The Mighty Nein
Genre: Action adventure, Comedy drama, Fantasy, Adult animation
Created by: Critical Role Productions
Based on: Critical Role (campaign two) Dungeons & Dragons
Stars (voices): Laura Bailey, Taliesin Jaffe, Ashley Johnson, Matthew Mercer, Liam O’Brien, Marisha Ray, Sam Riegel, Travis Willingham
The series is available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
* * *
Season 1 – Episode 5
Episode title: Little Spark
Original release date: December 3, 2025
Episode plot: After a prison escape and capturing a Volstrucker, Beau’s harsh interrogation leads her to question Caleb as his Empire ties and dark history come to light.
The Mighty Nein – S01E05 – Little Spark | Transcript
[birds singing]
[Caleb] Let me tell you a story.
[quiet guitar music playing]
[purrs]
[meows]
[meows]
[speaking Zemnian]
Bren! Breakfast!
Good morning, Mother.
Where is Father?
Boars ruined the fence again.
I will go and fetch him.
Before your delicious porridge gets cold.
[laughs]
Oh, come on!
Thank you, little spark.
♪♪
[both straining]
Left, left!
Here, let me help.
No offense, kid, but I don’t think you can do any better.
Son? You have something up your sleeve?
Pockets, actually.
Now keep it steady.
Amenth-Spaodas.
[gasps]
Well done, boy.
Sorcery!
No… well, yes. Sort of.
Your father said you could do magic… but I figured he meant card tricks…
[chuckling] A common misunderstanding.
Magic is nothing more than a tool.
Like a hoe or a hammer.
[laughs]
Amazing what this one can do with talent and some old books.
[cart approaching]
[driver] Ho.
[farmhand speaking]
Wow, that’s a fancy ride.
What is the Empire doing way out here?
[dramatic music playing]
[Leofric, farmhand and Bren] Hail King Dwendal.
[in English] I presume this is your work?
Pardon me, is there some kind of problem?
How rude of me.
Trent Ikithon.
I am a Professor at the Sol…
The Soltryce Academy.
[in Zemnian]
Shake his hand.
[in English]
Apologies, my lord.
We don’t often get visitors of your standing.
Oh, I am no lord.
Merely a practitioner of the arcane arts.
[speaking Zemnian] I heard there was a farmer’s son in the Zemni Fields who had a gift for magic.
This transmutation spell… it shows a high level of refinement.
He’s not in trouble then?
No, no. Quite the opposite.
[family laughing]
It’s been quite a while since I’ve had a homecooked meal.
Ah.
Your doing, I presume?
[Bren speaking]
It was an accident.
[Trent speaking]
Arcane Fire.
Sadly, your brick never stood a chance.
Arcane Fire burns hotter than natural flames.
To summon such a spell with no instruction… that’s exemplary, Bren.
It was just in a book, sir.
Anyone can read the words.
But to understand it…
I believe you would thrive at the Soltryce Academy.
I appreciate that, sir.
But my hands are needed here.
We’ve discussed it.
The tuition is…
We could take some livestock to market.
Darling.
We’d never want to hold Bren back from serving the Empire.
I see.
I’m certain Bren’s talent will secure him a scholarship.
And if he graduates, he’ll earn more than enough to hire help for the farm.
[yowls]
[hisses] Ow! You stupid…
[Bren speaking] Frumpkin! No!
[hissing] I am sorry, sir.
He’s never done that before.
It’s quite alright.
See?
[both gasp] All better.
In my hand is an acceptance letter to the Academy.
The parchment is enchanted so that when it burns, the letter will appear in the Admissions Office.
Consider this your entrance exam.
Bren means ‘fire’ in the old tongue, yes?
Let’s see if you can live up to the name.
Vooscaulda. You can do this, lad.
[inhales]
Voos… …caulda!
[upbeat dramatic music playing]
Bren Aldric Ermendrud.
Welcome to the Soltryce Academy.
And to the rest of your life.
[laughs] My boy!
Bren, how wonderful.
[quiet, emotional music playing]
[in English] Oh. Hello.
Hello yourself. I’m Astrid.
The love you is Eadwulf.
Come on in.
[sighs]
[Astrid] So… what’s your name?
[ominous dramatic music playing]
[panting] Bren.
You’re a long way from home.
[pulsing, intense music playing]
♪♪
[Fjord] Who the hell is she?
[grunts]
Why do people keep trying to kill us in this goddamn town?
This is not a fight we can win.
We need to run.
No chance. This fucker’s been following me for weeks.
If we’re gonna do this, we need a plan.
Molly, you and I… [grunting] Oh, my Traveler! Fjord!
[Owelia] You want a fight, I’m happy to oblige.
[Jester gasps]
Lebash Nivek!
[gasps]
Wow, that is actually really cool.
As I was saying…
Get sailor boy on his feet.
We’ll buy you time.
[exciting, dramatic music playing]
[Fjord groans]
[Jester grunts] The poison’s not reacting to my magic.
[groans]
Is it bad? [groans] Bad is so negative.
How about we just say “impressively gruesome”?
Could you pick a word and get on with it?
Come on, Fjord.
[grunts]
[Nott] Caleb!
[Caleb] My guardian goblin.
[strains]
[Beau] This bitch.
Yah!
[shouts]
Sorry, I don’t do magic.
[straining]
[Beau breathes deeply] Payback’s a bitch, ain’t it?
[whimpers]
A-Are the bugs gone?
[groaning]
Wow. [laughs] We won.
[groans]
Hooray.
[indistinct chatter]
Normally, I love drawing a crowd, but perhaps we should get the fuck out of town.
What about Goth girl?
I’ve got more than a few questions for her.
More Townsguard will be here any minute.
[Nott] Oh, Caleb and I saw an abandoned farmhouse on the way here.
[groans] Fine. Load up.
[dramatic music playing]
The fuck, man? We need her alive.
My amulet.
Give it to me.
[speaking Zemnian]
Now you can no longer hide.
[bell tolling]
[panting]
[whistles]
[speaking Zemnian] You’ve got big balls showing up late.
[in English] More like his chicken legs were too slow.
Library?
Lost track of time.
[Trent] Let us begin.
Combat magic can be entirely unpredictable.
In battle, you may find yourself distracted, confounded.
But, above all else, you must protect yourself.
Line up, please.
Now, your task is a simple one.
Come, join me here.
The first three students who do, pass.
The rest fail.
[tense music playing]
[gasps]
[Trent] Come.
Surely one of you can reach me.
[quiet, dramatic music playing]
[grunts]
[shouts]
[shouts]
[Trent] Ah. Unlucky.
What the hell?
Traps. He is testing us.
You see that route?
Ja. Use the others.
All right. [chuckles] Race you, chicken legs.
♪♪
Nice.
Whoo! That’s how you do it.
[grunts, groans]
Owelia?
Doffkeenbrada.
[straining]
[grunts]
Well done.
Thank you, Master.
Bren figured it out.
Distract, confound, protect yourself.
You gave us the solution right at the start.
These students have displayed a wisdom I have been trying to impart all semester.
In the service of our Empire, you will be faced with choices that seem questionable.
But as you saw today, you must do whatever it takes to succeed.
[straining]
Class dismissed.
A moment.
I have a special task for you three.
[flies buzzing]
Should we at least wrap her wounds?
Nein. No.
Are you okay?
Maybe we should find you a doctor.
[panting]
I’ll be fine after a good night’s sleep.
Was, uh, was that everything you needed?
You did very well, ja. And what does it mean that she broke your amulet?
[Beau] Yeah, Caleb.
What does it mean?
That we are not safe. Any of us.
I also find it quite interesting that this woman has been tracking you, ja? Not that it’s your business, but I think she’s tangled up in an explosion at the border.
The Kryn and Empire are always trying to kill each other.
Not like this.
[Molly] Monk’s right.
Last couple towns we played, folks were on edge.
Don’t you feel it?
War’s brewing.
[inhales] You can feel that?
I can feel when my purse is empty, and we haven’t had a sold-out show in months.
Not till the one you fucked up, thank you very much.
That tent exploding was cool, though.
Point is, with war comes assassins, spies.
Secret Empire agents, like this bitch.
You are correct.
She is too dangerous to let live.
Are you suggesting we execute her?
Or maybe we’ll talk to her and she’ll see how cool we are and become our bestie, you don’t know.
[Molly] Well, ladies and gents, misfits and malcontents, our traveling troupe has reached its destination.
[Beau groans] You could’ve just said, “We’re here.”
[grunts]
Let’s get little miss cockroach in a chair.
Oh, can I come? I’ve always wanted to see fingernails pulled.
I go where Caleb goes.
[groans] This isn’t a damn social club.
She’s right.
But I should at least be there in case you need backup with…
Whoa, there.
[groans] You’re looking much greener than usual.
Come on, Fjord, let’s find you a bed. No arguing.
[stomach rumbles]
[groans]
[Fjord groaning]
Um, Caleb, you sure you’re all right?
You seem tense.
More than usual.
Go help Jester.
You have a gift for toxins and the like.
You can help.
Okay.
Use your reed if you need me.
I’m watching you, undercut.
Danke.
Go.
So, what is our plan?
She is a wizard like me.
Perhaps I can assist with the interrogation.
Fine. Look, maybe we try the old “good monk, bad monk.”
I’m bad monk. Obviously.
[pained groaning] Oh, Molly, he’s burning up.
I can heal cuts and bruises, but not poison.
Traveler, please, I don’t want Fjord to DIE.
[frustrated moan] Get out of the way.
Okay. Let’s see here.
[sighs] The poison may be magic, but…
[sniffs]
…it resembles adder venom.
You can make a home remedy with Basilisk Tongue.
Okay. Where do we find a basilisk?
And I call dibs on cutting out its tongue.
It’s a plant.
That is disappointing.
[exhales] Look, i-it must grow nearby.
These little yellow flowers have antiseptic properties.
We need enough to brew a tea or the corruption will spread and he’ll… uh, DIE?
[groans] You guys know I can spell, right?
I didn’t, actually.
Do we really trust the goblin?
Hey, he’s got a point.
No, Nott wouldn’t lie.
We will go find the Basilisk Tongue thing.
Fjord, hang on.
You better listen to her.
I’m pretty sure she’d kill you if you die.
[sighs]
Sorry about that. I…
I didn’t mean…
[retching]
[groans in disgust]
I don’t know what she sees in you.
[grunts]
[Beau] Whisper the first syllable of a spell, and I crush your larynx.
Then my friend here lights your ass up.
Do the, do the fire fingers thing.
I thought I was “good monk.”
You and your Volstrucker buddies stole something from the Kryn.
And it sure as fuck wrecked Rockguard Garrison, so what was it?
[groans in pain]
[eerie music playing]
[exhales] Okay.
I know you have snitches in the Cobalt Soul.
Give me names and maybe we’ll leave you in one piece.
[laughs softly]
What you did is starting a war, and thousands of innocent people are gonna pay the price.
Now talk.
[gasps] Three days.
Three days till what?
Leave the prisoner in isolation for three days before questioning.
To imagine the torture they will receive.
To break them without lifting a finger.
[laughs softly]
You are an amateur.
And it shows.
[groans in frustration] Enflotho hashet.
[panicked gasping]
[shouting in pain]
You will answer her questions or you will regret what comes next.
Think this is another test?
Mm. Everything is a test with him.
Guys, relax.
I bet we’re gonna get promoted.
[chuckles] You think?
Look at us.
Master Ikithon’s not an idiot.
[doors open]
You first, little spark.
[atmospheric music playing]
‘Tis only a chair.
Do you know why I plucked you out of the Zemni Fields, Bren?
Because you, my boy, are special.
Even at your age, I believe you are ready to apply your education to the field.
You mean join the Cerberus Assembly?
Uh, not quite.
[Bren gasps softly]
As of tonight, you will join an elite group.
A secret force trained in incredible magic, who exists only to serve the Empire.
Just as you’ve always wanted, yes?
Of course, Master.
What of Astrid and Eadwulf?
Oh, they will be given the same opportunity.
But make no mistake, you are the rising star, Bren.
The little spark who became a firestorm.
Shratten thoo.
[Bren screaming in pain]
Accept the pain.
Endure it.
A sign of your dedication.
[speaking Zemnian]
You can do this.
[crying out in pain]
[in English]
Your father needs you to be strong.
[screaming]
[Owelia screaming]
What did your Master steal from the Kryn?
[screaming]
Okay. I think she gets it.
[exhales]
You should not have stopped me.
These people only tell the truth when their body has no other choice.
You certainly know a lot about “these people.”
[Owelia] Yes, he does.
[speaking Zemnian] You know how easy it would be for us to kill her, together.
[in English]
What did she just say?
Nothing important.
So it’s just a fucking coincidence this chick speaks Zemnian, too?
Or is there something more to it?
This is her plan.
To sow doubt between us then escape when we are focused on each other.
That’s funny. You didn’t say I was wrong.
[chittering]
Fjord won’t die, will he?
Don’t even answer that. He can’t die.
The Traveler would never let that happen.
Right, Traveler?
“Right, Jester.”
[groans] You know, y-you… whenever you want to say hi, I’m just freaking out here, trying to save a life.
That’s the trouble with gods, isn’t it?
You never know if they’ll be there when you need them.
Oh, the Traveler is always there.
He’s just not always here.
Hmm.
You know who is always here, at least, in the scant few days I’ve known you?
[gasps] You are so right.
The Traveler must have sent Fjord so I could have a friend when he’s busy.
Huh.
Who knows the whims of the gods?
Well, this doesn’t seem like enough.
Can you use your special vision to find more, like with that ugly ghost frog?
Or do you need blood?
[Molly] Want to know a secret?
[sighs]
That’s never happened before.
So mysterious.
I mean, you can smell blood, and your blood turns into ice?
Ho.
[gasps] What happens if you drink blood?
You know, I’m not too keen to find out.
Those answers lay in the past, and I find the past dreadfully boring.
Oh, yeah, is that why you carry those fancy cards?
To peer into your future?
[laughs] Not quite, lass.
Take this group, for instance.
We’ve got a homeless wizard, an inebriated goblin, a half-orc midshipman…
Captain.
[chuckles] Right.
…who doesn’t understand his power and a temperamental monk in way over her head.
I don’t need the cards to tell me that adventure lays before us.
You people are damned interesting.
I know, right?
And the most intriguing of all is this wide-eyed talented woman who’d do best to leave a one-sided relationship with an invisible god.
Yeah.
Wait, are you talking about me?
[Fjord groaning in pain]
[coughing]
Get off of me.
Ugh, stop.
Oh, what, you think I want to touch your sweat-ass body?
What are you doing?
I’m trying to keep you cool so the fever doesn’t cook your brain.
[exhales] You’re a wizard’s sidekick.
What do you know about poison?
[sighs] I knew an alchemist once.
He taught me a few things.
And I helped him stay alive.
Or at least, I tried to.
[scoffs]
Wow, an alchemist goblin.
Well, you know, that’s, uh, that’s pretty impressive…
[stomach grumbles]
[moans in frustration]
God, you son of a bitch.
[spits, sighs]
[groans]
[Fjord] Captain! [whimpering]
I-I tried to stop him.
But I… but I was weak.
I failed.
I’m not the man you thought I was.
I’m sorry.
No, no, no. No, you’re… [shushing] It’s okay. No, you didn’t fail.
There, there, honey. It’s okay. [shushes]
[humming lullaby]
[shushes]
[humming lullaby]
[speaking Zemnian] You have lost her trust Bren. The others will soon follow.
Silence.
[in English] She’s really getting under your skin.
Tell me what the fuck she’s saying.
You may not trust me, Beauregard, but we cannot do this here.
Cool.
We’re doing it here.
[speaking Zemnian] The monk will snap your neck when she finds out the truth.
Shut your mouth!
[in English] Oh, yeah.
You two are total strangers, huh?
Spill it. You working with her?
Nein.
[speaking Zemnian] Kill her, while you still can.
Nein. [in English] Then who the fuck are you?
[speaking Zemnian] Just tell her.
You are still Volstrucker.
[tense music playing]
[gasps]
[in English] Now, that I understood.
[Bren breathes shallowly in pain]
It hurts so much.
Yeah, but that’s okay.
You will not have to endure it alone.
[eerie music playing]
Master Ikithon called us “Volstrucker”?
[scoffs]
I was supposed to be a farmer.
You have a purpose now.
These arms make us something new.
Something powerful.
It’s frightening, but it’s beautiful.
Bren.
You are beautiful.
Whatever we are, we will be together.
[dance music playing]
[lively chatter]
Do you see the monk?
Not yet. Foxstep.
Remember our first dance lesson?
I remember thinking it was a waste of time.
Who knew it was the easiest way to infiltrate a party?
You were a menace.
Almost broke my foot.
[laughs] And now?
Now you are merely clumsy.
[exhales sharply]
[laughs]
Ooh.
Thank you, Herr Bren.
[Bren] See?
I am not a complete amateur.
[Eadwulf] Maybe save the flirting for after the mission?
Where’s the target?
No need to be jealous, Wulf.
I will let you dip me later.
Psst. There he is.
♪♪
Bradaunneen.
[both gasp]
We secured the key.
Bring the thunder, big guy. Music to my arms.
[screaming] What’s happening?
[male patron] It’s a Crick attack.
Where should we go?
Try to stay calm.
[exciting music playing]
[Monk-Guard] Halt!
Only Cobalt Soul allowed.
Yah!
[Monk-Guard] Not another step.
I’ll take them. Go.
[suspenseful music playing]
[door creaks]
Visda-Revelo.
That was a warning.
You must be brave or stupid to break into the Soul.
There is no place on this continent you can hide from us, so I suggest you spill your guts and give up your patron.
Maybe you should spill yours.
Lebmac Nitsirk.
[gasps]
[groaning in pain]
[Beau] Tired of this shit.
Who are you?
Do not do this now, Beauregard.
[speaking Zemnian] You are a killer.
Follow your instincts.
Kill her, then come home.
Father still loves you.
[grunting]
[in English] Oh, you son of a bitch.
You’re a Volstrucker.
Give me one good reason not to snap your neck right now.
Nein. Nein…
W-We are…
[moans]
[coughing] Well? What do you have to say?
We took our eyes off her.
[suspenseful music playing]
Ah, shit.
[Caleb] Get back!
[Beau and Caleb coughing]
Oh, the prisoner’s free.
I’m sure that’s totally on purpose.
She did become our bestie.
Nope. Not a bestie.
[coughs] Get her ass. [coughing]
[Caleb] Neirbo Mael.
[all groaning]
You wanted to know me?
This is who I am.
[laughter]
Ah, my prized pupils.
Congratulations.
Your success will help keep the Empire safe.
You have earned this feast.
[chuckles] Don’t mind if I do.
[groans] You have the manners of this pig.
You think this body fuels itself?
[soft laughter]
[laughs]
This reminds me of the day we met, Bren, don’t you think?
Much less humble, sir.
It’s a shame about your village.
The Zemni Fields are now being used as a rebel base to spread lies against the king.
Ungrateful traitors.
We should drag them out of their hovels in the dead of night.
Mm. No, it should be public.
A flogging.
Something to send a message.
Hmm.
Bren?
What would you do to traitors?
The greatest fear of the Zemni people is losing their livelihood.
I would raze their farms to the ground, then hang their ashen corpses along the King’s Way as a warning to all: this is what the Empire does with traitors.
Hear, hear.
Hear, hear.
Hmm.
I am happy to hear you say that.
Because you have a new mission: to put down the Zemni rebellion.
These missives contain a list of traitors, as named by the King’s spymasters.
However, it, uh… it comes with difficult news, Bren.
You may recognize some names on the list.
[atmospheric music playing]
[Owelia groaning]
[gasping]
[dark music playing]
I heard you’d wasted away in a sanatorium.
Forgot even how to speak.
But you’re less rusty than I expected.
All those lessons never really leave you.
Weshun, Felinthono-Bladros.
[groans]
[low rumble] [gasps]
[whimpers softly]
[groaning in pain]
I… Everyone all right out there?
Stay alive. Please.
[panting]
Where’s Caleb?
[muffled shouting] He’s dead?
[muffled chatter]
Trapped in a well?
[muffled] Rune trap.
Buried alive? What are you saying?
[groans] Rune trap.
What’s a “poon clap”?
Oh, he used a rune trap to stop you so he could follow the poison lady alone.
[grumbling]
Wait, you left him alone?
[muffled chatter]
Okay, okay. Relax.
He’s used this trick before.
It only lasts a minute.
Okay, Jessie, when you’re free, brew the flowers into a tea and give it to Fjord before he croaks.
You probably have… eh, ten minutes.
I don’t know. Uh, I’ll go get Caleb.
You can thank me later.
[muffled shouting]
[tense music playing]
I never understood why you were his favorite.
I never betrayed him.
I never ran away.
Yet, all he wants is to find you.
[wheels rattling]
[bird squawking]
There’s the Bren I knew.
Master Ikithon will never stop sending us until you come home.
[humming]
[Owelia] Everyone you love will die.
[dramatic music playing]
At least it will not be by your hand.
[shouts]
[screams]
[distant crying]
[cackling]
[Una] Bren!
[Frumpkin meowing]
[screams]
♪♪
[Trent] The little spark who became a firestorm. You, my boy, are special.
[screaming]
[yowling]
[Trent] Accept the pain. Endure it.
[shouts]
[screams]
[screams]
[somber music playing]
Caleb!
[groans softly]
[panting]
[exhales]
It’s okay. It’ll be okay.
I’m here.
[atmospheric music playing]
[birds chirping]
[sighs]
The mad fire wizard, rising like a phoenix.
How you feeling?
[Caleb groans softly]
Eh, sounds about right.
I’ll say this: we’ve got questions.
But, hey, well done.
You made it to a new day, and each new day is a new opportunity to be someone… well, new.
So, who would you like to be today?
[gentle music playing]
Ugh. Bleh.
This shit tastes like shit.
[laughs softly] How do you know what shit tastes like, hmm?
Drink up.
Hmm?
[gulping]
Ugh.
Your friend’s got problems, kid.
Yeah, like you’re a peach.
I’m just saying, he’s gonna get you into trouble, if he keeps making you clean up his messes.
Caleb doesn’t make me do anything.
Really? ‘Cause you guys have very parent-child vibes.
Maybe.
But I am the parent.
You do understand that, correct?
I keep him safe so he can get better and stronger and achieve great things.
When I found him, he was nothing.
Just a scared little boy in the corner of an alley.
It’s my job to protect him.
I protect him.
He’s my boy.
And he’ll be a great man someday.
Does he know all that?
I don’t know what he knows.
[door opens]
I weirdly want to beat his ass but also… hug him right now.
I wouldn’t.
The smell won’t come off your clothes for days.
I think you owe us some words, trash-wizard.
You are right. I do.
[atmospheric music playing]
I have not been entirely honest with you.
But that ends today.
Let me tell you a story.
[exciting music playing]
♪♪
