The Aurora Grows

is the 49th episode of the third campaign of Critical Role.

Part I
Orym notices the aurora-like lights in the daytime sky from the Silver Sun and points them out to the rest of the party. Fearne tries to touch them and Chetney feels a mild sense of electricity and is familiar with similar lights, but Bells Hells is otherwise unsure of the properties of the leylines. Ashton's rage might or might interact; they're also unsure.

Bells Hells discusses allies they might contact and make a list. Ira Wendagoth is one; they consider Percy and Vex but Ashton advises that they focus on people who owe them favors, not those they already owe. Other options are Orlana Seshadri, the Green Seekers, Dorian, Morri, Imahara Joe, and Ashton's old gang, the Nobodies. Laudna points out the danger they are going into, and Orym reminds them that large numbers might not be the best idea since they're considering a stealth mission.

Bells Hells then begins discussing the plan for infiltrating the Tishtan site. FCG suggests obtaining explosives, putting them on himself, and sneaking in as an automaton to destroy the Malleus Key, in the hopes that the others could reassemble them later. Imogen wonders if they could make allies with another dusttra. The party also brings up contacting Liliana Temult to sabotage things from the inside. Imogen considers it, and steps away from the others on the skyship to open her mind and see if anyone might be spying on them, similar to how she and FCG were noticed in her dreams. She senses a new static she's never experienced, but cannot tell if it's related to the ley energies or something else.

FCG and Imogen begin casting their Sendings. Imogen makes an appeal to Ira, telling him they plan on sabotaging the key. After consulting with Xandis regarding how far they are from Bassuras, they plan to meet Ira at the Calloway family's hideout in six days to discuss further; they can also see Hondir there to check in with the Grim Verity.

The party then discusses the bomb plan, with many party members urging FCG not to risk blowing themself up. Fearne and Orym point out that FCG's arcane cores are more likely to do damage than a bomb, and perhaps they can get batteries from Imahara Joe instead and then overclock them. As Chetney peruses the map of the Hellcatch Valley and Laudna confirms the tracker orb is not lit, FCG contacts Imahara Joe and asks for a bomb. Joe tells him he can work on it, possibly with help from Esmer, and FCG tells him the Calloways will pick it up and warns him about the upcoming apogee solstice.

Imogen and FCG continue to send messages. FCG contacts Milo, asking them to come to Bassuras and contact the Nobodies, but Milo initially thinks they're joking and then tells them they can't get there in time. Imogen asks Ebenold Kai where he is, telling him that Ryn is out of commission, and he responds that he is still in Ryn's study in the Elemental Plane of Fire; he knows some allies went to the Shadowfell but does not know if they succeeded in their efforts.

Chetney then suggests a new plan: they could, as a last resort, crash the skyship into the Malleus Key. The party considers it seriously, and discuss how it might be possible given that the brumestone tends to prevent it from falling at terminal velocity. They also would need a team to rescue the statue of Ryn and remove any innocents from the premises first. Laudna asks Imogen if she would be able to attack Liliana; Imogen avoids the question and focuses on the need to rescue Ryn so that no one is trapped on another plane. Ashton suggests Imogen tell Liliana that this is not a request; it's a requirement.

Orym uses his sending stone to contact Dorian. Dorian is still in Tal'Dorei and mentions that Opal is having a difficult time and that he's unable to get to Marquet. Imogen then notes that usually the excavation site in her dreams seems busy, even though it's nighttime; perhaps she should go to sleep early and see if she can contact her mother while they're both sleeping instead. Orym and Fearne join her in the dream this time. In the dream, Ruidus is in the sky, and the storm is there, but not the fields of Gelvaan. Imogen, Orym, and Fearne travel through the dust and come upon the form of Liliana, who looks much like Imogen, but older and harder. Liliana first tells Imogen she shouldn't be there. When Imogen tells her she's going to destroy the world, Liliana tells her she's going to save it and free them, and that she's done this for Imogen's benefit; it would remove her powers. As she says this, she shows Imogen what she means, and Imogen feels the sensations of freedom. She then notices the motes of Orym and Fearne, and pushes all three out of the dream, and they awaken on the ship.

Imogen asks Orym and Fearne if they saw what she saw, and they tell her they only could hear the speech, but did not have the vision. Imogen asks if Liliana might be right. Orym tells her that the Ruby Vanguard killed his family, and Imogen quickly apologizes. Fearne asks Imogen to talk through it more, and Imogen tells her about the vision in more detail, but admits she believes Liliana has likely been brainwashed or otherwise misled, and Orym points out that there's no basis for that vision; it's simply what Liliana is telling her. FCG flips their coin to ask the Changebringer if she is good, neutral, or bad, and finds that they get a "yes" on "bad", but that she also approves of what they are doing. Ashton argues that whether or not the gods are good or bad is immaterial - what matters is that the Vanguard is making this choice on their own and killing those who stand in their way. They agree the plan remains as is: they destroy the key.

At night, Chetney can see the leylines in the sky shift. Both Ruidus and Catha are visible.

Ashton goes to have a drink, and Laudna joins them and compliments them on their speech about the gods. Ashton admits to her he is not the person he thought he would be, and Laudna asks him to elaborate. They first say they're a blank slate, and then say they somewhat hate the rest of Bells Hells for knowing where they came from; they have experienced a loneliness others haven't. Laudna points out she lived in the woods on her own for three decades to the point of making a dead rat her friend. Ashton tells her he doesn't trust the rat, and instead asks her how she feels about the party helping her, and what it was like to be resurrected, surrounded by friends. Laudna responds that she is still processing how everyone went to Whitestone to bring her back and that waking up was wonderful, but it wasn't like that the first time she came back to life. Ashton admits that while he kind of hates the group, he also kind of loves them. Laudna then asks about the Hishari mask, and Ashton tells her that they don't remember much before the orphanage; they were found wandering in the desert outside the city. They do remember the word "Hishari", however, and in fact joined the group because Orym said he was from the Ashari and Ashton originally assumed their memory was just faulty until finding the helm at the Twilight Mirror Museum. Laudna emphatically points out that Ashton should ask Orym, given that they have a long journey, but Ashton is reluctant. Laudna helps them to bed.

Meanwhile, Fearne seeks out Orym and asks him what they should do if Imogen decides to assist the Ruby Vanguard instead. Orym admits he has similar concerns. They agree that they will always have each other's backs and stick together, and that if necessary, they will stop Imogen; Orym clarifies to Fearne it should preferably be by putting her to sleep or similar non-lethal means, and that he will distract Imogen so Fearne can do so. Fearne admits she is somewhat afraid of Liliana.

Main player characters

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

Guest player characters

 * Dorian Storm (via Sending)

Returning
These characters previously appeared in Campaign 3 or any other Critical Role work.
 * Birdie Calloway
 * Hondir
 * Ira Wendagoth
 * Keyleth (via the Message Bloom)
 * Khalil Benes
 * Liliana Temult (in Imogen's dream)
 * Oleander Calloway
 * Xandis

via Sending

 * D
 * Ebenold Kai
 * Imahara Joe
 * Jiana Hexum
 * Milo Krook
 * Morrigan
 * Pike Trickfoot

New
These characters have not previously appeared in Campaign 3 or any other Critical Role work, though they may have been previously mentioned.
 * Yunis, general goods and black market dealer in Bassuras

Mentioned

 * Arnold Drodt, of the Grim Verity
 * Avandra
 * Bennet, of the Nobodies
 * Dancer (contacted by Sending but did not respond)
 * Esmer Balenta
 * Gus (as "The Green Seekers")
 * Justi Pross
 * Lita, Will's sister
 * Ludinus Da'leth
 * Olly (as "The Green Seekers")
 * Oltgar
 * Opal
 * Orlana Seshadri
 * Otohan Thull
 * Percival de Rolo
 * Pocket, member of All-Minds-Burn
 * Ryn
 * Shady Sally, of the Nobodies
 * Verna, works with Imahara Joe
 * Vex'ahlia
 * Vureeo, member of the Ruby Vanguard
 * Weva Vudol
 * Zeeland, of the Nobodies