Chapter 6: The Netherdeep - Critical Role: Call of the Netherdeep

Chapter 6: The Netherdeep. Leaving behind the bustling streets of Ank'Harel and the gloom of Cael Morrow, the party now navigates the dark waters of the Netherdeep. This otherworldly tomb of Alyxian's own making is similar to a demiplane or an extradimensional space connected to the Material Plane but not part of it. In other words, the Netherdeep is its own plane of existence. It is where the Apotheon's negative emotions have festered, creating labyrinthine trenches of regret, fury, yearning, and despair. Adventurers are transported to the Netherdeep, an underwater domain warped by alien magic and the torment of the Apotheon Running This Chapter Re-familiarize yourself with the Apotheon's back story in the introduction before running this chapter. Because this chapter leads up to the final confrontation with the Apotheon, understanding his past and his frame of mind is crucial. The ending of the adventure hinges on whether the characters can help him overcome his pain and despair. Netherdeep Overview The Netherdeep is an underwater dungeon at the bottom of a lightless abyss. Spells or magic items that enable characters to breathe underwater are a necessity for exploring the Netherdeep. The following sections describe the Netherdeep's recurring features, the Fragments of Suffering that the characters must acquire before they can face the Apotheon, and the main threats the characters must overcome as they make their way toward the Apotheon's prison. Netherdeep Features The following sections summarize important or recurring features of the Netherdeep. Ceilings and Floors Tunnels have 10-foot-high ceilings, while a chamber or grotto has no ceiling unless its description states otherwise. If an area has no ceiling, assume that its walls are about 100 feet tall, and beyond them is a dark, underwater abyss. Creatures that swim upward never reach the surface and can only return downward to the area they left. Unless otherwise noted, all tunnels have irregular floors th...