Ghosts, Dinosaurs, and Stuff

is the one hundred second episode of the second campaign of Critical Role.

Previously on Critical Role
''So, last we left off, the Mighty Nein had made their way toward Rumblecusp to prepare for the coming day of TravelerCon. Upon arriving at the strange island and noticing a strange mist and a dream-like quality to elements of its unexpected topography, you encountered a village of individuals there from all over Exandria that had a difficult time recalling their pasts but seemed exuberant and happy with their current-day lifestyle here on the island, worshiping a fire entity, a god, if you will, that existed within Rumblecusp's volcano itself.''

You, after meeting with and staying the night with these individuals, learned a little bit about their culture, learned a little bit about the mystery of where they may have come from, and what they do not know or recall, and you chose to go ahead and travel on foot through the jungle path to meet with this Vokodo, this fire god of the island, to ask permission to bring the Traveler and the various other Traveler followers to the island, and you are being accompanied by the spiritual guardian of the village and the people there, Viridian, a druid figure that seems to be the protector of the people there.

''You've traveled extensively for hours through the jungle, passed by various dangers, watched as the landscape itself grew darker and strangely colder, dark pits filling the space between the heavy root network and dark tar-like liquid, which most of you managed to avoid. Caduceus, had no so much luck twice in a row, falling into the jaws of the creatures that existed within. But, pushing deeper into this darker-shaded portion of the jungle, and learning about different elements of the island itself, being an odd jigsaw puzzle of places that probably shouldn't exist on an island, let alone this one, you came across the sound of something creepy, almost like a sobbing sound in the distance. Upon going to investigate, Beauregard quietly threw some ball bearings towards the source of this creature, and then decided to join it in its sorrow, upon which it seemed a bit perturbed by your presence, and began to make itself very aggressively known. And that is where we left off.''

Part I
Roll initiative!

The specter (a somewhat modified bodak) is face-to-face with Beauregard, with the others all still back a bit. In addition, three will-o'-wisps rise out of the scattered tarry pools and drift toward Fjord, Yasha, and Caduceus, inflicting lightning damage on each of them. Beau fails her constitution saving throw against the specter's Gaze of Orcus, is abruptly dropped to zero hit points and is unconscious, but succeeds on her first death save. Fjord immediately runs over and uses two points of Lay on Hands to bring her back to consciousness, followed by Yasha using Healing Hands on Beau for twelve additional hit points.

The specter wounds Fjord significantly with its Scornful Glare, but Jester's Turn Undead kills two of the wisps and sends the bodak moving away until an attack by the unaware Viridian ends it. Veth casts Brenatto's Voltaic Bolt for additional lightning damage on her crossbow shot at the specter. After Beau hits it repeatedly, Fjord's Banishing Smite and attack with Dwueth'var get the How do you want to do this?. The remaining will-o'wisp is also quickly dispatched by Fjord.

Eyes of the Grave discovers no more undead nearby, so Jester heals Beau a bit. Viridian states that she's never seen a specter this far south - their normal territory is about two days journey north. Still seriously wounded, Beau asks Yasha to carry her and Yasha agrees, to Jester's (and Beau's) delight. Viridian is able to lead the party through the area of tar pools and out of the Shaded Tangle with no further damage.

As the temperature rises, insects attack the party, and Jester becomes diseased after Caduceus fails to convince the insects not to bite (although Viridian is unaffected by them). Fjord uses Lay on Hands again to cure Jester, and during a short rest, privately suggests to her that she might be able to use her ability to cure diseases to bring back Viridian's memories. She suggests talking to Caduceus. Jester is worried that Viridian seems to have many of the same powers that the Traveler does. Fjord gently suggests to her that possibly the Traveler is using her to help himself in becoming a god.

When Fjord approaches Caduceus, he wants to Commune first. The Wildmother confirms that Vokodo is what's causing their constant sensation of being watched, that he is what causes the people of the island to forget, and that Caduceus has the magical power to restore their memories.

Just then, they hear the approaching sound of breaking branches and movement. Caleb uses Major Image to hide the party behind a screen of foliage and they watch as a draegloth, a native of the Underdark, runs past pursued and then eaten by a massive tyrannosaurus rex. They crouch tensely behind their magical foliage as it turns searching for more prey, and as it seemingly moves toward them, Caduceus uses Thaumaturgy to create the sound of creatures moving away from them. The T. rex charges toward the sound, eventually moving off.

They reach the base of the mountain at dusk, but Viridian tells them that Vokodo never rests. Before they enter, Fjord casually puts a hand on her shoulder and casts Lay on Hands, but there is no effect and Viridian is puzzled by his action. She shares that she is immune to poisons. They enter the tunnel leading toward Vokodo's lair and plunge within.

The Mighty Nein

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

New

 * Vokodo

Returning

 * Viridian

Quotations

 * Caduceus: (to the swarming insects) Hey, do you all mind for a little bit? I'm sure that there's other things to eat, and honestly, we're probably bad for you. We're from way far away. I mean-- (He gets bitten on the forehead) All right, apparently we have to agree to disagree.
 * Vokodo: “I have sensed you since you found paradise. You come to look upon the center of the world and kneel.”