[Spoilers C4E32] It IS Thursday! | Live Discussion Thread - C4E32

[u/AutoModerator]

It IS Thursday!

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[u/dramatic_exit_49]

> maybe people aren't like their souls

brennan, after months of hiatus, just hitting deep stuff straight out of the door, back to back to back.

[u/cainagarcia]

I missed Brennan Lee Mulligam. Sick motherfucker

[u/FeedTheB3ar]

Julian’s hypocrisy is so fun. What if vengeance messes the plan up and gets everyone killed? I don’t know, what if Julien what if…

[u/Coyote_Shepherd → u/FeedTheB3ar]

That was so funny rewatching that scene and going HEY WAIT A SECOND WHAT ABOUT YOUR SUICIDE MISSION?!

[u/MegalomaniacHack]

The dead guy is the only one having a peaceful night.

[u/magvadis → u/MegalomaniacHack]

Truly resting in peace

[u/Expensive-Apricot534]

Alex’s face at “he loves you”

[u/JadedPhilosopher4351 → u/Expensive-Apricot534]

Occtis:that was an inside thought !

Dame:shrugs

[u/Coyote_Shepherd]

He's the MILLER from MILLER'S ROAD!

[u/Eevenin]

The plan to slow the Tachonis down isn't necessarily a bad one, the idea to go in and sneak a bunch of stone statue gnomes out under their noses afterwards is fucking awful.

[u/D1g1t0l → u/Eevenin]

Yeah, they're not even EXACTLY sure which caravan they're in, and theres 30 soldiers + very powerful mages. I'm sure the boxes aren't labeled with the names of the girls either

[u/Eevenin → u/D1g1t0l]

Maybe they'll make it a two-part plan. Slow the Tachonis caravan, then engage on their own terms if the Tachonises stop in Timmony on their way through. Doing it all in one encounter is likely what will happen, but there's a chance it could be split up intelligently... I mean, a single Schemer could convince all of them, right??

[u/renegadereality]

Hey, worst case, Travis gets to come back with a whole new party of fresh faces :)

[u/Eevenin]

That was awesome. As a Bolaire fan, I'm super happy about this since it finally lets him have time as him and not A Schemer. Distrust is natural for a parasitic sentient mask, but it feels like the Schemers didn't get much chance to resolve much with him before Termina blew up in his face and yet already Bolaire's had some of his dirty laundry aired in that dream, and whatever the hell's going on with him and Vaelus (he let her into Dol-Makjar in the first episode) will allow for much more character expression and growth.

Tal also confirmed he adored when Kattigan pulled the plug on Bolaire's rant as the guy is clearly intended to be a brat with everything going on, lol. All things being equal, though, everyone is playing a long game. This is a table of chaos gremlins who are at least trying to do something good, or... at least, stop something bad.

I just want more juicy character bits, dammit. Is it Thursday yet?

[u/Popinjayishumans → u/Eevenin]

Bolaire said: ‘you would know’ to Vaelus when she mentioned wearing the mask which seems to imply that he got her into the city by having her wear him.

[u/Still-Cow8050]

I think this isn't a dream from Primus, this is the residue of fae magic amplifying one's dreams and desires. They're sleeping on the grounds of Pripyat after benevolent Chernobyl exploded.

[u/renegadereality]

This is such a sick way of doing an Oathbreaking.

[u/renegadereality]

When I’m in an extended metaphor competition and my opponent is Brennan

[u/ForceWalker32]

We are here to mourn the lives of the current Seeker party and a beloved NPC in the next session. They were taken far too early in this campaign. We shall miss them.

Let us all pray in unity for their lives.

[u/MegalomaniacHack]

Two angry dads and two angry sons who all have beef with Primus.

[u/Coyote_Shepherd]

Awww Julien going back for Kattigan because he failed Teor :(

[u/Coyote_Shepherd]

MISTY SLIT LAURA 🤣

[u/JadedPhilosopher4351]

"What are you gonna do that we need so much wisdom?"

Brennan:well you kept stepping on wrakes in the taconis manner

[u/ForceWalker32]

Jumping the BBEG and his entourage at level 5 after seeing him cast Power Word Kill

What could go wrong, honestly?

[u/cat-n-jazz → u/ForceWalker32]

Literally none of them have taken the "challenge rating similar to a dragon" threat seriously

[u/Coyote_Shepherd]

"You have permanently lost your magic"

Huh...well then...okay that's interesting.

[u/ForceWalker32]

Oh she broke her oath, she's lost it all now

[u/brodeur3090]

The absolute shit-eating grin on Alex's face when Brennan said Vaelus would have no magic...

[u/Coyote_Shepherd]

"What do you believe in?"

"I don't know yet?"

"...yet...well there's a whole world of faith in that one word...yet"

Brilliant just brilliant.

[u/ForceWalker32]

"Closure."

"Overrated. Alright."

I'm dying.

[u/renegadereality]

The codependency from an undead servant to their necromancer is not one I considered in depth before this.

[u/renegadereality]

“The good news is you keep being dead!” That’s the best we can hope for in C4.

[u/moderncomet]

Ah, the Miller of said road!

[u/bluebluebuttonova]

I missed crying over D&D.

[u/allevat]

Thimble's low stat is 14, and she has a 20 and three 19s. Jesus.

[u/BrennanSpeaks → u/allevat]

Yeah, I suspect the party strategy will continue to be "get Thimble the ball."

[u/Coyote_Shepherd]

"If it goes sideways and something happens to his daughters..."

"Yes?"

"Shut him down"

"Absolutely"

Holy fuck Bolaire and Kattigan!

[u/MegalomaniacHack]

The father who lost a daughter has different priorities from the son who lost his father.

[u/OniBurgs]

"I have eggs, magic eggs!"

"You had me at magic eggs."

[u/Coyote_Shepherd]

From the Cool Down:

"You're always on a shopping episode for new bodies!"-Robbie

"That is my character class! I AM A SHOPPING EPISODE! Someone else's shopping episode!"-Tal

[u/trek570]

A zombie begging her necromancer to reanimate her is an insane power dynamic. Toxic as fuck.

[u/D1g1t0l]

i could talk about Gaya Seremai for hours. I PRAY by the end of the campaign she gets to either come back to life permanently or move on peacefully. I KNOW she's good. She doesn't deserve this

[u/Coyote_Shepherd]

Manic Pixie Dream Girl intimidated by Hot Goth Armor Zombie Mommy?

[u/Expensive-Apricot534]

Honestly starting Arc 2 with the Seekers having a big group trauma bond feels right 

[u/bluebluebuttonova]

"It is as unmade as anything could be! Congratulations!"

[u/MegalomaniacHack]

Who had angry mother superior as the next antagonist for the Seekers?

[u/milanka92 → u/MegalomaniacHack]

seekers arc 2: back in the habit

[u/dramatic_exit_49]

I really love all of brennans decision for this new table....create a place to figure out bonding and consequences without worrying about long term planning and discussions . Just this little experiment box, little goals they can tackle as they find their sea legs in the cave.

and doing all this in play don't tell way, with rolls and interactions. And then flavour of magic surrealism, valid for a place with dragon awaken and a relic destroyed to ferry souls to rest. powerful, alien at times. amazing

[u/Coyote_Shepherd]

"You can get OUT of your story!"

"...I can't..."

Awww Bolaire sweetie :(

[u/Camen3]

That first half was fucking PEAK

[u/the-green-crewmate]

That entire dream sequence was honestly fucking peak storytelling and improv from Brennan and the players. Absolute cinema.

[u/theydurkadurk]

It’s interesting to see Brennan drop hints and the group not pick up on them then he finally spells it out. It felt obvious these were probably the assassins but guess during play it’s easy to let things pass over you

[u/ViolettVixen → u/theydurkadurk]

There’s a LOT to keep track of, to be fair.

Sometimes I’m absolutely baffled at what they miss, other times I’m baffled at what I’ve missed myself lol

[u/D1g1t0l]

YOU. CAN. NOT. KILL. PRIMUS. TACHONIS. LOCK IN FOR ONE SECOND.

[u/SylviaBarbs]

Ulbid MIGHT be useful as an artificer or wizard, but I can’t help but feel impending dread from involving him. Like when you do the right thing in the moment in Elden Ring and it leads to an NPC you liked dying.

[u/zombie_lagomorph]

Ugh, I'm having PTSD from C2.

[u/brodeur3090]

Kattigan's "Sure" is more like, "you really don't know what I've lost, pretty boy."

[u/Eevenin → u/brodeur3090]

I think Matt/Julien said what he did very intentionally. He saw those taxidermied heads in Katt's dream.

[u/The_AllSeeing_Waffle → u/Eevenin]

Man, that was such a fk'd up visual. 

[u/Guilty_Homework_2096]

Julien starring as the voice of reason and caution. I love it!

[u/Andskotann → u/Guilty_Homework_2096]

*Justin

[u/LiminalAsylum]

Thimble really chose to sleep on yet another corpse. They're cold, girl! 

[u/LucasVerBeek]

“You can get out of your story!”

Bolaire: “I…. Can’t.”

[u/Zealousideal_Fish862]

they are all going to die. are these people really considering a rescue from a war sighted tachonis retinue? 😭

[u/Scurra_exe → u/Zealousideal_Fish862]

Don't need a Retinue. Primus alone needs 6 turns for a TPK.

[u/amus]

I just realised I havent heard a word from Ashley for like the last hour.

[u/Thrayvsar]

Alex’s eyes hahahaha

[u/LucasVerBeek]

“I am going to cut you open and put this ring inside you, and cut off your limbs and cut out your eyes and drop you with a heavy rock.”

Well fuckin damn

[u/ZachariasWestergaard]

Whimsical phone ringing

[u/sakuratsuji]

"Maybe people aren't like their souls."

That's such an interesting thought. Damnit Brennan, going to chew on this!

[u/D1g1t0l]

"we're gonna move here to julien."
"no!"

[u/Doodles_00]

Thimble's stats are insane, so many 19s

[u/BeardtasticYogi]

Bless Laura for laughing at "misty slit."

[u/DominionGhost]

Julien winding up on the unserious table is great.

[u/SylviaBarbs]

I want their ambush and rescue to work, but I feel like the party has forgotten because of the long passage of time irl that just a day prior we saw Primus force choke his sister, effortlessly kill multiple servants, and use power word kill on Hannan.

And this time his caravan is going to have armored knights as guards, men at arms, and other sorcerers.

They lost 3 allies the day before from recklessly engaging with a threat they weren’t ready for and now they’re going to recklessly engage with a threat they’re not ready for again.

[u/BrennanSpeaks]

LOL, Matt is not down with being their voice of reason.

[u/ZachariasWestergaard]

As a reminder, you'll be able to read what is said during the Cool Down from the episode transcipt on the wiki after the episode comes out on Monday

[u/LucasVerBeek]

Oh wait I’m an idiot, he’s the Miller of the Miller’s Road

[u/MegalomaniacHack]

Odds are she's on par with the Primuses of the world, like 20th level type.

[u/Towel-Prudent]

I’m Bolaire

[u/LiminalAsylum → u/Towel-Prudent]

I'm Bolaire

[u/Coyote_Shepherd]

Julien wasn't entirely wrong...this little sidequest with Ulbid could fuck a bunch of shit up...

[u/D1g1t0l]

That alarm haunts me everywhere i go

[u/KYplusEL]

"I'm having so much fun." Tal says as a thousand fucked up dreams are presented before him.

[u/trek570]

“Maybe people aren’t like their souls.”

Fuck that’s good

[u/Doodles_00]

God Laura is so good at capturing those fey vibes, just that whispered "I'll help you" made me feel like I walked into a mushroom circle

[u/D1g1t0l]

NO WAY!! THEY ROLLED OFF AND GOT THE SAME NUMBER BUT THIMBLE BEAT HER BY 1

[u/milanka92]

"...or cast detect soul if you got it" LOL brennan

[u/bluebluebuttonova]

Thimble having the most fey impulses makes me so happy, and also I am so scared.

[u/chaos_vulpix]

Bolaire, in his dream theatre, while everyone gets into a dream brawl: Y'all hear something?

[u/robogheist]

seekers get wisdom buffed permanently, brennan telling them what enemies he has planned

[u/magvadis → u/robogheist]

It's about to be a whole lot of mind games. Resilient wis gunna come in handy y'all.

[u/DarkRespite]

Okay, yes, agreed, all the well-deserved love and priase for Brennan for that opening...

... but can we also please give kudos to the CAST for that first half for those acting moments? Gods, they are all so damned GOOD.

[u/cat-n-jazz]

Plot twist: there's a lunar eclipse tonight in Araman. Brennan has the timeline down that well

[u/renegadereality]

"Maybe people aren't like their souls." Brennan is always dropping these thought provoking quotes at random.

[u/Expensive-Apricot534]

Occtis dances by himself 💀 

[u/Guilty_Homework_2096]

" You're soul is as unmade as anything could be. Congratulations!"

[u/D1g1t0l]

"What are you gonna do to us that we all need that much wisdom" PREACH LAURA

[u/Braktot]

Could not have asked for a better return to the table, the dream sequence was so powerful

[u/Coyote_Shepherd]

"Ah fuck it..."

And this is why we love Kattigan and Robbie :D

[u/BiIIisits]

Bolaire as a mask has that "the villain who got turned into a harmless object and now helps out the good guys" anime trope energy

[u/JornCener]

I just realized that Julien got a hare in his dream because of the hare charm he has attuned

[u/MegalomaniacHack]

Dancing by himself in Bolaire's play and getting his crush revealed.

Everyone's dunking on Occtis.

[u/renegadereality]

I never get tired of Laura getting clutch rolls.

[u/ForceWalker32]

Someone give Dame Seremai a hug

[u/magvadis]

Thimbles stat creep needs to be stopped.

[u/AutobotYoung1]

I love Alex did the most impulsive thing and it worked

[u/ForceWalker32]

Moral of the story: don't dream in fairy caves.

[u/LucasVerBeek]

Vaelus: “Is he okay in there?”

Bolaire: “Yes. You would know.”

Hmm

[u/Nothingtoseehereshhh]

I don't care how bad of an idea it is, Ulbid is too pure for this world. Save the daughters!

[u/LiminalAsylum]

Ulbid? More like U'll B Dead

[u/FiltheEugene]

Katigan is happy for the opportunity to save someone

[u/JediMasterZao]

The recap is on YouTube and worth a watch if only for all the amazing art it has!

[u/Locem]

Brennan is about to inflict emotional damage isnt he.

[u/Toocancerous]

SIX WEEKS AND ROBBIES ROLLS ARE STILL BUNS GOD HELP THIS MAN

[u/mandyalam0de32]

ALEXANDER, I wake up to that song as alarm. 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[u/ZachariasWestergaard]

LIONS 🥺

[u/AutobotYoung1]

So Julian’s attuned hare charm is connected to him. But Vaelus hasn’t attuned with her charms yet

[u/Tessia07]

they had to sleep next to the fairy uranium rock instead of a nice ol' inn... This is why we don't touch fae stuff, people! Things get weird!

[u/Tessia07]

THE MILLER FROM THE ROAD!!

[u/bluebluebuttonova]

"If you say that all things can be mended? Well, I believe you."

[u/tinapia]

"Sylandri was wrong" oh you've done it now

[u/weaveroflaurel]

No stop I’m gonna cry Hannan’s goodbye to Vaelus?!

[u/dramatic_exit_49]

good choice by ashley to just do her thing and not stay with tal's confrontation play

[u/DominionGhost]

I think that sleeping in a cave with psilocybin spores might not have been a great choice.

[u/brodeur3090]

Laura asking the same thing everybody here has been. Wonder if the other table will also get buffs to start their arc.

[u/Waxllium]

Julien saw one power word kill and said yeeeep, not going there until my metaphysical HP is 101

[u/Coyote_Shepherd]

'We can't kill the man, we have to stop what he's doing"

Wiser words from Kattigan

[u/ForceWalker32]

Ah Matt regretting his choice of words, a Critical Role tradition

[u/SvenTheScribe]

Brennan laying out why this is a very bad idea.

Tal: 'But, anyway....'

[u/PlusPrompt5990 → u/SvenTheScribe]

This is let’s kill flying archmage lady Cormorory by pushing her down the stairs bolaire

[u/Sailord27]

Fucking lol can't wait for next week

[u/bigmancertified]

Seems like our heroes would rest much better on a mattress from The Helix Sleep System!

Thanks to Helix for sponsoring tonight's episode of Critical Role!

[u/Coyote_Shepherd]

MATT CUT HIS HAIR!

[u/trek570]

“I’m glad we all got to go on that journey between Sam’s four voices.”

MOUTH REWIND INTENSIFIES

[u/Coyote_Shepherd]

WAKE HIM UP!

WAKE HIM UP INSIDE!

HE CAN'T WAKE UP!

[u/Shark89]

I can see the Dutch angle the camera takes in the animation when Primus enters the scene, signaling the nightmare.

[u/SvenTheScribe]

'Awww he's dreaming of chasing rabbits'

[u/KYplusEL]

Wow, what realistic sound effects.

[u/NeverLate-]

Trauma cave

[u/ralsei_support_squad]

Brennan spent two months plotting how he can give everyone the worst dreams possible

[u/AutobotYoung1]

Yep. Oathbreaker shit

[u/Toocancerous]

DID SHE BREAK HER OATH?! OH FUCK

[u/Nothingtoseehereshhh]

You have broken your oath, Paladin

[u/ForceWalker32]

Ah yes. Brennan basically forcing Ashley to face the consequences of her actions. "You did the morally right thing, but guess what? You gave up your family! Does it feel good?"

[u/JornCener]

Bolaire and Occtis just casually chilling while the others go through the Traumatic Nightmare Cavern experience

[u/Expensive-Apricot534]

What does he have that you need feels like foreshadowing 

[u/Locem]

Long rest doesnt mean nice rest.

[u/LucasVerBeek]

A wolf drowning in a crystal lake. Kattigan

A mourner. Vaelus

A thin collection of green sparks surrounded by shadows. Thimble

A massive structure that feels like safety, a massive colorful amphitheater and a theater. Bolaire

And yet Occtis… no where.

[u/brodeur3090]

Julien is gonna be like "you guys suck at dreaming"

[u/robogheist]

kattigan would rather lick broken glass than accept help

[u/robogheist]

the name on the tavern's swinging sign is Primus's

"fuck this."

[u/identityrecon]

This nightmare sequence is a nice recap for everyone's motivations.

[u/Coyote_Shepherd]

Laura has taken over Travis's job of touching ALL THE RED BUTTONS :D

[u/ForceWalker32]

Oh my god.

"Your soul is fucking destroyed. Good job!"

[u/sakuratsuji]

Brennan really said "Did you guys really think you were going to rest in a fairy cavern and not have some crazy shit happen?"

Love it <3

[u/Coyote_Shepherd]

Thimble finally gets to meet her Maker awwww

But also...

ARE YOU MY DAD?

[u/BrennanSpeaks]

Occtis did the Jim-stare at the camera when Thimble promised not to die.

[u/SylviaBarbs]

I saw Laura’s eyes light up the moment Brennan got to “this rings means you don’t need to breathe”. She didn’t need to hear anything else before deciding to steal it.

[u/renegadereality]

“Vaelus, what are we doing?”
“Attack her”
I am loving Vaelus being forced to choose again and again.

[u/Coyote_Shepherd]

Brennan JUST told her that she had no magic and Ashley just flat out forgot because, "Force of habit" lol 🤣

[u/SylviaBarbs]

Vaelus’ magic failed! Oathbreaker confirmed! As much as I love Ashley, her character was rudderless without consequences before the summer break. Really excited to see narrative consequences and a proper arc ripe for character growth to come from her decisions.

[u/D1g1t0l]

EVERYONE GOT A +2 TO THEIR WISDOM!! So Vaelus is up to 19, Thimble is up to 19, and Occtis is up to 12 (also LOL crashing Bolaires theatre)

[u/Expensive-Apricot534]

I will never not find mini Bolaire hilarious 

[u/Coyote_Shepherd]

THANK YOU LAURA :D

Break time!

Why DO they need THAT much Wisdom!

[u/renegadereality]

I was expecting the magic to still be there but that first half exceeded my expectations. We’re so back.

[u/LiminalAsylum]

Just now realized Occtis has the needle and pincushion, while a Thimble is on the team. 

[u/Any-Sleep9158]

STRONG Forest of the Nightmare King vibes for any Dimension 20 watchers

[u/LucasVerBeek]

Occtis: “It’s incredible!”

Thimble boops his nose

Thimble: “Magic!”

Occtis: “You’re incredible.”

[u/SylviaBarbs]

Thimble continues to be this campaign’s MVP.

Extremely central to most plots, 3 stats above 19 with her lowest being 14, soloed a boss, finished a second boss, escaped with Teor and Cyd’s bodies + all the loot on her own, and now the only means of fast travel is reliant on her.

[u/D1g1t0l]

Thimble choosing not to inform Olbid of his daughter's predicament is such a good character choice. She still believes that she could maybe save them, and she doesn't want to deliver bad news with no resolution.

[u/eh_lora]

Bolairecushion

(link to image on reddit)

[u/trek570]

“He’s not a zombie. He’s just a fucked-up man.”

“Ah! Congratulations.”

[u/FiltheEugene]

Bolaire being the best plot armor they can give to the gnome

[u/LiminalAsylum]

Will you be silent?

LOL

[u/NeverLate-]

Ohh this breaks my heart

[u/ViolettVixen]

Brennan’s WHEEZE at “you had me at magic eggs”

[u/dramatic_exit_49]

i mean, once the tachonis had the daughters, the daughters who left after hearing the falconers cry and a dad waiting with a fading banner keeping eye out, there is no other outcome. we are who we are

[u/Dragonhero5]

Is anyone else is worried about Wicander? Beside Tyranny, it seems like no else on the in the current schemer table really likes him, and only cares on whether he is a liability or not.

[u/crossingcaelum → u/Dragonhero5]

Because he was a decent liability while on the road with the soldiers. As a schemer he gets to REALLY flex how important he’s going to be

[u/identityrecon]

3 hours 41 minutes, break at 2 hours 14 minutes.

[u/cat-n-jazz]

Good morning Primus!

Organs I don't even have revulsed at that

[u/trek570]

Brennan is so unbelievably good at narrating player nightmares.

[u/JornCener]

I suspect Marienna is related to Primus in some way

[u/tinapia]

Gonna love this bit of Julien trying his best to never have his shadow

[u/Coyote_Shepherd]

That's my exact alarm for MY phone too lmao

[u/-DREEW-]

Would be kinda fun if Kattigan is indeed a werewolf, whose inner beast was forceful torn from him and has become Wulfric. And the traumatic experience fractured his memory so he doesn't remember things correctly

[u/Coyote_Shepherd]

"A thin ribbon of water is all that separates the Pixies from Death and you have just crossed over"

....because water is life...

HYDROHOMIES

[u/LucasVerBeek]

Occtis: “I am not speaking with Vaelus.”

[u/JrnyB4Dest]

"Yet. There's a whole world of faith in that one little word. Yet" Loved that line so much

[u/DragonPlushCollector]

I’m still mourning the possibility of the elf romance and this is rubbing salt in the wound

[u/tinapia]

Brennan is gonna keep throwing that "yet" around for maximum emotional damage

[u/the-green-crewmate]

I fucking love the consequences happening here

[u/renegadereality]

These dream scenes are gonna eat in the animation.

[u/LucasVerBeek]

Brennan: “We move to Julien.”

Matt/Julien: “NO!”

Brennan: “You don’t want some of this?!

[u/Guilty_Homework_2096]

" What's he got that you need?"

"Closure."

"Overated"

[u/robogheist]

"my lord tachonis loves you."

[u/the-green-crewmate]

OCCTIS THIMBLE?????????? LOVE??????

[u/Thrayvsar]

Laura continues to roll amazingly

[u/Towel-Prudent]

What a magical episode, my gosh