Call of the Wild

is the 41st episode of the third campaign of Critical Role.

Pre-show
We get Dorian's response to Orym's sending stone message here! He tells Orym that he wishes he could help, and hopes things get better...and wonders if the sending stone works.

Part I
As they rest for the night in Barinak, Bells Hells discuss the roles they may play Chetney's upcoming trial, as well as what were-creatures they might become. Imogen also tells Xandis that they will be a few days returning. They wake up the next morning to find several of the Gorgynei performing their morning chores or getting ready to leave for Zha'Vrollo, the temple of Sahyaadon. Chetney speaks to Manad and to Yuvelo, who tell him that five of the Gorgynei will accompany the party. After breakfast, they set off, joined also by Annaline, Uther, and Fresceo.

The party travels through the jungle. Fearne notices some brightly colored mushrooms at the base of some of the trees, and offers them to Chetney, who asks that she try them first. She does, and begins to hallucinate. Manad checks in with her afterwards, and she flirts with him. She is also, mechanically, poisoned for the next day. While the jungle is indeed gloomy and chilly in the mist, it is also full of thriving wildlife. As Bells Hells and the Gorgynei travel, Annaline stops them when they encounter a family of twilight tigers. The lycanthropes among the party transform, and they manage to intimidate the group off without having to fight.

When the Gorgynei come to a location they've marked in the past, they set up camp. Imogen inspects the trees but cannot quite discern the nature of their strange bark, though it is not parasitic. Bells Hells then notice Fearne is intoxicated, and ask her about it. She offers a mushroom to FCG, who tries it. It takes quite a long time to feel something, and it is fairly small, but it is something. Laudna and Ashton both express their approval of this course of events and mention the drugs that Justi Pross gave them, but decide to save those for later. FCG then asks Fearne if she can reach out, in her altered state, to the Changebringer for them. Fearne does so, and finds a beetle, who appears to speak to her. She wonders if it is the Changebringer, though FCG is not entirely convinced. Orym checks in with Uther on their estimated arrival at the temple.

As this happens, Annaline pulls Chetney aside for a conversation. She asks him to show her what he knows of hemocraft, and he demonstrates his abilities. She remarks that he does know the basics, and asks him what more he wants - whether he wanted a quick epiphany. Chetney replies that he originally wished to spend more time with the Gorgynei, but found Bells Hells along the way. He picked up most of what he learned on his own after the Claret Orders told him it was his only option, and while he understands the responsibility of controlling his form, it is also something he finds to be an opportunity to help people and enact change, after centuries of being relatively powerless.

Annaline recognizes Chetney's softer side, and warns him that if he chooses to live with his curse, he will always be hunted and he will always need to struggle against it. She tells him about her own history, of being mentored by Ometho, founder of the Gorgynei, and how he eventually chose to give into the beast, but she intends to never do so. Chetney tells her that he is already quite old and believes he can live with this struggle for the rest of his life. They then discuss his trial - which will be tailored to him, so Annaline cannot provide particular insight - and work on his blood hunter abilities together. She also tells him her own history: she was a student at Dayal Hall in her youth, but a mislabeled package, possibly having to do with the Ivory Syndicate, led to a elf lycanthrope by the name of Dorao becoming unleashed. He bit her, leading to her own lycanthropy. She tells Chetney to kill Dorao for her if he ever meets him.

The party rests, and awakens to find the Gorgynei already up and ready to continue. Fearne continues to flirt with Manad, who is embarrassed, but after a mostly uneventful day of travel returns to tells the party about the nature of lycanthropy and the trial of Sahyaadon. The temple was used as an outpost during the Apex War, and was heavily damaged, but still stands after the spirit of Sayhaadon took it back. Manad warns Chetney to ensure his motivations are honest and well-intentioned. The trees near the temple vaguely remind Fearne of the Feywild.

As they approach the temple, Annaline warns Bells Hells to ask permission before taking anything; Bells Hells immediately look to Fearne, who promises a skeptical FCG she will behave. The temple is a large stone edifice that has seen considerable damage, and some rooms are collapsed, but the central chamber contains many bones, both humanoid and animal remains, as well as a number of statues. There is a large central statue of Serataani, and vines drape into the interior of the temple. The Gorgynei place offerings of fruit, meat, and coins at the base of the statue, and Chetney joins them, placing several platinum and a wooden carving of a wolf's fang. Annaline then tells him to meditate, as the Gorgynei set up their bedrolls and light incense.

Bells Hells discuss how they will prepare for the trial, though they don't know what will come. FCG returns Laudna's immovable rod to her so she can use it to set a trip wire. FCG also casts Enhance Ability on Chetney for his charisma. As Chetney meditates, a beam of moonlight enters through a hole in the roof of the building, which Chetney realizes is not in line with the actual position of Catha. He smells iron, and a sweet but decaying scent, and feels a presence enter.

Bells Hells

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

Returning
These characters previously appeared in Campaign 3 or any other Critical Role work.
 * Annaline
 * Dorian Storm, via sending stone, retroactively inserted into a scene from
 * Manad
 * Uther, member of the Gorgynei
 * Xandis, via Sending
 * Yuvello, member of the Gorgynei

New
These characters have not previously appeared in Campaign 3 or any other Critical Role work, though they may have been previously mentioned.
 * Sahyaadon, in a vision

Mentioned

 * Avandra
 * Dorao, elf weretiger who attacked Annaline and gave her lycnathropy
 * Frescio, member of the Gorgynei
 * Melora
 * Ometho, Annaline's mentor and a founder of the Gorgynei