Escape From The Past

"**Escape From The Past**" (3x58) thumbnail featuring the cast.

"**Escape From The Past**" (3x58) is the fifty-eighth episode of the third campaign of *Critical Role*. Bells Hells' Team Wildemount are assailed by the corrupted creatures of Molaesmyr as they attempt to flee with the secrets they've obtained from the ruins...

## **Synopsis**

### **Announcements**

* Matthew Mercer broken! Liam is bouncing in his chair.
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* *Keys from the Golden Vault* is now available on **D&D Beyond**.
* Critical Role's new horror tabletop RPG show **Candela Obscura** premieres 25 May 2023 at 7pm Pacific. Laura, Ashley, Robbie Daymond, and Anjali Bhimani are the cast for the first three episodes, GMed by Matt and featuring Taliesin as the guide and Lightkeeper.

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

*So, last we left off, this troop had wandered from the city of Uthodurn deep into the Savalirwood to the ruins of Molaesmyr in hopes of uncovering some of the lost history surrounding Ludinus Da'leth. After encountering some of the terrifying altered creatures that call it home, hiding through the ruins in shadow, only briefly managing to avoid being globally possessed by many of the spirits that linger here, running from the terrifying Wolf-King entity, and eventually climbing within the remains of the Gildhollow Tower, you clamber within the shaded ruins that once was the abode of Ludinus Da'leth. Within here, you begin to uncover some notes, some themes, and apparently some sort of odd enchanted section of a wall. But before you're able to dig too deep into what that is and what it may contain, Chetney climbs the ceiling to check for others and in doing so seems to call forward or awaken some sort of strange amorphous creature that emerges and slops down into the center of the chamber.*

### **Part I**

Battle begins as the gargantuan creature oozes down into the top-most room of the tower, its moist appearance shifting as if it were trying to assume a firmer form. The weird noises from its multiple mouths inflict psychic damage on those within melee of it, and it has legendary actions and resistances. Imogen runs for the stairs, falling to their bottom and firing a *Lightning Bolt* as she falls. Although the bolt misses, it starts a fire on the other side of the room, which continues to grow during the fight. The creature, a Hatemonger, then blocks the stairs, leaving Imogen cut off from the rest of the party.

Although the Hatemonger is fairly easy to hit, it hits very hard, reducing Fearne to unconsciousness with a halved Constrict attack and a critical Consume, then swallows her. She immediately fails a death save, but F.R.I.D.A. is able to reach into the creature's mouth and pull her out, then cast *Spare the Dying*, stabilizing her. On the creature's turn, it spews out black miasma, hitting Chetney, FCG, FRIDA, and Fearne, and costing Fearne another failed death save for two total. The creature then slithers down the stairs and joins Imogen in the room below. Deanna uses Preserve Life to heal Fearne to consciousness.

Upstairs, the fire is spreading and growing more intense as the party continues attacking and damaging the creature significantly. During the battle, Deanna panics at the amount of damage being inflicted on the party and casts *Death Ward* on Chetney. Unseen by the others, the Hatemonger Consumes Imogen, but eventually Fearne casts *Burning Hands* on the creature, getting the How do you want to do this? and freeing Imogen, still conscious.

However, the fire is still growing. They remember the strange circle on the wall and FRIDA and FCG both cast spells on it, causing it to open and reveal a small cubby holding an old leather satchel which FCG nabs. Chetney and FRIDA hang back, continuing to search the room and take fire damage as the others flee, but they find nothing further. When the body of the dead Hatemonger cracks open and a tendril emerges, they all run for the exit. FRIDA uses a flask of oil to set fire to the bottom room, while Imogen uses *Telekinesis* to lift the now-fully emerged creature and shove it back into the flaming room. When it continues to try to pursue them, FCG uses *Stone Shape* to close off the only exit.

The party attempts to stealth away while healing up a bit, but FRIDA and Imogen inadvertently create some loud noises. In the distance, they can hear howls approaching and they decide the safest course is to head north, directly out of the city but into the dark depths of the Savalirwood. They are narrowly able to climb over the city wall just ahead of the vicious, pursuing Wolf-King, and stumble through the night into the relative safety of the forest.

### **Break**

* *Keys from the Golden Vault* now available on **D&D Beyond**.
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* Taliesin and Ashley break the minis while explaining **Critical Role Twitch** subscriptions.

### **Part II**

The party heals up a bit more, while putting distance between themselves and the city. They find a sheltered spot to stop and rest. FCG opens the satchel found in Ludinus Da'leth's tower but it is trapped, dealing the aeormaton substantial damage. After healing, they discover it is a Bag of Holding. They turn it upside down and shake it to discover a lot of seemingly blank paper, coins and gems, a small rod (which they later learn can act as a tuning fork for the Fey Realm when casting *Plane Shift*), a staff, and a leather and brass harness with an attached funnel. FCG *Identifies* the staff as a Staff of Dark Odyssey, which among other things can cast *Teleport*. Chetney realizes the paper is not truly blank, and Deanna's *Detect Magic* reveals faint magical traces on the harness and the rod, strong magic on the staff, and writing in Elvish on the paper, which she is able to read.

The first batch of notes revolves around experiments on divine magical essence and attempts to distill the nature of divinity into energy. They also contain the design of the arcane leather harness with notes discussing a regimen of magical infusion, synthetically recreating the natural magics "that sustain the venerable Wardens of the Wilds". There are notes on dryads and fey, and fey entities with locations throughout Wildemount, with maps indicating regions, eight of which are crossed off with notes about "feeding the root". The party gathers that at sometime in the past, the fey entities were used to power this harness, funneling their energy to the wearer. The final notes speak of expanding his "restoration sources" into the Fey Realm.

The second batch of notes discusses the red moon Ruidus and the temples' fear and avoidance of it. Ludinus reveals his wish that he had been Ruidusborn himself, and his plans to employ an "enhanced communion ritual" during a flare to try to learn more. Another note complains about the "Emerald Cross priests" (possibly clerics of the Arch Heart) undermining his research. However, it appears he was indeed able to touch something alien that existed sealed away on the periphery of the magical Weave, but needed something stronger to break through.

The third batch has pages torn out, but notes the "slowly expanding chaotic nature of the arcane crystals that form the power well beneath the city." It notes Aramond Tuestrel, the Grand-Conservator of the crystal well at the time of the city's destruction, believed the well was a gift from the gods, while "Ezradan" believed it was arcane in nature and had likely fallen from one of the ancient floating cities of the Age of Arcanum. Ludinus' notes discussed plans to harness this power source by secretly focusing it during an Apogee solstice to communicate with the entity he believed was seeking his attention from Ruidus.

The party discusses what to do with this information and where to go with their newly-gained potential ability to *Teleport*. FRIDA is reluctant to share the information with the Diarchy. Chetney suggests possibly going to Rexxentrum or Vasselheim; FCG brings up the Woodset Auditors of the Vellum Steeple; Imogen suggests the Cobalt Soul, or better, rejoining the others from Bells Hells by returning to Jrusar. Unable to reach a decision, they decide to explore FRIDA's mind to try to discover any information they may possess without knowing it. Before starting, FRIDA presents FCG with one of a set of matching sweatshirts.

Imogen and FCG both cast *Detect Thoughts* on FRIDA and enter their mind. They see a hooded, metal-masked figure (which they recognize as D) rousing the aeormaton from an extended stasis, and then FRIDA wandering through unfamiliar places and being met with fear before meeting Deanna. Although FRIDA tries to focus on the children, they experience memories of warfare. FCG and Imogen push deeper and see more of the battle, which seems to be taking place in stone hallways, surrounded by armored robed figures: the enemy is attacking FRIDA and FRIDA is killing in return. FRIDA realizes they are defending something against an enemy that looks and is dressed similarly to their own side. They are not fighting invaders, but an enemy from within. Looking behind to see what they are defending, they see a central massive cylindrical chamber holding an immense, complex, powerful machine surrounded by engineers and mages. A voice shouts in a foreign language, which FCG and FRIDA recognize as saying "Protect the Factorum!" As they watch, the crystals in the machinery light up as it readies itself, but there is a flash of white and the memories end with psychic damage to all three of them.

Chetney remembers they have heard of the Factorum Malleus, and that the Malleus Key was based on that technology. The Factorum Malleus was the weapon Aeor was using to try to take down the gods. FRIDA then remembers that when they were discovered by D, they were almost destroyed and had to be rebuilt, then were set free. The others realize the similarities between the third Malleus Key and the Factorum Malleus of FRIDA's memories, although the Key was on a much smaller scale. FCG recognized the language and the clothing of those in the memories, but has no memory of the Factorum Malleus itself. FRIDA sorrowfully realizes that they were fighting to protect the machine that was trying to kill the gods, and that in doing so, they killed a lot of people. Chetney sees this, and gives FRIDA a wooden figure of an aeormaton he made, to remind FRIDA of their protective instincts and qualities. Fearne adds that they had been acting under orders, but are now free to do what they want.

They decide to try to *Teleport* to Jrusar in the morning. FRIDA believes this is now their fight as well, and wants to go with them-- and also doesn't want to leave FCG. They go off together to watch the moon. Deanna is not happy and says nothing while walking away. Chetney joins her, asking if she's all right. Deanna is afraid FRIDA is moving on, and maybe she should just go back to Uthodurn to tell them what they've learned while the others go on together. Chetney tries to comfort her that they really needed her healing, and asks about the *Death Ward*. Deanna admits she doesn't want anything bad to happen to him, and Chetney gives her a wooden carving of a shell in memory of their time together on the Menagerie Coast. He tells her she's needed and has a place with them. They hug, and Deanna asks if the werewolf thing is just for fighting. Thoughtfully, Chetney responds that there's only one way to find out, and Deanna begins "calling for help" from Fearne, who happily agrees to join them. Chetney transforms and the three run into the woods and disappear. Left alone, Imogen plays thumb wrestling with herself.

The party rejoins in the morning. They agree they are all going together, and discuss again where to go. FCG realizes they can ask the Changebringer and casts *Commune*, asking if they'd have a chance to find their friends there if they went to Jrusar. The answer comes: Yes. They are alive. FCG's last question is if he will know FRIDA for a long time, but the goddess cannot answer since the future has not yet happened. Suddenly, the towering deity appears close to FCG, telling him: "A terrible fate looms for all Exandria. An alien malice menaces the skies of the Marquesian sands. If you indeed wish to show your faith, to walk my endless paths beyond, then rise to our call. The winds of change blow cold against us all, yet hope remains unmoving in you. Our grace carries those who carry our banner. Hold it high and traverse the path I alight with purpose and fated destination. Do not turn from this road, for only shadow and solitude awaits behind. The Red End stirs in its slumber. Do not let it wake."

Simultaneously, Deanna has a vision of the Dawnfather, who tells her: "Mortal arrogance makes unions with the forbidden scourge. The ruddy moon beckons over the lands of Marquet. Child reborn of my grace and will, I command you, strike out against those that seek to snuff our light. These gifts I grant you are your sword and shield against the growing darkness. Forsake these gifts, ignore our charge, and be abandoned." Confused, Deanna asks how she can help, and is told faith needs unerring conviction, not logic or truth. He ends by also saying, "The Red End stirs in its slumber. Do not let it wake."

Deanna and FCG compare notes, and FCG notes you don't make demands unless you're insecure in your own life. It's coming from fear. He notices his Changebringer coin is now warm, and seems shinier, and casts *Identify* on it to learn it is now the Coin of the Changebringer with unrevealed new abilities. Although it is not true, he tells FRIDA the Changebringer promised they would be together for a long time. Meanwhile, Deanna give Chetney her Ring of Temporal Salvation, and Chetney requests he keep the Bag of Holding since in his previous employment in Rexxentrum he was required to carry one and has experience with them. In a previous job, he had to make a series of deadly chairs for the Cerberus Assembly that would be enchanted to kill everyone and then move to the center of the room. Later, he was kicked out of his union, the Rexxentrum Toy Authority, and the rest of the group realizes that the initials and symbol tattooed on his shoulder stand for the union, not "Respect the Alpha" as he had insisted. Deanna backs Chetney that rebranding is possible and important.

Imogen takes the Staff, at least for now, and prepares to cast *Teleport*, choosing to aim for Zhudanna's home where Imogen and Laudna formerly lived. She casts the spell, taking 14 points of damage from expending the Staff's charges. They all clasp hands and feel the spell's energy surrounding them as they are pulled into another space.

### **Post-game**

Laura rolled a d100 to determine the success or failure of the *Teleport*, with a 5% chance of a mishap, but only Matt and she were able to see the roll. She gasped and covered her mouth, and Matt cackled, ending the stream without revealing the result.

## **Featured characters**

### **Bells Hells**

* ~~Ashton Greymoore~~ *(absent, mentioned)*
* Chetney Pock O'Pea
* Fearne Calloway
* Fresh Cut Grass
* Imogen Temult
* ~~Laudna~~ *(absent, mentioned)*
* ~~Orym~~ *(absent, mentioned)*

### **Returning**

* The Changebringer (via *Commune* and in a vision)
* D (in a memory)
* The Dawnfather (in a vision)
* Deanna Leimert
* F.R.I.D.A.
* The Wolf-King

### **Mentioned**

* Aramond Tuestrel, past Grand-Conservator of Molaesmyr
* The Arch Heart
* Beauregard Lionett
* Bertrand Dwendal (unnamed)
* Caleb Widogast (unnamed)
* Doolan Tversky
* Ezradan, believed Molaesmyr's crystal well was arcane in nature
* Imathan Talviel (unnamed)
* Keyleth
* Jaquoby Macyl
* Laerryn Coramar-Seelie
* Ludinus Da'leth
* Morrigan
* Percival de Rolo (unnamed)
* Predathos
* Simone Fruunast (unnamed)
* Vaatora, a mage known to Ludinus
* Vax'ildan (unnamed)
* Vex'ahlia de Rolo (unnamed)
* Vishtaraan, a mage known to Ludinus
* Zhudanna

## **Quotations**

* **Sam**: *(to the tune of "Part of Your World")* ♪ Look at that fire, isn't it neat? ♪
Matt: ♪ Don't you want somebody to stop all this heat? ♪
* **FRIDA**: Maybe the past doesn't matter as much as I think it does.
Chetney: I think what matters more is what you do next.
* **FRIDA**: Mr Pock O'Pea, I think you're right. I think we need backup, more friends. And we need to find your friends. *(to FCG)* And I really don't want to leave you.
FCG: I don't know if I could-- I don't know if I could.

## **Trivia**

* Sam's jerrycan says "Where's Vax'ildo" which he peels off to reveal a series of pictures: multiple Tal'dorei art pieces with a black circle in the background.
* Laura revealed in "*4-Sided Dive*: Wrong Distance Relationships" (4SDx13) that the roll on her *Teleport* was a 5, which would be a "mishap". This means the group will take 3d10 force damage and Matt will determine where they end up.

## **References**

1. ↑ This refers to an incident in Campaign Two where the party found a chair in the center of Yeza Brenatto's abandoned cellar and became fixated on discovering its signficance, which was none.  See "Homeward Bound" (2x48) from 3:26:40 through 3:41:50.
2. ↑ See "**Escape From The Past**" (3x58) from 1:14:10 through 1:14:40.
3. ↑ See "**Escape From The Past**" (3x58) from 2:27:30 through 2:27:55.
4. ↑ See "**Escape From The Past**" (3x58) from 3:54:30 through 3:54:55.
5. ↑ See "*4-Sided Dive*: Wrong Distance Relationships" (4SDx13) at 0:23:04.

**Art:**

1. ↑ Screenshot of the hatemonger mini from "**Escape From The Past**" (3x58) at 0:11:39. This file is a copyrighted work. Its use in this article is asserted to qualify as fair use of the material under United States copyright law.
2. ↑ Fan art of Imogen thumb wrestling, by Dadrielle (source). Used with permission.
3. ↑ Fan art of the passionate night (cropped from a larger image), by Melissa Hahn (source). Used with permission.
4. ↑ Fan art of Avandra's warning, by Cha Cha Rae (source). Used with permission.