"Faith or Famine" (3x60) is the sixtieth episode of the third campaign of Critical Role. Team Issylra makes their way towards civilization, where a small town's troubles with an overbearing temple offers a new perspective on how helpful the gods can be...
Synopsis[]
Announcements[]
- Nathaniel "Nat" Twenty is back for D&D Beyond, now featuring "Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants" available for pre-order. To celebrate, Nat has written "Unlock the Stat Block: A Real Life Monster Manual & Tantric Goat Yoga Guide for the Fearless DM" with multiple real-life monsters.
- The first episode of Candela Obscura aired last week. The YouTube VOD and podcast will release 8 June 2023, and the "Quickstart Guide" is available now.
- Merch Alert! Candela Obscura t-shirt, key chain, lapel pin, and d6 dice set now available, along with the 2023 Pride t-shirt.
Previously on Critical Role[]
So, last we left off: The other half of Bells Hells, which found itself scattered to another part of Exandria, had crawled their way in the middle of the night out of some sort of a massive gorge of geothermal activity and dangerous spraying bits of steam and acid-like liquid materials, upon which you began to wander into the nearby forest in hopes of finding some semblance of civilization. Along the path, you stumbled across one, and then two, and then a third new companion along this journey, each with their own unique form of chaos they bring along with them. Upon getting to know each other a little bit, as well as discussing who's friend, who's foe, what needs to be done, and where you might even be, you found yourself assailed by some of the natural dangers that exist in the surrounding forest. During this battle, some rose to glory, others laid down and pissed themself. But nevertheless, a first ragtag scuffle between newish companions led to a modest victory.
After setting up some previously-stored corpses as their own animatronic warning sign through the evening, you camped out within a nearby cavern, rose with the sunrise, and gauged where your next destination should be, here on the far off continent of Issylra. Now that you've gathered your things, you've woken, packed your materials, tools, and whatnot, as the light grows brighter in the sky above the tree line of the forest that surrounds you, you had seen a bastion of civilization a little under a day's journey by foot, hopefully, from where you now stand after getting a decent view from above the tree line.
Part I[]
The group discusses how to proceed. Prism suggests that if they can get access to a Scrying spell for her to use or copy into her spellbook she could check on their missing friends. They head toward the signs of civilization Orym had spotted and Laudna guides them to a well-traveled road, which Dynios identifies as the Outerwalk leading from Othanzia in the northeast through the Demithore Valley where they are currently. The town of Endovaar is further west, and Hearthdell is east-northeast in the direction they had been traveling. They decide Hearthdell sounds friendlier. Laudna sends Pâté ahead to scout, joined by Prism's Mother, and they set off on what promises to be a full day of travel.
Along the way, they pass a fork in the road where they find the remnants of a gallows, surrounded by uncarved gravestones. Orym notices that a lot of the earth in the area looks disturbed, and they decide to give the area a wide berth. About an hour before sunset, the magic users of the party notice a strange charge in the air from the rising arcane energy surrounding the leyline nexus almost immediately overhead as they reach the village of Hearthdell. After a brief reconnaissance, they enter cautiously.
Fan art of the temple of the Dawnfather in Hearthdell, by Cha Cha Rae.[art 1]
They are eyed suspiciously by the townsfolk, and noticed almost immediately by an apparent guard of some kind wearing the symbol of the Dawnfather. Bor'Dor approaches Hender, a very old man, and they ask if anything unusual is happening in the village. He shushes them as the guard confronts them, asking their business and destination, and sending them on their way while continuing to watch. Ashton buys some tobacco from Hender, and Bor'Dor gives him some jerky, and he warms up, telling them the village lost "a few" people during the Apogee Solstice but they should talk to Proleff or the elder Abaddina for more information.
Fan art of Orym giving Laudna flowers, by Maddy Marshall.[art 2]
As they proceed through the village, they notice the people are more quiet than would be normal, and they see more of the uniformed guards. The central square holds a very large temple of the Dawnfather, and Prism suggests that clerics know the Scry spell so that should possibly be one of their stops. They also try to make Laudna look a little less undead with Orym's Druidcrafted flowers and Deni$e's makeup.
Eventually they head first to the Innovar Apothecary where Proleff, the herbalist, tells them the village had 11 people vanish during the Apogee Solstice the previous night. The village had thrown together a makeshift celebration after having been forewarned by the temple of the upcoming solstice. The temple had also sent several "specialists" to "keep an eye on things" because of the village's proximity to a leyline nexus. Nervously, Proleff tells them of the new temple guards and the Judicators that had arrived from Vasselheim. He admits the village isn't traditionally religious but celebrates the spirit of the landscape. They are of the Loam and the Leaf, which the temple considers to be pagan, and the people have been occasional targets of Vasselheim missionaries. Several years ago, the wealthy Silvercall family from nearby Endovaar bought land in the village and arranged for the large Dawnfather temple to be built, which has created a certain discomfort within the community. But the elder Abaddina handles communications with the spirits of the area, and can be found at the Knotburrow in the Arklune Fields. He also shares the legend of a continuing curse on the gallows at the crossroads, and the details of the maypole celebration the village held the prior night.
The group walk-and-talks to Abaddina's home, Knotburrow, with the members of Bells Hells bringing the newcomers up to date about the events of the Solstice, the involvement of Ludinus Da'leth and the Cerberus Assembly, Grim Verity's theft of the texts discussing Predathos' destruction of the lost gods Vordo and Ethedok and subsequent imprisonment within Ruidus, and Vasselheim's concealment of these facts. Deni$e points out the irony that this town, Hearthdell, is being oppressed by religion while the party was trying to save the gods from destruction by the release of Predathos during the Solstice.
They reach the Knotburrow and knock. Two vines descend, serpentlike, and inspect the group before a peephole in the door opens to reveal an eye. An old woman's voice asks what they want, and they explain they were transported here yesterday during the Solstice and have been told to seek advice from her. They are friends of the Loam and the Leaf. The vines around the door loosen and it opens, revealing a very tall half-giant woman. Orym Druidcrafts a large white flower and presents it to her, and she accepts it and invites them in.
Break[]
- Gemstone dice pack now at D&D Beyond.
- Cree, Vessel of the Pattern pre-painted mini available for pre-order at WizKids.com. Use code CRITHIT2023 for 10% off.
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- Trailer for Candela Obscura.
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- Critical Recap every Wednesday on CritRole.com.
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- Marisha explains the benefits of Critical Role Twitch subscriptions.
Part II[]
The party enters Abaddina's exotic home, telling her they've been told to seek her out. They are looking for access to a Scrying spell and need to get back to their homes. Abaddina is suspicious but notes if they were spies they'd be better at it. She introduces herself as a soothsayer and protector of the people of the village, a guide and spiritual advisor who can speak to the Demithore Eidolons, the spirits of the land. She asks what they think about the Prime Deities, and Deni$e, Bor'Dor, and Prism are quick to express their disapproval of them. Orym, however, points out that some of the gods have done a lot of good in the world, although he's not a very religious man, and that the local problems may be an over-reaction to the recent threats against the gods.
Abaddina produces pink spores in her hand and blows them toward Orym, who agrees to inhale them. He suddenly finds memories flooding through his mind, Abaddina experiencing them with him. She tells the group that the temples of Vasselheim seek to rob the people of their freedom. While Laudna agrees, she points out that destroying the gods would leave a power vacuum that others would fill, possibly even being worse than the gods themselves. Abaddina argues that sometimes things must crumble before being rebuilt better, and she can sense that someone with vision has made the gods afraid, the first mortal to do so since the Matron of Ravens ascended. Orym tries to tell her that Ludinus is evil, but she still believes his goal is a good one. She agrees to help the party if they help her free the village. They should come to a meeting at the brewery in 15 minutes. Deni$e respectfully asks her to prove she can actually help them, and she leads them to something resembling a bird bath: a scry well, which is still working.
The brewery is filled with anxious villagers who are suspicious and angry about the activities of the temple, the Sunrise Sanctuary. Elder Abaddina addresses them, telling them they all heard the voice during the Solstice, and it is time to arise. Most (though not all) of the villagers are enthusiastic and step forward. Ashton argues that they have committed themselves just by being there, and one by one the party also steps forward to join the fighters, Orym with resignation rather than enthusiasm. Abaddina tells the fighters about two hidden pathways leading to the temple. When they arrive there, they will give those within a chance to leave voluntarily. There are about 6 armored bastions within the temple, 3 on the other side of the village, plus Flameguide Kiro, the head of the temple, and two judicators. Bor'Dor proposes taking some tobacco and a barrel of beer to the temple to distract the guards, while Orym proposes offering to share information about Da'leth's plans and actions with those within the temple, to convince them they would be more useful on the front line in Marquet than here. Prism suggests she could summon a demon to further distract the guards as a last resort. The villagers head out taking the secret paths to the temple, while Bor'Dor and Orym go directly and openly there with their offerings for the guards, the rest of the party staying hidden. The signal to attack will be the words, "That's unfortunate."
Once at the temple, they are challenged by the guards but Bor'Dor convinces them to accept the offerings. However, he surreptitiously pours some of the laxative he bought earlier into the guards' beers. Once they've drunk them, Orym tells them he comes from the heart of the threat they fear and he wants to help them do what they need to support the Dawnfather. One guard goes to tell the Flameguide. While he's gone, Orym notices the mist around the temple shifting slightly as though with consciousness (the Eidolons aiding) and the bushes and trees around it begin to grow. In the shadows, he can see the waiting villagers. The hiding Prism realizes she is missing the component to cast Summon Greater Demon, but casts Invisibility on Mother and sends her in to scout the temple. Mother sees the guard talking to a tall armored figure who has apparently been doing research, and one of the Judicators.
The Flameguide appears on one of the towers high above, irate and suspicious. Orym tells her he comes from Zephrah, and the foremost mage of the Cerberus Assembly is trying to tear the gods from the sky. Where they all, including the forces of Vasselheim, need to be is in the Hellcatch Valley of Marquet, fighting against Da'leth, not here, but his words fail to convince her. She orders both Orym and Bor'Dor taken to her superiors in Vasselheim, and as the guards move forward, Orym gives the signal: "That's unfortunate." Orym then uses Seedling's vines to throw the guard with them into the wall. Pointing his sword at Kiro, he tells her they need to figure this out, now, but she just shouts for the temple to be locked down.
Prism Manifests the Mind next to Orym and Dimension Doors both her and Deni$e inside the temple into the room with the Judicator as the battle breaks out and the villagers charge forward.
Featured characters[]
Bells Hells
- Ashton Greymoore
Chetney Pock O'Pea(absent)Fearne Calloway(absent)Fresh Cut Grass(absent)Imogen Temult(absent)- Laudna
- Orym
Returning
New
- Chad, a young inhabitant of Hearthdell, one of the fighters
- Dolak, a soldier of Hearthdell
- Efir, an inhabitant of Hearthdell
- Gerard, a temple guard
- Germon, a temple guard
- Hender, an inhabitant of Hearthdell
- Joan Abaddina, the elder of Hearthdell
- Flameguide Kiro, head of the temple in Hearthdell
- Proleff, an herbalist
- Vito, a soldier of Hearthdell
Mentioned
- Arnold Drot, Grim Verity member captured stealing texts on forgotten gods
- Dariax Zaveon (unnamed)
- The Dawnfather
- Ethedok
- Jesper Dog'Son (unnamed)
- Juria, an inhabitant of Hearthdell whose daughter vanished in the solstice
- Keyleth
- The Lord of the Hells
- Ludinus Da'leth
- The Matron of Ravens
- Predathos
- Viola, an inhabitant of Hearthdell who vanished in the solstice
- Vordo
Quotations[]
- Laudna: Maybe we'll find a nice wizard. Are there a lot of nice wizards? Because we haven't really come across many nice wizards.
Ashton: Barely any nice people. - Prism: (about the temple) There could be a Scrying scroll in there. Unless people have hard nos about religious heists.
Orym: I don't think I have any more hard nos.
Deni$e: I have a hard yes for religious heists.
Ashton: I have a hard no about getting caught. But beyond that... - Orym: (offering a Druidcrafted flower to Abaddina) I know that we're strangers, but that doesn't mean we can't be friends.
- Abaddina: We are born free people. It is only those with money and power and wills to exert that rob us of that freedom. If history has proven anything, there is no higher form of government and control than what begins at the temples of Vasselheim.
- Orym: Okay, we're going to fuck around. And then we're all going to find out.
- Abaddina: Gather your things, gather your weapons, gather what arms and armaments you have. For tonight, the children inherit the world.
- Orym: (to the Flameguide) Where you want to be, where the Dawnfather's order-- no, all of Vasselheim's forces want to be, is the Hellcatch Valley in Marquet. That is where Ludinus Da'leth of the Cerberus Assembly is working to pull your god from the sky right now. Not here. And you and your order must feel the hollow hearts of the people around you. Your time is better spent across the ocean rather than here, putting your boot on the necks of farmers.
Inventory[]
| Adjustment | Count | Item | Source | Destination | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acquired | 1 thumb pouch | Tobacco | Hender | Ashton | Asking price was 2 silver and Ashton paid 3. |
| Transferred | Jerky | Bor'Dor | Hender | ||
| Acquired | 1 | Hender's tooth | Hender | Laudna | Laudna picked it up when Hender broke it on Bor'Dor's jerky. |
| Acquired | 2 | Healing salves | Proleff | Orym Deni$e |
Function identically to potions of healing. 50 gold each. |
|
Acquired Expended |
1 | Laxative |
Proleff Bor'Dor |
Bor'Dor Temple Guards |
Contained 6 vials combined, cost 6 gold. Bor'Dor offered to trade for a bushel of beef jerky, but Proleff gave it to him free in return for a future favor. |
Trivia[]
- The last line of Elder Abaddina's speech rallying the villagers was identical to Ludinus Da'leth's final line in his monologue before Keyleth arrived and the battle began: "Tonight, the children inherit the world!"[1]
- During the same date in which this episode took place, Team Wildemount was traveling toward Uthodurn. See the Timeline for more details.
- Marisha Ray brought back her black fan, this time with the phrase "Where are we?", as a substitute for Sam Riegel's flask while he is absent.
- When Deni$e said that she had lost a nail in the fight against the plant monsters Aimee Carrero showed her own hands, revealing that she was, in fact, missing one of her acrylic nails.
References[]
- ↑ See "The Apogee Solstice" (3x51) at 3:54:25.
Art:
- ↑ Fan art of the temple of the Dawnfather in Hearthdell, by Cha Cha Rae (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of Orym giving Laudna flowers, by Maddy Marshall (source). Used with permission.
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