Ominous Lectures

is the 45th episode of the third campaign of Critical Role. Bells Hells return to the Aydinlan Seminary to speak with two professors about the mysteries affecting their friends, but an unexpected guest complicates everything...

Part I
Ashton responds to Imogen somewhat aggressively and yells that they don’t know where she is. She uses a higher level spell to cast Sending to him again to tell him to meet them at the university, to which he briefly agrees. Laudna has Pâté stay with Tuldus, who is still charmed, and who the party has bound and gagged, and they leave. FCG also notes they are feeling somewhat on edge and asks Bells Hells to be kind to them and each other.

Orym verifies the party is not being followed, and they reach the Aydinlan Seminary without incident. They see a young human with brown hair and bad skin wearing tomato sauce drenched chef’s garments who approaches them. They try to ignore them, but they are revealed to be Ashton, under the effects of a glamor, and clearly having been in a fight. He tells them a complex story regarding Violet, a previous associate, whom he ran into, and how he got pulled into a job involving the local Baneful Brood mob, Yios sentries, a kenku as a living ledger, and how he had to work as a cook as part of it, hence the tomato sauce. All in all, they would really like a drink. However, the party goes into the seminary instead. Orym, Ashton, and Chetney remain outside as lookouts, and FCG, Fearne, Imogen, and Laudna go in, managing to avoid the notice of Carolle. Ashton, still talking to Chetney and Orym, indicates he recognizes the name Ruby Vanguard from the job he was just on, and that Dwendalians were involved.

The half of the party that went inside knocks on Vitro Isham’s door, and after a moment, a firbolg in a leather apron opens it. He asks them if they are students, which they successfully deceive him into believing, but he is also immediately taken with FCG and recognizes him as an aeormaton. Imogen and Fearne leave to find Kadija Sumal, and Laudna stays with FCG as Professor Isham invites them in. Vitro tells them he knows Imahara Joe and that Joe is a respected expert in automata in his own right. FCG invites Vitro to take a look at their inner workings, and as a precaution, hands over their various weapon attachments to Laudna for safekeeping.

Vitro investigates, and identifies FCG as a Harmonious Aeormaton - a subgroup of aeormatons meant for peacekeeping and mediation. FCG brings up that he was intended to be an assassin as well, and Vitro agrees that it’s very possible FCG was part of the Care and Culling. He looks at FCG’s arcane accumulator, noting it is particularly large for an aeormaton of FCG’s size, and asks FCG about their magical abilities. FCG tells Vitro he is a healer, which Vitro says is unusual. He tells FCG the arcane accumulator is slightly damaged, but is functional, and should be checked occasionally. He also tells FCG they are very unique, as the technology to create aeormatons was lost in the Calamity. FCG remains concerned about the prospect of true personhood, but Vitro reassures him that it’s scary for organic beings as well. After the two discuss how they might be able to remain in contact, FCG requests that Vitro build in a small oven. Vitro, intrigued, agrees.

Meanwhile, Fearne and Imogen search, and eventually find, Kadija Sumal’s office. They knock, but she tells them to go away without opening the door. They are persistent, and Imogen brings up Kadija’s essay while Fearne tells her that "this has to do with some Ruidusborn shit." At that, Kadija opens multiple locks and lets them in quickly and surreptitiously. She appears harried and tired. Imogen telepathically asks her if the Judicators have been after her, and Kadija quickly responds that they have left her alone. Imogen also mentions that she’s seen Ebenold Kai recently, and Kadija seems to be somewhat reassured by that, though still quite anxious. She also seems to realize that Imogen is Exalted, and Imogen and Fearne mention Estani and asks her about Liliana. At that, Kadija begins to tell them what she knows. She studied a number of Exalted, but Liliana was the first, and Otohan was the last. When the study began to be shut down due to outside pressure, Otohan left, but was clearly upset with this. Shortly after, members of the Grim Verity and others associated with the study began to disappear.

Kadija explains that some Exaltants, in their dreams, seemed to land on the surface of Ruidus and encounter entities known as Reilora - alien, red beings. The strongest Exaltants, of which Liliana was one, could communicate with them. Additionally, these Ruidusborn often could make contact with each other in their dreams. The Ruidus flares appeared to be connected with the Reilora, who were anchoring themselves to Exandria through their connections with these ruidusborn. Some Ruidusborn tried to distance themselves and suppress these abilities instead, which Kadija and others helped them do.

Imogen asks Kadija for advice on how to suppress the dreams, and Kadija pulls out, from a hidden and locked location beneath her desk, the torn pages from the studies that had been distributed. She begins to tell Imogen about techniques such as music or certain scents, but as she does, suddenly all the locks on the door come unlatched, and a silver-haired elven man enters the room. Fearne positions herself at the door and tells him to give them a few minutes, but he tells her it cannot wait.

Part II
Fearne continues to try to delay Ludinus Da'leth, and shrugs off an attempt to magically overcome her. Ludinus tells Kadija that she has been ignoring multiple requests from the Cerberus Assembly and that this is a matter of importance to the Dwendalian Empire. Kadija appears to be in shock. Ludinus locks the door from the inside, and casts a spell on Kadija. She immediately hands over the papers she had begun to hide, and sits, appearing blank. Ludinus then tells Imogen that Kadija was right; she does look just like Liliana. Fearne continues to try to distract Ludinus with questions, and Imogen tells him that she was only interested in finding her mother, who had been missing her entire life. Ludinus is unfazed and invites the two of them to ask him any questions they may have, and recognizes them both as Ruidusborn.

He tells Imogen that Liliana has been instrumental to his plans, and asks her if she feels the pull to the north, which she realizes she does, to an extent. He says he’s aware that she’s crossed paths with Otohan, and has interacted with those who wish to stop the Ruby Vanguard. Fearne interrupts and tells him that he seems to be incredibly angry, and that she knows where that’s coming from. He does not respond to this, and instead continues, telling the two of them that they don’t need the gods. He relates that he watched the world burn once because of the gods, and that the Divergence was never meant to protect mortals, only the gods. He angrily tells them that if they have any faith in the divine, they will find no place among the Ruby Vanguard and its Ruidusborn. He then leaves. Imogen and Fearne immediately look at Kadija, who has been frozen in her seat, with a blank smile and a tear on her face. Imogen sees some money and a gold ring in the spot where the papers came from, and puts them in Kadija's pocket. They then decide to go find the rest of Bells Hells and someone who can help Kadija.

Outside, on watch, Ashton continues to regale Orym and Chetney with their morning adventure when Orym notices a man fitting Ludinus's description exit the Seminary without seemingly having entered. He points him out, while the group remains outside of Ludinus's notice. They see him join with other members of the Ruby Vanguard, wearing the colors of the people who had attacked them in the basement, and they all vanish.

Ashton, Chetney, and Orym enter the seminary to go find their friends. Orym and Ashton sufficiently intimidate Carolle into letting them in, and run into FCG and Laudna, FCG having just had their oven installed. They all quickly head to Kadija's office. Imogen regains a spell slot so she can contact Ryn. They open the door and see the rest of their party. Laudna worriedly asks Imogen if she’s alright, to which Imogen responds that she’s fine, but that Ludinus got the rest of the Omen Archive and did something to Kadija. Chetney investigates the room and does not see any signs of further work by Ludinus. FCG wonders why Ludinus chose to come now, and Ashton gently questions Kadija, who is aware she handed over the pages but does not seem to grasp the significance. Orym and Laudna briefly discuss options and Ashton asks Kadija if she’d like to see Ebenold Kai, which she agrees to. Imogen calls Ryn and tells her she needs a fast exit and that Kadija has been hurt.

Ryn appears immediately and recognizes Kadija needs high-level divine healing. The party informs her that Ludinus was here and took the documents, which Ryn says changes the Grim Verity’s plans. She says that it would be wise to send Bells Hells elsewhere and lay low with Kadija for the moment, and after the party decides to go to the Feywild - specifically to Morri's domain in Ligament Manor, located in the Harrowcall Fens - pulls out a rod that looks like a gnarled root and conjures a portal to the Feywild. The party steps through.

They land in a strange, dark, magical marsh full of gnarled, leafless trees and a moss-covered ground. Chetney’s Hunters Bane is overwhelmed with the fey entities here, but Fearne recognizes that the small flowers along the ground seem to point towards Ligament Manor. Bells Hells notices that Fearne looks different and more eldritch here. Chetney realizes that the patches of moss are actually the footprints of an unknown entity that repeatedly took root and then moved. The party asks Fearne about the etiquette of speaking with Morri, and she tells them to take the food given to them. As they travel through the boggy terrain, they hear a massive winged creature take off, and are surrounded by fey fauna.

The flowers appear to track them as they travel, and Laudna askes Fearne if she should be introduced to the flowers. Fearne makes the introduction, and the flowers seem to enjoy Laudna’s singing but are not sure about her touch. However, Laudna’s interactions appear to make even more flowers appear. The trees around Bells Hells then appear to close in, the color drains from the landscape, and the flowers disappear. Fearne tells the flowers to let her through, as she’s here to see Nana, and the flowers lean towards the party members who had spoken or sung to them. Bells Hells begins to sing, led by Laudna, and Fearne plays her panflute. Eventually, after a harsh scream of enjoyment from the flowers, the cage of growth around them recedes and they can continue.

Fearne smells the scent of oil lamps and recognizes that she is almost home. They come upon a glade, with a dome of plants around it. In the center is a massive tree with branches that split and twine around each other in a helical pattern, and various huts along the branches. A voice calls out, welcoming them. Fearne excitedly runs up the wooden staircase. Bells Hells follows her through the structure.

Fearne eventually leaps into the arms of a ten-foot-tall shadowy figure with pointed shoulders, thin arms, and a long linen dress. A woman’s face is at the top, with empty eye sockets each with a gold glowing point. Her hair is wild, and she has nostrils but no proper nose. She invites Bells Hells to have a cocktail. As Ashton immediately says he does, a second voice also welcomes Fearne’s friends. It is revealed the voice is coming from a second face on Morri’s stomach, underneath her dress.

Main player characters

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

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

Returning
These characters previously appeared in Campaign 3 or any other Critical Role work.
 * Carolle
 * Ludinus Da'leth
 * Morrigan
 * Ryn
 * Tuldus

New
These characters have not previously appeared in Campaign 3 or any other Critical Role work, though they may have been previously mentioned.
 * Kadija Sumal
 * Vitro Isham

Mentioned

 * Dr. Nesbitt, Fearne's pet bird in the Feywild
 * Ebenold Kai
 * Imahara Joe
 * Jiana Hexum
 * Liliana Temult
 * Matron of Ravens
 * Orgreo, mobster in Yios
 * Otohan Thull
 * Roe Estani
 * Violet, Ashton's contact in Yios