Thresher: 2-Part Underwater Epic | Episode 2, Power Rises Part 2

Summary

Critical Role Podcast Summary

Title: Critical Role
Episode: Thresher: 2-Part Underwater Epic | Episode 2, Power Rises Part 2
Release Date: May 13, 2025
Host/Author: Critical Role
Description: Welcome to Critical Role, home of a bunch of nerdy-ass voice actors playing tabletop roleplaying games! Enter a world of glorious imagination and improvisation with a group of the finest collaborative storytellers around. Here you’ll find our TTRPG and adjacent shows, including Critical Role, Exandria Unlimited, 4-Sided Dive, and a growing selection of one-shots.

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Overview

In the thrilling continuation of the Thresher miniseries, Episode 2, titled "Power Rises Part 2," the adventuring crew delves deeper into the mysterious and ominous Ranbior Station, an abandoned underwater facility teeming with ancient secrets and lurking dangers. This episode escalates the tension as the crew confronts evolved sea creatures, unravels sinister conspiracies, and faces intense moral dilemmas that test their trust and survival instincts.

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Plot Overview

The episode picks up with the Thresher crew navigating the dark abyss surrounding the abandoned Ranbior Station. After encountering a formidable sea creature that seems to evolve with each encounter, the crew faces escalating threats that push them to their limits. The narrative crescendos with the activation of the station's ominous protocols, unleashing chaos and forcing the characters to make critical decisions in a race against time.

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Key Scenes and Discussions

1. Encounter with the Evolving Creature (02:53 - 06:34)

The crew explores a seemingly ransacked lab where they encounter a menacing sea creature. The Game Master (Jasper William Cartwright) describes, “All of this stuff strewn across the floor. This whole lab itself looks like it's been sort of ransacked and destroyed” (02:53). The creature demonstrates signs of evolution, becoming more human-like after each defeat:

Game Master: "This creature has a strange seam down its head... it is becoming more and more advanced every time we kill it." (06:15)

The players debate whether to continue engaging the creature or retreat, highlighting rising tensions within the group:

Player Character 2: "Yeah, let's just get the fuck out of here." (06:36)

2. The Hatch Dilemma (03:47 - 07:34)

During their exploration, the team discovers a hatch leading to another area. As the creature approaches, the decision to either confront it or find another path becomes critical:

Player Character 1: "Yeah, the one that we were trying to listen for. I say we go to the Crimson Strand." (03:59)

Player Character 4: "I'm going to essentially see the hatch and..." (07:20)

The tension peaks as the creature exhibits unexpected behaviors, suggesting possible communication rather than mere aggression.

3. Strategic Decisions and Failed Attempts (10:19 - 15:00)

The crew grapples with internal conflicts and the dire situation, leading to failed attempts to neutralize threats:

Player Character 4: "I'm going for the creature. Make me a strike." (10:36)

A pivotal moment occurs when a player character attempts to save another, resulting in unexpected consequences and further complicating their mission.

4. Revelation and Betrayal (24:07 - 32:11)

A critical discovery unfolds through a CCTV recording revealing the station's turmoil:

Game Master: "This is Admiral Anders of the Atlantech station Ranbior. Systems are failing... initiating the abyssal lockdown of protocol destroying the station." (24:07)

This revelation prompts questions about the station's true purpose and the fate of its crew, deepening the mystery and urgency.

5. Climactic Confrontations and Transformation (33:30 - 43:35)

As the episode progresses towards its climax, Dr. Blackwell reveals her true intentions, leading to dramatic transformations and confrontations:

Player Character 1: "I will save my children." (38:52)

Dr. Blackwell: "Riftwalker, please heal me from within." (51:00)

The struggle culminates in a near-apocalyptic scenario where the station begins to collapse, forcing the remaining crew members to make life-or-death decisions.

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Character Development

Throughout the episode, characters exhibit significant growth and face profound ethical dilemmas:

• Betty Callahan (Mark Mara Humes): Faced with the horrifying reality of reanimated creatures, Betty grapples with her resolve, showcasing her leadership and desperation.

• Damon Adams (Abubakar Salim): Displays intense emotion and combat prowess, particularly in moments of personal crisis and transformation.

• Emily Wadsworth (Jacqueline Emerson): Her arc deepens as her true identity and motives come to light, challenging the crew's trust and alliances.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Jasper William Cartwright (Game Master):

  • “Welcome again crew. If you haven't checked out Part one yet, pause this now and head over to the first one in this epic underwater miniseries.” (01:20)
  • “Looks like we've got more than just abandoned tech in here.” (02:53)
  • “Reality blending.” referring to unexpected elemental shifts during combat (09:31)

• Player Character 4 (Betty Callahan):

  • “I'm going to essentially see the hatch and...” (07:20)
  • “Just trying not to attack, giving you one of my drives by sheathing my blade.” (08:35)
  • “I am just a fucking beast. I am a beast. Not some demon talking motherfucker.” (51:15)

• Dr. Blackwell (Game Master as a character):

  • “Riftwalker, please heal me from within.” (51:00)
  • “Come to Earth.” (44:49)

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Insights and Themes

• Evolution vs. Preservation: The evolving sea creature symbolizes the ever-changing challenges the crew faces, forcing them to adapt or perish.

• Trust and Betrayal: As secrets unfold, the crew's trust in one another and their allies is tested, highlighting the fragility of alliances under pressure.

• Survival Under Pressure: The intense underwater setting serves as a backdrop for exploring human resilience and the instinct to survive against overwhelming odds.

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Conclusions

"Power Rises Part 2" of the Thresher series delivers a high-stakes, emotionally charged narrative that pushes the characters to their breaking points. The episode masterfully intertwines suspense, action, and character-driven moments, culminating in a cliffhanger that sets the stage for future adventures. As the Thresher crew barely escapes the collapsing station, questions linger about the true nature of Ranbior Station and the fate of its inhabitants, leaving listeners eager for the next installment.

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Final Thoughts

This episode exemplifies Critical Role's prowess in collaborative storytelling, blending intricate plot developments with deep character exploration. The intense underwater setting and the escalating threats provide a captivating experience for both long-time fans and newcomers alike.

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Thank you for joining us in this summary of Critical Role's "Thresher: 2-Part Underwater Epic | Episode 2, Power Rises Part 2." For more immersive adventures, be sure to listen to the full episode on Beacon, Twitch, or YouTube. Dive deeper into the world of Critical Role and explore a universe where imagination knows no bounds.

Transcript

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[Jasper William Cartwright]

Greetings again crew. It's game master Jasper William Cartwright and you're listening to part two of this episode of Thresher. And if you haven't checked out Part one yet, pause this now and head over to the first one in this epic underwater miniseries. We're following a motley Thresher crew to explore the abandoned Ranbior station resting in.

[Game Master]

The ocean's dark abyss where ancient creatures lurk.

[Jasper William Cartwright]

New episodes of Thresher air on Thursdays at 7pm Pacific on Beacon, Twitch and YouTube with VOD uploaded to YouTube on the following Mondays at noon. If you want instant access to podcast content and ad free listening experience, check out Beacon and get access to the full audio version of Thresher right when it airs at 7pm Pacific on Thursdays. You can also check out our Beacon exclusive show Critical roles, cooldown and experience. The Thresher cast's post show reactions to each episode. So without further ado, lets return to.

[Game Master]

The suspenseful deep sea story. SS France embarks on Maiden Trent. Ocean Beetle opens today at the World's Fair on Beatles hit the charts with Love Me Do Music's newest sensations music on tonight, General Dynamics prepares Ranger 3 to photograph the ocean surface.

[Expert]

Experts back Jacques Cousteau's Conshelf 1 experiments begin. Humans living beneath ocean waves.

[Game Master]

Cuban missile crisis Deepens disturbing wizards. Operation Fishbowl launches nuclear tests over Pacific waters. Strange sea creature spotted near that room where you've just destroyed. You can see now through into this room these flickering lights. All of this stuff strewn across the floor. This whole lab itself looks like it's been sort of ransacked and destroyed. That door behind you would take a while to decompress. You have essentially a door back towards the Dover well or to the left you have a door to the Crimson Strand.

[Player Character 1]

And where's the hatch?

[Game Master]

The hatch is currently. This creature is crawling.

[Expert]

Oh, this is the hatch that we are trying to close.

[Player Character 2]

This is the hatch that we found, goes down the hallway.

[Player Character 1]

Yeah, the one that we were trying to listen for. I say we go to the Crimson Strand.

[Game Master]

As this one emerges. You see the eyes are much smaller in its head. This one, its mouth filled with more rounded teeth. There's even a more flesh like color to its skin.

[Expert]

Does it have both hands?

[Game Master]

It does.

[Player Character 3]

Betty, I can see the gun you've created. Very eye catching. Kill it.

[Game Master]

What I'll say is. Go ahead you two. You roll me a survey roll. Actually, you roll me a survey roll or actually. Or I will allow this be read. Sorry. If you would, this could be read. Yeah.

[Expert]

Okay. With the banner Dr. 5:5.

[Game Master]

As you're looking at this creature, something jumps out to you. As you stand there with this cherry ring, homemade gem, homemade gun. Something very curious that you notice that every, seemingly everything that you know that has happened to these creatures before. This creature has a strange seam down its head. You see that there is a slight discoloration to its hand. And I think that intuitively you realize that you have not been seeing multiple creatures. This is the same creature. And every time you see it, it's that little bit more evolved, that little bit more human.

[Player Character 4]

I'm. I stand in front of everyone, this knife ready, kind of anticipating, not, you know, just looking at its movements.

[Expert]

I'm going to relay this idea that this is going to sound very strange. I think every time this creature dies, it evolves. It is becoming more and more advanced every time we kill it.

[Player Character 1]

So we do not kill it again.

[Player Character 4]

What are you talking about, Mon? That sounds crazy.

[Player Character 2]

Yeah, let's just get the fuck out of here. Just get the fuck out of here.

[Player Character 1]

Fuck.

[Expert]

Does anything it's doing make me think it is now trying to communicate versus.

[Game Master]

Versus just trying to see the same kind of like skittery, fast aggressive movement, but it's absolutely sort of stalking towards you, kind of placing a hand, sort of crawling across the ground. I think even now as it's starting to come closer, you can even see where perhaps a collarbone has broken, where maybe it tackled something a little too hard. And you see how it's fused in a slightly strange angle.

[Player Character 4]

I'm going to essentially see the hatch and.

[Game Master]

Yeah, so it's right in between you and the hatch.

[Player Character 4]

I mean, that was the objective, right? To go through this hatch.

[Player Character 1]

Well, we can also go through the tunnel to the Crimson.

[Player Character 4]

All right, Someone's got to make a decision. Cause I'm watching this beast.

[Player Character 3]

I'm going to the Crimson.

[Game Master]

Go, go, go, go.

[Player Character 1]

Don't kill it.

[Player Character 4]

Okay, fine, then that's. Then I'll be behind watching this thing as everyone.

[Game Master]

Okay, let's make some move rolls.

[Player Character 2]

Okay.

[Player Character 4]

Okay.

[Expert]

I'm going to walk towards the creature.

[Player Character 4]

What?

[Game Master]

You walk towards the creature.

[Expert]

I'm looking for something and it's something I recognize. An effort on its part to do more than just be an animal.

[Game Master]

Make me a sway. Check. As you approach this creature and try not to threaten it in some way.

[Player Character 4]

I'm going to. I'm going to give you one of my drives by sheathing my blade to not look like as if we're attacking. So you've got an extra.

[Expert]

Appreciate it.

[Player Character 4]

Four.

[Game Master]

I think it reaches out towards you, grabs you by the shoulder, pulls you in and you hear as it sinks, I shoot it. Okay.

[Player Character 2]

As soon as it makes the attack.

[Game Master]

Well, let's resolve the attack.

[Expert]

Reality bending. You miss.

[Game Master]

What? Huh?

[Player Character 3]

What?

[Player Character 2]

Okay.

[Game Master]

What are you. What's your current scar? What?

[Player Character 1]

Wait, what? Excuse me.

[Game Master]

Reality blending.

[Player Character 1]

What just happened?

[Expert]

A scar of tied one you have.

[Game Master]

Okay, okay. You all watch as you fire. This was a dead on shot. And you watch as the two creatures seem to almost like the two of you seem to almost phase together for a split second as that happens. The bullet goes straight past and then they back out and you see the creature then lifts its head up, viscera dripping down as you take a body scar.

[Player Character 2]

What the fuck?

[Game Master]

What's everyone doing? High tide or low tide first of all?

[Player Character 4]

High tide.

[Game Master]

High tide.

[Player Character 2]

High tide.

[Player Character 1]

High tide.

[Player Character 3]

Yeah.

[Game Master]

Hi.

[Expert]

I think majority rules.

[Player Character 2]

Majority rules.

[Game Master]

I'll say you are definitely closest to the door by the crimson strand. Absolutely.

[Player Character 4]

Okay, I am going to. I'm going to go for the creature. I'm going to go kill it.

[Game Master]

Okay?

[Player Character 4]

Yeah.

[Game Master]

You're going for the creature. Make me a strike.

[Player Character 4]

All right. And I'm going to spend three, three drives here because I'm not going to fucking miss.

[Game Master]

Oh.

[Player Character 4]

Okay. Two successes.

[Game Master]

Two successes.

[Player Character 4]

Five and four. Yeah.

[Game Master]

Then would you, Damon, like to use your ability?

[Player Character 4]

Yep, absolutely. Rendering flesh. Render flesh.

[Game Master]

What are you doing with the sword?

[Player Character 4]

So I think I. I see it kind of, you know, pull out. My aim is essentially to do the same thing, is come in for the. You know, come in for the head or the neck and drive forward.

[Game Master]

Yeah.

[Player Character 4]

But this time I think it's that it's. Again, it's pulling as well as moving this creature away from.

[Expert]

Do this. Does he have to pass within reach of me?

[Game Master]

He would do, yeah.

[Expert]

Is there anything I can do to.

[Game Master]

Try to interfere with him doing this? I'm going to say you move at such a speed that for all of you watching, it's like. It's unlike anything you've ever seen. He moves so fast and is so strong, and you see him grab this thing and easily overpower it. And you know how quick and strong and powerful this creature is. As this knife drives into the side of this creature's head, it. You pull it round and it's almost like a shell being cracked open. As you hear.

[Expert]

Thank you.

[Game Master]

And you see as this skin and flesh gets pulled, the knife digging round the side of the face, you just see part of a face kind of peeking through almost like a shell. And you recognize the eyes that now sit behind it. Marcus, no. What? And this creature falls to the floor.

[Player Character 4]

And I. I'm just going to just.

[Game Master]

And I'm gonna need you to take a break, Mark, please.

[Player Character 4]

Oh, fuck. I'm gonna keep hacking at this thing. Just absolutely, like, almost like.

[Game Master]

Can you make me a focus roll, please?

[Player Character 4]

Yes. Like, literally just crushing this beast's head. Six.

[Game Master]

Six. Yeah, that. I think it's up to you whether you resist the urge that you.

[Player Character 4]

No, sorry. Because I know. Because I haven't got any. So it's three.

[Game Master]

Three.

[Player Character 4]

Yeah.

[Game Master]

I think you feel an overwhelming urge in this moment as you see raw flesh right there in front of you all.

[Player Character 4]

You see me and. Yeah, see what you guys.

[Game Master]

Fuck.

[Player Character 4]

You see me just hacking at this thing and going crazy. Then suddenly you thought that it was with my knife, but it's actually my hands. And my face gets closer and closer to this thing as I start devouring its face.

[Jasper William Cartwright]

We're going to take a short break right here, but we'll be back soon.

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[Jasper William Cartwright]

And here we are, returning to Thresher.

[Player Character 2]

I shoot him.

[Player Character 4]

Striker.

[Game Master]

Get away from my fucking brother.

[Player Character 2]

Uh, I'm gonna burn my resistance to reroll that. Two fives.

[Game Master]

Two fives?

[Player Character 2]

Yeah.

[Game Master]

You shoot him, you take two body marks, okay? As you feel this unbelievable, like, white hot pain in your shoulder that kind of snaps you out of it for a second. As you all hear a sickening. As you see that door that you sealed up is suddenly struggling under the pressure. And you see the door itself begins to crack and buckle and bend. What do you all do? Where are you going?

[Expert]

It is time to fucking go.

[Player Character 1]

I'm going through the door, I throw it open and I start running down the hallway.

[Game Master]

So you run into the crimson strand. You all heading in the same direction?

[Player Character 4]

Yeah, I think taking that, I think.

[Game Master]

The hit probably does snap you out of it for a second. And you feel great now.

[Player Character 4]

Yeah. So I'm like. And I start running towards the. Towards the criminal strand, covered in blood.

[Player Character 2]

I don't think I run. I roll to see if, like. But seeing, like, it's Marcus face, right? I don't. Like, I'm just in tears just looking at this body, like, maybe fall to my knees and I just am too locked in to run.

[Expert]

Am I allowed to use sacrifice more than once? Or is it something that only happens?

[Game Master]

It's only to take a mark or a scar though, right? Yeah.

[Expert]

So I will kneel in front of Betty Macherie. We have killed this thing. He has killed this thing at least once. And it came back. Perhaps for your friend here. Death is not eternal.

[Game Master]

Okay.

[Expert]

But you will only die once here. We have to go.

[Player Character 2]

Okay?

[Expert]

And I'll take that brain, okay?

[Game Master]

Take that brain mark. So you can mark that brain. You can take that brain mark away.

[Player Character 2]

Okay? And then I'll let Hercule take me away. Like, I'll let him sort of pick me up and carry me.

[Game Master]

As that happens, you see water start to spill into the room as you rush out. And you see behind water just comes crashing in. Knowing that was absolute certain death if you stayed in that room. I believe you have a. Was that no you wanted to pass? No. Okay, okay. It was.

[Player Character 3]

Delay that remark.

[Game Master]

You all dive inside of the crimson strand. You see, there is this central kind of boiling mass in the center, and it is almost unbearably hot in here as you Realize now as you look through the windows that the crimson strand is surrounded by all sides by this geyser. This was clearly built on top of it as a way of it then absorbing that energy. So it is insufferably hot in here. As you look across now, you can see that area that you saw in that video earlier with Admiral Anders, that place where he put a key in. And I think that just through like, your knowledge and your knowledge, you know that the only way to like reactivate the station, to turn it on properly is when, with both of those keys, however, there is a red light pulsing in the center of the room. And you can hear this emergency sirens going off and there is a repeating message about depressurization. It seems that whatever happened in the Colgrave Nexus now is potentially affecting the rest of the ship. And I won't even make you roll for this, Betty. You know for a fact that if this station doesn't get turned back on property properly and essentially able to absorb the energy of this geyser, this whole place is going down. Okay, we are going to go into a cinematic because this is a very high pressure situation and we're going to do like fast thoughts. So high tide or low tide for the party?

[Player Character 4]

High tide.

[Player Character 3]

High tide. High tide.

[Player Character 1]

Yeah, high tide.

[Game Master]

You see, before you've got the circular room, you can see the place where the keys go. You can see that one. There is one key already in place and there is another one that appears to be missing. You look, there is a door over the top of it. It says Ron Fall Bastion. And in the other side, you see there is an open door and that leads to the Undertide vault. And leading from that keyhole, you see there is a bloody handprint on it and a drag mark which leads all the way down to the Undertide vault.

[Player Character 4]

Okay, I'm gonna run towards the Undertide.

[Game Master]

Vault, sprint for it. Okay, is everyone going?

[Player Character 1]

Yes. Yeah, I too will run.

[Game Master]

Okay, you get down there and you are immediately met by a door, a door with a keypad on it. And it seems to be sealed shut.

[Player Character 4]

I'm gonna try and rip it open.

[Game Master]

Okay, go ahead and make me a strike roll.

[Player Character 4]

I'm gonna use with my renowned energy another three drives.

[Game Master]

Yeah. Okay.

[Player Character 4]

Oh, no, sorry. Yeah, three drives. Oh, six and a four.

[Game Master]

Six and a four.

[Player Character 4]

So I can do the render flash ability.

[Game Master]

Sure. I'm gonna say with the four. You start hammering against this door every single time your fist gets connects, you can feel the fibers in your muscles starting to tear apart. And you keep pushing and pushing and pushing. And from the outside you could swear you see his muscles almost look like they're like rippling and bulging at the pressure. Your hands cracking as well. And I think that you're going to take two body marks as you just relentlessly pound against this thing. Almost with a level of frantic, like an uncontrolled kind of frantic energy.

[Player Character 4]

And there's four marks with a. Gives you a scar.

[Game Master]

Three gives you. And if you've got like one left over that kind of carries on.

[Player Character 4]

Yeah, essentially. So I'll take that scar then.

[Game Master]

Is that a scar?

[Player Character 4]

Yeah.

[Game Master]

How do you think it manifests?

[Player Character 4]

I think there is, as you see, like the muscles tearing and rendering and my arms bulging. I think what you guys also notice is that my hands have grown in size and they look. They look human, but slightly beastly. I think you can't necessarily tell whether it is bruising, swelling or a genuine sense of like a creature. Whoa. And I don't think I can suppress that anymore. And I think that there is a sense of. I'm looking at my hands and I'm seeing them and I'm sort of there visibly. I'm visibly in pain. And I think it's going to just. Yeah, yeah.

[Game Master]

There is a hole that's opened up in this door. Do succeed. You make a hole in. And as you look in, you see now that there are all these little almost like drawers stacked one on top of another. And they don't seem to have a keyhole or anything on the outside. But in the center of the room there is this like screen essentially. And it's sort of flickering on now. And you can see that bloody mark kind of continues until you see that there are sort of remains of clothes and bits of bone. But the actual evidence of the whole body is completely gone.

[Player Character 1]

I'm going to run forward and see kind of clocking this and clocking that. I'm gonna run forward and see if the key is anywhere in the.

[Game Master]

Sure.

[Player Character 1]

In the pile.

[Game Master]

Go. Fine, go for it.

[Expert]

Survey so we can enter the room. It's not like.

[Game Master]

Yeah, yeah, you can get in. Yeah, yeah, absolutely. And if you want to as well, there is this computer.

[Player Character 3]

Yeah. Can I survey to see if the screen has an interface?

[Game Master]

Yeah.

[Player Character 1]

Would we consider this a high stakes role?

[Game Master]

Of course.

[Player Character 1]

Okay. I mean, I think.

[Game Master]

Thanks.

[Player Character 3]

Rumbles.

[Player Character 1]

Cool under pressure. And I'm going to burn a drive.

[Game Master]

Right.

[Player Character 1]

Okay. I'm going to take the six.

[Game Master]

Okay. We'll resolve that in a second.

[Player Character 3]

Also a six.

[Game Master]

Amazing. And is that for the interface.

[Player Character 3]

To find the interface. To use the interface.

[Game Master]

Okay. So I think as you plug into this interface, you see that it flickers to life. And you see there are two files. There is like a recording labeled. It's like a CCTV followed by a bunch of random numbers. And I think that you immediately clock something that's strange is that this essentially is a RAW file. And you know for a fact that the file that you saw previously wasn't a raw file. Okay. Next to it as well, there is a vsb, Like a file that says VSB on it. All right. Do you want to do anything with either of those?

[Player Character 3]

Download everything as fast as I can. As much as I can. As fast as I can.

[Game Master]

I think as you sort of click on the file where the CCTV file, a little video springs up onto the screen and begins to play. Oh. What?

[Expert]

What?

[Game Master]

What? This is Admiral Anders of the Atlantech station Ranbior. Systems are failing. The crew is mutinous, and there appears to be something down here with us. I understand the protocol demands that I get as much information off of this station as possible. However, due to the perceived threat to the outside world, I have made the decision to initiate the abyssal lockdown of protocol destroying the station. Dr. Blackwell agrees. Three, two. Seeing someone that you recognize in this video, you realize that Emily is no longer in the room. Huh?

[Expert]

Son of a bitch.

[Jasper William Cartwright]

Okay, let's pump the brakes for a second, but we'll be back shortly. Let's continue our adventure in Thresher.

[Player Character 2]

Okay, what the fuck is going on here?

[Player Character 4]

This is like doing an escape room with horrible people.

[Game Master]

What would you guys like to do? We're still in the cinematic, so it's.

[Player Character 4]

I am.

[Game Master]

So we're moving.

[Player Character 3]

Oh, the key. Did she find. I mean, we don't know if she found anything. Is there anything in amongst the dead guy's remains?

[Game Master]

I think if you want a bird. A survey. Absolutely. I would love everyone to give me a gilded die roll. I think, having seen that video. Let's see if anyone is panicking currently. No effect. Awful.

[Player Character 4]

4.

[Game Master]

4. You burn through an hour of oxygen, but you do not panic. One, one.

[Player Character 2]

It's my gilded I. So I get a drive back.

[Game Master]

Yep. So you start to panic. What do we get here?

[Player Character 3]

Three.

[Game Master]

Three. Two, Two. Okay. Oh. With a two and a three, all three of you begin to panic. I think seeing this and suddenly having a realization that perhaps there is much more to all of this than even you had realized, you start to. I think it's actually the moment of turning around and realizing that she's no longer there. I think that for all of you, suddenly that weight of pressure of being under the ocean of the horrors, I think seeing all of the things that you've seen, realizing what must have happened down on this station to cause that, whatever has happened to the people that were down here, suddenly starts to overwhelm you as you feel yourself breathing heavily. So all three of you are panicked, which means you will go first, then you will go. What would the three of you like to do? So remember, you can try and calm yourself down. Try and center yourself. You can take a selfish action, ending it immediately.

[Expert]

Oh, God.

[Player Character 2]

This is tough. Just to clarify, we saw her go for the clothes.

[Game Master]

Yeah. And then she was gone, essentially, as the video popped up and you all started watching it, you then sort of turned around and she was gone.

[Player Character 2]

But she went for those clothes first, looking for something and then booked it.

[Player Character 3]

I'd like to take the most selfish action I could right now, which is to start evacuating the station. I begin the long flight out of here and back to the thresher.

[Game Master]

You're just essentially trying to book it.

[Player Character 3]

I'm leaving.

[Game Master]

Book it out of here.

[Player Character 3]

I am cheesing it.

[Game Master]

Yeah, absolutely. You end the panic condition as you're like, see ya, and you just run.

[Expert]

This is getting worse and worse by the moment. I'm going to do. In an effort to stay focused on what I am here for, I'm going to scan the room to see if there's anything else of interest before I follow our good doctor.

[Game Master]

I think if you were to scan the room, you would realize that essentially all that's in there are these locked, locked boxes. You think that if you were to sort of spend time tinkering with that console, you could probably unlock them, but essentially with the time, there's nothing else that's immediately accessible. Essentially.

[Expert]

In that case, in my panic, I am going to start preparing for severe measures.

[Player Character 4]

I.

[Expert]

Take off my auxiliary oxygen tank and prep it.

[Game Master]

Okay, understood. And finally.

[Player Character 2]

Oh, God, I think I'm gonna try. We've just been betrayed, and I know this guy isn't who he says he is. Or so I believe. Can I try and calm myself down by trying? He's helped me. He, like, he could have left me to die 100%. Can I try and calm myself down by trying to see if I trust this guy with like a read or something like that?

[Game Master]

Yeah, go ahead and make me a read. Roll. Yeah, love that.

[Player Character 2]

I'm gonna burn a resist a drive on this as well. A six.

[Game Master]

Six. Yeah. I think there is a genuine moment of connection here as. And I'm gonna say I'll reward the six. And actually say that this helps you as well. And this will end the panic condition for both of you.

[Player Character 2]

Can I go to Hercule and just be like, look, we found something. Somebody, this Dr. Everett, they said that they had your name. They were obsessed with you. But you helped me. And she's gone. What the fuck is going on in here? Please, I trust you. You saved my life. You gotta tell me what's going on, mister. Come on.

[Game Master]

And we're going to jump to you.

[Player Character 4]

I think I. After having done this pounding of the door and kind of looked at my hands shaking, I've sat and I sort of let everyone do their thing. The video caught my attention and now I know that Emily isn't in the room. I'm going to go, okay.

[Game Master]

As specifically the two of you head back up towards the crimson strand. You see that stood. If you wouldn't mind passing this down for me. Over the console, twisting the key is none other than Dr. Blackwell. And she is saying and doing.

[Player Character 1]

Have I turned on the ship yet?

[Game Master]

You can do it as a part of this. Yeah.

[Player Character 1]

Okay. Dr. Blackwell looks at you all. I'm sorry. I'm not dear, darling Emily. Aren't I? You may call me Corrine. And she turns both of the keys.

[Game Master]

As the keys turn, there is a moment of the lights black out. Pitch darkness. Stillness. Nothing but the void of endless sea swirls around you. No fish move, no current, Nothing. Until eventually sound comes crashing back.

[Player Character 1]

And in the void of darkness you hear. Iroth, Naxal, Velostrith. Un Karash Liroth, Lirioth. By the old pact sealed in blood and salt. Let the sleeper stir. Let the veil break. Hear me, O hidden one, and rise from the silent deep. And with that, she rips her arm open and blood splatters all over the floor. The necklace that has fallen out from behind her cravat is now glowing blue.

[Game Master]

As this happens, the lights burst back on, almost emerging out of the pitch darkness. You see you suddenly come flying through the space towards. And there is a moment as your hand reaches up and you stop. As you are unable to strike her, a hand suddenly held there. The light's illuminating it. You looking at your hand, almost feeling betrayed by your own body as you hear a whisper in your head. As do you corridor finally free.

[Player Character 4]

Thank you. Both of you.

[Game Master]

And then just in your head, you.

[Player Character 4]

Not strike a fellow sister.

[Game Master]

One who Serves the saints. And you feel your hand starts to ripple and change. There's some spines and spikes, and gray fishy flesh starts to cover your whole arm. And skin starts to grow over your face as you start to morph into this strange fish, like being through the window. The bubbles have ceased, as it seems the crimson strand now is doing exactly as it was intended, absorbing the power of this brilliant geyser underneath. And instead, out of the windows like temples, skyscrapers, huge and terrible tentacles just slowly swaying, slowly rising from somewhere deep, deep below the station. What would you like to do.

[Player Character 3]

Damon?

[Player Character 4]

Well, if you're next to me, I'm going to literally devour.

[Game Master]

Yeah, go ahead and make me a strike Roll, please.

[Player Character 4]

Great.

[Expert]

Where are we in relation to all this?

[Game Master]

You are having a tender moment. I think you come up and start and see this.

[Expert]

So we are coming into this one to this scenario.

[Game Master]

Yeah.

[Player Character 4]

Just gonna burn some three drives. Yeah.

[Player Character 3]

I'm so stupid. I'm in the spirit of running away in terror from the previous thing. I am maintaining that momentum. I'm trying to stop Grapple from this further monstrosity.

[Game Master]

Yeah.

[Player Character 4]

Oh, you're lucky. I got one success. It's just a five.

[Game Master]

That is important. I will say this. You do see as you come back into the room that that door to the Ronfor Bastion has opened up. And on the wall, almost like a library of items, you see weapons. All the way down there are like. You see some of those similar mechs, but have nothing inside them. Not that face, that strange thing. There's almost a space for a human to sit. There is also. Yeah, almost like an exoskeleton type. And then there is rows and rows of guns. And anything that you could possibly imagine is just sat in this room. And then the other way, you can go back out into either the observatory or to the Colgrave Nexus, but you know that that has flooded. So which way would you like to go?

[Player Character 3]

So it's the wrongful Bastion, the Colgrave Nexus, which is flooded, or the Haven Glow Observatory.

[Game Master]

Yeah. Or you can just straight up try and get out and then swim it.

[Player Character 3]

Swim to the surface.

[Game Master]

Yeah. You have your suit on.

[Player Character 3]

Okay. At depth, though, to the surface, it's a long swim.

[Game Master]

Well, you know, the submarine is still waiting, essentially, just above the.

[Player Character 3]

I don't know what's out there. Oh, I do know what's out there. It's freaking Cthulhu tentacles. I scrambling, trembling. I grab the nearest weapons on the. On the racks in the Wrongful Bastion.

[Game Master]

Okay.

[Player Character 3]

If I can.

[Game Master]

Yeah. What do you Pick up. You tell me.

[Player Character 3]

A bandolier of something that goes into something very heavy.

[Game Master]

Okay. Okay. Amazing. Something very heavy. You pick up a grenade launcher. What are you going to do with it?

[Player Character 3]

Tote it at Damon.

[Game Master]

Okay, go ahead and make me a strike. What? You can add three. You can add three dice to this roll.

[Player Character 3]

That's fair.

[Game Master]

Add three dice to this roll.

[Player Character 3]

Just as well.

[Player Character 1]

Oh, my God.

[Game Master]

Oh, look at these. Triple sixes.

[Lenovo Representative]

Triples.

[Game Master]

Three sixes.

[Player Character 3]

So I don't know what you want to do with three sixes. I know what I want to do.

[Expert]

With 666 in the presence of Cthulhu.

[Game Master]

Awesome.

[Player Character 2]

Oh, my God.

[Expert]

You are the chosen one.

[Game Master]

You see, as this grenade sort of lands, hits the ground, doesn't explode, rolls right between your legs. And there is a moment as your form now looks down. As it blows up you go flying back, hitting into the side of the wall, your legs and lower half in tatters. You feel no pain. You feel only hunger. As you hear in your mind, it will take far more than that. These tentacles now start thrashing at the side of this building.

[Player Character 4]

I will save my children.

[Game Master]

And you know instinctively this thing is trying to get in to kill everyone but you two.

[Player Character 4]

Wow.

[Game Master]

Okay. Where you going? Where you going, you two?

[Expert]

So we are at the door to the criminal. Yeah.

[Game Master]

You're, like, in the doorway. You've just seen grenade launcher, what used to be daemon fly through the air.

[Expert]

She is human.

[Game Master]

Yeah.

[Expert]

He is most certainly not.

[Game Master]

Not right now, no.

[Expert]

And is he close to us?

[Game Master]

He's on the floor, sort of. With no lower half, but sort of seemingly patching himself back up as parts of him are regrowing. Did we.

[Player Character 2]

We heard her speech.

[Game Master]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Player Character 2]

Okay.

[Game Master]

Okay.

[Expert]

You are not nice. I'm going to take the oxygen. So we noticed that he is starting to recover.

[Game Master]

Yes.

[Expert]

I'm going to take the oxygen tank and throw it in his direction and then yell at Betty, shoot it.

[Player Character 4]

Oh, my God. Okay, come on. All right, you know what?

[Game Master]

Yeah.

[Player Character 4]

I'm gonna use my shift the tide.

[Game Master]

Oh, yes. Here we go. Okay.

[Player Character 4]

My shift the tide. So as I see this oxygen tank come towards me, I'm trying to patch myself together. My hand's still there. I kind of laugh as you've blown me back to where my canister is. And as I sort of hit it, you just see this spray of, like, red liquid. Just douse me. And you get this strange kind of tingy smell of, like, metallic sort of elements of it, because you realize that this is human blood. And Suddenly, I sort of awaken, and this canister, I pick it up and I throw it at, like, a window for it. And as. So as you shoot it, almost, I throw it and kind of want to blow the window up to bring water in.

[Game Master]

Okay.

[Player Character 4]

That's what I do.

[Expert]

Can I try to use reality bending to make him slip as he grabs the canister?

[Game Master]

Unfortunately, this shift, the tide ability is full narrative control.

[Expert]

Ah, la la, la, la. Well, then perhaps I can use my shifter tie to change it back.

[Game Master]

I'm gonna say you can't undo it, but you can make the consequences of it lessen. Right? You can do something in that moment to, you know, like. So essentially, this window begins to crack, and then finally, a tentacle bursts through into the room as it gets flooded with water. Water. I'm gonna make everyone roll me. Move to see how you essentially handle this moment. The tentacle, however, is going to give you an extra two dice, Dr. Blackwell, as it's going straight for. You.

[Player Character 4]

Got a five.

[Player Character 2]

I'm gonna spend a drive.

[Game Master]

Five? Yeah.

[Player Character 1]

Okay.

[Game Master]

Five, five, five, five, five, Five, five, five, five. Come on.

[Expert]

Oh, wait, I rolled two and I only actually get one.

[Game Master]

Oh.

[Expert]

One was a six and one was a three.

[Game Master]

Five. Three. Okay, that was a failure. This water comes crashing in. Anyone that failed is going to take a body mark as you get slammed against the wall. Sorry. Anyone who got mixed. Success. Sorry. Gets slammed against the wall with a full failure. You're going to take two body marks.

[Player Character 1]

As I see this happening, you do.

[Game Master]

Not take a mark, however. Sorry. As the tentacle wraps around you, shielding you from any further damage.

[Player Character 2]

Can I ask a question, engineering wise, the two switches that got turned, isn't that supposed to destroy the facility? Right.

[Game Master]

So essentially, there's, like, different modes for, like, what that does. You have to, like, input a sequence and things like. So I think essentially what you see is that, like, there was a certain sequence that the Admiral seemed to do to, like, activate that mode. And you would assume that Corrine. Dr. Blackwell, has done a different sequence and turned it.

[Lenovo Representative]

But we.

[Player Character 2]

I remember that sequence.

[Game Master]

Would you remember the Admiral sequence from the video? Mmm. Roll me.

[Player Character 2]

Focus, focus.

[Game Master]

Yeah.

[Player Character 2]

I'll spend.

[Game Master]

Yeah, absolutely.

[Expert]

Yes, please.

[Player Character 2]

I'm gonna. I can't even resist this.

[Player Character 3]

Can I. Can I help? I was watching that video as well.

[Game Master]

You can, Absolutely. You can add a. Do you want to add. Spend. A dry.

[Player Character 3]

Do another one.

[Player Character 1]

Yeah, yeah.

[Game Master]

No.

[Player Character 2]

Oh, I can't even resistance it. I've spent it.

[Game Master]

What did you get?

[Player Character 2]

Just twos and ones.

[Game Master]

Twos and ones.

[Player Character 2]

Yeah. Nothing.

[Game Master]

Here's what I'm gonna say. I think you do know the sequence. But what you realize is there would be no way for you to input the sequence, turn the key and for you to get out, or for anyone who was to do it. Okay. That it would be immediate.

[Player Character 1]

As I see her Q get smashed against the wall, I shout out to hanging him within the shield of these tentacles as this glowing orb still glows. Haku, you are a good man. You are like us. I have seen what you can do. Join the Riftborn. They mean no harm. Please save yourself. Come to me.

[Game Master]

Come to Earth. You hear in your mind.

[Player Character 4]

You smell like us. Marked by us.

[Expert]

As I hear her words, the scars on my neck sort of flare and split on either side. I'm sorry, Betty. It was inevitable. And I will walk towards her.

[Player Character 2]

We still have radios, right?

[Game Master]

Yeah. You're communicating via radios. This is all essentially underwater at this point.

[Player Character 2]

They seem entranced with each other. And there's all these tentacles in the waters coming through.

[Game Master]

I think you can make me a read roll. Maybe just in terms of. I think there's so much going on. This is pure chaos. Whether you would detect that.

[Player Character 2]

4 and a 5.

[Game Master]

4 and a 5. What do you think? What's the sort of intent for like. As he's. As you know, you're being red essentially in this moment. What does. What does Betty get?

[Expert]

For a moment, you see a look in my eyes and it reminds you of Marcus.

[Player Character 2]

Switch it to Val's channel.

[Game Master]

Get out of here.

[Player Character 3]

Hey.

[Game Master]

What? I know how to blow it up.

[Player Character 3]

No, no, no. It's leaving time. We're going.

[Game Master]

You get out of here. No.

[Player Character 3]

We can run with me.

[Game Master]

No. They took Marcus. I'm not gonna let him get away with that. Please go do it.

[Player Character 3]

She starts slowly backing towards the door. Flips off her radio.

[Player Character 2]

I wanna wait till Val gets a good distance. And I'm gonna spend my tide. Shift the tide to basically get to that console using this moment as the body's destroyed and everything else, avoiding whatever's going on. And I want to get to that console and put in the code and switch the keys.

[Game Master]

Okay. What are we doing over here? As this happens. Where are you going?

[Expert]

As I see the decision that Betty is making, I turn to her and I say, doesn't have to be this way. You can still leave. And I have that scarlet, right?

[Game Master]

Yeah. You feel that pain, I think.

[Expert]

Still I feel that pain.

[Game Master]

Marcus. Death is ripe in your brain still.

[Expert]

Can I use that memory to take a gesture? A Moment. A behavior of Marcus to let her know I am on her side.

[Game Master]

Oh, Wayne. What? Okay. Okay. I think as you do this, there is a moment where you. I don't even think you intentionally do this. Right. It's almost like a reflexive thing where you do this. You cock his head to the side and just gives you that little smile and it is just like. It's exactly what you remember Marcus doing.

[Player Character 2]

Can it almost be that you try and like you look as if you're going to start me from what I'm going to do, right. And then I see that. And as you grab me, I pull something from inside my suit.

[Game Master]

He promised he'd take me. Keys turn. Are you staying?

[Expert]

I bend the knee. And as I bend the knee, I take the ampoule that is in my hand and slam it into her thigh.

[Game Master]

Would you. Do you still have a shift the tide?

[Expert]

Oh, yes.

[Game Master]

Do you want to tell us what happens?

[Expert]

Hercules de Bourdin is famous for creating a solution, a cure for a disease called ravage which was destroying children. What no one ever said was the horrible price these children pay through the treatment. As I inject that medication into your skin, your body overclocks. Every mitochondria in your system triggers into triple, quadruple, quintuple overdrive. And you can feel yourself starting to burn. You are literally heating yourself from the inside out. And if you cannot find a way to stop this, you will be consumed.

[Player Character 1]

She starts to feel the burning from inside and holds on to her metal, which is now colder and colder. Riftwalker, please. Riftwalker, please heal me from within. Riftwalker, please. Riftwalk, please heal me from within. And can I do some type of check for how I've connected with.

[Game Master]

I do believe that you've actually also achieved a goal.

[Player Character 4]

This is fucking mad.

[Game Master]

What is wrong with you people?

[Player Character 1]

And from.

[Player Character 2]

Alright, calm down, fish.

[Player Character 4]

I am just a fucking beast. I am a beast. Not some demon talking motherfucker.

[Player Character 3]

Not demon talking.

[Player Character 1]

Just communing. As this happens, the salt water seems to almost caress the wounds that I have. And through the massive rip that I have created in my arm, the salt water starts to dive into my veins. And I can feel it cooling me from within.

[Game Master]

I think as you feel it cooling you, you know instinctively that this comes at a terrible, terrible cost. Yeah. So you stay to do this action because you didn't say that you were leaving. Essentially the keys have been turned.

[Expert]

So I'm watching this happen right now. Was this her turn of the tide?

[Game Master]

Yes. So I think what happens, you Watch as this key has been turned. These signals light up around the Crimson Strand. 1, 2, 3, 4. These little red lights. You, outside now, just in the ocean, furiously swimming. I'm gonna need a move check.

[Player Character 3]

All right.

[Player Character 1]

Also, I'm assuming we've all burned through more oxygen at this point.

[Game Master]

Oh, I think oxygen, yeah, we're fully out. I don't think anyone's fumes, you know. Yeah, I think absolutely we're running on fumes here. All right. Four, four. Okay. You feel an overwhelming and intense heat behind you as a explosion emanating from the crimson strand sends you flying. You find yourself after maybe 5, 10, 20, who knows how long oxygen depriving you of your senses, desperately crawling, swimming up through one of these cavernous holes, doing everything you can, until eventually you almost drift out of the top of one of the holes. You see the thresher ahead of you as your vision starts to go and closes. Till you hear. Oh, what the hell happened? Are you all right? Hello?

[Player Character 3]

Look, Captain Atticus.

[Game Master]

You open your eyes, you are suddenly on the thresher. You open, you are coughing up blood and salt water. What the. What on earth was that?

[Player Character 3]

Oh, Captain, it's gone. It's gone. Did you see? Yeah, but, I mean, they're dead.

[Game Master]

And you see, the Captain goes, well, that's a shame.

[Player Character 3]

But I. I got it.

[Game Master]

Did you get it?

[Player Character 3]

I got it.

[Game Master]

What'd you get? You got the. The blueprints? PSB give you a massive high five. Sweet. Well, that couldn't have worked out better. There's not even anyone left to hang about and tell us what happened.

[Player Character 3]

It's a shame.

[Game Master]

I gotta say. That is some fine, fine work. You know that Atlantech is gonna give you a raise.

[Player Character 3]

It's more luck than skill, you know?

[Game Master]

Come on, don't do yourself dirty. Do you know what I mean?

[Player Character 3]

Get out, get paid. Go home.

[Game Master]

Home. Oh, a nice bath. At this point, the thresher is currently leaving.

[Player Character 4]

Oh, God.

[Game Master]

And we will just now, as the thresher leaves, we will stay behind just for a second as we descend one last time back down through the hole to see this smoldering rock, rubble that is left of the Ranbior station. You see severed. These huge, chitinous, severed tentacles lying ripped to pieces on the ocean floor. There is one, however, curled in a tight ball. As it loosens, you just see floating limp but not lifeless. Two fish like beings, no faces. One slight and lithe, one hulking and huge. As they. And begin two of them to swim up to the surface. And that is where we're going to end our second episode of Thresher. Thank you so much.

[Player Character 2]

What a story.

[Game Master]

I mean, that's like what, like what even. We're not gonna. Whatever you're doing right now, just go to Beacon and watch the cooldown. Because why wouldn't you do that? We have to. Oh my word. Oh, thank you so much. A huge, huge, huge thank you to my cast, to the crew. What an wow. I. My brain is mush. Complete mush. Thank you so much and we'll see you in the cool down. Oh, wait, hold on. I just realized. Is it Thursday yet?

[Jasper William Cartwright]

Hey, it's Jasper here again. What remains of the Thresher crew will return to sea level. But don't be sad that harrowing journey is over. Be happy that you survived all the hidden horrors of the dark abyss. What was your favorite part of this maritime voyage? Consider leaving a review on your podcasting platform of choice to let us and new listeners know what you loved about Thresher. It could help us recruit some more brave explorers because we're kind of running out. Thank you so much for listening to Thresher, and we hope you're inspired to homebrew your own adventure based on the Candela Obscura game system by Darrington Press. Farewell daring explorers, and may we meet.

[Game Master]

Again, hopefully above sea level.

[Jasper William Cartwright]

And from your game master, thank you.

[Game Master]

So much for listening.

[Jasper William Cartwright]

This has been a joy and an honor. I'm very, very thankful that I got to tell this story for all of you. Thresher was produced by twelve Sided Studios.

[Game Master]

And Paragon Pictures for critical role Original world created by Jacqueline Emerson and Matthew Linton Adapted and home brewed for gameplay by Jasper William Cartwright Produced by Sam St. John Critical role producer Kirby Winslow Critical Role executive producers Ben Vanderfleet and Annie Kruger 12 sided executive producers Jess Jewell and Chad Pytel Starring Abubakar Salim as Damon Adams, Jacqueline Emerson as Emily Wadsworth Jane Douglas as Valerie Sutton, Mark Mara Humes as Betty Callahan Noshir Dallah as Hercule Debodin Travis Willingham, Marisha Ray and Sam Riegel were all radio voices. Ali Henderson, Owen Tunston and Jess Jewell as Screaming CCTV voice Multicam director John Cerdivan 3D artist Owen Tunston Post Audio Oliver Moore and production designer Gemma Alexander.