To The Skies

is the twenty-third episode of the third campaign of Critical Role.

Announcements

 * The Nordverse returns, and MadHatterson69's daydreaming inner monologue reveals she's been taken over by Setty, and she won't stop at cyber-slicing the set or Critical Role itself... she must hack the planet! Oh, and you get a two-year plan with a bonus gift and a discount at this link, or use code "criticalrole" at checkout.
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 * Exandria Unlimited: Calamity, a 4-part miniseries, takes over the Campaign Three timeslot beginning 26 May at 7 pm PST. Campaign Three will take five weeks off after the 19 May episode, returning 30 June 2022. Head to critrole.com to learn more.

Previously on Critical Role
''So, last we left off: Our intrepid heroes, after returning to Jrusar, finished the contract with Jiana Hexum, completing [Ashton's] long-scheduled debt with her and her business, as well as shaking loose some odd memories within yourself, things you haven't thought of or considered in quite some time. Along with Milo's aid, you seemed to ascertain some mysterious nature of the night in which you did fall from Jiana's manor, and took the crack on your head that has led to this strange new influx of abilities that you're still discovering and developing as you go.''

''You also began to go about the town and gather materials. You spoke with Eshteross and let him know what had been going on. He let you know that in the interim, while you were up in the Heartmoor on the north side of the Oderan Wilds, he was keeping tabs on Treshi, specifically Armand Treshi with the ring that you had placed upon his hand during the ball. It seemed that Armand had skipped town not but four days or so before you arrived. He fled to the southeastern direction and upon touching base with some of his connections in the more seedy parts of the city, got word that he seemed to be fleeing with most of his belongings - the important belongings at least - after clearing out much of his home, to the southeast into the Hellcatch Valley to the city of Bassuras.''

''You were then asked by Eshteross, with no necessary obligation to do so, if you'd be interested in seeing this through. You agreed to, and he gave you both the device that allows you, within a certain couple-mile radius, to track the direction of Armand Treshi from where you currently stand, and offered for quicker and safer travel to the city of Bassuras in the middle of the Hellcatch Valley, which the journey itself being somewhat dangerous on ground, access to his skyship, which is a little under a month away from its next required shipment. Also, you made him promise to give you some cookies before you left in the morning.''

After gathering some supplies, getting your things in order, going and talking to Marwa and making some purchases including one very chaotic portable hole which I am both excited and frightened as to what it will lead to down the road, but that's how you roll in D&D, you all went to spend your last evening in the city of Jrusar for the time being in the Spire by Fire in the Core Spire, the familiar space where you all sort of began this venture and met each other, getting a couple rooms and bedding down for the night.

Part I
In the middle of the night, Chetney sneaks out of the Spire by Fire Inn and breaks into the Prism Emporium via sliding down the chimney. He accosts and terrifies owner Tuyen Otwana about the prices of her wares, eventually transforming into his werewolf form to warn her to charge fairly from now on. He swipes her arm with his claw, exposing bone, and then cauterizes the wound with his flaming claws. Promising to return, he exits invisibly to return to the inn to sleep.

In the morning, the party assigns Fearne to track the items put into their new portable hole. They experiment with the hole, discovering its properties. Orym gives Chetney the Horn of Silent Alarm, since Chetney frequently goes off alone to scout and otherwise. In return, Chetney gives Orym a gift: a wooden box carved with images of flowers and of the moons. They do a little shopping for general supplies and then go to the Eshteross estate, where they pick up their promised cookies and the enchanted bust. Eshteross requests that when they bring back Armand Treshi from Bassuras, hopefully he will be in one piece. Orym and Imogen thank Lord Eshteross for his help, telling him he is a good person.

The party makes their way to the Aerie Spire and the Silver Sun anchored there. First mate Khalil Benes takes them to Captain Xandis when they tell him they were sent by Lord Eshteross. Xandis is initially blunt: the party should do what they tell them to do and they won't throw them overboard. Overall, though, Xandis is affable and friendly, accepting one of Laudna's ginger cookies happily. When Xandis asks who the leader of the group is, FCG volunteers Ashton. Xandis tells them they can go anywhere on the ship except the Captain's quarters. They'll leave as soon as Xandis finishes their sandwich.

Khalil gives the party the basics of running the ship and its weaponry, and they meet the other members of the crew and find their rooms. As the ship pulls out of the skyport, Laudna and Imogen use Prestidigitation to create fireworks to either side, and the city of Jrusar shrinks below them as the ship rises and the sails fill.

Break

 * The Kickstarter for Arora: Age of Desolation is live now.
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 * Exandria Unlimited: Calamity 4-part miniseries premieres Thursday, 26 May 2020 at 7 pm Pacific.
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Part II
The Silver Sun travels over the jungles of the Serpentwind Peaks near the towns of Evishi and Troll Ferry. As the day progresses, the party catches sight of The Rift marking the border of the badlands of the Hellcatch Valley. Night eventually falls just as they cross The Rift. On deck, Imogen asks Ashton about his past in the region, and he tells her it is a bad place for people.

In the morning, they have left The Rift behind and see the Aggrad Mountains to the north cradling the city of King's Fall. Captain Xandis tells them the weather in this area can be "a lot" and most skyships therefore avoid it. Also, since there's no skyport in Bassuras, they'll have to drop them off there and go somewhere safer until they call to be picked up and returned to Jrusar.

While practicing the Zeph'aeratam on deck, Orym spots a shadow in the sky, followed shortly by a second one. As they approach, the party sees that they are skirath hunters, and they are attacking. The skirath are incredibly fast and can shoot spines at multiple opponents as well as having a slam attack and a vicious poisonous tail barb, but the party is able to give damage as well as taking it. Ashton's rage takes the "Space" form and they are able to open portals to attack the distant creatures as though they were next to them. Fearne attempts to use Speak with Animals to talk to the skirath, but learns they are not beasts and the spell doesn't work on them. FCG is able to blind one, and Laudna Banes both. The party is also able to use the ballistae on the ship, which do significant damage to the flying creatures.

Eventually, Orym kills one of the skirath, but is in turn attacked in retaliation by the other and pushed off the ship, hitting the sail as he falls. Laudna sees it happen and casts Feather Fall on him but the boat continues to sail away. Ashton kills the remaining creature with a hammer blow. The group urges the captain to turn the ship around to rescue Orym, but Imogen's eyes suddenly flare white and she floats upward, without even really understanding what's happening. She is able to fly to reach the slowly tumbling Orym, and fly with him back to the ship.

They harvest various body parts from the downed skirath before night falls. FCG catches Imogen alone and tells her that if she wants, he thinks he might be able to psychically connect her with Laudna so that Laudna could enter Imogen's dreams with her. Imogen and Laudna are both interested, and Imogen will think about it. Laudna points out that Ruidus is near zenith, and since Imogen's dreams get worse around that time, they can try it then. They also talk about FCG's persisting belief that the world is flat, and the possibility that people are living on the flip side of the coin-shaped world he imagines.

Later, Fearne sneaks into Laudna's room and puts a wig she's crafted from her leg hair on Sashimi, Laudna's marionette partner for Pate de Rolo. Fearne leaves them in a sexy position. In the morning, Laudna is thrilled they were roleplaying together.

The day is uneventful. Toward evening, Laudna pulls Imogen aside to ask if she's all right. Imogen tells her she still has the gnarlrock and it makes her feel safe, but she doesn't think that's healthy. She's thought about getting rid of it, but she doesn't want to. Laudna feels uneasy at those words, as it reminds her of her own acquisition of power from an unsettling source, and she admits to Imogen that Delilah spoke to her while they were in the Heartmoor. The stone's presence continues to disturb Laudna, and she eventually asks to hold it, promising not to do anything with it. As she touches it, she feels a growing pulse and the stone grows warmer as Laudna's vision fades and Delilah's voice in her mind says, "Child, this is far too dangerous in your hands. I'll handle this." The heat strengthens till the stone is searing, the warmth traveling up her arms. Laudna demands to know what the stone is, but Delilah shushes her, saying, "I've taken care of it for you." As the warmth hits Laudna's chest, the cold pulsing becomes a warm heartbeat. Her fingers open. The gem is cold and broken.

Imogen is at first speechless, then whispers, "You lied!" Laudna tries to explain, and promises to fix it, but Imogen just wants to go to bed. Laudna screams into the night, "What did you do?!" and feels the dull heartbeat and the warmth receding. Delilah's voice says, "Don't worry, I've taken care of it. And thank you."

Bells Hells

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

Returning

 * Ariks Eshteross
 * Delilah Briarwood
 * Tuyen Otwana, proprietor of the Prism Emporium

New

 * The crew of the Silver Sun
 * Denalia, bugbear ship's cook
 * Gordi, goliath crewmate
 * Khalil Benes, human first mate
 * Terana, dwarven crewmate
 * Xandis, tiefling captain

Mentioned

 * Armand Treshi
 * Bertrand Bell

Quotations
Lord Eshteross: We've only known each other for a short time. You do not know the breadth of things I have done that might change your mind. But I spend my later years trying to make up for them, and to live on the memory of Mistress Prudaj, who was my patron for so long, whose house this was. So. I guess all I have to say is: Keep that heart pure, as long as you can. So much of this world tries to pull it away. So much of it. Xandis: "Captain" works for me, could say "Cap", could say "Cool Person". You could call me "Leader". You can call me "Most Gorgeous Thing You Ever Seen Before". You can call me "Savior". I'll get you a list tomorrow. Chetney: Master craftsman. I can help with the ship repairs or artistry as well.[ ... ] Xandis: And what is your specialty? Imogen: Um... FCG: People. Laudna: She's like our human resources department.[ ... ] Xandis: And you're the small one? Orym: Security detail. Fearne: No. I don't even know her.
 * Marisha: (as Chetney grabs at the shopkeeper) I wouldn't want to see him in a Whole Foods.
 * Imogen: You're a very good person. There's not a lot of people that are, and you are.
 * Orym: Do you prefer "Captain", or "Captain Xandis", or...
 * Laudna: (introducing the party) I feel like we all have specialties. We all have, like heads of our own department, you know? You go to Fearne in terms of itemization and organization. You go to FCG for counseling, morale. Our morale booster. You go to me for anything art department, arts and crafts related. Chetney, of course, he's an MC.
 * Xandis: All right, all hands on deck! Heading to the Hellcatch Valley. Ho, boy.
 * Ashton: (to Imogen) You're scarier than I am. You know that, right?
 * Xandis: I was told that there was an immediate rush for time, and it's much safer than going by foot. If you wanted to go ahead and follow a caravan, take a few weeks to get there. Maybe you wanted to go by yourselves and, I don't know, get robbed on the highway or something, get put up on pikes or put up as a warning for other people. Totally up to you. You could, I don't know, burrow underground. You got big claws. You could just dig your way. Take a few months. You have options at your disposal. So if you're going to go there, you don't have to take this skyship. But I was notified by my boss that you wanted to go soon, 'cause you're chasing a person.
 * Xandis: (being urged to turn the ship to rescue the falling Orym) Okay! Normally this is a one and done thing when they fall overboard, but I'll go and make my way!
 * FCG: (about the severely wounded Terana) Oh, no, are you okay? I'll— You want to heal her?
 * Imogen: (after Laudna destroys the gnarlrock) You lied.