Critical Recap: Critical Role C4E19 “Hand & Wheel”

Hello and welcome to Critical Recap! I’m Dani Carr, the Critical Role Lore Keeper. Let’s dive into Critical Role Campaign 4 Episode 19 Hand & Wheel!

CODED

In the Kavrosi Mountains, Teor asks Kattigan what happened to Marienna. She is gone. She was taken from him and there was nothing Kattigan could do. Kattigan refuses to say more. Teor contemplates his own luck and recalls the words of Jauf, the bowka, that it is bad luck to carry a dead man’s letter. Teor takes out the letter that Jauf was delivering to Thjazi and reads it.

The letter is coded and addressed to “Shadow” (Thjazi) from “Professor” (unknown). It mentions Thjazi having the stone, needing the steel, and the need to convince “her” to reshape the steel into an anchor, but that anyone in the family can make plowshares. The next step is to bring “it” to the field. Their wings are leading a charge across the border to draw locals away from the site. A hotshot will meet Thjazi there and help prepare the arch from steel to stone. Until a stable trinity of bridges are built, it is vital that the blood be protected and that Thjazi needs to disguise it. They aim to undo the damage of their first attempt and that more than one door will be open for them. Professor is still searching for suitable anchors for the remaining four. They may need more hands.

A REAL FORGERY

In the Seven Stars tavern, Azune and Murray discuss how Thjazi could have known that his glyph was a forgery. Murray convinces the ceramicist Orus Blade to come to the Aviary, where they show him the two glyphs. Orus points out the forgery, saying it’s very high quality and expensive. It was clearly meant to be enchanted with something else. The real glyph is from Hand & Wheel Ceramic Merchants, Orus’ business. The Chamber of Lords-Advisory has forbidden the merchants from making these spell glyphs now. A week ago, they had a wagon get knocked over and a bunch of blank glyphs went missing.

Orus looks at the real glyph and can tell it has some fey vibes to it. It’s genuine but criminal, and designed for short-range teleportation. Orus is overwhelmed by the criminal bent to this conversation, but Hal promises that he is safe and Bolaire offers him a favor. Orus says it is a testament to how unruly the Sundered Houses have become. Orus leaves, and Hal and Bolaire realize the amphoras containing the paints from Thjazi were also made by Hand & Wheel. Shadia has already begun using those paints at the Hallowed Round, but Bolaire doesn’t believe they are dangerous.

Tomorrow is Farmer’s Day (Viére), a work day for all of them. Bolaire will write Murray a letter to ask Murray to help at the Archanade. Azune will talk to his soldiers and try to keep them from joining the Creed’s private military. Murray wants to follow the counterfeit blanks and Bolaire wants to study the paints. A member of the theatre has a sister who works at the Einfasen estate, so Hal will try to talk to her. They agree to meet back at the Hallowed Round in the afternoon. Azune is clearly anxious, so Hal invites him to stay at the Rookery. Hal still needs to bury Thjazi, and plans to do it near their father on a hill overlooking the city.

THE FACTS OF LIFE

Hal and Azune head to the Rookery. Shadia has left a bedsheet-rope in her bedroom window, as she is out for the night. Azune hears a voice say ‘remember’ and recalls meeting Thjazi after being abandoned by the Gallow’s Choir. Azune can sense that a Halovar carriage is parked outside Hal’s home. Hal climbs the bedsheet-rope and Azune goes on patrol. Azune talks to the carriage driver, Sir Filoneus Halovar, and learns that he is here to invite Hal to speak with the Photarch. He asks if Azune has seen a nama warrior, but Azune has not. Filoneus leaves with his dogs, chasing an illusory cat, and Hal pulls Azune inside the house.

Inside, they discuss Thjazi’s last moments – how he looked to the sky before speaking to the crowd. Azune is haunted by Thjazi’s distress at him being the examining guard. Long ago, Thjazi told Hal to look after Azune and give him a place to stay. Hal will always look after Azune, even with Thjazi gone now. Azune wishes the plan had worked. He would have been punished, but it would have been worth it to give Hal his brother back.

Hal comforts Azune, reminding him that Thjazi chose this life in this world. They do the best they can each day and lean on each other, as well as Murray and Bolaire. Azune believes that Thjazi’s life was worth a thousand of his own. Hal reminds him that’s not a choice they get to make – all they can do is let life happen, try to keep up, and do better tomorrow. Azune can do that. They both go to sleep, though Hal watches over Azune like a parent.

MAKING GOOD

In the morning, Murray goes to Dean Kora and apologizes for getting off on the wrong foot. Dean Kora is moved by the apology and gushes about building unity between the Houses and the Penteveral. Murray is hoping to be an ambassador for other organizations and brings up the Archanade, hoping to help organize the Lloy Wing and get some of the artifacts for the school. House Cormoray is interested in the Archanade, so Kora is intrigued by an internship program. Kora gives Murray a stack of applicants for the Cormoray Scholarship to pick from and is so glad that Murray is so sincere.

Kora mentions that she should avoid hiring Demodus Blix, a teaching assistant who didn’t show for class today. Murray knows Demodus, an illusion mage trying to get his doctorate. He adores the Penteveral and would never skip class. He was low on funds and Murray knows that he was hit hard by the outlawing of the arcane in the marketplace, as busking was a big source of his income. Murray finds his disappearance strange. Kora urges her to go through the applications at her own pace, so long as they’re done by the end of the day.

Bolaire wakes up and feeds the body he is currently inhabiting before going to the museum. He heads to the Selodyne Wing, which showcases the weapons of the Shapers. He speaks to another curator, Makmaz Gelfidar, about how their collections are to be folded in together. Neither of them want this, but they will try to be a united front. Makmaz does not want to stand up to House Cormoray, feeling pessimistic. They compare their struggles to the struggles of their respective histories, and Bolaire convinces Makmoz to talk to him if he hears anything.

A SOLDIER’S DUTY

Azune goes to the Falconer’s Rest, whose falcon nests have been emptied. He meets with Varen Kadorn, a soldier working with House Elbrendi, a vassal house of Royce. They received a letter last night about a massive arrest in Riesingürtle of all their men at arms. They may be arrested as well. Azune tells Varen to resign, him and everyone working for Royce, and to secretly come work for him. Varen is ready for the falcon to cry again. He will collect names and find others who will want to help.

Azune then goes to the Brethren Hall, where Captain Edrian Fazir tells him there is a full investigation happening at the Palazzo Davinos, as House Royce is under investigation for kidnapping people to Faerie. Azune has been requested by Einfasen to come investigate. He speaks to his subordinates and reminds them to take care of the people, as they are one of the last remaining forces that can protect them.

GREY MATTER

Hal takes Thjazi’s body to Olgud’s home, asking Olgud to dig a grave near his father’s plot. He then goes to Inez Rountree, his fight choreographer, whose sister works at the Einfasen estate. Inez agrees to invite her sister, Romina, for dinner tonight so Hal can talk to her. Hal goes to the Grey Library and researches in the history section about the death of the Shapers and masks. He reads about the halfling tradition of creating sacred masks, but the book that explains more is missing. The librarian will request a copy from the Totality, but it will take weeks to arrive.

As Hal leaves, he sees a royal entourage approach the Grey Tower of the Revolutionary Council. A dog introduces King Augustus Valian of Timmony, but King Gus is not actually in the retinue, having taken a horse, instead. The King is missing.

That is it for Episode 19 of Critical Role!

FINAL THOUGHTS

• Welcome to the Schemers Table! Murray, Bolaire, Hal, and Azune have their hands full!
• Who wants to bet that Bolaire has the copy of that book about halfling masks?
• Well where the heck is King Gus?!

Catch Episode 20 of Critical Role Campaign 4 on Thursday, March 26th 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?