Critical Recap: Age of Umbra E06 “The Unforgiving City”

Hello! Welcome to Critical Recap! I’m Jared Deiro, the Critical Role Lore Keeper. Let’s dive into our recap of Age of Umbra Episode 6: The Unforgiving City!

HOPE’S SHADOW

The group steps out of the haunting neighborhood, looking up toward the Celsian Athenaeum, its Sacred Pyre burning with a reinforced stronghold. Misty, feeling slightly less hopeful, stops to examine the quilted tunic armor she found. The tunic bears the symbol of Tyris, a veiled god known for protecting the “Family and Hearth”. It was said that they were a dark shadow that would swallow the darkness that crept into one’s home. While they rest, Snyx notices Misty’s top left wing has been snapped off, leaving her soprano notes hollow – a scar from her near death.

Adelia takes the lead as they continue toward the Athenaeum, maneuvering around devils whenever they can. She feels a slight loss of hope and remembers escaping from her home. Adelia had no idea how long she was forced to hide beneath her floor before Skreev found her.

THE GLOM AND THE GUT

August flies a head through the Ashcall Quarter, a city once known as a beacon of knowledge – now a cursed land that drains the hope from those that wander through its high arches. The group suddenly finds themselves face-to-face with a hulking 25 ft. corrupted being wrapped in chains, with a cage for a hand. The Glomtower Thrall. The slow creature slams its hand into the party and cages Adelia. As they battle the giant entity, a second fiend arrives – the Terrorgut. It swings its gigantic vertebrae whip and sends out its shambling “belly zombies” at the group. The situation is dire.

Skreev manages to free Adelia, but soon after he watches her small frame get crushed by the overwhelming might of the Thrall. Skreev picks Violet up from the ground and shoves the doll beneath the pierced ring embedded in his chest. He goes into a blind white frenzy, falling into shadow and tearing into the Glomtower Thrall.

Then – just as quickly as she had fallen, Adelia twitches awake. Her eyes vacant, her hunger strong, Adelia is gone from the husk and is now a shambling zombie. JUST as it seems all hope is fully lost, August flies into the Terrorgut’s belly. Mustering all of his energy, he sends a blastwave of arcane energy – throwing the Terrorgut down the steps. It is a Blaze of Glory that kills August, but he knew it was what needed to be done.

Misty is forced to ignite August’s shambling body just as Snyx kills Adelia in front of Skreev. Skreev looks toward Snyx with a burning hatred and disappears into the shadows. The others grab August’s burned corpse and rush toward the Celsian Athenaeum.

TO THE ENDURING

Brixton demands the guards to “let the party in” as they charge toward the Celsian Athenaeum gates – the Terrorgut hot on their heels. As Idyl quickly illuminates a little light beneath Brixton’s feet (creating an unnaturally holy aura) the guards send a volley of arrows and a heaving object from their catapult toward the behemoth.

Within the atrium’s entrance, the group takes in the dilapidated and crumbling neighborhood full of wide-eyed terrified denizens. Sir Darran Thule calms everyone by telling them that Brixton carries “the gift”. Thule introduces them to Commander Kieran Tolas who directs them toward a shelter to rest and bury August.

The group takes this moment to rummage through August’s belongings, dispersing his armor and supplies amongst one another; They then head toward the Guardian’s Crown to trade some gear and information.

The group learns that though they are closer to their destination, the dangers ahead will be far more perilous. Outside of the Amber Reach, a dense and sprawling druidic wood called the Aurumweald is home to a wandering ancient spirit. They also learn that the Umbra winds are heading southwest with a chance of them moving east, toward Desperloch.

They are then directed to a small excavation site full of hand-carved stone plaques and are given a single alcove to bury their friend. Misty takes August’s hat and removes any pieces attached by Mother – returning him to his old self. The gravekeeper gives these Enduring a soft blessing.

As the party wraps up their ceremony, a young girl offers them wine to come save her sick brother. Idyl agrees and follows her. He finds an even younger boy lying in bed. He knows the boy only has days. He secretly casts a spell to heal the child, when suddenly the boy snatches his wrist and hisses in his face, “The Void will take you. Faceless. The darkness will swallow you whole. She is not to be breached. The angels will consume all that you see. You will be darkness.”

That is it for Episode 6 of Age of Umbra!

Final Thoughts

• Hardcore deaths. ROUGH BATTLE – Hell, I was losing hope just watching. But COOL to see those Daggerheart Death moves in action!!
• Skreev’s reaction to Adelia’s death was pretty heartwrenching. I feel like there is no way that this is the last we’ve seen of him. Oh, and did anyone else notice who pulled the final blow on her? (⊙_⊙)
• YOOOOOO WE LOVE A TERRIFYING CLIFFHANGER!! That was sick. “The angels will consume all that you see. You will be darkness.” Seems like a good omen!

Catch Episode 7 of Age of Umbra on Thursday, July 17th 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 a week later on our podcast. Is it Thursday yet?