Fond Farewells

is the final episode of the second campaign of Critical Role.

Previously on Critical Role
''So, last we left off: After an arduous journey pursuing the mystery of Vess DeRogna's obsession with the north, and the odd goings-on with the missing corpse of Mollymauk, you chased Lucien and the Tombtakers northward across the icy scape down into the ruins of the long-lost Arcanum city of Aeor. From there, you journeyed into the Astral Sea to the living city of Cognouza, where you saw the Eyes of Nine, the Somnovem themselves, long mad powerful entities of dream, will, and imagination, were forced to merge with Lucien himself, becoming something all entirely new.'' ''You did battle with Lucien before he sought to increase his strength and knowledge in the depths in the center of the city at the Aether Crux. And there, in a final climactic struggle, you defeated and destroyed Lucien, at somewhat of a cost, but managed to bring your lost friends back from the brink of oblivion. From there, you pulled the body of Lucien from the skin cradle, and upon attempting to beseech the shard of Lucien's soul that became Mollymauk and blossomed into its own spirit to return, the ritual seemed to conclude sadly. Whether it was impossible to attempt or fate did not allow, he was unable to return. But some individuals prefer to spit in the face of fate, and Caduceus beseeched the Wildmother's love of all things living or that deserve to live, and in that final prayer, you channeled the divinity which you have followed your entire life, and in doing so willed the spirit of Mollymauk to return... in some unique state, familiar to some individuals.''

Having gathered your friends around you as the paling, lifeless city remains adrift, floating through the astral space without purpose, without mind, you gather yourselves, retrieve the Bag of Holding, and shifted back to Exandria to the Blooming Grove.

Part I
Caduceus's Plane Shift pulls the party through the Divine Gate and into the Blooming Grove in a peaceful early afternoon where they are joyfully greeted by the Clay family. The party takes a short rest to re-attune to their Amulets of Proof against Detection and Location and investigate the contents of the recovered Bag of Holding. Jester attempts to talk to Mollymauk and shows him the tarot cards, but he remains vacant and can say only, "Empty."

That evening, Caleb quietly goes off to the place where he had previously told Frumpkin he planned to free him and summons him. He absolves Frumpkin of any bindings and tells him to go where he will. After a moment of purring and rubbing Caleb's legs, Frumpkin slowly wanders away into the ferns. Jester has seen this, and in a conversation about their plans assures Caleb he is a good person, joined by Essek. Beau tells Essek she thinks he is a good person as well.

Yasha and Beau talk about Mollymauk, who is wandering the Grove aimlessly, worried that as he regains his personality, it will not be the Molly they knew, and hopeful that they can let him grow into who he wants to be. When he falls asleep by the spring, they stay to watch over him.

Fjord is asleep, but Jester cuddles up to him. As he sleepily stirs, she tells him, "I love you," but then panics and tells him to go back to sleep and not say anything back. She tries to cast Modify Memory but is out of spells.

Veth goes down to the spring and removes her clothing. After a deep breath, for the first time voluntarily she enters the water, where she floats looking up at the stars.

After a long sleep, they wake for breakfast with the Clays, and Jester Sends to her mother and Yeza, confirming they are alive and well. She then casts Greater Restoration on the sleeping Mollymauk and he jolts awake, language restored but memories still gone, other than vague images of a dream of a circus, a beautiful woman in a red coat who showed him secrets, an angel, and adventures where he felt kingly. Yasha looks familiar to him, and she gives him a hug. Jester asks what he wants to be called and he decides on "Kingsley Tealeaf". He finds Molly's old clothes a bit garish and Jester paints him a sleeveless black coat.

Caleb, Veth, and Jester Teleport into the Evening Nip. Jester runs to her father's room and when he opens the door, she sees a naked Marion in the bed behind him. Marion declines to come to the Blooming Grove, and she explains to Jester that she and Babenon have a lot to discuss and many differences, and she does not yet know what their eventual relationship may end up being.

Veth joyfully reunites with Luc and Yeza. They pack up, and Caleb teleports them and Jester back to the Blooming Grove where they join the others inside the Clays' home to discuss what to do next. As they are talking, Caleb hears Trent Ikithon's voice in his head, asking him once more to parley with him. When Caleb asks where and when, Trent responds, "Now. Outside. It would be a shame for history to repeat itself."

They discover the windows and door are blocked with solid stone, and smell smoke as the roof has been set alight. Jester uses Stone Shape to create an opening in the stone blocking the door, and Fjord casts an Arcane Gate leading into the nearby woods. Jester, Veth, Fjord, and Caduceus escort the families through the gate, apparently unnoticed, and are shortly joined by Beau. Caleb walks outside and sees Trent floating thirty feet above him. Trent tells him he admits he has failed with Caleb, and thinks it best to erase that failure. As Trent shatters a necklace worn around his neck casting Time Stop, combat begins.

Trent seems to be shielded from both magical and physical damage. When he begins casting Horrid Wilting toward the others of the party, Caleb Counterspells, but is himself Counterspelled by the previously unseen Eadwulf. When Caleb later attempts to cast Globe of Invulnerability, Astrid reveals herself when she Counterspells it as well. She activates the tattoos on her arms in a Glyph Chant, speeding her movements. Jester then casts Dominate Person on Astrid when Trent's attempt to Counterspell is negated by Caleb, and tells her to fight on the Nein's side.

Essek casts Tether Essence to tether Trent and Eadwulf so that damage to Eadwulf should harm Trent, but although Eadwulf becomes grievously injured, Trent seems unaffected. Caleb casts Dispel Magic on Trent and succeeds in dispelling one of the spells protecting him, but a secondary shield continues to protect him. Astrid succeeds on her saving throw and is no longer charmed, but Jester successfully casts Dispel Magic on Trent, removing his second shield, and he begins taking at least some damage.

Meanwhile, Beau and Veth are working together. Veth smears Sovereign Glue on the inside of the Collar of Silence, and as Beau leaps from the tree she is perched in toward the flying Trent, Veth uses the Wind Fan to push her toward him an extra fifteen feet, allowing Beau to reach Trent and grapple him. She fastens the as-yet-unactivated collar around his neck and hangs on. Trent tries to Dimension Door away, but Fjord Counterspells and Eadwulf does nothing. As he desperately tries to escape, Trent throws one of his Crown of Stars motes toward Caleb, knocking him unconscious. Caduceus's previously cast Death Ward brings Caleb back to consciousness, and he casts Dispel Magic on Trent's flying ability bringing him plummeting to the ground. The damage Trent takes from the fall causes Eadwulf to fall unconscious due Essek's Tether Essence spell. Caduceus quickly casts Spare the Dying on him to avoid further problems.

The others approach cautiously. Veth uses Silent Image to create the image of Caleb's parents, silhouetted against the still-burning house and flanking him. Caleb attempts to activate the collar, but fails. Astrid pushes his hands aside, and succeeds. The collar activates, silencing Trent.

Break

 * Matt gives special thanks to Russ Charles and Mat Hart of Steamforged Games for the Lucien boss minis, Mats by Mars for the final battle map mat, and Colm McGuinness for composing two custom battle tracks and other music cues for the final fight.

Featured Characters
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The Mighty Nein

 * Beauregard Lionett
 * Caduceus Clay
 * Caleb Widogast
 * Frumpkin
 * Fjord
 * Jester Lavorre
 * Kingsley Tealeaf
 * Veth Brenatto
 * Yasha Nydoorin

New

 * Jadek

Mentioned

 * Dolan Thrym
 * Loman Turray
 * Dairon
 * Horris Thrym
 * Archivist Adon Zeenoth
 * Thoreau Lionett Jr.
 * Marius LePual
 * Avantika
 * Sabian
 * Uk'otoa
 * Zuala
 * Leofric Ermendrud
 * Una Ermendrud


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Returning

 * Essek Thelyss
 * Calliope Clay
 * Clarabelle Clay
 * Cornelius Clay
 * Constance Clay
 * Marion Lavorre
 * Yeza Brenatto
 * Kutha
 * Babenon Dosal
 * Luc Brenatto
 * Trent Ikithon
 * Artagan
 * Eadwulf
 * Astrid
 * Old Edith
 * Nugget
 * Yussa Errenis
 * Wensforth
 * Zenny
 * Orly Skiffback (via Sending)
 * Yudala Fon
 * Ludinus Da'leth
 * Thoreau Lionett
 * Orentha Stonegrasp
 * Vandran
 * }

Quotations
Caleb: Where and when? Trent: Now. Outside. [...] Time is of the essence. It would be a shame for history to repeat itself. Beau: But it's so much more beautiful in all the shades of colors.
 * Trent Ikithon: I ask you once more. Will you parley with me?
 * Trent Ikithon: (as he lies defeated before Caleb) See? You aren't a failure. Now, finish the job and fulfill your destiny.
 * Beau: (to Astrid, convincing her to spare Trent) These institutions of power that go without being checked, they reside in secrecy. They are breeding grounds for corruption. If you kill him, it'll just look like another senseless act of violence without any recourse. If we expose him, he is raked across the coals of the court of the public. The only way to keep from these cycles of abuse from continuing to happen is to tell the story. [...] Do not make him the hero of your story.
 * Caleb: (to Astrid and Eadwulf) I am so sorry for what you both went through. I loved you both so much, but what we believed in was a lie, and it still is. And now, we must be strong.
 * Essek: (to the Mighty Nein) (sighs) What have you done? This world was so much easier when it was black and white.

Trivia

 * This is the longest episode of Critical Role to date, with a runtime of approximately seven hours, surpassing.
 * The party leveled up to 16th at the beginning of the episode.
 * Beau increased her Constitution to 18, giving her 149 hit points including her roll.
 * Caduceus increased his hit points to 136, and his intelligence to 10, probably along with a feat.
 * Yasha increased her hit points to 169.
 * Veth multiclassed with a level of Wizard, increasing hit points to 107.
 * Caleb increased his Wisdom to 18 and his hit points to 103.
 * Jester increased her Intelligence to 14 and her hit points to 152.
 * Fjord took another Paladin level, took the mobile feat and increased his hit points to 192.
 * The in-game date that this episode began was 3 Sydenstar 836. The Mighty Nein met in Trostenwald on 16 Sydenstar 835, not quite an Exandrian year earlier.