Through the Trees

is the seventy-ninth episode of the second campaign of Critical Role. The Mighty Nein follow the trail of the Cult of the Angel of Irons in hope of beating them to their prize in the Lotusden...

Pre-Show
Travis can sing opera. Who knew?

Previously on Critical Role
''So, last time: The Mighty Nein had been traversing their way across the lands of Xhorhas, returning to the empire where it all began, in search of information regarding where this beacon is currently being held, that the Empire still holds, and seeking information about this Obann figure, who has both taken your friend Yasha as a companion for the time being alongside his journey, as well as awakening (with your aid, unintentionally) a terrible entity, a champion of Torog known as the Laughing Hand. Upon keeping your eyes on them magically from a distance, you've been able to follow some of their exploits while researching information about them and some elements of what they might be trying to do. With this new-found information, and discovering that they had attacked the Archive of the Cobalt Soul in Zadash, and gathering this information, you decided to follow them towards the Lotusden Greenwood on the south of Xhorhas. You made an additional deal for rapid transportation with your sponsor, Shadowhand Essek Thelyss, who agreed, begrudgingly, for the very last time to do this. There, nestled within the darkened shadow of a city street in Zadash, you used a transportation circle to send yourselves to Rosohna, the city once known as Ghor Dranas, Nott flicking off some of the local townsguard before rushing off. We return with you all appearing beneath the Lucid Bastion, the familiar space beneath the main central palace of the Kryn Dynasty.''

Part I
The Mighty Nein head back to the Xhorhaus and find Essek waiting outside for them. They explain that they need to get to the Lotusden Greenwood immediately to try to stop Obann, Yasha, and the Laughing Hand from awakening another demon assassin, part of the cult of the Angel of Irons. Essek says he doesn't need further convincing; he's already agreed. Beau would like to check in with Dairon first, but Nott tries to send Dairon a message inside the house and there's no answer.

Essek misunderstands their intended target, thinking that they wanted to start on the north edge of the Lotusden where they had Scryed on Obann's party so they could track them, and transports them there. When they realize this, they ask him to teleport them further south in an attempt to intercept or get ahead of Obann. Although he is extremely reluctant, after high persuasion rolls by Fjord and Caleb (and a little Caleb flirting), he agrees, and teleports the party deeper into the forest, leaving immediately.

Caduceus asks the surrounding forest for aid in their quest, and a fly lands on his nose. He takes this as a sign, and when it takes off tells the party to follow, but it's immediately eaten by a toad. Beau and Nott climb trees but see nothing except the approaching sunset. Caduceus casts Commune and learns that the object they seek is to the southwest, in a natural imprisonment of some kind, and that Obann's party is still ahead of them. They head off in pursuit.

After about thirty minutes of travel they come across the trail left by Obann's party, and begin following. Eventually they come upon two bodies killed between three to six hours ago and use Speak With Dead to learn they were killed by the Laughing Hand, and that Obann was seeking the Wraithroot Tree in the Moldered Grove, one days's travel to the south. Jester Scrys on Yasha, and sees their party camped for the night and evidence that Yasha is being controlled by the orange glowy thing on the back of her neck. The satchel containing the round object is still at Obann's waist.

There is much discussion among the Mighty Nein of possible plans, but they finally agree to push on through the night after a short rest, and then using Caleb and Jester's flying abilities try to reach the Wraithroot Tree and acquire the heart before Obann's party reaches it.

Break

 * D&D Beyond animation.
 * Clips from.
 * Travis Willingham's Yee-Haw Game Ranch: Gears 5, starring Minnesota Jones.
 * Pumat Sol advertises Amazon/Twitch subscriptions.
 * Critters' Art Montage.

The Mighty Nein

 * Beauregard Lionett
 * Caduceus Clay
 * Caleb Widogast
 * Fjord
 * Frumpkin
 * Jester Lavorre
 * Nott
 * Yasha Nydoorin (controlled by Matt)

Returning

 * Essek Thelyss
 * Obann
 * The Laughing Hand

Mentioned

 * Dairon

Quotations

 * Caduceus: (after his guide fly is eaten by a toad) I’m going to walk over there to the toad and look down. Matt: (croaks) Caduceus: Not cool, man. That was not cool. Matt: (croaks) Caduceus: I don’t suppose that you feel like helping. Matt: (croaks) Caduceus: Yeah, I thought that. Go on, get out. Matt: (croaks) Starts leaping off. Fjord: Are we following the frog, the toad? Caduceus: Naw, he’s no help.
 * Obann: (to Yasha) “You knew the seed of darkness within you only needed the right guide to germinate into something beautiful... We draw close to completing our found family, becoming her will manifest, striking from the lightless realms and breaking her chains one by one. You remind me of her, a vision of her intent, walking towards destiny. I’m proud of you.” He reaches out to touch her chin. There’s a small spark of blue lightning that sparks from under her chin to his hand, and he pulls back as she recoils a bit to one side. You see him look at his fingers and look at her, furious. His eyes glow orange and you see behind her, from underneath the hair, the orange glow emanate and she winces for a second, before her face going slack once more. He now takes her chin in his hand without a fight, and looks her in the eyes, and says, “Stubborn as you may be, you are mine. You belong to her. Where we shall walk, no cloud or storm can touch us.”