Homeward Bound

is the forty-ninth episode of the second campaign of Critical Role. The Mighty Nein dock in Nicodranas and reenter the Empire, finding secrets waiting for them in Felderwin...

Pre-Show
The cast is already in "top form" tonight, if you couldn't already tell.

Announcements

 * First, we have two wonderful sponsors tonight:
 * Beginning with our continued friends into the New Year: D&D Beyond!
 * Last week, Sam kicked off his campaign to be elected President of D&D Beyond. There are lots of big things planned throughout the year, but Sam is taking a week off from campaign events. Instead, Sam spent most of the week making an infomercial for D&D Beyond. Sam did all the filming, editing, and music. It's a really cool piece that talks about all the great features of D&D Beyond, how it streamlines gameplay, and how you should all go subscribe to dndbeyond.com right now. Sam hands the flash drive with the infomercial to Producer Max. Sam thinks the Critters will like it, but Sam is an auteur, so try not to be too critical. Sam tells Max to play the video on the flash drive, and a video plays of Sam singing while he brushes his teeth. Sam says that was not the right video. He claims it was a "technical glitch" and tells Max to play the next video in the folder: he's sure that one is probably the infomercial. A disgusted cast begs Max not to play it. Footage plays from a home security camera of Sam begging his kids to be let back into the house. Sam is so embarrassed. He tells Max the infomercial is probably in the other file folder: the one labeled "Sam Awesome Stuff". Max plays a video from that folder: Sam's audition for the role of Joel in the mov...err, video game "The Last on Us". Sam interrupts and insists the folder should be "Sam Awesome Stuff 2019", not "Sam Awesome Stuff 2012". C'mon, Max: get it right and play it! A video plays of Sam, naked in bed, giving Liam a goodnight message (a la Amber Heard). Sam apologizes: that was something he sexted to Liam, that should NOT have been released to the public! The infomercial was supposed to talk about how affordable D&D Beyond is, how you can get your content and your campaign guides all in one place, and it really is a great service for DMs and players alike! As an "apology", Sam thinks it's safe to play all the rest of the videos in "Sam Awesome Stuff 2019", to which the cast fervently shouts, "NO!" Max proceeds to play videos of Sam doing a striptease, Sam still locked out of his own house, Sam skydiving, and Sam belly-dancing. Now that Sam thinks about it, the infomercial was on the OTHER flash drive...the one he left at home. Sam apologizes to Max: this one's on Sam. He apologizes to D&D Beyond...please subscribe now. Liam insists that was still "awesome stuff", though. Travis can't unsee any of that. Marisha tells Travis not to lie: he's got a "halfer". Travis admits that he is doing the forward lean. Matt thought he felt something under the table. Matt thanks D&D Beyond for being our fantastic sponsor in spite of Sam Riegel. Liam asks to double-check that they are still sponsoring the show? Sam confirms that they have immediately cancelled their contract.
 * Our second sponsor tonight: our friends at Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms!
 * Sam is NOT doing this intro. For those not familiar with Idle Champions, it is a D&D "stragedy" video game that brings a variety of popular D&D characters together for the first time into one world. You can play it on PC, Steam, mobile (iOS *and* Android), and apparently now on Xbox and PS4. You have characters ranging from Drizzt Do'Urden to Arkhan (who you saw here on Critical Role). Travis excitedly asks if Matt means Arkhan "The Cruel"?!? Matt confirms it is THE Arkhan the Cruel: the scourge of both Vecna and Vox Machina. Travis dreamily states, "He's so cruel..." There's 200 unique quests based on official D&D content, like "Waterdeep: Dragon Heist" and "Curse of Strahd". It's all at critrole.com/idlechampions.
 * On Wednesday, January 23, 2019 at 5:00 pm PST on the Critical Role Twitch channel, tune into the first Pub Draw: the new creative series featuring art lessons from our fantastic friend of the Critical Role family Babs Tarr, as she teaches Marisha and other Critical Role members how to draw...and you as well, as you can follow along and do your own artwork!
 * Between the Sheets is coming back very soon! The first episode of Season 2 airs on Monday, January 28, 2019 at 7:00 pm PST at twitch.tv/criticalrole. Marisha applauds all the new content. Matt says the whole next season of Between the Sheets is awesome, so he's looking forward to it!
 * This weekend (January 18-20, 2019) at Gallery Nucleus in Alhambra, CA, we have The Art of Exandria art show. Travis is terrified to realize that's tomorrow! The cast has wanted to do an art show for so long, and this is the first time they've actually been able to get it done! They saw pictures today of the set-up, and it looks amazing. Over 50 pieces of art from the fantastic Critical Role fan art community will be on display there. If you're in the area, come check it out, hang out, and run into other Critters. It looks to be a lot of fun this weekend, so Matt hopes to see you all there! For more details on that, you can go to critrole.com/events.
 * On Saturday, January 19, 2018, we are bringing back most of Vox Machina for our The Search for Grog live show here in Los Angeles, CA. Liam asks what does Matt mean? Laura also asks what he means? Marisha warns Matt about spoilers: they don't know yet. Matt apologizes. He tells Liam and all the Critters to watch the last episode of Campaign 1 before coming to the show on Saturday. Liam starts to choke up. The VOD for the live show will be available in February. Check out critrole.com for the announcement and be sure to stay tuned for more info as it becomes available.
 * Liam has one announcement: tomorrow (Friday, January 18, 2019) on Netflix, the new Carmen Sandiego cartoon starts. Mary Elizabeth and Liam play BAD GUYS. Laura cheers for bad guys! It's a gorgeous cartoon: Liam can't wait. The whole thing vomits onto Netflix tomorrow, so check it out. Laura suddenly shouts, "NO!" Laura clarifies that Sam tried to show her a picture of his nipples. YES to Carmen Sandiego, though. Sam doubts that she actually likes Carmen Sandiego. Travis sings, "Where in the World is - NO!" Marisha remarks that everyone has such strong feelings about that song. Matt confirms that we all have strong feelings when it comes to a capella...don't we, Sam?

Previously on Critical Role
"Last we left off: The Mighty Nein - after finishing their journey to the secondary temple of Uk'otoa's sealing - managed to deliver the second of the collected orbs and bring him one step closer to his release.

"You then exited back to your ship, in which another ship was found to be giving chase...apparently notified of your presence from the large geyser that erupted from the ocean, due to the unsealing. A short chase then commenced, leading to a much shorter battle. Taliesin comments, "Thank U, Next"...Travis jokes that Caduceus will have Disadvantage for the rest of the night.]

"But, all said and done: hearing rumors about possible dangers continuing to push deeper into the Empire from the Xhorhasian hordes, you began to make your way back towards the direction of the Empire. Getting your things in order, you have made your way back through the Swavain Islands, and you are just now entering the port of Nicodranas..."

The Mighty Nein

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

New

 * Martinet Lunidus De'leth
 * Vess DeRogna
 * Yussah Errenis
 * Wentsworth
 * Luke

Returning

 * Bryce Feelid
 * Marion Lavorre
 * Nugget
 * Orly Skiffback
 * Marius LePual

Mentioned

 * Trent Ikithon
 * Uk'otoa
 * Yeza
 * Vandren
 * Gustav Fletching