AI Summary
5 min readDeep within the Sallowlands, a community once known as Hookboro has been remade. The travelers from the Tower of Oxidos arrive to find it transformed into a lush, unnaturally verdant settlement, its inhabitants now calling themselves the Dova. They worship a new god called the Grim Hunter, and they have a relic—the Ember Toll—that promises to cure them of their violent natures. But the cure comes at a terrible price, and the party must navigate a brutal ceremony, a desperate escape, and a city that literally sinks into the earth.
The Ceremony of the Ember Toll
The party, having been captured and brought to the transformed Hookboro, witnesses a horrifying ritual. A robed chieftain presides over a massive, hammered metal disc called the Ember Toll. One by one, willing participants—including other captives from the wastes—step forward to "embrace the toll." The chieftain presses their head against the relic, and a sizzling, agonizing transformation begins. The victim’s body convulses, fur sprouts where there was none, and their jaw extends into a bestial snout. The chieftain declares this a blessing from the Grim Hunter, a release from the savagery of the old world. The party watches, horrified, as a peaceful-looking elf is turned into a tusked, yellow-eyed beast, who then howls in triumph with the rest of the crowd.
A Desperate Gambit in the Chaos
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What you'll learn
- 1 (06:33) **Campaign Recap & Current Situation** - The party is southbound through the Sallowlands, having escaped the Tower of Oxidos with new ally Bowen, and are now tracking a Dova caravan that has kidnapped their unconscious companions.
- 2 (11:07) **Dilwen's Solo Pursuit & Failed Rescue Attempt** - Dilwen follows the caravan through the enchanted wood, attempting to wake her companions by throwing seed pods at their heads.
- 3 (26:41) **Arrival at Hookboro & The Ember Toll Ceremony** - The caravan arrives at a transformed Hookboro, now a lush, green settlement where a massive ceremony is taking place around a relic called the Ember Toll.
- 4 (36:51) **Party Wakes & Begins Escape Plan** - The captured party members (Alphonse, Sister, Bowen, Kogwama) regain consciousness in the cart, bound and blindfolded, and begin working to free themselves.
- 5 (44:19) **Chaos Erupts: Mercy's Attack on the Relic** - As a second person is about to be transformed, the party launches a coordinated attack to create chaos and escape.
- 6 (58:38) **Mercy's Blood Puppet Distraction** - Mercy uses her "Blood Puppet" ability on a nearby elf, forcing them to stab a guard and shout "Mathan Ember never die," creating further confusion.
- 7 (66:06) **Brutal Counterattack & Party Takes Heavy Damage** - The Dova's forces unleash a devastating assault on the party, with Bowen sacrificing himself to protect Sister and Kogwama retreating into his shell.
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Show Notes
Part 1
Captured by the Dova, the travelers must choose between surrendering to salvation or fighting for their own path forward...
DAGGERHEART: HOPE & FEAR
Explore new Daggerheart content seen in Sallowlands with the first expansion for Daggerheart! Hope & Fear comes out August 25th and features new classes (Witch, Warlock, Assassin, Brawler), transformation cards, adversaries, campaign frames, and much more. Visit https://www.daggerheart.com/pre-order to learn more, or head directly to Critical Role shops to place your pre-order!
US: https://shop.critrole.com
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EU: https://shop.critrole.eu
AU: https://shop.critrole.com.au
CA: https://canada.critrole.com
AGE OF UMBRA: SALLOWLANDS
A group of outcasts and survivors brave blasted lands in search of answers in Age of Umbra: Sallowlands. This 6-part Daggerheart mini-series features Game Master Matthew Mercer and players Laura Bailey, Jennifer English, Abubakar Salim, Vico Ortiz, and Zachery Renauldo. They’ll form an unlikely band of companions, who venture off the beaten path in search of answers in the Sallowlands, a new region of the Halcyon Domain filled with cracked badlands, dangers, and awe-inspiring secrets. What fragile hopes dare they cling to in this story of desperation and survival? Learn more at https://critrole.com/umbra
BEACON
Curious what happens when the camera turns off after an Age of Umbra episode? Watch the Cooldown episodes with the cast discussion after each episode, exclusively on Beacon! Start your 7-day free trial today at https://beacon.tv/join and get unparalleled access to the shows you love completely ad-free! You’ll receive NEW Beacon exclusive series, instant access to VODs & podcasts, live event pre-sales, merch discounts, & a private Discord.
CREDITS
See full cast and crew credits at https://critrole.com/sallowlands-credits/
Starring:
Game Master Matthew Mercer | @matthewmercervo
Jennifer English as Dillywin Hellekin | @jenniferjenglish
Abubakar Salim as Mercy | @abubakarsalim
Laura Bailey as Sister | @laurabaileyvo
Zachery Renauldo as Alphonse | @zachthebold
Vico Ortiz as Cagauma | @puertoricaninja
Art by:
Key Art by Daniel Jiménez Villalba | @Danieljimenezvillalba
Character Art by Strange House | @strange_house
Sallowlands Map by Marco Bernardini
Miniatures Painted by Keo Lacebal, Angela Basset, and Erik Lonnquist
Main Theme Song by Omar Fadel
Set Design by Shaun Ellis
Set Fabrication and Production Design by Noxweiler Berf
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