Mighty Nein

The Mighty Nein are an adventuring party based in Wildemount and the protagonists of Critical Role in Campaign 2, starting with Chapter 9.

Chapter 9: Meeting in Trostenwald
The seven individuals who would become the Mighty Nein first met in Trostenwald in 835 PD. Up to that point, they had been traveling in three groups:
 * Caleb and Nott helped each other break out of prison about five or six months prior, and had since been traveling and pulling cons together.
 * Jester and Fjord had met in Port Damali before running into Beauregard a few weeks later. They were heading toward the Soltryce Academy.
 * Mollymauk and Yasha were members of a carnival that had just arrived in town.

Caleb, Nott, Jester, Fjord, and Beau all happened to be staying at the Nestled Nook Inn, where Molly and Yasha came to advertise their carnival. Later, when the carnival turned suddenly violent, the seven of them worked together to defeat an undead menace and became embroiled in a local investigation. They formed an alliance to clear their own names, then chose to travel together to Zadash afterward.

Yasha alone did not leave Trostenwald with the rest of the group, and was prone to disappearing on her own business for stretches of time. However, the group made a point of meeting up with her when they could. (Out of character, Yasha's absences were due to Ashley Johnson's frequent scheduling conflicts.)

Adventures
On the way to Zadash, the party passed through the town of Alfield while it was under siege by a pack of gnolls. The group helped the Crownsguard repel the assault then tracked the gnolls to a nearby abandoned mine. With the assistance of a mysterious human cleric named Shakäste, they cleared the mine of gnolls and rescued several townspeople from Alfield who had been captured.

Chapter 10: A Gentleman's Agreement
Caleb described the new party as "a motley group of assholes". In the city of Zadash, the group encountered various factions: the local Crownsguard, the Righteous Brand, a dissenting group known as the "Knights of Requital", and a local crime boss known as "The Gentleman". After doing a few odd jobs, the party finally decided to ally with the Gentleman, agreeing to do two jobs for him north of the city.

On their way to their first task in the Labenda Swamp, the party encountered a defenseless Kenku girl named "Kiri". They decided to bring her along with them and protect her.

They completed their task (securing a safe house owned by The Gentleman's organization) with the help of a draconic sorcerer named Calianna. They also helped Cali accomplish her goal to find and destroy a ritual bowl used for contacting Tiamat. In the tunnels underneath the safe house, the party discovered a mysterious yellow orb. As soon as Fjord touched the orb, he had a vision of his former captain and mentor, Vandran, absorbing the same orb. The rest of the Mighty Nein saw Fjord push the orb into his chest and absorb it. When he came out of the vision, Fjord was unaware of what he had done. Later a yellow eye the same color as the orb appeared in the hilt of Fjord's sword.

On their way to the second task in Shadycreek Run, they passed through the town of Hupperdook and found a new home for Kiri.

Chapter 11: Iron and the Coast
While continuing on the road to Shadycreek Run, half the party (Fjord, Jester, and Yasha) were kidnapped by a group of slavers known as the "Iron Shepherds". (Out of character, Laura Bailey and Travis Willingham were absent for several episodes after their child was born. Ashley Johnson was absent due to her filming schedule in New York.)

Keg, a dwarven fighter and former member of the Iron Shepherds, joined the party to get revenge on the Iron Shepherds for killing a friend of hers. Beau, Caleb, Keg, Molly, and Nott journeyed to Shadycreek Run to find and rescue their friends. In the meantime, Nott considered Caleb to be the de facto leader of the Mighty Nein. During an attempt to ambush the Iron Shepherds, Lorenzo (their leader) managed to slay Mollymauk after he was rendered unconscious by his own Blood Maledict. Beau, Caleb, Keg, and Nott buried Molly then continued on to Shadycreek Run. They were joined by Nila, a firbolg druid whose mate and son were kidnapped by the Iron Shepherds. Arriving in Shadycreek Run, they found that their task for The Gentleman (to aid Ophelia Mardoon by eliminating the Iron Shepherds, overlapped with their own goal to rescue their kidnapped friends.

They sought help from Caduceus Clay, a firbolg cleric who lived in and tended to a nearby cemetery. The group (now consisting of Beau, Caduceus, Caleb, Keg, Nila, and Nott) snuck into the Sour Nest, the Iron Shepherds' headquarters. After defeating some of the Iron Shepherds, they found Nila's mate and son in the basement. Nila left to escort them back home.

Moving further into the basement, the party discovered their old friend Shakäste also imprisoned. With his assistance, the party defeated Lorenzo and the rest of the Iron Shepherds. Fjord, Jester, and Yasha were found alive. Shakäste left to escort the other captives home while the Mighty Nein and Keg stayed the rest of the night in the Sour Nest. While looting the house, they found a letter from someone named Avantika hiring a crime family to find an orb like the one Fjord absorbed. Once the orb was found, it was supposed to be delivered to Nicodranas.

After spending the night with Beau, Keg snuck out in the morning. The reunited Mighty Nein escorted Ophelia Mardoon (a business associate of The Gentleman) back to Zadash. On the way, they stopped at Molly's grave so Fjord, Jester, and Yasha could pay their respects. Yasha told the party that she would find them again when she was ready and took off on her own. The Mighty Nein arrived safely in Zadash with Ophelia, fulfilling their contract with The Gentleman. They took a week of down time in Zadash for personal projects.

When they got back together, Fjord asked the group to travel to Nicodranas. He wanted to find out what the people who wanted the orb he absorbed knew about it. Once there, Jester introduced the Mighty Nein to her mother, Marion Lavorre. The party offered to help Marion deal with Algar Dyomin, a possessive client causing problems for her. While investigating, they ran into Yasha in a bar, who joined them again. The Mighty Nein discovered Algar was a Clovis Concord agent keeping a marid (water djinn) enslaved. They freed the marid and coerced Algar into leaving Nicodranas.

The Mighty Nein went to the docks late at night, following a lead that a meeting about the orb was happening. They tried to eavesdrop but the crew of a ship docked in the harbor noticed them and attacked. During the ensuing battle, they found themselves aboard the ship and cast off, sailing away from the city.

Chapter 12: Followers of the False Serpent
Aboard their stolen ship, the Mighty Nein discovered a map to where Avantika (a pirate captain) was waiting for the yellow orb. They decided to go there to find out what Avantika knew about the orb. They sailed back to Nicodranas, hired a crew for the ship, then sailed to the island of Urukayxl. Fjord commanded the ship (now renamed The Mistake) under the name "Captain Tusktooth".

Avantika and her ship, the Squall-Eater, met The Mistake at Urukayxl. Speaking with Avantika, Fjord learned the identity of his warlock patron - a powerful sea creature named Uk'otoa, The Great Leviathan, who had been sealed away for centuries. Avantika (also a warlock of Uk'otoa) intended to release him by putting the three orbs (called Cloven Crystals) into three temples around the Lucidian Ocean. She already had one crystal and knew the location of the temple on Urukayxl. She gave the party little choice but to play along with her desire.

The Mighty Nein traveled with Avantika and Jamedi Cosko inland past the yuan-ti and Lizardfolk inhabitants to an inner chamber of the temple. Fjord and Avantika raced to place their crystals in the temple to unlock the first seal. Avantika succeeded and was rewarded with the power to Control Water. Later that evening, Avantika questioned Fjord about his sword. She told him she knew a man named Vandran (Fjord's mentor) that carried the same sword and also had a cloven crystal. Fjord ended up agreeing to work with Avantika to unseal Uk'otoa (and sleeping with her).

Now part of a pirate crew, the Mighty Nein sailed to Darktow Isle, an island controlled by the union of pirates known as The Revelry. Avantika introduced them to Wyatt Maranoss, current Plank King of The Revelry. After Jester and Nott broke into Avantika's quarters and left obvious traces, a fight broke out on the deck of the Squall-Eater between the Mighty Nein and Avantika's crew. The Plank King's guards broke up the fight and arrested everyone. During the following trial, the Mighty Nein presented evidence that Avantika planned to overthrow the Plank King with the power she would gain from releasing Uk'otoa. He judged her guilty of treason and executed her, but also banished the Mighty Nein from Darktow Isle and confiscated The Mistake. They were forced to immediately leave on the heavily damaged Squall-Eater.

The Mighty Nein sailed to the site of the shipwreck where Fjord had last seen Vandran. Diving underwater, they found the shipwreck had been looted by a sea fury named Dashilla. They found her lair, defeated her, and recovered another Cloven Crystal.

Enroute to a safe port to repair the ship, the Mighty Nein discovered a stowaway gnome named Twiggy, on the run after stealing the Happy Fun Ball of Tricks, a mysterious magical artifact. Caleb accidentally opened a portal using the artifact and transported the party and Twiggy into an extra-dimensional manor. Making their way through deadly traps and fighting their first dragon, the party barely managed to survive and find the exit. Now docked on Bisaft Isle, Twiggy left the Happy Fun Ball with the Mighty Nein and set out of her own adventure.

Following one of Fjord's dreams from Uk'otoa, the party sailed their ship (now repaired and renamed the Ball-Eater) to the site of a sunken temple of Uk'otoa. Underwater, Fjord placed one of his two cloven crystals into the temple. He saw a vision of the third and final temple and was rewarded with the power to Control Water. The Mighty Nein agreed not to release Uk'otoa, and it was time to get back on land. As long as the third cloven crystal remained absorbed into Fjord's sword, Uk'otoa would stay sealed away.

Chapter 13: Shades of Gray
The Mighty Nein sailed the Ball-Eater back to Nicodranas and made Orly Skiffback the new acting captain of the ship. They gained entry into a mysterious mage tower and made an alliance with Yussa Errenis. The party gave him the Happy Fun Ball in exchange for access to his Teleportation Circle. They then traveled to Felderwin (Nott's home) after hearing the Kryn Dynasty had attacked the town.

Upon arriving, they discovered that Nott's halfling friend Yeza Brenatto had not been seen since the attack, but no body had been found. Searching the ruins of his apothecary, the party found a silver tripod, a vial of an unknown substance, and Cerberus Assembly research notes describing experiments with Dunamancy. One of the names mentioned in the notes was Trent Ikithon, Caleb's former teacher who modified his memory and tricked him into killing his parents. When a passerby told them Yeza's son, Luc Brenatto, was staying at Old Edith's home, Nott insisted on going there. She cast Disguise Self to look like a halfling woman and Edith greeted Nott's disguised form as "Veth", Luc's mother. In an emotional meeting between mother and son, Veth assured Luc she loved him and would return as soon as she was able.

Later, Nott revealed to the Mighty Nein that she had not been born a goblin, but was a halfling named Veth. She and Yeza were married; Luc is their son. Goblins kidnapped the family, and when Veth sacrificed herself to allow Luc and Yeza to escape, the goblins punished her by drowning her and having her resurrected as a goblin. Yeza and Luc do not know about Veth's transformation. Under pressure to share what he knows, Caleb revealed that his birth name was Bren Aldric Ermendrud. He told the group that he had been trained in adolescence by the Cerberus Assembly, but left out the murder of his parents and his time spent in an asylum.

Using magic from Caduceus and Jester, the Mighty Nein discovered Yeza was being taken to Ghor Dranas, the capital of the Kryn Dynasty. They reopened the tunnel the Kryn soldiers had come through and followed their trail under the mountains to Xhorhas. After multiple days of travel underground, the party emerged onto the barren plains of Xhorhas. They defeated a Kryn Dynasty scouting party that ambushed them, but one of the party (a mage) got away. Moving across the plains, the Mighty Nein reached Asarius, the City of Beasts. They were hired by Lady Zethris Olios (the drow leader of the city) to find the source of portals to the Abyss that had been popping up throughout the city.

During their investigation, the Mighty Nein discovered Beau's Cobalt Soul mentor Dairon was working as a spy in Asarius and planned to go to Rosohna, the capital of the Kryn Dynasty. The Nein returned to their investigation into the rifts around Asarius and found another in caverns below a well. In the ensuing fight Caduceus was killed by Nott's explosive bolt, but Jester was able to Revivify him with help from both The Traveler and The Wildmother. The group brought the abyssal anchor to Lady Olios, and were given their promised reward - an audience with the Bright Queen herself.

They were teleported to Rosohna, but during the audience in the Bright Queen's throne room they were recognized by Lythir VaSuun, who had escaped from the fight when the Nein first entered Xhorhas. As soldiers began descending and Nott's pleas for her husband's release fell on deaf ears, Caleb produced the dodecahedron from Jester's haversack and offered it to the Bright Queen. The Queen, shocked at the return of the precious artifact, declared the Mighty Nein heroes of the Dynasty. Shadowhand Essek Thelyss, a drow mage, was assigned to them as steward. The group learned some of the history of the Kryn and their side of the war, were given free lodgings in a local inn, and were pointed towards Professor Waccoh for work. Nott was allowed to visit Yeza in the Dungeon of Penance, and the two had a long-awaited reunion where Yeza accepted Nott's new appearance, and Essek granted Yeza his freedom.

Chapter 14: Orphanmaker's Ordeal
The party began exploring the city of Rosohna and met with the eccentric Professor Waccoh, who tasked them with clearing out some giants who invaded a local mine. They learned that the giants were actually driven from their original home by strange demonic creatures, and the party agree to clear out the giant's original home so they can leave the mine. With the help of a stone giant druid called Soorna, the Braan was cleared of demonic creatures and the party found a familiar device is causing the infestation - another Abyssal anchor, like the one from Asarius.

The party rested for the night and Yasha received a cryptic dream of a red-skinned demonic figure standing over the bodies of Yasha's loved ones. In another dream, Yasha saw a vision of the Stormlord, who told her she needed to fight against the chains that bound her. Afterwards, Yasha told the group about her marriage to Zuala, how it angered her clan and how she ran away at Zuala's capture. She also shared that she doesn't remember anything afterwards, having a gap in her memory.

Jester scryed on the owner of a piece of cloth Beau found caught in the Abyssal anchor and saw a blond Zemnian man plotting some kind of meeting at the "Overcrow" in thirteen days. The group later learned that the Overcrow Apothecary was operated by Maruo and hid residuum supplies.

The Nein returned to Rosohna and got their rewards. That night, Fjord received another dream from Uk'otoa demanding he return to the Menagerie Coast and release him, and Fjord woke up temporarily without his magical abilities as punishment. Den Thelyss gifted them a house which they dubbed the Xhorhaus. Through Sending, Shakäste agreed to take Luc and Old Edith south to Nicodranas and safety. Through Scrying, Jester witnessed a royal meeting with King Dwendal of the Dwendalian Empire discussing upcoming military and assassination attacks, which they shared with the Bright Queen. She asked them to bring her the person appearing for the meeting at the Overcrow, but in the ensuing confrontation, he escaped. They learned his name was Obann and that he apparently recognized Yasha.

The party traveled through the Barbed Fields (encountering a roc at the Arbor Exemplar) to Bazzoxan in pursuit, into a subterranean tomb, the King's Cage. Deep within, they finally caught up with Obann performing a ritual to release The Laughing Hand from his sarcophagus. In the ensuing battle, Obann called on his apparent prior link with Yasha and succeeded in bringing her under his control. He was then seemingly killed, but the Laughing Hand escaped with Yasha.

Chapter 15: Against the Chains
That night, back in Bazzoxan, Jester through Scrying saw Yasha perform a ritual returning Obann to life. The Mighty Nein returned to Rosohna and informed the Bright Queen of what had happened in the King's Cage. They learned that the series of attacks and Volstrucker assassination attempts that they had seen planned via Scrying and warned the Kryn Dynasty about had indeed taken place and been thwarted, thanks to their information. The Kryn captured and had imprisoned one of the assassins, but when Caleb interviewed her, it was no one he recognized.

When they returned to The Xhorhaus, Dairon and Beau agreed Dairon would stay at the house as the party's "housekeeper" in their absence. The party used Teleportation Circle to visit Nicodranas and reunite Yeza with Luc. Essek then Teleported them to Kravaraad to pursue Caduceus's dream of reforging the sword pieces he had acquired, where they encountered the Dust family and learned that the master forger Dulgrim Smeltborne apparently still resided in the city of Uthodurn. Caduceus realized he needed refined residuum crystals to continue his family's quest.

That night, Fjord had a vision of Uk'otoa threatening to again take away his powers unless he returned to the Menagerie Coast to complete the return of the last of the three Cloven Crystals to the final lock binding him. Fjord, alone, tried to bargain by slowly driving his blade into his chest, and when that failed, throwing it into the molten center of the Cinderrest Sanctum, leaving him seemingly free of Uk'otoa but without magical powers.

The party traveled to Uthodurn, learning that while Dulgrim Smeltborne was dead, his son Umagorn would be able to reforge the blade if he had iceflex, mythril enchanted by the breath of a white dragon. They met Reani, an Aasimar protector, who joined them. Learning of a white dragon named Gelidon, they briefly teleported to Rosohna so that Essek could Teleport them directly to Mythburrow, its lair. They managed to entice Gelidon to breathe on the mythril and succeeded in changing it to iceflex. Through the use of Tiny Hut as a dragon-proof bunker, they were able to retrieve the iceflex ingot and escape back to Uthodurn.

There, Caduceus acquired refined residuum crystals. They escorted Umagorn back to the forge at Kravaraad where he successfully reforged Dwueth'var. Fjord received another vision from The Wildmother and accepted her charge to become her paladin. Caduceus cast his residuum into the forge's magma where it was transformed into purple crystals that had grown roots, fulfilling the first part of his vision under the Arbor Exemplar.

Saying goodbye to Reani, they return to Rosohna where Caleb again interviewed the captured Scourger, and was attacked when she suddenly broke her chains. Dairon told them the mysterious blond man they'd seen in their Scrying was Vence Nuthaleus, the annex of Ludinus Da'leth. The next morning, they teleported to Nicodranas, where Jester, Scrying, witnessed Yasha taking part in a massacre at the Zadash chapter of The Cobalt Soul.

They traveled via horses back north to Zadash, where research gained them knowledge of The Angel of Irons Cult and of two fallen former champions of the Betrayer Gods: The Laughing Hand and Jourrael. Jourrael's head and heart were separated and hidden in Veluthil and the Lotusden Greenwood. Obann was seeking to reunite them and had already recovered the head, and when Jester Scryed on Yasha, she saw her in the Lotusden. They had Essek teleport them there to attempt to abort Obann's plans, but failed, and returned to Rosohna to regroup. Somewhat at a loss, they teleported back to Nicodranas where they learned that Yussa Errenis had disappeared into the Happy Fun Ball. Yussa's assistant Wensforth called on Yussa's friend Allura Vysoren for aid, and she urged the party to enter the Heirloom Sphere to rescue Yussa.

Within the Sphere, they encountered the soul of an ancient mage named Halas entrapped in a ruby, and succeeded in rescuing Yussa and destroying the Permaheart which maintained the undying nature of the Laughing Hand. On their return, Allura and Yussa determined that The Angel of Irons Cult was actually a front for Tharizdun. Yussa sent Halas's soul ruby into another plane for safekeeping.

The Mighty Nein returned to Zadash where they were attacked in The Invulnerable Vagrant by the Inevitable End. For safety, they slept that night in the Gentleman's lair, where Jester confronted him and he admitted he is her father. Beau drunkenly admitted to Nott that she has a crush on Jester. They retrieved Astrid's response to Nott and Jester's letter from which invited them to visit her in Rexxentrum. When Pumat Sol Scryed on Yasha, he saw her, Obann, Jourrael, and the Laughing Hand in Rexxentrum as well. The party and Pumat teleported there in pursuit, and in the ensuing battle in the Chantry of the Dawn, succeeded in freeing Yasha, destroying Obann and the Laughing Hand, and releasing Jourrael, who disappeared.

They were taken before the King and his court, including Trent Ikithon. Allura told the King that the Kryn Dynasty had agreed to halt their attacks given the seriousness of the threat posed by Tharizdun, and the King agreed to peace talks, including the return of the stolen Luxon Beacon, putting the Mighty Nein in charge of making the arrangements.

Chapter 16
At their request, Ludinus Da'leth escorts them to inspect the Empire's Luxon Beacon at the Vergesson Sanatorium, where they also speak to Trent Ikithon and Eodwulf. The beacon appears to be genuine. Returning to Rexxentrum, Fjord, Beau, and Yasha do some pit fighting and re-meet Darrow Allocke. Caleb goes to visit Astrid, who while sorry that he was broken by his training, believes her work is necessary to the Empire. Yasha reads her Book of Gainful Exercise and gains a plus 1 to her strength.

They return to Rosohna where Essek Thelyss tells them of the capture of Adeen Tasithar, who appears to have been the traitor who gave away the beacons to the Empire, although his mind seems to have been tampered with when the party visits him in prison. The Bright Queen agrees to peace talks in four weeks at sea in the Lucidian Ocean, including the exchange of the prisoners Vence Nuthaleus and Adeen, and the return of the beacon.

That night, Essek comes to dinner at the Xhorhaus. They share information and he agrees to help research the Transmogrification spell to restore Nott to her halfling form. Eventually he, Caleb, and Nott are successful and Caleb begins the ritual, only to be balked when a curse lingering on Nott blocks the spell. They realize that the woman who cursed Nott and who promised Beau's father riches are the same person, and return to Zadash where they learn her name is Isharnai.

The next morning, they set out for Kamordah, Beau's hometown. There, Beau has a tense meeting with her parents and meets her baby brother Thoreau Junior ("T.J.") for the first time. They then travel to Isharnai's hut, where in one-on-one interviews with most of the party members they learn she feeds on misery and is seeking more. Jester short-circuits this by giving her a cupcake laced with the Dust of Deliciousness and using Modify Memory to trick her into lifting the curse blocking Nott's restoration. They hurry away and teleport back to Rosohna, where Essek transports them to the Whitedawn Lagoon to pursue the fate of Caduceus's family.

While they are traveling through the jungle, Jester is visited by The Traveler, who admits he is actually Artagan, admits he is out of his depth in this whole being-a-god thing, and asks her help for TravelerCon. The rest of the party agrees, with reservations. When they reach the Menagerie Oasis, they discover Caduceus's missing family, along with the Stone Family who tend the shrine, have all been turned to stone by a mutated gorgon. They kill the gorgon, restore many of the people, and Caduceus has a reunion with his family. He and his sister Calliope drop their residuum crystals in the pool there, transforming them into the final form Caduceus saw in his vision. The party Teleports the Clays to Uthodurn where Reani agrees to escort them back to the Blooming Grove. The party then Teleports to Nicodranas.

There, they re-unite with Orly Skiffback and the rest of the crew of the Ball-Eater. The Empire's armada is preparing to sail to the peace talks. Spying with Frumpkin, they learn that a supposed Nicodranian lord, Dezran Thain, is actually Essek Thelyss in disguise, and that he is the traitor who gave the beacons to the Empire and is working in concert with Ludinus Da'leth. Caleb successfully casts Transmogrification to restore Nott to her true form as halfling Veth Brenatto, and she joyously reunites with her husband and son. Later, they attend a formal party at the home of Marquis Zhafe Uludan where they kidnap Essek in his "Lord Thain" disguise back to their ship, and he admits he is the traitor. While Caleb is prepared to forgive him, Beau and Veth are not.

The next morning, they leave aboard the Ball-Eater along with the rest of the Armada traveling to the location of the peace talks with the Kryn Dynasty. Several nights out, they are attacked by multiple sea spawn and deep scions, who kill Fjord (and Orly) and attempt to drag away his body before being defeated. Fjord and Orly are successfully revivified and Greater Restoration removes from Fjord's chest the remaining Cloven Crystal, which Caleb puts into his Vault of Amber. At Vess DeRogna's invitation, Beau and Caleb visit her and Ludinus Da'leth on their ship, inspect the beacon (which seems genuine), and are offered work in the north after the talks' successful conclusion.

They reach the rendezvous and the peace talks take place, the beacon is returned, the prisoners are exchanged, and the armadas both sail away.

Chapter 17
The party sets sail for Rumblecusp and TravelerCon, but on the fourth day notice they are being pursued by a dragon turtle. Through some quick thinking and spell slinging, the party escapes and lands safely on Rumblecusp, discovering a small village. Viridian, the leader of the villagers, tells them they must meet and obtain permission for TravelerCon from Vokodo, the fire god that lives beneath the volcano. They travel there together with Viridian, and after Vokodo demands and receives many valuable "gifts", he agrees to allow them to hold TravelerCon as long as the followers of the Traveler brings gifts to him as well. Once outside the lair, Greater Restoration removes Viridian's amnesia and she remembers her true name is Vilya. Deciding that Vokodo must die, they explore the island and discover a second entrance to the lair and a cache of preserved, abandoned ships near the Heaven Falls. The group decides to commandeer the Eden's Horizon and change the name to Nein Heroez. Using Divine Intervention, Caduceus finds out that Vokodo is not from the Material Plane, but actually broke away from the Astral Sea to escape something hunting it. During this process, shards from other planes crashed onto the island, which explains the unnatural waterfall. He then feels a presence watching him intensely and his vision from the Wildmother ends. The Mighty Nein decide to explore the Ruins to see if they can find any useful information about vokodo there. After arriving at the Ruins, the party encounters some shadowy specters, which they proceed to fight off. After finishing their assault, the group explores the towers that surround the Ruins.

Chapter 18
Before leaving Rumblecusp, Yasha asks Orly for a magical tattoo to increase her dexterity. She decides on getting the word "Orphanmaker" inscribed in runes with vines and flowers weaving through the runes. The group then teleport back to Nicodranas to spend some time shopping and a chance for Jester and Veth to catch up with their families while they are still here. The next day, the group, minus Veth, teleport to Rexxentrum to seek out Vess DeRogna and discuss the job offer in Eiselcross.

Name
Upon defeating a gnoll pack that had raided the town of Alfield, the adventurers earned some renown for themselves. The local watchmaster, Bryce Feelid, asked for a group name for their Crownsguard paperwork. After conferring among themselves, the group settled on The Mighty Nein, a nod to Caleb's Zemnian accent.

From an out-of-character context, Liam O'Brien had been using German words and a German accent as a stand-in for Caleb's Zemnian. The rest of the cast picked up on this and would yell "Nein!", the German word for "no", whenever a nine was rolled or referenced. The joke became a running gag over several episodes. When asked to come up with a group name on the spot, nein was the first thing the group landed on, plus mighty for strength.

It has become a running joke that new people the party meet mistake "Nein" for the number nine. They are often confused that the party does not have nine members.

Horses

 * Crapper (left in Felderwin)
 * John (left in Felderwin)
 * Loaf (left behind along the road from Hupperdook to Shadycreek Run)
 * Loo (injured by an ankheg on the outskirts of the Crispvale Thicket, put down after the battle)
 * Toilet (left in Felderwin)
 * Winter's Crest/WC/Water Closet (injured by ankheg on the outskirts of the Crispvale Thicket, put down after the battle)
 * Fernando (let loose on request by Ophelia)
 * Waterloo (let loose on request by Ophelia)
 * Mamma Mia (left in Felderwin)
 * Dancing Queen (left in Felderwin)
 * 5 Unnamed Horses (left at the Xhorhaus as a gift for Essek, though unknown if he took them)
 * Crapper Junior  (killed by acid from geyser in the Cyrios Mountains)
 * John Junior  (killed by acid from geyser in the Cyrios Mountains)
 * Shitter  (killed by acid from geyser in the Cyrios Mountains)
 * Toilet Junior (released in the forest near the Cyrios Mountains disguised as a Moorbounder)
 * Winter's Crest/WC/Water Closet Junior (released in the forest near the Cyrios Mountains disguised as a Moorbounder)
 * Loo Junior (presumed name)  (released in the forest near the Cyrios Mountains disguised as a Moorbounder)
 * Loaf Junior (presumed name)  (released in the forest near the Cyrios Mountains disguised as a Moorbounder)

Moorbounders
The Mighty Nein purchased three moorbounders in Asarius from a livery called Zorth's Pits, run by a goblin named Zorth.
 * Clarabelle (bonded to Caduceus Clay, left in Bazzoxan)
 * Jannik (bonded to Caleb Widogast, left in Bazzoxan)
 * Yarnball (bonded to Jester Lavorre, left in Bazzoxan)

The Mistake (formerly The Mist)

 * The Mighty Nein hijacked The Mist from Nicodranas then renamed the ship The Mistake.
 * The Mighty Nein were forced to abandon The Mistake on Darktow Isle after being expelled from The Revelry.

Ball-Eater (formerly Squall-Eater)

 * The Mighty Nein joined the crew of the Squall-Eater while it was captained by Avantika.
 * The Plank King gave the Mighty Nein Avantika's ship as a reward for uncovering her plot to overthrow him.
 * The Mighty Nein renamed the ship the Ball-Eater before re-entering Clovis Concord territory to prevent it from being recognized as a pirate ship.
 * Fjord handed over command of the ship to their navigator Orly Skiffback when they returned to Nicodranas.
 * Lost by the crew at Rumblecusp. Attacked by dragon turtle. Location and state currently unknown, but Orly Skiffback said it sunk.

Nein Heroez

 * The current ship owned by the Mighty Nein.

Trivia

 * The name "The Mighty Nein" was chosen due to a combination of the party's unlucky streak of rolling 9's for attack rolls, damage rolls, and ability checks, Caleb's German accent, and the party's joy in Liam saying the German word nein.
 * The name may also be a reference to the 2016 video game "Mighty No. 9", whose voice cast included Matthew Mercer as Pyrogen (Mighty No. 1), Steve Blum as Countershade (Mighty No. 8), and Yuri Lowenthal as Beck (Mighty No. 9).
 * None of the religious members of the Mighty Nein follow the approved deities of the Dwendalian Empire. Jester worships the Traveler, Molly worshipped the Moonweaver (he publicly worshipped the Platinum Dragon as a front), Caduceus and Fjord worship The Wildmother and Yasha worships the Stormlord. Though Beau is nominally tied to the worship of The Knowing Mistress (a state-approved deity) as a Monk of the Cobalt Soul, Beau has only expressed interest or faith in her once.
 * In Episode 8, Nott informs Jester that she never knew her age, since goblins don't celebrate birthdays, but that she is between 6 and 9 years of age - an "almost grown goblin." Caleb declares that today - Miresen (turns out to be the 21st of Sydenstar 826 P.D.) - is Nott's ninth birthday "Congratulations," Caleb says, "today you are a mighty nine"
 * Nott saying she is somewhere in between 6 and 9 years old may be a reference to a sexual act as Sam Riegel (Nott’s actor) can be childish with humorous intent when it comes to those kinds of things.
 * Nott’s age could also be a reference to Scanlan’s starting age in the first campaign which was 69.
 * Later in the same episode, while the group is bedding down for the evening, Fjord rolls a nine on a perception check to group giggles. The DM responds "Your mighty nine allows you to keep an eye out..."
 * Every magic user of the Mighty Nein can cast the spell Disguise Self.
 * Caduceus Clay can cast Disguise Self once per short rest with the firbolg racial ability Firbolg Magic. When casting the spell with this ability, Caduceus may appear three feet shorter instead of one foot shorter, like the spell normally allows.
 * Fjord has the Eldritch Invocation Mask of Many Faces, allowing him to cast Disguise Self at will.
 * Jester Lavorre always has Disguise Self prepared as one of her Trickery Domain spells.
 * Nott chose Disguise Self as one of her Arcane Trickster spells.
 * Caleb Widogast has Disguise Self in his spellbook as a Wizard spell.
 * All of the Mighty Nein contrast heavily with the players' previous characters:
 * Fjord is very intelligent but one of the weaker members of the Mighty Nein, whilst Grog had low intelligence and was the muscle of Vox Machina. Also, as a Warlock, Fjord casts quite a bit of magic in addition to his melee combat, in contrast to Grog's complete lack of magic.
 * Beauregard is a self-admitted cynic with no qualms about hurting innocent people if it's necessary and adamantly refused to accept the Way of the Cobalt Soul until she was beaten into accepting. In contrast, Keyleth was an idealist who was traumatized when she accidentally killed an innocent child and happily set off on her Aramente. Both have poor social skills but Keyleth was socially awkward whilst Beau is just abrasive.
 * Caleb is a pure magic user while Vax was mostly a physical fighter. It is referenced a lot in the first campaign that Vax has no arcane knowledge in the beginning, while Caleb as a wizard has much arcane knowledge. Vax made himself look presentable, while Caleb actively works to cover himself in dirt and mud. Vax spent his entire life with his sister, while Caleb's closest friend in the party is Nott who he only met comparatively recently. Vax regularly ran straight into danger with no problem risking his life for his friends, while Caleb always hangs back away from danger and considers himself to be a coward.
 * Nott is a huge contrast to Scanlan. Low charisma, awful singing, constantly nervous and jumpy where Scanlan projected confidence, and a goblin when Scanlan hated goblins for killing his mother (although Nott also hates goblins). Scanlan hated Trinket the bear, while Nott - as a pickpocket - loves trinkets.
 * Vex was a smart and serious member of Vox Machina often coming up with plans and strategies while Jester acts ditzy and is a prankster. While Vex had difficulty trusting people growing up, Jester is an optimist who feels it's always better to trust someone even if they're obviously deceiving you. Jester is also less concerned about money than Vex was, having grown up being spoiled by her rich mother and having little understanding of how difficult earning coin was whereas Vex lived in the woods, worked hard for every coin she earned and was an expert haggler when it came to prices.
 * Mollymauk had only slightly above-average intelligence whereas Percy was the smartest member of Vox Machina. Percy placed importance on politeness, moderation and appearing noble whilst Mollymauk was ostentatious, shameless and revelled in being chaotic. Molly was a melee fighter with some ranged spells whilst Percy was a ranged fighter with some melee capabilities. Percy sought revenge on those who harmed him and destroyed his family in the past; Molly had completely forgotten his past, permanently living in the moment and not wanting to know what happened. Molly was also genuinely nice despite coming off as untrustworthy, whereas Percy appeared straightforward but harbored a dark side and didn't always care about collateral damage.
 * While Mollymauk based his life around excess and hedonism, Caduceus Clay has lived a sheltered life based around healthy living and far removed from the influence of vice. Whilst Molly dealt increased damage from his blood hunter abilities, Caduceus' main talent lies in healing. While Mollymauk evaded death once by clawing his way out of his own grave, Caduceus ran a graveyard and had been taught his whole life about the natural state of death.
 * Yasha is a Barbarian and pure physical brawler, a huge contrast to Pike's role as the group's healer. Yasha is also very closed off and blunt, where Pike was friendly and extremely kind. Yasha is one of the party's tallest and strongest members, Pike was a tiny gnome. Also, Pike used divine magic and worshiped Sarenrae the Everlight a goddess all about redemption and healing, whilst Yasha is a fallen aasimar which are a group whose inner light has been replaced by shadow and a follower of The Stormlord a god all about strength and fighting.
 * Several members of the Mighty Nein go by names other than their birth names.
 * Jester was born Genevieve Lavorre, but chose "Jester" as a Virtue Name.
 * Nott was born Veth Brenatto, but was given the name Nott upon becoming a Goblin.
 * Caleb was born Bren Alric Ermendrud, but took a variety of aliases while hiding from Trent Ikithon, with "Caleb" being the last.
 * Mollymauk acquired his name after waking up in a grave with no memory of his past, and was previously known as Lucien and Nonagon.
 * Fjord was given the last name "Stone" by the headmaster of the Driftwood Asylum, but commonly just tells people that he has no surname.