Critical Recap: Critical Role C2E113 “A Heart Grown Cold”

Hi there! Welcome to Critical Recap! I’m Dani Carr, the Critical Role Lore Keeper. Let’s dive into our recap of Critical Role Episode 113 A Heart Grown Cold!

KEEP-AWAY

The Mighty Nein are plunged into a fight with various chuul, a deep scion mage, and the undead Avantika. The former sea captain keeps her attention focused on procuring the Cloven Crystal, which Fjord desperately tries to keep away from her. He channels divinity to cast marine layer, blanketing the ship in fog. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work in Fjord’s favor, instead making it difficult for his allies to help him. Despite a long game of combination soccer/hot potato and a T-rex Caleb chomping down the mage scion, Avantika eventually absconds with the Cloven Crystal, casting dimension door into the sea.

Unwilling to despair yet, the Nein devise a quick plan and launch into action. Caleb, Fjord, and Yasha are polymorphed into whales while Caduceus, Jester, and Beau (with Veth holding on) lasso ropes to them. With underwater breathing cast on everyone, they take off in the direction they saw Avantika bamf towards, with the humanoids being tugged along by the orcas. It takes some time and they nearly lose the trail, but they eventually hear the sound of her swimming and catch up. Fjord drops his whale form to engage her in a sword fight. They battle and Fjord gains the upper hand, slicing through Avantika with Star Razor and channeling Divine Smite. Star Razor grows in size, adopting more runes at this final strike.

THE CLOVEN CRYSTAL

Fjord is able to rescue the Cloven Crystal before it plummets to the bottom of the ocean and the Nein leave Avantika’s body behind as she is devoured by actual orcas, called to the scene by the cries of the polymorphed whales. They return to the ship and Fjord recovers the mysterious orange crystal that the mage scion used to locate the now less-mysterious yellow Cloven Crystal. He gives this and Avantika’s rapier and dagger to Caleb to identify later, though it is clear that the normal-looking rapier is no longer connected to Uk’otoa’s power.

The question is: what to do with the Cloven Crystal? It’s not safe with them, but it wasn’t safe in Caleb’s necklace either. They need to either destroy it, or put it somewhere no one can find it – like the heirloom sphere. While Fjord had originally wanted to hold onto this key, believing it was better to keep something this powerful safe so that it could not be reforged, it has now put everyone in danger twice. He is ready to figure out how to destroy it.

Recalling the Bowl of the Scaled Tyrant, he asks Yasha to see if Magician’s Judge can break it. She swings, but the magic of the blade has no effect on the Cloven Crystal, which remains unscathed. Fjord puts it in the Bag of Holding as he and the Nein resolve to find a way to either hide it or destroy it. Fjord apologizes for putting them in danger again. He has to close this chapter on his life for good but is worried that Uk’otoa is looking for him specifically. Caleb gives him the Amulet that protects him from scrying magic, telling him that Fjord needs it more now. Caduceus makes everyone hot cocoa and Beau lights fireworks as they try to turn this into a celebration.

FINAL PUSH AT SEA

The next two days bring fair weather as Fjord attunes to the amulet and Jester unsuccessfully attempts to scry on Molly. Caleb identifies Avantika’s rapier and dagger – the rapier is a regular rapier, no longer granted its powerful boons by Uk’otoa. The dagger is the Core Cut Dagger, a +1 dagger that sacrifices a hit die from the wielder to deal 3d6 necrotic damage to a target. He also identifies the orange crystal, which is a divining stone that was focused on the Cloven Crystal (not Fjord) and only has effect when near large bodies of water.

The following day, they come across a cetus and her cubs, swimming alongside the ship. A cetus is a rare sea creature, a myth to scare sailors, so it’s a surprise to see one in the flesh. Caleb turns himself into a cetus to try to calm the mother. He realizes that they’re hungry and the Nein give their rations to the cetus family, with Jester even feeding the mother directly. Pleased, the cetus guides them through some of the harder ice flows, helping them avoid danger for a day.

Unfortunately, the next day they do hit an ice channel, slowing them down again. But the day after, smooth seas pull them into harbor at Balin Post. The Mighty Nein have arrived at Eiselcross.

That is it for Episode 113 of Critical Role!

FINAL THOUGHTS

• Star Razor is a VESTIGE! A vestige this whole time!! And now exalted! This is just so exciting.
• Okay but seriously what do they do with the Cloven Crystal?? If the Magician’s Judge didn’t destroy it, hiding it is probably the better option…
• It’s Eiselcross time, y’all. Surely the frozen tundra with rampant wild magic will be super easy to traverse.
• Oh Mighty Nein.

Anyway, catch Episode 114 on Thursday, October 29th at 7pm Pacific on twitch.tv/criticalrole or a week later on our podcast. Is it Thursday, yet?