Ghosts, Dates, and Darker Fates

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

Announcements

 * The Nordverse is back once more! All hacksonas except for BlackWillow69 (aka Sam Riegel) resurface to reboot the set and defeat Setty (Robbie Daymond). Next up, bringing back BlackWillow69... the next time NordVPN sponsors the show.
 * The Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn comes out next week. New art, deeper lore, and overall, more content. Go to https://darringtonpress.com/taldorei-campaign-setting-reborn/ to learn more.
 * The Legend of Vox Machina premieres in fifteen days! What's more, Next Thursday, Fanology PD will sponsor LoVM during their fanamation week dedicated to all adult animation available on Amazon Prime Video.

Previously on Critical Role
''Last we left off, this group of heroes, after solving one mystery, gaining an ally, and following their path as this newcomer to this troupe for the time being, known as Chetney Pock O'Pea, was in search of a person that they were meeting here in Marquet, in the Oderan Wilds, the wild man Gurge, who vanished in violence. After finding he was captured by the local wardens, and interrogating them, more or less, you discovered that actually, he was taken by a bounty hunter. Finding this bounty hunter discovered the person that hired them to acquire this individual and went and found them in the Moon Tower at the top of the Core Spire.''

''After walking your way in and trying to talk your way into their office, you were told they were out for the evening, but as you were distracting the one person who was keeping tabs on the entrance to the tower, the invisible Chetney snuck into the office as the door was closed. There, while the rest of you were leaving the tower to be escorted out for the evening, rain pattering outside in the night sky, the early evening now coming to bear upon the city of Jrusar, you inspected the contents of this office, and amongst them found a button that shifted the bookcase and revealed a stairway that delved below. There you heard some conversation and some approaching footsteps. Scrambling about, you couldn't find a way out of this room and hid in the corner, invisible.''

''However, some of the things that were now missing at the desk where it was once left, the individual whose office it was, Vali, began to search around, saber in hand, of who might be responsible, poking and swiping in the corners of the chamber. As it began to bear upon you, you immediately leapt onto the arm and shoulder and back of Vali, jumped onto the desk and through the stained glass window, landing into the wet grass of the courtyard outside, and that was where we left off. The rest of you, who at this moment, have been forced out of the tower, closed behind you, you take a moment to talk amongst yourselves before you hear [shattering glass] to the left side of where you're standing around the eastern side of this tower. What do you do?''

Part I
Despite invisibility, Vali locates Chetney due to the rain bouncing off of him. With help, Laudna and Chetney pretend to haunt the grounds to successfully scare him back into his tower. All are escorted off the premises by armed guards.

Chetney gives Dorian Storm [?] and Ashton Greymoore the sum he stole from Vali as payment for searching for Gurge Kisgregg, slightly disappointing those who requested a toy. Fearne Calloway tells her compatriots about the bedtime stories her grandmother told her about the The Nightmare King, who bends and twists nature for fun. According to her grandmother, he also gives people wet willies, nightmares, and occasionally death. Dorian comes clean about the sending stone that he gave to Cyrus Wyvernwind. Ashton leaves to pay off a debt, Chetney, Orym, and Dorian Storm stay to keep watch on the Moon Tower. Fearne Calloway, Imogen Temult, and Laudna coax Fresh Cut Grass to join their date with Pretty as he'd never been on one before.

The four greet Pretty in a cramped tavern. Pretty collects on the bets he made with the other staff that his dates would show up and gifts Laudna a symetric caullflower, Imogen an asparagus, and Fearne a double-headed pumpkin, all sourced from the kitchen. Fearne places the pumpkin on her horn. In return, Laudna gifts him flowers hastily made of chicken bone and scrap linen. As she offers the flowers, maggots crawl out. Pretty sets the bouquet aside for later use in the establishment, and it is quickly taken away by other staff for "safekeeping" purposes.

Pretty shoos away the other patrons, all of whom are enjoying the show. The on-duty chef presents them with a meal, and they make small talk.

Dorian and Chetney bond as they pretend to be passers-by, with Dorian specifically including him as a friend.

Break

 * Ghostfire Gaming presents Citadel of the Unseen Sun, the first chapter of Fables, a 5e adventure. Released January 1st, Citadel is free for a limited time.
 * The Legend of Vox Machina debuts on the 29th on Amazon Prime Video.
 * Tal'Dorei Reborn is the definitive guide to the Tal'Dorei twenty years after the glory days of Vox Machina. New maps, guides for each region, fold out map of the continent, histories, new subclasses, backgrounds, creatures, magic items, and more.
 * Merch Alert! Eiselcross beanie & scarf, dice inspired by Vox Machina members, Uk'otoa, Heros of Whitestone Puzzle, and a Shaun Gilmore figurine.
 * Check out Critical Recap every Wednesday to catch up on campaign three.
 * Submit fan art at critrole.com/submit.
 * Sam uses soothing backgrounds, relaxing sounds, and his whisper to describe the benefits of subscribing to Critical Role.

Campaign Three adventuring party

 * Ashton Greymoore
 * Chetney Pock O'Pea
 * Fearne Calloway
 * Fresh Cut Grass
 * Imogen Temult
 * Laudna
 * Orym

Returning

 * Dorian Storm
 * Ira
 * Preio Madali
 * Pretty
 * Vali Dertrana

New

 * Gurge Kisgregg
 * Jiana Hexum, elderly female elf of Hexum Manor

Mentioned

 * Andy, a former crush of Laudna's from Whitestone
 * Dancer
 * Evon Hytroga, curator of the Twilight Mirror Museum in Heartmoor Hamlet
 * The Flying Lauders
 * Mistress Isha Sabanis, rival of Jiana Hexum
 * Milo Krook
 * The Nightmare King
 * Samuel ("Sam"), a friend of Imogen's from Gelvaan

Quotations
Laudna: I want a rat puppet for Pâté. That was a genuine request, yes. Pâté needs a girlfriend. Chetney: Oh, a rat puppet. I wrote down something else, but I think we're talking about the same thing. Mine started with an F, but go ahead. Imogen: Sam. Samuel. Fresh Cut Grass: What a stupid name.
 * Ashton: (to Dorian) I'm not disappointed, I'm just angry.
 * Chetney: I also take requests.
 * Fresh Cut Grass: What was his name?