01x01 - Mote of Possibility

[bunniefuu]

[ethereal music playing]

[haunting choral singing]

[choral singing continues]

[coughing]

Do not be afraid, my love.

I will see you again.

[crying]

-[shouts]
-[groans]

[Minotaur priestess] As the body dies,

the soul lives for eternity
with the Luxon.

[gasping]

[exhales]

[cries]

I cannot wait to see
who you become, my love.

And I promise I will wait.

[explosions in distance]

[priestess] What is that?

[all exclaim quietly]

[expl*si*n]

We've been breached.
Get the beacon to the vault.

Lock it down. Now!

[pulsing music playing]

♪♪

-[sword thunks]
-[muffled grunting]

Get the beacon.

[grunts softly]

-[guard] What in the hell?
-[muffled mumbling]

[muffled yell]

[guard 2] Hey!

[alarm blares]

I see them! [shouts]

Go, go!

[platform guard] Down there. Go.

[guard 3] There they are.

-[guard 4] Move!
-[guard 3] Quickly!

[door guard] Over there. Hurry!

Shut the gate!

[guards grunting]

[both grunting]

[shouts]

[grunts]

Unoj el.

[shadows growling]

[grunts]

Dain.

Yeah, yeah, I got it.

Vas Kul Shwaka. [grunts]

[groaning]

[birdsong]

They said they'd have our horses ready.
Why is it so quiet?

Stay here. Eadwulf, with me.

Huh?

[low rumble]

[shudders]

My God...

[suspenseful music playing]

[gasps]

[Astrid] The Kryn are here.

-It's a trap.
-[Dain] Run.

Run!

[Astrid] No.

[pulsing, intense music playing]

♪♪

[grunting]

Aw. You want a handout, you bum?

[grunts]

[coughing]

[laughing]

[other teen] Oh, whoops.
Having a shitty day, huh?

[teenager] Oh, man. What a loser.

[other teen] Yeah.

[Caleb] Hey.

Dra-Trukosh,

- utho
- Uh...

- ball-yeecrethen
- Hey. What are you doing?

-Stop it, freak.
-Zo-veneshall

ethuada Vassen

-Ro...
-[other teen] He's crazy. Come on!

Boo.

Aah! Oh, what the f*ck?

[pensive music playing]

[indistinct chatter, laughing]

[groans softly]

[sighs]

[whistles a tune]

[in Zemnian] This piece of sh*t...

-[dog barking]
-[exclaims]

[grunts]

[dog growls]

[in English] My pouch. Hey!

[energetic music playing]

-[gasps]
-[in Zemnian] Wait!

[grunts]

[worker in English] Watch it.

[grunting]

[in Zemnian] What the hell?

[crows cawing]

[gasps]

[in English] All right,
give it back, you little brat.

Give me the pouch, kid.

Take one more step and I will f*ck you up!

[grunting]

-Let me go or I'll gut you like a fish.
-Just... the pouch.

Give me the pouch!

-[pants, growls]
-Goblin.

-Please.
-[exclaims]

Please.

It's just a bag of junk.

Not to me.

[sighs]

[in Zemnian] Thank you.

[in English] You try to pick that lock
again, you're gonna get caught.

N-Not to mention the door's trapped.

What do you want?

Who, me? Nothing.

[groans]

Refill my flask at the tavern
and I'll help you break in.

Aren't you a little young to be drinking?

Aren't you a little old
to smell like sh*t?

[sighs] Is that it... more alcohol?

Well, it's easier
for a human to buy it than...

than someone like me, okay?

Listen, I get you into that weird shop

and you scratch my itch.

All right.

In that case...

You are annoyingly good at that.

So...

what kind of trap?

[gentle music playing]

[Ikithon] Fear is a weakness

of all living things.

Because fear reminds us...

we can die.

The living will do anything
to prevent death.

They will lie. Steal.

Betray. Even k*ll.

Just to stay alive.

[muffled groaning]

The fear center is found

in a part of the brain behind the ear.

If you turn it off...

even their pain becomes quiet.

[muffled sigh]

[Ikithon] As wizards serving the Empire,
you must come to terms

with your own fears.

For you will only be truly invulnerable...

[door opens]

When you do not fear death.

Class dismissed.

Master Ikithon,
the king is asking for you.

[sighs]

Thank you, Owelia.
Prepare a sigil to Rexxentrum.

[bugbear moaning]

[muffled screaming]

[wistful music playing]

[general] Those monsters

attacked Rockguard Garrison.

I recommend a proportionate response...

Calm down.
There must be a diplomatic solution...

-We're well past diplomacy.
-We should be arresting sympathizers.

-And cause widespread panic?
-Wildemount may be divided,

-but it is stable enough to remain self...
-Your Highness, we must strike first. -[door opens]

[chatter stops]

You called for me, my king?

Trent Ikithon, at last.

As my archmage of civil influence,

what would my people say to a w*r?

Ah, well, that would depend on whom

you declared w*r upon, Your Majesty.

[Dwendal] Axiom.

The Bright Queen.

King Dwendal. Yesterday,

your Empire agents crossed
the border of the Kryn Dynasty,

defiled one of our holiest temples,

and stole a beloved relic from its vault.

Any one of those crimes
would be an act of w*r.

This message is a courtesy, Bertrand.

One with a short fuse.

Return the relic immediately

or you will witness a w*r of reckoning

the likes of which not even
your Calamity forebearers could fathom.

You have two days to reply.

[general] We would never send agents
into the Kryn Dynasty.

-That would mean w*r.
-[bureaucrat] w*r over what?

What even is this relic?

She's most likely referring
to the Luxon beacon.

An incredibly significant artifact
to the Kryn.

Why don't we just tell her the truth?

We don't have their precious beacon.

Because it does not matter if we have it.

All that matters is that
they believe we do.

This beacon... it is important

to their supposed religion?

Their entire society is based on it.

So, the "evil Empire"
has stolen the very relic

that makes them who they are.

[Dwendal] That is certainly
a narrative the Kryn would die for.

For decades, we have been
in a cold w*r with the Kryn Dynasty.

Suffering incursions, retaliating in kind.

But the Bright Queen has been
playing a waiting game.

All she lacked was a rallying cry.

And this beacon is it?

The people will follow you, Sire.

Because we will make them terrified
of what will happen if they do not.

I trust you will, Master Ikithon.

We all have work to do.

Prepare for w*r.

[DeRogna] "Trust" is not the word
that comes to mind when I think of you.

Archmage DeRogna.

The king requested that the Cobalt Soul
investigate the beacon theft.

Will they find anything?

I doubt it.

[horses neigh]

[intriguing music playing]

Strange.

This horse looks like it's been dead
a few weeks...

not a day.

Ugh. Clearly a Kryn monster attack.

This was no monster. This was...

-something else.
-Is that so?

Zeenoth might let you play detective
back in the Rexxentrum library,

but out here, you don't know sh*t.

Okay.

What do you think happened?

"What do you think happened, sir?"

Damn Cricks and their freaky magic
is what happened.

They're not like us, Lionett.

They travel in swarms like locusts.
They're fiends. Savages.

To take this place would have taken
at least a hundred men.

I only see five sets of footprints.

That's how f*cking devious they are.

They stopped at the gate.

Run. Run!

[grunting]

They didn't go inside.

[Astrid] How many?

-[Dain] Two from the trees.
-[Eadwulf] Two more at our six.

[Astrid] Keep the beacon safe.

[Ruzimir] Ha-ha! Found 'em.

Told you. f*ck' savages.

[Lionett] Hmm.

This decomposition...

it's as if time just sped up.

But only along this path.

[chuckles] Good line.

Get that from some ancient tome?

With absolutely
no due respect at all, Ruzimir,

you're stretching facts to fit over
your gaping as*h*le of a theory.

And with complete offense intended,

you could stand to read a book. Sir.

What... Did-did you just have a stroke,
you dumb little sh*t?

We'll see what the curator
thinks of that mouth.

Now get the f*ck out of my sight!

[sighs]

[grunting]

And what are you?

[Ruzimir] Aha!

Dead Kryn, Kryn attack.

Don't tell me what I know.

[humming a tune]

Okay, you got your booze. Now...

Yeah, yeah. Now we steal your thing.

We, uh... we need a distraction.

Couldn't agree more.

[grunts]

-Uh, um...
-Go out farther.

F-Farther. Farther!

Okay. Now barf your guts out.

That sounds like the opposite
of a distraction.

Trust me.

I call it the up-chuck.
[short chuckle] Works every time.

Uh...

[dramatic groan]

[retching]

[dry retching continuing]

Oh, sweet bunny on a spit.

[clears throat]

Uh... Oh, Papa! Oh, no!

Oh, you know what mutton does to you.
[weak sob]

[quietly] What the f*ck are you doing?
You sound like a broken goat.

Blow chunks like you mean it.

-How?
-Just better.

Just be better, but... Maybe cry a little.

[exclaims]

-[coughing]
-Oh, Papa, no! Oh...

Uh, you let it all out. I'll go get Mama.

-[indistinct chatter]
-[kid] Mama, that man is throwing up.

[groaning]

-[bystanders murmuring]
-[man 1] What a maniac.

[man 2] Let's just keep walking.

[pensive music playing]

Scheiße.

[Nott] Psst. Over here.

Up... Over here... Come...

[both straining]

Ow. Ow, ow, ow. Ugh. [sharp inhale]

[sighs] How do you weigh less than me?

Thank you for not leaving me.

[dog barks, growls]

[Caleb] Careful. There is a dog.

A big dog.

What? No, there isn't.

[barking continues]

[barking stops]

Look.

Barking dog trap. [chuckles] Classic.

-[creature squeaking]
-[gasps]

What the hell could you possibly want
from this place?

[Ruzimir in distance] Your snot-faced
rookie doesn't listen.

She doesn't shut her mouth.

She's dumber than she looks,
which I didn't think possible.

She's not ready for the field, Zeenoth,
and your butt is on the line for that.

[yelps, groans]

Both you little shits are going
in my report to Curator Tasha.

-Um, look, I...
-Don't.

Walk with me.

You were meant
to observe and learn, Beauregard.

-You wanted field experience.
-And you pair me with some moron

who thinks the Kryn massacred
those soldiers for shits and giggles?

I mean, who needs motive
when you have racism, am I right?

Ruzimir has been fighting corruption
and upholding truth

for the Cobalt Soul for 230 years.

And his argument is compelling.

[scoffs] Then you lead a boring life, Z.

So then what do you think happened?

Ah, you're asking my opinion?

And already regretting it.

The Kryn didn't attack the garrison
to start a w*r.

-They were laying a trap.
-A trap for whom?

Thieves. Three of 'em.
And they stole something

pretty big if the Dynasty was willing

to jack an entire outpost to stop 'em.

My guess: it was a weapon.

The 12-sided expl*si*n.

-Bingo.
-But there was no sign of a weapon.

Which means someone out there has it.

And now they're in the wind.

What makes you think anyone
even survived that expl*si*n?

'Cause of this.

This stuff... look, it amplifie...

Amplifies magic. [clears throat]

I think it's connected
to whoever made off with this weapon.

-It's unlike...
-It is evidence that you should have

given to your lead investigator.

[scoffs] Ruzimir wouldn't know a clue
if it was cupping his ba*ls.

[monks gasp]

[monk clears throat]

We do not say "ba*ls" in the sacred hall
of the Knowing Mistress.

I was foolish to think
that you were ready.

You'll return to the stacks immediately.

You're gonna bench me over Ruzimir?

I'm benching you because,

despite the vows of charity and altruism

that you have pledged to this library,

you still somehow think

you're the only one who can do the job.

Ego, Beauregard,

is unbefitting of a Cobalt Soul monk.

[Beau] Am I excused?

No, not yet. I...

[sighs]

[Dairon] You did the right thing.

Her insolence will only endanger
the Cobalt Soul.

Like a younger you.

She just needs to point all that anger
in the right direction.

Monks have been expelled for less.

Why don't you get rid of her?

[short chuckle] I wish I could.

[haunting music playing]

-[roars]
-[exclaiming]

-Aah!
-[screeches]

You know, normal people break into safes
or jewelers.

But a pet shop?

Ah, bet this thing has ten copper, tops.

You can have all of it, and, uh,

take anything else you want.

[short chuckle] If you say so, crazy man.

[Caleb] There we are.

[creature cooing]

Okay, Kameradin.

We will play nice, ja?

[screeching]

We're done here, ja?
Did you find some nice things?

Yeah, real nice.

Ah, gut.

[shop owner] Hey! Who's in there?

Aah! We're caught!

I'm not going back to prison!

[Caleb] Nein!

Hey, what the f*ck are you do...

-What... Aah!
-[creature roars]

-You thieving b*stards. Get back here!
-[creature growls]

Oh! [exclaims, screams]

[laughing]

[chuckling]

[Caleb] Nicely done.

[Nott] Not bad yourself, weirdo.

[Caleb chuckles]

[bells tolling]

[intriguing music playing]

[indistinct chatter]

What are you doing in the Mudtop Ward, Z?

-[entry bell chimes]
-[door opens, closes]

Welcome, child, welcome. Do come in.

[door closes]

Damn. For a shirt?

It would look quite nice on you.

[chuckles] Nah, sleeves are bullshit.

That guy... buy anything?

Who? Oh, you're my first customer.

Huh. No one came in before?

Maybe I missed him.

I really should put on my glasses.

Ow!

Nice try, grandma. [soft grunt]

Where'd you go, Z?

Bingo.

[metallic tapping, clinking in distance]

[indistinct chatter]

[dwarf] Careful, now.

Yeah...

[gnome] She's back here.

[Zeenoth] I thought
you people were efficient.

If I knew I'd have to clean up after you,
I would have asked for more money.

[Owelia] Where did you get this?

[Zeenoth] One of my monks
dug it out of the ruins at Rockguard.

[Owelia] Did you take care of them?

She won't be interfering again.

Did you have something
to do with that expl*si*n?

Is the Cobalt Soul suspicious?

Our investigator will report

it was just another Kryn incursion,

thanks to me.

Good. Then go back
to your precious library

-and await our word.
-[grumbles]

Anything else?

[sighs] No.

[door opens, closes]

And where are you going?

-[soft rustling]
-[gasps]

[grunting]

[exciting music playing]

[Beau panting]

You want to dance, b*tch? Let's dance.

You have no idea what you're doing, monk.

Eh, I don't know, it's not complicated.

Punch, kick, bleed, repeat.

[grunting]

[shouts]

[panting]

[coughing]

[short chuckle]

[sighs, pants]

[gasps]

[grunting]

Aah!

[strains] Why can't I move?

-Give it a second.
-[straining]

G...

[sighs]

Huh. You some kind of serial k*ller boxer?

Yep. Saved your life
just to box you to death.

I don't know. Today's full of weird sh*t.

You're Cobalt Soul?

Dairon.

-Beau.
-Beauregard Lionett.

I know.

May I?

You're lucky I was tailing you.

Most don't survive an encounter

-with a fully trained Volstrucker.
-[sharp inhale, exhale]

"Vol" what now?

Brave and stupid.

Volstrucker.

Elite wizard assassins.

All we know is they're trained
by someone in the Cerberus Assembly.

But officially, they don't exist.

[hisses, grunts] Ow.

[soft clink]

What's with the wallpaper?

Here. Light it.

[atmospheric music playing]

[Beau] Holy sh*t.

You're an expositor.

A Cobalt Soul spy.

It's the emblem of the Cerberus Assembly.

That Volstrucker
was refining the green crystal stuff.

Residuum.

Packing it in crates with this symbol.

Zeenoth was there.

Is he...

[Dairon] Yes.
But he's not the only traitor.

The Cobalt Soul has been compromised.

No. The Soul is independent.

We operate outside the Empire
and the Dynasty.

We stand up to the f*ck at the top,
not do their bidding.

We're the last bastion of tru...

Truth? Doesn't look like it.

I'm sorry. I know Zeenoth was your mentor.

Steward.

He brought me in, that's all.

Made me think that maybe...

maybe I could finally do something
that mattered.

Should've known it was bullshit.

Not necessarily.

You were right.

Some kind of new arcane weapon
has crossed our border.

Why are you telling me this?

Because w*r is coming.

The Dynasty will invade
to get that weapon back,

and whoever has it
won't give it up easily.

Normally, the Cobalt Soul
would arbitrate for peace.

But now finding that weapon
is up to me and you.

W-Whoa, whoa, whoa.
I'm just an archivist trainee.

Beauregard, you are a monk
of the Cobalt Soul.

Yeah, the Cobalt Soul is all bullshit.

Which means I'm nobody,
just like Zeenoth has always said.

You're right. You are nobody.

Zeenoth doesn't care about you.

The other archivists just see you
as an annoying little brat.

That's how your father
saw you, too, right...

trash to be thrown out?

You don't know sh*t about...

I know that's what makes you so dangerous.

Because you are nobody.

And they'll never see you coming.

[whimpering]

[shivering]

[gasps] Where the f*ck have you been?

Eh, the tavern is busy in this town.

[exhales]

[exhales]

[sighs]

So, uh, now that you got your weird stuff,

I guess we're going our separate ways?

I'll move on to the next town
and you'll, uh,

move on to the next heap of dung.
[weak chuckle]

I-I should've stolen one of those pets...

for a travel snack.

Coventh Umeyou.

-Felinth-Manis.
-But I guess we all

-live and learn.
-Coventh Umeyou.

Felinth-Manis.

Coventh Umeyou.

Felinth-Manis.

[majestic music playing]

[meows]

[Caleb] Hello, old friend.

[purrs]

[sniffing]

[purrs]

[crying softly]

[meows]

Nein. Nein. Nein, nein, nein, nein.

[crying]

Was that magic?

Can you... can you do more?

A whole lot more.

But I lost it.

Well, how do you find it again?

I need the right components.

The purer the components,

the stronger the magic.

But good materials cost money.

Or can be stolen.

May... Maybe we could travel

a little more together.

I could steal stuff.

For your magic.

You would help me?

Maybe we can help each other.

I mean, hey... [short chuckle]

This ain't gonna fill itself.

Ja. Okay, uh...

So, I was thinking...

this is where I would like to go next.

It will have exactly what I need.

Uh, sure, yeah, t-there's lots of booze

and shiny things at a carnival.

[laughs softly] I am...

Caleb Widogast.

Nott the Brave. No comma.

Pleasure to meet you, Nott the Brave.

Um, Caleb?

How did you lose your magic?

Was it a curse?

Someone took it from me.

Someone I loved.

Oh.

Did you k*ll them?

[dramatic music playing]

Not yet.

[Dain groaning]

[gasps]

[Ikithon] Shh, shh, shh, shh, shh.
Breathe to the pain.

Breathe.

Astrid, Eadwulf, what happened?

I think one of them hit the beacon
with some kind of mag...

[moans]

You did well, boy.

The Empire will be forever grateful.

[Dain exhales]

Master.

[suspenseful music playing]

♪♪

Damn it. We failed him.

[grunts]

[Ikithon] No.

Today we rejoice,

for this is the key...

to everything.

[pulsing music playing]

[dramatic music playing]

[screeches]

[shouting]

[choking]

Tell me where they took the beacon.

[Ikithon] The Luxon beacon
is no religious relic.

-This beacon...
-[expl*sive whooshing]

is a weapon.

[crackling, whooshing]

[pulsing music playing]

Don't you feel it? w*r's brewing.

The Kryn and Empire are always
trying to k*ll each other.

-Not like this.
-[soldiers yelling]

What if we could stop the w*r?

[laughing] No way. I work alone.

[Molly] We don't know each other.

But right now our hearts are in
the exact same place.

[intense music playing]

Fine. Lead on, circus man.

Let's be muhfucking heroes.

I don't need the cards to tell me
that adventure lays before us.

You people are damned interesting.

Let's dance.

It's not safe.

When you get a once-in-a-lifetime
chance, you take it.

Come on, handsome!

How did you lose your magic?

[Caleb] Someone took it from me.

Did you k*ll them?

[Caleb] Not yet.

You stole a weapon from the Dynasty.

-[yelling]
-[expl*sive whooshing]

There are thousands of souls
in that beacon.

Our people.

In two days, I will unleash the full force
of my armies on the Empire.

-If you want to avoid this w*r...
-[expl*sive whooshing]

find that beacon.

[Fjord] Going up against the Empire...

this is way beyond us.

[Caleb] Oh, no.

[both] She found me.

So that's it? We give up?

Right when this group's coming together.

[shrieking]

We cannot give up.

If we're gonna do this...

we need a plan.

Time to put on a show.

[laughing] This group is f*cking wild.

[screeches]

[intense, dramatic music playing]

How much do you all have left?

A fine evening to you.

We are the Mighty Nein.

You are all very... odd.

We know, honey.

[dramatic music playing]

♪♪

Chirp.