Chasing Nightmares

is the eleventh episode of the third campaign of Critical Role. The group comes face to face with the terrifying entity known as the Nightmare King but the interaction leaves only questions to an increasingly perplexing puzzle...

Announcements

 * Sam shows off the crafts he's studied on Skillshare ever since he passed the advertising baton to the other cast members. Memberships start as low as $10 a month, and the first 1000 Critters who click on a non-existent link get a free trial premium membership.
 * The Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn came out on 18 January 2022. New art, deeper lore, and overall, more content. Go to the Darrington Press website to learn more.
 * The EU store is now open for business.
 * The Guest Battle Royale one-shot unlocked from The Legend of Vox Machina Kickstarter campaign will stream Thursday, 27 January 2022 at 7 pm PST on Twitch and YouTube. DM'd by Sam Riegel, it will feature Anjali Bhimani, Darin De Paul, Will Friedle, Sumalee Montano, and ND Stevenson.
 * The Legend of Vox Machina will also release three episodes on 28 January 2022! Critical Role will host a watch party following the new episodes right on Twitch with a few cast members and special guests. Check out the latest article on critrole.com to learn more. First one is on Tuesday, 1 February 2022 at 7 pm PST.

Previously on Critical Role
''Last we left off, our heroes had been on the trail of a certain Gurge Kisgregg, a friend, patron-like character to this newcomer to the entourage, who had apparently been confiscated by some of the wardens, some of the Wilders of the city. Upon looking for information about it, you found that they were hunted by a bounty hunter named Artana Voe. Upon finding this bounty hunter, you discovered that she was hired by an individual named Vali, Vali Dertrana, who works in the Moon Tower higher up the Core Spire. Upon looking into this individual, this fine gnomish figure here, Chetney, snuck into it and barely escaped by smashing through the window. You managed to avoid being found that evening as you convinced most of the denizens of that hour that the place was haunted and, in that brief window before you heard they might be moving any sensitive and possibly important information or details in this space, you decided to go back in.''

''You had discovered there was some sort of odd hidden passageway within and heard conversation from below. So, while finishing a date with the chef, Pretty, you all reconvened and decided to, before the morning sun were to rise above and trigger what sort of relocation might transpire in the morning, you delved back into this burgled office and descended these hidden stairs into what looked to be some sort of an odd workshop. Here in the center of it, you saw a large arcane contraption glowing blue with some sort of crystalline blue device in the center. You heard it whirring. In the center you saw tables with strange devices and alchemical implements scattered about with sheets and papers. You saw bars that marked various alcoves in the side like small prison cells. In the distance across the way you saw a man who was being held. And there in the center of all this, an elongated, strange, spindly, humanoid-like figure, a male creature that had two arms and two legs of thin and long gaunt features, long fingernails, long fingers, a hairless, strange, pale, sallow head with no hair, black eyes, no nose, and a jack-o-lantern-like fanged smile, long pointed ears that curled to the back. As he spun around on his stool and seemed to be aware of your presence as you arrived, "So. What brings you all to my temporary workshop?"''

Part I
Chetney explains that they are looking for Gurge Kisgregg and asks Ira if he is the Nightmare King. Ira laughs and proudly admits it. Gurge is in a barred cell to one side, and Ira tells Chetney he'll have to take up the issue of Gurge's release with "Armand", the one footing the bills for the experimentation. As Chetney continues to ask Ira about what he wants with Gurge, Chetney slowly removes his clothing and weapons. He recognizes that Ira is some kind of fey creature. Ira stands, picks up a glowing fist-sized blue crystal from the table, and drops it. A wave of arcane energy erupts from it, and the two tables in front of Ira animate and begin moving forward. Roll initiative! Ira casts Lightning Bolt, seriously wounding Dorian, Laudna, Orym, and Ashton, although FCG absorbs half of Laudna's damage. Imogen Blinds Ira and Dorian casts Shatter near Gurge's cell, weakening the bars. The others attack the tables and they notice two chairs are also animated and attack as well.

Chetney has continued to undress, and is now in only his underwear. He draws his wood chisel across his chest and attacks a chair. Gurge transforms into his wolf form and manages to break through the weakened cell bars, joining the fight. FCG is able to destroy one of the chairs, Fearne takes out a table, and Ashton gets another chair, but they have caused very little damage to Ira, and he uses a legendary action to cast a fire attack on Imogen which FCG takes half of. Orym takes severe damage from the remaining table and retaliates, killing it. That leaves only Ira. Chetney moves up on Ira and transforms into a werewolf, to the party's delight, but is unable to hit him. They are continuing to take serious damage and not doing much in return. When Fearne gets close to Ira, he begins sniffing her, then says, "Hm. You smell familiar, like home. Like... Calloway. Interesting." He then Polymorphs FCG into a turtle. A melee attack on Dorian knocks him unconscious, but he immediately comes back to consciousness on a natural 20 death saving throw and stealthily alligator-rolls away. Ira uses another legendary action to attack Orym, knocking him unconscious, but he also immediately rolls a natural 20 on his death save and comes back to consciousness.

The party gets in a little more damage, and on Ira's turn, Ashton hits him with a Temporal Morass stripping his reactions and halving his speed. Ira looks at the party surrounding him and reaches back to flip a switch on the large mechanical device behind him. He then uses his Fey Step ability to move away and begins preparing an acid spell— but then looks at Fearne, sighs, and releases it. He grabs a heavy chest from the desk and tells the party that although he hates to leave work unfinished, he's been paid half and has other interests to ponder. Looking at Fearne, he says, "You were as resourceful as I would hope. Hopefully enough to survive," and winks at her. "Safe travels," takes a bow, casts Dimension Door and disappears.

Ashton immediately inspects the machine, which is faintly humming and growing louder. Laudna grabs the papers from Ira's desk. Fearne is totally at a loss as to how Ira knew the Calloways and why they were spared, suggesting she might try to contact her grandmother. The machine begins crackling and everyone runs for the exit, Dorian snatching up turtle-FCG as they go. They leap out the shattered window, the humming of the machine growing increasingly loud behind them. A warden spots them but wolf-Chetney frightens him off. He and Gurge transform back into human form once they're over the wall.

The party begins moving as fast as possible without an outright run away from the Moon Tower. Behind them, the hum is still getting louder and there are blue flashes, then a gigantic explosion of blue purple energy. Rocks begin falling and they sprint for the gondola. Dorian is hit and knocked unconscious and FCG is hurt enough to transform out of his turtle form, so is able to immediately cast Cure Wounds and bring him to consciousness. As the streets begin to grow chaotic with startled residents, the party continues toward the gondola.

Break

 * Official Trailer for The Legend of Vox Machina, which begins on 28 January 2022.
 * Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn from Darrington Press is available now.
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 * Critical Recap every Wednesday on CritRole.com.
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 * Marisha unboxes all the benefits of subscribing to Critical Role on Twitch.

Part II
The party hustles to the gondola and crosses to the Lantern Spire and a private room at the Weary Way tavern. Gurge tells them that Ira Wendagoth and Ira's boss Armand had forced him to bite three volunteers dressed in leathers and armed to the teeth. Gurge used to be a member of the Claret Orders in Wildemount, a group of "fringe society monster hunters", where he became a lycan while on a hunt. He came to Marquet after hearing tales of intelligent werebeasts in the Gloomed Jungles. He finally found the Gorgynei, a sect of warriors using hemocraft, or blood magic, and learned to control his lycanthropy by using it.

Chetney admits that he, too, is a lycan, and had been chased out of Uthodurn by the Glassblades after messing up his employer "something fierce", and was bitten by a werewolf in the Savalirwood. He sought out Gurge trying to learn to control it. Gurge had hoped his friend Ajit could direct Chetney to the Gorgynei as well, but was captured by Ira before he locate him. Now, however, Gurge wants only to go back to his home, and tells Chetney to go find Ajit Dayal in the Dayal Hall in the Core Spire. Chetney asks the party's help in his search, reluctantly admitting that they are now friends.

Laudna discovers that the notes she scooped up from Ira's lair are now blank. The party then takes their long rest, rising about noon. Over breakfast, Ashton explains Jiana Hexum's job offer and that completing it would help him clear his debt to her. He also shares that it was her golem that was stolen, precipitating the bounty on Cyrus Wyvernwind, and that completing the task for her might help clear that as well.

FCG runs down the party's current to-do list:
 * in five days, attend the ball mentioned by Lord Eshteross
 * perform the mission for Jiana Hexum
 * check in with Pretty (low priority)
 * meet with Oshad Breshio
 * get Imogen into the Starpoint Conservatory
 * find Armand, Ira, and Ajit Dayal

First, they go to Lord Eshteross and report the events of the previous night. Lord Eshteross recognizes that "Armand" is Armand Treshi of Mahaan House Treshi, whom he has long suspected of being a member of the Chandei Quorum. He is looking forward to possibly undermining his influence in the city at the upcoming ball. Eshteross will have a friend look at the now-blank paper from Ira's lair, and he gives Imogen a letter granting her access to the library of the Starlight Conservatory. He also plans to reach out to a friend in a library in Ank'Harel. He has cleared the way for Orym to meet today with Ginang Ela Lumas, the Matriarch of Mahaan House Lumas, and with Oshad Breshio. The group heads toward the Lucent Spire, Chetney buying a new wood chisel and Ashton sending a note to Jiana Hexum on the way. They spend a relaxing afternoon at the Diamond Horizon bathhouse. At sunset, they reach House Lumas where they are greeted by Ela Lumas.

Orym tells her about the attack in Zephrah six years earlier, which was very similar to the recent one on her family, and tells her he is seeking those responsible. She takes them to Oshad Breshio, still recovering from his wounds, where Orym explains that Jarett Howarth had told the Ashari of the attack on the Lumas twins. The twins were scholars and researchers of planar contacts, celestial bodies, and the crystal fauna of the Heartmoor. They were in Heartmoor Hamlet with Estani, a friend and retired astronomist from Yios in Aeshanadoor, when they were attacked by three masked figures dressed in black-stained leather armor and wielding poisoned weapons, who cut down the twins before they could be stopped. When killed, the attackers melted into sludge. Oshad suggests Estani in the Heartmoor might know more. The party then goes to the Starpoint Conservatory in the Aerie Spire. On the way, Imogen explains that she has persistent nightmares of a red storm, and shortly after they began, she gained her powers. She hopes to find out why through research. Once there, Lord Eshteross's letter grants her full access to the library. Hours of research later, she has learned that there is a theory of a pattern of individuals across Exandria sharing a recurring dream of a consuming red storm. These dreams increase at the celestial solstice every thirty years, and there is worry that the dreamers are touched by fiendish influence, Ruidus tidal corruption, or elemental boundary flares. Among the list of names marked as contributors or subjects, Imogen recognizes one: Liliana Temult, her mother. The remaining pages of the study have been ripped out.

Player Characters

 * Ashton Greymoore
 * Chetney Pock O'Pea
 * Fearne Calloway
 * Fresh Cut Grass
 * Imogen Temult
 * Laudna
 * Orym

Returning

 * Ariks Eshteross
 * Dorian Storm
 * Evelyn Wress
 * Gurge Kisgregg
 * Ira Wendagoth
 * Kamala
 * Escritorae Kunthea

New

 * Ela Lumas, human ginang of House Lumas
 * Geria, tiefling pet groomer
 * Oshad Breshio
 * Tiron (unnamed), a scribe at the Starpoint Conservatory Library
 * Tuyen Otwana, elven owner of the Prism Emporium

Mentioned

 * Ajit Dayal, Gurge's former teacher
 * Armand Treshi
 * Balan and Zeyar Lumas, deceased sons of Ela Lumas
 * Estani, an astronomist in Heartmoor Hamlet from Yios
 * Jarett Howarth
 * Jiana Hexum
 * Kadija Sumal, a professor who researched dreams
 * Keyleth
 * Liliana Temult, Imogen's mother
 * Marwa Endalia, owner of the Trove of Marwa
 * Morri Calloway
 * Oltgar (unnamed), Chetney's former employer
 * Percy de Rolo
 * Vali Dertrana
 * Vex'ahlia de Rolo

Quotations
Orym: Who could have seen any of that coming? Chetney: I don't know, anybody with two eyes. Robbie: Is that the rule? I'm new here. I don't know. How many games does it take? Sam: Turn off the cameras. Matt: Roll some constitution saving throws, you guys. Marisha: There's still one more lighting mode we haven't tried yet. Ashton: Oh, you'll earn it. You don't have to buy it. Chetney: No, really, it's no trouble. Ashton: I actually really would much prefer you actually earned it by doing shit. I don't want your money. Chetney: I would really rather pay for it. Laudna: She sounds unfathomably awesome.
 * Chetney: He's not the only friend I have. They're also my friends. And there are more of my friends than you have, so you behave.
 * Chetney: (to Ira) Boy, I bet you think you're real scary. You think Gurge has a gift. (grunts) (growls) Wait till you get a load of (ferociously) me! (wolf howl)
 * FCG: Well, what a turn of events!
 * FCG: The only thing more fun than a new friend is a new friend with a secret.
 * Laura: (as the party discusses sleeping arrangements) We're ten games in. I think it's time for an orgy.
 * Chetney: (at the bathhouse) I'll cover it. I have to earn back some of your trust.
 * Orym: Her name is Keyleth. She is the Voice of the Tempest.
 * FCG: You can accomplish anything if you believe in yourself, or if you have wealthy parents.

Trivia

 * This is the first episode filmed in 2022.
 * The giant caged praying mantis in the cage may the same species to or individual as the giant caged praying mantis in Exandria Unlimited: The Nameless Ones.