Bells Hells

 is an adventuring party that met and joined together while they were all in Jrusar, Marquet in the summer of 843 PD. They are the protagonists of the Third Campaign of Critical Role.

Founding
Three small groups came together near the Spire by Fire Inn in Jrusar when a magical disturbance nearby created several animated objects that threatened to attack innocents in the street. One group, Ashton Greymoore and Fresh Cut Grass, had been at the Inn looking for employment; another pair, Imogen Temult and Laudna, had been shopping after inquiring about how to enroll in a prestigious university in the city; and Dorian Storm, Fearne Calloway, and Orym had been sent to Jrusar on a search mission to locate Oshad Breshio. As they spontaneously coordinated to fight the animated objects, Bertrand Bell arrived and was impressed by the seven individuals' effectiveness as a combined team. Bertrand, who knew Lord Ariks Eshteross was looking for talent, promised to make introductions to high-placed people in the city to help the seven with their various goals, and took them to see Eshteross.

Fighting crime in Jrusar
At the request of Lord Eshteross, the party investigated the Prudaj Textiles warehouse, looking to stop ongoing thefts. They found a ledger with evidence that the warehouse manager, Danas, was covering up the loss in warehouse stock. Tracking Danas, the party arrived at the Weary Way Tavern just in time to witness her murder at the hands of her partner in crime, a pale dwarf known as Dugger, who overpowered the group with the aid of a number of shade creepers and made his escape. That evening, while taking a late-night stroll, Bertrand Bell was cornered by that same individual, who swiftly took his life. Seeing Bertrand in a recurrent nightmare of hers, Imogen raised the alarm, and Bertrand's body was found soon after. Going back to the tavern room where they fought the dwarf, the party found a hidden hole under the desk that seemed to be as deep as the spire itself. With information from the Hubatt Corsairs, the group found out where Dugger lived. The dwarf exhibited strange abilities, like a viscous physical form, but the party was able to kill him and avenge the death of Bertrand.

As they looked for clues related to Oshad Breshio, the group also investigated disappearances at the Dreamscape Theater and disposed of the spitting mimic that was responsible. After the fight, they were approached by Chetney Pock O'Pea, who hired them to find his missing guide, Gurge Kisgregg, and offered to help them until they could find him. Before they could begin their search, they were accosted by Dorian's brother, Cyrus Wyvernwind, who let them know that he was working with the Hubatt Corsairs and that he had a big bounty on his head. The group began looking for Gurge, and found out that he turned into a terrifying beast and was taken by the bounty hunter Artana Voe to her client, Vali Dertrana, the business commissioner of the Mirror Towers. After quickly scouting the Moon Tower, Ashton split off to pay a short visit to his employer, Jiana Hexum. It was revealed that she was the one who put a bounty on Cyrus' head, and that Ashton owed her a debt. In the middle of the night, the party infiltrated Vali's office. At the end of a secret passageway, they found Ira Wendagoth, an eerie-lookie fey also known as the Nightmare King, who was keeping Gurge in a cage. The party released Gurge and battled Ira and the furniture that he made come to life, with Chetney revealing his true identity as a werewolf. Ira left the scene after activating a powerful magical reactor, and the group ran away just before the tower was blown up.

The next day, the group visited Lord Eshteross to tell him about Ira, and were able to determine that he was working for Armand Treshi, who would be attending a ball later that week. In the meantime, the group visited House Lumas to meet Oshad Breshio, the man Keyleth had tasked Orym to speak to and learn about his attack, before heading to the Starpoint Conservatory, where Imogen was finally allowed in to research her powers. She found out that a study had discovered several individuals across Exandria who were prone to the same dream as her seemingly caused by the celestial solstice, including her mother, Liliana. In the following days, Imogen saw two figures holding hands amidst the storm in her dream and thought it might be the Lumas twins, who were the last known people to have read the study.

On the night of the ball, Dorian and Eshteross appeared as guests while the others acted as their respective entourage. During the Dance of the Crossroads, they managed to replace Armand Treshi's prize ring with a traceable, enchanted copy. Because he wore a mask of the Nightmare King, Ashton was challenged to a duel by General Ratanish, leader of Paragon's Call, which he lost. While spying on Armand's date, Lady Emoth Kade, Chetney found out that she was meeting up with Dorian's brother Cyrus. He saw that she could command shade creepers and called the others, who arrived as Emoth killed several guards in a form similar to Dugger's. Emoth escaped, but the party managed to save a single guard, who asked who they were. Imogen gave him their new name: "Bells Hells". As they returned to the ball, Dorian saw his brother being arrested by the Green Seekers and threw a smoke grenade, managing to sneak him out of the area. After they had all made it home safely, Eshteross offered to smuggle Cyrus to Emon on his skyship, Seeing as he was now a highly wanted fugitive. Dorian decided to leave with his brother, saying goodbye to the rest of the group.

The morning after, the Green Seekers, Gus and Olly, followed Bells Hells from Eshteross's home and confronted them. They decided to temporarily work together, as they shared an interest in finding out the underlying cause of the strange shade creeper entities, and went to the Underrush Mines, where Gus's ex, Ogdes Friez, worked as a foreman. Ogdes permitted them to investigate the closed portion of the mines. There, they came upon Emoth, who was speaking to a massive, slug-like creature she called the Shade Mother. Combat ensued; Bells Hells learned this was where the brumestone had been going, as the Shade Mother used it to levitate. In the fight, Chetney was able to encapsulate Emoth in a Bead of Imprisonment given to him by Olly. After Orym trapped the Shade Mother, the party escaped via the mine elevators, but not before Imogen telekinetically took a strange purple crystal out of the lair. The badly wounded party then went to rest and recover as the Green Seekers took Emoth to Orlana Seshadri, their employer; Imogen found that the crystal felt warm and comforting, and fell asleep cradling it.

A heist in the Heartmoor
That night, Imogen had another dream of a red storm, but felt comfort from the rock. Upon awakening, Imogen asked FCG, now rested, to Identify the crystal, which he determined is a gnarlrock, a strange rock from the Feywild that causes mutations. Fearne, despite being fey, was unfamiliar.

The party decided to take Jiana's offer to serve as her team for a heist in Heartmoor Hamlet. When they arrived at Hexum Manor, Jiana explained the bet: they are to steal the object her rival Evon Hytroga, who runs the Twilight Mirror Museum, with a generous payout and money for travel, and an additional bonus should they humiliate Evon. She also expressed interest in FCG, which Ashton was wary of. Bells Hells made their preparations, with Laudna and Fearne updating Eshteross; Ashton, Orym, and FCG going to Krook House to have Milo Krook check FCG; and Imogen and Chetney hiring horses and a small cart for the journey. They then left along the Honored Trails leading to the Heartmoor.

In the course of about a week of travel, the party found a Feywild shard, which Imogen took; a Chromatic Rose, which Orym kept; and had several conversations. Notably, Ashton revealed to Fearne that they had not always had their genasi form; Laudna told Orym she had been one of the corpses hung on the Sun Tree; and Orym told Chetney that he was a widower, and his husband Will had been killed in the attack on Zephrah Orym was now investigating. Bells Hells also encountered a tree-like fairy creature which attacked them in the night; elvish ruins; and another party of travelers before reaching Heartmoor Hamlet.

At Heartmoor Hamlet, they rented rooms and went to check out the Twilight Mirror Museum, but Evon told them they would not get a tour, and that the competition would begin at midnight the following night. Bells Hells then went to see Roe Estani, the man who had been with the Lumas twins at the time of their death. When Orym explained that Oshad Breshio had sent him, he let them in. Estani explained that he and the twins had both been interested in celestial solstices and Ruidus, and that the twins had intended to go to Yios to look at the Omen Archive before they were killed. Upon learning more, the party discussed whether Imogen was possibly Ruidusborn, and Estani offered to let them look at Ruidus through his telescope that night. Following a brief shopping trip, during which Ashton and Imogen learned that the toy shop owner was a former associate of Oltgar and that the travelers they'd met on the way were likely the rival team, Bells Hells returned to Estani's home. There, looking through the telescope, Orym and then Imogen saw that a red storm like those in Imogen's dream raged on the moon. That night, Imogen had the dream again, this time with figures appearing within the storm.

The party arrived at the Twilight Mirror Museum at the specified time and confirmed the travelers, known as The Verdict, they'd encountered on the road were their rivals. Evon showed them the object they needed to obtain - a lapis earring purportedly belonging to Harudan - and the race began. Bells Hells encountered many traps and challenges within. At one point, Chetney lost control of his lycanthropy and attacked Orym briefly. Several clay wardens did significant damage to both parties, and Bells Hells deliberately activated a flame trap multiple times, nearly killing The Verdict. They obtained the earring, and on the way out stole the alleged journal of Vespin Chloras, a ceremonial helmet belong to the Hishari, and a number of important papers from Evon's bedroom.

On their way out of town, Chetney stopped by the toy store and spoke with Zadro Ichlen, the owner; despite their mutual hatred of Oltgar, the conversation was tense. Estani approached Orym and told him that he was a former member of the Grim Verity, an organization that seeks out secret information that may be helpful should the party go to the Aydinlan Seminary at Yios. He told them to seek out Ebenold Kai if so, and gave a letter of introduction. Bells Hells then left Heartmoor Hamlet to return to Jrusar. En route, they looked at the letters stolen from Evon, many of which concerned his acquisitions and commissions of fake artifacts, but a few of which concerned shipments to Jiana from Wildemount.

Adventure in Bassuras
Upon returning to Jrusar, Bells Hells checked in with Jiana Hexum for their reward. Jiana expressed particular interest in FCG, believing she could fetch a high price, and asked to speak with them alone. Ashton remained with him. Jiana told FCG that they are a particularly intelligent automaton, which interested her; as this happened, Ashton began to recall flashes of the night they robbed Hexum Manor. The party then checked in with Eshteross. Eshteross told them that by interrogating Emoth Kade, Orlana had found Armand Treshi was a guilty party, but Treshi had fled towards Bassuras, per the tracker ring. He asked Bells Hells to take his skyship, the Silver Sun, to bring back Treshi to Jrusar to await justice. Bells Hells agreed to leave the next day following a number of errands.

Bells Hells first went to Dayal Hall to meet Ajit Dayal on Chetney's behalf. Ajit told Chetney how he had come to know the Gorgynei, and gave him information on how to contact their leader, Divaasheela, in the Gloomed Jungles. He also told Chetney that it is possible to cure lycanthropy, if he is interested. Chetney declined but admitted some precautions might be beneficial. The party then went to the Trove of Marwa and purchased several magical items, including a portable hole, before stopping by Krook House to speak to Milo about the night they repaired Ashton. Milo told him that he had been clutching a vial full of a gray liquid, which Milo mixed into the glass they used to repair Ashton's injuries. At the Spire by Fire, Imogen and FCG both probed into Ashton's memories, at their request. They uncovered some the events of the night Ashton fell, but not all. In the middle of the night, Chetney also broke into the Prism Emporium, which had overcharged him, and threatened Tuyen Otwana, the shopkeeper.

The following day, Bells Hells met Captain Xandis of the Silver Sun and took off towards Bassuras. They encountered several skiraths, during which Orym fell off the ship but Imogen, using Fly, was able to save him. Towards the end of one of the days of travel, Laudna pulled Imogen aside to ask if she was alright, and Imogen admitted she wasn't sure if the feeling of safety she had from the gnarlrock was healthy. Laudna asked to see it, and Imogen, after asking her to promise not to do anything to it, handed it over. However, once it was in Laudna's hands, Delilah took over her body and seemingly absorbed the power of the gnarlrock, leaving it broken. Imogen told Laudna she'd lied, and left to go to bed; Laudna screamed angrily at Delilah, who thanked her and told her she'd taken care of it.

The party encountered a dusttra the next day, which Xandis noticed was unusual; Imogen learned, via telepathy, that its children had been taken from it. They reached Bassuras that evening and were let down outside the wall of the city, where they were met by the Gajakhandas, one of the many crawler gangs in the city, who recognized Ashton and let them through. They found rooms for the night at the Raha Den, and while on watch, FCG told Chetney about Shithead, a giant bird who had terrorized them when they were last in the city. Chetney promised to protect him.

The following day, while out in the city following the tracker orb to Treshi's ring, Bells Hells noticed someone outnumbered in a fight and rushed to help them. After dispatching the attackers, the person they rescued introduces themselves as Dusk, and said they had spent some time in the Feywild and now their memory is somewhat hazy regarding their prior history. The group decided to discuss this more at the Taste of Tal'Dorei theme restaurant. At the restaurant, Dusk told the party she had met Fearne's parents, Birdie and Oleander Calloway, while in the Feywild, and had returned to the Material Plane but were separated from them. After some discussion of past fey they've encountered such as Ira, Imogen offered to contact Fearne's parents via Sending on Dusk's behalf. When Imogen included information only Fearne would know, Birdie told her to meet at Imahara Joe's in a few days. Several party members also spoke with Imogen and Laudna, who were still fighting, to see how they were doing. The party then went on to trace the tracker ring to the River of Renewal, a pawn shop, and with some magical assistance from Dusk were able to learn Treshi was likely at the Seat of Disdain, the Paragon's Call's headquarters and fortress. They scoped out the location, with Fearne doing recon in the form of a quokka, but did not find Treshi. They retired, with Dusk, to the Raha Den for the night.

That night, Dusk secretly contacted their patron, Zathuda of the Unseelie Court, revealing that they were in fact sent to retrieve the Moontide Crown and kill the Calloways. Imogen, meanwhile, had another dream of the red storm, but this time, several figures, including a woman in dark gray armor were present. The woman said "How interesting," but Imogen woke up before she could learn who they were. At breakfast, the party was stopped by several members of the Paragon's Call, who had noticed them the day before and said that Ratanish wished to speak with them. Bells Hells convinced them they were only checking the location out because Ashton wished to take Ratanish up on the job offer. The party then split up, as Ashton told them a likely outcome of this encounter would be them entering in the Deathwish Run, a no-holds-barred crawler race around the city. FCG went to Finders Takers, a shop run by Esmer Balenta, whom they knew previously. Esmer revealed that she had recently seen Dancer, which unsettled FCG, who had believed her to be dead. Ashton, Imogen, and Chetney went to see Ashton's old friend Justi Pross at All-Minds-Burn, a rival crawler gang to the Paragon's Call, to call in a favor. While there, Imogen realized the group was a hivemind and there was something beneath their house. Orym and Laudna meanwhile staked out the Seat of Disdain and eventually saw Treshi emerge on the roof.

The party reconvened at Imahara Joe's. Joe provided them with information about the Deathwish Run, and the party commissioned two crawlers from him. Joe also indicated he was very interested in FCG, and that FCG had not been built by Dancer but rather had been sold to her. Joe also recognized FCG as a pre-Divergence aeormaton, which FCG had not realized he was. The party also asked Joe about the Calloways, and he confirmed that they came in regularly to purchase arcane batteries. The party then went to the Undercarriage for their rest, in order to avoid the Paragon's Call at the Raha Den. At Chetney's proposal, they decided to send a small group to the Seat of Disdain the following day to express interest in joining. Also that night, the party realized Fearne's postcards were likely from Nana Morri rather than her parents; Dusk invited Laudna out to dinner, which Laudna, flustered, turned down; Imogen and Laudna apologized to each other but in the process learned that FCG seemed to be glitching; and Dusk and Orym sparred for sword practice. Dusk also hit on Orym, who declined on the grounds that he was only interested in men.

When they went to the Seat of Disdain, Bells Hells were met by both Ratanish and Otohan Thull, whom Ashton recognized as a hero of the Apex War. Fearne, Wildshaped into a rat, learned that Otohan had a strange backpack-like device but could not ascertain its nature and was nearly captured. Otohan tells them that to prove themselves, they can either fight one of the Paragon's Call's champions, or enter into the Deathwish Run that evening. Bells Hells chose the Deathwish Run, and made their final preparations with Justi and Imahara Joe before heading to the starting line. As they did, Imogen recognized Otohan as the figure in her dreams. Bells Hells won the race, eliminating the competition and a kagaronk in the area of the Hellcatch Valley through which the race ran, and were congratulated by Otohan and Ratanish. Imogen hid in order to not be seen by Otohan. FCG seemed particularly disoriented following the race, and the party brought them to be repaired at Imahara Joe's when they returned the crawlers. Ashton insisted on staying there with FCG, while the others headed to a bar to celebrate. While there, Imogen told Laudna about Otohan, and Laudna apologized to Dusk over the awkwardness of her rejection. Chetney, meanwhile, told Dusk that he actually thought she was collecting a bounty on the Calloways rather than meeting them. Dusk denied it to both him and Fearne. Imogen realized, before the party retired, that Dusk's thoughts were protected.

The next morning, they all went to Imahara Joe's again to pick up Ashton and FCG and meet Birdie. Birdie and Fearne initially reunited, and it came out that there was a significant time discrepancy; Fearne believed it was 90 years and Birdie only six. Fearne then introduced Birdie to Dusk, who she did not recognize initially, at which point Dusk's form changed to that of a changeling. As Dusk grabbed both of the Calloways, Birdie said "You led them right to us." The confrontation leads to an extended accusation and discussion, in which Dusk revealed their real name to be Yu Suffiad, and that they were an agent of the Unseelie Court tasked to reclaim the Moontide Crown and kill the Calloways. Birdie, meanwhile, told the party that she and Ollie were working with Ira on a device having to do with the upcoming apogee solstice. She and Ollie had noticed Ruidus appearing in the Feywild, which was not normal, and had investigated and ultimately stolen the crown out of a device in the Unseelie Court after none of the courts had helped them. An ally of hers in the city, Hondir, would be able to explain to the party why the crown was needed and what Ira was doing. Fearne showed Birdie the gem Morri had given her, a Weave Lens needed for Ira's creation. Eventually, they came to an agreement that Yu would claim the crown after the solstice, when the Calloways no longer needed it.

Bells Hells then followed Birdie and met Hondir, a Grim Verity member hiding out below a water tower in Bassuras. He explained that the nexus of the upcoming apogee solstice was likely going to be in the northern Hellcatch Valley, where several leylines intersected. He also told them that Verity members had recently been the targets of the Gray Assassins, who matched the description of both the attackers of the Lumas twins and at Zephrah. However, Hondir confirmed Keyleth was not a member of the group and told Orym he was unsure of the cause of the attack. Birdie, meanwhile, elaborated on her involvement; Fearne had actually been born in Exandria during a Ruidus flare, and some time later Ollie had a vision of Ruidus destroying the Feywild. When Ruidus appeared in the Feywild, they investigated, eventually stealing the Moontide Crown and escaping to the Material Plane after leaving Fearne with Morri. Birdie also noted that the Gray Assassins seemed to be working with the Unseelie Court.

Imogen then asked Hondir and Birdie if Otohan was one of the Gray Assassins, which they confirmed, leading Hondir to decide to leave his hideout and stay outside the city with the Calloways. Hondir also noted that the information the Grim Verity had taken from Vasselheim might mean the assassins are tied to that city. He recommended Bells Hells seek out Planerider Ryn for more details on the solstice. He also recognized Imogen as the daughter of Liliana Temult. Birdie apologized to Fearne, telling her that they couldn't communicate due to trying to keep her a secret from the courts, though now, via Yu, they would know. The party, while hesitant about Ira's involvement, decide to go back to the hideout outside the city and pick up their crawlers from Joe's to do so.

Name
Immediately after the party was first formed, Bertrand Bell began suggesting names, which the rest of the group ignored. However, after his death (and after hearing of Ashton's former team, the Nobodies) the party actively began looking for a name. They asked several people what word first popped into their mind when looking at the group.

During the masquerade ball held by the Chandei Quorum, Imogen first used the name Bells Hells to refer to the party when Dunot, a guard that they saved from Emoth Kade and her shade creepers, asked what to call them. Later that night when Dorian was taking his leave with his brother Cyrus, he asked the others if they liked that name, to which they toasted.

Suggestions

 * Sir Bertrand Bell and his Sorcerous Swords (by Bertrand Bell)
 * Bertrand's Bells (by Bertrand)
 * The Shit Handlers (by Dorian)
 * New Nobodies (by Ashton via Jiana Hexum)
 * Bells Hells (by Imogen and Laudna)
 * Focus, Group (by FCG)
 * The Moving Crew (by Imogen)
 * "First Word" suggestions:
 * Trouble (by Yash Mangal)
 * Eclectic (by Lord Eshteross)
 * The Sweetest (by Zhudanna)
 * Lucky (by Tefta)

Horses
Bells Hells rented five horses in the Rapid Path Stables of Jrusar for 300 gold in total, including the 150 gold deposit to be refunded if the horses were returned, which they were when the heist in Heartmoor Hamlet was complete. Each of them was given a name:


 * Fearne — Sir Floppers
 * Laudna — Escargot
 * Imogen — Heart
 * Orym named the horse he shares with Chetney — Rabbit
 * Ashton took the name suggested by Chetney — Loonch (Ashton previously suggested "One-way")

Vehicles

 * Silver Sun, a skyship once owned by Ariks Eshteross but was inherited by Bells Hells after his death. Crashed when attempting to destroy the Malleus Key.
 * Red Moon, a skirmisher-crawler purchased from Imahara Joe to participate in the Deathwish Run.
 * Buck Fucket, a skirmisher-crawler loaned from Imahara Joe for the Deathwish Run, returned to Joe afterward.

Allies and friends
Player Characters

NPCs


 * Ariks Eshteross
 * Cyrus Wyvernwind
 * Milo Krook
 * Yash Mangal

Antagonists

 * Dugger
 * Ira Wendagoth
 * Emoth Kade
 * Otohan Thull

Trivia

 * This party is the first to feature returning characters from a different Critical Role series: Orym, Fearne, and Dorian appeared in Exandria Unlimited, and Bertrand appeared in and.
 * Chetney, while not a returning character, is based on an existing character: Chutney Chocolatecane from.
 * Jester Lavorre from Campaign 2 was also a returning character, but not from a Critical Role production.
 * Unlike the Mighty Nein, this group's appearance was not teased before the campaign began airing. This was likely to avoid spoiling the fact that existing characters would appear in the series.