Chapter 7: The Heart of Despair - Critical Role: Call of the Netherdeep

Chapter 7: The Heart of Despair. The Heart of Despair is a prison of the Apotheon's own making. Nothing traps him in the Netherdeep except his belief that he doesn't deserve to leave. He has called the characters to his location so that they can deem him worthy of returning to the world. By the time they're ready to enter the Heart of Despair, the characters should have learned enough about the Apotheon to pass judgment on his future. Their options are as follows: Allow the Apotheon to go free without first healing his emotional wounds (and in doing so, cause his corruption to wreak havoc throughout Exandria) Deem the Apotheon beyond redemption and destroy him Heal the Apotheon's emotional wounds and bring him peace before granting him his freedom The Apotheon's second form, blessed with an angelic countenance, rises out of the slain corpse of his first monstrous incarnation Running This Chapter Read this chapter thoroughly before running it, paying particular attention to the stat blocks for Alyxian's forms and the "Lair Actions" section, which describes actions the Apotheon can take in any of his forms. Within the Heart Characters who enter the Heart of Despair find themselves standing in the middle of the area, just south of a statue of Alyxian (area H1). Describe the environment as follows: You pass through clammy darkness and tumble onto the glassy surface of a lake, which feels as solid under your feet as any floor. Rising out of the water are three rocky isles, upon which rest crumbling structures that look like ancient prayer sites. Waterfalls tumble from the clear sky, giving off mist that blankets the area in shimmering silver. Directly in front of you, a life-sized statue of Alyxian armed with a spear and a shield stands on a white stone pedestal that rises inches above the water's surface. The statue's expression is serene, much like the water. The interior of the Heart of Despair is a cylindrical space 200 feet high and over 200 feet in diameter. The...