Monster Analysis: Phase Spiders

• First Appearance: 16 Enter Vasselheim
• Armor Class 13
• Speed 30 ft, 30 ft climbing
• Darkvision 60 ft, Passive 10
• Average, Max HP: 32, 55
• Damage taken ranged from 30 to 45 among five phase spiders

Unlike other giant spiders, phase spiders, in Matt’s words, are “loosely themed in the ethereal.” As a bonus action, phase spiders can shift from the Material Plane to the Ethereal Plane, and vice versa. By doing so, they can travel much like ghosts, invisibly and through structures present on the Material Plane. By doing so, they appear to teleport, disappearing shortly after attacking.

The poison phase spiders inject into their prey, while fairly potent, is intended to preserve their meal rather than kill. If the victim is reduced to 0 HP, they are immediately stabilized, but are considered poisoned and paralyzed for the next hour, even if they regain health. Victims are often blinked to the Ethereal Plane where the spiders can feed in safety.

This colony of phase spiders seems to have infiltrated the stronghold of the Platinum Sanctuary, mostly undetected due to the lack of need for the chambers’ actual use. While they seem to have mostly existed to provide a story reason for the party to have an actual challenge sealing the horn, the spiders also demonstrated that, as big and mean as they are, the horn is most definitely in the safe, platinum hands of something even bigger and meaner.

How many times has Sam been late?

anonymous asks: How many times has Sam shown up after the stream has started?

Thanks to work, LA traffic, and the character background video now playing prior to the stream, Sam arrived at Critical Role after the stream started 21 times.  Those episodes are:  

• 11
• 15-18
• 23-31
• 36-41
• 43

anonymous asks: Has Keyleth ever received any benefit from her crafting book she bought?

Short answer: Yes!

Long answer:

How much use she’s gotten out of her books depends on which ‘crafting’ book you’re speaking of.  In Episode 15, she purchased a book on herbalism and a book on animal extraction.  In Episode 24, she purchased a book about the properties of chemicals and liquids, and an introduction to sorceries book that had a chapter on alchemy.

Her goal of learning how to craft her own potions has been largely set aside for the time being.  This is namely because Vox Machina had to hideout in Whitestone with no access to materials for so long, then had to search for Daxio, then check into the house, and then deal with the dragons.  However, she did craft her first Greater Healing Potion in Episode 27 (2:31:52) thanks to the the knowledge she gained through reading all of the books she bought dealing with alchemy.

Arguably, she’s thus far reaped more benefits from her book on animal extraction. When she uses it, she gets advantage on rolls for extracting any parts from animals, and it gives her insight on what parts are valuable from those creatures.  She successfully utilized it when carving up the phase spiders in Episode 16 (2:20:41), Hotis the Rakshasa in Episode 21 (3:49:53), the behir in Episode 28 (0:59:13), the frost worm in Episode 39 (1:38:49), and the wyverns in Episode 42 (2:17:30).

Update: Confirmation from the half-elven druid herself: “It gives me advantage on nature check when attempting to harvest anything.” Thanks, Marisha!

Update 2: Keyleth created her first Potion of Fire Resistance in Episode 45 (2:26:36).

Thanks to @nevyndoc for the reminder about Episode 42!

Vasselheim to Emon

anonymous asks: Do we have a location/direction of Vasselheim from Emon? I know they're across the Ozmit Sea from each other but that's it. -critroletheories

We do!  According to Episode 16 (0:09:10) and Matt’s Twitter, the city of Vasselheim is northwest of Emon.  It’s in the region of Othanzia, which is on the continent of Issylra.