The Fancy and the Fooled

is the ninety-seventh episode of the second campaign of Critical Role. Live from Chicago! The Mighty Nein return to Nicodranas, where happy reunions and fantastic makeovers are shadowed by revelations about someone close to the party...

Previously on Critical Role
''So, last we left off, the Mighty Nein had made their way down to the Whitedawn Lagoon in search of the whereabouts of Caduceus Clay’s family, who had long one-by-one vanished over time, in search of this familial task that was put upon them by their patron deity, the Wildmother. Upon discovering the family and many others turned to stone by some sort of a Mistkath mutation of a gorgon, you managed to save most of the people who were necessary, and then through a clever use of magic and some really high medicine rolls, did save the one who got shattered in the middle of the battle, completed what seemed to be the final leg of this vision quest, and sent the now-safe family of Caduceus Clay back to their home at the Blooming Grove.''

''You guys then made your way to Nicodranas, to figure out how to prepare yourselves for the coming negotiation between the Kryn Dynasty and the Dwendalian Empire during the ceasefire, which you were told you don’t need to be there, but you insisted regardless. And as such, you’ve Teleported, without forewarning, into the Tidepeak Tower of Yussa in Nicodranas. And that’s where we left off last. So, as you guys all arrive into the darkened chamber, the inside of Yussa’s tower, what would you like to do?''

Part I
The party is greeted by Wensforth, who lets them out of Tidepeak, and they decide to visit their ship first to check in. Nott tells them that she had promised Yeza that the next time she saw him, she wouldn't still be a goblin, and after thinking a lot about it, she's ready to transform back into Veth now.

The harbor is unusually busy, with two notable ships present (other than their own): The Blue Heaven under Captain Dremmy holds the emissary from the Empire and is a large, ornate, and well-guarded Empire vessel, and the Wind of Eons, flying the Cerberus Assembly flag. They go over to their own ship, the Ball-Eater, and are greeted by Marius LePual and acting captain Orly Skiffback, who tells them the ship is ready to depart when they are.

The party then goes to the Wind of Eons where they find Martinet Ludinus Da'leth in conversation with Lord Athesius Uludan, Archmage of Diplomatic Union for the Assembly, and Lord Desran Thane, a lord of Nicodranas. While Thane appears nervous, Athesius invites them to a party the next evening at the home of the Marquis of Nicodranas and extends the invitation to the Ruby of the Sea, Jester's mother. Caleb covertly summons Frumpkin to the dock to watch and follow Thane if he leaves the ship, and asks that the party be allowed to look at the beacon sometime before departure for the talks. Ludinus agrees, and he and Lord Thane go together below decks.

At Beau's urging, Caleb sends Frumpkin to spy on the conversation between Da'leth and Thane. When Da'leth casts a dispel magic spell to thwart magical eavesdropping, Thane is revealed to actually be Essek Thelyss, who was startled by the sudden appearance of the Mighty Nein. Ludinus states that it is important that they oversee the control and exchange of the prisoners and the delivery of the beacon, but that afterward, they need never interact again, beyond the Assembly sharing its research as agreed. Essek agrees, resumes his disguise, and heads back up on deck. The party returns to their ship, where Caleb reveals what Frumpkin saw and heard. They realize Essek was probably the Dynasty official that handed the two beacons to the Empire in the first place, but decide they should give him a chance to explain himself.

On the way to the Lavish Chateau, they purchase the gem dust and clay they will need for the Transmogrification ritual. Nott casts Invisibility on herself so that neither her son nor her husband will see her in her goblin form. Marion greets them warmly, Luc seems to be thriving and mischievous, and Yeza is quick to enquire about his wife and be told she is on her way. Jester tells her mother that the others have now all met and seen the Traveler and that, while he's not a god, he's real. Marion recalls seeing such a man a few times downstairs in the past. Jester invites her to come to the party with them, and after some hesitation, Marion agrees.

The party takes over Marion's bathroom (and expensive bathtub) to perform the Transmogrification ritual. Nott says farewell and thanks individually to each of the Nein, finally telling Caleb that she loves him, and he replies, "I... love you too, Veth the Brave." With that, they begin the ritual, which takes an hour to complete. During it, Nott becomes completely encased within the clay, which begins glowing orange hot, finally shattering in an arcane shock wave to reveal the halfling form of Veth Brenatto. Yeza arrives, having heard the explosion, and Veth is reunited with her husband and son. After asking the party to watch Luc, Yeza and Veth retire to his bedchamber and close the door.

Break

 * D&D Beyond animation.
 * Ad for World Anvil, the ultimate worldbuilding platform and campaign manager.
 * Magic! Sam, Liam, and guest Ashly Burch explore the arcane in All Work No Play 3 March 2020 at 4:00 pm PST on Critical Role's Twitch channel.
 * Clips from.
 * Dani just wants to watch her Critical Role! Taliesin is here to help, with a subscription to Critical Role's Twitch channel.
 * Critters’ art montage.

The Mighty Nein

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

New

 * Lord Athesius Uludan
 * Lord Desran Thane
 * Carlos Ramedi
 * Lord Robert Sharpe
 * Marquis Zaif
 * Captain Dremmy

Returning

 * Wensforth
 * Wharfmaster Ignus
 * Marius LePual
 * Orly Skiffback
 * Martinet Ludinus Da'leth
 * Essek Thelyss
 * Luc Brenatto
 * Bluud
 * Marion Lavorre
 * Yeza Brenatto
 * Yussa Errenis

Quotations
Essek: Well, I am surprised myself. Maybe you should try friends sometime. Nott: No. But I’m going to do it anyway. I’m not sure what will happen afterwards, but no matter what, you guys will help me get through it. And if for some reason I don’t come back, or come back different, or leave, or something, you know how much you all mean to me. Jester, I hope we have more adventures together. Jester: Me too. I give Nott a kiss on the nose. Nott: Caduceus, thank you for being honest and showing us that you can be scared too, and that’s okay. Yasha, I’m like 60% sure you’re not evil now. Yasha: That should be a lower percentage. Would you like a sip of your wine? Nott: No, thanks. Fjord, I’m sorry that I always call you weak. But I only do that because I know you’re strong enough to take it. Beau, thank you for taking care of Mr Caleb. And Caleb, you know, I love you, and you’re the second love of my life. Thank you for being with me. Caleb: I... love you too, Veth the Brave. Essek: "There is no path to redemption for me. If what has been done comes to light, if what you are seemingly looking to correct is known, then I am a dead man." Caleb: I lean in and kiss him right here and say, "Maybe you and I are both damned, but we can choose to do something, and leave it better than it was before.”
 * Ludinus: I’m surprised to see such affection from such a previously cold individual.
 * Caleb: I hold out my hand to Nott. Are you sure you are ready?
 * Essek: I have a lot I want to accomplish, and only one person who understood and believed in that idea, and that's me. I have done terrible things in my life, as I know many of you have as well. Things you regret. Things you think you're doing for the right reasons. I cannot say I regret what I've done. I just regret how things have changed since I made that decision. You weren't part of the plan.
 * Caduceus: If he says it out loud, then he's going to have to hear what it is and he's not going to like who he is when he hears it.
 * Caleb: I drop down to my knees in front of him and turn his face to mine. "You listen to me. I know what you are talking about. I know. And the difference between you and I is thinner than a razor. I know what it means to have other people complicate your desires and wishes. And I was like you. Was. I know what a fool I have been for years," and I'm looking at him as if I am looking in a mirror. "You didn't account for us. Good. That is life. Shit hits you sideways in life and no one is prepared. No one is ready. These people changed me. These people can change you. You were not born with venom in your veins. You learned it. You learned it. You have a rare opportunity here, Thelyss. One chance to save yourself, and we are offering it. And I am" -- I place a hand on his shoulder -- "pleading with you to find your better self. He is still there."
 * Veth: You are a broken person who had ill intentions and wandered aimlessly into a path that you had no intention or no idea how to complete. And yet somehow along the way, you found a heart. You sound like all of us. Welcome to the Mighty Nein.

Trivia

 * Although the live show and stream were scheduled to begin one hour earlier than normal at 18:00 PST, problems at the venue delayed the start time until approximately 19:35 PST.