In the Belly of the Beast

is the sixteenth episode of the fourth chapter of Critical Role. With battle plans in place, Grog frees some Westruun citizens while Vox Machina busily prepares to engage Umbrasyl with the cunning of their tactics and the strength of the Herd of Storms. The hour arrives, Umbrasyl descends, and the battle begins...

Announcements

 * The episode started thirty minutes late due to technical issues.
 * Taliesin Jaffe skyped in from Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi.

Previously on Critical Role
"Vox Machina, the band of adventurers, walking through Tal'Dorei post-the attack of the Chroma Conclave, an evil troupe of chromatic dragons that are currently holding power in this region and beyond, after tearing through many of the bastions of society in this countryside. The party has gone on a quest to search for artifacts known as the Vestiges of the Divergence, from ancient wars and heroes of old and yore, to use them against the leader of the Chroma Conclave, Thordak the Cinder King.

"As part of this confrontation, they made their way to the city of Westruun, which was partially destroyed by the black dragon Umbrasyl, and then while it was off and away with the rest of the Conclave, was then conquered by the wandering Herd of Storms that Grog once belonged to. After finding it occupied by these rather brutal, barbaric individuals, Vox Machina set into the city, destroyed and tore down their leader Kevdak, to much fanfare from Grog's past, and through Kevdak's son and Grog's majestic might they decided to take the remainder of the Herd of Storms and take out the dragon Umbrasyl, the great black dragon. Half the Herd didn't like that and has decided to go ahead and leave to their own devices, while the rest of the party possibly prepares to plot and plan a way to kill an ancient black dragon."

Part I
Percy starts to construct his trap, failing to find aid so he works on large springs that will hopefully be able to trap Umbrasyl. Vax pulls Scanlan aside and pitches him a backup plan. He wants to have Scanlan Dimension Door into Umbrasyl's stomach and use the unmovable rod to hurt him from inside. Scanlan asks Vex about the interior of the dragon and she confirms that the acid that the dragon creates is not made inside it's stomach, but in a separate gland. He also asks if he could borrow her Acid resistant armor and jokingly asks her to take her clothes off. Vex agrees to switch armor with him and Scanlan makes a bit of show of taking off his armor while Vex just ungracefully strips and throws the armor at Scanlan's face. Vex questions why he wants to trade, but Scanlan brushes it off.

Pike attunes to her frostbrand sword. Vax goes to catch up with Percy, who he finds working on his project. He asks if he could use the Dragonslayer longsword and Percy obliges, handing it over to him.

Keyleth and Vex'ahlia go to find Zanror who is preparing with Worra. Vex asks if Umbrasyl has been talking to them when it picks up the treasure, and he says it only did at the beginning. Then she suggests using Kevdak's body and telling the dragon that he was plotting to overthrow him and they agree. The two ladies then describe the plan to use Percy's trap and ask the goliaths if they will help by holding Umbrasyl down with chains. Zanror tentatively agrees to help, as long as they understand the scope of what they're trying to do. Keyleth impresses Zanror and Worra with a display of her abilities, and says she will dig a trench for the goliaths to hide in when Umbrasyl approaches. Vex then heads to the drop point and plans to camoflauge Percy's trap with her abilities and illusions.

Grog goes into town looking for "meat shields" and is directed to the iron stocks, now abandoned by the herd. He finds four prisoners below, still inside their cells and begging for food. Grog gives them dry food rations and some ale and recognizes one of them as Abjurist Noja. The others are a shifty man named Orn, an old dwarf named Davin, and Amelia, the daughter of Reginald the farmer. Grog finds a set of keys on a slain guard and releases everyone, telling Emelia to come with him and giving Davin a sword, elisting his help in tomorrow's fight. Noja is missing his spellbook, so Grog asks the party via earring if anyone would like to accompany all of them to Noja's shop.

Scanlan meets with them there and they find the shop picked clean by looters. Noja's spellbook is missing, but an old backup book is still hidden there for him to use. They find two unbroken potions that Noja gladly gives them in exchange for saving him: a Potion of Diminution and a Potion of Speed. They ask Noja if he'd be interested in helping in the battle, but he is not much help without his proper spellbook. Emelia and Davin help them look back at the prison, while Orn seems to have disappeared. Noja's partially-destroyed spellbook is found, as well as several chains and hooks that will be useful in the battle.

Vax asks Keyleth if he can use Fassbender tomorrow and she gives him the circlet to control him. Vax apologizes for leaving her in her room before. Keyleth takes the opportunity to speak with Vax about his situation with the Raven Queen. She says she doesn't have much respect for the gods and that Vax should look at this as an opportunity to enlist the Raven Queen's services for now and then be done with her when all this is over. Vax then pitches in helping to prepare the location of the trap.

Percy successfully completes the springs for his trap, but becomes exhausted in the process.

Break
A Critical Role fanart reel is aired.

Vox Machina

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

New

 * Amelia, daughter of Reginald
 * Davin
 * Orn, AKA Orn "Blackfoot" (nickname given by Grog)

Returning

 * Abjurist Noja
 * Umbrasyl
 * Worra
 * Zanror