A Stage Set

"**A Stage Set**" (3x32) thumbnail featuring Travis Willingham.

"**A Stage Set**" (3x32) is the thirty-second episode of the third campaign of *Critical Role*. Bells Hells tinker with former friendships and robotic inner workings before returning to Paragon's Call, this time as newly minted members...

## **Synopsis**

### **Announcements**

* First sponsor is **Quip**, the smart electric toothbrush, who had the good sense to condition the sponsorship on Sam never putting the toothbrush in his mouth on camera. That doesn't mean, however, he can't brush his teeth with *other* things and he proceeds to do so.
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* **Critical Role: The Mighty Nein Origins: Yasha Nydoorin** is now available.

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

*So, last we left off, Bells Hells were in the city of Bassuras chasing down Armand Treshi, a fugitive from the Mahaan House Treshi in Jrusar, who seemed to have been caught up in a number of problems in the city mainly involving this Shade Mother business, and was turned in by Lady Emoth after you had turned her in. He fled the city and you've been chasing him ever since.*

*Upon arriving here in the city of Bassuras in the middle of the Hellcatch Valley, you also uncovered a number of interesting elements, one, that he is holed up within the Seat of Disdain, the house of power, the fortress of power for the Paragon's Call that he was so entwined with. You also managed to have a strange run-in with an assassin that was revealed chasing down the Calloways, revealing themself when you met Birdie Calloway. You then traveled with Birdie along to a secret laboratory where she and Ollie, Fearne's father, had been allied with another strange ally of Treshi's that you had encountered once before, Ira Wendagoth, the Nightmare King. It seemed that the Calloway family had been working while she was being kept by her "grandmother" Morri, Morrigan, in the Feywild, to understand the nature of the red moon Ruidus, which it seems your friend Fearne here was born under.*

*Now, as part of this interest in ascertaining its nature in hopes of protecting their child from its strange continuous apparition within the fey realm, Ira seemed to have acquired the item he needed that you had delivered from Morri to complete this device that the Calloways had been completing with him, and then he absconded with this information, before revealing some other odd connections to other weird mysteries that float about the continent of Marquet. Some tense encounters and realizations with your parents, Fearne, and a possible path to reconciliation. At the very least getting everything out in the open. It was decided that Ollie would stay back while Birdie would take you on her crawler alongside yours back to the city of Bassuras to look into some of this Treshi business.*

*You also discovered upon reaching out, Fresh Cut Grass, to Dancer, that it seemed there was some tension in the past you weren't aware of, an emotional request to not find them. Realizing that you may have been responsible in some way, shape, or form, for the dire end of your previous group, you reached a threshold of stress and tension and began to assault your friends. In this brief altercation, you managed to calm Fresh Cut Grass, and in these tense realizations and hurled insults the rest of you sat there a bit scattered, broken and confused. You, Laudna, dealing with the reemerging influence of one Delilah within yourself and what that draw might mean should you give into it. It seems that the only functional mind at the moment, as pointed out by Ashton, is Orym, and the rest of you have some shit to work out. But, after spending a night of rest here in the laboratory, shortly after sunrise you once again stood onto the crawler that you had purchased and had worked on by Imahara Joe, alongside Birdie's crawler, and then rode off into the dusty desert of the Hellcatch back towards the city.*

### **Part I**

The party arrives in Bassuras without incident. Birdie heads back to the secret lab for safety, after hesitantly hugging Fearne. Fresh Cut Grass wants to talk to Dancer, so Imogen *Sends* to her, saying, "Dancer. We've captured your automaton. Preparing to disassemble. Where can we meet, if you're interested in recouping some costs? We're in Bassuras." Dancer replies for them to meet her at the Revel and Break, a drinking establishment in The Undercarriage. FCG gives their buzzsaw arm to Orym (who wraps it in a cloak and carries it under an arm) and Fearne ties FCG up.

At the tavern, Orym, Imogen, and Ashton enter while the others stay outside. Dancer is at a table and willing to talk, and Orym gives her the buzzsaw arm. Dancer confirms she didn't build FCG but bought and then repaired him with weeks of tinkering. She agrees to go outside where FCG apologizes to her and asks her for more information about his origin, but she knows little. When she got him running, he already was cheerful, took care of people, and knew how to heal. She doesn't know if he could earn her forgiveness, and wants FCG far away from her, because it could happen again. The night he broke, he'd been acting a little strangely, having gone through "a few rougher scuffs", and then snapped, killing the entire Division of Public Benefit and nearly killing Dancer, who narrowly escaped. She describes a runic cable deep in FCG's interior, which if disconnected would seriously incapacitate him. Saying goodbye, FCG is anxious for her to take care of herself and to find someone to talk to. She gives him back his buzzsaw arm and suggests they talk to Imahara Joe about FCG's metal-masked seller.

The party goes to Joe's, where Chetney buys some metallic paints and magnets to get the metal out of them. Imogen asks about the trader who sold FCG to Dancer. They've come through about three times in the past few years. They are tall and masculine-presenting, wearing a "really intricate metal mask" and a dark hooded cloak, going by the name "D" and selling various ancient bits and pieces of ancient pre-Calamity arcane machinery they say they find buried in the Rumedam Desert.

Imogen asks about the runic cable, a "ley tether", that Dancer described inside FCG, and Joe is familiar. Someone at a university might know more, but Joe knows quite a bit. He excitedly agrees to look inside FCG, and FCG is willing, though nervous. Joe discovers transmutation magic transforms the fuel FCG consumes, and when he looks further he finds the tether. When Laudna attempts to read the runes on it, Delilah Briarwood's voice says there's nothing there of interest to her. Joe confirms it's properly installed and everything looks as intended, but is nervous exploring any further.

Laudna shares that FCG recently had a murderous incident and Joe fetches a book that discusses "The Care and Culling", an event during the Age of Arcanum during which automatons acting as caretakers and helpful companions were created and distributed throughout Exandria by Aeorian political figures to their rivals as ostensible peace offerings. The aeormatons suddenly killed the people they had been gifted to, making Aeorian technology henceforth incredibly suspect. FCG is shaken, believing they must be one of those assassin Aermatons gifted to someone in Marquet, but Joe and Orym reassure them that what's important is what they want to become.

The party returns to questioning Joe about the mysterious "D", and Imogen, with Joe's permission, *Detects Thoughts* to see his memories of D. He remembers the cloak and hood, the figure walking alongside a crawler-pulled cart. The figure's mask is intricately made of bits of metal and he wears leather boots. Before they leave, Joe gifts the still-shaken FCG a medallion of the Changebringer, saying he hopes it will help FCG find the right path.

### **Break**

* Get 15% off select books and bundles now through September 5th at **D&D Beyond**.
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### **Part II**

The party decides to head to Paragon's Call's Seat of Disdain. In an effort to disguise herself via a wild magic surge, Imogen manages to cast *Levitate* on herself so the party pulls her along like a balloon. As they walk, Orym notices the bounty hunter Artana Voe, who was linked to Armand Treshi in Jrusar, passes them without notice in the street. He follows her, and when she enters an alley and stops, greets her. She says she's just in town visiting a friend, and although Orym doesn't believe her, when she walks off he goes back to the group and tells them about it.

They are admitted to the courtyard of the Seat of Disdain where many Paragon's Call members are hurriedly loading a mammoth-crawler with a large pile of crates and boxes as a dust storm seems to be approaching. General Ratanish greets them and shows them to their quarters. Shortly, a minotaur named Rockmond joins them saying he's to show them around. He takes them to the armory and provides uniform cloaks, then around the upstairs. When Imogen asks if any areas are off limits, he tells them they should have no reason to go to the basement. For today, they should just not be too curious unless they're asked to do something. The mammoth-crawler is being loaded today and hopes to leave tomorrow, dust storm permitting. Usually these shipments take about a week to deliver and return, using the Call's best soldiers. Rockmond then escorts them back down to the courtyard.

They watch the loading continue as the dust storm approaches. Ashton grabs a crate and pitches in, and although Ratanish warns them about taking initiative (except in defense of the Call) without orders, he approves and they all start helping. Inside are for the most part all manner of construction materials. About four of the crates they load are labeled "Treshi", are locked, and seem to hold glassware. They are a similar size to the crate Ashton remembers opening at Jiana Hexum's home that held vials of magical grey liquid. There are also two black metal, surprisingly light but heavily locked, reinforced chests, about a foot-and-a-half square with slightly rounded edges on the top. Faintly engraved in their tops is the symbol of the Cerberus Assembly. When everything is loaded, Ratanish thanks them and tells them to wait out the storm inside.

They head to their quarters and talk about what to do. They aren't sure if Treshi plans to leave tomorrow with the crates bearing his name, but FCG suggests maybe they should forget Treshi for now and follow the crates. The idea of using the ring that tracked Treshi to now track the crawler is raised, until they remember they left it at the pawn shop. FCG asks Chetney to craft a brooch, and he reluctantly does so. They give it to Fearne, hoping she could use it to distract Ratanish (whose hobby is jewelry-making). FCG then casts *Locate Creature* and they learn Treshi is directly beneath them, presumably in the basement. Chetney proposes scouting it with his *Invisibility* and Fearne gives him the portable hole just in case he finds Treshi.

Laudna decides to go get the tracking ring and Ashton goes with her into the raging dust storm. They make their way to the Bank of Renewal pawn shop run by the Hiro family, who admit them when they say they're seeking shelter from the storm. After a lot of small talk, Ashton buys the ring. On the way back, Ashton tells Laudna he thinks she's hiding a bunch of bad shit, but she responds that he knows about as much as she does. Her past trauma is still with her. Ashton has come to terms with being broken, but thinks Imogen and FCG can still fix themselves, and Laudna suggests they can give them the life she and Ashton never had. Ashton worries about her, and suggests she communicate with everyone more. Her bullshit is adorable, but not all the time.

Meanwhile, the invisible Chetney sneaks toward the basement, entry to which is closed off by a barred grate which he successfully lockpicks. Dodging guards, he finds a large room with six prison cells. One of the larger cells holds furniture resembling a guest room and Armand Treshi is inside, reading. Chetney moves toward a massive iron vault door at other end of the hallway, but discovers it, too, is guarded, with a possible pull for an alarm bell. Stymied, Chetney retreats back upstairs.

The party regathers in their quarters where Chetney reports what he found and they try to figure out what to do. Ashton shares that the crates marked with Treshi's name didn't contain his belongings; they were the same as the ones in Jiana Hexum's house. Laudna suggests they reach out to her to ask what was in the crates, and Chetney agrees, but Ashton is very reluctant. They decide to plant the tracking ring on the caravan and see what develops.

At that moment, they hear shouting: "Up front now, arms!" The other Call members around them are donning armor, grabbing weapons, and charging into the courtyard. There are fiery explosions near the loaded mammoth-crawler, and cries to "Defend the load!"

## **Featured characters**

### **Bells Hells**

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

### **Returning**

* Adon Hiro
* Armand Treshi
* Artana Voe
* Birdie Calloway
* Dancer
* Delilah Briarwood (voice)
* Imahara Joe
* Ratanish
* Rockmond, minotaur bodyguard of Ratanish

### **New**

* D, tall, metal-masked seller of F.C.G. (in a memory, via *Detect Thoughts*)

### **Mentioned**

* Axer
* Gurge Kisgregg
* Jiana Hexum
* Ludinus Da'leth
* Otohan Thull
* Ozene
* Preio Madali
* Terrawyn
* Vali Dertrana
* Oatmeal, Thunderstorm, and Pussy, Dancer's automatons

## **Quotations**

* **Ashton**: *(to Fearne)* Until somebody actually gets to know you, they would find you extremely comforting and calming.
* **Fresh Cut Grass**: *(to Dancer)* Don't go. I don't know what I did. I mean, I do, but I don't. But I'm sorry. I just wanted to talk to you because I found some new friends, and I don't want to hurt them. I thought maybe you might know more about me? But also, I belong to you, so if you want to take me back, I'm yours. I promise I won't do it again.
Dancer: I know that's a promise you can't keep. Look, FCG, there's a lot of time we spent together that I'm real appreciative of. There's a lot of conversations we've had, and a lot of personal shit that you've helped me through. But you also took a lot from me, and I can't forget that. Our paths are diverged. They're gone. I don't want you to do to anyone else what you did to me.
* **Sam**: *(discussing t-shirt ideas)* How about "Fresh Cut Grass destroyed my Pussy"? [...]
Laura: "My Pussy has a buzzsaw." [...]
Ashley: Wait, weren't you the one-eyed monster?
Sam: I was. "The one-eyed monster slayed my Pussy." *(laughter)* This is canon!
Matt: I know! Sam, what's wrong with you?!
Sam: I'm just "yes, and"-ing, Matt.
Matt: This whole time, all of that led up to that fucking joke.
Sam: Yes. This moment.
Matt: You asshole. Well played.
* **Imahara Joe**: *(discussing The Care and Culling)* Look, whatever this says and whatever's happened, that's maybe part of the nature that you were created for. But what is life if not finding ways to buck the supposed reasons for the creation carving its own path?
FCG: I hope you're right, but... I'm not alive. [...] I mean, I was created. But I wasn't created to help. I was created to kill.
* **Orym**: What I care about is who you want to be now.
FCG: I've got to figure that out, I guess.
Orym: Don't you know?
FCG: No, I just found out about all this stuff.
Orym: I don't mean uncovering all the secrets, Letters, I mean who do *you* want to be today? A killer?
FCG: No.
Orym: Or a healer?
FCG: Yeah.
* **Laudna**: That plan went away because *someone* used our bead of capturing bubble thing and it broke. There's been a lot of broken rocks.
Ashton: Sometimes I do stupid shit.
Orym: She's talking about the thing that *I* broke.
Ashton: Oh, you broke something?
Orym: I break everything I touch that's magical.
Ashton: Fuck, I just assumed that I broke it. That's fucking crazy.
FCG: I'm broken inside.

* **Laudna**: We can tell Fresh Cut Grass as much as we want that he does not have to be defined by his past trauma. But what happens when your past trauma does not loosen their grip? What if your trauma doesn't let you forget?
Ashton: Well, and I'll admit I'm being a bit of a hypocrite here, I suppose my first instinct would be to break its fingers.
Laudna: Too bad I can't break something I can't see. [...]
Ashton: I like you.
Laudna: I like you, too. You're such a shit.
Ashton: I especially like you when you're being serious.
Laudna: I've done a lot to try and run away, reclaim my life and it doesn't really seem to fucking matter at the end of the day.
Ashton: No. Maybe I'm wrong, maybe not, but I figure I'm always going to be a bit broken, and I'm okay with that. I can work just fine. I can be the person I want to be and still be a bit fucking broken. But FCG, Imogen, I think they can fix themselves.
Laudna: You and I, we're broken on a visual level. Quite literally.
Ashton: Yeah, a fundamental one. You can still be the best broken thing you can be, though.
Laudna: Absolutely. Do you think we're past redemption, beyond the point of return?
Ashton: Fuck no. I mean, to be fair, I'm not even sure what redemption even means. I... most days like who I am. At least I think I do. Most days I'm doing what I think is right until I'm proven not to be.[...]
Laudna: We've resigned ourselves to not being able to fix what's deep down inside, but if we can give them the life we never had...
Ashton: I worry about you. I suppose that's what I'm trying to say.

## **Trivia**

* The in-game date for this episode was 18 Sydenstar 843 PD. The apogee solstice will occur between Fessuran 21–23 (in about 34-36 days).
* Sam's jerrycan has a picture of FCG with angry eyebrows captioned "Breaking Smiley, I am the one who smiles".

## **References**

1. ↑ See "Promise and Potential" (3x22) at 4:03:35.  The players suspected the vials held distilled dunamis.
2. ↑ See "Dark Portents" (3x29) at 1:13:17.
3. ↑ See "**A Stage Set**" (3x32) from 34:25 through 34:35.

**Art:**

1. ↑ Fan art of Dancer meeting with FCG, by Kiera James (source). Used with permission.
2. ↑ Fan art of Imahara Joe investigating FCG, by Lap Pun Cheung (source). Used with permission.
3. ↑ Fan art of Imogen *Levitating*, by Elaine Tipping (source). Used with permission.
4. ↑ Fan art of Laudna and Ashton in the dust storm, by Cha Cha Rae (source). Used with permission.
5. ↑ Fan art of Laudna and Ashton's conversation, by Melissa Hahn (source). Used with permission.