Crisis of Faith

"**Crisis of Faith**" (3x61) thumbnail featuring Liam O'Brien, Emily Axford, Marisha Ray, Taliesin Jaffe, Utkarsh Ambudkar, and Aimee Carrero.

### Episode

Campaign Three,​ Episode 61
(C3E61)

### Transcript

Transcript

"**Crisis of Faith**" (3x61) is the sixty-first episode of the third campaign of *Critical Role*. Team Issylra battles agents of the Dawnfather as they attempt to release the temple's unwanted and autocratic rule over the town of Hearthdell...

## **Synopsis**

### **Announcements**

* Nordo the Nagnificent is back, offended by Matt's clarification Nordo's the *second* greatest magician in the world, because apparently Matt hasn't been listening to him explaining that **Nord VPN** can protect you against hackers. Nordo produces the 20 MacBooks he bought online for only $750 each, and demands two things: $15,000 and an apology. He gets the apology. "Matt, Mac to you."
* Second sponsor is **D&D Beyond**, now with "Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants" available for pre-order.
* The first episode of **Candela Obscura** is now up on YouTube and various podcast services as well as Twitch. Episode 2 airs Thursday, June 29 on Twitch.
* **Merch Alert!** Three-Trinket two-moon t-shirt and Exandria Unlimited: Calamity chibi pins now available.

### **Previously on *Critical Role***

*So, last we left off, this half of Bells Hells, upon discovering some other oddly scattered figures here in the midst of the Apogee Solstice, have come together in the wilds in the center of the continent of Issylra. Upon trying to find a means of gathering where they are and where to go, they traverse one of the nearby roads before eventually coming to the town ofHearthdell. Here in Hearthdell, they meet some of the populace who seem to be a bit tense by a somewhat robust church appearance of the nearby temple of the Dawnfather on the north side of the city, as well as Judicators that have been bringing with them a larger religions presence, an ominous one, to a town that itself prides its people on a less temple-centric life. Asking some questions, finding out about some of the events that have transpired here surrounding the solstice, as well as the nexus of the leylines that lies above the city, you asked some questions, made some allies, until eventually you were introduced to the Elder Joan Abaddina.*

*You spoke with her a bit, asking for information about possibly* Scrying *for information on locations or people you wish to know about, and also discovered the burgeoning, boiling frustration of the townsfolk that currently continue to choke at the yoke of the temple and those within, and the figures from Vasselheim and their wishes to pull them away from their paganistic beliefs, especially during this time period. You were then invited to meet with a secretive town gathering beneath the local brewery. There, you saw a rising angry tide of locals who, underneath guidance of this elder, see the opportunity of a distracted religious structure, the events that are transpiring in Marquet pulling their eyes and ears and interest away. Now, with the swelling power and influence of the solstice apparently enhancing the capabilities of the local eidolons, the spirits that protect this land, they are attempting to attack the temple, raze it, and send the people they dislike from within far from their village to never return. Upon asking if you are with or against them, you told them you were with them. You helped them plan their approach and possible assault, and after some conversation, the expression of some drinks that were a bit tampered with, and some modicum of successful and non-successful banter, tensions began to reach a breaking point, at which point the guards were assaulted, the cart in which you arrived was shattered, the alarm was sounded, and now the temple is beginning to prepare itself for some sort of a scuffle.*

### **Part I**

Prism and Deni$e have transported inside the Temple, while Bor'Dor, Orym, Laudna and Ashton (as well as the villagers) remain outside as the guards sound the alarm. Orym uses Seedling to shoot *Grasping Vines* at Flameguide Kiro and pull her off the temple tower to the ground, where she shouts, "What is this? We built this for you!" Ashton enters a Possibility rage, but Kiro uses *Hold Person* on both Ashton and Orym, paralyzing them. The others attack, joined by Joan Abaddina who summons an Earth Guardian to destroy the temple gate, but the guards fight back. Laudna casts *Silvery Barbs* to negate a crit against Orym, and Bor'Dor urges the townsfolk to storm the temple gate.

Ashton kills one of the multiple temple guards and joins Orym in attacking Kiro, who tries to run and then summons a *Guardian of Faith*. Laudna *Spider Climbs* inside the temple to join Prism and Deni$e fighting the powerful Judicator. Right about now, the laxative Bor'Dor gave several of the guards earlier kicks in, and they are poisoned, at disadvantage and in pain. Bor'Dor hits Kiro with a critical hit from his crossbow, then stabs her in the neck, finishing her off. He catches some of the blood in his hand as she falls, but he starts vomiting. Kiro's Guardian kills several of the invading villagers before it fades out of existence upon her death. Meanwhile, Laudna uses *Silvery Barbs* once again to negate a crit, this one against Deni$e, who has taken the brunt of the Judicator's attacks and is seriously wounded.

Those still outside move into the interior of the temple and join the others already battling there. Deni$e takes down another guard, while Laudna summons a Hound of Ill Omen to attack the Judicator. When the Elder sees Kiro's body, she is horrified, shouting, "Take them prisoner, do not kill them!" However, when she sees the Judicator, she joins the attacks against him with a *Blight*. Suddenly, light fills the chamber and a deep voice echoes from above: "Leave, or be judged." A winged, golden-feathered glowing figure descends holding a fiery longsword, striking at and hitting both Ashton and Prism, then uses Fiery Castigation against Orym, telling him, "Repent," and wrapping him in restraining fiery golden chains. Meanwhile, Prism sends Mother to Bor'Dor to collect Kiro's blood from him, then uses it to *Summon Greater Demon*. The summoned barlgura appears in the air directly above the Dawnborn Angel, falling on top of him before attacking him. Seeing this, the surviving guards run away into the arms of the attacking villagers outside. The Judicator attacks multiple times, hitting Deni$e with another critical and bringing her dangerously close to unconsciousness.

The rest of the party begins to concentrate most of their attacks against the extremely hard-hitting Judicator, while Abaddina casts a *Mass Cure Wounds*, which unfortunately just misses Deni$e. The angel rises into the air, casting a *Fireball* that hits Laudna, Bor'Dor, and Abaddina for massive damage, causing Abaddina to lose control of the Earth Guardian. Prism casts *Steel Wind Strike* through Dynios, hitting both the angel and the Judicator and bringing the Judicator close to unconsciousness. On its turn, after attacking Ashton it tries to run, and the attacks of opportunity by both the barlgura and Laudna's hound finish it off. Only the angel and the now freed earth elemental remain on the battlefield.

### **Break**

* Treasure hoard digital dice set now at **D&D Beyond.**
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* **Merch Alert!** EXU Calamity chibi pins, 3 Trinket moon t-shirt, The Chronicles of Exandria Volume One: The Tale of Vox Machina, Hooded Gamemaster ReAction figure, *Candela Obscura* spinning key chain, lapel pin, and d6 dice set in all five shops; 2023 Pride t-shirt in all shops except Australia.
* The cast will be at Rose City Comic Con in Portland September 23-24, and at New York City Comic Con October 12-13. More info at the CR website.
* Trailer for **Candela Obscura**.
* Trailer for the **Midst** Podcast.
* **Welcome to Tal'Dorei** and **Welcome to Wildemount** Critical Role soundtrack albums available now on all digital music platforms.
* **Critical Recap** every Wednesday on CritRole.com.
* **Submit fan art and cosplay** for possible inclusion in the weekly online gallery.
* Sam does ASMR promoting **Critical Role Twitch** subscriptions.

### **Part II**

Orym looks up at the angel hovering above and climbs onto the back of the barlgura, shortly joined by Deni$e. Ashton is able to communicate with the Earth Guardian in Primordial, asking it to throw Ashton toward the flying angel. It complies and Ashton recklessly attacks in the air, but takes a counterstrike from the angel and damage from the fall. When the angel attempts another *Fireball*, Laudna *Counterspells*. The barlgura climbs up a pillar and then leaps, and its passengers Orym and Deni$e are able to each get in a hit on the angel before the barlgura grapples it and brings them all crashing to the ground. As the angel looks at him with pity, Bor'Dor walks over and casts *Inflict Wounds*, saying, "Enough," as he grasps the angel's head and kisses its forehead. The angel slowly crumbles and burns away into ash.

The remaining temple guards are quickly captured and subdued by the villagers, and as the second Judicator approaches, it sees the situation, turns, and leaves. Eidolons begin to fill the temple, and at Elder Abaddina's direction, the elemental seizes the demon in a bearhug, crushing it down into a sphere until they both crumble into shale. The vines growing around the temple tighten, beginning to crush the stone. Orym searches the fallen Judicator, learning that its mask is actually a part of its face. Laudna confronts Abaddina silently, saying nothing but looking at her intently where she is joined by Deni$e, and the Elder warns them they should get outside the vine-engulfed temple. Meanwhile, the villagers round up the guards and those villagers who had converted and come to the temple's defense, taking them to the edge of town. Prism searches the temple and finds thousands of coins, religious texts, and scrolls, which Ashton puts in the portable hole.

Finished looting, the party leaves the temple, but Laudna and Deni$e remain with Abaddina, still staring at her. As stones and cracked glass begin to fall from the ceiling, Abaddina leaves and they follow. The roots and trees crush the temple into a pile of rubble to the cheers of the villagers. Orym is processing this, caught by the contradiction of destroying the temple of a seemingly good god in their efforts to stop a person who wants to destroy all the gods.

Abaddina addresses the captives, freeing them and giving them the choice to flee, or stay and pay their debts. All but one opt to head northward, toward the road. She thanks the party for their help and heals Deni$e and Bor'Dor, telling them she must sleep before *Scrying* for them per their arrangement. As the villagers' celebration begins, Bor'Dor confirms his owed favor to Proleff has been paid, and realizes he has very mixed feelings about the death of the angel. The others agree that, although they are not entirely comfortable with what has happened, it was a net good.

Prism and Ashton give Abaddina the tithed money they found in the temple, and she gives it to Proleff to distribute as he sees fit. Orym takes Laudna aside and expresses his concerns. She suggests allowing the villagers to remain ignorant and happy, although she, too, is frustrated and angry. Orym reiterates the urgency of getting back to Marquet, and his sense of futility that they can do anything to stop the looming disaster. But he wants to find the people they care about first.

Abaddina invites the party to stay with her for the night, revealing her exhaustion as she leads them to her cottage and makes tea for them as they talk. Abaddina claims to know nothing of Predathos or its nature, but the eidolons which she and the villagers revere are the remnants of the great elemental titans. Prism suggests that Predathos may be a threat to them, as well, and the rest of the party agrees that they desperately need to learn more. Abaddina, however, tells them that the eidolons sense no threat from Ruidus or from Predathos. She retires for the night, and Laudna asks Ashton if they think Abaddina may know more about their origins. Ashton doesn't think so, but plans to ask the party for help in pursuing their past once things settle down. They, however, are as angry as Orym and Laudna are. This was the first time a god, a messenger, actually saw them, and the message they took from it was that "she" doesn't care; that Ashton might as well be gone; that they're a mistake.

Meanwhile, Orym has gone outside alone and climbed a tree. Bor'Dor comes outside, looking for him, and Orym calls down to him. When Bor'Dor asks if he wants to talk, Orym invites him to climb up with him, and once in the tree, they talk about the gods, Orym's belief that his friends and family are what he cares about rather than gods, and Bor'Dor's sadness and compassion for the angel he killed. Bor'Dor questions what they're doing here with so much more at stake, and Orym replies that they have a small chance of preventing more people he cares about from being killed. Bor'Dor agrees that's a good goal, telling him, "I go where you go," as he shakes his hand.

Prism and Laudna read through the documents recovered from the temple, which reveal the priests were planning further expansion. They also discuss the coming Apogee Solstice and Vasselheim's buildup of forces near nexus points in anticipation. Prism and Laudna realize the elders probably understand that the surge of magical energy near the village caused by the nexus overhead will likely bring many more years of outside interest in the area; hence, the urgency to oust them while they could.

The entire party, except Orym, get a long rest. In the morning, Ashton asks Abaddina if she knows anything about his condition, but she does not, and suggests he speak to the elemental spirits. She leads them to the *Scrying* basin where Orym produces the wooden box Chetney made for him. Within the pool, they see snow falling on a mountain range, the figures of Deanna and F.R.I.D.A. (whom they do not know), and of Chetney, Imogen, Fearne, and FCG walking through the snow toward a nearby mountain city which Prism recognizes as Uthodurn because of Kravaraad in the distance. They discuss how they can get there and Abaddina suggests that four or five days north in the Irriam Canyon is a shrine kept by Hevestro, Hierophant of the Emerald Tree, a powerful archdruid, who may be able to help them. Or they could go to Vasselheim.

Deni$e pulls a lock of hair from her cleavage and asks for another *Scry*. This time, they see a worried Dariax sitting in a dark space, with Dorian behind him. Prism urges Bor'Dor to *Scry* on his brother, but he doesn't have an object belonging to him. Eventually, he uses his dagger, which at least comes from his home. The *Scry* reveals a modest but well-furnished homestead, unfamiliar to Bor'Dor. Abaddina gives Prism a beautiful scroll containing the *Scry* spell so she will be able to cast the spell herself in the future, and summons a wind eidolon in the form of a semi-ethereal cougar to guide and accompany them on their journey. She wishes them well, and asks they spread word of the village's success to any others of the Valley Coalition they may encounter. As the sun ascends higher in the sky, they set off in the direction of Hevestro and the Irriam Canyon.

## **Featured characters**

### **Bells Hells**

* Ashton Greymoore
* Chetney Pock O'Pea *(in a* Scry*)*
* Fearne Calloway *(in a* Scry*)*
* Fresh Cut Grass *(in a* Scry*)*
* Imogen Temult *(in a* Scry*)*
* Laudna
* Orym

### **Mentioned**

* The Dawnfather
* Hevestro, an archdruid
* Jesper Dog'Son (unnamed)
* The Lord of the Hells
* Ludinus Da'leth
* Pâté de Rolo
* Predathos

### **Returning**

* Bor'Dor Dog'Son
* Chad, an inhabitant of Hearthdell
* Dariax Zaveon *(in a* Scry*)*
* Deanna Leimert *(in a* Scry*)*
* Deni$e Bembachula
* Dorian Storm *(in a* Scry*)*
* F.R.I.D.A. *(in a* Scry*)*
* Joan Abaddina
* Flameguide Kiro
* Prism Grimpoppy
	+ Dynios
	+ Mother
* Proleff

## **Quotations**

* **Orym**: *(after Bor'Dog's HDYWTDT on Kiro)* Where is her god now?
Bor'Dor: Oh, "Where is your god now?" I hear Orym say that and I go: Fuck, I should have said that!
Prism: You know, you could have said: "Dawnfather? More like Gone-father!"
* **Laudna**: We don't need the fucking Dawnfather!
Prism: Dawnfather? More like Done-father!
* **Laudna**: *(to Abaddina)* Be careful not to become what you despise.
Abaddina: Sometimes you must do things you wish weren't yours to do, for the betterment of your people.
* **Laudna**: I'm so... angry. And I can't even articulate why. It feels like we just put ourselves in great danger when there's so much more at stake.[...]
Orym: I'm having trouble believing there's anything we can do. I just keep stepping forward because it's what I've always done. But I don't know that there's anything we can do. [...] I don't understand why you bounced down through history to be here with me right now, but I sure as hells am glad you're here.
* **Bor'Dor**: *(about the angel)* All I know is, it didn't seem evil. He didn't seem evil.
Deni$e: What if there's no good and evil? What if it's just a spectrum of behavior?
Abaddina: Now *that* is wisdom.
* **Abaddina**: Morality is innate. We are born feeling what is right. To not harm, to work to be happy, to help our fellows. It is when morality is written and pressed and imposed that those instincts become twisted and used to control.
* **Bor'Dor**: We just killed an angel. You saved a woman who has no idea about the fight that she's fighting. The village has no clue. They're fucked either way. What are we doing here? My life is very small. What are we doing here?

## **Trivia**

* During the same dates in which this episode took place, Team Wildemount traveled to Uthodurn. See the Timeline for more details.
* Marisha Ray brought back her black fan, this time with the phrase "Separate Church & State".
* After rolling a 2, Emily said "Shout out the Two Crew," a recurring line from *Not Another D&D Podcast*, in which she is a cast member.

## **References**

1. ↑ This refers to Matt's Twitter account being very briefly hacked and tweeting he had 20 MacBooks for sale for $750 each. See photo here.

**Art:**

1. ↑ Fan art of Laudna's Hound of Ill Omen, by @cpprcoyote (source). Used with permission.
2. ↑ Fan art of Ashton's attack, by Cha Cha Rae (source). Used with permission.
3. ↑ Fan art of three different reactions to the Crown Keepers, by Taylor Weltzer (source). Used with permission.