A Hole In the Plan

is the forty-second episode of the second campaign of Critical Role. The Mighty Nein explore the pirate island of Darktow, and attempt to undermine Avantika...

Previously on Critical Role
Last we left off, The Mighty Nein had made their way to the Menagerie Coast, got swept up in a bunch of chaos, and found themselves out at sea, amongst the Swavain Islands, taken in by a pirate crew, captained by Captain Avantika, basically at threat of death otherwise.

''[They were] sent to an island to investigate a temple, learn about seals that possibly are keeping [ Fjord's] patron, Uk'otoa, at bay. [They] made [their] way back across the Lucidian Ocean, towards the city of Darktow. Actually, actively partook in some piracy. "Polite" piracy. [...] And found [them]selves at the pirate city of Darktow, surrounded by the Dragshallow Reef.''

[They] had just arrived, with both ships, the Squall-Eater and The Mistake''. The crew [they] had hired out of Nicodranas, looking very confused and concerned at their current fate, given the fact they were just hired hands at sea. [They] were ushered up along the sheer cliffs alongside Darktow Isle, a long stone shelf within the cavern where the Plank King himself greeted [the party], bid [them] entry to the Revelry, this extending band of pirates across this part of the ocean. [He] laid some ground rules and sent [them] on [their] way. And that is where we left off.''

Part I
The Mighty Nein walk to the Bloated Cup tavern with Avantika, contemplating pushing her off the stairs on the way and claiming she fell, but deciding against it. Beau asks about the amount Avantika gave to the Plank King, and is told it's a tithe of about 25-30%. In exchange they get free ship repairs and the promise that doublecrossers will be dealt with by him. Avantika claims he doesn't bother her and does a fine job. They join Avantika's crew at their table.

Jester decides to fight a gnome seaman, Sorris Cade, at his invitation, and they have a friendly glorious bar fight until she decides that's enough and heals him a bit. Other bar fights break out regularly. They have a few drinks and Beau learns from Avantika that they're going to head north to the location of the Vandren shipwreck, and do some diving on the salvage mission. Orly notes it's near the Diver's Grave, and Sorris asks if they've heard the tales of that place. Jester vaguely remembers the name Dashilla the Dreadful, and Sorris sings them Dashilla's Shanty.

Avantika goes to bed, whispering to Fjord, "Upstairs, second room on the left." Nott and Beau go to the alley to try to meet a rival of Avantika's, who ignores them, and Caduceus and Fjord go stand out front, leaving Jester and Caleb at the table. Jester says she doesn't like Avantika very much, but when Caleb suggests it's because she's a murderer, Jester says that's not it. She worries that she might never be able to go home, and Caleb promises her they'll get her home. When Caleb asks if she's sweet on Fjord, she says that she doesn't know. As she's gotten to know him, she's not sure if she likes -him-, or what she thought he was. Caleb says that's outside his experience, and she replies, "You had a girlfriend before though, yeah? You said her name when we were dancing and then I put you to sleep and you said her name again." Although she tries to get more information from him, he's evasive and changes the subject back to Avantika.

The group regathers. They give Orly 100 gp to watch the ship and the crew of the Mistake until they return, hopefully in about two weeks. If they don't come back, the ship is his. He tells them ships have been going down for a few hundred years at the Diver's Grave.

They leave the tavern for a walk, deciding to use code: Avantika=Tiffany, the Apricot=the Orb, Bouldergut=Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Fjord=Honda. They want to get the next apricot before Tiffany does. Caleb wants to know what Fjord's plan is for the apricot-- Fjord wants to seize it and decide later if they're going to make marmalade or not. They decide to break into Tiffany's quarters while Honda keeps Tiffany busy. Beau really wants to go, but can't disguise herself, so they decide to send Nott with Jester. What could possibly go wrong?

The Mighty Nein

 * Beauregard
 * Caduceus Clay
 * Fjord
 * Frumpkin
 * Jester Lavorre
 * Nott
 * Yasha Nydoorin
 * Caleb Widogast

New

 * Allison
 * Sorris Cade

Returning

 * Avantika
 * Bouldergut
 * Ipess
 * Marius LePual
 * Orly Skiffback
 * Vera
 * Waldark
 * Jeremiah Willowhisk
 * Zoen

Mentioned

 * Dashilla
 * Keg
 * Mollymauk Tealeaf
 * Vandren

Quotations
Jester: "I don't like her very much." Caleb: "Is it because she's a murderer?" Jester: "No." Caleb: "Oh. I don't like that part about her." Jester: "Oh. But we're all kind of murderers sometimes, aren't we?” Caleb: "I don't think that all of us are murderers." Jester: "No?" Caleb: "Are you a murderer?" Jester: "I mean we have killed some people." Caleb: "Yeah, but that's a very specific thing. You know, if your life is in danger, that's one thing. You know, if something happens in the heat of the moment or there’s danger in both directions. Murder is premeditated, that’s a very different thing. I find it hard to believe that you have killed someone with premeditation. I could be wrong, but..." Jester: "No, I don't, I haven't ever done that." Jester (sourly): "Like Avantika." Caleb: "I don't know. You, uh, you're sweet on him, eh?" Jester: "*sigh* I don't know. It feels funny." Caleb: "How do you mean?" Jester: "Well, you know when you really like somebody, but then you start to know them, and you go 'do I like them, or do I like who I thought they were?' And then you don’t know?" Caleb: "I think so." Jester: "And then you think that they were flirting with you but then you find out they probably weren't, you know? And so you feel like kind of sad about it. And maybe a little stupid?" Caleb: "I—that's...a little out of my realm of experience, I'm sorry." Jester: "You had a girlfriend before though, yeah? (whispering) You said her name when we were dancing and then I put you to sleep and you said her name again." Caleb: "I don't forget anything." Jester: "And now she's saying we all have to take the same boat! How are we going to get away from her??" Caleb (via Message): "We'll take care of her if we have to."
 * Caleb: "Yeah you seem distracted. Around this woman, you seem distracted around this woman."
 * Caleb: "Well there's parts of it that he likes."
 * Caleb: "That was a long time ago. Let's just focus on getting out of this place. Away from...that woman."
 * Travis: "That's a natural one, this is gonna fucking suck."