"The Nox Engine" (3x98) is the ninety-eighth episode of the third campaign of Critical Role, recorded from a live performance at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles on 15 June 2024. Bells Hells battle the creeping terror of an unleashed demon, but their own darkest thoughts may prove to be the real enemy...
Synopsis[]
Announcements[]
- Nordverse: The ReVerse returns, with Cryptonic Override and GaleForce69 in search of the Space President. They use the crowd to create a sick beat, drawing her out to dance despite Nord VPN's protections.
Previously on Critical Role[]
So, last we left off, in the long wake of the solstice, Bells Hells find Exandria and their world turned topsy-turvy, as Ludinus Da'leth and his cadre of followers known as the Ruby Vanguard plan to unleash the god-eating entity Predathos that was long sealed in the red moon Ruidus. After traveling to this moon, interacting with its people, and returning with intel on hopes to stop what they're doing, they discover that they've been sourcing ancient, long-buried Aeorian magical technology as part of their plan, and that Ludinus Da'leth is there right now dealing with a strange wrinkle in his plot with the name Dominox.
Bells Hells, escorted by Essek Thelyss, a figure with some experience in the ruins of Aeor, brought them to the strange northern frozen world of Eiselcross, where the very fabric of magic is strange and prone to unexpected apparation subforces. They went to these ruins, delved beneath, discovered that the Ruby Vanguard had been scattered and killed, not by the terrifying denizens of these ancient dark ruins, but by each other in strange fits of almost religious madness, carving glyphs into their flesh. Going towards the basements of the ruins in the center of the Genesis Ward, they come upon a strange chamber where the ancient bodies mingle with the new freshly dead now dangling from blackened hooks and chains grown from the surrounding stone of the crumbled rock. They heard from some of these long-forgotten corpses, asking them questions through magic, hearing of a Nox Engine, hearing that Dominox was once or may still be a grand demon of ancient times, sealed away and harnessed for a nefarious magical purpose within this Nox Engine by the mage lords of Aeor, long ago, recently running rampant upon the Ruby Vanguard.
As they discovered this, some strange visions began to come to them. First Chetney Pock O'Pea being overcome with a mystical vision of a familiar darkened wood of the past and the bloodied faces of children, seemingly called from dark, maybe buried memories, asking why he hurt them, why he killed them. Uncertain if this was real or not, he had to pull himself from the vision before attacking his friends. As they began to collect themselves, searching for the source of this strange dark magic, hoping to either find Ludinus or this Dominox and figure out what or who is the right villain, poor Dorian Storm fell to his own vision. As they pass between these hanging chains, among the corpses he sees the face of his recently deceased brother Cyrus, who looks up at him saying, "Why have you done this to me, brother?
Part I[]
The hanging dead body of Dorian's brother Cyrus continues to accuse and plead with him. Dorian, however, realizes this is not his brother and asks who it really is. As the image of his brother fades, Dorian catches a glimpse of a glowing purple crystal. He tells the others his brother said he was trapped in the machine along with other souls, but all of them are wary this is a trick to get them to release the demon. Imogen casts Detect Thoughts and briefly feels a living entity about 60 feet away behind the left hand door. She also is drawn into a vision of the red storm of her dreams, and sees Liliana, her mother, who accuses her of abandoning her on Ruidus, but Imogen knows immediately this is not true and invites the entity to come out and show itself. Her mother continues to tell her she must destroy the Pinion to stop Ludinus.
The entire group debates whether they should destroy the engine or not. During the discussion, Fearne requests details about the pact she apparently entered, and Teven says her energy is now bound to that of Asmodeus, influencing her fate. When she needs his aid, he might give it, "at a cost." When the group's current mission is complete, he'll be waiting.
They decide to keep exploring, and Imogen suggests the left door. It leads into another ruined chamber that was apparently once used for arcane experimentation. There are two other doors leading from it. They find a reddish scaled cloak with an odd smell in a barrel and Chetney puts it in the Bag of Holding. From one of the doors, Orym hears faint movement and breathing and Imogen senses an anxious consciousness in the chamber behind it. As the group dithers, Dorian walks up and knocks on it, receiving a knock in return, so he opens it. It leads to a large closet with a figure huddled defensively against one wall.
Fan art of Braius, by Hugo Cardenas.[art 1]
Sam Riegel joins the table. He is a very sexually attractive, tall, and muscular minotaur with black fur, badly injured, who tells them his name is Braius. He recognizes Teven Klask immediately, although Teven has no idea who he is. An impressed Braius says that if they're traveling with Teven, he can trust them, and he tells them he's a religious person on a mission to save his god from destruction by vanquishing the one who would unleash ruin upon the gods. As he reveals what he apparently believes will be impressive information, he tells them everything they already know. Braius is very disappointed at the lack of effect, and very evasive when asked who his god is.
Ashton feeds him a health potion and Dorian casts Cure Wounds, helping his injuries, and he tells them he successfully infiltrated the Ruby Vanguard with some others, and they were sent to Eiselcross by Ludinus Da'leth himself. Braius saw Ludinus two days ago but his Vanguard unit was afflicted with madness and attacked each other. As they are talking, Ashton gets a vision of FCG's death scene, with the Aeormaton accusing Ashton of abandoning him, and urging him strongly to find the crystal in the Nox engine and destroy it. Ashton is having none of it.
Laudna returns to the unanswered question of which god Braius serves, and he evasively says that in his youth he served the Platinum Dragon. However, the party decides that at the moment, their interests align sufficiently to make Braius at least a temporary ally, although Teven threatens to cut him down if he steps out of line. Braius tells the party he is the herald champion of his god (without saying which one), although Teven sniffs him disdainfully and announces he is no champion. Braius backtracks that a herald champion is a lower level that performs useful functions but isn't recognized in the same way.
Essek calls them over and points out several porthole-like windows overlooking a sunken chamber with three lower levels and many, many chains. Glowing glyphs on the ground pulse around a 25-foot tall cylindrical machine with a slowly spinning platform holding a pulsing small purple crystal. Chetney recognizes this as the engine room, holding the crystal many of them noticed in their visions. They decide the crystal is probably the Pinion of Service binding Dominox. The only movement in the room is the occasional shift of the chains, and Laudna determines the glyphs are partially containment magic, and partially transmutation for extracting power. The party again tries to figure out what they need to do here-- whether to kill the creature or free it. Ashton urges destroying both the engine and the demon it holds captive.
Suddenly, they notice a small girl standing in the engine room. Laudna asks if she wants to talk and she agrees, admitting her name is Dominox. She complains it is dark and admits she would like revenge, and that she has seen Ludinus. When Laudna admiringly says she did quite the number on his friends, she replies, "I was hungry." She can feel Ludinus is still nearby. Braius casts Bless on several of the group, while Fearne tries Locate Creature on Ludinus but it fails. They head down into the engine room. The smell is of deep fiendish power, the same smell as was on the cloak they found. Dorian clicks his Winged Boots and rises off the ground, while Braius positions himself near Teven. As they enter the room, the door slams and locks behind them. Chetney transforms into his werewolf form.
Fan art of Dominox as the little girl, by Elaine Tipping.[art 3]
The little girl is now above and behind the engine, and she is still hungry, still wants to be freed, and is still angry for the pain and anguish of millennia bound to the engine. She tries to convince them the 7-inch rune-carved purple crystal is what Ludinus seeks, but Fearne senses she is lying and is obsessed with the crystal herself. When Chetney approaches another door, the chains swing out of the girl, hooking him and swinging him off the ground toward her. Braius begins climbing up the tower toward the crystal. As he does, the true form of Dominox begins to apparate around the little girl. Imogen attempts to grab the crystal with Telekinesis but realizes magic from the spires surrounding it is holding it in place. Chetney makes a bargain with the creature to give it the crystal if it will release him from the hook through his body, and Dominox agrees. Released, Chetney leaps but fails, and Dominox fully assumes its true form, picking up Chetney and bringing him to its face to threaten him again.
Meanwhile, Orym quietly attempts to open the massive doors Chetney had been approaching, but the demon's tail notices him and swings to face him. Laudna cast Animate Object on the door and it comes to life.
Break[]
- Bells Hells minis available now.
- Trailer for The Legend of Vox Machina, Season Three, coming October 3rd.
- New episodes of The Re-Slayer's Take podcast release every Monday.
- Critical Role Abridged has new episodes every Tuesday on YouTube. Critical Recap available Wednesdays on CritRole.com.
- Merch Alert! Half-crew socks, tarot sweatshirt and blanket, "For the Queen" game, Bells Hells weapons button down shirt, Dorian Storm camp shirt and dice set in all five CR shops; Dreaded Bloom and "Leave the World Better" t-shirts not in Australia; Shattered Teeth dice set in the US, UK, and EU.
- Daggerheart Open Beta now running. Info at Daggerheart.com.
- Midst Season Three finale next week.
- Candela Obscura Core Rulebook, Candela Obscura Original Soundtrack, Welcome to Tal'Dorei and Welcome to Wildemount albums available now on all digital music platforms.
- Submit fan art and cosplay for possible inclusion in the weekly online gallery.
- Beacon destroys a happy suburban family.
Part II[]
Screenshot of the Engine Room from "The Nox Engine" (3x98).[art 4]
The battle is on. Teven slashes at Dominox, adding Divine Smite for significant damage. As a lair action, however, Writhing Chains snake out, snaring Chetney, Laudna, Fearne, Teven, Ashton, and Imogen and pulling them closer to the creature. It then attacks, clawing Ashton and Imogen for significant damage. Ashton retaliates with their Erratic Defense, teleporting the creature 30 feet in the air above the crystal, which also releases Chetney but slightly hurts Fearne when it falls on her. Dorian cast Shatter at the central spire, shattering the machine and throwing the purple crystal into a corner of the room. The demon uses legendary actions to try to Banish Teven, but Laudna Counterspells. On his turn, Braius admits he is a herald of the Betrayer God Asmodeus and casts Blinding Smite and then uses Divine Smite on two attacks with his flail for significant damage on Dominox.
Laudna, still near the now-animated door, commands it to open and it obeys, revealing a brass hallway. Since Dominox didn't want them in it, they decide to see what's down it, but when Laudna starts in she sees a humanoid figure at the other end which she identifies as Ludinus Da'leth rushing toward her. When he sees her, he stops, saying urgently, "What have you done? What are you doing? We have to stop it now." At a loss for words, she babbles something about the demon and Ludinus tells her not to let it free. In frustration, he says he'll take care of it. However, she screams to the others to release Dominox. Teven sternly tells them they'll do no such thing.
Fan art of wombat-Fearne with the Pinion, by ZioCorvid.[art 5]
Fearne uses her Wild Shape to turn into a mint green wombat, evading Dominox's attack of opportunity, and scampers to the crystal, putting it into her pouch. Chetney Misty Steps to where the crystal was but finds only a wombat who gives it to him and he shoves it in the Bag of Holding. Essek casts Lightning Bolt and discovers the demon is resistant to lightning damage. Ashton rolls a Gravity rage and attacks the engine twice, drawing a missed legendary action attack from the demon. Imogen uses Telekinesis on Chetney, throwing him across the room to the open door at the other end where he collides with Ludinus. However, Dominox gets yanked with him, apparently tethered to the Pinion of Service Chetney now carries. Imogen Misty Steps backward.
Fan art of Ludinus casting Gate, by Melissa Hahn.[art 6]
Teven attacks Dominox full on again and hits twice for massive damage. Totally confused about the group's strategy, Orym drinks a potion of speed and starts in on the demon, using his hasted attacks and an action surge, and doing massive damage while goading the creature. The demon unleashes a second lair action then goes after Orym, bringing him close to unconsciousness with two massive claw attacks, then uses his Mind Feast against Ashton. Ludinus finally gets into the room and casts a Gate into the Abyss, shouting at the others to push the demon into it. Dorian casts Otto's Irresistible Dance on the creature, aided by the save being changed to Charisma by Braius, who then casts Moonbeam against Ludinus and uses his hammering horns against Dominox to push the creature through Ludinus' Gate and into the Abyss. Still confused, Laudna decides to cast Spirit of Death in the form of Vess DeRogna at Ludinus, then Counterspells his Counterspell to have the spirit haunt him. Chetney, in the hallway, casts Invisibility on himself. Essek casts Gravity Fissure on Dominox, still at the edge of the Gate, drawing the wreckage from the room at the demon, crushing him slightly. Ashton does more damage to the engine and brings it to a halt, while Ludinus uses a legendary resistance to avoid a Telekinesis from Imogen and then takes quarter damage from her Lightning Bolt.
Teven rushes to the gate and hits Dominox, killing him (giving Matt the "How do I want to do this?") within the Abyss. Orym attacks Ludinus, pushing him toward the Gate. However, the attacks break Ludinus' concentration on the spell and the gate disappears, sealing the corpse of Dominox in the Abyss forever. However, Ludinus does not retaliate against Orym, insisting, "I merely wish to talk." He flies back into the tunnel, narrowly missing the invisible Chetney. The group hesitantly follows.
Ludinus tells them he appreciates those who helped, and understands those who didn't. He knows they oppose him and his cause, but much information has been muddled and misunderstood. He does not and never has seen them as enemies, and wants to show them something. He asks them to follow. Slowly, the group follows, but Orym is desperately wounded so Fearne picks him up. Seeing this, Braius uses Lay on Hands for 30 points, and Teven and Essek bring up the rear, although Essek nervously tells them he can get them out if they need him to.
They reach a massive ornate domed chamber. In its center are two statues of robed mages holding lanterns, one fallen over, to either side of a domed metal construction. He identifies it as the Occultus Thalamus, built by the greatest minds of Exandrian history who were working on uncovering the secrets of the universe. But powerful forces became resentful of their growing knowledge and when war came the builders were forced to build weapons of war rather than implements of progress. "When the divine threatens your families, your children, the very future of life as you know it, they reveal themselves as the enemy." Ludinus was there in the final days of the Calamity and saw the war between the gods kill the majority of mortal civilization on the planet. When it was over, the survivors tried to rebuild while the gods vanished. The world has been manipulated into a false view of divinity. Ludinus found something equally important to Predathos in Aeor: the Occultus Thalamus, a way of recording the spiritual memory of all in the city. He thinks they will want to see what he has discovered. The Thalamus opens as he lays his hands upon it, and a light green arcane orb emerges, which Ludinus tells them holds the memories of Aeor. What he is going to show them, he will also show the rest of Exandria. With that, Ludinus activates the orb, filling the room and their minds with light.
Epilogue[]
Light. In a space beyond the real, there was made of light a palace, which is to say, a garden or a fountain or a mirror or a hearth, for more than any of these, an idea, a swirling nebula of glimmering potential, cresting eternally upon the threshold of being. But if it aids you, Exandria, to imagine what the mortal eye can never see, envision then, as I have said, a palace, its floors the dancing stars in unmapped orbit, its ramparts light and ice and fire, its hallways memory and time. Our story begins at the ending of the infinite, at the doom that pierced eternity, fractured images of a lost world, of the ones who lost it. Remember now a place which was not less, but rather more than real. Remember tragedy, betrayal, calamity, downfall. In the recording of this memory may the answer to many question lie, but one question yet, and shall forevermore remain: Is it Thursday yet?
The end credits then include the announcement of the upcoming three-part special Downfall.
Featured characters[]
Bells Hells
Mentioned
New
Returning
- The Dominox
- Fresh Cut Grass (in a vision)
- Cyrus Wyvernwind (in a vision)
- Liliana Temult (in a vision)
- Dorian Storm
- Essek Thelyss
- Ludinus Da'leth
- Teven Klask
Quotations[]
- Chetney: (after Imogen's Dominox-sent vision) Wait a minute. You talked to your mom? That's what the demon showed you?
Imogen: Wow, what'd he show you?
Chetney: I'm going to hell. - Teven Klask: You've bound your energy to that of my master, the Lord of the Hells.
Fearne: Huh?
Teven: The thread of fate that pulls you through the Great Matron's skein now runs dark with his influence. The smell of brimstone will now follow where you walk, and when you need aid, whenever you need his help, perhaps he might be there, at a cost.
Fearne: (uneasy chuckle)
Dorian: Listen, Fearne, my parents have really good lawyers. I can probably get you out of this. - Sam: (describing Braius) In the history of Exandria there have been many hot minotaurs, but perhaps none as hot as this minotaur.
- Braius: (to Dorian, seductively, after being healed) Thank you. Powerful magic from a powerful man. You got me halfway. I'll take care of the rest with my own hand. And I'll Lay Hands on myself and cure myself for the rest.
Liam: It's still better when somebody else does it. - Braius: (to Fearne) I like your knees. They bend the way mine do.
- Ashton: (to Braius) You're very pretty.
Braius: Thank you. So are you.
Ashton: I know.
Chetney: Focus! Focus! - Braius Doomseed: (to Imogen) Are you single?
Imogen: I'm not sure. - Dominox: (to Chetney, after he recovers the crystal) I'll eat everything that ever mattered to you!! We had a deal!
- Braius: (to Orym) You fought bravely, little one. Are you single?
Orym: Bro, you're huge.
Braius: That's okay. - Ludinus: This world has been manipulated, duped in its opinion, its understanding of divinity, for those that write the history books are those in power and there is no power higher than them.
Inventory[]
| Adjustment | Count | Item | Source | Destination | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acquired | Rust-colored scale cloak | Barrel inside Aeorian arcane lab | Bag of Holding | ||
|
Transferred Consumed |
1 | Health potion | Ashton | Braius | Provided 4 points of healing. |
| Consumed | Potion of speed | Orym | Orym | ||
| Acquired | Pinion of Service | Nox Engine | Chetney | Looks like a glowing purple crystal. Also known as a soul anchor. |
Trivia[]
- This episode marks the return of Sam Riegel to the table, after being absent for six episodes.
- Marisha Ray brought back a larger, more elaborate version of her black fan, this time showing an illustration of Laudna when closed. When opened, it split the figure in two, revealing the phrase "BODY HORROR FAN" written on it apparently in blood.[1]
- Aabria Iyengar and Quyen Tran, Sam's wife, were in the audience during the live show. For Quyen it was her first time watching an episode of Critical Role.[2][3]
- There is a different version of this episode available on Beacon labeled "Live Show Experience!".[4] This version provides a more cinematic experience with no overlay on screen, multiple camera angles, and close-ups on the players, much like "Candela Obscura Live - The Circle of the Silver Screen" (CO5x01). This version also uses the line feed from the live show that the audience at the Greek Theatre saw on the big screens.
- This episode marks the first "How do I want to do this?" for Matthew Mercer in this campaign and his third overall. The first was by Landspeaker Soorna against a chasme[5], and the second was by Jourrael against Obann the Punished,[6] both in the second campaign.
- Brennan Lee Mulligan stated that his facial makeup was intended to be "cosplaying as a camera", a reference to the Occultus Thalamus surveillance device.[7]
References[]
- ↑ See "The Nox Engine" (3x98) at 06:30.
- ↑ See "The Nox Engine" (3x98) at 0:40:47.
- ↑ See "4-Sided Dive: Suddenly Samuel" (4SDx25) at 0:22:19.
- ↑
C3 E98 | The Nox Engine | LIVE SHOW EXPERIENCE! (subscription required).
- ↑ See "Perspective" (2x59) at 3:42:45.
- ↑ See "Punishment and Politics" (2x87) at 1:18:19.
- ↑ See "4-Sided Dive: Suddenly Samuel" (4SDx25) at 0:47:01.
Art:
- ↑ Fan art of Braius, by Hugo Cardenas (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of Braius and Dorian, by Odd (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of Dominox as the little girl, by Elaine Tipping (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Screenshot of the Engine Room from "The Nox Engine" (3x98). This file is a copyrighted work. Its use in this article is asserted to qualify as fair use of the material under United States copyright law.
- ↑ Fan art of wombat-Fearne with the Pinion, by ZioCorvid (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of Ludinus casting Gate, by Melissa Hahn (source). Used with permission.
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