Vorugal

A few years ago, we made an album of Hamilton covers tailored to the Chroma Conclave Arc of Critical Role. While re-telling that story, we didn't have the opportunity to explore a character many fans loved and wanted to hear from. Fortunately, Jake Madson rewrote "Valley Forge" off the Hamilton Mixtape to explore Tiberius' perspective as he prepared for Doom to arrive in Draconia.

Artwork by: @Ashanimus and Lorgnit

Tiberius - Jake Madson

Kruvanis - Curtis Gibson

Backing vocals and production by Will Crosswait

If you're in a position to donate to charity, we would love to encourage anyone who enjoys our work to donate to the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund

Draconia

One week after Winter's Crest

Dear Vox Machina,

Greetings and salutations!

I hope that this finds you in good health.

When we parted ways not long ago, you to your adventures, I to my own goals and responsibilities,

I don't think any of us expected what was to come.

I have faith that you made it out of Emon alive, but it seems that the dragons are coming for us here now.

I wanted to put down my thoughts, just in case, so you all know... what happened.

I am seeing the best minds of my native country

Scramble for an answer to these dragons' sundry

Is this all a ruse, or have we met our end?

Is death the only fate that their hatred can portend?

I have never seen my father needing such assistance

So I've taken over organizing our resistance

It shall be our battle to continue existence - persistence

I have reports that the Conclave's closing distance

They say, "Hurry up! We must defend our nation!"

I shoot back, "We're not prepared to face their devastation!"

In Draconia only I have faced one, erased one

The only one with any hope, preventing conflagration

Caused frustration as tension turns to doubt

Furtive now, hardened soldiers all around me start to cower

Evacuate! Get all the citizens out of the towers!

Do the best we can, though we were only given hours

Panic sets in, people wait to be devoured

Our last line of defense is my siblings and their powers

But will I falter now? Poppycock! Think no more of

How I should have taken that tea with Allura

Vox Machina, stay strong

Was I right? Was I wrong?

Dragons will be at our door before long

I'm thinking only of the family I left in Emon

Kruvanis: They're close

Tiberius: They're here

No one 'round to lend an ear

Violent encouragements won't do much good here

It's time to face whatever's next without fear

How Far We've Come

We were very excited to work with an enormous number of incredible artists for this video put together by our friend Kami in celebration of the five year anniversary of Critical Role! Original cast members Will Crosswait, Scott Maitland, John MacMillan, and Angela McCain produced and performed this slightly re-worded version of Matchbox 20’s How Far We’ve Come. Feel free to download it here, but definitely check out the video if you haven’t. It’s so much better with the art.

I Wear The Mask

…in which an early Mighty Nein allow their fears, shame, and pain to convince themselves no one could accept them as they truly are. If only they could know that they are not alone. If only they could discover the freedom of secure vulnerability among close friends. Perhaps it is more possible than you think.

If you enjoyed this song, please consider making a donation to the Coalition to Abolish Slavery & Trafficking, a charity fighting to end slavery and human trafficking in Los Angeles County.

We had the absolute pleasure to work with many talented Critters on this song:

Fjord performed by Critical Bard (@CriticalBard, https://www.patreon.com/criticalbard)

Nott performed by Rochelle Ibarra (@roroibarra, roro_ibarra on Instagram)

Jester performed by Ginny Di (@itsginnydi, https://www.patreon.com/ginnydi)

Caleb, Lyrics, and Music by Meany Vizzini (@MeanyVizzini)

Nott the Brave mask pendant and photo by Krystallite (@Beelziboo)

Audio Mixing by Ever Dreams Creative (https://linktr.ee/everdreamscreative)

Arrangement, Production, and Mastering by Will Crosswait (@WillCrosswait, willxwait on Instagram)

Inspired by the cast and crew of Critical Role, who find a way to bring something so genuine through so many layers of masks. Thank you.

Lyrics:

[Fjord]

Tough guys

Grinning through their snake eyes

Wanting to be sure I

Know I’m not welcome here

Follow

Work to blend into the shadows

Emulate the ones who don’t show

The extent of their fear

[Nott]

Crippled by the fetters of a foreign race

Shackled by the terror of a horrid face

Summed up as a symbol of malignancy

The source and aim of bigotry

The Nott-becoming part of me

Sheltered by the darkness sneaking out of sight

Haunted by reflections of the dawning light

Comfort finding only when I’m spirited

Encouraged by escape to move ahead

[Fjord and Nott]

So hide it away

Don’t show your weakness

You cannot stay

If you are honest

Sure, they’ll pretend to be your friend

Until they find your secret and

They figure out exactly where to strike

So I wear a mask

Hidden in plain view

What you don’t ask

Ain’t gonna hurt you

So I wear the mask

(I wear the mask)

Of who I’d rather be

[Jester]

Lonely

I am always feeling lonely

Oh, I have to be the only one

Who’s stuck in this hell

Happy

I just want them to be happy

Keep pretending and they won’t see

The sadness that you hide so well

[Jester, Fjord, Nott]

Hide it away

Don’t show your weakness

No one will stay

If you are honest

Oh sure, they’ll pretend to be your friend

Until they see your sadness and

They figure out it isn’t worth their time

So I wear a mask

Hidden in plain view

What you don’t ask

Ain’t gonna hurt you

So I wear the mask (I wear the mask)

Of what you want to believe

Of who I’d rather be

[Caleb]

Heckled by the promise of a brighter past

Ruined by the knowledge singeing it to ash

Caught up in a wave of nationality

Of losing my humanity

The guillotine was pulled by me

Set on a track

Can’t take it back

One thing defining my life as it’s starting to crack

Where to begin?

Hatin' within

Too much to swallow, I’m hollow and wallowing in all my sin

Finding my mind is gone crawlin'

So spineless and bawlin'

And joinin' the Nein is appallin',

Pretendin' it’s fine, oh the gall when

My kin who have fallen are callin' my name

[Caleb, Fjord, Nott, Jester]

Hide it away

Don’t show your weakness

No one can stay

Let’s just be honest

Oh ja, you’ll pretend to be their friend

Until they find your story and

They figure out exactly who you are

So I wear a mask

Hidden in plain view

What they don’t ask

Ain’t gonna hurt you

Now I wear the mask (I wear the mask)

Of what you want to believe

Of who I’d rather be

Of what I think about me

Burn

We're finally diving into Campaign II with our Exandrian MIXtape! This cover of Burn looks deep into Caleb's obsession with his past and the flames that consume him. Our Caleb is performed by Meany Vizzini.

Artwork by TheNaturalLaw and Lorgnit, with backing track by Dave Douds and Will Crosswait, and lyrics by Ashley O!

If you enjoyed this track, feel free to donate to the Hispanic Federation

I remember the child that I once was

When I left for the Solstrice

They said they were proud

I'd make them both proud

I once was so proud

Do you know what Beauregard said

When I told her how my parents died

She said "Caleb, you know that's fucked up

But it's nothing you have to hide

I was a boy entranced by their magic

I learned and I breezed through my lessons

They built me palaces in a paragraph

Oh how they taught me

I'm reliving my past in a memory

Been searching and scanning for answers

In every line, in books I can find

Cause when fate was mine

My world had to

Burn, Burn

I trained under Trent who was merciless

I chose to believe that my parents

Had chose the wrong side

And made up my mind

And ended their lives

Do you know what my only friend said

When she learned of my fall

She said: This pain is a mask you've made

One day you won't need it at all

Lost and alone, brought back from insanity

So how can I still be a madman

Caleb you're paranoid In every paragraph

None can redeem you

I've erased all myself from their narrative

Let mages and murders wonder

How Caleb reacted

When he broke his heart

I have torn it all apart

I've watched it all

Burn

Watch it all Burn

This war has no right to my heart

It's already taken my head

I know that the pain will not end

Burn through all of the memories

Learn all the enchantments reality clings to

I forfeit the right to a heart

I don't get a storybook end

Wherever the Mighty Nein heads

I'm trapped by my treachery

Cause when they were mine

I made them both

Burn

Congratulations

Our version of the mixtape's Congratulations dives deeper into Vax's original bargain with the Raven Queen in the sunken tomb. OG CPan alumni Gini "Aki" Benson and Jon Paget take on the roles of the Raven Queen and Vax, respectively.

Artwork by Kit Harroun and Lorgnit, with backing track by Repepotapotomin and Will Crosswait, and lyrics by Aki themself!

If you enjoyed this track, feel free to donate to Mercy Ships

RAVEN QUEEN/(VAX):

Vax'ildan… (Vex’ahlia )

Congratulations.

Your sister's invented a new kind of stupid:

A touch before thinking it through kind of stupid,

A now she is dead, turning blue kind of stupid,

So, Vax, whatchu gonna do? ...kind of stupid.

Let's review: You chased a rumor a few, only two Sphinxes knew

And ran headlong to a crypt with a Beholder, Which you all luckily slew,

But her eyes were on coin alone

So she abandoned you.

So scared of what the Raven Queen might do with her,

But Greed's the only enemy she truly should have favored.

You'll give your life for hers no matter the cost?

I shouldn't dignify this hot shot with a response!

So, yeah. Congratulations.

You're left with this tragedy.

Congratulations. (Vex’ahlia )

(But perhaps you will take this sacrifice! ) Sacrifice?

(The Ward languished in peace in this deep dark cavern; )

(A Champion is what you've needed. )

(I don't know much about revering gods,)

(But my bargaining should be heeded. )

(It doesn't wipe the stain of her blame away,)

(But she's all that I have and I'm here to say: )

(I know what I need to do... )

(So I'm here for you. )

(I know my sister like I know my own mind. )

(You will never find anyone as fearless or as kind,)

(And if doing this will keep her here with me )

(I must try ) (I can't stand by) (Do you know why?)

You love your sister more than anything in this life.

You will lay down all you have on the line every time?

(Yes! I'd lay down all I have on the line every time. )

(Vex'ahlia was a light through all our strife- )

So never lose sight of the fact that I bargained with you for her life!

Congratulations. For the rest of your life

Every sacrifice you make will be for my sake.

I grant your Vex life.

Congratulations!

To celebrate the anniversary of the Exandrian Musical, we're kicking off the Cantata Pansophical's version of the Hamilton Mixtape! Starting right where our musical left off, here's our tribute to The Decemberists' Ben Franklin's Song, starring Taryon Darrington.

Artwork designed by Elissa Blackmun and Lorgnit

Produced by Will Crosswait and Meany Vizzini

Backup Vocals by Scott Maitland and Meany Vizzini

If you like this song, feel free to donate to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

Adventuring!

That’s where I want to be

Got my helmet, a robe, and my pal Doty

Gonna write the best book

That you’ll ever read

You’re welcome for my creations

You’re the only adventurers I want to see

You can call me Tary; I’ll call you L.E.G.

You have guns; you look fun!

To the third degree…

Invest in my reputation

And do you know who the fuck I am?

Yeah, do you know who the fuck I am?

Do you know who the fuck I am?

I am “Daring Adventures of”-writing Taryon-fucking-Darrington

I’ve not heard of Vox Machina, but give me a try

I’ll make you all wealthy beyond your supply

And perhaps even lend you a sentence or two inside

The book that I’m planning to write

Adventure awaits at the gates of Whitestone

They’re all super cool, and I think they all bone

Though I’ve never seen it with my own eyes

They say Diplomacy happens at night

But do you know who the fuck I am?

(An enormous ham!)

Yeah, do you know who the fuck I am?

Do you know who the fuck I am?

(His own biggest fan!)

I am pompous-and-rich-but-I’ll-still-kick-your-ass-fucking Taryon

The years that followed, I picked up my stride

I’ve killed, gone to Hell, and declined a bride

I made a brigade and a charity to cast aside

The stains from my filiation

So I play my adventurer part with pride

I am known in the world, and the world is wide

‘Neath the surface, I may be terrified, but I stride

Forward with no hestitation

And do you know who the fuck I am?

(Made a metal man!)

Yeah, do you know who the fuck I am?

Do you know who the fuck I am?

(Got a list in hand!)

I am “Daring Adventures of”-writing-Taryon-fucking-Darrington

(Do you know of his daring band?)

Who the fuck I am

(Do you know that he thinks he’s han-dsome?)

Who the fuck I am

(And made Laura almost kill Sam?)

I am “Daring Adventures of”-writing-

Tinkerer, slick goatee wearing,

Slightly-scratched-beholder-killing

Taryon-fucking-Darrington

All Bard Party Oneshot

In The Cobalt Soul

So you think you can punch a ghost, can you do it right?

Put your fist right through its face; send it back into the night?

Well, to become a master monk, enlightenment's the “ki,” so say it with me…

I would like to read!

You know you’re in the Cobalt! Cobalt Soul!

We’ll teach you how to harness that spiritual flow!

You know you’re in the Cobalt! Cobalt Soul!

Seekers of knowledge, but also super swole

You thought the monk was really hard, and needed all those stats!

Well let me add Intelligence, to make you all real at! [What?] (uh, react?)

Got to “know your enemy,” teasing out their secrets expertly

Extorting foes with ease

You know you’re in the Cobalt! (Cobalt!) Cobalt Soul! (Cobalt Soul!)

We’ll teach you all our secrets, and yours will soon be told

You know you’re in the Cobalt! (Cobalt!) Cobalt Soul! (Cobalt Soul!)

Rule your aggression, make brain and body whole

We’ll teach your mind to flow like mercury, seizing ev’ry opportunity.

Move quickly as a sparrow, you can catch ‘most ev’ry arrow

Learn to perfect your body, to direct and hone your mind

Yeah you’ll be a stone-cold hottie, while protecting all mankind!

[Actually, we don’t limit ourselves by race, really…]

‘Cause now you’re in the Cobalt! Cobalt Soul!

We’re seekers after knowledge, but damn, we’re really swole (We’re so swole!)

Yeah you’re in the Cobalt! (Cobalt!) Cobalt Soul!

We’ll teach you to kick ass [Yeah], and also self-control [Eh…]

Listen to the Cobalt! (Listen up!) Cobalt Soul! (To what we know!)

Learn the perfect tactic to conquer every foe (Yeah, any foe!)

Yeah, we are the Cobalt! (Stunning crew!) Cobalt Soul! (We wear blue!)

The coolest monks out there, and now you fin’ly know

Yeah Beau, you know... you’re in the Cobalt Soul!

A training montage song for everyone’s favorite monk!

Based on lyrics improvised by Matthew Mercer.

Writers: Meany Vizzini, Scott Maitland, Danita Gilbert (@taurigeek), CriticalScroll.

Music by Spencer Smith (@TheSkaldDM)

Art by Elissa Blackmun (@lissanerdwriter)

Vocalists: Spencer Smith, Danita Gilbert and Scott Maitland

Beau: Danita Gilbert

Zeenoth: Scott Maitland

Production by Spencer Smith and Will Crosswait.

Donate to Little Kids Rock: https://www.littlekidsrock.org/

Best of Ladies (Love Potion Version)

In this alternative ending to Vox Machina's tale, Scanlan and Percy let their true feelings show and find happiness in each other. This long awaited love affair, affectionately known as Scercy to the fans, has been incredibly popular amongst the community for many years. We thought we'd honor it here with this touching love song.

Oh, and happy April Fool's Day.

My humblest apologies to the artists whose work I have mangled. The original art work is by Jenna-the-DM (@aspiring_dm) and Fiona W. Dunn (@fionawdunn). Please go say nice things to them on Twitter.

You can also stream the full musical on Veoh's website here

Here is the CR Theme that we wrote for the credits sequence.  Enjoy!

Welcome to the homepage for the Cantata Pansophical, a conclave of critters dedicated to rewriting the hip hop musical Hamilton's soundtrack to fit the D&D show Critical Role.  This musical is a result of over 100 singers and artists from around the world coming together to make one giant ridiculous mashup album.  Each song in the original Hamilton soundtrack has been repurposed and shuffled around to fit a specific moment in the Chroma Conclave arc of Vox Machina's story.  This is a love letter from the CR community to the CR community.  And it's all available for free to watch on Youtube or listen to via mp3 download.  

If you've been a member of the CR community for a while, you know that charitable acts are a priority for the fans and cast alike.  In that spirit, we'd like to encourage donations to some charities that the writers think are especially important.  

Danita (Keyleth, writer, assistant producer) would like to signal boost Mercy Ships. Mercy Ships is an international NGO that has been providing free surgery and dental care to some of the world's poorest countries for the past 40 years. You can support their work in restoring sight, smiles, mobility, and dignity by visiting donate.mercyships.org, or, if you'd like to support Danita directly in her volunteer work on the ship, visit tinyurl.com/crewmate  Everything communicated here strictly reflects my personal opinions and is neither reviewed nor endorsed by Mercy Ships. Opinions, conclusions and other information expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of Mercy Ships.

Misaotra!  É na! Merci! Thank you!

Angela (Allura, Raishan, art director, producer, editor) would like to signal boost The Hispanic Federation, which supports Hispanic families and Latino institutions in areas like education, health, immigration, civic engagement, economic empowerment, and the environment. Not only is this charity closely tied with Lin Manuel Miranda, the creator of Hamilton, it is also actively working to help Puerto Ricans in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria and Puerto Rico's fiscal crisis. To donate, visit https://hispanicfederation.org/donate/

Thank you.

Will (Scanlan, writer, director, producer, misc.) would like to signal boost the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. AFSP provides resources and aid to those affected by suicide, funds scientific research, and works to change the culture surrounding mental health. You can donate to support their cause here: https://afsp.org/take-action/give-a-gift/

And here's a slightly more direct link. 

Love and blessings.

Dear Listener,

For your convenience, I've made a zip file with free mp3 files, high quality album art, and a lyrics doc.  However, Google Drive will only let 200 people download any one particular file... So I made 10 copies.  The file size is 315 mb.  Picking a file at random (they're all the same) will help keep all of the links open.  May I recommend a d10?  You can also copy the file over to your own google drive, to save space for future critters.  However, if they're all full, let me know and I'll upload new copies.  You can tweet @CPansophical or @WillCrosswait or shoot me an email at willcrosswait@gmail.com.  All of these goodies can also be downloaded individually from this website. 

Enjoy!

Will

PS: A lovely critter,  Robert McGovern aka  @tarasis, has offered to host our musical for us!  I am no longer limited by the space on my Google Drive and we have unlimited downloads!  You can find this same zip file hosted on his server here.  He has also unzipped the files for us, in case you'd like to download things individually.  That link is here.  Thank you Robert!

PPS: So most of the google drive links have been used up.  Awesome!  I hope you guys like the tunes.  I've left the few links that are still alive up for you, just in case, but if you still want to download the musical, I recommend downloading it from Robert's site.  All these links are below.

PPPS: I've been asked to post the Official Playbill (which is completely serious and very much not a joke) as a single pdf, so here it is!  I've also included a link to the regular lyrics pdf here, in case your browser is making my wonky code act up down below. 

PPPPS: It looks like Robert’s link is down, so I’m continuing the Google drive shenanigans. This most recent link should be good for 200 more downloads, but feel free to shoot me an email if too many people have claimed it. There’s also a MIRROR here

Oh, you poor soul... scrolling all the way down here.  What are you doing?  Are the zip files all gone? Shoot...  Well, don't worry:  I'm here to entertain you as you're waiting for all 47 songs to download individually

Recommended popcorn/bathroom breaks if you're listening straight through:

right after track 9 (Highbearer Refuted) or 13 (Dear Kaylie);

after track 25 (Right Hand Man) or 26 (Satisfied), depending on whether you want to go into your intermission happy or sad;

after track 31 (That Would Be Enough);

after track 35 (I Know Her);

after track 40 (Vox Machina On Your Side) or 41 (Guns and Skyships). 

Or just power through them all!  You got this!

There are a bunch of ways to listen to the album. It's on Youtube with subtitles, although Youtube's algorithms forced ads in front of a few of the videos.  Sorry for that- it was out of my control.  I've also uploaded the album in full with no ads on Veoh, but that version is lower quality and doesn't have subtitles.  Or you can just download it and own the mp3s yourself!

I tried to hide some easter eggs throughout the album.  The CR theme is hidden in a few of the tracks, sometimes blatantly and sometimes subtly.  And there's another musical easter egg hidden in the back half of the album for you folks who REALLY know Scanlan's inspirational songs...

Have you donated to one of our charities yet?  Having a hard time deciding?  Well, roll a d4.  On a one, donate to the AFSP. On a two, donate to Mercy Ships.  On a three, donate to The Hispanic Federation.  If you roll a four, you have to donate to all three!  Even if you can't give much, every little bit helps.

If you do donate to one of our sponsored charities, keep the reciept... I have giveaway plans in mind... Stay tuned

Did you know that more than 100 critters from at least four continents worked together to create this album?  I don't even know how many countries are represented here. 

Well, looks like you're done downloading these songs.  I sincerely hope you enjoy them.  We'd love to hear feedback from you all- drop us a line on Twitter, Youtube, or Tumblr!  Til next time, when we rewrite the second campaign to the tune of Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark.