Critical Role Campaign 4, Episode 5 Part 1: "Branching Paths"

Date: November 13, 2025
Summary by CriticalRole Podcast Summarizer

Overview of the Episode

This episode marks the beginning of a new chapter for the party in Ahriman, a world mired in the aftermath of war, political upheaval, fractured alliances, and gods laid low. The cast—Teor Pridesire, Thimble, Cadogan Vale Tyranny, Wakander Hailuvar, and others—find themselves split between a dangerous journey beyond the city and intricate political intrigue within Dolmakyar’s walls. Grieving recent losses and navigating new, impossible magics, the group faces existential and practical questions: what does it mean to return from death, and how do unlikely allies resist a city tearing itself apart?

Key Discussion Points & Story Developments

Setting Out Into the Storm (00:05 – 07:00)

• The party rides out from Dolmakyar, heavy with grief after the assassination of beloved friend Thiazi Fang, killed for a mysterious artifact.
• Thimble reflects on grief transformed into singular purpose:
  “With that singular goal in front of me, I’m able to leave the grief behind… Like I’m gonna make it right.” (02:02, Thimble)
• Teor contemplates jealousy of his brother’s nobility and the fall of Kasimir, former ally-turned-enemy:
  “At one point I knew them better than anyone… How little I knew.” (03:20, Teor)
• Wakander and Tyranny each struggle with leaving the familiar behind, some reluctantly hopeful, others newly domesticated and haunted by the consequences of their choices.
• Cadogan becomes attuned to the thrill of the hunt again, rekindling his sense of purpose in the rain—a rare, welcome aliveness.

Survival Check: The Hunt for Tracks (07:00 – 13:30)

• The party attempts to find tracks leading away from Dolmakyar—but the rain, darkness, and chaos at the gates make it a daunting task; a difficult skill challenge (DC 30/25/20) is set.
• Cadogan and companion Wulfric nearly succeed but fall short (“19” on roll), emphasizing the scarcity of easy answers and foreshadowing the need to outthink their adversaries.

Recap and Web of Factions (16:00 – 24:00)

• Brennan Lee Mulligan recounts pivotal campaign events:
  • Thiazi Fang’s execution by the Chamber of Lords Advisory, not the Revolutionary Council.
  • Aktus Tuchonis’ betrayal, alignment switches, and involvement with the artifact known as the Stone of Nightsong.
  • The layered personal and political enmities: every noble house has blood on its hands, and alliances are treacherous.

The Resurrection of Octys and the Arcane Mystery (24:10 – 45:00)

• The ritual-resurrection of Octys Tuchonis is attempted with the Stone of Nightsong.

• Octys describes his “living” body:
  “Breathing is either conscious or absent... Any part of you that you cannot command is still. It frightens you.” (27:55, Brennan as DM) “No, you died, so I’m still going through that. Also, back off of your sword I was slowly impaling myself on…” (28:45, Tysha to Octys)

• Arcana and insight checks reveal:

  • The ritual was an unprecedented, accidental miracle—derailed at the last moment from the Taconis family’s (likely nefarious) intentions.
  • The Stone and Octys are now inextricably linked, but this isn’t a classic phylactery. The result: Octys is neither truly living nor merely undead.

• Vaylis recognizes that the artifact was meant for destruction, not resurrection, hinting at deep magical disruption and potential consequences.

• The group debates the stone’s fate. Tension between Vaylis and other party members erupts over who should hold it, leading to a stand-off subdued (for now) by mutual need and command spells:
  “If you try and take that stone—silence.” (Bolaire, 59:10)

Political Intrigue & Planning (45:00 – 1:25:00)

• The party and allies realize they are being hunted and must leave Dolmakyar, with Erinessa and Julian expressing both desperation and icy resolve.
• Erinessa offers a pact to travel east—towards the Taconis ancestral homeland, seeking answers and a new hope:
  “We’ve been calling ourselves the Sundered Houses for a long time... I don’t want to be broken anymore.” (Erinessa, 1:16:10)
• The remaining group discusses a plan to disrupt the sundered houses’ nascent alliance by sowing distrust with a “whisper campaign.”
  • Murray offers:
    “The only way that we’ll survive is if we find a way to create a wedge between them and have them turn on each other.” (1:18:35)
• A personal item (Octys’ signet ring) is given for use in subterfuge, and the party divides—some departing for the east, others staying to manipulate events in Dolmakyar.

Emotional Farewells and New Bonds (1:25:00 – 1:50:00)

• Vivid, heartfelt goodbyes and declarations of loyalty as allies split.
  • Family and found family moments are spotlighted:
    “You’re family too. Because your blood family are the worst fucking people I have ever met.” (Tysha to Octys, 1:33:45) “Young man, it is a terrible thing to be singular, but it can eventually be beautiful. And one day, I look forward to you returning and having a proper conversation of whatever it is you become.” (1:36:20)
  • Tysha and Hal share a moment of reassurance and bittersweet love:
    “If it is him, if it is our son, we’ll find him and bring him home.” (Hal, 1:45:12)

Final Reflections: Fate, Hope, and Setting the Next Stage (1:50:00 – 2:10:00)

• At dawn, each character returns to the world as ordinary citizens—museum guide, academic, caretaker—amidst upheaval and fatigue.
• The DM offers a final, poetic image:
  “You see a magpie looks down… The sun rises over a gray city… This little bird sees its home stretch for the first time. It has to believe there is something here worth fighting for. Your story's just getting started.” (2:06:35, DM)

Notable Quotes & Key Moments with Timestamps

• Thimble on leaving grief behind:
  “With that singular goal in front of me, I’m able to leave the grief behind.” (02:02)

• Teor on jealousy and loss:
  “How little I knew about him… The idea that I have of my brother has evolved.” (03:38)

• DM on the resurrection of Octys:
  “Any part of you that you cannot command is so still that on some level it frightens you. Like some part of you knows it is rotting.” (27:55)

• Murray on the party’s path:
  “All of this reeks of a gambit. It reeks of seeing opportunity and greed, compelling them to seize it while they could.” (1:22:10)

• Erinessa on breaking cycles:
  “I can say with certainty that we are being hunted right now… and though you seem to have defied death itself, I doubt that you could defy capture or imprisonment.” (1:17:55)

• Tysha on found family:
  “You’re family too. Because your blood family are the worst fucking people I have ever met.” (1:33:45)

• Murray (advice to Octys):
  “Young man, it is a terrible thing to be singular, but it can eventually be beautiful. And one day, I look forward to you returning and having a proper conversation of whatever it is you become.” (1:36:20)

• Hal to Tysha:
  “If it is him, if it is our son, we’ll find him and bring him home.” (1:45:12)

• Poetic closing narration (DM):
  “This little bird sees its home stretch for the first time. It has to believe there is something here worth fighting for. Your story's just getting started.” (2:06:35)

Important Segment Timestamps

| Segment | Timestamp | |-----------------------------------------------|--------------| | Setting out into the night, motivations | 00:05–07:00 | | Tracking skill challenge, Cadogan’s moment | 07:00–13:30 | | Recap of factions, city intrigue | 16:00–24:00 | | Resurrection ritual, philosophical dilemma | 24:10–45:00 | | Political planning, party divides | 1:10:00+ | | Farewells, affirmations of found family | 1:33:00+ | | Dawn, return to “normalcy,” magpie monologue | 2:06:00+ |

Episode Highlights & Tone

• Narrative Depth: The episode is rich with introspection, political intrigue, emotional connection, and the profound consequences of their actions.
• Voice & Style: The tone remains high fantasy, poetic, and character-driven; moments of absurd humor, existential questioning, and sharp dialogue interweave with the ongoing drama.
• Cliffhanger: The party is split—one group pursuing dangerous knowledge to the east, the other working to destabilize corrupt houses from within; the sense is of standing on the edge of momentous change.

Final Thoughts

"Branching Paths" sets in motion major storylines for Campaign 4, deepening both the political stakes and the personal investments of the cast. Themes of grief, betrayal, resurrection, and hope are thoughtfully woven throughout, alongside Critical Role’s signature blend of collaborative storytelling, wit, and heart.

Next: Episode 5, Part 2 Releases Tuesday.