Reunion & Revelation

is the 30th episode of the third campaign of Critical Role.

Part I
Bells Hells, Birdie, and Hondir make their way through the Hellcatch Valley, passing over a narrow bridge suspended over a deep gorge. As they do, another crawler passes them, and Fresh Cut Grass notices that the driver has red streaks on their face, marking them as a member of Fists of the Ruiner, one of Bassuras's crawler gangs. As the party continues, Orym notices another person up ahead who appears to send out a flare, and Orym warns the party. They notice a trap on the bridge, and manage to avoid it.

At that point, a huge automaton vehicle with tripod-like legs and a huge number of guns appears. One of the six riders, all of whom bear the same red streak tattoos, tells the party to stop and give over all their belongings and return back towards the city, or die. Chetney and Laudna bring up the Paragon's Call in an attempt to negotiate with this leader, who refers to himself as the Ire of Maricris. Birdie admits to Fearne that when she's on her own she usually is able to evade these gangs but can't do so with multiple riders.

Imogen offers to put down one of their backpacks. She then takes the bag in which they are keeping the bomb they did not detonate during the Deathwish Run and places it near the Fists of the Ruiner's crawler. Ashton tells the gang that the backpack contains platinum, and two of the members of the gang approach the backpack. Imogen meanwhile telepathically tells the party to back away, which they do just before the bomb explodes. They then enter combat.

Bells Hells are surrounded, but have seriously damaged the automaton in the process. Early in the fight, Imogen casts Lightning Bolt, aimed down the barrel of the largest gun. This fires all of the guns on the crawler, which does do significant damage to said crawler but also causes multiple bullets to hit each combatant. Hondir is knocked unconscious, but two members of the Fists are killed and the "Kshatriya" main gun is destroyed in the process. The fight continues to be a close one, with one of the members of the Fists casting Vitriolic Sphere and dealing significant acid damage, knocking out Birdie, FCG, Imogen, and Laudna. However, Bells Hells manages to rally, and between Fearne's Cure Wounds and Chetney and Ashton giving their party members healing potions, they survive the fight. Fearne gets the HDYWTDT on the gunner, and when Maricris attempts to flee, Birdie casts Sleep on him which leads to him being run over by his own crawler. Laudna casts Darkness on the Fists' crawler as they run away, and several minutes later, Bells Hells hears a distant crash as the crawler presumably plummets into one of the nearby ravines.

The party takes a moment to loot the bodies of the gang members left behind, and find 420 gold as well as two carbine rifles, though no bullets. Ashton takes a moment to steal a large thimble from Fearne, and Orym recalls some of the history of Marquet surrounding Gruumsh, the Ruiner; the Betrayer God is known for having attempted to destroy Marquet and in doing so, creating the deserts and badlands on what was once entirely jungle. They then continue on towards their destination.

Player characters

 * Ashton Greymoore
 * Chetney Pock O'Pea
 * Fearne
 * Fresh Cut Grass
 * Imogen Temult
 * Laudna
 * Orym

Returning

 * Birdie
 * Hondir
 * Ira Wendagoth

New

 * Oleander Calloway
 * Maricris

Mentioned

 * Alyxian (unnamed)
 * Gruumsh, the Ruiner
 * Morri Calloway
 * Otohan Thull