Critical Role & Sagas of Sundry

Starter Kit – 7th Sea Edition | Part 6: An Ending is an Ending

Host/Game Master: John Wick
Date: October 27, 2025
Podcast: Geek & Sundry

Episode Overview

This episode marks the thrilling conclusion of the Starter Kit’s 7th Sea mini-campaign, led by game designer John Wick. Our cast of ragtag adventurers returns for a final, high-stakes confrontation with villain Antonio Villanova, set in a centuries-old Vodacce tavern. The session is packed with collaborative storytelling, cinematic action, and a heartfelt debrief discussing the story’s end and the open-table nature of the 7th Sea system.

Key Discussion Points & Story Beats

1. Brief Recap and Setting the Scene (01:04)

• John Wick briefly summarizes last session’s dramatic moments: betrayals, lost ships, and a looming final showdown.
• The action begins in an ancient, unnamed tavern in Vodacce, where Antonio Villanova brags over his ill-gotten victories before being confronted by the PCs.

2. The Showdown Preparations (04:36–09:17)

• John Wick sets up the environment: “This is your opportunity to do the biggest, baddest, most overly dramatic, nasty, coolest, most vicious, blood curdling, blood thirsty bar fight of all time.” (05:16)
• Players strategize, pool their resources, and spend hero points to set up a massive bar brawl.
• The tavern is described with classic swashbuckling flair: “Everything you've ever seen in a pirate movie, everything you've ever seen in an Errol Flynn movie is here.” (08:15)

3. The Cinematic Bar Fight (09:17–15:48)

Highlights:

• Player 2 (Benedict): Smashes Villanova in the face with a barstool, launching the melee. (10:10)
• Player 1: Stomps on Antonio, calling out his dishonor to the queen. (10:46)
• Player 3: Rather than break Villanova’s arms (which would incur corruption), humiliates him by hanging him upside down by a chandelier and pulling down his pants. (11:46–12:08)
• Player 4: Calls in the cavalry—her Haraguan sisters crash through the windows to join the fray. She delivers a pointed speech to the villain:
  “Men like you are treated a certain way where I'm from.” (13:00) “We’ll take everything that you own... It’s no longer yours.” (13:18)
• A new wave of Vodaće brutes descends for a second round, but the players creatively dispatch them using the tavern's scenery, teamwork, and a well-timed swing from the chandelier. (15:12–15:48)

4. Villanova’s Last Stand (16:01–19:54)

• Villanova, injured and desperate, frees himself and attacks with a knife, wounding a PC (five wounds). The PCs restrain him using the magical chain, but not before he hurls the hook at a player’s eye, giving her a piratical injury. (16:45–18:55)
• He is ultimately defeated, tied up, and handed over to the Brotherhood of the Coast. As he's taken away, he vows revenge, shouting “Vendetta! Vendetta!” (19:56–20:06)

5. Burn It Down and Set Sail (21:20–22:39)

• The crew torch Villanova’s ancestral tavern with cheap rum, collect their spoils, and commandeer his ship for their next adventure.
  Player 1: “You're burning that motherfucker to ground.” (21:28)
• Elena reveals not all is lost—Harry and Henry are alive and need rescuing, propelling the crew toward new quests.

6. The Epilogue & Teasers (23:22–23:39)

• A cryptic “nice coat” exchange with a new sailor reveals hints at secret societies within 7th Sea:
  Player 3: “But who is Upman?”
  John Wick: “Upman.”

Game & Player Reflections

Player Highlights & Most Memorable Moments (24:00–28:45)

• Player 2: The moral dilemma of sacrificing the artifact for the captain, showcasing the game’s emphasis on tough choices over combat. (24:00)
• Player 1: The pivotal moment pulling Elena back from the brink of villainy, allowing for redemption. (25:06)
• Player 3: The “Avengers moment” when all players synergized their skills, likening their teamwork to assembling Voltron. (26:07)
• Player 4: The evolving inter-player relationships and personal growth as a first-time RPG player, emphasizing how the system supports organic teamwork. (26:42)
• John Wick: Gratified by seeing his players evolve from rule-learners to a true crew, using the game's mechanics collaboratively. (27:39)

What Challenged or Surprised the Players (28:45–33:54)

• The open-ended, player-driven story structure of 7th Sea was liberating, challenging expectations set by other tabletop RPGs. Multiple players commented on enjoying the freedom to shape the narrative (“pass the story”).
• New players admitted the openness was intimidating at first, but rewarding as the boundaries and trust in one another developed.
• John Wick discusses GM techniques like “yes, and…” and “yes, but…” as a way to enable player creativity while maintaining narrative structure.

Secret Society Reveal & Hidden Clues (34:24–35:43)

• John Wick reveals a secret missed by the players:
  “That's a nice coat” is a code phrase for the Relisciari, a secret society in 7th Sea aiming to shatter Vodacce’s power structures.
  The correct reply is: “Upman gave it to me.”
  He notes he planted this as a potential thread to revisit in future games.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “This is your opportunity to do the biggest, baddest, most overly dramatic, nasty, coolest, most vicious, blood curdling, blood thirsty bar fight of all time.”
  — John Wick (05:16)

• “You're burning that motherfucker to ground.”
  — Player 1 (21:28)

• “We’ll take everything that you own... It’s no longer yours.”
  — Player 4 to Villanova (13:18)

• “We made Voltron and we all fought together. I found that to be the most... that’s the takeaway moment for me.”
  — Player 3 (26:20)

• “That's a nice coat... It is a code phrase for one of the Secret Societies in 7th Sea... the Relisciari.”
  — John Wick (34:31)

Key Timestamps

• 01:04 – Recap and immediate setup for the final showdown
• 04:36–09:17 – Players prepare for bar fight, pool resources
• 10:10–13:18 – Action-packed brawl and creative non-lethal villain defeat
• 16:45–18:55 – Villanova’s knife attack and last-ditch attempt at freedom
• 19:56–20:06 – Villanova vows “Vendetta” as he’s dragged away
• 21:20–22:39 – Crew burns the tavern and claims Villanova’s ship
• 24:00–28:45 – Player reflections and favorite moments
• 34:31–35:43 – Secret society code phrase explained

Conclusion & Takeaways

This final 7th Sea session delivers high-stakes swashbuckling, character-driven resolution, and a peek behind the curtain into collaborative, open-table RPG storytelling. The cast’s reflections offer valuable insight for both experienced and new players, celebrating the freedom, teamwork, and surprises unique to the system. John Wick closes with gratitude, foreshadowing future tales and deeper secrets yet to be unearthed.