Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases
Season 1: Underdark to Sky
Vox Machina navigates Kraghammer, defeats K'Varn, retrieves the Horn of Orcus, and confronts the Chroma Conclave, culminating in the liberation of Westruun.
Key Events
-
Arrival at Kraghammer — Party arrives to rescue a missing paladin and encounters subterranean horrors. Characters: Vox Machina
Location: Kraghammer
-
Duergar Warcamp Assault — Failed initial attack on duergar camp controlled by a mind flayer. Characters: Vox Machina
Location: Kraghammer Mines
-
K'Varn Revealed — Party discovers the veil between planes and identifies K'Varn's true identity. Characters: Vox Machina
Location: Yug'Voril
-
Temple Showdown — Grueling assault on K'Varn's temple ends with his death and Orcus's machinations thwarted. Characters: Vox Machina
Location: Yug'Voril Temple
Season 2: Empire to Abyss
The Mighty Nein investigate Zadash, battle the Iron Shepherds, dive for Uk'otoa temples, and confront the Angel of Irons amid escalating imperial war.
Key Events
-
Chroma Conclave Attack — Dragon attack devastates Emon's leadership and citizenry, forcing desperate measures. Characters: Vox Machina
Location: Emon
-
Vestiges Recovery — Party retrieves ancient armor and weapons to counter the Chroma Conclave. Characters: Vox Machina
Location: Sunken Tomb
Season 3: Fey to Apocalypse
Bells Hells converge in Jrusar, infiltrate Paragon's Call, survive the Apogee Solstice, and split across Exandria to counter Predathos and Ludinus.
Key Events
-
Umbrasyl Battle — Epic confrontation with ancient black dragon Umbrasyl concludes with her demise. Characters: Vox Machina
Location: Westruun
-
Carnival Convergence — Seven adventurers coalesce in a tavern and are drawn to a mysterious circus. Characters: Mighty Nein
Location: Wildemount
-
Zadash Investigation — Party explores the Tri-Spire and investigates Knights of Requital corruption claims. Characters: Mighty Nein
Location: Zadash
-
Harvest Close Festival — Festival brings victory overshadowed by looming imperial war threats. Characters: Mighty Nein
Location: Zadash
-
Iron Shepherds Conflict — Party engages Iron Shepherds, gaining allies and plotting revenge. Characters: Mighty Nein
Location: Shadycreek Run
-
Uk'otoa Temple Dive — Underwater expedition to find temples and secure Fjord's reward. Characters: Mighty Nein
Location: Nicodranas Coast
Season 4: Bloodline to Reckoning
Soldiers, Schemers, and Seekers navigate Dol-Makjar's political lockdown, House Tachonis campaigns, and the Hallowed Round show, culminating in faction reunions.
Key Events
-
Abyssal Rift Discovery — Investigation reveals fiendish rifts, leading to intense battles and political favors. Characters: Mighty Nein
Location: Asarius
-
Star Razor Reforging — Party seeks mythril and dragon clues to reforge the legendary weapon. Characters: Mighty Nein
Location: Uthodurn
-
Angel of Irons Confrontation — Desperate race to stop Obann's plot in the Dawnfather cathedral. Characters: Mighty Nein
Location: Folding Halls
-
Jrusar Convergence — Three disparate adventurer groups collide and form a tentative alliance. Characters: Bells Hells
Location: Jrusar
-
Dreamscape Theater Mystery — Investigation into strange disappearances reveals deeper conspiracies. Characters: Bells Hells
Location: Jrusar
-
Twilight Mirror Heist — High-stakes museum burglary uncovers unexpected dangers and quarry. Characters: Bells Hells
Location: Heartmoor Hamlet
-
Paragon's Call Infiltration — Party joins the mercenary group, uncovering internal betrayals and deadly races. Characters: Bells Hells
Location: Bassuras
-
Apogee Solstice — Race against time to stop Ruby Vanguard from releasing Predathos. Characters: Bells Hells
Location: Tishtan Ruins
-
Party Split — Solstice magic fractures the group across continents, forcing independent survival. Characters: Bells Hells
Location: Exandria
-
Molaesmyr Ruins Exploration — Team Wildemount ventures into haunted ruins to uncover Ludinus's secrets. Characters: Bells Hells
Location: Savalirwood
-
Keyleth's Cure Quest — Dangerous expedition to Grey Valley seeks ingredients to heal Keyleth. Characters: Bells Hells
Location: Zephrah
-
Shattered Teeth Voyage — Journey through fog-shrouded islands to secure passage and ancient counsel. Characters: Bells Hells
Location: Shattered Teeth
-
Thjazi Fang Execution — Political execution draws friends, family, and enemies together amid lingering schemes. Characters: Vaelus, Tyranny
Location: Dol-Makjar
-
House Tachonis Attack — Undead horror and focused might strike Houses Royce and Davinos. Characters: Vaelus, Tyranny, Occtis Tachonis
Location: Dol-Makjar
-
Soldiers Hunt — Soldiers navigate fey shortcuts and hunt for allies and enemies alike. Characters: Vaelus, Tyranny, Teor Pridesire
Location: Timmony Kingdom
-
Schemers Subterfuge — Schemers juggle jobs, investigate disappearances, and face political lockdowns. Characters: Murray Mag'Nesson, Bolaire Lathalia, Halandil "Hal" Fang
Location: Dol-Makjar
-
Seekers Sanctuary — Druids question sanctuary decisions while seekers navigate political fallout. Characters: Thaisha Lloy, Occtis Tachonis
Location: Shaungarten
-
Hallowed Round Show — Theatrical performance masks covert operations and political maneuvering. Characters: Vaelus, Azune Nayar, Kattigan Vale
Location: Dol-Makjar
-
Impossible Choice — Vaelus faces an impossible choice while Kattigan is captured by demonic tailors. Characters: Vaelus, Kattigan Vale
Location: Dol-Makjar
-
Team Reunion — Soldiers and Schemers secretly return and reconvene to seek mutual aid. Characters: Vaelus, Tyranny, Murray Mag'Nesson
Location: Dol-Makjar
-
City Lockdown — Houses tighten grip, forcing cross-faction coordination and political survival. Characters: Vaelus, Azune Nayar, Sir Julien Davinos
Location: Dol-Makjar
-
Undead Campaign — Tyranny's instincts and Occtis's undead nature drive Tachonis military operations. Characters: Tyranny, Occtis Tachonis
Location: Dol-Makjar
-
Series Finale Convergence — All factions converge as political, magical, and personal stakes reach their peak. Characters: Vaelus, Tyranny, Murray Mag'Nesson, Bolaire Lathalia
Location: Dol-Makjar
Critical Role is a weekly actual play series that uses tabletop role-playing game mechanics as a means to explore and develop stories from the vast fantasy worlds of Exandria, Aramán, and beyond, with sweeping narratives intricately woven through collaboration between Game Masters and players.
