Temple of the False Serpent (episode)

 is the thirty-eighth episode of the second campaign of Critical Role.

Previously on Critical Role
''Last we left off, the Mighty Nein had found their way way south outside of the [Dwendalian] Empire, on the coast of the Menagerie Coast. Still on a pirate ship apparently, and following a thread to pursue aspects of the mystery of Fjord's background and the relationship to his mysterious patron. Followed a mostly-charred map to an island known as Urukaxl. Passing the dangerous reefs, you came upon what seems to be the mother ship to the ship you had stolen, known as the Squall-Eater, which was then, you realized, helmed by Captain Avantika, who gave you the option of working with her under her guise as essentially, currently, captives and maybe eventually crewmen of the ship... or be be killed and, you know, left in the harbor, held down with rocks, and die.''

''So you took her up on the offer. You also discovered that she seems to be as enthralled with this same entity as Fjord is, and has some sort of similar history with how this serpentine entity known as Uk'otoa. Uk'otoa, once a creation of Zehir, the Cloaked Serpent god now banished since the Calamity, this entity had then began to build its own following and the followers of Zehir, this old god who once was their creator grew jealous and sealed it away. Now Avantika, with your help, is looking to begin to release these seals, bring it back, and as such gain the blessings and boons of this entity.''

''You decided to go into the jungle with her, on this mission alongside an adventurer-dungeoneer who had plotted out some of the path for you named Jamedi. You made your way through avoiding what looked to be hunting parties of lizardmen, hunting parties of lizardmen being hunted by yuan-ti snake-people. You made your way towards what looked to be a mostly stone-crafted village in the center of this island surrounded one large, old temple. You snuck in, masquerading as some of these snake-people and mostly succeeded. You managed to sneak your way through part of the town. Gathering some attention, you threw up some distracting illusions, you quickly killed off a few of them that had began to grow wise to your presence, not being natural and wanted. And in the midst of the commotion, you raced up the steps of the temple. You managed to kick one of the sentries off the side, found a way through the top and closed it off locking behind the very top of this five-sided pyramid.''

''Now, once inside, you began to descend slowly down the curved stairs. But in missing a trap that was present, triggered it, the stairs went smooth and the entire party slid down the slide, Goonies-style. Before impacting to the ground of one of the top chambers of the pyramid. Looking within the interior of this five-sided chamber, you noticed amongst the two pillars to the side a raised platform where there was a fountain of some kind, surrounded by three of these mostly-humanoid but snake-scaled, covered in places, yuan-ti people. And one, with grey armored scaly skin, mostly human body though tall and lanky, and what appeared to be a head that was purely cobra-like, the hood exposed, as all of them turned to your direction, as you impacted the stone. And they're made aware of your presence.''

The Mighty Nein

 * Beauregard
 * Caduceus
 * Caleb
 * Fjord
 * Frumpkin
 * Jester
 * Nott
 * Yasha (DM-controlled)

Returning

 * Captain Avantika
 * Jamedi Cosko