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Runtime
Break start
4h 33m
1h 51m
Episode 104: The Cradle's Convocation
Bell's Hells, after trekking to the ruins of Aeor, had an encounter with Ludinus Da'leth himself (during which he showed visions of the fall of Aeor in hopes of expressing the dubiousness of the great deities that are considered the prime beings of law and morality in this world).
After trying to convince you to join him and the Vanguard in their interests, you combated his outlook and also each others' (with some internal strife in communication), after which Laudna's own dark passenger was triggered. Thus battle ensued with a Delilah-possessed Laudna. You defeated her and (while she was reduced within) used the soul anchor (that you had taken from the ruins) and successfully completed a ritual with Essek's help that bound Delilah into the stone which was then bound within you (Laudna), reversing the power dynamic between you and Delilah.
After you went to go meet up with the Voice of the Tempest and the rest of the troop that was waiting on the western encampment within the Hellcatch Valley. You arrived to find it in ruin, still smoldering. The fallen stone being picked through by Reilorans and Vanguard soldiers alike. With rapid reaction, teleporting to Vasselheim. There you were able to maneuver through the city, climb the stairs that lead to the Platinum Sanctuary (where it seems a lot of dignitaries from around Exandria are gathering, along with their compatriot armies and protectors).
Upon arrival, Essek had to say his goodbyes, for there was tenuous relations with some other figures that were present. Upon arriving here on the outskirts of this crowd that had gathered in the central forum of the Platinum Sanctuary, you were trying to push through to get a good view.
You saw people from all over Exandria here. You saw within Vasselheim itself:
The Highbearer Vord
The Earthbreaker Groon
The Holy Curator
The High Hierophant
The Coven of the Veil of the Matron of Ravens
J'mon Sa Ord, the leader of Ank'Harel
Keyleth, Voice of the Tempest
Empress Leylas Kryn of the Kryn Dynasty of Xhorhas; The Bright Queen
Gavis Aranda from the Chandei Quorum of Jrusar
Guardian Tofor Brotoras from the Council of Taldorei
Mythmaker Qi Mendozi
Allura Vysoren and Lady Kima of Vord and a number of others
As you tried to push your way through, a massive goliath figure (with over-sized stone gauntlets, a bit of a paunch, and a black fuzzy beard with streaks of gray) made your announcement loudly, causing the group in front of you to divide slightly, and the entire chamber to shift its attention back to you in one moment. Here in that tense, awkward silence, all eyes are on you.
One of my favorite loose ends to bring up for making a sudden reappearance is from Capaign 1: The dwarven druid taking care of a Roc that VM send to live in an upgraded cave. This cave also belonged to a white dragon and had a horde of frozen treasure slowly thawing inside it. This lends to the theory of a potentially healthy brood of rocs and i'm not sure what to do about the hermit retiring, but I know that the birds and everyone are full of bling and magic and kickass gear.
Laurie Hernandez was the balance beam specialist for the US women's gymnastics team in 2016 and was on commentary for it this year. She absolutely killed it and is a critter! Link to her Twitter page
00:13:56 Fan Art Moment Bell's Hells in the great meeting of Exandria
00:14:14 Matthew Mercer Voice Magic! Possible list (in order of introduction):
Kima:"we must assemble our communal forces!..."
???:"The army is already scattered at home..."
Allura:"We understand the discomfort of such arcana..."
???:"We have unlikely powers...allies from darker places and factions. Chosen warriors of the Betrayers who have sworn themselves to the cause."
Bright Queen:"Absolutely NOT!"
Older woman:"We have seen firsthand what their alien warriors can 1) diminish some of our protective magics and 2) certain elite soldiers can prevent restorative magic altogether..."
Galtheid (Vincent-Price-lookin-mufugga) of the Ember Vigil, Archmage of Sruwargas(capiital city of Taloned Highlands):"The ever-tangled mess of the Solstice continues to play stress upon the Trellis of Ley Lines, threatening an imminent unraveling of our world's magic as long as that Bloody Bridge continues."
???(loud, older male):"Matters at home must be finished or held. For the window of time to act directly closes imperceptibly soon."
Lord Zeddan Graf, Emissary of the Dwendalian Empire (fierce rival of the Cerberus Assembly and it's leader, Athesias Uludan):"what assurances do we have..."
00:18:57 Ashton spills the beans and a magic earthquake starts building mountains around the Malleus Key.
00:23:03 Keyleth:"We need. To work. Together. United. NOW!" J'mon Sa Ord(A.K.A. Devo'ssa, an ancient brass dragon), ruler of AnkHarel (central city in Marquet):"The Voice of the Tempest is correct and Ank'Harel is in agreement."
Zhafe Uludan, Marquis of The Clovis Concord (also Ambassador for the Cerberus Assembly):"The Concord agrees and commits the majority of our non-naval forces to helping [kill all the moon creatures]"
00:24:25 Yudala Fon, High Curator of the Cobalt Soul (main rivalry with a corrupt member of the Dwendalian court, Kon Bruda, helped expose Trent Ikithon, and has a secret unnamed spy retinue for the Cobalt Soul):"People? They are godless creatures born in the red shadow of the god eater!"
Leylas Kryn, Empress of the Kryn Dynasty (Essek was known as her Shadowhand):"How can we be certain that these denizens of Ruidus aren't all bent on our destruction? You speak of certainties and perspectives none of us could possibly know."
00:25:56 Laudna spots a hooded figure in Keyleth's Ashari entourage as Evoroa.
00:26:32 Keyleth refers to Bell's Hells as The Chosen Heroes".
00:27:57 Braius detects 'a handful of celestials' (aw shit, are the gods here?)
00:28:48 Arguments in defense of innocents on Ruidus
00:29:22 Laura misnames the Ruidian nickname for the planet of Exandria (The Blue Promise) as "The Blue Dream" which is a popular strain of cannabis.
00:32:29 Laudna"No, really. It's going to be quite divisive."
00:34:04 The Holy Curator, High Priest of The Crown of Erathis (Temple of Erathis in The Quadroads (the central district of Vasselheim)), leader of The Holy Paramours:"Historically, we know the gods worked together to destroy the city of Aeor because it needed to be destroyed. Itself marked the height of mortal arrogance and misuse of the knowledge and power it was granted. It is a cautionary tale (the Age of Arcanum) and it's end."
00:34:14 Ashton starts talkin shit.
00:35:18 Braius casually shoehorns his backstory into the conversation:"In times of great trauma, even purely faithful can fall from the path and make alliances with unholy or terrible entities..."
00:38:12 Evoroa:"Hello everyone..."
Fearne:(bff hype squad)"Woo!" Evoroa explains that the Reiloran overlords plan to spread their mind control to Exandria.
00:43:10 Well-dressed gentleman wearing many rings (with the triple diamond of the Cerberus Assembly on his chest)
00:44:54 Highbearer Vord calls for the meeting to adjourn until the next day when At Dawn, We Plan!.
00:46:15 Chetney:"Those hooves can kick."
Fearne:"Yeah they can." (grunts)
00:47:13 Marisha enjoying Matt's portrayal of Keyleth and seeing elements of herself in Keyleth's frustration with "making a pitch."
00:49:59 The huge silver dragon "statue" moves.
00:52:40 Fan Art Moment Chetney's little open hand on Grog's open Titanstone Knuckles
00:53:53 Fearne's Primordial essence causes a heat reaction with the Titanstone Knuckles
00:54:16 Grog:"My name? Well, it's kind of a legendary title, really. Grand Poobah De-Doink of all This and That, One of the Masters of Whitestone."
00:56:51 Croissants (Crescent (moon) Rolls) aren't selling well these days. Har!
Marisha:"It's like when people didn't want to buy Coronas during Covid."
Liam:"We don't want your moon bread, only freedom bread."
00:57:59 Sam's body movements with his head turns like one of The Muppets
00:59:26 Pike:"Buddies! Not tonight."
01:02:30 Imogen:"Yeah. He saved us all."
Braius:"Fuck that guy."
01:02:50 Vex'ahlia:"...though she's more with the Pansophical."
Imogen:"She has her pants off?"
01:05:39 Laudna:"He's not talking to you, Pike. He's talking to the pretty one. With the really great boobs."
Chetney:"I'm sorry, excuse me." (moves Pike to the side)
01:06:58 Fan Art Moment Laudna's enthusiastic news about Delilah's entrapment oblivious to her undead boob exposed
01:09:16 Ashley appreciates Travis' tiny farts
01:09:39 Matt:"You begin to push inward towards the darkness..."
Laura is already giggling.
Liam:"Nice."
01:13:35 Chetney:"That Holy Curator, that fuckin nimrod was ears-closed to anything that we're going to have to say."
Ashton:"At least he's saying what he thinks."
(please don't tell me there are going to be hats and flags...)
01:17:18 Welcome to the Birthheart
01:28:43 Keyleth:"Having actually been to the Hells myself..." Braius perks up.
Keyleth:"I'm uncertain I'd throw in with any of that lot, to be honest." Braius perks down. "You've been to all the Hells? I mean, there's a few Hells."
01:30:45 Keyleth's humblebrag about talking to gods
01:31:37 Marisha:"It's my character, I can bully her if I want to."
01:34:52 Keyleth:"The number of historical mysteries that have been buried and locked into the vaults under this city is likely endless."
01:36:15 Lore Drop Keyleth informs the group about the ascension of Vecna
01:39:30 Dorian:"See, now I'm beginning to understand why Ludinus thinks that if he shows this orb to the world, they'll side against the gods. You only mentioned three in the last 20 minutes, and one of them you hate, and the other almost brought the end of the world...the gods seem like trouble."
Orym:"If you're looking for the black & white here, you're not going to find it." Braius waves.
01:40:00 Keyleth's God Lore DropThe Dawnfather, the great god of the sun, the glory of daylight, watches over us like a stern paternal general. I've met him. He's a peach. The Matron is a challenged but necessary, lonely figure. The Everlight, a once-fallen god that sees the best in those that maybe don't deserve it, but is a beacon of redemption in this world. The Moonweaver, great goddess of illusion shadow, trysts, hidden love, beauty in that regard. The Arch Heart, the god of arcana and art and creation, the one who blessed us mortals with the ability to manifest arcane spellcraft outside of the gods' will and gifts...
...but if there is any that I feel closest to, we stand in her realm...This is the Birthheart. The Wildmother watches over all that is natural, has taken on and lives with and is guardian to the spirits of nature that existed before she even arrived...The Eidolons, the natural nature spirits that you saw in the cultures of Issylra (beyond the religious influences of the temples of Vasselheim or Othanzia) worship and live alongside (that you've heard existed here before the gods' arrival)... It is rumored in some of those spaces that (before the gods came) life was a cycle of rebirth. The soul, upon death, would return to the world to be reborn into some other form; the afterlife did not exist.
01:40:44 The sound engineers remember why they love Laura as she accidentally kicks a dice storage container while saying "shit" multiple times.
01:43:15 Imogen:"Why is your butt glowing?"
Ashton:"You should answer that."
01:46:04 "Laura Bailey"
01:46:54 Imogen:"What if you just touch the tip on it."
Orym:"You want me to find a knot to put it in?"
Chetney:"Wood can be very inviting."
Dorian:"What's real and what is innuendo?"
Matt:(grinning)"That's always the question."
01:47:52 Liam:"I'm gonna fuck that tree."
Laura:(hype voice)"I wanna see you fuck that tree!"
01:50:08 Orym communes with the Wildmother.
01:50:42 Liam:"My name's Andreas, I'm a rhino-man. I work for, I can't say who."
Sam:"I like him."
Taliesin:"Rocksteady?"
INTERMISSION
The rest of you watch Orym cocooned against the exterior of the Birthheart. As your bodies lurch to protect, Keyleth puts a hand up, silently acknowledging to just let it happen.
Orym, as the warm sensation of the surrounding branches and vines and flowers and grasses engulf you, you begin to hear the sounds of nature around you (the natural landscape, like an evening amongst the densest of bog forests, the sound of wind rustling through tree boughs) and then eventually you feel the vines pull back from you. As it does, you are standing in a beautiful, moonlit glade, soft white light beams piercing through numerous points in this clustered canopy of massive majestic tri-pointed leaves. The sense of scale is challenging your perspective. You feel so small, and the leaves look so large in comparison. You feel big until you look down at yourself and you are made of leaves. Your skin is green and veined with leaves protruding from your fingers, from your shoulders, no armor, no weapons. You are just as nude as the day is long, but like you had grown from a bud.
Which you did.
You look around, the pullback of nature around you are massive rose petals, like a massive flower had opened up that you had emerged from. Here you stand yourself, but different. You take a step beyond the bud and as your foot touches the ground, you can feel the breath and whisper of the forest around you. When you inhale, everything around you inhales with you and welcomes you. You take a second step. You hear the chirping of birds.
The creaking sound of the tree and the wind gets louder, the vines begin to unravel from above. The canopy itself seems to expand, grow more dense. The white moonlight begins to dissipate as it's clustered and instead a golden, sourceless light begins to fill this glade; like a golden dusk color just as the sun begins to disappear beyond the horizon. As these branches begin to expand and lower, you watch as they pull open. From them emerges a face, a beautiful, welcoming smile. Earthen brown skin, gentle golden eyes, the leaves and canopy itself the hair that continues to tumble and curl around as it comes down to you and meets your gaze. So massive to where you felt you'd grown yourself from a larger flower, now you feel like you grew from a regular flower. You are so small and she is so encompassing. There is no fear, just awe. Her smile is a wordless, touch-less hug.
02:17:27 Orym spills the tea on Ludinus to the Wildmother
02:25:49 Orym receives a vision of the Wildmother's memory of Predathos being a fallen star that caused two of her fellow primal deities to vanish when touched. The land and other elements envelop the island and launch it into the sky with the screams of the other prisoners heard from within as it travels away.
02:32:48 Orym:"I say this with an open heart. I know you all to be inherently flawed, like me, and all the children that love this world as much as you. Whatever comes next, please let the garden grow."
02:35:07 Will appears
02:40:38 Matt:"The city where the star landed was encased within the sealing stone. An entire civilization locked away with the entity. After the Founding but before the Schism."
02:44:24 Chet hunts for some Birthheart wood
02:47:10 Orym's sword upgraded to be known as a Relic of the Red Solstice (New hotness version of Vestiges of Divergence)
02:49:26 Laura's mind is perma-guttered this episode
02:59:06 Imogen tells Dorian about the alternate path to Ruidus
03:02:53 Laudna worries that the Weavemind is already terraforming Exandria and that destroying the bridge might no longer be an actionable goal.
03:10:59 Ashton says artists are fucked up. Braius and Chetney take offense.
03:17:03 Liam:"At Dawn, We Plan...I like the idea of hitting it from the back door up top."
03:19:09 Dorian:"Don't get me wrong, I'm used to it."
03:19:34 Braius:"If you have doubts, just know that I was hand-selected by the King of Devils and you all, aligned with me, are serving his will. So you have a purpose."
03:20:03 Braius:"We could do acid."
Ashton:"Are you dropping or cubes?"
Braius:"The kind that burns you."
03:22:31 Imogen:"You just really want to play Spin the Bottle, don't you?"
Fearne:"Yeah, cuz I think it's hilarious."
Travis:"We're in a tree!"
Ashley:"Playin' D&D Spin the Bottle."
03:23:20 Braius:"Why don't we just skip the Zone of Truth and just make out?"
Dorian:(nodding)"This is how the fate of the world should be decided."
03:24:45 The bouncy D20 makes an appearance
03:25:09 Imogen:"So if you beat it, you can lie?"
Braius:"I think so."
Travis:"Better start beatin' it."
03:27:29 Braius' bottle spin lands on Imogen. Laudna wants to know what it's like. "Does he have weird breath? Does it smell like grass?"
Sam:"Performance check?"
Matt:(giving up)"Sure."
03:33:14 Fearne spins and hits Chetney
03:35:55 Imogen:"Well then, I'll say it now. If I put you all at harm, do what it takes to defeat me...Do you want to spin the bottle, Dorian?"
03:36:36 Dorian spins and hits Chetney and also beats him on the performance check.
"If you didn't smell like cedar and chestnuts!" Doran pulls away, grits his teeth and says,"I fucking knew it."
Chetney:(dazed)"He is royalty."
Liam:"In all of history, there've been five great kisses...that kiss topped em all."
03:38:26 Laudna's question about Dorian's deceased brother Cyrus brings some more vibe whiplash.
03:39:38 Dorian:"I don't know my place in all this sometimes and sometimes the way I feel feels unimportant. But that's okay. I've felt like that most of my life. But when I'm with you I feel important. I can't believe you've been thinking about that at all with all that's going on. I've gotten really good at "putting my feelings where they should go" for the greater good...but it doesn't mean I don't feel them. It doesn't mean I don't think about them...allow me to honor his memory by doing what is right, because I know that's what he would do. The only thing that scares me is that I don't know what's right or wrong anymore, and there's no one here to guide us."
03:43:17 To Cyrus
Chetney:"You want some of this Birthheart dog? I put some shavings in there, and fuckin' seein' some shit."
03:44:18 Laudna spins and lands on Orym. Performance checks 3 (Orym) and 2 (Laudna)
03:46:05 Some forced narrative bonding with a make out session between Fearne and Ashton. Just add alcohol.
03:51:09 As we learn Dorian isn't asleep, Sam makes a furious masturbation noise while Ashley suggests tear lube. Friendship goals.
03:56:50 Evoroa:"So the Prime Pillar of Ruidus itself is the remains of Predathos' original form when sealed. The glass itself is extremely resilient against both physical excavation and magical alteration. What we use as tools are either flecks that have come free from the overall interior structure or spent a long time trying to chip away and eventually make. Once it's left the primary glass vein structure of the moon, it becomes more brittle and workable, but before then it is extremely hardy." The innermost and toughest glass prison is called the Hallowed Cage.
04:00:44 Keyleth relays info on the terraformed fortress around the Malleus Key. Significant Ruidian presence led by The Sunder King, Ozo Kruth
04:07:07 Dorian suggests that "without them (the Weave Mind), perhaps your people could be compelled by hope."
04:09:43 The Bright Queen catches Chetney's mention of another passage to Ruidus and Keyleth fills in the location on Issylra.
04:11:05 Lore Drop Bright Queen:"My people were once cast from the light and climbed to return to it. I was there at the end of the Calamity when we rose above the shadows the Spider Queen threw us in. We walk now in the path of the Luxon, progenitor of all light and life. What Ludinus, sworn enemy of the Dynasty, wishes to do would send echoes that spiral out that would leave us in the most dangerous places of despair, so while I do not (and we do not) ascribe to the worship of your temples, we do acknowledge the mutual alliance we have forged and should maintain."
04:14:33 Lady Vex'ahlia is bae and she confirms the three primary targets:
The Malleus Key/Bloody Bridge destruction
The Weave Mind
Ludinus and his minions
04:16:39 Keyleth:"I might know a few old legends who might be up for joining an assault on the fortress."
Robbie's reaction
04:18:21 Allura:"I may have a strike team to focus on the Weave Mind..."
04:18:57 Groon explains at least one Ruidusborn will be needed to traverse the innermost seal of Ruidus, the Hallowed Cage.
04:22:19 Vex'ahlia:"Sorry, it's a-- I'm a parent."
04:25:34 BQ:"You shouldn't be."
04:26:47 Groon:"Are you ready to break a castle?"
04:27:24 Allura:"Onward to the fate of tomorrow and the end of the world."
04:29:33 Imogen's vision
04:31:55 Robbie:"The king never kills the jesters, let's go."
Updated List of Elaborate Titles and Major Names in the Platinum Sanctuary
Leylas Kryn, Empress of the Kryn Dynasty, called The Bright Queen (Essek was known as her Shadowhand)
Lord Zeddan Graf, Emissary of the Dwendalian Empire (fierce rival of the Cerberus Assembly and it's Archmage of Diplomatic Union, Athesias Uludan)
Zhafe Uludan, Marquis of The Clovis Concord (also Ambassador for the Cerberus Assembly)
Gavis Aranda, the lone member of the Chandei Quorum permitted to be a representative in public, we also know Orlana Seshadri is a member.
Galtheid (Vincent-Price-lookin-mufugga) of the Ember Vigil, Archmage of Sruwargas(capital city of Taloned Highlands)
Yudala Fon, High Curator of the Cobalt Soul (main rivalry with a corrupt member of the Dwendalian court, Kon Bruda, helped expose Trent Ikithon, and has a secret unnamed spy retinue for the Cobalt Soul)
The Holy Curator, High Priest of The Crown of Erathis (Temple of Erathis in The Quadroads (the central district of Vasselheim)), leader of The Holy Paramours
Mythtaker Qi Mendozi
Arcanist Allura Vysoren of the Tal’Dorei Council and Arcana Pansophical
Lady Kima, Paladin of Bahamut, and Disciple to Highbearer Vord (hence why she’s known as Kima of Vord)
Guardian Tofor Brotoras of the Tal’Dorei Council, General of the forces of Vasselheim
Keyleth of the Air Ashari, member of the Tal’Dorei Council, Voice of the Tempest
Lady Vex'ahlia de Rolo, member of the Tal’Dorei Council, Grand Purveyor of the Grey Hunt
Grogory "Grog" Strongjaw, Grand Poobah De-Doink of all This and That, One of the Masters of Whitestone
Team Name Ideas for the Cobalt Reserve's fancy secret spy group
(That Beau and Caleb are totally in) ᕕ( ᐛ)ᕗ
wiki entry
Beau was sent into the world as an Expositor of the Cobalt Soul with the general directive "to root out truth and expose corruption." She has embraced this calling to the point where she has made it a personal matter in regards to the Somnovem, citing it as a corruption of the most obscene nature.[109] She would later devote herself to the Soul full-time as part of a task force dedicated to undermining and dismantling the Cerberus Assembly, a "lifelong pursuit" she embarks on with Caleb.
Indigos
Dark Blue
Demure Azure
The Cerulean Crew
The Blaupunks (Blau being the German/Zemnian for 'blue' & also 'Blaupunkt' being a car audio brand)
Covalt (Covert and Cobalt mushed)
Gunmetal (More Percy's style, but hey)
Rotguss (German/Zemnian for "gunmetal")
Das Nebelblau ("The Blue of the Mist")
The Ultramarines
The Azure Razors (PITA to say, I know; part of the charm)
Gemstones: The Aquamarines, The Hawk's Eyes, Sapphires, Tanzanite (Tanza-knights?) The Lazurites (also sounds like 'last rites' a bit), The Indicolites (which Jester turned into "The Dicks")