Bloody Flowers

"**Bloody Flowers**" (3x67) thumbnail featuring Ashley Johnson.

"**Bloody Flowers**" (3x67) is the sixty-seventh episode of the third campaign of *Critical Role*. Bells Hells search for a way to cure Keyleth and confront the demonic denizens that have made the cursed Grey Valley their homebase...

## **Synopsis**

### **Announcements**

* First sponsor is **Thorum Rings** - use code criticalrole for 20% off. The time and energy they put into their rings reminds Sam of how much time and energy he puts into the ads each week. We get a mini-documentary about Sam's skit-making process and the people who actually make it happen, starring The Crew.
* Second sponsor is **Baldur's Gate 3**, where Faerûn is under attack from mind flayers.
* **Merch Alert!** Mysteriously timed Air Ashari dice now available in the US shop; Nott the Brave ReAction figure all CR shops.
* The Critical Role and Candela Obscura **SDCC** **panels** are now both available on YouTube.
* The Season One finale of **Midst** has been released. Submit questions now for bonus AMA episodes.
* **Darrington Press LLC** is at GenCon running games of Daggerheart and Candela Obscura.

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

*So last we left off, Bells Hells reuniting, being scattered across Exandria and a slight burst in time, managed to reconvene, catch up a little bit, and decide a number of various paths that should be set upon in the near future. The initial one, upon realizing how wounded Keyleth is and not recovering, to check in with her in Zephrah. In doing so, there was another reuniting with some of your home and family and people you haven't seen since you embarked on this journey with Bells Hells, really having the opportunity to catch up a bit with the people that are closest to you aside from those that you travel alongside.*

*You also discovered that Keyleth, the wounds not healing, does have one possible opportunity to salvage and recover from this. However, it sends you to one of many possible cursed areas, the most viable and proven one being the Grey Valley of Tal'Dorei. You also heard that there was a troop that already volunteered to go but a day before and has not returned, which was worrying. However, you were then sent to the Grey Valley, wandered about the dark and long-cursed and dangerously ominous landscape, avoiding being found and seen for much of it before encountering a number of terrifying fiendish entities. You did battle, and through some quick thinking and some powerful druidic magic managed to come out of there fairly well. Took a break, gathered yourselves, and prepared for the rest of your journey to gather enough of the perennem flowers to be utilized in healing Keyleth's wounds and setting forth on the next leg of your journey.*

### **Part I**

FCG checks in with Orym: How's he doing after finding the dead and possessed Ashari, and his sister Baernie among the still-missing? Orym deflects, asking how everyone else is doing. Fearne is really good! Orym admits he's been better, that seeing Keyleth brought low has been very difficult. FCG notes that Laudna seems to be glowing a bit, and Laudna says that she and Imogen had a chance to discuss their feelings about the disparity between their experiences while separated, and extends an apology to everyone else for her earlier emotional outburst. The kiss between Imogen and her is not mentioned.

They discuss what to do next. Orym wants to go back to the Malleus Key. Imogen notes that they all seem to have different opinions about the gods, and although Predathos is clearly bad she's worried that ending Predathos may end her abilities as well, or end those who "got their life from a godly power." But a lot of people depend on the gods so obviously the party supports the gods, right? FCG is not so sure the party actually does support them, and a straw poll reveals he's the only one actually in favor, with everyone else undecided except Ashton who abstains from being undecided. He retells his backstory of being raised in the Hishari cult and teleported to Marquet during the ceremony that destroyed them and killed his parents. Imogen reiterates that Predathos is bad, but Laudna and Chetney aren't sure that's true. Ashton is sure that Ludinus Da'leth, at least, needs to be taken care of, while Orym is certain that Predathos is indeed bad since he orchestrated the attack on Keyleth. Fearne is worried about what happens to Imogen if Predathos dies. Ashton says they need more information and should just keep looking for flowers for now.

Moving onward, they notice faint glowing wisps moving through the trees, the ghosts of long-dead warriors. Chetney catches a smell like burning meat and Laudna sends Pâté out scouting but he sees very little. As they continue moving forward, they reach a huge hill sundered by a crevasse and the smell grows stronger. They notice a building in the cliffside, but when Fearne tries to get a closer look, she notices the spyglass she stole from Captain Xandis weeks earlier is missing. Orym finally admits he gave it back to Xandis, and Fearne says she forgives him, but when he asks for *Guidance* to find more flowers, she only pretends to cast the spell on him. In the absence of any obvious perennem flowers, they decide to investigate the structures and attempt (badly) to stealth in that direction. Winged shapes guard the area, and two of them notice the party and start circling.

Chetney half-transforms into wolf-form, while FCG casts *Spirit Guardians* in the form of sheets of glass. One of the vrocks immediately takes radiant damage from it while attempting to attack. Imogen *Catapults* a rock into the vrock, but it screeches and stuns her, and Orym immediately uses Bait and Switch to trade spots with her and boost her AC. Ashton rages and slams into the creature, knocking it 25 feet away where Chetney grapples it. The other vrock attacks him, but Laudna's *Silvery Barbs* saves him from a crit. She immediately *Eldritch Blasts* the creature, killing it. Turning to the one Chetney has grappled, Fearne casts *Burning Hands* hitting both Chetney and the vrock. It screeches one more time, stunning Fearne and FCG, before Imogen finishes it with a *Shocking Grasp*.

The party quickly scuttles off toward the structure in the chasm, looking up at more vrocks circling overhead. They can now see the building is a small fort that appears very recently damaged and deserted. They recognize it as the Iridon Bastion, built not too many years ago as an extension of a temple to the Platinum Dragon and an early warning system against abyssal incursions. Chetney has a vision of it being overrun by demons only a few days earlier. As they approach, they split the party; Orym, Imogen, Ashton, and Laudna approach from above, while Pàté, Chetney, Fearne, and FCG stay on the chasm floor.

From above, Orym sees the aftermath and destruction of a recent battle. There are multiple impish demons, three tall demon warriors, several small demons drawing glowing runic infernal circles, and three metal cages holding humanoids. A 13-foot tall corpulent dark furred demon with tiny wings glides down holding a beautiful silver sword that appears too small for it. FCG casts *Tongues* and hears it say, "Hurry, I must feast soon. Prepare, then celebrate." Through Pàté, FCG tells the upper level team that they need to hurry. Fearne spots a demon wander near the structure and apparently be pulled into it and killed in a flare of fire. A horned and winged humanoid with deep red skin and gray hair emerges and Fearne assumes he could be a potential ally, telling the other team about him. They all decide they need to act now, so they prepare for battle, then Fearne starts calling for help while Chetney pretends to attack her. All the demons turn toward them.

Imogen immediately hits the tower (avoiding the cage there) with *Synaptic Static*, killing the smaller demons and confusing the larger one. The other demons begin moving toward Fearne and Chetney. The topside team jumps off the cliff, Laudna casting *Feather Fall* as they go. Orym uses Seedling's *Grasping Vines* to pull him to land silently next to the cage on the tower, joined by Imogen and Laudna, and Ashton uses the immovable rod now implanted in his hammer to halt his descent just above the tower and leap onto it. Meanwhile, FCG *Commands* the two demons investigating the disturbance to "Mime". Chetney stays with them while the others run to try climb up to the fortress, but the hillside is too steep. The *Command* wears off and the demons pick up their blades and rush to attack.

### **Break**

* **Thorum Rings**, unique rings for unique people.
* Trailer for **Baldur's Gate 3**.
* The Tombtakers box set now available for pre-order at **WizKids.com**. Use code CRITHIT2023 to save 10%.
* **Merch Alert!** Air Ashari dice set in the US shop; Nott the Brave ReAction figure, Critical Role backpack and watercolor journal, Critical Role Land t-shirt, and Bells Hells dice sets for Chetney and FCG in all five shops; Bells Hells hoodie in all shops except Australia.
* Cast at Rose City Comic Con in Portland September 23-24, New York City Comic Con October 12-13, London MCM Comic Com October 28-29. 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 has to come up with another promo for **Critical Role Twitch** subscriptions and the entire production team make guest appearances, including Kyle, Kirby, Maxwell, Will, Jerry, and many others definitely not gaslighting him into a non-ASMR bit. Instead, we get meta.

### **Part II**

On the tower, inside the cage are a female soldier of the Platinum Dragon and a Tempest Blade gnome. Orym attacks the demon just below them while Laudna (in her Form of Dread) successfully picks the lock on the cage. Fearne reaches the potential devilish ally and persuades him that she is, if not yet his friend, at least not an enemy. FCG casts *Scramble the Dead* (a reskinned *Toll the Dead*) on a demon, while Imogen casts *Minute Meteors*. On the devil's turn, he flies to the two demons and slashes one of them with a glowing sword and a *Divine Smite*, causing massive damage. Chetney uses Blood Curse of Bloated Agony and Turmoil to finish it off and damage the other. Ashton joins Orym and seriously wounds the demon facing him. However, the tiny-winged demon leader sends them a mental welcome to the feast, while telling his fellow demons that they taste better still wiggling. It then teleports on top of the cage Laudna and Imogen are next to. Another demon runs out of the fortress and joins the fight, and the one on Chetney hits with a sword and bite. The quasits begin scattering. One goes invisible and another tries to scare Orym, but fails.

Orym slashes the demon in front of him, then jumps to Imogen and uses Bait and Switch to increase her AC by 8, while Laudna opens the cage door and takes refuge inside it. She uses a *Ray of Frost* that weakens the soldier prisoner's chains, injuring her but allowing her to break them. FCG *Commands* the demon near him to "Betray", which allows FCG to move past without being attacked. Imogen *Lightning Bolts* the nalfeshnee next to her but it does minimal damage. Meanwhile, their devil ally attacks for more massive damage on a demon and Chetney follows up with Turmoil, but the demon is still up. Ashton finishes off the demon on the tower. The demon leader on the cage tries a Horror Nimbus but no one is affected. All three of his subsequent attacks on Imogen hit, however, for 59 total damage. She is still up, barely. The demon near Chetney attacks the devil, but the Blood Curse damages him just enough to finish him off.

Orym attacks the threatening nalfeshnee, trying to disarm it and finally succeeds, the sword falling to the courtyard far below. He uses his last Superiority Die to fling Imogen away with an added 9 to her AC, telling Laudna, "Get her out of here!" Laudna tries to hit and fails with two *Shocking Grasps*, then grabs Imogen and pulls her off the tower, using her *Mirror Image* to avoid the opportunity attack. They *Feather Fall* off the tower to safety where Imogen takes her Potion of Superior Healing, then shoots a *Psychic Lance* at the leader, catching his notice. Fearne casts *Blight* on one of the demons, but a vrock flies in and tries to attack Ashton. Chetney runs to the beautiful sword that the nalfeshnee dropped. Ashton tries to reach the big demon but the vrock gapples them, so Ashton attacks it instead, damaging it and knocking it back 5 feet, allowing him to reach the demon leader and whack him. The demon, however, leaps off the tower and lands next to Laudna and Imogen, clawing and biting Imogen and sending her unconscious.

Orym sees this and jumps off the tower, taking the damage from the fall and landing on the leader, hitting him. Laudna also attacks with a *Blight* and tries to shield Imogen's unconscious body with her Form of Dread. Fearne wild shapes into a shoebill, picking up FCG and flying him toward Imogen, getting him close enough to cast *Healing Word* on Imogen and bring her back to consciousness. She grabs the demon's foot and casts *Shocking Grasp*, removing its reaction and then casting *Invisibility* on both Laudna and her, then runs toward FCG. Meanwhile, the devil finishes off another demon, and Chetney grabs the lost sword before attacking the demon leader and attempting to draw his attention, then running to another cage. He hears a voice push into his mind, saying, "Rise in glory. Take what you've taken and together, we will do great things." Ashton jumps down and attacks the demon leader, doing serious damage and infuriating it. It teleports to the opposite side of the courtyard, fleeing, followed by the vrocks.

The invisible Laudna moves to another locked cage, telling FCG Imogen is injured and invisible. Fearne flies after the escaping demon leader, dropping her shoebill form to cast *Blight* for the How do you want to do this?. It dies, threatening to find and kill her. She takes its tusks. Laudna and Chetney succeed in opening the remaining cages and releasing all the prisoners: two Iridon Bastion soldiers (Uwon and Diedrich), two Tempest Blades (Jennis and Erana), and Baernie, Orym's sister-in-law. When Orym and Baernie see each other, they run and hug joyfully. Baernie knew someone would come rescue them, but didn't think it would be him.

The devil who aided them approaches Fearne, introducing himself as Teven Klask. He explains he is one of many champions of his patron, acting as a disruptor, assassin, and scout. He asks to whom she gives her fealty, and she responds, "Myself". He notes she is outside the "Knotted Weave", and tells her he kneels to Asmodeus. Something is brewing in Exandria that has shaken the Lord of the Hells, and Teven has been sent with instructions that under the circumstances and for the moment, he can deal with worshippers of the Prime Deities. Teven mentions to Fearne that there are many gifts that can be granted on certain paths, if she chooses to follow Asmodeus. She asks what that entails, and he replies, "An eternity of purpose, strength, and pleasures for those who fall under his shadow." He had her at "pleasures". Fearne is fascinated, and he takes her hand and kisses it. Left behind is a small mark of a black horned crown. Teven tells her the path is open, and all she needs to do is ask for Asmodeus' aid. Fearne accepts, taking his hand. He closes it with his own, and says, "The pact is sealed," promising they'll meet again. Flying upward, he tells Imogen, "I think our destinies are entwined," before disappearing in a gust of flame.

Orym asks Baernie what happened to them. Unfortunately, they were unaware the Bastion had been attacked and fallen, and when they approached some of their group were slain, some fled, and some captured for use in a demon feast to celebrate the victory. The nalfeshnee leader called himself Extovass the Gluttonous, who knelt to a prince named Vrudauliun. The Ashari find two of their backpacks, holding enough flowers to cure Keyleth. Chetney asks if the sword he found belonged to any of them, but they only look confused. FCG offers to *Identify* it but Chetney tucks it in the Bag of Holding. Imogen can *Teleport* in the morning, but they move off before making camp for the night to a place of greater safety, where Baernie casts *Stone Shape* to create a small hidden cavern. Tired but successful, they rest for the night.

## **Featured characters**

### **Bells Hells**

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

### **New**

* Baernie
* Diedrich, a guard of the Iridon Bastion
* Erana, a Tempest Blade
* Extovass the Gluttonous
* Graz'tchar
* Jennis, a gnomish Tempest Blade
* Teven Klask
* Uwon, a guard of the Iridon Bastion

### **Mentioned**

* Asmodeus
* The Demon Prince of Indulgence
* F.R.I.D.A.
* Joan Abaddina
* Keyleth
* Ludinus Da'leth
* The Matron of Ravens
* Nana Morri
* Platinum Dragon
* Predathos
* Prism Grimpoppy
* Tarrintel (unnamed), Orym's biological father
* Thollo
* Trist Drassig
* Vrudauliun
* Warren Drassig
* Xandis
* Zan Tal'Dorei
* Zhudanna

## **Quotations**

* **Imogen**: Laudna doesn't sweat. She glistens.
* **Ashton**: I love an odd job. You don't have to think about things during an odd job. You have a thing to do, you do it, you've accomplished something. It's really nice.
* **Ashton**: I like found family. Found family is fucking great. That's the way to go.
* **Sam**: *(casting Spirit Guardians)* These are demon birds that are swooping down? What do birds not like?
Marisha: Windshields.
* **The sword**: *(to Chetney)* Rise in glory. Take what you've taken and together, we will do great things.
* **Fearne**: So you're looking to help the gods?
Teven Klask: I'm looking to help *my* god. And in some ways, all of the gods in this moment remember they are brethren.
* **Fearne**: *(accepting Teven's bargain)* I feel like I'm wanting a little excitement, and I really like what your god's about, like the pleasure thing, and I've really been trying to put like self-care before-- you know, like caring about myself. Pleasure, make it all about me. Let's do it. I'm in.

## **Trivia**

* Sam's jerrycan says "TRAVIS I'M PREGNANT" and then "TRAVIS IT'S A MEME" then "INTERNET: NO ONE IS PREGNANT".

## **References**

1. ↑ Fearne pickpocketed the spyglass from Xandis when they were first flown to Bassuras.  See "The Hellcatch Valley" (3x24) at 1:07:47.  Orym noticed and stole it from her soon after, ("Hidden Truths" (3x26) at 0:46:07) and the next time the party was on the Silver Sun, left it in a noticeable place for Xandis to find. ("Pyrrhic Return" (3x35) at 2:19:42)
2. ↑ The sword is almost certainly Graz'tchar, a sentient greatsword holding a fragment of the consciousness of Graz'zt, the Demon Prince of Indulgence. It was known to be in the Grey Valley.
3. ↑ See "**Bloody Flowers**" (3x67) from 1:06:45 through 1:07:00.  Travis does not seem to see this…
4. ↑ See "**Bloody Flowers**" (3x67) from 1:08:20 through 1:08:50.
5. ↑ See "**Bloody Flowers**" (3x67) from 1:09:05 through 1:09:20.

**Art:**

1. ↑ Fan art of Bells Hells voting, by Melissa Hahn (source). Used with permission.
2. ↑ Fan art of Fearne "guiding" Orym, by Elaine Tipping (source). Used with permission.
3. ↑ Fan art of the horned and winged figure, by Odd (source). Used with permission.
4. ↑ Fan art of Laudna (in her Form of Dread) protecting the fallen Imogen, by Pyromeekorai (source). Used with permission.
5. ↑ Fan art of Teven kissing Fearne's hand, by MidnightCrows (source). Used with permission.