Critical Role Review: Campaign 2 Episode 10

By: I.Am.No.Man

Missed last week's review? Find it here!

Episode 10: Waste and Webs

[arve url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0rx28wgA4E&t=14256s" /]

Recap

The Mighty Nein adventure into the sewers! The group track down the sewer beast they were contracted to kill. After interrogating a guard who had encountered the monster before, the group learns they may have bit off more than they can chew. With an air of caution, they quietly begin to explore the sewers where the creature was last seen. They find signs of struggle and blood in the muck at the bottom of the sewer. Following the trail, the group begin to see thick, sticky webbing lining the walls and several small, moving piles of refuse and garbage.

Beau investigates the moving trash heap a little closer and disturbs the giant sewer poop rat underneath the matted shell of garbage and excrement. The Nein battle the most disgusting battle yet, fending off the poisonous bites and stink clouds these rats exude. After easily handling the walking fart rats, Jester takes a moment to heal her companions and take stock of the situation. The group agrees to continue their mission and move further into the sewers.

The walls and ceiling begin to become more thickly coated in webs and debris the further the group travel. Around one corner, the group encounters several webbed up masses hanging from the walls. Caleb uses his unseen servant, Schmitt, to investigate the webs a little closer and finds several guards in armor dead and sucked dry. As Caleb investigates, Fjord and Nott keep an eye out behind them for any movement. Fjord is caught off guard when an enormous, previously invisible, spider appears just in front of him and sinks its fangs deep into his torso.

Nott’s screams of terror alert the rest of the group to Fjord’s danger and they unleash a fury of attacks on the pale, fanged monster. The group struggle to land hits on the invisible spider and Fjord nearly falls after multiple bites from the poisonous fangs. Mollymauk screeches an infernal vicious mockery at the monster and causes it to fall to its death before them.

After the monster is defeated, Beau and Jester discover a still alive Halfling unconscious in one of the webbed cocoons. Quickly resuscitating him, they question him about how he ended up trapped in the spider’s web. He is hesitant to answer at first, but once Nott uses her rogue’s knowledge to earn the smuggler’s trust, he tells them of his misadventures. Satisfied that they have saved his life, they let the Halfling leave in peace and he disappears into the bowels of the sewers.

The Mighty Nein secure the giant spider’s body and ransack the lair for loot. Dragging the corpse behind them, they return to their contractor and collect their handsome reward of 700 gold.

Spending the evening to celebrate, the group enjoy a night of drinking in each other’s company when Fjord and Beau are approached by a familiar face. A dwarf who was a part of the Underground resistance meeting Fjord and Beau wandered into greets the two friends again. He tells them he has been watching them and asks for their aid in the Resistance’s cause. Though a bit reserved, Beau agrees to stop by the meeting tomorrow to see if they can be of any help.

Review

Not so bad for an interlude action episode! This episode is a rather exciting side quest for our heroes while more of this world gets fleshed out. I thought the pre-boss warm up fight was actually really great. Usually I get bored with the distraction before the fight, but the humor and the nasty description of the sewer rat carnage was amazing. It reminded me of playing Mice and Mystics and smashing the hell out of caustic roaches and undead zombie rats.

The main monster fight was and exiting little tiff for the group to stretch their new level 3 legs. It was fun to see their new level-up abilities in action. I like the balance between making the fight fun, but difficult enough to knock a few party members off their feet. We all know death in Dungeons and Dragons is rarely permanent, but playing at low levels without access to resurrection rituals feels much more dangerous.

The last half hour of the episode kind of wandered off for me. I am not yet 100 percent invested in this whole political uprising story line, but I’m sure something exciting will happen next episode to pique my interest. The character building has been really fun the last few episodes and it’s really exciting to get hints dropped here and there. I am still waiting for Caleb’s insanely dark backstory to come to light. I don’t think Liam is capable of playing anyone without a tragic, dark back story.

Side note: The new camera angle was INCREDIBLE this week. I loved the close up view of the maps and battle field.

Episode 11 review is up, and you can find it here!