Compulsions

is the 40th episode of the third campaign of Critical Role. Bells Hells reflect upon the latest and strangest moon developments as they near the Gloomed Jungles and prepare for a potential rendezvous with the Gorgynei lycans...

Part I
Imogen, having just received a response from her mother via Sending, wakes Laudna to tell her about her dream and about the message. Laudna asks her if this confirms her mother is alive, which Imogen believes it does. She then asks her mother if she's okay and where she is, and Liliana responds that she's fine, that she apologizes for being gone so long, and that she's okay, and asks Imogen the same. Imogen, frustrated, tells Liliana that to be honest, things are difficult, but would like to see her. Liliana tells her that she's sorry, but she left because she knew she was a danger. She then responds with her own Sending spell, telling Imogen that she can't see her because it's too dangerous. Imogen responds that the danger has caught up with her anyway, but Liliana tells her to run, and does not reveal her location. Imogen tells her that she's tired of running, but there are no further messages.

Imogen retells the conversation to Laudna, and the two decide to go onto the deck, where they find Chetney, Fearne, and Orym, having just ended their fight. Chetney explains to them that the Ruidus flare triggered his lycanthropy, which is not usual for him, and he and Fearne briefly discuss taking some precautions going forward. Orym asks Imogen if she's alright, and she catches him and the others up on her conversation with her mother. She wonders aloud if Liliana and Otohan Thull are connected. Chetney asks Imogen if her abilities can be removed, as his theoretically can, and Fearne asks Imogen how she sees her powers. Imogen tells them that while once she would have wanted to be free of her powers, she doesn't any more. They discuss further, musing that possibly, Liliana can check in on Imogen from afar, before Chetney needs healing. Imogen carries him to FCG and Ashton's room, waking up the rest of the party.

FCG heals Chetney and Orym, and worries that the party attacking each other is becoming a common occurrence. Chetney assures him it was unexpected and they can do things to assure he won't attack anyone in the future. FCG asks the party to raise their hands if they think they might attack everyone at some point, and they all do, except Fearne and Orym, and Fearne is asked to raise her hand as well. Orym leaves to go back to the deck of the ship, as FCG continues to worry about the mix of good and bad events that have befallen the party. Ashton assures them this is normal, and Laudna similarly assures them that this has nothing to do with them having a soul, but that life is simply like this. Pâté de Rolo does not have much to add, having only been alive for a few days. The conversation returns to the Ruidus flares and who might be affected, and to finding restraints for Chetney and possibly FCG.

Meanwhile, on the deck, Orym pulls out his Sending stone and contacts Dorian, telling him that they are headed to Yios, that they have found the attackers, and that Eshteross is dead. He tells Dorian he's glad that he's not here, but that he wishes he were despite this. Ashton then approaches Orym, and asks him if he's okay, as the "good" one, since it seems like an unfair position to put him in. Orym tells them that he's trying to do his best for both Bells Hells and Zephrah, and that he relies on the group in his own way. Ashton agrees that Orym is doing a good job, but tells him to make sure he takes care of himself. Ashton also expresses regret that he didn't get to attack Chetney, and admits to Orym that he likes Chetney but not to tell him that. Orym, after confirming he's okay with it, hugs Ashton. They both go back to their quarters to rest, with Orym lingering behind to whisper that he misses Dorian too. (Matt decides to contact Robbie Daymond after the game to record a message, rather than playing Dorian as an NPC, so he is assumed to have responded but the details will be revealed in a later episode.)

The next two days of travel go smoothly, with Xandis in high spirits and the tracker orb still dark. There are high winds on the following day which slow them down, but no one is thrown from the ship. They pass Bassuras in the distance. During this time, Chetney asks Khalil Benes if they have any restraints, and Khalil gives him a pair of manacles that are used in case the crew of the Silver Sun needs to take a prisoner. Chetney sleeps manacled for the time being in case another flare occurs.

The following day, FCG asks the Changebringer for a sign, and is met by the sight and sound of a dog-sized bird-like creature striking the side of the skyship. They use Speak with Animals to try to tell the creatures to leave, but it fails, as the creatures are not beasts. The creature, a cockatrice, then bites FCG, and he begins to become sluggish and gray. More cockatrices land, and Bells Hells begin to fight them off. Orym places himself between the cockatrice that bit FCG and FCG, and is able to kill it. Fearne is also affected by a cockatrice bite, but Orym, while injured by one, resists the petrification. Ashton is able to kill two more and Imogen seriously injures another, but they all notice that the creatures seem panicked in their attacks. A chimera with a white dragon head then appears and lands on the ship, making it clear that the cockatrices were fleeing it.

The chimera's fire breath seriously injures Chetney, Laudna, and Terana, and it also strikes at Imogen and kills a cockatrice. Laudna uses her Form of Dread and Banes the chimera and two cockatrices as Chetney activates Turmoil, blood curses the chimera, and goes invisible to run to the upper deck. FCG is able to resist the petrification from taking hold and casts Spiritual Weapon, and Terana, while badly hurt, begins to load the ship's ballista. Orym pushes several injured cockatrices from the ship, and Fearne's Scorching Ray and Little Mister's corresponding Flame Seed (now propelled via a gun) deal considerable fire damage to the chimera. She then moves to the loaded ballista. Imogen casts Summon Aberration, and the strange red creature attacks the chimera, as does Laudna with two Eldritch Blasts. The chimera injures Imogen, but takes damage from Chetney's blood curse and is deflected in one attack by Laudna's Silvery Barbs. Chetney then activates his rite and jumps from the upper deck onto the chimera, Turmoil raised, and hits with the scythe. FCG's magical attacks also hit, and the chimera is badly hurt. Terana leaves the ballista to Fearne and retreats, and after Orym nearly decapitates the goat head of the chimera, Fearne finishes it off with the ballista bolt.

Chetney goes to approach Imogen's summoned creature and takes psychic damage before she dismisses it, and Bells Hells questions her about it, but Imogen is unsure. Everyone goes to eat some chicken and rest as the ship reaches the edge of the Gloomed Jungles.

Part II
A heavy rainstorm hits the following day, and Xandis decides to bring the ship lower into the Gloomed Jungles to wait out the storm. Bells Hells realize that they are in the territory of the Gorgynei, and Chetney brings up that they might be potential allies against Otohan and Ira Wendagoth. While Laudna and Orym express some concerns about the potential for the other shapeshifters of the Gorgynei losing control, Chetney trusts Ajit Dayal. He and Fearne look out into the jungle, and Fearne notices a damaged watchtower, likely a relic of the Apex War. The party asks Xandis if they can go explore the jungle while the ship waits out the storm, and they lower the ladder.

Bells Hells ask Chetney for more details on his own lycanthropy. He tells them that he had been living alone in the Savalirwood and caught what he thought was a wolf in a snare. The wolf bit him, and he killed it, at which point it transformed back into its human self. He was then found by a number of people who had been hunting the wolf, and who gave him a chance to control the curse, which he took. However, he was then asked to leave, and sent to the Gorgynei. He does not see his lycanthropy as a curse, and enjoys the power and the heightened senses.

Bells Hells goes into the jungle to wait for dusk, when Chetney should howl for the Gorgynei. As they wait, Chetney smells something fungal in the forests and tells them all to be cautious of spores. At dusk, he transforms into his hybrid form and howls, but receives no response for some time. The rest of the party then howls with him, Fearne Wildshaped into a wolf, and she is able to distantly hear a howl in response this time, which she telepathically conveys to Imogen. The party then continues to wait by the ruins, and after a short rest, during which Chetney is in his typical gnome form, are approached by a weretiger, who asks Chetney why she had been called and threatens to attack if he cannot explain. Chetney tells her that he is seeking an audience with Divaasheela, having been sent by Ajit for help with with his condition. She responds that she is Divaasheela. Five other members of the Gorgynei emerge from the jungle, surrounding the party.

Chetney tells her that he hopes to learn to better control his abilities, and perhaps seek an alliance or at least learn more about the threats Bells Hells is facing. At Divaasheela's request he transforms back into his hybrid form. FCG casts Detect Thoughts and finds that Divaasheela is amused but somewhat confused by Chetney's bravado. After a brief exchange and a clarification that Chetney is the only lycanthrope in the group, the Gorgynei invite Bells Hells to follow, and Imogen contacts Xandis to update them. Most of Bells Hells rides one of the Gorgynei, with only Chetney and Fearne on their own, and the path they take through the jungle is deliberately indirect and confusing. When they reach their destination, the weretiger drops her form, becoming a middle-aged redheaded woman, who welcomes the party to Barinak.

Manad, a werepanther who had been with Divaasheela, warns Bells Hells not to tell anyone of Barinak or they will be hunted and killed, and Bells Hells promise him they will not reveal it. The werewolf of the Gorgynei, now a dragonborn, tells the village to treat Bells Hells respectfully so long as Bells Hells act in kind, and Divaasheela tells the party her name is actually Annaline, but she uses Divaasheela as a passcode for those she trusts, such as Ajit. Bells Hells notices that while there are fighters and soldiers in the village, there are also farmers and noncombatants.

Chetney tells Annaline that he hopes to learn more about controlling his powers, particularly with regards to the Ruidus flares. Annaline inspects Chetney and notices he has already taken the Hunter's Bane and is familiar with hemocraft. She tells him that what he asks will take many weeks to train, to which he responds that he doesn't have that much time and is hoping for something quicker. Annaline then, following some questions from FCG, provides more information: the Gorgynei were nomadic for a long time, but have since come to an arrangement with the Court of the Lambent Path in Yios. They take some contracts and protect the Chalkslip Road and other paths through the jungle, and are permitted to live unbothered in Barinak in return. She then shows the party the statue of Sahyaadon, a three-headed humanoid creature with the jaws of a wolf, holding a heart in one hand and a sapling in the other, and tells them that it is either a spirit of the Wildmother (known as Serataani in Marquet) or perhaps an incarnation of her.

A gnome named Tarad Cornei then brings Bells Hells some mistfuzz tubers for dinner. Orym asks him about the village, and he tells him that the population is about 41 people now, but it fluctuates as more people find them, or as people decide either to live among the general population or, occasionally, lose control of their lycanthropy. If they do the latter, the Gorgynei will kill them, as part of their responsibility is to prevent injury or outbreaks of lycanthropy. He tells Bells Hells that the members who have not taken the Hunter's Bane are at times chained when Catha is full, but even without hemocraft, meditation and other methods can assist in controlling it.

Manad and Annaline then return and tell Chetney that he can attempt the trial of Sahyaadon at the temple, Zha'vrollo, in the morning. Either he will gain greater control; or Sahyaadon will remove the curse. The rest of Bells Hells ask if they can assist, and Annaline tells them that they will find out while there; this is a holy place of the Gorgynei.

Tarad brings Bells Hells some furs, and they find shelter beneath some of the tree houses of Barinak, using the portable hole to further cover them, and take their rest.

Bells Hells

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

Returning
These characters previously appeared in Campaign 3 or any other Critical Role work.
 * Denalia
 * Gordi
 * Khalil Benes
 * Liliana Temult, via Sending
 * Terana
 * Xandis

New
These character have not previously appeared in Campaign 3 or any other Critical Role work, though they may have been previously mentioned.
 * Annaline
 * Manad, orc werepanther in the Gorgynei
 * Tarad Cornei, gnome in the Gorgynei
 * Uther, human wereboar in the Gorgynei

Mentioned

 * Ajit Dayal
 * Ariks Eshteross
 * Avandra
 * Delilah Briarwood
 * Dorian Storm, responded via sending stone, to be recorded later by Robbie Daymond and played in a subsequent episode
 * Gurge Kisgregg
 * Pike Trickfoot
 * Rudina, lycanthrope in the Savalirwood
 * Sahyaadon, protector spirit of the Gloomed Jungles
 * Will (indirectly)