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Runtime Break start 5h 12m 2h 51m
Episode 4: Stone Faced
Evening in Dol-Makjar. A crisp, cool night.
Footsteps approach. A seedy tavern in The Fray (the lowermost neighborhood of the city).
Noise of shattering glass bottles in nearby alleyways. Raucous shouts, fights breaking out, loud music. The braying of a nearby horse as a carriage trundles down the street.
Sputtering torchlight casting shadows long and wide through the city streets.
A humble sign of a tavern. Potter's Field (the symbol of a nameless gravestone on it's side). A few drunken reprobates outside.
Bolaire walks through a neighborhood so far removed from the Arcanade that the odds of being recognized in this place are next to none.
Door swings open. Smugglers, criminals, few people under sputtering candlelight speaking in hushed tones. Bartender looks up to perceive Bolaire, and with that eye contact, nods, communicating that no, he does not perceive you, not tonight, in any case.
At the back of this humble, liquor-drenched hovel is a thick red door. Brass studs throughout it. It's hidden behind a curtain, but it's sturdier than just about anything else in here. Seated behind the curtain is a thin, reedy figure who looks up at your approach.
Bolaire:"No evil."
He pushes his hand into the leather covering the door. Something heavy like stone grates in a hidden hinge. The wall swings open, and for a minute, overpowering the stench of rot and ale on the floor, powerful incense. Something heady, otherworldly, as you step into the shadows.
You enter a hidden place of leisure behind Potter's Field. You look in and see the proprietor, Devlin, look up to you. Rows and rows of bottles and crystal glassware overhead. The fixtures here: brass, velvet; of a higher caliber than that which resides in the exterior. Devlin, a brimmed hat pitched forward to cover the very top of his forehead, looks up at you. His eyes always reflect a few more candles, a few more lanterns, than are ever present in this actual physical space.
He looks up and goes, "Master, pleasure to see you. Can I pour you a drink, or are you only here for a spell?"
♪Episode Song References♪
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Highlights
Sleeping Powderinto Bolaire's face, knocking him unconscious.Hello and welcome to a very creepy episode of Critical Role Campaign 4. I'm your Dungeon Master, Brennan Lee Mulligan, here for the Oops! All Alex Wards episode. Last we left off, our heroes here in the world of Aramán were busy dealing with the aftermath of the execution and funeral of Thjazi Fang.
Roll Inish Bish
Proneand flanking with ghouls! Grappling?! Brennan isn't messing around!Silenced zone, Occtis is forced to useMind Spikebecause of it's lack of a vocal component requirementVerisimilitude: Something that has the appearance of being true or real
Shadow Walkability to position himself for aCircle of Deathwiping out all the NPCs in the grand room of House Davinos.Guiding Boltis super effective!Fan Art Moment Vaelus and Sir Julian fighting side by side, facing Lord Primus.
Umbral Form(18th lvl spell) leaves Julien surrounded by ghouls.Set forth in this way (near a source of life) they will seek to drink what is vital within Julien, to take it for their own until there is nothing left of him, and he joins their number.
Fan Art Moment Thaisha emerging from her wolven form.
Thaisha:"Your house is bad! This is fatherless behavior." (too soon?)
Drain Lifeand immune to the Ability Decrease effectMatt:"Shoulda been an elf."
Alex:(looking at camera)"I tried."
Plane Shift"There is a place where all lost things are kept eternal. We're going to scrub your Path from the face of the beyond."
Hastecast on JulienMatt:"Oh yes."
Death Saving Throwgenerating 2 failures in a "first to three" scenario.Divine Smite(by ssilentwillow)
INTERMISSION
We return to the city of Dol-Makjar to the drawing room of Halandil Fang. Where you (Hal) sit (Liar's Blade at your side), Thimble, Teor, Kattigan, the now itinerant Wicander and Tyranny have all headed off under the stewardship of Azune to the Falcon's Rest (there to pursue Casimir or Teor's brother Cyd).
You bade farewell earlier to Occtis who traveled off with Julian Davinos and Thaisha has just run off after him to make sure he's okay.
Hal, it is currently just you and Murray in your home (Shadia is out with some friends) and you have a letter in your hand that Thimble gave to you, which was supposed to make its way to Murray.
Murray, here in this place, you have no idea what is transpiring across the river. It's a pretty chill night. Things have finally calmed down.
[Hal] The letter that Thimble gave to you (that you now hand to Murray), the envelope just says "Bolaire" on it.
Murray, do you open the envelope?
Azune:"What have you had to drink?!"
Taliesin:"You ever seen Young Frankenstein?"
Liam:"Nice knockers."
Insight Checkshortly after Bolaire begins to speak. Liam rolls a 1, Tal rolls a 20.Bolaire claims to have been blackmailed into service by Thjazi
Aidgranting temporary healthMendingthe black candle, Pincushion appears and leads the group into the night of Dol-Makjar, towards the Lloy estate.Detect Magiccast reveals the most potent, divine necromancy radiating in waves from Occtis' chest cavity.(continued)
Cooldown
00:27 Red Hot Chili Peppers - Love Rollercoaster01:32 Alex had pitched a Hollow One Necromancer to Brennan, coincidentally
05:32 Lore Moment Matt also happened to use ghouls 15 years prior in a home game and killed several of the players at the table.
09:08 Occtis's vision while dead included dealings with the Barrowguard who have been trained by Julien and contain Hal's son Alogar.
11:30 The Mask of Bolaire was inspired by Travis' discarded sentient swords.
13:44 So, you're dead
14:09 Billy Crystal as Miracle Max from The Princess Bride
16:40 Brennan hears the "Spread your legs and fly" callback for the first time
18:00 Soldiers and Seekers next episode, but also one last mass gathering.