"Blood and Dust" (3x33) is the thirty-third episode of the third campaign of Critical Role. Surrounded by chaos, Bells Hells act quickly to secure their quarry, but their attempted escape leads to an unexpected confrontation with a deadly foe...
Synopsis[]
Announcements[]
- Sam's a cat... again,[1] and this time he brought his litter box and an internal hairball while exploring his species-typical existential ennui and finding meaning in Backblaze. Get a 15-day no-credit-card-required free trial of their full-featured backup system now.
- Merch Alert! Critical Role has partnered with HipDot for a Mighty Nein makeup collection, now on pre-order for a very limited time. Also a Pâté de Rolo hanger plush (complete with poseable rat tail), the rest of the Bells Hells chibi pins, and a sleeveless Beauregard Lionett cardigan, which Matt appropriates and wears for the remainder of the game.
Previously on Critical Role[]
So, last we left off: Bells Hells, after learning about some odd, kooky things surrounding the moon Ruidus, had an odd vision of something structural and massive on one part of the surface of the red moon as well as elements of Fearne's history that seems to tether her to being born beneath this same red moon many, many years ago.
After learning some of this information and watching Ira Wendagoth vanish into the ether for whatever he has planned and plotted, you returned to Bassuras, being dropped off by Birdie Calloway who returned to the hideaway, and began to figure out how best to handle the day before you look into Treshi. You went to Imahara Joe's place to inspect what may have caused this strange bit of violence that came from FCG. Couldn't quite pinpoint any reasoning for it. Learned a bit about the physiology of this Aeormaton that you've had with you, as well as a bit of possible history that may have a connection. Then went over to check out the Seat of Disdain where the crawler faction with the city, Paragon's Call, that seems to be highly involved in both the business of this fugitive Treshi, as well as some of the things going on around Otohan, the Paragon's Call group leader and an individual that they've been seen with many years ago, and a lot of the business in Jrusar as well. You passed by Artana Voe, who you met once before, a bounty hunter in Jrusar who seems to have made a trek out here around the same time.
You went and introduced yourself as new members of Paragon's Call after proving yourselves in the Deathwish Run. They brought you in, showed you your quarters and your barracks, gave you a tour of the place, but while keeping a close eye on you as you did so. About the time this happened, the distant darkened dust and sandstorm that was slowly encroaching began to overtake the town as everyone battened down the hatches and sought to wait it out. During this time, you found that Treshi was indeed being kept in the Seat of Disdain in the basement, the locked away basement, within a cell, a prison cell that had been outfitted to be almost like a guest quarters but still definitely a cell.
After Chetney had done a search and information gathering mission, and a few of you also went and gathered the ring that you could track with from the local jeweler in the middle of the storm, you began to figure out how to handle this possible capture of Treshi when you began to hear commotion and shouts and yells. As you went and followed them out to the front, the doors to the Seat of Disdain were open, the sandstorm blasting by as you heard people shouting, yelling, and explosions and fiery impacts as one member of the Call hits the ground in front of you, covered in burns.
Part I[]
Once in the courtyard, Bells Hells can see the loaded mammoth-crawler is being attacked by a group of unknown assailants coming over the walls. They quickly decide to utilize the confusion and split up: Laudna, Fearne, and Ashton will try to plant the ring on the crawler in the confusion, while Chetney, Imogen, and Orym retrieve Armand Treshi from the basement cell. Fresh Cut Grass stays outside, trying to see who's attacking.
Fan art of Laudna exploring the crawler, by Jason deBit.[art 1]
In the chaos outside, Laudna Spider Climbs up the crawler's leg and into the cargo compartment while Ashton and Fearne move to "help" the Paragon's Call members with crates which have fallen from the crawler to the ground. Fearne manages to grab one of the small square black ones. Another crate has shattered revealing dozen of crystal vials holding gray liquid, and Ashton manages to steal three of them. A larger explosion rocks the crawler, sending it listing to the side.
Meanwhile, Team Treshi heads to the basement, noticing that the door Chetney locked behind himself is now unlocked. As Chetney leads the way down the stairs, he falls over a tripwire but isn't seriously hurt. There is, however, an unconscious guard at the bottom. As they move forward, two other guards begin firing in their direction, but the party quickly realizes that the guards are aiming at other assailants, out of sight. Treshi is still in his cell, pressed against a wall, terrified and trying to stay out of sight. As Orym parcours into the battle area, he finds himself at the wrong end of Artana Voe's blade, but she turns to shoot and takes out one of the remaining guards. Imogen casts Psychic Lance incapacitating her, then reaches through the bars of Treshi's cell, flips out the portable hole, and tells Treshi to jump in it. Artana tells Orym, "Whatever you think you're doing here, you're fucking up a lot," but Orym convinces her to come with them. Chetney intimidates Treshi into jumping into the hole. Artana disappears, asking Orym where they propose to take Treshi, and Orym tells her "home". She answers, "Maybe our paths aren't quite as different as you think."
Meanwhile, outside, the party is taking damage from stray explosions and flying debris. FCG manages to get a damaged skirmish-crawler turned right-side-up and running. Ashton jumps in and urges them to move to the gate. Laudna climbs up the building, unexpectedly coming face-to-face with Otohan Thull who is looking down on the chaos, and Laudna immediately casts Darkness. She uses the confusion to clumsily tuck the tracking ring under Otohan's cloak and her mirrors absorb Otohan's attack. Laudna flings herself off the building, and Feather Falls to the ground where she and Fearne meet up.
Downstairs, Artana is leading the way out when they are accosted by two more guards. Telling Artana telepathically to play along, Imogen tackles her and tells the guards they have this handled. On their way back outside, they encounter Ratanish and Imogen pushes Artana toward him. Artana manages to pull free and vanishes again.
Fan art of Otohan in the dust storm, by Cha Cha Rae.[art 2]
Outside, the group has moved on their crawler near the rear gate away from the bulk of the battle. Ashton's "Space" rage allows him to open a portal near the top brace barring the gate to lift and remove it. Fearne then uses her Stonky's Ring to remove the remaining braces. They are joined by the rest of the party, but they all won't fit on the crawler, so they decide to split up and meet at Imahara Joe's. FCG, Orym, Laudna, Imogen, and Fearne take the crawler, but as they turn into the main thoroughfare, there is a shape seen through the sandstorm, waiting for them -- Otohan Thull.
Otohan attacks the crawler, destroying its front wheel and throwing everyone in it to the ground when it explodes. As the rest of the party arrives as well, Otohan says, "Let's have a conversation, shall we?" Three dark, shadowy versions of Otohan appear around her.
Break[]
- Merch Alert! Beauregard Lionett sleeveless hooded cardigan, Pâté de Rolo hanger plush, and Fearne Calloway pocket t-shirt in all five shops; Bells Hells chibi pins and Jewel of Marquet beach towels in the US and Australia.
- Beau's hooded cardigan is part of the "Beauty of Exandria in Motion" collection.
- Excerpts from "4-Sided Dive: Liam Laudna-Hands" (4SDx06).
- Yev from Backblaze (one of Critical Role's earliest regular sponsors) is back! Get a 15-day free trial of their online backup service now.
- Welcome to Tal'Dorei Critical Role soundtrack album 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 at https://www.critrole.com/submit.
- Sam does "soothing" ASMR to promote Critical Role subscriptions on Twitch.
Part II[]
While Otohan admires the brashness of the party, she asks who their employer is while moving closer to Imogen. Orym steps in front of Imogen, then recognizes that he has seen Otohan's shadow assassins before.[2] Imogen casts Hungry Torrent which destroys the three echoes, but Orym feels Otohan invade his mind, demanding again who they work for and seeming amused when she learns it is Lord Eshteross. When Imogen lies that they know nothing about Otohan, FCG tries to help by invoking their Trusted Companion status to give her a Bonded Blessing. However, he appears to experience pain and the pain seems to happen every time thereafter that he uses a spell to aid another party member. Otohan doesn't believe Imogen and continues to take damage by remaining within the spell radius, but uses a legendary resistance to halve the damage. She casually re-summons her echoes.
As combat begins, Otohan attacks Ashton with three weapon attacks and an offhand strike by one of the echoes, doing 65 points of damage and knocking him unconscious. Orym immediately feeds him a potion of healing before his own attack, bringing him back up. Otohan uses a legendary action to attack Imogen and knocks her prone, but Chetney responds with his Blood Curse of Bloated Agony and Imogen Misty Steps away to a nearby building. As the battle continues, Otohan uses her legendary actions to inflict serious damage on multiple party members each round while using her Psi-Powered Leap to move around easily, convincing the party they need to run rather than stand and fight.
Otohan uses another legendary resistance to avoid Fearne's Hold Person, and Fearne, Laudna, and FCG begin moving away. Otohan attacks Orym, however, knocking him prone and then unconscious. Sensing Imogen's mind, Otohan looks toward her but moved toward Fearne, casually slashing Ashton as she moves past him and knocking him out again, then using a legendary action to knock out Fearne as well. Laudna uses Wither and Bloom to bring Ashton back while FCG casts Healing Word on Fearne, but Otohan immediately Psychic Leaps to Laudna and knocks her out as well, and her attempt to use Strength of the Grave to remain conscious fails. Otohan immediately uses her final attack to inflict two failed death saves on Laudna.
Imogen realizes her psychic link with Laudna is down. She steps out of hiding, casts Fly on herself and goes straight up 60 feet, telepathically calling to Otohan, "Enough! Let's end this." Fearne casts Cure Wounds on Orym through Mister, and Marisha rolls a natural 20 on her death save for Laudna, bringing her conscious with one hit point as she hears a slow heartbeat and Delilah Briarwood's voice saying, "Not yet, my child. We have much to do." As she comes to consciousness, she chokes out, "Imogen." For the first time since combat started, all of Bells Hells are conscious.
Fan art of Orym's death, by Lyadrielle.[art 3]
Otohan turns to Imogen, saying, "Your friends are extremely, obnoxiously resilient. Perhaps I've been going about this the wrong way. I should be more complete with my job." She viciously attacks Chetney before changing places with an echo to stab Orym, still prone, knocking him unconscious. As he goes down, his hand releases the blue sending stone connected with Dorian's that he was reaching for. Otohan stabs twice more, saying just before the killing blow, "We've met before." Orym is dead. Otohan looks up at Imogen.
Fan art of Fearne's death, by Lyadrielle.[art 4]
Otohan then uses a legendary action to attack Fearne, knocking her unconscious while saying, "You carry the seed. Just not as strong as others." Crying, Imogen flies toward Otohan, screaming for her to leave her friends alone. Her successful Dissonant Whispers seems to actually please Otohan. Laudna Messages Otohan, saying they know where Ira Wendagoth and the Moontide Crown are. Otohan is interested, immediately asking Imogen if it's true and psychically invading her mind to learn that it is, at least partially. Holding her blade above the unconscious Fearne, she demands the information now or she will strike. Laudna tells her east, in the Panagrip Sands. Looking at Imogen, Otohan says, "You were so close," as she stabs twice into Fearne. Fearne's final words are, "Boy, that was a hell of a run."
Otohan then turns on Chetney, knocking him unconscious with two failed death saves. Turning to Imogen again, she says, "The more you run from it, the more you lose. There is greatness in you, and our fight is soon. Embrace it, or become like the rest." Imogen feels churning storm energy within her, calling to her as she fights it. Otohan urges her to surrender to her nature. Imogen approaches, hand out, and Witch Bolts her, but Otohan invades her mind again, urging her to give into the sensation calling more and more strongly to her.
Fan art of Otohan stabbing Laudna, by Lap Pun Cheung.[art 5]
Imogen flies down to Otohan, demanding she let the others go, but Otohan responds, "You give in, or you all die. We only need the strongest of us." Laudna uses Wither and Bloom on Chetney and Otohan, bringing Chetney to consciousness, but Otohan notices, asking Imogen, "Is she your favorite?" Imogen frantically says, "I'll go with you! I give in. Don't hurt her." The response is, "You don't just choose to give in or let go when the moment's right." She moves to Laudna and attacks, sending her unconscious and inflicting two failed death saves. Holding the body aloft on her sword, she looks at Imogen.
The call within Imogen is screaming to her to give in. As Otohan prepares to stab Laudna again, Imogen hopelessly casts Dissonant Whispers once more. She then fails a Wisdom saving throw and feels the storm rise up within her.
Featured characters[]
Bells Hells[]
Returning[]
- Armand Treshi
- Artana Voe
- Delilah Briarwood (voice only)
- Otohan Thull
- Ratanish
Mentioned[]
Quotations[]
- Orym: (as he goes unconscious) As he's going out, he's looking at the sky past her shoulder and thinking of his husband and his father.
- Otohan: (to Imogen) You're missing the party. Run all you want. You're just running and leaving them to die.
- Chetney: (about Otohan) Yeah, I'll go meet her.
Sam: Chetney, Chetney, Chetney, what are you doing?
Travis: I don't want to be the only one not dead. - Marisha: (rolling a death save with two failures) ♪ Delilah, take the wheel ♪ It's a natural 20.
- Liam: (describing Orym's death) There's a really heavy sense of failure. But, at the same time, I know I'm going to see Will and Derrig again.
- Fearne: (as she dies) Boy, that was a hell of a run.
- Matt: (to Imogen) The storm rages in your belly. Do you fight it?
Imogen: I'm not losing them to just surrender to you.
Otohan: You're not surrendering to me, but to your nature.
Inventory[]
| Adjustment | Count | Item | Source | Destination | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acquired | 1 | Square black locked crate | Paragon's Call mammoth-crawler | Fearne | Stolen in the confusion of the attack. |
| Acquired | 3 | Crystal vials of gray liquid | Paragon's Call mammoth-crawler | Ashton | Stolen in the confusion of the attack. |
Trivia[]
- Vox Machina had two PC deaths in three episodes: "Raishan" (1x80), "The Deceiver's Stand" (1x83), and "Race to the Tower" (1x102). It occurred only once during the Mighty Nein's campaign, in their penultimate episode "Long May He Reign" (2x140).
- Matt clarified in later tweets that the attack on the Seat of Disdain was a distraction by Artana Voe and that it was being brought under control.[3] Otohan Thull leapt from the balcony where Laudna encountered her to the wall and saw the party's escape through the back gates, where she set herself up to intercept.[4]
- In in-game time, the party has been together about a month as of the date of this episode.
- Sam's jerrycan has a picture of a unicycle captioned "I'm Wheelie Sorry"[5] which then opens to reveal:"… for murdering your friends."[6]
References[]
- ↑ See "The Threat Between the Walls" (3x05) at 0:00:18.
- ↑ Orym said the attackers in Zephrah who killed his husband Will evaporated when killed. See "Growing Bonds and Teasing Threads" (3x06) at 3:10:38. They were clad in dark gray-black leather and were very highly-skilled killers. "Heart-to-Heartmoor" (3x17) at 3:44:07.
- ↑
Matthew Mercer (@matthewmercer) on Twitter: "Let me toss this in if it helps. The “assault” was winding down/quickly falling under control being ultimately a distraction for Artana. Otohan, being the warrior she is, recognized the likely true intent for the attack and shifted focus to any anomalies." (2022-09-09).
- ↑ Matthew Mercer (@matthewmercer) on Twitter: "She lept from the balcony to the wall (her being spotted but misidentified as Artana) and saw the odd escape from the back gates, where she set herself up to intercept. :)" (2022-09-09).
- ↑ See "Blood and Dust" (3x33) from 1:36:32 through 1:36:52.
- ↑ See "Blood and Dust" (3x33) from 2:10:30 through 2:10:46.
Art:
- ↑ Fan art of Laudna exploring the crawler, by Jason deBit (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of Otohan in the dust storm, by Cha Cha Rae (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of Orym's death, by Lyadrielle (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of Fearne's death, by Lyadrielle (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of Otohan stabbing Laudna, by Lap Pun Cheung (source). Used with permission.
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