Critical Role & Sagas of Sundry: Starter Kit – Phoenix Dawn Command

Part 4: A Phoenix Rises

Host/Game Master: Keith Baker
Players: Player 1 (Pyre), Player 2 (Paula), Player 3 (Stealthy Character), Player 4 (Support Character)
Date: February 16, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode delves into the mechanics and story of the Phoenix Dawn Command RPG. The session centers around the resurrection of Pyre, exploring the in-game consequences and story development of a phoenix's death and rebirth. The group faces mounting supernatural threats as cracks in the Cloudspire Aerie reveal the urgency of their quest. Interpersonal tensions increase as mortal researchers push deeper toward danger, leading the party into fraught negotiations, new magical discoveries, and a climactic descent into peril.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Phoenix Death & Rebirth: Pyre’s Return

[01:35–09:04]

• Keith Baker explains the unique resurrection mechanics of Phoenix Dawn Command: death isn't the end but a step to greater power.
  • "Death and resurrection are how a Phoenix grows in power. The first seven times, anyway." – [01:43, Keith Baker]
• Pyre’s in-character resurrection sequence is narrated, with an emphasis on choosing what kind of lesson he gains from death.
  • Game Master guides Pyre through selecting which discipline his death reflects—ultimately, Pyre chooses the “Devoted” school, symbolizing self-sacrifice for the group.
  • Pyre: "I think part of him looks at it as duty. So elemental. But he threw his body in front of Pele at the end...So I'm gonna go with devoted." – [05:01–05:13]
• The mechanical rewards of dying: additional sparks (resource tokens), a powerful lesson (power), a new strong card (strength), and a unique ability for Pyre’s burning axe (Grimclaw).
  • Notable Quote:
    Keith Baker: "You get to pick one of these three lessons...Shining Mirror… Devoted Bond...Blessing of Vigor." – [06:02]
  • Pyre chooses the Devoted Bond: a shared energy pool for the party, reinforcing his role as group supporter.

2. Party Reflection: Customizing Traits

[09:04–10:43]

• Players are permitted to revise their character traits, reflecting on their play experience thus far.
  • Player 3: Swaps “Small and Quick” for “Noble”—but noble of heart, not of blood.
    "She's not noble of blood, but she's certainly a noble person." – [09:29]
  • Player 2: Opts for “Superhuman Strength” over “Survivor,” excited by the potential to stun enemies.
    "When you use this card in a successful attack spread, you may burn one spark to stun the target, which I don't know what that means, but it sounds good." – [09:52]
  • Keith Baker: Explains conditions: "Stunned... reduces the number of cards you can play in a spread...Enraged... more aggressive but very weak on defense." – [10:43]

3. Pyre’s Rebirth & Group Reunion

[11:27–12:23]

• Pyre reemerges changed by his time in “the Crucible.”
  • Pyre: "When I become reborn, it takes me a second to remember what happened. Where I am, who my wing is...all of that." – [08:47]
• Visual changes: Pyre’s axe burns brighter; he himself is now flame-less.
  • Pyre: "His axe is flaming even brighter. But he's actually...He doesn't have any flames on him anymore." – [12:09]
  • Player Reactions: The group is charmed and surprised by the transformation.

4. The Spire in Crisis & Scientific Debate

[12:23–21:47]

• Researchers return in panic: cracks are appearing in the supposedly indestructible spire.
  • Urgency mounts as mortal researchers Adria, Tibin, Tyra, Cass (child), and healer Nemo debate how to respond.
  • Tibin: Describes the magical phenomenon:
    "This is actually a connection between the dusk and the daylit world. The world of spirits...If we can understand what's going on here...we need all the help we can against the dread." – [19:07]
  • The party and researchers argue over ethics and priorities:
    • Paula: "So you're the reason those skeletons were coming back to life. You're causing more death and destruction. You're not helping anybody." – [19:39]
    • Adria: "If you care about the Empire at all, we need to go down there..." – [20:06]
    • Player 3 (sarcastic): "If you're calling me a fanatic, I'm hearing voices that are telling you to get out of here. So maybe we should listen to the voices in my head." – [20:34]
• Mortal companions must be assigned to each PC; PCs debate who to “buddy” with for mechanics and roleplay.

5. Lore & Setting Questions

[25:03–26:13]

• Paula inquires about deities in the setting, Keith Baker gives a run-down of regional beliefs:
  • House gods (Elona), nature traditions, northern fae, and the Dawn—source of phoenix power.
  • Clarifies phoenixes’ role: "You are more sort of saints or angels, if you will." – [26:13]

6. Venturing Down – Stealth & Investigation

[26:24–28:44]

• The stealthy character uses her “Hidden” talent to scout ahead.
  • GM: "If you're just like, I'm just disappearing and I'll make my own way and they'll figure it out." – [26:51]
  • Mechanics for stealth explained.
  • Party reaches the site of the previous explosion—awe at pyrene steel shards, connections to phoenix weapons.

7. Environmental Hazards & Whispering Warnings

[28:44–29:41]

• Ice continues to reclaim the tunnels; the magic feels familiar to Paula’s character.
• Party notices supernatural voices shifting from “help” to “danger”—the warnings grow urgent.

8. Encounter with Undead & Use of Devoted Bond

[29:41–39:48]

• Stealthy advance reveals two undead threats ahead; possible combat or avoidance.
• Introduction of Pyre’s Devoted Bond: the party can communicate telepathically, but it drains Pyre’s resources (“sparks”).
  • "You could reach out and speak to the rest of the wing and send them a telepathic message." – [34:28]
  • The group uses this power to coordinate action.
• Paula leverages her fire/destruction magic to incinerate both enemies.
  • GM: "A13 on its own is not gonna do it...If you burned a health level and you used one of these [sparks]...you just vaporize them..." – [38:13–39:48]
  • Paula: "I'm kind of inspired by Pyre's sacrifice...I would like to, one, not go through this crap again, and two, get it over with so we can move on." – [39:34]

9. Into the Depths – Cliffhanger

[40:41–41:43]

• The party presses onward as environmental hazards worsen: freezing temperatures, shaking tunnels, a collapsing ceiling.
  • "A huge chunk of the ceiling starts falling down towards the three of you. And that is where we're gonna stop." – [41:21]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Pyre’s character-defining line upon return:
  "I feel stronger than I ever have before. And look, I'm not on fire." – [21:57, Pyre]
• Lighthearted banter between group members after transformation:
  Player 2: “I noticed that you look good.” Player 3: “You've been working out?” – [22:02–22:06]
• On the mechanics of resurrection:
  Keith Baker: "Now, the last thing is to just think briefly about what is the experience. How long are you in the Crucible? ...For you, is it just a day or two? Or are you there for weeks?" – [08:23]
• On mortality of researchers:
  "One of you is gonna have to take responsibility for each of them. This is called the buddy system...when you take wounds, the wounds have to be split between you and them, which means if you take more than one wound, they will probably die." – [23:08–24:50]
• On telepathic messaging costs:
  Keith Baker: "When you send a message, everyone, you can reply quickly if you want, but it burns one of your sparks. Only his [Pyre’s], so any of you can send a message but it costs Pyre." – [34:48]
• Paula’s pragmatic heroism:
  "I'm kind of inspired by Pyre's sacrifice and to know that he did so much to save all of us. I would like to, one, not go through this crap again, and two, get it over with so we can move on." – [39:34]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:35 – Recap and Pyre's death; resurrection mechanics explained
• 05:13 – Pyre chooses “Devoted” school lesson
• 07:13 – Pyre gains new axe ability (Grimclaw)
• 09:24 – Party reflects and updates traits
• 12:09 – Pyre’s visual transformation upon rebirth
• 19:07 – Debates on the dangers and purpose of the spire
• 23:08 – Mechanics of protecting mortal companions (the “buddy system”)
• 25:03 – Lore: Deities and belief systems in the game world
• 26:51 – Stealth mechanics and scouting ahead
• 29:18 – Warning voices escalate as party enters danger
• 34:28 – Devoted Bond grants telepathic communication
• 37:16 – Paula begins her massive fire spell attack
• 39:48 – Success in defeating undead; group camaraderie
• 41:21 – Cliffhanger: ceiling collapse

Tone, Style & Engagement

• The tone is improvisational, playful and at times banter-filled, yet earnest during character- and world-building moments.
• Keith Baker’s GMing is inclusive and didactic, gently explaining both mechanics and story options.
• Players freely joke (“I want to die!”), but quickly shift to dramatic beats when stakes rise.
• The session balances mechanical crunchy bits (explaining cards, traits, and wounds) with character-driven narrative developments.

Useful for New Listeners

• This episode is an in-depth mix of character growth (resurrection, self-sacrifice), party dynamics (negotiation, resource sharing), setting lore, and tactical decisions.
• Strong focus on how Phoenix Dawn Command is different from typical RPGs—death as advancement, not punishment.
• Provides examples of narrative-driven roleplaying, collaborative party choices, and how mechanics (like “sparks” and “Devoted Bond”) fuel story and teamwork.
• The session ends at a significant cliffhanger, with the party facing both supernatural and environmental threats deep below the spire.

Next episode preview:
“You’ve gone very deep...This is some sort of bridge to the dusk..." – [41:45–41:50]

End of Summary