Axiom Shaken

is the 43rd episode of the third campaign of Critical Role.

Pre-Show
Taliesin isn't feeling well so will not be at the table; Matt has plans.

Part I
Shithead, having just flown towards FCG, acts true to his name and poops on FCG, dealing poison damage. FCG calls out that the bird knows what they've done and is a punishment. The rest of Bells Hells take defensive actions or cast spells on Shithead. Chetney attempts to use Speak with Small Animals, which does not work. FCG warns the party about the bird, but Fearne's Ice Knife seemingly drops it. FCG does not trust it, and casts both Spare the Dying and then Speak with Animals to find out more. At first it does not respond, but then the broken wings begin to snap back into place. Chetney, realizing it is undead, grapples it. Shithead finally responds, and tells FCG that it doesn't know why it wants to attack FCG, it just does. He is unaware of FCG's past; he just thinks that if he is stuck here, he may as well make it as bad a time as possible for FCG. As FCG tells everyone to kill the bird, it breaks out of Chetney's grapple. Laudna sends Pâté after it, and casts Hex through Pâté.

The party asks FCG about Shithead, and he tells them that Shithead has repeatedly attacked him in this way and it sounds like there is no good reason other than spite, though in the past he thought it was a fluke or a prank. Imogen helps clean off FCG. Bells Hells brainstorms some possible course of action, and in doing so realize that Ashton seems to be missing. Orym looks but is unable to see them, so Imogen casts Sending. Ashton tells her that he's following something and will meet up with them later. As the party further discusses Shithead, they head in to the Aydinlan Seminary.

Bells Hells is able to make it to the information desk, noticing that the student body, like the rest of the city, is primarily orcish. Carolle, the clerk, greets them. She answers their questions about Ebenold Kai and Kadija Sumal: Kai had cancelled all his classes some time ago and hasn't been seen in a few months, and Carolle cannot give his address, but Professor Sumal will be around tomorrow. Fearne then asks if they'd be interested in hiring her as a professor. As they talk, Orym notices the hall in which they're standing fall silent, as a tall person in an eyeless bronze mask walks into the room. FCG's Detect Thoughts reveals that Carolle is nervous and wishes the "thing" would leave. Imogen telepathically asks her who the person is, and Carolle, confused as to the source, responds that they are a representative from Vasselheim. Fearne recognizes the being as a Judicator, a holy warrior and hunter dedicated to the Prime Deities. Carolle tells Imogen mentally the Judicators arrived a little under a week ago. Chetney approaches the Judicator and greets them, and receives no response but does recognize their bracers as being magical. The Judicator then leaves, having not spoken. Fearne tells Bells Hells what she knows. Carolle tells them that this red-haired Judicator has a half-giant partner, and the staff of the seminary have been told to let them go where they need. Imogen asks Carolle if she knows who they're looking for. Carolle seems suspicious, but Imogen convinces her it's just curiosity.

Carolle begins however to become somewhat impatient with the party, telling FCG they can enroll in a class about automata taught by Vitro Isham, but that she cannot give them directions to the office nor to Ebenold's house. FCG then casts Fast Friends on her. It succeeds. She first tells him where Isham's office is, and then, upon being asked, offers to lead them to Ebenold on her lunch break. Imogen suggests to Bells Hells that they treat Carolle kindly and ask her about herself so that when the spell wears off, she will at least feel they were genuinely friendly. They learn about her flower garden, and about how she stole a bronze lion statue from a professor and resold it. As they talk, they reach the Vigil Quarter of the Dominion Ring of Yios, and Carolle leaves them at Ebenold Kai's house, which is made of black wood and appears to be for one of the smaller races. As she goes, Orym gives her a few platinum tied up in a handkerchief and Fearne gives her seeds to grow poppies, in the hopes of keeping her from being too upset at their deception.

Laudna does not see any sign that Ebenold is home so Chetney goes invisible and is helped by Fearne over the fence, where he picks the lock to the gate. He notices the birdbath water appears to have not been changed in some time, and that the front door is both locked and trapped. The windows are also firmly locked, so Imogen suggests he go down the chimney. Chetney first knocks on the door, and upon hearing no response, heads towards the chimney. Imogen casts Invisibility on Orym as well, and he joins Chetney in climbing up to the roof. Chetney notices a silver thread flush with the windows of the second floor and settles on the chimney as the best point of entrance. As the two of them fumble with the invisible rope, the rest of Bells Hells first pretends to be yard workers, then decides to walk around the block in order to not seem suspicious to the guards. As they do, Laudna realizes that Hex will not help her track Shithead, though it will make his life harder for the next several hours.

Chetney goes down the chimney and is able to smell anxious sweat. He notices the silver thread around the entire room, but crosses it to go downstairs. He sees that the trap is a pot attached to a cable, and tries to disable it, but fails, though he is able to dodge the pot. The contents are a sticky black liquid. He continues through the first floor, seeing no one but noticing the windows are indeed barred. He opens one of the windows and Orym tells Imogen, who had maintained a mental connection, to bring the rest inside. Laudna verifies the tracker orb is still dark. The rest of Bells Hells (minus Ashton) come through the window as Chetney tells Orym that he thinks someone is hiding in the house. Imogen, upon entering, casts Detect Thoughts and is able to sense two people below them. Chetney picks the lock on a rolltop desk, which is entirely empty, but which does hit him with a spray of acid. The party splits to look through the house, and FCG takes a number of cooking supplies from the kitchen and Laudna takes spices. She notices a painting of a boat on the wall and removes it, placing it in the sink, and she and FCG notice a seam in the wall. After some trial and error they are able to lift the section of the wall, revealing a staircase. They call everyone in.

Orym and Chetney lead the way after Chetney notices no traps. Chetney smells the scent of sweat even more strongly here. As the two descend, a skull is thrown at them and flashes a blinding white light, which makes Orym frightened. Chetney sees a halfling man and an elven woman, and the elven woman begins to read a scroll. When she finishes, it creates a large circle through which she and the man flee. Chetney runs towards it along with the rest of the party, with Imogen dragging the scared Orym into it.

Bells Hells

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

New
These characters have not previously appeared in Campaign 3 or any other Critical Role work, though they may have been previously mentioned.
 * Dr. Baryn Vestisho
 * Carolle, clerk at the Aydinlan Seminary
 * Ebenold Kai
 * Morrigan, via Sending
 * Ryn

Mentioned

 * Arnold Drot
 * Curtis Uleas (indirectly, assuming still the Holy Curator)
 * Dinon, professor at the Aydinlan Seminary
 * Ethedok the Endless Shadow
 * Ira Wendagoth
 * Janina, member of the Grim Verity
 * Kadija Sumal
 * Predathos
 * Roe Estani
 * Vitro Isham, professor of artifice at the Aydinlan Seminary
 * Vordo the Fateshaper
 * Vord (indirectly, assuming still the Highbearer)