A Race for the Prize

is the 27th episode of the third campaign of Critical Role. Bells Hells tend to their inner relationships before returning to the Seat of Disdain, but a surprising face in Paragon's Call rattles several members of the group...

Part I
Bells Hells arrives at the Undercarriage and rents three rooms for the nights. They briefly recount the plan to search the Seat of Disdain for Armand Treshi. Chetney Pock O'Pea proposes that those who were not openly involved in swapping his ring pretend to be looking for contract work with Paragon's Call while the others wait outside. He and Ashton Greymoore emphasize that they are only gaining access to the compound and gathering intelligence on Armand Treshi's location. The Death Wish Run will serve as an emergency plan or as a distraction, depending on what happens. Laudna points out that Orym looks anxious, but he insists everything is fine.

The group then inspects the postcards Fearne Calloway received from her parents, Birdie and Oleander. Chetney notices they are in unusually mint condition despite their alleged age and regular handling and that they are hand painted. Fearne says that she would often receive them shortly after she reminisced about her parents to her grandmother Morri Calloway, which Laudna finds strange. Imogen speculates that Morri made the cards, but despite the similarity in handwriting, Fearne denies it. Orym suggests that Morri was protecting Fearne from what her parents are doing and hopes that her upcoming reunion will provide answers. Laudna reassures the uncertain Fearne that the group supports her, regardless of what happens with her parents.

As Laudna follows Imogen into the hall to talk, Dusk asks her to dinner. Laudna, flustered and not used to romantic attention, leaves without giving a clear answer. Imogen and Laudna make amends over the gnarlrock, and Imogen gifts Laudna a ring she bought in the city. Laudna mentions Dusk's invitation, but two of them are uncertain how Laudna should proceed, especially as Laudna has not thought about flirting in decades and neither wants to hurt Dusk's feelings. They talk instead about Imogen's dream. She mentions Fresh Cut Grass's and her different ideas on bringing someone into the dream with her, but she is often so afraid in her dream that she forgets to try anything. Laudna speculates that Imogen is connecting to an event happening simultaneously, prompting them to wonder if they should travel to Ruidus. They then agree to pretend to be still fighting to let Fresh Cut Grass "fix" their relationship as morale booster after recent revelations about Dancer and his origins.

As they re-enter the room, Imogen pretends to be distraught, and Fresh Cut Grass goes to talk with her. Because Fresh Cut Grass seems despondent, Imogen hesitates to continue the ruse. She grows concerned when they say the group needs to get Cyrus Wyvernwind out of the city. She asks Fresh Cut Grass if they want to speak to Dancer, but they fear Dancer does not want to talk to them. They reject Imogen's reassurances and worry that they forgot their prior experiences, ones that they always wanted to have. They hope that Dancer will provide explanations, and Imogen suggests looking for other aeormatons from Aeor that may have woken up. They ask Imogen to, if things go wrong, reach out to Delilah for them, then promptly corrects it to Dancer. Concerned, Imogen calls Laudna over, and the two of them worry that Fresh Cut Grass is not well. Laudna gently advises them to prepare for Dancer not being the person they remembered. When Imogen asks for a physical description of Dancer, Fresh Cut Grass cannot provide one without mixing in details from other people they know. Fresh Cut Grass remembers that they should be trying to help Imogen and Laudna, who both awkwardly pretend to reconcile only just now.

While Laudna and Imogen are having their conversation, Orym inquires about Dusk's martial training. Dusk claims to not remember any real details, including whether it was in Exandria or in the Feywild. He invites them to spar: first to land five hits wins. Orym eventually does, 5 to 1. He concludes that their style is certainly from the Feywild. Dusk asks Orym if he would teach her. When Orym says tomorrow, Dusk flirtatiously asks if he is free tonight. Orym gently rejects her, as he is only interested in men and his situation is complicated. He attempts to leave, but Dusk stops him to ask if he wants to talk. He defers the conversation, then returns to the room.

During their watch, Chetney shows Fearne the music box for her parents, and she approves of the progress. Fearne expresses concern about Fresh Cut Grass, but Chetney believes he simply needs rest. Chetney apologizes about her postcards, but she is grateful for his help. He has no further information about the cards, but he reminds her that she can share anything with the group. She shows him an enchanted green gem that Morri gave her, saying she needed to give to her parents. When she worries that her parents will not remember her, Chetney reassures her. Fearne asks about his parents, but he has not seen them since he left home centuries ago. He then gives her her toy: a wolf. He says his invitation for sex remains open, but he feels it is tone deaf right now.

Part II
In the morning, the group goes to Finders Takers to pick up an explosive they previously commissioned from Esmer before going to the Seat of Disdain. While there, Fearne attempts to buy a pepperbox for Little Mister, but the one for sale is too large for him. As they leave, Imogen asks Esmer about Dancer's relationship with Fresh Cut Grass and for a physical description of her.

Ashton, Chetney, Laudna, Dusk, and Fearne (Wild Shaped as a rat in Dusk's pocket) enters the Seat of Disdain. Ratanish is surprised to see Ashton again, who claims to be interested in working with Paragon's Call after their conversation at the Chandei Quorum party. However, Paragon's Call does not casually hire strangers. Ratanish calls out Otohan Thull, whom Ashton recognizes as a hero of the Apex War. They can prove themselves to her through a fight between two champions each or a Death Wish Run race. Ashton enthusiastically chooses the race, as they wanted to race since childhood. Otohan sets the race at dusk and has Ratanish give them an emblem for a loaner vehicle. Nobody sees Treshi in the courtyard. As Otohan leaves, Fearne climbs into her cloak and sees that Otohan has a backpack-like device with two cylindrical, crystalline canisters on her back. Ratanish notices Fearne as she escapes, but Dusk prevents him from hurting Fearne and breaking Wild Shape by pretending Fearne is her pet rat.

After a brief reconvening, Ashton and Laudna visit Justi Pross, whom Ashton spoke to earlier for support during a race. Ashton updates Justi on the race and promises to compensate All-Minds-Burn for their help in information about Paragon's Call. When he tells Justi that Laudna also has voices in her head, she offers Laudna a bag of drugs that will allow Laudna to join the wavelength of the All-Minds-Burn and possibly "clear the attic". Before they leave, Justi gives them two cloths for someone on each vehicle to wear as a signal to All-Minds-Burn who not to target.

The others go to Imahara Joe's workshop, where he is nearly finished with the crawler they previously requested in anticipation of a race. Since they have an emblem, Joe gives them a second vehicle, and they negotiate upgrades to the loaner. Joe explains how a crawler works and various ways that a crawler can be destroyed and the race sabotaged. Once everyone reconvenes, they divide the party into tentative groups for the race: Ashton driving the purchased vehicle with Imogen riding shotgun, Chetney driving the loaner with Laudna riding shotgun, Orym and Dusk sabotaging others in the second portion of the race, Fearne sabotaging others in the third portion of the race, and Fresh Cut Grass as a passenger in one of the vehicles.

Around dusk, they pick up the vehicles from Joe and drive to the starting line, where four other racers have already gathered.

Bells Hells

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

Returning

 * Esmer
 * Little Mister
 * Tanvir
 * Ratanish
 * Justi Pross
 * Imahara Joe

New

 * Otohan Thull, leader of Paragon's Call

Mentioned

 * Armand Treshi
 * Cyrus Wyvernwind
 * Delilah Briarwood
 * Dancer
 * Ira Wendagoth

Trivia

 * While talking about the couriers in the Feywild who deliver letters, Matt mentioned quicklings often perform this service and briefly referenced an instance in Campaign 2, in, where Jester Lavorre cast Planar Ally to summon the quickling Tevas to deliver cupcakes to Isharnai.