From the Boughs

From the Boughs
"From the Boughs" (3x37) thumbnail featuring Matthew Mercer.
Episode	Campaign Three,​ Episode 37 (C3E37)
Airdate	2022-10-13 19:00 PDT
Running time	4:10:17
Episode link	VOD
Podcast link	Podcast
Transcript	Transcript
Starring
Laura Bailey – Imogen Temult Taliesin Jaffe – Ashton Greymoore Ashley Johnson – Fearne Calloway Liam O'Brien – Orym Marisha Ray – Laudna Sam Riegel – Fresh Cut Grass Travis Willingham – Chetney Pock O'Pea and Matthew Mercer as the Dungeon Master
Order
Previous	"A Desperate Call" (3x36)
Next	"A Dark Balance" (3x38)
Airdate Order
Previous	"A Desperate Call" (3x36)
Next	"A Dark Balance" (3x38)

"From the Boughs" (3x37) is the thirty-seventh episode of the third campaign of Critical Role. Bells Hells traverse a dark and corrupted Whitestone and face twisted traumatic shadows of the past in their effort to save Laudna's soul...

Synopsis

Announcements

• Welcome back to the Finger Championship Games (FCG), brought to you by Cash App. The Finger Blaster introduces us to the Finger Ladies of Wrestling aka FLOW, and Liam's Apple Watch apologizes in advance. Meet speedy High Five and The Thumb, still searching for identity. Tune in next time for their face-off!
• Blades in the Dark - One More Multiverse edition , an online roleplaying game you can run with your friends, is now available.
• Marking the first anniversary of the Third Campaign, the brand-new Bells Hells logo is unveiled in a spiffy animation. Chetney admires the craftsmanship.
• Dice Guardians presents their first two Critical Role products: Fresh Cut Grass and Ashton Greymoore illuminated dice vaults.

Previously on Critical Role

So, last we left off: Bells Hells, after a violent incursion with Otohan Thull in the distant city of Bassuras, lost three of your troop, were able to recover two, leaving Laudna dead and gone. But driven with hope and the inability to accept her loss, you took her body back with you to Jrusar to finish up some of the work that had sent you to that city in the first place, returning Armand Treshi to deal with justice based on his actions, uncovering a few more morsels of the mystery as it unravels, and then asking for aid from your leader, the Voice of the Tempest, to possibly figure out something that could be done here.

Keyleth arrives and, while she lacks, at this moment, the resources and ability to do so, instead sends your troop to the city of Whitestone where she thinks you might be able to find that hope. There, you encounter two members of the council, the Chamber of Whitestone, Percival de Rolo as well as Vex'ahlia de Rolo. Some tense moments based on the circumstances that surround Laudna's existence and current death, a divided idea on whether or not this is a good idea sends you all, along with Pike Trickfoot, the divine, blessed figure that is able to, seemingly, restore Laudna to life. However, it is dangerous to do so with these two souls within Laudna's body, both Laudna's and Delilah Briarwood, who has a very bloody history with the people of Whitestone.

Pike does believe there is a possibility you can separate this, and conducts a ritual to project your spirits into this dark, shadowy space where Laudna's spirit is currently held between the realms of the gods. As you all begin to explore this shadowy expanse, pushing back the fog, you encounter an echo of a memory of hers, walking through dark forests and finding an old hut, hearing voices of her being chased and people coming to "burn her down". You fight some of these spirits and diffuse the flames before they consume the hut entirely, the shadow of Laudna's memory vanishing. You take a moment to breathe and follow a tunnel of roots that follow deep into the ground of this strange realm below. You scout ahead quite a bit while the rest of you take a moment, and then find yourselves emerging from another surface, another stone-formed forest, and then ahead of you, a somewhat cracked and desolate wall and what looks to be a twisted city beyond it where a massive leafless tree in the center looms.

Part I

The party cautiously emerges from the tunnel into a strange, spectral version of Whitestone. Chetney picks up a strong scent of undeath and necromancy coming from the city in the distance, and they head toward the tree in its center. Everything including the vegetation and buildings seems to actually consist of the underlying stone. It occasionally shifts with a rumble, adjusting to the party's proximity. As they move forward, the rumbling grows louder and suddenly bones shoot outward from the ground blocking the path forward. Ashton notices that the broken bones bleed and smell of marrow. Orym climbs atop them to view the city, noticing buildings shift and grow out of the ground and that, on the central giant tree, there are dozens of ropes hanging down. He stays atop the roofs to direct the party, and when he stabs into a building it also bleeds and stops moving.

Fan art of Matilda, by Kiera James.

Suddenly they hear a young voice coming from a narrow alley. Imogen opens her mind to it and senses that it's not a fully material entity, but hears a 12- or 13-year-old boy talking to "Matilda", asking why she's been following him and saying the other boys are teasing him about it. He asks if Matilda wants to play a game called "Secret Treasures" with him, where he'll give her something if she tells him a secret. Imogen approaches and sees he is talking to a flickering shadow like a young girl, with a purple heart glowing in her chest. She psychically contacts the girl, who is hesitant about agreeing, and Imogen urges her not to trust him. While she hesitates, the boy throws dirt at her before they both vanish into the walls.

Imogen's psychic connection remains, however, and Laudna/Matilda tells her that she's playing in the barn, which is usually out of town, but not today. Imogen asks if she can see the tree, but Matilda tells her the tree scares her. From the roof, Orym sees an out-of-place, lantern-lit barn in the distance, and they begin running toward it, evading the moving buildings and erupting bones attempting to head them off.

When they reach the barn, it is being engulfed by growing vines. Within, there is a small hideaway in the hayloft with drawings, a blanket, small tools, and half-completed rough dolls made from twigs and hay. The doll of a woman has a necklace around it bearing three red gems. It is picked up by a small shadow-shape with a purple light in its chest, looking to be about a three-year-old child. The child responds to Imogen's telepathic contact, explaining that the "mean woman" won't let her leave, and later, "the tree" won't let her leave. When Chetney looks outside, the vines have completely covered the barn and begin growing inside as well, and Matilda disappears. The party attacks the vines, learning that while fire harms them the fumes produced when they burn can sap the party's hit dice. Chetney throws a stick of dynamite, clearing a path out of the barn, while Fearne takes the dolls and necklace.

Imogen telepathically checks in with Laudna/Matilda, but the responding voice is now older and doesn't recognize Imogen's voice. Matilda says she is very busy right now, getting dressed to go to a dinner. Imogen urges her not to go, but the connection is broken and the others tell Imogen they can't change what happened. Fresh Cut Grass Identifies the necklace Fearne took as non-magical but well-made.

Official art of Laudna's parents, by Natalie de Corsair.

The party approaches a window glowing with lantern-light, seeing a farm home interior holding an older woman, a man, and the flickering Laudna/Matilda shadow, all getting dressed up. Imogen telepathically assures Laudna they're going to help her get home when it starts to get scary. The father figure addresses one of the others as "Laudna" rather than "Matilda", and the mother also calls her daughter "Laudna". When Laudna goes upstairs, the parents turn toward the party with glowing green eyes, and Imogen tells them, "Delilah, we're coming for you." They both jump forward, shattering the glass window, as their bodies elongate into dark grey-green smoke tendrils that wrap around and injure both Imogen and Fearne. The others join the fight against the creatures, which unsuccessfully attempt to enter and control their bodies. They are quickly defeated and dispersed.

The group decides to try to confront Delilah at the tree rather than continuing to pursue Laudna, and begin moving in that direction. As they go, the moving buildings instead of blocking them seem to provide a straight path there. They heal up a bit and prepare for battle. Chetney and Imogen take their Potions of Possibility, and they all march toward the center of town. As they approach, a flicker of purple sparks across the ground and spirals into a tall, evil, shadowy form. Looking up at the ominous tree, it sighs, saying "Ah, fond memories."

Break

• Blades in the Dark - One More Multiverse edition is now available.
• Dice Guardians presents Fresh Cut Grass and Ashton Greymoore illuminated dice vaults, now available.
• Trailer for The Legend of Vox Machina, Season 2, coming to Prime Video in January 2023.
• Merch Alert! Nott the Brave windbreaker, Mollymauk and Jester's Oracle of the Moon deck, Pâté de Rolo hanger plush, and 8-bit Villains sweatshirt in all five Critical Role shops; Witchy Trio t-shirt in the US, EU, and UK; Clue: Critical Role in local game stores and the US and Canada shops.
• The Tal'Dorei Theater presents "The Bard College of Tragedy" with excerpts from the Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, now available in all five CritRole shops.
• 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.
• Ashley and Taliesin got into Matt's minis again and chat about subscribing to Critical Role on Twitch.

Part II

The spectral purple energy gathers into the shadowy form of Delilah Briarwood. She greets them, saying it's interesting to finally see them face to face. Looking around, Orym finds Laudna's purple glow within a cage of branches high in the boughs of the corrupted Sun Tree. Fresh Cut Grass tells Delilah that people who hurt others have often themselves been traumatized, and they'll listen to her if there's anything she wants to share. Delilah laughs. She points out that they all want to keep Laudna alive. Chetney offers negotiation on the basis of this shared interest, and Delilah tells him this realm they find themselves in is not a place of her making, although she's influenced it. Imogen suggests Laudna's death has trapped Delilah there as well, but Delilah seems confident she could find other ways if they fail to reach an agreement. Delilah wants to be brought back to life along with Laudna, and can offer them rewards for doing so. Chetney points out they can't bring Laudna back as long as Delilah is cohabiting in her body, but Delilah says they are not cohabiting, they are one being. If they try to tear her away, Laudna's soul will be sundered, and Delilah will find another way out. If they bring them both back, they will both live.

Fan art of Imogen, by Haven Burley.

Chetney announces he's sold, but wants to speak to Laudna first. With his natural 20 deception roll, Delilah is convinced they will simply leave unless she allows this, and the branches of the tree part, revealing the cage holding the shadowy Laudna while Matt summons a very surprised Marisha to the table. Imogen hesitantly calls to Laudna, who shakily responds. Imogen tries to reassure her they'll get her home, but Laudna says she's been fighting Delilah for over 30 years now. The branches close at Delilah's gesture. Through her teeth, Imogen says, "Delilah Briarwood, we're going to sunder you," and casts Psychic Lance at her.

Fan art of Delilah at the Sun Tree, by APixelTaurus.

As combat begins, the shadow Delilah is hovering above the ground out of melee reach. Ashton rages (Possibility) and tries to sling Orym into the tree but can't quite do it and Orym sprints the rest of the way. The party can hit Delilah, but she hits back harder with Necrotic Bursts and has lair actions from the Tree, plus legendary actions and resistances. Her Ward of the Corrupt provides a shield emanating from the tree to surround her, and she casts Negative Energy Flood at Imogen, who uses the first of her two fragments of possibility to succeed on the save for half damage. Delilah then Summons Undead to call five skeletons to the battle. Chetney transforms into wolf form and throws his chisel up at the hovering Delilah, placing his Brand of Castigation upon her. FCG uses their Changebringer coin to cast Turn Undead on the skeletons, destroying all but one of them, then takes out the remains of Delilah's magical shield with Spiritual Weapon. Fearne casts Earthbind on Delilah so she can no longer fly. Imogen uses a new ability to "Call Ruidus", causing lightning damage to both herself and Delilah. They notice that when Delilah is injured, the Sun Tree also flickers as if it's being hurt in the same way.

Orym manages to climb into the tree, trying to get to Laudna, but the tree swallows her into its trunk, then uses Hungry Vines to attack all the party except Orym, dragging all of them except Chetney toward it. Delilah unleashes more Necrotic Bursts, significantly wounding Ashton, Orym, and FCG although Ashton expends a mote of possibility to avoid a critical hit. Delilah seems to recover health from their damage. The Burst brings FCG to 0 hit points and he disappears from the battlefield, called back to the Prime Material Plane. The rest of the party continue to whittle away at Delilah, but then Fearne notices that Little Mister's flaming seeds flung at the tree seem to significantly hurt both it and Delilah. Fearne then begins targeting the tree with fire damage, causing serious damage and setting the tree on fire.

Still in the tree and trying to reach Laudna, Orym hacks at the branches, but discovers her gone, pulled within the tree's trunk. However, his damage to the boughs is enough to destroy them, robbing the tree of a lair action and causing Delilah's shadow form to wither into a skull. Delilah's retaliatory use of a legendary action against Orym with a natural 20 causes massive necrotic damage, taking him into negative hit points and sending him back to the Material Plane, out of the fight. Ashton gives Imogen a Potion of Healing and sets off a stick of dynamite on the tree's roots, severely damaging them. A lair action provides Delilah another Ward of the Corrupt and she Blights Imogen, bringing her health perilously low even with a successful save. Fearne manages to destroy the tree's roots with another Scorching Ray so that only the trunk is still standing, heavily damaged.

Fan art of Imogen's Lightning Bolt, by Lap Pun Cheung.

Flaming and furious, Delilah uses a legendary action to send a Necrotic Burst at Imogen and hits, but Imogen uses her last mote of possibility to force a reroll and the second roll is a natural 1. On her turn, Imogen drinks the healing potion Ashton gave her, then casts Lightning Bolt on the tree trunk, splitting it in half, destroying it and revealing a white flash of Laudna's form as she is pulled free from the center of the tree. They hear Delilah shriek, "NO!" and see a whoosh of white.

Imogen, Chetney, Fearne, and Ashton all wake up, joining FCG and Orym on the floor of Pike Trickfoot's home in Whitestone.

Featured characters

Bells Hells

• Ashton Greymoore
• Chetney Pock O'Pea
• Fearne Calloway
  • Little Mister
• Fresh Cut Grass
• Imogen Temult
• Laudna
• Orym

Returning

• Delilah Briarwood

New

• Andy (in a memory), a former crush of Laudna's in Whitestone
• Laudna's mother (in a memory)
• Laudna's father (in a memory)

Mentioned

• Pike Trickfoot
• Vex'ahlia de Rolo

Quotations

• Imogen: (to the child Laudna) Who are the dolls, honey?
  Matilda: I made a nice woman, and I made a bird that can take me away from here.
  Imogen: We can be that bird for you. We can take you away.
  Matilda: Where will we go?
  Imogen: Home. Somewhere safe.
• FCG: People who traumatize others have had trauma themselves, and if there's anything that you want to talk about or share, we will listen to you and hear you without judgment.
  Delilah: So you've come here to offer me therapy.
  FCG: If you need it. Everyone could use a chance to talk and be heard.
  Delilah: (laughing) Strange metal child. You do not know where I have been, the things I have bound, the secrets that tether through my very essence. You know not the limitations that I've broken, and the eternity that awaits him, me, and all others that walk in his shadow. You know nothing.
• Chetney: You need Laudna to be alive, correct?
  Delilah: She is the most convenient option before me, yes.
  Chetney: Well, we need Laudna to be alive, too. So there is a shared interest there. But it depends on what kind of a deal can be struck, because currently, she's not. That sucks for us, but I think it sucks even more for you. I get the feeling, just an instinct, that you might be short on options.
• Delilah: (when asked why she chose Laudna) Some children have a gift. I found I had a gift for learning. Her, she was one of the lucky to be born with something. But, I didn't see that at the outset. She was... useful. I had to prove a point.
• Delilah: (to Ashton) I find the depths of your ignorance extremely boring.
• Imogen: Laudna?
  Laudna: (weakly) Imogen.
  Imogen: We're going to get you. We're going to get you home, okay?
  Laudna: I forgot how much I hate it here.
  Imogen: Can you get out? Can you get out of the tree?
  Laudna: I think that depends on you, darling.
  Imogen: I need you to fight her. I need you to fight her.
  Laudna: I haven't been able to fight her for 30-odd years.
  Imogen: We're here now. We'll help.

Inventory

Adjustment	Count	Item	Source	Destination	Notes
Acquired	1 sample	Bone blood	the city	Imogen
Acquired	1	Necklace with 3 red gems	the barn	Fearne	It was wrapped around a homemade doll, and proved to be non-magical.
Acquired	3	Rough homemade dolls	the barn	Fearne	A mother, a little girl, and a bird. When the necklace was removed from the mother doll, the doll burned away to ash.
Expended	1	Dynamite	Chetney	Attacking vines
Expended	1	Potion of healing	Chetney	Chetney
Expended	1 each	Potions of possibility	Chetney Imogen Ashson	Chetney Imogen Ashton
Transferred	1	Potion of healing	Ashton	Imogen
Expended	1	Dynamite	Ashton	Sun Tree roots

Trivia

• The Bells Hells logo was revealed in an animation played during the Announcements portion of the episode.
• Sam's costume was the one he wore in "Dangerous Liaisons" (2x37), a live show in New York, continuing his pattern of wearing the same outfit as he wore in the same-numbered episode in previous campaigns.
• Sam's jerrycan has a rope that attaches offscreen with a label saying: "VERY IMPORTANT CORD! DO NOT CUT!!". This is in reference to the silver cords of their current astral forms, and when FCG is banished from the battlefield Sam cuts the rope.

References

Art: