Jan. 16, 2026
The Pyreheart Accord Part IV: "Fractured Ranks"

In this final episode of "The Pyreheart Accord" arc, the fallout from Nyros turning on the party reaches every corner of the Syndicate. The Dominion and the Hollow Host now stand united under the signed Accord, and the Agents are forced to confront where their loyalties stand after their narrow escape. The Syndicate gathers its leaders, questions the team, and issues a new directive as fractures spread across the land. Old ruins begin to stir. Strange signals rise from the mountains. The Agents face fear, doubt, and the first hints of something far older waking in the dark. The road ahead is uncertain, but one truth is clear. The world has changed, and the next mission will decide who survives what comes next.
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You.
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Yes, you.
The criticisms, the faithful
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00:00:22,480 --> 00:00:24,800
spectators of other people's
danger.
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00:00:25,560 --> 00:00:28,520
You sit there, warm and safe,
watching their story like it
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00:00:28,520 --> 00:00:31,800
belongs to you.
You cheer when they swing a
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00:00:31,800 --> 00:00:33,720
sword and you gasp when they
bleed.
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You chant their victories.
You forget their failures the
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00:00:38,240 --> 00:00:42,480
moment the music fades.
But when I stepped forward, when
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I finally did what none of them
would dare to do, you recoiled.
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Fascinating.
You praise their bravery, yet
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00:00:51,720 --> 00:00:55,880
fear my certainty.
You admire their compassion and
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00:00:55,880 --> 00:01:00,160
despise my clarity.
You claim to love their growth,
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yet shrink from my rise.
Tell me, criticens, What does
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that make you?
You watched every choice they
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00:01:09,280 --> 00:01:12,400
made.
You caught every hint that they
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missed.
You noticed every fracture
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forming months before they did.
You saw exactly where the trust
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would break, exactly where hope
would fail.
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You knew exactly when the blade
would fall, and you said
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00:01:27,200 --> 00:01:30,280
nothing.
You let this happen because you
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00:01:30,280 --> 00:01:33,400
wanted it.
You wanted the tension, you
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wanted the turn, and you wanted
the fracture.
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You wanted the spark that would
burn everything else.
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And now you pretend to be
shocked.
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You act surprised, and you claim
betrayal.
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You call yourself fans, yet you
feed on chaos more eagerly than
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00:01:50,480 --> 00:01:55,160
any tyrant I have ever known.
Demand comfort with one hand and
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crave ruin in the other.
So listen carefully.
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I did not betray the party, I
did not betray Valora, and I did
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not betray the Accord.
I betrayed you because you
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expected a story that stayed
within its lines.
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A villain who waited politely, a
threat who followed the rules,
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and a puppet on your stage.
I am not your puppet, I am not
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your trope, and I am not your
entertainment.
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I am the break in the pattern,
the voice that refused silence,
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the power that refused
permission.
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The accord belongs to me.
The hallowed host answers to me,
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and the story you thought you
were watching is already ash in
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my hands, settling criticisms.
The flames are rising, the hall
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is silent, and the world is
shifting.
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And this time you don't get to
look away.
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Now it is time for me to rewrite
this story.
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Stop.
Let's write this story.
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I don't need the allegory.
Please just tell me what's real.
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But nothing ever seemed to be
real.
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But she's some colors that don't
exist.
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Painting my painting counterfeit
this every truth I knew just
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00:03:25,600 --> 00:03:28,880
starts to twist.
And from a calm in a world like
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00:03:29,080 --> 00:03:32,880
this I've been my tongue till
the words went dry, warm, old
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like a chief disguise I see the
truth when I close my eyes.
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The hardest part was a great
goodbye.
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And fake feet can master pain.
I've been lost inside my name.
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All the mirrors look the same,
but I.
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Welcome back to Crit Happens
here on Spotify, iTunes,
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00:04:14,960 --> 00:04:19,560
player.fmpoddirectory.com,
stitcher.com, TuneIn Radio and
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iheartradio.com.
And welcome back to the Scale
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Bounce syndicate in Forrelios.
We welcome back our agents.
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Say hello, agents.
Hello.
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Agent, hello.
Hello, hello agent.
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We are here to finally after
what it's been about a month
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since the Pyre Heart Accord.
Finally we are here to deal with
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the fallout of pyre the Pyre
Heart Accord.
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If you don't know what happened,
please pause this episode and go
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listen to the three-part arc of
the Pyre Harder chord.
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You are not going to want to
have this spoiled.
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It was just a picture perfect
way to final to finalize that
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00:05:04,840 --> 00:05:07,680
three episode arc in the Pyre
Hunter chord.
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So we are going to start in the
moments directly after Neros has
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signed the Pyre Heart accord.
So there we go.
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So the heat from the chamber is
still clinging to armor and
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skin.
Ash is falling like slow snow.
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Cracks in the stone glow with
the pulse of volcano.
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The treaty table sits almost
broken in two.
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Velour's body lies behind the
fallen banners of the pale flame
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and the hollow host.
Your party stands there with the
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weight of what Nero's has just
done.
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A single sound cuts the silence,
the scrape of a quill.
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Nero signs the empty line at the
bottom of the accord.
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The ink does not dry it.
It sinks into the page like it
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was hungry.
The treaty binds.
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Every torch in the room bends
toward him as pulled by breath,
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the Hollow Host stirs.
The Crownless Masquerade watches
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from the cracks in the wall.
Empty masks tilt in silent
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approval.
General Veros Flame Hand is the
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first to speak, his voices
rough.
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Cleric, You, you.
You have united the Dominion and
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00:06:25,760 --> 00:06:29,520
the Hollow Host by your hand.
No one in this room understands
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00:06:29,520 --> 00:06:33,280
why you've killed the Host's
last true representative.
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You've stepped over their body.
You've signed in their place.
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00:06:37,600 --> 00:06:41,040
Explain this.
A cold breeze passes.
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It has no business being here.
It circles near us and brings
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00:06:45,360 --> 00:06:48,000
the scent of old stone and
forgotten names.
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The Hollow host accepts him.
You, you can feel it.
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And the Dominion knows it too.
The Dominion's maid notary
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steadies himself.
The accord is valid.
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The accord is valid.
The signery seat was empty.
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The, the, the, the, the cleric
filled it.
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The, the, the factions stand
together.
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The the, the Dominion and the
Hollow Host now speak with one
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purpose.
Under this treaty, every soldier
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in the chamber reacts at once.
Their Shields shift.
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Blades rise several steps toward
the party.
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Their their faces carry fear and
and anger.
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A a second wind sweeps the room.
Masks drift through the air like
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thin ash.
Shapes only what shapes only the
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00:07:34,600 --> 00:07:38,880
players can fully see.
Silent figures watch with care
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and hunger.
They they wait for what Nero
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says next.
This is where Nero turns.
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He looks at the party first.
Not the Dominion, not the host
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to them.
His voice is steady.
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You think the world was safer in
pieces?
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You think the Hollowed host
should stay in the dark?
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You think the Dominion should
fall?
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You think you fight for
Varelios.
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You're wrong.
You have no idea how close this
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00:08:10,200 --> 00:08:13,800
world is to breaking.
You have no idea what waits when
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the Oracle wakes.
He steps closer.
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You could not stop the accord
and you cannot stop me.
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You never understood what the
hollowed host offered.
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They do not want to watch the
world burn.
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They want the truth restored.
They want the forgotten
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returned.
I want the forgotten returned.
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They want a world without lies.
The Dominion wants order.
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Together, they can hold the
fracture that is coming.
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His eyes shift with pale,
violent light, the the same tone
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as the the crownless mask
described in the Hollow Hosts
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history.
The cracked porcelain gleam sits
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behind his irises, and then he
speaks with with certainty.
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You always feared what I would
become if I listen to the voices
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in the silence.
Now you will learn what it
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means.
You can walk with me.
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You can stand in the way.
Choice has run out.
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General Veros does does not let
him continue cleric.
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If if they stand with you, they
they are allies, if if not they
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are they are enemies of the
Dominion speak their fate.
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Neros never looks at Veros.
He he keeps his eyes locked on
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you, the party.
You are all free to choose, but
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know this, I am done waiting for
the world to understand what
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must be done, and I am done
waiting for you to decide who
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you are.
As Nero says this almost in the
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blink of an eye, he turns to
look at Veros and says something
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in in a language none of you
understand.
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As as the words leave Nero's
lips, dark arcane energy blasts
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from him and fires at Veros.
Upon taking this arcane bolt,
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Veros stiffens and and falls to
the ground, dead.
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Nero speaks.
Now with that out of the way,
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hear this.
If you stand with me, you will
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be among the strongest in the
realm of Aurelios.
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Neros lifts his hand towards the
lifeless Veros, and Veros begins
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to hover in the air.
Rebel, and this is your fate.
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Veros, now just a shell of the
bean, flies across the room into
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a lava pit of Mount Veron.
The treaty seals itself.
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Heat flashes through the room.
The chamber shutters the
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Dominion.
The Dominion soldiers form ranks
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behind near us.
The hollow host apparitions
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gather behind him like a quiet
court of masks. 2 factions stand
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now as one force near us stands
between them and you.
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And what would the party like to
do at this point?
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That is super heavy.
Just to clarify, we're just all
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standing in front of neuros
right now.
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Correct.
Yeah.
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So again, kind of keep in mind
that where we left everything.
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So the party is think of
standing in the back of a church
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and Neros is standing at the
basically at the altar on the
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front.
So there's, there's about, I
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would say 3030 feet, 3035 feet
in between all of you right now.
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OK.
I think I would start by asking
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why we were sent here by the
syndicate to stop this from
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happening.
I don't even really understand
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what this was.
I don't either.
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The syndicate was a vehicle.
I had my own missions.
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I think at this point in
Argument's head, he's.
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Have you been playing us this
whole time?
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No, the interactions were
sincere.
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00:12:38,880 --> 00:12:42,880
They were honest.
I think at this point Ogman's
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00:12:42,880 --> 00:12:51,000
head, he's, he's realizing that
like the Syndicate was kind of a
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vehicle for him at the same time
because he doesn't remember
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anything before that.
So as a vehicle to find his way
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00:12:59,040 --> 00:13:02,040
to like where he belongs in a
sense.
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00:13:04,440 --> 00:13:06,760
So he finds truth in what
Nearest is saying.
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00:13:12,400 --> 00:13:17,240
Oh, Sisa started out just
shocked and and in awe and
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00:13:17,240 --> 00:13:19,680
horrified.
But.
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As he speaks, there's a level of
cold calm that kind of radiates
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00:13:26,600 --> 00:13:35,600
over her, and she turns away,
takes a heavy breath and looks
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00:13:35,600 --> 00:13:40,720
back at him and says, I was
never afraid of you.
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You do not scare me, Nero's.
My intent isn't fear, my intent
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00:13:52,080 --> 00:13:58,480
is truth.
But where lies the balance and
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00:13:58,480 --> 00:14:05,360
only truth?
What would you prefer?
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00:14:05,360 --> 00:14:10,600
Fighting murder and genocide in
the sake of truth.
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00:14:12,160 --> 00:14:19,520
That's what Valora was doing,
only it wasn't hidden.
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00:14:19,680 --> 00:14:25,040
It was passed off to me and I
was forced to suffer all of that
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00:14:25,280 --> 00:14:34,320
mental agony.
Wasn't being a reliquary your
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00:14:34,320 --> 00:14:40,520
choice?
No, a memory plague swept
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00:14:40,520 --> 00:14:42,360
through my village when I was a
young child.
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00:14:43,440 --> 00:14:45,960
At the end of that, I was left
as a sole survivor.
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00:14:46,880 --> 00:14:49,360
And then that's when Velora
showed herself.
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00:14:49,560 --> 00:14:55,400
After the damage, she told me
she had a gift, that I would be
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00:14:56,320 --> 00:15:01,000
of divine nature and the result
was becoming the reliquary.
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00:15:01,960 --> 00:15:03,760
I never asked for it, I never
wanted it.
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00:15:06,640 --> 00:15:10,880
Nero's there were other ways.
You didn't have to be her
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00:15:10,880 --> 00:15:18,720
reliquary, but but doing this
you've you've destroyed anything
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00:15:18,720 --> 00:15:20,880
that could label you as a
cleric.
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00:15:23,920 --> 00:15:30,520
I cannot abide this.
I stood by your side and I
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00:15:30,520 --> 00:15:33,840
defended you and fought for you
and saved you.
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00:15:37,040 --> 00:15:39,760
But Chantelle would never stand
for any of this.
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00:15:39,760 --> 00:15:44,520
Not for for death or for for
genocide.
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00:15:46,360 --> 00:15:50,320
You've betrayed the Syndicate
and all of us and I don't
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00:15:50,320 --> 00:15:58,680
understand why.
What truth do you have to share
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00:15:59,720 --> 00:16:02,840
that could not have been shared
by doing something else?
214
00:16:07,560 --> 00:16:13,040
History repeats itself, and I
wasn't about to let it repeat
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00:16:13,040 --> 00:16:24,720
again.
Whatever it takes, that's what
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00:16:24,720 --> 00:16:28,720
I'll do.
Cleric is nothing more than a
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00:16:28,720 --> 00:16:33,400
title that can be passed and
given and taken freely.
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00:16:43,630 --> 00:16:45,990
So at this point, Kasde is going
to step up.
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00:16:47,830 --> 00:16:50,190
She's going to say wake up to
reality Neros.
220
00:16:50,390 --> 00:16:53,150
Nothing ever goes as planned as
a cursed world.
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00:16:53,600 --> 00:16:56,120
The longer you live, the more
you realize that the only things
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00:16:56,120 --> 00:16:58,600
that truly exists in this
reality are mere pain,
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00:16:58,600 --> 00:17:02,480
suffering, and futility.
Listen, everywhere you look in
224
00:17:02,480 --> 00:17:04,920
this world, wherever there's
light, there will always be
225
00:17:04,920 --> 00:17:07,800
shadows to be found as well.
And as long as there's a concept
226
00:17:07,800 --> 00:17:10,240
of victor's, the vanquished will
also exist.
227
00:17:10,480 --> 00:17:14,000
The selfish intent of wanting to
preserve peace initiates war and
228
00:17:14,000 --> 00:17:18,960
hatred is born to protect love.
You are my friend.
229
00:17:19,560 --> 00:17:24,000
You protected me and I guess
maybe that's why your blade
230
00:17:24,000 --> 00:17:27,760
found my back so easily.
The saddest part is I would have
231
00:17:27,760 --> 00:17:31,480
followed you anywhere, but I
guess a friend's betrayal cuts
232
00:17:31,480 --> 00:17:41,820
deeper than any enemy sword.
My statements are true.
233
00:17:42,740 --> 00:17:47,900
You have a choice, you need to
make it.
234
00:17:49,420 --> 00:17:54,360
I already made my choice.
The damage you caused, What have
235
00:17:54,360 --> 00:17:59,240
you done, Neros?
It's not what I've done, it's
236
00:17:59,240 --> 00:18:03,400
what I'm going to do.
You have soiled the name of
237
00:18:03,400 --> 00:18:06,600
cleric.
So be it.
238
00:18:07,960 --> 00:18:17,880
Call me a fallen, call me a
blasphemer, but memory will
239
00:18:17,880 --> 00:18:24,400
preserve.
You are all those things and
240
00:18:24,400 --> 00:18:27,840
worse.
I cannot abide this, I cannot
241
00:18:27,840 --> 00:18:34,480
stand here, and if it costs me
my life then I take that as my
242
00:18:34,480 --> 00:18:37,640
burden.
But we are done.
243
00:18:44,940 --> 00:18:47,460
What is it you're going to do
with this new found power?
244
00:18:48,480 --> 00:18:51,360
I personally feel that words can
be twisted, but actions never
245
00:18:51,360 --> 00:18:53,560
lie.
I have yet to see what you're
246
00:18:53,560 --> 00:18:58,520
doing with this accord.
What are your plans?
247
00:19:02,360 --> 00:19:16,070
Peace Alignment.
Protection I know wouldn't be
248
00:19:16,190 --> 00:19:19,910
against any of this, so I don't
understand.
249
00:19:22,320 --> 00:19:26,120
I won't call you a blasphemer or
a Fallen.
250
00:19:26,400 --> 00:19:30,280
I'm going to call you a friend
as I walk up and I stand next to
251
00:19:30,280 --> 00:19:37,760
Nero's.
If your memory is what you seek,
252
00:19:39,600 --> 00:19:45,320
I can acquire it.
This is memory enough for me.
253
00:19:53,520 --> 00:19:58,760
As previously stated by one of
the others, this world has been
254
00:19:58,760 --> 00:20:04,080
filled with shadows and I want
to help you make it brighter so
255
00:20:04,080 --> 00:20:06,600
that way the brightness overcast
the shadows.
256
00:20:14,080 --> 00:20:16,000
I believe that to be a wise
choice.
257
00:20:19,240 --> 00:20:24,840
And again, to the rest.
To the rest, whether you view me
258
00:20:24,840 --> 00:20:29,640
as a blasphemer or a fallen or a
betrayer.
259
00:20:32,880 --> 00:20:39,720
While all of those titles may
fit, a more appropriate title
260
00:20:41,600 --> 00:20:54,470
would be God Divine.
You see yourself as a God.
261
00:20:56,120 --> 00:21:00,880
I don't see myself as a God.
I am a God.
262
00:21:02,160 --> 00:21:04,200
The Laura's power is now my
power.
263
00:21:09,850 --> 00:21:18,690
Right.
See, I was torn up until this
264
00:21:18,690 --> 00:21:21,450
point.
I mean, I've never exactly been
265
00:21:21,450 --> 00:21:24,170
a friend of yours.
I've always thought you were
266
00:21:24,170 --> 00:21:28,960
kind of off, but you haven't
done anything to me.
267
00:21:31,520 --> 00:21:36,800
You haven't hurt my friends.
You haven't hurt my weapons.
268
00:21:39,040 --> 00:21:42,360
I had the opportunity.
I know what you all hold
269
00:21:42,360 --> 00:21:46,600
tightly, hold dearly for
Obamana's friendship.
270
00:21:47,280 --> 00:21:49,080
But.
Now.
271
00:21:50,040 --> 00:21:54,400
How long have you been just
gathering that information?
272
00:21:55,240 --> 00:22:02,480
It's information.
I've known my information, my
273
00:22:02,480 --> 00:22:07,080
knowledge comes from memory,
comes from history and truth.
274
00:22:10,480 --> 00:22:13,240
So you know more about us than
you should.
275
00:22:15,120 --> 00:22:20,080
I know more about you than you.
The things you don't remember,
276
00:22:21,480 --> 00:22:28,360
the areas of your life that
you've hidden away, they can't
277
00:22:28,360 --> 00:22:32,200
be hidden from me.
Right.
278
00:22:34,680 --> 00:22:37,720
OK.
So in essence, you have been
279
00:22:37,720 --> 00:22:48,360
playing us this whole time.
As I said, the syndicate as a
280
00:22:48,360 --> 00:22:52,240
whole was a vehicle.
You are part of the syndicate
281
00:22:53,320 --> 00:22:55,160
and therefore part of that
vehicle.
282
00:22:56,000 --> 00:22:58,720
But I've also said that the
interactions were genuine.
283
00:22:59,800 --> 00:23:08,400
The actions I chose to take in
protecting or manipulating,
284
00:23:11,320 --> 00:23:16,360
we're all true.
I can't trust that.
285
00:23:17,040 --> 00:23:19,720
I can't trust anything that you
say, actually.
286
00:23:22,680 --> 00:23:30,600
And I'm just going to slowly
back towards Osisa and Kasdan.
287
00:23:31,040 --> 00:23:36,920
I'm just not like as much as I
hate failure and the essence is
288
00:23:36,920 --> 00:23:42,400
failure because I have to turn
around and know that the accord
289
00:23:42,400 --> 00:23:46,600
was signed and I have to add it
to my list that you know about
290
00:23:47,800 --> 00:23:53,960
that I haven't shared about.
This is what I'm going to have
291
00:23:53,960 --> 00:24:01,680
to live with completely as.
You view this as a failure, but
292
00:24:01,680 --> 00:24:04,320
a failure for who?
The Syndicate?
293
00:24:06,840 --> 00:24:12,840
How do you even know to believe
or trust that their approach,
294
00:24:12,840 --> 00:24:19,240
their missions are just?
I don't.
295
00:24:20,880 --> 00:24:24,400
But.
I have no but I was given a a
296
00:24:24,400 --> 00:24:28,440
mission and I agreed to do it
and I have now failed said
297
00:24:28,440 --> 00:24:31,000
mission.
But see the difference is you
298
00:24:31,000 --> 00:24:34,360
never were truthful about your
intentions.
299
00:24:34,360 --> 00:24:39,320
They at least told me what they
wanted to do or what they wanted
300
00:24:39,320 --> 00:24:41,520
accomplished and I agreed to
that.
301
00:24:41,880 --> 00:24:46,280
I didn't agree to work with
someone who knew all all of the
302
00:24:46,280 --> 00:24:51,440
things behind me that have made
me me and not be upfront about
303
00:24:51,440 --> 00:24:54,480
it.
I didn't hide it.
304
00:24:55,400 --> 00:24:57,240
You've seen me talking.
About it.
305
00:24:59,880 --> 00:25:04,040
You've seen me talking to
myself, as many would believe,
306
00:25:06,160 --> 00:25:10,480
but I'm never truly alone.
I know that now.
307
00:25:12,000 --> 00:25:14,640
If you would have paid
attention, given me the time of
308
00:25:14,640 --> 00:25:18,840
day, you would have seen this.
Oh come on, saw it.
309
00:25:24,340 --> 00:25:28,100
Don't you think that if he's
wanted to target the Vadnais,
310
00:25:28,100 --> 00:25:32,500
knowing us the way he does, do
you think he would have offered
311
00:25:32,500 --> 00:25:34,940
us to be with him in this
moment?
312
00:25:35,820 --> 00:25:40,940
Or do you think he would have
just did what he did to Sir
313
00:25:40,940 --> 00:25:45,260
General over there in the lava
to all of us?
314
00:25:46,000 --> 00:25:50,360
I think Nero's has his own plans
and he will use anyone around
315
00:25:50,360 --> 00:25:54,600
him to achieve them as he's
clearly stated.
316
00:25:55,240 --> 00:26:00,920
And already done.
So what would you choose The
317
00:26:00,920 --> 00:26:02,640
life of one over the life of
many?
318
00:26:04,200 --> 00:26:08,480
Even if you have connection and
relationship, what makes that
319
00:26:08,680 --> 00:26:18,560
more valuable than the rest?
The Oracle's coming, and I'm not
320
00:26:18,560 --> 00:26:22,480
going to stand around like the
Syndicate, like you all have
321
00:26:22,480 --> 00:26:26,760
stood around waiting for the
next catastrophe.
322
00:26:31,400 --> 00:26:35,760
You've said you know about us.
What do you think you know?
323
00:26:38,560 --> 00:26:42,200
Well, tell me, Kestea, how is
your son?
324
00:26:43,200 --> 00:26:46,840
Is he safe?
You leave him out of this.
325
00:26:48,080 --> 00:26:57,880
You leave my family out of this.
A path not aligned with mine is
326
00:26:57,880 --> 00:27:01,040
a path that leads to his ruin
and everyone else's.
327
00:27:05,280 --> 00:27:09,760
I assure you that if you bring
my son into this, it will lead
328
00:27:09,760 --> 00:27:13,720
to your ruin.
He's already involved.
329
00:27:17,120 --> 00:27:22,840
Everyone is already involved.
The Syndicate gives you
330
00:27:22,840 --> 00:27:30,640
missions, gives us missions on
how to prevent war, negotiate
331
00:27:30,760 --> 00:27:36,200
treaties, eliminate high value
targets.
332
00:27:38,000 --> 00:27:40,240
But the purpose behind all of
that is never clearly
333
00:27:40,240 --> 00:27:45,360
communicated, never truly
distributed.
334
00:27:46,680 --> 00:27:51,000
That knowledge is retained for
those at the higher level.
335
00:27:52,440 --> 00:27:57,880
Part of this burden of memory
and of truth is also one of
336
00:27:58,280 --> 00:28:02,440
transparency.
It's very difficult for others
337
00:28:02,440 --> 00:28:13,240
to hide from me and I will tell
you in full transparency, while
338
00:28:13,240 --> 00:28:18,160
the syndicate has good
intentions, most of the time
339
00:28:21,200 --> 00:28:25,840
there are ulterior motive.
So then I pose this question to
340
00:28:25,840 --> 00:28:28,600
you.
What is your ulterior motive?
341
00:28:29,600 --> 00:28:33,480
Because of the syndicate has an
ulterior motive, so do you.
342
00:28:35,120 --> 00:28:40,480
My motive is transparency.
It is the free distribution of
343
00:28:40,480 --> 00:28:45,680
memory, the free distribution of
truth, nothing hidden.
344
00:28:47,160 --> 00:28:56,640
Good.
And bad, painful or happy, so
345
00:28:56,720 --> 00:28:58,760
are you.
Saying that everybody's secrets
346
00:28:58,760 --> 00:29:03,600
will just be out there are.
No secrets anymore.
347
00:29:04,360 --> 00:29:11,080
No, that's not what I'm saying.
I'm saying the inability to
348
00:29:11,080 --> 00:29:15,880
forget to some degree.
Ogemon is a clear example.
349
00:29:15,880 --> 00:29:21,520
He has no memory of his, of his
history or his past, only that
350
00:29:21,520 --> 00:29:26,840
the Syndicate was there and he's
a good soldier and follows
351
00:29:26,840 --> 00:29:29,400
orders.
So they used him, they
352
00:29:29,400 --> 00:29:32,240
manipulated him, they put him
where they needed him to be.
353
00:29:35,520 --> 00:29:38,840
It almost killed me as a
reminder with one of the
354
00:29:38,840 --> 00:29:41,680
bounties that they sent me on
and I'm pretty sure they knew
355
00:29:41,680 --> 00:29:47,760
full well what they were doing.
Maybe they they did that because
356
00:29:48,000 --> 00:29:51,720
whatever you lived through
previously had been so traumatic
357
00:29:51,760 --> 00:29:53,560
you couldn't.
Who are they to make that
358
00:29:53,560 --> 00:29:54,920
determination?
That's.
359
00:29:54,920 --> 00:29:56,600
How do you know that they?
Didn't enough?
360
00:29:56,800 --> 00:30:00,520
He didn't ask him them.
It's time for you all to stand
361
00:30:00,520 --> 00:30:04,840
with me, and if you won't stand
with me, time will stop for you.
362
00:30:07,680 --> 00:30:13,880
And as he says that, the chamber
shakes as molten cracks split
363
00:30:13,880 --> 00:30:17,640
across the pyre.
Heart stones, mask mask drift in
364
00:30:17,640 --> 00:30:21,880
the hot air like ash.
Nero steps forward with calm
365
00:30:21,880 --> 00:30:25,600
precision.
The accord glows under his hand.
366
00:30:26,000 --> 00:30:31,720
His eyes carry that faint
cracked Violet Sheen of of the
367
00:30:31,720 --> 00:30:40,040
host, and he he speaks without
raising his voice.
368
00:30:42,240 --> 00:30:47,320
You stand here with your doubt.
You cling to your fear of the
369
00:30:47,320 --> 00:30:50,120
truth.
You still believe.
370
00:30:50,120 --> 00:30:55,080
I will hesitate, but I will not.
You had your chance to join me.
371
00:30:57,200 --> 00:31:00,560
He lifts his holy symbol.
It's metal warps.
372
00:31:00,560 --> 00:31:04,840
It bends in quiet heat.
The air starts to compress.
373
00:31:05,760 --> 00:31:08,680
A ripple of force is starting to
spread from him.
374
00:31:08,680 --> 00:31:13,080
Slow at first, then sharp.
The party begins to feel
375
00:31:13,080 --> 00:31:17,160
pressure behind their eyes,
every torch tilting towards
376
00:31:17,160 --> 00:31:19,800
Nero's.
Every Dominion soldier braces.
377
00:31:20,400 --> 00:31:24,600
He looks at the party with a a
strange softness.
378
00:31:25,760 --> 00:31:30,440
Trust you will understand.
You'll understand in time.
379
00:31:31,480 --> 00:31:35,880
The world cannot wait for your
courage to rise up, and then you
380
00:31:36,880 --> 00:31:40,320
know this will cast time stop.
He raises his hand towards all
381
00:31:40,320 --> 00:31:43,240
of you, the floor beginning to
crack.
382
00:31:43,280 --> 00:31:48,800
A pulse of white fire forms.
This is the moment he intends to
383
00:31:48,800 --> 00:31:52,760
end the party.
These honey words don't have me
384
00:31:52,760 --> 00:31:55,840
fooled.
I, for one, intend to get us out
385
00:31:55,840 --> 00:31:58,520
of here.
I've been preparing the circle
386
00:31:58,520 --> 00:32:01,040
of teleportation and I think
it's time.
387
00:32:01,320 --> 00:32:04,960
Before the pulse of time start,
Time stop begins to detonate and
388
00:32:04,960 --> 00:32:10,800
spread across the entire the
entire Chapel, Zebulon moves.
389
00:32:10,800 --> 00:32:13,160
One hand snaps to a mirror seed
charm.
390
00:32:13,160 --> 00:32:17,000
He carries the other, tracing a
circle across the open air.
391
00:32:17,240 --> 00:32:20,880
Lines burn cold blue.
They ripple like memory pulled
392
00:32:20,880 --> 00:32:23,880
taut.
The circle flare is a tunnel of
393
00:32:23,880 --> 00:32:26,440
mountain mist and frost.
Light shows the familiar
394
00:32:26,440 --> 00:32:30,520
interior of his Tavern in the
Shatter Peaks, the stone hearth,
395
00:32:31,000 --> 00:32:34,840
the carved tables, the old
ironwood beams holding up the
396
00:32:34,840 --> 00:32:37,280
roof, the sound of distant
winds.
397
00:32:37,280 --> 00:32:41,960
The teleports is is violent, but
the choice is instant.
398
00:32:43,120 --> 00:32:45,120
Nebulon commands, commands all
of you.
399
00:32:45,120 --> 00:32:48,680
Move now.
The pulse from near us erupts
400
00:32:48,680 --> 00:32:51,120
behind them.
The Circle collapses at the
401
00:32:51,120 --> 00:32:54,280
exact moment Time Stop would
have reached you, and for a
402
00:32:54,280 --> 00:32:59,880
moment the world becomes just
white heat and then stone cold,
403
00:33:00,680 --> 00:33:03,800
but home.
The party stumbles into
404
00:33:03,800 --> 00:33:07,200
Zebulon's Tavern.
The hearth crackles, tankard
405
00:33:07,200 --> 00:33:10,320
shake on their hooks, a storm
building outside the window.
406
00:33:10,320 --> 00:33:14,600
The Shatter peaks breathe in
slow gusts of frozen air.
407
00:33:15,320 --> 00:33:19,560
Zebulon drops to one knee.
His sweat is cutting through the
408
00:33:19,560 --> 00:33:23,440
sort of on his skin.
The circle sigil scars his palm
409
00:33:23,440 --> 00:33:27,400
in faint mirror blue lines.
He catches his breath.
410
00:33:28,600 --> 00:33:31,320
He stands and bolts.
The door shut.
411
00:33:32,280 --> 00:33:35,640
Outside, Thunder rolls down the
mountainside.
412
00:33:36,080 --> 00:33:39,240
The world feels different now.
The world.
413
00:33:39,760 --> 00:33:44,880
The Accord is real.
Neros is gone, Ogemon is gone,
414
00:33:44,880 --> 00:33:50,000
and the factions have shifted.
And with that, we're going to
415
00:33:50,000 --> 00:33:51,720
take a quick break here on Crit
Happens.
416
00:33:51,720 --> 00:33:53,760
We will be back here after this
commercial break.
417
00:33:55,520 --> 00:33:58,400
Tonight's episode of Chris
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up pick up immediately where we
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left off.
The party had just been
449
00:35:36,280 --> 00:35:42,000
teleported back to the Tavern
that Zebulon owns, kind of the
450
00:35:42,160 --> 00:35:45,880
Syndicate safe haven located
within the Shatter Peaks.
451
00:35:45,880 --> 00:35:53,960
So as you come through the
portal, everyone has this moment
452
00:35:54,040 --> 00:36:01,840
to themselves of what on God's
earth just happened and Zebulon
453
00:36:01,840 --> 00:36:05,840
kind of starts to make himself
busy behind the bar trying to
454
00:36:05,840 --> 00:36:13,760
distract himself, Savara
cleaning her weapon and 'cause
455
00:36:13,760 --> 00:36:17,760
they are just back and forth
pacing almost.
456
00:36:19,000 --> 00:36:20,840
So they've set their sights on
our right.
457
00:36:21,200 --> 00:36:27,000
Her voice tightens, not with
fear, but something far sharper.
458
00:36:28,600 --> 00:36:32,320
Let them try.
My son is not prey, and I am not
459
00:36:32,320 --> 00:36:35,720
a mother who begs for mercy.
If they believe he is the
460
00:36:35,720 --> 00:36:38,280
target, then they have already
signed their deaths.
461
00:36:38,760 --> 00:36:41,360
I will not warn him.
He needs to see what the world
462
00:36:41,360 --> 00:36:44,560
truly is.
But if a single hand reaches for
463
00:36:44,560 --> 00:36:47,720
him, she exhales.
I see and.
464
00:36:47,960 --> 00:36:52,160
Get deliberate.
If they reach for him, I will
465
00:36:52,160 --> 00:36:55,840
not simply kill them.
I will unmake them, peel their
466
00:36:55,840 --> 00:36:59,000
names from his precious memory,
and grind their souls until they
467
00:36:59,000 --> 00:37:03,120
have nothing.
Not even the void remembers that
468
00:37:03,120 --> 00:37:06,920
they ever walked.
And as soon as she says that,
469
00:37:06,920 --> 00:37:12,120
she will immediately retreat to
her her room and, and lock
470
00:37:12,120 --> 00:37:17,200
herself in her room within the
Tavern.
471
00:37:17,680 --> 00:37:24,680
You you take a couple days to
digest what has just occurred
472
00:37:24,680 --> 00:37:32,360
the the sharp betrayal that has
occurred and a couple of days go
473
00:37:32,360 --> 00:37:34,520
by.
Snow is whispering along the
474
00:37:34,520 --> 00:37:38,280
snow stone walls as a cold dawn
settles over the Shadow peaks.
475
00:37:38,880 --> 00:37:42,120
Zebulon keeps the Tavern dark
except for the hearth.
476
00:37:42,600 --> 00:37:47,080
He checks the mirror wards one
last time and then almost a
477
00:37:47,080 --> 00:37:54,160
coated knock hits the door. 4
beats a pause, 2 beats more.
478
00:37:54,840 --> 00:37:59,040
Zebulon opens the door.
The it's a syndicate delegation.
479
00:37:59,080 --> 00:38:03,080
Attempt command delegation and
they step inside The High
480
00:38:03,080 --> 00:38:07,720
Empress Relvain enters first.
Her cloak carries frost.
481
00:38:07,720 --> 00:38:11,720
Her Ledger fragment hangs in a
Steelcase by her side.
482
00:38:12,280 --> 00:38:15,600
Captain Vayrich Stone Clark,
Stone cloak.
483
00:38:15,600 --> 00:38:20,320
Excuse me follows his armor,
still glowing faintly from a
484
00:38:20,320 --> 00:38:22,400
recent battle.
Remember it.
485
00:38:22,400 --> 00:38:26,400
Careless Vay brings the quiet
presence of the hollow host.
486
00:38:26,840 --> 00:38:31,520
Their cracked porcelain markings
catch the the fire light and
487
00:38:31,520 --> 00:38:37,480
then the reinforcements arrive.
Mimi steps into the Tavern with
488
00:38:37,800 --> 00:38:41,280
a steady confidence.
She removes her hood.
489
00:38:41,600 --> 00:38:46,800
Her eyes land not on the party,
but directly on Cast Daya
490
00:38:46,800 --> 00:38:49,720
herself.
She will go immediately to Cast
491
00:38:49,720 --> 00:38:52,920
Daya and will grapple her into a
huge hug.
492
00:38:54,280 --> 00:38:56,920
Came.
I came as fast as I could.
493
00:38:57,360 --> 00:39:00,480
Whatever Nairos became, he is
not finished.
494
00:39:00,720 --> 00:39:05,480
But neither are we heavy.
Footsteps follow her.
495
00:39:06,200 --> 00:39:11,040
A towering figure of slate, blue
metal and stone steps into view,
496
00:39:11,600 --> 00:39:16,720
armor plates grown directly from
his, from his from his chassis.
497
00:39:17,280 --> 00:39:21,920
Thin gold lines run through him
like fault cracks, each pulsing
498
00:39:21,920 --> 00:39:26,360
from a diamond shaped core set
in his chest, glowing a steady
499
00:39:26,400 --> 00:39:30,560
amber orange.
His face is almost Elvin, but
500
00:39:31,000 --> 00:39:35,880
too symmetrical and too still,
with pupiless blue eyes that
501
00:39:35,880 --> 00:39:40,520
track every exit and every
threat before they ever even
502
00:39:40,520 --> 00:39:44,720
think to land on the party.
When he speaks, it's it's
503
00:39:44,720 --> 00:39:48,640
precise and quipped, like a
report being filed.
504
00:39:49,000 --> 00:39:54,560
Designation 9141 dot V3 Yield
name Glaive relic forge security
505
00:39:54,560 --> 00:39:58,200
frame former corporate asset,
Current operational directive
506
00:39:58,480 --> 00:40:03,840
Keep this cohort alive.
He shifts his grip on the long
507
00:40:03,840 --> 00:40:08,640
rune edged glaive at his side.
That single sentence becomes his
508
00:40:08,640 --> 00:40:12,560
entire biography.
A wide shouldered dwarf follows
509
00:40:12,560 --> 00:40:16,000
behind him.
His braids are tied with iron
510
00:40:16,000 --> 00:40:19,400
rings.
His boots are thick with Shatter
511
00:40:19,400 --> 00:40:23,240
Peak ice.
I break problems that need
512
00:40:23,240 --> 00:40:25,800
breaking.
They told you, you face one.
513
00:40:26,080 --> 00:40:31,160
They told me that it lived.
He nods once to the group, then
514
00:40:31,160 --> 00:40:34,160
to the leadership, direct yet
unbothered.
515
00:40:34,600 --> 00:40:37,960
Real quick, before we continue,
let's start with Gene.
516
00:40:38,040 --> 00:40:39,560
Go ahead and introduce your new
character.
517
00:40:39,840 --> 00:40:41,880
So my character's name is
Harkum.
518
00:40:41,920 --> 00:40:45,600
Obviously he is a dwarf by
barbarian.
519
00:40:45,920 --> 00:40:51,440
Excuse me.
And he is very short for being a
520
00:40:51,440 --> 00:40:54,600
dwarf.
So somewhere along the lines he
521
00:40:54,600 --> 00:40:59,160
must, his family must have had
ran ran a gene shorter.
522
00:40:59,160 --> 00:41:06,360
So as I say, you could tell by
looking at him that he has like
523
00:41:06,360 --> 00:41:10,880
an ex criminal background, the
way his eyes are shifty, but
524
00:41:11,440 --> 00:41:14,160
he's very calm and he's very
direct.
525
00:41:14,760 --> 00:41:19,600
And you could just tell that he
doesn't worry much.
526
00:41:21,840 --> 00:41:26,000
He just does what he has to do.
All right.
527
00:41:26,200 --> 00:41:28,360
And then Jesse, if you would
like to introduce your new
528
00:41:28,360 --> 00:41:31,000
character as well.
Sure.
529
00:41:31,040 --> 00:41:38,120
So Glaive is his field name his
I'll send it in the chat and
530
00:41:38,120 --> 00:41:42,000
obviously our audio listeners
can't see this, but his asset
531
00:41:42,000 --> 00:41:46,080
name, asset name is Glaive,
right?
532
00:41:46,080 --> 00:41:48,040
It's spelled out with like I
don't know if people are
533
00:41:48,040 --> 00:41:50,680
familiar with like Bleet speak
1337.
534
00:41:52,160 --> 00:41:53,920
So it's using characters to
write Glaive.
535
00:41:53,920 --> 00:42:00,160
So his asset is his model IS9141
dot V3, which is the also
536
00:42:00,160 --> 00:42:03,040
Glaive.
So he took on the field name of
537
00:42:03,040 --> 00:42:09,160
Glaive.
He's about 6/6, not entirely
538
00:42:10,200 --> 00:42:16,600
intimidating looking, but much
heavier in presence than you
539
00:42:16,600 --> 00:42:18,280
would expect from someone of his
stature.
540
00:42:19,800 --> 00:42:22,800
Cold, calculated, but not
unkind.
541
00:42:23,880 --> 00:42:34,440
He's a got a very large glaive,
ironically that he very rarely
542
00:42:34,440 --> 00:42:42,200
actually let's go of.
He's not so much a species as he
543
00:42:42,200 --> 00:42:47,960
is an experiment.
And the result of that
544
00:42:47,960 --> 00:42:52,720
experimentation is what people
refer to as like corporate
545
00:42:52,720 --> 00:43:00,720
asset.
All right, so from there, after
546
00:43:00,720 --> 00:43:07,200
Mimi, Glaive, and Harkum all
enter, Zebulon will shut the
547
00:43:07,200 --> 00:43:13,640
door and we'll almost put a
locking ward and it will seal.
548
00:43:14,160 --> 00:43:19,880
With a low hum, Relvain sets the
Ledger fragment on the table.
549
00:43:20,800 --> 00:43:24,000
Ink inside is shifting like a a
living map.
550
00:43:25,800 --> 00:43:30,320
We are here because the Accord
rewrote the board. 2 factions
551
00:43:30,320 --> 00:43:34,000
now move as one.
Neros is the binding point.
552
00:43:34,880 --> 00:43:37,000
You were present, you, you
escaped him.
553
00:43:37,480 --> 00:43:40,760
We we must understand how and
and why.
554
00:43:41,720 --> 00:43:45,880
Stone Cloak's arms.
He folds his arms.
555
00:43:47,120 --> 00:43:50,800
He signed in Velour's place.
He he forced the Host and the
556
00:43:50,800 --> 00:43:54,600
Dominion into alignment.
That level of precision is not
557
00:43:54,600 --> 00:43:57,120
chance.
And we need your account.
558
00:43:59,000 --> 00:44:07,200
Mimi steps closer.
In my time away, I served near
559
00:44:07,200 --> 00:44:10,360
Dominion Lines.
The reports described Nairos's
560
00:44:10,360 --> 00:44:13,400
chosen.
Her tone does not match what you
561
00:44:13,400 --> 00:44:15,280
saw.
I want your truth.
562
00:44:16,720 --> 00:44:24,760
Slave's voice cuts in.
I will compare your testimony
563
00:44:24,760 --> 00:44:29,240
with hold pattern logs.
Expect direct questions.
564
00:44:30,160 --> 00:44:32,920
Harkum rests both hands on the
table.
565
00:44:33,640 --> 00:44:37,640
If Nero's believes he is right,
I will not stop or he will not
566
00:44:37,640 --> 00:44:40,280
stop.
I need to know what he became.
567
00:44:41,400 --> 00:44:45,600
Kayla's now studies the group.
The host.
568
00:44:47,040 --> 00:44:51,240
My host accepted him, that much
is clear.
569
00:44:52,320 --> 00:44:57,480
Their reasons are not they they
rarely move without purpose.
570
00:44:59,160 --> 00:45:09,800
Relvain raises 3 fingers, One
how nearest turned 2.
571
00:45:10,960 --> 00:45:16,840
Why the host accepted him so
fast. 3 What the accord
572
00:45:16,840 --> 00:45:19,560
activates.
She lowers her hand.
573
00:45:20,520 --> 00:45:22,960
Begin with the final moments
before the extraction.
574
00:45:23,720 --> 00:45:27,720
Every detail matters.
The world changed in that room
575
00:45:28,160 --> 00:45:35,160
in an instant that the Ledger
must know, and she'll nod to to
576
00:45:35,160 --> 00:45:38,680
Zebulon.
You lived it.
577
00:45:39,560 --> 00:45:44,640
Please start from there.
And the Tavern falls quiet as
578
00:45:44,640 --> 00:45:48,760
they begin to listen.
And the next decisions of what
579
00:45:48,760 --> 00:45:52,360
the syndicate will do will
depend on what the party says.
580
00:45:57,120 --> 00:45:58,960
You're asking how it all went
down?
581
00:45:59,320 --> 00:46:01,480
Well, essentially we had
succeeded.
582
00:46:01,480 --> 00:46:07,560
We had defeated both of the
enemy leaders when Neros decided
583
00:46:07,560 --> 00:46:11,640
to sign the Accord himself,
usurping his former God.
584
00:46:14,120 --> 00:46:16,320
I'm not sure any of us were
prepared for it exactly.
585
00:46:16,720 --> 00:46:20,040
He tried to convince us to go
with him, but those of us here,
586
00:46:21,480 --> 00:46:26,360
obviously he decided not to.
Does anyone else who was there
587
00:46:26,360 --> 00:46:29,680
have details to add?
Well.
588
00:46:29,920 --> 00:46:35,000
He's exciting us the whole time.
Walks a little closer and and
589
00:46:35,000 --> 00:46:43,520
says Nero seems to believe
himself a God and he spoke of
590
00:46:45,240 --> 00:46:48,080
someone coming.
He said the Oracle was coming.
591
00:46:50,440 --> 00:46:58,600
As soon as you say the word
Oracle, Relvain and Kalis, we'll
592
00:46:58,600 --> 00:47:07,760
both look at each other and you
can see they're not saying
593
00:47:07,760 --> 00:47:13,040
anything, but their faces have
turned a pale white, white as a
594
00:47:13,040 --> 00:47:20,120
ghost.
And Kayla's will go the Oracle.
595
00:47:22,160 --> 00:47:31,490
What do you mean the Oracle?
Nero said the Oracle was coming
596
00:47:31,690 --> 00:47:38,250
and that part of why he was
doing this was to prevent a
597
00:47:38,250 --> 00:47:42,930
repeat of history, but this is
not something I'm familiar with.
598
00:47:48,920 --> 00:48:01,040
The the Ashen Oracle is it's
it's older than written memory.
599
00:48:01,040 --> 00:48:10,440
It's it's fire does not burn it.
It it reveals it was it was
600
00:48:10,440 --> 00:48:15,840
sealed many, many centuries ago.
The the ceiling of the Oracle
601
00:48:15,840 --> 00:48:20,160
save the world.
Those who touched its flame were
602
00:48:21,400 --> 00:48:24,960
changed.
The the the minion fears the
603
00:48:25,000 --> 00:48:30,800
Oracle, the host mourns it.
It's it's awakening would not
604
00:48:30,800 --> 00:48:34,080
look like you expect.
Truth.
605
00:48:34,080 --> 00:48:38,760
Truth is never gentle.
The oracles least of all.
606
00:48:45,480 --> 00:48:51,080
Umm, Mimi's going to stand up
from her chair, put like her
607
00:48:51,120 --> 00:48:53,720
hands on the table, lean forward
and go.
608
00:48:55,600 --> 00:49:01,160
So you're telling me that this
entire time that man has been
609
00:49:01,520 --> 00:49:06,120
not just a rat, but an informant
and now a God killer?
610
00:49:10,680 --> 00:49:15,120
He was fairly upfront about his
worship of Velora, so I think
611
00:49:15,120 --> 00:49:17,280
the term rat is maybe a bit
unfair.
612
00:49:18,680 --> 00:49:20,240
All of those other things, yes,
I.
613
00:49:21,960 --> 00:49:26,440
Mean.
He destroyed the sign of of
614
00:49:26,440 --> 00:49:31,480
Valora.
He he used his status as
615
00:49:31,480 --> 00:49:39,200
Reliquary reliquary to to gain
entrance, but he bastardized
616
00:49:39,200 --> 00:49:45,200
everything that stands for
Clericood all in the name of of
617
00:49:45,200 --> 00:49:50,400
supposedly stopping this Oracle
and absolute truth everywhere.
618
00:49:54,600 --> 00:50:01,240
Well, I think we need to start
with figuring out who the Oracle
619
00:50:01,240 --> 00:50:02,680
is.
All right, gang, it's time to
620
00:50:02,680 --> 00:50:04,840
hit the books.
Maybe he's going to sit back
621
00:50:04,840 --> 00:50:09,760
down.
From from what we know, and this
622
00:50:09,760 --> 00:50:13,480
is careless.
Again, talking from what we
623
00:50:13,480 --> 00:50:21,840
know, the Oracle is still, it's
still chained.
624
00:50:21,960 --> 00:50:26,600
It's still, it's still sealed
away.
625
00:50:26,720 --> 00:50:33,520
We would have, we would know if,
if, if the, if the Oracle was
626
00:50:33,520 --> 00:50:37,600
beginning to awaken.
Everyone in this realm would
627
00:50:37,600 --> 00:50:43,040
know if the Oracle was was
awakening.
628
00:50:45,120 --> 00:50:49,000
Part of what Neros was talking
about was that there were
629
00:50:49,000 --> 00:50:52,240
memories being wiped, would you
know?
630
00:50:52,240 --> 00:50:57,840
And.
If you didn't know, would you
631
00:50:57,840 --> 00:51:02,520
tell us it is?
Yes, we would.
632
00:51:03,000 --> 00:51:06,880
Because you because you
obviously seem to know more
633
00:51:06,880 --> 00:51:09,880
about the Oracle than what
you're letting on the fact that
634
00:51:09,880 --> 00:51:11,960
you no longer have blood running
into your face.
635
00:51:15,920 --> 00:51:21,320
Give me an insight check.
Hold on, I just have my dice
636
00:51:21,320 --> 00:51:26,240
ready, pausing.
Oh, that is a 19.
637
00:51:26,920 --> 00:51:28,800
I don't know what my modifiers
are.
638
00:51:29,520 --> 00:51:41,120
So just don't beats the DC
anyway you when Relvain says, of
639
00:51:41,120 --> 00:51:47,480
course we would tell you, you
can sense that that that
640
00:51:47,480 --> 00:51:54,280
statement is not entirely true.
Of course they would.
641
00:51:54,440 --> 00:51:59,760
Say that they would tell you.
Sure you would, because they is
642
00:51:59,760 --> 00:52:02,680
going to stand up.
I think I've had just about
643
00:52:02,680 --> 00:52:04,520
enough.
She's going to kind of pat her
644
00:52:04,520 --> 00:52:06,720
side and Asmodeus is going to
follow her and she's going to
645
00:52:06,720 --> 00:52:14,760
head towards the door.
Mimi's going to stand up and
646
00:52:14,760 --> 00:52:16,760
like kind of sharpen her claws
and go.
647
00:52:17,760 --> 00:52:25,680
So if this continues, I'll find
you just going to follow
648
00:52:25,680 --> 00:52:31,880
Cassadea out.
Agents, we need to come up with
649
00:52:31,880 --> 00:52:36,840
a plan before we go anywhere.
Cassadan is going to whip
650
00:52:36,840 --> 00:52:44,080
around, go anywhere.
This is already gone too far.
651
00:52:44,400 --> 00:52:48,160
They've threatened my son.
My son.
652
00:52:49,200 --> 00:52:51,920
And you say you would tell us,
but I don't think that's
653
00:52:51,920 --> 00:52:54,120
completely truthful.
You would tell us what we need
654
00:52:54,120 --> 00:52:55,960
to know.
But right now what we need to
655
00:52:55,960 --> 00:52:58,720
know is everything.
Everything that you know.
656
00:52:58,840 --> 00:53:02,240
Because you've cut us in dark,
the dark, for too long, and now
657
00:53:02,240 --> 00:53:04,720
we're here.
We're at this point.
658
00:53:04,920 --> 00:53:07,880
And I don't think that you would
know if that Oracle was waking
659
00:53:07,880 --> 00:53:09,280
up.
I don't think you would know.
660
00:53:09,280 --> 00:53:11,120
Your asshole from a hole in the
wall.
661
00:53:18,880 --> 00:53:26,080
God damn.
Everyone in the room is taken
662
00:53:26,080 --> 00:53:29,320
aback at that.
Can I jump in or?
663
00:53:29,520 --> 00:53:34,760
Oh yeah, sure.
Kasdea, this does nothing to
664
00:53:34,760 --> 00:53:39,080
serve you protecting your son.
We need to stay calm and keep
665
00:53:39,080 --> 00:53:43,960
level heads for this.
Whatever is coming is not simple
666
00:53:43,960 --> 00:53:47,000
or easy.
We need all the help we can get.
667
00:53:47,320 --> 00:53:51,600
Please try to stay calm.
Try to stay calm.
668
00:53:51,960 --> 00:53:54,560
Oh, Sisa, they're lying to our
faces.
669
00:53:54,960 --> 00:53:57,640
Look at them.
They obviously know more than
670
00:53:57,640 --> 00:54:00,200
they're letting on.
And they're not going to tell
671
00:54:00,200 --> 00:54:02,080
you, and they're not going to
tell me.
672
00:54:02,160 --> 00:54:05,080
They're not going to tell me
until I am bleeding to death and
673
00:54:05,080 --> 00:54:08,320
I am on my deathbed.
I don't want my son to see me
674
00:54:08,320 --> 00:54:10,560
dead.
He already lost his father and I
675
00:54:10,560 --> 00:54:14,720
refuse to let him lose me.
So sorry if I don't trust
676
00:54:14,720 --> 00:54:17,200
everything that the syndicate is
feeding us.
677
00:54:17,680 --> 00:54:20,520
I might not be on Neuros's side,
but I don't think I'm on theirs
678
00:54:20,520 --> 00:54:23,720
either.
No one's asking you to trust.
679
00:54:23,720 --> 00:54:27,720
Everything.
No.
680
00:54:27,720 --> 00:54:31,440
But you're asking me to put my
life on the line, my life on the
681
00:54:31,440 --> 00:54:35,440
line for something that isn't
being completely told to us.
682
00:54:36,080 --> 00:54:38,680
They know more.
They know more.
683
00:54:38,680 --> 00:54:40,760
Don't you know more?
Tell them.
684
00:54:41,600 --> 00:54:48,440
Tell them everything.
So Beanie is going to stop and
685
00:54:48,680 --> 00:54:50,720
look these two people in the
eyes, these two people who have
686
00:54:50,720 --> 00:54:53,680
been her commanders or she was
like fighting with the Dominion
687
00:54:55,520 --> 00:55:02,200
and she's going to go.
So this can go to either ways.
688
00:55:02,400 --> 00:55:03,800
Well, actually one of either
way.
689
00:55:04,280 --> 00:55:09,520
Either we sit here like true
diplomats and we talk this out
690
00:55:09,520 --> 00:55:13,600
and you tell us the information
before I got you from sternum to
691
00:55:13,600 --> 00:55:17,560
throat.
You decide.
692
00:55:18,760 --> 00:55:21,880
And as you say that you've.
Seen me killed before, I'll do
693
00:55:21,880 --> 00:55:28,040
it again.
And as you say that Relvain will
694
00:55:28,560 --> 00:55:33,360
slam her legs shot and she will
yell enough and she'll snap her
695
00:55:33,360 --> 00:55:37,960
fingers.
And I need everyone except
696
00:55:38,160 --> 00:55:46,920
Glaive Harkum and I'm sorry,
just those two.
697
00:55:46,920 --> 00:55:49,920
Everybody else.
I need a Wisdom saving throw
698
00:55:49,920 --> 00:55:54,320
please.
Hold on, are they all within 5
699
00:55:54,360 --> 00:55:56,680
or 10 feet of me?
Because if you are, you get a +
700
00:55:56,680 --> 00:56:05,200
5.
No, actually. 11.
701
00:56:06,160 --> 00:56:10,480
Oh man, I rolled A4.
I'm not even causing trouble.
702
00:56:12,600 --> 00:56:22,760
Nat 20, baby.
Nat 20 OK everyone except Kasdea
703
00:56:23,240 --> 00:56:30,720
Harcum and Glaive I.
Rolled Nat. 20 Oh, I'm sorry, I
704
00:56:30,720 --> 00:56:32,400
didn't hear that.
I apologize and I'll see some
705
00:56:33,640 --> 00:56:37,360
You were all.
Hell, I also rolled a Nat 20.
706
00:56:37,360 --> 00:56:39,240
Did you really?
Yes.
707
00:56:39,240 --> 00:56:45,120
Do you want a picture?
No, she will go to attempt to
708
00:56:45,360 --> 00:56:50,240
cast hold person on everyone and
I think the only person that
709
00:56:50,240 --> 00:56:53,160
gets held is Savara.
And Zebulon.
710
00:56:53,560 --> 00:56:55,880
Sorry.
Zebulon none of the least
711
00:56:55,920 --> 00:56:58,160
problematic other than OSISA
right now.
712
00:56:59,200 --> 00:57:00,720
Maybe he's going to enter a
rage.
713
00:57:02,640 --> 00:57:03,560
Oh shit.
Guys.
714
00:57:04,480 --> 00:57:08,200
I'm tired of their lies.
I'm tired of this bullshit.
715
00:57:10,840 --> 00:57:12,600
Damn, why don't you all just
join near us God.
716
00:57:13,040 --> 00:57:16,840
Damn, honestly like Savara knew
that the Syndicate was kind of
717
00:57:16,840 --> 00:57:21,840
shady so like she's not overly
surprised by this for.
718
00:57:22,400 --> 00:57:25,720
Sure is that be like maybe he's.
Gonna bristle like, you know,
719
00:57:25,720 --> 00:57:29,960
like when like a poof ball just
like extends kind of like that
720
00:57:29,960 --> 00:57:32,520
and her limbs are going to start
to crack and she's going to go
721
00:57:32,800 --> 00:57:39,360
how dare you, and enter a rage.
OK.
722
00:57:43,560 --> 00:57:47,720
Glaive to do something.
I'd recommend it before I make a
723
00:57:47,720 --> 00:57:52,960
move.
Glaive is going to cast.
724
00:57:54,360 --> 00:58:02,760
We'll go a twinned.
I could do twinned old person
725
00:58:02,800 --> 00:58:09,920
now I'll do twinned command OK
on Mimi and Kazdea.
726
00:58:12,480 --> 00:58:14,160
I wouldn't even fight and I was
just mad.
727
00:58:14,880 --> 00:58:17,760
So I need Wisdom saving throws.
Wisdom saving throws from both
728
00:58:17,760 --> 00:58:19,240
of you, please.
What's the DC?
729
00:58:20,440 --> 00:58:21,640
I'm waiting to hear what they
get.
730
00:58:25,000 --> 00:58:27,280
What is?
It 19.
731
00:58:28,960 --> 00:58:32,920
The DC is 20 all.
Right.
732
00:58:32,920 --> 00:58:39,520
What do you want us to do?
You're just stuck, old person.
733
00:58:40,360 --> 00:58:44,880
Because it's the only.
Like one word, right?
734
00:58:44,880 --> 00:58:49,400
Yeah, and he doesn't know a ton
of the stuff, so he's just going
735
00:58:49,400 --> 00:58:54,120
to say grovel.
Are you fucking with me right?
736
00:58:54,520 --> 00:58:59,240
Now the target false prone and
begins to grovel.
737
00:58:59,360 --> 00:59:01,640
Yep.
OK.
738
00:59:02,120 --> 00:59:04,840
He's a robot, so he's not, but
at the same time, yes.
739
00:59:06,080 --> 00:59:10,120
OK, whatever, Amy starts
groveling.
740
00:59:10,400 --> 00:59:13,080
I couldn't think of a of a
single word that was like chill
741
00:59:13,080 --> 00:59:16,760
out bitch, you know, calm hell
down y'all.
742
00:59:18,360 --> 00:59:20,640
Feel like that's the most.
Functional robot response
743
00:59:20,640 --> 00:59:21,600
that's.
Right.
744
00:59:21,600 --> 00:59:23,640
OK.
So I guess you've de escalated
745
00:59:23,640 --> 00:59:25,640
the situation.
My bad.
746
00:59:27,520 --> 00:59:29,440
And then so after after glib.
Kind of does.
747
00:59:29,440 --> 00:59:34,800
It he'll just say hostility
isn't solving any of these
748
00:59:34,800 --> 00:59:39,560
problems.
Companionship, teamwork and a
749
00:59:39,560 --> 00:59:44,440
plan.
That's how we take back with
750
00:59:44,440 --> 00:59:47,640
SARS.
Am I allowed to talk during
751
00:59:47,640 --> 00:59:50,880
this?
Like am I like when, when you
752
00:59:50,960 --> 00:59:51,920
it's.
Basically done now.
753
00:59:53,240 --> 00:59:55,280
OK, cool.
It only lasts for a round, so it
754
00:59:55,280 --> 00:59:58,440
only lasts 6 seconds, but it's
enough for you to chill for a
755
00:59:58,440 --> 01:00:00,640
second, you know, chill for a
bit and hopefully.
756
01:00:00,760 --> 01:00:03,360
Fine, I'm going to pop a squat
cross legged on the floor with
757
01:00:03,360 --> 01:00:05,960
my arms crossed and just not
look at anybody.
758
01:00:06,680 --> 01:00:09,200
Like like, like I'm not playing
anymore.
759
01:00:09,200 --> 01:00:11,520
I'm.
Done like a dejected giant.
760
01:00:12,040 --> 01:00:16,360
Yep.
Relvain will step forward with
761
01:00:16,400 --> 01:00:21,880
almost a calm focus, and she'll
say, Castea, Mimi, listen to me.
762
01:00:22,480 --> 01:00:26,160
You are not the enemy.
The Syndicate is not your rival.
763
01:00:26,760 --> 01:00:29,320
The world changed when Nero
signed that accord.
764
01:00:29,960 --> 01:00:32,280
That that new faction is our
problem now.
765
01:00:32,840 --> 01:00:35,840
They hold fear and power in the
same hand.
766
01:00:36,360 --> 01:00:38,800
They move fast, they'll move
with purpose.
767
01:00:38,960 --> 01:00:43,040
They will not stop.
She sets a hand on her Ledger.
768
01:00:43,280 --> 01:00:46,680
Her Ledger.
The Oracle is not your concern,
769
01:00:46,760 --> 01:00:49,840
Not yet.
If the Oracle were waking, the
770
01:00:49,840 --> 01:00:54,320
land itself would scream.
Rivers would burn, memory would
771
01:00:54,320 --> 01:00:58,640
fail across entire cities.
You would feel heat in your
772
01:00:58,640 --> 01:01:01,520
bones.
You would know before I ever
773
01:01:01,520 --> 01:01:04,520
spoke a word.
Her eyes stay steady.
774
01:01:06,280 --> 01:01:08,000
What we face right now is
simple.
775
01:01:08,400 --> 01:01:11,720
A united force with two
ideologies that never could have
776
01:01:11,720 --> 01:01:13,840
touched.
They have momentum.
777
01:01:14,120 --> 01:01:17,240
They have belief.
They have neros.
778
01:01:17,720 --> 01:01:19,880
That is where your focus needs
to stay.
779
01:01:20,480 --> 01:01:25,360
Hold your ground, watch the
fractures even when the Oracle
780
01:01:25,360 --> 01:01:29,160
stirs.
We will not need reports.
781
01:01:29,400 --> 01:01:34,200
The world will tell us.
Until that day, please keep your
782
01:01:34,200 --> 01:01:38,480
blades pointed at the faction
and problem that threatens us
783
01:01:38,640 --> 01:01:41,680
today.
Is that understood?
784
01:01:45,040 --> 01:01:52,800
Is that an order?
I'm not above taking your
785
01:01:52,800 --> 01:01:55,840
Ledger.
That is an order.
786
01:01:59,560 --> 01:02:05,280
I think at this point, go ahead.
Oh, it's OK.
787
01:02:05,760 --> 01:02:08,040
I think at this point because
they would take out the Ledger
788
01:02:08,040 --> 01:02:10,720
and like hold it out in front of
her.
789
01:02:12,680 --> 01:02:17,400
We like this Ledger.
This one, Amy is going to snatch
790
01:02:17,400 --> 01:02:20,400
that shit out of her hands and
put it into her bag and just
791
01:02:20,400 --> 01:02:24,680
turn to the general and go.
I'm sorry I had a lack of
792
01:02:24,680 --> 01:02:30,600
control there for a moment.
Turn to Cassadea and just like
793
01:02:30,600 --> 01:02:33,160
give you the most bitch.
Don't you dare look.
794
01:02:35,320 --> 01:02:39,840
Glave, Glave lacking the like,
emotional intelligence is going
795
01:02:39,840 --> 01:02:46,040
to be like, yeah, that Ledger
like, like from Guardians of the
796
01:02:46,040 --> 01:02:49,440
Galaxy when Drax is like, I
would catch it if it flew over
797
01:02:49,440 --> 01:02:52,280
my head, like, like that kind of
mindset.
798
01:02:53,720 --> 01:02:55,440
Glebe is also only three years
old.
799
01:02:57,000 --> 01:03:00,880
Bless at this point I think.
Kazdea is just.
800
01:03:00,960 --> 01:03:05,360
Gaping at Mimi like what the
fuck give it back.
801
01:03:05,440 --> 01:03:08,280
Mimi, give me a persuasion check
on Kazdea.
802
01:03:13,520 --> 01:03:16,560
Can say give me a contested
persuasion check?
803
01:03:20,600 --> 01:03:22,200
Please pause, I have to find my
dice.
804
01:03:22,200 --> 01:03:24,480
I lost it somewhere.
What, did you eat them across
805
01:03:24,480 --> 01:03:26,000
the room?
That's another Nat 20.
806
01:03:26,920 --> 01:03:33,080
Looking good for you, babe.
Taking that picture.
807
01:03:33,200 --> 01:03:37,800
So so So what happens if I
rolled in at 22?
808
01:03:37,880 --> 01:03:38,760
You're.
Joking are.
809
01:03:39,600 --> 01:03:41,960
You kidding?
Really not.
810
01:03:42,520 --> 01:03:45,960
I wish that I were, but I'm
really not.
811
01:03:47,920 --> 01:03:50,560
Yeah, but what's the total?
Because there's no there's no
812
01:03:50,560 --> 01:03:54,120
auto success.
Or one one for Mimi.
813
01:03:56,040 --> 01:03:58,360
He's probably be higher than
that because she's she's a yeah,
814
01:03:59,040 --> 01:04:02,360
yeah, she's got a she's got a
like a 16 deck.
815
01:04:02,360 --> 01:04:08,360
So I think she goes yeah, you'll
because they you won't when Mimi
816
01:04:08,360 --> 01:04:11,480
kind of gives you that bitch, I
swear to fucking God, if you try
817
01:04:11,480 --> 01:04:20,160
this and you'll have this moment
of hesitancy, but you won't
818
01:04:20,160 --> 01:04:27,440
necessarily feel controlled.
You'll feel almost a little bit,
819
01:04:27,440 --> 01:04:30,160
I don't want to say betrayed
given what you guys have gone
820
01:04:30,160 --> 01:04:33,160
through so far, but why is Mimi
all of a sudden on their side?
821
01:04:33,160 --> 01:04:37,480
Yes.
OK, Mimi's going to narrow her
822
01:04:37,480 --> 01:04:41,560
eyes and go.
If we don't get information for
823
01:04:41,560 --> 01:04:44,920
them, we won't know what to do
next.
824
01:04:45,720 --> 01:04:48,600
You can gut them after we get
information.
825
01:04:48,880 --> 01:04:51,880
I don't suggest doing that, but
that is what you wish.
826
01:04:51,880 --> 01:04:55,360
You may do it, however, we
currently need as much
827
01:04:55,360 --> 01:04:58,360
information as we can possibly
get our hands on, and we need to
828
01:04:58,360 --> 01:05:01,200
find out where the fraction is
and we need to go beat the shit
829
01:05:01,200 --> 01:05:05,160
out of them.
So please relax.
830
01:05:06,680 --> 01:05:11,560
Glave raises his hand.
Like in a classroom in my part
831
01:05:11,560 --> 01:05:14,440
of them.
They're with us, glave.
832
01:05:15,000 --> 01:05:21,040
Glave, I have no guts.
It's OK, darling, I know.
833
01:05:22,320 --> 01:05:24,040
Thank you.
Yes.
834
01:05:28,720 --> 01:05:30,400
How close is glave sitting next
to?
835
01:05:31,400 --> 01:05:32,600
Me.
He's about 10 feet away.
836
01:05:34,640 --> 01:05:35,880
And he's still holding his
glave.
837
01:05:36,840 --> 01:05:40,240
Oh yeah, it's a real pretty
glave.
838
01:05:42,800 --> 01:05:45,880
So can I just like, meander my
way over?
839
01:05:47,160 --> 01:05:49,440
Hey, buddy.
I'm gonna sit next to him and
840
01:05:49,440 --> 01:05:50,680
I'm gonna be checking out that
web.
841
01:05:52,440 --> 01:05:55,880
It's I'll get a picture quick.
It's a real pretty pretty
842
01:05:55,880 --> 01:05:57,080
glaive.
Hell yeah.
843
01:05:58,720 --> 01:06:03,080
Maybe he's going to turn to the
commander and ask, So what is
844
01:06:03,080 --> 01:06:06,920
our next course of action?
You said we have to watch the
845
01:06:06,920 --> 01:06:09,000
fraction.
Would you like us to go deal
846
01:06:09,000 --> 01:06:17,200
with the fraction head on?
Relvain Relvain will take out a
847
01:06:17,200 --> 01:06:25,360
portion of almost a map of the
relios, and she will place 3
848
01:06:27,080 --> 01:06:32,640
stones on the map in different
points, each one kind of glowing
849
01:06:32,640 --> 01:06:42,440
with a faint pulse of heat.
She will say these are the first
850
01:06:42,440 --> 01:06:44,600
fracture points linked to the
accord.
851
01:06:45,160 --> 01:06:50,000
Each site shows signs of rising
energy in old ruins that should
852
01:06:50,000 --> 01:06:52,880
be dormant.
The Dominion has already moved
853
01:06:52,880 --> 01:06:56,520
scouts towards two of them.
The Hollow Host has taken
854
01:06:56,520 --> 01:07:00,240
interest in the third.
Stone Cloak will lean in and
855
01:07:00,240 --> 01:07:02,760
he'll say your directive is
simple.
856
01:07:03,160 --> 01:07:06,120
Reach these sites before either
faction locks them down.
857
01:07:06,600 --> 01:07:09,200
Gather proof of what changed
after the accord.
858
01:07:09,720 --> 01:07:12,040
Do not get pulled into open
conflict.
859
01:07:12,320 --> 01:07:19,400
Do not reveal Syndicate presence
unless Survival demands it, and
860
01:07:19,400 --> 01:07:24,000
Kalis will say these locations
share a signature.
861
01:07:24,360 --> 01:07:29,160
Heat spikes, memory bleeds,
structural warping, All recent,
862
01:07:29,200 --> 01:07:32,000
all within the last 48 hours of
the treaty being signed.
863
01:07:32,480 --> 01:07:34,560
Something shook the bones of the
land.
864
01:07:34,640 --> 01:07:37,120
It could be magic, it could be
pressure from below.
865
01:07:37,120 --> 01:07:41,160
Either way, we check the ruins
before the Dominion starts
866
01:07:41,160 --> 01:07:47,720
digging.
You're looking for patterns,
867
01:07:48,480 --> 01:07:53,080
shifts, anything that can tie to
neuros or the accord.
868
01:07:53,960 --> 01:07:57,200
If you find Dominion soldiers,
observe them.
869
01:07:57,800 --> 01:08:00,520
If you find host agents, track
them.
870
01:08:01,280 --> 01:08:05,800
Keep distance from both.
Your role is to study, not
871
01:08:05,800 --> 01:08:10,560
disrupt, and relvain will touch
the last marker.
872
01:08:11,400 --> 01:08:15,040
And if something older has
stood, do not confront it.
873
01:08:15,560 --> 01:08:20,840
You record it, you leave, you
bring the knowledge back here
874
01:08:21,760 --> 01:08:27,800
you will deploy at first light,
travel light, avoid attention,
875
01:08:28,560 --> 01:08:34,160
report every change directly to
the Ledger at the next outpost.
876
01:08:35,359 --> 01:08:38,439
We build our strategy from your
findings.
877
01:08:39,560 --> 01:08:45,160
Relevain will close her Ledger,
place it in a in almost like a
878
01:08:45,880 --> 01:08:51,160
magically sealed case, and lock
it, and she'll say your path is
879
01:08:51,160 --> 01:08:53,120
clear.
These fractures are the first
880
01:08:53,120 --> 01:08:56,720
sign of what lies ahead.
Whatever Nero set in motion
881
01:08:57,120 --> 01:09:01,880
starts right here.
Move fast, stay quiet, bring
882
01:09:01,880 --> 01:09:06,319
back truth and she will step
away from the table and she will
883
01:09:06,319 --> 01:09:13,160
say, this meeting is closed.
Please prepare for the mission.
884
01:09:14,240 --> 01:09:18,240
And they will all leave, and the
room will fade into stillness.
885
01:09:19,399 --> 01:09:22,000
You now carry the only directive
that matters.
886
01:09:22,600 --> 01:09:25,880
Find the fractures, track the
change.
887
01:09:26,479 --> 01:09:30,279
Learn what's waking beneath the
surface of the world.
888
01:09:34,640 --> 01:09:36,840
Into the booty hole of the
world.
889
01:09:36,840 --> 01:09:39,120
Jump into the crack.
Let's go.
890
01:09:43,359 --> 01:09:45,600
You're not.
If you're not, I have
891
01:09:45,600 --> 01:09:48,319
credentials.
And then Glaive will hand
892
01:09:48,319 --> 01:09:51,720
everybody a piece of paper and
I'm going to send what's on it,
893
01:09:54,800 --> 01:09:57,440
Basically a propaganda
advertisement for himself.
894
01:09:59,080 --> 01:10:01,880
I thought something like I do
what I want.
895
01:10:04,080 --> 01:10:09,080
Oh yeah, this.
Point is going to push her way
896
01:10:09,080 --> 01:10:13,000
past Mimi and out the door and
she is heading to her room.
897
01:10:14,480 --> 01:10:16,680
Does anybody have a damn pint in
this place?
898
01:10:17,960 --> 01:10:19,120
I do.
I got you fam.
899
01:10:19,120 --> 01:10:25,640
Come with me help you a lot.
Give us something strong, man.
900
01:10:29,840 --> 01:10:34,200
Can do say glave?
Are there more of you out there?
901
01:10:34,200 --> 01:10:36,080
Is that what this is paper is
telling me?
902
01:10:38,560 --> 01:10:42,680
No, it's just me.
Good stuff.
903
01:10:44,920 --> 01:10:51,040
I usually just get sent in when
when things have to happen and
904
01:10:51,040 --> 01:10:55,600
they don't care about collateral
damage.
905
01:10:56,000 --> 01:10:57,120
What does that say about all of
you?
906
01:11:00,640 --> 01:11:02,480
We've seen suffer, don't worry
about it.
907
01:11:04,480 --> 01:11:06,840
Can you drink?
Do I pour you a glass as well?
908
01:11:07,680 --> 01:11:11,360
I can, I don't.
I'm gonna go take this glass to
909
01:11:12,200 --> 01:11:13,800
Cassidy.
I was gonna leave it outside of
910
01:11:13,800 --> 01:11:16,320
her room.
Amy walks over with like a
911
01:11:16,320 --> 01:11:22,680
little a little thing of beer
and she very lightly knocks and
912
01:11:22,680 --> 01:11:30,440
then sets the beer down.
Just says, or what it's worth.
913
01:11:30,680 --> 01:11:33,840
I'm glad to be home.
He's going to turn back around
914
01:11:33,840 --> 01:11:35,200
and go back to joining the
group.
915
01:11:38,120 --> 01:11:43,320
So this is strictly meta.
How long has Harkham and Glee
916
01:11:43,320 --> 01:11:48,160
been travelling together?
It's me, they haven't
917
01:11:48,160 --> 01:11:51,200
necessarily been travelling
together so effectively what
918
01:11:51,200 --> 01:11:55,600
your rules would have been.
You are senior agents of
919
01:11:55,720 --> 01:11:59,520
Syndicate.
I'll work out what that means
920
01:11:59,520 --> 01:12:04,520
with you 2 out of game because
it will effectively you will be
921
01:12:04,520 --> 01:12:09,200
a little bit more experienced
and I'm going to give you a lot
922
01:12:09,200 --> 01:12:11,400
more proficiency, things like
that to kind of work out of
923
01:12:11,400 --> 01:12:13,680
game.
But we'll work on that over the
924
01:12:13,680 --> 01:12:16,600
next week or so before our next
main campaign session.
925
01:12:18,680 --> 01:12:20,840
OK.
Also, did you look at that club
926
01:12:20,840 --> 01:12:23,200
that I sent you?
Yes, I'll, I'll review that now.
927
01:12:23,240 --> 01:12:24,960
I will.
I'll give you the OK with that
928
01:12:25,440 --> 01:12:28,600
afterwards, so.
You got my DM rights once.
929
01:12:28,720 --> 01:12:30,400
Yes.
All right.
930
01:12:30,400 --> 01:12:31,280
Cool beans.
Thank you.
931
01:12:31,560 --> 01:12:37,040
Because I I thought it might be
a little bit OP, but I don't.
932
01:12:39,600 --> 01:12:39,880
Know.
No.
933
01:12:39,880 --> 01:12:42,960
And if it if, if if when I look
at it, if it's too opie, I'll.
934
01:12:44,360 --> 01:12:46,480
You know, you have no idea the
amount of stuff Spencer's in the
935
01:12:46,480 --> 01:12:47,640
earth for me, yeah.
Yeah, yeah, I've.
936
01:12:48,440 --> 01:12:50,200
Seen my weapon?
So.
937
01:12:50,520 --> 01:12:52,800
Yeah.
So my.
938
01:12:52,840 --> 01:12:54,200
Weapon's kind of broken.
Yeah.
939
01:12:54,800 --> 01:12:57,560
This thing can take down whole
buildings, that's why I'm asking
940
01:12:57,560 --> 01:13:00,280
if it's two OP.
Yeah, I'll review it.
941
01:13:00,280 --> 01:13:02,560
And like I said, if I need to
nerf a couple things.
942
01:13:02,720 --> 01:13:14,760
I will so just for I guess for
role play sake, no one's ever
943
01:13:14,760 --> 01:13:19,440
seen Glaive before.
Well, I can't, I guess I won't
944
01:13:19,440 --> 01:13:20,800
say that truly.
When?
945
01:13:21,600 --> 01:13:25,720
When he's has anyone ever?
Seen a war forge before?
946
01:13:26,160 --> 01:13:28,240
Well, I'm not a WAR forged, I'm
a relic forged.
947
01:13:28,240 --> 01:13:31,520
Yeah, he's a custom class.
OK, Custom race.
948
01:13:31,520 --> 01:13:34,960
Excuse me?
So a relic forge specific to
949
01:13:34,960 --> 01:13:40,240
this world in the Syndicate
specifically, which is kind of a
950
01:13:40,240 --> 01:13:42,720
cross between a War forge and an
Autonome and an elf.
951
01:13:45,720 --> 01:13:50,800
But when he's not active on
mission, he's basically in a
952
01:13:50,960 --> 01:13:54,400
locked closet because he doesn't
need to eat, sleep, or drink
953
01:13:54,880 --> 01:13:58,800
anything, so they just keep him.
Another one that doesn't sleep.
954
01:13:59,480 --> 01:14:02,440
He's content.
He's content within.
955
01:14:02,440 --> 01:14:06,080
He just hangs out.
But when, when stuff really has
956
01:14:06,080 --> 01:14:12,120
to happen, you know, maybe you
maybe you saw him in in the
957
01:14:12,120 --> 01:14:15,160
headquarters or wherever,
something that's up to Spencer,
958
01:14:15,160 --> 01:14:19,040
I guess.
But he's he's kind of elven like
959
01:14:19,040 --> 01:14:24,360
and where most of his body is
metallic and very war forged in
960
01:14:24,920 --> 01:14:29,920
kind of that aspect, there's
still bits of like tissue and
961
01:14:29,920 --> 01:14:34,640
sinew and organic material
strung throughout.
962
01:14:34,640 --> 01:14:36,560
So he's not completely
inorganic.
963
01:14:40,360 --> 01:14:42,400
Also, I just realized I hate the
word sinew.
964
01:14:42,400 --> 01:14:45,560
It's.
Real.
965
01:14:48,400 --> 01:14:55,240
So Zebulon, Savara, Messiah,
what's what's been going on?
966
01:14:55,240 --> 01:14:58,440
I haven't seen you guys in a
while.
967
01:14:58,520 --> 01:15:00,080
There's been a couple moons, you
know.
968
01:15:04,000 --> 01:15:09,800
It's been a while for sure.
Hard to say anything without
969
01:15:09,800 --> 01:15:12,080
mentioning Nero's.
He was there for pretty much all
970
01:15:12,080 --> 01:15:13,400
of it.
Right.
971
01:15:15,920 --> 01:15:19,320
So she said just kind of groans
and rubs the bridge, bridge of
972
01:15:19,320 --> 01:15:23,200
her nose and says, I think I
need to rest.
973
01:15:23,440 --> 01:15:27,240
And she'll walk through the door
and head up towards Kaz Day's
974
01:15:27,240 --> 01:15:38,120
room and she'll stop and knock.
What could I have a moment of
975
01:15:38,120 --> 01:15:41,720
your time?
Because they all slowly open the
976
01:15:41,720 --> 01:15:43,480
door.
Speak.
977
01:15:48,280 --> 01:15:49,920
I want to offer something to
you.
978
01:15:52,840 --> 01:15:54,240
Offer what?
Osisa.
979
01:15:57,200 --> 01:16:01,440
May I sit?
She opens the door wider and
980
01:16:01,440 --> 01:16:04,600
gestures are in.
Meanwhile, she picks up the
981
01:16:04,600 --> 01:16:08,000
small glass of beer that Mimi
left and looks at it and takes
982
01:16:08,000 --> 01:16:14,720
it in the bedroom with her.
Seems to kind of gently sits in
983
01:16:14,720 --> 01:16:20,080
a preferred chair and gestures
for Cassia to do the same.
984
01:16:20,760 --> 01:16:27,000
And she kind of takes a breath,
grimaces, does a kind of visible
985
01:16:27,000 --> 01:16:31,240
swallow.
And she says, I know what it's
986
01:16:31,240 --> 01:16:40,560
like to lose family.
I have no one left and I would
987
01:16:40,560 --> 01:16:44,000
never wish that on anyone, least
of all you.
988
01:16:46,600 --> 01:16:50,480
I come to offer something to
you.
989
01:16:51,400 --> 01:16:58,520
I cannot make any promises, but
should the time come or God gods
990
01:16:58,520 --> 01:17:02,640
forbid something happened and
your son is in danger, I will
991
01:17:02,640 --> 01:17:04,720
put my life on the line to save
him.
992
01:17:10,280 --> 01:17:11,680
I want something different from
you.
993
01:17:11,680 --> 01:17:14,800
I'll see you soon.
Name it.
994
01:17:19,040 --> 01:17:24,920
If ever there comes a day where
I am no longer here, you will
995
01:17:24,920 --> 01:17:30,680
take Orion and you will find a
safe place for him to grow up as
996
01:17:30,680 --> 01:17:35,520
a normal child because normalcy
is not something he has ever
997
01:17:35,520 --> 01:17:40,200
known.
You will take him to a
998
01:17:40,200 --> 01:17:43,080
countryside somewhere far away
from the hustle and bustle of
999
01:17:43,080 --> 01:17:48,840
this stupid God forsaken city
and you will protect him.
1000
01:17:49,280 --> 01:17:54,040
You will give him to people who
will protect him and they will
1001
01:17:54,040 --> 01:17:56,360
see that light.
They will see that light that I
1002
01:17:56,360 --> 01:18:02,160
see, and they will save him
where I could not.
1003
01:18:03,880 --> 01:18:12,440
That is what I want from you.
She takes a deep breath and
1004
01:18:12,440 --> 01:18:16,720
leans forward and grasps
Castaia's hands firmly.
1005
01:18:18,960 --> 01:18:27,800
I swear on my life, on my
beliefs, on my soul, on Shantaya
1006
01:18:29,640 --> 01:18:38,800
that should that day come, may
it ever not, that I will do
1007
01:18:38,800 --> 01:18:41,360
that.
And I will protect your son and
1008
01:18:41,360 --> 01:18:46,680
give him the childhood he
deserves to the best of my
1009
01:18:46,680 --> 01:18:52,440
ability.
And you make sure that he knows
1010
01:18:52,440 --> 01:18:57,360
Mimi and he knows Savara and he
knows Zebulon and everything
1011
01:18:57,360 --> 01:19:01,920
that we've done here and that it
wasn't that it won't be all for
1012
01:19:01,920 --> 01:19:08,680
nothing.
I fought that I tried and I did
1013
01:19:09,320 --> 01:19:16,800
everything for that boy that I
burned this world for that boy
1014
01:19:17,040 --> 01:19:22,040
to keep him safe, O Sisa, to
keep him safe.
1015
01:19:22,240 --> 01:19:24,880
And the syndicate, the
syndicates not going to do that.
1016
01:19:26,000 --> 01:19:30,760
They, they don't, they don't
care, O Sisa, that that boy is
1017
01:19:30,760 --> 01:19:37,720
my world.
That, boy, is my world.
1018
01:19:38,600 --> 01:19:43,240
Of course he is.
But they don't care.
1019
01:19:45,240 --> 01:19:52,920
I do.
I will do everything in my power
1020
01:19:52,960 --> 01:20:00,520
to make it happen to, to show
him who you are, who we were,
1021
01:20:00,520 --> 01:20:05,360
what we fought for.
But I believe that if we try and
1022
01:20:05,360 --> 01:20:13,560
if we band together, we can
survive this and we can have a
1023
01:20:13,560 --> 01:20:17,200
happy ending for all of us
because we deserve it.
1024
01:20:18,960 --> 01:20:20,360
But.
See, here's the thing.
1025
01:20:22,680 --> 01:20:32,160
I'll die trying and that's OK
because I died protecting him
1026
01:20:32,920 --> 01:20:36,400
and that's OK.
It has to be OK.
1027
01:20:40,120 --> 01:20:43,080
As long as I'm here, I'll do
everything I can to prevent
1028
01:20:43,080 --> 01:20:48,840
that.
Kaze is going to unwrap her
1029
01:20:48,840 --> 01:20:51,960
hand, the hand that she keeps
wrapped all the time.
1030
01:20:52,920 --> 01:20:54,640
She's going to stick her hand
out to a Caesar.
1031
01:20:57,000 --> 01:21:05,120
Promise me right now that that
boy, that boy will be safe when
1032
01:21:05,120 --> 01:21:13,080
I'm gone.
OC says unfamiliar with the
1033
01:21:13,080 --> 01:21:17,480
gesture.
So she takes off her her amulet
1034
01:21:17,480 --> 01:21:22,840
of Shantaya and puts it in her
hand and goes to clasp with the
1035
01:21:22,920 --> 01:21:26,520
the the amulet between their
hands.
1036
01:21:30,240 --> 01:21:33,240
Taz Day is going to grip her
hand and give it a firm shake.
1037
01:21:35,600 --> 01:21:36,360
She.
Returns it I'll.
1038
01:21:36,360 --> 01:21:40,720
Haunt you.
I'll haunt you to the end of
1039
01:21:40,720 --> 01:21:45,680
your fucking life if you back
down on this that.
1040
01:21:46,400 --> 01:21:52,200
For nothing less.
OK.
1041
01:21:54,080 --> 01:21:59,760
So be it.
She releases her hand and puts
1042
01:21:59,760 --> 01:22:06,800
the amulet back on, and just
very quickly, briefly yoinks
1043
01:22:07,240 --> 01:22:13,240
Asda into a a firm, short hug.
Pass around the back and the
1044
01:22:13,240 --> 01:22:17,040
lots are go.
As they as stiff as a board
1045
01:22:18,920 --> 01:22:19,920
like.
Thank you.
1046
01:22:21,920 --> 01:22:29,920
Go have fun with our friends.
I'll be down shortly, I'm sure.
1047
01:22:33,080 --> 01:22:37,120
And no, Sisa.
Yes, thank you.
1048
01:22:39,400 --> 01:22:42,520
It's my honor.
And with that, she walks out of
1049
01:22:42,520 --> 01:22:44,680
the room and quietly closes the
door behind her.
1050
01:22:49,320 --> 01:22:51,480
Far.
Anyways, I was staring at this
1051
01:22:51,480 --> 01:22:55,680
massive freaking rhino, right?
I'm staring him dead in the
1052
01:22:55,680 --> 01:22:56,280
eyes.
OK?
1053
01:22:56,440 --> 01:22:58,880
He's got these little tiny like
hands.
1054
01:22:59,040 --> 01:23:02,040
They're like a pincer hand.
My hands are normal sized.
1055
01:23:05,000 --> 01:23:13,520
Like do you remember that rhino
dude that encountered at like
1056
01:23:13,520 --> 01:23:15,680
one of those?
I can't remember where we were.
1057
01:23:16,280 --> 01:23:18,120
This is like when you guys
showed up when I was working on
1058
01:23:18,120 --> 01:23:23,920
the line anyways.
But he's like, so time to bet
1059
01:23:23,920 --> 01:23:26,320
some money.
And I'm like, oh really?
1060
01:23:26,560 --> 01:23:30,280
Let's just say I make them some
really good rhino soup for
1061
01:23:30,280 --> 01:23:35,400
dinner they can test for.
That as you put it, as you put
1062
01:23:35,400 --> 01:23:39,520
it, he was gutted.
Indeed, Glenn, I'm very glad
1063
01:23:39,520 --> 01:23:41,920
that you've learned that.
Anyways, what's going up with
1064
01:23:41,960 --> 01:23:44,920
you guys?
You know anything, you know,
1065
01:23:45,200 --> 01:23:50,880
learning skills, You know, you
guys get any catch while I was
1066
01:23:50,880 --> 01:23:55,160
gone?
I got this cool mask and it lets
1067
01:23:55,200 --> 01:23:58,760
me do this.
So it has the spell mislead
1068
01:23:59,080 --> 01:24:00,760
which lets you leave a
duplicate.
1069
01:24:01,040 --> 01:24:03,440
So I would essentially like tap
you on the shoulder while I'm
1070
01:24:03,440 --> 01:24:08,040
still at the bar, not like a
foot away or whatever.
1071
01:24:09,120 --> 01:24:10,920
I love it so much I want a game
show.
1072
01:24:12,480 --> 01:24:19,240
I mean so did I when I hold out
my hammer which it has like
1073
01:24:20,240 --> 01:24:23,720
these colorful buttons on the
handle.
1074
01:24:24,440 --> 01:24:28,000
What does this one do?
The Football 10.
1075
01:24:29,400 --> 01:24:35,440
My God, we'll go with oh, where
did I put the description?
1076
01:24:35,480 --> 01:24:38,920
Well, we'll have it be the one
where it turns into a flame
1077
01:24:39,920 --> 01:24:43,560
tongue sword or whatever.
So it just immediately is this
1078
01:24:43,560 --> 01:24:47,920
big sword full of flames and
like, well, that that's the
1079
01:24:47,920 --> 01:24:51,000
fiery flame.
Don't.
1080
01:24:51,040 --> 01:24:52,800
Pass well.
Damn nice.
1081
01:24:53,040 --> 01:24:56,680
Nice baby you got there or nice?
I see you're adding to collect
1082
01:24:56,680 --> 01:24:59,680
to the collection and I'd love
to see it so far.
1083
01:25:02,000 --> 01:25:06,800
So it's a good question.
Like as a shapeshifter I'm like
1084
01:25:06,800 --> 01:25:11,400
trying to turn into a rhino guy.
Oh, right, right.
1085
01:25:11,800 --> 01:25:15,600
Before I describe that to you,
do you have anything like alive
1086
01:25:15,600 --> 01:25:19,040
that I could eat?
Alive.
1087
01:25:20,200 --> 01:25:24,520
Yeah, I've got a pet rat in my
pocket, but that's not food.
1088
01:25:25,840 --> 01:25:29,200
Amy's eyes just like, like, you
know, like pupils her, her pupil
1089
01:25:29,200 --> 01:25:33,520
shrink into a sliver and her her
eyes blink like instead of like,
1090
01:25:33,520 --> 01:25:35,720
you know how we blink?
It's the other way.
1091
01:25:35,840 --> 01:25:42,000
And she goes a rat.
We've got some less friendly
1092
01:25:42,000 --> 01:25:43,920
rats outside if you want to go
scavenge.
1093
01:25:44,800 --> 01:25:49,960
OK, I'll be right back.
He was going to get up but her
1094
01:25:49,960 --> 01:25:55,560
weapon down next to Savaro and
freaking she gone is out the
1095
01:25:55,560 --> 01:25:59,480
door around the corner.
Looking at her weapon.
1096
01:26:01,120 --> 01:26:06,560
So as you are all kind of at
this point now just kind of
1097
01:26:06,560 --> 01:26:10,080
mingling with each other and
starting to catch up with Mimi
1098
01:26:10,080 --> 01:26:12,840
and just kind of bring everybody
to the same page, you know,
1099
01:26:12,840 --> 01:26:16,360
inside the, the Hearthburn's
low, the room is quiet.
1100
01:26:17,200 --> 01:26:20,960
You're starting to gather your
gear, maps, rations, tools for
1101
01:26:20,960 --> 01:26:24,040
the for the, the road ahead.
Zebulon.
1102
01:26:24,040 --> 01:26:27,840
You're checking your mirror ward
along the door frame ripples
1103
01:26:27,840 --> 01:26:31,480
once, then settles.
Mimi, you're adjusting your
1104
01:26:31,480 --> 01:26:34,160
armor.
First light, no delays.
1105
01:26:34,680 --> 01:26:36,200
Glave.
You're standing next to the
1106
01:26:36,200 --> 01:26:38,160
window.
The glow in your chest is kind
1107
01:26:38,160 --> 01:26:41,200
of steady and calm.
Arkham.
1108
01:26:41,280 --> 01:26:45,120
You're tying the last iron ring
into the into the brain of your
1109
01:26:45,280 --> 01:26:50,320
of your beard.
Castea feels the Tavern floor.
1110
01:26:50,520 --> 01:26:55,880
Castea returns and and feels the
Tavern floor hum under her boots
1111
01:26:55,880 --> 01:27:01,120
for just a moment is a short
pulse, too light to to shake any
1112
01:27:01,120 --> 01:27:03,600
dust from the beams, too real to
imagine.
1113
01:27:04,280 --> 01:27:09,200
She turns, but nothing.
The others, You felt nothing.
1114
01:27:09,680 --> 01:27:14,480
Zebulon catches her eye.
The shatter peaks shift at
1115
01:27:14,480 --> 01:27:16,000
night.
Do not think on it.
1116
01:27:17,360 --> 01:27:19,520
The rest of you again preparing
for rest.
1117
01:27:19,640 --> 01:27:23,880
Packs are lined near the wall by
the door, weapons within reach.
1118
01:27:24,320 --> 01:27:30,640
The fire starts to slowly die to
a soft ember glow, and 1 by 1
1119
01:27:30,960 --> 01:27:33,160
you start to head to your rooms
for the evening.
1120
01:27:34,360 --> 01:27:39,440
The Tavern is silent.
A thick layer of frost clings to
1121
01:27:39,440 --> 01:27:43,240
the window frames.
The last embers in the hearth
1122
01:27:43,240 --> 01:27:48,640
shift with a faint crackle.
Everyone begins to fall asleep,
1123
01:27:49,080 --> 01:27:52,840
as they have been the last.
She tries to rest, but sleep
1124
01:27:52,840 --> 01:27:56,960
just refusing to hold her mind.
Looping through the pyre.
1125
01:27:56,960 --> 01:28:01,640
Heart neuros, the new faction,
the map on the table, that
1126
01:28:01,640 --> 01:28:04,040
strange pulse under her boots
earlier.
1127
01:28:05,200 --> 01:28:09,280
She rises and steps into the
hall right outside her her her
1128
01:28:09,280 --> 01:28:12,720
door.
The Tavern feels heavier at
1129
01:28:12,720 --> 01:28:15,200
night.
The air has weight.
1130
01:28:15,320 --> 01:28:21,160
The quiet is is too complete.
A sound breaks through the
1131
01:28:21,160 --> 01:28:25,600
quiet, a soft crack from the
ceiling above, followed by a
1132
01:28:25,600 --> 01:28:29,720
slow pulse of heat that rolls
across the wooden beams.
1133
01:28:30,320 --> 01:28:33,400
Castaia begins to move now into
the main room.
1134
01:28:33,440 --> 01:28:36,320
The ceiling glows with thin
orange lines.
1135
01:28:37,200 --> 01:28:40,960
They spread through the grain
like veins, and they brighten,
1136
01:28:41,680 --> 01:28:47,120
then fade, then brighten again
in a slow rhythm, each pulse
1137
01:28:47,120 --> 01:28:52,000
almost feeling like a a breath.
She reaches towards the glow,
1138
01:28:52,000 --> 01:28:55,480
heat radiating down her chest
begins to tighten.
1139
01:28:56,520 --> 01:29:02,120
The lines shift.
They form a a shape, a curve,
1140
01:29:02,360 --> 01:29:06,320
and then the second curve, an
eye pressed against the wood
1141
01:29:06,320 --> 01:29:09,760
from the other side.
As Deus steps back, the eye
1142
01:29:09,760 --> 01:29:13,560
opens.
A whisper reaches her, low and
1143
01:29:13,560 --> 01:29:17,240
close.
As she freezes, the glow
1144
01:29:17,240 --> 01:29:23,360
deepens, a second shape forming
near the first smaller rounder.
1145
01:29:24,320 --> 01:29:26,920
A child's face tries to press
through the grain.
1146
01:29:26,920 --> 01:29:30,760
Only the outline appears at
first, then the suggestion of
1147
01:29:30,760 --> 01:29:34,520
hair, then the impression of
tiny hands bracing against the
1148
01:29:34,520 --> 01:29:37,840
wood.
A voice follows, quiet yet
1149
01:29:37,880 --> 01:29:40,200
clear.
Mom.
1150
01:29:41,440 --> 01:29:43,640
Kaz.
Daya's breath breaks.
1151
01:29:43,640 --> 01:29:46,920
Her hand shakes as it reaches
for her dagger.
1152
01:29:47,240 --> 01:29:50,320
The face pushes closer, not
fully formed.
1153
01:29:50,680 --> 01:29:57,000
Half memory, half heat.
Mom, Mom, why did you leave me?
1154
01:29:58,560 --> 01:30:02,160
The ceiling glows again.
The lines pull inward.
1155
01:30:03,040 --> 01:30:05,440
The glow around the child's
outline deepens.
1156
01:30:05,440 --> 01:30:09,360
The wood ripples.
A second shape forms behind him,
1157
01:30:10,040 --> 01:30:15,920
taller still and familiar.
A hand settles on the child's
1158
01:30:15,920 --> 01:30:21,200
shoulder, calm and steady.
Neros.
1159
01:30:22,360 --> 01:30:25,640
He steps into the outline, as if
rising from the grain itself.
1160
01:30:26,080 --> 01:30:30,000
His eyes carry a faint ember
light, the same glow she saw
1161
01:30:30,000 --> 01:30:34,600
during the accord.
Her son, Orion towards, turns
1162
01:30:34,600 --> 01:30:39,120
toward him, not frightened, not
pulled, not forced.
1163
01:30:39,600 --> 01:30:44,000
Choosing to listen.
Neros kneels down beside him.
1164
01:30:44,720 --> 01:30:51,360
His voice is low, firm, warm in
a way that that digs underneath
1165
01:30:51,360 --> 01:30:58,000
Kazdea's ribs.
Orion, you need to understand
1166
01:30:58,280 --> 01:31:04,000
she did not leave you.
She left the truth while you see
1167
01:31:04,000 --> 01:31:08,040
it before she does.
You understand and understood
1168
01:31:08,360 --> 01:31:12,200
what she feared.
Orion looks back towards Kazdea
1169
01:31:12,200 --> 01:31:15,200
through the wood.
His expression now steadies.
1170
01:31:15,560 --> 01:31:20,440
Stronger than you remember.
I went with him because I wanted
1171
01:31:20,440 --> 01:31:23,560
to.
He showed me what's comes next.
1172
01:31:24,560 --> 01:31:27,040
Isaiah grips her dagger until
her hand aches.
1173
01:31:27,400 --> 01:31:31,640
Neros rises behind the child.
His outline grows sharper.
1174
01:31:31,840 --> 01:31:44,120
He looks towards her.
You fear what you could become.
1175
01:31:44,640 --> 01:31:50,160
Orion does not.
He sees clearly, He walks
1176
01:31:50,160 --> 01:31:53,880
forward without doubt.
And that is why I welcomed him.
1177
01:31:54,800 --> 01:31:58,440
Orion takes Nero's hand.
The shapes glow brighter.
1178
01:31:58,600 --> 01:32:02,440
The heat suddenly drops, as if
the air is drained from the
1179
01:32:02,440 --> 01:32:06,240
room.
The child speaks again, soft but
1180
01:32:06,240 --> 01:32:12,320
final.
Mom, I choose this, I choose
1181
01:32:12,320 --> 01:32:15,400
him.
The ceiling cracks with a black.
1182
01:32:16,000 --> 01:32:17,400
The ceiling cracks with a
blight.
1183
01:32:18,480 --> 01:32:20,840
The ceiling cracks with a bright
orange flash.
1184
01:32:21,360 --> 01:32:25,400
Both outlines vanish at once.
The wood goes dark.
1185
01:32:25,800 --> 01:32:30,080
A thin line of heat lingers in
the grain and then fades.
1186
01:32:30,680 --> 01:32:34,440
Kazdea stumbles back.
Her vision blurs, her breath
1187
01:32:34,520 --> 01:32:38,600
shaken.
At the far end of the hall, a
1188
01:32:38,600 --> 01:32:44,200
tall shadow stands for a single
heartbeat, silent, facing her.
1189
01:32:44,920 --> 01:32:47,600
She blinks.
It's gone.
1190
01:32:49,200 --> 01:32:54,880
The hearth pops once more as as
darkness takes over.
1191
01:32:54,880 --> 01:32:58,640
And that's where we're going to
end tonight's session here with
1192
01:32:58,720 --> 01:33:02,920
Crit Happens God.
Damn it.
1193
01:33:04,040 --> 01:33:05,920
God fucking damn it, this kid
this.
1194
01:33:07,840 --> 01:33:09,480
Kid.
Shit.
1195
01:33:10,520 --> 01:33:12,600
I might actually hate my
boyfriend by now.
1196
01:33:12,800 --> 01:33:15,840
Yeah, we'll talk.
We will talk about it.
1197
01:33:15,840 --> 01:33:18,920
The Nat 20 Unwind that is going
to do it for tonight's episode
1198
01:33:19,000 --> 01:33:21,720
of Crit Happens.
Thank you so much for listening.
1199
01:33:22,040 --> 01:33:25,280
You can stay tuned for Nat 20
Unwind coming up on Spotify and
1200
01:33:25,280 --> 01:33:27,000
Facebook.
Until then, from everybody here
1201
01:33:27,000 --> 01:33:30,880
at the P3 Podcast Network, I am
Spencer Hart and we will see you
1202
01:33:30,880 --> 01:33:32,160
next time.
Bye.
1203
01:33:33,520 --> 01:33:35,840
Bye bye.
Bye people.
1204
01:33:40,320 --> 01:33:40,760
He said.
00:00:03,160 --> 00:00:06,720
This episode of Crit Happens is
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You.
6
00:00:19,000 --> 00:00:22,480
Yes, you.
The criticisms, the faithful
7
00:00:22,480 --> 00:00:24,800
spectators of other people's
danger.
8
00:00:25,560 --> 00:00:28,520
You sit there, warm and safe,
watching their story like it
9
00:00:28,520 --> 00:00:31,800
belongs to you.
You cheer when they swing a
10
00:00:31,800 --> 00:00:33,720
sword and you gasp when they
bleed.
11
00:00:34,560 --> 00:00:38,240
You chant their victories.
You forget their failures the
12
00:00:38,240 --> 00:00:42,480
moment the music fades.
But when I stepped forward, when
13
00:00:42,480 --> 00:00:47,080
I finally did what none of them
would dare to do, you recoiled.
14
00:00:48,240 --> 00:00:51,720
Fascinating.
You praise their bravery, yet
15
00:00:51,720 --> 00:00:55,880
fear my certainty.
You admire their compassion and
16
00:00:55,880 --> 00:01:00,160
despise my clarity.
You claim to love their growth,
17
00:01:00,200 --> 00:01:05,400
yet shrink from my rise.
Tell me, criticens, What does
18
00:01:05,400 --> 00:01:09,280
that make you?
You watched every choice they
19
00:01:09,280 --> 00:01:12,400
made.
You caught every hint that they
20
00:01:12,400 --> 00:01:15,120
missed.
You noticed every fracture
21
00:01:15,120 --> 00:01:19,440
forming months before they did.
You saw exactly where the trust
22
00:01:19,440 --> 00:01:22,640
would break, exactly where hope
would fail.
23
00:01:23,840 --> 00:01:27,200
You knew exactly when the blade
would fall, and you said
24
00:01:27,200 --> 00:01:30,280
nothing.
You let this happen because you
25
00:01:30,280 --> 00:01:33,400
wanted it.
You wanted the tension, you
26
00:01:33,400 --> 00:01:35,440
wanted the turn, and you wanted
the fracture.
27
00:01:36,840 --> 00:01:40,120
You wanted the spark that would
burn everything else.
28
00:01:41,080 --> 00:01:42,640
And now you pretend to be
shocked.
29
00:01:43,840 --> 00:01:46,040
You act surprised, and you claim
betrayal.
30
00:01:46,760 --> 00:01:50,480
You call yourself fans, yet you
feed on chaos more eagerly than
31
00:01:50,480 --> 00:01:55,160
any tyrant I have ever known.
Demand comfort with one hand and
32
00:01:55,160 --> 00:01:58,920
crave ruin in the other.
So listen carefully.
33
00:02:00,560 --> 00:02:06,000
I did not betray the party, I
did not betray Valora, and I did
34
00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:11,039
not betray the Accord.
I betrayed you because you
35
00:02:11,039 --> 00:02:13,560
expected a story that stayed
within its lines.
36
00:02:13,960 --> 00:02:18,840
A villain who waited politely, a
threat who followed the rules,
37
00:02:18,840 --> 00:02:23,240
and a puppet on your stage.
I am not your puppet, I am not
38
00:02:23,240 --> 00:02:26,320
your trope, and I am not your
entertainment.
39
00:02:27,280 --> 00:02:30,800
I am the break in the pattern,
the voice that refused silence,
40
00:02:31,400 --> 00:02:32,880
the power that refused
permission.
41
00:02:34,040 --> 00:02:38,240
The accord belongs to me.
The hallowed host answers to me,
42
00:02:39,120 --> 00:02:42,120
and the story you thought you
were watching is already ash in
43
00:02:42,120 --> 00:02:47,520
my hands, settling criticisms.
The flames are rising, the hall
44
00:02:47,520 --> 00:02:49,880
is silent, and the world is
shifting.
45
00:02:50,720 --> 00:02:54,320
And this time you don't get to
look away.
46
00:02:55,680 --> 00:02:58,880
Now it is time for me to rewrite
this story.
47
00:02:59,720 --> 00:03:02,200
Stop.
Let's write this story.
48
00:03:02,400 --> 00:03:07,080
I don't need the allegory.
Please just tell me what's real.
49
00:03:07,880 --> 00:03:09,600
But nothing ever seemed to be
real.
50
00:03:19,760 --> 00:03:21,880
But she's some colors that don't
exist.
51
00:03:21,880 --> 00:03:25,600
Painting my painting counterfeit
this every truth I knew just
52
00:03:25,600 --> 00:03:28,880
starts to twist.
And from a calm in a world like
53
00:03:29,080 --> 00:03:32,880
this I've been my tongue till
the words went dry, warm, old
54
00:03:32,880 --> 00:03:37,080
like a chief disguise I see the
truth when I close my eyes.
55
00:03:37,080 --> 00:03:38,640
The hardest part was a great
goodbye.
56
00:03:38,640 --> 00:03:45,600
And fake feet can master pain.
I've been lost inside my name.
57
00:03:45,640 --> 00:03:48,200
All the mirrors look the same,
but I.
58
00:04:10,920 --> 00:04:14,960
Welcome back to Crit Happens
here on Spotify, iTunes,
59
00:04:14,960 --> 00:04:19,560
player.fmpoddirectory.com,
stitcher.com, TuneIn Radio and
60
00:04:19,560 --> 00:04:24,400
iheartradio.com.
And welcome back to the Scale
61
00:04:24,400 --> 00:04:27,800
Bounce syndicate in Forrelios.
We welcome back our agents.
62
00:04:27,800 --> 00:04:30,360
Say hello, agents.
Hello.
63
00:04:30,560 --> 00:04:33,560
Agent, hello.
Hello, hello agent.
64
00:04:33,800 --> 00:04:38,840
We are here to finally after
what it's been about a month
65
00:04:38,840 --> 00:04:44,960
since the Pyre Heart Accord.
Finally we are here to deal with
66
00:04:44,960 --> 00:04:48,000
the fallout of pyre the Pyre
Heart Accord.
67
00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:51,680
If you don't know what happened,
please pause this episode and go
68
00:04:51,680 --> 00:04:54,800
listen to the three-part arc of
the Pyre Harder chord.
69
00:04:54,800 --> 00:04:57,640
You are not going to want to
have this spoiled.
70
00:04:57,640 --> 00:05:04,840
It was just a picture perfect
way to final to finalize that
71
00:05:04,840 --> 00:05:07,680
three episode arc in the Pyre
Hunter chord.
72
00:05:07,680 --> 00:05:17,200
So we are going to start in the
moments directly after Neros has
73
00:05:17,200 --> 00:05:23,600
signed the Pyre Heart accord.
So there we go.
74
00:05:24,160 --> 00:05:28,520
So the heat from the chamber is
still clinging to armor and
75
00:05:28,520 --> 00:05:32,360
skin.
Ash is falling like slow snow.
76
00:05:32,680 --> 00:05:35,520
Cracks in the stone glow with
the pulse of volcano.
77
00:05:35,760 --> 00:05:39,080
The treaty table sits almost
broken in two.
78
00:05:39,480 --> 00:05:43,200
Velour's body lies behind the
fallen banners of the pale flame
79
00:05:43,520 --> 00:05:46,520
and the hollow host.
Your party stands there with the
80
00:05:46,520 --> 00:05:48,600
weight of what Nero's has just
done.
81
00:05:49,120 --> 00:05:53,200
A single sound cuts the silence,
the scrape of a quill.
82
00:05:53,640 --> 00:05:56,520
Nero signs the empty line at the
bottom of the accord.
83
00:05:56,520 --> 00:06:01,080
The ink does not dry it.
It sinks into the page like it
84
00:06:01,080 --> 00:06:03,480
was hungry.
The treaty binds.
85
00:06:03,480 --> 00:06:07,280
Every torch in the room bends
toward him as pulled by breath,
86
00:06:07,800 --> 00:06:12,040
the Hollow Host stirs.
The Crownless Masquerade watches
87
00:06:12,040 --> 00:06:15,280
from the cracks in the wall.
Empty masks tilt in silent
88
00:06:15,280 --> 00:06:18,160
approval.
General Veros Flame Hand is the
89
00:06:18,160 --> 00:06:20,880
first to speak, his voices
rough.
90
00:06:21,920 --> 00:06:25,760
Cleric, You, you.
You have united the Dominion and
91
00:06:25,760 --> 00:06:29,520
the Hollow Host by your hand.
No one in this room understands
92
00:06:29,520 --> 00:06:33,280
why you've killed the Host's
last true representative.
93
00:06:33,760 --> 00:06:37,280
You've stepped over their body.
You've signed in their place.
94
00:06:37,600 --> 00:06:41,040
Explain this.
A cold breeze passes.
95
00:06:41,040 --> 00:06:45,360
It has no business being here.
It circles near us and brings
96
00:06:45,360 --> 00:06:48,000
the scent of old stone and
forgotten names.
97
00:06:48,520 --> 00:06:51,320
The Hollow host accepts him.
You, you can feel it.
98
00:06:51,800 --> 00:06:56,080
And the Dominion knows it too.
The Dominion's maid notary
99
00:06:56,080 --> 00:06:59,960
steadies himself.
The accord is valid.
100
00:07:00,280 --> 00:07:04,560
The accord is valid.
The signery seat was empty.
101
00:07:05,000 --> 00:07:07,080
The, the, the, the, the cleric
filled it.
102
00:07:07,320 --> 00:07:09,200
The, the, the factions stand
together.
103
00:07:09,200 --> 00:07:13,880
The the, the Dominion and the
Hollow Host now speak with one
104
00:07:13,880 --> 00:07:16,760
purpose.
Under this treaty, every soldier
105
00:07:16,760 --> 00:07:19,960
in the chamber reacts at once.
Their Shields shift.
106
00:07:20,320 --> 00:07:23,240
Blades rise several steps toward
the party.
107
00:07:23,400 --> 00:07:26,720
Their their faces carry fear and
and anger.
108
00:07:27,360 --> 00:07:31,400
A a second wind sweeps the room.
Masks drift through the air like
109
00:07:31,400 --> 00:07:34,600
thin ash.
Shapes only what shapes only the
110
00:07:34,600 --> 00:07:38,880
players can fully see.
Silent figures watch with care
111
00:07:38,880 --> 00:07:41,520
and hunger.
They they wait for what Nero
112
00:07:41,520 --> 00:07:45,320
says next.
This is where Nero turns.
113
00:07:45,760 --> 00:07:49,560
He looks at the party first.
Not the Dominion, not the host
114
00:07:50,040 --> 00:07:52,760
to them.
His voice is steady.
115
00:07:54,840 --> 00:07:57,040
You think the world was safer in
pieces?
116
00:07:57,560 --> 00:07:59,880
You think the Hollowed host
should stay in the dark?
117
00:08:00,960 --> 00:08:02,560
You think the Dominion should
fall?
118
00:08:03,720 --> 00:08:06,000
You think you fight for
Varelios.
119
00:08:06,960 --> 00:08:10,200
You're wrong.
You have no idea how close this
120
00:08:10,200 --> 00:08:13,800
world is to breaking.
You have no idea what waits when
121
00:08:13,800 --> 00:08:16,360
the Oracle wakes.
He steps closer.
122
00:08:18,960 --> 00:08:22,560
You could not stop the accord
and you cannot stop me.
123
00:08:23,280 --> 00:08:25,880
You never understood what the
hollowed host offered.
124
00:08:26,560 --> 00:08:28,760
They do not want to watch the
world burn.
125
00:08:29,440 --> 00:08:33,159
They want the truth restored.
They want the forgotten
126
00:08:33,159 --> 00:08:35,600
returned.
I want the forgotten returned.
127
00:08:36,320 --> 00:08:41,320
They want a world without lies.
The Dominion wants order.
128
00:08:41,799 --> 00:08:45,000
Together, they can hold the
fracture that is coming.
129
00:08:45,840 --> 00:08:49,920
His eyes shift with pale,
violent light, the the same tone
130
00:08:50,200 --> 00:08:53,120
as the the crownless mask
described in the Hollow Hosts
131
00:08:53,160 --> 00:08:56,120
history.
The cracked porcelain gleam sits
132
00:08:56,120 --> 00:09:00,240
behind his irises, and then he
speaks with with certainty.
133
00:09:02,440 --> 00:09:06,640
You always feared what I would
become if I listen to the voices
134
00:09:06,640 --> 00:09:12,400
in the silence.
Now you will learn what it
135
00:09:12,400 --> 00:09:14,880
means.
You can walk with me.
136
00:09:15,600 --> 00:09:18,720
You can stand in the way.
Choice has run out.
137
00:09:19,480 --> 00:09:23,400
General Veros does does not let
him continue cleric.
138
00:09:23,560 --> 00:09:28,040
If if they stand with you, they
they are allies, if if not they
139
00:09:28,040 --> 00:09:31,800
are they are enemies of the
Dominion speak their fate.
140
00:09:32,840 --> 00:09:38,160
Neros never looks at Veros.
He he keeps his eyes locked on
141
00:09:38,160 --> 00:09:43,520
you, the party.
You are all free to choose, but
142
00:09:43,520 --> 00:09:48,360
know this, I am done waiting for
the world to understand what
143
00:09:48,360 --> 00:09:53,240
must be done, and I am done
waiting for you to decide who
144
00:09:53,240 --> 00:09:55,480
you are.
As Nero says this almost in the
145
00:09:55,480 --> 00:09:58,840
blink of an eye, he turns to
look at Veros and says something
146
00:09:58,840 --> 00:10:01,080
in in a language none of you
understand.
147
00:10:01,400 --> 00:10:05,520
As as the words leave Nero's
lips, dark arcane energy blasts
148
00:10:05,520 --> 00:10:09,960
from him and fires at Veros.
Upon taking this arcane bolt,
149
00:10:10,320 --> 00:10:13,880
Veros stiffens and and falls to
the ground, dead.
150
00:10:14,720 --> 00:10:19,880
Nero speaks.
Now with that out of the way,
151
00:10:20,440 --> 00:10:24,080
hear this.
If you stand with me, you will
152
00:10:24,080 --> 00:10:26,600
be among the strongest in the
realm of Aurelios.
153
00:10:28,160 --> 00:10:32,520
Neros lifts his hand towards the
lifeless Veros, and Veros begins
154
00:10:32,520 --> 00:10:38,760
to hover in the air.
Rebel, and this is your fate.
155
00:10:39,160 --> 00:10:43,160
Veros, now just a shell of the
bean, flies across the room into
156
00:10:43,160 --> 00:10:47,320
a lava pit of Mount Veron.
The treaty seals itself.
157
00:10:47,720 --> 00:10:51,200
Heat flashes through the room.
The chamber shutters the
158
00:10:51,200 --> 00:10:54,640
Dominion.
The Dominion soldiers form ranks
159
00:10:54,640 --> 00:10:57,560
behind near us.
The hollow host apparitions
160
00:10:57,560 --> 00:11:02,520
gather behind him like a quiet
court of masks. 2 factions stand
161
00:11:02,520 --> 00:11:07,840
now as one force near us stands
between them and you.
162
00:11:14,090 --> 00:11:15,930
And what would the party like to
do at this point?
163
00:11:19,290 --> 00:11:29,960
That is super heavy.
Just to clarify, we're just all
164
00:11:29,960 --> 00:11:31,680
standing in front of neuros
right now.
165
00:11:31,840 --> 00:11:33,840
Correct.
Yeah.
166
00:11:33,840 --> 00:11:37,040
So again, kind of keep in mind
that where we left everything.
167
00:11:37,040 --> 00:11:41,440
So the party is think of
standing in the back of a church
168
00:11:41,880 --> 00:11:46,160
and Neros is standing at the
basically at the altar on the
169
00:11:46,160 --> 00:11:48,280
front.
So there's, there's about, I
170
00:11:48,280 --> 00:11:53,480
would say 3030 feet, 3035 feet
in between all of you right now.
171
00:11:56,200 --> 00:12:00,520
OK.
I think I would start by asking
172
00:12:00,520 --> 00:12:03,760
why we were sent here by the
syndicate to stop this from
173
00:12:03,760 --> 00:12:05,800
happening.
I don't even really understand
174
00:12:05,800 --> 00:12:09,760
what this was.
I don't either.
175
00:12:12,800 --> 00:12:17,120
The syndicate was a vehicle.
I had my own missions.
176
00:12:23,620 --> 00:12:26,260
I think at this point in
Argument's head, he's.
177
00:12:28,080 --> 00:12:30,240
Have you been playing us this
whole time?
178
00:12:34,560 --> 00:12:38,880
No, the interactions were
sincere.
179
00:12:38,880 --> 00:12:42,880
They were honest.
I think at this point Ogman's
180
00:12:42,880 --> 00:12:51,000
head, he's, he's realizing that
like the Syndicate was kind of a
181
00:12:51,000 --> 00:12:53,880
vehicle for him at the same time
because he doesn't remember
182
00:12:53,880 --> 00:12:59,040
anything before that.
So as a vehicle to find his way
183
00:12:59,040 --> 00:13:02,040
to like where he belongs in a
sense.
184
00:13:04,440 --> 00:13:06,760
So he finds truth in what
Nearest is saying.
185
00:13:12,400 --> 00:13:17,240
Oh, Sisa started out just
shocked and and in awe and
186
00:13:17,240 --> 00:13:19,680
horrified.
But.
187
00:13:20,200 --> 00:13:26,600
As he speaks, there's a level of
cold calm that kind of radiates
188
00:13:26,600 --> 00:13:35,600
over her, and she turns away,
takes a heavy breath and looks
189
00:13:35,600 --> 00:13:40,720
back at him and says, I was
never afraid of you.
190
00:13:45,440 --> 00:13:52,080
You do not scare me, Nero's.
My intent isn't fear, my intent
191
00:13:52,080 --> 00:13:58,480
is truth.
But where lies the balance and
192
00:13:58,480 --> 00:14:05,360
only truth?
What would you prefer?
193
00:14:05,360 --> 00:14:10,600
Fighting murder and genocide in
the sake of truth.
194
00:14:12,160 --> 00:14:19,520
That's what Valora was doing,
only it wasn't hidden.
195
00:14:19,680 --> 00:14:25,040
It was passed off to me and I
was forced to suffer all of that
196
00:14:25,280 --> 00:14:34,320
mental agony.
Wasn't being a reliquary your
197
00:14:34,320 --> 00:14:40,520
choice?
No, a memory plague swept
198
00:14:40,520 --> 00:14:42,360
through my village when I was a
young child.
199
00:14:43,440 --> 00:14:45,960
At the end of that, I was left
as a sole survivor.
200
00:14:46,880 --> 00:14:49,360
And then that's when Velora
showed herself.
201
00:14:49,560 --> 00:14:55,400
After the damage, she told me
she had a gift, that I would be
202
00:14:56,320 --> 00:15:01,000
of divine nature and the result
was becoming the reliquary.
203
00:15:01,960 --> 00:15:03,760
I never asked for it, I never
wanted it.
204
00:15:06,640 --> 00:15:10,880
Nero's there were other ways.
You didn't have to be her
205
00:15:10,880 --> 00:15:18,720
reliquary, but but doing this
you've you've destroyed anything
206
00:15:18,720 --> 00:15:20,880
that could label you as a
cleric.
207
00:15:23,920 --> 00:15:30,520
I cannot abide this.
I stood by your side and I
208
00:15:30,520 --> 00:15:33,840
defended you and fought for you
and saved you.
209
00:15:37,040 --> 00:15:39,760
But Chantelle would never stand
for any of this.
210
00:15:39,760 --> 00:15:44,520
Not for for death or for for
genocide.
211
00:15:46,360 --> 00:15:50,320
You've betrayed the Syndicate
and all of us and I don't
212
00:15:50,320 --> 00:15:58,680
understand why.
What truth do you have to share
213
00:15:59,720 --> 00:16:02,840
that could not have been shared
by doing something else?
214
00:16:07,560 --> 00:16:13,040
History repeats itself, and I
wasn't about to let it repeat
215
00:16:13,040 --> 00:16:24,720
again.
Whatever it takes, that's what
216
00:16:24,720 --> 00:16:28,720
I'll do.
Cleric is nothing more than a
217
00:16:28,720 --> 00:16:33,400
title that can be passed and
given and taken freely.
218
00:16:43,630 --> 00:16:45,990
So at this point, Kasde is going
to step up.
219
00:16:47,830 --> 00:16:50,190
She's going to say wake up to
reality Neros.
220
00:16:50,390 --> 00:16:53,150
Nothing ever goes as planned as
a cursed world.
221
00:16:53,600 --> 00:16:56,120
The longer you live, the more
you realize that the only things
222
00:16:56,120 --> 00:16:58,600
that truly exists in this
reality are mere pain,
223
00:16:58,600 --> 00:17:02,480
suffering, and futility.
Listen, everywhere you look in
224
00:17:02,480 --> 00:17:04,920
this world, wherever there's
light, there will always be
225
00:17:04,920 --> 00:17:07,800
shadows to be found as well.
And as long as there's a concept
226
00:17:07,800 --> 00:17:10,240
of victor's, the vanquished will
also exist.
227
00:17:10,480 --> 00:17:14,000
The selfish intent of wanting to
preserve peace initiates war and
228
00:17:14,000 --> 00:17:18,960
hatred is born to protect love.
You are my friend.
229
00:17:19,560 --> 00:17:24,000
You protected me and I guess
maybe that's why your blade
230
00:17:24,000 --> 00:17:27,760
found my back so easily.
The saddest part is I would have
231
00:17:27,760 --> 00:17:31,480
followed you anywhere, but I
guess a friend's betrayal cuts
232
00:17:31,480 --> 00:17:41,820
deeper than any enemy sword.
My statements are true.
233
00:17:42,740 --> 00:17:47,900
You have a choice, you need to
make it.
234
00:17:49,420 --> 00:17:54,360
I already made my choice.
The damage you caused, What have
235
00:17:54,360 --> 00:17:59,240
you done, Neros?
It's not what I've done, it's
236
00:17:59,240 --> 00:18:03,400
what I'm going to do.
You have soiled the name of
237
00:18:03,400 --> 00:18:06,600
cleric.
So be it.
238
00:18:07,960 --> 00:18:17,880
Call me a fallen, call me a
blasphemer, but memory will
239
00:18:17,880 --> 00:18:24,400
preserve.
You are all those things and
240
00:18:24,400 --> 00:18:27,840
worse.
I cannot abide this, I cannot
241
00:18:27,840 --> 00:18:34,480
stand here, and if it costs me
my life then I take that as my
242
00:18:34,480 --> 00:18:37,640
burden.
But we are done.
243
00:18:44,940 --> 00:18:47,460
What is it you're going to do
with this new found power?
244
00:18:48,480 --> 00:18:51,360
I personally feel that words can
be twisted, but actions never
245
00:18:51,360 --> 00:18:53,560
lie.
I have yet to see what you're
246
00:18:53,560 --> 00:18:58,520
doing with this accord.
What are your plans?
247
00:19:02,360 --> 00:19:16,070
Peace Alignment.
Protection I know wouldn't be
248
00:19:16,190 --> 00:19:19,910
against any of this, so I don't
understand.
249
00:19:22,320 --> 00:19:26,120
I won't call you a blasphemer or
a Fallen.
250
00:19:26,400 --> 00:19:30,280
I'm going to call you a friend
as I walk up and I stand next to
251
00:19:30,280 --> 00:19:37,760
Nero's.
If your memory is what you seek,
252
00:19:39,600 --> 00:19:45,320
I can acquire it.
This is memory enough for me.
253
00:19:53,520 --> 00:19:58,760
As previously stated by one of
the others, this world has been
254
00:19:58,760 --> 00:20:04,080
filled with shadows and I want
to help you make it brighter so
255
00:20:04,080 --> 00:20:06,600
that way the brightness overcast
the shadows.
256
00:20:14,080 --> 00:20:16,000
I believe that to be a wise
choice.
257
00:20:19,240 --> 00:20:24,840
And again, to the rest.
To the rest, whether you view me
258
00:20:24,840 --> 00:20:29,640
as a blasphemer or a fallen or a
betrayer.
259
00:20:32,880 --> 00:20:39,720
While all of those titles may
fit, a more appropriate title
260
00:20:41,600 --> 00:20:54,470
would be God Divine.
You see yourself as a God.
261
00:20:56,120 --> 00:21:00,880
I don't see myself as a God.
I am a God.
262
00:21:02,160 --> 00:21:04,200
The Laura's power is now my
power.
263
00:21:09,850 --> 00:21:18,690
Right.
See, I was torn up until this
264
00:21:18,690 --> 00:21:21,450
point.
I mean, I've never exactly been
265
00:21:21,450 --> 00:21:24,170
a friend of yours.
I've always thought you were
266
00:21:24,170 --> 00:21:28,960
kind of off, but you haven't
done anything to me.
267
00:21:31,520 --> 00:21:36,800
You haven't hurt my friends.
You haven't hurt my weapons.
268
00:21:39,040 --> 00:21:42,360
I had the opportunity.
I know what you all hold
269
00:21:42,360 --> 00:21:46,600
tightly, hold dearly for
Obamana's friendship.
270
00:21:47,280 --> 00:21:49,080
But.
Now.
271
00:21:50,040 --> 00:21:54,400
How long have you been just
gathering that information?
272
00:21:55,240 --> 00:22:02,480
It's information.
I've known my information, my
273
00:22:02,480 --> 00:22:07,080
knowledge comes from memory,
comes from history and truth.
274
00:22:10,480 --> 00:22:13,240
So you know more about us than
you should.
275
00:22:15,120 --> 00:22:20,080
I know more about you than you.
The things you don't remember,
276
00:22:21,480 --> 00:22:28,360
the areas of your life that
you've hidden away, they can't
277
00:22:28,360 --> 00:22:32,200
be hidden from me.
Right.
278
00:22:34,680 --> 00:22:37,720
OK.
So in essence, you have been
279
00:22:37,720 --> 00:22:48,360
playing us this whole time.
As I said, the syndicate as a
280
00:22:48,360 --> 00:22:52,240
whole was a vehicle.
You are part of the syndicate
281
00:22:53,320 --> 00:22:55,160
and therefore part of that
vehicle.
282
00:22:56,000 --> 00:22:58,720
But I've also said that the
interactions were genuine.
283
00:22:59,800 --> 00:23:08,400
The actions I chose to take in
protecting or manipulating,
284
00:23:11,320 --> 00:23:16,360
we're all true.
I can't trust that.
285
00:23:17,040 --> 00:23:19,720
I can't trust anything that you
say, actually.
286
00:23:22,680 --> 00:23:30,600
And I'm just going to slowly
back towards Osisa and Kasdan.
287
00:23:31,040 --> 00:23:36,920
I'm just not like as much as I
hate failure and the essence is
288
00:23:36,920 --> 00:23:42,400
failure because I have to turn
around and know that the accord
289
00:23:42,400 --> 00:23:46,600
was signed and I have to add it
to my list that you know about
290
00:23:47,800 --> 00:23:53,960
that I haven't shared about.
This is what I'm going to have
291
00:23:53,960 --> 00:24:01,680
to live with completely as.
You view this as a failure, but
292
00:24:01,680 --> 00:24:04,320
a failure for who?
The Syndicate?
293
00:24:06,840 --> 00:24:12,840
How do you even know to believe
or trust that their approach,
294
00:24:12,840 --> 00:24:19,240
their missions are just?
I don't.
295
00:24:20,880 --> 00:24:24,400
But.
I have no but I was given a a
296
00:24:24,400 --> 00:24:28,440
mission and I agreed to do it
and I have now failed said
297
00:24:28,440 --> 00:24:31,000
mission.
But see the difference is you
298
00:24:31,000 --> 00:24:34,360
never were truthful about your
intentions.
299
00:24:34,360 --> 00:24:39,320
They at least told me what they
wanted to do or what they wanted
300
00:24:39,320 --> 00:24:41,520
accomplished and I agreed to
that.
301
00:24:41,880 --> 00:24:46,280
I didn't agree to work with
someone who knew all all of the
302
00:24:46,280 --> 00:24:51,440
things behind me that have made
me me and not be upfront about
303
00:24:51,440 --> 00:24:54,480
it.
I didn't hide it.
304
00:24:55,400 --> 00:24:57,240
You've seen me talking.
About it.
305
00:24:59,880 --> 00:25:04,040
You've seen me talking to
myself, as many would believe,
306
00:25:06,160 --> 00:25:10,480
but I'm never truly alone.
I know that now.
307
00:25:12,000 --> 00:25:14,640
If you would have paid
attention, given me the time of
308
00:25:14,640 --> 00:25:18,840
day, you would have seen this.
Oh come on, saw it.
309
00:25:24,340 --> 00:25:28,100
Don't you think that if he's
wanted to target the Vadnais,
310
00:25:28,100 --> 00:25:32,500
knowing us the way he does, do
you think he would have offered
311
00:25:32,500 --> 00:25:34,940
us to be with him in this
moment?
312
00:25:35,820 --> 00:25:40,940
Or do you think he would have
just did what he did to Sir
313
00:25:40,940 --> 00:25:45,260
General over there in the lava
to all of us?
314
00:25:46,000 --> 00:25:50,360
I think Nero's has his own plans
and he will use anyone around
315
00:25:50,360 --> 00:25:54,600
him to achieve them as he's
clearly stated.
316
00:25:55,240 --> 00:26:00,920
And already done.
So what would you choose The
317
00:26:00,920 --> 00:26:02,640
life of one over the life of
many?
318
00:26:04,200 --> 00:26:08,480
Even if you have connection and
relationship, what makes that
319
00:26:08,680 --> 00:26:18,560
more valuable than the rest?
The Oracle's coming, and I'm not
320
00:26:18,560 --> 00:26:22,480
going to stand around like the
Syndicate, like you all have
321
00:26:22,480 --> 00:26:26,760
stood around waiting for the
next catastrophe.
322
00:26:31,400 --> 00:26:35,760
You've said you know about us.
What do you think you know?
323
00:26:38,560 --> 00:26:42,200
Well, tell me, Kestea, how is
your son?
324
00:26:43,200 --> 00:26:46,840
Is he safe?
You leave him out of this.
325
00:26:48,080 --> 00:26:57,880
You leave my family out of this.
A path not aligned with mine is
326
00:26:57,880 --> 00:27:01,040
a path that leads to his ruin
and everyone else's.
327
00:27:05,280 --> 00:27:09,760
I assure you that if you bring
my son into this, it will lead
328
00:27:09,760 --> 00:27:13,720
to your ruin.
He's already involved.
329
00:27:17,120 --> 00:27:22,840
Everyone is already involved.
The Syndicate gives you
330
00:27:22,840 --> 00:27:30,640
missions, gives us missions on
how to prevent war, negotiate
331
00:27:30,760 --> 00:27:36,200
treaties, eliminate high value
targets.
332
00:27:38,000 --> 00:27:40,240
But the purpose behind all of
that is never clearly
333
00:27:40,240 --> 00:27:45,360
communicated, never truly
distributed.
334
00:27:46,680 --> 00:27:51,000
That knowledge is retained for
those at the higher level.
335
00:27:52,440 --> 00:27:57,880
Part of this burden of memory
and of truth is also one of
336
00:27:58,280 --> 00:28:02,440
transparency.
It's very difficult for others
337
00:28:02,440 --> 00:28:13,240
to hide from me and I will tell
you in full transparency, while
338
00:28:13,240 --> 00:28:18,160
the syndicate has good
intentions, most of the time
339
00:28:21,200 --> 00:28:25,840
there are ulterior motive.
So then I pose this question to
340
00:28:25,840 --> 00:28:28,600
you.
What is your ulterior motive?
341
00:28:29,600 --> 00:28:33,480
Because of the syndicate has an
ulterior motive, so do you.
342
00:28:35,120 --> 00:28:40,480
My motive is transparency.
It is the free distribution of
343
00:28:40,480 --> 00:28:45,680
memory, the free distribution of
truth, nothing hidden.
344
00:28:47,160 --> 00:28:56,640
Good.
And bad, painful or happy, so
345
00:28:56,720 --> 00:28:58,760
are you.
Saying that everybody's secrets
346
00:28:58,760 --> 00:29:03,600
will just be out there are.
No secrets anymore.
347
00:29:04,360 --> 00:29:11,080
No, that's not what I'm saying.
I'm saying the inability to
348
00:29:11,080 --> 00:29:15,880
forget to some degree.
Ogemon is a clear example.
349
00:29:15,880 --> 00:29:21,520
He has no memory of his, of his
history or his past, only that
350
00:29:21,520 --> 00:29:26,840
the Syndicate was there and he's
a good soldier and follows
351
00:29:26,840 --> 00:29:29,400
orders.
So they used him, they
352
00:29:29,400 --> 00:29:32,240
manipulated him, they put him
where they needed him to be.
353
00:29:35,520 --> 00:29:38,840
It almost killed me as a
reminder with one of the
354
00:29:38,840 --> 00:29:41,680
bounties that they sent me on
and I'm pretty sure they knew
355
00:29:41,680 --> 00:29:47,760
full well what they were doing.
Maybe they they did that because
356
00:29:48,000 --> 00:29:51,720
whatever you lived through
previously had been so traumatic
357
00:29:51,760 --> 00:29:53,560
you couldn't.
Who are they to make that
358
00:29:53,560 --> 00:29:54,920
determination?
That's.
359
00:29:54,920 --> 00:29:56,600
How do you know that they?
Didn't enough?
360
00:29:56,800 --> 00:30:00,520
He didn't ask him them.
It's time for you all to stand
361
00:30:00,520 --> 00:30:04,840
with me, and if you won't stand
with me, time will stop for you.
362
00:30:07,680 --> 00:30:13,880
And as he says that, the chamber
shakes as molten cracks split
363
00:30:13,880 --> 00:30:17,640
across the pyre.
Heart stones, mask mask drift in
364
00:30:17,640 --> 00:30:21,880
the hot air like ash.
Nero steps forward with calm
365
00:30:21,880 --> 00:30:25,600
precision.
The accord glows under his hand.
366
00:30:26,000 --> 00:30:31,720
His eyes carry that faint
cracked Violet Sheen of of the
367
00:30:31,720 --> 00:30:40,040
host, and he he speaks without
raising his voice.
368
00:30:42,240 --> 00:30:47,320
You stand here with your doubt.
You cling to your fear of the
369
00:30:47,320 --> 00:30:50,120
truth.
You still believe.
370
00:30:50,120 --> 00:30:55,080
I will hesitate, but I will not.
You had your chance to join me.
371
00:30:57,200 --> 00:31:00,560
He lifts his holy symbol.
It's metal warps.
372
00:31:00,560 --> 00:31:04,840
It bends in quiet heat.
The air starts to compress.
373
00:31:05,760 --> 00:31:08,680
A ripple of force is starting to
spread from him.
374
00:31:08,680 --> 00:31:13,080
Slow at first, then sharp.
The party begins to feel
375
00:31:13,080 --> 00:31:17,160
pressure behind their eyes,
every torch tilting towards
376
00:31:17,160 --> 00:31:19,800
Nero's.
Every Dominion soldier braces.
377
00:31:20,400 --> 00:31:24,600
He looks at the party with a a
strange softness.
378
00:31:25,760 --> 00:31:30,440
Trust you will understand.
You'll understand in time.
379
00:31:31,480 --> 00:31:35,880
The world cannot wait for your
courage to rise up, and then you
380
00:31:36,880 --> 00:31:40,320
know this will cast time stop.
He raises his hand towards all
381
00:31:40,320 --> 00:31:43,240
of you, the floor beginning to
crack.
382
00:31:43,280 --> 00:31:48,800
A pulse of white fire forms.
This is the moment he intends to
383
00:31:48,800 --> 00:31:52,760
end the party.
These honey words don't have me
384
00:31:52,760 --> 00:31:55,840
fooled.
I, for one, intend to get us out
385
00:31:55,840 --> 00:31:58,520
of here.
I've been preparing the circle
386
00:31:58,520 --> 00:32:01,040
of teleportation and I think
it's time.
387
00:32:01,320 --> 00:32:04,960
Before the pulse of time start,
Time stop begins to detonate and
388
00:32:04,960 --> 00:32:10,800
spread across the entire the
entire Chapel, Zebulon moves.
389
00:32:10,800 --> 00:32:13,160
One hand snaps to a mirror seed
charm.
390
00:32:13,160 --> 00:32:17,000
He carries the other, tracing a
circle across the open air.
391
00:32:17,240 --> 00:32:20,880
Lines burn cold blue.
They ripple like memory pulled
392
00:32:20,880 --> 00:32:23,880
taut.
The circle flare is a tunnel of
393
00:32:23,880 --> 00:32:26,440
mountain mist and frost.
Light shows the familiar
394
00:32:26,440 --> 00:32:30,520
interior of his Tavern in the
Shatter Peaks, the stone hearth,
395
00:32:31,000 --> 00:32:34,840
the carved tables, the old
ironwood beams holding up the
396
00:32:34,840 --> 00:32:37,280
roof, the sound of distant
winds.
397
00:32:37,280 --> 00:32:41,960
The teleports is is violent, but
the choice is instant.
398
00:32:43,120 --> 00:32:45,120
Nebulon commands, commands all
of you.
399
00:32:45,120 --> 00:32:48,680
Move now.
The pulse from near us erupts
400
00:32:48,680 --> 00:32:51,120
behind them.
The Circle collapses at the
401
00:32:51,120 --> 00:32:54,280
exact moment Time Stop would
have reached you, and for a
402
00:32:54,280 --> 00:32:59,880
moment the world becomes just
white heat and then stone cold,
403
00:33:00,680 --> 00:33:03,800
but home.
The party stumbles into
404
00:33:03,800 --> 00:33:07,200
Zebulon's Tavern.
The hearth crackles, tankard
405
00:33:07,200 --> 00:33:10,320
shake on their hooks, a storm
building outside the window.
406
00:33:10,320 --> 00:33:14,600
The Shatter peaks breathe in
slow gusts of frozen air.
407
00:33:15,320 --> 00:33:19,560
Zebulon drops to one knee.
His sweat is cutting through the
408
00:33:19,560 --> 00:33:23,440
sort of on his skin.
The circle sigil scars his palm
409
00:33:23,440 --> 00:33:27,400
in faint mirror blue lines.
He catches his breath.
410
00:33:28,600 --> 00:33:31,320
He stands and bolts.
The door shut.
411
00:33:32,280 --> 00:33:35,640
Outside, Thunder rolls down the
mountainside.
412
00:33:36,080 --> 00:33:39,240
The world feels different now.
The world.
413
00:33:39,760 --> 00:33:44,880
The Accord is real.
Neros is gone, Ogemon is gone,
414
00:33:44,880 --> 00:33:50,000
and the factions have shifted.
And with that, we're going to
415
00:33:50,000 --> 00:33:51,720
take a quick break here on Crit
Happens.
416
00:33:51,720 --> 00:33:53,760
We will be back here after this
commercial break.
417
00:33:55,520 --> 00:33:58,400
Tonight's episode of Chris
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This message brought to you by
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Crit happens.
Welcome back to crit Happens
445
00:35:23,800 --> 00:35:27,040
here on Spotify, iTunes,
player.fmpoddirectory.com,
446
00:35:27,040 --> 00:35:31,000
stitcher.com, TuneIn radio and
iheartradio.com.
447
00:35:31,360 --> 00:35:33,640
All right, we're going to pick
up pick up immediately where we
448
00:35:33,640 --> 00:35:36,080
left off.
The party had just been
449
00:35:36,280 --> 00:35:42,000
teleported back to the Tavern
that Zebulon owns, kind of the
450
00:35:42,160 --> 00:35:45,880
Syndicate safe haven located
within the Shatter Peaks.
451
00:35:45,880 --> 00:35:53,960
So as you come through the
portal, everyone has this moment
452
00:35:54,040 --> 00:36:01,840
to themselves of what on God's
earth just happened and Zebulon
453
00:36:01,840 --> 00:36:05,840
kind of starts to make himself
busy behind the bar trying to
454
00:36:05,840 --> 00:36:13,760
distract himself, Savara
cleaning her weapon and 'cause
455
00:36:13,760 --> 00:36:17,760
they are just back and forth
pacing almost.
456
00:36:19,000 --> 00:36:20,840
So they've set their sights on
our right.
457
00:36:21,200 --> 00:36:27,000
Her voice tightens, not with
fear, but something far sharper.
458
00:36:28,600 --> 00:36:32,320
Let them try.
My son is not prey, and I am not
459
00:36:32,320 --> 00:36:35,720
a mother who begs for mercy.
If they believe he is the
460
00:36:35,720 --> 00:36:38,280
target, then they have already
signed their deaths.
461
00:36:38,760 --> 00:36:41,360
I will not warn him.
He needs to see what the world
462
00:36:41,360 --> 00:36:44,560
truly is.
But if a single hand reaches for
463
00:36:44,560 --> 00:36:47,720
him, she exhales.
I see and.
464
00:36:47,960 --> 00:36:52,160
Get deliberate.
If they reach for him, I will
465
00:36:52,160 --> 00:36:55,840
not simply kill them.
I will unmake them, peel their
466
00:36:55,840 --> 00:36:59,000
names from his precious memory,
and grind their souls until they
467
00:36:59,000 --> 00:37:03,120
have nothing.
Not even the void remembers that
468
00:37:03,120 --> 00:37:06,920
they ever walked.
And as soon as she says that,
469
00:37:06,920 --> 00:37:12,120
she will immediately retreat to
her her room and, and lock
470
00:37:12,120 --> 00:37:17,200
herself in her room within the
Tavern.
471
00:37:17,680 --> 00:37:24,680
You you take a couple days to
digest what has just occurred
472
00:37:24,680 --> 00:37:32,360
the the sharp betrayal that has
occurred and a couple of days go
473
00:37:32,360 --> 00:37:34,520
by.
Snow is whispering along the
474
00:37:34,520 --> 00:37:38,280
snow stone walls as a cold dawn
settles over the Shadow peaks.
475
00:37:38,880 --> 00:37:42,120
Zebulon keeps the Tavern dark
except for the hearth.
476
00:37:42,600 --> 00:37:47,080
He checks the mirror wards one
last time and then almost a
477
00:37:47,080 --> 00:37:54,160
coated knock hits the door. 4
beats a pause, 2 beats more.
478
00:37:54,840 --> 00:37:59,040
Zebulon opens the door.
The it's a syndicate delegation.
479
00:37:59,080 --> 00:38:03,080
Attempt command delegation and
they step inside The High
480
00:38:03,080 --> 00:38:07,720
Empress Relvain enters first.
Her cloak carries frost.
481
00:38:07,720 --> 00:38:11,720
Her Ledger fragment hangs in a
Steelcase by her side.
482
00:38:12,280 --> 00:38:15,600
Captain Vayrich Stone Clark,
Stone cloak.
483
00:38:15,600 --> 00:38:20,320
Excuse me follows his armor,
still glowing faintly from a
484
00:38:20,320 --> 00:38:22,400
recent battle.
Remember it.
485
00:38:22,400 --> 00:38:26,400
Careless Vay brings the quiet
presence of the hollow host.
486
00:38:26,840 --> 00:38:31,520
Their cracked porcelain markings
catch the the fire light and
487
00:38:31,520 --> 00:38:37,480
then the reinforcements arrive.
Mimi steps into the Tavern with
488
00:38:37,800 --> 00:38:41,280
a steady confidence.
She removes her hood.
489
00:38:41,600 --> 00:38:46,800
Her eyes land not on the party,
but directly on Cast Daya
490
00:38:46,800 --> 00:38:49,720
herself.
She will go immediately to Cast
491
00:38:49,720 --> 00:38:52,920
Daya and will grapple her into a
huge hug.
492
00:38:54,280 --> 00:38:56,920
Came.
I came as fast as I could.
493
00:38:57,360 --> 00:39:00,480
Whatever Nairos became, he is
not finished.
494
00:39:00,720 --> 00:39:05,480
But neither are we heavy.
Footsteps follow her.
495
00:39:06,200 --> 00:39:11,040
A towering figure of slate, blue
metal and stone steps into view,
496
00:39:11,600 --> 00:39:16,720
armor plates grown directly from
his, from his from his chassis.
497
00:39:17,280 --> 00:39:21,920
Thin gold lines run through him
like fault cracks, each pulsing
498
00:39:21,920 --> 00:39:26,360
from a diamond shaped core set
in his chest, glowing a steady
499
00:39:26,400 --> 00:39:30,560
amber orange.
His face is almost Elvin, but
500
00:39:31,000 --> 00:39:35,880
too symmetrical and too still,
with pupiless blue eyes that
501
00:39:35,880 --> 00:39:40,520
track every exit and every
threat before they ever even
502
00:39:40,520 --> 00:39:44,720
think to land on the party.
When he speaks, it's it's
503
00:39:44,720 --> 00:39:48,640
precise and quipped, like a
report being filed.
504
00:39:49,000 --> 00:39:54,560
Designation 9141 dot V3 Yield
name Glaive relic forge security
505
00:39:54,560 --> 00:39:58,200
frame former corporate asset,
Current operational directive
506
00:39:58,480 --> 00:40:03,840
Keep this cohort alive.
He shifts his grip on the long
507
00:40:03,840 --> 00:40:08,640
rune edged glaive at his side.
That single sentence becomes his
508
00:40:08,640 --> 00:40:12,560
entire biography.
A wide shouldered dwarf follows
509
00:40:12,560 --> 00:40:16,000
behind him.
His braids are tied with iron
510
00:40:16,000 --> 00:40:19,400
rings.
His boots are thick with Shatter
511
00:40:19,400 --> 00:40:23,240
Peak ice.
I break problems that need
512
00:40:23,240 --> 00:40:25,800
breaking.
They told you, you face one.
513
00:40:26,080 --> 00:40:31,160
They told me that it lived.
He nods once to the group, then
514
00:40:31,160 --> 00:40:34,160
to the leadership, direct yet
unbothered.
515
00:40:34,600 --> 00:40:37,960
Real quick, before we continue,
let's start with Gene.
516
00:40:38,040 --> 00:40:39,560
Go ahead and introduce your new
character.
517
00:40:39,840 --> 00:40:41,880
So my character's name is
Harkum.
518
00:40:41,920 --> 00:40:45,600
Obviously he is a dwarf by
barbarian.
519
00:40:45,920 --> 00:40:51,440
Excuse me.
And he is very short for being a
520
00:40:51,440 --> 00:40:54,600
dwarf.
So somewhere along the lines he
521
00:40:54,600 --> 00:40:59,160
must, his family must have had
ran ran a gene shorter.
522
00:40:59,160 --> 00:41:06,360
So as I say, you could tell by
looking at him that he has like
523
00:41:06,360 --> 00:41:10,880
an ex criminal background, the
way his eyes are shifty, but
524
00:41:11,440 --> 00:41:14,160
he's very calm and he's very
direct.
525
00:41:14,760 --> 00:41:19,600
And you could just tell that he
doesn't worry much.
526
00:41:21,840 --> 00:41:26,000
He just does what he has to do.
All right.
527
00:41:26,200 --> 00:41:28,360
And then Jesse, if you would
like to introduce your new
528
00:41:28,360 --> 00:41:31,000
character as well.
Sure.
529
00:41:31,040 --> 00:41:38,120
So Glaive is his field name his
I'll send it in the chat and
530
00:41:38,120 --> 00:41:42,000
obviously our audio listeners
can't see this, but his asset
531
00:41:42,000 --> 00:41:46,080
name, asset name is Glaive,
right?
532
00:41:46,080 --> 00:41:48,040
It's spelled out with like I
don't know if people are
533
00:41:48,040 --> 00:41:50,680
familiar with like Bleet speak
1337.
534
00:41:52,160 --> 00:41:53,920
So it's using characters to
write Glaive.
535
00:41:53,920 --> 00:42:00,160
So his asset is his model IS9141
dot V3, which is the also
536
00:42:00,160 --> 00:42:03,040
Glaive.
So he took on the field name of
537
00:42:03,040 --> 00:42:09,160
Glaive.
He's about 6/6, not entirely
538
00:42:10,200 --> 00:42:16,600
intimidating looking, but much
heavier in presence than you
539
00:42:16,600 --> 00:42:18,280
would expect from someone of his
stature.
540
00:42:19,800 --> 00:42:22,800
Cold, calculated, but not
unkind.
541
00:42:23,880 --> 00:42:34,440
He's a got a very large glaive,
ironically that he very rarely
542
00:42:34,440 --> 00:42:42,200
actually let's go of.
He's not so much a species as he
543
00:42:42,200 --> 00:42:47,960
is an experiment.
And the result of that
544
00:42:47,960 --> 00:42:52,720
experimentation is what people
refer to as like corporate
545
00:42:52,720 --> 00:43:00,720
asset.
All right, so from there, after
546
00:43:00,720 --> 00:43:07,200
Mimi, Glaive, and Harkum all
enter, Zebulon will shut the
547
00:43:07,200 --> 00:43:13,640
door and we'll almost put a
locking ward and it will seal.
548
00:43:14,160 --> 00:43:19,880
With a low hum, Relvain sets the
Ledger fragment on the table.
549
00:43:20,800 --> 00:43:24,000
Ink inside is shifting like a a
living map.
550
00:43:25,800 --> 00:43:30,320
We are here because the Accord
rewrote the board. 2 factions
551
00:43:30,320 --> 00:43:34,000
now move as one.
Neros is the binding point.
552
00:43:34,880 --> 00:43:37,000
You were present, you, you
escaped him.
553
00:43:37,480 --> 00:43:40,760
We we must understand how and
and why.
554
00:43:41,720 --> 00:43:45,880
Stone Cloak's arms.
He folds his arms.
555
00:43:47,120 --> 00:43:50,800
He signed in Velour's place.
He he forced the Host and the
556
00:43:50,800 --> 00:43:54,600
Dominion into alignment.
That level of precision is not
557
00:43:54,600 --> 00:43:57,120
chance.
And we need your account.
558
00:43:59,000 --> 00:44:07,200
Mimi steps closer.
In my time away, I served near
559
00:44:07,200 --> 00:44:10,360
Dominion Lines.
The reports described Nairos's
560
00:44:10,360 --> 00:44:13,400
chosen.
Her tone does not match what you
561
00:44:13,400 --> 00:44:15,280
saw.
I want your truth.
562
00:44:16,720 --> 00:44:24,760
Slave's voice cuts in.
I will compare your testimony
563
00:44:24,760 --> 00:44:29,240
with hold pattern logs.
Expect direct questions.
564
00:44:30,160 --> 00:44:32,920
Harkum rests both hands on the
table.
565
00:44:33,640 --> 00:44:37,640
If Nero's believes he is right,
I will not stop or he will not
566
00:44:37,640 --> 00:44:40,280
stop.
I need to know what he became.
567
00:44:41,400 --> 00:44:45,600
Kayla's now studies the group.
The host.
568
00:44:47,040 --> 00:44:51,240
My host accepted him, that much
is clear.
569
00:44:52,320 --> 00:44:57,480
Their reasons are not they they
rarely move without purpose.
570
00:44:59,160 --> 00:45:09,800
Relvain raises 3 fingers, One
how nearest turned 2.
571
00:45:10,960 --> 00:45:16,840
Why the host accepted him so
fast. 3 What the accord
572
00:45:16,840 --> 00:45:19,560
activates.
She lowers her hand.
573
00:45:20,520 --> 00:45:22,960
Begin with the final moments
before the extraction.
574
00:45:23,720 --> 00:45:27,720
Every detail matters.
The world changed in that room
575
00:45:28,160 --> 00:45:35,160
in an instant that the Ledger
must know, and she'll nod to to
576
00:45:35,160 --> 00:45:38,680
Zebulon.
You lived it.
577
00:45:39,560 --> 00:45:44,640
Please start from there.
And the Tavern falls quiet as
578
00:45:44,640 --> 00:45:48,760
they begin to listen.
And the next decisions of what
579
00:45:48,760 --> 00:45:52,360
the syndicate will do will
depend on what the party says.
580
00:45:57,120 --> 00:45:58,960
You're asking how it all went
down?
581
00:45:59,320 --> 00:46:01,480
Well, essentially we had
succeeded.
582
00:46:01,480 --> 00:46:07,560
We had defeated both of the
enemy leaders when Neros decided
583
00:46:07,560 --> 00:46:11,640
to sign the Accord himself,
usurping his former God.
584
00:46:14,120 --> 00:46:16,320
I'm not sure any of us were
prepared for it exactly.
585
00:46:16,720 --> 00:46:20,040
He tried to convince us to go
with him, but those of us here,
586
00:46:21,480 --> 00:46:26,360
obviously he decided not to.
Does anyone else who was there
587
00:46:26,360 --> 00:46:29,680
have details to add?
Well.
588
00:46:29,920 --> 00:46:35,000
He's exciting us the whole time.
Walks a little closer and and
589
00:46:35,000 --> 00:46:43,520
says Nero seems to believe
himself a God and he spoke of
590
00:46:45,240 --> 00:46:48,080
someone coming.
He said the Oracle was coming.
591
00:46:50,440 --> 00:46:58,600
As soon as you say the word
Oracle, Relvain and Kalis, we'll
592
00:46:58,600 --> 00:47:07,760
both look at each other and you
can see they're not saying
593
00:47:07,760 --> 00:47:13,040
anything, but their faces have
turned a pale white, white as a
594
00:47:13,040 --> 00:47:20,120
ghost.
And Kayla's will go the Oracle.
595
00:47:22,160 --> 00:47:31,490
What do you mean the Oracle?
Nero said the Oracle was coming
596
00:47:31,690 --> 00:47:38,250
and that part of why he was
doing this was to prevent a
597
00:47:38,250 --> 00:47:42,930
repeat of history, but this is
not something I'm familiar with.
598
00:47:48,920 --> 00:48:01,040
The the Ashen Oracle is it's
it's older than written memory.
599
00:48:01,040 --> 00:48:10,440
It's it's fire does not burn it.
It it reveals it was it was
600
00:48:10,440 --> 00:48:15,840
sealed many, many centuries ago.
The the ceiling of the Oracle
601
00:48:15,840 --> 00:48:20,160
save the world.
Those who touched its flame were
602
00:48:21,400 --> 00:48:24,960
changed.
The the the minion fears the
603
00:48:25,000 --> 00:48:30,800
Oracle, the host mourns it.
It's it's awakening would not
604
00:48:30,800 --> 00:48:34,080
look like you expect.
Truth.
605
00:48:34,080 --> 00:48:38,760
Truth is never gentle.
The oracles least of all.
606
00:48:45,480 --> 00:48:51,080
Umm, Mimi's going to stand up
from her chair, put like her
607
00:48:51,120 --> 00:48:53,720
hands on the table, lean forward
and go.
608
00:48:55,600 --> 00:49:01,160
So you're telling me that this
entire time that man has been
609
00:49:01,520 --> 00:49:06,120
not just a rat, but an informant
and now a God killer?
610
00:49:10,680 --> 00:49:15,120
He was fairly upfront about his
worship of Velora, so I think
611
00:49:15,120 --> 00:49:17,280
the term rat is maybe a bit
unfair.
612
00:49:18,680 --> 00:49:20,240
All of those other things, yes,
I.
613
00:49:21,960 --> 00:49:26,440
Mean.
He destroyed the sign of of
614
00:49:26,440 --> 00:49:31,480
Valora.
He he used his status as
615
00:49:31,480 --> 00:49:39,200
Reliquary reliquary to to gain
entrance, but he bastardized
616
00:49:39,200 --> 00:49:45,200
everything that stands for
Clericood all in the name of of
617
00:49:45,200 --> 00:49:50,400
supposedly stopping this Oracle
and absolute truth everywhere.
618
00:49:54,600 --> 00:50:01,240
Well, I think we need to start
with figuring out who the Oracle
619
00:50:01,240 --> 00:50:02,680
is.
All right, gang, it's time to
620
00:50:02,680 --> 00:50:04,840
hit the books.
Maybe he's going to sit back
621
00:50:04,840 --> 00:50:09,760
down.
From from what we know, and this
622
00:50:09,760 --> 00:50:13,480
is careless.
Again, talking from what we
623
00:50:13,480 --> 00:50:21,840
know, the Oracle is still, it's
still chained.
624
00:50:21,960 --> 00:50:26,600
It's still, it's still sealed
away.
625
00:50:26,720 --> 00:50:33,520
We would have, we would know if,
if, if the, if the Oracle was
626
00:50:33,520 --> 00:50:37,600
beginning to awaken.
Everyone in this realm would
627
00:50:37,600 --> 00:50:43,040
know if the Oracle was was
awakening.
628
00:50:45,120 --> 00:50:49,000
Part of what Neros was talking
about was that there were
629
00:50:49,000 --> 00:50:52,240
memories being wiped, would you
know?
630
00:50:52,240 --> 00:50:57,840
And.
If you didn't know, would you
631
00:50:57,840 --> 00:51:02,520
tell us it is?
Yes, we would.
632
00:51:03,000 --> 00:51:06,880
Because you because you
obviously seem to know more
633
00:51:06,880 --> 00:51:09,880
about the Oracle than what
you're letting on the fact that
634
00:51:09,880 --> 00:51:11,960
you no longer have blood running
into your face.
635
00:51:15,920 --> 00:51:21,320
Give me an insight check.
Hold on, I just have my dice
636
00:51:21,320 --> 00:51:26,240
ready, pausing.
Oh, that is a 19.
637
00:51:26,920 --> 00:51:28,800
I don't know what my modifiers
are.
638
00:51:29,520 --> 00:51:41,120
So just don't beats the DC
anyway you when Relvain says, of
639
00:51:41,120 --> 00:51:47,480
course we would tell you, you
can sense that that that
640
00:51:47,480 --> 00:51:54,280
statement is not entirely true.
Of course they would.
641
00:51:54,440 --> 00:51:59,760
Say that they would tell you.
Sure you would, because they is
642
00:51:59,760 --> 00:52:02,680
going to stand up.
I think I've had just about
643
00:52:02,680 --> 00:52:04,520
enough.
She's going to kind of pat her
644
00:52:04,520 --> 00:52:06,720
side and Asmodeus is going to
follow her and she's going to
645
00:52:06,720 --> 00:52:14,760
head towards the door.
Mimi's going to stand up and
646
00:52:14,760 --> 00:52:16,760
like kind of sharpen her claws
and go.
647
00:52:17,760 --> 00:52:25,680
So if this continues, I'll find
you just going to follow
648
00:52:25,680 --> 00:52:31,880
Cassadea out.
Agents, we need to come up with
649
00:52:31,880 --> 00:52:36,840
a plan before we go anywhere.
Cassadan is going to whip
650
00:52:36,840 --> 00:52:44,080
around, go anywhere.
This is already gone too far.
651
00:52:44,400 --> 00:52:48,160
They've threatened my son.
My son.
652
00:52:49,200 --> 00:52:51,920
And you say you would tell us,
but I don't think that's
653
00:52:51,920 --> 00:52:54,120
completely truthful.
You would tell us what we need
654
00:52:54,120 --> 00:52:55,960
to know.
But right now what we need to
655
00:52:55,960 --> 00:52:58,720
know is everything.
Everything that you know.
656
00:52:58,840 --> 00:53:02,240
Because you've cut us in dark,
the dark, for too long, and now
657
00:53:02,240 --> 00:53:04,720
we're here.
We're at this point.
658
00:53:04,920 --> 00:53:07,880
And I don't think that you would
know if that Oracle was waking
659
00:53:07,880 --> 00:53:09,280
up.
I don't think you would know.
660
00:53:09,280 --> 00:53:11,120
Your asshole from a hole in the
wall.
661
00:53:18,880 --> 00:53:26,080
God damn.
Everyone in the room is taken
662
00:53:26,080 --> 00:53:29,320
aback at that.
Can I jump in or?
663
00:53:29,520 --> 00:53:34,760
Oh yeah, sure.
Kasdea, this does nothing to
664
00:53:34,760 --> 00:53:39,080
serve you protecting your son.
We need to stay calm and keep
665
00:53:39,080 --> 00:53:43,960
level heads for this.
Whatever is coming is not simple
666
00:53:43,960 --> 00:53:47,000
or easy.
We need all the help we can get.
667
00:53:47,320 --> 00:53:51,600
Please try to stay calm.
Try to stay calm.
668
00:53:51,960 --> 00:53:54,560
Oh, Sisa, they're lying to our
faces.
669
00:53:54,960 --> 00:53:57,640
Look at them.
They obviously know more than
670
00:53:57,640 --> 00:54:00,200
they're letting on.
And they're not going to tell
671
00:54:00,200 --> 00:54:02,080
you, and they're not going to
tell me.
672
00:54:02,160 --> 00:54:05,080
They're not going to tell me
until I am bleeding to death and
673
00:54:05,080 --> 00:54:08,320
I am on my deathbed.
I don't want my son to see me
674
00:54:08,320 --> 00:54:10,560
dead.
He already lost his father and I
675
00:54:10,560 --> 00:54:14,720
refuse to let him lose me.
So sorry if I don't trust
676
00:54:14,720 --> 00:54:17,200
everything that the syndicate is
feeding us.
677
00:54:17,680 --> 00:54:20,520
I might not be on Neuros's side,
but I don't think I'm on theirs
678
00:54:20,520 --> 00:54:23,720
either.
No one's asking you to trust.
679
00:54:23,720 --> 00:54:27,720
Everything.
No.
680
00:54:27,720 --> 00:54:31,440
But you're asking me to put my
life on the line, my life on the
681
00:54:31,440 --> 00:54:35,440
line for something that isn't
being completely told to us.
682
00:54:36,080 --> 00:54:38,680
They know more.
They know more.
683
00:54:38,680 --> 00:54:40,760
Don't you know more?
Tell them.
684
00:54:41,600 --> 00:54:48,440
Tell them everything.
So Beanie is going to stop and
685
00:54:48,680 --> 00:54:50,720
look these two people in the
eyes, these two people who have
686
00:54:50,720 --> 00:54:53,680
been her commanders or she was
like fighting with the Dominion
687
00:54:55,520 --> 00:55:02,200
and she's going to go.
So this can go to either ways.
688
00:55:02,400 --> 00:55:03,800
Well, actually one of either
way.
689
00:55:04,280 --> 00:55:09,520
Either we sit here like true
diplomats and we talk this out
690
00:55:09,520 --> 00:55:13,600
and you tell us the information
before I got you from sternum to
691
00:55:13,600 --> 00:55:17,560
throat.
You decide.
692
00:55:18,760 --> 00:55:21,880
And as you say that you've.
Seen me killed before, I'll do
693
00:55:21,880 --> 00:55:28,040
it again.
And as you say that Relvain will
694
00:55:28,560 --> 00:55:33,360
slam her legs shot and she will
yell enough and she'll snap her
695
00:55:33,360 --> 00:55:37,960
fingers.
And I need everyone except
696
00:55:38,160 --> 00:55:46,920
Glaive Harkum and I'm sorry,
just those two.
697
00:55:46,920 --> 00:55:49,920
Everybody else.
I need a Wisdom saving throw
698
00:55:49,920 --> 00:55:54,320
please.
Hold on, are they all within 5
699
00:55:54,360 --> 00:55:56,680
or 10 feet of me?
Because if you are, you get a +
700
00:55:56,680 --> 00:56:05,200
5.
No, actually. 11.
701
00:56:06,160 --> 00:56:10,480
Oh man, I rolled A4.
I'm not even causing trouble.
702
00:56:12,600 --> 00:56:22,760
Nat 20, baby.
Nat 20 OK everyone except Kasdea
703
00:56:23,240 --> 00:56:30,720
Harcum and Glaive I.
Rolled Nat. 20 Oh, I'm sorry, I
704
00:56:30,720 --> 00:56:32,400
didn't hear that.
I apologize and I'll see some
705
00:56:33,640 --> 00:56:37,360
You were all.
Hell, I also rolled a Nat 20.
706
00:56:37,360 --> 00:56:39,240
Did you really?
Yes.
707
00:56:39,240 --> 00:56:45,120
Do you want a picture?
No, she will go to attempt to
708
00:56:45,360 --> 00:56:50,240
cast hold person on everyone and
I think the only person that
709
00:56:50,240 --> 00:56:53,160
gets held is Savara.
And Zebulon.
710
00:56:53,560 --> 00:56:55,880
Sorry.
Zebulon none of the least
711
00:56:55,920 --> 00:56:58,160
problematic other than OSISA
right now.
712
00:56:59,200 --> 00:57:00,720
Maybe he's going to enter a
rage.
713
00:57:02,640 --> 00:57:03,560
Oh shit.
Guys.
714
00:57:04,480 --> 00:57:08,200
I'm tired of their lies.
I'm tired of this bullshit.
715
00:57:10,840 --> 00:57:12,600
Damn, why don't you all just
join near us God.
716
00:57:13,040 --> 00:57:16,840
Damn, honestly like Savara knew
that the Syndicate was kind of
717
00:57:16,840 --> 00:57:21,840
shady so like she's not overly
surprised by this for.
718
00:57:22,400 --> 00:57:25,720
Sure is that be like maybe he's.
Gonna bristle like, you know,
719
00:57:25,720 --> 00:57:29,960
like when like a poof ball just
like extends kind of like that
720
00:57:29,960 --> 00:57:32,520
and her limbs are going to start
to crack and she's going to go
721
00:57:32,800 --> 00:57:39,360
how dare you, and enter a rage.
OK.
722
00:57:43,560 --> 00:57:47,720
Glaive to do something.
I'd recommend it before I make a
723
00:57:47,720 --> 00:57:52,960
move.
Glaive is going to cast.
724
00:57:54,360 --> 00:58:02,760
We'll go a twinned.
I could do twinned old person
725
00:58:02,800 --> 00:58:09,920
now I'll do twinned command OK
on Mimi and Kazdea.
726
00:58:12,480 --> 00:58:14,160
I wouldn't even fight and I was
just mad.
727
00:58:14,880 --> 00:58:17,760
So I need Wisdom saving throws.
Wisdom saving throws from both
728
00:58:17,760 --> 00:58:19,240
of you, please.
What's the DC?
729
00:58:20,440 --> 00:58:21,640
I'm waiting to hear what they
get.
730
00:58:25,000 --> 00:58:27,280
What is?
It 19.
731
00:58:28,960 --> 00:58:32,920
The DC is 20 all.
Right.
732
00:58:32,920 --> 00:58:39,520
What do you want us to do?
You're just stuck, old person.
733
00:58:40,360 --> 00:58:44,880
Because it's the only.
Like one word, right?
734
00:58:44,880 --> 00:58:49,400
Yeah, and he doesn't know a ton
of the stuff, so he's just going
735
00:58:49,400 --> 00:58:54,120
to say grovel.
Are you fucking with me right?
736
00:58:54,520 --> 00:58:59,240
Now the target false prone and
begins to grovel.
737
00:58:59,360 --> 00:59:01,640
Yep.
OK.
738
00:59:02,120 --> 00:59:04,840
He's a robot, so he's not, but
at the same time, yes.
739
00:59:06,080 --> 00:59:10,120
OK, whatever, Amy starts
groveling.
740
00:59:10,400 --> 00:59:13,080
I couldn't think of a of a
single word that was like chill
741
00:59:13,080 --> 00:59:16,760
out bitch, you know, calm hell
down y'all.
742
00:59:18,360 --> 00:59:20,640
Feel like that's the most.
Functional robot response
743
00:59:20,640 --> 00:59:21,600
that's.
Right.
744
00:59:21,600 --> 00:59:23,640
OK.
So I guess you've de escalated
745
00:59:23,640 --> 00:59:25,640
the situation.
My bad.
746
00:59:27,520 --> 00:59:29,440
And then so after after glib.
Kind of does.
747
00:59:29,440 --> 00:59:34,800
It he'll just say hostility
isn't solving any of these
748
00:59:34,800 --> 00:59:39,560
problems.
Companionship, teamwork and a
749
00:59:39,560 --> 00:59:44,440
plan.
That's how we take back with
750
00:59:44,440 --> 00:59:47,640
SARS.
Am I allowed to talk during
751
00:59:47,640 --> 00:59:50,880
this?
Like am I like when, when you
752
00:59:50,960 --> 00:59:51,920
it's.
Basically done now.
753
00:59:53,240 --> 00:59:55,280
OK, cool.
It only lasts for a round, so it
754
00:59:55,280 --> 00:59:58,440
only lasts 6 seconds, but it's
enough for you to chill for a
755
00:59:58,440 --> 01:00:00,640
second, you know, chill for a
bit and hopefully.
756
01:00:00,760 --> 01:00:03,360
Fine, I'm going to pop a squat
cross legged on the floor with
757
01:00:03,360 --> 01:00:05,960
my arms crossed and just not
look at anybody.
758
01:00:06,680 --> 01:00:09,200
Like like, like I'm not playing
anymore.
759
01:00:09,200 --> 01:00:11,520
I'm.
Done like a dejected giant.
760
01:00:12,040 --> 01:00:16,360
Yep.
Relvain will step forward with
761
01:00:16,400 --> 01:00:21,880
almost a calm focus, and she'll
say, Castea, Mimi, listen to me.
762
01:00:22,480 --> 01:00:26,160
You are not the enemy.
The Syndicate is not your rival.
763
01:00:26,760 --> 01:00:29,320
The world changed when Nero
signed that accord.
764
01:00:29,960 --> 01:00:32,280
That that new faction is our
problem now.
765
01:00:32,840 --> 01:00:35,840
They hold fear and power in the
same hand.
766
01:00:36,360 --> 01:00:38,800
They move fast, they'll move
with purpose.
767
01:00:38,960 --> 01:00:43,040
They will not stop.
She sets a hand on her Ledger.
768
01:00:43,280 --> 01:00:46,680
Her Ledger.
The Oracle is not your concern,
769
01:00:46,760 --> 01:00:49,840
Not yet.
If the Oracle were waking, the
770
01:00:49,840 --> 01:00:54,320
land itself would scream.
Rivers would burn, memory would
771
01:00:54,320 --> 01:00:58,640
fail across entire cities.
You would feel heat in your
772
01:00:58,640 --> 01:01:01,520
bones.
You would know before I ever
773
01:01:01,520 --> 01:01:04,520
spoke a word.
Her eyes stay steady.
774
01:01:06,280 --> 01:01:08,000
What we face right now is
simple.
775
01:01:08,400 --> 01:01:11,720
A united force with two
ideologies that never could have
776
01:01:11,720 --> 01:01:13,840
touched.
They have momentum.
777
01:01:14,120 --> 01:01:17,240
They have belief.
They have neros.
778
01:01:17,720 --> 01:01:19,880
That is where your focus needs
to stay.
779
01:01:20,480 --> 01:01:25,360
Hold your ground, watch the
fractures even when the Oracle
780
01:01:25,360 --> 01:01:29,160
stirs.
We will not need reports.
781
01:01:29,400 --> 01:01:34,200
The world will tell us.
Until that day, please keep your
782
01:01:34,200 --> 01:01:38,480
blades pointed at the faction
and problem that threatens us
783
01:01:38,640 --> 01:01:41,680
today.
Is that understood?
784
01:01:45,040 --> 01:01:52,800
Is that an order?
I'm not above taking your
785
01:01:52,800 --> 01:01:55,840
Ledger.
That is an order.
786
01:01:59,560 --> 01:02:05,280
I think at this point, go ahead.
Oh, it's OK.
787
01:02:05,760 --> 01:02:08,040
I think at this point because
they would take out the Ledger
788
01:02:08,040 --> 01:02:10,720
and like hold it out in front of
her.
789
01:02:12,680 --> 01:02:17,400
We like this Ledger.
This one, Amy is going to snatch
790
01:02:17,400 --> 01:02:20,400
that shit out of her hands and
put it into her bag and just
791
01:02:20,400 --> 01:02:24,680
turn to the general and go.
I'm sorry I had a lack of
792
01:02:24,680 --> 01:02:30,600
control there for a moment.
Turn to Cassadea and just like
793
01:02:30,600 --> 01:02:33,160
give you the most bitch.
Don't you dare look.
794
01:02:35,320 --> 01:02:39,840
Glave, Glave lacking the like,
emotional intelligence is going
795
01:02:39,840 --> 01:02:46,040
to be like, yeah, that Ledger
like, like from Guardians of the
796
01:02:46,040 --> 01:02:49,440
Galaxy when Drax is like, I
would catch it if it flew over
797
01:02:49,440 --> 01:02:52,280
my head, like, like that kind of
mindset.
798
01:02:53,720 --> 01:02:55,440
Glebe is also only three years
old.
799
01:02:57,000 --> 01:03:00,880
Bless at this point I think.
Kazdea is just.
800
01:03:00,960 --> 01:03:05,360
Gaping at Mimi like what the
fuck give it back.
801
01:03:05,440 --> 01:03:08,280
Mimi, give me a persuasion check
on Kazdea.
802
01:03:13,520 --> 01:03:16,560
Can say give me a contested
persuasion check?
803
01:03:20,600 --> 01:03:22,200
Please pause, I have to find my
dice.
804
01:03:22,200 --> 01:03:24,480
I lost it somewhere.
What, did you eat them across
805
01:03:24,480 --> 01:03:26,000
the room?
That's another Nat 20.
806
01:03:26,920 --> 01:03:33,080
Looking good for you, babe.
Taking that picture.
807
01:03:33,200 --> 01:03:37,800
So so So what happens if I
rolled in at 22?
808
01:03:37,880 --> 01:03:38,760
You're.
Joking are.
809
01:03:39,600 --> 01:03:41,960
You kidding?
Really not.
810
01:03:42,520 --> 01:03:45,960
I wish that I were, but I'm
really not.
811
01:03:47,920 --> 01:03:50,560
Yeah, but what's the total?
Because there's no there's no
812
01:03:50,560 --> 01:03:54,120
auto success.
Or one one for Mimi.
813
01:03:56,040 --> 01:03:58,360
He's probably be higher than
that because she's she's a yeah,
814
01:03:59,040 --> 01:04:02,360
yeah, she's got a she's got a
like a 16 deck.
815
01:04:02,360 --> 01:04:08,360
So I think she goes yeah, you'll
because they you won't when Mimi
816
01:04:08,360 --> 01:04:11,480
kind of gives you that bitch, I
swear to fucking God, if you try
817
01:04:11,480 --> 01:04:20,160
this and you'll have this moment
of hesitancy, but you won't
818
01:04:20,160 --> 01:04:27,440
necessarily feel controlled.
You'll feel almost a little bit,
819
01:04:27,440 --> 01:04:30,160
I don't want to say betrayed
given what you guys have gone
820
01:04:30,160 --> 01:04:33,160
through so far, but why is Mimi
all of a sudden on their side?
821
01:04:33,160 --> 01:04:37,480
Yes.
OK, Mimi's going to narrow her
822
01:04:37,480 --> 01:04:41,560
eyes and go.
If we don't get information for
823
01:04:41,560 --> 01:04:44,920
them, we won't know what to do
next.
824
01:04:45,720 --> 01:04:48,600
You can gut them after we get
information.
825
01:04:48,880 --> 01:04:51,880
I don't suggest doing that, but
that is what you wish.
826
01:04:51,880 --> 01:04:55,360
You may do it, however, we
currently need as much
827
01:04:55,360 --> 01:04:58,360
information as we can possibly
get our hands on, and we need to
828
01:04:58,360 --> 01:05:01,200
find out where the fraction is
and we need to go beat the shit
829
01:05:01,200 --> 01:05:05,160
out of them.
So please relax.
830
01:05:06,680 --> 01:05:11,560
Glave raises his hand.
Like in a classroom in my part
831
01:05:11,560 --> 01:05:14,440
of them.
They're with us, glave.
832
01:05:15,000 --> 01:05:21,040
Glave, I have no guts.
It's OK, darling, I know.
833
01:05:22,320 --> 01:05:24,040
Thank you.
Yes.
834
01:05:28,720 --> 01:05:30,400
How close is glave sitting next
to?
835
01:05:31,400 --> 01:05:32,600
Me.
He's about 10 feet away.
836
01:05:34,640 --> 01:05:35,880
And he's still holding his
glave.
837
01:05:36,840 --> 01:05:40,240
Oh yeah, it's a real pretty
glave.
838
01:05:42,800 --> 01:05:45,880
So can I just like, meander my
way over?
839
01:05:47,160 --> 01:05:49,440
Hey, buddy.
I'm gonna sit next to him and
840
01:05:49,440 --> 01:05:50,680
I'm gonna be checking out that
web.
841
01:05:52,440 --> 01:05:55,880
It's I'll get a picture quick.
It's a real pretty pretty
842
01:05:55,880 --> 01:05:57,080
glaive.
Hell yeah.
843
01:05:58,720 --> 01:06:03,080
Maybe he's going to turn to the
commander and ask, So what is
844
01:06:03,080 --> 01:06:06,920
our next course of action?
You said we have to watch the
845
01:06:06,920 --> 01:06:09,000
fraction.
Would you like us to go deal
846
01:06:09,000 --> 01:06:17,200
with the fraction head on?
Relvain Relvain will take out a
847
01:06:17,200 --> 01:06:25,360
portion of almost a map of the
relios, and she will place 3
848
01:06:27,080 --> 01:06:32,640
stones on the map in different
points, each one kind of glowing
849
01:06:32,640 --> 01:06:42,440
with a faint pulse of heat.
She will say these are the first
850
01:06:42,440 --> 01:06:44,600
fracture points linked to the
accord.
851
01:06:45,160 --> 01:06:50,000
Each site shows signs of rising
energy in old ruins that should
852
01:06:50,000 --> 01:06:52,880
be dormant.
The Dominion has already moved
853
01:06:52,880 --> 01:06:56,520
scouts towards two of them.
The Hollow Host has taken
854
01:06:56,520 --> 01:07:00,240
interest in the third.
Stone Cloak will lean in and
855
01:07:00,240 --> 01:07:02,760
he'll say your directive is
simple.
856
01:07:03,160 --> 01:07:06,120
Reach these sites before either
faction locks them down.
857
01:07:06,600 --> 01:07:09,200
Gather proof of what changed
after the accord.
858
01:07:09,720 --> 01:07:12,040
Do not get pulled into open
conflict.
859
01:07:12,320 --> 01:07:19,400
Do not reveal Syndicate presence
unless Survival demands it, and
860
01:07:19,400 --> 01:07:24,000
Kalis will say these locations
share a signature.
861
01:07:24,360 --> 01:07:29,160
Heat spikes, memory bleeds,
structural warping, All recent,
862
01:07:29,200 --> 01:07:32,000
all within the last 48 hours of
the treaty being signed.
863
01:07:32,480 --> 01:07:34,560
Something shook the bones of the
land.
864
01:07:34,640 --> 01:07:37,120
It could be magic, it could be
pressure from below.
865
01:07:37,120 --> 01:07:41,160
Either way, we check the ruins
before the Dominion starts
866
01:07:41,160 --> 01:07:47,720
digging.
You're looking for patterns,
867
01:07:48,480 --> 01:07:53,080
shifts, anything that can tie to
neuros or the accord.
868
01:07:53,960 --> 01:07:57,200
If you find Dominion soldiers,
observe them.
869
01:07:57,800 --> 01:08:00,520
If you find host agents, track
them.
870
01:08:01,280 --> 01:08:05,800
Keep distance from both.
Your role is to study, not
871
01:08:05,800 --> 01:08:10,560
disrupt, and relvain will touch
the last marker.
872
01:08:11,400 --> 01:08:15,040
And if something older has
stood, do not confront it.
873
01:08:15,560 --> 01:08:20,840
You record it, you leave, you
bring the knowledge back here
874
01:08:21,760 --> 01:08:27,800
you will deploy at first light,
travel light, avoid attention,
875
01:08:28,560 --> 01:08:34,160
report every change directly to
the Ledger at the next outpost.
876
01:08:35,359 --> 01:08:38,439
We build our strategy from your
findings.
877
01:08:39,560 --> 01:08:45,160
Relevain will close her Ledger,
place it in a in almost like a
878
01:08:45,880 --> 01:08:51,160
magically sealed case, and lock
it, and she'll say your path is
879
01:08:51,160 --> 01:08:53,120
clear.
These fractures are the first
880
01:08:53,120 --> 01:08:56,720
sign of what lies ahead.
Whatever Nero set in motion
881
01:08:57,120 --> 01:09:01,880
starts right here.
Move fast, stay quiet, bring
882
01:09:01,880 --> 01:09:06,319
back truth and she will step
away from the table and she will
883
01:09:06,319 --> 01:09:13,160
say, this meeting is closed.
Please prepare for the mission.
884
01:09:14,240 --> 01:09:18,240
And they will all leave, and the
room will fade into stillness.
885
01:09:19,399 --> 01:09:22,000
You now carry the only directive
that matters.
886
01:09:22,600 --> 01:09:25,880
Find the fractures, track the
change.
887
01:09:26,479 --> 01:09:30,279
Learn what's waking beneath the
surface of the world.
888
01:09:34,640 --> 01:09:36,840
Into the booty hole of the
world.
889
01:09:36,840 --> 01:09:39,120
Jump into the crack.
Let's go.
890
01:09:43,359 --> 01:09:45,600
You're not.
If you're not, I have
891
01:09:45,600 --> 01:09:48,319
credentials.
And then Glaive will hand
892
01:09:48,319 --> 01:09:51,720
everybody a piece of paper and
I'm going to send what's on it,
893
01:09:54,800 --> 01:09:57,440
Basically a propaganda
advertisement for himself.
894
01:09:59,080 --> 01:10:01,880
I thought something like I do
what I want.
895
01:10:04,080 --> 01:10:09,080
Oh yeah, this.
Point is going to push her way
896
01:10:09,080 --> 01:10:13,000
past Mimi and out the door and
she is heading to her room.
897
01:10:14,480 --> 01:10:16,680
Does anybody have a damn pint in
this place?
898
01:10:17,960 --> 01:10:19,120
I do.
I got you fam.
899
01:10:19,120 --> 01:10:25,640
Come with me help you a lot.
Give us something strong, man.
900
01:10:29,840 --> 01:10:34,200
Can do say glave?
Are there more of you out there?
901
01:10:34,200 --> 01:10:36,080
Is that what this is paper is
telling me?
902
01:10:38,560 --> 01:10:42,680
No, it's just me.
Good stuff.
903
01:10:44,920 --> 01:10:51,040
I usually just get sent in when
when things have to happen and
904
01:10:51,040 --> 01:10:55,600
they don't care about collateral
damage.
905
01:10:56,000 --> 01:10:57,120
What does that say about all of
you?
906
01:11:00,640 --> 01:11:02,480
We've seen suffer, don't worry
about it.
907
01:11:04,480 --> 01:11:06,840
Can you drink?
Do I pour you a glass as well?
908
01:11:07,680 --> 01:11:11,360
I can, I don't.
I'm gonna go take this glass to
909
01:11:12,200 --> 01:11:13,800
Cassidy.
I was gonna leave it outside of
910
01:11:13,800 --> 01:11:16,320
her room.
Amy walks over with like a
911
01:11:16,320 --> 01:11:22,680
little a little thing of beer
and she very lightly knocks and
912
01:11:22,680 --> 01:11:30,440
then sets the beer down.
Just says, or what it's worth.
913
01:11:30,680 --> 01:11:33,840
I'm glad to be home.
He's going to turn back around
914
01:11:33,840 --> 01:11:35,200
and go back to joining the
group.
915
01:11:38,120 --> 01:11:43,320
So this is strictly meta.
How long has Harkham and Glee
916
01:11:43,320 --> 01:11:48,160
been travelling together?
It's me, they haven't
917
01:11:48,160 --> 01:11:51,200
necessarily been travelling
together so effectively what
918
01:11:51,200 --> 01:11:55,600
your rules would have been.
You are senior agents of
919
01:11:55,720 --> 01:11:59,520
Syndicate.
I'll work out what that means
920
01:11:59,520 --> 01:12:04,520
with you 2 out of game because
it will effectively you will be
921
01:12:04,520 --> 01:12:09,200
a little bit more experienced
and I'm going to give you a lot
922
01:12:09,200 --> 01:12:11,400
more proficiency, things like
that to kind of work out of
923
01:12:11,400 --> 01:12:13,680
game.
But we'll work on that over the
924
01:12:13,680 --> 01:12:16,600
next week or so before our next
main campaign session.
925
01:12:18,680 --> 01:12:20,840
OK.
Also, did you look at that club
926
01:12:20,840 --> 01:12:23,200
that I sent you?
Yes, I'll, I'll review that now.
927
01:12:23,240 --> 01:12:24,960
I will.
I'll give you the OK with that
928
01:12:25,440 --> 01:12:28,600
afterwards, so.
You got my DM rights once.
929
01:12:28,720 --> 01:12:30,400
Yes.
All right.
930
01:12:30,400 --> 01:12:31,280
Cool beans.
Thank you.
931
01:12:31,560 --> 01:12:37,040
Because I I thought it might be
a little bit OP, but I don't.
932
01:12:39,600 --> 01:12:39,880
Know.
No.
933
01:12:39,880 --> 01:12:42,960
And if it if, if if when I look
at it, if it's too opie, I'll.
934
01:12:44,360 --> 01:12:46,480
You know, you have no idea the
amount of stuff Spencer's in the
935
01:12:46,480 --> 01:12:47,640
earth for me, yeah.
Yeah, yeah, I've.
936
01:12:48,440 --> 01:12:50,200
Seen my weapon?
So.
937
01:12:50,520 --> 01:12:52,800
Yeah.
So my.
938
01:12:52,840 --> 01:12:54,200
Weapon's kind of broken.
Yeah.
939
01:12:54,800 --> 01:12:57,560
This thing can take down whole
buildings, that's why I'm asking
940
01:12:57,560 --> 01:13:00,280
if it's two OP.
Yeah, I'll review it.
941
01:13:00,280 --> 01:13:02,560
And like I said, if I need to
nerf a couple things.
942
01:13:02,720 --> 01:13:14,760
I will so just for I guess for
role play sake, no one's ever
943
01:13:14,760 --> 01:13:19,440
seen Glaive before.
Well, I can't, I guess I won't
944
01:13:19,440 --> 01:13:20,800
say that truly.
When?
945
01:13:21,600 --> 01:13:25,720
When he's has anyone ever?
Seen a war forge before?
946
01:13:26,160 --> 01:13:28,240
Well, I'm not a WAR forged, I'm
a relic forged.
947
01:13:28,240 --> 01:13:31,520
Yeah, he's a custom class.
OK, Custom race.
948
01:13:31,520 --> 01:13:34,960
Excuse me?
So a relic forge specific to
949
01:13:34,960 --> 01:13:40,240
this world in the Syndicate
specifically, which is kind of a
950
01:13:40,240 --> 01:13:42,720
cross between a War forge and an
Autonome and an elf.
951
01:13:45,720 --> 01:13:50,800
But when he's not active on
mission, he's basically in a
952
01:13:50,960 --> 01:13:54,400
locked closet because he doesn't
need to eat, sleep, or drink
953
01:13:54,880 --> 01:13:58,800
anything, so they just keep him.
Another one that doesn't sleep.
954
01:13:59,480 --> 01:14:02,440
He's content.
He's content within.
955
01:14:02,440 --> 01:14:06,080
He just hangs out.
But when, when stuff really has
956
01:14:06,080 --> 01:14:12,120
to happen, you know, maybe you
maybe you saw him in in the
957
01:14:12,120 --> 01:14:15,160
headquarters or wherever,
something that's up to Spencer,
958
01:14:15,160 --> 01:14:19,040
I guess.
But he's he's kind of elven like
959
01:14:19,040 --> 01:14:24,360
and where most of his body is
metallic and very war forged in
960
01:14:24,920 --> 01:14:29,920
kind of that aspect, there's
still bits of like tissue and
961
01:14:29,920 --> 01:14:34,640
sinew and organic material
strung throughout.
962
01:14:34,640 --> 01:14:36,560
So he's not completely
inorganic.
963
01:14:40,360 --> 01:14:42,400
Also, I just realized I hate the
word sinew.
964
01:14:42,400 --> 01:14:45,560
It's.
Real.
965
01:14:48,400 --> 01:14:55,240
So Zebulon, Savara, Messiah,
what's what's been going on?
966
01:14:55,240 --> 01:14:58,440
I haven't seen you guys in a
while.
967
01:14:58,520 --> 01:15:00,080
There's been a couple moons, you
know.
968
01:15:04,000 --> 01:15:09,800
It's been a while for sure.
Hard to say anything without
969
01:15:09,800 --> 01:15:12,080
mentioning Nero's.
He was there for pretty much all
970
01:15:12,080 --> 01:15:13,400
of it.
Right.
971
01:15:15,920 --> 01:15:19,320
So she said just kind of groans
and rubs the bridge, bridge of
972
01:15:19,320 --> 01:15:23,200
her nose and says, I think I
need to rest.
973
01:15:23,440 --> 01:15:27,240
And she'll walk through the door
and head up towards Kaz Day's
974
01:15:27,240 --> 01:15:38,120
room and she'll stop and knock.
What could I have a moment of
975
01:15:38,120 --> 01:15:41,720
your time?
Because they all slowly open the
976
01:15:41,720 --> 01:15:43,480
door.
Speak.
977
01:15:48,280 --> 01:15:49,920
I want to offer something to
you.
978
01:15:52,840 --> 01:15:54,240
Offer what?
Osisa.
979
01:15:57,200 --> 01:16:01,440
May I sit?
She opens the door wider and
980
01:16:01,440 --> 01:16:04,600
gestures are in.
Meanwhile, she picks up the
981
01:16:04,600 --> 01:16:08,000
small glass of beer that Mimi
left and looks at it and takes
982
01:16:08,000 --> 01:16:14,720
it in the bedroom with her.
Seems to kind of gently sits in
983
01:16:14,720 --> 01:16:20,080
a preferred chair and gestures
for Cassia to do the same.
984
01:16:20,760 --> 01:16:27,000
And she kind of takes a breath,
grimaces, does a kind of visible
985
01:16:27,000 --> 01:16:31,240
swallow.
And she says, I know what it's
986
01:16:31,240 --> 01:16:40,560
like to lose family.
I have no one left and I would
987
01:16:40,560 --> 01:16:44,000
never wish that on anyone, least
of all you.
988
01:16:46,600 --> 01:16:50,480
I come to offer something to
you.
989
01:16:51,400 --> 01:16:58,520
I cannot make any promises, but
should the time come or God gods
990
01:16:58,520 --> 01:17:02,640
forbid something happened and
your son is in danger, I will
991
01:17:02,640 --> 01:17:04,720
put my life on the line to save
him.
992
01:17:10,280 --> 01:17:11,680
I want something different from
you.
993
01:17:11,680 --> 01:17:14,800
I'll see you soon.
Name it.
994
01:17:19,040 --> 01:17:24,920
If ever there comes a day where
I am no longer here, you will
995
01:17:24,920 --> 01:17:30,680
take Orion and you will find a
safe place for him to grow up as
996
01:17:30,680 --> 01:17:35,520
a normal child because normalcy
is not something he has ever
997
01:17:35,520 --> 01:17:40,200
known.
You will take him to a
998
01:17:40,200 --> 01:17:43,080
countryside somewhere far away
from the hustle and bustle of
999
01:17:43,080 --> 01:17:48,840
this stupid God forsaken city
and you will protect him.
1000
01:17:49,280 --> 01:17:54,040
You will give him to people who
will protect him and they will
1001
01:17:54,040 --> 01:17:56,360
see that light.
They will see that light that I
1002
01:17:56,360 --> 01:18:02,160
see, and they will save him
where I could not.
1003
01:18:03,880 --> 01:18:12,440
That is what I want from you.
She takes a deep breath and
1004
01:18:12,440 --> 01:18:16,720
leans forward and grasps
Castaia's hands firmly.
1005
01:18:18,960 --> 01:18:27,800
I swear on my life, on my
beliefs, on my soul, on Shantaya
1006
01:18:29,640 --> 01:18:38,800
that should that day come, may
it ever not, that I will do
1007
01:18:38,800 --> 01:18:41,360
that.
And I will protect your son and
1008
01:18:41,360 --> 01:18:46,680
give him the childhood he
deserves to the best of my
1009
01:18:46,680 --> 01:18:52,440
ability.
And you make sure that he knows
1010
01:18:52,440 --> 01:18:57,360
Mimi and he knows Savara and he
knows Zebulon and everything
1011
01:18:57,360 --> 01:19:01,920
that we've done here and that it
wasn't that it won't be all for
1012
01:19:01,920 --> 01:19:08,680
nothing.
I fought that I tried and I did
1013
01:19:09,320 --> 01:19:16,800
everything for that boy that I
burned this world for that boy
1014
01:19:17,040 --> 01:19:22,040
to keep him safe, O Sisa, to
keep him safe.
1015
01:19:22,240 --> 01:19:24,880
And the syndicate, the
syndicates not going to do that.
1016
01:19:26,000 --> 01:19:30,760
They, they don't, they don't
care, O Sisa, that that boy is
1017
01:19:30,760 --> 01:19:37,720
my world.
That, boy, is my world.
1018
01:19:38,600 --> 01:19:43,240
Of course he is.
But they don't care.
1019
01:19:45,240 --> 01:19:52,920
I do.
I will do everything in my power
1020
01:19:52,960 --> 01:20:00,520
to make it happen to, to show
him who you are, who we were,
1021
01:20:00,520 --> 01:20:05,360
what we fought for.
But I believe that if we try and
1022
01:20:05,360 --> 01:20:13,560
if we band together, we can
survive this and we can have a
1023
01:20:13,560 --> 01:20:17,200
happy ending for all of us
because we deserve it.
1024
01:20:18,960 --> 01:20:20,360
But.
See, here's the thing.
1025
01:20:22,680 --> 01:20:32,160
I'll die trying and that's OK
because I died protecting him
1026
01:20:32,920 --> 01:20:36,400
and that's OK.
It has to be OK.
1027
01:20:40,120 --> 01:20:43,080
As long as I'm here, I'll do
everything I can to prevent
1028
01:20:43,080 --> 01:20:48,840
that.
Kaze is going to unwrap her
1029
01:20:48,840 --> 01:20:51,960
hand, the hand that she keeps
wrapped all the time.
1030
01:20:52,920 --> 01:20:54,640
She's going to stick her hand
out to a Caesar.
1031
01:20:57,000 --> 01:21:05,120
Promise me right now that that
boy, that boy will be safe when
1032
01:21:05,120 --> 01:21:13,080
I'm gone.
OC says unfamiliar with the
1033
01:21:13,080 --> 01:21:17,480
gesture.
So she takes off her her amulet
1034
01:21:17,480 --> 01:21:22,840
of Shantaya and puts it in her
hand and goes to clasp with the
1035
01:21:22,920 --> 01:21:26,520
the the amulet between their
hands.
1036
01:21:30,240 --> 01:21:33,240
Taz Day is going to grip her
hand and give it a firm shake.
1037
01:21:35,600 --> 01:21:36,360
She.
Returns it I'll.
1038
01:21:36,360 --> 01:21:40,720
Haunt you.
I'll haunt you to the end of
1039
01:21:40,720 --> 01:21:45,680
your fucking life if you back
down on this that.
1040
01:21:46,400 --> 01:21:52,200
For nothing less.
OK.
1041
01:21:54,080 --> 01:21:59,760
So be it.
She releases her hand and puts
1042
01:21:59,760 --> 01:22:06,800
the amulet back on, and just
very quickly, briefly yoinks
1043
01:22:07,240 --> 01:22:13,240
Asda into a a firm, short hug.
Pass around the back and the
1044
01:22:13,240 --> 01:22:17,040
lots are go.
As they as stiff as a board
1045
01:22:18,920 --> 01:22:19,920
like.
Thank you.
1046
01:22:21,920 --> 01:22:29,920
Go have fun with our friends.
I'll be down shortly, I'm sure.
1047
01:22:33,080 --> 01:22:37,120
And no, Sisa.
Yes, thank you.
1048
01:22:39,400 --> 01:22:42,520
It's my honor.
And with that, she walks out of
1049
01:22:42,520 --> 01:22:44,680
the room and quietly closes the
door behind her.
1050
01:22:49,320 --> 01:22:51,480
Far.
Anyways, I was staring at this
1051
01:22:51,480 --> 01:22:55,680
massive freaking rhino, right?
I'm staring him dead in the
1052
01:22:55,680 --> 01:22:56,280
eyes.
OK?
1053
01:22:56,440 --> 01:22:58,880
He's got these little tiny like
hands.
1054
01:22:59,040 --> 01:23:02,040
They're like a pincer hand.
My hands are normal sized.
1055
01:23:05,000 --> 01:23:13,520
Like do you remember that rhino
dude that encountered at like
1056
01:23:13,520 --> 01:23:15,680
one of those?
I can't remember where we were.
1057
01:23:16,280 --> 01:23:18,120
This is like when you guys
showed up when I was working on
1058
01:23:18,120 --> 01:23:23,920
the line anyways.
But he's like, so time to bet
1059
01:23:23,920 --> 01:23:26,320
some money.
And I'm like, oh really?
1060
01:23:26,560 --> 01:23:30,280
Let's just say I make them some
really good rhino soup for
1061
01:23:30,280 --> 01:23:35,400
dinner they can test for.
That as you put it, as you put
1062
01:23:35,400 --> 01:23:39,520
it, he was gutted.
Indeed, Glenn, I'm very glad
1063
01:23:39,520 --> 01:23:41,920
that you've learned that.
Anyways, what's going up with
1064
01:23:41,960 --> 01:23:44,920
you guys?
You know anything, you know,
1065
01:23:45,200 --> 01:23:50,880
learning skills, You know, you
guys get any catch while I was
1066
01:23:50,880 --> 01:23:55,160
gone?
I got this cool mask and it lets
1067
01:23:55,200 --> 01:23:58,760
me do this.
So it has the spell mislead
1068
01:23:59,080 --> 01:24:00,760
which lets you leave a
duplicate.
1069
01:24:01,040 --> 01:24:03,440
So I would essentially like tap
you on the shoulder while I'm
1070
01:24:03,440 --> 01:24:08,040
still at the bar, not like a
foot away or whatever.
1071
01:24:09,120 --> 01:24:10,920
I love it so much I want a game
show.
1072
01:24:12,480 --> 01:24:19,240
I mean so did I when I hold out
my hammer which it has like
1073
01:24:20,240 --> 01:24:23,720
these colorful buttons on the
handle.
1074
01:24:24,440 --> 01:24:28,000
What does this one do?
The Football 10.
1075
01:24:29,400 --> 01:24:35,440
My God, we'll go with oh, where
did I put the description?
1076
01:24:35,480 --> 01:24:38,920
Well, we'll have it be the one
where it turns into a flame
1077
01:24:39,920 --> 01:24:43,560
tongue sword or whatever.
So it just immediately is this
1078
01:24:43,560 --> 01:24:47,920
big sword full of flames and
like, well, that that's the
1079
01:24:47,920 --> 01:24:51,000
fiery flame.
Don't.
1080
01:24:51,040 --> 01:24:52,800
Pass well.
Damn nice.
1081
01:24:53,040 --> 01:24:56,680
Nice baby you got there or nice?
I see you're adding to collect
1082
01:24:56,680 --> 01:24:59,680
to the collection and I'd love
to see it so far.
1083
01:25:02,000 --> 01:25:06,800
So it's a good question.
Like as a shapeshifter I'm like
1084
01:25:06,800 --> 01:25:11,400
trying to turn into a rhino guy.
Oh, right, right.
1085
01:25:11,800 --> 01:25:15,600
Before I describe that to you,
do you have anything like alive
1086
01:25:15,600 --> 01:25:19,040
that I could eat?
Alive.
1087
01:25:20,200 --> 01:25:24,520
Yeah, I've got a pet rat in my
pocket, but that's not food.
1088
01:25:25,840 --> 01:25:29,200
Amy's eyes just like, like, you
know, like pupils her, her pupil
1089
01:25:29,200 --> 01:25:33,520
shrink into a sliver and her her
eyes blink like instead of like,
1090
01:25:33,520 --> 01:25:35,720
you know how we blink?
It's the other way.
1091
01:25:35,840 --> 01:25:42,000
And she goes a rat.
We've got some less friendly
1092
01:25:42,000 --> 01:25:43,920
rats outside if you want to go
scavenge.
1093
01:25:44,800 --> 01:25:49,960
OK, I'll be right back.
He was going to get up but her
1094
01:25:49,960 --> 01:25:55,560
weapon down next to Savaro and
freaking she gone is out the
1095
01:25:55,560 --> 01:25:59,480
door around the corner.
Looking at her weapon.
1096
01:26:01,120 --> 01:26:06,560
So as you are all kind of at
this point now just kind of
1097
01:26:06,560 --> 01:26:10,080
mingling with each other and
starting to catch up with Mimi
1098
01:26:10,080 --> 01:26:12,840
and just kind of bring everybody
to the same page, you know,
1099
01:26:12,840 --> 01:26:16,360
inside the, the Hearthburn's
low, the room is quiet.
1100
01:26:17,200 --> 01:26:20,960
You're starting to gather your
gear, maps, rations, tools for
1101
01:26:20,960 --> 01:26:24,040
the for the, the road ahead.
Zebulon.
1102
01:26:24,040 --> 01:26:27,840
You're checking your mirror ward
along the door frame ripples
1103
01:26:27,840 --> 01:26:31,480
once, then settles.
Mimi, you're adjusting your
1104
01:26:31,480 --> 01:26:34,160
armor.
First light, no delays.
1105
01:26:34,680 --> 01:26:36,200
Glave.
You're standing next to the
1106
01:26:36,200 --> 01:26:38,160
window.
The glow in your chest is kind
1107
01:26:38,160 --> 01:26:41,200
of steady and calm.
Arkham.
1108
01:26:41,280 --> 01:26:45,120
You're tying the last iron ring
into the into the brain of your
1109
01:26:45,280 --> 01:26:50,320
of your beard.
Castea feels the Tavern floor.
1110
01:26:50,520 --> 01:26:55,880
Castea returns and and feels the
Tavern floor hum under her boots
1111
01:26:55,880 --> 01:27:01,120
for just a moment is a short
pulse, too light to to shake any
1112
01:27:01,120 --> 01:27:03,600
dust from the beams, too real to
imagine.
1113
01:27:04,280 --> 01:27:09,200
She turns, but nothing.
The others, You felt nothing.
1114
01:27:09,680 --> 01:27:14,480
Zebulon catches her eye.
The shatter peaks shift at
1115
01:27:14,480 --> 01:27:16,000
night.
Do not think on it.
1116
01:27:17,360 --> 01:27:19,520
The rest of you again preparing
for rest.
1117
01:27:19,640 --> 01:27:23,880
Packs are lined near the wall by
the door, weapons within reach.
1118
01:27:24,320 --> 01:27:30,640
The fire starts to slowly die to
a soft ember glow, and 1 by 1
1119
01:27:30,960 --> 01:27:33,160
you start to head to your rooms
for the evening.
1120
01:27:34,360 --> 01:27:39,440
The Tavern is silent.
A thick layer of frost clings to
1121
01:27:39,440 --> 01:27:43,240
the window frames.
The last embers in the hearth
1122
01:27:43,240 --> 01:27:48,640
shift with a faint crackle.
Everyone begins to fall asleep,
1123
01:27:49,080 --> 01:27:52,840
as they have been the last.
She tries to rest, but sleep
1124
01:27:52,840 --> 01:27:56,960
just refusing to hold her mind.
Looping through the pyre.
1125
01:27:56,960 --> 01:28:01,640
Heart neuros, the new faction,
the map on the table, that
1126
01:28:01,640 --> 01:28:04,040
strange pulse under her boots
earlier.
1127
01:28:05,200 --> 01:28:09,280
She rises and steps into the
hall right outside her her her
1128
01:28:09,280 --> 01:28:12,720
door.
The Tavern feels heavier at
1129
01:28:12,720 --> 01:28:15,200
night.
The air has weight.
1130
01:28:15,320 --> 01:28:21,160
The quiet is is too complete.
A sound breaks through the
1131
01:28:21,160 --> 01:28:25,600
quiet, a soft crack from the
ceiling above, followed by a
1132
01:28:25,600 --> 01:28:29,720
slow pulse of heat that rolls
across the wooden beams.
1133
01:28:30,320 --> 01:28:33,400
Castaia begins to move now into
the main room.
1134
01:28:33,440 --> 01:28:36,320
The ceiling glows with thin
orange lines.
1135
01:28:37,200 --> 01:28:40,960
They spread through the grain
like veins, and they brighten,
1136
01:28:41,680 --> 01:28:47,120
then fade, then brighten again
in a slow rhythm, each pulse
1137
01:28:47,120 --> 01:28:52,000
almost feeling like a a breath.
She reaches towards the glow,
1138
01:28:52,000 --> 01:28:55,480
heat radiating down her chest
begins to tighten.
1139
01:28:56,520 --> 01:29:02,120
The lines shift.
They form a a shape, a curve,
1140
01:29:02,360 --> 01:29:06,320
and then the second curve, an
eye pressed against the wood
1141
01:29:06,320 --> 01:29:09,760
from the other side.
As Deus steps back, the eye
1142
01:29:09,760 --> 01:29:13,560
opens.
A whisper reaches her, low and
1143
01:29:13,560 --> 01:29:17,240
close.
As she freezes, the glow
1144
01:29:17,240 --> 01:29:23,360
deepens, a second shape forming
near the first smaller rounder.
1145
01:29:24,320 --> 01:29:26,920
A child's face tries to press
through the grain.
1146
01:29:26,920 --> 01:29:30,760
Only the outline appears at
first, then the suggestion of
1147
01:29:30,760 --> 01:29:34,520
hair, then the impression of
tiny hands bracing against the
1148
01:29:34,520 --> 01:29:37,840
wood.
A voice follows, quiet yet
1149
01:29:37,880 --> 01:29:40,200
clear.
Mom.
1150
01:29:41,440 --> 01:29:43,640
Kaz.
Daya's breath breaks.
1151
01:29:43,640 --> 01:29:46,920
Her hand shakes as it reaches
for her dagger.
1152
01:29:47,240 --> 01:29:50,320
The face pushes closer, not
fully formed.
1153
01:29:50,680 --> 01:29:57,000
Half memory, half heat.
Mom, Mom, why did you leave me?
1154
01:29:58,560 --> 01:30:02,160
The ceiling glows again.
The lines pull inward.
1155
01:30:03,040 --> 01:30:05,440
The glow around the child's
outline deepens.
1156
01:30:05,440 --> 01:30:09,360
The wood ripples.
A second shape forms behind him,
1157
01:30:10,040 --> 01:30:15,920
taller still and familiar.
A hand settles on the child's
1158
01:30:15,920 --> 01:30:21,200
shoulder, calm and steady.
Neros.
1159
01:30:22,360 --> 01:30:25,640
He steps into the outline, as if
rising from the grain itself.
1160
01:30:26,080 --> 01:30:30,000
His eyes carry a faint ember
light, the same glow she saw
1161
01:30:30,000 --> 01:30:34,600
during the accord.
Her son, Orion towards, turns
1162
01:30:34,600 --> 01:30:39,120
toward him, not frightened, not
pulled, not forced.
1163
01:30:39,600 --> 01:30:44,000
Choosing to listen.
Neros kneels down beside him.
1164
01:30:44,720 --> 01:30:51,360
His voice is low, firm, warm in
a way that that digs underneath
1165
01:30:51,360 --> 01:30:58,000
Kazdea's ribs.
Orion, you need to understand
1166
01:30:58,280 --> 01:31:04,000
she did not leave you.
She left the truth while you see
1167
01:31:04,000 --> 01:31:08,040
it before she does.
You understand and understood
1168
01:31:08,360 --> 01:31:12,200
what she feared.
Orion looks back towards Kazdea
1169
01:31:12,200 --> 01:31:15,200
through the wood.
His expression now steadies.
1170
01:31:15,560 --> 01:31:20,440
Stronger than you remember.
I went with him because I wanted
1171
01:31:20,440 --> 01:31:23,560
to.
He showed me what's comes next.
1172
01:31:24,560 --> 01:31:27,040
Isaiah grips her dagger until
her hand aches.
1173
01:31:27,400 --> 01:31:31,640
Neros rises behind the child.
His outline grows sharper.
1174
01:31:31,840 --> 01:31:44,120
He looks towards her.
You fear what you could become.
1175
01:31:44,640 --> 01:31:50,160
Orion does not.
He sees clearly, He walks
1176
01:31:50,160 --> 01:31:53,880
forward without doubt.
And that is why I welcomed him.
1177
01:31:54,800 --> 01:31:58,440
Orion takes Nero's hand.
The shapes glow brighter.
1178
01:31:58,600 --> 01:32:02,440
The heat suddenly drops, as if
the air is drained from the
1179
01:32:02,440 --> 01:32:06,240
room.
The child speaks again, soft but
1180
01:32:06,240 --> 01:32:12,320
final.
Mom, I choose this, I choose
1181
01:32:12,320 --> 01:32:15,400
him.
The ceiling cracks with a black.
1182
01:32:16,000 --> 01:32:17,400
The ceiling cracks with a
blight.
1183
01:32:18,480 --> 01:32:20,840
The ceiling cracks with a bright
orange flash.
1184
01:32:21,360 --> 01:32:25,400
Both outlines vanish at once.
The wood goes dark.
1185
01:32:25,800 --> 01:32:30,080
A thin line of heat lingers in
the grain and then fades.
1186
01:32:30,680 --> 01:32:34,440
Kazdea stumbles back.
Her vision blurs, her breath
1187
01:32:34,520 --> 01:32:38,600
shaken.
At the far end of the hall, a
1188
01:32:38,600 --> 01:32:44,200
tall shadow stands for a single
heartbeat, silent, facing her.
1189
01:32:44,920 --> 01:32:47,600
She blinks.
It's gone.
1190
01:32:49,200 --> 01:32:54,880
The hearth pops once more as as
darkness takes over.
1191
01:32:54,880 --> 01:32:58,640
And that's where we're going to
end tonight's session here with
1192
01:32:58,720 --> 01:33:02,920
Crit Happens God.
Damn it.
1193
01:33:04,040 --> 01:33:05,920
God fucking damn it, this kid
this.
1194
01:33:07,840 --> 01:33:09,480
Kid.
Shit.
1195
01:33:10,520 --> 01:33:12,600
I might actually hate my
boyfriend by now.
1196
01:33:12,800 --> 01:33:15,840
Yeah, we'll talk.
We will talk about it.
1197
01:33:15,840 --> 01:33:18,920
The Nat 20 Unwind that is going
to do it for tonight's episode
1198
01:33:19,000 --> 01:33:21,720
of Crit Happens.
Thank you so much for listening.
1199
01:33:22,040 --> 01:33:25,280
You can stay tuned for Nat 20
Unwind coming up on Spotify and
1200
01:33:25,280 --> 01:33:27,000
Facebook.
Until then, from everybody here
1201
01:33:27,000 --> 01:33:30,880
at the P3 Podcast Network, I am
Spencer Hart and we will see you
1202
01:33:30,880 --> 01:33:32,160
next time.
Bye.
1203
01:33:33,520 --> 01:33:35,840
Bye bye.
Bye people.
1204
01:33:40,320 --> 01:33:40,760
He said.


