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in: Campaign Three episodes, Campaign Three Arc 3

Somewhere Out There

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"Somewhere Out There" (3x59) is the fifty-ninth episode of the third campaign of Critical Role. Orym, Ashton, and Laudna find themselves in an unfamiliar land, meeting unfamiliar people, as they attempt to piece together why they were separated from their friends and where exactly they are in the world...

Synopsis[]

Announcements[]

  • First sponsor is the brand new The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom video game for Nintendo Switch, but Sam looks like The Mummy and is in pain. When he unwraps, his pollen-based makeup has caused Very Bad Things to happen to his face (that is makeup, right?).
  • Second sponsor is D&D Beyond, now offering a free 30-day subscription trial.
  • Coming up Tuesday, 30 May 2023 at 7:00pm Pacific, a special Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom one-shot.
  • Candela Obscura, Critical Role's new horror anthology game, premieres on Thursday, 25 May 2023 at 7:00pm Pacific. Quick start guide and how-to video coming next week. Sam's face is a little too horrifying and he is exiled from the table.
  • The Chronicles of Exandria Volume One: The Tale of Vox Machina art book has been re-released at long last! Now available in the Critical Role shops and participating local stores.

Previously on Critical Role[]

So, last we left off with this half of Bells Hells, you with your troop of found family had plunged into the dangerous realm of the Hellcatch Valley in chase of Ludinus Da'leth and the Ruby Vanguard as they attempted to utilize the Apogee Solstice to some terrifying degree in locking onto the red moon of Ruidus, and in hopes of releasing the terrifying predator of the gods. You, along with your friends, managed to circumvent some of the scope of what you thought might transpire (hopefully), but your airship rained down, destroying a number of the Vanguard in its wake. A number of other ships began to arrive just as you watched as your leader, the Voice of the Tempest, was brought low by Otohan Thull, and before a death blow could be delivered, some dark guardian rushed in to protect her. This guardian, part of Ludinus' plan, was then drawn, compressed, and turned into a lens for his device, and the last thing you remember was all of the surrounding Ruidusborn granting their unintentional energy towards this climactic blast up to the red moon, and then a bright white light engulfed you all, and you awoke in a strange land, still at night beneath the starry sky, the shifting tethers of the Apogee Solstice leylines still visual and multicolored across multiple directions of the sky like an extended lattice or weave.

Part I[]

Ashton, Laudna, and Orym find themselves in darkness halfway up a wall of a geothermally active gorge, with the rest of the party missing. They can still see, far off in the distance to the south, the red beam of energy tethering Ruidus in place over the Tishtan excavation site where Ludinus Da'leth enacted his Apogee Solstice ritual. Laudna recalls the geothermally active places she knows: the Truscan Vale in Wildemount, a location near the Panagrip Sands of Marquet, and the Spectrum Gorge of central Issylra. They worry about where the rest of the party is. Orym tries his two sending stones, first the one paired with Caleb Widogast's, and then with Dorian Storm's. Neither works.

Laudna sends Pâté out scouting and they decide to head upward. Orym climbs up with Laudna's immovable rod and a rope and the others follow, being scalded by an erupting geyser along the way. Midway, Orym sees movement and encounters a dwarven woman who also has no idea where they are or how she got here. She is very cautious of the group, but helps pull up Ashton and Laudna to join them on the ledge. She tells them her name is "Mona", and that she won't tell them her real name until she trusts them more. They compare notes, and learn that an hour ago she was in Tal'Dorei (although she can't remember specifically where) closing in on her ex-fiancé who had left her in the lurch, when suddenly she heard a male voice in her head as if he were giving a speech, there was a loud noise like a crack, and she found herself in the gorge. The party realizes she heard Ludinus at the climax of his ritual. "Mona" notices the colorful ribbons of the drifting leylines overhead were much denser where she was in Tal'Dorei than here.

Joined by "Mona", they resume climbing upward and reach the top of the chasm. They find themself on its northeastern edge, with Ruidus hanging in the southern sky. The dwarf passes around a flask of strong liqueur before they start working their way around the edge of the gorge, trying to head roughly south. Orym climbs a tree and can see beyond the edge of the dense forest to a grassy hill land. He notices a leyline nexus far to the northeast, with lights and an apparent town in that distant valley. Beyond that, to the north, is a massive mountain range, and north of that rises an immensely tall mountain. To the west and southwest is another very tall and dangerous-looking mountain range, and directly to the south, beyond the grasslands, the faint glitter of ocean water.

They decide to head northeast toward the lights Orym saw, following (for now) a river that flows into the gorge and leads directly east, and moving stealthily. Eventually, they notice a small fire in the forest and Pâté scouts it, finding a small cart drawn by a reindeer-type creature and a humanoid figure near the fire. Orym and "Mona" approach, startling the figure who immediately fires a crossbow at them, but misses, and starts running away. Orym calls after him, assuring him they mean him no harm, and approaches hands up. The figure is a very tall, very thin half-elf, dressed like a farmer, who is spooked when the still-hidden "Mona" calls out and reflexively hits her with a Lightning Bolt. Laudna approaches, ready to cast Eldritch Blast, but Orym tries to calm the rapidly escalating situation by dropping his weapons and sitting down. Laudna aims her blast to just miss the half-elf, and they all agree to a truce. The half-elf introduces himself: Bor'Dor Dog'Son, a sheep herder. He casts Cure Wounds on "Mona" in apology, but she pickpockets a sling from him as he does.

Bor'Dor's story is similar to the others'. He was on "the mountain", and then he was here. Pressed for more information, he was in the Cyrios Mountains near Pride's Call, tending his sheep and caring for his sick brother when he heard a humming and a voice in his head and he ended up here. His ability to throw lightning is brand new, since he arrived a couple of hours ago. Things have just been happening to him.

Prism - Toby James Sharp

Fan art of Prism, by Toby Sharp.[art 1]

Ashton pulls out the portable hole, looking for food, but realizes they forgot to dispose of the bodies they'd stashed in it. When he throws them out, Orym tries to reassure the two newcomers that the corpses were bad people who were trying to kill them. Bor'Dor volunteers his reindeer, Ratchet, to help with the bodies. As they work, Orym hears cracking branches and sees a figure approaching cautiously. When he calls out a welcome, the figure steps out, revealing a goth-looking elf with pointy teeth and ears, dressed like a mage's apprentice and arguing with her book. She asks if they have time to participate in a short survey about their experience with the Apogee Solstice, explaining that she's been sent out to gather data for the Cobalt Soul, "the premiere academic institution in Exandria". As she speaks, her book Dynios pipes up reminding her to remember her place and their argument resumes. "Mona" overhears and misunderstands, asking why she's calling her by her real name, which she reveals is actually Deni$e.

The Cobalt Soul elf explains that she was sent out with a sentient book chaperone, and Dynios introduces himself. She was given a list of questions to ask those she met, and was told since she gets sick when she teleports, they would just let her get shunted, and she appeared here. Dynios adds that the intent was they arrive at a city near one of the nexuses and neither of them know how they ended up in their current location. Prism heard a voice but she was surrounded by people and didn't really notice.

They all introduce themselves again. Prism is taken aback that Bor'Dor can just suddenly do magic, when she has had to work and study for all of hers. She admits her magic has never been field-tested. She's similarly envious when Laudna admits she was born with her magic, but she begins asking her questions. They are interrupted by more rustling in the bushes. Prism hopes it's more people for more data points for her survey, but the sounds grow more ominous, like dozens of large ropes dragging through the underbrush. They prepare for battle, Laudna assuming her Form of Dread to the horror of their new friends. Bor'Dor shrieks and vomits as large plant-like tendrils emerge from the floor of the forest and rush toward them.

Break[]

Part II[]

The battle - Ziforyu

Fan art of the battle, by Ziforyu.[art 2]

Preparing for battle, Deni$e and Orym climb a tree; Laudna assumes her Form of Dread and Spider Climbs into another tree; Ashton takes cover; Prism casts Greater Invisibility on herself and manifests the mind of Dynios, sending her raven Mother with him; and Bor'Dor spends his turn screaming and vomiting. Two sections of the forest floor seem to come alive and reach out, and the party attacks. The shambling mounds are fairly easy to hit and the party is damaging them, when Ashton steps backward into a bush and disturbs another creature, a corpse flower, and the plants are able to hit the party hard in return, as well as the corpse flower emitting a stench that poisons party members starting their turn within 10 feet unless they succeed on a Constitution save. Prism, invisible, uses Dynios to cast Steel Wind Strike and hits all three plants, two critically, killing one and seriously wounding the others. Bor'Dor is absolutely terrified but hits with a Ray of Frost.

As the battle continues, Orym takes more damage, is grappled by the remaining mound, and engulfed by it. Prism immediately sends Dynios through the creature, casting Dimension Door to transport Orym to safety. Bor'Dor succumbs to the corpse flower poison but gets off a Lightning Bolt, learning that the mound is immune to lightning. Orym take a Second Wind, then attacks the mound, killing it, Laudna hits the corpse flower with a Chill Touch that prevents it regaining hit points, and Deni$e gets the final blow against it with her whip.

Peace restored, Bor'Dor apologizes for losing his cool, and Prism admits this was also her first time ever in combat and she found it thrilling. Ratchet the reindeer has fled, but Bor'Dor is sure he'll come back. They decide to use the corpses from the portable hole set up around the remains of the campfire as a decoy while they sleep elsewhere, with Magic Mouth on the corpses to shout if anything comes near. The party sets up camp for the night. Bells Hells fill in the others about Ludinus Da'leth, Predathos, and their plans for the Apogee Solstice, and talk about their current goals: find out where they are, find their friends, and survive. Bor'dor just wants to get back to Pride's Call.

Bor'Dor and Prism on watch - Jake Wennik

Fan art of Bor'Dor and Prism on watch, by Jake Wennik.[art 3]

They settle down for the night, with Prism and Bor'Dor taking first watch. He asks her about her earlier statement when hearing about Lucinus' plans that the world might be better off without the gods. She explains that the main deity in the Shadow Realm is the Matron of Ravens, who ascended to godhood on her own. She's excited to be out of the library, but is hanging on by a thread. They share cigarettes and sympathize with each others' fears.

Laudna and Ashton take the next watch. Laudna is just barely holding it together over her fears for Imogen and the others. Ashton is feeling guilty and depressed over failing to stop Ludinus, and promises Laudna they'll get the others back. Comforted, Laudna sends Pâté out to look for the missing reindeer.

Orym and Deni$e take the final watch, and she asks him about himself. They're both from Tal'Dorei, and in the conversation about her search for her ratfink ex, she reveals his name is Dariax. Orym recognizes the name from their time together with the Crown Keepers, and Deni$e asks if he's the little guy she kept seeing on the "Wanted" posters. This is news to Orym. He asks her what went wrong in her relationship with Dariax. They were stealing furs while "pre-engaged" and he just disappeared, and a lot of people are now coming after her for the missing money. Just when she finally caught up to him, she found herself in Issylra. Orym tells her he's a good guy, and she admits Dariax has a good heart and she's a hopeless romantic. Orym is having flashbacks of the horrors of the previous day, and she notices, asking about his friends and if he left someone behind. He tells her he knows he's supposed to say they'll find their missing friends and figure it out, but he's having trouble believing it, and she responds that while it would be nice to believe in a god right now, as a substitute, she's got booze. Orym takes it and drinks, and admits he's never felt so small.

Orym surveying the Demithore Valley - @MiddiMidori

Fan art of the Demithore Valley, by @MiddiMidori.[art 4]

In the morning, Orym climbs the hill and finds a tree to climb, looking out around them. He now recognizes the Ascendant Bridge Mountain and the Sunderpeak Mountains that separate this area, the Demithore Valley, from Othanzia and its capital, Vasselheim. Ruidus is visible far to the south, still locked in place beyond the ocean. Nearby, however, there are roads through the forest and small villages and townships scattered throughout the valley.

Pâté returns without having found the reindeer, but Bor'Dor assures them it's okay. Prism offers to cast Phantom Steed for him, but he tells her not to; the reindeer will probably be in town. They agree to head toward the nearest town, a village visible just below the nexus point still visible in the sky a number of miles off.

Featured characters[]

Team Issylra by Melissa Hahn

Fan art of Orym, Laudna and Ashton with their new friends, by Melissa Hahn.[art 5]

Quotations[]

  • Laudna: (to ""Mona") I like you!
    "Mona": You're very smart, I can tell.
    Laudna: It's nice having a new friend, especially with such a stressful time as we've had.
    "Mona": Listen, if you want to jump on my back at any point, I can take it. Give the knee a break.
    Laudna: You're so strong, too. What do you do? Like, what's your occupation?
    "Mona": None of your fucking business yet.
    Laudna: Oh, okay! It's good to have a... friend.
  • Bor'Dor: (to Laudna) Are you dead?
    Laudna: It's complicated, but a little bit of yes and a little bit of no.
  • Prism: How's this for a field test of my magic?
  • Prism, again: How's that for a field test?
  • Prism, a third time: How's that for a field test?
  • The animated corpses: I don't like it!
  • Laudna: (about the missing party members) If I say too many words, I'm going to cry.
  • Deni$e: (explaining her pursuit of Dariax) I left and I went to go looking for him, because I didn't want to die. And I kind of didn't want to live without him, anyway.
  • Orym: (about Dariax) He's a good guy.
    Deni$e: (skeptically) Hm.
    Orym: Well, he got into trouble easy.
    Deni$e: Oh, yeah? What kind of trouble?
    Orym: I don't know. He's kind of like a kid following a red balloon all the time.
    Deni$e: Yeah, that's true.
    Orym: But he seemed like he had a good heart.
    Deni$e: That's true, too.
  • Deni$e: (to Orym) Do you have someone?
    Orym (after a long pause and a sigh) No. [...]
    Deni$e: You're going to be okay. The minute you're not okay, you die.
    Orym: The thing is, I don't think I've ever... I just don't think I've ever felt so small.
  • Deni$e: (about Dariax) I spent months looking for him, and I don't know whether I'm going to kiss him or I'm going to kill him. Maybe I'll do both.

Inventory[]

Adjustment Count Item Source Destination Notes
Pickpocketed 1 Sling Bor'Dor Deni$e

Trivia[]

References[]

  1. ↑ See "Somewhere Out There" (3x59) at 2:23:58.

Art:

  1. ↑ Fan art of Prism, by Toby Sharp (source). Used with permission.
  2. ↑ Fan art of the battle, by Ziforyu (source). Used with permission.
  3. ↑ Fan art of Bor'Dor and Prism on watch, by Jake Wennik (source). Used with permission.
  4. ↑ Fan art of the Demithore Valley, by @MiddiMidori (source). Used with permission.
  5. ↑ Fan art of Orym, Laudna and Ashton with their new friends, by Melissa Hahn (source). Used with permission.
v • d • e
Campaign Three Arc 3 episodes
<< Arc 2: Ruidus Rising Arc 3: Separations and Explorations (Episode 52-75) Arc 4: Ruidus to Aeor >>
"Far From The Others" (3x52) • "Ripples" (3x53) • "Treacherous Toys" (3x54) • "Hope Within History" (3x55) • "By Goat or By Boat" (3x56) • "The Sorrow of Molaesmyr" (3x57) •
"Escape From The Past" (3x58)
"Somewhere Out There" (3x59) • "Faith or Famine" (3x60) • "Crisis of Faith" (3x61) • "A Long Walk of Reflection" (3x62) • "A Haunted Past" (3x63)
"Reunited" (3x64) • "A Path of Vengeance" (3x65) • "Aid of the Tempest" (3x66) • "Bloody Flowers" (3x67) • "For The Tempest" (3x68) • "Nice" (3x69) •
"Embattled in Bassuras" (3x70)
"Mist and Whimsy" (3x71) • "Phantasmal Parley" (3x72) • "Kindling the Spirits" (3x73) • "Roots Between Worlds" (3x74) • "An Ancient Flame" (3x75)
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