What Dreams May Come

What Dreams May Come
"What Dreams May Come" (3x34) thumbnail featuring Marisha Ray.
Episode	Campaign Three,​ Episode 34 (C3E34)
Airdate	2022-09-15 19:00 PDT
Running time	3:40:30
Episode link	VOD
Podcast link	Podcast
Transcript	Transcript
Starring
Laura Bailey – Imogen Temult Taliesin Jaffe – Ashton Greymoore Ashley Johnson – Fearne Calloway Liam O'Brien – Orym Marisha Ray – Laudna Sam Riegel – Fresh Cut Grass Travis Willingham – Chetney Pock O'Pea and Matthew Mercer as the Dungeon Master
Order
Previous	"Blood and Dust" (3x33)
Next	"Pyrrhic Return" (3x35)
Airdate Order
Previous	"Blood and Dust" (3x33)
Next	"Pyrrhic Return" (3x35)

"What Dreams May Come" (3x34) is the thirty-fourth episode of the third campaign of Critical Role. Bells Hells grapple with a devastating loss, refusing to accept fate's machinations as they attempt to stay a step ahead of Paragon's Call...

Synopsis

Announcements

• They still play Dungeons & Dragons, but only Ashley isn't frozen. Last time on The Nordverse, she revealed herself to be the evil virus Setty. And that's it, the bad guy won, the end. Matt points out this doesn't exactly reinforce Nord VPN's concept of providing security, but Setty's going analog, making balloon animals. The sword is impressive.
• Second sponsor is Cash App, the finance app that makes it easy to invest, send, or spend money. Use code "CRITROLE" for $15 on account completion.
• Critical Role: The Mighty Nein - The Nine Eyes of Lucien, the second Critical Role novel, will release 1 November 2022, chronicling Lucien's early life and his fateful meeting with the Mighty Nein. The audiobook will be narrated by Robbie Daymond. Pre-order at local bookshops or criticalrolebooks.com.
• Merch Alert! Critical Role is partnering with Pin Club for limited edition 8-bit Bells Hells chibi pins.
• And they reluctantly jump into tonight's episode of... Critical Role!

Previously on Critical Role

So, last we left off, Bells Hells had infiltrated the Seat of Disdain and had located the cell holding Armand Treshi, the target that brought them to Bassuras in the first place. Convincing him to come along with you as his best interests, you tossed him into your portable hole and ran into Artana Voe, another bounty hunter. After making an odd alliance with her, you began to escape the compound, noticing that it was under siege by what seemed to be Artana or at least a group that was likely in cahoots with her. In the midst of this chaos, some of you were running interference in the middle of the courtyard. Other ones were trying to whisk Armand out. You all began to reconvene, but not before coming face-to-face with Otohan Thull, once, while our good friend Laudna was climbing the side of the fortress, and the secondary time as you attempted to escape in two separate groups at the exterior of the perimeter wall in the middle of a raging sandstorm that had just begun to calm.

Fan art of Laudna being stabbed by Otohan, by Northyme.

Otohan squared off with you, the skirmisher that one half of your group had been using to escape had been sliced through, exploded, and left your party sundered and separated. After a brief discussion, combat ensued, and throughout this combat, one by one some of you began to fall, Otohan gleefully carving the life from members of Bells Hells, eyes focused and trained on Imogen and asking for her to give into her nature. With each death, the pulse within her began to grow stronger and stronger in the back of Imogen's mind.

Fearne and Orym both lie slain in the center street here of the sandstorm-smothered Bassuras, Laudna on death's door, when that impulse, driven by trauma, anger, and whatever strange force lies within her pushing Imogen over the edge. And in doing so, screaming, that latent power and energy swelling within her, overtaking her body, and where once a sandstorm once stood, instead, bursts of red energy and light began to swirl around. The surrounding structures began to carve away, the secondary internal storm beginning to and destroy within the proximity. With a final scream, everything goes white.

Part I

As Imogen's psychic pulse hits them, each of the living party members experience a flood of silent memories. Fresh Cut Grass remembers his life with Dancer and then Bells Hells before older memories break through of a beautiful flying city filled with celebrating aeormatons, then a shouting, angry man he fears. A green path and a kind older noblewoman whom FCG likes, and tries to help. "She smiles. She frowns. She is gone."

Chetney remembers several youthful romances and the satisfaction of his work, but within him, a hunger stirs. As he looks up to the full glowing red moon Ruidus, a single beam of pure crimson light envelops him and he gives into the beast, feeling an uncontrollable impulse to hunt and kill.

Ashton's memories are of their early childhood, surrounded by rushing people and their parents, the fear within them growing. Their mother touches their shoulder and kisses their head, pointing ahead as many people take their places around a vibrant, glowing gateway. Their mother hands their father a leather mask and headdress, which he puts on, saying, "It begins."

Laudna remembers the Parchwood around her family home, then the luxurious dinner with a dark Lord and Lady. The dread that filled her then remains still, as Delilah remains always with her, and Laudna fears she may lose herself to her. Delilah's voice comes: "I am of his blood. I will endure. My will is unrelenting. You are my vessel in life, unlife, and beyond. I will endure!"

Imogen remembers her early childhood, being comforted by her mother after a fall. Liliana suddenly looks concerned, looking away into the distance. Imogen opens her eyes to see Otohan Thull staring back at her, her body crackling with energy, saying, "You are a true predator. A gift in their image. If you can be as strong as we can, to deny your nature is to be consumed by it. To embrace it is to master your own fate. I am proud of you." The voice of Liliana echoes in Imogen's mind: "Run, Imogen. Run!"

Imogen attempts to run as Otohan continues to follow and entreat her to join them. Finally, Imogen turns and blasts Otohan, sending her streaking away into the white, and she hears the sound of multitudes of bricks hitting the ground. When she opens her eyes she is standing again in the streets of Bassuras, but most of the buildings are gone. A moment later, the rest of the party reappears as well, still in place where (and as) they were, but Otohan is gone.

Still in initiative order, Laudna is first, still at two failed death saves. Marisha rolls a natural 1. Seeing memories of the powerful women in her life, Laudna feels the arms of Delilah embrace her from behind, whispering, "Worry not, child. Death is but a waiting game."

No one sees Laudna's death, but Imogen becomes aware that their psychic link is again broken and finds her in the rubble some distance from the others. Meanwhile, Fresh Cut Grass moves to Fearne and casts Revivify, telling Fearne's spirit he thinks she's making a new family with them, that he wants to help her be whole again, and that he needs her to stay. Sam rolls a 10, exactly meeting the DC. Beyond the dark border of death and oblivion, Fearne thinks about staying to explore but eventually decides to be pulled upward, back out into the light. FCG tells her that Orym is dead and they have less than thirty seconds left to save his life.

Ashton dashes over to Imogen and begins helping her get Laudna out from under the rubble. Imogen takes out the gnarlrock shard, and addresses Delilah, telling her, "I know you're there, you bitch. I know you still want her." She places the shard under Laudna's hands crossed over her chest. She and Ashton hear Fearne shout that Orym is dead and Ashton carries Laudna toward them, shouting that there's another one down. Chetney carries Orym toward Ashton.

This leaves the choice of who to use her only Revivify on completely up to Fearne, who doesn't know who to choose. The rest of the party is at a loss as well, although FCG, Imogen, and Chetney point out that Laudna has been dead before and came back. FCG gives Fearne his medallion of the Changebringer to flip as a coin. As Fearne continues to hesitate, Imogen casts Sending to Delilah: "You better bring her back. I know you want to be in this world, and she's your only way here. Get your ass down here and bring her back!" The reply comes: "Poor thing. I would if I could, but I ask you to bring her back, too, for both of us." Fearne tosses the coin.

Looking at the result, she goes to Laudna and kneels at her side, telling her, "We'll find a way back for you, I promise." She then moves to Orym and gathers him up, asking him to please come back because she's getting a little scared. They need his help because they can't do this alone.

Fan art of Will and Orym, by Toby Sharp.

Orym, meanwhile, is in a place of peace, the cherry blossoms and sweet breezes of Zephrah. He turns to see Will just as he hears Fearne's words, and he sees a shaft of light coming down toward him from above. Will tells him he's not done, and Orym chokes out, "I really wish I could stay." They embrace, and telling him to go, Will throws him up toward the shaft of light. He opens his eyes to see Fearne's anxious face. She tells him Laudna is dead.

Orym wants to know what they should do, because they always do something. As Imogen falls to her knees beside Laudna, Ashton opens the portable hole and jumps in. Armand Treshi is alive, and Ashton demands if he has anything that can fix someone who's died. Treshi does not. Ashton jumps back out, angrily saying they can call in favors and find people. Imogen remains with Laudna, and they hear in their minds, over and over, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!"

Behind the partially crumbled walls of the Seat of Disdain, they hear shouts and rallying cries from Paragon's Call. Ashton starts to put Laudna in the hole, but Imogen demands they carry her. The gnarlrock tumbles to the ground and Imogen retrieves it, as the party hurries off through the streets toward Imahara Joe's for sanctuary and a place to talk in safety.

Break

Fan art of Imogen with Laudna, by Lyadrielle.

• Merch Alert! Beauregard Lionett sleeveless hooded cardigan and Pâté de Rolo hanger plush, and Fearne Calloway pocket t-shirt in all five shops; Bells Hells chibi pins and Jewel of Marquet beach towels in the US and Australia.
• Beau's hooded cardigan is part of the "Beauty of Exandria in Motion" collection.
• Welcome to Tal'Dorei Critical Role soundtrack album 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 at https://www.critrole.com/submit.
• Taliesin and Ashley stole the minis to promote Critical Role on Twitch.

Part II

As they walk, FCG asks Fearne for his Changebringer coin back but she refuses. They succeed in avoiding attention arising from the very large explosion that just occurred and make their way through the streets toward Imahara Joe's, where they're admitted. Ashton lets Armand Treshi out of the portable hole and ties him up, while FCG apologizes to Joe for possibly bringing danger to him by their presence. Joe is taken aback by Laudna's corpse and asks exactly what kind of danger he is now in. They explain that Paragon's Call doesn't like them very much right now.

Chetney threatens Treshi with having a finger bitten off it he doesn't start answering their questions, but Joe intervenes. He is very worried by the idea of Paragon's Call following them to his shop, and opens a hidden trap door leading to a small storage space where he tells them to hide.

Treshi tells the group he had nothing to do with the Shade Mother - that was Ira Wendagoth's doing. The Call had hired Ira to create chaos to push the Chandei Quorum to hire Paragon's Call, but Ira was overzealous and went too far. It was he who got Treshi involved with the Shade Mother and Emoth Kade. While Treshi claims not to know why Otohan Thull wanted to move into Jrusar with the Call, Fearne believes he knows more than he's saying. Ashton and Chetney threaten him, but Orym just stabs him through the foot and Imogen pushes him back in the hole. Treshi cracks, saying he thought it was an opportunity to rise in the power structure of Jrusar and within his house, but he now believes the deal was more about the shipments from Wildemount than politics. Treshi has a shipment line that crosses the Ozmit Sea into the Menagerie Coast. Multiple shipments in the past year have come through, funneling through Jiana Hexum in Jrusar before being brought to Bassuras where the Call moved them to another site. Treshi assumed that Artana Voe was there to collect him because there was a bounty on his head in Jrusar.

Chetney lockpicks a door leading out of the storage area and discovers a tunnel apparently leading to the caverns through which the Deathwish Run ran. Ashton brings out the crate, box, and vials stolen from the Call. The vials are the same as the ones in Otohan Thull's back device which apparently powered her use of the echo knights in the battle. FCG Identifies them as each containing a Potion of Possibility, and realizes the magic they contain is something he's never encountered before.

They talk about where they might find help for Laudna. Chetney suggests Ajit Dayal; Ashton suggests Jiana Hexum; Fearne suggests Morri Calloway; Orym suggests either Vex'ahlia and Percival de Rolo, or Keyleth. They agree Keyleth is a good suggestion, but her coming to Bassuras would be dangerous. Their first priority needs to be getting out of the city, and alerting Lord Eshteross to the danger he is in.

Chetney discovers the Cerberus Assembly-marked box is trapped and would be triggered by contact with metal. While they take a short rest, he crafts some mahogany lockpicks, then takes the box into the tunnel where he opens it and discovers a six-inch cube of residuum powder. The party commissions a lead box from Joe (for an eye-popping 300 GP) and Chetney disposes of the empty box down the tunnel. He then lockpicks the crate and discovers six more Potions of Possibility for a total of eight, and they each take one.

Fan art of Orym comforting Imogen, by Jenny Dolfen.

Ashton wraps Laudna's body in several Paragon's Call cloaks so she'll be easier to carry and they settle down for a long rest. Midway through, Chetney hears someone enter above and heavy footfalls. It is searchers from the Call looking for the party. Chetney quickly wakes everyone and they move into the tunnel, closing the door behind them. The searchers find the storage area, but do not investigate the door, and leave. Joe raises the price of the box to 400 GP.

After completing a long rest, FCG apologizes to Chetney for attacking him when Chetney hit him. As an apology, he gives him a wooden toolbox. Fearne asks Imogen what that psychic blast was, but Imogen doesn't know. She shares her vision with the party, and the others do as well. Ashton shows them the ceremonial leather helmet they stole from the Twilight Mirror Museum but all they know is that it was used in some form of Hishari ritual in which they were a central part and their parents were both present, which the Ashari considered to be a reckless toying with elements not fully understood. It was the last day Ashton saw their parents. They only vaguely remember seeing a cataclysm of elemental force ripping everything apart, and woke up wandering the deadlands outside the city, when they were placed in the Greymoore Home.

Fan art of the Gentle Repose, by Lap Pun Cheung.

Imogen Sends to Captain Xandis and learns that the skyship is only a half day away. She also notices the lightning marks on her arms are about an inch and a half longer than before, reaching just above her elbows. She still feels terrible about everything that happened. FCG casts Gentle Repose on Laudna, getting a sense that the spell "definitely headed something off at the pass". Imogen then Sends to Lord Eshteross, telling him that they have Armand, but lost Laudna, and asking if he knows someone powerful enough to bring her back. Eshteross is sympathetic but not encouraging. FCG follows up with a warning that Otohan knows he sent them, and might come for him. Eshteross promises to see if he has any contacts that can aid Laudna, and tells them to bring her there.

Chetney gives FCG a mood indicator dial since FCG's face can't move to display emotions. It's now early morning, and they pay Joe, pick up their lead box and place the residuum inside it. Joe promises to try to find out about "D", the mysterious metal-masked figure who brought FCG to town. Ashton asks him, if he sees Zeeland, Bennet, or Shady Sally, to tell them Ashton's looking for them.

They reach the edge of the city, pass the carmine wall and enter the Outer Skids, where they see their skyship approaching. They also notice three crawlers start to head out to meet it as the residents of the city curiously come out to see it. The ship drops rope ladders, the party grabs them, and they all climb aboard with an assist for Chetney from Imogen's Fly spell. To the sound of rifle fire from the pursuing crawlers, the ship takes off northward toward Jrusar.

Featured characters

Bells Hells

• Ashton Greymoore
• Chetney Pock O'Pea
• Fearne Calloway
  • Little Mister
• Fresh Cut Grass
• Imogen Temult
• Laudna
• Orym

Returning

• Ariks Eshteross (via Sending)
• Armand Treshi
• Dancer (in a vision)
• Delilah Briarwood (in a vision, and via Sending)
• Imahara Joe
• Liliana Temult (in a vision)
• Otohan Thull
• Sylas Briarwood (in a vision)
• Xandis

New

• Ashton's mother and Efterin

Quotations

• Ashley: (after Sam rolls exactly the DC to raise Fearne) I hate this game.
• Fearne: (after being Revivified) Hi. Thanks for doing that. It was really-- really nice of you. How's everybody doing?
  FCG: Real bad.
  Fearne: Okay.
• Fearne: (trying to choose who to Revivify) I don't know what to do. Should we do... like a... Who votes for Orym?
  Imogen: No, no no no no no no! (hysterical laughter from the party)
  FCG: Well, there is five of us up, so we could go three out of five...
• Imogen: (as Chetney pulls out a platinum coin) Are you flipping a coin right now?
  FCG: I have a coin.
  Chetney: Well, sure. But this one's made of platinum. You could use a wooden one.
  FCG: I have one from a god.
  Chetney: Oh, that's good too.
• Fearne: (after Imogen Sends to Delilah) Did she say anything? Did she give you an answer?
  Imogen: (furiously) She's too fucking weak.
  Fearne: That fucking bitch. (tosses the coin)
• Will: You're not done.
  Orym: I really wish I could stay.
  Will: I'll still be here.
  Orym: I miss you so bad.
  Will: There will be a time. I look forward to it.
  Orym: Say hi to Derrig for me. Say hi to Dad.
  Will: I will.
• Ashton: I really want to punch the wall right now.
  Chetney: Why do that when [Treshi's] face is right there?
• Orym: (after stabbing Treshi's foot) We're having a bit of a raw day, Armand. We just lost one of our own, as you can see. And I'm the peaceful solution guy in this group. So why don't you just start fucking talking right the fuck now?
• Orym: (to Imogen) Power is power; what you do with it is up to you.

Inventory

Adjustment	Count	Item	Source	Destination	Notes
Expended	1	Diamond	FCG	Fearne	Used to Revivify Fearne.
Expended	3	Diamonds	The party	Orym	Used to Revivify Orym.
Transferred	1	Medallion of the Changebringer	FCG	Fearne	Loaned to Fearne to help her decide who to Revivify and not returned.
Transferred	1	Pâté de Rolo	Laudna's possessions	Imogen
Crafted		Wooden lockpicks	Chetney		Finely crafted from mahogany.
Acquired	6 inch cube	Residuum powder	Cerberus Assembly crate	The party
Acquired	8	Potions of Possibility	Crate from Paragon's Call	The party	Each member took one, leaving two in the party inventory.
Crafted Transferred	1	Wooden toolbox	FCG	Chetney	It had a crown and "RTA" on the side.
Crafted Transferred	1	Mood indicator	Chetney	FCG	It resembled a clock with a pointer to move to the appropriate emotion.
Acquired	1	Lead box	Imahara Joe	The party	Joe charged 300 GP for the rush job, then raised it to 400 when Paragon's Call searched the shop. Chetney paid 250, Orym 100, and Imogen 50.
Acquired	1	Lock with two keys	Imahara Joe	The party	For the lead box.

Trivia

• The live audience for this episode peaked at over 105,000 concurrent viewers. This was the highest live audience number since the campaign's earliest episodes.
• Sam's jerrycan has a tissue box attached with a label saying "it's gonna be okay", to which he later adds "i think…" and (slantwise) "i hope…", and later still "oh shit…" and "oh no…" with the original message covered over by "how fucking dare you, matt!"
• During the second half of the show, when Laudna was dead, her character card was shown but had been changed to black and white only, as was her name in the Twitch overlay.
• After the party had a long rest, Matt revealed he had awarded Laura a new, currently unidentified feat.

References

Art: