Targeted | Critical Role | Campaign 4, Episode 25 Part 2

Summary

Detailed Summary: Critical Role Campaign 4, Episode 25 Part 2: "Targeted"

Air Date: May 19, 2026
Podcast: Critical Role
Cast: Brennan Lee Mulligan (DM), Murray, Bolair, Hal, and others
Setting: The world of Ahriman, inside the embattled Arkanad in Dol Makyar

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Episode Overview

This action-packed episode picks up immediately after the cliffhanger of Part 1, thrusting listeners back into the chaos of a desperate, multi-front battle within the Arkanad. The king is under direct threat, assassins and magic-users wield deadly force, and the party must fight not just for survival, but to untangle layers of treachery and shifting alliances in the heat of combat. Dramatic reversals, emotional reunions, and high-stakes magical gambits propel the narrative to a shocking conclusion.

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Key Discussion Points & Story Beats

1. Combat Resumes: Chaos and Tactics

(01:11–10:00)

• The battle resumes mid-initiative with assassins pressing their attack, focusing on the wounded King Augustus.
• Murray, still invisible, maneuvers to assist King Gus, heroically pushing sword and shield towards him and prepping a shield glyph as a contingency. "I feel like Frodo when I have the ring on right now and there’s, like, fucking ring wraiths over me." (Murray, 07:22)
• Hal unleashes spells and uses unsettling words to turn the tide, managing to force a concentration drop, freeing a dominated druid. Strategic spellcasting is crucial, especially when Hal’s shatter spell removes both control and poison from King Gus.
• Notable Moment! The freed druid immediately heals and antidotes King Gus: "A circle of autumn leaves swirls around him as he drops to the ground. Let’s go. And removes poison from King Gus." (Brennan, 10:30)

2. Momentum Shifts: Desperation and Bloodshed

(11:00–25:00)

• King Gus rises, regains his arms, and delivers devastating attacks, including dismemberment and heroic resistance under fire: "He kicks this assassin in the chest... takes his sword and lobs one of the arms off of the assassin..." (Brennan, 11:21)
• An enemy spellcaster risks a dangerous teleportation escape, while Bolair makes deft use of revised potion rules to heal allies mid-fight. Booming Blade and other abilities are employed with creative flair.
• Azune, revived, pivots to press the advantage, using desperate measures to snatch victory from dice-induced defeat.

3. Turning the Tide & Executioner’s Gambit

(25:00–46:00)

• Guards finally breach the doors, joining the fray as numbers swell and violence escalates.
• Telekinetic and illusion magic further confuse the field; notable is the use of Phantasmal Force and Mindsliver to weaken enemies and break concentration on key spells. "That spike of glass goes right... all three doors reverberate and smash open as the spell ends." (Brennan, 32:15)
• Dramatic stakes: King Gus is nearly assassinated but saved at the last possible moment by shield spells and the party’s coordinated efforts. "King Augustus Malian takes 70 points of damage, is bloodied. Butt up." (Brennan, 24:50)
• Murray, battered yet brilliant, pulls off critical spells and attacks, incapacitating enemies at pivotal moments and giving King Gus crucial breathing room.

4. Emotional Climax: Reunion and Sacrifice

(46:00–58:00)

• An unexpected and heartbreaking twist: As Azune’s sister, Maiali Nayar, is revealed to be among the assassins, she self-sacrifices, intercepting a fatal blow meant for Azune. “The helm clatters off of her and you see Maiali Nayar, your sister, fall to the ground.” (Brennan, 46:35)
• Azune, desperate, administers Lay on Hands, saving her with the last of his healing energy, and shares a moving moment: "I don’t know that I’ll ever know a moment this happy again." (Azune, 58:35)

5. Final Gambits and Aftermath: Unmasking and Betrayal

(59:00–END)

• The executioner assassin falls under party control via Phantasmal Force, giving them a chance to end the carnage—but shifting loyalties and chaos ripple throughout the chamber.
• Felonious, revealed to be faking rage, tries to destroy evidence. Murray discerns his treachery with keen insight: “Yeah, he’s in it. Felonious Rage is manufactured. This bitch.” (Murray, 66:36)
• A last-ditch Hold Person fails, and despite Hal’s attempts to physically interpose and protect the final assassin for information, Felonious invokes divine power and beheads the captive. "In the name of the holy light, I lay low all enemies of the creed and beheads the assassin in front of you." (Brennan, 73:54)
• The assassination—witnessed by flooding party guests—is immediately followed by a miraculous event: Yanessa Halifar, previously dead, is resurrected in a blaze of holy light, flooding the chamber and forever altering the narrative reality. “They watch the resurrection of Yanessa Halifar. Fuck off. That’s the end of this episode.” (Murray/Brennan, 74:03)

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Memorable Quotes & Timestamps

• Brennan (DM): "You see the druid, your initiative was a 15. This druid happens to roll a 12 and comes right in initiative after you. Ah. Wow." (09:20)
• Murray: “Invisibility ring too. I don’t want this cardia anymore.” (52:39)
• Bolair: "We're saving the king. Gentlemen, get on it." (32:37)
• Hal: "Bonus action—you’ll hear possibly a familiar voice… you get Bardic inspiration." (70:53)
• Murray: "I don’t like it here." (52:22), and later: "Felonious Rage is manufactured. This bitch." (66:36)
• Brennan: “What in the Messiah shit is this?” (74:03, quoting Murray after Yanessa’s resurrection)
• Azune’s Reunion: "My eyes start to glow... energy flows through your hand. Those beautiful sunset eyes open... I don’t know that I’ll ever know a moment this happy again.” (58:35)
• Closing: "Gus lives, everyone, just a miracle." (74:21)

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Major Character and Plot Developments

• King Gus: Survives against overwhelming odds, largely due to party intervention, displays superhuman resilience.
• Murray: Heroics in healing, crowd control, and crucial spellwork; deeply affected by personal cost and the brutal reality of political machinations.
• Azune: Experiences a wrenching personal arc with the apparent loss and subsequent saving of his sister, galvanizing his motivations for whatever comes next.
• Bolair & Hal: Provide magical and martial support, facilitating key reversals and striving to maintain order amid confusion.
• Felonious: Outed (to some) as an actor in a larger plot, but publicly appears as a hero.
• Yanessa Halifar: Miraculously resurrected, setting the stage for unpredictable consequences in the campaign’s next arc.

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Structural & Tonal Notes

• The episode maintains a tense, improvisational tone, blending gallows humor, frantic strategizing, and raw emotion.
• The pacing is relentless, with characters making split-second tactical decisions that have far-reaching consequences.
• Key moments of comedy (e.g., “suck it in, booby”; “Full knives down here”), emotional vulnerability, and shock (especially the twist with Azune’s sister) create a gripping, cinematic feel.

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Recommended Timestamps for Re-listening

• King Gus revives, druid acts: 10:30
• Azune’s sister’s sacrifice: 46:31
• Breaking illusions, doors fly open: 32:15
• Felonious’ betrayal realized: 66:36
• Yanessa’s resurrection (and party’s collective disbelief): 74:03

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Conclusion

This episode exemplifies everything that makes Critical Role vital: high-stakes action, unpredictable magic and dice, deep character interaction, and game-altering surprises. The party must now grapple with the consequences of survival, public spectacle, and betrayal among supposed allies, under the haunting glow of the impossible—resurrection in a god-shorn world.

Is it Thursday yet?

Transcript

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[Murray]

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[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Avoiding your unfinished home project because you're not sure where to start. Thumbtack knows homes, so you don't have to.

[Narrator/Advertiser]

Don't know the difference between matte paint,

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

finish and satin or what that clunking

[Narrator/Advertiser]

sound from your dryer is.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

With thumbtack, you don't have to be a home pro. You just have to hire one. You can hire top rated pros, see price estimates and read reviews all on the app download today. 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. Marcia said balltag. Folks, we're back in the Arkanad here in Dol Makyar.

[Bolair]

He thinks it's gonna break us, robbed

[Hal]

us of our power.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

You deserve to know. And I'll tell you who just got their balls tagged. Our friend Azuneh Nay, who has just dropped. Has dropped here in the archway. A poisoned longsword. A critical hit has just unfolded and we are going to jump right back into initiative. Our assassins have just gone and da, da, da.

[Murray]

We are going are assassins at the top of the initiative order.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Top of the initiative order.

[Murray]

Okay, thank you.

[Bolair]

Like a bunch of assholes,

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

this one, who's just crit on Azune no longer has flanking this knight right here. Yeah. Two swings, two misses no.

[Bolair]

What good are you? I want your payback.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

I want your payback. He's not wanting you, Murray. That is going to be your turn. But we can still take it.

[Bolair]

You could do better.

[Murray]

Oh, God damn. We're in a tight spot. All right. Okay.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Oh, that guy's still charmed.

[Murray]

Here's what I'm going to try to do, Brennan, because I still would like

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

to make a save at the end

[Murray]

of his turn, not reveal myself or drop my invisibility. Murray is still behind this pillar, and you said that the fails his save.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Oh, sorry. The crown of madness is still active. Yes, go for it.

[Murray]

That the sword is right here. Can Murray scurry around this pillar and give a kick of king Gus? Sword to king gus.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

That's an object interaction. You could do that and have your action. Bonus action lift. Yeah.

[Murray]

And then can I what I would like to do, I probably. Please tell me. I probably don't have enough action economy to kick his sword and his shield to him, do I?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

If you use an action. Yes, you can.

[Murray]

Okay. I would like to try and do that. So I kick his sword. I literally.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Come on.

[Murray]

Shimmy behind this assassin.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yeah.

[Murray]

To his shield and kick his shield to him as well.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

I'm going to need a difficulty 10 acrobatics check.

[Murray]

Okay. Okay. A difficulty 10 acrobatics check.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

What's your acrobatics, Murray?

[Murray]

Minus one.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Minus one.

[Murray]

Here's my question. If I choose to use one of my portent rolls, I still roll an add on.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

No, no, no. You just choose.

[Murray]

No, I can't do that. Then I can't do that. I don't know why I just thought that. Ignore what I just said. So we're gonna roll. We're gonna roll.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

The sword is on the near side of the assassin, so the sword you can kick over there as your object interaction. No problem.

[Murray]

Okay. But this is for the shield.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

This is for the shield. Come on. I'm not one or higher. 11. It's exactly 11. Minus one is 10. So an invisible you. Marie, I hate to bring this up, but you have remarked on it quite a lot.

[Murray]

I gotta take ol biddies.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

You gotta take old biddies. So shimmying against the wall, you suck it in. Suck it in, booby.

[Murray]

Suck it in, Murray.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

And squeeze past and are able to. I'll say that you are able to. With your bonus action. Shunt the shield over so both of them clatter across the ground. Going to make some perception checks. The assassin that fired the bolt against the fo tark.

[Murray]

He rolled a six. Portent.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

She rolled a six. Got it. Cool. You see that? She does not. So a clattering sword and shield. They're just blood on their sword. They're not noticing shit. The adrenaline's too high. So they just see a clattering sword and shield. Both of them are in Gus square.

[Murray]

And then just as I'm there, I'm kind of crouched in the corner and what I want to do. Brennan.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yeah. Huh?

[Murray]

And tell me if I'm. If all of this is a stretch. I want to get out my shield glyph.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Cookie. Yeah.

[Murray]

And just kind of.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

That's new.

[Murray]

Kind of be near Gus with it. Like, can I even almost, like, nearby. Almost taking, like, a CPR position, like, holding this glyph, like, to his chest. If I can correct.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

In case we're pulling a. We are pulling a Sarah to Grupnan from calamity when he crushed the glyphs in his kid's hands. Like, we're like, literally. Okay, give me. This will be your action. You've used a bonus action to hit the shield. And now to slip that shield glyph to him is going to be. I'm going to rule that doing this. You're just putting a glyph on his body. You're invisible, but you're trying to get him to essentially break it. Right.

[Murray]

Like, when if. Cause I'm assuming these guys are going to come down with swords.

[Bolair]

Yeah.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

In that case, I will allow you to. You can either try to give him it sneakily so that he has it, or I will let you ready an action to potentially do it at the last possible moment so that you're staying out of harm's way for longer.

[Murray]

I'll do that. I'll do the latter.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Cool. That's crazy. So you are there with the glyph, ready to use your reaction to jump on him and give him a reaction to use this glyph. Right.

[Murray]

Murray. I feel like Frodo when I have the ring on right now and there's, like, fucking ring wraiths over me.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

You've got your shield glyph at the ready. That is going to be. That is going to be Hallndil Fang. That is your turn.

[Hal]

Okay. Hall and I look like a dark figure, but heart and throat. I'm going to pivot around the nama. And yes. Push and press him into the bookshelf.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Okay.

[Hal]

And bonus action. Unsettling words.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Either thou or I or both must die.

[Hal]

Minus six.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Oh, shit.

[Hal]

As I say, so shall you grieve Shatter Hell.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yes.

[Hal]

Minus six on the save.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

That would have been a success. But with that, six is turned into. We turn a 12 or. Sorry, we turn a 14 into an eight.

[Hal]

15 points again.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

15 of thunder damage. 15 points again of thunder damage. Okay, 15 points of thunder damage again.

[Hal]

That's like 10ft. So I reverberate the air within the skull of this man and it just blows, starting in the center of his face, backward into the bookshelf.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Okay, backwards. So once again, Shad, he is bloodied. Two of these spells have fucked him up. He is looking extremely low in hit points concentration. Now, he doesn't have a. Does he doesn't have a minus six to this one. No, no, no. So this is you. He's on the concert. He's looking for nine or low. You're looking for a nine or lower on the die here. Come on, please.

[Murray]

Three.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Three. Holy shit. With that second shatter, he is blown back, loses concentration. And you see this druid come out from dominate person. Now you are not gonna fucking believe your luck here, but as you grew up, of course, the second shatter, he loses it. This druid, your initiative was a 15. This druid happens to roll a 12 and comes right in. Initiative after you. Ah. Wow.

[Murray]

Belair should have given us goat masks. Cause that's what we are.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Unbelievable, Hal. Okay, as you shatter this concentration, Bolair and Murray, you in the room see that this young druid, who looks like a young man, probably mid-20s, he has these two tattoos of stags, tines that go. The sides of his head are shaved. And he has tattoos of antlers along the side of his head.

[Murray]

That's cool.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

He turns around, comes home and goes, my liege. And you hear the trampling of hoes through the wood. A circle of autumn leaves swirls around him as he drops to the ground. Let's go. And removes poison from King Gus. Yes, yes. Steps here. Removes poison. Oh, my God. Now, I swear to God, folks at home, I rolled this all fair and square. Do you know who has an 11 initiative? King Augustus Valiant uses half his movement to stand sword and shield. He stands up. You fucked up. And yes. And is going to roll immediately. Roll. Three attacks.

[Hal]

Stop. Jason Statham. Here he comes.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Okay. He kicks this assassin in the chest. She goes flying back 10ft and lands on the table. He turns over here, takes his sword and lobs one of the arms off of the assassin behind him.

[Bolair]

What?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Boom. Yes, but that assassin's still up and going. Okay, okay. But he. Oh, my God. That is going to be. That is King Gus in front of you. This namaste looks takes a spell glyph. Cracks it in half. Damn it. And I'm gonna ask you to roll a D6 for me. Let me know if you roll a 1. That sounds bad.

[Hal]

I rolled a 3.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

3. He cracks the glyph. This looks like some dangerous fucked up magic. A door of purple smoke appears behind him, crackling with lightning. He falls back through it and vanishes. Give me an arcana check if you'd like.

[Murray]

Oh, is he misty stepping away? Is there?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

What's happening?

[Bolair]

You don't get an attack of opportunity on that either.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Do you have warcaster? You do?

[Bolair]

Yes.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

14 on a 14 some. Teleportation is extremely dangerous in Ahriman following the fall of the Gods. This is not a full teleport spell. Shorty short. It's a shorty. You actually say shorty Shorts are safe. Like I Misty step is a safe spell. This is probably dimension door. And even that on a one. On a one through six. Something bad. What if I. Okay, okay, okay. So he's frightened enough that he risks. He risks. So he vanishes. Duh duh duh. That is his turn. Bolare and Azune, you are Asharian. Initially.

[Bolair]

Turns out under new rules, feeding a healing potion to someone five feet away from you is a bonus action as well.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Now.

[Murray]

Okay.

[Bolair]

They have made that less of a pain in the ass.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yeah.

[Bolair]

So I am going to take just a pirouette, spin around, cracking the bottle, open it, and shoving it into your mouth so it starts to drain into you while I turn and face this asshole. And as I spin, I am going just for a straight attack. And I am. He's standing alone, right? There's no one next to him.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

It's just him being gross.

[Bolair]

Yeah. You're welcome. Like, I don't know.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Of course. That gets me.

[Bolair]

I heard what I said. And I'm just going to go for a straight stab with the glass sword right into him, right between the fucking eye. I'll hit. What I do. I'll hit. I'm going for it. What is my standard attack?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Where are we?

[Bolair]

There we are.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Right.

[Bolair]

Come on, don't be a dick. 18 to hit.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

18 hits. All right. And two D4 plus two hit points. Oh, oh, oh. You want me to roll it? Yeah, go for it.

[Murray]

Big money.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Actually, that one's good. Well, it's bad, but the one inside is good. The one inside is good. 2d4 plus 2 plus 2. Great. 7.

[Bolair]

Technically, I can use it as a green flame attack, though. Same thing, right?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

I believe so, yeah.

[Bolair]

Oh, shit. So if you don't mind, it doesn't change anything, just a little extra.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yeah, it's one action.

[Bolair]

Little extra kick. So let's see what happens.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Cool.

[Bolair]

That is. Yeah. Okay, that's 10 points of normal damage

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

plus to the one right in front of you.

[Bolair]

To the one right in front of me. And then one point of flame damage.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Hell, yes. Baler, you reach around, flame flickering across your glass, rapier through the eye and out the back of the head. This assassin falls dead to the ground. Nice.

[Bolair]

I let go of the sword, turn towards the rest of. What's happening over there. Oh, actually, is that. Yeah, he's one of ours. And just remanifest a sword as that one shatters.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Hell, yes. Assassin falls to the ground. That is your action. Bonus action. Azune, it is your turn. How many? See, you're gained.

[Bolair]

You roll. Do you want to roll or should I roll?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

The healing?

[Bolair]

Yeah, I just rolled it.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Oh, you're good.

[Bolair]

You're good. Well done.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

As quickly as my consciousness fades, I pop back up and I'm going to stand. Cool. Action. Yes. Half your movement. You have to use 15ft of movement. You stand and I'm going to. I won't make that mistake again. I am going to use my action to draw my shield. Okay? So now I still have. Do I still have my weapon in hand? You still have your weapon in hand. Okay. So use my action to draw my shield. And then I am going to. I have seven hit points. Seven hit points. Don't count.

[Murray]

Don't the count.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Hold on, let me see what these do.

[Bolair]

Conjure, Muppet.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Okay, I'm going to.

[Bolair]

Boom.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Blade that guy. Go for it. Hell, yeah. You're flanking. Yep. Advantage.

[Bolair]

Great.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Excellent. Come on, baby. Ooh.

[Bolair]

Ooh.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

15 to hit. 15 does not hit. Does not hit. Damn. That was at advantage. Booming blade misses. I am.

[Bolair]

Rough day, man.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Going to. Yeah. These dice. Oh, you know what? No, no, no.

[Bolair]

I'm gonna.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Desperate measures. One failure. Mark. Give a plus five bonus to a D20 test.

[Bolair]

You just failed.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

You're bloodied. Yes, that's absolutely correct. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Desperate measures. Okay, Azune. Yes. You are putting everything on the line right now. You're gonna take a dead save. Failure. Overextend yourselves.

[Murray]

Come on.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

And you're gonna add. What? You add five to that test. I'm gonna add five to that test. 20. 20. That is a hit. Okay, I'm gonna roll. My damage is gonna be seven points of damage with my weapon attack. Okay. And I am going to push him.

[Bolair]

I think if he hits a wall, he takes bonus damage.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yeah. I would like to have. If it's fine with you, pivoted just towards. So during this attack, I pivoted 5, 10. So I can push him away from us. Closer to whatever that like. Yeah. Planetary thing is. Cool. Move here. 10ft back. Bam. In the diagonal so he's not adjacent to that other guy. Okay, great. Gotcha. Right here. Opposite, opposite, opposite. Over here. Yeah, over there. Great. Perfect. Okay, cool. And he is wrapped in booming energy. Hell. And he's bloodied too. Yeah. Yes. Oh, no. Extraordinarily bloody. Okay, great. Whatever. That was my action. That was bonus action. And I think that's pretty much all my movement. So that's my turn. Hell yeah.

[Murray]

You said there were two assassins here, but King Gus dropped one of them. Correct.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

He chopped one of their arms off and kicked another one. But they are all. The one with the chopped off arm is still safe. I'm still committed to finishing Gus. Wow.

[Bolair]

I mean, what else is she going to do? Getting out is kind of hard.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yeah.

[Murray]

Committed.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

That's it for me. Okay. Yeah. That's my end. At the end of your turn. Thank you. Rushing towards the doors. Wow, look at that. Rushing towards the doors. Are the guards here, guys. Guards. Here we go. Da, da, da. That begin to bang on the doors as hard as they can. That guy over there. Go ahead, if you would. Here's Varen right here. Go ahead. He would Luis. And place them as they join Felonious trying to batter down that door. Maybe, maybe, maybe. Can I do this?

[Bolair]

Probably not.

[Murray]

I don't. I'm sure Felonius at this point.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

She's got concentrating. We know that.

[Murray]

I mean, like, I don't think they're going to go after.

[Hal]

No. I'm just wondering if Thelonious knows about the fo tark's foil or.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

I don't know.

[Hal]

Just as unwitting as the attempt

[Murray]

roll

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

damage for booming blade. If he'd be so kind. Does he make a save against that or. No? No, that is automatic. Automatic if he is moving. Come on.

[Bolair]

One.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

He had one. I swear to God. He had one hit. No. Yes, he did. Wow. Boom. He thunders forward and collapses to the ground. The assassins at the choke point are no more. Okay, okay. Whoa. That is lucky. Okay.

[Bolair]

Do you have any more movement? Spend it now.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

I don't.

[Bolair]

That's okay.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Half my move in to get up.

[Bolair]

That's right.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

I had to spend half a minute and then I pivoted around make an attack roll for this crown of madness assassin as he closes with one of his allies.

[Bolair]

All right, let's see what happens.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Glorious. Oh.

[Bolair]

If he's not standing next to them at the beginning of his turn. Doesn't work.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Doesn't work. Okay, gotcha.

[Bolair]

But he does get a save at

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

the end of his turn, right?

[Bolair]

Does he move towards us? Yeah, at the end of his turn.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

He has to copy that.

[Bolair]

He's moving around. It's just like. It's just chaos, as far as I know, but it's. But, yeah, if he's not standing next to somebody for me to hit, then it don't work.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Our assassins are flanking King Gus.

[Bolair]

Okay.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

I've been there. This is. This is the moment of truth, gang. Our druid sees this happening here, okay? They are each going to make two attacks with advantage. Murray, this was the moment that you had readied an action for, correct?

[Murray]

Yes, I. I have again. And this is the assassins making an attack on King Gus.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yeah.

[Murray]

Yes. Right? Yes. Okay. I was reading my sheet. I'm sorry.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Are you going to leap? I will say this. You either have to give me a sleight of hand check to force him to do it, or if you. I will allow you to think of how to make him use it. I guess. No, he's not poisoned anymore. What would you do in this moment? Would you just toss it to him? Would you try to break it on him?

[Murray]

I would try and break it on him. I think it would be a full almost CPR kind of move where she just smashes it and breaks it on him.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

You reach forward, thud it against his chest, and I will say, in this instance, he would use it if he could. And you have the spell glyph, so I'm going to allow it. He is shielded. His armor class when he was prone was gonna be 13. You got him. His shield back goes to 15 with the shield spell. That's 20. I'm gonna announce the poison on their blades dissipates on the first hit. They have two attacks. So if one of them misses two attacks in a row, it means their poison stays but is not used. That's a big deal.

[Murray]

Okay.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Okay. They are rolling with advantage because they are flanking. This is the big moment. Okay. Holy.

[Murray]

They're rolling with advantage.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Rolling with advantage. Yeah, he's down, but he's got 20ac. 20ac.

[Hal]

20ac.

[Bolair]

20a. While down is insane.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Miss.

[Bolair]

Okay.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Okay.

[Bolair]

Big money hit. Okay.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Hit. Miss. That's my fourth roll. That's your fourth roll.

[Hal]

Four.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Two hits. Two misses.

[Hal]

Yes.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Two hits. Two misses. Ms. Shield.

[Bolair]

God damn, he holds.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Well, miss because of the shield. So two hits.

[Hal]

Two hits.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Nice. Okay, he fails. What else happens here? That was satisfying.

[Hal]

Still, nonetheless, eyes on Ghost.

[Murray]

Oh, my God.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Okay, yeah.

[Hal]

Let's go into the sassy, guys.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Those aren't almonds. Okay. Braden just eats dice.

[Bolair]

There's so many dice in his hand right now, it's like limes.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

But why? Oh, poison. Oh, poison blades.

[Bolair]

Yep.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Oh, but these are the two attacks.

[Murray]

The first two that attacked the same

[Bolair]

way it hit you.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

16, 26. Yeah. 35, 36. As long as we can get to

[Bolair]

a tomb of the healing.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

46, 51.

[Murray]

It's under the table. The Druid is up, though. The Druid's here.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

I think we should invent poison Gus. King Augustus Malian takes 70 points of damage, is bloodied. Butt up.

[Murray]

Whoa, whoa.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Bloody butter. According to my calculation, approximately level, you see? But I just want to point out that had he been poisoned, a lot of that. It's a huge deal. So these swords. As he heaving with blood, he's got the Hound's pommel sword in his hand. That is the executioner's turn. Nat. 20 on the save to come out of Crown of Darkness. Another assassin. Join us.

[Murray]

Can I use porting?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Oh, I'm gonna use seven.

[Murray]

Seven.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

He stays under Crown of Madness. Okay. Stays under. It keeps one more assassin out of the fray. Incredible.

[Murray]

At this point, I think Murray's still invisible, and she just has a little trickle of blood. She just quietly flies. If anyone were to notice, you would probably just see a few drips of blood from her. Her nose appearing on the stone beneath her. I hope I didn't just use that poorly.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Unbelievable. 5, 10, 15, 20, 24, 30, 35, 45.

[Hal]

But it's time. We still need to get the doors open.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Knight rushing through to his king. Murray, that's going to be your turn.

[Hal]

Somebody got to pop the top off that wizard.

[Murray]

All right. Working on it. Okay, so wait, there's still several of these fucks standing around King Gus, right?

[Hal]

They get another chance to do that. He's done. He's down.

[Murray]

At least Murray is still kind of back against the wall.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

She's wearing shields. Gone is the more important. Yes. Two hits were negated by that shield.

[Murray]

Louis, do you mind moving? Hit me behind this assassin. Up against the wall. Back to the wall. Yep, that's where. And that's probably where I would have been for all of this action anyway.

[Bolair]

Yeah.

[Murray]

Here we go, y'.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

All.

[Murray]

Yep, yep, Here we go.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Got this

[Murray]

Murray takes out her dagger. She's going to cast true strike right on this assassin's throat right in front of her. She takes the dagger and she's going to try and slide his throat, dropping her invisibility. But we're in it now. We're in it.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Let's go.

[Hal]

We're in it.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

He's the guy that took a major hit, too, I think, right? Yes. He's the guy who's got his arm. He's missing an arm. Missing an arm.

[Murray]

It's a natural 19.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Hell, yes.

[Murray]

Plus seven. So it's gonna be 26 to hit.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Well done. 26 to hit is a hit.

[Murray]

You're a fucking laugh when you did that song.

[Bolair]

The fact that you look down is 8.

[Murray]

Fuck. 8 damage.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Great.

[Murray]

To try and go for this guy.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yes. This guy's looking on death's door, looking very close to being dead as the dagger goes across. Any bonus actions from Murray?

[Murray]

She's not really a bonus action girly.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

You got it.

[Murray]

But I will. If I move away from him, I'll probably get an attack of opportunity, won't I?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yeah.

[Murray]

I'm staying base to base with the assassin, I guess.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Hell, yeah.

[Bolair]

It gives advantage to Gus.

[Murray]

That's true. Right.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

He's flanking with Gus. Yes, he's flanking. Okay.

[Murray]

All right. And Murray is in the room.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Murray, Hal, that is going to be your turn. Come on, baby.

[Hal]

So this guy just rocketed away out of my sight. The room is a shambles. Am I able to hear any calamity happening anywhere in the building?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Party is in chaos outside.

[Hal]

Party's in chaos. Okay. So I'm so far away. I think all I really can do is the illusion of this dark enforcer with the Osgra mask is still up. So I'm just going to get as far towards the. I'll run out into the crowd and try to quickly assess as I go what's going on. And I will use. I think I'm gonna have to use movement, action and my orc trait adrenaline.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yeah.

[Hal]

To do a full 90ft.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Cool. Hell, yeah. 90ft. You're just sprinting for this chamber here, right? Yes. Yeah. Going as fast as you can. Sprinting through the party. You see chaos, commotion everywhere. People are shouting as you rush through to Da. Da. That's going to be okay. Way better. Okay. What would he do? What would he do? Druid moves next to the king, is going to cast cure wounds.

[Bolair]

Fuck, yeah.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yes. Okay. You see, he lays a hand on King Gus, cures him for some injury. Gus is going to see you appear behind him and attack. One of the assassins just turns and goes. Good on you. I'm with you. With advantage. Ms. Sadly hit. That's a Nat 20. Come on. With the advantage. You see that? He looks at you, sees your size and solid build and just shoulder checks the dude to tabletop him over you. And brings the longsword through the ribcage. Kills the assassin. That assassin is no more. Yes. Okay. Yes, yes, yes. Okay. That's King Gus. Azune and Bolaire. Okay, you went first last time.

[Bolair]

I'm fine either way. But since. Yeah, I'll start. So we both see this invisible fuck.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yes, we do.

[Bolair]

I'm gonna take my 30ft, just walking straight into the room.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Gotcha.

[Bolair]

I'm walking with great confidence.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Great 30ft.

[Bolair]

And then I'm going to throw a. Not even making eye contact, which is weird for me anyway because it's hard to tell where I look. I'm just going to cast and throw a mindsliver right at that man with invisibility. Straight into him.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Hell yeah. Go for it. What is the save on mindsliver?

[Bolair]

He'll probably save, but just in case. It's an intelligence 14 save.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

He does not save.

[Bolair]

So turns to sea. Would take 1D6 psychic plus. Where's my 1D4 for that? That's two psychic damage. But also he also has to take a negative one to his next saving throw.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Whatever the fuck.

[Bolair]

I don't even give a fuck.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

How much damage was that? Sorry.

[Hal]

Two.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Two damage.

[Bolair]

Okay. And then a negative one to his next saving throw.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Copy that.

[Bolair]

I hate that. I rolled two and a one.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Well, he does have to make a concentration check.

[Bolair]

Yep, with a negative one to him.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Negative one two.

[Bolair]

Yeah.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

So he will need. He needs 11 or higher.

[Bolair]

Okay, I can take that.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

I'll take that on nat1, baby. Oh, God. That spike of glass goes right. Just all three doors reverberate and smash open as the spell ends. And you see that spellcaster look horrified out at everybody.

[Bolair]

We're saving the king. Gentlemen, get on it.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yes. Unbelievable. Bolair. Great. Hell yeah. Hell yeah. We are all monsters. I love it. I fucking love it. There we go.

[Murray]

This fight is crazy.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

This fight is crazy.

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[Hal]

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[Hal]

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[Murray]

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[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

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[Bolair]

My damage doesn't create.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Healing potion. Healing potion.

[Hal]

Healing potion.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Blood. Great. That's my turn. I heal for 5 plus. Whatever the modifiers I'm gonna help find right now for the healing potion. Hell yes. Okay. Duh, duh, duh. Okay. After your turn. Our friend here has been holding concentration. Is going to shoot it.

[Murray]

Nail off his nerves.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Looking out at this very dynamic field. The doors have all flung open. This is very, very bad.

[Murray]

Including these doors as well. In front of.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yeah, yeah, those ones. All three are open. Okay. Oh, good.

[Bolair]

That's going to be my next spell.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Okay, I read it. I didn't. Okay, okay, okay. With the doors open like that. You see this spellcaster right here? Invisibility. Not based on concentration. The doors fly open and that caster that was having some kind of telekinesis is going to reach over with a hand, staying invisible and grabs. Holding a hand at King Gus.

[Bolair]

Oh.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Reaches out and yanks him back with a telekinetic shove. Gus is knocked prone on this table right here in the center. As far away from the other guards as possible. And gust takes a not large amount of damage. But he's low enough that he is under a quarter of his hit points. Okay, okay, okay. Veterans are going to go. These guys charge into a blocked doorway. Do me a favor, Azune, and just roll 4D20 for me. 4D20. Okay.

[Murray]

Come on.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Oh my gosh. A 10, an 8, a 4 and a 1. Gotcha.

[Bolair]

We are having a bad day over here.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

We are. What happened? Okay. Somebody else touched my dice. Oh, no. Now it's your curse.

[Bolair]

Yeah, I know.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

There you go.

[Murray]

Both.

[Bolair]

Now send them Back to me after my turn.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Actually, you know what? Yes. I'm so sorry. I'm going to take that back. Okay. There's a different thing that makes more sense for him to do here. My apologies. Gus is back in the ring over here. As these guys charge in, He cast dispel magic on this executioner. Oh, God. I did not dispel magic on the executioner with that. These guys are going to rush in here. Da da, da. Surrounding you.

[Bolair]

They know me.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

These guards are gonna rush in and flank the assassins over here. These guys over here. Yeah, go ahead and give me another four D20 rolls.

[Bolair]

My mask has got the mark, so.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Crap.

[Bolair]

Unless they're gonna get. Unless something's weird.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Real weird. Hey. Oh my God. Let me know if they're 12s or higher. 12, 1. 12. Okay. Everything else is below. And another one.

[Murray]

Damn.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

12. 4, 3, 1. Okay, what are you doing? Rushing forward. You see that your soldiers rush in. There's just a stone hall filled with the clanging of metal. As they rush in, Varen rushes in and at the front of this sort of legion, looks at you, charging in and goes, ozune, what's the mission? And here's you shouting, we're here to summon the king. As he shouts, azune, I need Murray Bolaire and you to roll insight. And Azun, I want you to roll with advantage. Oh, God. I know what this is.

[Murray]

I want insight.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

It's that guy.

[Bolair]

Ugh, God.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Why?

[Bolair]

What is happening?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Ooh, that's a good one. A 21 for me.

[Bolair]

Thank God.

[Murray]

14 for Murray.

[Bolair]

8.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

What we get 14. What's that?

[Murray]

14.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

14 what we get here? 8. What'd you get here? 21. Azune, the assassin that was kicked onto the table by King Gus on 21. You said yes. As Varen shouts at you, whips to look at you through a full helm, just looks directly at you. Sword out. It is the top of the next round. Executioners go. Or assassins go. The executioner turns to see Azune and is going to bound across the room saying, you should stay down, guardsman. Sprinting across the room, this assassin leaves King Gus and leaps in the way as he reaches out with his unused poison sword and is going to strike. Going for you and hitting the other assassin as they jump in the way. Wait, the what? What? Okay, the. That is a that. The executioner hits.

[Murray]

Crown of madness is gone.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

It's gone. They're all acting out of their own free will. It is possible. Let me see here. Okay. Con. Save. Do you have parents?

[Hal]

Hold on.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

One second. Of course.

[Bolair]

Shit's getting weird.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

I am just going to. I'm roll this. I'm going to roll this in front of disguised. I'm going to roll this in front of the board. 30 damage will drop. That assassin that has just jumped in there. That is assassin is basically being a meat shield for me. Being a meat shield for you. What we're going to roll. Rolling for 30. 16, 25.

[Bolair]

Yes.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

That assassin rushes using their whole turn, leaps in front and this poison catches the dose of the poison as the assassin whips around right next to you having jumped in the way of Yuden's other assassin. And you see a pair of sunset eyes looking out of the helm at you. Oh no. She drops. Oh no. To the ground.

[Murray]

Is it just like family?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yeah. The helm clatters off of her and you see Maiali Nayar, your sister, fall to the ground. Is she dead? Do I know? You can make a medicine check on your turn to determine? Okay, yes. What I will say here is she has just gone prone. And this executioner has a second attack. Oh no. Two natural force as he clangs down thudding into the stone. Picture a world where the supernatural isn't just possible. It's streaming and it's free. Enter Pluto TV, your source for mind bending shows like the 100 and the X Files. Plus Pluto TV is the ultimate destination for sci fi series like Battlestar Galactica and a fleet of Star Trek adventures. Check out what's landing on Pluto TV Stream now pay never.

[Murray]

Let's check in on the Serta counting sheep. Hey, uncle number one.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

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[Murray]

Oh no.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

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[Murray]

We'll never get counted again.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

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[Murray]

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[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

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[Murray]

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[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

today and let us surprise you. That is going to be. There's but a single assassin left with Gus right here. No longer has advantage, but making two attacks. Bonus action applies another dose of poison. No shield.

[Bolair]

Oh, shield's gone.

[Hal]

No shield.

[Bolair]

It's a 1 and 9 for him.

[Murray]

Yes.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

15 armor class. I'll roll the first die out here in the open. It's the first attack. It is a miss. Second attack.

[Bolair]

God, I'm having a heart attack.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Uh huh. 11 plus 5 is a 15. Gus uses a reaction to use the Parry ability. Adding two to his armor class. No way for a 17. Turns a hit into a miss as he shield up.

[Murray]

I went off this roller coaster.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Timinish Knight is going to sprint the rest of the way to his king. Da da da. Leaping into the fray. That is going to be Murray. That is your turn.

[Murray]

Okay, who's in front of me? Who's bad?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

You have one assassin left in front of you who is fighting King Gus

[Murray]

and he's looking rough.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

King Gus is one hit away from dropping. And there is a world based on his initiative order where if he gets dropped on the first hit and double death save failed on the second that he would roll and die on his turn. So he's still a turn away from death. Oh, God.

[Murray]

Okay.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Oh, yeah. That's right.

[Bolair]

I was going to look that up.

[Murray]

With the trickle of blood still dripping from Murray's nose, she's going to tap into that fabric of reality yet again as she takes her fingernail quill and rips it across. And she's going to kind of take it and rip. Run it right across the brim of her hat as she is looking at this assassin across from her. And she's gonna cast Musical Migraine so he has to make a constitution saving throw.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Constitution saving throw.

[Murray]

My spell save is 15

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

fail.

[Murray]

Okay, okay. He takes 3D6 thunder damage and he is incapacitated.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Ooh, incapacitated is so bad. Wow.

[Murray]

Incapacitated. So he takes 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 thunder damage as Murray runs her finger across the brim of her hat. And you almost see it mirrored in this assassin as that sonic line almost scrapes and slices right across his forehead.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Amazing. King Gus. With this assassin incapacitated, there is no active enemy within range of King Gus.

[Murray]

And then. I don't like it here. Well, I'm not base to base with anybody, right?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

No.

[Murray]

I'm just gonna kind of. I know that there's still spell slingers on the board. I'm just going to kind of shimmy myself behind this pillar, if you don't mind.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Moving. I got you.

[Murray]

You can take off that invisibility ring too. I don't want this cardia anymore. And I'm just going to kind of hide myself behind this pillar to be a little bit out of line of sight.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Great. Back here hiding behind the pillar. You're out of line of sight. Hell, yes.

[Murray]

Yes. Still want to be in line of sight with Gus, but not this Spellslinger over here.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Good.

[Murray]

That's fine.

[Bolair]

Yeah.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

How you are about 80ft from that front doorway right now.

[Hal]

There's a whole pack of people, including Thelonious and the two gigantic dogs there.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yes, there are.

[Hal]

Are Thelonious and the dogs facing inward or facing out as they appear?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

They're facing inward. They were trying to open the door,

[Hal]

and the door has exploded open in front of them.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yes, correct.

[Hal]

Man. And I'm 80ft away.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

80ft away.

[Hal]

All right. I have a clarification question. Way earlier, when I first threw up the disguise that I'm wearing, I had said, if I need to, I'll use my orcish. Adrenaline rush.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Hal]

But you didn't say if I needed it or not. So if I still have it, I'll use it. If not, I will not.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

I'll allow you to use it this round to close discs.

[Hal]

Okay. So I have two of them. One was spent to get as far as I have. I will use the second, but I'm out of gas just to get in the room. I would hit these guys around the 70ft mark so I can make it into the room if I can get through that crowd.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

I believe you can. As you get through the crowd, Hal, you push forward into this chamber here. Give me an insight check.

[Hal]

Okay, but that's my action bonus Action, movement are all blown. I can't do anything except perceive it's a two that I rolled. So for a total of

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

six. Total of six Dead sprint huffing and puffing into the room. You just sprinted across the Arcanade at top speed and are in here watching absolute chaos.

[Hal]

And I'm also not recognizable to anyone unless someone is confused by my appearance and tries to discern who or what I am.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Hell yeah. Yeah. You see Gus whips around to his druid and goes. Hounds. Druid moves over here and is going to remove poison from Martin. Hound of the King.

[Bolair]

Yes.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Incredible. Gus is going to that for Guy's incapacitated, Looks up at the musical migraine, sees Yew duck around the column, winks and just plants himself. Both drops shield for a second to grab the sword and boom. Plunges it through the stomach of that remaining assassin.

[Murray]

Especially after he winks, just gives a little.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Incredible. Felonious rushes inside over the body of the fotarch. Mother. Martin looks forward here. Martin's. I know his friend's in trouble. Martin goes honorless fiends. And leaps over and bites the throat out of that assassin, finishing him off. Yeah.

[Murray]

Come on, Mark.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Duh, duh, duh. Seeing Gus completely unsurrounded by active assassins, this dude here. Tal, roll a D6 for me. This spellcaster hits a glyph and vanishes.

[Hal]

Yeah, you better run.

[Bolair]

That certainly makes me decide what I'm going to be doing.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Okay, that is going to be Bolair and Azune.

[Bolair]

You want to go first or.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

You go first.

[Bolair]

Okay, because I'm going to be eeny, meeny, miny, moe.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Oh. Oh. That guy disappeared. I can go first if you want me to. Only assassin active in the room is the executioner up on the table over your sister. Okay, I can.

[Bolair]

Yeah. Let me try and do a thing first.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Ooh.

[Bolair]

I'm going to try Phantasmal Force.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

No.

[Bolair]

Yeah, I'm gonna try Phantasmal Force on this motherfucker.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Go for it.

[Bolair]

That's a intelligence 14 save.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

That is a failure.

[Bolair]

Oh, God. The king's escaping. The king's escaping. Drawing a crossbow and aiming it at him.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

I don't know.

[Bolair]

The king has crawled away and is about to take a shot at the assassin. Better do something about that.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Incredible.

[Bolair]

In fact, the king. Oh, no. Is right there.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Right there. Okay.

[Bolair]

In fact. Yeah.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

King is right there. Okay, yeah.

[Bolair]

And definitely crawling away. And is about to make a ranged attack against our assassin.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Hell yeah. Da, da, da. Awesome. He is fully charmed. You've been playing tricks on this dude's mind the whole fight.

[Bolair]

What do you get for being an idiot? Don't walk into a museum if you're a schmuck.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Azune. That's you.

[Bolair]

And I'm also. I'm gonna be stuck. Starting to move a little bit.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yeah, Joining Azune here.

[Bolair]

Yeah, Joining Azune there.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Great. I see this guy wielding an axe, right? Wielding an axe. But you see that? You see his mind, and he turns. Thank you so much.

[Bolair]

I literally.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

But you. Yeah. Bolair comes to your side, and you spell goes off. Azmi, that is your turn.

[Murray]

It's for you.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Hold for what? For what?

[Bolair]

If he makes a strike, then

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

hold.

[Bolair]

Hold.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

I. Then

[Bolair]

does it look like he's about to turn, or does it look like

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

you feel the spell take hold on the assassin? I'm going to or get your sister out of here. I'm going to interpose. My sister's fallen unconscious. I'm going to move next to her so that I can, if I need to, try to interpose myself between her and him. And I'm going to go down on one knee and I'm going to touch her. I'm gonna hold her hand. I'm gonna go for her hand and I'm gonna say, don't leave me. And I am going to lay on hands. Fuck. Yes. Good call. My eyes start to glow. It looks like the sun almost sets and then rises again in my eyes. And it feels like a heartbeat as energy timed with the beating of my heart moves from my chest, down my arm, into my hand and into hers. Giving her. I'd give her everything I have. I have up to five hit points that I can give her. And I know I wouldn't waste. I would give it all. Having avoided the axe stroke from the executioner, energy flows through your hand. Those beautiful sunset eyes open. Her helm is rolled off. Whatever she's done in life, they trusted her with that spellbolt in the crossbow. The one that fired at the fo tark. You look up. She looks gaunt. Her eyes flutter open. Long dark white red hair braided, flowing back from her. She opens up. The muscles of her face have atrophied from a life you have not been party to and cannot imagine. She looks withered. Not of body, but of something profound. As she looks up at you. She is experiencing no small amount of pain from the sword blow that just was knit shut to prevent her from succumbing to that wound. You've staunched the bleeding. But she's also feeling pain in her face as muscles that have not moved in many years crease into a smile. She looks up and goes. I remember. You hear ghostly Varen's voice saying, Keep one alive. Keep one alive. This one. Keep this one alive. It is the top of the next round and I need you to roll a D6. Six. She looks at you. I don't know that I'll ever know a moment this happy again. No, no, no. My little brother. Don't anyone Crack breaks a dimension door, Rune. And vanishes. Mother. What the fuck? That was my bonus action. Mm. God damn it. If I still have the opportunity to take my action. But Liv, you see that I'm about to lose my shit. And I'm about to strike at that

[Bolair]

man that you I. I may step right in front of you.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

I lunge forward

[Bolair]

if I can. Yeah, I know that's. Yeah, I know that's a difficult thing, actually.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yeah.

[Bolair]

Cause I. I didn't take my whole movement. I'm shit. I don't know how. Yeah, that might be my.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

I'll allow you to step in front. I'm not a thing. I'm not a thing. I'm not a thing. I'm a person. I'm a person.

[Bolair]

Oh, oh, wait a minute. Yes. I'm going to use my reaction for command.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Okay.

[Hal]

Calm.

[Bolair]

Making it make a.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

A wisdom save.

[Bolair]

A wisdom save.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Can I choose to fail? Yeah, choose to fail.

[Bolair]

It's just one good breath. That's all it is.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

It may go away after you see your sister's blood dripping off that weapon. But Balare's voice resonates within you. This is the only living assassin in the room. And you see Varen point at him as you succumb. Do you use your action to strike or. No, I don't. I feel I've left my shield on the ground. I raise my warhammer towards this man and I say arrest him. As you call that out, Varen points and your magpies begin to flood into the room. What's he gonna do? He on his turn is going to rush over here. Yep. And you see, he takes. You see that Filonius holding his mother's body, imposes himself. And this guy lashes out with his axe and thuds it into Felonious side. We are going to. This is going to be our last round of combat. Everything has unfolded in this wild way. That is the last assassin to go. That Timonish Knight is going to rush over here. And this is on me. Diminished Knight knocks this guy prone. Knocks the assassin prone. Damn it. You see that, Murray? That is your turn. You see, Felonious, having just been injured, says, I'll kill him and is raising his weapon to attempt to finish off the assassin. Oh, Felonious. Felonius. Ah.

[Murray]

Can I try very quickly to get a sense of if Felonious is in on this ruse and what the fuck is going on with the fo Tarch?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Give me insight, because he could be

[Hal]

trying to get ruined of evidence on scene.

[Murray]

100%. I think that's exactly what he's saying. I think he's in on it. I'm going to guess he's in on it. Okay, Come on. Come on, baby. That's good. That's a natural. 18 for 19. Insight.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yeah, he's in it. Felonious Rage is manufactured. This bitch.

[Murray]

This bitch.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Bad actors everywhere. Bad actors. Action Action from Maria or bonus action.

[Murray]

Hold person on Felonious.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Okay. This is probably our last crucial roll of the combat.

[Murray]

I have no portents left. No portents.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Okay, here we go.

[Bolair]

Wait, wait.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Hold on. Let me think of something. Hold on.

[Hal]

I'm hoping to check something.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

I have a thing. I think. I think I have a thing. I just have to make sure that I understand the rules. He's gonna roll that motherfucker at disadvantage. I'm gonna use a luck point against him. Your difficulty is 14. Correct.

[Murray]

15.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

15. Okay. So he is going to succeed on a seven or higher. I'll roll in front of the board. I can't. It doesn't work that way.

[Murray]

I can.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

You can.

[Murray]

I have luck points, right.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

It's disadvantage when a creature rolls a D20 for an attack roll against you. I can spend a luck point to impose disadvantage. Okay. Yep. You are looking for. So we're going to roll a single die.

[Murray]

You're right. You're right. Give me that back.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

You're looking for a six or lower here.

[Bolair]

Here we go.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Here we go. Hold on. Six or lower. Yes.

[Hal]

Come on.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Seventeen. Seventeen. Okay. Okay.

[Murray]

That's okay.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Spell goes off. Boom. Felonious resists it. Murray, that's Da Da, da. That's you. Hal, it is going to be your turn.

[Hal]

So Murray's visible and I saw you casting at Thelonious?

[Murray]

Yes.

[Hal]

I'm trying to make sense of what's going on. Oh, my God. I mean, what would I do? The fo tark is at my feet. He's raging.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yes. Felonious is raging. He's about to kill that assassin. Find the evidence. Give me perception 15. Actually, I don't think anyone saw Murray casting that whole person. You're hiding behind a column. It's chaos in here.

[Hal]

Perception 15. You said it's 17.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Cool. You notice Murray cast a spell eyeing Felonious, but most other people don't notice it.

[Hal]

So you were trying to hold him.

[Murray]

I'm trying to get him to stop

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

what he's about to do.

[Murray]

What he's about to do.

[Hal]

Right.

[Bolair]

Have I noticed? Have I noticed that this is all going tits up or no?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yes, we can see that. You can see that. Von and Azun are both calling for his arrest. And Felonious is saying, I'm going to kill him.

[Bolair]

Do I have a way of dropping. I can't drop the spell except on my turn.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

You can drop it.

[Bolair]

I'm dropping Phantasmal. Now I see. This is a clusterfuck. I do not know what the fuck I mean, I thought I knew what was going on.

[Hal]

So the guy that he's trying to kill, what's his state?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Prone.

[Hal]

But that's it. He's awake.

[Bolair]

He's Potarch.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Oh, the assassin. The assassin is awake and injured. But yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Hal]

So I have as much time to figure this out as I would of

[Bolair]

how running probably has a look on my face for the moment.

[Murray]

It could be good. It could be good. Keep certain if they are trying to hide the evidence here.

[Bolair]

Yeah.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

I mean her getting away with so she can survive.

[Hal]

So. And I know this is Slonius.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

We'll find out.

[Hal]

But he's like here or something.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yeah. Yep. That's Felonious. He's there. I'll tell you.

[Murray]

Okay.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

I think looking at the battlefield here also give you the social reality. You just unmara do that. Gus is looking like he is mostly coming down from the adrenaline and is being tended to cause he's very close to death and they don't know if there's other enemies outside. So he's not in the arrest him mindset right now. He's like, go save my other hound. Where's Car Brady? Thinking about his people in the room. So he's not focused on the madness happening on the other side of the banquet tables. All of your guys, guards for the party are focused on we've got to arrest this guy. We're coming in here to arrest this guy. And then Filonius looks like he's gonna drop this axe on this dude. So that's your reality right now.

[Hal]

I think what I'm going to do then is bonus action. You'll hear possibly a familiar voice. I'm still masking it, but I'll say azune and a familiar tickling of the back of your brain stem hits and you get Bardic inspiration. And then as an action, I can give the help action, right?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yes.

[Hal]

I'm going to do that for the assassin and just interpose.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Okay, great.

[Hal]

That's how I'll help is I'll draw liar's blade, which is also disguised at this point.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yeah.

[Hal]

And stand over the assassin, I guess.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yeah. You leap on the table, stand over the assassin to prevent Felonious from striking. Yes. You're still disguised. You've given Bardic inspiration. Yes. Hell yes. Following you. You see our druid is again ministering to the king and healing him. Felonious is going to take an attack at disadvantage because you're giving the help action to that assassin.

[Hal]

Probably just looking like one of the many guards. Streaming into the room.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yeah, streaming into the room. Da, da, da. Okay, Felonious is gonna take attacks with disadvantage. He hits on a nine or higher and is going to make two attacks.

[Bolair]

Wow.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Disadvantage or disadvantage? Come on, please. Nine. That's a hit. Ten is a hit. Damn, that's going to be ugly.

[Hal]

I had no control for felonies and I wasn't going to take him down.

[Bolair]

Yeah, yeah. I'm going to be very upset when I find out what's actually happening.

[Murray]

To be fair, Murray knows you're the

[Bolair]

only one who knows.

[Murray]

So, like, even if he gives away, but it's going to be my word against literally everybody else's.

[Bolair]

We can work on that.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

But Hal, you interpose. Felonious raises the ax and there is a blast of wind and light. And you are buffeted back by the pure divine presence. His tattoos of filament. The light radiate says, in the name of the holy light, I lay low all enemies of the creed and beheads the assassin in front of you. The light fills the chamber. The guards rush in. Varen looking at the last of the assassins to die. Gus heaving and panting. And you see Filonius says, is the king all right? Mother? Light fills the chamber. Yanessa's body rises from the ground. Light cascades into her chest. Bullshit. Partygoers flood into the doors. All of the guests who have rushed to see the commotion.

[Murray]

What in the Messiah shit is this?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

They watch the resurrection of Yanessa Halifar. Fuck off. That's the end of this episode. Oh my God. Critical, angry. Oh, man.

[Bolair]

Fuck.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Oh, God. But Gus lives, everyone, just a miracle.

[Murray]

And Murray's gonna be like, uh, no

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

one's gonna believe her classic academic. Everybody saw something. And you know that's not what they saw.

[Bolair]

Well, folks, we got full knives down here.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

What a combat. And let me tell you folks, is it Thursday yet?

[Bolair]

I hate everything.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

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.