"Red Moon Rising" (3x50) is the fiftieth episode of the third campaign of Critical Role. With the apogee solstice imminent, Bells Hells begin their infiltration of the Tishtan ruins, where they encounter new faces in the fight against the Ruby Vanguard...
Synopsis[]
Announcements[]
- Critical Role has partnered with Ultra PRO for a line of new tabletop gaming accessories based on all three campaigns, presented by a clip from a 1986 movie starring TV sensation Gale, who becomes one of the cool kids at her new high school when she uses them.
- Second sponsor is NordVPN, allowing you to travel in safety while accessing your favorite location-protected content and storing strong passwords.
- Merch Alert! Critical Role dice tome rolling tray and the final Mighty Nein dice sets: Jester, Caleb, and Artagan.
Previously on Critical Role[]
So, last we left off, Bells Hells, you've been traversing the length and breadth of Marquet in your skyship the Silver Sun, in transit as time clicks closer and closer to the Apogee Solstice. Upon many days of challenging encounters, terrifying weather, a few boons in your way, a quick stop at Bassuras to pick up a few magical items with some of the money that you've saved, a few connections, taking on board a terrifying fey entity that you've battled in the past as an antagonist, and then heading in a northeast direction.
You've reached out to a few allies, a possible promise of a cavalry when the time is right, and you now zero in on the final day before the solstice finds its way above the skies of Marquet.
Part I[]
In the morning, the party isn't sure exactly when the Apogee Solstice will begin, except that it will be within the next 24 hours. They realize they have no plan to deal with the destruction of the Malleus Key at the Tishtan excavation site and aren't even sure exactly where it is. Ira Wendagoth, however, knows its location and points the ship in the correct direction, saying it's about half a day away. Chetney tells him one of their plans is to use the skyship itself as a bomb, and FCG asks the Changebringer via his coin if she'd like him to sacrifice the lives of the innocents on the ship. He is horrified when the coin flip indicates "yes", and although Chetney urges him to embrace her message, FCG chooses to interpret it as meaning they're going to have to make some sort of sacrifice.
As they talk with Ira, Fearne pickpockets his spyglass. They discuss how to split the party so as to use the ship as a flying bomb while rescuing Planerider Ryn and Liliana Temult. They eventually decide Fearne, FCG, and Ira will stay on board while the others sneak into the Tishtan excavation site. Chetney tells Captain Xandis that they need to scuttle the Silver Sun because they are acquiring a whole new fleet of skyships and gives them the option to remain aboard during what promises to be a "high adrenaline" operation, or not. Xandis is skeptical and worried about their crew as well as their own safety, but allows that the ship belongs to Bells Hells and they can do with it as they want. They are very skeptical that Fearne is capable of piloting and her attempts in supervised flying barely reassure them.
The gentle dust storm closes in, reducing visibility. Ira realizes his spyglass is missing, but Fearne returns it when he needs it to see where they are. At about an hour and a half away, they land momentarily and drop off the ship's crew with supplies before continuing their journey. Imogen Sends to Keyleth letting her know their location and asking her plans, and Keyleth responds that she will look for a tree, and Imogen should let her know when they "need the cavalry". Of the ground party, Orym, Imogen, and Laudna wear the captured Ruby Vanguard robes while Ashton wears the yellow cape of Paragon's Call.
Fan art of Fearne and Ashton's goodbye, by Pyromeekorai.[art 1]
When they reach about a mile away, flying low, they land the ship in the dust storm and the landing party bids farewell to Fearne, FCG, Ira, and Xandis. Ashton gives Fearne a farewell hug, reaching into her pocket as he does so. She catches him and gives him a kiss on his head as a goodbye.
The ground party sets their crawler on the valley floor and crowds into it, taking off toward the excavation site. When they're close, they hide it behind a stone and proceed on foot. Eventually they pass a haggardoe tree large enough for Keyleth to use Transport Via Plants and Orym carves the Ashari symbol into it. To one side, he notices a shadowy shape that as Chetney cautiously explores, he realizes is a fairly recently crashed skyship bearing religious markings. Although now scavenged, it was once heavily fortified and armed, and appears to have been shot down with harpoons and taken in a resulting battle on the deck.
As they continue forward within view of the edge of the excavation pit, Laudna sees a bright point of light appear in the tracking sphere attuned to Otohan Thull. From this point, they can see moving patrolling figures, hulking automatons, and an occasional crawler through the swirling dust. One of the crawlers passes nearby and looks at them suspiciously, but moves on.
The party continues forward, trying to blend in with the other guards and workers. As they approach an encampment, they are noticed by three humanoids in the uniform of the Ruby Vanguard, who halt them and ask who they're with. Imogen responds, "Miss Temult" and tells him more information is above his pay grade. Her deception is successful although the guards scrutinize the party very carefully as they move to the edge of the pit and begin climbing up its lip. Suddenly, the guard halts them again and tells Imogen that another guard has recognized Orym and Laudna from the battle in Ebenold Kai's house in Yios. Although Imogen tries to reassure him, he isn't buying it and orders Laudna and Orym into custody, calling over an automaton as well as two other guards.
Imogen telepathically tells Laudna and Orym to run but the guard casts a spell, causing Ashton to freeze in place. Chetney runs toward the guard, assuming his werewolf form as he goes.
Break[]
- Ultra PRO Critical Role tabletop RPG gaming accessories now available online.
- Uk'otoa mini now available for pre-order at WizKids.
- Merch Alert! Critical Role dice tome rolling tray, Mighty Nein dice for Caleb, The Traveler, and Jester, pullover hoodie, Essek t-shirt, Bells Hells decal set, crest decal, and crest enamel pin available in all five shops; Trinket slippers in all shops except Australia.
- The Tal'Dorei Theater presents the Bard College of Tragedy in the Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn.
- 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 tries to reduce maximum goobage through Critical Role Twitch subscriptions.
Part II[]
Screenshot of the Warder from "Red Moon Rising" (3x50) at 2:13:32.[art 2]
Roll initiative!
Laudna casts Bane on two of the three guards and the towering Warder automaton. The mage guard attacks in turn, hitting Chetney with a Fire Bolt, but Chetney's immediate counterattack damages the mage enough to break his concentration on the Hold Person on Ashton. Orym seriously wounds the mage further, and Imogen finishes him off with a Shock Flare, along with another of the guards that Ashton had already significantly damaged.
That leaves the Warder and one remaining guard to deal with. Most of the party focuses on the Warder, with Laudna throwing Pâté "like a rubber chicken", casting Shocking Grasp through him, and Chetney leaping onto his back and clinging there searching for an "off" switch. The guard attacks and wounds Imogen, but Ashton immediately retaliates and kills him. However, the Warder sprays hideously damaging fire at both Ashton and Orym. Imogen commands it to "Grovel", and it obeys. The entire party attacks the now-prone Warder, each hitting and damaging but not destroying it. Finally, Laudna finishes it off by casting another Shocking Grasp through Pâté. Amazingly, none of the other patrolling guards or Warders are close enough to have been alerted to the battle.
Suddenly, Imogen feels a hand around her throat pull her backward into the tent. A whispered voice in her ear demands to know why they are fighting the Ruby Vanguard. Chetney and Ashton see her move into the tent and come toward it to investigate, joined by Orym, but the unseen figure continues to pull her backward and down out of sight. Imogen telepathically asks if the person is fighting the Vanguard as well, but there is no response, and she is pulled out the back of the tent. Angrily, she demands that they at least speak face-to-face, and is turned to face her captor: a hooded female with dark brown skin, wearing blue sleeveless robes and carrying a staff on her back. Imogen tells her they're Bells Hells, and they're trying to prevent the release of whatever's up there. The woman says she's on a similar path, and asks her to call over the others.
Imogen is still being held like a shield, but the woman suggests they speak somewhere more private and pushes her toward the tent. Imogen first telekinetically moves a fallen tent to cover the fallen Warder. They all move inside the standing tent, where Chetney (still in werewolf form) dresses in the fallen guard's clothing. The woman tells Imogen she's been pursuing this path for about a decade now. Her goal is to destroy the Malleus Key, and, if possible, beat up Ludinus Da'leth and escort him to prison. Perhaps they can help each other out. Addressing the air, she calls, "You got my back?" and a figure in a long high-collared coat and purple scarf, flames flickering around his hands, appears at the front of the tent. In a Zemnian accent, he tells them to stay seated so they can have a conversation.
Orym asks if they are part of Grim Verity, and the Zemnian tells them they're friends to the Verity. They arrived here with Planerider Ryn, who was doing reconnaissance when a glyph ward went off. There have been many terrible things happening around the world in connection with the Solstice including ritual sacrifices, summonings, and those with magical ability and dubious morals trying to seize this opportunity. Some have been real, and some, distractions for the Ruby Vanguard. He and Beauregard, the woman, have been following Ludinus for many years and Ludinus knows they're coming. Imogen shares Bells Hells' connection with Otohan Thull, a name the Zemnian is familiar with, and that Imogen's mother is working with Ludinus. The Zemnian responds that there are two generals working under Ludinus: Exaltant, considered a serious threat, and Thull. When Imogen reveals her hair, both he and Beauregard realize they may be fighting her mother. Beau asks if it's okay if they kill her mother, and Imogen responds she'd rather she help them, instead. But she doesn't know if that's a possibility.
Bells Hells share they have reinforcements waiting to be called in, with a skyship bomb. The two newcomers saw the crashed skyship fall, and believe it came from Vasselheim, finally alert to the danger posed by the Ruby Vanguard. They have not seen Ludinus at the site for several days, and entering it has become more difficult since the recent installation of the periodic anti-magic pulse. Imogen admits they might have caused that since they destroyed the Fey Realm key, which impresses Beau since she and the Zemnian just returned from the Shadowfell, where they damaged but could not destroy the key there.
.jpg){kind=link}
Fan art of Caleb and Beau, by Giulia Valentini (kurocyou).[art 4]
The Zemnian gives their names: Caleb Widogast and Beauregard Lionett. They are here alone, although they had companions from Grim Verity in the Shadowfell, who didn't make it out. Caleb shares what he knows about the construction and its wards: the regular magic-dispelling pulse, a mage hunter golem guarding it, its use of distilled dunamis and a decentralized mesh of power devices put in place here after the assaults on the keys in the Fey Realm and Shadowfell. Caleb and Beau noted that Ludinus' actions had been much more obvious than normal, almost as if he counted on opposition. He seemed to be operating outside the Assembly on this, because Caleb has "someone on the inside" who has been unaware of his activities, while the other members fear him too much to speak up.
The party shares that Keyleth has also promised aid. Beau thinks that the anti-magic pulses are coming from a pattern of mirror-like devices on the sides of the pit, but they are uncertain if the pulses come from the mirrors, or the mirrors are simply reacting to them. The party also reveals they're working with Ira Wendagoth, and Beau knows of him and is wary of his potential motives. The two groups decide to approach from opposite sides and try to meet in the middle. Caleb gives them a sending stone to use to contact him if needed.
When a crawler approaches, both Caleb and Beau melt away. The guards accost the party about the fallen Warder but believe Imogen when she tells them it's malfunctioned, and move on. Beau reappears and wishes them luck, telling them to let her and Caleb know if anything happens. She disappears toward the pit as the party tries to figure out their next steps.
Featured characters[]
New
Mentioned
- Ariks Eshteross
- Benathar, an enemy defeated by the Mighty Nein between Campaign 2 and Campaign 3
- Halas Lutagran
- Imahara Joe
- Liliana Temult
- Morrigan
- Otohan Thull
- Predathos
- Ludinus Da'leth
- Ryn
- Silver Sun crew
- Trent Ikithon
Quotations[]
- Chetney: (to Xandis, saying goodbye) Look, I'm real old. Been around for a long time. This is going to be one for the history books. We're lucky we get to make a difference. You got this.
- Laudna: (to Ira, saying goodbye) Don't betray us. You're an inspiration. I like you a lot. All right, bye!
- Fearne: (after catching Ashton pickpocketing her) What are you looking for?
Ashton: Something personal and irreplaceable.
Fearne: (thinking) I am going to give you a kiss on your head.
Ashton: Well, fuck, now, that's just really hard to steal back, isn't it? - Imogen: (to Beau) We're the Bells Hells, and we're trying to keep them from releasing whatever's up there.
Beau: Okay. Okay.
Imogen: Who the hell are you?
Beau: Someone on a similar path, it seems. [...]
Imogen: How long have you been on this path?
Beau: I don't know, a decade? How about you?
Imogen: Not that long. - Caleb: (about Ludinus) He knows we are coming. We've been an inevitability for him for some time.
- Caleb: [Dunamis] exists between the fabric of all other forms of power. It's one of the oldest and one of the most fundamental forces within Exandria and beyond. It has the capability of altering time, space, probability, entropy. It is dangerous in the wrong hands, and unfortunately, a very strong source of it has been in the hands of the Assembly and Ludinus for some time.
Inventory[]
| Adjustment | Count | Item | Source | Destination | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Pickpocketed Returned |
1 | Needle spyglass | Ira Wendagoth | Fearne | Fearne returned it when Ira needed it to determine the location of the Tishtan excavation site. |
|
Crafted Transferred Consumed |
3 | Cherry danishes | FCG | Laudna, Imogen, Orym | Provides 3 temporary hit points when consumed. |
| Distributed | 4 | Healing potions | party supplies | Laudna, Imogen, Orym | Imogen took two at Chetney's insistence. |
| Acquired | 1 | Ruby Vanguard guard uniform | fallen guard | Chetney | |
| Transferred | 1 | Sending stone | Caleb | Orym | Caleb held the corresponding stone so they could communicate. |
Trivia[]
- This episode marked the first appearance of a player character from the Mighty Nein in Campaign Three.
- Matt revealed that the random d20 rolls he had Liam and Marisha make upon Bells Hells' return from the Fey Realm helped to determine the outcome of Beau and Caleb's mission to destroy the Shadowfell Malleus Key. Liam rolled 3, 13, 18, and 15, while Marisha got 3, 13, 15, and 4.[1]
- Sam's jerrycan is a magazine cover of Marisha flexing which says "FLEXX MAGAZINE 15 Ways to get shredded IT'S HER! DOPE MONK SHIT, HOT RODS IN EXANDRIA, ARE YOU pissing clear?" With a picture of Sam in the bottom corner: "WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS GUY?"[2]
References[]
- ↑ See "An Exit Most Fraught" (3x48) at 1:27:35.
- ↑ See "Red Moon Rising" (3x50) from 3:21:00 through 3:21:20.
Art:
- ↑ Fan art of Fearne and Ashton's goodbye, by Pyromeekorai (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Screenshot of the Warder from "Red Moon Rising" (3x50) at 2:13:32. 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 Caleb and Beauregard, by @zhellers (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of Caleb and Beau, by Giulia Valentini (kurocyou) (source). Used with permission.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||