"Race to the Ruidian Core" (3x117) is the one hundred seventeenth episode of the third campaign of Critical Role. Bells Hells delve into the fungal network of Ruidus, seeking Ludinus, Liliana, and the Hallowed Cage...
Synopsis[]
Announcements[]
- This is the last main campaign episode of 2024.
- Sponsor tonight is Incogni, a personal data removal service. To illustrate, Taliesin plays the role of Incogni while Liam is a shady data broker. In the process, we learn many interesting details about Robbie. Use code CRITICALROLE to get 60% off.
- Next Thursday, 19 December 2025, will be the release of the VOD of "Critical Role Presents: A Daggerheart Critmas Story Live Show" (Sx89). Campaign Three returns on 2 January 2025.
- The Legend of Vox Machina: The Whitestone Chronicles: Ripley is out now, as is The Art of The Legend of Vox Machina
Previously on Critical Role[]
So last we left off with this troop as we return to Bells Hells, they had come back to the moon Ruidus, escorting or being escorted by, traveling with, the hidden heroic group known as the Mighty Nein, who have since left on their portion of this heroic plot to go and assail the Arx Creonum citadel that lies built into the Prime Pillar of this Ruidian capital city. As they shoved off on their part of the mission and you were left to prepare for yours, a sudden vision came to Imogen: her mother, seemingly saying her goodbye and trying to give you the strength to finish what you've started before she's gone, as you watched her essence being drained by Ludinus Da'leth in what appears to be a more modern reconstruction of his Quintessence Array, surrounded by other Exaltants holding her in place somewhere below.
Part I[]
Imogen frantically tells the rest of the party that Ludinus Da'leth has another Quintessence Array and is using it to drain her mother's life. The process takes one hour to complete and they agree to hurry there and try to interrupt it before she is killed. Still under the effects of Seeming and with the clock ticking, they head out across Kreviris's core to the newly-carved tunnel leading downward, with Imogen using her pull toward Predathos to guide them. The entrance is guarded by two Reiloran Thought Eaters and one Reiloran Juggernaut. Fearne drops her Seeming disguise and pretends to be a captured Exaltant, guarded by the others, dropping her father's name. Braius helps the illusion by kicking her several times, and is scolded by one of the guards. However, the guards want to take her to Ludinus themselves. Just as they're reaching for her, there is a loud explosion at the Prime Pillar as the Volition's explosions marking the beginning of the Mighty Nein's independent mission go off. The soldiers rush to see what is happening and Bells Hells charges into the tunnel.

Fan art of Orym and the myceit, by Katie Taylor.[art 1]
Braius casts Locate Object on the locket Imogen gave Liliana but finds nothing. There are slightly light-pulsing veins of Ruidian glass running through the tunnel, however, and they move onward and down. Eventually they hear the sound of approaching avadons called to aid in dealing with the explosions. The party lays down the portable hole and knock two of the beasts into it, but the third one bites Fearne before it too is captured. As the group continues walking, the tunnel begins branching. They pick up a smell of fungus and notice hundreds of what look like eyes watching them from the shadows before several myceit emerge and approach. As Orym Druidcrafts a strawberry for the creatures, Laudna sends Pâté in search of the source of the smell, and Dorian notices multiple tunnels leading downward. Imogen manages to telepathically connect with them enough to ask about Predathos' location and the myceit pull her into their caverns to a one of the downward holes. After some hesitation, Imogen hops in, followed quickly by the others, and they find themselves sliding down a luge-like chute, Goonies style. The tunnel branches at points but they land safely at the bottom.
They find themselves, along with most of the myceit who have followed, in a chamber with a central pool where the fungal smell is very strong and fungal threads cover half of the walls. Ashton takes out the All-Minds-Burn Brood Pit and places it in the water, but multiple tendrils of fungus shoot out and seize it. They notice the entire ceiling is composed of clusters of fungus with dangling tendrils, which are now holding the seed as if inspecting it. Where the seed touched the water, it is now gently swelling, and when Ashton splashes it more, it begins to grow roots. The fungus entity seems very curious, continuing to hold and caress the growing seed, but the sheets of fungal material gradually cover all the exit tunnels. When Braius wades into the pool, he feels tendrils creep up his legs, lifting him up while a core pillar of purplish-red and black fungus appears from its center.
Fearne casts Speak with Plants and holds out a hand to the pillar, and when a tendril wraps around it they are connected. She can sense not only the fungus wrapping the chamber, but the myceit around them, and senses it questioning why they have brought the Brood Pit and what it is. Fearne asks Ashton, who responds, "It's a friend who wanted to explore." She passes this along, and the entity finds this persuasive, understanding what it is to be lonely. Fearne senses it was uprooted, taken from its children by the Weave Mind. It embraces the seed, which begins growing and interweaving with the fungal core into an equilibrium, and the blocked tunnels open up while the fungus pulls away, creating a pathway to a larger tunnel leading further down. Imogen senses that to go truly down, they should stay to the left.
Eventually the floor drops out and they find themselves sliding again, at one point separated into two groups. Imogen, Fearne, and Braius land on a large platform overlooking a chasm, and can see the massive glass of the Prime Pillar glowing deep below them. The other four are together on another lower platform, closer to the glass. Fearne shapeshifts into a shoebill and carries Braius while Imogen flies to the others; they then ferry everyone to a vein jutting out from the pillar itself. Braius uses his Labyrinthine Recall to find a pathway inside it, with faint traces of dirt on it indicating prior traffic. They follow it deeper within and through the glass pillar, emerging into a cavern filled with faint voices and the sound of weeping.
Realizing they are very close, Chetney uses the Monocle of True Essence to cast Arcane Eye to explore ahead, locating another tunnel that appears to go directly into the Prime Pillar itself, surrounded by other platforms within the chasm. On one platform is a glowing semi-spherical shell encasing the forms of Ludinus Da'leth and an almost catatonic, whimpering Liliana Temult. Other figures wearing the attire of the Ruby Vanguard and the lightning marks denoting Exaltants surround the dome, watching. Liliana's skin and hair is now pale, and her fingertips are crumbling.
Preparing for the coming battle, Ashton casts Pass Without Trace, Laudna casts Mirror Image and assumes her Form of Dread, and Chetney changes into his werewolf form. Imogen activates her Robe of the Midnight Rune and casts Jump on Chetney, while Fearne brings out Little Mister and Braius inspires Imogen. While they have been walking, Dorian has been summoning Coriolis, who now appears, and Dorian gives the steed to Orym. With resolve, the group moves within.
Break[]
- Pre-order baby Trinket life-size figure now.
- Critical Role Presents: Winter's Crest LP album available digitally now; vinyl release on pre-order.
- Queen by Midnight Quarter Past now available.
- Unend and The Re-Slayer's Take Season 2 podcasts.
- Merch Alert! Scanlan boxers and sleep mask, Lavish Chateau bathrobe, plaid pajamas, green hoodie and jogger, Pike Trickfoot hoodie, Keyleth cropped hoodie, and Percy cardigan in all shops; Hope Blooms t-shirt not in AU.
- Check out all the Critical Role books at CriticalRoleBooks.com.
- 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.
- Beacon is truly a rare find.
Part II[]
When the party charges into the interior chamber, they can see the force dome holding Ludinus and Liliana surrounded by seven reiloran exaltants, two of them Exaltant Knights. Five of the reilora are jointly maintaining concentration on the dome that protects Ludinus from attack, and have the ability to use a bonus action to pick up concentration from any one of them that drops it. The party discovers that they have three rounds to free Liliana before she will be completely absorbed and destroyed.
Chetney immediately uses Blood Curse of the Muddled Mind on one of the reilora to give it disadvantage on concentration saves, then throws his chisel and Fearne hits it with Scorching Ray, between the two breaking its concentration. Braius crits and Divine Smites, killing a different guard in one round with his flail, Poison Pen. Laudna, in her Form of Dread, summons her Hound of Ill Omen and casts a Fireball on two more guards. The Exaltant Knights attack Laudna and Braius for minor damage, and one of them picks up concentration for their wounded compatriot. Ashton tries to attack the knight on Laudna from a distance, but fails due to the knight's Psychic Buckler ability, while Dorian casts Hypnotic Pattern and charms two of the exaltants. Imogen casts a Whirlwind that catches the same two, then moves it to capture a third one. The exaltants cast Synaptic Static on Laudna, Fearne, and Orym, and Laudna Hellish rebukes it, breaking its concentration. Orym massively wounds the knight near Braius. From inside the dome, Ludinus cannot cast spells but uses an ability absorbed from Liliana, Crush Will, to damage and stun Imogen.

Fan art of Dorian helping Imogen, by Rachel F. (TheWhaleLord).[art 2]
Chetney wounds an exaltant while Fearne casts another Scorching Ray on the three within the Whirlwind, knocking out another's concentration. Using Divine Smite, Braius kills one of the knights, killing another concentrator, then Laudna casts Shocking Grasp and Eldritch Blast, killing an exaltant. The only remaining knight picks up the lost concentration and wounds Imogen. Ashton then hits the knight, while Dorian hits all three exaltants in the whirlwind with a purple-sparkled Lightning Bolt. The exaltants cast Hypnotic Pattern on Braius, charming him, and use Telekinesis to move Chetney 30 feet in the air. Orym attacks the knight. Ludinus casts Mind Sliver on Imogen, and tells her he knows he's going to die here, but not before finishing what he's wanted to do for so long.

Chetney Misty Steps back down and leaps into the whirlwind, taking minor damage but killing an exaltant. Fearne casts Wall of Fire in a ring in the whirlwind killing two more exaltants. Laudna casts Disintegrate on the last remaining exaltant, reducing him to powder. The shield surrounding Ludinus and Liliana drops and the wizard has to use Silvery Barbs to avoid an attack by Ashton. They notice lightning-like veins on Ludinus' neck pulsing, similar to Imogen's markings. Dorian casts Forcecage, succeeding in capturing the mage and severing the tie between his harness and Liliana, who falls to the ground in a crumpled heap. Imogen drops the whirlwind, casts Telekinesis, and pulls her mother to her, then feeds her a very large healing potion that restores a very significant portion of her health. Liliana is still very weak, and Imogen cannot feel a tether to her and cannot share sorcery points with her, noting that she appears to be temporarily completely cut off from her Exaltant abilities. Orym moves to guard both Imogen and Liliana.
Ludinus seems unbothered by his situation, saying calmly that it seems they now have a moment to chat.
Featured characters[]
Returning
Mentioned
Quotations[]
- Fearne: Ashton, it wants to know why you wanted to plant the seed here.
Ashton: It's a friend who wanted to explore. - Ludinus Da'leth: (about Liliana) Let them not interrupt her judgment. Her gift shall remain key to freeing us from the tyranny of the divine.
- Ludinus Da'leth: (to Imogen) Soon you'll rest here.
Imogen: Fuck you. You're going to die here.
Ludinus: I know. But not before I finish everything I've wanted to do for so long.
Inventory[]
Adjustment | Count | Item | Source | Destination | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Planted | 1 | Brood Pit | Ashton | Ruidus | |
Expended | 2 | Slickshimmer oil | Chetney | Braius, Fearne | |
Expended | 1 | Healing potion | Imogen | Liliana | The potion appeared to do 16d4+16 healing, more than a supreme healing potion. |
Trivia[]
- This episode marks the final episode of 2024 during the third year of Campaign Three, which began October 21, 2021.
- For the first time, Sam had two different shirts with pictures of two different cast members on it. Before the break, Sam wore an orange/brown shirt with a picture of a young Ashley.[1] After the break, Sam wore a light pink shirt with a picture of a young Liam.[2]
- Sam noted that the Ashley shirt was the same color as the one he wore in "Contentious Company" (2x120) of Campaign Two,[3] although it was a slightly different shade of orange than the one in this episode. The same is true of the Liam shirt, in that the Campaign Two version was a more vibrant pink.[4]
- Sam's Stanley cup has a meter that says "Today I'm Feeling" and has zones for "Evil", "Cow", and "Neutral"[5].
References[]
Art:
- ↑ Fan art of Orym and the myceit, by Katie Taylor (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of Dorian helping Imogen, by Rachel F. (TheWhaleLord) (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of Dorian casting Forcecage, by @zhellers (source). Used with permission.
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