The Place of Wings | Critical Role | Campaign 4, Episode 17 Part 1

Summary

Critical Role Campaign 4, Episode 17 (Pt 1): "The Place of Wings"

Date: March 5, 2026
DM: Brennan Lee Mulligan
Main Cast: Matt Mercer, Marisha Ray, Ashley Johnson, Liam O'Brien, Sam Riegel, Travis Willingham, Taliesin Jaffe

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Episode Overview

This episode plunges deep into Ahriman’s ancient mysteries as the Seekers traverse the desolate ruins of Tanasar, the "Place of Wings." The party faces tense moral quandaries, brushes with death and revelation, and battles both the undead and their own histories. Old ties and new powers shape the night as the secrets of the desecrated temple and House Taconis’s ambitions come to light.

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Key Discussion Points & Narrative Highlights

1. Dolmachar – The Hucklewind & the Tavern Scene

[03:33-19:04]

• The campaign opens in Dolmachar at the bustling but grungy Nest and Natter tavern, establishing a sense of lived-in community among dwarven laborers.
  • "The floors are so sticky." (Marisha Ray, 03:47)
• Introduces Murray Magnussen (Marisha) and her companions Jasper and Glenna, bemoaning the futility of their current Hucklewind ("act of service") project: a fountain for the wealthy House Cormoray rather than civic infrastructure.
  • "Fuck creative vision. Like they fucking know creativity if it came up and cupped their balls." (Marisha Ray, 06:31)
  • "If I know one thing about this world, is rich people gonna get theirs." (Brennan/Mulligan as Jasper, 08:22)
• Murray cleverly listens in on a nearby table of struggling professors from the new Penteveral University, learning about their arcane funding struggles (especially for gemstones).
• Murray’s subtle offer, flaunting her family gemstone connections and magical talents (telepathy via gemstone teeth) impresses the professors, catching the attention of Professor Elliptus Tallbarrel.
  • "How did you just do that?...That’s a remarkable piece of arcane innovation." (Brennan, 16:35)
• Ending with an invitation for Murray to help the Penteveral’s books—both arcane and mercantile.

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2. Onward to Tanasar: The Seekers' Progress and Arrival

[25:48-32:03]

• The main party, the Seekers, travel from Dolmarchia through various locales (Castle Klippenblick, Shadowlight Waypoint) discovering the corruption and confusion seeded across noble houses and military ranks.
• Dr. Amri Talter (a halfling cleric of the "Totality") joins the group, bringing academic rigor and nervous energy.
• The party is drawn to Tanasar, "the Place of Wings," a recently unearthed sun-god temple of ancient, deadly power.
  • "Arriving at the edge of the quarry...Approaching, extending a hand to Julian and Vaylis, looking through the helm to see the fluttering of wings, blinking eyes, beaks of nightingales..." (Brennan, 29:56)
• This is an expedition colored by prophecy and a search for both vengeance and lost gods.

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3. Visions, Death, and the Stone of Nightsong

[32:03-48:47]

• Encountering the temple’s cursed grounds, Valys (Ashley) is lifted into the air by a storm of spectral nightingales and involuntarily presents the powerful Stone of Nightsong.
• A tense initiative sequence as the party scrambles—Julian (Matt) uses the "hare’s charm" to leap up and attempt to dislodge the stone.
  • "You speak a word in Druidic...you rocket into the air...the rapier flicks out and the stone scatters..." (Brennan, 35:00)
• Tysha (Liam) and Valys both fail saves and experience near-death visions—each must recall a personal, haunting death witnessed in their pasts.
  • "I watched my son die...he’s the first person I ever pulled back as I felt him leave..." (Liam, 41:36)
  • "The death of her sister hits her...seeing her just shatter." (Ashley, 43:12)
• Both characters briefly hover between life and death, their significant memories intertwined visually and emotionally.
• Valys connects with the Stone of Nightsong, unlocking new powers:
  • Spells granted: ceremony, spare the dying, gentle repose, and speak with dead (Brennan, 54:55)
  • Mystical scene of nightingale spirits transferring between Tysha and Valys.
• Afterward, an emotionally raw exchange links the two characters (“I saw your son.” “I saw your sister. I’m so sorry.”), and a sense of unease about the necromantic energies in the temple lingers.

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4. Dungeon Exploration: Unnatural Decay & Family Enchantments

[56:14-75:11]

• The party investigates the fallout of the Barrowguard and House Taconis expeditions.
• They discover that the corpses—all suspiciously recent but entirely skeletonized—decompose far too quickly for natural means.
  • "If you had seen the skeletons, you’d say these are from 100 years ago...You take a water skin...it still has water in it." (Brennan, 62:00)
• The sanctity and magical corruption of the "Place of Wings" is confirmed.
  • "The thing that strikes you as profane here is the celestial component...something’s become very sick in this place." (Brennan, 66:06)
• Disturbing details about Taconis family magical crystals embedded at the site; Octus (Sam) deduces these are sorcerous enchantments not of this world, altering the temple’s nature and potentially responsible for the unholy aura.
  • "These crystals are part of an enchantment that my family put down...I don’t have time to explain or really know what it is." (Sam, 101:58)

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5. Ambush! Giant Scorpion and the Undead Horde

[77:45-138:24]

• As the group pushes deeper, a surprise attack: a massive scorpion—recognized as the magically grown pet of Octus’s cousin—grapples Julian.
  • "I'm about to say words I've never said before. I recognize this scorpion." (Sam, 86:00)
• Fast, brutal combat—important sequence for combat mechanics:
  • Bayless (Ashley) unleashes sensor whip attacks powered by the embers of Arask, combining fire, bludgeoning, and divine smite.
  • Julian (Matt) delivers a killing blow by punching straight through the scorpion’s eye, recalling their chef jokes about scorpion barbecue.
    • "As I get down on my legs and leap towards it...full on, slam my fist into its eye and breaking past the carapace..." (Matt, 93:17)
• Suddenly, dozens of skeletons animate, converging on choke points in a ferocious wave.
  • "Whatever power of death flows through this place, Barrowguard, Taconis, even some of the robed figures, all are called to one purpose now." (Brennan, 103:25)
• Strategic positioning, use of Thunderwave and Burning Hands (Tysha), and defensive tactics as each character works to hold the undead at bay.
• The corruption stone pulses with energy, and the undead begin to surge toward those who channeled fire magic.

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6. Desperate Defense and Level-Ups

[135:47-138:24]

• Mid-fight, Julian triggers a dramatic in-combat level-up (“riding the edge”) and chooses a Warrior Fighter subclass, Daredevil—befitting his reckless style and inability to see in the dark.
  • “I guess it's time to get used to wading into the cold, huh?...Let's dance, shall we?” (Matt, 135:47)
  • Group discussion and jokes about “leveling up by edging.”
• As the undead converging, the episode ends at the threshold of chaos, with the fate of the Seekers—and the secrets of Tanasar—hanging by a thread.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Fuck creative vision. Like they fucking know creativity if it came up and cupped their balls.”
  — Marisha Ray (Murray), 06:31

• “If I know one thing about this world, is rich people gonna get theirs.”
  — Brennan as Jasper, 08:22

• “That's a remarkable piece of arcane innovation.”
  — Brennan (as Elliptus Tallbarrel), 16:35

• "I watched my son die...I felt him leave and just by the skin of my teeth managed to cast spare the dying."
  — Liam O'Brien (Tysha), 41:36

• “You possess a telepathic gift? I thought I saw...Was that a somatic component of a spell?”
  — Brennan (as Professor), 16:26

• “I don't know why birds shot out of my chest. That's weird and new.”
  — Liam O'Brien (Tysha), 65:28

• “I'm about to say words I've never said before: I recognize this scorpion.”
  — Sam Riegel (Octus), 86:00

• "Let's dance, shall we?...I'm going to choose this moment to level up."
  — Matt Mercer (Julian), 135:47

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Important Timestamps

• 03:33 — Scene set in the Nest and Natter, Dolmachar (sticky floors, working class camaraderie)
• 06:31 — Murray vents about meaningless, vanity-driven “public” works
• 13:10 — Murray’s magical/social prowess wins over Penteveral professors
• 29:56 — Arrival at excavation; starlit necropolis, introduction of avian omens
• 32:03 — The Stone of Nightsong scene; Valys’ ascent, Tysha’s and Valys’ death visions
• 35:00 — Initiative chaos: Julian’s leaping disarm, failed saves, entwined near-death experiences
• 43:12 — Valys’ memory of her sister’s death; transference of nightingale spirits
• 54:55 — Stone of Nightsong’s full powers are revealed to Valys
• 62:00 — Investigation of unnaturally decayed corpses and magical corruption
• 86:00 — Octus recognizes the giant scorpion as a relative’s old pet
• 93:17 — Julian’s cinematic deathblow to the scorpion
• 101:58 — Octus discovers House Taconis enchantments (crystals) altering the temple
• 135:47 — Julian’s “riding the edge” level-up and embrace of the Daredevil subclass
• 138:24 — Cliffhanger break as undead swarms threaten to overwhelm the group

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Critical GM (Brennan) Interludes & Lore Drops

• House dynamics, political backgrounds, and economic realities are interwoven throughout; even magical colleges run up against material poverty.
• The temple’s corruption is caused by both celestial profanation and mortal interference (Taconis crystal enchantments).
• The episode blends physical danger, metaphysics (death/afterlife), and class commentary.

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Episode Tone

• Playful but deeply invested, with humor emerging from exhaustion, danger, and the absurdity of their situation. Strong emotional undercurrents tie party bonds and tragedies together.
• Tense, atmospheric, and occasionally irreverent: plenty of table banter but always returning to serious stakes.

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To dive deeper into lore, party dynamics, and ancient mystery, check out Part 2 dropping Tuesday!

Transcript

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[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Why hello there. I'm Brennan Lee Mulligan and welcome to Campaign 4 of Critical Role. Thank you for joining us on this journey as we explore Ahriman, a world of fractured kingdoms, tumultuous rebellion and sorcery that rises from the graveyard of the gods. You're listening to Part one of this adventure with Part two arriving this upcoming Tuesday. Our episodes typically arrive on the Critical Role Podcast network a week after our initial Thursday night streams on Beacon, YouTube and Twitch. But if you'd rather listen to a full podcast episode of Campaign 4 Right When it airs without any ads, consider becoming a Beacon member. You'll receive access to exclusive content discounts at all our online Critical Role shops, pre sales for live events and so much more free. Start your 7 day free trial today at Beacon TV. Now, without further ado, let's begin this episode of Critical Role. We are in Dolmachar as ever in the year 46, some 2625 years before the events of our story. We are at the nest and natter, a tavern In Caravan Hill, a happening, lively marketplace here within the city of Dolmakyar. All around the corner from a heavy bit of construction occurring in the freshly bought manor of House Kormoray and in a corner booth of the Nest and Natter, which is again a lively and yet also divey. It's a little bit glossy and brassy where it needs to be in its fixtures, but also still is serving folksy fair.

[Marisha Ray]

The floors are so sticky.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Floors are so sticky. Marisha, what state do we find Murray Magnussen in here with her compatriots at the corner booth.

[Marisha Ray]

She's definitely looking a little rough around the edges. You can still see little specks of grit, maybe some plaster that's kind of dried and crusted on her shirt collar a little bit. Hair is matted a little messy and slicked back from where she's just taken sweat after sweat after sweat and just wiped it through her hair. She's feeling a little ornery, a little agitated, but she's on pipe number two and that's making her feel a lot better. This is probably third, maybe fourth night this week that she's been in the nested natter after a long day of doing manual labor in the heat of this hot month.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Across the table from you, your cousin Jasper is feeding bar nuts to his pet Scooch. Scooch is a dwarven griffin that is about 3 inches long. That is the front half of a chickadee and the back half of a hamster and has tiny little owl plumicorns, like those little sort of poofs, the little sort of like tufty ear plumicorns. So the chickadee has those, like, classic griffin ears, but it's still a tiny little thing. He's like, oh, come on, Scooch. I think this heat's getting to him. He can't hardly. He can't hardly flap his. He ain't sung a little song.

[Marisha Ray]

Jasper, have you given him water yet today?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

I gave him beer.

[Marisha Ray]

No. Oh, my God.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Next to you, there is also an older dwarven woman who's got her arms crossed, got blonde hair and her eyeshadow. She gets made up to go do this construction work, but the heat is just all run down her face. She looks like she's been crying hard even though it's just sweat. Looks out, thick forearms just rippling with muscle. She turns out and says, yeah, we better call it a night. At two. I don't think I can go in for round three. We gotta be up if we're gonna get that fountain done. We gotta be up at ass crack of dawn. I'd say probably gotta get up in the dark.

[Marisha Ray]

We're not gonna get it done. What makes you think we're gonna finish it tomorrow? Every time we're on that site they come out with more elaborate requests and want to change their creative vision. Fuck creative vision. Like they fucking know creativity if it came up and cupped their balls.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Hey, come on now. Jasper leans forward. This is the Hucklewind. We're out here doing public good. That means spirit with moral character. On your hucklewind you are showing the generosity, craft and skill of the dwarves of Ozot. That's us. We can't be talking about. These are the people for whom we perform these acts of service.

[Marisha Ray]

Jasper, what do these rich folks need with an act of service? Where does generosity end? In just whatever this self servant vanity project begins. That is just a bastardization of what the Hucklewind is about. I thought we were gonna be coming out here and fixing infrastructure, building a bridge or something. What is this? What are we doing? This is a joke.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

I think the Hucklewind, I don't know, you see, Glenna looks at you and

[Sam Riegel]

says,

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

well, money don't grow on trees. You know, they. I don't know, I assume we're doing this for the cormorant because they probably drop a stack of cash and pays for all the other Hucklewinds that go out and actually help folk that need helping.

[Marisha Ray]

You're giving them a lot of grace, you know that?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Hey, if I know one thing about this world, is rich people gonna get theirs? You see that? Jasper looks over and says, it's a nice fountain. You can be proud of it. Even if it's not for. Even if they gonna. Yeah, I didn't know they was gonna put a wall around the courtyard. It does. It's not a real huck of wind. It's. I don't know. Over Jasper's shoulder you see a door to a back room is slightly open. And you see a quite handsome middle aged halfling man. He's got little waistcoat of chain going to watch, he's got a round belly. And you see him speaking, saying, well, I agree, the more children, the more common folk that we can get in the classes, the better off. And if we have to go into debt to do it, then so be it. But ultimately I think that the important thing is we don't need to charge a tuition that will be exculpatory or exploitative. And you see another voice in the room says, elipides, the cost of the gemstones for the ritual, the spell ink costs a fortune. We're running. The donation was incredibly generous and it's limited. If we don't have a way to get more gemstones, then there won't be. And you see, he says, well fine, we'll find a way. Maybe we can offer to. What if we offered some arcane services to the revolutionary council? Or we, you know, maybe one of the houses, maybe House Cormoray would like some arcane services. Oh good. We're going to offer our arcane services to a family of sorcerers. I'm sure that they'll have a hard time coming up with. And you see this as well. But wizardry, we're generalists. These houses are limited in their arcane oeuvre by their bloodline. We can study where we wish, find what we wish. And you see that. Another older woman says, alpides, we've found 1 1/2 words of power. We're not exactly generalists yet. Found out how to summon some wind. Can get wind. We have some, some wind. I can't even get wind that blows east. And you see that Elliptus says, well, we'll get there in time. But we, we can solve. We can solve the material components cost issue without asking the poor students to foot the bill. I don't know. Everyone wants something to drink. You see, he reaches into a pocket and literally a moth flies out of his pocket. And you see he goes. Eustace goes back, go back in there, it's familiar. Goes back in his pocket and he gets a couple little copper coins and says I'll go get us some drinks. And you see, he walks off to the bar.

[Marisha Ray]

I'm going to try and just shuffle over a little bit. Sorry. Hold that thought. Jasper. Uh, bartender Galaxy.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

What can I get you?

[Marisha Ray]

Well, I think. I think I would like another round for a table of my friends over there. But maybe I wouldn't mind buying a round of drinks for those fancy folks sitting back there behind that swinging door.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Fancy folks? These are some of the most broke people I know. They're academics.

[Marisha Ray]

Yeah, yeah, that's fair, I guess. It's just they look kind of bohemian, you know, Looks a little eccentric.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

I'll let him know. The professor. This is Professor Tallbarrel.

[Marisha Ray]

Professor Tallbarrel, Yeah.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

He walks over and explains, points over as ellipides has to get up onto one of the orc sized barstools and hold the money up. And you see that bartender explains, points over you See, he turns over to look at you and goes, thank. One moment, please. You see, he puts the money away and comes down and walks over and says, thank you so much for your kindness, young lady.

[Marisha Ray]

Oh, you're so very welcome. You know, I happen to be on my Hucklewind. And generosity is the name of the game.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

So, the generous spirit of the dwarves, of the sea, sunset, mountains known far and wide. What is your name, my lady?

[Marisha Ray]

Murray. Murray Magnussen.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Elliptus Tollberrel. It's a pleasure and an honor. Thank you for buying us drinks. You know what they say, rich in knowledge, poor in food and drink. I have never turned down a free meal or a free drink in my life.

[Sam Riegel]

Wow.

[Marisha Ray]

A real professor. Professor of magic. Is that what you are? I just. I couldn't help but overhear you talking about the words of power and, you know.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yes. Yes. I am a professor of the Penteveral.

[Marisha Ray]

Penteveral.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

We are a.

[Marisha Ray]

That's a big old word. It's so many syllables.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

We are, as of this year, a university. We have our first building with over three classrooms.

[Marisha Ray]

Substantial.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

We have four classrooms. Thank you very much for the drinks. And to think that not only are you generous with. I'm aware of the Hucklewind program. And my goodness, what sort of project are you making? Some civic good or park or a plaza.

[Marisha Ray]

A fountain.

[Liam O'Brien]

Lovely.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Where? What square?

[Marisha Ray]

It's for the Cormorays house. Cormorays. It's in their private courtyard. You know the Cormorays?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yes, I do. I know the Cormorays. A lot of money.

[Marisha Ray]

Yeah. But apparently they needed a act of service. You know, I'm so sorry. I don't mean to. This is so invasive and presumptuous of me, so forgive my candor, but

[Liam O'Brien]

if

[Marisha Ray]

it's resources that you're lacking. You know, I specifically heard that. That maybe some gemstones would be useful.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Oh, you're a Hucklewind Journey woman. I couldn't possibly. And it's very, very kind of you, but there's no. It's a Wizards College rather than one oh, my.

[Marisha Ray]

Kind of like.

[Liam O'Brien]

Yeah.

[Marisha Ray]

She shows very coyly her gemstone teeth and kind of looks away a little bit. And as she runs her fingernail across her teeth, she casts message directly to Tall Beryl and says, I think it could be a mutual beneficial relationship if you let the Magnessen family jewels maybe help fund a little bit of research.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

He looks at you and says, how did you just do that? That's a gift that I've only Ever heard of. Are you a sorceress?

[Ashley Johnson]

No, no, no.

[Marisha Ray]

I'm a hick.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

How did you. That's remarkable. Do you. You possess a telepathic gift? I thought I saw. Was that a somatic component of a spell?

[Marisha Ray]

Yes, sir.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Who taught you to do that?

[Marisha Ray]

Myself.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Remarkable. That's a remarkable piece of arcane innovation.

[Marisha Ray]

Do you just mind if I, like, maybe. I grabbed the beers that he was holding and I'll help take you. Take these to the table for you, Jasper.

[Liam O'Brien]

I'll be right back.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

You see, he says, he goes, where the hell are you going?

[Marisha Ray]

I'll be right back.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

You see, Elliptus comes over and says, oh, let me give you. You walk back, looking around and you see, he goes over and says, companions, fellow salon members or not Salon, fellow academic, university members, professors of the Pentevoril. Young Murray here has cracked short range telepathy using the material component of her gem teeth. And you see. All right, well, let's all calm down. What did you say your last name was?

[Marisha Ray]

Magnessen.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

The other professors all go, Magnussen.

[Liam O'Brien]

Yeah, yeah.

[Marisha Ray]

You know, Sunset Mountain, Magnussence.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Your jewel, your gemstone merchants.

[Marisha Ray]

Yes, yes. She kind of just, you know, coyly brushes her sweaty hair and flashes, you know, the chonky jewel on her. On her finger. Yes, you know, we're humble folk.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

You see that. They all sort of look around and you see that Alypides looks at you and says, so in addition to being a craftsperson, you're a merchant as well. You have some familiarity with business and trade and commerce and the like.

[Marisha Ray]

Why, yes, I've helped my family run that business for many years now.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

If you're interested in arcane magic. He looks around and there's all these sort of very bohemian artsy, little funny bow ties and ruffs and all strange manner of dress. Smile and look around, he says, we have been looking for a berser.

[Marisha Ray]

I happen to be very good with keeping books.

[Liam O'Brien]

Keeping books?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Wizardry, spell books. Y. Laughter echoes up from the table.

[Liam O'Brien]

I intended that.

[Marisha Ray]

I intended that was the joke.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Laughter echoes from the table here at the Nest. And Natter Murray's beginning as a wizard of the Pentevral started that very night. As our story continues on tonight's episode of Critical Role.

[Matt Mercer]

Hello and welcome to the Critical Role Announcement Playhouse.

[Liam O'Brien]

I don't know why my hands are doing that this time.

[Matt Mercer]

Next up, we just released a new batch of episodes for get yout Shit, Cheat Together, our how to video series for Daggerheart.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Daggerheart.

[Matt Mercer]

While our first batch of episodes covered the basics for players and GMs. In these four episodes, we dive a little bit deeper. Our player focused videos cover character heritage and the rundown on multiclassing While we take GMs on the world tour of adversaries and environments. So no better time to watch Gist now on the Darrington Press, YouTube and Beacons.

[Travis Willingham]

Go check it out.

[Marisha Ray]

Gish.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Each together Gistics.

[Matt Mercer]

Gist is together.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Ashley, you're up. Hey.

[Ashley Johnson]

I see. Why am I. Which means in case you missed it.

[Marisha Ray]

Oh boy.

[Ashley Johnson]

The Critical Role foundation is highlighting one of our long term charity partners this month, the First Nations Development Institute. We love you so much.

[Travis Willingham]

Yes.

[Ashley Johnson]

This means all donations and crf. Merchises.

[Marisha Ray]

Merches. Merchises.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yeah, that's a merch purchase. Yeah, that's.

[Ashley Johnson]

Why haven't we used merchises? Go get your merchises. So all of them. All your merchises made in the month of February have been set aside for the First Nations Development Institute with a mission to uplift economies and lifeways of Native communities. The money raised goes to programs that focus on agriculture and food system investments, stewardship of native lands, and advocacy for Native economic justice. You have until February 28th, so if you are able to donate, head over to critreal.com/foundation.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

Nice.

[Ashley Johnson]

Merchises.

[Matt Mercer]

Got it. Thank you so much.

[Ashley Johnson]

Thanks.

[Matt Mercer]

I believe that concludes our announcements, so let's go ahead and jump back into Aramon.

[Brian W. Foster]

This episode of Critical Role is sponsored by World of Warcraft Midnight. When the world feels like it's slipping into darkness and the odds are stacked against you, there's a choice to make. You can turn away, or you can answer the call. Stand shoulder to shoulder with your allies and face what's coming together. In World of Warcraft Midnight players are called back to Azeroth to face the growing threat of the Void. You'll return to the legendary kingdom of Quel', Thalas, standing against Xal' Atath and forging new alliances. As familiar lands like Eversong woods and Zul' Aman are revealed in striking new ways. The journey pushes beyond into Horondar, a bioluminescent primordial jungle woven through the roots of the world trees. And even farther still, to a distant world consumed by the Void itself, where survival must be earned. And for the first time, player housing lets you create a space that's truly yours. Design and decorate a home in Azeroth with baubles and items collected throughout your adventures. World of Warcraft Midnight is available now. Adventure is calling you home.

[Travis Willingham]

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[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

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[Taliesin Jaffe]

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[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

We return to Ahriman. In the deserts of the old and fallen empire of Obra Demia, our adventurers, the Seekers, journeyed east from Dolmarchia, seeking visions and vengeance. Passing throughme, the seat of House Einfassen, the bustling city of Riesengurtel, they discovered that perhaps there were more questions than answers about what had befallen the houses of Davinos and Royce. Men arrested, letters sent by bird far off to the Golden Orchard, making their own way to the gardens of the Druids of Stone.

[Matt Mercer]

Caesar from Castle Klippenblick.

[Liam O'Brien]

Yes, we were all waiting for you.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

From Castle Klippenblick to the Schon Garten with pitched combat astride the Hochwallenbucher.

[Liam O'Brien]

That's my favorite.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

You rode by sky carriage to Castle Torch, home of the Berylguard, where Julian discovered that some number of his battalion trained under his command had been sent with the head ranger under the disguised orders of House Taconis, to defend Tanasar. You made your way to the Shadowlight Waypoint where you met Ser Abzaz Claw and Masha Thorne of the Circle of Ancients, and one Dr. Amri Talter of the Totality, a nervous halfling cleric of an order of Intelligence based clerics. They actually Intelligence is their casting modifier for their clerical spells. Getting to divine belief in a sort of really academic way. A old and long since resolved prophecy was about to endanger the lives of of many members of the Order of the Rose. Protecting a caravan of candescent creed goods headed towards Fanatus. Relieved of her duty upon the word of Octus Taconis, Dr. Talter was preparing to return to the Totality after a long conversation having to do with loyalty, objective purpose and quest. Some truths were laid bare by our adventurers here. Why did this mysterious elven stranger draw so close to young Octys Taconis? Is it because she believes there may be a hope that for many long years she has not felt that the dead may walk amongst the living once again?

[Sam Riegel]

One day someone will like my personality, Melody.

[Liam O'Brien]

And indeed, as soon as you have one baby.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Even between Tysha and Octys, was there some distance created with the framing of a question? Could you or would you, if you knew it were possible to bring more than a fox back from the other side, but to bring a shaper, or as some would call them, a God? And from Julian Davinos seeking revenge on the House of Taconis, Were these questions asked of what drew this Group together. Tensions rose, bitter words were shared, and according to the vassal of the young lord, Octus Taconis, Dame Gaia Saramai, she pronounced this mission as doomed. Making your way with Dr. Talter

[Liam O'Brien]

and

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Dame Gaia Saramai over the Titan's bench and down the Tyria via an ancient highway in a desiccated aqueduct, headed towards the heart of the ancient empire. You found your way to the the sands below, where lighting a torch under the naked stars of the eternal night, shadows came to life and voices spoke not under the will of their owners. You arrived at the excavation of Tanasar in ancient Celestial the place of Wings, where Dr. Talter had told you that the promise of celestial vengeance was given to the priestly houses of old. Where Tansul, God of the sun said, should my brother strike me down, my vengeance will still not be at an end. Using the Kibenem Kadaz, a book of the names of stone, Octus Taconis saw a vision of the ancient temples moved to this now buried place. Seeing a memory in the rock of when the sun walked this very earth. Arriving at the edge of the quarry and making your way down the switchback road, exterior of the obsidian and volcanic glass, you found this lost holy place. The bodies of the Barrowguard twitching there under the starlight. Approaching 1 Extending a hand to Julian and Vaylis, looking through the helm to see the fluttering of wings, blinking eyes, beaks of nightingales. We return. In this moment of adventure, I'm going to need a wisdom saving throw.

[Liam O'Brien]

Wisdom.

[Matt Mercer]

Let's go.

[Brian W. Foster]

No way.

[Liam O'Brien]

From birds.

[Ashley Johnson]

Awful.

[Matt Mercer]

You don't got this.

[Liam O'Brien]

Uh oh.

[Ashley Johnson]

Wisdom signing through nine.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Valence. You are lifted into the air in this moment and you find yourself producing the Stone of Nightsong in your hand. Unbidden to you. I'm going to need everybody here to roll initiative. Okay.

[Marisha Ray]

Okay.

[Matt Mercer]

Let's go.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Let's start.

[Liam O'Brien]

I guess we begin now.

[Ashley Johnson]

Okay.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Shit.

[Ashley Johnson]

Damn. Why didn't I roll that?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Okay.

[Liam O'Brien]

I gotta make Alex not touch my dice.

[Sam Riegel]

You keep making me touch your dice, though.

[Liam O'Brien]

I know. Shadow touched.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

What do we get here, Matt?

[Matt Mercer]

Natural 24. 24.

[Liam O'Brien]

Let's go. Got it.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

What do we get here?

[Liam O'Brien]

Dirty 20.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

20 for Tysha. What do we get? Octis.

[Sam Riegel]

God, I did a really good job. But it's only an 18.

[Liam O'Brien]

I hate those days.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

What do we get?

[Liam O'Brien]

Bayless?

[Ashley Johnson]

I got an 18 as well.

[Liam O'Brien]

Dang.

[Ashley Johnson]

Okay.

[Sam Riegel]

I saw the stone run.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

I love this dice. Good. I'm glad. Julian, you are going to be first to act in this moment. Vaylis is floating about three feet off the ground. The birds are whirling, buffeting into your chest. As this cyclone of moving birds moves up and around. As she produces the stone, you hear a rush of wings. The other bodies out here on the ground. Birds rise from them in murmuration, moving throughout the field. And you can hear a rush of wings from the darkness at the stone gates at the front of the temple.

[Matt Mercer]

All right, immediately I'm going to activate my hair stone. The.

[Liam O'Brien]

Oh yeah.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

The hare's charm.

[Matt Mercer]

The hare's charm.

[Liam O'Brien]

Thank you.

[Matt Mercer]

As a bonus action to enact the jump spell on myself, I'm going to plant off the nearest piece of semi elevated stone in this exterior temple space to pull my blade and leap up to match the same space where Velas is currently being lifted and surrounded by these entities. And using that trajectory, I'm going to take my blade and try and knock the stone from your hand in the direction of the two of you.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Perfect. I would like you to make an attack roll against. I want you to give me an acrobatics check here, if you'd be so kind.

[Ashley Johnson]

Okay.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

In this moment, it becomes real when Ash stands.

[Liam O'Brien]

I like it. I like it so much.

[Ashley Johnson]

I rolled the same fucking thing.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Did you roll an 18?

[Ashley Johnson]

I rolled a 4. With what was I?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Acrobatics.

[Ashley Johnson]

Acrobatics. Plus 2, 6.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Plus 2, 6.

[Liam O'Brien]

15.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

15. On your attack roll, rolled a 6 versus 15. The rapier moves out as you activate the hare's charm. You speak a word in Druidic, which is a word of gratitude, essentially a thanks in the Druidic language. And you immediately feel. Feel in your quads and hamstrings and calves, a feeling like they are spasming. It is not a comfortable feeling. And you rocket into the air, feeling a tension and tightness in your legs. With this enormous power, the rapier flicks out and the stone scatters across the rock in front of Tysha and octys. Tycha, you are next to act.

[Liam O'Brien]

Yeah, yeah. I'm going to try to catch you. Sent it through the air. I'm going to try to catch the stone.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Great. Go ahead and give me a. I'm going to sit with that 15. You catch it automatically. Give me a wisdom saving throw. Oh, fun.

[Liam O'Brien]

Why? Oh no. Are you sure?

[Sam Riegel]

You've done so many other dice. Give it one a break.

[Liam O'Brien]

Well, that one was doing good. 10.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Great. We are going to come back to Vaylis and Tysha in a moment.

[Liam O'Brien]

Oh, geez.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

For Vaelis and for Tysha,

[Liam O'Brien]

each of

[Marisha Ray]

you

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

on a nine. And on a 10 here, I would like each of you to mark a death save. Failure. You don't lose any hit points. I'd like you to each mark a death save.

[Liam O'Brien]

Brennan. No, I like it here. This is Radd.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

I don't even know where I'm supposed.

[Ashley Johnson]

Wait. Yeah, I do.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yeah. Alex, that's gonna be you.

[Liam O'Brien]

Just write it in your notes.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

I'm writing it in my notes.

[Matt Mercer]

Yeah.

[Ashley Johnson]

Okay.

[Sam Riegel]

Okay. So you're up by birds. You're having a moment. You jumped in the air.

[Liam O'Brien]

I like the way you said that. Even if it's true.

[Sam Riegel]

The birds are they concentrated around where Velas is.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

The birds are still lifting Velas aloft into the air.

[Sam Riegel]

Great. So what I'm going to do and do they look like they're hurting Velas?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

No, they do not look like they are attacking Baelus.

[Sam Riegel]

I'm not going to do that. Okay. I don't know what the. Okay, you hit the stone. You caught it. You're there. Okay. I have an idea.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Okay.

[Sam Riegel]

Change plans. Change plans.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Ooh.

[Sam Riegel]

Yes.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Ah.

[Sam Riegel]

I am going to. How high up you said is Baelus?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

She's three feet off the ground.

[Sam Riegel]

Oh, that's not. That's way less high than I thought.

[Liam O'Brien]

She could never make it.

[Sam Riegel]

Okay, I'm gonna run over and try to like.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Just pulling you.

[Sam Riegel]

I'm just gonna make a decision. I'm running over and try to pull her out of the cloud of birds.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Okay, great. Go ahead and just give me an athletics check. Okay. And you'll oppose this. Bayless will roll to oppose this. So it'll be opposed. Athletics. Okay.

[Liam O'Brien]

You love being in bird 18.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

18. Go ahead and give me an athletics check.

[Liam O'Brien]

Okay.

[Ashley Johnson]

Am I like being. I'm whatever we're figure out this.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

I'm figuring out how to get to your turn.

[Liam O'Brien]

Okay.

[Ashley Johnson]

So not good. 10.

[Sam Riegel]

What?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

10. So that means you're successfully pulled.

[Ashley Johnson]

Wait, what did you say rolled?

[Marisha Ray]

Athletics.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Athletics.

[Ashley Johnson]

Athletics. I'm sorry, I thought you said Dex. Okay, so.

[Matt Mercer]

Athletics.

[Ashley Johnson]

1313.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Athletics OCTUS. You were able to pull Velis out of the cloud of birds that rushes in the image. Immediate moment that she is out from that sort of circle to join the murmuration here in the sky. Velas and Tycha, I am going to need each of you to describe. It doesn't have to be the most impactful death, but a death that your character witnessed that comes to you in memory in this moment. And I need a death that your character witnessed that comes to you in this moment. Additionally, Vaelys, as you are Pulled from the cloud to the ground. It is going to be your turn. You each are looking at each other and Tycha and Vaelis, you are partially witnessing each other. Here on the stone in front of Tannis are Octys and Julian are fading away slightly. And only the other of the two of you looks fully solid and real. Either of you can give me a perception or a religion roll right now?

[Liam O'Brien]

Yeah, I would love to make a perception check.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Thank you for watching. This is where we really fulfill the promise of the Seeker's table, where we get into some weird lore. Shit.

[Liam O'Brien]

I love you here.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Natural one.

[Liam O'Brien]

I'll put it away.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

I'll put it away.

[Liam O'Brien]

No, I like what he's doing. Good job, bud.

[Matt Mercer]

It's okay, Octus. We'll finish this. The two of us.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

15 for perception birds.

[Ashley Johnson]

Religion would have been 14.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Tysha is staying visible to you as everything else is starting to fade a little bit. Octus and Julian look a little bit blurrier, but you're also becoming aware of spirit that you can see nearby. And I think you realize in that moment that you and Tysha are both dying. The reason that she looks highly visible to you is that you're both crossing over at the same time

[Liam O'Brien]

every time.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

So

[Liam O'Brien]

I like the way you said so.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

So it is your turn in this moment. I also am going to again ask a death that Tysha saw that impacts her. It doesn't have to be the most impactful, but one that stayed with her.

[Liam O'Brien]

I think the natural one says it gets to be the most impactful, but it wasn't necessarily. Oh, okay, got it. Kids are kids. And those trees that you've all seen, the very big ginkgo trees with red leaves. Algar fell from the top and snapped his neck and I watched him die and managed. I think it was the first time I'd ever cast druid magic. He's the first person I ever pulled back as I felt him leave and just by the skin of my teeth managed to cast spare the dying. But I watched my son die.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Vaelys looking at Tysha, just behind her, over her shoulder you see red leaved ginkgo tree. And you hear a snap of a wooden branch and a sudden sickening thud.

[Ashley Johnson]

I just sort of reach out to grab and then realize it's not real.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

It is Phelis's turn this moment. As you reach out, you see that she is still holding the Stone of Night. Song. Is there a death that comes back to veil us in this moment?

[Ashley Johnson]

I think in this moment and especially with sort of the relationship that she started to form with Tycha. I think the death of her sister hits her in this moment of

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

being

[Ashley Johnson]

on the battlefield right before Salandri was killed, and seeing her sister just shatter.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Tysha, behind you, you see a beautiful elven warrior. Look up. Elven armor. Leaves of thin mithril plate fashioned across broad shoulders. Standing her deep apple red skin with golden freckles throughout it. Hair tied back. This honey silver hair tied up back away from her. She turns, looks. And you can see a horizontal line across her sister's eyes. In the ancient past, the horizontal line is an arrow moving across the sky. And she looks up and there is light. And you watch the soul leave her eyes. No arms. Raises to defend herself as an axe comes thundering over Bayless. It is your turn. And you are reaching towards. You are reaching towards the Stone of Nightsong. In this moment, you feel the stone that you have been holding. You now carry a number of magic items with you that you have carried and guarded, but have not connected to. In this moment, you feel. The rush of wings and the same nightingale song that you heard that no one else could hear. As you rushed across the bridge in Dolmachia. And you saw her eyes as the eyes of a wolf rushing over the bridge. You're both hearing that music. In this moment, you feel the ability to connect to the Stone of Nightsong in a way past reverence, in a way that is not. In other words, you carefully guarding this to return it to a pedestal back in the mournvale. You feel a deep understanding of grief and mourning reach out to you from that stone to connect to you in your heart. Oh,

[Ashley Johnson]

Okay.

[Marisha Ray]

Okay.

[Ashley Johnson]

Organize my area. I'm thinking about this.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

There are no answers in your area, Ashley.

[Liam O'Brien]

Gotta let us believe.

[Ashley Johnson]

I would connect with it. Hell yeah, I would. Absolutely.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yeah, dog.

[Ashley Johnson]

Yeah.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

For the first time in a long time, feeling that nightingale song, you open a part of yourself. Openness has not been common in these long years. And as you open yourself, each of you looking at each other in this space, you see Tycha rushing to a child. A child that she loves more than anything. In some ways, she's been rushing towards this child the entire time you've known her. And you look and see a long gone sister. And as you connect to the Stone of Nightsong, Julian and Octys, all of this has happened in an instant. But you watch that the nightingales in their murmuration whip throughout this space, rush at Tysha and circle and aim, pouring into her back, turning spectral, filling her body and rushing out from her chest, thundering into your chest and vanishing into your body. The nightingales are gone from this place. You stand here in Tanasar. Both of you can remove your your one death, save failure. As you step back from the brink and Phelis, you are attuned to the stone of Nightsong which is now in your inventory. We exit initiative.

[Sam Riegel]

Everyone okay?

[Matt Mercer]

My blade is pointing towards you.

[Sam Riegel]

What's going on?

[Liam O'Brien]

I know.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Don't. I don't know.

[Ashley Johnson]

I don't know. Get that away from me.

[Matt Mercer]

Tell us what happened.

[Liam O'Brien]

I think Taisha picks up. I think she's the natural one.

[Travis Willingham]

This show is sponsored by Better Help. I've been lucky enough to be surrounded by some truly extraordinary women in my life. Women who lead with creativity, resilience, and an almost supernatural ability to keep everything moving forward, even when they're carrying way more than anyone realizes. And I think that's worth celebrating. But it's also worth acknowledging that a lot of women are holding emotional weight. At work, at home, in relationships, in families, sometimes all at once. And that's a lot for any one person. Taking time to check in with yourself isn't selfish. It's necessary. Therapy with BetterHelp can give you space to sort through what's on your mind, understand what's feeling heavy, and build tools to move through it in a healthier way. BetterHelp is the world's largest online therapy platform and they handle the initial therapist matching for you. You just fill out a short questionnaire about your needs and preferences and thanks to their industry leading match fulfillment rate, they usually get the match right the first time. And all BetterHelp therapists are licensed in the US and follow a strict code of conduct. Your emotional well being matters. Find support and feel lighter in therapy. Sign up and get 10% [e-mail] CriticalRole that's betterhelp.com CriticalRole what if you could

[Marisha Ray]

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[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

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[Liam O'Brien]

That's a clicktastic inventory.

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[Sam Riegel]

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[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

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[Liam O'Brien]

Just a hop, skip and a click away and bought.

[Ashley Johnson]

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[Liam O'Brien]

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[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

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.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

Angie, the one you trust to find the ones you trust. Find pros for all your home [e-mail]

[Liam O'Brien]

she's still a little stuck. And the first thing she says

[Marisha Ray]

she

[Liam O'Brien]

was looking at her son but saw your sister. And I think the last thing she does before coming back to herself is casting Spare the dying. Except she casts it in Elvish, a language she has never done magic in both before. As she picks up and pushes it over your shoulder and then realizes that

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

none of that happened.

[Liam O'Brien]

Did you.

[Ashley Johnson]

I don't know what that was.

[Sam Riegel]

Are you okay?

[Liam O'Brien]

Do you feel all right?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

No.

[Sam Riegel]

All right. What happened

[Liam O'Brien]

is holding the stage. Am I holding the stone anymore?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

You are still holding the stone, but the. Oh, sorry, no. As the birds rush through your chest, the stone is lifted forward from you and carried across to Velas. Holding this vaylis without any need of an identify spell, you become aware of a certain number of of powers that have come to you from the Stone of Nightsong. As those spirits, which is essentially what those nightingales were, entered your body. The last vision, almost in a flash of wings that came to you in that moment, was a winged celestial. Soft brown feathers on enormous wings spreading from its back. Hands of brass and growing leaves, holding tenderly a dying body, turning into crisp autumn leaves underneath it as it fell apart. And holding the bones of this dying celestial in its hands, you come to. And all of those spirits, which strangely feel like whatever paladin divine sense you have that often tells you if a creature is fey or undead, you can't tell the difference between. Between these two things. If they're spirits of death or spirits of Faerie, you don't quite know. But you do know that this stone was not built to sit and be admired. The Stone is capable of casting a number of of spells. Some of them very much within your grasp to be able to cast the ceremony spell and the spare the dying cantrip become available to you. As well as spells that are actually beyond your ability to cast normally. Such as gentle repose, which preserves a body and prevents it from coming back as undead. And finally speak with dead the stone.

[Liam O'Brien]

Cool.

[Travis Willingham]

Cool.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

You hear whispers all around you, Tysha. For the first time you realize that faint nightingale singing has stopped.

[Liam O'Brien]

Do you have it?

[Ashley Johnson]

Yes.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yes.

[Ashley Johnson]

I haven't. I saw your son.

[Liam O'Brien]

I saw your. Was that your sister?

[Ashley Johnson]

Yes.

[Liam O'Brien]

I'm so sorry.

[Ashley Johnson]

I'm so sorry.

[Liam O'Brien]

Are you okay?

[Ashley Johnson]

Did you save him?

[Liam O'Brien]

Yeah.

[Sam Riegel]

Yes.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

But not before I knew the way

[Liam O'Brien]

you know when you've lost a part of you.

[Ashley Johnson]

I'm so sorry.

[Liam O'Brien]

Are you okay?

[Ashley Johnson]

I'm okay. Are you okay?

[Liam O'Brien]

I'm gonna be. Please help me find my son.

[Ashley Johnson]

I will help you find your son. We will find him. Taisha.

[Matt Mercer]

I scan the ruins to see if there's any other movement.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Give me a perception check. And anyone that wants to can also give me an arcana or religion check here.

[Liam O'Brien]

Stop making us do religion.

[Ashley Johnson]

I'm trying a religion check. I'm going to try a religion check.

[Liam O'Brien]

You're braver than I am.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Dirty. 20 on perception is 19 arcana. 19 arcana interrupts.

[Ashley Johnson]

Done.

[Liam O'Brien]

Second natural one.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Nothing out here in the quarry. Nothing that sort of. There are a few bodies that now you can see are laid bare as skeletons. You can see that there are some desert beetles that are crawling over the bones looking for any remnants of flesh and finding none. Just picked clean. Picked clean. Bleached white.

[Matt Mercer]

I assume based on all the attire here and the fallen banners, these all were likely individuals that were training under me.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yes. On that perception, I think you find one body that does not bear the markings of of Bero guard and appears to wear some loose tattered robes. There's a curved knife nearby in the sand. But you can looking at the scattered remnants here. Many of these Beaugard were struck down by spells. And this figure appears to have the fractures used from having been struck down with weapons.

[Matt Mercer]

I think I quietly look for the nearest fallen banner of the Barrowguard and gather it a bit. My breath just speak out to the space around. At least you took one of them with you.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Octas on a 19 arcana. What did we get for a religion here? 2323 Religion. On a 19 Arcana Octis. You smell something that smells like a spell after effect you recognize from the Pentebral It's a little bit of ozone or petrichor smell that occasionally accompanies abjuration. Like magic that impacts Magic Velis on a 23 religion check. You feel at ease in your body and sense through that divine connection you have to your oath as you're searching for. Almost. What were those? Nightingales. What kind of spirits were those? I'm actually going to tell you all this just to Ashley.

[Liam O'Brien]

No, I mean cool for secrets. But I have tablesweets I want to know. I love table whispers. I love table whispers. I feel like I should be reading

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

something officially part of them. It's weird to be.

[Sam Riegel]

You've never not been part of a whisperer.

[Liam O'Brien]

Whisper three.

[Sam Riegel]

Don't make that face.

[Liam O'Brien]

1993. What are you saying? Okay.

[Matt Mercer]

How's your nose?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Bleeding.

[Sam Riegel]

Just one eye is red.

[Ashley Johnson]

Interesting.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Probably a half dozen bodies out here. You see the darkness at the gate leading into Tanasar?

[Sam Riegel]

Yours? Sure. These are from the expedition that left recently, not a previous one. The rate of decomposition is extreme.

[Matt Mercer]

I mean from best I can gather

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

on that perception you're looking through with

[Matt Mercer]

the heavy, with the amount of sand and dust and withering we've seen in surrounding terrain. Do the armaments and materials on these corpses appear to be as weathered as they should be? Had they been here for a while,

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

there is no possibility for the natural rate of decomposition that has occurred here. I'll also ask on 19. You had the 19 Arcana, right? This space has been excavated in the last four years. Knowing what wind erosion does to a place, there's fresh quarry marks all over this stuff. You know what I mean? This is a place that was buried under the desert for a thousand years and has only been reemerged recently to the degree where someone like Dr. Talter would have been like, oh, that place has lost a legend where it's like word has even spread that it was discovered at all. Right.

[Matt Mercer]

But the bones and the metal, those do not appear to be sandblasted to show the passage of weeks or months.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

If you had seen the skeletons, you would say these are from 100 years ago. If you looking at the equipment, some of the equipment. You take a water skin on a corpse's side and it still has water in it. Yeah.

[Matt Mercer]

I just look at you and give you a nod with a clenched jaw.

[Liam O'Brien]

All right. Question.

[Matt Mercer]

Yeah.

[Liam O'Brien]

Did going to bird hell a little bit drop my concentration on locate object.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Did you take any damage?

[Liam O'Brien]

No, I had a death save which feels like his mind.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

You were not incapacitated or unconscious and you Took no damage, so there's no loss of concentration.

[Liam O'Brien]

Sweet. Then I am pushing forward through the dark gate. All right, all right, all right.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

But I got like eight minutes left.

[Sam Riegel]

No, I understand.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

I would like.

[Sam Riegel]

We can move and talk, but what happened?

[Liam O'Brien]

You can explain. I'm not waiting any longer. At the.

[Ashley Johnson]

As we walk and talk, I. We both saw. I think we were starting. Dying.

[Marisha Ray]

Yes.

[Sam Riegel]

I love how much you're glossing over that.

[Marisha Ray]

Wait,

[Sam Riegel]

we just saw you both be eat a bunch of birds.

[Liam O'Brien]

Okay, that is news to us. The birds maybe hold space a little bit.

[Sam Riegel]

Came out of the front of you and into you.

[Ashley Johnson]

Did we see that in the sort of visual.

[Liam O'Brien]

Bird hell?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

The bird hell.

[Liam O'Brien]

What did we see in bird hell?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

You were still seeing everything that was happening in physical space. So all that was happening was starting to get blurry and vanish. But you were still seeing Julian seeing Octys just not rendering as clearly. It was almost as though you were seeing both at the same time. So they all got blurry? Like the nearness of death and the living world. When those nightingale spirits flew up, they emerged. What you would have seen in Phaelys is all of them disappearing behind Tysha. And then Tysha being propelled forward a step as birds would have rushed out of her chest and into you. Okay. And what you would have seen, Tycha, is essentially just the eruption of spirits from your chest bearing the stone back to Velas as she connected to it.

[Ashley Johnson]

I don't think it's a bad thing.

[Sam Riegel]

Okay, okay.

[Ashley Johnson]

I. I don't feel. I don't feel scared. Scared.

[Matt Mercer]

Good. Because we need to keep moving.

[Liam O'Brien]

Yes,

[Sam Riegel]

fine. We can talk about it later.

[Liam O'Brien]

Octus, you seem really fucking annoyed.

[Sam Riegel]

No, I'm scared. What was that?

[Liam O'Brien]

I don't know. Explain what happened to you when you died on that table.

[Sam Riegel]

I don't know. And I get your point.

[Marisha Ray]

Thank you.

[Liam O'Brien]

Still actively processing a thing that happened seconds ago.

[Sam Riegel]

Fine.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Sorry.

[Liam O'Brien]

It's okay. I'm sorry. I don't know why birds shot out of my chest. That's weird and new.

[Matt Mercer]

Are you in control of your faculties?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

100%.

[Matt Mercer]

Are you in control of your faculties?

[Ashley Johnson]

Are you sure?

[Matt Mercer]

Then let's keep moving.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yes,

[Ashley Johnson]

I would like to put a little divine sense. See if there's any celestials, fiends or undead

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

you get your divine sense up looking at. Yes.

[Ashley Johnson]

I can also see detect the presence of any placed object that has been consecrated or desecrated. Desecrated?

[Sam Riegel]

Errol,

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

you are approaching a desecrated holy site, Tanasar, as it exists right here. You can Sense has been befouled. The manner of that befoulment. There is celestial writing, weathered on the. I don't know if you can read celestial or not, but you can sense the potency of the language that is depicted here. You also can look out. You feel a dull, fiendish presence somewhere. Distantly brimstone. But that's not, strangely, what strikes you as profane here. The thing that strikes you as profane here is the celestial component. There's something wrong. Place of wings there's something here like the sickness that comes when a creature stops caring for itself, lets itself get molted and dirty, stops living in the real world, connected to its body. There's an acrid stench coming from all this clean sand. It should just smell like wind and stone in a place like this glass. And yet something. Something's become very sick in this place. You do not sense any undead, but there is a powerful potential energy stored within this place. The dead are not animated here, but the power to sow is present potently. And moreover, you can sense a sort of raising of the hairs on your skin. Your ability to repel necrotic damage, to resist the pull of death is being activated here ever so slightly. And I think you realize it's not not powerful enough to damage your shorter lived allies. But there is ambient necrotic damage being dealt by being in this place. And you look and see the bleached white skeletons and understand that living flesh, if it is here for a couple hours, will be fine. If it is here for a few days, maybe some lesions or some injury. To be here over a long period of time spells certain death.

[Ashley Johnson]

Pass on this information.

[Matt Mercer]

A little bit of starlight we might have in this space. Is it cold enough to see our breath?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Very much so. Okay. I will be keeping an eye out

[Matt Mercer]

for any other signs of mist or breath as we continue forward.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Only Octus is not producing mist on his breath at this moment. Funny.

[Sam Riegel]

Then

[Liam O'Brien]

y' all agree no torches. Yeah, yeah.

[Matt Mercer]

No torches.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yeah.

[Ashley Johnson]

Did you get a ping off your. Off the Earth? Nothing yet.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Nothing yet.

[Matt Mercer]

I check back on Saramai and the good doctor and see how they're faring in this advance.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Oh yeah.

[Liam O'Brien]

She will not.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Dame Guy is looking at octys and looking at these companions. Anyone who wants to give me an insight check?

[Liam O'Brien]

Yeah, dude.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Dr. Tolter is visibly terrified. Stutter stepping along.

[Liam O'Brien]

Poor baby.

[Matt Mercer]

6 I don't care.

[Liam O'Brien]

1923.

[Sam Riegel]

1313.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Dame Saramai would give anything to have made different choices in her life.

[Liam O'Brien]

But she doesn't look like she's considering making a sudden new choice here and now.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Just running back across the desert to lose her mind amongst the shadows again. No.

[Ashley Johnson]

Yeah.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

I don't know. She's not. No.

[Liam O'Brien]

I think that she's got a snake tattooed on her. I don't trust her that much. Brandon.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

No. No. You don't see anything on her other than wishing this was all different.

[Ashley Johnson]

Yeah.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Dr. Talter. Looks like someone realizing that actually office work is not as bad as she imagined it was going to be.

[Matt Mercer]

Kind of whisper back in her direction, like. You love history, don't you? Welcome to it.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Well, actually, history is the actually. And that's a great point. Study of original documents. Some people believe that history is a study of the past, but of course we actually cannot know the past. We can only know what we receive from it.

[Matt Mercer]

Pay attention, remember it, and when you get the chance, write it down.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Takes her.

[Liam O'Brien]

She says, writing in the dark.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Writing. Yeah, writing in the dark. She also does not have darkvision. But as you. The starlight is giving dim light out here. But as you look at that massive gate going into Tanasar there, is that it? Just pure pitch black within there.

[Sam Riegel]

I'll walk in.

[Matt Mercer]

Sorry, I just walk in towards the gate.

[Liam O'Brien]

Same.

[Ashley Johnson]

I just point up to where the writing is. Can anybody read that?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

What language do I. Celestial.

[Sam Riegel]

Celestial. You give me ten minutes, I.

[Liam O'Brien]

Can I nudge. Dr. Talter?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Oh. Oh, yes. Shadow and flame, twin houses united evermore in the service of the sun, who we revere in the glory of day and in the faith of night.

[Liam O'Brien]

If I hear either yours or Wakander's last name referenced poetically one more time,

[Sam Riegel]

I am so sorry.

[Liam O'Brien]

No, it's okay.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

All right.

[Matt Mercer]

I look back from the edge of the gate. Are you coming?

[Taliesin Jaffe]

Yes.

[Sam Riegel]

We had an important job once, so it's going to be everywhere.

[Marisha Ray]

Sure.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

You enter massive chamber, pitch black. AF first Tycha. Octys Veilis. As you enter, your eyes shift over quickly to moving throughout the shadows here. And you see in the absence of light, you're still rendering many more dead bodies here. This is where the majority of the violence happened. Nothing on locate object. This is a base camp for deeper excavation. This is a place where it would have been very light. I think, Octys, you know enough about excavation from being with the Pentavrel that does a lot of excavation like this. This would have been the type of excavation where it's not an archaeological dig where you're going through years of, you know, sediment and rock. This is clearing masonry. This is like Coming in and going like. Oh, sand has moved into structures. Right.

[Sam Riegel]

So a lot of gust cantrips.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yes, a lot of gust cantrips, a lot of. But looking throughout, you see it is a strange sort of base camp. And you recognize barrow guard equipment but. Or I should say barrow guard packs and bedrolls scattered to the edges of this large fore chamber. Anterior chamber. And when I say large, I mean 50 foot ceilings. Enormous temple structure. Right. It also abuts the edge of the quarry and you can see that the back of it, the volcanic glass abuts into true cliffs where it looks like. Like the temple actually digs down into the earth itself.

[Matt Mercer]

Enclosed.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Enclosed. So ceilings above you. The heavier duty equipment is not berogard cactus. As you look around, you recognize one of your family's tents. You see there's a small Taconis tent there. There are also some hanging cages and some carts Having. Bringing a mobile jail cell with you to an excavation site is something that the Barrowguard would not entertain doing. They would tie someone up if they needed to and then move them. However, the Taconis might have public punishments even for a long term crew working in a place Lovely.

[Sam Riegel]

Sometimes you need it.

[Liam O'Brien]

No, no, no. Are you justifying what the large mobile

[Sam Riegel]

cage we always have.

[Liam O'Brien]

Have you turned the eye inward on? Sorry, later conversation.

[Sam Riegel]

I wasn't. Thank you.

[Liam O'Brien]

All good.

[Sam Riegel]

Why? If there's a tent of my family here. They were working together. Came with them.

[Liam O'Brien]

With the Bearguard. Yeah. Does it look like the Berylguard was doing the excavation? Do these corpses look like they died while excavating and just sort of dropped where they were?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

For those of Darkvision, you see that Dr. Talter, by the way, Tycha, you feel, has sort of said I'm sorry and has put a hand on you. Your robe just so that she can walk in this space where she can't see.

[Matt Mercer]

I should walk up to Velis, if that's all right.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yeah.

[Matt Mercer]

Do you sense encroaching shadows in this space as well, or can we risk a bit of light for those not gifted so deeply in shadow?

[Ashley Johnson]

I think we can. But you're surrounded by shadow, Juliana.

[Sam Riegel]

Well, he can always test the hypothesis. I reach a hand out and from each tip of my finger a green what looks like a will o wisp goes and green like dancing lights, sheds light around the area.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

See what happens as the wisps emerge. Looking behind you, you see illuminating the bodies around you. There are definitely fallen beauguard here. One or two foot soldiers of house Taconis and more of these robed figures like the one you saw outside that didn't have any identifying marks on them that also appeared to be very under equipped for moving through the desert. As the green light emerges, you have been standing in a circle speaking. And octys, you look around to see Tysha. Dr. Talter next to her. Vaelys, next to you is Dame Saramai. There's Julian and the giant scorpion behind him. Roll Initiative.

[Liam O'Brien]

Wild Finash.

[Matt Mercer]

It's right behind me.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yeah. Yeah, Right behind me.

[Ashley Johnson]

Yeah.

[Liam O'Brien]

You're faced at this point.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Like, that's great.

[Sam Riegel]

Natural one.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Natural one.

[Liam O'Brien]

Good job, boys. It's great.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

I'm like.

[Matt Mercer]

I'm literally like, what? What are you looking at?

[Ashley Johnson]

You literally just go, ah.

[Liam O'Brien]

Yeah, I do the like.

[Sam Riegel]

Does that feel good?

[Liam O'Brien]

You hate to see it.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

Yeah.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Excuse me. Man. Oh, my God.

[Liam O'Brien]

This feels like a lot for one scorpion.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Look at it.

[Travis Willingham]

Look at it.

[Liam O'Brien]

So cute. I don't know how to help.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Whoa. Look at the little cages. My family made those.

[Liam O'Brien]

I love aqu. Sort of being faced with. Those are always been there. Like, huh? How do we.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yeah.

[Liam O'Brien]

You're like. Are you trying to justify this right now?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

So cool.

[Liam O'Brien]

Interesting social justice work sort of happens whenever we encounter it.

[Ashley Johnson]

Oh, this green light over here.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Oh, my. So it's cute here, all of you through this space here, this whole.

[Sam Riegel]

And it ends with, I don't know,

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

a big scorpion killed them all.

[Ashley Johnson]

Pretty amazing.

[Liam O'Brien]

Welcome to the Skeever's table.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

I guess we figured it out.

[Liam O'Brien]

We got killed by bad CGI Dwayne the Rock Johnson.

[Matt Mercer]

That's a true nightmare.

[Liam O'Brien]

Yeah, Julian, we didn't get to be in the fun mummy movie.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

As the green light. As the green light surges forward, raising up as it lights up for a minute. You think, Julian's more yoked than I saw. He looks so big. Until you see that it's not his shoulders, it's the claws of a massive scorpion.

[Matt Mercer]

I flex anyway, because I assume that's what they're looking at.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Incredible.

[Sam Riegel]

I was already looking at my traps earlier

[Liam O'Brien]

before walking into the darkness.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Julian, you take 7, 10 points of damage as this thing whiffs in and attacks in the last moment. As we sort of move through this surprise round of it moving up behind you. We love it and are under the grappled condition. Let me go ahead and get initiatives from everybody. What did we get, Matt?

[Matt Mercer]

Natural one for five.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

For a five. Great. What do we get, Tysha?

[Taliesin Jaffe]

15.

[Ashley Johnson]

Oh, I got 15 too.

[Liam O'Brien]

Oh, my gosh.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yay.

[Sam Riegel]

Natural one for a four.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Doing great. I love it.

[Ashley Johnson]

You Go first.

[Liam O'Brien]

You take a first.

[Marisha Ray]

Okay.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Going down. So that's gonna go ahead and be okay. Okay, we'll go ahead and start there. Dr. Talter is actually going to be the for real is going to go immediately after the scorpion finishes its turn. So with that attack, it makes that first attack on you. That was the only one with advantage. The rest happen after its position is revealed. Does a 14 hit?

[Matt Mercer]

14 misses.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

14 misses. And then the bad one. The bad one. 15 misses.

[Matt Mercer]

15 also misses.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

15 also misses. So as you get grappled by its claw, a tail comes down as it chatters. That is going to then be Dr. Talter's turn. She is going to look at this scream at the top of her lungs in a way that I don't want to inflict on this table and look up at you, Tysha, for some indication of what she should do.

[Liam O'Brien]

You're not a fighter. And I just push her back.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

She stumbles back and is going to dash away. Five, six. It just runs all the way over.

[Liam O'Brien]

Oh, too far.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Sprinting off. Yell less.

[Liam O'Brien]

Run less.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Into the dark, actually. What's the range of dancing lights? Aha.

[Sam Riegel]

It is within a 10 foot radius.

[Liam O'Brien]

Girl, stay close.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Within a 10 foot radius.

[Liam O'Brien]

So can I just point up into whatever this little.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

She runs into this little structure.

[Sam Riegel]

Yeah. They're all floating like 10ft around me. So it creates the most actual.

[Matt Mercer]

Right, right.

[Liam O'Brien]

And other than her going full like I had a vision, the most magic I've seen her do is.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Distant thunderclap Thaumaturgy.

[Liam O'Brien]

Yeah. Cool. I'm not gonna ask her to help. Oh, magic.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Just stand. Yeah.

[Liam O'Brien]

Hover there.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

She looks at you and says, I can try to cast a spell.

[Liam O'Brien]

Go for it. Be safe.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

And she's going to roll to make a religion check in front of the board. You don't want her to roll a one through five. An eight.

[Liam O'Brien]

I was like, I want Felbaturity to put out one of the dancing lights and be like, you suck fuck. Why did you do that?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Causes the roof to cave in. She looks at the three. She looks at the three in front of her. She's going to look at Tycha and Octys and Velis and look and say, such as it is. Receive the blessing that my portion of the universal soul of what we understand to be the living beings of Ahriman should confer to those within my purview to offer such blessing. Please. And you receive the blast spell. Cast your personality. That's incredible.

[Liam O'Brien]

That's the first time I've heard a spell Be cast. And all six seconds were required.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Tyson, it's gonna be your turn.

[Liam O'Brien]

Great.

[Matt Mercer]

That's you three, right? Yeah.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

You three.

[Liam O'Brien]

Yeah. I'm gonna slide over, just take three steps to the right. Just so for once I don't catch Julian so he doesn't have to catch a fade. And I'm gonna cast Burning hands as I've re attuned to the arid landscape here. And my spells have changed.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Cool. Hell yeah.

[Liam O'Brien]

So I need a DC15 dex save.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

DC15 dex save. Hell yeah. That is a NAT one.

[Liam O'Brien]

We love to see it. You're gonna take 15 points of fire damage.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

15 points of fire damage. As Tysha lights this up, I need a DC10 history check from Octus.

[Sam Riegel]

I was like Oct. DC10 history check. What the hell? There we go.

[Liam O'Brien]

He wants you to think back to that time.

[Sam Riegel]

Natural 20.

[Liam O'Brien]

Let's go. We went to Fantasy Kansas City and

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

got good barbecue 26. Bet it smells good. Oh, God. A little lobster bowl make me hungry.

[Liam O'Brien]

Me too.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

This scorpion's name on a nat20 is Saharkis. It is a trained scorpion that belongs to your cousin, Tertia.

[Sam Riegel]

I'm about to say words I've never said before. I recognize this scorpion.

[Matt Mercer]

What?

[Liam O'Brien]

Every new thing you do is creepier than the last thing you do.

[Sam Riegel]

This is my cousin's scor.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

What?

[Liam O'Brien]

I'm still gonna kill it.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Can you tell it to let go? I'll try. The last time you saw the scorpion, it was the size of like a corgi. So it has grunt. It's been many years. It's got way bigger.

[Travis Willingham]

Same proportions.

[Liam O'Brien]

Aw, he's nubbed up and everything. Look at his little butt.

[Sam Riegel]

Your name is Saharka.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Your cousin, Tersha. Tersha is the younger sister of two of your cousins that you knew a long time ago. Doe, Set and univere.

[Liam O'Brien]

Tersha.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

That is going to be. Yeah. And these are your. So your dad's brother's kids?

[Liam O'Brien]

Yeah.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yeah. This. Yeah. You recognize this scorpion? Absolutely. However, we're still in initiative. This thing still a fight going on, Veil, I said it's going to be your turn.

[Marisha Ray]

Okay.

[Liam O'Brien]

For the record, my bonus action. I just cast it, Laylee.

[Matt Mercer]

But it doesn't do anything yet.

[Liam O'Brien]

Go ahead.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Gotcha.

[Sam Riegel]

Gotcha.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Great.

[Travis Willingham]

Thank you.

[Ashley Johnson]

This is your cousin's scorpion?

[Sam Riegel]

Yeah. It's not magical or anything. It's just a scorpion.

[Liam O'Brien]

Kill it.

[Ashley Johnson]

I don't like hurting animals, but okay, doesn't count. So I will say he's been druid. I feel like we're gonna be fighting something. I only have one more channel divinity.

[Sam Riegel]

Well, we did get a long rest right before we got in here.

[Liam O'Brien]

Yeah.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yes, you did get a long rest before you got.

[Ashley Johnson]

I just used divine sense, so I used one of my.

[Liam O'Brien]

Just kill it normal.

[Ashley Johnson]

I'll just kill it normal. All right. Sense of wit. I'm going to take a swing at it.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

I'll also remind you that you do have that bonus action to light the embers of Arask if you so choose. That's true.

[Ashley Johnson]

I would love to. Let's go outside and do that. All right. I'll just hold it up and alight.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

The sensor goes from being a cozy, warm little holder of these burning coals to whoosh. And you see fire is bursting out of the sensor.

[Liam O'Brien]

You whispered that.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

A light you may add. In addition to your sensor's normal damage, you may add 1d6 fire damage on a hit.

[Marisha Ray]

Great.

[Ashley Johnson]

And I think it says a plus one bonus to attack and damage.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Plus one bonus to attack and damage.

[Travis Willingham]

Great.

[Ashley Johnson]

Okay, so where do you want to move?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Do you want to get flanking on this thing?

[Ashley Johnson]

Yes, I would love to.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

So you move over here to the opposite side.

[Marisha Ray]

Stand up.

[Liam O'Brien]

Vaelis, you're drunk.

[Ashley Johnson]

I'm just trying to.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Gotta shout out KO and this sick map man's the best.

[Ashley Johnson]

This one's for the birds.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Hell yeah. Go for it. So, Thea, you will roll with advantage on this deck.

[Liam O'Brien]

Okay, let's go.

[Ashley Johnson]

Okay. Much better. Okay, so It's a natural 1913. Oh, plus six. 25.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

25 is a hit.

[Ashley Johnson]

Okay, so let's do it.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

So that'll be, I believe, 1d10 plus 1d6. Plus 4.

[Ashley Johnson]

Okay, cool.

[Sam Riegel]

That was very small, the diamond.

[Marisha Ray]

Yeah, I know.

[Ashley Johnson]

Okay, so we've got seven points of censer whip damage and five points of

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

fire damage for 12 points of damage altogether. Hell yes.

[Ashley Johnson]

And I'm not a divine smite.

[Liam O'Brien]

Hell yeah.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

I love it. Go for it. Yeah.

[Ashley Johnson]

Let's put a smite on it.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Go ahead. And that'll be an additional 2d8 damage.

[Liam O'Brien]

Great.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Oops.

[Ashley Johnson]

Okay, that's 10 points of radiance.

[Liam O'Brien]

Whoa.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

You see, as your druidic flame alights from your hands, the scorpion skitters backwards and veils with fire as well. Boom. This enormous hammer stroke. What starts going behind you that you let loose more chains. So it goes from being like 3ft behind you to a 50, 15 foot arc. Boom. It lashes down, cracking the carapace open on the back of this massive scorpion. It is bloodied, but still up as you thunder that blow into it. Julian. That is going to be your turn. You are grappled.

[Matt Mercer]

Okay. So as it's. What's it having grappled with? One of its claws.

[Sam Riegel]

One of its claws carrying Julian. I know.

[Matt Mercer]

As I'm trying to resist it, I. I envision I have my demigantlet almost held up inside its claw, the metal keeping it from crushing my torso. But I'm still held within it. My rapier blade's free. As the impact shutters its body and gives a little bit of flexibility. I maneuver part of my shoulder out just enough to try and strike back with the rapier towards one of its eyes. The front of its face.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Hell yeah. Go ahead and give me your attack roll. And because it is flanked by two of your allies, even though you're at an angle, you will roll with advantage.

[Matt Mercer]

Here.

[Sam Riegel]

Do I know? Is the raising and keeping of scorpions something that's common within my family?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Not within your family, however. Da da da.

[Liam O'Brien]

Weird cousin.

[Sam Riegel]

Yeah, they're the Scorpion Kids.

[Liam O'Brien]

You'll hang out. Mom doesn't let me hang out with the Scorpion Kids that much. Only at the holidays.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Their mother, Nausha Vakari, the vassal house of Vakari, has a strong connection to scorpions.

[Matt Mercer]

19 to hit.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

19 hits. All righty.

[Liam O'Brien]

Let's go.

[Matt Mercer]

Coming with the rapier towards one of its nearby eyes.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

All right.

[Matt Mercer]

That'll put us at 11 points of piercing damage.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Hell. Straight there.

[Liam O'Brien]

Get him, dog.

[Matt Mercer]

Then with any and actually with advantage, I could sneak attack since it was towards its eye. Hell yeah. So going for one of the most sensitive parts, like the largest eye I can see reflecting the light of the orbs you have up there, I just jam the blade in as hard as I can forward. That's an additional five damage on that. So it'll be 16 total on that strike.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

You deal 16 points of dam. Oh, sorry. You deal an additional five past that.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

Yeah.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Incredible. This thing is looking on death's door. All right. As you. As it skitters and spews up bile.

[Matt Mercer]

It's a bonus action.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yes.

[Matt Mercer]

As it was still grappled in there, I managed to. I'll say. I pry free my demigantlet, on the other hand. And after it's flailing from where the blade struck it in the eye, I managed to get most of my body out, my leg still within its grasp, and swing wide with the rapier to get it to juke from that direction.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Hell yeah.

[Matt Mercer]

And instead reach out and try and punch into the same space where I had pierced. Where the eye is.

[Ashley Johnson]

Cool.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Go for it.

[Liam O'Brien]

Punch this bug to death.

[Matt Mercer]

That's what it's about with the Vex ability, the rapier. It gives me advantage on this strike with the bonus action.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Hell yeah.

[Matt Mercer]

That'll be not that great.

[Sam Riegel]

12.

[Matt Mercer]

That's better. That'll be a 21 hit.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

21 hits.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

All right.

[Matt Mercer]

And that will be an additional

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

eight

[Matt Mercer]

points of bludgeoning damage.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Hell yes. Cool, Matt. I didn't want to do this.

[Liam O'Brien]

Yeah, I'll say.

[Matt Mercer]

At this point, I managed to completely squeeze out of its claw. And so as I get down on my legs and leap towards it, the rapier blade going wide and just full on, slam my fist into its eye and breaking past the carapace and any of the surrounding armor slide up to the elbow into the inside of its outer body, as it should. I'm almost thrown ragdoll with it in its final throws before eventually it falls limp on the ground. And I sit there for a second breathing heavy. This will be a little gross.

[Liam O'Brien]

Incredible. I'm going to level up now and take the chef's feet so I can cast lemon. So I can cast lemon butter on whatever's left of this cooked meat.

[Matt Mercer]

Immediately looking around to see if it had any cooking companions.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Smart. Go ahead, give me a perception check.

[Liam O'Brien]

That's so cool.

[Matt Mercer]

16.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

16 on a 16. The edge of the light we have. What are our darkvision ranges here?

[Liam O'Brien]

Buck 20.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

What's that? A buck 20. Amazing.

[Sam Riegel]

I believe it's. I don't have it.

[Liam O'Brien]

Same.

[Travis Willingham]

Awesome.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

So you each have 120ft of dark vision. Incredible. Looking out and around, Julian, you do not see anything because the light only extends a certain amount of feet from this place. However, with the noise of combat, you hear rustling and clanking deeper into the darkness. As the fire of the burning hands and the embers and the embers of Aresk both succeed, and your vision moves back from seeing in daylight to being able to see in darkness. You look around and see the bodies all throughout this space beginning to shift and move. And that energy moves from potential to actual.

[Liam O'Brien]

Damn it,

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Julian. You got a five octus. You got a four.

[Sam Riegel]

I did tell them.

[Liam O'Brien]

Stop.

[Matt Mercer]

I don't think he knows yet.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Well, yeah, I don't see anything.

[Liam O'Brien]

That's how I tell you. Tell them. Stop.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

It's dead.

[Sam Riegel]

What am I supposed to tell it?

[Liam O'Brien]

I just point into the darkness that you can't see.

[Sam Riegel]

I don't think you're okay. I kind of just take.

[Liam O'Brien]

I keep forgetting you don't have dark vision.

[Sam Riegel]

Yeah, I don't have dark vision.

[Liam O'Brien]

Creepy.

[Ashley Johnson]

It feels like you should see I'm

[Sam Riegel]

looking at the scorpion.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

It is your turn before something really bad happens. No, something really bad's gonna happen. I think you look at Julian's face looking at you in the dim light of your spell and can see the Paladin and druid of your party with super advanced darkvision. You can hear the metal, right? You can hear the metal. Okay.

[Sam Riegel]

That's what I was like.

[Matt Mercer]

You see me swallow? Very, like.

[Liam O'Brien]

Get ready.

[Sam Riegel]

My cousin's gonna be real disappointed.

[Liam O'Brien]

Tell them. Stop.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Do you want to act on your turn or delay your turn?

[Sam Riegel]

I don't. I don't have any way to actually have them stop.

[Liam O'Brien]

I don't know. Just be like, I'm Octus Daconis.

[Marisha Ray]

Yeah.

[Sam Riegel]

I'm gonna yell that where my family might be.

[Liam O'Brien]

They're definitely here. Your cousin's corgi is dead on the ground.

[Sam Riegel]

Look, I just. Okay. Looking out and trying to analyze what I should do in this moment. I think what Octus does, I'm going to snap my fingers and Pin's going to show up.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Incredible.

[Sam Riegel]

And then. Can I look at those pillars on either side of that doorway? Do they look damaged at all or. They look solid at the base on

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

either side of this doorway here. They look like they have been preserved for a long, long time. I think the answer is kind of down the middle. It is not an effortless thing to collapse them because they've been the main point of entry and been shored up by.

[Sam Riegel]

Probably need to go that way too. Let's try and bottleneck them. Try and take positions so that when they come through, they have to condense and we can pick them off as they come through the doorway. Don't let them surround us. Undead win a fight when they can overwhelm people

[Liam O'Brien]

with the sound of how far away they are. Can I grok an amount of time we would have before getting overrun?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

At 120ft of DarkVision, I will go ahead and place the shapes that move from being scenery to beginning to stand tall.

[Ashley Johnson]

Can I come that way where I

[Liam O'Brien]

was going to go get stuff?

[Ashley Johnson]

Oh, they're over by.

[Liam O'Brien]

I want to go get those.

[Ashley Johnson]

Those are the two Taconis tents.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Those are the Taconis tents. They are moving from over here. There are some clustered in nearby spaces throughout.

[Liam O'Brien]

So sort of we're in there. It's less of a bottleneck more than they were through. No. I also thought that I was gonna try to have us go grab you guys.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

See, this is the entry back out to the open sky. We just Came in through here.

[Liam O'Brien]

I don't understand how. How things work.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

And then the entrances to deeper into this colossal chamber. Your ceiling is up here, essentially. Right. More figures moving from over here.

[Sam Riegel]

Oh, wow.

[Marisha Ray]

Golly.

[Matt Mercer]

Cool.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Cool.

[Ashley Johnson]

Okay, okay, okay.

[Liam O'Brien]

You can stop putting them down.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Brennan, that's enough. Keep them coming. I'm ready.

[Liam O'Brien]

I thought this whole map was for one score.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Be.

[Matt Mercer]

I can do this all day.

[Ashley Johnson]

That's it.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

I can do this all day.

[Liam O'Brien]

Okay.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

I love it.

[Liam O'Brien]

Okay, here we go.

[Ashley Johnson]

Is this the little light up? Is this for flare or is this. Does this mean something?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

There is a glow coming from over at that crystal. Yes, absolutely.

[Sam Riegel]

Oh, I didn't even see.

[Liam O'Brien]

You got time to check it out. Here, come over here. You can see it.

[Sam Riegel]

No, I see it now.

[Liam O'Brien]

If I move over here, because there's purple glow too. And I don't know if that's for

[Ashley Johnson]

D. Is there purple glow too?

[Liam O'Brien]

There's purple glow back here again. Is that dazzle? Who could say? I know.

[Ashley Johnson]

I'm like, I don't know. Is this dazzle?

[Liam O'Brien]

Is that magic juice? What am I looking at?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Great. So, yes, Octis.

[Liam O'Brien]

That's too many.

[Sam Riegel]

So these all start reanimating around us. I'm gonna move over to take a look at that green glow there. Just to clock what it is.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Give me an arcana check.

[Liam O'Brien]

Is it green? That looks blue as hell. Okay.

[Sam Riegel]

Wearing yellow glasses.

[Liam O'Brien]

Okay, I took them off and that's still blue. But honestly noted, I bought three wrong color dresses because I shopped 18 18.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Looking at that. This is an alteration. You're looking at an enchantment. A sorceress enchantment placed here by the Taconis family. The defile that Veilas fell before. I don't know if you explained that you had seen that this place was defiled, but you essentially see that there is an area of crystal placed here that's not natural. You see it's enchanted glass. And you realize that that was mined. Not in the world of Haramon. Something has been brought here from somewhere else and has been placed here such that it is. This is a sorcerous commandment wrought in material. Enchantment in glass and crystal. To do something to this place, you would need closer study to know what it is. But whatever Tanasar was supposed to to be, your family had other plans for it. Okay.

[Sam Riegel]

It's a much bigger problem than them just being here. These crystals are part of an enchantment that my family put down. I don't have time to explain or really know what it Is.

[Liam O'Brien]

But break them.

[Sam Riegel]

I don't know. That might be worse. I don't know what they're doing.

[Marisha Ray]

Okay,

[Sam Riegel]

that's going to be my turn. I don't have enough time to.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Incredible. With that, the rush begins.

[Liam O'Brien]

But don't.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

On their turn. Each of these skeletons uses this moment to animate. Their action is used to animate. Animate here. And we are going to take some movement. We're gonna go.

[Sam Riegel]

Did I still have my movement?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yes, you do still have movement.

[Sam Riegel]

Can I move towards that bridge there? That like.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yes, I'd get up there.

[Sam Riegel]

Yeah, yeah.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Just 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 gets you up here.

[Sam Riegel]

Pin will follow me.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Pin will follow you. Yeah.

[Sam Riegel]

There we go.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

And these figures are going to rush. This skeleton ascends the steps, going into the dark, hovering over Dr. Tolter.

[Sam Riegel]

Oh. Oh, no.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

She turns around and goes, oh, no.

[Liam O'Brien]

I just need you to do more than just.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

She just cast her first big spell.

[Ashley Johnson]

Do more than scream.

[Sam Riegel]

You should.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

5, 10, 15, 25, 25, 30. Okay, these ones will fall in at about the distance they were at before, Moving in behind. Great. You guys hear the clattering. As the dead begin to swarm towards you here? Golly, you can see them. Whatever power of death flows through this place, Berogard, Taconis, even some of the robed figures, all are called to one purpose. Now, that is going to go back to the. This is actually going to be Dame Saramai. Oh, yeah.

[Liam O'Brien]

Oh, yeah. Help.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Dame Saramai is going to five feet of movement, grabs Dr. Talter with her object interaction and is going to rush to the base of the staircase here, depositing the halfling at the top of the steps. Great.

[Matt Mercer]

Fantastic.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

She goes, you're coming with me. And Dr. Tallulah goes and rushes away. That is going to go back to the top of the order for Dr. Talter, who goes immediately. And she is going to look at you, Julian, and she's gonna look at you, Julian, in this moment and go. There is a force in this world that makes whole things that were broken.

[Liam O'Brien]

Don't.

[Marisha Ray]

You can't.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

You are healed for two points of damage. Yeah.

[Liam O'Brien]

Atta girl. Atta girl. Hey, Brevity.

[Sam Riegel]

Hey.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

That's her healing word spell.

[Matt Mercer]

I appreciate the lesson.

[Liam O'Brien]

Healing word.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Now stay alive. A short paragraph. Tysha, that is going to be your turn.

[Liam O'Brien]

Delightful. Delightful.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

And Tyson and Velocity are on the same initiative, so you guys can actually go in whatever order you want to go.

[Liam O'Brien]

Do you have a thing that you want to do right away?

[Ashley Johnson]

I'm ready to go whenever.

[Liam O'Brien]

Okay. I've got a big old swarm over here, so I'm going to try to hit them. Let's go. Burning hands or the Thunder Wave. Let's go Thunder Wave. Cause I can catch up in a 15 foot cube. So I think I've got this little pocket. But not this one on the side.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Not this one on the side here. So if you go to here.

[Liam O'Brien]

Okay. It made me get close.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Oh, no. Oh, is it not emanating from you?

[Liam O'Brien]

No, you're right. Just calm down.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Calm down.

[Liam O'Brien]

You did it right. You just have to move slow. I'm skittish. Like Dr. Talter.

[Matt Mercer]

The two choices you gave require you to get up close.

[Liam O'Brien]

Yeah, I know, I know.

[Sam Riegel]

So pick your angle.

[Liam O'Brien]

Yeah, you can do this. Put me back where I was. I didn't say I didn't want it. You just did it so quickly.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Okay, so a 15 foot cube would be either these four or you can either get this guy or this guy.

[Liam O'Brien]

Yeah, I'm good with this.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Cool. This little cube. We'll go for these four right here. Got it. Sick.

[Liam O'Brien]

Great. Go ahead and give me a con save from all of them.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yeah, here we go.

[Liam O'Brien]

Their constitution is worse.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Con save from them. What is your DC?

[Liam O'Brien]

Oh, sorry. 15.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

15. Two succeed and two fail.

[Liam O'Brien]

Okay? The two that fail are gonna take 10 points. The two's succeed, take five. And the ones that fail get pushed 10ft away.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Tysha, what does it look like as you rush up? These two are pushed 10ft away. So boom, picked up off their feet and deposited prone back over here. What does it look like as you rush up, calling upon this Druidic magic?

[Liam O'Brien]

I think the moment Tysha begins to say anything in Druidic, the sands under her feet are warm, as if this was sand exposed under sunlight. You can smell what the desert would smell like if it was alive. And that idea of things coming violently back to life pushes out a burst of just sort of the memory of what this place was before. Before it was desecrated by Tansul's death. Here. So just a big scary emanation that kind of looked like. See the desert?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

This world knew storms and sand, thunder and tempest, long before it knew the touch of gods or undead. That energy comes coursing out from you and throws those two animated skeletons away from you and damages the ones behind Velas. Or any bonus action from you.

[Liam O'Brien]

Yes. So I'm gonna use the rest of my. So I walked forward too. So rest of my movement to move back towards where we came in. And then bonus action Dash using the Ability whose name I'll never remember.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Adrenaline rush.

[Liam O'Brien]

Yeah, Adrenaline rush to get back and give myself two temporary H. Great. And I'm just sort of looking 30 back here. Yeah. But I still had movement from my original movement.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Okay.

[Liam O'Brien]

Yeah. So go ahead and slide me four more back.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Do you want to go back towards the gate?

[Liam O'Brien]

Yeah.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

1, 2, 3, 4.

[Liam O'Brien]

Yeah. And my eyes are on this little portal of nasty magic. If I get the go ahead, that's where I'm going to fire next.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Cool. Hell yeah.

[Liam O'Brien]

And that's me.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Awesome. That's going to be Valen.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

Great. Okay.

[Ashley Johnson]

Tysha's got that group pretty good. I would love to sort of stalk over to this big group of undead.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

This one coming in here.

[Brian W. Foster]

Yeah.

[Ashley Johnson]

Cause I'd love to get to a spot where I can just sort of start swinging.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yes. That's 20, 25, 30.

[Ashley Johnson]

Okay. That's as close as I can get.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Gets you here. Yes. But also, Let me see. Cause you. How about If I go 5, 10, 15, 20, 30.

[Ashley Johnson]

How about these guys?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Sure.

[Ashley Johnson]

Will I make it there?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30. Gets you here within 10.

[Ashley Johnson]

I'm within 10ft of that one guy.

[Travis Willingham]

Yes.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Okay.

[Ashley Johnson]

I'll take it.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Cool. Certainly. You pick a spot in the battlefield that you can't get swarmed. You have your back to some stone in between a structure and something else. Go ahead and take your tackle. Okay.

[Liam O'Brien]

Don't forget you have bless.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Oh, yes.

[Liam O'Brien]

Okay.

[Ashley Johnson]

Oh, that's great. Okay. That's a natural 19

[Sam Riegel]

plus is to hit 6.

[Matt Mercer]

25 again and a D4 to hits, ability checks and saving throws.

[Travis Willingham]

Okay.

[Liam O'Brien]

Okay.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Hell yeah.

[Marisha Ray]

Yeah.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

25, 25. Go ahead and roll damage.

[Liam O'Brien]

Okay. What are you doing?

[Ashley Johnson]

Okay, that's. That's a full 10 plus 4. So 14 points of damage.

[Matt Mercer]

Yeah.

[Ashley Johnson]

Bayless dimage.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

14 points of damage. This first skeleton going you Boom. Ribcage shattered apart effortlessly.

[Marisha Ray]

Yes.

[Ashley Johnson]

Now here's a question. Because I have the ember lit with that hit of the sensor, do they also take the 1D6 from that?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

They also take the 1D6 fire damage.

[Liam O'Brien]

Oh, hell yeah, dude.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

So you're now dealing 1d10 plus 1d6

[Ashley Johnson]

plus 4 once it's a light.

[Matt Mercer]

Okay, that's great.

[Ashley Johnson]

So that's an extra two points of fire damage. Or actually three because I get the plus one bonus to attack and damage.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yes. An extra three with fire ribs shattered. Amazing. Amazing. And that is your action. Do you have any bonus actions?

[Ashley Johnson]

So he's still standing?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

No, he's destroyed.

[Ashley Johnson]

So I can't now that he's gone. Can I divine smite somebody else?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

You cannot divine smite somebody else.

[Ashley Johnson]

Okay, got it.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

But you're outputting enough damage that burning spells on these guys may not be what's needed. What's needed.

[Ashley Johnson]

Got it. Okay, great.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

But you shatter through that first skeleton. Incredible.

[Ashley Johnson]

Is there another one within five feet of me that I'm not seeing?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

There is not another one within five feet of you that you. Yeah, that is my move.

[Sam Riegel]

Cool.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Hell yeah.

[Liam O'Brien]

Octis didn't say we couldn't do it.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Not bad, huh?

[Ashley Johnson]

Oh, the.

[Liam O'Brien]

Yeah, the big glowing rock.

[Ashley Johnson]

That's one too.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

This is. This is why we're having.

[Liam O'Brien]

No, you're just right next to it. And I'm just saying, if you're looking. Yeah, just like on accident. Just like.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

See,

[Liam O'Brien]

when has your family ever not made a thing that, like, it feels like there's, like a bad heat?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

I also think it's.

[Sam Riegel]

I don't know what they'll do with

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

a homebrewed weapon, which is your sensor. Do you imagine that your sensor does slashing damage or bludgeoning damage? Is it like a club or is it like a blade?

[Ashley Johnson]

I mean, I feel like it makes more sense if it's bludgeoning.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Great.

[Ashley Johnson]

You know, sort of thing. But I like.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Perfect.

[Ashley Johnson]

I love slashing too, but I feel

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

like it makes more sense. You see that your sensor whip is extraordinarily effective against these skeletons.

[Liam O'Brien]

Correct answer.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Correct answer. Bludgeoning absolutely plows through this. Right? That is going to be. Yes. That's great. That is your turn, Julian. That is going to be you.

[Matt Mercer]

Hell yeah. See, the cool thing about having a rapier is it's the opposite of what yours does.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Use the other side.

[Liam O'Brien]

Use the other side.

[Matt Mercer]

I'm planning to.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

You're, like, holding my hand. My whole thing is most people are a bag of liquid, and when I poke it, the liquid comes out, and that's really bad.

[Liam O'Brien]

Actually, really quickly.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Oh, sorry. Yes.

[Ashley Johnson]

Bonus action. Am I within 60ft of octis?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

You are. Let's find out.

[Liam O'Brien]

Bald ass.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

60ft.

[Liam O'Brien]

Yes, you are.

[Ashley Johnson]

Okay, I'm going to shoot out a Shield of Faith plus two.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Oh, that's two to A.C. brocktis. Incredible little guy. Gorgeous. Julian, that is your go. Yeah.

[Matt Mercer]

All right. Hearing all the sound of them clamoring over, watching a few of them begin to rush. Watch you blast back a bunch of them and then dart off towards the gate there. Vaelys runs over and shatters. One just out of sight. And hearing all the sound of them approaching, it's like all right. Tactically, find the right places to go. I think given how things are at the moment. Tactically. Julian makes a choice and is going to go ahead and take his 30ft of movement to get alongside that one there and try and hold that pinch point.

[Brian W. Foster]

Cool.

[Matt Mercer]

Of the ones that are rushing in,

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

do you want to go. So you have. That's 20ft of movement right there.

[Matt Mercer]

Right. If I can go one and then angle that way. So my back's kind of against that stone right there. Actually.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Hell yeah.

[Travis Willingham]

Other direction.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Oh, sorry. Other direction. You want to get over here, in other words, or do you want to get closer to valis?

[Matt Mercer]

I want to get up. Yeah.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

On the opposite. Yeah.

[Matt Mercer]

Right against there.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Great.

[Matt Mercer]

You got it.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Cool. Cool.

[Matt Mercer]

So definitely didn't try and rush through my house.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Gotcha. Gotcha. Yes, I see what you're doing. Yeah, yeah, yeah, sure.

[Matt Mercer]

So rushing forward. Rapier as it is looking. First thing I'm going to ask, are they all skeletal?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yes. You see that? Whatever necrotic force is pulsing through this place that we sensed earlier. It has rapidly decomposed these bodies. So there are none that are chunky or meaty.

[Matt Mercer]

Julian, little blessings as he is unable to recognize any of these bodies. Rushing up with his blade out, he's going to go ahead and sweep forward with the rapier to try and strike across the middle area where the spinal column keeps it affixed to the hip to whatever hope it might be for his first strike to the one in front of him.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Go for it.

[Matt Mercer]

That's going to be 24 to hit.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

24 is a hit. Yes.

[Matt Mercer]

That's going to be four.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Four.

[Matt Mercer]

Eight points of piercing damage.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

As eight points of piercing damage goes through, you see that they don't appear to have resistance to this. But you're very quickly bludgeoning appears extra effective. Not that piercing is ineffective. I think you adjust your style quickly. This rapier, which normally is all about the point, you just see a spinal column and take the blade at maximum heft into that bone. Trying to stick Sephiroth. 8 damage.

[Matt Mercer]

8 damage with that one. And then following that up with bonus action after the blade cuts through. Using that momentum, I sort of spin around and a full 360 turn using that momentum as the cloak spins to get the massive punching gauntlet just right into the side of the skull of the same skeleton in front of me with advantage because of the Vex from the rapier.

[Liam O'Brien]

Go.

[Matt Mercer]

That's good.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

20 chin. Yeah.

[Matt Mercer]

22 to hit on this one.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

22 is a hit. Go ahead and roll Damage do I get?

[Matt Mercer]

Sneak attack for the advantage on this one.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Alrighty. Great.

[Matt Mercer]

That's an 8. 10 points of bludgeoning damage from the secondary hit.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

The gauntlet proves a much better weapon as you're going through with it. Just a big metal hand grabbing through and ripping bone out of this animated skeleton. Destroyed in front of you.

[Matt Mercer]

As the bones scattered and it falls to the ground. I look back and make eye contact with the veil of my back of the stone and be like, we have to hold these points.

[Ashley Johnson]

We will.

[Matt Mercer]

We got each other.

[Ashley Johnson]

Yeah.

[Matt Mercer]

Let's go.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Seeing an entire half of the. Yes. Spinning fire. Julian. Back to this. With a narrow channel in front of you that they cannot pass through without taking those attacks of opportunity. Yes. My turn. Boom. We move down an initiative Octis. That is you before the wave hits, bruh.

[Sam Riegel]

Okay.

[Liam O'Brien]

You could have said that different, but I chose nothing. Or it's mean things.

[Sam Riegel]

Okay. Interesting. How does the spell work?

[Liam O'Brien]

Who could say?

[Travis Willingham]

Not me,

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Right?

[Liam O'Brien]

I'm out here still looking up blessed because I get nervous and I forget.

[Sam Riegel]

Okay, what. So what we're gonna do here is. Are you trying to make a roll here?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Isn't it like no longer.

[Sam Riegel]

There's so little ability checks.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Okay.

[Liam O'Brien]

Chest attacks and saves.

[Sam Riegel]

Oh, crawl on the table here. I'm trying to see behind this.

[Liam O'Brien]

Okay.

[Sam Riegel]

There's that many over there.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

All right.

[Sam Riegel]

I think what Octus is going to do, dude, I'm going to where he walks. Oh, can I get. Can I get.

[Liam O'Brien]

As it just moves and I forget you could do that. I'm like, well, you could be wherever.

[Sam Riegel]

Going around this wooden plank area here. Can I get to this zombie or whatever it is skeleton?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yeah, let's see. 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30. Is there? Yeah, I can.

[Sam Riegel]

I don't get to anyone, really. I don't think so. What I'll do is I will, I guess for this turn, I am going to move over there to that roundabout that side.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30. Great.

[Sam Riegel]

And I think there I will. Yeah, I'm just going to go ahead and throw a firebolt at this point because I can't get up to do what I want to do. So. Yeah, go ahead and just do that. That is a 13 to hit. No, sorry. That is a 19 to hit.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

19 is a hit.

[Matt Mercer]

That is better.

[Liam O'Brien]

Did you add your.

[Sam Riegel]

Yeah, I added the plus. Yeah, that was with the 10 and the three. I was like, ah, 13.

[Liam O'Brien]

I do that all the time.

[Sam Riegel]

I'm going to D10 for damage. Hey, all right. I love that I love a 10. So, okay, just winds up and this green light spirals out and then flies off the front, creating this green, larger will o wisp than the ones that he's had up for light and slams into that skeleton there, doing 10 points of fire damage.

[Liam O'Brien]

Sort of a William Oak Wisp.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

10 points of fire damage to the one closest to you or this one,

[Sam Riegel]

the one closest to me.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Great. Ten points of fire damage.

[Travis Willingham]

Boom.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

As the firebolt hits, you see the heat is seems less effective than the concussive force of the blast that shatters through ribs, pulverizing bone. And that is your action.

[Sam Riegel]

Action. I'm going to go ahead and have Pin move up next to me. Actually, I'll leave Pin where he is there next to the doctor.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Okay.

[Sam Riegel]

That is my. I don't have a bonus action to do, so that will be my turn.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

As you see, the fire bolt escapes from you. Vroom. This stone glows bright. And you see Carlos as these figures change their plan of attack and are going to rush up towards you.

[Marisha Ray]

Interesting.

[Ashley Johnson]

What did they say?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

15, 20, 25? They said goodbye.

[Liam O'Brien]

Oh, yeah.

[Travis Willingham]

Got it, got it.

[Liam O'Brien]

Do you speak dusty ass mouth? I only took elfish.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Wait. Do it.

[Ashley Johnson]

You can't wait.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

Laughing.

[Ashley Johnson]

That's such a good voice.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Fluent.

[Matt Mercer]

I am ever Ashley's monkey.

[Liam O'Brien]

I love it.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Do sound.

[Liam O'Brien]

Do the sound. Do that little sound you do.

[Sam Riegel]

As I see all the guests, they're worried about fire.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Over here, you see two clothes with Dame Saramai, who as they rush up towards her, rather than waiting to anticipate their strike, they get about five feet away and she lunges shield up. Bam. Their swords come over the side, and she closes them with combat. You see that? These ones over here are gonna rush you. These two get up from prone, badly injured. Some of the ones attacking you are also quite badly injured here. Only two are gonna take swings on you. What is your AC currently? 18 with the shield of faith, correct?

[Matt Mercer]

Hell yeah.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

That is two hits.

[Matt Mercer]

Hell yeah.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Let's go. Damn. Boo. You take nine points of damage and four points of of damage from two separate attacks. Any concentration we need to be worried about here?

[Sam Riegel]

I do need to make a concentration check for the dancing lights.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Okay.

[Sam Riegel]

Natural one, they fail, lights go out.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Julian and D.M. sarah, Maya are fighting in the dark.

[Matt Mercer]

Cool.

[Ashley Johnson]

But does Julian have a little more light because of the.

[Liam O'Brien]

Ah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Ashley Johnson]

That puts out.

[Liam O'Brien]

That puts out lamp.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

That is correct.

[Ashley Johnson]

10ft and then dim 10 after that.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Okay. Which means you have 20ft. So let's see if Julian's Got it? Yes. Your light reaches Julian from where you are standing. So, Julian, you're actually fighting in the dark. But the space in front of you that you're fighting in, the space you're attacking is lit.

[Matt Mercer]

That's a terrifying perspective. All I see is just this spinning arc of dull ember and shadows and the cracking of bone and metal getting louder.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

You're just like.

[Liam O'Brien]

Is this Jon Hamm in the Friends and Neighbors ring?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Where you are, Julian, is. You have to put yourself into shadow to see where you are fighting towards. But what that means is anyone approaching from your right will come at you out of the darkness. Yes.

[Liam O'Brien]

Great.

[Matt Mercer]

That's how I like it.

[Liam O'Brien]

But

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

incredible.

[Matt Mercer]

Just pooping a little.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Pooping a little. All the time.

[Liam O'Brien]

So we can find you if we need you.

[Matt Mercer]

You're a little trailed Cocoa Puffs in the sand.

[Liam O'Brien]

You need to drink more water. You need to poop like a rabbit.

[Matt Mercer]

You just have to clean up this way.

[Liam O'Brien]

This guy's gonna close a fair point. He's a good soldier. I'm glad you're teaching my son.

[Matt Mercer]

I told you so. There are many things.

[Liam O'Brien]

Wow, you really made it all the

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

way over, didn't you, Taisha? This one has no action left, but just is Russian. Wants to make it happen.

[Liam O'Brien]

Well, good for him.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

These two are gonna rush here. One, two. And are gonna take their swings on Bayless Bayous.

[Travis Willingham]

What's your armor class?

[Ashley Johnson]

Currently 16.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

16. I'm rolling, so. Well, I'm so sorry. That's two hits and a crit. You're gonna have to roll a lot of concentration.

[Liam O'Brien]

Okay, Emme Christmas.

[Marisha Ray]

Well, hold on.

[Ashley Johnson]

Don't I have like a.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

But the crit is snake eyes, so that's five damage on the crit.

[Liam O'Brien]

Okay.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

And then six damage and five damage. So. 16. Five. 16. Yeah. 16 damage all together.

[Liam O'Brien]

Okay.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

That's all slashing, so. And I'm gonna need three constitution saving throws, all of which are DC10.

[Liam O'Brien]

Okay.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

To hold that. The shield of Faith.

[Ashley Johnson]

The Shield of Faith.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Okay.

[Ashley Johnson]

Okay, so that's a fail. That's five.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Okay. Plus five. Plus your constitution. Oh, five. Oh, five plus your constitution. Savings are a modifier. Yeah, that's five total spell drops. You lose the shield of Faith as the wave hits of the undead. You. This is a. You have come to a barrowdell, a cursed region of the world. You have come looking for trouble. And friends, you have found what you sought.

[Liam O'Brien]

I think that's what I said I was looking for, but okay.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Okay. Good strategic placement wastes the turn of at least two of These skeletons who cannot close past their allies to this choking. You've chosen Vaelys. And rather than running all the way around, they just see fire and a living being and they are rushing.

[Ashley Johnson]

I just try to keep them coming towards me.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

These ones are going to rush, Julian. This 1, 1, 2, 3, 4, is going to attempt to rush past you towards Tysha. And you're going to get that attack of opportunity.

[Matt Mercer]

I will. All right, I'm going to go. Seeing how effective the gauntlet was, I'm going to attempt to just reach out and grab at its skull as it goes by with my demigantlet.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Cool. There you go.

[Matt Mercer]

That's going to be 15.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

15 is a hit.

[Matt Mercer]

All righty. That'll be six points of bludgeoning damage.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Hell yes. Raking at the bone. You chip its skull as it rushes past. All right, and that is going to be. Da, da, da. That is now going to be this wave of them back here. 1.

[Matt Mercer]

Now, I can keep going if it wants to.

[Sam Riegel]

I don't stop it in its path.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Sorry.

[Liam O'Brien]

No, it's cool.

[Matt Mercer]

See, the one that I hit, it

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

can keep going if it wants. So that one is going to close with Tysha using its full movement. 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30. We'll enter the light over here. 5, 10, 15,20, 20, 30. And this one will move actually out here into the dark to give flanking to its allies. Of course. Gonna roll with advantage here. Armor class 16. That's a hit. That's a hit.

[Sam Riegel]

Let's go.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Duh. That's a miss.

[Matt Mercer]

Okay, good.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

You take 16 points of slashing damage.

[Sam Riegel]

All right. Oops.

[Ashley Johnson]

Are you still up?

[Matt Mercer]

Oh, yes.

[Liam O'Brien]

Don't say, oh, golly.

[Matt Mercer]

I am. Golly gee, Wheelers, I am bloodied.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

That is the skeleton's turn as they have closed. So from all this casting of spells, Fire, thunder. Suddenly you down the ones you can and then. And just bone and steel going to work, sawing at you as quickly as possible. The end of that is going to be Dame Saramai. She's going to take her swings here and is going to hit one of them on her for 10 points of damage. We're gonna go back to the top, Dr. Talter.

[Liam O'Brien]

Oh, no. The good doctor.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

The good doctor.

[Liam O'Brien]

Just keep bless up, baby girl. You're fine.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yeah, she's got bless up. That's true.

[Liam O'Brien]

She is actively contributing.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Honestly. She's gonna use her last spell. She looks around and it's not concentration. She drops to her knees and casts sanctuary on herself. Yeah, she drops down on this Plank. As she looks at pin next to her goes. Just seeing an undead creature. She keeps screaming and goes.

[Ashley Johnson]

Loves her.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

There is a force that permeates all things. And should it be willing, it would be greatly appreciated by a creature of this universe blessed with sapience to perceive said force to please not be hurt. And that's going to be Tysha and Bayless.

[Liam O'Brien]

Sweet. You wanna go?

[Sam Riegel]

Yeah, I would love to.

[Liam O'Brien]

Not you.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

Sure.

[Liam O'Brien]

Okay.

[Ashley Johnson]

I'm gonna tell. I'm gonna just keep swinging.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Let's do it. Keep swinging. Here we go.

[Sam Riegel]

Co opting Murray's accent there.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

And remember, you add that D4 for bless as well, please. Okay.

[Liam O'Brien]

12.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

A12 is sadly not going to be a hit.

[Ashley Johnson]

Okay. All right. That's okay. Damn beans. Damn.

[Liam O'Brien]

Okay,

[Ashley Johnson]

let me just see if there's something else I can do. For some reason

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

there's. Lay on hands. So you could potentially heal yourself. There's also Hunter's mark. And you could put up Shield Guild of faith again. But that's burning through a lot of spells for sure.

[Ashley Johnson]

Well, that's.

[Liam O'Brien]

Okay.

[Sam Riegel]

Do you have your vow right?

[Ashley Johnson]

I do. I was feeling like I was saving it. I don't know why I was saving it, because I feel like. Yeah, these are nothing. You know what?

[Matt Mercer]

I'm totally going to survive.

[Brian W. Foster]

It's fine.

[Ashley Johnson]

Shield of faith again.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

I'm doing shield of faith on Octis. You put shield of faith on Octis again. Octis. You have shield of.

[Sam Riegel]

Actually, I'm at 11 hit points.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

However.

[Ashley Johnson]

Is he still in?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

He is no longer within 60ft.

[Ashley Johnson]

Okay. So you know what?

[Taliesin Jaffe]

I'm.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

You have Julian within range. And I think you also have Tysha within range. But I like the danger. Yeah.

[Ashley Johnson]

Okay.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

And also saving your spell slots is also not a bad thing.

[Ashley Johnson]

That's my move. It's kind of lame, but that's it.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

That's what you got, Julian. Oh, sorry. Tysha's going to be in.

[Marisha Ray]

Sweet.

[Liam O'Brien]

Can I consider something as a bonus action? Sure. What's up with this goddamn light? I want to know if I kill it. Will I will. Can I figure out a connection between this light and possibly the animation of these corpses? I think that they're a big. I think this is a big necromantic space heater that's making all the stuff around here come back to life. And I feel like I would glance not just at the guys right in front of me, but does dead scorpion look like it's getting rezzed by the blue light?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Jittery again? Yeah. Give me a nature check.

[Liam O'Brien]

Cool. Ooh, wait, I'm good at that. I'd do that. Great.

[Sam Riegel]

It's wild to me that nature is an intelligent.

[Liam O'Brien]

Golly.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

1212 doesn't make any sense. Don't see any jitters from skeleton, from. From Scorpion. You can't piece together this Taconis magic here while fighting the undead. I think on a 12 though, what I can say is the big necromantic battery theory. If you had a theory. The Taconis were not designing this as a video game level. So being like, wait a minute, I think they're more might be a one punch solution to this. They factored that in and they made it an absolutely enormous rock. And so. So it's like, yeah, if anyone's got the rock killing spell, fucking fire that bad boy off.

[Liam O'Brien]

Do you know the name of this piece of shit? And you can make it die? I think I do. And then I'm just gonna show Laylee the guy in front of me being

[Sam Riegel]

bitten in three places. I don't know the name of this it. I said I didn't. I'm sorry. The charge of that spell hasn't come back yet.

[Liam O'Brien]

30 to hit.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

30 hits.

[Matt Mercer]

30 to hit.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

That was crazy.

[Ashley Johnson]

Damn.

[Liam O'Brien]

For nine points of bludgeoning damage, one

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

of the ones here has already been injured by your thunder wave and chased you all across the map to come find you. Nine points of damage. Does it as you describe what it was like as the loy staff.

[Liam O'Brien]

Yeah. I think in her hand it just again, it's glowing with so much life energy that the swing through looks like that heat haze in the desert. And you just see the after image of what this uncorrupted desert would look like in the follow through as she cracks this thing open.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Hell yeah. Sundered before you. That is going to be.

[Liam O'Brien]

And my movement.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

You got. You got.

[Liam O'Brien]

No, I'm not going anywhere. We're just gonna face down these idiots. That's cool.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

You got one on you still. Yeah, yeah. Vaylis, that is going to be you. Oh no. Sorry. You just went. I apologize.

[Liam O'Brien]

Yes, yes, go again.

[Travis Willingham]

I know.

[Ashley Johnson]

I was like.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

I mean, I'll take it. I'll take it. Julian's going to be.

[Matt Mercer]

All right. Well, this is how it is, I'm going to say. At this moment. Julian can taste the blood in his mouth from the heavy impact of one of these battered shields of one of his previous likely students hitting in the jaw. He can sense the darkness around him and that little bit of a red trailer trickled grin curls across his face. I guess it's time to get used to wading into the cold, huh? Ever going deeper. And he looks up to the dark shadows beyond, deeper in the temple before focusing back on the nearby skeletons and goes. Let's dance, shall we? If I can. I'm going to go ahead and use my writing the edge.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Hell yes.

[Matt Mercer]

I'm going to choose this moment to level up. Level up.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Let's do it.

[Sam Riegel]

Let's go.

[Liam O'Brien]

Did you just. Yeah. Did you just level up by edging?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yeah, more or less.

[Matt Mercer]

Yeah.

[Ashley Johnson]

Yeah, yeah.

[Travis Willingham]

That's really good.

[Liam O'Brien]

Liam's crazy.

[Sam Riegel]

Any of us do.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

It's true.

[Liam O'Brien]

While I'm drinking out of the tea

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

right now, so close to leveling up.

[Liam O'Brien]

That's bad for you. One more day to stay. One more day.

[Matt Mercer]

That's not sand on the battlefield.

[Liam O'Brien]

Exactly. Thank you.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Great. We are riding the edge.

[Matt Mercer]

So sorry. So, as in go, I'm gonna choose Warrior Fighter. Go into the next level. This will lead me into choosing the subclass, which is the Daredevil subclass, which is built for Julian in this instance.

[Liam O'Brien]

Wait, that's great because you can't see in the dark Life.

[Sam Riegel]

It's art.

[Matt Mercer]

It's great.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Not that kind of devil I know.

[Matt Mercer]

So, as part of this, while I'm bloodied, my second wind feature gives me temporary hit points instead of restoring hit points. Not necessarily a benefit per se. So with that, that's going to. All right, six plus two. That gives me eight temporary hit points to give me a little bit more of a buffer there.

[Liam O'Brien]

Oh, wait, did you take. You took it in Fighter.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yeah.

[Liam O'Brien]

You got eight hit points.

[Matt Mercer]

Eight hit points, yeah. All right, so.

[Ashley Johnson]

Oh, that was your bigger one.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Yeah, that was your bigger one. You rolled two on your rogue die. I didn't want to tell you.

[Liam O'Brien]

Sorry. You get 12 hit points. My bad. You rolled 8 on the die, plus your con total of 12.

[Brian W. Foster]

12.

[Matt Mercer]

And I have tough as a feat, so that's an additional two.

[Liam O'Brien]

Hell, yeah, dude.

[Matt Mercer]

Okay, low.

[Sam Riegel]

All right.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

12.

[Liam O'Brien]

14. God, I love 12 so much.

[Ashley Johnson]

So you just leveled up?

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

I did, yes.

[Ashley Johnson]

Cool.

[Sam Riegel]

Level up the CR rating of this combat dramatically.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

I'll say this. As you get these temporary hit points and get the new hit points of leveling up, you were at 18 hit points, bloodied, and the skeletons bearing down on you as you find a deeper wellspring of power. Not one that seeks to avoid dying, actually one that seeks to plunge headfirst into peril and in so doing, truly live. Before you take your action, you see the grim faces of the dead. And as you ready to charge once more, more to death's door itself. We will throw it a break.

[Travis Willingham]

Yeah,

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

you come back, whip some ass after the break. We'll see you then. Let's do it. And that's where we'll leave our story for now. Part two of this episode of Campaign 4 drops this Tuesday. Thanks for listening and we'll see you soon for more critical role.

[Liam O'Brien]

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[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Why have I asked my electrician I found on Angie.com to bury my pet hamster Nibbles in our yard for me? Because 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. Nibbles gone too soon. May he scurry in peace. Hey, sorry about your your pet, but

[Matt Mercer]

I just wire stuff.

[Brennan Lee Mulligan]

Nibbles would have loved you like a brother.

[Taliesin Jaffe]

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