On the Trail of a Killer

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

Announcements

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Previously on Critical Role
''Last we left off: This group of adventurers had come together, spotted for their skills and unexpected camaraderie in the middle of a street battle with furniture by Sir Bertrand Bell, who brought you to a previous employer of his, Lord Ariks Eshteross, who decided to take you under his wing as possible mercenary clients. Sent you on your first venture, to look into some thefts that were happening in one of the textile warehouses in which he had interest.''

''Looking into it, there was an individual who looked a bit shifty, and following them as your group scattered in four-plus different directions, you found that they nervously ran to the Weary Way Inn. Eventually making your path to that same place, you made your way to the Weary Way just in time to hear a scuffle behind the room in which Danas, the gnome you'd been following, was killed by a strange, gaunt, pale dwarven individual and apparently a number of odd creatures that you had referred to from previous experience as shade creepers.''

''You battled within this room, with this dwarf able to escape, but you had proof and information of who was responsible for these thefts, or at least who within the company was allowing them to happen. And with the body of Danas, you returned to Lord Ariks and completed your mission, though sad at the life that was lost. A celebratory evening was had, you were paid, and the possibility of future work was set before you. You retired for the night back to the Spire by Fire Tavern. Amongst drinks and food, you all went to your various places that night to rest, while Sir Bertrand Bell, riding the high of the first victory in a while, wandered the night, found himself joined by an unexpected individual in the alley. As he lay there, left bleeding and alone, Imogen, a familiar nightmare came to you. And in the midst of that dark red hellscape, you saw the shadow of a man not unlike Bertrand stepping into nothing.''

Part I
Her nightmare wakes Imogen, and she wakes Laudna to tell her about it. They decide to check on Bertrand back at the Spire by Fire, but since they don't have the room number it takes waking a number of innocent sleepers before they find Orym, Dorian, and Fearne. Bertrand's room is empty and unslept-in, and they decide to try to retrace his steps to find him.

It doesn't take long before they find Bertrand's body lying in an alley, cold and dead but with the blood around him still liquid. Orym recognizes the wounds as matching those caused earlier that evening by the pale dwarf they fought. They carry the body to Lord Eshteross's house, where Evelyn Wress admits them. Lord Eshteross doesn't know whether Bertrand was killed because of their investigation of the warehouse thefts, or something in Bertrand's past, and warns the party not to travel alone. He offers them rooms within his estate to stay in for safety, and they manage to complete a long rest there.

Ashton and FCG awaken at their home and go to the pre-arranged meeting place. When the rest of the party arrives, they tell them of Bertrand's death. They all want to find out what happened to him, and head back toward the Weary Way Inn to investigate. On the way, Fearne introduces Little Mister to Laudna's Pâté de Rolo, but it does not go well.

When they arrive, Imogen uses her Open Mind ability to confirm the room in which they found Danas and the pale dwarf the previous night is currently unoccupied while the others move into the back alley under its balcony. The room is unlocked, and Imogen goes inside and out on the balcony to tell the others to come up. The chamber is for the most part undisturbed from the previous night. They investigate the hole they had noticed under the desk. It is so narrow only Orym could fit into it, and goes straight down and out of sight into the rock of the spire. They decide to send Fearne in snake-shape with Orym into the hole to investigate further, and FCG gives Orym a coin of delving to provide light and the ability to gauge distance when dropped.

With a rope and snake-Fearne around his waist, Orym crawls into the hole, which begins to drop straight down. The air is slightly warmer, with a charcoal smell. Orym reaches the end of the rope he is tethered to and they can see the shaft continues downward out of sight, and the walls bear claw marks of repeated climbers. Reluctantly, Orym drops the coin of delving, which falls out of sight about 1200 feet before it hits bottom.

They rejoin the group and discuss their findings, then several of the party investigate the roof of the inn where they find fresh footprints leading across. Regathering in the alley behind the Weary Way, they share their findings. Ashton goes inside, successfully bribes Kamala the Maven for information about the pale dwarf, and learns his name is Dugger. He has been renting the room for about a month, although it often isn't occupied.

Discussing this new information, the party remembers that brumestone is strictly controlled by the Alsfarin Union located in Ank'Harel, the only builder of skyships in Exandria. They decide to take the information they have gathered so far back to Lord Eshteross.

Break

 * Elder Scrolls Online console enhanced version now available.
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Part II
On the way to Lord Eshteross's home, Imogen and Dorian stop in the Spire by Fire to ask around about Dugger. Dorian finds a tiefling who knows Dugger, describing him as an abrasive shit who was always down to gamble a bit and had a decent sense of humor. He hasn't been around much lately, though. Dugger didn't always have the pasty, wasting-away look he bears now; it came on suddenly. Under the effects of Dorian's Charm Person, the tiefling shares more: the transition started about six months ago, and he suspects Dugger is now dealing with the Hubatt Corsairs, a criminal group focusing on robbing the rich. At Lord Eshteross's, they find Bertrand's body laid out respectfully. After discussion, they decide to send Bertrand back to Vox Machina at Whitestone via the Prudaj estate's skyship.

The party share with Lord Eshteross the information they have gathered on Dugger. Lord Eshteross is interested in the Hubatt Corsairs because they seem to be working against the same corruption he is and gift their takings to the poor. In contrast to the Ivory Syndicate, their violence seems to be directed away from the less fortunate, and much of the violence that does occur takes place when the two factions clash. Lord Eshteross warns the party, however, to be careful if they encounter any member of the Corsairs, and to speak well of him if possible. He suggests starting their investigations in the Fownsee Hollow within the Core Spire, or in Elder's Post in the Lantern Spire. The party members say farewell to Bertrand and head out, except for Orym, who hangs back for a private word. He confides that he is looking for someone on behalf of the Ashari in Zephrah: Oshad Breshio, also known as "The Anger". Lord Eshteross knows of him. He is a bodyguard assigned to the Mahaan house Lumas, which has recently been attacked. Orym confides that something similar has happened where he comes from, and he is here to see if there's a connection. While Lord Eshteross is not on the best of terms with that house, he agrees to see what he can do to learn more. Oshad is still recovering from his wounds.

Regrouping outside, the party decides to start with the Fownsee Hollow since Ashton and FCG are familiar with it. Ashton introduces them to Milo, who is trying to make to make small rat-like constructs. This thrills Laudna, who introduces Milo to Pâté, inspiring them to create their own mix-and-match creations. Ashton asks Milo if they know a way to get in touch with the Corsairs. Milo warns them not to bring that trouble back to Krook House, but suggests contacting Advik, whom Ashton is familiar with reluctant to contact. Milo then suggests Effid, whom Ashton thinks is not trustworthy, but they finally agree to try to find Advik in Elder's Post. They all make their way there, winding their way within the heart of the spire to its central market. Ashton does not find Advik there, but does find Ephred, the Shadow Baker, selling delicious baked goods from inside his coat. Fearne steals one, then holds it up and asks how much it is. When Ephred just stares at her, she asks if she can just have it, then offers to give him something in return and he accepts a hemlock flower. He is disdainful when Orym asks if he has any pies.

Ashton in Marquesian asks him for information and a pastry, telling him Ashton's in bad with a dwarf named Dugger and needs to get hold of the Corsairs. When Ashton is not very persuasive, they pull out five gold which Ephred accepts. Ephred tells them to approach the dark-feathered eisfuura called Heron within the Root Trader Alcove, and tell him, "You come for the laughter." He then leaves abruptly.

During a long philosophical discussion about pies, the party makes their way to the Root Trader Alcove, a shop selling cooking and medicinal herbs and spices. There are two figures within, one of whom is Heron, and they tell him they've come for the laughter. Heron moves one of the racks to the side, exposing a door which he unlatches and steps through. Imogen sends a mental message to the Shadow Baker telling him they appreciate his help before the party follows Heron up a spiral staircase, through a hatch, and into a large darkened chamber.

When Dorian unsheathes his Moon-Touched Scimitar to produce light, they can see that in addition to the boxes and crates of a storage area, there are numerous figures lining the walls. Lanterns spring alight, revealing about thirty faces grinning in their direction. Heron tells the figures, "These folks have come for the laughter," and laughter indeed spreads through the room. One person steps forward, twirling a scimitar which he then points at them, saying, "This, friends, is certainly not your luckiest of days."

Campaign Three adventuring party

 * Ashton Greymoore
 * Fearne Calloway
 * Little Mister
 * Fresh Cut Grass
 * Imogen Temult
 * Laudna
 * Orym

Returning

 * Anni Aughta
 * Ariks Eshteross
 * Dorian Storm
 * Evelyn Wress
 * Kamala the Maven, Weary Way Innkeeper
 * Milo Krook

New

 * Ephred, the Shadow Baker
 * Heron, a dark-feathered eisfuura in the Root Trader Alcove
 * Jenaya, acquainted with Dugger

Mentioned

 * Advik, Ashton's potential contact
 * Bertrand Bell
 * Danas
 * Dancer
 * Dugger, dwarf possibly associated with the Hubatt Corsairs
 * Effid, Ashton's potential contact
 * Keyleth
 * Oshad Breshio, also known as The Anger. Orym, Fearne and Dorian came to Jrusar looking for him.
 * Percival de Rolo
 * Vex'ahlia de Rolo
 * Zhudanna

Quotations
Laudna (or Marisha): She's a bitch! Imogen (or Laura): I heard the person in charge of Whitestone is way more powerful than the person in charge of Zephrah. That's just what I heard through the grapevine. Taliesin: This isn't even metagaming. I don't know what this is anymore.
 * Ashton: Does no one bribe anymore? Is that just a thing that fell out of fashion, where you just bribe somebody?
 * Imogen (or Laura): I heard that the person in charge of Zephrah is not very powerful.
 * FCG: (to Bertrand) They say that the word "goodbye" is the hardest word to say, but it's not. It's Worcestershire. That's the hardest word to say. So goodbye, and we'll always remember you.
 * FCG: Of all the cities in the world, Generosity is the capital of Kindness.

Trivia

 * Although Travis was present for the pre-show, he was not at the table for the game proper and the remainder of the episode.
 * Travis was asked to text Ashley a list of items Fearne found in Bertrand's pockets. During the episode, the cast noted that he sent a humorous list, reading some aloud. According to Travis on Twitter, these included:
 * Peanuts
 * Werther's Originals
 * 30-year-old condom
 * ChapStick
 * Some IcyHot
 * A TV Guide
 * Murder, She Wrote - The Criterion Collection