Monster Episode 39 Fixed
This wiki contains spoilers for all stories of Critical Role. This includes the story for unaired episodes of The Legend of Vox Machina, as it's based on the first campaign of Critical Role from 2015-2017.
Monster Episode 39
As soon as the awkward-looking monster landed, it snatched up as many buckets full of rice cake as it could and ate them all up. The voracious monster then flew away and landed in another village that was celebrating the holiday only to eat up their cake as well. As so this continued on and on throughout the day with Mochiron constantly eating all the cake.
The kids were playing baseball and the UFO falls near them. The UFO disintegrates and an egg appears. One of the kids swallows the egg and is transformed into a monster. He at first enjoys his new powers but these powers have negative consequences due to the egg actually being a space plant seed. Ultraman 80 has to go into his stomach and defeat the space plant in order to return the boy to normal.
In a forested area, the earth shakes and the ground opens up while hunters are being attacked by a strange monster marching towards them. They shoot at it and try to attack, but the creature breaks one of their rifles before slashing them with it's clawed hand and running away. The Zyurangers discover the hunters wondering what happened as they mention that a monster appeared, making them investigate before being attacked by boulders rolling down a hill sent by the creature, Goda. The creature strikes the ground sending down more rocks pummeling the Zyurangers before vanishing and running back into the woods. On the moon, Bandora states that the monster Goda has finally emerged from underground, stating that it was said to be beneath the surface and finally emerged; deciding to have it join them and use it's explosive powers to destroy the Zyurangers, with Grifforzer, Tottopatt and Bookback deciding to do just that.
The Zyurangers soon encounter a boy yelling that he found something amazing, stating that due to the earthquakes, he was trapped and couldn't move until Goda appeared making him faint; the creature soon removing the rocks and freeing him. Dan shows surprised a monster would save him and Mei confirming that Goda looked vicious, but the boy wonders who saved him. The boy soon introduces himself as Ippei Hirota, who lived in the nearby village as Goushi brings Geki over to show a stream beneath the fallen rocks; Geki confirms about the rumors of Goda living underground near the village and that the earthquake probably reawakened it and allowed for the creature to reach the surface. Elsewhere, Grifforzer tells Tottopatt and Bookback to look for Goda, but the ogre soon spies two eggs laying in the nearby grass. Investigating them, Bookback opens one up and devours its yolk before throwing the shell on the ground, Tottopatt likewise while claiming it was yummy. Goda soon appears before them and appears to attack, but then starts to cry as it sees the broken shells, Tottopatt confirming the eggs were Goda's before the creature becomes angry towards them. However, Grifforzer soon sees the Zyurangers, claiming to the creature that they were the ones who destroyed its eggs making Goda charge towards the approaching heroes. Goda begins to attack and Geki tells Ippei to run as the creature attacks the team, making easy work of them and withstanding their attacks one after another, even tossing Dan and Boi aside and crushing Geki with ease. Transforming, the Zyurangers try to attack with the Dino Swords only to be withstood as Tottopatt and Bookback continue to claim they destroyed its eggs and Grifforzer telling it to attack the Zyurangers, making it throw more rocks towards the trio before Grifforzer uses flames from his swords to toss the five off a nearby cliff and celebrate in victory. Bookback compliments Goda's strength and Grifforzer in its defeat of the Zyurangers as the creature runs off confusing them. Ippei checks on the Zyurangers but they claim they're alright before they hear a strange inhuman howl, that of Goda lamenting the cracking of its eggs as tears flow down its eyes. Ippei decides to take the Zyurangers elsewhere, taking them to a third egg of Goda and showing it to them, stating he found it in the mountains just before the earthquake; he didn't know what sort of egg it was so he just hid it. After confirming it as another of Goda's eggs, the reason that they surfaced due to recent earthquakes and Goda found out coming to the surface to protect them, Mei adding it was just a kind mother protecting her eggs; Goushi also stating due to its ugly looks, people think they're being attacked by her and how she sees humans as its enemy and how it saved Ippei. With the reasoning, Geki decides they'll give the last egg back to her so she can go back underground.
Goda continues to cry over her broken eggs as Bandora appears before her, stating that her enemy are the Zyurangers who destroyed the eggs; also stating if she defeats the Zyurangers, she'll use magic to restore the eggs, reuniting the broken eggs before breaking them apart once again stating it as her magic and that Goda will send the Zyurangers to hell before zapping her with her wand causing Goda to go berserk stating it has sold its soul to her before using her wand to make Goda grow giant and making it become more monstrous with horns and claws. The Zyurangers arrive seeing the huge Goda as Geki gives Ippei the last egg and the team sees Bandora ordering the monster to squash them, leading to them transforming and summoning the Guardian Beasts and forming Daizyuzin. Geki states their egg is found and it is safe but Goda attacks Daizyuzin with its power, Geki stating it's being tricked and that Bandora will do anything for her goals, but with the creature ignoring their pleas and continuing to attack them. It soon fires beams against a van driving through, having it fall out of control before the driver leaps out of it and it falls off a cliff to its fiery end. Geki pleads at Goda to take the egg and return underground but it attacks with its claws, Bandora stating that the Zyurangers' kindness will lead to their death. Ippei yells out while holding the egg, telling Goda to stop and giving the monster the egg; but it tries to squish him until its suddenly stopped by Burai throwing an attack at it at its foot stopping it before running and making Ippei hide. Burai explains there are always some inevitable tragedies in this world and they need courage to overcome the tragedies, but Geki continues to explain she was only trying to protect her egg, but Burai states she already sold her soul to Bandora and has become evil and that to defeat evil you have to proceed even if by climbing over his dead body. Realizing Burai's words, Geki relents as Bandora orders Goda to attack the dam and destroy the nearby village and the humans in it, the creature following it. Burai yells at Geki for continuing to hesitate with the lives in danger from this possible attack and that he must remember the words of Daizyuzin about how death and rebirth are a natural element within life itself and how it is the ultimate joy of those who live. As Burai continues to yell, Geki revives Daizyuzin as Burai transforms and summons Dragon Caesar to protect the dam, slamming Goda with its tail and deflecting its attacks. Switching formations to Gouryuzin, it tries to attack with its Dragon Antler with Tyrannosaurus's strength, but the two continue to be overwhelmed by the power until they use Concussive Dragonstrike, ultimately killing Goda in the end. As it dies, Geki shows sorrow for his defeated enemy.
Everybody approaches this area differently, so we decided to present it in such a way that felt logical to us. Hopefully it's not too confusing. We cover everything from the docks up through the Belfry Gargoyles. We do not cover the Sinner's Rise in this episode. That comes a little later.
In this episode we see the return of some of the prototypes used in Episode 25. The finalized Steamforged figures have a basic circular base while the prototypes stand atop a stone and grass terrain sculpt set on a larger curved base. Still waiting on finalized Steamforges for Fjord, Yasha, and Jester. On the subject of Mighty Nein, it bears pointing out that in this episode and the previous one we finally get a decent look at the Steamforged Caduceus figure. What a beaut!
At last, a successful prediction! Last episode I confidently declared that there would be Shrine of Sysuul Dwarven Forge pieces in this episode. There was far less of the Forsaken Temple components than I expected, but they can be seen in some of the floor layouts, serpent wall decorations, and the fountain dais. The levels of the temple we see in miniature are just wonderful, they deliver that Indiana Jones type atmosphere I so crave.
The two Sahuagin minis that appear in this episode are from the D&D Icons of the Realms Classic Creatures set. A boxed set including 9 classic monster minis designed to look like the original Advanced Dungeons and Dragons Monster Manual art. Good idea, bad execution.
What a difference. Sure the above models are bulkier, but they have so much more character and detail. Shockingly, the rightmost figure (Skull & Shackles #008 Sea Devil Champion) and the Classic Creatures miniatures are both manufactured by Wizkids. What gives, did they forget how to make aquatic monster humanoids over the span of several years?
Pedantic monster model complaints aside, this combat presentation was glorious. And even the uglier miniatures looked reasonably good on camera among the high quality terrain and professional lighting conditions.
I welcome the reuse of this lovely map. The combat in this episode is a perfect example of how an encounter can be remixed completely with the introduction of an environmental effect. Cool stuff and cool lighting. There are a couple new miniatures to discuss, lets dive in.
A real letdown. I wish this figure was as rad as the DM description of this monster. This mini has a very blurry, poorly detailed appearance. Ironically, Yuan-Ti Malison has no bite, the sculpt itself is not very sharp, the curves and angles in the shape of the figure are too smooth. A good example of this is the human torso, there is an attempt at muscular definition, but the sculpt quality is too low for these details to be properly visible and impactful. At a distance this mini looks alright I guess. 041b061a72