Critical Recap: Critical Role C4E36 “Spectacle”

Hello and welcome to Critical Recap! I’m Jared Deiro, the Critical Role Junior Lore Keeper. Let’s dive into Critical Role Campaign 4 Episode 36 Spectacle!

COUTURIER CONUNDRUM

As Hal stands outside of Knife and Palette Pigments, having just heard that his daughter, Hero, has been expelled from the Penteveral, across the city, Murray and Azune leave the botched meeting with Effie and head to the Mercanaud Couturier to investigate the twins’ murders.

Outside, Harondus Einfasen is at odds with Filoneus Halovar and the Creed for ruining his crime scene. Filoneus looks to Azune, wanting the Arcane Marshals on this investigation – feeling the Revolutionary Guard, alone, are unfit. Harondus questions Murray’s participation in Azune’s retinue, unconvinced she is here on “Penteveral business”.

Harondus asks Azune if he recognizes Occtis’ signet ring: Azune claims it was given to him as evidence. Based on the way the ring was placed to point the Tachonis as the culprits to Amariya’s disappearance, Harondus becomes suspicious that Hal undoubtedly planted the ring. Additionally, House Halovar has requested two Arcane Marshals be placed at the Hallowed Round for every showing of KoTher’ai and during the day whenever there is any activity of any kind – looking for any illegal arcana or momentary lapse that can allow a revocation of their license.

Azune approaches Filoneus inside the Couturier, who tells him to “just take a look around,” no need for him to put any effort into the investigation. The Halovars would prefer not to have the city involved in the particulars of the shop. Filoneus asks Azune just to log the report as ‘violent criminal Kattigan Vale killed these men’ and to set up a bounty for the return of Bolaire and his mask (House Cormoray is very interested in this mask).

Before leaving, Harondus tells Azune that he conducted himself very well with his uncle Otto and his cousins, noting his pointed feelings about the Tachonis. When he asks if Azune is married, he wonders where Azune got Lady Ingrid Einfasen’s love axe. Azune tells him it was from a ‘mutual friend’ and begs him not to press any further. Harondus is pleased either way, even if Azune is lowborn.

THE SCION’S PRISM

Within the Cathedral of Light’s private quarters, Yanessa questions why Wick was in the Rookery this morning. Wick lies and tells her he was trying to find out more about what happened at the theatre, but all he heard was how beloved the show was.

Wick tells Yanessa that he invited Hal to the Cathedral, feeling he can turn Hal from a potential enemy to a tool. Yanessa is concerned with Wick’s judgment, which is why Zebani is being named to the Chamber of Lords-Advisory. She will handle the politics, so that he can handle the crowds. Cruelty pulls Tyranny for a demon Aspirant meeting.

As Wick takes the pulpit, he casts innate sorcery to make his tattoos glow slightly. He gives his sermon to the church, referencing the teachings of the Creed, confessing how he ventured into shadow and dimmed. He references Teor and the mug Yanessa shattered in Hal’s home earlier that morning. He tells the church that the symbols of faith can be a noose, and they should be thrown away if they are only there to hide the shame. Wick removes his clothes as he speaks.

Though the audience doesn’t really understand the context, they seem to have loved it. Wick ends the sermon with a final thank you to Halandil Fang, congratulating him on KoTher’ai – and that about does it.

GROUNDED

Outside, in a separate chapel, Tyranny has a conversation with Daddy Ksha’aravi, during which she is told she betrayed House Halovar by killing the Mercanaud Twins.

Tyranny doesn’t understand why they take orders from the Photarch, believing she works for and gets her powers from him. Ksha’aravi tells Tyranny that she has failed – at sunrise, she must destroy her physical body and come home. She is done in the world of mortals. Ksha’aravi disappears.

Feeling that that could have gone better, she asks her sisters for help. Telling them that they’ve been treating this job like Yanessa is the boss, but in reality they have a power angle they aren’t using. They’re bigger than the Creed!

But her sisters dismiss her claims.

WHAT NOW?

Feeling they need to pause and rework their plans, the Schemers leave the Cathedral and go their separate ways.

Hal goes to the D’vyen Estate to speak with Hero. The young student tells her father she isn’t scared of the authority, and she doesn’t believe it’s Hal’s fault. He put on a play in a theatre that belongs to their people. It’s obviously political. She is so proud of him and “They’re gonna be sorry.”

—

Wick is led back to his room by Yanessa and locked in with his father, Godard. Wick asks about Aetheon, learning that his grandfather has always been in Dol-Makjar, buried beneath the rubble as a near-casualty of the Shapers War where until Yanessa found him. Godard tells his son that his father is in constant pain, not from his restraints, but because his soul was ripped from this world, his god destroyed, his mind unraveled, the eternal part of him shredded. There is no rest or sanity for him. The two then sit in prayer.

—

At the Penteveral, Murray gathers her important notes, texts, gems, and the Kibbenimkedaz as she goes to Dean Kora’s office and places a Magic Bug under her desk. As she leaves, Murray watches as stolen library scrolls fall from above. “Come get it, you paid for it!” the students yell as they throw the scrolls down to the streets in defiance of the Sundered Houses. Murray then slips into the Penteveral Vault, grabs a bag, and steals a bunch of metamagic gems.

SOMETHING MORE

Tyranny leaves the chapel and takes out Tsul’rekshi’s bat bottle, begging for help and a place to go. She is invited back to the Knife and Palette.

Tyranny enters sobbing. Tsul’rekshi comforts Tyranny by telling her the truth about her father: essentially, the man is a simp for Iljaza, the Queen of Demons and the wife of Azgra. Tyranny doesn’t want to go to the Pit, so Tsul’rekshi offers that they both go. Ksha’aravi clearly has no power over them in Aramán; otherwise, he would’ve destroyed her on the spot. They have to think in the position of their enemies. He just confessed that he CAN’T do it.

Tsul’rekshi wonders if Tyranny is special or VERY, VERY, VERY special. Tsul’rekshi will get to work and figure out a guaranteed way to get back from the Pit. She needs time, so she asks Tyranny to return tomorrow.

Tyranny enters the Villa Aurora but is barred from entering Wick’s room by Enmity. Tyranny tries to punch her, but Enmity violently counters, striking Tyranny.

Inside the room, Wick can hear the scuffle. Godard holds Wick back. Wick casts Message and lets Tyranny know that he’s okay. She just wanted to say goodbye, she’ll be back. Tyranny leaves as Enmity looks at the blood on her claws, hating herself.

DINNER AND A SHOW

On the morning of Weaver’s Day, Wick wakes up and is immediately confronted by Godard, Filoneus, and Yanessa. Wick tells her he wanted to give Yanessa the gift of honesty. He feels she’s been told “yes” too much but has never been told “no” when she’s wrong. He fears the people will rise against her. He is an asset, and if she doesn’t use him, she’s a foolish old woman.

Yanessa agrees, so she sends Wick to go to the Cathedral, to heal the sick, remove curses, and prove that he’s more than a shining dong. After he heals, he will then go to KoTher’ai and disavow Hal onstage. She admires Wick’s strong will – do this one thing, and she will let bygones be bygones.

At the Penteveral, Murray hears Effie in Kora’s office via Magic Bug. Murray is then immediately called into the Dean’s office. Murray’s initiative seemed to have made the Sundered Houses unhappy. Kora punishes Murray with an extended sabbatical – two weeks.

Later that evening, the VIP Councilors arrive at the Hallowed Round (Agztash Splitknuckle, Woaz Vodik, and Effie Parvinas), and everyone settles in. As the play starts, the opening is interrupted by a bright light filling the Halovar box seats – “Death to the Sundered Houses! Death to tyrants!” assassins cry, as their blades raise, posed ready to kill Wicander Halovar.

WHOOOOOAH!! That is it for Episode 36 of Critical Role!

FINAL THOUGHTS

• I gotta say it folks, the Schemers seem fucked, for real. The walls are closing in, the resources are getting drained. Everyone’s suspicious. And I’m STRESSING.
• JD Highlights: The Sermon, and Tsul’rekshi
• I AM SO MAD AT THAT ENDING – LET EM KEEP GOING!! WHAT DO YOU MEAN???

Catch Episode 37 of Critical Role Campaign 4 on Thursday, October 1st 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 in two parts on our podcast. Is it Thursday yet?