"Embattled in Bassuras" (3x70) is the seventieth episode of the third campaign of Critical Role. Bells Hells return to Bassuras, seeking their friend Imahara Joe's assistance, but they quickly discover that Joe needs their aid first... and fast...
Synopsis[]
Announcements[]
- First sponsor tonight is Immortals of Aveum, a new single-player first-person magic shooter, and Sam gives us a first person look from behind the table while giving Max a serious workout. (Seriously, if you've ever wondered what it's like to actually sit at that table and what the set looks like back there, check it out.)
- Midst Season Two is now underway. Find it wherever all fine podcasts are heard and on the CR YouTube Channel. More info at Midst.co.
- Candela Obscura Season Two premieres Thursday, 31 August on Twitch, YouTube, and in select Cinemark theaters.
- Queen by Midnight from Darrington Press is now available in all CR shops and select local game shops.
- Merch Alert! Exquisite Exandria: The Official Cookbook of Critical Role releases 29 August 2023 with 60 delicious dishes from across Exandria.
Previously on Critical Role[]
So, last we left off: Bells Hells, upon traversing the breadth of the Grey Valley to seek a means of aiding Keyleth from her unhealing wounds at the hands of Otohan Thull, during the moment of the Apogee Solstice, you bring her back to health, manage to peruse and cause a little bit of chaos in the Ashari city of Zephrah, get a little tipsy in an evening of winding down, and then trek out to Yios, where it was discovered via Scry spell that Dancer, the one responsible for repairing and bringing FCG online not but a handful of years back, seemed to have found themselves. In looking for someone to help you repair this strange arcane harness that you had recovered from the past of Ludinus Da'leth, you went to speak to her, and after a somewhat tense encounter within the city of Yios, the City of Flowing Light, you convinced her to help you out. Unfortunately, she needs more of a workshop to do the work, and even then, her knowledge is a bit incomplete for what this requires. It was spoken that perhaps teaming up with Imahara Joe over in the city of Bassuras would be enough to likely get this to a place where it could be helpful, or at least get any information you would need around its history and purpose.
After being attacked by the ever-seeking Shithead, the bird which has claimed you as its primary focus of spite in its undying spirit, you finally laid it to rest, nothing but a pile of ash and feathers left behind. Keyleth coming along with you to aid you to the eventual discussed prospect of heading to the Shattered Teeth where it seems a number of ancient elemental power seems to still swirl and shift the numerous islands of the fog-shrouded broken continent to the far east, and mysteries that lie around the history and essence of one Ashton Greymoore might be tethered. With that in mind, Keyleth brought you through to an early morning tree in the central city of Bassuras here in the Hellcatch Valley. Here, under the reddish glow of the still and locked moon Ruidus, you walk through the pre-dawn streets.
Part I[]
Inside the city, the Gajakhandas are at high alert and there are many soldiers wearing Vasselheim uniforms, with three Othanzian skyships hovering overhead. As Orym watches, there is an apparent explosion on one but although soldiers and Gajakhandas run toward it, for the most part it's ignored by the populace which seems more focused on making money off the new arrivals to the city. A citizen they question tells them the soldiers have been in the city about a day and a half, heading north. Keyleth wild shapes into a bird and briefly scouts, identifying the forces as Vasselheim temple-affiliated. She volunteers to scout further and join back up later around noon.
The rest of the group heads to Imahara Joe's, finding it dark and shuttered. There is no answer to their knock, and Chetney picks the lock. When Laudna calls out, they hear a thud and a strange voice within. Imogen uses Detect Thoughts to find nine minds within the building as a small glass globe rolls out and explodes into lightning damage. The party spreads out: FCG, Dancer, and Chetney stay in front, Fearne, Ashton, and Orym are in the back, while Laudna and Imogen go up onto the roof and find a grate looking inside. They see seven hostiles guarding two other figures (Joe and an unknown lagomore), and Laudna Messages the others this information but is noticed. She takes 32 damage from a crossbow bolt and the battle begins.
Screenshot of the interior of Imahara Joe's from "Embattled in Bassuras" (3x70) at 0:40:41.[art 1]
Laudna immediately retaliates with a Fireball. As the attackers move in, the party realizes that at least some of them are members of Paragon's Call, and General Ratanish is among them. The battle continues with the enemy dealing significant damage to the group, particularly Chetney. Looking through a window, FCG Banishes Ratanish, while Dancer uses her automaton Pussy II to cast Cure Wounds on Chetney.
FCG holds concentration on Ratanish's Banishment through an attack by an enemy monk who is finished off by an Erupting Earth cast by his compatriot. FCG, also caught in the damage, is again able to barely maintain concentration. This turns the tide in Bells Hells' favor. A badly damaged Fearne is able to Charm one attacker, disarm him, and escape from him, while Chetney transforms into his werewolf form and manages to kill another of the enemy. FCG heals Chetney a bit more, and Orym blows up a couple of crawlers in for repair, killing a dragonborn.
Mister kills one of the few remaining combatants with a flame seed and Chetney kills another. FCG casts a Mass Healing Word on everyone but Orym, but the enemy caster wild shapes into a giant eagle and seizes both Joe and the lagomore in its claws. It is able to barely push through the door with its prisoners, taking attacks from both Fearne and Ashton on the way, and begins flying off. Ashton uses Wormhole Strike to attack the creature again, knocking it out of eagle form and sending the druid, Joe, and the lagomore plunging toward a spiked iron fence below.
Break[]
- Immortals of Aveum is now available on all major gaming platforms.
- Tombtakers boxed minis now available for pre-order at WizKids.com. Use code CRITHIT2023 to save 10%.
- Available Now: Queen by Midnight trailer.
- Merch Alert! Imogen Temult denim shirt, Laudna dice set, Dorian Storm and Nott the Brave ReAction figures, Critical Role backpack and watercolor journal, and Critical Role Land t-shirt in all five shops; Air Ashari dice set in the US shop.
- Cast at Rose City Comic Con Sept. 23-24, NYC Comic Con Oct. 12-13, London MCM Comic Com Oct. 28-29. See the CR website.
- Trailer for Candela Obscura Chapter Two. Candela Obscura Original Soundtrack now on digital music platforms.
- Trailer for the Midst Season Two 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.
- Sam's back with the ASMR for Critical Role Twitch subscriptions.
Part II[]
Fan art of Orym giving Ashton a "gift", by Cha Cha Rae.[art 2]
Ashton uses Violent Gateway to teleport through the portal his Wormhole Strike created to reach Imahara Joe and grapple him, turning so that Ashton will absorb the brunt of the fall damage. Orym uses the Boots of Striding and Springing to jump up and do the same with the falling lagomore, while Imogen's Telekinesis slightly flattens the fence so that they land across it rather than being impaled. Realizing that General Ratanish's Banishment will end in seconds, the party gathers around the spot where he disappeared. When FCG drops the spell, they all attack. Orym gets the How do you want to do this?, with Ashton taking a final, bloody swipe through the body.
Meanwhile, the neighbors are coming to investigate the sounds of battle, but Joe reassures them he's fine. They meet Verna the Viper, the lagomore, a friend and fellow tinkerer with Joe, and an expert in explosives. The party loots the bodies and puts them in the portable hole while Joe and Verna inspect the arcane leather harness. Joe explains that he and Verna were pressed into service by Paragon's Call after the Apogee Solstice to create enchanted objects and explosives. Joe suspects they were used against the arriving forces or the city itself. They were currently working on a brumestone nullifier. Verna and Joe quickly gather some tools, and the party leaves out the back just ahead of some approaching investigating Gajakhandas.
They head to Hondir's old hideout, where Joe continues his inspection of the harness. He confirms the harness can channel energy from an object, place, or person into a wearer that is either inscribed with adaptation runes or shares a similar essence. This one is specific in its runic tuning but could potentially be adjusted by a powerful enchanter. It would take Joe and Verna about two weeks to repair, but they'd need tools and materials, including residuum. The party decides to ask Keyleth if she can provide transportation to somewhere for Joe and Verna to hide out and work on the harness. They decide Whitestone might be a good place, and Joe has actually heard of Percival de Rolo.
Meanwhile, however, Ashton and Imogen head out, seeking information about Ashton's old fellow member of the Nobodies Pocket, but they have dropped out of sight. As an reluctant alternative, they head to the Palace of the All-Minds-Burn to talk to Justi Pross but run into Shady Sally there. Ashton tries to punch her when she claims to feel no guilt over abandoning him bleeding in the street after the failed burglary, and then uses Erratic Defense to slow and tip her over. Ashton tells her that after they spent years paying off the gang's debt to Jiana Hexum, it's payback time. The gang needs to unofficially get back together, because they're needed to combat the forces gathering with the Apogee Solstice. Justi is skeptical, but Ashton invites her into their mind, and she tells him there's someone she'd like Ashton to meet. Justi recommends they wear masks.
Imogen and Ashton follow Justi deeper down into the palace, and she tells them "it" asked for them. When Imogen slightly lowers her mental defenses, she senses a force pushing against her mind, strange and alien, fractured but unified. The air is bone dry, but a strong rotting smell is everywhere, and as they descend the stairs, they become soft and no longer stone. When they reach the cellar they see a 15 foot tall, faintly glowing mass of organic matter with skeletons bound within it. Justi tells them, "This is us, or what brings us together."
Imogen reaches out mentally to the creature, asking how old it is. She receives the impression of hundreds of years. It isn't sure where it came from, but it wants to meet more. This is its home and it's hard to go further, but it lives through the eyes of those who take of it through the drugs they ingest. The being goes through Imogen's memories, and she senses it wants to help. It sees the dry, arid moonscape of the surface of Ruidus in her memories, and Imogen can sense its longing. The being splits, and a hard-shelled orange-sized object detaches, which Justi recognizes as the Brood Pit. Ashton picks it up, and Justi tells them, "It wants to be seeded." The many members of All-Minds-Burn will help in the coming struggle, if they will leave the Brood Pit on the moon. They agree. As they leave, the other members of All-Minds-Burn bow their heads to them. On the street, they each express how good it is to feel as if they are making a difference.
Fan art of Ashton and Imogen talking while Laudna panics, by Melissa Hahn.[art 3]
Meanwhile, back at the hideout, Laudna is panicking that Ashton and Imogen have been gone so long, when they arrive and tell the others what happened. When it is time to meet Keyleth, she tells them forces from across Exandria, including Vasselheim, are gathering in the Hellcatch Valley surrounding what they're calling the Bloody Bridge, and Keyleth has shared her information about the Reilorans. The troops' current orders are to hold for more information, but Keyleth believes the equilibrium will not last for long. She agrees to take Imahara Joe, Dancer, and Verna to Whitestone while they party goes to the Island of Slival to meet with Jirana, the Shore Shrew. After telling them Jirana can probably direct them to Evontra'vir, that the island sometimes "burps" due to the tide, and to say "hi" to Toriz, Keyleth opens a portal in the tree and Bells Hells runs through.
Featured characters[]
Bells Hells
Returning
- Dancer
- Cookie
- Pussy II
- Imahara Joe
- Justi Pross
- Keyleth
- Ratanish
New
Mentioned
Quotations[]
- Justi Pross: (to Ashton) Need people? Friends? What for?
Ashton: We're going to save the world. - Imogen: (about the All-Minds-Burn) Ashton, are you planning on recruiting?
Ashton: I don't know. I think... I think I might be dangerous. I might hurt it.
Justi: Don't hurt it. Don't hurt us.
Ashton: I wouldn't-- it wouldn't be intentional. I'm broken. (indicating their head) This is not... I don't know what this would do to you. - Ashton: I've run with crews before, but I've never felt important, and every hit feels like a hit someone else doesn't have to take. That feels good. You, especially you and Laudna, are-- everybody. It's not destiny. We, we matter.
Imogen: Yeah, I spent a long time feeling like we were just-- I mean, I don't know about you-- taking up space that was meant for someone else, right? It's nice. In a weird way.
Ashton: I have spent my entire life taking up space and being ignored. And I'm starting to learn that it's the things you ignore that really get you in the end. It's one by one.
Imogen: Ashton, you're so special.
Ashton: I know. That's why I'm fighting for you. It's because you are fucking special, too, and we all know it, and we will get you up there.
Imogen: We'll get up there. We're going to do this.
Inventory[]
| Adjustment | Count | Item | Source | Destination | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acquired | 1 | Battleaxe | Ratanish | The party | |
| Acquired | 1 pair | Boots | Ratanish | The party | |
| Acquired | 2035 | Gold pieces | Ratanish | The party | Everyone but FCG got 339 gold. |
| Acquired | 7 sets | Paragon's Call attire | The corpses | The party | Included necklaces of the Duskmaven. |
| Acquired | some | Bone trinkets | The dead druid | Laudna and Fearne | |
| Acquired | 1 | The Brood Pit | The All-Minds-Burn | Ashton |
Trivia[]
- Sam's jerrycan starts off saying "Shitheads aren't real"[1] which is later replaced by a printout of a post from Marisha saying "Flat White with vanilla please"[2] to which she adds "To Sam, Fuck You" and signs it "Marisha Ray"[3]
References[]
Art:
- ↑ Screenshot of the interior of Imahara Joe's from "Embattled in Bassuras" (3x70) at 0:40:41. This file is a copyrighted work. Its use in this article is asserted to qualify as fair use of the material under United States copyright law.
- ↑ Fan art of Orym giving Ashton a "gift", by Cha Cha Rae (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of Ashton and Imogen talking while Laudna panics, by Melissa Hahn (source). Used with permission.
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