The Hallowed Cage

→ This article is about the Campaign Three episode. For the location within Ruidus, see Hallowed Cage.

The Hallowed Cage
"The Hallowed Cage" (3x118) thumbnail featuring Travis Willingham, Liam O'Brien, and Ashley Johnson.
Episode	Campaign Three,​ Episode 118 (C3E118)
Airdate	2025-01-02 19:00 PST
Running time	4:58:19
Episode link	VOD
Transcript	Transcript
Starring
Laura Bailey – Imogen Temult Taliesin Jaffe – Ashton Greymoore Ashley Johnson – Fearne Calloway Liam O'Brien – Orym Marisha Ray – Laudna Sam Riegel – Braius Doomseed Travis Willingham – Chetney Pock O'Pea and Matthew Mercer as the Dungeon Master
Special Guest(s)
Robbie Daymond – Dorian Storm
Order
Previous	"Race to the Ruidian Core" (3x117)
Next	"Predathos Awakened" (3x119)
Airdate Order
Previous	"Critical Role Presents: A Daggerheart Critmas Story Live Show" (Sx89)
Next	"Assassin's Creed Shadows One-Shot" (Sx90)

"The Hallowed Cage" (3x118) is the one hundred eighteenth episode of the third campaign of Critical Role. Bells Hells face Ludinus Da'leth, attempting to stop his infiltration of Predathos' glass prison...

Synopsis

Announcements

• This episode is sponsored by Thorum Rings, and the LA Zoo has generously shared some of their animals, including a Tibetan long-tailed macaque (looking suspiciously like a small hyperactive dog), a rare saltwater alligator (looking suspiciously like a very large rat), and Thorum (looking suspiciously like a Thorum ring). Use code Critical Role for 20% off everything.
• 2025 kicks off Critical Role's celebration of their 10-year anniversary! (Trivia Point: The first broadcast of "Critical Role" was 12 March 2015.)
• Pre-orders are still available for the vinyl edition of the Critmas music album Critical Role Presents: Winter's Crest.

Previously on Critical Role

So, last we left off, Bells Hells, with the aid of two other disparate groups of heroes, have managed to head towards the depths of Ruidus, trying to follow the footprints and current aspirations of the Ruby Vanguard and Ludinus Da'leth. After discovering through a vision that your mother was seemingly captured by Ludinus and her abilities and possibly her physical being transferred and destroyed into Ludinus through a newly constructed Quintessence Array, you raced through the subterranean tunnels, befriended a number of myceits and the strange fungal culture that exists within the lower layers of Ruidus itself, interfaced with the core of that mycelium network and the hive mind of the myceit culture, which you also granted the seed of the All-Minds-Burn, to whatever end that might be. Trekking further on, bypassing some challenges, stumbling past others, eventually you came to the outer depths of the Prime Pillar where a fissure in the thick glass led you deeper within the tree trunk-like ringed layers of stone and glass, revealing themselves as you began to wind deeper into the central pillar that represents a path to the core of the moon.

There, you came upon a troop of Exaltant that had surrounded Ludinus, keeping him contained within a psychic shell while he was on the cusp of absorbing the remnants of your mother. You then quickly sprang into action, defeating and dispelling and disrupting the concentration of these Exaltants until one by one, they fell. With the last one crumbling, the shield was absolved and destroyed. A rapid series of actions pulled your mother, Liliana, from the jaws of destruction and ash, and your resident blue bard here immediately locked Ludinus within a dense Forcecage spell.

Part I

A strangely calm Ludinus stands imprisoned within Dorian's Forcecage and engages the party in conversation, telling them he has always been honest with them and will continue to be. Liliana was to have been the vessel "from the beginning", but when he discovered her betrayal of him, his plans changed. Laudna suggests that it is now a race to reach the core of the Hallowed Cage, and Ludinus assures them that if one of them chooses to become the vessel and destroy the gods, he wouldn't stand in their way but would walk "in very strong lock step" with them along the way. He tells them that his family devoutly followed the Lawbearer through The Calamity, but became collateral damage in the battle between the Lawbearer and the Crawling King that destroyed their home city of Ozana. His determination to destroy the gods was forged that day.

Ludinus questions each of them as to what they'd do as the vessel of the Godeater. Orym refuses to respond but the others explain their motivations, until Dorian reminds Imogen that his Forcecage spell won't last forever and she notices Chetney has wandered away. Chetney has gone deeper into the Prime Pillar, reaching another large chamber that ends in a glass wall blocking the way further within, covered in multiple layers of barely visible golden geometry, latticed with intricately detailed patterns somewhat resembling the weave of the Divine Gate and emitting a strange audible buzzing. When he throws a small piece of wood at the wall there is a small arcane spark but it seems otherwise unharmed, and his chisel doesn't affect it. He leaves a toy at the front of the room before starting back toward the group.

As Ludinus continues speaking, Braius wanders slightly away from the group and does a quick painting on one wall, kneeling before it to pray to Asmodeus for guidance. The Father of Lies fights through the barriers keeping the Divine from this place to appear before him in a vision, and Braius asks for assurance he is doing the right thing. Asmodeus is clear: Ludinus is too far gone and must be destroyed, and Predathos cannot be set free. Braius declares his loyalty to this god who saved him from despair, and tells him of the important people he has now met and how he can be of service. Asmodeus asks what he wants, and Braius responds that he seeks a family and a home since his own discarded him. Asmodeus promises him that and much more, and tells him that if Predathos must be freed, Braius must do what he must to bend the vessel to the will of the Lord of the Hells. Alternatively, if no vessel is left alive, Predathos will remain unreleased. When the moment is right, they will strike together. Their communion ends.

Suddenly, Imogen Misty Steps toward the tunnel and runs into it. With a sigh, Ludinus vanishes from within the Forcecage. The rest of the party pursues Imogen as she meets Chetney in the tunnel and they all run back into the room with the strange glass wall. Ludinus is at the glyphed wall, both hands touching it as he floats glowing with Ruidian energy, his staff beside him. Imogen tries to Psychic Lance him but he succeeds on his saving throw. Fearne casts Earth Bind on him but since he's not flying it has little effect. Ashton activates the Shard of Ka'Mort, diving underground, although the glass in the chamber prevents him from fully submerging. Most of the party begins running toward Ludinus.

Break

• Promos for Thorum Rings and The Magical Land of Yeld.
• Pre-order Tastes of Exandria Charms and Critical Role Presents: Winter's Crest vinyl release.
• 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.
• 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 cures low CR.

Part II

Ludinus continues focusing on the wall, as Orym runs forward and uses Seedling's Grasping Vines to pull Ludinus' staff into his own hands. Chetney becomes a werewolf and uses Turmoil to cast Shatter. Ludinus sighs, turns, and casts Ravenous Void, pulling everything loose in the room into the heart of its black hole and creating difficult terrain around it. He also uses his ring to activate a protective shell around himself. Braius succeeds in saving against the pull of the Void and casts Silence on Ludinus. Laudna is pulled into the center of the Void where she is restrained and takes minor damage. However, she manages to hit the back of Ludinus' neck (where the Quintessence Array feeds) with an Eldritch Blast doing serious damage, and discovers that that area of his body is harder to hit, but far more sensitive (causing additional necrotic damage and the loss of spell levels). Ashton is pulled into the Void as well and he rages, trying but failing to throw Laudna out of the sphere. Dorian is pulled in with them and Dimension Doors himself and Laudna closer to Ludinus and outside the gravitational pull of the void. Ludinus uses legendary actions to cast a Lightning Bolt, hitting Orym and Chetney for serious damage. Imogen rolls a natural 20 to avoid being pulled into the void and Misty Steps behind a rock, gaining some cover from its attraction. Fearne and Mister are pulled into the center of the Void with Ashton but she uses Mister's Fiery Teleportation to move Ashton and herself just out of the sphere, then Scorching Rays Ludinus' neck.

Orym is in turn pulled into the Void but he immediately Misty Steps out, then uses Seedling's vines to pull himself behind a rock. Chetney uses Blood Curse of the Muddled Mind on Ludinus to remove his advantage on concentration checks, and Ludinus retaliates with a Mind Sliver before focusing on the glyphed barrier before him to make the first boundary permeable. Braius casts Moonbeam on Ludinus while Laudna summons Pâté and casts Shocking Grasp through him, causing Ludinus to burn a legendary resistance to maintain concentration on Ravenous Void. Ashton runs toward Ludinus, while Dorian hits the mage with a Lightning Bolt forcing him to use a second legendary resistance. Imogen is sucked into the Void but hits with a Lightning Bolt, and Ludinus retaliates with Chain Lightning, hitting Dorian, Chetney, Ashton, Laudna, and Pâté, killing Pâté. Just then, Ira Wendagoth appears through a Dimension Door, having held back to see how the battle was going. He casts Steel Wind Strike on Ludinus (with a natural 20) doing massive damage and causing him to burn his last legendary resistance to maintain concentration. Fearne is sucked into the Void but calls Mister and uses him to teleport herself and Imogen out again. She casts Scorching Ray on Ludinus for minimal damage.

Fan art of Imogen losing patience, by Elaine Tipping.

Orym has to use Indomitable, Zephran Heart, and his last superiority die, but he stays out of the black hole and moves forward. Chetney claws Ludinus and uses Brand of Castigation on him for significant damage. Ludinus dissipates another boundary before Ashton hits his neck and breaks his concentration on the Ravenous Void, which disappears. Ludinus fires off another Chain Lightning after Counterspelling Laudna's Counterspell, which does serious damage to most of the party. Dorian then hits him with Gambolcleft. Frustrated and angry, Imogen screams into Ludinus' mind "Enough!", and Power Word Stuns him. Taking advantage of this, Ira and Fearne both attack his neck for massive damage.

Orym uses Seedling's Grasping Vines to pull Ludinus to him and attacks. His first blow kills Ludinus, giving him the "How do you want to do this?" as he strikes upward through the front of his neck. As he dies, Ludinus smiles and tells him, "Finish what must be done. Please." Ira approaches and cackles, gloating, over the body. Imogen sinks down next to the stunned Orym and hugs him.

The barriers that Ludinus had disarmed are still permeable, although several remain. Imogen psychically confirms that her mother is all right, back in the prior chamber. Braius raises the issue of whether Ludinus might have copies somewhere, and they acknowledge the possibility while discussing whether they should move forward to Predathos, or simply walk away as Orym believes they should. Ashton says that this is the beginning of a new age, that should belong to children. He is tired of being lorded over. Chetney's Grim Psychometry reveals a strong pull from deeper within, inviting him forward. Braius believes Orym is right, but Imogen remembers the Arch Heart asking them to release Predathos because the god is bored and tired of life. Laudna believes they can't keep Predathos from being released at some point, by someone, now that people are aware it can be done, and Dorian, Ashton, Fearne, and Imogen agree. Chetney states that if a vessel is the only form of control over it, he would rather it was one of them.

Dorian has Coriolis bring Ludinus' fallen staff to Imogen but it repels Fearne's Identify spell. Meanwhile, Orym hears the arguments of the others, and while he still believes that going forward is deeply wrong, is too shell shocked to oppose the others and acknowledges the logic that if they do not, someone else will. Suddenly, Ludinus' body dissolves into bubbling liquid with a sulfurous, acidic odor. Ira also disappears. They utilize the Sphere of Dunamantic Restoration to gain the benefits of a short rest and regain some spell slots. Fearne is now able to Identify Ludinus' staff, learning it has something to do with extending the range of a soul-binding spell of some kind, and they speculate that he has used a form of a Clone spell to create a copy of himself elsewhere.

Imogen places her hands on the barrier as they saw Ludinus do, and feels another, familiar entity beyond it. The barrier falls as their consciousnesses touch and she steps through. One by one, the barriers give way until they step through the final, sixth boundary. Imogen feels a sense of familiarity and belonging as they enter the Hallowed Cage itself, a massive spherical chamber with walls of crystalline and red stone spikes and pillars. The red Ruidusborn bond between herself and Fearne is glowing brightly, and there are faint golden threads of possibility visible binding the others.

In the room's center is a glowing teal-white light. When Imogen mentally reaches out to it, it responds in a childlike voice, and the light takes the form of a small glowing child that asks if they are free to go, telling them it wants to wake up and it's so hungry. Ludinus had been the first to reach it, and promised to set it free. Fearne asks how it got here, and they see flashing images of heated rock, volcanic cataclysmic destruction as gods and titans circle before the creature is lost to darkness, alone. They grasp this is but a shadow of its true self, which might be unimaginably expansive. They glimpse more images of cosmic starscapes and towers of possibility, clouds of nothingness, and a vagrant need to feed.

Fan art of Imogen as the Vessel, by Ian.

Braius asks what it will do if they can't help it, and the child-being responds that it will create and bring others. The room shakes and brightens, and they realize they are in the epicenter of a Ruidian flare, which is creating more Ruidusborn. The entity, however, is focused on its hunger, on escaping, and steps toward Fearne and Imogen. Orym intervenes by moving between them, noticing that the creature appears to be long and thin with a head crest, and realizes that the Reilora are the physical children born in the image of the Predathos entity. It repeats that it must feed, and when Fearne asks what it eats, they see images of the gods, familiar and strange, each with a spark of divine energy. Chetney joins Orym guarding the Ruidusborn but when he tries to intervene, he is casually shunted off at incredible speed crashing into the rock and the figure continues to approach them, reaching out for them. Saying she doesn't see another way out of this, Imogen reaches back toward the entity. As she does, the light accelerates into her, dissipating. Her friends become shapeless shadows and her vision expands, and the party watches as she rises into the air before her limbs extend and shift, and her body takes a deep red crimson scaled form spreading outward from the lightning marks Imogen bore. She tries to suppress it but fails. As Imogen feels herself disappearing, Fearne reaches out through their tether to try to maintain their connection.

Featured characters

Bells Hells

• Ashton Greymoore
• Braius Doomseed
• Chetney Pock O'Pea
• Fearne Calloway
  • Little Mister
• Imogen Temult
• Laudna
  • Pâté de Rolo
• Orym

New

• Predathos

Returning

• Asmodeus (in a vision)
• Coriolis
• The Dawnfather (in a memory)
• Dorian Storm
• Ira Wendagoth
• Liliana Temult
• Ludinus Da'leth
• The Moonweaver (in a memory)

Mentioned

• The Crawling King
• Ka'Mort
• The Lawbearer
• The Platinum Dragon
• Stanley

Quotations

• Ludinus: What are the things that drive you to survive here to the ends of the Ruddy Moon of Ill Omen? What is it you wish to change?
  Imogen: I want people to have a chance to change their fates. Too often I feel like what's been set in motion can't be undone. And I think that's in part due to the gods. I do.
• Ludinus: My family was collateral damage in the battle between the Lawbearer and the Crawling King that destroyed our home city of Ozana. Words of remembrance on the lips of a foreign priest was all I was given in recompense, the fallen forgotten and abandoned when their god stepped away from the smoldering ruin they wrought. My conviction was forged that day and has remained unwavering since, here, on the precipice of truth and triumph. No, I do not care for their words, their platitudes. They only care about them. [...] I wandered. I met many survivors, others who were seeking a meaning to all of it, looking to their great and wondrous glorious golden gods for direction, for an apology, for comfort, for direction, and in that silence, one by one, they all walked away. So yes. Sometimes sacrifices must be made. But the good remember those who made that sacrifice. I remember them, when others do not.
• Dorian: Do you think that what you're doing is good? Do you think you're... right?
  Ludinus: Not everything I've done is good, but it's all been to serve what I know to be right.
  Dorian: Ha, gotcha. It's perfect. The best villains always think they're right.
  Braius: Wait. We think we're right, too.
  Dorian: Don't think too hard about it. We're the good guys. 90% sure.
• Ira Wendagoth: (to Ludinus) It's all I've wanted for years, to watch you fail.
• Orym: (as he kills Ludinus) So much pride, so much plotting.
• Braius: Chetney, this could be our last chance to smoke that fusaka.
  Imogen: Are you really going to get high before we go fight Predathos?
  Braius: When would be a better time than now?
  Imogen and Ashton: (together) After.

Inventory

Adjustment	Count	Item	Source	Destination	Notes
Expended	1	Sphere of Dunamantic Restoration	Abrianna Mirimm	the party	They had been given the sphere in "In the Shadow of War" (3x110) at 3:05:21.
Expended	1	Chetney-created wooden toy	Chetney	Ludinus	Ludinus succeeded on his saving throw and the toy had no effect.
Acquired	1	Staff of Soul Bind Relay	Ludinus	Imogen
Acquired	1	Massive healing potion	Ludinus	the party	The one Matt held up looked like the one given to Liliana in "Race to the Ruidian Core" (3x117) which did 16d4+16 healing.
Acquired	1	Ring	Ludinus	the party	When Ludinus activated it at the beginning of the fight, it gave him a sort of lesser version of Invulnerability.
Acquired	1	Ring	Ludinus	the party	This ring was mentioned by Matt in the Cooldown but has not yet been identified by the party.

Trivia

• Sam's shirt had a picture of a young Laura. The shade of blue of the shirt is very similar of the one he wore in the episode "Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained" (2x122), which also featured a picture of a young Laura.
• Sam's Stanley cup says "Super Villain Monologue Judge" and Sam holds up a scorecard saying "6" holding a "7" in reserve for later…which does not arise.

References

Art: