A Taste of Tal'Dorei (episode)

is the 25th episode of the third campaign of Critical Role. Bells Hells explore Bassuras and the Paragon's Call stronghold while getting to know their new friend Dusk, whose past strangely intersects with one of their own.

Pre-show
There's a new opening title!

Part I
Bells Hells and Dusk head to Taste of Tal'Dorei. Imogen expresses some concern that Armand Treshi might get away, but Ashton assures her that they need a brief rest and can monitor his movements during the meal to be safe. On their way to the restaurant, they see a large automaton with a gem for a face, accompanied by an older woman. FCG greets it, but it does not respond to that nor to Chetney throwing a rock at it, although the owner seems annoyed. Imogen then goes to ask the owner about the automaton, and in doing so, tries to communicate telepathically with it, but receives no response.

The party arrives at the Taste of Tal'Dorei and are immediately hit by an intense smell of various foods and the slightly off-key music from the music box. Their server is dressed as Errevon the Rimelord; Orym notes that the historical accuracy in the restaurant is not very good. Laudna notices an either erroneous or very outdated Whitestone crest, and checks the tracking orb as Orym orders Ashari Breezers for the table. Imogen inspects the very nice, seemingly out-of-place mirror.

Dusk offers to pay for the meal as thanks to Bells Hells for saving them in that fight. FCG asks her about her time in the Feywild and her attempts to get back, and Dusk shows him a locket with two portraits. Fearne immediately recognizes them as portraits of her parents, Birdie Calloway and Oleander Calloway. Dusk is incredibly excited, and explains that they met Birdie and Ollie in the Feywild and they all returned to the Material Plane via a portal, but got separated. They found the Feywild incredible, but also politically complex and overwhelming at times. Dusk also admits that Birdie and Ollie didn't tell her they had a daughter. Fearne responds that she hasn't seen her parents in about 90 years and was raised by her grandmother in their absence. She asks Dusk if her parents looked older or younger than in the portraits, and Dusk said they looked slightly older. Dusk reiterated that their sense of time is no longer really chronological, and can't tell how long they stayed in the Feywild; even their memories of childhood feel strange and fuzzy, and the only real things are their rapier and the locket. Fearne is a little confused, but others in the party point out that it's likely different if you are a native of the Feywild.

They are then interrupted by the floor show, in which employees, one dressed as Warren Drassig and one dressed as Zan Tal'Dorei, battle. In the show, Zan is disarmed, but the Prime Deities gift her another sword, and she defeats Drassig. She then rejects the title "king", saying she is instead a sovereign.

Dusk and Fearne resume their conversation, and Fearne tells them that she is searching for her parents. Laudna points out that Bells Hells' adventures have led them to a number of fey or possibly fey creatures and that Treshi had been working with Ira Wendagoth, a fey being, so Dusk's quest and theirs seem intertwined. Fearne meanwhile provides more information about her parents and that they were quite important within the Seelie Court, which impresses the party, notably Chetney. Dusk notes that her tattoo is similar to Orym's in style, and Orym agrees, wondering if Dusk might have been a warrior in the Water Ashari. Following a brief interruption from their server, Laudna tells Dusk that Imogen is very talented and had used her psychic abilities to help Ashton, and could possibly do the same for Dusk. Dusk is somewhat hesitant, so Imogen also offers to contact Fearne's parents. She is able to reach Birdie, who is initially cautious but responds enthusiastically after Imogen includes key details only Fearne and Dusk would know. Birdie tells her that they are a few days away, and will meet the group at a place called Joe's. Ashton and Dusk do not recognize the name and Ashton recommends asking around while in Taste of Tal'Dorei, rather than on the streets where this might make them marks. The waitress says it might be Imahara Joe's, a tinkerer.

Fearne offers a commemorative cup featuring The Lady of Whitestone she had stolen while in Byroden in exchange for Taste of Tal'Dorei's music box, and successfully makes the trade. She asks Chetney to engrave it, which he immediately begins to do. As this happens, Laudna asks FCG to accompany her to the gift shop. She tells FCG that Imogen has been upset since the night Delilah Briarwood, controlling Laudna, broke the gnarlrock shard, and that Laudna doesn't know how to fix it. FCG points out that Imogen is under a number of sources of stress, but that the first step is for Laudna to talk with Imogen, and to analyze her own feelings about what she wants and whether she's jealous of Imogen. Laudna tells FCG she only wants Imogen to avoid the same mistakes and pain that she had experienced in her own life. She then purchases two pencils and a pot holder, and gives FCG one pencil as thanks.

At this same time, Orym hints to Imogen that he'd like to talk mentally, and she does so. He asks her if she's okay, and she responds that Laudna had broken her trust, and while losing the gnarlrock might ultimately be for the best she's still angry about not only that but the fact that Laudna doesn't seem to care and is having a lot of fun with Dusk. Orym listens, and tells her that she's done a lot of good today with helping Dusk and Fearne, and that she should talk to Laudna when she's ready. They are then interrupted by the waitress asking them to leave before the lunch rush. Laudna gives Imogen the pot holder and pencil, and the rest of the party purchase a few things from the gift shop on their way out.

The group exits and follows the signal of the tracking orb towards the Bank of Renewal, a marketplace similar to the Salmagunda Strip. They all discuss how they might deal with Treshi when they find him, and Ashton notes there are a number of Gajakhandas in the area. They store their items in the portable hole, and Chetney uses Minor Illusion to show Dusk what Treshi looks like. She does not recognize him. The group then splits up into three separate groups, each captained by a party member who can message the others (Imogen, Laudna, and FCG). Laudna and Dusk follow the orb to a tent labeled the River of Renewal. Imogen walks away from the party and leans against the back outer wall of the tent and uses Open Mind to determine there are two people inside, neither of whom she recognizes or seems particularly engaged or dangerous. Ashton verifies the ring is within the tent, and Imogen describes Treshi's ring to Dusk, then establishes a telepathic link with them.

Dusk looks at the rings within the tent and asks about the provenance of the most recent rings, particularly after she is presented with Treshi's platinum band. The seller is reticent at first, but Dusk casts Suggestion and is able to learn that it was indeed from Treshi, who is very involved with Bassuras's crawler gangs. They ask where Treshi is, and are told that he is probably at the Seat of Disdain, the fortified headquarters of the Paragon's Call. The other shopkeeper seems suspicious, and Dusk declines to purchase the ring for 250 gold. Chetney and FCG cause a distraction, causing the other shopkeeper to pull out a pistol. The party all scatters and leaves.

Imogen points out that Ashton has a potential in with the Paragon's Call after being defeated by Ratanish at the ball in Jrusar. Ashton is hesitant, given the power the crawler gangs hold. Bells Hells discusses why Treshi may have pawned this ring, as it was quite precious, but decide it was likely because he left Jrusar in a hurry and needed money. They prepare to head to the Seat of Disdain to learn more.

Part II
Bells Hells walks towards the Seat of Disdain. As they do, they discuss the political situation in Bassuras. Ashton has been gone for at least a decade, but they remember Paragon's Call being just another crawler gang in the shifting hierarchy, not the enterprise it was presented as in Jrusar. As this happens, the party notices a multi-legged crawler. FCG again tries to speak to it, but it does not seem to be sentient. He denies being a "real" person, but Imogen insists he is. Laudna suggests that FCG might be like her, something in between death and life but with the soul of a person who was once living; they find this intriguing. Orym meanwhile notices the arcane power source of the crawlers.

They reach the Seat of Disdain, a large, walled fortress, and see it is guarded. Upon scoping it out, they don't see any obvious cracks in the wall or weak spots, and Orym cannot quite make out what the guards are saying given how far away they are. The party considers a number of options for entry, including picking the lock or acting as missionaries, but eventually decide to have Fearne use Wildshape to infiltrate. She transforms into a quokka and begins burrowing under the wall, and with help from Imogen's telekinesis, makes it through. Imogen also establishes a telepathic link so she can speak with Fearne. Fearne is immediately captured by one of the guards, who finds her adorable and brings her back to her room as a pet.

Fearne does not see Treshi, as she is carried through the fortress, and gets locked into the room. She begins scratching and crying in the hopes of someone unlocking the door. Another guard notices, opens the door, and picks her up, hoping she'll become his pet instead. As he carries her towards his foot locker, she continues to gather information about the fortress, but does not see Treshi, though she does see Ratanish. She begins wiggling and bites the man carrying her to avoid being put in the box, which awakens Ratanish, who tells him they cannot have pets and they need to get rid of her. They open the gate just enough to throw Fearne, still in quokka form, out into the street. She is able to land safely without reverting.

Throughout this, Laudna repeatedly Messages Dusk to learn of the status of Fearne. Additionally, Dusk asks Imogen if she and Laudna are dating, as Dusk felt "a vibe". Imogen tells her they are not. Simultaneously, in the other group, Ashton asks Laudna about the pot holder. Laudna immediately bursts into tears and tells them about the incident with the gnarlrock and that she's worried Imogen won't forgive her. Ashton comforts her and tells her to apologize in a more direct way; Laudna proposes some very dramatic examples and he steers her towards something more moderate. Fearne then reappears in her usual form and reports back. Dusk remarks that this was very dangerous. Fearne tells them that she uses Wildshape often and enjoys it, but will be more careful in the future. Ashton notes that Ratanish being there complicates matters since he'll recognize the group.

Bells Hells and Dusk brainstorm many potential plans, including stealing or otherwise acquiring a crawler, setting up a meeting with Ratanish, and having Chetney sneak in while invisible. They also discuss using the cage bead from the Green Seekers or the portable hole as a means of containing Treshi once they find him. Chetney also points out that they need to stay in town for some time to meet with Fearne's parents, and they don't quite know where Treshi is, and they will need lead time so they can contact Xandis in time to get them out, so they should gather more information first.

Imogen goes to the River of Renewal again and purchases one of the rings Dusk had seen, a gold ring with snake heads and a red ruby. She asks for the shopkeeper's name, and he tells her it is Adon Hiro. She also asks for a receipt, which the party can use to forge a letter to Treshi telling him his ring is about to be resold. Ashton is impressed, as the Hiros are an important family. Many members of the party attempt a forgery, and Orym succeeds in making a good one given his training in Ashari calligraphy. Dusk offers to bring the letter to the Seat of Disdain tomorrow. The party, joined by Dusk, all take their night's rest back at the Raha Den.

Bells Hells

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

Returning

 * Dusk
 * Ratanish

New

 * Adon Hiro, co-owner of the River of Renewal
 * Birdie Calloway (via Sending)

Mentioned

 * Armand Treshi
 * Delilah Briarwood
 * Errevon
 * Imahara Joe, a tinkerer
 * Warren Drassig
 * Zan Tal'Dorei
 * Oleander Calloway