Fanged Revenge | Critical Role | Campaign 4, Episode 8 Part 2

Summary

Critical Role Campaign 4, Episode 8, Part 2: “Fanged Revenge”

Date: December 16, 2025
Theme: Seizing, Surrendering, and Settling the Fate of Castle Sloke

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Overview

In this episode of Critical Role, the party navigates the aftermath of a dramatic siege at Castle Sloke. A mix of politicking, hard-won camaraderie, reckoning with legacies, and the establishment of new power converges as the adventurers face what to do with a newly-emptied castle, a group of surrendered and uncertain knights, and the practical and moral consequences of their actions. The party grapples with oaths, identity, and leadership, leading to a heartfelt decision about who will govern Sloke and its people moving forward.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Aftermath of Battle and Surrender

• The session resumes with the immediate fallout of violence at Castle Sloke. The party deals with wounded foes (02:45), the awkward surrender of knightly adversaries (03:10), and the illusion of the threatening “squid” vanishing (05:00).
• Sir Finch and Sir Copswood, knights of the former baron, are introduced and questioned about their allegiances, backgrounds, and war experience (06:12, 08:10).
• Discussions about the fate of the castle and the legitimacy of its ownership arise (07:13, 10:13).

Notable Quote:

• “I offer you my sword under my watch. His body now lies dead, as mine should. I am loyal in life and in death.” – Sir Finch (09:09)

2. Moral Quandaries & the Transfer of Power

• The party rejects vengeance, encouraging the knights to survive and serve better causes. They instead contemplate who should rightfully inherit Sloke (09:23, 13:42).
• Deliberation ensues on whether to claim the castle for House Hayluvar, return it to the locals, or leave it to another faction (14:10, 15:06, 17:21).
• Payment and practical logistics for the knights are resolved—with party members paying their owed wages to avoid dishonor (19:11).

Notable Quote:

• “We forgive those who have done us no harm.” – Wick (08:46)
• "Would you call yourself one of August’s men?” – Cadogan (15:06)

3. Identity, Self-Worth, and Family Legacies

• Wick (Ashley Johnson) experiences self-doubt regarding leadership and public perception, feeling the stain of his family’s name (25:18-27:49).
• The group reassures Wick, debating the merits of leading overtly vs. covertly, and pondering what it means to do good for gratitude’s sake rather than out of fear (64:47, 69:04).

Notable Moments:

• “You're the only person in your family that actually believes something.” – Tyranny (28:56)
• “I've never done anything like this before. I'm talking about usurping members of my family. Is that done? You're fighters and scoundrels. No offense. Do you do it best covertly, or do you make a big, bold statement?” – Wick (67:08)

4. Symbolism & The Torn Banner

• The idea of leaving behind a “banner” or symbol to mark their legacy is debated, both as a warning and a morale boost (30:11-33:30).
• Various party members use magic and creativity to create and "brand" a new banner, invoking the imagery of the Falconers: “The fanged falcon lives on.” (74:11)

Notable Moment:

• Tyr uses poison spray to bleach a cloak and create an improvised sigil (33:02).

5. Delicate Politics: Claiming and Relinquishing Power

• When Gully Breeches returns with the stolen deed, Wick formally asserts their brief lordship and demands the papers, backed by magical intimidation and the party’s support (39:45 – 44:11).
• The party ultimately chooses NOT to rule the castle, instead bequeathing it to Dame Cosgrove, the wise and well-liked local knight (72:04 – 75:23).
• They formalize the transfer with a forged document and public ceremony, ensuring the leadership is returned to the local people.

Key Turning Point:

• “A decision has been made ... we would like to bequeath [the castle] to you ... take care of it as you see fit ... as the last knight of the Howling Rain.” – Wick (72:07 – 73:07)

6. Local Color, Moving Forward, and Hope

• The episode closes with the party heading to the local tavern. Dame Morgaine reappears, political implications ripple, and the group discusses lost friends, upcoming quests, and the unusual frequency of talking dogs in the area (82:55 onward).
• The fate of the region is stabilized for now, with Dame Cosgrove and her companions as the new leadership, bringing a sense of hope and resilience to the locals of Sloke.

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Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• On Oaths and Honor:
  “And here's us standing on a little island of our oaths in a vast sea Of. Of whatever has been happening.” – Sir Finch (10:13)

• Wick’s Self-Doubt:
  “Everywhere we've gone so far, my name is met with hate. And my faith is met with confusion. And my face is met with contempt. Nobody likes me.” – Wick (25:33)

• On Choosing to Be Good:
  “Well then let's just do a good thing that we know is good. And whether they're grateful or not, and whether they keep our secret or not, that's up to them.” – Wick (69:45)

• Transfer of Power:
  “Dame Cosgrove, is it?... After conferring with my parliament, we have decided that we are going to vacate this castle and... bequeath it to you and present you with a deed to this place...” – Wick (72:04 – 73:07)

• Party Recognition:
  "To you Lord Hailuvar, do I owe my future. And to you three do I owe. Each breath I have drawn since the torn banner saved my life when I was a girl of only 17 years of age... We have been driven so deep underground, but we cannot be extinguished. We cannot be removed or destroyed.” – Dame Cosgrove (78:33)

• Humor:
  “You I will kill. He looks into. Just kidding, just kidding. That's baron humor.” – Wick (52:45)

• Dog Knight Introduction:
  "I may be sir, but I am a knight." – Sir Hawkins the mastiff, after a daring pursuit and poetic speech (89:33)

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Important Segments with Timestamps

• [02:45] — Triage, surrender, and tension among survivors
• [07:13; 10:13] — Who should own the castle? The politics of oaths and legitimacy
• [25:18 – 27:49] — Wick’s struggle with worth and leadership
• [30:11 – 33:30] — Plans to leave a symbolic mark with the torn banner/falcon
• [39:45 – 44:11] — Gully Breeches returns, is confronted, relinquishes control under intimidation
• [72:04 – 75:23] — Bequeathing the castle to Dame Cosgrove
• [82:55] — Arrival at the tavern; Dame Morgaine’s return; reflection and new beginning

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Tone & Language

• The tone throughout is both earnest and wry, balancing heavy moments of self-analysis and political maneuvering with dry wit, party banter, and the comfort of long-held friendship.
• The party is tender yet irreverent—joking about "baron humor" (52:45), teasing each other’s foibles, but also offering genuine support.

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Conclusion

This episode is a masterclass in character-driven storytelling: the group turns a military victory into a moral victory, opting for mercy, wise delegation, and support of local leadership. The new Baroness (Dame Cosgrove) is installed, the people’s hopes are cautiously lifted, and the party is left to pursue new adventures—haunted, perhaps, by familial shadows, but bolstered by their willingness to “do a good thing that we know is good” (69:45). The session ends with camaraderie, dog knights, and the promise that sometimes, hope can be restored—even in rainy, overlooked Sloke.

Transcript

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[Matthew Mercer]

Hello again, it's Brennan Lee Mulligan and.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

You'Re listening to part two of this.

[Matthew Mercer]

Episode of Critical Role. If you haven't checked out part one yet, pause this now and head over there first. What are you doing? Otherwise, let's jump right back into this.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Adventure and the world of Ahriman. We return to Castle Sloke. Here in the rain, the still warm body of Casimir Gavandale slumped over the parapets of his crumbling fortress. Walking down the steps, we see one of the knights of the late baron stop gazing at a screaming squid in a room.

[Matthew Mercer]

You see it pretty quickly that this squid is sort of on an 8 second loop. It's like a vine. Remember vine.

[Sam Riegel]

Transform a media.

[Matthew Mercer]

So.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Looking at the looping, you see tyranny. That wick has become stable.

[Matthew Mercer]

The injury, the sword, you see where it went through him, it was not quite center. It looks like it mostly got muscle.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Off his side and is still bleeding. But with your applying pressure to it, the bleeding is staunching.

[Matthew Mercer]

Outside, you see the knight that you're.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Straddling goes, get off me.

[Matthew Mercer]

Get off me. I surrender.

[Sam Riegel]

All right.

[Travis Willingham]

I let him go and I give him a little slap on the ass and I say, good game.

[Matthew Mercer]

You see, stands up the knight.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

The second knight joins from the tower walks out, seeing Thimble Cadogan Teor. He doesn't see you, tyranny. You're still hidden behind the.

[Marisha Ray]

We're in the squid.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

You're in the squid.

[Ashley Johnson]

That's right.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

You see that? The knight comes out gazing at you here in this place, Sort of shrugging, says, the castle is yours. I assume you are servants of the Lord Haylovar. I did not see where he went.

[Matthew Mercer]

Sorry.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

This guy says, the person that you got up from says you are servants of Haolovar. And beside him the man says, hailuvar, your lord is also slain. I believe.

[Matthew Mercer]

Within the squid. Slain within the squid.

[Ashley Johnson]

Just see my two feet just hanging out at the front of the squid.

[Sam Riegel]

Can you help him against the squid? No, I dare not.

[Marisha Ray]

I'm crouched on top of Wick, holding his lapels and inches from his face. And I go, help, Help.

[Sam Riegel]

Help. Yeah, we'll run over.

[Matthew Mercer]

Rushing over.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

You enter the room and you see Wakander on the ground.

[Matthew Mercer]

And I think, as you say, help.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

The illusion fades from the shattered egg.

[Sam Riegel]

May the light find him.

[Matthew Mercer]

The kind thing to do.

[Sam Riegel]

Start the party and I'll dump cure wounds into him.

[Ashley Johnson]

Oh, my.

[Sam Riegel]

2D 8. 3.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

8.

[Sam Riegel]

5. 13. 16 points.

[Ashley Johnson]

Holy crap.

[Liam O'Brien]

Yay.

[Ashley Johnson]

Wow, that's awesome.

[Sam Riegel]

This fulfills my. Oh, death to you, you little.

[Matthew Mercer]

I know.

[Marisha Ray]

I also, as I see you feel better, I push you down and I. Ah, it burns.

[Liam O'Brien]

Get up.

[Sam Riegel]

Did we hear in the combat, did we hear the name Dame Cosgrove get called out?

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

You did. You did. Do you recognize Eddie?

[Sam Riegel]

No, but I think just from hearing Dame Morgain, right, that there could be another shape to Aldain's noi show Druid Kingsman that might.

[Matthew Mercer]

You see that as you are healed, you see that the knight who stabbed.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

You reaches a hand down. My lord, may I help you to your feet?

[Matthew Mercer]

I am Sir.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

I am Sir Finch. And this is my brother knight, Sir Copswood.

[Travis Willingham]

Copswood, the big guy.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Copswood's the big guy. He says we Elders of Light. I see that there is very little that can be done to withstand the power and majesty of the house of Haolovar. Am I to take it that the house of Haylovar has come to seize command of Castle Sloke?

[Travis Willingham]

Yeah, that's a good question. Has a Ladavar come to seize Castle Sloke?

[Ashley Johnson]

I mean, it would make sense, I suppose.

[Liam O'Brien]

I don't give a shit about this castle.

[Sam Riegel]

It's not what we came for.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Oh, okay.

[Ashley Johnson]

Do we just give it to them then?

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

What if we.

[Travis Willingham]

Where are you From Copswood.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Ardrun, down in Vallow. You see that? Finch says. And I as well, Dame. Did you mention Dame Cosgrove out loud or.

[Sam Riegel]

No? I would probably mention the name out here.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Dame Cosgrove, I believe, is actually from Sloke. And then other companions are from Gormalais, from Tolberry's Lee, further north.

[Liam O'Brien]

You look like you've seen combat before.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

That I have.

[Ashley Johnson]

I have.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Myself and Sir Copswood fought in the War of Axe and Vine. And I believe that Dame Cosgrove also fought in the Falconer's Rebellion.

[Travis Willingham]

Cadogan. Just without a word, just beats feet up the tower, up the stairs, and he's gone for a minute.

[Matthew Mercer]

Mm. You see that?

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Ser Copswood says. Are we to be hanged? Are we to be taken prisoner?

[Ashley Johnson]

No, no, no, no. We forgive those who have done us no harm.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

And I.

[Matthew Mercer]

Have failed in my sacred duties sworn as a knight.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

I offer you my sword under my watch. And you see that Sir Finch goes. Garnet.

[Matthew Mercer]

And you see, he gets on one knee, takes out the sword, offers the.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Hilt to you, and says under my.

[Matthew Mercer]

Watchful gaze, did my lord come to peril and ruin.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

His body now lies dead, as mine should. I am loyal in life and in death.

[Sam Riegel]

Please stay your hand.

[Liam O'Brien]

Kasmir was a bastard. You don't owe him your loyalty. He was here for a day.

[Sam Riegel]

Aren't you loyal to King Valian?

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Of course I'm loyal to my king.

[Sam Riegel]

Then consider your oath standing. This castle may be empty now, but you owe no oath to him or to us.

[Travis Willingham]

Don't.

[Ashley Johnson]

Don't, Don't, Don't. Don't.

[Travis Willingham]

Got it. I hope the deed was. Was it on. Was it on Casimir's body?

[Matthew Mercer]

It was, actually.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Let me roll. I hope you do not find it on his body.

[Sam Riegel]

Damn it.

[Marisha Ray]

Damn.

[Matthew Mercer]

Three pieces of silver. Got it. Put it in my pocket. Always finding good stuff, I think. Cadogan, you realize the deed may well.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Have gone out of the castle with gully breaches to the town as a means of.

[Liam O'Brien]

Damn gully breeches. The new baron.

[Marisha Ray]

We do have an ask for you, actually.

[Matthew Mercer]

You see, Garner stays there with his sword.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Or Sir Copswood stays there with his sword out. You see that Sir Finch looks over and says, Garner, we're not. Some appeal to reason must exist as well as commitment. You see that Seraphis says, I live by my oaths, which I swore. And you see that Sir Finch says, and I swore by my oaths as well. And here's us standing on a little island of our oaths in a vast sea Of. Of whatever has been happening.

[Matthew Mercer]

Did the Baron keep his oaths?

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

The House of?

[Liam O'Brien]

No, he doesn't.

[Matthew Mercer]

Well, that's not how an oath works. And you see that Sir Cosgrove sheathes his sword and walks off into the rain.

[Liam O'Brien]

Did you even make the oath yet? He just got here.

[Matthew Mercer]

The ceremony had not yet happened, but it's implied.

[Ashley Johnson]

Do you want me to give you an order? Would that help?

[Matthew Mercer]

You see, he turns around and says, do you? What has happened here? Are we to be killed? Are we your foes? No.

[Ashley Johnson]

Let's just say Hayluvar has taken this castle and we are releasing you from your duties.

[Marisha Ray]

And we were never here.

[Ashley Johnson]

Oh, yes.

[Matthew Mercer]

You see, he looks out and says.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Are you Guttersnipes or Lord True?

[Voice Actor - Rocket Money / Vanguard Ad]

Neither.

[Marisha Ray]

I'm a demon.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

What?

[Matthew Mercer]

All right, you see, he just goes.

[Ashley Johnson]

She means it figuratively, of course.

[Matthew Mercer]

With your disguise off, he's really looking.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

And says, you walk in the garb of the Candescent Creed, and yet you are a demon. I've been saved by the light.

[Marisha Ray]

And we were never here. What you do? Maybe you guys should talk about what to do with this castle.

[Matthew Mercer]

I'm released from service is what I understood. Well, great. Goodbye. And you see that he walks off and he says, where's the horses? And you see, Sir Finch turns around and says.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

A period of lack of oath or fealty. Saw myself and my brother in arms, Copsewood, being men of the lance and something of knights in search of a lord for some time, you see, he looks down at his rusting armor and just says. So you can imagine the nadir of dire need we had arrived at to see ourselves sworn to the late baron. I believe that Sir Copswood may now be realizing that our payment may well be deferred. And we have been paid in the five or so meals that were provided by the baron. And that will see us our wages commuted.

[Ashley Johnson]

What would your wages have been?

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Our wages would have been 15 gold pieces a month. Lodging, food, equipment, housing provided by his lordship in his castle. Which was, even under different circumstances, was probably not going to happen.

[Liam O'Brien]

Hey, wait. If the castle's yours now.

[Ashley Johnson]

Yes.

[Liam O'Brien]

I mean, the Tacones gave it to Kasimir. Even far more unworthy than a noble knight. You could gift the castle to him.

[Travis Willingham]

Twinch. That's a common name.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Yes. I am. What is sometimes referred to pejoratively here in Timony as a knight of the new Morning. My father was granted knighthood by King Augustus Valiant. So I am the first generation of knight of a family that Was common. Good old Gus always looked out for us smallfolk.

[Travis Willingham]

So would you call yourself one of August's men?

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

I would call myself one of Gus men because unbeknownst to him, I fought when I was a lad of 12. Snuck in and caught the last say hour of the final battle for the heart of Timony. So just barely made it.

[Liam O'Brien]

Where were you in the Falcon's Rebellion?

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Serving the lady of Sloke. Which is part of why there were a group of us that served the lady of Sloke. We were released when there was not enough wealth left in the fief to maintain our station. We looked for work elsewhere. But in Ardoran, word had gotten around that we had served the former lady, and so the new baron, we were able to make contact and come here. In the Falconer's Rebellion, I cooled my heels here in Tymni with a great deal of respect and admiration for those that fought as befitted the will of our king. King Gus sent much in. Well, it was never said to be true, but it has been spoken enough that the king saw to it that our rebel allies in Argosia received much in the manner of aid, support and help with the Falcon's Rebellion, Though the flags of Timony never mustered to join. However, some, like young Dame Cosgrove, took it upon themselves to, upon being released from service in her own hometown, head to fight just for the thrill of doing what she deemed right. Well.

[Travis Willingham]

I always loved a finch. It's a great bird, you know, Harmless. Just sings songs and doesn't do any harm to anyone. You seem like a good man. Can we ask one thing of you?

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

By all means. I know that I have been released from service. But that makes me a free man. And free as I am, if you were to leave me to my own devices, I would probably sit near one of these puddles and take a good, long, hard look at myself and the choices I've made to arrive here.

[Travis Willingham]

That's why I asked instead of demanded. Just some time until the morrow. And then what banner flies is where you know your next days take you.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

He nods and says, our companions will return soon. And to my knowledge, I believe that Sir Breeches is still. You hear a voice saying from outside.

[Matthew Mercer]

Don't call him that. You see, Copswood's like Copswoods.

[Sam Riegel]

He's not a fucking sir.

[Matthew Mercer]

Yeah, he's not a fucking sir, man. And you see that, Sir Finch? I think you can caddy.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

I think you hear the distant approaching of horse hooves.

[Matthew Mercer]

And. Actually, no, sorry. Before that, far before that Wulfric returns.

[Ashley Johnson]

Oh, yeah.

[Sam Riegel]

We might as well welcome him home. Sure.

[Liam O'Brien]

I think it's. I'm going to fly and make sure that those hoarfuses, those horses. Those are hoof beats, are gully breeches and not Dame Morgaine, who said she was coming to the castle.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Yes.

[Ashley Johnson]

Before this happens, can I just pull out 60 gold and give it to the young sergeant?

[Liam O'Brien]

How much money do you have?

[Ashley Johnson]

It would not be proper for you to be unpaid for your services and your brother as well. So this is two months wages for you and your brother.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

He nods. He says, so you do intend to take lordship over castle Slug?

[Travis Willingham]

We intend to take time, if we have it.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Very well. My. I must ask. This act of war. Do you march against Timony? Against Gormalay?

[Matthew Mercer]

This is.

[Ashley Johnson]

No, no, no. We don't march against anyone. Honestly, we're just marching. We were looking for a specific man. Well, two.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

It was highly irregular that the Earl allowed the passage of the castle to your friend Kasimir the Taconis, because he is not a trueborn heir. But I believe that the Earl did not wish to tangle with the House of Taconis. And so. However, I do question if word had actually reached our king. But I know the King is not currently in court. He is traveling, I believe, farther afield.

[Sam Riegel]

Traveling?

[Liam O'Brien]

Yeah.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

So is that so.

[Liam O'Brien]

We saw his banners on the move.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Understood.

[Sam Riegel]

If we may, then there is nothing worse than someone that comes in over simple people and puts further stress on them. Hopefully, with this time that we are buying, you might be able to return some good news to King Augustus Valian and perhaps his Earl, and let him know that this land has been left to its own devices without the cancern wrought of the former Baron of Sloke.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

He nods and says, I believe that is. He turns to you and says, if this is not the same, it is not my place to ask. Should the castle have been abandoned, what would have transpired is we would have returned to let his earlship know that Sloke had fallen. And it would be his right to grant the castle of Sloke to a new vassal lord. However, perhaps the Earl is already in communication with the House of Halovar. And this is all cloak and dagger and above the knowledge or foresight of a humble knight. So I will take this wealth that you have given. I will share it amongst my brother knights, all of whom were made the same promises. And that will be at least several weeks of service to the Barony of Sloke and whatever it should call for. But you have asked for time, sir. And so time you shall have. You see, he looks at the crow keepers. He looks at the foot. There's a footman that has fallen here, you see, he says, copswood, let's tend to the dead. And you see that he takes the footman's body out and Wulfric returns in. And you see that.

[Matthew Mercer]

You guys are.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Left alone in the courtyard with just the dead crow keeper here standing or.

[Matthew Mercer]

Sorry, they removed the crow keeper.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Just standing here in the mud.

[Sam Riegel]

Maybe we could search the crow keeper before they take him. Just pat him down, see if there's any communications parts, emblems.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

I think what you see is.

[Matthew Mercer]

You see that, sir Finch looks down, you see that they have some tenderness.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

With the footman who is here. But you see that when Cosswin comes back, he just grabs the dude. And you see that he and Finch look at each other and look at the brand new full plate armor. And look at their own rusted chainmail. And they just look. And they go walking in, full plate. What an idiot.

[Matthew Mercer]

And starts to drag it off and just goes like. You can see.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

He looks over and says.

[Matthew Mercer]

You see, Actually, yeah, that's why you see that he looks to you as Copswood speaks ill of the dead here.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

And he says, do you want to know how long a lord could retain my services for one suit of full plate mail?

[Ashley Johnson]

Is this a riddle?

[Voice Actor - Nordstrom Rack Ad]

No.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Oh, well, for what? It goes in Ardoran, about a hundred months.

[Matthew Mercer]

And they start dragging. This guy's wearing years of salary on.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

His body and they couldn't fucking walk in it. And he just starts dragging the armor off to the outside. The castle. I hope it fits.

[Ashley Johnson]

So we're alone.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

You are alone.

[Marisha Ray]

Why did you yell help? He was eating out of the palm of our hand.

[Ashley Johnson]

He wasn't at all. He needed to tell him things that I didn't know the answer to.

[Marisha Ray]

You were doing really good. You were doing really good.

[Matthew Mercer]

And then you almost.

[Marisha Ray]

No, you did.

[Ashley Johnson]

Listen, I'm terrible at this.

[Marisha Ray]

You're not.

[Matthew Mercer]

I am.

[Ashley Johnson]

I'm terrible at this.

[Voice Actor - Nordstrom Rack Ad]

You didn't.

[Marisha Ray]

Hey, don't let what he said get to you.

[Matthew Mercer]

It's true.

[Marisha Ray]

It's not true. It's not true. I don't know what your family thinks, but you have friends here and listen, I really wish I could make you feel better. It seems like that's a really like a you thing, working that out. I really, really, really, really, really want to go upstairs and eat this guy's fingers. Can we go check him out?

[Ashley Johnson]

We should probably figure out what we're doing.

[Sam Riegel]

First, that shrill cry was from you?

[Ashley Johnson]

Yes.

[Sam Riegel]

Who else would it be within the walls? You have made your enemies squeal with such squeamishness.

[Ashley Johnson]

Thank you for humoring me today, but I think you know that that's not true. Everywhere we've gone so far, my name is met with hate. And my faith is met with confusion. And my face is met with contempt. Nobody likes me. You say I'm surrounded by friends.

[Sam Riegel]

But I'm your friend you should take care of.

[Ashley Johnson]

Your honor bound to be with me forever.

[Marisha Ray]

It's three years, actually. But I'd be here anyways. What do I give a shit about the House of Haylovar? I'm not. I'm here to help you. And I don't like my family either. We're here. I mean, it seems like you guys have noble aspirations.

[Ashley Johnson]

To protect me for some reason.

[Sam Riegel]

And you saved my life, and I have partially repaid that, but you should take care of. It's like you've totally in how you speak about yourself. Otherwise you will believe it. I saw you from the top of that castle wall go after her. You threw yourself into the room with that squid.

[Ashley Johnson]

The fake squid.

[Marisha Ray]

Yeah, that's true. And you did defend my honor as Dr. Finger. You did.

[Travis Willingham]

When someone receives heroic inspiration from someone in this new mechanic, do they feel it? Are they aware that this is happening? Would Teor have known that?

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

I think so.

[Travis Willingham]

Instead of dying, he chose to give you some sort of magical feat.

[Sam Riegel]

Good.

[Matthew Mercer]

I know.

[Sam Riegel]

Good. I know.

[Ashley Johnson]

I appreciate this tyranny. I do. However, I need to make some changes. And I need to make some decisions. And something that Thimble said to me rings true. You said you should try to take down your family from the inside. Or something like that.

[Liam O'Brien]

Yeah.

[Ashley Johnson]

I mean, it seems like my name is awful.

[Liam O'Brien]

It is.

[Ashley Johnson]

So I think I need to figure out how far the rot has spread within my family and. Shine a disinfecting light on it. I don't know how to do that or even where to begin. But something must change, and I must be the one to do it.

[Travis Willingham]

However.

[Ashley Johnson]

You'Re right. That is a me problem. For the rest of you. What about your brother? What about this other Breeches person? Does he matter to you or not?

[Sam Riegel]

We will go after my brother. Sir. Guli. Not sir.

[Liam O'Brien]

About.

[Sam Riegel]

Sorry. Corgswood. Copswood. We will go after Sid. But I think it is fair to say that we should expect them back from the village. And we should receive him. For the Crowskeepers are a rot.

[Liam O'Brien]

Well, the ones that weren't with him, at least.

[Marisha Ray]

Look, you're the only person in your family that actually believes something. And I have no reason to believe anything at all. Except that I'm here. And I'm with you. And you. So you're gonna be putting a lot of heat on yourself if you want to take down your whole family. But I'm here.

[Ashley Johnson]

Will you help me be better at this stuff?

[Marisha Ray]

Fuck, yeah. I mean, you're doing great. Just don't yell, help.

[Voice Actor - Rocket Money / Vanguard Ad]

That's pretty.

[Marisha Ray]

I feel like we can all agree that that's pretty.

[Liam O'Brien]

Unless you know you're about to die, in which case.

[Sam Riegel]

You should, and I think you were. It was very effective in activating the rest of us.

[Ashley Johnson]

What do we do now?

[Liam O'Brien]

Well.

[Travis Willingham]

We have a castle.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

That's nice.

[Liam O'Brien]

We have to go after Sid.

[Travis Willingham]

We have a castle for, like, a night, asleep.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

I don't know.

[Travis Willingham]

This place just doesn't scream hell of out of me.

[Marisha Ray]

Well, here's my question. I mean, you guys have an actual team that you're fighting on. Why not have it be the torn banner? I mean, I think that if we're gonna try to take down your family, it has to be as covert as possible. They can't know that we were interfering here. Unless you wanna just go for it.

[Ashley Johnson]

That's probably not wise.

[Sam Riegel]

I like this idea. And perhaps not the torn banner, but the falcon sort of imagery, that is a bit more suggestive.

[Travis Willingham]

Oh, shit. I'm gonna go back upstairs again and hopefully be successful.

[Sam Riegel]

He likes to poop on the tower.

[Marisha Ray]

Kazimir had a cake.

[Liam O'Brien]

Kasimir had a Gaeva. Right?

[Matthew Mercer]

That's what I'm going.

[Travis Willingham]

That's what I'm going for. Hell, yeah.

[Liam O'Brien]

You gotta search his body, too.

[Ashley Johnson]

Yeah.

[Travis Willingham]

While I'm up there, I rip his bloody cape off and I bring it downstairs. Looks like a banner to me. I'm gonna throw it in the middle, and then I'm just gonna stroll out and go back and get Wulfric's armor. So I'm out of this conversation for.

[Ashley Johnson]

Does it have a symbol or anything on it, or is it just a cape?

[Matthew Mercer]

Casimir's cape?

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

No, it's beautiful.

[Matthew Mercer]

Thick black cape.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Crow mantle.

[Matthew Mercer]

You see that?

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

He has a bag on his person that has about 220 gold pieces in it. He's, you know, he's wealthy.

[Ashley Johnson]

Oh, I'll take that. Don't mind. I mean, I just paid these gentlemen. I should be reimbursed. Your own money.

[Sam Riegel]

That was stupid.

[Liam O'Brien]

So you get six, and then the rest goes into the.

[Ashley Johnson]

No, sure.

[Liam O'Brien]

I don't give a shit. I don't carry gold Anyway.

[Ashley Johnson]

We should decide right now if there is someone among us who will be responsible for the funds. I don't think you.

[Marisha Ray]

It should be you.

[Ashley Johnson]

I feel like I should nominate myself just because I've handled the most amount of currency. Is that all right with the rest of you?

[Liam O'Brien]

Sure.

[Ashley Johnson]

I will happily share.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Equal willing.

[Sam Riegel]

But we know.

[Ashley Johnson]

And if we are hanging this banner, this black cloak, again, just from personal experience, you guys notice that there's a candescent creed symbol on my cane.

[Voice Actor - Nordstrom Rack Ad]

On.

[Ashley Johnson]

My sort of armor, somewhere on you. Branding is really for spreading your message. Even if your message is fear. We might want to choose a color or a symbol or something that we can show to strike fear in the hearts of our enemies.

[Travis Willingham]

Come back in with Wulfric's armor. Start lacing him up. Anyone know how to draw.

[Marisha Ray]

This? Do you know how to make this symbol of the falconers? Yeah, okay. I like to poison spray into a puddle.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Hell yeah.

[Marisha Ray]

And be like, this will bleach the fabric probably.

[Liam O'Brien]

That's smart.

[Ashley Johnson]

Jesus.

[Liam O'Brien]

You're gonna just blat onto the caper.

[Sam Riegel]

Are you in the puddle?

[Liam O'Brien]

And then we draw Let here. If you want to.

[Marisha Ray]

Somebody else wants to hold it.

[Liam O'Brien]

I can walk in front of it and like, make the shape of the falcon to, like, give you the lines? Yeah, to give the lines.

[Travis Willingham]

And we'll each hold a corner and spread it out.

[Sam Riegel]

Taught well.

[Marisha Ray]

While you do that, I'm gonna go upstairs and I'm gonna desecrate that body.

[Voice Actor - Lowe's Ad]

Okay.

[Liam O'Brien]

Whit, then that's you helping.

[Ashley Johnson]

You're gonna draw while I. I took handwriting classes.

[Liam O'Brien]

Great.

[Matthew Mercer]

What are we? You start to create a falcon. Are you starting to create a falcon's.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Cross on this cloak? On this wealthy cloak? As you do, you see the two knights outside finish. You see that they.

[Matthew Mercer]

Well, actually. Sorry.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

The rocky, horrifying ground of Sloke. They're just struggling to build even a.

[Matthew Mercer]

Shallow grave in the landscape here. And they stop. As they do, you see, returning on.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Horseback, two other knights and two footmen approach. And you see that the woman in the front raises the visor on her rainsoked helm. Looking out, this was the woman that ran off. This is the one that said, the food's gone.

[Ashley Johnson]

The food's gone.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

She comes back, looks out and goes, brother Nights.

[Matthew Mercer]

What leaps off the horse.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

And you see that they turn and say, the castle is fallen. Dame Cosgrove, she says, it's Taconis. They came back. And he says, no, no, no, Haolovar. And she just sort of looks there stunned.

[Matthew Mercer]

A sort of long strand of hair runs down the side of her nose. Just going.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

She goes, the Haylovars and the Taconuses are fighting over Castle Sl.

[Matthew Mercer]

And you see Sir Finch goes, winifred.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Your hometown, it's coming up in the war.

[Matthew Mercer]

She falls to her knees and she says, the Baron.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

You see, Copswood says, dead.

[Matthew Mercer]

And he points up to the corpse sliding over the wall. She goes, a demon. And you see, she goes, the demon's with the church. Look, the important thing is.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

He'S gone. The Baron of Sloke is gone. So did he name an heir?

[Matthew Mercer]

And you see that Copswood sighs and.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Turns over to Finch and just goes, I don't know. How long were he and Dr. Finger in there?

[Matthew Mercer]

Maybe an heir's on the way. And then you see Sir Fisher says, I think not.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

I think it will fall to his lordship, the Earl of Gormalay. And I think you see her. Anyone who's looking out the front gate sees at that. She puts her face in her hands. That is terrible news. She goes.

[Matthew Mercer]

She looks out and you see another knight tops up with her. Big broad shouldered guy who doesn't even.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Look like he's necessarily from Timony. A lot of these guys look similar to each other. He comes out and says, so then this is over. Do we think we are going to be paid? And you see that Winifred turns and goes, not now. She walks in and addresses all of you and says.

[Matthew Mercer]

And you see that.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

She remembers something, drops to one knee, unsheathes her sword, offers it hilt first to I've sworn my oath to.

[Ashley Johnson]

Yes, we are familiar with the oaths. Your oath now only will last a few days. We just need time and just a moment to be at peace.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

She nods and says, very well. Is any of this. Is any of this set to impact the people of the village below?

[Sam Riegel]

A moment. Wick. I know you want to release them of their duties, but if the earliest a negative influence on this place, perhaps it could be claimed by House Halovar. They will not come to check on it and they will be free of any oppressive forces. Plus we could leave our flag behind and confuse the fuck out of everyone.

[Ashley Johnson]

That's fine with me. If my family found out, I guess they would. Well, they wouldn't know what was going on, would they? Just be confused and maybe scared.

[Sam Riegel]

Have you ever had knights swear allegiance to you before?

[Ashley Johnson]

Only you?

[Sam Riegel]

Get ready.

[Travis Willingham]

You've been hiding for a long time. Maybe the world's ready for Baron Wick.

[Ashley Johnson]

Oh no.

[Sam Riegel]

Did you just become A baron?

[Travis Willingham]

Oh, that'll scare the shit out of your family.

[Ashley Johnson]

It's technically a step down from my current position in the family, but I'll take it.

[Travis Willingham]

You've been hiding for a long time. You want to keep hiding your whole life?

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Show them.

[Travis Willingham]

Show them we've been here and then we fuck off. Scare him a little bit.

[Marisha Ray]

I come down. Is there gristle in my teeth?

[Ashley Johnson]

Actually, no. You got it. You did a good job.

[Liam O'Brien]

Thank you.

[Marisha Ray]

What's going on?

[Sam Riegel]

Is this the baron here is going to take the castle in the name of Helvar after all?

[Marisha Ray]

Fantastic.

[Sam Riegel]

Confuse some people and also kill two birds with a single stone.

[Ashley Johnson]

All right, sure. Then the Baron Hayluvar.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

As you see, the knights continue to give you space. Sort of congregating out there. I think from the tower tyranny, you can see that the envoy that went down to go give the village the news is on their way back up.

[Voice Actor - Nordstrom Rack Ad]

Okay.

[Marisha Ray]

I inform them.

[Travis Willingham]

This is Gilly breach.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

This is Gully breaches.

[Ashley Johnson]

What do we do?

[Voice Actor - Lowe's Ad]

What do we do?

[Ashley Johnson]

This is another fight.

[Liam O'Brien]

So your knights to take care of him.

[Travis Willingham]

Oh, I think he's got the deed. This is how you make it official, right?

[Ashley Johnson]

Right.

[Liam O'Brien]

Hey, you got this.

[Ashley Johnson]

Good sirs and Dain. Dain, good sirs, your first order of business shall be to inform Ser Guardi Breeches that he is now under the command of House Haylevar and that he must return the deed to us forthwith.

[Sam Riegel]

Or suffer a gruesome.

[Ashley Johnson]

Or suffer a gruesome punishment.

[Matthew Mercer]

You see? So the entire garrison of castle Sloke, all 15 of them, have now gathered back here. You see some men at arms, other things like that. You see, dismounting from the horse Gully Breeches walks into the castle. You see that at the front?

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Dame Cosgrove looks out and says, Sabrishes, there is.

[Matthew Mercer]

And he says, not for you. Walks through the gate, sees all of you and says, who the fuck. Where's Dr. Finger?

[Ashley Johnson]

Where.

[Matthew Mercer]

Who's. What's going on? Who are all these people?

[Ashley Johnson]

A lot has happened since you.

[Matthew Mercer]

My lord. Strangers in the castle, if you will.

[Ashley Johnson]

If you are addressing my lord, you are addressing me now, I guess. Right?

[Voice Actor - Nordstrom Rack Ad]

Is that right?

[Ashley Johnson]

Yes, you're addressing me now. I am now the lord of this house. And you shall.

[Matthew Mercer]

You ain't Casimir Gavndale.

[Ashley Johnson]

Kasimir Gavandale is no more. One of his fingers is dangling from the lower lip of my friend here.

[Marisha Ray]

Oh, you said I didn't have anything in my teeth.

[Ashley Johnson]

Well, I didn't. I wanted to be polite.

[Travis Willingham]

Finch, a little back up here.

[Matthew Mercer]

See? Ser Finch looks at Sir Gully breeches.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

And says, The Baron of Sloke is dead. His reign, though short lived, will be memorable in the history of Gormalay. I know he was your friend, and I share some sorrow for your loss.

[Matthew Mercer]

And you see that Sir Gully looks around, says, you all, it was a conspiracy. You all see Sir Copswood says, we.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Fought harder than you would have been able to survive Breaches.

[Matthew Mercer]

And you see that Gully says he's mad. So there's no lousy. You're all criminals and assassins.

[Ashley Johnson]

We will not tolerate any more insolence from you. And I will cast Thaumaturgy to make all of the torches in the place.

[Marisha Ray]

I also cast Thaumaturgy to make everything bigger.

[Sam Riegel]

I also cast Thaumaturgi.

[Marisha Ray]

Oh, shit.

[Matthew Mercer]

Go ahead, give me group intimidation.

[Sam Riegel]

Skadoosh.

[Ashley Johnson]

I believe. I believe thaumaturgy 14. 14 gives you advantage.

[Matthew Mercer]

Yeah, it does.

[Liam O'Brien]

Oh, you advantage.

[Sam Riegel]

Oh, thank God.

[Voice Actor - Rocket Money / Vanguard Ad]

Oh, wait.

[Marisha Ray]

Also advantage for me.

[Liam O'Brien]

19.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

19?

[Sam Riegel]

Hell yeah, it is.

[Ashley Johnson]

16.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Hell yeah. Golly looks and stuff. All right, all right. Well, you've got no quarrel with me. You've got no quarrel with me.

[Ashley Johnson]

You've got no quarrel with me. My lord.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

My lord.

[Matthew Mercer]

You see, he says.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

So we then talk about how may I serve you? Talk about a contract.

[Matthew Mercer]

Talk about.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

You see, Copswood goes, there are no contracts. There's an oath. You swore it to the Baron of Sloke. This is the Baron of Sloke.

[Matthew Mercer]

And you see that Garli just goes.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

All right, all right. Then there's no problem, my lord. No problem at all.

[Ashley Johnson]

I didn't think there would be. Now, please take your leave of us. We have much to discuss. Oh, that too, yes. What?

[Sam Riegel]

And also this robe.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Disrobe.

[Sam Riegel]

You wear the feathers of the crow.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

He undoes his cloak, drops it.

[Matthew Mercer]

You can see as he's disrobing. You can see that this armor is.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Way too big for him and that it's cutting into his neck. Even just the rounded edge of the pauldron.

[Matthew Mercer]

As he raises his arm, pressing and.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Clipping his neck against the other armor piece, takes the cloak, drops it on the ground, says, Shall I hand it to you or to someone who can carry it?

[Liam O'Brien]

I can carry it.

[Ashley Johnson]

Mage hand.

[Liam O'Brien]

I can carry it.

[Voice Actor - Lowe's Ad]

Listen.

[Ashley Johnson]

The mage hand was to hold you up.

[Sam Riegel]

Oh, yeah.

[Ashley Johnson]

And make you look cool.

[Sam Riegel]

Your appearance offends the standards of the Baron. See through it that those feathers are removed. Going forward.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

You watch as he falls to his knees and says, it is an honor to serve a Lord of the House of Haylovar. If anything, my position has actually gone up in the world. So you'll have no quarrel with me, my lord. I'm here to serve as a proud knight. You see glances up at the knights all around him.

[Ashley Johnson]

Thank you very much. You are dismissed for now.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

He nods and you can see looks around and you see that Finch can't help himself and helps him up to his feet because he can't stand up in the armor under his own power. Helps him up. He turns and walks out of the castle.

[Marisha Ray]

Save over $200 when you book weekly.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Stays with VRBO this winter if you.

[Marisha Ray]

Haven'T seen your college besties since, well, college.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

You need a week to catch up in a snowy cabin, take a week.

[Voice Actor - Nordstrom Rack Ad]

Long vacation and save over $200.

[Marisha Ray]

Book now at vervo.com gas gifts tolls.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

This holiday trip is draining my wallet.

[Liam O'Brien]

Yeah, but we'll get to see all our family.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

You're festive.

[Voice Actor - Nordstrom Rack Ad]

What's your deal?

[Marisha Ray]

What's my deal? Holiday savings at Metro I got one line of 5G for just $25 per.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Month and I kept phone I love and no activation fees and a five.

[Marisha Ray]

Year price guarantee on my talk text.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

And data detour to Metro it is.

[Marisha Ray]

Get that more for your money feeling only at Metro by T Mobile it's.

[Voice Actor - Rocket Money / Vanguard Ad]

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[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Price guarantee exclusion supply See cipher details.

[Voice Actor - Lowe's Ad]

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[Marisha Ray]

Great job. You Radiant.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

It doesn't feel great.

[Ashley Johnson]

It doesn't feel great. But I this is what hard people do when they want something, right?

[Marisha Ray]

You sold it.

[Liam O'Brien]

I feel great to let him walk out of here.

[Ashley Johnson]

Well, no, I mean, he still serves.

[Sam Riegel]

Us, I think, with this robe. He leaves the armor.

[Matthew Mercer]

Oh, so he turns walking out of the armor. Does Teor clarify what he meant?

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Yeah, he turns around and says, you.

[Sam Riegel]

Can leave all that behind, Mahomer.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

This is mine. It's painful.

[Matthew Mercer]

He's I'm a knight. The lord knighted me. Kasimir knighted me back in Dalmakia.

[Sam Riegel]

Kasimir is dead. I think your new baron would say that you have to earn that which you wear, especially since you vacated the protection of the former baron. Wouldn't you agree?

[Ashley Johnson]

Oh, you said it perfectly.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

He turns and looks and says sateo.

[Matthew Mercer]

And starts to piece by piece, take it off.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

And you can see really in Gully's eyes as he looks at it, the real thing that he's focused on is that for the first time in a long time, he had something that let people know he was wealthy even more than. And you can see why would you wear this thing that is slowing you down this much? And it literally is. People will know. They'll know something about me.

[Matthew Mercer]

And you look at all these knights.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Most of whom are just wearing rusted chainmail or a single breastplate, padded armor soaked against the rain. The two other knights that have come up with him, you see one of them looks like a much younger man who's maybe not that battle tested. But the other guy, who definitely is a more battle tested Knight, he's big.

[Matthew Mercer]

6 foot 4, fat but broad, huge arms, got this big gray beard. You can see he certainly should have retired by now. He's past the age he should still be doing this. But you see, he looks out and you can see that his arms look like he's a mighty warrior.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

But the harnesses are strained, and you.

[Matthew Mercer]

Can see that their little holes have been made new in the little leather straps to let them buckle at a place where they can kind of still.

[Travis Willingham]

In this space, we're seeing these soldiers that we've been engaged with. But this is a castle, a manor, a courtyard. Is there anyone in the immediate vicinity that feels like a vassal or a cook or an attendant of something in this castle?

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Are there servants here? Not a one.

[Ashley Johnson]

Nothing.

[Matthew Mercer]

This was a.

[Travis Willingham]

This was a ruin.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

I mean, this was a ruin.

[Matthew Mercer]

As you are looking around, you see.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Dame Cosgrove looks over and says, Hardtack and salt beef with the mule. Or we can impose on the village for some fare down there.

[Liam O'Brien]

Not needed.

[Travis Willingham]

Yeah, we'll take the mule food.

[Matthew Mercer]

All right. She looks around and says.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Brother knights, to our first feast here in Castle Sloke. I'll go get the hardtack. And she walks over and looking around, you see the big guy turns to you and says, right, sir.

[Matthew Mercer]

Gets down on one knee, Big Tom Holly. And you see, he goes, holly, Holly, Holly, Holly. You see, he goes, and I offer you my sword. You can kill me if you like.

[Ashley Johnson]

Yes. We've gone through this a few times now. That won't be necessary. Keep your sword. You are on the purpose of this.

[Matthew Mercer]

And the other young guy does the.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Same thing as well, and says, I offer the same, my lord.

[Ashley Johnson]

You I will kill.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

He looks into.

[Matthew Mercer]

Just kidding, just kidding. This kid is 17 and bursts into tears. No, no, no. That's barren humor. That's barren humor. Baron humor.

[Voice Actor - Nordstrom Rack Ad]

Barren humor.

[Matthew Mercer]

Barren humor. Yeah, barren humor.

[Sam Riegel]

Should we ask how we would expect.

[Ashley Johnson]

To find Dame Morgaine?

[Sam Riegel]

Or where she would?

[Ashley Johnson]

Yes, of course. Feel free. You're the captain of the guard.

[Marisha Ray]

Captain of the guard.

[Sam Riegel]

Berg, you honor me. We are expecting Dame Morgaine. Where should we expect to receive her?

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

You see that daeme causes? Everyone looks to Dame Cosgrove because this is who the question's being directed at. And she says, I do not serve with a lady knight by the name of Dame Morgan. Do you know, the name is unfamiliar to me.

[Sam Riegel]

We met her a bit earlier and she said she served at the pleasure of the king.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Oh, she is a royal knight. Oh, my. No, no. We very rarely. Sloke has never yet had the honor of a visit from royalty.

[Liam O'Brien]

Wow.

[Sam Riegel]

If a royal knight were to come this way, where would they expect to stay? I assume in the village, since the ruin is not hospitable enough.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

There are no rooms for let because no one it is not possible to come through Sloke on your way to anywhere unless your destination is the top of that cliff. Was she going up here or was she going.

[Matthew Mercer]

But there is.

[Liam O'Brien]

She says, what about dogs? Do you ever have dogs come through?

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Yeah, well, yes, herding dogs and some. There are some. You know, the Sloke does have some healthy herds of sheep and even some goats. You see that?

[Matthew Mercer]

She looks out and says.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Is Dame Morgaine a hound of the king?

[Liam O'Brien]

One of the King's hounds, yeah.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

You have met a hound of the king?

[Sam Riegel]

Yes, we have.

[Liam O'Brien]

Is that rare?

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Is that rare? You see that?

[Matthew Mercer]

She says. You see that?

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

She says, yes.

[Matthew Mercer]

And then you see that we're VIPs. You see that?

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Sir Finch says, rare. Depending certainly in Timmins Rock, everyone will have seen a hounded the King. But here in Sloke, he says there are only some five score or more hounds of the King. Not many by any stretch of the imagination. You see that? Big Tom goes and says, right. They're brave and few, the hounds of the King. Mighty warriors.

[Sam Riegel]

Well, unless she was accompanied by. She was keeping eyes on them and they've already come and gone. Right. So she's not coming here. She's probably tracking their route.

[Liam O'Brien]

She said she had business here, though. I don't know.

[Matthew Mercer]

Maybe not.

[Ashley Johnson]

She said she had business in the town. Maybe I didn't specifically say this castle.

[Sam Riegel]

She was following them as they came and they already left.

[Matthew Mercer]

Right.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Give me insight with advantage as Teor brings this up.

[Sam Riegel]

Do I know what I'm talking about? Nope.

[Liam O'Brien]

15.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

15.

[Matthew Mercer]

I think, as you realize that the.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Assumption that Dan Morgan was traveling with the Taconis is. You realize Danny Morgan was just sleeping in front of the fire like a dog. And you realize too that Hawkins, that you saw, the one with the mastiff, he, for as mighty as he may be, is utterly conspicuous. I mean, that's a big.

[Matthew Mercer]

That's like a lord's dog.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

But you see, Danny Morgan, she had that sort of mottled, multicolored, kind of calico pattern to her fur. She just looked like a country dog.

[Matthew Mercer]

I mean, she had those blue spots.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

But you don't know how rare that breed of dog is. So you realize that it's an her. The odds that she was tracking the Taconuses as the most unremarkable. Just another dog running around in Timony, following behind them. That strikes you as maybe being a of part.

[Matthew Mercer]

Possible answer.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

But she did say that she had business in the town. Dame Cosworth looks at you and says, well, it would be an honor. It Would be a true honor to meet a hound of the king.

[Travis Willingham]

You know a lot about Sloane Dain. Were you born here? You raised here? Is this your home?

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

My father was the last knight of the Order of the Howling Rain. And I am the last knight of the Order of the Howling Rain.

[Travis Willingham]

And you stay even though this place is.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Well, it's home.

[Travis Willingham]

Yeah, it's home.

[Ashley Johnson]

Other than this manor, are there any other places in the village that.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Well.

[Matthew Mercer]

Yes, well. So to answer your question, there are not rooms for let but on rare.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Occasions there is a public house in the village Brawlhs which Brala Dasaber is.

[Matthew Mercer]

Well, she's everything for us.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

She knows her letters. So she writes letters on behalf of the villagers that need to send them. She cooks meals. She is also something of. Well, she knows a kind touch of.

[Matthew Mercer]

The ways of herbs and plants.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Some say that she can look out of the side of her eye at point some and give them ill luck. But she is a good friend in the village and keeps a well tended shrine for dogs for hounds passing. And we actually. Things were. Sloke is actually in a. Things were looking up. Before we had a. Back when the Lady Sloke was alive, we had actually been chosen by a young dwarven mason who is here with a small team building the bridge in town, which will help because we won't have to go up the hill which is dangerous to get cattle across the creek. So when that's done, that will be.

[Voice Actor - Nordstrom Rack Ad]

That's great.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

It will be wonderful for the town.

[Travis Willingham]

And that's the dame telling you all this information about all this stuff? Yeah, I think Cadigan's taking all this in and hearing about Cosgrove giving him history and being a local. And he's just going to break aside for one second and walk by Wick while they're sidebarring about stuff about the town. And he's just going to lean into his ear, just you and I and I'm gonna say, hey, hey, bud. You and I haven't said fuck all to each other, have we?

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

No.

[Matthew Mercer]

No.

[Ashley Johnson]

I've sort of picked up that you're a man of few words.

[Travis Willingham]

Yeah, you're right. All this political intrigue bullshit's a little bit above my head. I'm gonna tell you one thing. You want to be a good man.

[Ashley Johnson]

Yes, of course.

[Travis Willingham]

You got a little bit of power in your hand. And the only way you can really make a difference is with a little bit of power. You got a chance here. I know you don't want this fucking place. And I know we got bigger fish to fry. Why don't you just give it back to him? Bearing Cosgrove has a nice ring to it. I slap him in the ribs and then walk out of here.

[Ashley Johnson]

I'm still hurt.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

You see that Kading as you walk away?

[Matthew Mercer]

Yeah.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

I think you look at Dame Cosgrove.

[Matthew Mercer]

Here, she's still got her visor up.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

With the hair hanging in her face. You see that as the knights begin to move into one of the only non crumbling towers and set up, she.

[Matthew Mercer]

Takes her hair off or takes her.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Helm off and she's sort of rain slicked hair. And I think Kadigan walking back in, you see a broad shouldered, capable, beautiful young woman who starts getting stuff off the pack mule and putting it out. And the other men come around, start.

[Matthew Mercer]

Helping her get everything.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Here you see that Sir Finch is talking to the men at arms who are around and you see that he actually goes and is getting that bag of 60 gold pieces and commuting their wages to them. And you see he says this should be enough to make your way back to the King's way and hire strike some passage back to Ardoran. I am sorry that this did not prove to be what it might have been and I wish you well. But he looks around at the castle and says you are not bound by oath as we are. And so you can make a quick getaway from what actually was promising to be quite a miserable time.

[Matthew Mercer]

And you see that the men all in arms also kind of nod and.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

One of them goes like thanks bro and best of luck. I'm so sorry that you have honor.

[Matthew Mercer]

And then walks off. They take off and all these polearms who These guys are not veterans of any. As they walk out they're like John, thank you. Pleasure bean feet.

[Marisha Ray]

This season everyone deserves a little more. And Mazda delivers with the extended driving range of the CX50 Hybrid so you can spend more time together. Standard all wheel drive in every Mazda CUV including the CX5 and room to.

[Voice Actor - Rocket Money / Vanguard Ad]

Bring everyone with three row seating in the CX90. Find more reasons to celebrate the season.

[Marisha Ray]

At the Mazda More to move you sales event.

[Ashley Johnson]

Every Mazda CUV offers you an elevated driving experience and refined performance.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Discover it at your local Mazda dealer today. Gas gifts tolls. This holiday trip is draining my wallet.

[Liam O'Brien]

Yeah, but we'll get to see all our family.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

You're festive.

[Voice Actor - Nordstrom Rack Ad]

What's your deal?

[Marisha Ray]

What's my deal? Holiday savings at Metro. I got one line of 5G for.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Just $25 per month and I kept the phone I love and no activation.

[Marisha Ray]

Fees and a five year price guarantee.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

On my talk text and data detour to Metro it is get that more.

[Marisha Ray]

For your money peeling only at Metro by T Mobile.

[Voice Actor - Rocket Money / Vanguard Ad]

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[Voice Actor - Lowe's Ad]

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[Voice Actor - Nordstrom Rack Ad]

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[Sam Riegel]

You.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

For the rest of you. You see that?

[Matthew Mercer]

Yeah, she's getting the heart attack out.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

She says we'll only be, I think a few hours before nightfall, but if you. The place you were asking for in town is Bralis, which we will either have to sleep here in the cold castle or rely on. You see that? She nods and then says, or it's about a. Well, we don't have enough horses, so it's about a two and a half hour walk to my home, which everyone's welcome to. It will be tight. It'll be pretty tight and I don't have enough blankets, but everyone's welcome.

[Ashley Johnson]

Looks like we should go to this public house. Yes. Check it out.

[Liam O'Brien]

Absolutely.

[Sam Riegel]

Put some coin into the village.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Sure.

[Ashley Johnson]

Yes. With the staff or it's up to you.

[Liam O'Brien]

I don't.

[Ashley Johnson]

How is it up to me?

[Sam Riegel]

You're the one with all the money.

[Liam O'Brien]

You're the one with the money. You're the one that owns the place now.

[Ashley Johnson]

Yeah. I just want it to be us people tagging along with us. It's weird.

[Travis Willingham]

I've got things to keep him occupied.

[Marisha Ray]

You can dismiss them. It's your right.

[Ashley Johnson]

If we give this place to them, Cadogan's gone. If we give this place to them, won't the king be like, why did you take this castle? You're just random people.

[Marisha Ray]

Here are your options. We either are super public and say, the Sisi owns this place, and you can let people just. I mean, we won't be back to check in or make people do stuff.

[Ashley Johnson]

They can just live independently, do that as long. As long as we can, and then just let the money run out.

[Liam O'Brien]

Or you.

[Marisha Ray]

Or you give it to them, and then we have been seen here. And then your family is going to go, why did you take this place back and give it to the people? And then you're gonna have to answer that. You're gonna need to learn how to lie to your family.

[Ashley Johnson]

I am not supposed to.

[Liam O'Brien]

Aren't you on the run from your family?

[Ashley Johnson]

Yes.

[Marisha Ray]

They don't. We don't know. They haven't come for us yet.

[Ashley Johnson]

I'm pretty sure they're pretty mad at me already.

[Marisha Ray]

We'll need to answer to them eventually. But the question is, do you want to be. How covert do you want to be about it? Because we have been seen here. We can either say, hey, the CC was never here, and they'll probably listen, or you can stick your flag in the hole.

[Ashley Johnson]

I've never done anything like this before. I'm talking about usurping members of my family. Is that done? You're fighters and scoundrels. No offense. Do you do it best covertly, or do you make a big, bold statement and say, I'm coming for you and I'm gonna take you down?

[Voice Actor - Rocket Money / Vanguard Ad]

What?

[Marisha Ray]

No, no. None of that. We don't need to tell your family that you're gonna take them down. Just that if the CC is here, then your story is that you're spreading the word and taking over. Even if that's not true, you don't need to say, fuck you, mom and Dad.

[Ashley Johnson]

I mean, they're gonna know. If a castle springs up with their name on it and they don't order it done, they're gonna know, I don't care about Sloke.

[Liam O'Brien]

Nobody cares about Sloke.

[Matthew Mercer]

That's true.

[Liam O'Brien]

Nobody even knows about Sloke.

[Travis Willingham]

Came back from the piss. Nobody cares about Sloke. But the people of Sloke, they may.

[Sam Riegel]

Know that Casimir was supposed to have Sloke and no longer has it. And that might pique their interest for a moment, but only a moment.

[Liam O'Brien]

Casimir was a piece of shit. Nobody cared about Kasimir.

[Ashley Johnson]

Yeah, well, then let's just leave here. It's very wet.

[Matthew Mercer]

Okay.

[Ashley Johnson]

And it smells better.

[Marisha Ray]

If that's the case, then you need to make sure that every single person that saw us is on the level and that we were never here. Because otherwise your family will assume that that was you that gave Sloke back to the people. Unless you want that.

[Ashley Johnson]

No. We can try, but I just don't so many people solace here. I don't think it's gonna happen.

[Sam Riegel]

Does it make you uncomfortable to be subversive? Especially if your family are liars.

[Ashley Johnson]

Well, I'm not a liar.

[Sam Riegel]

This is true, from what I have seen. But does it make you uncomfortable?

[Ashley Johnson]

Yes.

[Sam Riegel]

Then you will have to decide if you are going to play the game that they are playing or if you will do your own thing.

[Travis Willingham]

Has no one ever been truly grateful to you before? You say you're a servant of the Light and you want to do well for others. You never help someone out of the goodness of your heart. And without real gratitude, of course.

[Ashley Johnson]

We've helped many people.

[Marisha Ray]

Do you know the difference between fear and gratitude?

[Travis Willingham]

That's a good question.

[Ashley Johnson]

I thought I did. But everyone we've met along this journey so far has just been scared of me or my family. So I can't tell anymore.

[Travis Willingham]

Right now, the castle's yours and the choice is yours.

[Ashley Johnson]

Well then let's just do a good thing that we know is good. And whether they're grateful or not, and whether they keep our secret or not, that's up to them.

[Marisha Ray]

Yes, your radiance.

[Sam Riegel]

Yes, Baron.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Fuck.

[Travis Willingham]

Yeah.

[Ashley Johnson]

I'll work on you. Who do I bequeath it to? All of them.

[Sam Riegel]

I think the last knight of the Order of the Howling reign might be a good target.

[Ashley Johnson]

The dame, she's local.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

You turn around from this hushed conversation and you can see all of them.

[Matthew Mercer]

Ercer doing this thing that you. I think you immediately recognize this.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Teor and Katican and Thimble as well. That all of them have packs full.

[Matthew Mercer]

Of stuff and all of them have.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

One side that they have put on and are sitting on top of them. And they're well packed.

[Matthew Mercer]

Just immediately become a chair needed and are seated. You see that a couple of them take their shields and put them on the ground. And four of those stacked up makes a little table and are just breaking bread on it.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

And you, I think you see a natural like as you take a look at her, you see that younger though she is, she looks like she's maybe in her like mid to late 30s. Which means that she would not have been old enough to have fought in the war of Axe and Vine. But maybe someone said she went and fought in the Falcons rebellion herself. I think Thimble, you put the age together and go, oh, she's like, I'm not missing another one.

[Matthew Mercer]

You know, like I was too young. And so you see that she is.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Smiling and has an ease. The people that are here all look to her for providing answers of some kind. You just see her kind of have a natural ease of something that people like Casimir Gavindale or Gully Breeches will never understand, which is people look for leadership in the people that are looking to them with trust and a sense of being there for them. Leadership is an act. It's of support in and of itself. And you see her here supporting all of these people that are around her.

[Ashley Johnson]

Dame Cosgrove, is it?

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Yes, my lord. And you see, she stands up at attention.

[Ashley Johnson]

A decision has been made. After conferring with my parliament, we have decided that we are going to vacate this castle and be on our merry way. But in doing so, we would like to bequeath it to you and present you with a deed to this place, trusting in you to take care of it as you see fit, to share it with whom you see fit, and to make it a place, hopefully, that does good for this community and for your own name. As the last night of the. What was it again?

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

She can't move. Her eyes are just wide, and her jaws.

[Sam Riegel]

The howling rain.

[Ashley Johnson]

The howling rain. This shall become the castle of the howling Rain, I suppose. Or whatever you'd like to call it. Hang with your.

[Liam O'Brien]

I'll fly over to you. You should make it official. You should write a letter with your signature. Oh, so she can present it.

[Ashley Johnson]

All right. Should I write it on the back of the deed or something?

[Liam O'Brien]

Get a piece of paper.

[Matthew Mercer]

I don't think I'm writing paper with feet, people.

[Marisha Ray]

I have forgery. I have a forgery kit.

[Matthew Mercer]

You have a forgery kit? Really? Oh, perfect. Yeah, you look. I think you can just alter the deed right here and now.

[Ashley Johnson]

All right.

[Voice Actor - Rocket Money / Vanguard Ad]

Combine.

[Voice Actor - Nordstrom Rack Ad]

Me combine.

[Marisha Ray]

Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. Before. Let me figure out what we're. Are you officially saying that Wickender Halovar is bequeathing this to you? All right, let's fucking go.

[Liam O'Brien]

Can I get the. The paintbrush? I assume you're done with the falcon.

[Marisha Ray]

I mean, I just threw up in a hole.

[Liam O'Brien]

Did you? Oh, I thought you were.

[Marisha Ray]

You were doing the hole.

[Sam Riegel]

You hit it.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

You had the hole.

[Liam O'Brien]

Oh, I thought you were fine.

[Sam Riegel]

We bleached the.

[Voice Actor - Nordstrom Rack Ad]

No, we didn't.

[Liam O'Brien]

All right, it's bleached. The falcon's bleached. All right, I'm gonna. While that's going on, I'm gonna get more bleach and write underneath the symbol of the Falcon. The fanged falcon lives on. See, you write these words in all caps.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Fang in all caps. You fly that banner. You inscribe this deed. I think, Jeremy, you take your forgery kit. You see, she looks and says, you don't know anything about.

[Ashley Johnson]

I know that you have honor. And we know that you. We sense that you speak true. And you've done nothing to imply that you're anything but guided by illumination and radiance.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

She. Her eyes well with tears. And you see that Sir Finch stands up helm at his arm and says.

[Matthew Mercer]

Long live the Baroness Cosgrove of Slope. And you see that the knights all get up, hounds off.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

All of them turn to look at you.

[Matthew Mercer]

I think you see Copswood, the guy who was the most aggro, who. Fucking cad again, sidelined, who was going round for round with Teyr. And the thing looks over at you.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

With this sort of stunned.

[Matthew Mercer]

He actually doesn't even look at Winfrey.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

He just looks at you with this stunned look of amazement of just seeing an act of madness and generosity of something that I think you just see.

[Matthew Mercer]

A guy get the first piece of.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Information he's gotten in a lifetime that does not support his cynicism.

[Travis Willingham]

Codswood look up there, and it's Thimble hanging up the thing with her ominous inscription. He's like, you know what that is?

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

What's that?

[Travis Willingham]

That's the Staniel of Sloke.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

He laughs and smiles and says, we heard its cry. I will not sit idly by while I hear it again.

[Matthew Mercer]

He kneels to Winifred and says, to.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Baroness Cosgrove of Sloke, the lady of Castle Sloke, and to the benevolence of the Lord Wicander.

[Matthew Mercer]

And you see, they smile and nod, and there's a big cheer that goes up.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

And she says, how's the deed? Aye, aye, aye, all right. Well, she looks out and says, I can't.

[Matthew Mercer]

She starts crying, says, I can't possibly afford all of you. I don't know how it was going to happen, in other words, but. But I'll find a way. And you see that Finch waves his hand and says, our retainer is remunerated.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

For the time being, and I am happy to work at a heavily discounted rate when I believe in a cause.

[Matthew Mercer]

And you see that. He smiles and says, envoy to you see, he looks out and says, we'll.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Have to plan Envoy to Tallbreez Lee, which we were already doing with the late Lord Gavandale. But this all looks very official. Thank you, sir. I appreciate it. As the Knights cheer and clap. I think you look at all of them looking at the falcon, you see? Winifred sees that for the first time and says, are you all. Did you fight in the rebellion.

[Liam O'Brien]

Under Thyazzi.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

The Azzy Fang? She smiles and goes, I had heard.

[Matthew Mercer]

A fearsome pixie wending to and fro through the ranks of enemies.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Is that you? She smiles and says, says, you fought with the torn banner.

[Liam O'Brien]

Us three did.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Well, to you do I own my future.

[Ashley Johnson]

And to the three, I didn't fight with them, by the way, I didn't know if you could pick that up.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

To you, Lord Hailuvar, do I owe my future. And to you three do I owe. Each breath I have drawn since the torn banner saved my life when I was a girl of only 17 years of age. It is a strange thing how fate moves upon the world. Or if it is only chance, then it is a chance I welcome. We have been driven so deep underground, but we cannot be extinguished. We cannot be removed or destroyed. I know there's very little that gives hope in my hometown, but I am here now, and I've been visited by you. So perhaps if the strange and magical wonders you bear would come to a place like Sloke, then, yes, anything is possible. Thank you.

[Travis Willingham]

Thank you.

[Marisha Ray]

May the beam reach you.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

She smiles and then turns and says, where will your business take you? Now, if you believe that Dame Morgaine, hound of the king, may well be in town, then there is a hound shrine in the village, aside from the public house there. We may all go if you'd like.

[Matthew Mercer]

We're probably going to. You see that Big Tom Holly goes.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Right. Well, we'll have to tell him that.

[Matthew Mercer]

We were wrong about 45 minutes ago when we said Casimir Gavindale was the Baron of Sloke. We'll say, false alarm, busy day. And slope.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

And you see, she says, yes, we've eaten.

[Matthew Mercer]

I think let's.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Let's head down if we can, as you guys get ready to head out of the castle. One of the horses is gone.

[Matthew Mercer]

Mm.

[Liam O'Brien]

Fucking gully breeches.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

No.

[Ashley Johnson]

We disobeyed a direct order.

[Travis Willingham]

That little shick, we took his armor in, emasculated him.

[Sam Riegel]

Yeah, yeah. He's riding naked. Yeah, he'll stand out.

[Travis Willingham]

To the bar.

[Matthew Mercer]

To the bar.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

All of you guys head out. Head down to the bar. As you walk in, you see there's an older woman down in the tavern who walks out. See, she looks like to be late 60s, early 70s. A short, warm face, gray hair, very wrinkled skin, fat, and these long knobbly hands that look like they've just been worn.

[Matthew Mercer]

She's got these crazy forms.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Looks like she's kneading dough or cutting stuff all day. You see, she walks out and goes.

[Matthew Mercer]

Oh, welcome to brawlers.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Is it a strange thing?

[Matthew Mercer]

You see, she looks out and says.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Well, one moment please. And she pulls out a little stool, goes over and takes an iron nail out from over her doorstep and says, come right in, milady.

[Marisha Ray]

Aw, thank you so much. I don't know if that would have done anything to be honest, but I appreciate you.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

I hope it would have done something.

[Matthew Mercer]

You see, she coughs up and says, well, you're at Slokes only public house, so we've only bread and a potato soup. That's it.

[Liam O'Brien]

Potato soup. Sounds delicious.

[Marisha Ray]

Do you have any beer?

[Matthew Mercer]

No. Oh, there's wine.

[Marisha Ray]

How long is the walk back to the castle? Cause there's wine there.

[Matthew Mercer]

It's not our castle, you see, she says. She says, I've sent my husband out to the king's way to get some ale. But he walks slower than he used to. Okay, probably another day or so I'd.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Say.

[Marisha Ray]

To have a cocktail right now, you know, it's fine. Listen, you're gonna start making your own rules. So that means you can have a little drinky poo with your old girl Tyr. But we'll get to that at some point, I'm sure.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

As you guys are in here, you hear a familiar voice behind you say, as I live and breathe. And you see walking in as Dame Morgaine who, who comes in from the Little Hound shrine. And she says, my friends, I understand that it's been an eventful day in Sloke.

[Liam O'Brien]

Did you hear everything?

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Not what occurred up in the castle. My business brought me to the town. I was speaking with young master Jasper and you see that she looks over.

[Matthew Mercer]

And you can see over in a corner our group of really sad looking.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Dwarves who all have tankards full of water.

[Matthew Mercer]

You see, Jack, there's this one dwarf who's got a thick red beard that comes down that you can see is braided and his red beard is dyed with strands of black and white that.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Go in throughout it.

[Matthew Mercer]

So it's like tied up into this thing, you see.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

He looks out and just goes, fellows, I'm really sorry, I'm really sorry.

[Sam Riegel]

I don't think this is light beer.

[Matthew Mercer]

And you see that?

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Morgaine says, but I understand there's been a changing of the guard here.

[Sam Riegel]

Indeed.

[Ashley Johnson]

Dame Morgaine is in dog form, correct?

[Matthew Mercer]

She is a dog. She's looking at you. She's this herding dog who comes into.

[Ashley Johnson]

Speed and no one in the place seems to blink an eye at this.

[Matthew Mercer]

No one is blinking an eye.

[Ashley Johnson]

Okay?

[Matthew Mercer]

As she walks in.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

You see, she looks in and says, well, Kasimir Gavandale is no more and you are now the Lord of.

[Ashley Johnson]

No, no, I am not. That honor belongs to Dame Cogsgrove. And we have Baroness.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

The Baroness, you see, she raises her eyebrows. You've seen fit to offer the title of Castle Snoke to.

[Matthew Mercer]

Who is this? You see, she looks over and you.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

See that Winifred gets down on her knee and says, my lady Knight, it is an honor, and bows. And you see that Morgaine cocks her.

[Matthew Mercer]

Head to the side and puts two paws up on her chest. And she whispers into her ear and goes like.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

And just goes, no, no, you are my sister. We do not bow as this to each other.

[Matthew Mercer]

You see that?

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

She turns and says, well, Baroness Sloke, we must speak, you and I. You see, she says, yes, I have the deed here.

[Matthew Mercer]

And you see, she looks over at.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

The deed and she says, my word. Well, this is stunningly official looking. And she goes and she says, we make envoy for Tyrese Lee and the earliest.

[Matthew Mercer]

And you see that Morgaine cocks her.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Head and says, or perhaps we can wait for His Majesty to return and he can affirm this deed of title on his return from Dolmakyar.

[Matthew Mercer]

You see that? She looks up at you guys, Dame.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Morgaine, and nods and says, this is quite a salvaged state of affairs from what seemed this morning quite bleak. Are there any other loose ends?

[Voice Actor - Nordstrom Rack Ad]

Yes.

[Liam O'Brien]

Dulcid Amir. The Lionfolk.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Yes.

[Liam O'Brien]

He was no longer with the Tacones when they arrived at the castle.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

The Taconis split their caravan heading from the tavern. Half their number came here to Sloke.

[Travis Willingham]

And where did they go?

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

North Kingsway, towards Tabriz Lee. If her business here in Sloak is concluded. You see, she looks out, which I think it will be soon. You guys look out and see that one of the horses, the missing horse, is tied up outside. Gully's horse looking out the window, I.

[Matthew Mercer]

Think you see that long terrain, it's farther away.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

You look out and see with some stolen clothes, essentially, Gully Breeches is just tearing across this puddled landscape as he is running. You see that? De Morgaine looks out and says, no, he's showing off. That's much too much of a head start. From the wood line, you see a mastiff.

[Matthew Mercer]

Yeah, dude, yeah. Now he's showing up. Come on. Oh, God. Turns around and you see this mastiff through the air, honestly, with a form very similar to Kadigan's. Hit this guy's back and just stand on him in the puddle. As he stands there and you see, you hear a booming voice from that field as Gully is in several inches deep water. Say, you doffed your armor.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Let the world see as you feel its weight one last time.

[Matthew Mercer]

And you see pushes into his back, keeping him underwater. Jesus fucking. You see, he just stands on him in the water and then turns around and lopes back after his work is done. Good God. Returning here. That must have Otis boy. You see, he walks in, his eyes dart over to you once again.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

The pixie from the tavern.

[Matthew Mercer]

I see.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Dame Morgan says, may I introduce Ser Hawkins, hound of the king. Hawkins turns to all of you and says, I understand there has been a change of fortune in the rainy fief of Sloke. Is it so?

[Travis Willingham]

Oh, shit, you're right. That is a talking dog.

[Liam O'Brien]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. That's correct, Hound.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

I may be sir, but I am a knight.

[Liam O'Brien]

Oh, good Sir Knight. That was badass.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Though it be a vulgar argot by which you speak the meaning of your phrase, I cannot help but take to heart I feel enlivened by your praise, my lady.

[Sam Riegel]

When she complimented him, did his tail start to wax?

[Matthew Mercer]

You see, he looks around and says, I understand this public house is without libation at the moment, but I would enjoy.

[Sam Riegel]

I fucking love him.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

A little bit of slop, if you have some.

[Matthew Mercer]

You see, he jumps. He sort of jumps up, puts his paws on a table, his tail wags a little bit and he goes, travelers.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Tell me of your exploits, and I shall tell you mine. There is great adventure afoot here in the realm of Timony, and we must speak, I believe, sir, of your brother and how to rest him from the clutches of House Taconis.

[Matthew Mercer]

And that's all for this episode. Oh, man. So good. We're traveling with dogies. Dogies.

[Ashley Johnson]

Is there a two dog town?

[Matthew Mercer]

It's a two dog town. Oh, my God.

[Sam Riegel]

Now he's just showing off. Trick him.

[Matthew Mercer]

Trick him. Oh, my God, you guys did it. You saved Sloke. Yay.

[Ashley Johnson]

You became a baron and gave it up.

[Matthew Mercer]

I can't believe that they'll say, what's the shortest Barony of Sloke? And they'll be like, well, Kasimir Gavin. No, he's second. The actual shortest was 20 minutes where Wicander Haylevar was the Baron of Cloak. Oh, boy.

[Marisha Ray]

Heat's on you Sam. And by proxying me, let's fucking go dude.

[Matthew Mercer]

I fucking love it. Well, we got new Baroness, we got some doggies, we have hope for the first time in a long time in rainy old smoke. And the only question that remains is, is it Thursday? I love it.

[Sam Riegel]

I love it.

[Matthew Mercer]

Great job. Thanks for listening to this episode of Critical Role. If you're enjoying this story, consider leaving.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

A review on your podcast platform of choice.

[Matthew Mercer]

We're always looking for new critters to share our adventures with, and your review may help a new batch of wayward.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Souls find their way to Ahriman, Exandria and beyond.

[Matthew Mercer]

Or if you want to hear what.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

The cast discussed after the episode, head.

[Matthew Mercer]

To Beacon TV and check out our.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

Exclusive show Critical Roll Cooldown.

[Matthew Mercer]

You'll be right there at the table immediately after we say, is it Thursday yet? And experience our cast's post show reactions.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

We'll see you next time.

[Marisha Ray]

What are you doing in a meeting?

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

That could have been an email. Losing interest?

[Voice Actor - Rocket Money / Vanguard Ad]

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[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

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[Marisha Ray]

5 out how much interest you could.

[Voice Actor - Rocket Money / Vanguard Ad]

[e-mail] cashplus offered by Vanguard Marketing Corporation.

[Voice Actor - Narrator / NPCs]

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[Voice Actor - Nordstrom Rack Ad]

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