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Headmaster James Cryon[3] is an elf who co-leads the Allegiance of Allsight and heads the Crystal Chateau's program for the arcane arts. As an NPC, James Cryon is played by Matthew Mercer.
Description[]
Appearance[]
When Vox Machina met with Cryon in 811 PD, he cut a tall but distinctively elven figure, with pale skin, and his white eyes had faint golden irises and no pupils. Although he appeared young, his hair was graying: silver, verging on purple. At the time he kept his hair swept back, longer than shoulder-length. He wore white robes with a broad mantle and a cloak; the robe's train dragged a bit, almost ceremonial length. He walked slowly and deliberately.[4]
Personality[]
In 812 PD, Cryon behaved in a condescending manner toward visitors. He was not at all interested in what Vox Machina had to say about the Chroma Conclave threat until Percival de Rolo mentioned the possibility of Cryon gaining access to a source of whitestone rock, at which point Cryon grew interested and deigned to help with discussions of the Vestiges of Divergence, though he frequently returned to the topic of how much money they would fetch if sold. He was especially intrigued by the possibilities of refined residuum. He was firmly opposed to the Allegiance getting involved in political or security matters, and had no interest in helping to fight dragons.[5]
Of the two headmasters who co-lead the Allegiance of Allsight as of 836 PD, Cryon is the less charitable and less popular. His way of pursuing the best interests of the Allegiance is aggressive—not suicidally so, but showing a hunger for power. He is pushy and short with his subordinates, owing to his stern and haughty nature.[6]
Biography[]
"A Traveler's Gamble" (1x66)[]
Headmaster Cryon made Vox Machina wait for half an hour before meeting with them on what they insisted was important business. He gave them 10 minutes of his time, and only became cooperative when the promise of whitestone and especially residuum was proffered. He then expended his daily capacity for casting Identify and answered a number of questions about the Vestiges of Divergence, and expressed an interest in doing business after Vox Machina dealt with the Chroma Crisis—though he had no interest in getting involved himself, and felt that Ank'Harel was quite secure. He curtly declined an offer to assist with the excavation of the Maw of Cael Morrow, and was touchy on the topic of the Den of Druja, which had involved a wayward Allegiance mage.
Critical Role: Call of the Netherdeep[]
For years leading up to 836 PD, Cryon had been focused on uncovering the secrets of Cael Morrow.[7] So that year, when a crisis surrounding Cael Morrow escalated, Cryon became actively involved.
The Allegiance of Allsight's spies learned that the Consortium of the Vermilion Dream had infiltrated their excavation site in Cael Morrow, and that there was a double agent on their archaeological team there. If the player characters (PCs) join the Allegiance of Allsight, Cryon and the other co-leader of the Allegiance of Allsight, Headmaster Alakritos, eventually ask them to help uncover and capture or kill the double agent.[8]
After learning that the Consortium had sent agents to investigate a planar rift in Cael Morrow, Cryon has a disagreement with Alakritos. Alakritos wants to avoid disturbing the rift, but Cryon believes the rift contained a source of power that could help destroy the Allegiance's enemies, the Consortium and the Sentinels of Memory. He arranges a meeting with the PCs without Alakritos's knowledge, and offers the PCs a reward of 1000 gp to find a way to open the rift and confirm whether ruidium can be found on the other side. Alakritos is furious with Cryon, but after the success of the mission, Cryon is delighted and Alakritos accepts that there is no turning back. The headmasters oversee the Allegiance perfecting the creation of ruidium weapons and armor, and they send scouts through the rift into the Netherdeep; only one returns alive, and describes a "sorrowful intelligence" within. The headmasters send the PCs to contact this sorrowful intelligence—Alyxian—and ask for permission to extract ruidium. They offer promotions and hefty rewards, but the mission is doomed to fail.[9]
If the PCs join the Consortium, one heist of the Crystal Chateau's Emerald Ibis Relic Hall (attempting to steal a ruidium-infused Figurine of Wondrous Power) may draw the attention of Cryon personally, flanked by two bodyguards. Cryon is willing to fight if necessary to recover any stolen items, but he won't fight to the death.[10]
Relationships[]
J'mon Sa Ord / Devo'ssa[]
In 811 PD, when Percival de Rolo asked J'mon Sa Ord who they would trust in matters of antiquities like the Vestiges of Divergence, they answered with the name of Headmaster Cryon.[11]
Headmaster Gryz Alakritos[]
During the crisis around Cael Morrow and the Netherdeep in 836 PD, Headmaster Cryon more than once got into arguments with Headmaster Alakritos. The arguments dealt with the wisdom of disturbing the rift to the Netherdeep in hopes of acquiring the power to help eliminate the Allegiance's enemies, and Cryon was even willing to go behind Alakritos's back to ensure the rift to the Netherdeep was breached, to the latter's dismay.[9]
Character information[]
Notable items[]
- A magical item, appearing like a jeweler's loupe, for examining items of a magical nature.[12]
- Sending stone (paired with that of Insight Acuere in the Cael Morrow base camp)[13]
Abilities[]
As an elf, Headmaster Cryon presumably has darkvision, has advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and can't be magically put to sleep. He would meditate four hours a day instead of sleeping.[14]
In 811 PD, Headmaster Cryon demonstrated the ability to cast a spell that created a 25-foot cube of crackling blue energy that blocked wind and sound for the sake of privacy.[15] He could also cast the Identify spell several times.[16]
As of 836 PD, Headmaster Cryon uses the scholarly mastermind statblock, which includes the following abilities:[1]
- Saving throw proficiencies: Intelligence, Wisdom
- Skill proficiencies: Arcana, History, Insight, Perception
- Spellcasting: Requiring no material components, can cast:
- At will: Alter Self, Light, Mage Hand
- 1/day each: Comprehend Languages, Mage Armor, Zone of Truth
- Actions
- Arcane Shock: Melee or ranged spell attack, deals lightning damage and the target can't take reactions until the start of its next turn.
- Dagger of the Poisoned Mind: Melee or ranged weapon attack, deals piercing and psychic damage, and the target must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or be frightened until the end of its next turn.
- Multiattack: Makes two Arcane Shock or Dagger of the Poisoned Mind attacks.
Appearances and mentions[]
- Campaign One: Vox Machina
- "A Traveler's Gamble" (1x66) (first appearance)
- Critical Role: Call of the Netherdeep
Quotations[]
- Percival de Rolo: Do you know of the news of Tal'Dorei and Emon?
James Cryon: I don't really pay attention to matters that far from where we are. I have important things to tend to.[17] - Percival de Rolo: They will come here. They will come here and they will ravage. We've been given the opportunity and the hope of stopping them before they reach your shores.
Vax'ildan: We have ended two of them, and we want to end them all before they come anywhere near these shores.
James Cryon: That sounds like an absolutely remarkable endeavor and I wish you the best of luck.[18] - "A Vestige! I have not seen one in person. Congratulations. That is a very worthy find. There are museums and collectors that would pay quite a penny for such an item."[19]
- "I have not seen anything like this. Not of condensed, purified whitestone. (resists as Percival takes it back) The possibilities of such a substance is intriguing. [...] Should you have any more that you do not require, I am sure I could convince the Allegiance to pay quite a hefty sum."[20]
Trivia[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 See Call of the Netherdeep, p. 81. See also p. 207.
- ↑ See Call of the Netherdeep, p. 81.
- ↑ His surname is spelled Kryon in the transcripts of the Campaign One episode in which he appeared. See "A Traveler's Gamble" (1x66) at 1:29:11. It is spelled Cryon throughout Call of the Netherdeep.
- ↑ See "A Traveler's Gamble" (1x66) at 3:17:25.
- ↑ See "A Traveler's Gamble" (1x66) from 3:13:35 through 3:36:57.
- ↑ See Call of the Netherdeep, pp. 101–103. See also pp. 81 and 109–110.
- ↑ See Call of the Netherdeep, p. 82.
- ↑ See Call of the Netherdeep, pp. 101–102.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 See Call of the Netherdeep, pp. 102–103.
- ↑ See Call of the Netherdeep, pp. 109–110.
- ↑ See "A Traveler's Gamble" (1x66) at 1:28:00.
- ↑ See "A Traveler's Gamble" (1x66) at 3:28:08.
- ↑ See Call of the Netherdeep, p. 126.
- ↑ See D&D: Player's Handbook (2014), 5th ed., p. 21.
- ↑ See "A Traveler's Gamble" (1x66) at 3:19:18.
- ↑ See "A Traveler's Gamble" (1x66) from 3:23:19 through 3:28:08.
- ↑ See "A Traveler's Gamble" (1x66) at 3:20:09.
- ↑ See "A Traveler's Gamble" (1x66) at 3:21:52.
- ↑ See "A Traveler's Gamble" (1x66) at 3:23:36.
- ↑ See "A Traveler's Gamble" (1x66) from 3:28:39 through 3:30:10.
Art:
- ↑ Fan art of James Cryon of the Allegiance of Allsight, by Tyler Walpole ([Call of the Netherdeep, p. 82 source]). Used with permission.