Critical Recap: Critical Role C4E24 “Good Tidings”

Hello and welcome to Critical Recap! I’m Jared Deiro, the Critical Role Junior Lore Keeper. Let’s jump into Critical Role Campaign 4 Episode 24 Good Tidings!

GLAD IT WASN’T YOU

8 years ago, near the Guardian Wall in Dol-Makjar, Thimble and Thjazi Fang watch as their fellow Falconer, Toljana Skirshar, is hanged for sedition and treason against the Revolutionary Council. She swings in the gallows alongside her conspirators and fellow soldiers.

Stepping away from the macabre scene, Thjazi worries that he and Thimble have too many secrets shared between them – there are plenty of “Mind Readers” within the city who can easily uncover any of their private affairs. Thimble agrees, she’ll keep her contacts with the fairies, while Thjazi sticks with the muckety-mucks and wizards.

TIDINGS! TIDINGS!

Returning to the Seven Stars in the year 71, six days after Thjazi Fang was hanged, Varen Kadorn tells the Schemers that he has 350 soldiers waiting. He doesn’t have all the names, only a few; he feels keeping them sparse will keep them safe. Before leaving, Azune asks Varen to collect the names of any spies they can use within the Sundered Houses’ employ.

With inspiration stirring, Murray tears a piece of biscuit and tosses it on the table, “Falcons are fierce, but they are solitary creatures – Magpies are cunning, passing down knowledge from generation to generation. Loyal to themselves, but also little assholes.” A magpie flies down and eats. Hal calls the magpie to his shoulder, “Sometimes they are known as a mischief, sometimes known as a tiding.” The little bird flies to Murray’s shoulder and whispers Hal’s exact words in her ear as he casts animal messenger.

“We need a symbol,” Murray casts skywrite and throws a small mist of condensation that forms the outline of a magpie within – the symbol they’ll use to rally their soldiers. Lachmir Willows interrupts, Orus Blade and Romina Rountree request a word with them.

HAND & WHEEL

Upstairs, Romina tells Hal and Bolaire that her lord, Harondus Einfasen, has received word that Lord Primus Tachonis will be in the city this coming Trader’s Day. On the opening night of KoTher’ai, there is to be a meeting of the Sundered Houses in Dol-Makjar.

Downstairs, Orus tells Murray and Azune that Hand and Wheel have been working with their own sect of the Revolutionary Guard, helping find the stolen glyph wagon. This morning, they received word that the Crow Keepers announced themselves as a disbanded thieves guild.

Since the outlawing of magic and the inability to sell glyphs, Orus and the company are in dire financial trouble, and he cannot afford security to protect the business. Murray offers a beneficial collaboration: perhaps they can provide some security if the Blades are willing to offer their empty warehouses throughout the city. Orus offers to take them on a private tour of the kiln in the Fray.

Arriving at the massive kiln of Hand & Wheel Ceramics, the Schemers head to the spell glyph work stations, where Orus tells them the company was producing more blank glyphs than they were enchanting. Murray asks Roheer Howl, the company’s bookkeeper, if they know anything about enchanted amphoras. Roheer tells them that about 5-6 weeks ago, Thjazi came in with a falcon, ordered about 6 enchanted amphorae, and requested they be delivered to “Knife and Palette Pigments” in the Tanners.

The amphorae required certain abjurations in the clay; they must withstand high temperatures, contain the smell of whatever is inside, and treat the clay with a material that was extremely hemaphobic. The last thing Roheer remembered was Thjazi saying it was a gift for a family member.

KNIFE AND PALETTE

The next day, during Candle Feast, Azune and Varen agree on a symbol (bird drawing) and code phrase (“Any good Tidings?” with “Always for a friend” as the response). Murray sells the stolen gems to the Penteveral, giving the party a hefty sum of gold to work with.

Bolaire decides on a theme for the Gala’s masquerade: “Convivium Haereticorum,” (“Banquet of the Heretics”) where all the guests will wear masks representing the Shapers pantheon. Hal continues to run KoTher’ai with the Rookery theater troupe and later manages to get an additional 300 gp from Elodie D’vyen, a little to help feed the soldiers.

As Victor’s Day arrives, Einfasen tells Azune they are dropping the search for Demodus Blix and pushing toward the missing Lady Amariya Cormoray – Azune slips Occtis’ signet ring in the Cormoray evidence. Meanwhile, Murray spends the day crafting glyphs.

That night, the Seekers arrive at Knife and Palette Pigments, where Bolaire recognizes a familiar smell of incense – one he smells in the presence of demons and other sullied folk. A pale, anemic, sallow halfling stares at them through the bottom of the window. “Should I set out some chairs?”

Hollis Kinnywater is the halfling guard who watches the wall for Knife and Palette. Unfortunately, Hollis’ mistress is not currently available, so they will not be able to enter the facilities. But, if they are able to get her an introduction with the Scion Wicander Halovar, his mistress will tell them everything they want to know.

Before they leave, Hollis tells them that he saw soldiers of Brethren Hall clearing out falcon’s nests in the cliffs. He then looks to Hal and mentions that the paint was never to be delivered to him in the manner that it was. Thjazi wished to give it to Hal himself.

EVERYTHING, EVERYWHERE, ALL AT ONCE

It’s 1 a.m., and the Schemers are in a wooden storehouse of the Hallowed Round. Murray steps to the amphora, swirls her finger in the cyan paint, and licks it.

Hit like a rushing river, everything flows through her at once: this paint is connected to the Stone of Nightsong, but the negative energy has the same buzzing frequency, weight, and gravity. The cosmic weight – it’s the same. The paint is not blood, though it was rendered from blood to create stories, dreams, and figments. To create things that are not real.

Hal throws a porcelain mask, smashing it against the wall, cutting his cheek. He storms out onto the stage as his outburst breaks everyone’s focus. “Why didn’t he tell me anything? Why did he wait until the city was falling?” Hal yells, and no one knows what to say. Murray apologizes to Hal, and they each leave to rest.

GALA NIGHT

With the Schemers, the Rookery Troupe, twenty Magpie soldiers, key members from three of the Sundered Houses, the Timmonish retinue, and many more of Dol-Makjar’s players, the Gala starts off without a hitch – sort of!

Upon entering the Archanade, Photarch Yanessa Halovar is welcomed by Hal, who asks if she’s seen Wicander? SO funny! The Photarch was about to ask Hal the same thing. She then asks him if he knows or has ever had contact with Teor Pridesire? Hal has not. Either way, Yanessa invites Hal to come visit the Villa Aurora tomorrow; she wants to review the content of KoTher’ai before opening.

Across the party, Azune watches as King Gus makes a beeline toward the Photarch, requesting a private word. Yanessa Halovar, King Gus, their selected retinue, and an invisible Murray Mag’Nesson are escorted to a large banquet hall away from the gala.

Gus demands an answer on how it is possible that the Candescent Creed preachers in Timmony openly speak of sedition and rebellion against him, and yet it does not reach her.

Meanwhile, outside, Hal watches a couple of Argrosian knights step away, while Bolaire hears the unmistakable click of a crossbow being loaded.

AAAAaaannnnd that’s all for Episode 24 of Critical Role, Folks!

FINAL THOUGHTS

• Something about assembling a network/ team that just gets my gaming brain amped up. All of the Magpie assembly is so sick.
• Hollis Kinnywater is my boy, I don’t know, there’s something about him that I love. Maybe it’s just his little fidget clacker?
• AAAAAAAAHHHHH what do you mean click of a crossbow?!?!?

Catch Episode 25 of Critical Role Campaign 4 on Thursday, May 7th 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?