Chases and Trees

is the sixty-fifth episode of the second campaign of Critical Role. The Mighty Nein continue their trudge through the Barbed Fields, and find beauty and shelter in an unlikely corner...

Pre-Show
Sam introduced a report by Marisha, who had investigated possible foul play during the D&D Beyond Presidential race. She provided a recording of a phone call between Liam and an unknown caller codenamed Sherlock, then a photograph of Liam who mysteriously had British currency in his wallet. Finally, Marisha showed a video of Liam plotting with Mark Hulmes (High Rollers) of  to subvert Critical Role and force them to use British English pronunciation, spelling and weights and measures.

Previously on Critical Role
''"Last we left off, the Mighty Nein had uncovered what seemed to be some strange, growing conspiracy between the strange devices that were causing portals to tear open into the Abyss, across Xhorhas. You had scryed and discovered an individual who was involved with this and had set up a meeting in Rosohna, in the Overcrow Apothecary. Lying in wait, you managed to assault the people that were involved, killing two, but seemingly the most important one fled to the north. You, through Scrying and Speaking with Dead, managed to gather the information you had at your disposal, grabbed your moorbounders, and make your way northward to pursue them towards what seems to be the city of Bazzoxan. You made your way directly through the Barbed Fields, and are currently there. You’ve traversed your first day and a half of your three day journey across the Barbed Fields, a unique, dangerous landscape, relics and signs of the great ancient wars of the final moments of the Calamity, a marred landscape, and came across some strange creatures, that seemed a little lonely and just wanted a hug, that assaulted you in the middle of the field and some of the nearby fungus-growing trees. The battle completed, you’ve all been to bed down this evening for some rest."''

Part I
Yasha and Jester take the first watch, talking about the man who recognized Yasha as the Orphan-Maker back at the Overcrow in Rosohna, and Jester suggests maybe Yasha was a famous rock harpist during the time she doesn't remember. The rest of the night is uneventful.

In the morning, a storm starts moving in. The party explore a giant tortoise shell, inside it finding a rough map of the Barbed Fields, which Jester copies. From its top, Nott (who has again been drinking steadily) sees what looks like a giant tree in the distance, roughly the direction they are traveling. They continue on, and the strange spires in the landscape seem to be becoming a little more frequent.

Eventually, they see a dead udak being feasted on by three gloomstalkers, who notice them and begin flying after them as the Nein try to outrun them. Caduceus casts Daylight on his moorbounder's saddle, which seems to keep them at bay, but when Fjord hits one with two Eldritch Blasts, and Jester seriously wounds it with a Guiding Bolt, it attacks with a screech, paralyzing Beau, Jester, and all three moorbounders, sending the party flying from their backs. A battle ensues, and Caduceus kills two of the gloomstalkers with his glowing bug-and-beetle Spirit Guardians, while Nott kills one with a crossbow bolt and sneak attack. Caduceus heals the party, particularly the badly injured Beau, and they set off again toward the towering tree as the cold rain begins to fall.

As they approach toward nightfall, five more gloomstalkers detach from one of the spires and begin swarming behind them. They urge the moorbounders into a run towards the tree, but as the moorbounders tire, the gloomstalkers begin catching up. Fjord summons a barlgura which distracts four of the five, but the fifth one gets within 120 feet before Jester horribly wounds it with a pink Guiding Bolt and it loses interest.

They decide to camp about 100 feet away from the tree, with Caleb casting Leomund's Tiny Hut. Nott turns invisible and begins scouting toward the tree.

The Mighty Nein

 * Beauregard
 * Caduceus Clay
 * Fjord
 * Frumpkin
 * Jester Lavorre
 * Nott
 * Yasha Nydoorin
 * Caleb Widogast

Returning

 * Kiri
 * Essek Thelyess

Mentioned

 * Tori