The Trail and the Toll

is the third episode of the third campaign of Critical Role.

Previously on Critical Role
So, last we left off: This group of individuals, disparate lives and goals all brought together here in the city of Jrusar, managed to cross paths by a brief scuffle on the open streets outside the Spire by Fire tavern, caught the eye of Sir Bertrand Bell, and as such, offered to gain their trust and a possibility for paying work under Lord Eshteross.

''After an invitation by Bertrand Bell, you agreed to see it through and met with this elderly orc noble-like figure within his estate. There, he seemed interested but wanted to test you, and by that, he attacked you. You all did battle with him in the middle of his fire-lit study, and seemed to prove yourselves well against this orcish figure with a history of combat and mercenary work, and a heart dedicated to bringing justice and a modicum of good to a city that he sees fraying at the edges.''

''After proving yourselves capable in combat, Lord Ariks Eshteross wanted to see if you had aligned interests, and so he sent you on a brief mission to begin to seal this pact between you. He let you know that there had been some strange elements of thievery going on in one of the warehouses under Prudaj Textiles, one of the portions of the business that he oversees. And looking into this, you met some of the interesting figures that watch this warehouse during the day, inspected some of the contents of these crates where some of these thefts had happened, and acquired some strange clues. After waiting outside to see who might leave looking a bit dubious, and a bit of questioning and mind probing and getting a read on a few of the members within, you waited to see who was exiting.''

After sending Orym in, invisible, sneaking in as Danas, the managerial gnome (who seemed to be the most shifty of the group from your curious probing) began to dart off in a huff just as the sun was setting and the warehouse was closed, locking you behind in a lightless space with a lot of the group in the alleyway behind it, Dorian left keeping watch on the front, as Bertrand Bell and Imogen both rush off to chase after Danas.

Part I
Team Back Door is growing impatient waiting, and Laudna persuades Dorian (the only remaining member of Team Full Frontal) to join them in back. Although Ashton wants to go inside, when Laudna Messages Orym he convinces them to continue waiting outside for now.

Meanwhile, Imogen and Sir Bertrand continue to pursue Danas through the darkening streets, but she notices Imogen and nervously confronts her. Although Imogen soothes her paranoia, she now has to follow from a distance. Bertrand follows Danas to the Weary Way Tavern where she vanishes into the crowd, but he eventually spots her in a booth. When Danas notices Imogen in the bar, though, she disappears again, and Imogen and Bertrand go back to the warehouse.

There, the outside team has decided to go inside, but Orym is unable to unlock either the front or back door for them in the darkness inside. Laudna manages to pick the front door lock and she and Dorian join Orym inside, joined a few minutes later by everyone else except Bertrand who offers to stay outside and caw like a raven if someone comes.

The inside group investigates the offices and finds letters and a ledger: evidence that Danas was covering up the ongoing pilferage from the warehouse stock. They decide to head back to the Weary Way and see if Danas is still there, "disguising" themselves with clothing from the warehouse. Their appearance outside startles Bertrand who raven-caws as their pre-arranged signal for the appearance of strangers.

The entire group arrives at the tavern. One of the musicians, for a silver, tells Dorian a gnomish woman matching Danas's appearance just went upstairs, and they all head there. They find hallways filled with closed doors, but FCG is able to sense the thoughts of those behind the doors and eventually finds a room filled with many presences along with Danas herself. Orym is able to hear her voice through the door, nervously explaining that people have been asking questions at the warehouse and she thinks they have been found out.

A sinister voice responds, suggesting that it was because Danas couldn't keep her mouth shut or handle herself, putting him in danger himself. They will need to adjust their supply lines, and he will no longer require her services. There is a gasp and a gurgling sound, and Orym kicks the door frantically, joined by Ashton, and they eventually manage to batter it down. From outside, they can see no one, but there is a large wardrobe along the wall.

Ashton rushes in and smashes the wardrobe. From the splinters he sees movement and hears skittering throughout the chamber, and the creepy voice, from behind him, says: "Oh, interesting. I wasn't expecting more visitors." It comes from a black-cloak-wrapped, sallow and pale dwarvish figure in the dark shadows of the corner.

Break

 * The Fool's Gold 5e Campaign Setting Kickstarter is live right now.
 * The Legend of Vox Machina coming to Amazon Prime Video 4 February 2022.
 * Merch Alert! Uk'otoa (the game) is available in local game stores and all Critical Role shops; three different 2-packs of face masks, Don't Forget to Love Each Other socks, and Boulder Parchment Shears t-shirt in all four shops.
 * Critical Role: Call of the Netherdeep is available to pre-order now.
 * Ashley, as president of the Critical Role Foundation, thanks everyone for reaching the fund-raising goal for Shanti Bhavan.
 * Submit fan art for possible inclusion in the weekly online gallery at https://www.critrole.com/submit.
 * President Gale's Operation Gag Me With a Spoon is out to reduce maximum goobage by getting more subscribers to Critical Role on Twitch.

Campaign Three adventuring party

 * Ashton Greymoore
 * Bertrand Bell
 * Fearne Calloway
 * Fresh Cut Grass
 * Imogen Temult
 * Laudna
 * Orym

Returning

 * Lord Ariks Eshteross
 * Dorian Storm
 * Danas
 * Evelyn Wress
 * Ishir
 * Milo Krook

New

 * As-yet-unidentified black-clad dwarvish figure in the Weary Way Tavern

Mentioned

 * Lieve'tel Toluse

Quotations
Laudna: You know, I'm not entirely sure what the plan was-- Dorian: I don't think we ever knew what the plan was, no. Laudna: --from the beginning. So it just feels like we're making it up as we go.
 * Ashton: Does no one crime?!
 * Orym: Has the plan changed? What are we doing?
 * FCG: The problem that I find with-- not the problem, I don't want to be insulting or anything-- but the issue that I find with some of you soul-touched creatures is that you always know what you want, you know? But you don't always see what you need.

Trivia

 * Both Laura and Taliesin rolled a 16 for initiative, then discovered they had identical dex scores of 15. They played "Rollies" to see who would go first, and both rolled natural ones. Finally on a second roll-off, Taliesin won with a 15 against Laura's 5.