Heartwarming / Critical Role Rumblecusp Arc

As a Moments subpage, all spoilers are unmarked as per policy. You Have Been Warned.

Episode 100: Hunted At Sea

• Sam's poem at the top of the episode is actually pretty sweet. It expresses gratitude to the viewers and the crew for their loyalty. The cast are touched, and a couple of them tear up.
• Jester uses Commune to ask the Traveler questions. The first two are straight forward, the third is her asking if she's still his favorite, he replies "Forever and always" before playfully trying to get her to look away so he can leave.

Episode 101: Mysteries, Memories and Music

• One family of villagers lets the Nein stay in their house. The Nein are touched, and offer their services in the nights feast.
• Yasha plays the harp for the villagers. Matt describes the usually rage-filled Yasha in a rare moment of tranquillity, and the whole village is entranced by her song.
• When faced with the possibility that they will lose their memories and thus themselves, the Mighty Nein begin a new daily ritual while at Rumblecusp: their names, homes, and one detail about their pasts. Compared to when they all first met, when details were scarce and there were no reasons to trust each other, this alone show how far they've come not just as a band of adventurers, but as a family. Even simple details like their very identities, some of which weren't even known until now, show how deep their love and trust has grown.
  Caduceus: My name is Caduceus Clay. I'm from the Savalirwood in the Blooming Grove. My father's name is Cornelius. My mother's name is Constance.
  Beau: My name is Beauregard Lionett. I'm from Kamordah. My father's name is Thoreau... and I have a little brother named T.J.
  Fjord: My name is Fjord. I'm from Port Damali. I never knew my parents, but my former captain was Vandran.
  Jester: My name is Jester Lavorre. My mom is the Ruby of the Sea. And, um, my dad... sweats a lot!
  Caleb: My name is Caleb Widogast. I was not born with the name "Caleb Widogast". My parents are Una and Leofric.
  Veth: My name is Veth Brenatto, and I'm an alcoholic. My husband's name is Yeza, my son's name is Luc, and I'm from Felderwin. (And also her parent's names are T'ravys and Ashlee. Not Laura.)
  Yasha: My name is Yasha Nydoorin. I am from the southern wastes of Xhorhas. And I don't know who my parents are. And I was married to a woman named Zuala.
  

Episode 102: Ghosts, Dinosaurs, and Stuff

• Beau is dropped to 0 hp by the Bodak's presence. Both Fjord and Yasha immediately run to her aid to heal her.
• When the group continue their trek through the jungle, Beau, still tired from being knocked out by the bodak, asks Yasha to carry her, a cute Call-Back to their first meeting at the circus over a year ago in universe.
• Jester is beginning to have a crisis of faith in regards to the Traveler. Fjord talks her through it, but also raises his doubts over the difference between the Travelers words and his actions.
  Fjord: I just don't want you to get hurt.
• The Nein have to go underwater to meet Vokodo. Jester hold's Veth's hand to comfort her as they do.
  Veth: I'm glad, because I wouldn't have done this otherwise.

Episode 103: Maritime Mysteries

• Jester talks to Artagan about having Traveler Con on Rumblecusp. He admits that having it there was his backup for if his plan failed. Caleb comforts her afterward.
• When Caleb puts up the dome, he also casts Programmed Illusion, showing images of the Nein and their past along the walls of the dome, just in case they forget.
  • Veth brings up her new spell, and Caleb tells her that he's proud of her.
• Caleb and Veth talk about the past.
  Veth: It's good to look back on the past, even the bad stuff. That way you can reflect on where you've been and how far you've come. It's good to look back.
• Caleb is able to edit the image to add a younger Vilya. At her request, he adds a man and a redheaded teenaged girl to the image.
• While Yasha's Necrotic Shroud to try and stop her fall is mostly a comedic moment; the fact remains that her wings really are starting to feather again, not just in her dreams.

Episode 104: The Ruined Sliver

• Veth proposes a new name for the large ship they find, made from the letters of the original: Nein Heroz (original name Eden's Horizon).

Episode 105: Rumble at Rumblecusp

• Vilya offers her aid to the Nein for the fight with Vokodo. Some of them are surprised at this, but Vilya reminds them that she has made a family of sorts on the island and she doesn't want them to remain enslaved to Vokodo.
• Beau checks in with Jester about how she hopes Traveler Con will go after they defeat Vokodo. Jester opens up about the stress she's under with trying to make sure Traveler Con goes off as intended and what Artagan's disinterest in divinity might mean for their relationship, and what it might mean for his other followers.
  • The Nein, especially Beau and Veth, reiterate their support for Jester, saying that they're peers as far as the Nein are concerned.
  • Fjord tells her that Jester is better than Artagan because she cares and he doesn't.
    Fjord: In some ways, you're so much more than he will ever be.
  • Yasha drives it home.
    Yasha: Jester, I hope you know how amazing you are, even without the Traveler. Just you.
  • Even Vilya gets in on it.
    Vilya: I haven't known you all long, but it's clear that this is a tight family. Hold on to it.

Episode 106: A Fog Lifted

• This exchange after Yasha's first flight.
  Beau: Thanks for taking me on your first flight.
  Yasha: Thanks for being my first passenger.
• Veth raises the possibility of distributing some of Vokodo's treasure to those who will leave, to help them resume their old lives.
• The Nein meet some followers of the Traveler. One of them is a carpenter whose business was helped by the Traveler.
• The Nein divide the immense spoils they got from Vokodo. They initially split it between themselves and Vilya, but the sheer amount makes them decide to give some to the villagers.
  Fjord: So that we don't feel like massive, festering assholes.
• Jester has a heart-to-heart with Fjord about how exactly she wants to handle TravelerCon. She forms a plan with his help, and he reaffirms the Nein's support of her.
  Fjord: Also, I don't really care about two hundred other people. I do care about you.
• Vo is in disarray, but Vilya is able to keep them together for one last celebration.
• After the bonfire, Vilya takes a moment to thank the Nein for helping free the villagers.
• Later, Caleb seeks out Yasha and talks with her.
  Caleb: Yasha, let yourself have a little happiness.
  • They hug afterwards.
  • Jester sees that and sketches it, adding Yasha's wings into the hug.

Episode 107: Devoutness and Dicks

• Laura reveals a little Frumpkin figure and Liam gets hit hard by Cuteness Proximity.
• The Traveler has a heart-to-heart with Jester the night before they plan to disband his following for good, telling her how proud he is of her and how much of a positive influence she's been. They end the conversations with a couple of mutual playful pranks, Jester biting his nose and Artagan tripping her as he leaves.
• At the end of the episode, Veth approaches a solitary Vilya. The two have a heart-to-heart about motherhood and Vilya's impending reunions. Vilya asks Veth if the Nein will be upset if she leaves without saying goodbye. Veth replies that they'll be sad, but understanding. Vilya creates three flowers (for Caduceus, Fjord, and Yasha), tells Veth to give Anola the 350 gold they were going to give her, and casts Transport Via Plant. Veth catches a brief glimpse of Zephrah, and some of its people. One is a tall half-elven woman with red hair, a heavy mantle, and an antlered headdress. The woman is shocked to see Vilya, then runs toward her. The tree then closes, and Matt ends the episode.
  • The cast was deeply, visibly touched, Marisha especially (and even more than she was expecting). Travis made a point of congratulating Matt on how well it went.
    Travis: Good show, Matty!

Episode 108: Traveler Con

• Caduceus, Fjord and Beau step aside at the Traveler's Eve party and discuss their reservations about the upcoming event. They affirm that they will immediately step in if Jester gets hurt.
• After the two Communes end, Jester and Caduceus have a little talk. Caduceus tells her that she's doing a good job, and she tells him the same thing.
• Caleb, Veth, Yasha, and Beau talk about the next day's celebrations. Veth says that she knows it will go well, because Jester is behind it all and she is smart.
  • Caleb reveals that he wants to return to the Empire and make it right. He wants all of the Nein to be with him, but he needs Veth and Beau to help him.
  • Beau reveals that all she has is the Nein now, even to the point of walking away from them if that was her only way of controlling her departure from them. She is in.
  • Yasha feels the same way. She doesn't know about her people's status, and doesn't want to go back. All she has is the Nein, and she wants to stay with them if they are okay with it.
• Beau checks in with Fjord, and they both agree that they wouldn't be anywhere near where they are if they hadn't met the rest of the Nein. Before that, Beau tells Fjord that she looks up to him and that in the future she'd like to continue sailing the seas as his first mate.
  • Fjord reveals that he had an initial plan for what he wanted from the Nein, but that it died and seven new interests took its place. That's Jester, Beau, Nott/Veth, Yasha, Caleb, Caduceus... and Molly. He hasn't forgotten Molly either.
  • After some prompting from Beau, Fjord admits he has feelings for Jester but is reluctant to act on it as he isn't sure how she feels and doesn't want to risk their friendship. He's not entirely sure what he wants from his future, but he knows he wants Jester to be part of it.
  • Beau also finally admits that her feelings for Yasha were Love at First Sight, feelings that she tried to avoid out of respect for Zuala as well as the fact that her past attraction to Jester was, at best, fleeting.
    Beau: There was something about Yasha, from the moment that I saw her... that I think I've been avoiding.
    Fjord: Something of more sustenance that's not as fleeting?
    Beau: (pause) Yeah. Yeah.
• When the Solar is taking Artagan and Jester away, Fjord leaps over the volcano and uses Relentless Hex to catch up to them and grab hold of Jester. Once there he doesn't try to force Jester to let go but tells her the Nein will be there for her if she chooses to stay. Laura later confirmed on Talks Machina that if he hadn't done this, Jester would have definitely gone with Artagan but Fjord's actions made her think twice.
  Jester: Fjord, he's my best friend!
  Fjord: I know but we are here for all of you. You. Need. To. Let. Go! We will catch you!
• Jester is willing to take on Artagan's punishment as well because she loves him even as Fjord clings to her, begging her not to. Artagan kicks them loose and gives Jester a smile. She sees a Single Tear from her oldest friend.
• Artagan is spared, both getting what he ultimately wanted and being humbled. In the aftermath, Jester takes a moment to sincerely thank the Nein for their support, and they express their gratitude for her being there for them all along.
  Jester: I'm really glad I found you all.
  • After returning to the ground, Jester gives Fjord a hug which he turns into a Group Hug with the rest of the party. Crosses into a Funny Moment when a couple of the other TravelerCon guests join in.
• Artagan meets with the Nein later in the evening. He lets Beau take a swing at him, and furthers his Character Development by admitting that he needed to be taken down a peg.
• Artagan apologizes to the Nein, and thanks them for being there for Jester. He doesn't have to worry about her as much because of them.
• Some of the Traveler followers decide to stay in Vo, raising their numbers up to around 90.
• The Nein sincerely express a desire to visit Vo again someday.
• Caleb makes sure to have Jester Send to Yussah before they arrive in his tower. Unlike all the other times.
• Jester talks to Kalabast before they leave, telling him that they want to visit him again in time.
• Before the Nein depart for Nicodranas, Caduceus reminds Fjord of something he told him a while back (episode 75, just over a year previous in real time).
  Caduceus: Someone prayed for a miracle, and there you were. Very proud to know you. Well done.
  • Likewise, Beau asks Yasha if she's sticking around for a while. Yasha admits that she is, for sure.