Critical Recap: Critical Role C4E06 “Knives and Thorns”

Helloo! and welcome to Critical Recap! I’m Jared Deiro, your friendly Critterical Role Junior Lore Keeper takin’ a quick splash into Critical Role Campaign 4 Episode 6 Knives and Thorns!

A MEMORY FADES

A mossy glade on a sunny day, a young Vaelus dances through the happiest time of her life. A platter of food is set for the vibrant elven children as Vaelus plays with her siblings, Maywyn and Arthas. Their elven mother, the Goddess of Life, sets a platter of food down for her children and teaches Vaelus how to ‘remember’ this moment.

Today, Vaelus sits in a humble room in an inn in the Dvalmar Pass – struggling to remember. She stares at Occtis across the room: he cannot sleep either.

A BOUNTIFUL SEND OFF

Nestled north of Dol-Makjar among the Kavrosi Mountains, the Soldiers eat breakfast within the tower and home of Ulbid. Eager to learn more about their gnomish host, Tyranny digs a little deeper into the man’s deceased wife, Jasavi, asking what reminds him of her. Ulbid shows Tyranny a small serrated, polished, ivory kitchen knife. Tyranny stares at it, enthralled. She pockets it without anyone noticing.

Ulbid takes Thimble upstairs to his enchanter’s workbench in the observatory. He gives her a sharpened toy soldier’s sword. The sword once belonged to his daughter; it carries a special enchantment designed to ward off bad dreams and evil spirits. Thimble feels honored. Returning downstairs, Ulbid gives the Soldiers three Chanter’s Eggs (one for stealth, one for poison, and one for a lil’ surprise)

Wick believes there is a rot among the ranks of his family, and he is determined to do some good in the world. He tells the soldiers about the celestial he saw in the basement of the Villa Aurora, which he is still processing. After a brief discussion about the plan ahead, Teor and Tyranny agree that disguising themselves amongst one of the most powerful families in the world (the Halovars) can prove advantageous. So long as their cover is not blown.

OUR ACTIONS ARE OUR ACTIONS

The party gathers their belongings, thanks Ulbid, and heads down the mountain. Suddenly, Tyranny smells sulfur and feels a rush of adrenaline. A warmth radiating from within her satchel – around the knife. Tyranny looks at the steel of the blade; she can see Ulbid searching for the knife in the reflection. She feels a power surge through her as the kitchen knife becomes a magical object.

Out of an immense wave of guilt, Tyranny confesses to the group that she had taken the knife. Kattigan demands Tyranny give it to him. Livid, Kattigan takes the knife, writes a note (“It’s not just a keepsake, it’s a relic”), secretly snaps the blade off the pommel, and sends Wulferic off to give the pommel back to Ulbid.

Kattigan understands she is a demon, she can’t change that – but “our actions are our actions”. Tyranny has no idea what went through her – she just knew she NEEDED to steal. From here on out, she will try and fight the impulses and be as honest as she can.

DYE MY CAP

After some travel, Thimble feels a strong fae energy resonating and pulsing through the lush forest as a swarm of sprites bursts from the flowers around them. These small warrior pixies fight to defend their glade from these giant intruders; Wick is put to sleep! Tyranny is charmed! Teor knocks out a fairy! A red-capped fairy with a human-sized head screams, “I’M GONNA DYE MY CAP WITH YOUR BLOOD!” – the fight is chaotic. Until Thimble shouts that their friendlies, and Wick surges with a bright guiding light. A light of goodness, as wings of luminescence break from Wick’s back and he levitates, flowers and plants bloom, and one among the fae bows to the Halovar.

Hawthorn, the regal dryad from which the glade is named, asks Wick what he is – Wick is a believer and a man of faith and truth. As the Soldiers and the Fae exchange their apologies and introductions (aside from Skinner, the red-capped fairy), Hawthorn tells the group that they’ve had to be more on edge, since other tall folk have been through lately – like Cyd Pridesire.

HAWTHORN’S GLADE

Passing boundary stones keyed toward the undead, the party is struck by the serene spectacle of a small peaceful glade shaded by a massive hawthorn tree in full blossom – this is the body of Hawthorn. Having been through terrible circumstances to reach this fae sanctuary, they notice a considerable amount of pain radiating from the folk living here.

Thimble watches Hawthorn enter a small cave below her tree and discuss the glades’ current affairs with her “counsel” – Soobri and Sallow. Thimble learns that Cyd had made his way here two days ago. He asked Soobri for visions of what was to come as he made his way to Gormalay to petition to the lord that the deed of title he possessed should not be honored. Although Hawthorn sent him to the Wraith Tree (a place where they send most “Big Folk” to die, and return as undead sentries), Soobri believes she had a vision of Cyd exiting the forest, but was clapped in irons soon after.

Wick meets a traveling fairy professor who accuses him and his Creed of being “anti-fairy”. Confused, Wick never believed he was anti-fairy, nor does he remember being taught that – only that there are rules about not following false divinity, and to worship the only divinity, which is the Light. Now that he thinks about it, he can see how his teachings would make him appear “anti-fairy”, but that was never Wick’s intention. He considers this revelation.

Teor bumps into Jauf, an owl bowka who knew of Thjazi and Thimble through a connection at the Archanade. He was actually returning to Dol-Makjar to deliver a letter to Thjazi; he gives the letter to Teor to give to Thimble – “It’s bad luck to carry a dead man’s letter.”

While speaking with Sallow, Thimble trades her memory – the time she dubbed Thjazi “Thaz” while he taught her to read and write. In return, Sallow grants Thimble a vision of Casimir selling his loyalty, along with the directions to the Wraith Tree.

THE WRAITH TREE

Making their way through the dark and brooding Dahapshanee Wood, they approach the writhing mass of dead vines at the base of a giant dead tree – a corpse of an ancient awakened tree that once walked the forest. The Wraith rises along with the dead, and a fight ensues.

Thimble tears into the Wraith with her toy soldier’s sword, blasting fireworks from the specter’s eye. Teor destroys the Wraith with a divine smite, sending it back to the underworld that is currently bursting at the seams with spirits. A shattered holy symbol falls from the corporeal figure of the Wraith – once a cleric in a life long past.

A red celestial symbol burns across the tree as it summons the Wraith’s return. Thimble takes flight with a vial of oil. She pours it on the tree, and ignites a fire that rampages across the dead bark. At this height, Thimble can see just how many dead bodies surround them, but there is no sign of Cyd.

That is it for Episode 6 of Critical Role!

FINAL THOUGHTS

• I love my boy Ulbid, and SOOOO SICK with the fireworks BLASTING from the Wraith’s eye. What a come around.
• Closing in on Cyd! Such a sweet and yet, terrible scene with Thimble losing her memory.
• HE DEFINITELY SAID “HAND”

Catch Episode 7 of Critical Role Campaign 4 on Thursday, November 13th 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?