Doom Eternal One-Shot

The thumbnail for "**Doom Eternal One-Shot**" (Sx52), featuring Matthew Mercer, Taliesin Jaffe, Anjali Bhimani, Laura Bailey, Sam Riegel and Jasmine Bhullar.

### Episode

Specials,​ Episode 52
(C2E99a)

### Game system

Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition

"**Doom Eternal One-Shot**" (Sx52) is the 52nd special from Critical Role. Game Master Matthew Mercer leads a horde of demons on an adventure based on the DOOM Eternal FPS.

## **Synopsis**

### **Pre-Show**

This special one-shot is in partnership with Bethesda and id Software. For those of you who aren't familiar with DOOM Eternal, it is an amazing and badass FPS game where Hell's armies have invaded earth, and you, the Doom Slayer, must conquer demons across dimensions to stop the final destruction of humanity. The game is out on March 20th for Xbox One, PS4, PC, and Stadia, and you can find more info and pick up the game at critrole.com/DOOMeternal.

### **Part I**

*In the year 2095, the Union Aerospace Corporation conducted a geological survey of Mars, discovering a strange and unique phenomenon known as the Argent Fracture, a dimensional rift to a dimension dominated by vicious demons. Under the leadership of Dr. Samuel Hayden, the UAC developed exotic technologies based on ancient artifacts from the infernal dimension. They learned to harness and extract what they called Argent Energy. Now, the UAC grew powerful, supplying Earth and humanity with a new rich form of energy for over 50 years, albeit, while obfuscating the source. Over time, the fiendish influence of Hell corrupted the personnel of the UAC, forming a demon-worshiping cult within the corporation that rose and broke open the very gates of Hell, unleashing the demonic hordes upon the Mars facility. All was lost until an ancient warrior, known by the demons of Hell as the Doom Slayer broke free from his chains. The slayer, an unstoppable force of wrath, tore through the invading hordes, ending the reign of the cult leader and sealed the portal to Hell using an ancient energy weapon known as the Crucible, stopping the invasion. Hayden, believing society's reliance on Argent Energy too important and unwilling to end his research, stole the Crucible, banished the Doom Slayer from the earthly realm, and continued to harvest Argent Energy using the Crucible weapon. Hayden's desire to exploit Argent Energy came at an apocalyptic cost. The forces of Hell could not be stopped. A mass invasion of Earth by demons brought humanity to its knees. Much of the surface lays burning and poisoned as the landscape twists to the presence of Hell's armies. Hulking demons roam and hunt the ruins, dragging whomever they find to their screaming end. The few survivors who resist the invasion formed the ARC, a resistance military helmed by the now humbled Dr. Hayden himself. Using Argent technology to fight the hordes head on, they mount up in exosuits and battle mechs to wade into the losing battle. You, however, relish in this destruction, as you are each champion demons of the armies of Hell: brutal, violent engines of destruction, who helped slaughter the remnants of the Night Sentinels of Argent and claimed their realm as your own. Now, with the dominion of Earth nigh, you've been called by the Infernal Bishop of the Blood Temple, Deag Grav. The stone steps of the Blood Temple before you, you gather your senses and patiently foster your bloodlust as you ascend, meeting for the first time as you climb towards the apex of the temple itself.*

The demons are initially successful in the campaign and reach Hayden's command room, but Hayden activates an experimental ARC energy weapon known as the Argent Hammer. Given limited time to destroy the machinery before it activates, the demons only succeed in partially disabling it. It ultimately discharges, weakening the demon players such that all their subsequent rolls have disadvantage.

### **Break**

* Art montage of the Doom Eternal world.
* Doom Eternal trailer.

### **Part II**

*A spacecraft had crashed its way into the Argent Hammer testing chamber, and upon the smoke clearing, revealed the Doom Slayer, the unkillable Hell Walker, the bane of all entities from Hell has arrived.*

The Doom Slayer suddenly arrives to defend Hayden, crashing into the facility in a ship. The demons panic and initially flee. However, the demons manage to inflict critical damage on Samuel Hayden before he can teleport away, leaving him in a condition similar to that in which he is found in-game. The entire facility collapses, killing the demon players and temporarily trapping the Doom Slayer in its rubble.

## **Featured Characters**

### **Player Characters**

* Phyllis, the Pain Elemental
* Ickybod, the Archvile
* Riva, the Revenant
* Mancubus, the Mancubus
* Kreel, the Marauder

### **NPCs**

* The Doomslayer
* Dr. Samuel Hayden

## **Quotations**

* **Laura:**: (pigeon cooing)
Sam: There's no pigeons in this world, it has to be something else.
Matt: All the pigeons are dead.
Laura: It's a demon pigeon.

## **Behind the scenes**

* On December 16, 2020, Critical Role released a D&D 5e-compatible module in a full interactive PDF called Doom Eternal: Assault on Armaros Station. It was written by Matthew Mercer and Chris Lockey and was developed by Ivan van Norman of Darrington Press.

## **External Links**

* Announcement trailer for the Doom Eternal One-Shot on Twitter.
* CritRoleStats Doom Eternal Masterpost.