A Traveler's Gamble

is the tenth episode of the fifth chapter of Critical Role. After proving their strength to J'mon Sa Ord, Vox Machina heads to a casino to have some fun and make some deals. The next day, they go in search of Mistress Asharru—the owner of Cabal's Ruin—and discover a shocking scene, as well as evidence that an old foe is on the move.

Announcements

 * Matt, Marisha, and Taliesin went to Burning Man and met some Critters while they were there.
 * Sam is late but on his way
 * Liam ran a one-shot while the show was off
 * Travis reads an ad for Loot Crate
 * Marisha announced Critical Role nail wraps on the web store, and Laura showed off other merchandise available

Previously on Critical Role
"Vox Machina—in their perpetual quest to take down the Chroma Conclave and the path of destruction that they've swept across all of Tal'Dorei, and continents beyond it seems—found themselves going to the continent of Marquet, across the central desert, meeting the parents of Gilmore it seems, and coming to the city, the 'Jewel of Marquet', known as Ank'Harel.

"They found themselves wandering the streets and meeting curious individuals—our gnome, apparently, has made a 'spice' deal that is to come to fruition at some point in the near future—in search of what seems to be the bearer of one of the Vestiges of the Divergence they have been seeking, in preparation for their battle with Thordak, as well as seeking allies in this strange new interesting city.

"Through the continuous perpetual threat of evil that forces the world, Vox Machina found a hookah bar and got fuzzy-drunk on a form of sand kheg-based liquor. They learned a bit about the city, a bit about the culture, they learned from Jarett some possible tips on how to engage with the people around the town, and they made their way towards the Cerulean Palace in the center of the city. After being balked by the Hand of Ord upon arrival, they were then greeted by the Grand Maven and given entry to the Cerulean Palace.

"Upon passing up a large, translucent blue tower above the city of Ank'Harel, it eventually opened into a central chamber at the very top of this tower that overlooks the majority of the desert from this position that they can see. There were large windows across the entirety of the somewhat circular-like room, there was a raised platform in the center, a balcony across the opposite way, and sitting atop this throne in the center made of brass and sapphire, they met an individual—seemingly the ruler, for a long time, of this city—the androgynous, long-living figure known as J'mon Sa Ord."

Part I
J'mon Sa Ord greets Vox Machina, saying that they knew of the group's arrival and of the dragon attack on Emon. The party informs them of the coordinated attacks of the Chroma Conclave and of their plan to gather some of the Vestiges of Divergence to aid in their fight against the conclave. J'mon recognizes the name "Thordak" as belonging to a young red dragon that they killed centuries ago, which reveals to the party J'mon's incredible lifespan. J'mon recounts the story of a young Thordak attempting to capture Ank'Harel for his own, but being repelled by the city's forces and seemingly killed while he was fleeing across the ocean. The party ask for J'mon's aid in fighting this new threat, and J'mon says that first they must prove their worth. They step out of view and the chamber doors close, and a huge metal golem wielding a large sword drops into the room.

During the battle, Percy finds that his bullets have no effect on the construct. It hits Vex twice with poison breath, briefly knocking her unconscious until healed by Scanlan's Healing Word spell. Grog tries to throw his Lightning Javelin at the golem, but misses and it flies out the window. After the party trades a few blows with the golem, Scanlan uses Bigby's Hand to smash out the window behind it. This allows Keyleth in her Earth Elemental form and Grog in his enlarged form from the Titanstone Knuckles to shove it out the window, crashing into the roof of another part of the Cerulean Palace below.

An impressed J'mon Sa Ord reappears and says that they must remain and guard the city of Ank'Harel, but when the time comes Vox Machina may call to them for aid. They present the group with a small brass flute. Scanlan moves to start playing it but J'mon stops him, saying that it will call Devo'ssa, the guardian of Ank'Harel, only once. J'mon then steps backward and transforms into their true form of a large brass dragon. The dragon speaks, telling the party that knowing their secret is a symbol of trust between them. At Scanlan's request, they also give the party a brass-and-sapphire emblem that they can display to show that they have the favor of J'mon Sa Ord should then enounter trouble in the city. Percy asks them who they should trust to help them identify their powerful magical items, and they direct him to James Kryon, head of the Crystal Chateau's program for arcane arts. As the party leaves, they pass the golem on its way back into the chamber. Vex and Percy spend time on her broom looking for Grog's lost javelin but are unsuccessful.

Vox Machina

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

New

 * Headmaster James Kyron
 * Rutur
 * Grymond Trog

Returning

 * J'mon Sa Ord
 * Gameshega
 * Treev Bonebreaker

Mentioned

 * Thordak
 * Raishan