oh, that's very kind of you. But not very good. Business.

[Matthew Mercer]

Not everything's about business out here in the Wastes, boy. Sometimes it's just about staying alive. Goes ahead and finishes dressing your wounds and sets you up for a bit. You get a breath. He gives you some water to drink. You don't realize until now just how parched you've been. Your lips are dry and cracked and you catch yourself for a bit. The warmth of this tent, the inside of it, is partially because of the enclosed nature of it. The heavy fur and tattered leathers that drip from the outside of this Galpus shell. You wonder if it's adornment or if it's actually function. You do have the clacking of glass vials that dangle from him and hit his shell and exterior at times. But the other part of the warmth is the proximity to the sacred pyre. As you move beyond that tent on the outskirts, the massive burning flame itself gently crackling as the symbol of safety. Two pyre keepers currently on task to keep watch. Brixton, if you wouldn't mind describing what we see as you are looking over towards Truvo the hedges, curious as to what this commotion has been. This eve.

[Travis Willingham]

You see a big hearty orc woman getting up there in age at least for Desperlock here in the Wastes. Old age is very different here. Not what we are used to. She's got long matted black hair. You can tell she's not really one to keep up with her appearances. Soot smeared across her face. Her hands are calloused and blackened from tossing twigs and brush and really anything that they can get their hands on into the fires. She's got long robes that are the vestments of the pyre keepers. When she heard the commotion she went over, looked over the wall of the edge, recognizing Snix. Underneath her vestments she grips a sword that she's keeping hidden for now and very curious hopes Nix is okay since he's very useful to her.

[Matthew Mercer]

On the opposite side of the pyre you see in similar pyre keeper vestments themselves as clean as they can be, as the creation of fresh vestments is challenged based on the materials available through the disparate trade across the wastes here. But you see a female dwarf in her early 40s, tightly braided brown hair with graying streaks pulled through it. Hairline partially receded, probably from pulling it so tight for the majority of her life, but heavy crow's feet, wrinkles from a life of smiling. This dwarven woman, you know to be pyre keeper Roman, who sees you looking over towards Truvo's tent like, is everything okay there, love? Did you see who it was?

[Travis Willingham]

Yes, it was the messenger snakes. Looks like the jungles are restless tonight.

[Matthew Mercer]

He's okay though, right?

[Travis Willingham]

He's with Druvo now. He'll be all right.

[Matthew Mercer]

Good, good. He's supposed to find me a book.

[Travis Willingham]

Oh, I hoping he has good news from one of the neighboring settlements.

[Matthew Mercer]

I tell you what, you could check on him. I'll keep watch here. Looks like the danger's done. I'll just. I'll shout if anything comes up.

[Travis Willingham]

Are you sure?

[Matthew Mercer]

Yeah. Look, vigil seems fine. And you see a couple of vigil folk on the far edge of the slag wall have sat down, their legs dangling over, and one of them pops open and winds up and starts drinking and passing it over. If I can take a break, so can you.

[Travis Willingham]

I'll be back.

[Matthew Mercer]

All right, Brixton.

[Travis Willingham]

Thank you. Scurry over.

[Matthew Mercer]

That was a fond walk for a second. The leather flap opens into trouble's tent and Snix you see there standing Brixton in the pyre keeper attire.

[Liam O'Brien]

Oh, hey.

[Travis Willingham]

Hi.

[Liam O'Brien]

Hi.

[Travis Willingham]

That looked. That looked crazy.

[Liam O'Brien]

It was.

[Travis Willingham]

I saw the whole thing.

[Liam O'Brien]

Yeah, I'm fine. I'm fine. I was fine.

[Travis Willingham]

I mean, it threw your ass 15ft.

[Liam O'Brien]

No, no, it comes with.

[Travis Willingham]

You did like two flips.

[Liam O'Brien]

That was me getting away from it.

[Matthew Mercer]

Truvo has a somewhat damp cloth that is now just dark red and has finished wiping up all the thick blood on your armor. Oh, he's going to be all right.

[Liam O'Brien]

Some of that's the other guys.

[Travis Willingham]

Glad you're okay.

[Liam O'Brien]

Thanks. Thank you. Wait, what are you doing here? Who's on the pyre?

[Travis Willingham]

Ramon is covering for me just long enough for me to come in and check on you. How was it? How's Okros? How's.

[Liam O'Brien]

Oh, Okros, man. It's actually. It's pretty great over there. I mean, like, nothing's great, obviously. Like the whole world kind of sucks, but. Okros. Has it sort of figured out. They have a really good security wall and gates and lots of good food and. I talked to Aliana and.

[Travis Willingham]

Did you?

[Liam O'Brien]

Yeah. I have a letter from her.

[Travis Willingham]

How did she look? Did she look healthy? Did she look strong?

[Liam O'Brien]

I mean. Yeah. Yeah, she looked real strong. But, I mean, she didn't say she was gonna be traveling or anything anytime soon. Just.

[Travis Willingham]

I wouldn't want her to.

[Liam O'Brien]

She looked fine. Same as last time.

[Travis Willingham]

Okay. No, that's good.

[Liam O'Brien]

Yeah. Here.

[Travis Willingham]

Thank you. I don't have anything on me to repay you.

[Liam O'Brien]

Oh, no, it's. In this world, sometimes it's not about business. It's about keeping people safe.

[Travis Willingham]

You provide a great service.

[Liam O'Brien]

Sure.

[Travis Willingham]

Thank you.

[Liam O'Brien]

Oh, no. I mean, thank you.

[Travis Willingham]

I mean, Desperlock is proud of you.

[Liam O'Brien]

Really.

[Travis Willingham]

And your bravery.

[Matthew Mercer]

Don't get carried away now.

[Travis Willingham]

I hope to be as brave as you. I hope I am as brave as you.

[Liam O'Brien]

Oh, I'm sure you are. For real. I mean, you're amazing. You just keep watch on the pyre all the time. That's important work.

[Travis Willingham]

It's monotonous.

[Liam O'Brien]

Still, it takes a certain amount of strength to soldier through it every day.

[Matthew Mercer]

And it's what keeps us all safe. So just know that what y' all do is one of the greatest joys and honors.

[Travis Willingham]

Of course.

[Matthew Mercer]

Lay down. You do heal. Cause he does his downhead, actually.

[Liam O'Brien]

Wow. So I get all of my stress wiped, all of my hit points gone, and all my hope restored.

[Matthew Mercer]

No, but you do. You do heal. Two hit points.

[Liam O'Brien]

Hey, that's. That's a lot. That's great.

[Sam Riegel]

Like, man, that class is awesome.

[Matthew Mercer]

How did you just do that?

[Sam Riegel]

Okay, wrong class.

[Travis Willingham]

I'll check on you here in a few hours.

[Liam O'Brien]

I'll look forward to.

[Travis Willingham]

Okay, I'm just going to go off into the shadow. Stepping out of the tent.

[Liam O'Brien]

Before you go. Bring this to Roman.

[Sam Riegel]

She.

[Liam O'Brien]

They.

[Matthew Mercer]

He.

[Liam O'Brien]

She ordered it. It's a mystery book. It's all I could find. It's a good book. It's just the last chapter's missing, so you don't really know who did it. But still, she might like it.

[Travis Willingham]

Thank you. Wait. Should I read this now?

[Matthew Mercer]

It's up to you. You don't have to. You can keep it to yourself.

[Sam Riegel]

Read it out loud. Do the Nanny Muppet Baby's voice.

[Liam O'Brien]

She's rushing be.

[Travis Willingham]

Your last letter sounded so varied. No, I'm abandoning that. Do not be. Though. I appreciate your concern. Okros is remarkably calm. In fact, I've started a garden. A garden? Mostly herbs and small legumes.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

Legumes, legumes, legumes.

[Travis Willingham]

And in the dry patches, I've started filling it with lovely rocks and shiny stones that I've begun to collect. How goes life in Sasperlock? Oh, Eliana, I trust you are guarding the pyre with your strength and steadfast passion. Breeding was never my strong suit. She says to no one.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

You truly.

[Travis Willingham]

You truly are a hero. Please take care of yourself and the very nice messenger who carries these letters. Strix. He's such a kind young man. And handsome, too. You bastard. Do not worry about me missing you. I will visit again someday soon, I hope. Best Aliana, tuck this away in my ropes and I head back to my post.

[Matthew Mercer]

All right. As you deliver the tome to Ramon, who's. Oh, fantastic. Oh, oh, oh. I finally have a second book. I'm so excited.

[Travis Willingham]

Apparently the last chapter is gone, but I don't know, maybe you can rewrite it. Maybe do something hopeful.

[Matthew Mercer]

Maybe I can. Do you know who could teach me how to write?

[Travis Willingham]

Not me.

[Matthew Mercer]

Anyway. Puts the book away real fast. As you glance over, you can see Ember Warden. Sheena is like doing a walk through the forum and kind of glances over. You see this near elderly female elf, one of the few beings that's probably lived since the last age, who walks along and glances over to make sure the two of you are keeping to your stations.

[Travis Willingham]

Is this the Ember Warden?

[Matthew Mercer]

This is the Ember Warden, Shina.

[Travis Willingham]

I don't make eye contact. I just kind of look down and hurry over to the kindling and grab a few of the larger logs to toss into the flame.

[Matthew Mercer]

You do so. The divine magic that sustains the sacred pyre means it kindles slowly. So while the fire itself burns tall and bright, it doesn't require anywhere near the amount of fuel that such a fire would normally do. So which thankfully means that you aren't having to divorce the jungle around you to maintain it. But it also means there's a lot of downtime to your thoughts, a lot of time in your imagination, a lot of time considering the world beyond the bad and the good.

[Travis Willingham]

After I toss in the two logs, Brixton stares into the flame and zones out. Sees images that she has depicted of okros in this lovely garden. Legumes. And just loses herself as she is one to do in what life must be like beyond the walls. Night after night, she just stares into the flame.

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[Matthew Mercer]

Hey Kristen, how's it tracking with Carvana Value Tracker?

[Sam Riegel]

What else?

[Lenovo Representative]

Oh, it's tracking in fact value Surgaler trucks up 2.5%, vans down 1.7.

[Narrator]

Just, just as predicted.

[Matthew Mercer]

So we gonna I don't know, could sell, could hold the power to always know our car's worth.

[Ashley Johnson]

Exhilarating, isn't it?

[Lenovo Representative]

Tracking Always know your car's worth with Carvana Value Tracker.

[Matthew Mercer]

Idol as you continue walking through the forum, getting through the works, you can hear the heavy sound of hammerfall on metal as Beryl Spielboar, the local master blacksmith that is in the process of ever crafting and repairing the numerous arms and armaments that keep the Vigil and the Guild of Delvers ready to do their work. It's a familiar sound as you are heading towards a handful of the safer spots in this village for you and homestead elements as a heavy slap on your left shoulder smacks you and you hear the little chuckle of Eren Lothruot who has caught up to you. You see the young mid teens female dwarf, bright smile, just an ever exuberant cheerfulness that only the arrogance of youth in such a dire space could really muster. Her dirty blonde hair itself come into natural curls that bounce as she runs. She has a tattered cloak over one shoulder and a simple leather breastplate that she's affixed on her. As she finishes slapping her shoulder she's like, well hey there. So what happened? You were just over at the wall, right? What'd you see?

[Sam Riegel]

Oh, nothing much. Just some monsters that have never been seen. Heard some tales that you wouldn't believe. It was so funny just a second ago I felt the slightest little mosquito bite on my shoulder and I thought that must be Wren.

[Matthew Mercer]

Well, you wanna go see Pa? See how he's doing?

[Sam Riegel]

We can. You gonna try and sneak over and see how Snek's is doing. It was him.

[Matthew Mercer]

So Snicks made it back?

[Sam Riegel]

He did. He did. I asked him what he. What he saw. He didn't say. I'm not sure he saw, but sounded pretty gnarly.

[Matthew Mercer]

I'll bug him later. However, I'm just Kind of. Rubs your hands together. I've been thinking. Maybe we. Maybe we start talking to the Delvers about, you know, giving us a little autonomy.

[Sam Riegel]

A little autonomy for you. Someone that doesn't seem to follow any kind of rules.

[Matthew Mercer]

That's not true at all. I follow all kinds of rules.

[Sam Riegel]

Your dad would not agree with that in the slightest.

[Matthew Mercer]

I didn't say his rules. I said the rules.

[Sam Riegel]

I understand. And would we be going to talk to the Delvers together?

[Matthew Mercer]

Well, I figured, you know, you got a rapport with Raskello and some of them folks over there and, you know, I work with them, but they don't. They don't respect me because of my youth, which I think is fair folly. Fair? I think it's un. Earned judgment and ageism.

[Sam Riegel]

I will give you this. You are easily the most accomplished of your age. Around here, at least. But I still. I have to side with your dad.

[Matthew Mercer]

I fucking know those vaults. Most of it like the back of my goddamn hand.

[Sam Riegel]

It's true, you do. I just naturally want to look out for you and protect you from things that you can't see coming. Which is a lot, I'll give you that much. I'll tell you what. We'll go talk to the Delvers, see how it goes. But I just don't want you getting disappointed like last time.

[Matthew Mercer]

We'll see what we can do. I suppose it's at that moment, as you're coming up the outside of Garruk's homestead, her father's little farm house on the eastern edge of Desperlock, that you hear a quiet skittering in the nearby brush.

[Sam Riegel]

Did you hear that?

[Matthew Mercer]

What?

[Sam Riegel]

Can I scan the brush? Is it common to hear skittering in this area?

[Matthew Mercer]

No, not this way. It's large enough. Where? It doesn't sound like it's any sort of wildlife that surpassed the wall. Go ahead and roll an instinct roll for me, if you don't mind.

[Liam O'Brien]

First roll of the campaign.

[Sam Riegel]

I'm not scared. I'm not scared. Double 11s, baby.

[Ashley Johnson]

Hot table.

[Matthew Mercer]

Hot table. You guys are rolling hot already. When it doesn't help you. Really, I'm sure it'll be great.

[Sam Riegel]

Four minute up. Four minute up.

[Matthew Mercer]

You glance over and see something shift and instinctually Some power takes hold of you. The need to protect for a second time. Little Aaron, you reach over into this brush and grab the back of some thick cloth and pull forward. Taliesin, if you please, describe your character.

[Liam O'Brien]

He's the skitter.

[Matthew Mercer]

I skitter.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

What you seem to be grabbing out of the brush is a kind of a pile of clothing with definitely a person inside of is what would be a very fine, medium sized top hat and long coat. Probably 60 to 70 years ago now. It's seen better days. It has been repaired and repaired and repaired and repaired. There's a lot of stitching holding the whole thing together. Whatever color it originally was has long faded to browns and grays. It is expertly held together. If anything, the stitching is more impressive than the clothing itself for its magical ability to hold everything on. The young man within this giant pile of clothing, he's kind of hard to make out because he's got a very. He's got a bit of a scarf around his neck and the hat definitely is too big, so it sits down. But you can see that his face is very gray and the hat and scarf are gently concealing just a touch. Six eyes, which is definitely, you know, four more than anybody should have, which are large and insectoid, and a mouth that is far too wide, covered on the sides by little mandibles. Almost as if it was some sort of strange anthropomorphic spider, which. He's an anthropomorphic spider, which would explain it. So it is just kind of this bundle of cloth with what was once nice fingerless gloves and a little. What seems to be a rather large sewing needle at his side just below the cloak. So I suppose you give this bundle of clothing a big.

[Matthew Mercer]

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Hey. Everything's fine. Everything's fine.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

I give up.

[Sam Riegel]

What have I said about trying to sneak up on us?

[Taliesin Jaffe]

That I should do it as often as possible.

[Matthew Mercer]

You're.

[Sam Riegel]

You're really sneaky, I grant you, but sometimes there are people you just shouldn't sneak up behind.

[Matthew Mercer]

That's very fair. Very fair. Don't sneak up on him.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

But when I do, it's so rewarding.

[Matthew Mercer]

I'm sure, I'm sure that you're going to get punched again. You'll be down two more eyes.

[Sam Riegel]

I'm sorry about that. It looks really, really nice.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

I can fix it later. It's no problem at all. If anything, a little bit of practice.

[Sam Riegel]

What are you hiding from anyway?

[Taliesin Jaffe]

I wasn't hiding. I was actually doing a bit of digging. There's some Interesting things down here. I was seeing what was possibly either edible, turn something into some tea, spice up some meat.

[Matthew Mercer]

Did you tell Paul you were going to be digging in his yard?

[Sam Riegel]

Yeah, this is.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

I mentioned it a while ago.

[Sam Riegel]

Where things are grown. We work really hard on this stuff.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

Weeks ago. Within a month.

[Matthew Mercer]

We're not gonna tell him anything but just. It's nice enough he's letting y' all stay here. Just try and be a little more respectful, you know.

[Sam Riegel]

Aaron, I've got some work. Remember leverage. We talked about this. I think we probably should tell him about this.

[Matthew Mercer]

We'll remember this and should the moment arrives or we need a favor. You remember this too.

[Sam Riegel]

There we go.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

I will certainly remember this when I'm working to stitch up one of your pairs of trousers or otherwise it might mysteriously come apart if the work wasn't, you know, expertly done.

[Sam Riegel]

There you go.

[Matthew Mercer]

All right. I'll go check up on Pa. Go about your business, I suppose. See if we get dinner ready soon.

[Sam Riegel]

All right. I'll be there.

[Matthew Mercer]

Aaron darts off towards the cabin.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

Just seem a bit on edge. Is everything all right?

[Sam Riegel]

Snix came in from his latest run and was chased by something. Vigils jumped from the wall, handled it. He got stitched up by Noren and Truvo but couldn't get any information about what it was or what led to it or anything else.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

That's no surprise. I'm glad he's safe. Did he have everything that he wanted to bring into the city?

[Sam Riegel]

Oh, with him? Yeah, yeah. There was a thing, a satchel. I wasn't really looking at that part. I think so he was carrying something which is good because he was leaking a lot.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

Oh, well, that's most important. That's been taken care of. Can I get you something by the way? I think I've got some food or otherwise inside.

[Sam Riegel]

Yeah, I wouldn't mind a little pre dinner dinner.

[Matthew Mercer]

At this point Aaron's shouting here in the house like Pawart. We come back over to about 30 or so feet away from his little farmstead home that's been cobbled together with gathered driftwood from the nearby ashen sea shore. As well as what elements of logged jungle tree has been allowed by the triumphant of the village. But there's a small storage shed barn like building there. There you sit amongst the shadow pushed against the window and listening in as best you can from the distance. Misty, what do we see through the somewhat cracked glass that has been placed here to look through?

[Ashley Johnson]

You can see. Well first you just see her face which she is completely made of stone. And you see sort of a crown, a veil that's been chiseled carved into the stone. And she is 8ft tall. She is covered in decades and decades and years and years of muck and mire. And she has spots on her where, you know, there are hornets nests. And she's a bit of a living nightmare. She's been stained over time. She's been picked at and desecrated because she is a large statue and she's grown over with moss and vines and areas of her have graffiti, but. But on the bottom of what would be her skirt, it almost looks like drawings left by a child. But she's sitting there in the shed, excitedly peeking out, but also trying to.

[Matthew Mercer]

Stay hidden beyond your massive stone wings that arise. Your three sets of them.

[Ashley Johnson]

Four sets.

[Matthew Mercer]

Four sets. My apologies. As you lean forward, you can just barely hear the muffled sound of the guttural voice that's going on in the background. And it's about these times that the sun rose and misty. Are you even listening to me?

[Ashley Johnson]

Oh, yes, I am.

[Matthew Mercer]

I turn around and you can see there, sitting is old man Garak, the farmer dwarf, father of Arryn and purveyor of this little farmstead here in Desperlock. This old dwarf with a mass of gray curls that curve inward much like Aaron's hair, does himself. A massive scar that runs down one eye and down his throat. Some heavy wound that he took long ago, but it doesn't keep away that perpetually curled smile on his face. A patchy white mustache and a curl of a beard that curves upward there at the bottom. He's holding what looks to be a tattered children's book. He's been reading to you here in the quiet silence of this back room. I know you've heard this story before. I do.

[Ashley Johnson]

But it is one of my favorites. Please, would you read that page again? Because I. I got a little distracted by what was happening outside.

[Matthew Mercer]

What's happening outside?

[Ashley Johnson]

Fun.

[Matthew Mercer]

The book closes and stands up.

[Ashley Johnson]

I sort of. I'm slow moving and, you know, creaking a little. But I help him up.

[Matthew Mercer]

It's almost help. Oh, looks like we got company.

[Sam Riegel]

Are you a stone statue?

[Ashley Johnson]

Yes.

[Sam Riegel]

Okay.

[Ashley Johnson]

I am a stone statue.

[Sam Riegel]

Wow.

[Matthew Mercer]

The sound of creaking and scratching stone with each movement, just that rub with each shift. An entity from the old world, once a vessel for the spirits and the angels from the veiled gods of old, left empty and abandoned here in the age of Umbra. But not this one. This one lives, talks Listens to books sometimes. But Garak has now closed the tome and excitedly walks with you over to the edge and opens the exterior door of the barn, says, okay, looks like we got a whole gathering.

[Sam Riegel]

August was in the bushes again.

[Matthew Mercer]

August. Aaron smacks you in the back of the head. He goes, sorry, Paul, he's. He's trying to take out of your farm again.

[Sam Riegel]

Oh, see, I wasn't gonna go that far.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

I think that's overdoing it a bit. I was just working on a thing. I think you'll be impressed later.

[Matthew Mercer]

That's okay. If we need you, he can have it. Right, Aaron? Aaron kind of goes, you're right, Pa. I'm sorry.

[Ashley Johnson]

I did hear a little bit of a hust and bustle outside. Does anyone know what happened?

[Matthew Mercer]

Aaron immediately cuts you off and is like, there was a big old bear that attacked the outside of the world. And that. What's his name, the snow snickle boy, the jumping one. Snicks. He was out there and fighting off three bears.

[Sam Riegel]

No, he died.

[Ashley Johnson]

Oh, travesty.

[Sam Riegel]

Yeah. No, but the great thing was Truvo little bit of herbs brought him right back.

[Ashley Johnson]

Wow. What an incredible healer. Snix is so brave.

[Sam Riegel]

I'm just kidding. Snix was fine. I mean, he was wounded, but he came in, he was fine. I felt bad lying. I don't know.

[Ashley Johnson]

No, really, it's okay. I know it's kind of like a type of humor.

[Sam Riegel]

Yes. Yeah.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

Just barely humor. By the way, I'm bringing a little bit of bread and butter just for everyone.

[Sam Riegel]

I imagine that laughter sounds like it has gravel in it.

[Matthew Mercer]

Garrett kind of leans away.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

Putting out just bit.

[Matthew Mercer]

A little.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

Little bit of bread and butter for everybody.

[Matthew Mercer]

So let's make this a feast. We got. It's been a minute since we've had a. A conglomeration of fine friends to celebrate the survival of your friend. In fact, I think I got a stew on from yesterday. Still got a little flavor left. Come on. Yeah.

[Sam Riegel]

Yep, still some flavor left is usually.

[Matthew Mercer]

Just about right for us as you all gather and follow Garak to the farmhouse with Aaron. You keeping watch there on the pyre. You recovering under the watch and healing hands of the local turtle. An evening of safety progresses. One that is rare in many places of this land. But that's what makes these settlements so important. The enduring here are allowed some peace. They are allowed family. They are allowed hope. And you all, throughout the evening, find a night of rest. For some, dreams come. For others, just an exhausted darkness until the morning wakes you. Some have odd visions. Some have recurring flash Two stone pillars framing a mountainous doorway. An endless mist spilling forth purples and pinks. Lights glowing from the mist, almost stained glass arising, drawn a crown on a pedestal, flames burning, flames shut, towers bending, voices like a choir of angels singing. Then screaming. And then nothing. As the morning comes and raises you all to a new day. The morning standard. As many mornings here. There's not a lot to do here in Desper Lock. Many fight to engage their curiosities. Books are contraband. What exists is often hoarded by many of the libraries and existing guilds that exist mostly within Amber Reach's ruins itself. For any book, any story could hold a shed of truth. And what truth of the history of the lost age could possibly lead to change in the current one? But the people wake and go about their day, the dark and cloudy skies ever choking the sunlight away. Eventually the warmth of day reaches its zenith, as bright as it ever could be. The distant mists crawling over the griefcleft mountains that loom above. And it is there. You can still see the shape of the Luzal monastery, the majority of it still standing. A beautiful if ominous echo of the old world and one of a handful of very holy sites held by the great ordinances of the God king Othidius. It is also the focus of a lot of Desper Locke's business as what secrets might remain within that monastery, what connections might exist to the veiled gods that have since vanished this century, what secrets that could unveil the reason for their leaving and perhaps a chance to call them back. And if not, at least a miracle, a relic, something to keep you safer than you were the day before. But the cliff is too sheer, the monastery unreachable by the means that your settlement of enduring have. But beneath the monastery are numerous catacombs and vaults, a spiraling labyrinth of hallways and subterranean walkways, winding staircases where much of the monastery's great hoard of knowledge and power was kept. And when the apostasy was over, the caverns beneath collapsed and part of that monastery tumbled to create the backbone of Desperlock. Some wished to reach reap what was once hidden. And so for generations now, a whole sect of members of this community and those beyond who have come here for this purpose as well. They call themselves the scholars of Luzal. Researchers, delvers are those that work with them, sellswords, tomb raiders, those that like to fight the front line as they push into these long collapsed vaults to recover these powerful relics, these shreds of information and remove the corruption that still lurks in the shadows beneath. But here in the morning, the skals are already out and about, their massive structures and large tents already abuzz with information. As you hear another horn call. Not a horn of victory, but a horn of arrival. The slagwall outer gates are pulled back and five figures come rushing in.

[Sam Riegel]

5, 1.

[Matthew Mercer]

A number of vigil that moonlight as Delvers, the hired vault soldiers that push deeper into this mountain in hopes of eventually finding a way to the monastery from the inside of the mountain itself come rushing in along with Raskello, one of the two main Delver organizers. Human male, mid-30s or so, shoulder length, straight brown hair. He would be considered ruggedly handsome and often lords his confident self around. But this is a different state as him and the four others that have arrived are all gravely wounded. And with just bits of conversation around, you discover it was 10 who had left. Oh, shit. As they're pulled into the gates, the desperlocked civilians begin to gather around, whispering, passing information. They slam behind and you can see already various figures of the community are coming out to inspect, discuss and wonder. Misty and August, you see this commotion happening. Do you inspect or inquire about this or stay put?

[Ashley Johnson]

Am I allowed to go in?

[Taliesin Jaffe]

I'm not sure. How many of the people involved do we know? At least know us reasonably at this point?

[Sam Riegel]

Can we kind of. Can they see this from where the homestead is? Garruk's homestead.

[Matthew Mercer]

You can see the people gathering and you heard the horn, but you don't know the purpose or reason for what. This is just the entire Desperlock is a small community, so when something happens very quickly, everyone knows and it becomes the focus of information.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

Why don't we go take. Take a look gingerly?

[Ashley Johnson]

All right. I'll try to tuck behind a tree.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

We'll just walk until we're told to turn around maybe?

[Sam Riegel]

Yeah, okay.

[Matthew Mercer]

You gather yourselves up. Just as Garruk is rushing out the door, throwing his jacket on like what is going on? Darts off in that direction. The rest of you about your morning business. Begin to head towards the exterior of the Praxis collective, which is the region where the scholars of Luzal set up most of their work and business there. A number of the Delver scouts and other soldiers that were not on this current mission, the only handful themselves that aren't already locked into being guardians of the wall under the vigils themselves, are trying to figure out how to organize a rescue mission for those that were left behind. Horace Skello steps forward to them and says, we. I Believe we found it. We got to the gate. We did it. We just took some hits. We took some. He falls to one knee, and you can see some of the other scholars come forward. Idrova Khan, one of the scholar elf females, who's one of the heads of research of ancient faith and mythology, steps forward and takes him by the arm. You can see Thalia Vintwood, another one of the younger and recent additions to the scholars of Lizal, steps forward and sees you real fast, goes, did you see what happened?

[Sam Riegel]

No, no, they just came in. Apparently there were more than the five that returned.

[Matthew Mercer]

You can see at this point, Raskello gets up again and pushes off like, look, we lost about four down there. We burned the bodies, don't worry. However, I think we found the doors to the filament's harrow. There was a guardian at the gate, a very dangerous one, but we managed to take it down and it grabs his side and you can see now where he has his cloak wrapped around him. The cloak has been hiding how bad it was, but the cloak is starting to turn dark red immediately. Two scholars grab his arms, pull him aside, and someone shouts out, get Trouvo. Get in. Get someone. The Delvers are hurt. It's like we're so close. The gate's there. I need to. I need to be the one to see the monastery. I've earned it. He leans forward and at this point, Idrova steps forward and pats him on the shoulder and goes, look, love, you need to recover. And the purpose and import of this is above you. This is the scholar's jurisdiction. You've done your job. Now your current deed is to survive, so do it. And she turns around to the rest of the scholarship and they all begin to talk amongst themselves. Aaron creeps up and goes like, what was that? Rascalo, Is he okay?

[Sam Riegel]

I think so, actually. Aaron, come with me. Can I go up to Rascalo?

[Matthew Mercer]

Yeah. So Rascalo's currently pushing away some of the scholars as they're trying to help him over towards Truvo.

[Sam Riegel]

And I'm sure Truvo has got his hands full.

[Matthew Mercer]

Truvo is currently in the process of gathering a troop to start handling the rest of the four other Delvers who have returned. You look upon them, one of them is missing a leg and is tourniquet placed upon it that's barely functioning. Somebody else is like, their hand is on their neck and you can see they're pale in the face and they're still leaking as much as they're trying to hold it as much as they can. It is a very dire situation for the.

[Sam Riegel]

Does Mescalo look like if he doesn't receive urgent care, it could go very poorly very quickly.

[Matthew Mercer]

Go ahead and make an instinct roll for me, if you don't mind.

[Sam Riegel]

It's double 12s.

[Matthew Mercer]

Whoa. Dang.

[Travis Willingham]

We're gonna die as soon as we get into bed.

[Matthew Mercer]

Yes, you are. You are going to roll terribly when.

[Sam Riegel]

It matters with you.

[Matthew Mercer]

That's great. So take a hope.

[Sam Riegel]

Thank you. Yeah.

[Matthew Mercer]

And if you had a stressing clear. Raskello looks quite hurt. You can see there is a puncture in his torso right beneath the ribcage that goes through his armor. And that's what he's trying to hold and plug it with. Looks like a heavy part of his leather glove is like the finger is pushed into the puncture wound, but it's still soaking through. With that roll, he'll likely survive, but he'll be down for weeks.

[Sam Riegel]

Okay.

[Matthew Mercer]

But he's still pushing aside. And eventually Truvo and some of the other brought in assistants are starting to hold him down. He's like, no, we're right there. We're right there, and no one's taking this away from me. And spits up blood on his legs. Just someone give me a bucket of wine or something.

[Sam Riegel]

Idrova. Rascalo's done a lot. I think we can take care of him. If he'll just come with me, we'll take him off your hands.

[Matthew Mercer]

I think he looks you up and down.

[Sam Riegel]

It would be our honor.

[Matthew Mercer]

Very well. Just don't have his death on your hands.

[Sam Riegel]

Of course.

[Matthew Mercer]

The Drover turns back and continues to walk. Riskallo. At this point, as Truvo's trying to get his troop together to help him, you saddle up next to him and he's like, aaron.

[Liam O'Brien]

Aaron, come.

[Matthew Mercer]

Yeah, yeah.

[Sam Riegel]

Over this way.

[Matthew Mercer]

Oh, Riskello, we got you. Don't worry.

[Sam Riegel]

Can we try and take him by the shoulders and just lead him. Lead him a little bit away from the hustle and bustle, Maybe just around the nearest corner?

[Matthew Mercer]

Yeah. You bring him in. This village is especially given the fact that small town talk gets around quickly. Even as you move around the corner, there are people that are trying to look and listen in at the distance.

[Ashley Johnson]

I'm going to move over.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

I was going to say missy.

[Ashley Johnson]

Yes.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

Let's go.

[Ashley Johnson]

I'm going to move over to meet them around the corner.

[Matthew Mercer]

Same. Okay.

[Ashley Johnson]

May I lift you?

[Matthew Mercer]

I was.

[Sam Riegel]

She's a friend.

[Ashley Johnson]

Hello.

[Matthew Mercer]

Right.

[Ashley Johnson]

I am a friend.

[Matthew Mercer]

Of course.

[Ashley Johnson]

Would you like Help.

[Matthew Mercer]

Sure.

[Ashley Johnson]

So I'll pick him up, and I will cradle his head and just hold him.

[Matthew Mercer]

And you're kind of like.

[Sam Riegel]

Let me see your side.

[Ashley Johnson]

I'll hold him out to be inspected.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

You need an assistant here?

[Sam Riegel]

I think so.

[Matthew Mercer]

All right.

[Sam Riegel]

I'll hold my hands up, and you'll see them start to glow, but I'll tuck in behind Misty, and I'll use.

[Ashley Johnson]

I'll put a wing blocking to keep us in private.

[Sam Riegel]

This might hurt. Hold tight, friend. And I'll use sparing touch to heal two hit points on Rascalo and hopefully immediately staunch that wound. And while it's happening, I will say, listen, I understand that information and knowledge are power, and there are those here that are well intended, but we would be very interested in knowing what you know, we can help.

[Matthew Mercer]

This is trying to bat you off. Still entranced by this angelic figure that he's seen around town but never directly engaged with until now.

[Ashley Johnson]

I just try to ease him because I can feel his tension. Tension. And I smile with my stone teeth.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

How is the damage, by the way?

[Matthew Mercer]

Oh, he's on the cusp of death.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

I mean. Okay, so there's still healing. That can be done.

[Matthew Mercer]

Yeah, you heal him up, and the wound closes to the point where he's no longer going to bleed out, which is good. And as soon as that kind of his breath comes in, it's like, what did you. How did I know?

[Sam Riegel]

You have questions. I don't have a lot of the answers. Listen, I know I've only looks at you. Garruk. You know, Garruk Lothruit. He vouches for her.

[Ashley Johnson]

Yes, he does. I am a friend. I am a friend.

[Matthew Mercer]

I would like you to make a presence roll for me, Misty, please.

[Travis Willingham]

Which ones am I gonna use?

[Matthew Mercer]

Which ones?

[Liam O'Brien]

How many do you have?

[Ashley Johnson]

Well, there's a lot in here.

[Liam O'Brien]

There's a set of dice we just got today.

[Ashley Johnson]

It matters.

[Matthew Mercer]

It does matter.

[Ashley Johnson]

Okay, that is a nine and a three. So it's 14 with hope.

[Matthew Mercer]

14 with hope. Okay, so take a hope on that one. Okay, Ezra, scowl calms a little bit.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

I'm gonna slowly walk up, use the hat to keep my face a little hidden. And I'm going to. Also a medical professional. One moment. And I'm going to see if there's anything visible that also still needs work, other than if that gash is finally caught up or.

[Matthew Mercer]

I mean, he's going to survive. Yeah, it's going to take a little bit of recovery time. There are all manner of other wounds, but also Raskello is covered in scars, old and newish, but he'll survive, but he's going to need a few days of recovery. Even at this rate, he's no longer in danger.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

Just to. Okay, so we're good on. I'm going to. Just to be careful just where it got healed up. I'm going to do a little bit of suturing.

[Matthew Mercer]

Okay.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

And I'm just going to take a little. Yeah. It's almost like I kind of smear a little bit of blood and I'm going to mix it into some silk thread that comes out of my mouth, grab a little needle, and just start.

[Matthew Mercer]

Going very, very quickly. He doesn't even notice because he's still kind of looking at the. The two of you.

[Sam Riegel]

Idrova is part of the Triarch, right?

[Matthew Mercer]

Idrova is, yes.

[Sam Riegel]

Idrova. Can we say we've shown you some trust here? We're vulnerable. I know you've seen me around and I've asked before to join the Delvers. This means a lot to me. I think I. And we could be of great help to you.

[Matthew Mercer]

This is the Riskello.

[Sam Riegel]

Yeah.

[Matthew Mercer]

Yeah. Aaron is right. Indeed. You know, I've been all throughout them vaults, all over. And you've been an absolute necessity for a number of your folk there. Rascal kind of nods and goes like, we lost some good men inside. And we. There's one that might still be alive in her.

[Sam Riegel]

She has a lot of value. She can move quietly and unseen. And if you really think you found the Filaments Hollow, we'd be interested in helping you.

[Ashley Johnson]

But she's a child.

[Matthew Mercer]

I am not a child. I am a Delver Scout, thank you very much. Look, I can talk to Eduashi if you have a crew you can throw together to see if you can bring back Velk. Velk? You know Velk Dravenmore?

[Sam Riegel]

Oh, yes.

[Matthew Mercer]

Who is oh, Velk?

[Sam Riegel]

Still out there.

[Matthew Mercer]

Velk, he's referring to is the one that got left behind.

[Travis Willingham]

Velk Dravenmore.

[Matthew Mercer]

Ye Dravenmore. Member of the Vigil from Moonlight, says occasionally a Delver. Very powerful male, Qatari, almost lion like in his exterior. I know Velk sustained the wound, but we could not recover the body. And he's a survivor. But if he's in there and needs help, you go find him.

[Sam Riegel]

We could help.

[Matthew Mercer]

Don't you even go to the monastery without me?

[Sam Riegel]

No.

[Matthew Mercer]

That is mine to have.

[Sam Riegel]

I understand. We would go as quickly as we can if you don't think the Triarch.

[Matthew Mercer]

Would mind it pushes against your arm and Eschylo steps out of your grasp and onto his legs again. Catches himself as you finish suturing. Yep. I'll talk to Itoashi. Gather your things. For the more time that goes by, the less chance there is that he's alive.

[Sam Riegel]

Understood.

[Matthew Mercer]

Don't fuck this up. Don't. Don't take that monastery from me.

[Sam Riegel]

You have my word.

[Matthew Mercer]

He grabs your front of your cloak and breastplate area there where they the leather tunic ring is and pulls you in. That's mine to uncover.

[Sam Riegel]

It's yours.

[Matthew Mercer]

Any kind of. Starts and hobbles back over to where the rest of the scholars are.

[Sam Riegel]

His hair. He's got amazing hair.

[Ashley Johnson]

He's very obsessed with the monastery idol.

[Sam Riegel]

Just rubs his shaved head obsessively. I'm sorry. I know that you got thrown into that, but.

[Ashley Johnson]

No, it's really okay. I like having a person and I like having a job.

[Sam Riegel]

Yeah.

[Ashley Johnson]

I want to help in any way I can. I am a friend.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

We get to go up into the even close to the monastery. I am bloody in for that.

[Sam Riegel]

Yes. So much more.

[Ashley Johnson]

Can we go to there?

[Sam Riegel]

Well, let's start by getting Velkan. And then we'll see what happens.

[Ashley Johnson]

It doesn't look that far.

[Sam Riegel]

Just kind of look where her giant arm is pointed.

[Matthew Mercer]

The massive shadow sheer bladed cliffside of the Greefclef mountains. There above you itself. An ominous unclimbable death trap for those who were to traverse it on the outside.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

It's not the distance. It's the altitude that's really the trouble.

[Ashley Johnson]

I understand.

[Matthew Mercer]

But the firmament Harrow which is the rocky outcropping that the monastery was built on that partially collapsed after the apostasy. The majority that still remains there with the monastery itself aloft. Beautiful architecture that still sits above a gorgeous and ominous relic of the old world there. And the hope that the vaults still can lead up to it. If indeed this gate has been found to the firmament's harrow. It would be an ascending path to the monastery. It doesn't take too terribly long before Raskello speaks to Etwande. And in the interest of haste towards the hope of saving a life of a very respected member of the vigil. You are told to leave within the hour you are given permission. And Aaron, enough is like honestly, it's okay. I know most of where we've already been before. I have myself a little rundown of where we're going. Just make sure to bring some snacks those of us who enjoy them. And I guess anyone of able Body or mind? Just the three of us.

[Ashley Johnson]

Well, Aaron, that feels like not enough.

[Sam Riegel]

We're going to need more. But I want to be clear with you. We're going farther than even you have ever gone.

[Matthew Mercer]

Okay, well, I'll go as far as I know and then I'll get behind you. And then you go further and then that'll be as far as I've gone.

[Sam Riegel]

Sure. You know what you can do, Aaron? Go find Snix.

[Matthew Mercer]

Okay.

[Sam Riegel]

I think we're gonna need.

[Ashley Johnson]

I think we need more people.

[Sam Riegel]

Someone that can navigate as well as you can.

[Matthew Mercer]

Oh, should you find a replacement?

[Sam Riegel]

No, not a replacement. A supplement. It's called redundancy.

[Matthew Mercer]

Someone I gotta train. I wouldn't mind a second in command. Yes.

[Ashley Johnson]

As I understand it, when people go there, some of them don't come back. So probably we should have our numbers much higher.

[Matthew Mercer]

I see redundancy.

[Ashley Johnson]

Redundancy, which is what you just said. And now I understand.

[Matthew Mercer]

I'll get him. And she darts off running that direction. We follow Aaron as she runs into the interior tent of Truvo, the hedge, where you are kind of sat up, hearing all this commotion going on and pretty feeling much better than you were the night before. Hey, Snicks. What? You're coming with us.

[Liam O'Brien]

What?

[Matthew Mercer]

We're going in the vaults. Idol said that we need a secondary scout to work under me. And I'm going to train you to work under you. Yeah. Come on. Grabs your hand and starts pulling you out of the tent.

[Liam O'Brien]

I don't. I don't work. I don't work for anybody else right now. It's just me. The vault. That's scary. I don't want to go down there.

[Matthew Mercer]

She's just Diamond. Listen. Like she's rambling at this point, but like. So we're going to go on down the bottom pit floor. It splits off into four different directions there down. The second one from the left is. Have large marble pillars on each side. Go ahead and stay to the right hand side so you avoid the cliff faces falling off.

[Liam O'Brien]

I'm going to pull myself back. What are you talking about? We can't go in the vault. People die down there all the time.

[Matthew Mercer]

Only the ones who don't know what they're doing.

[Liam O'Brien]

I don't know what I'm doing.

[Matthew Mercer]

But I'm gonna teach you.

[Liam O'Brien]

Forgive me. But you don't know what you're doing either.

[Matthew Mercer]

That's just hurtful.

[Liam O'Brien]

We need someone if you're gonna go down there. If anybody's gonna go down there, you need somebody brave, strong, like you?

[Matthew Mercer]

No. Then who do you recommend? Love of this.

[Liam O'Brien]

I mean, if none of the vigil are going, you should get Brixton.

[Matthew Mercer]

Would you go if Brixton's going?

[Liam O'Brien]

Only if she wanted me to go.

[Matthew Mercer]

Braxton.

[Liam O'Brien]

Wait. No, don't.

[Matthew Mercer]

I'll.

[Liam O'Brien]

I'll ask her.

[Travis Willingham]

I was literally right on the other side of the curtain. Yes, I heard my name and nothing else.

[Matthew Mercer]

Second. Continue.

[Liam O'Brien]

I'm going on a mission now.

[Matthew Mercer]

I'll go with you.

[Travis Willingham]

I am ready.

[Liam O'Brien]

I'm going on a mission.

[Travis Willingham]

I will go.

[Liam O'Brien]

It's gonna be dangerous. I, of course, am willing to risk it.

[Travis Willingham]

That is because you are very brave.

[Liam O'Brien]

I know.

[Travis Willingham]

Despite everything you just said that I wasn't listening to.

[Liam O'Brien]

Wait, what?

[Travis Willingham]

You were very brave.

[Liam O'Brien]

I am.

[Travis Willingham]

I know. That's what I said.

[Matthew Mercer]

I'm not following this.

[Liam O'Brien]

Listen, I don't even know what this job is, honestly. I have a bunch of deliveries to make, so maybe you can just figure out what it is we're talking about and if. If there's any money in it.

[Matthew Mercer]

And we're going to deliver a wounded vigil, you know, named Velk, back to the village, safe and sound. You're good at delivering. Just this time, the payload is alive.

[Sam Riegel]

I come over.

[Matthew Mercer]

Aaron.

[Sam Riegel]

I heard you shouting. Is everything all right?

[Matthew Mercer]

I think we got ourselves two new members of our Delvin crew.

[Sam Riegel]

Oh.

[Liam O'Brien]

Oh, you're going?

[Sam Riegel]

Oh, of course. I don't know if Aaron told you, but the reward for this mission is quite substantial. High monetary value.

[Matthew Mercer]

Magnificent. The scholars themselves have thrown quite a bit of tradable goods into the pot for those who return.

[Liam O'Brien]

Really?

[Matthew Mercer]

Yeah. They found the gate to the. The firmament's hot.

[Sam Riegel]

Aaron.

[Matthew Mercer]

They found the monastery gate.

[Liam O'Brien]

Is that okay? Is there money down there? Is there Good.

[Matthew Mercer]

Okay.

[Liam O'Brien]

Okay.

[Sam Riegel]

I think it would be very valuable to the Triarch. So if monetary compensation or favor is of import to you, I mean, you're.

[Matthew Mercer]

The one who trades to the outer settlements. You tell us how useful that stuff is to have.

[Liam O'Brien]

I mean, it's everything out there. Once you leave the walls, if you don't have anything to trade, you're as good as dead.

[Sam Riegel]

And outside the walls is where the expertise we need. That's.

[Liam O'Brien]

Wait, we're going outside the walls?

[Sam Riegel]

Sure are.

[Travis Willingham]

It's not within the walls.

[Matthew Mercer]

Not too far. It's a few miles up at the base of the mountain. Right there.

[Travis Willingham]

I actually know the vaults quite well. Don't tell anybody.

[Liam O'Brien]

How.

[Matthew Mercer]

How do you tell. Wait, what? I was hiding behind a little bush. Ruffles.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

I'm usually Just hiding behind the giant statue.

[Liam O'Brien]

Oh my God.

[Sam Riegel]

Or on the statue.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

You know, August, of course I know who you are.

[Liam O'Brien]

I've got a whole bunch of stuff for you. We'll do that later, but.

[Travis Willingham]

Hello, August.

[Matthew Mercer]

It's good to see you.

[Travis Willingham]

It is so good to see you. Gentlemen. This is destiny calling.

[Sam Riegel]

It is?

[Travis Willingham]

Yes. Can't you feel it deep down inside? We don't need no money. We do not need monetary payment. Our payment will be an honor. And glory.

[Liam O'Brien]

I was promised stuff, but okay, stuff.

[Travis Willingham]

Is only secondary to glory.

[Sam Riegel]

Yes, Glory and stuff.

[Travis Willingham]

Yes.

[Matthew Mercer]

Bit of respect to the childhood. Oh, boy. You hear the voice of Ember Warden Shinobi not far behind you.

[Travis Willingham]

I was hoping we would be gone before this happened. Hello.

[Matthew Mercer]

You brashly speak loudly to my ears. Catch phrases that speak towards glory and beyond the wall. What, pray tell, is a pyre keeper doing beyond the wall of Desperlock? Brixton?

[Travis Willingham]

I'm sorry, Imberwarden, but I hope you would understand that our duty to protect Desperlock extends just beyond the walls of just this pyre. I have put in an entire life's worth of service to the this settlement. Please, please let me extend my life even further for this cause.

[Matthew Mercer]

Make a presence roll for me. If anyone would like to aid you can spend a hope to do so.

[Ashley Johnson]

I would like to spend a hope to do so.

[Matthew Mercer]

All right, so spend a hope.

[Ashley Johnson]

Yes, I would.

[Matthew Mercer]

You get to roll a D6 and add that to her.

[Ashley Johnson]

She's going to roll a D6.

[Travis Willingham]

Ooh. Ooh, that's good. 12 plus 8 is 20 plus 5. 25 with hope.

[Sam Riegel]

Good God.

[Matthew Mercer]

That's pretty good. Okay, yes, take that. Hope add plus what? Or did you add that bonus five?

[Travis Willingham]

Oh, sorry, 24. Because I have a minus one to presence.

[Matthew Mercer]

Ah, that'll do it. 24.

[Travis Willingham]

Gives you not a charismatic person.

[Matthew Mercer]

A stern, hard look.

[Travis Willingham]

I am just fueled by what we have lost in the old world. And I have hope. We all must have hope. That the entire valley could once be returned to the valiant glory we once knew.

[Matthew Mercer]

I plucked you from the other orphans because I saw in you a seed. A seed that could grow into something of importance. And you became one in my stead. To watch this flame is one of the greatest honors. And you have done so.

[Travis Willingham]

I know it is sacrilege to abandon my post, but I hope you would not see it as abandonment, but merely an extension of the servitude that I am so bound and dedicated to.

[Matthew Mercer]

You are bound to protect the sacred pyre to kindle is but one way to protect it, to see that those that receive its boon live, is another. Take your leave for a time. Do not fail me. And do not disappoint our order.

[Travis Willingham]

Thank you, Imberwarden. I will not disappoint you.

[Matthew Mercer]

No, you will not.

[Travis Willingham]

No.

[Matthew Mercer]

She walks away.

[Travis Willingham]

Listen.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

That did not go the way I.

[Liam O'Brien]

Thought it was going to be.

[Ashley Johnson]

She was very serious.

[Travis Willingham]

Yes, she's a terrifying woman, but she arguably saved my life. Let's go quickly, before she changes her mind.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

Do we need anything before we go pick up supplies?

[Liam O'Brien]

What are we even doing? We're going down into the vaults to save some guy?

[Sam Riegel]

No, we're. We're going after Vigil, Velk, Dravenmore.

[Liam O'Brien]

Going up technically also, but he's not like, what are we gonna. I mean, is it a clear shot? Do we know what we're facing?

[Sam Riegel]

No, we do know there were nine or ten of them, and five made it back. And we just need him. Or to know what happened to him. Or a body. Or a body part.

[Liam O'Brien]

And if we do this, we get glory.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

Among other things and stuff.

[Sam Riegel]

Stuff.

[Liam O'Brien]

What do you get out of it?

[Sam Riegel]

Increased favor with the Delvers and the Vigil and a little more station around here.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

Bit of respectability. Could use some.

[Matthew Mercer]

Besides, if we find anything of particular interest while along the way, if it doesn't get cataloged and just happens to stay in our midst, Houston, be none the wiser.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

I'm going to try and decide to idle. Are we gonna take them with us or not?

[Sam Riegel]

I don't want to. I.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

Tell you what. Distract them for a minute.

[Matthew Mercer]

Right.

[Sam Riegel]

Okay. Aaron, can we kind of strategize for just a second?

[Matthew Mercer]

Oh, yeah, No, I can go ahead. And I was planning to go talk to Rascala and see if I can figure out where their last path was. And I can go ahead and sit here very quietly.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

Oh, there's a map.

[Matthew Mercer]

Don't worry.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

We know. Very quietly, I'm going to take a thread out of my mouth and just sort of tap it and shoot it right into her ear. And then say sling. And I'm going to cast slumber.

[Matthew Mercer]

Okay.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

Do you have a hope to burn.

[Matthew Mercer]

For a little help?

[Sam Riegel]

I 100% do have my hope.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

So throw that D6 at me when you. You get a second.

[Sam Riegel]

Yeah, you can roll it or I can roll it.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

You roll it. This is traditional.

[Matthew Mercer]

Oh, yeah, we're good.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

So that's 24, 28 with fear.

[Matthew Mercer]

28 with fear. You whisper as Aaron's like, I'm going to go ahead, catch Catch her. Or, you know, teenage waif like body, which makes her so deft in traversing the exterior unnoticed, unseen, and so quickly. Also makes her relatively easy to catch for someone as brawny as you. But the process of doing so and immediately realizing that Garruk, her father, might be somewhere around causes you to glance around heavily and you take a stress glancing in the vicinity out of fear of being caught. That's fair. Nowhere near present. You think that's good.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

Let's get home really quick and then we can get on our way.

[Matthew Mercer]

Can I grab that map? You go ahead and you clutch a write up of the various tunnels with absolutely no labeling nor indication of where the beginning, end or direction's supposed to be.

[Sam Riegel]

Like everyone's going to.

[Travis Willingham]

Okay.

[Sam Riegel]

She's gonna be so fucking mad at us.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

Let's drop Heroeska home really quick.

[Liam O'Brien]

Did you kill her?

[Taliesin Jaffe]

Listen to that snore.

[Matthew Mercer]

She's fine. Come on.

[Ashley Johnson]

I think that would be very wise to do.

[Matthew Mercer]

Yeah.

[Sam Riegel]

She won't thank us, but I think Garrick will.

[Ashley Johnson]

I think her father will.

[Sam Riegel]

We'll go in and we'll tuck her in. Nice. Cover her up with a blanket. Leave a little note. Be back soon. Don't follow us. See you before nightfall maybe.

[Ashley Johnson]

Sorry, sorry.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

Your dad insisted.

[Matthew Mercer]

Yeah. You plant her back in her abode with the understanding with Garrick that she is to have a little nap. Gather your supplies as you feel are necessary for this rescue mission. And with a bit of approval and a bit of guidance from Moskello for the path they last took beneath the ruins, you are pushed beyond the slag wall exterior of Desperlock in the midday. The jungle itself tangled and ominous around you as you set foot in the direction of the base of the mountains and the vaults below. That's where we're going to take a break.

[Sam Riegel]

We're outside the walls.

[Matthew Mercer]

We're outside the walls.

[Liam O'Brien]

I go out seven walls every day.

[Sam Riegel]

Hey, we all made it to the first break. Best break.

[Ashley Johnson]

You almost signed in prologue. I'm the best snake Sneaked. This is fun.

[Matthew Mercer]

So we'll come back here in just a few minutes. We'll see you guys. That's a wrap for part one of this podcast episode. Part two will land here the Tuesday after this episode at 5am Pacific. And we'll pick up this story right where we left off. Until next time, keep the umbra at bay and we'll be back for more of this adventure before you know it.

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