Starter Kit – 7th Sea Edition, Part 4: The Captain’s Party

Podcast: Critical Role & Sagas of Sundry (Geek & Sundry)
Episode Date: October 13, 2025

Overview

This episode of "Starter Kit – 7th Sea Edition" dives into a pivotal story chapter punctuated by subtle intrigue instead of the high-seas action that dominated previous sessions. Led by game creator John Wick, the party sails into the city of San Felipe in Castile after their first major ship battle, intent on unraveling the mysteries surrounding a powerful artifact and the fate of Elena, a key NPC with ties to dangerous factions. The dramatic core of the episode is Roberto De Gustavo’s lavish party, where the narrative twists, alliances are tested, and the stakes rise sharply with the sudden, menacing appearance of the pirate Captain Rhys.

Key Points & Discussion

1. Recap and Setting the Stakes

(01:00–03:01)

• The episode opens with John Wick recapping the previous campaign's high-action events and laying out new narrative choices:
  • The party has captured a ship and chosen their next destination.
  • "You could sail all the way back to the Atabean Sea and sell this ship... Or you could go to Avalon and meet up with Queen Elayne... Or you could even go to Vedace, Elena’s homeland... It's all up to you. What do you want to do?" (B, 02:37)

2. Elena’s Plight and Fate Witch Interrogation

(03:01–09:24)

• Party discusses where Elena would be safe and what to do with the newly captured fate witch.
• Decision: Sail to Castile, avoid Mondavi (Elena’s homeland) for now.
• The party splits—some stay to question the captured crew; others go ashore to investigate the artifact.
• Essie (D) interrogates the mysterious fate witch, who reveals:
  • Elena is in grave danger if returned to Vodace:
    • "Every woman is in danger in Vodace." (B, 08:04)
  • The captain who seeks Elena is actually with the villainous Villanova family, not related by blood.
  • The witch urges, "Take Elena far from here and never come back to Vedace." (B, 08:43)
• The fate witch requests to be dropped at the next port and, in a mystic gesture, gives Essie an enigmatic kiss, suggesting she’s been 'blessed' or altered in some way.

3. Arrival in San Felipe and Setting Up the Dramatic Party

(09:24–12:39)

• The party reaches San Felipe with both their ship and the captured one.
• They decide to keep the captured ship out of sight, assigning Harry to guard it.
• Benedict (E) introduces his well-connected noble friend, Roberto De Gustavo, described as fabulously flamboyant and generous.
• The group prepares to infiltrate the party, hoping to leverage Roberto’s connections.

4. Mechanics – The Dramatic Sequence Explained

(13:39–18:21)

• John Wick guides players through 7th Sea’s “Dramatic Sequence” system:
  • Players spend “raises” (pool of points gathered from combined dice rolls) to declare facts about the scene or bend the story in their favor.
  • "Every time you spend a raise, you are the GM and you get to say what happens next... I could get up and leave, and you all would run the party." (B, 14:09)

5. Identifying the Artifact – Theories and Allies

(18:21–29:45)

• The group’s priority is learning more about the mysterious artifact. Their combined raises let them:
  • Introduce Wulfgar Grimhammer, a Vesten expert who identifies the device as a compass to legendary “Seventh Sea.”
    • "This is a compass. It's a compass that will lead you to the Seventh Sea." (B, 23:54)
  • Roberto introduces Jacob Quick, a former courtier acquainted with Benedict, who claims the artifact can control the weather via elemental crystals.
    • "I have heard that it can control the weather. The crystals are attuned to the four elements..." (B, 27:24)
  • Jacob Quick is emotionally shaken by news of his son William’s demise and the mysterious “MC” mentioned in a note.
• Notable recurring quote:
  • The phrase, "That's a very nice coat," is said by both the fate witch and Jacob Quick, hinting at a secret signal or code. (B/E, 10:54, 29:36)

6. Linking Threads: Elena, the Artifact, and Family Secrets

(29:45–32:01)

• The team pieces together clues, debating whether Elena, the artifact, and William Quick’s mission are interconnected or simply coincidental.
• The secret compartment in which the artifact was hidden raises suspicions about its true owners and intended recipients.

7. The Party Disrupted – Captain Rhys Arrives

(32:01–37:19)

• Captain Rhys crashes the party, described as a fearsome pirate adorned with tattoos and a striking red coat.
• She quickly asserts dominance—smacking Roberto unconscious and threatening his life, only stopped by the party's intervention and raises.
• Rhys proposes a trade, showing off her own supernatural "artifact"—a flaming, hooked chain—and violently wounds several PCs during negotiation.

8. Dramatic Climax: The Artifact is Stolen

(37:19–42:27)

• Rhys demands the group’s artifact in exchange for the life of their captain.
• “You may have it for my life.” (C, 42:15)
• The group surrenders the artifact, and Rhys escapes with it. The party is left licking its wounds and vowing revenge.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Vodace’s Danger to Women:

  • “Every woman is in danger in Vodace.” – B (08:04)

• On Faction Ties and Intrigue:

  • “He is with the Villanova family, the family she was engaged to. Take Elena far from here and never come back to Vodace.” – B (08:42)

• On How Raises Work:

  • “Every time you spend a raise, you are the GM and you get to say what happens next.” – B (14:09)

• Artifact Identified:

  • “This is a compass. It's a compass that will lead you to the Seventh Sea.” – B as Wulfgar (23:54)

• Secret Signal?

  • “That's a very nice coat.” – B as fate witch and Jacob Quick (10:54, 29:36)

• Rhys’s Ruthlessness:

  • “[Rhys] shoots her hand out, and a burning, flaming chain with a hook on the end shoots out… wraps around your throat, and she pulls.” – B (37:10)

• Relinquishing the Artifact:

  • “You may have it. For my life.” – C (42:15)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Elena’s Danger & Fate Witch Revelations: 03:01–09:24
• Arriving at Roberto’s Party: 12:04–13:39
• Explaining the Dramatic Sequence: 13:39–18:21
• Artifact Theories by Experts: 22:23–29:45
• Coat Code & Jacob Quick’s Secrets: 29:36–30:09
• Captain Rhys Crashes Party: 32:56–37:19
• Rhys’s Threat & Artifact Stolen: 37:19–42:27

Episode Tone

The episode is playful, improvisational, and irreverent, with frequent laughter, genre-savvy meta-commentary, and moments of tension abruptly veering into the completely unexpected. John Wick encourages a collaborative, rules-light spirit—sometimes offering extra “hero points” for clever or dramatic choices, and openly letting the table influence the narrative.

Summary & Takeaways

• Plot: The players escape the aftermath of a naval battle, seeking knowledge about a powerful artifact and what to do with the fugitive Elena. The episode climaxes at an extravagant party, where the artifact’s nature is hotly debated and dangerous truths about family and power arise. The legendary Captain Rhys subsequently appears, forcing a life-or-artifact exchange and absconding with the party’s prize.
• Themes: Trust and betrayal, the role of women in oppressive cultures, the lure and peril of legendary treasures, and the blurred line between heroism and piracy.
• Cliffhanger: The party is left artifact-less, plotting their next move against a formidable foe.

Notable Table Dynamics

• Fluid storytelling, with players encouraged to take narrative control using the “raises” mechanic.
• Game master John Wick stays in character, providing both world-building and light-hearted guidance.
• In-character banter is frequent and lively; emotional stakes are high, especially during the showdown with Rhys.

For Next Time:
What is the true nature of the artifact? Who or what is “MC”? Will the party track down Rhys and recover their prize, or will they find themselves swept into even deeper waters?