Critical Recap: Critical Role C3E110 “In the Shadow of War”

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 110: In the Shadow of War!

OLD FRIENDS

Bells Hells leave the Raven’s Crest temple and Imogen messages Keyleth, who is gathering the other members of Vox Machina. She directs the team to meet up with Allura. Ashton wants to communicate with the primordials and is drawn to the earth titan that stands over Vasselheim. The group was intrigued by the Matron of Ravens, though they all agree that her idea of a “test” was cruel. Imogen messages her mother, who is still keeping Ludinus from broadcasting the Occultus Thalamus; but her hesitance makes Imogen unsure if Liliana will be able to hold him off much longer.

They run into Captain Xandis, who has been given a new skyship called the Key Breaker and a title of their own: the Keybane. Xandis is leading the skyship assault, since they were the one who crashed the skyship into the Malleus Key in the first place. The group discusses potentially saying their goodbyes. Chetney doesn’t want to, thinking it’s too negative, but Ashton doesn’t want to pretend everything is fine. If there is something anyone wants to say or do, now would be the time to do it.

Allura arrives and informs the group that forces are gathered here in Vasselheim, in Ank’Harel, and in Whitestone. When they receive word, those forces will be delivered to the Hellcatch in a magical flash. Ruidian soldiers have arrived through the Bloody Bridge, and time is of the essence. The Mighty Nein will meet Bells Hells at Lake Umamu. They will travel to Ruidus together and split at the Prime Pillar, where the Nein will go after the Weave Mind in the Arx Kreonum and the Hells will head down to confront Ludinus.

COVERING GROUND

Allura hands over her coin purse for Chetney to buy supplies, though it takes a charm person from Dorian to make Chetney share. The group splits up: Chet, Imogen, and Orym go shopping; Dorian goes to the soldier encampments; and Fearne, Laudna, and Ashton head to the earth titan. Most Vasselheim shops are empty, but they do find Cidrick’s Shines & Keepsakes, where a desperate shopkeep crushes gems for them with his forgery machine. Meanwhile, Dorian plays a song for the soldiers about Bells Hells, imbuing them all with some extra confidence for the fight ahead.

Fearne, Laudna, and Ashton arrive at the earth titan, which has been transformed into housing for Vasselheim civilians and refugees. Ashton feels strangely connected to the titan, and leads their friends through the interior, up the numerous staircases, until they come to the titan’s core. Laudna chips off a few crystals from this cavern’s ceiling while Ashton begins to commune by shifting into his titan form. Fearne and Laudna, however, can only see Ashton meditating in their regular body.

EXANDRIA

Ashton feels a millenia go by in the stillness, feeling entombed. He rages, feeling a specter’s presence. Another rage, and Ashton sees a vision of the landscape changing: valleys falling, mountains rising, the ground crumbling. Ashton wants to talk to the primordials, informing them that the gods may leave. Another rage, and the stone around them breaks away. Ashton stands amongst mountains, all of which regard him. This is the rock and stone of Exandria, and they can feel Empress Ka’Mort within Ashton.

Ashton speaks with the earth primordials, asking what they want. They are lost and scattered, and they are everything. Ashton asks how they can remake the world without the gods. He is told that everything is cyclical, but Ashton wants to fix what was broken. The primordials are lost, but Ashton doesn’t agree. A hand rises and grasps Ashton, revealing a green gem of an eye. This is Rau’shan, and she says that Ashton is her memory. The primordials are lost, but Ashton is not.

Ashton holds the gem up to his own eye—they see the beauty of chaos and of destruction. Lands crumbling, fires consuming forests so they may regrow, a time when there was too much chaos or maybe not enough since. This world has been remade before, and its people will endure or remake themselves into something stronger. Ashton is told to remake themself and never stop changing before returning to his body. The three then get a drink at Shanks’ (a bar located in the titan’s ass crack) before returning to Bells Hells.

LAKE RETURN

Skysibil Mirrim of the Kryn Dynasty seeks out Bells Hells to give Chetney a gift: two potions of possibility and one Orb of Dunamantic Restoration, which will give them an instant short rest when used. They then meet with Orym’s sisters, Leeta and Maeve, who escort them via tree teleportation to the Ashari outpost in Lake Umamu. Laudna reunites with Ropey, and Bells Hells take some time to rest while they wait for the Mighty Nein.

Orym talks with Maeve, who updates him on Zephrah and their family. Orym confesses his gratitude to be seeing them again before leaving. He loves them all, even if he was taught to keep his feelings to himself. Orym finds Imogen and asks her to message his mom. She does, allowing them to exchange I love you’s. Imogen also messages her father, telling him she loves him and thanking him for doing his best. Her father responds, saying that he thinks of her a lot and misses her, but he does not verbally return her I love you.

Braius talks to Dorian, asking how he can get the group to trust him more. Dorian encourages Braius to stop trying to sleep with everyone—pick one or two at a time—and not to force things. Trust will come naturally. Braius is learning to trust the group himself, beginning to feel a kinship with them. He thinks that if he gains Orym’s trust, the others will follow. Dorian thinks Orym’s strength and honor could withstand Braius’ deceit. Braius is still determined to sleep with Orym, which catches Dorian off-guard. He encourages Braius to think of the group as an ‘us’ instead of a ‘them’. That should help.

NEW FRIENDS

Imogen and Laudna send good vibes to Zhudanna rather than sending a message. Ashton apologizes to Dorian for being rude to him when they first met. Dorian confesses to being worried about seeing Opal on the battlefield, but Ashton is hopeful they’ll be able to save her. Dorian encourages Ashton to open up to receiving the gifts that others give them; that will be a good first step towards becoming more likable, and accepting kindness.

Outside, Chetney sees the Mighty Nein arrive. They meet the Nein on the porch, and the group assumes Chetney is the innkeeper. Veth is immediately smitten with Braius, and Jester warns her to stay true to her husband. Fearne and Jester make each other’s acquaintance, with Fearne introducing herself as a professor princess and Jester introducing herself as a pirate. Laudna wants to know why there are only seven members of the Mighty Nein.

That is it for Episode 110 of Critical Role!

FINAL THOUGHTS

• Bells Hells, meet the Mighty Nein! Mighty Nein, meet Bells Hells. Oh the fun we’ll have!
• Ashton got to talk to Exandria! I weep.
• The combination of Fearne and Jester is going to be potent, but what about the combination of Laudna and Jester’s animal buddies? Pâté and Sprinkle, that’s what I’m waiting for.

Catch Episode 111 on Thursday, October 17th 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?