Ripples

is the 53rd episode of the third campaign of Critical Role.

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 having stayed 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, am 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 they seem to be, but they are worried about the older failed enchantments as some included magical imprisonment or protection. B ells 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 had found her office, which included 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, 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, hooved creature in the distance as they make more preparations for potential combat.

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
 * Umudara, the Sentinel Beast

Mentioned

 * Jaquoby Macyl
 * Keyleth
 * Liliana Temult
 * Ludinus Da'leth
 * Oltgar
 * Vax'ildan