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An Exit Most Fraught

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"An Exit Most Fraught" (3x48) is the forty-eighth episode of the third campaign of Critical Role. Bells Hells need to leave the Fey Realm behind, but the threats on their scent are extremely unkind...

Synopsis[]

Announcements[]

  • Surfer dude Rodey Slater[1] is back on behalf of Skillshare, but after the shark attack he's traded his surf board for a skateboard. Sam demonstrates his rad moves and doesn't kill himself or the set... quite.
  • All episodes of The Legend of Vox Machina, Season Two are now available on Prime Video.
  • Merch Alert! Critical Role pullover hoodie now available. It comes in sizes! Plus new Essek Thelyss t-shirt.

Previously on Critical Role[]

So, last we left off: Bells Hells, after traversing across planes to the Fey Realm, in transit to destroy one of the Malleus Keys that had been constructed and prepared by the Ruby Vanguard under Ludinus Da'leth in preparation for the coming apogee solstice, a climactic celestial event that promises to bring an apex of magical power and change to Exandria. You've come through after meeting the long-spoken-about Grandma Morri, Nana Morri, of Fearne, began to walk amongst the various unexpected dangers and odd encounters here on the darker side of the Fey Realm, infiltrated the Shiver Keep, where one of these Malleus Keys lies. After spreading out amongst the interior of the courtyard and finding a means of destroying the Malleus Key, sending it exploding and left in a tangled mass of metal and flame. You also called the attention of the Sorrowlord Zathuda, riding atop his fey dragon, his Gloamglut.

You began to flee the courtyard of the keep into the forest outside, heading westward, more or less, from where you attacked this Key, in search of the gate you were told would lead you back to Exandria, but in the process, sustained some blows. Fearne, you were knocked to unconsciousness, and you hear the screeches above of the now-angered Sorrowlord and his mount flying above the forest searching for you, his current prey.

Part I[]

Zathuda and Gloamglut by Lap Pun Cheung

Fan art of Gloamglut searching for Bells Hells, by Lap Pun Cheung.[art 1]

The party is huddled under their Harrowcall Veils at the edge of the forest as Gloamglut and Sorrowlord Zathuda circle above. Guided once more by his Changebringer medallion, Fresh Cut Grass casts a Healing Word to bring Fearne back to consciousness. Imogen uses Catapult at doubled distance to pick up an object far away from them and throw it even further away, drawing the attention of the flying fey dragon and allowing the party to stealth away, still pursued not only by the dragon but by Unseelie war bands. A beam of black flame cuts through the forest from above, hitting Laudna and FCG and knocking Laudna out, but FCG immediately casts Cure Wounds on her.

Chetney sounds the Horn of Silent Alarm, temporarily drawing Gloamglut away, and they run at full speed through the rough terrain and thread the needle through the Faerie Fire casting towers. When the sound of wings grows nearer, they hide under the veils, and move quickly when the dragon is further away. Imogen steps into sucking mud and her iron tithe of her caltrops is insufficient. Laudna's ball bearings and Orym's dagger are accepted however, and Imogen is further wounded but escapes.

Imogen Sends a message to Nana Morri, telling her where they are and begging for help finding the portal, but ominously, there is no response. Orym climbs a tree and sees the beginning of the bramble patch that is their destination. He points the proper way and they run until the wings approach again and they hide. As the dragon curves back toward them, a massive hawk-like creature slams into its side and brings it down into the forest. Taking the opportunity, the party runs full tilt, hearing the sounds of the two fey creatures battling in the distance. Imogen burns a tunnel through the brambles with Lightning Bolt but before they charge in, they see parts of the aerial battle above them and the bird creature with the neck and face of Nana Morri taking a black lightning hit and crashing into the forest.

Terrosh - Lap Pun Cheung

Fan art of Bells Hells encountering Terrosh, by Lap Pun Cheung.[art 2]

Fearne is sure Nana will be fine and they dash through Imogen's tunnel. Eventually they reach a nightmarish arch formed from a dark, twisting tree split down the middle with a door of rolling fog. A nest-like construction is above the door, and a creature who introduces itself as Terrosh the Lidless Slumber descends and demands a toll. Terrosh speaks in rhyme and the party quickly realizes they must do the same. Ashton offers a thimble they stole from Fearne and their rhyme is acceptable, so the creature pushes Ashton through the portal, but Imogen's rhyme is so fumbling that her pot holder is not deemed sufficient. With each failed rhyme, the creature grows larger and more threatening. Orym, Laudna, and FCG succeed and are pushed through the portal, but the sound of the pursuing dragon's wings grows louder. Chetney succeeds with a miniature rocking horse and Imogen barely squeaks by with one of the Harrowcall Veils. That leaves Fearne, who offers a skeleton key which is accepted and she is thrown through the gate just as Gloamglut arrives.

The party finds themselves in a jungle-like forest, which Imogen recognizes as having trees similar to those in the Taloned Highlands in which she grew up. They notice that the portal, from this side, appears to be a waterfall. Laudna climbs a tree and recognizes they are in the Highland Bluffs about 35-40 miles from Imogen's hometown of Gelvaan. Imogen is very reluctant to visit, pointing out there's nothing useful to be learned there, it's two days travel to reach, and they have less than two weeks till the apogee solstice. She and Laudna share a bit of the story of how they met a few years earlier in Gelvaan when the townsfolk attempted to violently remove Laudna.

The party decides to take a short rest to clean up and recover spells. Laudna recalls Pâté as well and Ashton gifts FCG some cooking ingredients they stole from the kitchen of Ebenold Kai in Yios. Imogen then Sends to Planerider Ryn, who responds that other Grim Verity allies are currently trying to destroy the Malleus Key in the Shadowfell. Ryn is at the Hellcatch Valley Tishtan excavation site where there are many of the Ruby Vanguard, and Imogen asks if she can come pick them up. Ryn agrees, as soon as she finishes her current scouting mission. But her message abruptly cuts off with a whispered, "Shit!"

With that means of transport apparently cut off, Imogen eventually agrees to head toward Gelvaan with the hopes that Captain Xandis and their skyship can pick them up either there or before they reach it. She Sends to Xandis, who agrees to meet them there. Since it's now night, they make camp and throw the bodies of the Unseelie guards still in the portable hole through the portal with a note saying that they're a snack. Chetney assumes wolf form and goes hunting.

When everyone else is asleep, Orym asks FCG if he's okay. FCG admits he's been a little on edge lately, but Orym gently presses. FCG says he has a new clarity and feels like there's someone out there helping him. He's given up on learning more about his past and he has to build his own future. He admits that earlier that day he was hanging on by a thread, very close to losing control again. He feels like he's a big question mark, but Orym tells him everyone feels like that. He himself isn't sure of his place in the world and doesn't understand what's happening. But the world may end in 13 days, anyway, although FCG's sure everything will be fine.

They all settle in for a long night's rest.

Break[]

Part II[]

In the morning, Imogen Sends to Morrigan the Fatestitcher and confirms she's all right after her battle with the fey dragon. FCG Sends to Xandis, learning they're a day and a half away.

The party sets out for Gelvaan, traveling uneventfully. That night, Imogen and FCG cast Sending to Ryn, but there is again no response. They decide to try to send Imogen scouting in her dreams, accompanied by Laudna, Chetney, and FCG. Before falling asleep, Imogen (at Orym's request), sends an update to Keyleth that the assassins are at an excavation north of Yios, planning to kill a god for the solstice. Keyleth responds that the Ashari are currently beneath Terrah where the rift to the Elemental Plane of Earth is in danger, possibly related.

FCG casts Shared Dream and they all go to sleep. Imogen focuses on Ryn and the excavation, and finds herself dreaming of the red storm again. She moves forward, accompanied by the others in the forms of floating balls of light, to a pit in the earth with excavation equipment at its edge. The excavation is busy, with both humanoids and two hulking armored guardian automatons that they have not seen previously. Imogen explores cautiously, following a sense of being pulled toward Ryn, and telling the others to wake up if they see Otohan Thull. They descend into the pit, seeing ancient ruins and ghostly figures moving throughout.

Imogen continues to a massive fork-like towering structure that she had noticed previously in the center of the excavation, that has been built upon more recently. There are three more massive automatons and dozens of other shadowy humanoids all working on moving its power cores to further belowground and more separated. It appears they are retrofitting the construction based on the destruction of the Malleus Key in the Fey Realm, since this spire appears to be being built as a key as well. Imogen gets the sense this is the centerpiece of what's coming. She also notices a figure standing at its base, and she feels the pull toward it. As she very cautiously approaches, she can make out the figure of Planerider Ryn, hand out, frozen into stone.

Otohan in Imogen's dream - Sabira Langevin

Fan art of Otohan in Imogen's dream, by Sabira Langevin.[art 3]

Chetney and Laudna urge Imogen to leave, but FCG drifts over and inspects one of the automatons first. He notices for the first time that the machinery being built around the tower has an odd familiarity for him. He also suddenly notices a flash of glowing eyes near and a female figure looking in his direction. Imogen tells him to wake up, now, but he hears Otohan's voice saying she knows him, and is filled with a cold sensation, unable to move. Laudna and Imogen succeed in waking, but Chetney and FCG do not. Otohan approaches FCG, saying, "Well then. Punishment it is." He and Chetney feel piercing pain in their minds and wake up screaming.

The dreamers report to the others what they saw and they speculate on what it might mean, guessing that the purpose of having keys operating in the Fey Realm and Shadowfell might have been to strengthen this central one. It's possible its purpose is to break or unlock the Divine Gate-like latticework around Ruidus. Chetney urges Imogen to visit her home in search of any information that would help her convince her mother to help. They eventually go back to sleep and complete a long rest, although FCG and Chetney awake with a point of exhaustion.

In the morning, they reach the busy main road and by mid-afternoon are in Gelvaan, and spot their skyship approaching. As they move through town, Imogen and Laudna are recognized but the townsfolk give the party a wide berth, added to when Ashton sticks close to Laudna and makes eye contact with each person they encounter. They reach the sprawling Faramore Estate and ask for Imogen's father. Relvin greets her warily but agrees to talk about her mother; he always knew this day would come sometime. He shares that Liliana concealed her powers from him and left when Imogen was between one and two years old. He hoped that it was because she wanted to protect her daughter and initially hoped she'd return, but gave up that hope after about ten years. Imogen begs her father for any information that might help pull Liliana back, but he hasn't seen her in almost twenty years and doesn't know what she might be like now.

Fearne asks if he has anything that belonged to Liliana, and Relvin silently walks out, followed by Imogen. As they walk to his home, she recognizes the landscape of her red storm dreams. He enters, rummages a bit, and pulls out a small box. It holds a silver chain with an oval locket impressed with a child's fingerprint and the inscription "The better halves become a better whole." Relvin warns Imogen not to get herself into the same trouble as her mother, and tells her she should leave town soon since her prior farewell has not been forgotten and the tales have grown with retelling. She telepathically tells him, "I never want you to be afraid of me, Daddy." Relvin wishes her luck, pats her shoulder, and starts to ask her to tell Liliana something, but stops himself and goes back inside the home, closing the door.

Imogen returns to the group, pretending everything is fine. The skyship is descending, drawing the attention of all the townsfolk, until it lands just outside the town gates. The rest of the party acts as though Imogen is terribly important and they climb aboard. Once everyone else is aboard, Imogen faces the crowd and flies up onto the ship, to general awe. The skyship takes off, doing a low circular pass over the town before heading off north toward the Hellcatch Valley. Imogen clasps the locket around her neck as she stands on the deck, while Orym notices a faint aurora barely visible in the sky.

Featured characters[]

Bells Hells

New

Returning

Mentioned

Quotations[]

  • FCG: I haven't been really feeling good the last couple days.
    Imogen: How do we make you feel better?
    FCG: I think just time. And you know what? If we don't do stressful things, I think I'll probably be okay.
    Imogen: But our whole world is stressful right now.
    FCG: That's probably a problem, yeah.
  • Imogen: I don't know what I'm searching for. I guess I'm looking for something— I don't even know her. I have no way to... pull her back. [...] I know I left in a very troublesome way, but I haven't asked anything of you, Daddy, not in a long time. [...] I never want you to be afraid of me, Daddy.
  • Xandis: Hello there, all you great people! I know you bumpkins don't get to see such a great display like this, but this is the Silver Sun, one of the great esteemed skyships to wander all of Exandria, here to bestow upon you a majestic entrance to Bells Hells, right here, these fine people. We got to go, right? We're going places?
  • Xandis: Goodbye, bumpkins! Have a good day!

Inventory[]

Adjustment Count Item Source Destination Notes
Expended Caltrops Imogen the mud Thrown to pay the iron tithe to gain release from the ground.
Expended Ball bearings Laudna the mud Thrown to pay the iron tithe to release Imogen.
Expended 1 Dagger Orym the mud Thrown to pay the iron tithe to release Imogen.
Expended 1 Silver fork Fearne the mud Thrown to pay the iron tithe to release Imogen.
Expended Green-yellow paste Morrigan The party Smeared on the forehead and cheeks before passing through the gate between planes to help with the possible time distortion.
Transferred 1 Porcelain thimble Ashton Terrosh Offered as the toll to pass through Terrosh's portal. Ashton had stolen it from Fearne originally.
Transferred 1 Taste of Tal'Dorei pot holder Imogen Terrosh The accompanying rhyme was deemed not good enough.
Transferred 1 Burning oil Orym Terrosh Offered as the toll to pass through Terrosh's portal. Terrosh soaked the pot holder in it and ate it.
Transferred 1 "Journal of Vespin Chloras" Laudna Terrosh Offered as the toll to pass through Terrosh's portal.
Transferred 1 Box of ginger snaps FCG Terrosh Offered as the toll to pass through Terrosh's portal. Terrosh ate them immediately, box and all.
Transferred 1 Miniature rocking horse Chetney Terrosh Offered as the toll to pass through Terrosh's portal.
Transferred 1 Harrowcall Veil Imogen Terrosh Offered as the toll to pass through Terrosh's portal.
Transferred 1 Golden skeleton key Fearne Terrosh Offered as the toll to pass through Terrosh's portal.
Transferred Cooking ingredients Ashton FCG Stolen from the kitchen in Yios.
Transferred 1 Silver locket Relvin Imogen The locket bore a tiny fingerprint and the words, "The better halves become a better whole."

Trivia[]

  • When the party returned from the Fey Realm, they arrived back the same day they had left (8 Fessuran 843), despite spending a night at Nana Morri's house. The date at the end of the episode was 10 Fessuran 843. There are eleven days remaining till the Apogee Solstice.
  • Sam's jerrycan says "What's in my hole?!" From the hole, he pulls out a Pâté plush,[2] some Werther's Originals,[3] some condoms,[4] and a note that says "did you think we were done with you, WERTHER'S?!".[5]
  • Matt had Liam and Marisha make random d20 rolls upon the return from the Fey Realm without explaining their purpose. Liam rolled 3, 13, 18, and 15, while Marisha got 3, 13, 15, and 4.[6]
  • Dani Carr, who writes the descriptions for the episodes, made the one for this episode rhyme to match Terrosh.[7]

References[]

  1. ↑ Slater was introduced in "The Siege of Emon" (1x78), and has appeared or been mentioned in "A Bard's Lament" (1x85), "Midnight Espionage" (2x12), "Labenda Awaits" (2x20), "In Love and War" (2x57), and "Chasing Nightmares" (3x11).
  2. ↑ See "An Exit Most Fraught" (3x48) from 1:15:15 through 1:15:50.
  3. ↑ See "An Exit Most Fraught" (3x48) from 1:22:40 through 1:23:05.
  4. ↑ See "An Exit Most Fraught" (3x48) from 1:43:20 through 1:44:20.  Travis says they're not big enough…
  5. ↑ See "An Exit Most Fraught" (3x48) from 3:10:40 through 3:11:40.  Sam flips Werther's the bird…
  6. ↑ See "An Exit Most Fraught" (3x48) at 1:27:35.  It was later revealed that the rolls involved the activities of Caleb Widogast and Beauregard Lionett occurring at the same time.
  7. ↑ See "4-Sided Dive: Previously On…" (4SDx11) at 2:09:15.

Art:

  1. ↑ Fan art of Gloamglut searching for Bells Hells, by Lap Pun Cheung (source). Used with permission.
  2. ↑ Fan art of Bells Hells encountering Terrosh, by Lap Pun Cheung (source). Used with permission.
  3. ↑ Fan art of Otohan in Imogen's dream, by Sabira Langevin (source). Used with permission.
v • d • e
Campaign Three Arc 2 episodes
<< Arc 1: Jrusar Arc 2: Ruidus Rising (Episodes 24–51) Arc 3: Separations and Explorations >>
"The Hellcatch Valley" (3x24) • "A Taste of Tal'Dorei" (3x25) • "Hidden Truths" (3x26) • "A Race for the Prize" (3x27) • "The Deathwish Run" (3x28) • "Dark Portents" (3x29)
"Reunion & Revelation" (3x30) • "Breaking Point" (3x31) • "A Stage Set" (3x32) • "Blood and Dust" (3x33)
"What Dreams May Come" (3x34) • "Pyrrhic Return" (3x35) • "A Desperate Call" (3x36) • "From the Boughs" (3x37) • "A Dark Balance" (3x38)
"The Momentum of Murder" (3x39) • "Compulsions" (3x40) • "Call of the Wild" (3x41) • "The City of Flowing Light" (3x42) • "Axiom Shaken" (3x43) • "Bawdy Basement Belligerence" (3x44) • "Ominous Lectures" (3x45)
"Night at the Ligament Manor" (3x46) • "The Fey Key" (3x47) • "An Exit Most Fraught" (3x48) • "The Aurora Grows" (3x49) • "Red Moon Rising" (3x50) • "The Apogee Solstice" (3x51)
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