A Hungry Jungle

is the eighteenth episode of the third campaign of Critical Role.

Previously on Critical Role
''So, last we left off, Bells Hells, following a handful of threads that led them away from the city of Jrusar and northward through the jungles to the Heartmoor, the swampy bog region of the northern part of the Oderan Wilds where the Heartmoor Hamlet exists. There, you had hoped to, one, find information that seemed to pertain to the death of the Lumas twins in the path of your particular interest, as well as deal with a possible job set by Jiana Hexum that could cancel some of your outstanding debt and issues that you carry as baggage, Ashton.''

Gathering your materials, purchasing some horses, and trudging on for a handful of days, keeping predominantly to the roads through the jungle, you had a handful of odd encounters with some creatures in the vicinity, some errant weather effects, gathered a couple of small magical items through some careful planning, some careful reflexes, and pursuits, and some relatively uneventful evenings of camping off the road where some conversations were had, some bonding was mounted.

''Then, about a day out from the Heartmoor in the middle of the night, something seemed to be glowing in the nearby jungle, near the ridge of where you had set up camp: a strange little faintly glimmering fairy, a small tiny creature that led some of you curiously to look in its direction, Fearne specifically pursuing it out of frustration. But this seemed to not really be a fairy, as instead the presence of it drew you mindlessly forward into the darkness. Ashton, you were quick to follow and find Fearne staring stunned, mindless, into the darkness. There, this fairy creature was tethered to this long, winding vine that seemed to be protruding from, up until this point, a well-hidden gargantuan fanged plant creature, that began to rise out of the brush and shadow before opening its large mouth.''

Part I
Roll initiative!

Part of the party is still asleep as the encounter with the tree-like creature begins but are quickly wakened by the others. Fearne is able to shrug off the charm of the creature, but Ashton falls under its effect, moves toward it and is swallowed, taking serious acid damage on each turn thereafter. Chetney takes his werewolf form, and Orym's Goading Attack gives the creature disadvantage on attacks against anyone but him.

A party member, once swallowed by the creature, can escape with a contested strength check or if the tree is damaged enough on a single attack turn to make it throw up. Ashton escapes with strength and Laudna then gives the creature disadvantage on strength checks with Hex. When Imogen attacks with a twinned Catapult spell, a wild magic surge turns her skin dark blue. FCG and Laudna are charmed, moving toward the creature, and they discover it is vulnerable to fire damage and has legendary actions. Laudna is swallowed, causing her Hex to vanish, and on her next turn the acid damage knocks her unconscious but her ability to Cling to Life brings her back. She then crawls out through a hole Ashton hacked in the creature. The creature swallows FCG but Chetney damages it enough to make it throw him up. FCG then gets the How do you want to do this? with his saw blade arm.

Imogen is still a vibrant dark blue, and they decide to see if finishing their interrupted long rest will cure her. They wake late in the morning to find her color unchanged. While they prepare to get back on the road again, Chetney pokes a fungal growth and releases a small cloud of poisonous spores. Imogen discovers a pre-Calamity long-ruined structure which Orym recognizes as old elvish architecture. He remembers that during the Calamity, there were "climactic elements" that took place in Marquet, scarring the landscape heavily and creating the Rumedam Desert from what had formerly been lush jungle holding a flourishing elf and orcish city.

They gather their supplies and ride on northward toward Heartmoor Hamlet.

Bells Hells

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

New

 * Dobby Kingsman, halfling proprietor of the Sodden Grange
 * Estani, uniya astronomist
 * Evon Hytroga
 * Hutchin, a dragonborn adventuress
 * Tejana, a firbolg adventuress

Mentioned

 * Andy, a former crush of Laudna's
 * Ariks Eshteross
 * Balan and Zeyar Lumas
 * Dorian Storm
 * Etan, namesake of Etan's Square
 * Isha Sabanis
 * Jiana Hexum
 * Oshad Breshio
 * Parmi Kingsman, granddaughter of Dobby

Trivia

 * This is the first episode where Fresh Cut Grass got the "How do you want to do this?".