A Desperate Call

is the 36th episode of the third campaign of Critical Role. Bells Hells magically arrive in the city of Whitestone and meet a few legendary heroes in their search to save Laudna, but discover that her soul is not so easily retrieved...

Pre-show
Ludo McGillicutty, Sam's character in the quip ads, is slowly turning into a sunflower.

Part I
Bells Hells and Keyleth arrive in Whitestone via the Sun Tree, in the early morning. They walk towards Whitestone Castle, with Bells Hells making some polite conversation with Keyleth about their abilities and interests, and learn that she has met several of the gods. They also mention Bertrand Bell, and Keyleth tells them that he is buried within the city should they wish to visit his grave.

Keyleth reminds Orym that the attempted resurrections on Will and Derrig failed, and tells the party that it was due to a toxin that interferes with divine magic. She then inspects Laudna's body and confirms that the toxin isn't present in her, but that she would need 25,000 gold for a resurrection. The group continues to make their way to the castle. Upon reaching it, they are met by Captain Leore, who tells them that Cassandra is away but Lord de Rolo is in. As this happens, Keyleth receives a message and has to leave, but drops off Bells Hells in Percy's office and tells them that he can help them with Laudna's resurrection. As she leaves, Bells Hells tells her what they know about Otohan Thull, Ira Wendagoth, Ruidus and other plots, and she mentions that quite a lot is going on in preparation for the apogee solstice but if they write it down and give it to her she'll see what she can do.

Orym then introduces himself and the rest of the party to Percy. Percy's daughter Gwendolyn de Rolo sits in on the discussion, although Orym mentions that the topic may be difficult for children. Ashton puts down Laudna and Imogen explains that Laudna was killed by Delilah Briarwood, to which Percy has a visible reaction. He tells them that he appreciates them bringing a citizen of Whitestone home as her last resting place, but Imogen tells him that they are actually looking to resurrect Laudna.

Percy is hesitant about the resurrection, pointing out that death is part of the natural order of things and that many do not get a second chance, let alone third. Bells Hells argue that Laudna was special, and Percy asks Captain Leore to wake up Pike since ultimately he cannot perform a resurrection anyway. As they wait, Chetney expresses appreciation for Percy's craftsmanship, as a fellow artisan, and offers to see if he or others in Bells Hells could provide some assistance to him or Keyleth. Gwendolyn meanwhile tells Percy about some of the theories Bells Hells had told Keyleth about, which Percy seems somewhat amused by. Chetney gives Percy a wolf-headed trinket, which Percy gives to Gwendolyn before asking her to leave.

As they wait in the front hall, Vex and two of her children, Wolfe and Leona, enter from a morning excursion. Vex introduces herself to the party and is happy to hear that they were friends of Bertrand. She agrees that Pike is the best person to address the situation, and excuses herself to change. Pike then arrives and introduces herself as primarily a baker. Percy explains the situation, and Pike looks at Laudna, somewhat confused at her advanced state of decay before the party explains her Hollow One status. FCG tells her that they cast Gentle Repose to help preserve the body. Vex fetches some diamonds, and Pike begins a resurrection ritual, but stops abruptly, telling Bells Hells that she can sense two souls bound to Laudna's body: that of Laudna, and that of Delilah.

Part II
Percy tells the party that Laudna is to remain dead if bringing her back would bring back Delilah. They protest, but he stands firm. Pike is more apologetic but agrees that she does not want to interact with Delilah at all, and she cannot guarantee that the ritual will target Laudna and not Delilah. Imogen asks about whether it would change his mind if they could defeat Delilah to bring back Laudna, to which Percy says that they can do so, but he will not be involved, and turns to leave. Vex asks Pike if there's any way around it, feeling some responsibility for Laudna's situation, to which Pike says she can go look for some rituals of Sarenrae. Percy tells them that no resurrection will take place without his approval, but they're welcome to pursue solutions, and heads back towards his office. Ashton follows him as the rest of the party follows Vex and Pike towards Pike's cottage.

Ashton yells at Percy, telling him that Laudna is important and that she, like them, has had an unfair life. Percy listens but does not change his mind, pointing out that he too is well aware of the unfairness of many resolutions. Ashton offers to help Percy in what way he can in order to change Percy's mind, but Percy tells Ashton to use his anger productively, and that he'll be happy to help bring back Laudna should they destroy Delilah, but if they bring back Delilah, he will destroy them to protect Whitestone. He leaves. Ashton ineffectively punches one of the busts in the stairwell, then runs into Trinket. He complains about Percy to Trinket, and asks Trinket to shit somewhere in Whitestone Castle, in their honor. Ashton then leaves to catch up to the rest of Bells Hells.

Pike's cottage is in northwestern Whitestone, and is cluttered and cozy. She offers Bells Hells some slightly stale muffins from the Slayer's Cake, which Fearne deems "interesting", and goes to search for the materials to help with Laudna. Orym and Imogen discuss Laudna and her relationship with Delilah with Vex until Pike comes back down with an ancient scroll, which she tells Bells Hells can bring them to where Delilah is keeping Laudna and perhaps separate the two so that she can perform her ritual. She explains that their bodies will remain here but their spirits will go to this place, and if they die in that space they will return to the Material Plane, but if the cord tethering their spirit to their body is severed, they will die permanently. Orym is concerned that his nonmagical sword will not work in that realm, so Vex goes to find a magical one. FCG meanwhile believes that they do not have a soul, and therefore cannot travel to that plane. Pike tells him that if he can't go, he can help her on the Material Plane, but based on Bells Hells' assurances she thinks that FCG does have a soul and offers to check. Bells Hells takes bets on whether FCG has a soul, though they all admit they believe he does.

Pike touches FCG and FCG finds that they are both now lit up with a silver light. Pike tells them that they do have a soul, and comments on their coin of the Changebringer. Bells Hells resolves their bets as FCG worries aloud about the responsibility of being a living being. Imogen reassures them that living is difficult and complicated for everyone, and Chetney tells him to get ready because they're going to the spirit realm together.

Vex returns with a +1 shortsword for Orym, and Imogen hands Pike the gnarlrock, mentioning that Delilah seemed to want it. Pike asks Vex for some materials and as Vex goes to get them, FCG coughs up the residuum kept inside them and offers it for the ritual. Vex is very interested in how they came across it and says Percy will be as well. Once they have all the materials, Pike casts Astral Projection on the party and they all shift into a new place, with a cracked stone floor. Their bodies seem to be made of a gold mist, and have cords that drift off above them. FCG's spirit looks somewhat more shapeless than the others, but is still very present.

The place where they are is rocky, dark, and foggy. As Chetney calls for Laudna they realize that shouts are absorbed into the space and do not make any additional noise, so they speak normally. Ashton looks down over a ledge and sees that the stone drops off into nothingness, and when Fearne summons Little Mister, his form is that of a controlled flame, though he still sounds like a monkey. Chetney leads the way as FCG binds themselves to Ashton, Imogen, and Chetney. They enter a place of massive stalagmites, and Imogen casts Mage Armor in preparation. They begin to see the shape of a forest, but it is all made of stone, as is a cabin they then come across. Chetney scouts ahead and is able to hear whispers of people threatening to burn down the house. He goes invisible and enters the cabin to find a black flame-like being inside who is reminiscent of Laudna, as well as a fireplace with a fire, some tools, and the body of a rat. As he stands there, the black flame disappears and the cabin begins to catch fire. Outside, Orym sees three wraiths emerge. The party enters initiative.

During the fight, Chetney takes the rat body and bird skull from the cabin and is damaged by the fire as he does so. The wraiths are resistant to fire damage and deal necrotic damage both with their hits and with the shadowy regions they can create. They are additionally capable of reducing one's HP max, which happens to Chetney and to FCG during the fight. The party is able to fight them off, with Ashton getting the first and last HDYWTDT and Fearne getting the second, but the house continues to burn. Fearne then casts Tidal Wave and is able to extinguish it. Bells Hells enters the hut and calls out to Laudna, telling her she's safe, but no one responds. They inspect the inside of the hut and Orym finds a rotted floorboard that hides a tunnel that follows spiraling stone roots. The party continues through, Chetney still leading the way, until they reach the end, which reveals a massive tree and a stone city lit by a faint green light.

Bells Hells

 * Ashton Greymoore
 * Chetney Pock O'Pea
 * Fearne Calloway
 * Little Mister
 * Fresh Cut Grass
 * Imogen Temult
 * Laudna (corpse)
 * Orym

Returning

 * Percival de Rolo
 * Pike Trickfoot
 * Keyleth
 * Kynan Leore
 * Sun Tree (non-speaking)
 * Trinket (unnamed)
 * Vex'ahlia de Rolo

New

 * Gwendolyn de Rolo
 * Leona de Rolo (unnamed)
 * Wolfe de Rolo (unnamed)
 * Charlie (unnamed)
 * Trinket's mate

Mentioned

 * Avandra
 * Bertrand Bell
 * Cassandra de Rolo
 * Delilah Briarwood
 * Derrig
 * Ira Wendagoth
 * Lita
 * Otohan Thull
 * Simon, chef in Whitestone Castle, possibly Simon Brist
 * Sylas Briarwood
 * Will