"Mist and Whimsy" (3x71) is the seventy-first episode of the third campaign of Critical Role. Bells Hells travel to the fog shrouded islands of the Shattered Teeth and meet several of the unusual denizens of the chaotic land...
Synopsis[]
Announcements[]
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- Second sponsor is Warner Bros. Games' new Mortal Kombat 1, launching 19 September 2023 on most gaming platforms; premium access on the 14th.
- Merch Alert! Laudna dress, Caduceus Clay kitchen gear, Ashton and Fearne dice sets.
- The first episode of Candela Obscura, Chapter Two is now on YouTube, Twitch, and podcasts. Episode 2 drops September 28th.
- The Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn is now available on the Demiplane 5e Nexus.
Previously on Critical Role[]
So, last we left off, Bells Hells had sought out aid with an artifact they had uncovered that seemed tethered to parts of Ludinus Da'leth's past. In doing so, you sought out Dancer, who has a tumultuous history with FCG, as well as heading back to Bassuras to bring their skill and talent to combine with that of Imahara Joe in hopes of discovering the true nature and/or the capabilities of this artifact once it were to be repaired or refurbished. Upon arriving there you found that it seems a lot of outside military force by interested temple factions or other military factions from around Exandria are starting to gather in the Hellcatch around the ground zero of where the Bloody Bridge currently still tethers the moon Ruidus into the sky.
Here, you also discovered that Imahara Joe's shop had been shuttered up, and apparently had long been captured by Paragon's Call within the city, and they were forcing him to do work for Paragon's Call itself, and by proxy, the Ruby Vanguard. You managed to ruin entirely Paragon's Call within and foiled the plans and capabilities of General Ratanish, one of the secondary generals beneath Otohan Thull. Putting them to rest and covering your tracks, you saved Imahara Joe and another companion of his, also of quite intellect and capability. With the aid of Keyleth, sent them off to a safe space with her while she managed to handle her business in the time to come of growing tumult, and then sent you all to the rarely journeyed continent of clustered islands known as the Shattered Teeth, to seek information and answers surrounding the essence and mystery of Ashton's past and current nature.
Part I[]
The party tumbles out of the tree portal into a foggy dense forest of tall corkscrewing black-and-white birches. It is nearing sunset. In the fog, they cannot tell much about the surroundings, but Orym notices many small creatures in the trees above and hears the ocean in the distance. They walk toward the sound and reach a cliff over a narrow black-pebbled beach. Imogen tries Sending to Jirana, but it fails. She casts Fly on herself and Orym, joined by Pâté, and they go up over 600 feet before finally breaking through the fog, but they can see only clouds below them, disturbed by a gargantuan distant undulating shadowy form.
They quickly descend and tell the others what they saw. The party moves northward as night falls, and they find themselves surrounded by tiny firefly-like glowing amphibious humanoids about an inch tall that are fuschia striped irregularly with teal. Periodically, they hear a low, rumbling whooshing sound. Laudna sends Pâté out scouting, and she steps into a large webbed footprint about seven feet across. They talk about whether it's wise to try to camp, finally deciding they need a long rest, so Fearne uses Plant Growth to create a shelter for the night.
Fan art of "Me", by Elaine Tipping.[art 1]
Chetney takes first watch, noticing more of the tiny light-creatures gathering around them and the loud distant booming noise continuing. Laudna takes over the watch, timing the booms at every 15-30 minutes and noting more of the lizard-pixies gathering curiously. FCG takes the last watch as more and more of the pixies arrive. The aeormaton casts Speak With Animals and several land on his head, seeming to understand him but not being able to speak. They point to the direction the booms are coming from and indicate that "people" are everywhere around them. FCG pickpockets some dried meat from Chetney to feed them, then casts Detect Thoughts and realizes there are about forty of the creatures now. When FCG casts Tongues on one, they can communicate. The pixie (which is nameless and dubbed simply "Me") likes the food, and tells FCG the boom is a "spray cannon", an ocean blowhole. When he asks if they can visit one of their many surrounding villages, the creature tells him the party is very noisy and they don't want to bring the Smelly One, a large creature who can smell very well. The teal coloring on their bodies is actually what they apply to themselves to disguise their own odor so as not to be located. When FCG asks for some, the creature agrees, curls up in his hand, and defecates a teal-colored substance.
When FCG asks if there are any larger people or visitors nearby, the pixie tells him there is Toriz, the Protector, who comes when there are big lights or sounds and helps save them from the one who smells. FCG suggest a light such as a big fire, and the lizard-pixies all grow happily excited at the prospect of fire so FCG promises them one. It is now morning, so FCG wakes the others and introduces them to the friendly creatures, telling them they need to make a big fire to call Toriz. The party suspects the Smelly One may be the immense flying sky-creature Orym and Imogen saw, but the reptile-pixie tells them the Smelly One crawls rather than flies, although it is large, with many legs, and changes colors.
Fan art of FCG during the "rain party", by KunKunGun.[art 2]
Now surrounded by more than a hundred eager reptile-pixies, they move to a rocky area that contains the weathered remnants of a former campsite. Chetney uses Grim Psychometry to learn the campsite was attacked and its occupants killed by a massive beast after they lit a campfire. FCG tells the others about the concealing effects of the pixie poop, and they communicate to the creatures they would all like to be covered in the material in return for producing fire for them. As a demonstration, Fearne summons Little Mister and Chetney uses a Crimson Rite to set his chisel aflame, which causes the pixies to become transfixed until the fires are extinguished. The pixie named "Me" informs the others that the visitors require a "rain party", and Bells Hells groups together as about 200 pixies rain down poop on them.
Now covered in lavender-scented pixie poop, they gather firewood and build a pyre, then form a protective circle around it as the approximately 300 watching reptile-pixies watch eagerly. Fearne suggests that Laudna practice her fire spells again, so Laudna sends a Fireball into the woodpile which becomes a massive bonfire with 25 foot high flames, and the pixies are entranced. Shortly afterwards, Orym notices a hulking multi-legged beast the same color and texture as the surrounding volcanic rock begin to move about 10 feet behind Chetney and alerts him via hand signals. Chetney draws its attention by squawking, causing it to sniff in his direction for a few seconds before striking out towards him.
Break[]
- Pre-order Mortal Kombat 1 to unlock Shang Tsung.
- Cree, Vessel of the Pattern mini now available at WizKids.com. Use code CRITHIT2023 to save 10%.
- Available Now: Queen by Midnight trailer.
- Merch Alert! Laudna shirt dress, Caduceus Clay kitchen line, Fearne, Ashton, and Laudna dice sets, Queen by Midnight game, and Imogen denim shirt in all five shops.
- Exquisite Exandria: The Official Cookbook of Critical Role now available.
- Cast at Rose City Comic Con in Portland Sept. 23-24, NYC Comic Con Oct. 12-13, London MCM Comic Com Oct. 28-29. Info at the CR website.
- Excerpts from "4-Sided Dive: Kiss and Tell" (4SDx16).
- Intro of Candela Obscura: Eye for an Eye. 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.
- President Gale explains how Critical Role Twitch subscriptions reduce maximum goobage.
Part II[]
Chetney takes massive bite damage but is still conscious. Orym leaps off the rocks where he's standing, runs as far as he can toward him, and then uses Seedling's Grasping Vines to pull himself into the Smelly One's face and Bait and Switch to move Chetney away. Imogen uses Summon Crimson Shade to summon a Hex Mind reilora and both she and the reilora hit it with spells. The wounded Chetney backs away from the creature, who tries to bite where he used to be and finds Orym there instead, hitting with a claw for significant damage. FCG's Compulsion forces it to move away on its next turn, while Laudna first hexes it and then hits it with two Eldritch Blasts. Ashton enters a Probability rage and runs toward the Smelly One, while Fearne hits it with Scorching Ray.
Fan art of Ashton carrying Orym to safety, by Jenny Dolfen.[art 3]
Suddenly, they hear a heavy impact about 500 feet away, and the Smelly One looks frightened. Orym makes a goading attack, drawing its attention, and Imogen hits with a solid Lightning Bolt. However, the creature retaliates against Orym, hitting with a bite and claw (although Laudna is able to negate a natural 20 with Silvery Barbs), wounding him severely before it is Compelled to move away before shaking it off. FCG casts Healing Word on Orym, and Laudna casts Shocking Grasp through Pâté followed by Infestation. Ashton drags Orym into a small hollow and guards him.
There is a long, low croak, and the area grows darker as a shadow falls across the area and an immense black toad leaps down. As its mouth opens to croak again, Fearne can see warm light and a partially furnished living room within the creature. The Smelly One looks terrified, and Orym continues to attack it. Imogen contacts the toad telepathically, saying, "Toriz? We were sent by The Voice of the Tempest." The toad acknowledges this, and wordlessly tells Imogen to keep safe a moment. She yells this to the others, and they stand by as the Smelly One runs away as fast as possible.
Fan art of Jirana and Toriz, by Lap Pun Cheung.[art 4]
Inside Toriz is an older female turtle-humanoid, called a galapa in this region, hanging onto a handle built into a bolted-down rocking chair. She greets them warmly, confirming that she is Jirana and the toad is Toriz, her companion, home, and guardian. Jirana is aware that something strange is happening in the world. Ashton introduces the group, and himself as "Ashton of the Hishari", and tells her they need help with a particular tree. She welcomes them inside the toad.
Jirana tells them the Smelly One is Bari Mondolo, a child of the reef serpent Esquala, which protects the Utu Reef far north of the island. The tiny reptile pixies are dolabos. Orym describes the immense creature he and Imogen saw the day before, and she says it was likely one of the Cloud Jaws, similar to a sky whale, that keep skyships from traveling through the fog of the Fool's Curtain by attacking any that try. The spirits of the land in the Shattered Teeth have "a unique way of keeping time", and although by Jirana's reckoning she is about 120 years old, to outsiders that would be over 400 years.
Official map of part of the Shattered Teeth, with Kalutha on the lower right, Slival at center left, and the Vermillion Reef in the center. from "Mist and Whimsy" (3x71) at 3:37:05.[art 5]
Ashton tells Jirana he was told to say he is a titan of blood, and that she might know something about the Hishari. Jirana asks why they're looking for the Tree of Atrophy, and Ashton thinks it might help clarify his situation. She explains that Evontra'vir, a Gau Drashari that survived the explosion of Domunas that created the Shattered Teeth, took on himself the sorrows and losses of The Calamity and became a window into the realm of death, the Tree of Atrophy on the island of Kalutha. The islands of the Teeth, however, shift constantly, making maps difficult to keep current. There are frequent shipwrecks on this island, and she has scavenged them, finding among other things a fairly recent map showing the movement of the islands. Chetney thinks he could repair one of the shipwrecks for the journey to Kalutha... or they could just Teleport, although since they are unfamiliar with it there is some risk of a mishap. By boat, it would take two to three days, and they could try to flag down a Wanderman Assembly ship on the north side of the island.
After some thought, Jirana has another, more dangerous option for them. She pulls out an ornate, slightly cracked compass, the lost compass of the Dread Captain Novos, which is attuned to the island of Kalutha. Novos was a privateer whose ship the Crimson Abyss was eventually captured by the forces of the Ossended Host, but he made a "dark deal" and now he and his ship haunt the region. Placing his compass in the water would summon them, and they might be able to reach a mutually beneficial arrangement. When Chetney uses Hunter's Bane on the compass, he has a vision of a cannon-holed ship in a storm, Captain Novos shouting his fury to the gods. A bolt catches him in the forehead and he falls. Despite the danger, the party decides they want to try using the ghost ship.
Jirana warns them to be sure they actually want to hear the answers to any questions they ask Evontra'vir. Ashton follows up with a question: There were two titans who died here, Ka'Mort and Rau'shan. Jirana tells them she dabbles in herbal remedies and gives them several potions and balms. FCG confesses he doesn't feel like a very good therapist since he doesn't have life experience to call on, and Jirana says he needs to learn to accept help as well as give it. Perhaps he can come back someday and they can talk a bit.
They say fond goodbyes, and Jirana offers to have Toriz transport them all to the shore. They all grab handles except Chetney, and Toriz takes off leaping. After a very short time, the toad stops and the party says a final goodbye before Toriz's mouth opens and everyone but Ashton exits onto the beach. Ashton hangs back, asking, "How do you grieve if you don't know what was taken from you?" Jirana tells him to focus on what he's gained, rather than the loss. When he joins the others, the toad's mouth closes as they walk out to the ocean.
Featured characters[]
New
- Bari Mondolo, a child of the Esquala
- Jirana
- "Me", a dolabo
- Toriz, a giant frog/toad creature
- Urlu Novos (via Legend Lore), the dread captain of a ghost ship
Mentioned
- Esquala, a reef serpent
- Evontra'vir
- Keyleth
- Rau'shan and Ka'Mort
- Zhudanna
Quotations[]
- FCG: Like you, I dabble in therapy and helping people. If I'm being honest, I don't think I'm very good at it.
Jirana: What makes you say that?
FCG: Well, I haven't really helped anybody. I'm good at healing immediate injuries and wounds, but I'm not very good at... I'm getting the feeling that I haven't really existed as a person and so I can't really identify with a lot of human feelings.[...]
Jirana: I can see within you that you carry deep grief as well. I do not think that you are incapable of helping others, but you also have to let others help you, too. Perhaps your friend is not the only one seeking this tree. - Ashton: How do you grieve if you don't know what was taken from you?
Jirana: Often, you don't focus on the loss and try and and concentrate on what you've gained since. Maybe answers will come in time. Maybe they won't, and it will never go away.
Ashton: That, I've figured out.
Jirana: But it only weighs as much as you're willing to give it. Perhaps you fill yourself with a happier weight.
Ashton: Well, I guess we'll see how broken I am.
Inventory[]
| Adjustment | Count | Item | Source | Destination | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transferred | 1 | Taste of Tal'Dorei tankard | Imogen | Jirana | |
| Transferred | 1 | Map | Jirana | Chetney | Only shows a few of the 43 islands. |
| Transferred | 1 | Compass | Jirana | The party | Attuned to Kalutha, summons Captain Novos when dropped in water. |
| Transferred | 2 | Reef moss balms | Jirana | Chetney | Greenish yellow, equivalent to Greater Potions of Healing. |
| Transferred | 1 | Slickshimmer oil | Jirana | Chetney | When applied, makes it easier to deflect weapons or avoid being grabbed. |
| Transferred | 1 | Vial of cleansing flame | Jirana | Chetney | Vial appears empty, but when thrown, burns the target slightly but cleanses some maladies. |
| Transferred | Cookies | FCG | Jirana | ||
| Transferred | 1 | Stamina potion | Jirana | Chetney | Of questionable actual potency. |
| Transferred | Salt and pepper shakers | Fearne | Jirana | Fearne acquired them during the Twilight Mirror Museum heist. |
Trivia[]
- Matt didn't have his mini of Toriz for the fight with Bari Mondolo so he borrowed a Beaurebar Tiki Mug[1] from Laura, complete with straw…the mini was added in later.[2]
- Sam's jerrycan says "Coin Boy" (each "o" is replaced with a coin).[3]
References[]
Art:
- ↑ Fan art of "Me", by Elaine Tipping (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of FCG during the "rain party", by KunKunGun (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of Ashton carrying Orym to safety, by Jenny Dolfen (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of Jirana and Toriz, by Lap Pun Cheung (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Official map of part of the Shattered Teeth, with Kalutha on the lower right, Slival at center left, and the Vermillion Reef in the center. from "Mist and Whimsy" (3x71) at 3:37:05. 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.
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