Critical Recap: Critical Role C3E104 “The Cradle’s Convocation”

Hello! Welcome to Critical Recap! I’m Dani Carr, the Critical Role Lore Keeper. Let’s dive into our recap of Critical Role Campaign 3 Episode 104 The Cradle’s Convocation!

EVERYBODY TALKS

The presence of Bells Hells is acknowledged by the leaders within the crowded Platinum Sanctuary, but the room quickly returns to their suggestions and arguments. Ideas are tossed out and rejected, such as the Bright Queen refusing to work with allies of the Betrayer Gods. The Bloody Bridge threatens to unravel the magical leylines and must be destroyed. Questions arise as to what will stop the gods from creating another Calamity if the Divine Gate is breached – to Ashton’s amusement.

Keyleth reminds the room that people are dying while waiting for this council to get their shit together (girl, go off) and magically shows everyone a vision of the landscape around the Malleus Key being terraformed into a protective fortress. Bells Hells recognize this as the handiwork of the Weave Mind. Keyleth tells the room they must be united and work together NOW, with leaders like J’mon Sa Ord of Ank’Harel agreeing with her.

Talk turns to Ruidus, with the High Curator of the Quadroads mistrustful of Ruidusborn and Ruidians in general. Keyleth introduces Bells Hells, who share their experience on Ruidus and vouch for the Ruidians, saying that there are all kinds of people on Ruidus who just want to live and dream of coming to Exandria, their Blue Promise. Evoroa, the bormodo scientist, is introduced, and she describes the tyranny Ruidians face beneath the Weave Mind. She offers her insight on Ludinus’ plan and Ruidus itself, asking only for empathy towards her brethren.

As for what Ludinus revealed about Aeor, this same High Curator is unmoved, stating that Aeor needed to fall as it marked the height of mortal arrogance. Ashton lashes out at the room, calmed only by their friends. Braius reminds them all that in times of trauma, even the most faithful can fall from their paths. Bells Hells urge the group to ally with Ruidians like the Volition, but others distrust the group and are unsure if they are in league with Ludinus.

VOX TALK

Highbearer Vord adjourns the meeting, recognizing that they are talking in circles. Everyone is urged to talk amongst themselves and bring their plans to the Trial Forge in the morning. Bells Hells go to Keyleth – she hates Vasselheim. So does Lady Kima, Allura’s wife and paladin of the Platinum Dragon. They leave the temple and head to the Birthheart, talking all the while. Allura points out the silver dragon above the Sanctuary – not a statue, but a real dragon. She also reveals that some people in the room were dragons in disguise (hi J’mon!).

Fearne takes a look at Grog’s (Grogery Strongjaw, as he perfectly introduces himself) Titanstone Knuckles – they glow red in her presence, the earth titan element within them reacting to her. Braius, Dorian, and company are all caught up on Bells Hells’ trip to the moon. Vex’ahlia is sorry for their loss of FCG. Ashton warns Pike about the Everlight’s presence in Aeor when the city fell. Laudna delightedly shows off Delilah being trapped in the soul anchor, to Vex’s particular delight.

Keyleth welcomes Bells Hells to the Birthheart, a holy site of the Wildmother – the one god Keyleth feels a kinship with. She and Vox Machina met a few gods, like the Dawnfather and the Everlight, and she has a very complicated relationship with the Matron of Ravens. The deepest loss of her life was due to the Matron and now he is trapped in the Malleus Key. Keyleth has no desire to talk to the Matron, but the others are more than welcome. The idea of talking to the gods intrigues the group.

Orym recalls the historical debate of just how tumultuous the world was before the gods. As written, it was a world of elemental chaos that the gods shepherded. The eidolons pre-existed the gods’ arrival. It is rumored that there was a natural cycle of rebirth wherein the soul was reborn into another form. Now the spirit passes on to its divine eternity in the realm of the god they worshiped or most aligned with.

GOD TALK

Orym feels a buzzing warmth from Seedling. He unsheathes his sword and its vines reach out towards the enormous central tree. Orym humbly asks to commune with the Wildmother and places the sword in the roots. The roots wrap around Orym in a cocoon, removing him from sight. He finds himself in a glade at night, made of plants and the size of a flower. He peers up at a warm and smiling face in a tree. Orym tells her of Ludinus’ plans and what he saw of Aeor. Her face transforms to that of Asha’s, frowning and dark as wolves howl.

The Wildmother presents him with two paths and he chooses the right, a path of dark, diseased woods and colder air that leads to a glade where a statue lies fallen and cracked. Orym asks for insight into Predathos, rooting himself into the ground and willing growth into the area. The gods have left, but mortals are their custodians.

Orym beholds a vision of an island bearing a stone fortress, titanic shapes walking the shoreline, a strange falling star crashing into the area. He sees a faceless family that reminds him of the gods gathered around the star – two members of this family vanish. The star burns red and Orym feels fear and sadness as a deal is brokered. The mountains shift and the seas rise as the island is swallowed in stone and jettisoned to the cosmos. He hears the screams of those sealed within and feels sorrow, as well as a hunger he cannot comprehend.

Orym screams and the Wildmother embraces him: something inside Orym has changed. He knows the gods are flawed, like their children, and asks that whatever comes next, let the garden grow. Orym feels an unconditional love and her single ask: “Protect us, for we protect you, and together we protect this” and the Wildmother shows him a vision of nature itself. Then Orym finds himself sitting with Will. Orym holds his hand, saying he’s got this, and Will tells Orym to live and be happy. To not live his life in the shadow of Will’s. He will be waiting.

LIPS TALK

The cocoon falls away and Orym returns to Bells Hells, where he explains what he saw. He aims to be an ally, not a follower of blind faith. He pulls Seedling from the tree and finds it has extended, with denser vines, and two golden gems at the hilt: as if the Wildmother were guiding his blade. Seedling is now a Relic of the Red Solstice. Keyleth guides them to beds within the Birthheart, then leaves them to rest.

Bells Hells play Truth or Spin the Bottle with Braius casting Zone of Truth on everyone. Braius admits to not having visited the Hells or having met Asmodeus, but spins the bottle when Orym asks if he will turn on them. The bottle lands on Imogen and they share an awkward but functional kiss. Chetney asks Ashton if he agrees with Ludinus – no, but people are complicated. Ludinus must be stopped. Ashton asks if Braius has a grudge against the Platinum Dragon: yes, but his mission is not about that. It’s to destroy Ludinus and serve Asmodeus.

Chetney asks Fearne if she would conspire with Ludinus if he gave her the ability to save her loved ones: she spins the bottle, which lands on Chetney. The two share a fantastic kiss that recalls their previous fun together. Dorian asks Laudna if she would be willing to kill Imogen if she were to become a vessel for Predathos: Imogen would want that, but it would be Laudna’s last resort. Dorian spins the bottle and it lands on Chetney – they share a great kiss.

Laudna asks Dorian a question that both Ashton and Orym had also planned to ask – is Dorian running from the death of his brother? Dorian is trying to honor his brother by doing what is right. He feels his feelings and puts them away. He finds his strength in smiling and knows his feelings will catch up to him later on. The group toasts Cyrus Wyvernwind and Laudna finishes the game by spinning the bottle: it lands on Orym, and the two exchange a terrible kiss. Ashton and Fearne make out into the night and Orym watches Dorian pretend to sleep.

GROUP TALK

In the morning, Bells Hells meet with their allies at the Trial Forge. Evoroa brings everyone up to speed on Ruidus knowledge. She explains that the Prime Pillar in Kreviris is the remains of Predathos’ sealed form, that the glass is resilient but that the technology from Aeor assisted in them working through the glass to the core. This core, the Hollowed Cage, is where Predathos lies sleeping. The Ruidusborn were created to come home and set him free. This core is Ludinus’ primary goal. The fortress around the Malleus Key is now home to the Ruidian army led by Ozo Kruth.

Chetney accidentally mentions the back door to Ruidus, piquing the Bright Queen’s interest. She demands trust and Fearne gets confrontational, wanting to know why they should trust her in turn: she reveals her and the Kryn Dynasty’s past and their devotion to the Luxon. Ashton goes into a rage and shows off their dunamantic head – this impresses the Bright Queen, who wants to talk later.

The group eventually decides on a simultaneous attack. Keyleth offers Vox Machina to assault the Malleus Key and Allura suggests the Mighty Nein as a secondary strike team on the Weave Mind. Bells Hells will be the infiltration team to the Hollowed Cage. Imogen is interested in speaking to the Storm Lord and Groon tells her she must fight in order to do that. As they head out to find the greater council, Imogen has a vision of the red storm: it fades and she stands in the field of her home, her mother calling out to her.

That is it for Episode 104 of Critical Role!

FINAL THOUGHTS

• Spin the Truth or Dare is the greatest game ever invented, every episode should have a Spin the Bottle portion with secrets.
• It’s so cool seeing characters like Grog and Pike and Vex and Groon back! Seeing all these characters from Campaign 1 returning and interacting with Bells Hells. Long form storytelling for the win!
• Three way assault means the return of Vox Machina and the Mighty Nein! It’s all leading to this!!

Catch Episode 105 on Thursday, August 29th at 7pm Pacific on beacon.tv, where Beacon members get access to the entire episode, podcast included! The episode will also release on twitch.tv/criticalrole and on youtube.com/criticalrole and a week later on our podcast. Is it Thursday yet?