1 00:00:18,855 --> 00:00:23,015 Francesca Harn: Welcome to Rolling Solo, where I follow the journey of Francesca, 2 00:00:23,015 --> 00:00:27,175 Francesca Harn: a tiefling bard, as I learned to play D&D one roll at a time. 3 00:00:35,631 --> 00:00:36,991 Francesca Harn: We're following Francesca di 4 00:00:36,991 --> 00:00:39,512 Francesca Harn: Valcere, a tiefling bard quick 5 00:00:39,512 --> 00:00:41,591 Francesca Harn: with a song even quicker with a 6 00:00:41,591 --> 00:00:42,871 Francesca Harn: secret. 7 00:00:42,871 --> 00:00:44,411 Francesca Harn: But it seems even bards aren't 8 00:00:44,411 --> 00:00:46,031 Francesca Harn: immune to stubborn real world 9 00:00:46,031 --> 00:00:47,072 Francesca Harn: ailments. 10 00:00:47,072 --> 00:00:48,152 Francesca Harn: And while my voice may have 11 00:00:48,152 --> 00:00:49,911 Francesca Harn: needed a week's rest, the story 12 00:00:49,911 --> 00:00:51,631 Francesca Harn: never stopped weaving itself in 13 00:00:51,631 --> 00:00:53,311 Francesca Harn: the shadows. 14 00:00:53,311 --> 00:00:56,432 Francesca Harn: When we last saw Francesca, she'd endured a perilous fight 15 00:00:56,432 --> 00:01:00,432 Francesca Harn: at the South Pier, intent on rescuing a shipment of slaves. 16 00:01:00,432 --> 00:01:02,832 Francesca Harn: Victory tasted sharp on her tongue. 17 00:01:02,832 --> 00:01:06,272 Francesca Harn: Yet as the captain fled into the shadows, Francesca was left with 18 00:01:06,272 --> 00:01:08,591 Francesca Harn: a whisper colder than steel. 19 00:01:08,591 --> 00:01:12,591 Francesca Harn: There are secrets buried in the Valcere name, and some one 20 00:01:12,591 --> 00:01:14,831 Francesca Harn: intends for her to find them. 21 00:01:21,179 --> 00:01:22,578 Francesca Harn: Right straight off the bat. 22 00:01:22,578 --> 00:01:25,338 Francesca Harn: I'm going to apologize for my voice. 23 00:01:25,338 --> 00:01:27,498 Francesca Harn: It's still a little bit snotty. 24 00:01:27,498 --> 00:01:31,058 Francesca Harn: So a little bit bunged up, so I'm sorry if that comes across. 25 00:01:31,058 --> 00:01:31,498 Francesca Harn: It might not. 26 00:01:31,498 --> 00:01:34,899 Francesca Harn: You might not realise, but that is why I didn't have an episode 27 00:01:34,899 --> 00:01:36,179 Francesca Harn: last, last week. 28 00:01:36,179 --> 00:01:39,299 Francesca Harn: Because I've had a really horrid cold. 29 00:01:39,299 --> 00:01:44,338 Francesca Harn: And yeah, it just my voice was gone for a little while and then 30 00:01:44,338 --> 00:01:47,299 Francesca Harn: lots of coughing and sneezing and all of that. 31 00:01:47,299 --> 00:01:50,299 Francesca Harn: Not one hundred percent better yet, but nearly there. 32 00:01:50,299 --> 00:01:52,218 Francesca Harn: Probably around ninety percent. 33 00:01:52,218 --> 00:01:55,618 Francesca Harn: But I can still I still sound a bit nasally to myself. 34 00:01:55,618 --> 00:01:58,218 Francesca Harn: So if I sound nasally to you, apologies. 35 00:01:58,218 --> 00:01:59,899 Francesca Harn: But I didn't want to miss out on 36 00:01:59,899 --> 00:02:02,498 Francesca Harn: another week of Francesca's 37 00:02:02,498 --> 00:02:03,259 Francesca Harn: adventures. 38 00:02:03,259 --> 00:02:04,338 Francesca Harn: So I'm back. 39 00:02:04,338 --> 00:02:05,659 Francesca Harn: Thank you for joining me. 40 00:02:15,518 --> 00:02:17,198 Francesca Harn: Last time the battle at the 41 00:02:17,198 --> 00:02:19,038 Francesca Harn: south pier reached its breaking 42 00:02:19,038 --> 00:02:20,338 Francesca Harn: point. 43 00:02:20,338 --> 00:02:21,658 Francesca Harn: Francesca cut through the Black 44 00:02:21,658 --> 00:02:23,139 Francesca Harn: Gloves enforcers and forced the 45 00:02:23,139 --> 00:02:25,098 Francesca Harn: red cloaked captain to flee with 46 00:02:25,098 --> 00:02:26,579 Francesca Harn: dissonant whispers echoing in 47 00:02:26,579 --> 00:02:27,618 Francesca Harn: his skull. 48 00:02:27,618 --> 00:02:31,139 Francesca Harn: But before he vanished into the night, he left behind words that 49 00:02:31,139 --> 00:02:33,778 Francesca Harn: won't stop ringing in her mind. 50 00:02:33,778 --> 00:02:36,139 Francesca Harn: You don't even know what they've kept from you. 51 00:02:36,139 --> 00:02:37,658 Francesca Harn: Valkyrie. 52 00:02:37,658 --> 00:02:40,838 Francesca Harn: Now with the pier littered in bodies and the prisoners freed, 53 00:02:40,838 --> 00:02:43,058 Francesca Harn: the night is finally still. 54 00:02:43,058 --> 00:02:45,579 Francesca Harn: But secrets never stay buried for long. 55 00:02:47,570 --> 00:02:49,131 Francesca Harn: The battle is over. 56 00:02:49,131 --> 00:02:51,890 Francesca Harn: The air is thick with smoke and blood. 57 00:02:51,890 --> 00:02:53,931 Francesca Harn: The widow's smile drifts just 58 00:02:53,931 --> 00:02:55,850 Francesca Harn: beyond the pier, its ropes cut 59 00:02:55,850 --> 00:02:57,651 Francesca Harn: loose, oars thrashing as the red 60 00:02:57,651 --> 00:02:59,290 Francesca Harn: cloaked captain vanishes into 61 00:02:59,290 --> 00:03:00,491 Francesca Harn: the mist. 62 00:03:00,491 --> 00:03:03,491 Francesca Harn: The last echo of his words still burns in your mind. 63 00:03:03,491 --> 00:03:06,091 Francesca Harn: Like an ember you can't put out. 64 00:03:06,091 --> 00:03:07,651 Francesca Harn: Around you The freed prisoners 65 00:03:07,651 --> 00:03:09,290 Francesca Harn: breathe the first air of their 66 00:03:09,290 --> 00:03:10,691 Francesca Harn: new freedom. 67 00:03:10,691 --> 00:03:14,411 Francesca Harn: The tall one, the soldier who led them meets your eyes. 68 00:03:14,411 --> 00:03:16,371 Francesca Harn: His cheek is split, one wrist 69 00:03:16,371 --> 00:03:18,610 Francesca Harn: still chained, but his voice is 70 00:03:18,610 --> 00:03:20,211 Francesca Harn: steady. 71 00:03:20,211 --> 00:03:23,131 Francesca Harn: He's gone, but they'll come back for us. 72 00:03:23,131 --> 00:03:24,730 Francesca Harn: They always do. 73 00:03:24,730 --> 00:03:26,770 Francesca Harn: We need to move. 74 00:03:26,770 --> 00:03:29,050 Francesca Harn: Behind him, chaos simmers. 75 00:03:29,050 --> 00:03:31,290 Francesca Harn: Two enforcers groan on the ground. 76 00:03:31,290 --> 00:03:33,931 Francesca Harn: Another drags himself toward the water. 77 00:03:33,931 --> 00:03:37,890 Francesca Harn: Frightened villagers peek from the alleys drawn by the noise. 78 00:03:37,890 --> 00:03:41,330 Francesca Harn: The scent of oil and burned rope hangs in the air. 79 00:03:41,330 --> 00:03:42,971 Francesca Harn: Francesca stands on the blood, 80 00:03:42,971 --> 00:03:44,991 Francesca Harn: slick planks, victorious but 81 00:03:44,991 --> 00:03:46,371 Francesca Harn: exposed. 82 00:03:46,371 --> 00:03:49,450 Francesca Harn: The black glove will know what happened here before dawn. 83 00:03:49,450 --> 00:03:52,371 Francesca Harn: The question is what to do before that happens. 84 00:03:52,371 --> 00:03:55,691 Francesca Harn: One interrogate one of the wounded enforcers. 85 00:03:55,691 --> 00:03:58,570 Francesca Harn: Learn what the captain meant before he escaped. 86 00:03:58,570 --> 00:04:00,610 Francesca Harn: Two help the prisoners flee. 87 00:04:00,610 --> 00:04:03,730 Francesca Harn: Rally them quickly before the black glove retaliates. 88 00:04:03,730 --> 00:04:04,491 Francesca Harn: Free. 89 00:04:04,491 --> 00:04:05,971 Francesca Harn: Search the pier and the bodies. 90 00:04:05,971 --> 00:04:08,691 Francesca Harn: See what clues or evidence remain. 91 00:04:08,691 --> 00:04:11,131 Francesca Harn: Four send word to Seraphine. 92 00:04:11,131 --> 00:04:14,890 Francesca Harn: Warn her, and possibly regroup before the guild moves. 93 00:04:14,890 --> 00:04:18,771 Francesca Harn: What does Francesca do first in the smoky aftermath of the battle? 94 00:04:18,771 --> 00:04:21,211 Francesca Harn: I think that Francesca isn't 95 00:04:21,211 --> 00:04:21,370 Francesca Harn: going 96 00:04:21,370 --> 00:04:22,411 Francesca Harn: to want to linger around 97 00:04:22,411 --> 00:04:23,690 Francesca Harn: too much. She was reluctant to 98 00:04:23,690 --> 00:04:24,050 Francesca Harn: take on 99 00:04:24,050 --> 00:04:25,531 Francesca Harn: a job at such short notice that 100 00:04:25,531 --> 00:04:26,571 Francesca Harn: she didn't really know much about 101 00:04:26,571 --> 00:04:28,110 Francesca Harn: anyway, and then she'd end 102 00:04:28,110 --> 00:04:29,591 Francesca Harn: up going full throttle into this 103 00:04:29,591 --> 00:04:31,531 Francesca Harn: kind of confrontation, which has ended 104 00:04:31,531 --> 00:04:33,411 Francesca Harn: up with secrets revealed about 105 00:04:33,411 --> 00:04:34,550 Francesca Harn: her family or, you know, 106 00:04:34,550 --> 00:04:36,411 Francesca Harn: hints of secrets and the knowledge 107 00:04:36,411 --> 00:04:37,451 Francesca Harn: that someone out there knows 108 00:04:37,451 --> 00:04:38,711 Francesca Harn: her, her double life, her 109 00:04:38,711 --> 00:04:41,531 Francesca Harn: secret identity. So, yeah, she's not 110 00:04:41,531 --> 00:04:41,771 Francesca Harn: going to 111 00:04:41,771 --> 00:04:43,411 Francesca Harn: want to linger. I think it would be silly 112 00:04:43,411 --> 00:04:45,170 Francesca Harn: not to have a quick loot of the 113 00:04:45,170 --> 00:04:46,771 Francesca Harn: corpses. That's what I always do 114 00:04:46,771 --> 00:04:46,930 Francesca Harn: when 115 00:04:46,930 --> 00:04:48,651 Francesca Harn: I play games like Baldur's Gate and 116 00:04:48,651 --> 00:04:50,370 Francesca Harn: stuff. Always got to loot 117 00:04:50,370 --> 00:04:51,170 Francesca Harn: everything. So 118 00:04:51,170 --> 00:04:51,971 Francesca Harn: she'll have a quick little 119 00:04:51,971 --> 00:04:53,411 Francesca Harn: look in the bodies nearby, her 120 00:04:53,411 --> 00:04:55,730 Francesca Harn: or the unconscious people nearby her. 121 00:04:55,730 --> 00:04:56,850 Francesca Harn: But then she's going to 122 00:04:56,850 --> 00:04:57,011 Francesca Harn: get 123 00:04:57,011 --> 00:04:58,971 Francesca Harn: out of there. Her mission was to rescue the 124 00:04:58,971 --> 00:05:01,610 Francesca Harn: prisoners. She's done that. Her identity has 125 00:05:01,610 --> 00:05:02,130 Francesca Harn: been at risk 126 00:05:02,130 --> 00:05:04,471 Francesca Harn: too much that night. She needs to just get out 127 00:05:04,471 --> 00:05:08,033 Francesca Harn: of there. You kneel among the wreckage. the 128 00:05:08,033 --> 00:05:10,112 Francesca Harn: boards sticky with salt and 129 00:05:10,112 --> 00:05:12,752 Francesca Harn: blood. The sounds of the freed prisoners 130 00:05:12,752 --> 00:05:16,973 Francesca Harn: fade into the distance, their footsteps, their breathless thanks 131 00:05:16,973 --> 00:05:20,552 Francesca Harn: as you let instinct guide your search. The captain's 132 00:05:20,552 --> 00:05:22,112 Francesca Harn: crimson cloak flutters at 133 00:05:22,112 --> 00:05:23,432 Francesca Harn: the pier's edge, a 134 00:05:23,432 --> 00:05:26,713 Francesca Harn: shred torn free during his retreat. 135 00:05:26,713 --> 00:05:29,072 Francesca Harn: You find a black iron 136 00:05:29,072 --> 00:05:29,932 Francesca Harn: insignia, 137 00:05:29,932 --> 00:05:33,572 Francesca Harn: pin shaped like a glove clutching a dagger. The mark of 138 00:05:33,572 --> 00:05:34,192 Francesca Harn: the Black Glove 139 00:05:34,192 --> 00:05:40,112 Francesca Harn: Syndicate etched along its side, barely visible, are two intertwined initials 140 00:05:40,112 --> 00:05:44,872 Francesca Harn: V D a ledger page damp with river water 141 00:05:44,872 --> 00:05:50,213 Francesca Harn: half torn but legible. "Shipment forty seven approved by House. Val." 142 00:05:50,213 --> 00:05:53,353 Francesca Harn: The rest is destroyed and finally 143 00:05:53,353 --> 00:05:53,692 Francesca Harn: tucked 144 00:05:53,692 --> 00:05:55,533 Francesca Harn: inside a bloodied pouch. A 145 00:05:55,533 --> 00:05:57,773 Francesca Harn: small silver card, smooth as 146 00:05:57,773 --> 00:05:58,333 Francesca Harn: glass, 147 00:05:58,333 --> 00:06:00,892 Francesca Harn: marked with a single engraved symbol. 148 00:06:00,892 --> 00:06:03,333 Francesca Harn: A starburst ringed by thirteen 149 00:06:03,333 --> 00:06:04,793 Francesca Harn: glyphs. It 150 00:06:04,793 --> 00:06:07,572 Francesca Harn: hums faintly at your touch, warm 151 00:06:07,572 --> 00:06:09,492 Francesca Harn: for just a heartbeat and then 152 00:06:09,492 --> 00:06:12,733 Francesca Harn: cold. It doesn't belong here. It 153 00:06:12,733 --> 00:06:15,012 Francesca Harn: feels ancient. 154 00:06:15,012 --> 00:06:16,012 Francesca Harn: The tall prisoner. The 155 00:06:16,012 --> 00:06:16,973 Francesca Harn: soldier catches your 156 00:06:16,973 --> 00:06:17,773 Francesca Harn: glance and calls 157 00:06:17,773 --> 00:06:22,273 Francesca Harn: over his shoulder. Come on, we can't stay. You pocket 158 00:06:22,273 --> 00:06:23,932 Francesca Harn: what you can cloak. Snapping 159 00:06:23,932 --> 00:06:24,973 Francesca Harn: in the wind as the river 160 00:06:24,973 --> 00:06:29,173 Francesca Harn: mist curls closer. You turn from the pier, from the 161 00:06:29,173 --> 00:06:32,973 Francesca Harn: corpses, from the broken chains. And vanish into the back streets of 162 00:06:32,973 --> 00:06:36,853 Francesca Harn: Jerusalem's gate. Before the bells can toll. Smoke rises 163 00:06:36,853 --> 00:06:39,392 Francesca Harn: behind you. Freedom and danger 164 00:06:39,392 --> 00:06:41,213 Francesca Harn: both earned. Which direction 165 00:06:41,213 --> 00:06:42,973 Francesca Harn: does Francesca choose to vanish 166 00:06:42,973 --> 00:06:45,413 Francesca Harn: into the night? So I think at this point she's 167 00:06:45,413 --> 00:06:48,653 Francesca Harn: going to want to seek out somewhere safe to go. So probably she 168 00:06:48,653 --> 00:06:50,333 Francesca Harn: has a safe house 169 00:06:50,333 --> 00:06:53,572 Francesca Harn: in this district or somewhere where she can camp out. She could 170 00:06:53,572 --> 00:06:54,333 Francesca Harn: return to the inn where 171 00:06:54,333 --> 00:06:55,533 Francesca Harn: Serafina is, but I don't feel 172 00:06:55,533 --> 00:06:56,333 Francesca Harn: like that's going to be the 173 00:06:56,333 --> 00:06:58,372 Francesca Harn: wisest thing, especially with that person that 174 00:06:58,372 --> 00:06:59,533 Francesca Harn: she saw in the 175 00:06:59,533 --> 00:07:02,572 Francesca Harn: crowd there earlier who seemed to know 176 00:07:02,572 --> 00:07:03,892 Francesca Harn: something about her or just 177 00:07:03,892 --> 00:07:05,952 Francesca Harn: seemed a bit, bit troubling. So 178 00:07:05,952 --> 00:07:06,793 Francesca Harn: we're not going to do 179 00:07:06,793 --> 00:07:07,033 Francesca Harn: that 180 00:07:07,033 --> 00:07:08,833 Francesca Harn: instead? Yeah, she's going to find a safe 181 00:07:08,833 --> 00:07:12,173 Francesca Harn: house. She's also going to send off, like 182 00:07:12,173 --> 00:07:16,252 Francesca Harn: an encoded message to Serafina, just literally saying like, done or, 183 00:07:16,252 --> 00:07:18,392 Francesca Harn: you know, with a tick kind of type thing and a 184 00:07:18,392 --> 00:07:20,793 Francesca Harn: smiley face emoji. I don't know, but a way to 185 00:07:20,793 --> 00:07:24,913 Francesca Harn: say that, you know, job's done. Um, but also thinking back to my 186 00:07:24,913 --> 00:07:30,112 Francesca Harn: character's backstory, she has got some contacts. Um, so I'm looking 187 00:07:30,112 --> 00:07:31,112 Francesca Harn: I think she's 188 00:07:31,112 --> 00:07:37,492 Francesca Harn: got someone called whistle, whistle, Whistle Korrin a gnome contact who 189 00:07:37,492 --> 00:07:40,353 Francesca Harn: would knows a bit about artifacts and things. They might be 190 00:07:40,353 --> 00:07:41,552 Francesca Harn: able to help with 191 00:07:41,552 --> 00:07:44,872 Francesca Harn: identifying this mysterious silver card. So yeah, 192 00:07:44,872 --> 00:07:45,273 Francesca Harn: that's what we're 193 00:07:45,273 --> 00:07:45,512 Francesca Harn: going to 194 00:07:45,512 --> 00:07:46,752 Francesca Harn: do. We're going to find a safe house 195 00:07:46,752 --> 00:07:48,392 Francesca Harn: and send off those to a coded 196 00:07:48,392 --> 00:07:51,733 Francesca Harn: messages, letting Serafina know job done and 197 00:07:51,733 --> 00:07:53,312 Francesca Harn: letting, Whistle know that 198 00:07:53,312 --> 00:07:53,992 Francesca Harn: I want to meet up 199 00:07:53,992 --> 00:07:59,112 Francesca Harn: with him ASAP. So let's pop that out. 200 00:08:02,076 --> 00:08:03,836 Francesca Harn: Francesca slips through the 201 00:08:03,836 --> 00:08:05,755 Francesca Harn: alleyways of Droslev's Gate, 202 00:08:05,755 --> 00:08:07,396 Francesca Harn: cloak drawn tight against the 203 00:08:07,396 --> 00:08:08,475 Francesca Harn: river fog. 204 00:08:08,475 --> 00:08:10,076 Francesca Harn: Every echo sounds like a 205 00:08:10,076 --> 00:08:12,196 Francesca Harn: pursuit, every lantern like an 206 00:08:12,196 --> 00:08:12,875 Francesca Harn: eye. 207 00:08:12,875 --> 00:08:15,355 Francesca Harn: But at last she finds the narrow cellar door. 208 00:08:15,355 --> 00:08:18,636 Francesca Harn: She was searching for a forgotten safehouse tucked 209 00:08:18,636 --> 00:08:21,315 Francesca Harn: beneath an abandoned perfumery. 210 00:08:21,315 --> 00:08:26,276 Francesca Harn: Inside dust broken shelves, a small cot, a shuttered window. 211 00:08:26,276 --> 00:08:29,156 Francesca Harn: It's quiet, blessedly so. 212 00:08:29,156 --> 00:08:30,555 Francesca Harn: She lights a single stub of 213 00:08:30,555 --> 00:08:32,395 Francesca Harn: candle, removes her gloves, and 214 00:08:32,395 --> 00:08:34,635 Francesca Harn: finally breathes. 215 00:08:34,635 --> 00:08:35,515 Francesca Harn: Before resting. 216 00:08:35,515 --> 00:08:37,076 Francesca Harn: She takes a sheet of parchment 217 00:08:37,076 --> 00:08:38,395 Francesca Harn: and a cipher wheel from her 218 00:08:38,395 --> 00:08:39,395 Francesca Harn: pack. 219 00:08:39,395 --> 00:08:43,716 Francesca Harn: One message to Séraphine done, another to whistle. 220 00:08:43,716 --> 00:08:45,316 Francesca Harn: Korrin need to meet. 221 00:08:45,316 --> 00:08:46,596 Francesca Harn: Urgent. 222 00:08:46,596 --> 00:08:51,056 Francesca Harn: The wax seals cool, marked of an untraceable flourish, the kind 223 00:08:51,056 --> 00:08:54,436 Francesca Harn: thieves use when they have too much to lose. 224 00:08:54,436 --> 00:08:56,275 Francesca Harn: Finally, she sits on the cot and 225 00:08:56,275 --> 00:08:58,235 Francesca Harn: turns the silver card over in 226 00:08:58,235 --> 00:08:59,556 Francesca Harn: her hand. 227 00:08:59,556 --> 00:09:04,676 Francesca Harn: It hums again faintly, then flickers of pale light. 228 00:09:04,676 --> 00:09:06,875 Francesca Harn: Her eyelids grow heavy. 229 00:09:06,875 --> 00:09:09,635 Francesca Harn: The world tips sideways. 230 00:09:13,460 --> 00:09:17,059 Francesca Harn: You stand in a place without horizon. 231 00:09:17,059 --> 00:09:21,539 Francesca Harn: Shadows ripple underfoot as if the floor were made of ink. 232 00:09:21,539 --> 00:09:23,179 Francesca Harn: Before you floats a deck of 233 00:09:23,179 --> 00:09:25,139 Francesca Harn: shining cards, their edges 234 00:09:25,139 --> 00:09:26,899 Francesca Harn: burning faintly with silver 235 00:09:26,899 --> 00:09:28,379 Francesca Harn: fire. 236 00:09:28,379 --> 00:09:31,379 Francesca Harn: A voice neither kind nor cruel. 237 00:09:31,379 --> 00:09:32,299 Francesca Harn: Whispers. 238 00:09:32,299 --> 00:09:42,460 Francesca Harn: "You have drawn the eye of fate, little bard. Three cards will tell what has been, what is and what waits to be." 239 00:09:42,460 --> 00:09:45,539 Francesca Harn: The cards hover before you blank. 240 00:09:45,539 --> 00:09:48,899 Francesca Harn: Until your hand reaches out. So last 241 00:09:48,899 --> 00:09:49,120 Francesca Harn: week 242 00:09:49,120 --> 00:09:50,659 Francesca Harn: you learned about my little spending 243 00:09:50,659 --> 00:09:51,899 Francesca Harn: spree going and buying lots 244 00:09:51,899 --> 00:09:55,299 Francesca Harn: of new dice. Because I'm a dice goblin now. Uh, while 245 00:09:55,299 --> 00:09:56,500 Francesca Harn: I was doing that, I also 246 00:09:56,500 --> 00:09:58,259 Francesca Harn: bought, very excitingly, the deck of 247 00:09:58,259 --> 00:10:00,139 Francesca Harn: many things because I saw them it 248 00:10:00,139 --> 00:10:00,899 Francesca Harn: being used on a 249 00:10:00,899 --> 00:10:03,100 Francesca Harn: clip, a YouTube short clip from 250 00:10:03,100 --> 00:10:05,419 Francesca Harn: Critical Role on one of their campaigns. And 251 00:10:05,419 --> 00:10:06,320 Francesca Harn: I just thought it looked like 252 00:10:06,320 --> 00:10:07,879 Francesca Harn: great fun kind of tarot card 253 00:10:07,879 --> 00:10:08,240 Francesca Harn: type 254 00:10:08,240 --> 00:10:10,659 Francesca Harn: style thing. And I just. Yeah, I couldn't resist. So I bought 255 00:10:10,659 --> 00:10:12,000 Francesca Harn: them, I let my, 256 00:10:12,000 --> 00:10:12,759 Francesca Harn: I let my 257 00:10:12,759 --> 00:10:14,240 Francesca Harn: dungeon master, my AI 258 00:10:14,240 --> 00:10:16,940 Francesca Harn: know and explained how they work. So they're 259 00:10:16,940 --> 00:10:18,379 Francesca Harn: going to be weaved in as 260 00:10:18,379 --> 00:10:19,500 Francesca Harn: a storytelling thing. Just to 261 00:10:19,500 --> 00:10:19,620 Francesca Harn: add 262 00:10:19,620 --> 00:10:24,019 Francesca Harn: a little bit more interactivity for me, so that the Dungeon 263 00:10:24,019 --> 00:10:26,659 Francesca Harn: Master isn't making it all up as it's not human, it's it 264 00:10:26,659 --> 00:10:30,740 Francesca Harn: is the AI. I wanted to add a bit more spontaneity, but 265 00:10:30,740 --> 00:10:33,139 Francesca Harn: also me doing things into 266 00:10:33,139 --> 00:10:37,460 Francesca Harn: it. So I'm going to be drawing from my deck of many 267 00:10:37,460 --> 00:10:38,580 Francesca Harn: things, which I'm 268 00:10:38,580 --> 00:10:41,779 Francesca Harn: just going to open up in the little the little box it's in. 269 00:10:41,779 --> 00:10:45,940 Francesca Harn: So let me have a little shuffle of my cards. Can you hear them 270 00:10:45,940 --> 00:10:49,019 Francesca Harn: there? Bit of ASMR for you. And I'm going to 271 00:10:49,019 --> 00:10:51,259 Francesca Harn: be drawing three cards, which 272 00:10:51,259 --> 00:10:53,100 Francesca Harn: I think from what it 273 00:10:53,100 --> 00:10:57,419 Francesca Harn: said, it's going to be interpreted as like the past, the present 274 00:10:57,419 --> 00:10:59,899 Francesca Harn: and the future, but in a symbolic way. So like if I 275 00:10:59,899 --> 00:11:01,340 Francesca Harn: draw a dragon, it doesn't mean I'm going to meet 276 00:11:01,340 --> 00:11:04,440 Francesca Harn: a dragon. It just means whatever the AI 277 00:11:04,440 --> 00:11:06,279 Francesca Harn: wants to interpret it to mean. So 278 00:11:06,279 --> 00:11:06,659 Francesca Harn: let's 279 00:11:06,659 --> 00:11:15,220 Francesca Harn: have a little look sees and draw. Okay. First card. Jester oh, 280 00:11:15,220 --> 00:11:17,620 Francesca Harn: and it's really cool looking card. It's got a 281 00:11:17,620 --> 00:11:18,460 Francesca Harn: jester, 282 00:11:18,460 --> 00:11:19,299 Francesca Harn: but it's 283 00:11:19,299 --> 00:11:23,940 Francesca Harn: like a really macabre. It's got like skulls 284 00:11:23,940 --> 00:11:26,860 Francesca Harn: and things. Yeah. Maybe I'll take a picture and put 285 00:11:26,860 --> 00:11:27,860 Francesca Harn: it on my Instagram if you 286 00:11:27,860 --> 00:11:28,039 Francesca Harn: want 287 00:11:28,039 --> 00:11:28,980 Francesca Harn: to have a look, but they're 288 00:11:28,980 --> 00:11:31,539 Francesca Harn: really cool. So that's the first card. 289 00:11:31,539 --> 00:11:37,700 Francesca Harn: Second card. Okay. So that's the present, 290 00:11:37,700 --> 00:11:37,980 Francesca Harn: which I 291 00:11:37,980 --> 00:11:39,100 Francesca Harn: suppose kind of links in 292 00:11:39,100 --> 00:11:39,659 Francesca Harn: quite nicely 293 00:11:39,659 --> 00:11:40,159 Francesca Harn: with 294 00:11:40,159 --> 00:11:44,860 Francesca Harn: what I've discovered on the bodies. And then we've got void as 295 00:11:44,860 --> 00:11:48,340 Francesca Harn: the future. That's a bit ominous, but let 296 00:11:48,340 --> 00:11:50,159 Francesca Harn: me put those in and see what we 297 00:11:50,159 --> 00:11:57,182 Francesca Harn: come up with. The void around you. Ripples and the free silver cards hover 298 00:11:57,182 --> 00:11:58,981 Francesca Harn: before your chest. 299 00:11:58,981 --> 00:12:00,902 Francesca Harn: They shimmer once, then 300 00:12:00,902 --> 00:12:05,101 Francesca Harn: turn over one by one. The jester. A burst of 301 00:12:05,101 --> 00:12:09,981 Francesca Harn: color explodes around you. Confetti made of memories. Laughter. 302 00:12:09,981 --> 00:12:11,422 Francesca Harn: Wine. Applause. 303 00:12:11,422 --> 00:12:13,841 Francesca Harn: The dream flickers with scenes of Francesca 304 00:12:13,841 --> 00:12:16,142 Francesca Harn: on stage, dazzling audiences, 305 00:12:16,142 --> 00:12:16,581 Francesca Harn: spinning 306 00:12:16,581 --> 00:12:17,022 Francesca Harn: words 307 00:12:17,022 --> 00:12:17,341 Francesca Harn: like 308 00:12:17,341 --> 00:12:19,861 Francesca Harn: spells. But between the laughter, 309 00:12:19,861 --> 00:12:21,902 Francesca Harn: there's an echo of mockery. 310 00:12:21,902 --> 00:12:23,261 Francesca Harn: Nobles clapping for her 311 00:12:23,261 --> 00:12:24,522 Francesca Harn: performance, 312 00:12:24,522 --> 00:12:28,902 Francesca Harn: never for her. A voice whispers through the lights. 313 00:12:28,902 --> 00:12:37,461 Francesca Harn: "Your mask was your freedom and your prison. You were their Jest, until you learned to play the fool by choice." 314 00:12:37,461 --> 00:12:40,001 Francesca Harn: The jester grins, then crumbles to 315 00:12:40,001 --> 00:12:44,182 Francesca Harn: ash. You feel both pride and sting. You've 316 00:12:44,182 --> 00:12:46,142 Francesca Harn: always wielded charm as a weapon, 317 00:12:46,142 --> 00:12:47,542 Francesca Harn: but it's also how the world 318 00:12:47,542 --> 00:12:48,042 Francesca Harn: first 319 00:12:48,042 --> 00:12:51,542 Francesca Harn: hurt you. The gem. The ash reforms 320 00:12:51,542 --> 00:12:54,981 Francesca Harn: into a blinding diamond spinning in 321 00:12:54,981 --> 00:13:00,501 Francesca Harn: the air. Its light fractures into dozens of reflections, each one showing 322 00:13:00,501 --> 00:13:02,101 Francesca Harn: you as someone different. 323 00:13:02,101 --> 00:13:03,341 Francesca Harn: Bard, thief, 324 00:13:03,341 --> 00:13:10,022 Francesca Harn: noble, fugitive, none the same, yet all true. "You are cut from many faces," 325 00:13:10,022 --> 00:13:15,542 Francesca Harn: says the voice. "Each edge gleams with possibility, but one 326 00:13:15,542 --> 00:13:17,542 Francesca Harn: flaw, and it all 327 00:13:17,542 --> 00:13:21,621 Francesca Harn: shatters." As the gem turns. You glimpse the silver card 328 00:13:21,621 --> 00:13:24,942 Francesca Harn: in your pocket, pulsing faintly in the waking world. 329 00:13:24,942 --> 00:13:29,542 Francesca Harn: The deck is watching and perhaps testing. When you 330 00:13:29,542 --> 00:13:30,062 Francesca Harn: reach for the 331 00:13:30,062 --> 00:13:31,381 Francesca Harn: gem, it splits into 332 00:13:31,381 --> 00:13:36,221 Francesca Harn: thirteen shards, each hovering in a circle, the faint shapes of 333 00:13:36,221 --> 00:13:36,981 Francesca Harn: cards on their 334 00:13:36,981 --> 00:13:40,662 Francesca Harn: surfaces. The void. The light suddenly dies. 335 00:13:40,662 --> 00:13:44,182 Francesca Harn: The air chills. You fall below you. 336 00:13:44,182 --> 00:13:45,861 Francesca Harn: There's no ground, only 337 00:13:45,861 --> 00:13:49,032 Francesca Harn: a vast, starless Abyss. A faint 338 00:13:49,032 --> 00:13:51,672 Francesca Harn: echo drifts upward. A melody, maybe 339 00:13:51,672 --> 00:13:51,871 Francesca Harn: your 340 00:13:51,871 --> 00:13:52,731 Francesca Harn: own voice 341 00:13:52,731 --> 00:13:54,312 Francesca Harn: echoing from impossibly far 342 00:13:54,312 --> 00:13:55,991 Francesca Harn: below. The voice 343 00:13:55,991 --> 00:13:57,591 Francesca Harn: speaks one last time. 344 00:13:57,591 --> 00:14:15,312 Francesca Harn: Hushed but intimate. "Something waits to claim what you hide, Bard. A hollow that hungers for names. For legacies. When it finds you... The question will not be who you are, but what remains when the song stops." 345 00:14:15,312 --> 00:14:16,851 Francesca Harn: The final image before you 346 00:14:16,851 --> 00:14:19,991 Francesca Harn: wake. A black crown descending into 347 00:14:19,991 --> 00:14:21,672 Francesca Harn: the void, its jewels 348 00:14:21,672 --> 00:14:22,251 Francesca Harn: glimmering 349 00:14:22,251 --> 00:14:25,631 Francesca Harn: faintly like tears turned to stone. 350 00:14:27,456 --> 00:14:28,775 Francesca Harn: You jolt upright. 351 00:14:28,775 --> 00:14:31,375 Francesca Harn: The candle burned low to its wick. 352 00:14:31,375 --> 00:14:33,775 Francesca Harn: The silver card lies beside you on the cot. 353 00:14:33,775 --> 00:14:35,735 Francesca Harn: Cool again, but a faint smudge 354 00:14:35,735 --> 00:14:37,916 Francesca Harn: of soot marks its surface, 355 00:14:37,916 --> 00:14:40,176 Francesca Harn: shaped exactly like a smiling 356 00:14:40,176 --> 00:14:42,615 Francesca Harn: jester's mask. 357 00:14:42,615 --> 00:14:47,296 Francesca Harn: Outside, the first bells of Dawn toll over Droslev's gate. 358 00:14:47,296 --> 00:14:50,216 Francesca Harn: What is the meaning of this dream? 359 00:14:50,216 --> 00:14:55,216 Francesca Harn: Role either perception or insight to try to uncover the 360 00:14:55,216 --> 00:14:57,975 Francesca Harn: message behind the images. 361 00:14:57,975 --> 00:14:58,655 Francesca Harn: Perception. 362 00:14:58,655 --> 00:15:02,296 Francesca Harn: She focuses on physical detail what she saw or heard or sensed 363 00:15:02,296 --> 00:15:03,855 Francesca Harn: in the dream. 364 00:15:03,855 --> 00:15:08,015 Francesca Harn: Insight she searches for emotional or symbolic truth. 365 00:15:08,015 --> 00:15:10,296 Francesca Harn: What the dream means. 366 00:15:10,296 --> 00:15:11,855 Francesca Harn: Roll your d20. 367 00:15:11,855 --> 00:15:13,456 Francesca Harn: Let's see how clearly Francesca 368 00:15:13,456 --> 00:15:15,115 Francesca Harn: recalls what fate tried to 369 00:15:15,115 --> 00:15:16,625 Francesca Harn: whisper. 370 00:15:16,625 --> 00:15:21,066 Francesca Harn: Don't see huge amounts of value in going for the perception, 371 00:15:21,066 --> 00:15:23,865 Francesca Harn: thinking about the physical because it's a dream, right? 372 00:15:23,865 --> 00:15:25,505 Francesca Harn: So let's talk more about the 373 00:15:25,505 --> 00:15:27,306 Francesca Harn: emotional or symbolism behind 374 00:15:27,306 --> 00:15:27,905 Francesca Harn: it. 375 00:15:27,905 --> 00:15:29,265 Francesca Harn: So I'm thinking I'm going to go 376 00:15:29,265 --> 00:15:31,686 Francesca Harn: for insight, which for me is a 377 00:15:31,686 --> 00:15:32,586 Francesca Harn: role. 378 00:15:32,586 --> 00:15:34,985 Francesca Harn: Plus a plus three are brilliant okay. 379 00:15:34,985 --> 00:15:36,826 Francesca Harn: So let's roll this d20. 380 00:15:36,826 --> 00:15:38,426 Francesca Harn: Give it a shake first. 381 00:15:40,946 --> 00:15:42,225 Francesca Harn: Ooh. 382 00:15:42,225 --> 00:15:42,946 Francesca Harn: Not bad. 383 00:15:42,946 --> 00:15:44,025 Francesca Harn: I thought that was going to be worse. 384 00:15:44,025 --> 00:15:45,985 Francesca Harn: It rolled for a while and I was 385 00:15:45,985 --> 00:15:46,985 Francesca Harn: scared it was going to land on 386 00:15:46,985 --> 00:15:48,566 Francesca Harn: three, but then it decided to do 387 00:15:48,566 --> 00:15:49,385 Francesca Harn: ten. 388 00:15:49,385 --> 00:15:51,826 Francesca Harn: So that's ten plus three. 389 00:15:51,826 --> 00:15:53,105 Francesca Harn: Let's see what she finds out. 390 00:15:53,105 --> 00:15:56,066 Francesca Harn: It's not going to be amazing, but I've had much worse rolls. 391 00:15:56,066 --> 00:15:59,505 Francesca Harn: If you've listened to previous episodes, you know I've had some 392 00:15:59,505 --> 00:16:00,985 Francesca Harn: pretty terrible rolls. 393 00:16:02,039 --> 00:16:04,960 Francesca Harn: The candle has long since gutted out. 394 00:16:04,960 --> 00:16:08,480 Francesca Harn: The faintest light of dawn seeps through the boarded window, and 395 00:16:08,480 --> 00:16:12,159 Francesca Harn: you sit there on the cot, card in hand, trying to hold on to 396 00:16:12,159 --> 00:16:15,960 Francesca Harn: the pieces of the dream before it dissolves completely. 397 00:16:15,960 --> 00:16:18,279 Francesca Harn: You remember flashes a jester's 398 00:16:18,279 --> 00:16:19,799 Francesca Harn: laugh, a gemstone splitting 399 00:16:19,799 --> 00:16:21,720 Francesca Harn: apart, a crown sinking into 400 00:16:21,720 --> 00:16:22,840 Francesca Harn: darkness. 401 00:16:22,840 --> 00:16:24,600 Francesca Harn: The rest is already fading. 402 00:16:24,600 --> 00:16:28,639 Francesca Harn: But a few threads cling stubbornly to your mind. 403 00:16:28,639 --> 00:16:29,679 Francesca Harn: The jester. 404 00:16:29,679 --> 00:16:31,440 Francesca Harn: Your past was a mask. 405 00:16:31,440 --> 00:16:33,480 Francesca Harn: You survived by charm and deceit. 406 00:16:33,480 --> 00:16:35,360 Francesca Harn: But there's a sting to it. 407 00:16:35,360 --> 00:16:39,960 Francesca Harn: You learned too well how to hide even from yourself. 408 00:16:39,960 --> 00:16:42,919 Francesca Harn: The gem your fractured but whole. 409 00:16:42,919 --> 00:16:46,080 Francesca Harn: You can see so many versions of yourself now barred. 410 00:16:46,080 --> 00:16:47,799 Francesca Harn: Thief, noble wanderer. 411 00:16:47,799 --> 00:16:50,440 Francesca Harn: And you know that only one can survive what's coming. 412 00:16:50,440 --> 00:16:51,679 Francesca Harn: The void. 413 00:16:51,679 --> 00:16:53,519 Francesca Harn: Something knows your name. 414 00:16:53,519 --> 00:16:54,399 Francesca Harn: That crown. 415 00:16:54,399 --> 00:16:56,360 Francesca Harn: Those whispered words. 416 00:16:56,360 --> 00:16:58,759 Francesca Harn: You don't think it was just a dream. 417 00:16:58,759 --> 00:17:01,279 Francesca Harn: Something old and hungry is watching. 418 00:17:01,279 --> 00:17:03,919 Francesca Harn: Waiting for the right moment to reach out. 419 00:17:03,919 --> 00:17:05,279 Francesca Harn: When you glance at the silver 420 00:17:05,279 --> 00:17:07,079 Francesca Harn: card again, the faint soot 421 00:17:07,079 --> 00:17:08,599 Francesca Harn: smudge from the jester's mask 422 00:17:08,599 --> 00:17:09,839 Francesca Harn: remains. 423 00:17:09,839 --> 00:17:14,039 Francesca Harn: You can't shake the feeling that the deck marked you not as its 424 00:17:14,039 --> 00:17:17,079 Francesca Harn: owner, but as its next story. 425 00:17:17,079 --> 00:17:20,680 Francesca Harn: Outside Droslev's Gate stirs awake. 426 00:17:20,680 --> 00:17:23,039 Francesca Harn: Somewhere in the city, Whistle Korrin 427 00:17:23,039 --> 00:17:24,920 Francesca Harn: will have received your message. 428 00:17:24,920 --> 00:17:25,039 Francesca Harn: The 429 00:17:25,039 --> 00:17:28,000 Francesca Harn: question is whether to meet him now, before daylight gives way 430 00:17:28,000 --> 00:17:33,000 Francesca Harn: to consequence, or to watch and wait a little longer. What 431 00:17:33,000 --> 00:17:35,240 Francesca Harn: do you want Francesca to do? Good 432 00:17:35,240 --> 00:17:35,799 Francesca Harn: question. What 433 00:17:35,799 --> 00:17:37,240 Francesca Harn: do I want her to do? I 434 00:17:37,240 --> 00:17:41,519 Francesca Harn: think let's go. Because. 435 00:17:41,519 --> 00:17:41,779 Francesca Harn: Yeah, 436 00:17:41,779 --> 00:17:43,720 Francesca Harn: before I personally. This 437 00:17:43,720 --> 00:17:45,559 Francesca Harn: is getting like into my personal life. Now. 438 00:17:45,559 --> 00:17:45,759 Francesca Harn: I 439 00:17:45,759 --> 00:17:48,000 Francesca Harn: always get up and go, like in the weekend. I 440 00:17:48,000 --> 00:17:49,380 Francesca Harn: need to do shopping or whatever. I'm 441 00:17:49,380 --> 00:17:50,880 Francesca Harn: not someone that laze around in 442 00:17:50,880 --> 00:17:52,160 Francesca Harn: bed or stays around the house till 443 00:17:52,160 --> 00:17:52,859 Francesca Harn: ten. I 444 00:17:52,859 --> 00:17:54,380 Francesca Harn: am up at six. I'm 445 00:17:54,380 --> 00:17:57,759 Francesca Harn: out when the shops open before it gets busy. Let's 446 00:17:57,759 --> 00:17:58,519 Francesca Harn: go. So 447 00:17:58,519 --> 00:18:01,000 Francesca Harn: I think she needs to get out before people are out. She's 448 00:18:01,000 --> 00:18:03,160 Francesca Harn: risked her identity a few times recently. Let's 449 00:18:03,160 --> 00:18:04,160 Francesca Harn: go. Uh, 450 00:18:04,160 --> 00:18:05,319 Francesca Harn: hood up. Go 451 00:18:05,319 --> 00:18:08,799 Francesca Harn: and see Whistle Korrin, then head back to the inn. I 452 00:18:08,799 --> 00:18:11,079 Francesca Harn: feel because she needs to show off 453 00:18:11,079 --> 00:18:13,339 Francesca Harn: her persona of the Bard at the 454 00:18:13,339 --> 00:18:14,400 Francesca Harn: inn where she performed the night 455 00:18:14,400 --> 00:18:15,900 Francesca Harn: before to make sure that she's 456 00:18:15,900 --> 00:18:17,160 Francesca Harn: kind of staying true to that. 457 00:18:17,160 --> 00:18:17,319 Francesca Harn: Oh, 458 00:18:17,319 --> 00:18:19,160 Francesca Harn: look, I'm just a travelling bard. Look 459 00:18:19,160 --> 00:18:19,559 Francesca Harn: at me. I'm 460 00:18:19,559 --> 00:18:20,819 Francesca Harn: innocent. So 461 00:18:20,819 --> 00:18:23,640 Francesca Harn: yeah, I've ended up on a bit of a spiral there, but that's what 462 00:18:23,640 --> 00:18:24,480 Francesca Harn: we're going to do. The 463 00:18:24,480 --> 00:18:28,839 Francesca Harn: street of Droslev's gate is gray and slick with early mist. The 464 00:18:28,839 --> 00:18:32,480 Francesca Harn: air smells of cold smoke and wet stone. You 465 00:18:32,480 --> 00:18:34,460 Francesca Harn: move quietly through narrow lanes, 466 00:18:34,460 --> 00:18:36,599 Francesca Harn: hood drawn low, every step 467 00:18:36,599 --> 00:18:38,799 Francesca Harn: echoing softly on the cobbles. 468 00:18:38,799 --> 00:18:38,960 Francesca Harn: The 469 00:18:38,960 --> 00:18:41,559 Francesca Harn: few souls awake at this hour. Fishmongers 470 00:18:41,559 --> 00:18:42,720 Francesca Harn: lamplighters. Street 471 00:18:42,720 --> 00:18:43,960 Francesca Harn: sweepers. Don't 472 00:18:43,960 --> 00:18:45,920 Francesca Harn: look twice. Whistle 473 00:18:45,920 --> 00:18:47,440 Francesca Harn: Korrin's workshop is hidden 474 00:18:47,440 --> 00:18:49,000 Francesca Harn: beneath a shuttered watchmaker's 475 00:18:49,000 --> 00:18:50,039 Francesca Harn: shop in the Copper Lane 476 00:18:50,039 --> 00:18:52,240 Francesca Harn: district, a labyrinth of old 477 00:18:52,240 --> 00:18:54,680 Francesca Harn: pipes and gears that hum faintly 478 00:18:54,680 --> 00:18:56,960 Francesca Harn: even when the city sleeps. 479 00:18:56,960 --> 00:18:57,259 Francesca Harn: You 480 00:18:57,259 --> 00:19:02,259 Francesca Harn: slip down the back stair, knock once, twice, pause, then a third 481 00:19:02,259 --> 00:19:04,599 Francesca Harn: time his coat. A 482 00:19:04,599 --> 00:19:07,559 Francesca Harn: moment later you hear the scratch of a latch. The 483 00:19:07,559 --> 00:19:09,319 Francesca Harn: door opens a crack, revealing 484 00:19:09,319 --> 00:19:11,000 Francesca Harn: a narrow sliver of whistles, 485 00:19:11,000 --> 00:19:13,359 Francesca Harn: wide eyes magnified by thick 486 00:19:13,359 --> 00:19:21,039 Francesca Harn: lenses. "Saints below. Francesca. I was just thinking about sending words. You're alive." 487 00:19:21,039 --> 00:19:21,640 Francesca Harn: He ushers 488 00:19:21,640 --> 00:19:21,799 Francesca Harn: you 489 00:19:21,799 --> 00:19:24,579 Francesca Harn: inside, fussing in that anxious way only 490 00:19:24,579 --> 00:19:25,759 Francesca Harn: he can. 491 00:19:25,759 --> 00:19:29,359 Francesca Harn: The little gnome's workshop is a chaos of springs, cogs and half 492 00:19:29,359 --> 00:19:31,839 Francesca Harn: dismantled locks. He pulls a stool 493 00:19:31,839 --> 00:19:33,599 Francesca Harn: over for you, still peering toward 494 00:19:33,599 --> 00:19:34,759 Francesca Harn: the door. 495 00:19:34,759 --> 00:19:38,769 Francesca Harn: "So what d'you find? Your note was vague, even for you." you 496 00:19:38,769 --> 00:19:39,869 Francesca Harn: set the silver card 497 00:19:39,869 --> 00:19:42,390 Francesca Harn: on his workbench. The faint reflection of 498 00:19:42,390 --> 00:19:46,150 Francesca Harn: the candlelight dances across it like liquid metal. 499 00:19:46,150 --> 00:19:54,029 Francesca Harn: Whistle freezes, eyes going wide behind his goggles. "Where in the nine hells did you get this?" 500 00:19:54,029 --> 00:19:54,829 Francesca Harn: His voice has 501 00:19:54,829 --> 00:19:59,150 Francesca Harn: changed lower, reverent, and just a little afraid. 502 00:19:59,150 --> 00:20:01,609 Francesca Harn: He adjusts a magnifier lens, studying the 503 00:20:01,609 --> 00:20:03,150 Francesca Harn: etched starburst and the ring of 504 00:20:03,150 --> 00:20:17,990 Francesca Harn: thirteen glyphs. "I've seen a sketch of this before. Old dangerous. Not gild work, not even arcane registry. This. This might pre-date recorded magic. Where exactly did you-" 505 00:20:17,990 --> 00:20:18,789 Francesca Harn: He stops 506 00:20:18,789 --> 00:20:23,230 Francesca Harn: mid-sentence. A faint knock echoes above, three, sharp taps 507 00:20:23,230 --> 00:20:24,750 Francesca Harn: on the metal grate that separates 508 00:20:24,750 --> 00:20:28,109 Francesca Harn: the workshop from the alley. Whistles face 509 00:20:28,109 --> 00:20:28,789 Francesca Harn: drains of 510 00:20:28,789 --> 00:20:32,630 Francesca Harn: color. "That's not one of my contacts." 511 00:20:32,630 --> 00:20:32,789 Francesca Harn: The 512 00:20:32,789 --> 00:20:36,230 Francesca Harn: knock comes again. Louder. What 513 00:20:36,230 --> 00:20:38,430 Francesca Harn: does Francesca do as the knocking grows 514 00:20:38,430 --> 00:20:41,470 Francesca Harn: sharper? You know what I think? Francesca is prepared for this. 515 00:20:41,470 --> 00:20:43,349 Francesca Harn: Um, so she's gonna take off her cloak, 516 00:20:43,349 --> 00:20:45,309 Francesca Harn: revealing her bard's outfit underneath. 517 00:20:45,309 --> 00:20:47,730 Francesca Harn: Because although she did, you know, 518 00:20:47,730 --> 00:20:48,450 Francesca Harn: put on her stealth 519 00:20:48,450 --> 00:20:48,809 Francesca Harn: cloak 520 00:20:48,809 --> 00:20:50,730 Francesca Harn: and mask and everything the night before. And she 521 00:20:50,730 --> 00:20:51,529 Francesca Harn: didn't return to the inn 522 00:20:51,529 --> 00:20:52,089 Francesca Harn: where her rest of her 523 00:20:52,089 --> 00:20:54,049 Francesca Harn: clothes was underneath. She would have had 524 00:20:54,049 --> 00:20:55,210 Francesca Harn: the corset and everything 525 00:20:55,210 --> 00:20:55,450 Francesca Harn: that she 526 00:20:55,450 --> 00:20:56,089 Francesca Harn: would have worn for the 527 00:20:56,089 --> 00:20:57,609 Francesca Harn: performance. So she's going to take 528 00:20:57,609 --> 00:20:58,809 Francesca Harn: the cloak off. She's going 529 00:20:58,809 --> 00:20:59,569 Francesca Harn: to kind 530 00:20:59,569 --> 00:21:01,349 Francesca Harn: of redo her hair really quickly in 531 00:21:01,349 --> 00:21:03,630 Francesca Harn: that effortless, way that people with 532 00:21:03,630 --> 00:21:03,970 Francesca Harn: long hair 533 00:21:03,970 --> 00:21:05,829 Francesca Harn: do that. I don't know how that works because I have 534 00:21:05,829 --> 00:21:07,150 Francesca Harn: very short hair. But anyway, 535 00:21:07,150 --> 00:21:08,269 Francesca Harn: she puts it into like a half up, 536 00:21:08,269 --> 00:21:14,029 Francesca Harn: half down, bard esque fancy hairdo. Um, she places the card quickly 537 00:21:14,029 --> 00:21:16,670 Francesca Harn: inside her corset. I'm a big fan for hiding 538 00:21:16,670 --> 00:21:19,829 Francesca Harn: my phone and credit cards and things inside my bra so she 539 00:21:19,829 --> 00:21:23,250 Francesca Harn: can hide it in her corset, and she removes, from there, an antique 540 00:21:23,250 --> 00:21:24,289 Francesca Harn: pocket watch which 541 00:21:24,289 --> 00:21:27,609 Francesca Harn: stutters in its ticking so clearly not working properly, 542 00:21:27,609 --> 00:21:31,049 Francesca Harn: puts that on the table so she can pretend that that's why 543 00:21:31,049 --> 00:21:34,490 Francesca Harn: she's there. To see Korrin, to get him to fix the watch so she 544 00:21:34,490 --> 00:21:37,930 Francesca Harn: then will gesture for Whistle to open the grates because 545 00:21:37,930 --> 00:21:39,930 Francesca Harn: she's confident in this. This is what she's done. She 546 00:21:39,930 --> 00:21:42,450 Francesca Harn: has this double life. And yes, that captain knows who she 547 00:21:42,450 --> 00:21:45,410 Francesca Harn: is. But up until then, no one's seen 548 00:21:45,410 --> 00:21:47,210 Francesca Harn: through this. She's confident in her 549 00:21:47,210 --> 00:21:49,690 Francesca Harn: ability to put on a performance. 550 00:21:49,690 --> 00:21:50,609 Francesca Harn: So let's see what 551 00:21:50,609 --> 00:21:51,289 Francesca Harn: happens. 552 00:21:52,673 --> 00:21:54,874 Francesca Harn: Whistle's trembling hand hovers 553 00:21:54,874 --> 00:21:56,554 Francesca Harn: near the latch, but your calm 554 00:21:56,554 --> 00:21:57,713 Francesca Harn: steals him. 555 00:21:57,713 --> 00:21:58,993 Francesca Harn: In one fluid motion. 556 00:21:58,993 --> 00:22:02,153 Francesca Harn: You shrug off your cloak, silk and shadow giving way to the 557 00:22:02,153 --> 00:22:04,114 Francesca Harn: radiant performer beneath. 558 00:22:04,114 --> 00:22:07,034 Francesca Harn: Gold threaded cuffs catch the candlelight as you sweep your 559 00:22:07,034 --> 00:22:10,314 Francesca Harn: hair up, pinning it half back with a deliberate flick. 560 00:22:10,314 --> 00:22:13,713 Francesca Harn: The antique pocket watch ticks unevenly in your palm, a 561 00:22:13,713 --> 00:22:16,594 Francesca Harn: stuttering rhythm like a heartbeat faltering before a 562 00:22:16,594 --> 00:22:18,193 Francesca Harn: song's final note. 563 00:22:18,193 --> 00:22:21,273 Francesca Harn: You tuck the silver card safely against your corset, where it 564 00:22:21,273 --> 00:22:24,473 Francesca Harn: thrums, once faintly warm. 565 00:22:24,473 --> 00:22:29,273 Francesca Harn: "Open it," you whisper, "We'll let them see what they expect." 566 00:22:29,273 --> 00:22:33,394 Francesca Harn: Whistle, gulps, nods, and unlatches the gate. 567 00:22:33,394 --> 00:22:38,074 Francesca Harn: It creaks open with a long metallic groan, the mist from 568 00:22:38,074 --> 00:22:39,993 Francesca Harn: the alley curling in. 569 00:22:39,993 --> 00:22:44,153 Francesca Harn: Standing there are two figures cloaked in gray faces, hidden 570 00:22:44,153 --> 00:22:46,153 Francesca Harn: beneath hooded cowls. 571 00:22:46,153 --> 00:22:51,354 Francesca Harn: Between them a third, the red cloaked captain alive, bruised 572 00:22:51,354 --> 00:22:53,594 Francesca Harn: and leaning heavily on a cane. 573 00:22:53,594 --> 00:22:57,473 Francesca Harn: The crimson cloak is gone, replaced by plain grey. 574 00:22:57,473 --> 00:22:59,273 Francesca Harn: But the rune etched sword hangs 575 00:22:59,273 --> 00:23:01,354 Francesca Harn: at his hip, humming faintly even 576 00:23:01,354 --> 00:23:02,473 Francesca Harn: now. 577 00:23:02,473 --> 00:23:06,233 Francesca Harn: He smiles, lips cracked with dried blood. 578 00:23:06,233 --> 00:23:09,233 Francesca Harn: "You should have finished the job, Lady Valcere." 579 00:23:09,233 --> 00:23:10,713 Francesca Harn: Then his eyes flick briefly 580 00:23:10,713 --> 00:23:12,294 Francesca Harn: towards Whistle, and the 581 00:23:12,294 --> 00:23:14,354 Francesca Harn: workshop's only candle snuffs 582 00:23:14,354 --> 00:23:15,253 Francesca Harn: out. 583 00:23:15,253 --> 00:23:17,433 Francesca Harn: Darkness. 584 00:23:17,433 --> 00:23:20,594 Francesca Harn: The sound of steel leaving its sheath. 585 00:23:24,643 --> 00:23:28,542 Francesca Harn: In the black silence of Copper Lane, Francesca hears the faint 586 00:23:28,542 --> 00:23:33,782 Francesca Harn: tick of her broken watch and wonders if this time the song 587 00:23:33,782 --> 00:23:35,363 Francesca Harn: might stop for good. 588 00:23:37,055 --> 00:23:41,894 Francesca Harn: The shadows grow deeper, the choices sharper, and sometimes 589 00:23:41,894 --> 00:23:46,295 Francesca Harn: the only path forward is the one we walk rolling solo.