Wizards of the Coast Critical Role Presents: Call of the Netherdeep (D&D Adventure Book) HC
Critical Role: Call of the Netherdeep is an adventure module with themes of heroism, underwater horror and fantasy. It is set in the Exandria campaign setting and designed for the 5th edition of the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. It was published by Wizards of the Coast and released on March 15, 2022.
This adventure module is designed to take player characters from 3rd level to 12th level.[1] Call of the Netherdeep‘s story is considered to be concurrent with Critical Role‘s second campaign; however, Dungeon Masters can adjust the timeline.[3][4]
The module begins in Jigow, a town in the Wastes of Xhorhas region on the continent of Wildemount. From there, players will continue across Xhorhas to the fort-city of Bazzoxan before heading to Ank’Harel, a city on the continent of Marquet.[5][6] Three factions are set up in Ank’Harel – the Allegiance of Allsight, the Consortium of the Vermilion Dream,[7] and the Library of the Cobalt Soul[8] – and the party’s faction alignment will impact the track of their mission[9] as they are drawn to an underwater region called the Netherdeep. Each location has a dungeon for players to explore in order to meet their objectives.[5][6]
To undertake the deep-sea exploration, players will need to acquire “spells or magical items designed for underwater breathing” along with “items crafted from a unique mineral known as ruidium” in order to withstand the water pressure.[10] Players will also have to contend with the corrupting nature of ruidium.[11][12] CBR highlighted that the Netherdeep is a region “of deep woe and despair” and that “its dark, labyrinthian depths are host to an imprisoned Apotheon (or demigod) known as Alyxian, who created the tomb to hold himself for reasons the adventuring players must discover on their own. Alyxian’s emotions ripple throughout the depths, giving the entire region a heavy, oppressive madness and sense of disconnection not dissimilar to The Far Realm“.[10]
Additionally, the player characters will be in a race against the clock because a rival party is after the same set of objectives as the player group.[13][14] Depending on how the players treat these NPC adventurers over the course of the module, this rival party can become “powerful allies or potent enemies”.[15] The story has multiple potential endings, both good and bad, based on the choices the players make throughout the adventure.[4]
