"Chasing Shadows" (4x28) is the twenty-eighth episode of the fourth campaign of Critical Role. With opening night approaching and Thjazi's designs still obscured, a plan is formed for safety, rescue, and information...

Synopsis

Cold open

King Gus has just told the group visiting him that he will support their revolution, and they can rely on Harving Bowsprit as their contact. Harving offers to hire any disaffected Revolutionary Guards looking for work, to provide security for caravans. Gus is hurrying to leave town, but he was impressed with Murray's wizardry in the fight, and extends an offer to her to become his archmage. She declines gracefully, saying the Penteveral needs her right now, although she'd consider it in the future. However, she suggests Demodus Blix would be able to fill this role and she will send him to the king in the morning. Gus embraces her in gratitude, thrilling Murray. Thimble asks about the seed for the Miller's Road and how long travel on the road will take, and Gus explains that from Timmon's Rock to Dol-Makjar could potentially take as little as one day. The king's druid Cyrus tells Vaelus she would be welcome in their caravan heading north toward her home in the Mournvale. Thimble warns the king about a Captain Lantry Ferris in Houndsport, and tells him there is a new person that is now Baroness of Sloak: Dame Winifred Cosgrove. Gus promises to stop in Sloak on his way north to check on her.

Part I

As Kattigan, Halandil, and Thaisha leave the Villa Aurora, Thaisha checks in on her familiar she left behind in giant snake form and discovers the house is too busy for it to move undetected so she sends it into hiding under a desk. She tells Hal that some members of the group are planning to use Speak with Dead on the body of Thjazi Fang. Although he wants to come, he'll be too busy with the changes the Photarch wants to KoTher'ai to be present. Meanwhile, Murray, Occtis, Thimble, Vaelus, and Azune leave Bowsprit Manor. Murray mentions the plan to speak with Thjazi and the group shares what they'd like to learn from him.

Hal returns to The Hallowed Round, where the director of the play, Niveda, gives the troupe a pep talk. Hal explains to them that House Halovar wants them to revise the script to make it boost the Candescent Creed, and openly states his despisal of House Halovar and their actions. They will hold a dress rehearsal utilizing the revisions, and they will do their best to sell it. However, the play itself will go on unchanged. As the troupe absorbs this, Shadia stands up and states, "Fuck the Candescent Creed". The cast and crew burst into applause. Inez Roundtree approaches Hal with a message from her sister Romina, the servant/informant with House Einfasen, that Hal's "friends" are in town and meeting at the Villa Aurora tomorrow at sundown.

Thaisha, Thimble, Occtis, and Vaelus meet at Thjazi's gravesite at sunset. Thaisha is aware that because they completed a Farramh for Thjazi, he may have already reincarnated, but there should be strong memories of him remaining there. Vaelus reaches out, casting Speak with Dead, but cannot find Thjazi, and realizes that something is wrong in that even the Path he would have taken is missing. She feels a gaze moving over the area from the other side of the veil. Thaisha levels up and uses "Calling the Corners" to reach the knowledge of those who are on the Path beyond. She learns Thjazi now bears a deep scar on his stomach, and in the sky they all see skeletal arms and a distant translucent white face which Occtis recognizes as his grandfather Nullus Tachonis saying, "Bring him to me!" Occtis puts his hands on Thaisha's back, pumping power into her, and she is able to resist Nullus as her spell shatters. Thjazi's soul is nowhere that can be reached, either by them or by Nullus. They realize the Tachonis tried to mark Thjazi's soul with the Tahnonis scar, but failed to call him into their service after his death, and his soul is now hidden somewhere.

Meanwhile, Murray and Azune arrive at Bolaire's house, where Demodus Blix opens the door to them without hesitation using an illusion of Bolaire which Murray sees through immediately. Demodus is bored and desperate to leave, but he has written down everything, in triplicate, as Azune asked. Murray tells him to pack, but they need him to give testimony to House Einfasen first, and Demodus immediately agrees despite the danger. He is thrilled to learn he will be leaving town immediately thereafter for his new, paid job as advisor to the King of Timmony, but then worries about how he will graduate. Murray assures him he's graduated now. They go over what he's written and redact anything that deals with the Einfasen, while focusing on Demodus overhearing the Tachonis saying that "the falcon" had just been delivered to Obrimus Manor.

Meanwhile, Teor, Julien, Bolaire, Tyranny, and Wicander are leaving Knife and Palette Pigments. Julien is trying to process what they just saw and heard and Tyranny reminds him that he once tried to take her bra off, and she's a demon, too. Julien turns on Wicander, accusing him of being in league with his family and the Tachonis, and Bolaire reminds Julien the drugs he once used came from people like that. When Wick tells him to calm himself, Julien loses his temper and punches him. Wicander explains that he honestly doesn't know how complicit he or his family are.

Teor reminds them of his petrified brother and they go to the Archanade, where Hero has finished the antidote. In an aside, Teor tells Julien that Wick performed well under pressure when they traveled together, as well as that Teor served with Thjazi in the Falconer's Rebellion and remembers Julien's "little spat" with him. Julien immediately steps away. Tyranny quietly reminds Wicander that he could sell out the whole group at any time and go back to his comfortable life, and she wouldn't respect him any less, but Wick is hesitant. She quickly says she was just kidding. Julien approaches Bolaire about what they hope to learn from Talcydimir Pridesire, and Bolaire urges him to talk to Tyranny and ask her where Julien knows her from. Bolaire also urges Teor to think of something only he and his brother know so they can be sure it's him.

Using tongs, Teor carefully pours the serum onto Talcydimir and he gradually transforms back into living flesh, recognizing his brother and embracing him, sobbing. He is confused, since the last thing he remembers is the knights of Seremai and Tachonis roping him into a majestic pose before he was petrified. Teor explains he has been rescued and brought to Dol-Makjar, and asks him to recite the poem their father would read them every night, which Talcydimir does: "When dark night's silence falls and hope seems gone, a deeper roar still carries on. It shakes the stars and it splits the night sky, for it lives in me and will not die." Talcydimir explains he was Thjazi's eyes and ears in the Revolutionary Council, as a carriage driver who overheard much. When the plan to thwart the execution fell through, Cyd confirmed Casimir Gavendale was in the pay of House Tachonis. Earlier, he had started being able to use Divine Sense, which frightened him. Cyd is wary of Julien, whom he knows to be a member of the Sundered Houses, as well as Wicander and Tyranny, but they reassure him that they are Halovars on the run just as Cyd is.

Cyd tells them he overheard talk of an island in the Sea of Lachris where the Hall of Mercy is located, although Univere Tachonis referred to it as the Fora Crucialma [in Latin, roughly "Crucial Forum"]. They needed 47 dead lords who died at a very specific time period-- 50 years ago was too recent. The Tachonis planned to raise banners at the Hall of Mercy, and they planned to end the Old Path of the druids. There was mention of a place called the "Arx Nocturnis" [Latin for "Fortress of Night"]. There had been a major defeat and massacre at the Golden Orchard when cousins of Doset and Univere panicked and attacked prematurely when a bound celestial (Occtis, had it gone according to plan) failed to arrive. However, Occtis's sibling Koral had escaped with a gem. Because of this defeat, Aniko Seremai had learned that reinforcement wasn't coming and their voyage north would be significantly delayed because they now needed to meet the rest of the fleet.

Part II

The entire party gathers at the Lloy Wing of the Archanade. The newly de-stoned Talcydimir greets his old fellow rebels Thimble, Kattigan, and Azune warmly. Everyone shares the information they have learned, including that Mara the Wing has been delivered to Obrimus Manor, home of the Tachonis in Dol-Makjar. The group feels they have to rescue her if she is still being held there, and adds that to their to-do list. Halandil believed the Photarch when she said she thought Wicander had been taken by Teor. Wick suggests that if his grandmother believes he's innocent, that's a way he could get inside the Halovars again, but several of the others believe that would be dangerous for both Wick and themselves, since he could be easily broken. As the group dissolves into bickering and outright hostility, Hal points out that the meeting of the Sundered Houses at the Villa Aurora is set for the same time tomorrow as the play at The Hallowed Round is scheduled to begin, at sundown. Thaisha wakes her hiding giant snake familiar and begins exploring, finding a white-gowned woman in the banquet hall that spots the snake immediately. The snake, under Thaisha's orders, attacks and swallows her before hiding in the branches of an apple tree growing in the room. The group again begins to dissolve into bickering before Azune draws their attention back to the issues at hand.

They lay out the possibilities for future action. Talcydimir and Teor eventually wants to go back north to oppose the Tachonis plans involving the Sea of Lachris. The giant snake determines that the meeting of the Sundered Houses will likely involve a dozen each of Halovar and Tachonis, and five or six each of Cormoray and Einfasen. Many in the group want to break into Obrimus Manor immediately to rescue Mara the Wing, but Cyd suggests that tactically, it would be better to do it when the heads of the house are attending the meeting at the Villa Aurora the next day. Azune reminds them that he and Murray will be meeting with the Einfasens in the morning, when he will attempt to sow more distrust of the Tachonis. This leaves three major targets for sundown: the Hallowed Round, Obrimus Manor, and the meeting at the Villa Aurora.

They begin discussing having the giant snake spy on the meeting, when Wicander loses his temper. He points out that the giant snake won't be able to stay concealed, but he is a Halovar and can walk right in. The others are taken aback and admiring at his assertiveness, but when Julien muses, "He needed to be punched," Wicander punches him.

After much discussion, they divide into teams:

• Team Theater (Hallowed Round): Halandil, Murray, Azune, Kattigan, Vaelus, Teor,^[1] Hannan
• Team Bird Watch (Obrimus Manor): Thimble, Occtis, Talcydimir, Thaisha, Julien
• Team Spy (Villa Aurora): Wicander, Tyranny, Bolaire

Occtis warns Julien not to lose his temper and seek vengeance within the Tachonis house, since if they die there the family will have their souls. The meeting breaks up as the group heads off to their respective homes.

Thaisha, Occtis, and Kattigan go with Hal to his home, where Kattigan studies the blueprints for the Hallowed Round and quickly determines that it completely indefensible. Hal discovers that Shadia took the Pariah Blades to Elodie's house, where she is spending the night, so he sends her a message via Magpie to bring them to the theater tomorrow. However, since Thaisha wants to stay awake to maintain her snake in its current form and location, she goes with Occtis to get the swords and take them to the forge at the Lloy Estate to work on them overnight. Thaisha is exhausted, but when she starts work she realizes that Shadia has already transformed the swords by painting them as prop swords with the intention of using them to tell the story of KoTher'ai. There is nothing for Thaisha to do. Before she goes to sleep, she hugs Occtis, who has recognized that this was the place in which he was pulled back from the Old Path; in a way, he was reborn. Thaisha tells him he is now her family, too.

In the morning, Tyranny finds a letter from Bolaire, asking her to go to his apartment where they will find him dead in his bedroom. She should take the mask and put it on, and he promises not to bond to her. Tyranny takes the mask and puts it in her bag, but doesn't wear it. As she and Wick approach the Villa Aurora, Wick tells her he thinks they have to be as truthful as possible. He had doubts, he ran away and trusted people he shouldn't have, and he realized he had made a huge mistake. Tyranny helped him escape from Teor. Wick has her scratch and bite his face to make it more believable. On the way, they notice the Photarch's resurrection has generated huge crowds entering the Candescent Creed's Cathedral of Light.

When they approach the Villa Aurora, Wicander is recognized and welcomed by Filoneus, who takes them to Wick's room. Shortly afterwards, Yanessa Halovar arrives and asks him where he's been, Wick tearfully tells her that when he learned about the angel, he thought she was evil and the Creed was a lie. He saved Teor because he thought that was right, but he turned out to be terrible, killing people and joining with a bloodthirsty fairy and a drunk. Both he and Tyranny almost died. At his lowest moment, he searched for a sign and heard word that Yanessa had been resurrected from death. He knows he has sinned, and will accept any punishment she gives, but he seeks the spark once more. Tyranny adds that he has discovered his strength and competence as the Scion, with new powers and abilities (such as his wings). The Photarch accepts this, holding him tightly as he sobs in her arms. She was expecting him to come to her with lies, and was ready to slit his throat if he said something she knew to be untrue. Wicander is to become the face of the Creed, and by running away after her revelations to him he has actually shown strength which he will need. He will never run away again because she will never let him out of her sight again. She also congratulates Tyranny, who has just saved both herself and her sisters, as Aspirants. Wicander will accompany her to the meeting tonight.

Meanwhile, Murray and Azune go with Demodus Blix and Lt. Groto to the massive Stahlkeep, the Dol-Makjar villa of House Einfasen. Azune uses Alter Self to make himself subtly resemble the Einfasen, then presents his report and those of Lt. Groto and Demodus. Lord Otto is receptive because most of the information matches or supports what they already knew. Azune gives them the candle and the torn letter, while Demodus makes the candle flames in the room the same blue color Harondus Einfasen saw at the Palazzo Davinos. Otto accepts their story completely, and tells Murray he'll mention her competence to House Cormoray before dismissing her and Demodus. Outside, Murray tells Demodus how proud she is, and tells him that he has graduated. He pulls out a parchment and asks her to write a diploma on it and sign it, which she does, tying it with a red ribbon. He thanks her and promises to help if she ever needs anything, and she sends him off, telling him not to stop until he reaches Timmony, escorted by four armed men.

Inside, Azune is alone with the Einfasen. Otto notes the family resemblance he is wearing, and intends to research further. Meanwhile, he'd like Azune to further the impression that he is a devout member of the Candescent Creed, which may be useful to the Einfasen. Azune understands, telling him his aim is only to serve their house. Lord Otto promotes him to Captain on the spot, giving him a stone-headed leather-wrapped hammer and Captain Fazir's former quarters. Azune reaches Level 5.

At the Hallowed Round, Iris Halovar arrives, with eyes puffy from weeping. She is here to watch the dress rehearsal of the Photarch-written version, which goes very, very well. At the conclusion of the play, Iris is sobbing, saying Wicander would have loved it. She will tell the Photarch all is well. Meanwhile, Thimble talks to the fairies of the town and finds them receptive to her in the face of the rise in power of the Creed. They promise to attend the performance and aid if required. Temelow tells Thimble she saw Bogrey ("the hotshot") about 5-6 weeks ago, but he has left town.

The previous night as the meeting broke up, Julien had pulled Teor aside, telling him that he hoped they can put the past behind them. He asked if Teor could use a greataxe, on the condition that he not lose or break it because it could become politically important, and Teor accepted. Occtis retrieved the body of Gaya Seremai, planning to place it in the crypt for vassal houses at Obrimus Manor.

In the morning, Vaelus sets out for the Tintazi Wood near the theater, followed by Kattigan and Wulferic. Hannan appears almost immediately and she invites him to be at the performance tonight, as they suspect the Sundered Houses have something planned. When Kattigan appears, it startles Hannan from elf into bear form briefly. Vaelus gives him the sprig of holly, asking if he can tell who took it, but he can tell only that it was one of her sisters. She privately tells Hannan that he misunderstands her current relationship to Sylandri. She questions that their Shaper took from the elves the ability to reproduce without direct supplication to the goddess, and obedience to her in all things. Hannan sees that as the Shaper actually hating them, and hating what they could become without her, and Vaelus tearfully agrees, admitting she has lost her whole family. She tells him she wants to go back to the Mournvale at some point, and asks if he would come with her. Hannan agrees.

Just before showtime, with ticketholders trickling in, Halandil addresses the troupe, telling them that the story of Vokjan Murzat is an example of a Rungjani standing against the Shapers 200 years before they were finally killed. He failed, when the priests of his own people betrayed him, but his example lit the spark of rebellion among the orcs that eventually flamed into the fires of the Shapers' War. Now, some are trying to replace their old masters with new ones, and KoTher'ai, this play, will demonstrate their defiance. The troupe cheers as one. At the woodside, watching, Hannan tells Vaelus they're about to see some real magic.

Featured characters

Quotations

• Thaisha: If Pascard was smart enough to mark his soul with a warlock pact to keep it out of Tachonis hands, Thjazi was certainly clever enough to hide himself away.
  Vaelus: Where could he be?
  Thaisha: The woods are deep, that's why we cut a Path.
• Demodus Blix: I've read a lot of history and it seems like there's been bad people running things pretty much forever. For a long, long time. So if I wait for there to be no danger to smile, I'll die frowning.
• Teor: (to Tyranny, about Tsul'rekshi) There's a big difference between what, respectfully, you are and whatever that was.
  Tyranny: What do you mean?
  Teor: You are very, you know, mid. That was extra.
• Whitney: I have too many dice.
  Matt: No such thing.
  Travis: Yes, there is.
• Bolaire: I have an idea that might help you with the people that you've surrounded yourself with. I know that people are your least favorite thing, especially people this odd.
  Julien: I disagree. I happen to like people a lot. Just a lot of people aren't people under the surface.
• Wicander: I'm tired of being disrespected by everyone. I am a Halovar! I can walk right through the front fucking door! I'm sorry. Your 18-foot blood-dripping snake is definitely going to stay stealthy all day and all night in a room full of the fucking most magic people you've ever met. That's a fucking brilliant idea, Thaisha.
  Julien: (admiringly) He needed to be punched.
  Sam: I'm going to punch Julien.[...]
  Bolaire: If you're going to go in, we're going to need a way of getting you out if everything goes to shit.
  Wicander: No, you don't.
  Bolaire: We really-- You're too important.
  Wicander: But for what? This is what I'm important for.
• Yanessa Halovar: The Light only exists in what we have made ourselves. We do not truly answer to it, Wick; it answers to us.
• Azune: (to Lord Otto Einfasen) My aim is only to serve this House, and I will do what I must, if that be play a role, tell a lie, for the greater good.
• Vaelus: (to Kattigan) Family is complicated, isn't it?
  Kattigan: I wouldn't know.
  Vaelus: Sure you wouldn't.

Inventory

Adjustment	Count	Item	Source	Destination	Notes
Expended		Petrification antidote	Hero	Talcydimir Pridesire	Successfully restored him to life.
Acquired		Bolaire		Tyranny	Tyranny put the mask in her bag, at Bolaire's instructions.
Transferred		Diploma	Murray	Demodus	Handwritten, marking his graduation from the Penteveral.
Transferred		Stone-headed leather wrapped hammer	Otto Einfasen	Azune	Marking Azune's promotion to Captain of the Revolutionary Guard.
Transferred		Greataxe	Julien	Teor	Given to Julien by Ingrid Einfasen.
Retrieved		Body of Gaya Seremai	Closet at the Hallowed Round	Occtis

Trivia

• During this episode, Thaisha leveled up from 3 to 5, while Vaelus, Wicander and Azune went from 4 to 5. This leaves Bolaire, Halandil, Julien, Kattigan, Occtis, Teor, and Thimble still at level 4.

References

1. ↑ Subsequently, Teor switched places with Thaisha on their teams so that he could be with his brother Talcydimir.  See "Opening Night" (4x29).^{[citation needed]}

Art:

1. ↑ Fan art of Shadia's defiance, by Firefaerie81 (source). Used with permission.
2. ↑ Fan art of Wicander's punch, by ElesirArt (source). Used with permission.
3. ↑ Fan art of Wick being welcomed home, by @NadiaTheAxolotl (source). Used with permission.
4. ↑ Fan art of Hannan, by Rann (source). Used with permission.

v • d • e   Campaign Four Episode Directory Arc 1: Overture "The Fall of Thjazi Fang" (4x01) • "Broken Wing" (4x02) • "The Snipping of Shears" (4x03) • "Stone-Faced" (4x04) • "Branching Paths" (4x05) Arc 2: Soldiers "Branching Paths" (4x05) • "Knives and Thorns" (4x06) • "On the Scent" (4x07) • "Fanged Revenge" (4x08) • "To the Hounds!" (4x09) • "Blood for Blood" (4x10) • "Make Merry" (4x11) Arc 3: Seekers "The Giant's Belt" (4x12) • "Seeking Sanctuary" (4x13) • "A Bridge Too Far" (4x14) • "Flight to Castle Torch" (4x15) • "Visions of Shadow & Stone" (4x16) • "The Place of Wings" (4x17) • "Vindicta & Vale" (4x18) Arc 4: Schemers "Hand & Wheel" (4x19) • "The Vanishing" (4x20) • "King of Cards" (4x21) • "The Point of No Return" (4x22) • "Buried Truths" (4x23) • "Good Tidings" (4x24) • "Targeted" (4x25) Arc 5: Convergence "Council of Heroes" (4x26) • "Complicated Questions" (4x27) • "Chasing Shadows" (4x28) • "Opening Night" (4x29)

v • d • e Campaign Four Arc 5 People Parties Schemers • Seekers • Soldiers Player characters Azune Nayar • Bolaire Lathalia • Halandil Fang • Sir Julien Davinos • Kattigan Vale • Murray Mag'Nesson • Occtis Tachonis • Teor Pridesire • Thaisha Lloy • Thimble • Tyranny • Vaelus • Wicander Halovar Allies King Augustus • Elodie D'vyen • Hannan • Hero D'vyen • Olgud Akarat • Shadia Fang • Talcydimir Pridesire • Varen Kadorn Antagonists Chamber of Lords-Advisory • Cruelty • Enmity • Filoneus Halovar • Primus Tachonis • Yanessa Halovar Other Harondus Einfasen • Hollis Kinnywater • Mara the Wing • Mayali Nayar • Shapers (Azgra • Ilumi • Omra • Rauwyn • Sylandri • Tansul • Trozhna) • Thjazi Fang • Tsul'rekshi Places Aramán • Archanade • Argosia • Dol-Makjar • River Gavzidra • The Hallowed Round • Penteveral • The Seven Stars Items Coffin of Olbalad • Liar's Blade • Stone of Nightsong Factions Arcane Marshals • Candescent Creed • The Cloak • House Halovar • House Royce • House Tachonis • Revolutionary Council • Revolutionary Guard • Sundered Houses Events Falconer's Rebellion • Shapers' War • War of Axe and Vine