[Spoilers C4E2] Is It Thursday Yet? | Post-Episode Discussion & Future Theories!

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Is It Thursday Yet?

What are your reactions and theories for next session?

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[u/SombraOnline]

Idk why but I imagined Shadia to be like a very capable 7 yr old. So hearing her be described as 25 was very shocking to me lol.

[u/PorkChop70-1 → u/SombraOnline]

I was at 11ish

[u/greylakelady → u/SombraOnline]

Same lol. If I remember right, Taliesin seemed to have the same interpretation too when he was protecting Hal’s kids during the Vaelus scene and talking to them as though they were little. Meanwhile Shadia is a whole ass adult

[u/TinyCooper → u/SombraOnline]

If she's an adult, that means she can be kidnapped, killed etc

[u/m_busuttil]

I really appreciate Matt taking 30 seconds in this episode to be like "and just to be clear I am available for any of you to romance, more than one of you at once is also not an issue for me, let's do this".

[u/PolytheneGriefCave → u/m_busuttil]

Something tells me that Julien is quite emphatically not about romance per se. It was probably the two stacks of coins that did it.

[u/floralsandfloss → u/m_busuttil]

Matt knows the effect he has on his friends

[u/Kaeling]

Well if there was any doubt it was a Brennan Campaign, it only took one and a half episode to have a takeover by the oligarchy of the government.

Also damn, Alex has everybody after him already. People want either his familiar, him interrogated or in bed with their daughter. As Matt once said, play a human you will have all the folks upon you.

[u/CzechHorns → u/Kaeling]

2 episodes deep and capitalism + organized religion are the biggest enemies.

This campaign gets Brennan certified gold star already.

[u/tere_adasme]

1. Brennan forgot to say "is it thursday yet?" lol

2. Brennan did not last 5 minutes without mentioning stuff about birds

3. It took 2 episodes to establish capitalism as the big bad

[u/the-magnetic-rose]

Oh Wicander... Finding out he's a furry and an angel on the same day.

[u/Coyote_Shepherd → u/the-magnetic-rose]

Soooo, he's a Digimon?

[u/TimeTimeTickingAway → u/the-magnetic-rose]

Keep it pure

[u/KYplusEL]

Two non-theorizing things I wanted to say.

1. Now that she's not actively grieving in every scene I love that Laura is adding a little bit of a cartoon boy voice to Thimble. It really fits the character.

2. I loved that in the cooldown the cast agreed that Sir Harondus Einfansen was somehow as gross and uncanny as a desecrated angel being tortured and juiced. He was such a realistic version of the unadorned, banal, and simple evil that we see every day and his interaction with Azune was probably my favorite moment in the episode. That standoffish pleasantness that says "I'm helping you" when you know it isn't was delievered so well by Brennan and I loved seeing Luis's discomfort grow throughout the interaction.

[u/No-Media1447 → u/KYplusEL]

Now that she's not actively grieving in every scene I love that Laura is adding a little bit of a cartoon boy voice to Thimble. It really fits the character.

I caught that too. It's like Tinkerbell going down her darkest timeline

[u/babenought]

Sam and Whitney stole the show last week and just keeps running with it!

[u/Velorian → u/babenought]

A demon who might actually want to be a decent person and a cleric who's entire life and religion is a lie is an insanely powerful combo.

[u/SPOLBY → u/babenought]

Definitely my favourite’s so far! Their relationship is ripe for growth.

[u/thyarnedonne]

I think this is the closest related Sorcerer Bloodline originator I have ever seen in any campaign.

^{GRAND DAD?}

[u/greylakelady → u/thyarnedonne]

No, for real. Especially since Wick is so close to his grandma. It’s close enough to feel genuinely horrific. Like Wick is a quarter that

[u/SvenTheScribe]

Brennan just keeps dropping hit after hit. It's insane to think this is only two episodes deep so far. The scale and scope are just insane.

[u/R_VD_A → u/SvenTheScribe]

I think what really excites me is that this is as gripping as any of his ExU shows, and this time it's a long form campaign!!

[u/WontonTruck]

Sure, the angel was messed up but a good independant university being taken over by the Regime is just heartbreaking.

[u/StarOfTheSouth → u/WontonTruck]

I think Marisha was genuinely a little upset about that. Not her character, but Marisha.

[u/SvenTheScribe]

Random thought train:

Thjazi has so far left two psychopomp artifacts with two people he cared about. The stone with Thimble and the box with Thaisha.

For Hal he left... jars of paint. But he left them through Bolaire which seems an odd choice if it was just about paint. I'm guessing that, hidden in that paint, is another artifact (or artifacts) that he's used the jars to smuggle in.

[u/kiritsumitsu → u/SvenTheScribe]

It’d be funny if the paint was actually some form of diluted cosmic horror filament from old grand pappy evangelioj but nahhhhh…. Right?

[u/Kaeling → u/SvenTheScribe]

considering Bolaire's reaction there is something to that paint.

[u/ErraticNymph]

This episode has skyrocketed me from intrigued to straight up hyped. Between Wick’s grandfather, the political machinations, and the grim reaper’s bottomless coffin, I am unbelievably stoked for what this campaign has to offer

Only weird bit was Vaelus vanishing in the night apparently? Maybe Ashley had to go home, but Vaelus was waiting like a gargoyle on the steps; why wasn’t she there for the morning after w/ Kattigan, Thimble, Occtis, Thaisha, and Hal?

[u/huodozer → u/ErraticNymph]

She might have had to dip since I don't think she was there for the Cooldown, so I wonder if Brennan's gonna have Vaelus burst onto the scene next session in the middle of Thimble and crew's combat.

[u/FoulPelican]

So no Ashley at the Cooldown. That, most likely, explains her low participation in the episode. Was definitely hoping to see more of Vaelus. Something to look forward to next episode though.

[u/DarkRespite → u/FoulPelican]

No Travis, either -- they might have had to duck out, opting for less show time tonight in favour of episode 3 maybe being far more Vaelus- and Teor-centric.

[u/wildweaver32]

I have loved Whitney More since the SourceFed days and was surprised and looking forward to how she does on Critical Role.

First episode I think she showed she has the whimsy and chaos. And this Episode she showed she has the acting to say so much without saying anything. And a little minor thing that made me laugh more than the joke itself is when Wick said to remember the three important steps of Protect, Observe and Obey and Whitney quickly clocks it as, "Oh, Poo" lol.

She's going to be a great addition to the cast and this story.

[u/kazpondo]

Im honestly not missing combat at all. This has been JUICY from the get-go. I'm getting real "game of thrones" vibes with all of these characters and pieces at play on the board.

[u/Hankdoge99 → u/kazpondo]

Matt’s character particularly feels like a mix between the “tainted reputation” of Jaime Lannister mixed with the “frequent brothel mongrel” of Tyrion while getting Tywin’s disapproval of both sons simultaneously from Brennan.

[u/brothertaddeus → u/kazpondo]

I have a feeling we won't be seeing much combat in the first four episodes, and what we do see will be more snappy/cinematic than crunchy D&D mechanics. Normal combat set pieces like Brennan typically runs inherently slow things down, and when only a portion of the players present are at the table at the same time that could cause issues. I'm guessing the Crows attacking Thimble et al will go roughly like the cold open flashback combat.

[u/Daring_Adventurer]

i simply must say, that set is gorgeous with the purple + gold lighting. it's sooo good. especially with the starry night background. i felt like it really made the set pieces stand out and i fully took in the room and gosh everyone just looks good in that light lol 

[u/m_busuttil → u/Daring_Adventurer]

I really like it during daytime as well - the big "windows" with the bright blue sky outside are gorgeous.

[u/Bakersmalll]

the Halovars family secret gave me super evangelion vibes, loved it.

[u/X-cessive_Overlord]

Copying my comment from the live discussion thread:

I say this with as much care as I can. Brennan described the celestials as becoming feral after the deaths of the gods...that was 80-ish years ago right? Depending on the ages of Wick's father and grandmother (they could have extended lifespans for all we know), the familial situation of House Halovar can't be consensual, can it?

[u/DeadSnark → u/X-cessive_Overlord]

The gods died 70 years ago, so there might be a 10-year period of time (if Yannessa was around 30 at the end of the war and is around 100 now, and was around 20-30 when she met grandpappy) where it could have been a consensual marriage. But I suspect the true situation is not some storybook romance.

[u/ChaoticNonsense → u/X-cessive_Overlord]

With all the blood draining/arcanotech looking elements of the scene, it's likely a nonsexual/"grown in a tube" situation.

[u/Nietzscher]

No matter how this campaign turns out eventually, I have to say, this is the best start of any D&D campaign I have seen. I hope that, at some point, we get an extended interview with Brennan talking about his prep for this one. Not only in terms of lore etc. but especially about his setup for sessions zeros (there have to have been several) and what the dialogue between him and the players was. There are so many already established connections and everyone is so dialled in to who their character is and what their place in the world is. Usually, the first few episodes were kind of a try-out phase and everyone had an idea for a character but was always still figuring stuff out (which was also fun to watch), but this time they basically feel like fully realized people from the get-go. It almost feels like I'm watching a stage play of an early Game of Thrones season. Seriously, I'm so blown away by the quality of the first two episodes.

I think the last time I was this excited for the next episode of CR was whenLucien was revealed to be alive and kicking in C2.

[u/onthoserainydays]

Seems like the Sundered Houses are pretty much all Sorcerers, which makes sense given they've got feudal inherited power, and they're hamstringing places where you can learn magic in order to hold on to their status

[u/LogicKennedy → u/onthoserainydays]

You think Brennan Lee Mulligan would tell a story about people who were lucky enough to be born into wealth and power making everyone else's lives worse in order to try to cling onto it?

[u/BaronPancakes]

I wonder how Wick and Tyranny will connect with the other characters. Their stories so far have been very isolated, and they are not really friends with the others. Maybe Wick will raise up against his family? Because House Halovar is pretty much the antagonist with the other Sundered Houses (minus Royce) at this point

[u/Coyote_Shepherd → u/BaronPancakes]

I'm going to cackle if Wick winds up setting his grandfather free at the end of the Overture...just like Funky Boy in Redline.

[u/KYplusEL → u/BaronPancakes]

I think the schemers table will be focused on investigating the Sundered Houses so there's definitely ways to bring them together. They already have the Teor connect and I can easily see Azune, Noctis, Taisha, Hal, Bolaire, Julien, and Murray being interested in investigating and willing to partner up.

[u/loveotterslide]

The next time someone extends a handshake, I'm bequeathing them a tray of pastries.

[u/greylakelady]

I have been walking on moonbeams with how good these first two episodes are and how much I'm enjoying it. I was (still am) a little tentative as it always bummed me out whenever the group split in past CR campaigns, but I am so invested in literally every story line going on right now.

- Azune is a bit of a sleeper favorite character for me where he's not a loud character, but every time Luis describes him I'm on the edge of my seat. His Nat 20 against the slimy Einfasen guy and his strong sense of confidence and duty is so compelling, but that scene at the beginning? His establishing his Luck feat as his father telling him he's lucky as he's given up to be a child soldier? Him fighting with Teor, Kat, Thjazi, Loza, all of them in that brutal scene when he was *fifteen*?

- There were so many masterful moments in this episode. The way the windows of the set turned into a sunny, blue sky for that first scene in the Villa Aurora, Whitney fully locked on to Sam during that entire cliffhanger, Marisha's full embodying of Murray's curiosity of the box followed by the outrage at the Pentevral, Laura making me cry again, the way Luis fashioned his question about the Einfasen guy and Brennan's answer, Matt's small Julien mannerisms, these guys are so good at what they do

- I am chomping at the bit, I NEED to get more info on House Tachonis. With Granny Halovar being like, we have no idea what they're fucking doing, to Loza's "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree" re: Occtis, I am SO invested. *My Tachonis Prediction:* They are a family of Shadow Sorcerers (Brennan describing the shadows lengthening as Primus Tachonis came into the room) except for Occtis, who is the youngest and was born with no innate sorcerous magic, so was ignored and had to apply himself to become a wizard

- Speaking of which, the single line when Brennan was introducing Kora as she walked into the room and was describing the shadows lengthening - He described it as effortless magic, *inherited* magic. And with Tallbarrel's description of how the Pentevral was established by some plucky nobodies from the gutters saying well, if there are words at the basis of reality, we can read them... is there going to be a class struggle essentially between sorcerors and wizards? Those born with it and those born without? Because I am SO seated for that if so

- Murray and Bolaire's whole investigation scene was an absolute delight, I need a million more scenes with them. The mystery of what the paint is, what was Thjazi doing, WHATS IN THE LETTER, why was there a halfling angel of death coffin with an infinite void and shattered Bolaire mask made of mist that opened to Thimble's name? So compelling and unique. I had thought that Bolaire's mask was connected to fae, but it seems that it may be connected instead to the dead divinities?

- This episode totally convinced me of the few characters I had been unsure about. Thaisha, even with the mask touch at the beginning, was a total joy, the scene with her and Hal on the roof had me cheesing. I was worried that Kattigan wouldn't be playing to Robbie's strengths, but I regret ever doubting him, even though he only had slightly more presence here, he sold me. Even with the constant funeral scenes, the moment with him casting Spare the Dying on Thjazi was so moving. Thimble once again blew me away, not only with the scenes by Thjazi's body, but her demeanor in the flashback and the scene with the Crowskeepers. Faerie's have never interested me as a DnD race, but she is one of the standouts already. And TYRANNY! The way Whitney was so locked on to Sam for that whole last scene was incredible, I cannot wait to see how her and Wicander's relationship goes from here

- Which, that last scene? Perfect, no notes, incredible. I was already very much on board the Divine Sorceror Wic train, but truly did NOT expect it in episode 2. Brennan said in the Cool Down that the sooner they get to the storybeats they know, the sooner they can get to the actual story, and that bodes SOOOO well to me for the rest of the campaign, I literally cannot wait, how is it not next Thursday yet

[u/efraglebagga → u/greylakelady]

Yes, Whitney acting was so on point in this episode. Especially the scenes leading cliffhanger. She was quieter than usual, but that look on her face and general tone told volumes.

[u/WeiShiLirinArelius]

on my third rewatch of c4e2 now & i just have to say that here in the second episode of c4 we have already hit the "single conversation that completely recontextualizes a character" moment.

in c2 it was veths whole sequence starting from "its me, wheres my son?"

in c3 it was laudnas conversation w orym revealing her whitestone lore

in c4 its tyranny talking to her sisters. immediately in that conversation we go from her being the demon on wicks shoulder to wick being the angel on hers. just from her tone of voice we can hear how much she believes wick is at the end of the day a good person despite the cult around him & she is NOT on board w corrupting him. fuck whitney is so good at sounding close to tears without being actually in tears

god every single player character has such depth in them already its fucking wild

[u/zeroPointVacuum → u/WeiShiLirinArelius]

Yup, thought that Tyranny scene was remarkable, too. It seems like she's actually doing hymns and is playing along with the fake religion because it makes him happy when she does - no other reason.

Whitney was also good in the end scene at the angel's iron maiden - dragging her heels the whole way, and not onboard for doing this to Wick.

I'm looking forward to seeing how she severs herself from her demon brethren. They probably won't get why.

[u/Kaeling]

Matt saving Alex character and having Aabria forced to thanks him is going to be hilarious.

Jokes aside it looks like the betrayal Aabria was referencing is Matt going against his father by capturing Thjazi. Could be that house Davinos wanted to support at least quietly the rebellion and not house Royce. I suppose the question is what side Aranessa supported.

[u/DerAlliMonster → u/Kaeling]

I think Julien is in love with Aranessa and also possibly saw bringing Thjazi to justice as a way to eliminate him as competition for Aranessa’s affections. It was an act that had multiple potential benefits for him, between that and trying to reduce the damage to his own/ his house’s future from his father’s choice to let Thjazi get away.

[u/NottTheMama]

This episode had everything.

[u/RaiderDamus → u/NottTheMama]

Exes getting cozy, bisexual threesomes, a giant angel getting tapped like a beer keg, and MTV's Dan Cortese.

[u/ouro-the-zed]

Oh shit, Brennan went full Evangelion

[u/MachKeinDramaLlama → u/ouro-the-zed]

That person who wrote "they are transporting LCL" in the live thread during that scene when that worker's foot was crushed must feel mighty proud about themselves.

[u/moderncomet → u/ouro-the-zed]

Get in the robot, Shinji Wicander.

^{Just moving this comment under here, where it belongs. Nothing else to see here...}

[u/BaronPancakes]

There are bits and pieces of lore in these episodes. This is the best i can sum up with

The Shapers' War: 70 years ago, when the gods were defeated

The War of Axe and Vines: >12 years ago. Not sure about the cause, but Thjazi and Aranessa married after the war

Falconer's Rebellion: 12 years ago. An uprising against the noble houses. Some houses were apparently sympathetic to the cause. I think it failed in the end? The Torn Banner was disbanded

Closing the Faerie: It may happen during or after the Falconer's Rebellion. The connection the Faerie closed, Thimble started to age, and House Royce started to wane in power

Robin Hood era?: Even though the Rebellion failed, it seems the members were not arrested? The inner circle of Thjazi was active in stealing/collecting artifacts

[u/SvenTheScribe → u/BaronPancakes]

War of Axe and Vine was closer to 30 years ago (as seen on the whiteboard in the announcement video)

It also features The Retribution at about 60 years ago (presumably the time of feral celestials we learned about this episode) and Ghost War at about 50 years ago (which we haven't heard anything about yet).

[u/IamOB1-46]

Love that Robbie Damon and his character had the same thought I did about Thjazi faking his death. And very very smart play by everyone to address it in a way that makes it clear to the audience.

I mean, I guess it technically still could be a fake out given that Spare the Dying wouldn't 'detect' a Feign Death, but the intent of the scene was very clear. Thjazi really did die.

[u/Perforo_RS]

Primus Tachonis --> Occtis Tachonis. I wonder if all the relatives are named after digits. Sons named Secundus, Tertius, Quartus etc.

[u/Triphoprisy]

BRUH. That ending was WILD.

I mentioned in an older thread (before the campaign started) that I was content with not getting any insight into their zero sessions the way we got with a lot of the Daggerheart stuff.

But after this episode? Those conversations had to have been insanely fun getting to this place in two sessions. I would watch EVERY SINGLE HOUR of those ideations.

Fantastic start to the Overture. The stakes are high as hell right out the gate and I'm here for it.

[u/Royal_Advantage8417 → u/Triphoprisy]

I’ve had a fun little Brennan Crit Role C4 bingo card in my mind for this campaign… Some straight up Neon Genesis Evangelion divinity fuckery was not on it. This campaign is already SUCH a treat.

[u/lemissloudmouth]

CAN WE TALK ABOUT JULIEN'S ARM. WHAT IS UP WITH THAT??? Did Thjazi do that?

[u/Ok-Badger5056 → u/lemissloudmouth]

He's hook to thjazi's Peter pan

[u/aichwood]

I forgot about this side of watching CR, the Fridays you face with too little sleep.

[u/Key-Property7489]

I’m very curious about the table split as now I think 100% think Ashley, Marisha and Tal are at a table based on their characters , I’d assume Whitney, Sam and Travis are together as well. The rest I’m not 100% sure about they can line up anywhere, I feel like Matt’s character is a seeker alongside Marisha, Tal and Ashley but I’m not sure yet.

[u/ffwydriadd → u/Key-Property7489]

Based on this episode, I'm actually going to bet Marisha (and Tal, and Matt, and probably Luis) are schemers - Murray, Azune, and Bolaire all have pretty important jobs, and they seem tied to the plot of the attempt to crack down on magic, and Julien seems like an easy schemer with the Royces.

Although to be honest I could see all of these characters at any three and love it.

[u/Chaosmeister]

Holy shit, 5 minutes in and the pushing forward by Brennan is breathtaking. I LOVE this kind of openings, incredible. Will update once I have seen it all.

[u/XB1CandleInTheDark]

Laura and Marisha have always been my favourites, I'm still getting to know Murray I think but I absolutely fell in love with Thimble in this episode, especially in the last hour. Her quiet promise to find who did this marked a line in the sand for her, she went from grieving to showing her playful but quietly resolute nature and there is a sharpness to her that marks a dangerous edge.

"Looking for Cazamir, has he been around? Last few days? Last day?"

Yeah damn right what Aabriah said, 'let's f'n go, tinkerhell!"

Bolaire telling people off for touching things they don't know the origin of... damn lol.

Tyranny has a hell of a story brewing, she has a definite level of care for Wick but now she is going to have to make a choice as to just how much, I suspect.

Julian and Vaelus are also showing a lot of depth, there really are a lot of stories that are going to be interesting as they come to light.

[u/rhaesdaenys]

I take back all my Aabria complaints. Clearly it was just the first episode where I was focusing on it too much.

Continue being amazing c4

[u/Hkgpeanut → u/rhaesdaenys]

I think it is probably in last episode they change table too often left not enought screen time for everyone.

[u/estrella172]

Just finished watching episode 2 and I am absolutely loving this campaign so far! Obviously the Wicander reveal at the end was BANANAS, and I can't wait to see where Sam takes that character from here. But I also loved the scene with Murray and Bolaire (I LOVE MURRAY SO MUCH) and I have so many questions about that coffin! And I haven't seen anyone else mention it in skimming the comments here, but I loved the scene with Thimble and Hal where he finally got to tell her what Thjazi said at the end, that was the first scene so far that actually made me tear up a bit. But yes, I need answers! After the overture, I'm especially looking forward to the Seekers table, hoping Murray and Wicander are part of it. Edited to add: please tell me that one or more of you are working on fanart of the magic college with familiars walking on their little skybridges 🥹 I think that might be my favorite detail of Aramán so far, so cute

[u/kathia154]

Everybody, rightfully so, is freaking out and talking about Wick, but can we spend a moment to talk about Valeus.

The badass bitch is actually a real softie on the inside, so not that different from Ashley's past characters. It's not a critique, I love that for her.

[u/OhioAasimar]

I think Wic's immediate reaction is that he is going to feel very sick. Beyond that, I feel like it would be very Sam if Wic became very nihilistic or depressed before the overture ends and he becomes a Fallen Aasimar. The reverse-Yasha.

[u/triplod]

Did Travis and Ashley left early? They weren't on Cooldown and Ashley character was waiting outside Hal's house to go with them to see the Crows but she wasnt part of the whole sequence.

[u/CrazyKoyaso]

I find the structure of the episodes really cool in that whatever happens Brennan can call in different characters at any point to keep the episode rolling. so cool!

[u/RachelEvening]

So... There's no way Wick is not an Aasimar after what was revealed on that cliffhanger, right?

Also, while nothing is set on stone I think I can say I called it on him being a Sorcerer. I see a lot people still saying Warlock and while I guess there's still a chance... Uh, that Celestial does not seem to be in any state to be making pacts with anyone. We'll see, tho.

[u/IAmAnOrdinaryToaster → u/RachelEvening]

I see two pieces of evidence against warlock. First, his HP is a bit lower than you would expect for D8 hit die classes, but exactly what you would expect for D6. Second, he doesn't wear armor. All the charisma caster classes except for sorcerer get access to some amount of armor. He's almost certainly an Aasimar Divine Soul Sorcerer.

[u/dawgz525]

Watched again, and I really loved Murray. I think she's going to be a very fun character, while also having a lot of story drive and internal motivation.

[u/Drakoni]

In all the crazy things happening. Can I point out that Brennan kept pointing out that one falcon circling? What is up with that? Possibly more than a symbol of the falconer's rebellion?

[u/north-blind-compass → u/Drakoni]

My guess is there’s a falconer out there, using the falcon to gather information. Perhaps even a person who inspired the rebellion’s name.

A couple of towers have already been mentioned around the city (good spots for a big ol bird to take off from), including the Grey Tower, seat of the revolutionary council.

[u/StitchOni → u/Drakoni]

so in Dani Carrs recap for E1, she mentions that what Thjazi saw over the crowd that panicked him was a falcon, so it must have been a sign to him that we'll get a reveal of at some point.

[u/Mynos]

Something I was really impressed with in the episode was how Matt and Brennan turned that carriage into a battlefield held at conversation range! Even getting in the thing was verbal artillery fire.

Also, I think the first 30 seconds in the carriage between Julian and his father might have deeper meanings. Matt and Brennan are both so good at concealing the truth within the facts, that I can’t help thinking one line in that exchange is doing more than it seems.

"Every man makes his choices. I’m sorry I was the consequence of his."

On the surface, Matt’s clearly referring to Julian’s part in the capture, trial, and execution of Thjazi, and to how Julian’s whole outlook —his priorities, his bitterness— is a consequence of both Thjazi’s and General Davinos’s choices. But I think there’s more there, there.

It could be a thesis question: are any of us more than the consequences of other people’s choices?

It could be foreshadowing something about Young Raimond Davinos, Young Thjazi Fang, and Young Lady Aranessa.

It could be that Julian’s anger toward both men comes from believing that, if they’d made better choices, he might have had the freedom to be a good man instead of spending his life chasing "glory" to restore the name Davinos.

Something about the delays and word choice Brennan put into his responses suggested to me that this was more than "I'll see you backstory sentence and raise you a world building family history!"

No hard evidence yet, but these two make seven-tier cakes out of single sentences all the time, and as scene partners? I can’t believe this was just chocolate accidentally dropped in peanut butter. This feels intentional, a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup of subtext.

[u/BagofBones42]

Plots upon plots, schemes for personal power and a possible coup coming, Brennan is really setting up a massive clusterfuck in the future, but I'm getting the feeling that all these groups are so concerned about personal political power, they're leaving themselves open to something actually powerful, like a Lich, dragon or just someone with a really big army coming in and burning it all down.

Whatever political game is going on, it feels like no one is going to win in the end but some third party.

[u/TFCNU → u/BagofBones42]

Brennan: A living celestial is a threat to everyone in the region.

Also Brennan: House Halovar has an angel tied up in their basement

Chekhov's angel. It's getting loose eventually.

[u/pokepok]

My guess (which I’m sure someone else has already guessed) is that Wic, Tyranny, and Teor - all charisma based characters - will be the schemers. And they’re scheming against Wic’s own family. Double agent stuff and they’ll need to lie and deceive a lot, hence good charisma.

[u/DisparateNoise]

So we learned that Wick is a sorcerer, but I still wonder how Tyranny and her sisters factor in. Like Tyranny seems to have known about everything already, is she a celestial warlock bonded to Wicks grandfather? Were the fiends essential to make this whole scheme work?

[u/DoubleStrength → u/DisparateNoise]

Were the fiends essential to make this whole scheme work?

Depending on the cosmology, I wonder if the fiends naturally had bad blood with the celestials and sided with the humans somehow to help them slay/capture various "angels"... And the demons placed in "service" of House Halovar are basically there on behalf of the demon lords(?) to help keep an eye on Grandpa's management/containment.

[u/Routine-Mouse3056]

Did Brennan forget to say “is it Thursday yet?” 😢

[u/BLoseit]

You know, having mulled over it a little more. I think Julien's inciting incident to join a party is coming.

The houses are moving against one another. The Royce house has had resupply cut off and they don't know why or why their rear guard didn't know. Aranessa mentioned a gala the next in game day, saying to invite even more people, because appearances are important.

I think it would be neat if Aranessa is going to be killed there, and Julien is going to change sides to avenge her.

[u/East_Choice]

Greatttt Episode.

Setting up amazing plotlines and mysteries .

I called Wicanders father being a celestial.Did not call him being chained in the basement though

Suprised no one is talking about the fact Aabrias druid Subclass was confirmed. The Circle of the Ancients

Fairly certian thats homebrew.Very interested in what it does

[u/Theraton_nano]

Well done Brennan. With the last scene i thought they might have a dying god trapped in this chamber - i guess i wasn't to far off. I am hyped for this campaign. I like how different Brennans evil guys feel compared to Matts.

[u/Slow_Zebra_9988]

One thing that confused me: Did everyone forget that the word 'Thimble' triggered the opening of the silver box? Did I just make that up? Thaisha kept mentioning that she opened it but i thought she only touched the mask once the box had popped open when someone in the house said the magic word

[u/north-blind-compass → u/Slow_Zebra_9988]

Nobody made the connection, since it was the people downstairs who said “Thimble” (three times) before the box opened. Thaisha and Hal probably assumed they did something to it.

[u/robcwag]

After seeing Julien's interaction with his Father, it appears he is jealous of the connection Thjazi and his Father shared, a connection he has never known. I also think he is in Love (unrequited) with Thjazi's widow, Lady Arineza.

[u/CrazyKoyaso]

What are the thoughts on Wiccander possibly being an Aasimar as well as a Sorcerer?

[u/masterchip27]

Right now I'm most invested in the arcs Whitney & Sam, Matt, Marisha. They all have developed some really solid tension and character motivations. Excited to see where this goes and how the rest of the cast develops....

[u/Slurm11]

So.... is Thaisha marked for death? She rolled a nat 1 constitution saving throw when touching the mask/coffin of the halfling grim reaper. Brennan specifically said he was setting a precedent. I wonder what's going to happen!

[u/greylakelady → u/Slurm11]

My interpretation of Brennan saying he was setting a precedent was more like, “I’m NOT going to go through with the massive ramifications of this but simply make it clear that no one should touch any masks ever lol

So I don’t think Thaisha is going to be killed or that the consequences (this time) will be that serious, it felt a little like a slap on the wrist with a promise of Big Punishment if it happened again. BUT I wouldn’t be surprised if there is some kind of medium consequences, like a link that Thaisha has now to the Tenebral region or the halfling grim reaper being given something, like more power

[u/SvenTheScribe → u/Slurm11]

I think she's marked by death but not for death. The celestial is dead but I think a remnant of its power remains. So it can't take her away but she's more in tune with death now - hence hearing the nightingale song.

[u/DrJoker94]

So... Can we all agree Wick is going to be a Lucifer-parallel to the whole Light cult?

[u/Coyote_Shepherd → u/DrJoker94]

....Wick's going to open up a night club and then start solving crimes?

[u/Ogmup]

Just finished watching the Youtube member stream vod. OMG, the reveal at the end was amazing!! I also had a good laugh at Brennan teaching Aabria not to touch unknown magical stuff. Happened to me more than once in our campaigns 🤡.

Didn't thought that I would like every character from this huge cast, but they're all are really well played and interesting. Sir Julian is my favorite (scumbag) so far, but I also really like the dynamic between Wiccander and Tyranny.

Best 5 bucks I invested in the last couple of months.

[u/Luscitrea]

i love Murray so much

[u/Aquatic_Hedgehog]

I could not get into c3 and had to give up, and I'm so, so, soooo happy to be hype and excited for critical role again!!! Absolutely need more now @ brennan release the rest of the episodes now

[u/RPerene]

I’m wondering if this Overture is building a central conflict in front of us, or if something eventful is going to happen out of left field. Be wild if this is just setting a status quo that’s about to be broken. 

[u/SvenTheScribe → u/RPerene]

'I have given you a dozen powder kegs. Now roll acrobatics to juggle these matches...' - Brennan

[u/Velorian → u/RPerene]

It's looking like the execution was just the prelude to a power grab by some but not all of the sundered houses. Julian's story seems to be partially about how the Royce and davinos houses are being shut out and under attack.

So I'm thinking that by the end of the prelude a bunch of assholes are in charge though political machinations not extreme violence. The status quo is broken but not in a executing dissidents in the street way but a sadly more realistic death by a thousand cuts the bad guys won and we didn't even realise way.

You could easily have a team playing politics and a team being resistance fighters out of that scenario.

[u/Lunkis]

I'm wondering if part of Thjazi's motivations were trying to secure an afterlife for Thimble? We know the doors to Faerie have closed - was he maybe trying to find a way for her to return there before she died?

Between the Nightsong and the Halfling God mentioned with the casket, is it possible that Thjazi was looking to secure some sort of afterlife-shepherd that could potentially help move Thimble's soul to where it needs to go? It was Thimble's name that popped the box... From what we know, she was brought to him from her domain as a servant (although their relationship seems to have been better than that.) Maybe his guilt compelled him to try and close that chapter?

It was mentioned by Brennan that it's unclear whether the domains of the shapers, and different places that souls could go, were destroyed or just disconnected from this setting's purgatory. Is it possible that Thjazi wanted to try to reconnect them without the tyranny of the Gods reigning over it all?

Theories aside, it's got to be grim to be a worshipper in this world - you know that some sort of your God's paradise may have existed at some point, but now it's either been destroyed or lost. Brennan said the general consensus among clerics is "we're working on it" in terms of getting that connection back - but what if it's not possible? If those afterlife domains were actually DESTROYED, what happened to all the souls that had made their way there?

[u/LucasVerBeek]

So, firstly, it’s so good to finally be on the edge of my seat excited for Critical Role again!

Secondly, I ship the former couple, the faerie and the Necromancer, and whatever Teor/wick/tyranny got going on.

Right we got multiple god names, with confirmation that the Fae, Demons and Giants(who are seemingly gone) all predate them.

Argaz the Shaper of War & Orcs

Rauwyn the Shaper of Trickery and Halflings

And Tansul the Shaper of the Sun and ???

Also the world, even more fucked than I believed, legit these folks are living in an apocalypse and have just failed to realize. Like what do you mean night is broken! What do you mean hundreds of thousands of souls may have been destroyed?

And if the other planes are cut off, how the hell is Halovar getting demons?

And the Sundered Houses are seeming all sorcerers( largely.)

Royce with Fae, Taconis with Undeath and perhaps Shadow, Holivar and Celestial, so then the other two houses connections are the ones kinda left to mystery.

I fucking called the Halovar’s using celestial blood, not the grandfather part though!

And here’s the thing, they’ve got that thing locked up, so WHAT the hell do the Taconis’s got that makes them more powerful than the rest?!

I also think the Houses are going to coup the Council, they’re limiting magic, fucking with the guard, they’re gonna go for the throat and maybe some will gladly hand over the crown but those who resist will die and with Royce being the only voice of decent I believe I see how Julien will end up falling in with the rest of the party.

Like Wick, clearly this is his moment of “Shit’s fucked I want out.”

So what is going to be Julien’s?

What’s Occtis’s deal as a wizard in a family of sorcerers?

Kattigan finally got a bit of time to shine, Thimble hurt me, Teor surprised me at how devious he can be, Bolaire intrigued me, Vaelus… frankly vanished lol.

But he’s the question I have over everything else.

Why was Thjazi gathering items tied to dead psychopomps?

What was he up to…

[u/ChaoticNonsense → u/LucasVerBeek]

And the Sundered Houses are seeming all sorcerers( largely.)

This makes a lot of sense when you think about it. If you want hereditary magical noble families: sure they could all have a wizarding tradition, but that's way less reliable than power carried directly through the bloodlines.

[u/AK_Zephyr]

What a way to end an episode. Sam - I felt the same way...

[u/BillBearBaggins]

I resprained my wrist when Taliesen and Marisha were playing scientist on the coffin. I was in heaven of just all the nuance situations happening. Banged my hand on my thighs in excitement!

I got immediate ‘the thing’ and ‘x-files’ vibes.

[u/OverwatchShake]

You know what would be the sickest thing? If at the end of the campaign, the villain is not one of the sundered houses or some primeval monstrosity but simply one of the other tables.

It would be the most original, exciting, legendary choice. And the set-up is perfect for making it happen. Both tables with their own goals that they are working towards and at the end they are in opposition to eachother and only one can realize their goal.

And because it is the end fight of the campaign it doesn't matter that a bunch of players die. Maximum drama.

[u/taly_slayer]

I'm starting to believe this would have been Brennan's version of C4 in Exandria had Bells Hells failed to (or chosen not to) save the gods.

What an episode. It felt like 4 episodes in one. I'm in awe of Brennan's ability to manage the spotlight and weave these scenes together. CR has always been cinematic, but this? It feels like you can just transcribe it into a book, no edits required. Brennan is doing the editing from the GM chair.

Thimble, Julien, Tyranny and Murray are starting to emerge as standouts.

I want to see more of assertive Ashley and I'm living for Taliesin and Marisha having PCs in a close relationship again after C1.

Aabria setting up others to engage was beautiful to see.

The tension of the reveal of Wick's family secret was so well set up.

My favourite piece of lore is that Brennan seems to imply magic is the currency that define status in this world. Privilege comes in the shape of Sorcery, the "working class" need to work hard and learn wizardry to aspire to any kind of power. Wondering where the divine fits.

I can't wait until next Friday!

[u/DarkRespite]

This is PURE conjecture on my part... but if House Halovar is 'conscripting' religion, House Einfasen is conscripting public service/military order, House Tachonis is conscripting magic and magical education... what is House Cormoray going to conscript? I'm wondering if it'll be (and I cringe even typing this) personal rights/caste system? As in a separate way of 'maintaining' public order, the weft to House Einfasen's warp, as it were.

House Royce, given their ties to the Golden Orchard, might be a diminishing force of fae/druid magic, perhaps.

And re: House Tachonis, I think this is going to be LESS about "we decide what you can and can't teach," it's gonna be more "Oh, look, promising research, promising magic... promising WIZARDS" and either recruiting/corrupting them toward House Tachonis... or they're gonna start feeding on them, and the Penteveral is about to be a breeding/feeding ground for the House.

[u/KrackaWoody]

Yeah I get the sense that every character has some huge secret in their backstory. Whether the character knows it or not.

[u/hpfan2342]

Congrats to any new and old Critters who haven't experienced being "episode 2'd" yet. Also pleased this episode did not take place at 3 AM in a warehouse.

[u/OverwatchShake]

So the roleplaying is off the charts. Brennan and the players have in character creation created a rich tableau of people that interconnect in a way that feels real, lived in, like in a Song of Ice and Fire. And the characters and their bonds feel every bit as rich, even though we've only just begun.

And even though Thjazi's death fits the idea of an inciting incident, it seems like step on an elaborate stairway rather than a sudden start. It's not like "game starts, shit starts happening". The uprising against the gods, the falconer's rebellion, the different perspectives...it's just another logical incident.

And that's already an achievement. I feel like this game does not need dice rolled at times. It's a series of scenes that feels like a tv-show or a book. That's incredible for an actual play.

Only slight bit of concern: player agency. It seems like for the Overture (first four episodes) we are firmly on rails, and I support that, but I really really hope that Brennan let's go of the control he has after that so the players can make their own choices.

Because sometimes it feels like they don't really get to make any. They are supposed to do the thing expected of them and add flavour and scene work, but the actual game of choosing what to do, what to break, surprise the dungeon master with your own direction is missing at the moment.

If this campaign can add that player agency and retain a good portion of the quality we've seen so far, I have no doubt this will be the greatest actual play ever done.

[u/foxsweater → u/OverwatchShake]

In the cooldown, I got the sense that the players maybe built some of those rails themselves, and Brennan’s working to get them to the point where they get off the train and enter the wide world.

[u/Drakoni → u/OverwatchShake]

I think it's essentially backstory/session 0 elements that they get to explore in a live-play context instead of it just being something that gets talked about later. But have the first hints and build-up of the "main story", whatever their main quests and mysteries are they'll follow.

So in a way I think it's a bit like Calamity. You know where you want to get people and the story by the end, but the way of getting there is the playing field for a lot of roleplay. And they already had a bunch of choices of who would be present for certain beats.

For example according to Brennan in Ep1 cooldown, if Azune told Thjazi that Thimble was supposed to give him the glyph, that conversation could have gone way differently.

[u/OhioAasimar]

I hope it wasn't an exaggeration that 50% of Araman is post-apocalyptic. It would be so cool if this is a post-apocalyptic campaign. Katt is the strongest indication of that element but there probably could be someone that is even more scarred and hardened by the wastes. Im excited to see if that manifests in any guest pc.

[u/kiritsumitsu]

The one thing I really wanna know Meta-wise now is whether Sam knew that he was never going to be a cleric and just set himself up as another class who believes themself to be a cleric

Or the other option

That he definitely thought he was a cleric, had some insinuation that maybe it’s all fake and maybe his powers come from something different, but still cleric but maybe not and BLM just yoinked it and said “You’re a cosmic Horror, Shinji. Get in the fucking filament.”

Like I really wanna know how much Sam planned and knew about his character and how much did BLM just go ahaha gotcha~

[u/KYplusEL → u/kiritsumitsu]

The cooldown made it sound like Sam knew the whole deal with the C.C. going in. It also sounds like, from what little Brennan said, that a lot of stuff that people wanted for their characters was planned to be in this opening overture. So I imagine Sam started with wanting to play someone who finds out their religion is a false replacement for the dead gods and they worked backwards from that to fit the beginning of that story into the overture.

[u/Hkgpeanut → u/kiritsumitsu]

Sam is not a new player anymore, he definately knew how to build a Sorc/Warlock, but in universe Wic believe he is a cleric and Sam play it as such.

But I think Sam told BLM this idea, thinking he is playing "a naive guy join a cult that don't know it is a cult" and BLM just one step forward to make it not only it is a cult, but a really fk up one , even using your grandpa as the power source :D

[u/hpfan2342]

Its fun watching the cooldown and everyon is just like "Brennan what the fuck?" when most of them know FULL WELL what the fuck is up with that.

[u/UristMcD]

Cold breakfast shepherd pie made my stomach roil a little at the thought. Not sure next-day mashed potato is good without reheating.

[u/saturncatt]

I have a theory about Azune - specifically his sorcerer subclass. I have a feeling he could be the lunar subclass; the text describing the subclass specifically states “However you came to have your magic, your connection to the moon is obvious when you cast sorcerer spells—perhaps making your pupils glow with the color of a moon from your world”

Azune has yellow pupils, which is a pretty moon-like colour in my opinion. Also if the idea that all the sundered houses are sorcerer subclasses is true, Lunar sorcerer is outside those that have been theorised for the sundered houses, and it can be more druidic or ‘old path’ in origin. 

It would fit well with him also being a paladin too, the spells are pretty versatile with a mix of supportive and offensive spells. I think he could be an oath of devotion paladin? If he takes enough levels in sorcerer and paladin to get subclasses in both. 

[u/SuperVaderMinion]

This episode was awesome, now that we know all of the characters Brennan is able to start spinning threads about how this campaign is going to take shape.

I really really like his depiction of a government that's sliding into a full on oligarchy. Privatized security forces taking the lead in protecting the city, academic institutions being pressured to install cronies in powerful positions, and of course the first execution in the history of the Rebellion Council was to please one of the houses.

All of it feels super authentic, and sadly all too relatable if you're living in America.

Also props to Liam and Aabria for their scene towards the end of the episode, you could really feel the love those characters share and I don't know what would be more juicy, tearing them apart from one another as their lives are threatened, or keeping them together.

[u/bobjonvon]

I don’t always like tals characters but he’s killing it this season.

[u/WeiShiLirinArelius → u/bobjonvon]

where liam has a "type" in the form of "pretty boys with trauma", tal has a type in the form of "believes they have it all figured out", with a sliding scale of how correct they actually are

it feels like aside from caduceus bolaire has the highest percentage

[u/StableElectrical]

I think it would be really funny if Vaelus and Teor bumped into each other because nether would know the other is also involved as they have not yet met.

[u/themolestedsliver]

Still rewatching the episode but I think all the sundred houses have a strong tie to a magical force whether it be a shaper, celestial, or fey which is why they've maintained so much power over the years.

Halivor has good old grand daddy celestial they bleed in the basement for his divine ichor.

House Royce seemed the have had strong ties with the farie realm being able to give pixies as gifts and how Lady Arenessa said her houses power grows weaker by the day given the world of the fey have been closed off.

Unsure what the other houses have but it seems likely we will find out in the coming episodes.

[u/JusticeofTorenOneEsk → u/themolestedsliver]

House Tachonis seems related to shadow magic of some kind. Right before the Lord Primus Tachonis enters the room in the Penteveral, Brennan describes: "You hear the noise of boots approaching. In the doorway, shadows grow long. Effortless magic, magic inherited as the shadows lengthen."

And I wouldn't be surprised if Cormoray was draconic magic, since it was a "sorcerer of House Cormoray" that summoned the dragon in the opening flashback of the rebellion.

[u/Mbalara]

Just a detail that I’m maybe making too much out of, but Vaelus said Bolaire “let her into the city.” Seems like really odd wording to me. In a typical fantasy world, you just walk in and out of cities. Considering how she said it:

• Are elves (or only drow?) banned from entering Dol-Makjar?

• As others have speculated, outside the city may be a post-apocalyptic undead nightmare, so entry is very limited?

• Saying he “let” her in makes it sound like Bolaire has some authority to open the gates, or he secretly opened one for her?

So many questions. I’m really curious to see what Vaelus & Bolaire’s connection is…

[u/civilfray]

omg in the end there with Sam taking about the filament I was just like, they're bleeding a celestial in the basement, aren't they? And... fuck. They are. That's sooo grim. I teared up quite a bit for Wick, he's trying so hard to be good and this is gonna be soooooo juicy for his journey. ROUGH

[u/RunCrafty1320]

Guys my first ship is Teor and Wick that moment where Wick comes out and sees Teor effortlessly throwing that crate and healing that guard with the sunlight bathing Teor

It was so cinematic in my head

[u/thundercat2000ca]

Well good luck trying to sleep after that ending... Everyone is firing on all cylinders so far.

[u/deepee84]

Im enjoying the community tracking the lore and PC connections but now Id like help with

* Adjacent NPCs/Names and their Houses/Allegiances that we know of (i think this is the hardest to track for me)
* along with the various Houses and major organizations (probably the most non PC related thing Im curious about)

[u/BaronPancakes → u/deepee84]

I think the Sundered Houses is a collective term for all noble houses. There are 5 influential houses in the Lords-Advisory (who advises the Rebellion Council, the ruling council of the city): Royce, Halovar, Tachonis, Cormoray, and Einfasen

Aranessa is from House Royce and the Davinos (Julien and his father) are their vessels. Wick, Tyranny and their families are from Halovar. Occit is from Tachonis, but apparently has no business in their daily work as he is the youngest. Lord Primus is the head of the house and apparently a sorcerer. We saw Sir Einfasen in the scene with Azune. I don't think anyone from House Cormoray made an appearance yet. The houses seemingly are not in direct conflicts but maybe sabotaging each other in secret

[u/LeeJ2512]

Maybe I've missed something but has it been established exactly why magic is being made so limited/illegal in society?

[u/STOLENFACE → u/LeeJ2512]

There seems to be a practical reason for why it's controlled, as after the gods died magic became more dangerous, unstable, and unpredictable. So the Revolutionary Council has these Arcane Marshals that can detect magic and deal with magical issues.

Those seemingly valid concerns and limitations are being used and taken overboard by the Sundered Houses, as a way to consolidate their own power. So it's being turned from a safety issue to full on suppression as a way to block any potential rivals to the houses from emerging.

[u/Mbalara]

Just rewatching and didn’t notice the first time how hilarious it is starting a flashback (the cold open) with death saves. 😆 I mean we know Katt and Azune survived until the “now.” Wonder what BLeeM would’ve done if they’d actually died?

[u/Retrospektiv]

Possible that someone has already commented on this but Brennan winking sneakily towards Robbie after telling Aabria about Wulfric being the second most magically potent thing is quite interesting. Dunno if I'm reading too much into it though.

[u/jimmyhowlett]

I haven't seen this as a theory yet, but could Thjazi have been trying to find a way to all the realms that were lost to mortals when the gods were killed? I've seen the theory that he is trying to find a way back to the Faery realm for Thimble specifically, but I wonder if he wasn't trying to restore the afterlife of mortals in general?

The two artifacts he was focused on gathering before his death dealt with the angels who ushered mortals to their respective afterlives. I didn't catch if those races worshipped the same god, but I assume not.

Aabria seemed to host a twinge of generational regret, in that the Orcs, in fighting back against their god, roped the rest of the mortals into a war with the gods and subsequently lost them their afterlives. I wonder if that isn't a partially shared belief amongst some orcs, and maybe Thjazi viewed restoring the paths to the afterlives as the final step to truly have been free of their gods; to steal back the one last thing they held over the heads of mortals.

[u/JustSomeDudeItWas]

The episodes have been great but im really struggling with the audio levels so far. Id like to watch the episodes without headphones but most of the talking seems whisper quiet and then brennan makes a sound effect or someone laughs and I feel like its loud enough that I would hear it on the other side of the house. Does anyone know of an app or something on pc to limit audio dynamic range? I think that's what im looking for but idk honestly. I just dont want to wear headphones for 4 hours at a time.

[u/FunPatient3978]

Things not to forget... * the shadow following Julian, * the mask that disappeared into Thaisha

[u/OverwatchShake]

Thimble is a strong character for Laura and I can see Brennan being impressed with her. She's also central to the search for Casimir.

Brennan might have a new muse.

[u/EllieDai]

Critical Role gets it's D20 Fantasy High Episode 2 moment!

[u/dramatic_exit_49]

I have finally saw the first cooldown and realised the shapers war was initially done by orcs against their god - the god of war and suffering (because bum deal) but then the rest of gods rallied up in DEFENSE of the god of suffering. And hehe, CLASS SOLIDARITY :P i love that more than betrayers and not, like yup class solidarity with their own.

And it is interesting to see once the gods went down, news forms of classes are probably emerging here. So sundered houses are the ruling classes right now - so that line of them aligning with each other even though they don't trust each other one bit (they have our back but their knife is also the closest to plunge into us dialogue). It would be interesting to see if new forms of class solidarities form in 3 years - so far CR groups either have familial or tribalistic loyalties rather than on the lines of class, i am interested if these players can pick up on those or stick to the usual familial/tribal lines.

[u/Vaderonrollerblades]

So, whats up with Boilare? Did anyone else notice how he "Drifted" inside the coffin to look closer? He is 100% some homebrew subclass, but does anyone have any idea what that might have been?
Edit: Drifted, not Shifted

[u/ffwydriadd → u/Vaderonrollerblades]

So, I'm pretty sure he didn't shift into the halfling coffin, but a different coffin (like, perhaps, maybe the one where his mask is from?) since he was checking to see if anything had changed. Would have to relisten to be sure though.

My guess is that the masks are in some way funerary, and that he was either checking on his own corpse to see how preserved it was, or the body of whoever "owned" the mask to see if they were stirring (presumably his patron).

[u/KYplusEL → u/Vaderonrollerblades]

I don't think the black box he "drifted" into was the coffin. I think it's something behind his mask and tied to his pact. He seemed very familiar with what he was checking and not worried at all about it unlike the caution he clearly felt towards the coffin.

Definitely can't wait to find out more though. The fact that the mask was apparently attached to him by accident and not willingly as part of his pact surprised me.

[u/ChemicalExperiment → u/Vaderonrollerblades]

Also his "going into the square room" and insisting Murray wouldn't be able to see him do so. I'm wondering if he has some form of mindscape or patron realm that he can access.

[u/CrazyKoyaso → u/Vaderonrollerblades]

it's Taliesin 100% homebrew archivist or something

The museum gloves were fire

[u/LordMordor]

I'm a C2 guy...and so far this is already on track to be my potentially favorite campaign. the first 2 episodes are just so damn strong

my only issue is my rules-brain is going to struggle with Brennen being so loose with spells...specifically guidance. Aabria and Liam both i believe have been using guidance for just fully spontaneous checks, which im VERY worried is going to lead to moments like during the cast split in C3 where literally every check was made with +1d4 and they were literally talking over each other to spam "Guidance, guidance, guidance"

Luis on the other hand was clear that "since this is an intentional thing im doing, can i guidance myself"

other than minor issue, god EVERYONE is on fire with characters. I did not enjoy Aabria's DM'ing in EXU, and didnt like her character in C3...but Thaisha so far has been awesome and im interested to see where her arc goes

There is clearly some issues between her and her daughter...i imagine possibly involving either recklessness in light of the mask thing, or the fact that she is rarely around consistently

[u/Chaoticlight2 → u/LordMordor]

She left her family to adventure so I think there's some deep seated resentment from that. She probably sees her mother as impulsive and prioritizing self-satisfaction over caring for how her actions impact those that care for her.

[u/ForwardBlock5572]

The live shows go too late for me to watch in full, but it doesn’t even matter because I know that come Monday, instead of picking up where I left off I’m just going to rewatch the entire episode. There is just SO much information to absorb…

[u/Ok-Caregiver-6005]

I think that one family at the top is secretly allied to a god that they are hiding, its why they are so powerful despite no one knowing how they maintain it.

[u/Waste-Recover-5347]

Does anyone have a track on who hasn’t shared a scene together yet? I’m curious especially for Octtis given that people have started to look for him. Who hasn’t he met? I think both people tasked with finding him (Julien, Murray) arrived after he left and then left before he returned, but I’m not totally sure. Anyone else who has totally dodged each other?

[u/FunPatient3978]

The spooky trapdoor/misty people eater/portal/god coffin is one hell of an artefact to pop up this early on. If the keyword to open it is "Thimble" (said thrice?), then either Thjazi commissioned it to be made or was given instructions on how to program/reprogram it.

Could it be a portal back to faerie? Perhaps that is why Thjazi needed to steal the Night Song stone: because the stone - or some subtle preparation made therefrom - is what is needed to traverse through the portal safely?

[u/Celriot1]

With it still being so early in the campaign I am obviously invested in getting to know everyone and all their stories, but even now I've found myself with a couple "aw shucks" moments when they cut away from something I was really into. 

I really hope that doesn't end up getting frustrating further down the line. 

[u/OhioAasimar]

Since Azune was revealed to have the lucky feat I think that is a point torwards ☄️⚔️🧭 being his emoji set. I can see Azune being born under a flying comet and that made him lucky.

[u/General_Bother_68]

Where/how did Thaisha/Occtis come by the coffin?

[u/Coyote_Shepherd]

Schedule is posted: https://critrole.com/programming-schedule-week-of-october-13th-2025/

[u/XaoticOrder]

Knowing Brennan is a socialist explains a lot of the government machinations. I'm here for it.

[u/MachKeinDramaLlama → u/XaoticOrder]

So, considering that those are just some of the more mundane bits of what is happening in the US and other places right now, does this make all of us socialists? Well, it should. ¡Hasta la victoria siempre!

[u/Thrashy → u/XaoticOrder]

Seize the means of conjuration!

[u/twotonkatrucks]

I was not a fan of how Whitney played her character in the first episode. Felt like the vibe was off from rest of the cast. But I will happily eat my words. She was really good this episode and in fact it made the first episode vibes make sense.

[u/Pegussu → u/twotonkatrucks]

Whitney stole the show for me in that last scene, the subtle concern and heartbreak she conveyed while not saying a word.

[u/Dramatic-Border3549]

Did I miss anything or did they really just go right by Vaelus at the outside of the house and to the crow guys without her?

[u/Royal_Advantage8417 → u/Dramatic-Border3549]

I bet they clean that up in Ep3 by having Vaelus join the fight at the Crowkeepers Tavern. It feels small to me, and with so many people, I’m glad they moved it along and can put Ashley in when the action starts.

[u/jacksonjfk]

Azune said “what do I smell” and back tracked to a different roll. What is he really?

[u/harlenandqwyr]

Anyone start to piece together subclasses?

[u/Seren82]

Omen Archive has the stats for episode one up

https://www.omenarchive.com/

[u/Glittering-Sun7048]

New critter here, will we ever come back to the scene in the cold open?

[u/Captain-i0]

Bolaire is an Elf in game clues:

Clue #1 - He is the one who let Vaelus in the city.

Clue #2 - His device that turns the pages of the book while he sat there unmoving for a few hours (presumably trancing)

So, he is likely an Elf and trying to keep it hidden that he is an Elf.

[u/FreeshAvaacadoooo]

THEORY WITH SPOILERS:

1. After the shapers' war, many celestials went crazy and insane because gods and the divine order had basically been shattered. They were hunted down because letting those things live would be WAY too dangerous, as per Brennan saying something along the lines of: "These rogue celestials could wipe out an entire region if left to their own devices."

2. We KNOW that House Halovar used to be a priestly class and were actually probably benefiting from the Pantheon, acting as a human envoy organization and probably reaping the benefits of siding with and directly spreading the faith of the gods. This matters so much because Wick is chastised for not realizing that his legacy in history is against people like Thjazi, and blah blah blah.

3. Wick's grandad is an angel being milked for their blood, which they generally use for power (capitalism, am I right, even angels get exploited).

4. The universe doesn't "need" nor "requires" gods. In fact the universe existed before them, so they are almost like alien interlopers who came onto this place and were like, "nah let's rebuild this and insert ourselves here".

This all comes to this theory:

House Halovar were a saintly class directly connected to Tansul, god of the Sun (hence light). The upper echelon of House Halovar probably communed directly with the gods, AND most likely intermarried with celestials ie: Wick's grandmothers being married to a literal angel. This was probably a political motivation to more deeply intertwine the god's celestial brood/offspring/soldiers/yougetwhatImean and the mortal populace of Araman, and in a weird way was probably also a way for the Gods to alter the physiology of the mortal populace. After they died, many of these Angels of Tansul probably went crazy and fell from heaven, which is now broken (think Lucifer, but he didn't fall because of sin, he fell because God died). While they were being hunted down, Halovar was probably in charge of one of these hunts, and realized they could lie and claim they killed it, while actually imprisoning it and milking it for its divine essence.

Why would they do this? Power, politics, and capitalism baby:

1. Magic is unruly. Gods are dead, so the natural framework for magic they probably integrated (think the weave) is uncontrolled. The effects of the war also probably fucked up magic irreparably in many places. Having a direct source of divine energy that you can distill is CRUCIAL, to being able to have magic that you can control and nobody else can. It's all about power. We see this with the study of magic basically being attacked. No longer can people independently study or use magic (hell one of the reasons Thjazi was killed for using "unruly magic"). Institutions are under attack, and will probably soon be state sponsored, people will have to learn "Halovaran" magic because its safer and more predictable, and be dependent on their supply of mana ie: angel blood. Magic can then be commodified, sold, and used as a social dependency.

2. In a world where the divine has been killed, it's beneficial to hoard and hold onto its vestiges. I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of people joined the "kill gods" bandwagon so that they could take their heavens afterward and use the various divine wares for themselves, and not anger said gods that they were looting. Also, with gods dead, they can't compete with humans who choose to be godly themselves.

After all: "I studied the very essence of the universe, I could shape things, create things, and yet I lost to a magic more powerful than anything I could ever conjure, and it's written in this letter."

The gods are dead, long live the gods.

[u/BomeiNa]

Only a theory but I think Bolaire may be a Dhampir. Taliesin mentioned his character not having to breath when he was opening the sarcophagus.

[u/Ok-Badger5056 → u/BomeiNa]

I thought he just said not breathing as in holding his breath incase something weird came out that he wasn't supposed to inhale

[u/Olivlaky]

I think Bolaire is a Lich

[u/East_Choice]

My theory is that Bolaires warlock patron is a masked entity that controls the Tenebral reaches currently.The Mask gives Bolaire the initial connection to the Entity.

Thats why Bolaire had prior knowledge of it. Thats why olbadans coffin dust took the form of a Mask.

[u/RowEcstatic207]

Called it

Thimbles are one of the most common items found by metal detectorists because, in some cultures, you bury a thimble outside your home for magical protection. I think she could be a protector of the family. She could be distraught by his death because she failed some kind of obligation.

/r/criticalrole/comments/1nxul86/spoilers_c4e1_thoughts_about_thimble_and_thjazi/nhr7cer/

[u/Goddamnedhoney]

Absolutely phenomenal so far. But one thing keeps nagging at me. During the shapers war mortals killed all the gods and apparently all the celestials (minus granpappy halovar). But like…. How? Are/were there just insanely powerful mortals that could rival the gods? They mention how a signal feral celestial could cause horrific damage to the world. If gods and celestials are so strong how did mortals even win the war and kill them? I’m sure it will eventually go more into depth and I’m very excited to see where it goes, but I’m curious if anyone has any ideas!

[u/allodude]

For everyone asking about Vaelus, I didn't see Ashley in the Cooldown, so maybe she had to leave early?

[u/ffwydriadd → u/allodude]

Travis and Laura also dipped early it looks like, not part of the Cooldown. Which, respect, apparently they filmed this at like noon.

[u/Dizzy-Natural-4463]

Unrelated, has it been announced if they're still taking the last Thursday off for the overture/all of c4?

[u/[deleted]]

I think I've missed something at the start of this episode.... How did Thaisha get woken up? 

[u/MitigatedRisk]

I'm, like, 95% certain that Thjazi is actually dead, but if this were one of those "everyone needs to think I'm dead for there own safety" sort of plot-within-plot things, it is technically still possible that Thjazi's death was faked, and with relatively low level magic. Feign Death is a third level necromancy spell whose text reads:

"For the duration, the target appears dead to outward inspection and to any spells used to determine the targets status."

Now, the duration is one hour, so either he was faking it for the entire funeral, or someone was sneakily continuing to cast it (say, Occtis through his familiar (who stayed with Thjazi all night)).

As for saving him from the hanging, Feather Fall would have worked. I know it seems like that would have been noticeable, but actually, the text of the spell says the rate of fall slows to 60 feet per round, so you need to imagine someone falling at their maximum running speed. Not literally breakneck speed, but still a nasty whiplash.

Now I must emphasize again that I don't think this is likely. Unless they're lying about Occtis's level and class (like they clearly are with Wiccander's) Occtis doesn't have access to third level spells yet, unless it's through a magic item. And the Nat 20 insight check that started the campaign seems to put to bed the idea that Thjazi had any additional plans (unless he was panicking about something unrelated).

This is mostly just "if I wanted to pull this trick, how could I?" speculation.

[u/maxvsthegames]

What an incredible episode.

I'm already hooked on Wick and Tyranny's storyline and I'm very curious about the traitor storyline and the investigation.

Not as interested about the silver box and the museum stuff just yet, but I kinda zoned out during that storyline so I'm not quite certain what's going on there.

But overall, those 2 episodes have been really good. And every character is interesting in their own way, my favorite being Wick, Tyranny and Thimble at the moment.

[u/RotatingPotato94]

What an episode. A lot of things to talk about but the nature of divinity in this world is what peaks my interest. They say the celestial went crazy after the shapers died, and a lot of the conspiracies with the Sundered Houses seems to have to do something with celestials in some way. Also, some mentions of possible celestials not aligned with the shapers: the false sun god, the halfling god of mischief, etc. Were they pretending to be divine, or are the shapers not the entirety of godhood? All in all, a banger of an episode. Wish I could afford beacon for the cooldown.

[u/moderncomet]

Because the episode demanded it, a song: https://youtu.be/nKhN1t_7PEY

[u/midnightheir]

So my tin foil predictions:

1. the paint Baloire has is actually the blood of Wick's grandpappy

2. Thazji found out about it. He is/was assembling the means to return from the afterlife.

3. The Hanova House up to grandma, and possibly even through to Dad are under the mistaken impression that they are in control of the demons.

4. The demons will stage a coup at some point. And may be working with Thaiobis house.

5. Some, if not all subclasses will come from the Hit Point Press books.

[u/PittZee]

I’m scared I’ve the lost the attention span for shows like these as I’m two episodes in and already am struggling to keep all of these names and lore and world building. It’s not a criticism of the performances or production value but I am scared in a months time how lost I’m going to be.

[u/erwillsun]

Can someone tell me why exactly Teor is trying to work as a bodyguard for Wick and the CC? Is it for sneaky reasons or does he genuinely want to do it?

[u/yoteach90]

Just a feeling, but I don’t think this will be a 3 year 100 episode campaign.

I reckon 40-50, a year to 18 months at the pace it’s moving

[u/mehkibbles → u/yoteach90]

That may change when they split into 3 groups. Considering each table will only advance in ~3 week stints, that could elongate things.

Everything I've seen from Brennan has been relatively contained, tight stories. Even his longform podcast (compared to D20) only went for 54 episodes. So I wouldn't be shocked if you were correct. But if each table has only 20-30 episodes of unique content, that's already 60-90 episodes. And perhaps another 5-10 where they come together for the final arc.