How possible is it that what we saw with Occtis on the Old Path after his death in c4e03 was the result of Primus Tachonis being impatient and smashing two plans together? Perhaps the original reason they wanted Occtis was to sacrifice him to create a celestial, but Primus saw an opportunity to destroy the Old Path at the same time and, to that end, had Occtis's heart torn out and replaced by the Stone of Nightsong under the theory that if Occtis completed walking the path carrying the stone it would destroy the path to reincarnation?
But whoever the other person Occtis saw (perhaps a currently unknown elder of House Tachonis or perhaps Tansul or some agent of Tansul) recognized that these two arcane experiments combined could have volatile and disastrous effects on each other, which was why he called Primus a fool. And that vision Occtis had of being in another place was his heart being placed into the construct that would make the new celestial.
Julien: Dad insults me when he's not hitting me. I've been cursed by my nemesis' corpse. I'm in love with his widow - but she was my best friend first, for fuck's sake. His sister in law wants to kill me. His knight and first mate is four inches tall, and knows things, and could probably end my life as I know it. Aaaand now I'm hung over. This is fine.
Lady Aranessa: I can fix him (platonic) ❤️🩹
Primus Tachonis: I can make him Worse (homicidal) 🖤
Time: 3:06:36
WHITNEY: Quick sidebar.
SAM: Yes?
WHITNEY: Okay, so no violence, right? This is going to be on you to talk your way through this. They have to listen to you.
SAM: Violence is— I would never resort to such horrible—
WHITNEY: Absolutely agree.
SAM: No. No.
BRENNAN: Five brought together head north. A brother in danger, a life turned into chaos, and maybe if you're lucky, vengeance. We'll see you five at the Soldiers' table. Farewell.
Happy Thursday and happy Critical Role Halloween! Before tonight’s episode, check out our stats for last week’s Episode 3:
The Brennan Bird Counter has now reached 32. (See our site for what we count as bird mentions.)
The campaign now has its first battlemap (the Guard Tower), its first Matt face palm (Sam caused it), and its first DM Nat 20 (a Crow Keeper’s athletics check to pin Wulfric).
Vaelus was our top damage-dealer with 31 points of damage. (We love you, level 3.)
We learned of and/or met 20 new NPCs, including an intriguing mention of Ksha'aravi, the High Prince of Demonkind and the Shadow of Suffering, and a mysterious picture of a lost lover.
Twenty-eight items were exchanged, including sherry, paint, and a very fancy very long vest.
Some of these Halovar people seem kinda certifiably insane tbh
Creepy ass dogs ok
Anti-Magic singing dogs??? What???
Okay so is Julien like… looking for Occtis to hand him over or
Julien is like “a friend of Thjazi’s being friendly? I don’t trust like that” lol
Went from “let bygones be bygones” to “your ‘great’ deeds” and then the way he says Julien’s name like okay Teor honestly that’s fair
Honestly I still can’t figure out who belongs to what group I need some CHARTS
Oh my god Sam xD
There are some things we can’t unsee
Liam and Sam are so funny
Okay so like is Teor in danger now or
Okay back to fucked up Grandpa Reveal
So literally he’s like the only family member who didn’t know huh
“They ain’t got blood” “but it’s also his spit” that’s not better
Poor Wic he’s so rightfully horrified
Ethion? Effion?
Servant of the Sun
“Don’t be disgusting” WHAT
Okay so… weird ass sex didn’t happen that’s a relief because I was like how dark is this going to get
Oh he’s got fucked up wings
Is Wic gonna get wings?? I think Wic deserves wings
Tyranny looks like she’s worried about Wic it’s kinda sweet
So it was like all the other houses had a link to something so they were like “sure let’s used this mad angel as ours”
Oh wait so Wic was supposed to marry someone?
Poor Wicander :(
So like they wanted Wic to be a real believer but also it’s inconvenient that he actually believed it and wanted to show Thjazi mercy?
Rules for thee but not for me uh-huh
Yeah idk that you’re fixing it grandma
The one that got away??
Arranged marriage genuinely this poor guy!!
Oh fuck Teor’s in daaaanger
“Stop believing the stuff we told you to believe your whole entire life” is a WILD thing to ask for
Tyranny is so sweet actually
Oh and also he denied himself nice things for his whole life because he believed it oh sweetheart
I’m so sad for him actually like what the fuck
Wow just wild unexpected switch from Tyranny too like okay okay okay
Yeeees girl hype him up she’s being so kind awww
“My contract is with you, not your family” I LOVE this vibe of her changing her feelings about him because he so genuinely thought he could help her be saved
I would love to see Wic try to hold onto his belief that people are inherently good in the face of aaaaaall of this
Okay I needed this scene because now Wick and Tyranny are my kids I love them
AND the lies kept him from being with someone he loved there is NO way this boy is just sticking with this come on
“You can’t prove there’s allegory in this” it’s fine Brennan we know
Murrayyyy
Oh yeah creepy Tachonis guy
Oh so like Occtis got shipped off to magical boarding school
Wow he’s a real dick
“You hate Occtis” oh that’s fun
Oh I haaate him lol
Oh dear
C’moooon Murray
Okay 21 seems good
Oh my GOD he tried to CURSE her???
Okay wait so who is doing it??
Oh I hope she gets to murder him eventually lol
14 feels lowwww oh no
Run Murray ruuuuuun
Fire her?? Bitch I hope you step on 300 magically enhanced legos
oh NO not a Nat 1
God I hope they all immediately decide to hide Occtis from his shitty dad immediately
First actual combaaaat
Oh nooooo
“I’m gonna go into his pants” of course you are lmao
Robbie is dying
Wow they are NOT rolling well
Bonus action: cry
Save them Kattagan!
Oh my god they’re rolling SO badly
Wulfric oh noooooo!
This is going really badly they’re all gonna end up dead or in a dungeon
Oh thank god
Yooooo finally a chance for Ashley to do something I’m excited!
Badass I love her
Oh GOD
They’re ALL dead lmao
“I leave—“ LOL
Oh that was so kind of Brennan
NAT 20 YAYYYY
Vaelus for the win hell yeahhhhh
She is WRECKING these guys
See I had a feeling it was Cyd but seems like not, which is nice for Teor
Awww Pin trying to help his other canine buddy out
Suddenly full table
Ooo is this Hal’s theatre?
The Hallowed Round nice nice I like it
I’m so sad still that Hal almost had everything he’s apparently worked for and he’s probably not going to get to keep it
Oooo giant cedar tree like a shadow of a reminder of the Shaper they used to worship there
Not me foolishly hoping that somehow Hal manages to have this someday
I’m glad one of the old ones who remember what the place was before the war seems okay with it
And the idea of claiming a space with a troubled history for your people and making it somewhere nice is great
Thaisha’s whole theme of The Parent Who Left is actually really fascinating to me, since that’s so often a more male-central trope
Allogar is the son/brother okay cool now I know all the names
“to make sure it’s not harmless in any way — and I know what I said”
“There’s two ways to get money: Aristocrats and selling fruit leather” I want that on a t-shirt
Special paint from Thjazi aww
ngl I have no memory of what Thjazi said about the paint there’s so much I feel like I missed
Okay thank you for clarifying and reminding me Liam
Okay what is with the paint?? A paint mystery.
This NOT a criticism don’t @ me I will not engage but I think it’s interesting the way that Brennan tells people to make deception/persuasion rolls & insight checks when they themselves haven’t indicated their character is suspicious. It may just be that he does it in a different manner to Matt? Idk. But given that Tal was confused by what he was even rolling to lie/persuade about it struck me as a little odd?
“I got there late!”
“Well I got there on time!”
Okay Murray and Azune are killing me lol
Yeah this doesn’t feel like an allegory for anything happening irl right now
Teor is in daaaanger
RUUUUN buddy RUUUUN
Oh dear the vibes are BAAAD
Teoooorrr!
RIP with the double Nat 1s
yeah this place is CREEPY
DON’T leave it there Brennan!!
HOURS later???
Wick, Tyranny, y’all are VERY late!!
Okayyy Tyranny and Wick let’s pull this off and save the lion man
They should have gotten their story a little more straight beforehand lol
These guys are WEIRD
Tyranny is nervous af lmao meanwhile Wick is just like “wow look at that vest!”
Come on Tyranny you can do it!
NICE atta girl!
Wick STOP talking lmao
Right so were they going to skin him oooor
Brennan’s freaky weird people are 10/10 I am SO uncomfortable lmao
The shears were cutting his SHADOW??
What does that MEAN???
Brennan exPLAIN
Wick is such a sweetheart actually
Lmaooo he got the vest what a goofball
We love glowy tattoos
“They were cutting my shadow into pieces”
“I don’t know what that means!”
Tyranny is soooo done with him lmao
Sam cracking up everyone at the table
“I eat Wick”
“Yeah thank you!”
Full table swap
Honestly I am delighted by how much I am enjoying almost every single character so far
Julien popped by to see Hal and Thaisha?
Is he gonna warn them about Occtis?
Oh boy I bet she hates him
He is pretty 🩵
He’s such a bitch
“Mistress Elf”, that’s very sweet and respectful
Damn Thimble call him out??
“Reconsider your tone in the face of your betters”
“I see you”
What does she seeeeeee is it fae blooooood maybeeee
I’m hardcore on the partly fae Julien train
NICE Matt
I mean Julien that’s RUDE but also I love seeing Matt play a dick
Also aww Occtis being immediately ready to throw hands over Julien bullying Thimble
“He amongst many others may be in immediate danger” hmmm is he being sincere? Considering he was trying to find Hal and Thaisha I feel like maybe he was legit trying to warn him/them?
Vaelus will NEVER die? Is she special or is that just how it is for elves in Aramán?
Awww Occtis is a cutie babbling about his adorable frankenfox
Vaelus being a softie for Pin awwwwww
Thaisha chill I know you don’t like Julien but come ooooon
Yayyyy Azune!
And Murray!
Oh Vaelus is probably in trouble huh
I feel like a lot of this group is going to rapidly need to get out of this city
“Does everyone here like you?”
“Hal does”
“Sure”
Tyranny being like of course I looked I’m the only one in this duo with sense lol
Murray be nice lol
Tyranny standing up for her bestie I LOVE HER
Aww Teor standing up for Wick and Tyranny that’s nice
Okay yes here we go people need to LEAVE the pressure is on
I know we get at least the soldier’s table tonight so I’m curious who it’ll be
I’m thinking like Azune, Teor, Thimble… Vaelus? Julien? Idk lol I can’t tell for sure
Wait is Hal married? Currently? Or is Hero’s mother another baby mama? Did we meet Hero’s mother? I can’t keep things straight
Hal picking up his brother’s sword, aware that trouble is coming, making sure he knows where his kids are and that they’re safe
“What the fuck have you gotten us all into?” is a great question
Is the sword cursed???
Is it a god-killer sword??
The Liar’s Blade
Oh man is Hal and Thaisha both leave that’s going to be EXTRA hard for Shaadia
Wick honey oh my gosh
Tyranny, the bestie who will defend you and roast you at the same time
I did NOT anticipate liking Wick and Tyranny so much how the fuck did they endear themselves to me in like an hour
Hal wearing his brother’s sword ;_;
“Is my family safe here” baby
“Everyone in the city knows that Thjazi kept you safe, Hal”
Didn’t he apologize already? Like I feel like he did pretty much as soon as he started talking about all of it
I like that Thimble is a bit rash in a lot of her judgements and feelings, it’s a fun trait
I would NOT have guessed that apparently Wick and Tyranny will be at the ‘soldier’ table??
“Find him, for our brother” yeeees
Brennan plays so fast and loose with the rules when it comes to spells I love it kinda
Julien, you sold him out to your dad??
Actually I feel like maybe he sees that the Tachonis (and Halovar) family are about to be an even more major threat to house Royce so maybe they’re protecting Occtis as a way to keep Tachonis from amassing anymore strength or some such
So is the Nightingale something related to Vaelus’ old god/shaper?
Occtis be careful
I mean I don’t necessarily distrust Arenessa(sp) but still he should be careful
Oooooh a golden castle between Reality and Faery that’s dying and a castle between Reality and Death that’s getting stronger?? Are these like… literal castles or a metaphor?
“Idk why she followed me but she’s here to protect me…?”
Occtis honeyyyy be careful what you sayyyyy
Oh yeah this feels really bad for house Royce and house Davinos if house Tachonis is amassing a large force
“No, I don’t” oooo liar liar but why lie to your dad hm?
“At least you can follow that direction” wow the backhanded compliments huh
Jahar, Alandria, Mardonis. Feels like these are names to remember.
Awww Julien
Is he being sincere or is this a ruse I love that I can’t tell
“I have a bad feeling about tonight”
“Do you have bad feelings often?”
“Yes but it’s usually easy to drink them away”
Unexpected hand of friendship extended between Julien and Vaelus?? Amazing
Oh yeah I forget he was cursed lol
Curse Confirmed, babyyyyy
Oh wait there’s something worse
The garden iiiiis… full of hundreds of specters???? Restless dead??
Hell is empty all the dead are HERE apparently
OH FUCK
RIP Dad
TIME TO GOOOOOOO
OH NO ARANESSA
oh boy oh god oh boy
FUCK
ooo brother Tachonis
Omg house Tachonis has Vaelus’ stone!
“Put him on the table, open him up, and we’ll put the stone where it belongs”???
WHAT???
Julien just watched his dad get murdered by having his skull ripped out I’m sure that won’t cause any trauma
Oh my god I am SCREAMING
Do we think Julien is also going to find his 3 friends dead by horrific means or
I love that next week's episode is going to focus on the other two tables. I feel like there was a good closure/opening for the Soldiers and I don't mind waiting to see what happens next with them.
It should also make it easier to switch around characters without a full table-worth of people.
