Thicker Grows the Meal and Plot

is the ninth episode of the third campaign of Critical Role.

Announcements

 * The Nordverse is back! The hacked Robbie, now a rootkit virus named Setty inside the new Critical Role set, infects Laura, Liam, and "Assley Donkson". This is only possible because Marisha decided to renew the subscription to Matt's Vest of the Month club instead of to Nord VPN. She promises to find a solution... next time on The Nordverse!
 * Second sponsor is Ghostfire Gaming's Fables, a subscription-based set of six-part D&D all-in-one adventures released monthly. The first, Grimhollow Adventure: Citadel of the Unseen Sun, released January 1st. Go to ghostfiregaming.com/fables-criticalrole for discounted subscription.
 * The Legend of Vox Machina will now debut on Friday, January 28, a week in advance of the original air-date.
 * Merch Alert! Now available: a red Eiselcross beanie embossed with "Even we don't know what's here" and a matching scarf.

Previously on Critical Role
''Last we left off, our heroes here, who have been traversing the city of Jrusar, had been on the trail of a few disappearences that have been happening in recent weeks at a theater. They managed to find out what was responsible and destroy this creature that had taken these people's lives. But upon finishing this mystery, a figure nearby overheard that you had completed this appointed risky endeavor to find missing people, an individual named Pock O'Pea, Chetney Pock O'Pea. Upon coming along with your band and asking for their help in finding a missing person that they themself are seeking, you began to search throughout the city, followed the path to where this individual, this Gurge, was currently staying temporarily within the city of Jrusar.''

''Upon inspecting the temporary abode, the hovel in which he was living, you found signs of a struggle. Apparently, some sort of attack had transpired, and you watched marks of him being dragged away, while also hearing of a terrible dire wolf attack in the city. Fearing that this individual may have fallen to the same dire wolf, you spoke for information with the person who had rented them the space and followed the assumed intent that he had been arrested by the local wardens. You had gone over to the nearby factory and spoke with these wardens to see where he may have been.''

''Upon them awkwardly, nervously almost, walking into the factory and locking the gates behind them, Fearne decided to go ahead and inspect secretly in the form of a rat, sneaking through the interior tunnels and heading into one of the side chambers where it seemed the warden with more authority amongst the two you spoke with were having a conversation. Bit shifty of them. Already in a place of mistrust with these wardens assigned to this factory, they turned to leave just as you were there wading out from underneath the door in the tight space. Attempting to turn from where their footfall was, you failed to do so and took just enough damage to pop you out of your rat form. We come in just as Fearne has emerged full bodied in the middle of this small office chamber within the factory, staring now at these three wardens that look at you with surprise, confusion, and a slight shift towards whatever arms they have at their side.''

Campaign Three adventuring party

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

Returning

 * Ariks Eshteross
 * Dorian Storm
 * Evelyn Wress
 * Keledon, head warden of the Smolder Spire factory

New

 * Artana Voe, an uniya bounty hunter
 * Ira
 * Preio Madali, uniya co-owner of the Soot and Swill Tavern
 * Pretty, the ogre cook at the Soot and Swill Tavern
 * Vali Dertrana, elven or half-elven business commissioner of the Mirror Towers and liaison between Mahaan Houses

Mentioned

 * Andy, a former crush of Laudna's from Whitestone
 * Master Faramore, Imogen's former employer in Gelvaan who has shops around Marquet
 * Gurge Kisgregg
 * Kinkadë, the Painter of Suns
 * House Lumas
 * The Nightmare King
 * Oshad Breshio
 * House Treshi

Quotations

 * Matt: (about his subscription to the Vest of the Month club) These vests are cool.
 * FCG: (discussing Lord Eshteross's sponsorship of the group) When you accept sponsorships, isn't that sort of selling out a little bit?
 * Fearne: Time is a construct that man uses to define change. So be whatever age you want, I guess.

Trivia

 * For this episode, Sam's outfit was a reference to the popular reaction image / meme known as "How do you do, fellow kids?". The line was spoken by Steve Buscemi's character Lenny Wosniak in an episode of 30 Rock.