Critical Recap: Age of Umbra Sallowlands Episode 1 “Scattered Pilgrims”

Hello and welcome to Critical Recap! I’m Jared Deiro, the Critical Role Junior Lore Keeper. Let’s dive into Age of Umbra: Sallowlands Episode 1 Scattered Pilgrims!

NEW FRIENDS

Along the outskirts of the Rustsaw Wood, Mercy (he/they, played by Abubakar Salim) a Reanimated Fungril-Giant introduces their new friends Dillwyn (she/they, played by Jennifer English), a skeptical simiah, and Badger, their silly bat companion, to their old friend, Sister (she/her, played by Laura Bailey), a fungril mystic. Mercy tells Sister that the three have been searching the Wood for her and that he’s recently heard of a city of hope and beauty, one that is inviting and welcoming to all. Sister has also heard rumors of this city – it’s why she left her Veiled Sisters.

The three survivors head south out of the Rustsaw Wood toward the Crust of the Lake Tomb, a cold, wind-blown valley of dust and salt. As they climb down, they hear a detonation echo in the distance, followed by shouts. Dillwyn sends Badger to scout ahead, but he returns with an arrow sticking out of him.

The three rush down toward the quarrel, where they find Alphonse (he/him, played by Zachery Renauldo), a large, stocky man wearing a strange skeletal helmet, being pursued by a posse of bounty hunters. A fight breaks out among the bounty hunters, the survivors, Alphonse, and Caguama (they/he, played by Vico Ortiz), a very old but sturdy galapa who had been trailing Alphonse and hiding in a nearby brush.

As the five strangers defend one another from the wily bounty hunters, the leader, Endroth, barely escapes with his life. Caguama introduces themselves and says they’ve been traveling alone for some time. Seeing a use in surviving in numbers, Alphonse decides to join this ragtag group of scraggly survivors. Alphonse and Caguama have also heard rumors about the new city. Though Alphonse doesn’t believe in the city, he wants to know what it really is, fearing some sort of death trap.

ROTTEN REVELATIONS

The newfound group continues its journey southeast across the clouded Broken Coast. Alphonse leads confidently, pushing them toward the Rotten Shallows below. Far off in the distance, beyond the shifting sands, they see a range of mountains with a city of glittering lights at its base. They decide to head toward the western rising pillar, toward the Tower of Oxudos, where Caguama has heard of a prophet who lives in the Tower, one who’s survived the Apostasy. Caguama wants to learn from this ancient prophet, since both they and Sister are from the Old World. Alphonse warns them to be careful when heading to Oxudos – the denizens of the tower are zealous and full of fear.

As night falls, they head into the long-dead underwater forest despite its vile stench and damp, putrid landscape. They suddenly hear a cry ring out across the swamp. Something takes to the sky and circles overhead. Something hunting, and something big.

The six maneuver through the dense marsh, trying anything they can to evade the eyes of the giant flying beast. Mercy takes an arm from their bag of body parts they’ve been carrying around and lobs it in the opposite direction of their path, throwing off the bird-creature. A few minutes later, they hear a shout – “It comes!” as the shape descends upon a small squadron of Exemplar soldiers.

THE TATCHRA

The massive, legendary, orangish bird bears the shape of a human face within its beak. Terrifying and fearless, it turns towards Alphonse and reads parts of his true nature, recalling his sadness and shame. He remembers being chained on a wooden platform in the middle of a town as the citizens stare at him. The Tatchra relishes in this shame.

Caguama watches the creature kill and tear apart more of the Exemplar soldiers. Speaking to the Tatchra, Caguama tells the beast that someone they loved once risked her life for them and their son. Though Caguama couldn’t save her, they promised to always do something to save others who once lived a beautiful, full life. Caguama knows the Tatchra was once wise and beautiful. The creature reaches out to Caguama. Caguama sees a prism of beauty in their eyes, then an overwhelming wave of chaos and sorrow. So much sorrow.

Caguama fights to hold onto their own sanity. They hold themselves together, feeling the rush of beauty and color – it reminds them of Osha, the love of their life, the person who risked her life for Caguama’s. Caguama leans in, pressing their forehead to the creature’s, and whispers, “You are beautiful.” The Tatchra sighs. Then kicks away, shrieking, and clawing the air before shooting off into the night sky.

Bowen, the one surviving Exemplar Knight, asks who they are. “Friends,” the group responded. The survivors then burn the remains of the dead knights as Bowen tells them he’ll lead them to the Tower of Oxudos.

That is it for Episode 1 of Age of Umbra: Sallowlands!

FINAL THOUGHTS

• LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the Mercy-Dillwyn-Badger (“MDB”) Trio. Such a breath of friendly fresh air.
• Really digging the Sallowlands landscape and mystery!!
• Insane climax with the Tatchra, Vico out here pulling crazy moves as the peacekeeper. Awesome moment!

Catch Episode 2 of Age of Umbra: Sallowlands on Thursday, July 16th at 7pm Pacific on beacon.tv, where Beacon members get access to the entire episode, podcast included! The episode will also release on twitch.tv/criticalrole and on youtube.com/criticalrole and in two parts on our podcast. Is it Thursday yet!