Campaign 2 (Astragar) Episode 52: Crossing Over

[00:00:31] Speaker A: Welcome to carrots and suffering at D and D Odyssey. Please leave us a rating and review. Or better yet, recommend us to a friend. Last time on carrots and suffering, our heroes went through a gauntlet of ten riddles, one for each God. [00:00:45] Speaker B: I think that this might be, like. Could this be, like, true seeing? [00:00:49] Speaker C: True seeing? Truesight? Yeah. [00:00:51] Speaker B: Or, yeah, zone of truth is an option. It wouldn't be. Dispel magic. [00:00:55] Speaker C: Illusions and tricks. I think you're right. I don't think it's not a truth. [00:01:00] Speaker B: Flipping through my spells. Yeah. Crayton has her spell book out. She's looking at it. [00:01:06] Speaker C: Silvery touch. I wonder if there's a. It's not guiding light, is it? [00:01:11] Speaker B: I mean, does anything bad happen if we just try one? We can try the rune for, like, true seeing, if we know it. [00:01:21] Speaker D: She found a linen death shroud that is scented with lavender. And it is the shroud that she. [00:01:30] Speaker E: Wrapped her wife in when she died. Before we buried her at sea. [00:01:34] Speaker B: No. Cretan sees the first time that Dredd made her pancakes. [00:01:40] Speaker A: Aw. [00:01:41] Speaker C: I'm gonna find two rocks of about equal size. [00:01:44] Speaker A: Okay. [00:01:45] Speaker C: And while they are working on whatever solution they. They want, I will be carving. Uncompromising into one and unforgiving into the other. [00:01:53] Speaker E: Oh, my God. [00:01:56] Speaker A: You set two rocks of fairly equal weight on the scale. They balance. The door opens. Our heroes get to the end of the puzzles and find a book. An apprentice of Mask who arrived just ahead of them. And they're interrupted by the arrival of. The translator. Has a job to do. And that job is to judge between the cross purposes of the gods. You were told that this book is of strategic importance to Vecna. And then when you got here, you found the town under wild assault by Vecna. So I presume you were here to make sure nothing bad happens to the book. The acolyte turns around and says, translator, I'm sorry. My name is Aliana Everchild. I am here on a divine mandate. Mask has spoken to me and made a proclamation, a divine edict. And I am here to carry it out. I had the bishop with me, but one of the puzzles killed them. I am the translator. [00:03:01] Speaker F: As bequeathed by astragarian contessa, it is my duty to judge between the purposes of the gods. [00:03:09] Speaker A: To choose the correct domain and guide. [00:03:13] Speaker F: Humanity to the right decisions. I call to you from a place of power and demand your attention. And then the room feels very full all of the sudden. [00:03:26] Speaker A: Let's get into it. Hi, I'm Nate, and I will be your dungeon master. [00:03:39] Speaker B: Hi. [00:03:39] Speaker D: I'm Mandy. [00:03:39] Speaker E: I play Boulaine, the grave domain. Death cleric, solver of riddles. [00:03:45] Speaker B: Hi, I'm Claire, and I play Creedon, the puzzle solving sorcerer. I was also going to do a puzzle solving thing. Oh, sorry. [00:03:52] Speaker E: Sorry I stole your thunder. I'm sorry. Sorry. [00:03:56] Speaker A: Now I'm waiting to see what puzzle. [00:03:57] Speaker F: Solving angle zero is. [00:04:00] Speaker C: Hi, I'm Robert. I play Zerus, the barbarian of law. Axing puzzles left and right. [00:04:06] Speaker E: I was gonna say destroyer of puzzles. [00:04:10] Speaker A: I didn't solve shit walking through the door. What are you talking about? Smash your car is my own answer. You crushed one of those puzzles. Didn't even use any of the pieces. [00:04:22] Speaker E: I believe to show your shadow up. You mind killing my shadow? [00:04:27] Speaker A: Yeah. That did happen. [00:04:29] Speaker F: That did happen. [00:04:31] Speaker A: The girl, young acolyte who's over in. [00:04:34] Speaker F: The corner seems to glow lightly from. [00:04:37] Speaker A: Her throat and then forming over her. [00:04:40] Speaker F: Face a two sided mask. One a greek tragedy, the other a comedy. And one is made of light, the other dark forming a yin and yang in front of her face. [00:04:51] Speaker A: Ziris, you find yourself staring at yourself. You're not in your body anymore. You're just next to your body. Where you stand is Zerus but with. [00:05:02] Speaker F: A divine light rolling out of your eyes and mouth. [00:05:05] Speaker A: Creedon, you feel a hand on your left shoulder and a hand on your right shoulder. You can tell they're different people, but you can see nothing. Boulain, something is next to you. [00:05:16] Speaker F: It is indefinable. It is indescribable. [00:05:19] Speaker B: Can we all see all of these or is it just what we're experiencing? [00:05:22] Speaker A: You can see the ones that I. [00:05:24] Speaker F: Have said have a visible effect. You can't see Zerus. [00:05:27] Speaker A: Zerus. You're just not in your body. You're witnessing this, but you're not. You're not in your body. The acolyte wearing the mask opens her. [00:05:36] Speaker F: Mask mouths and from them emanates like a thousand voices. And it says, I am astragarian contessa. As I was at my death. [00:05:51] Speaker C: I am asturgarian Contessa. As I was at my peak. I bound together the empire in a body of laws. I united all men under a banner of faith. Through war and diplomacy, I set the rules that bind our society and created 500 years of peace and prosperity. [00:06:10] Speaker F: Now threatened, the mask continues. I learned the truth of the universe. That the gods are made by mortal belief. That our prayers give them life. Our stories give them power. I forge the pacts that force the. [00:06:27] Speaker A: Gods into accepting the outcome of the enclave. [00:06:32] Speaker F: I led the enclave to banish any God, who committed acts of wrath against man, turning the power we gave them against us. I am known through the heavens as the God slayer. For a God without prayers and without stories is doomed. [00:06:52] Speaker C: Vecna challenges the pantheon, this nation, and the order and peace we have established. He will undo the progress we have created. The book must be secured so that it continues to wane the minds of all those who tell stories and send prayers to the names inside. This is my divine edict. [00:07:17] Speaker F: The gods have grown corrupt. Man has given them back the power of wrath, and they have begun to use it. The radiant one sent Astra to slaughter Palmville. The silent judge cursed Lamia strain for the mercy killing of her children into the cursed creature of her name, forcing her to live forever as Bella, the shunned defender of Pomville. Unable to die, the green man cursed a ship of scared men to a lifetime of starvation and gruesome death each night on the high seas, until time finally kills them for once and all. And sister truth gave us Zerus alivar, capable of a lifetime of unknowable wrath, worse than any of the previous examples. Destroy the book. Let new gods be born untainted. We will start again after a period of turmoil. This is my divine edict. [00:08:28] Speaker C: This suggestion is chaos. And it allows the crimes of Vekna against the empire to go unpunished. [00:08:36] Speaker F: There is nothing in my divine edict that stops you from casting his avatar to death in the divine realms. [00:08:46] Speaker C: You are not the only God with control in a situation this big. [00:08:52] Speaker F: The translator, who is still sitting on the floor, says, enough, and the room goes quiet, almost as if the gods are afraid. And the translator says, what say the rest of you? [00:09:05] Speaker A: Creedon, the hand on your right shoulder. [00:09:08] Speaker F: Causes your mouth to open. [00:09:10] Speaker B: Paladin. Astra requested my wrath and received my power. This was not an act of wrath, but an act of man. Humanity cannot exist without the leadership and the light of the sun. And so it cannot exist without me. My edict is to hold the current order. [00:09:25] Speaker F: The mask responds. No amount of leadership or sunshine saved your predecessors or competitors from the conclave's decision. [00:09:35] Speaker A: The hand on your other shoulder, Cretin. [00:09:38] Speaker F: Compels you to speak. [00:09:40] Speaker B: Your machinations can't reach me, for I am worshipped throughout the feywild. The magic of daern is in this bookendorb. They can't reach my chosen people. No death. God can touch my chosen people. My edict is to do nothing yet. Wait and see who wins. [00:09:56] Speaker F: The mass continues. You exist on this plane because your neutrality has so far proven value to your worshippers do not get full of yourself. Or you too will be replaced. [00:10:08] Speaker A: Boulain. The silent judge doesn't speak right. [00:10:12] Speaker F: Never. [00:10:12] Speaker A: Never did, never will. But they are a part of you in this moment. [00:10:18] Speaker F: And you realize something. You feel a depth of emotion in the core of your being that reminds you of your marriage. And you know without any question that the silent judge is utterly in love with sister truth. And would never defy that version of. Of astragarian contessa. She offers no edicts. You may speak for her if you wish. [00:10:49] Speaker E: The silent judge stands in agreement with sister truth. That the book must be secured and continue to wane. The minds of all those who send prayers to the names inside body of. [00:11:01] Speaker F: Zerus that does not have Zerus in it. Nods. [00:11:04] Speaker A: And from below, you, Cretan, wrapped around. [00:11:09] Speaker F: Your legs is a massive, massive black panther. [00:11:14] Speaker E: Oh, shit. [00:11:15] Speaker F: And from its open mouth, this sort of psychic roar rolls through the room. And Harold says, even the gods are bound by my prophecy. Called from the heavens and woven by events to come and manifest by each new trial. When the stars fall to borders nigh the veil asunder in the sky, past returns. And truth denied. An end and a beginning, a question answered. The world reels. Choices. Known deaths. [00:11:54] Speaker A: Rye. [00:11:57] Speaker F: And the translator on the floor, sort of raises a hand. And again, the room is quiet. We will debate. And suddenly the room feels very empty. [00:12:07] Speaker A: And the translator says, the matter of. [00:12:09] Speaker F: Vecna and the matter of this book are separate. Prophecies speak of great change. The God of change governs these moments. This Vecna entity, however, also threatens order and calls for judgment by sister truth. [00:12:25] Speaker A: The tactics of war are governed by brother ambition. [00:12:28] Speaker F: Who isn't even here. The nature of Vecna as a former death God calls to the silent judge. We need to find a way forward that honors all the gods. And perhaps that will be by splitting the issue apart. I have priests here advise me. [00:12:45] Speaker B: Did he not have any reaction to either Harold speaking or the two God voices coming out of cretin? [00:12:55] Speaker A: He seems pretty inflappable. Go ahead and roll me insight. [00:12:59] Speaker B: Yeah, I've been doing so good at that today. Oh, my God. That's a nat one. [00:13:02] Speaker D: Jesus, I got a not natural 20. [00:13:05] Speaker A: Creiden, you expect this man to have. [00:13:09] Speaker F: Some reaction, and he has none. And you have no idea what to make of him? [00:13:13] Speaker B: I thought I was special. [00:13:15] Speaker E: You are. You are special. [00:13:18] Speaker F: It is absolutely unnerving how much you are not getting any kind of read off the sky. And he seems to be bypassing all kinds of decorum or rules or anything in order to get to the heart of this issue. [00:13:31] Speaker A: Boulain, you understand something about the translator. [00:13:37] Speaker F: That you did not know before? The gods are afraid of men. Deeply afraid of men. And this guy is leading them, and he is doing everything in his power to not show them any weakness. [00:13:56] Speaker E: Interesting. Okay, can I use my send and receive telepathic messages? [00:14:02] Speaker F: Yes. [00:14:03] Speaker B: Without our gods knowing? [00:14:06] Speaker E: Well, without him knowing that she's saying this to Zerus and Creden, she will send the thought the gods are afraid of him because he rules over mankind, and the gods are afraid of humans. [00:14:26] Speaker B: I think Creden kind of just gives you a confused look. [00:14:30] Speaker E: She could receive a reply to that if you want to reply to it. [00:14:34] Speaker A: Zerus hits you in the face with a glaze. [00:14:36] Speaker C: Well, we're not far off that. [00:14:40] Speaker B: Yeah, Cretin's just like, why would they be afraid of us? She doesn't get it. I suppose that we do have a book right in front of us where we can make people forget them, so actually, you know, maybe they should be. [00:14:54] Speaker C: You are lucky. The oracle says to be nice. [00:15:01] Speaker E: Boulain gets to live another day. [00:15:04] Speaker C: Well, someone does. I mean, you have no clue how close I was before this whole thing kicked off to just acing that acolyte, so. Been on edge this whole scene. [00:15:14] Speaker E: I mean, she's a legit follower of. [00:15:17] Speaker C: The mass, though, so turns out gods are heretical. [00:15:23] Speaker B: Craydon knows what she's kind of thinking she wants to do, but she can't tell anybody about it. [00:15:30] Speaker E: Elaine looks thoughtful and she says, while the gods perpetuate a structure and an order for us, we are, at heart, masters of our own actions. And we are responsible for our own actions. And we cannot blame, rely on, or credit the gods with the choices that we make, even as we try to follow them and their will. Saint Astra was sent to remedy a problem in Palmville, and he gave way to wrath. And that was his choice. Lamia faced certain death for a heresy that she committed and sought to spare her children the consequences of her own wreaking. And that was also a mistake. It was a mistake that flew in the face of everything that she believed or was supposed to believe. In her service to the silent judge, the green man cursed a ship of sailors who committed a crime in murdering a priest. He also left a way out of that curse, which we found. We created our own problems. We also have the power to solve those problems. The gods are extensions of us. We are their disciples in return. [00:17:06] Speaker F: So you would argue this issue of wrath is an overreaction by the mask. [00:17:12] Speaker E: I think the mask is both right in where the faults and the blames lie in these situations. The mask is also self interested in overturning the entire table of order that the empire has established. And he is not going to be unbiased in the course of action to take to correct that. It is in his best interest to disrupt everything. Do not think that makes it the right thing to do. [00:17:47] Speaker B: These are very heady philosophical discussions, but I feel like this may be a waste of our time. Right now. The town outside is in danger. I think that we represent many of the gods. We came here to protect this book. I believe that the book should be given to us for safekeeping until we can come to a conclusion when we have more time and are more safe. [00:18:12] Speaker C: It. It doesn't matter what I counsel. None of this matters. I still and have always believed the gods will do what the gods will do, and that hasn't changed. So I put my glaive away and make to walk to the entrance. [00:18:29] Speaker A: The translator kind of raises an eyebrow. [00:18:32] Speaker F: And looks over at the acolyte, and the acolyte says, mask commands. And I do as mask commands. I don't. I don't know what to say. [00:18:42] Speaker A: I would like all three of you. [00:18:44] Speaker F: To roll me a religion. [00:18:45] Speaker A: Roll, basically, to encompass the power of your argument. [00:18:51] Speaker B: Twelve. [00:18:52] Speaker C: I'm not trying to make an argument. [00:18:56] Speaker B: I just want us to. [00:18:57] Speaker A: You still want me to roll? [00:19:00] Speaker E: I rolled a 21. [00:19:02] Speaker B: Oh, my God. [00:19:02] Speaker A: Okay, I think we got a 21 and a twelve. Zerus, I want you to roll something. Maybe it's not religion, because this maybe. [00:19:09] Speaker F: Isn'T you making a legal ease argument. [00:19:13] Speaker C: To be honest, this is me giving into nihilism, which happens to actually been the core tenet. The God's gonna do what the God's gonna do of the fated anyway. [00:19:25] Speaker A: Let me intimidate. I think that is the social skill. [00:19:29] Speaker F: That ends up being the effect that you're going to create. [00:19:33] Speaker B: Could mine have been persuasion? Because I'm trying to persuade him to give us the book. [00:19:38] Speaker F: Give me a persuasion. [00:19:40] Speaker B: All right, here we go. This is my bread and butter. That's an 18 total. Okay, I'm rolling poorly again. [00:19:48] Speaker A: He looks down and says, don't leave yet, Zeris. [00:19:52] Speaker F: I. I must insist on a resolution. [00:19:57] Speaker C: Fine. [00:19:58] Speaker F: This Vecna entity is a matter of war, and that God is not present here and their representatives are missing. I will defer judgment until I have met with the paladins of Geonos. This book represents ancient law, and so I am going to give it to the follower of sister truth. [00:20:24] Speaker B: A. [00:20:25] Speaker F: Should this change get away from us, should this war be truly the widespread change that mask believes it to be, we will know in time. And then we can follow the edict of mask. Now, you say the undead have overrun Mondra? [00:20:53] Speaker E: And likely all of the cities that surround ashtragar. [00:20:57] Speaker F: I have heard no reports from any other cities. My power is sufficient to keep the undead out of this temple and to assist in evacuation. But it sounds like you already have that under control. I am going to return to the Paladins. I imagine the priests of brother ambition will know exactly what to do and will come in. Great force translator. [00:21:23] Speaker E: You should know that the undead being we spoke to outside of the crypt seems to be welcoming to Paladin showing up here. We suspect it is a trap. [00:21:40] Speaker F: Hmm. I appreciate your counsel. The followers of brother ambition would never abandon a city. [00:21:47] Speaker A: But perhaps I can bring in some. [00:21:49] Speaker F: Wiser voices when we discuss. [00:21:52] Speaker C: What about abandoning ruins? [00:21:54] Speaker F: I don't think the followers of brother ambition care about ruins one way or another. [00:21:58] Speaker E: Then consider the city a ruin. [00:22:00] Speaker C: That's what this town is. [00:22:02] Speaker F: Roll me. Persuasion, please. [00:22:04] Speaker D: If you get a better persuasion, I. [00:22:06] Speaker E: Could help you with that. [00:22:07] Speaker D: I get a five. [00:22:10] Speaker C: All right, I'll take advantage. Oh, that's much better. 23. [00:22:17] Speaker F: He looks at you very calmly and he says, it's a trap. And you've already evacuated the city, correct? [00:22:24] Speaker E: Yes. The only ones left are us, the bishops upstairs. And we will wait until. And the dead. And we will wait until daybreak and leave ourselves. [00:22:33] Speaker F: He stares into space and says, if I do this, it will be my last act as translator. But I am capable of ensuring that the paladins do not march on Mondra. [00:22:49] Speaker E: Great. [00:22:51] Speaker C: There's nothing to save. There's nothing to do. [00:22:54] Speaker F: Step into the circles. Grab the book and the orb. Take it with you. [00:22:59] Speaker C: Okay, timeout real quick. What orb? [00:23:01] Speaker B: Yeah, I don't remember the orb either. There's an orb. [00:23:03] Speaker E: There's an orb floating above the book. [00:23:05] Speaker A: That's. There's this glowing orb that is apparently. [00:23:09] Speaker F: The distilled power of dairn. [00:23:12] Speaker E: Who is the archdeacon, we think. [00:23:14] Speaker F: Who is the archsage Mason? [00:23:16] Speaker A: It's as if something took its godhood. [00:23:18] Speaker F: And shoved it into this orb to. [00:23:21] Speaker A: Power a planewide mind wiping power. [00:23:26] Speaker F: Okay, based on what someone writes in this book. [00:23:31] Speaker C: All right, I'll put the orb in my inventory. [00:23:33] Speaker B: Do you think that Daredevil's just trying to get power power back? [00:23:36] Speaker E: Yeah, I'm starting to wonder about that. He seems to be containing all the knowledge of these gods in this orb. And if we take it back to him, is he just going to absorb it and become the new order? [00:23:48] Speaker B: Hey, Zerus, I would love to hold the book. [00:23:53] Speaker C: I'll give you the orb. [00:23:55] Speaker B: Okay, fine. I'll take the fucked orb. [00:23:58] Speaker E: How does Harold respond to the orb? Does he have any reaction to it? [00:24:03] Speaker A: Harold doesn't seem to care about it at all. [00:24:05] Speaker B: Is he still a panther? [00:24:08] Speaker A: He's a panther. [00:24:09] Speaker B: He's my big boy. [00:24:10] Speaker A: He's grown up big. [00:24:12] Speaker C: I moved to a circle. [00:24:13] Speaker E: It's very cool. [00:24:14] Speaker F: Harold says, a fascinating choice. I'm sure there'll be more opportunities to fulfill the prophecy as it is written. And he follows you into the circle. [00:24:27] Speaker A: Cretin, if you go into the circle. [00:24:29] Speaker E: The lane goes into the circle. [00:24:31] Speaker B: Wait, so in the circle, is that just where we're taking things or if. [00:24:36] Speaker A: You step into that circle, something will happen when the translator says something. [00:24:42] Speaker B: In we go. Translator, do you by chance have any power to say, despair of the healing nature? [00:24:52] Speaker A: He looks at you and says, not after I am done with this. [00:24:55] Speaker F: No. [00:24:55] Speaker B: Okay. [00:24:56] Speaker F: I am about to do something rather drastic. I am afraid. [00:25:02] Speaker B: Crayden's gonna go into the circle. [00:25:05] Speaker C: Don't exert yourself too much. It doesn't matter. [00:25:07] Speaker B: What is up with you, Zerith. What the fuck? [00:25:10] Speaker E: Zurith. [00:25:12] Speaker B: Zerus. Mister. We always have a mission, mister. [00:25:16] Speaker E: Despondent nihilist. Where is this coming from? [00:25:22] Speaker A: The translator steps up to the circle. [00:25:24] Speaker F: And says, I can send you to Astragar. Or I can send you to any city in the empire. Where do you need to go? [00:25:32] Speaker B: Ooh. Wasn't there. Oh, I gotta look at my notes again. [00:25:39] Speaker A: So I will refresh your memory. Daurn has told you that if you can find Vecna's book, he can cast it into the plane of death, allowing you to kill Vecna on this plane instead of having it constantly reform. [00:25:55] Speaker E: Wait, wait. [00:25:56] Speaker B: He specifically said he was gonna throw. [00:25:58] Speaker E: It into the plane of death? Yes, he did the same as mask wanted. [00:26:01] Speaker B: Oh, we could just let them do their thing. [00:26:03] Speaker A: No, no, no. [00:26:04] Speaker F: He wants to throw the book of Vecna. [00:26:08] Speaker A: A different book. [00:26:09] Speaker E: Different book. [00:26:10] Speaker A: Okay, that keeps respawning this evil death guy. Right, right. [00:26:14] Speaker F: She wants to throw that other book. [00:26:17] Speaker D: Okay, the one we found earlier, into. [00:26:19] Speaker A: The plane of death. That portal that he can supposedly open. [00:26:23] Speaker F: Is in meloria in the far east. The only lead he was able to. [00:26:29] Speaker A: Offer you is that perhaps if you went to the two fae gods by going north to Trebay, they might know something that the gods on this side. [00:26:40] Speaker F: Of the plane aren't able to squeeze from the God of secrets. [00:26:44] Speaker E: Okay, wasn't somebody else in the silver thread gonna go check with them? [00:26:47] Speaker F: You did send someone on a nice long walk to Trebay, okay? [00:26:51] Speaker A: They'll be there in three or four more days. [00:26:54] Speaker B: Okay, I really don't want to go tangle with the Fae, but if we must, I think that that is better than returning this book to the archdege. Given our concern, I think I am. [00:27:06] Speaker E: Hesitant to taking this book straight and the orb straight to the archsage at this point. [00:27:11] Speaker D: Although also. [00:27:12] Speaker B: Okay, I don't know if this is meta game knowledge, Nathan. It might be. But I know that in the Fae realm, names are a big thing. Would Credon know that? [00:27:22] Speaker F: They are a huge thing. [00:27:24] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah, but would Creedon know that? [00:27:26] Speaker A: Roll me a nature roll. [00:27:28] Speaker B: Okay, it's zero. Even worse. [00:27:29] Speaker E: Twelve. [00:27:30] Speaker A: That seems like what the fairy tales say. [00:27:32] Speaker B: Do we think it's a great idea to take this book full of forgotten names into the feywild, though? [00:27:39] Speaker C: Do what you want. I'll follow. [00:27:41] Speaker B: Oh, my gosh. God. [00:27:42] Speaker E: Zero. [00:27:45] Speaker B: All right, well, I'm not talking to you then. Boulain, what about you? [00:27:49] Speaker E: To be honest, I like none of our options here. I personally do not wish to go to Maloria. [00:27:57] Speaker B: I'd love to go to Turtle Bay. I miss Dredd. [00:28:00] Speaker E: He's on his way north. [00:28:02] Speaker B: Oh, that's true. [00:28:03] Speaker E: You are right in your caution. Taking a book full of God's true names into a realm where names are of utmost importance also seems foolhardy. And returning to Astragar seems foolish as well. [00:28:19] Speaker B: It's very dangerous wandering around with something this powerful. [00:28:23] Speaker D: Hmm. [00:28:24] Speaker E: However, the Fae might be able to give us some insight. We do not have to tell them we have this book for us. This is true. [00:28:30] Speaker B: We should definitely keep it close to the chest. [00:28:33] Speaker E: Literally. [00:28:33] Speaker D: Zurich, just keep it under your armor. [00:28:35] Speaker B: I mean, both literally, unfigurably. [00:28:39] Speaker E: I think of our options going to the Fae as going to Trebay seems like the least precarious of the three. [00:28:47] Speaker B: I'm not happy about it, but I think I agree. [00:28:50] Speaker E: All right, can we go to Trebay, please? [00:28:52] Speaker B: Plus, wasn't Philomena. Was she one of the ones that was going to go to Trebay? No, she probably would want to stay in town, but she wanted us to go. [00:29:00] Speaker F: I believe you told her to send someone. So. [00:29:04] Speaker B: Well, I have to beat them then. It's petty. Hey, but, hey. [00:29:07] Speaker A: The translator says I am about to. [00:29:11] Speaker F: Destroy the city of Mandra. [00:29:13] Speaker B: Oh, my God. [00:29:13] Speaker F: This temple actually should be safe from my magic. Once I do that, I dont think there will be a God or anyone interested in following me around. So I guess im going to give you my last bit of advice as the translator. The gods just told you a truth only about one person in a generation gets to know. You get to decide what to do with that information. And that responsibility, I think, is greater than you are currently thinking. [00:29:48] Speaker A: And with that, he puts a foot on one of the runes in the circle, and you are in a different place. The surviving bishops of Mandra rallied the people off the rocky coast. As they crowd into the fishing boats, waiting for dawn and huddling for warmth. The groans of the injured cant be heard of the waves, but the bright reflections of moonlight seem sufficient to hold the undead back. For now. The gaze of the town turns to the quiet city of Mondra. Up on the plateau, plunged into darkness except for the rows of candles abandoned on the docks and the burning building in the middle of the city, a light flashes into an existence. An orb of pure daylight walks slowly down from the translator's summer home to the entry of the catacombs. The shadows recoil and then pool defensively into a wall of blackness at the mouth of the catacombs. At this distance, it looks as if a small sun fights a battle with a void. This is when the earth begins to shake and the seas begin to tremble. The rock shifts and the buildings begin to fall. In a matter of moments, mandra is rubble, but the shaking doesnt stop. And then the rocks begin to fall from the wall of the coast, crashing great boulders into the ocean. The survivors paddle furiously to escape the growing waves from the shore and to steer their small boats to avoid capsizing into the dark, cold ocean. The rock face tears away, and a great landslide falls into the waves, peeling layer after layer of stone and sending it cascading into the increasingly roaring ocean where the city of Mondra once stood proud, towering over the ocean waves. Above the plateau, there is now raw, fresh rock, scattered bits of masonry, and the exposed side of the catacomb filled with the crushed remains of the recently animated dead. Every source of light in the dark is snuffed out, and in that moment, the sun breaks the horizon in a blood red haze. The translator is gone, and the radiant. [00:32:01] Speaker F: One has declared war on the undead. [00:32:12] Speaker A: Philyndra nightbloom, archbishop of the Luminous one, steps out of the portal to the feywilds and tray bay. In many ways, her mission to learn the secrets from the fey gods had failed. She had expected it to be a difficult negotiation, but the preservation of the pantheon would give her the leverage she needed to get the truth out of eternal knowledge, at least for a reasonable price. Instead, eternal knowledge had demanded she effectively declare war on the local Fae princeling, which was not in the best interest of humanity or the empire, especially with a front against Vecna opening any day. The conflicts and machinizations of the fae are eternal, but open warfare is relatively rare. It only took the briefest of conversations with the locals to discover several brewing conflicts below the surface. In this princelings domain, an archbishop would tip the balance and cascade the city into open warfare. She'll have to send someone less connected to the government to have any chance of success. But the dark arbiters are in Mondra, and that's nearly nine days away by foot. She will need new mercenaries. She pulls out a piece of paper and writes commission to request a favor from eternal knowledge, truth to a single question. Complete the task required by the God and obtain the promise to answer one question. Return for the question. No associations to the government of Astrakhar can be had. 500 gold, payable upon the receipt of the promise. With a snap of her fingers, the paper is off to the local trabe, bishop of the luminous one, Alandrestar dancer. Then a voice of pure magic floods her mind. By Sandra Archleiff, bishop of Duomo to archbishop the dead have risen in Duermo and march east towards Tray Bay. Summon the Paladins. There is little time. The sending is relatively calm, considering the dire warnings, and with a flash of light and rush of air, Philyndra nightbloom returns to Astragar to call the bishops together for war. Valeric Warforge, archbishop of Brother ambition, has already heard calls for aid from Mandra, Cecilia, and Sangiano. He is not surprised when the flash of light in his office brings Flinder nightbloom to his desk. In times of war, his God takes domain and his word becomes law. But the translator has failed to return his summons, and the other archbishops are unlikely to cede power to his priesthood without the old man's command. He wouldn't be the first archbishop of ambition to try to declare war before domain was officially handed over to them. But the usurping of power eliminated any chance they have of becoming the translator, and Valric is an ambitious man. Valric. Word has reached me that Duomo's dead. March east on trabe. Send the Paladins immediately. The war has begun. Well, that was one vote, but sending an army in five directions to half the cities of the empire. That's going to take some time. And several more archbishops of agreement. This week was going to be hell. [00:35:23] Speaker D: Aleana Everchild. [00:35:25] Speaker F: Aliana Everchild. That's it. [00:35:28] Speaker C: Wait, did she come with us? [00:35:29] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah. [00:35:30] Speaker D: He teleported everybody in the room. We have a hanger on now. [00:35:34] Speaker A: So Aleana Everchild is young. This is a barely a young adult, you would say late teenager. They were equally rocked by the revelation, the realizations and revelations. The revelations of this. And they're just sitting quietly. Your teleportation circle has dropped you all in the church. You know, you have changed location. The temperature in the building you're in has dropped 20 or 30 degrees. It is cold in here. There is several fires that are burning through the night, and you just appear, basically in the middle of the gathering hall. There is a circle in the floor that if you weren't magically inclined, you would think was an artistic mosaic, as opposed to a clear teleportation circle, which you now very clearly know it is. And you're in a majestic church. Like most churches, it has a stained glass motif, but there's no light coming through the stained glass here. It's really dull. And if you look really closely, you can see patterns of frost. Like a layer of snow is buried up against the stained glass reliefs and tending the fire are several people. You wouldn't describe them as human, though. They all tend to be pointy eared and varying different heights. There's a gnome in here. There is a goblin. There's some sort of three inch tall, bearded creature with a light spinning around its head. There's a firbog, a fuzzy, eight and a half foot tall creature. And the doors of this church are way larger than any doors you've ever seen in a church. But they are both closed, trying to. [00:37:22] Speaker F: Keep the heat in. [00:37:23] Speaker A: A little startled by your arrival, the furbog stands up and walks over to the four of you and says, excuse me, are you delegates from Astragar? [00:37:34] Speaker C: It doesn't matter ish. [00:37:36] Speaker D: Us ish. [00:37:41] Speaker A: An honor to meet you. Please, let me show you to some place to sleep. If the middle of the night is an odd time to come a calling. I am Silas Saltwind, bishop of the green man and caretaker of the glacier that Trebay sits upon. Please come this way. [00:37:58] Speaker D: Thank you. [00:37:59] Speaker C: At least one of those two things is real. [00:38:01] Speaker F: She looks so confused. [00:38:03] Speaker D: Thank you, Silas. We are grateful for the hospitality. [00:38:05] Speaker A: We have a special room for the translator that's currently open. We clean it, so don't worry. [00:38:11] Speaker F: Just leave it nice and she opens. [00:38:13] Speaker A: The door to a suite. Basically. It's not a big suite. It's got a little three room suite. It's got a huge bed. It's got several extra cots for you. Imagine servants, a lounging couch, a small study, and a place to prepare food, all wrapped in one location. And she says, I can bring you extra bedclothes if you need them. And there's a cupboard in the study. [00:38:36] Speaker F: That'S just full of different blankets and things. [00:38:39] Speaker A: Did you come dressed like this? [00:38:40] Speaker D: We came from Mandra. The translator sent us himself. [00:38:44] Speaker F: Oh. [00:38:45] Speaker A: Oh. Oh, okay. [00:38:46] Speaker D: Well, warm clothes would be lovely if. [00:38:49] Speaker A: You have any sizes. You all up and says, I'll send for something. I think. I'm certain we have some fur clothing that you can wear. I'll have it by morning. [00:38:59] Speaker D: Thank you, Silas. [00:39:00] Speaker C: Well, my fur hat at least makes sense. [00:39:02] Speaker D: Your fur hat does make sense. For the first time. [00:39:05] Speaker A: Yeah. Zerus is the only one who's. At least the top of your head isn't so cold. And she says, I'll let you get the sleep you need. And if you need anything, I am the mayor and I can help you in the morning. [00:39:17] Speaker D: Do you have any whiskey? [00:39:20] Speaker A: I do. Well, somebody does. We also have some elven wine. I think those are the two choices. [00:39:26] Speaker D: Boulain looks at Creedon and Zuras preferences. [00:39:29] Speaker A: She turns and says, the whisky is a little rare. How about vodka instead? I've got lots of that. [00:39:33] Speaker C: Great. [00:39:34] Speaker D: That is fine. [00:39:35] Speaker C: Two at least. [00:39:36] Speaker A: I'll leave it by the front door and just knock. [00:39:39] Speaker B: Are they okay with, like, is Harold still a panther? And is that fine? Or does have to stay outside? [00:39:44] Speaker A: Harold is a it panther, which is not a winter animal. [00:39:48] Speaker B: Oh, no. A sweater for our herald. Please give him a blanket. [00:39:55] Speaker A: This green man priest does not seem to bat an eye at this creature at all. [00:40:01] Speaker D: I think she probably just assumes he's your familiar. [00:40:04] Speaker A: Yeah, I'm just making sure, if anything, you find that unnerving. Yeah, you just ran into a person who was like, oh, a panther. Not even worth my acknowledgement. [00:40:14] Speaker D: Cool. [00:40:15] Speaker A: And on they went. [00:40:16] Speaker B: This is that kind of place. [00:40:18] Speaker D: Boulain will find a perch for Brandir and set him up. And I'm assuming there's, like a sitting area with a table and. [00:40:27] Speaker A: Yeah, yeah, it's well appointed. [00:40:29] Speaker D: When the vodka comes, she will pour out for everybody and. Sit down, Zeris, sit. [00:40:36] Speaker C: Sure, I'll sit down. [00:40:37] Speaker B: Creiden joins. Wait, so are we also sharing this room with Aliana? [00:40:42] Speaker A: Aliana just follows you in and then blankly stares around and then goes and sits on a servant's cot, looking freezing cold. [00:40:49] Speaker B: I sit there and stare at her like we would really like her to leave the room. Just that cold stare of, we want to talk, but not around you. [00:40:59] Speaker A: Let me see if she notices. She definitely has disadvantage. [00:41:03] Speaker B: Oh, God. [00:41:03] Speaker F: Because she is a little shook. [00:41:06] Speaker A: She does notice, though, and she stands up and says, I'm gonna go get some water, and wanders out in a blanket. [00:41:13] Speaker B: Creedon gives a nod and a smile like, oh, good. [00:41:15] Speaker D: Thanks, Zeris. I know that we all just had a shock. Anything you want to get off your chest? [00:41:24] Speaker C: What is there to say? There's. There's nothing that we've been told that makes any sense, or that is real. Apparently, I have the power to kill gods, and they need me more than I need them. And apparently there are a book full of them, and I died. Oh, is this a test? Is that it? I'm dead, and this is. This is hell, and it's testing my face. [00:41:52] Speaker B: Crane will reach out and put a hand over Zerus and be like, you aren't dead. Well, you were for a minute, but you aren't dead now. [00:42:00] Speaker D: I assure you, you are not dead. [00:42:02] Speaker C: I don't know that that's the assurance you think it is. [00:42:04] Speaker D: And I will thank you not to doubt my abilities like that. [00:42:10] Speaker C: Being dead and this being some form of post posthumous torture would make more sense. [00:42:17] Speaker D: Do you think you deserve that torture? [00:42:19] Speaker A: No. [00:42:20] Speaker C: But what happens is what's supposed to happen. I thought. I thought life was done by the God's will. [00:42:27] Speaker D: Siris. When I was a little girl growing up in the death temple in Ashtragar, my mentor was an elf who predated the empire. His name is Givan. He's still alive now. And being a somewhat inquisitive child, I put together that the empire was 200 years old, as was the canon of official gods, and he was 300 years old. And I asked him about that, what was before the empire and what was before the gods. And like most parental figures, when their children start asking them wildly inappropriate questions, he had to tiptoe around this one. He never revealed anything as shattering as the gods rely on us for their power, and that we are actually more powerful than they are, and that their power comes from our belief. He never said anything like that. But he told me that we believe in things like the gods because we can. And that is why we believe in things like gods, and dogs and cats and birds and flowers do not. We were given this ability and we use it. The reality is, if, say, the silent judge ceased to exist tomorrow, as we understand her, we would still die. Death would still be a reality. If the radiant one ceased to exist as we know him. The sun would still rise tomorrow. If sister truth died, we would not stop seeking truth. We would not stop looking for justice. If divine mercy cease to exist, our emotions would continue on. If masks ceased to exist, mischief would go nowhere. [00:44:16] Speaker B: It's true. [00:44:17] Speaker D: If ambition ceased to exist, we would not stop warring. If divine hammer ceased to exist, we would not stop building. We do what we do because we can do it. And the beliefs that grow up around what we do exist because we can believe them. [00:44:33] Speaker C: Sure, that's just what you've been told. What you've come to understand. Who's to say there's not another layer behind that? [00:44:41] Speaker D: Do you doubt any of that? [00:44:43] Speaker C: Yes and no. And maybe. And does it matter? [00:44:48] Speaker D: I cannot answer whether it matters. Sirius Zeras. [00:44:52] Speaker B: The existence of this book, this book of the waning mind. It's proof that the gods need us. That us and to beings of the various planes. We make the gods our beliefs make the gods. They need us and they toy with us. I devoted my entire life to divine mercy and got nothing. So I sought power from somewhere outside the gods, just like you did. Weve already looked outside of the gods for finding our own power. And now I, two of them that I never even cared about, have chosen me. I could use that to become the next translator. And who I'm not qualified for that. I should absolutely not have that kind of power. I don't. We have just been pawns in this large game. And I know that it's. I know for you that your faith has been everything to you and. And that you've. I mean, lived your entire life believing. But we can stand on our own. [00:45:50] Speaker D: Is that the problem, siris? Is that what you are afraid of? Because from what I have observed, you have leaned hard on the gods to justify everything you do. Are you afraid of having your own agency and being responsible for your own actions? [00:46:06] Speaker C: I'm afraid nothing matters. That this is some bad joke and nothing that's done matters in a scale that's useful. That I was a part of something that I believed and was patriotic. And now all that is fairy tale. More farcical than the fae themselves. More heretical to boot. I just have fought against heresies of my order while participating in much, much larger crimes without knowing. With that, I will stand up, go to the door of the room, grab whatever's left, take a bottle for myself, pull in the rest. I'm assuming there's one bottle of vodka that was given. [00:47:03] Speaker A: You were given two bottles of vodka? [00:47:05] Speaker C: Great. I hand one to you two. [00:47:07] Speaker B: I think that we have one in the table, though. [00:47:09] Speaker D: Yeah, we already started drinking it. [00:47:10] Speaker B: You poured us some drinks already? [00:47:12] Speaker A: Boulain poured one. [00:47:13] Speaker B: We have, like, two thirds of a bottle on the table and then a bottle outside. [00:47:17] Speaker C: I will take one bottle for myself. I'll go to a quiet corner of the room. I think I just need some time myself to figure out what matters. [00:47:28] Speaker D: Take the time you need. [00:47:29] Speaker B: Tyris, if you need a distraction, I'll play some dragon chess with you. Otherwise, I'll leave you alone. [00:47:35] Speaker C: No, it's a stupid game, moving the pawns around, playing God. Thanks, though. [00:47:45] Speaker B: Caden just nods in an awkward way, like she put her foot in her mouth. [00:47:51] Speaker D: Well, if we could be in an area where Zurus doesn't have to overhear us, because it'll be distracting. [00:47:58] Speaker B: I mean, we can go for a walk or something, right? We're, like, in an inn or something, right? Or where are we? [00:48:04] Speaker C: It's a church, isn't it? [00:48:05] Speaker D: It's a suite in the church. [00:48:07] Speaker B: Oh, okay. It's in the church. [00:48:08] Speaker A: Yeah. You're in a suite in the back of the church. That's specifically reserved for the translator. [00:48:13] Speaker B: We can go for a walk. [00:48:14] Speaker D: Sure, I guess we could go for a walk. [00:48:15] Speaker B: It's cold. Vodka in hand. Yeah, with the vodka, we won't feel the cold. [00:48:21] Speaker A: So the two of you go on a little walk, and it is early, early, early morning. Still quite dark. [00:48:29] Speaker B: When we leave the church, do I see Aleana? I'm not looking for her, but I want to keep an eye out for her and just clock if I do. [00:48:35] Speaker A: See her, you see her shrouded in a blanket, sitting next to a fire in the main meeting room, which has mostly cleared out. [00:48:43] Speaker B: Okay. [00:48:44] Speaker A: You don't know what time it is. [00:48:45] Speaker B: All right, yeah, we can go on our walk. It was just. If we passed her, I wanted to. [00:48:49] Speaker A: Know, do you want to go outside, or do you want to just wander the grounds? [00:48:53] Speaker D: I was figuring we'd just wander the church. [00:48:56] Speaker A: Yeah, the church is just a couple of rooms and then a row of places where clergy and acolytes sleep. And as you walk by, you realize there's a lot more people awake than you would expect, given the weird time. But it's still pretty quiet. So you do think it's nighttime, but, yeah, it's cold. Stone fires burning wherever they can. Most of them are magic. [00:49:20] Speaker F: They're not being controlled by wood burning. And that is the place you're in. [00:49:26] Speaker A: Have your conversation. [00:49:27] Speaker B: Do we have privacy or can we find a place that has some privacy? [00:49:31] Speaker A: You have enough privacy that you can assume no one's gonna hear you. [00:49:37] Speaker B: We're just talking about big stuff. I just wanna make sure you're hearing big stuff that probably shouldn't get out yet. [00:49:45] Speaker D: Boulain says Creedon. He is not wrong. If we have been misled in our entire structural belief system, we should probably find out why. [00:49:57] Speaker B: I agree. Although at the end of the day, I mean, it's probably just going to come down to somebody saw an opportunity to grab power and took it. [00:50:07] Speaker D: Are you thinking about the archsage? Because I am thinking about the arch sage. [00:50:13] Speaker B: Creed makes a really stupid face. She definitely had not thought about the arch sage. Wait, what makes you think that? [00:50:22] Speaker D: Well, he says he has been in league with astrogarian Contessa since the empire's founding to hunt down and destroy vestiges. But he has not destroyed them at all. He has written them in a book and created an orb to harness all of their power. What do you suppose he was planning to do with that someday? [00:50:40] Speaker B: I didn't think about it. [00:50:43] Speaker D: In addition, at least two other members of the silver thread are themselves vestiges. What do you suppose is in it for them? Hunting down vestiges. [00:50:53] Speaker B: Hmm. So what. What do you think we should do? [00:50:57] Speaker D: I have no idea. I did not want to return to Ashtagar loaded with arguably what the archsage probably wants us to put into his hands. I do not want to go to my Lauria, but perhaps we should. Yeah, my wishes on that are personal. [00:51:14] Speaker B: But I'm getting a little tired of being told what to do. You know, as grumpy as I am at all of the gods at the moment, I will at least say that I do appreciate that my two are only telling me to do whatever the hell I want. [00:51:27] Speaker D: That is reassuring. Mine seems to be strangely compromised with an emotional state. [00:51:34] Speaker B: Yeah, that was interesting. [00:51:36] Speaker D: And I need to look into that a bit. Which maybe I will do after we rest. Or maybe just before. I do not know. We need Zerus to come through this crisis of faith. [00:51:49] Speaker B: I hope that he will be okay. I want to say that I think he will, but I don't know. He has looked after me a lot. [00:51:57] Speaker D: Yeah, nor do I. I do not know if he will be okay either, but we will likely need him. [00:52:05] Speaker B: I've always thought that Zerus was so scary. A little like, you know, he always scared me a little bit. It's strange seeing him like this. [00:52:13] Speaker D: I am not sure he's less scary. [00:52:15] Speaker B: Oh, I'm sure that he can be. [00:52:17] Speaker D: With this tinge of nihilism. Next thing you know, he's going to write a play about two truants who are waiting for somebody who never shows up. [00:52:26] Speaker B: It's just, I. Whenever I didn't know what to do, Zerus always knew what to do. He was driven. He always had direction. And. I don't know. Part of me is tired of people telling me what to do. But the other part of me was just that I had somebody to. Because I have no idea what we're supposed to do with the right thing. [00:52:44] Speaker D: Is complete freedom, and agency is a terrifying thing. And perhaps that went into what Astrogarian Contessa did. Perhaps she was terrified of freedom, and she was terrified of everybody in the world having that freedom. Perhaps she did not trust what people do with it. [00:53:03] Speaker B: Yeah, well, I know that the one thing I do want to do is get some sleep, maybe get some healing from you in the morning. Yes. I know that I've never looked particularly buff, but I can tell that the door to our room was a little sticky. I could barely get it open. [00:53:20] Speaker D: I can help with that in the morning. Or in the afternoon, whenever we wake up. [00:53:25] Speaker B: Was there anything else you wanted to talk about? How are you doing? I'm just bad. [00:53:31] Speaker D: Do you remember what I showed you and Zuras in the temple when we were facing our shadows? [00:53:38] Speaker B: Okay, I'm sure that Creedon does, but, Claire, the player needs a reminder. [00:53:41] Speaker E: I am actually not sure they do. [00:53:42] Speaker D: So this might be a question for Nate. Do they remember? [00:53:45] Speaker A: Well, you were the last one to face your shadow, so they were on the other side of the room. [00:53:51] Speaker D: No, we all went through together. But she put her back to them and showed them her back. [00:53:55] Speaker B: Oh, yeah. [00:53:56] Speaker A: Yeah, I think they would remember that. But what it did or why the creature was unable to cope, I don't think. I don't think they have that knowledge. [00:54:04] Speaker D: Okay, I'll just say it again. She goes. Do you remember what I showed you in Zerus, in the temple, when we faced our shadows? [00:54:10] Speaker B: A little bit. [00:54:11] Speaker D: You showed your back. [00:54:12] Speaker B: And, I mean, those are very. It's very cool. I have no idea. Does it mean something? [00:54:18] Speaker D: There is an organization. It was the one that Riemann belonged to. Do you remember that? In Sternheim, when he wrote a thing on a piece of paper that excused him from all responsibility. [00:54:32] Speaker B: Oh, and that's related to you, too? [00:54:35] Speaker D: When I was a child, I was given that tattoo, and I did not want to join that organization. I was terrified of it, and I ran away. [00:54:46] Speaker B: Creedons eyes are so wide, and she just looks so awkward. She's like, I'm so sorry I called them. Cool. [00:54:53] Speaker D: And I have been running and hiding from that tattoo my entire life. There are three people who ever knew about it. One was my wife, who has died. One was Taman, who was out in the world somewhere. And the other is my mentor, Gavon. And now the two of you. And I think what I am beginning to learn is that you cannot run from something that is on your back. [00:55:20] Speaker B: So are you planning on bringing down this organization or something? I'll help you. [00:55:26] Speaker D: How on earth would we do that? [00:55:28] Speaker B: I still don't fully know who they are, so I don't know. [00:55:33] Speaker D: I think they are probably secondary, but also related to what we are doing now. Well, hey, they were responsible for the bishops death in Mandra. The one who drank the tea and aged to death. Oh, that was them. [00:55:48] Speaker B: Wait, so are you. Are you an assassin? [00:55:51] Speaker D: No, Cretan, I ran away. [00:55:54] Speaker B: Were you? [00:55:56] Speaker D: No, I was too young. [00:55:58] Speaker B: Well, thats good. [00:55:59] Speaker D: I was only 40 years old when they gave me that tattoo. It was a perceived destiny on their part for me that I took into my own hands. [00:56:09] Speaker B: Credence squints in the way that a 20 year old human would being told when you were a child of 40. But she gets it. [00:56:18] Speaker D: Anyway, I thought you might like an explanation for that. [00:56:22] Speaker B: That does. I think that this does explain some things, specifically about why you're so mysterious. [00:56:31] Speaker D: I learned from a young age to play my hand close to my chest. [00:56:35] Speaker F: Yes. [00:56:35] Speaker B: Are they. Are they looking for you? Or have they mostly let you be? Are we in danger of them? [00:56:42] Speaker D: There have been bounty hunters out looking for me at various times in my life, but I am afraid that the leader of this organization now knows exactly where I am. And I do not understand the game she is playing, just letting me run around because realistically, she could grab me at any time she wants. [00:57:02] Speaker B: Yeah, it seems like there's a lot of interested parties in us just kind of waiting and watching what we do, and we're caught up in a prophecy. This is all so much. [00:57:11] Speaker D: We did land ourselves into the center of some shit. [00:57:15] Speaker B: Well, you want to get some sleep? [00:57:17] Speaker D: I will be along. One thing I want to do first, but I'll be along. [00:57:21] Speaker B: Okay, well, Creedon will go retire with the bottle of vodka in her hand, toddling back, hoping that she remembers that conversation. [00:57:30] Speaker A: All right, well, you're not in the room. Zerus, what do you want to do? [00:57:35] Speaker C: Shortly after they leave, I'm gonna take my bottle and I'm gonna head out into the snow. I will use my ability to be elementally resistant for a while to make it so it's not so cold. Okay. [00:57:49] Speaker A: That plus some alcohol and maybe a blanket. You're good. [00:57:53] Speaker C: And I'm going to pull out nodig. [00:57:57] Speaker A: Okay. [00:57:57] Speaker C: And I'm going to try and get Nodig's thoughts on the whole thing. [00:58:02] Speaker A: So, no, dig hasn't been a continuous presence in your sword for some time. But when you call into it, a moment passes, and. [00:58:12] Speaker F: And you feel the heat return to the blade. [00:58:15] Speaker A: And you know that no, dig is here and listening, but he hasn't responded to you yet. [00:58:20] Speaker F: What do you say? [00:58:21] Speaker C: I don't understand, friend. The truth I've learned about the gods doesn't make any sense. And it just means the world as I know it is pointless. And my goals have been pointless. And I don't know what to do now. [00:58:36] Speaker F: Well, Sirus, I would recommend that what you do is look out for yourself. I have tried to show you how we dragons navigate the world, and I think you've learned. You've given me back my true form. You are a blessed one, indeed. If you continue down this path, you will ensure your own power. And your own power could perhaps grow much larger with your new understanding and your new lack of limitations. [00:59:25] Speaker C: What would you do to those peers or gods who have lied to you? [00:59:31] Speaker F: Lies is the wrong way to think about it, Zerus. [00:59:36] Speaker C: Deceived, tricked, manipulated. [00:59:39] Speaker F: No. No, these are words that give the other person power over you. They said a thing. You chose to believe it. You are the only power that matters. Do not feel misled. Do not believe you were lied to. Those lies served you as well as they served them. Now that you know they were untrue, you can simply make the decision yourself. What suits you next? [01:00:15] Speaker C: My own power is all that matters. [01:00:18] Speaker F: Exactly. [01:00:20] Speaker C: I'll have to sit with that. [01:00:24] Speaker F: If you choose to continue your. Your devotion to sister truth. You have my support. Her and I do not conflict yet. But if you choose to leave her for your own benefit. You have my support. Much rebuilding needs to be done. [01:00:48] Speaker C: And who are you, Nordig? Who are you, giving me your support? [01:00:52] Speaker F: I strive to be worthy of the name you have used for me. But today, I am a pale shadow. My father, the true Nodig, long since died off. But I. I will take his throne. I will gather the same wealth he gathered. I will find the same support he found. And then Zerus. I will surpass him. [01:01:28] Speaker C: And then what? [01:01:29] Speaker F: And then I suppose at some future point, I will need an heir, because all things die eventually. But in the meantime, I will ensure that I have what I want. [01:01:45] Speaker C: You will, won't you? [01:01:47] Speaker F: We are allies in this, Cirrus. You and I together, will ensure that you and I both get what we need. [01:01:58] Speaker C: I think, Nodig, you're right about several points. And I'm. I'm tired of listening to others. I'm tired of being deceived by creatures who will do whatever they can to get what they need and what they want. And no, dig. My power is all that matters. So your support is meaningless. And you've made another point. All things die. And with that, I'm going to attempt to break the glaive over my knee. It's probably not going to work, but fuck, I'll rage and try. [01:02:37] Speaker B: Well, that's a different kind of rage with no dig. [01:02:40] Speaker A: Not in it. [01:02:40] Speaker F: It's not an artifact anymore. [01:02:42] Speaker A: It's just a normal magic item. It is magic, but it is quite a bit weaker than it used to be. Give me a charisma saving throw. [01:02:52] Speaker C: Sure. That's a 14 on the dice, which is gonna be pretty good. Christmas saving throw is gonna be an 18. [01:03:01] Speaker F: You feel Nodig's mind contend with you a little bit? [01:03:07] Speaker A: Not because he doesn't want you to break the glaive, but because he wants just enough time to think you have. [01:03:13] Speaker F: Potential as you break the glaive over your knee. [01:03:28] Speaker A: And that is our show for today. Special thanks to Todd Ferguson and my pet machine for our tunes. And Julie at elaborate flight of fancy for our logo. Leave us a rating in review or recommend us to a friend. What will our heroes find in the morning light? Find out next time on carrots and suffering, the D and D odyssey.