Bawdy Basement Belligerence

is the 44th episode of the third campaign of Critical Role.

Pre-show
Taliesin is still out sick, but we'll see him soon!

Part I
Bells Hells can hear voices above them from Ebenold Kai's basement, arguing over whether "it" knows what it's doing. They consider strategies, and Chetney suggests they either pretend to have been attacked...or start an orgy. Laudna uses her immovable rod to jam the secret door as the voices continue to insist "it" saw people enter the house. Imogen uses Detect Thoughts and senses four intelligences upstairs, one of which is moving very quickly and some of which are bored. Laudna has Pâté turn into a spider and go spy upstairs, Orym waits by the door, FCG binds himself to Laudna, Imogen, and Orym, and Chetney takes off his clothes and transforms into his hybrid form. Pâté, in spider form, sees a half-elf going through the kitchen, joined by a sentient whirlwind. He is sucked into the whirlwind, nauseating Laudna, who is looking through him. She breaks her connection just as the creature slips under the crack in the door. Fearne and several other party members also begin stripping.

Orym and Imogen attempt to convince the elemental that this is simply a basement orgy, and the rest of the party joins in. The elemental seems confused. Fearne casts Caleb's Produce Flame as the other people upstairs attempt to break in through the door. The immovable rod holds, but with enough force and some weaponry, the intruders are able to enter the basement. Imogen casts Mage Armor and Laudna casts Mirror Image as the party prepares for combat. Orym blocks the door, then uses Seedling's Grasping Vine to pull the half-elf elementalist down the stairs. Two other figures - a woman with daggers and a person with a crossbow - enter the basement. All three of the people are wearing gray armor and maroon cloaks. Imogen continues to try to pretend Bells Hells are merely having an orgy, but the invaders notice her scars and attack.

The combat is chaotic as Bells Hells scatters through the house and attempts to flee while also attacking the maroon-cloaked group. The elementalist uses an orb to castCone of Cold, and Fearne transforms into a war horse. Eventually, FCG Banishes the crossbow wielder, Orym knocks out the rogue, Chetney knocks out the elementalist (who is trying to run away), and Imogen and Laudna do enough damage to the air elemental after the elementalist mage goes unconscious such that it begins to flee the scene. FCG stabilizes the mage with Spare the Dying.

Part II
After some frantic back and forth, Bells Hells decides to take the mage and flee the scene before the banished ranger returns or the rogue wakes up. Fearne transforms into a smaller horse, and Bells Hells throws the mage onto her, covering him with some of Ebenold's curtains. As they leave, FCG feels the banishment end. Orym does not notice any guards in the area, so the party leaves quickly, as unobtrusively as they can, for Yios's Dominion Ring. While there, they search for a place where they can loot and question the mage. After FCG is unsuccessful, Imogen is able to get a direction to the nearest docks where they can hopefully find a warehouse. Orym and Chetney repeatedly knock the mage out as he begins to come to, with FCG casting Spare the Dying each time, until Imogen telepathically tells the mage to keep still and they'll stop hitting him.

Chetney is able to easily pick the lock of a warehouse without being detected, and the party goes in. Once they are in, the mage immediately casts Misty Step to escape, avoiding Orym's Grasping Vine and too quick for FCG's Silence, but Imogen is able to chase him with Misty Step as well and Commands him to stop. Bells Hells pushes him back inside and begins to question him.

The mage tells them that he and others had been keeping an eye on Ebenold's house for some time, and Bells Hells doing yard work had tipped them off that something was afoot. He tells Bells Hells that he assumes they are allied with the Grim Verity. Imogen attempts to deflect, as Orym goes through the mage's pockets, taking away his money and spell components. FCG casts Fast Friends, which, thanks to Laudna's Bane, the mage fails.

He tells FCG that he is a member of the Ruby Vanguard, which is unfamiliar to the party. The elementalist continues, saying that the Ruby Vanguard is not affiliated with Vasselheim and the Judicators, and is not in total disagreement with the Grim Verity either, but the two groups are at odds. The Ruby Vanguard wishes to improve the future of Exandria. Orym meanwhile notes that the mage's robes match the color of Ruidus, and remarks upon it. FCG uses this opportunity to ask the man what he has to do with Ruidus, and he replies to them that the Ruby Vanguard wishes to free the people of Exandria from the gods. It comes out that their goal is to release Predathos, the predator of the gods, which the mage states is merely "letting nature run its course." As he reveals the faction's plans, Fearne asks about the leader of the Vanguard; the mage says he has met "him". The party also asks about the role of Otohan Thull in this; per the mage, she is a member as well, working under the leader.

Imogen casts Detect Thoughts as the interrogation continues. The mage's surface thoughts are that the party is asking too many questions. With the help of Bane, the mage fails a saving throw, and Imogen probes deeper. Orym asks about Ira Wendagoth, and Imogen detects that the mage thinks of Ira as a rogue agent and a potential obstacle, and that the mage is aware that Bells Hells is unusually knowledgeable about the topic. Imogen also sees an older elven man with silver hair when the mage thinks of the leader of the Ruby Vanguard. As Chetney pats him down the mage speaks of Malleus Keys, and Imogen sees that these are machines not unlike the Veilscatter Scope. Chetney and FCG determine the mage is wearing Bracers of Defense.

The elementalist continues: he, and others of the Ruby Vanguard, believe that the people of Exandria are not the gods' children, but their food. When Orym points out the last time the people of the world went after the gods, it led to the Calamity, the mage says that they are merely releasing Predathos rather than fighting head-on. When Bells Hells expresses doubt that Predathos will stop there, the mage is confident it will. Fearne asks how this is any different than worshiping a god; isn't the Vanguard just worshiping Predathos? The mage insists Predathos is a liberator, not a good, but the party remains skeptical. Orym asks about Zephrah's role and succeeds on an Insight check, and Chetney reiterates that there's no reason to believe Predathos would stop at the gods, though the mage remains secure in his beliefs.

Bells Hells manages to intimidate the mage, who gives his name as Tuldus, into revealing which of the Malleus Keys is the weakest - likely the one on the Material Plane. He also reveals that the Ruby Vanguard's leader is Ludinus Da'leth. While the Tuldus tells the party he knows Ludinus well, Imogen detects that he is relatively low in the organization and has only interacted with Ludinus a few times. She also finds that Tuldus was, as a child, forced into worship of the gods, which may have led to his current beliefs.

Bells Hells discusses what to do with Tuldus, as they cannot let him free. They decide to contact Ryn. Imogen casts Sending to provide their location and notify Ryn that they have a member of the Ruby Vanguard, as well as warn her to tell Ebenold and Baryn Vestisho not to return to Ebenold's home. Ryn immediately arrives and magically charms Tuldus, getting him to give Bells Hells his bracers and getting some more information out of him. She tells him to wait and lets Bells Hells take their short rest to recharge and find Ashton before she takes them to the Shadowfell. During the rest, FCG expresses regret that they have not had a chance to learn more about themselves, but Orym points out the urgency of stopping the Ruby Vanguard first.

Imogen, using her Bloodwell Vial, regains enough sorcery points to be able to contact Ashton.

Bells Hells

 * Ashton Greymoore (mentioned only)
 * Chetney Pock O'Pea
 * Fearne Calloway
 * Fresh Cut Grass
 * Imogen Temult
 * Laudna
 * Orym
 * Pâté de Rolo

Returning
These characters previously appeared in Campaign 3 or any other Critical Role work.
 * Ryn

New
These characters have not previously appeared in Campaign 3 or any other Critical Role work, though they may have been previously mentioned.
 * Genomia, rogue member of the Ruby Vanguard
 * Tuldus

Mentioned

 * Baryn Vestisho
 * Ebenold Kai
 * Ira Wendagoth
 * Landon Kreshawl
 * Ludinus Da'leth
 * Otohan Thull
 * Predathos