Critical Recap: Critical Role C4E21 “King of Cards”

Hello and welcome to Critical Recap! I’m Dani Carr, the Critical Role Senior Lore Keeper. Let’s dive into Critical Role Campaign 4 Episode 21 King of Cards!

BLOOM

In Dol-Makjar in the year 42, Thaisha introduces her new boyfriend Hal to her family during the Rungjani holiday of Dazharhaz, or the Blooming – the celebration of Azgra’s downfall and the green life that came to Kahad. Hal is nervous to meet the famous Lloys, but her family is kind and playful. Thaisha learns that the family is planning to make another sword, this one for a lord. Hal has been fighting in the Grey Battalion of the War of Axe and Vine and Thaisha has been studying to be a jeweler. The two are 19, inspired, and deeply in love.

Thaisha’s grandmother, Scyvah, is a druid of the Circle of Ancients and at 108 years old, she saw both the Shapers’ rule and their fall. Scyvah gives a blessing, wherein she discusses the druid, Agari Shadow, who gave the first farramh for the fallen soldiers that protected Shay Claw before she felled Azgra. To spoil the farramh, a dying war priest named Tafkazi, demanded a blessing for Agra.

Scyvah invites Thaisha to continue the blessing. Thaisha is not a druid, yet, but she is showing the early signs of becoming one. She speaks of Agari agreeing to bless Agra for his lessons, his craft, his hunger, and his honesty. Of all the Shapers, Azgra never lied about his true nature. Scyvah continues, explaining that at the end of this blessing, the rain and thunder arrived and healed the land. Green began to grow and life bloomed. Scyvah ends her speech and talks to Thaisha, congratulating her and implying that Thaisha is pregnant before even Thaisha knows.

A MAID’S EARS

In Dol-Makjar, in the present year 71, the Schemers take Misha Undragor to Hal’s home to keep him out of jail. They then go to the Seven Stars so that Hal can meet with Romina Rountree to discuss the Einfasens. Hal, Inez, and Romina speak privately in the Aviary while the others stay in the tavern itself. Romina is willing to talk because of Thjazi – she remembers when they were kids, how he threw a rock at a boy who was bullying her, and she always appreciated his aid. Romina believes Hal is looking for Wick, who has been missing for two days. The Photarch even came to the Stahlkeep in search of him.

Romina reveals the arrest of House Royce’s men in Riesingürtle, how House Tachonos believed there was a traitor among the vassal house soldiers. Lord Otto Einfasen has requested an audience with the heads of all the Sundered Houses, but Primus is currently unreachable. Otto thinks Primus is stalling for some reason. Romina was told to report if a pigeon returned from the Golden Orchard, but there has been no sign. Romina hasn’t heard of any other issues between Einfasen and other Houses. She wants to protect the theatre, but that might be hard with Wick gone.

Wick is not the only noble missing. House Royce is gone, Occtis Tachonis is gone and was apparently seen at the Palazzo Davinos. They’re looking for a nama warrior. Lord Harondus Einfasen is hosting a nama diplomat from Argosia right now. Romina will do her best to keep Hal informed on what she hears. She keeps remembering that rock. Everyone keeps saying Thjazi’s death is too far and the pendulum has to swing back. So this is her picking up her rock.

BLUFFS

Downstairs, Azune, Bolaire, and Murray notice a game of cards being played by four people, one an aristocrat loudly praising the outlawing of arcane magic in the marketplace. Bolaire wants to join the game. Azune changes the candlelight to Demodus’ blue flame, and only one of the players – Pimley Morn, a gnome merchant and smuggler – notices. Murray knows Pimley, since he deals in arcane components. He shouldn’t be playing with high rollers. She gets his attention and invites him to the bathroom.

Murray and Pimley go to the bathroom, where they argue over Demodus. He finally reveals that Pimley came to Tanvar Nendash, an unlicensed apothecary, panicked and looking for a way out of the city. Pimley agreed to get him out, but then Tanvar revealed that the Tachonis were the ones looking for Demodus. So Pimley took him to Zaghi of the Crow Keepers instead, since Demodus owed them money. Pimley collected a bounty. Murray threatens him, but Pimley calls her bluff and tells her she’s rusty in dealing with the underbelly. She lets him leave, a bit rattled.

Meanwhile, Bolaire plays cards with the three people Pimley left. He gives his name as Delex Blix, but no one reacts. He strikes up a conversation with the mercenary Gus, who is in town to speak with the Revolutionary Council. Gus is a former soldier who got caught up in politics. Gus wins the hand. Hal comes down and realizes this is King Gus. Soon, one of Gus’ hounds arrives to pull him away. Gus introduces himself to Hal and appreciates the recommendation of the Seven Stars. He likes a place with honesty. Gus is staying with Harving Bowsprit, a merchant. He asks Hal about the Candescent Creed, and Hal says he wishes that he’d read the fine print on his contract.

A DEALT HAND

Gus leaves and the Schemers meet back up. The Crow Keepers have Demodus, so they head to Caravan Hill, a neighborhood of merchants and taverns whose caravans became permanent structures. They can see that the Guard Tower, the Crows’ usual hangout, is crowded with people cooling down from recent fights. The Crows have been dealing with one of their leaders being recently killed by Vaelus. Murray recognizes a fellow diviner, Temelow, a deer-like fae known as a glaistig who reads tea leaves and cards.

Murray goes to Temelow for a reading. These magpies are looking for a nest of nearby crows. Three cards are drawn. Death is near and time is of the essence. Appearances are deceptive and conflict is mediated through smiles. A dragon of the world, whose fate hangs in balance. The Crows are deep underground, where the dragon’s water flows. A great treasure has come to them when they lack leadership. They seek the council of one with dark powers, but they’re meddling with something they don’t understand. Follow the stench. Murray gives her three silver, and Temelow asks her to warn Thimble that the Crows are looking for her. The fairies are waiting for her and the city is growing more dangerous. The two diviners will keep each other’s secrets.

SHADOWS IN THE SEWERS

The Schemers find a sewer grate which Azune opens via a secret hinge. There is a hidden staircase in the darkness. Bolaire and Murray apologize to Hal – this isn’t what Thjazi wanted for his brother. Hal now has to walk in Thjazi’s footsteps, so he steps into the sewer and leaves the life he was supposed to lead behind. Further down, they hear a deep and unnatural voice and see torches. Murray casts tremor sense to find 8-10 Crow Keepers in the other room. She can hear Demodus’ raspy breathing. Something unnatural is growing into the stone, and it is that creature that is speaking.

They come up with a plan to send the Crow Keepers running. Bolaire casts phantasmal force to make it sound like soldiers, but one of the Crows spots his movement. Azune throws a brick and Hall throws his voice to sound like a fleeing soldier. Four Crows are sent after the “soldiers” but one goes to the corner where he spotted Bolaire. The Schemers wait in the shadows, with only a moment to act as the Crow approaches.

That is it for Episode 21 of Critical Role!

FINAL THOUGHTS

• The Schemers had to roll initiative! It’s time for a rumble!
• I love seeing all the people who are inspired to act because of Thjazi. One brave soul can inspire so much good.
• So. Ass steaks for dinner tonight?

Catch Episode 22 of Critical Role Campaign 4 on Thursday, April 9th 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?