A Stage Set

is the 32nd episode of the third campaign of Critical Role.

Part I
Bells Hells and Birdie make it back to Bassuras without incident. Once they get to the city, Birdie apologizes again to Fearne, and heads to A Taste of Tal'Dorei after the two hug. She tells them that she'll be laying low within Bassuras but will still be at the hideout if they need her.

The party then, after some discussion, decides to have Imogen contact Dancer regarding FCG. Imogen Sends a message to Dancer, saying that she had captured FCG and wanted to discuss futher. Dancer is initially wary but tells Imogen she is at the Revel and Break. Bells Hells goes to meet her. Chetney, Laudna, Fearne, and FCG stay outside while Imogen goes in with Orym and Ashton. Orym and Imogen speak with Dancer while Ashton keeps watch from some distance.

Dancer tells them that she repaired FCG after purchasing them, but cannot take credit for their sentience or personality. Imogen casts Detect Thoughts as Orym shows Dancer FCG's buzzsaw arm, and learns that Dancer wonders why FCG had attacked the rest of the the Division of Public Benefit and felt kinship for him prior to the attack. Through further conversation, Imogen and Orym learn that Imahara Joe's recounting was true: Dancer distracted Joe so she could purchase FCG from a masked trader who said FCG came from the Rumedan Desert, and the two were in an adventuring party.

Orym asks Dancer if she'd like to talk with FCG from a safe distance - for both of their sakes - and she agrees and goes outside. FCG greets her, and the two talk. FCG offers to return to her if she wants them, but she says that until they know why they killed the rest of the party, and address the cause, she can't trust or forgive them. The two reminisce on happier times, and FCG asks Dancer for the details on what happened near Evishi, which she recounts. He also asks her for information on how Bells Hells can turn him off if necessary, and she reveals that if they break the runic cable, it will be extremely hard to fix. The two part, with FCG urging Dancer to take care of herself and find other people to talk to in their absence.

Bells Hells then goes to Imahara Joe's to learn more and so that Chetney can purchase some paint. FCG asks Joe about the trader who sold them, and Joe tells them they go by the name of D, appear masculine, have an elaborate metal mask, and wear a dark cloak. D has come through Bassuras a few times in the past few years, but very infrequently. Imogen then asks Joe, upon learning that he is likely the person with the most expertise into aeormatons in Bassuras, if he can look at the runic cable Dancer spoke of. Joe refers to it as a "ley tether" and, upon confirming with FCG, agrees. He opens FCG's chassis, which reveals a large, strange-smelling metal bowl, which is where the liquids the party had poured into him had gone. The bowl also has glowing runes and a series of pipes. Joe tells the party that the bowl seems to have transmutative properties to convert what is put into it and use it elsewhere, which is how FCG can eat metal to repair themself.

Joe, again asking FCG's permission, asks if he can look further, and opens a latch, revealing a glowing violet energy source. Laudna looks at it and determines it is not of the same material as the gnarlrock. FCG tries casting a few spells, and when he does, the glow of the runes surges. Joe tells FCG that they are very magical and that any further inspection here would be too invasive, but when Fearne asks why FCG's eyes glowed red during their attack, Joe asks if he could look at FCG's cranium. FCG agrees, but no one can find a potential entry point into the head that wouldn't involve cutting or puncturing FCG. The party tells Joe about FCG's episode earlier that day, and Joe retrieves a book and tells them that this sounds like it might be related to The Care and Culling, an Age of Arcanum-era political assassination plot in which aeormatons were given as gifts to political rivals, and then turned on them. He tells FCG that even if this is his origin, it doesn't mean he can't do good now.

Bells Hells presses Joe for more information about D. Joe agrees to Imogen Detecting Thoughts on him initially but finds the experience strange and uncomfortable. However, before the spell ends, Imogen sees his memories of D, confirming D's appearance.

As a parting gift, Joe gives FCG a medallion bearing the symbol of The Changebringer.

Player characters

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

Returning

 * Artana Voe
 * Birdie Calloway
 * Dancer
 * Imahara Joe
 * Ratanish
 * Rockmond, minotaur member of Paragon's Call
 * Adon Hiro
 * Armand Treshi

New

 * D, a masked trader in Marquet (via a memory)

Mentioned

 * Avandra
 * Axer, member of the Division of Public Benefit
 * Oatmeal, Pussy, and Thunderstorm, Dancer's destroyed automatons
 * Otohan Thull
 * Ozene, member of the Division of Public Benefit
 * Terrawyn, member of the Division of Public Benefit
 * Jiana Hexum