Critical Recap: Critical Role C4E37 “Death to Tyrants”

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 37 Death to Tyrants!

THE DEMON THAT COULD

Tyranny goes to the Knife & Palette Pigments to keep her appointment with Tsul’rekshi. On her way in, she finds Hollis heading out to the Hallowed Round to see KoTher’ai at Hal’s invitation. Tyranny finds Tsul’rekshi, who asks her what she likes most about people: the way they love each other selflessly. Love stories fascinate her and she wants love for herself. Tsul’rekshi asks if there is anyone Tyranny loves. She doesn’t know, but she loves her friend Wick. She calls him a drumbeat in her head. She trusts him and he trusts her.

Tsul’rekshi then tells her that Wick will be dead before the sun rises. This shocks Tyranny, but Tsul’rekshi says that for this plan to work, Wick must die. Tsul’rekshi has prepared a ritual and explains that she needs Tyranny to take out her tongue through her throat and let Tsul’rekshi bleed to death, then put her tongue in a large oil leather sack. Then Tyranny must find Wick and test their love –– Wick MUST release Tyranny from her contract so that she can return to the Pit. If Wick meets Ksha’aravi, Tyranny must make sure that her father takes everything from Wick. He is depending on her.

Tyranny is hesitant, but Tsul’rekshi tells her to be somebody and kill her – or live a life of small comforts and great fears. She looks into her knife and sees her own reflection, frightened and unsure: but it is time to be a demon. She opens Tsul’rekshi’s throat and removes her tongue, following her instructions before heading to the Hallowed Round to find Wick and get fired.

ROUND 1

Wicander Halovar is about to be assassinated. KoTher’ai is in progress and Wick is seated in a VIP box with his family: Godard, his father; Iris, his mother; Lioran, his brother, and four guards. Two assassins are attacking, but they did not get a surprise round, choosing instead to bellow “Death to the Sundered Houses! Death to tyrants!” Godard, using subtle spell, casts command on Wick, forcing him to pray. An invisible spellcaster casts hold person on Wick, revealing themselves in the process: they are wearing a teal and white mask, the same mask that Bolaire gave Yanessa at the gala. Azune realizes this spellcaster must be Zebani, Wick’s sister.

Azune focuses his attacks on Zebani, trying to get her to drop her spell. Hal rushes to the box to help Wick, casting suggestion on the first of the assassins to make him restrain his accomplice. Zebani vanishes, but Hal too recognizes the mask and realizes that the Candescent Creed is targeting their own. Godard shields Lioran and Iris casts warding bond on Wick to take half his damage. Lieutenant Dala tells Azune that demons were spotted outside the theatre, but were waylaid: the Aspirants attempted to sneak in. Tyranny, knowing the rules of the Hallowed Round, arrives and buys a ticket.

The attacking assassin strikes Wick, which knocks Iris unconscious, and then the compelled assassin grapples him. Wick, who can only pray, has no faith anymore: so he prays to his friend Teor. He recognize his sister’s inept sorcery and knows she is behind this attack. The guards stabilize Iris and Murray casts Hold Person on the attacking assassin. Thus ends Round 1.

ROUND 2

Harondus Einfasen arrives to protect the Revolutionary Council. Zebani is bloodied due to the attacks from Azune and his lieutenants, and she whispers her desire for Wick to know it was her. Hal casts aid on Wick, Iris, and himself, declaring that the city looks after its own and giving Wick bardic inspiration. Zebani flees the theatre, but Azune keeps her in sight, wanting her taken in alive. Godard demands that the guards protect his son – specifically Lioran – and uses subtle spell to dispel Murray’s hold person, colliding with Hal in the process.

Freed from hold person, the assassin attacks Wick, knocking him unconscious and yelling at his fellow assassin, named Carper. Wick succeeds his first death save while Lioran struggles against the guards, hoping to help his brother. Murray casts misty step to enter the box and feeds Wick a healing potion, getting attacked by the guards in the process as Tyranny rushes into the chaotic theatre.

ROUNDS 3 & 4

Harondus spots Murray using arcane magic and demands she be arrested. Azune casts mirror image and attacks both assassins while Hal tries to bolster Wick and Murray with aid. Inspector Horace, Azune’s detail, attacks Zebani as she flees and causes her to finally drop the hold person on Wick. Godard attacks Hal, punching him unconscious. Horace and Dala rush the box and demand that Godard stop. One assassin kills two guards and the other attacks Wick, knocking him unconscious again with two automatic death save failures.

Wick is in his final moments. He knows his grandmother intended him to be a sacrifice to destroy the Hallowed Round. Wick fails his third death save and sees Tyranny racing towards him. He is disappointed that he never got to tell Tyranny how much she meant to him. She was the one person who really believed in him and his last words to her were a lie. Wick is given a choice as he takes his last breath: he can use this last breath to either fight for one more death save or release Tyranny from her contract, knowing that if he doesn’t, it will revert to Yanessa.

Wick chooses to fight and succeeds in his death save, allowing himself a bit more time. Murray shields Wick her body and casts haste on Azune. They have to get out of there. Azune races over to grab Wick, casting lay on hands and fleeing the theatre with Wick in his arms. Tyranny follows Azune as Hal fails his first death save – but Hollis Kinnywater, #1 Hal Fang Fan, slinks out of the shadows and heals him.

ANGELIC DEALS

Outside the theatre, Azune gives Wick to Tyranny as Zebani, still masked and invisible, flies down with enormous angel wings. She fires her crossbow twice at Wick, fueled by her hatred. Wick chooses to forego casting shield and releases Tyranny from her contract. He tells her that hers is the face that he sees now when he closes his eyes. If he is gone, he wants her to have every happiness in the world and to find her light. Tyranny tells him there is no happiness without an angel in her life.

Wick is knocked unconscious, but Tyranny’s help allows him to succeed in his death save. She can feel herself returning to the Pit and Wick can feel her leaving this world. Magic is rushing towards him and it will push him out of this mortal world in a way very similar to dying: but if Wick embraces it, Tyranny won’t be alone. The only thing that saved him before was Tyranny and Wick will not leave her side again.

Hollis once more calls from the shadows. It is time to die. Hollis casts banishment on Wick, sending him after Tyranny. Wick grows white angel wings and gains a fly speed of 60ft. Just before he vanishes, Lioran bursts out of the theatre and casts healing word on his brother. Then Wick and Tyranny are both gone – but the fighting inside the theatre continues without a target.

DEMONIC HOMES

Wick and Tyranny find themselves within the Pit near a cliff of obsidian mountains in a field of crater and volcanic rock. Thousands of chained celestials gnash and scream outside a white ivory tower that seems to grow out of the ground. This is the palace of Ksha’aravi and its top holds a bright light. The chained celestials scream at the sight of Wick, even as they bow at his very presence.

That is it for Episode 37 of Critical Role!

FINAL THOUGHTS

• What. In the world. Has happened. To Wick and Tyranny!!!
• Schemers have GOTTA control this story – if they can even survive the rest of combat!
• Tsul’rekshi, honey, you still with us? Please still be with us.

Catch Episode 38 of Critical Role Campaign 4 on Thursday, October 8th 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?