Trial of the Take: Part 3

is the twentieth episode of the first campaign of Critical Role. Like their companions before them, Keyleth, Vax'ildan, and Tiberius begin their contract for the Slayer's Take along with a driven and mysterious young cleric named Kashaw and a hardened dwarf by the name of Thorbir. The group's mission—to track down and kill an elusive rakshasa that has been preying on wealthy travelers within the city—leads to the Velvet Cabaret, an exotic establishment in the Duskmeadow District...

Announcements

 * For every 100 channel subs tonight, there will be a giveaway of a signed cast photo and Player's Handbook, plus a poster drawn by the official Critical Role artist, Kit Buss.
 * There are two new guest stars this week: Wil Wheaton and Will Friedle. Wil apologizes in advance to Liam for the proximity curse that will be affecting his dice rolls tonight.
 * Matt is flying out to Columbus, OH tonight for Matsuricon.
 * Orion recently started his own Twitch stream for video games: @orionacaba
 * Wil Wheaton is having dinner with his wife tomorrow, after which they will be playing a new game he got called Lanterns.
 * Will Friedle is now engaged to be married, having recently popped the question to his girlfriend of four years, Susan. Wil Wheaton offers to induct him into the Society of Men Who Married Way Above Their Stations.

Part I
Back at the Bellows' Respite tavern, Tiberius, Keyleth, and Vax commiserate over their separation from the rest of the party—particularly Vax, who dislikes being away from his sister. They decide to look for healing potions before starting their trial. They find the tent of Forscythia, a fortune teller whom they recognize. She sells Tiberius a few potions. Vax purchases a vial of potent poison in return for an unspecified future favor. With that, they proceed to the Slayer's Take guild hall.

At the hall, they are introduced to Kashaw Vesh, a human cleric, and to Thorbir, a dwarf fighter and current member of the guild. All five of them sign on for a contract to hunt down a rakshasa.

The group begin their search in the Duskmeadow district, in a small mask shop, where the owner confides that there have been a few strangely violent deaths inside the city over the past few years. Next, they find a couple of Bastions members to consult about the strange deaths. The Bastions tell them that a high-profile merchant was recently murdered by some manner of lycanthrope-like creature. The merchant, one Lord Tyrell, had been staying at the Velvet Cabaret, a fancy establishment in the Duskmeadow district. They decide to go there next.

Break

 * The Critical Role intro.
 * Group Hug.
 * Fan messages
 * Felicia Day on the book tour.
 * The Critical Role intro.

Part II
The party outfits themselves in somewhat nicer clothes than their usual before heading to the Velvet Cabaret. There, they are greeted by Hosin, a dwarf who calls himself the manager of the establishment. Vax and Keyleth introduce themselves as "Scanlan and Coralin Shorthalt", owners of a shoe empire and currently seeking membership at the cabaret. Hosin brings them to meet Vince Seanor, the owner.

The conversation with Vince nearly comes to blows as he sees through their deceptions. It comes out that Vince is a figurehead leader only; the establishment is being run by Hosin, whom they see peeking through the door before running off. Keyleth and Tiberius chase after him while Vax knocks out Vince. As guards approach the room, Hosin escapes, and Tiberius disguises himself as Hosin to tell off the guards when they arrive.

With Hosin gone and the guards appeased, the group takes some time to investigate the room they are in. They find an adjoining bedroom with a hidden passageway under the bed, which brings them to an underground tunnel. Proceeding down the tunnel for a while, they go deeper underground, eventually finding themselves in some manner of the smelly underground refuse heap. There, they are attacked in the dark by an unknown creature.

Vox Machina

 * Keyleth
 * Percival de Rolo (absent)
 * Scanlan Shorthalt (absent)
 * Tiberius Stormwind
 * Grog Strongjaw (absent)
 * Pike Trickfoot (absent)
 * Trinket (absent)
 * Vax'ildan
 * Vex'ahlia (absent)

New

 * Thorbir Falbek
 * Kashaw Vesh
 * Vince Seanor
 * Forscythia
 * Hosin

Returning

 * Vanessa Cyndrial
 * Mertin Cyndrial
 * Siren

Mentioned

 * Lord Tyrell — Rakshasa's victim