"Shadows New and Old" (3x96) is the ninety-sixth episode of the third campaign of Critical Role. Bells Hells work to fortify their bonds and friendship in the face of darkness before engaging in a whirlwind of travel stops on the way to Aeor...
Synopsis[]
Announcements[]
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Previously on Critical Role[]
Fan art of Laudna absorbing Otohan's dagger, by Rachel F. (TheWhaleLord).[art 1]
So, last we left off, Bells Hells, after speaking with Keyleth about the next leg of their ability to aid the coming dangers of the Ruby Vanguard's plots upon Ruidus, with a thread of information that Ludinus Da'leth seems to be entwined in a place called the ruins of Aeor to the far, far northeast in a land called Eiselcross. You were granted an ally to the Exandrian Accord an individual who has some experience here, a stealth mage who was revealed during an interrogation in the city of Zadash to be Essek Thelyss of the Kryn Dynasty. Discovering a little bit of information about about where Ludinus might be within these ruins after interrogating a member of the Cerberus Assembly here in the city of Zadash within Wildemount, you began to do your preparation for a journey to a very chilly place to the far north. After doing a little bit of shopping, picking up some new acquisitions and making some orders for some wardrobe that'll help you in many ways, as well as some cloaks to stay warm in such a cold area, you went to the Lodge of the Eclipse, watched a show, drank a bit, and all of you went to rest for a night before you went on this odd and dangerous leg of your journey into the unknown.
In the middle of the night, while everyone was asleep, Laudna, seeing the very blade that had speared her and many friends on the back of Orym, attempted to take it while he rested. However, he awoke, and a scuffle ensued fighting over control of this blade and arguing what should be done with it. When the rest of the team had awoken and the argument had not resolved, Imogen and Laudna escaped out the window to the rooftop, where it seems there is still quite a bit of tension about what has transpired and what is going on between this group of friends.
Part I[]
Fan art of Imogen comforting Laudna, by Cole Alexander.[art 2]
Imogen asks Laudna what she's going to do about Orym. Laudna admits she knew what she was doing when she took the sword and that it bothered her to see it on Orym's back. Imogen points out that if she wants to get rid of Delilah, she has to stop feeding her, but Laudna believes that doing whatever it takes to stop Ludinus includes allowing Delilah to gain more power, even at the cost of losing herself... and Imogen. She can't (or won't) promise Imogen that she'll be able to resist Delilah in the future, and eventually sends Imogen back downstairs to the others while she remains alone on the rooftop.
Meanwhile, downstairs, Fearne checks in with Orym, who admits to being a little muddled. The party fills Dorian in on Laudna's situation and other events since he left. Orym believes Laudna's relapse dates back to when she had to kill Bor'Dor while the party was separated. When Dorian asks Orym directly if Laudna can be trusted, he doesn't answer, although Fearne is convinced she can be. Just then, Imogen appears at the window and overhears this. She tells the others she doesn't know what Delilah plans, but it doesn't involved Laudna having free will. Imogen blames herself, for not giving in to Predathos and embracing her own power where Laudna did.
Fan art of Orym talking to Laudna, by Pyromeekorai.[art 3]
Outside, Delilah comforts Laudna, telling her no one can understand what they've been through. When Fearne calls outside to her, she rejoins the others and apologizes. Orym tells her the sword is just a thing, and would be useful when they find themselves facing Ludinus... but Laudna is more valuable. He wants her to trust him, so he will not take the sword, and he rests it on the floor in the middle of everybody. Laudna asks the others if they're comfortable having her with them, knowing Delilah is always there with her, and clarifies that she wants to bring Delilah into the fight. Chetney points out he sometimes turns into a werewolf; Ashton mentions that she forgave him for trying to take the Shard of Ka'Mort. Dorian casts Cure Wounds on her, and Chetney has her close her eyes and puts the sword into the Bag of Holding. Ashton gives her the Pipe of Remembrance so she can feel better about herself.
During the remainder of the night, Laudna tries to give Imogen some space, but while they sleep, Imogen holds her hand. Ashton and Fearne again spoon together. Orym does not sleep, instead visiting the armorer to have his ordered armor re-colored. In the morning, Dorian finishes some alterations to his flute, then activates the Gambler's Blade to take an additional risk. Essek (in his Seth disguise) rejoins the group, stating that he plans to try to Teleport them to a location just outside the Vurmas outpost he was once in charge of. The party collects their ordered new outfits and gets dressed, admiring each other's new clothes. They go through their magical articles in preparation for the journey and Orym uses Ludinus's Quintessence Array to absorb his unused ring of protection in exchange for a permanent +2 to maximum hit points.
Essek joins the group upstairs, explaining that they are headed to the island of Eiselcross, location of the ruins of the city of Aeor, an ancient floating city of mages that crashed during the Calamity when it tried to attack the gods. Magic there is odd, frequently not working as intended, particularly transportation magic. It is a very dangerous place, and they must obey his orders. He then casts Teleport, but the spell goes badly, failing completely and injuring everyone. He casts again and they arrive somewhere cold, but Essek realizes they're in northern Tal'Dorei near Lyrengorn instead of their intended destination. Saying that this is his last cast for the day, he tries again and they land in deep snow with a far-off fortress. Essek believes they're in Eiselcross but has no idea where, and multiple undead frost giants are approaching.
Break[]
- Thorum Rings.
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Part II[]
The undead frost giants begin throwing chunks of ice at them and more are approaching. Reluctantly, Essek casts Teleport with his 9th-level slot, taking them away from the frost giants but dropping them into a different snowy landscape. Essek has no idea where they are, but they can tell they're at a higher altitude surrounded by empty, snowy mountains. Imogen has the Staff of Dark Odyssey but is unfamiliar with their destination, so Essek allows her into his mind for a vision of Aeor. Her cast fails yet again and they land in a snowy glade surrounded by pine trees, but at least no danger nearby. Essek casts Leomund's Tiny Hut to create a safe refuge for them while he takes a long rest. Chetney goes hunting while Fearne climbs a tree, seeing a massive city far off in the mountains.
Once Essek has rested and regained his spells, they start trying again, failing once before finally succeeding in taking them to a snowy spot that he and Imogen recognize as Aeor. Essek tells them to be quiet and stay close, leading the way to a cave entrance under a cliff. They stealth inside past hibernating large white-furred entities which Orym identifies as ice trolls. The tunnel narrows until they need to crawl one at a time, finding it ends at a deep pit. Using existing pitons, Chetney fastens a rope for the others who cautiously descend. At the bottom, they find more recent bodies[1] and Essek warns them not to touch the brown mold while leading them toward the Praesidis Ward of the city.
Fan art of the amphitheatre in the Praesidis Ward, by CT Chen.[art 4]
The Ward is a ruined underground cityscape sprinkled with dots of glowing blue light which when approached are domes protecting some of the original citizens of the city. Essek warns them again to stay quiet and not touch anything, but they are wandering off curiously in several directions including inside the amphitheater which is filled with skeletons. On the stage is one of the blue domes holding an arms-outstretched figure. Chetney casts Grim Psychometry on it, seeing the theater filled with shouting, arguing people to whom she was speaking as their leader just before a white flash ended the vision. Once again, Essek urges them on, pointing out a strange ape-like creature leaping in the amphitheater above them. He leads the way onward past a temple, finding a skeletal body on the way which he identifies as new and Orym identifies as moving almost imperceptibly slowly. It is wearing a dark purple sapphire-like gem on a chain around its neck which Imogen Mage Hands off of it, but drops it at Essek's urging. Laudna, however, Mage Hands it into her own pouch.
Essek continues leading them through the Praesidus Ward and into a building which appears to have once held something no longer present, surrounded by digging implements. He begins moving stones magically, clearing a doorway into an immense cavern that curves gradually upward as if something burst up through it from beneath. This is the Genesis Ward. Essek suggests that Ludinus is protected from divination magic, as Essek himself is, but asks if there is someone or something with him that they could Locate. The party decides to creep forward, reaching a tent with a lantern burning within. Chetney uses the Monocle of True Essence to cast Arcane Eye, learning that it contains broken furniture, blood, and five slaughtered Ruby Vanguard bodies, fairly recent. Sending the eye upward, he sees the Ward is full of stasis bubbles.
Chetney drops the spell and reports what he saw. They decide to investigate the tent. Chetney realizes that the bodies are not decaying as quickly as they should, and it appears they were fighting one of themselves rather than being attacked. The scene suggests the killer was having fun and being as violent as possible, and the distribution of wounds and blood suggests the elf among them was responsible, holding a dagger imbedded in their own throat and bearing an expression of euphoria. Imogen uses Mage Hand to inspect the dagger, which looks useful rather than sinister. Chetney uses Grim Psychometry to see the elf begin the slaughter, and carve something into their own chest before suiciding. He pulls open the shirt to reveal two overlapping circles, one larger than the other, and a few lines: it appears to be a sigil which no one recognizes but Laudna realizes is more divine than arcane. Just then, Orym (who has maintained a watch outside the tent) hears a faint grinding sound like stone on stone. He alerts the others and they leave the tent, scatter, and hide among the rubble. They see a 20-foot tall, thin, creature approaching, dragging a hammer behind it. Its chest contains spinning rows of teeth. As it approaches, eight small translucent scorpion-like creatures crawl from its chest and down to the ground, searching. Laudna accidentally dislodges a stone, alerting the creature to her presence.
Featured characters[]
Mentioned
- Athion Zathuda (unnamed)
- Astrid Becke
- Bor'Dor Dog'Son
- Cyrus Wyvernwind (unnamed)
- Deanna Leimert (unnamed)
- Ira Wendagoth
- Liliana Temult (unnamed)
- Ludinus Da'leth
- Morrigan
- Predathos
- Teven Klask (unnamed)
- Zoran, Otis, and Tyffial (unnamed)
Quotations[]
- Imogen: Was it you who took the sword, or was it her?
Laudna: I don't know how much good it's going to be going forward trying to distinguish between the two of us.[...] I just can't help but feel like I have to throw everything I have, including myself, into this, even if it means the end of me. Which honestly, maybe it should.[...]
Imogen: I don't believe you're a dead end, but ultimately, that's up to you.[...]
Laudna: You once told me that you hate the idea of [Delilah] watching you, watching us. I'm guessing that hasn't changed.
Imogen: No, it hasn't. I'm going to miss our little cottage, though. - Orym: (to Laudna) You've carried something so dark for so long, I thought you'd understand me taking it up, but-- it doesn't matter what I thought. It only matters what I believe. All of us have doubted ourselves. We've even doubted each other, a little bit. Doubted the gods. But I believe in you. And if anything, what just happened brought me back to myself a little bit. I don't want to second guess if you're okay next to me when we're out there. I want you to trust me, and I'll make it a lot farther with you than with this sword, so I don't want it. I'm not taking it, and no one in this room will change my mind.
- Dorian: I used to think that it was all about good and evil. And now I'm not so certain there's either.
Inventory[]
| Adjustment | Count | Item | Source | Destination | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transferred | 1 | Pipe of Remembrance | Ashton | Laudna | |
| Transferred | 1 | Ishta | Orym | Bag of holding | |
| Transferred | 1 | Ring of protection | Imogen | Ashton | |
| Expended | 1 | Ring of protection | Orym | Orym | Orym used the Quintessence Array to absorb the ring, gaining two more maximum hit points |
| Acquired | 1 | Dark purple gem on a chain | Undead body in Aeor | Laudna |
Trivia[]
- Marisha Ray brought back her black fan, this time with the phrase "LIAM + I = STILL BUDS"[2], a reference to Orym and Laudna's argument last episode, which caused many fans to be concerned about Liam O'Brien and Marisha being at odds in real life.[3]
References[]
- ↑ See "Hunter and Hunted" (2x133), where the Mighty Nein killed three members of the Tombtakers in this location.
- ↑ See "Shadows New and Old" (3x96) from 1:04:40 through 1:06:13.
- ↑ See "Gathering of Needs" (3x95) from 3:32:30 through 4:27:25.
Art:
- ↑ Fan art of Laudna absorbing Otohan's dagger, by Rachel F. (TheWhaleLord) (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of Imogen comforting Laudna, by Cole Alexander (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of Orym talking to Laudna, by Pyromeekorai (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of the amphitheatre in the Praesidis Ward, by CT Chen (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of the Aeorian creature, by Clara (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of Essek ignored by Bells Hells, by Rann (source). Used with permission.
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