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To Hurt Is to Heal

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"To Hurt Is to Heal" (3x79) is the seventy-ninth episode of the third campaign of Critical Role. Bells Hells find respite in the Fey Realm while they seek ways to mend their broken trust and rebuild their friendships...

Synopsis[]

Announcements[]

Previously on Critical Role[]

So, last we left off: Bells Hells, after traversing the odds and ends of Exandria, finishing in the Shattered Teeth to seek some answers and finding an artifact that is somewhat involved in the elemental primordial history of Ashton and the Hishari people that his parents created and destroyed, you returned to Whitestone to prepare for a journey as a recon operation to the moon Ruidus to discover what is transpiring there to prepare for the eventual assault that the forces of Exandria are preparing for. On the eve of your journey, a ritual was attempted and hijacked in secret by Ashton to pursue what was understood to be his destiny. However, it proved to be too powerful and nearly destroying him twice, through the will of his strength, his constitution, and a couple of well-placed magical items and spells, survived, losing an arm, gaining an arm, and coughed up the Spark of Rau'shan, while seemingly something has stirred within him since this.

However, in doing this, it broke much of the trust and the calm within the group of Bells Hells, and in this tumultuous period of time, this fracture has caused you all to take a pause on your journey toward the red moon. Deciding that, one, Fearne, who was at the epicenter of confusion and hurt in the midst of this, wanted to visit her Nana and consider the Fey Realm may be a decent place to try to take a rest to recover and rekindle the trust of the troop. Arriving back in the familiar space of the Ligament Manor in the Fey Realm, your Nana Morri, Morrigan herself, the Fatestitcher, the grand, terrifying hag that exists in this shadowed region of the Fey Realm, welcomed you all back, as well as realizing that your parents have come here as well, absconding from the Hellcatch Valley and looking for a place of peace and/or safety in the midst of all the chaos that is surrounding the Hellcatch. Upon arrival and some comfort, some interesting conversations transpired in which FCG decided to offer the idea of team building exercises of some sort of a good mental health retreat for all of you to work together and try to figure out ways to resolidify these binds, which excited Nana Morri, who eagerly agreed to aid you in this endeavor. And as her cackles echoed through the reaches of the tree itself that is the skeletal structure of Ligament Manor, you all, those of you who took them, sip upon your tiki drinks and consider what lies in the days ahead of you here where time seems to slow to a crawl under Nana Morri.

Part I[]

Fan art of '"`UNIQ--nowiki-0000000C-QINU`"'Fearne and Birdie, by '"`UNIQ--nowiki-0000000D-QINU`"'

Fan art of Fearne and Birdie, by Cha Cha Rae.[art 1]

Chetney delicately asks Fearne about Nana Morri and her deals, learning that Fearne believes the bushes in the garden of Ligament Manor are people whose deals didn't work out. Chetney's deal with Morri would be to be young again. FCG goes to plan the day's activities with Nana Morri while Fearne speaks privately to Birdie about Morri's hints. Birdie and Fearne go for a stroll in the rooftop garden, and Birdie explains Hondir went to Aeshanadoor when they all abandoned their Hideaway. Fearne finally asks Birdie directly if she has something to tell her.

Birdie is at first evasive, but eventually reveals that she met her husband Ollie Calloway at the Unseelie Court where he was imprisoned. At that time, she was in a romantic entanglement with Sorrowlord Athion Zathuda. She slowly developed feelings for Oleander, but was already pregnant with Fearne by Zathuda. When the baby was about to be born, Zathuda took Birdie to a hilltop in Exandria under the light of the red moon Ruidus, ensuring the child would be Ruidusborn. Zathuda then lost interest in Birdie, and she fled the Twilight Citadel with Ollie and Fearne, living as a family until Ruidus suddenly began appearing in the Fey Realm. At that point, she, Ollie, and Ira Wendagoth stole the Moontide Crown from the Malleus Key being built and left Fearne with Morrigan to keep her safe from Zathuda.

Meanwhile, Orym has a conversation with Ashton, telling them to feel what they're going to, but the group cares about them. It's up to Bells Hells to stop the threat to the world, and Ashton needs to stay focused on that. Ashton admits he really likes the group, and Orym asks to be lifted up and kisses his forehead.

Inside, Allura is talking to the others, telling them that she has been in groups that had similar bumps in the road, and in her case the group fractured. Imogen suddenly removes her Circlet of the Hidden Eye, saying she feels as though if she hadn't been wearing it, she would have picked up on Ashton's plans in time to stop them. Eventually FCG returns with Morri, but his memory of their actual conversation has been removed although he's pretty sure they planned some great activities.

When everyone has gathered again, Fearne tells the group that Zathuda is her biological father, and they recognize the Sorrowlord's link to the Ruby Vanguard and the building of the Fey Realm Malleus Key. Orym reminds them all that the group may have to kill both Fearne's father and Imogen's mother. When they remember that Zathuda tried to kill Morri on their last visit, Morri says it isn't the first time Zathuda has come for Fearne. She assumes it has something to do with her connection to Ruidus. When they learn Zathuda is titled "Bearer of the Lightless Flame" and bears a weapon known as the Blade of the Black Flame, Imogen tries to use that to convince Fearne she truly has a connection to fire and should accept the Spark of Rau'shan.

They show Nana Morri the crystal and she inspects it avidly, recognizing the kindred Shard of Ka'Mort within Ashton. However, when FCG suggests Fearne's parentage might make her a suitable recipient of the Spark, Morri responds that the Fey are removed from the Primordials; they are at opposite ends of the magical ancients. At Chetney's insistence, Morri reluctantly returns the Spark to them. Allura suggests that the removal of the Moonweaver could upset the balance between the Fey Courts, allowing one to gain more ascendancy.

Morri then brings them all tea and explains the upcoming team-building activities she and FCG planned. She has chosen three items, and each of them is a potential prize. The spirits of the surrounding area have rearranged it slightly for the various challenges, one each for communication, trust, and honesty. They choose honesty first and as smoke billows out from Morri's belly face, they find themselves elsewhere, standing in the Fey jungle on the edge of a deep chasm. Nana Morri pulls out a brass-rimmed green lensed monocle and throws it into the ravine. She tells them they must work together to find it, but the unclimbable chasm listens only to honesty. They must speak their secrets to succeed. A sphere of magic suddenly encloses them and they bounce into the chasm.

Break[]

Part II[]

The magical sphere plummets into the ravine, releasing them at its bottom, with the Monocle of True Essence nowhere in sight. They figure out they must tell truths in order to find it and escape, so they begin:

Fan art of '"`UNIQ--nowiki-00000011-QINU`"' telling truths, by '"`UNIQ--nowiki-00000012-QINU`"'

Fan art of Bells Hells telling truths, by Melissa Hahn.[art 2]

  • FCG enjoys eating silver more than copper. A column of stone lifts up.
  • Imogen is genuinely scared to meet her mom again. Stone steps emerge from a cliff wall.
  • Chetney says wood is better than metal. They discover there are leeches in the muck they're standing in.
  • Laudna and Delilah both want the Spark of Rau'shan, deep down inside, and Laudna is having trouble separating her own desires and opinions from Delilah's. The stone steps create a stone bridge and a vantage point.
  • Imogen loves Laudna deeply, but is disgusted at the thought of Delilah watching them all the time. A crumbled city pushes up from the mud.
  • Orym is constantly super lonely, especially at night.
  • FCG sometimes pities the others because they're alive and don't do enough with their opportunities, especially Chetney. More ruins emerge and Laudna climbs onto them for a better vantage.
  • Orym has sometimes wondered if Chetney really is his father.
  • Ashton is the reason the Jiana Hexum robbery went wrong. The ruins continue to emerge and they discover by climbing up on them, they can eliminate areas the monocle isn't in.
  • Fearne thinks they're going to fail to save the world.
  • Chetney is afraid the dwindling interest in wood will make his toys and himself obsolete. Some of the ruins begin to crumble. Orym climbs up to another high point.
  • Every time FCG hurts or kills something, it feels really good and his stress level goes down.
  • Imogen has tried talking to the gods her whole life but they never respond. She thinks she's tainted and doesn't know if she wants to save gods that don't love her. Two separate paths upward are completed with separate vantage points.
  • Laudna points out they could pull out of saving the world at any time and she fantasizes about doing it. Rain begins to wash away some of the muck and Orym spots a green glint. He leaps toward it and manages to recover the monocle. Everyone starts climbing up the two separate paths upward.
  • Fearne sometimes does "stuff" to the others while they're sleeping. Like... look at them. Nothing weird.
  • Ashton worries most of them could end up killing one of the others. Even Orym, although at least he'd be gentle. Laudna asks Orym how he feels about being the only normal one in the group, and he admits he's thought about how to neutralize each of them.
  • FCG worries he's put too much faith in the Changebringer, who might betray them all because she might not really care about him.
  • Imogen was disappointed in Fearne for not taking the shard. Laudna agrees with her.
  • Orym really misses Dorian, but is conflicted if that's okay. Multiple floating mushrooms appear which half of the group rides over to the other half in a bush almost at the top of the ravine, but Fearne is the last and hers starts sinking.
  • Laudna tries to make Pâté tell a truth but he doesn't have feelings.
  • Ashton feels worse that he fucked up Fearne's life worse than his own, and he should have died instead. This gets Fearne to safety.
  • Chetney grew up in the Bramblewood outside of Westruun. When he was a kid, he returned from learning to make toys and discovered his family gone while Errevon the Rimelord (an elemental Primordial) was attacking Tal'Dorei. Chetney was angry, but now believes anyone he gets close to will look for a reason to leave him.
Fan art of '"`UNIQ--nowiki-00000016-QINU`"'the fey bird creatures, by '"`UNIQ--nowiki-00000017-QINU`"'

Fan art of the fey bird creatures, by ZioCorvid.[art 3]

With this final truth, a flock of strange bird-like creatures with a thumbless hand instead of a head fly to them, dropping each of them at the top of the chasm where Morrigan awaits. Imogen hugs Chetney, telling him they won't leave him.

The next exercise is Communication. They find themselves transported to an underground chamber with a glowing orb on a central platform over a chasm. Three walkways emerge from the platform in snaking patterns. Morri tells them the orb is a thunder wasp hive and shows them a beautiful scarf which she tears in thirds, then causes skin to grow over the eyes of volunteers Chetney, Imogen, and Ashton, and they are blind. Morri transports them to the opposite ends of the walkways leading into the center. The task is for the others to verbally guide the blind ones over the winding walkways to reach them safely.

Chetney is first, and they discover if they speak too loudly, a swarm of wasps emerges from the hive onto the pathway, or attacks one of the watchers. FCG finds it very hard to remain quiet and is attacked multiple times, and two swarms are on the walkway. Chetney changes to his hybrid wolf form, and manages to stay on the walkway when he encounters the swarms and reaches the other side. Imogen goes next, but this time, skin grows over the mouths of Orym and FCG and they are unable to give directions. Liam slips once and a swarm appears. Imogen tries casting Shock Flare before entering the swarm but they're immune to lightning. However, she is able to stay on the path after being stung.

Fan art of '"`UNIQ--nowiki-0000001B-QINU`"'Orym's challenge, by '"`UNIQ--nowiki-0000001C-QINU`"'

Fan art of Orym's challenge, by Jake Wennik.[art 4]

For Ashton's turn, only Imogen and Fearne can give directions. Liam can't stifle a moan and a swarm appears,s causing Taliesin to have to make a dexterity save, which he fails, plummeting off the path only to be saved by Morri's magic. She offers them a last chance to succeed, but this time, if the blindfolded one steps off the path, they will die. Orym volunteers, and chooses Imogen and Chetney to give directions... but this time, they have only five minutes to complete the course. With excellent directions, he completes the course safely and Morri hands him the Scarf of Intrusive Intent as the prize.

Morrigan waves her hands and magically transports them to the next location, deep in a Fey Realm forest surrounded by ruins. In front of them is a 20-foot wide well filled with mirror-like water, with three altars somewhere in the ruins, each bearing a section of white ivory branch. They must gather all of them and place them in the water, but the two doppelgangers who will secretly replace two of the party will attempt to mislead them and prevent this.

Featured characters[]

Quotations[]

  • Birdie: Ollie is your father, but in the sense that he chose to raise you as your father.
    Fearne: Well, neither of you really chose to raise me because you weren't around.
  • Orym: (to Ashton) Try not to spend all your time grappling with your demons, because I need your hands free.
  • Imogen: (to Fearne, as Morri inspects the Spark) Are you sure she's not going to eat it?
    Fearne: No.
  • Laudna: You know we could all ripcord out of this at any moment. And I don't mean this scavenger hunt, I mean saving the world. And sometimes I fantasize about it all the time.
  • Orym: I have all the faith in the world in you guys, all of you. And I have also spent time thinking how to neutralize each of you.
  • Orym: I really miss Dorian, and sometimes I think that's okay, and sometimes I think it isn't.
  • Ashton: (while blindfolded) This is the weirdest thing I have ever done in my life.
    Sam: I don't think that's true.

Inventory[]

Adjustment Count Item Source Destination Notes
Acquired 1 Monocle of True Essence Morrigan Bells Hells The prize for the "Honesty" part of their teambuilding.
Acquired 1 Scarf of Intrusive Intent Morrigan Bells Hells The prize for the "Communication" part of their teambuilding.

Trivia[]

  • Sam's jerrycan has an Ashton plushie—with its right arm burnt off—with "JUST DON'T" in large chalk letters above.[1]

References[]

  1. ↑ See "To Hurt Is to Heal" (3x79) from 1:05:30 through 1:05:45.

Art:

  1. ↑ Fan art of Fearne and Birdie, by Cha Cha Rae (source). Used with permission.
  2. ↑ Fan art of Bells Hells telling truths, by Melissa Hahn (source). Used with permission.
  3. ↑ Fan art of the fey bird creatures, by ZioCorvid (source). Used with permission.
  4. ↑ Fan art of Orym's challenge, by Jake Wennik (source). Used with permission.
v • d • e
Campaign Three Arc 4 episodes
<< Arc 3: Separations and Explorations Arc 4: Ruidus to Aeor (Episode 76-98) Arc 5: Downfall >>
"A Gathering of Heroes" (3x76) • "The Promise and the Price" (3x77) • "Fractures" (3x78) • "To Hurt Is to Heal" (3x79) • "A Test of Trust" (3x80) • "The Eve of the Red Moon" (3x81) • "Rush for the Bloody Bridge" (3x82)
"Ruidus" (3x83) • "Red Rural Revelations" (3x84) • "Intense Interrogations" (3x85) • "Doorways to Darker Depths" (3x86) • "Arrival at Kreviris" (3x87) • "Seeking Sedition" (3x88) • "Divisive Portents" (3x89) • "Mission Improbable" (3x90) • "True Heroism" (3x91)
"Broken Roads" (3x92) • "Bittersweet Reunions" (3x93) • "Where The Red Fearne Glows" (3x94) • "Gathering of Needs" (3x95) • "Shadows New and Old" (3x96) • "Ancient Sins" (3x97) • "The Nox Engine" (3x98)
v • d • e
Campaign Three Arc 4
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