The Mighty Nein Reunited Part 2 – Uk'otoa Unleashed

is the second of the two The Mighty Nein Reunited episodes and the 51st one-shot. The reunion isn't over yet! Picking up several months after the events in Cognouza, our unsung heroes have all started new chapters in their lives. However, when some discover that there are still old chapters yet to be closed, The Mighty Nein must reunite for more stories untold…

Part I
The Mighty Nein begin with combat against Thoonum, the storm giant, and the deep scion servants of Uk'otoa. Kingsley activates his Rite of the Dawn, Beau hits several scions with throwing stars, Veth uses Hypnotic Pattern to incapacitate four of the scions, and Fjord Hexblade Curses then hits the scion mage with multiple Eldritch Blasts. The storm giant slams the temple, causing it to partially collapse and revealing a pit beneath. Yasha rages and draws her new sword, Scaldsaber. Jester casts Earthquake to further collapse the temple, and Thoonum falls on Yasha when she does. The mage attempts to fly down into the pit, but Fjord Counterspells it and the mage falls. Caleb then uses his Stormrider Boots to fly over the giant, dealing lightning damage, and casts Disintegrate.

Kingsley stabs the giant. Beau jumps down into the pit, following the mage, and uses the Belabor to push him against the wall. Veth fires at the giant and casts Brenatto's Voltaic Bolt, then jumps down and joins Beau in the pit. She and Beau both see the sunlight in the temple awakening countless venomous snakes that pour from holes in the walls. Fjord casts Fly with the Star Razor and uses his Relentless Hex to teleport to the mage. Thoonum slams down on the temple again, but while it crumbles, it does not fully collapse. Caleb falls into the temple, but casts Feather Fall to avoid injury. Yasha unfolds her wings and flies down to join most of the rest of the party. Jester runs to Kingsley and prepares to cast Dimension Door. The mage also tries to cast Dimension Door but is Counterspelled again by Fjord. Caleb readies a spell, waiting for Beau.

Kingsley and Jester appear via Jester's Dimension Door and Kingsley attacks the mage. Beau attacks both Thoonum and the mage with her Debilitating Barrage, giving them vulnerability to fire, at which point Caleb casts Widogast's Web of Fire on both. Veth's next shot kills Thoonum, and she further damages the mage. Fjord unleashes more Eldritch Blasts on the mage, who is badly injured. Fjord cannot see the Cloven Crystal anywhere, even after Yasha decapitates the mage. The party and the remaining scions all look through the temple, and the scions locate the crystal first, and place it into a divot on the floor. As runes within the temple begin to shatter, the Mighty Nein notice that the iconography shows images of the Calamity, of a sea serpent attacking navies, and realize this temple is dedicated to Zehir.

Fjord feels the same coldness he had been feeling repeatedly before, and attempts to cast Arcane Gate so the Mighty Nein can leave in pursuit of Uk'otoa, but the spell is canceled by Zehir. Fjord asks the statue of Zehir what it wants, to which Zehir responds that Uk'otoa must be punished. He also notes that Fjord carries the mark of Uk'otoa, but also that of the Wildmother. Caleb telepathically tries to intimidate Zehir, pointing out that Zehir needs help to recapture Uk'otoa. Fjord tells Zehir the truth: he was involved in the breaking of the first two seals, and gave the third crystal away to protect Jester, his love, but came to this temple to prevent the third. Zehir demands a pact to ensure the Mighty Nein truly do intend to go after Uk'otoa, and tells them it comes with a boon. Kingsley immediately expresses interest, but after the party briefly discusses the wisdom of this choice, Fjord says he will do it, as this is his responsibility to deal with.

Fjord approaches the statue of Zehir, which burns a rune into his chest, and asks him whether he will climb the mountain, or embrace the shadow. Fjord says he will climb the mountain. The statue then crumbles, and the hilt of a sword is revealed within it. After a moment, he takes the sword, which is a rapier called the Fang of the Spire King. He apologizes to Jester again, telling her she should never feel this was her fault. The Mighty Nein ask Kingsley about his willingness to make pacts, but Fjord offers the rapier to Kingsley, who gladly takes it.

As the party discusses next steps, Fjord tells them that he can sense Uk'otoa free somewhere in the south Lucidian Ocean. The Mighty Nein debates their options; Caleb can return them to Nicodranas easily, but Kingsley and Jester both have interest in Darktow, and point out that they won't be asked many questions...although they are banned from the island. Jester uses Sending to contact the Plank King Wyatt Maranoss, as she frequently does. He tells her that if she contacts him again, he will slit her throat. The party decides to go to Nicodranas and contact their allies, and hopefully get some rest.

In Nicodranas, they can see the black clouds out above the ocean, and hear chatter that the navy of the Clovis Concord has been mustered to investigate the storm, and that it seems to be centered near Brokenbank. The Mighty Nein decide to find a ship first, and rest afterwards. They consider the two available ships, the Drensala Vis and Ever Onward. After Beau translates Drensala Vis from the Marquesian to mean "Luck of the Mother", the party chooses that ship. They realize they had briefly met Captain Adella previously, and Adella is excited to go into the storm, and quite happy to do so for the fortune that Fjord promises her. She tells the Mighty Nein that they can rest on the ship and leave now, as the storm is about a day's travel. The party agrees.

Caleb flies to Tidepeak Tower as this discussion is occurring and uses his Ring of Telepathy to contact Yussa Errenis. He asks Yussa if he is aware of the storm, to which Yussa responds that he is looking into it. Caleb tells Yussa that the Mighty Nein are well aware of the cause and are going to address it, and he fears they may not come back. He asks Yussa if he has anything that can assist against Uk'otoa, to which Yussa responds that while he has no items greater than those the Mighty Nein already have, he can provide some potions, which Caleb gladly accepts. Yussa tells Caleb he hopes to see him next week. Caleb also picks up a charcuterie plate from Bluud at the Lavish Chateau, on Beau's request. Jester meanwhile messages her mother and tells her to stay with "Papa" due to the potential danger to Nicodranas. Marion responds that she will stay with friends instead. Jester also contacts Yeza on Veth's behalf and tells him to take the campers hiking somewhere on higher ground for the time being.

On the ship, as they sail into the storm, Kingsley knocks on Beau and Yasha's door and asks them about Molly. Yasha tells him that Molly was eccentric, but fun and easy to talk to. Beau is a bit more guarded, and tells him that it seems as though the shards of Lucien's personality all share some similarities. Kingsley admits he is trying to avoid the mistakes made by his predecessors. He tells Beau and Yasha that he sometimes talks to Caduceus about this, and he's gotten some information about Lucien from Fjord, and about Molly from Jester, but wanted more opinions. Beau tells him that all of the entities who had been in his body were very passionate people, and that they all took a lot of influence from those around them, so it is heartening to see the traits from Fjord, Jester, and Caduceus that Kingsley has picked up. Yasha agrees, and tells Kingsley that Lucien went very dark, and Molly often "teetered". Beau encourages Kingsley to be a little selfish, and that his enjoyment of violence and care for the crew are both positive traits in moderation, and assures him that as long as he doesn't hurt Fjord or Jester, she won't hurt him. Kingsley then takes Beau and Yasha's wine, and leaves.

The Mighty Nein awaken before sunrise, having taken a long rest, and notice that the sea is very turbulent around them. They can see other ships and hear cannon fire, and Fjord feels the familiar cold sensation, and thinks he may see Uk'otoa in the distance.

Part II
As they approach the storm and Uk'otoa, Fjord stands at the bow and casts Water Breathing on the Mighty Nein. Jester ritually casts Water Walk, then Control Weather, and stands at the stern. Veth creates another Fluffernutter below deck. Yasha heads to starboard; Kingsley and Caleb join Jester; and Beau joins Fjord. They see the storm and lightning destroy several ships in the distance. As Jester's Control Weather begins to take hold, the storm subsides somewhat into heavy rain. Caleb prepares for combat by casting Fortune's Favor on himself as well as Mirror Image, and Veth casts Intellect Fortress on Fjord. Fjord casts Fly on himself with the Star Razor, and Jester activates her Ioun Stone. As another ship attempts to flee Uk'otoa, the Mighty Nein hear Uk'otoa threaten it and see him sink it. Uk'otoa then surfaces, and the party enters combat.

Uk'otoa summons a massive tidal wave upon the Drensala Vis, dealing considerable damage to everyone and knocking all of the Mighty Nein but Yasha prone. Fjord orders the cannons be fired, attacks one of Uk'otoa's eyes twice with the Star Razor, and Hexblade Curses Uk'otoa. Uk'otoa then slams Fjord and grapples him. Kingsley activates his Rite of the Flame and attacks Uk'otoa's tail, as well as uses Brand of Castigation. He notices that Uk'otoa's eyes flare slightly brighter. Beau then uses her staff to hit Uk'otoa on the head, and finds that Uk'otoa cannot be stunned. With her Flurry of Blows, she learns via Extract Aspects that Uk'otoa is immune to a number of conditions and to acid and poison damage, and is resistant to attacks from non-magical weapons. She relays this to the party. Yasha then rages and jumps from the boat to walk on the water towards Uk'otoa. Her attacks miss, but so does Uk'otoa's attempt to retaliate. Caleb drinks a potion, activates his boots to fly up, and then Shapechanges into an adult blue dragon, outwardly reminiscent of Thelashas. Veth then crits on an attack on one of Uk'otoa's eyes, also using Brenatto's Voltaic Bolt. Jester beseeches the Wildmother on Fjord's behalf and then casts Dawn in a phallic shape, targeting Uk'otoa's tail. Uk'otoa attempts to hit Kingsley, but misses, and takes damage from the brand.

When Uk'otoa tries to move with Fjord, Yasha hits Uk'otoa with an attack of opportunity. Uk'otoa then attacks Beau and Fjord, though he cannot swallow Beau, and the Star Razor deals retaliatory damage. He also hits Yasha, who is plunged beneath the ocean, though she is still able to breathe and walk on water. Uk'otoa's lair action activates, and the winds knock over Jester and terrain above water becomes difficult. Fjord teleports from the grapple with Relentless Hex and uses Cone of Cold to attack two segments of Uk'otoa and freeze the water around them. Kingsley dashes towards Uk'otoa, and attacks one of Uk'otoa's eyes, which dim and then flare again. Beau also attacks an eye successfully. Uk'otoa hits Kingsley with a tail attack, and Kingsley activates Blood Curse of the Eyeless. The cannons are fired, dealing damage to Uk'otoa's body. Yasha uses her Chainbreaker tattoo to cast Thunderclap, which Uk'otoa saves against, and then uses her Zealous Presence, which is able to be heard by everyone but Caleb. Caleb, in dragon form, tries to use Frightful Presence against Uk'otoa but Uk'otoa saves; he also casts Gravity Fissure, which affects both Uk'otoa and Beau. Veth attacks with her Aeorian Security Cannon, and Jester moves Dawn to deal more damage to Uk'otoa, though she also hits Yasha. She then drops Dawn to invoke Duplicity; she now has four duplicates. Uk'otoa attempts to control Fjord, but Fjord saves.

Uk'otoa creates another tidal wave, but only Caleb (in dragon form) saves. Uk'otoa taunts the party, and the eyes become brighter and the air feels electric. Fjord casts Cone of Cold again and teleports so that he is only near one segment of Uk'otoa. However, this fills Uk'otoa's fury, and six lightning bolts strike, each at one party member (except for Caleb). Uk'otoa then hits Kingsley, who hits an eye twice. Caleb tells Beau in Zemnian that he's coming for her, and Beau also attacks an eye repeatedly and gives Uk'otoa lightning vulnerability with her Debilitating Barrage. Yasha too hits an eye with two attacks. Caleb attacks with his lightning breath, and hits two sections for considerable damage. Veth attacks and hits Uk'otoa's body, and Uk'otoa then uses Control Minion successfully on Fjord, who flies over and attacks Jester. Jester maintains concentration, and Fjord snaps out of Uk'otoa's control immediately after. Jester then stands up and casts Mass Heal, bringing nearly everyone back to full health. She tells Fjord not to do that again, hugging him, and he apologizes. The ship's cannons fire again, and three hit Uk'otoa.

Uk'otoa attacks Caleb, but hits one of the mirror images. It then swallows Beau, and hits both Jester and Yasha, though cannot grapple Yasha. The Battering Winds pick up again, making all above water terrain, including in the air, difficult. Fjord casts Arcane Gate to get off the ship. Uk'otoa attacks Jester, who still maintains concentration. Kingsley activates the Fang of the Spire King, and deals considerable damage, scaring Uk'otoa. He also goes through Fjord's Arcane Gate. Beau uses her Cape of the Mountebank to Dimension Door onto the Drensala Vis next to Jester. Uk'otoa then attacks Yasha, who attacks twice back, and holds Uk'otoa so the party can share in a How do you want to do this?. Fjord holds up the Star Razor and calls to Caleb for lightning. Caleb breathes lightning and then turns into a dragon turtle. Fjord casts Eldritch Blast. Kingsley cuts a patch of Uk'otoa's skin off, and Jester casts Inflict Wounds on the tail. Beau uses another Debilitating Barrage to again make Uk'otoa vulnerable to lightning damage. Veth also goes through the gate and throws her Fluffernutter. Uk'otoa begins to sink, but Fjord senses it is not yet over.

Caleb, now a dragon turtle, goes beneath Fjord and begins to take him underwater. With Caleb's help Fjord swims towards Uk'otoa and calls out to Zehir, telling him that Uk'otoa will be sealed again. When Fjord touches Uk'otoa, who has slowly begun to heal, the rune on his chest begins to burn and runes pass through Fjord's arms into Uk'otoa. The two of them sink into the depths as Fjord's armor breaks apart and the ocean boils, until Uk'otoa disappears, and three crystals appear before Fjord. Fjord grabs the crystals and uses Far Step to get out from the crushing depths back to Caleb. Caleb swims them both to the surface. Fjord shows the party the three crystals. Upon inspecting them, it seems as though the cycle of Uk'otoa has begun again. Fjord senses that while Zehir still has a small hook into him, it holds more power than Uk'otoa's pact once did, but the Mighty Nein watch as the Wildmother's vines slowly grow over the rune of Zehir. Fjord then checks on Captain Adella, who confirms the crew are still alive and the ship is seaworthy, though in need of repair. Fjord brings up Stone's Throw Shipping to Adella, who appears interested.

Shortly after this adventure, Fjord deposits one of the new cloven crystals in Vokodo's old lair on Rumblecusp, and gives another to the vaults of the Cobalt Soul. He keeps the third's location secret. Beau assists in ensuring the crystal is indeed secure in the vaults and continues to enjoy her life with Yasha and work closely with Caleb. Yasha learns more from Martina Steward and teaches at the Wildemount Wildlings camp, and finds she is very good with children. Veth's first camp session is a success; while one of the children died briefly, fortunately Jester, as the new Arts and Crafts counselor, was able to resurrect them. Jester opens an art studio next to her and Fjord's home, and names it Dicks and Other Things. She begins to gain renown, particularly as a graffiti artist. She also uses Nolzur's Marvelous Pigments to create more space within her and Fjord's small house.

Kingsley has some of the leather from Uk'otoa's hide worked into something for himself, and gives a small amount to Fjord as well. He continues to visit with Caduceus, as he appreciates that Caduceus doesn't have previous associations with Molly in their interactions. He works with Stone's Throw Shipping until he earns his own ship, at which point he steals it and flees to Darktow. Not long after, the members of the Mighty Nein receive communication that they are no longer banned from Darktow, as Kingsley has become the new Plank King and lifted their sentence.

Fjord unseats Grankton at the Driftwood Asylum and reforms the orphanage, though he keeps the woodshop for legitimate purposes. Beau and Yasha discuss adopting some orphans themselves.

Caleb continues to work closely with Beau and often teleports to have dinner with other members of the Mighty Nein. Not long after this adventure he establishes a regular monthly group visit, in which they all stay at Widogast's Nascent Nein-Sided Tower together for a few nights. He also finally takes an official position at the Soltryce Academy as a transmutation professor, and teaches occasionally at the camp, where Luc Brenatto and one other camper show some arcane promise. However, immediately after he gets back, he continues to teach his private lessons and grow his green beans. Within two weeks of returning to Rexxentrum, he is visited by Essek, who appears in disguise but drops it once he enters Caleb's home. The two kiss.

The Mighty Nein

 * Beauregard Lionett
 * Caleb Widogast
 * Fjord
 * Jester Lavorre
 * Kingsley Tealeaf
 * Yasha Nydoorin
 * Veth Brenatto

Returning
These characters previously appeared in Campaign 2 or any other Critical Role work.
 * Adella
 * Bluud
 * Essek Thelyss
 * Marion Lavorre (via Sending)
 * Thoonum
 * Uk'otoa
 * Unnamed deep scion warlock
 * Wyatt Maranoss (via Sending)
 * Yussa Errenis

New
These characters have not previously appeared in Campaign 2 or any other Critical Role work, though they may have been mentioned
 * Zehir

Mentioned

 * Astrid Becke
 * Avantika
 * Babenon Dosal
 * Caduceus Clay
 * Eadwulf Grieve
 * Grankton, headmaster of Driftwood Asylum
 * Luc Brenatto
 * Lucien Tavelle
 * Ludinus Da'leth
 * Martina Steward
 * Melora
 * Mollymauk Tealeaf
 * Orly Skiffback
 * The Stormlord
 * Yeza Brenatto (appeared via Sending, response not given)

Quotations

 * Zehir (after the last Cloven Crystal was put in place): "Traitorous failure. False god. Foolish pretender. It will not escape punishment. And you, you carry the mark of its chosen. Explain before I bring this temple upon you all."
 * Jester (Sending to Wyatt Maranoss): "Plank King! There's a big god of a serpent named Uk'otoa who just got released. He's going to wreak havoc on everything! We need help!" Wyatt Maranoss: "I've told you time and time again, stop messaging me. I swear, one more time, I'm going to find you. I'm going to cut your throat." Jester: "He said he is going to cut my throat if I do it again, but he says that every time, so."
 * Jester (Sending to Marion Lavorre): "Mama! Nicodranas is in danger, sort of. Can you go live with Papa for a little bit? Just get out of the city, okay? Love you."
 * Jester (Sending to Yeza): "It's Jester. Uk'otoa has been unleashed! Nicodranas is going to perish, potentially. Take the campers, get to high ground! Wilde out!"

Behind the scenes
Because Matt uses Otohan's echo miniatures in this episode to represent Jester's duplicates, both parts of this two-shot were likely filmed after the filming of, in which Otohan first uses her echoes against Bells Hells.