
Part 2 The Schemers reckon with the swift changes coming to Dol-Makjar while the Soldiers ponder stone, blood, and blade... New Episodes Release Weekly on Thursdays. Learn more about Campaign 4 at https://critrole.com/campaign4/ GET MORE CAMPAIGN 4 WITH BEACON We're excited to bring you even MORE Campaign 4 with a Beacon membership! Get access to exclusive shows like our behind-the-scenes Critical Role Cooldown and ask the Campaign 4 cast your burning questions directly through our LIVE monthly Fireside Chats. You'll also receive NEW Beacon exclusive series, instant ad-free access to VODs & podcasts, live event pre-sales, merch discounts, & a private Discord. Start your 7-day free trial today at https://beacon.tv/join and get unparalleled access to everything Critical Role! OFFICIAL CAMPAIGN 4 CAST GAME MASTER Brennan Lee Mulligan Laura Bailey as Thimble Luis Carazo as Azune Nayar Robbie Daymond as Kattigan Vale Aabria Iyengar as Thaisha Lloy Taliesin Jaffe as Bolaire Lathal...
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Wick
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Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
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Teor
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Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
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Teor
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Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
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. Pussy Zip. Zap.
Tyranny
Zap.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Well one of those was much nicer than the other folks. Welcome back to this episode of cr. We are here in the dungeons of Castle Dhelani where we have just seen in a beautiful contrapposto holding ornament before him, dressed in regal robes, a statue of a Nama, a lionfolk warrior that you recognize your brother. A perfect statue of him. You look over at an altar covered in ropes and chains and you see pulleys hanging from the wall as though to bind and manipulate their captives into shape. In a corner you see a chest filled with what first looked like soiled rags, but you realize are actually un uncleaned finery of lords and people who dwell here in the castle. After all, they don't make statues of former rebel soldiers, they make statues of lords and ladies. Dress them up Bind them to the table. Turn them to stone. Throw them on the cart.
Teor
Can I race over from where I am to the statue?
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
You see this horse with a now badly singed cart looks pretty alarmed. You look up and do see a large kahadi wolfhound. A statue of one on the back of the cart. Two other figures. And you look down and see here in this place your the unmistakable visage of your brother. A little leaner maybe. Been running on his own through the woods for about a week before they caught him. The look on the face of this statue is distant. There's something strange about the expression. Give me an insight check.
Thimble
Can I help him?
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Yeah. 14. He looks mournful, as the other statues here do. Sort of pushed and forced against their will into these poses that would make them seem plausible in transport. Statue esque statuesque. But his eyes on that 14. There's something in his eyes. Like he's searching for something. It looks oddly familiar to you. You don't know why you see yourself in this expression, but it's a face. And you realize I think on a 14 that he inherited that face from your father. There was a look that your father would get a middle distance. Almost like you weren't looking at something physically present in the space. But even though it seemed somehow distracted, it was like he was more present in those moments. More thoughtful, more aware somehow.
Thimble
It's like he knew something was. Where were the statues? Can we see where the ropes and.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Pictures scattered around the bodies of the dead. It smells insane here. Blood. The smell of iron and damp stone. You see that the basilisk. Its corpse has now its head has largely turned to stone as stalactites or stalagmites are growing out of its skull, anchoring it to the ground. But you can see that it's. Its tongue is still wet and lolling out. There's some parts of its body that appear to be in a way that perhaps Riku is reasonable somewhat immune to petrification. Although other parts of it are not. So you see it's there. Weird twitching tongue.
Teor
Can I call out to Katagan and just say Cadogan, I need the blood, the organs of whatever that creature is. Can you collect them for me please?
Cadigan
Yeah, and I'll run over to the pile of goop that is the departed basilisk.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Yeah, go ahead. And Wulfric will give you the help. Action here. Give me a survival check to see how much you can harvest. Need a DC10 to get something.
Teor
We have not come across these.
Thimble
You guide yourself. You guide yourself.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
I can't. Doink. Okay.
Cadigan
Survival.
Teor
15.
Cadigan
And then guidance.
Wick
16.
Cadigan
17.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Khadigan. You begin to pull through and see that this thing is basically producing some kind of bile in its stomach that's keeping the lower part of its body. Its skin is fusing to the cavern floor. But you get a knife in and carve into its tongue scraping against the parts of its jaw that have already become stone. Harvest the tongue out of it and that basically opens its mouth up enough for you to get in and pull viscera in. You get. And you can write all this down. You get a basilisk heart, a pair of basilisk kidneys. And maybe most critically you're able to pull its stomach out. Which is the thing producing that sort of petrification resistant bile.
Cadigan
Okay.
Thimble
I wonder if it would reverse the effect.
Teor
We have to be careful. We should take it to someone who knows these things. We cannot waste such a precious resource on a guess. Thimble and I'll pull out the parchment that I grabbed off of the table. Lys was over on that platform. Do you know what to make of it? What language that is?
Thimble
Do I recognize any of the symbols?
Teor
Do I recognize it either?
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Also? I think you guys have traveled enough through Dwarven lands to the east of Dolnakyar to know the Dwarven Alphabet when you see it.
Cadigan
Yes.
Thimble
But I don't find a Dwarven. Do I recognize any of the arcane symbols?
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Give me an Arcana check.
Teor
May I as well?
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Yeah.
Tyranny
16.
Teor
Dirty 20.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Where was that? On a 16. You recognize the sort of language above as Obra Die. As like an older language that shares some. Like there's some Celestial runes. Like some of the runes look similar to things you've seen on Candescent Creed stuff before. But that is also the same culture and civilization that the Taconis are from as well. So it might just be like a shared Alphabet having to do with Celestial.
Thimble
Are there any more pages that were in the book?
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Rudy? Go ahead and give me an investigation.
Thimble
Check.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
23 on a 23. You rerouted the pages. The things you find? There's plenty down here. It looks like they've been working down here feverishly for about two days. And you see that there are a lot of bags in a corner where essentially these guys came down to work and left their own marching packs and stuff. It would take more than an hour to search through every single person's pack here. But you can kind of discount the guards packs and focus on what looks like either the guard captain or this Knight of Saramai on what feels to you like a pretty thorough search of at least what matters. You see, there are a bunch of potions stored near the cages. Two of them appear to be a well wrapped, beautifully administered. They're not really in bottles, they're in flasks that have some brass work on them and look quite nice. You can't see what the liquid is inside them, but they appear to be written once again, an old obra die. And then there are four that look much jankier. These four are out and they were very visible and in a very clear place within hand's reach near the cages.
Thimble
They're bad ones.
Wick
They're probably anti petrification, I think Wick.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
You alight on the correct. As you look at them, there is a they almost like Khadigan. It's like a one to one of rendered bile. But I think looking at that, the way that they're out so fast on that correct guess, I think that you ascertain they wouldn't need to be out if they could reverse it. Does that make sense? They're here in that one round that you have.
Wick
Oh, God.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Yeah, right. It's like an anti venom. You need to take it quick. Which means that you think it can't reverse the actual state of petrification once it's set in. In terms of pages, there are many different effects on the fallen knight of Saramai before we get into like his person. But before that, you see there appears to be a page amongst those of the poses, which are sketched out basically to explain sculpture to a group of guards. But there's a weird phrase written on a scrap of parchment that was in Saramai's bag. One of them is written in a fine script and it says, say this precisely and then in quotations, warrior, reach your senses. Tell me true. Do the dead draw near? And then in that bag, you find sort of a less. That's sort of the limit of the arcane weird freaky shit you're finding here. You find a couple quick missives, almost like the quickly folded ones handed off by a carrier. Between that all seem to come from the Lord Docet to this Knight of Saramai. On that investigation check. It's all quick. It's almost like they've been traveling together. So it's like one of them's in the tavern and one of them is down in another part of the village taking care of business and was like, run this to so and so and give him this to me. You're not Able to therefore really put together a theory of the case. But the proper nouns that come up in these messages are a place called Houndsport in Ganeleer, which you recognize as a northern region in Timony. He makes reference to someone called Trimus, which to your knowledge, probably is a member of the Taconis family just based on her name. And in Houndsport, a Captain Lantry Ferris of the Spurring. The last thing you find there is in what looks like a little bit of a finer letter that is actually in a small thing that is a longer letter that Saramai might have been traveling with since Dolmakyar or since maybe the Dvalmar Pass if they met up other. In other places. Just is a long letter in a really kind of like glowing praise from the Lord Docet. It's like a letter to this Knight of Saramai, like, saying, I am so proud of how far you've come and amazed that we will have this journey together. You have always served our family honorably and nobly, and I hope that we will find our bearing together as we travel on this mission to the Bay of Garathai.
Thimble
Do I know where that is?
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Give me Arcana. Or probably history, actually.
Tyranny
Whoa.
Thimble
19.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
You know the Bay of Garrethii? You were there not long ago. The Bay of Garrethii is the northernmost part of the Sea of Imlay, where the sea reaches into the Barrow Dell of the Dead, Goddess of life. It is a place that you came very close to on your way to go steal the Stone of Nightsong with Thyazzi. The bay is covered at almost even within 20 miles of where the Barrowdell. 20 nautical leagues of where the Barrowdell actually begins. The sea is so choked with mist that even seeing from one end of the ship to the other becomes impossible. And a lot of people that sail in that part of the world talk about hearing ships make distress calls from the mist that cannot be found upon searching. Okay.
Thimble
We need to get out of here.
Wick
Did we search the knight yet?
Thimble
But these bracers. Taylor, you have to get them off of him. These were. These were Royce Bracers. Somebody died for him to have these.
Teor
Yes, of course. And I'll move to collect the bracers, the sword, any other objects that seem like they have money.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Money. Yeah. Yeah. You see, there's a good. There's a pouch of about 60 gold pieces over in their effects. The sword is absolutely a recognizable sword. Saramai blade. It's got a serpent pommel, and it has some effects of his house on it. Shield is Extremely finely crafted, but non magical. And then there are the bracers, which are obviously enchanted.
Thimble
He used those to pick up Cid.
Teor
Increased his strength.
Thimble
I wonder if you can do the same. We have to get out of here.
Teor
We will need cover. Disguise.
Tyranny
I'm still Octus. Can we look at that chest yet though?
Teor
Which chest?
Tyranny
You said there was a chest, right?
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
The chest is what contains literally these rotting. They're not costumes, but essentially there's stolen noble finery here that's they're waiting to dress people with.
Teor
Yeah.
Wick
If we need to make a quick getaway out this ramp here, we could hide under the statues.
Teor
And duress is God.
Tyranny
Well, let me ask you something, Wick. You were hanging out with that dog and you let me go ahead and almost get fucking stoned. So I'm assuming you're a dog person now. And I'd like to use disguise self and turn myself into a dog.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Well.
Wick
Bark, bark. I wasn't hanging out with the dog. I was trying to set. I was trying to set.
Tyranny
Can't understand you. I'm a fucking dog.
Wick
I was trying to set an alarm. By the way, has the alarm gone off?
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
No, the alarm's not gone off.
Wick
I wasn't choosing to be with a dog over you at all. Where's this coming from?
Tyranny
Also, I can only be one foot shorter. So I'm a hound. Big ass pink dog.
Wick
All right, all right. Let's table this for now.
Teor
I'll try and move to collect some of the guards and adornments of things so I can sort of piece together along with the hood that I might be able to lead the.
Thimble
Maybe you three can.
Cadigan
I'll finish mucking through the guts and at the. At the bottom of the stomach there's a little duodenum there. I'll pull out one of the empty tinctures I have in my bandolier. And I'm just gonna try to squeeze out a tincture's worth of bile into this.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Great.
Cadigan
Into this tincture. And then throw the rest of the slop in Wulfric's pack.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Great for food. Yeah.
Tyranny
I'd like to also eat Saramai's other ear that you blasted off.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
You demon lizard.
Tyranny
No, a dog.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Still doggy. A little doggie. The basilisk is successfully harvested. Anyone that wants you can give me a nature or arcana check here in regards to specifically. Maybe actually just Kadin, give me a nature check here as you're harvesting this.
Cadigan
Yeah, let's do it. Big dice.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Great 18 harvesting this. I think that you can tell from the antidote. This antidote is extremely basic. Whatever this bile is, basically can be left pretty close to unprocessed and served as an antidote. I think you looking at having the actual duodenum, looking at having these actual organs with you feel pretty confident that if you found a. Let's not even say legendary. Let's just say a skilled alchemist. A skilled alchemist, a skilled artificer, or someone familiar with magical objects or magical. It's sad to refer to your brother as a magical object, but that's technically what he is is right now. So I think that any place that has either a dealing with enchanted objects or that has some success with alchemy would be able to take these. And you're pretty sure make something that could reverse this.
Cadigan
While Teor's loading up, getting ready to take off, I'm just going to walk by him with Wulfric and I'm a slap him on the shoulder and go, rough fight. And then I'll slap the tincture of bile in his hand.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Cool.
Teor
I'll take it.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Yeah. You hold that central thing. You've got a bunch of other fun stuff from the basilisk that may be worth something, but fundamentally, the thing that's going to be able to potentially reverse this, you're holding in your hand. With that, you. You have a bunch of gear, sort of. I would like a group deception check. The difficulty of a passing Disguise is only 10, meaning you can walk down a street and everyone will think, oh, there goes some Taconus cards.
Thimble
Should I roll? Since I would just be hiding among the cards.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
You should roll. Yeah.
Tyranny
I would like to use one of my luck points to reroll.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
You got it.
Teor
Go for it.
Tyranny
Stop.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Oh, no. What do we get here for the session?
Teor
Dirty 20.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Dirty 20.
Cadigan
Oh, of course. Natural 20.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Natural 20 now. Yeah.
Thimble
Nine.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Nine. 14 from 14. The talker. Our median roll is dirty. Our media roll is a dirty 20. I think Cadogan and Teor, this is not the first time you've run this scam. So it's a lot of. Rather than trying to fully undress one of these guys, it's like leave your own stuff on. Take the tabards, take the stuff that's recognizable, a pauldron, a helm, something like that, and cover yourself. People will notice you one walking with a weird gait more than they will notice that your breeches are not the exact right color. Right. You get the gear on, you look for all the world. Like Cicona's cards.
Thimble
Great.
Wick
Are you going to remain a dog?
Tyranny
Bark, bark. I'd actually like to turn my attention to Thimble and say, hey, that was so cool that you one shotted that guy back there. And I just want to you to know that when my contract ends with Wick, I'd like to work for you. Or if he cancels it at any time. You seem really loyal. Like a dog. And I assume human form.
Thimble
You're under contract.
Tyranny
Yeah, did I not say that? Yeah, I've said that.
Wick
She's under contract with my family.
Cadigan
Yes.
Thimble
Right.
Tyranny
Well, with you.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
I mean, I didn't engage it.
Thimble
Are you going to be a guard as well?
Tyranny
Yeah, I assume human form and guard shaped.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Is there any particular form that you assume? Are you assuming a generic but believable Taconus guard?
Thimble
Maybe. Oh, maybe you can be the captain. The one that was gonna drive.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Mm, yeah.
Tyranny
I mean, I could do that. I mean, it didn't go so well last time I impersonated a.
Thimble
Well, this night here said that Octus should be dead. Yeah, Maybe that's why it didn't work.
Tyranny
I'll do it. Yeah, I'm gonna do that. Can I wear his bracelets for a little while?
Thimble
Not the night, I meant the cat. The one that.
Tyranny
Oh, the captain. All right. Yeah, I'll do that.
Thimble
The knight seems a little more questionable. It might be. Getting yourself.
Tyranny
I gotta work on my accents. It's really. Well, whatever.
Wick
No, I took classes with Hal and.
Tyranny
I could talk to me right now.
Wick
All right, all right.
Tyranny
Okay. I'm going to be the knight. Wait, no.
Cadigan
I mean, no.
Tyranny
I'm going to be the guard.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
The guard. Incredible. You are relieving this knight of Saramai of his blade and the Royce Bracers. Yes. Okay.
Teor
Not detecting anything else. No Pendants, rings, Anything else on it?
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Nothing that you can see of that kind. You see, he is of a lesser house. It looks like for him, you see that he saw an opportunity to get these Royce Bracers and took it. And it was probably a kind enough kindness enough to him for him to even have an enchanted blade of his house. Cool. Cid is on the ground. Do you guys.
Thimble
In other words, can you lift him with the bracers? That's what he used to pick up the statue before.
Teor
I mean, I can try, but I think also if all of us get together, we can probably get under there.
Thimble
It's like £2,000.
Teor
I mean, I can try and put the bracers on, but I think you have to attune to that.
Thimble
But if he's £2,000, how is this horse going to carry all These statues.
Teor
That's a fucking horse. They're awesome.
Tyranny
Two very different.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Wheels. I love it. Yeah. I was going to say too. It's real. That's like a real glass half full. Glass half empty. Is looking at a horse in a cart and being like. You're either a person that thinks horses rule or you're a person that's like. Wheels are in incredible shape. The wheel.
Tyranny
Is that how I sound?
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
No. And that's how I sound in my head. I'm on team Wheels, man. I'm on Team Wheels. Wheels are fun for anyone. I wish you all would stop talking shit about wheels.
Tyranny
Gotta invent a new kind.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Are you seriously concerned about that though?
Thimble
They were gonna do it. I'm sure it's fine.
Tyranny
Yeah.
Cadigan
Listen. I'll sense the struggle here and I'll set Wulfric on a harness and I'll have him grab with his teeth and help bear some of the load.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
He'll bear some of the load up the. Yeah.
Wick
I can help as well.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
I think.
Wick
What way? I mean, I can help lift. Oh, you wouldn't lift. Yes.
Cadigan
Yeah. Make a muscle right now.
Wick
Make a muscle.
Tyranny
He gets pretty strong all of a sudden during that. Why am I protecting him?
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Yeah.
Tyranny
No. He's a weakling little dumb idiot baby.
Thimble
And I hate him.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
We should go disguised as the captain. You look down and see this sort of shaved sides of her head, black taconis armor. You see a dwarven warrior. She has this deep black eyeshadow covering around and tuft of spiky hair. Warhammer at her side gazing out scorched and singed with some Taconus armor. And you look at her face and adopt her visage. Look just like her. And you see there is a massive closed, slanted 45 degree angle cellar door. But massive for this cart to be able to move up this ramp and out up at the end of this long hallway.
Teor
Very much like the one we saw in the courtyard when we were crossing.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Yes. But to your knowledge, I think spatially this can't be the same one.
Thimble
That's good. Maybe it's farther away.
Teor
Could be on the outside.
Thimble
Fingers crossed.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
You guys head up, you get to the doors and see that they are locked from the inside. There's a lock and there is a key hanging from the chain right next to this lock.
Teor
That's lucky.
Thimble
Just before we leave, I'm going to.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Mm.
Thimble
I don't know if this is a smart idea.
Tyranny
Do it.
Thimble
I'm gonna pick up one of the torches and fly over to Saramai's body and drop it down on him. And I'm gonna use druidcraft to make you catch more.
Tyranny
God, that smells so good.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
You begin to burn his body past the point where it will be possible to raise again in service of the House of Teconis. Sick.
Teor
Good call.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Moving up the ramp, you guys get to the exterior door. The the cart moves up and you arrive seeing the lock hanging from a chain, the horse moving. I am going to make a constitution save in front of the cart. You just don't want a 1, 2, or 3. That's not one.
Cadigan
No way.
Tyranny
Are you sure that's what we don't want?
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
You have more luck points. You can make me reroll that.
Thimble
Reroll?
Teor
Is that how that works?
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
That's a two.
Tyranny
Wait, what's happening? What's happening to us? I have one more.
Thimble
Can you make him do it again?
Wick
No, I think it only does once per roll.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Right? I believe it's only once per roll, but let's double, triple check that if we can.
Teor
I'm gonna use a desperate measure.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
I love it.
Thimble
I mean, but this will be a.
Teor
Fun little kitschy roll.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Surely I won't roll a once, but two. Oh, and actually, you know what? Oh, wait.
Tyranny
It's proficiency bonus. Which is. I've got a plus two.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Oh.
Cadigan
Okay.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
You can spend the points on Ben. Also, when you roll for a D20 test, you can spend one luck point to give yourself advantage when a creature rolls D20. Attack. Attack. Against you. So unfortunately, you don't spend it, so it's still the NAT one. Okay, moving up. You can see that the cartoon was singed. And you can see there's some damage to a wheel and axle. You don't think this cart will be able to survive a very long trek? This has probably got a shelf life in it of maybe somewhere in the city.
Wick
Sorry. That was my fault. I burned it. I'm sorry.
Teor
You did? Well, it died. Yes.
Cadigan
We went on a scouting mission on the way to check out the city and ended up at the hospital. Did we encounter or see any little shops where there's arcana symbol or on that route, would it come to mind?
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Nothing would come to. I mean, the closest you got to was that place that you went where they were selling like, buckets with honey on the inside of the rim to catch fairies.
Wick
Okay.
Thimble
You know who would know about enchanted items?
Teor
Who?
Thimble
Belair.
Cadigan
Who's that?
Thimble
The creepy guy with the mask.
Cadigan
Throws great parties at the funeral. Yeah, a total Blair.
Teor
We also have 60 gold pieces, and there were carriages in the city. They were owned by other people. But I. I'm sure we could pay them for.
Wick
We have more than that actually. If you add that to the group funds, we have 220 gold and it's.
Thimble
Still nighttime, so we might be able to get somewhere without being noticed too much with all of these starches.
Wick
The hospital was not a place where we could hide out or lay low, right?
Thimble
I don't think so, no. There's a lot of Taconis activity there.
Cadigan
Bad vibes too.
Thimble
Can I look in the chest of the finery and see if we can put a big cape or something over the cart?
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Over the cart? Yes, very easily. One or two big fur capes makes this look. And the cart is pretty humble itself. So you end up with. It looks like they were going to move this out of this dungeon. The Taconis aren't traveling with a one horse cart, but this is the only thing that could fit down into into the cellars. So they're moving this on up out of here for some other purpose. But you're able to cover them up with cloaks so it won't look like you're absconding with four stone statues.
Teor
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Wick
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Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Arriving up at the top, there's the lock. You have your cart covered, you have money. And you have mentioned Bolaire, who you certainly. I think you may have heard him speak of the museum having a protocol to deal with art or things of that nature that come by and end up being actually petrified beings in this.
Teor
Moment now, having my brother petrified in the back of this cart, can I use this opportunity to level up? And I'll use the detect magic magic spell just to feel out if there's any incantation on this doorway, the lock, anything that would trigger anything that we're not seeing with the naked eye.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Before we turn the key you cast detect magic, your senses move out, your eyes go wide, and you realize.
Cadigan
You'Re.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Making the face Cid's making. It's the same face you make when you use your paladin divine sensibility. It's a face to read the aura of this world. Now you have reached into a spell here that calls upon the ability to detect magic, which is a more refined version. Divine sense is something intuitive for paladins. It senses the presence of fey fiends, undead nearby. But detect magic allows you to actually read with a fine precision exactly what different arcanists, occultists, will workers are trying to do. You look at these statues and see even the Hound are all making a version of this face. Light fills your vision. And what you can see is your light coming from your eyes reflects off of a radiation that your friends cannot see in this moment, but you suddenly can. Every one of the beings in that wagon is petrified in a state of heightened supernatural awareness. Sid as stone is using his divine sense, it is casting out from his eyes as though he was using it in the moment he was petrified and was stuck in that position. And though you do not know their names or their stories, what you recognize is that that same ability to cast out and sense the presence of fiend or fae and of the undead is emanating from the eyes of every statue in that cart. Meaning everyone in that cart was a paladin who was captured by the Taconis and brought down here and turned to stone.
Wick
They were using them as some sort of early warning system for some sort of fey invasion.
Teor
Also to pose them. It feels like they're using them to smuggle something. Why would you bring paladins down with that ability, pose them in finery of rich people.
Wick
Because if you put. Speaking as a rich person myself, if you have a palace or a place that you're particularly proud of, you might want to decorate it with lovely statues. And what a benefit if those statues could also point out dark creatures or, no offense, weird Fay trying to get in or something.
Cadigan
And you grabbed.
Wick
I said no offense.
Cadigan
You grabbed that book with all the drawings.
Thimble
Yeah, yeah, I grabbed.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
We just kind of read it. Yeah, you grab the book with the drawings. Looking back over your. As Teor explains that, you also look at those notes that Docet wrote to Sarama, whose name you never bothered to learn.
Teor
But.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
But he addresses him as Sir Aniko, refers to him and says. You see, he mentions something that's language you've heard about. It says something like how lucky we were on this whole Gavndale affair to have lucked into another one. And suddenly you realize that another one might not just refer to Sid. It.
Wick
Another Paladin. Who else? Oh, you.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Oh.
Teor
Oh.
Thimble
We. We.
Tyranny
So they were looking for you.
Wick
They were looking for Pal Palladi.
Teor
They did say earlier something about two birds, one stone.
Thimble
That's right.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Yeah.
Cadigan
That must have been why they took him, right? He got mixed up in. In the whole Theozi thing, and then they realized he was a Paladin and had a different use for him.
Tyranny
Oh, so they're looking for you.
Teor
I mean, I don't see how. I wasn't in Dolmarkiar. I wasn't in the city. I haven't been around the Aussie for years, and I don't. I don't know.
Cadigan
Anything strange happen to you in the city?
Teor
No. I came. We had missed his execution. We met with everyone and we came after Cid. Unless I'm missing something.
Tyranny
Does your brother have the same sort of light powers that you do?
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
I think this might be some news to you.
Teor
It is. I mean, not that I am aware of. It's again been many, many years since I have seen him. But certainly I was showing none of this, much less my brother.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
It also occurs to you at this moment, Tear, as you're like, could they be searching for me? You don't know when these other knights and warriors got got? It's possible that another one is something that they're referring to that they were referring to. In other words, they had a cart full of these guys already.
Teor
Also, the quote is, warrior, tell me true, do the dead draw near? Which is what you would say to a Paladin in order to act to tell them to activate their sight. So we should. We've got the statues in the cart, right?
Thimble
Yeah, I mean that's what.
Teor
Say it out loud, warrior.
Thimble
Tell me true. Did the dead draw near.
Wick
You?
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
See? And now to all of you, visible light emerges from the eyes of these stone statues.
Thimble
Yep, they're sentries.
Teor
Motherfucker.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
That's cool as shit. We thought so.
Teor
Fuck you.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
God, your shit is so evil and so fucked.
Thimble
High up and check for traps on the door.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Give me investigation and having. Okay, it's just every once in a while. There you go. Hey buddy. God, that poncho was comfy.
Teor
It looks like baby.
Wick
Have I ever been around the Taconis homestead? Do they have a headquarters that I would know of?
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
You have been to Obermus Manor in Dolmachi. Which is their place. In Dolmachiar. Their ancestral lands, like yours are sundered. They are in the eternal night in one of the Barrow Dells. But the Taconis actually have a unique honor or shame amongst the world. Which is that their lands are the only place on Ahriman where two Barrowdells overlap. The site of destruction of the Goddess of the Forge and the Stormwrack overlapped with the eternal night and created one of the most magically hostile and ruinous and destroyed places on the planet. Which is their ancestral seat of power.
Wick
And that's horrible. And the place that I'm familiar with. Do I remember seeing any similar statues or anything around their current headquarters?
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Give me a history chip.
Thimble
I rolled an 8 on the traps.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
It seems pretty simple here. You do think that probably the odds are in your. Even on an 8, the odds are in your favor because this isn't their home turf. They're on the move. And they've only been here for a day and a half.
Wick
I only rolled an 8.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
I haven't used my inspiration yet though.
Thimble
Your heroic inspiration for. Just to know if they have something.
Wick
What else am I gonna use it for?
Thimble
Anything else? We are getting out of this.
Cadigan
All right.
Wick
Eight.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Eight. I mean, they definitely have statues, but nothing like this. I think on an eight you go, yeah, they got statues. We all got statues. But my God, I feel like I remember when they were putting them in, you know, they were getting work done. They were building statues.
Wick
Yeah, I mean everyone has a statue at their house. I assume you do too.
Thimble
So many.
Teor
Of course we have a fae and a fiend here. When those statues activated with the visible light out of their eyes, did anything happen to either of them? Did they illuminate did they react? Did anything?
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
I think that that actually rather than giving you a dramatic answer, the lack of dramatic answer to that is troubling in that no. In other words, you're like, okay, so if these guys like lit up, then that would tell me the full story of what's going on here. But as to what this would be for, like okay, you have a sentry that can detect something and then do.
Teor
What and then doesn't though.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Yeah, not tell you. Not have the ability to tell you.
Thimble
But it was about the dead. It says do the dead draw near? Maybe it's just a specific, just undead maybe.
Cadigan
What's the deal with the fancy poses? I mean, is it some sort just.
Thimble
So they look cool?
Cadigan
I'm trying that lock just so they look cool. Yeah, you think?
Teor
Yeah, unless it's fallen and they're going to post them in the I don't know.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
My dog Max loves chewing on my favorite pair of shoes almost as much.
Tyranny
As he loves his Blue Buffalo Life.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Protection Formula Dry Dog Food. Seriously, he never leaves a crumb.
Thimble
And I love it too because it's.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
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Teor
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Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
The gate ahead of you. Simple lock, key right next to it. What do you do?
Thimble
Unlock it?
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Unlocking it. You look out the gate as the gate. As you push it slightly open, it opens for you. As you see a group of about 10 to Kona guards open the gate. Looking around and you see they go, captain, everything all right?
Tyranny
Absolutely.
Cadigan
All right.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
We heard some little bit of a move.
Teor
We'll start moving.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Yeah, move. They get the card out and you see they say Lord Docet is readying the carriages at the main gate. You guys are outside the castle walls. You are looking at a back cellar entrance. You're at the very edge of. You are at the very, very edge of Tyree's Lee. This is like the place that here's the city. And you can see one or two buildings by the castle, a steep ridge. The back of the castle has a steep drop out towards the farmland. And then you see wide open roads. Under moonlight.
Thimble
Is it possible to peel away without drawing attention to ourselves?
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Thank you.
Wick
My pleasure. Civilized.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Is it possible to draw away without trying to yourself? I think you're looking at it. At the Taconus. You see that this one Taconus guy says the Lord Doset readies the carriages as the main gate of the castle.
Teor
Okay, we'll meet him there.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
The main gate that he gestures to is further into the city. You see this road wending its way away, but also you don't know where there would be a carriage or other places out. So they're directing you towards Lord Docet and probably the Lady Yunvere as well.
Teor
Yeah, I think just getting away from the structure. Yeah, no, we're just going to get away from the castle and into the city.
Cadigan
Yeah, and our fucking cart's cooked though too.
Thimble
Maybe we can get a new wheel.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Do you guys make your way into the city as to not arouse suspicion from the guards towards the main gates of the guards.
Thimble
But then instead of making towards Lord Doset, we'd like we're looking out for.
Cadigan
Also any stables peel into.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
I love that. Go ahead. Anyone who wants to and give me a luck check. Roll a D20. I want you to see if you can roll a six or higher. Here we go.
Thimble
You okay?
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
17 tyranny stoler. Incredible. You, you. Head. In that case, You head further into Tybreez Lee. As you do the cart squeaking on a partially burnt axle. Horse sort of moving along. The castle is enormous. So you're following the walls. You're rounding there'll be a minute going around the watchtowers before you get to the minute main gate. And there are a couple roads in the city well lit with candles as you walk up because you are disguised as Taconis guards without, I think the lionfolk here you have the helm down low, some kind of hood up. Hood up? Yeah, to mask the main walking out. And I'll actually ask just for disguised as the captain even so give me either persuasion or deception with advantage.
Thimble
Great.
Tyranny
18. 18 plus 7 25.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
You see the guards say, I see all the statues loaded up. Do they require additional aid downstairs?
Tyranny
No, no.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
And you see that flat no is the perfect, I think, tyranny. As you're looking at, you're like octis, body rolling or no, I'm a flat no. The flat no stops the conversation. And you feel some slithering demonic voice from far off in aether being like my daughter. Very good.
Tyranny
Daddy lick.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
As you keep a lie to a single word that makes the interlocutor who's speaking to you just go, I guess there's no more conversation here. And shut up and go about their business. They close the door behind you guys, you take off. And on that very high luck check, as you begin to pull into the city a shape pulls up alongside you in the dark padding beside you. The Dame Morgaine says, hell yeah. Congratulations on your newfound employment. The Taconis Tabards seem a little ill fitting but I hope that your new jobs are treating you well. Where are we headed?
Thimble
Do you know where we can get a new carriage wheel?
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Ah, well, I think first and foremost, seeing as you've helped yourself to one of the Lord's carriages, we we should examine what sort of goods you intend to bring to the candle feast. And you see that she looks around and says, grovland. And you see the big sheepdog comes out and says, land of Tymeni, for whom I died and lived and would die again. Let the shadows come to our aid and let the city welcome us home. Victorious kin, the Landspeople. And you see shadows cover you again and you guys can pull right off into the city and vanish.
Tyranny
Fuck.
Teor
That'S my dog.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
That's my dog. You see that you begin to travel off with her, or I should have said Felltower, the dog that she's traveling with. So you see this big Argosian shepherd walking alongside you and you pull off, getting into an alley. You see that the Dame Morgaine looks and says, well met, friends. How has your day's business gone? Very exciting, by the looks of it. Scary.
Tyranny
It was so scary.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
It was so scary. You see that Hawkins sort of emerges out of the darkness and looks out and says, blood. Are you injured?
Thimble
All of us were.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
You see, he looks at you and says, my God, you've had a sword through the gut.
Wick
Yes, a few times. Lift my shirt.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Lift your shirt.
Wick
Oh, should we go find a chamber now? Okay.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
And you see, he goes, and he is going to lay on hands you back to full.
Tyranny
Wow.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Puppies lay on tongue.
Wick
Oh, my God.
Tyranny
Tyranny is fuming at that, by the way. This guy and dogs just.
Wick
Wow.
Tyranny
Really forgot about his demon friend.
Wick
Good boy. Good boy. Wow, that feels.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
I'm not a boy. Oh, I'm a man.
Wick
Good man.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Thank you. I may not be a human, but I am a man still.
Teor
We undertook a great ordeal. They were experimenting on people, turning others into stone. We found my brother.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
But do you take. She looks and says, stone. What do you. You pull that.
Thimble
I believe one of the hounds, you.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
See that fell tower, looks up and goes, gryvind, my brother. And you see, he looks up at the wolfhound up on top, who looks like a different kind of. He's using brother here in knight terminology. But you see, looks up and says.
Wick
What have they done to him?
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Is he dead? You see, Morgaine looks up and says, thought I smelled something foul on the road here. Following that envoy. Wherever the Saramai go, their poison follows. And yet there was some poison stranger still. The creature that did this, is it still at large loose in the castle?
Teor
No, we killed it, Basilisk. But we managed to harvest pieces of its corpse.
Cadigan
Yeah, we got the raw materials, but not the knowledge.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
You see, she never nods and says. She turns to Hawkins. You see, Felltower says, this feral magic might then be reversed in some manner. And you see, she says, in time. Yes. Please tell me, what did you see occurring? And were there any of the Toll keep, any of the actual Earl's men at arms advisors? This was occurring within Castle Dhulani? Yeah.
Thimble
It was the night of Saramai.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
You saw only vassals of the House of Taconis.
Thimble
Down in the dungeon?
Tyranny
Yes.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
You see, she turns to Hawkins and Hawkins looks back at her. Even these extremely helpful hounds, you can see, are. That is not the answer they wanted.
Thimble
But we got plenty of notes. Now we show them this and all the letters.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
You see, she says, I smell draconis on there for certain. What does his Lordship know? Our dear friend, the Earl of Gormalais, he's confused to your creed, Lord Halopar.
Wick
I think we knew that.
Teor
And.
Wick
Perhaps it means he's turned over a good leaf. Probably not, though.
Cadigan
Yeah, he made a grand show of it.
Wick
Are you worried he's been numb, corrupted by outside influence?
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
The Earl of Gormalay is a sovereign lord of the land of his house of the Dwalkings. Gormalet has been in his family for generations. And without evidence, I will not speak of against him here. Perhaps it is possible that our dear brother Groveland fell afoul of the Taconis, who used a dungeon of the Earl of Gormalay without his knowledge. And perhaps he did not know that there was a basilisk in his dungeon. Turning knights to stone without evidence, who could say? And yet. I'm sorry, this is none of your concern. You are travelers in this land. Your brother has been harmed. Did you find him?
Teor
Yes. Show him the statue.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Very well.
Wick
If I may, I do think it's our concern, at least mine. If my family is involved, I'd like to get to the bottom of it. And your brother was involved. I'm sure you would obviously like to rescue him and restore him first. But make sure this doesn't happen to anyone else like him or other paladins.
Teor
I agree. I think what he is meaning is that there is a sickness. Now, not just in your land, but in this home of the Earl of Gormalay. It is spreading unseen.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
What I mean to say is you have done a heroic thing rescuing these warriors. You see that? Hawkins looks down and says, I recognize some of these statues as Knights of Valor. A region further to the south of here. I don't know their names, but I can tell by their crest. And you see that he says, brave and true in the orders they belong to. This is a terrible thing we have witnessed. You look at Morgaine, who. She nods and says, you've done the right thing by bringing these to safety. I cannot imagine what it would be if we had lost Groveland or you, your brother. But if we were to go to the middle of Candle Feast and say, look what we have discovered, what we would have is a cart full of statues. And if we were to accuse anyone of anything, what would they say? How terrible. We had no idea. Therefore, and it's quite possible that you need to still evade while you can. Are there any alive that saw you? No. By the way, you see that? Felltower looks around. Is anyone going to lay on hands anyone else that is still injured? Back to full.
Thimble
Oh, I'm injured.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Yeah. You see, that felt tower would be like. Perhaps it would Be better if you just stood on my tongue.
Wick
She doesn't like to stand on parts.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
All right. And you see, Morgaine says, what exit of Castlevania did you emerge from?
Teor
We came from a cellar door. There were 10 guards outside that did see us pass.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
And near the. The cellar door that faces the western edge of the city.
Teor
Correct.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
All right.
Teor
And we were told to meet at the main gate to the city, so we are expected, along with, I assume, this cargo. So when we go missing, they will be looking for us.
Cadigan
You see, we don't think they made us yet.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Yeah, you see, Haakon says it's a good thing that we found our traveling friends here. But there's no one on the main gate right now. I'm getting nervous. You see that? Morian says, Hawkins, you return to keep an eye on the main gate. I don't think the Tykonis will try to move that quickly, but if a short walk down a set of stairs can reveal to them that these statues are missing and that maybe some of their companions are no longer with us. Yeah.
Teor
Yes.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Ah, well, congratulations to you on all emerging in one shape. More.
Tyranny
It was all.
Cadigan
You know, all sorts of intriguing mystery. I get all that, but you bathed us in shadow and helped us out, and seem to have great magical powers. You got the ability to mend a car.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
You see that? Morgaine sort of cocks her head. You can see her asking herself a minute, can I do that? And you see that? Valtara says, many gifts are given to the hounds of the King. Faithful hearts and magic, true of the land and its people. We don't have hands. Do you want.
Thimble
We may know someone down in Dalmarchiar who's able to help bring these people back, but it's a long journey. Do you want us to take everything.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Everyone with us, or you see that? She looks and says, no, No, I don't think so. Only because there may be other answers here. And more. You see, she looks and fell Tower nods and says, we couldn't take the Miller's Road to Timmins Rock. Speak to the Druids of the Seven Tynes. You see that? She looks and says, I think that why we have friends here in Tiberis Lee. What we're going to do is this. You are extraordinary. You have quite literally rescued one of our brothers from whatever fate awaited him at the hands of the Tykonis. If we can revive him or reverse this state, then we will have some answers, at least to what we seek, and certainly his word as to what Happened to him will be quite something. So, yes, Felltar, the Millers Road to Timmins Rock. But we will not ask you to make that journey. If you have a means by which to save your brother, then you should take it. Let us take this cart then. To where? To the granary. You see, Felltower nods and says, there are carriages there, peasants, carriages covered. If there is some kindness in terms of recompense that the house of Haelovar could leave for the commandeering of such a carriage, then I think you would be well on your way. Of course, yes. She and Feltauer fallen beside you that you arrive at a granary there and you see that there are a number of characters again. There's festival music playing around and people are laughing. It's a busy, busy night. People are laughing and singing. You see in that square. The granary's behind the old granary which is now at the hospital. So they built a new one, so the other one sort of went defunct. And you see that there's the Lux who's out laughing and singing. You see that they've made this sort of makeshift harvest throne covered in candles. And you see that the Lord, still dressed in funereal black, is seated on the throne and people are coming and he's pouring a glass of wine, celebrating everybody there. And you see that there's a big sort of festival atmosphere here in the night. Dame Morgan leads you over to these carriages, covers them up.
Cadigan
She.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Makes this, walks up to the back of the granary, speaks to someone in hushed tones. They look over, you see as this person who's keeping the exterior of the building at night. Everyone's gone home. As they turn to look at you, she says, better for you not to look. Better not remember any faces of what you've seen here. You see the person cast their eyes down. She walks over to the cart and shows there's a two horse carriage here that it looks like you guys could travel in. Great. Yeah.
Thimble
So he moves it over.
Wick
Are we leaving all the other statues?
Thimble
Yeah, they're going to take them.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
You see? Yeah. She looks, she looks out and says these are strong and sturdy horses and a carriage as well. Whatever you can leave will be welcome. These are kind and loyal people that know they are acting in service to their king and that you, as travelers in our land, have aided in rescuing a member of the King's Hounds. But if they were to sell these at market, it would Fetch Something like 250 gold pieces, the carriage and both horses. You need not leave that. If you do not have that. But I merely wish to let you know what this act of service on the part of these farmers and millers means.
Wick
I don't haggle. We give them what they deserve. Yes, absolutely. With your permission, can I spend some of the party's funds or.
Thimble
Why are you looking at me?
Wick
I'm looking at all of you. I look at you because he never makes eye contact. She's mad at me. And he's very tall.
Thimble
Do it.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Yes.
Thimble
Spend the money.
Tyranny
I like that.
Wick
I'll spend 100 of party funds and 150 of my own.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Incredible. Putting your money forward. You hand this to Morgyne. You see, she looks down and says, my word. A man of principle, My Lord Helovar. And you see that she takes the money over to these people who look at this, look around like, oh, very thankful. And she nods and she walks over with Feltauer. As you guys have loaded CID onto this new carriage, she looks at this other. She looks basically at the three statues remaining in here. Felltower looks over and goes, I'll see you to Hawkins. See if the Takona still don't know that they've been had. To all of you, I do not know by what might or magic you have seen these things done, but you have my respect. And a good deal of puzzlement. How did you do it? Remarkable.
Thimble
Blunt force.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Ah, blunt force. Often what the sinister types least expect, their slithering ways. Sometimes they don't expect a nice bite to the ankle or a shot to the jaw. So good on you and a great.
Teor
Deal of luck, I would say.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Yeah, well, we can all use a bit of that. To all of you, thank you for your service. And to you, a happy candle feast, my lord.
Wick
Oh, thank you. Yes, happy indeed.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Feltower takes off into the night. Morgaine looks and says, I think now would be a good time to remove your tabards.
Thimble
Yeah.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Anonymous travelers headed south towards Vallow. If anyone asks, there's always goods that need to be moved to Dolmarchar. It's a hungry city.
Thimble
Did you hear about House Royce?
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Yes, from the Black Rabbits on the road. Right, right, right. You see? She says. I have heard nothing else. The house of Royce has been much diminished for some time, as have all of the fair folk of Timony. It is not our wish, nor the wish of our king, that it should be so. But times are cr. Hope is not a condition of the world, but one of the soul. I have not yet seen anything fall so far that it has gone past the point of recall. One life ends, but the World asks us back in a new name, in a new guise, in a new life, time and time again. Do not lose hope. That's right. Safe travels, my friends. What a stroke of fortune to have met you. Thank you. She smiles, turns, and with the cart leading this one horse cart, she leads it around the corner off towards what you see to be some actual human knights, that as she approaches, she rose up to speak to them. And you see there are a couple of royal knights up there, some of the king's men who are here in the town that she sort of reveals herself to and begins to speak in this cloak covered wagon next to her. The night is yours, my friends. What do you do?
Thimble
Open it? Yeah.
Cadigan
And we're heading toward Dhulmachiar. Dhalmakiar.
Thimble
I mean, Bolaire or Murray is the. Those are the two people that I would trust the most with this. I feel like the knowledge between them.
Wick
Yeah, but we're going back into the belly of it all.
Cadigan
I'm no strategist, but I think there might be somebody else that could handle this. And I don't want to put your brother at risk, but I'm open to suggestions. It's a good idea. We can do it, I promise.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
But.
Cadigan
What do we chase? I mean, didn't you read some stuff in these notes? Sure, but the bay that I think any local alchemist can help us with. Tail's brother.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
I mean, do we need to go.
Cadigan
Back into the belly of the beast where we just fleed from?
Thimble
But Arctis, I mean, he could be in danger. He could be.
Cadigan
Oh, we're all in danger. Make no mistake. We started with a hunt, but I fear that we're getting closer and closer to being the prey.
Thimble
So we hunt down the Taconus. What's the end goal there? You think we're going to take on the entire house?
Cadigan
Well, I'd like to break it to you, but we already started. It's not my call to make. It's your brother's life. I just don't want to risk ours.
Teor
It's a long journey. Do we know how far we would be from this Houndsport? Or any of us familiar with the geography from where we are? Houndsport or the Bay of Garathi?
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
The Bay of Garrethi is much farther away. The Bay of Garrethi. So that's the interesting thing, right, is you can reach the Bay of Garrethi taking a ship from Houndsport, but it's so far away that there are probably multiple ways to reach it.
Teor
Damn.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
I Think.
Wick
Is Houndsport much, much closer?
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Houndsport is much, much closer.
Wick
How close we talking? Do we know.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
How close we talk? Houndsport. From where you are, you're about halfway to Houndsport from Dolnockyar. So in other words, it's the same distance. Same distance. It's probably about. It's probably about, you know, 80 to 100 miles to Houndsport, depending on the road you take, and probably another 80 to, like, 100 miles back to.
Teor
And what would we be looking for when we got there?
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
I don't know.
Teor
Captain Lantispur, Lantry?
Wick
Ferris.
Teor
I could remound him.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Handwriting.
Teor
What are you talking about?
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
From those names, too. All of those names that you found in their thimble were people in the employ of the Taconis. Meaning, and I say this in full transparency, that there is no wrong choice here. Everything you do will come with a price. Everything you do will lead us from one unto another. There is no wrong choice here. But to be clear about what you seek, if you go to Houndsport, you do not have the names of friends. You have the names of enemies. You have the names of people in the employ of the Tucanos. People that they speak of with trust and understanding that they will get things done.
Thimble
And I haven't spent any time in Houndsboro with Dyazi.
Cadigan
No.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
I think when you guys went up to Garathai, you went up through Royce Lands to the east of the Trolmar Pass. What if.
Cadigan
I mean, I'm tired. Aren't you tired?
Teor
Yes, I'm incredibly tired.
Tyranny
I would love a little nap.
Cadigan
We got time. We got the word Woods, a camp, a chat, and we figure out what our next steps are.
Teor
Yeah, well, that would be smart. Yeah.
Cadigan
Don't think your brother's going anywhere.
Teor
No.
Wick
Not a hotel then. Or.
Tyranny
Oh, I'm back in dog mode.
Thimble
Okay.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Making your way out of the city in the carriage is pretty easy. And again, you guys have vanished. Everybody who knew you is either back in Sloke or has essentially absconded to or. All the Draconis that you walked into the castle invisibly, everyone that could make you is dead on the ground in that room. Now, does being dead put someone out of reach of the Takonis? Maybe not. But you have time. And no one saw you come in this wagon or take a little farm road out of Tybree's Lee. As you begin to leave to get to somewhere safer to rest, think Wick. You look out and see this beautiful candle feast festival just happening all around you. The people at the Quandessent creed. Celebrating seems like a really joyful night. People seem moved and impassioned and alive and happy that the Lord has converted here in this way. There is an electric feeling in the air of passion and meaning and togetherness and community. You see the locks moving throughout that town square and I think you just see that begin to fade as the carriage pulls away. Making your way somewhat outside of the city, you find a copse of trees that you can pull aside from. This is all completely open farmland. There's hounds and knights and things around. You can find a little place to pull aside and begin to rest if you so desire. The night envelops you soft and cool. You're your quest is a success. You have done as you set out on this road to do. It is simply that you have discovered how much vaster and broader the problems of the world are. All of which is to say this story will conclude in this chapter where you all say it does. I don't want to rush you towards an ending, but I just want to put out there that any scenes that you want. Any things that need saying, any decisions that need making. We are very much in that world now.
Tyranny
Slumber party.
Thimble
Four more hours.
Teor
We either go forward to somewhere we've never been and we were where we will only be hunting when we try and retrace our steps back to Dormakjar.
Tyranny
How appearing as ourselves without any sort of disguise in Dolmak Yar are. How's the heat on you both in particular and I guess us.
Wick
I think it's bad for all of us maybe. With the exception of Cadogan and myself. I am not from there of Dolmarchiar.
Teor
No, no.
Wick
But my family wanted you dead.
Teor
Sure. But I'm sure there are lots of Lionfolk around.
Cadigan
I don't think anybody gives a fuck about me.
Thimble
I'm just a little pixie. You though, you're pretty recognizable.
Teor
Famous face.
Thimble
Did you have to leave town because you had a death threat on you, right?
Tyranny
I mean, no, not necessarily.
Wick
We just sort of assumed that it was coming soon.
Tyranny
You honestly. Maybe you should talk to your mom or see if how much how in trouble you are. Because if it's not at all great for us, we can continue into Maquiar. And if it is.
Wick
I'm pretty sure I'm in trouble.
Tyranny
Well, yeah, but they're not going to kill you, right?
Wick
I don't know. I hope not. Everyone else has certainly tried. But yes, to your point. I mean, we could at least go and talk. Maybe not to close family but there's other Halovars there that I could maybe speak with. I have a sister. Have a brother.
Tyranny
Would they be honest with you?
Wick
Possibly.
Teor
I think you raise a fair point. You are being sought after, and therefore you are as well. If the hunt for my brother has also enveloped me at this point, and if Thimble, as Thiazi Second, is on a list of some kind than that.
Tyranny
But she's impossible to detect, Pretty much.
Teor
It may mean the gates to the city would be more close to us than we would like to think. But you, you bastard. You are unknown everywhere you go.
Cadigan
How did I know? Are you trying to get rid of me again?
Teor
Well, I think you would have done it yourself if we gave you enough time. But I wonder if there might be wisdom in splitting.
Wick
Yeah.
Teor
My brother needs to go back to Dormachiar. He needs Volair. Or Murray. Murray. But for us to take him there would incur danger, not just to him, but to ourselves.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Wow.
Teor
They might also be looking for a group. A single traveler of unknown origin might have more success. Yeah, even if it meant us staying on the outskirts of the city and then rendezvousing with you again.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
No, no.
Cadigan
You read my mind. You got some kind of trick?
Teor
No, I just known you for a long time.
Cadigan
Yeah. Gadigan's already sort of parsing through the ins and outs of navigating the countryside, thinking about what it would take to get back to Dolma Achiar, a place that potentially he does not like. Or not belong. But, like a decade and a half.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Ago.
Cadigan
When Teor was indebted to him, he feels like that debt the other.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Way hasn't been paid back.
Wick
So.
Cadigan
Yeah, he's cooking through the ways of whether or not this is feasible or not.
Thimble
You have to take the road. Yeah, with Sid.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Yeah.
Wick
You're talking about. About sending him back all on his own. Where will we go?
Teor
Perhaps not the entire way on his own, but I think once we arrive.
Wick
At the city, maybe we split up there.
Teor
Or let him go for a bit.
Thimble
I have to check on Octis.
Teor
And you also are. It is much easier for you to infiltrate the city, but I think this is now something that we have admittedly earned quite the reputation around.
Cadigan
Well, believe it or not, I don't exactly want to leave, But I do feel like I'd have the best chance of getting back to the Maki aisle undetected. I mean, like I said, nobody gives a. About me. Simple traveler with a cartoon and a wolf. Yeah, he'll keep to the woods. He's a good Boy. Listen, I'll do it if you want. I mean, I like a solo adventure. A little walk in the woods. You talk her down. I got a piss.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
And I actually do have to piss.
Wick
Well, I don't like being alone. Where would we go without him? He's the strongest one of us. No offense.
Tyranny
I don't know. I mean, I'm mostly. I don't want to be separated from Thimble. She's the one that has been stabbing everyone.
Wick
All right, listen. I guess I hurt you somehow. I'm sorry that I stayed back with the dog. But I was trying to protect us. Or I thought I was.
Tyranny
Alright, dude. I'm just saying. She is actually the one who has been protecting us. And if there is any heat on your family. To which I am bound. Unless you fire me. Then we need some protection. If.
Wick
Yes. I'm not going anywhere without you you to. Unless you want me to.
Thimble
I want you.
Cadigan
Well.
Wick
Yeah.
Teor
You have shown yourself to be much more true than your family.
Thimble
Truth. And you got wings.
Teor
And fire.
Wick
I'm sorry if I've been a burden to everyone. I know I keep dying.
Thimble
But you're getting tougher. I can already see it on you.
Wick
I don't know about that.
Teor
So you fell. A couple times. We all stumble and fall.
Thimble
I almost turned into a paperweight.
Wick
True. I know I'm not much of a soldier, but I feel like I have a purpose now. A mission. A goal. And that. That makes a big difference.
Tyranny
What's your mission? You want to take down your family?
Wick
I mean.
Cadigan
Yes.
Wick
Yes.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Bad boy.
Teor
Now.
Tyranny
Maybe the demon's rubbing off on the angel.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
All right.
Tyranny
I'm back, baby. Tyranny. Demon form. My guy. I love that. I love that.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
What if you could.
Teor
What if you could reclaim your family? Or has the rot spread to every corner?
Wick
I don't know where it's spread. It seems like it's most places. If the source of the rot is one or two people, maybe we could get rid of them or take them into custody or whatever you people do and reform it from the inside.
Teor
Thimble has been displaced. I am an outsider. You are uniquely placed to effect real change. You can move in ways that we cannot. And we will be here to support you. But the danger to you is very real. And I think we know now that this conflict is far larger than any of us thought.
Tyranny
That's true. You saw the candle feast and how happy everyone was. Real change was being made in that hospital. If you have anyone in your family that you feel you can trust. I think it's worth looking into.
Wick
I'm happy to try. I don't know. Yes, I did. Candle Feast was one of my favorite holidays. And seeing everyone happy like that made me sentimental for a moment. But honestly, it made me kind of feel disgusted. All these people are living a lie, as I was, and. And I can't stand for it anymore. And I would like to go back and see what can be done to restore. I don't know if I even care about my family's name anymore. I just want to undo some of the bad that we've done. I know I can't do that on my own, but.
Thimble
Maybe you should join a rebellion.
Wick
The Fang Falcon.
Tyranny
Fanged falcon.
Wick
Fanged falcon.
Tyranny
You got it?
Wick
Is that us now? Are we a rebellion?
Cadigan
In a small clearing in the distance where Cadigan went to relieve himself, you hear the tink of flint and steel, and a small fire starts to light up, casting a dim glow maybe 30ft or so away from.
Wick
From the party.
Cadigan
Cadigan starting a campfire.
Wick
I think we should go back. All of us.
Thimble
I think so, too.
Wick
Just check on our friends. Your friends, not mine. Really. To see if there's someone I can talk to. To get help for your brother and for you tyranny. To see if there's a way to separate you from this.
Tyranny
Separate me?
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Why?
Wick
Well, you keep.
Tyranny
I don't want to be alone bringing.
Wick
It up that you're somehow bound to me and don't seem to like it very much, and so I. I'm sorry. No, you don't have to apologize.
Tyranny
Your feelings got hurt because you left me for the dog, and I'm sorry. I am here with you, Wick. I don't want you.
Wick
If it makes you feel better, the dog left me for nothing. Nothing.
Tyranny
That does make me feel better. Thank you. I don't want to hang out with my family. Or your family. I like what we're doing. It seems like you are developing an actual brain for yourself. No offense, but that's very offensive. It is. I mean, I don't think that you questioned anything that your family did before you saw it firsthand. And by the way, you said that you did nothing. But I say you try over and over, to do the right thing by your own moral code. And that's who I want to be hanging out with.
Wick
Now I'm gonna cry.
Thimble
I'm gonna fly towards the campfire. Hey. Sounds like we're all going back to Delmachia.
Cadigan
Oh.
Thimble
Guess you're not gonna be rid of us that soon.
Cadigan
Well, I'M trying to get rid of you. Just giving you options. I like you.
Thimble
Why did you leave before?
Cadigan
Be more specific.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
I've left a lot.
Thimble
After the battle.
Cadigan
Oh, we're taking it way back.
Thimble
He's just disappeared.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Yeah.
Cadigan
Now you have to ask Taylor about that. I just thought it was time for me to go. Nothing personal. Nothing against the cause. I thought the Aussie was great.
Teor
Hey.
Cadigan
I wasn't my best back in the city. No, but I know you loved him.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Yeah. Yeah.
Cadigan
That's tough to love, isn't it?
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Yeah. Yeah.
Cadigan
Wulfric sort of saunters over and kind of full face. Mausel's thimble. You know, that way that only dogs know when we're not feeling quite right.
Thimble
I'm gonna land on his snout and just lay my head down onto in between his eyes.
Cadigan
SCREECH he'll settle down next to the campfire and Cadigan will pull out some bits and bobs that aren't particularly discernible and start sort of whittling them and working them and enjoying a fire as it continues to grow. Well, come on then, it's gonna get warmer.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Let's go.
Wick
I'm cold.
Teor
Teodora will take a moment as they all head towards the campfire to spend the first real time with Cid. Looking at the statue, looking over the details of it, examining his face, his neck, his arms, any detail of the statue that might stand out to him. And in the pose that he sees, he notices an open hand. And Teor will take out the small wooden lion's head and place it in his brother's hand and clasp his own over it. And like he and Sid and their father did so many nights, he will say, the stars remember, before the gods rose and fell, before the wars began, our ancestors roared beneath the same stars you see now. They still watch, still listen. And when you doubt yourself, look up. Their strength still runs in your veins. I will take the lion head, put it in my pocket and go and join the others.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
As you walk away from the carriage, you look up at the stars. Your brother's body weighs 2,000 pounds and he's never looked lighter. You didn't get to see him in Dhul Makyar, but whatever life was like there was not treating him well. He looks hungry, tired. You have that wooden lion's head back and you think about the fact of what it took all of you to lift and drag this stone statue onto this. And I think you remember only two years apart, there was just a very short amount of time where you Were much bigger than your brother. But I think you remember a night just like this. Under different stars. Carrying your brother's body. Bad gash on his knee. Chasing you down a hill. Which he was too young to do as he sniffles and cries. And looking up like he was gonna be in trouble for following you out somewhere. And think about carrying him back to your dad. And your dad. Telling you that night. Seeing how exhausted you were from having carried him so far. Cause he couldn't walk. He'd hurt himself too bad. And talking about strength in that moment, which to him always felt like you were sharing some little secret. When he talked to you about the stars, talked to you about these ideas that always felt like if we're not allowed to talk about the gods anymore, then why do we still talk about the world? Like there's so much magic hidden somewhere else in it that we just can't see. Walking to the campfire. You hear your father's voice. Their strength still runs in your veins. The stars remember my little Dagor. You've been walking for many years trying to keep something alive and stay strong. While the people around you look hungrier and hungrier. Do you feel strong walking to the campfire? No.
Teor
In fact, I feel weaker and.
Thimble
More.
Teor
Unsure of my footing than I ever have. These years away have led to a void that I am desperately searching to fill with answers. And I will not get them this night. But hopefully soon.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
You sit by the fire. It's getting nice and warm. Crackling up. Hey.
Cadigan
Come here for a minute.
Wick
And it's. Who are you talking to?
Cadigan
It's a tyranny.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Oh, me.
Cadigan
Hey, you.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Come here. Okay.
Tyranny
Hey. Hey. Are we good? I'm sorry that I. I'm sorry that I talk shit about your dog. I didn't mean to.
Cadigan
Oh, he's a. I was so afraid of you. He's a dog. It's all right.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Okay.
Cadigan
He doesn't know.
Tyranny
Okay.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Okay.
Cadigan
Are you all right?
Tyranny
I don't know. There's a lot of conversations happening about love and connection and pain and I think I'm having a different reaction than I should be.
Cadigan
Maybe you just think too much.
Tyranny
Yeah, maybe you think too much.
Wick
Maybe.
Cadigan
I don't know. I'm not you. Hey, you like stuff.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Yeah.
Tyranny
Yeah, I like stuff.
Cadigan
I feel like you like stuff.
Tyranny
Yeah, I do. I do like stuff.
Cadigan
Yeah, I know you like stuff. You like stuff like stuff like that old man's knife.
Tyranny
Come on, man. I mean, I said I was sorry. I didn't know what I was doing.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
I know.
Cadigan
I know I did. I did get after you a bit, didn't I?
Tyranny
No, it's okay. I truly don't know why I did that. It was so weird.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
You don't.
Cadigan
You don't have to defer.
Tyranny
I think I did it because I.
Teor
Knew I was to going.
Tyranny
Gonna hurt his feelings. I think I knew it would hurt him, and that's why he did it.
Teor
Who?
Cadigan
That's why he did it.
Tyranny
I don't know.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Yeah.
Cadigan
Well, can I ask you a question?
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Yeah.
Cadigan
Like a real question?
Tyranny
I hope so.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Yeah.
Cadigan
How'd you feel after you did it? I know.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Really good.
Cadigan
Oh, fuck.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Yeah.
Tyranny
I mean, it didn't feel good when you yelled at me.
Cadigan
Oh, wait, so you felt good when you did it, but you didn't feel good when you got the consequences of your actions?
Tyranny
No, I felt. I felt good knowing that I had hurt someone.
Cadigan
Okay. So why did you feel bad when.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
You got ill now?
Tyranny
Because it's somebody that I. That I care about, I think. I don't know. I don't know why I felt the way I did. I think it has something to do with me being a fucking demon.
Cadigan
That's funny.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Isn't it, though?
Cadigan
Who you are and what you do can be two different things, can't they? How you think of yourself, then how you behave, aren't necessarily always the same.
Tyranny
Are you saying that there is a way to fight my nature? Because Mr. Wick over here has already really been on a journey to try to save me. And I don't know if that's.
Cadigan
I'm not trying to save you. I don't know you well enough to save you. You just gotta save yourself. Let me ask you something. If you had it to do over again, knowing that I'd yell at you, knowing that you'd hurt the old man, Would you take the knife again? How old are you?
Tyranny
Six months. I mean, how old am I? I'm older than humans. I come from massive swirling, archetypal energy. I've been around, but I have been in this form for about six months.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Yeah.
Cadigan
It's tough stuff walking around six months old.
Tyranny
Yeah.
Cadigan
Yeah. You don't know shit.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
No. That's all right.
Cadigan
But I think what you maybe just figured out is that what you do matters a little bit more than who you think you are. I'm sorry I yelled at you. And I'm sorry I took the knife away from you. That's not a good lesson. It's not a good lesson to teach a kid. Cause that what you are. So I'm gonna Try to teach you the right lesson. And out of his pocket, he's gonna pull that thing that he was futzing with. And what you'll see is the tang and the blade of the cursed knife that she stole from Eldin. And a new handle, fashioned from the bone that he took from the hound's offering.
Teor
Oh, yeah.
Cadigan
Etched and carved, rubbed with rose petal and elder berries. And it's this really rich pink hue that sort of matches Tyranny's entire everything. And he's gonna hold it and he's gonna say, now, I made this for you. I'm not an artist, but I got a craftsman. And I want to give it back to you for one reason, one reason only. You took it. And your choices have weight. So tonight you're gonna carry that weight. I don't know what the fuck this thing is. I've never had much of an effort. Magic.
Teor
But.
Cadigan
It belongs to you. And it's not right that I have it. I'm gonna flip it around in my hand, hold it by the blade, hand out the handle to her. You gonna take it?
Tyranny
God, this is so fucking cool. Cadigan.
Wick
What?
Tyranny
Thank you.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
And.
Tyranny
Your faith in me really means a lot. Tha v very afraid of you. And I think you're really cool. And I feel the weight of this dagger. It is white hot in my hands with the pain of this man that I caused.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Yeah.
Tyranny
And I'm. I really don't want to let you down, but I think I would have taken the knife again.
Cadigan
Well, here's the thing about kids. They always miss the lesson the first time. It's yours.
Tyranny
Thank you. I'd like to bond with this weapon.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
You even sitting here at a campfire. The magic of a campfire is that you can sit at it and in one. In an instant, be the most connected to the people around the fire with you that you've ever been. And in the next moment, go to the most solitary and soulful place within your own heart and mind that you can possibly reach. And never be far away from the people you love and care about. Sitting here in the fire crackling, you think of the fires of the realm which birthed you. Gaze at this knife and begin to get lost in it as you attune to it, you look into the blade. You are a demon that has only worn this form for a time. But the stuff with which you are made is older than time itself. Deep in a writhing pit of entropy and destruction. The substance that made you was waiting for this world to be born. So you could come and ruin it. When you look at this knife, you're so drawn to it. You were shaped by the hand of the shadow of suffering. An ancient demon whose voice you've heard this very night. There's something in this knife. You are drawn to it. And it has to do with pain. You're certain of it. That's what you're here to do. Contract with a mortal? Family of sorcerers be damned. You are here to hurt the world. You look in that knife and you start to attune to it. And you see a mother's hand, some pumpkins and squash from a little mountainside garden, roasted and seasoned and covered in honey fresh seeds. And you can hear the babbling of a nearby baby. This thing roasted to a point of softness. And you can see her cutting through with a knife. Each cut going into something, making it a small and perfect size to go into a little child's hand. Every little motion of the knife is a prayer, hoping that a thing she loves won't than life itself will take a little morsel of food and get a little stronger, a little bigger, a little more ready for a world she can't predict. This knife has been an instrument of love for more times than you can count. And you get lost in that memory. Where does tyranny go in this memory? And what crosses her mind as she looks?
Tyranny
This is the first gift that tyranny has ever received in earnest. And it was born of understanding, of shortcomings and flaws. And as she looks down at the knife, all she feels is searing jealousy of humanity.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
You're a demon born of pain. So perhaps it's fit that you can't stop looking at this knife that's hurting you. There is a secret something in here is eluding you. It's taunting you. The lessons of the creed might be a lie, but there's something true in this knife. And for all of the ancientness of the energy energy suffusing your being, it is beyond your grasp. You attune to this knife, But its final form eludes you. For indeed, in another world, another time, an object like this might have been referred to as a vestige of divergence. But here, you're just a demon holding a kitchen knife that you stole from a little old gnome. God, I wish I knew what that was.
Tyranny
It sounds so sick.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Something in this knife can grow along with your understanding of this world. But it's a world you don't understand yet. So your feet, by which I mean your hooves, get warm by the fire as you gaze Into a knife. You have much to learn. The knife's magic rests at your fingertips. There's something here, but you won't find it tonight.
Cadigan
Well, looks like you like it.
Teor
Slap her on the back.
Cadigan
Good, good, good.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
And I was like, I got.
Cadigan
I always have to move my body before bed.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
I'll see you guys in a bit. And I'll walk off into the forest.
Tyranny
I'm going to tuck the knife into my apron. A not share this moment quite yet. I have a lot to think about.
Cadigan
Cadigan's true to his word, and he walks out to settle his nervous system. And after this moment with tyranny, he has to break away from connection. And he just finds a quiet spot about 20ft from a tree and just starts pulling darts out of his butt. Out of his butt, straight out of his butt to where he keeps him a human purse. And he's just winging darts at an open spot on a tree. And it's bad. He can't hit shit, just like tonight. And he's feeling inadequate and angry and he's throwing the darts harder. And the harder that he throws, the worse he gets. And this frustration builds and grows until he's just out of darts and he's got one left in his hand and he can't do it. Slams his club down, slams the dart down. And he's just frustrated by his inadequacy and also feeling connected to these people for the first time in a long time. I think that connection is making him question himself. There's no comfort here. He's lost in his own skin. So he has to move his body. And he starts to move his body again and he just catches himself doing everything he can to warm up and feeling inside of himself. And he's doing push ups, he's jumping, he's moving his body. And as he moves, he starts to forget about the people that he's with and he's alone with himself and tapping into his own body. And this is when I will choose.
Teor
To level.
Cadigan
By myself.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
I love that.
Cadigan
And it is unhealthy and it is sad and maybe even a little bit pathetic, but his body grows stronger and his skills sharpen and he picks up that last dart and he locks it into his atlatl. And he picks a different tree 40 yards away, or, sorry, 40ft away instead of 20, and he throws it and he's aiming for the tiniest knot in the tree, smack in the middle. And I will take sharpshooter.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Hell yeah.
Cadigan
As my feature.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Hell yes. And it takes the Chef feet. You running after meal.
Teor
And so sick.
Wick
Yeah. Yeah.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Yeah.
Tyranny
Damn, that's sick. Fell.
Cadigan
Yeah.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Dart right into the center of the tree. Wulfric, I think, looks up at you. Wulfric didn't have to see how dangerous Sloke was. But Wulfric saw how dangerous tonight was and is looking up at you. You bullseye that tree. I think you realize in this moment you were totally lost in concentration. But Wulfric also watched the entire process of you carving that bone. And looks up at you with, I think, a wide expression. Looking to see if you will say or remark on anything that has happened tonight. How close you came to death. What it meant for you to carve the handle of that knife. Come here. Hey.
Cadigan
You know, we can do better. It's been you and I for a long time. You're a good boy. But you know we can do better. All the fights, all the pain, all the years.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Come on.
Cadigan
Do it. Just do it. And the quiver on his hip starts to glow. This found relic from a battle a long time ago. One of our first. The runes on it start to glow. And in that moment, the faint outline of the red bolt that would never manifest and never come into being sizzles to life. And his quiver has an extra arrow in it. An extra bolt for the first time. And you could tell that energy from the one that we lost in the cave. That thing that was meant to be a moment for us to excel together.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
That we failed at.
Cadigan
That energy has dissipated. And now there are two arrows and Wulfric's quiver. And for the first time, Cad again just.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Really feels.
Cadigan
And what he feels is pride.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
And.
Cadigan
Maybe just a little bit of hope.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
And he walks back to the fire.
Cadigan
And he pets his fucking dog.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Tongue lolling out, Having rested on the decision to return to Dolnakyar to seek an answer with. With at least arcanists, you know can handle this problem. And know can be relied on for good faith and close counsel. One by one, I think you drift off to rest hidden here, either on the campfire or in the carriage. But is there anything you do? I suppose I'll ask who first seeks rest from this. One by one, as you guys take your last rest before you will head out on the perilous journey back into the belly of the beast.
Teor
I don't mind taking first watch.
Wick
First watch or first rest?
Thimble
First rest. One by one, we go to sleep.
Teor
I can rest.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Taylor, I think you head back to the. You either sleep by the fire or you go into the carriage to get some privacy.
Teor
I think I would go back and sleep against the wheel of the carriage.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
You lean up against the wheel, knowing that your brother is inside and find rest. Almost died today. Came very close. As you begin to rest, going into this long rest, that death save failure, begins to diminish. And some part of you that went, no one gets this lucky. No one survives this many battles. Something's gotta go bad at a certain point. That starts to fade away. Here in the wagon. What are the last thoughts as you let go of that closeness to death? As you fade off into sleep?
Teor
I think he begins to think that maybe there are more forces at work that are looking out for Tayor. That perhaps it wasn't just blind luck or devotion that saw him through all of those battles. Maybe there is a greater calling for him. And that if he can open his eyes to the light, maybe it will light his path.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
You drift off to sleep.
Cadigan
Wulfric will trot over to the other wheel, crawl down. Catagon will nuzzle up against Wulfric, start to fade off too. Hey, let somebody else keep watch for fucking once. Can I ask you a question?
Teor
Of course.
Cadigan
First night we slept in the wild, why don't we sleep in those trees? You think zombies can't climb trees?
Teor
Sometimes it is best to keep the illusion of safety at the forefront.
Cadigan
Sure, sure. Joe's been good about that. Watching out for everybody else. What, are you gonna start taking care of yourself, girlfriend?
Teor
Oh, there's still a lot of time left. I have a feeling we are just getting started.
Cadigan
All right.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Good night. The two old soldiers drift off to sleep. Thimble wake tyranny. You're left at the campfire. It sounds. Settling down into just embers.
Wick
Ready for bed? Yeah. Yes, I think so.
Tyranny
Wherever Wick orients himself, I curl up at the bottom. Even though it's just dirt, there's no.
Wick
I think I lay out whatever robes or whatever we have to make the ground soft, as soft as it can be. And then sort of seeing Kat again, seeing Teor, how they sleep. I'm just going to get up and kick the robes aside and try to sleep right on the dirt just to see if I can do it.
Thimble
Okay.
Tyranny
Okay. I'm going to get up and I'm going to take that and I'm just going to be like. Just under your head.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
How about. Okay.
Teor
Just a little bit.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Yeah.
Tyranny
Just. It's okay. Don't be a hero. Emboldened by this show of care from Cadigan, Tyranny kind of like peeks her head up from the From Wick's dirty ass, muddy ass, velvet slippers, and just.
Thimble
Goes, hey.
Tyranny
You did really good. And you're being really brave.
Wick
Thank you. I. Over the last few days, you've been. I realize I've been ignoring you sometimes and other times maybe worrying about you too much. Thank you for just letting me be me and figure this out, all out. And letting me be sort of scared and not really a great leader and not really a great soldier.
Tyranny
But it's only been a couple days and you've already decided to lead a full fledged revolt on your family. Man, I think that you're doing a good job.
Wick
I felt very vulnerable around you, and it made me really realize that I miss Arma so much. And I think she's out there somewhere and I can find her.
Tyranny
Yeah, we should get her. We should get her. Let's get Arma.
Wick
Good night.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
You drift off to sleep. Wick, as you drift off to sleep, do you do anything for candle feast?
Wick
Oh, well, you know, it is custom on candle feast to give someone else a candle and we don't really have.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Any.
Wick
So instead I'll give Tyranny my cane for the the night. If you get scared of the dark, it lights up.
Tyranny
Do I have to turn it on?
Wick
You just sort of say light and.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
It comes on light.
Tyranny
Oh, sorry, sorry.
Teor
Turn it off.
Tyranny
Okay, sorry, sorry, sorry.
Wick
There's no off. You just have to wait an hour.
Tyranny
I hide it under my dress.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
You hide it under your. Stephanie, sit there. This is your first candle feast that you're not celebrating.
Wick
But in a way, as I drift off to sleep, I realize that all of these various people who've tried to kill me over the last couple of days have somehow peered into my soul and been able to see that deep down, I'm pretty lonely. But looking around the campfire, I think for the first time, even since before this all started, I don't feel lonely. And maybe they were wrong.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
You dropped asleep and the last person left, keeping watch as the embers of the fire down his thimble.
Thimble
I have been watching their conversation without them even remembering that I was around. And thinking about the early days between me and Thiazi, just figuring out our partnership and how we work together. And it just feels very reminiscent. And I'm jealous of them having all of it ahead of them. But I'm gonna fly over as soon as they fall asleep and step up close to Wick's ear as he's sleeping. Thank you for, you know, healing me and also for not being a total dick. Anymore. And I'm mostly sorry I threw rocks at you.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Okay.
Thimble
Good night.
Tyranny
You're such a dick.
Thimble
And I'm gonna go find a little patch of flowers growing and lay down in the center of it and think about the Golden Orchard and think about Octys and think about Thaz and think about all of the. Everybody who's potentially gone now.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
I think you look over and see in the back of the carriage those bracers. You recognize them as Callowans, unless I'm much mistaken. I don't think anyone. I think people had grabbed them but not claimed them. But you see them resting there in the back of the carriage. Terrible things at work. It's too much loss. It's pointed. It's the point of it. Right? Don't wait for you to process one loss. Kick you in the stomach over and over again. Make you feel dizzy with loss.
Thimble
Rolling down a hill doesn't seem to stop.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
What's the point? Keep you off balance. Despair becomes the only numbing agent. The only thing to let you feel like maybe the little bit of power I have is to just stop feeling how frightening and horrible this is.
Thimble
But then I think of Deymorgane. And I drift off to sleep thinking about her eyes and her hope and her promise that it's never too far gone.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
When morning comes, you strike out on the road for Dolmachyar. And that's all for this. This episode of Critical role. And a smashing conclusion to our first outing with our soldiers. Table.
Teor
The Fang Falcons.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
The Fang Falcons. FF ff.
Teor
We wake up in the morning and Wick's like tattooing. Are we not?
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Are we not? I thought we're doing Fan Falcon. Next we see you, you'll be on the road back to Dolmachiar. But Incredible. You got your revenge on Kasimir Gavndale. You've rescued your brother. Although in less than ideal circumstances and.
Teor
More questions than answers.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
I know you have their statues. More than just he and. And this. What could that be? There's a whole circle.
Thimble
We gotta get it to Murray. We gotta get it to Murray.
Teor
It's almost like a vingvasir. And there's a word here that's barely readable.
Tyranny
We can't read that before we start shooting again.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
That's true. I didn't even think to scan that. That's the only copy of that that exists. No. Those are stinks, baby. Now those are stakes, baby. What a joy, a privilege and an honor. What a thrilling adventure with many more to come. And I'll ask as I must Is it Thursday yet? Thanks for listening to this episode of Critical Role. If you're enjoying this story, consider leaving a review on your podcast platform of choice. We're always looking for new critters to share our adventures with, and your review may help a new batch of wayward souls find their way to Ahriman, Exandria and beyond. Or, if you want to hear what the cast discussed after the episode, head to Beacon TV and check out our exclusive show Critical Role Cooldown. You'll be right there at the table immediately after we say is it Thursday yet? And experience our cast's post show reactions. We'll see you next time. My dog Max loves chewing on my favorite pair of shoes almost as much.
Tyranny
As he loves his Blue Buffalo Life.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Protection Formula Dry Dog Food. Seriously, he never leaves a crumb.
Thimble
And I love it too because it's.
Dungeon Master (Matthew Mercer)
Made with high quality protein, antioxidant packed fruits and nutrient rich veggies. Blue Buffalo foods are made with the superior ingredients your dog needs to thrive. Can your dog food say that? Visit feedbluefood.com to learn more. Why have I asked my electrician I found on Angie.com to bury my pet hamster? I was so moved by how carefully he buried my electrical wires, I knew I could trust him to bury my sweet nibbles after his untimely end. This is very strange, Angie.
Teor
The one you trust. Define the ones you trust. Find pros for all your home projects@angie.com.
Recorded: January 27, 2026
DM: Matthew Mercer
Players: Teor, Thimble, Cadigan, Tyranny, Wick
Setting: The depths beneath Castle Dhelani and the shadowy streets beyond
In this continuation of Campaign 4, Episode 11, the party navigates the aftermath of a harrowing battle in the dungeons beneath Castle Dhelani. They uncover grim secrets about petrified paladins used as magical sentries and attempt a dangerous escape through enemy territory. As they confront the weight of their actions, the companions face personal reckonings amid newfound camaraderie and unresolved grief. This episode is marked by high-stakes subterfuge, powerful character moments, and the deepening of the campaign’s central mysteries.
[01:53–05:23] The party surveys the aftermath of their battle: the dungeons are filled with petrified statues, some of which are revealed to be paladins (notably, Teor’s brother, Sid, turned to stone mid-divine sensing).
[06:14–07:55] Cadigan expertly harvests organ components from the slain basilisk, including its bile, believed to be key to reversing petrification.
[08:25–13:14] Thimble and Teor decipher documents in Dwarven and ancient Obra Die alphabets. They find references to Houndsport, Captain Lantry Ferris, and a mission to the haunted Bay of Garrethii—hints of a vast regional plot.
[10:41–11:10] The group discovers that anti-petrification potions are effectively "antivenoms," only protective before full petrification; they won’t reverse a full transformation.
[14:29–15:37] Thimble recalls the Bay of Garrethi for its deadly, mist-shrouded reputation, linking back to a past heist and broadening the campaign’s map.
[16:08–17:01] "Royce Bracers" and a Saramai blade are recovered, as well as 60 gold. Cadigan collects a vial of basilisk bile (the pivotal resource for reversing petrification).
[18:12–19:24] Tyranny disguises herself as a large pink dog for undercover purposes, leading to playful banter with Wick.
[19:28–21:52] The party plans to escape disguised as Taconis guards. Group deception succeeds thanks to practiced subterfuge.
[36:49–40:57] Teor casts Detect Magic, discovering that every statue in their wagon is a petrified paladin, frozen mid-use of their divine senses. The Taconis are using them as undead detectors and security systems in disguise.
[48:27–53:45] Making their way out of the castle, the group navigates guard patrols with quick-thinking deception, eventually aided by Dame Morgaine and her magical hounds, who cloak their escape in shadows.
[54:26–56:47] At the granary, Dame Morgaine arranges for carriages and gives advice. The party passes off the other statues to her care, preparing to seek help for Sid elsewhere.
[72:36–77:14] The party debates whether to seek help in Dalmarchiar or investigate enemy activities in Houndsport. Risk, loyalty, and the burden of leadership are themes as they decide to stay together and return to familiar territory for aid.
[94:21–98:52] Teor privately mourns and says goodbye to his brother’s statue, reflecting on family, loss, and memories.
[99:43–112:07] Cadigan and Tyranny share an intimate conversation about morality and impulse, culminating in Cadigan gifting Tyranny a re-crafted, magically resonant knife:
[116:45–118:37] Cadigan, feeling both inadequate and proud, sharpens his skills alone—eventually unlocking a new ability (sharpshooter) and sharing a quiet, emotional moment with his loyal hound, Wulfric.
[123:09–125:20] Wick and Tyranny share a vulnerable moment as Wick, for Candle Feast, gives Tyranny his magical cane for comfort, cementing trust within the group.
[127:06–129:15] Thimble, reflecting on love and loss, offers gratitude to Wick and seeks solace in memories of old friends.
"You are a demon born of pain. So perhaps it's fit that you can't stop looking at this knife that's hurting you."
— DM (110:18)
"Truth. And you've got wings."
— Thimble (87:02)
(Affirmation and teasing camaraderie in the party’s conversation)
"I feel like I have a purpose now. A mission. A goal. And that… makes a big difference."
— Wick (87:25)
"It is beyond your grasp. You attune to this knife, but its final form eludes you… Something in this knife can grow along with your understanding of this world. But it's a world you don't understand yet."
— DM (111:29)
"We gotta get it to Murray. We gotta get it to Murray."
— Thimble (131:49)
| Segment/Topic | Timestamp | |-------------------------------------|-------------------| | Reintroduction / Recap | 01:30–01:53 | | Discovery of Paladin Statues | 03:15–06:14 | | Basilisk Organ Harvesting | 06:14–07:55 | | Deciphering Enemy Documents | 08:06–13:14 | | Subterfuge and Escape Prep | 17:01–22:37 | | Detect Magic – Statue Revelation | 36:49–40:57 | | Escape with Dame Morgaine | 48:27–54:26 | | Group Debate & Next Steps | 72:36–77:14 | | Teor’s Solo Goodbye w/ Sid | 94:21–98:52 | | Cadigan & Tyranny’s Heart-to-Heart | 99:43–112:07 | | Wick & Tyranny Candle Feast | 123:09–125:20 | | Thimble’s Solo Reflection | 127:06–129:15 | | Closing / Episode Wrap | 130:45–132:00 |
The episode weaves intense, atmospheric tension with moments of levity and dark humor. The players balance gallows jokes and endearing jabs with raw vulnerability, underscoring themes of trauma, found family, regret, and hope. Matthew Mercer guides with evocative narration, alternating between suspenseful exposition and compassionate introspection.
| Character | Key Arc/Theme | Development in Ep 11 Pt 2 | |------------|-------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------| | Teor | Reunion, family trauma, duty vs. fate | Finds brother petrified, quietly grieves, begins to believe in a greater destiny | | Cadigan| Survival, mentoring, shame, pride | Assists group escape, mentors Tyranny, conquers self-doubt, unlocks new skill | | Tyranny| Demon nature, impulsivity, seeking belonging | Formative emotional gift, contemplates morality and pain, deepens bonds | | Thimble| Loss, curiosity, covert leadership | Investigates clues, anchors group emotionally, connects past and present | | Wick | Guilt, lineage, leadership reluctantly embraced | Finds purpose, forges unity, resolves to challenge his corrupted family |
“Make Merry” demonstrates Critical Role’s talent for combining intricate plot with dynamic character development. The episode closes with the party huddled around a fire, bonded deeper by trial, and poised to face uncertain futures—with the fate of loved ones and entire regions at stake.
Is it Thursday yet?