Ripples

is the 53rd episode of the third campaign of Critical Role. The Team Wildemount half of Bells Hells arrive in Uthodurn, where they get a wider sense of how magic is responding to the events of the apogee solstice...

Part I
Chetney returns early in the morning in his gnomish form to the cavern, where Deanna has stayed up waiting for him. The two talk, and he apologizes for not telling her earlier about his lycanthropy. He also tells her that he vaguely recalls getting in a fight but not the details about it, but as Deanna heals him, he notices the damage on FRIDA's coat. He explains to Deanna how much he enjoys being a werewolf, and reiterates that he's not sure how welcome he'll be in Uthodurn. He also mentions FCG's tendency to freak out, and asks if FRIDA has a similar mode, which leads Deanna to wonder about the danger Bells Hells poses. The two take a point of exhaustion for staying up all night.

When the others wake up, Imogen asks why the Gorgynei's training hadn't helped Chetney. He realizes that the leylines and apogee solstice have strong effects on magic, including curses. FRIDA says that they enjoyed the fight and found it exhilarating. Chetney does not notice the bite marks, but Deanna does, and keeps it to herself. Fearne jokes about being bitten before Chetney calls her on it, and the party heads through the Flotket Alps for the day, arriving at Uthodurn near sundown.

As Fearne scritches one of the Cliffneck goats kept by the city entrance, she gets yelled at by the goatherd before pacifying her by showing her that she is a faun. One of the Glassblades approaches the group and asks their business in the city before recognizing FRIDA and Deanna and letting the rest through under their responsibility. Inside, the underground city is busy, but many of the lights seem to be darkened. When FCG casts Detect Thoughts, they find that the population is also worried about the darkness, and that the temples seem to be closed. Chetney notices that the Glassblade presence seems to be high, although they are not guarding anything in particular.

Imogen becomes upset worrying about the disruptions to magic, and whether Laudna might be dead given that her continued life is due to magic. Fearne and Deanna comfort her, and at FRIDA's suggestion they decide to go to the Vellum Steeple to learn more about the happenings surrounding the solstice. En route, they notice a lot of businesses are closed, as is the temple to the Allhammer. Chetney notices that Oltgar's business, Oltgar's Chest, has expanded, and FCG remarks to him that it might be worth trying to make amends, though Chetney is not sure.

The Vellum Steeple is lit by lanterns in lieu of the darkened arcane lights, and the party is met by a clerk. Fearne pretends to be a professor and Deanna and Imogen ask for someone who can help them communicate, after which the clerk goes to find someone. Chetney gives Deanna some money in case they need it, and goes to invisibly scout after FCG enhances his Dexterity and Imogen establishes a mental connection. His first impression is of a busy library with somewhat frantic researchers. Meanwhile, an elven woman comes out to meet the rest of the party. FCG and Imogen explain to her that they are unable to contact people via Sending, to which she tells them that neither is she. They confirm for her that this effect is not limited to the city, and that they are from Marquet. The woman tells them that in addition to most long-form communication, most divination spells such as Scrying are also not functioning properly. After Deanna pushes her for more, she tells them that long-term enchantments such as teleportation circles are also not working, and that this is not typical for a solstice.

FRIDA asks the woman for her name, and she introduces herself as Scribewarden Ressia Uvesic, and tells the party she is open to an exchange of information but otherwise needs to get back to work. Imogen, upon realizing that the party is cut off from both their friends and enemies, provides the Scribewarden with a summary of the happenings at the Tishtan excavation site in exchange for the library doing research for them on Ludinus. Deanna apologizes for her earlier harshness and asks the Scribewarden if the people are okay, and she tells her that they seem to be, but they are worried about the older failed enchantments as some included magical imprisonment or protection. Bells Hells realize the implications of this as they hear a loud metallic rumble beneath them. The Scribewarden tells them she will speak with her wardens, and leaves. Meanwhile, Chetney has found her office, which includes a number of maps of the city and surroundings, as well as past cases of mass disenchantments, all of which seemed to be much more localized. The Scribewarden returns to her office, tells her wardens to research Ludinus, and then closes her door and drinks a vial of dark brown liquid. Chetney, needing to leave, whispers "Ludinus" as he opens the door, which causes her to rush to see who did this. He rejoins the rest of the party and suggests to Imogen they perhaps speak to the Diarchy of Uthodurn, but Deanna casts Bless on the party instead and they head down to the Grand Disc below.

As they walk, FCG gives the non-aeormaton members of the party cinnamon raisin bagels he had baked. The crowd now seems even more anxious, and the party notices a large number of both Glassblades and royal guards by the closed gate to the Grand Disc, as well as the heads of the Diarchy: King Imathan Talviel and Queen Simone Fruunast. Something hits the gate from the inside, as people run from a smaller side door. Imogen and FCG's Detect Thoughts only sense general fear, as does Chetney's Hunter's Bane. The party makes combat preparations as the guards begin to seal the smaller side door, despite protestations from the crowd that there are still people inside. FRIDA, from a vantage point, fires a gun in the air to try to scatter the crowd away from the door. FCG meanwhile casts Fast Friends on the guard and convinces them they need to get in to save a lady-in-waiting. The guard lets them through, but FRIDA is not with them. They try to climb one of the chains to get in that way, but fall to the ground instead. The Glassblades ask if they are okay, and Imogen mentally asks FRIDA where they are. She then bangs on the door from inside the gate so that the guards will let FRIDA in. Initially they only want to let her out, so FRIDA charges the guards to get in.

Behind the gate, Bells Hells begins inspecting the dead and wounded, many of whom have puncture marks. The gate seems scraped from the inside. Deanna and FCG stabilize and heal a dying elven woman in a guard uniform, who tells them that a statue of a Great Beast of Veluthil attacked them, and they were barely able to get the king and queen out of the Grandcast Citadel. The party tells her to find somewhere safe to hide or play dead. They can hear a massive, hoofed creature in the distance as they make more preparations for potential combat.

Part II
The party considers their plan; while Imogen wonders if they can take on a creature that defeated so many royal guards, FCG says that in the absence of the gods, it is their responsibility to do what is right, using the power of friendship, and the element of surprise. The party stealthily advances, with a Pass without Trace from Fearne. They are able to see that many of the people still in the Grand Disc have locked their doors, and the beast itself, which is a huge, glowing horned bull that appears partially ethereal, but able to become physical in its attacks.

After some discussion and investigation, Bells Hells decides to try to look at the plaque at the base of the statue where the bull once stood to gain more information, as none can recall what "Veluthil" refers to. They are not sure if they want to defeat the bull or merely tame or restrain it. Imogen goes invisible to find the plaque, and Chetney and FRIDA begin to evacuate some of the people still on the Disc to the gate. They do not open the door, and the party tells them to be quiet. Deanna casts Guardian of Faith both to protect the people and separate them from the creature.

Imogen meanwhile goes to the Citadel, telepathically communicating with FCG about what she finds. There are corpses of guards, and significant damage, including several smashed pillars. She also opens her mind to sense the thoughts of the creature, and finds it alien, but intelligent, and something beyond simply a beast. It seems upset, lost, and confused. She also finds the plaque on the statue, but it is in Elvish, which she cannot read. She tells FCG mentally that maybe they can calm the creature, although her own spells are probably not going to work on a non-humanoid entity. The rest of the party attempts to enter stealthily, but the creature notices them. They again prepare for battle, and enter initiative.

The bull charges Fearne, goring her for considerable damage, though it takes some cold damage from her activated Gloomscale Breastplate. It also attacks Deanna, but misses her. Fearne then casts Dominate Beast and approaches the bull. She pets it, and it feels almost like petting water; it is present but not entirely solid. Deanna heals Fearne and goes towards the plaque, as she knows Elvish. Chetney searches the throne room for a panic room or secret chamber, FRIDA gets in position in case the bull attacks once the spell wears off, and Imogen tries to convey mentally that they are not here to hurt the creature. FCG then casts Tongues on the bull so it can understand them and communicate with them.

The bull tells them that it wants to go home to the forest. As Fearne continues to soothe it, Chetney wonders if it is referring to the Savalirwood, which is the nearest forest, though it has long been ruined and cursed. The others wonder if it is not from this plane and should be Banished. FCG tells it that they, like it, also don't quite know how they got here and are also scared. Meanwhile, Deanna reaches the plaque, which reads "In memory of the fall of Molaesmyr." FRIDA puts down their gun and tells the bull that they can help if it is peaceful. The bull tells them that the people attacked it first, so it responded back in kind. Deanna offers it some food, and tells it that it probably is upset because it is underground and wants to get out. As the spell fades, the beast asks where out is. Imogen asks again where it is from, and it says it is a Sentinel Beast from the forest, and its name is Umudara.

The party prepares to walk Umudara out, aware that they must pass by many people. Chetney remains in the citadel, still looking for secret passages. Imogen and FCG go to the people at the gate by Deanna's Guardian and inform them that they have tamed the bull and are going to lead it out. They expect resistance and cast Calm Emotions, at which point the people of the Grand Disc are very receptive to the idea and go back to their homes. Imogen then calls through the gate to be let out, and is able to convince them to open it. They tell the hundreds of Glassblades on the other side that they were able to speak to the beast, and it only wants to be let out. The Glassblades are shocked, but an older guard speaks out and says he trusts FCG and Imogen, which convinces the rest. He tells the two of them that while they will stand down, they are prepared to attack if the creature attacks anyone, which FCG and Imogen accept. Fearne ties a ribbon around Umudara's neck to make him look more friendly. Deanna casts Aura of Life on him, and the procession begins. They pass through the city, surrounded by guards, until they reach the city entrance. Umudara shakes himself in the snow. He tells the party that he cannot sense the forest, but they direct him towards the Savalirwood. He thanks them and goes off towards the Flotket Alps. FRIDA wonders how many other creatures were similarly imprisoned, with disapproval.

Back in the throne room, Chetney carves his initials in the back leg of the wooden throne (the other is stone), and steals several jewels off it. He notices the wood is of a variety from what is now the Savalirwood. He also finds a symbol of the Allhammer that has a lever, which he pulls, revealing a trap door. He slashes himself to bloody himself and provide a cover story, then escapes down the door as soldiers approach the Citadel. The door leads to a spiral staircase, to a small chamber. The door of the chamber leads to a statue of an elven tree just outside the gates of the Grand Disc. Chetney exits. Initially the guards are suspicious, but Chetney screams as if badly wounded and is instead tended to and assumed to be a survivor of the attacks. At the entry of the city, the rest of the party realizes they should go find Chetney.

Main player characters

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

Guest player characters

 * Deanna Leimert
 * FRIDA

Companions
These characters are familiars or other companions of the player characters.
 * Little Mister

Returning
These characters previously appeared in Campaign 3 or any other Critical Role work.
 * Ressia Uvesic

New
These characters have not previously appeared in Campaign 3 or any other Critical Role work, though they may have been previously mentioned.
 * Queen Simone Fruunast
 * King Imathan Talviel
 * Jerena (unnamed)
 * Umudara, the Sentinel Beast

Mentioned

 * Drixlitch Ovana (unnamed)
 * Jaquoby Macyl
 * Keyleth
 * Liliana Temult
 * Ludinus Da'leth
 * Oltgar
 * Vax'ildan

Trivia

 * Building the Umudara battle map on the official TikTok