Critical Recap: Critical Role C4E03 “The Snipping of Shears”

Hello and welcome to Critical Recap! I’m Dani Carr, the Critical Role Lore Keeper. Let’s dive into Critical Role Campaign 4 Episode 3 The Snipping of Shears!

SECRETS KEPT

Teor Pridesire meets with Sir Filoneus Halovar of the Candescent Creed, where he is given coin and sent to commission new clothing from the Mercanaud Couturier before he becomes Wickander Halovar’s new bodyguard. On the way to the tailor shop, Teor bumps into Sir Julien Davinos, who is searching for Occtis Tachonis. The two are in the Ogrimok Market, where all arcane magic is forbidden by the Chamber of the Lords-Advisory to be performed within the marketplace’s confines. Teor tells Julien that he is now working with the Candescent Creed and is heading to the Couturier; Julien knows that the Mercanaud family is in charge of making problems of House Halovar disappear. Julien keeps this information to himself and leaves Teor to find the tailor.

YANESSA’S REVELATIONS

Photarch Yanessa Halovar reminds her grandson Wick that she loves him as Wick looks up at the chained and thrashing celestial that has just been revealed to him as his grandfather. Yanessa explains that she wanted to give people something to believe in after the death of the gods. When she was a young girl, the Halovars served the Obridimian Royal House faithfully and others cast them out in the wake of the Shapers’ death. This celestial, Aetheon, was the servant of the sun. Yanessa took his blood and made a wish to have a child – that child was Godard, Wick’s father. Godard reveals strapped down angel wings that extend from his back.

The Halovars lost everything in the Shapers’ War. They served Tansul, then Tansul died. The Houses were sundered, their lands destroyed, and the Halovars had to act. They used their wealth to get back on their feet, but never forgot those who tried to ruin them. Yanessa saw Aetheon become feral after losing the connection to Tansul and she didn’t want the celestial to fall into the wrong hands. People need the light. It couldn’t be Tansul anymore, so instead it was light itself. If one can’t start an empire, Yanessa says, start a church instead.

Wick can’t believe that everyone except him knew the truth. His mother, Iris, adores the Candescent Creed and instilled it in Wick, despite Yanessa’s deep disapproval. She wanted Wick to be a true believer, for the Scion of the family to believe in its teachings. But Yanessa needs Wick to know that the rules of the Creed are for other people. Wick’s job is to carry on the family name and marry Ebecca D’Antonio, so that the D’Antonio vineyard can be utilized to grow the fruit needed to dilute Filament and increase its production. He must remember that his powers come from the blood in his veins. He must always prioritize their family first.

CONTRACTS AND FRIENDSHIP

Tyranny takes the shocked Wick to the bath, so they can talk without being overheard. Wick is upset that Tyranny knew, but it was her job to keep him in the dark. She was only given a body six months ago in order to make him look good. Her maker, Ksha’aravi, the High Prince of Demonkind and the Shadow of Suffering, has been working with the Halovars to spread the word of the Candescent Creed. In exchange he gets souls. Tyranny was touched by how much Wick believed he could save her and she believes that his family is afraid of his willpower.

Tyranny’s contract is specifically with Wick and not his family. Only he can break it and send her back to the Pit – something she very much does not want. Her sisters may love all the suffering and souls, but Tyranny wants no part of it. Wick promises not to send Tyranny back to the Pit, as she is his only friend. She urges Wick to figure out what he believes because the Creed is all a lie for power.

Wick wants to find Teor first, not wanting the nama to die because of him. Wick understands that both he and Tyranny are not like their families. He will play the part and they will find Teor at the Couturier. Before they leave, Wick stops at a small framed portrait of Armas Drugada, his former love. He was told that the Light had not chosen that love for him, that it was not destined. Wick takes the portrait with him.

PAID IN FULL

In the former Dean Tallbarrel’s office, Murray Mag’nesson is interrupted by Primus Tachonis, who is searching for his son, Occtis. Murray does not like Occtis, who was sent to the Penteveral when he showed no sorcerous powers. He is still her student, though, and respects his ability to rise above his family. She disrespects Primus to his face and covers for Occtis, saying she thought he was with his family. Primus threatens her, attempting to curse her, but Tallbarrel steps in and ushers her out. Murray hears Tallbarrel disparage her. She leaves to find Azune while Primus demands that Occtis be brought to Obrimus Manor.

Occtis, however, is being attacked in the Guard Tower along with Thimble and Kattigan Vale. Thimble threatens to castrate a Crow Keeper, but he throws her in a bag. Before anyone can be harmed, Vaelus arrives, having followed the group. She kills the man holding Thimble and tells the Crow Keepers to run. Thimble demands to know where Casimir is and one Crow Keeper, Gavrey, explains that Cas is gone. He was on the gibbet, a list of people who owed them so much money they had to die.

Casimir had been stealing money from them, working as a wainwright and installing secret compartments in wagons. They demanded he pay it back, which he did yesterday. Casimir had his own crew of loyal Crow Keepers and Thimble realizes that Cas was part of the group that attacked her. He had a deed of title to a stronghold in Gormoley, which is north in Timmony. Then Cyd came in and stole the deed from Cas. Gavrey gives Vaelus the list of people on the gibbet and the group heads to Hal’s.

THE HALLOWED ROUND

Dol-Makjar’s ancient dithyramb – a disused amphitheater once dedicated to rituals in honor of the Shaper Azgra, where he could lord over the people – is now the Hallowed Round, a theatre that Halandil Fang and his troupe have been building in the space. This space has been Hal’s dream of reclamation for a long time and Thaisha Lloy is thrilled to see it come to fruition, but she cannot shake her discomfort at being in a place that once held such pain for the orcish people.

Hal and Shadia proudly show Thaisha everything they are building. Thaisha talks to an orc musician, Uli, who is older than the Shapers’ War. He tells her about Azgra lording over the orcs and that his brother joined the revolution when the smiths of the Lloy family crafted blades to kill the gods. The orcs were crafted to serve Azgra, but they had no reward in the afterlife. Instead, they loved their city, and this place was for them. Now they get to use it to find out who they are and who they will become. Thaisha is touched by his words.

Shadia shows Thaisha the forest behind the Hallowed Round, which survived the Shapers’ War. The two discuss their roles in the world and how much they miss each other. Thaisha can hear the song of a nightingale in the city. Bolaire arrives with six crates of paint from Thjazi. The paint is illusory, but he doesn’t know anything else about it. Hal doesn’t understand why this paint is important or why his brother sent it to him through Bolaire.

FIENDISH

Murray finds Azune with the Arcane Marshals in Caravan Hill. The two friends talk in an alley, with Azune informing Murray about the failed plan to save Thjazi and the two comparing notes about the Sundered Houses closing in on the Marshals and the Penteveral. They know that the moment they aren’t useful, they’ll be pushed out of their jobs. Murray is exhausted (both emotionally and mechanically) from not sleeping, but the two decide to join the search for Occtis to find him before the Houses do.

Meanwhile, Teor arrives at the Mercanaud Couturier and speaks with the two brothers Calastro and Rulius about the clothes he needs. The tailor shop is overstimulating and the incense reminds Teor of the nine-pointed star that he saw on the battlefield of the Falconer’s Rebellion, the one summoned by a sorcerer of House Cormorey that called forth a drake into battle. The smell immobilizes Teor just as his Divine Sense pings a powerful fiendish presence.

Later, Wick and Tyranny arrive at the Couturier and request Teor. Rulius is confused, as their guest won’t be “ready” until the morning, but Tyranny says they have orders to deal with him themselves. There was an error and they came in the nick of time. They are taken to the back room, where Teor is suspended in manacles above a nine-pointed star. Calastro is using shears to cut Teor’s shadow into pieces. The shadow reconstitutes and Calastro releases Teor to Tyranny and Wick. The three leave and Tyranny panics about making enemies of the Halovars.

TACHONIS FOUND

Julien goes to Hal’s home in the Rookery looking for Occtis. Thimble, Kattigan, Vaelus, and a disguised Occtis arrive soon after and Thimble mocks Julien, telling him to keep running like he always does. He may have everyone else fooled, but she sees him. He grabs her wings and tells her to show some respect, angering Occtis into speaking. Julien recognizes Occtis’ voice and asks Vaelus if she has seen him anywhere. Julien needs to speak with Occtis, as he is in immediate danger.

Occtis, realizing that Julien is trying to help him, decides to speak with him. Vaelus notices Pincushion as he and Occtis walk away – a spirit of undeath from the infamous family of shadows. Vaelus knows that House Tachonis was gifted with the rites of funerals, of moving from one realm to another. She asks about Pincushion and Occtis explains that he took pieces of a fox and brought him back to life. Vaelus goes with Occtis to speak with Julien and Thimble and Kattigan stay at the Rookery to look for Teor.

Vaelus asks more about Pincushion, finding him fascinating. Pin was meant to be scary, but was terrible at it, so Occtis made him a familiar, instead. Vaelus is interested in his process of reanimating the dead, but their conversation is interrupted by Julien. Occtis has been traveling the last 6 months and hasn’t spoken to his family in 5 years. He denies knowing about the plot to rescue Thjazi, who was kind to Occtis as a boy. Occtis does not know why his family is looking for him and agrees to speak with Aranessa. The three head to the Palazzo Davinos.

SOLDIERS FORMED

Hal and Thaisha return home, where Thaisha immediately departs in wolf form when she learns that Occtis is in danger. Azune and Murray arrive, having learned of the fight at the Guard Tower. Thimble and Kattigan want to go to the stronghold in Gormoley to find Casimir and Cyd, but they need Teor. He arrives soon with Wick and Tyranny, explaining that they saved him. The Creed is not what it seems and Wick and Tyranny are no longer safe here. Hal attunes to Thjazi’s scimitar, a Lloy sword called the Liar’s Blade. He knows that he must protect his family.

Kattigan invites Wick and Tyranny to go north with them in order to get out of town for a time. Teor is grateful that they saved his life and offers himself to protect Wick until that debt is repaid. Murray, Azune, and Hal know they have to stay in Dol-Makjar to learn where the dangers are in the city. Wick believes in the good of the world but recognizes that his family is not part of that good. He wants to make it right. The Creed has power up north, so Wick can see it all for himself. Kattigan warns the others that the forest will not be kind to them.

Hal asks Thimble to find Casimir and get revenge for their brother, giving her a bardic inspiration that will not diminish. Azune hates seeing Hal, who Thjazi fought to protect from the harshness of the world, wielding a sword. He takes Thimble, Teor, Kattigan, Wick, and Tyranny to the stables for horses and points out Falcon’s Rest, a monument to the Falconer’s Rebellion. The five members of the Soldier’s Table ride out as Azune softly recites the names of their band who did not survive the rebellion.

ROYCE & DAVINOS

Julien, Vaelus, and Occtis arrive at the Palazzo Davinos. Julien’s father Raimond is impressed that his son found Occtis and Aranessa is relieved. Vaelus stays in the garden, where she hears a nightingale and spots Thaisha racing across the bridge. She stands guard at a gate to allow Thaisha entry into the Palazzo. Aranessa takes Occtis to a bedchamber for safety and asks him about the attempt to rescue Thjazi. Occtis says he only came back to Dol-Makjar because he heard about Thjazi’s execution.

Aranessa explains that the doors to Faerie are closed because the realm of death is choked with souls that cannot move on due to the deaths of the Shapers. Faerie was almost killed due to that restless energy, so the doors are barred. What most people don’t know is that the Royce’s have a castle in the Golden Orchard halfway between this world and Faerie. That castle is dying. House Tachonis has a castle in the realm of death that is only growing more powerful. Occtis tells her about the box that Thjazi asked him and Thaisha to bring him and about Vaelus seeking her stolen stone. They are interrupted by a knock on the door.

Raimond informs Julien that there is still no word from the carriages that were stopped on the other side of the Dvalmar Pass. Julien looks for Vaelus, ignoring his three beautiful friends Jahar, Alondria, and Mardonis. He talks to Vaelus instead, telling her that he has a bad feeling about tonight. He knows fey magic too well to not recognize shifts. He feels like he can trust Vaelus and she agrees about trusting Julien. Vaelus can tell that Julien is cursed, but is distracted when her Divine Sense reveals that the garden is filled with hundreds of ghosts on the other side of the veil.

TUMBLING DOWN

Raimond enters the garden. Julien watches an invisible Tachonis assassin appear out of thin air behind his father. Julien watches the assassin reach into his father’s head. Julien watches his father’s skull and spine be removed from his body, killing General Raimond Davinos instantly. There is nothing Julien can do but watch. Upstairs, Aranessa and Occtis are placed under a silence spell as six ghouls of House Tachonis enter. Ethrand, Occtis’ older brother, enters the room. He is holding the Stone of Nightsong. He orders the ghouls to open up Occtis so they can put the stone where it belongs.

That is it for Episode 3 of Critical Role!

FINAL THOUGHTS

• Okay okay okay. That was a LOT of information.
• Restless souls! Soldier table formed! Wick’s granddad!
• Nothing good is happening at Palazzo Davinos, I can say that much.
• Thaisha!Wolf, please run faster!

Catch Episode 4 of Critical Role Campaign 4 on Thursday, October 23rd 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?