King of Cards | Critical Role | Campaign 4, Episode 21 Part 2

Summary

Critical Role: King of Cards | Campaign 4, Episode 21 Part 2

Airdate: April 14, 2026
Summary by Podcast Summarizer

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Episode Overview

In Part 2 of "King of Cards," the adventuring party—comprised of Hal, Murray, Bolaire, and Azune—continues their investigation in the city of Dolmak Yar to track down Demetus, a gnome entangled in underworld politics and currently in the hands of the Crow Keepers criminal organization. As tensions in the city rise, the group interrogates their options for approach, leverages various contacts, receives an ominous divination, and ultimately embarks into the city’s dangerous underbelly. The episode is rich with tactical discussion, character vulnerability, and classic Critical Role high-stakes improvisation, ending on a suspenseful cliffhanger as a confrontation looms below the city streets.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Recap and Planning the Next Move (00:25–04:31)

• The party recaps their findings and confirms Bolaire is no longer in disguise.
• Hal and Murray download everything they've learned so far, particularly information from Romina and Pamela.
• Murray warns about the risks of asking questions:

  “We're also exposing ourselves as well. Poking the bear, asking about taconuses—people will wonder why." (03:08)

• Azune shares intelligence about the Crow Keepers’ usual daytime haunt—the Guard Tower Tavern in Caravan Hill.
• They debate their angle of approach—whether to pose as business or use affiliations, and how to handle the blank glyphs.

2. Unraveling Demetus’s Circumstances (04:32–06:29)

• Hal clarifies the status of Demetus (crow keepers turned over, not grabbed).
• It's revealed Demetus borrowed money from a loan shark named Zagi but failed to pay.
• The group discusses offering coin to barter for Demetus or leveraging information as currency.
• Murray notes:

  "He's more safe in the hands of scoundrels than he is Takonis." (06:59)

3. What to Offer and How to Negotiate (06:30–09:15)

• The group considers using the case file (the warrant) as leverage but also the risk it brings to themselves.
• Azune proposes bluffing about others (like Takonis) being on the Crow Keepers’ trail to pressure a handover—playing on the criminals' fears and priorities.

4. Gathering Intelligence in Caravan Hill (10:04–15:34)

• The party agrees to pool contacts and resources for a “group investigation check” to zero in on the Crow Keepers’ likely location.
• Through successful collaborative rolls, they reach Caravan Hill—a raucous, labyrinthine neighborhood with lively taverns and deep criminal underpinnings.

5. Encounter with Temelo the Diviner (15:36–27:47)

• Murray leads the party to Temelo, a respected card reader and part-fae with a past entwined with the Crow Keepers and city politics.
• Temelo performs a reading for the group, using a blend of sleight of hand, real magic, and illusion:
  • First card: A pale figure with an hourglass—“The path I tread, death walks not far behind. Time, as ever, is of the essence...” (22:27 – Temelo)
  • Second card: A golden and ruby mask—“Appearances quite deceptive. Conflict mediated through smiles...” (23:03)
  • Third card: A great dragon made of river water and trees—symbolizing fate, cycles, and a pivotal moment.
• Perceptive party members notice Temelo is a glashtig, a type of fey.
• Temelo clues them in:

  “Crows have taken deep underground where the water of the dragon of the world flows... seeking counsel of one who trucks with dark powers.” (25:08–26:38)

• Hints and warnings are given about fairies, changing city dynamics, and missing kin. The advice: follow the stench and water beneath the city.

6. Descending Toward the Crow Keepers' Lair (30:19–34:48)

• The party navigates through storm drains and aqueducts under the guidance of Temelo’s warnings.
• They use teamwork and creative skills (perception, investigation, mapping their route) to identify the right path through the sewers.
• Azune physically opens a hidden grate, revealing a secret staircase leading further underground.

7. Moments of Vulnerability & Resolve (36:06–38:44)

• Hal hesitates before entering the darkness, reflecting on how this mission diverges from the life his late brother tried to protect him from:

  “Down this hole is everything that his brother tried to protect him from... if he walks down this tunnel, he shouldn't expect things to be the way they are anymore.” (36:19–37:29)

• Murray, Azune, and Bolaire offer support and reflection.
• Bolaire:

  “This was not meant for you.” (37:56)
  Murray:
  “He did a lot to protect you from this life. But now, with his sword on your hip, I don't think you have a choice but to start a walk in his footsteps.” (38:15)

8. Navigating the Sewers—Tension Rises (39:03–44:18)

• The party uses investigation and specialized skills (including Murray’s dwarven tremorsense) to orient themselves in the sewers, detect foes, and create a rough map.
• They identify signs—crow feathers, torches ahead, voices—of an imminent confrontation.
• The presence of something monstrous and supernatural, beyond a mere humanoid threat, is detected in the lair.

9. Spotting the Foe and Plotting a Distraction (46:03–53:32)

• Through careful observation, Murray senses up to ten Crow Keepers in a chamber with a formless, monstrous entity and the faltering breath of Demetus.
• Party debates options: direct confrontation, negotiation, or using a distraction. Bolaire volunteers to create an illusion of city guards to lure away some enemies.
• The party stages the ruse, coordinating illusions and physical cues (rock throws, audio mimicry).

10. Executing the Distraction and Cliffhanger (54:36–63:12)

• Bolaire casts Phantasmal Force to create the illusion of guards, Hal supports with auditory illusions.
• The ruse draws five Crow Keepers away, but a guard spots Bolaire as the illusion takes effect.
• The party prepares for a possible fight; only Azune and Bolaire have a chance to prevent their position from being exposed.
• The episode ends mid-initiative, with Murray’s caution:

  “If we step out into that corridor ahead of us, we're dead. Also, there’s something... big. And it's not of this world.” (49:45)

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Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• Murray (On risk):
  “Each conversation comes with its own element of risk and exposure.” (03:33)

• Temelo’s warning (Divination):
  “Crows have taken deep underground where the water of the dragon of the world flows... For a great treasure has come to them. In a time where they lack leadership, there is dispute.” (25:08–26:38)

• On the path forward: Temelo gestures to the sewers as Murray thanks her, saying,
  “The treasure you seek will not stay long in their clutches... the crows meddle with something they do not fully understand.” (27:10–27:24)

• Hal’s vulnerability:
  “Everything that his brother tried to protect him from... if he walks down this tunnel, he shouldn't expect things to be the way they are anymore.” (36:19–37:29)

• Murray’s grim assessment:
  “There’s something in there that’s big room, big. And it’s not of this world. It sounds like Demetus is in there. I recognize the sound of that mouth breather anywhere he’s in there.” (49:45)

• Party’s improvisation:
  “Just toss it in that direction. Just a little bit into the water.” (54:58–55:04)
  “I'm going to have them hit him with a psychic blast just like they're trying to clear the frame...” (57:52–58:16)

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Important Segment Timestamps

• 00:25 – Episode proper resumes, group recaps, and planning.
• 02:40–04:31 – Debating tactics, blank glyphs, and approach.
• 10:04–15:34 – Collective investigation leads to Caravan Hill.
• 17:37–27:47 – Temelo’s card reading and revelations.
• 30:19–34:48 – Entering the sewers, opening the hidden grate.
• 36:19–38:44 – Hal’s hesitation and comrades’ support.
• 39:03–44:18 – Mapping, perception checks, and detecting foes.
• 46:03–53:32 – Murray’s tremorsense, discovering guards and "something big."
• 54:36–61:08 – Executing the distraction, illusions, and confrontation setup.
• 62:48–end – Initiative rolls, cliffhanger.

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Final Thoughts

King of Cards | Episode 21 Part 2 is a gripping example of collaborative TTRPG storytelling, blending mystery, world-building, and emotional vulnerability. The episode masterfully builds suspense through tactical planning, evocative roleplay (especially with Temelo’s divination), and high stakes as the party descends into the unknown—ending, appropriately, on a knife-edge as the dice come out.

“If we step out into that corridor ahead of us, we’re dead... but sometimes, you have to follow the story to the end.” – Hal & Murray, [38:32, 49:45]

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Transcript

[Dungeon Master]

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[Hal]

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[Hal]

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[Dungeon Master]

text and data exclusions like taxes and fees apply. See t mobile.com for details. Hello again, it's Brennan Lee Mulligan, and you're listening to part two of this episode of Critical Role. If you haven't checked out part one yet, pause this now and head over there first. What are you doing? Otherwise, let's jump right back into this adventure and the world of Ahriman. Welcome back from the break. Liam said ass without a. It's not how this works here. Hard. We're so dark. That's, you know, so many years of having someone on your side. I'm not on your side, okay? We're supposed to abuse you. You're supposed to take it. The fans have a right to know. They're talking about ass Without a Trace. We return. We return to the city of Dolmak Yar, where. Where you guys speed on from the Seven Stars, where you have met a king, confronted a smuggler, and talked to a chambermaid. And who is to say which of those has more political heft behind it? For indeed, you now are heading in the direction of the Ogremock marketplace, potentially to get to Bolaire's place, but potentially also to compare notes. Your conversation picks up as you leave the Seven Stars together. Balaire, you are no longer in disguise, correct?

[Bolaire]

Oh, yeah, I've dropped that.

[Dungeon Master]

You dropped it. Great. As you move through the city, what information do you share?

[Hal]

Well, only thing I'll point out is Hal will give a rundown of everything that he learned from Romina. And I just want to put a fine point on it that this woman is just trying to go about her day and if anything should happen to her, let's not let anything happen to her. So everything that we've learned via that avenue underlock. Okay, Please. And that's it. So I do a complete download.

[Murray]

Marie also does a complete download and follows up with that. I gotta say, the more we talk to, of course, we gotta look out for people like Romina, but also the more questions we ask. We're also exposing ourselves as well.

[Azune]

Yep.

[Murray]

I might have showed my hand a little bit Too much to Pamela. But it's fine. It's fine. If you go asking around, you start poking the bear, you go start asking about taconuses, people are going to wonder why you're asking about taconuses. So, just so we're all aware of that, each conversation comes with its own element of risk and exposure.

[Bolaire]

So true.

[Hal]

So true, bestie.

[Azune]

All right, so are we heading to Bolairs or No?

[Bolaire]

I think we know where the boy is now.

[Azune]

We know who has him. And I know that. I know where the Crow Keepers hang, at least during the day. The Guard Tower Tavern is where they post up during the day. It might be too late to catch them there. That's in Caravan Hill. Patrolled that area plenty of times. We can start there and then see if we can figure out where they've gone from there.

[Dungeon Master]

If they're not there, that also might

[Bolaire]

be if they were looking to keep someone under wraps, that might be where they kept them.

[Dungeon Master]

Right.

[Bolaire]

That's familiar.

[Azune]

Well, I'll start to head us all towards Caravan Hill. Unless somebody else gets a different idea of where to go.

[Murray]

Guard Tower Tavern, you said?

[Azune]

The Guard Tower Tavern.

[Murray]

Okay.

[Hal]

Yeah. And what's our angle?

[Dungeon Master]

Well.

[Azune]

Well, we have a couple of angles. I think we could be going there to do business, because as far as we know, wasn't it the Crow Keepers that knocked over that wagon with those blank glyphs? Yes, and personally, I'd like to get my hands on a number of those so that we can use them down the road.

[Murray]

Yeah, I think if we pull on this thread of Findimatus, we can also kind of killed two birds with one blank glyph here.

[Dungeon Master]

Yes.

[Azune]

So we can at least initiate a conversation about that. Perhaps.

[Murray]

I mean, I have a few contacts, and the Crow Keepers, I don't know how willing they're going to be to squeal at this point in time. I think everyone is aware that tensions are running high in the city.

[Azune]

I'm also conducting an investigation on behalf of the Revolutionary Guard. I'm an arcane marshal working with Ein Fassen. I could be going there to collect him on behalf of them.

[Hal]

Well, help me, Demetus.

[Azune]

Yes.

[Hal]

Demetus was grabbed by the Crow Keepers. Do we know who hired them?

[Murray]

He wasn't grabbed by the Crow Keepers. He was turned over.

[Hal]

Turned over. Sorry. What I mean to say is, why are the Crow Keepers after him?

[Azune]

Hire?

[Murray]

No, Dimitus took out a loan from someone named Zagi. Okay, so Dimitas, being down on his luck, basically went to a loan shark, took out A loan?

[Hal]

How much money we got and couldn't

[Murray]

pay up on his goods, so he

[Dungeon Master]

got

[Bolaire]

22 gold loan. I'm trying to remember. I think something got mentioned of it. It wasn't a huge loan.

[Murray]

Did he mention the name? How long?

[Dungeon Master]

I don't think you've heard the exact number.

[Bolaire]

All right.

[Dungeon Master]

I don't think you've heard the exact amount.

[Murray]

I mean, Demetus, I think, was trying to get out of town, and I think it just backfired. He put his trust in the wrong scoundrel.

[Bolaire]

Well, we have options. If we're lucky, we can just walk in, ask them to hand him over and walk out.

[Hal]

Walk into a smuggler's den and ask for someone under their thumb.

[Murray]

Fucking Pamela.

[Bolaire]

That is what they do.

[Hal]

What do we have to offer? I have coin at home. I have decent amount.

[Bolaire]

Free tickets.

[Murray]

Something you said?

[Dungeon Master]

Oh, no.

[Murray]

Izuni Azuni. I found actually very alarming. Which is? If Taconis catches wind of Diminus being in the custody of the Crow Keepers, I don't want. He's more safe in the hands of scoundrels than he is. Takonis.

[Azune]

It is. You're absolutely right.

[Bolaire]

Maybe.

[Azune]

Maybe we just have a conversation with the Crow Keepers and learn what they intend to do with him.

[Hal]

Yeah. I mean, there's a chance the Crow Keepers will just want to flip their investment, right?

[Murray]

Yeah.

[Azune]

Maybe they don't want to give him up.

[Murray]

Or maybe they do.

[Hal]

Maybe they do. For the right price.

[Murray]

Well, I mean, they're not gonna want any of the vassal houses or the sundered houses coming and knocking on their door.

[Azune]

No, they don't.

[Murray]

This kid is a risk.

[Bolaire]

We also have information.

[Murray]

Oh,

[Azune]

yes.

[Bolaire]

We know what really happened. We know that the gate to Fae to the fairy lands was absolute crap. That's worth a lot. At least at the moment.

[Murray]

You took the case file from your lieutenant, right? Asking about Demetus?

[Azune]

Yes.

[Murray]

So you've got the actual paperwork?

[Azune]

I have it on me.

[Murray]

I mean, I think that might be our best shot at this point. If you can show him the warrant for Demidus.

[Azune]

My concern is that kind of puts me in the crosshairs. Because they will be able to report back to anyone that comes to them and say that I was the person that they handed him off to. I think you're onto something, Murray. I think our best weapon is fear. They may not know who is after Demetus. They may not know that Taconis is after them. And if we're showing up saying, hey, we're here to do you a favor by getting this person that someone is coming after and they're already on your scent. We're not the only ones that know to find him here. Taconis is on their way right now. You hand them over to us and maybe, maybe they'll do that if we make it seem like we're doing them a favor. Maybe.

[Dungeon Master]

Oh, I don't know.

[Hal]

Maybe they may be talking to the Takonis house already.

[Murray]

I think we got a hospital.

[Hal]

I'm getting ready to sell them over.

[Azune]

Do you need a moment?

[Murray]

Got under boob sweat.

[Dungeon Master]

Oh

[Bolaire]

well, there is something to be said about not wanting to hang on to something hot. No.

[Hal]

Well, shit, I don't know. What do we do guys?

[Azune]

What do we do?

[Bolaire]

We're going to have to go in and just go in and appeal to their sense of security. It's not like anyone else has survived this knowledge at this point besides us. They surely must know that just knowing this child exists. Pardon my, is enough to have them killed.

[Dungeon Master]

I have to say this too above table. We do have some skills that can be rolled here to make use of your guys particular capabilities. Experience, wisdom and insight. If you would like to roll either a group check or individual checks. Making an investigation basically being like for example, even with all of the wild amount of NPCs that you guys all know, your characters have lived in the city for decades or more. Some of you. So the amount of people, you know, numbers in the hundreds. Right. We could extrapolate this into an investigation check to be like okay, you know where the crow keepers hang out. Like do you know specifically where? You know what I mean? So if you want to, we could have you guys roll an investigation check to see what you can hear. Montage it a little bit as you go around.

[Bolaire]

Yeah, I'm into that.

[Murray]

I'm into that.

[Dungeon Master]

Cool.

[Murray]

I think Murray is obviously going to be thinking about the resources that she has connected to the crow keepers and her contacts under there and where best it would be to go for this.

[Dungeon Master]

Hell yeah. Everyone pulling on your network. We can all make individual checks if you'd like or we can make one group check but we'll keep it at 15, 20 and 25. We'll keep at the DCs.

[Murray]

Kind of like a group check idea.

[Azune]

Yeah.

[Dungeon Master]

Yep. Do a little group check. Little group check. Let's do it.

[Azune]

As we're putting our heads together. How might I. If it makes sense to guidance in this situation. I mean

[Dungeon Master]

I'll let you cast guidance on the. If we're doing a big Group check, Which feels kind of fun. I'll let you throw that D4 to the group's role if you like. Okay, cool.

[Bolaire]

Like that.

[Azune]

Okay, great.

[Hal]

I should say that Hal would come at this not from the underworld because he was pretty insulated from that.

[Dungeon Master]

Yeah.

[Hal]

He still swims amongst people from the noble houses. So any knowledge that he would bring to this would be coming from him gossiping with the muckety mucks.

[Dungeon Master]

Hell, yeah.

[Bolaire]

The two of us would have had some contact with them at some point.

[Murray]

Yeah, absolutely.

[Hal]

All right, so this is investigation. Investigation.

[Dungeon Master]

That's not good.

[Azune]

Investigation.

[Bolaire]

That was terrible.

[Azune]

Here's the guidance. Ooh, that's a four.

[Murray]

Did anyone do a good one? You did, yes. Cause I can.

[Bolaire]

You.

[Murray]

You did.

[Dungeon Master]

I did not.

[Azune]

But I got it from four on the guidance.

[Murray]

I'm gonna use a luck point.

[Dungeon Master]

Okay.

[Bolaire]

So I'm at 15.

[Hal]

Worst feet.

[Dungeon Master]

Worst feet. I don't know.

[Bolaire]

Same ain't here.

[Murray]

Much. Much better. That's an 18.

[Dungeon Master]

Adding a 4 to your ultimate investigation, Liam.

[Hal]

Oh, so we all get the four.

[Dungeon Master]

We all get the four.

[Murray]

We all get THE FOUR LOSERS.

[Hal]

23.

[Dungeon Master]

23.

[Murray]

So wait, wait. Investigations. So it's going to be 26.

[Dungeon Master]

26.

[Hal]

You got a high investigation.

[Murray]

10.

[Dungeon Master]

10.

[Bolaire]

15.

[Dungeon Master]

15. Okay. Our median roll is therefore a 23. Not bad at all. Or our middle roll is a 23. You guys get down to caravan hill. Azuna. It's rowdy down here. Okay. It is late on. This is farmer's day. So the beginning. Many people will be enjoying the first day of a weekend tomorrow. And you are. So people are rowdy. Caravan hill is a neighborhood filled with a lot of wagons and carriages that have become permanent structures here. It was named caravan hill in the days. This is where all the caravans of merchant things would just come in. But some have been here for so long enough time. So you'll see there's lots of enormous carriages that have had their wheels taken off and are propped up with stonework now. And have little porches and taverns. Rowdy. Lots of outdoor drinking gardens with strings of paper lanterns out and amongst the rowdiness. Azunay. I think you see a lot of people giving you a kind of nod as an officer of the revolutionary Guard. Balare. This is a little bit more, let's put it as upbeat than some of the paths you walk. Murray. There are a lot of friendly faces here. And how you see a lot of friendly faces, I think on a 23, check very near the guard tower. The guard tower always has a crow keeper. Present at it. On your way. Getting closer and closer there. I think you guys see that there are a couple of fights that have been broken up. It's a little bit of a rowdier Farmer's Day Eve than normal. Ozzani. I think it's just the Revolutionary Guard. You just get a whiff of the Crowskeepers have been dealing with a guildmaster of theirs dying suddenly killed. Valis killed this person in the overture.

[Murray]

Oh, my God.

[Dungeon Master]

That's right.

[Murray]

Oh, my God. That's right. Oh, my God.

[Azune]

You're going to where they had their combat.

[Dungeon Master]

Yes. You're literally going to where they had their combat.

[Bolaire]

Been a while.

[Dungeon Master]

It's been a while.

[Hal]

24 hours, guys.

[Azune]

I know, right?

[Bolaire]

Yeah.

[Azune]

Maybe two days.

[Dungeon Master]

I think. You see. That not too far from the guard tower. Murray, you recognize someone who's had some interest in the Penteverel from time to time. You've always known her by the name Temelo. And Hal, you know Temelo from a lot of your troupe, swear by her prophetic reading. She reads cards. She can read tea leaves and crystals and things like that.

[Hal]

Actors.

[Dungeon Master]

Wow.

[Azune]

Hugh.

[Dungeon Master]

But you can see outside of a carriage at a beautiful table. There is a peacock feather pattern silk tablecloth over a small table that you see has some cards on it. There is a stunning woman, ringlets of red hair falling and cascading around her head. You see that she has a sort of a tiara with a pair of small delicate antlers coming off of it. And she has a deep ruddy red brown skin with some white freckles, almost like a deer. Like a deer pattern. Wow. But you see, she has sort of like some exposed midriff and arms, but otherwise this beautiful gown of what look like emerald glass. You can tell it's glass jeweler. It's not actual gemstones, but it's a sparkling green glass dress.

[Murray]

This is Temelo.

[Dungeon Master]

This is Temelo.

[Murray]

Okay,

[Dungeon Master]

so she's out working her wares. You see that? She's telling some young woman whose eyes are aglow some good news about the affairs of love and romance that are coming her way. The main thing, I think, you know, on that high investigation roll is that Temeloe works a corner that two blocks up, sees the guard tower. So you're within sight of the guard tower. And Temelo has her eyes on the front door of that tavern basically all day.

[Hal]

From two blocks off.

[Dungeon Master]

Yeah. But you walk up to her, I think also you're not exactly sure. Tamalo might be human, but she's Got an ever so slight point to her ears. Ever so softly, she looks up and smiles and says, well, one moment, dearie. Professor Magnussen.

[Murray]

Timolo.

[Dungeon Master]

It's an honor to see what brings you to caravan ill. Oh, well, you know.

[Murray]

Fateful farmer's night.

[Dungeon Master]

I don't know.

[Murray]

I'm feeling a little frosty. Was hoping maybe you could give me a little reading.

[Dungeon Master]

I'd be delighted, too. One diviner to another.

[Murray]

It's always good to get a gut check from someone not so close.

[Dungeon Master]

She puts a small phial of a tincture in the young woman's hands and says, margaret, hold to that. A few drops in your tea every morning and you'll be sure to catch your true love's eye. And you see that the woman gets up, very excited. Temelo gestures for you to take the seat and moves and grabs a little pitcher of water and just pours some water in. Another little phial, puts it and then slides into the side of her gown.

[Murray]

Murray just chuckles and gives a little nice nod. Like, after seeing that, what can I do for you? Well, I'm not sure if you know my compatriots. Have you all met Timolo before?

[Hal]

We've never had the pleasure, but I've heard a lot about you from a

[Dungeon Master]

lot of Mr. Fang.

[Azune]

Cool friends.

[Hal]

Oh,

[Dungeon Master]

I've had more readings about you than you might first suspect.

[Hal]

That's not the news I was looking for. I am very curious to see how all this works. So I think that a friend here is in the mood for a reading. And we're just here to learn. This is the rest of our merry little band for the night.

[Dungeon Master]

Office officer. Yes?

[Azune]

I'm not on duty right now, and I do have my shield.

[Dungeon Master]

Duty, Duty.

[Azune]

I have my shield on my side, but I'm very relaxed with it. No weapon in hand. And I'll just give her a nod and I'll step back and turn half away from her just to in case she needs a little more reassurance that I'm not. Gotcha.

[Dungeon Master]

Pleasure, sir.

[Bolaire]

Absolute pleasure.

[Dungeon Master]

Well, then, let's commence to the reading. You see that? She smiles and says, friends and family, but a single silver piece will see your future divined.

[Murray]

You really gotta stop. Start charging more to help. You know you're worth more than that. I give her two silver pieces.

[Dungeon Master]

Ah. Your generosity knows no bounds.

[Murray]

I assure you it does.

[Dungeon Master]

Very well. Pose your question to the cards. You see that she shuffles, and you see more than a little sleight of hand in the movement of the cards. And maybe Even a little bit of illusion.

[Murray]

Okay.

[Dungeon Master]

Though nothing that constitutes actual spellcasting. Even though this is outside the marketplace and spellcasting is still allowed here, you see, there's a little bit of. It's a little bit concerning. So she puts the deck in front of you. Cut where thou wilt.

[Murray]

Do I ask my question now or after I cut the deck?

[Dungeon Master]

Cut first and ask your question.

[Murray]

You know what they say, birds of a feather must flock together. But I think this particular group of magpies might be looking to find the nest of any crows that might be nearby.

[Dungeon Master]

You see that she flips the first card over and you see that there is a pale figure surrounded by wings on the card that holds aloft an hourglass in one hand. You see, she says, The path I tread, death walks not far behind. Time, as ever, is of the essence. That is the journey you are on, but where you have arrived. She places a second card. You see that this card before it. You see that there is a golden and a ruby mask facing each other, each on a side. You see? She looks over and says, appearances quite deceptive. Conflict mediated through smiles. Forces moving and depicting their movements as other than they truly are. Takes a third card, places it down, and you see that there is an enormous coiling dragon on it whose body is the blue of river water and with trees growing from its massive scales as it circles around, the fate of the world hangs in balance. Anyone who wants to give me a perception check. Yes, deeply.

[Murray]

I'm going to let them go because I'm fixated here.

[Bolaire]

Yeah, I can do math. 17.

[Azune]

Seven.

[Dungeon Master]

Seven.

[Hal]

Eleven.

[Azune]

Looking away. Halfway

[Dungeon Master]

Bolayer on a 17. A minor illusion flickers over Temelo's eyes and you see glittering gold. Temelo is a glashtig. She's a type of fey, sort of like a very close to a satyr or a fawn, but with the appearance of a deer or stag. She looks up and says, I know not what troubles you on this journey. What my eyes have seen. And you see. She touches her head and the tiara with antlers. She adjusts it and only the tiara moves and the antlers stay put. Crows have taken deep underground where the water of the dragon of the world flows. I have seen them flying from their rook all day today. Worried and flustered, they are more than usual, for a great treasure has come to them. In a time where they lack leadership, there is dispute amongst their number about how to make good on this propitious occasion. The hourglass of death ticks slowly by the sand falls quickly. Deep underground there is a cavern where they now seek the counsel of one who trucks with dark powers. Water flows down to these caverns. And if I were you, Mary Magnussen, I would follow the stench. For indeed they seek foul things for answers as to what they should do with their prize. Do you believe in fairies, Ms. Magnessen?

[Murray]

Of course I do. Why would I dispute something that I already know to be real?

[Dungeon Master]

There are things in the dark which are truer, deeper than what is real. They are looking for a way out. The crows meddle with something they do not fully understand. The treasure you seek will not stay long in their clutches. For crows are fickle birds. And they will go for what is shiny over what they know can cause them harm. You are running out of time. The stench. The water. And she gestures towards a place where, literally, the water is running down the street towards the massive storm drains that approach the river.

[Bolaire]

Right.

[Murray]

Well, you know how difficult it is for a carrion to resist a fresh carcass. Thank you, Ms. Dimolo. I'm gonna pass her another silver piece.

[Dungeon Master]

She flicks it and goes. A fairy has recently caused great trouble for the crows. If you find her, please let Thimble know we are waiting for her. The city is becoming more dangerous. Some of us have already gone missing. She gets up, collects her cards. Pleasure. The divining arts have drained me of some strength of spirit. I will retire to my carriage where I can replenish. Thank you.

[Hal]

Hal twists his hand in the air just behind Marie, and a translucent magpie appears on her shoulder. I just cast minor illusion and its eyes brighten blue and, like a stately little gentleman, bows to Temelo and then vanishes from the shoulder.

[Murray]

From one diviner to another, I expect that you'll keep this between us.

[Dungeon Master]

Between a diviner and those for whom they peer through the veil of past, present and future, there can only be the most unshakable bond. Besides, not everyone's throwing around three silver like that. And you see that? She absconds to her carriage.

[Murray]

You heard the woman.

[Dungeon Master]

Okay, let's go, let's go. Oh, no, no.

[Bolaire]

Oh, I'm going.

[Murray]

Oh, no.

[Bolaire]

It's just disgusting.

[Azune]

It's gonna get messy.

[Bolaire]

I know.

[Azune]

Do whatever you need to do to prepare.

[Murray]

Yeah, I'm already down both of my heights.

[Hal]

So the storm drain that you mentioned, is it off the beaten path?

[Dungeon Master]

A little bit, yeah. Yeah, the water runs down to a. You guys are in Caravan Hill. The storm drains get to the other side of the Victors Road, which is the main highway, but there's a couple little alleys that they peel down into and they're sort of civic infrastructure. So they're quite a bit larger. Some of these grates are eight feet wide. You know, they're big, big grates. And they'll flow down under the city out into lake Nahami.

[Hal]

Okay.

[Dungeon Master]

Okay,

[Azune]

that's cool.

[Dungeon Master]

All right.

[Hal]

So we're gathering at one of these. Out of view.

[Murray]

Yeah. Let's make sure that we're out of sight.

[Azune]

Yeah.

[Bolaire]

Keeping an eye out.

[Azune]

Yes, very much. I will. As we move, I'm going to focus on perception. I'm perceiving my surroundings and I'm actively heightening my senses, guidancing myself as I look around.

[Dungeon Master]

Go ahead. You cast guidance on yourself. Go ahead and give me an investigation check.

[Azune]

Great. 17,

[Dungeon Master]

16, 16. Moving down through the shadows. You guys arrive seeing the water flowing over the cobblestones. There's a number of grates nearby under this massive foundation of a large stone building. So it's like the huge buttresses of this larger civic building Underneath it, these big, wide grates. The water is flowing down into. You look and see that of the grates. You hear that about three of them are making a loud distant splashing. The other grate that you walk by, it continues to just sound like running brook. You don't hear a splashing. There's a babbling as the walk, water vanishes into the darkness on the other side of the grate. Oh,

[Azune]

This one. That seems a little bit different from the others. I will call that everyone's attention to it. I think this might be the one that people have moved through perhaps. And I'm going to start to look for evidence of people having moved through here. If it's wet here, then there might be some wet footprints.

[Dungeon Master]

The water approaches the grate and flows over the lip of it. So no ability to see footprints here. But you can give me another. You can give me perception or something else here if you would like to. But that 16 investigation does bring you to the fact that this grate doesn't sound like the others.

[Azune]

I'm just going to cut to the chase and I'm going to put my hands on the grate and I'm going to try to move it.

[Dungeon Master]

Give me athletics difficulty of.

[Murray]

Let's go.

[Azune]

Oh, that's very good. 22.

[Dungeon Master]

A grate. Great, great. A grate. You put your hands around it, Your boots stand in running water. What did azune think when that third card came up,

[Azune]

the one about past, present and future?

[Dungeon Master]

The third one, a dragon coiling down with a river of its body and trees growing from its side.

[Azune]

I. A lot of things flashed. I saw that card as she was talking about that past, present, and future. And I saw it was the trees

[Dungeon Master]

growing out of it.

[Azune]

And I just thought of rebirth.

[Dungeon Master]

You stand in this flowing rainwater, hold the gate. Passageways past, present, future. The water always flows forward, but eventually it does find where it began again. And this grate that appears to be solid, it has a hidden hinge behind the stone and opens up into the darkness at the base of the building. The water, instead of dropping into a major aqueduct to flow out to the lake, babbles because someone has come into the dark here. And built into the side of the stone a staircase, a wooden staircase that has water rushing over it. To build something of wood here means it has to get rebuilt and rebuilt and rebuilt over and over and over again. The water rushes down as steps proceed into the darkness. Well, here we go.

[Bolaire]

Who can actually see in the dark?

[Hal]

I can.

[Murray]

I can.

[Azune]

I cannot. Mine.

[Bolaire]

Me neither.

[Azune]

But I can give us some light if we need to.

[Hal]

Mm.

[Murray]

Well, why don't you. Maybe you can lean on Hal and I for a little bit.

[Bolaire]

Right.

[Murray]

How dark is it down here? Is it, like, dark, dark?

[Dungeon Master]

Pitch black.

[Azune]

Oh, no.

[Murray]

Great.

[Hal]

Did Boller say he cannot see?

[Bolaire]

I cannot see.

[Murray]

Either of them can.

[Bolaire]

I'm very sure. I'm not very sure. I'm quite sure. Double checking.

[Azune]

I definitely cannot.

[Bolaire]

That's all I need.

[Murray]

Okay. Well, maybe it's best to have a little bit of light down here. And then we can always extinguish it if we hear something, keep it between us.

[Bolaire]

We'll keep it low, maybe put a bit of. I can put it in my cloak.

[Azune]

Well, I'm gonna need actual fire. It's not gonna be magical light. It'll be torchlight.

[Bolaire]

Well, that'll do.

[Azune]

I'll pull out a torch and I'll light it.

[Dungeon Master]

Yeah, you light the torch as you step onto the staircase, following the water down into the sewers. Do you close the gate behind you?

[Hal]

Well, I think Hal is the last to follow. And I think as the others maybe get 10 or 15ft in, they might realize that he's still standing up at the door. And I don't verbalize any of it, but all I can think in this moment before walking down into this dark hole is that everything that's happened in the last two days, Hal has managed to tap dance around the worst of it to maintain a place in society that is Public and easy and natural. Everything that his brother eschewed and down this hole is everything that his brother tried to protect him from. And I think he knows in his gut that if he walks down this tunnel, he shouldn't expect things to be the way they are anymore. In too many days.

[Murray]

Do we notice him hanging back a little bit?

[Dungeon Master]

I think you do.

[Murray]

I look at Azune and Belair.

[Bolaire]

We should shut the door.

[Azune]

I'll get him walk up.

[Murray]

Yeah, I'll join.

[Bolaire]

Are you with us? Are you all right?

[Hal]

Definitely with you.

[Bolaire]

I hope there's time later to tell you how sorry I am that this has to happen. It was the one thing your brother did that I agreed with. This was not meant for you.

[Murray]

He did a lot to protect you from this life. But now, with his sword on your hip, I don't think you have a choice but to start a walk in his footsteps.

[Hal]

Once a good story gets its hooks in you, you have to follow it to the end. Bullet ship behind me.

[Dungeon Master]

Whatever life was meant for Helen Deal fang before the rope went taut. Vanishes into the dark like so much rainwater. You head into the shadows.

[Murray]

What's it smell like? Does it smell like shit?

[Dungeon Master]

Getting down the steps, you arrive at a place where mostly what's happening is rainwater. However, the deeper aqueducts are coming from further up into town, especially like the embers closer to the pentevral. And this is a place where industrial waste is coming down, where other things are coming down into the water. With that, if you follow Temolo's advice, I'd like someone to give me investigation with advantage as you follow the stench.

[Murray]

I'm pretty good.

[Bolaire]

I'm a six at investigation.

[Murray]

Oh, you're better than I am. I will help you. And just while this is going on, Murray has her notes out, and she's doing a very light making notes and doing a light map of the directions that we're walking. She's writing down also.

[Bolaire]

Are you taking depth into account as well?

[Murray]

I'll do my best.

[Bolaire]

Just counting steps mostly. All right.

[Hal]

I can see down here, but I sure I still couldn't write.

[Bolaire]

Oh, not great.

[Murray]

With advantage. Help from me.

[Bolaire]

I already had advantage.

[Murray]

Oh, okay.

[Dungeon Master]

Yeah.

[Hal]

Come on, buddy. 14.

[Dungeon Master]

14. As you continue along, you follow the stench as best you can. Long meandering path, couple of false starts. Who is carrying the torch right now?

[Azune]

I am carrying the torch. You got a shield in one hand, torch in the other.

[Dungeon Master]

With that 14, you are caught a little bit off guard. So I'm going to need a Group stealth check. But I'm going to need. I think I'm going to need it to be rolled with disadvantage. Oh, no.

[Hal]

Tell everyone at the table.

[Dungeon Master]

Everyone at the table will have disadvantage.

[Bolaire]

Love it.

[Hal]

I am in labyrinth, where every rock they step on, it farts.

[Dungeon Master]

Yeah,

[Murray]

I'm not keeping stealth, y'. All.

[Bolaire]

I'm okay.

[Murray]

Oh, I rolled a Natural 20, but it doesn't matter, really. No.

[Azune]

What was the other roll?

[Dungeon Master]

Where were you? Where were you?

[Bolaire]

Sorry.

[Murray]

4, 5 for me.

[Dungeon Master]

5, 11. 11, 14. With this advantage, 2014 is our median roll here. Okay, this can get actually very interesting. Oh, no, no, no. 14. I was expecting this to be a catastrophe, and a catastrophe has actually been avoided on a 14. I'm just checking one other.

[Murray]

Oh, boy. Huh?

[Dungeon Master]

Now, how about that? That is. I don't have any problem telling you that is the exact number you needed. I'm looking at a passive perception of a 13 right now. Oh, boy.

[Hal]

How do you like them magpies

[Dungeon Master]

walking up Azune at the last second? Thankfully, your approach, which is a little bit faltering and a couple of false starts. You guys have been traveling down here for about 40 minutes now, coming to some dead ends. And eventually you get to places where you realize that where the stench is highest is not only where Offron is coming from higher up in the city, but where it's also coming with enough time to fester and stink. So the main channels, the big, giant aqueducts, you actually have to avoid. And you have to find the smaller, weaker, older tunnels where things can kind of putrefy. And eventually, I think, belair, you do actually find some crow feathers and you find some ways to get where you're going at the last possible second, Azune, you see torchlight coming from around a corner where you'll have enough dim light to be able to at least find your footing. For those of you that cannot see in the dark, there are torches lit up ahead. Okay. And you hear a voice going, the father. And hear another voice from deeper in the darkness.

[Murray]

Might want to kill that torch control flame.

[Dungeon Master]

Yeah, snuff it. Torch is snuffed.

[Azune]

We can see the light dancing from the torches up ahead from where they are.

[Dungeon Master]

Yes, you can see right now you are approaching basically a T intersection where your little passageway of sewer will open out going left and right. And it is on that wall up ahead. So you are perfectly a shadow. But that wall up ahead shows a little bit of torchlight. Like it can see a chamber with torches lit. As you look at that, that's where you begin. To hear the voices. But you are approaching, having to make the choice. If you step out into that passageway that has a little bit of ambient torchlight, even that is still technically darkness. It's just the barest bit of torchlight reflecting from around a corner.

[Murray]

Mage armor.

[Dungeon Master]

Cast mage armor yourself.

[Bolaire]

I just use. I use a bonus action to very quietly make my sword glass slowly crackle and appear vine rapier with just a bit of green phosphorescent glow in the center. Like it's hitting a black light. Just the tiniest bit.

[Dungeon Master]

Glass sword in your hand. Do you approach

[Murray]

roughly how far away?

[Dungeon Master]

Give me a perception check.

[Hal]

The things we heard were clearly unnatural. That didn't sound like a common one.

[Dungeon Master]

Sounded like a humanoid voice. And something sounded like something else.

[Hal]

Yes.

[Murray]

You said perception check.

[Dungeon Master]

Yeah.

[Murray]

I knew all of those rolls. We're going to come back. I knew the new 10.

[Dungeon Master]

Everything is water and dripping and the flow. So it's impossible to tell how far away they are.

[Murray]

I being a dwarf, I'm going to. I have stone cunning. So as a bonus action, I can gain tremor sense with a range of 60ft for 10 minutes.

[Dungeon Master]

Okay.

[Murray]

So I'm going to cast tremor sense on myself. Yeah. My perception of. Of my visual and auditory senses absolutely failing me. And then. So Murray is just going to get down on a knee and touch the ground and see if she can sense how many people up ahead we're dealing with.

[Dungeon Master]

Give me perception with advantage. Okay.

[Hal]

Clever.

[Azune]

Nice move.

[Murray]

Come on. Much better. That's going to be an 18.

[Dungeon Master]

What are you doing? Whispers, wait. Oh, no. That's not a Whispers. That's not a Whisper. That's gonna be Whispers. He's leaving.

[Murray]

Whispers.

[Dungeon Master]

The game's over. Let him go. What do I do?

[Azune]

Is it finally happening?

[Murray]

Oh, have we just napped yet?

[Dungeon Master]

No, not us. Not us.

[Azune]

Not us.

[Hal]

We talk out our problems here.

[Dungeon Master]

The grown up table, employee table.

[Azune]

There's a lot of things.

[Bolaire]

Crow keepers.

[Dungeon Master]

I've come to bargain on an 18. Murray, I'm going to swivel this out this way.

[Azune]

Oh, my goodness.

[Dungeon Master]

On an 18, you are about 30ft down that way around another passage. There are one or two less than 10 crow keepers in this hideaway down beneath you. They are speaking to something whose form is taking up the entire. You don't know how to say this other than there is something unnatural through the stone that you can feel that is growing into the stone. There is something there that is essentially like a monstrosity. Its form is formless. But that voice you heard the deep and Unnatural voice is speaking as if from a mouthpiece on an entity that is actually filling up the entire chamber. There is something down there that is beyond. You would need to do magic or do arcana to tell what the fuck it is. But there is something unnatural and un humanoid that is in that space with them. Water. There's equipment around there. Most importantly, there are two passageways being guarded, including the one. If you step out into that partially lit chamber, there are guards that will see you. You can feel their foot scuffing as you think about generations of dwarves before you that had to feel the rock moving around them in deep subterranean mines. Almost like a breathing creature to know when they were safe and when they were. You feel their scuffed feet. They've been standing watching Garve for 45 minutes. So they're so exhausted on their feet that they just keep moving and shuffling and scuffing. So you got two guards that will absolutely watch your exit from that place and be able to call out. There's another passageway much like that. The water's coming from that one. Similarly guarded. There are in the stone. You can feel it ringing slightly, which is iron placed in the stone intervals. You feel that there are ladder rungs. If the water is running north, south, and the ladder rungs are on the perpendicular walls east and west. So if you could get up to another level, retrace your feet back a little while, get up one level, you might be able to drop down a ladder and bypass some of the guards from further up above. Resting. There's one body, very small, that is resting on stone and breathing raggedly and shallow. You recognize that rasp in that breath?

[Murray]

All right. I really all love that. If we step out into that corridor ahead of us, we're dead. Also, there's something in there that's big room, big. And it's not of this world. It's not of Armand. Not that it doesn't seem anyway. It sounds like Demetus is in there. I recognize the sound of that mouth breather anywhere he's in there. That we might be able to backtrack and maybe get above them and at least be able to get eyes. If we can get in the corridor over top of them, maybe there's a vent or something that we can look down into. But we're talking, I don't know, eight, ten people, ten crow keepers. Okay.

[Hal]

And a monster.

[Murray]

And a monster

[Dungeon Master]

and

[Murray]

terrified gnome who, from what I can sense, doesn't sound like he's doing too good.

[Hal]

What do we do Can I ask for clarification DM on the dimensions?

[Dungeon Master]

Yeah. Are we down this way or is

[Hal]

we walk out this way? We're in view.

[Dungeon Master]

You are. So the entrance to your side passage is 30ft down. You're probably another 15ft back out in shadow.

[Hal]

So we're over this way, but further down?

[Dungeon Master]

Yep, further down.

[Murray]

And you said there was another corridor where the water was? Oh, no, that side. That side.

[Dungeon Master]

That's where the water's coming from. Okay. And it continues down past you guys.

[Hal]

And for more clarification, asking for a friend, the ladder that she could feel through the stone, was she feeling the one that I see on the back?

[Dungeon Master]

That one and one over here?

[Bolaire]

Okay.

[Hal]

Okay.

[Azune]

You want to climb up the ladder?

[Murray]

What do we do? What do we do?

[Azune]

I mean, we want to backtrack, climb up the ladder and get it looked down.

[Murray]

I think going this way is a certain death. They are armed and ready to go.

[Azune]

You don't want them to see us.

[Murray]

I don't think that's the way we're going to jump in here also. Are we trying to talk? Are we trying to talk or are we trying to fight? We could also try a distraction, see how many of them that we can

[Azune]

get some of them to chase something down the way. Yeah, but that will only buy us a certain amount of time. They're going to run down, see that something isn't there, and then they're going to run back. But I think getting rid of some of them will be the move to make before we make ourselves known.

[Bolaire]

I might be helpful here. I think I might be able to do something. What do you think they should. What do you think there's something that you could put in there that would make the most of them, chase it down the sewer?

[Murray]

I mean, we already know that they're on edge. I think almost literally anything at this point. If they feel like their hideaway has been compromised, they're gonna go after anything. City guard.

[Hal]

Yeah, city guard.

[Azune]

The city guard. Even the sound of running feet splashing away from them.

[Bolaire]

All right, I just need to get within

[Dungeon Master]

60ft of.

[Azune]

Maybe getting on the second floor will give you a better vantage looking down. You might be able to find the right angle.

[Dungeon Master]

As long as someone I'll say, too. 60ft is not a tall order for you right now because where you're at, Bolaire. So we do 30ft past that. 60ft. If you were to step to the very edge of your shadow, 60ft would be right here from the opening into that side canal.

[Bolaire]

So Is there a. I don't know if there's other labyrinths here that I can send them down. That is not.

[Dungeon Master]

If we can totally. Your passage opens up into this main aqueduct. That aqueduct goes 30ft down to your opening, another 40ft down to another chamber with multiple openings coming from that. There's another side opening probably 15ft going the other way down where past you are here. This is like. In other words, this is not a snaky little mine with one way in and one way. This is a honeycomb of sewers to get water out from the city.

[Hal]

Yeah.

[Dungeon Master]

So lots of openings, lots of avenues in and out.

[Bolaire]

Okay. I'm going to try and use phantasmal force.

[Dungeon Master]

Hell yeah.

[Bolaire]

This is going to be interesting.

[Dungeon Master]

Uh huh.

[Bolaire]

I'm going to need you to grab a rock or something.

[Azune]

I reach down and I grab a loose piece of brick or stone.

[Bolaire]

When I say so, just toss it in that direction. Just a little bit into the water.

[Hal]

I can also help embellish. I can give you something visual or audio as well.

[Bolaire]

Audio might be nice.

[Hal]

What do you think?

[Bolaire]

Visual or audio? I'm going to make some soldiers. I'm going to have them see them attempt to attack and then run just enough that they.

[Dungeon Master]

They see them head off in the

[Bolaire]

direction that isn't ours.

[Hal]

So they're going to get a look at our friends and then take off running.

[Bolaire]

It's the hope.

[Hal]

Okay. Okay.

[Bolaire]

Are we ready? You have an idea?

[Azune]

I got my part.

[Bolaire]

I'll take a little bit of a. Actually, nope. This is a save, not an attack.

[Dungeon Master]

Okay.

[Bolaire]

I cast phantasmal force on whichever one looks more of an idiot.

[Azune]

Great.

[Dungeon Master]

So you're going to have to get line of sight. So you're gonna have to partially emerge from that. But you only need a tiny little corner of your eye to be able to cast the spell. So give me stealth with advantage to cast the spell off from.

[Bolaire]

Not great.

[Dungeon Master]

12.

[Azune]

Ooh, not great.

[Dungeon Master]

Not great. On a 12, you emerge, but you are also casting the spell in the moment that you emerge. So we are going to roll our check here. We're gonna roll our save. Your difficulty is 14, correct?

[Bolaire]

Yep.

[Dungeon Master]

Oh, this guy needs a 14 or higher on the die to save. I'll roll in front of the board.

[Azune]

Okay.

[Dungeon Master]

That is a nine. So, Bolaire, two things happen simultaneously. You get the spell off. One of the two guards will be affected by the spell. The other does faithfully see you. You see him, make you in the shadows. This was happening coterminously to these other actions here. Azune, what are you doing?

[Azune]

I'm doing just as he instructed. I'm throwing the brick just so it

[Bolaire]

just out of sight so that it makes a real splash in that direction.

[Dungeon Master]

Cool. Real splash. Got it.

[Hal]

You hear a gruff voice go, we're made.

[Dungeon Master]

Run back to the master of arms. It's infested.

[Hal]

But throwing his voice down that direction.

[Dungeon Master]

That way.

[Hal]

Yeah. It's a 30 foot range for me. So I'm throwing my voice.

[Dungeon Master]

Throwing your voice down there. Incredible.

[Bolaire]

I immediately I back up, cloak and like I back up, pull cloak and attempt to hide.

[Dungeon Master]

You back up and attempt to hide. Here you see a couple of these. What is the phantasmal forest that this one of them is seeing?

[Bolaire]

It's shadowed and it's hard to make

[Dungeon Master]

out, but it is a small group

[Bolaire]

of guards of soldiers who are clearly down here looking for things. And I'm going to have them just as the first of his approaches, I'm going to have them hit him with a psychic blast just like they're trying to clear the frame just as he gets a little further down.

[Dungeon Master]

Okay. The one of them that saw you, we are going to have to resolved but we are also going to roll. Now a deception check. These are gonna be two deception checks back to back. We are going to be rolling a group deception check for the auditory illusion that everyone's hearing. And yours you will be rolling with advantage because it is the person being affected by phantasmal force. So I'm going to need both. Both of these. You're giving me a deception with advantage. You're giving me a flat deception and

[Hal]

because of the liar's blade, I have advantage on deception. Does that factor into this?

[Dungeon Master]

That does factor into. That is correct. Okay, here we go. Your brother, sword, inveterate liar that he is, gleams at your side. I'm gonna need two deception rolls and I'm gonna say this right here. If we get both of these, if we get both of these rolls at a 15 or higher, that's good. If we get both of these, these rolls at a 25 or higher, that's exceptional. All right, let's go ahead and, let's go ahead and roll.

[Murray]

Oh, all right.

[Hal]

That's good.

[Murray]

Yeah, that one's good.

[Dungeon Master]

Not 20 nat. 20. Holy shit. And a two and a two. Okay, what do we got here?

[Hal]

24 on this end.

[Dungeon Master]

24. 24. Incredible.

[Bolaire]

So 26 total.

[Dungeon Master]

26 total. Gotcha.

[Bolaire]

Where have you been?

[Dungeon Master]

Okay, so a couple things are going to happen simultaneously. All of you hear this like we're made. It's infested as Garth meet a tree. Big rock splash. And you see the guy who spotted you goes, side hole, as the other one says, down that way. And you see the other guy goes, what? Turns to him. What I will need you guys to do is I actually would like with this, I would like Hal to roll me a 1D4, and I would like Balaire to roll me a 2D4, if you'd be so kind.

[Hal]

I'm curious about what this is about,

[Bolaire]

but I'm into it.

[Dungeon Master]

I can't find any of my D4s.

[Azune]

You need two. Just two at the moment. There you go.

[Murray]

Thank you.

[Azune]

Find out where they happen. My upper head's about to die.

[Bolaire]

Ooh, seven.

[Dungeon Master]

Seven. Great. Okay.

[Bolaire]

And I still haven't that done damage to that guy once he hits the. When he gets close enough to the beginning of that.

[Dungeon Master]

Yes, copy that. Da, da, da. Okay, you see, what is now going to happen is this. This guy rushes, grabs a torch, calls in, says, God found us. And the other one is going to rush for the tunnel. I am going to need an attack roll from you, if you would be so kind.

[Bolaire]

Well, I actually don't think. I think I automatically do the 2d8 damage because they fail to say an affected target you can take.

[Dungeon Master]

Yeah, this is about the guy who spotted you who is not the one who was affected by your spell. Oh, so the one who is unaffected by the spell is the one who clocked you and is going to come towards us. Come towards you? Yes.

[Bolaire]

Okay, so you need a base attack.

[Dungeon Master]

Yes, yes, yes, yes. So go ahead and give me an attack roll for that guy.

[Bolaire]

Is he within five feet or is it a distance attack?

[Dungeon Master]

No, I think you're hiding around the corner. So he's going to rush around the corner with a blade at the ready to see if he can get you guys before everybody else is here. And I'll say too, actually, as he's rushing around you guys here on that, you rolled a three and you got a seven added together in average, that's gonna be five. You see that? You hear a voice from inside one of the humanoid voices going, you two. Donovan here's after him. And you hear five sets of boots begin to rush down the tunnel away from the chamber after the invisible guards as one of them is pursuing down the side passage for you. If that person lives in the darkness long enough to shout, we have to

[Hal]

make them vanish immediately.

[Dungeon Master]

You have the instant of their walking into that passage to make them vanish. However, all of that is going to be reliant on what you roll for. Initiative. Go ahead and roll. Initiative. My favorite. You guys will roll Initiative. So low. Da da da. Home Austin here. What'd you get?

[Bolaire]

Eleven.

[Dungeon Master]

Eleven. Hal, what'd you get?

[Hal]

Seven.

[Dungeon Master]

Murray, what'd you get? Six. Okay, Bolt, what'd you get? Eleven.

[Hal]

Oh, God.

[Dungeon Master]

Oh, shit. We're so fast. Oh, shit.

[Azune]

We're so fast. Oh, shit.

[Murray]

Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. You rolled seven. I rolled six. You were 11.

[Hal]

11.

[Dungeon Master]

11. An 11.

[Murray]

Oh, boy.

[Dungeon Master]

Those are not good. Those are terrible.

[Murray]

Oh, my God.

[Dungeon Master]

So I'm gonna let you know, unfortunately, Murray and Hal will not be able to act before our Crow keeper. Only Azune and Bolaire have a chance to prevent your true position from being made. Okay. And you will have to do that on next one of Critical Role. Oh, man. Okay, okay, okay, okay. Study your build. It's gonna be a big one. You got rid of five of them. If you can stop this guy, this one guy. This one guy. How about it? We'll see you all on another episode of Critical Role. And as always, is it Thursday? Thanks for listening to this episode of Critical Role. If you're enjoying this story, consider leaving a review on your podcast platform of choice. We're always looking for new critters to share our adventures with, and your review may help a new batch of wayward souls find their way to Ahriman, Exandria and beyond. Or if you want to hear what the cast discussed after the episode, head to Beacon and check out our exclusive show Critical Role Cooldown. You'll be right there at the table immediately after we say, is it Thursday yet? And experience our cast's post show reactions. We'll see you next time.