"Doorways to Darker Depths" (3x86) is the eighty-sixth episode of the third campaign of Critical Role. Bells Hells stumble upon a secret entrance to Exandria from Ruidus, but this lucky portal leads to a place just as dangerous as the one waiting for them in the sky...
Synopsis[]
Announcements[]
- New sponsor tonight: Czepeku, makers of more than 4000 beautiful battle maps for your favorite fantasy TTRPG. Sam and Marisha express their emotions about this through the power of dance.
- Merch alert! Luxon beacon oversized d20 now available in the US, UK, and EU shops.
- New chapter of Candela Obscura starts next week, 29 February 2024.
- Tales of Exandria: Artagan Issue 2 is now available.
- The cast will be in Seattle for Emerald City Comic Con March 2-3 for a panel, autographs, and photo ops.
Previously on Critical Role[]
So, last we left off: Bells Hells, after arriving on the red moon Ruidus, trekked into one of the villages on the outside of the central capital city of Kreviris, encountered some of the locals, made some friends, ran into some enemies, took some out, took some captive. Then in the process of looking for a means of continued travel towards the city of your destination, some of you ran into Otohan Thull, who has been seemingly progressively on the trail of you since your arrival. Through a brief bit of a chaotic scuffle and escape, you all whisked yourselves away into the sky, and facing an oncoming storm, sought shelter a little ways northward, or north-esque on this small astral body.
Upon diving into a nearby chasm, delving into its depths and finding some odd water network caverns and continuing to follow this strange source of water, you trekked through these winding tunnels, found a high splashing waterfall, climbed to the top, and found ancient ruins emerging from inside this rock-clustered cavern, seemingly from times long forgotten. As you trekked through these ruins and began to look for a way of getting back to the surface or finding a safe to rest at the very least, you found some unique elements lost to time forever, locked in this moment before cataclysm, and then found the source of this burbling river of water that was carving from the rock. Out of curiosity, Fearne transformed into a sheep-leaved sea slug. Upon pushing through the forceful water, you eventually found yourself in a less cramped space, in less constantly pressured, coursing water. Clambering upward toward a light source, you breached into an unfamiliar lake beneath a blue and cloud-dappled sky, beautiful cold air surrounding forests and mountain tops with white snow dusting across their peaks.
Part I[]
Fearne finds herself swimming in a lake surrounded by trees and mountains. She determines the portal is still there and immediately dives through it and returns to the rest of the party, telling them what she saw. There is much discussion of whether they should take a long rest before or after going through the portal (some of the party are very low on spells, but if they go now they still have Keyleth's Wind Walk spell to aid in exploring). Eventually they decide to go now, but first, using their new shared Ruidusborn ability, Fearne gives Imogen four sorcery points. Using a rope and the immovable rod, the party moves through the tunnel and into the lake.
Above them, Catha is visible in the sky, although Ruidus and Exandria are not. The shifting ley lines are visible as well, and they realize they are back on Exandria in a remote mountainous area. No lights are visible (other than from the sky) but there are the dark shapes of structures near the lake. When they approach, the village appears deserted for years, but from the town clerk's office they discover its name is Ria'Doin on Lake Umamu, in the Caramarin Reach area of Issylra. Meanwhile, Ashton and Chetney investigate the largest home they can find, which appears to have been packed up and cleaned out. Laudna finds records in the clerk's office discussing a recent spate of people abandoning their homes and disappearing in the middle of the night with no warning. The fishmonger reported seeing someone just walk into the lake. FCG casts Speak with Animals and has a tense conversation with a bird which tells him people sometimes come through the village to fill their pockets, but sometimes they, too, just walk into the lake. They decide to spend the night on the second floor of one of the homes, where Chetney uses Detect Magic on the two silver rings taken from the dead Ruby Vanguard soldiers, learning they are both magical, and FCG Identifies one as a Ring of Life Awareness. Chetney then, using the Legendary Toymaker feat gained from his bargain with Nana Morri, crafts a fine toy.
Fan art of Orym's hug, by Elaine Tipping.[art 1]
Imogen and Orym take second watch, and on a whim, Orym tries again to use the sending stone attuned to the one held by Caleb Widogast. To his shock, this time the message goes through, telling the wizard they're in Ria'Doin, a backdoor to the moon. Caleb is also taken aback, saying this magic hasn't worked recently. Imogen then uses Sending to follow up with the name of the lake and asking him to get word to the Resistance. She then contacts Keyleth, telling her they found a secret entrance in Lake Umamu near Ria'Doin leading to subterranean Ruidus. Keyleth is surprised to hear they're no longer on Ruidus, and Imogen explains forces are gathering in Kreviris. Bells Hells will show her the secret tunnel in the lake. Keyleth replies she needs to finish some business and will then try to meet them. Time is starting to run short. Imogen and Orym then realize they may not still be there by the time Keyleth arrives, and discuss how to leave her messages on how to find the portal. Unexpectedly, Orym suddenly gives Imogen a fierce hug, and she reassures him everything is going to be okay before sending a final message to Keyleth: "The portal is in the lake. We're heading back in the morning. Haven't learned enough. Going to Kreviris. We'll leave markers for you to follow." Keyleth responds she'll send a team to see what this secret door in the lake is.
Fan art of Jester's Sending, by Pyromeekorai.[art 2]
Just then, another voice pushes into Imogen's mind: Jester Lavorre, thrilled beyond words that Sending seems to be back online, saying Caleb told her to contact them. Imogen replies with their location and that they just contacted Lady Keyleth, but Jester doesn't know who that is. She's excited to meet them anyway.
Orym then pulls out his second sending stone and messages Dorian Storm, but there is no response. However, he hears a noise outside he thinks he needs to check on-- it could be Dorian. When Imogen hears about this, she wakes the others and they keep Orym from leaving while Laudna sends Pâté to investigate, but he sees nothing. The party argues, with Chetney suggesting it really might be Dorian while the others are more cautious in light of the villagers' apparent disappearance. Suddenly, Ashton hears something too, followed by FCG and Chetney, who suspect maybe the portal just closed. Worry is driving them to go check. With Hunter's Bane, Chetney senses a presence in the water, possibly an ally.
The party cautiously moves toward the lake, with the unaffected Fearne, Imogen, and Laudna trying to stop the others. Imogen casts Detect Thoughts toward the lake, and senses an intelligence within it as those affected start wading in. Imogen casts Command on them telling them to return to the house, but it doesn't affect Ashton, and works on the others only for 6 seconds. While their backs are turned, Ashton disappears into the water.
Break[]
- Czepeku, makers of more than 5000 beautiful battle maps for your favorite fantasy TTRPG.
- Preorder EXU Calamity minis at WizKids.
- Trailer for Candela Obscura's new Circle of the Crimson Mirror starting 29 February 2024.
- Merch Alert! Candela Obscura Core Rulebook, Orym bomber jacket, Chetney pullover knit hoodie, Bailey's Green Dice Bag of Hoarding, The Mighty Nein Reunion: Echoes of the Solstice t-shirt, Ashton jacket and patches in all five CR shops. Chetney Woodworks and Candela Obscura blueprint t-shirts in all shops except Australia; Luxon beacon oversized d20 in the US, UK, and EU.
- Cast at Emerald City Comic Con March 2-3.
- Trailer for Midst Season Three podcast.
- Candela Obscura Original Soundtrack, Welcome to Tal'Dorei and Welcome to Wildemount 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.
- Sam has a nightmare about the new Critical Role Twitch subscriptions promo.
Part II[]
Fan art of Laudna, Boaty, and Ropey, by iwilltryalittlearter.[art 3]
Four members of their party are now trying to dive into the lake. Imogen grabs Orym but is pulled underwater with him. Laudna casts Animate Objects on a sunken boat and a rope, bringing them to life as her mind imbues them with personalities. Climbing aboard the boat, she sends them to bring the charmed party members back. The charmed ones eventually find themselves gently wrapped in seaweed at the bottom of the lake, relaxed and certain they have found the answer that will fix everything. Fearne and Imogen start swimming down toward them, the whole party taking cold damage, and Fearne sees bones scattered among the tendrils of seaweed. Imogen casts Mind Sliver at the kelp and hits it for psychic damage, the tendrils retracting, the creature's hold on Orym, Chetney, and FCG broken. They find themselves alone in cold, dark water, wrapped and held in kelp tendrils, and begin attacking it trying to gain their release, but discover the creature ("The Silt")[1] is undead and immune to necrotic damage.
Fearne bamfs out Mister and sends him toward FCG, where he teleports them both 15 feet away. Laudna, aboard the diving animated boat, sends the rope toward the remaining captives. Imogen hits again with Mind Sliver. Chetney and Orym free themselves by slashing at the tendrils holding them and start swimming away, but Orym tries to take a skull with him and is recaptured doing so. FCG, hitching a ride with Boaty, the animated boat, uses his Coin of the Changebringer to try Turn Undead but fails. Chetney uses Turmoil to cast Shatter on the creature and he and FCG both reach Laudna's boat. Ashton, however, is still controlled and completely engulfed by the kelp tendrils, and the party is continuing to take cold damage with each round.
Orym is able to free himself and catches a glimpse of Ashton, Misty Stepping to him to free him, but Ashton is still charmed and tries to flee back into the plant's tendrils. FCG uses Turn Undead again, this time succeeding against not only the creature, but Laudna as well. Ashton, however, finally succeeds in escaping the creature's mental control and swims away, and the entire party reaches the surface safely. The boat and rope's animation ends and they sink away.
Chetney carves some messages on the porch of the general store and dock, and Orym leaves the skull on the dock holding down the papers they found in the clerk's office. They swim out to the portal, go through it back into the cavern beneath the surface of Ruidus where the group falls asleep with Laudna on watch. Moving away slightly, she calls to Delilah, who immediately responds. Laudna is wondering what is the point of all this, and if she is more of a danger than a help to those she loves. Delilah reassures her that she doesn't give herself enough credit, and she's gotten at least one extra chance at life. But Laudna points out that as she grows stronger, so does Delilah. Delilah counters they are one and the same, but Laudna doesn't believe that. Delilah promises that as Laudna finds more power, Delilah will grant her more, enough to keep Imogen safe. She becomes visible for just a moment, saying gently, "We will endure. Always."
Long rest completed, the party awakens. FCG Identifies the second ring as a Ring of Protection, which Orym takes. Laudna uses the Quintessence Array to suck the magic from the Ring of Life Awareness, giving her a permanent +2 to hit points and advantage on attacks and ability checks till her next long rest. They explore the tunnels holding the proto-elven ruins a bit more, leaving the Ashari symbol as they pass. They speculate as to why Sending apparently came back online but can reach no conclusion. FCG tries to Scry on Ira Wendagoth, but fails. When Orym tries to use the sending stone again to contact Caleb Widogast, that fails as well and the static is back.
They continue following the tunnel, which they suspect is a bane worm tunnel, until it comes to an abrupt end. At the others' urging, Ashton activates the Shard of Ka'Mort, growing bigger and spikier before merging into the stone. He swims through it, realizing they are not far from the surface. When he rejoins the party, they decide to go up, and he digs a hole to the surface. The party follows, reaching the surface in the middle of a dust storm, and Imogen senses the direction they should travel toward Kreviris. FCG informs the group that the Staff of Dark Odyssey recharged only enough to just cast Teleport by expending all its charges, and if they do that, there's a chance it will disappear. Orym reminds them that their goal is to connect with the Volition. Imogen uses their last Scroll of Mass Nondetection, which lasts eight hours, and uses the Scarf of Intrusive Intent to cast Magic Mouth onto Orym's Message Bloom seed which will trigger if an ally passes nearby, telling them they went to Kreviris and roughly how to get there. Leaving it there, they move on toward the city.
Midway, the ground begins to tremble with energy and brighten, glowing with blinding light as Ruidus flares. Imogen and Fearne become euphoric, part of a timeless essence. Imogen rises into the air, floating, eyes white and hair glowing pinkish red, and all the veins of energy on her body glowing as well. Slowly, the energy subsides and she drifts back to the ground. Both she and Fearne gain 15 temporary hit points. Ashton's transformation ends and he is left exhausted, and Fearne shape changes into a dire wolf.
They are approaching a mountain range, and in a valley in its middle, they catch a faint view of a city skyline of tall, pointed towers.
Featured characters[]
Bells Hells
Returning
- Caleb Widogast (via Sending)
- Delilah Briarwood
- Keyleth (via Sending)
- Jester Lavorre (via Sending)
New
- Boaty (a.k.a. the Queen de Rolo) and Ropey, temporarily animated objects
Mentioned
- The Alvin child, the Klaren family, the Otises, and Gerald the fishmonger, people who were drawn to their deaths in Lake Umamu
- Ariks Eshteross
- The Changebringer
- Elder Barthie
- Dorian Storm
- Willmaster Edmuda
- Ira Wendagoth
- Liliana Temult
- Ludinus Da'leth
- Predathos
Quotations[]
- Chetney: We should rest and then go, and fuck the cloud form.
FCG: That seems like making decisions out of fear. We need to be making decisions out of confidence.[...]
Chetney: I feel called out, and I am going to agree with you just out of guilt and shame. I feel manipulated and totally on board. - Imogen: (after Orym's sudden hug) It's going to be okay, right?
Orym: I don't know, but thank you.
Imogen: For what?
Orym: Weeks, months, I don't know. How long have we been together?
Imogen: I don't know. Months?
Orym: It feels like years. Hang onto me. I'll hang onto you. We'll hang onto them. It's going to be fine. - Laudna: (to Delilah) I don't know what to do. What's the end goal of all of all of this? Am I really just supposed to keep chasing and consuming power wherever I find it? To what end? And will it actually ever be enough?
Delilah: There's only really one reason for power: to protect those you love. And if that fails, vengeance is a pretty decent second goal. But you still have a chance to protect those you do love, the one you love. Don't fail as I did. There's still a chance.
Laudna: Is vengeance all that's keeping you around?
Delilah: No. If there's anything I've learned in my time, it's to never give up. Because if you're willing to give it all away, nothing is impossible. - Delilah: Faith for some is strong. I prefer reality.
Inventory[]
| Adjustment | Count | Item | Source | Destination | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acquired | some | Stones & twigs | Ria'Doin | Imogen | For use in Teleporting. |
|
Identified Destroyed |
1 | Ring of Life Awareness | dead Vanguard soldiers | Laudna | Removed from their corpses earlier by Chetney, identified by FCG, and sucked dry using the harness by Laudna. |
| Identified | 1 | Ring of protection | dead Vanguard soldiers | Chetney Orym |
Removed from their corpses earlier. |
| Expended | 1 | Scroll of Mass Nondetection | Allura Vysoren | the party | Imogen used it to protect the party an additional 8 hours. |
Trivia[]
- Sam's jerrycan has a picture of Bells Hells, made from construction paper with cotton-ball clouds, which is signed “By: Sam Age 47"[2].
References[]
- ↑ See CR Cooldown | C3 E86 at 00:33 (subscription required)
- ↑ See "Doorways to Darker Depths" (3x86) from 2:45:35 through 2:45:55.
Art:
- ↑ Fan art of Orym's hug, by Elaine Tipping (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of Jester's Sending, by Pyromeekorai (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of Laudna, Boaty, and Ropey, by iwilltryalittlearter (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of Imogen during the flare, by @lolthies (source). Used with permission.
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