Critical Role: "To the Hounds!" Campaign 4, Episode 9 Part 1 – Detailed Summary

Episode Date: December 18, 2025
Dungeon Master: Brennan Lee Mulligan
Setting: Exandria (Campaign 4: Ahriman)
Players/Characters Present: Wickender "Wick" Haylovar, Thimble, Talsidamir Isid, Wulfric, Tyranny, Nevada Anza (NPCs and party allies featured prominently)

Main Theme

This episode focuses on the fallout from the deadly confrontation with Kasimir Gavndale in Sloke. The party begins the next stage of their journey: racing north to rescue Talsidamir’s brother Sid from the sinister House Taconis. Along the way, they navigate fraught political realities, encounter mystical travelers and fairy creatures, and step deeper into the intrigue between powerful houses and factions in Timony. The titular “hounds” refer both to the literal order of knightly dogs (the Hounds of the King) and to the spirit of loyalty, perseverance, and secrecy pervading the group’s travels.

Key Plot Points & Discussions

1. Aftermath in Sloke and Setting Out (02:03–17:00)

• Dissolution of Revolutionary Guard: A major piece of local upheaval unfurls; Revolutionary Guards are dismissed en masse, ruffling the city’s structure.
• Nevada Anza’s Theatrical Interlude: Nevada directs a play, dealing with the metaphor of renegades and defiance—mirroring the party’s arc.
  • Notable line: “Lash is eating the goddamn scenery, okay? It’s a travesty...I can’t do my job.” — Nevada (08:37)
• Politics & Record Keeping: Lord Einfausen questions Azune about laxity regarding arcane threats and pushes for increased scrutiny—a hint at growing paranoia:
  • “If it is no great task to double your efforts, then I would like to see them doubled anyway.” — Lord Einfausen (13:09)
• The emotional temperature post-confrontation: The party takes stock following their victory and conversations reflect on the emptiness of vengeance.
  • “I thought maybe if he was dead, that Thiazzi being dead would not be as bad. But it’s still just as bad.” — Thimble (33:08)

2. Travel and Introductions (29:13–41:00)

• Meeting the Hounds of the King: The party is joined by Dame Morgaine (a border collie knight) and Hawkins (an imposing mastiff), who invite them to travel north towards Timony, hinting at shared goals.
  • “We are hounds of the King. His Majesty has bidden that all creeds and faiths or absences thereof be made welcome in the kingdom of Timony.” — Dame Morgaine (49:12)
• Complicated Loyalties: Discussion on Wick’s family, the Candescent Creed, and whether Wick is becoming disillusioned with his family’s machinations.
  • “We find ourselves unaligned at the moment with any particular house or nation. Right now we follow one goal, and that is reuniting a family.” — Wick (46:58)
• Growing Threat of Taconis: It’s revealed the House of Taconis may be excavating cairns for mysterious purposes—possibly necromantic or connected to the underworld:
  • “They came into possession of this little barony to hollow something out of the ground and make their way north with it.” — Dame Morgaine (51:45)

3. On the Miller’s Road: Hidden Pathways and Fey Encounters (67:35–116:30)

• Taking the Secret Route: The party opts to travel the “Miller’s Road”—a hidden fey-consecrated path—to avoid detection (Pass Without Trace effect).
  • “You see up on a hill, you see a sort of turning water wheel Miller’s up on a hill...There are no footprints being left by you on this road at all.” — Brennan (80:31)
• Philosophical Bickering & Character Development:
  • Wick wrestles with his growing ambivalence about the Candescent Creed, with Tyranny’s support and playful critique.
    • “Now that you’re doing this, I want to be here. And I really like what you guys are doing...I’m here for CC 2.0. Let’s let it rip.” — Tyranny (87:38)
• Major Fey Encounter: The Black Rabbits (Grigs and Kettlehobs):
  • The group is ambushed by fierce, head-swapping fairy outlaws riding black rabbits—an engaging RP situation that reveals fey customs, trust and reward for fair dealing.
    • “Are you telling me for truth that there’s a house that’s offered to put out bread and milk for the fair Folk?” — Klarny the Rose/Kettlehob (103:08)
  • These fey offer gifts and inspiration in exchange for a sanctuary and information, but also reveal grim news:
    • “...The House of Royce had fallen. Many had been waylaid on their way from the Golden Orchard west through the pass in the mountains.” — Klarny the Rose (107:24)
  • The Grigs clarify they are drawn to mischief only when promises are broken.

4. Entering Tibris Lee: Candle Feast, Intrigue, and the Hospital (123:10–154:49)

• Arriving for Candle Feast: As the party enters the city, the Candescent Creed’s holiday is in full swing; city is bursting with festival-goers, acolytes, white garlands, cookies and candle rituals.
  • “Candle Feast is when it symbolizes when the nights become longer than the days...everyone brings out their candles to light the night.” — Wick (124:01)
• The Hospital as a Focal Point:
  • The House Taconis carriages (bearing captives or mysterious cargo) have notably stopped at both the hospital and the castle.
    • “I have observed many Taconus carriages...that central hospital is where they stop. But not where they remain.” — Felltower (148:33)
  • Lux Aretea is introduced as a healer managing the hospital, dealing with a mysterious illness (“bellows fever”) only the Candescent light seems able to cure.
• Reconnaissance via Street Kids: Thimble bribes children with magical flowers for information, confirming the villains are indeed in town and associated with strange, heavy carriages and a “lady with a skull face.”
  • “She was mean...the carriage was stuck in the mud...some knights helped them pull the wagon out...” — Anonymous Child Informant (138:23–139:10)
• Party Tactics & Dilemmas:
  • The group debates whether to approach the hospital openly (posing Tyranny as a fever-stricken patient), weighing the balance between secrecy and urgency.
  • The Hounds of the King bestow another Pass Without Trace boon, ensuring stealth as the party prepares to take decisive—possibly dangerous—action.
  • The friendly dogs' own backstories and oaths are revealed: knights who died in the Shapers War, returned as noble hounds by druidic magic.
    • “We fought for our...king in this world and the next. But of course, after the shapers war, there was no next. And yet it seemed an ill thing to not keep our promise.” — Hawkins (155:06)

Memorable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• On Avenging a Loss (33:08):

  “I thought maybe if he was dead, that Thiazzi being dead would not be as bad. But it’s still just as bad.” — Thimble

• On Faith and Family (49:09):

  “They suck.” — Thimble (in support of Wick renouncing family loyalty)

• On the Sundered Houses:

  “The Sundered Houses kind of became a loosely confederated alliance of what had once been enemies. And they instead said, hey, our lands are all destroyed. Let's find a way to...hold onto power.” — Brennan (game lore, 64:15)

• Meeting the Fairy Outlaws (98:39):

  “You're after traveling on Millers Road in the middle of the night, are you?” — Black Rabbit Fey
  “Are you telling me for truth that there’s a house that’s offered to put out bread and milk for the fair Folk?” — Klarny the Rose (103:08)
  “If a promise to them is ever broken, then they put the bad head on and they start to steal...and do all this bad stuff until someone starts keeping their promises again.” — Brennan on Grigs/Kettlehobs (104:28)

• On The Golden Orchard’s Fall (107:24–108:00):

  “...The House of Royce had fallen. Many had been waylaid on their way from the Golden Orchard west through the pass in the mountains...”

• On the Candle Feast (124:01):

  “Candle Feast is when it symbolizes when the nights become longer than the days...everyone brings out their candles to light the night.” — Wick
  “From spark to flame. I'll take a cookie, thank you.” — Wick (128:19)

• On Dog Knights’ Loyalties (155:06):

  “We fought for our...king in this world and the next. But of course, after the shapers war, there was no next. And yet it seemed an ill thing to not keep our promise. So when the druids...told us...we said, might we return and serve again. And so we do.” — Hawkins

Key Timestamps

• 02:03–13:09: Opening maneuverings in Sloke, Guard dismissal, political intrigue, the Arcane Marshals, setup for the party’s next mission.
• 29:13–41:00: Introduction of Dame Morgaine and Hawkins, plans to travel together.
• 67:35–81:57: The secret fey Miller’s Road, travel montage, philosophical discussions.
• 95:55–116:30: Black Rabbit gang/Grigs encounter and barter, major lore drop about the Golden Orchard and the House of Royce.
• 123:10–132:45: Arrival at Tibris Lee, Candle Feast, local color, the party gathers intel on the Taconis entourage.
• 145:31–154:49: Meeting Felltower, confirming Sid’s presence at Castle Delaunay, clandestine support from the Hounds.
• 155:52–End: The dog-knights’ oath and break.

Thematic Threads & Running Jokes

• Dog Humor: The blend of pathos and canine jokes is constant—“What is it, boy?” / “I’m a full grown man.” (95:33) and Hawkins’ stoic seriousness contrasts with Wulfric’s irreverence.
• Family vs. Chosen Bonds: Wick’s shifting allegiances, Thimble’s fey heritage and sorrow over the Golden Orchard, and Tyranny’s open existentialism all color the group’s dynamic.
• Stealth & Secrecy: The repeated “Pass Without Trace” effect ties the literal and figurative theme of avoiding the eyes of powerful enemies while trying to do right.

Conclusion & Next Steps

This episode set the table for what will likely be a high-stakes incursion into the castle or hospital to rescue Sid. The players have gathered crucial intel, allies, and magic to support them, though the situation is fraught with danger (and unresolved grief for Thimble, with the implied destruction of her fey homeland). The dynamic interplay between the party, their dog-knight supporters, and the fey outlaws is a blend of classic fantasy, moral ambiguity, and found-family heart.

End Quote:
“To the hounds.” — Thimble, Talsidamir, party & all (156:34)

Next: "To the Hounds!" Campaign 4, Episode 9 Part 2 — coming Tuesday!