Critical Recap: Age of Umbra E08 “The Tomb of the Heretic Saint”

Hello! Welcome to Critical Recap! I’m Jared Deiro, the Critical Role Junior Lore Keeper and this is our recap of Age of Umbra Episode 8: The Tomb of the Heretic Saint!

WRAITHS OF WRATH

The final four of Desperloch’s only hope approach the Tomb of the Heretic Saint. The forgotten entrance is now covered in petrified and calloused roots from an ancient tree above. Idyl and Snyx approach the old dead tree and combine their arcane abilities, awakening the long-gone flora. The roots creak, and a tinge of color emanates across its bark; the tree grew here long before its purpose was sought. It has been punished to hold this gate. Snyx restores a small bit of hope to the tree’s roots, as they crack and break – revealing the stone doorway.

Idyl ignites a torch as they enter the Barrow. A haunting nostalgia fills Misty as the smell reminds her of being scared, alone, and cold. She knows she’s lost people in a place like this, but she knows there’s comfort in her vessel, as well. In the distance, she sees a small gold light, a woman, and a mass of people in the throes of lament. She senses their mourning fade, along with the vision.

Brixton watches Idyl’s burning flame and feels a semblance of strength. She notices a group traveling with them, the group follows a beautiful woman with a soft smile. A light. Brixton feels the same solace from the woman’s light as she felt from the Sacred Pyre. She takes the warmth of the woman in, stepping toward her – and bumping into Snyx.

Snyx glances about skittishly – suddenly finding himself in front of a polished white platform; the white towers of Amber Reach in the distance basked in daylight. A beautiful woman is chained and on her knees, she smiles to the skies. He watches as figures adorned in red and gold shout at the woman. He’s pulled out of the vision and confesses to Brixton that he had never met Aliana. He had written all of the letters himself. He is constantly drowning in guilt.

Idyl finds the end of the cavern and steps through the two large doors, finding himself in a beautifully carved and polished cathedral-like chamber with raised platforms and pillars. Idyl looks back – he’s alone. He then sees four women in chains and a dozen travelers in front of them. One of the beautiful women looks to the skies, a soft golden hue on her face. A portly man clutches a scepter of silver and gold and yells at her with a jealous rage. Then Idyl watches as two figures step forward… and carve her face off.

BLASPHEMOUS BREACH OF THE BLESSED BRANCH

Idyl snaps to reality, finding himself still in the same room, though ruined and decayed now. Idyl realizes the scepter in Snyx’s hand is the same one the angry man had. Brixton sees the skulls of the Evelyar’s followers now lining the room.

They approach a large stone casket in the center of the room, where three other simple wooden caskets are triangulating. They notice gems, coins, and other offerings are set intentionally on top of the stone casket, like sigils, along with a pale branch – the Blessed Branch. The group readies itself as Brixton reaches for the Blessed Branch, but she’s stopped by an invisible barrier protecting it. She takes the scepter from Snyx and tries again, this time successfully.

WHOOSH! The temperature drops, and all of the unlit candles turn purple. Shadows in the chamber spill into the clustered coffins, JUST as the stone lid explodes off. Three corpses rise from the wooden coffins and pull weapons from a black void as a frail mummified body of the Heretic Saint (now the Blashemous Angel) steps from the stone coffin; blue feathered wings tear from her back, a fleshy crown sprouts atop her head as she pulls forth a massive axe. The party peers into the Blashemous Angel’s face – seeing nothing but a black void staring back.

The doors slam shut behind them. Everyone moves simultaneously when suddenly Skreev emerges from the shadows and leaps straight for Snyx – but dips into the shadows at the very last second. He then emerges, clawing straight into Evelyar.

The battle continues to strain the heroes, as Misty and Evelyar fill the chamber with a harmony of hauntingly beautiful wails, creating an opening for Idyl and Brixton to tag team a heavy blow. Skreev and Snyx put their troubles aside for an aerial combo attack. Brixton takes a bite of a Varik leaf and feels the spark of the Pyre surge through her blade. She shatters two of the Profane Disciples. And in that moment, Evelyar carves into Skreev, Snyx, and Misty.

Skreev tears the pierced ring from his chest and whips it into the Angel’s throat. With that, his innards fall out, and Skreev dies. Snyx feels the falls unconscious and feels the life drain from him. Finally, Misty forms sharpened jagged rocks out of her wings and leaps into the Angel’s chest, sending a blast of Wildflame into her torso. A void tears in the room, sucking Evelyar and Misty into it – just before imploding.

THE SPRINT TO DESPERLOCH

Idyl and Brixton take the silence in. Stunned, but still standing. Brixton snatches the Blessed Branch and simultaneously tosses the scepter to Idyl. Time is of the essence as they latch the remaining bodies into the wooden caskets and ignite them.

After a short rest, the final two retrace their steps through the Aurumweald. It had been four days since the original troupe left Desperloch – they now have two days to get home before the Umbra winds beat them. So they hit the ground running.

Idyl and Brixton rush downhill out of the forest and squeeze through the Cinnabar Quarter. They shout out to the commanders of the Celsian Athenaeum, who crank the gates open for them. ‘One night down,’ they think, as they sleep through the day.

Night two, they break through the south gates and race down the Drowned Sprawl, climbing down the ramparts of the Amber Gate, and cut through the Screaming Forest. Eventually passing the shuttered gates of Volkoru and traveling across the Ashen Sea ramparts, they feel stone crumbling beneath their feet and the distant hollow screams from the Umbra Wind soul getting louder.

Finally, after rampaging through the jungles, Brixton and Idyl can see the Slagwall – Vigil at the ready. Brixton raises the branch as Ghosthook opens the gates. The howling winds deafen the settlement and darken the skies. Emberwarden Sheena sparks a flint against the branch, and a massive inferno erupts around them. The shrieking Umbra storm parts in agony, leaving a gaping barrier around the settlement. Desperloch cries and cheers in revelry as Idyl and Brixton collapse in exhaustion.

WEEKS PASS…

Brixton returns to the Pyre to teach new Pyrekeepers. She remembers the friends she lost, and the community she almost lost. Idyl joins up with Ghosthook, no longer hiding his gifts and instead using his light as a means to inspire hope. He continues to delve further into the monastery while sharing the tales of his fallen companions.

That is it for Episode 8 of Age of Umbra!

FINAL THOUGHTS

• Cool visions!! I love how throughout each of the parties hallucinations, we are given the chapters of the tragedy of Evelyar.
• Evelyar and her Profane Disciples really did a number on the group – AND THE RETURN OF SKREEV?? How about that one folks. I love a good switcheroo.
• WHAT a BEAUTIFUL ending. My goodness. My heart breaks for those we lost. But burns bright for the hope our two surviving members bring to the future of Desperloch. What. A. STORY.