Cree Deeproots

Fan art of Cree, by Clara.

**Cree Deeproots** was a tabaxi cleric (Blood domain) and a member of the Tombtakers. She previously worked for The Gentleman, a crime boss in Zadash. As an NPC, Cree was played by Matthew Mercer.

## **Description**

### **Appearance**

Cree is "a muscular panther-like female of dark brown/black fur and yellow eyes." When the Mighty Nein first met her, she was dressed in maroon and dull grey robes.

Much later during the Mighty Nein's encounter with the Tombtakers in Eiselcross, Cree wore heavy leathers and furs, and a necklace around her neck with a red circular polished orb in the center of it. On closer inspection, Beau noticed it contained a red liquid. Cree bore five eye tattoos on her body, only seen by the Nein during their final battle.

After her death at the hands of the Mighty Nein, Cree was transformed into a monstrosity of mangled flesh and bones. Her face could still be seen within the pile of flesh.

### **Personality**

When the party originally met Cree in the company of Mollymauk Tealeaf, she seemed very friendly and outgoing. Later, even after they told her of his death, she remained cordial.

However, when the Mighty Nein encountered the Tombtakers while in Eiselcross, Cree was far more stand-offish and quiet around the party. While in Widogast's Nascent Nein-Sided Tower she muttered under her breath, "Fucking rich kids," in apparent disgust at its opulence. She evaded questions about where she was from.

## **Biography**

### **Background**

Cree was born in 810 PD as the daughter of a couple of the Greying Wildlands. Her mother had a talent to detect the "glint" (a special shine around certain people that indicated they were blessed or cursed), which Cree inherited; her father, on the other hand, was a sensitive man whose main vices were drinking and gambling, and with each card game he worsened the situation of his family. When Cree's father died his wife mourned him and made their daughter visit his gravestone, until eventually the tabaxi's mother passed away too.

Cree began living on the streets of Shadycreek Run, and a few years later befriended Lucien Tavelle, another more recent orphan about her age, who, according to the tabaxi, had the glint, reason why she stayed with him. They sometimes did missions for Auntie Mama, a local woman with connections with the local tribes. On one occasion in 822 PD Cree and Lucien ended up having troubles with mercenaries of the Red Debt, and to save themselves, Lucien asked the help of Azrahari, a hollower witch of the Savalirwood who owed him a debt. At some point after that, after an argument with Auntie Mama (they had tried to help a neighbor and her abusive husband had threatened Auntie Mama for it), both of them left Shadycreek Run following Brevyn Oakbender, Auntie Mama's favorite child and a member of the Claret Orders.

By 829 PD Cree and her friends had been training in the Oltu Ruins for at least two years, learning the secrets of hemocraft, although they (as well as other members of the Orders) did not like the authority and strict attitude of some superiors, such as Sarenne de Chastain. Cree had become a capable blood cleric, and spent much of her time tending to the garden, but her first official contract with the Claret Orders was taking time to arrive (even though she helped in other people's missions, like Lucien's own first contract), so her tiefling friend urged Karem Ferentus to assign the tabaxi to her first mission. The contract (supervised by Sarenne de Chastain) was to kill the witch Azrahari, and when Lucien discovered that, since he had a past with the hollower, convinced her to let him kill the witch himself, which earned him a reprimand from de Chastain. After that Cree was part of at least one more contract with the order, taking down a fiend in Berleben with Brevyn's help (although it would be Lucien who would end up saving them both; according to the tabaxi, the half-goliath began to fall for the tiefling in that mission).

In 831 PD Cree and several members of the Orders traveled to Rexxentrum and spent there several months, even meeting with Vess DeRogna from the Cerberus Assembly to present her with a relic at some point; the archmage secretly paid Lucien by giving him information about where his sister Aldreda lived, although their reunion didn't end in good terms. At the end of their stay in the capital, Cree, Lucien, Brevyn and Otis Brunkel decided to leave the Claret Orders and return to Shadycreek Run.

In their hometown they came across other members of the Order, Zoran Kluthidol, Tyffial Wase and Briyakar Jurrell, who had been living in Auntie Mama's house for a while after she was killed by Reese Jagentoth for smuggling for the Mardoons, two years before. Despite Brevyn's desire for revenge the group ended up deciding to recover Auntie Mama's remains instead, in order to give her a proper farewell instead of having her where the Jagentoths kept those who betrayed them. That adventure started their group, that would be known as the Tombtakers, and although they lived for a while in Brevyn's house (Auntie Mama left it to her in her will), with Cree, Lucien and Tyffial searching for some relics from Molaesmyr for a collector in South Clover that wanted to decorate his brothel, eventually the Jagentoths tried to attack them, stopping only because Vess DeRogna appeared and bargained for their lives, so she could hire the Tombtakers herself. One of their missions was in Molaesmyr, were they fought hags and reached the tower of Caes Mosor.

The Tombtakers eventually accompanied the archmage in an expedition to Aeor. While exploring the lost city under the ice they found a room with a corpse and an old journal that somehow started to speak to Lucien in his mind; when the hall began to collapse the group began to withdraw but Lucien, prompted by the voices of the journal, wanted to retrieve the object. Brevyn decided to go find it for him, but the collapse crushed half of her body, and she died giving his friend the journal. Vess DeRogna tried to claim the item as part of the artifacts recovered from the expedition, but to the outrage of the Tombtakers and the high price Lucien had paid for the journal, the archmage gave up. Since they weren't able to recover Brevyn's body, the Tombtakers honored her in a lake near Balenpost, in which Zoran offered a moving prayer to the Matron of Ravens.

After that expedition Lucien spent a lot of time reading the journal, from Balenpost to Yardel, becoming more of a hermit, having strange dreams and visions, and red eyes started appearing in his body, which caused Cree great concern. When she told him about it, Lucien, despite initial reluctance, left the journal with her so she could understand what was going through his head. He shared his knowledge with all his other friends and they decided to use that power to shape the world according to their wishes and make it a better place for them. In the process Cree and the other Tombtakers gained red eyes and some powers as well.

Since Vess DeRogna had conned them at the time when she "payed" them after their expedition to Aeor, they decided to contact her and to compensate them with her magic. The tome contained a ritual spell required to reach the Somnovem (the voices from the journal), but Lucien understood it only partially. He reached out to Vess, and she came to oversee and perform the ritual for them. Gathering in the forest in 833 PD, the Tombtakers had a feast at which Lucien gave a speech. DeRogna told the Tombtakers that it would be hard to tell immediately whether or not the ritual had succeeded.

The ritual was performed, but DeRogna intentionally failed. When the Tombtakers checked, Lucien was not breathing. They waited until dawn, and believed the ritual had failed and Lucien was dead. Lucien had told them that if anything were to go wrong, they had to get rid of any sign, any trace. So, not far from their hideout, they buried him and went their separate ways. Vess took the tome as part of the arrangement Lucien had with her.

Cree ended up working for the Gentleman in Zadash, using her hemocraft to track people.

### **"Fleeting Memories" (2x14)**

Greeting Mollymauk in a strong embrace, Cree revealed that it had been two years since they had last seen each other and that she had known him under the names Lucien and "the Nonagon." Lucien, unlike Molly, had short hair and did not have as many tattoos.

### **"The Journey Home" (2x30)**

When the Mighty Nein returned to the Evening Nip, Cree was called upon again to take the blood sample of Caduceus Clay. She noticed that Lucien was not with them and asked about him, expressing how fervently she desired to speak to him again. The party, not wanting to break the news to her that her friend who mysteriously and miraculously returned from the dead had died once again, chose to tell her that they had a falling out with "Lucien" and he left the party. Cree expressed sadness at this news and requested that they tell Lucien to come see her if they ever saw him again.

### **"Commerce & Chaos" (2x31)**

Upon his return to Zadash, Fjord told Cree the truth about Mollymauk's death, while still referring to him as Lucien. Cree blamed Fjord's "carelessness" for Mollymauk's death.

### **"Dinner with the Devil" (2x110)**

After discussing their options in figuring out the mystery of the floating city in the Astral Sea, Jester decided to send a message to the Gentleman, asking if they could have a conversation with Cree, but Cree was no longer at the Evening Nip. Jester then sent Cree a message directly, asking if the Mighty Nein could have a conversation with her. Cree responded saying that she didn't remember Jester, and failed to respond at all to a follow-up message.

She was, in fact, gathering the remaining Tombtakers (Jurrell had been executed) and searching for Molly's grave, where Cree resurrected him, with the Somnovem using their powers to "reconstruct" the tiefling's soul. After coming back to life Lucien wanted to return to Eiselcross as soon as possible, wanting to sell Jurrell's jewel that Tyffial (her beloved) had inherited, which she refused, only letting Jurrell's memory go after the Nonagon forced her to do it with his powers. Cree was dismayed at this, and confused to discover that Lucien was carrying a valuable medallion with him anyway, but said jewel turned out to be a gift to the blood cleric: a holy symbol fashioned from Azrahari's amulet, with a crystal vial in it that the Nonagon filled with his own blood.

### **"New Homes and Old Friends" (2x111)**

With the help of blood samples left behind at the Evening Nip, Jester used *Scrying* to see what Cree was up to, and saw her trudging through blizzard conditions with a leather sack. When Jester used *Scrying* later that day on Mollymauk, she found him doing exactly the same thing.

### **"The Tortoise and The Dare" (2x117)**

The Mighty Nein encountered Cree with the rest of the living Tombtakers at site A5 on the island of Foren on Eiselcross. Lucien was able to turn all of the Tombtakers' eyes red and speak through all of their mouths at once. It turned out Cree had told Lucien a little about the Nein. Beauregard noticed Cree wearing her new holy symbol with Lucien's blood in it.

### **The Nine Eyes of Lucien**

In the last camp before finally arriving to the ruins of Aeor Cree dreamed that her friends (minus Lucien) were dead, being eaten by birds of red eyes, fearing for her own life and doubting if their mission would be successful. Lucien reassured her, assuring her that even if the other Tombtakers died, the two of them would reach their destination.

Later on, while scouting and avoiding Kryn soldiers, Cree ignored Lucien's attitude and searched for the place where Brevyn had died, finding her dead body, and getting the impression that Brevyn was glad to have them around. When she told Lucien he forced the cleric to shut up using his powers, forbidding her to speak of the half-goliath again.

### **"Hunter and Hunted" (2x133)**

The Mighty Nein staged an ambush in which they managed to kill all the members of the Tombtakers except for Lucien and Cree (who was badly injured, however). She cast *Dimension Door* with her cloak to keep herself and Lucien away from danger. After that the tabaxi noticed that the glint Lucien had had his whole life around him was gone.

### **"Where There Is a Will..." (2x138)**

The party pursued Cree into the ruins of Cognouza, meeting her in the tunnels under the city leading to the threshold vault, where she had placed one of the two threshold crests required to return the city to the Prime Material Plane. In the subsequent battle, Cree was killed, revealing that she had five red eyes on her body. In her death throes, she telepathically reached out to Lucien, asking for help. He told her that he needed more time and for her to "become part of the pattern". Her body convulsed and transformed into a horrific flesh creature that also fought the party, but was eventually killed.

## **Relationships**

### **Lucien Tavelle**

Cree and Lucien were childhood friends who stayed together partially because of Lucien's glint, although later on she would admit she would have followed him regardless. They looked out for each other, and when they formed the Tombtakers and Lucien became the Nonagon, Cree saw him as a strong and charismatic leader to whom she looked for guidance.

After she resurrected him she disagreed with him whenever he made heartless decisions, but followed his command despite everything. As Lucien started losing himself more and more, his attitude towards Cree grew colder, even resorting to using his powers on her to make her obey. Even in that state of mind a small part of himself still wanted her to survive, and after she died, her memory was used by Molly's echo in his mind to try to make him feel remorse.

### **The Gentleman**

After the uncertainty surrounding Lucien's death, Cree was in need of work and in time she found herself in service to the Gentleman as part of The Gentleman's Troupe.

## **Character Information**

### **Notable Items**

* Medallion - a disk of soft metallic spirals around a small red globe with a red liquid slightly moving around inside, glowed when she cast spells. It was later identified as her holy symbol containing the blood of the Nonagon.
* Cape of the Mountebank
* Scroll of *Control Weather* (Used to create snow to cross the River Inferno.)
* War pick

### **Abilities**

Cree specialized in controlling the flow of blood, and could pull it out of a person's body and manipulate it around the air. She claimed to have learned this ability in the same place Lucien learned his skills. Working for the Gentleman, she used this power to draw blood from the members of the Mighty Nein into vials she kept in a small leather satchel. This blood could then be used to track down anyone who betrayed the Gentleman.

### **Tabaxi Abilities**

* Darkvision
* Feline Agility
* Cat's Claws
	+ 20 ft. Climbing speed
* Cat's Talent
	+ Proficient in Perception and Stealth

#### **Cleric Abilities**

* Channel Divinity (2 uses per short rest)
	+ Turn Undead
	+ Destroy Undead (CR 2)
* Divine Domain: Blood Domain
	+ Bloodletting Focus
	+ Channel Divinity: Blood Puppet
	+ Channel Divinity: Crimson Bond
	+ Sanguine Recall
	+ Domain Spells
* Divine Intervention
* Ritual Casting
* Spellcasting (Wisdom-based ability)

##### **1st-level**

* *Sleep*
* *Ray of Sickness*

##### **2nd-level**

* *Ray of Enfeeblement*
* *Crown of Madness*

##### **3rd-level**

* *Haste*
* *Slow*

##### **4th-level**

* *Blight*
* *Stoneskin*

##### **5th-level**

* *Dominate Person*
* *Hold Monster*

#### **Cleric Spells**

In addition to her domain spells, Cree had access to at least five cleric cantrips and 1st- through 8th-level cleric spells. As a 15th-level cleric, she could prepare at least 15 of these spells per day.

#### **From the Eyes of Nine**

Like Lucien, Cree was exposed to the "Pattern" of the Somnovem that imparted her the red eyes. She was found to have five on her body although she was not shown to have used all of their abilities during her time with the Mighty Nein.

* First eye: Mild telepathy with others bearing eyes (120 feet)
* Second eye: Darkvision
* Third eye: Ability to see through illusions
* Fourth eye: Ability to see into the ethereal plane
* Fifth eye: Ability to scry into the "eye" of another

## **Appearances and mentions**

* *The Nine Eyes of Lucien*
* Campaign Two
	+ "Lost & Found" (2x13) (first appearance)
	+ "Fleeting Memories" (2x14)
	+ "Where The River Goes" (2x15), mentioned only
	+ "The Journey Home" (2x30)
	+ "Commerce & Chaos" (2x31)
	+ "Dinner with the Devil" (2x110), via *Sending*
	+ "New Homes and Old Friends" (2x111), via *Scrying*
	+ "Fetching Fables & Frosty Friends" (2x115), via *Sending*
	+ "The Tortoise and The Dare" (2x117)
	+ "Contentious Company" (2x120)
	+ "Ice and Fire" (2x121)
	+ "Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained" (2x122)
	+ "Fair-weather Faith" (2x123)
	+ "Hunter and Hunted" (2x133)
	+ "The Streets of the Forgotten" (2x134), via *Scrying*
	+ "Hell or High Water" (2x136)
	+ "Welcome to Cognouza" (2x137)
	+ "Where There Is a Will..." (2x138)

## **Quotations**

* **Cree**: *(after Lucien lost his glint and stated that he didn't need it)* I would have followed you anyway, Lu–Nonagon. Glint or no glint.

## **Trivia**

* Her name is the same as that of an aboriginal nation of North America.
* She (or her family at the very least) could be related to the Nightback Clan, a tabaxi clan of the Savalirwood that followed the Wildmother.
	+ Interestingly, the Nightback Clan blame the elves for what happened in Molaesmyr and the surrounding area, and Cree seemed to be particularly annoyed by elves.
* She occasionally smoked cigarillos, sharing them with Lucien.

## **References**

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 See "Where There Is a Will..." (2x138) at 0:13:49.  Matt refers to Cree as "Cree Deeproots".
2. ↑ Matt's notes for "Harvest Close" (2x17) give details about The Gentleman and his organization.
3. ↑ *Critical Role: The Mighty Nein - The Nine Eyes of Lucien*, p. 9. She and Lucien are said to be the same age, and he was born in 810 PD.
4. ↑ See "Hunter and Hunted" (2x133) at 4:16:13.  Cree casts a spell consistent with *Earthquake*, an 8th level cleric spell.
5. ↑ See "Where There Is a Will..." (2x138) from 0:25:31 through 0:26:22.  A 20 hit Cree's AC, but an 18 "just missed".
6. ↑ See Matt's notes for "Harvest Close" (2x17).
7. ↑ See "Lost & Found" (2x13) at 4:10:32.
8. ↑ See "The Tortoise and The Dare" (2x117) at 16:44.
9. ↑ See "The Tortoise and The Dare" (2x117) at 31:52.
10. ↑ See "The Tortoise and The Dare" (2x117) at 52:30.
11. ↑ See "Where There Is a Will..." (2x138) at 0:47:02.
12. ↑ See "Where There Is a Will..." (2x138) at 0:47:38.
13. ↑ See "Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained" (2x122) at 2:37:07.
14. ↑ *Critical Role: The Mighty Nein - The Nine Eyes of Lucien*, p. 9.
15. ↑ *Critical Role: The Mighty Nein - The Nine Eyes of Lucien*, p. 12.
16. ↑ *Critical Role: The Mighty Nein - The Nine Eyes of Lucien*, p. 118.
17. ↑ *Critical Role: The Mighty Nein - The Nine Eyes of Lucien*, p. 9.
18. ↑ *Critical Role: The Mighty Nein - The Nine Eyes of Lucien*, p. 12.
19. ↑ *Critical Role: The Mighty Nein - The Nine Eyes of Lucien*, p. 21.
20. ↑ *Critical Role: The Mighty Nein - The Nine Eyes of Lucien*, p. 9.
21. ↑ *Critical Role: The Mighty Nein - The Nine Eyes of Lucien*, p. 26.
22. ↑ *Critical Role: The Mighty Nein - The Nine Eyes of Lucien*, p. 37.
23. ↑ *Critical Role: The Mighty Nein - The Nine Eyes of Lucien*, p. 32.
24. ↑ *Critical Role: The Mighty Nein - The Nine Eyes of Lucien*, p. 31.
25. ↑ *Critical Role: The Mighty Nein - The Nine Eyes of Lucien*, p. 28, 29 and 31.
26. ↑ *Critical Role: The Mighty Nein - The Nine Eyes of Lucien*, p. 38 and 39.
27. ↑ *Critical Role: The Mighty Nein - The Nine Eyes of Lucien*, p. 227 and 228.
28. ↑ *Critical Role: The Mighty Nein - The Nine Eyes of Lucien*, p. 52, 53 and 54.
29. ↑ *Critical Role: The Mighty Nein - The Nine Eyes of Lucien*, p. 69 and 70.
30. ↑ *Critical Role: The Mighty Nein - The Nine Eyes of Lucien*, p. 75.
31. ↑ *Critical Role: The Mighty Nein - The Nine Eyes of Lucien*, p. 78, 79 and 80.
32. ↑ See "Fleeting Memories" (2x14) at 0:21:32.  Cree states, "We were all part of the same order at one point, and we splintered off. Luci-- Nonagon had a different path in mind for us, so we went north to Shadycreek Run and we started the Tombtakers."
33. ↑ *Critical Role: The Mighty Nein - The Nine Eyes of Lucien*, p. 83.
34. ↑ *Critical Role: The Mighty Nein - The Nine Eyes of Lucien*, p. 85.
35. ↑ *Critical Role: The Mighty Nein - The Nine Eyes of Lucien*, p. 87 and 88.
36. ↑ See "New Homes and Old Friends" (2x111) from 1:29:48 through 1:31:58.
37. ↑ *Critical Role: The Mighty Nein - The Nine Eyes of Lucien*, p. 107, 108 and 109.
38. ↑ *Critical Role: The Mighty Nein - The Nine Eyes of Lucien*, p. 114, 115 and 116.
39. ↑ *Critical Role: The Mighty Nein - The Nine Eyes of Lucien*, p. 117.
40. ↑ See "Ice and Fire" (2x121) from 0:42:07 through 0:48:10.
41. ↑ *Critical Role: The Mighty Nein - The Nine Eyes of Lucien*, p. 136.
42. ↑ See "Fleeting Memories" (2x14) at 1:04:59.
43. ↑ See "An Open Window" (2x114) at 3:08:51.
44. ↑ See "Fleeting Memories" (2x14) at 1:05:09.
45. ↑ See "Fleeting Memories" (2x14) at 1:05:42.
46. ↑ See "Fleeting Memories" (2x14) from 1:04:31 through 1:06:50.
47. ↑ See "Fleeting Memories" (2x14) at 0:19:02.
48. ↑ See "Fleeting Memories" (2x14) at 0:12:45.
49. ↑ See "Fleeting Memories" (2x14) at 0:18:05.
50. ↑ See "Fleeting Memories" (2x14) at 0:19:50.
51. ↑ *Critical Role: The Mighty Nein - The Nine Eyes of Lucien*, p. 165.
52. ↑ *Critical Role: The Mighty Nein - The Nine Eyes of Lucien*, p. 164.
53. ↑ See "Ice and Fire" (2x121) at 0:49:57.
54. ↑ *Critical Role: The Mighty Nein - The Nine Eyes of Lucien*, p. 169.
55. ↑ *Critical Role: The Mighty Nein - The Nine Eyes of Lucien*, p. 172.
56. ↑ *Critical Role: The Mighty Nein - The Nine Eyes of Lucien*, p. 216 and 217.
57. ↑ *Critical Role: The Mighty Nein - The Nine Eyes of Lucien*, p. 217.
58. ↑ See "Hunter and Hunted" (2x133) at 4:11:33.
59. ↑ *Critical Role: The Mighty Nein - The Nine Eyes of Lucien*, p. 228.
60. ↑ See "Fleeting Memories" (2x14) at 0:20:28.
61. ↑ *Critical Role: The Mighty Nein - The Nine Eyes of Lucien*, p. 172.
62. ↑ See "The Tortoise and The Dare" (2x117) at 0:52:46.
63. ↑ See "Fair-weather Faith" (2x123) at 1:24:34.
64. ↑ See "Where There Is a Will..." (2x138) at 2:18:01.
65. ↑ See "Hunter and Hunted" (2x133).  Cree cast *Dimension Door* on herself and Lucien, throwing her cloak around them as she did so, consistent with the description of item.
66. ↑ See "Ice and Fire" (2x121) at 1:32:51.
67. ↑ See "Where There Is a Will..." (2x138) at 1:13:31.
68. ↑ See "Fleeting Memories" (2x14) at 0:30:49.
69. ↑ See "Fleeting Memories" (2x14) at 0:32:06.
70. ↑ See "Fleeting Memories" (2x14) at 0:30:38.
71. ↑ See *D&D: Volo's Guide to Monsters*, 5th ed., p. 113.
72. ↑ See "Where There Is a Will..." (2x138) at 0:25:20.
73. ↑ See *Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting*, pp. 101–102.
74. ↑ See *Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting*, p. 101.
75. ↑ See "Fair-weather Faith" (2x123) at 4:54:04.
76. ↑ See "Ice and Fire" (2x121) at 2:34:56.
77. ↑ See "Fair-weather Faith" (2x123) at 1:51:49.
78. ↑ See "Fair-weather Faith" (2x123) at 1:24:22.
79. ↑ See "Hunter and Hunted" (2x133) at 4:16:13.  Cree casts a spell consistent with *Earthquake*.
80. ↑ See "Where There Is a Will..." (2x138) at 47:03.
81. ↑ *Critical Role: The Mighty Nein - The Nine Eyes of Lucien*, p. 228.
82. ↑ See *Explorer's Guide to Wildemount*, p. 116.
83. ↑ *Critical Role: The Mighty Nein - The Nine Eyes of Lucien*, p. 91.
84. ↑ *Critical Role: The Mighty Nein - The Nine Eyes of Lucien*, p. 56 and 57.

**Art:**

1. ↑ Fan art of Cree, by Clara (source). Used with permission.
2. ↑ Fan art of Cree, by Callum Lyall (source). Used with permission.
3. ↑ Fan art of the young Cree and Lucien, by Clara (source). Used with permission.
4. ↑ Fan art of Cree and Lucien, by Bunchu (source). Used with permission.
5. ↑ Fan art of Lucien reassuring Cree, by Robin (source). Used with permission.
6. ↑ Fan art of Cree in her flesh monster form, by Shrugs (source). Used with permission.
7. ↑ Fan art of Cree using the Cape of the Mountebank, by Jake Wennik (source). Used with permission.
8. ↑ Cree in *Crit Recap Animated*.From https://youtu.be/qmaW5Egjpmg