Critical Recap: Critical Role C4E29 “Opening Night”

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 29 Opening Night!

LAKESIDE MEMORIES

Kattigan reflects on family as he looks out across Lake Nahami. He recalls a night seven years ago, when his quiet home in the woods of Emeri was attacked by a sorcerer and his wife Marienna and daughter Esmé were killed, their bodies vanishing. There was no trail for him to follow, and he never discovered the identity of the sorcerer. He searched for six years, but eventually lost hope and drowned his sorrows in taverns. He only has Wulferic, his one companion.

Kattigan is pulled from his reverie when Hal and Thaisha rush to his side, claiming that Teor is in trouble. They lead him to a carriage, which locks once they are all inside. “Hal” and “Thaisha” drop their disguises, revealing themselves as Enmity and Agony. They are taking Kattigan and Wulferic to the Villa Aurora.

MANOR INFILTRATION

Team Bird Watch – Occtis, Julien, Teor, Thimble, and Cyd – arrive at Obrimus Manor, a large and gothic manor that gives the impression of a skull overlooking Dol-Makjar. The manor is mostly empty, but the team is still prioritizing stealth as they search for Mara the Wing and the relic for Julien’s sister, Alba. They sneak in through the servants’ entrance, killing the guard in the process. Occtis has to invite Thimble in, as there is an anti-fae shield over the property. The entire home radiates with undead and the veil itself is thin.

They move through the courtyard to the vassal crypts, where Occtis finds a secret door to the Undercroft, where the veil has been destroyed and both planes are tangible. Tachonis candles will light the tenebral gloom for them. With the agreement of the others, Occtis uses the area’s magic to protect Thimble from the necrotic darkness, but this alerts the undead of the manor. Occtis places the body of Dame Gaya Seremai in a place of honor, leveling up as the crypt’s dead return to unlife.

A SON RETURNED

Wick, Tyranny, and a hidden Bolaire are in the Villa Aurora, where Yanessa invites Wick to the meeting tonight with the Sundered Houses. Yanessa leaves and Tyranny confirms that they will not be selling out their friends to his grandmother. Tyranny puts on Bolaire’s mask, but decides to find someone he can wear. She finds Lux Adora, telling her that Wick seeks companionship. This gets Adora to come, though she is perturbed by the idea. Wick is able to get Bolaire’s mask on Adora, allowing Bolaire to return.

Just then, Wick’s sister Zebani enters and threatens to harm Armas if Wick ever disappoints Yanessa again, implying that she knows where Armas is. She leaves and Wick’s mother Iris and younger brother Lioran enter. Both are relieved that Wick has returned safely and Wick notices translucent wings on his young brother’s back that only he can see.

KOTHER’AI

With then minutes until curtains, Hal calms his troupe’s nerves while Murray, Azune, Vaelus, Thaisha, and Hannen take seats in the audience. There are one hundred magpie soldiers at the theatre, waiting for their word. Hal gives Lash one last pep talk before his lead actor steps out to begin the play as Vokjan Murzat. There is a small Candescent Creed presence that notices the play is not what they were promised, but the Rungjani audience is captivated as Shadia wields one of the true Pariah Blades onstage.

Four Creed representatives argue with Olgud, but Murray notices fairies coming through the reinstalled fairy doors. She sends a fairy to take care of the Creed, and the fairy spells them to leave the theatre. Vaelus watches the performance, overwhelmed by the story and what it means to the people of Dol-Makjar. Hal casts from the wings, instilling courage in Lash and the performers, enhancing the show. He realizes that paint is seeping onto the stage from one of the amphoras, and sees a ghostly figure watching the show.

FREE PEOPLE

This is the spirit of Vokjan Murzat, watching his own story performed. He talks to Hal, trying to understand what happened, and Hal explains that Vokjan found the courage of the orcish people and that it pointed the way to their eventual freedom. Azgra is gone, and their people are free. They will now always have the chance to stay free. Vokjan laughs with joy, possessing Lash and imbuing the performance with his own true self as Hal levels up.

The very fabric of reality transmutes. An afterlife that was lost for 70 years is beginning to return and Vokjan’s army is marching home. Thaisha can see the thread of magic that is connecting the stage to the mural as a bridge is built to the Dying Fields of Zgratu’uluk. But the lost souls need guidance, and Thaisha steps in to guide them down the path.

The souls of soldiers reunite as the Stone of Nightsong glows. Vaelus can feel the Stone of Nightsong calling out with purpose, but she holds on, protective. She shows the Stone to Hannen, and they take it to Tintazi Woods as a trinity of bridges is created between Tír Cruthú, Aramán, and the afterlife. Intermission begins.

FIGHTING NIGHTMARES

Back in Obrimus Manor, Occtis calls upon the corpse of Dame Seremai to return and protect him. Her spirit is still there, and she speaks to him, saying that her family sent her to die in the Eternal Night. Her honor bought her nothing but darkness. Occtis promises to show her a different path to walk. For the first time, Occtis successfully reanimates a corpse to serve as his protector. The shadows and skeletons attack, but Thimble’s blade was made for nightmares such as these, and she levels up defending her friends.

Cyd and Teor fight back to back, their strength being sapped by the necrotic monsters. The group tries to stay focused on the mission and escape the room by going through the secret door that Occtis opened. Occtis commands the doors closed, and they find themselves having successfully made it past the doorstep of Obrimus Manor.

SURPRISING GUESTS

Photarch Yanessa welcomes about thirty guests, all representatives of Houses Einfasen, Cormoray, Tachonis, and Halovar, to this grand meeting of the Sundered Houses. As Primus congratulates her resurrection, Cruelty, Enmity, and Agony arrive with Kattigan and Wulferic in sacks. Yanessa tells the Aspirants to wait as the meeting begins. Primus tries to leverage the disappearance of Occtis, claiming that his letter from Riesingürtle is a forgery, but Lord Atakan Cormoray distracts by asking after the whereabouts of his own daughter, Lady Amariya Cormoray. He presents Occtis’ signet ring, which Primus recognizes.

To the shock of all, Lady Amariya Cormoray enters the room. She tells her father she will explain her absence later. Bolaire realizes that she somehow escaped the coffin box and quietly panics as the meeting continues. Otto Einfasen tells Primus that he is already aware that House Royce did not vanish to Faerie. He demands to know who was responsible for what occurred at the Palazzo Davinos. He is already convinced of Primus’ guilt in the matter, and that he has betrayed the alliance of the Sundered Houses.

TACHONIS TESTIMONY

Primus drops his pretense. He declares that they have all spoken about removing House Royce from the alliance. House Tachonis merely took matters into their own hands in order to see their alliance thrive. Otto asks if this is why Primus murdered his own son. Primus declares that Occtis is still alive and that the testimony of Groto’s vision is a lie. Archmage Kohlesturm presents the black Tachonis candle, shocking Primus. Otto states his refusal to be intimidated by their macabre house and reveals to all that Primus aimed to turn Occtis into a celestial abomination to fell the Golden Orchard and to come for them all in turn.

Primus requests and submits to a zone of truth spell. He reveals that he had no intention to slaughter anyone in this room. The Deva Vindicta is no longer a potential threat. He wanted to give them a return to the Empire of Obridimia, to divvy up land to the Houses –– Western Telmora to Einfasen, Eastern Telmora to Cormoray, the Golden Orchard move into the Tenebral Reaches, and Halovar taking over Telmora’s druid groves. The Deva Vindicta was meant to make them kneel and bring them all in line.

He calls out each house’s gambit. Einfasen’s search for the Jotunøks. Cormoray’s grant at the Penteveral and a celebration at the Kalystra Quarries. Halovar’s Aspirants and the raging bellows’ fever. All Tachonis did with the Deva Vindicta was nearly win at a game they are all playing. They work best together. Primus reminds them of the real threat — the common folk of Dol-Makjar. If the people win, then the Houses will be above no one. If another House wins, then Primus would proudly serve them. But they cannot take their eyes off the people.

Yanessa points out how much Primus wanted Thjazi Fang dead. He claims that the candle needed noble blood spilled. He wanted Aranessa to come to Dol-Makjar, so arranged Thjazi’s death to lure her to the city. Thus concludes Primus’ testimony. Petra and Ryah request that the Houses join them at the feast to discuss the Revolutionary Council and its weaknesses in the wake of the assassination attempts. The twins lead the people out of the chamber.

FORGOTTEN FACES

Bolaire follows Lady Amariya Cormoray, reaching out to his sister Termina in the void. Amariya spots him in the body of Lux Adora. The two talk in a corner and Termina’s mask appears. She is wearing Amariya and having the best time. Bolaire is in shock that his sister is alive. Termina is delighted to help the mortals ascend to godhood, because then it means she gets to kill a god again. She casts misty step away from Bolaire.

Yanessa wishes to speak with Primus privately, but the Aspirants demand her attention again. Tyranny asks to help and Yanessa grants this request, telling her to look after her sisters. Kattigan is dumped out of the sack and Yanessa confronts him for his lies. She asks Wick if Kattigan is an associate of Teor, and Wick confirms this. She tells the Aspirants, including Tyranny, to take Kattigan to the Mercanaud tailors.

As Kattigan is taken away, he finally looks at Primus Tachonis. In this moment, he realizes that Primus is the sorcerer who destroyed his family. As the realization hits him, Kattigan levels up.

That is it for Episode 29 of Critical Role!

FINAL THOUGHTS

• So many level ups this episode! We’ve got Occtis, Hal, Thimble, and Kattigan now up to level 5!
• Thjazi was trying to bring back the orcish afterlife! But will the bridge to the Dying Fields hold?
• Hey Bolaire, what does ‘vessel of no thing’ mean? Hey Bolaire?? What’s your sister up to?
• Poor Kattigan. That’s it, that’s the show.

Catch Episode 30 of Critical Role Campaign 4 on Thursday, June 18th 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?