"A Path of Vengeance" (3x65) is the sixty-fifth episode of the third campaign of Critical Role. Bells Hells settle into their reunion, comparing notes between experiences and dealing with the consequences of past actions...
Synopsis[]
Announcements[]
- First sponsor tonight is Dragonheir: Silent Gods, in which Matt plays the chivalrous horsefolk hero Sagomir. Sam also wanted the role and feels he was robbed, so they re-audition with semi-decent voice director Liam. It is confirmed yet again that Sam can't do a Scottish accent but is possibly the only living person who can roll a "P". (Voice Director Liam is kinda scary, frankly.)
- Merch Alert! Critical Role backpack,watercolor logo journal, Critical Role Land t-shirt, dice sets for Fresh Cut Grass and Chetney Pock O'Pea with the new Bells Hells charm on the bag (can double as a pendant necklace!) now available.
- The second episode of Candela Obscura is now available on YouTube. Finale of this chapter will be Thursday, 27 July 2023.
- Upcoming Conventions: San Diego Comic Com on July 22nd, Rose City Comic Com in Portland, Oregon September 23-24, New York City Comic Com October 12-13.
Previously on Critical Role[]
So, last we left off, after many days separated, shunted across Exandria in the chaos following the Malleus Key's arrival, the moon Ruidus remains locked in the sky in perpetuation of the solstice, still sets the sky aglow with multi-colors and strange manipulated magic. You sought out answers and your companions and finally, after making a few friends, reconvene in Jrusar. Some of those friends who came along you sent off as their own troop to find answers, as you reconvened with what you have and figuring out what your next leg of the journey is: to seek information, to seek retribution, to figure out what's happening and how best to tackle the challenges ahead.
Part I[]
As Team Wildemount continues to describe the fun things they did during their separation from Team Issylra, Laudna admits that their group isn't really in a good place. While Chetney and Fearne were being part of a threesome, FCG was finding a boyfriend, and Imogen apparently found a new best friend in F.R.I.D.A., Team Issylra was having a rough time being betrayed and nearly murdered by a clandestine member of the Ruby Vanguard. Imogen and Fearne try to assure her they were trying to contact them the whole time, but Ashton and Orym both agree that a lot of bad stuff happened to them and they need two things: to relax a little, and to figure out what they're going to do next. Orym suggests one day to unpack, but that's all they have time for. He'd like to check in with Zephrah and Keyleth, while Ashton wants to talk to Milo. The Staff of Dark Odyssey needs time to recharge before Imogen can use it to Teleport again, so they agree to a day or two of downtime first before going to Keyleth.
Ashton and FCG go to see Milo, who agrees to make modifications to Ashton's hammer, incorporating the spell-splitting shards found in the cavern of Hevestro. They'll need to pick it up the next day. When Ashton tells Milo they think they might be about to save the world, this newly positive but out-of-character attitude worries both FCG and Milo. Milo bets Ashton 100 gold they fuck it up, and although not currently having the money, Ashton accepts the bet. FCG is deeply concerned Ashton's acting potentially suicidal, but Ashton assures him they've learned a lot in the past few days and thought about their life and their past. FCG is very proud of Ashton, who seems to now have a purpose in life, and Ashton is proud of FCG for having found a reason to live.
Fan art of Imogen kissing Laudna, by Nev @ammarilyo.[art 1]
Meanwhile, Imogen and Laudna check in with Zhudanna and then go grocery shopping for her. Laudna apologizes for her outburst earlier. Imogen mentions that wearing her circlet, although it makes life much easier, means she can't hear Laudna's thoughts any longer, but Laudna says she can always just ask. After a moment, Imogen asks, "Can I kiss you? I can't tell if it's all right or not anymore." A flustered Laudna responds, "All right," and they kiss. Laudna tells Imogen she is her anchor, and when they were separated, she did terrible things, but Imogen assures her that she's not a bad person. They are each other's anchors. Laudna explains the killing of Bor'Dor and confesses his betrayal broke her. She lost control, and she thinks Delilah Briarwood is back. But part of her thinks this isn't wholly a bad thing; that they can use her power in the coming battle. Imogen understands. She feels the same about the power of Ruidus.
At the core of the marketplace, they hear people gathering, and they hear the familiar voice of Ludinus Da'leth telling the crowd that they were never meant to be bound by the gods' laws but to rise above them. Floating above the fountain is his illusory image giving a speech very similar to the one he gave at the Malleus Key. Two guards run up, and immediately find and destroy the small crystal globe producing the image. Apparently this has been happening regularly. Laudna and Imogen then buy a new dress for Laudna. Imogen gives her the Weavepiercer Gloves, and Laudna crafts Pâté's house into a backpack using her leather belts, given to her by Delilah to make her look more like Vex'ahlia on the Sun Tree.
Meanwhile, Chetney, Fearne, and Orym head to Dayal Hall and speak to Ajit Dayal, who tells them massive numbers of international soldiers are passing through Jrusar on their way to the Hellcatch Valley. A day ago, J'mon Sa Ord, the leader of Ank'Harel, was in town meeting with the Chandei Quorum and there have been discussions about involving the Stratos Throne as well. The loss of magic, however, has caused some prisoners who were magically held to be able to escape, including Levtonia, the leader of the Ivory Syndicate. They ask him about old magic and he brings out Daramon, an older teacher. Chetney shows him Ludinus' harness but he has no idea what it is. During their conversation, they gather that those who heard Ludinus' voice during the Apogee Solstice were those who were near a ley line nexus. Ajit warns them that some Mahaan houses have hired some Hubatt Corsairs during the crisis, so they should avoid fighting them.
They decide to go to the Temple of the Duskmaven just to see what's happening there, but on the way Chetney catches a delectable scent and runs after it. To the others, it isn't a pleasant smell, but they follow Chetney as he runs, seeing a cloaked figure holding a pouch out to him. The man throws the pouch and Chetney lunges for it. His transformation begins, but as he bites into it dried herbs fill his mouth and the figure throws a silver chain net over him, burning into his skin.
Break[]
- Trailer for Dragonheir: Silent Gods.
- Uk'otoa mini set now available for pre-order at WizKids.com.
- Merch Alert! Critical Role backpack and watercolor journal, Critical Role Land t-shirt, Bells Hells dice sets for Chetney and FCG, Essek Thelyss ReAction figure and dice set, and EXU Calamity chibi pins in all five shops; Bells Hells hoodie in all shops except Australia.
- Cast at San Diego Comic Con 22 July 2023, Rose City Comic Con in Portland September 23-24, New York City Comic Con October 12-13, London MCM Comic Com October 28-29. More info at the CR website. Submit potential questions here.
- Trailer for Candela Obscura.
- Trailer for the Midst Podcast.
- Welcome to Tal'Dorei and Welcome to Wildemount Critical Role soundtrack albums available now on all digital music platforms.
- Critical Recap every Wednesday on CritRole.com.
- Submit fan art and cosplay for possible inclusion in the weekly online gallery.
- Marisha unboxes the advantages of Critical Role Twitch subscriptions.
Part II[]
Fan art of Fearne in battle, by Elaine Tipping.[art 2]
As Fearne and Orym catch up to the netted Chetney, his dwarven captor tells them to stay away, it's just business, but an unimpressed Fearne immediately casts Blight on him. Chetney's transformation was interrupted by the silver net but he uses his Blood Curse of Bloated Agony on the dwarf, while Orym attacks with his sword. The dwarf tells them that Chetney's a problematic beast and there's money on his head, shoves Orym and knocks him prone, then drags Chetney further into the alley. Fearne begs to be allowed to kiss Chetney before he's taken away, and uses the opportunity to cast Stoneskin on him, while Orym tries to slash away the net. As the dwarf continues dragging Chetney away he casts Charm Person on Orym, who stops fighting him, and the dwarf says, "Tuyen sends her regards." Fearne bamfs out Little Mister and uses Fiery Teleportation to move Chetney out from under the net and 15 feet away, and the thwarted dwarf Misty Steps away, threatening that he'll see them again. An embarrassed Chetney admits that the dwarf was sent by the shopkeeper of the Prism Emporium that he attacked in wolf form for overcharging him, months ago.
Chetney goes invisible, and the group continues on to the Smolder Spire and the Temple of the Duskmaven there. One of the priests tells them that many in the city are feeling the same fear and confusion that they say they are, but that if the gods can see this through, they will see mortals through it with them. The priest still feels the Duskmaven's presence and is comforted by it, although the temple is in a period of mourning and preparation. She invites Fearne, Orym, and the invisible Chetney to drink of the waters with her, and leads them to an endless waterfall where all three drink. After a moment, Chetney looks down, and discovers he is now visible and the three of them are alone in the temple.
Fan art of a vision of the Champion of Ravens, by Cha Cha Rae.[art 3]
They move to the doors, but as Orym touches them they fly open to reveal a deep red sky over the Tishtan excavation site, the activated Malleus Key firing its red beam upward. In the middle of the beam is a black orb, and they hear a continuous screaming. The doors slam shut and all they see is a massive white mask. They come out of their collective trance still kneeling by the water. The priest states again, "We're in a period of mourning. For one of our own." Chetney asks how they can help turn the tide, and the answer is simply, "Faith."
Fan art of Laudna's new outfit, by Edu Benavente.[art 4]
The three make their way back to rejoin the rest of Bells Hells and swap stories of their various adventures. They reach the conclusion they need to talk to Keyleth about the man whom they saw compressed into the now-screaming orb. They speculate they need to learn more about the gods and find their own faiths, and FCG tries to convince them they could all worship the Changebringer. Ashton and Laudna aren't yet convinced that saving the gods is in the best interests of mortals, and Ashton grows increasingly angry, saying he won't pick a god; they can pick him. Laudna suggests you can have faith in things other than the gods, like other people or the spirits of the earth. Can the party accomplish their goals if they all have different beliefs? Orym points out that there is one main problem. They can feel different ways about it, but they still have to solve it.
They decide to spend their Scrys before bed. Fearne's attempt on Ludinus fails, but FCG sees Imogen's mother Liliana Temult walking in a red dust storm side-by-side with Ludinus Da'leth, now marked with a withered and blackened hand. In the distance through the storm, FCG sees buildings, and in the sky above, the bluish green globe of Exandria. They are on Ruidus. The others try to convince FCG this proves Exandria is round, but he remains unconvinced, and the Changebringer's assurance (through a coin flip) that it is "round" does nothing to change his opinion. The party speculates that they will eventually need to "ride the beam" up to the moon to confront Ludinus.
In the morning, Imogen's staff hasn't regained enough charges to Teleport. FCG casts Identify on Ludinus' leather harness, learning that it is designed to funnel the essence of some sort of magic into the base of the wearer's neck, but it is no longer functional. They speculate that this reveals a weak spot on Ludinus, and that the harness might be repairable. Ashton suggests Ira Wendagoth.
Ashton picks up his enhanced glass hammer, incorporating the crystals from Hevestro's cavern, and now bearing a switch. Ashton admits he's not sure what it will do, but it's beautiful.
That evening, Orym tries again to use the sending stone to contact Caleb Widogast, but is unsuccessful. Imogen tries Sending to Ira Wendagoth, also without success, and FCG fails Scrying on him. However, Fearne's Scry is successful, and she finds Ira trudging alone in a red dust storm. He reaches what looks like a huge red boulder, runs his fingers along it, then ducks into an opened alcove out of the wind. Once inside, a muscular humanoid with deep red oddly-textured skin, a non-ethereal reilora, approaches him and they appear to communicate telepathically.
In the morning, several of the skyships in port have departed. Imogen uses Orym's Sentinel Shield as her Teleportation focus and successfully transports the party to Zephrah, where it is a beautiful midday under the blossoming cherry tree just outside the village.
Featured characters[]
Bells Hells
Returning
- Ajit Dayal
- Anni Aughta
- The Duskmaven (in a vision)
- Ira Wendagoth (via Scry)
- Liliana Temult (via Scry)
- Ludinus Da'leth (via Scry and Illusory Image)
- Milo Krook
- Zhudanna
- Vax'ildan (in a vision)
New
Mentioned
- Armand Treshi
- Bor'Dor Dog'Son
- Caleb Widogast
- The Changebringer
- The Dawnfather
- Delilah Briarwood
- Drixlitch Ovana
- Evithorir
- F.R.I.D.A.
- Gurge Kisgregg
- Hevestro
- Imathan Talviel
- Jiana Hexum
- J'mon Sa Ord
- Keyleth
- Levtonia, leader of the Ivory Syndicate
- Oltgar Dradegon
- Oma-Dua
- Otohan Thull
- Predathos
- Simone Fruunast
- Tuyen Otwana
- Umudara the Sentinel Beast
- Vex'ahlia de Rolo
- The Wildmother
Quotations[]
- FCG: I took my eyes off of my last group, and they all died, and I don't want to do that again.
- Milo: What are you plotting?
Ashton: I think I'm getting a real job. I think we're going to maybe kind of save the world somehow. We'll see. Fuck it.
FCG: Yeah?
Ashton: Yeah. I think we're going to be some fucking heroes. - Ashton: I don't want to be worthless right now. This is not a time to be worthless. This is not a time to be ineffective.[...]
FCG: Can I just hug you? [...] I'm so proud of you. You're getting a purpose, and a trajectory, and you're thinking about others other than yourself, and-- I can't cry. I don't have the ability to, but I would if I could.[...]
Ashton: I don't like having things to lose. And now I have a bunch of shit to lose. So it's either I let it get lost again, or maybe...
FCG: Fight for it.
Ashton: Try not to fuck it up. [...] I'm so proud that you finally got the thing that I have been trying to fucking give since the day we met, and I just--
FCG: A kiss?
Ashton: No. No, a reason to fucking live. So please keep that because I am so tired of saving you from yourself.[...] Do not forget that there is some reward at the end of this. Please. I am so tired of the self-destructive shit in a lot of these people.
Fan art of Imogen and Laudna, by Kaitlyn Leeds.[art 5]
- Imogen: Can I kiss you? I can't tell if it's all right or not anymore.
Laudna: ... All right. All right.[...] Obviously I care for you an immense deal.
Imogen: I know.
Laudna: I don't know if you realize how much of an anchor you are for me. And when you weren't there, I was adrift. And Imogen, you make me better, and when you weren't there, I did horrible things. I'm afraid I'm a bad person.
Imogen: You're not a bad person. You're not a bad person. (Laudna kisses her again) I've heard everything inside of you, Laudna. You are not a bad person. I called you my anchor, my tether. We're that for each other. - Imogen: Power's very tempting. And I won't judge you either way.
Laudna: Maybe it's our destiny to harness it.
Imogen: Maybe it's our destiny to fight it. [...] Together, either way. - Ashton: (inspecting his enhanced hammer) This is good. I need chaos. I have faith in chaos.
Inventory[]
| Adjustment | Count | Item | Source | Destination | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transferred | Weavepiercer Gloves | Imogen | Laudna |
Trivia[]
- Sam was wearing a tiger suit in this episode because, to the extent possible, he tries to duplicate the shirts he wore for episodes of Campaigns One and Two, although through the years several of them have been lost or given away and he can't always maintain an exact correspondence with all three campaigns. He previously wore a tiger costume in "The Coming Storm" (1x73) (a Halloween episode) and "Chases and Trees" (2x65), although this year's costume appeared to be different than the ones worn previously.
- Sam's jerrycan shows a picture of FCG smoking—with a real cigarette attached—labelled "Smoking is cool": Sam is persuaded to add, in chalk, "For robot's, NOT KIDS"[1]
References[]
Art:
- ↑ Fan art of Imogen kissing Laudna, by Nev @ammarilyo (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of Fearne in battle, by Elaine Tipping (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of a vision of the Champion of Ravens, by Cha Cha Rae (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of Laudna's new outfit, by Edu Benavente (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of Imogen and Laudna, by Kaitlyn Leeds (source). Used with permission.
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