Heartwarming / Critical Role A New Beginning

The first arc of the second campaign. Twenty years after the final adventures of Vox Machina, a new party assembles in a sleepy town called Trostenwald. They are brought together by an investigation into the cause of a sudden zombie outbreak at the circus, and then as a party, travel to the town of Alfield to clean out out a mine full of gnolls, and then to the city of Zadash, where they find themselves dragged into a plot against corruption in the government.

As a Moments subpage, all spoilers are unmarked as per policy. You Have Been Warned.

Episode 1: Curious Beginnings

• Caleb is deeply indebted to Nott for saving his life the previous day, and makes sure the goblin is safe. He also pays for her to bet at cards with Jester. Noteworthy, despite his overall demeanour, he's always gentle with Nott.
  • Nott returns it, doing her best to follow the rules and immediately tells Caleb of her misadventure the day before.
  • Liam revealed on Talks Machina that Caleb's familiar Frumpkin is named after Liam's own cat from his childhood.
• Jester uses her Blessing of the Trickster on Nott to help her get into the circus without being bothered by the guards. At this point they've only known each other for a few hours at most and yet Jester is still willing to use her ability to help Nott go out and have fun.
• As mentioned in the Awesome tab, Travis' reaction to Ashley borrowing Grog's "I would like to rage." He cheers the loudest out of the group and throws his arms into the air, clearly honored.
• In general, the references to Vox Machina. While they're made in passing (Nott's singing "ruins the memory of Scanlan," Molly tries to shoot like Percy when he doesn't have a gun, Yasha's reference to Grog), it's clear that first campaign made an impact.

Episode 2: A Show of Scrutiny

• When the group is discovered by Crown's Guard as they're sneaking around the circus grounds, Nott pretends to attack Caleb who is disguised as a guard himself. Caleb punches Nott in the face to sell the act but IMMEDIATELY after the real guards leave and are out of range Caleb apologizes sincerely to Nott and even checks her teeth for damage.
• Molly and the rest of the circus performers genuinely care about each other, and he at one point describes them as his family. When Beau tries to bond with the Knot Sisters by taking a verbal swipe at him, they actually get offended.

Episode 3: The Midnight Chase

• There's something heartwarming about the fact that, despite Beau and Molly's mutual dislike of each other, they still come to each other's aid when fighting the zombie Crownguard. Molly even gives her a smile as he slays the one that almost bit her.
• Caleb's reaction to getting his books, literally bounding with joy and picking Nott up to dance about with her.
• During the fight towards the end, Nott refuses to leave Caleb's side when he is downed, going so far as to shield him with her body (even though she's only at 4 HP herself) and even giving him mouth to mouth with a Nat 20 medicine check that ends up saving his life.

Episode 4: Disparate Pieces

• Molly and Fjord both go willingly to the stockade to be with the whole group during their trial. They're becoming Fire-Forged Friends.
• Caleb’s protectiveness of Nott shines through again in the trial as he stands protectively in-between her and the lawmaster shown to have a prejudice against goblins. He later picks her up and seems to dare the guards to try anything, “She’s my friend.”
• Despite her awkward initial apology for knocking her out during the battle, back at the tavern when Toya is about to leave, Beau gives the young Dwarf one of her jeweled bracelets, telling her it'll "protect [her] from assholes named Beau."
• Caleb taking Nott to the really nice baths (costing 4 silver per person) is a sweet gesture on his part, as she directly saved his life twice (once with a healing potion in Session Zero, once with a Natural 20 in Episode 3). Subverted hilariously when Nott doesn't actually get in and spends the time stealing whatever she pleases.
  • Also to get in, Caleb pretends to be her father, even calling her “Meine Liebchen” (My dear or darling in German). Makes you wonder if they’ve pretended to be father/daughter in the past to pull a con or avoid trouble.
• Nott giving her stolen flowers to Yasha, even if it was for "please don't hurt me" reasons, shows that a friendship is going to bloom between them.
• By the end of the episode, the group starts to find their unity, deciding that a two-week trip to their next destination will let them get to know each other better and decide if they're going to be a permanent team. Even though Yasha declines to travel with them, it's made clear that she's always welcome to drop in and out.
• When Zeenoth arrives to ask Beau to leave with him for a conversation, she's clearly tense and there's an edge to her voice that goes beyond her normal prickly tone. Fjord immediately clocks her discomfort and makes sure she's okay before she leaves.

Episode 5: The Open Road

• Jester gives Nott a bouquet of flowers early in the episode: when asked why, she tells Nott it's because they're friends.
  • The significance of this becomes far greater following the reveal that Jester herself likely didn't have friends growing up since her existence was kept a secret by her mother.
• Caleb is absolutely giddy after Nott casts her first spell.

Episode 7: Hush

• When the chips are down, irreverent, snappish Beau is the one who risks life and limb to drag a dying Nott away from the Manticore. Jerk with a Heart of Gold indeed.
  • Not to mention the earlier battle, wherein she immediately charges forward to kill the hyena that badly injured the child Nott was trying to save. She then kneels down by the child and desperately tries to help with his injuries.
• The first thing Fjord does after being released from Hold Person is rush over to the unconscious Jester and pour a healing potion into her mouth.
  Liam: Now that's love.
• While also being straight-up cool as hell, Shakäste's HDYWTDT against the Manticore is also strangely touching. Per Khary's description of it, Shakäste does it as an act of love and mercy for a creature who had just lost her child, killing her cleanly with a quick, fell blow.
• Shakäste commends Nott for her selfless bravery during the fight with the manticore and allows her to keep the pouch she stole from him earlier.
• Caleb having some kind of traumatic flashback after the battle in the caves prompts a few:
  • Molly is openly concerned for the rest of the party, worrying over Nott and Jester, and trying to calm Caleb down after his murder of the gnoll priest, even consoling him with a kiss on the forehead. Later, Molly and Beau, who are very vocal about their dislike for one another, are quietly and unhesitatingly united in supporting Caleb and guiding him out of the cavern
  • Back in town, a still-out-of-it Caleb distractedly holds Nott's hand in the midst of celebration. Nott responds by giving him the coin pouch she stole from guest party member Shakäste not a few hours before, calling it "book money".
• The residents of Alfield hail the group as heroes and treat them as one united team, even holding a celebration in their honour despite all the losses and destruction. Matt's narration notes that the townspeople's sheer gratitude is something most of the party—who largely seem to come from rather shady or otherwise isolated backgrounds—is very unfamiliar with.
  Matt: You all think over what you've done, this ragtag group of wandering know-nothing's who've managed to come together and do a good thing. For some coin, maybe, but a good thing nonetheless.

Episode 8: The Gates of Zadash

• First, a couple of notes on the part of the esteemed real-life couples:
  • Laura and Travis are expecting a baby in July. As part of their announcement they drew up a character sheet for the "New Adventurer".
  • A little over a third of the way through the episode, Marisha turns awkwardly to mask a sneeze and legitimately injures her ribs in doing so (an injury which, thankfully, later turned out to be a case of a severely pulled muscle instead of actual broken bone). When Matt realizes how much pain she's in, he drops all professional pretense and immediately becomes visibly and audibly distressed, only going back to his usual persona once it becomes clear that Marisha is mostly okay after the break. Happily Married indeed.
    Marisha: (after a truly bad pun on Travis' part) Oh, don't make me laugh. This is...this is some bullshit, guys.
    Matt: (mouthing) I love you.
• Following their return to Alfield, the party celebrates, with a lot of the locals buying them drinks out of gratitude. Molly secretly repays all of them by slipping a silver coin into their pockets, likely because, in his eyes, the citizens need the money more than the party does, especially in the aftermath of the gnoll attack.
• As Jester goes to sleep the Traveller reaches out to her by warming her holy symbol, wordlessly telling her that he is with her.
  • It's a small moment, but Beau tucking the sheets over Jester after overhearing the latter's sad prayer to her deity is quite sweet.
• Jester gets Fjord a letter of recommendation to the Soltrice Academy. The open mouth surprise on Travis' face says all.
• When Jester asks Nott how old she is, Nott responds that she's not sure because goblins don't celebrate birthdays. Caleb promptly decides that the current day will officially be her birthday.
  • Prior to this, Beau asks Caleb whether he sees Nott as a daughter, which he denies, but he does admit to seeing her as a little sister of sorts.
• Even after being attacked by them and having Caleb knocked out, Molly still pays the eight surviving bandits one gold apiece to help them start a better life. It takes a Funny turn when he tells the bandits to stop harping on their new leader, claiming that new management should not be criticized until changes are in effect.
• Basically everything about Enchanter Pumat Sol, the relaxed, ever-smiling, inexplicably Canadian firbolg shopkeeper the Mighty Nein encounter when they reach the city. Perhaps the single kindest character encountered in the new campaign as of this writing, Pumat's very first interaction with the party sees him magically clean Caleb free of charge and then affectionately pat Nott on the head without a hint of revulsion.
  Pumat: Oh, I didn't mean to ignore your invitation there. What's your name?
  Nott: (nervously) N-Nott! Just Nott! You're...large.
  Pumat: (smiling absently, shaking her hand) You're small.

Episode 9: Steam and Conversation

• Caleb and Beau have a look at the Archive in Zadash, while Nott sneaks off to go steal something. The moment Caleb realizes Nott is gone, he becomes really anxious and, ignoring Beau's attempts at calming him down, immediately begins looking around. Nott reappears with freshly stolen buttons not moments later, but Caleb's concern for her safety illustrates how attached he is to her by this point.
• During the visit to the bath house Nott admits that she doesn't know how to swim. The rest of the party immediately offer to teach her. Beau holds her hands as she takes her first dip and later, after Jester washes Nott's hair for her, everyone but Molly and Yasha hold Nott as she goes under the water. When the party is getting ready to leave Caleb ties Nott's hair into a ponytail for her.
• While the exchange between Caleb and Jester ends on a somewhat sour note due to Jester being Innocently Insensitive, it was quite sweet of Caleb to offer 50 gold to Jester, especially if you take into account that this is not an amount of money Caleb is used to having.

Episode 10: Waste and Webs

• Jester's pure faith in the Traveler; she happily gushes about her relationship with him and states that, while she hasn't seen his face, she thinks he's handsome (and then proceeds to get embarassed when it occurs to her that he might have heard her say that).
• At Nott's request, Caleb buys the goblin some earmuffs (and a bonus woolen cap) against the cold.
• During the fight with the Giant Spider, Molly realizes it is about to strike at Yasha and, without hesitation, activates the amplified version of Blood Maledict, for which he himself suffers damage, to give the monster disadvantage on its attack. An odd couple they may be, but Molly and Yasha clearly look out for one another.
  • Molly's spell averts what would otherwise have been a critical hit for the spider, too.
• After Caleb loots the bodies in the sewer, he pulls Jester aside and attempts to give her the money he collected, 100 gold in total. This time, Jester gently accepts the gold (though she insists she's not keeping it for herself, instead planning to use it for the party), and she apologizes for her Innocently Insensitive behavior from before, which Caleb accepts. He apologizes in return for reacting so badly, and it's accepted just as graciously.
• Later on, after the group has received the reward for completing their contract, Caleb admits that his whole reason for trying to get to Chastity's Nook, a book shop in one of Zadash's wealthier neighborhoods, was so he and Jester could browse smutty literature together.
• Caleb reveals that Frumpkin was kicked into non-existence and, despite Caleb saying he knows he can bring Frumpkin back, the group all agree the guard who did it will pay.

Episode 11: Zemnian Nights

• After Jester explains that she wants to turn in her key at the Pillow Trove so they don't waste the money she will eventually get from her mother, Fjord commends her for thinking ahead. She responds that she's trying to be smarter about things, to which Beau says that she is very smart.
• Having stepped on each other's toes a little in Episode 9, it's clear that both Jester and Caleb are actively trying to build a better rapport with one another:
  • In preparation of once more trying to get into the Tri-Spires district with Caleb, Jester gives him a once-over, cleaning his face and rearranging his hair a little. When she's done, she assures him he looks "sparkling clean" and "very dashing", to which Caleb good-naturedly quips that he hopes the guards think so too.
  • Upon finding out that there's a bakery right next to Chastity's Nook, Caleb offers to buy Jester sweets. They end up placing an order for 10 bear claws and a fresh loaf of bread.
  • To return the favor, Jester buys Caleb the expensive historical porn book presented to them by Iva in Chastity's Nook. Unfortunately, it turns out Caleb wasn't really interested in smutty literature, he was simply looking for spellbooks. However, he still appreciates the gesture and thanks her for the gift.
  • When they're in Jester's room at the Pillow Trove, Caleb runs his hand over the bed sheet, but Beau chastises him for getting it dirty. Jester assures him it's not a problem and enthusiastically tells him to try lying on the bed, seemingly sensitive to the fact that Caleb probably hasn't had the chance to enjoy such luxuries in his life.
• When the whole party is finally introduced to the Knights of Requital, Beau aggressively asks if "people like" Jester and Molly make the Knights uncomfortable. Made extra sweet considering her own Hate at First Sight relationship with Molly and how Molly exposed himself to some racist vitriol courtesy of the High Richter moments earlier.

Episode 12: Midnight Espionage

• Jester chooses to save a severely injured and paralyzed Nott instead of herself when she flubs a check to keep both of them on their rope.
• Moments after being caught in a Mexican Stand Off with Caleb and Nott over Caleb’s attempt to steal some spell scrolls from the High Richter’s home, Fjord uses a healing potion on an unconscious Caleb, who had gotten caught in the blast of a Fireball spell, and, with help from Jester, then carries him out of the building to safety.