Into the Frostweald

is the forty-eighth episode of the first campaign of Critical Role. Vox Machina continues the quest to collect the Vestiges of the Divergence in order to defeat the Chroma Conclave. Along the way, they are rejoined by Pike Trickfoot and discover some other old friends in dire straits.

Previously on Critical Role
"The adventuring party of Vox Machina, traversing the lands in search of lost artifacts of wars of old, referred to as the Vestiges of the Divergence, in hopes of eventually tearing down and defeating a conclave of chromatic dragons called the Chroma Conclave that have destroyed society all across the continent of Tal'Dorei and beyond. They returned to the outskirts of a city named Westruun that was very important in their early adventures, to find it—from a distance—partially destroyed by the dragon attack but a couple weeks before, and since taken over by what seems to be the remnants—now swelling in power and size—of Grog's old herd of wandering barbarians and various savages.

"Having taken the city by force and ruling it with an iron hand, it was also deemed not the right time to face this foe, and as such the party continued venturing southward in the direction of the Frostweald, where, somewhere at the base of the Stormcrest Mountains, the mate of Osysa—the gynosphinx they had met in Vasselheim—her mate resides somewhere in this vicinity. That's all the information they have to go on as they head down towards the frozen forest."

Part I
As Vox Machina travel from Westruun toward the Frostweald in mist form, they notice a tent city below filled with refugees that have escaped the city since its occupation. While surveying the scene from a distance, Vex and Vax spot Drez Vina, who had assigned the party on a mission when they first came together. The party's history with Elowen Brist and her son Simon gains them entrance to the camp, and Elowen refers them to Cornelius, the camp's de facto leader.

Cornelius tells the party that the camp has been harassed by orcs. The party offers to help transport the refugees to Whitestone, but Cornelius is unwilling to leave before the return of the scouting parties that were sent to deal with the orcs. They are reportedly based out of the Frostweald, so Vox Machina agrees to take care of the situation since they are headed there anyway.

The next morning, Vex flies on her broom and finds a suitable tree for Keyleth's Transport via Plants spell about thirty minutes walk from the camp, and then falls off of it while trying to show off for the children in the camp. Before the party leaves camp, Drez Vina and an older gentleman approach them. The older man introduces himself as Master Quall, and he would like the party to retrieve a circlet from his home in Westruun that is vital to his experimental research, in exchange for another item from his collection. During the conversation, Pike joins the party via the gate stone. Quall also lends the party an item that detects any nearby magical items, which Scanlan nicknames the Hunk of Quall.

Grog brings Pike up to speed on the occupation of Westruun, and gives her his Gauntlets of Ogre Power. After equipping them, Pike is now stronger than Grog. After a day of travel, Scanlan creates his Magnificent Mansion and shows Pike to her lavish quarters, which are right next to his. He also tells Pike his concerns about Grog's sword.

Vex takes Vax aside and tells him all the things she's read about the Raven Queen, and that she doesn't seem that bad at all. Vex wants him to be happy about being the champion of a god. Keyleth helps Percy tinker a metal herb pouch.

At breakfast, Keyleth throws a chicken into the air for Vex to use as target practice. Vex gets the idea to practice from her broom, so Scanlan commands some of the mansion's servants to throw chickens into the air for her. Vex is distracted by the broom and shoots a chicken, but the arrow pierces through it and into Scanlan's neck.

The party travels south for another day into the forest, where the temperature is much colder and snow has accumulated. They come upon a clearing with a stone obelisk carved with an ancient symbol of Ioun and a hollow pyramid shape set in it. Scanlan sees several broken statues nearby. Keyleth melts some of the snow and finds several more broken statues. Percy warns everyone to back away.

Break
Geek & Sundry promos and a Critical Role fanart reel are run.

Part II
Keyleth sees that the script on the obelisk is in Elvish and reads "A name is earned." Several basilisks emerge from holes in the ground. The party is able to defeat the basilisks without being petrified, aided by Keyleth's Wildshape into a scorpion. Keyleth can feel more of them moving underground and creates a Wall of Stone over the ground, temporarily sealing them off. As the party tries to make sense of the obelisk, a basilisk breaks through the stone wall but is quickly dealt with by Grog. Eventually the other creatures give up.

Scanlan inserts his Ioun Stone into the triangular inset on the obelisk, and the top of it begins to glow. In the distance, there is another beacon lit with this same glow in the mountain range. Keyleth casts Find The Path on the distant beacon.

Vex and Vax investigate the area and Vax notices a "statue" with one arm broken off that he recognizes: Tyriok Gadsworth. Vax considers leaving him and not telling anyone, but decides to tell Pike and ask for her help in healing him. Pike casts Greater Restoration on him and cures his petrification, but then has to deal with the profusely bleeding stump of his severed arm. After a Cure Wounds, he tells of his travel here to finish this portion of his maps (which are still petrified in his pack along with the broken-off arm). Since he came from the direction of the mountains and knows the location of the orcs the party is hunting, he agrees to tag along as a guide for a while.

Vax steps away and speaks to the Raven Queen, saying that he needs more guidance than just the nightmares he's been having. He then has a vision of the temple of the Raven Queen in Vasselheim, and then within it he sees a chamber with a pool of red liquid. The Raven Queen rises from the pool and beckons him with her finger, and the vision abruptly ends.

The party and Tyriok start heading further into the Frostweald in the direction of the orc camp, hoping to surprise them.

Vox Machina

 * Keyleth
 * Percival de Rolo
 * Scanlan Shorthalt
 * Grog Strongjaw
 * Pike Trickfoot
 * Trinket
 * Vax'ildan
 * Vex'ahlia

New

 * Cornelius
 * Elowen Brist

Returning

 * Simon
 * Tyriok Gadsworth
 * Drez Vina

Mentioned

 * Cyrus, Cornelius's brother

Quotations

 * Percy: He's talking about Transmutation of some kind. [...] It's the veganism of Necromancy.
 * Vax'ildan: (talking about the Raven Queen) I don’t know, Vex'ahlia. I don’t know what this means. I know that she’s not a force for evil. Neither are funeral homes. I don’t want to bed down in one.
 * Vax'ildan: (addressing the Raven Queen) I know you can hear me. I’m going to need… I’m going to need more than nightmares. A deal has been struck, and I will honor it. I need to understand what this is. Any time. (after his vision of the Temple) Not exactly what I was talking about. At some point, a little bit of clarification. Congratulations, you’re creepy as fuck. (pause) We’ll work it out.